The Old Gambler warily glanced around, clasped his hands behind his back, and headed home.
A farm woman carrying a hoe walked toward him with a smile. The Old Gambler’s expression changed, and he immediately began shouting.
“I told you, I don’t have any money! If you want money, I don’t have any. If you want my life, take it!”
The Old Gambler threw himself onto the ground and rolled around in the muddy water. The splashing mud covered his already filthy clothes in even more grime.
The farm woman’s lips twitched. “I’m not here to ask you for money…”
Who could possibly get money out of the Old Gambler? She was more worried that he might steal her hoe later.
“Why hasn’t that woman who came to your place last time returned?” the farm woman asked curiously.
Seeing that she wasn’t there to demand money, the Old Gambler hurriedly got up and lifted his chin. “Who?”
The farm woman lowered her voice. “The one carrying a sword. Last time, she even said she wanted to buy my dates.”
The Old Gambler’s eyes filled with disdain. “No idea. Don’t know her. I forgot about her ages ago. Those lousy dates of yours—I wouldn’t take them even if you gave them to me. And you still think you can sell them!”
As he flailed about, the corner of the gold hidden on him became faintly visible. The farm woman paused, then said nothing more to him.
When she returned home, some of the dates in her basket had suddenly disappeared, and the remaining ones were smeared with mud.
The Old Gambler immediately returned to his ramshackle hut.
He warily glanced at the doorway and hurriedly locked it.
Leaning against the wall, he stared at the gold in his hand and grinned so broadly that the wrinkles on his face trembled.
“If you won’t give it to me, I’ll take it myself. Hmph!”
And they called themselves officials? They were stingy as could be. He had risked his life for them, and all they had given him was a few broken silver pieces.
He had finally managed to steal something from them this time. Although it was only one piece, it was still a valuable prize.
The Old Gambler dug a hole and carefully buried the gold inside, then covered it with some things. Still feeling uneasy, he placed the table over it, climbed on top, and stomped on it several times. Only then did he finally relax.
If he stole a few more times, wouldn’t he have enough money to gamble?
He lay on his bed, eating dates while swinging his legs.
They owed him this. He was merely taking back what was rightfully his.
Meanwhile, Ji Zhaoxi and the others had arrived at the gambling house once again.
The market-day gambling house was even livelier than before. In addition to the gamblers’ shouts, faint sobbing could also be heard.
“Father, please stop gambling. We still need to buy things.” A woman stood before the gambling table, tears in her eyes.
The old man with graying hair had no teeth left, but his eyes gleamed frighteningly brightly. He stood at the table, trembling with excitement, his hand shaking uncontrollably.
“Father!” The woman stamped her foot and burst into tears from anger.
She had finally waited until market day to buy some necessities, only for her father to take the money straight to the gambling house.
Watching this scene, Ji Zhaoxi said angrily, “If this were my father, I’d have to uphold justice even if it meant disowning him.”
Xu Ancheng was startled. “Miss Ji, you mustn’t!”
The Great General was an upright man. He certainly would never commit such a beastly act.
Qin Qiwu hurriedly added, “He wouldn’t, Miss Ji.”
Seeing how strongly Qin Qiwu and Xu Ancheng had reacted, Ji Zhaoxi scratched her head awkwardly. “Don’t be scared. I was only joking.”
Qin Qiwu and Xu Ancheng breathed a sigh of relief. They had genuinely been afraid that Ji Zhaoxi might actually do it.
Fu Xianyan couldn’t help letting out a laugh. Ji Zhaoxi immediately turned her head toward him. Fu Xianyan glanced at a nearby gaming table and nodded.
“Good hand.”
Ji Zhaoxi leaned over to take a look as well. She frowned and stared for a long while, but she still couldn’t understand what she was seeing.
Fu Xianyan turned away, his shoulders trembling. He cleared his throat, then tapped her on the head with his fan.
“Keep up.”
“Oh, oh.”
Ji Zhaoxi hurried to catch up with Qin Qiwu, who was walking ahead.
Ji Zhaoxi had never understood why they had come to the gambling house in the first place. Qin Qiwu and Xu Ancheng had said they were going, so she had followed them. She didn’t want to use her brain at all. Unless she had no choice, she might make a token effort to think.
The moment they entered, the people inside noticed them.
Several burly men stationed in the gambling house exchanged an inconspicuous glance and went upstairs.
At the same time, the inn was bustling as well.
The door to Ji Zhaoxi and Qin Qiwu’s room opened silently, and a shadow slipped inside.
The shadow cautiously rummaged through their luggage, apparently searching for something.
Why couldn’t he find it? If they had come from the capital, they surely ought to have one…
Could it be that these people carried it with them wherever they went?
While the shadow was rummaging through everything, the old clerk stood holding his breath at the doorway. He watched the figure inside, his face flushed with excitement.
This Zhang Shun really was suspicious. He was a thief after all! The old clerk had caught him red-handed this time. He would definitely get Zhang Shun thrown out of the inn!
“Creak—”
The door suddenly flew open. Zhang Shun’s eyes darkened, and he immediately pressed his sword against the man’s throat.
The old clerk, who had been brimming with excitement only moments earlier, instantly went pale.
“Zhang… Zhang Shun! It’s me! Don’t kill me!”
As the old clerk spoke, he began to cry.
Zhang Shun looked at him, his voice airy and insubstantial. “You saw everything?”
The old clerk was so frightened he nearly wet himself. He cried until his voice turned hoarse.
“I didn’t see anything! I absolutely didn’t see anything!”
“I didn’t see you stealing anything. I didn’t see you talking to those men in black. I didn’t see you drugging anyone. I didn’t see a thing…”
The more the old clerk said, the worse Zhang Shun’s expression became.
Just then, the innkeeper’s voice rang out from outside.
“Where is everyone? Why is no one attending to the guests?!”
“Zhang Shun! Li Fu! If you don’t come out right now, I’m docking your wages!”
Her voice grew increasingly impatient as she came closer.
Li Fu cried out inwardly: Innkeeper, please come save me…
Zhang Shun narrowed his eyes. He certainly wouldn’t be able to stay at this inn any longer, but if he went back now, his master would punish him.
He gritted his teeth, grabbed the bundle from the table, and prepared to leap out the window.
Li Fu sobbed as he crawled toward the doorway. Just as he was about to crawl out, a sudden, piercing pain shot through his back. He violently spat out a mouthful of blood.
He stared at Zhang Shun in terror.
Zhang Shun gave a cold laugh and jumped out the window.
At least that took care of him.
Li Fu continued crawling painfully forward. He couldn’t die! He had caught Zhang Shun this time, and he had to tell the innkeeper so she would give him a raise.
“Li Fu! Zhang Shun!” the innkeeper called again, her voice even closer.
Li Fu lay sprawled on the floor, blood flowing out of the room.
The innkeeper came up the stairs, grumbling curses under her breath. Every one of them only knew how to slack off. There was barely any work left in the inn as it was.
Just as she continued upstairs, she suddenly saw a streak of red. Her expression changed, and she hurried up.
“Li Fu!”
When she saw the person lying there, her face turned deathly pale.
Li Fu summoned the last of his strength. “Save me!”
The innkeeper helped him up with trembling hands. Li Fu gasped for breath, then urgently spat out another mouthful of blood.
“Get a doctor!”
He could still be saved!
He still had several breaths left in him!
He felt that he wouldn’t die this time. If he managed to survive, Miss Ji would surely give him plenty more silver!
As he murmured about Zhang Shun and the money, Li Fu’s voice grew fainter and fainter…
