Headless Immortal

Chapter 44 Debt collector
Whoops!

A fisherman dressed in a coarse cloth shirt, short trousers, straw sandals, a bamboo hat on his back, and a woodcutter's belt slung around his waist entered the shop with the autumn wind.

His skin was unusually dark, not a healthy wheat color.

He shouted as soon as he entered the door, "Hey, hey..."

Seeing the man being dragged halfway by the pale-faced giant, the fisherman with the straw hat immediately stepped forward, grabbed a few pearls from the woodpile, and said, "Pawn them!"

"Master?"

The man first looked at the fierce bandit who was holding him.

Lu Xun squinted and let go.

"Five foreign pearls, forty taels each. I wonder if this gentleman will pawn them alive or dead."

"How many?"

"Live like a forty-year-old, die like a fifty-year-old."

"Die!"

The shopkeeper was quite accommodating; he handed over the pawn ticket and silver and put the five pearls away.

"How strange." Lu Xun thought the pawnshop clerk was making up a story to fool him, but unexpectedly, someone showed up to tell the truth.

Judging from his sun-tanned dark skin and thin appearance, he didn't look like someone from a wealthy family at all.

Fishing and farming are both hard jobs, and you're at the mercy of the weather.

Pearls cannot be grown in the ground, nor can gold be found in the river.

Lu Xun grabbed the departing fisherman and asked with a smile, "Where did this brother make his fortune? I heard that fishermen in the vicinity are all coming to pawn their treasures."

The fisherman struggled but couldn't break free. He was furious and said, "Is it any of your business? Let go, or I'll report you to the authorities. The night patrol is right outside."

Lu Xun was unwilling to argue. He was the leader of the bandit stronghold, and although he had already eliminated the stronghold, he had mobilized almost the entire county government and the troops guarding the city.

If he were recognized by the night patrol soldiers, he would have to find a new identity.

He let go of her hand and watched the fisherman leave the pawnshop and be welcomed into the three-story mountain building.

The large red lanterns resembled the eyes of a vicious beast ready to devour its prey.

The waiter asked cautiously, "Sir, are you still going to pawn it?"

"Clang! Look at my treasure." Lu Xun said, twirling the glass marble. "Look at its size and color, isn't it more genuine than what they sent?"

Actually, his is the least authentic. At least the ones others send are natural, but his is a genuine industrial product, glass from an assembly line.

Of course, scarcity drives up value, so no price is too high.

Lu Xun was not greedy and did not expect to solve the large sum of money with a few marbles. He only wanted to raise enough money for his studies and daily expenses.

"Please forgive my poor eyesight, please come into the inner hall for a chat."

……

Wang Si made his fortune, and his back, which had been bent for many years, suddenly straightened up.

He was generous with his money and his heart. In the past, when he went fishing, he never dared to linger in front of the painted boats and towering ships for even a moment, for fear that the pimps would scold the maids for greeting him, and he would feel uncomfortable.

Now, with a mix of trepidation and arrogance, he stormed into the Drunken Pavilion.

The perceptive man with the large teapot came forward, a smile plastered on his face. He respectfully poured tea and water, then presented the teacup with a tray: "Sir, do you know any ladies?"

"No."

"Let me introduce this gentleman."

Wang Si waved his hand and asked, "Is there a small painted boat with an apricot-colored flag, and a fierce and unreasonable maid who plays a zither or some other instrument?"

Upon hearing this, Big Teapot was stunned. His eyes darted around, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Master must be referring to Fang Jiuniang."

"I want her."

"Ninth Sister, the guest requests your presence."

A door opened at the Erchongshan Tower, and a maidservant stepped out, leading to a tall, charming woman behind her, whose every smile and gesture was captivating.

Wang Si was only momentarily stunned by the allure, his eyes revealing a long-suppressed anger and pleasure.

It turned out that he was fishing on the Xunyang River that day when he accidentally bumped his pole into a painted boat, which drew a barrage of insults from the maid. He was too tongue-tied to speak, and his face turned red as he almost choked and fell into the river.

After returning home, he worked even harder at fishing, but he didn't even dare to enter the Drunken Pavilion, as he heard that it cost ten taels of silver to enter.

Now he carries 250 taels of silver in cash, and even if he can only control 50 taels, it is still an unbelievable sum of money.

What concubine is unacceptable? What humiliation is unrecoverable?

"I want her!" "Master, a young master has already booked Ninth Sister today. Please come early tomorrow... Or does Master want to compete?"

"Competition?"

"The highest bidder wins."

"How much did he contribute?"

"Twelve taels."

"I'll offer fifteen taels."

"Twenty taels!" A young gentleman with a folding fan stepped out from the crowd. He wore a blue long robe, a turban, and a white jade belt. He slammed his folding fan down in his hand, glanced at the fisherman, and said indifferently, "Where did this old man come from who dares to compete with me? How much wealth do you have?"

Fisherman Wang Si blushed instantly and blurted out, "Thirty taels!"

"Thirty-five..."

The young man was clearly lacking in strength.

"Fifty taels!" The loud announcement drew the attention of the alluring woman upstairs, while the other patrons reacted with varying expressions. The well-dressed young man, however, bowed and excused himself, covering his face as he left.

Wang Si was eager to vent his anger, and like a victorious general, he strode confidently toward Erzhong.

Outside the mountain tower, golden flames shimmered, while inside, lanterns and decorations adorned the building in a lavish display. A tall, red wooden staircase, nearly fifteen feet high, was carved with dragons and phoenixes, its intricate details winding and branching out to the second floor.

Halfway up the teapot, the man bowed deeply and said with a smile, "Sir, please ascend the heights; the master of the second floor will guide you."

Stepping onto the red steps and feeling the fragrant breeze, it was as if I had truly ascended to a celestial palace. The gloom and depression I felt at having spent fifty taels of silver were now completely swept away by the feeling of being carefree.

They arrived at the door of the side room amidst the throng. The maid who had once scolded and insulted them was now meek and obedient, while the young lady who lived on the pleasure boat and had never shown her face was charming and alluring, feigning reluctance while welcoming them.

Fine wine and food had already been prepared in the room.

"It's worth it!"

Wang Si flung the maid aside and strode into the room with a shout.

Since the money was free anyway, I might as well pretend I didn't get it and have gained everything for nothing.

……

Once people feel comfortable, they want to continue enjoying themselves. They played for a whole day and two nights. By the time Wang Si came to his senses, the bag containing the silver was already empty.

He had no idea where he had spent all his money. By the time he came to his senses, the surging crowd had been pushed away from the gambling table, and his shouts were drowned out by the hoarse cries of the gamblers.

The stench of sweat mixed with the smell of tobacco made him stagger out of the long street.

After groping around for a while, he slapped himself twice.

Fifty taels is enough; why bother with two hundred taels for no reason?

Remembering the man's instructions and warnings, Wang Si fled home under the cover of night.

As soon as I stepped outside, I was so dizzy that I couldn't tell which way was which. I felt like the world was spinning around me. I blindfolded myself and stumbled into a narrow alleyway across the river. When I turned around, I bumped into a 'high wall' and fell so hard that I saw stars.

By the moonlight and the flickering incense sticks lit in front of other people's doors, I could make out who was coming.

Wang Si glared, about to unleash a torrent of curses, but like a white duck being choked, he suddenly fell silent.

The newcomer was wearing a large raincoat and was soaking wet. He had only been standing there for a short while, and a puddle had formed at his feet. He slightly raised his wide straw hat, revealing a pair of huge red eyes that almost took up half of his face. He said in a hoarse voice, "Sir, you have asked me to pawn five pearls. Now you should hand over the silver to me."

"save……"

A bone slammed directly into Wang Si's mouth, making it impossible for him to utter a single sound.

"Where's the silver?"

Wang Si shook his head in terror, like a rattle-drum.

"Damn it!"

The man in the straw hat stepped forward, about to rip off Wang Si's head.

But before he could make a move, he suddenly stopped.

He glanced slightly to the side and looked behind him.

The burly figure ate flatbread and dried field mice, with a gourd of water hanging from his waist. He took a big gulp of water, which slid down his bulging cheeks.

He casually wiped his short beard and said loudly, "Last time I saw him with a somewhat sinister aura, so it turns out to be you, the debt collector."

The debt collector didn't move his body, but his head turned around like a hawk eyeing a wolf.

His eyes, which occupied half of his face, stared at the newcomer.

(End of this chapter)