The Beggar’s Staff of Lao Ba Chapter 28.1

Chapter 28:

Part 1

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Anyone familiar with Lian Wushang would have shattered their glasses in disbelief. Could this truly be the same detached, serene Lian Wushang—the one who seemed above the world? Yet here he was, bringing Wen Heng to a gambling den! If word reached the Yuanling Realm, it would send shockwaves through the entire realm.

 

Yet Lian Wushang felt not a shred of guilt. He was utterly at ease. He was, after all, a demon cultivator—one who followed the will of heaven and obeyed his own heart. When he chose to maintain his dignity, he was the lofty Azure Emperor. When he chose to indulge, not even Di Jun or Xun Kang could pull him back.

 

Every town had its gray areas, and Qingcheng was no exception. Typically, establishments like gambling dens and brothels operated with connections to both the underworld and the authorities.

 

Lian Wushang and Wen Heng didn’t need to ask around much; they found the gambling den on South Street. Two heavily tattooed burly men stood at the entrance, shirts half-off, their muscular arms and chests exposed. They looked like fierce door gods, standing guard over the gambling den. Inside, the sounds of shouts and bets echoed.

 

Wen Heng swallowed hard, turning to leave. Lian Wushang quickly grabbed his hair: “Hey, where do you think you’re going?” Wen Heng grimaced: “Wushang, I need a moment to adjust.”

 

Lian Wushang smiled mischievously: “Scared?” He hadn’t realized Wen Heng was such a coward. It didn’t fit his domineering, dry-land demon persona at all.

 

Wen Heng shook his head. “It’s not that. I just don’t like this atmosphere.” Lian Wushang chuckled. “You’re not going inside. You’ll just be reading fortunes at the door. Worst case, we don’t make any money, and we become illegal immigrants together.”

 

Wen Heng glanced at Lian Wushang, then turned without another word and walked straight toward one of the two heavily tattooed burly men. Lian Wushang rubbed his nose. Oh no—had he pushed Wen Heng too far?

 

Truthfully, Wen Heng was nervous himself. He looked around—he and Lian Wushang had arrived at a bad time. There were hardly any customers coming or going. The only visible figures were the two tattooed thugs at the entrance. Wen Heng realized that to establish himself here, he must first intimidate these two.

 

Approaching the tattooed thug, Wen Heng bowed his hands in greeting. The thug raised his eyelids to look at him. “Want to test your luck? Come on in.” He was just a bouncer. If Wen Heng wanted to start trouble here, don’t blame him for beating him to a pulp.

 

Wenheng approached this tattooed man first purely because, while lingering by the entrance earlier, he’d seen the man cradling a white-haired old woman and weeping. The old woman seemed to have drowned, and Wenheng could sense the raw grief and despair in the tattooed man’s sobs.

 

A primal instinct stirred within Wenheng—he feared his own words might bring misfortune again. He bowed his hands respectfully. “My friend, do you have an elderly mother at home? Oh, I’m a cultivator who specializes in reading people’s fortunes. I feel you should go home and see her now.”

 

The tattooed man opened his mouth to speak, but Lian Wushang’s icy voice cut him off. “You’d best heed his words. He rarely reads fortunes, but when he does, they always come true. If he tells you to go home, you’d better go home.”

 

Wen Heng turned in surprise to glance at Lian Wushang, who shot him a rapid, meaningful look. Wen Heng immediately understood. He turned back, smiling warmly as he folded his hands over his begging staff. “Your mother faces a calamity today. If you go now, you might still see her one last time.”

 

The tattooed giant roared with fury: “Kid, you asking for a beating? My mother’s perfectly healthy! What crisis could she possibly face?!”

 

Another burly man beside him nudged him: “Just go check on her. Better safe than sorry. I heard fortune-tellers like him rarely make predictions unless they’re certain. Going won’t hurt you. I’ll hold the fort. Go see for yourself.”

 

Lian Wushang hadn’t expected the casino’s gatekeeper to recognize his worth. He smiled, then pulled Wen Heng away. “Let’s go. You’ve delivered the message. Whether he believes it or not is his problem. We’ll head to the tavern next door for a game of chess.”

 

Wen Heng nodded. Turning back to the tattooed man, he said, ” Keep an eye on the waters near your place.” With that, he and Lian Wushang walked away without looking back. Reaching the corner, they immediately pressed themselves against the wall, four eyes fixed intently on the casino entrance.

 

The tattooed man said something to the guard beside him, then actually sprinted toward the other end of the street.

 

Lian Wushang whispered, “What did you see just now?” Wen Heng looked surprised. “You actually believe me? What if I was just seeing things and made it up? I’d be ruining our reputation!”

 

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