"Four Great Holy Monks? I wonder if Shi Zhixuan will manage to kill one this time."
For the Demon Sect, led by the Yin Kuai Sect, the Four Great Holy Monks were even more troublesome than Ning Daoqi. After all, Ning Daoqi was one of the three great grandmasters and a member of the Taoist sect. His support for the Temple of Compassion had already tarnished his reputation. If he frequently intervened on behalf of the Buddhist sects, many would see him as nothing more than a lackey of the Buddhists.
Similarly, Fan Qinghui wouldn't bother Ning Daoqi with trivial matters. The Buddhist sects would handle issues they could resolve themselves. Only when facing someone like Song Que, a grandmaster, would Ning Daoqi be called upon. In the original story, if it hadn't been for the duel between Ning Daoqi and Song Que, Kou Zhong wouldn't have so easily surrendered to Li Shimin.
However, that was before Daniel Davis appeared. Now, in the eyes of most people, Ning Daoqi was already a lackey of the Buddhist sects. Although few dared to openly express this due to Ning Daoqi's strength and reputation, they couldn't help but secretly despise him. After all, it was a rare opportunity to look down on a grandmaster.
The Four Great Holy Monks and Shi Zhixuan had clashed multiple times. Strictly speaking, they had fought even before Shi Zhixuan and Bi Xiuxin became a couple. In the past, their battles had been restrained. The Four Great Holy Monks didn't want to cause unnecessary bloodshed, and Shi Zhixuan, because of Bi Xiuxin, had also held back.
But now, things were different. Previously, Shi Zhixuan hadn't been intent on killing, but with Bi Xiuxin's death, he was determined to slaughter every Buddhist he could find.
"It would be best if they all died together. That would be perfect." Wanwan smiled as she spoke. For her, as the Holy Maiden of the Yin Kuai Sect, Shi Zhixuan and the Four Great Holy Monks perishing together would be the ideal outcome.
"A nice thought, but not very realistic." Daniel Davis chuckled at Wanwan's wishful thinking.
"Alright, since we're in Chang'an, let's take a stroll. I also have some things to take care of." With that, Daniel Davis flicked open the folding fan in his right hand.
This time, Daniel Davis and Wanwan had come to Chang'an posing as a wealthy young master and his maid. The folding fan was a staple accessory for those who fancied themselves cultured and refined, such as the romantic Hou Xibai. Of course, Daniel Davis's fan was just an ordinary one from the market, far inferior to Hou Xibai's.
Hou Xibai's fan was made of fine steel for the ribs and woven from the silk of celestial spiders, making it incredibly durable and impervious to ordinary swords.
"This is a great spot."
In the evening, sitting by the window on the third floor of the Fuju Tower, Daniel Davis gazed at the Yue Ma Bridge below and the lanterns being hung outside nearby shops. He couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.
Although ancient feudal societies generally had curfews, this depended on the location. For ordinary people, with little entertainment available, nights were for resting early. But for the wealthy and powerful, nightlife was just beginning.
Among Chang'an's 108 districts, one was dedicated to entertainment, filled with brothels and gambling houses.
Even in the original story, Li Yuan would occasionally sneak into such places for fun.
In this regard, the Qin Dynasty couldn't compare. Although there were places for nighttime entertainment, such as the famous three brothels—Zuimeng Tower, Feixue Pavilion, and Zilanxuan—they were just individual establishments, not entire streets like here.
Of course, that was in the past. After Ying Zheng unified the world, Daniel Davis, though not heavily involved in state affairs, had made some changes. For example, the club he opened had begun to develop into a night market street.
"Let's go. I'm in a good mood today. Let's try our luck at gambling." After waiting at the Fuju Tower until nightfall, Daniel Davis paid the bill and headed to the Liufu Gambling House, which he had previously scouted.
Although Daniel Davis's main purpose in coming to Chang'an was to retrieve the Evil Emperor's Bead from the Yang Gong Treasure, since he was here, he didn't mind taking care of some other matters—namely, the Xiang family, particularly Xiang Yushan.
The owner of the Liufu Gambling House, Chi Shengchun, known as the "Hand of the Gods," was actually Xiang Yushan's elder brother, Xiang Shengchun. He had left the Xiang family early on, changed his name, and started his own business.
The Xiang family, while working for the Demon Sect, had also been planning to break away. Xiang Shengchun was paving the way for the family.
Whether out of confidence in his hidden identity or because he was in Chang'an, far from Baling, Chi Shengchun hadn't gone into hiding despite the destruction of the Baling Gang.
In addition to Chi Shengchun, there was also Yang Wengan, another of Xiang Yushan's brothers, who had achieved even greater success in Chang'an as the leader of the Jingzhao Alliance, the largest gang in the city.
Yang Wengan had played a significant role in helping the Li Clan enter Guanzhong (Chang'an) and was now highly favored by Li Jiancheng, wielding considerable power.
The Xiang family was indeed formidable. Yang Wengan had allied with Li Jiancheng, while Chi Shengchun was reportedly connected to Prince Qi, Li Yuanji. Besides these two, Xiang Gui's sister, Xiang Hua, was also hidden in Chang'an, running a brothel.
"Mingtangwo, they're really going head-to-head. Thank me for solving one of your problems."
Arriving at the Liufu Gambling House, Daniel Davis immediately noticed the Mingtangwo across the street, another famous gambling house with a powerful background. Otherwise, it wouldn't have such a prominent location in this district.
Along with the Shanglin Garden next to Mingtangwo, these three establishments were the focal points of the district. Other gambling houses and brothels were built around them.
The Shanglin Garden, historically known as a famous imperial garden, had become a brothel here, which was quite amusing.
"Place your bets, place your bets!"
As soon as Daniel Davis entered the Liufu Gambling House, he was greeted by the noisy clamor of the main hall. The place was packed, a testament to its thriving business. It was no surprise that the gambling house was raking in money hand over fist.
Daniel Davis had been to casinos before, such as Las Vegas, but the house's guaranteed profits made the experience less appealing. Casinos welcomed losing customers but banned those who consistently won.
This seemingly unfair rule had been normalized by casinos worldwide. Famous mathematicians and individuals with exceptional talents, like Spencer Reid from the Behavioral Analysis Unit, who had multiple doctorates including one in mathematics, were often barred from casinos.
This ensured that casinos remained profitable, a rule accepted across time and dimensions.
Of course, Daniel Davis had no intention of challenging this rule. He wasn't bored enough to seek trouble.
"The gambling options are quite limited."
Although the main hall was filled with numerous gambling tables, each crowded with people, the games were limited to dice, pai gow, and a few others. There were no card games or mahjong.
After exchanging a tael of gold for chips, Daniel Davis headed straight for the largest dice table in the center of the hall. He was here to cause trouble, so he didn't care about the rules.
"Triples."
"I win."
Four consecutive rounds of triples left the young dealer trembling. Although it was only four rounds, the amount of money he had lost was enough for the gambling house's owner to have him drowned.
"Continue. I bet it's triples again." Daniel Davis pushed all his chips forward, but this time, no one followed his lead.
During the first round, no one had bet with Daniel, but from the second round onward, people started following him. By the third and fourth rounds, everyone was betting with him.
Now, in the fifth round, the gamblers sensed something was wrong and didn't dare follow Daniel. After all, even if they won, they might not live to enjoy the money.
"What's wrong? Is such a big gambling house unable to pay such a small amount? Or is it that customers here can only lose, not win?" Daniel Davis, here to cause trouble, didn't hold back.
"Friend, you jest. A mere thousand taels of gold is nothing to the Liufu Gambling House." Just as the young dealer was trembling and at a loss, a man stepped forward. Hearing his voice, the dealer finally relaxed and stepped aside.
"I am Chi Shengchun. You seem unfamiliar. May I ask where you hail from?" The man, dressed in brocade robes and with a thin build, wore a seemingly amiable smile as he stared at Daniel Davis.
"Don't get too familiar. Who's your friend? Let's continue." Daniel Davis ignored the man, gesturing for Chi Shengchun to shake the dice.
"Friend, if you want to gamble, why not go upstairs? There are bigger games there." Chi Shengchun's eyes flashed with a murderous intent. He had already decided that Daniel Davis would die a gruesome death later.
"Not interested. How do I know you won't try to rob me up there? Right now, I just want to know if you're continuing or not." Daniel Davis noticed the murderous glint in Chi Shengchun's eyes, though the man made no effort to hide it, likely hoping to intimidate him.
"Brother Chi, surely you're not going to back out now? Or is it true, as this young master says, that one can only lose here, not win?" Just as Chi Shengchun was about to speak, a seductive voice rang out. A voluptuous woman, no less beautiful than Shen Luoyan, stepped forward.
The unspoken rule that gambling houses only allowed losses, not wins, was something many knew but never openly discussed.
"Miss Hu, you jest." Seeing the woman, Chi Shengchun's expression darkened. He naturally recognized her—Hu Xiaoxian, the daughter of the Mingtangwo gambling house across the street. As competitors, Hu Xiaoxian was more than happy to see the Liufu Gambling House in trouble.
"Xiaoxian, perhaps we should go to your place. At least there, we won't encounter such stinginess." At that moment, another woman emerged from the crowd, her beauty rivaling Hu Xiaoxian's, her voice as clear and melodious as a flowing spring.
"Miss Ji, some things are better left unsaid." Chi Shengchun was less polite to this woman, though he didn't dare to act against her. She was Ji Qian, the star of the Shanglin Garden brothel, someone Li Yuanji was infatuated with.
In this era, famous courtesans held a certain status, much like Nongyu, Xue Nu, and Lianyi in the Qin Dynasty. Their fame protected them from being mistreated, unless one was willing to ruin their reputation, like Prince Yan's Lord Yanchun. Even Li Yuanji wouldn't dare do such a thing, as a tarnished reputation would deter potential allies.
Just look at Du Fuwei—despite having talents like Li Jing, his notorious reputation drove Li Jing away.
"Hmph." Ji Qian snorted but didn't continue. Instead, she walked over to Hu Xiaoxian, her curious eyes examining Daniel Davis, who sat across from Chi Shengchun.
In Chang'an, at the Liufu Gambling House, Daniel Davis was the first to dare treat Chi Shengchun with such disdain.
"Since they can't handle it, why don't you come to Mingtangwo across the street? We'll make sure you have a good time." Ji Qian, while subtly signaling Daniel Davis with her eyes, made the suggestion.
Though Ji Qian's words were well-intentioned, Hu Xiaoxian's expression shifted slightly. While she didn't mind watching the Liufu Gambling House suffer, she wasn't keen on inviting trouble to her own establishment. However, she couldn't show weakness now.
Of course, she didn't follow Ji Qian's lead and invite Daniel Davis, lest she regret it later.
"I said, can we continue?" Daniel Davis glanced at Hu Xiaoxian and Ji Qian. They were indeed rare beauties, but he wasn't here to flirt.
"Of course."
Chi Shengchun, after exchanging a glance with someone, picked up the dice cup and began shaking it vigorously.
At this point, he had no choice but to continue. The earlier conversation had drawn the attention of everyone in the hall.
Chi Shengchun's gambling skills were exceptional, hence his nickname "Hand of the Gods." Running a gambling house meant occasionally facing skilled challengers, and such confrontations were usually conducted according to the rules.
Chi Shengchun's movements didn't faze Daniel Davis. No matter what Chi Shengchun did, the outcome was already decided.
"Open it."
After Chi Shengchun placed the dice cup on the table, Daniel Davis casually spoke. His nonchalance made Chi Shengchun hesitate. While he was confident in his skills, Daniel Davis's earlier performance had been too bizarre. He had watched the last two rounds of triples but couldn't figure out how Daniel Davis had done it.
In typical dice games, the key was either keen hearing or using internal energy to cheat. However, Daniel Davis hadn't seemed to be listening carefully, nor had he placed his hands on the table.
Manipulating dice with internal energy wasn't easy. Even a top-tier grandmaster would struggle to do so without leaving traces, especially since Chi Shengchun himself was no weakling.
Of course, Xu Ziling was an exception. The Longevity Scripture's energy properties made his manipulations incredibly subtle. In the original story, Xu Ziling had become a gambling expert thanks to this ability.
(End of Chapter)
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