Chapter 7
Good things come in pairs, I go alone
The following day, at Shiyang Academy.
The school district with the character "荒" (huang) in its name.
There was much discussion inside the school.
Upon seeing Gu Lin, the chubby Wang Mu put his arm around his shoulder and gossiped:
"Have you heard? Just last night, Shen Chi, the owner of the Shen Family Pawnshop, died suddenly in the street!"
"Shen Chi?" Gu Lin was taken aback, then revealed a gloating smile.
When Gu Lin burst into laughter, the surrounding students were not surprised at all; on the contrary, they thought it was perfectly natural.
It's only natural that the Shen family pawnshop, which lent money to Gu Jingming, would be happy to hear that Shen Chi was dead.
"How did he die?" Gu Lin asked.
The chubby boy shook his head and lowered his voice:
"The news coming from the county government indicates that the murderer should be a powerhouse at the Knowing Fate Realm!"
"The Knowing Destiny Realm?" Gu Lin was shocked.
The chubby boy nodded:
"Even at the high level of the Knowing Fate Realm!! Although I didn't see Shen Chi's death, it is said that he died a terrible death, and his entire body was frozen. Only those at the high level of the Knowing Fate Realm or above can wield such a terrifying technique."
Gu Lin was even more puzzled. "Why would a high-level Knowing Fate Realm cultivator kill someone surnamed Shen if they had nothing better to do?"
The chubby boy chimed in:
"Perhaps he couldn't stand the Shen family's arrogant and domineering lending practices. However, according to the top-tier academy, they speculated that a powerful expert at the Knowing Fate Realm was passing by East Street and, in a bad mood, casually crushed Shen Chi, this ant."
"Anyway, the Shen family is wailing and demanding that the county government apply to the prefectural government to send in a group of top-notch investigators. They swear they won't rest until they find the murderer!"
Gu Lin remained noncommittal.
Just as he was about to speak, a familiar figure walked into the school.
The man was dressed in mourning clothes, completely unlike his usual spirited self, his face filled with dejection and sorrow.
It was Shen Xun of the Shen family, Shen Chi's younger brother.
My condolences...
"Young Master Shen, please accept my condolences..."
The students of the Wasteland Academy offered quiet words of comfort.
Shen Xun walked towards Gu Lin.
The latter's expression remained completely unchanged.
Shen Xun's eyes were red and swollen, and his voice was hoarse as he said:
"Gu Lin, the debt will not be settled because of your brother's death. The lender is the Shen family, and it is registered with the government. Don't even think about not paying back the debt."
He came to the academy today to remind the dozens of debtors from the eight school offices that although his elder brother signed the deed, the lender on the loan agreement was Shen Family Pawnshop.
Gu Lin nodded, a barely perceptible sneer appearing in his eyes.
They've really fallen for money.
The Shen family just lost their eldest son yesterday, and they're already thinking about money this morning.
Upon learning that Gu Jingming was in debt again, the chubby boy shook his head in disappointment, thinking that his friend was hopelessly stupid!
After giving the reminder, Shen Xun turned and left, heading to another school.
After returning three taels of silver to the chubby boy, Gu Lin followed him.
As he walked down the corridor, he whispered:
"We are all deeply saddened by your brother's death. Young Master Shen, please take heed of your grief and pull yourself together."
Shen Xun coldly said:
"Just say what you need to say!"
Gu Lin went straight to the point:
"I would like to borrow another three hundred taels of silver."
"Three hundred taels?" Shen Xun scrutinized him.
Gu Lin nodded.
He's calculating; why should he pay back money he borrowed through his own abilities?
The loan term is one month.
If, a month later, I am already a member of one of the four holy lands.
If your Shen family has the guts, produce the loan agreement!
Do you dare to ask for it?
Their ashes were scattered!
Damn the Shen family! They swindled so much money from me, Gu Lin, before, I have to get it back!
Shen Xun paced back and forth, lost in thought.
Last time he was jokingly asking this idiot to lend him three hundred taels.
This fool is now penniless and unable to borrow money.
Two years ago, the Gu family still had shops and mansions, so if they couldn't pay back the money, they would have something to settle the debt.
But now, how can this fool afford three hundred taels of silver?
But then I thought, what if this fool's father is a bodyguard at Tongxing Escort Agency? If he can't pay back the money, what if he steals the agency's money to pay off the debt so his son won't go to jail?
After much deliberation, Shen Xun nodded:
"Let's go to the pawnshop first. You wait there a while. This is a large sum of money, and I can't make the decision myself. I have to go back to the manor and ask my father for his opinion."
"Okay." Gu Lin couldn't wait.
The two left the academy.
In the bamboo forest not far away, Li Qingwu, who was practicing martial arts, caught a glimpse of this scene. When she saw that the man surnamed Gu was colluding with the Shen family, her eyes lit up instantly.
......
After waiting at the pawnshop for nearly two hours, Shen Xun, dressed in mourning clothes, arrived.
"Same as always, one month's time limit, you must repay 390 taels by then!"
Shen Xun drafted the loan agreement, and after seeing Gu Lin sign and affix his seal, he arranged for the shopkeeper to collect the silver.
Five fifty-tael silver notes and a twenty-tael silver bag.
A total of 270 taels.
Gu Lin had no intention of repaying the debt in the first place, and no longer cared about the amount of interest. He even pretended to be hesitant and cautiously asked:
"Young Master Shen, could you lend me another two hundred taels? I desperately need the money. Don't worry, I will find a way to repay you within a month. I wouldn't dare not!"
Shen Xun resolutely refused:
"Given the Gu family's current situation, three hundred taels is already the limit!"
If it weren't for your father's status as a bodyguard, your Gu family would be so poor that they wouldn't have been able to borrow even thirty taels last time!
Gu Lin's repeated requests were all firmly rejected.
He had no choice but to give up and leave with the silver notes and bag.
As soon as he stepped out of the pawnshop, a woman in a traditional Chinese dress looked at him with a smile.
Li Qingwu watched as Gu Lin tucked the silver notes into his sleeve, and said softly:
"Gu Lin, I knew you would think of me. You will always be my loyal supporter and the only man I have ever loved."
After speaking, she opened her palm, indicating that she wanted Gu Lin to offer it to her.
Gu Lin's eyes were cold, and he said with disgust:
"Get as far away as you can."
Li Qingwu's smile froze.
Borrowing so much money, if not for her, then for whom?
"Have you heard the rumors? That I'm having an affair with Young Master Zhao Yao, and you're jealous and no longer want to follow me?"
"Those are all rumors! My goal is to become a ghostwriter through my own abilities in the selection competition. I want to take you, Gu Lin, out of Shiyang County and head to Chuzhou!"
For the sake of the huge sum of money, Li Qingwu quickly made excuses.
She has great ambitions. She wants to become a swordswoman under the Chuzhou Martial Arts Hall. She wants to use her beauty and tenderness to marry a man with extraordinary talent from the Martial Arts Hall and rise to prominence!
The so-called Prince Qilin, Zhao Yao, is undoubtedly the leader in Shiyang County, but he is insignificant in Chuzhou.
Her man should be a dazzling figure, a disciple of the Four Holy Lands with a bright future!
To achieve this goal, the first step is to stand out in the selection competition.
Need money to buy medicinal herbs and go on a mad spree of tonics!
"Go borrow it yourself," Gu Lin said, and quickly left.
He couldn't resist taking action if he stayed even a moment longer.
If you act now, your future will be ruined!
Li Qingwu looked embarrassed. Of all her suitors, only the one surnamed Gu was the most generous and devoted. Now that he was acting this way, could it be that he had been bewitched by other women?
Lending money to other women?
If so much money is needed, it must be a top-tier school district.
Wei Xuan or Lin Yan'er?
Li Qingwu was furious. How could this spineless scoundrel fawn over other women?
"I'm determined to get that seeded spot!"
Her tone was firm and powerful.
Outsiders questioned her ranking in the academy, believing it to be between tenth and fifteenth, but she firmly believed that with her trump card, she could definitely break into the top ten, or even seventh or eighth!
Disloyal dog, switching allegiances? Open your dog eyes wide at the selection competition and see how dazzling I, Li Qingwu, am!
.......
arrive home.
Gu Lin stuffed the banknotes and banknotes into the box under the bed.
dong dong dong-
Gu's father knocked on the door.
"Father, come in."
Gu Changchuan pushed open the door and entered, holding a notice in his hand.
He said slowly and deliberately:
"Jingming, last time you asked your father about the bounty poster, and today you were lucky. The chief镖师 gave your father a bounty poster with a reward of nine taels of silver. The target is at the third level of the Qi Condensation Realm, which your father can easily handle."
Gu Lin took the wanted poster, which included a portrait of the wanted criminal and the possible hiding place of the criminal in the neighboring Xiajiang County.
He was overwhelmed with emotion and forced himself to control his excitement.
"By the way, why are you asking this?" Gu Changchuan asked curiously.
Gu Lin paused for a moment, carefully considering his words:
"He's a friend from the top-tier academy. He also plans to become a bounty hunter, but he said that this time the bounty will go to me, and he's mainly here to gain experience."
Gu Changchuan's expression changed drastically, and his anger surged.
Upon hearing the name of the top-ranking academy, he instinctively assumed it referred to Li Qingwu, and naturally became furious.
But then she thought about it again. Li Qingwu was a strong contender for the seeded spot. At this crucial moment, she would definitely have to intensify her cultivation. She wouldn't have the leisure to accept any bounty orders.
"Who? Are you coming too?" Gu Changchuan asked anxiously.
Gu Lin clutched the bounty poster, offering no further explanation, but simply said in a gentle voice:
"Father, your son knows what he's doing."
Gu Changchuan scrutinized Gu Lin for a long time, but ultimately did not refute him.
Of course, the son has changed. Not to mention that he dares to chop people with an axe, Jingming has already rummaged through the human skin mask in his own room. What did he use it for?
"You're nineteen now, your father won't take care of you anymore, so be careful."
After saying that, Gu Changchuan waved and left.
Although his son was behaving strangely, he didn't want to pry into it. No matter what he became, he was a thousand times better than the cowardly and shameless spineless man he used to be!
The school district with the character "荒" (huang) in its name.
There was much discussion inside the school.
Upon seeing Gu Lin, the chubby Wang Mu put his arm around his shoulder and gossiped:
"Have you heard? Just last night, Shen Chi, the owner of the Shen Family Pawnshop, died suddenly in the street!"
"Shen Chi?" Gu Lin was taken aback, then revealed a gloating smile.
When Gu Lin burst into laughter, the surrounding students were not surprised at all; on the contrary, they thought it was perfectly natural.
It's only natural that the Shen family pawnshop, which lent money to Gu Jingming, would be happy to hear that Shen Chi was dead.
"How did he die?" Gu Lin asked.
The chubby boy shook his head and lowered his voice:
"The news coming from the county government indicates that the murderer should be a powerhouse at the Knowing Fate Realm!"
"The Knowing Destiny Realm?" Gu Lin was shocked.
The chubby boy nodded:
"Even at the high level of the Knowing Fate Realm!! Although I didn't see Shen Chi's death, it is said that he died a terrible death, and his entire body was frozen. Only those at the high level of the Knowing Fate Realm or above can wield such a terrifying technique."
Gu Lin was even more puzzled. "Why would a high-level Knowing Fate Realm cultivator kill someone surnamed Shen if they had nothing better to do?"
The chubby boy chimed in:
"Perhaps he couldn't stand the Shen family's arrogant and domineering lending practices. However, according to the top-tier academy, they speculated that a powerful expert at the Knowing Fate Realm was passing by East Street and, in a bad mood, casually crushed Shen Chi, this ant."
"Anyway, the Shen family is wailing and demanding that the county government apply to the prefectural government to send in a group of top-notch investigators. They swear they won't rest until they find the murderer!"
Gu Lin remained noncommittal.
Just as he was about to speak, a familiar figure walked into the school.
The man was dressed in mourning clothes, completely unlike his usual spirited self, his face filled with dejection and sorrow.
It was Shen Xun of the Shen family, Shen Chi's younger brother.
My condolences...
"Young Master Shen, please accept my condolences..."
The students of the Wasteland Academy offered quiet words of comfort.
Shen Xun walked towards Gu Lin.
The latter's expression remained completely unchanged.
Shen Xun's eyes were red and swollen, and his voice was hoarse as he said:
"Gu Lin, the debt will not be settled because of your brother's death. The lender is the Shen family, and it is registered with the government. Don't even think about not paying back the debt."
He came to the academy today to remind the dozens of debtors from the eight school offices that although his elder brother signed the deed, the lender on the loan agreement was Shen Family Pawnshop.
Gu Lin nodded, a barely perceptible sneer appearing in his eyes.
They've really fallen for money.
The Shen family just lost their eldest son yesterday, and they're already thinking about money this morning.
Upon learning that Gu Jingming was in debt again, the chubby boy shook his head in disappointment, thinking that his friend was hopelessly stupid!
After giving the reminder, Shen Xun turned and left, heading to another school.
After returning three taels of silver to the chubby boy, Gu Lin followed him.
As he walked down the corridor, he whispered:
"We are all deeply saddened by your brother's death. Young Master Shen, please take heed of your grief and pull yourself together."
Shen Xun coldly said:
"Just say what you need to say!"
Gu Lin went straight to the point:
"I would like to borrow another three hundred taels of silver."
"Three hundred taels?" Shen Xun scrutinized him.
Gu Lin nodded.
He's calculating; why should he pay back money he borrowed through his own abilities?
The loan term is one month.
If, a month later, I am already a member of one of the four holy lands.
If your Shen family has the guts, produce the loan agreement!
Do you dare to ask for it?
Their ashes were scattered!
Damn the Shen family! They swindled so much money from me, Gu Lin, before, I have to get it back!
Shen Xun paced back and forth, lost in thought.
Last time he was jokingly asking this idiot to lend him three hundred taels.
This fool is now penniless and unable to borrow money.
Two years ago, the Gu family still had shops and mansions, so if they couldn't pay back the money, they would have something to settle the debt.
But now, how can this fool afford three hundred taels of silver?
But then I thought, what if this fool's father is a bodyguard at Tongxing Escort Agency? If he can't pay back the money, what if he steals the agency's money to pay off the debt so his son won't go to jail?
After much deliberation, Shen Xun nodded:
"Let's go to the pawnshop first. You wait there a while. This is a large sum of money, and I can't make the decision myself. I have to go back to the manor and ask my father for his opinion."
"Okay." Gu Lin couldn't wait.
The two left the academy.
In the bamboo forest not far away, Li Qingwu, who was practicing martial arts, caught a glimpse of this scene. When she saw that the man surnamed Gu was colluding with the Shen family, her eyes lit up instantly.
......
After waiting at the pawnshop for nearly two hours, Shen Xun, dressed in mourning clothes, arrived.
"Same as always, one month's time limit, you must repay 390 taels by then!"
Shen Xun drafted the loan agreement, and after seeing Gu Lin sign and affix his seal, he arranged for the shopkeeper to collect the silver.
Five fifty-tael silver notes and a twenty-tael silver bag.
A total of 270 taels.
Gu Lin had no intention of repaying the debt in the first place, and no longer cared about the amount of interest. He even pretended to be hesitant and cautiously asked:
"Young Master Shen, could you lend me another two hundred taels? I desperately need the money. Don't worry, I will find a way to repay you within a month. I wouldn't dare not!"
Shen Xun resolutely refused:
"Given the Gu family's current situation, three hundred taels is already the limit!"
If it weren't for your father's status as a bodyguard, your Gu family would be so poor that they wouldn't have been able to borrow even thirty taels last time!
Gu Lin's repeated requests were all firmly rejected.
He had no choice but to give up and leave with the silver notes and bag.
As soon as he stepped out of the pawnshop, a woman in a traditional Chinese dress looked at him with a smile.
Li Qingwu watched as Gu Lin tucked the silver notes into his sleeve, and said softly:
"Gu Lin, I knew you would think of me. You will always be my loyal supporter and the only man I have ever loved."
After speaking, she opened her palm, indicating that she wanted Gu Lin to offer it to her.
Gu Lin's eyes were cold, and he said with disgust:
"Get as far away as you can."
Li Qingwu's smile froze.
Borrowing so much money, if not for her, then for whom?
"Have you heard the rumors? That I'm having an affair with Young Master Zhao Yao, and you're jealous and no longer want to follow me?"
"Those are all rumors! My goal is to become a ghostwriter through my own abilities in the selection competition. I want to take you, Gu Lin, out of Shiyang County and head to Chuzhou!"
For the sake of the huge sum of money, Li Qingwu quickly made excuses.
She has great ambitions. She wants to become a swordswoman under the Chuzhou Martial Arts Hall. She wants to use her beauty and tenderness to marry a man with extraordinary talent from the Martial Arts Hall and rise to prominence!
The so-called Prince Qilin, Zhao Yao, is undoubtedly the leader in Shiyang County, but he is insignificant in Chuzhou.
Her man should be a dazzling figure, a disciple of the Four Holy Lands with a bright future!
To achieve this goal, the first step is to stand out in the selection competition.
Need money to buy medicinal herbs and go on a mad spree of tonics!
"Go borrow it yourself," Gu Lin said, and quickly left.
He couldn't resist taking action if he stayed even a moment longer.
If you act now, your future will be ruined!
Li Qingwu looked embarrassed. Of all her suitors, only the one surnamed Gu was the most generous and devoted. Now that he was acting this way, could it be that he had been bewitched by other women?
Lending money to other women?
If so much money is needed, it must be a top-tier school district.
Wei Xuan or Lin Yan'er?
Li Qingwu was furious. How could this spineless scoundrel fawn over other women?
"I'm determined to get that seeded spot!"
Her tone was firm and powerful.
Outsiders questioned her ranking in the academy, believing it to be between tenth and fifteenth, but she firmly believed that with her trump card, she could definitely break into the top ten, or even seventh or eighth!
Disloyal dog, switching allegiances? Open your dog eyes wide at the selection competition and see how dazzling I, Li Qingwu, am!
.......
arrive home.
Gu Lin stuffed the banknotes and banknotes into the box under the bed.
dong dong dong-
Gu's father knocked on the door.
"Father, come in."
Gu Changchuan pushed open the door and entered, holding a notice in his hand.
He said slowly and deliberately:
"Jingming, last time you asked your father about the bounty poster, and today you were lucky. The chief镖师 gave your father a bounty poster with a reward of nine taels of silver. The target is at the third level of the Qi Condensation Realm, which your father can easily handle."
Gu Lin took the wanted poster, which included a portrait of the wanted criminal and the possible hiding place of the criminal in the neighboring Xiajiang County.
He was overwhelmed with emotion and forced himself to control his excitement.
"By the way, why are you asking this?" Gu Changchuan asked curiously.
Gu Lin paused for a moment, carefully considering his words:
"He's a friend from the top-tier academy. He also plans to become a bounty hunter, but he said that this time the bounty will go to me, and he's mainly here to gain experience."
Gu Changchuan's expression changed drastically, and his anger surged.
Upon hearing the name of the top-ranking academy, he instinctively assumed it referred to Li Qingwu, and naturally became furious.
But then she thought about it again. Li Qingwu was a strong contender for the seeded spot. At this crucial moment, she would definitely have to intensify her cultivation. She wouldn't have the leisure to accept any bounty orders.
"Who? Are you coming too?" Gu Changchuan asked anxiously.
Gu Lin clutched the bounty poster, offering no further explanation, but simply said in a gentle voice:
"Father, your son knows what he's doing."
Gu Changchuan scrutinized Gu Lin for a long time, but ultimately did not refute him.
Of course, the son has changed. Not to mention that he dares to chop people with an axe, Jingming has already rummaged through the human skin mask in his own room. What did he use it for?
"You're nineteen now, your father won't take care of you anymore, so be careful."
After saying that, Gu Changchuan waved and left.
Although his son was behaving strangely, he didn't want to pry into it. No matter what he became, he was a thousand times better than the cowardly and shameless spineless man he used to be!