Chapter Seventy-Two: The Pavilion of Soaring Clouds

Wearing clothes "borrowed" from the fashion shop, Ding Li felt particularly cheerful. Perhaps it was because the expensive clothes hadn't been paid for, or maybe because his body felt incredibly dry after escaping the sticky seawater. Leaving the shop, he didn't even glance in the direction where Caiyun Pavilion had disappeared, but walked away alone.

Having spent half a day thoroughly investigating Hua Lao Wu's several pleasure boats, Ding Li now approached Yunxiao Pavilion, not far from Caiyun Pavilion, and regretted tossing all his money to the women as he left. The pleasure boats were arranged nearly identically, especially the casinos, all located within the cabins. Ding Li, however, was penniless, unable to exchange for chips or even enter the boat.

Standing outside Yunxiao Pavilion, Ding Li's earlier frustration dissipated. The commotion at Caiyun Pavilion had already put Yunxiao Pavilion on alert. Though the people here didn't know whether the fire at Caiyun Pavilion was accidental or deliberate, it was certainly no small matter.

The outer balconies of Yunxiao Pavilion were crowded with guests, all eager to discuss the earlier blaze. On the shore beside the boat, a dozen boat guards surrounded a burly, bare-chested man, whose face was ashen as he coldly scolded his subordinates. It seemed the trouble at Caiyun Pavilion had been caused by them.

"It looks like even if I had money, I'd have to force my way in," Ding Li murmured, a barely perceptible curve at his lips. His deep, shining gaze locked onto the guards outside Yunxiao Pavilion, who had sealed off the boat's exit. The burly man onshore clearly commanded them, likely worried their pavilion might be the next target.

Resolute, Ding Li wasted no more time and strode towards Yunxiao Pavilion. Before he reached the planks connecting to the boat, the bare-chested man's glance prompted two guards to step forward, raising their arms to block Ding Li. One spoke coldly, "Yunxiao Pavilion is full tonight, sir. Please find entertainment elsewhere. Sorry for any inconvenience."

"I'm here to gamble! If you won't let me in, where else do you suggest I go?" Ding Li retorted sharply, his brows raised and face displeased. Though his words were rude, they revealed his interest in their casino, and the guard was not overly harsh, repeating apologetically, "Yunxiao Pavilion is full tonight, sir. Please find entertainment elsewhere. Sorry for any inconvenience."

"What if I refuse to leave?" Ding Li snapped, slapping away the blocking arm, and stared arrogantly at the two guards.

"Where did this drunk come from, daring to cause trouble at Yunxiao Pavilion?!" The bare-chested man could no longer tolerate it. With Caiyun Pavilion's incident fueling his anger and nowhere to vent, he now faced a reckless troublemaker. He swept Ding Li with a cold glare and barked, "Throw him into the sea to sober up! Let him know where he is!"

No sooner had he spoken than several men stepped forward, and the two guards before Ding Li hesitated. Clearly, they hadn't expected their boss to risk offending a guest. Reluctant, they had no choice but to follow orders.

But before they could react, two fists the size of basins appeared before them. In the next moment, both received solid punches to their faces, their minds overwhelmed by bitterness, sourness, pain, and a burning taste worse than any flavor. Instinctively, they retreated, clutching their faces, blood filling their mouths and noses.

"You dare to fight back?!"

The five men who had just stepped out were stunned, then rushed at Ding Li in fury. Ding Li sidestepped, his foot smashing into the chest of the nearest attacker, sending him flying. Without pause, Ding Li spun and delivered a back kick to another man's neck, dropping him instantly.

As Ding Li turned and steadied himself, a whip kick came at him from the side. He caught it with his arm and hammered his fist onto the leg trapped beneath his ribs. With a sharp crack, he pushed the leg away, and its owner staggered back, unable to stand, falling to the ground clutching his shattered knee and rolling in agony until he fainted.

Catching a punch from his right in his peripheral vision, Ding Li tilted his head, feeling the wind brush his cheek. Without even frowning, he spun and punched the attacker in the face, then kicked him in the abdomen.

The last man, still at a distance, attempted a kick that could hardly reach Ding Li even if he lunged forward. The feeble blow lacked any force.

Seeing this, Ding Li stepped forward, forcing his opponent to retreat repeatedly. Suddenly, Ding Li leapt onto the pleasure boat, bounding in a few strides to the guards at the entrance.

Including the bare-chested man onshore, no one expected Ding Li to have floored six guards in the blink of an eye, intimidating the last into inaction. Nor did they expect him to storm the pleasure boat. The guards at the entrance were utterly unprepared.

In a flash, Ding Li kicked out twice, sending two men into the water. He then smashed a heavy punch into another's face, who stumbled backward into the boat, writhing in pain. The final guard, reaching for a weapon at his waist, was lifted bodily by Ding Li.

With a swift turn, Ding Li hurled the man overhead at the crowd of attackers scrambling onto the boat, including the bare-chested man. No one tried to catch their comrade, letting him crash to the ground. When they looked back at the boat, Ding Li had vanished, though fighting could be heard inside.

The man who had been punched into the boat staggered upright, only to see Ding Li’s fierce visage before him. Crying out in terror, he tried to run but was seized by his belt and flung out through a broken window, landing with a splash.

Giving no chance for the bare-chested man outside to enter, Ding Li leapt, tore down a string of lanterns and tossed them behind him. He stepped forward, twisted, and side-kicked a four-tiered candle stand to the floor, ignoring the growing flames as he kicked it aside. Jumping again, he grabbed another candle stand and hurled it at the boat’s entrance.

Turning, he saw several knife-wielding guards charging him. Without hesitation, Ding Li darted forward like an arrow. Before the lead attacker could react, Ding Li seized his wrist, twisted sharply with a crunch, snatched the dropped short knife, and swung it forward.

Now armed, Ding Li was even more ferocious. He kicked the howling, broken-wristed man aside and followed up, slashing bloodily at another, then blocking a blow aimed at him. He yanked his opponent toward himself, released his grip, and locked the man’s neck in his arm, holding him as a human shield.

Within a few breaths, Ding Li had cut down three more men, drawing ever closer to the entrance of the casino below. Meanwhile, the bare-chested man and his followers forced their way through the fiery doorway, his rage boiling over as he rushed at Ding Li, swinging a thick-backed broadsword and roaring, "Chop this bastard into mincemeat!"

Ding Li glanced back at the man's bloodshot eyes, realizing he couldn’t storm the casino now. The man behind him was utterly reckless, perhaps ready to follow him into the casino, set it on fire, or die together.

Resolutely, Ding Li shoved his human shield forward. Seizing the moment when no threat stood before him, he sprang back, gripping the knife tightly, and collided head-on with the bare-chested man.

"Ah!!"

The man exploded in a roar, his strength startling Ding Li. Their knives clashed fiercely. Though the man’s hands were torn and bleeding, he endured the pain, his furious eyes locked on Ding Li.

"Get out!"

Ding Li dared not linger. With his back exposed and danger imminent, he shouted, exerted his arms to push his opponent aside, then twisted his body and rammed forward, his shoulder striking the man’s chest. The man staggered back in pain, but managed a resentful swing with his broadsword.

"Whoosh!"

That blow startled Ding Li. He hadn’t expected the man to still have strength for a counterattack. Had Ding Li not reacted swiftly, it would have taken half his head off. He ducked and twisted, but the blade still sheared off a lock of hair, the chill lingering as he watched it drift before his eyes.

With that moment of dodging, the guards forced back by Ding Li rushed him again. Ding Li, unwilling to get entangled yet unable to simply leave, clenched his knife, determination flashing in his eyes, and rose to meet them.

"Kill him! Whoever kills him, I’ll report to Master Hua Wu! The next pleasure boat will be his!" The bare-chested man's bravado had faded, his hands bleeding, his chest aching from the earlier blow. Even breathing felt tight and painful, but his rage burned on.