Chapter 550 - 268: Struck It Rich

Chapter 550: Chapter 268: Struck It Rich

"It is good for you to be cautious, Sir, but since I dare to run this business, how could I not have some backing?

Mr. Guo Degao has said it before, and I will say it again to put everyone here at ease."

Jiang Rongxuan straightened his back, scanned the crowd, and said with a serious expression, "I, Jiang, am acquainted with Master Zhang Daozong, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Great Dao Sect.

Master Zhang intends to recruit disciples with excellent potential in Linji City, and I am one of the recommenders he has personally appointed.

Furthermore, Master Zhang has a stake in my business! If any of you still have doubts, feel free to go to Master Zhang’s dojo and ask him yourselves."

By dropping Zhang Daozong’s name, Jiang Rongxuan instantly intimidated everyone present. Many already secretly regretted betting on Master Chen to win!

The man from the Jianghu snorted, pulled out a stack of silver notes, and threw them on the table. "In that case, I’ll bet one hundred taels of silver on Master Chen to win!"

"What a generous gentleman!" Getting a free one hundred taels of silver, Jiang Rongxuan’s eyes lit up again. After taking the silver notes and verifying them, he wrote out a receipt, which was then signed and marked.

"Hmph, I’m just convinced Master Chen will win. I don’t dare bet too much on your little operation; I’ve got to go place some more bets at other venues."

The man from the Jianghu took the receipt, snorted again, and got up to leave the tavern.

Everyone present was stunned once more. Those who had just regretted betting on Master Chen began to have second thoughts, wondering if they should increase their wagers.

But seeing Jiang Rongxuan’s relaxed and carefree expression, they hesitated again!

A classic case of a gambler’s indecisiveness!

"I’ll wager one thousand taels of patterned silver on that ’great man’ to win!"

Just then, a voice leisurely spoke up from a seat near the street.

The hall erupted in another uproar as everyone turned to look toward the source of the voice.

They saw that the speaker was dressed in simple brocade clothes. He was tall, with a Long Saber at his waist, and possessed an extraordinary presence. At a glance, he was clearly the scion of a great family.

This person was none other than Chen Cheng. He had no interest in listening to Guo Degao’s storytelling, nor was he bothered to watch Jiang Rongxuan rake in money.

He had been facing the street outside the tavern the whole time, observing the pedestrians coming and going.

Everyone else was busy placing bets and watching the commotion in the tavern, so no one had noticed Chen Cheng.

Jiang Rongxuan was the exception. He had long since noticed the arrival of such a noble young master in the tavern.

’In Jiang Rongxuan’s eyes, if the man from the Jianghu was a fat sheep, then this noble young master was likely a walking gold nugget!’

"My, what a generous sir! I am Jiang Rongxuan, at your service!" Jiang Rongxuan’s face was a mask of smiles as he eagerly headed toward Chen Cheng, not forgetting to call for the bookkeeper to follow with paper and a brush.

This was a thousand taels of patterned silver walking right through the door. Jiang Rongxuan was already desperate to stuff it into his own pockets.

"Mas-Master Chen!"

Just then, Chen Cheng slowly turned around. Jiang Rongxuan’s face instantly turned ashen. His legs trembled, and he nearly lost his footing and fell on his rear!

Those in the crowd who had seen Chen Cheng before were also aghast!

Those who had not seen him before could still discern the significance of the name "Master Chen." Combining that with the various legends they had heard around Linji City, it was not hard to guess that this Master Chen was the legendary ’great man’ himself!

Vice Director of the Demon Suppression Department, Lord Chen Cheng!

In an instant, a terrifying silence fell over the tavern. Those who had bet on the disciple from the Four Major Sects to win, like Sun Er, were especially so nervous that their backs dripped with cold sweat.

According to the legends, this great man was a ruthless character. There was no guarantee he would not take his anger out on them for this!

But Chen Cheng clearly couldn’t be bothered with such things. A faint smile on his face, he appeared relaxed as he said lightly:

"What’s this? Shopkeeper Jiang, you’ve opened your doors for business, but you don’t intend to accept this official’s wager?"

"No..." Jiang Rongxuan instinctively wanted to say he wouldn’t dare, but when he met Chen Cheng’s clear, deep eyes, which were like stars, the words died in his throat.

After stammering for a long moment, he finally spoke, his voice trembling and quivering:

"Master Chen, this lowly one... this lowly one is guilty!"

Jiang Rongxuan fell to his knees with a THUD and began kowtowing, his head hitting the floor with a series of THUMPS.

In truth, before starting this venture, he had considered that he might offend Chen Cheng and end up in over his head!

But in the entire Upper Street district, all the taverns, teahouses, and gambling dens, big and small, were running this same business at the behest of the disciples from the Four Major Sects.

So, Jiang Rongxuan couldn’t help but hope for a lucky break, thinking that this great man wouldn’t notice him.

Even if he were noticed, there was safety in numbers! No matter how ruthless this great man was, would he dare to punish everyone in this entire district?

Besides, beyond this district, nearly all the Jianghu Gangs in the Four Outer City Districts of Linji City were running this business. There were probably tens of thousands of people involved.

Could this great man possibly deal with so many people?

"No need for formalities!" Chen Cheng waved his hand, his tone quite amicable. "This official came here with no other intention than to place a bet and win a little silver.

Of course, if I end up losing the bet, I can only blame my own bad luck. I won’t make things difficult for you."

Jiang Rongxuan scrambled to his feet and stood by respectfully.

His forehead was already bruised from kowtowing. Half-believing and half-doubting, he cautiously and probingly asked:

"Master Chen, you really wish to place a bet?"

Chen Cheng took out a thick stack of hundred-tael silver notes and slapped them onto the table with a flourish.

"Real silver on the table. Be quick and write up the receipt!"

"Yes, yes, of course!" Without even looking at the silver notes, Jiang Rongxuan immediately ordered the bookkeeper to write out the receipt, which was then signed and marked.

"Master Chen, do you find this satisfactory?" Jiang Rongxuan respectfully handed the receipt to Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng took it and glanced at it, but his expression suddenly darkened. He said in a cold voice, "The receipt is fine, but it seems to be against the rules!"

"Ah..." Jiang Rongxuan’s face turned ashen once again, and he instinctively wanted to drop to his knees and beg for forgiveness.