"Xiao Gang, I'm back."
Flender stepped in.
There was a bit of embarrassment on his face, the hem of his robe was stained with mud and grass clippings, and his boots were full of dust. It was obvious that he had traveled a lot.
"Flender?" Yu Xiaogang recovered his thoughts and asked quickly, "How is it? Is my Soul Master subsidy enough to hire a healer Soul Master to heal me?"
"Alas--"
Flender sighed first, then shook his head back and forth, not knowing how to speak.
"What's wrong?" Yu Xiaogang asked in confusion, "Isn't the Soul Master subsidy I have accumulated for so long not enough to hire a therapist Soul Master to treat me?"
"I just broke a bone, it's not a serious injury. I just need to get a three-ring Soul Elder."
Flender walked to a chair aside and sat down, and said with some embarrassment:
"It's not that it's not enough, it's that there's none at all."
"No?"
Yu Xiaogang suddenly raised his voice when he heard this. His body unconsciously leaned forward, but because his limbs could not move, he could only twist a few times in vain.
"What's going on? Please tell me clearly!"
"Your name has been blocked by the Spirit Hall."
Flender raised his head and looked at Yu Xiaogang, his face full of helplessness.
"Not only did I not get a single Copper Soul Coin, I almost didn't come back because I was captured by the Spirit Hall's people."
"My name was blocked by the Spirit Hall?" Yu Xiaogang repeated with a frown.
"That's right." Flender slowly explained, "Not only you, but the entire clan disciples directly affiliated with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect have all been blacklisted."
"If I hadn't run fast, I might have been found by someone following the clues."
Yu Xiaogang became silent after hearing this.
His eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, gradually losing focus.
Without the Soul Master subsidy, it would be equivalent to cutting off his only source of income.
If this were the case in the past, he would never look down on the small amount of ten Gold Soul Coin a month.
He Yu Xiaogang, Blue Lightning Tyrant Sect's second young master, grew up in fine clothes and fine food, and spent money like water. Ten pieces of Gold Soul Coin a month were not even enough for him to eat a meal.
But now, he is penniless, the injuries in his limbs have not healed, and he cannot even walk on the ground.
If it weren't for Flender, a big bastard who was easy to fool, I'm afraid he would have starved to death on the roadside.
He glanced sideways at Flender who was drinking water, and his thoughts became vivid.
Flender This person is easy to fool, loyal and affectionate.
As long as you use it a little bit, you can make him work for you.
This kind of person is exactly what I need most now.
'I must hide myself from now on, and cannot use Martial Soul casually.'
Martial Soul is the identity of Soul Master. Once used, it may be discovered by the Spirit Hall.
He is now like a rat crossing the street, with everyone shouting and beating him and nowhere to escape.
And for the sake of my future, I must stay with Flender from now on.
With his help, at least I won't be hungry, and my safety will be much better than wandering alone.
Thinking of this, Yu Xiaogang's face turned into a flattering smile.
He spoke in a gentle tone, with a hint of intimacy in his voice.
"Flender ah..."
The other side.
Heaven Dou Imperial Palace.
Back study.
Xue Ye was sitting behind the desk, with a bit of anxiety and exhaustion between his brows.
"Your Majesty, Prince Xue Xing would like to see you." A chamberlain stood at the door of the study and bowed to report.
"Xue Xing is back?"
Xue Ye was overjoyed when he heard this, and the anxiety in his eyes instantly disappeared.
He waved his hands quickly and said in an urgent voice:
"Quick pass!"
"Yes." The chamberlain immediately took the order and left.
A moment later, Xue Xing walked in hurriedly.
His face looked a bit tired and the bags under his eyes were slightly heavy. It was obvious that he had been working hard these days and had not had a good rest.
He walked to the desk and stood still, bowed slightly and said, "Brother Emperor."
"No, no, no." Xue Ye waved his hand and asked eagerly, "How is the situation? Have they agreed?"
"Brother Imperial, we haven't concluded the discussion." Xue Xing lowered his head and said with some embarrassment, "Their appetite is too big."
"Didn't the conversation end?"
Xue Ye His heart sank when he heard "We haven't talked about it yet", but when he heard the words "too much appetite", he knew there was still room for change.
A glint flashed in his eyes, and he quickly asked, "Then what do they want?"
"They want the land of three cities."
Xue Xing still lowered his head and slowly told Yan Fei their conditions.
"According to their request, the management rights of the three cities around Tianyang Ancient City belong to them, and our Heaven Dou Empire troops are not allowed to enter without any reason."
"At the same time, we will also allocate funds to them on a quarterly basis for them to train sect disciples and officials."
Xue Ye was speechless when he heard this. He just stood up, put his hands behind his back, and started pacing back and forth in the study.
His brows were furrowed tightly and his eyes flickered, as if he was quickly weighing the pros and cons.
Xue Xing saw this and cautiously said:
"Brother Imperial, what they are doing is tantamount to separatism."
"If we agree..."
"If you don't agree, how are we going to deal with the Star Luo Empire and Spirit Hall?"
Xue Ye stopped, turned around, and stabbed Xue Xing straight with his eyes like a knife.
Xue Xing lowered his head and did not dare to reply.
For a moment, the study fell into silence.
It wasn't until a long time later that Xue Ye opened his mouth to break the suffocating silence.
"How strong are they? Can they handle Clear Sky Sect?"
"Brother Emperor." Xue Xing raised his head and answered truthfully, "According to what their city lord Yan Fei said, the strength of their sisters is enough to deal with two level 97 Titled Douluo."
"Are these two women so strong?"
Xue Ye was a little moved when he heard this, his brows were raised slightly, and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.
The two level 97 Titled Douluo are second only to Tang Chen, Qian Daoliu, and Golden Crocodile. They are the strongest men standing at the pinnacle of the continent.
This kind of strength is enough to make any force take notice.
He took another two steps in the study.
After a moment, he stopped, turned around, faced Xue Xing, and slowly said:
"In this way... the land of three cities can be given."
"But our troops and officials cannot withdraw, at least not all of them. Some of them must be left behind, even if they are just for decoration."
He tapped his fingers heavily on the table.
"As for appropriations..."
Xue Ye hesitated for a moment, a trace of pain flashed in his eyes, but still gritted his teeth and said, "Give it to them."
"Brother Emperor." Xue Xing said with a bitter face, "The national treasury has bottomed out."
"If we want to allocate funds to them, we will have to wait until after autumn."
"And we still have a large number of new soldiers and new Soul Master to support. Just relying on this year's annual income, I'm afraid..."
"Then increase taxes and taxes!" Xue Ye said loudly, "Spirit Hall doesn't care about the friction between us Two Great Empires now. They will only work on the surface. Maybe one day Star Luo Empire will come over!"
"They might even work together to divide up my Heaven Dou Empire!"
"We must prepare for the unexpected!"
"Yes." Xue Xing responded and bowed slightly, "Brother Chen will go and discuss with Tianyang Ancient City right now."
"Go quickly!" Xue Ye waved his hand, "If this happens, I will give you a big reward!"
"Brother, take your orders!" Xue Xing responded, immediately turned around and strode towards the door.