Chapter 140: Black Hand Yama

"Heh heh."

The Old Gambling Ghost chuckled. "A mere Nascent Soul True Monarch... what could he possibly teach you?"

"A Nascent Soul True Monarch?"

Yun Luo’s expression was strange. She blinked.

Although she didn’t know her aunt’s cultivation, even the old Pavilion Master was always deferential to her. Her cultivation had to be higher than the Nascent Soul Realm.

"What, was I wrong?"

The Old Gambling Ghost sneered, his Divine Sense sweeping over Yu Daoxuan once more.

’The Returning Void Realm?’

Above Nascent Soul is Returning Void.

The Old Gambling Ghost’s expression remained calm. "A Returning Void Daoist... that’s nothing spe—huh?"

The Old Gambling Ghost froze for a second.

In the instant he withdrew his Divine Sense, Yu Daoxuan’s cultivation had changed again!

The Dharma Realm!

Above Nascent Soul is Returning Void.

And above Returning Void is the Dharma Aspect!

Cultivators who reached this realm were known as Daoist Monarchs Dharma!

Whether in his native Eastern Desolate Xuan State or here in the Celestial Divine Land, that was a truly significant figure.

"So, you’re a Daoist Monarch Dharma. It seems I underestimated you."

The Old Gambling Ghost said arrogantly, "With your level of cultivation, you can’t be a nobody. Why don’t you state your name and title for me to hear."

Yu Daoxuan said coolly, "Since the girl does not wish to train under you, why force the issue?"

"Heh heh."

The Old Gambling Ghost laughed at her words and asked, "Girl, do you know who I am?"

"I don’t know, nor do I wish to."

Yu Daoxuan’s tone was placid. "You have scanned me twice now. As the saying goes, things shouldn’t happen a third time. Considering your cultivation was not achieved easily, I will not hold this against you. Leave."

The Old Gambling Ghost was stunned.

’A Daoist Monarch Dharma is speaking to me like this?’

’What does she mean, she won’t hold it against me?’

A thought struck the Old Gambling Ghost, and he suddenly asked, "When did you arrive?"

Yu Daoxuan replied, "I’ve been here the whole time."

HISS!

The Old Gambling Ghost sensed something was very wrong.

If this person had been here the whole time, it meant that he hadn’t detected her when he first scanned the area!

’Impossible, right?’

’To run into an expert of this caliber in such a rundown place?’

’How unlucky can I get?’

The Old Gambling Ghost was losing his confidence. His eyes darted around, and he gave a light cough. "Fellow Daoist, you mentioned not letting things happen a third time. I’ve only scanned you twice, hehe. That means I still have one more chance, right? We have to be clear on this, no backing out..."

As he spoke, the Old Gambling Ghost’s Divine Sense swept over her once again.

This time, he couldn’t perceive Yu Daoxuan’s cultivation at all.

To be precise, where his Divine Sense passed, he couldn’t even sense Yu Daoxuan’s existence!

And yet, the woman was sitting right there, not far away, watching him with a calm expression.

The Old Gambling Ghost felt the hair on his body stand on end, and his scalp prickled with terror.

"My apologies for the offense! Farewell!"

The Old Gambling Ghost turned and fled, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

He didn’t stop until he was a great distance away. He looked back, his heart pounding wildly.

Only after confirming that the woman wasn’t pursuing him did he let out a sigh of relief.

But recalling the scene just now, a wave of lingering fear made him shudder.

’What is that Daoist Nun’s background? How can the Four Seas Pavilion have such a powerful figure?’

The Old Gambling Ghost muttered to himself. ’How did she end up in a place like this, and how did I run into her?’

’Damn it, don’t tell me my calamitous luck isn’t over yet!’

’How else could I be so unlucky? The world is vast, with seas and wastelands in every direction, yet I managed to run into such a terrifying expert in this godforsaken backwater?’

-----------------

「The next day.」

After the great upheaval in Bluestone City the previous night, countless people had not slept.

Early in the morning, many people had already gathered to discuss the events.

"Did you hear? Prefect Dou Kuan and his wife were killed last night by the Morning Bell Ringer from Jing State!"

"I know, right? And I heard it’s related to the Black Hand Young Hero."

"They say the County Government Mansion went to the Luo Family’s residence to arrest someone last night and threw the Black Hand Young Hero into the great jail. But in the middle of the night, the Black Hand Young Hero broke out and caused a bloodbath at the County Government Mansion, leaving a river of blood in his wake!"

"How do you know that? Was it really that dramatic?"

"My cousin works at the Government Office, so I hear some gossip. I heard that Lu Bai has even joined the Evil Extermination Bureau."

"He’s not the Black Hand Young Hero, he’s the Black Hand Yama! The Prefect provoked him and got himself killed!"

A mix of true and false rumors circulated through the streets of Bluestone City.

At first, they were somewhat reliable, but they grew more and more exaggerated as they spread.

Evil Extermination Bureau.

Mo Tang had been writing case files all night without sleep.

He Liangzhi couldn’t last through the latter half of the night and had dozed off a few times in his chair.

When dawn broke, He Liangzhi went out and bought some breakfast.

"My lord, have something to eat."

He Liangzhi placed the breakfast on the desk.

Mo Tang rubbed her temples to ease her fatigue and asked, "Any news from Willow Shade Courtyard?"

"No news, and no movement."

He Liangzhi shook his head. "It seems that after True Master Xuan Lu went over, he never came back out."

"Oh?"

Mo Tang frowned slightly.

"Oh, right."

He Liangzhi said, "The Luo Family’s winnings have already been delivered. The over two million taels of gold that Willow Shade Courtyard won have been exchanged for Great Martial Talismans. Should we send someone to deliver them?"

Mo Tang mulled it over for a moment, then said, "I’ll eat something first. I will deliver it myself later. It’ll be a good chance to meet the master of this courtyard."

After a simple meal, Mo Tang washed up, changed into plain clothes, and headed for Willow Shade Courtyard with He Liangzhi.

It was at the end of Bluestone Alley, an easy place to find.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

He Liangzhi stepped forward and knocked on the door.

After a moment,

CREAK. The door was opened from the inside, just a crack.

The head of a cute, four or five-year-old ponytailed Daoist child peeked out, looking at Mo Tang and He Liangzhi with curiosity.

Mo Tang said, "Little one, we’re from the Evil Extermination Bureau. We’ve come to deliver your master’s winnings from yesterday’s wager."

"You can give it to me."

Yun Luo held out her small hand.

He Liangzhi looked at Mo Tang, not handing it over immediately.

Mo Tang said, "This is a considerable sum of money. It would be best to hand it to your master personally. I wonder if your master is available right now?"

Yun Luo shook her head. "I’m sorry, my aunt doesn’t see outsiders."

Mo Tang’s brow furrowed slightly.

’The master of this courtyard certainly has some nerve!’

’The Evil Extermination Bureau comes to pay a visit and deliver winnings, and not only are we not invited in, but the master won’t even show their face!’

Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the entrance of Bluestone Alley.

Mo Tang and He Liangzhi looked back.

They saw Lu Bai strolling leisurely toward them.

When they saw each other, both sides paused in surprise.

"Lord Mo, Lord He, good morning. What a coincidence."

Lu Bai walked up and clasped his hands in a salute to the two of them.

He Liangzhi smiled. "We’re in the same Bureau, both Evil Exterminator Guards of the same rank. Just call me Brother."

Lu Bai smiled. "Alright, Brother He."

"Brother Lu, you’re here!"

Seeing Lu Bai, Yun Luo smiled and waved at him, pulling the door wide open. "Come on in."

Mo Tang: "..."

He Liangzhi: "..."

Lu Bai nodded. He was about to step inside but paused. He looked back at Mo Tang and He Liangzhi, who had been left hanging, and asked tentatively, "Lord Mo, Brother He, are you here to see the Daoist master inside for something?"

"If it’s convenient, I can ask for you in a bit?"

After all, this was someone else’s territory, so Lu Bai couldn’t take it upon himself to invite others in.

"It’s nothing."

Mo Tang threw out the words, turned with a cold expression, and walked away.

He Liangzhi gave a wry smile, handed the prepared Great Martial Talismans to Lu Bai, and said, "These are the winnings for the master of this courtyard. Please help us pass them along."

"Of course."

Lu Bai nodded.