Chapter 43: I Need Money and People |
Niu You Dao clasped his hands: "This untalented Niu You Dao greets General Feng!"
Indeed, this young woman was Feng Ru Nan. She furrowed her brows and asked:
"Old friend? When did you and I become friends?"
Niu You Dao smiled and said:
"Perhaps General remembers how, in Purple Cloud County, you shot arrows at me when I was on that raft? This Niu distinctly remembers the General who nearly struck me down with an arrow and left me to freeze in the icy river."
Feng Ru Nan's lips twisted. She remembered that moment clearly as well. Even if she hadn't been told about Shang Chao Zong, she would still have remembered Niu You Dao. Back then, after sending him the token and riding off, she only later recalled how icy the river water was and that Niu You Dao might simply freeze. She had even thought about sending people back. However, remembering how swift the current was, she immediately changed her mind. They wouldn't have caught up to him. Some time later, a Supreme Purity Sect member arrived with her token and inquired about Niu You Dao. That was when she learned his name and that Niu You Dao had joined the Supreme Purity Sect. Only, Niu You Dao himself didn't know about this.
Just recently, she had heard that the Supreme Purity Sect had sent a disciple named Niu You Dao to Shang Chao Zong. She immediately remembered who he was. Later, she heard that Niu You Dao had single-handedly defeated Song Yang Qing and two other Supreme Purity Sect disciples. It greatly surprised her that Niu You Dao had only been with the Supreme Purity Sect for a few years, yet had already become so powerful. That was why she had thrown the spear at him. She wanted to test his strength. Only, Yuan Gang had interfered.
"So it was you!" Feng Ru Nan sneered disdainfully and asked, "What? Are you thinking of getting revenge on me?"
Niu You Dao:
Feng Ru Nan: "Just for that?"
Niu You Dao offered an unnatural smile:
"Of course, there's also a small trifle where I hope the General can assist me."
Feng Ru Nan couldn't help but chuckle:
"Why on earth would I help you?"
Yet, she asked playfully:
"And what kind of help do you require from me?"
Niu You Dao rubbed his hands together and spoke apologetically:
"I wish to ask the General to lend me some money. I wonder if it would be convenient for the General?"
"Money?" Feng Ru Nan was clearly surprised and asked, "How much?"
Niu You Dao cheerfully raised a finger and said:
"Not much. Just ten thousand gold!"
Feng Ru Nan's expression changed. *What kind of joke is this? To just casually ask for ten thousand gold?* For her, such a sum wasn't huge, but it certainly wasn't small either. And her relationship with Niu You Dao wasn't good enough for her to lend him so much money. Moreover, Niu You Dao was in league with Shang Chao Zong. So she immediately replied without ceremony:
"My finances are currently tight. Tutor Niu You Dao would do better to seek someone else. Someone, see the guest out!"
Immediately, a girl in dark clothing flashed forward and, extending a hand, said, "Please!"
Niu You Dao raised a hand, indicating for them to wait, and spoke freely, "General, you may name your conditions, on which you would be willing to lend such a sum."
Seeing that the General had no intention of talking further, Niu You Dao immediately understood that he needed to offer Feng Ru Nan some incentive, so he added:
"For one hour, lend me ten thousand gold, and in one hour, I will return your ten thousand gold!" Saying this, he once again raised a finger.
Ten thousand gold for one hour? Feng Ru Nan genuinely grew curious what he intended to do with the money in an hour. So she spoke in a cold tone, "Why should I trust you? You'll take the money and run. Then from whom am I to collect?"
Although she said this, in truth, within her domain, even if Niu You Dao wanted to run, he wouldn't be able to.
Niu You Dao patted his chest and said:
"I won't run. I'll stay here for one hour. If I don't return the money to the General, then do with me as you please. You may kill me!"
Feng Ru Nan said scornfully:
"And what good is your life to me? Your paltry life will sooner or later be claimed by the Song family." She obviously already knew that Niu You Dao had killed Song Yang Qing.
Niu You Dao burst out laughing and said, "It will be difficult for the Song family to claim my worthless life. However, since the General thinks so, I shall make a wager with the General. If I don't return ten thousand gold coins in one hour, then I will owe you a hundred thousand gold! I stand by my word!"
A hundred thousand gold? What an enormous sum. Several girls in black exchanged glances.
Feng Ru Nan was slightly stirred. One hundred thousand—even for the people of Kuangai County, that could have a significant impact. Yet she still said disdainfully:
"You came to borrow ten thousand gold, so how would you then repay a hundred thousand?"
Niu You Dao: "Even if I can't produce a hundred thousand gold, I can still procure an item worth a hundred thousand. If the General doesn't trust me, perhaps you will trust this item."
He took out a token with a seal and tossed it to the girl in black. Before he left the mountain, he had borrowed the Prince's token of authority. With this token, he could issue orders to the bodyguards.
The girl in black handed the token to Feng Ru Nan. She carefully examined it and determined that the token was indeed authentic. It bore an imperial seal that could not be faked. If one were to say this token was worthless, then indeed it would be worthless. But if one were to say it was valuable, then indeed it would be valuable. The important thing was that it indicated its owner. As for Shang Chao Zong, it could be said that he truly had no money at the moment. However, when it came to Shang Chao Zong's reputation, there were no questions. And this token might mean nothing to some, but to Shang Chao Zong, it meant a great deal.
Holding this token, Feng Ru Nan calmed down. She knew that Chao Zong would honor his debts. So she asked indifferently, "What wager?"
Niu You Dao cursed inwardly: *This girl has quite an appetite, she wants to earn a hundred thousand gold.*
He had actually come up with the wager to attract her attention. So, with an unnatural smile, he said, "Perhaps there's no need for a wager?"
Feng Ru Nan raised an eyebrow: "Are you trying to play games with me?"
"I wouldn't dare. Alright, alright. We will make a wager!" Niu You Dao clasped his hands and, admitting defeat, said, "Ten thousand gold for one hour. If I return the money on time, I will calmly leave the General's camp. Should I succeed in returning it, the ten thousand gold will, of course, remain with the General. If I fail, I will owe the General a hundred thousand gold. What do you think?"
Feng Ru Nan pondered to herself, feeling that something was amiss. Her eyes gleamed, and she said with a smirk:
"I still wish to alter the terms of the wager. I will lend you ten thousand gold for an hour. If you return the money on time within the hour, you may calmly leave the camp. If you lose, then you will owe me a hundred thousand. Furthermore, both you and he will belong to me..." Saying this, she indicated Yuan Gang with her chin: "If you don't return the money on time, he too will obey my commands. What do you say?"
Niu You Dao almost burst out laughing: *This girl clearly doesn't want to lose out and intends to profit handsomely from him.*
He said sorrowfully, "General, with these terms, I hardly gain any advantage!"
Feng Ru Nan stared intently at him:
"I'm giving you ten thousand; how is there no advantage here? Or do you intend to deceive me? Perhaps you're not confident you can return the money within an hour? If so, then you deliberately said that to fool me, didn't you?"
Niu You Dao gave a bitter smile: "How could I deceive you for money? I'll be remaining as a hostage myself, won't I?"
Feng Ru Nan sighed: "If you return the money within an hour, what is there to fear? Are you playing or not?" She gripped the hilt of the sword hanging at her waist, subtly hinting that she might get angry.
Niu You Dao gave a bitter smile: "Alright, alright. I'll play!"
Feng Ru Nan looked at Yuan Gang: "Hey, big fellow. Do you agree?"
Yuan Gang nodded his head.
Feng Ru Nan then waved her hand: "Bring ten thousand gold!"
Very quickly, several people brought a heavy box. When they opened it, a pile of gold coins lay inside. They placed an empty box nearby and began transferring the coins into it. In reality, they were counting them this way to ensure there was no error in the sum.
Once they confirmed there were no errors, Feng Ru Nan waved her hand:
"Bring the Four Treasures of the Study. We shall write down the terms of the wager!"
Immediately, a person brought writing implements, and there they described the terms of the wager. Feng Ru Nan, Niu You Dao, and Yuan Gang affixed their signatures to it, and each party took one copy.
Once the process was complete, one could see Yuan Gang squat down and, taking the box that several people had brought earlier, hoisted it onto his shoulder. Watching this action, a gleam reappeared in Feng Ru Nan's eyes. She looked admiringly at the strength of this big fellow: *He truly is a future general!*
"General, I will see him to the gates. I'll just have a word with him," Niu You Dao said to Feng Ru Nan. After all, he had already signed the agreement stating he would be a hostage.
Feng Ru Nan magnanimously waved her hand. She wasn't afraid that Niu You Dao would try to escape. How could that be possible within her territory?
Once the two friends had walked a distance away, Niu You Dao, glancing back, said to Yuan Gang, who was carrying the box:
"That wicked girl has quite a huge appetite. She'll definitely throw obstacles in our way during this wager. No matter, I'll see her weep later!"
Yuan Gang: "Lord Dao, after teaching her a lesson, aren't you afraid she'll hate you for life?"
Niu You Dao laughed: "I'm only helping her. Isn't that obvious? Monkey, by the way. That girl's physique suits you well!"
"What's wrong with your taste!" Yuan Gang looked at him disdainfully and then said, "However, if she agrees, I wouldn't be against it either!"
"Ehh..." Niu You Dao chuckled: "Forget it. Not everyone can break in such an untamed horse. And it's unlikely, brother, that you and I will have the fortune to experience her. Better to leave it to someone more fortunate!"
From the scene, Feng Ru Nan watched the two friends depart and murmured:
"Set up surveillance. Let's see how they intend to earn so much money. Prevent any escape. Close all city gates! Furthermore, we must be well-prepared! If they attempt to return the money at the appointed time, set up obstacles for them. They must not return the money on time. I will win this wager. I want both the money and the men!"
Around her, the four girls named Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Chu, hearing Feng Ru Nan's laughter, understood that the General had something wicked in mind.
Zhu and Chu nodded and prepared to leave.