Chapter 9: Chapter Nine: Yue Buqun: Lin Pingzhi

Seeing Lin Pingzhi below in the great hall still dazed, Yue Buqun softly rebuked him.

This is the moment to seize wealth—how could you be distracted!

"Oh, yes, Master!"

Reminded by Yue Buqun, Lin Pingzhi's eyes lit up once more.

He had not expected Yue Buqun's strength to be so profoundly concealed.

With just one move, he could have instantly slain Yu Canghai.

Thinking of avenging his father's murder and the destruction of his family, Lin Pingzhi grew agitated.

"Your disciple reports, Master: my father's escort agency's assets total roughly one hundred thousand taels of silver!"

Although Lin Pingzhi was unclear about the exact amount of his family's wealth,

he remembered that his escort agency had annually paid ten thousand taels of silver to Mount Qingcheng to curry favor.

Estimating thus, one hundred thousand taels of silver must certainly be there!

Yet no sooner had Lin Pingzhi finished speaking than Yu Canghai above spat blood.

This brat is making up numbers!

He never received one hundred thousand taels of silver from Zhenyuan Escort Agency!

This is slander—outright, flagrant slander!

Yu Canghai was about to retort, but his gaze involuntarily shifted first to Yue Buqun below.

There, Yue Buqun's expression was also clearly displeased.

Seeing this, Yu Canghai swallowed the words he had been about to speak.

Remembering Yue Buqun's reputation as the Gentleman Sword of the Jianghu, Yu Canghai assumed Yue Buqun was also angered by his disciple's false claims.

Without thinking, Yu Canghai exhaled in relief, waiting for Yue Buqun to deliver justice.

Yet unknown to him, Yue Buqun seated below was pondering something entirely different.

After all this exhausting travel, all this hardship, just one hundred thousand taels of silver?

He knew that even a simple meal of egg fried rice, a braised egg, and cold boiled water cost him sixteen taels of gold—sixteen hundred taels of silver.

One hundred thousand taels of silver was clearly insufficient!

What if the Immortals later released new products? Would he even be able to afford them?

At this thought, Yue Buqun's gaze swept over Lin Pingzhi.

"Disciple, do not fear Master Yu's authority—this is a Huashan matter. Regarding your assets, speak boldly. I stand behind you!"

Tapping the table lightly, Yue Buqun cast a meaningful glance at the half-kneeling Lin Pingzhi.

The latter, startled by Yue Buqun's sudden words, was utterly bewildered.

Looking up at Yue Buqun, his wide, watery eyes shimmered with innocence and confusion.

Lin Pingzhi: Master, my family's assets are only this much—what else am I supposed to say?

Yue Buqun: No, no, no—your assets are certainly far more than this. Speak boldly!

Lin Pingzhi: But Master, these are my family's assets—don't I know them best?

Yue Buqun: Correct—I understand your assets better than you do!

Reading the hidden meaning in Yue Buqun's eyes, Lin Pingzhi's heart erupted in silent curses.

Hypocritical! So damn hypocritical!

In that moment, the innocent boy Lin Pingzhi finally understood why his parents had warned him of the Jianghu's cruelty.

This Yue Buqun, famed as the Gentleman Sword, was truly such a hypocrite!

"Oh, Master, I think I misremembered—it's one hundred and fifty… no, two hundred thousand taels!"

Carefully watching Yue Buqun's expression, Lin Pingzhi had intended to report one hundred and fifty thousand taels, but seeing Yue Buqun frown, he instantly doubled it to two hundred thousand taels!

Internally, Lin Pingzhi was too drained to even complain.

Master, you've truly abandoned all pretense of decency!

Inside the great hall, silence fell.

Above, on the main seat, Yu Canghai glared at Yue Buqun with burning rage.

Inside, he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood and died on the spot.

What a noble gentleman, the Gentleman Sword Yue Buqun!

You always act as if you despise wealth!

Yet you're even more ruthless than Yu Canghai himself!

This isn't about claiming assets—it's outright banditry!

Yu Canghai risked life and limb—through massacre and robbery—to gain even a fraction.

But Yue Buqun? He turns it into pure profit with no risk at all!

And don't think I didn't see your glances just now—I'm not stupid, Yu Canghai!

I actually believed your Gentleman Sword nonsense, thinking you disapproved of your disciple's lies.

Turns out you were angry he reported too little!

"Sigh, my disciple is too kind-hearted."

Hearing Lin Pingzhi double his assets, Yue Buqun secretly rejoiced, yet feigned a melancholy sigh.

"Master Yu, what do you make of this two hundred thousand taels of silver?"

As he spoke, Yue Buqun idly twirled his teacup, gazing at Yu Canghai on the main seat.

Yue Buqun, you bastard—you're pushing this too far!

In his heart, Yu Canghai had already started cursing up a storm!

Too kind-hearted? Kind my ass!

Where did these two hundred thousand taels of silver come from — don't you have any idea in your own heart?

You want to act like a harlot and still put up a chastity arch!

At this moment, Yu Canghai looked at Lin Pingzhi, and his attitude toward the latter actually improved.

Although this kid overcharged by ten or twenty thousand taels, at least he's being honest!

And what the hell is this thing called Yue Buqun!

Bah, I, Yu Canghai, am ashamed to even be counted among your kind!

Cursing madly inside, Yu Canghai still forced a smile onto his face.

The situation was stronger than the man — the current Yue Buqun could wipe him out at any moment.

Money was but an external thing; Yu Canghai had clearly made his decision!

"Ahem, Sect Leader Yue, two hundred thousand taels is after all too large an amount. I can only muster up a hundred thousand taels of silver in such short order. Could you give me three months' time for the remaining hundred thousand taels?"

Yu Canghai gave a light cough. Even though he was inwardly unwilling a hundred times over, he still did not dare to make a move against Yue Buqun now.

The latter's strength — he feared the man could wipe him out with a casual flick.

Before, Yu Canghai naturally would not have had such thoughts.

After all, the Mount Hua Sect was a respectable orthodox faction, and Yue Buqun was the famous Gentleman Sword of the jianghu — how could he possibly commit such a clan-annihilating act?

But now, even if the Buddha himself told him Yue Buqun was a good man, he still wouldn't goddamn believe it!

This is the Gentleman Sword? This is a good man?

If someone like Yue Buqun counts as a good man, then wouldn't he, Yu Canghai, be a saint!

"Since Sect Leader Yu has put it that way, as a fellow member of the orthodox path, I naturally will not make things difficult!"

Seeing that he could get a hundred thousand taels of silver today, Yue Buqun couldn't help but smile. Seeing Yu Canghai being so sensible, he didn't feel like killing him either.

"As for the remaining money, I'll have to trouble Sect Leader Yu to deliver it to the Mount Hua Sect as soon as possible!"

After calling out to Yu Canghai above, Yue Buqun felt quite pleased inside.

After all the hardship of making this trip, he'd earned two hundred thousand taels of silver — enough for him to squander for quite a while.

What? You say this is Lin Pingzhi's family fortune?

Don't be ridiculous — isn't whatever belongs to Lin Pingzhi his, Yue Buqun's?