I run a casino in the immortal realm.

As dawn broke, white frost still clung to the bluestone slabs of Wutong Lane.

Zheng Yifei pushed open the courtyard gate, walked to the next house, and knocked three times with his fingers.

Zhang Biao opened the door with his disheveled hair, still clutching a hunting knife in his hand, his eyes wary.

Pack your things and leave.

Zheng Yifei's tone was flat.

"Now?"

Zhang Biao was stunned.

"Sun Liang suffered a great loss last night, and he will definitely seek revenge today. The Iron Fist Sect Master is at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining, and he has hundreds of henchmen under his command. We can't withstand him. Moreover, he will likely hire some low-level assassins from outside."

Zheng Yifei had a clear idea. Lower-level gangs value face the most; if Sun Liang doesn't get revenge, he won't be able to lead the team in the future.

Zhang Biao remained silent for a moment, then turned to get the package. He knew the rules and knew Zheng Yifei was right.

"Don't go hunting anymore."

Zheng Yifei watched his retreating figure: "Follow me. Fifty low-grade spirit stones a month, plenty of cultivation resources. If we encounter any tough opponents, you'll be at the front."

Zhang Biao turned around abruptly, his eyes widening.

Fifty low-grade spirit stones? He couldn't save that many even if he went into the mountains to kill monsters in a year, and he would have to risk his life every day.

"Does it include meals?"

Zhang Biao swallowed.

"Meals and accommodation included."

"make a deal."

Zhang Biao agreed readily.

Two incense sticks later, two figures carrying bags quietly left Wutong Lane and merged into the early morning crowd in Sujiafang Market.

They passed through the West District and arrived directly in the East District. The East District was the bustling area of ​​Sujiafang City, with wide streets lined with shops on both sides, and the array lights reflecting off the buildings.

The security here is directly managed by the Su family's inner sect law enforcement team, and low-level gangs like the Iron Fist Sect wouldn't dare to cause trouble here.

Zheng Yifei found an inn called "Yunsheng" and asked for two superior rooms.

After settling his luggage, Zheng Yifei changed into a clean blue robe, looking every bit the rich young master.

"Let's go, we need to take care of something."

Zhang Biao followed behind, carrying a hunting knife. He was now a bodyguard who was paid to do things, so naturally he had to be dutiful.

The two walked across two streets and stopped in front of a three-story wooden building with a signboard that read "Datong Gambling Game" in gold lettering.

Zhang Biao frowned. He thought Zheng Yifei was going to take him to buy magical artifacts or elixirs, but he didn't expect it to be a casino.

"Brother, this place is dangerous; nine out of ten gamblers will lose."

Zhang Biao lowered his voice to remind him.

"That's someone else."

Zheng Yifei stepped inside.

The tables on the first floor were incredibly noisy, filled with a mixture of sweaty odors and the smell of cheap cigarettes.

Zheng Yifei didn't even look at it and went straight to the stairs leading to the second floor.

Just as the two thugs at the stairwell were about to stop him, Zhang Biao snorted coldly and instantly released the spiritual pressure of the seventh level of Qi Refining, coupled with his nearly two-meter height and fierce appearance.

The two thugs turned pale and immediately retreated to the sides.

In the East District, those at the seventh level of Qi Refining are considered the backbone of the force. The manager of the Datong Casino is only at the eighth level of Qi Refining, so the thugs dare not offend them easily.

The second floor was much quieter. There were mahogany gambling tables and the aroma of fine tea wafted around.

Zheng Yifei chose a table for playing "spirit dominoes" and sat down. Zhang Biao, holding a hunting knife, stood behind him like an iron tower.

The farmer was a thin, old man with calloused hands.

He glanced at Zheng Yifei, then at Zhang Biao, said nothing, and began shuffling the cards.

The dominoes collided on the table, making a crisp sound.

Zheng Yifei closed his eyes, his ears capturing the sound wave frequency of the dominoes colliding, and the arrangement and combination of the thirty-two dominoes were rapidly calculated in his mind.

In the first round, the dealer deals the cards.

Zheng Yifei glanced at the cards in his hand and pushed out ten low-grade spirit stones.

win.

The second hand, thirty dollars.

win.

The third hand, fifty dollars.

win.

Zhang Biao stood behind, his eyes practically bulging out of their sockets.

He watched as the spirit stones piled higher and higher on the table, and felt his breathing quicken.

He risked his life to kill a first-tier demon beast in the mountains, but only earned three or five spirit stones.

Zheng Yifei sat in the chair, barely moving a finger, and won half a year's income in just a few hands of cards.

This is way faster than robbing someone! Zhang Biao roared inwardly.

Zheng Yifei's expression remained calm throughout.

He no longer deliberately controlled his winning percentage. With Zhang Biao, a master at the seventh level of Qi Refining, keeping the place in check, no one dared to overturn the table in front of him unless he won to the point of crippling the gambling den.

Half an hour.

The chips in front of Zheng Yifei had now become two hundred low-grade spirit stones.

Cold sweat beaded on the old dealer's forehead, and his hands trembled slightly as he shuffled the cards.

He had been a bookmaker for over a decade and had never seen anyone bet so accurately; every time he placed a heavy bet, he could steadily beat him.

"I'm not playing anymore."

Zheng Yifei stood up and put the spirit stones into his pocket.

He turned and went downstairs, with Zhang Biao following closely behind, his eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

Several lookouts from the gambling den were watching them, but due to Zhang Biao's power, they ultimately did not make a move.

Stepping out of the Grand Gateway Casino, the sunlight was blinding.

Zhang Biao let out a long breath and wiped the sweat from his forehead: "Brother, your skills... are amazing. No wonder you cultivate so quickly."

Zheng Yifei didn't speak, his gaze fixed on the street corner.

A group of people were gathered there, and the sounds of punches and kicks, accompanied by screams, could be heard.

Several burly men dressed in high-sleeved shirts were beating a middle-aged man. The man was curled up on the ground, his face covered in blood, his hands tightly protecting his head.

A young man lay on top of the middle-aged man, shielding him from the rain of punches and kicks.

"Stop hitting him! Please stop! Someone will die if you keep hitting him!"

The young man shouted at the top of his lungs, then received a heavy kick to the back. He groaned and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

The burly man leading the group was bald and at the fifth level of Qi Refining. He spat in the young man's face: "Someone's dead? Zhao Lao Er owes our Datong Gambling Club two hundred low-grade spirit stones! If he doesn't pay up today, I'll not only take his life, but I'll also sell you to a black market mine to fill the holes!"

Zheng Yifei stopped in his tracks.

He recognized the young man who was protecting the middle-aged man.

Zhao Wenyuan, a fellow townsman from Heishanfang City who came to Sujiafang City together, also had a younger sister named Zhao Ling'er. When they parted ways, Zhao Wenyuan excitedly said that he was going to stay with his second uncle and open a restaurant in the East District.

Now it seems the restaurant never opened, and my second uncle has become a gambling addict.

"Brother Zhang."

Zheng Yifei spoke.

Zhang Biao understood. He had long disliked these gambling den thugs, so he strode over and kicked them.

"Bang!"

The bald, burly man flew out and crashed into a stone lion on the side of the street, but he was not injured. After all, this was the gambling den's territory, and there was no need to make enemies here.

The other thugs were shocked and drew their short knives from their waists.

Zhang Biao swept his gaze coldly across the room, unleashing the full pressure of a seventh-level Qi Refining cultivator.

Several thugs' legs went weak, their short knives fell to the ground, and they staggered backward.

Zhao Wenyuan looked up, his face covered in bruises. He froze when he saw who was walking towards him.

"Brother Zheng...?"

Zhao Wenyuan's voice trembled as he couldn't believe his eyes. After not seeing him for several months, Zheng Yifei was wearing a fine blue robe and was accompanied by a Qi Refining Level 7 expert. His aura had completely changed.

Zheng Yifei walked up to him and glanced at Zhao Lao Er, who was lying on the ground, barely alive.

"What happened?"

Zheng Yifei asked.

Zhao Wenyuan's eyes reddened, and tears fell: "My second uncle is addicted to gambling. He lost all the money in the restaurant and also borrowed money from Datong Gambling House at high interest rates. With the interest compounding, he now owes two hundred spirit stones."

The bald, burly man clutched his chest and struggled to his feet, shouting menacingly but weakly, "Senior! This is a debt from our Datong Gambling House! Paying back debts is a matter of course! Even if you have high cultivation, you can't break the rules of the market!"

Zheng Yifei turned around and looked at the bald, muscular man.

"Two hundred spirit stones, right?"

Zheng Yifei pulled a money pouch from his pocket and threw it at the bald man's feet. The sound of the spirit stones colliding was crisp and melodious.

"Dian Dian".

The bald man was stunned. He opened his money pouch and glanced at it; it was indeed two hundred low-grade spirit stones, of excellent quality.

"I've returned the money. I'm taking the person with me."

Zheng Yifei spoke in a flat tone.

Baldy didn't dare say a word against it, so he nodded repeatedly, picked up the money bag, and ran away.

Zhang Biao helped Zhao Wenyuan and Zhao Lao Er up; Zhao Lao Er had already fainted.

"Brother Zheng, I will definitely pay you back this money."

Zhao Wenyuan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his tone resolute.

"Let's find a clinic to treat the injuries first."

Zheng Yifei did not respond.

After settling Zhao Lao Er in, Zheng Yifei and Zhao Wenyuan sat at a tea stall outside the clinic.

"Brother Zhao, what happened?"

Zheng Yifei poured a cup of tea and handed it over.

Zhao Wenyuan took the teacup with both hands, his voice bitter: "My second uncle runs a restaurant business and it's quite good. He didn't gamble before. Three months ago, he met a man called 'Tiger Song'."

The man took him to the Datong Gambling House. He won a lot at first, but then kept losing. His second uncle wanted to win back his losses, so Song Laohu lent him money. He won nine times out of 13.

Zheng Yifei tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

This is a classic example of a "pig butchering" scam. They set up the scheme, lend money, and squeeze the last bit of value out of the victim.