Gavin Quinn, proud as ever, grew angry at Ian's mocking words. He pulled out five hundred thousand taels of silver and shoved them at Ian: "Here's five hundred thousand taels. Take it and let this matter drop!"
Ian grinned. "Tsk tsk, Senior Gavin, you're generous, but you think five hundred thousand taels will settle a six-million-tael debt?"
Gavin Quinn's anger deepened, his eyes cold. "Leon Huang, don't push your luck. Take the five hundred thousand, or you'll get nothing!"
What, you planning to skip out on the debt?
Ian sneered, then raised his arm and called out: "Brothers, looks like Gavin Quinn wants to dodge his debt. Are you okay with that?"
Damn, the Divine Martial Society's president is really like this? What a letdown! No way we're letting him skip out!
Yeah! Shameless, huh? Divine Martial Society? More like Debt-Dodging Society!
He looks decent enough, but his character's rotten!
A wave of jeers and mockery swept through the crowd, making Gavin Quinn's face turn ugly. Meanwhile, Evan Lin and his group surrounded Gavin and Shawn Cheng.
Gavin Quinn glared at Ian. "Leon Huang, don't go too far. You should always leave a way out!"
Ian smirked. "Listen to yourself, making it sound like I'm unreasonable. Owe money, pay money—it's common sense! Gavin, I'll ask one more time: are you paying up or not?"
Ian's eyes sharpened, and Gavin Quinn felt a faint chill of fear.
What's going on here?
Just then, a cold voice rang out: "Anyone who gathers to brawl in the sect will be expelled!"
A black-robed, middle-aged man strode through the crowd, his sharp gaze sweeping over Ian, Gavin Quinn, and the rest.
"Greetings, Deacon Luo!" Gavin Quinn quickly bowed in respect.
"Greetings, Deacon Luo!" Shawn Cheng hurriedly followed suit.
This man was Logan Luo, an Outer Sect deacon with Qi-Refining tier nine strength.
Within the Outer Sect, only the general steward outranked him.
Below the general steward were the elders, and below the elders were the deacons.
The general steward oversaw everything and rarely intervened in minor matters. The elders led each department, and the deacons handled daily affairs. Logan Luo was the Enforcement Hall's deacon.
He was greedy, lecherous, and vindictive. Any disciple who crossed him ended up suffering, so most outer-sect disciples feared him.
Facing Gavin Quinn and Shawn Cheng's greetings, Logan Luo nodded coolly and then pointed at Evan Lin and the others: 'All of you, disperse!'
Evan Lin and the others hesitated, glancing at Ian.
'Listen to Deacon Luo, everyone. Disperse!' Ian called out.
'Yes!'
Evan Lin and the others quickly dispersed, standing behind Ian.
Seeing this, Logan Luo's eyes flashed coldly. 'I heard there was gambling here. Who will explain what happened?'
Ian squinted slightly, thinking how conveniently Logan Luo had arrived—someone must've tipped him off.
Gavin Quinn stepped forward, 'Deacon Luo, I know what happened—let me explain...'
'Hold on!' Ian suddenly cut Gavin off, looking at Logan Luo. 'Deacon Luo, may I speak with you privately? I have something important to report.'
As he spoke, Ian deliberately shifted his body, letting the corner of a thick stack of silver notes peek out from his sleeve.
Logan Luo was about to scold Ian, but then noticed the silver. He paused, then nodded. 'Fine, I'll hear what you have to say. But if you try to play me, I'll punish you severely.'
Ian smiled slightly. 'Please, Deacon Luo.'
At the same time, Ian gave Tyson a look; Tyson understood and brought people over, forming a wall to block the others' view.
Deacon Luo, this is a small token of appreciation. Please accept it.
Ian pulled out two hundred thousand taels in silver notes and offered them up.
'Bold! You dare try to bribe me?' Logan Luo snapped.
Ian laughed. 'It's not a bribe, just a little gift.' He added another hundred thousand taels to the pile.
'How could this be bribery? At most, it's just a small gift!' Ian said with a smile, and added another hundred thousand taels to the pile.
Seeing the thick stack of silver notes, Logan Luo's breathing grew rapid. He calmly pocketed the notes and said, 'Since it's just a small gift, I'll accept.'
"Thank you, Deacon Luo, for giving me face!" Ian said gratefully.
Logan Luo nodded proudly. 'No problem.' Then his expression turned serious. 'I didn't see anything today, but don't make too much fuss. Also, an inner-sect disciple told me about this—conduct yourself carefully.'
Thank you for the reminder, Deacon Luo. I'll remember it!
Good! At least you know how to behave. I'm leaving now!
'Farewell, Deacon Luo!'
Watching Logan Luo leave, Ian's lips curled into a faint, cold smile. The inner-sect informant was likely Chen Yan, since Ian saw him outside the crowd earlier.
With Logan Luo gone, Gavin Quinn and Shawn Cheng looked even more miserable.
Ian walked back, fixing them with a mocking stare. 'So, how are you going to settle the debt?'
Faced with Ian's pressure, Gavin Quinn's expression turned even darker. 'I didn't open the betting table—go ask Shawn Cheng for the money. I'm done here.'
Shawn Cheng panicked. 'Senior Gavin, you can't abandon me! If you hadn't approved it, I wouldn't have taken their silver!'
Gavin Quinn sneered. 'I told you to take it? You were just greedy. I'm out of this—deal with it yourself.'
With that, Gavin Quinn ignored Shawn Cheng's desperate pleas and left.
With Gavin Quinn gone, Shawn Cheng had no way to pay such a huge debt. Driven mad, he suddenly drew a dagger and stabbed at his own chest, shouting, 'Gavin Quinn, you spineless coward! Even as a ghost, I won't let you off!'
Ian's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, grabbing Shawn Cheng's wrist and preventing the dagger from piercing his chest.
Ian snorted coldly. 'If you die here, who will pay me back?'
Shawn Cheng's face twisted with despair. He slumped to the ground, sobbing.
Ian glanced at Tyson. 'Take him away and keep an eye on him. I'll deal with him later.'
Tyson nodded. 'Understood!' He dragged Shawn Cheng away.
Everyone turned curiously to see that the dagger was clutched in Leon Huang's hand, blood dripping steadily from his fist.