King of Gamblers: Growing from a Student to a Jade King

Mimi's praise did not fill me with much joy; I remained composed. The thrill of vanquishing Skinny Monkey quickly subsided. The ability to return to tranquility after such exhilaration is what truly signifies my strength.

I consider myself exceptionally rational and logical, fully aware that no happiness endures; only the stillness of serenity represents our ultimate destination.

And serenity is precisely what I pursue. My heart's desire is to earn a living quietly, to lead an unremarkable life. My entanglement in this chaos is entirely unintentional, forced upon me.

I looked at Mimi and asked, "Tell me about Qian Guang's three brothers. How did they end up in prison?"

Mimi repeatedly pressed her lighter, the flame flickering briefly before extinguishing. She said, "The second brother severely injured someone, leaving them in a vegetative state. He received a ten-year sentence. The third brother committed arson, killing an entire family, resulting in a life sentence. The fourth…"

Mimi sighed, seemingly reluctant to revisit the past. I frowned and said, "You mentioned before that Qian Guang's three brothers took the fall for him. Qian Guang committed these crimes, didn't he?"

Mimi nodded. "I don't know the full details of Qian Guang's actions. His brothers went to prison one after another, as if it were prearranged. Before each imprisonment, Qian Guang would have me… accompany them…"

Witnessing Mimi's trembling form, I embraced her. She wept, her body shrinking within my arms.

"They were beasts…"

Mimi sobbed, recounting her ordeal. I believed those nights were nightmares she desperately wished to forget, yet her fortitude allowed her to share them with me.

"Now you know how ruthless Qian Guang is," Mimi cried.

She wiped away her tears, unwilling to appear weak or elicit my pity. I frowned. Qian Guang's ruthlessness was undeniable; Mimi's account was truthful. He was undoubtedly a vicious crime lord, but to what end? What did he gain?

Qian Guang wouldn't act without profit. His elaborate scheme of using his brothers as scapegoats for such heinous acts suggests a hidden motive, one unknown even to Mimi…

I rose from the bed, dressed, and Mimi said, "Lao Wu needs money. He recently clashed with some Indians, and several brothers died…"

I asked, "How much…"

"Five million…" Mimi replied flatly.

I frowned, nodded, and said, "I'll transfer it later…"

Leaving Mimi's room, I descended the stairs and stepped into the harsh sunlight. Entering my car, Zhao Kui started the engine and asked, "Where to, Fei?"

"Jade City…"

Zhao Kui, a loyal friend, waited patiently downstairs. His presence allowed me to rest easy…

Arriving at Jade City, the bustling marketplace was already teeming with activity. In Malan's shop, I saw Sang Ling and several other girls retrieving jade pieces from a safe, placing them in display cases. Upon seeing me, Sang Ling approached, smiling, "Looking for Manager Ma?"

I smiled, "Is it wrong to look for you instead?"

Sang Ling glanced around, shyly smiling—an endearing sight. In her uniform, she lacked her usual allure, yet possessed a comforting familiarity. Her dimpled cheeks were especially beautiful.

"Are you free tonight?" Sang Ling asked.

I smiled, "Yes…"

I had ample free time. Having just eliminated Skinny Monkey, I couldn't act rashly; I needed to wait for the dust to settle. Sang Ling smiled, "Come to my place. I'll cook for you…"

Her words surprised me, but I nodded. Suddenly, a sharp slap echoed on the counter, startling me.

"Damn it, is she going to give it to him down there?"

The crude remark deeply embarrassed Sang Ling, who quickly lowered her head and departed. I turned to Malan, her head bearing a fresh wound, her face smeared with blood. She glared at me, "Quite the romantic, aren't you…"

Caught red-handed, I scratched my head, "Just casual conversation. By the way, the matter is settled for now. Dispose of the jade quickly before Seventh Master finds out, or we're all doomed."

Malan lit a cigarette, "Fine, but I want twenty million…"

I stared at Malan. This was unreasonable. She contributed nothing, yet demanded twenty million? Seeing my reluctance, she said, "Damn it, is this scar on my head not worth twenty million? You're so ungrateful! Take it or leave it!"

Her forceful demeanor irritated me. She had exerted considerable effort against Skinny Monkey—I was truly grateful. My visit was intended as a thank you, but her current attitude made me hesitant. I said, "No. Eighty million, not a cent less. The jade's market value certainly exceeds twenty million. I'll tell you this—if you want to make money, you need to earn it yourself. That twenty million is up to you. I'm leaving."

Malan glared but didn't pursue me, instead shouting, "Sang Ling, hand out the flyers…"

I glanced back. A towering stack of flyers, over a meter high, filled the counter. Distributing them under the scorching sun was a death sentence for Sang Ling.

However, I left without a word. Malan had many positive qualities, but her domineering nature was unbearable. She demanded absolute compliance; otherwise, she made life miserable.

Leaving Jade City, I went to the bank. My account held only four million. I couldn't give Mimi four million; it would be too hurtful. My funds were tied up in that raw jade, so I needed Malan to sell it quickly. I was already being lenient; if I gave the jade to Boss Wei, he'd handle it immediately.

But I had given my word to Malan.

I had no choice but to transfer five million to Mimi from another card. The money originally belonged to Huahua, untouched until now. It was a substantial sum, intended to lure Lao Niu out, but I had to use it.

After the transaction, I returned to the bar with Zhao Kui. Wang Gui and the others had returned, looking exhausted—a sign of a wild night.

"Fei…"

They gathered around, beaming. Wang Gui said, "Following Fei means a share of the spoils, right?"

"Yes, thank you, Fei…"

I waved, "Let's get this show on the road. We're making a killing, and everyone gets a cut…"

Their energy instantly plummeted. I chuckled. My phone rang—a call from Xuan Ling, a rarity. I gestured for silence, and the men complied. Stepping outside, I answered, "Did you miss me?"

"Yes, terribly. I'm wondering when you'll die…"

The voice wasn't Xuan Ling's; it was familiar.

"Huahua…"

I muttered, bewildered. Why did Huahua have Xuan Ling's phone? Rage surged within me. "You damn…"

"Getting anxious, are we?" Huahua said coldly.

I roared, "If you dare touch Xuan Ling, I'll skin you alive…"

"Thirty million. Even skinned, it's worth it. Give me the money, or your woman won't live to see tomorrow…"

The call ended. I frantically called my mother. Hearing her voice brought relief. She was safe. "Mom, where's Xuan Ling? Has she visited you lately?"

"Yes, yesterday. She brought several girls. I didn't like them; their dresses were too short. I told her not to associate with them too much, lest she learns bad habits."

Her words were odd. Xuan Ling was with unfamiliar girls and wouldn't normally behave this way. Why?

"What's wrong, Xiaofei?"

"Nothing, Mom. I just miss Xuan Ling. I couldn't reach her; I'll try again…"

I hung up and called Cheng Na. "Where's Xuan Ling? Is she with you?"

"No. She went to your house yesterday. She told me last night that she bought a ticket to go back to her hometown to see her parents, and she hasn't come back. What's wrong?" Cheng Na asked.

My fist clenched. Huahua, that bitch, dared to touch my woman! I kicked the wall in frustration. Zhao Kui and Wang Gui approached, noticing my distress. "What's wrong, Fei?"

Swallowing, I tried to control my temper. "Xuan Ling is in trouble…"

"Impossible, Fei. I left two brothers in Kunming. If Xuan Ling was in trouble, we'd know." Wang Gui said, dialing his phone, only to be met with failure. He cursed angrily.

"Damn it, useless! Fei, what do we do?" Wang Gui asked.

I swallowed, my mind racing. Xuan Ling was innocent; she knew nothing of my activities in Ruili. Yet, she faced such danger. Huahua, we'll settle this…

"Back to Kunming…"