As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 240 Fish Joy and Leap
"Ten taels of silver, I'll bet small!"

"Get away from me, you blockhead! How long has it been since you showered? You stink!"

As Mingchen walked to the gambling table, he heard the woman's rather unrestrained voice.

As she slammed the silver coins onto the table, she waved her hand dismissively at those around her, as if the gamblers around her were suffocating her.

"Hey! Yu Yue, I just went swimming in the river the day before yesterday! I don't smell!"

She seems to be a regular here.

Even some of the gamblers around her recognized her. They weren't annoyed by her disdain, but simply kept their distance and muttered complaints.

Gamblers only focus on what happens at the gambling table; they don't care about other information and have no interest in investigating the backgrounds of others.

But you can always call out the names of people who look familiar.

Yu Yue had visited the casino on its first day of operation, and each time she placed a bet of ten taels of silver.

Although he doesn't come every day, he seems to have a strong gambling addiction, coming every ten days or so.

There are wins and losses, but in gambling, you always lose more than you win.

After all, she was a woman, which was not common in casinos. Even though she was not a stunning beauty and her behavior was somewhat crude, she still attracted attention.

Moreover, she possessed exceptional martial arts skills and once broke the arm of a gambler who tried to harass her, earning her widespread fame and becoming known to the people.

No one knew where she came from; it seemed she did business by the sea and would gamble a few times when she had saved enough money.

At this moment, she seemed like just an ordinary gambler.

However, she had lost all of the ethereal grace she had exuded on stage.

"I bet a small amount on a copper coin."

Just then, the female gambler heard a familiar voice.

A worthless copper coin landed on the table.

It was also placed together with her.

"Oh?"

The female gambler raised an eyebrow and couldn't help but look to her side.

Mingchen was handsome and didn't use any magic to change his appearance, but she wasn't particularly impressed by him.

He merely offered a suggestion to Mingchen, saying, "Are you here to cause trouble? One copper coin is far too little!"

"Hey, it's just one copper coin? What a waste of time!"

"Exactly, get out of here, you poor bastard."

"They're dressed up like proper people, though."

The gamblers around them chimed in.

For a single copper coin, the children playing house would simply go off to play elsewhere.

This casino is so big, and the dealer, Bao Guan, certainly has a good demeanor.

Seeing that Mingchen was dressed in rich clothes and had an extraordinary demeanor, they didn't say anything about Mingchen's behavior.

He's just an employee; all he has to do is complete his job. Why does he have so much time to pick fights with others?

Mingchen shrugged: "Whether it's a lot of money or a little, it's all about making money! You're not going to do a business that's only worth a copper coin?"

"Why can't you get rich with just one copper coin?"

Mingchen behaved much like many whimsical gamblers.

Gamblers, gamblers!
It means having the confidence to win a large family business with just a penny.

It was his first time there, and he didn't even know the rules or the odds. All his knowledge of casinos came from TV dramas from his previous life.

He just wanted to join in the fun; this was the simplest game of dice, big or small, that he understood.

As for other games like Pai Gow, he doesn't know any of them.

The female gambler, known as Yu Yue, glanced at him and said nothing more.

Her eyes were full of unfamiliarity, as if she didn't recognize Mingchen at all.

"Buy and leave!"

"when!"

The sound of drums and gongs, and a shout, start a gambling game.

"Kakakaka."

Bao Guan shook the dice cup, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

They also forgot that a strange man had snuck in among them, betting only one copper coin.

"Snapped!"

The dice cup slammed onto the table, causing the surrounding gamblers to hold their breath for a moment.

What is it? What is it?
When the suspense is revealed, heaven and hell will be on full display.

The gamblers stared wide-eyed at the dice cup in the official's hand.

"131, small!"

With a shout, the mystery was solved.

A small die, with the number 1, 3, and 1, changed everyone's fate.

"Hahaha! I told you to bet small! I won! I won!"

"Damn it! Again and again! I'm betting big!"

"Damn it, I don't believe it!"

……

At the gambling table, one can witness the full spectrum of human nature.

Some were overjoyed, while others were devastated.

"We won!"

The woman chuckled and pocketed the winnings.

Mingchen smiled and took two copper coins.

Both betting on big and small have odds of 1:1.

Alright, I've achieved my nutritional goals for today's visit to the casino.

"Ten more taels of silver, I'm betting big this time!"

The woman glanced at Mingchen, then went to the other side and placed her bet.

"It's still just one copper coin, I'll bet big again."

Mingchen followed her to the other side like a little shadow and placed a copper coin on the table.

Hey~ you jerk!

The female gambler raised her eyebrows, looked at Mingchen beside her, and her voice involuntarily rose a few octaves.

Mingchen smiled and asked, "What's wrong?"

"What are you following me for?"

Mingchen chuckled and said, "How did I follow you? We were just gambling!"

"Are all the other brothers who were bet on by you following you?"

"Humph!"

Sharp-tongued and quick-witted.

The female gambler pursed her lips and didn't say anything more.

They simply focused their attention on the gambling table.

Under everyone's gaze, Bao Guan shook the dice cup once again.

A new game soon began.

"Hahaha, so big!"

"What great luck today!"

"Yu Yue, you won again!"

"Damn it, we lost again. I'll follow your lead next time!"

……

The dice cup was lifted once again.

Four, five, four, the female gambler won again.

This is all quite normal, but because of the addition of Mingchen, this strange gambler, Yu Yue has attracted a lot of attention.

Women are already rare here, so naturally her movements will be a bit more exaggerated.

The eccentric person, coupled with two consecutive solo victories, has taken on a somewhat mystical connotation.

The gamblers laughed and said they wanted to place bets with Yu Yue.

Of course, most of it was just a trial.

Yu Yue looked delighted and put away the ten taels of silver she had won from the bet.

"Humph!"

Seemingly remembering something, he looked at the handsome young man beside him and let out a soft hum.

This guy pocketed two more copper coins.

We exceeded Mingdaozai's target!
If you're going to gamble, gamble more. Gambling on a single coin carries no risk and offers no thrill of winning.

This is meaningless.

Yu Yue couldn't help but roll her eyes at Ming Chen: "You're absorbing my luck!"

This feeling was like having a mosquito biting her arm while she was eating a big meal—it made her feel uncomfortable all over.

Mingchen is a dissolute and flirtatious man who speaks frivolously and is often met with disdain from beautiful women.

She was of ordinary appearance, lacking the emperor's wealth and elegance, the contrasting charm of the silly older sister, and the mischievousness of the little bird.

A roll of the eyes, that's all, nothing more than a roll of the eyes, nothing out of the ordinary.

Mingchen simply smiled and said, "I'm only betting a copper coin, whose luck am I supposed to absorb? So, everyone else who bets is absorbing your luck?"

"Come again!"

"I'm betting big this time."

"Still ten taels of silver."

She deposited another ten taels of silver and continued gambling.

“I’m betting big too, I’m betting big too, one tael of silver.”

"I'll try it too!"

"Haha, Yu Yue, one more person is one more person, I'll join too!"

This time, several gamblers believed in metaphysics and placed bets with her.

"I'll bet big, one copper coin."

Mingchen, still smiling, placed a coin on the table.

"Humph!"

Yu Yue simply snorted and didn't say anything more.

"when!"

Another gong sounded.

Once you've placed your order, you're done.

The dice cup is opened, revealing three, four, and six.

"Haha~ It's huge!"

"We're benefiting from Yu Yue's fame!"

"Haha, I'll vote for you again next time."

"Let's go again, Yu Yue, what are you voting for this time?"

……

Metaphysics has been proven true.

She won! She's had incredible luck today; she won again.

The gamblers who benefited from her fortune seemed to have discovered the secret to wealth.

Greedily collecting the money, his eyes gleaming, panting heavily, he couldn't help but laugh excitedly as he collected the money while looking expectantly at Yu Yue.

Then just follow her lead and make the choices.

Mingchen smiled and accepted another copper coin. With the little bird beside him and the Immortal Jade Record in his hand, cheating couldn't be easier.

With a single thought, he could make the dice in the dice cup roll any number.

But in reality, he did nothing.

Wasting energy on a mere penny is really asking for trouble.

In other words, winning these three games was entirely due to luck.

It's unclear whether it was due to his luck or the woman's luck.

The wind seemed to be blowing in a different direction. Even the dealer frowned slightly and glanced at Yu Yue.

He knew that this customer was a regular at the casino, and he also knew that the other party wouldn't use any underhanded tactics.

Could it be that……

He then looked at Mingchen, who only placed one copper coin on each bet.

Could it be the work of this strange man?
What is he after?
You only won three coins?
Let's hope they're not actually here to cause trouble.

Bao Guan was just a working man, and he really didn't want to deal with customers like this.

"Haha~ I won again!"

We won again! We won again!

After winning three matches, in less than half an hour, he had earned thirty taels of silver.

Yu Yue seemed to be in a good mood, smiling as she accepted the money. This time, she seemed to have forgotten about being angry with Ming Chen beside her.

But just then, amidst the increasingly eager gazes of the other gamblers, she simply waved her hand and said nonchalantly, "I'm not gambling anymore."

Gamblers are often obsessed with desires; once they win, they want to win twice, and once they win twice, they want to win three times.

They become addicted to the thrill of winning at gambling, unable to extricate themselves, until they lose everything.

Having won three games in a row and made a fortune, it was the perfect time for her to make great strides, but she decisively gave up.

This has only just begun, and she's already given up?

"what?"

"No way! This is nothing!"

"Yu Yue, let's go again! I have thirty taels, I'll go all in with you!"

"Don't leave!"

Victory is right in front of us, but we haven't even managed to grab her coattails yet!

Is it about to slip away?

How can that work?
The gamblers who got to drink the soup with Yu Yue were reluctant to see her leave, while those who didn't get to drink the soup were even more reluctant to see her go.

Seeing that Yu Yue was about to leave, the other gamblers kept trying to persuade her to stay.

Some gamblers even tried to reach out and pull her.

However, the next moment, a strong wind suddenly rushed in, and the air froze.

"Go away!"

A stern shout rang out.

The situation suddenly changed, and a terrifying pressure weighed on everyone's shoulders.

Yu Yue's faint smile vanished completely, her eyes flashing with a fierce light, and a chilling murderous aura instantly filled the entire card table.

Like a stormy night, the ocean waves surge and crash against the rocks.

Lightning flashed and thunder roared; the wind and rain raged.

The woman, who seemed to be in a good mood after winning three games in a row, suddenly changed her attitude.

Especially the gambler who wanted to pull her away, his heart, blackened by greed, felt as if it were being tightly gripped by a hand at that moment.

He stood there, stunned, as if he had lost his soul.

It was as if she wasn't facing an ordinary female gambler, but rather someone adrift on a vast ocean, with giant waves crashing and a whale shark leaping out of the water, its menacing jaws ready to swallow her whole.

"boom!"

The relaxed atmosphere was instantly shattered.

It was accompanied by a loud roar.

The gambler, who was taller and bigger than Yu Yue, was kicked to the ground.

He clutched his chest and groaned in pain.

For a moment, everyone at the gambling table fell silent, and people at the surrounding tables unconsciously turned to look at them.

The gamblers stared blankly at the woman with a fierce look in her eyes, speechless.

That's such a quick change of heart!
They were all smiles just a moment ago, and then they started hitting someone.

I've won thirty taels of silver. I'm so lucky. This should be a good thing.

What's wrong with gambling a little longer?
No one could see what this woman was thinking.

However, it was clear that the opponent's combat strength left them no room for further thought.

Fortunately, Yu Yue knew her limits and didn't overturn the gambling table or damage the casino.

"gone!"

She glanced around, took the money, and left decisively.

It left behind a mess.

The gamblers looked at each other.

"Ah~"

"Why don't you just stop gambling?"

"I haven't even started earning yet!"

"Ugh……"

"Let's do it again, let's do it again."

Gamblers simply cannot understand Yu Yue's psychology.

After a brief moment of amazement, it ultimately turned into a sigh.

Perhaps he was regretting Yu Yue's departure, or perhaps he was lamenting that he hadn't gone all in with Lady Luck.

Losing money, losing money, losing money.

Compared to other gamblers, their expressions varied, and they harbored a myriad of emotions.

Mingchen, who had won three copper coins, remained calm throughout and was not surprised by the woman's sudden outburst.

He simply smiled at the official and then turned and left.

Casinos are boring.

People are obviously more interesting.

After the farce, people went back to their gambling business.

The place of depravity returned to its ordinary essence. Bao Guan finally breathed a sigh of relief as the two strange men left and continued his work.

……

Having won thirty taels, the vulgar female gambler, who had left in a huff, walked unhurriedly down the street.

Her expression returned to calm, as if she were waiting for something.

In terms of concealing one's emotions, Xiao Xinyue is no match for this person who is capricious and unpredictable.

A short while later, the person she was waiting for arrived at her side.

Mingchen played with the copper coin in his hand as he walked alongside her.

Neither of them spoke. The street was bustling with commerce, and the shouts of vendors could often be heard.

The arrival of the Jinglan Alliance changed the city, making it more prosperous and more relaxed.

Suddenly, Mingchen spoke up: "Fish leap and jump, what do they want to do when they jump out of the sea?"

They had known each other for a long time and had many things to talk about, many questions to ask, and a desire to communicate.

Mingchen didn't say anything, but instead asked a strange question.

Yu Yue, that's her name.

That's what the gamblers called her just now in the Da Gui Men.

They seemed to be meeting for the first time, and their conversation was truly bizarre.

But Yu Yue seemed completely unsurprised that Mingchen had followed her and was talking to her.

Completely devoid of the anger and rage he displayed in the casino, he instead smiled freely, his smile as gentle as a spring breeze: "Yu Yue, can't it just be a feeling of relaxation and joy?"

Mingchen simply shook his head and remained silent.

Yu Yue chuckled softly, her steps light and skipping to the rhythm, as she hummed, "I once envied the wings of the Kunpeng, soaring through the waves three thousand fathoms high~"

These are the lyrics to "Floating Wooden Oar" that Kui Xian sang on the Ascension Platform three days ago.

This time, there was no guzheng accompaniment; she sang a cappella, her voice very soft, just loud enough for the two of them to hear, lacking the enchanting, dreamlike beauty of before.

But the ethereal singing voice is enough to stir the soul.

She was completely different from the vulgar, low-pitched female gambler she had just been at the gambling table.

This woman was born to sing.

Should I think of some way to get this dangerous mermaid to sing for me?

Clearly, Yu Yue's first identity is already close at hand: the famous Kui Xian, whose singing voice has captivated countless people throughout Bai Ling.

No one would have imagined that the mysterious songstress, with her enchanting allure, would appear in the most vile and chaotic casino.

She arranged to meet Mingchen here, and Mingchen found her precisely.

"People from the Central Plains are truly talented; their poems are really good!"

"Take the word 'envy' for example, it's used so aptly. He envies, not disdains..."

She shook her head and sighed softly.

They didn't mind clarifying their status as outsiders at all.

Suddenly, she turned her head, her eyes bright, and looked at Mingchen, asking, "Mingchen, do you think this poet, who writes poems about retiring to the countryside and living a free and unrestrained life, is truly free and unrestrained, or is it just a psychological comfort stemming from his own incompetence? If he had the opportunity to rise to prominence, would he still be living in that rural area, writing these self-comforting, pathetic poems?"

She didn't want to play hide-and-seek with Mingchen.

They simply revealed Mingchen's identity.

Three days were enough for her to recall all the details and see all the information, which was enough for her to confirm Mingchen's identity.

At the same time, she also knew that the other party had probably guessed her identity.

This interesting person, everything was both within her expectations and beyond her control.

Mingchen continued fiddling with his coins, saying only, "As long as it's your own choice, it's your freedom."

This answer is somewhat perfunctory.

Yu Yue didn't complain about Ming Chen at all.

They've just met; they have plenty of time and things to talk about.

She looked up at the sky and answered Mingchen's first question: "Yu Yue is like a fish leaping out of the sea, spreading its wings. In the vast ocean, I ride the waves and travel thousands of miles. In the nine heavens, I soar to the clouds and fly freely!"

She always speaks with a purpose.

She was demonstrating her ambition and magnanimity to Mingchen.

Upon hearing this, Mingchen chuckled, pointed to the casino behind him—a place that embodied all the worst aspects of human nature—and asked jokingly, "How come the fish, so ambitious as to leap out of the water, has ended up in this vulgar and despicable place seeking amusement?"

This person's invitation to meet him at the casino was actually unexpected for Mingchen.

Yu Yue wasn't annoyed by this. She simply waved her hand, adopting a sophisticated air: "No, no! That's a misconception!"

He then turned to Mingchen and asked, "Mingchen, do you believe in luck?"

"Life is unpredictable, and the future is uncertain. We will always encounter things that are beyond our imagination, which may be lucky or unlucky. I believe there are patterns in all of these."

Mingchen thought for a moment and said, "Maybe so, but most of the time luck is just a helpless excuse."

Yu Yue shook her head: "No, no~ I have two theories about luck. One is the theory of the permanence of luck, and the other is the theory of the conservation of luck. I wonder which one you support?"

"Oh?"

"The theory of eternal luck means that a person's luck will not change. If a person is very lucky, it is a good omen, and their luck will continue to be good during this period. They will succeed in whatever they do, and it will not affect the future. If luck turns bad, then things will fail."

"The theory of conservation of luck states that a person's luck will remain within a reasonable range. If a person's luck suddenly becomes very good, for example, if they win a lot of money gambling and never lose, then their good luck will run out, and they will fail in what they do next. Conversely, if their luck suddenly becomes very bad and they encounter troubles, then they may later succeed in other things."

This man of high status, cunning, and capricious nature is surprisingly childlike in some ways.

With sparkling eyes, she held up two fingers at Mingchen and uttered her strange, self-created theory.

"So before doing anything big, I'll take a gamble and see how my luck is lately."

(End of this chapter)