Ethan instantly felt deflated.
Joanna was indeed not like ordinary women.She was way too smart.She could easily see through him.It wasn't as easy as he thought.
Never mind the other stuff—Ethan had spent the entire evening running around the dock, and he couldn't even find Joanna.
Defeated, that was when he finally went to Ace to gather some intel.
Feeling a little awkward, Ethan tried to change the topic.
"Ace, what are you doing? You're holding a bamboo tube.Are you performing a magic trick?"
Ace ignored Ethan and started to focus on shaking the bamboo tube.
After five or six shakes, a bamboo stick fell to the ground.
The old man picked it up and read the text on the stick, and a complicated expression emerged on his face.
"What are you looking for, young man?" he asked.
"I want to know if she and I still have a chance," Ace said coldly.
Needless to say, by 'she" he was referring to Joanna.
The old man let out a long sigh.
"The breeze comes and goes; the beginning and the end of fate originates from the heart." Ace frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Like the breeze, your fate with her is uncertain.You might say it's over, but it's not completely over.Based on the bamboo stick's inscription, you might have no contact with her whatsoever for the next four years.What happens after four years depends entirely on the two of you.If you miss each other, the energy field will grow, and there's still a chance you might get back together.If either side gives up, fate itself will mark the end of your relationship for good."
The old man's explanation was detailed and straightforward.
"..."
Ace seemed to be deep in thought.He remained silent for a long time.
Ethan, who was listening next to him, was extremely annoyed.
"Tsk.You're a con artist.You might as well have said nothing.You say they're over for good one second and the opposite in the next second.That basically covers both the good and the bad."
Ethan couldn't resist consoling Ace.
"Ace, don't listen to this old man.I've already given the order to seal the entire dock off.No matter where she hides, she won't be able to escape.One of us will find her first.You won't have to wait for four years!"
The old man wasn't upset.He stroked his beard.
"Young man, if you're not happy about what I said, you can draw a bamboo stick of your own."
Ethan reached for the bamboo tube.He closed his eyes and began shaking them.
Soon, a bamboo stick fell out.
"The phoenix has risen from the ash.Romance is a single step away!" Ethan read the words aloud.He couldn't conceal his excitement.
"Hey, this is interesting! According to this, I'm about to get lucky.Will I really be able to win Joanna over?"
The old man chuckled.
"This bamboo stick certainly is one that signifies very good fortune.It's hinting that you'll meet the love of your life tonight."
Ace and Ethan reacted in two drastically different ways upon hearing this.
Ace's facial expression turned extremely cold.
Ethan, on the other hand, had a beaming smile on his face.
"The love of my life...It has to be Joanna!"
Ethan instantly clapped.
"Master, I was wrong.You're way too accurate!"
Oddly enough, Ethan's phone rang.His subordinate told him that Joanna had been found, but it was a little complicated.
Ethan was immediately asked to make his way to the underground casino in the antique market.
"Ace, Joanna is in the underground casino.I guess she's in trouble.For fairness' sake, let's quickly make our way there together.Whoever rescues her first gets to be with her.What do you say?"
After finishing his sentence, Ethan ran off the same way he did before.
"How childish!"
Ace rubbed his temples and shook his head speechlessly.However, he was a little worried that something bad might happen to Joanna.He stood up and prepared to leave.
The old man stopped him.
"Young man, that is your friend's fate.You don't have to get involved.Why don't you stay here and browse through these treasures? Perhaps, something you buy might one day become the thing that brings you and the love of your life together."
It was strange.
Whereas others would've thought this old man was making nonsense up, Ace trusted him and stayed.He scanned the things on display, and that was when a silk object caught his eye.
To be more precise, the art on the silk object caught his attention.
"How much is this?" Ace asked.
"Since you and I met by fate, I'll sell it to you for a dollar.Consider it as a payment for drawing the bamboo stick."
The old man then put the silk object in a box and handed it to Ace.
"You've got a good eye.This silk object is very lucky to have found you as its owner."
"Thank you."
Ace accepted it.
Although he still had many questions, he recalled that Joanna's situation was still unclear.He stopped talking and quickly made his way to the underground casino.
The underground casino below Water Dock's antique market was a dangerous place.It was a place unbounded by the rule of law, where only the size of one's fists mattered.
This place was dark, bloody, and full of violence.
Countless lives were taken here.
Ace couldn't understand why Joanna would come to a place like this.She was constantly looking for trouble! It was very crowded in the underground casino.
There was a heavy scent of various types of tobacco present.
One could also smell danger in the air.In this lawless place, anything could be bought and sold.
Gamblers stood around tables with intense gazes in their eyes.
They could make a lot of money with a snap of the fingers, but they could also lose all their money just as quickly.
As soon as Ace walked in, he frowned at the disgusting stench that permeated his nose.
After casually scanning the surroundings, he saw a bloody heart on a casino table that was still beating.
A sexy female dealer in a tight black leather jacket and leather skirt, who also had on a pair of bunny ears pointed at the heart.
"Everyone, listen up.This is a cow's heart that was just extracted.It's still beating.If you eat it raw, it'll improve your stamina and extend your lifespan.You'll need a bit of luck to make it yours...Come on now.Place your bets!"
Everyone began placing their bets.
The dealer swayed her hips from side to side while she rolled the dice.
After the results were announced, a plump man found out he had won.He smiled widely and began gnawing at the heart.His mouth was covered in blood, and everyone cheered.
Feeling sick to his stomach, Ace quickly looked away.
The heart might have belonged to a cow, but it looked no different from a human heart.
The sight of it was revolting.
When Ace looked away, he saw other similar gambles taking place.It didn't look like the human world.It looked more like hell where demons roamed.
He'd heard that the underground casino in Water Dock was famous for the wrong reasons, but he didn't know it was this bad.
Ace's haloemia was kicking in.He found it increasingly difficult to breathe, and his head was getting heavy.He probably wouldn't even last for a minute longer.
After taking a deep breath, he forced himself to keep searching.