Becoming a god starts with one certificate becoming eternal.

The second aunt was suddenly stopped by the guard, and her face froze.

The next instant, that breath rushed up, piercingly sharp:

"Who do you think you are!"

Her second uncle grabbed her sleeve, his voice low and urgent, his tone harsh:

"Don't provoke them into a fight! We're here to 'demand an explanation,' not to be kicked out according to the rules!"

Auntie was jolted awake, her chest heaving even more. Unable to break free, she decided to unleash her fury into the alley, raising her voice to its absolute peak, as if she wanted to illuminate every single window in the alley:

"The Ye family of Qingshi Lane! Come out!"

"You're living a good life, so you're just pretending? My son's future is ruined, our family is going to starve, and you're still hiding?!"

The shout seemed to swirl at the alley entrance before carrying inside.

A few windows in the alley lit up briefly; some people woke up, some turned over, and some watched the commotion through their windows, but no one opened the door.

The guard's gaze grew even more somber.

The long stick tapped the ground with a "thud," like nailing a rule to the earth.

"The last time."

"If you keep shouting, I will kick you out according to the rules."

Uncle San, with a gloomy face, added insult to injury in a low voice:

"Don't shout like you're throwing a tantrum; you won't get any money out of it."

"Explain the debt clearly so the neighbors can hear it, and they will have to come out."

Third Aunt shrank back, tugged at Second Aunt's sleeve, and whispered:

"Don't cross the line... say it from outside the station."

Auntie gritted her teeth, wanting to say another word, but Uncle held her arm down firmly.

Unwilling to give up, she resorted to an even more insidious and vicious tactic, abandoning vulgar insults and focusing instead on logical arguments:

"It's only right to pay back debts! Ye Xiao's family owes us, why shouldn't they pay back?"

"Does becoming an inner disciple make you superior? Does becoming an inner disciple mean you can forget your roots?!"

Upon hearing this, the guard's eyes grew even colder; he had seen this situation many times before.

Knowing that this woman knew how to beat around the bush, she was actually posting the words "Inner Gate" out in the alley.

If a person doesn't come out, it's because they feel guilty, and their reputation will be ruined; if they do come out, then there will be trouble.

Ye Chong remained silent.

He stood at the very edge, his face hidden in the lamplight, his gaze fixed on the clean stone path in the alley. Suddenly, he uttered a low, chilling sentence:

"They must be feeling guilty for not coming out."

As if she had caught someone red-handed, the second aunt immediately followed up:

"Yes! They're guilty! They're definitely hiding money!"

The old lady then took a step forward.

The cane slammed down, the voice lowered, and each word became even more ruthless:

"Listen up, you people inside! We're not going into Qingshi Alley, but don't think you can hide forever!"

"Ye Chong is still young. He failed the martial arts exam this time, but he'll have another chance. But that chance requires money and medicine!"

"You are the culprits behind his failure this time. If you have any conscience at all, give back what you owe and pay back what you owe!"

She paused, her tone growing even colder, as if she were slamming the word "elder" onto the ground like a knife:

"Don't force us to say the harshest things."

The guards weren't fooled; they just kept their eyes on them, like they were watching a group of people about to cross the line.

"Are you done talking?"

"I'll leave after I finish speaking."

The old lady's eye twitched.

She wanted to say something more, but the guard didn't raise his long stick; instead, he took a step forward. That step was very light, but it made it clear that if she didn't leave, she would be causing trouble.

Uncle gritted his teeth, as if trying to swallow his anger:

"Okay. Let's go."

As her second aunt turned away, she remained unconvinced, leaving behind a comment that sounded like a nail:

"Can we hide from tonight, or tomorrow night?"

Ye Chong glanced back one last time at the lamplight in Qing Shi Alley, his eyes as cold and menacing as a damp knife:

"We'll come again tomorrow!"

They retreated, their footsteps disordered, but their resentment only intensified.

The guards didn't give chase; they simply held their long stick horizontally and returned to the alley entrance.

Only after Ye Chong and his group had completely disappeared around the street corner did the alleyway quiet down again.

In the silence, someone stirred without making a sound.

It wasn't a bodyguard, but rather the eyes that had been lurking in the shadows all along.

He didn't keep track of the number of times; the rules are different here.

Anyone who dares to put their hands in here, no matter what they do, will be considered to have crossed the line according to the instructions from above.

The person in the shadows lowered their body and slid along the wall like a shadow, turning into the alley next door.

There were already people waiting there, equally inconspicuous, equally oblivious, like passersby on the roadside who could be easily overlooked.

The two did not speak, but exchanged a very brief sentence as they brushed past each other:

"There's a disturbance outside Qingshi Lane."

"They specifically named the Ye family, demanding repayment of debts and money. The old lady led the way, and there were six of them in total."

The second person immediately quickened their pace, but did not become flustered.

Instead of squeezing into crowded areas, he took the darkest path and headed straight for the North Furnace.

……

The fire in the North Furnace was still panting, its dark red flames rising and falling like a crouching wild beast.

Ye Xiao stood on the edge of the furnace, shoveling away at the slag. With a clang, sparks exploded, creating a ring of red dots.

Someone reached the foot of the stove, clasped their hands in a fist salute, and lowered their voice:

"Sir, there's a disturbance outside Qing Shi Lane."

Ye Xiao didn't turn around, only uttering one word:

"who."

"The old lady led the way; there were six of them in total. They were demanding money by name, and they were shouting rudely." The man spoke quickly: "The guards held them back; they didn't enter the alley."

The rhythm of the shovel falling remained unchanged.

Just before the next shovel fell, Ye Xiao slightly held his breath, as if suppressing fire into his bones.

He remained silent for a moment, but when he spoke, he only uttered one sentence:

"Go find Yan Quan."

The visitor was taken aback: "Looking for Brother Yan?"

Ye Xiao hummed in response, his voice as flat as if he were talking about the slag in the furnace:

"Tell him that Ye Chong's family has come to the door again."

"He'll know what to do."

The newcomer's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute:

"yes!"

He turned and left, his steps quick but steady.

The furnace wind whipped up ash that stung his face, but Ye Xiao didn't stop.

The movements were slow, one after another.

It was as if nothing had happened.

……

The night grew deeper, and the dampness clung to the walls.

The Ye Chong family had just returned from Qingshi Lane, their resentment still lingering. The oil lamp in the house flickered, as if they couldn't suppress their anger.

My aunt was still cursing, her mouth dry from all the cursing:

"So what if he's successful at the martial arts school? He's still family! Why shouldn't he even come out and just watch us get kicked out!"

My second uncle's face was ashen, and it felt like there was a thorn stuck in his throat.

"If it weren't for him, would our family have lost all our money? A thousandfold compensation? That's incredibly cruel! Chong'er is in this state because of his family!"

Ye Chong's eyes were dark and sinister, as if he were spitting out the humiliation he had suffered during the day:

"That's right! It's all Ye Xiao's fault... forcing me to borrow medicine and money!"

Uncle's eyes twitched, but he didn't say anything, only clenching his fists tighter.

The old lady leaned on her cane, remaining silent, suppressing her anger as if plotting how to make an even bigger scene tomorrow.

Just then, a voice rang out from outside the door.

Not high, but like the back of a knife striking wood, it made one's heart sink:

"Ye Chong owes debts; the accounts will be settled tonight."

The room fell silent.

My second uncle instinctively reached for the door latch, and my second aunt shrieked, "Who?! Where did this come from...?"

Before he could finish speaking...

"Bang!"

The latch snapped with a "crack," and the door was kicked open, sending wood chips flying. Cold wind and dampness rushed into the room, causing the oil lamp flame to tilt.

A cold wind blew in, lifting Yan Quan's clothes by half an inch before they immediately fell back down.

Ma Wu followed behind him.

There were two more people behind them. They didn't enter the house or say anything, but they made the people inside feel like they were facing a formidable enemy.