A gamble for life!
Wang Guang wasn't trying to scare Ji Mo; he genuinely intended to take Ji Mo's life.
Firstly, he already harbored deep resentment towards Ji Mo.
Secondly, after Ying Tianci fainted and returned to his manor that day, he constantly muttered about killing Ji Mo, even vowing to grant any request from whoever could eliminate Ji Mo once he ascended the throne.
This condition had stirred Wang Guang's interest.
If he could kill Ji Mo, wouldn't glory, wealth, and high official positions be within his grasp? Perhaps his noble rank could even be elevated by several tiers.
For this reason, he seized the current opportunity and directly challenged Ji Mo to a life-or-death wager.
If Ji Mo were to be killed through a gamble, he figured Yue Longgang would have no grounds to object.
"Wang Guang, you are so malicious! We merely won a little money from you, and you intend to take our lives."
The young lady spoke indignantly.
She showed no fear of Wang Guang, boldly denouncing him.
This scene caused the surrounding gamblers to turn pale with shock.
The girl was too young, unaware of the world's dangers. Speaking to Wang Guang in such a manner would invite fatal consequences.
That scoundrel Wang Guang was capable of anything.
"What is your status to dare speak to me like this, find..."
Wang Guang had never imagined that even a mere girl would dare to contradict him. His gaze turned icy, but then his expression changed drastically, and he could no longer utter the rest of his words.
He saw the jade pendant on the girl's waist and instantly guessed her identity, his shock immense.
Hadn't this person always been kept within the confines of a deep mansion, never showing her face in public? How could she be here?
Then, he noticed the girl was associating with Ji Mo, and his face contorted into a myriad of colors.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, your grand ambitions might be stillborn. This fellow Ji Mo is truly terrifying; he has actually managed to ensnare even this one."
Wang Guang's heart churned with a tempestuous wave.
He suppressed his shock and his tone immediately softened, tentatively addressing the girl, "Miss Yue, I misspoke just now. Please do not take offense. Did your father send you here?"
The surrounding onlookers were astonished. They had never seen Wang Guang speak so deferentially to an outsider, let alone a young lady.
Just who was this girl?
"Don't overthink it. I came here myself to try my luck with some gambling," the girl replied.
Wang Guang secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your surname is Yue?" Ji Mo asked curiously.
"My name is Yue Liang."
The young lady revealed her name, feeling a little embarrassed.
It was all her father's fault for being uncultured; how could a girl be given a name like Liang? It was so shameful.
"That's a beautiful name, fitting for your appearance. When you smile, your eyes narrow like crescent moons, making you very cute!"
Ji Mo praised her sincerely.
Upon hearing this, Yue Liang's face flushed red.
Normally, besides her father and her dozen or so brothers, she had little contact with men. It was the first time a man had complimented her in such a way.
Wang Guang, standing beside them, was dumbfounded. This must be the legendary sweet talk!
This Ji Mo fellow truly had a way with words, always spouting charming phrases that girls adored.
Even Li Qiufeng had fallen for him. Someone like Yue Liang, naive and inexperienced, was likely unable to escape his clutches.
"I am Ji Mo."
Ji Mo introduced himself.
He was met with a roll of her eyes.
"Scoundrel, you are truly shameless. You must have heard of the recent talented scholar Ji Mo and are impersonating him." Yue Liang absolutely did not believe him.
"I am indeed Ji Mo, but I dare not claim the title of talented scholar. With my level of education, I am not worthy of it."
Ji Mo said humbly, as he had not yet mastered the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; how could he dare to call himself a scholar?
"You do have some self-awareness. Who among cultured people would drink tea and then refuse to pay? Scoundrel, one must be honest and not impersonate others. I detest people who lie the most," Yue Liang said earnestly.
"I am really Ji Mo."
"You drank tea and refused to pay!"
...
They argued back and forth for several exchanges. Ji Mo was helpless and could only compromise.
Fine, I'm not me; I'm a scoundrel, is that acceptable?
"Ah, I smell the scent of love."
"I call you scoundrel, and you call me your little darling! This damned love, I want it too."
The surrounding gamblers let out exclamations.
Many wore nostalgic expressions, reminiscing about their own youthful, innocent love.
Back then, they and their sweethearts had been just as green, but ultimately, they had been defeated by money.
Wang Guang watched them, a feast of PDA unfolding before his eyes.
He secretly rejoiced, understanding from their conversation that Ji Mo and Yue Liang had only recently met.
He had to find a way to eliminate Ji Mo today. Otherwise, if Ji Mo managed to win over Yue Liang and gain the support of her father, then Ying Tianci's position as Crown Prince would truly be precarious.
If Ying Tianci fell, he would fall with him.
"Ji Mo, if you're a man, bet with me. Do you dare?"
Wang Guang stared directly at Ji Mo, challenging him.
"Don't bet with him."
Yue Liang was full of worry. How could one gamble with their life?
Ji Mo, however, stared at Wang Guang, sensing the intense killing intent directed at him, and agreed, "Then I'll bet."
As long as it wasn't a test of martial prowess, but some other skill, he truly feared no one.
Upon hearing that Ji Mo had actually agreed, Wang Guang's lips curved, almost unable to suppress a triumphant laugh.
Having immersed himself in gambling for many years, Wang Guang had absolute confidence in his gambling skills. Moreover, he possessed cultivation; winning against the opponent would be as easy as turning his hand.
A long gambling table was set up, with the two standing at opposite ends.
It was a game of comparing dice rolls; one round would decide the winner.
Both held a dice cup, containing three dice. Whoever rolled a higher total than their opponent would win.
Although Wang Guang looked down on Ji Mo, he still had people tamper with Ji Mo's dice cup and dice.
The dice cups were ordinary and could not block divine sense, while the dice were filled with mercury. It was almost impossible to roll the highest possible score.
"Let's begin."
Wang Guang spoke, dropping the dice into the cup. After a series of maneuvers, he quickly placed the cup upside down on the gambling table.
A smug smile played on his lips; rolling three sixes was not difficult for him at all.
Ji Mo did not rush to act. He asked, "What if both rolls have the same total?"
"If the totals are the same, I'll count it as your win," Wang Guang said, feigning magnanimity.
"Then that's fine."
Ji Mo casually placed his dice cup over the dice without even shaking it.
He shrugged, signaling that he was done.
"Scoundrel, you have to shake it, shake it hard!" Yue Liang urged anxiously.
The dice on the table were already three ones. Ji Mo had simply covered them, as if conceding defeat.
"Alas, it seems this young man knows he's bound to lose and has accepted his fate," a gambler speculated.
Only Wang Guang wore an expression of disbelief, as if he had seen a ghost.
He had already peered through the dice cup and discovered that Ji Mo's dice showed three sixes.
This meant that Ji Mo had rolled three sixes without doing anything. Such gambling skill far surpassed his own.
And he had just magnanimously declared that equal totals would count as Ji Mo's win. This was essentially a self-inflicted defeat!