Ignoring Senior Brother Ma Biao's confusion, Chu Xinghe went straight to the Great Elder.
When the Great Elder heard that Xinghe intended to repay even those debts for which the IOUs and tokens had been lost, his reaction was the same as Ma Biao's.
They were both in a state of bewilderment.
After all, repaying debts to retrieve IOUs and tokens is the rule, and without them, debts cannot be repaid—this is also the rule.
"Xinghe, have you gone mad with debt repayment?"
"People have lost their IOUs and tokens, and you still want to repay them. What exactly are you up to?"
Faced with the Great Elder's confusion, Chu Xinghe explained from every angle, appealing to both emotion and reason.
"Great Elder... these debts fall into two categories. One is from those who helped us voluntarily when our Grand Sky Sect faced difficulties. Although the IOUs and tokens were later lost, can we forget their kindness?"
"A drop of water should be repaid with a spring—this is what you taught me, Great Elder. Now that our Grand Sky Sect is the number one sect in the world, if we refuse to repay just because they lost the IOUs, where is our honor?"
"The second category involves debts for goods. They trusted our Grand Sky Sect and delivered goods to us first. But now, because the IOUs and tokens are missing, we've been delaying payment. How does this make our Grand Sky Sect look to the outside world?""So, Great Elder, we not only need to repay these debts but also include the interest accumulated over the years. Only then can we demonstrate the virtue of our Grand Sky Sect!"
The Great Elder nodded in agreement with Xinghe's words.
He was naturally aware of these debts, and it wasn't that the Grand Sky Sect was deliberately delaying payment. It was mainly because similar situations had occurred on the Blazing Sun Continent.
A sect had repaid debts even after the other party lost the IOUs, but later, the other party shamelessly produced the IOUs again and demanded repayment.
This incident caused quite a stir, and although the sect was furious, they had no choice but to repay when faced with the IOUs and tokens.
Since then, an unwritten rule emerged: without IOUs and tokens, debts could not be reclaimed, to prevent such shameless acts.
However, Xinghe's point was valid—those were other sects, not our Grand Sky Sect. Who in this world would dare demand repayment from us twice?
What is it? Is our Grand Sky Sect's blade not sharp enough, or does our Great Sage An Zhi not dare to drink anymore?
Do you believe that if you dare to do this today, tomorrow Great Sage An Zhi will come to your doorstep for a few drinks, and if he accidentally causes a celebration, it has nothing to do with our Grand Sky Sect.
After considering this, the Great Elder decided to follow Xinghe's suggestion.
"I wish you prosperity, hey... I wish you success, hey yo!"
Chu Xinghe bounced out of the Great Elder's room, singing about prosperity. How could he lose with this extreme debt repayment strategy?
Ma Liang, who somehow got wind of the news, rushed over as soon as Chu Xinghe returned.
"Senior Brother Xinghe... I, Ma Liang, am willing to accompany you to repay the debts!"
Chu Xinghe gave him a kick in response to his volunteering.
"Accompany to repay debts? I can't even stand being with you, Ma Liang!"
With you around, who knows what kind of trouble might arise?
Moreover, not only are you not going, but I'm not going either.
Last time, I went in person, and you saw how scared people were. This time, I've learned my lesson. To prevent any accidents, I'll stay at the Grand Sky Sect, and the sect disciples will handle the debt repayment!
Ma Liang, just stay put in the sect. You won't have a chance to backstab Senior Brother Xinghe this time!
After sending Ma Liang away, Chu Xinghe immediately found Senior Brother Ma Biao and personally arranged the debt repayment.
Chu Xinghe's requirements were simple.
Regardless of whether there are IOUs or not... as long as there are records in our Grand Sky Sect, repay them all.
And not just repay them, Chu Xinghe also had people calculate the interest on these debts over the years, using the highest possible rate.
We not only repay the principal but also the interest.
The amount of these debts was truly enormous, and countless disciples proficient in arithmetic were left dizzy from the calculations.
Chu Xinghe continuously comforted the hardworking disciples.
"Don't tire yourselves out over these calculations. If it's too much, just estimate... Of course, we shouldn't underestimate, we can overestimate..."
But despite Senior Brother Xinghe's encouragement, the disciples dared not be careless, calculating each account meticulously, leaving no room for overestimation.
But that didn't matter. As the accounts were settled, Chu Xinghe began dispatching sect disciples to repay the debts!
Teams of disciples were sent out to repay the debts, and Chu Xinghe personally saw them off at the mountain gate, giving each one instructions.
"Junior Brothers... if you encounter robbers, don't risk your lives over these external possessions. Just lose the goods and return safely."
The disciples were moved to tears by Senior Brother Xinghe's advice.
But Senior Brother Xinghe, your advice is a bit over the top... We are disciples of the Grand Sky Sect... which robber would be crazy enough to rob us?
That's not robbery; that's courting death...
Teams of Grand Sky Sect debt repayment squads set out on their journey, and Chu Xinghe watched his departing junior brothers and sisters with a face full of satisfaction.
In Central State, Baicao Hall was once the largest herbal firm, but that was in the past.
Now, Baicao Hall had fallen to a second-rate herbal firm.
The current master of Baicao Hall, Li Xing, sighed as he looked at this year's accounts.
Once, under his father's management, Baicao Hall was infinitely glorious, but five years ago, his father was killed by enemies during a trip.
His father's death was a huge blow to Baicao Hall, but an even bigger blow was that almost all of Baicao Hall's debt IOUs and tokens were in his father's Space Ring.
After his father's death, the Space Ring disappeared, and young Li Xing had to take on the burden of Baicao Hall.
But without those IOUs and tokens, countless payments for goods were lost, and Li Xing had to sell all of his family's assets to stabilize Baicao Hall.
But Baicao Hall fell from a top-tier herbal firm to a second-rate one...
Despite Li Xing's efforts over the years, he couldn't withstand the pressure from all sides, and now, Baicao Hall was on the brink of collapse.
Li Xing had repeatedly taken his elders to those who owed Baicao Hall, begging them to settle the debts.
But no matter how much Li Xing promised, they always had one response.
"Produce the IOUs and tokens, and we'll settle immediately. Without them, not a penny will be paid."
Li Xing knelt and begged them to save Baicao Hall for his father's sake, even willing to sign new documents proving repayment, but it was useless.
They only recognized the IOUs, and Li Xing was repeatedly turned away.
Now, Baicao Hall was at a critical juncture, with almost everything sold, and many people leaving. Baicao Hall was truly unsustainable.
Li Xing knew his father was a generous man, always trusting others in business, giving goods first and collecting payment later.
In times of real difficulty, his father even allowed delays.
But Li Xing lamented that good deeds went unrewarded!
His father was so virtuous, yet they only recognized IOUs. Li Xing was at a loss for words at their ugly faces...
"Does trust only rely on IOUs? On payment slips?"
"When they received help from my father, did he ever ask for these?"
"Master, let this old servant accompany you to those sects once more..."
The old servant, Uncle Li, who had traveled far and wide with his father, couldn't bear to see the young master in such a difficult situation.
But Li Xing shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.
"Uncle Li... enough... haven't we been humiliated enough? IOUs... payment slips... ha... the world has changed. Trust is worthless, less important than a piece of paper or a token..."
"Master, we can't give up. Baicao Hall is the old master's life's work. I'll go to those great sects and kneel to beg them..."
Uncle Li's eyes were red, but he knew that even if he died kneeling before those great sects, no one would pity him.
Li Xing looked at the accounts from five years ago, the loans and payments were astronomical.
They didn't need everyone to repay, just a few willing to do so would be enough to save Baicao Hall from today's crisis, even allowing it to rise again.
But Li Xing had begged too many times, with no result...
"Master, let's go to the Grand Sky Sect... among these unsettled payments, the most is owed by the Grand Sky Sect. I've heard they are virtuous. Let's beg them, if they settle, we can overcome this crisis!"
But hearing Uncle Li's words, Li Xing smiled bitterly and shook his head.
Uncle Li was right, the Grand Sky Sect did owe the most, but Li Xing knew better. As the number one sect, the Grand Sky Sect valued rules above all. If he could produce payment slips, they would repay without hesitation, but without them, they wouldn't break the rules.
So going to the Grand Sky Sect would yield no results.
Li Xing silently closed the account book, his eyes full of despair, knowing Baicao Hall was doomed, his father's life's work would be ruined in his hands...
But as Li Xing pondered how to sell Baicao Hall to secure a better future for loyal servants like Uncle Li, a voice came from outside.
"Is the master of Baicao Hall, Li Xing, here? We are from the Grand Sky Sect, sent by Senior Brother Xinghe to settle the payments..."