Chapter 56 – Greedy Justice (II)

Chapter 56

Greedy Justice (II)

The man who so boldly called me out stood centered at the peak, facing the entrance of my house, escorted by a pair of mean-mugging kids. His face was… vaguely familiar–no, wait, isn’t that the guy who contradicted Elder Qin and spoke up for wartime efforts?

… Hey, why the hell are you here, man?

“E-eh? Elder Zhang…?” Xi Zhao’s voice jostled a distant memory, though it took me a moment to capture its exact location–Elder Zhang… Xi Zhao’s former Master.

Oh.

Really? You came here to shout wildly because I stole some random disciple that you probably completely forgot about?

“… Elder Zhang,” I greeted with a smile, ignoring the optics. “Why are you here? Shouting like it would be a sin to remain unheard?”

“You know damn well why, filthy vermin,” he scoffed, his voice a growl. There was something distinctly unpleasant about the man, but it could be that he seemed entirely determined to make a mess of things. “How dare you steal a disciple of mine?”

“Disciple of yours? Who?” I pretended to be a fool.

“Who?! Hah! Shameless bastard! Who else but that boy beside you!?”

“Oh, him?” I eyed the old thing and silently smiled. “Uh, it could be, I suppose. What is your disciple’s name, Elder Zhang?”

“H-huh?”

“It could be that they simply look similar,” I said. “And have wholly different names. So, what is the name of yours?”

“What is the name of yours?”

“Nuh-uh. I asked first.”

“… are you playing with me right now, Elder Lu? What? Do you think because you won a few bets and reared a few faint cubs that you suddenly have a voice that matters? Do you believe anything would come of me wringing your neck right here and now?”

“Well, for starters,” I said. “Elder Qin would probably behead you, at the very least.”

“Ha ha ha, you think that old stooge would stand up for you?! It seems you truly have gotten bold! But I am not without mercy–I did not come here for your life, but for justice.”

“Really? Justice? And how much will this justice cost me?”

“I am not an unreasonable man,” which he most decidedly was. “Just 15,000 mid-grade Stones will do.”

“…” Well, would you look at that? Haah.

He didn’t even ask for his disciple back. Rather, he didn’t even look at the kid, not once. More than his demanding all my money, his complete disregard of the kid pissed me off more. I would actually feel legitimately guilty if it turned out that he came to get the kid back or at least ensure that the kid was doing fine. I would have even given him some Spirit Stones as a recompense.

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But to think he couldn’t even pretend, not for a moment…

“Why’d you bring those two here? As an audience?”

“Are you unwilling to pay?”

“Hmm, so that’s it,” I shrugged, pulling back and patting Xi Zhao’s shoulder, smiling. “Don’t be afraid of anything. Go out and show the world who you are.”

“M-Master…?” The boy looked at me rather confused, guilt looming in his gaze.

“Let us dispense with nonsense, Elder Zhang,” I said dismissively. “You have two kids there, both at the Fifth Stage of the Qi Condensation. How about one last gamble?”

“Oh? What’d you have in mind?” Wow. Unrestrained, unconcealed greed. Something is… off with this guy.

[–do you wish to spend 60 Creation Points to take a partial look at Elder Zhang’s window?]

60 points?

Hm?