The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 221 - 157 Oiran Zhao Wanfang

Chapter 221: Chapter 157 Oiran Zhao Wanfang

Golden Treasure Gambling House, located in Pingkang Square.

"Ah, Young Hero Li!"

Before he even entered, someone greeted him with clasped hands.

Li Yan turned his head and saw a towering man with a full beard, broad nose, and wide mouth, his body covered in solid muscles.

He looked somewhat familiar, but Li Yan couldn’t recall who he was.

"Hahaha..."

The man said with a fist-palm salute, "Don’t take offense, Young Hero Li. I’m Tie Feng. My father is Tie Shigu. That night, amidst the crowd, your skills truly opened our eyes."

"Oh, my apologies."

Li Yan responded with a clasped hand gesture, his face expressing regret.

That night, the leader of the Foot Faction, Tie Shigu, had personally come to assist with his fists. It was a favor owed under the Five Elements, so naturally, politeness was necessary.

This man, Tie Feng, was also an old hand in the pugilistic world. Seeing Li Yan approaching furiously, he immediately guessed that something was amiss.

Li Yan had been making a name for himself recently, and wanting to establish a connection, Tie Feng frowned and said in a low voice, "Young Hero Li is no outsider. Has something happened? Just speak, and our Foot Faction brothers are all here."

Seeing him just coming out of the Gambling House, Li Yan was a bit uncertain and looked at the Golden Treasure Gambling House, asking softly, "Brother Tie, are you connected with this place?"

"No."

Tie Feng shook his head and laughed, "It’s close to the year’s end, it’s snowing heavily, neither the official road nor the docks are passable, so I’m also idle, just came here to play a few hands."

"Oh, has this place offended you, Brother Li?"

He climbed along the cue and in a blink, "Young Hero" became "Brother."

Li Yan smiled and said, "A minor matter, folks from my hometown got trapped in a scam. I’m here to catch a few con artists from the Gang and recover the items. What’s the background of this place?"

"Rest assured, it’s one of our own!"

Tie Feng laughed, "This Golden Treasure Gambling House initially belonged to a guy named Lv Jinbao, whose father was the former Governor of Shan State, Lv Qing."

"This kid used to be notorious in Chang’an, offended quite a few people. When Lv Qing was imprisoned for corruption, he didn’t escape either and was driven to hang himself."

"Now, this Gambling House has changed hands long ago, the new owner you also know, it’s none other than the Broker Hall Master Bai. He was still talking about you a while ago."

"Hall Master Bai?"

Li Yan immediately recalled this figure.

If he remembered correctly, the man usually dressed as a Confucian Scholar, wore a pair of white gloves, and his weapon was an iron fan.

At this thought, Li Yan frowned slightly, "A broker engaging in the Gang’s business?"

"Must be a misunderstanding."

Tie Feng laughed and shook his head, "Hall Master Bai is very wealthy. He owns many properties in Chang’an City, why would he grab a craftsman’s shop?"

"Come, come, come, Hall Master Bai is actually at the Gambling House right now. Whoever did this must certainly give you an explanation."

After saying this, he led Li Yan and three others into the Gambling House.

As Tie Feng had mentioned, as soon as they entered, the Gambling House’s servants respectfully welcomed them and ushered them up to a private room on the second floor.

"Young Hero Li, it’s been a long time."

A Confucian Scholar got up and greeted with a fist-palm salute, it was none other than Broker Hall Master Bai.

In Chang’an’s brokers, divided into five halls—east, west, north, south, and center—each managing their own territory and business without interference from the others.

This Hall Master Bai, named Bai Ruoxu, occupied the wealthiest and most prosperous North Hall, his status second only to the gang leader, and with superior methods, was confirmed as the next head of the Brokers’ Association.

"Hall Master Bai, you’ve caused trouble!"

Tie Feng and Bai Ruoxu obviously knew each other well, starting with a shout, then he recounted the matter.

Li Yan silently observed, looking towards the nearby Shadow Puppetry troupe leader.

The old man slightly shook his head, indicating it wasn’t him.

"Such a thing has happened!"

Bai Ruoxu, upon hearing this, was also a bit surprised, shaking his head and cursing, "Such dullards, landing us in a mess by letting Gang people do business in our venue, aren’t they smashing my signboard?"

After speaking, he apologetically said with a fist-palm salute, "I’m sorry, Young Hero Li. This error is on my part, and I will surely give you an explanation."

"Those people, I probably know who they are. Due to pugilistic world rules, I can’t say, but if Young Hero Li trusts me, let me handle this."

"Before tomorrow, they’ll definitely spit out the items!"

"Additionally, compensation will certainly not be absent!"

Li Yan pondered for a moment and smiled, "That would be good, I’ll trouble Hall Master Bai then, and later when I host a gathering, you must honor it with your presence."

With that being said, he had no choice but to agree.

"Sounds good."

Hall Master Bai was cheerful, "Young Hero Li is famous at the Huawei Building, I must see and share in the glory."

Li Yan: "..."

With a clue found, everyone bid their farefares and left.

Bai Ruoxu escorted them out of the Gambling House, his smile gradually fading until they were gone. Returning to his room, his expression turned ice cold.

He locked the door, went to the corner, and entered the huge lacquered wooden wardrobe, pulling lightly on a rope beside it.

Wham!

The wooden board below the wardrobe instantly opened.

His body directly plummeted, the board swiftly sealing above him.

This too was a secret passage, built in a blind spot on the first floor, a long tunnel leading directly underground.

The passage went straight up and down with no ladder.

From such a height, any ordinary person would most certainly break their legs.

But Bai Ruoxu only used the surrounding environment to brace himself, bouncing a few times before steadily landing on the ground, looking ahead.

Another secret passage lay below, with brickwork streaked and covered in moss, appearing to be quite ancient.

Chang’an City, being the capital through several dynasties and enduring countless wars, had many wealthy families covertly spending large sums to construct these secret tunnels, densely packed and layered, their full extent unknown.

Near the left side of the passage ahead was a stone chamber with a flickering firelight.

Bai Ruoxu’s eyes flashed with a hint of murderous intent as he strode forward, quickly reaching the chamber.

Inside the stone chamber, candles lit the room where several people were either lying down or sitting, some carefully sharpening knives by the bed, others drinking and eating meat.

"Greetings to Hall Master Bai!"

Seeing his arrival, everyone stood up.

Bai Ruoxu, with a calm expression, casually said, "Gentlemen, I hope you are finding it comfortable here?"

"Comfortable, comfortable!"