King of Gamblers: Growing from a Student to a Jade King

My hand was firmly pinned down. I tried to struggle, but it was futile. The Lean Monkey held a knife, his face dark with malice. "Damn, you're really out of luck, stumbling right into this..." he sneered.

I watched as the Lean Monkey raised the knife, his expression venomous. Anger surged within me. Indeed, I was unlucky. From what had transpired earlier, it seemed he had originally intended to frame me. He hadn't expected me to return from Kunming, so his plan had been to target my men, using them as a pretext for future trouble. But now, here I was, back at the wrong time and caught in the act.

My luck had truly run out.

I watched his hand rise, the knife poised to fall. If it struck, my hand would be severed. The thought of that pain was unbearable.

Suddenly, a scream shattered the tension. I quickly turned around, just in time to see a massive figure, like a boulder, descend from above, crashing into the circle of people surrounding us. It was Pillar.

I watched as the people behind us toppled like waves crashing onto the shore, their tightly-knit formation shattered by the force of the impact. Pillar had become the wrecking ball, bowling them over one by one.

The domino effect had begun. With a chain reaction, the people behind fell, and the Lean Monkey was thrown to the ground, trampled by dozens of men. I was also knocked down, my chest pressed against the weight of bodies, making it hard to breathe.

But a sense of relief washed over me—my hand was spared. However, I wasn't overjoyed. I knew that what lay ahead would be far more troublesome.

"Ah..."

Screams followed in quick succession, the sounds of fists and feet clashing filled the air. I knew they were fighting. I crawled through the crowd and saw Zhao Kui rise to his feet. He hoisted two men on his shoulders, and with a sudden slam, hurled them to the ground, their skulls split open. Enraged, he charged into the crowd, knocking over the Lean Monkey's men.

Zhao Kui charged like a wild bull, and together with Pillar, the two of them tore through the crowd. Qian Guang's dozens of underlings wielded sticks, relentlessly striking, but the Lean Monkey's men didn't resist. They simply cowered, clutching their heads in fear. It struck me as odd.

I noticed Qian Guang standing at the entrance, his face grim. I suddenly shouted, "Assistants, stop fighting, everyone, stop now!"

My words startled everyone. I pulled at them, urging them to cease, but it was in vain. I quickly rushed to Qian Guang's side and said, "We can't fight. If we do, we're in real trouble."

Qian Guang furrowed his brow. "Stop..."

Upon hearing him, everyone hesitated and eventually stopped, fuming as they walked to the entrance. They looked at the fallen bodies, a sense of satisfaction on their faces, but deep down, I knew our troubles had just begun.

I watched as the Lean Monkey stormed out of the crowd, his anger palpable. "Qian Guang, you want to fight? Did you forget what Seven said? Heh, fine. We'll see him about this. Take this kid with me!"

He grabbed Laizi by the collar, and I immediately intervened, blocking his way. "He's mine. You're not taking him."

The Lean Monkey sneered. "Then there's nothing more to say. Seven's orders are clear. Anyone involved with drugs gets arrested. If you try to stop me, I'll bring in the Ma Gang to deal with you. Unless, of course, you're ignoring Seven's authority."

I listened to his words, looking at Laizi. He stared back at me with fear in his eyes, pleading, "Fei Ge, Fei Ge, help me, please…"

I looked at Laizi and reassured him, "Don't worry. The truth will come to light before Seven. I'll protect you."

The Lean Monkey chuckled coldly. "Protect him? Ha! Worry about protecting yourself first. This is the evidence. Let's go."

He yanked Laizi away, and his men swaggered out of my establishment like victorious soldiers.

"Just like that? No final move?" Pillar grumbled, frustrated.

Qian Guang extended a hand, allowing the Lean Monkey's men to leave with insolence. Once they were gone, Zhao Kui and Wang Gui approached. "Fei Ge, why let them go? We're being set up. Why should we be afraid of him?"

"We can't act, we can only talk. But he has the evidence. If we make a move, it will look like we're trying to silence him. If we do that, it'll only make things worse in front of Seven." I said firmly.

Earlier, Malan had warned me about the Lean Monkey—how cunning and treacherous he was. I hadn't taken it seriously, but now I saw it was true. He wasn't just crafty; he was downright despicable.

Everyone was anxious. Wang Gui cursed, "Damn it, we can't just leave Laizi like this!"

"You should worry less about rescuing him and more about whether he might turn on you. If he cracks under pressure, he could sell you out. Then you're finished. Seven might chop off the Lean Monkey's hand, but he'll certainly take your life. He'll think you're the one behind all this," Qian Guang warned.

I frowned, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I know. We need to go see Seven."

Without another word, I stepped out, got into the car, and we followed Qian Guang to Seven's restaurant. I was certain the Lean Monkey and his gang would be there as well. He would use this opportunity to solidify his version of the story, leaving me no chance to explain.

I pounded the seat in frustration. I wasn't just angry at the Lean Monkey for coming after me, but for dragging my men into this. Laizi might have only recently joined, but he was my man. If I didn't save him, how could I maintain authority? Who would follow me?

But deep down, I knew rescuing Laizi would be like walking into the lion's den.

"Fei Ge, don't be rash. Laizi's own carelessness led to this..." Wang Gui said.

"Shut up! Whether it was his mistake doesn't matter. He's mine, and I have to save him," I retorted.

Wang Gui glanced at me, but said nothing. He lit a cigarette, taking a few deep drags in silence.

We arrived at Seven's restaurant. There were many of the Lean Monkey's men standing outside. I saw Chen Xi and Four Eyes standing at the entrance. Neither spoke, but their expressions were full of amusement.

I walked up, with Qian Guang at my side. Chen Xi blocked my path, sneering, "Zhao Fei, you really have guts, don't you? You know Seven doesn't like this, and yet you still dare go against him. You really don't take him seriously."

I shot back, "Who did what is none of your business. Move."

Chen Xi gave a cold laugh, not angered. He wasn't the type to lose his temper easily—more of a sly, soft-spoken man. He stepped aside, allowing me to enter. Qian Guang and the others followed me.

Inside, the restaurant was empty. Laizi was kneeling on the ground, trembling. Seven sat at the table, sipping tea. Several packets of powder lay on the table, each containing lines of drugs.

Seven glanced at me sideways. The large man behind him spoke. "Anyone not involved, leave."

I looked at Qian Guang, and he stepped forward. "Seven, about this matter..."

"Leave," Seven said coldly, showing no respect for Qian Guang.

Qian Guang stood still for a moment, glaring at Seven with resentment, but he held back and turned to leave.

I now understood why Chen Xi and Four Eyes hadn't entered—they had no stake in this.

"Zhao Fei, do you admit that Qian Guang is your boss?" the large man asked.

I looked at him, always by Seven's side. He said nothing, his power apparent. He was clearly a high-ranking figure.

"I admit," I replied.

"Kneel," he ordered.

Reluctantly, I knelt. Although I hadn't formally joined any gang, I had associated with Qian Guang. His status was mine as well, and that couldn't be erased.

I glanced at the Lean Monkey, who smirked with satisfaction. The large man walked over and dropped two packets of powder onto the floor.

"Ma Gang's first rule: No involvement with drugs. Do you understand?" he asked.

"I understand," I said.

"Then why are you dealing in drugs? You've made it worse for yourself." The large man spoke coldly.

"Seven, it's not true. He framed me. I have surveillance footage from my shop. The truth will come out," I hurriedly explained.

Seven set his teacup down, eyeing me coldly. The Lean Monkey immediately interjected, "Seven, don't listen to him. Why would I frame him? Let's watch the footage. I guarantee he was doing drugs when I wasn't in his shop."

Seven turned to me. "Enough. Zhao Fei, answer me. Were you dealing in drugs?"

I shook my head vehemently. "Absolutely not. I can show you the footage. I swear I didn't."

The Lean Monkey stared at me, his face changing several times, before he sneered. "You didn't deal, but who knows about your little brother? Look at him, swaying and shaking. He's definitely on something."

"No, it's not true!" Laizi trembled, shaking his head frantically. "I didn't do anything! It's those women, they gave me the cigarettes, I didn't know about any drugs!"

The Lean Monkey kicked Laizi, sending him crashing to the ground. I immediately sprang into action, lunging at him. I knocked him over, and began pounding his face with all my strength. He grabbed me with one hand, but it wasn't enough. He was no match for me.

"Damn you!" I cursed, "You dare lay a finger on my man? My men are only for me to deal with. No one else touches them."

I hammered punch after punch into his face, and blood poured from his nose and mouth. But suddenly, I was lifted off him by a strong force, and hurled to the ground. It was the large man. His strength was immense, and I struggled to get up.

I looked at the Lean Monkey, his face a mess of blood, clearly furious but hesitant to come at me. The large man pushed him back with a single motion, and the Lean Monkey stepped back, glaring at me in frustration.

Seven stood up and coldly spoke. "Right and wrong, I'll judge. You all, stop."

His voice was like a whip, sharp and commanding. Everyone froze.

Seven approached Laizi, standing over him. Laizi cowered, shaking in fear. Seven's voice was soft but menacing. "Did you deal drugs? Did anyone instruct you? Speak the truth, and I can guarantee no harm will come to you. But if you lie... I will have your hands cut off."

Laizi looked up at me, panic in his eyes. I could only stare back, silently pleading with him to hold on. If he broke under pressure, it would mean disaster for me.

Seven's words weighed heavily in the room. The tension was palpable. Laizi's body trembled as he opened his mouth, but I knew if he made the wrong choice, everything would be lost.