Chapter Eighty: The Fence-Sitter Who Sways Both Ways

“There are only sixty pieces of rough jade left now!”

“The end is near—why bother with pointless arguments here?” Su Li let out a cold snort, turning to look at the remaining sixty stones, a flash of determination in her eyes.

“Fine, let’s continue the gamble and see who laughs last!”

I stared at her icily, though my mind was already made up. No matter the outcome, I wouldn’t let Su Li walk away so easily. What she owed me, she must repay in full.

As the game went on, the atmosphere grew ever more tense. Each slice into a stone felt as though it was cutting into our very destinies.

“Wang Hu, you’ll regret this,” Su Li murmured, her eyes steely with resolve.

“Su Li, the one who regrets won’t be me,” I replied coolly, my gaze sharp as a blade.

The gamble pressed on, the invisible gears of fate turning silently. No one could predict how it would all end.

But I glanced at Old Leopard Chen and nodded. He met my eyes with a look of his own, one of unspoken understanding.

“Let’s continue!”

Su Li reminded us from the side.

Lu Yier spoke up on his end.

The stone gambling continued.

Twenty stones per round.

Only sixty left!

After one round, twenty stones were gone in an instant!

Two rounds passed...

Su Li actually held her ground against Old Leopard Chen—and even made a small gain!

When only twenty stones remained...

Old Leopard Chen had just over seven million left.

On Su Li’s side, combined with my funds, we still had fifty million!

But only twenty stones were left.

This time, Su Li called for a halt once more.

“Now I demand that Old Leopard Chen replenish his funds, otherwise he is breaking the rules!”

Su Li turned to Lu Yier. “I have every reason to prove that Old Leopard Chen doesn’t have enough funds to cut the remaining twenty stones! I demand he provide at least thirty million more, or he must withdraw automatically!”

She finished with a cold laugh, looking at Lu Yier. “Don’t forget, these are your rules. Old Leopard Chen has to follow them. Insufficient funds isn’t an excuse. Even if Wang Hu objects, Chen must withdraw!”

Lu Yier frowned slightly at her words and turned to look at me.

“Old Leopard Chen, since Su Li has made this request, what do you say?” Lu Yier asked in a deep voice.

Old Leopard Chen’s face was grim, clearly displeased with Su Li’s relentless pressure, but he also knew the rules could not be broken.

He was silent for a moment, then spoke coldly, “Miss Su, you’re quite interesting. It seems you won’t rest till I’m finished, is that it? Very well, I’ll top up the funds.”

With that, he looked around at all of us.

“Now, I’ll sign the last life-and-death wager of this match!”

“Since the rules say I can’t add funds, then I’ll wager my life against you!”

“Miss Su, I’ll stake my life for thirty million. Is that acceptable to you?”

Su Li was startled by his words, but quickly regained her composure. She smiled lightly, as if she’d expected this.

After all, he had no other way out.

Gao Youde might have slipped away, but Old Leopard Chen would never do so.

He was one of the gambling stone world’s leading figures in this city. If he let a young woman humiliate him like this, how would he ever live it down?

“Fine. Since you’re so determined, Old Leopard Chen, I’m not afraid to accept your bet,” Su Li said icily. “But I have one condition as well.”

She paused, her gaze sharp as lightning. “If you lose, I want not just thirty million, but thirty percent of all your gambling stone businesses!”

Old Leopard Chen’s face darkened further, but he did not back down.

He knew that any retreat at this moment meant utter defeat. He took a deep breath and nodded.

“Agreed,” he replied coldly. “But if I win, you are never to set foot in the gambling stone world again.”

Su Li nodded without hesitation. “It’s a deal.”

The hall exploded in excitement, every gaze fixed on this life-and-death wager.

Old Leopard Chen, a legend of the stone-gambling world, was betting his very life. In that moment, everyone’s heart was in their throat.

“What a show!” someone whispered with awe.

“If Old Leopard Chen loses, it’ll be a tragedy. The whole stone-gambling world will be turned upside down!”

“But who is this Su Li anyway? Why is she so domineering? I’ve never seen her before!”

“A young woman, staking so much with no one behind her? Where did she come from?”

Lu Yier announced, “Since both parties accept the terms, the gamble will continue!”

The stone-cutting knives fell again, each cut sounding like a knell of fate.

The first stone revealed worthless dregs—an uproar swept the crowd.

The second, then the third—both were also useless.

Su Li’s expression grew grave, while sweat began to bead on Old Leopard Chen’s forehead.

Just as everyone began to think the match would end in a draw, Old Leopard Chen suddenly revealed a brilliant piece of jadeite. Cheers erupted throughout the hall.

“My god, it’s Imperial Green!” someone exclaimed.

Now, only sixteen stones remained!

To find even one stone among the sixteen that could rival Imperial Green was a slim chance at best.

And Old Leopard Chen might yet find something even better!

Su Li’s face darkened further. She knew every remaining cut would be critical.

She took a deep breath and signaled for the cutting to continue.

The fifth stone—still worthless.

Su Li’s brow was furrowed, her heart praying in silence.

The sixth stone was opened—again, nothing of value.

The tension in the room was palpable, the air almost solid.

“Su Li, is this the extent of your skill?” Old Leopard Chen sneered, his tone mocking.

A moment ago, the funds stood at fifty million to thirty million; now, in a flash, they were both at forty million!

Su Li ignored his taunts and motioned to cut another stone.

The seventh—her heart sank to its lowest ebb, and cold sweat soaked her back.

At that moment, I cleared my throat lightly. “Pick that one out of order.”

I pointed to one of the remaining stones.

My gesture made Old Leopard Chen’s face darken instantly.

On Su Li’s side, she glared at me, her expression stormy. “Wang Hu, what do you mean by this? Are you planning to play both sides?”

I sneered, “You have ability, but you’re still missing something. If you trust me, cut that one. If not, there’s nothing more I can do.”

Su Li looked at me, unsure of my intentions.

But I knew for certain—I had disrupted her rhythm.

“You two set this up to trap me. Don’t think I don’t know!” Su Li gritted her teeth at me.

I simply looked at her and spoke slowly, “Tell me where you’re keeping Xiao Mi. If you do, I’ll tell you which one of these stones is top Imperial Green!”