C19 The Test

"Me!"

The house was on the verge of tears, certain that Niu Li had cheated. Yet, even with years of honing his keen eye, he couldn't spot a single clue; it was astonishing.

Now, the house was in a bind, unsure of what to do next. They were on the hook for 400,000 yuan, and letting someone like Niu Li stay at the table could mean risking their entire stake.

But in the casino, every patron is treated like a deity.

"Alright, let's settle up quickly. I'm ready to up the ante next round," Niu Li said with a sly wink, draining the color from the dealer's face.

Could it be 800,000 next?

Oh God, please rid us of this curse.

Niu Li's luck had piqued the interest of the other gamblers too. They watched him with curiosity.

"Brother, you're on a roll. How about we take this to the next level upstairs?"

Just then, a voice rich with masculine timbre rang out. A well-dressed, middle-aged gentleman approached with a courteous smile.

Niu Li gave the man a once-over and squinted back with a grin, "No thanks, I'm quite fond of it right here."

Miss Long was taken aback by Niu Li's playful tone and let out a chuckle. She playfully tapped his chest, "Manager Xu is extending you a courtesy. Don't renege now."

With a resigned sigh, Niu Li looked at Miss Long and conceded, "Well, if you insist. Should we head upstairs for a game, then?"

"Upstairs?" Miss Long's expression turned curious as she eyed Niu Li, "With your luck, you definitely should. I'd regret it forever if you didn't."

Niu Li responded with a guileless smile, "I guess I'm just lucky."

"Great, since you're game, let's head up. There's a top-tier Hasho table waiting for us tonight," said the handsome middle-aged man, nodding respectfully to Miss Long before instructing a nearby waitress, "Please withdraw 50 million purple coins for Miss Long at the front desk."

"50 million!"

Niu Li was so startled he nearly leapt out of his skin, but catching Miss Long's even stranger gaze, he touched his nose in embarrassment, while a sense of gravity took hold within him.

The enigmatic eighth floor of Nighty Night apparently required a minimum capital of fifty million. It looked like the real spectacle was just about to begin.

Reluctantly parting from the gambling table, Miss Long looped her arm through Niu Li's and followed Manager Xu into the exclusive elevator to the eighth floor.

Upon arrival, Niu Li noted the expansive space, designed with a grandeur that was both imposing and modern. The floor was adorned with luxurious, intimidating decorations.

The eighth floor housed a single large hall, surrounded by numerous small tables and chairs. Dominating the Huaxia section was a massive round table.

At that moment, the table hosted a diverse group of seven or eight individuals, ranging from portly old gentlemen to stern middle-aged women with gold-rimmed glasses, and excessively young men. Each had a small fortune in purple coins before them.

Niu Li couldn't help but be speechless at the sight. If kidnappers were to swoop in and abduct these high rollers, it might just be more lucrative than a bank heist.

The arrival of Niu Li and his companions drew the attention of everyone at the table. Merely being in this place was a testament to one's status.

The game had been underway for some time, yet his entry at this juncture suggested his status was far from ordinary.

Seeing Niu Li, no one batted an eye; wealthy young heirs were a dime a dozen these days.

However, Miss Long's presence stirred excitement among a few, particularly two young men seated together. Both were decent-looking and dressed in designer labels, exuding an air of confidence that made them the epitome of heartthrobs for the masses.

Upon laying eyes on Miss Long, the yellow-haired young man's eyes sparkled as he exclaimed, "I've never seen such a beauty in H City!"

His companion, a short-haired youth leaning close, cast a dismissive glance at him and retorted, "Young Master Yun, do you even realize how many beauties H City holds?"

"Some women simply can't hide their radiance. I'm certain she's not from H City; otherwise, she'd already be one of my conquests," Young Master Yun declared confidently. His gaze towards Miss Long shimmered with an indefinable light, betraying a keen interest.

"Your entourage of women is nothing but a facade. Young Master Yun, as a longtime friend, I feel compelled to caution you. The individuals who gain entry here are far from ordinary. Be careful not to court disaster," the young man with short hair remarked coolly.

At that moment, Niu Li was escorting Miss Long to the reception desk, his arm confidently around her waist.

Manager Xu offered a warm smile and a subtle nod. "Esteemed guests, our visitor from Hong Kong today comes highly recommended by our top boss. I trust they will enjoy mingling with everyone."

As Manager Xu concluded his introduction, the crowd's gaze shifted to Niu Li and Miss Long, now tinged with heightened astonishment. Hong Kong was a world away from H City. The reach of even Hong Kong's wealthiest tycoons or business magnates couldn't possibly extend to H City, let alone influence the enigmatic big boss behind Nighty Night.

The logical inference was that these two hailed from one of Hong Kong's secretive families.

The existence of such clandestine clans was hardly a secret anymore. Among the elite wielding vast powers, many originated from these hidden lineages, drawing upon their family's influence to command respect. Thus, while the onlookers regarded them with curiosity, they held their tongues, wary of inadvertently crossing paths with potential power.

The short-haired young man cast a knowing glance at Young Master Yun, his look suggesting he was privy to this information all along.

Yet, he had gravely miscalculated Young Master Yun's appetites. The latter was utterly disinterested in Manager Xu's spiel. Instead, his mind was preoccupied with other matters.

"I'm in the company of veterans here, merely tagging along for some fun with my sister," Niu Li said with an easy smile, betraying no hint of intimidation. This prompted a peculiar expression in Miss Long, who stood close by. A cryptic smile crossed her face for reasons unknown, as if she were hatching a plan.

Unbeknownst to her, that very smile had ensnared someone's attention so completely that it seemed as though their soul had been spirited away. She had, for some reason, made an indelible mark on someone.

Manager Xu saw to Miss Long's seating, and naturally, she had Niu Li attend to her. Given his streak of good fortune, she saw no reason to part ways with him.

Manager Xu was well aware of Niu Li's background. However, he no longer dared to underestimate him. A few telling rounds in the lower-tier gambling halls had revealed that Niu Li was far from ordinary.

Manager Xu exited the room, a smile gracing his features, as the dice on the gambling table sprang back into action. Several hands later, Niu Li surveyed the cards spread before him. Channeling his Mental Energy, he swept his gaze over the entire table. A subtle smile crept onto his lips, yet his gaze remained fixed intently on Young Master Yun.