Gu Yunzheng Helplessly Came Clean, Only to Be Extorted Again!

"Who am I?"

"Where am I?"

Gu Yunzheng had only just awakened and was still utterly dazed. The moment he turned to look at Wu Yuekong, his expression froze stiff.

At that moment, how he wished he could play dumb.

But he knew that was simply impossible.

Yet asking him to repay that bastard He Tingfeng's debt—not only was he unwilling, he did not have the money either.

The three thousand taels in banknotes he had brought from home had long since been taken by Zhao Leyue and the others from Rank 77 Courtyard. All he had left were a few dozen taels of loose silver. How was he supposed to repay it?

With his head?

Wu Yuekong looked at Gu Yunzheng's miserable state without the slightest trace of pity. "Now that you're awake, it's time we talked about the three thousand taels of silver He Tingfeng owes me."

Gu Yunzheng hurriedly said, "Young Master Wu... He Tingfeng is the one who owes you money, not me!"

"I don't care about that!"

"He Tingfeng owed me three thousand taels of silver, then ran off without a word. You're his cousin—if I don't come after you, who should I go after?"

"Besides, you just repaid those people three thousand taels for He Tingfeng. You helped repay what he owed them, so why shouldn't you repay what he owes me? Are you looking down on me, Wu Yuekong?"

Gu Yunzheng nearly coughed up blood when he heard that.

What did he mean, he had helped repay it just now?

That had clearly been robbery, all right?

If he had not feared that the matter of asking He Tingfeng and Xu Youwu to deal with Li Yun would be exposed, he would have gone to the Punishment Hall to file a complaint already. Why would he still be here?

But he still had to struggle.

If he did not struggle, he would truly be finished.

"Young Master Wu, that wasn't voluntary! I had no idea He Tingfeng owed anyone money, nor did I know he had disappeared. I came to find him because I had something to discuss with him. Who knew they would pin his debt on me and steal my banknotes..."

Wu Yuekong gave a cold laugh.

"I don't care about that. If you were robbed, that has nothing to do with me."

"If you truly think you were robbed, then go report them to the Punishment Hall."

"All I know is that you repaid his debt to them, so you should repay his three thousand taels to me too. Otherwise, you're looking down on me, Wu Yuekong!"

"I..."

Gu Yunzheng was completely stunned.

Faced with such bandit-like, tyrannical logic, he had no way to argue against it.

"Of course, if you truly don't want to repay He Tingfeng's debt, you have another choice. Tell me where He Tingfeng went."

"You're He Tingfeng's cousin. There's no way you don't know where he went after running away."

"I can now basically conclude that your coming to Rank 77 Courtyard to look for He Tingfeng was just a pretense. Your real purpose was probably to gather information for He Tingfeng, wasn't it?"

"Either reveal He Tingfeng's whereabouts or repay his debt. Two choices—pick one!"

"Stop trying to quibble with me over useless nonsense. A person can't possibly refuse to make any choice at all. If you do, you'll be forcing me to make a move against you!"

This time, Gu Yunzheng was utterly horrified.

Either repay the money or reveal He Tingfeng's whereabouts?

This was not asking him to choose. This was clearly forcing him to his death!

How was he supposed to choose?

There was no choice at all!

But Wu Yuekong was clearly growing impatient. He suddenly leaped down from the boulder.

With a flick of his dagger—

Its sharp point pressed against Gu Yunzheng's throat.

His gaze was ice-cold.

"I'll ask you one last time. Two choices. Which one?"

"I..."

Gu Yunzheng's face went pale with fright. Under the threat of death, his mind was already in complete chaos.

"I'll talk... I'll talk!"

"Young Master Wu, can I speak with you alone?"

"Hm?"

Wu Yuekong frowned. Without giving it much thought, he waved his hand and had the people around them withdraw, leaving only himself behind.

Yet he did not put away the dagger in his hand.

Gu Yunzheng subconsciously swallowed, forcibly suppressing the terror in his heart.

"Young Master Wu... I truly don't have the money to repay He Tingfeng's debt for him."

"I really don't know where He Tingfeng is either, but I want to reveal something now. Perhaps it can help Young Master Wu find He Tingfeng. I hope Young Master Wu can keep it confidential for me."

Gu Yunzheng had no other way out. He could only take the risk of laying the truth bare, hoping to divert Wu Yuekong and the people of Rank 77 Courtyard's attention.

Wu Yuekong frowned. "Go on."

"Yes..."

"Young Master Wu, a few days ago, I met my cousin and Xu Youwu. When they heard that I was being bullied at Rank 95 Academy, they took the initiative to offer to teach Li Yun, another disciple of Rank 95 Academy, a lesson for me."

"A few nights ago, it seemed they really did make their move."

"But it's strange. Ever since that night, Li Yun, a disciple of our Rank 95 Academy, has disappeared. He still hasn't returned..."

"What?"

"That happened?"

Wu Yuekong was greatly surprised.

He did not care about He Tingfeng and Xu Youwu secretly helping Gu Yunzheng teach a newly initiated disciple a lesson. In truth, plenty of people did such things. Senior disciples standing up for newcomers to earn a little extra money was not something that had only begun happening yesterday; it had existed for a long time.

Even he himself had earned that kind of dirty money before.

The sect might not have been entirely unaware of such matters either. It was just that no one had taken the initiative to report them, so nothing serious had come of it.

But it was rare for people like He Tingfeng and Xu Youwu to disappear after teaching a newcomer a lesson.

"Gu Yunzheng, stop trying to fool me like I'm an idiot. Tell me—how much silver did you promise He Tingfeng and Xu Youwu to have them teach that Li-whatever-Yun a lesson?"

"I..."

Gu Yunzheng had originally wanted to brush it off, but seeing the sharpness in Wu Yuekong's eyes, he did not dare lie again. He obediently said, "One thousand taels!"

"Oh... One thousand taels just to deal with a fellow disciple? I couldn't tell—you really are lavish with your money!"

Wu Yuekong sneered.

"Did He Tingfeng and the others ever come ask you for the money?"

"No... no, they really didn't. I always thought they were afraid of attracting attention, which was why they had never come to collect it. Today, I really couldn't hold back anymore and came to ask what was going on. Only then did I learn that they had disappeared too."

"They taught him a lesson, didn't collect the money, and then disappeared... Now that's rather interesting!"

Wu Yuekong began to ponder. Could it be that He Tingfeng and Xu Youwu had failed to deal with Li Yun and had instead been killed by him, which was why they had vanished?

But that was not right.

A new disciple who had only entered the sect a little over a month ago should still have been painstakingly practicing Zhuang Gong. Where would he get the cultivation or combat strength to kill He Tingfeng and Xu Youwu, who were already at the Body Tempering Ninth Level?

Wu Yuekong knew there had to be something strange about this matter, and he decided to investigate it thoroughly.

As for Gu Yunzheng... heh heh.

Wu Yuekong smiled meaningfully. "Gu Yunzheng, I can keep your matter quiet, but you'll have to pay a price. Understand?"

"Judging by the way you're dressed... your family must be doing quite well, right?"

"Fine, I'll give you an opportunity!"

"Write home. Within one month, have them send me three thousand taels of silver to settle your cousin's debt. Not only will I let bygones be bygones, I'll also let you follow me. If anything happens in the Outer Sect in the future, I can cover for you!"

"That includes your fellow disciple Li Yun. I can help you get rid of him too. What do you say?"

"Really?"

Gu Yunzheng was immediately tempted. Wu Yuekong clearly did not look like an ordinary figure. If he could truly obtain his protection, not only would there be no more hidden dangers from what happened before, but he would also gain another backer.

Paying three thousand taels of silver for that seemed quite worthwhile.

"Heh, you don't need to doubt me. You can ask around—when I, Wu Yuekong, say something, it's one spit, one nail. I have always kept my word!"

"Alright... Young Master Wu, I'll go back and write the letter right away!"

"No need to go back. Write it here. I'll have someone bring you paper and a brush..."

"..."