Courtyard Houses: From Bronze Compasses to Global Reach

Chapter 96 The Turbulent Times of Macau and the Sword Immortal of the Middle School

Nearly forty years within the space were almost entirely dedicated to the tedious and arduous cultivation of rune arrays. When Lin Yan finally perfected his cultivation of rune arrays during the Foundation Establishment stage, a profound sense of mental exhaustion washed over him. The intense, decades-long, meticulous simulations and countless failures and setbacks had left Lin Yan feeling an indescribable weariness.

"A balance between work and rest, a proper rhythm. Blindly pursuing arduous training is not the right path," Lin Yan murmured to himself, making a decision. "It's time to go out and see the world, to change my mood."

Calculating the time, it is already December in the outside world, and December 13th will be his sixteenth birthday in this world.

"Perfect, I'll take a long vacation until after my birthday." Thinking of this, a relaxed smile appeared on his lips. After cultivating, his concept of age had become blurred, but occasionally returning to the secular world and experiencing the atmosphere of a birthday seemed like a good idea.

With a thought, he left the spatial dimension and returned to his villa in Deep Water Bay. After resting for a few days in Deep Water Bay, Lin Yan's curiosity about the hustle and bustle of the world quietly rekindled. He recalled that in Macau at this time (1958), the gambling industry was monopolized by the long-established Tai Hing Company, whose flagship casino was located in the Central Hotel. This piqued his interest, and he wanted to experience firsthand the original appearance of this "Monte Carlo of the East" before the era of Stanley Ho.

"Lin Er, get ready, we're going to Macau for a visit," Lin Yan instructed.

"Yes, young master," Lin Er replied, then cautiously asked, "Does young master want to try his luck there? The environment there is rather complicated, so we need to make some arrangements."

"It's alright, I'm just going to take a look and experience it." Lin Yan waved his hand, his eyes filled with a pure interest in relaxing and trying things out. "Just consider it a way to clear my head and also to see what this so-called 'human desire field' is like."

The group chose a calm day and boarded the ferry that travels between Hong Kong and Macau. A salty sea breeze swept over them, and Lin Yan leaned against the railing, watching Hong Kong Island gradually recede into the distance, feeling quite fascinated. About an hour later, Macau's low-lying coastline and old buildings with a Southern European flair came into view.

After disembarking, they went straight to the Central Hotel on Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro. This building, which was the tallest in Macau at the time, was the location of the Tai Hing Company's core casino.

Stepping into the casino lobby, a wave of heat, a mixture of fine cigars, sweat, tea, and a cacophony of emotions, hits you. The lobby's decor was considered lavish for its time, with crystal chandeliers casting a soft glow and thick carpets covering the floors. But what's even more striking is the almost tangible clamor and the bizarre array of people present.

Wealthy merchants in silk robes and rosaries, shrewd managers in suits, ladies in cheongsams with graceful figures and charming smiles, and many more ordinary citizens in short clothes, their faces showing either tension or excitement... all sorts of people mingled together, gathered around gambling tables.

Lin Yan exchanged a small stack of chips without using any divine sense or extraordinary abilities. Today, he just wanted to be a pure "mortal" and experience this most primitive game of luck.

He first headed towards the busiest stall.

The vendor skillfully covered a pile of white porcelain shards with a porcelain bowl. Gamblers around him placed their chips on the "one, two, three, four" numbers, muttering incantations and looking tense.

"Young Master, this is about guessing the final remainder," Lin Er explained in a low voice.

Lin Yan nodded, looking at the densely packed stalls with interest. He casually picked up a few chips and, based on his intuition, placed his bet on "three".

The stall owner began to slowly and ritualistically part four stalls at a time with a pole. Each movement tugged at the heartstrings of everyone present. Lin Yan also held his breath, his gaze following the pole's movement.

Finally, three lumps remained at the bottom of the bowl.

"Open three!" the stall owner chanted.

"Good!" Cheers erupted from the people around him who had placed their bets. Lin Yan also smiled, watching the dealer push the chips with odds of 1 to 3 in front of him. "Interesting." He felt that this simple game, due to its unpredictability, brought a slight sense of excitement.

Next, he went to the dice table.

The three dice were shaken vigorously by the dealer inside the cup, making a crisp clinking sound, before being slammed onto the table with a bang.

"Place your bet now!" the dealer shouted.

Gamblers placed bets on "big," "small," or specific point values. Lin Yan thought for a moment and then placed half of his winnings on "big."

Open the cup! Four, five, six, and fifteen o'clock big!

"Ha, not bad luck." Lin Yan chuckled, feeling even more relaxed. He played a few more rounds, winning and losing, the chips rising and falling before his eyes. He was completely immersed in this simple and direct game of luck, temporarily forgetting about cultivation and talisman arrays. He even imitated the old gambler next to him, quietly shouting "Big!" before the dice were opened, and after winning, he would show a happy smile like the others.

Then, he was drawn to the relatively quiet yet tense atmosphere of baccarat.

He sat down at a green felt table. The dealer dealt the cards with elegant movements.

"Sir, please place your bet," the dealer gestured to him.

Lin Yan glanced at the "Banker" and "Player" areas and casually placed a few chips on the "Banker" side.

The cards are turned over; the player has 8 points, and the banker has... 6 points.

"Player wins".

The chips were taken. Lin Yan raised an eyebrow, unconcerned, and increased his bet on "Player" in the next round. This time he won. He felt that this game, which required a bit of luck in reading the cards, was more interesting than simply guessing the size of the hand. He played several rounds in a row, leaning slightly forward, his fingers unconsciously tapping the table, his eyes following each card as it was dealt, completely absorbed in the game. He even briefly forgot his identity as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, acting like an ordinary rich young man experiencing a novel and exciting game.

Finally, he also tried Pai Gow.

Looking at the complex dominoes, he humbly asked an old man next to him for the rules, and then tried placing a bet. Although he lost, he understood how to play and found the game quite interesting, as it required some card counting and calculation skills.

During this process, he lost some but also won back a considerable amount. In one baccarat game, he bet on "Banker Pair," with odds as high as eleven times, causing his chips to pile up significantly, drawing envious glances from the other gamblers at the table, and even the dealer gave him a second look. At that moment, Lin Yan couldn't help but share the same smug and excited smile as those around him, experiencing the thrill of "explosive luck."

Of course, he also witnessed the myriad aspects of gambling: some people shouted with ecstasy after winning money, some sat pale and stunned after losing everything, and some kept pawning items in an attempt to recoup their losses. These extreme emotional fluctuations, like intense whirlpools of emotion, assaulted his senses. He immersed himself in the experience, yet maintained a sliver of clarity in his heart, like an experiential actor, feeling the role but knowing that this was not his own life.

After playing for nearly two hours, Lin Yan had accumulated significantly more chips than before. Feeling he had had enough, Lin Yan contentedly pushed most of his chips to Lin Er to exchange, keeping only a few of the smallest amounts as souvenirs.

As he left the Central Hotel, Macau was already bathed in the glow of evening lights. The cool evening breeze carried away the smell of tobacco clinging to him and the fleeting atmosphere of excitement.

"Young Master, you're on a winning streak," Lin Er said with a smile.

Lin Yan stretched, his expression languid and satisfied: "I was lucky. More importantly, I really relaxed." He savored the pure, heart-pounding feeling he'd just experienced over a small win or loss. "I haven't felt this way in a long time. Indulging in it occasionally is a good way to unwind."

For him, these hours of immersive experience were an effective mental massage. He played with abandon, experiencing the exhilaration of winning and the slight regret of losing, feeling the unique emotional tension of the casino, and then leaving it all behind. Far from losing his way, his moral compass became more balanced and insightful because of this complete relaxation and experience, giving him a more vivid understanding of "desire" and "human nature."

During the remainder of his holiday in Macau, he spent his time leisurely. He savored authentic Portuguese cuisine, strolled through the historic streets where Chinese and Western influences blended, soaked in the unique, relaxed atmosphere of this small city, and quietly awaited his sixteenth birthday. His experience at the Macau casinos became a vivid and interesting interlude in his journey of self-cultivation amidst the worldly affairs.

After spending two days in Macau, sampling Portuguese cuisine, strolling through its narrow yet charming streets, and even experiencing the hustle and bustle of the Central Hotel, Lin Yan felt there was nothing left to miss in this small city. The world here was ultimately too cramped, like a delicate bonsai; after a while, it lost its novelty.

"Let's go, back to Hong Kong." Late at night, standing by the window of his hotel room, Lin Yan suddenly made a decision on a whim.

"Young Master, now? I'll go arrange the boat immediately..." Lin Er was taken aback upon hearing this and quickly replied.

"No need." Lin Yan turned around, a smile tinged with excitement and mischief playing on his lips. "I'll go back myself."

Lin Er instantly understood his young master's meaning, a hint of helplessness flashing across his face, but mostly absolute obedience: "Yes, young master. If you need me to wait..."

"You guys take the boat back as usual." Lin Yan waved his hand, his eyes gleaming with eagerness. "As for me... I want to try out the new 'mode of transportation' I've learned."

He dismissed Lin Er and went to the hotel rooftop alone. The night wind was biting, making his clothes flutter. In the distance, the neon lights of the casino still flickered, outlining the silhouette of this city that never sleeps.

He took a deep breath of the crisp, cool air, scanned his surroundings with his divine sense to confirm that no one was watching. Then, he pointed his fingers like a sword and uttered a low shout: "Sword, come!"

A clear stream of light flew out from the storage ring; it was the second-tier mid-grade flying sword, hovering in front of him, emitting a slight hum, its blade radiating a cool, moonlit glow.

"Hehe, baby, it's all up to you tonight!" Lin Yan patted the sword hilt, the chuunibyou (adolescent delusions of grandeur) that had been suppressed during his practice in the spatial realm now being completely unleashed in this deserted place. He leaped and landed steadily on the sword.

"disease!"

Driven by spiritual power, the flying sword emitted a clear and melodious sword cry, lifting him into the air! A strong gust of air rushed towards him, but was blocked by the faint spiritual light that automatically appeared around him.

Rise higher, higher still! The Macau Peninsula below shrinks rapidly, like an unfolded scroll adorned with glittering jewels. In the distance, the Lingdingyang Sea shimmers with a deep, ethereal light under the moonlight, while denser points of light are faintly visible in the night sky towards Hong Kong.

"Wow!!!" Although he had flown countless times in space, the feeling of flying freely and soaring between heaven and earth in the night sky of the real world for the first time still made Lin Yan let out a long roar of joy, and a sense of pride arose in his heart!

"Hahaha! This is what true freedom is! Cars and ships are nothing compared to this!" He couldn't help but burst into laughter, but fortunately, his voice was shielded by spiritual energy and didn't carry. He tried to control his flying sword, making it circle in the air. The night wind blew his hair back, and an unprecedented sense of freedom filled his heart.

"I am the king of the sky! The guardian of the darkness! Uh... seems like I've switched channels." Images from superhero and fantasy movies he'd seen in his past life flashed through his mind as he role-played, "Right now, I am a sword immortal! Codename... 'Night Wanderer'? No, no, that's too corny... 'Hong Kong-Macau Express'? Even stranger..."

Lost in thought, he adjusted his direction and sped towards the approximate location of Hong Kong. His flying sword pierced the night sky with astonishing speed, the seawater beneath his feet turning into a blurry, deep blue.

In pursuit of thrills, he would sometimes soar suddenly as if to touch the stars in the sky, and sometimes swoop down, flying close to the sea surface. The icy water splashes he kicked up were deflected by his protective aura. He even tried to perform a few difficult flips in the air, having a great time.

"Hard to left! Avoid that cloud! Oh, it's an updraft!" he muttered to himself, completely immersed in the ultimate joy of riding the wind. "Will I be able to fly directly to North America in the future? Hmm... my spiritual energy endurance and speed might still be a bit of a problem, but it'll definitely be possible in the future!"

The moonlight bathed him, gilding him with a silvery edge. Beneath his feet lay a vast expanse of waves, above him a glittering Milky Way; it seemed as if he were the only one in the world, wielding his sword, roaming freely. This feeling of wielding power and transcending the mundane greatly satisfied his deep-seated youthful spirit and his fantasies that defied reality.

Occasionally, a plane flying at night would flash its lights in the far distance, and Lin Yan would curiously use his divine sense to "observe" it from afar, comparing the two completely different modes of flight. "Mine is more environmentally friendly, zero emissions, it just takes up a bit of spiritual energy, haha."

As the lights of Hong Kong drew closer and the outline of Victoria Harbour gradually became clearer, Lin Yancai, still feeling a bit unsatisfied, lowered his altitude and speed, concealed his aura, and became even more hidden.

He flew a short circle around Hong Kong Island in the night sky, and the view of the city at night from the air was a completely different experience. Finally, he found his way to Deep Water Bay, and quietly glided down, landing silently on the lawn of the villa like a feather.

The flying sword transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the storage ring. Lin Yan stood there, savoring the brief but incredibly exhilarating flight he had just experienced, his face still flushed with excitement and filled with an irrepressible smile.

"Awesome!" He couldn't help but pump his fist, feeling that the biggest gain from this trip to Macau was actually the return journey by flying on a sword.

At this moment, he was not the scheming strategist, nor the cultivator who painstakingly practiced talisman arrays; he was simply a sixteen-year-old boy who had just realized his childhood dream and was having a blast.

Of course, such childish behavior is best done only occasionally. He straightened his slightly ruffled clothes, regained his usual calm expression, and strode towards the villa. Only the slight upturn of his lips betrayed his excellent mood.

The "sword immortal" who used to tour Hong Kong and Macau at night has quietly returned, unknown to anyone.