Back home, Deng Yunliang was still a bit absent-minded, because he hadn't expected Ji Yuan to be such a sentimental guy.
Before, Deng Yunliang thought Ji Yuan was always reclusive and withdrawn, so he naturally assumed he was a heartless, cold cultivator.
But after meeting him today, he hadn't expected Ji Yuan to actually be willing to help Lin Hu out.
Besides, Ji Yuan really doesn't like gamblers—Deng Yunliang didn't want to admit it, but he could definitely feel it.
Thinking back on today's events, Deng Yunliang couldn't help but wonder if Ji Yuan would blame him for Lin Hu's gambling?
After all, it was Deng Yunliang who dragged Lin Hu to gamble in the first place...
If that's the case, and Ji Yuan really holds it against him, what's a Qi Cultivation beginner like himself supposed to do against a Qi Cultivation mid-stage?
Then Deng Yunliang remembered the look Ji Yuan gave him the last time he asked to borrow money—cold, emotionless, like he was staring at a…dead man.
Deng Yunliang shivered, face drained white with fear.
'No way, I can't just sit here and wait to die!'
As a proper gambler, Deng Yunliang's first reaction was…bet!
He picked up a cup of tea, downed it in one gulp, then started to think things through.
This Ji Yuan is mid-stage Qi Cultivation, but he's also loaded—the Dharma Ship he uses is top notch, and he can always hear those Spirit Chickens clucking in Ji Yuan's backyard. Lately, it seems he's even started raising Spirit Pigs.
Damn, even his livestock probably eat better than me!
How rich do you have to be for that?
I didn't realize it before, but now that I think about it…Deng Yunliang got even more tempted.
If he could take down this neighbor, that windfall wouldn't be small—let alone the fact Ji Yuan was an orphan, which made things even better.
Even if he killed him, there'd be no consequences.
So the real question is—
How could a Qi Cultivation beginner kill a mid-stage Qi Cultivator?
And from the last time Ji Yuan casually asked for two Spirit Fish, it's clear the guy's ruthless and skilled in killing.
Getting involved directly is out of the question—it'd just be suicide.
To kill him, he'd have to hire someone…luckily, Deng Yunliang had been hanging out at all the big and small gambling dens in Zengtou City lately, so he'd met quite a few friends.
Even if they're just gambling buddies, only these kinds of friends are crazy enough to risk their lives.
If it was someone from a proper place, who'd dare get involved in this shit?
So who should he look for? Best to get two Qi Cultivation fourth-layer guys in one go, and in the fight, have one of them die together with Ji Yuan…hell, if both went down with Ji Yuan, that'd be perfect.
That way, he'd just pick up the loot from all three for free.
Of course, that's only if he kept his cool, and didn't get killed by Ji Yuan right away... Names of a few people started popping up in Deng Yunliang's mind.
...
After Ji Yuan got home, he just shrugged off what happened at the door.
With his Cultivation breaking through and power increasing, naturally he had to get used to handling his Magical Artifacts again.
Take the Black Gold Saber, for example.
When Ji Yuan was at Qi Cultivation fourth-layer, he could use it, but it really drained his Spiritual Power—now, things are different.
Controlling the Black Gold Saber—however he wants, whenever he wants.
Especially since learning Talisman Painting, Ji Yuan's control over Magical Artifacts had gotten even more refined.
Afterward, Ji Yuan spent two more days cultivating at home; while he didn't go out, he would occasionally hear Lin Hu coming home late and leaving early.
Claimed he quit gambling—looks like the boy actually did, for real.
As for Deng Yunliang, it seemed he'd had visitors at his place these last few days; Ji Yuan sensed two people coming and going, but they weren't bothering him, so he left them alone.
It was only on the third day that Ji Yuan decided to head out to buy a few semi-Spirit Fish and Spirit Chickens, and pick up some Talisman Paper and Talisman Ink on the side.
Heading out, just as Ji Yuan turned to lock the courtyard gate, he suddenly sensed something off!
A dark glow streaked from his Storage Bag, growing in the wind and hovering behind him.
"Ding—"
A crisp clash like metal striking stone rang out, and the Black Gold Saber was blasted back by immense force, pressed against Ji Yuan's back. The strength was huge; for a regular cultivator, this blow would've left their organs damaged for sure.
Too bad Ji Yuan was trained in body refinement!
He rolled right back into the courtyard, slamming the door behind him.
"Shit!"
A startled yell came from outside the yard, followed immediately by a Water Arrow smashing in—the wooden door shattered to bits.
'Fuck your mother!'
Spiritual Qi surged around Ji Yuan, four Water Shields instantly forming and hovering around him; he leapt straight onto the wall.
With one glance, he took everything in.
Two drenched middle-aged men stood on the shore, one in black, one in grey, both exuding Qi Cultivation fourth-layer auras, faces twisted and vicious.
The black-clad guy had a Magical Artifact hovering above his head—a bronze spike as big as an arm.
No doubt, it was this thing that had just ambushed Ji Yuan.
If his reaction had been any slower, he could be a corpse on the ground by now.
Aside from them, Deng Yunliang was still standing by his own gate, clutching Water Arrow Talismans in his hands, his eyes set on Ji Yuan and clearly panicked.
Seeing all this, Ji Yuan instantly pieced it together.
Gambler…bet it all!
Deng Yunliang really lived up to the gambler name—despite only being Qi Cultivation third-layer, he actually hired two Qi Cultivation fourth-layer guys to assassinate him.
Next moment—
Ji Yuan landed atop the wall in a blink, already sending forth the Black Gold Saber.
"Go—"
He shouted lightly; the short saber vanished in an instant, slashing toward the black-clad man with the Magical Artifact, while Ji Yuan pointed at Deng Yunliang with both hands.
Water Drop Finger!
Two Spiritual Lights shot out, and Deng Yunliang didn't waste a second—he threw both Water Arrow Talismans in his grip.
They collided—sharp explosions of metal and water resounded together.
A muffled groan followed.
The grey-robed man, who'd barely moved, suddenly convulsed and then collapsed stiffly, instantly turning into a corpse.
Eyes wide open—not a peaceful death.
The black-clad guy glanced over, seeming shocked as he turned, "You…"
But before he could finish, a subtle red glow flashed before his eyes; instinctively, he called back his Magical Artifact.
Ji Yuan, standing atop the wall, pointed again.
Water Drop Finger flipped the bronze spike aside.
The Death Needle shot in, piercing straight through his brow.
"Bang—"
The corpse arched backward and fell into the lake of Cloud Rain Marsh.
Those two had been hiding in Cloud Rain Marsh earlier, which was why Ji Yuan hadn't sensed them—now they could die there, too.
Killing two ambushers in one go, Ji Yuan didn't feel much about it.
First off, both their Cultivation Realms were below his anyway; second, they were just show-offs, cultivating without a clue how to fight.
Just look at the exchange—a feint at the black-clad man and Deng Yunliang, but the Death Needle went straight for the guy in the middle, who didn't even know to cast a Water Shield or two.
Probably all gambling addicts Deng Yunliang picked up in a den somewhere.
Forget magical combat—they only think about getting rich.
Ji Yuan hopped down from the wall; Deng Yunliang was already on his knees, collapsed and trembling.
Seeing Ji Yuan's gaze, he kowtowed like a hammering puppet.
"Ji…Elder Ji, Brother Ji, please spare me, Brother Ji."
Ji Yuan was kind-hearted, and couldn't bear seeing anyone sniveling like that—so he used a single Water Drop Finger to put him out of his misery.
For those who try to kill him, Ji Yuan had only two options:
Either get killed by the other side, or…kill them first.
Pocketing the near-worthless loot from the three gamblers, Ji Yuan used three drops of Corpse-Dissolving Water to wipe away the evidence. After glancing around, he headed to Lin Hu's door and knocked.
No answer—looks like even Wu Qin was out on the boat.