In the back courtyard of Xingyi Martial Arts Hall, Chen Jianghe stood beneath the old locust tree, holding the Three-Body Stance for nearly three hours.
[Current Skill: Three-Body Stance (Mastery)] [Progress: 98%] [Current Skill: Five Elements Fist (Mastery)] [Progress: 70%] [Current Skill: Phantom Shadow Steps (Beginner)] [Progress: 16%] [Effect: Power held within, able to pierce the body and shatter meridians]
For the past half month, he had practiced his fists and footwork by day and studied the Phantom Shadow Steps manual by night. His progress had been steady, but one matter had weighed on his mind the entire time: several days had passed since he returned from Black Wind Ridge, yet Su Derong had not shown his face once.
That was unusual.
Given Third Senior Brother's usual nature, no matter how busy he was, every few days he would saunter into the martial arts hall, waving his fan, either to drag him to Zuichun Brothel to "see the world" or to chatter on about the latest romantic gossip in the Inner City.
Just then, the courtyard gate creaked open.
Chen Jianghe looked up and froze for a moment.
Su Derong walked in, waving his fan. His steps were as unhurried as ever, but his face betrayed an exhaustion he could not hide. Faint dark circles shadowed his eyes, as if he had barely slept for several nights.
"Well, well, little junior brother, practicing?" Su Derong forced a grin, wearing his usual carefree smile. "You're working so hard, it's making your senior brother feel ashamed."
Chen Jianghe turned and clasped his hands. "Third Senior Brother."
Su Derong walked over to the stone table and sat down, setting his fan on his knee. He fell silent for a moment.
He looked up at Chen Jianghe. His voice still had its usual airy lilt, but the teasing was gone. "Jianghe, there's something I need to tell you."
Chen Jianghe came over and sat across from him. "Go ahead, Senior Brother."
"The escort bureau's monthly stipend for this month, and the beast meat they provide..."
Su Derong paused and rubbed his nose, affecting a casual tone. "They'll probably be delayed a bit. Something's come up at the bureau... Cash flow's tight."
He paused, then added, "But don't worry. They'll make it up to you within half a month at most."
Chen Jianghe was silent for a moment before asking slowly, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Su Derong was taken aback, then laughed. This time, his smile seemed much more genuine. "What could you do to help? Focus on your training and break through to the Anjin Realm as soon as you can. That's what matters. Once you really reach the Anjin Realm, your senior brother might benefit from your reflected glory. Then I can go to any teahouse and give them your name, Chen Jianghe, when I want to hear a tune. They might even give me a discount."
He stood up and snapped his fan open, giving it two light waves before his chest. His usual devil-may-care manner had returned. "All right, I've delivered the message. I've got things to do, so I'll be off."
"Senior Brother." Chen Jianghe called after him.
Su Derong looked back.
Chen Jianghe fell silent for a moment, then said, "Take care."
Su Derong paused, then grinned, showing two rows of white teeth. "Don't worry."
He turned and headed for the courtyard gate. When he reached it, he stopped, but didn't turn around. He only waved a hand. "Keep up your training."
Chen Jianghe stood beneath the locust tree, watching Su Derong's back disappear beyond the gate.
The Inner City of Yilin County was as bustling as ever.
By the time Su Derong emerged through the two heavy black-lacquered doors of Yongsheng Money House, night had fully fallen.
It was the seventh place he had visited that day.
And the seventh time he had been turned down.
The money house's shopkeeper was a chubby, middle-aged man surnamed Qian. In years past, he had received a favor from Grandfather Su.
A little earlier, in the back room, Shopkeeper Qian had rubbed his hands together, his face wreathed in an apologetic smile.
"Young Gang Leader Su, it's not that I'm unwilling to help. It's just... you know what times are like these days. The Green Dragon Gang is powerful, and several escort routes outside the city have been cut off. Your Su Family's escort bureau is in its current state... Heh, it's not that I don't trust you, but a money house has rules to follow. Collateral, you understand? We need something of value—land deeds, house deeds, antiques and treasures... With nothing but your word, there's really not much I can do."
At the time, Su Derong had nodded with a smile. "I understand, I understand."
He had lifted his teacup and taken a sip. The tea was cheap, brewed far too strong and bitter.
In the end, Shopkeeper Qian had felt too awkward to send him away empty-handed. He had fished a small cloth pouch from beneath the counter and pushed it over, lowering his voice. "There are fifty taels of gold in here. I'm lending it to you personally, not through the money house. As for the interest, I'll charge the lowest rate on the market. Young Gang Leader Su, let's be clear from the start: you'll need to pay it back as soon as you can."
Su Derong accepted the pouch. It was heavy in his hand.
Fifty taels of gold.
In the past, it would have been no more than a fraction of his spending money.
But now, it was a lifeline bought by staking the last bit of goodwill his elders had earned.
It was still a far cry from the four hundred taels of gold the escort bureau was short.
"Thank you, Shopkeeper Qian." Su Derong rose, his smile not fading in the slightest. "Within three months, I'll repay every tael, with interest."
"Of course, of course." Shopkeeper Qian saw him to the door, then suddenly lowered his voice. "Young Gang Leader Su, take an old man's advice. In times like these... when it's time to let go, you have to let go. As long as the green hills remain, there'll be no shortage of firewood."
Su Derong paused, but didn't look back. He only waved a hand and strode into the cold wind.
He also visited the homes of several wealthy young men who had once called him brother.
The results were much the same.
Some gatekeepers simply said, "The young master isn't in," without even bothering to announce his arrival.
Others did meet with him, but before the tea had even been served, they began lamenting how hard business was and how tight their finances had become. In the end, they shoved ten or twenty taels of silver at him.
The most cutting of them all was the young master of the silk shop in the west of the city, surnamed Sun.
Back in the day, Su Derong had often taken him to the brothels and pleasure houses, always paying the bill himself.
Today, Young Master Sun sat in the reception hall with one leg crossed over the other, turning a piece of white jade in his hand. He didn't even raise his eyes. "Brother Su, it's not that I don't want to help you. But how many escort routes does your Su Family's bureau even have left? I heard you lost another load a few days ago. Five or six men died, didn't they? Tsk, tsk. This business means licking blood off the edge of a blade. It's no way to make a living long-term. If you ask me, you should shut the whole thing down while you can. With your abilities, Brother Su, you could be a guard or an instructor for some household. Wouldn't that be better than this?"
At the time, Su Derong held his teacup, his fingertips icy cold.
He smiled and gently set the cup back on the table. "You're right, Brother Sun. Sorry to have troubled you today."
"You're right, Brother Sun. Sorry to have troubled you today." Only then did Young Master Sun lift his eyes. He took a twenty-tael banknote from his robes and tossed it onto the table. "Take this and tide yourself over. We've been friends, after all. I can't just watch you starve to death."
The banknote floated lightly down onto the table.
Su Derong stared at it for three breaths.
Then he picked it up, folded it, and tucked it into his robe, his smile unchanged. "Thank you, Brother Sun. We'll catch up another day."
He turned and walked out of the reception hall. Behind him, Young Master Sun muttered with a hint of scorn, "Another day? The Su Family's ship is about to sink..."
His voice was quiet, but just loud enough for Su Derong to hear.
Su Derong didn't stop. His hand curled slowly into a fist inside his sleeve.
But by the time he reached the courtyard gate, it had unclenched.
He couldn't afford to burn bridges.
At least, not yet.
He needed money, even if it was only a twenty-tael banknote.
As night deepened, Su Derong walked back along the main street. Passing Zuichun Brothel, he couldn't help but pause.
The place was brightly lit. Music from strings and flutes rang out, and a woman's lilting song drifted through the air, mingling with the boisterous laughter of the patrons.
There was a time when he had been a regular here.
The finest private rooms, the most expensive wine, the prettiest courtesans—whenever Young Gang Leader Su asked, the proprietor had always greeted him with a beaming smile.
And now...
He gave a self-mocking tug of his lips and was about to walk on when a commotion suddenly broke out inside.
"Instructor Zhao! What a rare guest! Your private room upstairs is ready. We've been saving it for you!"
"Mm."
Su Derong froze.
He slowly turned his head. Through a gap in the carved window lattice, he saw Zhao Mingyuan entering the main hall with several people.
Li Tian followed behind him, along with two young martial artists Su Derong didn't recognize. Judging by their clothes and bearing, they were probably newly recruited guards of the Zhao Family.
As the group was about to head upstairs, Li Tian suddenly glanced toward the door. His eyes lit up, and he tugged at Zhao Mingyuan's sleeve, murmuring something.
Zhao Mingyuan stopped and turned to look outside.
His gaze met Su Derong's.
Separated by the window lattice, the lamplight, and three zhang of distance.
Zhao Mingyuan's gaze was indifferent, but the corner of his mouth curled in the faintest trace of a smile.
He said nothing. He simply looked at him.
Li Tian, on the other hand, suddenly raised his voice, his tone thick with undisguised mockery. "Well, isn't that Junior Brother Su? What are you doing, standing outside and drinking the wind? Why not come in? Your second senior brother will buy you a drink."
Many of the patrons inside turned to look.
Some recognized Su Derong and began murmuring among themselves. "That's the young gang leader of the Su Family..."
"I heard the Su Family's escort bureau is about to go under. They're buried in debt."
"Tsk, tsk. He used to live so grandly. Now he can't even afford to go into Zuichun Brothel?"
Zhao Mingyuan raised a hand to stop Li Tian from continuing to jeer.
He looked at Su Derong and spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet every word clear. "Su Derong? Nothing but a stray dog from a ruined home."
With that, he turned and headed straight upstairs, not sparing Su Derong another glance.
Li Tian grinned at Su Derong, then followed him upstairs.
The music started up again inside. The patrons soon turned their attention back to their drinks, raising cups and chatting merrily.
As if what had just happened were nothing but an insignificant little interlude.
Su Derong stood outside in the cold wind.
Once again, the fist in his sleeve clenched.
His knuckles strained until they turned white, veins bulging across the back of his hand.
He stared at Zhao Mingyuan's retreating figure, then at the door of the private room as it slowly closed. A blood-red glint flashed in his eyes.
Su Derong stood there for a full ten breaths.
Then, slowly, he unclenched his fist.
As his fingers relaxed, they gave a faint crack.
The rigid expression on his face melted away bit by bit, and that carefree smile rose once more.
He straightened his clothes, opened his fan, and turned to leave.