Chapter 835: What’s Different About It? (1/2)

Ji Rui looked deeply into Qianye’s eyes, and then said while shaking his head, “I really don’t know where you get all that confidence.”

Qianye replied with the same words, “You’ll know if you try.”

Ji Rui’s expression shifted, but in the end, he couldn’t make up his mind. This attempt wouldn’t just bring out Qianye’s hidden ace but also produce a powerful enemy. The latter had just proven that he was strong enough to escape, and if that were to happen, who else in Southern Blue would be his match apart from the city lord?

At that point, Southern Blue could forget about doing any more business. He could capture Qianye with the help of the Spider Emperor and Wolf King, but the problem was that it was easier to invite the devil in than to drive him away. Once these two powers had reached into Southern Blue, there was no telling whether the city lord would be surnamed Ji.

In the blink of an eye, Ji Rui collected his thoughts and kicked the courtyard gates flying.

The compound wasn’t big, but it was secluded and elegant. Once inside, a gust of comfortable warm wind rushed at their faces. It turned out that there was a weather adjustment array installed in this courtyard, a testament to just how doted this Madam He was.

The courtyard was split into front and back sections. There was a small patio in the rear courtyard and behind it was the main building. Four rooms in each of the side buildings served as the servant’s quarters.

Qianye could sense everything in such a small courtyard with a single sweep of his senses. There was no one else here apart from one woman and two servant girls. Red Lotus was nowhere to be found, either.

In truth, this result was within Qianye’s expectations. His clash with Ji Rui had caused too much of a ruckus, even collapsing a corner of the city lord’s residence. There was really no saving Red Lotus if she didn’t flee.

He had only suggested those conditions to allow Ji Rui a way out. He was quite confident that this city lord wouldn’t play any more tricks after the clash just now. Naturally, someone as experienced and crafty as Ji Rui would only make his move later, after ample preparations.

Qianye wasn’t afraid of that. There was no way the city lord would have guessed Qianye’s cultivation speed. One year was enough for Qianye’s daybreak origin power to ascend two levels and consequently allow for his Evernight side to reach the marquis rank.

Hearing the noise in the courtyard, Madam He looked out from the building. She was first startled upon seeing Qianye, and then she clenched her teeth furiously, looking as though she was going to come up and bite him. However, she knew it was useless to fight it out because Ji Rui had lectured her seriously on how powerful Qianye was.

“Where’s Red Lotus?”

Qianye asked casually without any hope of getting an answer. Who would’ve thought Madam He would break out into a laugh as though she had just recalled something? “You want to capture Red Lotus? Let me tell you, she’s gone, and you can forget about finding her, ever. After offending a Highbeard, you’ll have to live the remainder of your life in fear, destined to never make progress in the neutral lands! When you’re dead, your woman and daughters will become toys. I’ll send them to the arachne and they’ll eat them alive after having their way, haha!”

Qianye remained unfazed in the face of Madam He’s curses, and only gazed silently at Ji Rui.

The city lord was livid. He lost control in the end and gave the woman a slap, shouting, “Shut up!”

Madam He staggered to the floor. With a shocked expression, she glanced at Ji Rui and said in a trembling voice, “Y-You dare hit me? You actually dare to hit me? You’re who you are today because of my father’s mercenary corps. Now you actually hit me?”

Ji Rui’s expression was dark as he cursed her for her “idiocy” and turned to leave. Once out of the gates, Chief Steward Liu whispered, “Master, what do we do now?”

“Watch her, she’s not allowed to take a step out of the courtyard! And these maids are all quite bold to have poisoned their master, drag them out and beat them to death!”

“Eh… yes!” Head Steward Liu didn’t dare dissuade the angry city lord.

Qianye followed Ji Rui back o the study. “City Lord, how will you explain this?”

Ji Rui smiled wryly. “Why must you force me so?”

Qianye smiled. “These are the neutral lands. Discussions won’t get you what you want, you have to fight for it. I learned this from you, actually.”

Ji Rui sighed deeply. “Women ruin things, women always ruin things! You tell me how you want to solve this issue.”

“Three warship ballistae, high-quality goods made in the empire and above grade three.”

Ji Rui’s face was drenched in sweat. “Impossible!”

Warship ballistae were normally used as main cannons, and grade-three weapons were usually good enough to be installed on destroyers. This meant that Qianye wanted three destroyer main cannons.

“No less than three.” Qianye wasn’t willing to back down.

“T-This... This will empty out half my coffers. I’d rather declare war on you than pay so much. Besides, you wouldn’t have this opportunity if it wasn’t for that woman.”