Chapter 117: Obsession

Rustle… rustle…

A faint scraping sound came from outside the window of the pavilion.

The interior was filled with the noise of combat, so aside from Gu Ning’an, no one else noticed this eerie sound.

On the pale-yellow paper covering the window, shadows occasionally flitted by. At times, these shadows lingered outside, as if someone were peering into the pavilion from the other side.

Spirits bound by the locust tree—freed at the stroke of midnight?

Gu Ning’an’s eyes flashed with spiritual light as he scanned his surroundings. He sighed softly, “There are so many of them…”

“So many? So many what?” Ying Du, fiddling with a piece of broken silver, asked. “Are you saying, Mr. Gu, that I’ve won too much?”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an glanced at the mound of silver and copper coins piled in front of Ying Du, resembling a small hill.

The pile included loose silver pieces, strings of copper coins, and even a thumb-sized gold ingot.

A rough estimate suggested the amount totaled at least 400 taels of silver!

It was clear why so many martial artists bore their share of karma—how could a truly righteous swordsman carry so much money on them?

“Are you planning to use all that silver to buy information about the Immortal from Qiu Qianren?” Gu Ning’an asked nonchalantly.

Ying Du nodded. “Of course. Others are here for the Immortal Sword Manual, but not me… I’m here to gamble on seeking the immortal.”

“Didn’t you say your master told you on his deathbed not to pursue the immortal or gambling anymore?”

“Perhaps he had already let go of his regrets. Why are you so fixated?”

As soon as Gu Ning’an finished speaking, Ying Du grabbed a long coat he had won earlier and fashioned it into a makeshift bag. While stuffing the coins into it, he chuckled and replied, “You don’t understand, sir. A parent’s grace is greater than the heavens. When the old man passed, his eyes were filled with regret… Even if he didn’t say it, I have to do it for him.”

After finishing, Ying Du hoisted the bag of silver onto his back with a grunt and cursed under his breath, “So heavy!” Then he began descending the stairs.

Watching Ying Du’s departing figure, Gu Ning’an pondered for a moment and murmured, “Such filial piety… but it’s a pity you still don’t understand your master’s true intentions.”

Descending the stairs to the arena on the first floor, Ying Du approached Qiu Qianren with a smile. He placed the bag of silver in front of him and cupped his hands in greeting.

“Master Qiu! Your reputation precedes you. Now that I’ve seen you in person, I realize you’re even more handsome and charismatic than the legends say!”

Qiu Qianren frowned slightly and returned the gesture. “And you are?”

“This humble one is Ying Du, the last disciple of the Nine-Fingered Old Demon!” Ying Du said with a bow.

“The Nine-Fingered Old Demon?” Qiu Qianren glanced at the bag of silver on the ground and chuckled. “I heard he passed away. You’re not here to inquire about the Immortal Sword Manual and the whereabouts of the Immortal, are you?”

“Exactly! Exactly!” Ying Du replied earnestly. “My master spent half his life searching for the Immortal but passed away with regret.”

“I heard that the Heavenly Sword Villa was favored by the Immortal and left with an Immortal Sword Manual… That’s why I’ve come to humbly ask for Master Qiu’s guidance.”

“This bag of silver is a small token of my appreciation. I hope Master Qiu will kindly accept it!”

At these words, Ying Du opened the bag, revealing a pile of gleaming silver.

Swish!

Qiu Qianren opened his folding fan and gently waved it, the loose strands of hair on either side of his face swaying with the breeze. “The Immortal is not someone you can meet just because you want to. This little bit of silver is of no interest to me. Take it back.”

Thud!

Qiu Qianren suddenly dropped to his knees, clasping his hands together. “Master Qiu! I know this silver is trivial to you, and I understand that the Immortal cares nothing for mortal treasures.

“But I, Ying Du, have one thing to offer—my unrivaled gambling skills. If you can grant me a chance to gamble with the Immortal, regardless of victory or defeat, I am willing to devote the rest of my life to serving you, aiding you in winning against everyone under the heavens!”

As he finished his plea, Ying Du began to bow, pressing all five points of his body to the ground.

“Ying Du! You disgraceful fool!”

A cold, angry voice rang out.

Startled, Ying Du looked up, only to see a bloodstained white boot flying straight for his face!

“Miss Liu…” Before he could finish, the kick sent him flying sideways. He rolled on the ground for dozens of rotations before crashing into the base of a wall.

“Niece Liu?” Qiu Qianren frowned. “No fighting beneath the arena!”

“Qiu Qianren, don’t you dare call me your niece! Stop trying to claim ties with me!” Liu Feixue snapped coldly.

Qiu Qianren paused, seemingly remembering something. He waved his fan and chuckled, “Niece Liu, I know you’re still upset about your father. But your father chose to remain at my Heavenly Sword Villa of his own free will—I didn’t force him.”

“You must have used some sorcery to confuse him!” Liu Feixue’s face was icy, her right hand instinctively resting on the hilt of her sword.

“Ah!” Qiu Qianren let out a long sigh, his expression one of disappointment. “If you won’t believe me, there’s no point in explaining further.”

Clang!

Liu Feixue drew her sword and pointed it directly at Qiu Qianren. “Do you dare face me on the arena? If I win, you let my father go.”

“I don’t stoop to bullying the weak,” Qiu Qianren said, turning away. “From what I see, you have only eighteen tokens at your waist. Taking away the ones you started with and those handed to you without a fight, you’ve only defeated three opponents.

“With that level of skill, I advise you to stop pointing your sword at me… Out of respect for your father, I’ll overlook this once.”

“Heh! Coward…” Before Liu Feixue could finish her taunt, Qiu Qianren’s figure flickered, and his folded fan, as sharp as a sword, shot toward her face.

In the moment of crisis, Liu Feixue showed no fear. Instead of dodging, she thrust her sword directly at him!

She knew she couldn’t defeat Qiu Qianren, so she planned to trade her life for his, aiming to take down the “hypocrite” who had “manipulated” her father!

“Nice strategy, but too slow,” Qiu Qianren’s mocking voice echoed from behind her.

Liu Feixue’s expression shifted. Her wrist twisted, turning her thrust into a self-inflicted stab!

A move to end her life alongside her enemy!

Slap!

A crisp sound echoed.

Liu Feixue’s wrist went numb, and her sword veered off course, flying through the air to her right.

Amidst the sharp tearing noise, she first glanced in shock at Gu Ning’an beside her. Then she turned to look at Qiu Qianren, who also stood frozen in place behind her.

At that moment, Qiu Qianren’s fan was open, but a large tear had appeared on its right side. Through the hole, Liu Feixue saw something unexpected—a hint of fear in Qiu Qianren’s eyes.

“My apologies,” Gu Ning’an said with a calm smile, clasping his hands in a gesture of courtesy. “In my rush to stop this foolish girl from killing herself, I didn’t realize you were standing behind her, Master Qiu.”

His tone was serene, with no trace of actual apology.