Scholar Chen Wenyuan

"Three coins...wait for me...wait for me to find a job..."

He lay on the ground, his consciousness already somewhat blurred, merely repeating the same actions instinctively.

The surrounding vendors and pedestrians quickly averted their gaze and hurried on their way.

These days, who would dare to meddle in the business of shops protected by the canal gangs?

Su Yang stopped in his tracks.

He saw it very clearly.

Although the man named Chen Wenyuan was beaten like a dead dog, his faded collar, the ink stains under his fingernails, and the fact that he subconsciously straightened his spine even in excruciating pain all indicated that he had once been a respectable scholar.

This isn't a rogue trying to dine and dash; he's more like a pitiful person whose throat has been gripped by fate.

Su Yang's gaze lingered for a moment on the hand that was tightly gripping the wine pot, the knuckles of which were white. In that hand, besides despair, there seemed to be a tiny, undying spark of 'decency'.

He walked over.

His footsteps were light, yet they stopped the two men who were about to attack at the same time, and they looked at the burly, imposing swordsman in plain clothes with suspicion.

Su Yang ignored them, walked straight to Chen Wenyuan, squatted down, and said calmly, "Three qian of silver, is that right?"

Chen Wenyuan struggled to lift his head, and through his swollen eyelids, he saw a blurry yet steady figure, as solid as a mountain.

He opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

Su Yang had already stood up, took out a small piece of silver from his pocket, weighing about half an ounce, and flicked it with his thumb.

The silver coin traced an arc and landed precisely at the feet of the cursing waiter with a "thud".

"His money for the drinks, and the things he broke."

Su Yang's tone was cold: "Is that enough?"

The shop assistant was taken aback, hurriedly picked up the silver, bit it, and immediately put on a smile: "Enough! Enough! This gentleman is generous! This poor... sir, please help yourself!"

The two men bowed and scraped, quickly retreating back into the tavern, as if their earlier ferocity had been nothing but an illusion.

The streets were quiet for a moment.

Su Yang looked at Chen Wenyuan on the ground again and reached out his hand. "Can you get up?"

Chen Wenyuan looked at the outstretched hand, his swollen eyes finally breaking free. He didn't reach out to grasp it, but instead abruptly turned his face away, his turbid tears mixed with blood rolling down his cheeks and splashing into the dust.

Then he gritted his teeth, mustered all his strength, and, trembling, used his hands to support himself as he slowly stood up.

Then, he straightened his tattered and ill-fitting clothes, and bowed deeply and with great difficulty to Su Yang, performing the most standard, solemn, and heartbreaking bow.

"My name is... Chen Wenyuan."

His voice was broken, but each word was clear: "Thank...thank you for your help."

After watching him finish bowing and accepting the thanks, Su Yang finally asked, "Are you able to leave?"

Chen Wenyuan gritted his teeth and nodded forcefully.

"Let's find a place to sit down and calm down."

Su Yang helped him up, turned around and led him to a simple tea stall at the entrance of a nearby alley.

After drinking two bowls of cold tea, Chen Wenyuan's muddled mind cleared somewhat. He used the handkerchief Su Yang handed him to wipe the blood from his face. After a long silence, he raised his head, his eyes filled with an overwhelming sorrow and a lingering resentment.

"My benefactor...why bother sticking up for a useless person like me?"

His voice was hoarse.

"You don't look like a useless person."

Su Yang's gaze remained calm: "There was fire in your eyes, but it has been extinguished for the time being."

Chen Wenyuan shuddered, as if those words had pierced him deeply. He abruptly closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, tears mixed with undried blood rolled down his cheeks.

"fire?"

He murmured, "My fire... was extinguished long ago."

He remained silent for a moment, as if making a decision, before slowly speaking, his voice filled with suppressed grief and indignation: "I was originally a scholar, studying diligently for over ten years, hoping only to pass the imperial examinations and give my sister and mother a better life. But the world has collapsed, the imperial examinations have been suspended, and the government is practically useless. Three months ago, Liu Meng, the leader of the Grand Canal Gang, took a fancy to my sister Chen Wenxiu's beauty, led his men into my house, and forcibly abducted her..."

At this point, Chen Wenyuan's voice choked up, and tears finally streamed down his face.

"My sister...she's only eighteen! They tortured her for three days, and when they threw her back, she was...she was barely recognizable!"

"I went to the government office to file a complaint, but I was beaten out by the yamen runners. The canal gang controls the waterways of Jingling and colludes with the government... I also tried to find a way, sold my ancestral property, and went to those so-called influential people in the martial arts world... But they took the money and disappeared in the blink of an eye, or just gave me a perfunctory response... That's when I realized that in this world, without power, even fair dealing is a luxury..."

"Now, I have nothing left but this reeking of alcohol and a heart full of resentment..."

After he finished speaking, he seemed to have all his strength drained away. He lowered his head, his throat choked with sobs, his body trembling uncontrollably, and his clenched fists turned white at the knuckles, as if he were making a final struggle against the surging pain and despair throughout his body.

Su Yang looked at him and understood.

Chaos is like a knife, especially ruthless and cruel.

Judging from the remaining coherence in Chen Wenyuan's narrative.

He wasn't a fool, just a scholar crushed by the ways of the world and absolute power, who hadn't yet learned to survive under a different set of rules. His anger and resentment precisely demonstrated that his spirit hadn't died. As long as someone showed him a way and taught him the methods, this spirit could transform into ruthlessness and resourcefulness.

Hatred can be poison, or it can be the crucible for tempering a blade.

Now that my strength has increased and I have money on hand, it's time to train some errand runners.

After all, the 'cultivation resources' for simplifying martial arts can be obtained by his subordinates. He can focus on simplifying martial arts and improving his strength, which is the right path!

After the silent grief subsided, Su Yang slowly spoke: "Chen Wenyuan, do you... want revenge?"

Chen Wenyuan suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot: "I want to! I want to all the time! But... what can I do?"

"You really can't do anything by yourself."

Su Yang's tone was cold and realistic: "Liu Meng has nearly a thousand men under his command, controls the waterways, and is one of the four major forces in Jingling. Relying on mere brawn and courage is nothing but suicide."

Seeing the light in Chen Wenyuan's eyes quickly dim, Su Yang changed the subject: "But revenge doesn't necessarily have to be the only way to kill. Strategizing, using someone else's strength against them, making him lose everything and suffer unbearable pain—that might be a better form of revenge."

Chen Wenyuan was stunned, staring blankly at Su Yang.

"Judging from your words and actions, you were once a learned and sensible person. Revenge requires patience, planning, and, more importantly, someone to find out the details of the Canal Gang—their strongholds, manpower, financial transactions, and internal conflicts. These things cannot be found out through martial arts."

Su Yang's gaze sharpened, as if it could pierce through people's hearts: "I can give you a chance. But the premise is that you must first prove to me that you are not a useless person who is blinded by hatred and can't even manage himself."

Chen Wenyuan's breathing quickened, and he said urgently, "How can I prove it? Please tell me, my benefactor!"

Su Yang did not answer immediately. Instead, he paid for the tea, stood up, and said, "Your injury needs to be treated."

He led Chen Wenyuan to a small shop called "Huichuntang" at the end of the alley. The old doctor cleaned and bandaged him, paid the consultation fee, and prescribed two doses of herbal medicine to remove blood stasis.

After leaving the clinic, Su Yang stuffed the medicine packet and a small string of copper coins worth about one hundred coins into Chen Wenyuan's hand.

"This money is enough for you to find a place to stay temporarily, eat your fill for a few days, and recover from your injuries."

Su Yang's tone was calm yet weighty: "If you're truly determined and want to prove you're not a cripple..."

He paused, then looked calmly at Chen Wenyuan and stated the crucial agreement: "Seven days from now, at the beginning of noon. Go to 'Ruifeng Cloth Shop' in the south of the city—remember, it's across from the shop, under the eaves of 'Old Sun's Tea Stall.' I will 'pass by' there."

"Arrive on time, wait quietly, do not talk to anyone, and do not mention me."

Su Yang concluded with a deep look in his eyes: "If you come, we can continue our discussion. If you don't come, or if things become unstable..."

Su Yang didn't say what came next, but the meaning was clear: you only get one chance, whether you can seize it or not is up to you.

Chen Wenyuan clutched the medicine and money, his body trembling slightly from excitement and weakness.

He looked at Su Yang and nodded hard, etching the words "Seven days later, at the beginning of noon, opposite Ruifuxiang Cloth Shop in the South City, under the eaves of Old Sun's Tea Stall" into his heart like a branding iron.

"My benefactor has shown me such great kindness; I, Wenyuan, will never betray you!"

He bowed deeply, his voice hoarse.

Su Yang accepted the bow without hesitation, said no more, turned and merged into the crowd on the street, quickly disappearing from sight.

Chen Wenyuan stood still, took a few deep breaths of the cold air, and suppressed his turbulent emotions.

He looked at the copper coins and medicine packet in his hand, then glanced in the direction Su Yang had left. The almost extinguished flame in his eyes finally reignited, though weak, it had found its direction.

He straightened his back a bit and walked deeper into the alley, looking for a corner where he could find shelter for the night.

He must live well for these seven days and keep his appointment on time.

.........