Crossing the Sword

"Alas!" Luo Feng threw the dice cup aside in frustration and complained: "Senior, it seems that I am really not suitable for learning the One Pillar to the Sky. It has been almost three days, but there is still no progress. The dice are almost broken by me. Compared with this, I would rather practice sword for three days without sleep."

Ye Shisan calmly picked up the teacup, drank a sip, and put it down again, saying, "You've only practiced for three days and you're already giving up? But I gave up on the fifth day. If it was Shui Wubian, I'm afraid he wouldn't give up even for a year or half a year."

Luo Feng lowered his head awkwardly and said, "Luo Feng has failed the teachings of the seniors. Please don't be angry."

Ye Shisan shook his head and said, "I was the same at the beginning, how can I blame you? In fact, it is precisely because you don't like gambling that I taught you Yizhuqingtian. Because only people who have no interest in gambling can integrate what they have learned from gambling into martial arts. I remember when I was about to give up, my master said something to me, which made me change my mind."

Luo Feng asked curiously: "What?"

Ye Shisan recalled his master's teachings and said leisurely, "Gambling skills are not very useful. Unless you are determined to spend your whole life in a casino. Because any casino is for making money, they will not allow a gambler to kill them and lose all their money. If necessary, they will not hesitate to use evil forces. Many gambling masters also ended up buried on the streets because they did not follow the rules when they first debuted. But it is different for you. Many things in gambling skills can be used in swordsmanship. In fact, not only gambling skills, but any art in the world is interoperable. Learning more can help you improve your swordsmanship, but the only thing I can teach you is gambling skills."

Hearing this, Luo Feng couldn't help but argue: "But since you have to choose, why don't you find one you like to learn? That way you can be more focused, wouldn't it be more effective?"

Ye Shisan smiled and said, "I asked the same question at the beginning. But Master said that if you study something you don't like, you will not be able to achieve spiritual sublimation and enlightenment. However, nothing is absolute, and it can temper your mind. Before you can truly achieve the sword from your heart, you can only settle for the next best thing and cultivate the reflection of your physical body, and learning gambling skills is a better choice."

Luo Feng curiously asked: "Senior, how long did it take you to learn it?"

"Two years." Ye Shisan answered truthfully, "One year of practice, half a year of training, and the last half a year of integrating it into the sword technique. After that, I hardly touched it anymore."

Luo Feng nodded and said, "I understand. But senior, when you were practicing, did anyone from the casino give you any trouble?"

"I knew the rules at that time." Ye Shisan calmly took a sip of tea and said, "At that time, I just wanted to hone my on-the-spot experience. You know, gambling and swordsmanship are similar in terms of psychological quality. So every time I go to the casino, I win a lot of money, and then I lose all the money I won in the last round, or keep a little money for temporary use. But despite this, I still got into trouble."

"No way?" Luo Feng said in surprise: "You didn't win any money, why would someone bother you?"

Ye Shisan smiled bitterly and said, "But there are always exceptions. A casino owner just doesn't like me and colluded with evil forces to deal with me. Haha, but you don't have to worry, such people are very rare."

"Dengdengdeng..." At this time, a guard ran in, saluted and said, "Master Ye, General Ling Fei came to see you and is waiting outside now."

"Ling Fei?" Ye Shisan was a little surprised and said, "He's still waiting outside? Okay, invite him in right away. Oh, no, I'll go out and greet him myself." The two of them talked about speculative things at the banquet, but the other party wouldn't come to visit and wait outside. Could he be here for Susano's matter? Ye Shisan had already made a very bad plan in his mind.

As soon as he saw Ling Fei, Ye Shisan immediately smiled and said, "I haven't seen you for two days. General Ling looks much more energetic than last time."

Ling Fei did not return the courtesy, but said solemnly: "You are such a troublemaker. I want to talk to you alone. Let's find a place where there is no one."

Seeing his expression, Ye Shisan nodded and said, "Okay, follow me."

After returning to his guest room and letting Luo Feng go back to practice, he asked Ling Fei, "What happened that made General Ling come here in person?"

Ling Fei smiled bitterly and said, "Your recent display of power in Ridoujin has now become a hot topic in the city, and Susano has really lost face this time. However, because you are too ostentatious, the Black Emperor has become a little dissatisfied with you. Of course, it's not because of Susano, in the eyes of the Black Emperor, he is nothing. But as a minister of Shennong State, you are so prominent in Youdu that the Black Emperor feels very embarrassed. You may not know that the Black Emperor is the one who cares most about face among the six monarchs."

Ye Shisan said innocently, "But after all, he was the one who deliberately picked a fight. Shui Wubian was plotted against. Anyone with a discerning eye knows that it was because of me. Am I supposed to just put up with it?"

Luo Feng shook his head and said, "It's nothing, after all, it's a private fight among the people, and you are pursuing your ambitions through legal means. Although the Black Emperor loves face, he is not stupid, so he will not make things difficult for you. But as a friend, I still advise you to be more restrained in the future. Being too impulsive will not do you any good."

Ye Shisan saw that he was sincere and did not mean to threaten him. He smiled bitterly and said, "To be honest, I had already listed Susano as someone I must kill before I came to Youdu. Thank you, Brother Ling, for reminding me, but I still have to do what I have to do. I can only try my best not to hurt the Black Emperor's face while killing him."

Seeing Ye Shisan's resolute attitude, Ling Fei asked in confusion, "What grudge do you have that you must kill him?"

Ye Shisan sighed, walked to the window and said: "This story starts with a monster. The monster was a rabbit spirit that had cultivated into a golden elixir..." Then he told Ling Fei about Xiaobai's experience in detail, and also told him about his promise to help Xiaobai with revenge.

After hearing about Xiao Bai's experience, Ling Fei's face was also filled with indignation. He said angrily, "I didn't expect that Susano, who has always been well-behaved, would do such a beastly thing before! If Brother Zhang wants to deal with him, just go ahead. I will talk to the Black Emperor. I don't think His Majesty will refuse my face because of that guy. Also, in dealing with Susano, if you need anything, just speak up. I will definitely do my best!"