Chapter 637: Setting the Rules
"What the hell...?" Earth Monkey frowned instantly. "You're using this to bet with me?"
"What's wrong with that?" Chen Junnan asked with a serious expression. "Brother Monkey, I'm baring my heart and soul to you, and you're not taking it seriously? Lots of people wanted these socks, but I didn't give them away."
"I don't want them either!" Earth Monkey said. "Everything we're betting here is 'Dao.' What do you think you're doing, betting a pair of worn-out socks?!"
"What's wrong with that?!" Chen Junnan yelled back without backing down. "I've seen it in Hong Kong movies—aside from the chips on the table, you can bet a hand, an eye, a leg, or even your life. I'm betting a pair of socks, so you can match with a pair of socks."
"I... match with a pair of socks?!"
"Can't afford to match?" Chen Junnan raised an eyebrow, his expression smug and cheeky. "You giving up, huh?"
Before Earth Monkey could reply, Chen Junnan quickly shot a glance at Qiao Jiajin on his left. "Old Qiao, he gave up. Collect the money."
"Got it!"
Qiao Jiajin lunged at all the 'Dao' on the table with lightning speed. Their perfectly coordinated move nearly left Earth Monkey stunned.
"Hold on!"
But a Di-level was still a Di-level. He shielded the chips on the table first thing, staring at the two of them dumbfounded for a few seconds before frowning and asking, "Are you two here to cause trouble?"
"What do you mean?" Chen Junnan flashed a peculiar smile. "Brother Monkey, now's the time to clarify—can we bet things other than 'Dao' or not?"
Only then did Earth Monkey realize the intent behind this cocky man suddenly pulling out two socks.
He wanted to firmly establish the rules of the gambling table right here.
The appearance of the socks was perfectly timed, putting Earth Monkey in a dilemma. If he ruled that nothing besides 'Dao' could be wagered, it would make things difficult later when he wanted to make everyone's lives miserable. But if he agreed to this bet, then this man would really get through the first round with just a pair of socks.
What to do?
"Giving up, huh?" Chen Junnan continued to pour fuel on the fire. "If you can't match the bet, just say it. What's the matter—didn't wear socks today? Can't keep up?"
Earth Monkey covered the chips on the table and thought for a moment, then suddenly broke into a smile.
Got it.
"Young man... this gambling game can accept bets other than 'Dao,' but there's a condition..." Earth Monkey said.
"Just name your condition. I was afraid you wouldn't have any."
Earth Monkey thought for a moment and said, "Once someone puts up a wager other than 'Dao,' everyone else must also put up the same wager, or an 'item' of equal or greater value. If even one person doesn't have the same or a higher-value 'item,' then the first person's wager is invalid."
"Not acceptable." Qi Xia rubbed his forehead and immediately objected. "Those who have 'Dao' can wager 'Dao'; those who don't can pledge items. But to require everyone, even those with 'Dao,' to put up the same item as the first person—that's unreasonable."
Earth Monkey turned to look at Qi Xia, slowly curling his lips. The wrinkles on his face relaxed a bit.
"I know what you're thinking, but that's impossible..." He pushed Chen Junnan aside and said to Qi Xia, "These are the rules of my casino. You can wager any item. For fairness, I'll put up the same item as you, and everyone else will do the same, no exceptions. Since we didn't clarify this beforehand, this round can't use this rule. Starting next round."
Qi Xia frowned deeply.
Using items to substitute for 'Dao' was indeed an issue that had to be addressed. But requiring everyone to put up the same item cut off many escape routes.
If someone decided to stake their 'life,' the others would have no choice but to stake their own 'lives' if they wanted to continue betting.
"Too dangerous..." Qi Xia shook his head with a frown. He felt that not only were the rules dangerous, but his own mind was now in danger.
He had to get it working fast...
He closed his eyes and carefully pondered Earth Monkey's proposal. Everyone betting the same thing—didn't it affect him too?
Even he himself had to 'match.' Why was he so calm?
Allowing 'items' as wagers also had a major downside for everyone. Their purpose here was different from ordinary gamblers. Winning 'wealth' meant little to them. What they really needed was to gather sixty units of 'Dao' to buy their lives.
If Earth Monkey started betting 'items' every round, the group might go eight rounds without earning a single 'Dao.'
"If you don't accept, then we'll all take back our 'items.' I've got plenty of 'capital' on hand."
Qi Xia thought quickly for a few seconds, then said, "We agree. Starting next round, 'items' can be included."
"Oh...?" Earth Monkey slowly narrowed his eyes. "Decisive."
Chen Junnan put his socks back on, then tossed a 'Dao' onto the table. It didn't matter which round started; his goal was just to mess with Earth Monkey's mind.
Seeing Chen Junnan bet, Earth Monkey sneered. "You're 'Start of Spring.' Are you really adding to the bet?"
"Can't 'Start of Spring' add to the bet?" Chen Junnan smirked back. "Do the rules say 'Start of Spring' must lose?"
Earth Monkey nodded slightly, then turned to Qi Xia. "Your teammate isn't bad either."
Qi Xia said nothing. Qiao Jiajin, who was holding the 'Great Heat' card, thought for a moment and decisively chose to 'add to the bet.'
Now Qi Xia looked at the 'Qixi' in his own hand, the 'Zhongyuan' in the center of the table, and the 'Summer Solstice' in front of Earth Monkey, beginning to deduce all possibilities.
His brain whirred for a moment but then started to slow down again. He clearly remembered reading about the 'synodic month' and the 'twenty-four solar terms,' but those memories were buried deep in his mind, shrouded in thick fog, impossible to retrieve no matter how hard he tried.
"I'll... I'll add to the bet too..." Qi Xia said, touching his forehead.
Earth Monkey nodded expressionlessly. After watching Qi Xia drop a 'Dao' onto the table, he reached out and dropped one himself.
Next was Zheng Yingxiong.
He was holding a 'Frost's Descent.'
Everyone broke out in a cold sweat for him. This kid looked no older than a first or second grader. It was hard enough to imagine him participating in 'gambling'—he might even struggle to read the words 'Frost's Descent.' Though no one said it out loud, Zheng Yingxiong was indeed a 'cannon fodder.' His existence was merely to give the group more chances to test possibilities.
"I'm 'Frost's Descent.'" Zheng Yingxiong looked seriously at Earth Monkey. "Uncle, I'm matching too."