Madman!

Chapter 40: The Gambling War

Chen Wujun changed back into his regular clothes in the alley, then grabbed his bag and started heading home. He hadn't gotten far when his phone rang.

"Hello, Sister Jiu?"

"Jun, be downstairs at Jindi Finance tomorrow morning at eight-thirty. We're going to see Master Xin."

"Sister Jiu, what came out of Master Xin's talks with Lidong?" Chen Wujun asked.

"No idea. We'll see what he has to say tomorrow," Shark Jiu replied.

"I'll be there at eight-thirty!" After hanging up, Chen Wujun carried his bag straight home, tossed it into the closet, and headed to the gambling den.

The den had been closed these past few days, so the foot soldiers were just hanging around inside, playing cards or Pai Gow.

A few of them at the Pai Gow table glanced over and stood up. "Brother Jun!"

"As you were!"

Chen Wujun stayed until ten-thirty that night before heading home. After locking the door, he pulled the bag out and dumped everything onto the bed.Then he began counting.

'Seventy-one thousand two hundred in cash — more than I expected. No clue what these watches and jewelry are worth. I'll need to find a buyer outside the Walled City to fence them. No rush though, I can wait a while.'

'They're right when they say you don't get rich without windfalls. As long as you've got the guts, the money follows!'

'That's over two months' worth of crystal expenses covered, and I've still got breathing room. In two months, my strength will have grown significantly.'

'And then there's the territory we seized...'

Though Shark Jiu hadn't yet handed out rewards, Chen Wujun was confident he'd get his share. That would mean a steady income stream going forward.

Even if there were shortfalls in the near term, they shouldn't be too large.

Chen Wujun was in excellent spirits. He could trace each step he'd taken over these past months, and now he could finally glimpse a sliver of the future.

Everything was moving in the direction he'd hoped.

He stashed the money back in the closet, changed into a fresh set of clothes, and headed up to the rooftop to train.

Daily practice was the one thing that never changed, rain or shine.

It was his foundation.

...

The next morning, he dressed neatly and went to the martial arts studio first to greet Senior Brother Li.

Then he met up with Shark Jiu and left the Walled City. A black sedan was waiting for them outside.

After climbing in, Chen Wujun couldn't help shifting in his seat.

This car was more comfortable than anything he'd ever ridden in, and the interior was enormous.

Shark Jiu pulled open the mini-fridge in front and grabbed two bottles of water, tossing one to Chen Wujun.

"This car has a fridge?" Chen Wujun gaped in amazement.

"It's a luxury ride! Know how much this thing costs?" Shark Jiu grinned.

"A million and a half!"

"A million and a half?" Chen Wujun's expression was pure country bumpkin.

He hadn't imagined a car could cost that much.

"It's a grey-market import. Normally a million five, but I got this one for eight hundred thousand!" Shark Jiu explained with a laugh. "When you're ready to buy a car, let me know. I'll point you to the right people."

"Deal!" Chen Wujun had been thrilled about snatching seventy-odd thousand, but now it suddenly felt like pocket change.

"Sister Jiu, Master Xin doesn't live in the Walled City?" Chen Wujun asked, watching the city walls shrink in the distance.

"That dump? I don't even want to stay there! Master Xin's getting up in years — you think he'd live in a place like that? He may have fallen from the Magnetic Field Level, but he's no pushover. Any random nobody would think twice before messing with him. He lives in a villa up in Kau To Shan," Shark Jiu explained.

Kau To Shan was located in Lek Yuen, a newly developed town. The drive took nearly an hour.

The area was a serene stretch of wooded hillside, with villas peeking out from between the slopes and the trees.

"The air here is incredible!" Chen Wujun inhaled deeply.

The Walled City had the worst air imaginable — a perpetual stench that never dissipated. Even the rest of the city reeked of exhaust fumes.

This place was completely different. He could swear even the air carried a hint of sweetness.

"Five million gets you a place here. Too remote, though — only old-timers like living out this way," Shark Jiu remarked with a smile.

Chen Wujun was quietly stunned.

For people with real money, a few million was nothing.

What surged up in Chen Wujun next was a boundless tide of desire and ambition.

He had to push harder — grow stronger, earn more!

Moments later, the car pulled up to the iron gate of a villa. The gate swung open slowly, and the car rolled inside and parked to the side.

Chen Wujun stepped out and followed Shark Jiu, his head swiveling in every direction. Everything looked wonderful.

The villa was flanked by trees on both sides, birds calling endlessly from the woods. There was even a garden inside the property...

In the Walled City, you couldn't even spot a bird.

He really was a country bumpkin.

Following Shark Jiu to the backyard, he saw a swimming pool gleaming under the sunlight. A woman in a bikini with a knockout figure was doing laps.

Chen Wujun stole a couple of glances, then followed Shark Jiu to a round table in the courtyard and sat down.

"Master Xin's granddaughter?"

"His kept woman," Shark Jiu said after a brief look.

"Once you've got money, you could be ninety and still keep a nineteen-year-old — as long as your body can handle it!"

Chen Wujun was fairly certain his body could handle it.

But women weren't high on his priority list right now. Even with Ah Yue, he only visited occasionally.

His only real interests were power and money.

A short while later, Master Xin emerged from the villa in a traditional tang suit and sat down across from them.

"Master Xin!" Chen Wujun rose to his feet.

"Shark Jiu's new colt. Jun, was it? You look sharp!" Master Xin said with a smile.

"What are you drinking? Red wine?"

"Wine this early? Mineral water. And get him a soda!" Shark Jiu called out to the servant who had followed them over.

"You've really made a name for yourself lately. Beat Wen Long so badly he's afraid to show his face," Master Xin said to Shark Jiu with a grin.

"Last night I invited Ma Dong out for tea. We had a chat."

"His position is that no matter how you spin it, what happened broke the established order — especially since you seized most of Wen Long's territory."

"He put forward two proposals."

The servant arrived just then with the mineral water and soda, along with two glasses, and poured for both of them.

Master Xin waited until the servant had left before continuing:

"First — all-out war. All Five Dragon Generals come after you."

"Lidong's got that much spine? Then bring it!" Shark Jiu scoffed with a sneer.

"Don't be rash. If it really comes to a full-scale war, Hetu will absolutely back you. But the losses would be massive. I can't speak for anyone else, but your hall would definitely be wiped out!" Master Xin raised a hand in a calming gesture.

"You've taken plenty of casualties already, haven't you? How much longer can you keep fighting?"

Shark Jiu pursed her lips.

The fighting these past days had indeed cost her dearly — over thirty casualties, and the consolation payments alone had been a hefty sum.

But she didn't care.

Seizing Wen Long's territory had boosted both her prestige and her momentum. As long as she held the turf, the money would come back eventually.

"Second proposal — since Jun here is what started all this, he fights one of Wen Long's men. If Jun loses, you give back half the territory. If he wins, you keep everything, and Lidong throws in another half-block on top." Master Xin laid out Lidong's second option.

"Has everyone at Lidong fried their brains on drugs? They think I'll spit out what's already in my mouth?" Shark Jiu slammed her palm on the table. Her voice dripped with contempt:

"Jun is my junior brother, and he's only been training for half a year! If they find someone with half a year of training to fight him, then fine — I'll agree!"

"No wonder you're so protective of him," Master Xin nodded.

"He's my man. Who else would I protect?" Shark Jiu said coolly.

"I don't agree to this."

"Shark Jiu, one man fighting is always better than a full-scale war. If Lidong leaks this to the streets, what will your other people think?" Master Xin said in a measured, unhurried tone.

"Having Lidong find someone with only half a year of training is obviously out of the question. But they can set conditions, and so can we."

"The fighter has to come from Wen Long's own ranks — no outside help. And the timeline can be pushed back. Say, three months."

"Jun's impressive. Half a year of training and his skills are already part of him — solid fundamentals too. Give him another three months, and I'd say he stands a real chance." Master Xin's gaze fell on Chen Wujun again.

"Jun, are you up for it?"

Shark Jiu's expression turned dark.

Chen Wujun's mind raced. He could see exactly what Master Xin had done — put him on a pedestal he couldn't climb down from.

But staying silent wasn't an option either. If Lidong spread the word that everyone had to keep fighting and dying because he was too scared to face Wen Long's man, he could be stabbed to death on any street corner.

That would breed resentment against him for certain.

It might even turn people against Shark Jiu.

Without outside help, the strongest fighters under Wen Long were all at the Resonance Phase — roughly on par with Ah Hao and his peers.

Three months from now... it wasn't impossible.

Losing meant he probably wouldn't walk away alive — that went without saying. But if he won, both his reputation and his gains would skyrocket.

These past days, seizing Wen Long's turf had been a group effort. Ah Hao, Cun Bao, and the others had all contributed men and muscle.

Even if territory was allocated to him, it wouldn't be much. He might not even get all four gambling dens.

But this wager — that extra half-block — was a different story entirely.

In this moment, Chen Wujun felt neither worry nor fear. Only ambition and cold calculation.

Especially after seeing the luxury car and the villa, when his own heist had netted a mere tens of thousands.

His mind completed its circuit, weighing every angle, and then he spoke:

"I don't have a problem with it. I'll follow my senior sister's lead."

After saying this, Chen Wujun shifted his gaze to the woman resting by the pool, his heart brimming with killing intent.

He knew he had to agree — but it was Master Xin who had maneuvered him into this position.

To Master Xin, he was nothing more than an ordinary bargaining chip.

His strength and status weren't enough yet. Naturally, there was nothing he could say about it.

But someday, if the opportunity arose...

Master Xin smiled faintly, then turned his gaze back to Shark Jiu.

"Shark Jiu, I'll say it again — one man fighting beats a full-scale war."

Shark Jiu's face was grim as she spoke:

"Jun, you've thought this through?"

"I'm confident!" Chen Wujun declared.

"Jun says he's fine with it, so I can agree. But the timeline is four months! Next year's Tin Hau Birthday — we set it for that day!" Shark Jiu stated.

"If Lidong doesn't like it, then there's nothing to discuss. We go all-in and see how many of those five worms are left standing!"

"Then I'll invite Ma Dong for tea again. If they won't agree, Hetu backs you all the way." Master Xin made the call on the spot.

...

The moment they left the villa, Shark Jiu's eyes turned savage. She let out a furious, icy snort:

"That old fool's gone completely senile!"