Ling Family Film Company, inside the office on the top floor, hung a Western oil painting depicting Ling Miaoying meditating by a lakeside.

Beneath the oil painting, there was a bed where He Jiaqing was sleeping.

In the early morning, when He Jiaqing opened his eyes, he saw a man sitting at the bedside, playing with two walnuts.

In the past, He Jiaqing would have thought this was a nightmare, but now he knew it wasn’t. It was far scarier than a nightmare.

Zhang Gunli’s fingers trembled slightly, and the walnuts spun twice in his palm: "I’ve given you your life span, isn’t it time to discuss repaying the debt."

He Jiaqing smiled: "Big Brother Zhang, aren’t you being a bit too hasty?"

Zhang Gunli took out his pocketbook; "This is the rule for borrowing life. Once the lifespan has been given, the debt must be repaid immediately. Otherwise, if you die, who will I collect from?"

Borrowing life does follow such a rule. He Jiaqing had calculated that he wouldn’t last much longer, so he borrowed a month of life from Zhang Gunli, and Zhang Gunli gave He Jiaqing twenty-seven days.

Why only twenty-seven days?

This too was a rule in their line of work. Borrowing a month means thirty days, but Zhang Gunli only gives ninety percent, which is called "nine out."

When repaying, one has to pay back the principal for a month plus an additional thirty percent interest, known as "thirteen return."

Now that the twenty-seven days have been given, He Jiaqing must repay the debt immediately because Zhang Gunli doesn’t know how much longer He Jiaqing will live, or else if he dies and the debt is erased, Zhang Gunli would incur a great loss.

He Jiaqing stood up and said: "Big Brother Zhang, look at my current condition, my illness is already cured, and I can definitely repay the debt."

Zhang Gunli glanced him over: "I’m not a doctor, but your injuries don’t seem minor."

He Jiaqing was indeed severely injured; his skull had been fractured by the Green Flower, and his head was somewhat deformed.

"These are just external injuries, nothing serious."

Zhang Gunli chuckled: "Serious or not, it’s none of my business; as long as you’re still breathing, you have to repay the debt when the time comes."

He Jiaqing said: "Big Brother Zhang, just give me until tonight, at eleven o’clock, I will pay in full with interest."

Zhang Gunli left, and He Jiaqing wiped the sweat from his forehead and quickly contacted He Haisheng.

"Third Uncle, everything okay on the road?"

"The journey is smooth, we will definitely reach Greenwater City tonight."

He Jiaqing got out of bed, tidied up his clothes, and left the Film Industry Company.

In the oil painting, Ling Miaoying appeared melancholic, seemingly watching He Jiaqing as he left.

He Jiaqing arrived at Longmen Road opposite Peace Mansion and wandered around the roadside twice.

On his left index finger, he wore a ring with sharp lines and exquisite craftsmanship - not just a piece of jewelry, but a ring specially used in their trade to unlock doors.

The ring spun on He Jiaqing’s index finger as it helped him find the entrance to The Unnameable Place and locate the Greenwater Beggar’s home.

How did He Jiaqing know that Greenwater Beggar’s home was here?

Back when He Jiaqing disguised as Zhou Changhong, he returned to Greenwater City and was cornered by Green Flower on Longmen Road. He entered Green Flower’s house and almost lost his life.

Such a doorstep, He Jiaqing naturally remembered.

He bought a newspaper, pretending to read it while actually changing the detection spots continuously.

After switching through more than a dozen locations, the ring still showed no response.

He Jiaqing planned to walk a bit further when a woman with a paper umbrella approached. Seeing He Jiaqing only reading the newspaper and not looking at the road, she glanced at him, sidestepped, and walked around him.

...

At the Auspicious Theater, Zhang Gunli sat fiddling with his walnuts while watching the opera, "Tears of the Barren Mountain," with the lead role of Zhang Huizhu being played by the famous actress Cheng Juqing.

The performance on stage was impassioned, and the audience was captivated. Tears trickled down Zhang Gunli’s face continuously.

Mu Yuejuan, the Painting Cultivation artist, folded her paper umbrella and sat beside Zhang Gunli, handing him a handkerchief.

Zhang Gunli didn’t take it, wiping his tears with his own sleeve instead.

Mu Yuejuan frowned: "What’s the meaning of this? Not good enough for my handkerchief?"

Zhang Gunli shook his head: "Not that your handkerchief isn’t good, I’m just afraid I can’t afford to pay you back."

"Such cheek! Mu Yuejuan sneered, "Do you think I’m like you? Losing one strand of hair and demanding three in return!"

"Miss Mu, if you have something to say, say it quickly. I paid for this ticket, and it’s at the heart-wrenching part right now." Zhang Gunli appeared to really enjoy the opera.

"Heart-wrenching? Do you even have a heart?" Mu Yuejuan asked, "Is it true that He Jiaqing owes you money?"

Zhang Gunli did not directly answer, "What’s it to you?"

Mu Yuejuan smiled and said: "It is. I’m planning to kill him shortly, and once he’s dead, you won’t have anyone to collect your money from."

Zhang Gunli nodded: "Go ahead, it’s just a little money, I can do without it."

Though the two were speaking inside the theater, no one around could hear them.

Mu Yuejuan pulled out a painting scroll and stuffed it into Zhang Gunli’s hand: "This is my latest work. See what you think of its quality?"

Zhang Gunli glanced at it, "Are you looking to pawn it? What’s the asking price?"

"I don’t want money, the painting is a gift to you. I just want some information from you. Why did He Jiaqing come to buy life from you?"

Zhang Gunli said: "Because he contracted the disease from Green Flower."

"Is he cured now?"

"It’s hard to say for sure right now. If he can survive until tomorrow, then it’s truly cured."

Mu Yuejuan inquired further: "The disease from Green Flower is notoriously hard to resolve. Do you think it’s because Green Flower spared him, or is there another reason?"

Zhang Gunli said: "I am not Green Flower, so it’s hard to be certain about these matters. However, I haven’t seen Green Flower for several days, and I don’t know where he’s gone."

"Do you think Green Flower is still alive?"

"That’s also uncertain, but I feel that if Green Flower were still alive, He Jiaqing wouldn’t dare to loiter around his doorstep."