Chapter 6: Settling Debts

Yongjie sighed. "My master knew, but many in the temple stood in my way."

"You ran away from the temple as well."

"I suppose so," Li Miao said.

A moment later, footsteps were heard outside the door.

A man entered with a middle-aged woman and introduced her. This woman was Song Yanchao’s daughter and the man’s wife—now to be addressed as Madam Liu.

After entering and offering a formal greeting, Madam Liu glanced at Li Miao. Although Li Miao was only there to watch the spectacle, he had spent twenty years in Shuntian Prefecture; the aura of one accustomed to commanding others was impossible to hide. As for Yongjie, with his burly frame and fierce, fleshy face, he looked more like Li Miao’s servant or bodyguard.

It was only when the man whispered a few words that Madam Liu realized who the true principal was. However, when she looked at Yongjie, she froze.

After a long pause, she spoke weakly, "Master... have we met before?"

"Yes. It has been many years."

Yongjie stood up and walked toward her. He was already tall and imposing, and with his stoic, rugged expression, he appeared all the more intimidating. Madam Liu, having no martial arts skill, turned pale with fear and had to lean on her husband’s arm to remain standing.

Yongjie stopped before her and bowed deeply.

"Long time no see. I have owed this debt for over ten years. Today, it is time to repay it to you, Madam."

Upon hearing "long time no see," Madam Liu’s face drained of color, her voice trembling. "You... who exactly are you?"

"Before I took my vows, my secular name was Tu Qingcang."

"Ah!"

Madam Liu let out a sharp cry and stumbled backward. "It’s you! It’s you!"

Her husband, who had already sensed that something was wrong, hesitated no longer. He pulled Madam Liu behind him and drew a short blade from his waist.

"Sir, stop! The dead are gone, and a debt is settled; grievances should not involve one's wife and children! Even if you held a grudge against my father-in-law, he is already dead. We are but ordinary citizens living in this city, never involved in the affairs of the pugilistic world! Do not break the rules of the martial arts community!"

Clearly, the couple mistook Yongjie for a vengeful enemy coming to settle a score. Yongjie did not answer. He straightened his back and continued walking toward them.

"Don't come any closer!"

"Don't come any closer! The Song family never provoked you! You were the one who won back then!"

Madam Liu retreated, stumbling, but she could not match Yongjie’s stride. The distance between them closed. Madam Liu was too terrified to speak, and her husband managed to stammer, "Sir, stay back! Do not force my hand!"

Yongjie ignored him, and soon he was right in front of them. The husband gritted his teeth and swung the blade at Yongjie.

The blade struck Yongjie’s right arm. Instantly, blood gushed out.

The man’s martial arts were mediocre at best; any third-rate fighter in the pugilistic world could have easily disarmed him. But Yongjie was a top-tier expert on par with Liu Baiyun. He did not even need to employ any defensive techniques; merely by circulating his internal energy, he could have rendered the blade harmless. Instead, he had deliberately suppressed his qi and relaxed his muscles.

The blade bit an inch deep, severing the tendons in his arm.

Li Miao did not speak. He had seen this scene many times before. All of Yongjie’s injuries were self-inflicted in this manner. Blood sprayed, dripping from his sleeve and forming a puddle on the floor.

Madam Liu, never having witnessed such a sight, turned deathly pale and fainted. Her husband caught her, then turned to look at Yongjie. "You, you..."

He was confused. Although his martial arts were poor, as the son-in-law of Song Yanchao, he was worldly enough to see that Yongjie’s skills far surpassed his own. He could not understand why this man would stand there and let himself be struck.

Seeing Madam Liu had fainted, Yongjie managed a faint smile. "I will be staying in Baoqing Prefecture for three days. If Madam Song wishes to find me after she wakes, I will be at the local inn."

He turned to Li Miao. "Benefactor, might I beg a favor from you?"

Li Miao reached into his robes and tossed a silver ingot toward him.

Yongjie failed to catch it. With his left arm hanging limp and the tendons in his right hand severed, the proud disciple of Shaolin could only watch as the silver fell to the ground.

"Oh, I forgot."

Fortunately, Li Miao reacted. He flicked his finger in the air, sending a sliver of internal energy to strike the ingot, redirecting it into the husband’s arms.

"That's enough. Let's go."

Li Miao stood and walked to Yongjie’s side, tapping a few points on his body to stop the bleeding. Yongjie offered a weak word of thanks. The two left the house and headed toward the inn where they were staying.

As they walked, Li Miao asked, "What is the history between you and this family, Master?"

Having lost much blood, Yongjie’s mind was growing hazy, but he spoke up to keep his focus. "Back then, when my martial arts had just reached a level of proficiency, I traveled throughout the Hubei and Hunan regions. I called it a journey, but in truth, I was just looking for fights everywhere."

"But I was too young then, and had no reputation in the pugilistic world. Often, when I showed up to challenge someone, they would refuse, or I wouldn't even be allowed through the door."

Challenges in the martial arts world were not as simple as making friends. Sects and factions were organizations based on martial prowess, and to convert that power into status, money, and influence, one needed a "reputation." Duels were one such method, and the outcomes changed much. Thus, most "friendships through martial arts" were decided before the duel even began.

A man like the young Yongjie was a challenger no one wanted to face—young, unknown, yet highly skilled. There was no benefit to winning, and losing meant ruin. It was only natural that no one wanted to fight him.

"I was naive then, thinking they were all frauds and cowards. I was eager for fame and couldn't wait for them to follow their seniority. Since my skills were superior, I felt I deserved to be more famous."

"So, I began going door to door to challenge their schools. This broke the rules, and those who lost began spreading rumors that I was a villain who used underhanded tricks."

"I was indignant, so I started fighting with increasing brutality. I even began harming those who had nothing to do with these matters."

Yongjie sighed deeply. "When I came to Baoqing Prefecture, I naturally chose the renowned hero, Song Yanchao, as my first target. I won, and I broke his right arm."

"I see. So you are here to repay his daughter with an arm of your own," Li Miao said.

"Yes," Yongjie nodded. "Hero Song’s signature style was the 'Three Emperors Cannon Punch.' With his right arm broken, his skills were reduced by at least thirty or forty percent. The decline of the Huiyou Escort Agency was largely my fault. He was a good man; I should not have done that."

"A debt incurred must be repaid."