Chapter 557: Chapter 557 - Did you take my third uncle’s gold?

Ji Youzhi pondered for a moment, choosing his words carefully before speaking.

"What I’m suggesting is that your gambling house should bring out another three boxes. Place them together as the stakes. Regardless of who wins or loses, we will leave right after. How does that sound?"

"What if I refuse?"

Sister Ying’Er fiercely gritted her teeth, glaring venomously at Ji Youzhi.

Three boxes, each containing fifty thousand taels. That’s one hundred and fifty thousand taels in total. This man’s audacity is too great!

"Don’t look at me with such murderous eyes. I’m not asking for another one hundred and fifty thousand taels for the bet. What I want is for you to put forth your ill-gotten gains as the stakes!"

Ill-gotten gains?

Sister Ying’Er’s mind buzzed, her pupils contracting sharply.

Just recently, she had been deliberately training her little darling to do something meaningful—to acquire some ill-gotten gains for her to spend. The day before yesterday, early in the morning, she had set her sights on a target, intentionally causing their horse to go berserk and take a wrong turn. Later that night, at Yuelai Inn, they had succeeded. She had initially only intended to steal the unfortunate fellow’s medicine box, as she judged it contained the Life-Extending Pills she needed. Unexpectedly, however, her little darling brought back three boxes—two large and one small. She couldn’t open the two large ones. She did manage to open the small medicine box and obtained the Life-Extending Pills she sought, along with various other Elixirs she couldn’t identify. She had just sent a message requesting Mr. Wu to come and examine them. If any of the Elixirs were valuable, she planned to have them sent to the mysterious auction house and make a fortune. How could it be that Mr. Wu hadn’t even arrived yet, and trouble was already knocking at her door?

Seeing the expression on Sister Ying’Er’s face, Ji Youzhi immediately concluded that his third brother’s gold and his second brother’s medicine box must be within Li’s Gambling House.

"Young lady, some things you might have the means to take, but not necessarily the destiny to spend. If you obediently bring out the items, we can still give you some face. If you refuse, then don’t blame me for being discourteous!"

Upon hearing Ji Youzhi’s words, Dugu then realized Ji Youzhi was already certain the items were in this gambling house.

Zhu Xiuxiu also knitted her brows and asked, "Are you certain? If you’re certain, then stop wasting words. Just report it directly and bring people to raid this place. What is ours, we will take. What is not, will be confiscated."

Zhu Xiuxiu let out a huge sigh of relief. Two hundred thousand taels in silver notes, and over one hundred thousand taels in gold. Plus, so many of her second brother’s precious Elixirs. This was truly nerve-wracking! Now that the items had been located, she was considering using forceful methods to retrieve them quickly, to prevent any further complications.

"Who... who exactly are you?"

Sister Ying’Er’s expression changed repeatedly, making her intentions hard to guess while also exuding an eerie chill.

"Who do you think we are?"

Ji Youzhi didn’t see anyone from the Divine Hunter Office, nor did he see the Imperial Guard or Inner Guard led by Old Eighth Ji. This gave him a headache. The snake had been alerted before help arrived; how were they going to handle this now? There was no choice but to try and stall for time.

Sister Ying’Er was a very observant person. Regarding the child before her, she had always suspected them to be a plant, trained by another gambling house in the capital since infancy. After all, for a mere child of four or five to possess such masterly gambling skills—if they hadn’t been trained since birth, she wouldn’t believe it for a moment. But now, the other party had mentioned her ill-gotten gains, forcing her to re-evaluate their identities.

She started by examining the child’s attire. The insignia of Bright Moon Pavilion... If her memory served her right, Bright Moon Pavilion only produced ready-to-wear clothes for adults, not for children. Furthermore, they didn’t accept custom orders. No matter how wealthy or noble a family was, if one liked their clothing styles, one bought them directly; Bright Moon Pavilion might only assist with minor size alterations. If one didn’t like them, they wouldn’t indulge requests for custom pieces, cleverly excusing themselves by claiming to be short-staffed! For a child to be wearing Bright Moon Pavilion clothes, could they be connected to Bright Moon Pavilion? Could Li’s Gambling House afford to offend someone connected to Bright Moon Pavilion? As Sister Ying’Er silently considered this, beads of sweat began to faintly appear on her forehead.

After examining the child’s attire, she shifted her gaze to the two young men accompanying them.

At a glance, it was evident that these two men were accustomed to carrying weapons; the calluses on their hands, particularly between the thumb and forefinger, indicated they had practiced martial arts since childhood. Their clothing appeared ordinary on the surface, but upon closer inspection of the area over their hearts, her sharp eyes discerned that both men wore heart-protecting mirrors! Who exactly were these people? What was their true purpose? The sweat on Sister Ying’Er’s forehead was now more profuse.

Her gaze inevitably fell upon the young man who had just entered.

This person appeared effeminate, yet they had pierced ears and no Adam’s apple—clearly a woman in disguise! Her eyes were sharp, and her attire, though men’s clothing, was also extraordinary. She carried herself with a dashing air and an upright posture; evidently, she too was a martial artist. Families where women practiced martial arts were either Noble Families of martial arts or those with military distinction and honors! Sister Ying’Er’s legs felt a little unsteady. "You... who exactly are you? What is your scheme in coming to my Li’s Gambling House today?"

When she asked this, Ji Youzhi couldn’t help but smile.

"That’s a question you should ask yourselves at Li’s Gambling House. Have you done anything to feel guilty about? Have you perhaps meddled where you shouldn’t have, done something unconscionable, and taken some ill-gotten gains?"

"You indeed come with ill intent!"

Ji Youzhi said nothing, but waved his hand and closed his eyes, listening intently.

Seeing his actions, Sister Ying’Er couldn’t help but do the same. Her expression changed drastically. "You... you’ve actually had us surrounded! Who on earth are you?"

Sister Ying’Er couldn’t resist slamming her hand on the table, her eyes blazing with fury as she stared hard at Ji Youzhi.

Ji Youzhi spread his hands and said, "The ones here to collect your debt!"

Xiaosuisui stood with her hands on her hips, declaring, "That’s right! We’re the ones here to collect your debt! Did you, or did you not, take my Third Uncle’s gold and my Second Uncle’s medicine box?"

Hearing this, Sister Ying’Er’s eyes widened. "What did you say? Gold?"

She suddenly understood something.

Xiaosuisui nodded vigorously. "Exactly! Gold! My Third Uncle’s! In two big boxes like this! You took them, didn’t you?"

As she finished speaking, Sister Ying’Er nodded emphatically.

"Yes, I took them! So those boxes were filled with gold! No wonder I couldn’t open them!"

No sooner had she spoken than her eyes widened further in realization, and she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth.

However, the small child opposite her already had her hands on her hips, her little face grave as she said, "We’ve already heard you. Covering your mouth is useless now!"

The expression on her small face was fiercely adorable.

Sister Ying’Er looked utterly shocked, and soon, her expression shifted to one of tearful, pitiable distress.

Her appearance was enough to arouse sincere sympathy.