The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human? Chapter 1434 - 865: The Heavenly Martial King’s Reward (Part 2)

The Heavenly Martial King spoke gently.

"If that’s the case, I wish to request the secret manual of the Inner Refining Thunder Technique from Your Majesty."

Liu Zheng pondered for a moment and said.

"The Marquis of Longevity’s martial arts skills are still shallow, far from reaching the level of the Inner Refining Thunder Technique. Here I have a few beginner manuals, which are unparalleled codes that strengthen the muscles and bones and enhance Qi-Blood, all can be bestowed upon the Marquis of Longevity. The path of martial arts is long, and it’s crucial to first lay a solid foundation."

The Heavenly Martial King advised earnestly.

"Your Majesty misunderstood, this is for a friend of mine..."

Liu Zheng explained about Ma Baoli’s situation.

"So that’s how it is, being so young and already able to refine the Five Thunders internally, indeed a prodigy."

The Heavenly Martial King praised.

"However, having a friend like the Marquis of Longevity is indeed a blessing from eight lifetimes for her."

He said half in jest, half in earnest.

"Your Majesty overpraises, meeting a sovereign like Your Majesty is the blessing of eight lifetimes for me."

Everyone supports each other, and Liu Zheng returned the compliment.

"Hahaha!!!"

The Heavenly Martial King laughed heartily, shaking the entire Observatory.

"In that case, being idle, why not have the Marquis of Longevity gamble a round with myself and the High Priest? If you win, we shall celebrate together with the High Priest."

After laughing, he said loudly.

"Sure."

Liu Zheng agreed readily.

"Since Your Majesty has such an interest, I will gladly oblige."

The High Priest also agreed.

"Then let the Marquis of Longevity decide the game to gamble on."

The Heavenly Martial King said generously.

"Let’s play ’Quick Run’, winner takes all in one round."

Liu Zheng thought for a moment and said.

"What kind of game is ’Quick Run’?"

The Heavenly Martial King asked curiously.

"It’s quite simple..."

Liu Zheng explained the game of ’Quick Run’ to them.

’Quick Run’ is a variant of ’Fight the Landlord’, but without the landlord.

As for the specific rules, in Liu Zheng’s hometown, they remove the Jokers, three 2s, three Aces, and a King, and each person gets fifteen cards. If you can play a card, you must; otherwise, you lose.

If the next player only has one card left, the previous player must play the highest single card when playing a single; otherwise, they also lose.

The first person to play all their cards wins.

Besides, there are many small rules that can be explained as the game progresses.

"Fine, as the Marquis of Longevity wishes."

The Heavenly Martial King agreed, and naturally, the High Priest had no objections.

Then the High Priest flourished his sleeve, and a set of exquisitely carved playing cards flew out.

These cards were made of wood, similar in size and thickness to real playing cards, but with different designs.

Liu Zheng shuffled the cards, the Heavenly Martial King cut them with a strand of light, and the High Priest dealt them.

He picked up his pile of cards and began to look at them.

One 2, one King, a pair of Queens, a pair of Jacks, three 9s, one 7, a pair of 6s, one 5, one 4, one 3.

The hand wasn’t particularly good, but not bad either.

First, the biggest 2 in his hand guaranteed him the first move in singles.

Second, Liu Zheng had hardly any loose cards, ensuring once he got the first move, he could play out his cards mostly.

Finally, his 3 was a Spade Three.

Rules differ slightly by region, but in Liu Zheng’s hometown, the person with a Spade Three plays first, and they must play the Spade Three.

And without hesitation, Liu Zheng directly played a sequence of "3-4-5-6-7".

The core tactic in ’Quick Run’ is to break others’ high-value cards by taking advantage of the rule "must play if you can".

The easiest way to break others’ high cards is with small consecutive pairs like "3-3-4-4" or small straights like "3-4-5-6-7".

Therefore, if the card hand is not good, opening with such small cards can spoil others’ hands, making theirs worse.

Although Liu Zheng had a decent hand, due to the rule requiring him to play the Spade Three, he opted for "3-4-5-6-7".

The High Priest, sitting next, hesitated a moment but played a higher sequence of "5-6-7-8-9".

However, the Heavenly Martial King used a strand of light to hover his cards in the air, delaying his play.

"Hesitating like this, it’s likely the Heavenly Martial King holds three 10s."

Liu Zheng speculated in his mind.

This is the charm of ’Quick Run’, where breaking someone’s full house into a pair and two singles can feel more satisfying than winning.

Finally, the Heavenly Martial King played his cards.

"Four 10s."

Expected from a King, his play was a bomb.

"Can’t beat that."

Liu Zheng shook his head directly.

"Not up to it."

The High Priest also passed.

"Hahaha!!!"

The Heavenly Martial King let out a hearty laugh.

Recently, he had played cards with several of his officials, mostly winning.

He knew they were holding back, so bombing Liu Zheng felt particularly satisfying.

"A pair of 4s."

The Heavenly Martial King thought for a moment and then played a pair.

"Still daring to play a pair, could he also have a pair of Kings, then this hand is indeed too good."

Liu Zheng clicked his tongue.

However, he wasn’t worried; his hand could handle this.

"A pair of Jacks."

Liu Zheng quickly responded.

As long as the Heavenly Martial King didn’t have a pair of Queens, he could force out the King’s pair, making his pair of Queens the highest pair.

"A pair of Queens."

The High Priest replied reluctantly.

"A pair of Kings."

Sure enough, the Heavenly Martial King followed suit.

"Haha!"

Now it was Liu Zheng’s turn to laugh.

The pair of Jacks had drawn out the Queens and Kings, leaving him with the highest singles, pairs, and triples, ensuring a win.

"Three 8s with a 3 and a 4."

The Heavenly Martial King continued playing.

"Three 9s with a 6 and a King."

Liu Zheng immediately responded.

The Heavenly Martial King and the High Priest couldn’t follow.

Liu Zheng took the opportunity to play out his remaining cards.

"I was lucky."

Liu Zheng said diplomatically.

"These cards are truly interesting."

Though he lost, the Heavenly Martial King was delighted to have had a bomb in his hand.

"The Marquis of Longevity indeed excels at this."

The High Priest wasn’t upset either; losing to Liu Zheng was preferable compared to purposely losing to the Heavenly Martial King.

"I am a natural ruler, thus most martial arts I practice require the Ziwei Emperor’s Destiny or Dragon Energy for cultivation. Elsewhere, it might not matter, with your ability, it wouldn’t be difficult to wear the yellow robe. But here in the Metropolis, it might not be feasible."

The Heavenly Martial King mused.

To wear the yellow robe in the Metropolis, one must at least match the Supreme Councilman, and if you can match him, learning martial arts seems unnecessary.

"No worries, Your Majesty, whatever you give will surely be better than anything we could find."

Liu Zheng said.

"Very well, then these three manuals are yours."

The coffin lid opened, and three beams of golden light flew toward him.

As the golden light dissipated, three manuals landed in Liu Zheng’s hands.

One was made of human skin, another of jade, and the third of silk.

"This human skin manual was something I acquired while traveling around in a mountain cave. In the cave, there was a skeleton, and on the stone wall behind it, tales were inscribed with finger power."

"This person claimed..."

-----------------

The High Priest, sitting next, hesitated a moment but played a higher sequence of "5-6-7-8-9".

However, the Heavenly Martial King used a strand of light to hover his cards in the air, delaying his play.

"Hesitating like this, it’s likely the Heavenly Martial King holds three 10s."

Liu Zheng speculated in his mind.

This is the charm of ’Quick Run’, where breaking someone’s full house into a pair and two singles can feel more satisfying than winning.

Finally, the Heavenly Martial King played his cards.

"Four 10s."

Expected from a King, his play was a bomb.

"Can’t beat that."

Liu Zheng shook his head directly.

"Not up to it."

The High Priest also passed.

"Hahaha!!!"

The Heavenly Martial King let out a hearty laugh.

Recently, he had played cards with several of his officials, mostly winning.

He knew they were holding back, so bombing Liu Zheng felt particularly satisfying.

"A pair of 4s."

The Heavenly Martial King thought for a moment and then played a pair.

"Still daring to play a pair, could he also have a pair of Kings, then this hand is indeed too good."

Liu Zheng clicked his tongue.

However, he wasn’t worried; his hand could handle this.

"A pair of Jacks."

Liu Zheng quickly responded.

As long as the Heavenly Martial King didn’t have a pair of Queens, he could force out the King’s pair, making his pair of Queens the highest pair.