"Hey, hey." He Lingchuan waved a hand. "Mind what you say. Mr. Yu, you are sitting right here safe and sound. I haven't disposed of any Beijia officials."
These words made Yu Zecheng's expression soften slightly.
Earlier, the sight of the roasted wolf had made rage rush to his head, blinding him to reason. Now that he had sat back down and caught his breath, he suddenly realized something:
This He Xiao still feared Beijia after all.
If he wasn't afraid, why had he gone to such lengths to force him to deny that the wolf demon and the rest of his squad were from Beijia?
No one cared if you disposed of stray animals or monsters; but murdering monsters of Beijia was an offense that would be prosecuted.
Yet what point was there in this He fellow nitpicking words and putting up such a superficial pretense?
No matter how mad he was, surely he knew that once Yu Zecheng returned home, he would report everything that happened here in full detail?
Yet He Lingchuan's very next sentence was: "The ones I've disposed of—pardon me, the ones I am about to execute—are all foreign invaders."
Naturally, he put heavy stress on the word "execute."
"Beijia wouldn't show mercy to foreign invaders either, would it?"
Yu Zecheng faced him numbly. "Cut the act. Name your terms."
The brat didn't dare kill him, but didn't want to let him go either.
As for his subordinates, his squad, He Lingchuan drew a line, refusing to treat them as "Beijia officials" at all.
Since they had taken part in the Bailong riot, it was hardly strange if something happened to them in action; an island master had every right to defend his territory.
Every action bore a price.
If he didn't do something, his teammates would instantly turn into "battle casualties."
Instantly!
They wouldn't survive long enough for Beijia's rescue.
Not to mention that these were veterans who had followed him for years; if his entire squad was wiped out while he returned home safely, would he ever be able to hold his head high in Lingxu City or the military again?
Victory and defeat were common in warfare, but abandoning one's men to die was no way for a commander to act.
What was more, tonight's defeat was largely due to his own fault.
"Good! I knew Mr. Yu was a straightforward man." He Lingchuan clapped his hands. "As I see it, tonight was merely a misunderstanding between the two of us. Mr. Yu was simply deceived by petty scoundrels. As long as we clear up this misunderstanding, there will be no conflict between Mr. Yu and me, or between the Yangshan Archipelago and Beijia. Wouldn't all of you agree?"
That last question was directed at the guards behind him.
Naturally, they all nodded repeatedly. If the boss said so, then so it was.
Yu Zecheng knew it was his turn to speak: "In Island Master He's view, how should this misunderstanding be cleared up?"
How was this matter to be resolved?
"Where there's a will, there's a way," He Lingchuan pondered. "Behind my Hot Springs Retreat, another villa is about to be completed, named 'Zhaowan Hall.' It faces due west, offering boundless, breathtaking views of the sunset over the sea."
And so?
"These villas are reserved for our most distinguished VIPs. Zhaowan Hall happens to be up for lease right now—for a thirty-year term."
Yu Zecheng froze. It took him a good while to register what he was hearing.
The condition He Xiao set for releasing his men was actually...?
He opened his mouth, his voice slightly dry. "How is the rent calculated?"
"For such a prime location and such a fine villa, the rent should be at least a hundred and fifty taels a day." He Lingchuan's abacus clattered so loudly that nearly everyone in the room could hear the calculations. "However, if Mr. Yu takes a long-term lease, I can give you a forty percent discount—just ninety taels a day."
Ninety taels? Yu Zecheng's jaw clenched.
At ninety taels a day, thirty years came out to nearly a million taels!
This bastard wanted to fleece a million taels out of him?
"Suoding Island is bound to boom. Down the line during peak seasons, it won't necessarily be available at this price. Mr. Yu, you won't lose out by investing now." He Lingchuan sighed softly. "Besides, if you lease this villa on Suoding Island, even if you don't use it yourself, you can sublet it or have your friends and family stay here."
Lü Qiuwei and the others kept straight faces, fighting back laughter. Their lord was trying so earnestly to persuade Yu Zecheng to rent his property, looking for all the world like a serious landlord.
This was probably because Yu Zecheng was genuinely rich. When he first arrived in the Yangshan Archipelago, hadn't he offered a million taels right off the bat to buy the islands?
Everyone believed he truly had the financial clout.
Beijia's wealth was unmatched throughout the realm. Since Yu Zecheng had led a team out to capture Zhu Erniang, his operational funds were surely more than ample.
If nothing else, they had definitely bribed local officials in the Mou Kingdom and had even offered hefty bounties for Zhu Erniang's burrow spiders.
Was that not spending money like water?
Right now, He Lingchuan dreamed of raising funds day and night. How could he let such a wealthy target slip away? He was determined to have Yu Zecheng do his part to contribute to the construction of the Yangshan Archipelago.
In truth, beneath this comical scene lay sheer bloodiness.
If terms couldn't be reached, those Beijia operatives would all be turned into fine dishes.
And if the Yangshan Archipelago handled this improperly, it was bound to provoke Beijia's monstrous wrath!
Yu Zecheng fell silent.
Leasing the villa was merely an excuse; this He fellow was extorting him!
Pay the ransom, or the hostages died.
Yet defeat was defeat. He was forced to swallow this bitter pill.
A million taels of silver was naturally an enormous sum to him. He could advance it from public funds for now, but he would have to make up the deficit out of his own pocket later.
When under another's eaves, one had no choice but to bow one's head.
Drawing a silent breath under everyone's gaze, he said in a heavy voice, "Six hundred thousand taels."
Lü Qiuwei and the guards exchanged glances. Oho, this Yu fellow had come around so quickly, and he even knew how to bargain?
Had Island Master He enlightened him just now?
Once it reached this stage, things were down to business.
"You slashed quite a chunk off, Mr. Yu." He Lingchuan's tone hardened. "Let's skip the haggling. One price: nine hundred thousand taels."
Now that Yu Zecheng had yielded, he didn't want to waste too much time here.
There were many other troubles waiting for him, the island master, to resolve.
He Lingchuan no longer felt like acting, and Yu Zecheng had no choice but to swallow his indignation. He nodded. "Fine. But I'll need some time to gather the money."
He slipped the jade thumb ring off his right hand and set it on the table. "This is the deposit."
He Lingchuan took it and checked. Inside the storage ring were over a dozen banknotes totaling roughly three hundred thousand taels.
His face instantly bloomed into a beaming smile. "Suoding Island loves straightforward men like you the most, Mr. Yu! Make yourself right at home and stay as long as you like. Nuanxiang Chamber will surely make you feel right at home."
To Yu Zecheng's ears, those words dripped with irony.
Yet He Lingchuan immediately followed up: "By the way, when you send word to Lingxu City, could you do me a favor and deliver a letter as well?"
Yu Zecheng was caught off guard. "To whom?"
"National Preceptor Shuangye."
Yu Zecheng was surprised. "You know National Preceptor Shuangye?"
He suddenly recalled National Preceptor Shuangye's assessment of He Lingchuan.
It seemed the two sides had indeed been acquainted before.
"We met once in the imperial capital, and I often find myself missing the venerable elder." He Lingchuan stood up. "Rest well, Mr. Yu. I have matters to attend to, so I'll send the letter over the day after tomorrow."
Circumstances had changed. He now felt it was necessary to write a letter to National Preceptor Shuangye.
Moqi Feng scrambled to his feet. Surely it was his turn now?
However, he rose too abruptly, causing the chair to tip back with a loud creak.
Moqi Feng caught it awkwardly, looking embarrassed.
His uncle Moqi Song was a homicidal fiend, but even his methods of tormenting opponents weren't as... creative as Island Master He's. Even as a mere onlooker, chills had crept up Moqi Feng's spine from the soles of his feet.
Sure enough, He Lingchuan beckoned to him with a smile. "Come along, your turn."
Just as the party was about to step out of the private room, He Lingchuan suddenly stopped and turned to Qiu Hu. "A-Hu, stay behind to entertain our guest. Carve at least another wolf leg for Mr. Yu, lest our honored guest goes hungry under our roof."
Qiu Hu responded with an affirmative and turned back, baring the silver knife once more.
The Yu fellow had already swallowed a piece of wolf meat; what difference would one more leg make?
Their lord had instructed them to ensure their guest had an unforgettable night.
Yu Zecheng's face flushed crimson. Unable to hold back, he said, "Looking at everything you've done, do you really think this is over? Do you truly think you've won just like that?"
In his eyes, wasn't He Xiao wildly courting catastrophic disaster?
"Heh. Whether I am finished or not isn't for you, Yu Zecheng, to decide, nor is it your place to worry." With the outcome decided, He Lingchuan no longer hid his contempt. "Still don't understand? You don't have the standing."
Amidst Yu Zecheng's silence, the group left the private room and headed toward the back door.
This Beijia military officer could no longer stir up any waves.
Moqi Feng hurriedly said, "Island Master..."
Facing He Lingchuan made him nervous, and he had mentally drafted what he wanted to say several times.
Yet as soon as he spoke, He Lingchuan cut him off again: "Where are your men?"
Having been interrupted seven or eight times tonight while trying to talk to He Lingchuan, Moqi Feng wasn't even annoyed anymore. Besides, he had watched the entire scene in the private room and witnessed firsthand how He Lingchuan dealt with Yu Zecheng.
Even a monster soldier from Beijia had been roasted by He Lingchuan like a dish; what good end could the Bailong people hope for?
Things looked grim.
"...Not far."
"Standing outside in the wind and rain is never pleasant. Why don't you have them come inside to get out of the rain?"
Moqi Feng did not answer.
"Coming to find me takes admirable courage." He Lingchuan gestured outside. "Come out with me. We can talk as we walk."
With the entire rhythm of the conversation controlled by He Lingchuan, Moqi Feng had no choice but to follow him out of Nuanxiang Chamber.
Behind them, Wang Fubao and Lü Qiuwei exchanged a look, knowing the next act had begun.
The performance in the private room was a matter of striking one to warn another: beating Yu Zecheng to warn Moqi Feng.
Moqi Feng had to be made to see clearly what kind of person he was dealing with!
He also needed to weigh carefully just how much leverage he actually had, and what the consequences of reckless action would be.
Moreover, the effect of this performance was undeniably remarkable. Facing He Lingchuan now, Moqi Feng was awkward and uneasy, not even knowing where to put his hands—a stark contrast to when he first arrived.
This state was just like when Min Tianxi and the others were first brought to heel by He Lingchuan.
He Lingchuan's first words when turning to business were extraordinarily gentle: "Your old uncle and your clansmen are safe and sound. Their lives are in no danger."
His old uncle had indeed been captured.
Moqi Feng's heart sank straight to the bottom.
When he saw on the Suoding Island docks that the explosion occurred in the wrong location, and heard that He Lingchuan was still playing chess here, he knew disaster was looming.
Unfortunately, his prediction had come true. The opponent had used a strategy of luring the enemy, of luring the tiger away from the mountain. His old uncle had foolishly walked right into the trap, bringing over a hundred clansmen with him!
Yet immediately afterward, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Chapter 1001