I Reloaded the Save File! [Transmigration] - Chapter 52

When Yun Yu saw Mo Xiao arrive, she stopped dodging and immediately joined forces with Mo Xiao to fight back. When fighting two against one, she could only prioritize evasion, but two against two was an entirely different matter.

For reasons unknown, the City Lord did not intervene but observed the changing situation. He wanted to see how two initial Nascent Soul stage Sword Cultivators could defeat two Sword Cultivators who had been in the middle Nascent Soul stage for fifty years.

The facts proved that having a powerful Master made a difference. Even though Yun Yu had just entered the Nascent Soul stage, her usual sparring partner was her precious Master.

Whether it was confidence or arrogance, having experienced sparring with a Spirit Transformation stage cultivator, Yun Yu simply didn’t take a middle Nascent Soul stage opponent, who was only slightly stronger than herself, seriously.

When two people surrounded her, she could only prioritize defense. But in a one-on-one situation, she wouldn’t hold back.

As for Mo Xiao, there was even less to say. She had cultivated to the half-step to ascension realm at her peak. When fighting a middle Nascent Soul stage opponent, she didn’t even need to focus on defense.

One move, two moves, three moves—the opposing Sword Cultivator began to feel the pressure.

Nine moves, ten moves, eleven moves—the opposing Sword Cultivator was forced to abandon offense and focus on defense.

Thirty moves, thirty-one moves—Mo Xiao seized the flaw in the opposing cultivator, striking directly at his arm with her spiritual sword, forcing him to choose between his sword and his arm.

The result was self-evident: the opposing cultivator had no choice but to drop his sword to save his arm.

“Foolish,” Mo Xiao sparingly uttered two words. Without a weapon, he was simply waiting to be slaughtered. Mo Xiao didn’t hesitate, pressing the advantage and cleanly severing his other arm.

“Elder, wait! Show mercy…” The City Lord felt the situation beginning to spin out of control and prepared to call a halt.

Mo Xiao did not heed the City Lord, stepping forward immediately to help her Eldest Senior Sister end the fight. Since he hadn’t intervened at the start, she wouldn’t stop now, no matter what he said.

Moments later, the two formerly aggressive cultivators were utterly defeated: one had lost his left hand, and the other his right leg. Both lay miserably on the ground, glaring hatefully at Yun Yu and Mo Xiao.

“My apologies, I wasn’t able to hold back just now,” Yun Yu spoke first after they had defeated the opponents.

“To avoid damaging our sword intent, my Senior Sister and I do not recklessly stop once we draw our swords. I hope the City Lord can understand,” Mo Xiao followed up, blocking the City Lord’s path to question them.

The City Lord slowly exhaled. Since they mentioned sword intent, what could he say? “The two young friends don’t need to apologize. Sword Cultivators are always like this; I understand.”

Yun Yu glanced around and then fixed her gaze on Gongsun Qiu. “Will you bring the person out yourself, or should I demolish your house and personally bring Xiao Que out?”

Gongsun Qiu’s face was extremely ugly. He had sent out two Nascent Soul cultivators! How could they not handle such a small matter! Useless!

“Young friend, did you find the person here?” the City Lord asked, contemplating how to clean up this mess. No matter how foolish Gongsun Qiu was, he was still his nephew, and he couldn’t simply kill him.

“Yes, right in the dungeon beneath the main house,” Yun Yu replied, then continued to question Gongsun Qiu. “If you don’t answer, I will act immediately. My Master gave me quite a few sealed sword energies. This would be a perfect time to use them.”

Xuan Shuang’s sword energy? The City Lord’s face slightly changed. He knew Xuan Shuang’s current cultivation level very well. If she left behind a strand of sword energy and it was used at the right moment, even he might not be able to withstand it.

Seeing the City Lord finally beginning to take the matter seriously, Yun Yu and Mo Xiao dropped the threat of action, allowing the guards to carry the two Nascent Soul cultivators away for treatment, and followed the City Lord to the main house.

“Where is the entrance? Open it immediately!” Seeing Yun Yu ready to speak, the City Lord quickly seized the initiative.

“Right here. I’ll open it now…” Gongsun Qiu originally wanted to pull a small trick, leading them to another empty dungeon.

But the City Lord’s gaze was too sharp, and with Mo Xiao and Yun Yu looking ready to draw their swords at any moment, he could only sheepishly take out the key and open the correct dungeon door.

Qiu Wu and Yun He were quicker than the guards. The moment the door opened, they rushed in. Before long, Yun He emerged, embracing Xiao Que, who was covered in injuries and bloodstains.

“City Lord, how will you handle this matter?” Mo Xiao asked. “Xiao Que is our friend. We will not easily swallow this insult after what she endured here.”

“Men, take Gongsun Qiu down and give him one hundred strokes with the rod!” the City Lord said with a dark expression. “After the beating, throw him into the dungeon and let him properly reflect for ten years!”

Gongsun Qiu opened his mouth as if to say something, but before he could speak, one of the City Lord’s trusted aides rushed up, covered his mouth, and dragged him away.

It’s only ten years in the dungeon right now; it will pass quickly. But if he still refuses to admit his fault and causes trouble now, this brat will really have to suffer.

“I must admit my shame. Gongsun Qiu is my nephew, and since he made a mistake today, I also bear responsibility,” the City Lord took the blame upon himself, bowing in apology in a show of formality.

“The City Lord is indeed responsible,” Mo Xiao nodded seriously. “How does the City Lord intend to compensate for this matter?”

The City Lord’s expression was slightly strained. His intention in saying that was to provide a graceful exit for everyone. Gongsun Qiu has been dealt with, and I personally apologized. Are you still not satisfied?

“What does the young friend suggest?” the City Lord asked.

Mo Xiao pondered for a moment and said, “Since Gongsun Qiu is the City Lord’s nephew, surely the City Lord, as a senior, is willing to compensate on his behalf?”

“What?” A question mark involuntarily popped up in the City Lord’s mind. What does ‘compensate on his behalf’ mean?

“My Xiao Que was imprisoned by Gongsun Qiu for about four hours. Let’s calculate the time-loss fee at one thousand high-grade spirit stones per hour. That’s a total of four thousand high-grade spirit stones.”

Naturally, settling compensation matters was left to the most skilled person, Zuo Wuyi.

“And during these four hours, the five of us, Senior and Junior Sisters, expended immense energy and effort, even risking our lives,” Zuo Wuyi said. “Fortunately, we received the City Lord’s help later, so we’ll provisionally calculate it at one hundred high-grade spirit stones per hour.”

“With five of us for four hours, that comes to two thousand high-grade spirit stones,” Zuo Wuyi concluded. “We won’t quibble over the damaged house. Including the previous four thousand high-grade spirit stones, the City Lord only needs to compensate a total of six thousand high-grade spirit stones.”

The City Lord’s expression was strange. This must count as extortion, right? Don’t they think I don’t know that this Xiao Que is the half-demon they bought at the auction a few days ago?

They only spent three thousand spirit stones to buy this half-demon, and now they are demanding six thousand high-grade spirit stones in compensation. What is this, if not extortion?

“Young friend, is there a problem with this calculation? I understand that as disciples of the Asking Dao Sect, your time is precious,” the City Lord said, suppressing his temper. “But this Xiao Que, if I recall correctly, was the half-demon from the auction a few days ago, which you purchased for three thousand spirit stones.”

“That is correct,” Zuo Wuyi admitted with a nod.

The City Lord asked, “May I ask, why is the time of this Xiao Que so valuable?”

“If the City Lord has been paying attention to the auction, you should know that many excellent weapons appeared at the last auction, yes?” Zuo Wuyi asked.

The City Lord nodded. “I am slightly aware of this matter.”

“I won’t hide it from the City Lord. Half of the spiritual artifacts at the auction were provided by us,” Zuo Wuyi said. “We are acquainted with five Nascent Soul stage artifact masters near the Asking Dao Sect, and we were entrusted by them to consign their spiritual artifacts for sale.”

“We sold one-third of them at the auction, and the remaining two-thirds have been entrusted to Xiao Que to sell on our behalf here in Bafang City,” Zuo Wuyi said. Seeing the City Lord’s face gradually change, the smile on her own face deepened.

“Since Xiao Que will need the City Lord’s protection in Bafang City anyway, we might as well inform the City Lord now.”

“The works of those five artifact masters will, without exception, be entrusted to Xiao Que for consignment and sale in Bafang City in the future,” Zuo Wuyi paused. “The City Lord must surely know the value of those spiritual artifacts, correct?”

The City Lord was silent for a moment. After quickly weighing the pros and cons in his mind, he made a decision. Even if he had to abandon his nephew Gongsun Qiu, he absolutely could not fall out with these people!

“Rest assured, as long as I am here, Young Friend Xiao Que will certainly be safe in Bafang City,” the City Lord guaranteed. “If you are worried, you can certainly have Xiao Que live near the City Lord’s manor. That way, no short-sighted fool will dare to cause trouble.”

“The City Lord is absolutely right. That method is indeed excellent,” Zuo Wuyi said with a smile. “Since the City Lord understands Xiao Que’s importance, I presume you also agree with the amount of spirit stone compensation required?”

Bafang City was a transport hub with many traveling cultivators and was indeed full of treasures. But if Bafang City were also a place where Nascent Soul stage spiritual artifacts were regularly auctioned, the city’s significance would undoubtedly increase manifold.

Nascent Soul stage cultivators were already considered a high-level fighting force in the cultivation world, sufficient to be Elders in a medium-sized sect. If the number of Nascent Soul cultivators in Bafang City increased, the number of disciples and Elders from various sects would also increase accordingly.

As the number and cultivation level of Bafang City’s cultivators increased, his own status as the City Lord of Bafang City would naturally rise. Furthermore, as the City Lord, his relationship with certain sects would certainly become closer, and the benefits he would gain were not measurable in a few thousand spirit stones.

“Indeed, I was not thorough in my consideration earlier. My sincerest apologies,” the City Lord said with a hearty laugh.

This is a full five—five artifact masters who can forge Nascent Soul stage spiritual artifacts! Even the Asking Dao Sect couldn’t produce that many artifact masters all at once!

Just like that, thanks to Zuo Wuyi’s excellent rhetoric, the City Lord became extremely cooperative.

Not only did he fully pay the six thousand high-grade spirit stones, but he also proactively increased Gongsun Qiu’s punishment: he would absolutely not be released from the dungeon for fifty years.