Staring at the ostentatious mansion before him, Xiao Yang’s expression remained indifferent. He pulled a slip of paper from his pocket to double-check the address, confirming he had come to the right place.
The mansion was enclosed by an iron fence, with a security booth standing to the left. Seeing someone walking straight toward it, the security guard inside immediately stepped out to stop him.
"Hold it right there! Who are you, and what are you here for?"
Xiao Yang replied coolly, "To collect a debt."
"A debt? What debt? Do you have any idea what kind of place this is? Get out of here!" The guard waved his hand impatiently, signaling for Xiao Yang to leave.
Xiao Yang remained unruffled. "Go tell Lin Zhengrong that someone has come to collect the debt he incurred a year ago."
"Chairman Lin owes a debt? Hahahaha! Kid, are you joking? Chairman Lin is a major entrepreneur in Jing City. Why would he owe anything to the likes of you?" The guard burst into laughter, looking at Xiao Yang as if he were a clown.
Had a successful person in a sharp suit arrived, the guard wouldn't have dared to speak this way. But Xiao Yang was dressed in plain, simple clothes; one look told the guard he was nobody of importance.
Xiao Yang shook his head slightly. Why did people always judge a book by its cover? Was it written that a man who didn't wear a suit was destined to be a nobody?
Xiao Yang couldn't be bothered to argue with the guard. Since he wouldn't be let in, he would just force his way through.
The guard’s face changed dramatically; if he let Xiao Yang through, his job would be on the line. But just as his hand reached for Xiao Yang’s shoulder, he struck nothing but air. Looking again, he saw that Xiao Yang had already slipped through the gate.
The guard was stunned. A moment ago, the man had been right in front of him. How, in an instant...
The confusion was only momentary. Once he realized what had happened, he immediately gave chase.
"Hey! You can't go in there!"
"What is all this shouting? Where are your manners?"
At that moment, a deep, resonant voice rang out from behind the guard.
The guard looked back and instantly adopted a respectful tone. "Steward Gong!"
Steward Gong was in his early fifties with salt-and-pepper temples. Though he had reached middle age, his energy was better than many young men of the day, and his sharp eyes were piercingly bright.
The guard quickly pointed at Xiao Yang’s back. "Steward Gong, this person’s identity hasn't been verified, and he’s claiming he’s here to collect a debt from Chairman Lin!"
"What?!" Steward Gong’s expression shifted as he strode forward. The guard hurried to follow.
Steward Gong quickly reached Xiao Yang's side and asked cautiously, "Might I ask, young man, is your surname Xiao?"
Xiao Yang stopped in his tracks, gave the man a once-over, and asked, "You know me?"
Having confirmed his identity, Steward Gong let out a hearty laugh. "I know a little. Young Master Xiao, please, come inside!"
The guard stood in shock. The reversal of the situation had been so sudden and swift that he hadn't fully processed it. He felt as if he were on a roller coaster.
"Xiao'an, there’s nothing for you to do here. Return to your post," Steward Gong said with a casual wave.
The guard gave a grunt of acknowledgement, but as he walked away, he kept looking back. He still couldn't fathom what kind of debt a man as wealthy as Chairman Lin could possibly owe to such a poor-looking kid.
Steward Gong opened the main door and invited Xiao Yang inside.
The interior of the villa was vast and resplendent. Never mind the antiques placed everywhere; even a single floor tile, if pried out and sold, would be worth several thousand yuan.
Xiao Yang sat on the sofa. In such a massive mansion, there was no one else but Steward Gong and himself.
Steward Gong brought over a glass of water and said, "Please wait a moment, Young Master Xiao. I will call Chairman Lin immediately."
Xiao Yang nodded slightly, slowly surveying his surroundings. A villa like this would be worth at least ten million on the market. That kind of grandeur would leave many people gasping in awe.
Xiao Yang’s indifference was not an act. His family lineage and background were among the most prominent in Daxia.
Just after his tenth birthday, he had been sent by his family to the depths of the only well-preserved primeval forest in Daxia. There, he lived in a dilapidated Taoist temple with two people: the temple master, Daoist Jiu, and a servant.
His grandfather had wanted him to learn true skills from Daoist Jiu, but the "demon child of the Capital" wouldn't have it, and Daoist Jiu refused to let him go.
Xiao Yang had tried bribing Daoist Jiu to let him leave, but he failed. So, on the first night, he planned his escape. But he hadn't gotten far before Daoist Jiu caught him and gave him a sound thrashing. Then, the servant in the temple would apply medicine to his wounds.
The medicine was miraculous—even after a severe beating, he would be full of life the next day, running and jumping as if nothing had happened.
And so, he kept escaping, and he kept getting caught. This went on for five years. He hadn't learned much else, but he had mastered the art of taking a beating.
Xiao Yang’s reason for finally deciding to learn from Daoist Jiu was simple: he wanted to beat him back. He wanted revenge.
However, a year ago, Daoist Jiu said he was going down the mountain to drink with some old friends and never returned. Instead, many strangers began showing up at the temple, begging for miraculous elixirs that could cure all ailments and grant long life.
Some tried to tempt him with wealth, others used threats. An annoyed Xiao Yang killed a few of them and left their bodies outside for the wild beasts to consume, making an example of them.
To this day, people still flock to the mountain seeking medicine, but having learned from the past, they no longer dared to threaten him. They simply pitched tents near the temple and stayed there, waiting for the medicine.
Xiao Yang’s goal in coming down the mountain was simple. Yesterday, the old servant received a note from Daoist Jiu, telling him to head to Jing City and collect a debt from a man named Lin Zhengrong.
He had lived in seclusion for thirteen years; if he hadn't been waiting for Daoist Jiu to return so he could take his revenge, he would have left long ago. So, Xiao Yang didn't hesitate. He agreed immediately, planning to find Daoist Jiu and settle the score for those five years of beatings once the debt was collected.
Not long after Steward Gong finished his phone call, a roaring engine sound echoed from outside, followed by the screech of tires.
A middle-aged man in a sharp suit strode into the house and caught sight of Xiao Yang sitting on the sofa.
He laughed heartily and walked over with his hand extended. "Young Master Xiao, you’ve finally arrived! I’ve been waiting so anxiously for you!"
Xiao Yang was surprised by the man's reaction but still reached out to shake his hand. "Are you Lin Zhengrong?"
The middle-aged man nodded. "I am. Young Master Xiao, please, have a seat."
Xiao Yang sat back down, pulled the debt note Daoist Jiu had sent, and placed it on the table. "This is the debt note. It doesn't specify what the debt is, but the old Daoist just said to bring it to you, and you would know what to do."
"I know, of course I do!" Lin Zhengrong picked up the note, looked at it, and then gave Steward Gong a meaningful glance.
Steward Gong quickly produced a notebook.
Lin Zhengrong matched the torn edge of the page against the notebook; they fit perfectly. He was now certain that Xiao Yang was the person he had been waiting for.
Xiao Yang waited patiently for him to finish confirming, then said, "You can settle the debt now. Let’s get it over with; I have other things to do."
"Right, that’s exactly what I was thinking." Lin Zhengrong didn't hesitate. He took out his phone, found the contact for a wedding planning company, and called.
Xiao Yang was filled with confusion. To settle a debt, why call a wedding planning company?
The call was answered immediately.
Lin Zhengrong went straight to the point. "Old Liu, my son-in-law is here. Prepare for the wedding at once!"