Chapter 16: It Must Be Snuffed Out

“Hmph! Don’t talk big in front of me. My master is none other than the Immortal Xu. If I’m here to cause trouble, what can you do about it?” Jiang Fan sneered with disdain. “Listen, I’m short on cash. Aren’t you running a gambling house? Give me a thousand taels of gold up front, or I’ll smash your whole operation today!”

“Arrogant! Do you even know who you’re talking to?”

“You brat, arrogance should have its limits. Don’t think that just because you’re a disciple of the Immortal Xu, you can do whatever you want. The owner of the Fortune Gambling House isn’t someone to be taken lightly either!”

“You’re really too cocky. It’s one thing to act violently in Brother Wu’s gambling house, but to make such outrageous demands—do you think Brother Wu is made of clay?”

“You’d better apologize to Brother Wu properly. Maybe there’s still room to smooth things over. Otherwise, today’s business won’t end peacefully.”

Before Brother Wu, the owner of the Fortune Gambling House, could speak, the four wealthy gentlemen beside him couldn’t hold back any longer. Yet, knowing Jiang Fan was a disciple of the Immortal Xu, they dared not speak too harshly.

“What are you lot? Brother Wu hasn’t even spoken yet, and you dare to boss me around? Do you want to get yourself kicked out of Peaceful Town?” Jiang Fan snapped. The four gentlemen’s faces darkened to the extreme but dared not utter another word.

At that moment, Brother Wu finally spoke again in a cold voice: “You little beast, do you really think I’m easy to bully? Even if you’re the Immortal Xu’s disciple today, I’ll make you understand the dangers of the underworld!”

“Oh? You want to make a move? Come on, beat me to death if you can!” Jiang Fan showed no fear. “Today, it’s either you kill me or I kill you.”

Jiang Fan had just glanced at the name Liu Renyi recorded in the Grand Dao Scripture. Its brilliance still shone brightly, though slightly dimmer. Obviously, the damage Jiang Fan transferred to him earlier barely harmed him.

This made Jiang Fan even more wary of the Immortal Xu’s power. His guess was right—killing Immortal Xu by merely transferring damage was far from easy.

Still, Jiang Fan dared not go all out. After all, he was poisoned with the Immortal Xu’s Seven-Day Heart Devouring Powder. Without an antidote, he might die outright.

What troubled him most was whether the poison’s effects could be transferred once it activated.

If he couldn’t transfer the poison’s toxicity, even if he shifted the pain, his life would be at stake.

For now, Jiang Fan planned to continue transferring damage to the Immortal Xu, at least to collect some interest.

“Damn you! You want to fight? I might not be able to kill you outright, but making you suffer is no problem!” Brother Wu roared in anger and charged at Jiang Fan with bare fists.

“Do you think I’m afraid of you?” Jiang Fan swung his iron rod and charged back.

Bang! Jiang Fan swung with all his might, but Brother Wu caught the iron rod with a fist. The tremendous force sent the rod flying.

“So strong! No wonder he’s a postnatal realm expert!” Jiang Fan was shocked. His own strength was only comparable to those naturally strong, but facing Brother Wu was like a child against an adult—no contest.

“You little beast, is that all your arrogance is worth? You’re just a beginner cultivator. No surprise that Elder Lian and the other two leaders dare not offend the Immortal Xu lightly. But trash like you has no right to be arrogant before me,” Brother Wu sneered. “Since you came looking for a beating, I’ll gladly give you one.”

With that, Brother Wu’s figure blurred as he instantly appeared before Jiang Fan, delivering a crushing punch to his chest.

Bang! Jiang Fan was sent flying, crashing heavily into the wooden room, breaking a large hole. His body was embedded in the wooden wreckage, unable to rise.

If Jiang Fan hadn’t immediately transferred the damage to the Immortal Xu, he would have been seriously injured by that punch.

Meanwhile, the Immortal Xu felt a sudden tightness in his chest, staggering back several steps inside the room. His face darkened in anger.

Before he could curse, his head was suddenly stepped on, pressed hard against the ground.

At that moment, on the third floor of the Fortune Gambling House, Jiang Fan’s head was crushed under Brother Wu’s boot, leaving him unable to move.

“Brother Wu, you damn bastard! You dare step on me? I’ll make you pay someday!” Jiang Fan was furious. Though he had transferred the damage, the humiliation was severe.

At this moment, Jiang Fan truly harbored murderous intent toward Brother Wu.

“You little beast! You took my punch and still act like nothing happened? Cultivators really are formidable. A beginner like you is so tough, no wonder Elder Lian and the others don’t dare offend the Immortal Xu. But trash like you isn’t qualified to be arrogant before me,” Brother Wu said coldly. “Today I’m just giving you a lesson. Next time, I’ll break your bones and tendons.”

After speaking, Brother Wu kicked Jiang Fan hard several times in the abdomen and head, then booted him out of the wooden hole.

But now Brother Wu had real killing intent. Jiang Fan still thought of revenge, so he couldn’t be spared.

“Brother Wu, I won’t forget you. When I’m strong enough, I’ll definitely kill you!” Seeing Brother Wu’s name appear in the Grand Dao Scripture, Jiang Fan didn’t linger. He spat out a fierce threat to deepen their hatred and dashed out of the Fortune Gambling House.

Watching Jiang Fan’s retreating figure, Brother Wu’s face darkened to the extreme.

“This little beast just stepped into cultivation and is already so powerful. My full-strength punch couldn’t even hurt him! If he grows stronger, what then?” Cold killing intent flashed in Brother Wu’s eyes. “Then I’ll have to find a way to kill him before he matures…”

As for Jiang Fan, he quickly fled to the first floor, grabbed a large pile of money from the banker’s table with his clothes, then hurried away.

No one from the Fortune Gambling House gave chase. Everyone on the first floor stared in astonishment at Jiang Fan escaping with the silver, eyes wide in disbelief.

“He… he’s unharmed?”

“What kind of identity does this kid have? Even the owner of the Fortune Gambling House dares not touch him?”

“He actually dared to steal from the Fortune Gambling House…”

Everyone looked on, incredulous as Jiang Fan swiftly disappeared with the silver.

Meanwhile, Jiang Fan was already moving away.

“The Grand Xuan Inn forces women into prostitution, the Fortune Gambling House ruins lives with gambling—let’s see what dark deeds the Fengyue Pavilion is hiding,” Jiang Fan mused, growing curious. Though its name suggested a place of pleasure, he sensed there was more than just forced prostitution; perhaps even darker dealings lurked beneath…