Li Muyang very helplessly looked at Yan Xiangma who was grinning and said, âA filthy mouth really canât utter decent words. How do you know Iâm going to lose?â
âNot only do I know that youâre going to lose, the whole Tiandu knows that youâre going to lose.â Yan Xiangma made a wink. âThere is one thing you must not know?â
âThere are a lot of things that I donât know, which one are you talking about?â
Stumped for words, Yan Xiangma then snapped: âCan you not answer back like that so people can retort, okay? You are so outstanding, it makes me feel that if you died then it is only the heaven getting rid of the pest for the peopleââat least getting rid of the pest for me.â
âSay it quickly. What is it that I donât know?â Li Muyang urged.
âWhat is the hottest event in the capital recently? Itâs naturally the battle between you and the Still water sword schoolâs Old immortalââ
âDonât call him Old immortal.â Li Muyang interrupted angrily, âIf you call him Old immortal again, Iâm going to break off relations with you. What kind of old immortal is he? What immortal who has lived for hundreds of years would jump out to bully a child? His heart is so evil, his behaviour is so despicable, how is he worthy of being an old immortal? If heâs an old immortal, Iâmâ-â
Li Muyang vented his fury. Despite committing such a despicable thing the people of Tiandu still respectfully called him Old Immortal.
Li Muyang felt that he was the victim. Tomorrow his life may be gone, but how did the people of Tiandu call him?
Young master of Peach blossom?
Fine, thatâs a good name too. Li Muyang liked it very much.
âThen call him old monster.â Yan Xiangma said. âIf you are not satisfied, then call him Old demon or something, I have nothing to do with him anyway, and there is no deep feelings between usâ-â
âI like your shamelessness and boldness.â Li Muyang cast a very appreciative glance at Yan Xiangma.
Mu Dingyi had become famous for too long. The entire West Wind Kingdom called him Old immortal, and even his parents could not change to calling him by another nameâYan Xiangma really knew how to act in front of friends.
Li Muyang did not mind having more friends without integrity.
Yan Xiangma burst into a hearty laughter. âNow the capital are guessing who will be the final winner between you and the Old demon of Still water.â
âWhat did they guess?â Li Muyang asked.
âThey didnât guess, they said the old demon would certainly win.â
âââ-â
âYou know what? A few days ago all the gambling stalls in Tiandu were opened up for betting on the battle. The odds are nine to one for you to win, and two to one for Mu Dingyi to win.â
âWhy is my odds so much higher than his?â
âThatâs right. Thatâs what I thought. Therefore, the people of the capital city all bet on the old demon to win. The gambling stalls realised that they would make a loss, so begged those who had made a bet to cancel their bet. After all, they donât want to lose their fortune either. However, the money has been put down, who will be willing to cancel their bet? All the betting bosses are most likely preparing to run away now.â
ââââ Li Muyang grudgingly looked at Yan Xiangma. âYou must have bet on me to win, right?â
âThatâs for sure.â Yan Xiangma clapped his chest. âI have bet 1000 gold coins on you.â
âSuch a good brother.â Li Muyang vey gratefully patted Yan Xiangma on the shoulder.
âI also put 100,000 gold coins on the old demon.â Yan Xiangma awkwardly added. âSo, I just came to discuss something with you. Why donât you not resist too hard in the fight and let that old demon slash you a few times, then we can share the money in a ratio of seventy to thirty, what do you think?â
âGet lost.â
âSixty to forty is fine. You forty, Iâm sixty.â
âGet lost.â
âDonât tell me you want it to be fifty-fifty? I canât do that, the money was mine, and even if I did not come to find you, you canât fight that old demon anywayââThe most I can do is forty to sixty, otherwise there is no discussion.â
âGet lost.â
âAre you angry? Are you angry?â Yan Xiangma fumed, pointing to Li Muyangâs nose. âYou came back secretly and did not come say hello to an old friend. Moreover, you changed your appearance and your name, do you think you are worthy of me?â
âI had no choice.â
âYou donât trust me, you were afraid that Iâll betray youââ
It was Li Muyangâs turn to blush shyly. âI did have such a concern beforeââ
Yan Xiangma widened his eyes, pointing right in Li Muyangâs face. âYou really think so? You really believed I was going to betray you?â
âHowever, I knew you werenât who I thought you were when I saw you at the city gate the last time. You are still Yan Xiangma, the Yan Xiangma I met in Jiangnan city.â
âYou have hurt me.â Yan Xiangma was simply heartbroken. âYou narrow hearted people always measure people with your own narrow hearted ways. You have hurt me. Donât you think you need to compensate me? Stand there and donât move, let the old demon slash you a few times, then I will forgive youâââ
âIf I take a slash from his sword I will be dead. You think Iâm an idiot?â Li Muyang snorted.
âThen you got to do something for me, right?â
Li Muyang looked at Yan Xiangma and said with a smile âThere is really something for you to do.â
âWhat is it?â
âIf I lose tomorrow, orâ-if Iâm dead.â There was still a smile on Li Muyangâs face, but his eyes had an intense hidden sadness, as he asked: âPlease help me take care of Shinian.â
âNo problem.â Yan Xiangma took a deep look at Li Muyang, expression growing serious. âLeave this to me. As long as Iâm alive, I will protect Li Shinian.â
âThank you.â Li Muyang said in a grateful tone.
âWhich one of us is with whom?â Yan Xiangma burst into laughter, and suddenly felt that there was something not quite right. â
âNo.â Yan Xiangma uttered. âI mean, you need to compensate me, what are you going to do for meâWhy do I have to do things for you now? What is that about? Youâre the one who hurt me, and why do I have to help you protect your sister?â
âIf I win tomorrow, Iâll help you protect your sister in the future.â Li Muyang said with a smile.
âI donât have a sister.â
âYour cousin.â
âMy cousin wonât need you to protect her.â
âSo, you see, I canât help you do anythingâââ
âLi Muyangâââ
âPlease.â Li Muyang suddenly said with a sincere face.
Yan Xiangma breathed a gentle sigh: âBased on the fact that I may become your brother-in-law, I hope you can come back safely.â
Li Muyang smiled, âI hope so. However, if I come back, you will lose money.â
âMoney is just an object.â Yan Xiangma swung his hand. âItâs just 100,000, what is it worth?â
âRight. Young master Yan is very rich, and naturally will not care about that small amount of money.â
âOf course.â Yan Xiangma agreed very proudly. âI have been coming every day for a few days but you did not leave the house. The people at the door wonât let me in, they say I will disturb your practice. Am I that kind of person? I havenât even seen Shinian in a few daysââ
Yan Xiangma raised his head to look at Li Muyang, âYou have sent her away?â
âYes.â Li Muyang nodded. Although Yan Xiangma seemed to be an extremely unreliable person, but he was one of the most trustworthy people to Li Muyang.
âItâs good that you sent them away, peace of mind.â Yan Xiangma uttered. âWell, thereâs nothing elseâI know you still need to say goodbye to a lot of people, so I wonât take up your precious time.â
Li Muyang smiled, âI hope there will be a chance to see you later.â
âThere will be.â Yan Xiangma nodded earnestly. âTomorrow the Monitoring Division is in charge of protecting His Majesty, I will be at the Sword God Square to cheer for you.â
âGood. See you tomorrow.â
Yan Xiangma waved to Li Muyang before turning towards the black carriage that was parked outside.
Yan Xiangma got into the carriage, put down the thick curtains, and said to Cui Xiaoxin who was sat in the carriage. âNot going down to say hello?â
âMy thoughts are there, I am already very satisfied to see that he is fine.â Cui Xiaoxin explained.
âI really donât know what you women are thinking.â Yan Xiangma sighed. âEvery day you do everything you can to leave the house, and every day you tell me to bring you to the Lu residence to visit. We finally could see him today but you donât want to get out of the carriageââWhat is the significance of putting so much effort to come here?â
Cui Xiaoxin shook her head. âI didnât think there to be any significance. Also what can we do? I canât change his fate, nor can I change my destiny. If I tell him my troubles that will only add to his worries.â
âYou always think for him first.â Yan Xiangma coldly curled his lips. âThen you and that Song familyâs little treeââreally are going to be together?â
âWhat do you think?â
âHeyâââ Yan Xiangma chuckled awkwardly. âMost likely will. Itâs not just about you two, itâs about the two families. Back then my motherâ-never mind, letâs not talk about my Mother. Just by yourself, there is no way you can disagree to the family arrangement.â
âThe result that everyone knows.â Cui Xiaoxin muttered emotionally.
âLi Muyang that kid is a good guy, but he really does not match up to you. Your identity and background is very different from him. We could ignore this, but the Cui family will care. Besides, he killed Cui Zhaoren, and with that, you two already have no hope of being together at allââbut it doesnât mean there is no significance in seeing him. Tomorrow he will take on the Mu Dingyi of Still water on the Sword God Square. He was already a Withering Glory master more than 20 years ago. Whether he can escape alive from his sword is still an unknown.â
âSo the only thing we can do for him right nowââis to pray that he survives.â