Chapter 23

Chapter 22. Did You Come from Zhongnan? (2)

"......How did you......do it?"

"Can't you pronounce it properly?"

"......It......hurts inside."

"Hmm."

The night traveler, Qingming, crossed his legs and fell into deep thought.

"So."

"Yes."

"The money lent to Huashan exceeded one hundred thousand taels?"

"......Yes."

"One hundred thousand taels?"

"Yes."

"One hundred thousand?"

"......"

"One hundred thousand taels?"

You Zhongshan wanted to cry.

'What do you want me to do, man?'

If you have a complaint, you should resolve it through conversation. Beating someone up like a dog is already crazy, but why torment people like this?

"Hey."

"Yes!"

"If I strip you down to your underwear and sell you, I doubt I'd even get ten thousand taels, let alone one hundred thousand. You lent Huashan one hundred thousand taels?"

"Ah, that's......"

Having clearly identified the issue, You Zhongshan smiled broadly and replied.

"High interest rates are always like this. When you lend money at a high interest rate, the interest keeps growing if the principal isn't repaid. Hehe. When the interest grows and grows, it eventually becomes so huge that the principal is nothing in comparison. Then, when you swallow it all......"

Snap!

"Gah!"

You Zhongshan grabbed his head and rolled on the ground.

"You're boasting, man."

"Gah."

Qingming sighed deeply.

'Well, blaming this guy is meaningless, isn't it?'

It seems that Huashan's debt wasn't accumulated in the current generation.

'Of course not.'

Borrowing a large sum of money now is meaningless. The real need for money was when Huashan was collapsing. Money was needed to plug the leaking sand.

"But."

"Yes."

"Did you say you're the owner of Huayin Textile Shop?"

"Yes."

"When did you buy Huayin Textile Shop?"

"Huh? What do you mean? Our family has been the owner of this textile shop for generations."

"......Was the owner?"

"Yes. As far as I know, my great-grandfather founded Huayin Textile Shop."

Qingming chuckled.

'No way.'

The same goes for Huayin Textile Shop. It was one of Huashan's business ventures.

Hmm?

Are all the successful businesses in Huayin owned by Huashan?

'Of course.'

It's not strange at all. Huayin was just a small village with a few fields before Huashan established itself.

When Huashan came and the number of visitors increased, the village grew. Huashan invested money to create various businesses, which led to the development of a large county.

Any business in Huayin that makes money is basically owned by Huashan.

But what? You're saying your great-grandfather owned Huayin Textile Shop?

Considering this guy's age, his great-grandfather was probably around Qingming's age or younger. I remember going to Huayin Textile Shop to buy children's mourning clothes, and the owner was frozen to death.

'It smells fishy.'

Let's see.

"I need a few answers."

"......Ask anything you want."

"Then, who runs Huaxian Teahouse?"

"Lord Liu."

"Of course, it's been in his family for generations, right?"

"That's what I believe."

"Ouwu Trading Company and Huayin Inn are also the same, right?"

"Yes. They are all the old families of Huayin."

Qingming chuckled. He already had a rough idea without needing to ask more.

So, when Huashan's upper echelons were cut off and it collapsed, the people running the businesses swallowed them all, right?

"Indeed."

Despite trying to hold back, he couldn't help but laugh bitterly.

There are two reasons why Huashan didn't directly run the businesses but entrusted them to agents.

First, even though Huashan is a secular sect, it is still a Daoist sect. It wouldn't look good for Daoists to run teahouses and sell silk in textile shops.

And the other reason is:

- Qingming, what Huashan desires is not the monopoly of wealth but shared prosperity. Even if the people of Huayin don't belong to Huashan, aren't they neighbors? Isn't it better to live well together and be full together?

Good things are frozen to death.

'This is human nature, Senior Brother of the Sect.'

The reason why scriptures and sages emphasize countless times that people should repay kindness is one.

People are beings who don't repay kindness.

No, it's fortunate if they don't repay it. People can stab their benefactors in the back for profit.

After giving them enough to eat and live, instead of repaying the kindness, they took the businesses when their benefactor was in trouble.

Then, they should live humbly, knowing their sins, but they lend high-interest loans to Huashan based on those businesses?

"Damn it!"

Boom!

Qingming kicked You Zhongshan hard, and the giant body rolled like a ball.

"Ouch!"

Seeing this, Qingming sighed deeply.

'What's the point of beating this guy?'

You Zhongshan probably doesn't even know what's wrong with what he's doing. He truly believes that Huayin Textile Shop is a business his family built.

'How should I handle this?'

Qingming couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

He wanted to kill these guys immediately, drive them out of Huayin, and take back the businesses, but it's not that simple.

Huashan is a prestigious orthodox sect.

Although the name of a prestigious sect has faded, the Huashan Qingming wants to revive is not far from being a prestigious orthodox sect.

If they, called a prestigious orthodox sect, use force to take over others' businesses without a justifiable reason, Huashan's name will be ruined.

"It's terribly tangled."

The situation is clear, but the solution is difficult. He needs to find a way to reclaim the businesses without using force and losing legitimacy.

Easier said than done!

"Ugh."

Qingming scratched the back of his head and turned to You Zhongshan.

"Hey. So......"

At that moment.

"Stop!"

"Huh?"

Hearing a voice from behind, Qingming turned his head.

"Huh? You're awake?"

One of the guards he had just thrown had regained consciousness and was pointing a sword at him.

He thought he had hit him hard, but he had recovered so quickly. He must be stronger than Qingming thought.

"You damn bastard!"

The guard gritted his teeth.

"You attacked me sneakily!"

Sneak attack?

Me?

Qingming looked at the guard with a bewildered face.

"Hey, you attacked me first."

"You coward!"

"Ah, okay. Let's just say that."

He didn't want to get into a scuffle with such a person. Let's just say that.

"Who are you?"

"Huh?"

"From your skills, you don't seem to be a nameless soldier. Reveal your identity."

The bewilderment grew.

If I were going to reveal my identity, would I have worn a mask?

"What would you do with my identity?"

"I need to know who died by my sword."

"......You fainted after being hit by me just a moment ago?"

Then, even if you regained consciousness, you should have pretended to be dead. Why did you get up and start trouble? Did everyone become stupid while I was reincarnated?

"If I hadn't been careless, I wouldn't have been beaten by a guy like you. I took this guard duty as a pastime, and now I'm suffering this humiliation. Do you know who I am?"

"......"

"I am Zhanhu Dao Zhengbin. Even if you lack knowledge, you must have heard of my name."

"Ah, I'm sorry. I'm even less knowledgeable than I thought."

"......"

Zhanhu Dao Zhengbin's eyes widened.

Although he is currently taking on guard duty to earn money, his name is well-known in the Shaanxi region. And he hasn't heard of it?

"Arrogant bastard."

Zhengbin gripped his sword and pointed it at Qingming.

"I'll give you a chance to say your name before you die."

"......"

Qingming sighed deeply.

Why are there so many weirdos in the world?

"Hey, but that's not something a guard should say, right? No matter how you look at it, I'm closer to the person you should protect."

"The guard duty is irrelevant now."

Ah, yes. I'm sorry.

You're a fiery person.

"Prepare yourself!"

Zhanhu Dao Zhengbin charged at Qingming, swinging his sword. Qingming clicked his tongue at the sight.

His internal strength is clearly stronger than Qingming's. His power and speed are also far beyond Qingming's. By normal standards, Zhengbin is so strong that it would be rude to compare him to Qingming.

Is Qingming weaker than Zhengbin?

Absolutely not!

Internal strength, power, speed.

These are not measures of strength. They might be for ordinary people, but not for Qingming.

He has the experience of wielding a sword for a lifetime and the memories of being the Plum Blossom Sword Immortal.

"Ha."

Qingming's sword swung leisurely. Compared to the powerful force of Zhengbin's sword, it looked weak, as if it couldn't even catch a fly.

Clack!

But the weak sword stuck firmly to Zhengbin's sword.

"Eh?"

At that moment, Zhengbin's eyes widened.

The moment Qingming's slow sword stuck to the blade, an enormous counterforce was transmitted through his arm.

"Aaaah!"

His grip burst, and Zhengbin's sword soared into the sky.

"Go learn more."

Qingming's sword painted the sky in a dazzling display. It wasn't a clear plum blossom, but a blurry bud bloomed in the air.

Thud.

Zhengbin's body fell to the ground like a rotten tree.

"Tsk."

Qingming clicked his tongue and retracted his sword.

If I lack strength, I can use the enemy's strength.

Even if a hundred inexperienced young men came, they wouldn't be a match for Qingming.

"Know your place......"

At that moment.

"Ah, as expected!"

"Huh?"

Turning his head, he saw You Zhongshan looking at him with a very surprised expression.

'Oh no!'

Qingming realized his mistake at that moment.

After all, You Zhongshan is someone who makes a living in Huayin. The clumsy flower bud Qingming drew might be enough for him to guess his background. Of course, he might have already guessed to some extent, but giving clear evidence is different.

"Indeed, you are from a prestigious sect. I had my suspicions."

Qingming's face twisted under the mask.

'Should I erase it?'

Or should I make sure he can never speak again......

"That clean and elegant sword strike! The profound martial arts level! And most importantly, the faint immortal aura I can feel!"

What? You can feel immortal aura?

That's not possible.

Qingming hesitated, unable to find a way to deal with the situation, and You Zhongshan shouted confidently.

"There is only one place in the vicinity that can produce someone with such abilities at such a young age! It's none other than......"

"A, ah......"

"Great Zhongnan Sect!"

"......"

Qingming looked at You Zhongshan with a blank expression.

Zhongnan? Why Zhongnan here......

Wait.

"Did you come from Zhongnan?"

"......What?"

Thoughts were short, but words were quick.

"Y-Yes!"

"Indeed!"

You Zhongshan prostrated himself on the spot.

"Ask me anything. I will answer everything."

"......Thank you."

Very grateful.

Hehe.

Hehehehe.