The deep pit extended upwards to the rooftop, from which hung several iron hooks. Draped over the hooks were several hemp ropes, bearing faint traces of mottled red and black imprints.
The deep pit on the high platform was secured by iron railings. On the side of the viewing platform where Liu Cheng stood, there was an intercepted staircase leading to the outer wall of the pit. The young attendant from the second floor explained, "Young Master Liu, if you descend this staircase and go about halfway down the snake pit, you will witness a miraculous sight. Of course, only those participating in the fate-deciding game can see it."
Liu Cheng's heart stirred. He had wondered why he hadn't seen many people; they were all down there.
Liu Cheng took out a silver ingot from his embrace and tossed it to the attendant, "Find me a gambler who's about to stake his life!"
The attendant quickly pocketed the silver, his smile widening even further, "Certainly, Young Master Liu."
Among the unfortunate souls ascending to the second floor, there were still a few who had gambled everything to turn their fortunes around, even using their lives as stakes!
The attendant left to find such a desperate individual.
Liu Cheng sat on the soft couch behind the viewing platform, his hands resting on his knees, leaning forward to tease the caged canary. Watching it hop and sing within its cage was akin to watching a hapless individual whose fate, and even life, was about to be controlled by him. This absolute sense of control filled Liu Cheng with an indescribable pleasure.
However, before he could fully succumb to this feeling, the clamor from behind him disturbed him, causing him to turn with displeasure. He saw a crowd that seemed endless, and the anger on Liu Cheng's face transformed into astonishment.
What was it, had everyone agreed to come and gamble their lives today?
The person at the front was an unfamiliar face, but those following were a group of acquaintances. Not to mention Wang Qiancheng, who was deathly pale and needed support to ascend, the rest were all familiar faces from Yi Pin Ju, individuals of no small standing.
What were these people doing on the second floor? Could it be that they, too, were tired of the gambling downstairs and had come up seeking excitement?
But what was with Wang Qiancheng? He looked as if his father had just died!
The moment they stepped onto the high platform, Liu Cheng's figure was exposed to everyone's gaze. Ji Jin Mo instinctively turned his head slightly, his gaze landing on Nan Shiying, his eyes flickering slightly.
Nan Shiying's round eyes curved slightly, revealing a beautiful smile. Her gaze, which fell upon Liu Cheng, carried a hint of pleasure.
Liu Cheng stood up, leaving the birdcage behind, and walked towards the crowd. He scanned the crowd for a moment before finding a familiar friend, "Brother Sun, what brings you all here?"
Upon seeing Liu Cheng, Sun Ming quickly pulled him aside and excitedly recounted what had just happened. In the end, he couldn't help but express regret on Liu Cheng's behalf, "It's a shame you weren't here just now to witness it firsthand!"
"What? Wang Qiancheng was forced to gamble his life?"
Liu Cheng gasped, finally understanding why Wang Qiancheng looked so devastated.
Sun Ming tugged at Wang Qiancheng's sleeve, signaling him to lower his voice. Didn't he see that living Yama still standing nearby? Why shout so loudly!
"No, Wang Qiancheng is a son of an official. To be treated like this... doesn't Yi Pin Ju care?" A scion of an official family is not like those desperate gamblers who are lowly commoners. If Wang Qiancheng were to die here, wouldn't Yi Pin Ju fear implication?
They actually didn't stop him?
Sun Ming shook his head. He didn't quite understand Yi Pin Ju's actions either, but no matter what, the fire wouldn't reach them, so it was better to watch the show.
...
"What did you say?"
Upon hearing the attendant's report, He Wei's eyes widened in disbelief, his face contorted with fury.
Yes, the court might not do anything to Feng Luan, but to appease the Wang family's anger, they would certainly make an example of Yi Pin Ju. Yi Pin Ju had stood in the capital for so many years, and countless people coveted the opportunity to swallow them whole. It was only because they hadn't managed to ascertain Yi Pin Ju's master behind the scenes that they hadn't dared to act rashly. But if Wang Qiancheng were to die in Yi Pin Ju, those people would definitely seize this handle and pounce, utterly consuming Yi Pin Ju.
He couldn't let Wang Qiancheng die in Yi Pin Ju.
He Wei stood up abruptly. As he strode forward, the image of Liu Cheng suddenly flashed in his mind. He rested his hand on the table and looked up, asking, "What is Liu Cheng doing now?"
The question was so abrupt that the attendant paused for a second before replying, "He's looking for someone willing to gamble their life."
He Wei said, "Give him someone who is bound to die."
The attendant didn't quite understand He Wei's intentions but dared not ask further. He nodded, "Yes!"
After the attendant left, He Wei walked to the window and pushed it open.
A faint scent of blood drifted into his nostrils. Even though he was long accustomed to the smell of fresh blood, He Wei still preferred the scent of fresh, invigorating air.
If it weren't for Liu Cheng, he would never have stayed on the second floor.
As he looked up, He Wei suddenly felt a piercing sensation. A sharp gaze, like a sharp dagger attacking from a distance, or like icicles hanging in a glacial cave. The feeling was fleeting, so fast that he couldn't possibly pinpoint the source of this gaze.
However, the range of the source wasn't that wide.
He Wei directed his gaze towards the other side of the viewing platform.
Almost all the scions of noble families who came to Yi Pin Ju were now gathered there.
...
"Young Master Liu, the person has been found!"
The attendant, having followed instructions and purchased the life of a dying man with such a large sum of money, would now grit his teeth and accept even if Liu Cheng asked him to dive into a pack of hungry wolves. He was ready to die.
Liu Cheng, at this moment, lacked the excitement he had earlier. Spending money to buy a life was ultimately inferior to using force and power to coerce someone unwilling to die to come and gamble their life. The former only aroused excitement, but the latter would lead to addiction.
That was true control!
Liu Cheng responded with a listless "En."
"Young Master, you wish to gamble your life?"
Feng Luan walked up to Liu Cheng, a smile on her face as she inquired. Sun Ming's expression changed slightly upon seeing Feng Luan, and he instinctively took a step back.
Liu Cheng turned around. The canary in his hand inexplicably began to chirp urgently, its cries like a cuckoo weeping blood. He had always found the canary's chirping melodious and pleasant, regardless of whether it was hurried or slow, it always brought him auditory pleasure. Today, for the first time, he felt that the canary's chirping could also be so jarring.
He couldn't help but frown in annoyance and turned to shove the cage into Sun Ming's hands.
The Feng Luan before him was slender and delicate, her round eyes making her face appear somewhat youthful. However, the calm and composed gaze in her eyes balanced out this youthful appearance. She smiled brilliantly. If he hadn't heard about her ruthlessness from Sun Ming, Liu Cheng would have thought she was more oblivious to the ways of the world than his own younger brother.
It was hard to believe that this was the one forcing Wang Qiancheng onto the gambling stage!