Chapter 39

"What do you mean?" Tiger Third Master glared at Hou Tong, squeezing out these words through his teeth.

Hou Tong chuckled and said, "Tiger Third, don't pretend. Your little affair with Su Xin, who doesn't know about it? Now, he's directly handing money to the gang, clearly challenging you. Can you still sit still?"

"But no matter what, he is still your adopted son. Besides, you were the one who started this. If you use the name of an adoptive father to pressure him, your reputation in the Flying Eagle Gang will be ruined."

"If you give me a sum of money, I'll take care of that kid for you, making sure he behaves. I don't mind being accused of bullying the young, but you, Tiger Third, still have your reputation to consider."

Tiger Third Master was silent for a moment before saying, "A fixed price, 50,000 taels of silver."

"Hehe, deal!" Hou Tong clapped his hands, looking extremely satisfied.

"What do you plan to do?"

Hou Tong swaggered out, "That's none of your business. I'll make sure that kid has a hard time."

Watching Hou Tong leave, Master Li worriedly said, "Will Hou Tong mess things up? He doesn't seem reliable."

Tiger Third Master said sternly, "Don't worry. Hou Tong is just a gambler, but he's not stupid. If he dares to come to me with conditions, he must have his own plans. A gambler with poor skills, weak strength, and stupidity couldn't have held the position of a major leader for so long."

Seeing Tiger Third Master's certainty, Master Li didn't say anything more, but a hint of something indescribable flickered in his eyes.

At this time, in the Happy Forest hall, Su Xin had handed everything over to Huang Bingcheng and returned home to seclude himself.

After the battle with Luo Zhen, he gained a lot of experience, and his cultivation speed even increased. In just two days, he had broken through five acupoints, now having opened fifty-one acupoints, making the middle stage of the Later Heaven realm within reach.

After breaking through five acupoints in a row, Su Xin didn't continue his seclusion but instead called Li Hua to spar with him.

"How is your Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique?" Su Xin noticed that Li Hua had replaced his twin short swords with a long sword, indicating that he had at least reached the beginner level in the Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique.

After practicing the Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique, Li Hua seemed more reserved, no longer exuding the cold aura he used to.

But precisely because of this, it proved that Li Hua was much stronger than before. A reserved and unassuming person was often more terrifying.

"This sword technique is simple but bizarre and ruthless, almost pushing the limits of evil sword techniques. I've only just entered the beginner level after a few days, but I always feel like something is missing from this technique," Li Hua said.

Hearing Li Hua's response, Su Xin was somewhat surprised. The Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique was a fragment of the *Kuihua Manual*, and Li Hua could see this, proving his talent in martial arts was quite good.

"You're right. This technique is derived from an extremely powerful skill. Come, let's try a few moves." Su Xin was very curious about the Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique.

Li Hua nodded, drew his long sword, and his figure moved like a ghost, swiftly appearing in front of Su Xin in an instant!

The fierce sword light made it impossible to discern where the sword was coming from, truly bizarre.

But at that moment, Su Xin flicked his finger, and with a "zing," Li Hua's sword was deflected.

Changing his stance again, Li Hua instantly appeared behind Su Xin, but Su Xin turned and extended his finger, deflecting Li Hua's sword once more.

Putting away his sword, Li Hua shook his head and said, "My sword is still too slow, and my strength is too weak. I can't even force you to draw your sword."

Shaking his slightly numb fingers, Su Xin said, "I've opened over fifty acupoints, making my strength much greater than yours. Don't worry about this. Cultivating internal skills must be done step by step. You will eventually reach this level."

"Also, your sword isn't slow; it's just that I move faster."

"The Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique is a sword technique, but its most important aspect is its ghost-like movement. As long as your speed is faster than your opponent's, you can prevent them from even drawing their sword."

Su Xin could deflect Li Hua's sword with his finger because his speed was faster than Li Hua's.

Jing Wu Ming's fast sword and the Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique both emphasize speed, but one focuses on movement speed, while the other focuses on the speed of the sword.

Seeing Li Hua's practice of the Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique, Su Xin gained a general understanding of this martial art.

Derived from the *Kuihua Manual*, the essence of the Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique is one word: fast.

The Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique is primarily fast, making it impossible for opponents to see any weaknesses or have a chance to counterattack. Or it is so fast that even if the opponent sees a weakness, they don't have time to react, as the weakness disappears instantly.

To counter the Evil-Dispelling Sword Technique, either your internal skills must completely overwhelm the opponent, or, like Su Xin, your speed must be faster than the opponent's.

While Li Hua and Su Xin were sparring, Huang Bingcheng suddenly came to report, "Boss, something's happened. The owner of Longqing Gambling House, Mr. Sun, is waiting outside."

"Longqing Gambling House?" Su Xin thought for a moment, remembering the Longqing Gambling House.

After he had crippled the original owner of Shunde Gambling House, Mr. Sun of Longqing Gambling House had taken the opportunity to rise to power, becoming the largest gambling house in Happy Forest, and he was a smart man.

"Old Huang, what's going on?" Su Xin asked.

Huang Bingcheng looked worried and said, "Mr. Sun says someone is causing trouble in his gambling house, losing hundreds of thousands of taels but refusing to pay."

"Who is causing trouble?"

Seeing Huang Bingcheng's expression, Su Xin knew this person was not easy to deal with; otherwise, Huang Bingcheng could have handled it himself without disturbing him.

"One of the major leaders, Hou Tong."

"Hou Tong? Why is he in Happy Forest?" Su Xin frowned.

Su Xin had already asked Huang Bingcheng to investigate the upper echelons of the Flying Eagle Gang, and he remembered the gambler Hou Tong.

However, Hou Tong usually only caused trouble in his own territory. Why did he come to Happy Forest today?

"Let's go and see." Su Xin and Huang Bingcheng walked out of the hall, with Li Hua silently following behind.

Outside the hall, as soon as Mr. Sun saw Su Xin, he immediately began to complain, "Boss Su, if Hou Tong keeps this up, my Longqing Gambling House will go bankrupt. It's bad enough that he doesn't pay when he loses, but when he wins, he gives the money to his subordinates. When he loses, he demands credit. This is clearly bullying!"

"Enough, stop whining. Let's go and see." Su Xin scolded.

Mr. Sun followed Su Xin, his head lowered. When he came to Su Xin, he didn't have much hope.

Hou Tong was an old-timer in the Flying Eagle Gang, one of the thirteen major leaders, while Su Xin, despite his rising fame, was still just a minor leader.

Although Su Xin had promised to protect them after collecting the protection money, would this promise still hold up against a major leader of the Flying Eagle Gang?

At this time, in the Longqing Gambling House, all the gamblers had been driven away by Hou Tong and his men. The large gambling house was empty except for Hou Tong, who was rolling the dice with the house.

He rolled, and the house guessed, a simple game of big or small. Even with bad luck, Hou Tong could win two or three out of ten times.

Each time he won, he threw the silver to his subordinates, and when he lost, he demanded credit from the house.

"Five, five, four! Fourteen, big! Hahaha! I won again!"

Hou Tong laughed and threw down the dice cup, "Stop stalling, bring the money over quickly."

"Boss Hou, you've already won 30,000 taels. We've lost all our cash flow to you. We really don't have any money left! Why don't we deduct it from the credit you owe?" The house manager was almost in tears, having never seen such bullying.

Hou Tong smiled coldly, "The credit I owe is one thing, and the money I win is another. I'll pay back the credit later, but if you don't give me the money I win, I'll tear down this place!"

"Your arrogance is too much, even Changping Ward can't contain you. Now you're coming to my Happy Forest to tear down my place."

Seeing Hou Tong's attitude, Su Xin knew he was definitely up to no good.

Hou Tong was clearly targeting him, and Mr. Sun's gambling house was just caught in the crossfire.

"Disrespectful!"

Hou Tong's face turned cold, "In terms of status, I am of the same generation as your adoptive father, Tiger Third. In terms of position, I am a major leader, and you are just a minor leader. You don't even show respect when you see me. Do you still respect your adoptive father and the Flying Eagle Gang?"

Hou Tong's tone was aggressive, but Su Xin remained expressionless, "Major Leader Hou, the hierarchy isn't determined by you. Stop beating around the bush. What do you really want?"

Seeing Su Xin's calmness, Hou Tong was surprised.

According to his understanding, Su Xin was a proud young man who had dared to cripple Tiger Third's confidant, Tang Tai, over a disagreement.

Now, Su Xin's calmness made Hou Tong feel something was off.

"I'm here to gamble, but the house won't pay me when I win. This is your territory, Su Xin. Why don't you pay the money?"

"How much?" Su Xin's expression remained calm.

"100,000 taels!" Hou Tong held up one finger.

The house manager immediately shouted, "How can it be 100,000 taels? The highest stake for a dice game is only 1,000 taels!"

"I said 100,000 taels, so it's 100,000 taels! Do you have the right to speak here? Slap him!"

Hou Tong coldly snorted, and one of his subordinates immediately dragged the house manager over, slapping him until his mouth bled.

"Well, 100,000 taels. Will you pay or not?" Hou Tong sat in the chair, looking fearless.

PS: Chapters 39 and 40 were duplicated. I apologize to everyone. They have been corrected now.

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