Before I knew it, a month had passed in a dull routine. All I remember doing these past days is cultivating and occasionally taking a stroll.
I didn't want to waste any time. Right now, I might be the most eager person in the world when it comes to getting stronger. I keep dreaming of those happy days back then and wait for the moment I can finally face Mo Tian.
I didn't like the idea of learning from a man almost half my age. It did hurt my pride a bit, but eventually I came to terms with it. Perhaps it isn't so bad to learn from him and work under him if he is a good person.
One day, while I was cultivating in my room, I suddenly felt a touch on my back. It startled me awake.
I turned to see a familiar face, it was Haotian.
"I've been waiting forever!"
"Well, I should feel lucky someone missed me," he said, sitting down beside me on the bed. "I can tell, you've done well, old man. You're a proper refiner now."
"I am? Wasn't I one before?"
"Not really. You're better than you were, but just by a bit."
"I see. So, tell me," I got off the bed and stretched. "what techniques do I learn next?"
"Let's celebrate first!"
"We should? I don't have a coin to my name though."
"It's on me, We are going to gamble today."
"I don't support gambling, kid. Not the best habit."
"Stop whining about my manners. Follow me."
"But you could lose a lot of money."
"Just come on already!"
So we did. We headed to the gambling district. The sky had just turned orange, not fully dark yet, but the street was already alive with people of all kinds.
Some were happy, and most were gloomy. That was the reality of such places.
"So which place are we going to tonight?"
"The Golden Dragon Wager House." he said.
The Golden Dragon Wager House he said.
The Golden Dragon Wager House?!
What we arrived at wasn't even close to what I had imagined. With a name like that, I expected something impressive, but it turned out to be a shabby little place buried among the grand buildings on the street. We passed by all the polished, lively places just to reach this rundown wreck with a leaking roof and creaking floors.
"Haotian, is this a joke? We're really gambling here?" I asked as we stepped inside.
Heads turned.
People paused whatever they were doing to stare at us.
The place was packed, but no one looked like they owned anything beyond the clothes on their backs.
It looked like a gathering of beggars whom even the beggars sect had forsaken.
"Yeah, this is the best place to gamble," he said, already sitting down at the first empty table he saw. I sat across from him.
"This place smells like someone took a shit here ten days ago. Are you actually serious?"
"Just wait. You'll see."
The stares didn't stop. Dressed in decent clothes, we stood out in this crowd of rags.
A man walked over to our table.
"Welcome, sir. You must be new. We only have one game here. Would you like to play?"
"What game?" I asked.
"A dice game. You pick a number from one to six, and so do I. We roll a die. If it lands on your number, you win your bet from the house. If it lands on mine, the house takes your bet. If it's neither, it's a draw."
A simple game of luck. I liked how straightforward it was.
"Sounds good. Let's play."
The man walked off to get the die set, and I looked around. Every table was running the same game, each with a house rep playing against a customer. The guy who came to us was probably in charge of our table.
"Yuan, you do the playing," Haotian said. "I'm just here to watch. Don't worry about the money I'll cover it."
"So kind of you to throw your money in the dump. I'd rather you just give it to me than waste it on this gambling nonsense."
"Spare me the whining and get on with it. He's here."
I started with a bronze coin.
The roll was a draw. And the one after that. And the one after that too!
It was boring, but I kept going. Eventually, I won a round and got a bronze coin from the house.
I bet the profit again. My plan was simple, only gamble with the profits earned from the house.
After about an hour, I'd won some, lost some, and was up ten bronze coins. Enough to buy two bottles of booze. I tried ordering one, but this rundown place didn't even stock booze. Disappointing to say the least.
The game dragged on. My winnings dropped to five coins.
"Haotian, I'm getting bored. Let's just leave."
"Scared of losing a little more?"
"Oh really? Yeah, maybe I am. So what? I'm leaving."
"Come on, old man, you can't let a die scare you and call yourself a martial artist."
"Fine! You better get ready to pay up for all the talk."
The house rep smirked and I noticed it.
"What are you smiling at?" I asked.
"I agree with the young man. You're a bit weak-willed."
That ticked me off.
"Six. One gold coin," I snapped.
"I'll go with two."
The die landed on two.
My heart sank.
A gold coin was wasted, which was enough to cover three months' rent at the inn.
I sighed, and did not let the worry linger for too long.
It isn't my money anyways, so who cares? This will serve as a good lesson for that brat.
"Haotian, pay him. We're done here."
But there was no response.
And.
There was no Haotian.
I turned, looking around. He had been right there a moment ago. But now he was nowhere to be seen.
"Pay up, old man," the rep said. "Or you'll regret it."
I swallowed hard and stood tall.
Of course he vanished. Of course I'm the one left holding the debt. And of course, I'm completely fucked.