Chapter 141: Aren't you the ones who call me the noblest among nobles?

The manor of the city lord of Gengxin City.

A luxurious banquet was being held here, pleasant music flowing in the ears, numerous self-proclaimed high-born nobles clinked cups at the banquet, chatting about topics they found interesting; most of the nobles' talk was nothing but boring boasts about taking another beautiful concubine.

Their gazes, however, kept flickering toward the golden-haired girl seated at the head; normally, seeing such a supreme beauty they would have rushed to take her home to enjoy, but no one dared to provoke this one— the corpses at the entrance of the Spirit Hall Main Hall were warning them.

That beautiful golden-haired girl was the highest-status person at the banquet; everyone wanted to approach and speak with her, and if she took a liking to someone, then who would hold sway in Gengxin City thereafter would be uncertain.

Marquis Gengxin hovered over the nobles like an old hen guarding chicks, glaring at the eager nobles and forbidding them to approach, then earnestly raised his gold cup, brought it before Qian Renxue, lowered his posture, and clinked cups with her.

"Bang!"

Qian Renxue casually set down the untouched gold cup in her hand, passed it to the nearby serving beauty, watched the burly Marquis Gengxin down it in one gulp— this sort of liquor useless for cultivation she couldn't be bothered to drink.

"Truly worthy of Your Highness, you are the noblest among nobles!"

A flush of excitement rose on Marquis Gengxin's face as he chuckled, rubbing his belly: "Those mud-legs haven't been this obedient in ages; you came to Gengxin City and spent merely a month, just killing a few insignificant wastes, and you kept the Blacksmith Association quiet for so long— your skill at winning hearts truly moves me."

Qian Renxue half-opened her deep violet eyes, lazily eyeing the pompous wastes at the banquet: "This matter is utterly irrelevant, Marquis Gengxin— do you still remember my earlier request?"

Without Qian Renxue needing to ask further, Marquis Gengxin clapped his hands; immediately someone came forward holding a stack of documents and respectfully presented them to her.

"Everything you need is here."

Marquis Gengxin deliberately avoided looking at those documents, for facing the astronomical figures of his losses might lead him to a wrong decision, and also to spare himself a painful expression that would displease the girl before him— he did not wish to incur the wrath of the Spirit Hall Sacred Hall, which even the emperor dare not provoke, let alone a petty marquis like himself.

Qian Renxue casually flipped through the documents on the tray: smuggling routes, slave trade, plunder paths, black-market distribution— all the profit chains of Gengxin City's gray businesses were in these files.

Wherever a privileged class exists, gray services inevitably follow; this vast profit network, cultivated over many years, includes many things— beautiful women, precious ores, you name it.

What Qian Renxue hadn't expected, however, was that in Gengxin City, dubbed the Metal City, the most prevalent gray industry was not ore smuggling but human trafficking— they specifically sought out good-looking women or children to train as playthings for the powerful.

Qian Renxue wore a gentle smile: "This really is an unexpected industry chain; I see your sincerity, Marquis Gengxin." She glanced at the pleased Marquis Gengxin and praised him softly.

Most of these nobles' natures are to bully the weak and fear the strong; if you approach them brandishing a bloody knife, they will resist with all their might, but if you merely hold a blade to their throats and then produce a sack, they will instead greet you with smiling faces and obedient compliance— the larger the sack, the more reassured they feel.

Although Gengxin City is one of the major cities of the Star Luo Empire, its surface fame and prosperity are not outstanding; is there any place more conducive to gray industries than here? Moreover, the profits of these gray industries are enormous; over the years Marquis Gengxin has wanted to wash his hands of them and quit, for if the Star Luo emperor discovered them he would surely not let him off, and when dividing the money Marquis Gengxin never thought to give the emperor a share.

Handing all this over to the Spirit Hall Sacred Hall would instead let him relax lightly— he's already made enough money, and the rest of his time he can simply enjoy, without worrying about the imperial family discovering his gray enterprises, for those are the Spirit Hall's doing! What does that have to do with him, this willing pillar of the empire who bends himself to serve until death?

No one can refuse a major city's black-market industry chain, which represents nominally immense wealth.

Just then, someone suddenly burst into the splendid banquet; the knocked-over musician's elegant tune in his hand turned into a shrill sound, and the music and pleasant chatter ceased abruptly, as all eyes in the banquet turned to the intruding attendant.

Before Marquis Gengxin could demand to know which blind fool dared disturb him, the person leaned to his ear as if saying something, while furtively glancing with anxious sidelong looks at Qian Renxue seated at the head.

Hearing the attendant's words, the burly Marquis Gengxin's legs went weak, nearly kneeling before Qian Renxue; the flesh on his face trembled as he stammered: "That... Your Esteemed Highness."

"Hmm?"

At this moment Qian Renxue was teasing the green snake coiled around her wrist; its lustrous red eyes fixed on Marquis Gengxin filled him with dread, fearing a bite— why was she carrying a snake? Was it for poison? He swallowed, then probed cautiously:

"Ah, Your Highness, I—I heard from my subordinates that at the entrance of the Spirit Hall Main Hall, that is, before you arrived here, it seemed..."

Qian Renxue tapped the green snake's head and said softly: "It seems they said some unpleasant things about you, Marquis."

Marquis Gengxin's face broke into a placating smile: "Heh, I know Your Highness surely has some deeper meaning—"

"Of course, how could I betray my friend?"

Qian Renxue chuckled softly: "That's just a joke to placate those fools; don't you find it laughable to see them worked up, pinning all their hopes on me?"

Marquis Gengxin stared, then burst into loud laughter; the previously tense atmosphere suddenly lightened, and seeing Qian Renxue laugh, the surrounding nobles joined in.

"Exactly, you're absolutely right! Such a scene would surely be entertaining— a pity I couldn't witness it, hahaha! hahaha. ha."

". ha."

"."

Marquis Gengxin fell silent for a moment, then abruptly asked:

"You mean the mud-legs of the Blacksmith Association, right?"

The dry laughter in the banquet hall gradually faded.

Qian Renxue smiled without speaking.

"."

"Right?"

The nobles' sneers gradually turned into expressions of earnest dread.

Qian Renxue merely watched them with interest.

"Your Highness, is there some misunderstanding between us? Has anything happened lately in Gengxin City to displease you?"

Marquis Gengxin, whose gaze was held by those deep violet eyes as captivating as gems, forced a smile and asked:

"A misunderstanding? How could there be— we've been chatting quite happily, haven't we, Marquis?"

Qian Renxue stroked the cold body of the green snake, her smile bright: "I like the gold soul coins you sent, I like the soul bones you sent— look, there's also this—"

Qian Renxue shook the stack of documents in her hand: "And there's proof of our friendship."

"Ah, there's no evidence at all; casually killing a marquis would be a headache to deal with afterward, and the Spirit Hall would receive reproachful letters."

The golden-haired girl first sighed thus, then solemnly told Marquis Gengxin: "Thank you for saving me a great deal of precious time; I will cherish this dedication that outshines gold— well, seven days, no, seven days is too long, so three days will do."

"Within the three days you will be hung opposite the main hall, I guarantee nothing will desecrate your corpse."

Qian Renxue continued in a calm tone: "Go ahead, Uncle Porcupine."

Behind her, a red-haired elder in golden armor gave a slight nod; the instant he raised his hand, Marquis Gengxin bellowed in terror.

"Wait!"

"Oh?"

Qian Renxue regarded the trembling supposed noble before her with interest: "Any last words? For the sake of this friendship, I'll let you finish first, Marquis."

"Your Highness."

Marquis Gengxin struggled to suppress his terror, fixing Qian Renxue with a steady gaze, and said word by word: "Are you going to kill me? Right here, right now? Before so many Star Luo nobles? Just to kill me, you'd risk pitting the Spirit Hall against the Star Luo Empire?"

"Your Highness, I am unworthy! He expelled the fear from his lungs, his mind racing at unprecedented speed: "I don't believe I have any worth deserving such treatment from you; if you truly wish to judge me, you ought at least to bring me before His Majesty! This is an affair of the Star Luo Empire! As you stand now, you have no authority to execute me on the spot!"

"Don't you want the Blacksmith Association? I'll have those mud-legs step aside right away—I can fully assist you! The Blacksmith Association ought to be yours!"

No mistake, no mistake, this Your Highness came to the Gengxin Earl absolutely not for fun; she has never concealed her purpose—she just wants the Blacksmith Association, first using those mud-legs to steady herself! If she can drag things out to Star Luo City, the Netherworld Duke might——

」【The Netherworld Duke might be able to give me a slim chance of survival】——you're thinking that, right, Earl? 」

Qian Renxue half-closed one eye, holding something like a kaleidoscope in both hands, playfully observing the Gengxin Earl's face.

The kaleidoscope in her hand was also obtained in this Gengxin City; those blacksmiths aren't just forging iron—they're all making devices and weapons like this, while they haven't studied metal forging much, their path has gone astray; the blacksmiths are all trying to innovate, doing things that Soul Engineers should do, but they can't carve a Soul Engineer core, merely engaging in useless labor.

Only Lou Gao would start from the metal's properties; that's why he became the Divine Artisan of Gengxin City, but his claim as a Divine Artician is mostly hot air—he couldn't possibly do Spirit Forging, Soul Forging, or Heaven Forging; he's just a tall guy among dwarves.

The figures inside the kaleidoscope were twisted, deformed, multicolored, and disgusting.

"Too bad." The gentle, elegant blonde girl shrugged, "We agreed on a three-seven split, he gets seven, I get three."

「。」

The Gengxin Earl opened his mouth wide; the fear and despair that had been suppressed instantly compressed his cervical vertebrae and spine.

Qian Renxue stared at the trembling Gengxin Earl, and her own body began to shake involuntarily.

After shaking for two seconds she could no longer hold back; a bright, clear laugh echoed through the banquet hall, and she laughed until her branches trembled.

"Hahaha—no, Earl, you—hahaha you actually believed it? You actually believed I'd split money with him?? With a Soul Douluo?"

Qian Renxue, laughing until she doubled over, put down the kaleidoscope in her hand, picked up the document from the silver tray: "What do I need these for then? It seems your trust in the Netherworld Duke isn't much either."

"Besides, as expected of the Zhu family specially supplied by the imperial household, this pimping business is quite proficient—after all, I myself am one of those sold to the imperial household, so I can understand."

Qian Renxue, no longer concealing anything, sighed, had the attendant pass the document to the Serpent Spear Douluo, and shook her head as she said: "Netherworld Duke? Just a mere Soul Douluo—why would you think I'd give him face? Is it because he holds some military power?"

"But he isn't even qualified to kneel at my feet."

The beautiful girl who always made people feel like a spring breeze suddenly lost her smile.

"Earl, is it because I've been too gentle with you? Are you perhaps underestimating me a bit."

All the nobles at the banquet dared not even breathe loudly, each trying desperately to minimize their presence.

The Gengxin Earl trembled as he knelt, "Your Highness, I didn't mean that—I—I—right! I paid! I gave the money! You can't kill me! I've handed over all my assets to you!"

Hearing his words, a strange light flickered in Qian Renxue's eyes; she curiously asked: "Where exactly have I fallen short, making you think I'd take over this gray-market business?"

"Is it because my looks aren't striking enough? Though many people, upon seeing my face, assume I'm kind."

Upon hearing this, the Gengxin Earl was overjoyed—so long as she had the intention to accept, that was fine! He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, smiling: "How could it not be! Your Highness is the most beautiful girl I've ever seen, but I think nobody in the world would quarrel over money—what good is kindness anyway?"

"So that's how it is." Qian Renxue murmured to herself, not because she looks like a bad person, nor because she falls short in any way—it's simply the Gengxin Earl's own issue.

"Since that's the case, I can't disappoint the Earl—I'll become the first person beyond his expectations!"

Qian Renxue clapped, putting on an act of cheering him on; seeing the astonishment in the Gengxin Earl's eyes made her even happier.

"After all, scum like you, lacking any taste, are utterly unfit to be villains."

Her expression shifted from cheerful to cold in an instant; Qian Renxue looked expressionlessly at the Gengxin Earl kneeling on the floor, gazing down at him from her chair.

"Obviously there are more effective ways to exploit, more perfect ways to dominate, and more flawless ways to plunder—yet you lot revel in the profits you've snatched with such lowly, ridiculous methods."

"Just thinking that I'm on the same side as you villains makes me feel sad from the bottom of my heart."

Qian Renxue rested her elbow on the armrest, clenched one hand to support her tilted head, and said in great displeasure: "Can a villain who can't even earn people's love and respect still be called a villain?"

"Madwoman, this woman is absolutely a madwoman—she truly wants to kill herself, to kill a Star Luo Empire noble! She really isn't afraid of starting a war?! 'The Star Luo Empire won't let you off! You madwoman!!'"

Knowing he had no way out, the Gengxin Earl, in a mix of shock and rage, both shouted curses and flipped the entire banquet table, eliciting gasps from the insignificant nobles.

Needless to say, although he has sunk to this point, his body as fat as a ball, as a Soul Emperor–level soul master, the Gengxin Earl still has some strength.

But the utensils and food that should have landed on Qian Renxue's face instead clattered onto the Gengxin Earl himself.

"Look." The golden-haired girl with her legs crossed spread her arms, her deep violet eyes emitting a faint divine light, and she said disdainfully.

"This furious, sore-loser demeanor is also base enough to be hard to accept."

"If you can't even accept defeat, what are you doing out here as a villain? You might as well go play house with those kids shouting about bonds of friendship."

"Qian Ling'er!! You! You bitch!!!"

"Bang——!"

The Gengxin Earl's rotund, bulky body flew backward directly, frightening the nobles and concubines in the banquet hall into terrified screams, yet nobody dared to flee in all directions.

"Impudent!"

The Serpent Spear Douluo behind Qian Renxue didn't move, merely saying expressionlessly:

She Long didn't like anyone insulting the young master, especially to his face! This made him very displeased.

"Why."

The Gengxin Earl, nearly losing his reason, squeezed out words from between his teeth: "Why. On what grounds am I the target?! What's the point of this?! I've clearly already handed over the Blacksmith Association to you!"

She Long frowned slightly, the coldness in his eyes intensifying, about to step forward, but Qian Renxue raised her hand to signal him to stop, then lowered her raised leg and walked slowly to stand before the Gengxin Earl.

"Why?"

Qian Renxue looked down at him indifferently: "The answer isn't it yourself, Earl?"

"Just as you think you're a noble, you do whatever you want, seize beautiful women, take jewels, and kill anyone who displeases you."

"And I just enjoy watching you lot of wastes in your ugly, ridiculous antics—it makes me happy."

"I want to kill you—it's that simple."

Her appearance was as pure as an angel's, yet her face bore a darkness as deep as ink; Qian Renxue tilted her head and spoke softly.

"After all, don't you call me the noble among nobles?"