Chapter 272: He

Zheng Mama saw the scene, slapped her thigh, and exclaimed, "What on earth is this?"

When we go back, can we still report this to the Old Lady?

But at this moment, we can only rush forward, clutching a vaguely aching tooth, and chase after them.

Of course, even though Zheng Mama was flustered, she still tore out a handkerchief to cover her old face, lest exposing it would cause future trouble.

Li Qingluo followed Duan Rongshi to the first floor and quickly blended into the crowd.

But his unusually tall stature still drew a lot of attention.

The first people to notice him were Zheng Lingzhou and his sibling.

Zheng Lingzhou had just heard a subordinate report that the person was Moon Fifth Uncle, who had previously photographed items from the Macau gambling hall, a merchant from Great Chu.

His identity was uncertain.

The rest, no matter how many, could not be verified.

Zheng Lingzhou didn't think much of the man, but found it odd that, seeing the particularly ugly person beside him, he couldn't help wanting to look a second time.

Because those eyes stood out too much on that face.

And why would a short, ugly person be so carefully protected by Moon Fifth Uncle?

Besides Zheng Lingzhou and his sibling, the heir of Zhongyi Hou Fu also mingled in the crowd.

Prince Jin, Prince Yun, the Grand Marshal, and even several other dignitaries in the side rooms remained upstairs and had not appeared.

"What… what is your Macau gambling hall trying to do? Do you intend to trap all of us here and feed us to that huge monster?"

"What huge monster? This… this is a monster!"

"It… it eats people, eats people! You… you Macau gambling hall actually dared to photograph this thing—how audacious! Such a thing shouldn't exist, yet you want to sell it to us. What malicious intent are you hiding?"

"We've long heard this place is a Lotus Sect den; could it really be true?"

"If so, this flesh worm would be taken back to Jinling, and that would surely spark chaos!"

Everyone seemed to smell the scent of conspiracy.

Playing games is one thing, but plundering families, destroying clans, or endangering the nation's fate—few dare to commit such acts.

"Release us now! We won't take part in this damned auction. If you still refuse to open the doors and let us out, don't blame us for being impolite!"

"Exactly, draw your swords—"

In an instant, a wave of anger rose; those with guards, those without, those brandishing swords, and even those who grabbed a table leg from the floor all stood up.

And the masked young lord's expression grew increasingly grim.

"Everyone, what are you doing?"

"I have no ulterior motives."

"It's just that the auction was just disrupted, so I didn't want anyone to misunderstand."

"This blood gu worm does indeed eat people, but if you don't attack it yourself, it won't attack on its own. Otherwise, you would have seen it emerge from that wooden barrel, wouldn't you?"

Everyone then realized that the blood gu worm showed no sign of initiating an attack.

The earlier scene was simply because someone accidentally fell in and was swallowed.

"What… what is actually going on here?"

"Exactly."

"This worm is too wicked; I'm not interested either. You'd better open the doors and let us go!"

Everyone kept shouting that they wanted to leave.

Yet the crowd was chaotic, and the Macau gambling hall's goal for today hadn't been met, so how could they possibly release anyone?

The masked young lord's face darkened completely; he didn't even know where the problem lay—clearly the person should have appeared and acted as he had planned!

Otherwise, today's ambushed forces and these actions that offended the Jinling elites would all be in vain.

Could it be that he never came at all?

But could that be possible?

The rumor had already spread; if Pei Sanzhen were in his hands, he certainly wouldn't stay indifferent!

The masked young lord couldn't help staring into the crowd.

Suddenly, his gaze landed on a white Jiaolong mask.

This person's figure…

Before he could fully discern, Leng Dian in the crowd suddenly raised his hand high: "Great Chu Moon Fifth Uncle, I'll pay one hundred taels of gold to buy the blood gu worm!"

The people with Prince Jin shouted: "We came first! Great Chu people, get out of the way! This is our DaLiang territory; how can you take this treasure?"

"Our Prince Jin, third son, offers three hundred taels of gold for the blood gu worm!"

"Our young master offers four hundred taels of gold!"

Following the bids, it turned out to be someone from Zhongyi Hou Fu.

The price quickly rose.

Those in the crowd who had been shouting to leave saw the nobles frantically driving the price up, and were instantly silenced.

"These people are really crazy?"

How could they know that if these lords didn't want to see the Macau gambling hall overflow, the hall would today definitely use these ordinary young masters to cause trouble.

Otherwise, the purpose of bringing out this worm wouldn't be fulfilled, and how would it end?

Finally, Prince Jin bought the blood gu worm for two thousand taels of gold.

Moon Fifth Uncle resolutely gave up.

The masked young lord called out to Moon Fifth Uncle, who was about to turn away: "Moon Fifth Uncle! Are you really… not raising your offer to take this worm? Does this worm truly have no use for you?"

Prince Su turned his head toward the masked young lord: "Why are you so certain that I, the Prince, need this worm? Who exactly are you?"

Prince Su pretended to be eager, stepped forward to uncover the masked young lord's true face, but was blocked by a crowd.

Moreover, seeing his helpless reaction to being blocked, the young lord felt very disappointed.

If it were truly that person, he would never react like this.

Besides, this person is accompanied by an old maid and an eyesore of a thing; it could not be him.

The people around him have never even included a single untidy one.

From then on, the auction could only proceed.

The remaining items were quickly sold.

Li Qingluo paid special attention to the Southeast Asian renyao, who was said to have been bought by the Grand Marshal.

Seeing the renyao's extraordinarily beautiful and delicate appearance, Li Qingluo couldn't help asking, "Why is she called a renyao?"

She didn't look like a real monster at all.

Prince Su lowered his head, glanced at her, and said nothing.

Li Qingluo turned to Zheng Mama and asked, "Do you know? How can someone be both human and become a monster?"

Someone nearby looked over with a mocking glint in their eyes; Duan Rongshi extended his broad sleeve, pulling her into his embrace and covering her entire face.

Duan Rongshi whispered, "You may not ask again!"

Then, realizing he had been too harsh, his voice softened a few degrees.

"If you are truly interested, next time this king will take you to the Princess's residence, and you will understand," he said.

He whispered the sentence so softly that only Li Qingluo could hear.

She was tucked behind his sleeve, her whole body rigid and unwilling to move, yet now her face inexplicably flushed…

When it was over, the masked young lord, clearly adept at managing affairs, spoke grandly, "Today my Macau Gambling Hall has offended all of you, esteemed guests."

"Although you all first broke the rules of my Macau Gambling Hall, my impatience also frightened you, esteemed guests."

"Consider everything that just happened a misunderstanding; today all your expenses at my gambling hall are waived! Consider it our Macau Gambling Hall's apology!"

"Esteemed guests, please continue to eat well, drink well, and have fun!"

In an instant, the nobles and young masters who had almost completely vanished were suddenly pulled back.

"I told you, your Macau Casino today is really incompetent!"

"Exactly, making a big fuss just to catch a bug—what's the point?"

"It's really off‑putting. Aren't you going to bring up more rounds of wine?"

"Come on, quickly set the gambling tables up again!"

"And the beauties, this young master wants a beauty—"

The doors and windows were opened, yet no one hurried to leave.

The decadent, paper‑drunk scene instantly revived in the hall.

It seemed that everything just now was merely a dreamy illusion.

Li Qingluo felt utterly nauseated deep inside.

Who are these people?

They deserve to be humiliated as piglets and beasts.

Li Qingluo followed Prince Su at the fastest speed out of the gambling hall, but instead of immediately leading the horses, she went to a dark alley corner, watching the hall's entrance and exit.

Soon, they saw Prince Jin and Prince Yun, as well as the carriage from Zhongyi Hou Fu, all hurriedly depart.

The troops from the three sides were numerous, marching grandly for a while before disappearing down the street.

Li Qingluo and a few others stood in the alley, seeing that as soon as those families' front foot left, dozens of men in black followed right behind.

Li Qingluo: "Lotus Sect, or the people of this gambling hall?"

And what is this for?

Did they throw that flesh bug out, then plan to steal it back?

Or perhaps members of the Lotus Sect intend to rob it outright and reap the benefits?

That was bought for two thousand taels of gold; Prince Jin would never hand it over!

Duan Rongshi: "Do you really still think this is a two‑person affair?"

He tapped her head and said, "Be bolder in your speculation."

Li Qingluo's eyes widened instantly: "Your Highness, are you saying this gambling hall is actually the Lotus Sect!?"

"Then the owner of this gambling hall, the masked young lord just now, is he not— the Lotus Sect Leader!?"

This speculation made Li Qingluo's heart race wildly.

She had been completely wrong before!

She thought the gambling hall was a place occupied by the Lotus Sect, perhaps linked, but not entirely one.

Now she truly understood that today they hadn't come to a gambling hall, but had intruded into the Lotus Sect's den!

Li Qingluo turned her head and gave Duan Rongshi a deep look.

So he clearly had known all along that this was the Lotus Sect's evil ground.

Yet he kept watching the court tolerate its growth here.

Clearly he had other motives, so all along he knew, but only gave superficial blows to the Lotus Sect's forces and influence in Jinling City.

Why does he do this?

Unless…

Li Qingluo suddenly felt a jolt throughout her body.

"Your Highness, have you long known the true identity of the Lotus Sect Leader? Do you know him?"

"And his identity is not to be taken lightly? So it gives Your Highness cause for caution… or perhaps a point to exploit?"

Li Qingluo received no answer, because Leng Dian had already led the horses over.

Li Qingluo hadn't even had time to mount her own horse before Duan Rongshi grabbed her and lifted her onto his horseback.

"Hold on tight to me, Prince."

"If you want to know the identity of the Lotus Sect leader, then go see for yourself today!"

Having said that, Prince Su raised his whip, and the horse shot off like lightning.