“A blind man with such a big mouth.”
“This is a three-million-tael Slayer, the gambling den’s prized bet. His jailers have made a fortune off him.”
“Haven’t you heard of his reputation? Ten years without a single defeat!”
“Hahaha, those who lost are all dead, aren’t they?”
“Good point.”
“But can this blind man really win? He looks so weak you could crush him with one hand.”
He Chengyuan appeared frail and feeble, his dirty plain robe hanging loosely on his frame. Thick, rusted chains shackled his nearly skeletal wrists. He wasn’t even half the size of a burly man. By sheer physical comparison, he seemed to have no chance of winning. Yet, given his formidable reputation, it was understandable why so many were betting on him.
“In terms of killing-field experience, he surpasses others. What kind of opponent hasn’t he faced?”
“True, but his opponent shouldn’t be underestimated either. That man across from him used to be an executioner, skilled in torture tools. He knows the most painful pressure points and especially loves using underhanded tricks—severing tendons in limbs to render opponents helpless, then hacking off their heads piece by piece while they’re still alive. Who knows who he offended to end up sold to the gambling den for six years.”
A gambler muttered, “I also heard he has some unclear ties to that Heretical Sect.”
“If he really had connections, would they have sold him here?”
“There must be something to it. Otherwise, why would all his arranged opponents be weaker than him?”
“Isn’t it because he’s brutally effective? How many people in the past couldn’t endure his torture and confessed under duress? I’m betting on the executioner to win. You’d better watch out for your undefeated blind man—I say he’s just another prey for the executioner to toy with.”
As the group discussed the killing match, the gambler’s words made those planning to follow the crowd and bet on He Chengyuan hesitate.
Bets could only be placed on one side. These people were fascinated by the mismatched fight—they wanted to see He Chengyuan win, but also to witness how he might lose. Perhaps, without risking their own interests, they secretly hoped to see this blind man tortured, limbs broken, reduced to a cripple after this battle, clinging to life with his last breath in a hollow victory.
“I heard the opponent he faced yesterday used a dirty trick, blinding his eyes with poison.”
“Looks like yesterday’s killing match was thrilling too.”
“Of course! With blood-filled eyes, he killed his opponent at the last moment.”
“The gambling den doesn’t restrict weapons. Getting blinded was his own carelessness—who can he blame? Surviving was just luck. Who knows if his luck will hold today.”
“He always relied on a single blade to face enemies. Now that he’s blind… he’s probably just a plaything for the executioner, doomed to a gruesome death. I think this is his final killing match.”
Three million taels were wagered on He Chengyuan’s life.
The single copper coin everyone looked down upon was no different.
Shen Zhili kept a close watch on the official presiding over the killing match. After He Chengyuan tossed the copper coin, the official hurried to the second floor, likely to seek instructions from the mastermind behind the scenes.
A nearby gambler, noticing her dazed expression, asked, “Have you decided yet? Who are you betting on? Hurry and place your bet before the official announces the start of the match.”
Shen Zhili turned her gaze and said, “Me? I’m betting on the blind man.”
During the official’s absence, some gamblers switched sides to the executioner, raising the bet from one hundred thousand taels to two hundred thousand.
Suddenly! A shout erupted from the crowd: “Kill him!!”
The iron chains clanked loudly in response.
The official had yet to reappear, but the executioner’s jailer had already issued the kill order.
The guard snapped angrily, "A blind runt! Who does he think he's looking down on?! Kill him!"
"The fight hasn't even been officially announced, and he's already attacking?"
"What kind of place is this? A death match—who cares about rules?"
"Hey, wait! I haven't placed my bet yet!"
A few voices of protest emerged from the crowd, but they were quickly drowned out by excited clamor.
The bloodstained cleaver swung toward He Chengyuan. Though blind, He Chengyuan had sharp ears and detected the direction of the blade, dodging agilely.
To He Chengyuan, his burly opponent was like an immovable mountain. The force of this swing left a terrifying crack on the ground.
Shen Zhili felt a hint of confusion. His hands and feet were bound by iron chains, yet he had the ability to evade. Why didn't he seize the chance to break free from the restraints?
Soon, she got her answer. After dodging, He Chengyuan didn't distance himself. Instead, he wrapped the chains around the executioner's arm, flipped over, and with a swift motion, swung the long chain to loop it around the executioner's neck.
He didn't need to borrow a blade to break free easily. And then everyone realized: one end of the chain was coiled around the executioner's neck, while the other end was fastened to the executioner's wrist holding the cleaver.
Everything happened extremely fast, almost in the blink of an eye. He Chengyuan had already gained the upper hand.
"As expected of the treasure the gambling house bet on! If that blade goes into his neck, this match is decided!"
The crowd waited for He Chengyuan's blade to pierce the executioner's neck, but overlooked one detail: it was a rusty iron chain. To a burly man capable of pulling ten oxen, it was brittle like rotten wood. Within two seconds, the thick chain snapped.
Instantly, He Chengyuan shifted his blade, sweeping the tip past the executioner's eyes. Even if the executioner dodged promptly, he still lost one eye.
"Ahhhhh!!! Little bastard!!"
He Chengyuan's face stained with blood: "Evened out."
Shen Zhili looked up and saw the arena official had already returned to the crowd, silent about this abruptly started gamble.
"Little bastard! Still laughing now?!"
The battle seemed to reverse again. She abruptly turned her head. The executioner's face was covered in blood, his triumphant smile horrifying. He seized He Chengyuan's vulnerable moment, thrusting two fingers into his injured leg, then taking advantage of his unpreparedness, grabbed the chain between his legs and flung him out. With a "thud," He Chengyuan crashed against the iron cage.
"!!!"
He Chengyuan could predict his opponent's moves. How could he suddenly fall unconscious?
A narrow white light, a faint silver flash—it was a Silver Needle.
A hidden weapon!
He Chengyuan coughed up blood, the blood from his foot flowing like a small stream on the ground. As he shifted slightly, another tiny needle flew toward him. When it reached his eyes, he raised a finger and caught it steadily.
Shen Zhili saw clearly: that hidden weapon came from the second floor!
The system broadcast: 「He Chengyuan's fate turning point—Heretical Sect.」
Heretical Sect! She had to compete with the Heretical Sect for him?!
The two on the Fighting Arena fought back and forth. He Chengyuan not only had to watch for the executioner's killing moves but also guard against hidden weapons shooting down from the second floor.
Then, the poison in his body began to act. His head dizzy, the chaotic cheers made him lose judgment, briefly exposing a flaw. The executioner struck his painful spot. In a hurried moment of evasion, his blade slipped from his hand, clattering to the ground.
At the same moment, the executioner raised his blade and swung it down vertically. He Chengyuan staggered backward several feet. Another hidden weapon flew toward his eyes. He accurately caught it, blocking it before his face, using it as a weapon. As the opponent closed in again, he turned his hand and stabbed the needle into the executioner’s palm, then pulled upward, successfully diverting the opponent’s attention.
However, the executioner seized the opportunity to pick up the Blade Knife, broke the needle embedded in his arm, and thrust the blade snatched from the ground into He Chengyuan’s waist. Just as he was about to raise the knife to chop at He Chengyuan’s head, a sudden hot stream sprayed from his neck.
The gamblers around, watching the intense battle, had been noisy but suddenly held their breath.
“Thud!”
A loud sound echoed. The executioner clutched his neck and abruptly collapsed to the ground. What killed him was that inconspicuous copper coin.
He Chengyuan pinched the blood-stained coin between his fingers, his messy hair stained with blood clinging to his cheeks. He turned his gaze and “fixed” it on the second-floor direction. Then, he suddenly crouched down, pressed the coin into the executioner’s unblind eye, blood splattering. He reclaimed the blade and, amid the executioner’s terror, severed his last breath.
“The outcome is decided!”
“We won the bet! We won the bet!”
The gamblers jumped and leaped, even unable to conceal their excitement, wildly pounding on the iron cage.
Suddenly, a voice different from the crowd emerged. It was unclear who intentionally did it, misleading the excited and feverish gamblers.
“End his life! End his life!”
In an instant, the entire gambling hall shouted these words.
He Chengyuan raised his head, pointing the blade toward the shadows.
“Buy my life.”
“You think you’re worthy?”
On the second floor, the bead curtain swayed, and Silver Needles flew out. A cold glint flashed past the blood-stained bandage covering his eye. The bandage had loosened during the fight and now happened to slip halfway off. A blood-red eye lifted, fixed on the flying needles. His wrist turned, carrying the blade to intercept them.
“Ha ha ha ha ha ha, good, good! Truly worthy of being a Slayer from You Shui City!”
The person in the shadows did not easily reveal themselves, clapping their hands while speaking words of appreciation. Moments later, pale fingers lifted the bead curtain. “Not wasted, I bet five hundred thousand taels!”
The silent arena official glanced toward another direction on the second floor, his gaze slightly darkening, and spoke: “The explicit rule of this gambling hall is that gamblers must leave the hall safely.”
“Look, He-nu bought his own life with one coin—he’s also a gambler.”
“If this rule is broken, how can I continue my business?”
The bead curtain was violently flung aside. That person grew furious, stepping into the open. A twisted, ferocious evil beast mask appeared. “What do you mean! Going back on your word!”
The arena official chuckled. “How have I gone back on my word? Honored guest, you wear a mask covering your face—how could I recognize you?”
“You!”
The owner of the evil beast mask had quite a temper, tearing off the bead curtain with one hand, shattering it into pieces on the ground.
The arena official remained unperturbed. “Though I don’t recognize you, this gambling hall recognizes money.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Unbeatable General, young and with boundless future prospects, is both a Slayer of this arena and a gambler in this round. Naturally, he must leave the gambling hall safely.” The arena official spoke with hidden implications, glancing at He Chengyuan standing in the Fighting Arena.
He Chengyuan seemed to have anticipated this dispute. Calm and composed, he secured the blood-stained eye bandage, tightened his grip on the blade, as if preparing for the next deadly battle.
The owner of the evil beast mask angrily slapped the railing with both hands, pointing at the arena official and cursing: “What are you! A dog! Call your master to talk with me!”
The arena official bowed slightly with clasped hands. “Only I am responsible for this gambling hall. There is no master behind me.”
Shen Zhili watched the two men locked in a tense debate, suspecting that the one wearing the evil beast mask was likely from the Heretical Sect. Years ago, when He Chengyuan was on the brink of death and taken away, it was in the Heretical Sect that he endured unimaginable torture, which left half his face disfigured. Since then, he had become sinister, deranged, and addicted to the thrill of bloodshed.
This overseer appeared to abide by the rules, but in truth, he was no good either. His underlying implication was clearly an attempt to extort more money.
Pay up, and the person would be released—but whatever happened to them outside the gambling den was no longer the establishment’s concern.
But was it really that simple? Even if He Chengyuan could fight his way out of here, he wouldn’t be able to avoid a relentless pursuit.
Shen Zhili furrowed her brows tightly. Beside her, Ningxiang hunched her shoulders, anxiously scanning their surroundings as she clutched her mistress’s sleeve, her expression panicked. “Miss, we should leave quickly.”
System: 「Congratulations, Host, for unlocking a mission. Please take the target character away before the countdown ends, or 10 affection points will be deducted.」
「If affection points fall to -300, growth obstacles will increase!」
「Countdown: 30 minutes! Begin!」
Shen Zhili: “What?!”
This is utterly ridiculous.
The masked man’s face darkened as he glared at the overseer. “Since you have no intention of honoring the agreement, why not change the rules? What if a gambler dies in an internal fight?”
“Wait!!! I’ll buy his life!”
Shen Zhili had no idea where her courage came from, but she shouted it out, drowning out all other noise.
Her heart pounded nervously like a drum.
He Chengyuan was taken aback, then turned toward the source of the voice. Amid the bloody haze, he couldn’t make out her figure, but this voice—using volume to mask its fearful tremble—felt somewhat familiar. Wasn’t it the same person from his past life who had showered him with sweet words, claimed to love him, and ultimately tried to kill him?
He had been too focused on the Heretical Sect’s direction earlier to realize she was in the same area!
The masked man sneered coldly. “Buy his life? Who are you?”
All eyes turned toward her. Shen Zhili clenched her dress tightly.
“Who I am is none of your business! I’m taking him with me!”
The masked man: “Interesting. How much are you offering?!”
Ningxiang tugged desperately at her mistress’s sleeve, whispering, “Miss, don’t get involved! We haven’t disguised our identities. These are all desperate outlaws—you’ll make enemies!”
Though flustered inside, Shen Zhili maintained a stern expression, her demeanor unwavering. She gritted her teeth and replied softly, “I know, but they don’t recognize us, do they? Look at how skilled that Slayer is. If we buy him, we won’t have to worry about our safety in the future.”
After all, the current He Chengyuan didn’t know her. If she took him away, she’d be his savior—protecting her would be the least he could do.
She whispered, “Ningxiang, how much… do we have in total? We’ll need to keep the carriage… otherwise, we won’t be able to escape.”
Ningxiang: “If we empty everything… it’s less than a thousand taels. Eight hundred and eighty-eight taels.”
“What?!”
“The master was afraid you’d run away. All those gold and jewels may look impressive, but… they were specially made hollow.”
“What?!”
This is utterly infuriating!
This was a disaster. Before entering the gambling den, ordinary gamblers had to deposit all their assets to prevent them from fleeing—excess would be refunded, but a shortfall could cost them their lives. In her rush to enter earlier, she had left the arrangements to Ningxiang. Now, she was trapped on the edge of a blade. She couldn’t bid too high, or it would mean certain death.
The masked man urged, "Hey! How much?!"
Eight hundred eighty-eight taels compared to three million taels—not even a fraction!
Shen Zhili straightened her back, gritted her teeth, and declared, "Eight hundred eighty-eight taels!!"
This shout somehow carried the force of eight million eight hundred eighty-eight thousand taels.
The crowd was stunned for a moment, then erupted into a chorus of mockery.
"Hahahaha, only eight hundred taels? Dressed all fancy but poorer than me!"
"That's it? Buying a Slayer's life? This is hilarious!"
The masked man also laughed uproariously, but then his expression shifted, and he immediately announced, "My five hundred thousand taels—whoever kills them gets it!"
"Five hundred thousand taels!"
"That sounds way more real than eight hundred taels!"
"That's five hundred thousand taels! Enough to live in luxury for a lifetime!"
"This… this, I… I don't dare either. How about we team up?"
The gamblers had witnessed He Chengyuan's ruthlessness and didn't dare to act alone, but they could collaborate to split the reward.
Instantly, under the temptation of five hundred thousand taels, no one paid attention to the earlier joke about eight hundred taels.
However, the masked man's goal was simply to create chaos. "And that overseer! Kill him too!"
In an instant, the broken beads transformed into weapons, flying toward He Chengyuan and the overseer, marking the start of the assault.
At that moment, the gambling den boiled over like a pot of porridge, with pushing and chaos everywhere. The masked man had vanished, leaving only his discarded robe and mask on the ground—he must have blended into the crowd.
Driven mad by the enormous reward of five hundred thousand taels, the gamblers on the scene didn't know who had torn off a corner of the iron cage. In an instant, people surged toward He Chengyuan from all directions, attacking him with whatever "weapons" they could grab.
System: "Countdown: 20 minutes! Excessive negative values will result in the Host being Erased at any time!"