Settling the Debt

[Twelve-Form Iron Mountain Fist Middle Section: (162/600)]

Zhang Lingfeng practiced his fist technique in the inner courtyard.

Chen Sanshi could not enter, so he could only hand the pastries to an outer-courtyard apprentice and ask him to call Zhang Lingfeng out at the entrance and pass the pastries to him.

"Brother Feng!"

Every apprentice in the outer courtyard knew Zhang Lingfeng. Some apprentices who had paid their fees but failed to break through and cultivate Ming Jin within the allotted time would ask Zhang Lingfeng to help them find a way.

When Chen Sanshi brought the food over, everyone scrambled to deliver it as soon as they heard it was for Zhang Lingfeng.

Chen Sanshi continued waiting outside the martial arts school.

"Senior Brother Wu, these are osmanthus cakes my sister made. Try some."

"Your sister's cooking really does keep getting better."

After taking a bite, Wu Yun could not help praising her.

"I'm sick of eating them. You can have the rest."

Zhang Lingfeng pushed the bowl of pastries toward Wu Yun.

"Don't let your sister hear that. If you won't eat them, I won't stand on ceremony."

Wu Yun sat to one side with the bowl and slowly finished the dozen or so osmanthus cakes. Zhang Lingfeng ladled him a bowl of Qi-and-blood replenishing soup.

Sitting beside him, he said, "I'd like to ask you to come somewhere with me in a little while, Senior Brother Wu."

"Where?"

Wu Yun asked as he ate.

"Baile Gambling House. My cousin came in from outside the city the day before yesterday and lost quite a bit of money there. I keep feeling someone there must be cheating. Come take a look with me. If my cousin still loses today, I'll accept it and have him pack up and return to the village tomorrow, rather than stay here making a spectacle of himself."

Zhang Lingfeng spoke casually.

"Nine gambles out of ten are scams. Your cousin doesn't understand that, but don't you?"

Wu Yun spoke disdainfully.

"I do. I just want him to give up for good. Even with us there, he won't be able to win any money."

Zhang Lingfeng said.

"All right. That's what I get for eating your sister's osmanthus cakes."

Wu Yun did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Once they reached the entrance.

Zhang Lingfeng introduced him. "Cousin, this is Senior Brother Wu, whom I'm always telling you about. He treats me very well at the school. We'll go to the gambling house with you now. Place a bet and let us watch."

"All right. Thank you, Cousin. Thank you, Senior Brother Wu."

Chen Sanshi looked delighted.

"This cousin of yours is quite sturdy."

Wu Yun was a Dark Force expert. With a single glance, he saw the strength hidden beneath Chen Sanshi's dark exterior, strength ordinary people did not possess.

"To tell you the truth, Senior Brother Wu, I practiced the Mountain-Collapsing Fist under Master Liu in the north of the city for a while. I only broke through a few days ago and was fortunate enough to cultivate Ming Jin. I came to the city hoping to enjoy a few good days, but as soon as I entered the gambling house... ah."

Chen Sanshi sighed.

"Liu Yong in the north of the city? He's only a third-rate martial arts master, far inferior to my master. If you managed to break through at your age, your innate constitution must be quite good."

Wu Yun could not resist feeling Chen Sanshi's bones.

Like him, Liu Yong was a Dark Force martial artist.

He could no longer strive toward transforming Jin, which was why he had opened a martial arts school.

His influence in Baiyang County was far less than Wu Yun's.

"Well, lad, you actually have a middling innate constitution. Liu Yong really got a bargain."

Wu Yun exclaimed in surprise.

"My family was clearing new land last year, so my cousin stopped training at Master Liu's school. He managed to break through through his own hard work."

Zhang Lingfeng explained.

"Oh, not bad!"

Wu Yun regarded Chen Sanshi with growing appreciation, then said with some regret, "It's very difficult for someone to cultivate Ming Jin in two arts. Still, the fist intent of the Mountain-Collapsing Fist and the Iron Mountain Fist is connected. If there's anything you don't understand in the future, you can ask me."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Wu."

Chen Sanshi cupped his hands in salute.

"Cousin, since Senior Brother Wu appreciates you so much, I think you should stay instead of going back to the countryside. Find some work in the city."

Zhang Lingfeng suggested.

"Mm."

Chen Sanshi nodded.

"Let's go. We'll head to the gambling house first and see whether we can help you win your money back. If we do, you'll have to treat us to drinks afterward."

Wu Yun said with a smile.

Having cultivated Ming Jin, Chen Sanshi was qualified to stand alongside him. Saying a few words to shield him was nothing to Wu Yun.

"Sister Pingping, Brother Feng took Senior Brother Wu and Third Master to the gambling house."

Hei Hu returned to report.

"You and Sun Yan should head over a little later and wait at the gambling house entrance. Once my brother and the others come out, take the IOU inside and collect the debt from Li Si."

Zhang Pingping instructed.

"Yes!"

Hei Hu and Sun Yan rubbed their fists and palms.

Baile Gambling House.

"Master Dong, there's not a trace of anyone from Warm Breeze Hall. I'd say they probably know they can't recover this money and don't dare send anyone to collect."

Li Si reported the news to Dong Wenhan.

"Pfft!"

Dong Wenhan unceremoniously spat a mouthful of spittle at Li Si and cursed, "Can't you grow a brain? They knew perfectly well that you're my man and still dared lend you money. Clearly, they're confident they can get it back. Tell the brothers to stay sharp. I'd like to see just how much this Warm Breeze Hall weighs."

Dong Wenhan knew they would certainly come to collect.

The only difference lay in how they would do it.

Still, Li Si was right. Usually, he was the one lending money to others. When had anyone ever lent money to him? Now that the money was in his hands, they could forget about getting it back easily.

Pay out nine and collect twelve-did they think he ran a charity?

"Yes. Rest assured, Master Dong. If they dare show up, we'll make sure they never leave."

With that, Li Si returned inside the gambling house.

He had only just sat down.

Then he saw Chen Sanshi approaching the gambling house, with two people following behind, chatting and laughing. One was unfamiliar to him; he did not seem to have seen him before. The other was tall and imposing, with an air of distinction, striding like a dragon or tiger. Though he revealed no trace of his presence, he gave Li Si a suffocating feeling, as though he stood at the edge of an abyss.

"Wu... Wu Yun, Young Master Wu."

Li Si nearly cried out.

There were still quite a few Ming Jin martial artists throughout Baiyang County, but the number of experts who reached Dark Force fell off a cliff.

Guo Wei Martial Arts School stood just behind Baile Street.

Wu Yun had broken through to Dark Force at twenty, causing a sensation on Baile Street at the time.

His name rang like thunder in both Li Si's and Dong Wenhan's ears.

"Young Master Wu, what brings you here?"

Li Si hurriedly rose to greet him.

"I'm here to play a few rounds with my brothers."

Wu Yun replied casually.

With that, he led Zhang Lingfeng and Chen Sanshi to the dice table and sat down. Seeing the trio's extraordinary bearing, the gamblers could not help making way.

The croupier shaking the dice was a highly skilled old man. At that moment, he looked nervously at Li Si.

"Make sure Young Master Wu and his companions enjoy themselves."

Li Si called out.

"Right away! Place your bets, then hands off!"

The old man shook the dice cup hard, then set it down, no longer daring to move his hands carelessly.

"I'll start betting, then."

Chen Sanshi took out a money pouch containing a few pieces of silver. While he was still pondering where to place his bet, Wu Yun snatched the pouch and tossed it casually onto a number.

The old man looked at Li Si again.

Li Si shoved the old man aside and lifted one edge of the dice cup. After a casual glance, he smiled. "Excellent luck, Young Master Wu. Two, four, six-twelve, big. Young Master Wu wins."

Two quarters of an hour later, Chen Sanshi's previously slack money pouch was stuffed full, and he left the gambling house with Zhang Lingfeng and Wu Yun.

Seeing this, Hei Hu and Sun Yan, who had been waiting near the gambling house, went inside together. Sun Yan unfolded the IOU in his hand, and Hei Hu shouted, "Li Si, settle the debt!"

"Ah, coming!"

Li Si's panicked cry came from the courtyard behind the gambling house.