Mad Kun’s eyes were cold and sinister.

I could feel his anger rising.

The long scar on his face began to tremble uncontrollably.

“Give me back my money now!” he growled, his voice even raspier.

I lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and retorted, “Why should I? I won it fair and square!”

No sooner had I spoken than Mad Kun burst into laughter, but it was the laughter of a madman, his whole body shaking violently.

Pointing at me, he turned to the others and cackled, “Why? Did you hear that? He actually asked me, Mad Kun, why?”

He then swept his bangs back from his forehead with a forceful swipe.

Tilting his head, a series of crackling sounds came from his neck.

Mad Kun’s rage was slowly igniting.

Just now, he had lost face at Uncle Tong’s, and here I was, not giving him any respect either.

Suddenly, Mad Kun turned to Tao Hua and demanded, “Tao Hua, I’ve given you face. Now tell me, how should we handle this?”

Tao Hua was already panicking.

She leaned in and whispered to me, “Chu Liu, just return the money…”

Tao Hua was scared.

I sneered.

She was the one who brought me into this game, claimed it was clean, and wanted to collaborate with me to make money. And now, she was the one asking me to return it.

“Chu Liu!” Tao Hua urged me in a low voice, seeing that I hadn’t responded.

“Shut up!” I said coldly, expressionless.

The Swindler Sect has its rules.

Master Liu once said that what you win with your skills, you must take away. Never give it up unless absolutely necessary, unless you don’t want it yourself. Otherwise, there’s no need to be a swindler.

My refusal completely infuriated Mad Kun.

He gripped a chair, staring at me menacingly.

Tao Hua panicked. She rushed forward, pressing down on the chair while trying to placate Mad Kun with a flattering smile.

“Mad bro, calm down. Everyone outside says you play a fair game. How could you take such a small matter seriously, right, Mad bro?”

Tao Hua’s words were a deliberate reminder to Mad Kun that if he lost his temper today, his reputation for fair play would be ruined.

Mad Kun glared at Tao Hua and barked, “Let go and get out of my way!”

Tao Hua, frightened, awkwardly released her grip.

Meanwhile, I held the poker cards in one hand and pressed my phone with the other, sending the pre-typed message to Old Hei.

Suddenly, a whooshing sound.

Mad Kun’s chair swung wildly through the air.

With a dull thud, the chair didn’t hit me but smashed into the wall-mounted TV.

“Why? He dares to ask me why!!!” Mad Kun howled like a madman.

He swung the chair around the room, wreaking havoc. The sound of shattering echoed as the TV, refrigerator, coffee table, chairs, and the liquor in the bar were all smashed to pieces.

After a while, Mad Kun finally stopped.

He gasped for air and turned to glare at me, asking, “What’s your name?”

“Chu Liu!”

He pointed at me, “Fine, I’ll remember that. I won’t hold today’s gambling round against you. But remember, if you ever fall into my hands, I’ll make you pay for asking me ‘why’!”

“Tao Hua, take your lapdog and get out!”

I sneered inwardly.

There was someone else who had pointed at me and threatened me like this before. But later, he lost his fingers. That man was Yin Wu.

I collected the money and walked with Tao Hua towards the exit.

Just as we reached the door, Mad Kun shouted from behind, “Tao Hua, stop right there!”

Tao Hua immediately turned back, cautiously smiling at Mad Kun.

“Mad bro, what is it…”

Mad Kun had calmed down by now. He asked Tao Hua, “Did the people from Elephant Tower contact you?”

Tao Hua nodded. “They did!”

“Who’s their boss?” Mad Kun pressed.

Tao Hua looked at Mad Kun in surprise and asked in return, “Isn’t it Second Boss?”

Mad Kun snorted coldly. “Second Boss? If it were his gambling den, I wouldn’t need to ask you!”

Tao Hua was shocked, and so was I.

I had thought that Elephant Tower was set up by Second Boss specifically to deal with Zou Xiaoxian, but now it seemed unrelated to Second Boss.

Moreover, he seemed eager to find out who the real owner of Elephant Tower was.

“Remember, tell me as soon as you find out who the boss is!”

After Mad Kun spoke, Tao Hua and I left.

At the entrance, Old Hei stood like a guardian deity.

Seeing me come out, he immediately asked, “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Let’s talk downstairs…”

The three of us went downstairs and got into our Santana 2000.

I recounted the money, handed seven thousand to Tao Hua, and kept the rest. Tao Hua’s face lit up at the sight of the money.

But I kept a cold expression and said, “Sister Hua, don’t call me for a game you can’t handle anymore!”

Tao Hua, always the smooth operator, could see I was unhappy, but she still cooed, “Oh, little Chu Liu. The game is usually fine. I didn’t expect Mad Kun to bring a swindler today. Don’t be mad, okay? Blame me…”

I ignored her.

Tao Hua continued, “I was so scared just now, my heart is still pounding. Don’t believe me? Feel it…”

With that, she grabbed my hand and tried to place it on her chest.

I quickly withdrew my hand.

This damn woman, even now, was trying to take advantage of me.

After Tao Hua got out of the car, I asked Old Hei to take me home.

On the way back, I asked Old Hei, “How’s Old Niu doing?”

I had been busy lately, so I asked Old Hei to visit Old Niu in the hospital.

“He’s recovering well and should be discharged in a couple of days. He keeps mentioning you, saying if it weren’t for you, he’d have drunk the soup of forgetfulness, crossed the Naihe Bridge, and arrived at the Palace of Hell by now…”

I nodded slightly. “Good, we’ll go pick him up together when he’s discharged!”

With Old Niu’s discharge, Little Duo wouldn’t need to keep watch anymore.

And I needed people. Someone like Little Duo, a wild girl, was a good choice. Although rebellious, if used well, she could be a deadly weapon.

Once home, I settled in and lay on my bed.

I was still suffering from insomnia.

It seemed that only that night, with Su Mei by my side, did I sleep peacefully. I couldn’t help but regret not taking my chance with her. If there’s another opportunity, I won’t be soft-hearted. Not for anything else, but to get a good night’s sleep.

With my eyes closed, I flicked poker cards one by one at a wooden board nailed to the wall.

My mind was on Su Mei’s birthday tonight.

Mad Kun had said he would definitely go.

That Second Boss I had never met, I wondered if he would show up.

It seemed Su Mei’s birthday was destined to be anything but peaceful.