Chapter 33: The Price of the Gambling Table

A bloodshot eye appeared through the crack in the door, staring at them with a dry, piercing intensity. It swept over them in an instant, yet said nothing.

Xu Qi swallowed hard, took out the two copper coins that seemed to hold special significance, and presented them to the person on the other side.

The crack in the door was slammed shut with a heavy thud. Just as Xu Qi was wondering if something had gone wrong, the sound of a chain scraping echoed from within, and the gate swung wide enough for them to slip through.

Relieved, Xu Qi exchanged a look with Bai Tingyi, signaling him to be cautious, before squeezing through the gap first.

Once inside, Xu Qi opened her eyes wide, barely suppressing her astonishment as she looked around. It was a sight unlike anything she had ever seen—dim, dust-covered sheepskin lanterns hung under the eaves, their wicks trimmed so low that they cast almost no light. The courtyard floor was covered in old reed mats used for unloading cargo from ships. About twenty people sat huddled around a gambling table, where a piece of damaged armor, scavenged from who knows where, served as a weight to anchor the table. They were deep in the throes of their game. In the depths of the room, where it was even darker, one could faintly hear the crisp clatter of dice.

The air seemed to hold a lingering, ancient scent of blood, masked by the heavy, expensive aroma of ambergris burning somewhere nearby.

Suddenly, a night raven shrieked overhead, and a large hand swung out in front of her, giving her a start.

Meeting that same bloodshot, withered eye, Xu Qi suddenly remembered that the tasks Tan Jiuding had assigned her were not yet finished. She feigned composure, pulled five taels of silver from her sleeve, and handed them over. The man gave her back a Mexican silver dollar brought in through smuggling—a coin that, by her calculations, was worth far less than five taels of silver.

But those were the rules.

Xu Qi accepted it and nodded. The burly gatekeeper blocked their path no further, allowing them to pass.

Bai Tingyi couldn't help but edge closer to her, as if only the space immediately around her was safe. He cast fearful glances around the room, noticing that besides the gatekeeper, people in the corners who appeared to be chatting or resting were actually eyeing them like predators. He realized they must be the bouncers.

The place was fraught with peril.

He whispered to Xu Qi, "Who are we looking for here?"

"A platoon commander."

"How do we find him?"

"Blockhead, just keep an eye out for anyone wearing the copper tally of the Water Transport Office."

Bai Tingyi muttered to himself, wondering who would be foolish enough to wear an official tally while gambling, all the while casting his eyes around randomly. To his surprise, he actually spotted one!

He tugged on Xu Qi’s sleeve and gestured with his eyes.

Xu Qi found the man. A quick scan told her it was likely him—he was sitting at a slight angle to them, one foot propped on a stool, clutching a set of dominoes, his gaze fixed intently on the shifting state of the table. The copper tally hung from his waist.

She recalled the back of Tan Jiuding’s hands, which resembled tortoise shells, and guessed that if this man were indeed Huang Zhang, his hands would likely bear the marks of old frostbite. She planned to move closer for a better look.

But no sooner had she taken a step than several men with unpleasant expressions emerged from the shadows and blocked her path to the gambler.

The man in the lead had a face full of jowls but wore a smarmy smile. "You two young gentlemen look quite unfamiliar. Do you have a Huaiyang salt permit?"

Xu Qi was not foolish enough to think they were asking for a real salt permit. She struggled to recall the words Tan Jiuding had taught her: if someone gave her trouble or questioned her background, she should say, "Ahem, I don't have a salt permit, but I have a business license worth twenty taels here."

"Oh?" The man held out his hand.

Xu Qi had no choice but to bite the bullet and hand over the two copper coins, praying it would be enough to pass.

To her surprise, after a careful inspection, the man let out a muffled laugh and said, "With an elite license like this, you young gentlemen should be invited to the inner chambers. These petty games outside are beneath your status."

"No need," Xu Qi said, quickly retrieving the coins and gesturing toward the table of the gambler with the tally. "I like this sort of thing; I’m fine right here."

As she took a step forward, the man blocked her again, standing like a wall.

There was no doubt about it: she was being threatened.

Even worse, Tan Jiuding’s "clever plan" ended there; he hadn't said a word about what to do next.

Was she going to be kicked out? No, it could be worse. If a fight broke out, even if the small crossbow in her sleeve could take down the leader, the disparity in numbers was too great... Xu Qi felt her throat constrict as she swallowed hard, staring into the jowly man’s insincere smile, sensing she was about to meet her end here.

Run? Should she run?

Though unwilling, the alarm bells in her heart were already clanging, making her legs feel weak and her feet itch to bolt.

"Hahaha!" A burst of laughter suddenly cut through the tense atmosphere. She heard a familiar voice nearby. "Why are you only just arriving? If you don't come to support me, I’ll lose even my trousers!"

The burly bouncer turned around, and Xu Qi leaned forward as everyone looked toward the source of the sound. A tall man strode out from the back, his sleeves and trouser legs rolled up despite the winter chill. His arms were thick and powerful, and his eyes were as sharp as a wolf’s and as agile as a cat’s.

"Lei Gengsheng?"

The name slipped out of Xu Qi’s mouth. Faced with this sudden appearance of an acquaintance, she was three parts surprised and seven parts wary. She was dressed as a man; would he expose her? But then she calmed down—the people in the casino were already suspicious, so how much worse could her situation get?

She had a flash of inspiration and followed his lead. "It took some time to get the license. Didn't I tell you to wait for me before sitting at the table?"

Lei Gengsheng walked over and grinned at her. "I couldn't help the itch in my hands, you know me!"

The bouncer looked between them, seemingly convinced. This time, he gave a genuine, hearty laugh. "So you're with Boss Lei. As I said, we should have invited you into the inner room. My apologies. Well, I won't disturb you any further. Please, go ahead."

He patted Lei Gengsheng on the shoulder, and Lei Gengsheng patted him back. They acted like old friends, and the matter was settled just like that.

Once they were alone, Xu Qi let out a breath and looked at him, offering her thanks. "Many thanks for your help, Boss Lei."

"Ha, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me..." He looked at Xu Qi in her male attire, then at Bai Tingyi, whose face was pale and who was accompanied by a guard, and teased, "What’s this? It’s been a while, and you’ve already changed your young lover?"

"Er..."

"Don't talk nonsense." Xu Qi ignored the stunned Bai Tingyi, whose ears had turned bright red, gave the boat boss a glare, and whispered, "I have important business to attend to. I’ll explain later." As she spoke, she directed her gaze toward the gambler with the tally, who was too absorbed in his game to notice them.

Seeing Lei Gengsheng glance in that direction, Xu Qi asked, "How much do you know about that man?"

Lei Gengsheng scoffed. "Do you really take me for a regular who lives here?"

Xu Qi gave him a cold look that clearly meant, "If you aren't a regular, how are you so thick with the casino staff?" which made him chuckle.

Lei Gengsheng nodded, dropping the pretense, and turned the conversation to a trade. "What’s in it for me if I tell you?"

"Name your price. How much money do you want?"

"Hmph." Lei Gengsheng poked her forehead. "Do you think money can make the devil turn the mill?"

What else could it be?

Xu Qi dodged his hand, rubbed the spot he had touched, and pouted. "Then what does Boss Lei want?"

"Hmm... let me think." He began to stroke his chin with feigned seriousness. After a moment, he said, "How about this: trade your real name for it. How does that sound?"