Chapter 445: Lao Lu's Card Skills

I said, "How about this: just perform your best trick."

"Alright, Mr. Zhao." Lao Lu replied immediately.

I had Shi Yong set the table.

I took a deck of playing cards,

then opened it,

I shuffled it once,

after shuffling I handed it to Lao Lu, and Lao Lu shuffled it once as well.

After Lao Lu shuffled,

he passed the cards into my hands,

"Mr. Zhao, shuffle them again."

So I shuffled them again.

After shuffling,

I placed the cards on the table.

"Mr. Zhao, shall I deal?" Lao Lu said, then rolled up the sleeve of his shirt,

exposing two slender arms.

I said, "Sure."

I, Shi Yong, and Ding Li sat beside the table.

"Mr. Zhao, shall we play Three Card Brag?" Lao Lu asked

"What's Three Card Brag?" I asked, confused

"Buddy, it's Three Card Brag. Ah, you don't even know that," Shi Yong said beside us

"Mr. Zhao, Three Card Brag is called Three Card Brag in some places, rat‑pulling, tractor‑pushing, etc., elsewhere; the rules are very simple. I won't explain further," Lao Lu laughed

"I know Three Card Brag; you deal," I said

Lao Lu, with practiced skill, dealt three cards in front of each of us.

I picked up the cards and slowly turned them over,

and found three Kings; in Three Card Brag, getting such a hand is top‑tier

Shi Yong and Ding Li also glanced at their cards cautiously; from their expressions one could see they each had good hands.

Only Lao Lu didn't look at his cards, continuously smoking.

After we all finished looking at our cards,

Lao Lu said, "Mr. Zhao, do you know what hand I have?"

I shook my head.

Lao Lu gently opened his cards,

revealing three Aces.

Ding Li had three Jacks, Shi Yong had three Queens,

I had three Kings.

Lao Lu beat all three opponents.

Lao Lu smiled,

"Mr. Zhao, that was just a small skill of shuffling and dealing. In this way, you can shuffle however you like, deal yourselves, and I can still beat you."

"Impossible, let me try," Shi Yong said.

After speaking, Shi Yong clumsily began shuffling the cards.

Lao Lu merely smoked, squinting his eyes.

In a short while Shi Yong finished shuffling.

Then he dealt the cards one by one to us.

After dealing, I picked up my hand and saw a mixed hand,

such a hand had no point in continuing, showing Shi Yong didn't know the shuffling technique.

After Shi Yong dealt,

he lifted his cards and showed us a pair of sevens with a four; Ding Li also had a mixed hand.

Lao Lu picked up the cards on the table, glanced at them and laid them on the table,

which turned out to be a straight flush in spades.

Shi Yong was somewhat incredulous,

"Impossible, how could I have dealt you a straight flush? You must have cheated."

"Brother Shi Yong, ten bets, nine cheats. Without cheating you can't win," Lao Lu laughed.

"Damn, I finally understand why I lost in Zaocheng; you guys were cheating to win. How did you cheat? Teach me quickly," Shi Yong said, looking at Lao Lu.

At this moment Kong Xiangju and Xiao Wu finished dividing the money and came over,

Kong Xiangju said, "Do you know who my master is? He was the gambling god Liu Ye who once dominated the three northeastern provinces.

He has only recently gone into hiding in the Martial World.

"My master's card skill may not be the world's best, but if he claims second, no one dares to speak up."

"Rumors run wild in the Martial World; these affairs are all fringe, not something one can showcase. Compared with Mr. Zhao's big business, they amount to nothing. We are merely means of making a living," Lao Lu said modestly.

"Lao Lu, having this skill is impressive. We're all about the same, just scraping by for a meal. I don't have any big business either.

But I couldn't see how you switched the cards. Could you demonstrate it again?" I asked.

"Mr. Zhao, I can demonstrate for you, but the technique is not to be passed on. Because you are not an insider. If you understand, say nothing; if you don't, ask many questions—after all, we are the ones who eat." Lao Lu said.

"Alright, Old Lu, I'm just driven by curiosity, don't worry, I won't learn your line of work."

"Everyone walks their own path," I said with a smile.

"Old Lu, take me," Shi Yong said.

"Shi Yong brother, this thing depends on talent; it's not something anyone can just learn. Without talent, effort is wasted,"

"Kong Xiangju has followed me for so many days and has only just learned to shuffle and deal cards—just at the entry level. Shi Yong brother, I advise you to gamble less," Old Lu said.

"Fine, Shi Yong, you want to learn everything. When you met Da Yi Ge, you wanted to learn singing from him. Now that you've met Old Lu, you think about learning tricks from him."

"Actually, I think you should learn video‑shooting from Hou Laoban of the Zaocheng Grand Hotel; you'll definitely become popular," I said to Shi Yong.

Shi Yong, after hearing me finish, slapped his forehead,

"Brother, that's exactly right. With this figure of ours, who wouldn't? How could I not think of it? When I return to Zaocheng, I'll definitely find Hou Laoban. I've decided to develop in that area; I guarantee I'll go viral across the whole net. Compared to those stars, my videos will be better."

After Shi Yong finished speaking, we all laughed heartily.

Old Lu then started shuffling again,

I watched Old Lu's shuffling technique; it wasn't very impressive, not even as good as mine.

He shuffled very slowly.

After shuffling, he placed the cards on the table.

I said, "I'll deal the cards."

Old Lu nodded,

I began dealing the cards.

After dealing,

Old Lu lifted everyone's cards to look at them,

Everyone's cards were ordinary, nothing special.

Old Lu finally opened his own cards,

They were also mixed‑color cards,

One Ace, one 9, one Jack.

I said, "Old Lu, these cards aren't anything. Everyone's about the same."

Old Lu smiled, folded the cards, and put them on the table.

"Mr. Zhao, lift my cards and take a look."

I then opened the cards in front of Old Lu,

These three cards turned into the 7, 8, 9 of hearts.

Straight flush.

"Ah, how did it change? So amazing," Shi Yong shouted.

Old Lu then folded the cards again,

"Mr. Zhao, open them again and see."

Shi Yong, now even more impatient than I, instantly lifted the cards in front of Old Lu,

and they turned out to be three Kings,

turning into a three of a kind.

I kept watching Old Lu's hands closely, but saw nothing.

He was hiding cards, yet both of his arms were exposed.

His hands were also opened for us to see, empty.

Truly, every trade has its champion; his card‑playing is so divine, such a person is rare.

"My master has something even more powerful, Flying Card..." Kong Xiangju said from beside me.

"Talk too much, Xiangju, slap yourself," Old Lu said sternly to Kong Xiangju.

"Yes, master," Kong Xiangju slapped himself with a loud slap without hesitation.

Damn, this family's rules are strict. I thought to myself.

"Mr. Zhao, we walk on the knife's edge, trading lives for money; a slight slip leads to disaster, so we each have our own personal code. Once you enter this door, you're a Martial World person, and as such you follow Martial World rules," Old Lu said.

"Old Lu, you have this skill, why not dominate everywhere? Why are you hanging out with Xiao Wu at Shanghu? I heard southern casinos play on a larger scale.

Why don't you go south and try your luck?" I said with a smile.

"Mr. Zhao, you and Brother Wu are good friends; you have always conducted legitimate business on the white way, while we have always been doing off‑the‑record business.

Different trades are like different mountains; you are at a disadvantage. Now you can no longer rely solely on your skill," Old Lu sighed.