Chapter 835: Rapid Development (5)

That was a normal enough question.

Zhao Chi thought for a moment.

The incident had been over a week ago, but Zhao Chi still remembered it vividly.

Besides, there was no need to hide these details.

So he told them everything he knew.

Of course, he didn't mention helping Zhao Quan and Zhao Tan.

After all, that counted as aiding nobles.

In the present day, that was a major taboo.

Xiao Ning listened and nodded. "So you're saying everyone from our Xiao family and all the other spectators were trapped in a virtual space?"

Zhao Chi said, "At least before I came out, I didn't see anyone who could leave. And after I came out, I didn't see anyone else either."

Xiao Ning turned to ask another alien lord.

"Gu Ting, do you have anything to ask?"

Gu Ting looked like an idiot, but spoke with remarkable fluency: "That venue was run by the Gongsun family, right?"

"The Gongsun family?" Zhao Chi pretended to recall. "I think it was Gongsun Ning? I don't know much about those nobles."

Gu Ting asked many more detailed questions.

Many of them Zhao Chi simply hadn't paid attention to.

But he answered based on his hazy memories.

Finally, Gu Ting said, "Lady Master Mu Chang, that group probably wasn't held by the Heavenly King Army. It might have been Feng Nan's lot."

Xiao Ning shook her head. "That can't be right. Their Zhao family's Zhao Huai and Zhao Jiao were both rescued — rescued from the Heavenly King Army."

Gu Ting said, "There were quite a lot of people that time, split among several families. From the details I just asked about, I can roughly infer it was Feng Nan's people. They arrived later, so they actually kept the most strength and took the most captives."

Xiao Ning asked, "Then why haven't Feng Nan and his people contacted the Xiao family for ransom? Could my Fifth Uncle and the others already have met with misfortune?"

Gu Ting shook his head. "It's also possible they were enslaved or made vassals, with their permissions completely locked down."

Xiao Ning's brows furrowed.

She was somewhat dissatisfied with that answer. "So we should go hit Feng Nan's people instead of Jiang Yang's Heavenly King Army bandits?"

Gu Ting shook his head. "Lady Master Mu Chang, our objective this time is to take control of Stream Village, not to search for your family. That doesn't match Captain Master Mu Chang's orders."

"I know! You don't need to remind me!"

"I'm only offering counsel."

"Not needed!"

Gu Ting smiled. "Lady Master Mu Chang, don't be angry. Once we've finished off the Heavenly King Army and consolidated the surrounding area, we can go absorb Feng Nan's rebel forces."

Xiao Ning glared at Gu Ting.

Then she looked at Zhao Chi, was silent for a few seconds, and said coldly: "Zhao Chi, I heard you won first place in the New Talent Tournament this time? What rewards did you get?"

Why was she asking about this?

Zhao Chi didn't know what she was after, but there was no need to hide this sort of thing.

Xiao Ning already knew the prize list.

Zhao Chi told her his choices.

Xiao Ning smiled and asked, "It's only because I didn't participate in the fight — otherwise how could you possibly have taken first place? Wouldn't you agree?"

Just you?

Zhao Chi sneered inwardly.

But he agreed out loud: "Right."

Xiao Ning was very satisfied with his answer.

Then, utterly shameless, she held out her hand.

"Since you admit it yourself, hand over those prizes to me. They were mine by right anyway."

This was allowed?

Zhao Chi hadn't expected her to actually say that.

But it was easy to guess — Xiao Ning was picking a fight again.

"... I've already used those items."

"Used them? On what grounds do you use my things?"

"..." Zhao Chi frowned.

"That's theft. I'm going to chop off both your hands."

Zhao Chi's head snapped up.

He stared at Xiao Ning in disbelief.

But in an instant his gaze shifted to Yan Ping.

Xiao Ning herself was very weak — her strength lay in her status.

The truly strong one was Yan Ping beside her.

Yan Ping read Zhao Chi's thoughts, gave a cold laugh, rested his hand on his sword hilt, and stared at Zhao Chi with contempt.

But Xiao Ning didn't actually order Yan Ping to act.

She was very pleased to see Zhao Chi's nervous reaction.

At this point she said slowly, "Still, you're so talented — it'd be a shame to chop off your hands. How about this: become my vassal, and turn over 50% of your income in materials and money every month. If you agree, you'll be a vassal of our Holy Race from then on. What do you say?"

How could she even say such a thing?

Absolutely shameless beyond words.

Zhao Chi's already loosened teeth bit into flesh once more.

These conditions are very harsh.

What Xiao Ning wants is not tax.

Tax can be avoided, can be left unpaid.

As long as one doesn't trade with others, no matter how many goods are produced in the territory, there is no tax.