Medical Sage

In the game of Golden Flower, a ”bomb”—three cards of the same rank—is the highest possible hand. It is followed by a straight flush, a flush, a straight, a pair, and finally a high card. This meant the King-Queen-Ace of spades was the best possible flush, as well as the best possible straight flush!

Under normal circumstances, such a hand was so rare it might not appear once in hundreds, or even thousands, of rounds. The Filipino player was naturally confident in his cards and simply didn’t believe Chen Fei’s hand could be better. After all, Chen Fei was still playing blind, meaning he hadn’t even looked at his own cards.

”I’m in,” the dark-skinned Easterner said with a faint smile, his gaze briefly meeting the Filipino’s. He also followed the bet: ten million Australian dollars.

Aside from Chen Fei, the other four players were clearly working together. Of course, he would follow the bet. This was a classic team play, where the group would collectively raise the pot to build it up for one person. It also prevented Chen Fei from being able to force a showdown with either the Filipino or the accomplice, even if he looked at his cards.

In a five-player game of Golden Flower, there’s a rule that when three or more players are in the pot, no one can force a showdown for the first three rounds of betting. Furthermore, if any player looks at their cards when they were previously playing blind, the round count resets to zero.

In other words, even if Chen Fei picked up his cards now, decided his hand was strong, and wanted to call, he would have to wait three more rounds. He would need to bet ten million in each of those rounds before he could pay to force a showdown with one player. If he won that, he would have to pay another ten million to challenge the final remaining player.

By that calculation, Chen Fei would need to risk at least fifty-five million just to see all the cards currently on the table. If his hand wasn’t strong enough, he would lose at least fifty-five million in this round alone—assuming, of course, that he was willing to go that far.

”Continue,” Chen Fei said, and without even glancing at his cards, he casually tossed out another four million in chips. He was still playing blind.

”I’ll continue,” the Filipino player said with a cold smirk, brazenly throwing in ten million Australian dollars in chips. He held the best possible flush and straight flush—the King-Queen-Ace of spades. Why would he be afraid?

”Call,” the dark-skinned Easterner said, following along. He was just part of the team play, so he wasn’t worried about losing.

Observing this, the bald man, Scarface, who had folded long ago, felt a strange sense of unease. Logically speaking, as fellow world-class poker players from Nine Heavens of the Milky Way, he knew he was better than both the Filipino and the dark-skinned man, but he couldn’t question their skills.

While poker was a game of psychology, it was obvious the Filipino had a monster hand—a very, very strong one. Holding cards like that, he had no reason to worry.

”Again.”

”Call, ten million!”

”I’m in.”

Just as Scarface managed to suppress his anxiety, two more rounds flew by at the table between Chen Fei, the Filipino, and the dark-skinned man. Chen Fei was still playing blind, and the other two were still calling. The scene suddenly struck Scarface and the other accomplice as wrong.

They exchanged glances, and the other player shot a meaningful look at his two partners still in the hand. Although he didn’t know what cards the Filipino and the dark-skinned man held, if they somehow lost this hand, they would be down at least sixty million. If they kept calling and went to a showdown, they would lose even more.

”I’m still in.” Chen Fei played another blind bet, a mocking sneer touching the corners of his lips.

Are they kidding? Do these guys really think I, Chen Fei, came here to lose money? Get real. He was playing against them with a cheat engine active; if he still lost, he might as well find a block of tofu to smash his head on and save himself the embarrassment.

”I’ll continue to call.” The Filipino’s face had lost its confident, winner-take-all smile. It was replaced by a solemn, expressionless gaze. He wasn’t a fool, and he certainly didn’t think a man who bet tens of millions of Australian dollars as if it were pocket change was a fool either. But the problem was that he held a King-Queen-Ace straight flush of spades, a heavenly hand. He had no reason to believe he could lose, so folding was out of the question. He had to keep calling.

”I fold.”

After a long silence, the dark-skinned Easterner finally decided to fold. In reality, his hand was weak—just a small pair. He had already thrown over thirty million at this pot. If they won, fine, but if they lost… As a skilled poker player, he knew he had to control his emotions, analyze calmly, and act decisively. He could not let himself get carried away by impulse.

Realizing he couldn’t continue, he pulled out without a moment’s hesitation, even though he had already lost over thirty million and even though their team still had a very high chance of winning this hand.

”I’ll play blind again…” Chen Fei started to say with a faint smile, but the Filipino suddenly cut him off with a grin.

”Are you going to keep playing blind? This isn’t much fun anymore. How about a friendly reminder? My hand is pretty big. Why don’t you take a look at your cards first?”

Hearing this, Chen Yaoyang, standing behind Chen Fei, couldn’t help the strange, astonished look that appeared on his face. He couldn’t imagine why the Filipino, if he truly had a strong hand, would urge Chen Fei to look at his cards. Shouldn’t he be happy to let Chen Fei keep feeding him money? Was he actually scared to take such easy money?

What a formidable young man, the One-eyed Elder murmured to himself in sincere admiration. With his status and age, he had weathered more storms than most people had eaten meals. He could clearly see that Chen Fei had truly terrified his opponent.

He had noticed the subtle glances exchanged between the other players earlier. At that moment, he was certain the Filipino held a very strong hand. Yet now, Chen Fei had managed to intimidate him. He shook his head, the look of amazement on his face deepening. He had a feeling the opponent was doomed. No matter how powerful the hand he held, unless it was three Aces, he was absolutely going to lose.

”You say your hand is big? If it’s so big, why are you telling me? You must be trying to bluff me, right? You really think I’m a fool? I’ll keep playing blind!” Chen Fei suddenly laughed as if he’d discovered a little secret. He acted as if he truly believed the man was bluffing and unhesitatingly played another blind hand.

”You…”

At his words, it wasn’t just Ke Xiangdong and the bald man, Scarface, whose expressions changed. The Filipino player himself felt his heart lurch, and beads of cold sweat began to roll down his forehead, his face turning pale. It seemed he was finally starting to understand. The kid’s ”act” was so bad he could see right through it. But what did that mean? It meant his opponent was completely certain he had already won. Otherwise, he wouldn’t act like this, and he wouldn’t dare to keep playing blind.

A silence stretched on for nearly a minute. The silk handkerchief in the Filipino’s hand was soaked with sweat. DRIP. DRIP.

Ke Xiangdong’s face changed.

The bald man, Scarface’s face changed.

The dark-skinned Easterner and the other player’s faces both changed.

They all knew exactly what this meant. It meant the Filipino thought he might actually lose.

”Ten million. I’ll force a showdown,” the Filipino finally said, his lips trembling. His voice was hoarse as he stared intently at Chen Fei. As he spoke, he flipped over his cards. King-Queen-Ace! A straight flush—the King-Queen-Ace of spades!

And yet, with a hand like that, he had chosen to force a showdown. A showdown against Chen Fei’s blind hand!

”Jaro, what the fuck are you doing? You’re forcing a showdown with that hand?” Ke Xiangdong exploded, his face turning livid as he jumped up to question him. The dice games he had just hosted had already cost Nine Heavens of the Milky Way a full three hundred million US dollars! Now, when they finally had a chance to win some of it back, that Filipino pig Jaro was forcing a showdown with the best possible straight flush! Fucking hell… He was shaking with rage, feeling like smoke was about to pour from his ears. Did a door slam on your brain? Were you kicked by a donkey? Goddammit all...

”Wow, you’re challenging me with such a big hand? Just to be clear, I’m not on your team… Hey, wait, what’s this? A bomb! Three Fives! HAHAHA, I won! It looks like Lady Luck is really on my side! Hahaha!”

In the next moment, Chen Fei flipped his cards over and burst into raucous laughter. The three cards he revealed were, indeed, three Fives. A bomb of Fives! Of course, his acting was terrible, far too fake.

For him, the unique nature of his Spiritual Energy meant any gamble was like playing with the highest-level cheat engine. Things like seeing through cards were just child’s play. The real trick was swapping cards out of thin air.

So your King-Queen-Ace of spades is impressive? Fine, my bomb of three Fives should do the trick. Just enough to be a little bit bigger than yours. Perfect.

But even as he laughed so joyfully, looking like a complete amateur, no one in the room showed any hint of disdain or ridicule. Instead, a look of shock and profound awe had crept into the eyes of Chen Yaoyang and the One-eyed Elder.

As for the Filipino, Jaro, and the other players like the bald man, Scarface, their faces were ashen, their bodies trembling. They had finally realized it. Today, they had met a true master—a top-tier, terrifyingly skilled super-master. Otherwise, who would play a bomb of Fives to beat a King-Queen-Ace straight flush right off the bat? Did he think they were idiots?

At this thought, all four of them were drenched in sweat. Ke Xiangdong, meanwhile, was just staring into space, completely stunned.

Because he had lost again. Almost another hundred million.

Goddamnit all to hell…