Chapter 59: A Debt of a Thousand Taels

Despite his urgency, as Feng Tian Dao approached the Yitian Gate, his steps gradually slowed down.

"Ah! Anyway, how should I start?"

He felt dizzy at the thought of informing Li Yan Yi, the gentleman swordsman, that the gate master's daughter had been captured by the Green Forest Bandits.

If he were an unrelated third party, it wouldn't matter.

However, he had actively supported the Five Heroes of Luoyang's journey into the martial world. Depending on how one looked at it, he bore some responsibility for their capture.

"I'll be turned away, for sure."

No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn't find a way out.

After sighing deeply, he raised his head and saw the signboard of the Yitian Gate right in front of him.

Late at night, two people were seated facing each other in the Yitian Gate's meeting hall. One was the gate master, Li Yan Yi, also known as the Righteous Hero, and the other was Feng Tian Dao Yang Wu Ji.

After Yang Wu Ji finished his story, the gate master, Li Yan Yi, quietly asked,

"So, your daughter was captured when she went to raid the Five Peaks Manor with the Huayang Merchant Guild?"

"I apologize. I should have stopped her..."

Yang Wu Ji dared not lift his head.

Despite his calm voice, a thick killing aura emanated from Li Yan Yi's entire body. Even when angry, the gentleman swordsman was different from ordinary people.

Yang Wu Ji, with his head lowered, heard Li Yan Yi's voice, which sounded as if he were spitting out his words. He could sense that Li Yan Yi, as a father, couldn't fully control his emotions.

"Tell me what you know about the Ten Heroes of the Five Peaks."

Yang Wu Ji recounted what he had witnessed that day as accurately as possible.

"...When the bandit wielded his saber, a gust of wind arose, and everything ended in an instant. At that moment, I thought of the Three Respected Ones of the Green Forest. Not just me, but everyone there said the same thing."

Li Yan Yi muttered in disbelief.

"Really! A bandit in his late teens possesses the martial prowess of the Three Respected Ones of the Green Forest?"

In the orthodox sects, the martial prowess of the Green Forest is evaluated as follows: the highest are the Ten Great Martial Artists, followed by the Three Respected Ones of the Green Forest, then the Twelve Demon Generals, followed by the Green Forest Manor Lords, and the rest are just petty thieves.

"Yes..."

Yang Wu Ji knew his words sounded absurd.

But what could he do? He could only report what he had seen.

Also, only then would it make sense that he and the Five Heroes of Luoyang had surrendered. The Three Respected Ones of the Green Forest were on par with the leaders of the Seven Major Sects and Eight Great Schools.

"Why hasn't such a powerful martial artist been known until now?"

"According to reports, he suddenly appeared last year and took control of the Five Peaks area. It's said that even the Heavenly Merchant of the Wudang Sect couldn't withstand him..."

Yang Wu Ji emphasized again that the opponent was on par with the Three Respected Ones of the Green Forest. While the Five Heroes of Luoyang might be unknown, the Heavenly Merchant was a well-known martial artist. If he could be defeated, it was clear that the opponent was at least on par with the Twelve Demon Generals.

"Even if what you say is true, I still can't understand. How could my daughter be held captive by someone with only the martial prowess of the Three Respected Ones of the Green Forest? Is the Yitian Gate not feared?"

"..."

Yang Wu Ji bowed his head in silence.

He knew that any words would only fuel Li Yan Yi's anger.

Li Yan Yi, the gentleman swordsman, stared at Yang Wu Ji for a moment and then said,

"Yet, you, who faced such a formidable opponent, have no injuries."

"I am ashamed. His martial prowess was so overwhelming that I couldn't resist."

"There are reed-like people in the Wuji Gate. Feng Leidao is said to have planted a toon tree at the entrance of the Wuji Gate."

Feng Leidao, the gate master of the Wuji Gate, was a person who would break rather than bend, like a toon tree.

Now, Li Yan Yi was criticizing Yang Wu Ji for surrendering to the bandits without a fight, comparing him to Feng Leidao.

Yang Wu Ji's face turned red with shame.

'Damn, are you saying I should have fought to the death?'

Yang Wu Ji felt somewhat wronged but held back, considering Li Yan Yi's feelings. Being a gate master of one of the Seven Major Sects and Eight Great Schools, having one's daughter captured by bandits must be both infuriating and humiliating.

***

Nanjing, Nanjing City.

The headquarters of the Righteous Alliance.

In the office of the alliance leader, two people were leaning their heads together, discussing seriously. They were the alliance leader, Feng Leidao Zhang Jiang Hu, and the general secretary, Zhuge Sheng Yun.

"Last year, the Shuiyue Merchant Guild in Fuyang was almost wiped out by people in black clothes, right?"

"Yes. Based on the information from Dharma Master Gong Bai, they were likely the Black Shadow Gang."

"Hmm! It seems the notorious Yu Ming Sect has revealed its tail again!"

Zhang Jiang Hu let out a sigh.

The Righteous Alliance had fought against the Yu Ming Sect over twenty years ago. Although they eventually won, they couldn't touch the sect's leadership. If it weren't for the efforts of the Moonlit Swordsman Lian Wu Long and the Sword King Nan Gong Bi, they wouldn't have even known about the existence of the Moonlit Immortal.

There is a secret history between the Righteous Alliance and the Yu Ming Sect that is unknown to the martial world.

The Righteous Alliance has four martial groups:

The Horse Taming Brigade, the Demon Extermination Brigade, the Righteous Spirit Brigade, and the Eternal Brigade. They are the elite of the Seven Major Sects and Eight Great Schools, and one brigade can handle a small sect.

Before the Yu Ming Sect was known to the world, the Righteous Spirit Brigade, responsible for the Jiangnan region, encountered unknown kidnappers. After sending a message saying they would track them down, the brigade disappeared without a trace.

Even now, no one knows who was behind it, but the leadership of the Righteous Alliance suspects the Yu Ming Sect. Among the criminal groups that kidnap people, only the Yu Ming Sect could have eliminated the Righteous Spirit Brigade.

"Leader, according to Dharma Master Gong Bai, hundreds of monks have disappeared in Henan Province alone. If we include the Taoists, the number is unimaginable. Similar incidents have likely occurred elsewhere. Do you remember what the Yu Ming Sect member who surrendered twenty years ago said?"

"You mean the bizarre claim that they gain supernatural powers through human sacrifices?"

"Yes. If that's true, the Yu Ming Sect must have many high-level martial artists with supernatural powers now."

"Do you believe that?"

"Given how fanatically the Yu Ming Sect members are devoted to human sacrifices, I don't think it's entirely baseless. After all, aren't the demonic cultivation techniques of the Heaven-Defying Sect similar?"

Zhang Jiang Hu nodded.

While he didn't fully trust the words of the Yu Ming Sect member, the general secretary's point was valid.

"Then, what do you think?"

"If the decapitated body of Mu Nei was found in Yuzhou, there must be a Yu Ming Sect temple nearby. Since the Yitian Gate has the Righteous Spirit Brigade, why not send them?"

Zhang Jiang Hu muttered unconsciously.

"Tsk! The Righteous Spirit Brigade again..."

He was reminded of the Righteous Spirit Brigade that had disappeared over twenty years ago.

"If you're concerned, you can request additional support from the Yitian Gate this time."

"Let's do that. I don't want to lose the Righteous Spirit Brigade again."

"Since the Yitian Gate might not be enough, I'll also request help from nearby sects."

"Good point."

Zhang Jiang Hu nodded.

The Righteous Spirit Brigade is composed of elites from Shaolin Temple and the Yitian Gate. For the Yitian Gate, it might be redundant, and they might lack the necessary manpower.

That night, dozens of messenger birds flew out from the headquarters of the Righteous Alliance, carrying urgent messages.

***

Eastern Luoyang, Yanshi.

Walong Hall.

Around noon, a servant approached Bai Mijiu, who was reviewing accounts in the main hall.

"Lady."

"What is it?"

"A stranger just left a letter for you."

The servant carefully handed over the letter.

Bai Mijiu took the letter and started reading it without much thought.

As time passed, the color drained from her face.

After finishing the letter, Bai Mijiu shouted at the servant standing by.

"Go and get Wu Bai immediately! Hurry!"

Startled by the lady's anger, the servant rushed off to find Lian Wu Bai.

A moment later, Lian Wu Bai appeared.

Bai Mijiu threw the letter at Lian Wu Bai's face.

"Read it! What happened to your sister, Lian Zhou! She's been captured by the Five Peaks Manor! They're demanding a ransom of a thousand taels! A thousand taels!"

Lian Wu Bai, reading the letter, couldn't believe it.

Why was his sister in the Five Peaks Manor, and how did they dare to take her as a hostage?

Walong Hall's martial strength had long surpassed that of ordinary Green Forest bandits.

'The news must have spread in Henan Province through a disciple working at the Bai Shangfang. Why?'

At first, he was shocked, but as time passed, anger rose within him. The audacity of the Green Forest bandits to mock Walong Hall made his blood boil.

However, Lian Wu Bai didn't show his emotions.

If he did, there would be no one to handle the situation with his mother already agitated.

"Mother, since the Five Heroes of Luoyang are all held hostage, we need to act together. Let's go to the Yitian Gate first."

"Go? Will a thousand taels appear just by going there? What are you going to do about your sister, Xue Zhou? Tell me with your smooth talk!"

Walong Hall's monthly income was about 150 taels. After paying 50 taels in salaries, 100 taels remained. But that 100 taels wasn't pure profit.

Feeding, clothing, and housing the disciples and workers at Walong Hall cost 50 taels a month. By saving as much as possible, they could save 50 taels a month. It would take at least two years to save a thousand taels.

Faced with such a large sum, Bai Mijiu lost her composure.

"Tell me! Where will you get a thousand taels? You're just like your father! Incompetent and useless! Yet you pretend to care about others! To be kind! You left your own flesh and blood to be captured by the Green Forest! I can't stand the Lian family! You've ruined my life! Ruined it!"

Lian Wu Bai felt like he was going to explode with frustration but held back.

These words weren't her true feelings. She was just venting her anger. Knowing this, his mother's words still felt like daggers piercing his heart.

***

Luoyang.

Yitian Gate.

From early morning, the guest hall of the Yitian Gate was filled with visitors. They were the parents of the Five Heroes of Luoyang, who had read the desperate letters written by their children.

Among them were Bai Mijiu, the lady of Walong Hall, and Lian Wu Bai, the Walong Swordsman.

Strangely, Bai Mijiu, who usually held her head high, was unusually quiet.

It was all because of the money.

The families of the Five Heroes of Luoyang couldn't publicize the Five Peaks Manor's threats to protect their reputation and their children's future. This was true for Bai Mijiu as well. For the sake of Walong Hall, which was just starting to grow, the matter had to be handled discreetly.

For sects like the Eight Immortals Gate, Dalian Gate, Qiyang Gate, and Yitian Gate, the ransom amount wasn't a problem.

But Walong Hall was different.

Bai Mijiu couldn't immediately come up with a thousand taels.

She had to suffer in silence, unable to tell anyone.

Fortunately, Li Yan Yi offered to help.

Being in a position where he needed help made everything more complicated.

That's why Bai Mijiu, the strong lady, looked like a wilted vegetable.

"Hem."

When the gate master, Li Yan Yi, appeared and cleared his throat, the noisy guest hall fell silent.

"We are all here for the same reason. I would like to immediately attack the Five Peaks Manor and eliminate the bandits, but... saving lives comes first. We can seek revenge after we rescue the hostages."

The families of the Five Heroes of Luoyang nodded in agreement.

They all agreed that saving lives was the priority. Despite their anger, they couldn't ignore the lives of their family members.

"The number of people going to the Five Peaks should be limited to one per family. We need to consider the bandits' reactions. If we send too many, they might panic and do something rash. If anyone has other suggestions, please speak up."

"That sounds good."

"Agreed. If we're not raiding, that's the best approach."

Everyone agreed with Li Yan Yi.

At this moment, saving their children's lives was more important than saving face or pride.