These fellows were, at most, gang underlings. If caught, they could claim they had been forced to work; confiscating all their property and giving them a good punishment would basically settle it.
But as the Mountain King, he would have to lose a few layers of skin, at the very least.
Still...
Chun Xiaobai raised a hand and stroked his chin.
If he really washed his hands of the business, those hundreds of Rare Treasures and tens of trillions of spirit stones would be as good as handed to someone else for free.
Giving away such a vast sum with both hands...
That really could keep a man awake at night.
"How about... we commit one more crime right into the teeth of the crackdown?"
Chun Xiaobai stroked his chin, his gaze sweeping back and forth over Bai Jin'er, Yun Huoyue, and Mu Qinglan.
Suddenly, he seemed to think of something.
Bai Jin'er's eyes lit up. She hurriedly grabbed Chun Xiaobai's arm. "Great King, didn't you say it yourself? Our Black Wind Stronghold has plenty of Stronghold Madam positions!"
"The more positions there are, the greater the expenses."
She held out her fingers and counted them off:
"You have no idea how much we women love spending money. Clothes, jewelry, magical artifacts, pills-which of those doesn't cost spirit stones?"
"If you don't have some savings and can't even support your Stronghold Madams in the future, wouldn't that disgrace you as the Mountain King?"
"Uh..." Chun Xiaobai froze.
At those words, the surroundings immediately fell silent.
Then the elders glanced at Mu Qinglan beside them. Seeing no reaction from her, they swarmed around him the next instant.
"Exactly, exactly, Great King!"
"Do you know why we're still bachelors at our age?"
One elder clutched his chest, his face filled with grief.