Chapter 92

"Ten thousand taels! I bet on Lu Xiaofeng winning!"

Ling Xiao, with a rather generous air, slapped a silver ticket on the table, the thud startling the eunuchs and guards, leaving them momentarily unsure of how to react.

"Where did you get so much money? You didn't take a bribe, did you!" Lu Xiaofeng asked with a laugh, though he wasn't particularly concerned about the outcome, as both he and Ling Xiao knew he would definitely win. He was just curious and couldn't help but want to explore the other person's motives.

"Stolen!" Ling Xiao waved his hand casually in explanation.

Ma Liuge's brows furrowed, and his gaze toward Ling Xiao was no longer as enthusiastic as before. "Lord Ling, you're putting me in a difficult position! When have we, mere servants, ever played such a high-stakes game!"

Ling Xiao shook his head and smiled lightly. "If you win, the money is yours. If I win, I will ask one question as well!"

Lu Xiaofeng was taken aback and thought resentfully that this guy had brought him here with a hidden agenda, and he shouldn't have had any expectations! How could this guy be so kind as to come and help!

Ma Liuge laughed heartily. "Lord Ling is too polite! If there's anything I can help with, I will certainly do my best. Why bet at all!" As he said this, he pushed the silver ticket back.

Ling Xiao pressed his hand down and smiled. "We all serve in the palace, and it's not easy. We should help each other when we can. Rules are rules, but they shouldn't be broken just for me. Since Ma Liuge has spoken, no matter the outcome today, I will consider you a friend!"

Ma Liuge's eyes sparkled with unusual brilliance, and he roared, "Fine! Today, I will consider you a friend!"

Lu Xiaofeng looked at Ling Xiao with deep emotion, thinking this was probably what he meant by treating everyone equally! Although he knew that such actions would lead to better results, as he had said before, Ma Liuge was too far removed from his circle to be considered a friend!

Clap, clap!

The surrounding guards and eunuchs all clapped, and from their eyes, one could see joy and sincerity. All the congratulations were heartfelt. This was respect, which was very important to them as servants!

"Congratulations! So, how shall we bet?" Lu Xiaofeng asked with confidence, knowing that with his martial arts and intelligence, he had a sure chance of winning no matter what they bet on.

Ma Liuge snorted and took out thirty-six dice, placing them in a large bowl. "Everyone calls me the Dice Demon. Since you've made such a bold claim, let's bet on dice, my strongest area!"

"Fine!" Lu Xiaofeng nodded indifferently.

Ma Liuge sneered and started shaking the bowl, the dice rolling and clattering with a crisp sound. Everyone's eyes followed his movements.

Ling Xiao, not understanding gambling, could only smile and wait for the result, despite his keen hearing.

Lu Xiaofeng saw something unusual from Ma Liuge's first move. This was a master! He was extremely skilled in gambling, and Lu Xiaofeng would find it hard to win without using some extraordinary means!

"Do we bet on high or low?" Lu Xiaofeng asked, frowning.

Ling Xiao looked at Ma Liuge with anticipation. With thirty-six dice, there were too many possibilities whether betting on high or low. From Ma Liuge's expression, it seemed he had already considered all of Lu Xiaofeng's possible moves.

Ma Liuge sneered. "You are a renowned hero, and your martial arts and intelligence are admirable. I can only give my best! We bet on low!" As he said this, his movements suddenly sped up.

Lu Xiaofeng's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he placed his hands on the table, leaning forward to closely watch the bowl in Ma Liuge's hands.

"It's too late! Ha ha ha!" Ma Liuge laughed and slammed the bowl on the table, the sound echoing in the room. Everyone looked at each other, knowing that Ma Liuge was serious!

Lu Xiaofeng narrowed his eyes and sighed. "A master! I was wrong to underestimate you. I didn't expect such hidden talent in the imperial palace!"

"It's a bit late to realize that now!" Ma Liuge snorted and gently lifted the bowl.

Sigh!

A chorus of gasps filled the air. Ling Xiao's eyes widened, and he looked at Lu Xiaofeng with a bitter smile. "You were just showing off! Now you're getting what you deserve!"

In the bowl, there was nothing but a pile of white powder!

"Do you want to continue?" Ma Liuge asked, smirking.

"You can't gloat anymore! He turned the dice into powder! How can you bet with him? According to the rules, a tie counts as a win for the house!" Ling Xiao said with a smug look.

Lu Xiaofeng, looking frustrated, asked, "Please! Which side are you on? Why are you so excited?"

"I just like seeing people in a bind, especially those who are more handsome than me!" Ling Xiao answered matter-of-factly.

Lu Xiaofeng's lips twitched, and he ignored him, turning to Ma Liuge. "Just shaking the dice, no need to be so brutal, right?"

Ma Liuge, with a cold face, didn't answer. "Your turn!"

Lu Xiaofeng sighed. "Fine! But first, let's see how many points you have." As everyone watched in confusion, he gently fanned the bowl, and a gust of wind blew away the powder, revealing what was hidden beneath.

"This... How is this possible? I clearly shattered them!" Ma Liuge exclaimed, disbelieving.

Beneath the powder was a dice, half-shattered, with a single red dot standing out.

"Now it's my turn." Lu Xiaofeng covered the bowl again, tapped it lightly with his finger, and then lifted it. The single remaining dot was also shattered.

The room fell silent, a dramatic turn of events! Ma Liuge had seemed to have a sure win, but somehow, half a dice was left. Was it even the will of heaven on Lu Xiaofeng's side?

Ma Liuge clenched his fists, his eyes red as if about to bleed. After a moment, he took a deep breath. "Ask what you want to know, but first, I want to know how you did it."

Everyone perked up, equally curious. Among those present, Lu Xiaofeng's martial arts were the highest, a fact everyone acknowledged. In terms of internal strength, there were many stronger than Ling Xiao, but in terms of keen eyesight, Lu Xiaofeng was far superior!

Ling Xiao's gaze shifted to the table, deep in thought, recalling Lu Xiaofeng's limited movements. Suddenly, he seemed to understand!

Lu Xiaofeng smiled and praised, "I'm also a bit of a gambler, and among those I've seen, Ma Liuge is the best! I admit defeat in this aspect!"

Hearing Lu Xiaofeng's praise, Ma Liuge's expression improved, sensing that it was genuine. This also indicated that Lu Xiaofeng had used a non-gambling method to win.

Indeed, Lu Xiaofeng continued, "Ma Liuge is a master gambler, and only a gambler understands another gambler. I know that a skilled gambler never wastes a single move. Each shake of the dice has a purpose, even the final placement on the table. When I realized your intention, it was too late to stop you, so I had to take a chance on this habit!"

He tapped the table lightly and explained, "Before your final placement, I leaned forward and subtly sent true qi through my hands onto the table. This qi effectively reduced the force of your placement, so one of the dice wasn't shattered."

Upon hearing this, everyone was enlightened! They marveled at the subtle and precise use of martial arts and sharp thinking. Most people, even if they had the ability, wouldn't have thought of it!

Ling Xiao, feeling a mix of admiration and envy, thought, "The use of true qi is truly amazing! When can I experience the feeling of using it freely!"

Ma Liuge shook his head with a bitter smile. "I may not claim to be invincible in gambling, but I don't underestimate myself! Today, I lost, and I admit defeat in martial arts and intelligence. Ask what you want to know!"

Lu Xiaofeng, without hesitation, asked, "I want to know if Tang Men's Four Heroes, Tang Ao and Tang Yong, came here recently. How did they come, and where did they go?"

Everyone was stunned and looked at each other, realizing they had no knowledge of this. Ling Xiao's heart sank, realizing that Ye Gucheng was more cautious than he had thought, and no one had seen the Tang brothers despite the constant comings and goings.

Ma Liuge lowered his head and thought for a moment before saying, "You've asked the right person! No one else here could answer you. On that day, Xiao Shunzi brought Tang Ao and Tang Yong into the palace. They opened a private room in the eunuch quarters and then followed Xiao Shunzi into the palace. No one knows their whereabouts after that!"

"Who is Xiao Shunzi?" Lu Xiaofeng asked urgently.

"A trusted confidant of Wei Gonggong!"

"Which Wei Gonggong?"

"Wei Zhongxian, the Chief Eunuch of the Western Depot!"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, knowing the Western Depot's ruthless methods. Ling Xiao and Lu Xiaofeng weren't afraid, but the others were! Ma Liuge had truly gone to great lengths to reveal this!

Lu Xiaofeng understood the danger and looked at Ma Liuge with gratitude.

Ling Xiao, with a serious expression, looked around and said firmly, "The Dragon Protector clan is down to my master alone. I can be considered half the leader of the Dragon Protector clan! I single-handedly rescued Bai Hu from the Jinyiwei prison, and we have a life-and-death bond! The Capture God of the Six-Fan Gate owes me a favor! And my relationship with the Emperor, as you may have heard, is close. If you respect me, today, Lu Xiaofeng and I were never here!"

Everyone's faces stiffened, then they nodded with joy.

"Right, we've never seen Lord Ling and Lu Xiaofeng! Have you?"

"No, Lu Xiaofeng is a great hero, and I've long admired him, but I've never met him!"

"Exactly! Lord Ling is so busy, how could he have time to come to this chaotic place!"

Ling Xiao bowed and smiled. "Thank you!"

Everyone returned the bow, relieved. Who wanted to be associated with the inhumane people of the Western Depot! With Ling Xiao's assurance, they felt more secure!

Ma Liuge smiled gratefully. "Lord Ling, is there anything else you want to know?"

Ling Xiao stroked his chin and paused. "Yes, I want to know when Princess Feifeng leaves the palace."

Eh! Everyone was collectively taken aback, then they looked at him with deep meaning, making Ling Xiao shudder! There were already rumors in the palace that the Dragon Protector clan had the Emperor's promise of marriage. Ling Xiao and Princess Feifeng were getting closer, and there were hints of a romantic relationship!

Ma Liuge's eyes twinkled, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "That's an easy question. For the past month, Princess Feifeng has been leaving the palace around noon and returning in the evening."

Ling Xiao nodded and pushed the ten-thousand-tael silver ticket toward him. Ma Liuge's face changed, and he angrily said, "Lord Ling, what do you mean by this? Do you look down on us!"

Ling Xiao shook his head. "There's a second question, so I should give you the money. And I didn't bet on the dice, so I can't ask endless questions like Lu Xiaofeng."

"But..."

Ling Xiao raised his hand to stop him. "This is the rule, and it can't be broken."

Seeing his determination, Ma Liuge couldn't refuse and nodded. "Lord Ling is a man of principles."

Lu Xiaofeng rolled his eyes. "Are you saying I don't follow the rules? I was just in a hurry and didn't notice. I didn't say I wouldn't pay!"

As he said this, he pushed the silver ticket over.

Ma Liuge chuckled and put the silver ticket away. "Meeting both of you today is a great honor! If you don't mind, we can be friends!"

"We're already friends! Let's talk about other things later. Answer my question first!" Ling Xiao said, pouting.

"Sure, what is it?"

"Does Princess Feifeng have any guards or maids accompanying her when she leaves the palace?"

Everyone's eyes widened even more, and they smiled lightly, as if they had discovered some major gossip!

Ma Liuge chuckled and said warmly, "No, she always goes alone and exits through a small, inconspicuous gate. If Lord Ling wants to have a chance encounter, it would be very easy!"

Ling Xiao was taken aback and turned to see everyone's knowing looks. "Damn! Who said I want a chance encounter? I'm not chasing her!"

"Right, we understand! Lord Ling doesn't need to explain." Everyone nodded and laughed.

Lu Xiaofeng rolled his eyes. "You're just being stubborn! Could you be any more obvious with your intentions?"

"I just said damn! What do you understand! Damn, these days, no one believes the truth!" As he said this, he fled under the meaningful gazes of the others.

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