C21 All of Their Assets as a Wager

"I must be on a lucky streak. You're not seriously hoping to draw a poker card with an 8 or a King, are you?" Young Master Yun was clearly enjoying himself as he ribbed Niu Li. His gaze, however, couldn't help but wander over Miss Long's chest from time to time, revealing his true intentions.

"Number eight, the holder of the sequential point poker cards, please speak up."

The dealer gestured towards Niu Li with an outstretched hand.

"Is it my turn?" Niu Li gave Young Master Yun a significant look, tapped the face-down card on the table, and declared with a smile, "Then I'm all in—I'll wager everything I've got."

"He's staking all his assets?"

The entire gambling table buzzed with astonishment at his words.

Could it be? It was his first time at the table, and he was betting so heavily.

But as they watched Niu Li confidently slide over thirty million purple coins without a moment's hesitation, it became clear to everyone that this enigmatic young man meant business. Could it be that his poker cards were actually an 8 or a King?

Yet, he appeared not to have glanced at his hole card even once.

The table fell into a hushed silence as they watched Niu Li, many thinking him brash, wealthy, and wasteful.

At that moment, Young Master Yun's smugness faltered, replaced by a look of confusion as he regarded Niu Li.

He was no longer certain whether Niu Li's unrevealed cards were the 8 or the King.

After a long pause without a response, Niu Li chuckled to himself, then threw a challenging look at Young Master Yun and taunted, "You've got a strong hand, and I haven't even checked mine. What's the matter? You're going to pass up such an easy opportunity to win my money? Maybe you should quit gambling and leave the table."

Suddenly, the mountain of purple coins at the center of the table seemed especially enticing, amounting to nearly 100 million yuan.

Young Master Yun, his face flushed as if he'd been drinking, pushed his money to the center and flipped his hole cards with a flourish, announcing, "I'm holding three Kings and a pair of threes. Today, I refuse to believe you'll draw the final 8 or King you need."

"What an impressive score!" Niu Li commented with a calmness that suggested Young Master Yun's strong hand hadn't fazed him in the slightest.

"Cut the crap and show me your cards," Young Master Yun scoffed with a sneer.

"Mind if I take a peek first?" Niu Li chuckled, his tone playful, as if he were toying with someone.

"We've put all our assets on the line! This is the ultimate showdown, and we need to lay all our cards on the table," Young Master Yun bellowed.

"Oh, is that the rule? It's my first time playing this game; I'm not familiar with the rules, so don't hold it against me."

Niu Li's comical gestures and tone drew amused smiles from the other players, while Young Master Yun's expression grew increasingly grim, convinced that Niu Li was mocking him.

"Everyone, have a look at my cards," Niu Li said, lifting his hole card with a gentle flip.

The King of Hearts!

For a brief moment, everyone at the table was frozen in shock before erupting into exclamations of surprise at Niu Li's incredible luck.

Young Master Yun's gaze turned to stone, and sweat began to bead and slide down his face—a massive loss was staring him in the face.

"How can this be? How could your hole card be the King of Hearts?" Young Master Yun asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Niu Li shrugged, a look of resignation on his face. "I can't explain it, but my luck today is extraordinary. I've already won three consecutive bets. It looks like my winning streak might just keep going."

"Luck? I think you're cheating! I want to inspect those cards!" Young Master Yun cried out, unable to accept his fate.

He had felt confident when placing his bet, but facing the reality of a loss was a different story. He stood to lose 50 million RMB, a far cry from the nonchalance he had previously displayed. If his father were to find out, he'd be in for a world of pain.

Previously, he had always come out fine, knowing how to read the situation and relying on his noble status to deter any cheaters. As a result, his losses were always minimal, and he remained content. But today, Niu Li had made a fool of him—a result of his own arrogance.

"Inspect the cards?" Niu Li said with a slight smile, turning to Miss Long with a look of feigned distress. "Sister, he's accusing me of cheating. What should I do?"

Miss Long was still somewhat in shock, finding herself increasingly baffled by Niu Li. She cast a scornful glance at Young Master Yun upon hearing his words.

When she turned her gaze his way, Young Master Yun was far from pleased. Her icy demeanor sent a shiver through him.

"This is Nighty Night, not a place for shameless antics. Everyone here knows whether we've cheated or not. Feel free to scrutinize our playing cards, but be warned—if you find no deceit, you'll be held accountable," Miss Long said with a seductive softness in her voice.

Young Master Yun gazed at the woman, her smile enchanting yet her eyes glinting with frost. An unexplained coldness crept into his heart.

"Enough talk. We'll start the investigation now. And if we're clean, you'll have to sever your own right hand!" Miss Long's voice turned icy as she pointed at Young Master Yun's right hand—the very hand that had pointed at Niu Li's face.

The onlookers, absorbed in the spectacle, were stunned. Despite their wealth, the threat of violence left them terrified. This was a place of upscale entertainment, not a back-alley brawl.

"Miss Long, Young Master Yun is simply impetuous. If he has offended you, please accept my apology on his behalf, and let's put this matter to rest," the short-haired young man beside Young Master Yun interjected, his face etched with resignation. He shot pleading looks at his friend, signaling for him to dial it back.

But Young Master Yun was beyond caring. Who did this girl think she was? Her arrogance was astounding. He had made a name for himself in H City over the years, earning even Scarface Lee's begrudging respect. Yet she had the audacity to threaten him.

"Fine, it's agreed," Young Master Yun said, a cold smirk spreading across his face, his gaze still fixed on Niu Li, radiating a chilling intensity.

Niu Li remained nonchalant, all the while covertly bantering with the Elf.

"Diaochan, I owe you big time for this one. Without you, I'd be utterly disgraced."

"Now you think of me? What about the woman you're with?" The Elf feigned anger, her eyes wide with mock fury.

Niu Li chuckled. "She's no Diaochan. And this magic of yours—it's like a superpower. Absolutely thrilling."

"Special abilities? It's just a form of magical mental control. I can manipulate many things with my mental energy; it's nothing extraordinary. But you, your mental energy is lacking, so you can't harness this power yet," the Elf said, swelling with pride. Her implication was crystal clear: without the Elf, Niu Li would be helpless.

Niu Li, of course, wouldn't disrespect the Elf. He knew he'd need this little creature's help in the future.

Meanwhile, the three young men monitoring the fifth-floor quarantine zone sensed that something was amiss. With trouble brewing, they quickly vacated the area and dashed toward the eighth floor.

The card dealer was a master of his craft. A deck of cards whirled through his fingers. Then, he methodically dealt the cards into thirteen neat piles, maintaining their order. The count remained unchanged. It was clear; they had no proof of Niu Li's alleged cheating.

Young Master Yun's complexion went ashen, then he forced a cold, mocking laugh. "If his cheating is so sophisticated, he's surely a gambling connoisseur behind the scenes. Our shuffling won't reveal his tricks."

This time, Young Master Yun was picking a fight without cause.

Unruffled, Niu Li gently tugged at the visibly upset Miss Long and asked with a grin, "What's on your mind?"