"Then I'll be so bold," Chen Xiangrong said. "I'm sure you seniors know that my Four Directions Trading Company and the Eighteen Families Firms suffered a calamity, with countless dead and wounded. Our firms have always honored our agreements and never fallen short in our tribute to the major sects and the Imperial Court. All we wanted was to prosper in harmony, free from disturbances, and focus on our business. Yet someone broke that agreement and slaughtered our people. I ask you seniors to uphold justice for me and for all our firms."
"Please uphold justice for us, seniors!" the people from the trading firms called out respectfully in unison.
It had always been the rule for trading firms to pay tribute to these major powers, the Imperial Court, and even some Jianghu sects.
Otherwise, even if those in the Jianghu did not openly attack the firms, a few petty tricks behind the scenes would leave them unable to take a single step. How could they do business then?
Having spoken, everyone from the trading firms turned their eyes to Lin PY.
Fury surged in Lin PY's heart, but his expression remained unchanged.
"Lin PY, why don't you say something?" Pang Ruhuo spoke up.
"This happened because our Heavenly Sword Sect failed to keep its people in line. Lu Qizhu, a Void Martial Realm member of our sect, committed this grave mistake out of greed. He acted alone, but of course, our Heavenly Sword Sect won't shirk its responsibility. We have already put him to death, along with his subordinates, thirty-three people in all. In addition, your firms will be exempt from tribute for ten years," Lin PY said.
The people from the trading firms were all taken aback.
Although they had asked the Heavenly Sword Sect to punish the