As soon as the words were spoken, all eyes fell on Su Miaoyu.
Su Miaoyu’s brows furrowed, and her expression turned grim.
Seizing the opportunity, Tang Le said, "Senior Sister Su, everyone is watching you. Surely you’re not going to act like a deadbeat in front of us all, are you?"
How infuriating! Su Miaoyu trembled with fury. She never imagined she would be cornered like this today.
Still, she put on an indifferent expression and said nonchalantly, "It’s merely ten million Superior Spirit Stones. For someone like me, who is held in high regard by the Martial Ancestor, that amount is nothing. Why would I ever welsh on a bet?"
"That’s for the best." Tang Le chuckled and extended his hand toward Su Miaoyu. "Then please settle the wager, Senior Sister Su. Ten million Superior Spirit Stones, not a single one less!"
With a cold expression, Su Miaoyu handed her Earth Martial Pearls over to Tang Le. However, her entire fortune was only worth a mere 100,000 Superior Spirit Stones. It wasn’t even a fraction of the 10,000,000 she owed.
"Senior Sister Su, this isn’t nearly enough, is it?" Tang Le asked, staring at her with a faint smile.
"That’s what happens when you’re too greedy for your own good. Serves you right!" Long Xin sneered.
Su Miaoyu said coldly, "My last closed-door cultivation session used up quite a few of my Earth Martial Pearls. How about this? I’ll write you an IOU for now, and I’ll repay the rest gradually."
"Is that so?" Tang Le stroked his chin, mulling it over.
"Rest assured," Su Miaoyu said, practically gnashing her teeth, "I, Su Miaoyu, am a woman of my word. I will never default on my debt!"
"Then write the IOU and set a deadline," Long Chen said coldly. "If she cannot repay the remaining 9,900,000 Superior Spirit Stones by the deadline, her limbs will be severed to settle the rest of the debt."
Hearing this, Su Miaoyu’s expression went rigid.
She glared at Long Chen icily. "This is between me and this fatso. Since when did you have the right to butt in and bark like a dog?"
Tang Le immediately interjected, "Senior Sister Su, Brother Long is my backer. Of course he has the right to make decisions."
What? The corners of Su Miaoyu’s mouth twitched violently. Only now did she realize that Long Chen had orchestrated this entire bet from the very beginning. It was already too late.
"Senior Sister Su, the IOU is ready. Please affix your thumbprint."
Tang Le moved quickly, presenting an IOU to Su Miaoyu in just a few seconds.
Staring at the terms on the note, Su Miaoyu’s heart filled with rage. She roared at Long Chen, "You despicable bastard!"
Long Chen replied indifferently, "You can choose not to sign. I don’t mind if you sever your own limbs right here and now instead."
"Long Chen, don’t go too far!" she seethed. "I will get you back for this, and I’ll make you pay double!"
Suppressing her rage, Su Miaoyu bit her finger and pressed a bloody thumbprint onto the IOU before storming away in disgrace.
As for the other bettors, they too had to turn over all their accumulated wealth. Those who made large wagers, in particular, had to write IOUs to cover their losses.
The students from the Earth Institute were furious, but what could they do? With Chu Lingjun watching from the side, none of them dared to act rashly.
Gazing at the massive pile of Earth Martial Pearls, Tang Le grinned from ear to ear. "Brother Long, we really struck it rich this time."
"I just did a quick calculation. We’ve earned twenty million Earth Martial Pearls! What a rush!" he exclaimed. "It’s a good thing I listened to you earlier. Otherwise, I would’ve missed out on all these Earth Martial Pearls."
"You two are unbelievably audacious," Chen Yao said, shaking her head with a sigh of relief.
"Long Xin, we should be going," Chu Lingjun said, looking at her.
"Sister Lingjun, my brother is injured. I want to stay by his side and take care of him," Long Xin replied, reluctant to leave Long Chen.
"Don’t forget, you have more important things to do," Chu Lingjun said calmly.
"Xin’er, you should go. I’m fine," Long Chen said, patting her head.
"Alright then. You have to take care of yourself," Long Xin insisted.
"Don’t worry," Long Chen nodded.
Only then did Long Xin depart, still reluctant to go.
Before she left, Chu Lingjun glanced at Long Chen. "You’re full of surprises. I’m quite looking forward to seeing what you’ll achieve in the future. However, your actions today have thoroughly offended the Earth Institute. Your coming days in the Human Institute are not likely to be peaceful."