How Much You Lose, How Much You Earn

Before his rebirth, although Yang Chen couldn't cultivate martial arts and walk the path of a king, his favorite pastime was nurturing geniuses. In fact, besides the title of alchemy genius, Yang Chen also had a nickname: 'Bole'.

This showed his deep love for martial arts.

Being able to cultivate martial arts now was undoubtedly a glimmer of hope in his dark life.

Yang Chen organized his thoughts and had already made some plans for his future martial arts path. He knew very well that he couldn't rush this matter, as his current identity was still a good-for-nothing in the Yang Family, and he had even been so pathetic as to attempt suicide recently.

Lost in thought, Yang Chen tidied his clothes, got out of bed, and then opened the door, saying, "Mingyue, come with me for a stroll!"

"Young Master, you... you're going for a stroll?" Gu Mingyue stood outside the door, her eyes widening as she saw her young master emerge. Then, she suddenly felt a sense of disappointment. Her young master was usually quite idle, so going for a 'stroll' now wouldn't that just be him slacking off again?

"Yes, a stroll." Yang Chen walked ahead.

After all, his current identity was just an ordinary young master of the Yang Family. He still needed to understand more about the Hundred Clan Yang Family.

Gu Mingyue couldn't say much either. She tiptoed, lifted her ruffled skirt, and hurried after Yang Chen. Her clear, bright eyes secretly glanced at him from behind, and she sighed internally. She knew her fate was to marry Yang Chen as a concubine, and she had prepared herself for it. She didn't feel unwilling or humiliated at the thought of marrying a good-for-nothing.

She only hoped that when the time came for her to marry Yang Chen as a concubine, she could help him turn over a new leaf and stop being so idle and dissolute.

However, she didn't know if she could achieve this, and a sense of loss lingered in her heart.

Yang Chen was exceptionally good at observing people, and Gu Mingyue's sadness was evident on her face, making him both amused and speechless. He wondered what this young maid was thinking. However, at just fifteen years old, she already showed the potential of a beauty, and her figure was exceptionally well-developed. She was indeed a source of envy and jealousy within the Yang Family.

As he was thinking, a group of people suddenly walked towards him.

"Well, well, who do we have here? Yang Chen, I just heard that you lost half of your sister's fortune and were too ashamed to face anyone, so you tried to hang yourself. I found it quite curious and came to take a look, thinking that you good-for-nothing would finally have the courage to kill yourself. But it turns out, just as I guessed, suicide? Haha, you never had the guts for that."

As this sarcastic voice rang out, Yang Chen focused his eyes and clearly saw the appearance of the speaker.

The young man before him was around the same age as Yang Chen, about twelve or thirteen years old.

In martial arts cultivation, fourteen was considered adulthood. At thirteen, on the verge of adulthood, one was already quite mature.

This young man was dressed neatly and had a fair and handsome appearance, clearly a young master of the Yang Family. Yang Chen recalled the information in his mind and recognized this person. This young man was Yang Heng, the second son of Yang Zheng, an Elder of the Yang Family. He dabbled in both alchemy and martial arts and was a young prodigy among the younger generation of the Yang Family.

Yang Chen recalled carefully and understood. This Yang Heng had caused trouble for 'Yang Chen' quite a few times before. However, the root cause of Yang Heng's trouble-making towards 'Yang Chen' was ultimately the maid Gu Mingyue behind 'Yang Chen'.

Yang Heng had always been fixated on Gu Mingyue's beauty, repeatedly expressing his affection and harassing her, but Gu Mingyue rejected him. This made Yang Heng angry, and he constantly bothered 'Yang Chen' to embarrass him. Even the suicide of the original owner of this body, 'Yang Chen', was instigated and provoked by Yang Heng.

This made the current Yang Chen narrow his eyes slightly.

As fellow clan members, Yang Heng treated his own kin this way just for a maid. Yang Chen had absolutely no good feelings towards him.

Of course, he didn't want to cause trouble right now. After glancing at Yang Heng, he said calmly, "Mingyue, let's go."

"Yes, Young Master!" Gu Mingyue replied obediently.

Seeing Gu Mingyue so obedient and compliant towards Yang Chen, Yang Heng became even more enraged. He gritted his teeth and said, "Mingyue, why aren't you opening your eyes? What future do you have following this Yang Chen? Yang Chen is such a waste now, already abandoned by the Yang Family. You're following him and suffering hardship, but you might as well follow me. With my talent, I will surely make a name for myself in this Hundred Clan territory in the future. You need to think carefully!"

Hearing this, Yang Chen turned his gaze to Gu Mingyue and stopped.

He had to admit, he was quite curious to see Gu Mingyue's attitude, because honestly, anyone would be tempted by Yang Heng's words. What future was there in following a useless young master like him?

However, to his surprise, Gu Mingyue's attitude was very firm. She bit her lip lightly and said resolutely, "Yang Heng, I only acknowledge our Young Master Yang Chen. I've rejected you many times, and I've made myself clear. I'm willing to suffer hardship with Young Master, so please stop bothering me!"

After hearing this, Yang Chen found it a bit strange.

Regarding Gu Mingyue's background, the Yang Chen of his previous life had no memory of it.

Gu Mingyue's words further infuriated Yang Heng. Seeing that Gu Mingyue was unyielding, he immediately roared, "Fine, fine, Gu Mingyue, you really refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

"What do you want?" Yang Chen pulled Gu Mingyue behind him.

Such a move undoubtedly made Gu Mingyue's delicate body tremble. She hadn't quite reacted.

When did her young master ever make such a manly move? Usually, whenever trouble arose, Yang Chen would be the first to retreat.

It had to be said that Yang Heng and his servants were extremely surprised by Yang Chen's current actions. Especially Yang Heng, who was so enraged that he laughed instead and said, "What, Yang Chen, you've grown some courage now? I won't bully you in martial arts. You wouldn't be able to beat ten of me. You only know alchemy, but your alchemy skills, haha, are they even presentable? The last time you gambled with the Wang family, you wasted a furnace of precious materials and didn't refine a single pill, completely disgracing the name of our Yang Family. Tell me, what about you is presentable?"

Yang Chen had been questioned many times in his past life, but being questioned about his alchemy skills was a first.

He stroked his chin, amused. "You say my alchemy skills aren't presentable. I'm quite curious about your alchemy skills."

"Young Master, let's, let's not argue with them. Let's go." Gu Mingyue tugged at Yang Chen's sleeve from behind. Seeing the situation heading in a bad direction, she was afraid Yang Chen would suffer.

Last time, Yang Chen was also provoked by the Wang family, and in a fit of anger, he made a big mistake.

Seeing Gu Mingyue so anxious, Yang Heng became even more annoyed. "What, you want to compete with me? Yang Chen, if you really have some backbone, then compete with me. Otherwise, just obediently get out of the way."

"Hahaha!"

"He actually wants to compete with our Young Master Heng? Don't they know that Young Master Heng is a First Grade Intermediate Alchemist?"

At once, the servants behind Yang Heng burst into loud laughter.

Yang Chen remained undeterred and said slowly, "If you're willing, I don't mind competing with you!"

The Nine Ranks of Pills were divided into nine grades, and each grade was further divided into four levels: low, intermediate, high, and perfect. Yang Heng cultivated both martial arts and alchemy. His martial arts level was outstanding, and his alchemy level had reached the Intermediate level of the First Grade at such a young age. However, while this First Grade Intermediate level was respectable for others, for Yang Chen, in his previous life, it wasn't even enough to qualify someone as his alchemy apprentice.

Yang Heng was delighted to hear Yang Chen's challenge. "Are you sure? Don't come crying if you lose the competition."

"Young Master, we..." Gu Mingyue was extremely anxious at this moment but didn't know how to handle the situation.

Yang Chen waved his hand, unhurriedly saying, "Just competing is not interesting; it's merely a contest of pride. Since we're going to compete, we need to add some stakes. Otherwise, I'll find the competition meaningless. If we're going to compete, let's make it big. Adding some wagers will make it more interesting."

Yang Heng seemed to have heard the best joke in the world. "Haha, a wager? What, Yang Chen, didn't you lose all of your sister's family fortune last time you competed with the Wang family? Have you finally come to your senses and want to lose all of your sister's remaining assets this time?"

"I'm just asking if you dare to gamble." Yang Chen's expression turned grim, as if he were truly provoked. "If you don't dare to gamble, then this competition will be completely meaningless."

Yang Heng saw Yang Chen's 'furious' expression and clicked his tongue. "How much are you betting?"

"Three hundred spiritual stones!" Yang Chen said without even thinking.

"Three hundred spiritual stones..." Gu Mingyue's face instantly turned deathly pale upon hearing the amount.

Because the last time Yang Chen had a gambling match with the Wang family, he also bet three hundred at once. As a result, he instantly lost more than half of Yang Caidie's fortune. If he lost it all this time, the wealth Yang Caidie had painstakingly accumulated at such a young age would be completely gambled away by Yang Chen.

Yang Heng was indeed startled by the amount Yang Chen mentioned, as three hundred spiritual stones was no small sum.

Spiritual stones were the universal currency for transactions across the entire continent, used for cultivation and various other needs.

For Yang Heng to produce three hundred spiritual stones would be akin to asking for his life.

But when he thought of Yang Chen's alchemy level, a sinister grin spread across his face. He sneered, "What's there to be afraid of? Three hundred spiritual stones. I'm just afraid you'll lose all your sister's savings. Don't let your only beloved sister leave you then."

Three hundred spiritual stones was indeed a lot, but compared to Yang Chen, how could he possibly lose?

"Hmph, my affairs don't require your concern. Since you want to gamble, quickly set up the terms of the bet," Yang Chen said with a slight smile.

How could this Yang Heng know that the current Yang Chen was no longer the Yang Chen of the past?

He wasn't afraid of Yang Heng gambling; he was afraid Yang Heng wouldn't gamble.

Three hundred spiritual stones.

Whatever the 'Yang Chen' who committed suicide had lost, he would earn it all back today.