King of Gamblers: Growing from a Student to a Jade King

I had formulated a plan and was ready to execute it, though a lingering doubt nagged at me—how far could I truly rely on Four Eyes? He was an unpredictable variable, and that uncertainty worried me the most.

We had propelled him to his position, orchestrated the downfall of his predecessor, and kept that secret between us. To him, we were both benefactors and potential enemies. How he would perceive us, how we could use him, was pivotal.

"Come to my place tonight," Malan said softly.

There was a seductive charm in her voice, tinged with apology. She reached around me and pinched my cheek, though the pain in my back was sharp and tearing. Knowing the night would likely spiral into chaos if I agreed, I declined. "I can't. I have something important tonight."

Malan looked at me, displeasure flickering across her face. Eventually, she relented, muttering, "Fine, I understand…"

She turned and walked away, her back exuding a cold detachment. As I watched her retreat, my thoughts wandered to Ma Qing. Her aloofness and prideful demeanor stood in stark contrast to Malan's willingness to care about my feelings. Why couldn't Ma Qing, just once, show a shred of warmth instead of always watching my struggles with an icy smirk, as though warning me not to expect otherwise?

"What's the plan, Brother Fei?" Zhao Kui asked.

Glancing at the clock, I noted it was nearing midnight. "Prepare the car. We're going to find Four Eyes."

Rain began to patter against the window as Zhao Kui checked outside. Without a word, he pulled the car to the front door. Wang Gui held an umbrella over me as we stepped out into the downpour. The rain intensified, drenching the city in an almost suffocating downpour as we drove toward Four Eyes' hotel.

The rain-slicked streets were eerily quiet, the deluge washing over the bustling city of Ruili. No matter the hour, there were always people gambling, striving, fighting their battles.

The car stopped at the hotel's rear entrance. I called Four Eyes, and he answered. Soon, we saw him emerge, cradling a child, speaking softly to a woman before sending her off to the parking lot. Zhao Kui flashed the car lights twice, and Four Eyes walked toward us.

Wang Gui stepped out, opening the door while scanning the surroundings. Only when the coast was clear did Four Eyes enter. Wang Gui stayed outside, umbrella in hand, keeping watch.

I handed Four Eyes a tissue, and he took it to wipe the rain from his clothes. "Thank you," he said.

I smiled. "It's me who should be thanking you for the warning."

Surprised, he glanced at me. "Too late, though. When I saw you there, I knew trouble was brewing."

Four Eyes had changed—matured, like me. Gone was the flamboyance, replaced by a subdued demeanor. Adjusting his glasses, he said, "I'm sorry. Those women were from my circle. Slim Monkey approached me, asking for a few to have fun with. I didn't know they were targeting you until he called me to watch the show."

I laughed, then changed the subject, pointing to the car outside. "Your wife and child, huh? Cute kid."

Four Eyes stiffened. "Don't involve my family."

His defensiveness revealed his vulnerability, his family being both his weakness and his boundary. "Do you think keeping them by your side makes them safer?" I asked.

He removed his glasses, his expression darkening. "At least I can see them every moment. That brings me peace."

I smirked. "I also have loved ones. But I keep them away. Closer proximity only invites danger. If anyone tries to harm me, I'll ruin them, completely. That's how I ensure their safety. Now, if I were here to seek revenge, do you think you alone could protect your wife and child?"

Four Eyes said nothing, his silence speaking volumes.

"But I'm not here to harm you," I reassured him. "Slim Monkey, however, might not hold back. He's ambitious and has unresolved issues with Lord Seven. Conflict is inevitable, and when it comes, it won't just be about fun. Have they asked you to move goods?"

Swallowing hard, Four Eyes nodded. "When Liu Qiang worked with them, I only managed the women in the clubs. Now that I've taken his place, they want me to handle their cargo too, offering me a cut of three percent."

"Don't get involved," I warned. "What Lord Seven did to me today is something you never want to experience."

Four Eyes grimaced. "If I refuse, they'll come for me. Slim Monkey's already threatened to kill my wife and child if I don't comply."

"So we share a common enemy," I said with a grin. "I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?" he asked.

"Bring Chen Xi to a gambling event. The location is Dachang Jade Market. I'll let you know the time."

Four Eyes agreed, stepping out of the car and walking toward the silver sedan waiting nearby. Through the window, I glimpsed the worried face of the woman inside. As their car disappeared into the rain, I felt a pang of empathy.

This world is a place of shadows, where lives are entangled in power plays and desperation. Four Eyes, thrust into leadership, now endangered his family. It wasn't what he wanted, nor was it what I wished for.

Why must there be darkness? Why is greed so insatiable? If I must walk this shadowed path, then I will master it. Otherwise, it will consume me.

The night crept on under the torrential rain. By morning, the sky remained overcast. My bar was closed, its interior bustling with staff tidying up. I stood at the entrance, my back throbbing with an unbearable ache. Changing the dressing did little to ease the pain.

I was waiting—waiting for Huahua to deliver the stones. I hoped Old Bull himself would come, the man who caused my father's death.

Old Bull, a man no one suspected to be part of Nong Island, had deceived countless people with his unassuming demeanor as a jade merchant. Many had been ruined under his blade, their lives shattered. I was one of them.

As I watched the rain pour relentlessly, a cargo truck approached. My heart raced, only to sink when I saw Huahua, disguised in plain worker's attire.

"The goods are here. Unload them," she said.

zhaokui and wanggui began unloading the stones. I joined Huahua in the truck, questioning her. "Where's your father? How can I trust these stones?"

She smirked. "If you fail, you're not the only one who'll pay the price. I'll be here until your gambling event concludes. You can always find me."

I watched her leave, her audacity both frustrating and admirable. She had guts, I'll give her that.

Inside the bar, I crouched beside a massive stone, rain-washed and rough, running my hand over its surface. If only it were real. Damn it, what a waste…