The Mirror Master

Underground Bazaar.

Outside the gambling den.

A few Guards left behind to stand watch were bored out of their minds.

One of them caught sight of the grimy old man at the base of the wall and asked teasingly, "Old Gambling Ghost, got nothing better to do today? What brings you here in broad daylight?"

"Heh heh."

The Old Gambling Ghost chuckled. "Isn’t there a fight going on outside? I placed a bet, so I’m just waiting for the result."

"Why didn’t you go watch it in person?" another Guard asked.

The Old Gambling Ghost said, "Too many people over there. What if someone with sticky fingers takes a fancy to my treasures? I’d suffer a huge loss."

"Haha!"

The Guards roared with laughter at his words.

One of them said, "Besides that Lu Bai, who actually appreciates your pile of junk and visits you every day, who else would fall for it?"

Another chuckled. "Old Gambling Ghost, after today, I’m afraid your only regular customer won’t have the chance to come back."

After a bit of idle chatter, they started discussing the midday Martial Arts Discussion Battle.

The few of them were stuck on duty at the gambling den and couldn’t leave, so they had missed the chance to see the battle in person.

They could only stand around making small talk and guessing the outcome.

Things like how many rounds it would take for Mo Shaohan to kill Lu Bai.

Among these Guards, one was an older man with a full beard. He remained silent, clearly much calmer than the others.

However, his expression was haggard and lifeless. He didn’t seem to be in good shape.

Just then, the Old Gambling Ghost felt a stir in his heart.

’Good kid. He actually won!’ the Old Gambling Ghost thought to himself.

’Looks like this kid really broke my streak of bad luck.’

’What an unexpected pleasant surprise.’

’Time to leave.’

A glint flashed in the Old Gambling Ghost’s eyes. He was about to get up, but on second thought, he squatted back down.

’Hmm... there should be another show to watch.’

The Old Gambling Ghost mused, ’If the kid can’t get out of this jam, I’ll step in and help him at the last moment. That’ll count as repaying his favor.’

’Then I won’t have to go to the trouble of preparing some treasure for him. The kid’s liable to ask for the moon otherwise.’

The Old Gambling Ghost had seen what Lu Bai was like.

Once the kid had his eyes on him, he wouldn’t stop pestering him for stuff.

"We have a result!"

Just then, someone came running from down the street, panting and drenched in sweat.

He was shouting as he ran.

"Hey, is Lu Bai alive or dead?"

"How many rounds did it take for Daoist Mo?"

"Judging by this speed, ten rounds at most."

The Guards at the gambling den entrance called out to the man, asking questions.

"Not ten rounds. It didn’t even take ten breaths."

The man stopped, caught his breath, and then said, "Mo Shaohan is dead! Lu Bai won a decisive victory!"

The expressions on the Guards’ faces all froze. They were completely dumbfounded.

The middle-aged man’s expression shifted, and a glint of light appeared in his eyes.

"D-Daoist Mo is dead?"

"That’s impossible, right?"

"You’re bullshitting us!"

For a moment, the Guards couldn’t believe it.

"It’s the absolute truth!"

The man said, "Everyone outside is in an uproar. And Lu Bai cut off Mo Shaohan’s head in front of everyone. Even when a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator from the Xuanjian Sect threatened him, it was no use. The two of them almost came to blows."

The middle-aged man clenched his fists. After a moment of silence, a look of grim determination flashed in his eyes, as if he had made some kind of decision.

The commotion drew a crowd from the surrounding area.

Someone couldn’t help but ask, "What on earth happened? Did Daoist Mo underestimate his opponent? Or was he unwell? Maybe Lu Bai used some underhanded tricks?"

"None of that."

The messenger shook his head. "It was a normal Martial Arts Discussion. Daoist Mo was completely outmatched. His Flying Sword couldn’t even hurt Lu Bai. Instead, Lu Bai first cut off both his wrists, then took his head."

"Ah!"

Another person had a realization. "Cutting off Daoist Mo’s hands... that was so specific. It was clearly to avenge Luo Mingzhao!"

"Exactly."

Someone else added, "So why did Lu Bai go so far as to take Daoist Mo’s life?"

The messenger said, "A lot of people outside are speculating it might be because of Luo Qing."

"Her? Fury for a fair lady?"

"After all, only two people from the Luo Family were injured: Luo Mingzhao and his daughter. If cutting off the hands was revenge for Luo Mingzhao, then taking the head was probably for Luo Qing."

"That’s bullshit," someone said dismissively. "A bunch of gawkers who love to do nothing but gossip all day, always trying to turn everything into some romance."

The messenger said, "There are other theories. Some people are saying it’s because Mo Shaohan killed a dog Lu Bai was raising."

"Er..."

Everyone was a little speechless.

Killing a Qi Refiner in public and offending the Xuanjian Sect all for a dog? That reason seemed even less plausible than the last one.

Who would risk their life fighting a Cultivator for a mere animal?

"Oh, damn!"

Someone suddenly realized and said in anguish, "I’ve lost big this time! I bet fifty silver, and it’s all gone!"

"Holy shit, I lost a hundred silver!"

"Dammit, I lost even more! I don’t know how I’m going to explain this to the missus when I get home."

"Gambling is poison! If I ever bet again, I’ll chop my own hands off!"

Everyone was sighing and groaning, looking utterly dejected.

The messenger said, "You guys should count yourselves lucky. You didn’t see it, but Elder Zheng from the Zheng Family Medicine Shop couldn’t catch his breath and passed out on the spot. He’s still unconscious."

"What?"

"How much did he lose?"

The crowd was astonished.

The man said, "Don’t even ask. Earlier, that Master Zheng was bragging to Chief Escort Leader Zhao about how brilliant his calculations were. In the blink of an eye, he lost his pants."

Hearing this, the crowd couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Even though they had all lost money, seeing a big shot from Bluestone City like Master Zheng lose even more made everyone feel a little better.

"The Luo Family really cleaned up this time!"

"I heard they bet fifty thousand gold! At twenty-five to one odds!"

"If you put it that way, doesn’t that mean Second Master Jin lost a fortune?"

"Probably. After paying the Luo Family with all the other losing bets, he’ll likely have to cover a lot out of his own pocket."

"Didn’t you guys hear? Someone else bet a hundred thousand gold on the ’Mo Shaohan Dies’ proposition! Second Master Jin has to pay it all out. He’ll probably have to sell his assets!"

Everyone sighed in amazement.

A single Martial Arts Discussion Battle had completely changed the landscape of Bluestone City!

Some were ruined, some made a fortune, and some rose up against the odds.

Some celebrated while others grieved.

Second Master Jin appeared at the end of the street, his face dark, followed by a retinue of Guards.

Seeing him, the crowd gathered at the gambling den entrance quickly scattered, afraid of getting on his bad side.

"Second Master."

The Guards watching the den, including the middle-aged man, all bowed in greeting.

Second Master Jin walked straight into the gambling den and went back to his room.

As soon as the door closed, the sound of shattering pots and jars came from inside.

It was a long while before things quieted down.

The crowd waited outside, silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to make a sound.

"Someone!"

After a long pause, a voice came from the room.

The gambling den’s manager pushed the door open and entered.

"Second Master, your orders?" the manager asked in a low voice.

Second Master Jin said in a low, heavy voice, "Take a few men and go to that Willow Shade Courtyard at the End of Bluestone Alley. Pay them a visit, and while you’re at it, invite the person over."

The payout was too large. He couldn’t afford to lose.

The manager asked, "And if they refuse to come?"

A cold glint flashed in Second Master Jin’s eyes, and he said, word by word, "Then take more men. Whatever the cost, you will bring that person to me!"

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