https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-616-Slandering-Chu-Liuxiang-in-Front-of-Chu-Liuxiang-Himself/12583849/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-618-An-Excuse-to-Join-the-Action/12583851/
Chapter 617: Jin Ban Hua's First Steps in the Jianghu
Chapter 617: Jin Ban Hua's First Steps in the Jianghu
The group continued their game of Pai Gow.
Chu Liuxiang lost more than he won, while Jin Ban Hua's luck fluctuated, but his stack of silver notes had doubled in size—no less impressive than Chu Liuxiang's winnings.
As midnight passed, just like in the original story, Leng Qiuhun took his turn as the dealer. He boldly placed a bet of three hundred thousand taels on a 'Heaven Gate' bet, startling the other gamblers into silence.
Only Chu Liuxiang responded with enthusiasm, "Great! I'll take that bet!"
Jin Ban Hua, however, didn't join in. He had already deduced that Leng Qiuhun was a skilled con artist, and he now suspected Chu Liuxiang as well.
In the original story, Leng Qiuhun had intentionally let Chu Liuxiang win that round, but Chu Liuxiang's reaction had surprised him.
True to his suspicions, the dice showed a total of seven points.
Leng Qiuhun picked up a 'Heaven' tile and a 'Man' tile. Chu Liuxiang, however, calmly conceded defeat, claiming his hand wasn't good, and thus lost three hundred thousand taels to Leng Qiuhun.
Afterward, Leng Qiuhun dismissed the crowd, and the wealthy gamblers left with their ladies, relishing in the misfortune of others.
Only Jin Ban Hua remained.
"Master Jin?" Leng Qiuhun addressed him.
Jin Ban Hua pushed back his chair, stretched leisurely, tapped the table, and started to leave. As he walked past Chu Liuxiang, he casually flipped over the tiles that Chu Liuxiang had left on the table.
The action was so natural and unexpected that even Chu Liuxiang was taken by surprise and couldn't stop him in time.
Thus, a pair of 'Long Threes' was revealed to those present.
"Oh?"
Jin Ban Hua raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Leng Qiuhun and Chu Liuxiang, before he chuckled meaningfully and sauntered away, swaying with each step.
He knew that Chu Liuxiang wouldn't have spoken honestly in front of him, but now that he had discovered something amiss, it was in line with his curious and naive 'first steps in the Jianghu' persona to keep poking his nose in.
"Master, that Zhang Xiaolin deliberately lost to Leng Qiuhun!" Ye Jin said.
"What a bold move! Three hundred thousand taels!" Liao Gang exclaimed, "Why would he do that?"
"Of course, it's for something more valuable than money," Ye Jin speculated, "Could it be that the Changbai Mountain Apothecary needs a favor from the Zhusha Sect?"
Liao Gang asked incredulously, "Are there no other martial artists in Hebei? Why would he come to Shandong for help?"
Ye Jin explained, "It's because Hebei is too close to the Guandong region. That's why he came to Shandong's martial arts world for assistance."
Jin Ban Hua asked, "Are you curious as to why?"
"Do you know something, Master?" Liao Gang asked.
"I don't," Jin Ban Hua replied nonchalantly, "But they certainly won't be discussing their business in a gambling house. Let's follow them discreetly, and we'll find out."
"Master, that's too dangerous. Zhang Xiaolin's iron balls may look light, but his skill is formidable. And Leng Qiuhun is the chief disciple of the Zhusha Sect, a highly skilled martial artist," Ye Jin warned, "This matter has nothing to do with us. We don't need to get involved."
"I understand," Jin Ban Hua nodded, "In that case, let's be careful and keep our distance."
Liao Gang and Ye Jin: (O_o)??
"Let's go! Hide somewhere far away first. When they come out, we'll follow them!" Jin Ban Hua urged them to hurry.
...
Soon after, they saw Zhang Xiaolin and Leng Qiuhun leave the Hall of Cheerful Giving and quickly turn into an alley next to it. After walking through two streets, they arrived at a large mansion.
After the two men entered, Jin Ban Hua and his companions quietly appeared beside the residence.
Ye Jin looked at Jin Ban Hua in disbelief, "Master, how did you catch up to them from such a distance?"
Liao Gang exclaimed, "I lost sight of them long ago."
Jin Ban Hua pointed to his ears, "Use your ears to listen! Their footsteps were so distinct in the night. Isn't this the basic ability of listening to the wind and identifying people that Master Duan taught us?"
Liao Gang and Ye Jin: ∑(O_O)
The next moment, they heard startled cries coming from within the residence, "Uncle! Uncle Yang!"
Liao Gang was taken aback, "This is the residence of Li Di Zhui Hun Shou Yang Song of the Zhusha Sect? He's one of the three main leaders of the sect!"
Jin Ban Hua sniffed the air, and Ye Jin also realized something, "Master, there's a scent of blood!"
Stroking his chin, Jin Ban Hua mused, "It seems like something unexpected happened to Yang Song, but is his head worth three hundred thousand taels?"
Liao Gang continued, "The Zhusha Sect is the largest gang in Jinan. Yang Song's position in the sect is only second to Xi Men Qian. Of course, his head is worth three hundred thousand taels of silver!"
After a while, they heard some commotion from within the residence, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps as the two men left.
"Let's go in!" Jin Ban Hua said.
"Go in?" Liao Gang asked, "Why?"
"Of course, to see what happened inside," Jin Ban Hua replied.
"Bu... "
Before Ye Jin could finish his sentence, he saw Jin Ban Hua leap onto the wall and disappear into the courtyard.
Liao Gang and Ye Jin exchanged a glance and followed suit.
Once inside, they saw Yang Song's body, divided into five pieces. At the same time, they spotted a painting of a beautiful woman in Xi Men Qian's room.
Ye Jin and Liao Gang's attention was focused on Yang Song.
"It's the work of Xie Sha Wu Gui," Liao Gang said in shock. "They're infamous in the Jianghu. Did the Zhusha Sect offend them?"
Ye Jin swallowed, "Master, Leng Qiuhun will definitely send people to handle Yang Song's aftermath. We shouldn't stay here any longer."
Jin Ban Hua had already taken down the painting from Xi Men Qian's room. Glancing at the signature, he saw the name Sun Xue Pu.
Admiring the beauty in the painting, Jin Ban Hua praised, "Excellent! The painter is a first-class artist, and so is the beauty in the portrait."
Liao Gang and Ye Jin: o_O
Jin Ban Hua rolled up the painting, "The people from the Zhusha Sect are coming. Let's go."
"The Zhusha Sect is coming?"
Liao Gang and Ye Jin didn't hear any sounds, but they followed Jin Ban Hua out of the residence. After walking half a street, they saw a group of black-clothed men hurrying toward the residence.
"Master," Ye Jin said, shocked. "If you focus your hearing and practice receiving hidden weapons, you will undoubtedly become the best hidden weapon expert in the martial arts world!"
Jin Ban Hua hummed, "I am already the best hidden weapon expert in the martial arts world."
Liao Gang scratched his head, and Ye Jin could only smile bitterly.
...
The three of them soon returned to the inn, and at the entrance, they saw a group of black-clothed men with crimson waistbands—disciples of the Zhusha Sect.
Liao Gang jumped, "Has the Zhusha Sect discovered us?"
Jin Ban Hua shook his head, "Of course not. Didn't you see that they've been looking inside the inn?"
Just then, a shout came from inside the inn, the voice belonging to the Changbai Mountain Apothecary, "Catch the thief! Catch the spy!"
Jin Ban Hua looked at the largest and most luxurious inn in Jinan and nodded in satisfaction, "What a coincidence!"
(End of Chapter)
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