Chapter 250: A Land of Heroes, Heaven's Retribution (Part 2)
"But if you lose, you must tell the truth—whether the Lu family owes you silver, or you've committed a crime, murdered Lu Chunsheng, and stolen the Lu family's silver."
As Xu Qing's words fell, the crowd erupted.
Lai Yong felt terrified; his act of killing Lu Chunsheng was extremely discreet. Lu Chunsheng, being a Corpse Craftsman, often traversed cliffs, and if he fell, no one would suspect he was pushed. Why did this Funeral Master seem to know all the insider information?
"Who wants to bet with you? Whether Lu Chunsheng is dead or alive, what's it got to do with me? I think you're trying to help the Lu family dodge the ten taels of silver and are deliberately framing me!"
Xu Qing held up the silver with his hand, speaking calmly, "I was just making an analogy, why are you so anxious? If you truly have a clear conscience, why not dare to bet with me?"
"However, I have one principle, which is that those who wager should be willing to accept loss. Whoever loses and doesn't honor their promise, steals the stakes, or lies will face heavenly punishment and die instantly!"
"Do you dare to bet? If you don't dare to bet, then make way and don't delay my Funeral Shop's procession."
Lai Yong stared at the tael of silver in Xu Qing's hand, then looked at the onlooking villagers. If he didn't gamble, it would prove he was guilty, corroborating Xu Qing's accusations.
But despite his gambling addiction, Lai Yong couldn't shake a strong sense of unease. Though the young man seemed harmless, his words carried a chilling undertone like he was speaking to the dead, making Lai Yong shiver involuntarily.
"Are you good at gambling?"
asked Lai Yong.
"I never gamble with the living; today may be the first time. You should feel honored."
"..."
Lai Yong stared fixedly at Xu Qing but couldn't help stepping back.
"It seems you killed Lu Chunsheng."
Xu Qing smiled; this rascal's psychological endurance wasn't strong.
Now, not only Xu Qing but also the surrounding people started believing in the possibility.
One wagered real silver, the other only truth. If, as Lai Yong claimed, Lu Chunsheng's death had nothing to do with him, the curse of instantaneous death for falsehood wouldn't concern him. Yet, he dared not bet.
This was indeed intriguing.
Lai Yong wasn't afraid of gambling, but Xu Qing gave off an eerie feeling. He intuitively feared speaking lies, suspecting it might really lead to his death!
"Old Lu, continue the journey."
Upon seeing Xu Qing laughing softly, Lai Yong's anger ignited from the disdain and contempt.
He would only have to tell the truth if he lost a wager. With his experience in gambling dens, could he possibly lose to Xu Qing? Besides, even if he lost, saying falsehoods wouldn't really invoke heavenly wrath, would it?
As the hearse was about to leave the street, Lai Yong shouted, "Hold on! I'll bet with you!"
"But you need to make clear what it's about."
Xu Qing smiled upon hearing this, stopped, turned around, and faced Lai Yong, "Simple, one tael of silver, one truth."
"You can define the rules. After all these years in the gambling den, you must know more than I do."
"Then let's bet on odds or evens. I happen to have a die here. Would you wager on odd or even?"
Xu Qing chuckled as he looked at Lai Yong, "You choose first, whatever is leftover be it odd or even counts as mine. But before we bet, we need a witness."
"A witness? All the villagers here are witnesses. Why involve someone else?"
Xu Qing took out a Heaven and Earth Red Character Post and said, "It's not enough with just people; heaven and earth must witness too. Heaven is just, and for you to wager under its witness in your lifetime, even if you die, you'll have satisfaction."
"..."
The sense of unease in Lai Yong grew stronger; this person seemed somewhat crazy. Whose good-natured person talks about death nonstop?
In the funeral business, what an ill fate it is!
The crowd of onlookers got larger. Lai Yong seemed like he was put on the spot and had no choice but to gamble!
Moreover, Lai Yong had a strong gambling addiction, and the larger the audience, the more excited he felt.
Isn't it just a red paper with curse vows? Signing it isn't a big deal. He refused to believe the heavens actually cared about them gambling!
The signature on the red post wasn't the end. Xu Qing, upon seeing the false birthdate written by the other, didn't even need Purple Star Astrology to calculate; he knew the scoundrel wrote a fictitious birth date!
Based on the heavenly stems and earthly branches on the red paper, Lai Yong was just eight years old.
Xu Qing's face darkened, wanting to kill, but the voice in his head kept urging: don't get angry, don't be impulsive, do business in the secular world with a worldly demeanor, stay calm! At least set a good example for the cat.
"Feeling anxious to grow up, huh? But it's fine, if the birth date's wrong, burning two strands of hair will work too."
Seeing Xu Qing ask for his birth date and then asking to pull hairs, Lai Yong felt less nervous.
Who bets with so many rules? Clearly insecure, typical delay tactics of street swindlers.
Lai Yong had no idea about the greater harm from a longer pre-roll.
After burning the hair, Lai Yong's birth date was entirely imprinted on the red paper.
Watching Lai Yong pick up the die, full of self-confidence, Xu Qing remained unperturbed.
Gambling Death Technique wagers on the birth date; whoever loses dies. He's a Zombie, already surrounded by death, losing means nothing, while the other must consider many factors.
Additionally, when Xu Qing exorcised Iron Pillar's gambler father's spirit, aside from obtaining a drowsy spirit, his gambling skills improved.
Though Gambling Death Technique can't be cheated, Xu Qing could rely only on his own abilities.
"One die, we each roll once; if both roll odd or both roll even, the stake is set."