Chapter 755: He’s a Madman

"Kiddo, are you all right? I heard that old coot from Nanyuan was giving you trouble." Zhan Chi immediately saw from their expressions that something was wrong.

Xiang Minghou completely ignored Zhan Chi and kept pulling her forward.

"Mr. Zhan, don’t worry. I’m fine," Ye Qianning said, looking back.

Zhan Chi paused for a moment, then hurried to catch up. "Kiddo, if something’s wrong, you tell Dad. That old coot from Nanyuan is a wily old fox, full of tricks."

"I’m really fine. He can’t stir up any trouble here in Dayu City."

"As long as you’re okay."

"Mr. Zhan, how much money did the Beili envoy bring this time?"

"Li Mu is indeed rich, but after compensating Jisheng Hall, he has almost nothing left. He hasn’t even been able to put together a birthday gift for Old Prince Feng."

"He’s that broke?"

’Broke?’

A smile played on Zhan Chi’s lips. ’He should think about how much he paid in compensation to Jisheng Hall. He’s bound to be reprimanded when he returns to the capital.’

"I was hoping to scam some more money out of him, but if he’s broke, then forget it."

"If he has no money, he can write an IOU. An IOU with Li Mu’s seal will be honored by all the major chambers of commerce in Beili."

Ye Qianning’s eyes lit up. "Really?"

Zhan Chi nodded.

"That makes things easy."

Ye Qianning was being dragged along, her head turned to chat with Zhan Chi.

"Xiang Minghou, why are you dragging her like that?" Zhan Chi finally realized something was amiss.

Xiang Minghou’s face was dark.

"Xiang Minghou..."

Ye Qianning shushed him.

Zhan Chi was confused. "What’s going on?"

Ye Qianning stole a glance at Xiang Minghou before turning back to whisper, "Sang Zhi is here. Dad almost got into a fight with him just now."

Upon hearing Sang Zhi’s name, Zhan Chi’s confused expression froze for a moment, and then his face darkened as well.

’Why is the Eighth Prince here?’

"Mr. Zhan?"

"Kiddo, you need to stay away from him from now on," Zhan Chi said, looking up with a serious expression.

"Why?"

Zhan Chi’s expression was complex, his brow furrowed, and he didn’t answer.

The three of them didn’t speak again for the rest of the way back to Yan Hui Inn.

Xiang Minghou didn’t let go of her until they were back in the room.

"Dad, please don’t be angry."

’It’s probably because of what happened all those years ago,’ Ye Qianning thought. ’My fathers can’t let it go, which is why they have such a problem with Sang Zhi.’

"Pangtuan, I don’t want you to have anything more to do with him," Xiang Minghou said gravely.

"Why?"

"He... he’s not the same as when he was a child."

"People change. Look at me, Dad. I’m not the same as I was when I was little, either. What happened back then wasn’t his fault."

"You... Ugh. Kiddo, you were on the island for many years. You don’t know about him. He’s a very dangerous person now. Listen to me, don’t get too close to him," Xiang Minghou said, his tone heavy and earnest.

’Very dangerous?’

Ye Qianning recalled the aura Sang Zhi had emitted back at the Immortal Sea Building. It held an invisible killing intent and was indeed terrifying.

"Kiddo, just listen to your dad." For once, Zhan Chi agreed with Xiang Minghou.

After mulling it over, Ye Qianning couldn’t help but ask, "Mr. Zhan, you’re in Beili, so you’re closest to him. Can you tell me what exactly is wrong with him?"

Zhan Chi looked troubled.

"Dad."

"He’s a madman," Xiang Minghou said coldly.

"What do you mean?"

’Mad? How is he mad?’

"Although I don’t care enough to pay much attention to him, I do know that when he loses control, he kills everyone around him. His methods are incredibly cruel," Xiang Minghou said.

Shock filled Ye Qianning’s eyes.

"When the Eighth Prince goes crazy, he doesn’t recognize anyone. On top of that, who knows how many people are secretly watching those eyes of his. Sooner or later, he’ll be a fish on the chopping block," Zhan Chi said in a low voice.

"Then what about all his Inner Strength?"

Zhan Chi shook his head. "Back then, after he visited you at the General’s Manor, he disappeared for several days on his way back. When the Royal Hidden Guards found him, a powerful Inner Strength had been forced into his body. As for who did it, no one knows to this day."

’No one knows...’

’So he wasn’t lying.’

Ye Qianning’s fingers tightened slightly. ’The Inner Strength filling his body is even greater than mine. He was so young then, and he had never even practiced martial arts. To have such powerful Inner Strength forced into him... and he actually survived...’

’Just how much willpower must it have taken to endure that?’

"Kiddo, I was already against you going to Beili. If you get involved with him again, how can I possibly rest easy?" Xiang Minghou didn’t want her to get entangled in Beili’s affairs.

He didn’t want her mixed up with the Beili Imperial Family.

Ye Qianning suppressed the turmoil in her heart and nodded. "Dad, I understand."

"It’s good that you understand."

***

The day before the birthday banquet, Old Prince Feng rewrote the invitations, changing the venue to a restaurant directly across from the Immortal Sea Building.

That same day, the restaurant put up a large new signboard with several big, glittering golden words: "Congratulations to Prince Feng on His Grand Birthday."

Many people in Dayu City had heard about what happened at the Immortal Sea Building and were secretly mocking Old Prince Feng. The story went that several of his guards had been killed, and he had still tried to buy the building afterward.

In the end, he had nearly fainted from shock at the Immortal Sea Building’s price.

The price of one hundred and eighteen million spread throughout Dayu City, leaving anyone who heard it shocked speechless.

Many also rumored that since the Immortal Sea Building primarily sold Nanyuan aquatic products, that entire one hundred and eighteen million had been earned off the backs of the Nanyuan people.

Many Nanyuan merchants, filled with envy and jealousy, began to resent the Immortal Sea Building. Gu Shuo was buying their aquatic products for a few copper coins and selling them at exorbitant prices. Over ten years, it was calculated, he had earned this much.

That one hundred and eighteen million was the blood and sweat of the Nanyuan people. Now that the ten-year contract was about to expire, there was no way the people of Nanyuan would sign a new one.

If they sold the products themselves, they could make a fortune.

News of this sum of money quickly reached the ears of the representatives from the Four Countries Chamber of Commerce. Whoever signed the next contract with Nanyuan would make money hand over fist. And with Nanyuan’s new fruit crops, there were opportunities to profit everywhere.

At this thought, the representatives of the other three countries’ chambers of commerce placed even greater importance on Old Prince Feng’s birthday celebration.

Li Mu from the Beili Chamber of Commerce had been searching for two days but still hadn’t found a presentable birthday gift. For one, he didn’t have enough money, and for another, he hadn’t seen anything he liked.

Tomorrow was the old prince’s birthday. If he failed to curry favor and couldn’t establish trade with Nanyuan, the Emperor would surely be furious.

"My Lord," a guard hurried in.

"What is it?"

"My Lord, a gem that shimmers with seven colors has appeared on West Street. It’s even more beautiful than the Luminous Pearl in the Imperial Palace’s collection."

Li Mu’s eyes lit up. "Let’s go take a look."

***

「As midnight passed, it became the twelfth day of the sixth month.」

Gu Shuo and Elder Chen were delayed on the road for half a day and only hurried into the city at midnight.

"Gu Shuo, let’s go straight to Yan Hui Inn," Elder Chen said impatiently.

"Elder Chen, you’re weary from the road, and today is your birthday. Let me take you to the Immortal Sea Building first to wash up and rest for a while." Although Gu Shuo was just as anxious, he noted the late hour.

"No need to rest. I’m going right now."

"Elder Chen, look how haggard you are. If you see her like this, won’t you just make her worry? Rest for a while at the Immortal Sea Building and get your energy back. Besides, it’s already past midnight. She’s sure to be busy tomorrow, so you should let her get some more rest."

Elder Chen glanced at the sky and nodded with some hesitation. ’Of all times, why did we have to arrive right at midnight?’

Gu Shuo took Elder Chen to the Immortal Sea Building, gave some instructions, and then turned to leave.