Chapter 57

“…Okay,” Gong Ting no longer hesitated, “then I’ll use my life to exchange!”

At this moment, all he wanted was for Bai Xuechao to stay and continue the game. If Bai Xuechao left here, he would be unable to avenge his previous shame.

The failure in cheating skills would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Zhou Chenhao and Ling Feng had never imagined that Bai Xuechao’s game coins were exchanged with his life, and at the sky-high price of 800 million! What on earth was his identity?

What they expected even less was that Bai Xuechao, with just a few words, had made things develop to this point, where Gong Ting also wanted to exchange his life for game coins. The two looked at Gong Ting. Zhou Chenhao’s expression was mostly surprise, while Ling Feng looked at the other party as if he were looking at an idiot, as if he had already foreseen his end.

They wouldn’t understand that, to Gong Ting, cheating skills were something comparable to his life.

Gong Ting placed his hand in the Waiter in a tuxedo’s palm, his jade-green eyes looking at Bai Xuechao as he said seriously, “My life is worth 360 million game coins.”

As soon as he finished speaking, he heard the Waiter in a tuxedo say respectfully, “Apologies, Lord City Lord, your life is currently worth 180 million game coins. Do you wish to exchange it?”

Hearing this, a trace of confusion flashed across Gong Ting’s eyes, as if he didn’t understand how his life had become this value, but then he seemed to remember something.

Bai Xuechao saw his reaction and guessed that Gong Ting’s life was indeed worth 360 million before, but something happened later that caused it to be halved.

He said: “What, the value of a life can decrease?”

Zhou Chenhao and Ling Feng couldn’t help but prick up their ears, also wanting to know the reason.

“My freedom… was exchanged.” Gong Ting’s voice was very soft, as if he were muttering to himself. He only said this and nothing more, it was clear he didn’t want to elaborate. He said to Bai Xuechao, “My life is only worth this much now. If you think it’s not enough, I can add more.”

Bai Xuechao tapped his chin with his fingertip, thinking with great interest: What happens when freedom is exchanged?

He said: “How about adding your special ability?”

He had never tried a way to obtain another person’s special ability other than through Devourment, so this was a good opportunity to try.

Gong Ting hesitated for a moment, then made a decision: “Okay.”

If he couldn’t beat the other party and break his nightmare, his life would be meaningless even with this special ability.

The Waiter in a tuxedo had been standing quietly by the side. Hearing Gong Ting agree, he finally spoke: “Lord City Lord, your special ability is worth 240 million game coins. Do you wish to exchange it?”

Xiao 6, who had just returned from watching the system replay, heard this sentence and whispered to Bai Xuechao: “I didn’t expect Gong Ting’s special ability to be so expensive, even more expensive than Ling Feng’s… Oh, I forgot to mention, the male lead’s special ability is worth 300 million, and Ling Feng’s is worth 200 million.”

Hearing this, Bai Xuechao was a little curious. What was the value of a special ability based on?

He became more and more interested in Gong Ting’s special ability.

Gong Ting asked: “My life and special ability together are worth 420 million game coins. Is that enough?”

“It’s enough.” Bai Xuechao smiled and nodded, “City Lord Gong, I’m looking forward to the rest of the game.”

After exchanging the game coins for Gong Ting, the Waiter in a tuxedo disappeared.

The familiar clattering sound of gold coins rang out, and the big screen updated their game coin counts.

【City Lord: 433,333,334】

【Player A: 153,333,332】

【Player B: 443,333,331】

【Player C: 970,000,003】

The round that had just started wasn’t over yet; the game continued.

Bai Xuechao, including the Ace he had just revealed, had a point total of 17. If he wanted to win, it would be best to take another card. But he simply propped his chin with one hand, leaned his body to the side, and said in a lazy manner: “Stand.”

Gong Ting was a little surprised by Bai Xuechao’s choice.

However, perhaps betting his life for game coins did have some effect. Gong Ting’s mind was much calmer than before, and he thought of the reason for Bai Xuechao’s decision to stand—

If Bai Xuechao were to cheat again, he would definitely continue to try and catch him, and this time he would only watch more carefully, because the risk for Bai Xuechao to cheat was greater. Getting caught cheating would result in a double penalty, which was 100 million game coins, while losing would only cost 50 million. Besides, the other party now had 17 points. As the dealer, he could either take a card and exceed 17 to win, or bust. There was also a small probability of getting exactly 17, resulting in a tie with Bai Xuechao.

Considering all factors, standing at 17 was the most stable option.

After figuring it out, Gong Ting had no other reaction, only sneering inwardly before turning to ask Zhou Chenhao: “Hit?”

Zhou Chenhao’s cards were a Q and a 7, which already added up to 17. But he had already thought it through before; in order to win, he had no choice but to take a card. He replied: “Hit.”

Gong Ting smiled and pushed the top card to Zhou Chenhao.

A 10 of Diamonds.

Zhou Chenhao busted.

Ling Feng pressed his thumb to his temple, having already anticipated such an outcome. He had long seen through that Gong Ting had tampered with the cards while shuffling, placing the high-value 10-point cards at the top. Now it all depended on Gong Ting’s point total. If he also busted, then they wouldn’t have lost, although this possibility was minuscule.

Gong Ting’s face-up card was a 2 of Spades. He flipped over his face-down card, which was a 5 of Hearts, for a total of 7 points.

Under the gazes of the three, he continued to flip over another card—

A 9 of Clubs.

The total was 16, not yet 17. As the dealer, Gong Ting had to hit again.

And seeing the value of this card, Gong Ting’s expression remained unchanged, but his hand paused slightly.

When he was shuffling, he had moved the high-value cards to the top. In his mind, everyone’s hand would bust, and he would get a 10-point card, winning with exactly 17 points.

However, the value of this card was actually 9.

—He had made a mistake while shuffling.

Although this was still a high-value card, second only to an Ace and a 10-point card, it wouldn’t be unacceptable for a player to stand with this hand. But for the dealer, a total of less than 17 meant he had to continue taking cards, and he knew his next card was also a high-value one, which would definitely cause him to bust.

What was he doing when he was shuffling just now? Why would he make such a low-level mistake?

Gong Ting fell into a brief recollection.

He remembered now. At that time, he had been caught cheating and had to restart the round. While shuffling, he had unconsciously glanced at the young man sitting opposite him.

He was only distracted for a moment, but it resulted in a mistake with the cards in his hand, shuffling a 9 to the top.

If he took another card, he would bust and lose 50 million to Bai Xuechao.

But compared to getting caught cheating again and being fined 100 million, losing one round seemed to be the best outcome.

Gong Ting secretly gritted his teeth and made a decision.

—He was going to cheat.

Most people, if they encountered someone whose cheating skills were superior to their own, would probably not dare to cheat, for fear of being caught by the other party.

But Gong Ting thought viciously: That’s a thought only trash would have!

He was going to cheat!

He was going to cheat right under Dongfang Bubai’s nose, use his own cheating skills to pull the wool over his eyes, deceive the other’s eyes to achieve victory. This was a true gambler who could enjoy the fruits of victory! Even though he had been caught cheating before, he was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to admit defeat!

At this moment, Gong Ting seemed to feel the blood in his entire body boiling, rushing against his heart, making his body tremble with excitement.

His potential was pushed to its absolute limit at this moment.

His hands seemed to have never been so fast. When he took the card, he instantly drew the fourth card, which he knew was a card with a definitely smaller value.

The fourth card was even easier to expose a flaw than the second, but Gong Ting was completely focused and perfectly completed this act of cheating.

He flipped over the card he had taken out.

A 4 of Clubs!

His total was now 20!

Seeing the card, Ling Feng’s brows furrowed. He hadn’t seen clearly just now, but his intuition told him that Gong Ting had cheated.

He subconsciously glanced at Bai Xuechao beside him, wanting to see his reaction.

At the same time, Gong Ting also looked at Bai Xuechao, who was sitting opposite him.

Bai Xuechao was propping his chin with one hand, his beautifully shaped lips curling into a shallow arc. The fingertips of his other hand tapped lightly on the table, exactly four times, no more, no less.

At this moment, Gong Ting felt as if he had plunged into an ice cave, a chill seeping from the seams of his bones.

Four times.

It was to say he had drawn the fourth card.

However, Bai Xuechao made no further move, did not catch Gong Ting cheating, as if he was letting Gong Ting off.

Waves stirred in Gong Ting’s heart. He had a somewhat uncertain idea. He remained silent, looking at Bai Xuechao with a probing gaze.

Bai Xuechao was also looking at him, his snow-white lashes fluttering once, his scarlet eyes showing no emotion.

Ling Feng didn’t see anything and retracted his gaze.

The big screen updated the game coin counts.

【City Lord: 583,333,334】

【Player A: 103,333,332】

【Player B: 393,333,331】

【Player C: 920,000,003】

In this round, all three of them lost to Gong Ting.

Gong Ting had instantly won 150 million game coins!

And Gong Ting also realized something—

Dongfang Bubai wasn’t catching his cheating anymore!

Perhaps it was to add some excitement to the game, or perhaps it was a “reward” for him also having exchanged his life for game coins. Dongfang Bubai clearly knew he had cheated this time, yet he didn’t catch him!

Although for him, Dongfang Bubai’s indulgence felt a bit insulting, he still couldn’t help but get excited.

Next, he would keep cheating until even Dongfang Bubai couldn’t tell!

Secondly, he had to win all the game coins from Zhou Chenhao to complete the leader’s mission.

At this time, Bai Xuechao, sitting opposite him, was also thinking—

It’s time to make a move, to win all of Zhou Chenhao’s game coins.

The game continued.

This round, Ling Feng was the dealer.

Ling Feng had been constantly reviewing Gong Ting’s cheating shuffle in his mind and seemed to have figured out the principle. He felt he could do it too, but when he picked up a stack of cards, he still felt it was tricky. This wasn’t something that could be achieved with just a few mental simulations.

He began to imitate Gong Ting’s shuffling method.

It was Ling Feng’s first time shuffling like this, and he was very unskilled, one might even say a bit clumsy. It was obvious what he was trying to do.

The three of them were watching him, which added an invisible pressure.

However, this shuffling technique couldn’t be caught as cheating, which was its only advantage. After all, Ling Feng was just “shuffling very slowly” right now, but he wasn’t hiding or swapping cards.

In the end, it took Ling Feng more than two minutes to shuffle the cards, which was exceptionally slow.

When he stopped, he heard a soft chuckle from Bai Xuechao’s direction. The muscles in his arm tensed up at once, but then he thought about how the other party had been watching him shuffle without any other reaction, and he relaxed a little. He then glanced impassively at Gong Ting.

Gong Ting was also laughing, and his smile was even more brazen, openly mocking his clumsy imitation.

Only Zhou Chenhao, sitting opposite him, looked at him with some concern.

Ling Feng began to deal the cards.

To be honest, he knew what his shuffle had resulted in this time. He couldn’t control it so that every card shuffled to the top was a high-value one; it was a mix of high and low. But overall, there were more high-value cards, so it was still easy for the other players to bust.

The only thing he had to worry about was Zhou Chenhao busting.

Over here, Bai Xuechao looked at his cards and fell into deep thought.

He had been dealt a King of Hearts and a 9 of Diamonds, a full 19 points.

Lying… Lying down to win?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep