Chapter 19: It Simply Means There's No Money

Lin Gui’s gaze fell upon the only wooden cabin in the courtyard, where a middle-aged man with a lecherous appearance emerged, accompanied by five burly henchmen.

“Don’t worry, Manager Wu, I’m not running away!” Lin Gui said firmly, looking at the middle-aged man.

“Good! At least you’ve got some spirit. Much better than your useless old man,” Manager Wu said, stepping forward. He looked up at Lin Gui, who was half a head taller than him, clapping his hands in approval.

“Since you’re so capable, young Lin, can you settle your father’s debt today?” Manager Hao asked with a smile, though a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

“I don’t have the money, but if you give me time, I’ll do hard labor and eventually repay every penny,” Lin Gui’s voice weakened, but his eyes remained resolute.

“Heh, so you mean you have no money,” Manager Wu laughed, suddenly turning cold. Without warning, he kicked Lin Gui squarely in the chest.

With a loud “bang,” Lin Gui was sent flying backward by the force of the kick.

“What are you pretending for if you can’t pay? Do you think our gambling house is a charity?” Manager Wu sneered, full of contempt.

Clutching his abdomen, Lin Gui propped himself up halfway and looked toward Manager Wu, struggling to speak, “I really have no money. What do you want me to do, sir?”

“Heh! What to do? Since you can’t pay, go downstairs and keep your useless old man company. You’re still young—sell those parts on your body; it might help reduce our losses at the gambling house!” Manager Wu smiled again, but the smile was as cold as ice.

Lin Gui’s body trembled uncontrollably — after all, he was still just a child. No matter how strong he pretended to be, facing the crisis before him, fear inevitably gnawed at his heart.

“Get him! Beat this brat up, but don’t kill him. Dead men aren’t worth anything to us,” Manager Wu commanded, waving his hand toward the five men.

As the henchmen gripped their clubs and advanced slowly, Lin Gui could only watch helplessly.

“You brat! Blame yourself for having such a father,” snarled one of the monstrous men as he raised his club to strike Lin Gui’s head.

Lin Gui shut his eyes tightly, bracing for pain, but after a moment, he felt nothing.

Curious, he opened his eyes—and the scene before him left him astonished.

***

“You’re the young master from this morning!” A youth suddenly appeared, his hand extended, catching the wooden club steadily.

“Your home is really out in the sticks,” Shen Xuan turned his head and smiled at Lin Gui.

“How did you end up here?” Lin Gui, still dazed, asked with bewilderment.

“After you left, I noticed some sneaky men tailing you. I feared for your safety and came to check,” Shen Xuan explained.

“Turns out I was right. This bunch of sewer rats are up to no good,” he added, casting a sharp glance at the gloomy-faced Manager Wu.

“Who are you to meddle in the affairs of the Qinghe Gambling House? Want to die?” Manager Wu growled fiercely at the sudden intruder.

“You don’t need to know who I am. I’ve paid off this young man’s debt. What say you, Manager?” Shen Xuan’s gaze was calm and direct.

Hearing this, Manager Wu’s expression faltered as he scrutinized the youth before him.

Though his clothes were modest, the casual display of six hundred taels of silver suggested either a noble heir experiencing life or a lucky commoner who found a windfall.

Greed bubbled up inside Manager Wu. Even if this was a wealthy scion, killing him here and cleaning up thoroughly meant no one would ever know.

“Heh! Such generosity! If you’re willing to lavish six hundred taels on this loser, surely you won’t mind lending your brothers some silver for a few drinks?” Manager Wu’s eyes gleamed with greed as he spoke teasingly.

“Oh? Trying to mooch off me? Let’s see if you’ve got the skill for it!” Shen Xuan’s eyes flashed with killing intent as he gripped the wooden club tightly.

With a loud “crack,” the club splintered into pieces, wood chips scattering. Seizing the moment, Shen Xuan lunged forward and delivered a fierce punch to the henchman’s nose.

“Aaaah!” The man screamed in agony from the sudden, brutal pain.

Bloodied and stunned, the henchman barely had time to react before Shen Xuan followed up with a whip-like kick that sent him flying.

“A martial artist? A scion of a military family? But his style seems a bit off…” Manager Wu muttered, watching Shen Xuan’s smooth, flowing movements.

“Is that all you’ve got?” Shen Xuan’s eyes gleamed with excitement as he taunted Manager Wu.

***

“You’ve got skill, young master. Let me have a go myself,” Manager Wu said gravely, eyes full of caution as he approached with measured steps.

Suddenly, he sprang forward like an arrow, fingers clawed like iron hooks.

“Well then!” Shen Xuan’s eyes lit up as he assumed a Tai Chi stance.

“Die!” Manager Wu’s claws slashed toward Shen Xuan’s body.

Shen Xuan responded with a Tai Chi Cloud Hand.

“What kind of technique is this?” Manager Wu exclaimed, feeling his strength drained.

Before he could retreat, Shen Xuan struck a Ban Lan Hammer directly at his chest.

Sensing danger, Manager Wu instinctively blocked with his left arm. A dull thud echoed as a powerful force drove him backward.

“You’re surprisingly strong for your age. Which family are you from?” Manager Wu asked, trembling in his right hand as he faced this unrelenting youth.

“You don’t need to know,” Shen Xuan replied, gathering his energy and moving like a breeze toward Manager Wu.

“Hmph! As if I’m afraid of you,” Manager Wu snorted, raising his fist to meet him.

The two clashed repeatedly, exchanging blows. Manager Wu felt Shen Xuan’s punches growing heavier and, seeing defeat loom, his heart began to panic.

“A golden opportunity!” Shen Xuan seized it, swiftly shifting from Tai Chi to the more fierce Bajiquan.

With Tai Chi’s calm to steady the world and Bajiquan’s power to command fate, Shen Xuan struck again.

Manager Wu’s guard fell wide open. Shen Xuan charged forward and delivered an Iron Mountain Lean with unstoppable force.