High Martial World: I Gain Passive Skills Daily-Chapter 144 - 107: I Bet He’ll Die in the Liang Kingdom (Double-Length)_2
With the head of Xianyu Nunnery acting as the arbiter, they weren’t worried about anyone causing trouble and taking the items without permission.
After all, they still had to stay in this Jishao County for a while, at least until the outcome of this gamble was revealed.
In the midst of the commotion.
As the main focus of their discussions, Chen Kuang had already bid farewell to Lin Zhou and quietly left Xianyu Nunnery.
At least in one aspect, these people weren’t wrong.
His whereabouts had been exposed.
Even if the Martial Saint Pavilion didn’t move again shortly, Ji Chengtian certainly wouldn’t be able to hold back.
Especially now that the Northern Defense Line had failed, Ji Chengtian would likely be more agitated rather than withdrawing...
Chen Kuang had to set out immediately.
The Fog Flower Forging could disguise his appearance in person, but it couldn’t hide him from the calculations of the Qiankun Art of Divination; it was only due to his senior brother directly sending him to Dongting Lake before that his whereabouts hadn’t been exposed.
Now that his general location had been determined, it wouldn’t be long before Chen Kuang’s exact position was calculated.
Therefore, the sooner he set out, the better.
But he wondered if his senior brother could help ward off a disaster for him this time...
...
Soon after Chen Kuang left, the gambling assembly dispersed as well.
The cultivator above was still shouting, urging the remaining people to quickly place their bets, as he was about to close up shop.
However, those left were all hesitating and conflicted; after all, Chen Kuang’s record looked quite intimidating, yet none of his enemies were easy to deal with.
"Why are you all still hesitating? It’s just a game, even if you’re wrong, it’s no disgrace," he sighed, his voice low, "But in my view, this Chen Kuang is not simple. The odds of him escaping alive are a bit higher."
"That might not necessarily be true."
A smooth, mellow, slightly refined voice suddenly rang out in the air.
The remaining cultivators were stunned and turned their heads towards the direction the voice came from.
The voice belonged to a middle-aged man, dressed in a long Confucian robe, his hair bound by a square cap with a wooden hairpin inserted neatly, and with his eyes drooping and mouth tightly closed, he looked somewhat harsh, as if he were about to spout Confucian teachings at any moment, seemingly a pedantic Confucian Scholar.
It seemed he had been standing there for a long time, but no one had noticed anything strange before.
The middle-aged man slowly stepped forward, placing a peach blossom on the right side.
It was already late autumn, a time when peach blossoms wouldn’t be blooming.
But the peach blossom in his hand was in full bloom, large and beautiful, bringing joy to anyone who laid eyes on it.
As if it had just been plucked from spring.
The few cultivators looked at each other, sensing that this person’s cultivation must be extraordinary, yet none recognized who he was.
Had Chen Kuang not left earlier, he would immediately recognize who this was!
It was his acquaintance from the illusion realm—the senior brother of Freedom Mountain, Zhang Zhizhou!
The cultivator above asked hesitantly, "Fellow Daoist... are you here to place a bet as well?"
"Naturally."
Zhang Zhizhou smiled slightly, pointing at the paper in front of him.
On the left was life, on the right was death.
The peach blossom was placed on the right side.
"I bet he’ll die in the Liang Kingdom."
He shook his head, "Chen Kuang won’t escape from the Liang Kingdom alive, or rather, he can’t escape from the Liang Kingdom alive."
The cultivator froze for a moment, then, with a bit of irritation, picked up the peach blossom and said, "I just said, you must wager something of value, and you present a peach blossom—how can it be valued?!"
Zhang Zhizhou didn’t get angry, held out his hand with a smile, "Then return it to me, but the bet must still stand."
The cultivator tossed the peach blossom back into Zhang Zhizhou’s hands, rolled up the stakes as others placed their bets, and disappeared with a swish.
Zhang Zhizhou stood where he was, suddenly hearing someone’s astonished cry from behind:
"Senior Brother?! What are you doing here?!"
Zhang Zhizhou turned around and indeed saw Lin Er You standing in front of a pavilion. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
Zhang Zhizhou immediately smiled, saluting, "Zishu Junior Brother, it’s been a long time."
Lin Er You came over, returned the salute, and curiously looked at the peach blossom in his hand, "Why is Senior Brother holding a Death Substitution Wood?"
Zhang Zhizhou made an "oh" sound, and regretfully said, "I came across an interesting matter and thought of helping someone avoid a disaster; unexpectedly, the other side didn’t appreciate it."
He shook his hand, and the peach blossom disappeared.
Zhou Yanwei curiously looked at the middle-aged man in front of him, "This is your senior brother, Zishu?"
Zhang Zhizhou glanced at Zhou Yanwei, nodded, and said, "A pure heart, Junior Brother really picked well."
Zhou Yanwei was taken aback.
This person just had to glance to know the reason Lin Er You chose him.
This senior brother of Freedom Mountain is indeed not simple... by no means a madman!
Lin Er You said, "If it weren’t good, it would disappoint the Master’s personal assessment, wouldn’t it?"
Zhang Zhizhou laughed heartily, "Naturally, the Master’s insight is never bad."
He mysteriously and smugly said, "But this time, my chosen candidate is surely better than yours!"
Lin Er You helplessly asked, "And what is it this time? Chickens and frogs didn’t cut it, could it be... no way, did Senior Brother find an oil-thieving woman?"
He tried to guess something ridiculous, otherwise, he couldn’t imagine, given his senior brother’s eccentric nature, what creature could surpass chickens and frogs.
The so-called "oil-thieving woman" is actually a cockroach...
Zhang Zhizhou shook his head seriously, "Of course not! Do you think I’m such a casual person?!"
You are!
Lin Er You grumbled inwardly.
He was also a bit puzzled, "I heard Senior Brother went to the Liang Kingdom to serve as an official, how did that go? Now with the Liang Kingdom fallen, has Senior Brother fled and found someone along the way?"
Zhang Zhizhou scratched his head, the middle-aged man pulling a wry face:
"Don’t bring it up, I was just fine in the Liang Kingdom, about to find my chosen candidate, when I got cut down by a brute."
He looked distressed, "If it weren’t for my Death Substitution Wood Divine Power, I almost would’ve died in the Imperial City!"
Lin Er You twitched his lips, "Which brute could be that capable?"
Because of the Death Substitution Wood, his senior brother had countless peach wood substitutes; no one except the Master probably knew his true cultivation level, but Lin Er You certainly couldn’t see through him.
At this moment, Zhang Zhizhou’s expression and tone didn’t seem fake, which meant that person indeed was beyond Zhang Zhizhou’s expectations.
Lin Er You sighed in his heart, in these chaotic times, indeed heroes emerged, with astounding strongmen appearing unexpectedly everywhere.
It wasn’t just Chen Kuang alone...
Zhang Zhizhou said, "You know this person too, his name is Chen Kuang."
Lin Er You: "..."
Goodness, it turns out it was this guy all along!
How many people has he offended along the way?!
Lin Er You and Zhou Yanwei exchanged glances, both of their faces twitching, Lin Er You said, "Why, how did he come to be at odds with Senior Brother?"
Zhang Zhizhou shook his head, "Not exactly at odds. It was technically my mistake."
"Sigh... it’s a long story."
Although he said so, he immediately fell silent, seemingly unwilling to talk about the past.
Lin Er You felt that with his senior brother entering the Liang Kingdom so early, there could be some relation to the Liang Kingdom’s fall. He probed further:
"Why did Senior Brother think of becoming an official in the Liang Kingdom? The corruption there is almost common knowledge, and Senior Brother doesn’t seem to be one to seek favors."
Zhang Zhizhou was startled, "Didn’t I say?"
He squinted his eyes, "I suddenly wanted to go to the Liang Kingdom because I had a dream that day."
The middle-aged man’s tone was leisurely, "I dreamt—that a head said, destiny lies with Liang."
"There will be someone, carrying destiny, leaving the Imperial City."
...
In the main hall of the Chen Mansion.
Everyone from the Chen Family gathered once again, and this time, Chen Kuang was also present.
Besides him, there was Pei Xiu, a member of the Earth Official ranked as B, standing respectfully behind Chen Kuang.
Currently in Jishao County, the Earth Official follows Pei Xiu’s orders.
Chen Kuang looked at Chen An, "From today, Pei Xiu will assist you in securing a foothold in the Cao Bang, becoming the next Gang Leader of Cao Bang."
