"Okay!" Dongfang Heng affectionately smoothed the stray hairs on Shen Lixue's forehead, a slight smile curving his lips. He put his arm around her waist and turned to leave.
Mu Tao turned around and stood in front of the two, glaring at them hatefully with a stern look and an icy tone: "You've offended me, and you think you can leave unscathed..." He was ridiculed as a good-for-nothing and looked down upon, feeling bitter and miserable. He was miserable, and how could he let those he disliked have an easy time? This young couple was an eyesore to him, so he took it out on them.
"What do you want?" Shen Lixue glared at Mu Tao. He really was arrogant and unreasonable.
Mu Tao raised his head and said arrogantly, "Fight me, young master. If you can beat me, get lost. If you can't, leave your lives behind!"
Shen Lixue's gaze sharpened, and she feigned anger, saying, "Don't push your luck!"
"I'll bully you, how about that?" Mu Tao said smugly, his face contorted with rage, as he swung his fist, intending to strike Li Xue.
Dongfang Heng reached out and pulled Shen Lixue behind him, then shifted his body to the side, skillfully avoiding Mu Tao's attack. To outsiders, it looked like he had just managed to dodge by luck: "General Mu, my wife has a fiery temper and has offended you. I hope you won't take offense."
"I am a border general personally appointed by the Emperor. Her insult to me is an insult to the Emperor. A mere apology is far too lenient. I'll say it again: if you can beat me, get out of here; if you can't, leave your lives behind!" Mu Tao glared at Shen Lixue, relentless. He was filled with rage and desperately needed someone to vent it on. He would never let that ugly woman off easily.
A cold glint flashed in Dongfang Heng's deep eyes: "I am not fond of swords and cannot fight the general. How about we settle this by another method?"
"What method?" Mu Tao asked coldly, a sudden thought flashing through his mind, his eyes gleaming with cold light: "This general doesn't understand music, chess, calligraphy, or painting, so don't try to compete with me in those refined pursuits!"
"This..." Dongfang Heng pretended to be troubled and frowned in thought.
"Come on, come on, there's a new casino over there, let's try our luck..."
"I've been having good luck lately, I'm sure I'll win money..."
"Remember to treat us to drinks then..."
Several idle young men walked past the restaurant entrance, laughing and joking.
Dongfang Heng raised his eyes to look at Mu Tao, his gaze indifferent, his voice calm and unwavering: "A contest is also a gamble, with winners and losers. General, you are skilled in martial arts, while I am skilled in literature. It is impossible for us to make a detailed comparison. How about we make a bet?"
bet!
Mu Tao's eyes flickered slightly. From childhood, his father had always taught him not to gamble...
Shen Lixue glanced at Mu Tao. He wanted to gamble, but he didn't dare to. He seemed to be worried about something. She should give him a push and a push.
“Everyone gambles. My husband’s suggestion is not meant to make things difficult for the general. If General Mu does not agree to gamble, it means he is prepared to let us go. Farewell!”
As she spoke, Shen Lixue took Dongfang Heng's arm and walked slowly towards the outside of the restaurant. The faint smile on her lips was like a sign of victory, deeply piercing Mu Tao's heart. His wrist was indeed crippled, but he hadn't lost. How could he lose? He absolutely could not lose.
"Wait, I'll bet with you!" Mu Tao emphasized these few words heavily, as if they were being spat out from between his teeth. His sharp eyes flashed with a cold light. Admitting defeat before the battle was not the style of General Mu Er on the battlefield. If they wanted to bet, he would bet with them and make them lose everything and sell themselves to pay off their debts. Then, he could torture the two of them severely.
A strange smile appeared on Shen Lixue's lips, then vanished without a trace. She sighed softly, "Has the general made up his mind?"
"Nonsense!" Mu Tao roared, coldly looking at the manager: "This general has booked this restaurant today to get a set of gambling equipment!" A pair of ignorant young couple dared to be arrogant in front of him. If he didn't teach them a lesson, they would never know their place.
Upon hearing that someone was gambling in the restaurant, the empty hall was instantly filled with a large crowd of onlookers, their eyes frequently lingering on Mu Tao and Dongfang Heng. General Mu Er's gambling was not to be missed. Who was this man who dared to challenge General Mu Er? Didn't he know that he had a bad temper and was prone to hitting people when he was angry?
General Mu Er exuded a sharp and imposing aura, while the young master seemed even more profound and reserved. It was unclear who would win or lose this bet.
Two dining tables were placed together, covered with a soft cloth, serving as a gambling table with a gambling cup and three dice.
Dongfang Heng and Mu Tao stood on either side of the gambling table, while a middle-aged man in the middle explained the rules of gambling: "General Mu and this young master will take turns being the banker. The next player can choose to follow or not. Now, please each take a die and roll the numbers. The one with the higher number goes first as the banker!"
As soon as the middle-aged man finished speaking, Dongfang Heng and Mu Tao both flicked their fingers, and the white sieve rose into the air and spun continuously.
Shen Lixue looked at the delicate sieve and smiled: Mu Tao was born in the Duke of Mu's mansion and grew up in a pampered environment. He was strictly taught by the Duke of Mu and was not greedy or lustful. Apart from being single-minded, impulsive, irritable, and competitive in everything, he had no flaws.
Therefore, Shen Lixue and Dongfang Heng took advantage of his only weakness to lure him into their trap. Knowing that his wrist was injured and he could no longer wield a sword, they talked about swordplay in front of him, deliberately provoking him. He was furious and naturally refused to let Dongfang Heng and Shen Lixue go.
Then, Dongfang Heng suggested gambling at the opportune moment. To save face and to teach them a lesson, Mu Tao, defiant of pride, agreed to gamble.
This gamble involves more than just luck; it also concerns the fate of the entire Duke Mu's mansion!
---Aside---
(*^__^*) Hehe... Thank you so much for the flowers, diamonds, and votes, mwah...
<......
Chapter 179: Setting a Trap and Seizing the Duke of Mu's Mansion
"Clang!" The exquisite dice landed on the gambling table and spun continuously. Mu Tao's sharp tiger eyes were fixed on the two dice without blinking, and a layer of cold sweat was faintly seeping from his forehead.
The sieve spun slower and slower until it finally came to a stop. Mu Tao looked at the six blue dots on the sieve, and his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, instantly relaxed. He had hit a six, the highest number. He glanced at the five-hole sieve in front of Dongfang Heng, and a cold smile flashed in his eyes.
"You flatter me!" His deep voice carried an overbearing arrogance.
The seemingly weak scholar was not weak either; he scored five, only slightly less than him. This bet was likely to be difficult to win, and he needed to be extra careful.
"General, you're too kind!" Dongfang Heng's voice was calm, his deep gaze as still as a pool of water, without a ripple.
"General Mu is the dealer, please start the betting!" The middle-aged man's loud voice echoed throughout the venue.
Mu Tao arrogantly picked up the small cup, about to throw the dice, when a clear, melodious female voice suddenly rang out: "Wait!"
"What is it?" Mu Tao frowned and looked at Shen Lixue.
Shen Lixue smiled and said, "Traditional gambling involves rolling dice and comparing sizes. After playing for a while, it gets boring. Why don't we try a new game?"
"What new way to play?" Mu Tao asked casually.
"Listen to the numbers." Shen Lixue's cherry lips parted slightly, each word deliberate: "In other words, one side shakes the dice, and the other listens, guessing the numbers on each die in the cup. Isn't that more exciting than gambling on Sic Bo?"
Everyone's eyes lit up. In casinos, they had only ever seen bets on big and small. This was the first time they had ever heard of such a novel way of playing by points. This idea was really good!
"The gameplay is indeed very novel!" Mu Tao frowned, his sharp gaze subtly scrutinizing Shen Lixue. Dongfang Heng: Ordinary appearance, but the clothes he wore were all made of cloud silk brocade, which was quite valuable.