Tailgating

Shen Mu frowned at these words, feeling reluctant to agree.

But having just refused the other party's request to borrow money, refusing to take him to the medical clinic now would inevitably invite Guo Jinchuan's resentment.

I hope this guy doesn't try to set his sights on me again, otherwise...

A trace of imperceptible killing intent flashed through Shen Mu's eyes, and he nodded with a smile: "Alright, then this younger brother will accompany Brother Guo on this trip."

He calmly hung Moon Embroidery at his waist and smiled: "Brother Guo, it's not safe at night, so I'll bring a blade for self-defense."

This action carried an implied warning.

Seeing this, Guo Jinchuan immediately understood; it was likely that everything that had just happened had made Shen Mu realize something, causing him to grow wary.

What a pity, I was still a step too late.

Guo Jinchuan sighed inwardly. If he had made his move last night, the silver in Shen Mu's hands might have already been his for the taking.

By hesitating for just one more day, he had completely lost the initiative.

"Brother Shen is truly cautious, which is for the best."

Guo Jinchuan's eyes flickered as he gave a dry laugh, and the two walked together toward the valley entrance.

"Brother Guo, how did you end up owing the Money Gang so much silver?"

Walking along the official road toward Cloud Dragon County, Shen Mu couldn't help but ask.

In his view, Guo Jinchuan was only at the third stage of Boiling Blood; even if he ate thirty catties of beast meat every month, it would be hard to spend two hundred taels of silver in such a short time.

Not to mention that two months ago, Guo Jinchuan had earned seventy taels of silver from catching Origin Cicadas.

Adding in his wages for these two months, the total should have reached three hundred taels.

"Sigh, what else could it be?"

A look of regret flashed across Guo Jinchuan's face as he sighed: "Two months ago, after everyone finished catching Origin Cicadas and made a windfall, how could we not go out and spend it?"

"Wei Bo suggested we all go visit the Fragrant Shadow Pavilion, and since we had stayed in Emerald Cloud Valley for so long, we all naturally agreed."

Shen Mu smiled: "If it was just visiting the Fragrant Shadow Pavilion, it shouldn't have cost that much silver, right?"

Guo Jinchuan nodded and smiled bitterly: "Brother Shen, you're right. Even if we stayed at the Fragrant Shadow Pavilion every single night for these two months, we wouldn't have spent that much."

"It's just that on the day we were there, a guy at the gambling den run by the Money Gang next door won several hundred taels of silver and specifically came over to the Fragrant Shadow Pavilion to order two girls..."

"Hearing this news, we were tempted and decided to go over and test our luck."

"Wei Bo and the others had bad luck; they didn't play for long before losing over ten taels, so they stopped."

"I didn't expect my luck to be good; I won over a hundred taels."

"Seeing that Wei Bo and the others were leaving, I didn't continue either and followed everyone back."

"I didn't expect that afterward, I wouldn't have the heart to cultivate every day, constantly thinking that if I had won a bit more at the gambling den that day, why would I need to cultivate so bitterly in the future? Wouldn't it be better to just buy Blood Qi Pills to increase my blood qi?"

"When no one would go with me, I went by myself. Who would have thought this would lead me into an abyss? Not only did I lose the silver I had won, but I also signed a note with the Money Gang to borrow two hundred taels, receiving only one hundred and eighty. It had to be repaid within a month, and if it exceeded the deadline, they would start charging interest..."

After listening to Guo Jinchuan's account, Shen Mu couldn't help but shake his head secretly.

He didn't know whether to call this guy lucky or unlucky.

He had clearly won over a hundred taels; how good it would have been if he had stopped then?

It truly proved the saying that human desire is endless. Having won so much money at once, he thought he had grasped all the rules of the gambling den, and with his own methods, wasn't the gambling den just handing him money?

After witnessing the exhaustion of daily body tempering, who wouldn't want to rely on Blood Qi Pills to boost their blood qi?

Unfortunately, the gifts of fate had already been marked with a price in the dark!

Shen Mu continued to ask: "Brother Guo told those two earlier that you would have the money to pay them back in half a month. Will you really have the money in half a month?"

Hearing this question from Shen Mu, a trace of unnaturalness flashed across Guo Jinchuan's face, but he then smiled: "That's right, in half a month, I will have a sum of silver coming in. Someone owed me a sum of silver, and they should be able to pay me back in about half a month."

"I originally thought about avoiding the limelight in Emerald Cloud Valley and waiting for that person to pay me back before filling the hole at the Money Gang, but I didn't expect the people from the Money Gang to dare enter Emerald Cloud Valley so brazenly..."

Clearly, the sudden visit from the Money Gang had disrupted Guo Jinchuan's repayment plan.

Shen Mu asked further: "Then now that the Money Gang wants you to pay within three days, or else they will harm your family, can you raise this sum of silver, Brother Guo?"

Guo Jinchuan sighed: "I can only go find the guy who owes me money tonight and ask if he has any cash on hand."

Shen Mu said no more and accompanied Guo Jinchuan to Cloud Dragon County, where they had his fractured right arm set and bandaged at the medical clinic.

"Brother Shen, thank you for your help tonight."

After walking out of the clinic, Guo Jinchuan said with a look of gratitude.

"It was just a small favor, not worth mentioning."

Shen Mu shook his head and smiled.

Guo Jinchuan added: "Brother Shen, I still need to go to the house of the person who owes me money. Why don't you be a good person to the end and accompany me on one more trip? Then we can return to Emerald Cloud Valley together, how about it?"

Shen Mu frowned and suggested: "Brother Guo, it's too late today. I'm only at the second stage of Boiling Blood with meager strength, and you are currently injured. If we encounter evildoers on the way back, I fear we might meet with misfortune."

"I think we should stay at an inn in the city for the night and return to Emerald Cloud Valley first thing tomorrow morning."

Guo Jinchuan nodded upon hearing this, taking a tael of broken silver from his robes and holding it out.

"Brother Shen is as thoughtful as ever. Let's proceed according to your arrangement. Take this silver, Brother Shen; I shall cover the cost of our lodging tonight."

Shen Mu did not reach for the silver, shaking his head instead. "Brother Guo is currently burdened by debt; you should keep this silver for any unforeseen needs."

"As for your debt collection, it would truly be inappropriate for me to tag along, so I will not be accompanying you."

Shen Mu had no desire to involve himself in such debt-collecting affairs.

If he were to follow, might the other party mistake him for a hired thug brought along by Guo Jinchuan?

"Well... very well. Since Brother Shen does not wish to go, I shall not force the matter."

Guo Jinchuan forced a smile and waved goodbye to Shen Mu. "There are many martial artists in the city these days, Brother Shen; do take care of yourself."

"Understood."

Shen Mu said no more, turning to merge into the flow of the street.

Watching Shen Mu's retreating figure, the smile on Guo Jinchuan's face slowly faded, and he, too, turned and walked in the opposite direction.

Yet, little did he know that as soon as Shen Mu merged into the crowd, he quickly ducked into the shadows to observe Guo Jinchuan's retreating back.

Now that I know you harbor ill intentions toward me, how could I possibly follow your suggestions?

Shen Mu muttered to himself.

Guo Jinchuan was half-crippled now; naturally, he had no way to do anything to him.

But the variable lay in his plan to collect debts from a friend.

If he were to collude with this friend to harm him, how would he be able to protect himself?

This was precisely why Shen Mu had refused without a second thought when Guo Jinchuan asked him to continue accompanying him.

At the same time, his previous conversations with Guo Jinchuan had made him sense that something was amiss.

Given this fellow's status as a member of the Firewood Gang, what kind of person would owe him at least two hundred taels of silver?

And how could he have possibly lent out such a large sum?

"I am quite curious to see how the other party managed to owe you so much money."

After saying this, Shen Mu trailed along at a distance, following Guo Jinchuan.

This action was born of both curiosity and a measure of precaution.

If this fellow truly intended to conspire with his friend to rob him, at the very least, he could plan ahead and prepare a defense or a countermeasure.