Going to the Gambling House with Bibi Dong

Sword Douluo Chen Xin turned and saw Ning Fengya lying on the ground, his face livid. Chen Xin's aura sharpened, and killing intent flashed in his eyes as he turned back. "You killed him!"

"Are you an idiot? Sword Douluo, we were fighting. Who had time to bother with him?" Huang Tieyi pointed at the grilled fish on the ground, utterly exasperated. "He died of poisoning. The second grilled fish was a pufferfish. It was poisonous to begin with; I was going to use it as poisoned bait. Who would've thought someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wouldn't have a shred of common sense? He obviously stole it while we were fighting.

"He brought this on himself! He had no one else to blame. Serves him right!"

"You... I..." Sword Douluo Chen Xin was at a loss for words. As a guest elder of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—an elegant way of saying he was a high-ranking servant kept by the sect—he had relied on its resources before he came into his own. Now that he was a Titled Douluo, he naturally had to repay it. But the person he was supposed to protect had been foolish enough to steal food and poison himself. How could Chen Xin explain that?

"Sword Douluo, I know you'd have a hard time going back with an explanation like that," Huang Tieyi said with a sneer. "But if you pin the blame on me, don't fault me for getting rough. One member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is already dead. One more won't matter. Another debt won't weigh me down!"

As soon as Huang Tieyi finished speaking, the sword in his hand became a massive hammer. He activated Lingbo Micro-Step and flashed in front of Ning Fengzhi. Before Ning Fengzhi could react, the hammer came crashing toward him.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin reacted swiftly. In an instant, he appeared before Ning Fengzhi, sword energy swirling around him as he blocked Huang Tieyi's brutal strike.

"Young friend, this had nothing to do with you. The second young master died because he couldn't resist stealing a bite. I failed to watch over him. You're not to blame." Apology showed on Sword Douluo Chen Xin's face. "I entertained a thought I never should have. I failed to take responsibility. Please forgive me."

"Sword Douluo, I accept your apology. Letting dust settle on your sword heart would hinder your future growth." Huang Tieyi put away the hammer and patted Chen Xin on the shoulder. "Goodbye."

With that, Huang Tieyi activated Lingbo Micro-Step. His movements turned strange and drifting as he headed toward Heaven Dou Town and vanished into the night.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin watched the direction Huang Tieyi had gone and sighed. "Fengzhi, cremate Fengya's body and take him home. We'll say he refused to listen and insisted on absorbing a Ten Thousand Year Soul Ring, and that it killed him..."

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Bibi Dong had been having a wonderful time in Heaven Dou Town these past few days. No one urged her to cultivate or nagged her for sleeping in. She could eat snacks whenever she wanted, and if she felt like shopping, she could simply go.

Tonight, she had dressed as a man and planned to visit a brothel to see what went on there and why men liked going so much.

She had barely stepped out of the Spirit Hall Branch when she saw Huang Tieyi at the entrance, dressed in loose, splendid robes and looking dashing.

"A Yi, what are you doing here?" Bibi Dong pulled Huang Tieyi aside and glanced around, her face full of reproach. "Your timing couldn't be worse. I haven't had enough fun yet!"

"Lady Saintess, what does that have to do with me?" Huang Tieyi asked, baffled.

"I came here to get my fifth Soul Ring and happened to run into Heavenly Tyrant Douluo and Thunderbolt Douluo. Ling Yuan said we should go together, and the two Douluo agreed to wait until you got back." Excitement filled Bibi Dong's face. "While we waited for you, I ate lots of delicious food and went shopping for all sorts of interesting little things. Now that you're back, we'll have to go to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt for a Soul Ring. I haven't had enough fun yet!"

By the end, Bibi Dong was pouting unhappily at Huang Tieyi. Her meaning was obvious: You came back at the worst possible time and ruined my plans. How are you going to make it up to me?

"Lady Saintess, dressed like that and heading out—what do you have planned? It's my treat," Huang Tieyi said generously.

"That's great! Let's go to a brothel." Delighted, Bibi Dong grabbed his arm.

"A brothel?" Huang Tieyi stopped with one foot forward. "Lady Saintess, are you trying to get me killed? Why would a woman go to a brothel? Besides, the brothels here only sell sex. They don't have any song-and-dance performances. You'd only wish you hadn't looked..."

"Brothels have song-and-dance performances? A Yi, it seems you haven't been very honest. You've actually been to places like that..." Bibi Dong gave him a sly look. "Fine, we won't go to a brothel today. But when we get back to Spirit City, you have to take me to one with performances. Otherwise, I'll tell Heavenly Tyrant Douluo you're no longer pure—that a prostitute has sullied your body."

"Lady Saintess, you can't smear my good name out of thin air! I keep myself clean. I still have a pure yang body—commonly known as being a virgin." A hint of alarm appeared on Huang Tieyi's face, playing perfectly into Bibi Dong's little scheme.

"Hmph, Ah Yin, if I tell Heavenly Tyrant Douluo you've been visiting brothels and you're no longer pure, will he believe your excuses or me?" Bibi Dong felt immensely pleased at the sight of Huang Tieyi's alarm. So what if you're older than me? So what if you're more talented? I've still got you in the palm of my hand.

"Lady Saintess, my timing really was terrible. I know I was wrong. What do you want me to do?" Huang Tieyi pleaded.

"We won't go to a brothel. Let's go to a gambling house instead—and spend your money." Satisfied that Huang Tieyi had admitted his mistake, Bibi Dong spoke with excitement in her eyes.

"Of course. Whatever you spend, Lady Saintess, I'll pay." Huang Tieyi agreed readily.

The Fortune Inn Gambling House was the only gambling house in Heaven Dou Town. All sorts of people gathered there, a jumble of fish and dragons.

The moment Bibi Dong, still dressed as a man, and Huang Tieyi entered, plenty of people cast them ill-intentioned looks.

Amid the din, Bibi Dong heard a group shouting excitedly, "High! High! High..."

Curious, she walked over. They were betting on whether the dice would come up high or low, and most of the gamblers had put their money on high.

The dealer lifted the dice cup. Inside lay a one, a two, and a three: six points, low. Seeing most of the gamblers' faces fall, Bibi Dong turned excitedly to Huang Tieyi. "Ah Yin, can I play this?"

"Of course, young master. Shall we bet high or low?" Huang Tieyi said with a nod.

"Can I bet on both?" Bibi Dong asked curiously.

"Young sir, you can't bet on both," the dealer explained. "There are only two choices with dice: high or low. You have to pick one..."

"Oh, I see. Then I'll bet..."