CFSMS -Chapter 90 Bug: Nobody Fed Me Peanuts

“You’re new here, aren’t you?”

Seeing that he had successfully struck up a conversation, Tian Shou continued.

“As someone who’s been through it, I should remind you—games like this are fine for a little fun, but don’t get too obsessed.”

“It’ll drain your wealth and ruin your life.”

Tian Shou appeared to be speaking out of goodwill, and Yang Jiang naturally accepted everything he said.

He listened attentively as Tian Shou explained the rules of the casino and shared a few gambling tricks. A look of eagerness gradually appeared in his eyes.

“Come on, try your luck.”

Reading Yang Jiang’s thoughts perfectly, Tian Shou invited him with a smile.

Being obedient, Yang Jiang cautiously tossed a dozen or so low-grade spirit stones onto the table.

It was a tiny amount by gambling standards, and no one paid it any attention.

At this table, the dealer briefly exchanged a subtle glance with Tian Shou before looking away. He thought the gesture was discreet, unaware that Yang Jiang had noticed everything.

“Big! Big!”

It was the simplest game—high versus low.

The gamblers around the table shouted loudly. Their bloodshot eyes made it obvious that something was wrong with their mental state.

“Big!”

Yang Jiang called out softly as well.

Rule One of Undercover Work: Learn to blend into your surroundings. As a novice gambler, you should also retain a hint of awkwardness.

His performance was just right.

The table was crowded. Amid the jostling mass of people, Tian Shou had already moved closer to Yang Jiang.

“Big! I won! I won! Hahaha!”

“Mine! It’s all mine!”

When the lid was lifted and the result came up high, the winners grinned widely and swept all the chips on the table into their arms.

Yang Jiang did the same.

Casually, Tian Shou’s hand brushed across Yang Jiang’s shoulder.

The touch was light.

Looking at the gambling bug he had secretly placed there, Tian Shou frowned.

The little thing was playing dead.

Even though he had personally put it there, it looked half-dead and completely unwilling to cooperate.

Unfortunately, the bugs were too unintelligent to communicate with him.

Tian Shou, who could usually understand their intentions, was now filled with confusion.

Could there be something wrong with this guy?

He quickly dismissed the idea.

Because the same thing had happened with several other people.

Did something happen to the gambling bugs?

Lost in thought, Tian Shou failed to notice the deep look in Yang Jiang’s eyes.

His eyes shifted slightly before he suddenly hooked an arm around Tian Shou’s shoulder.

As for the little bug pretending to be dead on his shoulder, he acted as if he hadn’t seen it.

“Brother, thanks a lot. If not for you, I probably would’ve lost that round. Here, take half of this as thanks.”

He pushed half of his winnings toward Tian Shou.

Rule Two of Undercover Work: Learn to share proactively.

“No need. You earned that yourself. I only moved my lips a little. I can’t take it.”

Still preoccupied with his thoughts, Tian Shou replied absentmindedly.

That tiny amount meant nothing to him.

But if one move failed, there was always another.

Rule Three of Undercover Work: Always prepare a backup plan.

“Alright then. But I’d feel bad if I didn’t repay you somehow. How about I treat you to some skewers?”

He pulled several skewers from his storage space.

Boss Lu hadn’t started imposing purchase limits yet, so he had bought quite a lot today.

Originally, he had planned to save them as a surprise for his younger sister, who was in seclusion and had missed Boss Lu’s food.

Now, those skewers would help him accomplish his undercover objective.

“No—”

Tian Shou was about to refuse again when his nose twitched.

The aroma wafting from only inches away froze his expression.

Staring at the enticing skewers, a long-dormant appetite overwhelmed everything else.

The pale tofu had absorbed the broth completely within its honeycomb-like structure.

The vegetables had only been briefly dipped into the soup base, retaining their vibrant green color and crisp texture. Coated in bright red chili oil, the contrast of red and green was especially eye-catching.

Several plump mushrooms were skewered on bamboo sticks, their caps cross-cut with decorative knife marks.

Many people disliked mushrooms, finding their smell unpleasant.

But the mushroom skewers prepared by Lu Wu carried none of that concern.

The rich aroma made Tian Shou want nothing more than to pounce and take a bite.

Just imagining the mushroom’s savory flavor exploding together with the spicy broth in his mouth made his breathing quicken slightly.

It was love at first smell—the kind of disastrous feeling one simply couldn’t escape.

The insincere refusal died on his lips.

His throat bobbed.

For the first time, another desire overpowered his gambling addiction.

Even the abnormalities of the gambling bugs slipped from his mind.

If he had looked more carefully, he would have noticed that the gambling bug on Yang Jiang’s shoulder had completely stiffened the moment it saw the skewers.

Master! Don’t you see how delicious this thing smells? This bug is about to die from it!

The lingering aroma on those people had already been terrifying enough.

Now the source itself had appeared, and the bug was so close to it.

Dear heavens…

What kind of insecticide is this?

This bug’s life is over!

Foaming at the mouth, the bug finally went completely rigid.

Waaah! Buggy me is never coming back to this mortal world again!

“Want to try some?”

Yang Jiang’s eyes were sharp. He had caught every subtle emotional change in Tian Shou.

Pretending not to notice, he spoke kindly.

“They’re incredibly tasty. If you hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t have been willing to share. Every skewer eaten is one less left.”

Everything he said was true.

Boss Lu’s skewers were one of a kind, unmatched in heaven or earth.

Yang Jiang handed them over generously.

Rule Four of Undercover Work: Never let small losses prevent greater gains. Use the small to win the big.

“Then… I’ll give them a try.”

In the end, Tian Shou couldn’t avoid the skewer being offered to him. Refusing now would only seem pretentious.

He picked up a tofu skewer and took a bite.

The tender tofu was rich with soybean fragrance, its delicate structure overflowing with flavorful broth.

The longer tofu was cooked, the more flavor it absorbed.

And Lu Wu’s mastery over cooking times was simply divine.

The taste was perfect.

The texture wasn’t overcooked at all.

As he slowly crushed the soft tofu in his mouth, warmth spread through his stomach.

Every pore in Tian Shou’s body seemed to open.

These skewers had come from the spicy broth.

Normally, Tian Shou couldn’t handle spicy food.

But right now, he felt he could endure it.

“Brother Tian Shou, take your time eating. No rush. I’m going to play a few more rounds.”

Pointing toward the gambling tables, Yang Jiang indicated that he wanted to continue.

The addictive glint in his eyes had already surfaced.

Rule Five of Undercover Work: Always stop at the right moment. Withdraw before the other party grows suspicious and clear away any doubts.

Without waiting for a response, he turned and rejoined the crowd at the tables.

Having witnessed countless gamblers being dragged step by step into the abyss, Tian Shou suddenly felt an inexplicable hesitation while holding the heavy skewers in his hand.

But when he thought of his own past, his resolve hardened once more.

Looking at Yang Jiang’s disappearing figure among the crowd, he turned away indifferently.

He was one who had sunk into desire.

Not a savior.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Tian Shou simply took the skewers back to his room.

Though he had the nagging feeling he had forgotten something.

Bug: Nobody fed me peanuts.

Inside the casino, gambling bugs began dying one after another in silence.

Quite a few customers, like Yang Jiang, had brought skewers into the casino.

The aroma of food slowly spread throughout the gambling hall, as though forming an invisible hand.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

The bugs were repeatedly slapped across the face.

Their legs twitched once.

Then they went to meet the King of Hell.

The fragrance of the skewers seized the hands of those gamblers who were about to fall into eternal ruin and gave them a chance to wake up.

After realizing the truth, whether they chose to climb out of the abyss or continue sinking was a decision only they could make.

No one else could interfere with that choice.