Chapter 36: Unprecedented

This is a time for me to be rewarded with great credit from the heavens!

Tian Hongyizi, the manager of the Fugui Fang Casino, Tian Shiji, felt that his good luck had arrived.

He gave a wink, and the manager of the casino immediately rushed out to tell Tian Hong the great news.

At this time, Tian Hong was inside the Xuanwu City, discussing matters with the head of the Xu family.

"I decided to play a few games on a whim, and I didn't bring any money with me. Can I borrow some?" Shen Lang asked.

"Of course, of course..." Tian Shiji became even more excited.

He was worried that Shen Lang might not borrow any money. It would be best if he could borrow ten thousand gold coins, and then lose it all.

Then Tian Hong would go to the Earl's Mansion to collect the debt, and Shen Lang would be beaten to death by the Earl.

"Can I borrow one thousand gold coins first?" Shen Lang asked, "What's the interest?"

"You are the most distinguished guest, the interest rate is ten percent per year, no compounding interest." Tian Shiji said.

This interest rate is already very low, but even if there was no interest or even negative interest, Tian Shiji would still be willing to lend.

Otherwise, how could he possibly trap Shen Lang to death?

Besides, the money won't be able to leave the casino anyway, it will all remain here.

"Okay, write up the loan contract, including the interest, make it clear." Shen Lang said.

"Alright, everything is up to you." Tian Shiji said.

After the loan contract was written up, one thousand gold coins were placed in front of Shen Lang, and without saying a word, he exchanged them all for chips.

Tian Shiji flattered, "Master Shen, what would you like to play?"

Shen Lang said, "What's the simplest game?"

"The simplest game is betting on big or small," Tian Shiji said.

"Okay, let's bet on big or small!" Shen Lang said.

Tian Shiji immediately took Shen Lang to the big or small betting table.

At this point, he was enjoying star treatment, and many of the other gamblers stopped playing and came to watch.

"Is this Shen Lang?"

"He married into the Xu family first, then the Earl's Mansion."

"He really looks handsome, doesn't he?"

"I'm handsome too, why can't I marry into the Earl's Mansion?"

"I've known you for so long, why didn't I realize that you're so dishonest, did the toilet not tell you the truth when you urinated?"

"Shen Lang dared to come to the casino, is he looking for death? Regardless of winning or losing, the Earl will definitely break his legs!"

Shen Lang ignored these comments and went straight to the dealer at the betting table and said, "Let's begin!"

Tian Shiji nodded.

Facing a waste like Shen Lang, he didn't even bother to cheat.

The dealer behind the betting table began to shake the dice. After about half a minute, he slammed it on the table.

"Bet on big or small?"

Three dice, below nine is small, above nine is big.

Shen Lang used his X-ray vision to easily read the points inside.

13 points!

"Bet on big!" Shen Lang pushed all his one thousand gold coins in chips out.

Suddenly, everyone became excited.

Incredible, he's betting so big on the first round?

This one thousand gold coins that Shen Lang borrowed, and he bet it all.

The other gamblers stopped playing and watched the action in suspense.

So thrilling and exciting.

"The bet is made."

"Open, open, open..."

The dealer uncovered the dice.

Thirteen points!

Shen Lang won!

"He really won."

"This Shen Lang is really lucky, he won one thousand gold coins on the first round."

The onlookers were extremely excited.

Tian Shiji's expression did not change, still smiling.

This is completely based on luck, it doesn't really count.

To be honest, Tian Shiji was worried that Shen Lang would lose the first round, then he might not play anymore.

Only by letting him win a few times and taste the sweetness, would he continue winning.

Winning the first round is the beginning of a gambler's tragic life.

The second round began, still betting big or small.

The dealer behind the betting table started shaking the dice, and his expression became very serious. He shook for a full minute, then slammed it onto the table.

Of course, this was just to add to the atmosphere, making the gambler feel more pressure.

But for Shen Lang, even if you shake the dice for a hundred minutes, the result will still be the same.

Shen Lang once again used his X-ray vision, it was still big, fifteen points.

"I bet on big!"

Shen Lang pushed all his two thousand gold coins in chips out.

This time, almost everyone in the room couldn't breathe.

Is this Earl's Mansion son-in-law crazy? He's betting so big?

Tian Shiji's expression also changed slightly.

If Shen Lang wins again this time, it would be four thousand gold coins.

Even for Tian Hong, this would be a large sum.

The casino was so grand, but its net profit for a month would not exceed two thousand gold coins.

4,000 gold coins, equivalent to over a hundred million modern Earth Renminbi. (The value of the gold coins has been slightly adjusted)

The hands of the gambling master were trembling slightly.

"Open, open, open..."

The gambling master suddenly lifted the lid.

Fifteen points, big!

Shen Lang won again!

4,000 gold coins in hand!

All the onlookers were completely excited.

4,000 gold coins, an astronomical figure.

Enough to support them for several lifetimes without eating or drinking.

Meanwhile, Tian Shijiu's face changed drastically.

Shen Lang is truly reckless; he pushes all in regardless of how much he wins.

And his luck is surprisingly good, hitting it right twice.

This is the most they've lost in the past two or three years.

It's extremely rare for regular gamblers to lose four or five hundred gold coins, they are mostly wealthy outsiders.

Tian Shijiu couldn't let Shen Lang continue winning; he had to step in himself.

And once he does, Shen Lang will undoubtedly lose!

Tian Shijiu smiled, "Come, Shen Master, I'll personally roll the dice for you."

He is an expert at rolling dice, able to control the outcome at will.

But that's not all.

His most impressive skill is being able to change the numbers after rolling the dice and placing them on the table.

This extraordinary skill is exclusive to Tian Shijiu in the entire Fugui Gambling House, which is why he is Tian Hong's adopted son and the manager of the gambling house.

...

Shen Lang understood that the other party was preparing to cheat.

"No, no, no..." Shen Lang smiled, "I suddenly don't want to play the big or small game anymore. It's all luck and no skill. I want to play Pai Gow instead."

Tian Shijiu chuckled, "Sure, you are the master. You can play whatever you want, we'll play Pai Gow."

How could he let Shen Lang leave?

If his adoptive father finds out that not only did he not cheat Shen Lang to death, but also let him win 4,000 gold coins, he would definitely be in big trouble.

His gambling skills are excellent, which is why he became Tian Hong's adopted son and the top player at the Fugui Gambling House.

In the city of Xuanwu, there is no one who can rival Tian Shijiu in gambling skills.

Especially in games like Pai Gow, which require a certain level of skill, he could easily make Shen Lang lose everything, even with his eyes closed.

He can easily recognize the points on the back of the cards, as each card has a mark, although very subtle.

Shen Lang saying he wants to play Pai Gow is basically seeking death.

He must make him lose everything and then lend him money, owing a substantial sum of money.

In this way, the Viscount's Manor would either have to expel Shen Lang to avoid repayment, cutting off all ties, which would undoubtedly result in Shen Lang's death.

...

The rules of Pai Gow in this world are very simple, much simpler than on Earth.

32 Pai Gow cards are placed face down on the table.

Each person draws two cards and the winner is determined by their combination of cards!

There's no need to roll the dice or draw cards, just draw two cards randomly and then compare their values.

The "Zhi Zun Bao" is the highest, followed by Ding Three with Pei Er, equivalent to 3 added to 9. Although each card has a low score individually, their combination is the highest.

Next comes a combination of two heavenly cards, followed by two earthly cards.

The rules are not that important, anyway.

Just as they were about to start, Shen Lang suddenly said, "I don't trust your cards. Send someone to buy a new deck, I must inspect it before we continue gambling!"

Upon hearing this, Tian Shijiu frowned slightly.

The current deck of cards has hidden symbols on each card, which he can recognize from the back.

"If not, I'll just leave. Please exchange the 4,000 gold coins for me," Shen Lang stood up to leave.

"Wait, wait, wait..." Tian Shijiu said, "Go, go, go buy a new deck."

He couldn't bear to have Shen Lang leave now. If he does, he's finished.

Then, Tian Shijiu instructed a servant, "Go and buy ten new decks of Pai Gow, and remember not to purchase them from our own shop."

Without a word, the servant rushed out to buy ten new decks of Pai Gow.

After they were bought, Shen Lang inspected them with his X-ray vision. Six of the new decks didn't have any hidden marks.

He selected the most normal deck of Pai Gow, with no hidden marks, and uniform internal texture and density, making it impossible to cheat.

"This deck will do," Shen Lang casually pointed.

"Okay."

Tian Nineteen is nonchalant, being the top gambling expert in Xuanwu City, unbeatable and without a doubt a winner even without cheating!

The duel between the two has officially begun!

"How about you draw a card first," Shen Lang said.

Tian Nineteen nodded and drew two cards from the 32-card deck.

Through his X-ray vision, Shen Lang easily determined the cards Tian Nineteen had.

Tian Nineteen was in luck, getting two clubs, which was the sixth-best combination.

"One hundred gold coins," Tian Nineteen put up his chips.

Since Tian Nineteen had the sixth-best combination, Shen Lang revealed the fifth-best combination, a pair of doubles, placing them directly on the table without even looking at them.

"One thousand gold coins!" Shen Lang put up his chips.

Quite the gambling expert indeed.

Everyone was astonished to see Shen Lang not even look at his cards and directly put up one thousand gold coins.

Tian Nineteen hesitated for a moment; his hand was good enough to compete.

"I'll match one thousand gold coins!"

"Show your hand!"

The two revealed their cards, and Shen Lang won!

Tian Nineteen broke into a cold sweat!

However...

This was just the beginning!

What followed would be his nightmare!

An unprecedented nightmare.

Because in every round, Shen Lang didn't look at his cards, yet continued to put up one thousand gold coins in chips.

And then...

He kept winning, winning, winning!

Until Tian Nineteen was trembling, feeling chills all over, dizzy, and filled with existential doubt.

Good heavens.

This was absolutely unbelievable, utterly unbelievable!

...

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