Chapter 85

Wu Qi's eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he surveyed the interior of the trading house.

In the center of the main hall downstairs, a red-clad woman with bright eyes and a beautiful smile sat, flanked on her left by a plump, smiling middle-aged man, and on her right by a robust older man with a long sword on his back, his eyes flashing with a fierce light, exuding the aura of a leader.

They were Shangguan Mingyue, the shopkeeper Wang, and the head of the Golden Saber Sect, Zheng Gongming.

Behind these three, over thirty people were seated or standing densely, including the wife of the Golden Saber Sect's head, Lady Xiao, and her disciples.

Fortunately, the main hall of the Shengyu Trading House was spacious enough that accommodating several dozen people did not make it feel crowded.

"Miss Shangguan." Shengyu and Yinhuan had been rivals for many years, and Wu Qi naturally recognized the Shangguan family's pearl.

"Ah, it's Steward Wu." The Yinhuan Chamber's three-ring gold-clothed stewards were not many, and the Shangguan family had a good understanding of each senior steward. Seeing Wu Qi, she was somewhat surprised. "Is the Yinhuan Chamber now out of business and turned to banditry?"

Hearing Shangguan Mingyue's sarcastic remark, Wu Qi was not annoyed. He smiled faintly and said, "Miss Shangguan is joking. Some special circumstances have arisen, and the Yinhuan Chamber will take over Fufeng City for a while. As long as you cooperate, I guarantee no one will be in danger."

"Steward Sai, we meet again." Zheng Gongming suddenly looked at Sai Baiwei beside Wu Qi.

"Head Zheng, I have missed you since we last met." Sai Baiwei laughed, a hint of ferocity in his eyes. "Why aren't your children here? Could it be that they saw the situation and abandoned their parents to escape alone?"

"My daughter has already joined a cultivation sect and is diligently practicing." Zheng Gongming said coolly. "As for my unworthy son, he has been missing his sister and happened to visit her. There's no need for Steward Sai to worry."

Zheng Gongming, after all, was a seasoned veteran. His words subtly hinted that Zheng Yueying was backed by a cultivation sect, hoping to make Sai Baiwei cautious and refrain from harming the people of the Golden Saber Sect.

"Are you the head of the Golden Saber Sect?" Wu Qi looked at Zheng Gongming coldly.

Just as Zheng Gongming was about to speak, a powerful aura overwhelmed him, making his chest feel tight and unable to speak. He spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Lord!" Lady Xiao, seeing Zheng Gongming injured, was shocked and cried out.

"Master!" The Golden Saber Sect disciples surrounded Zheng Gongming, glaring at Wu Qi and his men.

"Stand down!" Feeling the pressure dissipate, Zheng Gongming quickly ordered his disciples to back off, fearing they would provoke the Tianlun expert.

"Do you think that by having your daughter join a third-rate sect, I will be deterred?" Wu Qi's face was full of disdain. "Unless that sect has a Lingzun elder, you might as well save your thoughts."

Zheng Gongming did not expect his small scheme to be seen through so quickly. His face darkened, and he looked somewhat dejected.

"Miss Shangguan, have you made your decision?" Ignoring the Golden Saber Sect, Wu Qi turned to Shangguan Mingyue, still showing respect despite controlling the situation.

Shangguan Mingyue "hmmphed" and turned her head away, not answering.

"Steward Wu, this girl is so ungrateful. Why not hand her over to us for a good time?" A yellow-clad giant standing behind Wu Qi suddenly spoke. "I guarantee she will be tamed, and she will do whatever you say."

Shangguan Mingyue's eyes narrowed. Seeing the man's lecherous face, she frowned and felt disgusted.

Her subordinates were even more furious, angrily denouncing the man's shamelessness.

"Brother He, this girl is the Shengyu Trading House's young miss and a close friend of the imperial princess. We must not act rashly." Wu Qi was surprisingly polite to the giant. "If Brother He and Brother Hu want women, I will arrange it for you, and I promise you won't be disappointed."

A burly man standing next to "Brother He" chuckled. "Steward Wu, since this girl is so noble, why not take her as your concubine? Once a woman's reputation is ruined, she might follow you loyally, and you could become the Shengyu Trading House's son-in-law and a future business mogul."

This statement made everyone from the Shengyu Trading House change color, and even Wu Qi showed a hint of hesitation, seemingly tempted.

Shangguan Mingyue was indeed too beautiful, with her long legs especially alluring. To say he was completely unmoved would be a lie.

"I would rather die than submit to you." Shangguan Mingyue's face turned pale as she spoke.

Wu Qi, after all, was not an ordinary person. He quickly regained his composure and smiled. "Miss Shangguan, rest assured. I am not a despicable person and will not force you. Please cooperate and don't make things difficult for me."

It wasn't that Wu Qi was particularly upright, but as a high-ranking official, he knew the unwritten rules among the capital's noble families. Some lines should not be crossed, or it could bring disaster upon himself.

The burly man, seeing Wu Qi's refusal, was not angry. He leered and said, "Since we can't touch the Shangguan family's girl, can we have that woman over there?"

As he spoke, his right hand pointed at Lady Xiao, who was supporting Zheng Gongming.

"Brother He, that woman must be the head of the Golden Saber Sect's wife. Head Zheng's cultivation isn't great, but his wife is beautiful. No wonder my brother is attracted to her," the man next to "Brother He" said with a laugh.

Zheng Gongming had wandered outside for many years and only married in his forties, so Lady Xiao was only thirty-six, in her prime.

Given that she had given birth to a daughter as beautiful as Zheng Yueying, Lady Xiao was naturally very attractive. After being cured of her anorexia by Zhong Wen's salt, she had regained her health, with a rosy complexion and a charming demeanor, exuding the allure of a mature woman.

No wonder the man's eyes had not left her since entering the trading house.

It was said that after Lady Xiao's recovery, Head Zheng often struggled to get out of bed in the morning and even neglected his sword practice.

"Shameless scoundrel!" Hearing the man's plot against his wife, Zheng Gongming was furious, his hair standing on end. Ignoring his injuries, he drew his sword and charged forward.

"Do you think that by founding a third-rate sect like the Golden Saber Sect, you are someone?" The man looked at the enraged Zheng Gongming with disdain. "Steward Wu, let me teach this overconfident head a lesson."

"Brother Hu, be careful and finish quickly." Wu Qi did not stop him, clearly confident in "Brother Hu's" abilities.

"Mrs. Zheng, I'll deal with this waste of space first, then come to you," the man leered at Lady Xiao.

"Die!" Zheng Gongming, unable to contain his anger, roared and swung his golden saber, the force of which seemed to move mountains and seas.

"Brother Hu" chuckled, sidestepping the golden saber and punching Zheng Gongming with the force of a roaring tiger.

The two exchanged blows, and after a few moves, it was hard to tell who was winning.

"This head of the Golden Saber Sect has some skill," "Brother He" said, stroking his chin, slightly surprised.

The two men Wu Qi brought, one called Hu Xia and the other He Ming, were fellow disciples, both at the peak of the Dilun realm. They had mastered a combined technique called "Tiger and Crane Double Formation," which could resist the aura of a Tianlun expert when used together.

In other words, the two of them together could be considered a Tianlun expert.

Thus, Wu Qi relied heavily on them, treating them much better than Sai Baiwei.

Zheng Gongming had already been injured by Wu Qi, and with Hu Xia's strength, after a few more exchanges, he began to feel overwhelmed. However, out of pride, he gritted his teeth and pushed his spiritual energy to the limit, refusing to back down.

"Enough!" Wu Qi frowned, releasing the aura of a Tianlun expert, which pressed down on Zheng Gongming, making him stagger.

Hu Xia's punch took advantage of the moment and struck Zheng Gongming's chest.

"Spit!" Zheng Gongming spat out another mouthful of blood, his golden saber falling from his hand. He was thrown back and crashed into a pillar, feeling intense pain in his chest, knowing he had broken two ribs.

"Shameless!" Shangguan Mingyue couldn't help but shout, "A Tianlun expert interfering in a Dilun duel, Steward Wu, you have no honor."

"Take everyone here away. Anyone who resists, kill them, except for Miss Shangguan." Wu Qi ignored her and gave the order.

He had an important mission and did not intend to waste time in the Shengyu Trading House.

"Mrs. Zheng, come with me." Hu Xia's eyes gleamed with lust as he reached for Lady Xiao's arm.

"Master!" The Golden Saber Sect disciples were shocked and rushed to block him, but he knocked them down with a single punch each.

Seeing Lady Xiao about to fall into Hu Xia's hands, Zheng Gongming was enraged, his eyes bloodshot. He tried to stand up to fight again, but the slightest movement caused intense pain in his chest, and he spat out another mouthful of blood.

Seeing the frail Lady Xiao about to be taken by Hu Xia, Shangguan Mingyue stepped forward, blocking Lady Xiao and pointing her sword at Hu Xia's face. "You dare!"

Hu Xia, blocked by Shangguan Mingyue, hesitated, knowing her noble status.

Wu Qi sighed and released his Tianlun aura again, making Shangguan Mingyue stiffen and unable to move.

"Take Miss Shangguan away."

As he spoke, two of his subordinates slowly approached Shangguan Mingyue.

The thought of being touched by strangers, even through clothes, made the young miss feel humiliated. She watched them approach, her face pale, struggling but unable to move.

As their hands were about to touch her arms, tears welled up in her eyes.

"Ah~"

A soft, gentle sigh echoed in the hall.

At the same time, two spirals of spiritual energy appeared above the heads of the two men approaching Shangguan Mingyue.

"Ah~"

With two piercing screams, their heads were torn apart by the spirals, leaving two headless bodies standing in place, not yet falling.

"Aunt!"

Hearing the sigh, Shangguan Mingyue's eyes lit up, and her face showed joy.