Most servants avoided the area. It was where the steward kept tools, spare supplies, and punishment instruments.
Li Ren, however, walked toward it calmly with a bucket in his hand.
His steps were slow and natural.
Inside, his mind was calculating.
If the steward really embezzled thousands of spirit stones… there must be evidence somewhere.
The system message still hovered in his vision.
=== SYSTEM MESSAGE ===
Hidden Debt Source Detected Nearby.
Possible embezzlement evidence.
He pushed open the wooden shed door.
It creaked softly.
Inside, the air smelled of old wood, oil, and dust. Shelves lined the walls, stacked with tools, broken carts, and old crates.
Nothing looked unusual.
Li Ren stepped inside and pretended to inspect the tools.
Where would someone hide stolen goods?
Back on Earth, he had seen plenty of illegal storage tricks:
-
False walls
-
Hidden safes
-
Secret ledgers
-
Dummy accounts
The methods were always the same.
Only the tools changed.
He slowly walked along the back wall.
Then he noticed something strange.
One section of the wooden wall looked… newer.
The wood there was smoother, less worn than the rest.
Li Ren placed his hand on it and pushed.
Nothing.
He pressed harder.
A faint click echoed.
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The panel shifted slightly.
His eyes narrowed.
“There we go.”
He slid the panel aside.
Behind it was a narrow compartment.
Inside were several small wooden boxes and a rolled scroll.
Li Ren opened one of the boxes.
Golden light reflected off his eyes.
Inside were small, glowing stones.
They pulsed faintly with energy.
“Spirit stones…” he whispered.
He didn’t know exactly how they worked, but even he could feel the power inside them.
He quickly counted.
Ten stones in the first box.
Another ten in the second.
And another ten in the third.
Thirty spirit stones total.
He swallowed.
That’s… two and a half years of food for servants.
And this was only what the steward had hidden here.
He opened the scroll.
Inside was a crude ledger.
It listed shipments, dates, and amounts.
Every entry ended with the same mark.
—Sent to Black Sand Market—
Li Ren’s eyes sharpened.
“Illegal sales,” he murmured.
Now he understood.
The steward wasn’t just hoarding stones.
He was secretly selling sect resources outside.
That explained the massive debt.
Suddenly, the system window appeared.
=== SYSTEM NOTICE ===
Hidden Asset Confirmed.
Linked to Steward Han’s embezzlement debt.
Evidence Value: 300 spirit stones equivalent.
Li Ren blinked.
“Three hundred… just from this stash?”
If this was only a small portion, then the system’s five-thousand-stone estimate was probably accurate.
He exhaled slowly.
“This is enough leverage.”
He carefully rolled the scroll back up and closed the boxes.
Then he paused.
Another thought crossed his mind.
What happens if I just take these stones?
He reached for one.
The moment his fingers touched it, the system flashed.
=== SYSTEM WARNING ===
Unauthorized seizure detected.
Li Ren immediately pulled his hand back.
Host is not rightful owner.
Direct theft violates Karmic Law.
Protection will be revoked.
“Alright, alright,” he muttered. “Message received.”
So he couldn’t just steal.
Everything had to go through the system.
Through proper collection.
He leaned against the wall, thinking.
If I expose this, the steward is finished.
But that would also attract attention.
And attention was dangerous for someone at the bottom of the sect.
He needed a controlled collection.
A private one.
He opened the system interface.
=== DIVINE DEBT LEDGER ===
Host: Li Ren
Realm: Ledger Initiate (Stage 1)
Debt Qi: 27/100
Active Debts:
-
Steward Han
Debt: 5,100 spirit stones equivalent
Status: High Priority
Li Ren stared at the number.
Then at the hidden stash.
Then back at the number.
A slow smile spread across his face.
“Back on Earth,” he murmured, “we called this negotiating power.”
He gently slid the hidden panel back into place.
No one would know he had found it.
Not yet.
As he turned to leave, the system displayed another message.
=== SYSTEM UPDATE ===
New Ability Unlocked:
Debt Pressure (Passive)
-
Host presence increases mental burden on major debtors.
Li Ren raised an eyebrow.
“So even standing near them makes them uncomfortable?”
He chuckled softly.
“Perfect.”
He stepped out of the shed and returned to the courtyard.
Across the yard, Steward Han was shouting at servants again.
But this time, something was different.
As Li Ren walked closer, the steward suddenly paused.
A bead of sweat rolled down his fat cheek.
His eyes darted around nervously.
For a brief moment, his gaze locked with Li Ren’s.
And the steward quickly looked away.
Li Ren smiled.
He doesn’t even know why he feels nervous.
“But he will soon,” Li Ren whispered.
“Very soon.”