Chapter 556: Explorer Union... Gambling Den!?

Entering the large branch building of the Explorer Union, Chu Yang could not help feeling shocked upon seeing the luxurious decorations all over the place. Compared to the branch of the Explorer Union that he had seen back at the Flame Mountain City, the branch inside the Small River town was a completely different world!

Not only that, but Chu Yang also discovered that the people inside the branch were very clearly not part of the Explorer Union, as most of them were younger people with close to no cultivation spending their time drinking and gambling around luxurious tables all over the branch building.

After a closer inspection, Chu Yang realized that the actual part of the branch where he could accept requests and sell monster parts or treasures, he found was located in a small corner that didn't even fill up a tenth of the large building's interior.

Is this some sort of hang out spot for wealthy young masters and ladies...?

Thinking this to himself as he watched a few young men gambling with a few hundred spirit stones, Chu Yang felt like he understood why the servant had been in a bad mood after having left the branch building.

Among the people gambling, the weaker guards that had participated in the escort mission from the Explorer Union with him could also be seen among the crowds of gamblers inside the large building. Gambling away the spirit stones that they had just earned a short time ago.

This could no longer be called a branch of the Explorer Union, it would be more appropriate to call it a gambling den with a small branch of the Explorer Union attached to it...

"Hello cutie~ How can I help you~?

Hearing the voice of a young lady, Chu Yang turned around to see a young woman dressed in a rather provocative manner make her way over towards him while keeping her gaze focused on the pouch filled with spirit stones that could barely be seen hanging off the side of his robe.

"Are you looking for some fun? This older sister-"

Swish~

Before the young woman even manged to finish her sentence, Chu Yang had already moved across the floor of the large building towards the corner that the Explorer Union branch was located in.

"W-where did he go!?"

The young woman had no idea where he had gone and could only look around herself for a short moment before giving up and moving towards a middle-aged man who entered the building a few second later.

Not even a minute later, the young woman happily escorted the middle-aged man towards a gambling table located only a few meters away from the entrance.

Perhaps the reason why the Explorer Union was placed in the corner was to catch the people who came to complete their request or sell monster material.

Chu Yang could not help shaking his head when he thought of this. Wondering how the manager of the Explorer Union branch had even allowed for the Explorer Union to be placed inside a gambling den in the first place...

Not thinking too deeply about the odd location of the Explorer Union branch, Chu Yang made his way towards one of the two people from the Explorer Union that were available. Given that there was a gambling den between the branch and the entrance to the building, there was not many people present at the branch and he only had to wait for less than five minutes before it was his turn.

"What can I help with...?" Reaching the desk, the voice of the older man standing behind the counter came out as he asked in a tired voice deprived of energy. Just from looking at him, it could be seen that he was about to fall asleep at any moment.

"I would like to know if there are any ancient ruins or area filled with demon beasts nearby." Ignoring the exhausted look on the older man's face, Chu Yang decided to still ask the question he had entered the Explorer Union for.

"Ancient ruins? Demon beasts? Haa... No idea. Maybe there are some nearby. Try asking around town-"

Thump!

Before the old man managed to finish what, he was saying, he suddenly began waying slightly before collapsing on to the floor. Having fallen asleep due to his exhaustion.

"..."

Seeing this scene take place, Chu Yang had no words, as he had never expected for something like that to happen in front of him.

Not only did the person from the Explorer Union collapse in front of him due to exhaustion, but he also didn't even manage to give him a proper answer and had just asked him to ask around town!

The Explorer Union of Small River Town is truly in a bad state. Really makes me want to see who the manager of this branch is...

Thinking this to himself as he observed the old man who had fallen asleep on the floor behind the counter, Chu Yang was just about to move towards the second person from the Explorer Union-

Thump!

When he noticed that he had also fallen asleep on the floor behind the counter together with the old man.

All of a sudden, there was not a single person left managing the Explorer Union branch!

"Haa... Looks like we got here too late today brothers, we will have to come back in a few hours when one of them wakes up to complete our mission..."

"This damnable manager! Refusing to hire more than two people and forcing them to work for days without rest!"

"Don't bother complaining, you should know how petty that person is! If he hears what you say..."

"I know... It's just, why is our branch in such a terrible condition compared to other branches!? This place should not be called a branch of the Explorer Union anymore, it would be better to just call it a gambling den at this point!"

"Let's just get going before any of those troublemakers show up..."

Listening to the three other people that were still left waiting in front of the man who had just collapsed and fallen asleep from exhaustion, Chu Yang could not help frowning upon realizing that this scene seemed to be a regular thing.

Not only that, but it seemed to be the intention of the manager of the Explorer Union branch...

Why on earth would the manager do something like that, is he not afraid of angering his higher ups...?

Remembering how the Explorer Union had sent someone at the Nascent Soul Realm to the branch in the Flame Mountain City to calm down things following the Raging Flame Sect's fall, Chu Yang could not help wondering why the manager had dared to essentially cripple his own branch for seemingly no reason.

"Hello..."

"Hm? You are... Someone new?"

"Yes, I wanted to ask about this branch's condition... If it's not too much trouble of course..."

Seeing that the three had stopped talking and were about to leave, Chu Yang quickly jumped forward and asked them. After all, they had seemed like the only people he had seen so far that could answer any of his questions regarding the current situation of the Explorer Union branch. Hopefully, they would also know about a nearby ancient ruins or area filled with demon beasts...

"Ah... I understand, but it's not good to talk about those things here... Let's go outside and we can find a quiet place to talk!" Understanding what Chu Yang meant, one of the three said this before signalling for him to follow them out of the branch building.

"Sure!" Nodding his head in understanding, Chu Yang quickly made his way out of the branch building belonging to the Explorer Union, that had somehow turned into a gambling den.

As for being cautious in case the group of three were planning to ambush and rob him? Chu Yang really did not view the three of them as his opponent. Mainly because the strongest among the three had only barely managed to reach the Second Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

With his current strength, Chu Yang could easily kill someone at the Peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Let alone someone who had just barely managed to reach the Second Stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm!

...

"Hm? Those two idiots collapsed again, and it looks like someone new showed up... He seems to be different from that group of Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation Realm cultivators from earlier... Maybe one of the experts from the caravan that just entered the town?"

At the same time Chu Yang left the gambling den together with the three who had been complaining about not be able to turn in their completed mission, a large man in the shape of a ball almost rolled across the upper floor of the building as he narrowed his eyes while watching Chu Yang and the three leave.

"Looks like I will have to investigate who it is and make sure he doesn't cause any trouble for my business..." Muttering this to himself as a faint killing intent appeared in his eyes, the man signalled to a few people nearby-

Whoosh!

Causing them to nod their head before disappearing from the upper floor of the building.