All-around protagonist mentor

"What did you say?!"

Upon hearing Qingxuan's conditions, Zuo Changxiao's mind was in turmoil, his face changed drastically, and he stood up again, his hands on the table, staring intently at Qingxuan.

Qingxuan laughed and said, "Didn't you hear me, Boss Zuo? I said I can heal your soul injury~".

Upon hearing Qingxuan's affirmative reply, Zuo Changxiao's expression became dazed, and his eyes glazed over. After pondering for a while and confirming what Qingxuan's condition meant, a look of painful struggle appeared on Zuo Changxiao's face, and he slumped weakly into his chair.

The mental and physical injury he suffered sixteen years ago due to a gambling match is a pain that will never fade in Zuo Changxiao's heart.

The soul is the foundation of a cultivator, the basis of all cultivation methods, and its importance even surpasses that of physical life. Any damage to the soul will have an extremely serious impact on cultivation, and may even lead to death.

Zuo Changxiao suffered such severe damage to his soul back then; it was already extremely fortunate that he didn't die on the spot. It was absolutely impossible for him to embark on the path of cultivation again.

Whenever Zuo Changxiao thinks about how he ruined his promising future just for the sake of winning or losing, he is filled with remorse and heartache, wishing he could chop off his past self.

Whether to be a carefree, immortal immortal or a mortal with a lifespan of only a hundred years despite a life of wealth, even a fool would know which to choose.

How could I have been so bewitched! To do such a foolish thing!

Long-term grief and remorse caused Zuo Changxiao to remain depressed and his physical condition to deteriorate. Despite being the underground leader of Shangxi Prefecture, with immense wealth and a life of luxury, he became emaciated and looked like a refugee from the slums.

In fact, Zuo Changxiao's soul injury was not incurable. If measures had been taken in time after the injury, there would have been a great chance of recovery.

However, abstaining from gambling is one of the most important rules of the Huangluo Sect. After Zuo Changxiao was exposed for repeatedly sneaking out to gamble, the Huangluo Sect did not kill him directly, but only expelled him from the sect, which was already an act of leniency. Why would they heal him?

Having been expelled from the sect, Zuo Changxiao was penniless, and all the resources the sect had previously bestowed upon him were taken back. Furthermore, injuries to the soul are inherently difficult to heal, and even with money, it's not guaranteed to find a doctor skilled in treating such injuries. Left with no other choice, Zuo Changxiao could only endure his injuries and focus on securing his livelihood.

It was several years later that Zuo Changxiao built his fortune through gambling and established Qianjinfang. Even a minor injury can become a serious problem if left untreated for a few years, let alone an injury to the soul. If left untreated for so long, it would have become an incurable disease. It's something even a god would find difficult to deal with.

After gaining power and receiving tacit approval to return to the Huangluo Sect, Zuo Changxiao paid countless prices, searching throughout the entire Yuxiao and even going to the other four realms to find numerous famous doctors and experts to treat him. Among them were senior experts from powerful forces such as the Huangluo Sect and the Xufang Realm. However, none of these people could cure Zuo Changxiao's illness.

In fact, Zuo Changxiao understood his condition. His previous attempts to seek medical treatment were driven by wishful thinking and resentment. After his efforts proved fruitless, Zuo Changxiao resigned himself to his fate. In recent years, he stopped seeking medical help and instead stayed at home waiting to die, relying on various remedies to keep himself alive, living one day at a time.

But just when Zuo Changxiao was feeling utterly hopeless and his life was in complete despair, Qingxuan's words, like the rising sun, pierced through the endless darkness and gave Zuo Changxiao a glimmer of light.

Seeing Zuo Changxiao's conflicted expression, Qingxuan was not in a hurry. She leaned back in her chair with a smile and waited quietly for Zuo Changxiao to make a decision.

After pondering for a full incense stick's time, Zuo Changxiao's expression finally calmed down. He lowered his head, remaining silent, his hands gripping the table tightly, leaving deep finger marks. Suddenly, Zuo Changxiao raised his head, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Qing Xuan, and said, word by word, "Is what Young Master Gao Jin said true?"

Qingxuan laughed heartily and said confidently, "If Boss Zuo is still worried, I can heal your injuries first, and then we can do business together."

"good!"

Zuo Changxiao stood up for the third time, slammed his hand on the table, looked at Qing Xuan with a solemn expression, and said passionately:

"Young Master Gao Jin is indeed no ordinary man; his demeanor is extraordinary! Moreover, his methods are remarkable. I, Zuo, admit that I was moved by Young Master Gao Jin's terms and simply couldn't refuse!"

"However......"

Zuo Changxiao's tone shifted abruptly, and he said with an extremely solemn expression, "Even so, I cannot easily give in. Whether or not I agree to your conditions in the end depends on fate."

"The will of Heaven?" Qingxuan chuckled, then asked with interest, "I wonder what Boss Zuo's explanation is?"

Zuo Changxiao did not answer, but gave a wink to the maid beside him. The maid understood and turned to leave the hall.

A moment later, the maid returned to the hall carrying a tray with a dice cup and eight dice on it.

"Oh wow!"

Upon seeing this scene, Qingxuan was immediately delighted, and instantly understood what Zuo Changxiao meant by "divine will".

Zuo Changxiao took the dice cup and dice and placed them on the table. He said in a deep voice, "I heard that when Young Master Gao Jin first arrived, he won 30,000 taels of silver with just one coin using this dice game. He must be very proficient in this art. And coincidentally, my best gambling skill is also the art of dice."

"Since that's the case, let's make a bet. If Young Master Gao Jin wins, I, Zuo, will naturally tell you everything I know. But if Young Master Gao Jin loses, then let's drop everything. I, Zuo, would rather drag this broken soul and body along and eke out a living until death."

"Sure, no problem," Qingxuan readily agreed, a broad smile playing on her lips. "I wonder how Boss Zuo plans to bet?"

Zuo Changxiao's eyes narrowed as he slowly said, "It's very simple. We'll play what Young Master Gao Jin is best at: guessing the numbers on the dice! If Young Master Gao Jin can guess the sum of the numbers on the eight dice I roll within five breaths, then you win."

"Snap!"

Qingxuan snapped her fingers and chuckled as she gestured for Zuo Changxiao to proceed: "Sure, please, Boss Zuo, get started."

Seeing Qingxuan's quick agreement, Zuo Changxiao didn't waste any words. He picked up the dice cup with his right hand and swept it across the table. The eight dice that were originally there disappeared instantly, as if they had been eaten. Then, Zuo Changxiao flicked his wrist, and the eight dice collided rapidly in the dice cup, making a series of crackling sounds, like rain hitting a window or gold beads falling onto a plate.

"Bang!"

In the blink of an eye, Zuo Changxiao slammed the dice cup down on the table and immediately said to Qingxuan, "Please, Young Master Gao Jin, speak!"

"Hahaha~~~".

No sooner had Zuo Chang finished his joke than Qing Xuan burst into laughter, replying without hesitation, "Boss Zuo, you've got some skill! The number you rolled is... zero!"

"What!?"

Upon hearing this, Tianyu Jun, who had been watching the show from the sidelines, was greatly surprised and stared at the dice cup in disbelief.

The smallest number that can be rolled with eight dice is eight. Even if they are stacked together, the smallest number is one. How could it be zero? Did Zuo Changxiao break all the dice?

When Zuo Changxiao heard Qingxuan's answer, he was first taken aback, then his face showed admiration, and he flipped the dice cup over.

Upon seeing the scene beneath the dice cup, Tianyu-jun's eyes widened, and he immediately understood what "zero point" meant.

The eight dice stood at an angle, supported by their corners, stacked diagonally to each other, forming a pillar. Each die was spinning rapidly, its afterimages making it appear almost round, and the stack of dice looked like a string of candied hawthorns.

While the die is still spinning and has not yet settled, the number cannot be determined, and if there is no number, it is naturally "zero".

Qingxuan won!

After losing, Zuo Changxiao showed no sign of dejection or defeat. Instead, a look of relief and relaxation appeared on his face. He put the dice cup aside and sincerely bowed to Qingxuan, saying, "Young Master Gao Jin's gambling skills are superb. I, Zuo, humbly admit defeat. You deserve the title of 'God of Gamblers'!"

Qingxuan waved her hand and laughed, "Hahaha~~~, Boss Zuo is too modest. Your skills are beyond the reach of ordinary people."

As she spoke, Qingxuan pointed to the stack of dice. Tianyujun looked over and was startled once again.

The stack of dice had stopped spinning, but it still stood upright, tilted as a pillar!

Tianyu Jun was immediately amazed and admired Zuo Changxiao's dice-rolling skills.

Zuo Changxiao, however, was completely oblivious to the praise. His excitement was barely contained. Although he forced a calm expression, his voice trembled as he said to Qingxuan, "Young Master Gao... Young Master Gao Jin, since the outcome is decided, then..."

"Of course!" Qing Xuan stood up with a smile, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes, his meaning enigmatic. He smiled at Zuo Chang and said, "Please prepare a quiet room, Boss Zuo, so I can treat your soul injury right away!"

......

"Bang!"

In Wuyi Pavilion, in Jiang Shangqiu's room, Jiang Shangqiu slammed a letter on the table, her pretty face full of anger, her high breasts heaving with each breath.

Behind Jiang Shangqiu stood a kind-faced old woman, about fifty or sixty years old. At this moment, the old woman's face was full of helplessness, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

Suddenly, Jiang Shangqiu stood up and paced back and forth in the room, biting his lip and muttering angrily, "That unreliable bastard, does he even take my Wuyi Pavilion seriously anymore! I wrote him a letter more than half a month ago, and he's still halfway there. He hasn't even entered Yazhou territory, let alone left Liuguang City."

"No! This time, we absolutely cannot let him get away with this!"

Jiang Shangqiu turned to look at the old woman and said angrily, "Aunt Rong, please grind the ink for me. I want to write a letter to the old master and complain about him."

The old woman, known as Aunt Rong, sighed, thought for a moment, and then advised, "Third Miss, you know what kind of person the Second Young Master is. Although he's a bit dissolute, he can still distinguish between what's important and what's urgent. The Second Young Master is still in Liuguang City, he must be tied up by something."

"Hmph!" Jiang Shangqiu snorted angrily, "What could possibly hold him back? He's probably just seeing some pretty girl and going to pester her again!"

Rong Yi couldn't help but smile wryly, "Why does Miss San keep looking at Young Master with the same old eyes? Maybe Young Master really is in trouble."

Jiang Shangqiu said angrily, "Fine, even if he's run into trouble! Why didn't he specify what this trouble was in his letter?! Since he's in trouble, anyone would know it might delay his trip, so why didn't he write earlier so I could prepare? And now he's only sent these few perfunctory words!"

"This..." Aunt Rong was speechless for a moment, unable to think of any excuse.

Jiang Shangqiu stomped her foot angrily, waving her round fan incessantly, and said resentfully, "He's a womanizer, a philanderer, and missed his journey, leaving me here in this predicament. Does he even care about me, his third sister?!"

Jiang Shangqiu seemed to remember something, and became angrier as he spoke, saying angrily, "Let alone that he is my own second brother, even the little brother Xuan I just recognized last night cares about me more than him. He risked his life to go to the dangerous place of the Chu family city lord's mansion with his divine soul to gather information for me. That's why I saw the true colors of those Chu brothers and learned about their conspiracy."

Jiang Shangqiu stared straight at Aunt Rong and said angrily, "Aunt Rong, tell me, shouldn't this kind of person be punished? Xuan Di is a hundred times better than him!"

"Uh..." Aunt Rong looked troubled and wanted to explain, but no matter how she thought about it, she felt that some things were inappropriate to say. In the end, she could only say, "Young Master Qingxuan has profound cultivation and is kind-hearted. He is indeed a hero."

"Hmph~." Hearing Aunt Rong praise Qingxuan, Jiang Shangqiu snorted smugly, his anger subsiding slightly. Then, he looked worried and said with a headache, "The most urgent task now is to erase that wisp of the will of all living beings in Yue'er's soul, but the method to erase this wisp of will is entirely in that bastard's hands. Even if he gets to Yazhou now, it will be too late to get to Shangxi Prefecture."

"The materials to repair the 'Hun Yuan Xuan Xing' formation will take another twenty days to arrive. But the day after tomorrow is the Qin Shi Festival, and Yue'er will be on stage to recite poetry and play music."

"Chu Yufeng will definitely arrive then. What if he can immediately sense Yue'er's identity upon entering? What a terrible situation that would be!"