Chapter 304: Selling Men

Translator: Transn Editor: Transn

News of the robber Chipo being captured by Dragon King spread even faster than the news of Chipo breaking into the Residence of Dragon King.

Messengers from the seven Western Region countries in Jade City made requests for Dragon King to release Chipo to them, promising a great reward, but all of them were rejected.

" The price for Chipo is one million taels of silver." That was the answer of Xu Xiaoyi to every messenger that came to him.

After that, the rumors about the Dragon King selling people spread very quickly. "Dragon King said that even if it's Wildhorse, if one can pay a million taels of silvers, he would release him. He is so crazy about money. A killer burglar is worth so much money?"

Everybody felt surprised about the Dragon King's move, including Fang Wenshi. He personally confronted Dragon King and asked, "You are Dragon King. Doing that kind of thing, isn't it kind of...?"

Fang Wenshi did not continue. In his opinion, since Chipo was taken a prisoner, they would have to act decently, giving Chipo to the country that was hunting him down, even without any reward in return. It would create a positive image.

But Gu Shenwei had other plans and said, "The Great Snowmountain needs money, therefore I cannnot let any possible source of money go away. As for those small countries, I can assure you that if they get Chipo, they will immediately let him go."

"What if Wildhorse pays? Do you really want to give Chipo to him? He's the greatest enemy of the Great Snowmountain."

Xu Xiaoyi cheerfully interrupted the conversation. "In this matter, I support Dragon King. The military counselor can rest assured. In the end, the people who pay will be neither Wildhorse nor those small countries."

Fang Wenshi felt that Dragon King was hiding something from him and felt very discomfitted, so he dawdled, reluctant to leave. Xu Xiaoyi realised the military counselor's intention and withdrew, planning how to spend the silvers that he would soon acquire.

As soon as Xu Xiaoyi left, Fang Wenshi immediately continued, "Dragon King, since you invited me to be the military counselor, I have the right to know everything... or... uh... most of the things. If you hide things from me, I will only give foolish ideas."

"My military counselor is responsible for many things. I do not want to bother you anymore; however, I have never deliberately concealed anything. If my military counselor wants to know anything, feel free to ask."

With many questions in mind, Fang Wengshi thought for a long time before asking, "How much money does the Great Snowmountain have?"

"A little more than 870,000 taels of silvers. However, it's always easier to spend money than to earn it."

That sounded like the truth. Fang Wenshi's heart sank. That was less than what he thought. No wonder Dragon King was so stingy, "Very well. With money, there is always a way to solve any problem. Now I want to know what happened to these forces in Jade City. Wildhorse, Tianshan Sect, the Meng family, and Joy Pavillion – I want to know who is the enemy and who the friend is. Apart from the Golden Roc Fort, I am not sure of anyone."

Indeed, Fang Wenshi felt aggrieved. He was wary of Norland and the Central Plains, and faintly concerned about Golden Roc Fort and Meng family but he was not clear about the other small forces.

"Wildhorse and I were rivals during the apprenticeship. I almost died in his hand, and he almost died in mine." Gu Shenwei had not figured out how their hatred was formed. Their very natures seemed to be different. "According to my information, Wildhorse was expelled from the Golden Roc Fort three years ago and somehow managed to win the recognition of Norland."

"Norland? You say that Wildhorse is from Norland? I thought he was just hired to do the Governor's work."

Gu Shenwei shook his head: Tianshan sect had gathered some details about Wildhorse, not all of it, but enough to deduce some things. "Wildhorse is a very powerful man, but without the support of Norland, he could not have formed his team."

"So, the force of Norland has actually extended into the territory of Jade City." Once Fang Wenshi understood the pros and cons, he immediately realised that what Dragon King had said was right.

"Exactly. Norland won't recognize the relationship with Wildhorse. So, Wildhorse can fight for power in Jade City without the restraints of the Agreement."

"In the end, these powers will fall into the hands of Norland."

Gu Shenwei nodded, "Yes, but Wildhorse is basically still independent. He returned to Jade City before me and visited the Joy Pavillion. He was trusted by Immortal Peng. He recruited the entire Joy Pavillion into his gang. Then based on this, he established strong or weak ties with the Meng family and Golden Roc Fort."

Fang Wenshi finally understood Norland's arrangement in Jade City. "Since Norland secretly supports Wildhorse gang, the Central Plain will definitely interfere. Is it possible that...?"

"I haven't found any evidence yet, but I presume Tianshan Sect has always been supported by the Central Plain."

"So Tianshan Sect will help Dragon King, because we all have the same patron."

"I believe they will. After them, the Meng family is the most important ally of the Golden Roc Fort, but there is also a fissure between the two parties. Meng Yuzun is actually a master in kung fu. He cooperated with Lady Meng and secretly trained a team of female killers, called Tianji Society. I am still not sure about the purpose. But in short, Tianji Society doesn't serve the Supreme King."

That surprised the military counselor. "Meng Yuzun? That fatty? He can do kung fu?"

"I've seen it with my own eyes. The fatty's kung fu is not weak."

"This is good. Meng Yuzun and Supreme King have disagreements; we could use it to our own advantage."

"Maybe. As off now, this friction is not being used."

"What about Your Majesty? What is your position in these forces?"

"Me? To put it simply, Wildhorse wanted to kill me, but Meng Yuzun and Lady Meng did not. They wanted secret manuscripts about kung fu from me, so Wildhorse just pretended to be me to force me into a bad position. After the truth was exposed, he didn't attack immediately, but hid and harassed from time to time. In reality, he was waiting for the opportunity."

Fang Wenshi wanted to ask what kung fu manuscripts had intrigued Meng Yuzung, but hesitated. Such an important thing was surely the secret of Dragon King, it wasn't appropriate to ask.

"What about Chipo? Xu Xiaoyi said that it isn't Wildhorse or the small countries that will finally pay for him."

"Actually Chipo was bought by Golden Roc Fort, it has nothing to do with Wildhorse."

Fang Wenshi was lost again. "What... what is going on?"

"Chipo is a smart man. Even with a knife on his neck, he is not saying that he is a lackey of Golden Rock Fort; instead, he claims to be a man of Wildhorse. I was just playing along to threaten the old moneygrubbers of North City to hand out money."

"Chipo broke into the Residence of Dragon King at night. He killed people and snatched the saber. That's why he doesn't dare to admit he's the man of Golden Roc Fort." Fang Wenshi smiled and said, "I am going to use that to my advantage in the peace conference."

Dragon King trusted him completely, and Fang Wenshi was very comfortable with it. He began setting plans for the Great Snowmountain, "The Great Snowmountain lacks money, and Meng family has it. Can you find a way to get some money from Meng Yuzun?"

"I have been thinking about it." Gu Shenwei told the truth, "The Great Snowmountain's biggest enemy now is Meng Yuzun. Money is an important matter, that's why the Meng family has an influence over Western Region situations."

Fang Wenshi fully agreed, and then immediately looked at Dragon King with suspicion, saying, "Your Majesty, do you want to stop the marriage, and destroy the union of Meng family with Golden Roc Fort?"

Gu Shenwei's eyes cooled. Fang Wenshi knew that he made a mistake and hurriedly apologized. "Forgive your humble servant, I am hasty in my words." Then he added, "The relationship of Meng family and Golden Roc Fort is rock-solid, and destroying their marriage will only result in their union against one common enemy. Your Majesty definitely knows about that."

Fang Wenshi withdrew, satisfied, oblivious to the fact that Dragon King still concealed something from him.

New Moon Hall had already infiltrated Jade City, even into the Golden Roc Fort. But Gu Shenwei had not been able to decide whether they were friend or foe for a long time, because Maid Lotus was among them.

Maid Lotus had stolen "Wayless book"; she was probably already an important person in New Moon Hall. Gu Shenwei sometimes felt a chill prickle the back of his neck, as if she was hiding nearby. But he could not find her anywhere; he suspected that she was plotting something in the dark.

On the third day after Chipo was arrested, rumors spread in Jade City that Wildhorse had sent his men to Dragon King to discuss the ransom for Chipo. The famous thief was said to be the right hand of Wildhorse, so regardless of the price, he would save him.

Gu Shenwei and Xu Xiaoyi had guessed right. Machetemen in North City could not sit still. If Chipo was released, they would be in trouble, and one million taels of silver of Wildhorse most likely fall on their shoulders.

Liu Zu personally paid Dragon King a visit. The skinny old macheteman smiled like a child of a few years. "The Dragon King is worthy of the title Dragon King, easily catching that small thief, Chipo."

Xu Xiaoyi exchanged a few words with him for Dragon King, waiting for the old man to voice his intentions.

"We old fellows have talked. Chipo has done bad things and is a blight on the Western Regions. We want to enforce the justice and ask Dragon King to remove him."

"He who pays one million taels of silver will have Chipo." Xu Xiaoyi repeated.

Gu Shenwei sat cross-legged on a hard wooden bed, without speaking from beginning to end.

Sweat beaded on Liu Zu's forehead. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Fine, we have one million."

"Hand over the money, we will hand him over."

"Tomorrow. He must be alive."

After Liu Zu left, Xu Xiaoyi jumped up in excitement, "It's such easy money, more profitable than any other deal."

Gu Shenwei was not as delighted. "It feels like a scam."

"A scam?" Xu Xiaoyi asked with a great surprise, completely at odds with the formidable mustache on his face.

"Liu Zu knows that Chipo was brought by Golden Roc Fort, so he didn't dare to find a Golden Roc killer to help. Instead he played dumb, hoping to get Chipo killed by other ways. At this time, he wants to exchange one million for a living Chipo, not his head. What does it mean?"

Xu Xiaoyi immediately understood and said, "The old man is doing it for Golden Roc Fort, it's possible that one million is coming from Golden Roc Fort."

"Right."

"Then what shall we do? Keep the person or take the money?"

"The money. Go and see Liu Zu in the afternoon and raise the price to two million taels."

Xu Xiaoyi jumped again. "Good, good. Since Golden Roc Fort come to us, they deserve to be ruthlessly ripped off. I am just afraid that Golden Roc Fort will not find it worthwhile and refuse to pay that high price."

"They will." Gu Shenwei said firmly. He realized that Chipo had many secrets that were important to Golden Roc Fort. He must dig it out before he was released.

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