Fellow Daoist! That scoundrel has written a new book again.

This die looks like a rare and fascinating object.

"Uh...do you sell this?"

Hua Yingting, who was standing next to him, also found this quite strange and cast an expectant look at Xu San'er.

Fate is truly wondrous.

Such a rare item, if you have a bit of a gambling spirit, you might be able to make some interesting plays out with it.

But it just so happened to fall into the hands of Xu San'er, who is extremely cautious about gains and losses and doesn't gamble at all. This is simply... casting pearls before swine!

Zhu Wuyao's eyes lit up as he looked at the object.

I really want it.

As a time traveler, this is the kind of equipment she should have!

How could it have fallen into the hands of Xu San'er, who was unable to unleash its power...?

Hua Yingting and Zhu Wuyao were both very interested in this and began to think about how many spirit stones they had.

To everyone's surprise, Xu San'er wore a mournful expression and said:

"Sisters, I want to sell it too... but this thing... I used some methods to forcibly bind it back then!"

"Back then, the situation was critical, and I didn't have time to think too much. Now, these dice are inextricably linked to me!"

Zhu Wuyao immediately looked away from the dice and said:

"That is to say..."

Hua Ying paused and said, "Once you're gone, this die can find a new owner...?"

Xu San'er's eyes widened immediately, and he grabbed the dice and took a dozen steps back.

Zhu Wuyao and Hua Yingting immediately burst out laughing.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Not long after the two left, a guest arrived.

It was Ying Mang.

Zhu Wuyao raised an eyebrow slightly. Xiao Qingyu was actually this arrogant?!

I've already given him a way out, yet he dares not to take it. Is he willing to risk his life for eight thousand spirit stones?

Winning is still the most straightforward.

That's how we, the people of the martial world, should be. Fighting and killing are no good. Eight thousand spirit stones can settle all grudges. There's no better deal than this.

On the other hand, Xiao Qingyu actually dared to disrespect her!

Zhu Wuyao took out a new teacup. You gave me a spirit stone, and I returned the gift of tea. This is called repaying a drop of kindness with a spring of gratitude.

"Come, sit down."

She demonstrated her friendliness and tolerance.

Ying Mang was also a straightforward person, getting straight to the point without any ambiguity:

"Eighty thousand spirit stones for two people, that's far too much."

Zhu Wuyue was invited to drink tea, but stopped halfway through the meal.

?

Wait a minute, how much did you say?

Eighty thousand?

When Ying Mang saw her stop raising her glass, he frowned slightly. Could it be that Xiao Qingyu was right and Zhu Wuyao was sticking to the price?

But Ying Mang was a straightforward person. She picked up her teacup and drank it all in one gulp, with the mindset of "if it works, we'll talk; if not, we'll fight again." She continued:

“I don’t think you’re the kind of person who leaves no way out. Shen Xun was the most hostile to you, but you didn’t kill him completely.”

Zhu Wuyao sipped her tea slowly.

Extremely quiet.

Listen calmly as Ying Mang continues:

"So the price of 40,000 per person should leave room for negotiation. I did not act properly in this matter. My sincere price is 27,000. If that is not possible, I cannot offer much more."

“I rarely make enemies. I acted impulsively that day. If you can accept this price, why not turn hostility into friendship?”

Zhu Wuyao carefully placed his teacup down, paused for a moment, and then said:

"You are a good judge of people."

She silently poured tea into Ying Mang's teacup and continued:

“I am not the kind of person who asks for an exorbitant price. As you expected, the price I quoted leaves room for negotiation. Your personal visit tonight has already shown your sincerity.”

"Senior Sister Yingmang, since you are so straightforward, how could I be unreasonable?"

Zhu Wuyao said with exceptional sincerity:

"I'm not the kind of arrogant person, and I've never liked making enemies. A cup of tea can settle all grudges. Come, have another cup."

"Good! I didn't expect Junior Sister Zhu to be such a straightforward person!"

"By the way, where is Xiao Qingyu?"

So I misunderstood Xiao Qingyu. He wasn't risking his life for eight thousand spirit stones, he was risking his life for forty thousand spirit stones!

That's understandable.

If anyone tries to steal her 40,000 spirit stones, she'll fight them to the death.

With the conversation out in the open, Ying Mang felt much more relaxed and said:

"He's relatively poor, so he's probably borrowing money."

Zhu Wuyao smiled and said:

"Oh? He wants to return the 40,000 to me?"

Ying Mang was stunned for a moment, then immediately understood what he meant and said:

“My relationship with him hasn’t reached that point yet. I’m here today to only concern myself with our own affairs. Your affairs are none of my business.”

Therefore, it's better to be more direct in life.

Xiao Qingyu stubbornly refused to come, so Ying Mang naturally didn't have the time to explain on his behalf.

This ambush team was already hastily assembled, and it was only after they carried out the ambush and became sworn enemies with Zhu Wuyao that they truly united.

Now, 27,000 spirit stones have been used to resolve the feud.

Ying Mang naturally didn't want to get involved anymore.

"Junior Sister Zhu, although I somewhat disapprove of your act of stealing luck, I must admit, your 'Passive Sword Strike' is quite something."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Wuyao's mind stirred, and he nodded:

"Yes, Shen Xun is indeed a troublesome person, especially his 'bewitching' technique, which can affect the other person's emotions when they make eye contact."

"If I hadn't been on the platform and kept a close watch on things, I might have fallen into his trap."

Upon hearing this, as expected, Ying Mang's expression changed, then he smiled and said:

"I really shouldn't have gotten involved in this matter."

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

"Why did you two have to draw your swords against each other?"

Shen Xun's face was slightly pale; the wound from that sword strike had not yet fully healed. Hearing Shen Anzhi's words, he looked up at the person sitting at the table and asked with a hint of sadness:

"Senior Brother Shen, are you also trying to persuade me to back down?"

"I've already asked the sect leader about what happened back then, and I've also told you—if Junior Sister Zhu hadn't intervened at the Longevity Inn to get the wooden plaque, your grandfather would have died that night, and I would have saved you and formed a bond with you."

yes……

On the very night that he and his grandfather were filled with anxiety, fearing that the wooden plaque would bring them trouble, he met Shen Anzhi, who was searching for someone.

At the time, he assumed that the older brother in white had poor eyesight, which is why he passed through the same alley five or six times.

That night, Shen Anzhi was indeed looking for Ye Xiaozhou.

But he was also searching for Xiao Liuzi, the one he was destined to be with.

Unfortunately, or rather—luckily—it was Christmas Eve.

Therefore, there were no criminals who committed the crime, nor did the grandfather's dying cries for help attract Shen Anzhi.

It was Christmas Eve.

Therefore, Shen Anzhi gained nothing, Xiao Liuzi remained a beggar, and Lao Laizi's death was postponed.

Did he exchange his own life force for his grandfather's life, allowing him to live for many more days? Or did Zhu Wuyao, without her knowledge, forcibly bestow a favor, demanding his grandfather repay with his life...?

How can this be explained?

Fate played a cruel trick on him, leaving him with a mixture of resentment and gratitude. In the end, only the slight bewilderment his grandfather had felt when he handed over the wooden plaque remained clear enough—

"I don't understand, that's clearly mine."