Treasure Abundance Hall!

"We're here to buy this young woman's freedom."

Everyone froze at Ning Que's words.

Only He Hua could no longer hold back the tears in her eyes.

Everyone lowered their heads to stare at the two copper coins, falling silent.

Wang Hu looked at Ning Que as though he had seen a ghost. "Sir, are you serious?"

Buying a young woman's freedom with two copper coins?

Unheard of!

Ning Que gave him an indifferent glance. "What, isn't that enough?"

"Then toss him another coin."

Yin Jiuyou flicked his sleeve, and another copper coin rolled onto the ground.

Three whole copper coins!!

Wang Hu said nothing, but murderous intent gradually surfaced in his eyes as he stared at Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou.

The fat on his face trembled with rage.

"You brat, you're courting death!!"

Clang!

The men behind Wang Hu abruptly drew the cleavers at their waists and pressed them against Ning Que's and Yin Jiuyou's necks!

The scene seemed to freeze!

The atmosphere was heavy with killing intent, suffocatingly tense!

The bustling street instantly cleared as the crowd scattered at this sudden turn.

Terrified gazes fell on Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou.

No one here dared offend Wang Hu!

He Hua was terrified too. She cried urgently, "This has nothing to do with Brother Ning! Let them go, and I'll come with you..."

But Wang Hu ignored her completely, staring fixedly at Ning Que as though he were already a dead man.

Wang Hu took a cleaver from one of his men, its sharp edge sliding across Ning Que's cheek.

"Brat, why don't you ask around? Who on this entire street dares make a fool of me, Wang Hu? Even Young Master Qian has to show me respect!"

"Is that so?"

Ning Que merely chuckled.

As his laughter faded, everyone saw a blur flash before their eyes.

Then Wang Hu's hand suddenly felt light. Somehow, the cleaver had appeared in the hand of the man beside Ning Que.

Slash!

Blood sprayed!

A gaping wound opened across Wang Hu's neck, blood pouring from it.

[Ding! Congratulations, host! Yin Jiuyou of Flowing Sand has killed one person. Gained 1 Karma Point!]

Wang Hu's body collapsed, his face frozen in terror.

His men stared, dumbstruck.

But a moment later, bloodthirsty ferocity flashed in all their eyes. "Brother Hu's been killed! You dare touch someone from the Treasure Abundance Hall? You're courting death!!"

In a world of turmoil, a man needed a ruthless streak to survive.

Especially these street thugs and ruffians-every last one was willing to gamble with his life.

Seeing their leader dead did not frighten them. Instead, they drew their gleaming cleavers.

And that was not all. The entire street seemed to belong to them.

More men gathered around, likewise carrying cleavers, their eyes vicious.

To them, Wang Hu's death was an opportunity.

Everyone wanted to be the boss. Everyone wanted to stand above ten thousand others!

He Hua trembled with fear, but still said to Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou, "Brother Ning, you should hurry and leave. They're all enforcers from the Treasure Abundance Hall. They won't let you off."

She was only an ordinary woman. She was not worth Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou taking such a great risk for her.

But Ning Que merely told her, "Go home. Nian Nian is still waiting for you there."

Yin Jiuyou stepped forward to clear her a path home.

At the sight, He Hua seemed to understand something, and her eyes instantly reddened.

She stepped back, knelt before Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou, and struck her forehead against the ground three times.

With Yin Jiuyou protecting her, none of the brutes dared act rashly.

Everywhere they passed, the crowd retreated!

In the end, they forcibly carved a passage through the crowd!

Watching He Hua walk away, Ning Que's smile deepened.

He turned to Yin Jiuyou. "Brother Yin, why did you join Flowing Sand?"

Yin Jiuyou fell silent for a while, then looked up at the sky. "I've forgotten... At first, it was to avenge my mother. Later... it was for all living beings!"

More and more brutes surrounded them, but the two continued chatting as though they saw none of them.

Only an incense stick's worth of time passed.

Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou emerged from the alley. Blood had stained the ground red, and its heavy stench filled the air.

[Ding! Yin Jiuyou of Flowing Sand has killed fifty-six enforcers from the Treasure Abundance Hall! Karma Points gained: 56!]

Yet Ning Que was still somewhat dissatisfied.

"So few Karma Points. Is it because the people killed were too lowly?"

"Would killing people with power and status earn more Karma Points?"

[Ding! Host, the number of Karma Points is proportional to the quantity and quality of those killed.]

Ning Que's brow immediately relaxed. "That'll do."

He kicked the sole remaining burly man hard. "Take me to the Treasure Abundance Hall!"

The Treasure Abundance Hall was the largest gambling house in this small town.

It was packed with customers every day.

Some filled their coffers to the brim in a single day, while others lost their entire fortunes in an instant.

Yet no one dared cause trouble here.

Because its owner's surname was Qian.

The same Qian as County Magistrate Qian.

Relying on his position as the county magistrate's son, Qian Zhao committed every imaginable evil.

Over the past two years, he had also hired a group of men from the grasslands at great expense to serve as his bodyguards.

At this moment, they stood behind Qian Zhao.

With curved hooks at their waists, stubbled faces, thick brows, large eyes, and bodies packed with muscle, they had the unmistakable look of grassland men.

Their leader even rested with his eyes closed, regulating his breathing and cultivating. The gambling house's clamor did not disturb him in the slightest.

Boom...

Suddenly, a tremendous crash rang out, and a blood-drenched corpse was hurled into the hall.

Every gambler's expression changed drastically, and they scattered in a rush.

This was a heavy blow to the gambling house, costing it a great many customers.

Qian Zhao's face darkened as though water could be wrung from it. He stood and shouted, "Who is it? Who dares cause trouble in my Treasure Abundance Hall?"

A moment later, two figures strode into the Treasure Abundance Hall, looking neither left nor right. The instant they entered, their gazes settled on Qian Zhao.

Qian Zhao's expression shifted. "You look unfamiliar, brother. You're from out of town, aren't you?"

Ning Que walked straight over and sat down before him. Smiling, he said, "Never mind where I'm from. There's a debt I'd like to discuss with you, Boss Qian."

Qian Zhao smiled. "What debt?"

No one had ever dared discuss debts before him. They either repaid several times what they owed, or, if they could not afford it, he had their legs broken and threw them out.

"The He household in the north of town owes you fifty taels of fine silver. With your extensive holdings, Boss Qian, and County Magistrate Qian as your father, surely fifty taels is beneath your notice. Why not wipe the debt clean?"

At those words, Qian Zhao's expression turned peculiar. He neither agreed nor refused.

He merely leaned toward Ning Que and regarded him with a mocking half-smile. "You know my father is County Magistrate Qian, yet you still dare come here to discuss this with me?"

"..."

The atmosphere instantly grew tense. The enforcers had already surrounded Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou without a sound.

Only the grassland men's leader continued resting with his eyes closed.

Ning Que smiled. "Then there's nothing to discuss?"

The corners of Qian Zhao's mouth rose in a taunting smile. "I'll tell you the truth. That girl from the He household caught my eye, but she refused me no matter what. She can't blame me for throwing her into the Drunken Immortal Tower..."

"Bad news, Young Master Qian! Word came from the Drunken Immortal Tower-that young woman called He Hua has been rescued!"

Before Qian Zhao could finish, one of his men ran in, panic-stricken.

The atmosphere changed instantly.

Everyone's gaze fell on Ning Que and Yin Jiuyou at the same time.

The smile vanished from Qian Zhao's face, and he roared darkly, "Kill them!!"