26: Chapter 24 Good intentions wager but become a trust_1 26: Chapter 24 Good intentions wager but become a trust_1 The bustling gambling hall, where everyone had just been discussing whether to bet on Cao Zhen’s victory, was now silent on the topic of betting on him to win.
A man who had his ancestral grave dug up… was clearly mad!
A lunatic betting on his own victory, only a fool would follow suit and bet as well.
“Oh dear, I’ve just remembered something, I think I’ll skip gambling.
I need to go home…” someone suddenly realized that now was the time to bring all their money from home and bet on Starshine Peak winning!
An opportunity to make such easy money shouldn’t be shared with others.
Gamblers share a similar mentality.
As some began to react in this way, others quickly caught on, each coming up with excuses to leave.
A few even took out all their valuables on the spot and rushed to pawn them for money to bet on Cao Zhen losing.
“Place five hundred taels for me as well!” Elder Copper Plate suddenly returned to the betting house and, after a moment’s hesitation, took out a Spiritual Stone Ticket and told the bookie, “Ah!
I’ll bet some for him first!
If he loses later, I’ll need to subsidize him a bit more.”
Seeing Elder Copper Plate return, the gamblers grew even more convinced that the elder truly knew the inside story.
More and more people left, eager to notify their relatives and friends of this rare chance to strike it rich.
The news spread through Hundred Peaks Sect as if it had wings, reaching more and more people who began placing their bets.
Inside the main hall of Starshine Peak, Starshine Peak Master Li Xingyao sat solemnly on the chief seat, frowning deeply and listening with a steely expression to Nie Jinlong’s account.
“Based on your description, the one who beat you should be Beichen Ying…” Li Xingyao said in a grave and slow tone, “This time, I can’t help you regain face either.”
Nie Jinlong knelt on the ground with his head bowed, aware that those who could enter the Immortal Palace were undoubtedly Sect’s experts, and his master probably didn’t have the ability to restore his honor.
Hearing his master admit it personally still brought him a sense of dejection.
“This whole affair originates from Cao Zhen of Four Treasures Peak.” Li Xingyao raised her hand, signaling Nie Jinlong to rise, and continued to speak slowly, “Tomorrow I’m afraid I won’t have a chance to take action.
Yunting… Is it almost time for the annual Hundred Peaks disciple recruitment?”
As Starshine Peak’s senior disciple, Nie Yunting was seated to Li Xingyao’s right.
Hearing his master call him, he quickly stood up, bowed with his fist wrapped in his palm, and with a hint of a smile said, “Disciple understands.
This time I will be gentle, to avoid embarrassing Four Treasures Peak too badly, leading to them not getting any new disciples in the next three years and being taken over by the main peak for a new lineage.”
Li Xingyao raised her hand and rubbed her temple, then slowly shook her head.
Kneeling to the side, Nie Jinlong quickly raised his head and said, “Brother, master means for you to beat them so badly that they don’t get any new disciples for three years, compelling the main peak to remove their lineage and replace it with a new one.”
Nie Yunting looked up at Li Xingyao in astonishment, hardly able to refrain from speaking, “Master…”
“Your junior brother’s idea is quite interesting,” Li Xingyao smiled and gave a nod of approval.
Nie Yunting fell silent, his head bowed as the words he wanted to say rose to his lips, only to be swallowed back down multiple times.
Using such schemes against fellow Sect members over something like Lava Lingzhi mushrooms was already disgraceful, and now master intended to break Four Treasures Peak’s lineage.
This was not how one should treat fellow Sect members.
“Yunting, I know what you are thinking,” Li Xingyao said, tapping her fingers gently on the armrest of the chair.
“We’re taking their Spirit Field, and once they realize it, it’s going to create an irreconcilable feud.
Keeping their lineage is ultimately a threat.”
Nie Yunting felt uncomfortable.
Fellow Sect disciples should be like brothers; it was acceptable to have conflicts, but not to the point of life and death.
“Master…” Just as Nie Yunting was about to speak, he was interrupted by a disciple rushing in.
“Master…” The incoming disciple whispered rapidly and lowly into Li Xingyao’s ear.
Although quiet, Nie Yunting heard it clearly—the news from Hundred Peaks Sect about Cao Zhen acting insane at the betting house.
“Interesting,” Li Xingyao’s smile grew brighter, “Yunting, it looks like there’s no need for you to deliver a crushing defeat.
Four Treasures Peak will probably go bankrupt after tomorrow.”
“Master…” Nie Yunting bowed, saying, “Although Cao Zhen is stubborn, he’s not mad.
Could there be some hidden reason behind this?
Like him pretending to be insane?
And about Beichen Ying…”
“Big senior brother, that shouldn’t be the case,” the disciple reporting the news quickly said.
“We still understand Elder Copper Plate.
As for Beichen Ying, it’s said that he was just passing by and never spoke a word to Cao Zhen.”
Nie Yunting immediately fell silent; Elder Copper Plate was known to be kind and honest, certainly not someone who would conspire with others to feign insanity.
“Forget it!” Li Xingyao abruptly stood up.
“Yunting, I’ll fight personally tomorrow; you don’t need to take action.
Jinlong, take out all the property we have in our Peak!
Since Cao Zhen has gone mad after his cultivation mishap, don’t be polite with him.
Take it all to the betting house and bet on Starshine Peak winning.
We’ll make a fortune!”
Nie Yunting watched everyone happily calculating their gains, then secretly counted his own assets, also planning to discreetly bet on Starshine Peak’s victory.
While he might not gain much, at least he could help Cao Zhen redeem his disciples, possibly reuniting the teacher with student.