Hui stood before a grand pair of pillars holding up a gilded arch. A brilliant naplate declared it the Black Dragon Gambling Hall in blazing gold letters. An enormous bowls of phoenix fire burned at the base of each pillar, lighting the entrance gate and sign in flickering red. Black doors reinforced with brass stretched tall overhead.
He nodded to himself. Yep. Definitely not an evil den of madness. Definitely not.
Alright, Hui. You can do this. Focus. Find the source of the fire. Find Han Qins mysterious woman! The final of the Four Evils. The source of the fire Ive been infected with. Whatever I learn from her, I need to focus on removing this fire in my gut. It followed here, to the Underworld. Itll follow back to the mortal realm. And perhaps, even to the Immortal realm?
Well, even if it does, theres always Master. Sothing like that is probably trivial to remove for him.
But I cant rely on that! I might not be able to break through into the Immortal realm with these flas. I cant allow such a stumbling block to remain ingrained in my body!
Taking a deep breath, he adjusted his hems, pushed his hat back onto his shoulders, and pushed open the doors.
Shouted conversation. Laughter. Song and the sound of an instrunt, almost overwheld by the noise of the crowd. Dice clattered, coins clanked, and cards flapped. Thick smoke darkened the air, mingling with the sweet scent of alcohol. From beautiful demons to rotting ghouls, the occupants drank, gathered around tables, and bet money.
Hui lifted his sleeve over his nose and mouth, huddling toward the edge of the room. This is not the place for an earnest righteous cultivator like myself. Not at all! The quicker I find this Little Fla, the quicker I can leave this place forever, and never look back!
First ti?
Hui startled. Looking up, he found a figure in clothes blacker than night standing beside him, their face half-covered by a dark veil. Only their forehead and eyes were visible, and their eyes were shut. In sharp contrast to their black robes, their skin was pale as paper, utterly, deathly white. Long black lashes hung over soft cheeks, with a black flower mark in the center of their brows. A smudge of dark makeup touched the corner of their eyes, lending them a snake- or fox-like quality. Although Hui qualified as tall, the figure easily towered over him, slender like a pillar.
They blended into the shadows I nearly bumped into them! And then, and then, they would have demanded damages, and oh no, Hui! Ive been careless! In the future, remain vigilant! Just because the air is hazy with smoke is no excuse to miss an imposing fellow like this.
Hui quickly bobbed into a bow. Ah, excuse . I didnt an to disturb Senior.
The figure waved their hand, their eyes squinting a bit in a smile.
Co to think of it, is this a man or a woman? He quickly scanned their figure, but nothing stood out to him either way. Their voice was a kind of low alto hmm. I cant quite tell.
The figure looked at him expectantly.
Oh! Er, yes. It is. My first ti, that is, Hui stuttered. He bowed again. Many apologies for disturbing Senior. This small cultivator will be on his way.
No, no. You arent a disturbance at all. If its your first ti, then allow to show you the lay of the land, the figure offered. They reached a delicate, pale hand from beneath their dark robes, offering it to him palm-up.
Hui hesitated. His eyes flickered to the figures closed eyes.
The figure frowned slightly, their nose wrinkling in displeasure. A faint pressure welled up around them.
Hui startled and quickly grabbed their hand. Ahhh, how troubleso. Ive been caught by soone dangerous imdiately! I cant even politely refuse and walk away, because this isnt the normal world, but a cultivation world, where politely refusing a powerful figure is more than enough reason to behead you! Look at Si Wang, for example, punching for a re slip of the tongue. For now, the only way to escape death is to play along and hope thats enough to satisfy Senior!
Ill warn you that I lack spirit stones, Hui said quietly. Take that! Im poor! Be disgusted and push away!
Thats fine, the figure said, smiling kindly.
II also refuse to take on any sort of debt! Hui followed up quickly, his voice raising a bit out of fear. Oh no! Even worse. They arent rely after my precious spirit stones, theyre also after my precious life!
No, no. What kind of lady do you take for? Im rely offering to show you around. Theres no price attached, none at all, the figure said, waving a hand in front of their face with a light laugh.
Ah! Theyre a woman. Hui nodded. In that case, Ill be in your care. And Ill hold you to those words, dammit. You wont get a single spirit stone or debtors note out of !
Leading him on, the woman in black strode through the hall. She passed like a shadow. None of the gamblers or revelers so much as looked up as she led Hui by. She paused by a ga of mahjong, watching the tiles clack and the players adjust their hands, then glanced at Hui. Although her eyes didnt open, they moved beneath their lids. I dont suppose youd humor with a round?
No, no. Ah, as I said, small cultsmall spirit has no spirit stones, Hui said, laughing lightly.
If I supplied the ante? she offered gently.
Hui shook his head again. As a rule, I avoid gambling. I see your ga! I grew up around people like you in my first life. Ah, the first round is free, and I bet Ill even win, but the second round, and the third? Haha, in ten seconds, youll have down to my under-robes and pledged to spend the rest of eternity washing dishes in the back hall! You wont trick this small Hui!
She said nothing, but her eyes crinkled sowhat. Humming under her breath, she led him on.
Drifting on, she led him to the bar, where a lovely ghost with sared makeup poured wine. How about a drink?
No, no, Hui said, waving his hand. Too rich for this small spirit. Trying to get addicted to alcohol? I see your ga! Its one sip for free today, but the next hit costs money!
Then perhaps a smoke?
Please, Senior. Small spirit only ca here to look, only to watch! Hui said.
Only to watch? Hmm, is that really all? She turned toward him. Those closed eyes sohow bored into his, her brow slightly scrunched in disapproval.
Hui squird. I Im here to et soone! Otherwise, soone as small and boring as would never co to such a place!
You arent small or boring at all, she said, lifting her free hand to hide a laugh.
Eh? Is she hitting on ? Ah, is Senior perhaps a prostitute? Im not so weak as to fall for such pitiful provocation. Bai Xue has teased far worse than such little complints!
Hui cleared his throat. On the other hand, she did offer to show around, and after wandering the hall its not as if any of these spirits are on fire. It isnt obvious who Little Fla is, so maybe Senior will help ? Er, Senior, have you heard of soone called Little Fla?
Instantly, her face wrinkled in disapproval. Hui stiffened, eyes flicking around to assess his escape routes. Ive clearly said sothing I shouldnt! Its ti to flee!
Little Fla? I know of her. What do you want with her? the woman in black asked.
Hui coughed. I Im looking for phoenix fire, and I was told she has so. Ifif thats incorrect, then I apologize, but
The woman in black clenched his hand tight. Enough. Co with .
A shiver crawled up Huis spine. Oh no. I dont know what Ive done, but Ive done it now! Er, its a good thing this body is a re clone, but I might need a new clone soon! Quietly, he rubbed his free hand together, condensing a second lotus seed core.
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