Chapter 119
A child?
What child?
Xing Chun heard it too and looked at Mei Liangyu with a strange expression.
Mei Liangyu asked with an unchanged expression: "Boy or girl?"
Nian Qiuyan answered: "A boy. I'll let him talk to you."
A moment later, Mei Liangyu heard the boy's low voice from the other side, humble and urgent: "Brother Mei Mei... please save my mother. My father took money to the gambling house again."
Hearing this, Xing Chun suddenly made a sound of understanding and gave Mei Liangyu a meaningful look: "That kid from last time?"
Mei Liangyu listened expressionlessly and cut off the voice transmission.
Xing Chun finished the last two spoonfuls of rice in his bowl and looked up at Mei Liangyu: "If his father won't change and keeps taking money to gamble, then he comes to find you again, creating this cycle, that's not a solution."
Mei Liangyu walked to the astrolabe and marked several stars corresponding to known powers while saying: "Then what should we do? Have the gambling house chop off his hands?"
Xing Chun said: "Gambling addicts will still gamble without hands. He'll first find a way to get money for prosthetic hands, then go back to gambling."
"Find the pattern first and help me figure out what heavenly mechanism art this is." Mei Liangyu said: "I'm going to the Outer City."
Xing Chun had eaten his fill and waved his hand to indicate he could go, staying behind to continue observing.
On his way there, Mei Liangyu received an inquiry from Nian Qiuyan and gave him a brief explanation:
This child was named Little Earth and lived on East Island in the Outer City. His family once had abundant savings, but since his father became obsessed with gambling houses, the family's money became insufficient.
Land deeds, house deeds, gold and silver jewelry, everything that could be sold was sold. The only thing left was selling his wife and children. Little Earth's mother became so upset that her health deteriorated and she collapsed bedridden, unable to get up.
Nian Qiuyan looked at the boy before him, thin as a bamboo pole. He appeared no more than seven years old, anxious and frightened, head lowered, hands nervously clutching at his sleeves. His clothes were covered with patches of various sizes.
Taiyi was said to be the seventh kingdom of Xuangu Continent. Besides having comparable territory, it was also because the people living here were no different from those in the six outer kingdoms.
There were still those born into wealth and those born into poverty.
Nian Qiuyan withdrew his gaze and replied: "Where did you meet this poor little one?"
Mei Liangyu: "He used to be a carrier pigeon for the Cloud Tiger Gang on East Island."
So-called carrier pigeons were errand runners who delivered messages for gang members.
The Cloud Tiger Gang had specifically trained a group of children who, with their innocent appearance, could lower others' guard and avoid suspicion, making their work easier.
Nian Qiuyan replied: "Didn't the Cloud Tiger Gang disappear?"
The Outer City of Taiyi was divided into nine islands, centered around Taiyi Academy. The area expanding outward from the academy's center was also the most prosperous and lively part of Taiyi.
People living on Taiyi's nine islands all desperately wanted to climb their way into the academy's outer city.
The Cloud Tiger Gang was a somewhat famous gang on East Island, but when they came to Taiyi's Outer City, they were country bumpkins entering the city, nothing at all. After clashing head-on with the major gangs of the academy's outer city, they were completely wiped out.
Mei Liangyu replied: "The Cloud Tiger Gang is gone, so his source of income was cut off too. If it weren't for his father taking their life-saving money to gamble, he wouldn't have run from East Island to find me."
Nian Qiuyan comforted the nervous boy, taking out a bulging money pouch from his sleeve and giving it to him: "The money your father took can't be recovered quickly. If your mother is seriously ill, take this money for emergencies first."
Little Earth looked up in surprise. The small child, having worked for years, was not only thin but also had darkened skin from sun exposure, which made his bright black and white eyes stand out.
He hesitated, not daring to accept it.
Nian Qiuyan's smiling face was very gentle, like a spring breeze. He was always mild and courteous, seeming to have no temper and never getting angry.
When Mei Liangyu arrived, seeing the two in a standoff, he raised an eyebrow slightly.
It was already dusk, with a moderate number of people coming and going. Nian Qiuyan and Little Earth by the roadside outside the academy gate didn't attract much attention.
Little Earth anxiously stepped beside Mei Liangyu when he saw him arrive. Mei Liangyu saw the money pouch in Nian Qiuyan's hand and asked: "What's this for?"
"Going to the Outer City to find his father for money would take too much time. By the time we find him, he might have lost everything. Where would the money come from?" Nian Qiuyan said: "You can't expect to go win it back again, can you?"
Mei Liangyu stood in the evening light and shadows, looking down at Little Earth: "If he wants to give it to you, take it."
Only then did Little Earth extend his hands, his small dark hands cupped with palms up, and bowed to Nian Qiuyan: "Thank you, big brother."
Nian Qiuyan placed the money pouch in his palm and smiled: "Hurry home now."
The child's eyes filled with tears. He bowed to thank Mei Liangyu as well, held the money pouch tightly to his chest, and ran madly toward home.
Mei Liangyu was about to move forward when Nian Qiuyan reached out to stop him: "Where are you going?"
"To the Outer City to find his father." Mei Liangyu looked back at him.
Nian Qiuyan sighed: "Helping with this once is enough. If you help a second or third time, are you planning to raise this child? Going to find his father in the Outer City won't help. If you solve it by killing, you'll have to go to Mechanism Island again, and Mechanism Island probably doesn't welcome you now."
Mei Liangyu said irritably: "You gave him money, so he'll come a second time, a third time."
Nian Qiuyan spread his hands: "Problems that can be solved with money are actually good problems."
Mei Liangyu countered: "Where do you get so much money to support this child and his seriously ill mother?"
After thinking for a moment, Nian Qiuyan flicked his sleeve: "Never mind. Let's still go find his father and make his father take responsibility."
Then he asked: "Do you know where his father is? Should I calculate it?"
"No need. I saw him last time and know where he'll go." Mei Liangyu stepped forward. This time Nian Qiuyan didn't stop him and walked along with him.
Nian Qiuyan asked: "Where?"
Mei Liangyu said: "Pearl House."
The gambling den in Nangong Tavern. Last time while waiting for Yu Sui, he had stood in the side alley and seen Little Earth's father coming out of the gambling den.
"Several gangs in the Outer City have been fighting recently, causing bloodshed. Many gambling houses and taverns have closed to avoid trouble. By the time we reach the Outer City, it'll be night. We should find the person quickly and get back."
Nian Qiuyan half-closed his eyes, glancing at the golden twilight on the horizon, sighing softly: "I heard the new leader of the Sky Crane Gang has a mortal grudge against you. You must not run into him."
Mei Liangyu said coldly: "If you say that, we're sure to run into him."
Nian Qiuyan laughed: "I'm not from the School of Names. I'm not that accurate."
Mei Liangyu snorted coldly: "You're more accurate than the School of Names' word spirits."
Nian Qiuyan walked leisurely beside him, asking with a smile: "I've noticed you always have some tangled relationships with the Outer City gangs. Mei Mei, how old were you when you joined gangs?"
"Six years ago, I suppose. Back then I wanted to leave Taiyi and had an argument with Master. I told him that if he wouldn't let me leave Taiyi, I wouldn't obediently stay at the academy either, so I went to wander the Outer City." Mei Liangyu spoke of the past casually as they headed toward the Outer City together.
......
The sky gradually darkened, and lights began to glow throughout the Outer City. Bright lamps lit up one by one, making even the dark night sky reflect some brightness.
The streets were already bustling with people, and the taverns were even more boisterous. The sounds of conversation and laughter could be faintly heard even from outside.
On the wide imperial road, carriages raced back and forth, some driven by people and others by mechanical wooden horses.
People arriving by carriage entered through the taverns' front doors, while those being secretive entered through side doors in the alleys, going to Pearl House on the second floor. The lit doorway was already crowded with silhouettes.
This Xide Tavern was a Nangong family property and also their largest business location. The two-story aerial corridor beside and above the tavern housed other shops selling clothes, fabrics, tea, and fruits.
This wasn't Mei Liangyu's first visit. The staff recognized him and knew he was their young lady's Senior Brother. Although Blackbeard wasn't here today, these staff members were tactful, greeting Mei Liangyu with smiling faces and respectfully asking what he needed.
Nian Qiuyan observed the obsequious smiles of the staff in this magnificent tavern. Walking beside Mei Liangyu, he lowered his voice: "You look like the Young Master here."
Mei Liangyu also lowered his voice in reply: "This is my Junior Sister's family's tavern."
Nian Qiuyan understood and nodded: "No wonder. You'd better restrain yourself later. Don't smash up the Nangong family's tavern and offend your Junior Sister in the process."
The manager in charge of Pearl House greeted them at the entrance, his slightly plump face full of kind smiles: "Young Master Mei, are you bringing a friend to play today?"
"Looking for someone." Mei Liangyu stood at Pearl House's entrance. His peripheral vision could already sweep over the people seated at table after table inside.
Some gambling tables were very lively, while others were completely quiet.
The crowd was considerable, making it difficult to find someone.
The tables had either Tianjiu cards or bone tiles, with at least four people per table. Pearl House opened two unlimited betting communal tables daily, which had the most people and were the noisiest.
The gambling methods displayed on the tables rotated daily. Today was bone tiles, tomorrow would be Tianjiu cards, and in another day or two, it might be betting on fighting beasts, crickets, scorpions, and so on.
Any gambling game that existed in this world could be played here.
During his wandering days on the Outer City's nine islands, Mei Liangyu particularly hated two types of people: gambling addicts and orchid corpses.
The former gambled with bloodshot eyes, never repenting, while the latter bought and sold poison. Both harmed others and themselves.
He casually scanned the men and women in the main hall and heard the Pearl House manager say: "Do you need our help?"
Mei Liangyu said: "We'll find them ourselves. We'll leave once we find them, don't mind us."
The Pearl House manager watched the two enter. Hearing this, he just had someone keep an eye on them and didn't interfere further, returning to watch several abnormal gambling tables.
Blackbeard had gone to the neighboring street today to attend the birthday banquet of the Taixu Hall Master.
During this period, the Sky Crane Gang had internal strife and a new leader took over, the Ten Mountain Faction and Dragon Martial Gang were fighting over territory and commercial buildings, the old man on Star Moon Island was dying and choosing an heir, and the chosen heir had a grudge against the Flame Separation Faction's boss.
The Taixu Hall Master, using his birthday banquet as an excuse, gathered all the prominent gangs and forces from the academy's outer city, giving everyone a chance to sit down and talk properly to prevent disputes from escalating and affecting everyone.
For the past two years, there had been rumors that the Taixu Hall Master would very likely be one of the next 24 Saints of Taiyi, as his cultivation had reached the critical point of ascending to the Thirteenth Realm.
Therefore, everyone still had to show the Taixu Hall Master some face when he stepped forward to mediate.
Blackbeard thought there was nothing for him to do today, just giving the Taixu Hall elder some face and attending to watch other gangs make fools of themselves.
An hour later, Blackbeard regretted not going to find a Technical Arts School practitioner for divination before going out today.
......
Mei Liangyu and Nian Qiuyan entered Pearl House and leisurely mingled with the crowd, watching the men and women in the room change tables, sit down, or get up to leave.
Today's communal table was betting on a parasitic insect.
The jade stone basin on the table emitted a luminous glow, looking delicate and lovely, but the parasitic insects crawling and writhing inside were ugly and bloody.
The house manager called loudly: "Today's communal betting is about to begin. This time, we're betting on love parasites refined by the Agricultural School on the night of the full moon, made from 16 of the most ferocious and evil poisonous insects. These 16 poisonous insects have already been tempered with medicines and strange arts. They only need to determine the winner today to complete the final love parasite!"
Following his announcement, many people left their tables and rushed toward the house manager, while others who didn't move still stopped what they were doing and stretched their necks to watch curiously.
"Introductions to the 16 poisonous insects are on the table. Betting starts now, timed for one quarter-hour." The house manager continued shouting: "Tonight's biggest winner at Pearl House can take this completed love parasite away!"
The long table held transparent small jars containing the 16 poisonous insects. School of Names Nine Schools Arts: Animation made the table surface glow slightly, and introductions about these poisonous insects appeared before each transparent jar, along with their appearance when fighting.
The gambling house guards were all Nine Schools practitioners, but anyone caught using Nine Schools Arts to cheat here, whether house or gambler, would either lose hands and feet or have their light cores destroyed.
As the house manager's introduction continued, more and more people came to the communal table, making the atmosphere lively. Mei Liangyu stood not far from the communal table, squinting as he surveyed the crowd.
Nian Qiuyan went ahead to get a close look at the 16 poisonous insects and returned to tell Mei Liangyu: "I've heard of love parasites but never seen one. Tonight I'm getting an education."
Mei Liangyu said: "You want one?"