Embers of Sword

Chapter 21 Debt Collection

Tai'an City, Xu Mansion.

Before nightfall, the Xu family sent people to prepare and set up a banquet to entertain the guests.

"You all have come from afar, you are all honored guests, please don't be polite."

Xu You, deputy city lord of Tai'an City, sat in the main seat, smiling kindly and raising his glass.

Deng Chicheng and Deng Baiyi, father and daughter, were a little nervous when they first set foot in Qingzhou and met a "big shot" like Xu You. After hearing these words, they raised their glasses and drank to each other, feeling much more relaxed.

The deputy city lord of Tai'an City.

He looks very kind and has a mellow voice that makes people feel like spring breeze.

"Is this Mr. Xie Zhen? He is really young and handsome, and has great potential at a young age."

Xu You slowly moved the wine glass towards the young man in white.

"Master Xu, thank you for your compliment. Is tonight's banquet a little too grand..."

Xie Xuanyi smiled and asked, "We are just passing through Tai'an, why do we need to go through so much trouble?"

"This is basic hospitality. If you don't mind, you can stay in Tai'an tonight."

Xu You smiled and drank it all, then said slowly: "I heard from Shen Yan that you traveled east from Beijun and all the way south, and you haven't had a good rest for quite a while."

Xie Xuanyi also drank the wine in his cup: "Since Lord Xu has asked, I am of course happy to do so."

After entering Tai'an City.

The uneasiness in my heart reached its peak.

Xie Xuanyi knew... he was only one step away from "the real purpose being revealed".

Tonight's meal was easy to come and easy to eat.

But if you want to leave, it won't be easy.

"I heard from Shen Yan that Master Xie is a Taoist master?"

After three rounds of drinks, Xu You looked at Xie Xuanyi again. He felt vaguely that the young man looked familiar, as if he had seen him before, but he couldn't remember where he had seen him before.

This young man is indeed extremely handsome.

Deng Baiyi pretended to be drunk, holding her forehead with her hand, with her long black hair hanging down. At this moment, she quickly pricked up her ears, wanting to hear Xie Xuanyi's answer.

Xie Xuanyi smiled slightly, and gave a completely different answer from the one he gave before Fengsui City: "I can't be considered a disciple of Taoism. I only know a little bit about Taoism, so I can't be considered a disciple of Taoism."

"Oh?"

Xu You became interested and said with a smile, "It is not an easy task to get the official stationed in Fengsui City to open the door respectfully."

obviously.

Shen Yan had written down in the letter everything that had happened along the way.

"I learned a little bit of talisman from a friend a few years ago."

"The reason why we were able to enter the country smoothly was mainly because the official stationed in Fengsui City had a keen eye and saw that these talismans and spells came from Taoism... Lord Xu should also know that everyone is willing to give face to Taoism." Xie Xuanyi glanced at Shen Yan, calmly took out a talisman from his arms and handed it to Xu You.

The moment Xu You took over, his eyes lit up with a gleam of light.

He looked up at the young man in front of him with some surprise.

Xie Xuanyi said calmly: "I don't have any great skills, but drawing a few talismans is not a problem. If you like it, I will give this pure talisman to Lord Xu."

"Then I will be disrespectful to refuse it."

Xu You was stunned for a moment, then he sighed and said with emotion: "The Taoist talisman technique is the best in the world, and it really lives up to its reputation. But I heard that this technique is never passed on to outsiders... I didn't expect Brother Xie to have such a background. I'm so sorry."

He did not study in detail how this mysterious Mr. Xie learned the Taoist talismans.

What is said at the banquet is a mixture of true and false.

Every practitioner has his own secrets.

In just a few words, Xu You's way of addressing Xie Xuanyi had changed -

From Mr. Xie to Brother Xie.

Xu Jing, who was sitting on the other side, had a complicated look on his face. He didn't expect why his adoptive father was so respectful to Xie Zhen and even treated him as an equal!

My adoptive father calls this kid "Brother Xie", so what should I call him?
"Master Xu is joking."

Xie Xuanyi knew what Xu You was thinking.

Those who can sit in this seat are not stupid people. When Fengsui City entered the pass, he deliberately revealed the trump card of "Taoism" in front of Shen Yan, just in case.

Now we step into Tai'an City.

This so-called welcoming banquet was actually set up by Xu You to test his Taoist identity...

Now that Xu You's probing was over, it was time for him to speak.

Xie Xuanyi raised his glass and spoke softly, "Master Xu, I wonder if Miss Shen mentioned Lingluo Mountain in her letter?"

Xu You's expression changed very quickly.

He drank it all in one gulp, his voice bitter: "Of course. Brother Shen and I have known each other for many years. He once saved my life outside Jiayong Pass. I never thought... that I would encounter such an accident! Xu will never sit idly by and watch this happen..."

"Now that you've mentioned it, it's easy to talk about."

Xie Xuanyi interrupted Xu You's voice.

He said bluntly: "Beijun is dangerous and it is difficult to enter the pass. Miss Shen used five Qingyuan Pills to buy her life. Send her to Tai'an City, and that will be the day to redeem the five Qingyuan Pills."

Xu You was obviously stunned.

He never expected that halfway through the banquet, Xie Xuanyi, who was still so friendly the moment before, would start to settle the accounts.

Shen Yan's face also looked a little embarrassed.

"Miss Shen wrote so much in the letter, even telling me that I came from the 'Tao Sect'. I'm sure she also mentioned something as important as the Qing Yuan Pill."

Xie Xuanyi smiled and said, "Master Xu, as the deputy city lord of Tai'an City, you can't afford five Qingyuan Pills, right?"

"Five Qingyuan Pills..."

The corners of Xu You's lips twitched slightly.

There are many pills on the market that can be used to condense vital energy and practice. The most common Yuan Dan is graded by color, including Bai Yuan Dan, Chi Yuan Dan, Huang Yuan Dan, Qing Yuan Dan... Almost all practitioners who use Qing Yuan Dan to practice are in the Yu Qi realm. Xu You can practice for almost a month by slowly swallowing a Qing Yuan Dan!

This little guy wants five at a time!
Is this an attempt to ascend to heaven?

Xu You took a deep breath and laughed loudly, "It's just five Qingyuan Pills. How can I, Xu You, be a treacherous person?"

"Jinger!"

He tapped the tabletop lightly with his wine glass and ordered, "Go! Bring me my Qing Yuan Dan!"

Just a few sentences were enough to make Xu Jing's heart surge.

The adopted son quickly stood up and left. A moment later, Xu Jing brought back a snow-white brocade bag carved with a Qilin.

The brocade bag was opened, revealing five green jade beads as big as eyeballs.

"Is this the Qing Yuan Pill?"

Deng Baiyi’s beautiful eyes widened when she saw Yuandan for the first time.

Even a fledgling Qi Refiner like her could feel the enormous energy contained in the five Qingyuan Pills.

How long would it take me to cultivate to obtain the vital energy contained in this pill?

This one must be worth a lot of money, right?
"Master Xu is righteous."

Xie Xuanyi praised it lightly, just glanced at it, and then put the brocade bag away.

well.

The purpose is achieved.

With five Qing Yuan Pills in hand, this trip to Tai'an City won't be in vain...

Xu You waved his hand and whispered, "Brother Shen has met with misfortune. Yan'er is my adopted daughter. Her affairs are my affairs. Brother Xie, you are willing to save Yan'er's life. No amount of Qingyuan Pills can bring it back. Even if you want more, it is not too much."

"Ah."

Xie Xuanyi smiled. This Xu You was quite interesting.

I'm obviously heartbroken, but I pretend not to care.

"There are two more. Yan'er has told me that I am grateful for your care on the journey east. If you have any requests, please feel free to ask."

Xu You looked at Deng Baiyi and Deng Chicheng with a smile.

"Require?"

Deng Baiyi was helpless, of course she knew it was just a polite remark.

Although she didn't know the exact value of the Qingyuan Pill...but even she could see the painful expression on Deputy City Lord Xu's face just now.

Tonight's banquet was already enough of a face-giving treat for her.

It was impossible for her to make any demands at this moment.

But I never expected it.

Deng Chicheng, who had been drinking quietly with his head down and remaining silent, stood up at this moment.

"City Lord Xu is generous."

Deng Chicheng bowed, glanced at Xie Xuanyi cautiously, and then whispered: "I do have a small request..."

"Oh?" Xu You raised his eyebrows.

Deng Chicheng took out an account book from his arms.

Of course he knew that the protagonist of tonight's banquet was Mr. Xie Zhen... He had been drinking with his head down just now, but he listened carefully to every word of the conversation between Xu You and Xie Zhen, without missing a single word.

Deng Chicheng figured something out.

No matter who Xie Zhen is, as long as he sits here, Xu You will give him some face.

He knew that the Deng family did not play any role in saving Shen Yan.

He also knew that Xie Zhen's willingness to teach his daughter the method of cultivation was already a great act of kindness. If he knew how to judge the situation, he would not speak at this time and cause trouble for Master Xie. The two of them, father and daughter, only needed to follow the topic and express their gratitude, and the banquet would be over.

"This account book?"

Xie Xuanyi narrowed his eyes and felt that the person looked familiar.

He recalled that during the past few days of traveling, Deng Chicheng and Shen Yan were in the same car without saying a word. Most of the time, the head of the Deng family was writing something at his desk...

This is the account book that is written.

There was also a look of confusion in Shen Yan's eyes.

She was in the same car with Deng Chicheng, so she naturally saw this scene, but she didn't understand what Deng Chicheng had been writing.

Xu Jing stood up, took the account book, and placed it in front of Xu You.

Xu You didn't open it at all.

He asked calmly, "What is this?"

"Yuzhu Town has had several trades with Lingluo Mountain."

Deng Chicheng was very humble. He gritted his teeth and said with difficulty: "The world has been unstable in recent years. Beijun encountered a great famine. There are several outstanding payments for goods from Lingluo Mountain... If it weren't for Mr. Xie bringing me to Qingzhou, I would have gone to Lingluo Mountain to ask for the money. I originally wanted to leave this money to my daughter so that she can buy a house in the imperial city in the future."

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room fell silent.

Shen Yan looked at Deng Chicheng with disbelief. She could never have imagined that the account Deng Chicheng had been settling these days was this one.

"you……"

Xu You looked at the yellowed paper in front of him in silence. After a long pause, he asked, "Are you asking me for a debt?"

"To be precise, I'm looking for Miss Shen to collect a debt."

Deng Chicheng, who had been humble in front of practitioners all his life, stood up for once.

He said softly, "Lingluo Mountain belongs to her. The one who owes the Deng family money is not you, but her."

　“Zz”

　　
　
(End of this chapter)