Chapter 2, A fortune spent will return again

This is indeed the truth, seeing that he can no longer hold on, it would be a pity if the apprentice he had worked so hard to obtain were to die now. One cannot help but wonder if his bones are damaged. In a state of panic, Jin quickly picked him up and fled.

Already a thief, what else matters, what is there to fear from ridicule? Ning Yu remained silent for half a day, then nodded: "I will go."

Ning Yu has grievances that cannot be expressed. Associating with thieves and borrowing their ill-gotten gains, what difference is there in the eyes of others between him and a thief? Moreover, once the name Jin Yue is mentioned, it is likely that everyone will further conclude that he is in cahoots with the thieves, making it difficult to argue against any serious charges.

Jin Yue, feeling indignant, coldly snorted: "Why should I save you?"

As night falls, the heart seems to be engulfed by darkness, becoming increasingly empty, while the feeling of hunger grows ever stronger

Jin Yuandao: "It is acceptable for you to seek me as your master, but you must first accomplish one task."

As long as she says "I trust you," he would die with his eyes closed, but now even in death, in her heart, he is still a thief! The most despicable thief in the world!

Ning Yuxin felt a sinking sensation in her heart and released her grip, murmuring: "That was money lent to me by an old man, not silver from the Yu family's stock. You don't believe my words either?"

Thank you, Master, for bestowing a name; the disciple shall be called Jin Huanlai

Jin Yuandao: "Tomorrow you will leave here with me."

Life and death hang by a thread, yet the consciousness in the mind is paradoxically clearer than usual

In the haze, someone approaches

I did not steal!" Ning Yu exclaimed, gripping her shoulders. "It does not matter if they do not believe me; do you not believe me either?" As long as she believes him, he does not care how others perceive him.

Jin Yuedao: "First, one should not drink more than three cups."

She suddenly stood up, tears streaming down her face, yet her voice was cold: "You are not usually like this. I admire the talented and ambitious Ning Yu. One's aspirations should not be diminished by poverty. Now that the facts are clear, why are you still unwilling to repent?"

Let those people laugh, what does it matter

She turned her face away: "Why did you do such a thing? I originally intended to refuse the marriage by dying."

Enduring the pain in her body, Ning Yu struggled to turn over, suppressing the urge to vomit, she took a few bites of the food on the ground, then with all her strength rolled down to the steps, crawling beside a small puddle, sip by sip, slowly, she drank up the murky water.

In the courtyard of the Ning family, two individuals stand facing each other

With a sense of curiosity, the old master once again ventured into the Ning family courtyard under the cover of night

Ning Yu said: "I do not drink"

From now on, there will be no more Ning Yu in the world, only Jin Huan will return

To live is to be a thief, and to die is to be one as well

Ning Yu slowly retracted her hand, her voice hoarse and trembling: "It is my incompetence"

Jin Yuedao: "Secondly, since you have joined the Thousand-Hand Sect and will inherit all that is mine in the future, you must forget everything from the past, including your worthless calligraphy, your writings, and..." He paused, his meaning profound.

As soon as he stepped through the gate, his left foot was suddenly grasped tightly by two claws, startling him greatly. Instinctively, he was about to kick, but he heard a faint voice coming from the dark mass: "Please, save me!"

Jin Yue stood up, reveling in the misfortune: "Do you think that fire was an accident? It is clear that the Zhang family next door offended someone, and that person took advantage of the night to set the fire. Who would have thought that even your family's silver shop would be burned? These people are vengeful and will repay any grievance, far stronger than our Qianshou Sect in that regard"

Ning Yu turned her face away with difficulty and said, "You need not say any more; I will never commit such a petty theft!"

I take you as my master

Ning Yu was speechless

Jin Yue coldly laughed: "At least being a thief won't lead to starvation. A poor boy has his pride, yet he is destined to starve. If your father and mother truly wanted you dead, they would have drowned you long ago"

Oh, isn't this the little rascal! Jin Yue immediately lowered his head to admire, repeatedly shaking his head in admiration. Even in such a hungry state, he still has the energy; truly, he possesses great talent

Ning Yu Mu Ran: "You did it on purpose, you intentionally borrowed only nine hundred taels."

Qin'er! Smelling the familiar fragrance, Ning Yu quickly awakened, her heart soon filled with joy. Wen Qin still remembered him, she believed in him, even in death, he had no regrets

Jin Yuandao: "However, merely one hundred taels has caused them to wrong you. It would be better to take me as your master, learn martial arts, and then you can take all the wealth in the world as you wish. With money, what is there to fear about not being able to win back a woman?"

Jin Yueqi said: "It was you who sought me for a loan; I have already kindly lent you more than half. You are a scholar, could it be that you are even less reasonable than us thieves?"

Jin Yuexiao: "I want you to go to the shop next to the Yu family pawnshop and steal something."

She asked: "He is neither a relative nor an acquaintance of yours, why would he lend you anything? While in prison, why didn't you ask someone to find him to testify?"

"Kid, are you hungry?" Jin Yue said with a smile as he sat beside.

Waste! Waste!" Looking at the several young people in front of him, the old master Jin Yue waved his hands repeatedly, feeling greatly disheartened, "None of them can compare to that kid.

Jin Yue did not decline: "Do not rush, I still have two matters, can you handle them?"

Jin Yuandao: "Since you are reasonable, you should understand that debts must be repaid. You still owe me 900 taels of silver; what do you intend to do about it?"

Feeling increasingly hungry, his body was nearly in a state of collapse. However, as the long-anticipated death approached, his will to survive unexpectedly returned. Now, even she had given up on him. Even if he were to starve to death here, no one would remember him, and no one would know of his grievances. In the end, he was merely a thief who died!

Jin Yue nodded and said, "Since you have understood, then it is time to take on a master."

She avoided the topic and, after a long while, softly said: "I have already agreed to the marriage with Young Master Yu"

Ning Yu said: "Disciple has no name, I request Master to bestow a name."

Why is he cursed! It is clear that the shopkeeper ordered him to count the silver in the treasury, and the accounts are clear and precise. Yet now they are deliberately insisting that he sneaked into the storeroom to steal silver, claiming he stole nine hundred taels. Such despicable tactics, it is a blatant frame-up. Aren't these people even more deserving of condemnation!

Two days later, Young Master Yu came to see him and sighed: "Brother Ning is also a scholar and surely would not do such a thing, but my father insists on changing the accountant over there. I truly feel sorry for you, Brother, and I hope you can seek a better opportunity elsewhere."

Jin Yuandao: "I believe Miss Wen is even more disappointed now."

Ning Yu said: "What the master commands is to be followed"

Ning Yu struggled to sit up, wanting to grasp her hand: "Qin'er!"

Ning Yu asked: "Second?"

I understand

She immediately looked at him and said, "Then tell me, where did this nine hundred taels of silver come from?"

Ning Yu lay at the doorway, beside him was a pile of food mixed with gray dirt, which was kindly served to him by others who could not bear to watch. However, for some unknown reason, unexpected incidents always occurred; either a group of children would suddenly come and knock over the bowl, or a beggar would come first to snatch it away. Of course, he understood that some people wanted to see him make a fool of himself, but for someone who was wholeheartedly seeking death, these matters had already lost their significance.

Ning Yu coldly said: "If my late father knew that I was a thief, he would have killed me long ago"

In the silver vault, as she gazed at the boxes of gleaming silver, Ning Yu's hands tightened and then relaxed, only to tighten again. If she could just borrow a mere one hundred taels, she would return it later, and no one would ever find out. This was the only way to save herself.

"Are you unwilling to speak the truth even to me?" she said softly. "If you want me to trust you, you might as well say that person's name. I will have someone find him to testify and clear your name."

"They told me to clean out the silver vault, I did not steal! That is my silver!" He shouted all day long, his voice hoarse, yet no one believed him, for if he could truly produce nine hundred taels of silver, he would not have been in a position to nearly have his house taken as collateral, nor would he have had to work as a bookkeeper for others.

Jin Yue laughed heartily, emphasizing: "It is necessary to snatch in front of others."

Ning Yu was at a loss for words

One hundred taels of silver, neither too much nor too little, can be assured that no one will easily lend it to you

Ning Yu immediately knelt down and performed three bows, saying: "Disciple pays respects to the master"

Ning Yu smiled and said, "Whether others are disappointed or not, it has nothing to do with me"

Ning Yu said: "Just give the orders."

She silently crouched down

Ning Yu opened her eyes, astonished and angry: "Since you already knew, why didn't you call someone earlier?"

He trembled as he picked up a bar

On the high platform, two individuals stand by the railing, with the entire cityscape before their eyes

By the way, has that kid died or not

Borrowing without consent, is this not akin to being a thief! He struggled internally, and finally, he reached out to return the silver. However, at that moment, a group of people rushed in. Before he could explain in his panic, he was met with a flurry of punches and kicks, and was soon bound hand and foot and sent to the prison of the government office.

Ning Yu said: "The disciple understands"

Mr. Ning, please take a moment to inventory the warehouse

Ning Yu interrupted him: "Master, who is Ning Yu?"

Ning Yu stared: "Rob?"

He patted Ning Yu on the shoulder and said, "Remember, you are already a thief"

If you are truly wronged, go to the yamen and speak out that person's name

The once-gentle Young Master Ning has now become a thief, and not only that, he dares to steal in broad daylight! The city is abuzz with discussions, and the tone has shifted from pity to a sense of disdain.

Ning Yu angrily said: "Get lost!"

Wenqin! Listen to me...

Jin Yuedao: "If you want to be a thief, you must not harbor thoughts of fear or shame about being discovered. The more you fear, the more likely you are to fail. Which thief has never been caught or beaten? The same principle applies when you are told to rob."

Damn it, as the esteemed leader of the Thousand Hands Sect, how could I possibly fear not receiving disciples? Jin Yue was also infuriated: "Hmph, I have tolerated you for a long time! What about our Thousand Hands Sect? Lightness skills, hidden weapons, each and every one is a unique skill in the world. Look at who in the martial world dares to show disrespect; others envy us and can hardly keep up, yet you, a mere scholar, dare to point fingers and criticize!"

Disappointment gradually appeared in her beautiful eyes. She no longer asked, took out a few pieces of silver, and said: "Since the matter has already passed, you should take good care of your health and refrain from doing such things in the future..."

For three days, she did not come again, and Jin Yue also did not come again

Ning Yu remained silent for a while and said: "I truly apologize, it is Ning Yu's incompetence."

Ning Yu simply closed her eyes and remained silent

Jin Yue naturally said: "What does it matter to me about other people's affairs? This is how things are in the world. Look at you now lying here, neither human nor ghost. Even if you are dead, no one will care. That woman will still marry that guy with the surname Yu. In a few years, she will probably forget your name altogether..."

Nine hundred taels of dirty silver were discovered in the Ning family

Ning Yu was quickly released, his body covered in wounds, his white clothing stained with blood and dirt, his hair disheveled, resembling a vengeful spirit, completely devoid of the appearance of a once charming scholar. What awaited him were countless sympathetic yet disdainful gazes, as the former talented scholar had fallen to the status of a thief, stealing from the Yu family, who had kindly helped him preserve his ancestral home

He clung tightly to Jin Yue's leg, his fingers almost digging into the flesh: "Please, save me."

This scoundrel still refuses to use his real name out of shame for his misdeeds, if it weren't for my old self saving you back then, you would have been dead long ago, and yet you still have the audacity to uphold your reputation! Jin Yue cursed inwardly while smiling on the surface: "Alright, then what is your name?"

Jin Yue suppressed his impulse to strike him and turned to leave: "Hmph, you are about to die, what does it matter to me, the leader of this sect, whether I come or go? You are no longer a young master, merely a thief; no one will spare you a second glance even in death!"

She is convinced it is him! Ning Yu panicked and brushed off the silver: "It wasn't me, Qin'er, you have to believe me!"

Many have expressed the desire to take me as their master, being sought after by this young man feels truly wonderful, Jin Yue relishes the feeling of being in a position of superiority, "Why should I accept you?"

Jin Yue pondered for a moment, then turned to see the river shimmering with golden light under the sun, and felt a stir in his heart: "The leaders of the Qianshou Sect throughout the ages have all changed their surname to Jin. Now, I have only you as my disciple, so it would be better for you to change it sooner. I have heard that scholars have a saying: 'A thousand pieces of gold spent will return again.' For the wealthy, money that accumulates in the treasury only rots away. In the Qianshou Sect, everyone relies on their own abilities, taking the excess wealth of the world for their own use. The wealth of the world is inexhaustible and unending; what harm is there in spending lavishly? You may be called Jin Huanlai, how about that?

I am better than them. Then the hand weakly let go

I... saying it will only make things worse, he remained silent

Jin Yue nodded: "That's good, Ning Yu..."

Without the strength to explain, Ning Yu lay battered and bruised at the door, listening to the passing people discussing the engagement between the young master and Miss Wen, occasionally casting sympathetic glances at him, leaving his heart in despair. In just two days, everything had undergone a dramatic transformation; he had turned from a down-and-out scholar into a thief pointed at by a thousand fingers, and Wen Qin was about to marry someone else

Ning Yu nodded: "Alright"

Jin Yue nodded: "Our Thousand-Hand Sect relies on hands, theft, hidden weapons, disguise, and poison. If one drinks excessively, these hands will not be so agile anymore"

She stood for a long time before turning and leaving

He found it very amusing and laughed heartily, his voice resembling the wailing of ghosts