Chapter 409

"Army Head Mu almost killed two of my Great Xia's people. Today, I'm afraid he won't be able to walk out of Hong Sect City!"

Originally, the panic in the hearts of Yang Zun and the others had gradually eased due to Xia Hong's softened attitude. Even hearing him say that the Liuzhen had caused Great Xia no small losses today, clearly meaning to demand compensation, the lords of the Liuzhen didn't have much fluctuation in their hearts, and even started calculating how much Great Xia would ask for.

But Xia Hong's abruptly changed tone made their hearts jump to their throats again instantly.

That's right, Mu Longhe had just attempted to kill Xia Chuan and Director Yu Wen Tao.

How could Xia Hong possibly not pursue it?

Duan Hong's face turned deathly pale, and he opened his mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but his legs felt as if they were filled with lead at this moment, and he dared not move a single bit.

Trash!

Looking at Duan Hong's pathetic posture, Yang Zun's expression turned gloomy to the extreme. He gritted his teeth and finally stood out, cupping his hands and bowing to Xia Hong: "Mu Longhe's temperament is impulsive; what happened just now was truly an unintentional act. I hope Lord Xia Hong, being a person of great stature, can forgive him this once!"

After finishing, he signaled to Duan Hong slightly with his eyes.

Duan Hong received the signal, immediately stood out, and gritted his teeth: "As long as Lord Xia Hong can spare Mu Longhe, Chuishan is willing to offer one hundred million taels of silver!"

Wow............

One hundred million taels of silver, even for a Xianyang-level expert, definitely counts as a not-so-small sum, let alone for the others in Hong Sect City. So, hearing this number, everyone below instantly exploded.

The most expensive items Great Xia currently sells at the Wanbao Tower are the Dragon Carp, Blue Cod, and Black Fiend—three types of spiritual pills used by Yuhan-level experts at their peak to improve strength. The most expensive Black Fiend Pill costs 110,000 taels; 100 million taels is enough to buy thousands of them.

Not to mention, if Mu Longhe were a Xianyang-level expert with all four limbs intact, then using this price to buy his life would certainly be a good deal, and even if it were more expensive, it wouldn't matter.

The problem is that Mu Longhe's arms have already been severed at this moment.

In fact, his two severed arms, along with the twin swords, were collected by Great Xia's people when they fell just now.

For a Xianyang-level expert without arms, Duan Hong is still willing to spend this money; it truly counts as commendable.

So at this moment, even Mu Longhe's expression was slightly moved.

"If Lord Duan truly wants to spend money to avert disaster, Xia Mou might not be unable to agree. But just now, two of my Great Xia's future Xianyang-level experts almost lost their lives. 100 million taels to try and dismiss me—Lord Duan's thinking is I'm afraid a bit too simple..."

Xia Hong paused slightly when he said this, and after thinking for a moment, he smiled and said: "How about this, this lord won't make things difficult for you. 1 billion taels. As long as Chuishan can produce 1 billion taels of silver, I will release Mu Longhe. How about it?"

Duan Hong's face instantly stiffened.

Not only Duan Hong, but Yang Zun, Yang Fa, and the Xianyang-level experts of the other four towns all had their brows twitch violently.

It increased tenfold in one go!

1 billion taels of silver, converted, is 25,000 tons of silver.

Although it is said that those with reserves under 100,000 tons are called micro-silver mines, the reserves of an average micro-silver mine are at most about 70,000 tons. 25,000 tons of silver is basically one-third of the output of a normal micro-silver mine.

What is called output?

Only what is extracted by spending a large amount of manpower and material resources is called output.

No need to question, Chuishan can definitely produce this sum of money.

The problem is spending such a large sum of money to save Mu Longhe, who has severed arms.

Is it worth it?

The slightly troubled expression on Duan Hong's face had already given the answer.

Mu Longhe, whose arms were severed, although he had already taken pills to suppress the injury, the pain of a Xianyang-level expert's bones cracking was clearly not easy to endure. Cold sweat broke out on his forehead, and noticing Duan Hong's expression beside him, his body shook violently, and his expression dimmed a bit.

A flash of being moved clearly appeared on Yang Zun's face, but his gaze lingered on Mu Longhe's arm position for a moment, and he finally suppressed the urge to stand out.

A Xianyang-level expert's cultivation is basically concentrated in the bones. With the bone structure of the arms completely broken, whether he can maintain his cultivation is a question. Even if he maintains it, he is basically equivalent to a cripple. One billion taels of silver is indeed not worth it.

"Mu Longhe offended Great Xia, and falling into today's situation is a crime deserving of death. How dare I let the lord spend a huge fortune to save a cripple like me? This old man's life is at Great Xia's disposal. I only hope the lord will treat my Mu clan descendants kindly in the future!"

Mu Longhe is old and naturally sees the situation clearly. In the end, he took the initiative to give Duan Hong a way out. After finishing, he didn't hesitate and flew directly toward Xia Hong's direction.

Looking at Mu Longhe's back, a look of shame appeared in Duan Hong's eyes, and he whispered in a deep voice: "Longhe, rest assured, I will not treat your Mu clan poorly!"

"Father."

"Great-grandfather..."

"Grandfather."

The moment Mu Longhe flew toward Xia Hong, thirteen Yuhan-level experts in the Nancheng, with panicked faces, screamed and rushed directly to the front of the government office building.

"Stop!"

Xia Chuan had already returned to the military formation. Seeing thirteen people rushing over together, even though he knew their identities, he immediately scolded them loudly to stop.

"Stop!"

Having already suffered a loss once, not only Xia Chuan, but Director Yu Wen Tao and the rest of Great Xia's over thirty thousand troops naturally would not be careless again. They instantly roared in unison, and five thousand strong bows and over twenty thousand weapons were instantly aimed squarely at those dozen or so people.

Among those thirteen people, there were men, women, old, and young. Once the majesty of the Xia Army was displayed, they were instantly frightened and stood frozen in place, not daring to take another step forward.

Mu Longhe in mid-air had already stopped his body when he heard the sound. Seeing the Xia Army's strong bows and blades all aimed at the thirteen people, he immediately pleaded urgently to Xia Hong: "Lord Xia Hong, those thirteen people are all ignorant descendants of my Mu clan. They were anxious and acted without decorum, which is why they did this. I beg the lord to spare their lives. This old man guarantees they will never seek revenge on Great Xia in the future!"

He seemed afraid of being too slow. After finishing, he immediately turned his head and roared at the thirteen people below: "Qinghe, you are muddled! My situation today is entirely self-inflicted and has nothing to do with Great Xia. All of you kneel and apologize to the Xia Army, and swear never to cause trouble for Great Xia again. Quickly!"

Bang............

The Mu clan descendants clearly respected Mu Longhe, this ancestor, very much. Hearing his words, they didn't even think and knelt down directly.

The octogenarian elder at the head should be Mu Qinghe, whom Mu Longhe mentioned. He looked at Xia Hong with eyes full of sorrow, cupped his hands, and pleaded with a mournful tone: "This humble person Mu Qinghe pays respects to the Great Xia Lord! Lord Xia Hong, my father has already been severed of his arms and is no different from a cripple. He cannot pose a threat to Great Xia in the future. This humble person is willing to pay with my life on behalf of my father. I only ask Lord Xia Hong to show mercy."

Pay with life on behalf of father!

Once these four words were spoken by Mu Qinghe, everyone in the audience was moved.

However, what moved them went far beyond this.

"Mu Qingyu is also willing to pay with my life on behalf of my father along with my elder brother!"

"Mu Qingmian is willing to die on behalf of my father. I beg Lord Xia Hong to spare my father's life!"

"Mu Ziyang is willing to die on behalf of my grandfather. Lord Xia Hong, kill me!"

"Mu Ziheng..."

"Mu Yunhua..."

………………

Once Mu Qinghe spoke, the twelve Mu clan descendants of different genders and ages kneeling behind him actually scrambled to follow suit.

From the second younger brother and third younger sister who were similar in age to Mu Qinghe, down to the Mu clan's young descendants who were only in their early twenties, they all wanted to die on behalf of Mu Longhe, their elder.

Not to mention the over ten thousand people in the Nancheng, even the over thirty thousand soldiers of the Great Xia army, including the Great Xia high-level officials like Xia Chuan and Director Yu Wen Tao in the front row, were all slightly moved.

"There is no greater filial piety than the Mu clan. The family style of the Mu clan should be a model for my Great Xia... no, it should be a model for every household in the entire Jiuzhen of the Mo'ao southern foothills!"

Xia Hong, who was the center of attention, suddenly opened his mouth and said these words.

No greater filial piety than the Mu clan!

Everyone in Great Xia and the eight towns felt their bodies tremble slightly.

Anyone who is a normal person could hear the thick praise and commendation in Xia Hong's tone.

With Xia Hong's status today, there is no need to think; these words will soon spread throughout the entire Mo'ao southern foothills. The Mu clan will inevitably become a model for every household in the Jiuzhen based on today's event.

In this way, Mu Longhe certainly doesn't have to die.

"Lord Xia Hong, your benevolence and virtue cover the world; it is truly the fortune of our Jiuzhen!"

"Many thanks to Lord Xia Hong for the grace of sparing our lives. Duan Mou is deeply grateful!"

Yang Zun and Duan Hong were actually singing a duet at this time.

The former, Yang Zun, offered a compliment, while the latter, Duan Hong, directly usurped the host's role, actually scrambling to thank Xia Hong on behalf of Mu Longhe.

This method of stealing the peach is simply too clumsy!

How could their little thoughts escape Xia Hong?

Xia Hong looked up and stared at the two with a half-smile, then shifted his gaze to Mu Longhe and continued in a deep voice: "The Mu clan can have such a family style, which shows that you, Mu Longhe, are not a person who has committed heinous crimes. But the majesty of my Great Xia cannot be violated. Since you are guilty, you should be punished. Considering the sincere filial piety of the Mu clan descendants, this lord will grant you special favor and exempt you from the death penalty. You are sentenced to serve in Great Xia for ten years. Upon the expiration of the ten years, you can regain your freedom. How about it?"

How could Mu Longhe dare to have any objections? He didn't know that Xia Hong hadn't intended to kill him in the first place. At this moment, he only knew that he had picked up his life. His face was full of joy and excitement, and he bowed directly to Xia Hong:

"Many thanks to Lord Xia Hong for your grace. Mu Longhe is deeply grateful."

Father's life is saved!

Mu Qinghe and the crowd of Mu clan descendants behind him were also excited. They all prostrated themselves on the ground, expressing gratitude and kowtowing to Xia Hong incessantly.

"Many thanks to Lord Xia Hong for your grace."

"Many thanks to Lord Xia Hong."

………………

"The Great Xia Lord is benevolent and virtuous; the Jiuzhen will have good fortune in the future!"

"Lord Xia Hong is simply not a bloodthirsty person. In my opinion, the death of the people from the Three Towns Chamber of Commerce must have something suspicious about it."

"Mu Longhe almost killed Lord Xia Hong's younger brother just now, and he could still be forgiven. This shows Lord Xia Hong's breadth of mind!"

"Just now Lord Xia Hong said there is no greater filial piety than the Mu clan. In my opinion, we can add another sentence behind it: there is no greater benevolence and virtue than Xia Hong!"

"No greater benevolence and virtue than Xia Hong, good, well said!"

………………

The expressions of Yang Zun and Duan Hong in the sky were ugly to the extreme at this moment.

Duan Hong's wishful thinking of stealing the peach was directly smashed by Xia Hong's ten-year detention. He had originally tried to save Mu Longhe and restore his image in the hearts of Mu Longhe and the Mu clan, but now it had completely fallen through.

Moreover, with Mu Longhe imprisoned in Great Xia, unless he truly completely abandons Mu Longhe, Chuishan will inevitably be constrained by Xia Hong in every way for the next ten years.

Completely abandoning Mu Longhe would mean that the Mu clan descendants, including the large group of backbone forces who were Mu Longhe's disciples, would all leave Chuishan.

He could not afford this price no matter what!

And Yang Zun's expression was even uglier than Duan Hong's. Especially hearing the clamor in the Nancheng mixed with a large pile of phrases praising Xia Hong's benevolence and virtue, he felt as uncomfortable as if he had eaten a fly.

Xia Hong's name for benevolence and virtue was something he had just actively proposed!

"Alright, the Hong Sect affair ends here today!"

Xia Hong finally announced the end of this Hong Sect disturbance.

From the moment the sky just brightened and the Xianyang-level experts of the Liuzhen descended on Hong Sect City, to his announcement of the end of the Hong Sect disturbance, it lasted for nearly two hours. At this time, the sky was already slowly turning dark.

"Xia Chuan, you and Qiu Peng count it up together. Calculate the Sunshine Pills, silver crossbow bolts, etc., consumed in this army assembly and subsequent battles... Calculate all military resource consumption and convert it all into silver. Then formally submit a diplomatic note to the Liuzhen. The military resources for this great battle shall all be borne by the Liuzhen."

"Subordinate obeys!"

"Subordinate obeys!"

Of course, Xia Hong did not forget the aftermath. He first gave instructions to Xia Chuan and Qiu Peng, and after the two responded, he suddenly turned his head and looked at the lords of the Liuzhen who were preparing to turn and leave, asking with a smile: "Lords, you won't have any objections, will you?"

"Lord Xia Hong, rest assured."

"Once the Great Xia diplomatic note arrives, Wu Chuan will definitely offer the silver with both hands."

"Yangqu has no objections."

"Longgu awaits the Great Xia diplomatic note."

"Yang Mou has no objections."

"Chuishan awaits the Great Xia diplomatic note."

The lords of the Liuzhen only wanted to leave here quickly at this moment; how could they dare to have any objections? After leaving a sentence one after another, they flew away with a whoosh.

"By the way, everyone, don't forget, I just said that within ten days, send all the corpses of the victims to Hong Sect. This investigation will be led by my Great Xia, and the Liuzhen must send people to participate together!"

The lords of the Liuzhen hadn't flown far yet. Xia Hong ensured his words had clearly entered their ears and stopped looking at them. He retracted the twelve cold beast stakes in the sky for the first time, a trace of heartache flashing slightly in his eyes, before he smiled and looked down at the over thirty thousand Great Xia soldiers around the government office building below.

"Why, why are you all looking at me?"

The moment Yang Zun and the other eleven left, the over thirty thousand troops around the Great Xia government office truly relaxed completely.

After everyone relaxed, without exception, they all raised their heads for the first time and looked at Xia Hong in the sky.

The over ten thousand Yuhan-level experts in the Nancheng, after all, came from various towns. Because their inner thoughts were different at this moment, the emotions in their eyes when looking at Xia Hong were also strange and varied—shock, reverence, admiration, admiration, fear... almost every kind existed.

But these over thirty thousand people in Xia City were different.

At this very moment, their spirits were excited to the extreme. Looking at Xia Hong, their faces were full of reverence, and the fanaticism in their pupils almost overflowed from their eye sockets.

You must know, these over thirty thousand people were transferred from Xia City and various garrison points in the Great Xia territory. Before coming to Hong Sect this time, they had long known that their opponents were six town cities, so they had actually long been prepared to welcome a fierce battle in their hearts.