Chapter 38: Unwillingness to Accept Defeat

“Brother Yu, you look quite travel-worn. Where have you been?”

In the backyard, Wu Zhong was drinking tea with Yu Biao.

“This... sigh, just went out hunting since I had nothing better to do.”

“Hunting?”

Wu Zhong sized Yu Biao up and said, “A bountiful harvest, I assume?”

“Sigh, don't even mention it. It was all for nothing. Let's not talk about it.”

Yu Biao waved his hand, unwilling to dwell on the topic. After all, the two were actually competitors, especially with the election for the village head approaching. Both of their gangs had received orders to secure the position.

Thus, while they appeared harmonious, they were actually testing one another.

Seeing that he was unwilling to say more, Wu Zhong did not press the issue. Just then, Yu Sanliu entered, holding an IOU in his hand.

“Father.”

“Give it to Uncle Zhong,” Yu Biao waved him off.

“Uncle Zhong.”

Yu Sanliu offered it with both hands. Wu Zhong took it, looked at it, and smiled. “Alright, I'll settle this debt on his behalf.”

As he spoke, he pulled out one tael of silver, placed it on the table, and said, “Old Yu, is this enough? If not, I'll go to the gambling den for a few more rounds.”

Yu Biao replied, “Enough already. I'm afraid you'll win my gambling den away. Take the IOU and go.”

“Then I shall not decline.”

Wu Zhong smiled, stood up, and prepared to leave. Yu Sanliu called out from behind, “Uncle, your silver!”

Wu Zhong replied, “It's your principal being returned.”

Watching Wu Zhong swagger away, Yu Sanliu's face soured. He turned to his father and said, “Father, why are you afraid of him? Chen Jiusi owes us money; paying debts is only natural. Even if it goes to the ends of the earth, we aren't in the wrong.”

Yu Biao glanced at him. “The election for the head of Xiantao Town is coming up. I need to use this time to quickly increase my strength; I cannot afford distractions. Behave yourself and don't provoke that family, do you hear me?”

“I... I hear you.”

Yu Sanliu lowered his head. Yu Biao then said, “Take that silver.”

Having said that, he walked away in a huff. He was also full of anger; he had spent the entire night staking out a Red-Eyed Golden Pheasant, only to end up catching nothing. How could he be in a good mood?

It was strange, too. He had seen the injured pheasant fly right into Wild Wolf Gully, so how did it just vanish?

No, this matter must be investigated!

After Yu Biao left, Yu Sanliu remained. He looked at the one tael of silver on the table, gripped it in his hand, and squeezed it hard until it became a silver ingot.

“Go call Ma Liu to me.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

Ma Liu was summoned quickly.

Sitting on a stool, Yu Sanliu looked at Ma Liu and said, “I gave the IOU to Wu Zhong.”

“Ah, Young Master, this... you're giving up on Chen Jiusi? And Su Yunjin? You're not playing that game anymore?” Ma Liu asked.

Yu Sanliu clenched his fist. Su Yunjin—no matter what, he had to have that woman. It was his obsession.

He would never forget the year his father took him to the old scholar Su to propose marriage.

That old man had actually said: *Our scholarly family does not marry beasts!*

He would never forget the contempt in Su Yunjin's eyes—the contempt for someone unlearned, much like a top student looking down on a street thug.

That gaze had deeply wounded his pride.

He was a proud man. He might not have been educated, but whenever he walked through Xiantao Town, everyone had to call him "Young Master Yu."

He might not be handsome, but if he wanted to, the wives and daughters of those gambling addicts would be delivered obediently to his bed for him to ravage.

He might spend money like water, but he ran the gambling dens; people lined up every day to give him money. Even if those people ended up ruined, he grew rich!

He was so exceptional; how could a poor scholar look down on him? On what grounds?

One day, I will make you beg beneath my loins! I will make you kneel and drink my urine!

So, when he heard that Chen Jiusi had entered the gambling den, he was overjoyed. He was waiting for the day Su Yunjin would kneel before him, to be wantonly insulted and toyed with, to have her pride crushed and her dignity ground into the dirt.

He wanted her to beg him, and then, in despair, repent for her mistakes and die in agony.

He wanted her to regret! Regret her former disdain!

He wanted revenge! Revenge!

And just as everything was about to succeed, Wu Zhong had ruined it. How could he be content? How could he let it go?

Yu Sanliu looked at Ma Liu and said, “Take this one tael of silver. Relax well tonight. In a couple of days, I need you to do something for me.”

Ma Liu immediately caught the silver thrown by Yu Sanliu with both hands.

“Thank you for the reward, Young Master.”

“Get lost.”

“Young Master, you haven't given your orders yet. If you don't tell me, I won't know what to do with this money.”

Hearing this, Yu Sanliu glanced at him and said, “You want to know?”

“Yes.”

“Lean in.”

“Yes, sir.”

As Ma Liu leaned closer, Yu Sanliu whispered, “The IOU has been taken. We can't do this openly anymore. Find an opportunity to kidnap Su Yunjin...”

“Understood, Young Master. Hehehe, fuck her first, then kill her. That Su Yunjin likes digging for wild vegetables, she won't be hard to catch. Don't worry, Young Master.” Ma Liu had a wicked grin on his face.

Yu Sanliu said, “Don't act for the next two days. Wu Zhong is watching this matter. Wait until the heat dies down in a few days.”

“Yes, Young Master, understood.” Ma Liu immediately cupped his fists and withdrew.

Watching Ma Liu walk away, a cold smile appeared on Yu Sanliu's face. “Su Yunjin, you cannot escape my grasp!”

...

After a busy day, Chen Jie spent his time at the Bai residence both practicing martial arts and studying medicine. The medical classics were as thick as an Oxford English Dictionary; Chen Jie had to memorize them herb by herb.

He memorized until his brain felt like it was boiling. However, during the process, Chen Jie discovered that whenever his mind became clouded, running the *Spring Nourishing Formula* once would immediately clear his head. Consequently, his memorization efficiency was much higher than others.

Physician Bai praised his learning speed, so he did not interfere with his martial arts practice; as long as it didn't hinder his medical studies, he could practice martial arts as much as he liked.

Thus, Chen Jie was progressing rapidly in both medicine and martial arts.

In the evening, Wu Zhong returned and called Chen Jie to his side, returning the IOU to him.

“Here, for Jiusi.”

Seeing the IOU, Chen Jie immediately expressed his gratitude. “Uncle Zhong, thank you so much. And the silver...”

Wu Zhong replied, “What silver? You selling that Red-Eyed Golden Pheasant to me was a huge help...”

Physician Bai walked over and said, “Alright, stop being so polite with each other. We are all family, no need for formalities. Let's eat.”

For dinner, they followed the old routine and ate at the Bai residence. After the meal, Lady Bai even packed a few steamed buns for him.

Once the meal was nearly finished, Physician Bai said, “Lan'er, go bring the chicken soup simmering on the medicinal stove.”

“Coming!”

Lady Bai soon brought the chicken soup. Physician Bai said, “I have stewed this 'Phoenix Soup' with eleven different medicinal herbs; it is highly restorative. Zhong'er, your opportunity lies within this!”

As Physician Bai spoke, Wu Zhong was already impatient. When the physician lifted the lid of the medicinal pot, a sudden surge of medicinal aroma mixed with the savory scent of chicken soup rushed up.

Everyone couldn't help but swallow hard.

Physician Bai took four empty bowls and ladled out four servings, distributing them to himself, Lady Bai, Wu Hong, and Chen Jie.

“Eighty percent of the medicinal potency in this soup is in the chicken, and twenty percent is in the broth. Zhong'er, it is not suitable for you to supplement too heavily right now; eighty percent is just right. We four will share the broth, and the chicken in this pot is yours.”

“Alright, Father!”

As Wu Zhong spoke, he impatiently began eating the stewed golden pheasant.

Physician Bai said to Chen Jie and the others, “We shall drink the soup!”