Chapter 105: Station 23: The Second Round

Chapter 105: Station 23: The Second Round

Lin Yongjian couldn't hold back and whispered a warning in a low voice:

"Ming, Yi, Yang! Don't push it!"

"What's so excessive about this?"

Ming Yiyang casually flipped the cup upside down on the table, the sound echoing like a decisive strike to seal the deal:

"Teacher Yan can sit if he likes."

As a result, everyone else's gazes shifted to Yan Qiling, waiting to see if he "liked" it.

Yan Qiling remained calm and composed, his smile radiant.

He said,

"Let's put a cushion down."

The servant actually fetched a cushion and placed it on Ming Yiyang's lap, and Yan Qiling unexpectedly sat down just like that.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

Bai Changfeng's heart ached. He had assumed that this charming young man was unattached, but to his surprise, he turned out to be the beloved of that rascal across from him. He couldn't find a more captivating man in the entire mansion, and now he despised him to the core!

Having suffered a defeat in love, Bai Changfeng found success in his career. He soon discovered that he could now perceive the situation inside Ming Yiyang's cup!

The chaotic dice were arranged randomly, seemingly business as usual.

Bai Changfeng took a deep breath.

This time, he mimicked Ming Yiyang, slapping the table and causing the cup to vibrate. He reached out with both hands, gripping the upper and lower ends of the cup, and began to shake it frantically.

The noise it produced didn't bother the spectators but rather seemed to target the cup in Ming Yiyang's hand!

The youth calmly used his index finger to press against the upper half of the cup.

With just this simple action, Bai Changfeng realized that the scene inside the cup was completely shielded from view, and once again, he was unable to see what was inside!

This time, Ming Yiyang seemed to be playing a game, casually spinning the dice cup with his index finger, the sound of the dice rolling rough and muted, as if he wasn't applying much force at all.

Bai Changfeng felt insulted.

But it didn't matter. He believed his spiritual energy had surged into the opponent's dice – without the dice, how could this person compete against him?

He gritted his teeth and slapped the dice cup down on the table with a loud smack!

As if on purpose, Ming Yiyang also gradually stopped his spinning motion, coincidentally halting at the same time as Bai Changfeng.

They stared at each other, victory shining vividly in the depths of their eyes.

Yet, a crimson tinge of ruthlessness flickered in Bai Changfeng's gaze, while Ming Yiyang's eyes gradually shimmered with a fine, diamond-like radiance.

Neither of them made the first move to lift the dice cup.

To outsiders, their rivalry appeared intense, but in reality, Ming Yiyang's focus was mostly on his own legs.

The tangible weight of Yan Qiling pressing down through the cushion lent him an unprecedented sense of security, as if he had already won the game.

With one hand gently resting on the cold waist of the person before him, the smooth silk in his palm seemed to flow like water, delicate and fragile enough to make him worry if the calluses on his palm might damage the silk threads.

Just then, the icy body leaned back abruptly.

Ming Yiyang instinctively reached out to hold the person close. He saw Yan Qiling tilt up his delicate chin with a smile on his lips:

"Prince Bai, this kind of betting is rather dull. How about we try guessing the number on each other's dice?

White Changfeng's eyes lit up:

"What's the stake?"

Yan Qiling chuckled softly:

"If I guess correctly, this round counts as five times my chips. If I'm wrong, it'll be five times yours."

White Changfeng narrowed his eyes:

"Well, now that you've made a proposal, I should ask for something too, right? What about teeth? I have plenty of those in my possession."

Yan Qiling's arm elegantly looped around the silver-haired youth's neck, gently resting on the other shoulder with an alluring subtlety.

"Sure, what does Prince White desire?"

White Changfeng's initially sluggish desires rekindled. Before he could speak, Madam Old Bai, seated above, lightly waved her fan and smiled, saying,

"Well then... perhaps Mister Yan could henceforth become my honored guest, abstaining from worldly affairs from this point on?"

White Changfeng's lewd intentions were immediately extinguished by his mother's words, causing his expression to darken. However, he dared not say much in response.

But Yan Qiling did not agree.

"It would be imposing too much, Madam, to use this as a wager."

"Is that so? I don't perceive it that way," the woman replied with a smile, hiding her teeth behind her fan.

"Since Mister Yan is concerned, I shall make a concession. If my son wins, you, Mister Yan, will swear to the heavens on the spot that you will no longer interfere in matters within my domain, how about that?"

Yan Qiling inquired,

"Madam is truly determined to use this as leverage for our negotiation?"

Lady Old Bai idly twirled the edge of her fan,

"Mr. Yan, I've already made two concessions for you. You can't possibly not make any. Speaking of which, if it comes down to armed confrontation, it would be a lose-lose situation. You might come out unscathed, but those behind you might not fare as well..."

Ming Yiyang sensed the pressure of Yan Qiling's grip on his shoulder and stiffly reached out to gently pat his lower back, a gesture to reassure him.

But in the end, Yan Qiling yielded,

"Alright."

Bai Changfeng was displeased and gave the beauty before him a cold smile,

"After Mother has had her say, I too have a condition. Number guessing is fine, but you guess my number, not the other way around. Moreover, the points in your bug containers must be higher than mine, equality is not acceptable! That will count as your defeat."

Yan Qiling remained silent, but Bai Changfeng noticed that his mother also didn't speak, which he took as tacit approval to proceed.

With confidence brimming, he declared,

"Five times the stakes, isn't that a reasonable request?"

After a moment of contemplation, Yan Qiling gave a chilly smile and said,

"It seems Young Master Bai is rather fearful that we might roll another triple, hence this rule. Either we revise the rule for triples, or I won't accept this additional condition."

Bai Changfeng had indeed suggested this due to concerns about another triple, but now that his opponent had exposed his motive, he couldn't hide it any longer. He had no choice but to concede,

"If your total is exactly one point higher than mine, then it counts as a triple."

Yan Qiling's objective achieved, he replied promptly,

"Agreed, but from now on, both of you will re-roll your dice."

"Absolutely not an issue!"

Bai Changfeng rolled the dice anew, while Ming Yiyang, following Yan Qiling's instructions, casually shook the dice according to his mood.

Two betting pots slammed onto the table, and Bai Changfeng gripped his own pot tightly with a chilling smile,

"Go ahead and reveal first."

His request was illogical, but it suited his interests.

He absolutely couldn't allow Ming Yiyang to have a leopard in this round; otherwise, the fivefold reward would instantly multiply to ten times!!

Ming Yiyang didn't immediately lift the lid but instead embraced the person in his arms and leaned closer, asking:

"Would you like to open it?"

Yan Qiling leaned against his shoulder, speaking with a detached tone:

"Go ahead and open it."

Five dice, each showing six dots, were arranged in a line, accompanied by a sprinkle of white powder nearby.

Bai Changfeng glanced at them before looking at Yan Qiling.

"Guess," Yan Qiling said nonchalantly.

"With a Grand Slam," White Changfeng laughed heartily.

"You know I have a Grand Slam, so you should also be aware that you've lost."

He casually opened the dice cup, revealing six six-sided dice, all showing the number six, before everyone's eyes.

With this, neither Ming Yiyang nor the one who had pledged their teeth would be able to turn the tables!

Shi Wen Guang's face was as pale as ash, while Si Shuhao stroked his chin in deep thought.

Only Ming Yiyang gazed at the dice before him, letting out a soft laugh laced with irony and a hint of obscure contempt.

"It seems that Young Master Bai's luck is better than mine..."

"Just a bit off."

No sooner had he finished speaking when another dice tumbled out of the cup in his hand. Under everyone's watchful eyes, it came to a stop, landing on the side with the number 6!

Now, six 6s were lined up before him, just like Bai Changfeng, a grand slam!

"What's so different? You're in the same position as me! Didn't you forget that we agreed the leopard had to be one point larger than mine? You've already lost!"

Bai Changfeng laughed triumphantly, but Ming Yiyang raised an eyebrow and shook the lid of his cup.

Snap.

Another dice rolled out, coming to rest on the side with the number 1.

"There's no need to rush, Prince Bai."

The silver-haired youth was nonchalant, leaning back and wrapping an arm around the man beside him. He laughed with abandon:

"Isn't there still one more dice?"

Bai Changfeng seemed to have been struck by a tremendous blow, and he abruptly stood up, his face contorted as he exclaimed,

"It's impossible! You cheated!!! We all had six dice, but you have seven! How is that possible?!"

"Yes, how could it be possible. But there it is in the gongzhong, what can we do about it?"

Ming Yiyang rose calmly, gathering all the teeth on the table into his own pile of chips as if he found nothing to argue about,

"Besides, the gongzhong was prepared by your Bai family. I didn't bring any dice when I came. How could I have cheated? Perhaps it was your revered deity's aid that made your maid accidentally add an extra one while washing the dice?"

Bai Changfeng was nearly beside himself with rage,

"This is cheating! This doesn't count, the competition is null and void!"

Yan Qiling, however, smiled. His heterochromatic eyes glanced at the enigmatic Elder Lady Bai, who was lounging on the couch,

"It might be too late to call it off. Some oaths, once made, cannot be taken back. Elder Lady Bai, wouldn't you agree?"

Elder Lady Bai's response was a cold and detached remark:

"Place their stakes for them."

Ming Yiyang had wagered all fifteen teeth in one go and, as a result, he now held a total of 165 teeth, including his initial investment – a sudden windfall indeed.

However, despite this, neither of the two displayed any obvious signs of joy, unlike others would have.

Shi Wenguang was taken aback by the unexpected turn of events. The second round had unexpectedly allowed all the "investors" to recoup their losses. Overjoyed, he wished for Ming Yiyang to stop immediately, but to his surprise, Ming Yiyang placed another fifty teeth on the table!

His first instinct was to intervene.

"Ming Yiyang, how can you stake everyone's teeth? We've already gained more than enough..."

Ming Yiyang glanced back at him briefly, replying,

"If it's not your profit, stay quiet. Focus on the matter at hand."

Shi Wenguang was furious but also aware that he was powerless to change the situation.

Just then, Lady Old Bai, sitting at the head of the table, suddenly burst into a frail and aged laughter. The contrast between her laughter and her youthful beauty made it all the more eerie.

Her vermilion lips curled as she spoke:

"It's simply uninteresting to bet against my son alone. For the final round, Mr. Ming, I invite you to join the table with — oh, Mr. Lin. It would indeed make the game more intriguing, don't you think?"

Although her question at the end seemed to seek his opinion, it was clear that she wasn't truly asking for consent. With a casual wave of her hand, she said:

"Changfeng, step aside and let Mr. Lin take your place."

White Changfeng was reluctant, but he dared not defy his mother's command. He reluctantly set down the dice cup and retreated.

In his stead, Lin Yongjian, standing in the crowd with a stunned expression, stepped forward hesitantly.

He didn't immediately approach the table.

Old Madam White, however, was quite pleased with the current situation:

"In that case, the stakes and rules remain the same as before. The teeth left behind by my son will serve as Mr. Lin's initial capital, which can be seen as a loan from him — Mr. Lin, there will be no interest charged for this round. Please, take your seat."

"To both of you, place your bets."