Chapter 3, The Gambling God Su Li (3)
Lu Fan's heart trembled suddenly, wanting to speak but hesitating. His surprise grew even greater; how could he suddenly bring up events from many years ago? Did he know the inside story? But that didn't make sense. This gambling god had only recently emerged, so how could he possibly know about events from years past?
Lu Fan, feeling anxious, gritted his teeth and immediately said, "If Grandfather Gambling God does not believe me, I, Lu Fan, will swear an oath by severing my finger today." He promptly took out a shiny little knife from his pocket, seemingly intent on cutting off a segment of his pinky finger.
Since she was feeling unwell, Su Li simply decided not to scout the Jinyu Inn. After wandering around the market and buying a bottle of soy sauce, she staggered and wobbled towards the bamboo raft she had arrived on, finally collapsing slowly onto the raft... After a while, she fell into a deep slumber...
Su Li took a deep breath, rewrapped the bandage, and exhaled heavily, as if he had just run 1,000 meters. "As long as you are not asking to borrow money, anything else is fine to discuss."
Ah! Su Li coughed violently, having no choice but to bend down. The cost of using this magic eye has come again. Su Li, in the depths of pain, managed to rewrap the bandage over his eyes with great difficulty. His pale face gradually returned to normal, and the color began to return to his ashen lips. Passersby, seeing his strange and painful expression, were slightly surprised, but upon noticing that he was enduring the pain and returning to his usual self, they did not pay him any further attention
Upon realizing this, Lu Fan felt a pang of guilt in his heart, his nose tinged with bitterness. However, being older, it felt awkward for a grown man to cry, so he forced himself to hold back the tears. As he inadvertently looked up, he unexpectedly met Su Li's gaze. His heart suddenly trembled; what kind of gaze was this? It seemed empty yet somehow substantial, as if it could see through all of him. In a daze, it felt like an invisible sharp arrow, aiming to pin Lu Fan in mid-air.
Since he crossed over to the Great Qi dynasty, his body has not undergone any significant changes; however, his eyes have gained the ability to see through people's hearts, and each time he uses this ability, he may face a certain degree of backlash
Suddenly, Su Li half-covered his right eye, his tone flat, and he took the initiative to ask, "So your wife's death is related to you, huh"
Lu Fan's heart was like being cut by knives as he recalled the events of that year, his expression filled with extraordinary pain. He bitterly said: "I do not know how the gambling god came to know about the events of that year, but if we are to discuss it, it was not that I, Lu, was heartless and unwilling to buy her medicine or seek a doctor. Rather, it was a time of chaos and war, with urgent situations at the borders, and taxes becoming increasingly burdensome. My family was so impoverished that we could barely make ends meet. My wife, by nature, was not one to contend for anything, and she understood the ways of fate and timing. Therefore, she simply allowed her illness to take its course. Even on the day of our parting, she left with a smile. Even so, reflecting on it now, I, Lu, still feel an immense sense of guilt regarding this matter."
This is all thanks to the mutated magic eye that Su Li acquired after traveling through time and space; once this eye is used to make eye contact with others, it can see through their thoughts
Gu Yi Lou, with its rooftop of blue stone steps, consists of one step, two steps, and a total of thirteen steps ascending from the bottom. In Buddhist teachings, thirteen signifies the cycle of reincarnation
It turns out that star-chasing was also popular in ancient times. Su Li thought to himself: Now you regard me as the gambling god's grandfather, which makes you think I am educating you. If I were to take off my hat and let you see my carefree and extravagant appearance, what sense of authority would remain
Su Li approached Lu Fan, placing his right hand on his shoulder, and said in a lowered voice: "What did you do when your wife was seriously ill back then? Should I have to tell your daughter about it?" His tone grew heavier, and his expression revealed an undeniable authority.
Father
Su Li chuckled at that moment, "m.hetushu.com. Is the appearance of a big shot, a gambling god, something you can just casually see? Even if you want to take a look, it should at least be worth a hundred taels of silver, right? Don't rush; just wait until you earn a hundred gold pieces as a butcher, and when your little girl comes of age, I will naturally come to pay a visit."
Behind the young master in blue stood two stunning women, one in white and the other in red, complementing each other and creating a picturesque scene. The woman in white had a solemn expression; with one hand holding a sword and the other pressing her fingers to her brow, she spoke with a cold demeanor: "If this person cannot be won over, I shall kill him myself, sparing the young master any trouble."
I. Lu Fan's concerns were precisely articulated, and the pain of past events in her heart had already surpassed her curiosity about Su Li knowing these matters
"Daughter, let's go home, and never come back here again." Lu Fan's old eyes were filled with tears as he took the little girl's hand. The little girl, taken by surprise, allowed him to lead her. The habits of a gambler that had persisted for many years changed in just one day; this transformation seemed rather swift.
This old gambling master, despite his age, still shows no shame. Lu Fan changed his expression, nodded emphatically, and readily agreed.
What are you talking about? I don't understand what you mean!" Seeing her daughter cast a puzzled glance at her, Lu Fan feigned calmness and said
As Su Li walked for a while, feeling a sense of freedom in his heart, he was just about to head to the Jinyu Inn to scout the place when suddenly he heard a sharp "Ah!" A piercing pain struck his right eye, and in an instant, everything went dark before he was about to fall to the ground
The woman in red slowly emerged from the shadows, yet the silver needle in her hand remained firmly gripped. With a charming smile, she said: "It is certainly not difficult to win this person over. If we cannot win him over, without you saying a word, Lian'er will naturally take care of the... assassination against him."
Su Li gazed at this scene, offering a faint smile as if it were a common occurrence. That said, this could be a matter of accumulating virtue. Although it remains uncertain how much composure Lu Fan will possess afterward, it is of no consequence. After all, I am not engaged in charitable endeavors; acting as a hero is merely incidental. Overthinking it only leads to headaches, so let him determine his own fate. What truly concerns me is the appointment at the Golden Jade Inn tomorrow. I am not engaged in charitable endeavors; acting as a hero is merely incidental. Overthinking it only leads to headaches, so let him determine his own fate. What truly concerns me is the appointment at the Golden Jade Inn tomorrow.
Lu Fan said with a苦 face: "My friend ... ... "
The body and hair are received from one's parents; what is the necessity of this? Su Li sighed with emotion, one hand intentionally or unintentionally covering her slightly aching right eye
The little girl walked out happily with her father, her small hand swinging high. Observing her demeanor and actions, and noting her light-colored braided pigtails, who would know that she is clearly a young lady of eighteen?
Lu Fan looked at the little girl, feeling a surge of warmth in his heart. He suddenly recalled the years spent honestly working as a butcher. Although it had always been a life of simple meals, the three of them together made for a harmonious family. However, ever since his wife passed away, Lu Fan seemed like a different person. He no longer took care of the home, often managing to eat only one or two meals a day. At times, when creditors pressed him, he would grab his pants and muddle through life, often going hungry for two days at a time.
The little girl murmured, "Nanpeng You... Nanpeng You... What a strange name... A strange person! Truly a strange person!" Watching Su Li's figure slowly fade away, before long, she found herself entranced by the sight...
In the eyes of the little girl, if one word were to describe it, it would be false, too false! Little did she know, as Lu Fan untangled the knot he had hidden deep in his heart, he naturally transformed into a completely different person
Su Li was momentarily taken aback, then burst into hearty laughter and declared, "My surname is Nan, my given name is Pengyou." With that matter settled, he no longer looked back. Su Li raised his cup and took a hearty drink, striding boldly toward the innermost part of the market.
Father! The young girl urgently grasped Lu Fan's arm, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Gambling God Grandpa, if you must cut off a finger, then cut mine instead; my father's hands are still needed for slaughtering pigs." She knew that Lu Fan was deeply addicted to gambling, and if he could learn the highest gambling skills, losing a finger would mean nothing to him.
What a group of unscrupulous friends; in your youth, you dragged others to brothels to show off your power, flaunting your arrogance. As a result, a once respectable family has seen its ancestral wealth squandered in your generation
Lu Fan finally regained his composure, only to find his back drenched in cold sweat, just as he was about to straighten his body
A pain akin to being cut by a knife surged forth, "Has it struck back again?" Su Li tightly covered his right eye, his expression filled with immense suffering
Lu Fanben felt guilty towards his daughter. Now, having his long-held feelings exposed by an outsider, and hearing that call, he felt a pang in his heart and said, "Daughter, I... I am sorry for you." Looking at his daughter's innocent expression, his guilt deepened. After a brief pause, he continued, "Lord Gambling God, I, Lu, would like to ask you for a favor."
The young gentleman in blue stands resolutely against the wind, his gaze seemingly vacant, until it rests upon the distant river surface that resembles a mirror
Lu Fan's heart trembled greatly. How could Su Li possibly know about these matters? "Don't talk nonsense, I didn't harm her, I truly didn't."
In this era, the concept of a "boyfriend" hardly exists, so whenever there is an opportunity to take advantage, Su Li feels compelled to get involved, as it aligns with her belief in the essence of being a "hero".
Lu Fan shook his head and said: "Although I once aspired to become that gambling god and reclaim the capital I lost in the past, after being educated by the gambling god, I deeply understand that I have lost everything. Now, all I wish for is to properly compensate my little girl"
What does the young master think? A person beside him slightly nodded, their face displaying an extraordinary respect.
"What do I have to do with books? So you just give up on yourself, lamenting that people's hearts are no longer as they used to be, and that the world is desolate? So you mix into gambling houses, engaging in the worst of evils, committing the most deceitful acts? So you disregard your own little daughter? From your actions, I cannot sense even the slightest bit of guilt towards your deceased wife or your own daughter!"
Su Li spoke with great enthusiasm, her voice gradually rising. By the last sentence, even the little girl could hear her clearly. For Lu Fan, who had been burdened with pent-up emotions for many years, being struck by the rapid-fire words of a stranger left him feeling weak at the knees. Despite his advanced age, he found himself slumping into the chair, unable to even utter a single question, "How do you know?"
"What a load of nonsense! Look at you, you've even lent the money for your medical expenses to your gambling friend, and he ran off with it. How do you expect to get it back?" Su Li exclaimed angrily
As she gradually walked further away, the little girl seemed to suddenly remember something important. She abruptly turned around and shouted loudly to Su Li, "Gambling God Grandpa! Gambling God Grandpa! My name is Lu Junli! What is your name?"
It is truly pitiful for the little girl following behind her, who, despite having reached the age of eighteen, still wears two red braided pigtails, making her appear to outsiders as nothing more than a small child
He paused slightly and tentatively said: "But I still want to see what the pinnacle of you, as the God of Gamblers, looks like. Since I cannot become a legend myself, at the very least, I want to witness the existence of this legend"
Hmph... Su Li laughed heartily, staring directly into Lu Fan's eyes: "What a good person who hasn't harmed her! Good! You haven't harmed her, but when did you ever save her? She has been bedridden for half a year; when did you ever hire a doctor? When did you ever buy her medicine? You watched her suffer through the torment of illness, burdened with countless ailments, dying like discarded refuse at the bedside. How could you treat your first wife in such a manner?"