I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 166: Fang Jingbao

"Are you ready?" Ximen Kankan looked at Duan Rong, urging him.

Ximen Kankan had already finished shaking, but Duan Rong was still there, gently swaying bit by bit, his movements resembling a twitch.

"Done." Ximen Kankan was already a bit impatient, and only then did Duan Rong suddenly raise his head.

Ximen Kankan sneered, "Amateur! Shaking dice, so slow."

The two almost simultaneously opened their shaking cups, and Ximen Kankan’s face darkened instantly upon seeing Duan Rong’s points; naturally, Duan Rong won. He had been shaking for so long just to get a higher score than Ximen Kankan, but his technique wasn’t good enough, and the dice in the cup simply wouldn’t cooperate...

Ximen Kankan gave Duan Rong an odd look and thought to himself, "Strange!"

"Again!"

At that moment, Jiang Qingyu’s personal servant, Jiang Rong, suddenly pushed the door open and said, "Sir, there’s trouble in the Xin room next door!"

"What’s the trouble?" Jiang Qingyu asked, looking up.

"Caught a swindler, and it seems to be Fang Jingbao," Jiang Rong replied.

"Fang Jingbao?" Ximen Kankan exclaimed, his eyes brightening instantly.

Speaking of Fang Jingbao, he was considered a legend among the common folk of Xianggu County.

This person used to be a pickpocket on the streets.

Pickpockets who steal by hand are called "Qingcha," while those who use scissors, blades, etc., are called "Huncha."

Fang Jingbao was the leader of the Qingcha in this area.

Later, for unknown reasons, he learned an extraordinary swindling technique from a blind beggar wandering from out of town.

Since then, he mixed into major casinos and made a fortune.

But no matter how high his swindling technique was, it couldn’t withstand scrutiny for long, as all nearby casinos ended up blacklisting him from entry.

He disappeared suddenly ten years ago; some say he went to casinos out of town, while others rumored he had died...

"Let’s go have a look." Ximen Kankan loved to watch the excitement and immediately jumped off his seat, rushing outside.

Duan Rong and Jiang Qingyu also went out with him.

As soon as the three of them exited the room, they saw a crowd gathered at the door of the Xin room next door.

Ximen Kankan was short, unable to see anything from behind the crowd, so he jostled forward, and Duan Rong followed, squeezing into the front through the gap Ximen created.

Inside the room, scattered gambling tools lay on the luxurious carpet, silver notes and dominoes piled on the table, with three people still seated, clearly having been gambling domino before...

In the room, facing away from the door, stood three individuals.

One was dressed like a scholar, while the other two were robust martial artists, standing behind him with drawn swords.

Ximen Kankan whispered to Duan Rong, "That’s Wei Yutian, the owner of Weiyang Square."

Duan Rong glanced at the scholar-like man’s back; his loose robe and slim figure gave him an aura of otherworldly sophistication...

Wei Yutian stared deeply at one among the three seated at the table, "Mr. Fang Jingbao, why not show your true face?"

The man was a frail-looking elderly with graying hair, wearing an ornate, border-trimmed gown, exuding a dignified air.

The elder sighed deeply, glanced around at the other two by the gambling table, intending to swindle some rich fools; unexpectedly, he was exposed upon entry.

The elder met Wei Yutian’s unfriendly gaze and finally raised his hand to reveal his gray hair wig, exposing short black hair, then peeled off a layer from his face.

His wrinkled face immediately turned into a thin, sallow middle-aged face.

"It really is you!" Wei Yutian’s pupils contracted.

Fang Jingbao said, "Ten years no see, Mr. Wei still remembers me."

"How could I forget Mr. Fang winning seventy to eighty thousand taels in one night?" Wei Yutian sneered.

Fang Jingbao said, "I’ve always wondered; my disguise technique is quite powerful. How did you recognize me as soon as I entered, Mr. Wei?"

"You’ve been gone for ten years! Do you think your old sweetheart is still loyal to you?"

Fang Jingbao’s breath caught, and he glanced at Wei Yutian before letting out a bitter laugh, "I see."

"Mr. Wei, how do you plan to deal with me?" Fang Jingbao’s expression remained unperturbed; he had seen the world and mingled in the Jianghu.

"Ten years ago, the combined banishment from major casinos promised that if Mr. Fang entered a casino again and got caught, they would sever your hand!" Wei Yutian said, glancing at Fang Jingbao’s right hand.

Fang Jingbao just sat coldly, expressionless.

Wei Yutian was a True Qi Realm expert; he could kill him, let alone chop his hand off, and Fang could only admit defeat!

"But Mr. Fang, you kept your promise for ten years! During these ten years, not only did you avoid Weiyang Square, but you also stayed away from the casinos in nearby counties."

"You honored the agreement for ten years! Leaving home, enduring hardships, it’s not easy!" Wei Yutian sighed.

Fang Jingbao’s expression shifted; he sensed Wei Yutian might show leniency.

"If I cut off your hand, you’d be discontent." Wei Yutian’s gaze was sharp, scrutinizing Fang Jingbao, "I’ll just cut your thumb, leave a mark."

Fang Jingbao’s lips trembled slightly as he turned to Wei Yutian, saying, "Mr. Wei is merciful!"

Fang Jingbao’s words were sincere; merely cutting off his thumb was already showing him mercy.

Wei Yutian tilted his head slightly towards a martial artist beside him, briefly instructing, "Right hand! Thumb!"

The martial artist promptly drew his sword, moved beside Fang Jingbao, and coldly said, "Mr. Fang, please!"

Fang Jingbao’s eyes flickered as he slowly raised his right hand, removed the dark green jadeite ring from his finger, placed it on the table, and then positioned his right hand at the table’s edge.

The martial artist grasped his blade with both hands, aiming at Fang Jingbao’s thumb like a guillotine; with a twitch of his eyelids, he chopped down.

The saying goes, "ten fingers, heart connected."

Fang Jingbao experienced intense pain, reflexively retracting his right hand, immediately using his left palm to cover the severed thumb, his complexion turning pale, cold sweat pouring down his face.

As he retracted his right hand, his elbow struck the jadeite ring on the table.

The jadeite ring, streaked with blood, rolled off the table, landing on the carpet, and spinning towards the door, stopping at Ximen Kankan’s feet; Ximen Kankan quickly moved aside to avoid it.

Before it fell, the jadeite ring rolled through the bloodstain on the table, with slight blood marks still tainting its edge...

Duan Rong glanced at the ring on the carpet, his mind stirred, stepping aside, bending down to pick up the jadeite ring.

At this moment, everyone in the room watched Duan Rong and the jadeite ring in his hand; even Wei Yutian turned to look at Duan Rong.

Duan Rong remained composed, holding the jadeite ring as he walked to the table, but in the moment he picked up the jadeite ring, he secretly activated the Artifact Spirit reading.

Now, as Duan Rong observed the data appearing before him, his heart was mildly surprised; the jadeite ring was actually a Tier Three Artifact Spirit.

Artifact: Jadeite Ring.

Artifact Spirit Tier: Three.

Devouring Requirements: Host’s Spiritual Power level 3 (met).

Devouring Effect: Master of Qingcha Skill, Master of Hundred Transformations Thousand Techniques, Master of Disguise.

"Three fringe skills, and all at master level?"

Duan Rong walked to stand next to Wei Yutian, thinking to himself, "Devour!"

As the data panel before him shifted and disappeared, Duan Rong placed the jadeite ring back on Fang Jingbao’s table, and Fang Jingbao glanced at the ring, then looked up at Duan Rong, "Thank you."

Duan Rong only responded with a slight nod, his gaze observing Fang Jingbao’s bloody mutilated finger on the table, then turned to walk back to the room’s entrance.

As Duan Rong returned, Ximen Kankan’s curious gaze swept over Duan Rong’s face...