"Heh."
Ma Qingshan was no fool. Naturally, he could tell Old Ninth and Ma Fangshan were taking digs at him.
But for now, he could only pretend not to know.
"Then he was the one who broke the rules. Actually, Ninth Master, you could just name your terms. As long as the deal can continue, making up the deposit isn't out of the question."
Unwilling to give up, Ma Qingshan offered Old Ninth a pointed reminder.
His meaning was simple.
As long as Old Ninth agreed to keep trying to kill Ma Fangshan, he could make up the deposit.
All he got in return, however, were three contemptuous looks.
"Someone's already planning to kill the donkey once it's done turning the mill. Why the hell would I do anything?"
Old Ninth shrugged, drew a mahjong tile, and carefully rubbed its face with his fingers.
"With things like this, the deal's definitely off."
"But I'm curious. When Second Master Ma avenges his brother, is he planning to kill Lei Zi?"
With a wicked grin, Old Ninth tossed the tile onto the table.
"Mahjong!"
Ma Qingshan sat up straight and laid his tiles down. "I'm not much of a player, but I like the feeling of winning."
"Ninth Master, I actually like you quite a bit. But you could have been a tile. Why insist on taking a seat at the table?"
"Once you sit down, you're my opponent."
Ma Qingshan delivered the threat without betraying anything.
"If I don't sit down, you'll swallow me up sooner or later." Old Ninth picked up his cigarette pack and tapped it lightly.
A cigarette flew into his mouth.
Bone stepped forward to light it for him.
"Even at the table, you'll lose everything." Ma Qingshan held out his hand. "Pay up, please."
"What did