CHAPTER 1480: CHAPTER 1480: EVERYTHING MUST BE REASONABLE

Ma Buwei wiped his cold sweat, facing such a powerful creditor, how could he dare to say a single ’no’ word.

He poured tea for Chu Feng and Long Fei, stood by the side nodding and bowing, "Gentlemen, I’ll acknowledge this account. But the debt is too large. My annual salary is only ten thousand Spirit Stones. It would take a thousand years to pay this off!"

Chu Feng and Long Fei exchanged a glance, chuckling softly, "Don’t pretend to be confused. Everyone knows the biggest business association in Bamboo City is organized by you. I reckon your annual revenue is at least a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, right?"

Ma Buwei’s eyes darted around, unsure of what to say.

He glanced at his son, beaten and bruised on the ground, and kicked him angrily, "You useless thing, you’ve caused all this trouble. You tell me, how should we handle this? I don’t want to be dragged down by you anymore."

Ma Tengfei dared not look at Long Fei’s face, remembering the scene of Long Fei killing Zhong Zhengyang last night, his legs couldn’t help but tremble.

He wailed at Ma Buwei, "Dad, aren’t you being too stingy? Isn’t your son’s life worth more than ten million Spirit Stones? If you don’t care for me, I’ll go to mom for justice. She probably doesn’t know about this yet, does she?"

"You..."

Ma Buwei pointed at his son, couldn’t catch his breath, and sat back in his chair, holding his head.

He originally wanted his son to feign poverty and misery to soften Chu Feng and Long Fei’s hearts, hoping for their mercy.

Who knew this son couldn’t grasp his intention at all.

Wondering whose genes this dim-witted head inherited.

Ma Buwei directly addressed Chu Feng, "Gentlemen, to be honest, I do have some savings, but at most, it’s only a million Spirit Stones. You asking for ten million is like asking to kill me and take my life as payment!"

"We’re here to collect money, what use do we have for your life!"

Long Fei waved his hand, setting the teacup down.

He opened a folding fan, looking like a young master, fanning twice as he began setting up a scheme, "Actually, there’s another way to solve this problem."

"What way?"

Ma Tengfei excitedly widened his eyes, thinking Long Fei was showing mercy.

He glanced at Chu Feng, remembering what Chu Feng mentioned last night about paying with his body.

He couldn’t help but straighten up heroically, crying to Long Fei and Chu Feng, "If you insist, I can pay with my body. But please be gentle, it’s my first time, I’m afraid of pain!"

Chu Feng spit out the tea from his mouth, almost choking.

He laughed at Ma Tengfei, "What are you thinking? Just look at your filthy, sleazy appearance, I wouldn’t be interested even if hell froze over."

Ma Buwei covered his face, lamenting his misfortune for having such a disgraceful son.

Bringing up the option to pay with his body was utterly disgraceful.

Long Fei cleared his throat and suggested to Ma Buwei, "City Lord Ma, let me offer you a simple solution to this problem, one that poses no issue for you. The day after tomorrow, on Qingming Festival, our Sharing Alliance will go to flatten Azure Woods Mountain. At that time, I hope you will bring Bamboo City’s troops to join!"

Ma Tengfei’s eyes lit up, shouting excitedly, "This plan is feasible!"

"Shut up!"

Ma Buwei glared at him and pleaded with Long Fei, "Daoist, hero, I’m just an ordinary man, not someone from your Cultivation World. Why involve the secular world in your Cultivation matters? You’re putting my entire family in jeopardy!"

"What do you mean? Our Sharing Alliance is inviting you and the city’s commoners and cultivators to share resources, how is that putting you in danger?"

Long Fei snorted, a hint of displeasure showing on his face.

Ma Buwei, sweating coldly, replied, "Daoist, you surely know the strength of Azure Woods Sect, right? Our Bamboo City Defense Camp has only a hundred thousand troops, mostly Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators, and many are just ordinary people. In front of them, aren’t we just like sheep? Asking us to attack Azure Woods Mountain, isn’t that a death sentence?"

Long Fei and Chu Feng laughed at each other, staring at Ma Buwei, "You old fox, you do have a bit of a politician’s air. Let me be honest with you, I want you to bring the city defense forces over not to send you to your deaths, but to let you share the Fruit of Victory. You don’t need to worry about the fighting and killing. Our Sharing Alliance will naturally handle it. Once the Sect Leader of Azure Woods Sect dies, they’ll be leaderless and will quickly fall into chaos. At that time, you station your men on the perimeter and can wipe them out. By then, we’ll only take what we want. The rest of the riches and spoils will belong to the City Lord, won’t they?"

Ma Buwei exchanged glances with his son, cautious about such a pie-in-the-sky deal.

He confirmed with Long Fei, "Are you serious?"

Long Fei chuckled, "Why would I deceive you, with just your couple of ragtag soldiers, this Alliance Hierarch wouldn’t be impressed. As long as you deploy your troops on time the day after tomorrow, I promise not to pursue your son’s matter. You’ll take no risk and gain a hefty profit. Consider it carefully."

Ma Tengfei wiped his nose, stood up, and yelled straight at Ma Buwei, "Father, what’s there to hesitate about! The Daoist offered such generous terms, let’s follow his lead, send troops to Azure Woods Mountain, and act with righteousness."

He was quite excited, eager to go up the mountain to share in the Fruit of Victory.

Ma Buwei’s mind kept spinning, pondering Long Fei’s intentions.

Not only did it require no effort, but it also offered such great benefits; where in the world was there such a good thing.

Long Fei and Chu Feng stood up to bid farewell, "You father and son discuss it well, repay the debt or help out. Give us an answer by tomorrow night. If you make no decision, you know the consequences."

The two laughed heartily as they left, leaving Ma Buwei mystified.

Ma Tengfei flattered Long Fei and Chu Feng, intending to escort them out, but as soon as he stepped outside, the two had disappeared.

He returned frustrated, urgently shouting at his father, "Dad, what are you hesitating about?! Didn’t you see this Alliance Hierarch, even Zhong Zhengyang couldn’t match him. Taking down Azure Woods Sect is a sure thing. We send troops over and can reap a huge benefit from this opportunity!"

"You know nothing!"

Ma Buwei scolded him, reminding, "Don’t forget what Azure Woods Sect represents and their background. Their Sect Leader is an elder of the Sima Family, one of the Eight Sects of Military Strategists endorsed by the Imperial Court. There’s a court backing behind them. This Sharing Alliance’s origin is unclear, maybe they intend to purposely act against the Imperial Court? Trying to use our hands to make the court wary of Jingzhou Prefecture?"

Ma Tengfei retorted, "What does that matter? Anyway, hasn’t the Lord of Xiangyang already offended the court? I heard the court’s forces are already at the gates of Xiangyang City, ready to stir up a big conflict. Lice don’t itch; we might as well go along with the flow. Even if we don’t offend, other cities will. Father, it would be better to prepare early with all this impending military trouble."

"Get out, you unfilial wretch!"

Ma Buwei raged, pointing to the outside, wanting dearly to beat his son to death.

To dare speak such rebellious words.

The current situation between Jingzhou Prefecture and the Imperial Court isn’t clear. From the looks of the Prefectural Princess of Jingzhou, Ji Ruohuo, they don’t seem prepared for a major war.

If he dares to stir trouble at this time, no one can predict the consequences.