Chapter 44: Betting

“Brother Yuan, you just shouted at the door asking for money to place bets. You even shouted that it would be a huge loss if I missed this opportunity. It seems that you are very sure on who the winner will be,” Xu Yi said as he smiled stretched his hand out to pick up the copper pot to refilled Master Zhou’s cup.

Yuan Qinghua said, “Sir, you may not have been aware that today’s competitors are extraordinary people. They are elites who’ve gone for the Purple Flag eight times. You must know that this is a platform of life and death. Being able to survive this eight times is enough to prove the unparalleled power of these top elites. In retrospect, other high-achieving opponents, like that unknown Yi Shenbu… Although he is said to be marvelous, no one has ever seen him fight before…”

“Bragging about Yi Shenbu? What logic is that?” Xu Yi interrupted. He thought that it was Yi Shenbu, yet did not understand why he went to Guang’an City for no rhyme and reason. Also, how did he attain Shenbu’s aura?

Yuan Qinghua continued, “Sir, no one will know how to answer what you ask. I have been in various trades in Guang’an City. It is only through spending countless years that I’ve wrapped my head around this.”

“What nonsense!” Xu Yi exclaimed.

“Sir, you do not know this, but this is actually a smoke bomb released by a lot of gambling stalls, known as Maze Array. This time, because Gao Pan is competing, whoever wins and loses is basically set in stone. Those who open betting stalls are most afraid of such outcomes as most of the time they lose. They cannot accept the betting market, otherwise it will tarnish their reputation. At that point, they only have two moves left,” Yuan Qinghua said, embarrassed.

“The first is to desperately reduce Gao Pan’s odds. Take today for example. The highest odds of Gao Pan winning are ten to one. Another move is to constantly build momentum for the weaker party. By going around and spearing how powerful the weaker one is and hiding this fake news, it confuses the audience. Of course, these tricks are useless sometimes, as they are unable to deceive the veterans. However, they can cause chaos in the city and confuse others. After all, there are also many teenage girls and ladies who have been hooked by this bait. They are not very good at judging, and they have inferior gambling skills. They are baited by this fake news and end up losing big time.”

Xu Yi’s face broke into a smile upon listening. “What are the odds of Yi Shenbu winning?”

“Two to one!”

“What; how is that possible? Gao Pan’s are ten to one, proving that everyone thinks highly of Gao Pan winning. In that case, shouldn’t Yi Shenbu’s odds be higher? How can it be two to one. Furthermore, isn’t it too unethical for the betting stalls to state such information? How can both parties have such low odds?”

Xu Yi was very upset. He was determined to make a fortune from the betting stall. Who knew that he would meet with a sly owner who crushed his dreams.

Yuan Qinghua said, “Such gamblers will definitely win this bet, and the gambling stalls will accept it with gritted teeth. How would gamblers dare to complain about the stores being unethical? As for the odds of Yi Shenbu, the betting stalls did not state that the odds are one to a few tens as it would attract poor ghosts to fight. It is nothing more than a ruse to match their rumours.”

“Think about it; if Yi Shenbu’s odds were one to a few tens, the market would not be optimistic about having Yi Shenbu on the line. The rumours will not last long and will not be able to deceive big shots. On the other hand, if it were changed to a few tens to one, it would be seen as bragging and the rumours would be seen through easily. After all, Yi Shenbu’s is just a fabrication, but Gao Pan’s is the real deal. Betting stalls created these rumours to make them believable. Otherwise, it would come across as ridiculous. Therefore, the odds of two to one are the most reasonable.”

Yuan Qinghua had spent a lot of time in East City (Guang’an) over the past few years. He was lively yet suffered a lot. He did not have any money as he had spent it all on gambling. His monthly salary which he worked so hard to get was mostly spent on gambling, with the remaining used for subsistence.

Although he lost more than he won, he gained experience through betting and was very aware of the gambling stalls’ ruses.

After hearing Yuan Qinghua’s analysis, Xu Yi could only resent him in his heart, keeping his unhappiness to himself.

Xu Yi was silent, but Yuan Qinghua was impatient and yelled, “Sir, you can’t afford to delay. We have to place our bets as soon as possible and follow this trend. Who knows; Gao Pan’s odds might be lower. I’m afraid that if we wait, it will become forty to one or fifty to one. Furthermore, I have already placed my bet, what are you waiting for? Look, these are my betting tickets. Today I earn ten gold from you and another ten from my other buddy. I have used all that money to bet!” After speaking, he reached his hand out and took out a piece of red palm-sized paper.

“Alright, stop talking. I’ll place my bet!”

Xu Yi had hired Yuan Qinghua to do this. He took a stack of gold vouchers from his pocket and placed it on the stone table. “In total, 1000 gold vouchers. Buy them all.”

The 900 Gold from Jiang Shaochuan along with his original 350 Gold made up to a total of 1250 Gold. He used 1000 to place a bet.

Yuan Qinghua had known that his boss was arrogant, but not this arrogant. 1000 Gold on a bet? Not even a rich noble would dare to do this.

“Alright, do not worry sir. I will go and come back to try and attain thirty to one before buying them back for you.”

Yuan Qinghua was afraid that the odds would change as he grabbed the golden tickets and bolted.

“Hold up! I haven’t said who to place the bet on. Place it on Yi Shenbu and buy from whichever stall has the highest odds,” Xu Yi grabbed Yuan Qinghua’s wrist and commanded in a low voice.

“What!?”

Yuan Qinghua was shocked, making his hair stand. “Sir, are you sure!? That is equivalent to burning your money. If you think you have too much money, you can just give it to me!”

“What rubbish! Do you know who Yi Shenbu is?”

“Could it be that Boss knows?”

“He is your Business Owner!”

Yuan Qinghua widened his eyes in shock as if he had seen a ghost. He thought about his boss’s surname and the signboard of Guang’an that was hung in Furong Town. He finally understood.

“This, this, how…”

Yuan Qinghua was speechless.

He did not know what to say. He wanted to advise his boss to run away quickly, yet he also knew that the odds were released from the gambling stall and that his house was under close surveillance. It was ridiculous to persuade the boss that Gao Pan would win, and he could not bring himself to do it. What was worse was that he had just been hired, and the room in East City had been rented out before he came. He had just brought his luggage over. Was Heaven playing a joke on him? He had yet to officially begin working and his boss was about to die.

Xu Yi pondered and thought about it. He smiled. “Don’t just stand there; I know my place and am aware. Quickly place your bet for me. Don’t worry, if I die on the fighting stage, you will have a year’s allowance given to you.

Yuan Qinghua’s face changed as he hurriedly said, “Boss! I am not doing this for the commission! Forget it, forget it. As a favour to you and a token of my loyalty, wait here!” After speaking, he bolted into the darkness.