Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover -
Chapter 342 - 342 341 Late Penalty 3
342: Chapter 341 Late Penalty 3 342: Chapter 341 Late Penalty 3 When Bai Qingqian arrived at Zhaoyang Palace, located dozens of miles outside Mirage City, she discovered that the number of guests who had come was not as large as she had envisioned.
Within the Zhaoyang Palace, dozens of people were gathered, enjoying rare delicacies and extreme luxury, a characteristic common to merchants everywhere.
After a brief observation, she already had a general understanding.
Most of the attendees were prominent figures from various large and small trading companies, and the level of representation was very high; however, the Quanzhen Sect’s trading companies were absent, and a few from the Demon Sect factions were also missing, evidently deliberately excluded.
Among these merchants, the majority were from the Wu Sect’s several states, Anhe, Taihao, and the Buddhist Sect’s businesses.
They could treat the Bai Family this way, but they didn’t dare to confront the Demon Sect Alliance openly.
That was the power at play.
Even though the Daoist Sects of the Southwest were far superior in financial strength to the Demon Sect Alliance, the Demon Sect Alliance possessed an unusual characteristic: if they couldn’t win, they’d flip the table.
But when you’re smoothly earning a fortune, the last thing you want is someone who disregards the rules, hence the need to exercise restraint.
She was certain that something would likely happen at this kind of night banquet, at the very least, pressure must be put on Bai Ji during the event.
To intimidate with power was precisely the tactic most favored by the Daoist Sect, to subdue the enemy without a fight.
Bai Qingqian sighed and stepped towards the crowd.
It was difficult to extricate herself from these people’s circles because once upon a time, the Bai Family had also been a part of them and even now had no choice but to maintain a superficial connection with them.
The merchants from the Demon Sect lacked sufficient strength and were helpless when it came to borrowing Spirit Stones, a helpless reality.
For survival, they had to rely on the Demon Sect, and for business, they had to lean on the Daoist Sects.
This was where the crux of the problem lay.
The host was very enthusiastic and came forward to meet her specially, but beneath the warm exterior was a shrewd and calculating temperament, haggling over every ounce.
“Bai Daoist visiting my Zhaoyang Palace truly adds luster to this place; a group of old men and women, yet you’re like a solitary orchid in an empty valley, adding a touch of imagination to the event.
Otherwise, people might again say Zhaoyang Palace is a den of stinking affluence, indulging in luxury, with the faces of parvenus.”
Bai Qingqian smiled gracefully, “The seniors here are all experienced in business affairs, many of whom started from scratch.
Qingqian merely benefits from her ancestors’ grace, occupying this seat with much unease.”
Zeng Ji, after all, had his reputation and didn’t bother to beat around the bush, “Bai Daoist, are you aware that the promissory notes of the Four Seas Trading Company have been transferred to our Fuyunlai?
We invited you here to discuss this matter, after all, it is necessary for the lender and borrower to communicate well, otherwise it will be difficult to clarify subsequent affairs.”
Bai Qingqian knew the crux of the play had arrived, but she had no way out, “Please speak plainly, Senior Zeng, what are the terms now that Fuyunlai has taken over Bai Ji’s promissory notes?”
Zeng Ji narrowed his eyes, “Let’s not mince words.
Fuyunlai wants to recall all loans because we are in the middle of negotiating a big deal.
But I am a reasonable man and can offer Bai Ji the opportunity to repay in installments.
However, the precondition is that all your treasured artifacts must be priced and passed through Fuyunlai before selling.”
Bai Qingqian was not at all surprised; in the world of business, the same few tactics are recycled, and she wasn’t impressed by them;
Zeng Ji smiled slightly, “Bai Daoist must be very aware of the Bai Ji’s current predicament.
The wise man knows when to yield.
In Mirage, no one dares to receive your goods anymore, neither the Daoist nor the Demon Sects can afford it…
I heard that the leases for many of Bai Ji’s shops are coming due, and the landlords have other plans?
And there are the Mirage City taxes—I understand that Jiedu Mansion is quite displeased with your hoarding, believing it has disrupted the normal commercial atmosphere of Mirage City and caused violent fluctuations in the artifact market prices?”
Watching Bai Qingqian’s face gradually darken due to his threats, Zeng Ji was indifferent.
A trading company without the backing of a strong power had no other option but to submit and seek accommodation.
“If you hand over the goods to us now, at the very least you’ll be able to pay off your debts and still have some remaining.
If you insist on resisting, I’m afraid that the Bai Family will no longer have the possibility of surviving in Mirage City.”
Bai Qingqian, however, didn’t pay attention to his latter words, but instead focused her confusion on the previous sentence: Jiedu Mansion wanted to punish them for breaking commercial rules?
She, of course, knew this couldn’t have been prompted by the higher-ups of the Wo Sect in Linhai—it was, after all, on good terms with the Quanzhen and somewhat covertly rejected the Wu Sect; to still make such a decision meant that it must have been influenced by one or several individuals within.
Who could it be?
Her mind raced as her gaze swept through the crowd, settling on a charming cultivator,
“If I’m not mistaken, the other hidden master of Fuyunlai is this gentleman, right?
Jiedu Mansion’s Lu Shilun from Lihai?
Back on Crab Claw Island, you two shrank away from battle, considered responsibility a perilous path, and yet, here back in the human world of Mirage City, you seem to thrive and stir up trouble.
Do you truly believe the calamity of the Sea Clan outweighs the sword of a cultivator?”
Zeng Ji’s expression grew cold—this was a secret he and Lu Shilun least wished to be brought up, and by the woman’s words, there was even an insinuation that they were the culprits behind the death of sword cultivators.
“Daoist Bai, you may speak your mind freely, but there are lines that shouldn’t be crossed; the incident at the shellfish fields on Crab Claw Island has been concluded by the Mansion, and even the Quanzhen Sect had no objections.
Daoist Bai, inciting such strife now, what could possibly be your motive?
Young people conducting business in Mirage City should follow the rules—blaming others rashly when business turns south is not a good habit to have.
You should know, in our trade by the sea of Linhai, besides natural disasters, there are plenty of man-made ones!”
This was an unvarnished threat, something even an ordinary merchant couldn’t avoid when it came to a breach.
Bai Qingqian was threatening too, without any other means she could only rely on her words to intimidate, making the opponent hesitate to act rashly, but she had no evidence, nor the power to cause a commotion—if they responded forcefully, she had no fallback.
Zeng Ji, shrewd and experienced, had already seen through the foundations of the Bai Family, hence he was unconcerned, and turned the threat back on her.
The negotiation had reached a point where, aside from not breaking out into a confrontation on the spot, there was no room left to maneuver.
“Decide your own fate!”
Zeng Ji tossed his sleeves with a cold demeanor and left; he no longer wanted to talk.
Since they failed to recognize the situation, he had to be ruthless.
The business world was a battlefield—there was no place for pity.
Bai Qingqian was left standing there, no one came forward to show concern—everyone’s attitude was clear, those who were unclear did not show up tonight, and if she was right, this would likely be her last appearance in this circle as the owner of the Bai Family.
She had failed, unable to intimidate her opponents and instead, she had put herself in an irretrievable situation.
But she had no regrets, for even if she had submitted, it would only have delayed the inevitable decline of the Bai Family—the outcome would not change.
Instead of being slowly worn down, it might be better to come to an abrupt end.
At this moment, what she wished for was not any resources or spirit stones.
Rather, she longed for a sword to cut down all these evil creatures.
…
The rage split her visage, and from her lips burst a lament.
If only she had a three-foot sword to sever the hands of the vile culprit.
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