Chapter 399: A Different Stan

"It’s simple once you start, but it gets vicious fast. Especially when people start holding grudges over Draw Fours."

Sacha shuffled the cards with a practiced ease, a faintly mischievous smile already tugging at her lips.

She looked toward Camilla.

"Alright, since you’re new, I’ll let you join us. Come on, it’ll be fun."

Camilla’s crimson eyes narrowed slightly.

She had been watching Sacha carefully throughout the explanation, and by now, she had already understood what the woman was thinking.

She intends to destroy me.

It wasn’t difficult to figure out.

Sacha’s smile was far too innocent, and the glint in her eyes was unmistakably competitive. She had spent years playing this game with Stan, and Camilla could tell that she was already imagining how easily she would crush a complete beginner.

Camilla regarded the scattered cards for a moment, then gave a small, decisive shake of her head.

"No."

Sacha blinked.

"No?"

"You two siblings should play first."

Camilla gestured toward the cards. "I will join during the second round. By then, the skills I gain from observing should be sufficient to understand the game properly."

Her crimson eyes shifted toward the deck. "You two will not win after I learn the rules."

Sacha stared at her for a moment. Then a slow smile spread across her face. "Hmmm..."

She leaned back slightly. "Seems you overestimate your ability and underestimate my brother and me."

Camilla’s lips lifted slightly. "On the contrary, I think you’re the one underestimating me."

Sacha’s smile froze for a moment. "Oh?"

Camilla simply met her gaze. "I learn quickly."

Stan shook his head, already sensing the familiar spark of rivalry igniting between the two women.

"It’s all right. We’ll know who wins when we get there. It won’t be easy for either of you... after all, I’m here."

A matching glint appeared in all three pairs of eyes.

Stan turned to his sister with a mild smile. "All right, let’s play, Sis. You used to beat me at Uno when we were kids... but I promise you won’t be able to beat me now."

Sacha tilted her head, intrigued. "Interesting. Why do you think so?"

"I’m obviously not the same Stan you used to beat."

She laughed and shook her head. "And you think I’m the same Sacha? You’re not the only one who’s grown, Stan."

Stan only smiled and let the comment pass. ’That’s not what I meant... but whatever.’

What he had actually meant was simpler and far less explainable.

After becoming a cultivator, both his physical capabilities and his mental acuity had risen sharply. His perception, memory, and ability to process information had all improved far beyond what an ordinary person could achieve.

And there was one particular advantage that made a game like Uno almost unfair.

He could notice microscopic differences in the backs of the cards, tiny variations in print, texture, scratches, bends, and wear that an ordinary person would never notice. From those differences alone, he could reconstruct a working model of what remained in an opponent’s hand.

With enough observation, he could essentially identify a card without ever seeing its face.

He had no intention of explaining any of that to Sacha. That would ruin the fun.

Sacha slid the deck across the table toward him. "You shuffle and deal."

Stan accepted the cards with a quiet smile. ’You’re really giving me that?’

Letting him handle the deck was essentially handing him the win condition.

As his fingers moved through the cards with casual ease, his enhanced perception catalogued every minute difference across the backs. By the time the hands were dealt, he already held a near-perfect mental map of the distribution.

He kept his expression completely neutral. ’This is going to be much easier than she thinks.’

Sacha arranged her cards and glanced at him. "What are you smiling about?"

"Nothing."

"You’re definitely smiling."

"I just remembered something."

"What?"

"How much you used to enjoy beating me."

Sacha grinned. "And how much I enjoyed watching you lose."

Stan shook his head. "Enjoy it while you can."

Camilla watched the exchange silently.

She had already begun paying close attention to the way the siblings handled the cards.

They finished setting everything up. The first card was placed on the table. The game began.

For the first few turns, everything proceeded normally.

Sacha played confidently, quickly placing matching cards whenever she had the opportunity. Her style was aggressive, favoring quick elimination of high-value cards while holding onto special cards for moments when they could shift the game in her favor.

Stan played differently. He was relaxed. Measured. Almost casual.

He never seemed to rush his decisions, yet he always appeared to have exactly what he needed.

Sacha narrowed her eyes. "Why are you suddenly playing so carefully?"

Stan shrugged. "I’m thinking."

"You never used to think this much."

"Maybe I’ve improved."

"Or maybe you’re scared."

Stan smiled. "Keep telling yourself that."

Sacha clicked her tongue.

Camilla’s crimson eyes moved between them. She was already beginning to understand their dynamic.

They didn’t simply play against each other. They knew each other. Every expression, hesitation, and habit carried information.

Yet Stan seemed to be reading Sacha more easily than she was reading him.

A few more turns passed. Sacha drew a card. Stan’s eyes flicked toward it for less than a second.

He recognized the tiny crease near its upper corner.

’Reverse.’

Sacha placed another card instead.

Stan calmly responded with one of his own. The game continued.

Camilla noticed that Stan’s decisions seemed unusually precise.

Whenever Sacha attempted to change the color strategically, Stan somehow had an answer.

Whenever she appeared to gain momentum, he disrupted it.

And whenever she reduced the number of cards in her hand, he seemed to find a way to slow her down.

Camilla’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’He is controlling the flow of the game.’

Sacha was beginning to notice it too. "You’ve gotten annoying."

Stan smiled. "I’ll take that as a compliment."

"You shouldn’t."

Another turn passed.

Stan placed down a Draw Two.

Sacha stared at him. "Seriously?"

"Yes, I told you I’m not thesame Stan you beat in Uno few years ago."

"Hmmph, you’re just lucky..." She snorted and reluctantly drew two cards.

Camilla watched the exchange carefully. ’He waited until she had fewer cards before using it. Interesting.’

Sacha’s hand gradually became smaller again.

So did Stan’s.

Then Sacha suddenly smiled. "Oh?"

Stan looked up. She placed down another card.

"I think you’re in trouble."

Stan glanced at his hand. "Do you?"

"Absolutely."

Camilla watched Sacha’s expression. She was confident again.

But Stan remained completely calm. He placed down another card and said in a calm voice: "Draw Two."

Sacha’s smile disappeared, "You’re kidding."

Stan shook his head. "I’m not."

She drew the cards, glaring at him, "You’ve really changed."

Stan shrugged. "I told you."