Hua Cheng's words were full of disdain and very rude, but once he spoke, the man didn't dare to argue even if others mocked him. The maid who led Xie Lian said, "Young master, you're really lucky today."
Xie Lian didn't look away and asked, "Why do you say that?"
The maid replied, "Our City Lord rarely comes here to play. It's only these past few days that he's suddenly taken an interest. Isn't that lucky?"
From her tone, it was clear she admired and respected this "City Lord" greatly, and just seeing him was a huge blessing. Xie Lian couldn't help but smile slightly.
The curtain was made of light gauze, casting red shadows.
The scene was charming and romantic. In front of the red curtain stood several beautiful women managing the gambling tables.
Xie Lian initially planned to just stand outside and watch, but after hearing Hua Cheng's voice, he tried to squeeze in but remained silent. He pushed through the crowd and finally saw the man placing bets at the gambling table.
He was a living person. Xie Lian wasn't surprised, as he had mentioned before that the ghost market had not only ghosts but also many human cultivators.
Sometimes, those on the brink of death or those with death wishes would accidentally wander in. This man wore a mask, and his eyes were bloodshot, red as if they would bleed, his lips pale, as if he hadn't seen sunlight for many days. Though alive, he looked more like a ghost than the ghosts present.
He tightly pressed his hands on a black wooden dice cup, hesitated for a while, and seemed to make up his mind, saying, "But... why could that person bet his legs earlier?"
A woman in front of the curtain laughed, "That person was the phantom thief. His legs were his livelihood, traveling everywhere with his amazing skills, so they were worth betting. You're neither a craftsman nor a famous doctor, so what is your hand worth?"
The man gritted his teeth and said, "Then I... I'll bet my daughter's ten years of life!"
Hearing this, Xie Lian was stunned, thinking, "Is there really a father who would bet his child's life? Is this even allowed?"
Behind the curtain, Hua Cheng chuckled and said, "Sure."
Xie Lian wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he sensed a chilling tone in that "sure."
He thought, "San Lang said he's always lucky, always drawing the best lots. If he gambles with this man, wouldn't he surely win the man's daughter's ten years of life?"
Just as he thought this, a woman's voice rang out beside the long table, "Even numbers lose, odd numbers win. Once the cup is opened, there's no going back. Please!"
It turned out Hua Cheng wouldn't gamble himself. The man trembled, his hands tightly clutching the dice cup, shaking it vigorously. The hall quieted down, and the sound of dice clattering inside the cup became clearer. After a long time, he stopped abruptly, and silence fell.
After a while, the man slowly pried open a corner of the cup, peeked through the gap, and his bloodshot eyes widened suddenly.
He abruptly lifted the wooden cup, ecstatic, shouting, "Odd! Odd! Odd! I won! I won! Hahahahaha, I won!!! I won!!!!"
The crowd around the long table, both people and ghosts, were disappointed by this outcome, expressing their dissatisfaction with a collective "tsk" and slapping the table in protest. A woman laughed, "Congratulations. Your business will soon improve."
The man laughed heartily and shouted, "Wait! I want to gamble again."
The woman asked, "Welcome. What do you want this time?"
The man's face darkened, "I want all my competitors in the same business to die suddenly!"
Hearing this, the hall was filled with murmurs. The woman covered her mouth and laughed, "If that's what you want, it's more difficult than your previous request. Don't you want to ask for something else? Like making your business even more successful?"
But the man, with red eyes, insisted, "No! I want to bet on this. I want to bet on this."
The woman said, "Then, if that's what you want, your daughter's ten years of life might not be enough as a stake."
The man said, "If it's not enough, I'll add more. I'll bet my daughter's twenty years of life, plus... plus her marriage!"
The ghosts were in an uproar, laughing loudly, "This father is insane! Selling his daughter!"
"Impressive, impressive!"
The woman said, "Even numbers lose, odd numbers win. Once the cup is opened, there's no going back. Please!"
The man started shaking the dice cup again, trembling. If he lost, his daughter would lose twenty years of life and a good marriage, which would be bad; but if he won, would his competitors really all die suddenly?
Xie Lian thought Hua Cheng wouldn't let such a thing happen, but after hesitating, he stepped forward a little. He was still unsure whether to intervene, when someone pulled him back. He turned to see it was Shi Qingxuan.
Shi Qingxuan, back in his male form, whispered, "Don't act rashly."
Xie Lian also whispered, "Wind Master, why have you changed back?"
Shi Qingxuan sighed, "It's a long story. Those ladies dragged me away, saying they wanted to show me some good shops. I barely escaped. Afraid they'd catch me again, I had to change back. They took me to a place and put a lot of stuff on my face, pulling and patting. Look at my face, is there anything wrong with it?"
He leaned his face close to Xie Lian, who examined it and honestly said, "It seems smoother and fairer."
Shi Qingxuan beamed, "Really? That's great, hahaha. Where's a mirror? Where's a mirror? Let me see."
Xie Lian said, "Let's look later. We can't communicate with the spirit world here. We mustn't get separated again. By the way, Wind Master, how did you know I was here?"
Shi Qingxuan said, "I didn't know you were here. I came because I arranged to meet Qianqiu here. We got separated earlier, so I came first. Who knew I'd see you as soon as I arrived."
Xie Lian asked, "You arranged to meet Qianqiu here?"
Shi Qingxuan said, "Yes, Qianqiu is Lang Qianqiu, Prince Taihua, you know him, right? He's the martial god guarding the east. It's better to come here with him. The Ghost Gambling House is one of the busiest and most chaotic places in the ghost market, a landmark building, with people and ghosts coming and going. It's less suspicious, so I told him to meet here."
Xie Lian nodded slightly. Turning back, the man still hadn't opened the cup, his eyes rolling, muttering to himself, indistinguishable from the other dancing ghosts in the casino. He sighed, "This person..."
Shi Qingxuan, still touching his face, said, "I know what you want to say, and I agree. But the ghost market is Hua Cheng's territory, and the rules of the Ghost Gambling House are mutual consent. Heaven can't interfere. Let's wait and see. If it really doesn't work, we'll think of something."
Xie Lian pondered for a moment, thinking San Lang wouldn't let such a thing happen, so waiting might be wise. He didn't move again.
Meanwhile, the man seemed to gather his courage and was about to open the cup. Suddenly, someone rushed out, slamming down with a palm, shattering the black wooden dice cup!
This palm not only shattered the cup but also crushed the man's hand on it, splitting the entire table.
The masked man clutched his shattered hand, rolling and screaming on the ground. The ghosts shouted, some cheering, some in shock.
The person who intervened shouted, "You have such a vicious heart! Seeking wealth is one thing, but wishing for others to die suddenly?! If you want to bet, have the guts to bet your own life, not your daughter's life and marriage! You don't deserve to be a man, let alone a father!"
This young man, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, exuded energy and spirit. Though dressed simply, his noble aura was unmistakable. Who else could it be but the Crown Prince of Eternal Peace Kingdom, Lang Qianqiu?
Seeing him, both Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan covered their faces in the crowd.
Xie Lian groaned, "... Wind Master, didn't you tell him... to be careful and keep a low profile here..."
Shi Qingxuan also groaned, "... I... I did, but... that's just how he is... I couldn't help it... We should've arranged to come down together..."
Xie Lian said, "I understand... I understand..."
At this moment, Hua Cheng chuckled softly from behind the curtain.
And Xie Lian's heart tightened.
This young man often laughed when he was with him, and by now, Xie Lian could almost tell when he was sincere, when he was mocking, and when he was ready to kill.
Hua Cheng's voice came leisurely, "You have quite the guts to cause trouble in my place."
Lang Qianqiu turned towards that direction, his eyes bright, "Are you the owner of this gambling house?"
The surrounding ghosts sneered, "You ignorant child, do you know who you're talking to? This is our City Lord."
Someone else laughed coldly, "Not just this Ghost Gambling House. The entire ghost market is his!"
Hearing this, Lang Qianqiu didn't react much, but Shi Qingxuan was startled, "Oh my, could that be... the Blood Rain Flower?"
Xie Lian said, "Yes... it's him."
Shi Qingxuan asked, "Are you sure?!"
Xie Lian replied, "I'm sure."
Shi Qingxuan said, "We're doomed. What about Qianqiu?!"
Xie Lian said, "... Let's hope he doesn't reveal his identity..."
Lang Qianqiu looked around, growing angrier, "This ghost place is full of chaos and demons, what kind of things are these, and what are they doing? You open such a place, don't you have any humanity?"
The ghosts jeered, "We're not humans to begin with, who needs humanity? Whoever wants it can take it!"
"And what are you, coming here to boss us around?"
Hua Cheng laughed, "This place is a carnival hell. The heavenly realm has a path you didn't take, but you barged into hell, what can I do?"
Hearing "heavenly realm," Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan instantly understood.
Hua Cheng had already seen through Lang Qianqiu's origins!
However, Lang Qianqiu didn't catch the meaning and struck the long table with a palm.
Standing at the end of the table, everyone scattered, and the table shot towards the red shadow behind the curtain.
The figure behind the curtain remained seated, lightly waving a hand, sending the table back towards Lang Qianqiu.
Seeing the table return, Lang Qianqiu first held it with one hand, then switched to both hands when he realized he couldn't hold it with one.
As he struggled, faint blue veins appeared on his forehead. The once lively hall was now scattered, and Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan were unsure whether to help, as they were still hidden and could assist from the shadows. Jumping out to help would expose all three of them.
Lang Qianqiu shouted, finally pushing the heavy table back again.
But the red shadow behind the curtain remained seated, fingers gently closing and then releasing. The table shattered into countless wooden fragments, flying towards Lang Qianqiu.
These fragments, carrying a sharp wind, were more terrifying than any hidden weapon.
If Lang Qianqiu continued to hide his power, maintaining his human form, he wouldn't be able to dodge. So, in the next moment, a faint divine light emanated from him. Xie Lian and Shi Qingxuan immediately realized, thinking: Not good, he's about to reveal his true form!
However, the faint divine light quickly faded, as Lang Qianqiu remembered not to reveal his identity on this trip, swiftly retracting the light. But while Lang Qianqiu stopped, Hua Cheng didn't. The red figure behind the curtain, with fingers together, slightly lifted upward.
With that lift, Lang Qianqiu suddenly floated up, spread-eagle, suspended from the gambling house ceiling!
After being trapped, Lang Qianqiu seemed confused about how he suddenly floated up, struggling twice in bewilderment. Xie Lian said with a headache, "He's been locked from using his power, now he can't even reveal his true form."
Shi Qingxuan said, "The ghost market is Hua Cheng's territory, it's possible to lock him."
Although Lang Qianqiu was now restrained, there was an upside: his true identity was likely still hidden.
Otherwise, if he had revealed his true form during the fight, and people knew the Eastern Martial God, True Lord Taihua, came to the ghost market to cause trouble, it wouldn't be so easily resolved.
After all, for many years, except for some special events, the heavenly realm and ghost realm have kept to themselves.
With the uninvited troublemaker in the gambling house restrained, the people and ghosts who had fled returned, gathering under the ceiling, pointing and laughing at Lang Qianqiu.
Lang Qianqiu, probably never having been in such an embarrassing situation, blushed slightly, silently trying to break free from the invisible binding.
Occasionally, a ghost would jump up trying to pat his head, but fortunately, Hua Cheng suspended him too high for them to reach, avoiding greater humiliation. Hua Cheng laughed from behind the curtain, "Today we caught such a thing, you can play with it. Whoever's lucky enough to win big can take it back and cook it."
Hearing this, the hall erupted in cheers, "Bet big or small! Whoever gets the highest number can take him back and cook him!"
"Oh my, this young man looks very nourishing, hehe..."
"Hahaha, serves you right for not knowing whose territory you're causing trouble in!"
Four masked men brought in a new long table, ignoring the masked man on the ground, clutching his hand and wailing.
The crowd gathered around the table, starting a new round of gambling. This time, the bet was Lang Qianqiu suspended above. Seeing the heated gambling, Shi Qingxuan paced back and forth, worriedly asking, "What do we do? Should we gamble him back or start a fight?"
Xie Lian asked, "Wind Master, how's your luck?"
Shi Qingxuan said, "It's hit or miss, luck is unpredictable."
Xie Lian said, "It can be. For example, I never have good luck."
Shi Qingxuan said, "That bad?"
Xie Lian nodded solemnly, "I roll dice, and the most I get is two points."
Shi Qingxuan frowned, then had an idea, slapping his leg, "How about this, since you only get two points at most, you can compete by seeing who rolls the lowest number. No one can roll lower than you."
Xie Lian thought for a moment, "Makes sense, I'll try."
So, he approached the long table and said, "How about we change the rules and see who rolls the lowest number? Whoever rolls the lowest wins, how about that?"
The table was noisy, some agreeing, some not, so Xie Lian grabbed two dice and tried rolling them.
He silently chanted, "Small, small, small." After rolling, two people leaned in to look—two sixes!
Xie Lian: "..."
Shi Qingxuan: "..."
Xie Lian rubbed his forehead, "It seems luck doesn't change with the rules."
Shi Qingxuan also rubbed his forehead, "Maybe we should just start a fight."
At this moment, a woman approached the red curtain, slightly leaning in, seemingly listening to the person behind the curtain, nodded, then raised her voice, "Please quiet down, the City Lord has something to say."
When she mentioned the City Lord had something to say, the ghosts immediately quieted down. The woman said, "The City Lord says the rules have changed."
The ghosts exclaimed, "The City Lord is the rules!"
"Whatever the City Lord says goes!"
"What's the change?"
The woman said, "The City Lord says he's in a good mood today and wants to play a few rounds with everyone.
You can gamble with him, and whoever wins can take that thing up there. Whether you steam, boil, fry, or stew, it's up to the winner."
Hearing they could gamble with the City Lord, the ghosts hesitated. It seemed Hua Cheng never participated in the games.
Some bold ones were eager to try, but none dared to be the first. Lang Qianqiu continued struggling above, shouting, "What do you mean 'that thing'? I'm not a thing, why are you using me as a bet?"
He loudly declared, "I'm not a thing," causing many female ghosts to giggle, their eyes hungrily fixed on Lang Qianqiu, licking their lips as if they wanted to devour him. Xie Lian thought, "Sigh... kid, you'd better say less."
Sighing silently, he stepped forward and said gently, "In that case, please allow me to try."
Hearing this, the shadow behind the red curtain paused, then slowly stood up.
The woman in front of the curtain smiled, "Then, please, young master, come forward."
In the hall, people and ghosts made way, creating a path for this brave soul. Xie Lian walked forward, and the woman handed him a shiny black dice cup, saying, "You first, please."
Previously, she addressed the gamblers with "you," her words polite but not particularly courteous. Now, she used "you" in a respectful tone with him. Xie Lian accepted the black wooden dice cup with thanks, clearing his throat.
He had hardly ever touched such things, shaking it randomly while pretending to be skilled.
As he shook, he glanced at Lang Qianqiu suspended above. Lang Qianqiu also looked at him with wide eyes, but thankfully didn't shout anything. Seeing his expression, Xie Lian felt an inexplicable urge to laugh but held it back. After shaking for a while, he finally stopped.
Countless eyes were fixed on the cup in his hand, and Xie Lian felt the small cup become incredibly heavy, unsure of the correct way to open it. Just as he was about to reveal the result, the woman said, "Wait."
Xie Lian asked, "What's the matter?"
The woman said, "The City Lord says your shaking posture isn't quite right."
Xie Lian thought, "Is there really a correct posture? Could my bad luck be due to the wrong posture?"
He humbly asked, "Then, what is the correct posture?"
The woman said, "The City Lord says, please come up, he is willing to teach you."
Hearing this, the ghosts in the gambling house gasped.
Xie Lian heard ghosts whispering, "The City Lord wants to teach him, this is unprecedented, is this person going to die?"
"What does the City Lord want to do??? Who is this person??? Why teach him???"
"Isn't shaking just shaking??? Is there really a correct posture???"
Xie Lian pondered this question as the woman gestured towards the red curtain, inviting him, "Please."
So, Xie Lian, holding the black wooden dice cup, walked to the red curtain.
The gauze fluttered, red shadows danced. Behind the curtain stood someone, just half an arm's length away.
After a moment of holding his breath, a hand parted the heavy red curtain, reaching out to cover Xie Lian's hand, supporting the dice cup.
It was a right hand, long and pale, with distinct joints, a red string tied around the third finger.
Against the black, shiny wooden cup, the white appeared whiter, the red more vivid. Slowly, Xie Lian raised his gaze.
Behind the red cloud-like curtain, stood a silent eighteen or nineteen-year-old young man.
It was San Lang.
Still dressed in red brighter than maple, skin as white as snow. Still the same extraordinarily handsome, unapproachable young face, but with clearer contours, shedding the youthful immaturity, appearing more steady and composed. One could say he was a young man, but also a man.
His brows carried a wild, untamed spirit, undiminished but proud. Still, the eyes bright as stars, gazing steadily at Xie Lian.
But only the left eye was bright as a star.
A black eyepatch covered his right eye.