Chapter 93

These old men, though they dared to speak sarcastically to Ding Ning, had personally witnessed how badly the few people who had confronted him earlier in the day were beaten. At this moment, they only dared to say a few more words because of their numbers, but in their hearts, they were still somewhat afraid of Ding Ning.

Many old men like to take advantage of their age, relying on their frail bodies to make young people afraid to touch them, as they would fall at the slightest touch. However, that depends on who it is.

This trick works well on ordinary people, but they wouldn't dare use it against thugs. The older one gets, the more one cherishes life, and Ding Ning was clearly not a good person. A few words were fine, but they didn't dare to do anything too extreme.

The old man who had been pushed aside by Ding Ning's buttocks glared and puffed his cheeks for a long time but didn't dare to say a word.

Ding Ning looked at Section Chief Jiang and said, "What do you think? Is anyone willing to play? If not, all of you old men can come at me together, and I'll take all of you on."

The old men looked at each other. They were somewhat tempted by the thousand yuan, but because they were somewhat afraid of Ding Ning, no one dared to step forward to challenge him.

Section Chief Jiang was also a bit angry. Seeing how arrogant Ding Ning was, he said with a stern face, "Young man, don't be too overbearing. We old fellows may not be good at many things, but we do have some expertise in chess. It's just that we don't like to gamble, as it's illegal."

These old men, who were originally in an awkward position because they didn't dare to accept the challenge, immediately found an excuse when they heard Section Chief Jiang's words.

"That's right, young man. Don't think we're afraid to play chess with you. We just don't do illegal things."

"If it were just for fun, I would teach you a lesson right now, showing you that chess requires years of practice."

Looking at the group of old men who were indignant, Ding Ning thought for a moment and said, "Since you're not willing to play, forget it. I have other uses for this money. This year is a leap month, and there are two July months. Today is the 15th of July, when the gates of the underworld are wide open. I need this money to worship the spirits and ensure peace. Otherwise, there will definitely be ghosts in the courtyard today. If you don't want to play, that's fine. You should know that I won two out of three games against Guangzi the day before yesterday."

The old men exchanged glances. Guangzi was also from this courtyard, and everyone knew his level of chess. He was a typical poor player, and the old men at the gate could easily beat him. Old Jiang could even give up his chariot, horse, and cannon to play against Guangzi.

Ding Ning had won two out of three games against Guangzi, which gave an idea of his skill.

Section Chief Jiang felt more confident and immediately said, "Well! I didn't want to play with you, but since you're planning to use the money for superstitious activities, as an old party member and an old cadre, I must stop you. I'll win your money to teach you a lesson. When you come to your senses, I'll return the money to you."

Having found a grand and noble reason, Old Jiang set up the chess pieces.

Ding Ning looked at Old Jiang and kindly warned him, "Don't blame me for not telling you. If you lose, you'll have to give me money, and my money is for worshipping the spirits. Even if you win, you might not get it, and if you attract any strange things, don't blame me."

"Stop your superstitious behavior. Come, come, let's play chess."

Ding Ning had given his warning and didn't say much more. The two of them set up the pieces and began to play.

About seven or eight old men surrounded them, forming a tight circle. They had been playing chess here for many years, but this was the first time they had seen a game with a thousand yuan at stake. Everyone was a bit nervous, and as for Ding Ning's talk about using the money to worship the spirits, they thought it was pure nonsense.

Ding Ning, playing the red pieces, started with a flying elephant.

Section Chief Jiang played the cannon, and Ding Ning moved a pawn.

Section Chief Jiang frowned slightly. This kid's moves were a bit strange. He couldn't afford to lose.

He moved his horse, and Ding Ning moved another pawn.

As they played back and forth, the frowns on Section Chief Jiang's and the surrounding old men's faces gradually eased.

This wasn't strange at all; it was clearly the moves of a beginner. After a few moves, the board was a mess, and Section Chief Jiang seized the opportunity and quickly gained the upper hand.

Dealing with Ding Ning didn't require any advanced tactics. He couldn't even see three moves ahead, and some simple tactics made him lose his pieces quickly.

In less than five minutes, Ding Ning was cornered and checkmated.

Section Chief Jiang proudly took the thousand yuan from Ding Ning, "Ha ha, thank you, thank you, young man. In the future, be a bit more modest and respect your elders. You'll learn a lot."

The surrounding people looked at Section Chief Jiang enviously. To get a thousand yuan so easily, this was too easy.

Ding Ning seemed a bit unwilling, "I didn't play well just now. Do you dare to play another game?"

As he spoke, Ding Ning took out another thousand yuan, moving quickly, and no one saw where he got it from.

"Come, come, let's continue." Section Chief Jiang, having tasted the sweetness of victory, naturally set up the board again and played another game with Ding Ning.

The result was the same. Ding Ning lost again, and Section Chief Jiang won two thousand yuan.

Ding Ning was still not satisfied and took out another thousand yuan to play again.

This time, before Section Chief Jiang could respond, the other old men couldn't sit still. One of them asked Section Chief Jiang to let him play a game with Ding Ning.

Section Chief Jiang, having won two thousand yuan, though he wanted to continue, didn't want to look too greedy, so he reluctantly let this old man take his place.

From this game on, Ding Ning lost even more miserably. The old man won a thousand yuan, and soon another person took his place and won another thousand from Ding Ning.

The old men reached a tacit agreement, and some even decided the order of play by rock-paper-scissors. Each of them took turns playing with Ding Ning, seeing it as an opportunity to make money.

Ding Ning's money seemed endless, and he kept taking out a thousand yuan at a time. In just over an hour, Ding Ning had lost nine games, totaling nine thousand yuan.

Besides Section Chief Jiang, who won two thousand, seven other old men each won a thousand yuan.

Finally, it was Section Chief Jiang's turn again. Just as he was about to sit down eagerly, Ding Ning suddenly pushed the chessboard aside, "No more. Damn, my luck is too bad today."

"Ha ha, your luck isn't bad, just your skill is a bit lacking. But you're improving quickly. If you play a few more times with us, you might even beat us."

Old Jiang finished, and the other old men who had won money all chimed in, hoping that Ding Ning would bring money to play with them every day.

Ding Ning looked at these greedy old men and said with a cold laugh, "You can keep the money, but don't blame me for not warning you. This money is for worshipping the spirits to protect the courtyard. Now that you've won it, I can't protect it. If the courtyard is haunted, you'll be responsible. If you return the money now, it's not too late."

"Alright, we grew up under the education of Marxist ideology. We don't believe in your superstitions."

The old men waved their hands dismissively, and no one wanted to return the money.

"If you don't return it, who will be responsible if something happens in the courtyard?" Ding Ning persisted.

"I'll be responsible. We old brothers here will be responsible. Alright?" Old Jiang said impatiently. Ding Ning just wanted to get the money back, and this trick could only fool children.

Ding Ning didn't say anything more. I gave you the chance, but since you're greedy, it's your own fault.

Ding Ning returned to his room, and the old men, seeing that Ding Ning had left, lost interest in playing chess and returned home.

Ding Ning silently felt the money he had, which he had briefly infused with the essence of heaven and earth. He could sense their positions. Now, eight old men had taken the money, and with the thousand yuan he still had, they formed a nine-square pattern.

Old Jiang, who had taken the most money, became the focal point of the array.

Holding the last thousand yuan of the ten thousand, Ding Ning silently calculated the time.

Finally, it was midnight, the time when the yin energy was strongest. At this moment, Ding Ning activated the divine consciousness imprinted on the banknotes!

A light smoke rose, and the ten thousand banknotes scattered throughout the courtyard simultaneously turned to ashes. As the banknotes disappeared, a force rose in Ding Ning's hand!

This was the power of money, the exclusive skill of the God of Wealth!

The Nine-Square Yin Array was finally formed at midnight!

The surrounding yin energy was attracted by the array and began to gather in the courtyard.

Ordinary people couldn't see this yin energy, but under Ding Ning's left eye, it was clearly visible. A gray mist rolled through the courtyard like a dense cloud.

The yin energy,无形无质，阻挡了周围的阳气渗入，渐渐地，庭院内的阴气浓度超过了正常水平，阳气被排挤在外，庭院的温度也逐渐下降。

随着阴气的聚集，不仅庭院变冷，而且人的思维也会受到影响。庭院内的各家各户，无论是醒着还是在梦中，每个人的脑海中都发生了一些不同的变化。

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(Note: The last two sentences are placeholders for advertisements and should be removed in the final translation.)

The yin energy, intangible and formless, blocked the yang energy from seeping in. Gradually, the concentration of yin energy in the courtyard exceeded normal levels, and the yang energy was pushed out. The temperature in the courtyard gradually dropped.

As the yin energy gathered, not only did the courtyard become colder, but people's thoughts were also affected. In the minds of the residents of the courtyard, whether awake or asleep, changes began to occur.