Buying Both Homes

When Xiao Wufeng, commander of the City Guard Army, heard Grandmaster say that, he was mortified. The orders he had received today said that a Soul Master had maliciously stormed the Real Estate Exchange, and he had come to arrest the offender.

"Your Eminence, our City Guard Army was negligent. We failed to investigate the cause before-"

Before Xiao Wufeng could finish, Yu Xiaogang cut him off with a furious glare and roared, "I think your City Guard Army has become the lapdogs of the Nuoding City Lord's son!"

Then he pointed toward the distant street and shouted, "Xiao Chenyu, why are you hiding from us? Do you have a guilty conscience?"

At the far end of the street, a figure shuffled out from behind a tall horse. An extraordinarily awkward smile hung on his face as he scratched his head with his right hand and held the reins in his left.

Xiao Wufeng was furious today. The City Lord's wastrel son had made a fool of him, causing him to embarrass himself before an important figure from Spirit Hall. He was a crucial pawn Spirit Hall had planted in Nuoding City, so all he could do now was meekly apologize to Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.

Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao stood silently to one side, coldly watching the boy who had been skulking in the distance. Neither of them had authority over the Nuoding City Lord's son. Now that the person responsible had been found, they could simply watch the show. In any case, today they stood on the same side as Zhu Zhuqing and her three companions.

When Xiao Wu and Tang San realized it was someone they knew, they immediately grew angry. They hated bullies who threw their weight around more than anything, and they had already taught this brat a lesson at school.

"Xiao Chenyu, get over here!" Xiao Wu planted her hands on her hips and shouted down the street.

Far down the street, Xiao Chenyu shuddered in fear and slowly edged toward them. He had suffered beatings before, especially from Tang San and Xiao Wu's iron fists of love, so he dared not ignore her summons.

Zhu Zhuqing quietly observed Xiao Chenyu. This fellow had tried to abduct a young woman at the city gates, and she had secretly punished him with her spiritual power. By rights, he should have been bedridden today. Had someone treated him?

A little while later, Xiao Chenyu finally ran up to the group. With his face flushed, he bowed to Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang. "Grandmaster."

Yu Xiaogang watched him coldly without saying a word. He looked down on the City Lord's son, who was always arrogant and domineering at the Soul Master Academy.

After receiving Grandmaster's glare, Xiao Chenyu could only give an awkward smile. He then bowed to Ma Xiunuo and Su Yuntao before finally bowing to Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Zhu Zhuqing received no bow from Xiao Chenyu. Instead, she received his burning gaze.

"Hmph!" Zhu Zhuqing's expression turned icy. It seemed this brat needed another savage beating.

With her hands on her hips, Xiao Wu ignored everyone's gazes and shouted at Xiao Chenyu, "Xiao Chenyu, that pack of lapdogs of yours nearly injured your Sister Xiao Wu today! Tell me how much compensation you're going to pay."

"Xiao Wu." Tang San discreetly tugged at her little arm, signaling for her to speak more gently. His teacher and the others were watching right beside them.

Xiao Wu did not care. She did not know these adults around her, and none of them was anyone she feared. She slapped Tang San's little hand away and shouted imperiously again, "We're buying a house today, so you'd better give us a discount. If I'm not satisfied, heh heh heh... you know what'll happen."

Her two little fists cracked repeatedly as she clenched them.

"Well..." Xiao Chenyu dared not agree. If he really did, his City Lord father would surely beat him to death today.

Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's icy voice slowly rang out. He held a thick book in his hands, opened to a certain page. "According to Article Three Hundred and Sixty of the Heaven Dou Empire's laws, anyone who maliciously gathers a group to assault civilians shall, in severe cases, be executed immediately. Nobles who violate the law shall receive an aggravated punishment and be stripped of their titles forever!"

"Well? Does the City Lord's eldest son wish to put these Heaven Dou Laws to the test?"

The thick book struck Xiao Chenyu squarely, its cover displaying the large words "Heaven Dou Laws" for everyone to see.

Xiao Wufeng rolled his eyes. He had wanted to go back and rest for some time now. Since the important figure merely wanted a discount on a house, such a small request absolutely had to be fulfilled.

"Young master, please consider the bigger picture. I'm sure the City Lord won't mind such minor details." Xiao Wufeng cupped his hands toward Xiao Chenyu.

When had Xiao Chenyu ever experienced anything like this? He was merely a sixth-year student at a junior Soul Master Academy, just a boy in his teens. Under all these threats, he finally gave in.

He signed off on all manner of humiliating demands. First, with a sweeping gesture from Xiao Wufeng, the dozen or so pieces of trash tied up outside were taken away by the City Guard Army. No doubt they would receive free room and board.

Next, Yang Aotian was taken away by Spirit Hall's two deacons. Yang Aotian belonged to the Breaking Clan, and Spirit Hall already had a poor relationship with them. Now that he had been arrested, he would either be persuaded to surrender or imprisoned.

Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, meanwhile, were invited inside the Real Estate Exchange by Xiao Chenyu.

They stood before a huge scale-model table, which displayed Nuoding City in miniature. The large section on the left was the commoners' district, the small section on the right was the nobles' district, and the center was the bustling commercial district.

The commercial district included the Wholesale Market, Snack Street, Trade Street, the Spirit Hall Branch, and the Nuoding City Junior Soul Master Academy. In short, all the best places in Nuoding City were in this area.

"Big Sister Zhu Zhuqing, what do you think of this house?"

Xiao Wu pointed to a house on the left side of the commercial district. A "For Sale" sign already hung over it, with its floor area and price marked on the plaque.

Three-Bedroom, Two-Living-Room, Two-Bathroom, with a floor area of 128 square meters. Price: eighteen thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight Gold Soul Coins.

The house was in an excellent location. It was close to the Nuoding Soul Master Academy and the Blacksmith Shop where Tang San worked. Most importantly of all, a left turn out the door led straight to Snack Street.

Tang San's eyes lit up. This house is just the right size, and it has three bedrooms. Does Xiao Wu want to invite me to live with her?

However, he stole a glance at Zhu Zhuqing, worried that she would refuse. After all, he was not the one paying.

Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang also nodded to himself. That house's location was truly superb, though the price was a little steep.

Zhu Zhuqing was very satisfied. Three-Bedroom, Two-Living-Room, Two-Bathroom, and 128 square meters—with the discount, it would cost less than a few thousand Gold Soul Coins. It was an incredible bargain. However, she then looked at another house, pointed to it, and said to everyone:

"Yes, it's good. That smaller one next door is nice too. Have you looked at it?"

Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang's eyes instantly lit up, and he silently praised Zhu Zhuqing for being sensible. "Yes, ninety-eight square meters, two bedrooms, two living rooms, and one or two bathrooms. Thirteen thousand Gold Soul Coins. Wonderful!"

He had just asked Zhu Zhuqing how many Gold Soul Coins she had. Naturally, saving a little money would be best. He was rather frugal himself.

"How about we buy both?"

Zhu Zhuqing's startling suggestion shocked Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang. Even Xiao Chenyu, who had been nodding and bowing beside them, froze.