Chapter 95: Boss Qian's

The door of the reception hall slowly closed amid Zhao Weiguo and Sun Ba's doubtful gazes.

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing deep confusion in each other's eyes.

"That old fox, what scheme is he cooking up now?"

Sun Ba adjusted his glasses, and a wary light flickered in his eyes behind the lenses.

He didn't believe that Qian Wanjin, a profit-driven man, would stay for no reason.

"I don't know."

Zhao Weiguo shook his head, a hint of solemnity appearing on his face.

"But I have a feeling… something big is about to happen."

The two exchanged no further words and hurriedly left the City Lord's mansion.

Meanwhile, inside the reception hall.

The atmosphere, however, had become eerily strange to the extreme.

Qian Wanjin stood there, not too close nor too far from Lin Yue, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead, his expensive silk Tang suit already soaked through with sweat.

He wanted to say something, but it felt as if something was blocking his throat, and he couldn't utter a word.

Lin Yue ignored him, simply brewing himself another cup of hot tea.

The tea leaves unfurled in the scalding hot water, releasing a refreshing fragrance that invigorated the heart and spleen.

Time flowed by, minute by minute, second by second.

Each second felt to Qian Wanjin as long as a century.

The improper thoughts he had previously harbored toward Lin Yue had long vanished after witnessing the Black Tortoise's heaven‑shattering, earth‑destroying terrifying power.

Now his mind held only one thought—survive!

"Plop!"

Finally, as Lin Yue was about to finish his second cup of tea, Qian Wanjin could no longer bear the suffocating pressure; his legs gave way and he collapsed to his knees without warning!

His bulky body collided with the cold, hard metal floor, producing a deep, muffled thud.

"Lin… Lin City Lord!"

Qian Wanjin's voice trembled uncontrollably; he didn't even dare lift his head to look at Lin Yue's eyes, merely pressing his forehead firmly against the cold floor and speaking in an almost pleading tone:

"Before… before I was blind to Mount Tai! I've offended you greatly! This time… after I return, I will immediately send people to deliver another five hundred first‑grade Energy Crystals! No! One thousand! These one thousand Energy Crystals shall serve as… as my compensation to you!"

"I hope you, with your great magnanimity, will raise your hand high and spare… spare my dog's life!"

Having said that, he began kowtowing like pounding garlic toward Lin Yue, the "thud thud thud" sounds especially jarring in the silent reception hall.

Lin Yue set down his teacup, his gaze finally falling on him.

Looking at the fat man before him, who was completely different from before, Lin Yue's face showed not the slightest ripple.

"Two thousand first‑grade Energy Crystals?"

"This Qian Wanjin really is willing to spill blood for it."

"He had thought the other side would at most produce a few thousand just for show."

"But he never imagined that, in order to save his life, this guy would actually offer such an astronomical price!"

Lin Yue silently reckoned it up in his mind.

"Thirty thousand for slaying the Abyss Terror Crocodile, thirty thousand for purifying the land, plus Qian Wanjin's ten thousand……"

"A total of seventy thousand first‑grade Energy Crystals!"

【Current total energy points: /】

Looking at the numbers on the system panel, Lin Yue's heart began to race uncontrollably.

"This time, I'm really going to strike it rich!"

"Looks like I previously underestimated the depth of Suchen's three major families."

Lin Yue secretly sighed in his heart.

However, though his heart was overjoyed, his face remained as calm as an ancient well.

He did not speak immediately, merely watching Qian Wanjin kowtow like pounding garlic on the floor, wanting to make this fat man understand that some mistakes cannot be easily compensated with money.

"Lord Lin… I… I really know I was wrong…"

Qian Wanjin kowtowed until his head was bloody, his voice already choked with sobs.

He felt that he had never been so close to death.

"You think a thousand Energy Crystals can buy your life?"

Although Lin Yue spoke softly, it made Qian Wanjin's whole body shudder violently, instantly draining all color from his face.

"He… he thinks it's too little?!"

"No… no! Lord Lin! As long as you speak, I'll give you however many Energy Crystals you want! All the stock of my Heavenly God Group… I… I'll give it all to you!"

Qian Wanjin panicked completely.

However, Lin Yue slowly shook his head.

"This isn't a matter of whether or not there are Energy Crystals."

"Besides Energy Crystals, I'm also interested in you as a person."

As soon as those words were spoken, Qian Wanjin was completely bewildered.

"Interested in him as a person?"

"What does that mean?"

"Could it be… he has some other use?"

As he stood there doubtful and lost in random thoughts, Lin Yue slowly rose to his feet and walked up to him.

"Your life, I can temporarily refrain from taking."

Lin Yue looked down at him from a height, his voice somewhat cold,

"However, the death penalty can be waived, but the punishment for living cannot be escaped."

"I need you to handle a matter for me. As long as you get it done, I'll wipe the slate clean of what happened before!"

Upon hearing this, Qian Wanjin was overjoyed.

"City Lord Lin, please command me!"

He was so excited that he spoke incoherently, repeatedly promising:

"Not just one thing—even a hundred, a thousand! As long as you give the word, I, Qian Wanjin, will go through blades and fire to get it done perfectly!"

"One thing is enough!"

Lin Yue's mouth curled into a playful arc.

"I need you to use the channels and influence of the Heavenly God Group to help Xuanwu City... do some promotion."

"Promotion?"

Qian Wanjin froze again; he never expected Lin Yue to make such a... strange request.

"That's right."

Lin Yue nodded, his gaze deepening.

"I want all the small and medium shelters in Suchen to know of Xuanwu City's existence."

"Tell them there is ample food, clean water, and absolute safety. I want all the small and medium shelters in Suchen to know of Xuanwu City's existence. All they need to provide is energy crystals."

Qian Wanjin was completely dumbfounded.

"Help promote Xuanwu City?"

"For the Heavenly God Building Group, this is easier than drinking water!"

"Killing Qian Wanjin is simple."

"But what after killing him?"

"It would only make Zhao Weiguo and Sun Ba more wary of me, increasing their defenses against me."

"This does not align with his principle of maximizing his own interests."

"And having Qian Wanjin, this local bully, help me wave flags and shout to attract those scattered survivor forces."

"This would not only bring more population and labor to Xuanwu City, but also obtain more energy crystals without bloodshed!"

"And this is also his purpose for coming to Suchen, isn't it!"

"What? You can't do it?"

Lin Yue looked at the still-dazed Qian Wanjin and said with a half-smile.

"No! No! I can do it! Of course I can!"

Qian Wanjin shuddered, snapped back to reality, nodding and bowing repeatedly, his face full of obsequious smiles.

"City Lord Lin, rest assured! I'll take care of this! At most three days! I guarantee that all the small and medium shelters in Suchen will know your great name, Xuanwu City!"

He patted his chest, vowing solemnly.

PS: New book, please urge updates and collect!