Debt Collection

Taian City, the Xu Estate.

Before night had even fallen, the Xu Estate had people busily preparing, setting up a banquet table to welcome their distinguished guests.

"You've all come from afar; you're honored guests. Please, make yourselves at home."

Xu You, the Deputy City Lord of Taian City, sat in the host's seat, a kind smile on his face as he raised his cup in a gesture.

Deng Chicheng and his daughter, Deng Baiyi, were visiting Qing Province for the first time. Seeing a "big shot" like Xu You made them somewhat nervous. Hearing his words, they raised their cups for a toast, feeling much more relaxed.

This Deputy City Lord of Taian City…

His face appeared very amiable, and his voice was mellow, giving people a sense of warmth and comfort.

"And this must be young Master Xie Zhen? Truly young, handsome, and accomplished."

Xu You slowly moved his wine cup toward the white-robed youth.

"Lord Xu, you flatter me. Isn't this banquet a bit too extravagant…"

Xie Xuanyi asked with a smile, "We're just passing through Taian; there's no need to go to such lengths, is there?"

"This is simply basic hospitality. If young Master Xie doesn't mind, please stay in Taian tonight."

Xu You finished his drink with a smile and said slowly, "I heard from Shen Yan that you've been traveling east from Northern Prefecture, heading south for quite some time, and haven't had a proper rest."

Xie Xuanyi also drained his cup. "Since Lord Xu has spoken, I'm naturally more than happy to oblige."

After entering Taian City…

The unease in his heart had reached its peak.

Xie Xuanyi knew… the moment of truth was just around the corner.

Tonight's feast was easy to attend and easy to enjoy.

But leaving wouldn't be so easy.

"I heard from Shen Yan that young Master Xie's master is from the Daoist Sect?"

After a few rounds of drinks, Xu You re-examined Xie Xuanyi. He vaguely felt that the young man looked familiar, as if he had seen him before, but he couldn't recall where.

The young man's handsomeness was indeed exceptionally rare.

Deng Baiyi, pretending to be drunk, supported her forehead with her hand, her dark hair falling down. At this moment, she quickly perked up her ears, wanting to hear Xie Xuanyi's answer.

Xie Xuanyi smiled slightly, giving an answer completely different from the one he had given before Fengsui City: "I wouldn't say my master is from the Daoist Sect. I only know a little bit of Daoist arts and can't be considered a disciple of the Daoist Sect."

"Oh?"

Xu You became interested, smiling as he said, "Being able to have the official stationed at Fengsui City respectfully open the gates is no simple feat."

Clearly.

Everything that had happened along the way had been written in detail by Shen Yan in her letter.

"A few years ago, I followed a friend and learned a little bit of talisman techniques."

"The main reason I was able to enter the pass smoothly was because the official stationed at Fengsui City had keen eyes and recognized that these talismans and techniques came from the Daoist Sect… Lord Xu should also know that everyone is willing to give face to the Daoist Sect." Xie Xuanyi glanced at Shen Yan, subtly taking out a talisman from his bosom and handing it to Xu You.

The moment Xu You took it, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

He raised his head in surprise, looking at the young man before him.

Xie Xuanyi said calmly, "I don't have any great skills, but drawing a few talismans isn't a problem for me. If you like it, I'll give this Purification Talisman to Lord Xu."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Xu You paused for a moment, sighed, and said with emotion, "The Daoist Sect's talisman techniques are the best in the world, truly living up to their reputation. But I heard that this art is never passed on to outsiders… I didn't expect Brother Xie to have such a background. My apologies, my apologies."

He didn't delve into how this mysterious young Master Xie had learned the Daoist Sect's talisman techniques.

The words at the banquet were a mix of truth and lies.

Every cultivator had their own secrets.

In just a few words, Xu You's address for Xie Xuanyi had changed—

From young Master Xie to Brother Xie.

Xu Jing, sitting on the other side, had a complex expression. He didn't understand why his foster father was so respectful to Xie Zhen, even treating him as an equal!

If his foster father called this kid "Brother Xie," what should he call him?

"Lord Xu is joking."

Xie Xuanyi knew what Xu You was thinking.

Anyone who could sit in this position wasn't stupid. When entering Fengsui City, he had deliberately revealed the "Daoist Sect" card in front of Shen Yan, just in case.

Now that he had entered Taian City.

This so-called welcoming banquet was actually set up by Xu You to test his Daoist Sect identity…

Now that Xu You's test was over, it was his turn to speak.

Xie Xuanyi raised his wine cup and said softly, "Lord Xu, I wonder if Miss Shen mentioned the matter of Lingluo Mountain in her letter?"

Xu You's expression changed quickly.

He drained his cup, his voice bitter, "Of course. Shen and I have been friends for many years. He saved my life outside Jiayong Pass back then. I never imagined... he would meet with such an accident! I, Xu, will certainly not stand idly by..."

"Since you brought it up, then it's easier to discuss."

Xie Xuanyi interrupted Xu You.

He spoke bluntly, "The Northern Prefecture is treacherous, and entering the pass is difficult. Miss Shen used five Azure Origin Pills to buy her life. Sending her to Taian City is the day those five Azure Origin Pills are redeemed."

Xu You was visibly stunned.

He had not expected that halfway through the banquet, after being amiable just a moment ago, Xie Xuanyi would start settling accounts.

Shen Yan's expression was also somewhat awkward.

"Miss Shen wrote so much in her letter, even mentioning that I come from the Daoist Sect. Surely, she must have mentioned something as important as the Azure Origin Pills."

Xie Xuanyi smiled, "Lord Xu, surely the Deputy City Lord of Taian City can afford five Azure Origin Pills, can't he?"

"Five Azure Origin Pills..."

Xu You's lips twitched slightly.

There are many pills on the market for refining Primordial Qi for cultivation.

The most common Yuan Pills are graded by color: White Yuan Pill, Crimson Yuan Pill, Yellow Yuan Pill, Azure Yuan Pill... Those who use Azure Yuan Pills for cultivation are almost all Qi Guiding Realm cultivators. Xu You himself could slowly consume one Azure Origin Pill and cultivate for nearly a month!

This little guy wants five of them right away!

Is he trying to ascend to immortality?

Xu You took a deep breath and laughed heartily, "Five Azure Origin Pills is nothing. How could I, Xu You, be a person who goes back on his word?"

"Jing'er!"

He gently tapped the table with his wine cup and ordered, "Go! Bring my Azure Origin Pills!"

With just a few words, Xu Jing was filled with excitement.

This adopted son immediately stood up, accepted the order, and left. After a moment, Xu Jing returned with a snow-white brocade pouch embroidered with a Qilin.

The pouch was opened, revealing five azure jade beads the size of eyeballs.

"These are Azure Origin Pills?"

Deng Baiyi, seeing Yuan Pills for the first time, widened her beautiful eyes.

Even she, a novice Qi Refiner, could feel the immense energy contained within those five Azure Origin Pills.

How long would she have to cultivate to produce the Primordial Qi contained in just one of these pills?

How much would one of these be worth?

"Lord Xu is generous."

Xie Xuanyi praised casually, glanced at the pouch, and then put it away.

Very good.

Goal achieved.

With five Azure Origin Pills in hand, this trip to Taian City wouldn't be in vain...

Xu You waved his hand and said in a low voice, "Brother Shen met with misfortune, and Yan'er is now my adopted daughter. Her affairs are my affairs. Brother Xie, your willingness to save Yan'er's life is worth more than any number of Azure Origin Pills. Even if you wanted more, it wouldn't be excessive."

"Heh."

Xie Xuanyi smiled. This Xu You was quite interesting.

He was clearly heartbroken but still pretending not to care.

"And the two of you. Yan'er has told me everything. You both took care of her on this journey east. If you have any requests, feel free to mention them."

Xu You looked at Deng Baiyi and Deng Chicheng with a smile.

"Requests?"

Deng Baiyi was helpless. Of course, she knew this was just polite talk.

Although she didn't know the exact value of the Azure Origin Pills... even she could see the pained expression on this Deputy City Lord Xu's face.

For her, this banquet tonight was already enough face.

She couldn't possibly make any more requests at this moment.

But she never expected it.

Deng Chicheng, who had been quietly drinking and keeping his head down, stood up at this moment.

"City Lord Xu is generous."

Deng Chicheng bowed, glanced cautiously at Xie Xuanyi, and then said in a low voice, "This humble one does have a small request..."

"Oh?" Xu You raised an eyebrow.

Deng Chicheng took out an account book from his bosom.

Of course, he knew that the protagonist of tonight's banquet was Xie Zhen, Young Master Xie... He had been drinking with his head down the entire time, but he had listened carefully to every word of the conversation between Xu You and Xie Zhen, without missing a single detail.

Deng Chicheng had figured out one thing.

Regardless of Xie Zhen's true identity, as long as he was seated here, Xu You had to give him some respect.

He knew that the Deng family hadn't contributed much to saving Shen Yan.

He also knew that Xie Zhen's willingness to teach his daughter cultivation methods was already an immense act of kindness. If he had any sense, he wouldn't speak at this moment, to avoid causing trouble for Young Master Xie. He and his daughter simply needed to follow the topic and express their gratitude, and the banquet would pass smoothly.

"This ledger?"

Xie Xuanyi narrowed his eyes, finding it somewhat familiar.

He recalled that during the past few days of travel, Deng Chicheng and Shen Yan had shared a carriage in silence. Most of the time, the Deng family head had been hunched over, writing something...

What he was writing was this ledger.

Confusion also flickered in Shen Yan's eyes.

She had shared a carriage with Deng Chicheng and naturally witnessed this scene, but she didn't understand what Deng Chicheng had been writing.

Xu Jing rose and took the ledger, placing it before Xu You.

Xu You didn't even open it.

He asked blandly, "What is this?"

"Jade Pearl Town used to have several trades with Lingluo Mountain."

Deng Chicheng adopted a very humble posture. He gritted his teeth and said with difficulty, "These past few years, the world has been turbulent. The Northern Prefecture suffered a great famine, and several payments from Lingluo Mountain have remained unsettled... If Young Master Xie hadn't brought me into Qing Province, I would have gone to Lingluo Mountain to demand them myself. I originally intended to leave this money to my daughter, so she could purchase a house in the Imperial City in the future."

As soon as these words came out, the entire hall fell silent.

Shen Yan looked at Deng Chicheng with disbelief. She never imagined that the accounts Deng Chicheng had been calculating these past few days were this debt.

"You..."

Xu You silently looked at the yellowed paper before him, paused for a long time, and then asked, "Are you asking me for debt?"

"To be precise, I am seeking the debt from Miss Shen."

Deng Chicheng, who had been humble before cultivators his entire life, straightened his spine for once.

He said softly, "Lingluo Mountain is hers. It's not you who owes the Deng family money, it's her."