Chapter Twelve: Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey

After Chu Yun figured it out, he immediately stepped forward. Chen Ping, upon seeing him, shouted angrily, "You wretch, is what they said true?"

Chu Yun shook his head. "Of course not. Second Uncle, please believe me."

He then turned to the four thugs. "Don’t talk nonsense. I never borrowed money from your gambling den, and your brothel never gave me a single coin."

Chen Ping, hearing this, was about to ask how Chu Yun came by those few taels of silver. But, seeing the herbs in Chu Yun’s hands, he was convinced the boy was telling the truth—it really was money earned from treating patients. In that instant, he realized the men from the gambling den and brothel must have heard that Chu Yun had made money from doctoring and had come to extort him.

The gambling den’s thug regarded Chu Yun coldly. "Kid, you’ve got some nerve. You borrowed our money and now you dare deny it? What, you think you can just wriggle out of your debt?"

The brothel’s thug, rubbing his hands together, chimed in, "Chu the Scoundrel, what are you trying to say? That our brothel is lying?"

Chu Yun, calm and unhurried, replied, "If you say I took your money, do you have any proof?"

At this, the four thugs were momentarily dumbfounded. They had just heard that Chu Yun had struck it rich treating patients and had come to extort him—there was never any actual loan, let alone proof.

Chen Ping, observing this, nodded subtly, his trust in Chu Yun deepening. He was also surprised to see how composed Chu Yun remained in the face of four burly men from the gambling den and brothel. In the past, the old Chu Yun would have been scared out of his wits.

The gambling den’s thug recovered and glared at Chu Yun. "Chu the Scoundrel, we trusted you, that’s why we lent you the money. Now you ask us for proof when we want it back? What’s your game?"

He clenched his fists and continued, "You’d better think hard about whether you borrowed from us, or these fists of mine won’t be so polite."

The brothel’s thug quickly joined in the threats, telling Chu Yun he’d better remember if he had pawned off Yang Liu’er to them, or taken their money—if not, their fists would jog his memory.

Chu Yun said, "Without proof, what right do you have to say I took your money?"

The gambling den’s thug was infuriated. "Chu the Scoundrel, seems your memory’s failing. Looks like we’ll have to help refresh it—with our fists." With that, he moved to strike.

Seeing this, Chu Yun suddenly called out, "I remember now, I remember!"

The gambling den’s thug paused, grinning. The brothel’s thug seized the chance to threaten again. "You remember our money too, don’t you? If not, we can help you recall." They cracked their necks and knuckles, looking menacing.

Chu Yun nodded quickly. "I remember. Yesterday, I triumphed at Lucky Star Gambling Den and won a pile of silver. You two borrowed two taels from me. And you two from the brothel also borrowed two taels. So you four are here to pay me back—I almost forgot. Hand over the money now."

He held out his hand to collect. Everyone present was stunned. The onlookers doubted it was true, but the earnestness of Chu Yun’s expression made it hard to dismiss outright.

The gambling den and brothel thugs shouted in unison, "Chu the Scoundrel, what nonsense is this? When have we ever borrowed money from you? And you, a pauper, would have money to lend us?"

Chu Yun scratched his head with an innocent look. "Didn’t you? I clearly remember it. Or is it that you borrowed money from me and, since I didn’t make you sign a note, now you want to deny it because I have no proof?"

The four thugs and the bystanders were momentarily taken aback, finally realizing Chu Yun had turned the tables on them.

Chen Ping couldn’t help but laugh, secretly admiring Chu Yun’s cleverness. He quickly stepped forward. "I know about this—you really did borrow four taels from Chu Yun. While I’m here, don’t think you can bully him and refuse to pay."

"Chu the Scoundrel, you’re courting death, daring to make fools of us!"

The four thugs paid Chen Ping no mind and, cursing Chu Yun, lunged at him.

Chu Yun, seeing this, smiled to himself. He knew the thugs from Lucky Star Gambling Den and the brothel wouldn’t give up so easily if they couldn’t get money from him.

To prevent further bullying, he’d decided to make an example of these four, but had waited for them to make the first move.

Now that they had, he no longer held back. With a sidestep, Chu Yun dodged a punch and began to fight them.

With his skills, it was easy to handle the four thugs, though the body he now inhabited was rather frail and made it a bit more tiring.

With Chen Ping’s help, dealing with the four was even easier.

In no time, all four thugs were sprawled on the ground, moaning miserably.

"Get out!" Chu Yun bellowed.

The four scrambled away in terror, their hearts filled with dread of Chu Yun.

Chen Ping had only managed to subdue one, and seeing Chu Yun take down the other three, was left in disbelief. The old Chu Yun had never been capable of this. If he hadn’t witnessed it himself, he would never have believed it; even now, he wondered if this was truly the same Chu Yun.

His faith in Chu Yun’s tale—of dreaming of an immortal—only deepened.

Meanwhile, the bystanders were also shocked at how effortlessly Chu Yun dispatched four hulking thugs. Some who had harbored thoughts of extorting Chu Yun, upon seeing this, quickly abandoned their plans.