Chapter 103: Station 23: Teeth

Chapter 103: Station 23: Teeth

Servants tiptoed in to set up a large, elongated table.

Just as Yan Qiling was about to sit down, his shoulders suddenly sank under the weight of someone's hands resting on them.

A young man's low voice, infused with breath, whispered close to his ear,

"Have you ever gambled?"

Yan Qiling paused slightly, his lovely twin phoenix eyes gazing back, fixating on the person so near, yet not uttering a word.

Ming Yiyang understood now.

This guy had never gambled before.

It was somewhat surprising that he had managed to live such a long life without indulging in it, but at the same time, it seemed somehow... unsurprising.

Not touching any vices – drinking, whoring, gambling, smoking – where did this saintly young master come from?

The unexpected criticism made a subtle smile flicker in Ming Yiyang's eyes.

Without hesitation, he turned to Elder Madam Bai, who was sitting elegantly on a couch, and said,

"I'll play for him."

"You, for him?"

Elder Madam Bai seemed to be savoring the implications of his words, her smile behind the fan pausing briefly before becoming even more enigmatic.

"Alright then."

She lifted her delicate jade finger and tapped them both lightly.

"But, this way, both of your chances will be counted as one."

"Mr. Yan, are you willing to entrust your fate to someone else?"

Ming Yiyang's heart skipped a beat. He was about to offer Yan Qiling an escape, but before he could say anything, the man at his side answered clearly and confidently,

"Certainly. Invite him in."

The decision was made without any hesitation.

Through the few strands of black hair that fell across the person's forehead, Ming Yiyang could only glimpse the spark in their eyes, unable to discern their true emotions when they responded. Nonetheless, even this was enough to instill a sense of encouragement in him from an unknown source.

He whispered softly,

"I won't let you lose."

Yan Qiling met his gaze and smiled warmly,

"I trust you."

Clapping sounded from the luxurious couch, as the woman tapped her fan gently against her palm. Her smile was ambiguous, yet there was a hint of eager anticipation in her expression as she said,

"What deep affection and loyalty."

Her gaze was fixated on the handsome young man in the hall, his rare silver hair making him appear exceptionally striking.

She used her fan to conceal her increasingly mischievous smile and suddenly said,

"Then, you can trade with your teeth."

At once, a beautiful servant girl presented a tray, upon which rested an intricately designed golden dental forceps. Its jaws looked menacing, yet they were polished to a pristine cleanliness.

Ming Yiyang raised an eyebrow as the tool was placed before him, asking,

"What's the meaning of this?"

"Betting chips,"

Madam Old Bai replied with a hoarse, rough voice,

"Don't you need to place a stake when joining a gambling table? Since the reward is a tooth, it only makes sense that teeth would be used as the chips. What's the issue here?"

Si Shuhao was incredulous:

"But you just said we'd bet on three rounds, not that teeth would be pulled from the start. And one tooth as a stake... How can anyone play like that?!"

"It all depends on how you choose to play."

Mrs. Old Bai gently stroked the golden armor on her fingertips, paying no heed to her criticism:

"In any case, these are the rules. If you're unwilling, you can simply admit defeat, and Grandma will fulfill your wish."

Si Shuhao was infuriated by her self-proclaimed "Grandma."

Diao Qingchang fumbled in his pocket and asked,

"Can it be anyone's tooth?"

Mrs. Old Bai chuckled softly,

"Certainly."

Diao Qingchang immediately perked up, letting out an "Aye" as he eagerly unbuttoned his pocket.

"Relax, relax, the stakes are teeth, right? I've got plenty of them! Ming Yiyang, come here, take as many as you want, there's an endless supply."

He casually pulled out a handful of gleaming white teeth from his pocket, stunning everyone present.

Mrs. Old Bai, seated in the prominent position, immediately changed her expression and sternly demanded,

"How did you get so many teeth?!"

"Oh, oh, last night, Mr. Wen insisted on giving me a gift, so he gave me this small bag of... items. Madam, these teeth are all clean and in perfect condition. Since you said any teeth will do, they're suitable to be used as stakes."

The handsome young man laughed heartily, appearing like an innocent fool,

"Haha, you won't suddenly change your mind later, right?"

Mrs. Old Bai's face darkened slightly, then she revealed a cold smile with hidden intentions,

"Certainly not. However, if you use these teeth for yourself, that's fine. But if you intend to give them to someone else, only one tooth can be used as a stake. Unless... you agree to give him both your first tooth and the chance to bid."

Surprisingly, Diao Qingchang nodded almost without hesitation.

"Certainly, I'm willing. Not only am I willing to give him my first tooth, but Mr. Shi as well, isn't that right?"

Shi Wenguang was slightly dazed. He had just narrowly escaped death the previous night, only to encounter such an absurd matter early in the morning.

However, upon seeing Old Lady Bai's scheming expression, he knew that he didn't stand a chance alone against these inhuman beings.

Understanding this, he no longer hesitated and nodded with a stern face, "Count me in."

Si Shuhao, seeing this, quickly raised his hand, "Then... then, count me in too?"

Old Lady Bai gave a disdainful smile, her beautiful eyes sweeping across the crowd as she affectedly sighed, "How deep your brotherly affection runs... Since that's the case, let me ask, is there anyone else who wishes to offer their teeth and opportunities to Mr. Ming? Oh, but don't forget..."

"The more chips you give him, the more teeth he'll earn. Now, he needs at least 150 teeth to have a chance of turning the tables for this group."

Liao Xinya quickly calculated that earning 150 teeth was impossible.

Starting with five teeth, even if she tripled her stakes and won the jackpot three times, the maximum profit would only be 135 teeth, not to mention the necessary risk of losing at least one round.

If one person were to bet alone for three rounds, the most they could multiply would be to 27 teeth.

According to Old Lady Bai's rule of 30 teeth per person, Liao Xinya had to choose which side would cost her fewer teeth.

If everyone staked all their teeth, starting with eight, a full win could double to 216 teeth.

But this was irrelevant.

It still couldn't cover the losses.

Moreover, the risk was too high; should everything collapse, the loss of teeth would be exponential.

Liao Xinya shook her head and said, "There's a possibility of a margin call. I'll bet with my own."

Suzhou Hao shot a pleading glance, to which Su Bo responded with an apologetic smile:

"I share the same thought as Liao Xinya; let's not put too much pressure on Ming Ge."

Lin Yongjian remained silent throughout.

Finally, Diao Qingchang took out five teeth from his pocket and placed them on the long table, representing their five teeth.

"That will do,"

Old Lady Bai was content with the situation. With her fan fluttering gently, she chuckled and said,

"Let's..."

"Aah, wait a moment!"

Diao Qingchang suddenly clutched his stomach, interrupting the impending incantation. He grabbed the nearby Shi Wen Guang, his face pale with distress.

"Madam, I think I might have eaten something wrong last night. Could I... be excused to attend to a personal matter first?"

Madam Old Bai regarded him with a grim expression, her beautiful face betraying a hint of ferocity.

Diao Qingchang offered her an awkward smile.

She disliked fanning herself and called out,

"Xi Yi."

Xi Yi promptly stepped forward respectfully, escorting this peculiar "matchmaker" away.

After the brief interlude, Madam Old Bai didn't bother with formal announcements and simply said,

"Feng'er, go ahead."

Bai Changfeng bowed towards his mother before leisurely taking his seat at the long table.

Ming Yiyang sat on the other end, sweeping his dangling bangs back to reveal his exquisitely handsome face, unapologetically radiating his own brand of charisma.

Despite the bandage against his cheek, his striking appearance still captivated attention; in fact, the war-worn accessory added a rebellious charm that set him apart from others.

Compared to Yan Qiling, his appearance was devastatingly attractive to these maids and concubines.

His every move exuded an unhesitant decisiveness that perfectly aligned with the common perception of a reliable man's fortitude.

Bai Changfeng clearly noticed this as well. He poured the dice from the cup into his hand, deliberately creating a clattering noise.

The maids and beauties, who had initially dared to admire his handsome face, hurriedly lowered their heads, afraid of catching Bai Changfeng's attention and thereby losing any chance at future prosperity within the residence.

This beginning evidently displeased Bai Changfeng, but what came next annoyed him even more.

Ming Yiyang also emptied the dice from the cup and held them in his palm for inspection. However, he didn't look at the dice; instead, he leaned back leisurely, emanating an unprecedented aura of power.

He didn't appear like a gambler but rather like the house itself.

A few strands of hair, recently pushed behind his ear, now brushed against his forehead, giving him a rakish, untamed charm. Simultaneously, there was an air of nonchalance about him, the kind that made him the most troublesome opponent in a casino, someone who seemed capable of pulling off unexpected surprises at any moment.

With his purple irises exposed, he openly watched Bai Changfeng's actions, audaciously shaping the corners of his lips into a winner's confident smile, one that bespoke certainty of triumph.

Bai Changfeng despised such individuals the most.

He was different from ordinary gamblers; he was someone who could alter his fate with his own skills. With the assistance of a divine entity, he had become virtually invincible, rarely experiencing defeat.

Even if he did lose, he would recover all his losses in the next round.

It had been a long time since he had seen such a smile that made him want to tear it apart immediately.

It was a challenging smirk, one belonging to an experienced player. Now, he was determined to make the man across from him lose so badly that he wouldn't be able to smile, let alone cry!

Ming Yiyang finished his inspection and threw the dice into the cup with a clatter. He then snapped the cup down onto the board with a satisfying slap, his movements fluid and visually captivating.

Leaning back in his chair, he gestured towards Bai Changfeng with a polite invitation, "The guest follows the host's lead. Please go first, Mister Bai."

The striking young man moved at a leisurely pace, exuding grace and elegance.

Even without doing anything extra, he commanded the attention of everyone in the room.

Bai Changfeng's focus had shifted entirely from the allure of the black-haired beauty to the crucial task of making Ming Yiyang suffer a humiliating defeat.

He revealed a chilling smile, the darkness beneath his eyes making him appear somewhat neurotic.

"Then I won't hold back, Mr. Ming."

"Better not regret it."

The tension was palpable, like gunpowder ready to ignite.