Gambling Sage?

The doors and windows were shut tight. A man and a woman were alone together, one standing, one seated.

Commandery Princess Changning carried herself with grace and nobility, elegant as a painted beauty among the nation's flowers. She sat quietly while Xie Jinhuan examined her with his "Mind's Eye."

Seeing Xie Jinhuan remain silent for so long, his expression grave and his eyes conflicted like an old physician who had discovered an incurable illness, Commandery Princess Changning frowned slightly.

"What? Can you not see anything, or have you discovered that I don't have long to live?"

No, I've discovered that I don't have long to live!

Seeing that the Ghost Wife refused to change her tune, Xie Jinhuan had no one to tell his troubles to. After bottling them up for a long while, he could only reply:

"The... the Soft Armor Your Highness is wearing is made of quite an unusual material."

Commandery Princess Changning glanced down at the bulging, fat-headed peacock, then raised her eyes again. After some thought, she said:

"Ice-Soul Silk has unusual properties and obstructs the flow of qi. Anyone with sufficiently advanced martial skills can determine whether a cultivator is concealing Soft Armor from the subtleties of their qi circulation. That hardly counts as a Secret Technique beyond ordinary understanding. Anything else?"

Xie Jinhuan tried to seek help from the Ghost Wife, but she only grew more outrageous. She was even saying things like "a hairless little girl, white with a hint of pink"!

Xie Jinhuan felt that if he said that aloud, whether he was the Great Demon of Purple Emblem Mountain would no longer matter. If the Commandery Princess didn't kill him today, the Pill King would. He could only steel himself and reply:

"There's a wine gourd embroidered on your breast wrap. Mm... there's a jade pendant hanging against your chest, engraved with the word 'Lingyu.' Its material is extraordinary."

?

Commandery Princess Changning sat a little straighter, her expression turning solemn, profound astonishment showing in her almond-shaped eyes!

An expert could deduce whether someone wore Soft Armor from details such as qi circulation and differences in body temperature.

But seeing embroidery through clothing, even knowing exactly what personal belongings were tucked into her cleavage-that was an unfathomable immortal art!

Commandery Princess Changning had never heard of such a Divine Ability. Suspicion crept into her eyes.

"Have you peeped at me bathing?"

Xie Jinhuan quickly shook his head and said earnestly, "How could I possibly peep at Your Highness? This really is my exclusive Secret Technique."

Commandery Princess Changning didn't believe a word of it. To test whether he was telling the truth, she hid her right hand behind her waist.

"Close your eyes and rub your ears with both hands."

Xie Jinhuan closed his eyes as instructed, covered his ears with his hands, and rubbed back and forth.

Shh, shh, shh~

This interfered with the perception of the six senses, making it difficult for a powerful Martial Dao expert to judge an opponent's movements from environmental details and fluctuations in their aura.

With her hand hidden behind her waist, Commandery Princess Changning cautiously moved it twice inside her sleeve. Once she was sure Xie Jinhuan couldn't possibly see it through normal means, she spoke again:

"All right. How many fingers am I holding up?"

"Three."

Xie Jinhuan answered without even turning his head.

Commandery Princess Changning brought her right hand out from behind her back and looked at her three fingers, disbelief filling her eyes.

What an incredible Divine Ability. It seems he really can see straight through the surface to my underwear...

Wait, if Xie Jinhuan can see the jade pendant tucked into my cleavage, doesn't that mean...

!

Commandery Princess Changning's pretty face flushed. She discreetly raised a hand to cover the fat-headed peacock.

"Then standing in front of you is no different from wearing nothing at all?!"

Xie Jinhuan had known this question would come. He earnestly made something up:

"The Mind's Eye doesn't see with the eyes. It 'perceives.' Just as Your Highness can tell that Steward Hou is outside copying my handstand: your eyes can't see him, but you can work out what he's doing outside the window through various details.

"My Secret Technique uses the invisible, formless 'qi' between heaven and earth to perceive details ordinary people can't. I'm not actually seeing your jade pendant or Undergarment with my eyes.

"If I really could see women's bodies through their clothes, how could I possibly stand here without blushing or my heart racing?"

Commandery Princess Changning didn't quite believe this explanation. After considering it briefly, she carefully watched Xie Jinhuan's eyes and expression, then discreetly moved her arm.

Whoosh~

Half of her wide-sleeved outer robe slipped down her shoulder, exposing her fair shoulder, back, and jade-white arm, her pose stirring the heart...

?!

Xie Jinhuan's pupils contracted. He hadn't expected his landlady to be such an old hand at the slippery-shoulder trick. He straightened slightly.

"Your Highness, are... are you very hot?"

Only after confirming that Xie Jinhuan's instinctive rush of blood at the glimpse of exposed flesh was genuine did Commandery Princess Changning breathe a sigh of relief. She pulled up her outer robe and patted her chest.

"You scared me to death. I thought you really could see girls' bodies through their clothes.

"Your Divine Ability is remarkably formidable and utterly unique. You really do seem like one of the Hidden Immortal Sect's extraordinary eccentrics.

"I've admired the Hidden Immortal Sect for a long time, too. Could you teach me this Divine Ability? Name your price. You can have anything you want."

Anything I want?

Xie Jinhuan thought his landlady really was generous. If he could actually teach her, he would certainly ask for something she would be too embarrassed to give.

But this was the Ghost Wife's Divine Ability, so he could only look troubled.

"Sacred methods aren't lightly passed on, nor the Way taught to outsiders. In the Hidden Immortal Sect, teachings are generally passed from one master to one disciple. Even the Secret Techniques we learn cannot be casually disclosed to outsiders. I only revealed a glimpse because Your Highness helped me out today and truly had doubts.

"Besides, with my shallow cultivation, I can only barely use it myself. As for teaching it, my master used to have me practice by looking at bamboo, calling it 'investigating things to attain knowledge.' I still haven't investigated my way to an understanding..."

"Investigating things to attain knowledge..."

Seeing that Xie Jinhuan didn't seem to be making it up, Commandery Princess Changning nodded slightly. She didn't press him further, settling for the next best thing instead.

"If you can't teach it, I certainly won't force you. Mm... with this ability, wouldn't you win every battle when rolling dice or placing bets?"

Xie Jinhuan blinked, somewhat bewildered.

"Would something as trivial as rolling dice even require cheating with a Divine Ability?"

Commandery Princess Changning enjoyed rolling dice with friends when she drank, but the Academy Gambling God was far too formidable and had bullied her terribly. She now stood and circled Xie Jinhuan, sizing him up with the look of someone admiring a great general under her command.

"When experts gamble, if there are no restrictions on the equipment, everything is an open book to both sides. How could they play? Your Divine Ability seems capable of bypassing those restrictions."

She wants me to use supernatural powers to be a gambling god? Xie Jinhuan still had to deal with the hidden danger posed by Zhou He and had no time to drink. He offered a precautionary warning:

"Overusing this Divine Ability strains the mind. Before I came down the mountain, my master warned me not to use it lightly unless necessary..."

Commandery Princess Changning came around to face him. Although she wasn't tall and had to look up, she possessed something of a commanding older woman's lofty bearing.

"A few times won't hurt, will it? I need you to do me a favor. You'll be well rewarded afterward."

Seeing how persistent she was, Xie Jinhuan could only ask first:

"What favor?"

Commandery Princess Changning folded her hands at her waist, a touch of worry appearing between her brows.

"It's nothing major. You've heard of Wang He, the Academy Gambling God, haven't you? The one called 'Chongwen Academy's Biggest Bust.' Her gambling skills are transcendent. I've faced her several times before and lost to her every time!

"The day before yesterday at Peony Pond, she even beat me seven rounds running. I drank so much I had to leave the table to avoid further battle. Even the ladies of the Chongming River turn pale at the mention of her..."

Academy Gambling God...

That nickname really does leave a fellow a little breathless...

Xie Jinhuan pondered for a moment, then asked:

"You mean you want me to help you beat her once?"

"Yes."

Commandery Princess Changning truly was a first-rate landlady. She glanced toward the residence.

"If your Divine Ability works for gambling, you'll surely slaughter her down to the last scrap of armor at tomorrow's Mid-Autumn banquet. As long as you help me regain my honor, this residence is yours."

Although the noise affected its value, No. 6 Clear Spring Lane was impeccable in location, size, and furnishings. Even at half price, it would be no small sum.

Faced with such extravagant generosity, Xie Jinhuan finally appreciated the merits of a wealthy woman. Remembering Lin Wanyi's "Two-Headed Dragon" plan, he asked:

"The property is too valuable. There's no need for that. My heart is set on the Martial Dao, and I've heard that the Prince's Manor holds a cultivation art left behind by the Martial Ancestor. I wonder whether..."

Commandery Princess Changning raised her eyebrows. "You certainly are greedy. The Dragon-Steed Subduing Response Art is worth far more than a residence. One drinking party won't win you that. But if you keep me happy, never mind a copy-I could even let you borrow the original in the Capital City."

Xie Jinhuan wanted to read a manual of peerless martial arts, too. Hearing this, he certainly couldn't turn down his landlady's invitation again.

"With such kindness from Your Highness, I naturally can't spoil your fun. But if it's girls drinking together, wouldn't it be inappropriate for a man like me to join in?"

"It's fine."

Commandery Princess Changning patted the fat-headed peacock and declared expansively:

"The Mid-Autumn banquet is a gathering anyway. No one would dare say anything if I brought a male companion. Just sit beside me and give me pointers."

A male companion...

Xie Jinhuan was a little worried that the Pill King might break his legs, but riches and honor were won through danger. He nodded.

"The gambling equipment is specially made, so you might not be able to see through it. Come to the Martial Might Pavilion later. I'll first feel out your strengths and weaknesses, so I don't suffer another loss at tomorrow's banquet."

As she spoke, Commandery Princess Changning walked gracefully toward the door. Noticing Coal Ball still crouching in the room, staring at the ceiling, she followed its gaze toward the beams.

"What's it looking at?"

"A bowl in the sky."

"Oh..."

Not long afterward, Commandery Princess Changning returned to the Commandery Princess's Manor with her attendants.

Once everyone had left, Xie Jinhuan closed the door. After a little thought, he called:

"Beauty Ye?"

"Mm-hmm~~"

The red-clad A Piao who followed him like a shadow emerged from behind him, her soul-stealing eyes showing considerable displeasure.

"I told you to say those things to her. Why didn't you?"

?

Xie Jinhuan stumbled and spread his hands. "Do I have a death wish? She's the Pill King's eldest legitimate daughter and the emperor's own niece!"

Ye Hongshang shrugged slightly. "Isn't that perfect? A little rich beauty who could topple a nation. That's exactly what you need most right now."

Xie Jinhuan certainly did need one, but her old man was no minor figure. He went to the wardrobe to fetch a change of robes and asked:

"Speaking of which, how can you see what's under clothes? Could you teach me?"

"So you can learn it and look at girls on the street?"

"Of course not. This Divine Ability should be quite powerful when used in the Martial Dao."

Ye Hongshang thought back carefully. "This should be an innate 'Divine Ability' of mine. What I see isn't an Undergarment, but the essence of heaven and earth. Never mind you-I don't think anyone else could learn it."

Hearing this, Xie Jinhuan's heart stirred.

"Could you be an immortal descended to the mortal world?"

"Possibly."

Ye Hongshang raised her head, thrust out her chest, and stood straight, adopting an air of ethereal immortality.

"What sort of immortal do you think I look like?"

A fox immortal...

Or a lust demon...

Feeling that their conversation was veering further and further off course, Xie Jinhuan changed the subject.

"Can your bewitching art control anyone?"

Ye Hongshang came closer and leaned against the wardrobe with her arms folded across her chest.

"Lin Wanyi had an excess of yin-cold qi, which let me slip into the opening easily. Even making you hear and see illusions leaves you dizzy. The little Commandery Princess, that Momo girl, and the others would inevitably use the Spirit-Awakening Charm-Repelling Art to break free as soon as they noticed they were bewitched. I can't control them."

"Really?"

Xie Jinhuan was quite disappointed.

Seeing this, Ye Hongshang raised her slender eyebrows.

"What? Want your big sister to help knock the princess girl out so you can finally taste some meat?"

Xie Jinhuan took out his robe and shook his head.

"If I wanted to lay a girl low, would I need such crooked methods? The Scarlet Qilin Guard attacked me earlier. I need to investigate the reason behind it, and I need an alibi. If you could bewitch Commandery Princess Changning, that would make things easy."

Understanding what he meant, Ye Hongshang looked rather approving.

"A real man doesn't let a grudge sit overnight. I like that temperament. Mm... it's not entirely impossible. When people are drunk and muddleheaded, their minds are easily influenced. Even if they see or hear illusions, they'll just think they've had too much to drink. Find a way to get Commandery Princess Changning half drunk, and I can buy you some time."

Seeing that there was a way to create an alibi, Xie Jinhuan said no more and briskly began getting ready...