Chapter 1065: The Creditor in Hot Pursuit

Yan Nantian was also stunned by Ruyi's sudden outburst.

But he recovered his wits in an instant.

He had finally experienced what it meant to not know whether to laugh or cry.

"I'll sell, I'll sell! All right?" Yan Nantian's tone suddenly shifted. "But Young Lady, shouldn't you at least find me a place to stay?"

As he spoke, Ruyi picked up a stick from the courtyard and leveled it at him.

Yan Nantian quickly said, "No need to find one. No need..."

Ruyi crossed her arms and studied him. Nodding with faint satisfaction, she said, "The child is teachable."

"I don't think that is how that phrase is used."

"Who cares how I use it."

Yan Nantian nodded helplessly, silently conceding defeat. Who could possibly win an argument against her?

He then said, "Then hand over the silver taels."

Speaking of money.

Ruyi paused, coughing lightly. "How much do you want?"

"When I bought this courtyard, it cost me exactly fifty-three silver taels. I still have the deed."

"Fifty-three taels?!"

Ruyi exclaimed. "What kind of sucker are you, spending fifty-three taels on a place like this?!"

"Ah, you are mistaken," Yan Nantian said. "You wouldn't know, but Qingshan City has excellent feng shui. King Yu once settled here, and later the Rebel Army commander was based here. After that, the King of Wei rose to power from this very place, and the Yan Army also occupied it. Now, even Prince Yu favors it. Fifty-three taels is actually a bargain."

Ruyi's lips parted slightly. "When you put it like that, it does make a bit of sense..."

Yan Nantian nodded and held out his hand.

Knowing he was asking for the money, Ruyi looked a bit embarrassed. "Well, about that..."

She took a single silver tael from the money pouch at her waist and handed it to him. "Here is one tael for now. I'll owe you the rest and pay you when I get back."

"Hey now, you can't just owe me."

"I don't have any more on me at the moment..."

"That won't do. Money in one hand, goods in the other—that's how it has been since ancient times. There is no reason to put this on credit."

"Once I make this trip and come back, I'll have thousands of silver taels at my fingertips. I won't short you a measly few dozen."

"Anyone can make big boasts."

"Ugh, whatever, I don't care. I will definitely pay you back. That's that. You move out first, and when I return, I'll give you your silver taels. Deal? All right, I'm leaving!"

Ruyi hastily fled the courtyard.

Yan Nantian shouted after her, but could do nothing to stop her.

Ruyi hurried off to find Shopkeeper Liu. She told him to keep an eye on the man in Chuanfeng Alley—if he refused to leave, the shopkeeper was to kick him out.

Shopkeeper Liu readily agreed. "Don't worry, I won't let him squat there."

"Great! Also, don't give him any money yet. I'll pay him the silver taels myself later. Just keep an eye on him. If worse comes to worst, please find him a temporary place to stay. I'm in a hurry and don't have time to explain too much."

"All right."

"Mm, then that's it. I'm off!"

After leaving her instructions, Ruyi hurried out of the city.

She found the horse she had hidden behind the temple earlier and grabbed her long spear, ready to set off.

Unexpectedly, just as she exited the valley road, she saw a figure standing in a pavilion, watching her.

Who else could it be but that sickly man?!

"Is the Young Lady planning to skip out on her debt?"

Yan Nantian asked.

Ruyi facepalmed in exasperation. "Did you wait here specifically to block my way?"

Yan Nantian nodded. "That is This Jing's entire life savings. If you just leave, who am I supposed to collect from?"

"I told you, I will definitely pay you back. Once I return from Shangjing, I'll have plenty of silver taels."

"That won't do. With the money out of my hands, I won't be able to eat or sleep in peace."

"Then what do you want?"

"I'm going with you to Shangjing."

"Huh?"

Ruyi looked him up and down. "A sickly guy like you will probably die halfway there."

Yan Nantian chuckled. "Why must you judge a book by its cover, Young Lady? I may look frail, but I've practiced Internal Cultivation since childhood. I am not weak in the slightest."

Ruyi waved him off. "I have no desire to bring you along. Look, I'll write you a letter. Take it into the city and find Shopkeeper Liu at the Tang Family Trading Firm; he will give you the silver taels."

"The moment I turn my head, you might just run off."

"Believe it or not, I don't care!"

Ruyi lost the patience to keep arguing with him. She snapped the reins.

"Hyah!"

The horse galloped away.

Yan Nantian smiled, stepped out of the pavilion, and mounted the horse waiting beside it.

"Hyah!"

He gave chase. His speed was not a fraction slower than Ruyi's—especially since he rode a fine steed, far superior to the random horse Ruyi had picked up at the market.

Before long, he caught up to her.

Ruyi was riding hard when she heard the hoofbeats closing in behind her.

"Young Lady, Young Lady!!"

She started, glancing back over her shoulder.

Her eyes instantly widened. The sickly man suddenly seemed full of fierce vigor as he pursued her relentlessly.

"I swear I've bumped into a ghost..."

Ruyi cursed, hastily snapping the reins to urge her horse faster.

But no matter how hard she whipped the reins, she couldn't shake him off.

They raced for over ten li.

Ruyi looked back again.

"How is he still there?!"

Defeated, she gave up.

"Whoa..."

Ruyi pulled her horse to a stop.

Seeing this, Yan Nantian abruptly yanked his own reins.

His horse reared up, tossing its head, before its front hooves slammed down, landing steadily right beside Ruyi.

Ruyi paused, finally realizing she had completely underestimated this sickly man.

She spat, "You sickly bastard, you're actually sick in the head!"

Yan Nantian only laughed. "Why do you say that, Young Lady?"

Ruyi rolled her eyes at him. "It's just fifty taels! Is this really necessary? Are you that desperate for money? The horse you're riding is worth who knows how many silver taels!"

Yan Nantian corrected her. "You are wrong, Young Lady. It is fifty-two taels and one qian. On the way here, I weighed the single tael you gave me, and it was short by one qian."

Ruyi was utterly speechless.

He actually weighed it?!

She pursed her lips, admitting to herself that she had truly seen it all now.

Sighing softly, she said, "I really don't have any silver taels to give you!"

"Didn't you say you'd have silver taels once you reached Shangjing City?"

"So you just followed me because of that?"

"Yes, is there a problem with that? To tell you the truth, I love money dearly. The sooner I get my silver taels, the sooner my mind will be at ease."

"You're nothing but a miser."

Yan Nantian smiled. "I think so too."

Ruyi frowned at him. "Whatever. If you want to follow, then follow. But don't expect me to look after you."

"Deal!"

Yan Nantian watched as she urged her horse forward again.

A smile surfaced on his lips. Deep in thought, he glanced back at the road they had just traveled.

Nothing major should happen in the short term.

With Yaoye temporarily taking his place as Prince Yu, making a trip to Shangjing shouldn't be a problem.

"Hyah!"