A child?
What child?
Xing Chun heard it too and looked at i Liangyu with a strange expression.
i Liangyu asked with an unchanged expression: "Boy or girl?"
Nian Qiuyan answered: "A boy. I'll let him talk to you."
A mont later, i Liangyu heard the boy's low voice from the other side, humble and urgent: "Brother i i... please save my mother. My father took money to the gambling house again."
Hearing this, Xing Chun suddenly made a sound of understanding and gave i Liangyu a aningful look: "That kid from last ti?"
i Liangyu listened expressionlessly and cut off the voice transmission.
Xing Chun finished the last two spoonfuls of rice in his bowl and looked up at i Liangyu: "If his father won't change and keeps taking money to gamble, then he cos to find you again, creating this cycle, that's not a solution."
i Liangyu walked to the astrolabe and marked several stars corresponding to known powers while saying: "Then what should we do? Have the gambling house chop off his hands?"
Xing Chun said: "Gambling addicts will still gamble without hands. He'll first find a way to get money for prosthetic hands, then go back to gambling."
"Find the pattern first and help figure out what heavenly chanism art this is." i Liangyu said: "I'm going to the Outer City."
Xing Chun had eaten his fill and waved his hand to indicate he could go, staying behind to continue observing.
On his way there, i Liangyu received an inquiry from Nian Qiuyan and gave him a brief explanation:
This child was nad Little Earth and lived on East Island in the Outer City. His family once had abundant savings, but since his father beca obsessed with gambling houses, the family's money beca insufficient.
Land deeds, house deeds, gold and silver jewelry, everything that could be sold was sold. The only thing left was selling his wife and children. Little Earth's mother beca so upset that her health deteriorated and she collapsed bedridden, unable to get up.
Nian Qiuyan looked at the boy before him, thin as a bamboo pole. He appeared no more than seven years old, anxious and frightened, head lowered, hands nervously clutching at his sleeves. His clothes were covered with patches of various sizes.
Taiyi was said to be the seventh kingdom of Xuangu Continent. Besides having comparable territory, it was also because the people living here were no different from those in the six outer kingdoms.
There were still those born into wealth and those born into poverty.
Nian Qiuyan withdrew his gaze and replied: "Where did you et this poor little one?"
i Liangyu: "He used to be a carrier pigeon for the Cloud Tiger Gang on East Island."
So-called carrier pigeons were errand runners who delivered ssages for gang mbers.
The Cloud Tiger Gang had specifically trained a group of children who, with their innocent appearance, could lower others' guard and avoid suspicion, making their work easier.
Nian Qiuyan replied: "Didn't the Cloud Tiger Gang disappear?"
The Outer City of Taiyi was divided into nine islands, centered around Taiyi Academy. The area expanding outward from the academy's center was also the most prosperous and lively part of Taiyi.
People living on Taiyi's nine islands all desperately wanted to climb their way into the academy's outer city.
The Cloud Tiger Gang was a sowhat famous gang on East Island, but when they ca to Taiyi's Outer City, they were country bumpkins entering the city, nothing at all. After clashing head-on with the major gangs of the academy's outer city, they were completely wiped out.
i Liangyu replied: "The Cloud Tiger Gang is gone, so his source of inco was cut off too. If it weren't for his father taking their life-saving money to gamble, he wouldn't have run from East Island to find ."
Nian Qiuyan comforted the nervous boy, taking out a bulging money pouch from his sleeve and giving it to him: "The money your father took can't be recovered quickly. If your mother is seriously ill, take this money for ergencies first."
Little Earth looked up in surprise. The small child, having worked for years, was not only thin but also had darkened skin from sun exposure, which made his bright black and white eyes stand out.
He hesitated, not daring to accept it.
Nian Qiuyan's smiling face was very gentle, like a spring breeze. He was always mild and courteous, seeming to have no temper and never getting angry.
When i Liangyu arrived, seeing the two in a standoff, he raised an eyebrow slightly.
It was already dusk, with a moderate number of people coming and going. Nian Qiuyan and Little Earth by the roadside outside the academy gate didn't attract much attention.
Little Earth anxiously stepped beside i Liangyu when he saw him arrive. i Liangyu saw the money pouch in Nian Qiuyan's hand and asked: "What's this for?"
"Going to the Outer City to find his father for money would take too much ti. By the ti we find him, he might have lost everything. Where would the money co from?" Nian Qiuyan said: "You can't expect to go win it back again, can you?"
i Liangyu stood in the evening light and shadows, looking down at Little Earth: "If he wants to give it to you, take it."
Only then did Little Earth extend his hands, his small dark hands cupped with palms up, and bowed to Nian Qiuyan: "Thank you, big brother."
Nian Qiuyan placed the money pouch in his palm and smiled: "Hurry ho now."
The child's eyes filled with tears. He bowed to thank i Liangyu as well, held the money pouch tightly to his chest, and ran madly toward ho.
i Liangyu was about to move forward when Nian Qiuyan reached out to stop him: "Where are you going?"
"To the Outer City to find his father." i Liangyu looked back at him.
Nian Qiuyan sighed: "Helping with this once is enough. If you help a second or third ti, are you planning to raise this child? Going to find his father in the Outer City won't help. If you solve it by killing, you'll have to go to chanism Island again, and chanism Island probably doesn't welco you now."
i Liangyu said irritably: "You gave him money, so he'll co a second ti, a third ti."
Nian Qiuyan spread his hands: "Problems that can be solved with money are actually good problems."
i Liangyu countered: "Where do you get so much money to support this child and his seriously ill mother?"
After thinking for a mont, Nian Qiuyan flicked his sleeve: "Never mind. Let's still go find his father and make his father take responsibility."
Then he asked: "Do you know where his father is? Should I calculate it?"
"No need. I saw him last ti and know where he'll go." i Liangyu stepped forward. This ti Nian Qiuyan didn't stop him and walked along with him.
Nian Qiuyan asked: "Where?"
i Liangyu said: "Pearl House."
The gambling den in Nangong Tavern. Last ti while waiting for Yu Sui, he had stood in the side alley and seen Little Earth's father coming out of the gambling den.
"Several gangs in the Outer City have been fighting recently, causing bloodshed. Many gambling houses and taverns have closed to avoid trouble. By the ti we reach the Outer City, it'll be night. We should find the person quickly and get back."
Nian Qiuyan half-closed his eyes, glancing at the golden twilight on the horizon, sighing softly: "I heard the new leader of the Sky Crane Gang has a mortal grudge against you. You must not run into him."
i Liangyu said coldly: "If you say that, we're sure to run into him."
Nian Qiuyan laughed: "I'm not from the School of Nas. I'm not that accurate."
i Liangyu snorted coldly: "You're more accurate than the School of Nas' word spirits."
Nian Qiuyan walked leisurely beside him, asking with a smile: "I've noticed you always have so tangled relationships with the Outer City gangs. i i, how old were you when you joined gangs?"
"Six years ago, I suppose. Back then I wanted to leave Taiyi and had an argunt with Master. I told him that if he wouldn't let leave Taiyi, I wouldn't obediently stay at the academy either, so I went to wander the Outer City." i Liangyu spoke of the past casually as they headed toward the Outer City together.
......
The sky gradually darkened, and lights began to glow throughout the Outer City. Bright lamps lit up one by one, making even the dark night sky reflect so brightness.
The streets were already bustling with people, and the taverns were even more boisterous. The sounds of conversation and laughter could be faintly heard even from outside.
On the wide imperial road, carriages raced back and forth, so driven by people and others by chanical wooden horses.
People arriving by carriage entered through the taverns' front doors, while those being secretive entered through side doors in the alleys, going to Pearl House on the second floor. The lit doorway was already crowded with silhouettes.
This Xide Tavern was a Nangong family property and also their largest business location. The two-story aerial corridor beside and above the tavern housed other shops selling clothes, fabrics, tea, and fruits.
This wasn't i Liangyu's first visit. The staff recognized him and knew he was their young lady's Senior Brother. Although Blackbeard wasn't here today, these staff mbers were tactful, greeting i Liangyu with smiling faces and respectfully asking what he needed.
Nian Qiuyan observed the obsequious smiles of the staff in this magnificent tavern. Walking beside i Liangyu, he lowered his voice: "You look like the Young Master here."
i Liangyu also lowered his voice in reply: "This is my Junior Sister's family's tavern."
Nian Qiuyan understood and nodded: "No wonder. You'd better restrain yourself later. Don't smash up the Nangong family's tavern and offend your Junior Sister in the process."
The manager in charge of Pearl House greeted them at the entrance, his slightly plump face full of kind smiles: "Young Master i, are you bringing a friend to play today?"
"Looking for soone." i Liangyu stood at Pearl House's entrance. His peripheral vision could already sweep over the people seated at table after table inside.
So gambling tables were very lively, while others were completely quiet.
The crowd was considerable, making it difficult to find soone.
The tables had either Tianjiu cards or bone tiles, with at least four people per table. Pearl House opened two unlimited betting communal tables daily, which had the most people and were the noisiest.
The gambling thods displayed on the tables rotated daily. Today was bone tiles, tomorrow would be Tianjiu cards, and in another day or two, it might be betting on fighting beasts, crickets, scorpions, and so on.
Any gambling ga that existed in this world could be played here.
During his wandering days on the Outer City's nine islands, i Liangyu particularly hated two types of people: gambling addicts and orchid corpses.
The forr gambled with bloodshot eyes, never repenting, while the latter bought and sold poison. Both hard others and themselves.
He casually scanned the n and won in the main hall and heard the Pearl House manager say: "Do you need our help?"
i Liangyu said: "We'll find them ourselves. We'll leave once we find them, don't mind us."
The Pearl House manager watched the two enter. Hearing this, he just had soone keep an eye on them and didn't interfere further, returning to watch several abnormal gambling tables.
Blackbeard had gone to the neighboring street today to attend the birthday banquet of the Taixu Hall Master.
During this period, the Sky Crane Gang had internal strife and a new leader took over, the Ten Mountain Faction and Dragon Martial Gang were fighting over territory and comrcial buildings, the old man on Star Moon Island was dying and choosing an heir, and the chosen heir had a grudge against the Fla Separation Faction's boss.
The Taixu Hall Master, using his birthday banquet as an excuse, gathered all the prominent gangs and forces from the academy's outer city, giving everyone a chance to sit down and talk properly to prevent disputes from escalating and affecting everyone.
For the past two years, there had been rumors that the Taixu Hall Master would very likely be one of the next 24 Saints of Taiyi, as his cultivation had reached the critical point of ascending to the Thirteenth Realm.
Therefore, everyone still had to show the Taixu Hall Master so face when he stepped forward to diate.
Blackbeard thought there was nothing for him to do today, just giving the Taixu Hall elder so face and attending to watch other gangs make fools of themselves.
An hour later, Blackbeard regretted not going to find a Technical Arts School practitioner for divination before going out today.
......
i Liangyu and Nian Qiuyan entered Pearl House and leisurely mingled with the crowd, watching the n and won in the room change tables, sit down, or get up to leave.
Today's communal table was betting on a parasitic insect.
The jade stone basin on the table emitted a luminous glow, looking delicate and lovely, but the parasitic insects crawling and writhing inside were ugly and bloody.
The house manager called loudly: "Today's communal betting is about to begin. This ti, we're betting on love parasites refined by the Agricultural School on the night of the full moon, made from 16 of the most ferocious and evil poisonous insects. These 16 poisonous insects have already been tempered with dicines and strange arts. They only need to determine the winner today to complete the final love parasite!"
Following his announcent, many people left their tables and rushed toward the house manager, while others who didn't move still stopped what they were doing and stretched their necks to watch curiously.
"Introductions to the 16 poisonous insects are on the table. Betting starts now, tid for one quarter-hour." The house manager continued shouting: "Tonight's biggest winner at Pearl House can take this completed love parasite away!"
The long table held transparent small jars containing the 16 poisonous insects. School of Nas Nine Schools Arts: Animation made the table surface glow slightly, and introductions about these poisonous insects appeared before each transparent jar, along with their appearance when fighting.
The gambling house guards were all Nine Schools practitioners, but anyone caught using Nine Schools Arts to cheat here, whether house or gambler, would either lose hands and feet or have their light cores destroyed.
As the house manager's introduction continued, more and more people ca to the communal table, making the atmosphere lively. i Liangyu stood not far from the communal table, squinting as he surveyed the crowd.
Nian Qiuyan went ahead to get a close look at the 16 poisonous insects and returned to tell i Liangyu: "I've heard of love parasites but never seen one. Tonight I'm getting an education."
i Liangyu said: "You want one?"
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