A secret passage led outside the palace, and Nan Shiying, dragging Yin Silan, got into a carriage.
"Let's go to Yipin Ju!"
"Yes!"
Xuan Yi didn't ask many questions. Upon receiving the order, he immediately mounted his horse and headed for Yipin Ju.
Upon arriving at Yipin Ju, Nan Shiying dragged Yin Silan out of the carriage.
A waiter from Yipin Ju hurried upstairs, but was stopped at the door by Xiao Wu. In desperation, he could only shout into the room, "Hua Niang, something's happened! That Feng Luan is dragging someone here, saying she wants to enter the Gamble to the Death arena."
Hua Niang pushed open the door, her captivating eyes rolling back in exasperation. She extended her newly manicured nails, admiring them back and forth, and replied lazily and impatiently, "If she wants to go, let her go. What are you shouting about?"
The waiter's mouth was parched from anxiety. He hurriedly explained, "Hua Niang, she's not here to gamble, but to use this place as her execution ground."
"What? She's gone too far!"
Hua Niang's brows shot up, a glint of ferocity flashing in her eyes. She swept her sleeves and strode towards the Gamble to the Death arena. Today, she wanted to see if Feng Luan had grown a bear's heart and a leopard's gall to dare to cause trouble at their Yipin Ju!
Feng Luan dragged a girl into the Gamble to the Death arena. Everyone who heard the news came to watch the spectacle. Had this person finally gone mad again after so many days?
Liu Cheng, holding Wang Qiancheng's arm, hurried towards the Gamble to the Death arena.
Previously, he had been that pitiful small chip, only experiencing the terror of the Gamble to the Death arena but not its fun. Now, hearing that the ferocious Feng Luan was dragging a girl to the Gamble to the Death arena, he wanted to join the fun and see others become chips for a change.
Step by step up the stairs, Nan Shiying yanked Yin Silan's hair, letting Yin Silan's body collide with the hard steps. Those following behind watched, feeling pain all over.
Was this madwoman not the least bit considerate of a delicate beauty?
"Oh, isn't this Young Master Feng Luan? What do you want to gamble with this chip today?" Hua Niang's voice reached Nan Shiying's ears before she did. The voice seemed to carry a hook, its charm enough to make one's heart itch like a cat's claws.
Nan Shiying looked up towards the direction of the voice.
A scantily clad girl elegantly ascended the steps, swaying with each step. Her figure was curvaceous and well-proportioned, with the right curves in the right places, full of flesh yet graceful.
A scent like a vibrant rose emanated from her, a truly impactful beauty.
However, she wore a veil, making it impossible to see her true face beneath.
Nan Shiying raised her eyebrows. Though her tone was questioning, it was quite certain: "Hua Niang?"
"Young Master Feng knows me? Ha, you truly surprise me!" Hua Niang feigned covering her mouth, putting on an expression of utmost honor. Although it seemed a little fake, it didn't evoke any aversion.
Nan Shiying knew Hua Niang and naturally understood why she didn't want to show her true face to the world. But she felt that even if she removed her veil, this charm would be enough to make people fall in love and become infatuated.
"Surprised?" Nan Shiying smiled. "Anyone in the capital who knows the background of Yipin Ju must have heard of your great name, Hua Niang!"
Hua Niang's pupils contracted. She naturally understood the deeper meaning behind Feng Luan's words, but for a moment, she couldn't quite grasp Feng Luan's intention.
Was she threatening her? Or...
Before Hua Niang could figure it out, Nan Shiying continued, "I've come today to borrow the Yipin Ju's Gamble to the Death arena."
Hua Niang looked at Nan Shiying and said, word by word, "In Yipin Ju, there can only be gambling!"
Nan Shiying exclaimed, "Is that so?" then burst into laughter. Before her laughter subsided, she said to Hua Niang, "Why don't you ask your master? What if he's willing to lend me the Gamble to the Death arena?"
*Heh, how could that be!*
If Feng Luan and Ji Jinmo were so close as to wear the same pair of pants, then such a person, it would be considered magnanimous of the master not to try every means to kill her.
"What, you don't believe me?"
If Ji Hong and Ji Jinmo were truly at odds, then of course it would be impossible. But those uncle and nephew were so close they might as well wear the same pair of pants. She didn't believe that the news of her bringing Yin Silan out of the palace hadn't reached Ji Hong's ears. Since he hadn't stopped this, how could he be stingy about lending her the Gamble to the Death arena?
As they were speaking, Xiao Wu handed a slip of paper to Hua Niang, gesturing for her to unfold it. Hua Niang, with her back to the crowd, opened the note. Familiar handwriting leaped off the paper. She looked up at Nan Shiying with a look of surprise, truly unable to comprehend why her master would allow her to run wild in Yipin Ju.
Seeing Hua Niang's expression, Nan Shiying smiled slightly. She grabbed Yin Silan's hair and pulled her up to her chest. Yin Silan's limbs hung unnaturally. Her eyes were pulled taut by her hair, her upper and lower eyelids pressing down on her pupils, making her already furious gaze even more sinister and sharp. Yet, she remained as if mute, not saying a single word from beginning to end.
She dared not anger Nan Shiying again. She wanted to live, she needed to live!
Hua Niang crumpled the paper into a ball and held it in her palm. The corner of her mouth, hidden by the veil, turned up slightly. She bowed to Nan Shiying and then said softly and sweetly, "The Gamble to the Death arena today belongs to you. Use it however you wish."
"Thank you!"
After thanking her, Nan Shiying's gaze swept around the area, finally settling on Liu Cheng. She asked with a smile, "Oh, isn't this Brother Liu? What, didn't you have enough fun last time at the Gamble to the Death arena? Want to try again today?"
"No, I don't. Brother Feng, please don't joke!"
Liu Cheng felt like crying but had no tears. He shrank behind Wang Qiancheng, looking weak, pathetic, and helpless. At this moment, he wanted to slap himself. Why did he have to come to join the fun? Now he'd stirred up trouble!
"If you don't want to, why aren't you crawling away quickly!"
"Alright, understood!"
Liu Cheng pulled Wang Qiancheng, Wang Qiancheng led Qin Mo, and they quickly disappeared from the Gamble to the Death arena.
"What, do you guys want to try too?"
"No, no!"
"Farewell, Brother Feng!"
"Farewell, Divine Doctor Feng!"
Wherever Nan Shiying's gaze fell, everyone turned and fled downwards as if chased by ghosts. In a rush, they nearly caused a stampede. The people who had gathered at the Gamble to the Death arena scattered like birds.
Hua Niang cast a deep glance at Nan Shiying, nodded, and withdrew.
Now, only Nan Shiying and Yin Silan remained on the Gamble to the Death arena and below it.
Nan Shiying lifted Yin Silan and pressed her head down towards the snake pit. The light from the bottom of the snake pit spread upwards, and Yin Silan could clearly see the situation at the bottom.
"Come on, keep fabricating. The snakes in the snake pit are hungry!"
Yin Silan swallowed. She wasn't afraid of snakes, but she was afraid of being surrounded and entwined by so many snakes. Snakes could burrow.