The man's wail was carried by the scalding blood, echoing in the air with the suffocation of a whimper and cry submerged in water. As the people who had blocked the path and were now slumped on the ground, they trembled with fear, their faces as pale as whitewashed walls, their throats silent, only able to plead wordlessly over and over again.
The young servants of Yipin Ju had seen ruthless people before, but they rarely saw such a delicate and handsome young man, wearing the most gentle demeanor, using the most tender voice, to commit such cruel and merciless acts, and to utter such cold and harsh words.
Silence fell around them for a moment, only the whimpering screams slowly drifting.
Nan Shiying flicked her hand with a hint of disdain. Just as she was about to wipe the bloodstains from her hand with the man's clothes, someone handed her a handkerchief.
Without looking back, Nan Shiying knew who had handed her the handkerchief just by looking at the hand.
After taking the handkerchief to wipe the blood from her hand, she tucked it back into Ji Jinmo's embrace, and with a brilliant smile, looked at the stunned servant, "How do you think I handled it?"
She smiled so brightly that her eyes were almost closed. If an uninformed person saw her smiling face, they would likely exclaim with admiration. But after witnessing her ruthlessness, the servant felt that her smile was more like that of a hellish demon crawling out of the abyss and seeing the human world, a smile filled with chilling malice and surging bloodlust, wanting to turn the world into hell.
The servant trembled at his own imagination, feeling a chill rapidly rushing up his spine from the soles of his feet. Every cell in his body quivered, and every hair stood on end.
He put on a smile that was more unsightly than a cry and hastily replied, "Very good, very good, you handled it very well."
"Then..." these!
"I will handle the rest, I will handle it!"
Seeing her gaze fall upon the group of unlucky souls on the ground, the servant quickly took on all the cleanup work. He dared not let this distinguished guest do any more, as even if they didn't die, the blood splattered everywhere would be difficult to clean.
Nan Shiying let out a chuckle, her laughter seeming to imply, "Wouldn't it have been better if you had been this sensible earlier!"
The servant awkwardly twitched the corner of his mouth.
Who knew you looked so refined yet struck with such a heavy hand! Look at how you've stabbed them; even if they don't die, they're crippled. Your tongue is probably all smashed!
Hua Niang stood by the veranda and witnessed this scene unfold. She had only heard that Feng Luan was a great benefactor with a compassionate heart. Now, seeing it, she realized that he was no Bodhisattva; he was clearly a living Yama shrouded in a Bodhisattva's guise.
This was somewhat unexpected.
Ji Jinmo's gleaming silver continued to attract covetous glances, but no one dared to covet it anymore. Nan Shiying looked around, not seeing the entrance to the inner hall. However, as her gaze swept across the veranda, she spotted a captivating figure. Some people, even with their faces covered, exuded an air of transcendence just by standing there.
The servant followed Nan Shiying's gaze and saw Hua Niang standing in the center of the veranda. His back instinctively curved slightly, and despite his best efforts to control himself, his hand, hanging at his side, trembled slightly.
While Yipin Ju didn't mind the disputes among gamblers, few dared to make Yipin Ju so bloody. He didn't know why Hua Niang was here, but he was terrified it was because of this.
"Hua Niang, here..."
The servant hurried forward, about to explain, but Hua Niang slowly raised her hand, stopping the servant's voice, and stepped towards Nan Shiying.
"Young Master Feng."
Her peculiar tone carried an indescribable charm. Although her appearance couldn't be seen, her voice and her graceful figure were enough to captivate the soul.
Nan Shiying looked at her, raising an eyebrow slightly, then turned to look at Ji Jinmo. Seeing Ji Jinmo's stern expression, she turned back.
Hua Niang glanced at the two of them with some curiosity.
She couldn't understand why Feng Luan would look at his guard afterward.
"My servant was ignorant and offended Young Master Feng. Today, you may gamble as you please. If you win, you take it all. If you lose, it will be on my account, Hua Niang, as my apology to you."
Feng Luan?
The person before them was Feng Luan, the direct disciple of the Medicine King Valley?
Everyone present had heard of Feng Luan's great deeds but none had ever seen him. Now, hearing that the ruthless young master before them was that Feng Luan, they found it hard to believe.
They simply couldn't reconcile such a formidable figure with the Bodhisattva image in the rumors.
"In that case, thank you!"
Nan Shiying graciously accepted Hua Niang's kindness. Hua Niang didn't linger, merely instructed the servant to clear up the aftermath as soon as possible, then left Yipin Ju through the main gate, got into a carriage, and went somewhere unknown.
The servant let out a slow sigh of relief and quickly ordered people to take the unfortunate souls on the ground to the infirmary for treatment. With a smile, he invited Nan Shiying and the other into the inner hall.
Walking inward from the veranda, passing through two corridors, they entered the inner hall. Compared to the outer hall, the noise here was much quieter. There weren't many people at each gambling table, but their attire was much more luxurious than those outside. Some had lightly clad women by their side, and the scent of money and power was displayed here to its fullest extent.
Nan Shiying glanced at Ji Jinmo.
Ji Jinmo shook his head at her.
Liu Cheng was not here.
Then where was he?
Surely the Xuan Wei wouldn't provide false information?
Liu Cheng should be in Yipin Ju!
Ji Jinmo also frowned. If not on the first floor, could he have gone to the second floor?
"Yo, new arrivals?"
As the two stood at the entrance observing their surroundings, the people inside were also openly scrutinizing them. Seeing strangers, a man dressed in purple brocade sitting at the central gambling table greeted Nan Shiying and the other with a condescending air.
This person? Who is he? She didn't remember any such dissolute young master from the powerful families in the capital?
Ji Jinmo leaned down and whispered in Nan Shiying's ear, "The adopted son of the chief eunuch accompanying Ji Hong."
Nan Shiying: "..."
Is an adopted son of a eunuch really this arrogant?
"He is also the son of a deputy general under the Minister of Justice."
Nan Shiying was still perplexed.
She turned to look at Ji Jinmo, wondering if the face beneath his human skin mask had turned dark.