Chapter 1372: [South Ferry Island] (Lower) – Extra chapter for Feng of the Rainy Mountain Wind

Xiao Rou nodded to her companions; shortly she brought out the dice and smiled, asking, "May I ask your honorable name, sir?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Since we've met by chance, why bother with names? Just remember you'll lose money to me today—I only play high-low. You roll first, then I roll; the higher wins."

Xiao Rou gave a charming smile, tossed three dice into a flawless white jade dish, covered it with the dice cup, and softly said, "We'll just compare high-low; I'll go first." She shook it twice, set it on the table, and smilingly asked, "How much do you wager, sir?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Five thousand!" Although five thousand is the smallest bet, it already amounted to throwing away one-fourth of a ship.

Xiao Rou lifted the cup; everyone stared, seeing all three dice showing six—meaning she was already in an unbeatable position.

Hu Xiaotian also took the cup and shook it; his hearing was exceptional, and from the dice's roll he sensed they hadn't been tampered with beforehand—this girl was no pushover. He shook it a few times, set the cup down, and upon lifting it saw two sixes and a five; Xia Zhangming sighed regretfully.

Xiao Rou laughed delightedly, "Not bad at all, just lacking a bit of luck—you concede, sir!"

Hu Xiaotian said, "I owe five thousand taels."

Xiao Rou nodded and was about to pick up the cup again, but Hu Xiaotian said, "This seems rather dull; why not add a few more dice?"

Xiao Rou asked, "How many more dice would you like, sir?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Add seven more to make ten!" He knew dice experts could often control three dice at will, but the more dice, the harder to control; he instantly raised the total to ten. Xiao Rou looked visibly startled and whispered, "Ten dice are so many—I fear the cup won't even hold them."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Then bring a sea bowl."

Xiao Rou smiled and nodded, "As you wish, sir." She gave a glance to her companion to fetch it. Although she lacked full confidence in controlling ten dice, six should pose no problem.

"How much are you prepared to wager this time, sir?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Fifteen thousand taels!"

Xiao Rou shook the cup; this time she rolled eight sixes and two fives—already quite good.

When it was Hu Xiaotian's turn, Zhao Wusheng and Xia Zhangming both worried, having never heard he liked gambling. This was only the second round, yet they feared their merchant ship would be lost. Hu Xiaotian smiled faintly; dice experts can tell which face is up by hearing and control the roll with subtle technique, yet no gambling master can guarantee full control of ten dice. Though Hu Xiaotian wasn't a seasoned gambler, his deepening grasp of projecting sword qi let him manipulate the dice's direction with internal energy—no trivial feat. He picked up the cup, shook it; his internal energy seeped through the cup into the dice, like invisible fingers flicking them, allowing him to sense their size via internal energy. He shook it repeatedly, then gently set the cup down and slowly opened it, revealing he had rolled nine sixes and a five—a splendid result.

In fact, Hu Xiaotian's move was tantamount to cheating; he wasn't skilled at dice, but his control of internal energy gave him an edge. Although Xiao Rou was formidable, compared to Hu Xiaotian's superb technique and effortless command of internal energy, she still had to yield.

Xia Zhangming cheered, hehe-laughing, "The boss has won!"

Although Xiao Rou was merely a maid, she remained unflustered; she softly said, "Sir, you truly hide your depths, Xiao Jing. Bring the chips over."

If Hu Xiaotian lost, he could owe it, but they demanded immediate payment; the other maid promptly handed over a gold copper coin—this was the chip of the Gold-consuming Den. Whoever won the chip could, upon leaving South Ferry Island, go to a money shop to redeem it for silver or equivalent jewelry, or even carry off a universal banknote. Though the Den was dark, it kept its promises in this regard.

Hu Xiaotian took the chip, saw it indeed bore ten thousand taels, tossed it in his hand and smiled, "Can this ten thousand taels buy you a night's company?"

Xiao Rou had thought he would continue gambling, but she hadn't expected him to say such a thing; her face flushed with embarrassment as she whispered, "I, Xiao Rou, do not sell myself!"

Hu Xiaotian and Zhao Wusheng exchanged a glance and laughed together. "Not selling oneself? Isn't everything in the Gold-consuming Den priced? As long as you can pay, you can find pleasure here. The price must have been insufficient—though this Xiao Rou is indeed a bit lovelier than her companion."

Hu Xiaotian certainly had no interest in wasting such money, and set the chip on the table.

Xiao Rou asked, "Do you still want to gamble, sir?"

Hu Xiaotian nodded, "I've only just gotten interested—how could I quit halfway?"

Xiao Rou said, "But you're clearly bullying me—I've never tried this play before; let's stick to three dice." She wasn't foolish; she knew continuing would surely doom her to loss, whereas with three dice she'd be in an unbeatable position.

Hu Xiaotian laughed, "Three dice it is—high roll wins—and I'll go first this time!"

Xiao Rou's wish fulfilled, she beamed, "How much are you wagering this time, sir?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "Just now it was fifteen thousand taels; there's no reason not to raise it." He placed the chip on the table: "Adding my ship, that makes thirty thousand taels!"

Xiao Rou's smile bloomed like a flower; she gestured, and Hu Xiaotian picked up the cup with only three dice, shook it, set it on the table, and upon lifting it saw three threes—Xia Zhangming and Zhao Wusheng exclaimed in unison, "This is a real drop in standards!"

Xiao Rou grew ever happier, thinking he had merely won by luck earlier; even with her eyes closed, she could beat him based on this performance.

Hu Xiaotian smiled and nodded, showing no regret at all.

Xiao Rou picked up the cup, shook it in her hand, her eyes full of triumph as she gazed at Hu Xiaotian, then lightly set it down on the table—a tap executed with skill that made each die settle on six. Hu Xiaotian rested his hands on the table, seeming somewhat tense; Xia Zhangming and Zhao Wusheng were even more tense, leaning forward to await the result.

Xiao Rou slowly opened the cup, her gaze fixed on Hu Xiaotian, saying, "Sir, admit it!" She felt confident she couldn't miss, but a cry rang out nearby, then she heard Zhao Wusheng and Xia Zhangming burst into joyous laughter. She finally lowered her eyes and saw all three dice showing twos—lower than Hu Xiaotian's roll. She could scarcely believe her eyes, blinked hard, assured she hadn't misseen; her face changed. She believed she couldn't have erred, yet why had she lost? No matter how she pondered, she couldn't fathom the reason, staring blankly at Hu Xiaotian—only then realizing she had encountered a master.

Just then Hu Xiaotian's hand never left the table; the instant Xiao Rou set down the cup, he released his internal energy, altering all the pips—though somewhat unsportsmanlike, in a gambling den victory goes to wit and means.

Xia Zhangming also delighted by this unexpected victory, he laughed, "Quick, bring the money!"

Xiao Rou bit her lip, nodded, and a companion produced three more chips. She was visibly tense, whispering, "Sir, do you want to continue?"

Xia Zhangming whispered, "Boss, we still have business." He indeed felt reluctant; if Hu Xiaotian kept winning, the young lady before them would have no way to explain herself.

Hu Xiaotian also understood the principle of quitting while ahead; he gathered the four large coins, they clinked in his hand, and he smiled, "No more play—first I must attend to matters."

The two beauties, knowing Hu Xiaotian was a master of this art, dared not persist in trying to regain face; they could only offer a respectful farewell as they saw them off.

Just as Hu Xiaotian and his two companions rose to leave, a clear voice sounded, "Why wasn't I notified of an esteemed guest's arrival?"

The two beauties bowed their heads in alarm, "Host!"

Hearing the voice, Hu Xiaotian turned to see a middle-aged scholar slowly emerge from a bamboo path, clad in a deep blue robe, his features gaunt; he bore no trace of a merchant's vulgarity, resembling instead a well-read scholar, followed by two lovely women—both exemplary in appearance and figure.

Hu Xiaotian guessed this was the owner of the Gold-consuming Den; the middle-aged scholar approached him, cupping his hands and saying, "I am the proprietor here; my surname is Xu—may I ask your esteemed name?" He was Xu Fengwu, owner of the Gold-consuming Den.

Seeing others treat him so politely, Hu Xiaotian returned the salute with clasped fists, "I am surnamed Hu; I am currently on business to the Heavenly Fragrance Kingdom, passing through this blessed land, and have troubled you."

Xu Fengwu smiled, "At a glance you're no ordinary person—please take a seat."

Hu Xiaotian thought, "Eighty percent he's just keeping me because I won money," and said with a laugh, "Boss Xu, we have pressing matters; we can't linger."

Xu Fengwu chuckled, "Don't misunderstand, Sir Hu; I kept you only to make your acquaintance, with no other intent." His gaze swept the table; nearby Xiao Rou turned ashen, bowed her head, and dared not utter a sound.

Xu Fengwu glanced at her sharply and said, "You blind fool, dare to neglect a distinguished guest—after all the effort I've invested in you." His palm lightly rested on the table; the three dice in the dish trembled simultaneously and flipped to show sixes.

Hu Xiaotian's heart jolted; this man had clearly seen through the ruse, and this display was clearly meant to intimidate him.

Hu Xiaotian smiled, "Boss Xu, we won't delay your disciplining of your subordinates."

Xu Fengwu sighed, "Sir Hu, you've misunderstood; I mean no disrespect—these girls erred and deserve correction." He told Xiao Rou, "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and clear things away."

Xiao Rou panicked, reaching for the cup on the table, when Xu Fengwu suddenly drew a saber, its cold light flashing—he chopped off her right hand at the wrist in one stroke. Blood spurted like a fountain from her severed wrist; Xiao Rou turned pallid, her body went limp, and she collapsed to the ground. Her sisters stood nearby, yet none dared to help her up.

Thanks to Feng of the Rainy Mountain Wind for rallying to the alliance—hence this extra chapter. I also thank all my supporting brothers and sisters; Zhangyu still owes two alliance leaders' extra chapters, which I'll send soon—mid-month, so shout for a few monthly tickets to show support! If you have monthly tickets, please vote for Zhangyu! (To be continued~^~)