Lu Xiaofeng Book 4 - Silver Hook Casino
(Translated by Foxs, Edited by Eliza Bennet)
Chapter 1 – The Night of Saving-a-Beauty Kindness
Autumn night. End of autumn.
The dark and long alley was quiet and lonesome; there was only one solitary lamp.
The old and worn out white lantern had turned almost grey, it hung slanting above a narrow door at the very end of the long alley. Dangling below the lantern was a shiny silver hook, an ordinary hook, just like the one used by an old fisherman.
The silver hook kept swaying in the autumn wind. The autumn wind seemed to sigh, sighing over why would there be so many people in this world who were willing to let themselves being caught by this silver hook?
From the damp, gloomy and cold fog Fang Yufei entered the brilliantly illuminated Silver Hook Casino. Taking off his dark colored cloak, he revealed an extremely well-fitting, specially tailored, exquisite silver-colored satin garment.
Every day, he was happiest around this time, especially today.
Because Lu Xiaofeng was standing right next to him. Lu Xiaofeng had always been a friend he was most fond of, a friend he respected the most.
Lu Xiaofeng was also in very high spirits, just because he was Lu Xiaofeng.
The luxuriously decorated hall was brimming with warmness and gaiety. The aroma of wine mixed with the fragrance of high-quality cosmetics; the intermittent jingling of silver coins was pleasant to the ears, no music in this world was more melodious than this kind of noise.
He liked to hear this kind of noise, just like the majority of people in the world, he also liked luxury and enjoyed life to the fullest.
But actually, the Silver Hook Casino was a very luxurious place. At any time you would find all kinds of extravagant people, prepared to enjoy all kinds of extravagant enjoyments.
And the most extravagant enjoyment naturally was the gambling.
Everybody was gambling, everybody’s concentration was on their stakes on the gambling table, but when Lu Xiaofeng and Fang Yufei walked in, everybody could not help but raised their heads to look.
Some people were indeed like a magnet among a bunch of nails. Lu Xiaofeng and Fang Yufei were undoubtedly this kind of people.
“Who in the world are these two exceptional young men?”
“The one in silver satin garment is the brother-in-law of this gambling establishment’s big boss.” The one answering was a wiry thin man, a typical true gambler.
“Are you saying he is the younger brother of Blue Beard’s new wife?”
“Her flesh and blood younger brother!”
“Isn’t he the Silver Sparrowhawk Fang Yufei?”
“The one and only.”
“They say he is a very famous playboy, proficient in eating, drinking, women and gambling; his qinggong was not bad.”
“That’s why a lot of people say that he is a ‘flower picking bandit’!” the true gambler said with a laugh, “Actually, if he wants a girl, he only needs to do is just beckon with his finger, there is no need for him to go ‘pick flower’ in the middle of the night.”
“I heard his sister, Fang Yuxiang is also a very well-known pretty woman.”
“More beautiful than flower, more exquisite than jade,” another man sighed with his eyes closed, “That woman simply cannot be described with these two words, ‘pretty woman’; she is simply ‘the-cause-of-downfall-of-a-nation’ kind of rarity!”
“Who’s that young fellow next to Fang Yufei? How come his eyebrows slant down just like his moustache?”
“If I am not mistaken, he must be that Four-eyebrow Lu Xiaofeng!”
Lu Xiaofeng.
Some people have become legendary characters when they are still alive. Without a doubt, Lu Xiaofeng was this kind of person.
At the mention of his name, everybody’s gaze was immediately fixed on him, except for one person.
This person was, unexpectedly, a woman.
She was wearing light-as-a-feather, soft silk gown in apple green. So soft that it looked like a second layer of skin hugging her slender and mature body. Her skin was as delicate and smooth as a white jade; sometimes it almost looked translucent, just like an ice statue. Her beautiful face was completely devoid of any makeup. Her pair of clear and bright eyes was the best decoration any woman would dream of in vain. The corner of her eyes did not even look at Lu Xiaofeng, but with all his heart and soul, Lu Xiaofeng’s stare was fixated on her.
Fang Yufei laughed and shook his head, “There are at least seven, eight good-looking women in this room, why do you have to look at her?”
Lu Xiaofeng: “Because she is ignoring me.”
Fang Yufei laughed, “Do you think that all women will kneel down and kiss your foot as soon as they see you?”
Lu Xiaofeng sighed, “At the very least she should give me a glance. I am not the very least the most ugly man.”
Fang Yufei: “If you want to look at her, it is best if you keep your distance.”
Lu Xiaofeng: “Why?”
Lowering his voice, Fang Yufei said, “This woman is an iceberg, if you want to move her, be careful, your hand will catch frostbite!”
Lu Xiaofeng also smiled.
But as he smiled, he walked straight toward the iceberg. No matter how many high mountain ridges he had climbed, right now he only wanted to climb this iceberg.
This iceberg smelled good. It was definitely not the fragrance of the perfume, it was not even the aroma of the wine. Some women were just like fresh flowers; not only were they beautiful, they even radiate fresh fragrance. Undoubtedly, she was this kind of woman.
Right now Lu Xiaofeng was like a honeybee; as he smelled the flower fragrance, he wanted to fly and land on the stamen of this flower.
Fortunately he was not drunk yet; he stopped right behind her.
The iceberg did not turn her head. In her beautiful and delicate hands she was holding some chips. She was pondering whether she should place her bet on ‘big’? Or should she place it on ‘small’?
The dealer started to roll the dice, and then ‘Bang!’ he slapped the dice box on the table. “Place your bet, now!” he shouted.
The iceberg was still thinking. Lu Xiaofeng blinked and with an exaggerated movement he stepped closer and softly whispered on her ear, “This time you should bet on ‘small’.”
Immediately the delicate hand placed the chips down, but she placed her bet on ‘big’.
“Open!”
As the dice box was opened, the number of dots on three dice amount to only ‘seven’.
“Seven dots, small! Eat ‘big’, pay up ‘small’.”
The iceberg’s countenance paled. She turned her head around and shot Lu Xiaofeng a malicious look then she turned and walked away.
Lu Xiaofeng could only force a bitter smile.
Some women were born with a rebellious character in their blood; particularly rebellious against men. Lu Xiaofeng should have thought that she might be this kind of woman.
The iceberg had already walked through the crowd toward the door. As she walked, she maintained a peculiarly graceful bearing.
“There won’t be one woman of this temperament among a hundred thousand; it will be a pity to miss her. If you don’t pursue her, you will regret it!” Lu Xiaofeng was admonishing himself in his heart.
He was always a man who listened to his own advice, therefore, he immediately walked after her.
Fang Yufei met him and slowly said, “Must you really climb this iceberg?”
Lu Xiaofeng: “I am not afraid of frostbite.”
Fang Yufei patted his shoulder, “But you must be careful nonetheless; icebergs are very slippery, you might slip down and fall.”
Lu Xiaofeng: “How many times have you slipped down and fall?”
Fang Yufei smiled. Of course it was a forced smile. It was not until Lu Xiaofeng had walked out the door did he mutter to himself, “Falling down from this iceberg, at the most, you can only fall down once, because this one time you will plunge yourself to your death.”
The dark long alley was still dark. The night had been very deep. The carriages and horses were parked outside the alley. It did not matter what kind of people, whoever wanted to visit the Silver Hook Casino must walk through this dark alley. This had made the Silver Hook Casino several degrees more mysterious and wasn’t it mystery which has always been most appealing to human beings since time immemorial?
The silver hook was still swaying in the wind. Perhaps the number of people hooked by this silver hook was a hundred times higher than the number of fish caught by the old fisherman.
The night was desolate, the lantern grew dim.
The iceberg walked in front, a dull green cloak was added to the number of clothes she was wearing.
Lu Xiaofeng followed behind her. The dull green cloak rose and fell gently under the dim lantern light. He was like a lovely little child who chases after floating clouds in his dream.
There was nobody else in that dark alley; the alley was very long.
Suddenly the iceberg turned around and stared at Lu Xiaofeng. Her pair of eyes seemed colder than the autumn star.
Lu Xiaofeng had no choice but halt his steps; he looked at her and smiled.
“Why are you following me?” the iceberg suddenly said.
Lu Xiaofeng laughed, “I have made you lose some money, I feel very bad in my heart; and so …”
“And so you want to compensate me?” the iceberg said.
Lu Xiaofeng nodded immediately.
Iceberg: “And how do think you will compensate me?”
Lu Xiaofeng: "I know a diner in the city for night-time snacks, they are open all night, the food and wine are not bad at all. The night is now very deep, you must be a little bit hungry!"
The iceberg rolled her eyes. "That's not a good idea. I have an even better one."
Lu Xiaofeng: "What is it?"
Unexpectedly, the iceberg smiled. "Come closer, I'll tell you."
Of course Lu Xiaofeng came closer.
He did not expect there would be time when this iceberg would melt, which made him not able to think. Suddenly a blow landed on the left side of his face, followed by another blow on the right side of his face.
The iceberg's hand was truly fast; not only it was fast, it was heavy too.