Chapter 48: Yanluo Grasps for Souls

To demand repayment at the Chen family's most sorrowful moment.Only an enemy would do such a thing!

Everyone looked towards the sound.A brawny, black-robed man with a scarred face, whose cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment first level, sneered as he stepped into the mourning hall.Seeing the incense burner placed before the coffin, he kicked it over."A faithless wretch like you doesn't deserve offerings!"

Chen Siling was caught off guard.Her beautiful eyes immediately blazed with fury as she shouted, "Black-Faced Tiger, you're going too far!"Her father had been severely injured by him years ago.Now, before his body was even cold, he dared to come to their home and insult the mourning hall!He truly was taking advantage of the Chen family having lost its backbone.

Zhu Jianshen, intending to play the hero, stepped forward and huffed, "Black-Faced Tiger, be smart and leave immediately. This is not the place for your antics!"He expected Black-Faced Tiger to show some apprehension, given that he was a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect.However, Black-Faced Tiger merely glanced at him disdainfully, showing no respect. "It's only right to repay a debt!""Even if the Azure Cloud Sect Master came, this money would still have to be repaid!""Young Master Zhu, if you want to be a hero, why don't you repay the Chen family's debt yourself!"

Black-Faced Tiger was the underworld king of Lone Boat City.He specialized in illicit dealings.He was a local bigwig and had no fear of a returned disciple from the Azure Cloud Sect.

Zhu Jianshen gritted his teeth and said, "How much is it? I'll pay it for Sister Siling!"He could still afford a few tens of thousands of taels.Black-Faced Tiger said playfully, "Not much, not much. It's pocket change for Young Master Zhu, only five million taels."Five... million?Zhu Jianshen gasped, a cold shiver running down his spine!Unless the Zhu family sold off all its assets, they wouldn't be able to gather that much money!

Black-Faced Tiger chuckled coldly, "Do you have the money? If not, please step aside, Young Master Zhu. There's no heroics for you here."Zhu Jianshen's face alternated between green and red.He wanted to rage but had no grounds to do so.He could only grunt and silently retreated to the side.

In any case, it was perfectly normal for him to be unable to handle such a massive debt, and he believed no one else could solve the Chen family's enormous financial burden.Ye Qingxue also looked troubled.Although she was the City Lord's daughter, she could not interfere with someone else demanding debt repayment.One could only blame the Chen family for having too many debts; she felt utterly powerless to help.

"You're lying!"Chen Siling cried out, tears welling in her eyes, "Three years ago, my father only borrowed one million from you!""Later, he paid back that million, and you accepted the money, then ambushed and severely injured my father!""Now that my father is dead, you've come demanding five million!"Not to mention the Chen family couldn't produce five million.Even if they could, they wouldn't allow the other party to make such an outrageous demand and arbitrarily swallow up the Chen family's assets.

Black-Faced Tiger extended his hand, a fake smile on his face. "Your father paid back the money? Where's the receipt?"Chen Siling retorted angrily, "My father was injured by you and has been comatose ever since! If there were a receipt, he would have given it to us long ago!"Hearing this,Black-Faced Tiger's eyes turned fierce, and he raised his hand to slap her. "No receipt? What nonsense are you spouting?"

Just as his palm was about to strike Chen Siling's face,A sharp sword grazed past Chen Siling's ear, thrusting forward at a tricky angle.Black-Faced Tiger was startled and quickly pulled back his hand, retreating several steps.He looked at his palm, where the sharp sword energy had cut his skin, and felt a secret shock.Just the sword energy alone had nearly crippled his hand!When did the Chen family acquire such a formidable person?He looked up to see someone wearing a unique mask, marked with the character "One," slowly emerging from behind Chen Siling.

"Try that again, and I'll cripple you!" Jiang Fan said coldly, pointing his sword at him.Black-Faced Tiger showed a hint of apprehension and shouted, "Dare you reveal your name?"In his line of work, he feared so-called prominent families the least.This was because prominent families had elders and children.If they dared to attack Black-Faced Tiger, he could retaliate against their families.What he feared most was someone like the masked individual before him.Mysterious identity, powerful strength.If he injured him, Black-Faced Tiger wouldn't even know where to seek revenge.

Jiang Fan stood in front of Chen Siling and uttered four words indifferently: "Shadow Guard One!"What kind of name was that?Black-Faced Tiger was annoyed, but he also knew that the other party wasn't naive and likely wouldn't reveal their identity.He cupped his hands, becoming slightly more polite, and said, "Young brother, I'm just here to collect a debt. Please don't interfere excessively."

Jiang Fan frowned slightly.It was only right to repay debts.He indeed found it inconvenient to interfere with legitimate debt collection.But if it was malicious extortion, that was another matter entirely.He turned to Chen Siling and asked, "Is what you said true?"

Chen Siling looked at Shadow Guard One with some curiosity.She didn't know why he was protecting her.And she didn't know any peers with such formidable strength."Yes, I swear to Heaven!" Chen Siling nodded repeatedly.

Black-Faced Tiger scoffed heavily, "What good is swearing? I want concrete evidence!""Your Chen family's IOU is right here. With interest compounded over three years, it comes to exactly five million!""If you have a receipt, produce it now!"Listening to their conversation and considering Chen Yuqiu's condition,Jiang Fan understood the situation.He narrowed his eyes, staring at Black-Faced Tiger, and said, "Do you perhaps think there's no proof because he's dead?"The reason Black-Faced Tiger only came now,was because he wasn't certain if Chen Yuqiu still had a breath left.Now that he was definitively dead, he dared to come and muddy the waters, extorting money.

Black-Faced Tiger, like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water, pulled up a stool and sat cross-legged in the center of the mourning hall. "I don't care what you say!""I must see five million taels of silver.""Otherwise, that old geezer Chen Yuqiu won't rest in peace!"Seeing this, Jiang Fan's judgment was further confirmed.He stated calmly, "I regret to inform you that the Chen family head is not dead yet."

Black-Faced Tiger was startled, but then he remembered secretly observing Chen Yuqiu's face moments ago – it was dark and purplish, a state of undeniable death. His mind settled.He chuckled without humor, "Oh, quite impressive, are you? Can a dead person come back to life just by flapping your lips?"Jiang Fan ignored him.He turned to Chen Siling and said, "Your father still has a faint pulse.""If I act now, there's still a chance to revive him.""Discuss it with your clansmen. If you agree, I will begin treatment now. If not, then I am powerless."

Those indignant clansmen were now completely silent.Because at this moment, the only thing that could save the Chen family was the revival of their family head.Only the white-haired elder, Chen Wuji, once again hoisted his hoe and roared, "Impudence! As long as I'm here, you are not allowed to touch a single hair on the family head's body..."However,This time, he was rebuked by Liu Qinmin."Elder! Do you want to see our Chen family fall apart and perish?""Regardless of whether this young master is right or not, letting him try to revive a lost cause is better than waiting for death!"Saying this, she bowed respectfully and said, "Young Master, I beg you to save my husband, save the Chen family."

Chen Siling's eyes were already red-rimmed.She had not trusted Shadow Guard One earlier, but after the recent events, she felt that he was protecting her.Could it be that her father wasn't truly dead and could really come back to life?She knelt down with a thud and said, "Young Master, if you can save my father, I will serve you like an ox or a horse, at your beck and call for this entire life!""That's too much," Jiang Fan said, helping her up. "Since none of you object, I will begin the treatment."

He approached Chen Yuqiu's body and, following the medical arts described in the "Immortal Medical Codex," circulated energy to restore his breathing.At the same time, he continuously pressed various acupoints to activate his nearly stagnant organs.After the time it took for an incense stick to burn,He was drenched in sweat, yet Chen Yuqiu showed no signs of coming back to life.Black-Faced Tiger's anxious heart settled, and he patted his head, saying, "Enough with the trickery, isn't it?""It's time for your Chen family to pay up!"

Chen Siling's eyes, which had initially been full of expectation, were now dull and lifeless.Her face was filled with sorrow.She had been so foolish.To actually believe that a dead person could be revived.Zhu Jianshen and Chen Wuji exchanged glances, both showing a hint of mockery.The entire hall of Chen clansmen was also deeply disappointed.However!Suddenly, a weak groan emanated from the coffin!