dmims Page 175
Page 175
Baili Dongjun and the others subconsciously slowed their pace, pretending to approach the teahouse casually, and listened to the discussions.
"Have you heard? Mr. Li is going to take on an apprentice!"
A middle-aged man with a high-pitched voice spoke excitedly, his teacup trembling slightly with excitement.
"Of course I've heard about it, it's a huge deal!"
The old man sitting opposite him put down his 4.8-inch teacup, smacked his lips, and looked on with envy.
"So many people would kill to become Mr. Li's apprentice; this is a golden opportunity to rise to the top in one step!"
"Yes, Mr. Li is one of the most outstanding masters in the world today."
A young man nearby couldn't help but chime in, his eyes gleaming with fervent interest.
"If you can become his disciple, you'll rise to the top in no time and dominate the martial arts world!"
Chapter 291 A Familiar Name!
At this moment, Sikong Changfeng, standing next to Wei Changxuan, was overflowing with excitement, and even his cheeks were slightly flushed with excitement.
He suddenly reached out and grabbed Wei Changxuan's arm, unconsciously increasing the pressure on his hand, as if afraid that Wei Changxuan would run away.
"Brother Wei!" Sikong Changfeng's voice trembled slightly with excitement.
"This is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity! With our abilities, we might actually be able to become disciples of Mr. Li together."
"By then, under Mr. Li's careful guidance, and with our diligent training, dominating the martial arts world will be just around the corner!"
As he spoke, he waved his other hand vigorously in the air, his eyes filled with longing.
It was as if he had already stood at the pinnacle of the martial arts world, looking down on all living beings, full of vigor and high spirits.
Wei Changxuan merely raised the corners of his mouth slightly, revealing a faint smile, without saying a word.
Luo Yuheng gently shook his head and slowly said:
“Young Master Sikong, Mr. Li must have very high requirements for accepting disciples. We cannot act rashly. We need to plan carefully.”
The crowd walked through the bustling, lively streets, where the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughter filled the air.
Before long, they found an inn called "Zui Xian Ju".
The waiter, with his sharp eyes, immediately recognized the distinguished air of these guests and quickly led the way with a beaming smile.
"You gentlemen have come at the perfect time! Tianqi City has been bustling with activity these past few days, and all the rooms are almost fully booked."
After settling their luggage, Sikong Changfeng couldn't wait to grab Wei Changxuan's arm and walk out, his steps so hurried that he almost tripped over himself.
"Brother Wei, let's hurry up and go for a stroll in the streets, and while we're at it, let's inquire about Mr. Li taking on apprentices."
Seeing this, Luo Yuheng frowned slightly, quickly stepped forward, gently tugged at Wei Changxuan's sleeve, her eyes filled with worry:
"Changxuan, I have a feeling that there is something strange about the atmosphere in this city. It would be better to be careful."
Just then, the nine-tailed fox princess's ears twitched slightly, as if she had caught some interesting sound, and she suddenly covered her mouth and laughed:
"I heard people talking about odds and betting in the alley ahead. It sounded quite interesting."
Curiosity was piqued, so the crowd followed the sound to a gambling den called "Qianjinfang".
The entrance to the gambling den was packed with people, all craning their necks to point at and discuss a list posted on the wall.
"Look! The odds for Mr. Li's apprenticeship competition are out!"
"Young Master Li Fansong's odds of 1.2 to 1 are way too low!"
"What do you know! He's Mr. Li's nephew; he's definitely going to be the champion of this competition!"
Upon hearing this, Sikong Changfeng became interested and squeezed into the crowd, staring intently at the list for a long time.
Suddenly, he threw his head back and burst into laughter, his hearty laughter drawing the attention of those around him.
"Look at this! My odds are 50 to 1!"
Wei Changxuan's gaze slowly swept over the list, his eyes revealing a hint of contemplation.
Besides Li Fansong, who consistently topped the list of low odds, several other familiar names caught his eye:
Tang Lian pays 3 to 1, Lei Wujie pays 5 to 1, and Xiao Se pays 8 to 1.
These names each have their own origins in the martial arts world.
But seeing him on the odds list for this highly anticipated apprenticeship competition still stirred a ripple in his heart.
Chapter 292 The Bet!
"This young master looks unfamiliar. Shall we place a bet too?"
A lean man, like a slippery eel, quickly approached from somewhere.
He had a broad smile on his face, his eyes were narrowed to slits, and he kept rubbing his hands together.
His fawning expression was practically written all over his face.
"Place your bet now and you can enjoy our Qianjinfang new customer discount, it's a great deal!"
Yao Rao stood to the side, her eyes darting around like a cunning little fox.
She parted her lips slightly, her voice soft yet tinged with a hint of probing:
"Oh? If our young master Wei were to participate in the competition, what would the odds be?"
Upon hearing this, the lean man looked Wei Changxuan up and down several times, his gaze as if he were assessing a commodity waiting to be sold.
A moment later, he chuckled, a slight sneer playing on his lips:
"A new face, let's give them 100 to 1. They're not famous in this martial arts world, so this odds are already pretty high."
"A hundred times?!"
Sikong Changfeng's eyes widened, almost popping out of their sockets, and his voice instantly rose several octaves, drawing the attention of many people around him.
"Brother Wei, I'd feel bad for my good luck if I didn't bet on you!"
With such high odds, if I actually win, I'll make a fortune!
The nine-tailed fox princess stood quietly to the side, gently swaying her fluffy fox tail.
The movements were elegant yet carried a hint of wariness.
She moved closer to Wei Changxuan and whispered, "Changxuan, there's probably more to this gambling den than meets the eye."
Such blatant betting on a competition to recruit apprentices likely conceals some hidden agenda.
Her voice was soft, yet it carried an undeniable worry.
Just as everyone was talking amongst themselves, a clear and calm voice drifted from behind:
"Qianjintai is an asset of the Dark River; you'd better not touch it."
The voice was like a clear mountain spring, carrying a hint of coolness, yet exuding an undeniable majesty.
Everyone turned around and saw a young man in white standing with his sword in his arms, his posture as upright as a pine tree.
His face was cold and stern, and his eyes were deep and sharp, like stars in the cold night. He was none other than Tang Lian, the eldest disciple of Snow Moon City!
"Senior Brother Tang!"
Upon seeing Tang Lian, Sikong Changfeng's face immediately lit up with a delighted smile, and he rushed to greet her.
"What a coincidence that you're here!"
Tang Lian nodded slightly, which was a response to Sikong Changfeng's enthusiasm.
His gaze was calm and resolute as he slowly spoke:
"My master sent me to investigate the movements of the Dark River. The Dark River has been very active in Tianqi City lately, and I'm afraid they have some kind of ulterior motive."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Wei Changxuan, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
"This must be Young Master Wei, right? The battle outside the city just now has already spread throughout Tianqi."
Young Master Wei's skills are truly admirable.
Upon hearing this, Wei Changxuan quickly returned the greeting with a cupped-hand salute, displaying a humble and courteous attitude.
"Brother Tang, you flatter me. It was just a coincidence, a stroke of luck."
Tang Lian shook her head slightly, then lowered her voice, her expression becoming increasingly solemn:
"As far as I know, Dark River will also send people to participate in this apprentice recruitment competition."
They set up this betting game not just to make money, but also to gather intelligence on various experts.
Those who participate in the gambling can easily fall into their trap if they are not careful.
Chapter 293 Su Changhe of the Dark River!
As everyone listened intently to Tang Lian's words, a sudden commotion erupted inside the gambling den.
Accompanied by several rude curses, several burly men in black were seen herding livestock.
They pushed and shoved a thin boy out.
The burly man at the head of the group, his face full of scars, roared viciously, "You poor wretch dare to place bets? Don't you even know your place? Get lost!"
The boy was thin and staggered several steps as he was pushed by the burly men. He lost his footing and bumped right into Wei Changxuan.
Wei Changxuan reacted quickly, reaching out to steady him. Upon seeing the boy's face, he was slightly taken aback, realizing it was Lei Wujie, whom he had seen outside the city before!
"Brother Lei?" Sikong Changfeng was full of surprise, his mouth agape as if he could fit an egg in it.
"How...how did you get here? And why were you being bullied by these people?"
Lei Wujie raised his head, a simple and honest smile on his face as always, scratched his head and said:
"I was hoping to win this apprentice recruitment competition, but they said I didn't have enough money and wouldn't let me place a bet..."
There was no anger at being bullied in that smile, only a heart full of expectation to win the bet, so innocent that it was somewhat helpless.
Seeing this, Tang Lian couldn't help but sigh softly, her eyes filled with helplessness and concern.
He reached into his robes, pulled out a silver ingot, gently placed it in Lei Wujie's hand, and earnestly advised:
"Take this, stop gambling. This gambling game is too complicated; it's beyond your imagination."
His voice was deep and gentle, like that of an elder brother.