ch 36. Admiring the Flower Through Red Cloud's; Hearts Filled With Sympathy

The words that came out of Hua Cheng's mouth were very condescending and disrespectful. But when he spoke, the man in question did not care at all the ridicule he kept saying, and did not dare to fight. The officer who brought Xie Lian to the long table smiled, "Young master, you are very lucky today."

Xie Lian never looked away from the long table and then said, "How so?"

"Our master is here to play," the clerk replied, "For only the last few days he seems to want to come and stop by here, so isn't this good luck?"

With his tone of voice, Xie Lian could say that the servant respected his 'master' very much and idolized him, as if just seeing his figure was the greatest honor. Xie Lian couldn't help but smile and nod.

The screen curtain looked so light and easily fluttered, the red silhouette behind the curtain looked very charming. In front of the red curtain there are some charming women who face the gambling table, composing a picture of glamor and sensuality. At first Xie Lian was satisfied just by watching from behind where she was now, but as soon as she heard Hua Cheng's voice, she began trying to push herself through the crowd there without raising awareness that she was in the middle of that place. Finally, he made it to the long table and saw the man who was gambling.

The man is a human. Xie Lian was not surprised, because it was already known that in the Ghost Town, there were not only ghosts; there are also many cultivators with quite high skills and sometimes, there are some ordinary people who are quite stupid looking for their own deaths. The man gambling wore a mask, but his eyes were still visible, protruding and red as if his eyes were bleeding; his lips were pale as if he had not seen the sun for days. He is a picture that really resembles a ghost more than the actual ghost present at that place.

His hands were pressed tightly against the black wooden dice cup on the table, and after holding back for a moment, he shouted ignoringly, "But ... how is it possible even someone who could have previously risked both of his legs?"

One of the bookies officers who was in front of the red curtain smiled, "The person who was once a famous bandit is known for his light leg movements and the ability to fly wherever he goes. That is the essence of his life, so his feet deserve to be You are not a craftsman or medical staff, what's the use of risking your arm? "

The man gritted his teeth, "Then ... I bet my daughter's only life is worth ten years!"

Xie Lian was stunned to hear those words and thought, 'Where is a father who would bet on his children's lives? Is that possible?'

Behind the curtain, Hua Cheng just snorted, "Alright."

From that response, Xie Lian didn't know if it was only his imagination, but he could feel the coldness from those words. But then he added and thought in his heart, 'San Lang always said that his luck was good, and all his lucky sticks produced the best of any luck. If he bet with this stupid guy, wouldn't he definitely win and take ten years of life from that guy's daughter? '

He only had those thoughts when the bookie announced the results in a sweet tone, "There will even be a loss; the odd dice will win. After the cup opens, there will be no turning back. Now please."

So Hua Cheng himself would not bet on the gambling table. The man shook the gambling cup carelessly, his hands clasped the cup hard, and the hall calmed down. Crunchy dice sounds could be heard loud and crisp. Then, the movements slow down until it stops. Silence enveloped the place.

After a while, the man with slow movements - very slowly - lifted the corner of the gambling cup and peered through the gap there. His red eyes suddenly widened.

He opened the cup and shouted with joy, "ODD! ODD! ODD !! I WIN! I WIN! HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH I'VE WIN !!! I'VE WIN !!!!!"

This was not the result that the crowd of people and ghosts wanted to see around the long table and they began to mock the man, slap the table, and shout their dissatisfaction. One of the bookies smiled and said, "Congratulations. The fate of your business will change soon."

The man burst out laughing and shouted, "Wait! I want to bet again!"

The gambling dealer smiled, "Please. What do you want this time?"

The man's face looked down, and said, "I want, I want everyone who competes with me in my business to die!"

The crowd gathered there began to murmur and click their tongues. The gambling dealer then raises his hand to cover his smile, "If that is your wish then it is far more difficult to fulfill than your previous wish. Don't you want to ask for another wish such as asking for a business that you have to develop?"

But the man answered with red eyes, "No! I just want that! That's why I bet!"

"Then, if that's your wish, ten years of your daughter's life might not be enough." The Bandar said again.

"If that's not enough, I'll bet twenty years of his life! And ... And what's more important is the fate of his marriage!"

The crowd looked stunned and burst out laughing, "That one father has lost his mind! He sold his daughter !!"

"Amazing, amazing !!"

The gambling dealer then said again, "There will even be a loss, the odd dice will win. Once the cup is open, there will be no turning back. Now please."

The man took the gambling cup once more, his hands shaking. If he loses, his daughter will lose twenty years of her life and a good marriage, obviously not ideal; but if he wins, then all his competitors will die? Even though Xie Lian thought Hua Cheng would never let such a thing happen, after many doubts, he still stepped forward. He just wondered if if he should join using a few small tricks when suddenly, someone grabbed it. He turned to see who that person was and he found out that it was Shi Qing Xuan.

Shi Qing Xuan had returned to her male form, and whispered, "Don't be in a hurry."

Xie Lian whispered back, "Master, Wind Master, why did you change your form again?"

"That's a long story," Shi Qing Xuan sighed, "The group of female ghosts dragged me around and said that they would introduce me to a good beauty salon. I finally escaped but they later returned to arrest me again, so I had to go back. dragged me to that place, there they smeared my face with a lot of things that I didn't know from what they were; they pulled it, stretched it, slapped it, hit it fast, check my face! How was that? Did you see anything wrong with my face? "

He pushed his face right in front of Xie Lian to be examined, and Xie Lian obediently examined his face in detail before answering honestly, "I think your face looks smoother and whiter than before."

Shi Qing Xuan immediately changed her expression to become brighter, "Really? Oh good! Very beautiful! Hahahaha! Is there a mirror? Where is the mirror? I want to see for myself!"

"You can see it later," Xie Lian replied, "Ghost Towns are blocking our spiritual communication, so don't let us lose each other again and be separated. By the way, how do you know I'm here, Mr. Wind Master?"

"I do not know!" Shi Qing Xuan replied, "I came here because Qian Qiu and I agreed to meet here. When we lost each other before, I decided to come here, but when I entered, it turned out you were here too!"

"Qian Qiu?" Xie Lian asked, "Meeting here?"

"Yes." Shi Qing Xuan replied, "Qian Qiu is Lang Qian Qiu, His Excellency Tai Hua. At least you know that, right? He is a martial god who rules the east. Because we are here, it's better if he also comes. Gambling House is one of the busiest and most chaotic places in Ghost Town. The southeastern part of Ghost Town. Many people and ghosts keep coming in and out of this place, making it less obvious to us, so I told him to meet us here. "

Xie Lian nodded. When he turned back to the long table before, the man still hadn't opened the cup; his eyes rolled back and he murmured, not many ghosts were there. Xie Lian sighed, "This man."

Shi Qing Xuan said as he raised his face, "I know what you want to say, and I agree. But, Ghost City is the territory of Hua Cheng, and the rules here must all be obeyed voluntarily. If you are willing to bet then you can play. The heavens can't do anything. Let's just observe, and we can find something if something goes wrong. "

Xie Lian hummed, thinking it was impossible if San Lang let anything get out of control, so it was better to just watch. The gambler man finally seemed to muster up enough courage and only to open the gambling cup a little and peek to reveal the results. At that time, someone seemed to enter the place, close the gambling cup back there with a punch, and smash it into pieces!

The blow not only destroyed the gambling cup there, but also the hand that was on it, and the entire table was crushed and broken with a large, deep hole.

The masked man embraced his broken hand and rolled on the floor screaming. The ghostly crowd also started screaming, some started cheering, and some cried in surprise. The person who attacked the place then shouted, "You! How wicked your heart is! If you want prosperity and wealth, it doesn't matter, but do you want other people to die? If you want to bet then do it with your own life, and not life and marriage. your daughter! You don't deserve to be a man! Don't deserve to be a father! "

The young man had sword-shaped eyebrows and star-like eyes, full of heroic aura. Although his clothes looked so simple and did not show the slightest luxury, the air of nobility that he had could not be hidden. That young man is none other than the noble crown prince Yong An - Lang Qian Qiu!

Seeing it, Xie Lian and Shi Qing Xuan both covered their own faces at the same time in the crowd.

Xie Lian groaned, "... Mr. Wind Master, did you ... not tell him ... to be a little more careful when coming here, and keep it low?"

Shi Qing Xuan whined again, "I ... I told her, but ... she's always like that ... what can I do. If I knew something like this would happen before ... I would plan ... us to go down together before. "

Xie Lian looked sympathetic, "I understand. I understand."

At that moment, Hua Cheng chuckled from behind the curtain.

Xie Lian's heart beat fast. The boy laughed a lot when he was with Xie Lian before, so now Xie Lian can find out if that laugh really means happiness, ridicule, or a laugh that is mixed with killing intent.

A voice then sounded lazily, "You seem to have the guts to start trouble in my area."

Lang Qian Qiu turned to face the sound, the fire in his eyes still burning, "Are you the owner of this gambling house?"

The crowd gathered there began to mock, "Stupid bastard, do you know who you are talking to? This is our master."

Some people in the crowd began to sneer coldly, "He not only owns this Gambling House, this whole Ghost Town area is his!"

Lang Qian Qiu barely showed any reaction, but Shi Qing Xuan, on the other hand, was truly shocked, "My God, is the person behind the curtain the same as the person I am thinking of?"

Xie Lian replied, "Yes ... that's him."

Shi Qing Xuan asked again, "Are you sure?"

Xie Lian answered, "I'm sure."

Shi Qing Xuan looked panicked, "We will definitely die, we will die! Oh! What should we do about Qian Qiu now ?!"

Xie Lian said after a while, "... Hopefully he doesn't show his true identity."

However, the more Lang Qian Qiu looked at the crowd around him, he seemed to become even more angry, and then demanded, "This hellish place is filled with smoke and corruption, and filled with demonic chaos. What kind of trash are you? What do you think? what are you doing here? Running a place like this, you really don't have a trace of humanity in you. "

The crowd scoffed at what Lang Qian Qiu had said in unison, "We are indeed not human, for what do we need something like that human feeling? Such useless ideas, anyone who wants them can take them!"

"Who do you think you are, coming all the way here just to blame us all!"

Hua Cheng said amusedly, "My place is a place filled with so much madness. There is a way for you in Heaven, but you refuse to take it and instead choose to break into Hell. What should we do with you now?"

After hearing the word 'heaven', Xie Lian and Shi Qing Xuan knew and realized it.

Hua Cheng had seen through Lang Qian Qiu and he now knew exactly where it came from.

However, Lang Qian Qiu completely lost the meaning behind his words or maybe an idiot and then he slammed his hand on the table once more. He stood at the end of the long table, and with that one strike, he made all parts of the long table immediately fly to the red shadow behind the curtain. Those who had originally gathered and were still clustered around the long table then avoided to the side. However, the red silhouette that still seemed to sit behind the curtain did not move at all. With just a wave of his hand, the long table was thrown back in the opposite direction, heading towards Lang Qian Qiu.

Seeing the flying object heading towards him, Lang Qian Qiu used one hand to push it back but then realized that using only one hand was not enough and switched to using both hands. The gripping seconds passed and a bluish vein gradually appeared on his forehead. The hall that previously looked crowded and filled with various crowds both ghosts and humans, now after the incident they all fled and looked for a suitable hiding place for them to hide. Xie Lian and Shi Qing Xuan who hadn't shown themselves at all seemed to be debating whether they should intervene to help Lang Qian Qiu or let him solve the problem himself. Because they have not been exposed at all, they can continue to help in the dark, but if they walk out of where they are and openly help them, they will risk being caught together.

On the other hand, Lang Qian Qiu seemed to sigh hard and finally pushed back the long and heavy table for the second time. Behind the red curtain, the figure of Hua Cheng still leaned back in his chair. He arched his five fingers into a fist and then let go lightly. Instantly, the long table which was pushed back towards him now exploded into sawdust and flew straight towards Lang Qian Qiu.

The force of the gust caused by the explosion carried out by Hua Cheng was filled with wood chips as sharp as a knife, looking even scarier than any weapon. If Lang Qian Qiu kept his strength hidden and remained in his fanatic form, he would not be able to avoid that attack no matter what he did. So, after a while, when his body began to emit a faint light, Xie Lian and Shi Qing Xuan immediately understood that something would happen and both of them looked panicked, "Oh no, he will reveal his true form!"

But that layer of light suddenly disappeared once it appeared. Lang Qian Qiu might remember that he shouldn't reveal his identity during this trip and he managed to make himself aware of that goal at the last second before quickly pulling back his strength. Even though Lang Qian Qiu had taken a step back, Hua Cheng on the other hand, did not do it. The figure wrapped in a dark red color that seemed to sit casually behind the red curtain made another hand gesture. This time, he pressed his fingers and lightly flicked them up.

With this one movement, Lang Qian Qiu's body was lifted up from the ground. Looking like a starfish, his body hung on the ceiling of the Gambling House's hall.

Unaware of what had just happened, Lang Qian Qiu was still very confused about how he suddenly began to float and struggle to free himself. Xie Lian sighed in defeat, "Now that his strength has been sealed, even if he wants to use it, that's impossible."

Shi Qing Xuan agreed, "Because Ghost Town is Hua Cheng's territory, if he wants to seal his strength, then he can do it easily."

Even though Lang Qian Qiu had carried out an attack in front of the crowd before, at least there was a reward that could be obtained from his actions, which was a fact that his identity would be protected. If he continued fighting at that time and unleashed his strength, it would be difficult to explain why Tai Hua-ZhenJun, the Eastern god of martial arts, would come to Ghost Town to wreak havoc there. After all, for all these years, unless it was something extraordinary, Heaven and Hell both thought of their own business and affairs. But...

Seeing that now the uninvited guest who had previously broken into and attacked the Gambling House has now been successfully detained, the crowd that had fled before now seemed to have returned and gathered in the hall again. They pointed at Lang Qian Qiu who was now held there and then they laughed. Lang Qian Qiu himself had never experienced this kind of humiliation before, and his face looked flushed when he wordlessly struggled against the invisible bonds that held him back. From time to time, the devil from below will jump in an attempt to pat his head. Fortunately, Hua Cheng hung him quite high, out of reach of anyone, or he would be the most embarrassing figure of the century. Hua Cheng chuckled from behind the curtain, "An interesting catch today, I will let you play with him. Anyone who is lucky and gets a big win can take him home to bake."

The cheers that erupted in the hall were endless, "Bet on the round! Let's bet! The highest round can bring it home to bake!"

"Aiyaya, this little gege looks really delicious, hehehehe .."

"Hahahahahaha, who is the fool now! That will teach you because you have so boldly caused trouble here!"

The four masked guards seemed to be carrying a new long table and the previous crowd seemed to be flocking to the place once again to start the next betting round. The masked man who previously held his hand and howled on the ground was long forgotten. The bet this time was none other than Lang Qiang Qiu who was being held in the air. Seeing the people on the other end looking furious, Shi Qing Xuan felt anxious and kept pacing, waving her arms aimlessly, "What should we do? Should we go up and win it back? Or is it better to fight?"

Xie Lian asked, "Master Wind Master, how is your luck?"

Shi Qing Xuan replied, "Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad. There's no certainty in something like luck."

Xie Lian said, "Maybe there is. For example, look at me, I've never been lucky."

Shi Qing Xuan gaped, "Is that bad?"

Xie Lian nodded grimly, "Every time I spin that bet, the most often I get is a snake's eye."

Shi Qing Xuan furrowed his eyebrows, but an idea came to him in an instant and he then slapped his thigh, "How about this. Because the most you can get is a snake's eye, then you have to bet on the lowest number. There's no way anyone can roll it more. lower than you. With your bad luck level I think you are more promising! "

"..." After a while of considering the plan, Xie Lian agreed, "You have good points. Let me try."

So, after that he then found a place near the table and threw a suggestion, "Why not change the rules a little and see who can roll with the smallest value? Whoever succeeds in rolling with the lowest value is the winner, how about that? "

The crowd around the table looked so chaotic, some seemed to agree, and some seemed to disagree. Xie Lian decided to take two dice and try them first.

Before he rolled it, he chanted a prayer in his heart, 'small, small, small.' The dice is thrown, and both of them bend down to see it.

Two sixes!

Xie Lian: "..." Ah!

Shi Qing Xuan: "..."

Xie Lian rubbed his forehead with a defeat, "It seems that even making changes to the rules won't be able to change my luck."

Shi Qing Xuan then seemed to mimic Xie Lian's movements and then said, "Maybe it's better if we just fight."

Right at that moment, a bookies officer walked towards the red curtain and bowed as if trying to hear what the figure behind the curtain said. He seemed to nod, raise his head and announce an announcement to the crowd there, "Everyone, can I ask for your attention. Master has an announcement to make and tell you all."

Hearing that the lord had something to say, the crowd there immediately dropped all the objects they were holding and then fell silent. The clerk continued, "Master said to change the rules."

Instantly several chats broke out in the crowd, "Sir is the rule itself!"

"The rule is whatever the master orders!"

"What do we change it for?"

The bookie clerk answered, "The master said that he was in a good mood today and wanted to play a few rounds with everyone here. Anyone is free to bet against him. Anyone who wins can bring home objects up there. Either if you guys want to steam it, boil it, fry it or marinate it, it's up to you. "

Hearing that they would bet against their master, all the ghosts and devils began to think twice about doing it. It seemed that Hua Cheng had never really stepped in to bet with them. Of all those who previously seemed to dare to volunteer and bet, no one dared to come and step first. Above them, Lang Qian Qiu seemed still struggling with endless determination. He barked, "What do you mean by 'things'? I'm not things or anything! You dare to use me as a bet?"

His statement not to call it an 'object' has now been heard by many female devils in the crowd. They looked giggling, they gave them lewd expressions while licking their sharp and bloody tongues on their lips as if they wanted to swallow them alive. Xie Lian thought, 'Huh ... this kid. It would be better if you talked less. '

He sighed, stepped forward, and said softly, "If that's the case, then, let me try first."

After hearing his voice, the shadow behind the red curtain seemed to be silent and stopped for a moment before slowly standing up.

The bookies clerk in front of the curtain then smiled, "Then, please come here, young master."

Inside the Gambling House hall, devils and ghosts automatically give way to this brave soldier. When Xie Lian reached the end of the road, the bookie clerk looked to give a black gambling cup which he held to Xie Lian and said, "Go ahead."

For all the gamblers before, he always used a casual way of speaking. Apart from the ordinary words he uttered, his tone sounded not polite in the slightest. However, now, for Xie Lian, not only did he switch to using his honorifics, but his tone of voice sounded very polite and respectful. Xie Lian received the black gambling cup from the hand of the previous bookie dealer with a thank you and lightly cleared his throat.

Because he had never had experience with anything like gambling, he shook the black cup randomly for a while and pretended to know a thing or two about the world of gambling. As he moved his hands, he raised his head and glanced at Lang Qian Qiu who was hanging there.

Lang Qian Qiu's eyes opened wide when he saw him, staring at him for a moment like a puppy looking at his helper and fortunately, he didn't make any sound. His expression somehow made Xie Lian want to laugh, but he held back. After shaking the cup for a long time, he finally stopped.

Countless pairs of eyes looked fixedly at the black cup filled with dice in his hand and Xie Lian felt that somehow, this little gambling cup had gained weight. He did not know if there was a right way to turn it over. However, right when he was about to reveal the results, the bookie clerk then stopped him, "Wait."

"Is there something?" Xie Lian asked.

The clerk replied, "The master said that your posture when shaking the dice is not right at all."

Xie Lian thought, 'Is there really a correct way to do this? Was all my previous bad luck really just because of my bad posture? '

He asked humbly, "May I ask what the correct posture is?"

The clerk answered, "The lord has invited you to come up because he is willing to teach you."

After hearing that, the crowd of ghosts and devils inside the hall began to voice their dissatisfaction.

Xie Lian heard a devil murmuring, "I never thought you would teach him, does that mean he will die?"

"You want to do what ??? Who is he ??? Why do you have to teach him ???"

"Isn't that the usual posture we always do to shake the cup? How could there be a correct way to do this?"

Xie Lian also wanted to ask the same question, but the clerk had directed him to walk into the red curtain, "Go ahead."

Thus, Xie Lian arrived in front of the red curtain with a black wooden gambling cup held in his hand.

The silk curtain swayed gently, almost looking like it gave life to the red silhouette. The person behind the red curtain seemed to stand right in front of him with a distance of only half an arm between the two. Xie Lian held her breath as a hand began to open the thick red curtain and landed perfectly underneath it, propping up the gambling cup held by Xie Lian.

This is a right hand, looks white and looks elegant; the slender fingers had a red string tied around their third finger.

Against the pitch-black wooden cup held by Xie Lian, the color of his white skin looked paler and the red color was even clearer. Slowly, Xie Lian raised her eyes. A young man of about eighteen or nineteen years quietly stood behind the silk curtain that looked like a red cloud.

That is San Lang.

His clothes were still as red as maple leaves, the same as before, and his skin looked as white as snow. That unique face still has the same good looks, with the expression of a teenager who now looks a little clearer. The shame from childhood has turned into calm. He brings a wild atmosphere and aura full of desire to play freely that cannot be tamed. The same eyes as before now still looked so twinkling like stars that never moved away from Xie Lian.

Although those eyes look as bright as stars, there is only one left eye.

The others seemed to be hidden behind a black eye patch.