The gate of the Daohui Division was shut tight. Inside, a Daoist official in green robes was gambling with a group of idlers.
Where the hall should have proclaimed tranquility and inaction, a black cloth hung, bearing the markings of a gambling den. On the left, four characters read "Bai Bi Jin Lai" (White Jade Enters), and on the right, "Qing Jia Fei Ru" (Green Cicada Flies In). In the center was the phrase "Da Sha San Fang" (Great Slaughter in All Directions).
"Come, come, deal the cards!"
These people were playing a game called Madiao cards.
This gambling game was played by four people. Each player initially took eight cards, with the remaining eight placed in the center of the table. The four players took turns playing and drawing cards, with higher cards beating lower ones. In Madiao, there was a distinction between the banker and the players. The banker was not fixed and could rotate. The banker was determined by rolling dice. The three players would collectively try to defeat the banker and force them to step down.
If the banker won, they could continue to be the banker. If they lost, the role would pass to the next player.
During the game, the four players took turns playing and drawing cards.
The principle of playing cards was to beat lower cards with higher ones. Among the suits, the order was "Shi Zi" (Cross), "Wan Zi" (Ten Thousand), "Suo Zi" (Rope), and "Wen Qian" (Coin), with "Shi Zi" being the highest and "Wen Qian" the lowest. Within each suit, higher cards beat lower ones, except for "Wen Qian," where lower cards beat higher ones. Thus, "Mei Wen" (No Coin) was the highest, followed by "Ban Wen" (Half Coin), and "Jiu Wen" (Nine Coin) was the lowest.
A round of play was called "Yi Diao." Winning a round in this set meant winning one Diao. Winning two Diao meant breaking even. Winning three to five Diao constituted winning a table, and winning six Diao meant winning two tables. However, the most crucial part was the final round, the eighth Diao. Even if one lost all seven previous rounds, winning the eighth Diao could turn the tide and lead to a comeback victory, known as "Qiang Jie" (Snatching the End).
This thrill of a last-minute comeback was greatly enjoyed by gamblers!
But clearly, this Daoist official had lost.
He had lost everything, failing to make a comeback even in the last Diao. He slumped to the ground, his face filled with panic.
"Brother Yingcai, you're done for."
"Where does he have any more money? Now he'll have to strip off his Daoist robes to pay us!"
The green-robed Daoist official, referred to as "Brother Yingcai" by the ruffians, had a piece of paper stuck to his forehead. He bore no resemblance to a Daoist practitioner, his collar pulled open, looking utterly dejected.
Among the ruffians, someone approached the official and whispered, "Brother Yingcai, it's not a problem if you have no money. You can go to the Milong Casino again... and borrow from them..."
"After borrowing, gamble a few more rounds at the Milong Casino, and the silver will come back, won't it?"
Yan Yingcai, his mind hazy, simply nodded repeatedly, as if finding the ruffian's words quite reasonable.
At this moment, a young Daoist attendant came in from outside, informing the green-robed Daoist official Yan Yingcai that someone was looking for him outside.
Yan Yingcai's expression turned grim, and his tone was displeased: "Don't see anyone! I'm busy right now. Who insists on coming now? Is it the county magistrate seeking talismans? If they're here for talismans, give them the ones I've already drawn. Remember, each talisman costs ten taels of silver!"
"Otherwise, don't bother me. Be careful, or I'll use magic on them! Besides, I'm out of gambling money myself lately!"
The young Daoist attendant shook his head and said to Yan Yingcai, "No, it's someone from the Daolu Division, looking to buy talismans."
"Someone from the Daolu Division? How could a superior from the Daolu Division appear here? Is this true?"
Yan Yingcai was stunned. He tore off the paper from his forehead, his expression peculiar. After inquiring about the visitor's attire, his spirits immediately lifted. He said to his gambling companions around him:
"I went to the East Great Accomplishment Temple yesterday and made a wish for wealth. I didn't expect someone to bring me money today!"
"Please bear with me for a moment, esteemed friends. Let me go get the gambling funds!"
Yan Yingcai chuckled, his eyes gleaming. His gambling friends cheered, "Brother Yingcai has gambling funds again! Won't you treat us to a few more rounds at the Milong Casino?"
"Definitely, definitely! As soon as we get the money, we'll go!"
Yan Yingcai bowed obsequiously, his expression fawning, with a hint of excitement at seeing hope.
...
When Yan Yingcai met Ji Xiang, his eyes immediately lit up.
Of course, besides the gleam of greed, there was also a touch of stunned disbelief and fear. It was natural for anyone to be bewildered upon encountering a Daoist fully equipped with firearms.
"Your subordinate is the supervisor of this Daohui Division... How many talismans does the superior require?"
"Thirty jin."
"Th-thirty jin? For eating... Cough cough, I mean, are you truly not an ordinary person!"
Yan Yingcai quoted a price to Ji Xiang. He was afraid Ji Xiang wouldn't pay, but to his surprise, Ji Xiang paid promptly. He also stated that since they were all fellow practitioners and the Daolu Division relied on selling talismans for income, it would be petty for a Daoist official from the capital to ask for credit.
Yan Yingcai, upon receiving the silver, beamed with joy. Ji Xiang told him to deliver the talismans to a specific boat at the Jindudu ferry crossing. Yan Yingcai repeatedly nodded, promising to comply, but his eyes were solely focused on the money, leaving no room for anything else.
After settling the price with Ji Xiang, Ji Xiang and his two companions left directly. Yan Yingcai stared at Ji Xiang's robes, contemplating how much money that luxurious, dark-colored Daoist robe could fetch.
With money came gambling funds, and with gambling funds came more gambling.
At this moment, his ruffian friends emerged. They saw Ji Xiang's departing back, and their eyes exchanged a swift glance.
This Daoist official was carrying firearms, was generous with his spending, and wore luxurious attire. He was definitely a wealthy patron, and perhaps a good enforcer?
However, Daoist officials knew some magic. These ruffians knew they couldn't rob him directly, as the consequences would be dire. They needed to enlist the help of someone skilled. Thus, one of the ruffians immediately grabbed Yan Yingcai and dragged him away. Yan Yingcai was somewhat angry, but the ruffians told him he had stumbled upon good fortune.
"Return to the casino and inform the Three Masters that a distinguished guest has appeared."
The ruffians were local informants for the mortal world, working for the Milong Casino. This casino, it could be said, was quite extraordinary.
...
In a dark world, seemingly not of the mortal realm, there was a bustling casino. Those who came and went included humans, demons, Daoists, monks, local earth gods, and even underworld officials, all entering and exiting.
This was the Milong Casino.
The owner of this casino was known as Milong. He enjoyed collecting rare treasures and valuable items, and was extremely greedy.
"Oh, Little Liu, you're here again. Did you bring the gambling funds?"
"I brought them. This is my wife's corpse, and my daughter."
A young man, appearing deranged, dragged in the fresh corpse of a woman and carried a sack. He entered the casino, where many demons were playing cards. Seeing him, they not only didn't eat him but greeted him warmly.
The young man placed his wife and daughter on the card table as collateral. Gripping the Madiao cards, he stared at the dice in front of him and shouted:
"Open the game, open the game!"
"Haha! Excellent, excellent. The flesh of women is tender and delicious. Your wife has repaid last time's gambling debt. If you lose again this time, would you truly sacrifice your daughter?"
"Open the game!!!"
The man slammed the table, his spirit haggard. The surrounding demons roared with laughter, gripping their cards and beginning to play.
A monk chuckled foolishly, excited from winning a round, while a Daoist, with a mournful face, had lost everything.
Inside the casino, a divine general was on guard. At this moment, those ruffians arrived, bringing Yan Yingcai with them.
Upon learning that a distinguished guest had appeared, the divine general's mouth curled into a smile. He immediately called out several names, and some demons and ghosts appeared in the casino... These powerful individuals who couldn't repay their debts were forced to become enforcers for the Milong Casino.
Ji Xiang and the little fox, adorned with firearms, wearing luxurious, dark-colored Daoist robes rarely seen, carrying a pile of magical artifacts, and possessing wealth in gold and silver, how could such a fat sheep be easily let go?
They must be invited to the casino for a visit.
"Let demons and deities rob you of your wealth, then lure you into the casino, lend you money to gamble. If you refuse to gamble, then you will die. If you don't want to die, you must gamble. After gambling, you will be in debt, and debts must be repaid."
"The Daohui Division, the government, and the landlords here are all my subordinates. How can you fight me? A capital official? Even better! Controlling a Daoist official in the capital can help us infiltrate the inner circles. Prince Lu will also be pleased to hear this news..."
"We are not afraid of you not winning in our gambling dens; we are afraid of you not coming! The corruption and downfall of anyone is not an overnight affair!"