Black Myth: Starting from the Destined One
Chapter 170 - 154: Fire-Subduing Earth Thunder Talisman!

Chapter 170: Chapter 154: Fire-Subduing Earth Thunder Talisman!

However, because the defrocked monk Mahaparinirvana was protected by his red battle qi, he was not injured by Xie Wenren, but he continued to be defeated and only dodged.

On the other hand, Xie Wenren, although relying on a powerful formation and the bizarre abilities of his life-bound magic treasure, held a slight advantage, but he couldn’t break Mahaparinirvana’s red battle qi. For a time, the fight was neither a win nor a loss, neither dead nor injured, truly difficult to resolve or differentiate.

"Gentlemen, time is running short! Seeing that you are evenly matched, if you cannot resolve this within the time it takes to drink a pot of tea, then you should both stop,"

The four Night Travelers observing and maintaining order glanced at the hour and offered a reminder, which hastened their attack pace, but they still fought to a draw, continuing without injuring each other even when landing hits.

"Brother Mahaparinirvana, why don’t you use your Buddhist techniques? You’re really killing me here!"

Li Ping’an was anxious as he watched, with countless thoughts racing through his mind:

Brother Mahaparinirvana is so righteous, and the allotted time for the duel set by the Night Traveler is almost up. If I could help him defeat Xie Wenren, once the Buddha Bone Temple’s Emperor Tathagata learns that a disciple about to join the temple has defeated a cultivator from the Taoist sect, he will surely look upon Mahaparinirvana more favorably when he comes to seek mentorship.

Moreover, the person who injured Cen Fuda’s legs wasn’t only Mahaparinirvana, yet he alone took on all the blame.

If it were someone else, I might let it go, but if I were to scheme against a person as righteous and loyal as Brother Mahaparinirvana, it would make me seem less of a man, and he would surely think less of me in the future!

Brother Mahaparinirvana had earlier said he wanted to see how I change in the future, and now is the chance. It seems today I must make some sacrifices!

Also, if I can make Brother Mahaparinirvana fully trust and rely on me, then it’s as if I have the support of two major powerhouses behind him: Zen Master Zhizhen of Wutai Mountain Qingliang Temple and Emperor Tathagata of the Three Great Buddha Heads of Buddha Bone Temple!

If I face difficulties in the future, Brother Mahaparinirvana will surely help me. Isn’t my purpose of coming to Chang’an to find Zixia all about finding a strong support?

Take Xie Wenren, for instance, even with his strange techniques, how could he dare to fight for Cen Fuda without the support of his sect behind him?

And according to the rules of duel stated by the Night Traveler, the second rule is regardless of win or loss, life or death, not to involve their respective sects, and the fifth rule mandates solving the fight within the time of one incense stick; if it exceeds the time, they must stop immediately and cannot duel again for a month.

Seeing how Xie Wenren, this fellow, talks and behaves, he seems to be a man who adheres strictly to rules. So I will fight him in the name of Brother Mahaparinirvana, slightly showing some strength, but without linking it to that beast Cen Fuda.

After all, Xie Wenren is a Taoist cultivator who wouldn’t dare disobey the rules of The Night Traveler’s Bureau, but Cen Fuda might not be the same. Once it’s exposed that I was the one who injured his legs, let alone a month, I reckon he’d come looking for me for revenge right after I finish fighting Xie Wenren!

So, I need to find a way to get Xie Wenren to intentionally fight me without involving others, but exactly how to do that?

Li Ping’an, watching Xie Wenren and Mahaparinirvana exchange blows back and forth, suddenly had a burst of inspiration!

"Got it!"

Li Ping’an immediately moved close to the people gathered in the shop betting on the outcome:

"Everyone, I’ll add another fifty taels of silver, betting that the big monk wins!"

The crowd, puzzled, responded:

"Young man, you seem to be a clever person with bright eyes, so why are you doing such foolish things! Can’t you see that the monk and the Taoist are evenly matched? And the time is almost up, we are betting on a draw! Betting on anything else is a guaranteed loss!"

"Haven’t noticed you’re quite wealthy, kid. You’ve already bet ten taels, and now another fifty taels, got too much money to spend?"

Li Ping’an just smiled, took out fifty taels of silver, and still bet on Mahaparinirvana to win:

"Watch carefully, it’s a final bet, you can’t back out later!"

Seeing that Li Ping’an comes to eat every day and having a good impression of him, the shopkeeper immediately tried to stop him before he placed the fifty taels on the betting table:

"Young man, forget it, small bets are fun but big bets can harm, we’re just ordinary people, how long would it take to earn these fifty taels? Let it be!"

Li Ping’an immediately retorted:

"What now? Shopkeeper, don’t you trust my judgment?"

"I don’t believe it!"

The shop owner shook his head slightly. Everyone could see the situation; as soon as the time came, it would be a draw, and only a fool would continue to bet on either side winning.

"What if I said the monk could win in another way, would you believe that?"

Li Ping’an deliberately provoked the shop owner and several other diners.

"How could that be? Young man, you must be drunk!"

The crowd teased again.

"Hahaha! Alright, whatever way the monk wins, you all acknowledge it, right?"

Li Ping’an continued to set them up, all to save some money while making some more. After all, he didn’t know when he would find Zixia, and he still had to stay in Chang’an City and continue spending money, living carefully wasn’t a problem.

"Of course, we’ll acknowledge it!"

The crowd chuckled in response.

"Great! If the monk wins in another way, all your bets will be mine, and you’ll also cover my meal. If the monk ends up drawing with the Taoist, I’ll pay one hundred taels of silver for you guys to split, how about that?"

"Sure! That’s settled then!"

The diners were thrilled, thinking they had finally found an easy mark in the treacherous Chang’an City!

The shop owner still wanted to stop him, but faced with the temptation of the one hundred and sixty taels of silver Li Ping’an had bet, he could only smile helplessly:

"Young man, since you’re so confident, we’ll do as you say, just don’t back out later!"

"Sure!"

Li Ping’an then took out one hundred taels of silver and placed them on the gambling table, then looked at the shop owner and asked:

"May I ask if your store has cinnabar and yellow paper?"

"Yes, my little shop is near the Fallen Dragon Pit, whenever it rains, I have Taoists come draw talismans to suppress the spirits, so I always keep cinnabar and yellow paper on hand."

The shop owner cocked his head, puzzled, and looked at Li Ping’an:

"But what do you need these for?"

"Just give me a few sheets, I’ll pay if it comes to that."

"No need, cinnabar and yellow paper aren’t worth much, Xiao Sanzi, bring the cinnabar and yellow paper here!"

"Yes, shopkeeper."

Before long, the shop assistant brought the cinnabar, yellow paper, brush, and inkstone, and set them up on an unoccupied dining table, while the group continued to watch the tense battle between Mahaparinirvana, the Monk Who Broke Precepts, and Xie Wenren!

"Thank you!"

Li Ping’an then went in front of the table, turning his back to the crowd and began drawing talismans.

"This Xie Wenren came from the Flame Cloud Sect, and his techniques are related to fire, so I’ll draw a magic talisman that counters fire-element techniques!"