Chapter 19: Shen Zhihan Takes His Hand

“Lin Mo!” Zhihan seized his arm, her palm cold. “Are you insane? Do you know what you’re saying?”

She might still have room to negotiate a fifty-million-yuan debt, but he was staking his life. She was moved that he would take such a risk and determined not to let him.

He turned to her worried face and smiled, patting the back of her hand. “Don’t worry, Ms. Shen. I know what I’m doing. Just watch.”

She wanted to argue, but his certainty stopped her. They had known each other only days, and he was merely her driver and bodyguard. Why did she trust him so much?

At last she let go and stepped back. “Be careful.”

“I will. I need to stay alive to collect my bonus.” He looked down at Yang Biao. “Do you accept? If not, I’ll cripple you now.”

Yang coughed and wiped blood from his mouth. Malice flashed in his eyes. Then he laughed, his face contorted. “You’ve got guts, kid. If you want to die, I’ll oblige!”

The boy could fight, but gambling was another matter. Yang had spent more than a decade at Bailu Manor and knew every trick a cheat could play. At the table, he was certain he could crush Lin Mo, kill him under cover of the wager, and force Zhihan to submit. Two problems solved at once.

“Help me up!” Two men supported him to his feet. He clutched his chest, grimaced, and glared at Lin Mo. “Name the game. I’ll play whatever you want.”

Lin Mo sat at the table and crossed his legs. “One round. Winner takes all.”

“One round?”

“Afraid?”

Yang laughed wildly. “Afraid of you at a gambling table? Bring the cards!”

A man opened a new deck and spread all fifty-four cards face down in a fan. Yang sat opposite, arms folded. “How do we play?”

“Simple. We each draw one. Higher card wins. I’m in a hurry.”

“That’s it? You think that gives you good odds?”

“Less talk. You draw first.” Lin Mo leaned back with his hands behind his head.

Zhihan stood behind him, gripping her clothes. He had saved her life and was now risking his own. She was touched, but terrified of what would happen if he lost. Mingxuan cowered behind her, barely daring to breathe.

“You’re out of your depth, kid.” Yang ran his fingers over the cards, selected one, and flashed Lin Mo a smug smile before turning it over: the king of spades.

He slapped it down. “Sorry. Unless you draw an ace or a joker, your life is mine.” He looked past Lin Mo at Zhihan. “And Miss Shen, you’ll have to keep me company later.”

Her face tightened, her palms slick with sweat. Mingxuan’s legs nearly gave way. “We’re finished…”

“What’s the rush?” Lin Mo brushed his fingers along the cards, apparently unconcerned. A faint gold light flashed in his eyes.

Since awakening the Divine Emperor bloodline, he had discovered he could see through objects. As his command of the Divine Emperor Scripture deepened, he could even see a person’s bones and the flow of blood. A deck of cards was easy. He located the red joker: seventh card in the third column from the left.

Yang drummed his fingers. “Hurry up! Scared? You can still surrender. Kneel and kowtow three times, and I might only cripple one hand. As for Miss Shen…”

Lin Mo selected a card as if at random and set it on the table. “Turn it over.”

“Trying to look mysterious?” Yang reached for it. “You’re going to—”

He stopped. His smile froze. The card was red: the high joker.

The room fell silent. Yang stared, veins bulging at his temples. “Impossible!” He slammed the table and rose. “You cheated!”

“Cheated?” Lin Mo picked up the card, examined both sides, and held it up. “Your man opened the deck, and you drew first. I hadn’t even touched it. How did I cheat?”

Yang shook with anger, then clutched his injured chest in pain.

“Sis, we won!” Mingxuan shouted. “I don’t have to pay the fifty million!”

Zhihan stood stunned for several seconds, then looked from Lin Mo to the furious Yang. The tension left her body. She exhaled, unclenched her fists, and smiled.

“Honor the wager.” Lin Mo tossed the joker down. “The debt is canceled. I’m taking them.” He went to Zhihan and winked. “Let’s go, Ms. Shen.”

She nodded, visibly moved, and unexpectedly took his hand. The softness startled him. Was this her reward?

“Wait!” Yang forced out through clenched teeth.

Lin Mo stopped. “You run a casino and can’t accept a loss?”

“I’ll remember this. Pray you never fall into my hands.”

“No need to worry about me.” Lin Mo turned, put his hands in his pockets, and led the siblings away. “If you want revenge, I’ll be waiting.”

The remark made Yang spit blood. His men rushed to support him while Lin Mo left in full view of the casino. Once word spread, his name would be known throughout Beicheng’s underground gambling world.

…