Chapter 972: Precious Treasure

Upon discovering that Wang Chen’s identity badge was genuine, Shangguan Pengfei felt as if he were sitting on hot coals.

The Blood Guard, Blood Guard, and Yulin Guards together made up the Three Personal Guards of the Emperor, directly under the Daye Emperor. Wang Chen’s status as a Qiandu of the Blood Guard was equal to Shangguan Pengfei’s position as a militiaman.

Not to mention Wang Chen’s additional title as Grand General!

Thus, even though the court officials held higher ranks, Shangguan Pengfei had no authority to issue orders to Wang Chen, let alone use pressure against him.

Moreover, it was hard to believe that such a young Qiandu of the Blood Guard could lack skills or connections!

The problem was that Shangguan Pengfei had teamed up with Old Mu before to deceive outsiders, and now that the two sides had clashed so greatly, how would they settle this?

The thought of killing and silencing Wang Chen flickered through Shangguan Pengfei’s mind only to be quickly suppressed.

Setting aside whether he could eliminate Wang Chen, the sudden disappearance of a Qiandu of the Blood Guard was no small matter, especially with so many witnesses around. If word got out, he would not be able to bear the consequences.

It could even implicate his family!

With his mindset racing, Shangguan Pengfei displayed a friendly smile: "Ah, it’s Wang Qiandu! What a misunderstanding, like the flood rushing to the Dragon King’s temple, we are all Family who do not know each other!"

In truth, although the Blood Guard and Yulin Guards both served as the emperor’s personal guards, they were not really Family; their relationship had never been truly friendly.

If they truly became one Family, then the emperor would not keep his throne!

Wang Chen smiled and replied, "No problem, no problem."

Shangguan Pengfei turned to Old Mu, suddenly dropping his expression: "Old Mu, how dare you slander Master Wang? What punishment do you deserve?"

Old Mu was filled with fear: "I am guilty, and I will not dare again. Please forgive me, esteemed sirs!"

"I’m glad you know your crime."

Shangguan Pengfei frowned and said, "Now hurry up and clean this place. It looks a mess!"

Old Mu rushed to summon his servants to take the gray figure lying on the ground to the back courtyard for treatment.

He also ordered them to clean the floor.

Even though he wished he could cut Wang Chen into pieces, with Shangguan Pengfei as his last refuge choosing to compromise, he had no one left to rely on.

He could only swallow his anger and grievances.

Wang Chen watched from the side, making no interference.

Shangguan Pengfei and Old Mu were just putting on a show before him, clearly wanting to downplay the serious matter and brush it aside.

Once the hall was cleaned up, Shangguan Pengfei said: "Master Wang, today’s events were truly a misunderstanding. I’ll have Old Mu prepare an apology and compensation plan. For my sake, please spare him!"

Wang Chen smiled, "That’s reasonable."

Shangguan Pengfei’s smile became more sincere: "Great! Master Wang, I’d like to invite you to Tianxiang Tower for a drink. I will ensure you get a satisfactory resolution to this matter!"

"No need to rush for drinks."

Wang Chen waved his hand and said, "I still have an account to settle with Old Mu before we can talk."

Shangguan Pengfei was taken aback: "What account?"

Old Mu also looked puzzled.

Wang Chen smiled and said, “Here’s the matter: I just spent one million silver taels to purchase three five-hundred-year-old mountain ginsengs from Old Mu, and they are still on the table. Isn’t that right, Old Mu?”

One million silver taels!

Shangguan Pengfei’s expression instantly changed, revealing an uncontrollable greed in his eyes.

As a lieutenant of the Blood Guard, his annual salary was merely a few hundred silver taels. Without his family’s support, he wouldn’t even be able to cover his daily expenses, let alone practice Martial Arts.

The Shangguan family was vast and prosperous, with many members; it was impossible for them to allocate all their resources to him.

In fact, there were numerous direct descendants in the family who were far more outstanding than Shangguan Pengfei.

For the sake of cultivation resources and personal indulgence, Shangguan Pengfei had colluded with Old Mu, engaging in numerous shady dealings.

Today, he had come to slaughter a fat sheep!

Shangguan Pengfei hadn’t expected Wang Chen to be so wealthy, casually producing a million silver taels.

A mix of envy, hatred, and insatiable greed burned within him, turning his eyes red.

The Blood Guard truly knew how to make money!

Old Mu, however, didn’t notice Shangguan Pengfei’s gaze. He was caught off guard by Wang Chen’s question and instinctively nodded, “Yes.”

“But the five-hundred-year-old mountain ginsengs you sold me are all fake!”

Wang Chen said in a deep voice, “According to the laws of Emperor Taizu of the Great Liang, merchants who sell counterfeit goods must compensate tenfold!”

The laws of Emperor Taizu were personally established by the founding emperor of the Great Liang, comprising seventy-two articles, nine of which specifically targeted merchants, known as the Nine Merchant Laws.

It was said that in his youth, the emperor had been severely cheated by unscrupulous merchants. After founding the Great Liang, while he didn’t harshly suppress merchants, he was relentless in punishing dishonest traders.

The rule of compensating tenfold meant that for every fake item sold, the penalty was ten times its value!

Wang Chen stared at Old Mu, “You owe me ten million silver taels!”

Ten million silver taels!

Old Mu felt as if he had been struck by lightning, completely stunned.

He finally realized that this was Wang Chen’s trap all along!

Old Mu hurriedly turned to Shangguan Pengfei, pleading urgently, “Lord Shangguan, this isn’t true! He’s lying!”

Even if he were to be torn apart, he couldn’t possibly come up with ten million silver taels.

In desperation, he could only pin his hopes on Shangguan Pengfei.

Shangguan Pengfei cursed inwardly but forced himself to speak, “Master Wang, I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. How about this: Old Mu returns your silver and compensates you with an additional hundred thousand taels?”

“Yes, I am willing to compensate!”

At this point, Old Mu was utterly panicked, nodding frantically like a pounding pestle.

“A hundred thousand?”

Wang Chen chuckled softly, “Are you trying to treat me like a beggar?”

Shangguan Pengfei met his gaze, and a chill surged from the depths of his heart, as if he had been plunged into an icy abyss.

Wang Chen’s eyes were filled with unmistakable disdain and mockery, looking at him as if he were a mere clown.

Under normal circumstances, Shangguan Pengfei would have been furious, but he found himself unable to summon any anger.

His spirit was completely crushed, utterly suppressed!

Wang Chen then turned to Old Mu and said, “If you can’t pay me ten million silver taels today, then you will pay with your life.”

Wang Chen’s tone was calm, but to Old Mu, it sounded like a thunderous roar.

He dropped to his knees, pleading desperately, “Master, I truly don’t have that much silver!”

“If you value money over your life, then you shall die.”

Wang Chen, expressionless, raised his right palm and brought it down heavily toward Old Mu’s forehead.

The shadow of death instantly loomed over the unscrupulous merchant. Terrified, he nearly wet himself and cried out, “Spare me, Master! I have a precious treasure I’m willing to offer as compensation!”

A precious treasure?

Wang Chen’s poised right hand halted just an inch above Old Mu’s forehead.