Chapter 2001: Finding an Excuse

The people Wang Tianqing sent out haven't returned yet, and Wang Yufeng's brother Wang Yuxing also happened to come home.

Upon learning that his sister had been bullied, he immediately wanted to lead troops to surround the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance.

Nonsense!

Wang Tianqing stopped Wang Yuxing.

Is the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance a place you can just go and surround?

You're making such a big commotion; do you want to go to war with the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance?

Such a powerful force as the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance—if they casually send a strong expert, all of us in Chengzhu Fu combined couldn't stop them!

Wang Tianqing's few words also calmed Wang Yuxing a bit.

What should we do?

What if that brat runs away?

Wang Yuxing retorted.

He can't escape.

I've already arranged for experts to go to the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance to block him.

Wang Tianqing said firmly: 'If you're worried, just seal the city gate.'

Only allow people to enter; those leaving must be inspected—problem solved.

Wang Yuxing thought it made sense and immediately went to arrange the city gate blockade.

What if that brat hides inside the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance and doesn't come out?

Wang Yufeng also asked.

Wang Tianqing said even more confidently: 'Then he'll have even less chance to escape! I'll go negotiate with the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance on that side; they'll surely hand him over!'

They had waited less than an hour in Chengzhu Fu when someone returned to report, saying Ye Liuyun is not a local, has no backing behind him, and is currently staying at the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance inn.

Haha, that's easy to handle!

Wang Tianqing burst into laughter upon hearing that: 'Just a clueless brat! My dear daughter, rest assured—I'll go to the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance to demand his return; he won't get away!'

I want him captured alive—I want to personally take revenge!

Wang Yufeng shouted.

No problem!

Wang Tianqing agreed, then rushed straight to the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance, also arranging several Martial Cultivators to lodge next to Ye Liuyun to monitor him, lest he slip away.

After arriving at the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance, Wang Tianqing went straight to find the Alliance's Administrator, claiming that someone had committed violence in broad daylight, and as the City Lord, he had a duty to maintain local security, demanding that the Administrator hand over the person.

The Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance's Administrator, Shen Youcai, still didn't know what was going on, but after hearing Wang Tianqing's explanation, he roughly understood the situation.

But he still summoned the Steward and the shopping guide Ling'er from the Ferocious Beast Market to inquire about the situation.

The Steward and Ling'er, upon seeing Wang Tianqing, immediately knew he had come to cause trouble and demand a person.

So they dared not speak nonsense, and gave a truthful account of the situation.

But to Wang Tianqing, their truthful account sounded like they were protecting Ye Liuyun.

You two are spouting nonsense, dare to protect that Ye-surnamed brat?

Wang Tianqing rebuked.

Please, Administrator Shen, give me justice! I dare not utter a single false word; many people were present then and can testify!

The Steward immediately argued back.

Shen Youcai nodded, letting the two step down first.

He now had a clear idea in his mind, but on one side were the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance's guests, on the other side the local City Lord, and he didn't want to offend either.

Shen Youcai said to Wang Tianqing: 'City Lord, please don't get angry first! If you think what they said is wrong, we can just find someone else to ask!'

Wang Tianqing also didn't want to beat around the bush with him, saying directly: 'I think there's no need to ask further.'

Just hand over that Ye-surnamed brat to me to take away; after interrogating him back home, everything will be known.

I've already checked; that brat has no background.

I've come in person; Administrator Shen won't even give me this face, will he?

Wang Tianqing had made it abundantly clear: he was bullying Ye Liuyun because he had no background, and he absolutely had to deal with him.

Shen Youcai felt a strong aversion toward the Wang Tianqing family in his heart.

Usually he tried to stay far away and avoid dealing with them as much as possible.

But now that Wang Tianqing has come to his door, he can't avoid him.

Shen Youcai thought it over and still decided to spend money to avert disaster, turning a big issue into a small one.

City Lord, that person is our guest.

If we hand over our guest, the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance will have no reputation left!

In my view, this isn't really a big deal; how about you pick something from our Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance as compensation for Miss Yufeng?

But Wang Tianqing didn't appreciate it: "Administrator Shen, what do you mean by this?"

Is our Chengzhu Fu lacking just this little thing from you?

My daughter is the one who got hurt, not your family, so of course you don't feel sorry—but I can't easily let that brat off.

Just give me a straight answer—will you hand him over or not?

Upon hearing that, Shen Youcai also frowned, his face turning cold as he said: 'City Lord Wang, are you trying to force our Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance to lose all reputation?'

He also thought to himself: 'Just a City Lord—does he really dare to go head-to-head with our Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance?'

Seeing Shen Youcai's displeased expression, Wang Tianqing knew that continuing would cause a deadlock, so he immediately gave a hehe laugh and said: 'The Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance values reputation; how could I make an unreasonable demand?'

But I have a win-win solution!

Oh?

Shen Youcai heard this, and his expression eased a little: "I would like to hear the City Lord's esteemed opinion."

Wang Tianqing wore a sly grin, blinking his small eyes as he said to Shen Youcai:

I don't need the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance to personally hand over the person to me.

As long as that brat leaves the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance, I can naturally catch him.

But he's currently hiding in the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance's inn and not coming out; I can't possibly keep sending people to stake out outside, can I?

What I mean is, as long as your inn finds an excuse not to take him in, he will naturally leave the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance.

By then it will be his own affair, unrelated to the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance!

Shen Youcai, however, pondered and asked: "What's the difference between driving the person away and handing him over directly to you?"

Wang Tianqing, however, said: "That difference is huge! As long as you have a suitable excuse, you won't attract criticism! For example, say the inn is undergoing full renovation or has already been booked in advance, leaving no rooms available."

No one can say anything about such a thing!

Shen Youcai heard this and also thought it over; if the excuse is appropriate, it really is feasible.

However, this excuse must not affect the chamber of commerce's reputation, must not be noticed, and needs careful consideration.

Moreover, he also needs to send people to investigate Ye Liuyun's background again.

If he really is just a nobody, it would be better to grant Wang Tianqing a favor, so as to avoid this petty person bearing a grudge against him.

Shen Youcai, thinking this through, also agreed.

Hmm, that's fine! But I need to come up with a secure excuse, so I don't leave myself a handle.

City Lord, please return for now; I'll notify you if there's any news!

All right, I'll go back and wait for your good news!

Wang Tianqing also immediately took his leave and departed.

He also knows in his heart that at most he can only utter a few verbal threats; he dare not truly fall out with the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance.

Even if Shen Youcai placates him, he can only come a few more times; there's no other way.

However, since Shen Youcai has already agreed, he also feels that the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance wouldn't offend a City Lord like him over a nobody.

He is, after all, the enforcer of Blood Cloud City.

Although he doesn't dare openly oppose the Ten Thousand Merchants Alliance, he can still set up obstacles and cause trouble for them behind the scenes.