Rebirth Immortal-Chapter 76: The Gamble of Life and Death

Qin Hao left Old Ghost's teahouse with a storm brewing in his mind. The Shadow Syndicate had taken notice of him, and now, before he could gather more information, he had to complete this task—retrieve a jade ring from Liu Zhen.

"An illegal casino," Wu Gang muttered as they got into the SUV. "That means tight security, plenty of hidden guards, and probably a few dirty cops on their payroll."

Bao Lei tapped his fingers against the dashboard. "And we don't even know what the ring looks like or where it is."

Qin Hao's eyes were sharp as he said, "We don't need to know. Liu Zhen does. And we'll make him tell us."

Wu Gang smirked. "Sounds like a plan. But getting inside won't be easy."

"Then we don't sneak in," Qin Hao said coldly. "We walk in like we own the place."

Bao Lei and Wu Gang exchanged glances. It was crazy—but then again, Qin Hao had never been the type to play things safe.

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The "Dragon's Den" casino was a fortress of flashing lights, hidden weapons, and ruthless men. It operated under the radar, where high-stakes games were played with money, power, and even lives.

Qin Hao adjusted his suit as he stepped out of the SUV. Bao Lei and Wu Gang followed closely, both dressed sharply, their eyes scanning the area for threats.

A doorman eyed them suspiciously. "Members only," he said, blocking the entrance.

Qin Hao pulled out a thick envelope of cash and stuffed it into the man's pocket. "Now we are."

The doorman hesitated for only a second before stepping aside. "Enjoy your night."

Inside, the air smelled of expensive liquor and cigar smoke. Golden chandeliers cast a dim glow over round tables where gamblers whispered and laughed, their eyes gleaming with either hope or desperation.

At the far end, behind a guarded VIP section, sat Liu Zhen. He was a short, heavyset man in a silk robe, a cigar in one hand and a woman in the other. He laughed loudly, his gold rings flashing under the lights.

Qin Hao walked straight toward him.

The guards moved to stop him, but before they could react, Bao Lei and Wu Gang stepped forward, showing the butts of their guns.

Liu Zhen's laughter died as he noticed the approaching trio. His eyes narrowed. "Who the hell are you?"

Qin Hao pulled out a chair and sat across from him. "I'm here for a ring."

Liu Zhen chuckled, but there was no humor in it. "You think you can just walk in here and demand something from me?"

Qin Hao leaned forward, his voice calm. "I don't think—I know."

The room tensed. The guards reached for their weapons, but Liu Zhen raised a hand, stopping them.

He studied Qin Hao, then smirked. "You have guts. I like that. But if you want the ring, you have to play for it."

Qin Hao's eyes didn't waver. "What's the game?"

Liu Zhen snapped his fingers. A dealer brought out a fresh deck of cards.

"Blackjack," Liu Zhen said, grinning. "Simple. One round. If you win, I'll give you the ring. If you lose... you leave with nothing."

Bao Lei frowned. "Boss, this smells like a trap."

Qin Hao didn't blink. "Let's play."

The dealer shuffled the cards. Liu Zhen smiled as he received his first two—an eight and a king. Eighteen. A strong hand.

Qin Hao turned his cards over—a nine and a seven. Sixteen. A weak hand.

Liu Zhen laughed. "Tough luck, kid. Want to hit?"

Qin Hao's expression didn't change. "Hit me."

The dealer slid another card toward him. A five.

Twenty-one.

Liu Zhen's smile vanished.

Qin Hao leaned back. "I believe that means I win."

Liu Zhen's fingers twitched, but then he forced a grin. "Well, well. You got lucky." He snapped his fingers. "Bring the ring."

A guard returned a moment later with a small, jade ring in a black box. Liu Zhen slid it across the table. "Take it. But remember, luck doesn't last forever."

Qin Hao picked up the ring, his grip firm. He didn't reply. Instead, he stood, motioning for Bao Lei and Wu Gang to follow.

They left without looking back.

But as they stepped outside, Qin Hao spoke in a low voice.

"Be ready."

The moment Qin Hao and his men stepped out of the casino, the sound of gunfire shattered the night. Bullets whizzed through the air, shattering car windows and sending bystanders scrambling for cover.

"Ambush!" Wu Gang shouted, drawing his gun and taking cover behind a parked car.

Bao Lei reacted instantly, rolling behind a pillar and returning fire. The muzzle flashes lit up the dark street, and the sharp scent of gunpowder filled the air.

Qin Hao remained calm. He had expected Liu Zhen to pull something like this. That man was too greedy to let go of anything valuable so easily.

He ducked behind a car, quickly assessing the situation. The shooters were positioned on the rooftop of the casino and in the alley across the street. At least a dozen men.

"Liu Zhen must really want this ring," Bao Lei grunted as he reloaded. "What do we do?"

Qin Hao's eyes narrowed. "We send a message."

Without hesitation, he dashed out from cover, moving like a shadow. The enemy gunmen adjusted their aim, but he was too fast. He dove behind another vehicle, raised his gun, and fired two precise shots.

A man on the rooftop screamed as he fell.

"Keep them busy!" Qin Hao ordered.

Wu Gang and Bao Lei opened fire, forcing the enemy to duck behind cover. That gave Qin Hao the chance to slip through the alley, moving toward the building's back entrance.

He climbed up the fire escape swiftly, his every movement silent and precise. Reaching the rooftop, he found two gunmen reloading their rifles.

Before they could react, Qin Hao struck.

A brutal kick sent one man flying off the rooftop, his scream ending in a sickening thud. The second man turned, but Qin Hao's fist smashed into his face before he could pull the trigger. The man crumpled, unconscious.

Qin Hao picked up the fallen rifle and aimed downward. The remaining shooters were still focused on Wu Gang and Bao Lei.

Mistake.

Qin Hao fired. One. Two. Three.

The men in the alley collapsed before they even knew what hit them.

Liu Zhen's ambush had failed.

Back in the car, speeding through the city, Bao Lei let out a low whistle. "That was a hell of a fight. You knew he'd try to kill us, didn't you?"

Qin Hao nodded. "Men like Liu Zhen never let go of something valuable unless forced." He turned the jade ring over in his fingers, studying it.

Wu Gang glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "Is it just a normal ring, or is there something more to it?"

Qin Hao exhaled slowly. "Old Ghost wouldn't have sent us after it if it was ordinary."

There had to be something hidden inside it.

And whatever it was, it was important enough for someone to kill for it.