Interest Must Be Calculated Separately

Before the words had even finished falling, a young girl's voice suddenly came from the east side of the courtyard. "Let him go."

Everyone turned to look and saw that, at some unknown moment, the girl had already climbed over the wall and jumped in.

Jiang Yun looked over as well. She had returned so quickly—it seemed that Evil Spirit had gotten away.

"What are you all standing around for? Untie this little brother at once." Qian Bochou hurriedly ordered his Subordinates beside him.

Only then did the constables step forward and untie the ropes around Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun let out a breath and slowly rose, rubbing his wrists, which ached from the bindings. He thought to himself that if this girl had returned even a little later—

Who knew whether Qian Bochou would really have put a knife in him.

The girl came before Jiang Yun and said, "I am Xu Suwen. Thank you for lending a hand just now."

Jiang Yun smiled faintly, cupped his hands, and said, "You are too kind, Miss."

Xu Suwen wore a troubled expression and could not help glancing back at the house behind her. "Unfortunately, the Evil Haunt escaped. Finding it again will not be easy."

"It would not be difficult for Miss to find that Evil Haunt."

Hearing this, Xu Suwen blinked and asked curiously, "You have a way?"

"Yes, but not today. It will have to be another day."

"Also, I need the monster's blood from earlier."

"That is easy." Xu Suwen nodded, then turned to ask Qian Bochou, "Constable Qian, could I trouble you to send someone into that house to collect some blood?"

"Not a trouble, not a trouble. I'll handle it myself." Though Qian Bochou acted high and mighty toward his Subordinates—

He was utterly respectful toward Xu Suwen and did not dare show the slightest neglect.

As he jogged off to collect the blood, Jiang Yun reminded him, "That Evil Haunt's blood carries a hint of purple. Do not mix it up."

After all, he had sprayed quite a lot of blood in that room himself. It would be bad if they got the wrong one.

Before long, Qian Bochou returned carrying a handkerchief stained with the Evil Haunt's blood.

"Let's go, back to Prefecture City!" After handing the handkerchief to Xu Suwen, Qian Bochou finally shouted.

The group walked out of Huang Manor.

Several horses were tied to a crooked-necked tree outside Huang Manor.

Before leaving, they set a great fire that burned Huang Manor to the ground.

Under the moonlight, several swift horses galloped down the official road.

"Hyah!" Xu Suwen rode at the front on a fast horse, looking every bit the valiant heroine.

As they rode, she occasionally looked back at Jiang Yun, who was sharing a horse with Qian Bochou.

She could not help lowering her head to look at the talisman drawn in blood upon her palm.

Just who was this Jiang Yun?

A talisman casually drawn by him had wielded such terrifying power through her hand. What if he had acted personally?

More importantly—

Why did he know Daoist Arts?

Riding at full speed, it took less than half an hour for them to return to Nanzhou Prefecture City.

After entering the city, Xu Suwen turned on horseback and said to Jiang Yun, "I will come see you again tomorrow."

"Hyah."

Watching Xu Suwen ride away at speed, one of the constables beside them could not help sighing. "That little girl has some real fire."

"Shut your mouth. Tired of living?" Qian Bochou shot the constable a cold glare. "If you think your life is too long, find yourself a tree and hang yourself. Do not drag me down with you."

Miss Xu had come from the Imperial Guards office in the capital. Let alone himself, even the Prefect treated those Imperial Guards with utmost courtesy, afraid of slighting them.

And during her time in Nanzhou Prefecture, Miss Xu had barely deigned to acknowledge anyone.

Yet toward the lad behind him, she had been exceptionally polite.

"You all go back and get some rest early."

"Brother Jiang, I'll take you home." Qian Bochou turned to Jiang Yun. "You live on Jiayun Street, right?"

"That's right. Thank you for the trouble, Constable Qian."

Sitting on horseback, Jiang Yun was also pondering a crucial question.

Were Daoist Arts useful at all in this world?

The Lightning Palm Strike he had used earlier could only be considered an introductory trick among Daoist Arts.

Truly powerful Daoist Arts all shared one characteristic: they required offerings and worship to the Three Pure Ancestors.

"Constable Qian, whom do Daoist Temples worship?" Jiang Yun asked.

"Daoist Temples?" Constable Qian froze, then turned back with an odd look. "There is not a single Daoist Temple in all of Nanzhou Prefecture. How would I know?"

"Not a single Daoist Temple?" Jiang Yun was stunned.

Nanzhou Prefecture had a population of over a million. How could there not be a single Daoist Temple?

Seeing Jiang Yun's baffled expression, Qian Bochou explained, "The laws of Great Zhou forbid the construction of Daoist Temples anywhere except the capital."

"Anyone who privately builds a Daoist Temple is treated as a rebel and executed without mercy."

"I do not know anything else." Qian Bochou then reminded him, "If you are interested, you can ask Miss Xu later. She is from the capital and knows more."

"We are almost there, right? Jiayun Street is up ahead."

"Yes."

It was still that same dilapidated little courtyard.

"Turn the place upside down! Search carefully! I refuse to believe that poor scholar can hide forever."

The sound of drawers and chests being ransacked came from inside the house.

In the biting wind, Jiang Qiaoqiao stood in the courtyard wearing thin clothes, hugging her shoulders as fear gripped her heart.

Just moments ago, Peng San and his men had arrived uninvited, looking for Jiang Yun to collect a debt.

"My brother owed you twenty taels of silver. I already gave it to you just now," Jiang Qiaoqiao said into the cold wind.

Peng San, dressed in thick cotton clothes, walked out of the house, cursing under his breath.

He looked at Jiang Qiaoqiao and said, "Twenty taels? That was the principal! The interest must be calculated separately!"

"I lent him that money for more than two whole months. With interest piled upon interest, he owes me at least fifty taels of silver."

"This little bit of money is not even enough to cover the interest."

"Where is he? Where is he hiding?"

Jiang Qiaoqiao bit her lip and said, "I told you, my brother went to Huang Manor to become a live-in son-in-law. When he comes back, he can repay the silver he owes you."

"Huang Manor? With that sickly, dying look of his, what wealthy family would ever take a fancy to him?"

As he spoke, he slapped Jiang Qiaoqiao hard across the face.

Jiang Qiaoqiao staggered back several steps, clutching her face as tears welled in her eyes. "I am not lying."

"Boss, we only found a few copper coins."

"Only this much?"

"Are you trying to fob off beggars?"

Three hooligans emerged from the house, their faces full of displeasure. "That Jiang Yun probably fled overnight."

Peng San looked at Jiang Qiaoqiao, a vicious expression appearing on his face. "Your brother has no honor, so do not blame us."

"Tie her up and take her back. Let us see how long Jiang Yun can keep hiding!"

Just as they were about to step forward and seize her—

"Stop!"

Jiang Yun's voice came from outside the courtyard.

Jiang Yun stared at the scene before him, his face iron-gray as he clenched his fists.