Secret World: I Became a God Through Lies

Chapter 23: Bloody Card Game and Hunter's Oppression
The flickering candlelight reflected on the long obsidian table, where light and shadow intertwined, as if the thread of fate was silently weaving on the gambling game.

The air was thick with the aroma of aged wine, mingling with something deeper and stronger—the smell of blood.

Siming tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, his eyes fixed on the four new cards he had been dealt.

The King of Hearts, the Jack of Diamonds, and the remaining two insignificant cards, this hand is not bad at all.
But when he scanned the turned-over community card, he felt a chill in his heart.

10 of Spades, 9 of Diamonds, 5 of Hearts.

He realized the problem almost immediately.

The cards were too clean, so clean that it was scary, as if it was a bloody stage specially laid out for some hidden killing game.

The Bloody Night Tyrant chuckled, his slender fingers casually sliding along the edge of the wine glass.

A low, cheerful voice echoed among the candlelight: "Are you going to fold?"

He was guiding them, and they were already falling into his rhythm.

Loren was silent for a moment, then slowly pushed his blood code to the center and said calmly, "Raise."

Siming raised his eyebrows slightly and cursed inwardly.

This guy actually called? Avel's eyes narrowed slightly, and he obviously noticed something was wrong, but he still chose to call.

They have no way out.

If they don't follow, the vampires will seize the opportunity to sweep away all the chips and force them into a desperate situation.

Once it falls into their control, there will be no possibility of turning the game around.

The Bloody Night Tyrant snapped his fingers lightly, and the turn card slowly turned over - the Queen of Spades.

In an instant, Sima Ming sensed a hint of danger.

The cards turned out to be more and more in favor of the vampires, and the situation was extremely unfavorable to them.

The Duke looked at the turned-over cards, the corners of his mouth slowly rising, his expression calm and composed, as if everything was under his control.

His fingertips brushed across the chips on the table, a playful glint in his eyes.

"Raise."

As soon as he finished speaking, the three vampire earls pushed in their chips at the same time as if they had received a silent command.

At this moment, the relationship between hunter and prey has become clear. The vampires are pressing forward step by step, gradually draining their remaining strength, and the outsiders have few choices left.

Siming's fingertips pressed against the table, his palms slightly cold. The vampires' strategy had been fully revealed—

They not only want to win, but also want to completely deprive him of his capital and leave him isolated and helpless.

Aiweier gritted his teeth and whispered, "We can't last more than a few rounds."

Loren took a deep breath, slowly put in all the blood chips, and said calmly: "I'm all in."

For a moment, the air seemed to freeze.

The vampire counts looked at each other and then revealed a sneer of contempt.

They knew that in this round, Loren's chips had all fallen into the trap, and he was powerless to turn the situation around no matter what.

The Duke narrowed his eyes, slowly pushed in his chips, and a meaningful smile played on his lips: "Follow."

The river card slowly fell - the 9 of spades.

Siming's heart stagnated slightly, and countless possibilities suddenly flashed through his mind. However, at this moment,
His intuition told him that things could not be reversed.

The Duke chuckled and slowly turned over his cards.

Jack of Spades, King of Spades.

——Straight Flush.

In an instant, low laughter rang out in the banquet hall, and the vampires stroked their wine glasses gracefully or arrogantly.
They exchanged tacit glances with each other, and a deadly sense of oppression filled the air.

Loren's health bar was instantly cleared.

He watched this scene quietly, the corners of his lips slightly raised, shrugged, and said indifferently: "It seems that my luck is not very good."

He slowly pushed the chair away, stood up, and glanced at Siming, with deep calculation and some obscure hints in his eyes.

"The next game depends on you."

Siming's pupils shrank slightly, and he suddenly realized——

Loren lost this round on purpose.

He was not gambling on luck, but after seeing that the situation was irreversible, he chose to sacrifice himself decisively.

In order to minimize the losses, leave the situation to Sima Ming.

The Bloody Night Tyrant looked at them calmly, his eyes as if he were gazing at prey that had walked into a trap, and said in a leisurely tone, "You're missing one chess piece."

He slowly raised his hand and gently stroked the ring on his palm.
There was an unconcealable interest in his eyes, as if he was appreciating an elaborate hunting game.

Siming's fingertips pressed against the table, and the smile in his eyes gradually cooled.

He looked deeply at Loren, who just smiled slightly, but his eyes were extremely calm.

Loren was creating opportunities for him, even if it meant becoming a sacrifice himself. The pressure from the vampires was intensifying, but the true gamble only began now.

The atmosphere in the banquet hall was oppressive and suffocating. On the long obsidian table, the blood-red candlelight flickered gently.
It reflects the few chips left on the table, and also reflects the gradually tightening rope of fate for the outsiders.

Loren's seat was empty. The only things left were the money he had lost and a faint afterglow of warmth.

Avel's expression grew increasingly indifferent, his fingers tapping slowly on the table, each tapping revealing an undisguised restraint.

He looked at Siming, there was no hesitation in his eyes, only a calm farewell.

"You can't save me." His voice was low and slightly hoarse, like a sword about to break.

The final blade light reflected the unchangeable ending, "Don't waste your blood on me."

Siming didn't say anything. He just looked at the table quietly, his fingers gently stroking the playing cards on his fingertips, his eyes deep and cold.

Calculate, think, and weigh.

This gambling game has reached its most dangerous point. Loren's withdrawal has caused them to lose their most experienced trader.
And Avel... Avel's style has always been cautious and defensive. He can delay the battle but cannot break it.

A true gambler will never rely on defense to make a comeback.

but--

The vampire counts sat in their seats with hunters' smiles,
Like a pack of hungry hounds, waiting for the last chance to bite someone's throat.

The air was filled with an invisible sense of urgency. The Bloody Night Tyrant just sat quietly on the throne, raising the wine glass in his hand.
Slightly shaking the crimson liquid in the cup, the scarlet pupils were like the abyss in the night, reflecting the carnival of hunting.

"Next round." He whispered, his voice calm and majestic, as if he was a god who decided fate.

"The game continues."

Extra: Shadow of the Blood Moon

"Celian."

She murmured the name softly, as if examining a new toy.

She closed her eyes, feeling the breath of this body, feeling the new identity flowing in her blood and embedding deep in her bones.

Then she smiled.

Night covers the North Town, the black eaves are connected into one, and the narrow alleys hide peepers.
The lights in the square illuminated the silent crowd.

This place once belonged to her, and it was once her territory overlooked from her high position in the castle.

But today, this familiar land feels new.

Looking at the world from the perspective of identity is actually quite interesting.

She curled up on the roof, her chin resting on her hands, watching the passers-by with interest.

The Blood Castle in the distance was brightly lit, and batches of Blood Clan messengers rode out on black-feathered tamed wolves.

Carrying the order of the tyrant Duke, he traveled to various places - to look for her, to look for the "disappeared" Princess of Blood Moon.

"You're really persistent." She tilted her head slightly, a hint of disdain appearing at the corner of her mouth.

Even though she had severed her blood connection with the vampires, the Duke still refused to give up.
He even opened the door and sent the vampires into a place called the "Golden Country" and brought back some captives.

It’s getting really interesting.

Just as she was casually observing all this, a certain scene suddenly caught her sight——

A man, like a meteor falling from the sky, fell into a thatched hut in a mess, staring at an old horse.

At that moment, Celia was stunned.

Then she laughed.

She could barely hide her laughter, and even had to cover her mouth, fearing her emotions would be too obvious.

This was simply the most ridiculous way for a stranger to make his debut that she had ever seen!
But when her smile gradually faded and her eyes fell on the man again, an indescribable throbbing quietly emerged in her heart.

Siming? ...That's the name, right?
He's funny, but also dangerous.

The power of the Faceless Lord still lingers in her body, the power to twist identities and reshape destinies.

Although faint, she could still vaguely sense some whispers, some... the pulse of fate.

In this man, she heard the echo of fate.

She suddenly held her breath, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

That gentleman once said, "You cannot defy fate, unless you are above it."

Well, now...her chance has come.

She stared at the man, slowly raised the corners of her lips, and her eyes flashed with excitement.

If fate favors him, then she will follow him and keep watching... until the end.

If he is truly the master of destiny, then this is her chance.

(End of this chapter)