I am a swordsman in a strange city

Chapter 105 The Middle-Parted Youth
The two classes at noon are over.

He ate at the Rakshasa Retreat Center.

Then in the afternoon class on taboo studies, he found that the content was more detailed. Taboo studies explained how taboos were formed from the perspectives of history, folklore, and mythology.

Taboos all originate from 'spirits', and spirits are closely related to history, mythology, and folk legends, because many spirits were originally 'people'.

This is from a broad perspective.

However, once a vengeful spirit is formed, it often comes with all sorts of strange taboos.

For example, you can't say a person's name, you can't spit anywhere, you can't urinate or defecate anywhere, and in the Pei Clan's Demon-Slaying Sword Hall, you can't say "tiger" or "ghost," because saying these things will disturb the mountain lord.

After class, I have dinner and then go home.

Pei Ju usually walks home.

He strolled along, heading home.

He held the Thunderfire Demon-Slaying Sword Token in his hand, rubbing it in his palm. Occasionally, a gust of wind would blow by, and he would swing it at the wind, which seemed to dissipate under the swing of the sword token.

Occasionally, a beam of neon light would fall from the street, piercing through the street. Pei Ju would bump into it, and looking in the direction of the neon, he would see the seven-colored light fall on his face and into his eyes. So Pei Ju would raise his hand and swing his sword at the neon.

Lights went out.

There was one less ray of light on the street, but nobody on the street cared.

Pei Ju continued walking forward, and not far from his home, he saw a person standing at the corner of the alleyway leading home.

This person is wearing jeans, sneakers, a floral beach-style shirt, half of which is tucked into their belt. They have long, center-parted hair that appears to have been permed and dyed, with some yellow mixed in.

He stood there, one hand in his pocket, tossing something around with the other.

Toss it up and catch it again, toss it up and catch it again.

Pei Ju slowed his pace, but did not stop. He stopped about five meters away, not because he sensed the murderous aura when he got there, but because he felt that this was a critical point.

At this moment, the young man with the middle parting spoke up, saying, "After I met you, I tossed a coin six times and got a negative hexagram. Do you think this refers to you or me?"

Looking at this young man in his late twenties, who exuded decadence and depravity, Pei Ju was certain that this man would attract many women, especially since he had a face that wasn't too bad-looking. If it weren't for the fact that he looked like he hadn't washed his face in days, he would definitely be quite handsome.

However, although he appeared bald and depraved, he also exuded a strong sense of danger.

Pei Ju shook his head and said, "I don't know."

"Actually, I've been having a lot of bad luck lately. I keep losing money gambling, and I'm so broke that all I have left is this set of clothes. So I had no choice but to come out and work. And the job that seems most suitable to me lately is to break your limbs. How about this, I'll split the money with you, you break your limbs, and then I'll call the hospital for you."

"Getting you to the hospital quickly shouldn't have much impact on your future life. That way, we'll all be happy. What do you think?" Pei Ju shook his head again and said, "Don't think that just because you're older you can easily fool me. It won't do me any good."

The young man with the middle parting immediately extended his index finger, raised it, and shook it in front of his forehead, saying, "NONONO, you've gained a life."

“But this life is mine to begin with,” Pei Ju said with a smile.

"No, from the moment you saw me, it was no longer the same. You redeemed your life by severing your limbs," the young man with the middle parting corrected Pei Ju.

Upon hearing this, Pei Ju couldn't help but want to applaud him. So he looked up at the sky, but there were no stars. In Luosha City, the starry sky was nowhere to be seen. He said, "Older people tend to be domineering. If they get even older, they'll probably be even more domineering."

“If you really know in your heart that coming here to stop me means ‘no,’ that’s why you haven’t dared to make a move yet.” Pei Ju’s words were like knives piercing his heart.

The smile on the young man's face disappeared. He stared at Pei Ju and slowly said, "But I feel that meeting you is like turning bad luck into good."

"The hexagram 'Pi' represents heaven above and earth below. If you reverse it, it means heaven is below and earth is above. So, I've been through a lot of bad luck, and you've reached the peak. Once you get through this, things will be peaceful."

Pei Ju smiled and said, "You keep giving yourself positive self-talk and strengthening your mind. What, are you scared? If you're scared, why bother?"

The young man with the middle parting suddenly laughed, a laugh that was both a soft laugh and a laugh. He said, "Fear? I've been fighting in the ring since I was twenty, and I've fought thirty-seven matches, thirteen of which were life-or-death battles. I haven't lost a single one. Do you think I'm afraid?"

"I have no girlfriend, no parents, no children. Do you think I have any weaknesses? Do you think I'm afraid?" the middle-parted youth mocked.

"Judging from this, you must have saved a lot of money." Pei Ju's casual words made the middle-parted youth pause for a moment.

"You've saved a lot of money, yet you still have to risk your life. What's the point?" Pei Ju asked coldly.

"Knowing full well that you might not win, you still came. It seems your weakness has been exploited." As Pei Ju said this, he turned his head to look at the darkness in another direction.

There was a tree there, and there was nothing under the tree, but when Pei Ju looked over, a shadow moved under the tree. Originally, the shadow was integrated with the tree trunk, but now it quickly became clear as soon as it moved.

It was a person who had been leaning there like a chameleon.

“Ah Yong, the gambling addict, wasn’t exploited because of a weakness; rather, he was born to gamble, betting on money and on his life, betting on others and on himself.”

The man took two steps, but did not emerge from the shadows. Until the streetlights came on, his face remained blurry and impossible to see clearly. However, anyone in a life-or-death battle would feel uneasy and unable to concentrate if someone was watching their back or side.

“Gambling addict A-Yong, it seems you don’t like fair gambling.” Pei Ju turned back to look at the young man with the middle parting.

"Ten bets, ten bluffs. I've seen your swordsmanship. Shura Gufeng is a famous spirit catcher. He can't last two sword strikes against you. You are indeed very powerful. But coincidentally, I am also very powerful. Killing you will bring me money, and killing you will elevate my spirit and will. If I lose, I will die. Tell me, isn't that a very profitable bet?"

“But if you lose, you will die!” Pei Ju said.

"Death? Once the gambling starts, who cares about life and death? Besides, you don't even have a sword now." The young man with the middle parting laughed, a crazy, maniacal laugh.

(End of this chapter)