Too calm.
Li Ren had seen this pattern before—back on Earth, in back alleys, outside office buildings, in dim stairwells where “accidents” were planned long before they happened.
When people couldn’t confront you directly, they looked for blind spots.
And the outer disciple grounds were full of them.
He finished his morning chores without rushing. Water buckets were carried. The stone path was swept. Tools were returned to the storage shed.
Nothing unusual.
But he could feel it.
That faint pressure in the distance. Not from debt this time—but from intent.
Hostility.
Somewhere in the outer disciple area, someone was thinking about hurting him.
Mei Lin approached after finishing her own tasks.
“I asked around,” she said quietly. “Lin Qiao and Fei Tong are part of a small group. Four of them usually train together.”
“Any debts?” Li Ren asked.
She nodded.
“Plenty. One of them owes spirit stones to a pill vendor. Another borrowed a technique manual and never returned it.”
Li Ren’s eyes sharpened.
“Good. That gives us options.”
She hesitated.
“There’s more,” she said. “They’ve been asking about your schedule. When you leave the courtyard. What chores you handle.”
So it was coming soon.
Li Ren wasn’t surprised.
“Then we don’t give them the chance to pick the battlefield,” he said.
Mei Lin frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”
“We go to them first.”
By midday, Li Ren was walking toward the outer disciple training grounds again.
This time, he wasn’t escorting anyone.
And no one had invited him.
Mei Lin followed at a distance, carrying a small basket of tools. To anyone watching, it looked like a simple errand.
But her eyes never stopped moving.
The training grounds were less crowded than the day before. Only a few disciples practiced on the platforms.
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Near the far side of the field, Lin Qiao and Fei Tong stood with two other outer disciples.
They were laughing about something.
Until they saw Li Ren approaching.
Lin Qiao’s smile faded.
“Well,” he said, “looks like the servant walked right into it.”
Fei Tong cracked his knuckles.
“Convenient.”
The other two disciples stepped forward as well, forming a loose semicircle.
Li Ren stopped a few steps away.
No fear.
No tension.
Just calm.
“You were looking for me,” he said.
Lin Qiao smirked. “You saved us the trouble.”
Fei Tong stepped forward.
“You’ve been sticking your nose into outer disciple matters. That ends today.”
Li Ren glanced at each of them in turn.
Above their heads, the glowing text appeared.
Target: Lin Qiao
Debt: Borrowed cultivation pills
Total: 12 spirit stones equivalent
Status: Overdue
Target: Fei Tong
Debt: Unpaid sparring compensation
Total: 7 spirit stones equivalent
Status: Overdue
Target: Outer Disciple Yan Bo
Debt: Stolen spirit herbs
Total: 15 spirit stones equivalent
Status: Overdue
Target: Outer Disciple Ke Shan
Debt: Broken weapon contract
Total: 9 spirit stones equivalent
Status: Overdue
Li Ren almost smiled.
All four of them.
The total debt between them was over forty spirit stones.
More than enough to push him forward.
Fei Tong pointed at him.
“Last chance. Kneel, apologize, and stay in the servant courtyard. Maybe we’ll let you off with a few bruises.”
Li Ren tilted his head slightly.
“Or,” he said, “you could settle what you owe.”
The four disciples stared at him.
Then Lin Qiao laughed.
“You’re still talking about debts?”
Li Ren stepped forward.
“This isn’t a request,” he said calmly. “All four of you have outstanding obligations. I’m here to collect.”
The air shifted.
The system stirred.
Multiple Debts Detected
Group Collection Possible
Lin Qiao’s expression hardened.
“Enough of this nonsense,” he snapped. “Beat him.”
Fei Tong lunged forward.
His fist shot toward Li Ren’s chest.
Li Ren didn’t dodge.
Instead, he focused on the system.
Debt Collection Initiated: Lin Qiao
Collateral Options:
-
Qi reserves
-
2 years lifespan
The moment Fei Tong’s fist was about to land, the golden chain appeared around Lin Qiao.
Lin Qiao froze.
“What—”
The chain tightened.
His qi circulation stuttered.
At the same time, Fei Tong’s attack weakened mid-strike. His punch lost force, as if the intent behind it had been drained.
His fist struck Li Ren’s chest.
But it felt like a weak shove instead of a serious blow.
Fei Tong’s eyes widened.
“What’s going on?”
Li Ren didn’t move.
He selected the collateral.
Qi reserves.
Energy surged into his body.
Collection Successful
Debt Qi Gained: +18
Lin Qiao staggered backward, face pale.
“My qi…!”
The other two disciples stepped back instinctively.
Something was clearly wrong.
Li Ren turned his gaze to Fei Tong.
“Your turn,” he said.
Fei Tong hesitated.
For the first time, real fear crept into his expression.
“What… what are you?”
“Collector,” Li Ren replied.
He focused again.
Debt Collection Initiated: Fei Tong
Collateral Options:
-
Minor qi reserve
-
1 year lifespan
Fei Tong tried to retreat.
But the golden chain formed around him.
“No—wait—”
The energy drained quickly.
Collection Successful
Debt Qi Gained: +12
Fei Tong collapsed to one knee.
The remaining two disciples, Yan Bo and Ke Shan, stared in shock.
“You… you’re using some kind of forbidden technique,” Yan Bo said.
Li Ren shook his head.
“No,” he said. “Just settling accounts.”
He took another step forward.
Both of them flinched.
The invisible pressure in the air was now obvious.
Not violent.
Not explosive.
Just inevitable.
Like gravity.
Or time.
Or debt.
Behind them, Mei Lin watched from the edge of the training ground.
She didn’t interfere.
Didn’t cheer.
Didn’t panic.
She simply watched the numbers above the disciples’ heads drop as the collections completed.
Just as she had agreed.
Information. Observation. Logistics.
That was her role.
Back at the center of the field, Li Ren stood calmly.
Debt Qi: 105/200
More than halfway to the next stage.
And the fight hadn’t even properly started.
He looked at the last two disciples.
“So,” he said quietly, “are you settling voluntarily?”
Or do we continue?”