Chapter 86 Chaos reigns...
Chapter 86 Chaos, Chaos
Ling Hao was absolutely certain that the person was Chu Liuxiang, and since Chu Liuxiang was the male protagonist, his appearance was bound to cause a stir. Not just a stir, but a huge one. She definitely had to go and join in the fun.
So, even though it was a gambling den she disliked, she still excitedly pulled Gongzi Yu's hand and went inside.
In TV dramas and movies, ancient gambling dens often seem particularly glamorous, draped in light gauze curtains, filled with the fragrance of cosmetics, and with beautiful women occasionally passing by. But in reality, gambling dens were a strange mix of smells: alcohol, sour odors, and cheap cosmetics, combined with the stench of people huddled together.
As soon as Ling Hao stepped into the gambling den, she was overwhelmed by the smell, almost bringing tears to her eyes. Yes, the smell felt like a tangible attack, truly causing her a huge shock.
So she immediately turned around and walked out without stopping for a moment.
The two men, who were about to greet the new customer, froze, exchanging bewildered glances, unsure of what to do. If the customer had actually entered the gambling den, it wouldn't have been so bad; they could have tried to persuade him.
But the customer had only come in briefly and then left, so they couldn't very well go out and try to get him back. After all, this was Kyoto, and they had to follow the rules, so they had no choice but to let it go.
"Ah Hao?" Gongzi Yu looked at Ling Hao with concern.
Linghao blinked, trying not to let her tears fall. "It stinks so bad inside."
Gongzi Yu said, "Actually, Shunfa Gambling House is already one of the larger gambling houses in the capital. Smaller gambling houses or those located in the backyards might be even worse."
Because of the nature of gambling dens, the smells inside are often quite complex. Furthermore, many customers don't want to be seen from the outside, so the windows are always closed. With so many people inside, no ventilation, and the smells all mixed together, the overall odor is truly unpleasant.
Gongzi Yu pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve, instinctively wanting to wipe away the tears from Linghao's eyes. However, remembering that they were still just friends, he stopped himself and handed the handkerchief to her instead.
"Don't those people think it smells bad?" Linghao took the handkerchief and wiped her eyes. The faint fragrance emanating from the handkerchief dispelled the lingering odor, making her feel much better. "I'll wash this handkerchief and return it to you."
Hmm, something seems off. "I'll just buy you a new one." She put the handkerchief away.
Hearing her say that, Gongzi Yu swallowed back the word "no need." "Alright, I'll wait." He smiled, suppressing his emotions. "Most people who go to gambling dens are addicted. They only care about the gambling table and the money, and they don't care about the taste at all."
“Luckily, I don’t like gambling.” Ling looked at Gongzi Yu with a serious expression. “You can’t gamble either, you know? It’s just like… Five Stone Powder, neither of them are good things. If you get addicted, your family will be ruined.”
If someone becomes a gambler, then there's basically no hope for them. Linghao will always remember a neighbor of hers who was a good son, a good husband, and a good father, but after becoming a gambler, he was like a completely different person.
All the good qualities vanished from him; he became like a villain, spending his days gambling, drinking, and beating his parents, wife, and son. Finally, his parents and wife couldn't take it anymore and together they beat him up.
But he still couldn't change. Even after debt collectors chopped off two or three fingers from each hand, he still gambled. The demonic neighbor had a huge impact on little Linghao's mind, to the point that she disliked gambling intensely.
“Okay, I’ll listen to Ah Hao,” Gongzi Yu said earnestly.
Ling Hao realized he might have overreacted and pursed his lips sheepishly. "I'm sorry, I should have believed you. You definitely wouldn't be blinded by something like this." He was Gongzi Yu, after all; how could he possibly be blinded by something like this?
Gongzi Yu smiled and said, "I know Ah Hao cares about me, and I'm glad you trust me." So they're closer now, right? "So what do we do now?"
"Let's wait for Chu Liuxiang to come out." Ling Hao looked around and pulled Gongzi Yu to sit down at a wonton stall opposite the gambling den. "He'll have to come out eventually."
According to the original plot, Chu Liuxiang was in Jiangnan at this time. He was investigating why Zhamuhe and others died in the Central Plains. Then he clashed with the Tianxing Gang, went to the gambling den, and ran into Black Pearl.
But now, Chu Liuxiang is in Kyoto, and the bodies of Zhamuhe and the others are also in Kyoto. So the plot is different from before; everything is messed up. However, Linghao isn't sure if the plot can be pulled back even partially. She wants to stay with Chu Liuxiang, not just because she wants to join in the fun, but more because she wants to know how much of the original plot remains.
If there are any left, then that person should run into Chu Liuxiang, but it's just unknown if it will be today.
"Is Ah Hao looking for someone?" Gongzi Yu asked. His intuition told him that Ah Hao's target was not Chu Liuxiang, but someone else.
"Maybe." Ling Hao's gaze remained fixed on the Shunfa Casino across the street. "I don't know right now." She then looked away, her gaze falling on Gongzi Yu. "Aren't you bored keeping me company like this?"
"How could that be? I have a feeling something interesting might happen next," Gongzi Yu replied with a smile.
How could he possibly be bored? Being with his Ah Hao, no matter what they were doing, he was never bored. Even just looking at her and thinking about her, he wouldn't be bored.
"It could be interesting, or it could be..." Ling Hao frowned. It could also be disgusting.
Unfortunately, Ling Hao, who was guarding the gambling den, didn't get what he wanted. Half the night had already passed before Chu Liuxiang emerged from the gambling den. He must have returned with a full haul, because he had a smile on his face, while the person who saw him off looked extremely grim.
Because Ling Hao and Gongzi Yu concealed their auras, Chu Liuxiang didn't notice them at all. He headed towards the inn where he was staying, and Ling Hao and Gongzi Yu exchanged a glance and decided to follow him.
She'd already been keeping watch for most of the night; she wouldn't be willing to give up now. As for Gongzi Yu, he was dispensable. He'd follow her wherever she wanted to go, that was all.
...As it turns out, sometimes it's better to give up. Ling Hao followed Chu Liuxiang back to the inn where he was staying, and nothing happened until he fell asleep.
She lay on the roof, sighing silently in her heart. Just as she was about to signal Gongzi Yu to leave with her, she heard some noises coming from the room below.
Ling Hao's eyes immediately lit up, and she silently winked at Gongzi Yu, as if to tell him that she was right and that following Chu Liuxiang would lead to interesting discoveries.
Gongzi Yu's lips curved slightly, but his smile quickly froze on his lips.
Linghao closed her eyes in despair, feeling that nothing was interesting anymore.
Ugh, damn Chu Liuxiang, can you please stop solidifying your charming rogue persona? You've already expended so much energy at the gambling den all night, and now you're still flirting with a girl you just met? And even... Hey, hey, hey, don't be so rigid about your persona, okay?
Ling Hao was extremely upset and felt a strong urge to punch someone.
Actually, she was just eavesdropping. Although it was a little awkward, and although Ling Hao had never been in a relationship, she was from the future, so a little awkwardness was tolerable. The problem was, the main issue was that she and Gongzi Yu heard it together! The two of them were now half-bent over on the roof, listening to Chu Liuxiang and that girl laughing and joking in the room below. It was really hard not to be driven crazy.
Yes, Ling Hao was no longer just embarrassed, she was on the verge of collapse. She was going to die! Ling Hao kept her eyes tightly shut, not daring to open them, afraid that meeting Gongzi Yu's eyes would only make her more devastated.
If things could be done over again, if there were a pill to undo regrets, Ling Hao would swear to her beloved Sui Xue that she would make it happen. But now, it's no use saying anything, because time cannot be reversed, and things cannot be undone.
Linghao felt her mind and heart were in complete chaos. Utter chaos, utter chaos. But the worst part was that she felt something that shouldn't be in chaos had become chaotic.
Gongzi Yu heard the sounds below but didn't immediately understand what they were. Although he was shrewd and calculating, he had never faced anything like this before, so he didn't react at first. It wasn't until the laughter from below and Ling Hao's humiliated and indignant expression came into his view that Gongzi Yu realized what was going on.
At first, he was filled with anger, believing that the two people below had corrupted his Ah Hao. But when he looked at Ah Hao's flushed cheeks and bright red earlobes, he couldn't help but feel a strange sensation. Gongzi Yu didn't quite understand what that feeling was, only assuming that she was simply too angry.
She was unhappy, and naturally, he was unhappy too. So, Gongzi Yu raised his hand, preparing to teach the two people in the room below a lesson.
However, he didn't need to intervene, because the sounds from the room below had changed. It was no longer the sound of laughter and playful banter, but the sound of a fight. However, this sound quickly disappeared, as Chu Liuxiang had already subdued his opponent.
Ling Hao initially thought Chu Liuxiang had some kind of peculiar hobby, but then she remembered that this seemed to be a plot point from the original novel. She winked at Gongzi Yu, indicating that she must listen carefully.
Gongzi Yu was somewhat bewildered, failing to grasp Ling Hao's meaning. 'Kill?' he mouthed.
Ling Hao paused for a moment, then pointed to his ear, indicating that he should listen. "Don't just start killing all at once; that's not good for a harmonious society."
Well, talking about a harmonious society in a martial arts world is a huge joke.
-----------------------
Author's Note: A friendly reminder: When people are embarrassed, they really want to spiral into the sky [melted emoji].
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
