bookbashuk Chapter 341 Clearing Out and Being Cleared Out
Chapter 341 Clearing Out and Being Cleared Out
Unlike the bustling lobby outside, the VIP lounge at the Aidu Hotel offered a more private and tranquil atmosphere. The heavy velvet carpet absorbed most of the noise, leaving only the soft clatter of chips and the rustling of cards. The air was filled with the rich aroma of fine cigars and a subtle scent of perfume.
Lin Yan followed Lin Yi and Lin Er in, his gaze sweeping over several green gambling tables before finally settling down at a blackjack table. He was well aware that without using any cultivation techniques, relying solely on luck, he would likely lose so badly he'd question his existence. So he simply sat down next to Lin Yi, his posture relaxed, completely detached and simply there to watch the spectacle.
Lin Yi and Lin Er were different. They usually faced tedious reports and documents and were never free all year round. Today, they came to relieve the pressure by betting on the big cards. They exchanged an astonishing amount of chips, but they did not make a show of it when betting. Every call and stop was based on quick and accurate mental calculation, as if they could see through every card that had not yet been dealt in the shoe.
The dealer was an experienced middle-aged man with excellent facial expression control, but as time went on, fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on his forehead. The two brothers, who looked alike and were dressed in suits, worked together seamlessly, and the chips in front of them piled up at a steady and terrifying speed.
Lin Yan listlessly swirled the crystal glass in his hand, the ice cubes making a crisp sound. He showed no excitement about winning money, nor did he participate in decision-making; he only occasionally quipped, "Nice!" when Lin Yi was winning big.
His appearance made him seem less like a high-roller and more like a rich young master brought out by his brother to broaden his horizons, yet showing little interest in gambling itself—a most carefree and infuriating "cheerleader."
The casino manager had already appeared discreetly in the corner, a professional smile on his face, but his gaze kept sweeping over Lin Yan's table as he quickly assessed the risks and rewards. Lin Er noticed this gaze, looked up to meet it, smiled slightly, and then focused on the game again.
Time slipped by unnoticed. The chips in front of Lin Yi and Lin Er had piled up like a mountain, roughly estimated to have already exceeded one million Hong Kong dollars. Their precise calculations and calm betting not only made the dealer sweat profusely, but also finally attracted the attention of the person in charge.
A middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit, with a friendly smile but shrewd eyes, walked over, followed by two attendants. He was none other than Stanley Ho's brother-in-law from his second wife—Lan Huaying.
"Gentlemen, you're on a winning streak!" Lan Huaying smiled and cupped her hands, personally handing over two cigars. Her tone seemed enthusiastic, but it actually carried a hint of probing and warning. "Are you having a good time in Aidu? The gambling table is unpredictable. Sometimes it's best to quit while you're ahead and go home safely with your profits. That's true happiness in the long run."
His words were a common underworld tactic of "discouraging" Lin Yi and Lin Er to leave with their winnings and maintain a dignified appearance.
However, Lin Yi and Lin Er had been in charge of the Lin Group for many years, and their aura of authority was far beyond that of ordinary people in the martial arts world. They had finally managed to accompany their young master out to relax and were having a great time when they were treated like easy targets, which made them unhappy.
Lin Yi didn't even lift his eyelids, but simply tapped the table lightly with his slender fingers, signaling the dealer to continue dealing cards. Lin Er then slowly cut open his cigar, lit it, took a puff, and then glanced at Lan Huaying through the rising smoke with a condescending indifference, as if looking at an ignorant subordinate.
"What is your surname, sir?" Lin Er asked lazily.
"My surname is Lan!"
"Mr. Lan, right? Since we brothers are sitting here, we naturally know the rules of the casino. What, you're so eager to do business that you can't afford to lose?"
These words were utterly blunt, directly putting Lan Huaying in a difficult position. The smile on his face instantly froze, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes. Having lived in Hong Kong and Macau for so many years, he had never encountered such a rude outsider.
"Hehe, sir, you jest. When you're in business, you have to accept the consequences of your bets." Lan Gang chuckled twice, but his tone turned cold. "I'm just reminding you both that the waves are too high, and sometimes the boat capsizes, which isn't a pretty sight."
Lin Yi finally spoke, his voice as cold as ice: "Our ship is perfectly stable. No need to worry."
Lan Gang's face darkened completely. He could tell that these two were no ordinary high rollers; their demeanor was undeniable. But if they were allowed to continue winning, not to mention the casino's losses, his Lan family's reputation would be ruined tonight.
"Good! Very good!" Lan Huaying nodded, no longer pretending, her eyes turning sinister. "Since you two don't give me any face, then don't blame me, Lan, for being ruthless."
He took a step back and gave a wink to the casino manager who was already waiting nearby.
The casino manager immediately understood and, accompanied by several burly, menacing-looking security guards, surrounded them, speaking in a forceful tone:
"Excuse me, gentlemen, we suspect you of cheating! Please leave immediately, or don't blame us for being impolite!"
Clear the area! Get everyone out!
Conflict was imminent. Lin Yan, who had been sitting leisurely to the side, finally raised his eyes, his gaze slightly brightening.
Here comes the fun!
Seeing Lan Huaying's expression darken, the casino manager immediately understood and turned to the other guests in the VIP room, forcing a professional smile: "Gentlemen, I'm really sorry, we need to take care of some personal matters here. Tonight, all your meals are on the house. Please do us this favor."
Those who could play cards in the VIP room were no ordinary people, and seeing this, they all got up and left. As soon as the last guest stepped out of the room, the heavy solid wood door was gently closed, separating the inside from the outside into two worlds.
"Please ask these gentlemen to leave!" The manager's voice suddenly turned cold.
Six burly men responded to the call and pounced on the figure beside the card table like wolves and tigers.
Lin Yi and Lin Er stood up at the same time, loosening their ties simultaneously. This action, placed in the tense atmosphere of the casino, carried a hint of menace.
The first security guard to rush in front of Lin Yi threw a punch straight at his face, but Lin Yi dodged the blow, grabbed the guard's wrist with his right hand and pressed it down, while his left knee struck the guard's abdomen like lightning. The guard groaned and collapsed to the ground.
Almost simultaneously, a muffled thud came from Lin Er's side. Another security guard was slammed hard onto the gambling table with an over-the-shoulder throw, the green tabletop cracked open, and chips scattered all over the floor.
The other four exchanged glances and attacked simultaneously. Lin Yi, instead of retreating, advanced, delivering a precise chop to the neck of the first man. With his other hand, he deflected a punch coming from the side and twisted the opponent's arm behind his back. The crisp sound of bones cracking was enough to make one's teeth ache.
Lin Er ducked and swept his leg, knocking one of the security guards down. Before the man could land, he punched the last security guard in the chin. The man tumbled halfway through the air and crashed heavily at Lan Huaying's feet.
The whole process took no more than ten breaths.
The casino manager's sinister grin hadn't faded before it turned to terror. He instinctively backed away, but Lin Er stepped forward, grabbed him by the back of the neck, and slammed him hard onto the card table.
"You..." Lan Huaying was about to speak when he was slapped to the ground. Lin Yi's leather shoe was already stepping on his face, pressing his head hard onto the carpet.
"Can you speak properly now?" Lin Er's voice remained calm, but his grip tightened, twisting the manager's face in agony on the green table. "Who gave you the audacity to spoil our fun?"
Lin Yi rubbed the sole of his shoe against Lan Huaying's face: "Mr. Lan, right? Tell me, what other tricks do you have up your sleeve?"
The two people pinned to the ground struggled desperately, but seemed rooted to the spot, unable to move. Lin Yan, who had been watching the spectacle from the sidelines, finally put down his crystal glass, a slight smile playing on his lips:
"That's more like it."
Lin Yan finally stood up from the sofa. He had somehow acquired a glass of chilled white wine in his hand, with cold water droplets condensing on the glass.
He walked over to a bodyguard who was lying on the ground pretending to be dead, having just regained some consciousness. The next second, Lin Yan flicked his wrist, and the entire glass of ice-cold liquor mixed with ice splashed all over the bodyguard's face.
"Hiss!" The biting cold startled the bodyguard, who jolted open his eyes and coughed violently. He looked up in bewilderment and fear, only to see the boy who had been sitting next to him looking at him mockingly.
"Stop playing dead. I'm giving you a chance to call for backup."
The bodyguard was stunned and didn't react for a moment.
Lin Yan patiently added, "Go call the person who really makes the decisions at this casino. Or, you can call the person behind this Mr. Lan." He pointed to Lan Huaying, who was being trampled under Lin Yi's feet.
"Pass on a message," Lin Yan said, leaning slightly forward, his smile unchanged, but his words sent a chill down the spines of the manager and Lan Huaying on the ground. "I'm giving them an hour and a half. If they're more than a minute late, I'll chop off one of their fingers. After that, I'll chop off their toes. Understand?"
The bodyguard trembled. Seeing Lin Yan's serious expression, he scrambled to his feet and rushed out of the VIP room in a disheveled state, without even the courage to look back.
A brief silence returned to the VIP room, broken only by the heavy, fearful breathing of Lan Huaying and the casino manager. Lin Yan walked back to his chair and sat down again.
The pressure of the countdown enveloped the entire space.