Why Spend So Much Money Betting on Me?

They wove through the streets. When Shen Ji and the other three up ahead stopped, Xie Lingchuan and the others behind them stopped as well.

Everyone looked in unison at the inn before them, its every floor aglow with lamplight.

"This place looks really busy, Eldest Senior Brother."

That was plain for everyone to see. The inn's ground floor was lavishly decorated and brightly lit, and the main hall was almost full.

As always, Shen Ji respected his seniors and asked Xie Lingchuan first.

"Senior Brother Xie, this place does look good. There must be a reason it draws so many people."

Xie Lingchuan was always easygoing about such things. "Whatever you like."

Shen Ji smiled. "Then let's stay here."

They started toward the inn. After a few steps, Zhu Lianqing noticed A Man had not followed and turned to look. A Man was still staring blankly at the inn's imposing gray-and-red signboard.

"Miss A Man, what's wrong?"

Seeing that the Daoist lords ahead had all stopped, A Man felt a little embarrassed.

"I... this place looks expensive. I can't afford to stay here. I'm afraid I'll have to part ways with you Daoist lords here. When you go to Falling Snow Mountain tomorrow, I'll come find you again."

Money had not occurred to Zhu Lianqing. She raised her eyebrows and looked at Shen Ji behind her.

Shen Ji said, "Miss A Man, it's already dark. It's too dangerous for you to go off alone. Stay here with us without worrying. There's no need to concern yourself with the money."

A Man still hesitated. "But I probably won't be able to pay you back."

Jiang Tingxue leaned out from Shen Ji's right side. "You don't have to. We've been relying on Senior Brother Xie this whole journey. He has the most money."

A Man looked at Xie Lingchuan.

Xie gave a slight nod and an impassive "Mm," quietly acknowledging that he was "rich."

Zhu Lianqing thought about it. Xie Lingchuan was rich...

How could Xie Lingchuan not be rich?!

After she died, all her money had gone to Xie Lingchuan!

"What can I get for you, honored guests?" A waiter greeted them warmly.

"We'd like seven superior rooms, none by the stairs. They're too noisy. Then prepare a table of food, a mix of your signature meat and vegetable dishes, with an extra plate each of braised pig's trotters and pork knuckle. Remember to stew them until they're tender, and prepare some refreshing side dishes to cut through the richness." Shen Ji gave his instructions down to the last detail.

The waiter kept agreeing as he noted everything down.

Jiang Tingxue shook the sleeve she was holding and smiled delightedly. "We're so lucky to have Eldest Senior Brother!"

It was not just Jiang Tingxue. Listening to him, even Zhu Lianqing wanted to go tug Shen Ji's sleeve and cry, "Martial nephew, you're simply too considerate!"

"What wine would you like with that?" Having finished noting everything down, the waiter looked up and asked Shen Ji.

Shen Ji was about to say no when he seemed to remember something and looked at Zhu Lianqing and Xie Lingchuan.

These two were the only people in the group who could drink, weren't they?

"Senior Brother Xie, Senior, would either of you like any wine?"

Xie Lingchuan shook his head. "No need."

"You really are thoughtful, Young Hero Shen," Zhu Lianqing praised. "But I won't be joining you for dinner. I'll go drink at a wine house myself."

Shen Ji nodded, then turned back to the waiter. "In that case, no wine."

"Certainly, honored guests. Please take table twenty-five on the south side. Your food will be right out!"

"You're going out?" Xie Lingchuan looked at Zhu Lianqing.

Zhu Lianqing nodded. "Yes. What is it?"

She had caught the fragrance of wine nearby just now, and one whiff told her it was excellent. She had not had good wine in so long that the craving was killing her!

"Then I'll come with you," Xie Lingchuan said.

Zhu Lianqing frowned. "What, afraid I'll run?" She raised her wrist and shook it. "We have the Spirit Connection Spell, Young Hero Xie. Stop worrying."

Xie Lingchuan said nothing, merely looking at her with obvious distrust in his eyes.

Zhu Lianqing could only say, "Fine. I don't mind if you want to follow me."

Zhu Lianqing was not worried about her disciple watching her, since she had never planned to run tonight anyway.

She wanted to admire Falling Mountain Snow too.

Besides, all these days of traveling had been genuinely exhausting, and tonight was a rare chance to get some proper rest.

She would not run tonight. She would run tomorrow.

Shen Ji took his junior brothers, junior sister, and A Man to their seats, while Xie Lingchuan followed Zhu Lianqing outside.

Zhu Lianqing loved browsing roadside stalls. They had so many interesting little trinkets.

She had originally intended to head straight toward the fragrance of wine, but she had long since developed the habit of not drinking in front of Xie Lingchuan. She planned to dispel his suspicions and get him to go back first, then head to the wine house alone to lose herself in drunken bliss.

Xie Lingchuan followed behind Zhu Lianqing, watching her poke at one thing and ask about another as she browsed with great interest. There really was nothing suspicious about her.

"Why do you only look without buying?"

When Zhu Lianqing heard Xie Lingchuan's voice behind her, she was toying with a fox-shaped jade pendant.

"Because I have no money."

"How are you going to drink if you have no money?"

Zhu Lianqing twirled the pendant around her fingertip a few times and answered without turning around, "I mean I only have enough money left for wine."

The weight on Zhu Lianqing's fingertip suddenly lifted. Xie Lingchuan had taken it and held it up for the vendor to see.

"How much for this?"

The vendor held up two fingers. Xie Lingchuan paid at once, then tossed the pendant back into Zhu Lianqing's hand.

Zhu Lianqing's lips curved mischievously. "Oh, how generous, Young Hero Xie."

Ignoring her teasing, Xie Lingchuan said directly, "Tell me whatever you want to buy. You can take it back and look at it afterward. That will be faster."

"What's the hurry? The nightlife has only just begun. Besides, you saw for yourself that I'm very seriously shopping, without the slightest sign of trying to run. If you're tired of following me, go back to the inn first. I stake my character on it: I absolutely won't run."

Xie Lingchuan lowered his eyes to the smiling Zhu Lianqing and replied, impervious to persuasion, "I'm not quite sure what your character is like yet, Senior."

Zhu Lianqing clicked her tongue. "Honestly, you. I'm going drinking. How am I supposed to drink with you watching me? Unless you drink with me."

Xie Lingchuan pressed his lips together. "I don't drink."

"Then what exactly will satisfy you?"

Xie Lingchuan considered it seriously, then said, "Give me your wine money. When you're done drinking, tell me through the Spirit Connection Spell. I'll come get you and pay for you."

Zhu Lianqing's eyes widened. What a vicious idea.

Fine. She was not planning to run anyway. As long as her disciple was not watching her drink, that was enough.

Back at the sect, she had already grown used to avoiding Xie Lingchuan when she drank. Now, drinking openly in front of him actually felt a little strange.

Zhu Lianqing felt through all her pockets, took out a few coins, and placed them in Xie Lingchuan's palm.

Looking at the pitiful few coins in his hand, Xie Lingchuan frowned. "Where's the rest?"

Zhu Lianqing asked in surprise, "What rest? That's everything I own."

Xie Lingchuan looked at those pitiful few coins and actually counted them carefully.

The young man's usually stern, unsmiling features softened beneath the warm lamplight. Coupled with the hint of puzzlement in his eyes, it actually made Xie Lingchuan look a little... cute as he earnestly counted the money.

Looking at her young disciple, Zhu Lianqing could not help laughing.

When Xie Lingchuan finished counting, he looked up with a trace of puzzlement between his brows. "Since you don't have much money left, why spend so much betting on me?"

Zhu Lianqing's laughter stopped abruptly.

Why bring up such an embarrassing old story?

"Because... because..." Zhu Lianqing thought for a long time before finally smashing the already cracked pot. "No reason. I bet because I wanted to. Mind your own business."

Xie Lingchuan said nothing. He pressed his lips together and put Zhu Lianqing's money away.

Zhu Lianqing waved at him and turned away breezily. "Satisfied now? Go back, go back. Stay safe, and remember to come get me, or they'll keep me there doing hard labor when I can't pay."

Xie Lingchuan stood where he was, watching Zhu Lianqing's retreating figure. Only after she disappeared into the crowd did he draw back his gaze as though coming to his senses, then turn and walk toward the inn.