Chapter 374: Fighting Competition

Chapter 374: Fighting Competition

Qi Xuansu took Liu Hu to a Taiping Inn after leaving the Huasheng Hall branch. Since Qi Xuansu was broke, Liu Hu took the initiative to pay for the room.

After settling down in the guest room, Qi Xuansu opened the suitcase that Su Yan had given to him for free. It contained a bottle of Jade Liquor, a beautiful and neatly folded women’s dress, a golden-red bell, a collector’s edition of The Female Sword Immortal, and a bottle of wine.

These were what he “bought” for 3,000 Taiping coins.

It was not considered a loss because the replica of the Nine Yang Fiery Dome alone was worth 7,000 to 8,000 Taiping coins. No matter how he calculated the total, he would have still made a profit. However, Qi Xuansu felt like he had suffered a loss mainly due to the last item—a bottle of wine.

He felt that he could have avoided spending his last 1,000 Taiping coins. But after winning the substandard treasure, Qi Xuansu let the greed get to his head, so he could not control himself. That was why Qi Xuansu still felt like he made a loss even if he made a profit overall.

On the contrary, Su Yan’s mood improved significantly after seeing the last Mystery Jar item, so much so that she even gave Qi Xuansu a suitcase for free.

The so-called collector’s edition of The Female Sword Immortal could technically be sold for 300 Taiping coins. But that was only IF there was a collector and an appraiser who knew the value of this book. Otherwise, it was just a valuable item without a market.

Qi Xuansu spent about an hour picking out the last Mystery Jar in hopes of getting the manual for the Three Bing and Three Ding Fire Technique. But in the end, what came out of the Stupid Jar was a bottle of wine. One could only imagine his disappointment at the time.

He was so despondent that he did not even bother asking what the wine was for. He merely took his things and left.

Thus, Qi Xuansu finally had a chance to take a good look at that bottle of wine.

Judging from its appearance alone, its height was about the same as that of a Western wine bottle. However, Western wine bottles were tall and slender with sloping shoulders and a long, narrow neck. However, this bottle was like a taller and slimmer version of the ordinary pot-bellied wine jar. It was emerald green and opaque, quite unremarkable in every sense.

Qi Xuansu examined the bottle, seeing no other writing except “wine” stamped on it. There were no other labels at the bottom or on the seal of the bottle. It was like homemade wine that was stored in a random bottle.

He tried sniffing the mouth of the bottle, but the seal was tight, so he could not smell anything.

Qi Xuansu felt a little helpless. He regretted not asking Su Yan what this wine was for earlier. After all, he had to know the contents if he wanted to sell it at the market rate.

He also could not open the seal for a taste because it was a one-time seal. Since it was not resealable, the wine could lose its flavor. If so, he would not be able to sell it anymore.

This had become a tradition for thousands of years.

However, Sycamore Villa was different today. Instead of poetry gatherings, there was a fighting competition.

Sycamore Villa occupied a vast area, which included a field large enough to hold not just fighting competitions but even horse racing. Even though the land in Bohai Prefecture was not as expensive as that of the Imperial Capital, it was definitely not cheap. Being able to have such a large open space in Sycamore Villa was a demonstration of the Li family’s wealth.

The organizer of the fighting competition was Li Qingnu, the Finest Courtesan. The winner would get a private meeting with her. However, whether they could spend the night together would depend on the wishes of the Li family, not the courtesan herself.

In any case, Li Qingnu was a celebrity. Even if the winner was not allowed to touch her, it would have been an honor to be able to have met the Finest Courtesan in private, earning the person bragging rights.

Naturally, not just anyone could participate in this fighting competition. Just watching the fight would cost 100 Taiping coins, which was equivalent to a flying ship ticket.

Qi Xuansu and Liu Hu had already spent 100 Taiping coins each just to enter the Sycamore Villa. Watching the fighting competition would incur another 100 Taiping coins each, totaling 400 Taiping coins. Qi Xuansu’s commission was only 1,000 Taiping coins, so he still made a loss on this deal. Thinking of his empty sleeves, Qi Xuansu hesitated.

However, Liu Hu had taken out two large cash notes and handed them to the servant responsible for greeting the guests.

The servant immediately led the duo to the field and gave them a token so that they could enter and exit at will.

There was a 300-meter-square bluestone-paved area in the middle of the lush field of grass. Since the weather was nice and warm, most people were sitting on the grass in the open air, with lanterns hanging all around to light up the area. There was also a specially made insect-repellent incense, so wisps of smoke were faintly visible, adding an ethereal effect to the field.

Qi Xuansu and Liu Hu had arrived late, so they had to find a seat in the back row.

Liu Hu asked in a whisper, “Uncle Wei, are we going to compete in the ring?”

Although Qi Xuansu had told her that Wei Wugui was just a fake identity, Liu Hu still habitually called him Uncle Wei.

Qi Xuansu shook his head. “We’re not fighting. This competition is organized by Li Qingnu, so she’ll show up eventually. We just need to wait for her to spot me.”

He suddenly thought of something and patted his knee gently. “Li Qingnu mentioned once that she can’t escort you to Liaodong personally because that’ll draw too much attention. Is that woman holding this competition to look for candidates that can send you to Liaodong?!”

Liu Hu was speechless for a moment.