The outer disciple grounds were quieter at night.
Most disciples were either meditating inside their rooms or cultivating in secluded corners of the training fields. Only a few lanterns burned along the stone paths.
Li Ren and Mei Lin walked back toward the servant courtyard.
Zhou Ke had already left, heading toward the outer disciple dormitories. The pouch of spirit stones was gone from his hands, but the tension in his shoulders had disappeared with it.
The debt had been settled.
Cleanly.
Quietly.
But not unnoticed.
As they passed near a row of small training platforms, two outer disciples stepped into their path.
Both wore blue robes, and both had the relaxed posture of people who believed themselves stronger than everyone around them.
One of them crossed his arms.
“You’re the servant who just humiliated Gao Ming,” he said.
Li Ren stopped walking.
“I settled a debt,” he replied.
The second disciple snorted.
“That’s a nice way to say it.”
Mei Lin subtly shifted her position, standing slightly behind Li Ren. She didn’t look afraid—but she was clearly watching their surroundings.
Li Ren glanced at the two men.
Above their heads, faint text appeared.
Target: Outer Disciple Lin Qiao
Debt: Borrowed cultivation pills
Total: 12 spirit stones equivalent
Status: Overdue
Target: Outer Disciple Fei Tong
Debt: Unpaid sparring compensation
Total: 7 spirit stones equivalent
Status: Overdue
Li Ren suppressed a smile.
Even his friends owe people money.
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“What do you want?” he asked.
Lin Qiao smirked.
“Nothing complicated. Just a reminder.”
“About what?”
“You’re still a servant,” he said. “Don’t get too comfortable walking around the outer grounds.”
Fei Tong leaned against a pillar.
“Outer disciple matters aren’t for people like you.”
Li Ren didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, he studied their posture, their tone, the way they stood.
This wasn’t a lawful collection.
There was no debtor-creditor relationship here.
Just intimidation.
Which meant…
No karmic protection.
He kept his voice calm.
“Are you here to collect a debt from me?” he asked.
Lin Qiao frowned.
“What?”
“Because if not,” Li Ren continued, “then this is just harassment.”
Fei Tong scoffed.
“You think you’re important enough to harass?”
Lin Qiao stepped closer.
“We’re just giving you advice. Stay in the servant courtyard. Stop interfering in outer disciple affairs.”
Li Ren met his gaze.
“And if I don’t?”
Lin Qiao smiled.
“Accidents happen during training. People get hurt.”
The meaning was clear.
Not a threat of immediate violence.
But a promise of future trouble.
Li Ren nodded slowly.
“Understood,” he said.
He stepped around them and continued walking.
Mei Lin followed without a word.
Behind them, the two disciples watched silently.
Once they were out of earshot, Mei Lin spoke.
“They’ll try something later,” she said.
“Yes,” Li Ren replied.
“You didn’t use the system.”
“There was no debt to collect,” he said. “No protection.”
She nodded.
“So what’s the plan?”
Li Ren looked up at the dark sky.
“For now, we gather information,” he said. “Find out who they owe, and to whom.”
Mei Lin raised an eyebrow.
“You’re going after them?”
“I’m going after their debts,” he corrected.
Back in the courtyard, Li Ren sat against the wall and opened his system.
Divine Debt Ledger
Host: Li Ren
Realm: Interest Gatherer (Stage 1)
Debt Qi: 75/200
He focused on the two outer disciples.
Their debts flickered into view again.
Small.
But not insignificant.
Twelve stones.
Seven stones.
Together, that was nineteen spirit stones’ worth of value.
Enough to push him much closer to the next stage.
He closed the interface.
“Outer disciple territory is dangerous,” he murmured. “But the profits are better.”
Mei Lin sat beside him.
“I can ask around,” she said. “Servants assigned to their dormitories might know more.”
“Do it carefully,” he said. “No risks.”
She nodded.
“I know how to stay invisible.”
Across the sect, in a small outer disciple room, Gao Ming sat on his bed.
His face was dark.
The humiliation from earlier still burned in his chest.
“That servant…” he muttered.
Lin Qiao and Fei Tong stood nearby.
“You let him walk all over you,” Fei Tong said.
Gao Ming slammed his fist against the wall.
“You felt that pressure too,” he snapped. “Something’s wrong with him.”
Lin Qiao frowned.
“Even so, he’s still a servant.”
Gao Ming’s eyes hardened.
“Then we don’t attack him directly,” he said. “We make it look like an accident.”
Fei Tong grinned.
“Now you’re talking.”
Back in the courtyard, Li Ren closed his eyes.
He could feel it.
The faint, unpleasant sensation of hostile intent forming somewhere in the outer disciple quarters.
Not strong.
But noticeable.
He exhaled slowly.
“Looks like they’ve already decided,” he murmured.
Mei Lin glanced at him.
“About what?”
“About becoming my next clients.”
