CHAPTER 305: CHAPTER 296: FOUR CUBS AS THE BANKER_1

As the old Fox Beastman fell heavily to the ground, offering no resistance, a wave of murmurs and sighs passed through the Beastmen at the scene.

"How weak."

"That Fox Beastman is completely useless!"

"Exactly! The Delusional Domain is so weak, yet they still want to taunt the other side by proposing a one-against-three!"

"Come on, I’ll bet the Delusional Domain definitely loses. Anyone want in?"

"I also think they’ll lose, so I’m not betting against you on that."

No one thought the Delusional Domain could win?

"Can I bet with you? I bet the Delusional Domain wins," a crisp voice suddenly rang out.

The surrounding Beastmen heard the voice and looked down. They saw a cool little Snake Beastman with fluffy white hair and wheat-colored skin looking up at them, his face a perfect mask of "sincerity."

"You want to bet?" an adult Beastman asked, curiously eyeing the young cub.

"Kiddo, this is a game for grown-ups. Did your parents say you could play like this?"

"They did," Little Dongchi replied with a smile. "One on one. Let’s see how many Insect Crystals. If you win, I’ll give you that many Insect Crystals. But if you lose, all the Insect Crystals are mine. How about it?"

The adult Beastmen were intrigued. "Playing like that, huh? Little Snake cub, we’re definitely betting on the Merfolk Beastmen."

Dongchi said, "Perfect. We’re Snake Beastmen, so we’re betting on the Delusional Domain."

"Interesting, little guy, very interesting. But how much are you prepared to wager?"

Little Bei Ji cutely poked his head out from the side, holding a piece of beast-hide cloth. He shook it, and Insect Crystals spilled out.

The Beastmen were slightly surprised to see Green Insect Crystals fall out one by one; these young Snake Beastman cubs actually had some wealth! When one or two Red Insect Crystals tumbled out, the Beastmen were mildly astonished.

"That’s enough," Dongchi declared.

Bei Ji immediately tightened the beast-hide cloth, carefully putting the Insect Crystals back inside.

Dongchi added, "Our family does have some Insect Crystals. I imagine you grown-ups must have some too, right?"

The adult Beastmen laughed. "Of course, we have that many Insect Crystals."

Dongchi smiled with that same "sincere" expression. "So, do you grown-ups dare to play or not?"

One adult Beastman took out his own Insect Crystals—a total of three Red Insect Crystals.

Dongchi said, "That’s a bit low. But no matter, I’ll put up the same amount."

Then, they saw Bei Ji take out three Red Insect Crystals.

Dongchi announced, "If I win, these six Red Insect Crystals are all mine. If you win, they’re all yours."

How could they refuse money practically being handed to them? The adult Beastman almost felt the Insect Crystals beckoning him.

He grinned. "Alright."

Meanwhile, Xi Qing and Nan Mo were engaged in a similar transaction with two other Beastmen.

Xi Qing, with his refined features, lifted his small face and said directly, "Greetings, esteemed adults. We are young Snake Beastmen from the Delusional Domain, so we are definitely betting on our Domain. I have ten Green Insect Crystals here. Does anyone want to take that bet?"

"How could the Delusional Domain possibly win?!"

"Why wouldn’t we take Insect Crystals being handed to us?!"

"Look at that old Fox on the ground; he’s ridiculously weak."

"That Snake Beastman too—just one Purple Crystal Beastman. He doesn’t look impressive."

"At best, their Jin Jing Golden Dragon is a tiny bit more powerful. But it’s three against one; even a Golden Dragon can’t win that, right?"

"Kid, ten Green Insect Crystals, you say? I’m in! You’re practically giving me money, why wouldn’t I take it?!" an Anteater Beastman boomed.

"What’s your name?"

"A’Tun."

Xi Qing raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Very well. Nan Mo, jot this down: Anteater Beastman A’Tun bets ten Green Crystals on the Merfolk Clan Beastman to win!"

Nan Mo immediately took a sharp stone and began carving characters on a large, dark-colored rock. They had learned many characters by now, so making marks and writing some numbers was not a problem for them.

After that Beastman placed his bet, the other Beastmen, seeing their opportunity snatched away, were quite disappointed.

"He got it first!"

"I wanted to bet too!"

"Damn, it’s practically free Insect Crystals!"

"No one’s betting on the Snake Beastmen anymore, so we can’t make a wager either."

"Exactly. No one believes the Snake Beastmen can win."

Xi Qing cleared his throat twice. "We still have Insect Crystals, so we can continue to take bets. If you want to wager, you can add more."

Immediately, an adult Beastman raised his hand. "Me! I’ll bet five Green Crystals! I bet on the Merfolk Clan!"

"And me! Three crystals!"

"You’re too stingy! This is like picking up free money! You don’t want it?"

"But there are only a few young Snake Beastmen here. Aren’t you afraid they won’t honor the bet?"

"What’s there to fear? It’s not like we can lose. Three Green Crystals is just the price of a pot of intoxicating wine at the Delusional Tavern."

Xi Qing stood up straight, his small frame exuding confidence. "I am Xi Qing, a Snake Beastman of the Delusional Domain. I have the entire Delusional Domain backing me, and Si Yan the Sage will also vouch for my character. We won’t go back on our word, and you’d best not think about going back on yours with us!"

Xi Qing cautiously glanced at Si Yan. Although the four young snakes hadn’t informed their mother before doing this, young Xi Qing believed their mother would support them.

Si Yan, taking a moment from her tasks, glanced at Xi Qing’s group and then at Dongchi’s. She knew what the children were up to, acting as bookies at such a young age. With a mixture of helplessness and amusement, she nodded towards the crowd. The Delusional Domain betting on its own members was perfectly acceptable.

When the Beastmen saw Si Yan the Sage vouch for them, they all grew ecstatic.

"I’m betting! I’ll bet ten Green Crystals!"

"Si Yan the Sage is wealthy; I’m not worried she can’t cover the bets! Let’s take this bet with Si Yan the Sage! I’ll wager two Red Insect Crystals!"

When Dongchi heard the commotion from Xi Qing’s side, the young ones gathered together. Bei Ji and Nan Mo were diligently recording the wagers in the background, while the Beastmen kept piling Insect Crystals before them. Nearby, Tai Seng, She Ying, and She Chuan stood guard, quietly and vigilantly protecting the young ones. The betting fervor only grew:

"Your stakes are all too small! I’ll wager ten Red Insect Crystals!" yelled one Beastman.

"Six Green Crystals for me!" shouted another.

"I’m in too! Two Red Insect Crystals!"

...

Si Yan looked at the old Fox Beastman lying motionless on the ground, her expression complex.

No openings. Even after all this, he still hasn’t revealed himself?!

Si Yan clenched her beast-skin skirt.

Is he really Si Jie?! If he is, he’ll have to endure the beating and maintain his act, so he can’t be exposed now.

The old fox on the ground was still being attacked by the Merfolk Clan’s water orbs. The Emperor Snake Beastman looked at Si Yan, who nodded to him, her eyes filled with determination.

The Emperor Snake Beastman received Si Yan’s signal and, for now, gave up probing the old fox. He said calmly, his voice devoid of emotion, "Jin Tong, do you want to go up?"

Carrying a Bone Knife, Jin Tong replied excitedly, "I’ll go! Don’t you dare try to take this from me!"

The Beastmen in the crowd below started to jeer.

"Forget it, the first one was defeated so miserably."

"Just one Purple Crystal Beastman and one Golden Crystal Beastman, yet they insist on a one-against-three. If you don’t lose, who will?!"

"Get down, get down, get down!"

"The Merfolk Clan will win! The Merfolk Clan will definitely win!"

Below the stage, the Golden Dragon Beastman, Shi Bai, asked Jin Kun with a puzzled expression, "Third Young Master, if they’re fighting one by one, theoretically, the strongest usually goes last."

"The Snake Beastmen are letting Fifth Young Master go up, and he has no objections. Could it be that Snake Beastman is stronger than Fifth Young Master?"

Jin Kun also replied, baffled, "Yes, it’s strange. Why is Jin Tong going up first, instead of that Snake Beastman? Don’t they have any tactics? Are they just fighting haphazardly?"

Jin Tong, with youthful arrogance, wiped his nose.

They had already competed when scrambling for insects, and I knew I couldn’t beat She Wang even back then. What’s more, She Wang has since been to the Beast God’s Legacy. Upon his return, I could sense that this brother-in-law of mine had become even more formidable. This snake... he’s barely worthy of my precious sister, Si Yan. So, I don’t mind letting him be the vanguard.