Gambling

After the business with Shen Fenglin, Bai Yujing truly felt no lingering attachment to that jade pendant; seeing it now, his first instinct was to scan their surroundings.

Since Liuming was here, there was no need to guess the identities of the masked men and women beside him, despite their altered auras.

Bai Yujing poked his head out a bit further, preparing to observe more closely, when Xuan Lie actually stepped forward toward the group.

Wait, wait, wait—what does this man think he’s doing? Didn’t he say before that they couldn’t afford to startle the snake in the grass?

The group was clearly communicating via divine sense. Seeing Xuan Lie approach, they stopped simultaneously and turned to eye the newcomer with wary suspicion.

This man wore a black-gold mask that exuded an intense pressure. He was clearly a “Heaven-tier” customer of the Ruyi Pavilion; perhaps he knew something.

Liuming hesitated for a moment before taking the initiative to speak. “Does Fellow Daoist intend to invite us to a wager?”

Xuan Lie was blunt. “I’ll bet for the jade pendant in your hand.”

Bai Yujing froze.

Liuming also paused, glancing down at the pendant on his wrist. “Very well. But what does Fellow Daoist intend to stake?”

Xuan Lie remained silent. He reached out and, from the red jade ring around the small snake’s wrist, withdrew a bottle of Supreme-grade Soul-Returning Pills.

Bai Yujing coiled his belly uncomfortably, inwardly cursing the man. How can he just take things back as he pleases after giving them away? Does he have no gifting ethics at all!

Liuming’s group felt their breath hitch. Their eyes grew feverish in unison.

“…This hollow stone really knows how to manipulate human nature,” Bai Yujing grumbled internally, though a realization began to dawn on him.

Since they reacted so strongly to the Soul-Returning Pills, they likely weren’t here for the “Immortal Seed,” but rather to save Shen Fenglin.

Thinking of this, Bai Yujing observed their environment from within Xuan Lie’s sleeve.

According to the guide’s earlier introduction, the Ruyi Pavilion was divided into different zones based on the format of the gamble. This area should be the Proverbs Zone.

The rules of the Proverbs Zone were simple: both parties sat facing the Proverb Stone. During the match, they would question each other. When facing a question, one must speak the truth, or they would be judged the loser.

This type of gamble was actually a contest of one’s ability to manipulate human nature—a test of who could find the opponent’s weakness fastest.

At the same time, according to what Su Jiushao had previously disclosed, this format was frequently used within the Babao to gather intelligence.

If both parties confirmed that the other held information they needed, they might not rush to end the game. Instead, they would tactfully exchange information until one or both parties were satisfied.

Therefore, the fact that Liuming’s group had been standing here for so long meant they were likely here for information.

As for what information exactly… he would know as soon as Xuan Lie asked.

With that thought, Bai Yujing found a comfortable spot in the sleeve to lean against, settling in to enjoy the show.

Liuming was likely communicating with the others via divine sense. After a moment, he stepped aside and gestured. “Very well. After you, Fellow Daoist.”

The two entered the nearest Heaven-tier private room and sat on opposite sides of the golden Proverb Stone.

Xuan Lie glanced at the stone on the table and signaled for Liuming to take the first move.

From start to finish, he had only spoken that single initial sentence. His entire being exuded a cold, condescending indifference.

Due to his poor cultivation, Liuming was extremely sensitive to the attitudes of others. Seeing this, a flicker of resentment rose in his heart.

However, he remained composed when he spoke, hiding his true objective. “May I ask why Fellow Daoist has come here?”

Xuan Lie replied, “To please someone.”

The Proverb Stone did not light up.

Liuming felt a secret sense of relief, followed by a surge of mockery. This man looks profound and mysterious, but it turns out he’s just a mediocre fool trying to please a pampered wife.

Hearing this, Bai Yujing’s cheeks suddenly felt hot. He couldn’t help but shake his head, only to have his crown pressed down by Xuan Lie to stop the movement. Then, Xuan Lie’s voice rang out: “And why have you come?”

…This loathsome bastard!

Liuming paused. Thinking that his identity was hidden by the mask and no one would recognize him, he actually said directly: “To save my master.”

As expected.

Bai Yujing, his head pressed down, lay flattened against the back of Xuan Lie’s hand. He wondered if Shen Fenglin was among that group.

However, he quickly reached a conclusion—Shen Fenglin was likely not there. If he truly had the ability to retreat unscathed from Xuan Lie, he wouldn’t have needed to be so secretive before.

Just as Bai Yujing was pondering how Shen Fenglin could have survived with his foundation shattered, he suddenly stiffened, his eyes widening in disbelief.

This lewd stone… what is he touching so carelessly in front of outsiders?!

Well-defined fingers slid from the snake’s head all the way down, brushing past the jade ring to familiarly stroke that section of the plump snake-belly where two scales were missing.

However, Xuan Lie’s hand faltered the moment he touched it. Realizing why the scales were missing from that spot, his expression instantly darkened.

“…”

Bai Yujing’s whole body trembled. The entire snake nearly fainted from the touch.

That area was already sensitive; now, without the protection of scales, the unspeakable stimulation turned his vision white. By the time he regained his senses, that disgraceful snake-belly had unconsciously flipped over, nuzzling Xuan Lie’s hand like a spoiled kitten.

Bai Yujing was instantly fuming at his own body’s betrayal. In a fit of humiliated rage, he lunged and bit, instantly tearing a wound into Xuan Lie’s wrist.

Xuan Lie seemed to feel no pain. He flipped his hand to catch the small snake’s jaw, forcing it open, and then began to tease the little snake’s tongue.

Fresh blood from the wound flowed down his fingertips and into the snake’s mouth. Bai Yujing was about to explode in fury, but he was instantly stunned into a daze by the familiar, delicious taste.

Blood? How can this stone bleed?

…No, it’s Essence Blood.

Why does Xuan Lie still have Essence Blood? Didn’t I spend all last night feeding on him without draining him dry?

Bai Yujing’s heart was full of curses, but his face was quickly beguiled by the scalding, savory flavor in his mouth.

The little snake began to suck on the fingers in a daze. Even his tense belly gradually relaxed, unconsciously pressing against the man’s cold, hard arm.

So delicious… it’s almost addictive…

At the gambling table, Xuan Lie threw out several questions in succession, roughly confirming their purpose for being there. Liuming, however, had failed to get any useful information out of him and was becoming increasingly agitated.

Bai Yujing had just barely recovered a shred of reason after his meal when he heard Liuming’s voice turn somber. “May I ask what race Your Excellency belongs to?”

Xuan Lie: “Spirit Race.”

Bai Yujing couldn’t help but frown inwardly. He didn’t understand why Liuming was asking such an irrelevant question.

The answer was true; the Proverb Stone did not light up. Xuan Lie asked, “What is the item you require?”

Liuming: “A type of Ultimate Substance.”

The Five Elements—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—corresponded to five Ultimate Substances: Black Iron, Primordial Wood, Weak Water, Deviant Fire, and Living Soil.

Shen Fenglin possessed a single Fire Root. The item he needed would either be for nourishment or suppression—nothing more than Deviant Fire or Weak Water.

Liuming followed up immediately. “Does Fellow Daoist have any of the Five Elements Ultimate Substances in your possession?”

Xuan Lie: “I do not.”

Bai Yujing was stunned. The bracelet Xuan Lie gave him contained enough Weak Water to fill an entire inland sea, and the quantities of the other four elements were equally staggering.

This man is lying through his teeth, so why isn’t the Proverb Stone reacting? Is he a relative of the stone? Can he actually deceive it?

…Wait.

Bai Yujing suddenly realized a possibility that left his brain momentarily blank.

Items given away theoretically no longer belonged to Xuan Lie. If he had placed all the Ultimate Substances inside that jade bracelet, then strictly speaking, he wasn’t lying.

But the items stored in that bracelet were enough to fill several small worlds. Bai Yujing hadn’t looked closely. Following this logic, could it be that the other things—

“…”

The little snake went silent. Even his previous shame and irritation faded slightly.

Hearing this, Liuming lost all interest and planned to end the gamble as quickly as possible. However, he clearly still wanted that bottle of Supreme-grade Soul-Returning Pills and was unwilling to simply admit defeat.

Just as he was considering how to break the stalemate, Xuan Lie asked, “Besides the Ultimate Substance, what else do you seek?”

Hearing this, Liuming assumed Xuan Lie simply didn’t have the Ultimate Substance and wanted to trade for something else. He gave a disdainful smile beneath his mask, his voice tinged with arrogance. “The other items sought are all Immortal Artifacts; I fear they are beyond reach.”

That said, when it was his turn to ask, Liuming fell silent for a long while before suddenly smiling.

Seeing this, Bai Yujing completely forgot to be angry with Xuan Lie. His heart immediately went on high alert.

“I have heard that the Spirit Race is naturally heartless…” Liuming paused. “May I ask: between the grudge of a murdered father and the hatred of a stolen wife, which cuts deeper into Fellow Daoist’s marrow?”

The malice in these words was sickening.

The Spirit Race was born of heaven and earth, without parents. Unless they manifested a “Spirit Heart,” most spirits could never have a Dao companion in their entire lives.

Bai Yujing was furious, nearly baring his fangs from within the sleeve.

Liuming had clearly won many gambles using this method. Most people, hearing such a targeted and malicious inquiry, would likely fly into a rage and choose to forfeit their stakes rather than answer directly.

The cultivators who lost to him might plan for revenge after leaving the Ruyi Pavilion, but Liuming clearly possessed some bizarre item gifted by Shen Fenglin, making him utterly reckless and without scruples.

Now, having thrown out his question, he leaned back in his seat with an air of absolute certainty.

However, just as Bai Yujing thought Xuan Lie would answer that neither was important, the other man said coldly:

“The hatred of a stolen wife.”

The Proverb Stone remained dark.

Bai Yujing stiffened subtly, his eyes widening in disbelief.

Liuming also seemed not to have expected a direct answer. He froze for a moment, only to hear the opponent ask: “To which element does the Ultimate Substance you require belong?”

Liuming snapped back to his senses. His expression darkened, perhaps caught up in the heat of the gamble and still unwilling to lose. “Water.”

Then it was indeed Weak Water.

Although Weak Water was precious, it was used widely in alchemy and smithing. Many sought it, so Liuming clearly believed that revealing this wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

The gamble continued. When the turn to question returned to Liuming, he lowered his head and pondered for a moment.

A premonition of disaster suddenly surged in Bai Yujing’s heart, causing his scales to prickle slightly.

This man, Liuming, could be considered talented, but his mind was crooked. It had taken him over three hundred years just to reach Foundation Establishment. Perhaps long-term frustration had twisted his psyche; he often made lewd jokes regarding female cultivators, the contents of which were mostly disgusting…

Before Bai Yujing could finish his thought, his premonition was vindicated.

“May I ask, Fellow Daoist… if your beloved wife remarried another after your death, and you were unfortunate enough in your next life to encounter her wedding to that man…”

Liuming leaned forward slightly, whispering across the table. “What would you do?”

As soon as these words were spoken, a bizarre silence fell over the table.

Before Xuan Lie could even speak, Bai Yujing was already consumed by rage.

The Spirit Race was formed from inanimate matter; they lacked the three souls and seven po, and naturally had no afterlife. If they died, their Dao vanished.

Liuming’s hypothetical was steeped in low-brow malice—it was utterly revolting!

Just as Bai Yujing was beyond words with fury, Xuan Lie said coldly, “I have no next life. My beloved wife is young; remarrying would be a matter of course.”

“But, if I have not died and were to witness such a thing—”

“I would, at the wedding feast, grind the adulterer’s bones to dust, scatter the ashes of those who watched for entertainment, and then take my wife back home for… further discipline.”

“…”

Liuming seemed stunned by the inexplicably heavy murderous intent in his words and didn’t speak for a long time.

Bai Yujing was also startled. His reaction was actually stronger than Liuming’s; even the tip of his tail couldn’t help but twitch twice.

Once he regained his senses, he felt a strange mix of shame and anger.

What “beloved wife is young”? A stone that’s lived for god-knows-how-many millennia still wants to marry a beautiful, innocent little wife? Keep dreaming.

And to still think about making someone stay a widow after you’re dead… what a feudalistic bastard.

While Bai Yujing was cursing in his mind, Liuming realized that the “those who watched for entertainment” referred to him, and his face turned cold.

At this point, Xuan Lie had obtained all the information he needed. He clearly lost patience and said bluntly, “How was your master injured?”

Liuming instantly flared up. “None of your business!”

With that, he tore off the jade snake pendant, slammed it onto the table, and stormed off with a flick of his sleeves.

Xuan Lie looked down and picked up the jade snake. He cut away the old red string and replaced it with a new one before hanging it around the little snake’s neck again.

He pushed the jade ring on the snake’s tail back to its original position. Once everything was adjusted, he looked up to meet the little snake’s indignant gaze.

…A bit like a furious house cat wearing a bell.

The white snake slapped his hand away with its tail, gave him another glare, and then slithered out to the seat opposite him, coiling up and transforming into human shape.

The beauty sat with arms crossed. He had a bit less of the vivid rage he showed in his original form, replaced by a “smiling-but-not-smiling” sort of pique.

Xuan Lie pondered for a moment, finally remembering how he had offended the other—it must have been the teasing from earlier.

…To be so angry before he even began the proper kneading; he truly is far too delicate.

Bai Yujing didn’t know what the man in front of him was thinking. He wore a smile, but the words were squeezed out from between his teeth: “Immortal Sovereign, it is still early. Why don’t we have a wager as well?”

Xuan Lie looked at the beauty whose eyes were bright with anger. “What is the stake?”

“The stake shall be—”

“My dream, against your Spirit Heart. How about it?”

“If I lose, the Immortal Sovereign may enter my dream and do as he pleases. However, if you lose…” The wicked little beauty flashed a brilliant smile. “Then pull out that half-piece of Spirit Heart and let me have a look, alright?”

“…Very well. It’s a deal.”

The wager was set; the move made could not be retracted.