Volume 1, Chapter 48: Waging My Life Against Yours

The shark’s expression instantly flickered between pale and flushed.

He had previously been willing to lend money to Chen Muzhi inside the casino entirely because this fellow kept boasting that his younger sister was a Divine Road player and could even accurately state her user ID.

The shark did have some connections within official circles.

With a brief investigation, he had indeed verified her identity, which was why he had been willing to lend Chen Muzhi the money.

Yet now, it turned out his sister was washing her hands of him?

Didn’t that mean Chen Muzhi was completely finished?

Would the tens of millions he had lent out go completely down the drain?

At this thought, there was no way the shark’s expression could remain pleasant.

"No, impossible! There must be some mistake!"

"The shark… Brother Qian, please don’t be upset, don’t be upset. My sister would never abandon me. She must be out there making money for me."

"Don't listen to the nonsense these two are spouting. As soon as I get in touch with my sister, I’ll definitely be able to pay you back..."

Chen Muzhi, having taken a slap from the Scarlet Pope, knelt on the ground with swollen cheeks and traces of blood visible at the corner of his mouth, speaking in a slurred voice.

Hearing this, a savage look flashed across the shark’s face as he glanced at the Scarlet Pope and Qin Shang.

"Do you two still have business here?"

"If not, let’s call it a day. I have some matters to attend to, and someone’s organs might still be worth a decent sum..."

The information brought by the Scarlet Pope seemed to have thoroughly displeased the shark as well.

Qin Shang narrowed his eyes.

He wasn't an idiot; Chen Muzhi had clearly dug his own grave.

Banking on his sister’s status as a Divine Road player, he had wanted to strike it rich in the real world.

Consequently, he had indulged in gambling, fallen into depravity, and stepped into the abyss step by step.

Loans, debts, completely unrepentant.

Even while owing tens of millions in massive debts, he had continued to live lavishly.

This was entirely evident from his current living conditions while imprisoned here by the shark.

The guy neither tidied up his room nor maintained his appearance, radiating a carefree attitude as if he could walk out at any second.

His genuine panic had only begun when he heard the Scarlet Pope mention that "Grandpa Niu" had already left China.

In other words, until this very moment, he didn't care about his sister's life or death.

Even when the Scarlet Pope said "Grandpa Niu" had committed a crime, Chen Muzhi hadn't bothered to ask for details, choosing instead to obsess over his own current predicament.

His very first thought wasn't about what might have happened to his sister, but rather: *Without my sister, who the hell is going to pay off my debts?!*

Qin Shang had a two-word evaluation for this kind of person.

Scum...

"Let's go!"

At that moment, the Scarlet Pope saw Qin Shang staring calmly at the collapsed Chen Muzhi, who was backing away frantically on the floor like a dog, and furrowed her brow in displeasure.

At this, Chen Muzhi clutched at Qin Shang as if grabbing the final straw of a life-saving rope.

"You—you know my sister, don't you? Tell him, tell them, my sister hasn't abandoned me..."

His pathetic state violently triggered something inside Qin Shang.

A memory suddenly surfaced in his mind: the time he had stood like a stray dog in front of the reporter who leaked his mother’s suicide note.

Begging, pleading with him to take down the story so his mother could leave with dignity.

He had tearfully explained everything to the reporter, claiming he had been completely unaware, that he had no idea his mother was under such immense pressure...

After his mother jumped to her death, online public opinion had turned completely one-sided, overwhelming him with mockery and ridicule.

People mocked why a mother who raised her own child could be so foolish.

Comments like: *"Are there really still people gullible enough to get scammed into pyramid schemes these days? Must have something wrong with their brain."*

*"Damn, an idiot mother raising an idiotic son. A product of failed family education, serves them right."*

*"Ever since I was little, I drilled into my son's head how hard parents have it. I have no idea what kind of parents could raise such a beast..."*

Everyone stood on a high horse, looking down and wantonly criticizing his mother's naivety.

Endless streams of comments flooded the internet.

His mother had never attended school; she was just an ordinary middle-aged woman with little awareness and minimal education.

In Qin Shang’s heart, being able to raise him all by herself after his father disappeared already made her the greatest person in the world.

He neither allowed nor wanted to see his mother—always gentle and serene in his heart—subjected to such cyberbullying after her death.

Every single word online had pierced deeply into Qin Shang's heart.

Back then, he, too, had been like a dog...

Kneeling on the ground, begging the reporter to take down the article.

Yet that reporter had agreed readily to his face, only to publish a brand-new follow-up article shortly after...

*[Three Views Shattered! Shocking Truth Behind the Woman Who Jumped to Her Death: It Stems from Her Son’s Contempt for Her Education Level]*

The reporter had frantically edited and pieced together their conversation, twisting it into an entirely different narrative.

He had painted Qin Shang as an utterly unfilial wretch and portrayed his mother as a hopeless depressive.

*"Beast, kids like this are born just to collect debts..."*

*"Goodness, no wonder they say people are born evil; looks like it's true."*

*"This student never got along with others on campus, I know some inside details..."*

*"He was always playing games on his classmates' phones. If your family is poor, you should focus on studying. I’ve got inside sources; word is this kid stayed up all night gaming, keeping his roommates awake."*

*"Damn, holding a prince's disease without a prince's fate. Don't you have any self-awareness about your family background? Your mom works so hard, yet you still don't know how to strive, playing games all day. Utterly self-destructive."*

Labels like loser, beast, and unworthy of being a son were slapped onto Qin Shang.

So much so that for a long time afterward, he began to harbor self-doubt.

*Mom... did you really get forced to your death by me?*

At this moment, looking at the Chen Muzhi before him, thousands of heavy hammers seemed to be pounding against Qin Shang's chest, stirring up his emotions.

How similar was this pathetic scene of begging on one's knees like a dog?

"Help me, help me, won't someone help me..."

Chen Muzhi's desperate wails echoed incessantly.

Because Qin Shang still hadn't left with the Scarlet Pope, the shark held off on taking further action.

To him, a low-level player was no different from an ant, but after all, this person was a Treasure Pavilion member personally acknowledged by the Scarlet Pope.

The Treasure Pavilion was the Scarlet Pope’s organization, boasting terrifying internal cohesion.

Becoming a member meant one had passed through the Scarlet Pope’s rigorous filtering process.

Acting rashly would easily provoke that woman.

Chen Muzhi’s fate was already sealed.

And that was precisely why Chen Muzhi wore an expression of terror and absolute despair right now.

Anyone who borrowed money from the shark and failed to pay it back ended up becoming a "magnificent organ donor."

Of course, whether the donation agreement was signed willingly by oneself, nobody knew.

Whether the recipient happened to magically match those exact organs by sheer coincidence...

Well... nobody knew that either.

Who could truly untangle the shady dealings hidden beneath it all?

Seeing Qin Shang looking down at him from above, meeting his calm gaze in absolute silence, Chen Muzhi’s expression finally twisted into utter ferocity.

Plunged into deep despair, he roared wildly.

"F*ck! You bunch of beasts, you bastards, you’re just wielding power! You're no different, Shark!"

"It’s nothing more than oppression, bullying us ordinary folks! How are you any different from the oppressive landlords of the old days?"

"All I wanted was to make some money to change my circumstances. What did I do wrong?!"

"You people, you bastards who got your hands on character cards, you don't know how lucky you are! If I had a channel to make money like that, I’d pull myself out of this situation in a heartbeat."

"That bitch Chen Muxin, actually ignoring her own brother!"

"That slut, and I was so good to her when we were kids. Knowing it would turn out like this, I should’ve strangled her in her crib."

"It’s unfair! This world is so damn unfair! If I were a Divine Road player, I’d slaughter the lot of you!"

"Why? Why don't I have a character card? Why am I not a Divine Road player..."

The next moment, the Scarlet Pope’s delicate brows furrowed. Her mood today was already terrible, and her cold eyes fell upon Qin Shang.

"Come with me..."

Before she could finish her sentence.

Suddenly, Qin Shang burst into laughter.

He stepped into the room, took two steps forward, and stood towering over him.

"Think it's unfair, do you?"

At these words, the hysterical Chen Muzhi froze. Then, he spat a bloody glob of saliva, which landed right on Qin Shang's pant leg.

His face twisted in mockery.

"That's right! It *is* unfair! This world is unfair!"

"It’s completely unfair to me! Becoming a Divine Road player and making money is as easy and effortless as playing a game. I merely gambled a little money, yet you people, rolling in wealth with millions passing through your hands every minute, want my life over it!"

"Just a few tens of millions? For you lot, that's just a matter of clearing a few instances. How hard can playing a game be?"

"You’re just abusing your power! You're just bullying people by riding someone else's coattails..."

Hearing this, Qin Shang grinned, revealing a row of brilliant, bright white teeth with a radiant smile...

Looking like an utterly carefree, sunny young man...

The Divine Road game wasn't hard?

A Divine Road game where lives were wagered wasn't hard?

He had entered the [Death Train] twice, and true death had been just a hair's breadth away from him.

If not for sheer luck, if not for him unravelling the rules...

Eight lives wouldn't have been enough for a single Death Train ride.

Yet in Chen Muzhi's eyes, becoming a player was instead a blessing favored by the Goddess of Fortune?

His sudden laughter stunned both the Scarlet Pope and the shark behind him.

At this moment, Qin Shang had his back to them, so no one could see his expression—except for Chen Muzhi.

"How about this then? I'll give you a chance."

"You really love gambling, don't you? Let's play a little game, shall we?"

"If you win, I'll give you twenty-five points. While it might not completely turn your current situation around..."

"As a gambler, twenty-five million in your hands is something you could win back with just a single all-in bet."

"All you're lacking right now is capital!"

"Your chance for a comeback... has arrived!"

"Play a game with me—win, and I'll hand over all my points to the shark, giving you a chance to buy your freedom. Lose, and give me your life!"

"Wager your life against mine. Deal?"

He was smiling, speaking these words with a smile.

Yet Chen Muzhi, kneeling on the floor, felt the eerie sensation of being locked onto by a cold, venomous snake, sending chills running down his spine.

His Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily, suppressing the sudden surge of doubt and unease in his heart.

He glanced briefly at the shark standing behind Qin Shang.

This development clearly exceeded the expectations of both the shark and the Scarlet Pope.

Death either way!

Since someone was offering money, why not take it?

Gambling didn't mean there was zero chance of a comeback.

His eyes instantly turned bloodshot as he clenched his fists tightly.

"Deal!"

"I'll wager my life against yours!"

Upon receiving Chen Muzhi's affirmative reply,

Qin Shang grinned, an enchanting, wicked amusement dancing in his eyes—like a Satan crawling out from the depths of hell, carrying an endless, bone-chilling coldness and profound darkness.

The Scarlet Pope, who had intended to leave all along, narrowed her eyes, turned back to look at Qin Shang's retreating back, and a hint of deep contemplation flickered in her gorgeous eyes.