Testing

"Lord Zhou," She Long spoke first.

The form of address was perfectly chosen.

Though Canghai City lay in a remote corner of the East Sea, in terms of size and strength, it was no inferior to any medium-sized city.

As Canghai City's true ruler, Zhou Qiubai was perfectly entitled to be called "City Lord."

More importantly, tonight was not some private fight, but a formal negotiation between two factions.

Since they had come to negotiate as the defeated side, they might as well raise the stakes and treat Zhou Qiubai as the ruler of a faction. It was both a sign of respect for the other party and a way to preserve a shred of dignity for themselves.

Hearing this, Zhou Qiubai gave a slight nod.

"Elder Snake Lance, you didn't come knocking in the middle of the night just to catch up with Senior Dugu, did you?" Zhou Qiubai got straight to the point, his tone half-joking. He had clearly already guessed the answer and was merely waiting for the other man to say it himself.

She Long sat down on the stone bench.

"To be honest, I have come tonight to ask for two things. First, to ransom Elder Ghost Leopard."

Zhou Qiubai said nothing and quietly waited for him to continue.

"Spirit Hall can accept the amount of the ransom." She Long paused here, his lips tightening slightly. "But the price is indeed too high—almost absurdly so. Could Lord Zhou perhaps reduce it as circumstances allow? After all, Elder Ghost Leopard has already been held by your side for three months. Keeping him any longer has no practical value for either side. If we can settle this at a more reasonable price, Spirit Hall will remember this favor. Of course, that is not to say Elder Ghost