Having the ground behind the dice rolling men splitting into two[2] halves and revealing a huge pathway with light orbs hung on both side of it, Mr. Guchun rode round the dice rolling men before riding into the underground pathway.
"You can see why it's called an underground gaming event," he said to Shung Yun as Haru caught up to him.
"Hahaha! Looks like my subordinate wins again,"
"You stupid slave! You're better off dead than alive!"
Exiting the pathway, yells and roars rang into Shung Yun's ears as the spectators shouted in either anger or excitement.
"Let's go register you for the main event," Mr. Guchun said as he continued riding forward.
Following Mr. Guchun, Shung Yun arrived in front of a counter with a middle-stage female youth at the other side of it.
"I need a slot in today's main event," Mr. Guchun said as he handed five[5] duan gold pieces to the female cashier.
Taking the five[5] duan gold pieces, the female cashier wrote some words on the booklet in front of her before passing a silver medallion with the number six[6] engraved on it.
"That's your track number," she said as Mr. Guchun took hold of the silver medallion.
Nodding his head at the cashier's words, Mr. Guchun passed the silver medallion to Shung Yun, "you'll use it to get into the race."
"Got that," Shung Yun said as he checked out the silver medallion.
"Let's head over there," Mr. Guchun said as he began riding towards the direction of the huge, round, metallic cage.
Arriving a few meters from the cage enveloping the racing tracks, Mr. Guchun and Shung Yun came down from their horses before passing the halters to the middle-stage male youth in charge of the horses in the underground gaming event.
"Guchun, you're a little late today," a middle-stage middle aged man with a wine cup in his hand said as he looked at Mr. Guchun.
"I'm only here for the main event today, Junta," Mr. Guchun said to the wine holding middle aged man before walking towards an empty seat among the disorganized sitting arrangement.
Sitting beside Mr. Guchun, Shung Yun scrutinized the racing arena before looking at the cultivators around him.
"You shouldn't do that," Mr. Guchun said as he caught sight of Shung Yun's action.
"I'm only checking out my opponents," Shung Yun said as he looked at Mr. Guchun, "that isn't against the rules, right?"
"You look out of place doing that here," Mr. Guchun whispered in Shung Yun's left ear, "and looking out of place in a distinguished place like this might cause people to underestimate you."
"I understand," Shung Yun said.
"That's good. You remember what we spoke about on our way here, right?" Mr. Guchun asked.
"I do," Shung Yun answered.
"Then have this," Mr. Guchun said as he passed a yellow colored paper with symbols and runes on it to Shung Yun, "place it on the neck of your horse and activate it at the last hundred[100] meters of the race. That will be the deciding moment of the race."
"I'm a body tempering realm cultivator. I can't activate an inscription," Shung Yun said as he looked at the yellow colored paper in his hand.
"This will take care of it," Mr. Guchun said as a white colored pearl appeared in his right hand.
"A spiritual Qi stone," Shung Yun said as he looked at the white colored pearl in Mr. Guchun's right hand.
"You've seen you before?" Mr. Guchun asked Shung Yun.
"Not really the same as this," Shung Yun said as he pointed at the white colored pearl, "mine is split between white and gray."
"Yours?" Mr. Guchun asked after picking out the word 'mine' from Shung Yun's words.
"Well, my uncle is really fond of me. He gave me the last one he had," Shung Yun said with a smile on his face.
"He must really care for you," Mr. Guchun said as he heard about Shung Yun's uncle.
"He does. If not of his responsibilities in the village, I'm sure he would've come along on my journey," Shung Yun smiled for a few seconds before chuckling out, "I can't help but doubt my journey every time I think about him."
"Everyone with your experience will doubt leaving the amazing and lovely life they had back in the village for a dangerous journey to further their cultivation," Mr. Guchun said as he looked at Shung Yun, "but in the long run, they'll come to find out that they made the right choice. Just as you would do."
"I hope so," Shung Yun said as he cleaned the tear drop at the edge of his right eye.
"Awwn! What a sad tale. You really need a hug, kid," a voice sounded behind Shung Yun and Mr. Guchun as two[2] smooth, hairless hands crossed around Shung Yun's neck.
Turning his face towards his back, Shung Yun saw a beautiful face a few inches from his face.
"Leave the kid alone, Tashi," Mr. Guchun said as he looked at the lady behind Shung Yun.
"Getting jealous, Guchun?" the beautiful middle-stage middle aged lady asked as she looked at Mr. Guchun.
"Kid, this is Tashi, the daughter of the second elder of Tanji Clan," Mr. Guchun said as he introduced the beautiful middle-stage middle aged lady to the stunned Shung Yun.
Snapping out of his un-natural thoughts, Shung Yun smiled as he greeted, "junior greets senior Tashi."
Surprised at the fluent speaking of the kid whose face is just few inches from hers, Tanji Tashi asked, "what's your name, kid?"
"Shung Yun," Shung Yun said to Tashi.
"You're a bold, Shung Yun," Tashi said as she let go of Shung Yun's neck, "you could speak fluently with my face just inches away from yours."
"Maybe, it's because senior has a beautiful face," Shung Yun smiled as he kept his face turned towards Tashi.
"You're so sweet," Tashi said as she smiled at Shung Yun, "here. You just made my day."
Knowing Shung Yun's background, Mr. Guchun said, "that's a Silver-Layer pill. It's used in strengthening the foundation of a body tempering realm cultivator."
"Thank you, senior Tashi," Shung Yun said as he cupped his fist and bent his head towards the ground.
"Hope I hear your name among the emerging geniuses in the next ten[10] years, Shung Yun," Tashi said as she turned towards Mr. Guchun.
"I will do my best," Shung Yun said as he kept the tiny jar containing the single silver colored oval pill in his pouch.
"Why haven't you returned to the inner sanctum?" Tashi asked Mr. Guchun.
"You know why I haven't," Mr. Guchun said as he turned away from Tashi.
"Actually, I don't," Tashi said with her eyes still on Mr. Guchun, "so tell me why you haven't returned to the inner sanctum?"
"You know I was exiled away by your family head," Mr. Guchun said with his sight locked on the race going on in the caged arena.
"And I know an apology would fix everything," Tashi said pulled her face closer to Mr. Guchun, "you aren't the same weak and poor youth you once were. You're now one of the most influential business men in Yuhan Town. My family head would accept your apology."
"And I don't want that!" Mr. Guchun sharply turned his head backwards as he said to Tashi.
"W..what do you mean you don't want that?" Tashi sounded both angry and surprised as she asked Mr. Guchun.
"I don't want to be the one to apologize. That's what I mean by I don't want that," Mr. Guchun said as he kept his eyes on Tashi.
"You want my family head to be the one to apologize?" Tashi sounded surprised as she looked at Mr. Guchun, "you must be joking."
"I want Tanji Befan to apologize for exiling me from the inner sanctum because his daughter and I fell in love with each other. And I'm not joking about that," Mr. Guchun said before looking away from Tashi.
"What are they talking about for them to be so agitated?" Shung Yun thought as he watched the actions of Mr. Guchun and Tashi without hearing what they're saying or seeing their lips moving.
New Chapter...
Bear with me, dear readers. I'm in the phase of looking at my keyboard without knowing how to progress despite knowing where I want to go. Nevertheless, enjoy this chapter....
Have a nice day.....
Christianity is being Christ-like, and not church-like....
Thanks for your time and patience…," Author_X