Chapter 631: Back Soon

Qi Xia lowered his head, rubbing his forehead as the intense dizziness lingered and refused to fade.

After walking through the corridor, he looked up and was surprised to see many familiar faces in front of him.

"You...?"

"Lao Qi!"

"Pian Ren Zi!"

Chen Jun Nan and Qiao Jia Jing approached with joyful expressions, giving Qi Xia a quick once-over before breathing a sigh of relief. Although he looked a bit exhausted, he was completely unharmed.

"You've got some skills, kid!" Chen Jun Nan said. "We both thought you were done for!"

Qi Xia didn't explain his encounter with Xu Liu Nian; instead, he felt that the situation seemed a bit off.

He slowly furrowed his brow, trying his best to think clearly: "Why are all of you here...?"

Things that were too coincidental were often not coincidences at all. Qi Xia found it strange, but unlike before, he couldn't immediately figure out what was wrong.

"It was a big Di Shu that brought us here," Chen Jun Nan whispered. "He said that this monkey... has some issues..."

Chen Jun Nan avoided speaking too directly, opting to phrase it as vaguely as possible to inform Qi Xia.

Qi Xia nodded after hearing this and asked, "Did that Di Shu start his sentences with 'leader'?"

"Yeah, yeah!" Qiao Jia Jing nodded. "That Di Shu brother talks in a really weird way! Do you know him?"

Qi Xia nodded; of course, he remembered that Di Shu.

It was one of the "pins" he had set up in this round, and Qi Xia had carefully observed the Di Shu—he possessed some wisdom and wasn't your average "Di Ji." If Qi Xia could bring him under his command, it would likely be a huge help, especially since he had probably already won the Di Shu's trust.

So, the Di Shu's actions this time could be well-intentioned or at least beneficial to the bigger picture.

"So, what are you all gathered here for?" Qi Xia asked. "Don't you need to play the game?"

"This game..."

The five of them exchanged glances. While being surrounded by their own people felt reassuring, it also meant that no matter how "Dao" circulated, their numbers wouldn't increase—in fact, things would get harder because of the need to "redeem" themselves.

With six of their own, they would need a total of sixty "Dao." Who could earn that many in a Di Ji game?

Qiao Jia Jing and Chen Jun Nan both turned their eyes to Qi Xia.

Yes, only he could do it.

They briefly explained the basics of the game to Qi Xia. After listening, he just rubbed his head and nodded, clearly not in the best shape.

As they talked, they glanced over at the ground monkey not far away; it was already dozing off behind the counter, snoring away. Clearly, the nine-to-five routine didn't suit a casino boss.

"I get it," Qi Xia said. "It's a real 'intellect' game. No one who comes here could have ten 'Dao' on them, so the core is how to win other people's 'Dao.' Every day, people lose everything here, and there are plenty of deaths."

Xiao Cheng watched this third stranger—after Qiao Jia Jing and Chen Jun Nan—with some unease, sensing that something wasn't right.

His pocket was flat, meaning he didn't have any "Dao" either. Did that mean all the "participants'" entry fees had to come from Xiao Cheng's initial fifteen "Dao"?

Just then, Qi Xia looked up and met Xiao Cheng's eyes: "And this is?"

The group gave Qi Xia a quick introduction to Xiao Cheng and also filled him in on their current "financial troubles."

"I see," Qi Xia replied. "So, what we need now is some 'capital.'"

"Yes," Xiao Cheng said with a heavy expression, nodding. "Even though you're all acquaintances, I really can't just hand over that many 'Dao' to strangers. I want to stay alive too."

"I understand."

As Qi Xia spoke, he kept massaging his forehead. Qiao Jia Jing and Chen Jun Nan couldn't help but worry.

"Pian Ren Zi, is your head hurting again?"

"No..." Qi Xia answered. "This time, it's not just a headache... My whole state feels a bit off."

"Off...?"

"Never mind that," Qi Xia said, turning back to Xiao Cheng. "You mentioned earlier that you all participated in the 'Ren Hou' game yesterday?"

"Yes, it's not far from here," Tian Tian added. "When we passed by today, we saw the 'Ren Hou' still trying to gather 'participants.'"

"I understand," Qi Xia said to Tian Tian. "Tell me the location of the 'Ren Hou,' and I'll go and be right back."

His words "go and be right back" left everyone in a brief silence.

Xiao Cheng quickly said, "Brother... Are you planning to go to the 'Ren Hou' site to earn some 'Dao'? I can tell you how to solve that game—it..."

"No need," Qi Xia replied, waving his hand while rubbing his forehead. "Just tell me the location and give me the bag. I'll go get some 'Dao.'"

Xiao Cheng found this person's demeanor a bit odd but couldn't persuade him otherwise, so he just shared the location of the "Ren Hou."

After listening, Qi Xia headed out the door. Just as he was about to leave, he turned back and said, "Don't do anything until I get back. Wait for me—it won't be long."

"This..." Xiao Cheng hesitated for a moment before saying, "The 'Ren Hou' site requires an entry fee... Do you have 'Dao'?"

"An entry fee...? No need." Qi Xia turned away and waved goodbye to the group.

Watching his retreating figure, Xiao Cheng's expression was different from the others'.

Chen Jun Nan and Qiao Jia Jing casually found chairs nearby and sat down, chatting idly within seconds. Tian Tian pulled Zheng Ying Xiong along to check out the various facilities around.

They seemed completely unconcerned.

"W-wait... Are you all really that relaxed about this?" Xiao Cheng asked. "That guy..."

"Relax, it's fine," Qiao Jia Jing said, waving his hand. "Xiao Cheng, want to play some Landlord with us? We can play without betting 'Dao'—it's just for fun. I just learned it; come practice with me."

"Landlord?" Xiao Cheng's eyes widened instantly. "Wait... Your teammate is heading to the 'Ren Hou' site without a single 'Dao'! Even if he's really skilled and wins every time, he can't even get in the door right now!"

"Pian Ren Zi said he can do it, so he can," Qiao Jia Jing said, holding a deck of cards and smiling as he beckoned Xiao Cheng over. "Come on, let's play."

Xiao Cheng walked over doubtfully and sat down next to Qiao Jia Jing and Chen Jun Nan, feeling that the whole situation was utterly absurd and beyond his imagination. Even if this man could crack the "Ren Hou" game, the most he could win in one go was two "Dao" as a reward.

What made him so confident he could return empty-handed with enough "chips"?

But about an hour and a half later, something even more unexpected happened to Xiao Cheng.

Qi Xia returned calmly, and when he dumped over a dozen "Dao" from the bag onto the table in front of everyone, Xiao Cheng's mouth hung open in disbelief.