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Chapter 23 : The Gambling House Part 1

In a blink of an eye, five years have passed.

The Mount Hua Peak and Wan Zhan Peak became the best after they participated at the Rising Star Cultivation Battle. Liu Xiao got back his name in second rank and Bai Lan was still the first, Chen Yi was still ranked eighth and Shan Ling competed the person who was ranked seven and won, now her name was not beside Chen Yi anymore but above Chen Yi's name.

Liu Xiao was still a beautiful fine man, because he grew up into a complete adult, his body became more slender, his shoulder was neither wide not short and his face features matured so much. Four years ago, Liu Xiao entered a closed door cultivation for four years and he came out of the cave with his cultivation increased so much and a red mark appearing on his forehead.

It was a thin slender plum blossom petal. Even though he tried to erase it, it never disappeared and remained on his forehead. When he fought at the Rising Star Cultivation Battle, he used his spiritual qi for the first time and the supposed white pink color turned into a warm orange, like a sun but it was still beautiful.

Everytime he fight, the mark on his forehead always glowed orange and spark. He found it strange but in the end, he got used to it. Lan Yang didn't dare to pester him anymore because Zhan Baiwon made him apologize to Liu Xiao in public five years ago at the Mount Hua Peak banquet and reprimanded him because of his ill intent.

Liu Xiao paid one gold tael to the vendor. The vendor was shocked and was about to say it's too much but Liu Xiao grabbed five tanghulu and walked away.

( Tanghulu is also called bingtanghulu, is a traditional Northern Chinese snack of candied Crataegus pinnatifida fruit, also known as mountain hawthorn, Chinese haw, Chinese hawthorn, Chinese hawberry, or shanzha in Mandarin Chinese. )

Bai Lan said beside him, still wearing his usual grumpy face.

Liu Xiao replied, devouring the five tanghulu in his mouth.

Liu Xiao and Bai Lan's relationship improved. They did not fight anymore and rather, Bai Lan was too overprotective to him and treated him like a spoiled little brother. Liu Xiao always think that aren't i pampered too much?! I'm a grown up man! What is this?!

Even though he's a grown man, he would always act childish and stupid infront of other people. Mo Xian always found it adorable and wished that he would stay like that way forever. Liu Xiao never realized it but he was always pampered by the people close to him.

Liu Xiao would always go to the mortal realm and buy food, clothes, sightseeing and traveling everywhere he wants. Mo Xian would always allow it but Bai Lan should be with him whenever he goes out. Liu Xiao refused at first because he was strong enough to protect himself but Mo Xian, the Mount Hua Peak Master won in the end.

Liu Xiao glanced at the inn that he and Wu Qingge stayed five years ago. It was still open and many people were going in and out. The woman who always greet guest grew older, there were a few wrinkles on her face with a small child sitting on her chair, playing.

He sighed and a sharp pain tingled on his chest as he remebered Wu Qingge. He shook his head and continued to walk beside Bai Lan while munching the tangulu on his hand. He knew that Wu Qingge would come back but he was scared to meet him. What if he losed his memories and also his emotions? He wouldn't hesistate to kill me!

a loud shout of a man was heard. Liu Xiao, who was curious, shifted his head on the sound's direction.

He saw a young boy who was over fifteen or sixteen, his hair was a long dark brown and tied in a ponytail, because his back was only seen, he was wearing a black and red robe and the way he stood was filled with dignity and nobility. Liu Xiao found it nostalgic but he only shook his head and went approached the gambling house.

Before he could take a step, Bai Lan grabbed the collar of his light blue robe like a small kitten being carried in it's nape by it's mother. Bai Lan said.

Liu Xiao frowned and replied,

Bai Lan narrowed his eyes in irritation. Because his nature is righteous, he never went to an improper place like a gambling house or brothel before and only focused on his cultivation to grow stronger and achieve immortality so he can take over the Wan Zhan Peak like what his Master said.

before Bai Lan can still continue his words. Liu Xiao bit his wrist, letting his grasp on Liu Xiao's collar loosened then Liu Xiao immediately infused spiritual qi on his feet to swiftly leap to the front door of the gambling house, the mark on his forehead glowed orange.

Bai Lan did the same thing, a silver spiritual qi that was close to being transparent appeared on his foot and jumped to grab the hem Liu Xiao's robe to stop him. Liu Xiao grinned at him and twisted his body sideward to dodge Bai Lan's hand but Bai Lan used his other hand to grab Liu Xiao's collar all of a sudden, making Liu Xiao lose his balance and landed on top of the young boy.

Liu Xiao groaned while his eyes tightly closed. Later on, he slowly opened it and saw the young boy below him, his face was young and handsome, his nose and his red eyes were sharp, looking at him with his lips slightly opened and his eyebrows raised.

Liu Xiao stared at the young boy for a bit, he felt nostalgic and thought that he had seen it before. He pursed his lips and closed his eyes before shooking his head. Wu Qingge should be a grown man right now, how could he become a child? That's unbelievable.

When he looked at the child again, a warm gentle smile greeted him. Liu Xiao flinched for a bit before realizing that he was on top of the child. He immediately fixed himself and cleared his throat. Liu Xiao said with an awkward smile on his face.

The young boy paused for a bit, he slightly smiled to him and replied, Liu Xiao was stunned for a moment and thought. Gege? Ahhh... Do kids call everyone gege if they saw people older than them?

(Omg Liu Xiao ur stupid. (￣.￣) )

Liu Xiao forgot about Bai Lan for a moment and when Bai Lan grabbed his collar again and pulled him away from the young boy, his smile disappeared and he frowned at Bai Lan. Liu Xiao said, removing Bai Lan's hands in his clothes near his nape.

Liu Xiao had no choice but to resort to his final plan. He pressed Bai Lan's acupoints and Bai Lan's body stopped moving. Liu Xiao laughed and removed Bai Lan's hands that was grabbing his clothes.

Liu Xiao grinned at Bai Lan who was gritting his teeth and looking at Liu Xiao like he was stabbing him repeatedly inside his mind. Liu Xiao grabbed Bai Lan's arm and dragged his stiff body like a hard standing pillar and was about went to through the door but he paused and glanced at the boy.

The boy was just standing straight, his blood red eyes fixated at him, staring like him as if he could see inside Liu Xiao's clothes or even more deeper. Liu Xiao felt uncomfortable and fixed his robe to cover his body and called the boy. Liu Xiao said while gesturing his hand.

The young boy, without hesitation, walked forward to approach Liu Xiao. Liu Xiao smiled at him and softly grabbed his hand and the three of them went to the entrance. The guard blocked him and spoke, Liu Xiao gave him five gold taels and the guard, who was stunned, didn't dare to stop him anymore. Liu Xiao smirked, feeling proud on what he did. Hehe! Bribery is the best!ヽ（´∀｀）ノ

As soon as the large door opened, the atmosphere that was full of smoke, alcohol and loud shouts intensified. He pulled the young boy closer to him and Bai Lan on his back because of the crowd and went to the middle area.

Loud laughs and vulgar words were heard all over the people gambling around the building. Liu Xiao saw a gambling table, the game seems like rolling a dice, it piqued his interest and happily approached it.

Liu Xiao glanced at the people fighting and the other who was busy trying out their luck to roll the dice. The old man saw him looking confused and laughed. the old man said.

Liu Xiao paused and slowly answered, the old man clicked his tounge and spoke,

Liu Xiao brought out three gold taels and put it the the table. The crowd looked at him with their eyes eaised and the female croupier gave him the two dice and said,

( Croupier is and assists at the gaming tables. )

Liu Xiao gulped and glanced at Bai Lan who was beside him and glaring at the people around while his body remained stiff amd the young boy who was looking around the casino. The young boy then glanced at him and pulled him closer to whisper,

Oh, is it the reason why he wants to enter the gambling house? Is he here to find his parents or brother who were gambling here? Liu Xiao didn't dare to ask more and nodded. He let go of the young boy's hand and the boy took one last glance before walking away.

Bai Lan scowled. Liu Xiao laughed at him before looking at the two dice, he came up with a plan and he put the two dice in the cup before slowly shaking it. The crowd around the table was staring at the cup intently, curious on what number would come out. Liu Xiao, after a few slow shake, put down the cup and slowly opened it.

Liu Xiao awkwardly laughed. I can't share my spiritual qi in you guys, you'll die before you wilk be able to use it. While Liu Xiao was slowly shaking the cup, he charged a few spiritual qi on the two dice and controlled it from inside, it may look like he's cheating but he doesn't care.

Liu Xiao won the first round because his number was the highest. He was about to play a bit more when he felt a large amount of demonic qi below the gambling house and the entertainment he felt gradually disappeared. He glanced at Bai Lan who also seemed to notice it and they nodded to each other before Liu Xiao released his pressed acupoints.

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