Chapter 36  : First Time In History

“Heavens is blessing me with a huge credit!”

Tian Heng’s foster son, Tian Nineteen, as the manager of the casino, felt that his good luck had struck.

He gave the cashier of the casino a glance, and the cashier ran out immediately to tell Tian Heng about the good news.

Meanwhile, Tian Heng was in Xuanwu City discussing matters with Master Xu.

“I thought about playing a few rounds suddenly and did not bring money with me, can I borrow some?” asked Shen Lang.

“Sure, sure…” Tian Nineteen was even more excited.

He was worried that Shen Lang would not borrow money. It would be best if he loaned 10,000 gold coins and lost all of them.

Then, Tian Heng could head to the Palace of the Earl to ask for the loan. The Earl would then beat Shen Lang to death.

“Can I borrow 1000 gold coins for a start?” asked Shen Lang, “What’s the interest?”

“You are an extremely important VIP, the interest is 10% annually. It won’t add up,” said Tian Nineteen.

The interest was considered extremely low. Even if there was no interest involved, Tian Nineteen would be willing to loan Shen Lang money.

How else would he be able to sabotage Shen Lang?

Anyway, the money would not be able to leave the casino.

“Alright, then write the loan receipt and state the interest and terms clearly,” said Shen Lang.

“Sure, I will listen to you,” said Tian Nineteen.

When the loan receipt was written, 1000 gold coins were placed in front of Shen Lang. Without any hesitation, he exchanged them into chips.

Tian Nineteen said slyly, “Young master Shen, what would you like to play?”

Shen Lang said, “What’s the easiest game?”

“Big or small,” said Tian Nineteen.

“Alright, then I shall play big or small!” said Shen Lang.

Tian Nineteen immediately brought Shen Lang to the table of the game.

Then, Shen Lang started enjoying the treatment of a celebrity; many of the customers had also stopped their games and came to watch.

“Is this Shen Lang?”

“He was the live-in son-in-law of the Xu Family before becoming the live-in son-in-law of the Palace of the Earl.”

“He is indeed handsome!”

“I think I am handsome too, why can’t I become the son-in-law of the Palace of the Earl?”

“I have known you for ages but didn’t realize that you are such a dishonest person. When you pee, did the toilet bowl not tell you the truth?”

“Shen Lang dares to come to the casino; is he courting death? Whether he wins or loses, the Earl would probably cripple him!”

Shen Lang ignored all these discussions. He said to the game master, “Let’s start!”

Tian Nineteen nodded.

While dealing with a useless person like Shen Lang, he did not even bother to cheat.

The game master behind the table began to shake the dice. After about 30 seconds, he placed the cup on the table.

“Big or small?”

The sum of the three dice would be considered small if it was lower than nine and big if it was greater than nine.

Shen Lang used his x-ray vision and quickly saw the number inside.

!

“Big!” Shen Lang threw all his chips into the betting pool.

Instantly, everyone became excited.

Impressive, he took such a massive bet in the first round?

Shen Lang had taken those 1000 gold coins from a loan, and he placed all of them into this bet!

The other customers all stopped playing and watched while holding their breaths.

It was too exhilarating.

“The bet is placed on big,” said the game master.

“Open, open, open…”

The game master opened the cup.

!

Shen Lang won!

“He actually won.”

“Shen Lang is fortunate. He won 1000 gold coins in his first bet.”

The onlooking gamblers were extremely excited.

Tian Nineteen’s expression did not change at all, and he continued smiling.

Everything depended on luck. That was nothing.

To be honest, Tian Nineteen was worried that Shen Lang would lose during his first bet since he might stop playing because of that.

He would only continue playing if he won a few consecutive rounds.

Winning the first round was the start of the misery of a gambler.

The second round began. It was still the game of ‘Big or small.’

The gamemaster began to shake the dice again. He looked earnest as he shook the dice for a minute before slamming it on the table.

Of course, that was only to intensify the mood and make the gambler feel pressured.

However, to Shen Lang, it would be the same even if he shook it for a hundred minutes.

Shen Lang used his x-ray vision again. It was still big: 15.

“Big!”

Shen Lang threw all his chips worth 2000 gold coins into the betting pool.

This time, everyone in the room held their breaths.

Was the live-in son-in-law of the Earl insane? Why did he place such a huge bet?

Tian Nineteen’s expression changed slightly.

If Shen Lang won again, that would be 4000 gold coins.

To Tian Heng, it was considered an enormous sum.

Although the casino was extremely grand, the monthly profits did not exceed 2000 gold coins.

gold coins were equivalent to ten million yuan in modern China[1.This amount is calculated based on the price of gold, small adjustments were made].

The gamemaster’s hand began to tremble.

“Open, open, open…”

The gamemaster opened the cover quickly.

, big!

Shen Lang won again!

gold coins!

All the onlookers were extremely excited.

gold coins was an extraordinary amount.

It was enough money for them to live for the rest of their lives.

Meanwhile, Tian Nineteen’s expression changed drastically.

Shen Lang was really crazy. No matter the amount, he would throw in everything.

Moreover, his luck was pretty good. He managed to win both rounds.

This was the largest amount that the casino had lost in three years.

For ordinary gamblers, it was already sporadic to see them lose 400 to 500 gold coins. They were usually wealthy foreign gamblers.

They could not let Shen Lang win anymore. Tian Nineteen would now manage the game personally.

Once he goes down, Shen Lang would definitely lose!

Tian Nineteen smiled, “Come, come, come, Young Master Shen, I will throw the dice for you personally.”

He was an expert in throwing dice. He could make the sum either big or small, depending on his wish.

That was nothing.

The better thing was that he could change the number on the dice after they were placed on the table.

This was a skill that only Tian Nineteen, amongst the crew of the entire casino, knew. Therefore, he became Tian Heng’s foster child and the manager of the casino.

…

Shen Lang could understand that Tian Nineteen was about to cheat.

“No, no, no…” Shen Lang smiled, “I suddenly don’t feel like playing this game anymore. It all depends on luck and does not depend on skills at all. I want to play pai gow.”

Tian Nineteen smiled, “Sure, you are the young master, you can choose whatever game you like. Let’s play pai gow then.”

How could he let Shen Lang leave like that?

If his foster father knew that Shen Lang did not lose terribly but won 4000 gold coins, he would definitely kill him.

His gambling skills were extremely high, or he would not become Tian Heng’s foster child and the expert of the casino.

Throughout Xuanwu City, nobody managed to defeat Tian Nineteen in terms of gambling skills.

Especially in a game like pai gow, which involved skills, Tian Nineteen could make sure Shen Lang would lose.

Therefore, he definitely had to win.

The game of ‘big or small’ depended on pure luck.

However, pai gow involved some level of skills. At least it involved judging the opponent’s cards if one should continue betting as well as their strategy.

Anyway, Tian Nineteen had absolute confidence that he could thrash Shen Lang with his eyes closed.

Tian Nineteen could quickly tell the number from the back of the cards since every card had a mark. However, the mark was hidden extremely well.

Shen Lang said he wanted to play this game. He was basically courting death.

Tian Nineteen had to make Shen Lang lose so that he could continue to loan the young master money and owe them 10,000 gold coins.

In that case, to not repay the casino, the Palace of the Earl could only kick Shen Lang out and cut off all connections with him.

Of course, that meant that Shen Lang would definitely die.

…

In this world, the rules of pai gow were straightforward. It was way easier than that on Earth.

Basically, one had to put 32 cards of pai gow onto the table facing downwards.

Everyone could pick two cards, and the winner would be decided by the definition of big and small!

They did not have to shake the dice to draw the cards. One could take any two cards one wanted before comparing.

The pair of 3+9 was the biggest hand one could get. Although each card’s individual value was small, once grouped, their value became huge.

Following that, the combination of two cards that combined to a total of 12 was the biggest, followed by two cards of 2.

The rules need not be explained in detail since they were not necessary anyway.

When the game was about to begin, Shen Lang suddenly said, “I don’t trust your cards, send someone to get a new deck of cards. I will only continue after I check them!”

After hearing this, Tian Nineteen frowned slightly.

The deck they were using now had a hidden mark behind each card. He could tell what the card was from the back.

“If that’s not alright, then I shall leave. Please give me 4000 worth of gold coins.” Shen Lang stood up and was about to leave.

“Hold on, hold on…” Tian Nineteen said, “Sure, we will buy new cards.”

How could he let Shen Lang leave like this? If Shen Lang left, he would be doomed.

Then, Tian Nineteen instructed a staff member, “Go and buy ten new decks of pai gow, remember not to buy them in our shop.”

The person ran out and returned with ten new decks of pai gow.

When he returned, Shen Lang used his x-ray vision to check. Six of the new decks of cards did not have any markings.

He chose the ordinary deck of pai gow, which did not have any secret markings. The inner markings and density were very even, and it was impossible to cheat.

“This deck then.” Shen Lang pointed to that deck of cards.

“Sure.”

Tian Nineteen was fine. He was the best gambler in Xuanwu City, and nobody had defeated him before. Even if he did not cheat, he could definitely win!

The game between the two of them officially began!

“Why won’t you take your cards first,” said Shen Lang.

Tian Nineteen nodded and took two cards from the 32-card deck.

Shen Lang used his x-ray vision and saw his cards effortlessly.

Tian Nineteen’s luck was not bad. He got two clubs, it was the sixth biggest amongst all the combinations.

“100 gold coins.” Tian Nineteen placed his bet.

Since Tian Nineteen had the sixth biggest combination, Shen Lang picked the fifth-biggest combination.

Moreover, he placed the cards on the table without looking.

“1000 gold coins!” Shen Lang placed his bet.

He really had the charisma of a gambling god.

Everyone gasped in shock when they saw Shen Lang placing his bet of 1000 gold coins without even checking the cards.

He was really a wealthy gambler. They had never seen someone play so big before.

Tian Nineteen hesitated slightly. His cards were excellent, and it was worth betting.

“I will bet 1000 gold coins too!”

“Open!”

Both of them opened their cards. Shen Lang won!

Tian Nineteen started to break into a cold sweat!

However…

That was just the beginning!

What followed after that was his nightmare!

An unprecedented nightmare…

That was because, for every round, Shen Lang did not check his cards and placed 1000 gold coins as his bet.

Then…

He kept winning and winning and winning!

He won until Tian Nineteen trembled and shuddered. He was giddy, and he questioned his life.

What on Earth…

This is absurd… absurd!

…