Chapter 87: Lost Everything

"Zhang Fu, come back quickly!"

The young young master shrank his neck and hurriedly turned his head, calling out in a hushed voice to the man in the green robe.

Hearing this, the man in the green robe, who had seen everything, glanced down at the candle still burning on the table before him.

Suddenly, he lifted his head sharply, staring at Li Musheng across from him—and without realizing it, his back had gone cold.

If he still failed to realize what was going on now, he was truly utterly foolish.

The man in the green robe stared at Li Musheng, who sat there calm and composed, and instantly grew tense.

Although this young man emitted no trace of true qi, everything that had just happened—the unextinguished candle on his skiff, the ever-dead candle on his own skiff—was plainly tied to him, even a fool could see that.

"How long are you planning to stay on my boat?"

At this, Li Musheng glanced at him and furrowed his brow slightly.

Upon hearing this, the man in the green robe froze for a moment, then immediately understood.

He took a deep breath, then bowed deeply to Li Musheng with both hands raised, saying:

"Young Master, I was blind to your true stature just now—my apologies for my impertinence. Please forgive the ignorance of myself and my companions."

Hearing this, Li Musheng waved his hand casually, his gaze shifting instead toward the darkness ahead, saying:

"Go. Don't come back again."

At these words, the man in the green robe felt a sudden relief, as if granted a pardon from death.

He said nothing more, immediately stepped off the deck, and leapt toward the skiff where his young master waited.

Seeing the man in the green robe take so long to return, the young master was clearly angry and opened his mouth to rebuke him.

But the man in the green robe quietly transmitted a message via qi-thread, explained everything—and the young master's expression instantly twisted with alarm.

He stole a furtive glance at Li Musheng's skiff, then immediately looked away.

Without another word, he ordered the man in the green robe to flee at once—clearly, another coward who bullied the weak and cowered before the strong, just like Li Yuanling.

Meanwhile, in Li Musheng's line of sight, Li Yuanling's figure leapt repeatedly, approaching his skiff from the distant darkness.

When she arrived, seeing her face still taut and her expression utterly dejected, Li Musheng nearly burst out laughing.

How triumphant she had looked when she left, and how listless she looked now—she was like a rooster that had just lost a fight.

As soon as Li Yuanling landed on the skiff, Li Musheng asked curiously:

"My sworn sister, did you lose all your jade tokens?"

Hearing this, Li Yuanling shot him an angry glare, her beautiful face puffing up in fury like a balloon.

But she could only seethe inwardly, turning her head away and sitting down on the cushion opposite him in silence.

Seeing this, Li Musheng chuckled and said:

"Looks like you had a good gaming experience—just a disappointing outcome."

At this, Li Yuanling turned back, recalling Li Musheng's earlier words, and pouted:

"So that's what you meant by 'gaming experience.'"

Then, as if resigned, she mimicked Li Musheng's posture, spreading her hands out and sighing:

"I admit it's my fault—I misjudged the strength of that boat's crew, and now all my jade tokens have been stripped away."

Li Musheng nodded, raising his thumb:

"Only you, my sworn sister, could wipe us clean in under an incense stick's burn."

Li Yuanling bit her lip. Though she didn't understand what "returned to before liberation" meant, she saw clearly the mocking look in his eyes—she knew instantly this wasn't praise.

Thinking of this, she rolled her eyes and suddenly planted her hands on her hips, turning the blame around:

"You're my sworn brother! You let your sworn sister go out to fight and take the risk, and now that I've just lost a few jade tokens, you treat me like this—with sarcasm and scorn? It breaks my heart."

Hearing this, Li Musheng's eyelid twitched. He said:

"Don't smear me. You were the one who told me to watch the candle, then grabbed your jade tokens and ran off—now you're blaming me?"

He pointed at the candle on the table and said:

"Just tell me—has the candle on this boat gone out yet? Did I watch it well?"

Li Yuanling was instantly silenced by Li Musheng's retort. She muttered under her breath, grumbling:

"I did it all for you."

Then, lowering her voice, she whispered mysteriously:

"I heard there's a divine artifact in Floating Boat City that can boost martial cultivation. If we win first place—or even break the record—we might get it. If you take it, your cultivation will skyrocket overnight."

Hearing this, Li Musheng raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical:

"What kind of divine artifact? Is it reliable? Can it boost anyone's cultivation, no matter their level?"

Li Yuanling nodded firmly, her face serious:

"I don't know exactly what it is, but the information I got is absolutely trustworthy—Floating Boat City definitely has a divine artifact that can enhance martial cultivation."

"Is that so?"

Li Musheng rubbed his chin, thought for a moment, then nodded:

"Then it seems we must win first place."

Originally, Li Musheng hadn't cared much about the game in Floating Boat City—even making the top ten didn't matter to him.

Even if Li Yuanling lost all her jade tokens, he wouldn't have cared—he'd only wanted to tease her a bit for amusement.

But now, he was starting to find Floating Boat City interesting.

Though his sworn sister didn't seem particularly reliable, since they'd come this far, what if the rumored artifact really existed—and if it happened to help him?

Though he didn't truly believe it, there was no harm in taking a look.

At this, Li Yuanling, hearing Li Musheng's words, shook her head and sighed heavily:

"I don't dare hope for first place anymore—I just hope I can recover even half the jade tokens I lost. That would be enough to thank heaven and earth."

Hearing this, Li Musheng glanced at the other with calm composure and said:

"What good is just thinking? You must take action."

Li Yuanling looked up and shot Li Musheng a glare, saying:

"You make it sound easy, but I can't beat them—those three women look delicate, like refined young ladies."

"Yet the moment they moved, they pinned me down on the boat and took my jade token—I couldn't even resist."

Hearing this, Li Musheng let out a light laugh and said:

"Who said you must beat someone to steal a jade token?"

(End of Chapter)