Collecting Silver

Wang Yue's horsemanship could not be called skillful. He stopped and started along the way, but still arrived outside Lihe Town before noon.

He reined in his horse and looked around. Seeing a dense woodland not far away, he led the horse deep into the forest, tied it firmly to a thick tree trunk with the reins, then pulled over some dead branches and fallen leaves to cover its hoofprints. Once he was sure it would not be easily discovered, he headed toward Lihe Town.

Along the way, Wang Yue took out that folded note again, his fingertips rubbing over the writing. The man whose debt he was to collect was called Sun De, while the lender was Xu Xing. Wang Yue seemed to recall that Xu Xing was a thug from the county town. He had not expected him to be working for Wang Hu.

The note stated clearly: Sun De owed twenty taels of silver, and with principal and interest combined, he had to repay thirty-three taels.

Wang Yue clicked his tongue inwardly. Judging by the prices from his previous life, this was like borrowing sixty thousand and repaying ninety-nine thousand. The interest upon interest was truly astonishing.

Sun De's fingerprint and signature were stamped at the end of the note, making it ironclad proof. Wang Yue carefully folded the note and tucked it back into his clothes.

Before he even reached Lihe Town's entrance, he was stopped by two guards stationed by the roadside.

One of the slightly plump guards saw Wang Yue's hood and black clothes. His expression turned wary as he barked, "Who are you? Sneaking around in broad daylight! Take off that hood!"

Wang Yue had already prepared for this. He did not remove his hood, merely took the debt note from his clothes and opened a corner for the guard to see the writing and fingerprint. He did not hand it over. This contract was proof of his right to collect the debt; in theory, whoever held it could demand money from Sun De. There could not be the slightest mishap.

When the guard saw Sun De's name and the debt written on the paper, his eyes immediately lit up. He hurried to one side and whispered with several other guards, occasionally glancing toward Wang Yue with greed in his eyes.

Wang Yue frowned inwardly. It seemed the guards of Lihe Town were no good people either.

Sure enough, moments later, a guard in a short blue jacket with a shortsword at his waist stepped forward as their leader. His tone brooked no refusal. "Friend, since you're here to collect a debt, let us inspect the contract first and verify its authenticity."

Wang Yue did not move at once, calculating rapidly. If the contract fell into their hands, things might take a turn. But if he refused, these guards might not let him enter town.

After pondering for a moment, Wang Yue slowly handed over the contract.

But once the leading guard received it, he suddenly changed his face and shouted to the guards behind him, "Did you see that? He can't even produce a proper contract!" As he spoke, he actually made to stuff the paper into his own clothes.

Wang Yue's expression changed drastically. This guard actually dared to rob him in broad daylight!

"You're courting death!" Wang Yue roared. The three strands of Blood Qi within him surged at once, and his right fist, wearing the Black Cloud Fist, shot forward. Its force was like a gale as it struck the leading guard squarely in the chest.

Bang!

With a muffled impact, the guard flew backward and crashed into a tree by the roadside. He spat out blood, slowly slid to the ground, and clutched his chest, unable to move.

The remaining guards hurriedly drew the shortswords at their waists and surrounded Wang Yue. Yet their bodies would not stop trembling, their eyes filled with fear. The speed and force of Wang Yue's punch had long surpassed their understanding.

Wang Yue knew clearly that if he had not held back, that guard's chest would likely have been caved in.

One older-looking guard forced himself to overcome his fear and tremblingly handed back the contract that had just been stolen. In a low voice, he said, "M-Mighty man, please enter. We had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai."

Wang Yue took back the contract and inspected it carefully. Only after confirming it was undamaged did he snort coldly, sweeping his gaze across the guards around him. "You fear might but do not cherish virtue. Cheap bones."

With that, he ignored them and walked straight into Lihe Town.

The townspeople by the road were so frightened that they retreated to both sides, their eyes full of terror. Some even pointed at him and whispered.

Wang Yue's expression darkened further. He had only wanted to collect the debt quietly, yet this incident had made him seem like some vicious bandit who murdered and looted.

After this, he had no desire to stroll around town. Following the address on the note, he quickly crossed several bustling streets and soon arrived before Sun De's residence.

It was a modest but orderly estate, with a plaque reading "Sun Estate" above the entrance. Two servants stood guard by the gate.

Wang Yue stepped forward and raised his hand to knock on the door.

One servant opened the gate. Seeing Wang Yue dressed in black with most of his face covered, he jumped in fright and instinctively stepped back half a pace. He asked quietly, "Th-this hero, what business do you have at our Sun Estate?"

Wang Yue could not be bothered to waste words with him and turned sideways, intending to enter the courtyard.

The servant quickly reached out to stop him. "Hero, please wait! Without the master's instructions, you cannot simply enter—"

With a casual flick of his hand, Wang Yue sent the servant staggering back several steps as if shoved. The servant hurriedly shouted, "Someone is breaking into the estate! Come quickly!"

Before long, five estate guards in short garments and carrying wooden staffs hurried out from within, swiftly surrounding Wang Yue.

Wang Yue did not make a move. He merely took out the contract from his clothes and held it up before the guards.

The head guard's expression changed when he saw its contents. He immediately forced himself to remain calm and shouted to his men, "He's here to cause trouble! Throw him out!"

Wang Yue frowned. These guards had at most practiced a few crude moves, yet they dared to block his way?

Before the guards could strike, Wang Yue made the first move. Dodging their staffs, he swiftly seized one guard's wrist with a grappling technique and twisted lightly. The guard cried out in pain, dropping his wooden staff. Wang Yue then followed with a kick that sent him flying.

The remaining guards rushed at him together. Wang Yue held back as much as he could, using only fists and kicks to knock them away while avoiding their vital points.

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In barely more than ten seconds, cries of pain filled the courtyard. Several guards lay on the ground, clutching their arms, waists, or abdomens and baring their teeth in agony. Though injured, they were far better off than the guard who had been sent flying earlier.

"Stop!"

An angry shout rang out. Dressed in a brocade robe, Sun De hurried out of the Inner Court. Seeing the scene in the courtyard, his face flushed crimson. He pointed at Wang Yue and demanded, "Who are you? How dare you force your way into my private residence and injure my guards! Aren't you afraid I'll report you to the authorities?"

Wang Yue had run out of patience. Something that could have been settled peacefully had to be turned into chickens flying and dogs leaping. He directly raised the contract, his tone icy. "Mr. Sun, the time has come to repay the silver you owe. Principal and interest combined: thirty-three taels."

The instant Sun De saw the contract, his earlier arrogance vanished. His expression became unpleasant, and he hurriedly put on a fawning smile. "So it's the heroic debt collector! Lunch has just been prepared. Please honor me with your presence, and we can discuss repayment after the meal. How about it?"

"No need." Wang Yue's voice was cold. "Please bring out the silver you owe. Once I receive it, I'll leave at once and no longer disturb you."

"Father, why be so polite with him?"

A young voice suddenly came from the main hall. A young man carrying a large saber walked out. He was around nineteen, tall and straight-backed, with sharp eyes. When he saw the contract in Wang Yue's hand, his cheek twitched uncontrollably.

Wang Yue's expression tightened. He could clearly sense Blood Qi circulating within this young man. He was a martial artist who had already reached the Blood Condensation Realm, and judging by his aura, he had likely broken through only recently.

Sun Wei was also sizing up Wang Yue. Seeing that Wang Yue was about his own age yet had likewise reached the Blood Condensation Realm, he became more guarded. Still, his words remained unyielding. "The money my father borrowed was merely entrance money to smooth the way for me to join the Xingshui Gang in the county town."

His tone shifted as he looked at Wang Yue. "My name is Sun Wei. Where in the county town do you train, brother? Perhaps we know each other."

Wang Yue's tone softened slightly. He said evenly, "Debts must be repaid. It is the law of heaven and earth. Brother Sun, you should understand that."

Sun Wei's face sank, and his grip on the saber hilt tightened. "The interest upon interest is far too high! Twenty taels borrowed, thirty-three taels repaid—this is simply unreasonable! The Sun family is willing to repay the twenty taels of principal, but we absolutely cannot pay so much interest. Even if this reaches the authorities, you won't have justice on your side!"

Wang Yue felt irritated. He had only come to collect a debt, not to haggle with the Sun family. He stopped wasting words and shouted, "Since words won't settle this, we'll settle it with our hands!"

Before his words had faded, Wang Yue charged forward. His right fist, wearing the Black Cloud Fist, struck toward Sun Wei with full force. The punch tore through the air, Mighty and Heavy.

Sun Wei had long been prepared. He gripped his saber with both hands and held it horizontally before his chest.

Clang!

Fist and saber collided with a piercing metallic ring. After several exchanges, Sun Wei felt his arms go numb, his saber nearly slipping from his grasp. He groaned inwardly. This brat has tremendous strength! His fists are also airtight and impenetrable. If my combat experience were not greater than his, I'd likely have already lost.

Yet Wang Yue grew more exhilarated as he fought. The three strands of Blood Qi within him circulated smoothly, while the Great Accomplishment Harmonious Flow Fist experience within his Martial Soul surfaced like instinct. The shadow in his consciousness abruptly changed forms, guiding him to evade Sun Wei's saber techniques and attack the openings in his defense.

Bang!

Another punch smashed into the flat of the saber. This time, Sun Wei could no longer hold it. The saber was knocked flying by Wang Yue and plunged into the courtyard's dirt, its hilt still trembling slightly.

Sun Wei's face twisted savagely. Having lost his saber, he actually charged forward with his fists, intending to fight Wang Yue at close range.

A trace of admiration rose in Wang Yue's heart. Sun Wei possessed some martial spirit, but unfortunately, compared to his own, Sun Wei's fist techniques were far too inferior.

After three moves, Wang Yue caught an opening and punched Sun Wei's wrist. Sun Wei cried out in pain. His wrist immediately reddened and swelled, blood even seeping out as the flesh became a blurred mess.

"Stop! I'll pay! I'll pay!"

Seeing this, Sun De rushed forward in alarm, grabbed Sun Wei, and repeatedly cupped his hands toward Wang Yue. "Hero, please show mercy! I'll go get it right now!"

Wang Yue lowered his stance and withdrew his fist, using a soft force to push Sun Wei back and keep him from falling.

Sun Wei struggled to get up, but Sun De held him firmly. He looked unwillingly at Wang Yue and asked, "May I know your name?"

Wang Yue ignored him, merely handing the contract to Sun De. "The silver owed is fifty taels in total. Mr. Sun, bring the silver."

Hearing the sum of fifty taels, Sun De gave his son a complicated look, then turned and hurried into the Inner Court. Shortly afterward, he emerged carrying a heavy cloth bag and handed it to Wang Yue. "There are fifty taels of silver inside. Hero, please count them."

Wang Yue took the cloth bag and opened it for a glance. Inside were four ten-tael silver city coins and ten one-tael pieces of loose silver, precisely the right amount. He did not count them carefully, simply tucked the bag into his clothes and returned the contract to Sun De.

"I have received the silver. Farewell."

With that, Wang Yue turned and left without lingering further.

Watching Wang Yue's departing back, Sun De let out a sigh of relief and hurriedly shouted to his servants, "Quick! Take the young master to the medical hall!"

Sun Wei leaned against the doorframe, staring at his mangled hand. His eyes were full of unwillingness, but also admiration for Wang Yue's martial skill.

His skill was inferior. What was there to say?

The many guards who had already struggled to their feet watched as even their young master, who had reached Blood Condensation, was defeated by Wang Yue. For a moment, their hearts were filled with shock.

Because they knew how effortlessly their young master, already in the Blood Condensation Realm, could defeat people like them who had practiced only a couple of crude moves.

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