With nineteen victories, he swept through the battlefield, unstoppable and fierce.

Meng Yun took out the silver she had slipped from the Meng family yesterday. "Bet big, five taels."

The gamblers saw this and thought, "This is a wealthy person, betting five taels right away."

"Place your bets, no take-backs! Roll!"

"Four-five-five, big! What bad luck."

Meng Yun smiled as she accepted the silver pushed over by the dealer, then continued to bet.

She placed the previous five taels plus the five taels she had just won.

"Betting big," Meng Yun said with a smile. Some followed her lead, while others thought her earlier win was just luck.

"Five-six-six, big."

Meng Yun smiled as she collected ten taels, bringing her total stake to twenty taels.

The dealer shot Meng Yun a sharp glance and continued shaking the dice.

This time, Meng Yun bet on small.

"One-one-three, small!" Meng Yun took back twenty taels.

Meng Yun noticed a waiter watching for a while before heading upstairs.

The game went on for three more rounds, and Meng Yun won each time.

Her silver had tripled again, now totaling 320 taels.

"Sir, you’ve got great luck today. Our boss invites you upstairs for tea," said the waiter respectfully as he approached Meng Yun.

"Lead the way." Meng Yun carefully packed the silver into a cloth she produced from who knows where.

Amid the astonished gazes of the crowd, she ascended to the second floor. Many were curious about this person who had won so much money and was now summoned by the boss of Lucky Gambling House—surely this did not bode well.

In a room at the far east end of the second floor, Old Master Lai lounged in a chair with smoke curling from a teacup on the table. Two burly men stood silently by his side.

"Master Lai, the guest has arrived," the waiter said, bowing deeply, clearly fearful of the master.

"Hmm," Lai waved him off, and the waiter retreated.

"Sit!" Lai gestured to the chair behind the table.

Meng Yun pulled Gold Yan Chuan down beside her and placed her pouch of silver on the table with a clatter that made hearts race.

"May I ask what you wish to see me about, Master Lai?" Meng Yun looked at him calmly.

"I heard you have some skill and wanted to see for myself," Lai said, eyeing Meng Yun.

"Just luck," Meng Yun smiled.

"I don’t think so. You must have some extraordinary ability. How about a little contest?" Lai proposed.

"I’m pressed for time today. Maybe next time," Meng Yun declined.

"You’ve won our gambling house’s silver..." Lai glanced at the cloth bundle on the table.

"Do you intend to confiscate it, Master Lai?" Meng Yun smiled.

"No, since you won it fairly, I wouldn’t interfere," Lai said, slightly embarrassed to have touched a nerve.

"Oh, then thank you for your generosity," Meng Yun responded with a smile.

"Brother, you can take your silver, but I have a favor to ask."

"Please speak."

"I want to learn your method," Lai said, suspecting Meng Yun of cheating due to her huge winnings.

"Haha, Master Lai, I have no special tricks. It’s just years of experience," Meng Yun said. Now that she had spiritual power, discerning the dice inside the cup was almost effortless.

Lai’s expression faltered, clearly displeased.

"What I said is true. But I can teach you some new games that yield bigger house cuts. These new games are very popular," Meng Yun said, glancing at Lai, pretending not to notice his displeasure.

"Oh? What new games?" Lai was more interested in the new methods than the 300-plus taels.

He had run the gambling house for over a decade and was tired of the same old games. New games would surely attract more customers.

"Bring a deck of cards," Meng Yun instructed.

Lai gave a signal to one of the burly men, who quickly fetched a deck.

"Like this..." Meng Yun demonstrated several new ways to play.

Lai’s eyes widened in astonishment. These games were refreshingly novel.

"Please get me some thick paper and a pen," Meng Yun said, looking up.

Without waiting for instruction, the burly man rushed to prepare them.

Meng Yun made a deck of playing cards on the spot and explained several bonus-yielding games. Fearing Lai might forget, she wrote down detailed rules.

Lai treasured the notes like a precious gem.

Meng Yun watched as Lai calmed down after his excitement.

"Brother, I sincerely want to be your friend..." Lai said earnestly.

"Master Lai, you are too kind. I’m just an ordinary person unworthy of such friendship," Meng Yun stood and cupped her hands.

"Don’t belittle yourself. Your new games will make you a pioneer in Dajin and start a trend in the industry," Lai said, laughing heartily.

"Not at all," Meng Yun said shyly, embarrassed by his praise.

"Here’s the deal: you keep the silver you won, and I’ll give you another 200 taels. If you ever need anything, just come to me. I can’t speak for others, but in Wanqing Town, I have some influence," Lai said, thumping his chest loudly.

"Thank you, Master Lai. I actually have a favor to ask today," Meng Yun cupped her hands again.

"Go ahead," Lai said, ready to spring into action at her command.

"There’s someone named Zhou Shiren from Zhou Family Village. Do you know him?" Meng Yun asked.

"No, do you have a grudge against him?" Lai inquired.

"To be honest, he and I are mortal enemies. But I don’t want him to die easily. He’s always chasing a get-rich-quick dream. I want you to help me make his dream come true—and then take everything away," Meng Yun said with the calmest voice, uttering the deadliest words.

Lai silently lit a row of incense for this Zhou Shiren. This young man’s cruelty far surpassed his own. Lai’s methods were just cutting off limbs; this young man not only wanted to kill but to break a person’s spirit first.

"Alright, I accept this matter," Lai promised, pounding his chest.

"Thank you, Master Lai. I have family matters to attend to, so we will take our leave," Meng Yun stood and prepared to leave.

"Hey, brother, your silver," Lai hurriedly handed over the bundle, while the burly man gave her the 200 tael silver notes.

"I really don’t want the money," Meng Yun declined.

"Brother, you don’t treat me, Lai, as a friend. If you do that, I’ll be upset," Lai sulked.

Meng Yun was speechless. When people won at the gambling house, they usually couldn’t take their winnings away, as they would be robbed on the way out. But here, the boss threatened her to take the money or else be angry.

"Then I’ll graciously accept. Thank you, Master Lai. When I come up with new games again, I’ll bring them to you," Meng Yun thought. She planned to make a mahjong set for Lai someday, after all, he had contributed over 500 taels.

Lai watched Meng Yun leave with reluctant eyes.