Miao You Fang followed the burly man up the stairs on the right side of the gambling hall to the second floor.

The burly man stopped at a private room’s door and knocked.

“Come in!” A deep voice characteristic of a middle-aged man came from inside.

The burly man opened the door and remained still, gesturing for Miao You Fang to enter.

The room was elegantly decorated, with an antique shelf on the east side displaying porcelain vases, jade items, and precious antiquities. The southern wall was covered with calligraphy and paintings from renowned artists.

A robust middle-aged man sat by a tea table near an east-facing couch. He wore a cyan robe embroidered with cloud patterns, attempting to appear refined and wealthy. However, his sharp and powerful aura, coupled with his martial artist’s physique stretching the fabric, created an incongruous impression.

He was holding a purple clay teapot, pouring steaming tea into cups. After taking a sip, he looked leisurely at Miao You Fang.

“May I know your name?”

“Miao You Fang.”

The middle-aged man nodded, “You can call me Second Master, that’s what everyone in the underworld calls me.”

After a pause, he asked, “Which part of Yong Province are you from?”

Instead of answering, Miao You Fang asked directly, “Why did Second Master summon me?”

The middle-aged man wasn’t angered and replied calmly, “You’ve won quite a bit. It’s time to quit while you’re ahead. Don’t come to my gambling house anymore. If you agree, we can be friends. If you run into trouble in Yong Province, you can mention my name. I have at least that much influence.”

This was merely empty talk. While Second Master might seem impressive to commoners, to real gangs and families, he was just a glorified thug. He had some money and managed a dozen men, maintaining profitable relationships with certain government officials.

But major powers like Dragon God Fort, could destroy the Six Gambling House with just a yawn. Moreover, with the martial arts assembly gathering in Yong Province, heroes from all corners had assembled.

Most wandering martial artists were the type to kill for vengeance and leave no traces.

How could a mere gambling house owner dare provoke such people?

Miao You Fang smiled, “Let’s forget about being friends. I’ll leave if you want, but I have something to ask Second Master first.”

The middle-aged man watched him with an indifferent expression.

Miao You Fang rubbed his dark face and asked, “I’m new to Yong Province. Yesterday, passing by the magistrate’s office, I saw a woman burning spirit money and wailing. The clerks were driving her away and beating her. I couldn’t stand by, so I asked about the situation. She said her husband, Zhang Hei, liked to gamble. Recently, he was killed on his way back from a gambling house, and his money vanished.”

The middle-aged man’s expression turned cold, his gaze becoming icy. “What are you trying to say?”

Miao You Fang stared at him intently, “The woman said the night watchman saw the killer’s appearance – it was someone from the Six Gambling House. The watchman was going to testify, but for some reason, he changed his mind.”

Leaning forward, Miao You Fang looked into the middle-aged man’s eyes, “Today, I gathered some information. For instance, Zhang Hei was skilled at gambling and often won money at Six Gambling House. That day, he won over two hundred silver taels. Also, the watchman changed his mind because you paid him hush money.”

The middle-aged man slowly stood up. He was a head taller than Miao You Fang and looked down at him with contempt, “Boy, what are you trying to say? Want to seek justice for Zhang Hei? Report me to the authorities?”

Miao You Fang shook his head, “The authorities won’t handle this case because you’ve already handled them.”

The middle-aged man burst into laughter, his face full of mockery. “Since you know that…”

His pupils reflected a cold glint, and then he saw the blood mist spraying from his neck.

The middle-aged man clutched his neck, staggering toward the door. After a few steps, he collapsed, his limbs thrashing wildly before going still.

Miao You Fang put away his dagger, grabbed the purple clay teapot, and used the scalding tea to wash his hands. He then wiped the blood from his face with his wet hands, saying calmly, “Debts must be repaid, and a life for a life – these are heaven’s principles. If the officials won’t handle it, I will.”

[Continuing to the next scene…]

At Qing Xing Garden.

Two servant girls were changing the bedding and sheets while their stunningly beautiful mistress was sunbathing in the courtyard.

They whispered among themselves.

“My goodness, it’s even more outrageous than the night before.”

“Yes, yes, these sheets are completely soaked.”

“Let me tell you, they stayed in the room all day yesterday, missing breakfast, lunch, and dinner.”

“That master is incredible, though if I were a man, I’d want to die on that lady’s belly too. I’ve never seen anyone so beautiful in my life.”

“Isn’t our young mistress the truly incredible one? If it were you, you couldn’t even walk, no, you couldn’t even get out of bed.”

In the courtyard, Luo Yu Heng’s beautiful face flushed red, but it quickly turned to worry.

Why hasn’t Xu Qi An returned yet? If he doesn’t come back by midnight, will I be burned to death by karmic fire? At this thought, Luo Yu Heng felt terrified.

She was “Fear” among the Seven Emotions.

[Continuing with the next scene…]

At the inn.

Li Ling Su sat cross-legged on the bed, practicing breathing exercises to nurture his primordial spirit, which in turn nourished his physical body.

After an unknown amount of time, he opened his eyes, ending today’s meditation.

“How wonderful, my kidneys don’t hurt as much anymore…”

He rubbed his waist, feeling the slight ache had eased considerably.

“Once my cultivation recovers, as long as I control my bedroom activities, with my Fourth Grade cultivation, I won’t suffer from kidney deficiency anymore.”

Over the past half year, with his cultivation sealed and unable to nurture his body through breathing exercises while being drained nightly by the Dong Fang sisters in turns – even an immortal couldn’t have endured that.

“That damned Xu Qian, not only does he have a relationship with Luo Yu Heng, but even the Garrison North Princess is his woman… So the most beautiful woman in Great Feng is called Mu Nan Chi… What other beauties does he have in the capital? Who are they? Damn it, I can’t think about this, the more I think, the more unfair it feels.”

Li Ling Su forcefully pushed the exquisitely beautiful faces of Luo Yu Heng and Mu Nan Chi from his mind.

He put on his boots and was about to visit Qing Xing Garden to relay Gong Sun Xiang Yang’s intelligence to Xu Qian.

Just then, he heard footsteps stop outside his door, followed by two knocks.

Li Ling Su opened the door to find Xu Qian.

“Senior, I was just about to look for you!”

Li Ling Su gave him a complicated look and led him inside.

Xu Qi An stepped over the threshold, sat by the table, and took a sip of the tea Li Ling Su poured.

Hmm, this kid didn’t poison it? He thought with some disappointment.

“Have you found any trace of those Buddhist monks I asked you to look for?” Xu Qi An set down his teacup.

Li Ling Su shook his head regretfully, “I haven’t found where the Buddhist monks are staying, but strangely, the Gong Sun family hasn’t found them either. I suspect they’re not staying at any inn at all. The Buddhist sect has no shortage of artifacts like the Pagoda of Flying Apsaras that can accommodate people.

“After all, Senior, you mentioned that an Arhat has come to Yong Province this time.”

“That’s certainly possible,” Xu Qi An nodded, not too disappointed. While knowing the monks’ whereabouts would be ideal for drawing them out, it wasn’t crucial.

After all, once he appeared in public, the Buddhist monks would swarm like sharks drawn to blood. And so would his unfilial subordinate.

Having Li Ling Su and the Gong Sun family search for the Buddhist monks was just his way of trying to maintain more initiative, not the core of his plan.

“However, Gong Sun Xiang Yang says they have a lead on the person those Qing Province folks are looking for,” Li Ling Su said.

Did they find the Dragon Qi host? Xu Qi An’s eyes brightened, “Tell me about it.”

“Gong Sun Xiang Yang said there was a murder at Six Gambling House this afternoon. The owner, Chen Er, was killed. The killer was the young man the Qing Province people were hunting. Gamblers saw him being led upstairs by the gambling house staff.

“Less than a quarter hour later, he came downstairs and left. Then the gambling house owner’s body was discovered.”

Hearing this, Xu Qi An frowned, nearly pinching his brow.

These Dragon Qi hosts, one after another, none of them were decent people.

It wasn’t that Dragon Qi couldn’t inhabit bad people – throughout history, those who achieved great things couldn’t be measured by simple standards of good and evil.

But the Dragon Qi hosts he’d encountered were either thugs or mentally ill, and now there was this ruthless wandering martial artist.

“Interestingly, that gambling house owner was recently involved in a murder case. However, we can’t be certain Chen Er’s death is related to that case.”

Li Ling Su glanced at Xu Qian. His demeanor was as usual – calm and composed, showing no pride about his relationships with Luo Yu Heng and the Princess being exposed.

Ah, Senior Xu has never bragged about anything, I’m just too sensitive and jealous… But any man would be jealous knowing about his relationship with Luo Yu Heng and the most beautiful woman in Great Feng… Li Ling Su sighed inwardly with complicated feelings.

Only then did he notice that Xu Qian seemed somewhat haggard.

Such haggardness was unusual for a martial artist of the Transcendent Realm.

Li Ling Su didn’t dwell on it and continued, “However, that fellow is very sharp. Gong Sun Xiang Yang’s men couldn’t tail him; they lost him halfway. This indicates he’s at least at the Spirit Refinement Realm. Also, Gong Sun Xiang Yang asked me to ask you if we should share this information with those Qing Province people.”

The Holy Son still didn’t know Ji Xuan and others’ true identities.

Xu Qi An pondered, “Even if we don’t tell them, the Qing Province people will search for him in Yong Province. We might as well earn their goodwill by sharing the information. After all, we don’t know his whereabouts either.”

However, confirming his presence in Yong Province and appearance at Six Gambling House made it much easier to estimate this Dragon Qi host’s general location.

Xu Qi An planned to personally scout around, using his sensitivity to Dragon Qi to find the person before the Buddhist sect and the Temple of Celestial Secrets could obtain the Dragon Qi.

After their conversation, Xu Qi An bid farewell.

At the door, he suddenly stopped and turned back to ask, “By the way, do you have any kidney-strengthening and yang-boosting medicine?”

He massaged his back, sighing, “My waist can’t take it anymore!”

…Li Ling Su’s face suddenly stiffened.

What did you do to Luo Yu Heng?

What did you do to the Princess?

Die die die die!!!

Li Ling Su said expressionlessly, “Does Senior have anything else? I’m about to comprehend the Supreme Emotionlessness, please don’t disturb me.”

Better not provoke this kid anymore, or in a while, he might form a brotherhood pact with Yang Qian Xian in a peach garden… Xu Qi An smiled and opened the door to leave.