Chapter 247: I

“Borrowing a promissory note?” Xu Congwen’s mind was a blur; faced with the man’s questions, he could not respond effectively.

Mainly because these people stormed in without warning, shouting that he owed them money—and indeed produced a promissory note.

Before he could even see clearly, they punched him repeatedly and dragged off his wife.

“That man carries a forged note.” Xu Congwen’s mind flashed—he immediately pointed at the retainer who had previously used the forged note to slander him.

“They forced me to affix my seal; the vermilion stamp is still wet.”

Xu Congwen extended his thumb, where the red vermilion imprint clearly remained.

Chu Danqing saw this, reached out, and quickly found the promissory note; upon closer inspection, the vermilion stamp was indeed freshly applied.

But the date recorded on it was three years ago.

Nearby, the young tyrant Fang Chen’s eyes darkened with anger at this sight.

Fang Chen exerted his brute strength and forcibly ripped the steel crescent halberd from Da Bao’s grip.

“Nonsense,” Fang Chen snarled. “My Fang household is wealthy and powerful—why would we slander a mere scholar over twelve taels of silver?”

Hearing this, Xu Congwen’s mind cleared further—he retorted: “Hmph, if it were twelve hundred taels, I truly couldn’t pay.”

“But twelve taels? How could anyone delay such a trivial sum?”

“Your Fang household must at least have some standards when framing someone,” Xu Congwen said. He came from a scholarly family—how could he not afford such a small amount?

For those retainers, twelve taels was already an astronomical sum.

Fang Chen ignored Xu Congwen entirely, his gaze locked firmly on Chu Danqing.

Right now, getting Xu Congwen out of the way was no problem—the real problem was Chu Danqing.

From the start, the Fang household never cared about Xu Congwen’s wife—she was just a woman, and they had countless others to choose from.

Why resort to kidnapping?

What they sought was the Spirit Beast Diagram: Nine Stars Circling the Moon Halberd, held by Xu Congwen’s wife.

To obtain it, they bribed officials and even let their elder brother bear the false reputation of a lecher.

Yet unforeseen complications arose.

If they acquired this diagram, his steel crescent halberd could advance further—perhaps even allow him to contend with the heroes of the realm.

That’s why he had followed them all along—not by chance.

As for the twelve-tael issue? It was deliberately fabricated—to divert attention toward lustful motives.

Otherwise, if they’d claimed a hundred or two hundred taels, it would’ve seemed too perfect and raised suspicion.

“Esteemed brother, I—” Fang Chen began, trying to explain.

He wasn’t a match for this strange spirit beast; getting Chu Danqing to stay out of this was best.

“No,” Chu Danqing cut him off. “I won’t accept ‘brother’ from you. With your Fang household’s power, reporting to the authorities is useless.”

“So I’ll just send you on your way.” Chu Danqing had no time to wait for legal punishment.

He had other matters to attend to.

Killing him outright was simpler.

Besides, if you sent him to the authorities, he’d likely be released after dinner that night.

He dared strike in broad daylight—he had no fear.

“You!!” Fang Chen was stunned and furious—he never expected Chu Danqing to act so directly.

Before he could demand an explanation, Da Bao’s claws were already slashing toward his throat, the Blood Rage power solidified into lethal force.

He hastily raised the steel crescent halberd to block.

But this time was not like before—once the claws struck, Fang Chen’s steel crescent halberd was instantly severed.

The claws’ momentum didn’t wane—they pierced straight through Fang Chen’s chest.

“No! You can’t kill me—my brother-in-law is—” Fang Chen felt searing pain, his face contorted in terror, his screams unceasing.

But before he could finish, Da Bao’s claw ended him.

Chu Danqing didn’t care who his brother-in-law was—he had this power; why would he hesitate?

Someone who acts so arrogantly, so brutally, surely isn’t doing it for the first time.

He had no patience to resolve each case one by one—when you have power, why waste time looking over your shoulder?

“Murder! He’s killed someone!!” The bystanders, witnessing this, screamed—then scattered like birds.

Chu Danqing didn’t care—he casually tossed the corpse aside.

His gaze turned to Xu Congwen and his wife.

“Thank you, savior,” Xu Congwen said, his expression complex. “Fang Chen’s brother-in-law is the Fucheng Captain. You’ve killed him—this is now a huge matter.”

“Please leave Guanglu Prefecture quickly, to save your life.” As a local, Xu Congwen knew full well the Fang household’s power.

But Chu Danqing shook his head. “What’s to fear? We’ll just uproot them entirely.”

Without power, you run. But with power, why retreat?

I’m in the right—I’m not afraid!

What? His crime doesn’t warrant death? Human traffickers deserve to die.

Those present were stunned.

They thought Fang Chen was arrogant—but this man was even more so, openly planning to exterminate the entire family.

“As for you two—what are your plans?” Chu Danqing asked.

“We’ll find a safe place tonight, and leave the city at dawn for Yunyu Prefecture to seek relatives.” Xu Congwen knew Guanglu Prefecture was no longer safe.

Chu Danqing found this reasonable.

The city gates would be closed—they couldn’t leave now.

As for Chu Danqing helping them break out? Forget it.

He wasn’t planning a rebellion.

“Fine,” Chu Danqing said. “You two stay with me tonight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll see you out of the city.”

The Fang household isn’t urgent—first, find out what other crimes they’ve committed. Then kill them one by one.

As the saying goes: the monk can run, but the temple can’t. They might come for me tonight—then I’ll save myself the trouble.

Xu Congwen hesitated, then finally nodded: “Then thank you, savior.”

With that, Chu Danqing led them back to Heyang Pavilion.

The shopkeeper of Heyang Pavilion rushed forward upon seeing them.

“Gentlemen, my shop is small—I can’t afford to offend a Captain. Please—” The shopkeeper, operating in Guanglu Prefecture, dared not anger the local power.

Chu Danqing’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. But I won’t pay for the food and drink.”

You kick me out and still want payment? How presumptuous.

“Naturally—it’s my shop’s fault for poor service,” the shopkeeper dared not demand payment from a man like Chu Danqing.

A local tyrant who kills without hesitation—how could a mere shopkeeper dare object?

Chu Danqing didn’t press him—he simply led them away.

“Big Brother Chu, do you regret it? You lost your opportunity and invited trouble for nothing,” Yang Qianyuan asked curiously.

“What’s there to regret?” Chu Danqing replied carelessly. “What exactly was this opportunity you mentioned?”

“I don’t know,” Yang Qianyuan said regretfully. “But I can confirm one thing: you’ve lost all connection to it.”

“The Celestial Divination isn’t omniscient. I see only fragments—I cannot perceive the whole. How could I know all?”

He knew its limitations—if it could reveal everything, it would be invincible.

Just this information gap gave the Celestial Divination spirit beast an unbeatable edge.

“If I gain it, it’s fortune. If I lose it, it’s fate,” Chu Danqing said. “Opportunities aren’t lives—I won’t compromise my principles for them.”

Xu Congwen and his wife exchanged glances, silently communicating.

But since they walked behind Chu Danqing and Yang Qianyuan, the two didn’t notice.

Soon, the group found a lodging spot in the city—a dilapidated, abandoned mansion.

“We’ll stay here tonight. You two—oh, I forgot to heal your wounds.” Chu Danqing finally remembered: Xu Congwen and his wife were still injured.

Bai Bai then used the single-target healing technique: Spirit Healing.

One head-blast, followed by multiple applications—overhealing occurred instantly; their injuries fully mended.

The couple’s physical stats were average—around 7 to 9.

Fang Chen was stronger—around 20, likely boosted by his soldier-beast, the Steel Crescent Halberd.

Yang Qianyuan, however—his Celestial Divination spirit beast had raised him to 15. Remarkable.

But this was normal; his father possessed the Celestial Divination spirit beast, Tianchi Dragon.

After healing them, Xu Congwen spoke: “Savior, your life-saving grace—I will never forget.”

“I have nothing to offer in return.”

“Earlier, this young man said you missed an opportunity saving us.”

“My wife possesses a family heirloom: a Spirit Beast Diagram. We offer it to you as repayment—for what you lost.”

Yang Qianyuan’s eyes widened in shock—what bizarre turn of events.

Chu Danqing didn’t hesitate—he refused outright.

“No. I saved you not for repayment,” he said bluntly.

To claim he wanted nothing is unrealistic—he sought self-satisfaction.

The emotional value it gave him was enough.

“You need not seek repayment,” his wife quickly added. “Without you, I would have died today.”

I know that the eldest son of this Fang household seeks not my beauty, but this scroll of spirit beast diagrams.

My husband and I lack the strength to protect it; as the saying goes, an innocent man suffers for possessing a treasure.

Today we escaped one disaster, but tomorrow we cannot escape this same disaster.

To give it to my benefactor is not merely repayment, but also to preserve our lives—please, my benefactor, accept it without fail.

This speech makes it sound as if they were gaining an advantage, but in truth, it was merely an excuse to give it to Chu Danqing.

To preserve it is simple enough—bury it somewhere and be done with it.

Very well, give it to me. Tomorrow morning, when I go to kill them, I’ll take full blame for the spirit beast diagram—so you won’t draw fire upon yourselves. Chu Danqing agreed.

(End of Chapter)