That day, after dealing with Mo Renxie in just a few sword strikes, Gu Shenzhi immediately busied himself with consoling the Crimson Lotus Saintess, leaving him no time to handle mundane matters like spirit stones.
Moreover, on the way, he had run into Sect Master Mu Zhonghua and received the task to attend the martial contest at the Mo family for a marriage proposal, so the debt of one thousand high-grade spirit stones naturally slipped from his mind.
But since he happened to encounter the house dealer of the gambling game, Gu Shenzhi had no intention of laughing off the matter.
He was determined to retrieve every single spirit stone owed to him, or something of equal value.
Gu Shenzhi looked coldly at his junior sister from the Light Shadow Peak, who was crying her eyes out, but his heart remained utterly calm.
Not every girl’s tears were worth his sympathy; his empathy certainly had not spread that far.
Having chosen to run a gambling game, one must enjoy the huge profits while accepting the accompanying risks — that was only fair.
“Junior sister, I solemnly warn you: the one thousand high-grade spirit stones belong to me as lawful earnings.
If you insist on defaulting, then I’ll have no choice but to ask the Enforcement Hall to settle this matter.”
Gu Shenzhi paused slightly before smiling and adding, “You can also invoke Rule Two of our sect to challenge me to a duel.
If you win, naturally there will be no debt to speak of.”
As a sect of the demonic path, the Moon Shadow Sect’s rules were ruthless, embodying survival of the fittest.
Aside from protecting lower realms from oppression by higher realms, nearly all problems could be solved by dueling.
Not only between peers, but those of lower realms could also challenge higher realms to duels — if they dared.
Immediately, pressure of Nascent Soul stage burst forth, surrounding him with a chilling aura and killing intent rising step by step.
The junior sister from Light Shadow Peak was instantly scared pale, her delicate body trembling, unable to finish her sentence.
“Of course, I personally don’t recommend you choose the latter option.”
Gu Shenzhi spoke lazily, as if discussing something trivial.
“You look a bit scared?”
Hearing this, the junior sister nodded first, then shook her head in panic, her eyes full of fear.
“Don’t be afraid, I’m reasonable.
How many spirit stones do you have on hand? Installment payments are acceptable.”
“Around… less than three hundred high-grade spirit stones, a little over a hundred mid-grade spirit stones, and some small amounts of low-grade spirit stones.”
The Light Shadow Peak junior sister answered timidly, lowering her eyes and bowing her head, lacking the courage to look the black-clad youth in the eye.
Inner disciples of the Moon Shadow Sect received only two high-grade spirit stones as monthly stipend.
The total number of spirit stones this junior sister held was unimaginable for ordinary inner disciples.
But to the former Mo Xiaonian, these were just numbers.
“Looks like you earned quite a lot from the last gambling game,” Gu Shenzhi smiled with a hint of chill.
“Thanks to Senior Brother Gu… everyone who bet on Mo Renxie lost everything except you and the Crimson Lotus Saintess,” she said with tears but no tears to shed.
She had been working from dawn till dusk on sect missions these days, yet even when exhausted to collapse, she still couldn’t save up enough to cover the remaining debt.
Thinking back, it was her own youthful ignorance and rashness that set such a high multiplier.
Now she was just reaping the consequences.
“As for you, Senior Brother… I’m not an unforgivable villain.
I’ll count all the spirit stones you have on hand as four hundred high-grade spirit stones, so you only owe six hundred high-grade spirit stones.”
“Really?!” The girl said in disbelief, her starry eyes shining with excitement.
She never imagined Senior Brother Gu could be so kind-hearted.
One hundred mid-grade spirit stones equaled one high-grade spirit stone, and even that depended on purity and weight.
The black-clad youth’s words meant forgiving her of over ninety high-grade spirit stones in debt — a fortune she might never accumulate even after three years of hard work.
Not only was Senior Brother Gu handsome and extraordinarily talented, he was also very generous.
Perhaps only a prodigy like him could be worthy of the Crimson Lotus Saintess.
“Of course it’s true.
Unless absolutely necessary, I seldom use lies as weapons; that would be too hurtful.”
Undoubtedly, this statement itself was the biggest lie.
On average, Gu Shenzhi told one untruth every five sentences, though the frequency would drop in front of Su Linghuang.
Between Dao companions, could those really be called lies?
“Thank you, Senior Brother Gu.
Such great kindness, I have no way to repay you… I can only wait for the next life to serve you as beast or steed.”
“Hey, don’t be in such a hurry.
I don’t expect any repayment.
As long as you pay off the spirit stones you owe in installments, that’s enough.
Senior Brother charging a little interest is only reasonable, right?”
Gu Shenzhi spoke softly, his tone gentle, his demeanor elegant — a jade among men, a peerless young master.
“Charging interest is fair, no problem at all,” the girl answered without hesitation.
Such a kind Senior Brother would never harm her.
“Alright then.
You repay two high-grade spirit stones per month for a total of 360 months — that is, clearing the debt in twenty years.
Is that acceptable?”
The “good” that was originally on the girl’s lips was forcibly swallowed back by Gu Shenzhi’s blackened terms.
Is this just charging a little interest? This is clearly charging interest!
How could such cold words come from those beautiful crimson lips and pearly teeth?
“Senior Brother Gu, don’t you think the interest is a bit high?”
“Is that so? I think it’s fine.
If you can pay it all at once, then no interest is needed.
Besides, I only require you to repay 800 spirit stones.
If not, items of equivalent value are acceptable.”
Gu Shenzhi clasped his hands behind his back, smiling lightly.
Though he said this, he was not cruel enough to go so far.
He only did this to teach the junior sister a lesson — to keep her away from gambling, so she would neither harm others nor herself.
After she worked hard to repay for three to five years, Gu Shenzhi would generously cancel the remaining debt and let bygones be bygones.
“Alright… according to Senior Brother Gu’s words,” the girl said through gritted teeth, a faint fiery glint flickering in her eyes.
Sometimes, a murderous look couldn’t be hidden.
Even without the heterochromia eyes, Gu Shenzhi could sense the change in her emotions, but he paid no mind.
No predator fears the sharpness of a goat’s horns — especially when the gap between them was greater than that between wolf and sheep.
A Heavenly Dao Saint Infant killing at mid Foundation Establishment stage, if truly serious, could impose pressure with just a glance.
“By the way, I haven’t asked your name yet, junior sister.”
“I’m Bai Ling.
Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother.”
The girl replied irritably, her words overflowing with resentment.
As soon as she finished speaking, Gu Shenzhi’s vigilance instantly peaked.
His dark purple heterochromatic eyes repeatedly scrutinized the junior sister from Light Shadow Peak, but found nothing unusual — except for her surname.
The same surname as that woman.
The same surname as Junior Sister Bai Ling.