[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday":3,"chapter-the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-88":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Imperial Hound on an Eight-Hour Shift",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},2225146,4113,"Chapter 88: Repaying Debts","the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-88",88,"\u003Cp>Yongjie sighed. \"My Master knows, but many in the temple tried to stop me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The monk also snuck out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I thought as much,\" Li Miao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A moment later, footsteps were heard outside the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man walked in with a middle-aged woman and made introductions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This middle-aged woman was none other than Song Yanchao’s daughter and the man’s wife. She should be addressed as Mrs. Liu Song now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After entering and offering a bow, Mrs. Liu Song first glanced at Li Miao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Li Miao was only there to watch the show, he had spent twenty years in Shuntian Prefecture; that air of someone accustomed to commanding others could not be hidden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Yongjie, with his burly frame and face full of flesh, he looked more like Li Miao’s attendant or bodyguard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only after the man whispered a few words that Mrs. Liu Song realized who the real master was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, when Mrs. Liu Song looked at Yongjie, she froze for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, she spoke weakly, \"Great Master... have we met before?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, it has been many years.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yongjie stood up and walked toward Mrs. Liu Song.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was already tall and burly, and with his expressionless face, he was even more intimidating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Liu Song knew no Wu Gong; she turned pale with fright and had to hold onto her husband’s arm to keep her composure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yongjie walked up to Mrs. Liu Song and bowed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Long time no see.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This debt, I have owed for over ten years. Today, it is time to repay it to you, Madam.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing \"Long time no see,\" Mrs. Liu Song turned pale, her voice trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You... who exactly are you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Before I became a monk, my secular name was Tu Qingcang.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Liu Song let out a cry of shock and recoiled violently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It’s, it’s you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her husband had already sensed something was wrong with his wife. Now, without hesitation, he shielded her behind him and drew a short blade from his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, stop!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When a person dies, the debt is cleared. Do not involve the wife and children!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No matter what grudge you had with my father-in-law, he is already dead. My wife and I have never involved ourselves in Paojianghu affairs; we are just commoners living in this city!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Do not break the rules of Paojianghu!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the couple mistook Yongjie for someone seeking revenge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yongjie did not answer. After straightening up, he walked toward the couple on his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't come any closer!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't come closer! My Song family never provoked you! You won back then!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Liu Song kept retreating, but she stumbled, unable to match Yongjie’s stride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The distance between them grew smaller and smaller.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Liu Song was too terrified to speak. Her husband managed to say, \"Sir, stop! Do not force my hand!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yongjie ignored him, and in the blink of an eye, he was before them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her husband gritted his teeth and slashed at Yongjie with his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade struck Yongjie’s right arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, blood gushed out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man’s Wu Gong could not even be considered entry-level. Any third-rate expert in Paojianghu could have easily disarmed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Yongjie was a top-tier expert on par with Liu Baiyun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He did not even need to use any hard-body techniques; simply circulating his Qi would have prevented the blade from harming him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yongjie had voluntarily suppressed his internal energy and relaxed his muscles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade sank an inch into his flesh, severing the tendons in his hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Miao said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had seen this scene many times before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All of Yongjie’s injuries were self-inflicted in this manner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood sprayed wildly, dripping from his sleeve and forming a puddle on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mrs. Liu Song had never seen such a sight; she turned pale and fainted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her husband hurriedly caught her and looked at Yongjie. \"You, you...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not understand the situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although his Wu Gong was poor, he was Song Yanchao’s son-in-law and had seen much; he could tell that Yongjie’s Wu Gong far surpassed his own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not fathom why this man would stand there and let himself be cut.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Mrs. Liu Song faint, Yongjie managed a weak smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will be staying in Baoqing Prefecture for three days. If Mrs. Song wishes to find me after she wakes up, I will be at the inn in the city.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, he turned to Li Miao. \"Benefactor, may I beg a favor from you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Miao reached into his robes, took out a silver ingot, and tossed it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yongjie could not catch it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His left hand was hanging at his chest, and his right hand’s tendons were severed. A dignified Shaolin disciple could only watch as the silver ingot fell to the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, I forgot.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Li Miao realized his mistake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pointed into the air, and a faint trace of internal energy flew out, striking the silver ingot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ingot landed in the arms of Mrs. Liu Song’s husband.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Alright, let’s go.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Miao stood up, walked to Yongjie’s side, and tapped a point to stop his bleeding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yongjie managed a \"Thank you\" to Li Miao.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two left the house and headed toward the inn where they were staying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As they walked, Li Miao asked, \"Great Master, what is the grudge between you and this family?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yongjie had lost too much blood and his mind was growing hazy, but he took the initiative to speak to keep his spirits up. \"Back then, when my Wu Gong was first perfected, I traveled to the Huguang region.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It was called traveling, but in reality, I was just looking for people to fight everywhere.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, I was too young then and had no reputation in Paojianghu. Often, when I sought people out, I was rejected, and sometimes I couldn't even get through the door.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Challenges in Paojianghu were not as simple as meeting friends through martial arts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So-called sects and factions were essentially organizations that relied on Wu Gong to establish themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And to turn Wu Gong into profit, one often had to first use certain means to gain \"reputation,\" and only then could it be turned into land, money, and manpower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Martial challenges were one such means; victory or defeat changed many things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, most \"meetings through martial arts\" were actually decided before they even began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone like Yongjie back then was a challenger that everyone in Paojianghu was unwilling to face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young, unknown, and highly skilled. Winning brought no benefits, and losing meant ruin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was only natural that no one wanted to fight him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was ignorant then, thinking they were weaklings who cheated the world for fame.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was eager for fame and couldn't wait for their seniority-based rankings. My Wu Gong was better than theirs, so I felt I should be more famous than them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So, I started going from house to house to challenge them.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Doing this broke the rules. Those who lost started spreading rumors about me in Paojianghu, saying I was a villain who used underhanded tactics when people were unprepared.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I was resentful, so I started striking harder. I even began attacking people who had nothing to do with the matter.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yongjie sighed deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When I came to Baoqing Prefecture back then, naturally, the first person I chose was the hero Song Yanchao.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I won, and I broke his right arm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh, I see. So you want to return an arm to his daughter,\" Li Miao said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes,\" Yongjie nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hero Song’s famous martial art was the 'Three Emperors Cannon Fist.' With his right arm broken, his Wu Gong would be at least thirty or forty percent weaker. The decline of the Huiyou Escort Agency was mostly my fault.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He was a good man; I shouldn't have done that.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If a debt is owed, it must be repaid.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1326,"2026-06-17T21:41:15.265Z","2026-06-18T03:13:38.468Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","5f36c4b71c23cd725289b4b70cf526cc4e51bb3622f9d252481da1430415948a","the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-89","the-imperial-enforcer-with-an-eight-hour-workday-chapter-87",647,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-imperial-hound-on-an-eight-hour-shift-cover.jpg"]