Gray hair. It wasn’t silvery gray. Just the pure gray touched by age.

  A high bun collected most of these gray tendrils, but it left enough to form flowing bangs that braided themselves at the tips.

  In between these locks of gray hair, what anyone expected next was the wrinkly face of a grandma.

  But instead…

  Her skin was milky smooth. Her lips glossy pink.

  These were matched by an exquisite nose and striking gray-blue eyes that were slitted like a fox’s.

  It was an alluring wonder untouched by age!

  This was a face with zero signs of wear and tear, but what was uncovered next was even more shocking!

  When the outer shell kissed the ground, what stood there was an hourglass carrying idyllic snow capped mountains.

  A fragile elderly figure? No. It was a statuesque and picturesque model!

  Words alone can’t do justice to her beauty.

  Many beauties have entered Bubai’s eyes, but rarely were any classified in the peerless class.

  Here was yet another.

  A whistle snapped Bubai back to reality. What met him was the grinning faces of the rest.

  "Hey, hey! Surprised? Most are just like you when seeing her for the first few times. Can’t blame ya, my old lady still has it in her! Gahahaha!"

  Tai Yinshe’s cackle was as brittle as dry leaves, until it cracked altogether.

  His age was definitely getting to him.

  After all, the age gap was real!

  Seriously, this “old lady” didn’t look a day over thirty, and the charm radiating from her was almost intoxicating.

  Bubai quickly pulled back his gaze that strayed once again. See no evil. Hear no evil. Speak no evil. Amitabha.

  Reading Bubai’s reaction, the old man chortled and wheezed out.

  "Hey, hey, can't help it, right? Let me tell you, back then, it was worse. More than a century ago, when these old bones was but a wee little devil, she was already known as a heartless, walking disaster—"

  Before he could go on, Jia Shizi cut in, "Old Snake, we’re not here to listen to you drone on about the past again. Just get the introductions over with. Don't want to miss the main event, now, do we?"

  "Aye, aye."

  Tai Yinshe sighed and laid his sleazy eyes on Bubai. "Just for you, little friend. My old lady. Leng Meng."

  Sitting stiffly, Bubai politely nodded back while trying his best not to sneak a peek at the historic statue behind the old man.

  Yes, she’s drop dead gorgeous, but based on the hints dropped, she really was an old baba!

  How did age catch up to her hair but not her skin?

  Um, this is a world of cultivation. Anything was possible.

  Ahem.

  The old man raps his knuckles against his chair’s armrest. "Now that we're all done... little friend, isn’t it about time you introduced the lady behind you?"

  All eyes fell on the crimson-haired beauty hugged by a black qipao.

  Lounging comfortably in his seat, Mo Tianhe suddenly piped up. "Oh, I know her."

  The eyes that had just been on the rose now darted over to him.

  Casually resting his chin in his hand, Mo Tianhe smiled like a cat about to toy with its prey.

  "I remember seeing her fairly often, passing through my clan and the palace. If my memory serves me correctly, you must be Miss Hong under our clan’s… honorary Elder Ma, no?"

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  The reveal stirred immediate flattery from the upright men.

  "Hey, hey, no wonder, no wonder! Aye, only an esteemed elder could be worthy of a beauty like you!"

  Bushy beard was quick to add his own praise, "Yes, yes... it’s truly rare to see someone of this standard out here."

  "Em! It’s a lifetime of fortune for us to be blessed with your presence today!"

  Their praises let her rosy lips bloom into a charming smile and even her head was held higher by a few inches.

  If only somebody would notice the sarcasm.

  Wearing a grin sharp like a knife sheathed in velvet, Jia Shizi gave the shoulder of the rose’s owner a hearty pat.

  "Hah, I never knew Brother Mo here has such a close relationship with your elder."

  Bubai gave a sheepish smile, deflecting the barbed words with humbleness.

  "Where, where? I’m just a little junior in front of his esteemed self. Just like a grain of sand in the desert."

  Tai Yinshe’s wheezing voice resurfaced.

  "Hey, hey, little friend, there’s no need to be so humble since Old Lion has spoken highly of you. These old bones can’t wait to share insights with you like everybody else."

  A weird, knowing grin passed from face to face around the seats, and it made Bubai feel as if ants were crawling up his spine.

  Oh no, here it comes...

  Jia Shizi exchanged a sly glance with the bald cousin at his side.

  As if they had rehearsed for this very moment, Lucky Seven grinned and dug into his storage pouch, pulling out a few objects Bubai had some unfortunately familiarity with.

  Three dice and a dice cage.

  Lucky Seven gave the cage a shake, letting the dice sound rattle everyone’s bones.

  "Em. Since the challenges haven’t started yet, how about we play some dice to pass the time?"

  “Cousin, great idea!” “Hey, hey, why not?” “I’m bored anyways.”

  A chorus of agreement rippled through the group until all attention landed on the only silent one.

  Bubai forced a wry smile, trying to find a polite way out. "My background’s pretty common… it’s not really suitable for gambling."

  His attempt to bow out earned him a scoff from Jia Liang, and the lion’s claws clapped his shoulder again, more firmly this time.

  "Come on! A true brother shouldn’t be a spoil sport. If Brother Mo is worried about shallow pockets, you don’t have to! Between us brothers, we don’t gamble money. You won’t lose a thing. It’s all just for a fun time!"

  “Aye, little friend, it’s not like a little fun will hurt anyone.”

  “Em. Em. Just listen to elder cousin Shizi, Senior Brother Bubai. Nothing will go wrong.”

  The warmth of their camaraderie was like the heat of a desert sun—deceptive, with a bite beneath its surface.

  If these guys can really play an honest game of dice, Bubai will eat his own stinking boots!

  Reading the skeptical look on Bubai’s face, the devil put on honest lion face.jpg.

  "Trust me, Brother Mo! When have I, Jia Shizi, ever led you astray?"

  Inside, Bubai cringed. Multiple times! Every time, you conniving old devil!

  But feeling all the men’s eyes pinning him down like iron nails, Bubai could only curse internally and squeeze out a reluctant smile. "Fine. How do we play?"

  The devil’s grin stretched further, and he tossed a glance toward Jia Hu. "Same rules?"

  The bald egghead nodded, "Em, let’s keep it simple. Everyone rolls once per round. The lowest roll loses, and the highest is the king. As for the stakes..."

  He paused, rolling his eyes around slyly before settling on a suggestion that made Bubai’s stomach drop. "How about the loser’s partner must swallow the king’s load once?"

  Nani?! Bubai’s internal voice practically reeled.

  Why did the starting point get blown off course to a full-blown course?!

  Don’t games like these start light and easy?! What happened to all the cliché clothes peeling stages in between?!

  To jump right into the line of fire...

  Oi Merlin! This isn’t what he signed up for!

  Wanting to delay time, Bubai couldn’t help but blurt out, "Sorry, I have to go up on stage later, so I need to preserve my condition in tip-top shape—"

  Bubai’s half-baked excuse was cut short by a heavy slap on the back that almost knocked him over, courtesy of Jia Shizi.

  "Haha! Yes, and what better way to warm up than with women? That’s it! It’s decided!"

  Madness. Just madness! There’s no way this is going to end well…

  A familiar, prickling sensation washed over Bubai.

  It was a sure sign that he was now coated in someone’s spiritual sense.

  Jia Shizi clapped his hands and declared, "As the host, I’ll officiate to keep things fair. In exchange, everybody knows what I want."

  Jia Liang flashed a sinister grin at the prey trapped in his snare. "Yeah, I’ll make sure she coughs up every last drop for elder cousin afterward."

  Lucky Seven chimed in with a gleeful smirk. "Second that!"

  Mo Tiange leaned back, nodding lazily. "No problem here."

  Even the grandpa added with mock reluctance, "Hey, hey, I usually stick to the old price, but this time, consider it my loss."

  Bubai almost wanted to smack some sense into these shameless folks!

  Bloody Merlin, everyone here is just willingly being this devil’s essence generator?! Just what are they thinking?!

  Bubai didn’t have much time to complain because he was knocked back into reality by the first call out.

  "Em?! 6, 6, 5! Seems I’m lucky enough to be first today!"

  “Watch me!” The bushy-bearded Jia Liang snatched the dice cage and gave it a confident shake.

  But when the numbers settled, his face soured. "4, 3, 2. Curses."

  He passed the cage along with a scowl.

  Mo Tianhe waved lazily for Keiko at his side to shake for him.

  The dice rattled inside the cage, and when the result was uncovered, he grumbled, "5, 3, 5. Middle-ground. Boring."

  Next, the old Tai Yinshe cackled, rubbing his hands together.

  "Hey, hey, watch and learn, youngsters. These old bones still have some tricks."

  He gave the cage a confident shake, but when the numbers was uncovered, his face froze.

  "1, 2, 3? Bah, cursed Lady Luck! Aye, looks like this round’s mine."

  Jia Shizi chuckled. "Don’t give up hope, old snake. You never know. After all, there’s still one more."

  The cage was passed down the circle to the dull-faced Bubai.

  All eyes locked on him with expectant glimmers, including the glare on his back that really kicked at his conscience.

  Seeing no rattling, the devil leaned closer. "Go ahead and roll, Brother Mo. Or… do you want someone else to help you?"

  A heavy sigh bubbled up within Bubai. No choice, huh?

  With a resigned face, Bubai gave the dice cage a casual shake…

  Click. Clak. Clak. Clak.

  The dice settled. All eyes zeroed in on the slowly opening cage…

  And the number was...