I Can See Your Combat Power

- 26: The Young Gambling God (III)

: : The Young Gambling God (III)

Translator: 549690339

Everyone seemed to be strategizing, discussing their opinions with the people around them. Some of them had gained quite a few supporters, forming a cluster.

Tang Luo was sitting on the high platform, watching them triumphantly waving their betting tickets and returning to their seats, boasting to the people around them about how good their judgment was and who they had bet on.

Would these people explode on the spot if they knew that the top three favorites stood no chance?

Tang Luo shook his head, feeling somewhat emotional.

He stood up, preparing to go down and place his bet. Most of the time was already gone and only a few indecisive people remained at the betting station.

Tang Luo left his seat, walked straight to the biggest betting station and looked at the match schedule.

Just as expected.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” he shook his head. If he had been slightly hesitant earlier, seeing this match schedule made it clear to him that the house was fixed with an intent to wipe everyone out.

Eight people were divided into two groups, A and B, fighting in pairs, with the winners from each group competing for the championship.

Group A, Match 1: Luo Hongtu vs. Kang Chengli.

Group A, Match 2: Qu Lexian vs. Gongye Feizhang.

Group B, Match 1: Chu Xinrui vs. Suo Yingcai.

Group B, Match 2: Bai Bingbing vs. Shentu Le’an.

“Ahoy, my friend!”

The man standing at the back of this largest betting station was none other than Zhang Huai, the host from the platform earlier. He watched as Tang Luo, dressed in white, with a handsome face and holding a white cloth strip, approached the betting station.

Such a young and wealthy patron is particularly easy to deceive!

Zhang Huai was overjoyed, sensing a big client had come in. He decided to offer him a warm reception.

“Young Master, who are you planning to bet on today? If you can’t make up your mind, I can recommend some competitors,’¹ Zhang Huai offered enthusiastically and respectfully, as if they had met before. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

Unexpected kindness hints at a plot.

Tang Luo glanced at Zhang Huai and pointed to a name on the match schedule. “Pm interested in this Shentu Le’an. Place the bet.”

Zhang Huai was dumbfounded. The words “beep, beep, beep” rang in his heart. Is this guy an idiot? How could he bet on Shentu Le’an?

No, this is not right. I must guide him from darkness to light. Zhang Huai planned to use his professional skills.

If he could trick a girl then a naive boy would be an easy target, right?

Instead of asking for Tang Luo’s bet, Zhang Huai summoned a troubled expression and said, “Young Master, it seems that you are not used to such betting contests.”

Full of emotion, with a gentle voice, what was this guy up to?

With a half-smiling expression, Tang Luo replied, “This is my first time betting, so what, is it not allowed?”

On hearing this, Zhang Huai was assured. Only a novice bettor wouldn’t get the hint and insist on betting on Shentu Le’an.

It was time for him, the great persuader, to step in! A look of determination filled his eyes.

“Young Master, you might not know this, but in this business, once you make a bet, there’s no going back. Therefore, judgement is particularly crucial,” he said.

“Even though Young Master might not care about the small profits of winning, money thrown into the river still makes a splash, doesn’t it?” Zhang Huai replied, bending over with humility.

“Hmm, you have a point.” Tang Luo crossed his arms, suddenly interested in what this guy had to say.

“Young Master, the competitor you’ve picked, this Shentu Le’an, may not be the best choice.” Zhang Huai pointed at Shentu Le’an’s name on the match schedule.

“Oh?” Tang Luo raised an eyebrow, non-committal.

“Of course, of course. I didn’t mean to suggest that Young Master has poor judgement. It’s just that this Shentu Le’an, due to his bad luck, may let down Young Master’s favor,” Zhang Huai immediately explained, all smiles when he saw Tang Luo’s facial expression.

“Why is that?” Tang Luo chuckled, he got the hint of Zhang Huai’s intention.

“These eight are all top-notch experts from the Mortal Realm, but the problem lies in the fact that Shentu Luean is part of group B.”

“Look here, Chu Xinrui and Suo Yingcai, both big championship favorites, are in group B. Ignoring the freshly-advanced Shentu Luean’s ability to defeat ‘Jade-breaking Hand’ Bai Bingbing for now, there’s a chance that even if Shentu Luean barely survives the first round, he’d lose against either Chu Xinrui or Suo Yingcai. Would you agree, young master?” Zhang Huai, pointing at the other two names in group B, lectured as if he were a general laying out a grand strategy.

“Hmm, makes sense,” Tang Luo nodded, looking at Zhang Huai with amusement in his eyes.

Seeing that Tang Luo was actually receptive to his suggestions, Zhang Huai became more spirited, continuing, “Young master, look, even if Chu Xinrui and Suo Yingcai fight each other to their limits, and Shentu Luean barely scrapes by, he still won’t be able to handle group A’s opponents. After all, Shentu Luean only recently broke through, his spiritual power reserves are lacking and his recovery speed is slow. We’re supposed to be heading into continual battles. His chances of winning the champion are slim.”

Hats off to such a reasonable analysis!

“So, who do you think I should place my bet on?” Tang Luo asked with an enigmatic smile.

With that prompt, Zhang Huai was overjoyed. Wasn’t this the moment he was waiting for?

“If you believe in my judgment, young master, you should place your bet on Qu Lexian. As the favorite for the championship, he has excellent luck in the draw. He managed to avoid the other two heavy favorites until later rounds. Also, all the candidates in group A are several years younger than him.”

“More importantly, Qu Lexian’s first round opponent is Gongye Feizhang. Although they’re both peak fighters of the Mortal Realm, Qu Lexian has been in this realm for over three years longer than Gongye Feizhang. Irrespective of martial techniques, experience, or previous victories, Qu Lexian surpasses Gongye Feizhang by far. Plus, the group A’s two representatives are of a similar age and level, predicting a hard-fought match.”

“Looking at Qu Lexian leisurely waiting in group A and the two top contenders in group B preparing to fight a fierce battle soon, isn’t it clear who you should place your bet on, young master?” Zhang Huai analyzed the draw meticulously, as if he were a prophet who had written the script of the match, leaving one no choice but to be convinced by his words.

Seeing that he seemed to have swayed Tang Luo’s decision, Zhang Huai seized the moment to push on.

“You might find this funny, young master, but in my eight years as a ring host, I’ve seldom seen such a transparent match. If our hall master didn’t forbid officials from placing bets, I would definitely put all my money on Qu Lexian. It truly is a pity,” he sighed, his face full of regret. It made it seem as if not betting on Qu Lexian was like missing out on a fortune.

Not pursuing an acting career seems to be a waste. Tang Luo was amused by Zhang Huai’s lamenting expression and nearly burst into laughter.

That’s enough showmanship. Let’s get down to business.

“I’m placing my bet now,” declared Tang Luo confidently.

“Alright! Please place your bet, young master-” Zhang Huai grinned from ear to ear, waiting to hear the sum.

A smile plastered across Tang Luo’s face, he declared, “Shentu Luean, five hundred gold!”

With that, he tossed a sack onto the betting table. The bag opened, spilling gold and letting it gleam.

At that moment, the previously comfortable atmosphere between them stiffened, replaced by an awkward silence.

Zhang Huai, who was previously all smiles, was now livid, his eyes icy cold.

“Did the young master perhaps make a mistake in placing his bet?” Zhang Huai, no longer bending over in deference, stood tall, looking down at Tang Luo.

“Hmm… I had thought you might keep up the charade a while longer, how disappointing,” teased Tang Luo at the sharp change in Zhang Huai, laughing brightly.

“It would not be wise to place your bet all on Shentu Luean, young master,” Zhang Huai muttered coldly.

“We’ll see. Now, my betting ticket,” Tang Luo smiled and extended his hand.

Zhang Huai glared at Tang Luo, the tension in the room so thick it could be cut with a knife.

Tang Luo returned the glare with absolute ease, offering no hurry nor responding to Zhang Huai’s murderous glare.

In the end, Zhang Huai gave in due to the increasing number of spectators focusing on the giant betting table. He wrote the betting ticket with trembling hands, feeling like Tang Luo was trolling him.

“Your betting ticket.” Zhang Huai slid the ticket over, his eyes glued to Tang Luo’s hand, almost as if he’d chop it off if Tang Luo dared to reach for it.

Tang Luo could not help but laugh as he gracefully picked up the ticket, “Why, not calling me young master anymore?”

You actually dared to take it! Zhang Huai stayed silent, his face turning an even deeper shade of green.

Tang Luo then examined his betting ticket, which clearly stated: Shentu Luean — five hundred gold.

He glanced at the odds, 1:6.1 have to admit, this all-kill gamble is quite meticulous. Gongye Feizhang, another claimant of the peak of Mortal Realm at twenty-two years old, had odds of 1:7. If anyone were to bet on an upset, they’d choose Gongye Feizhang instead.

Turning five hundred to three thousand, wow. Money is easy to make.

Tang Luo chuckled, putting away his betting ticket. He looked at the sour-faced Zhang Huai, and casually tossed out, “Don’t be so serious, crack a smile. There’s money for everyone to make after all..”