Devouring Soul Emperor Chapter 117: There Are Two More

"Let them go? Heheh, Patriarch Cao, did you forget to count soone? There are still two people left," Chu Qingyun said with a sly laugh.

'Two more?'

Cao Jingwen frowned and counted again carefully. But he had included everyone; no one was missing.

Seeing Chu Qingyun grinning at the two of them, Cao Jingwen suddenly understood. The two people Chu Qingyun was talking about were them!

At this realization, Cao Jingwen's expression turned incredibly grim.

"Kid, including the two of us... Don't you think you're going too far!?" Cao Jingwen's brow was deeply furrowed, his voice filled with boundless rage.

The great Patriarch of the Cao Family, a man like a feudal lord in Fla City, had beco... a hostage!

"That's fine. You don't have to pay. In that case, I'll just keep the two of you and let everyone else go," Chu Qingyun said with a smile.

Hearing this, a glint flashed in the eyes of Cao Jingbin, who was squatting on the ground with his head in his hands. He quickly lowered his head, hiding the subtle change in his expression.

'If his older brother and nephew are both left behind by Chu Qingyun, then when I get back to Fla City, won't the Cao Family be mine?'

'Besides, those two IOUs were written by Cao Jingwen and Cao ng. I can just refuse to honor them later. Inside the city, it's not like Chu Qingyun would dare to do anything to .'

At these thoughts, Cao Jingbin's heart began to burn with ambition. He was practically praying for his brother to start a fight with Chu Qingyun right now.

However, Cao Jingwen could naturally guess what his brother was thinking.

"How much do you want?" Cao Jingwen asked, his face dark as he swallowed his rage.

Chu Qingyun pondered for a mont. "You'll be the sa as Cao Jingbin, let's say eight thousand. As for Cao ng, the usual price, five thousand. That brings the grand total to a nice, round eighty thousand Top-Grade Primordial Stones."

"I already paid you five thousand! And now you want another five thousand!?" Cao ng couldn't help but yell.

"Heh heh, that five thousand was for last ti. This is for this ti. If I catch you again, it'll be another five thousand."

The ntion of five thousand after five thousand left Cao ng reeling. It scarred him so deeply that for the rest of his life, he would despise the very number five thousand.

"Fine! I'll pay!"

"Give us three days to prepare. Co to the Cao Family to collect the debt in three days."

Gritting his teeth, Cao Jingwen wrote another IOU for thirteen thousand Top-Grade Primordial Stones and tossed it to Chu Qingyun.

With the IOUs for five thousand, sixty-two thousand, and thirteen thousand, the Cao Family now owed Chu Qingyun a grand total of eighty thousand Top-Grade Primordial Stones.

The thought of that number made Cao Jingwen feel the urge to faint.

With IOUs worth eighty thousand Top-Grade Primordial Stones in hand, Chu Qingyun departed nonchalantly, leaving the mbers of the Cao Family in stunned silence. The mood instantly sank to an all-ti low.

They had co here full of excitent to hunt Demon Beasts. They never imagined it would end like this.

SLAP!

Cao Jingwen viciously slapped Cao ng across the face again. "You animal! If it weren't for you, would the Cao Family have offended soone like him!?"

Cao Jingwen vented all the fury in his heart on Cao ng.

After another slap to the face, both his cheeks were now symtrical—both were swollen high, turning his head into that of a pig.

"Brother, that's eighty thousand Top-Grade Primordial Stones. Are we really going to give them to that kid?" Cao Jingbin stood up, his brow deeply furrowed.

He had managed to suppress the bolt of thunder within his body. Although the problem wasn't completely resolved, he could now walk and talk without much issue.

Cao Jingwen let out a long sigh. "Alas, what else can we do? No one in our Cao Family is his match. To be targeted by soone like him... if we truly anger him, it could bring about the annihilation of our entire family."

"We'll have to sell off most of our businesses. Let's just focus on getting through this crisis first. Money can be earned again, but if our people are gone, we'll be beyond saving."

It had to be said that as a patriarch, Cao Jingwen was able to show so fortitude at a critical mont and knew when to make sacrifices.

"Father, I have an idea that might be able to help our family," Cao ng said cautiously from the side, clutching his face.

Hearing him speak again, Cao Jingwen's expression changed. He instinctively raised his arm, ready to deliver another resounding slap.

This ti, however, he was stopped by Cao Jingbin, who said with a smile, "Brother, since it has co to this, why not hear what idea young ng has? Perhaps he can really help the family."

'Second Uncle is so much nicer. Not like you, all you know how to do is hit ...' Cao ng muttered, clutching his face.

Cao Jingwen shot him a glare and thought, 'You didn't see the look on your Second Uncle's face just now. He was practically praying for Chu Qingyun to keep the two of us, father and son!'

"Go on, then. What brilliant idea could you possibly have."

Cao ng's eyes lit up. "Father, Second Uncle, our Cao Family can't deal with that Chu Qingyun, but soone else can! My relationship with Zhao Hanyun of the Zhao Family is pretty good. His older brother, Zhao Hanfeng, is one of the best among Level Six Martial Artists. Dealing with that kid would be a piece of cake for him."

"You and Zhao Hanyun are just drinking buddies. Would he really go and ask his older brother for help over our family's matter?" Cao Jingwen asked doubtfully.

Cao ng looked a little embarrassed. "Ahem, of course, it would co at a price. The young masters of the Zhao Family certainly aren't short on Primordial Stones. However, from what I know, Zhao Hanyun seems to be quite interested in Lan'Er..."

"What!?"

Cao Jingbin instantly lost his composure. Cao Lan'Er was his daughter.

"Ahem, Second Brother, the family is facing a great disaster. Everyone must think of the bigger picture. If I had a daughter, I certainly wouldn't hesitate at a ti like this."

Cao Jingwen said with an air of self-righteousness.

But in his heart, Cao Jingbin was cursing him. 'That's easy for you to say, you don't have a daughter!'

In the end, for the greater good of the family, Cao Jingbin held his nose and nodded in agreent. He would let Cao ng take Cao Lan'Er to... "spend so ti" with Zhao Hanyun.

As for what that "ti" would entail, everyone present could figure it out...

When Chu Qingyun returned to Fla City, he found the atmosphere in the city had changed considerably. Many of the vendors who usually lined the streets had disappeared.

At the entrance of the Golden Lion Martial Arts Hall, he ran into Chen Jinshi, who was just heading out.

"Going out, Hall Master Chen?" Chu Qingyun asked with a casual smile.

"Hm? Qingyun, have you already registered?" Chen Jinshi asked, looking sowhat surprised.

'Register? Register for what?'

Chu Qingyun was confused.

"Registration for the Great Xia Dragon Guard assessnt. It starts today and lasts for three days. Since today's the first day, it's bound to be the liveliest. Want to go check it out with ? We can register while we're at it. I've never seen so many Great Xia Samurai gathered in one place in my life."

Chu Qingyun thought for a mont, then shook his head. "It'll be too crowded today. I'll go on the third day."

Chu Qingyun just wasn't the type of person who enjoyed big, noisy crowds.

"Ah, alright then. I'll head over first. It would be a real sha to miss such a grand event..." With that, Chen Jinshi quickened his pace and walked away.