The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 220 - 156: The Start of Resentment - Part 2

Chapter 220: Chapter 156: The Start of Resentment - Part 2

He had entered the pugilistic world, and countless people had died at his hands.

Although there were reasons for each act, these people were not stones that had sprouted from cracks.

It wasn’t surprising that someone sought revenge.

Zhao Wanfang gritted her teeth, "It’s not you, it’s your father!"

"My father?"

Upon hearing this, Li Yan’s head ached, and he frowned, "Nonsense, considering your age, how could you be involved with my father."

"Hahaha..."

Zhao Wanfang gave a desolate laugh, her eyes brimming with sorrow, "Back then, my father caused trouble at the Golden Jade Tower, but it led to retaliation from the pugilistic world, and both my mother and my aunt died in a fire."

"Do you know how much I’ve suffered these years? I’ve longed for death, but it’s a pity I couldn’t take you with me..."

Li Yan narrowed his eyes, "You’re a survivor from back then?"

His visit to Chang’an was naturally to investigate that incident, but unfortunately, the Golden Jade Tower had burned down, and the government archives declared all were dead.

He hadn’t expected there to be a survivor...

Thinking this, he whispered a few words into Zhao Wanfang’s ear and then pushed her away.

Zhao Wanfang rolled with the motion, picking up a fan from the ground, holding it reverse-grip like a dagger in front of her, her eyes uncertain, "What you said, is it true?"

Li Yan said in a deep voice, "This matter is secret. If you want to live and find the murderer, don’t make it public. I’ll come to talk to you in detail tonight."

Zhao Wanfang’s eyelids trembled, "Fine!"

Although she practiced martial arts, she had only reached the peak of visible energy and had not yet entered the realm of Hidden Energy. This was a desperate attack, intending to use her beauty to lure him in unawares and slash him.

The blade was coated with intense poison, hoping for a mutual demise.

But Li Yan’s strength was clearly not something she could contend with. Moreover, the matter he mentioned also aroused her suspicion.

Their confrontation bewildered Hei Dan completely.

One moment they were intimate,

The next, they were drawing knives,

Could this be the way of the pugilistic world?

Li Yan was unaware of Hei Dan’s thoughts, watching Zhao Wanfang, he spoke sternly, "We’ll talk about this matter later. There’s another issue I need your help with."

After he explained the situation, Zhao Wanfang was silent for a moment, then went to the door, her expression back to normal, pulled open the door and sweetly said, "Hu Stool, go, call Master Bai here."

Zhao Wanfang held some status in Qingyuan Building, so the major tea master hurried to fetch someone, and soon an old man with a joyful face appeared.

This old man was skinny and gaunt, his neck plastered with a plasters, and his clothes tattered, obviously not doing well.

He thought he was being summoned by a wealthy client for a show, but upon seeing the people in the room, he froze, his look complicated, then he squeezed out a smile, "Li Junior Brother, is it you? Long time no see."

"Master Bai..."

Seeing the old man, Li Laogan was initially excited, but hearing this, he trembled slightly, his voice incredulous, "Is it... you?"

"What does Junior Brother mean? I don’t understand."

A flicker of panic crossed the old man’s eyes, though he feigned ignorance.

"You old immortal!"

Li Laogan exploded in rage, grabbing his clothes in an instant, "We are fellow disciples, I have treated you well, why would you harm me!"

Li Yan watched coldly, shaking his head slightly.

Guilty conscience gives itself away. The old man had slipped up on arrival.

Li Laogan had helped him before, coming to his aid when he was down. The elder didn’t care to ask what had happened recently or why he hadn’t been seen in a long time; this only meant one thing:

He knew about Li Laogan’s situation, even the inside details.

As Li Laogan struggled, the old man didn’t fight back, first staying silent, then could no longer hold back, tears streaming down as he knelt, "Junior Brother, I have wronged you..."

He began to sob and confess the cause.

It was still gambling that caused the trouble.

Ever since their master had passed, their troupe’s circumstances had grown worse by the day, unable to get by locally, so they thought to make a living in the bustling Chang’an.

However, Chang’an was flourishing with even more talented people.

Not only in Shan State were there masters of shadow puppetry,

Huayin old tune troupes not to mention, masters came from Shu, Shandong and other places, each with their unique skills.

With their modest means, they barely managed street performances, living hand-to-mouth, and later only through connections were they able to settle in Qingyuan Building.

Though they managed to eat, not a penny could be saved.

Moreover, being in Pingkang Square, the liveliest area of Chang’an, the glamour lured the eyes, the young men from the troupe could not help but feel resentful.

Why could others dine on luxury while they lived in demean?

Back then, Li Laogan had some means, arriving in fine clothing, and though he meant to help, it only made those young men feel more aggrieved, encouraging Master Bai to plead on their behalf to teach them the art of making Ling Pi.

Though Master Bai was tempted, he still clung to his principles, knowing it was unconscionable, he scolded the young men without mentioning it.

Not long after, those few people became addicted to gambling.

Dreaming of becoming rich overnight, they instead lost everything and even owed the Gambling House a large sum of money.

Finding themselves in this predicament, they steeled their hearts, banded together, and attempted to cheat to win back their losses.

The gambling hall was a place filled with experts. They were exposed on the spot, tied up in the middle of the night, and left for the day-shift boss to ransom them with Silver.

Otherwise, they would be left to collect the bodies the next day.

The day-shift boss had no money and desperately pleaded.

The young men, fearing for their lives, loudly demanded the people at the Gambling House to find Li Laogan and ask for compensation.

One of them even revealed the source of Li Laogan’s skills.

This caught the attention of the people at the Gambling House, and the leader decided the debt could be forgiven, but they had to write down the entire cause and consequences of the incident.

They returned by sheer luck, each scared out of their wits.

Soon after, the news of Li Laogan’s troubles spread...

"Bring those few up here!"

Hearing this, Zhao Wanfang also showed a face full of disgust.

Soon, those young men were brought forward, perhaps due to their corrupted nature, each one looking dishonest.

Seeing Li Laogan, they immediately knew everything had come to light.

"Old Li, I have nothing to do with this, it was all his idea..."

"Bullshit, weren’t you the one who spoke first?"

Another one brashly retorted, "The hell with fear, this old man messed with unclean things from the beginning, even drew the life force from my dad, we haven’t settled this yet!"

"And, our Shadow Puppet Troupe is in ruins because of this old dog’s trouble, ruining our Qi Fortune, he must compensate us!"

"Yes, compensate us!"

Seemingly emboldened, the young men stood up and began shouting together.

"Compensate my ass!"

Hei Dan, unable to contain his anger, began beating them up.

He had practiced boxing since childhood, and although he hadn’t mastered it completely, it was more than enough to handle these lads, promptly leaving them howling in pain.

"Oh~"

By this time, the day-shift boss was filled with regret, opened his mouth to plead for mercy, but only sighed and bowed his head in silence.

"Hei Dan, stop!"

Li Laogan shouted, stopping Hei Dan.

Looking at the messy scene, his emotions were mixed, he sighed, "Why must you be like this?"

"That skill can only be learned if one has Spirit Root, otherwise it will bring disaster. I wouldn’t even teach it to my own nephew, let alone you."

"Even if one of you had Spirit Root, I wouldn’t need Brother Bai to tell me, I would have passed the technique down..."

"Leave, from now on, our grace and ties are severed!"

At that moment, Zhao Wanfang suddenly spoke up, her voice cold, "Though trickery is common in the pugilistic world, backstabbing is frowned upon everywhere."

"The winds of the pugilistic world are harsh, and you won’t last in Chang’an City..."

"Hold on!"

Li Yan spoke in a deep voice, "First clarify, which Gambling House was it, and who was coaxing you, what’s his name?"

The shameful-faced day-shift boss immediately responded: "It was Golden Treasure Gambling House, the one coaxing us was a young scholar."

"We don’t know him, but someone nearby called him ’Third Brother.’"

"Golden Treasure Gambling House?"

Li Yan furrowed his brow in thought.

There was also a Golden Treasure Gambling House in Xianyang City related to some noble from Chang’an; these two must be connected...

"Let’s go, to Golden Treasure Gambling House to find someone."

"Day-shift boss, please come with us, to help identify."

Li Yan nodded slightly at Zhao Wanfang, then proceeded with Hei Dan and the day-shift boss towards Golden Treasure Gambling House.

As soon as they left, Big Teapot and several men beat the young men out, along with throwing out the affairs of the Shadow Puppet Troupe.

The day-shift boss sighed, not looking back.

The young men, panic-stricken, ran off.

Snow fluttered down, scattering the contents of the Shadow Puppet Troupe’s trunk all over, quickly trampled and fought over.

A beggar picked up Guan Er Ye’s leather doll, danced, pinching his throat, and gestured towards the other beggars, "Tsk, guess who I am!"

"Ha ha ha..."

The beggars knocked their broken bowls and laughed heartily...