parentshiftbook 013 Ten thousand taels of silver
013 Ten thousand taels of silver
"Clang, clang..."
The sounds of bowls and plates clattering together rose and fell.
Inside the kitchen of Suiyulou, Ning Kui held a large pork knuckle in one hand and a bottle of fine wine in the other, tilting his head back and chugging it down.
He had already eaten enough food for at least ten people, but he was only seven-tenths full.
"I already had the strength of a thousand jin when I first started practicing skin refining. Now that I have broken through to the minor level of skin refining, I still need to grow a lot more."
"Eating so much and still not enough? Won't you go bankrupt later?"
Ning Kui, with a distressed expression, spat out a clean bone and then fished a braised goose from the boiling iron pot: "Li Qijue, Li Qijue, I did all this for you!"
In the end, he couldn't bear to leave Li Qijue behind and go alone.
After achieving minor success in the Skin Refining Realm, one may benefit from the "Raging Sea Suppressing Dragon Halberd" technique.
He already possesses the strength of three thousand jin in his normal state, far exceeding that of people like Li Dalang.
In addition, with the 200% boost from the minor completion of the [Gluttony] supernatural power, a full-force burst can even briefly reach a combat strength of nine thousand catties, surpassing even some half-baked martial artists in the Body Refining Realm.
The power of the [Water Control] supernatural ability also increased with the surge in strength, expanding to the point where it could manipulate 20,000 catties of water, enough to envelop the entire Pig God.
But he knew very well that even with his current strength, it would be impossible to defeat the Pig God.
However, if they desperately restrict the boar god's movements and manage to escape to the bustling city with Li Qijue, there is still a sliver of a chance.
Ning Kui will never abandon his companions as long as he has the chance.
Just as they were tearing into the juicy, flavorful, and tempting old goose, a violent energy fluctuation suddenly emanated from the air in front of the Broken Rain Pavilion.
The forbidden ruins have been opened.
Li Qijue's disheveled figure fell from the void, staggering backward, his hands empty, even his weapon gone.
His fair face was covered in disheveled hair, and bloodstains were scattered like plum blossoms.
"Hmph."
A huge, dark, lumpy figure emerged from the forbidden ruins with a groan. A large section of its rough fangs was broken off, and a long sword with a sharp, cold gleam was plunged into its neck.
Ning Kui didn't have time to assess the situation carefully. The moment he saw the dark figure, he immediately activated his supernatural powers. The water he had prepared smashed through the courtyard wall and surged towards the Pig God from both sides.
"Run with me!"
Ning Kui shouted from a distance and then ran away without looking back.
"???"
Li Qijue stared strangely at Ning Kui's fleeing figure, his mind filled with questions.
No, why is he still here?
It's clearly just incredibly weak...
"No! This power, this speed... he definitely wasn't this strong when he arrived!"
Li Qijue was once again shocked by Ning Kui's monstrous talent. In just one day, he had gone from an ordinary person who hadn't even started cultivating to the Lesser Completion of the Skin Refining Realm. This talent...
They're already no weaker than those so-called prodigies in Yujing City who soak in medicinal pools.
"Moreover, they are surprisingly loyal and affectionate."
Li Qijue's lips curled up slightly. He never expected that a young dragon would actually emerge from the remote and impoverished Yugu County.
"Hmph hmph hmph."
The water enveloped the boar god, trapping it for only a few breaths before it was shaken and dispersed by its massive, mountain-like body.
It stared discontentedly at Ning Kui's back, its front hooves silently pawing the ground. With just one charge, it could crush that human who had defied the gods into a bloody pulp.
Li Qijue immediately stepped in front of it, his eyes icy: "What, you want to continue fighting?"
The pig god grunted twice, his voice booming like muffled thunder: "If it weren't for your profound supernatural powers and the treasure that restrains the soul, do you think my avatar would have lost to you?!"
You won't be so lucky next time we meet.
As soon as it finished speaking, endless black energy was drawn out of its body, revealing a limping old man who looked like a dried corpse.
He lay motionless on the ground, already dead.
On the other side, Ning Kui sensed something was wrong and turned back.
So while he was out there fighting and enduring immense pressure, this pretty boy was inside the Forbidden Ruins, wielding a bunch of magical treasures and riding a dragon right in his face?
Unable to bear his strange gaze, Li Qijue coughed and changed the subject, saying, "Ahem, to actually kill the Starving Ghost solo, not bad. Tell me, what reward do you want?"
Ning Kui's disdainful expression immediately turned into a beaming smile, and he said obsequiously, "How about a hundred Qi and Blood Pills for this morning?"
"...Ten pills, take it or leave it."
"Yes, yes, thank you so much, Lord Li!"
The two walked side by side toward the Zhu family compound. One didn't ask the other how his strength had suddenly increased so much, and the other didn't ask how he could fight on equal terms with someone at the Elephant Realm.
We finally managed to escape the maze-like Zhu Family Compound.
Pushing open the heavy vermilion gate, the first thing that catches the eye is the blood-red lantern swaying in the wind and rain.
Then came a large group of men in black standing silently in the rain.
A huge crowd filled the entire street, everyone wearing a straw hat, and raindrops fell in a glistening line along the thatch.
The long swords hung silently at their waists, and they were even more silent than the swords themselves.
At the very front, the hunched-over, richly dressed old man wearily raised his eyelids.
"Li Ping is acting recklessly; I, Ding, have been waiting for you for a long time."
Ning Kui stood behind Li Qijue, his gaze sweeping over the crowd in front of him, his breathing unconsciously becoming heavy.
The Ding family!
This behemoth, which controls all fish markets, canal transport, and dock businesses, is an insurmountable mountain in the hearts of all fishermen.
"The Sick Dragon - Ding Yuan".
Are you trying to antagonize an official appointed by the imperial court? That's a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family!
Li Qijue's calm voice carried out, clearly reaching the ears of every man in black.
The Zhu family at least knew to stage a scene where the young mistress is possessed by a demon to cover their tracks. Would the Ding family dare to openly kill officials and rebel?
Master Ding coughed, his voice hoarse as if it were blocked with phlegm: "Lord Li is joking. I have always been a law-abiding citizen."
However, the person behind you may be related to some of my murdered servants.
I hope Lord Li will do me the favor and allow me to take him back to my residence for investigation. If it's a misunderstanding, then I can release him later.
"Damn it, it's coming for me!" Ning Kui's body tensed up instinctively.
No, is it really necessary?
Are Zhao Hu and Li Dalang the illegitimate children of this old pig-dog? Why make such a big fuss!
Li Qijue stood before the Zhu residence, looking down at the group of black-clad swordsmen below the steps, his eyes filled with contempt: "Is Master Ding threatening me?"
"No, no."
Master Ding slowly shook his head, and his aged hands clapped. Immediately, four muscular, strong men carried the heavy sandalwood box forward.
The moment the lid was lifted, a burst of silver light shone forth, dazzling everyone's eyes until they squinted.
The breathing of the countless black-clad swordsmen below the hall instantly became heavy.
"When Lord Li first arrived in Yugu County, he needed money for everything."
If Lord Li is willing to give me some face, I am also willing to do you a favor.
"Ten thousand taels of silver, a mere token to express my heartfelt sentiments."
No, am I worth that much money?
Ning Kui was somewhat stunned; ten thousand taels of silver!
That's all the tax revenue the entire Yugu County generates in a year!
The Ding family has absolutely gone mad!
He looked at Li Qijue's back with some worry. Such enormous wealth was easily within Li Qijue's grasp if he simply handed him over.
Moreover, Master Ding might not even kill him.
If it were him...
"Take your stinking money and get out of here."
Li Qijue's cold voice rang out, his tone mocking, showing no regard for this enormous wealth.
The room fell silent for a moment, except for the sound of rain pattering on the roof.
Master Ding remained calm, seemingly unsurprised.
He closed his eyes, shook his head, and sighed, "The money I've decided to give away, how can I possibly take it back?"
Since Lord Li refuses, this old man can only distribute this ten thousand taels of silver among the brothers present.
In the torrential rain, the black-clad swordsmen's breathing became increasingly rapid, as if they would try to kill even a god if Master Ding gave the order!
Without any visible movement from Master Ding, the heavy treasure chest flew into the air, and the silver ingots inside fell into the hands of the swordsmen.
Ning Kui sensed a power of the same origin within it, which he believed was the power that the Ding family had obtained from the dragon at the bottom of Kunze Lake.
After dividing the silver, Master Ding sneered three times at Li Qijue and Ning Kui, then strode away.
The thousand swordsmen behind him also let out three identical cold laughs before following Master Ding away in unison.
Such strict discipline makes them seem less like kept retainers and more like a private army of assassins.
Before long, there was no one left in front of the Zhu family's gate, and the somber atmosphere dissipated.
"Thank you very much. I'm sorry you lost ten thousand taels of silver."
Ning Kui walked to Li Qijue's side and said casually, "I'll make it up to you when I earn money later."
Unexpectedly, he was met with Li Qi's disdainful contempt: "Don't be silly, you're worth ten thousand taels of silver too."
Whether it's the Ding family or the Zhu family, all they want is my attitude.
The difference is that the Zhu family wanted to pressure me with force, while the Ding family wanted to lure me with benefits. You, like that poor young mistress, are nothing more than an excuse to force me to make a statement.
My stance is that I will never compromise with these scumbags.
Ning Kui: "???"
Okay, okay, is this how you play?
You don't take me seriously, do you?
Things change every thirty years, we'll see!