Chapter Ten: Overturning the Underground Casino

Chapter Ten: Overturning the Underground Casino

Xu Yun looked at Qiangzi without saying a word, but his gaze made it clear he was definitely going.

“Brother Yun, the Sirius Casino is a Four Wolves Gang venue. It’s a real wolf’s den!” Qiangzi swallowed nervously. “You’re not actually planning to… Brother, maybe we should talk it over again? See if there’s another way?”

“You eat, I’m full.” Xu Yun had already stood up. “Where is it?”

Qiangzi truly didn’t want to say. He worried that Xu Yun wouldn’t be able to handle the Four Wolves Gang alone, but he had no guts to take his own men against them either. With just a handful of his own guys, the Four Wolves Gang could crush them with a finger.

“Bowen Street.” In the end, Qiangzi couldn’t resist Xu Yun’s determined gaze.

Before leaving, Xu Yun ordered two more bags of beer and three pounds of barbecue for Qiangzi and the others. The group felt genuinely uneasy. Xu Yun had always been loyal to them, but they couldn’t afford to offend the Four Wolves Gang. They were tormented by their own indecision.

Bowen Street was a famous alley near the old city of Wenhui District. The brightest spot on the street was the orange neon sign of a health goods shop, followed by rows of hair salons masquerading as legitimate businesses.

Though the city’s crackdown on vice and crime was intense, these salons were like wild grass—no matter how many times you burn them, they keep growing back.

“Hey handsome, alone tonight? Come in for a wash?” Every salon doorway had a streetwalker calling out to Xu Yun with sultry charm.

Xu Yun walked from the south end of Bowen Street to the north, but saw no mahjong parlors or arcade halls—let alone a casino. Left with no other option, he stepped up to a salon to ask around.

“Handsome, come in if you want. A massage to relax—our girls are young and pretty, guaranteed to satisfy!” The heavily made-up woman cooed as she sidled up to him.

Xu Yun raised his hand to block her, asking boldly, “Is it free?”

“Tsk, you wish! If you’re a virgin, should we give you a red envelope?” Seeing Xu Yun’s modest attire, she lost interest.

Xu Yun took a hundred yuan from his wallet and waved it. “I just want directions.”

Her eyes lit up, and she took the money without hesitation. “If you’re on Bowen Street and not here for girls, you must be here to gamble, right?”

Xu Yun nodded, concise and direct. “Where’s the Sirius Casino?”

She pointed to a nearby billiard hall. “In the southeast corner of that hall there’s a hidden door. Go in, then down one flight, and you’ll find the Sirius Casino. Handsome, remember to come play at my place if you win big!”

Xu Yun ignored her and strode toward the billiard hall.

The hall wasn’t large—just six tables. Seven or eight young men played listlessly, but when Xu Yun entered, all eyes locked onto him. Shirts off, tattoos of dragons and tigers—none of them looked remotely respectable.

Xu Yun said nothing, heading straight for the southeast corner where the restroom was. Sure enough, next to it was a hidden door matching the wall’s wallpaper, just as the woman had said.

As Xu Yun prepared to enter, several young men dropped their cues and closed in. One, chest tattooed with a wolf's head, looked fierce and menacing. “What are you doing? If you’re not playing, get out!”

Xu Yun pointed to the hidden door. “I want to play a few hands.”

“Play what? Who told you there’s anything to play in there? Get lost before I make you!” The wolf-head youth frowned, clearly suspicious.

After all, this was a gambling spot, and Hedong City was no Las Vegas. Casinos here were strictly underground; if not run carefully, the police could shut them down any time. So strangers couldn’t just walk in to gamble.

“I’m a friend of Lu Bao. He’s out of cash, sent me to bring some.” Xu Yun patted his pocket.

The wolf-head youth relaxed. Looking for Lu Bao—he’d just brought ten thousand to pay his debts today, now he’d found a wealthy new friend.

“Come with me.” The wolf-head youth jerked his head, and another lackey sensibly closed the hall’s door.

Led by the wolf-head youth and his crew, Xu Yun entered the Sirius Casino.

Inside was a cacophony of voices—at least a hundred gathered to gamble! Despite its grand name, it was nothing like what Xu Yun had seen in Las Vegas. At best, it was an underground den.

But small as it was, it had everything: baccarat, blackjack, French roulette, pai gow, five-card stud, big-and-small, slot machines, mahjong—if you wanted it, they had it.

“Lu Bao only paid half his debt, so I locked him up.” The wolf-head youth signaled his men to keep an eye out for cheats, then led Xu Yun further in. “What are you to him, paying his debt?”

Xu Yun sighed. “I’m his brother.”

“Brotherly love, huh.” As they entered a narrow passage, the wolf-head youth pulled out a key and opened a heavy iron door, stepping inside.

Xu Yun entered and immediately saw Lu Bao tied to a chair, mouth stuffed with a rag. On the table before him was a stack of cash—about ten thousand.

Seeing the wolf-head youth bring Xu Yun in, Lu Bao instantly panicked, eyes wide with terror, mumbling frantically.

“No need to get so excited seeing your brother,” the wolf-head youth sneered. “He’s here to pay your debt. You get to keep your fingers today.”

“Mmmph mmph!” Lu Bao tried desperately to spit out the rag.

The wolf-head youth yanked it out. “What the hell are you trying to say?”

“Brother Sanpao, yesterday he beat up Liangzi and his crew, and this afternoon Brother Wei Si got taken down by him! He’s the one seeing the herbal cuisine shop owner!” Lu Bao stammered in terror, staring at Xu Yun.

The wolf-head youth was instantly shocked. He hadn’t expected Wei Si and thirty men would get taken down by this kid this afternoon!

Xu Yun gently closed the iron door. “You stole seven thousand, and I’ll treat the other three as payment for the broken glass. Either you come with me to the police station, or I’ll have the police come here and take you. Choose.”

Lu Bao shivered in fear, unable to move with his bindings. “Brother Sanpao, you have to help me!”

“Hmph. You think you can walk out of here with the money?” The wolf-head youth sneered. “Let me show you what a wolf’s den is!” With that, he slammed the room’s alarm button.

Immediately, the entire casino erupted in chaos. Staff rushed to open hidden doors for gamblers to escape, while others grabbed iron pipes and steel rods, charging over.

“What a chaotic dog’s nest,” Xu Yun smirked, locking the heavy iron door behind him. With a forceful twist of his wrist, he bent the handle—now no one could open it from either side.

The wolf-head youth was furious, but couldn’t help being shocked at Xu Yun’s strength.

...

Bang! Bang! Clatter!

Thudding and cursing rang out from outside for a minute, but no one could open the door. With Sanpao inside, those outside were anxious.

Boom!

With a thunderous crash, the whole iron door came down, revealing a shocking footprint. Sanpao, chest tattooed with a wolf’s head, was tossed out like a dead dog. Most of his teeth were knocked out, nose crooked, brow split, his face a bloody mess, convulsing—no one could imagine what had happened inside.

Xu Yun clapped his hands and strolled out, smiling. “Anyone else want to die?”

The guy standing at the front, oblivious to danger, howled and swung his club at Xu Yun. Xu Yun stepped left, right fist spinning out with explosive force—a direct blow to the chest sent the man flying five meters, landing with a dull thud, silent.

What a heavy punch!

Everyone stared, realizing why even the formidable Sanpao had been beaten so badly.

“Next.” Xu Yun bent his fingers, a taunting smile on his lips. “Or maybe you’d all like to come together?”

Ah, ya, howl, wail...

After a chorus of screams, Xu Yun stood easily among the kneeling crowd and took out his phone. “Hello, Wenhui District Police Station? I’d like to speak to Officer Qin.”

Qin Wan’er was working overtime, determined to solve the case before Xu Yun. When she heard someone call the police asking for her, she suspected the caller was crazy. “This is she. Who are you?”

“Your voice sounds even better in person than on the phone,” Xu Yun chuckled. “Officer Qin, working late? Got any leads on the theft case?”

“Xu Yun?!” Qin Wan’er immediately recognized him. “Why is it you? Are you insane? Calling the police just to chat?”

Xu Yun tutted. “I’m bored! I’m calling to report a crime—there’s illegal gambling at the billiard hall on Bowen Street. Come quickly.”

“If you dare lie to me, you’re dead!” Qin Wan’er scowled.

“Believe it or not.” Xu Yun hung up.

Qin Wan’er stomped her foot in anger. “Damn Xu Yun! Just wait!”

Now, Qin Wan’er put aside her investigation, dressed quickly, and prepared to head out. Bowen Street was notorious—a place Wenhui locals called Gambling and Prostitution Alley. Despite repeated crackdowns, the problems persisted.

So she couldn’t afford to doubt Xu Yun’s words. Whether true or false, she’d check it out. If Xu Yun dared deceive her, she’d teach him a lesson!