After beating the man, the three thugs tossed out a few harsh threats and left.
Only then did the surrounding people begin to gossip.
"Ah! How much money did that Zhou Shen borrow?"
"How much did he borrow?"
"That Zhou Shen lost everything at the gambling den and borrowed loan-shark money from them! He dreamed of turning things around, then lost it all again! If he can't pay them back..."
Some of the people around looked at Zhou Shen sprawled on the ground with disgust. A gambling addict like him was not worth sympathizing with!
"What a pity! Zhou Shen was spoiled rotten by his parents, who died so young!"
After hearing this, the people around shook their heads one after another, ignoring Zhou Shen on the ground.
Su Xian likewise ignored Zhou Shen on the ground. After all, a gambling addict was not worth sympathizing with.
He followed the three departing thugs and stopped them in a secluded corner.
"Su Xian? What are you doing here?"
Zhang Zuo frowned at Su Xian, who was blocking his way, then his eyes lit up.
"Could it be that you've finally come to your senses? I told you, what's so bad about marrying into the Li Family? That one from the Li Family is terribly fond of you!"
As he spoke, Zhang Zuo glanced behind Su Xian with a lewd grin.
"No." Su Xian's brows knitted slightly, and a trace of disgust flashed across his face.
Zhang Zuo was not moonlighting as a matchmaker. That person from the Li Family was a man, who just happened to prefer men as well.
He had heard that the men who married into that family basically never lived past half a year. Su Xian was merely a prospective prey.
"No? Then why are you blocking me? Looking for a beating?"
Zhang Zuo's expression turned cold. The two men beside him cracked their knuckles and surrounded Su Xian, clearly ready to beat him up at the slightest disagreement.
"I'm here to borrow some silver from you." Su Xian watched the two men closing in without changing expression and spoke softly.
"Oh! Then you've come to the right person! How much do you want to borrow?"
Zhang Zuo was delighted, secretly praying that Su Xian would borrow as much as possible.
If Su Xian could not repay it, he would have a perfectly legitimate reason to sell him to that person from the Li Family!
"Ten taels of silver." Su Xian looked at Zhang Zuo before him, his face expressionless.
"Ten taels! What do you need that much silver for?"
Zhang Zuo was stunned. He knew Su Xian well enough to know that he usually lived frugally. What did he need ten taels of silver for all of a sudden?
"That's none of your concern. Just tell me whether you're lending it or not." Su Xian did not answer Zhang Zuo's question.
"Of course I am! Why wouldn't I? You know the rules: nine out, thirteen back! If you can't repay it in two months!..." Zhang Zuo chuckled and looked Su Xian up and down.
"I know. When can I get the money?"
"Tomorrow morning. I'll come to your house!"
"Good!" Su Xian nodded, then turned and left.
"Big Brother, that kid really ticks me off! I want to follow him and beat him up!"
One of Zhang Zuo's lackeys clenched his fists. Su Xian's complete disregard for them just now had infuriated them.
"No rush. Once he can't repay the money, we'll have plenty of time to deal with this brat!" Zhang Zuo waved his hand and sneered.
If Su Xian could not repay the money, he would let Su Xian see what he was capable of.
On the way home, Su Xian saw Zhou Shen limping along. He shook his head without saying anything and returned home.
"Once I get the silver tomorrow morning, I'll go to the Blazing Sun Martial Arts School and seek instruction! Demon Strategy, let me see your limits when the time comes!"
Su Xian felt somewhat excited. After all, he would soon be able to cultivate the legendary martial arts cultivation method!
Early the next morning, Zhang Zuo brought two lackeys to Su Xian's home.
After the IOU had been written and the fingerprints pressed,
"Here are nine taels of silver. Su Xian, you have only two months. If you can't repay thirteen taels of silver by then..."
Zhang Zuo sneered and looked Su Xian up and down, leaving the rest unsaid.
"I know." Su Xian calmly nodded and accepted the nine taels of silver.
Kid, pray that you can repay it! One of Zhang Zuo's lackeys let out a wicked laugh.
"Let's go!" Zhang Zuo waved his hand grandly and left with his two lackeys.
Su Xian looked at the nine taels of silver in his hand and put them away.
Nine out, thirteen back. That was how it worked. Borrowing ten taels meant ten percent of the principal was chopped off as interest at the outset.
That was why he could only receive nine taels of silver. When repayment came, however, he would have to return thirteen taels.
"But fortunately, I don't plan on repaying it."
Watching the three of them leave, Su Xian felt no pressure whatsoever. He even felt like laughing!
If I borrowed the money through my own ability, why should I repay it?
Su Xian brought all his worldly possessions and headed toward the Blazing Sun Martial Arts School in the center of the county town.
It was time to come into contact with genuine martial arts cultivation methods!
The streets had already grown lively along the way, with all kinds of stalls set up.
Su Xian bought two baked flatbreads and walked toward the Blazing Sun Martial Arts School while eating.
When he passed an alley, he saw it surrounded by people.
"Another person has been drained dry! It must have been a demon!"
"Ah! Blackwater County is getting more and more unsafe! Someone dies every few days!"
"I think a Fox Demon drained him dry!"
At that moment, several constables arrived. They parted the crowd, and Su Xian took the opportunity to glance into the alley.
A naked man lay in the alley. His entire body was pale and withered, without the slightest trace of color, as if all his vital essence had been sucked dry.
"Enough, enough. Nothing to see here. Get lost, all of you!"
The three constables drove away the onlookers, then dragged away the corpse, preparing to throw it into the mass grave outside the city.
Seeing this and hearing the crowd's discussion, Su Xian felt a trace of urgency rise in his heart.
He had never expected that demons were killing people even within Blackwater County!
Strength! He had to increase his strength as quickly as possible!
Su Xian quickened his pace and arrived before the Blazing Sun Martial Arts School.
"Brother, sorry for the trouble, but could you please announce me? I'm here to learn martial arts!"
Su Xian looked at the burly man guarding the entrance. The man was nearly 1.9 meters tall and powerfully built from head to toe.
"Here to learn martial arts?" The burly man glanced at Su Xian, then looked away and opened the door.
"Go on in."
"Thank you!"
Su Xian entered the Blazing Sun Martial Arts School. The first thing that met his eyes was a massive courtyard filled with training equipment such as stone locks and wooden dummies.
About twenty people stood in the middle of the courtyard, holding an unusual posture.
"Here to learn martial arts?" An old man came before Su Xian and asked softly.
"Yes!" Su Xian hurriedly nodded.
"Five taels of silver for one month. I'll teach you the Pure Yang Art and Blazing Sun Fist. How much you can learn will depend on your luck."
"The school will provide three meals a day during this month."
"If you can cultivate the Pure Yang Art to the minor accomplishment stage within this month, you can become an official disciple of the Blazing Sun Martial Arts School. After that, you won't need to spend any more money."
The old man looked Su Xian over. At a glance, he could tell that Su Xian had already reached Outer Strength Perfection.
If he could cultivate the Pure Yang Art to the minor accomplishment stage within a month, he possessed some talent. Taking him as a disciple would not be a problem.
"Sure!"
Su Xian nodded and handed over five taels of silver. Becoming a disciple was secondary; all he wanted was to obtain a martial arts cultivation method as quickly as possible!
"Come with me." The old man accepted the silver and turned toward the room.
Su Xian followed closely behind.
Before you continue