Collecting a Debt (Part 2)

Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an took a deep breath, then let out a heavy sigh. A visible stream of air shot from his mouth, reaching nearly ten feet away, as though venting the fire in his heart.

He soon resumed his gentle, smiling expression and waved his left hand. The Ascension Realm experts of Prince An's Mansion sat back down, their auras gradually settling, though their eyes remained fixed on Chu Xuanao and his group.

"Sixth Brother, what do you mean by this?"

"Fourth Brother, you may not know this! Yesterday, villains attacked me, and these guards of mine fought desperately to protect me. Every one of them suffered serious injuries.

Fourth Brother saw it as well. All the guards accompanying me on today's visit are injured.

Look at Er Niu. The wound on his hand was left when he threw himself in front of a blade for me.

Fourth Brother also knows that your little brother has always lived in poverty. I can scarcely even afford the money for treatment! I came today hoping that Fourth Brother would first repay the money you borrowed from me!"

After Chu Xuanao finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Even Qiuyue Shuangxue, who was closest to Chu Xuanao, silently lowered their heads.

Your Highness, do you believe that yourself? Is there anyone in this world who can squeeze money out of your hands?

It would already be impressive if you didn't owe anyone money.

Hearing Chu Xuanao's words, Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an's mouth twitched, disbelief written all over his face.

Can a person really say something like that?

Among all the princes of Dagan combined, none had spent even half as much time at Flower Gazing Pavilion as Chu Xuanao. You spent every night drinking and making merry, living extravagantly every day, and you called that poverty?

And Er Niu—could he possibly not know the people he had sent?

Could that fellow still be standing after blocking a blade?

And I owed you money? You really dared to say that!

The five Ascension Realm experts from Prince An's Mansion beside him were also furious.

Were those injuries on the guards you brought even worth calling injuries?

Seriously injured? Why not let them release the suppression on their true energy?

That Er Niu should hurry and see a doctor, or the wound on his hand would heal without even leaving a scar.

He wasn't even pretending! He was demanding it outright!

This guy had come to rob them!

(Chu Xuanao: Otherwise, why would I bring five Ascension Realm experts?)

Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an looked at the bloodstained white cloth wrapped around Chu Xuanao's head. Tapping his own temple with his right index finger, he said,

"Sixth Brother, did you really injure your head?"

"Yesterday, two villains attacked. There were also four Divine Kingdom women at Weihu Mountain. They should be Fourth Brother's subordinates, but the villains were extremely fierce, and those four were injured as well. They are currently recuperating at my residence.

Since the people under me are injured, I was unable to bring them here with me today.

When I have time after returning, I'll send those four back to Fourth Brother."

At those words, Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an's expression stiffened. The four Divine Kingdom Ascension Realm experts exchanged looks, then all turned to look at Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an.

Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an noticed their gazes and sighed inwardly.

Naturally, Chu Xuan'an knew about those four women from the Kate Family.

Meanwhile, Chu Xuanao smiled. It was settled.

"Sixth Brother, how are they?"

"Don't worry, Fourth Brother. They're very safe."

Looking at Chu Xuanao's smiling face, Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an gripped the armrest of his chair until his fingers turned white. Cracks appeared in the armrest under his grip, producing a creaking sound.

With another sigh, Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an pondered for a while, then raised his right hand and held up one finger at Chu Xuanao.

"Ten thousand taels."

"Fine. Ten thousand taels of gold. Fourth Brother truly is generous."

The moment Chu Xuanao said that, even Bai Yi was stunned.

Good grandson, you really dared to name that price. Even kidnappers wouldn't dare demand that much.

Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an's eyes widened as he stared straight at his sixth brother.

Good heavens. Ten thousand taels of gold meant one hundred thousand taels of silver.

What did ten thousand taels of gold mean? One hundred thousand taels of silver. One tael of silver was worth ten strings of copper coins, and one string contained one hundred coins.

For an ordinary family of three living frugally, they would not even spend one tael a month. Spending one tael of silver a month was already the standard for a normal family; two taels a month meant they were on their way to prosperity.

Ten thousand taels of gold—you really dared to ask for that!

Of course, martial arts were another matter entirely. It was the equivalent of a money-burning hobby.

"Sixth Brother, if you insist on putting it that way, then it's one thousand taels."

"Fine, that works. Fourth Brother, give me these two wooden boxes. They're far too poor in quality. Later, I'll replace them with four high-grade ones and send them over."

Could those people even survive?

Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an roared inwardly.

"Two thousand taels."

"One thousand taels per person. Fourth Brother, for Manifestation Realm experts, that's not a loss."

"Fine. Where are they?"

In the end, Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an closed his eyes and agreed.

"Fourth Brother, what about the treatment expenses for my brothers here?"

"Sixth Brother, enough!"

Hearing that his sixth brother still wanted more, Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an was already seeing red.

He slammed his little hand down, shattering the table. His little face reddened as he roared.

Chu Xuanao did not care. He had brought all these people with him—didn't they need an appearance fee?

Just arranging their upside-down look this morning had taken him several minutes.

"How much do you want?"

Forget it, forget it. He had already paid four thousand taels. As long as the people returned, it was fine. Chu Xuan'an could only comfort himself this way.

"One thousand taels."

Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an gritted his teeth. "Fine."

"Fourth Brother, where's the money?"

Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an looked toward the young eunuch beside him. The eunuch immediately understood and entered the inner hall. Before long, he returned with two guards, who carried out a chest.

After seeing that his Maternal Grandfather, Zhu Wushi, and the others had all nodded, Chu Xuanao waved his hand.

Zhu Wushi walked out of the main hall and fired a true-energy mark into the sky. Only after receiving the signal did Duan Tianya and Guihai Yidao set off.

They quickly arrived at Prince An's Mansion. Once the two men carried the large wooden chest into the main hall,

the Ascension Realm experts of Prince An's Mansion scanned it with their divine senses.

The four women had been folded into the chest. Their meridians had all been severed, their hands and feet crippled, and their bodies covered in wounds.

When their divine senses probed deeper, they found that the bones in the women's hands and feet had been ground into powder by true energy. Their limbs had become mangled flesh, and their bones could not be pieced back together.

They were completely crippled.

The four Ascension Realm experts from the Divine Kingdom fixed fierce, murderous gazes on Duan Tianya and Guihai Yidao as they entered. A terrifying pressure surged toward the two men.

Zhu Wushi, Bai Yi, Menban, and Sledgehammer all stepped forward together, shielding the two men. Ghost Servant, meanwhile, had never left Chu Xuanao's side from beginning to end.

Menban and Sledgehammer were both straightforward by nature. Menban directly swung the Mount Tai Sword in his hand, and a heavy, oppressive might descended from the blade.

Without a word, Sledgehammer smashed his hammer into the ground. Cracks spread in every direction from the impact, and the entire room seemed to shake. He roared,

"What, you want a fight?!"

"Fourth Brother, what is the meaning of this?

Do you want to test your skills?"

Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an narrowed his eyes. Looking at their actions, he knew the four people from the Kate Family were probably not in good condition.

But what could he do?

Have someone beat Sixth Brother out of here?

Was that even possible?

Leaving aside whether they could fight, whether they could win was already a question.

A cold glint flashed in Fourth Prince Chu Xuan'an's eyes before vanishing. In a low voice, he said,

"Does Sixth Brother have anything else to do?"

Chu Xuanao merely smiled.

"No, that's all. Everything that needed doing has been done.

Fourth Brother, I'll take my leave."

"Let's go. Back to the mansion."

Chu Xuanao's tone remained as casual and confident as ever, as though he had nothing to fear.

He lay back down on the small bed and was carried away by Ghost Servant like a kite once more.

The moment Chu Xuanao stepped out of the main hall, he heard the sound of things being smashed inside, as though someone were venting their fury.

Duan Tianya and Guihai Yidao lifted another large chest made of high-quality material and followed the group. With matters settled, the procession made its way back in grand fashion.