Ransom (2)

"Don't!"
Huai Wang Li Zong Yi shouted, "I'll give it, I'll give it, alright?!"
He was on the verge of tears. Never since his birth had Li Zong Yi endured such humiliation.
These people were too ruthless.
They truly did not treat a prince as a prince.
Just you wait until you fall into my hands!
Huai Wang Li Zong Yi roared inwardly.
"Once you deliver the full ransom, you may leave Jiang Du City."
Xue Huan said with great satisfaction.
Having spoken, she suddenly remembered something and bowed slightly towards Xu Lu, "Master, is this acceptable?"
"It is good that your anger has been appeased."
Xu Lu said calmly, "Li Zong Yi, do you have any objections?"
Of course I have objections!
Huai Wang Li Zong Yi cursed inwardly, but dared not show the slightest hint on his face.
One who stands under another's eaves cannot but bow his head.
That scoundrel Yao Tian Nan deserted at the crucial moment; how could he alone deal with this extremely vicious gang of ruffians?
I am enduring hardship to achieve my goals!
"None, absolutely none."
Huai Wang Li Zong Yi said earnestly, "However, all my subordinates have fled. This ransom, I must retrieve it myself..."
"No need."
Xue Huan said, "I will send someone to inform them. You only need to provide a token."
Before receiving the ransom, Huai Wang Li Zong Yi certainly could not be allowed to leave.
"For now, let Huai Wang remain at the City Lord's Mansion."
Situ Dao Sheng spoke, "I guarantee that before the ransom is fully delivered, Huai Wang will not leave Jiang Du."
"Since the City Lord has spoken, I shall respect his wishes."
Xu Lu said, "Huai Wang, do not harbor any thoughts of escape, or else, I cannot guarantee the consequences."
"I won't escape, I absolutely won't escape."
Huai Wang Li Zong Yi hastily assured him.
Xu Lu patted Huai Wang Li Zong Yi's shoulder, then led Fu Yuan He and Xue Huan away without expression.
Luo Jing Qi and Xiang Sheng Long nodded to Xue Dao Zhi and Situ Dao Sheng, then flashed away, disappearing from sight.
At this moment, Huai Wang Li Zong Yi finally let out a long sigh of relief, his legs turning to jelly as he slumped to the ground.
Bohai Marquis Xue Dao Zhi glanced at Li Zong Yi, a look of disdain and contempt flashing in his eyes.
"My business here is done; I'm leaving."
Xue Dao Zhi greeted Situ Dao Sheng, then staggered away.
Situ Dao Sheng sighed; this commotion made even him feel somewhat awkward.
"City Lord Situ, please find a way to get me out..."
Huai Wang Li Zong Yi looked at Situ Dao Sheng and began to speak.
Situ Dao Sheng sighed, "Huai Wang, you were too reckless. I cannot get you out. You should obediently pay the ransom. I can only guarantee that during your stay in Jiang Du, you will temporarily be safe."
He also felt a slight contempt for Li Zong Yi. He couldn't even keep his own fiancée, yet he had the audacity to attempt such a kidnapping.
And even if you were to kidnap someone, you should first consider whether you can afford to offend them.
Having fallen into this predicament, who can you blame?
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"Xu Lu, are you just letting him off like that?"
Fu Yuan He asked with some regret.
"What else?"
Xu Lu replied calmly.
"Master, I have caused you trouble."
Xue Huan bowed her head, saying with some guilt.
"It has nothing to do with you."
Xu Lu shook his head, "It is because Li Zong Yi is too despicable a person."
"Three thousand catties of Chi Yan Jin Jing."
Fu Yuan He chuckled, "I say, Xue Zhen Yi, that strike of yours was quite ruthless."
Chi Yan Jin Jing was an extremely precious material, required for many Secret Treasures.
Previously, when Fu Yuan He was still in the Heavenly Palace, he had only heard its name and did not even have the资格 to use it.
Xue Huan paid no attention to Fu Yuan He. What was this?
If not for the greater good, she would not have needed these things at all; she would have directly killed Huai Wang Li Zong Yi.
"You will not suffer this grievance in vain."
Xu Lu glanced at Xue Huan, saying, "Li Zong Yi will pay a very heavy price."
Xu Lu's eyes were profound, a sharp glint flashing in their depths.
Xue Huan did not pay much heed; she did not wish for her own affairs to affect her master's grand endeavor.
"Master..."
Xue Huan suddenly remembered something she had overlooked earlier.
"Li Zong Yi had a high-grade Force Cultivator by his side; why was he not here?"
Previously, Xue Huan had been subdued by that high-grade Force Cultivator, unable even to employ her life-preserving techniques.
Without that high-grade Force Cultivator, with only Li Zong Yi alone, Xue Huan could have tormented him until his own mother wouldn't recognize him.
"You mean Yao Tian Nan?"
Fu Yuan He interjected, "That coward, he ran off at the very beginning. Even if he hadn't run, he would only have been beaten to death."
Xue Huan's face was filled with extreme doubt, "Was it Grand Heavenly Official Luo Jing Qi who acted?"
"Xue Zhen Yi, your luck is truly good."
Fu Yuan He clicked his tongue, saying, "You don't know yet, do you? Your master is a high-grade Secret Cultivator!"
Fu Yuan He's tone carried a hint of sourness. Why should it be so?
He had cultivated for so many years, yet he was no match for this young Xu Lu!
But fortunately, Fu Yuan He was broad-minded and would not be jealous of Xu Lu over such a minor matter.
"Master, is he high-grade?"
Xue Huan looked towards Xu Lu, swallowing.
In truth, she had already had some suspicions before, as her master's mastery of secret studies was truly unfathomably deep.
Now, it was merely confirmed.
"Workshop Master is right, my luck is truly good."
Xue Huan said. Indeed, to casually find a master who turns out to be a high-grade Secret Cultivator, such luck is not something everyone possesses.
Xu Lu glanced at the two of them, offering no further explanation.
"Fu Yuan He, you should now consider how to deal with the situation that follows."
Xu Lu spoke.
"Damn it, I forgot to demand the Military Talisman from Li Zong Yi!"
Fu Yuan He only now remembered the main issue.
"It's no longer about the Military Talisman. Even with the Military Talisman, it's not certain we could command the Jiang Du City Guard Army."
Xu Lu shook his head, "We now, I fear, must truly face both the Heavenly Palace and the Tai Xuan Imperial Court simultaneously."
"Master, I..."
Xue Huan said nervously.
"It has nothing to do with you."
Xu Lu said, "This was bound to happen sooner or later."
From the moment Lu San Jiang arrived in Jiang Du, unless Xu Lu refused Lu San Jiang, he would sooner or later have to face the current situation.
Could Xu Lu refuse Lu San Jiang?
He would not refuse.
The benefits Lu San Jiang offered were truly too great, so great that Xu Lu was willing to take the risk.
Agreeing to Lu San Jiang also meant accepting the Karma of the Heavenly Palace.
The Young Palace Lord of the Heavenly Palace was not so easily impersonated.
This was unavoidable.
There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
"Apart from the City Guard Army, the only forces available in Jiang Du City are the Jiang Du Heavenly Palace."
Fu Yuan He pondered, "Oh, and there are also the Constables of the Jiang Du City Lord's Mansion."
"We can no longer rely on the City Guard Army, so we can only train our own force."
Xu Lu mused, "The Jiang Du Constables, on the other hand, could be utilized."
"The problem is, Situ Dao Sheng might not cooperate with you. That old man is clearly loyal to the Imperial Court."
Fu Yuan He said.
"He will agree."
Xue Huan spoke, "I will go persuade him. Master, please entrust this task to me."
"Are you sure?"
Xu Lu asked.
"Absolutely."
Xue Huan nodded decisively, "I can do it."
Her voice was filled with confidence.
"If that is the case, I shall entrust you with another important task."
Xu Lu pondered for a moment, then slowly said, "More than a hundred li north of Jiang Du City, there is a group of people from the martial arts world; their strength can also be utilized. Go and bring them back; we will establish our own force for Workshop No. 65."
"Ah?"
Xue Huan was somewhat surprised. Her master also had connections with mountain bandits.
"You know their leader."
Xu Lu smiled meaningfully, "You will know her when you meet her. She is the disciple of a friend of mine; I will ask my friend to instruct her."
Situ Yan Qing, he wondered how many mountain bandits she had recruited by now.
But even if there were only a few hundred people, for the current Workshop No. 65, it was an indispensable force.
Before the rebel cultivators of the Heavenly Palace and the Tai Xuan Imperial Court could react, Xu Lu had to do everything possible to enhance his strength, even if it meant exposing his identity as Bai Zhan Tang.
"You can also pay Tao Liu Liu a visit while you're at it."
Xu Lu mused for a moment, then continued, "We do not have time to slowly earn money. If we can receive the full support of the Tao Family, we can save a lot of effort."
"Liu Liu, he..."
Xue Huan hesitated slightly. Tao Liu Liu was her cousin after all; doing this felt a bit like harming her family.
"Let him decide the specific choice himself."
Xu Lu said, "Just tell him that it is Bai Zhan Tang's intention."
"Bai Zhan Tang?"
Xue Huan was not unfamiliar with this name. She was somewhat surprised. Did her master also know Bai Zhan Tang? How many secrets did this person truly possess?...