grandmaster of black heaven ( Su Tao Jue )

The man turned pale.

"W-What?! But I… I was sure…"

"Return to your business," Mo Yan said coldly.

"And next time, hold your coin tighter."

A Coin for the Present, a Name from the Past

As the crowd waited, tension crackled in the air.

Mo Yan stepped forward, expression stern, his voice carrying the sharp edge of authority.

"If the young man is guilty of theft," he declared, "he will be sentenced to six months of imprisonment by decree of the Noble Watch."

The crowd gasped.

Yu Sui's act intensified, looking shocked and insulted.

But Mo Yan raised a hand.

"However…"

"If your accusation is false, sir, you will be fined 140 silver marks and 50 gold coins for slander and disruption of public peace."

The man smirked, puffing his chest.

"So be it! I saw what I saw!"

Mo Yan bowed slightly.

"Then let justice decide."

He turned to Yu Sui and performed a dramatic search, patting his sleeves, his belt, his boots....even sniffing a pouch.

Nothing.

Then, Mo turned around the cart...bent down...

And from beneath the wheel of the vegetable stall, he pulled out the gold coin, now dusted and slightly dented.

"Here's your coin," he said calmly, holding it up.

The crowd murmured in surprise.

"But it wasn't on him!"

"Did he plant it…?"

"Then the merchant was wrong…!"

Mo Yan turned to the accuser, gaze like cold iron.

"Seems your eyes failed you, sir.

Shall I arrange your payment in installments, or all at once?"

The man's face went from red to white.

But the guards stepped in, already calculating the fine.

Within minutes, a heavy coin pouch was handed over to Mo and Yu...their reward for solving the dispute.

---

With their newly earned fortune, the boys visited the tailor's lane.

Yu Sui chose a long robe of sky-blue silk trimmed with silver vines.

Mo Yan chose something darker...storm grey with a single embroidered dragon on the shoulder.

They packed dried meat, steamed buns, wine bottles, and soft bedding for the road.