Chapter 1929: Settling the Debt

At the entrance of the Kang residence, a steward was pacing and waiting. Seeing the old master return, he hurried down the steps to greet him before the carriage had even come to a full stop. The carriage curtain lifted, and with the help of a young servant, the old man slowly descended. The steward immediately stepped forward to pay his respects, then whispered something in his ear.

At first, Kang Ning paid little attention, taking it for some trivial household matter. But after a few words, his drunken eyes widened, snapping him out of his tipsy state. He asked solemnly, "When did they arrive?"

"Already two quarters of an hour ago!"

"Why did you not report to me?"

"I sent someone to the Eight Directions Tower, but perhaps they missed each other on the way," the steward explained after a moment's thought.

"Where are they now?"

"Waiting in the main hall. Two cups of tea have been served!"

Without asking further, Kang Ning headed straight inside, but the steward called out to stop him. Meeting Kang Ning's puzzled gaze, the steward hesitated for a moment, then reported: "Commandery Duke Wang brought several guards with him to the gate, all carrying weapons, with stern expressions and none-too-friendly looks. They also carried a chest. From what I can see, their intentions seem far from good."

Hearing this, Kang Ning's steps faltered, and his brows knitted together involuntarily. After thinking it over, he said, "The Commandery Duke's household owes us a loan, doesn't it?"

The steward nodded and said softly, "Yes! It was arranged with the Duke's eldest son. The amount is not large—less than ten thousand strings of cash."

"It seems the young master of the Wang family has been keeping this from the old Duke!" Kang Ning's lips curled in a mocking smile. After pondering for a moment, his smile faded, and he couldn't help but put on a pained expression: "These old nobles with military merit are all so arrogant. A man like Wang Yansheng has always been overbearing—how could he possibly accept that his family borrowed money from an old merchant like me?"

"However, I've heard that this old Duke Wang has long been deaf and senile. For him to come in person—that's worth pondering." Muttering this to himself, Kang Ning smiled, took a deep breath, and extended his hand: "Come, let's go meet this old Duke Wang!"

Before the main hall of the Kang residence, Wang Yansheng's aged body stood in a proud, solitary posture. Around him were eight armed guards. Though they wore only ordinary military garb and were unshaven, they were clearly hardened warriors from military service—their fierce bearing was all too obvious.

The guards held the key positions around the hall as if on campaign, completely usurping the host's authority with an aggressive air. However, this show of force was nothing much to Kang Ning. The storms he had weathered over decades were no less than Wang Yansheng's, and he too kept many retainers of "hardened soldier" stock under his command.

Pausing in the front courtyard, he observed Wang Yansheng for a moment, then put on a smile and strode forward. Before drawing close, he called out with a hearty laugh: "The Duke's visit brings honor to my humble home! I failed to welcome you from afar—please forgive my negligence!"

Hearing the commotion, Wang Yansheng turned around. Standing on the steps, he looked down at the smiling Kang Ning with a cold, unfriendly expression. After a moment of silence, he said flatly, "You are Kang Ning?"

"That would be me. Might I ask what instruction the Commandery Duke has for my humble abode?" Kang Ning's posture seemed quite deferential, but his unassuming yet unyielding attitude grated on Wang Yansheng's nerves.

In Wang Yansheng's view, this man Kang surely thought of himself as the Duke's household creditor, believing he held leverage over the Wang family—that was why he was so presumptuous.

"I hear your business has been doing quite well—so well that you've set your sights on my ducal household!" Wang Yansheng stared coldly at Kang Ning, his tone carrying barely suppressed anger.

Kang Ning clasped his hands and bowed: "Your household's gates stand high while my doors are low. To have business dealings with you is truly my greatest honor!"

"Dealings are not what frightens me. What frightens me is the unfathomable human heart and impure motives!" Wang Yansheng's gaze bore into Kang Ning, his tone especially hostile.

Faced with such an aggressive manner from Wang Yansheng, Kang Ning's brows furrowed slightly. He raised his hands in a salute: "What does the Commandery Duke mean by this? I am truly perplexed!"

"Heh!" Seeing Kang Ning's feigned innocence, Wang Yansheng made no effort to hide his contempt and disgust. He said coldly, "I don't care whether you understand or not, nor do I care what schemes you harbor. From this day forward, the ducal household has no connection whatsoever with your Kang family—we will have no further dealings! I find it beneath me, and you are unworthy!"

At these words, even a man of Kang Ning's deep cunning could not help but change color. Whether from drink or anger, his face flushed bright red.

Not giving him a chance to speak, Wang Yansheng walked over to the chest placed in the front courtyard, lifted the lid, and displayed its contents. Pointing at it, he said flatly: "The ducal household borrowed five thousand strings from you. The precious armor, jade, and southern pearls in this chest, along with the two Ferghana horses outside the gate, are worth at least six thousand strings—more than enough to settle the debt! I have personally delivered them to your door. From now on, we owe each other nothing. If you dare pester the ducal household again and bring shame upon yourself, do not blame me for being ruthless!"

"Shall we go?" Having said this, Wang Yansheng turned to leave with his men.

"Wait!" But he had not gone more than a few steps before Kang Ning called out to stop him.

He halted, paused for a moment, then whirled around, pressing his full authority down upon Kang Ning: "What else do you have to say?"

Kang Ning lowered his brows, clasped his hands once more, and said slowly: "This old man understands the Duke's meaning well enough. A few thousand strings is truly not worth mentioning. But since the Duke has come in person, I must respond with due solemnity!

This old man would have had nothing more to say, but in light of this chest, I will take the liberty of making two points clear to the Duke.

First, though this old man is advanced in years, I am not yet senile. I still remember that the money I lent to your household each time was indeed not much, but accumulated together, it comes to eight thousand strings, not five thousand.

Second, I can accept the other items in this chest as payment, but this suit of armor—I dare not accept it. Though I am but a commoner, I would not presume to overstep the laws and regulations. If someone were to report that this old man was plotting rebellion, my entire family could not bear such a crime!"

Kang Ning's words carried a distinctly sarcastic, grating tone. Wang Yansheng stared at him coldly for a long while before speaking in a deep voice: "Are you insinuating something to me? That you'll report me for privately hoarding armor and weapons, intending rebellion?"

With Wang Yansheng putting it so bluntly, even a schemer like Kang Ning dared not pursue that line. He hastily said: "The Duke speaks too gravely! That is not what I meant!"

With a "shing," Wang Yansheng drew the sword at his waist. His movements were swift, though not as fast as in his youth, but his bearing remained. His cold gaze fixed on Kang Ning's neck as he flourished the blade and thrust it forward.

Kang Ning's face changed drastically, his body instinctively wanting to dodge. Fortunately, Wang Yansheng did not thrust all the way—he merely pressed the blade against Kang Ning's neck. Seeing this, the household servants of the Kang residence almost instinctively drew their blades and surrounded them, intending to protect their master. Wang Yansheng's guards also drew their swords and formed a formation. In an instant, the front courtyard of the Kang residence was filled with flashing blades and glinting swords, the tension at its absolute peak.

"Is a matter of a few thousand strings worth the Duke drawing his blade?" A thin layer of sweat broke out on his forehead as Kang Ning struggled to maintain his smile, speaking to Wang Yansheng.

Wang Yansheng's face was utterly cold. The hand gripping the sword hilt was withered and thin, yet it gave an impression of great strength.

"This suit of armor and this sharp sword were both bestowed by His Majesty. Whether I use them to settle a debt is my affair—you may keep them as you please. If there is any problem, it is the ducal household's concern..."

With that, Wang Yansheng left the sword behind and turned to depart directly, leaving Kang Ning behind with deeply furrowed brows.

Wang Yansheng's actions today were a great loss of face for the Wang family. After all, a proper ducal household reduced to borrowing money to get by—and borrowing from a merchant at that—was utterly devoid of dignity.

But for the Kang family, the problem was perhaps far more serious. This was hardly positive publicity. At this moment, Kang Ning could faintly smell the scent of danger—even more unsettling than when Wang Yansheng had held a blade to his throat.

After all, some things simply cannot be brought into the light...