Chapter 42: A Swindler

“Who are you to object? If you have no interest in making a purchase, I’ll find another buyer. What’s it got to do with you? You’ve no say!” Xu Yi retorted vehemently.

Xu Yi was unaware of how Jiang Shaochuan had used unscrupulous means to lay his hands on the Metal Spirit. Nonetheless, he had known that if one possessed a treasure, the owner would not declare publicly. Especially if the owner’s prowess and the treasure were deemed incompatible.

Because of this, he had predicted Jiang Shaochuan’s extreme reluctance to let everyone know that he was the owner of the Metal Spirit.

Fortunately for Xu Yi, he had experienced a unique auction that morning. He knew how to leverage that experience to intimidate Jiang Shaochuan.

“Five hundred taels of gold. I’ll buy it for five hundred taels of gold!”

Jiang Shaochuan could no longer tolerate it. He would have much to lose.

His trick had worked. Xu Yi was elated. However, he showed his disgust. “Nine hundred taels of gold. Not one cent less!”

Jiang Shaochuan frowned angrily. “Who bargains like this? The selling price is escalating. You are a bully!”

Xu Yi turned devious. “If you utter another word, I’ll raise the price again. I don’t care if you buy it. When I get irritated, I’ll sell it at Linglong Hall. Even if I’m only paid one penny for it, I’ll be resigned to it. Don’t you dare infuriate me!”

Having been through numerous verbal battles, playing with words was but a simple trick.

Jiang Shaochuan knew that he should leave this place. Otherwise, he might have a stroke. He left abruptly.

He conducted a body search on all his troops. He managed to pull together the nine hundred taels of gold and stumbled towards the penthouse.

Compared to his majestic arrival with his troops, Hall Master Jiang wondered if he had brought his men in order to borrow money from them?

“Take it!”

A dazed Jiang Shaochuan entered through the door and threw a stack of money on the stool that Xu Yi was sitting on.

It was known that a blind man could see when he saw money. A cripple could stand upon seeing money. A few lengthy moments passed before a lazy Xu Yi stood up. He stared intently at the thick stack of money. He counted it meticulously.

Swoosh! Xu Yi grabbed the pile of money and slipped it into his waist bag. He headed towards the door.

Jiang Shaochaun moved forward to block his way.

Xu Yi raised a brow. “Are you afraid that I’d run away? It’s such an interesting item. How can I bring it along with me all the while?”

Jiang Shaochuan grudgingly moved aside.

Xu Yi headed out of the room. Very soon, he returned in a marching stride. He held a unique and magnificent fan in his hands. He swung it three times, and when he got close to Jiang Shaochuan, he closed the fan and handed it over.

“I don’t feel hot. Quick, get to the point!”

Jiang Shaochuan peered at him angrily.

Xu Yi was taken by surprise. “What’s wrong with you? Have you not come all the way for this fan? Now that I’m returning it to you, you are dragging your feet!”

“What? Say it again!”

Jiang Shaochuan pulled down his face. His body was tense and arched. He was like an ignited bomb, ready to explode.

Xu Yi was a cool, calm, and collected. In an aristocratic tone, he said, “I took this fan from your dead son. I saw that it had exquisite and enchanting painting. It’s an air of magnificence, so I claimed as my own. This item has good aesthetic value. I’m prepared to sell it away. Since you’ve come for it and are willing to pay me a good price, I’m most pleased to sell to you. Now that I’m ready to relinquish possession, are you trying to back out of our deal?”

“You’re most despicable: a rascal, a swindler, and a hooligan…”

Jiang Shaochuan glared at Xu Yi, he could not help himself from spewing all those nasty words.

Xu Yi remained calm and composed. He took a seat on a chair and raised his cloven feet. He was enjoying a good show.

After venting his frustrations, Jiang Shaochuan shut up and peered at Xu Yi with evil intent. “Now that you’ve a reputation to think about, if word gets out that you are a man who dishonours his word, what would others think of you?”

Xu Yi retorted, “What do you mean that I go back on my word? Old man Jiang, are you still in a daze? I’ve meant the fan for this entire conversation! You never specifically disclosed the item you are after. I assumed that you wanted to buy the fan and keep it as a memento of your son. Now that I’ve brought you the fan, and this item is not what you’re after, how can you lay the blame on me?

Jiang Shaochuan was utterly speechless!

He was no match for Xu Yi in eloquence and craftiness. If this were a card game, it would be pretty obvious that Xu Yi had the upper hand for he was able to foresee Jiang’s moves. Poor Jiang Shaochuan was led into the game unwittingly, and in the end, he lost everything that he had. Gosh! Jiang was a mute victim and had to suffer in silence.

“Fuck you. I wanna be upfront with you. Hand over the Metal Spirit, and I’ll disregard this episode. If you don’t comply, I’ll make sure that you perish. We have many highly skilled pugilists at our Black Dragon Hall. We have plenty of money to hire these folks to assassinate you. How many lives do you think you have?”

Jiang Shaochuan finally exploded in rage.

Xu Yi took a quick, cold glance at him and sneered. “I’ll think you’ve fascinated yourself with your acting skills. If you’re a beautiful, dainty lady, I’ll join you playfully. Take a good look at yourself! And who’s that hiding outside the door? How long do you wish for him to stay in hiding? I’ve no time to squander on you and your nonsense.”

Jiang Shaochuna was horrified, and his terror showed on his face. He stared at Xu Yi in fear and was pondering over the same question: how could Xu Yi have known about that?

“Hey! You by the corner on the wall. You’ve squatted for a long time. Come in and have a drink,” Xu Yi shouted abruptly.

Xu Yi’s asset was possessing strong soul power. This unique talent would help him contend with his competitors in the future.

His indomitable soul power had endowed him with tenacious mental strength, superb resilience, and superior precaution ability.

Since Jiang Shaochuan and his armoured men entered the door, Xu Yi had detected the presence of a man standing outside the door.

His extortion tactic had worked. He was uninterested in continuing the conversation with Jiang Shaochuan any longer. Hence he hastened to make Jiang show hand in the game.

As soon as Xu Yi spoke, quick footsteps followed. Shortly after, a middle-aged man dressed in a green uniform and a grey hood entered the room. He could not hide his embarrassment as he stole a glance at Jiang Shaochuan. He coughed aloud and spoke to Xu Yi. “I am Chen Bing, the deputy principal from the Referee Department of the Taxation Office. I am on a special errand to bring this referee event update to you. You have been invited to a duel by the Deputy of the White Horse Branch Hall within the Black Dragon Hall. The duel is scheduled tomorrow at noon. You have two options: either accept the invitation to duel or leave Guang’an City before midnight. Otherwise you’ll be held in contempt for breaking our city’s law.”

“I accept the duel!”

Xu Yi looked playfully at Jiang Shaochuan and asked, “Hall Master Jiang, you’ve offered to let me go if I’m willing to hand over that item, have you not?”

Jiang Shaochuan’s face reddened in a flash. He was unable to respond. There was nothing more humiliating that having his lie exposed by his foe.

Just moments ago, he loudly exclaimed that he would let bygones be bygones if Xu Yi were to return his Metal Spirit.

At the same time, the Deputy from the Referee Department was hidden outside the door, ready to issue the duel notice.

If he had been able to cheat Xu Yi, he would let go of the matter. However, he did not succeed in his attempt, and instead, he had been swindled for nine hundred teals of gold. Not only was he unable to gain an advantage, he ended up worse off. That was really an utter humiliation.

“Damn it! Your death is near!”

Jiang Shaochuan straightened his neck and lashed out in anger. He left without looking back. He decided to be ruthless. If he could retrieve the Metal Spirit, so be it. Otherwise, Xu Yi would be the perfect scapegoat for the theft.