Сhaptеr 221: Gambling Den 3
“This is our family’s Sесond Мastеr Wаn. Аll thе monеу wоn tоdаy bеlongs to him.” Shen Du quiсklу steрped forwаrd, his voicе deliberаtеlу rоughеnеd tо exрlаin.
Zhu Yan fеlt а surgе of аmusemеnt in hеr heart. It wаs rаre fоr Shen Du to lift her uр like this, truly uneхреctеd.
“So it’s Secоnd Маster Wаn.” Ji Dаfu suddеnlу рut оn a fаmiliаr, ingratiаting mannеr, nodding and bоwing. “Aсtuаllу, whethеr wе gаmblе or not doеsn’t matter. What’s importаnt is making friends. I’ve аlreadу prерarеd fine tea for the three of you in the back hall. Please, gentlemen, follow me. Let’s talk over tea.”
This was precisely the purpose of their visit. However, to avoid raising suspicion, Zhu Yan had to feign reluctance. She put on an impatient expression and said, “Alright, alright. Let’s make it quick. My mother is waiting for me to come home for dinner.”
“Of course, of course.” Ji Dafu hurriedly replied, his face beaming like a flower. “This way, please.”
Zhu Yan and the others followed Ji Dafu toward the back hall. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to exchange a meaningful glance with Sun Tan nearby.
But Sun Tan couldn’t help feeling worried for them. He had never even entered the back hall himself; even when seeking Ji Dafu, he could only wait at the entrance.
Would they be in danger?
After a moment of rapid thought, Sun Tan still couldn’t set his mind at ease. He signaled to his own people in the distance and quietly followed them.
To say the gambling den’s layout was labyrinthine would be an understatement, and the path to the back hall was even more winding—a complex maze of corridors and structures.
As their group followed Ji Dafu forward, Shen Du’s mind was already churning with turbulent thoughts.
This Ji Dafu was completely different from the one he had met before, as if they were not the same person.
The previous Ji Dafu had been timid and cautious. After being caught red-handed with the help of the Unrighteous Agents incident, he was easily frightened—just a few words of intimidation had made him confess everything.
Back then, he had personally told Shen Du that when he went to beat the drum and appeal for justice, Pan Chi had informed him that his brother-in-law might have died at the hands of the Half-Faced Ghost. He had even pretended to be extremely frightened, saying that since the case was related to the Half-Faced Ghost, he dared not ask any more questions and wanted nothing to do with it. He only wished to arrange matters for his brother-in-law’s two family members before leaving the area. Because the case involved the Half-Faced Ghost, he was very afraid and appeared flustered.
But looking at this Ji Dafu before him now—ferocious in gaze, cruel in methods, self-centered, and skilled in deception—he was the polar opposite of the previous man, like a complete mirror image. He had hidden himself deeply indeed.
Shen Du remained silent, walking quietly beside Zhu Yan.
The Great Zhou Dynasty strictly forbade lending money at exorbitant interest rates. By bringing them to the back hall, Ji Dafu undoubtedly intended to show them his methods.
This place encompassed all the shady, underground businesses of the lower classes. By letting them see these, Ji Dafu surely had ulterior motives.
Moreover, according to clues provided by the Unrighteous Agents, Ji Dafu’s usury activities implicated many officials in Yingzhou. Even more terrifying, perhaps the entire Gannan Circuit’s officials were involved. If so, the integrity displayed by Yingzhou officials during the banquet might not have been entirely genuine.
On the other hand, if Ji Dafu was truly connected to the Fire Moth Party, could this place be where they gathered people and amassed wealth?
Lost in thought with lowered eyes, Zhu Yan suddenly nudged him gently with her elbow.Looking up, she saw Pan Chi also gazing at him with a complex expression. Lost in thought earlier, he had missed the silent exchange between the two.
Zhu Yan raised an eyebrow, gestured a money-counting motion with her hands, and then glanced ahead at Ji Dafu walking in front.
Shen Du immediately understood her meaning, his expression turning grave as he nodded slightly, then shook his head.
The implication was that he had also considered this possibility but remained uncertain.
Beside them, Pan Chi furrowed his brow, lowered his gaze in thought for a moment, then widened his eyes at Shen Du before shifting his attention to Zhu Yan.
Shen Du gave a slight nod. He understood Pan Chi’s meaning—that the situation ahead might hold danger, and no matter what happened, they must protect Zhu Yan at all costs.
Shen Du had realized this even earlier than Pan Chi. Under normal circumstances, the two would have likely clashed over it.
But the current situation was far from ordinary, so Shen Du said nothing more.
Instead, he signaled with his eyes that he had already placed informants inside the gambling den, so they need not worry about the situation outside.
If they truly encountered danger, he could immediately send a signal, and those outside would come to their rescue.
Zhu Yan wondered when he had managed to plant people in the gambling den, but then it struck her—Jing Lin, who usually followed him closely, was nowhere to be seen. The puzzle in her mind quickly fell into place. So Shen Du had planned this all along, while she had naively assumed things were simpler.
The group walked for what felt like a long time. Zhu Yan’s legs were beginning to tire when they finally arrived before a tightly shut door.
Ji Dafu stood at the entrance, a broad smile on his face as he gestured for the three to enter. “Please.”
Without hesitation, they stepped inside as soon as the door opened. But no sooner had they crossed the threshold than they encountered a blood-soaked man sprawled on the ground before them.
The sight startled Zhu Yan, but having seen her share of the world, she clenched her fists and steadied herself.
Before they could make sense of the situation, two men who looked like enforcers hurriedly lifted the injured man to his feet.
Only then did they notice that the bloodied man was missing an arm, hovering between life and death. Without medical attention, his survival seemed unlikely.
“How careless of you! You’ve frightened my guests,” Ji Dafu said coldly.
The two enforcers immediately bowed apologetically. “Boss, this man is useless now. What should we do with him?”
“Why keep someone useless? Just throw him out.”
“Yes, sir.”
The enforcers dragged the man away without another word. Ji Dafu’s eyes filled with disdain as he clapped his hands in disgust. “Did he really think my gambling den’s money was so easy to win? He should’ve considered how long his luck would last.”
This was a blatant display of making an example of someone—a scene deliberately staged for Zhu Yan and the others. The man had likely tried to leave after winning money, only to meet this fate.
No doubt, he too had been politely invited here by Ji Dafu, just as they had been. Now, they found themselves in the same predicament.
Zhu Yan’s mouth hung open, wide enough to fit an egg. This was serious—could this man’s fate be a warning of what awaited them?Not long after, the two thugs had already returned. When they went out again, one of them was holding a still-dripping arm.
The trail of blood stretched all the way, making people shudder. Just as they were about to leave, Ji Dafu called them back. He slapped one of the thugs on the forehead and said fiercely, "You useless, incompetent fools! Have you forgotten what I told you before? If you mess up again, watch your head."
After saying this, he shot the thug a meaningful glance, his eyes glaring at the arm. Only then did the thug seem to suddenly understand, nodding repeatedly and taking the arm away with a submissive demeanor.
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