Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 57: The Banality of the E

Bai Shuangying paid no attention to the terrifying illusions below.

He watched the Huanxi E with great interest, or more precisely, the layer of “brain matter” on top of the Huanxi E. In Bai Shuangying’s long life, he had never seen anything like it.

…It was a conglomeration of countless soul fragments.

These fragments weren’t powerful enough to become ghosts on their own. Drawn together by a shared obsession, they fused through the Huanxi E into a brand new evil spirit.

However, these fragments came from all corners of the world, with unrelated lives and karmic ties. This kind of “fusion” was extremely fragile. Let alone reaching ghost-immortal status, it couldn’t even hold its own against an average evil spirit. It was nothing more than a jumbled heap of scraps.

No wonder the Underworld despised the Huanxi E so much.

The Huanxi E devoured karma with wild abandon, growing rapidly and posing a significant threat to the human world.

At the same time, it entangled and consumed a large number of sacrificial players, yet could never produce a true ghost immortal. Its self-generated spirits were pitifully weak, and foreign spirits that came here couldn’t even get a bite to eat, rendering them unable to cultivate misfortune properly.

For both the Underworld and the living world, this thing was nothing but harmful.

“…So that’s it. The Huanxi E is basically a malignant tumor. It just madly siphons nutrients until it drags down the entire sacrificial system,” Fang Xiu concluded after hearing Bai Shuangying’s explanation.

For some reason, a flush rose to his cheeks, as if he were… excited.

“So, that evil spirit isn’t worth worrying about. We just need to deal with the humans.”

Bai Shuangying: “…”

That sounded lovely, but somehow he felt it shouldn’t be coming from Fang Xiu’s mouth.

Cheng Songyun finally came to her senses. “S-So the meaning of the ‘Emergency Exit’ is to show us reality?”

“If that really is reality, why would the Huanxi E preserve the Emergency Exit…?”

They had successfully found the E, but she didn’t feel happy at all.

The scene below was too insane for Cheng Songyun to accept. She’d rather believe it was just another illusion.

Otherwise, their situation was far too dire.

The Huanxi E’s true body was enormous, surrounded by so many protectors that Cheng Songyun couldn’t imagine how they’d destroy it.

And outside help was impossible. Even if they told people what the real world was like, no one would believe them, especially someone like Uncle Hou, who had “built a career” here.

Worst case scenario, even if Fang Xiu had a way to destroy it, there was less than an hour left until 11:30 p.m., when the place would shut down.

They couldn’t even enter Huanxi World until tomorrow. Was Fang Xiu really going to violate another taboo? Could his body even take it?

The more Cheng Songyun thought about it, the more anxious she became. Let alone those reveling in indulgence, even she was hesitant to face the truth.

“Maybe the scene below is also an illusion. The Huanxi E could be deliberately misleading us into self-destruction.” She chose her words carefully.

“No, this is reality.”

Fang Xiu touched the dusty cement slab and looked at the server downstairs, flashing under red lights. This time, Jia Xu hadn’t guessed wrong: the obsession that birthed the Huanxi E was “I want to win.”

But it wasn’t one person’s intense desire. It was the collective obsession of millions of gambling app users, a quantitative change that led to a qualitative transformation.

“No matter how smart the Huanxi E is, it’s still a ‘thing’. Ultimately, this place was created based on human obsession.” He said softly, “Even it can’t forcibly distort its own origin.”

Cheng Songyun: “I don’t get it. What does this place have to do with the obsession to ‘win’?”

“Cheng Jie, besides ‘wanting to win’, gamblers share one more thing in common.”

Fang Xiu smiled at her. “They always remember the existence of an Emergency Exit.”

“They know they should stay away from gambling, that they should live and work honestly, even if the money comes slowly and in small amounts.”

“They know they should quit while they’re ahead, repay their gambling debts the right way, even if it means years or decades of hardship. These are such simple truths that even children understand.”

Here, Fang Xiu paused.

“But once someone wins a bet, it becomes very difficult to face reality again,” he continued a few seconds later.

It’s obvious which is easier: earning ten thousand by working long hours every day or lying in bed and playing on your phone.

It’s also obvious which is more stressful: repaying a million-dollar debt through a decade of frugality or taking a shot at a big win to turn things around.

…It’s precisely because they don’t want to face the “Emergency Exit” that the gambler’s obsession with “winning” becomes endless.

So the Huanxi E cannot erase the Emergency Exit. It can only try every possible way to make it harder to reach.

Cheng Songyun remained silent for a long time.

She rubbed the cracked cement board, her swollen eyes growing moist again. She said nothing for a while, and then, just sighed.

Fang Xiu kept looking beneath the skylight.

It’s almost time, he thought.

……

Huanxi World.

Over the past three hours, Jia Xu had started to sweat.

During that time, he had basically lost every bet. Jia Xu forced a calm smile, maintaining a look of confidence. But for some subtle reason—fear, perhaps—he didn’t dare bet too many rounds.

A’Qing comforted him, saying he’d once lost ten rounds of high-low guessing in a row. The odds of that were less than one in a thousand. Jia Xu’s case was totally normal. It was just bad luck.

“I know, good things take time.” Jia Xu said breezily, “I still have over 6,000 chips. Worst case, I’ll just bet on high-low.”

Blondie: “Could it be that Luck Borrowing Dice…?”

Jia Xu’s expression darkened immediately. “That thing counts backward from your death date! What, you think I’m gonna die in the next two days?”

“Uh, I was just saying. No need to get mad.” Blondie quickly backpedaled. “How about we just go play high-low now? Use the doubling strategy and try to win today back.”

Jia Xu thought that made some sense.

A’Qing’s bad streak was just ten in a row. He’d already lost this many times. He might as well take something to stabilize himself.

He had over 6,000 chips. That was enough to use the doubling method and win once. Maybe one solid win would turn his luck around.

“Alright, let me feel out this doubling strategy.” Jia Xu walked toward the high-low tables.

As he moved, many who had been trying to curry favor followed. The previously run-down “Bankrupt Alliance” section of the high-low area instantly lit up.

Jia Xu chose a refined-looking female dealer and stood at the table. Within seconds, a crowd had gathered.

Amid jokes and blessings, Jia Xu pressed down a chip.

Round 1: Loss.

Round 2: Loss.

…

Round 5: Loss.

Though he had only lost 31 chips, Jia Xu’s expression was already grim. The crowd quieted, and whispers took on a different tone.

By Round 6, more people began betting against him, including Blondie, who wagered half his chips.

After placing his bet, Blondie winked at a masked woman.

He’d kept running into her tonight.

She was dressed simply, long hair in soft waves wearing crimson lipstick giving off a sultry vibe. Even with a mask covering her eyes, Blondie could tell she was hot.

More importantly, she was lucky.

In every game Jia Xu lost, she either won or broke even. Sadly, she only ever bet one chip, which made Blondie itch.

This time, seeing her bet against Jia Xu, Blondie followed suit.

The dealer rolled the dice. Jia Xu lost again. Blondie’s chips doubled instantly.

What a rush! Blondie shot a flirtatious look at the woman, but she showed no reaction, like she hadn’t seen him.

The whispers around them grew louder. Buzzing. Chaotic. Jia Xu’s face went pale.

He heard people murmuring, questioning his lifespan, blaming Uncle Hou for not fully disclosing the side effects of the Luck Borrowing Dice. More people began pulling out chips to bet against him.

It’s just a few dozen chips. It means nothing, Jia Xu tried to comfort himself. A’Qing went through this too… It’s totally normal…

Round 7. Round 8. Round 9. Round 10. Loss. Loss. Loss. Loss.

In no time, Jia Xu had tied A’Qing’s bad luck record. Nearly a quarter of the floor was now crammed around him, too lazy to hide their enthusiasm.

Many people placed huge bets directly opposite Jia Xu’s. They grinned, praising his “luck manipulation” that benefited everyone.

Jia Xu’s face flushed red. Veins bulged on his forehead as he pushed forward 1,024 chips for Round 11.

He really wanted to use the Luck Borrowing Dice. Just win one round and wipe them all out. But with so many eyes on him, the moment he brought out the dice, everyone would copy his bet.

No. Not yet.

Please, Lady Luck. I know I’ve been blessed just to get this far, but don’t do me like this.

Jia Xu’s ears rang. He could barely hear the dealer’s pleasant voice.

Round 11… Round 12…

Only two short rounds, but they felt like two years.

He lost again. Why?

“What are the odds of losing twelve in a row?” Jia Xu croaked to A’Qing.

He pretended those earlier losses in other games didn’t count. Different game, doesn’t matter, right?

“One in ten thousand or so,” A’Qing said dryly, pushing up his glasses.

One in ten thousand. One in ten thousand… That’s not so bad, Jia Xu thought.

He’d always been top-tier. He built his own company. If he occasionally hit one-in-ten-thousand bad luck, so what?

But as he prepared to bet Round 13, Jia Xu realized something terrifying… He didn’t have enough chips left.

The doubling method required 4,096 chips for Round 13. But after losing 4,095 in the last 12 rounds, he only had just over 2,000 left.

Jia Xu froze.

He’d entered today with 8,320 chips. How had they disappeared so fast? And this was the simplest game!

He slowly turned his head, and locked eyes with a grinning Blondie.

Blondie slapped his back and laughed. “Want me to lend you 2,000? I just made over 4,000!”

“Like they say, fortune favors the bold and starves the timid…”

A’Qing’s mouth twitched as he offered another suggestion. “Why not borrow from Uncle Hou? He won’t charge you that much interest. Maybe just 8%.”

Their voices were nearly drowned by the crowd’s raucous cheering…

“Boss Jia, you’re amazing!”

“Boss Jia’s bets shake the heavens!”

“Boss Jia, let’s see a big one!”

Blondie was raking it in. Everyone else betting against Jia Xu was thrilled. The atmosphere at the high-low tables was electric.

Those who had been flattering Jia Xu earlier now gave him strange looks, whispering to each other. Even Uncle Hou guards were eyeing Jia Xu with suspicion.

“Boss Jia, one more!”

“Boss Jia, one more!”

“Boss Jia, one more!”

In the noisy chants, Jia Xu’s hands turned cold. A few seconds later, he abruptly stood and walked to the service counter.

“Exchange everything that can be exchanged,” he said.

Blondie, who had just caught up and heard what he said was stunned. “Wait, Jia Ge, you serious?”

“Not like I’m leaving. It’s just a matter of time.” Jia Xu said lightly. “Later, I’m really gonna go big.”

Blondie glanced around and whispered, “But the blood debts get aired in public. We still gotta live here.”

Jia Xu snorted. “I didn’t kill anyone. What am I scared of?”

Then he turned to the counter again. “Exchange everything on the redemption chart!”

“Redemption complete. Total: 2,024 chips. We wish you great luck and favorable stars!” the staffer said sweetly.

“Next, your blood debt case will be uploaded to the human-world internet…”

Jia Xu didn’t listen. His eyes were locked on the two golden chips.

At the same time, the big screen lit up.

Guan He, still pretending to be a mushroom, couldn’t help looking up to watch his teammate’s blood debt.

Unlike his own straightforward “accident night”, Jia Xu’s was made up of countless clips.

Jia Xu had incredibly good luck in the first half of his life.

After graduation, he started a company with friends, just in time for a boom. Within a few years, he owned a mansion, luxury cars, and had a beautiful, well-educated girlfriend named Qin Wangshu.

While traveling in Country A, Jia Xu gambled in a resort city.

Initially disinterested, he tried a slot machine while shopping with his girlfriend, and hit a jackpot, winning over 2 million of the local currency.

Even for a rich man like Jia Xu, that was no small sum.

His girlfriend was stunned. Jia Xu modestly claimed he’d always been lucky…

He was born to an average family and was slightly above average in school. But he overperformed in the college entrance exam, got into a top school thanks to lowered admission scores.

And his startup succeeded. Sometimes he wondered if life had been set to easy mode. And now, fate had gifted him another million-plus.

Jia Xu spent tens of thousands on luxury gifts for Qin Wangshu and the two returned home happy.

Back in China, Jia Xu began “small, mood-lifting” gambling.

Legal casinos were too far, so he used apps. People said, “the code rigs the odds”, but Jia Xu scoffed. He ran a game company himself. Of course he understood code.

The algorithm couldn’t possibly target just him. For every loser, there had to be a winner. He just needed to be the winner and cash out in time.

First month, he won back the gift money.

Second month, he lost the entire resort jackpot.

Even without that windfall, Jia Xu still lived well. But he couldn’t swallow the loss.

The app seemed fair. No signs of cheating. Which made losing feel even stupider.

He had to win it back. He’d already won a million before. He just needed another comeback.

After all, he was always lucky.

Third month: he lost all his savings. Too ashamed to ask his aging parents, he borrowed from Qin Wangshu.

Claiming company problems, he said he urgently needed funds. Concerned, Qin Wangshu sold all her gifts and gave him the money.

“These were from you. No need to pay me back,” she said.

Jia Xu teared up, poured out affection, then lost the money within two days.

A few days later, he borrowed again under the same excuse, saying the previous amount wasn’t enough, and even his parents had been tapped.

Qin Wangshu hesitated. Raised strictly, she had always been cautious with money.

“I just gave you over two million…” she whispered.

Jia Xu’s face darkened. “‘You gave me’? I bought those for you. You’re just returning them.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

“I know what you’re worried about. I’ll write you an IOU.” Jia Xu’s tone went cold. “You were all smiles taking the gifts, but now you’re all business with the money. Nice.”

Qin Wangshu looked heartbroken but handed over her savings. It was nearly two million from her own and her parents’ allowances.

Jia Xu doubled it to over four million and was overjoyed.

That night, he set up a candlelit dinner. He repaid her on the spot and bought her an expensive handbag.

He gently apologized, saying his mind had been a mess last time.

Qin Wangshu forgave him, accepted the money, but declined the bag.

“Don’t give me such expensive things anymore,” she said hesitantly.

……

Thus began the endless cycle of borrowing and repaying.

Eventually, Qin Wangshu ran out of money, and Jia Xu was short on capital.

Seeing that her credit was good and she had assets, Jia Xu had her take out a personal loan in her own name, calling it an “investment”.

“I paid you back before, didn’t I? Don’t you trust me?”

Qin Wangshu: “But you borrowed it all again…”

“I can’t help it. It’s company stuff. Are you that desperate? Should I embezzle to repay you?” Jia Xu frowned, raising his voice.

“Qin Wangshu, we’ve been together five years. If that’s all the faith you have, maybe we should end it. Better than dragging you down if I go bankrupt.”

Tears welled in Qin Wangshu’s eyes. “Don’t say that.”

She borrowed money from her parents and loan platforms, scraping together nearly two million.

“The interest is high. You must pay me back on time,” she pleaded.

Jia Xu promised readily.

In the voice-over screen, his inner voice rang out, “Anyway, her family had money. Worst case, her parents would bail her out.”

As expected, after repaying steadily for a few months, Jia Xu began to delay.

Qin Wangshu couldn’t keep up. Terrified of her family finding out, she didn’t dare tell them.

When she pleaded with Jia Xu, he brushed her off with routine lines. “These things take time. Depends on the project. If you want, go sue me.”

“You’ll still have to repay the loan during litigation. If it’s worth it to you, go ahead,” Jia Xu sneered.

“I want to break up and get all my money back…” she sobbed.

“Break up? Fine. Sue me. I’ll pay whatever the court orders. If I’m still paying now, it’s because of our relationship.”

“Oh, and you accepted millions in gifts. Let’s see what the internet or your family would say if that got out.”

Qin Wangshu: “I converted them into cash and gave it to you!”

Jia Xu: “Proof? I’ll just say I gave you cash abroad and you wired it back online.”

Qin Wangshu stared at him in disbelief.

That day, Jia Xu had a lucky streak and won a little. Seeing her close to a breakdown, he casually transferred her some money.

“There, see? You act like I’m really broke.”

Qin Wangshu seemed dazed, lips trembling uncontrollably.

Jia Xu sighed. “My project’s finally doing well and you’re freaking out. Can’t handle any risk. You just don’t trust me enough.”

“Alright, baby. If we’re gonna be together, you can’t be so timid.”

Qin Wangshu was silent for a long time.

“…I’m sorry,” she said.

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