Qi Xia carefully recalled the already known information about this game. To say they would compare whose was biggest based on the dates of the twenty-four solar terms and traditional festivals would be far too far-fetched.

If he remembered correctly, not only were the dates of traditional festivals uncertain, even the specific dates of the twenty-four solar terms were uncertain.

Taking the most well-known “Winter Solstice” as an example, its date also wandered between December 21st and December 23rd each year. With dates so uncertain, how could they compare whose was biggest?

“If you all have no questions, then our gambling match is about to begin.” After the Earth-Monkey finished speaking, he extended his pinky finger to pick at his teeth. His pinky had a long nail. “Of course, even if you have questions, it has nothing to do with me. We’ll each rely on our own abilities.”

“I need to discuss tactics with them,” Qi Xia said. “Give me a few minutes.”

The Earth-Monkey nodded, then leaned back lazily in his chair.

He gave everyone a look, and they all stood up and followed him to a spot not far behind.

Even Xiao Cheng, who was meeting Qi Xia for the first time, was now respectful and completely didn’t dare to be negligent.

“Distribute the chips,” Qi Xia said. “Everyone take some ‘Dao.'”

After hearing this, Xiao Cheng thought for two seconds and said, “Brother, are you sure you want all of us to participate?”

“Why?”

“I know your level. Logically speaking, you gambling against the Earth-Monkey alone would have the greatest chance of winning, right?” Xiao Cheng asked. “Do you really need us stumbling blocks to participate together?”

After hearing this, Qi Xia nodded. “After all, I don’t know the winning rules. If it’s just me and him, perhaps even spending eight rounds wouldn’t necessarily let me figure it out. But if there are enough people, I might understand after just once.”

“This…”

After hearing this, Xiao Cheng slowly lowered his head. He naturally understood the meaning in Qi Xia’s words. In the “Land of the End,” being able to encounter people who wouldn’t harm oneself was already considered lucky. One couldn’t hope extravagantly that someone would save one’s life in this kind of confusing game, so this man before him might very likely abandon him at a critical moment.

“I will use my own efforts to prove I can avoid being abandoned,” Xiao Cheng said.

Everyone glanced at Xiao Cheng, not knowing what he meant by his words, and could only quickly withdraw their gazes.

Qi Xia took out two “Dao” and handed them to Tiantian, then took out another two “Dao” and handed them to Zheng Yingxiong, saying, “You two each get two ‘Dao,’ and can participate in at most two game rounds. Since this game becomes more dangerous the later it goes, there’s no need to keep gambling until the end.”

After hearing this, Tiantian and Zheng Yingxiong nodded and put the “Dao” in their pockets.

“You two judge based on the situation,” Qi Xia said. “But it’s best not to bet all your ‘Dao’ in the first round. If nothing unexpected happens, starting from the third round you’ll leave. I’ll figure out a way for the ‘Dao’ to ransom you.”

“Okay.” Tiantian and Zheng Yingxiong nodded without hesitation.

But at this moment, Xiao Cheng was somewhat confused.

“Wait a minute… you’ll figure out a way?” He didn’t quite understand the man’s motivation.

“That’s right. I have some friendship with them. We’re together, so I’ll figure out a way for their ‘Dao,'” Qi Xia acknowledged. “But I can’t completely trust you. Just as you said, how I treat you next still depends on your performance.”

“I understand…” Xiao Cheng felt this man seemed somewhat different from what he had imagined.

Next, Qi Xia counted everyone’s remaining chips. After paying everyone’s entry fees, the fifteen “Dao” that Xiao Cheng brought ultimately had only three left. He himself had lost one, and adding the sixteen that Qi Xia brought, everyone had a total of eighteen “Dao.”

Excluding the four given to Tiantian and Zheng Yingxiong, now there were fourteen remaining.

Qi Xia thought for a while, then handed three “Dao” to Xiao Cheng, and afterward handed another three “Dao” to Chen Junnan.

Xiao Cheng decisively took the “Dao,” but after Chen Junnan saw this, an expression of incomprehension floated onto his face.

“Old Qi, I also get three?” He scratched his head.

“It’s not that I don’t trust you,” Qi Xia said. “It’s just that your main task isn’t ‘gambling,’ but rather ‘psychological warfare.'”

“Psychological warfare?” After hearing this, Chen Junnan gave a wicked smile. “Old Qi, you really understand too well what kind of person this young master is.”

“So you don’t need to ‘bet’ with us every round. Even after ‘folding,’ just sit at the table and chat with the opponent. That’s enough.”

“Then that’s settled.” Chen Junnan happily grinned. “Just watch, will you?”

At this moment, Qiao Jiajin looked at Qi Xia’s remaining eight “Dao” and asked puzzledly, “Liar Boy… am I also three?”

“No, you and I each get four,” Qi Xia said with a serious expression as he looked at him. “Fist, I don’t understand traditional gambling, so this time I need you to fight side by side with me.”

“Huh? Me?”

“Your favorite thing to say is ‘don’t cheat’…” Qi Xia asked. “Although you don’t like gambling, you really understand it, right?”

After hearing this, Qiao Jiajin slowly lowered his head. “Liar Boy, ‘gambling’ can’t possibly have a good ending. I’ve seen too many examples of families being destroyed because of ‘gambling.'”

“Of course, smart people in this world can’t possibly make money relying on ‘gambling,'” Qi Xia said. “But Fist, don’t forget, this time we’re different from ordinary ‘gamblers.’ If they gamble, their families are destroyed. If we don’t gamble, our souls are scattered.”

“I know.” Qiao Jiajin nodded with a grave expression. “Liar Boy, this might be the only time I can help you with my brains.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future.” Qi Xia waved his hand and handed him four “Dao.”

At this moment, the six people had allocated the chips: Qi Xia and Qiao Jiajin had four each, Xiao Cheng and Chen Junnan had three each, and Tiantian and Zheng Yingxiong had two each.

Qi Xia looked at the several people ready to go, then said, “Since we’re one whole entity, the ‘Dao’ we win can be redistributed at the gambling table. Everyone just needs to adapt to circumstances.”

After hearing this, everyone nodded one after another. Just as they were about to say something, they discovered Qi Xia momentarily lose focus, and his entire person seemed about to fall immediately.

Qiao Jiajin reacted quickly, stepped forward to grab his arm, and only then stabilized Qi Xia’s form. Only then did he discover that his whole body had been trembling slightly all along.

“Liar Boy… you?”

“Sorry…” Qi Xia tightly furrowed his brow and waved at everyone. “I probably didn’t rest well… it’s nothing serious. Let’s start quickly.”