Chapter 739

【Attention! Attention!】

【Family Emergency Summons】

【Zhao Shizhang: All lords are to proceed to Liucunbei Sect immediately, immediately!】

Something's happened!

Those three words flashed through Zhao Chi's mind at once.

There was no other possibility.

Most likely, they had been invaded.

Zhao Chi immediately called out to a few female soldiers passing by:

"Quick—go notify Gu Qing and Tang Ruan and the others, get ready for battle! As per the drill, leave only a small number of people in Taoyuan Village, the rest stand by at Penglai Village!"

"Yes, my lord! We'll notify them right away!"

The female soldiers clutched their weapons and scattered in every direction.

Zhao Chi also immediately returned to the Great World and Chongxiangbei Sect.

The Zhao clan's territory was in the southeast of Liucunbei Sect, and Zhao Chi usually entered and exited through the East Gate.

Beimen was the Xiao clan's territory.

Along the way, Zhao Chi saw quite a few lords from the same village rushing out, gathering toward Beimen.

People from every household poked their heads out, watching the north nervously.

"Zhao Chi, get on—I'll take you there!"

He turned his head—it was his fifth elder brother, Zhao Jing.

Driving his small cargo spirit-energy vehicle.

Zhao Chi didn't waste words, leaping aboard in a single bound.

They arrived at Beimen shortly after.

A great many people had already gathered at Beimen.

Besides the lords of each family, there were also quite a few martial artists who fought for the lords—roughly 700 people in total.

Outside Beimen, however, nearly 1,000 people had surrounded them, and more were still gathering.

Judging by their clothes and appearance, they were unmistakably the Resistance Army.

In the middle of the Resistance Army sat an extremely burly middle-aged man, smoking a cigarette, sneering as he watched the villagers grow in number.

Dengleyi Society, all the families had basically arrived, and the four clan leaders gathered together.

Xiao clan leader Xiao Xiao Qiao said loudly: "General Zhou, the clan leaders of the four great families of Liucunbei Sect have all arrived. Whatever demands you have, you may speak them—we can discuss anything. As long as it's not too excessive, we will do our best to satisfy you."

Qi clan leader Qi Qi Hengying nodded and added: "General Zhou, everyone in Liucunbei Sect, top to bottom, has long heard of your great name, Zhou Hua. We know you gentlemen are all heroes and good men. If a real conflict breaks out, both sides will surely suffer heavy losses. That would only let those nobles reap the benefit—better that we value peace, wouldn't you say?"

"Hmph, hmph."

Resistance Army leader Zhou Hua let out two cold laughs.

He tossed his cigarette aside and stood up.

He rolled his neck, then strode forward in great strides.

He stopped only when he was one meter from Xiao Xiao Qiao.

The Xiao clan people immediately stepped forward.

Xiao Xiao Qiao raised a hand and waved his fingers backward.

The Xiao clan people stepped back again.

Zhou Hua said: "Clan leader Xiao, I'm not an unreasonable man either. My brothers and I resist the nobles—all for the sake of everyone in this city, wouldn't you agree?"

"Mm, General Zhou resisting the nobles is certainly a righteous act." Xiao Xiao Qiao nodded.

"You think so too, don't you?" Zhou Hua turned to look at Qi Qi Hengying.

Qi Qi Hengying nodded: "Of course."

Zhou Hua laughed: "You two old fellows both think this way, so the little whelps down below all think the same too, right?"

The moment those words came out, the lords beside them all glared furiously.

Liu clan leader Liu Xuanqi said: "General Zhou, have mercy with your words."

"Have mercy?" Zhou Hua raised the blade in his hand and sneered: "Fine, mercy with my words—but don't blame me for being rude under the blade."

Zhao Shizhang said: "General Zhou, let's value peace. You haven't even stated your terms yet—perhaps we can agree to your demands. We stay out of each other's way and both keep our strength. Wouldn't that be best?"

Zhou Hua burst into laughter.

"How did you old fellows get this cowardly? Fine, there are terms—listen up."

Zhou Hua's gaze swept around.

"First—one hundred thousand gold coins. You families have extorted quite a bit of money over the years, haven't you? If you don't have enough cash, props or personnel will do as compensation.

"Second—I want to pick three hostages from each family to join us, and announce that they've joined the Resistance Army, so you won't go running back to the nobles and fleecing your fellow villagers later.

"How about it? The demands aren't high, are they? And they're all reasonable, aren't they?

"Don't you dare say you can't meet these demands.

"You wouldn't let me lose face, would you?"

The clan leaders, upon hearing this, couldn't help but exchange confirming glances.

Xiao Xiao Qiao said politely: "This matter requires a brief discussion among our families. Please rest for a moment, General Zhou."

Zhou Hua laughed: "Fine, I'll give you 20 minutes. If after 20 minutes I still haven't heard your answer, that means you've refused me—and then don't blame my brothers for showing no mercy. Money or your lives—choose!"

After speaking, Zhou Hua returned to his wooden chair to rest.

Several women immediately gathered around to light his cigarette.

The four clan leaders sighed inwardly and gathered together.

Qi Hengying gave a bitter smile. "What do you all think?"

Zhao Shizhang sighed. "What else is there to think? Pay up to avoid disaster."

Xiao Qiao sneered. "Pay up? I'd say it's flaying a layer of skin! Our whole village put together doesn't even have 100,000 gold coins."

Liu Xuanqi said, "100,000 gold coins is indeed no small sum. But if we offset it with props or personnel, it's no problem. Looks like this layer of skin has to come off."

Xiao Qiao said, "So, this first condition—you all agree?"

Liu Xuanqi countered, "What, Clan Leader Xiao disagrees?"

Xiao Qiao snorted. "I agree too. It's just that I don't know how to calculate the ratio. We can't be expected to foot the biggest share, right? This sort of thing should be split evenly among our families!"