Ch 120

Chapter 120: Bargaining

"Mu Chen, what are you trying to do? Killing someone in the imperial capital is against the law," Ye Rong said as she looked at Mu Chen.

Ye Rong seemed domineering, but her trembling legs betrayed how nervous she really was.

Mu Chen smiled indifferently and said, "Don't worry, I still have a bit of self-control. He won't die. And even if he did, so what?" For an ordinary martial artist, offending a disciple of the Martial King would be a death sentence. If Ye Xun didn't bear the name of Ye Shi's father, Mu Chen wouldn't be restraining himself at all.

Ye Rong looked at Ye Shi. Ye Shi lowered his head, lost in thought.

Ye Rong clenched her teeth, heart filled with resentment. Ye Xun had been beaten like this, and Ye Shi hadn't said a word—just stood by and watched the scene unfold.

"Mu Chen, do you want to die?" Ye Rong couldn't help but blurt out. If Ye Xun died, she wouldn't benefit in any way. And Ye Xun had treated her quite well.

Mu Chen crossed his hands behind his back, glanced at Ye Rong, and said lightly, "Just a reminder: don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're holding a few cards in your hand." People like her always thought they were the ones in control.

"Aren't you afraid we'll destroy the book?" Ye Rong said as she stared at Mu Chen.

Mu Chen stepped closer and teased, "Destroy it? Do you dare? Without that book, what do you think you can still accomplish?"

Ye Xun gritted his teeth, looking at Mu Chen with a mixture of hatred and fear.

"We'll sign the contract. Sixty million," Ye Xun said, enduring the pain, teeth clenched.

Mu Chen sneered and said with disdain, "Sixty million? You're dreaming."

Ye Xun's expression changed drastically when he heard Mu Chen's words. He shouted, "That's the agreed price!"

Mu Chen remained dismissive. "So what? Sixty million? I'll give you three million. If you want to make a deal, let's make it. If not, then forget it."

"Impossible!" Ye Xun howled.

In truth, three million yuan stones was not a small amount. But since Ye Xun had earlier quoted sixty million and Ye Rong had written back saying Ye Shi was absolutely willing to pay that amount, Ye Xun's appetite had already grown.

During that time, Ye Xun had fallen for a beautiful woman in the Yunhuan Tower. He had been waiting for those sixty million yuan stones to arrive so he could redeem her.

Wang Li, who spent all day wandering through the capital's clothing and perfume shops, was clueless about everything else.

"Three million, Mu Chen, are you trying to chase us away like beggars?" Wang Li couldn't help but say with a fierce expression.

Mu Chen mocked her. "Beggars? What makes you think you're nobler than beggars? At least beggars know how to feed themselves."

"Ye Shi, you're just going to stay quiet?" Wang Li asked anxiously, looking at Ye Shi.

Ye Shi's eyes flickered. Suddenly, he clenched his fists, raised his head, and said firmly, "I… I listen to Mu Chen."

Ye Rong was so angry she nearly vomited blood at Ye Shi's words.

"Three million is impossible!" Ye Rong said coldly. She still wanted to use the book to exchange for sixty million yuan stones—to become a master. Was that worth only three million?

When Ye Shi was at the academy, he had worked hard to raise funds—clearly to gather the sixty million. Mu Chen had given Ye Shi many magic weapons to sell. Obviously, Ye Shi had supported the idea. But now, Mu Chen had suddenly slashed the price to just three million.

Mu Chen sneered and said coldly, "I'm only offering three million because of Ye Shi. Do you think yuan stones are my only bargaining chip?"

"What are you planning?" Ye Xun asked with a grim face.

Mu Chen shrugged. "Nothing much. Just doing business."

"Three million is too little. Fifty million," Ye Xun said, reluctantly stepping back.

Mu Chen sneered again. "Three million yuan stones—not a single one more."

Wang Li flushed in frustration. She never expected Mu Chen to be this hard in negotiations. "Mu Chen, you... I don't want to do this deal anymore!"

Mu Chen smiled faintly with a hint of wickedness. "You're right. Ye Xun is no good, and Ye Shi's biological father, who hasn't shown his face for years, probably isn't any better. Three million is the limit for someone like that."

"Ye Shi, think carefully. That's your father's stuff, not Mu Chen's. He doesn't care at all," Wang Li said directly to Ye Shi.

Ye Shi lifted his head, coldness flashing in his eyes. "Mu Chen is right. The things of a heartless man are worth no more than three million. I don't want anything more."

Ye Rong was jumping anxiously, but there was nothing she could do. All they had counted on was how much Ye Shi valued a father he had never even met.

"Three million—I won't sell," Ye Xun said with a serious face.

Ye Shi's face changed. Ye Xun sneered inwardly. Maybe Mu Chen didn't care, but Ye Shi certainly did. He figured Ye Shi was bluffing.

"Alright, let's go," Mu Chen said as he took Ye Shi's hand.

Ye Shi couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed that the deal had failed, but he didn't challenge Mu Chen's decision.

Seeing the two about to leave, Ye Xun panicked. He suddenly realized something he had overlooked.

Ye Shi might care about the book, but Mu Chen didn't. And Ye Shi followed Mu Chen's lead. Mu Chen clearly held far more weight in Ye Shi's heart than his own estranged father.

If Ye Shi left now, they might not get another chance to renegotiate.

"Six million!" Ye Xun called out in desperation.

"Three million. This is the last time I'll say it. Not a coin more," Mu Chen said firmly.

Ye Xun's face turned blue, then pale. In the end, he clenched his teeth and said, "Fine."

"Father!" Ye Rong cried out in frustration.

How could her father agree to such a low price? In her eyes, Ye Shi was bluffing. If her father had just refused, Ye Shi would eventually cave. In this game, it was about who lost their patience first.

"Shut up," Ye Xun said through gritted teeth.

Ye Rong felt embarrassed and fell silent after her father's roar.

To ensure Ye Xun wouldn't give them a fake product again, a contract was signed.

When the transaction was finally completed, Ye Rong gritted her teeth in fury.

Once it was done, Mu Chen and Ye Shi didn't stay a moment longer and left immediately.

Ye Shi followed Mu Chen, occasionally stealing glances at him.

Mu Chen noticed Ye Shi's expression but said nothing. Ye Shi would see his true nature sooner or later, so Mu Chen chose to let him witness it gradually.

Ye Shi pursed his lips, a little dazed.

He had thought Mu Chen wouldn't bargain. But in the end, Mu Chen had been so ruthless.

He thought Mu Chen was soft-hearted, but in truth, Mu Chen was cold and merciless.

As he followed Mu Chen, Ye Shi felt his heart rise and fall with emotion. Suddenly, as if realizing something, Ye Shi rushed forward and grabbed Mu Chen's hand.

Ye Shi thought silently: No matter what kind of person Mu Chen is, I like him!

Mu Chen held Ye Shi's hand behind him and kissed Ye Shi on the forehead. Ye Shi's face turned red from the kiss.

Mu Chen smiled at Ye Shi's reaction, held his hand, and walked forward.

"You need to grow up fast!" Mu Chen said with a smile.

"I already have," Ye Shi whispered.

Mu Chen smiled dismissively.

"Mu Chen, what would you have done if Ye Xun didn't agree to your conditions?" Ye Shi asked curiously.

A cold light flashed in Mu Chen's eyes. "There's no way he wouldn't agree. He owes money to the casino in the capital. If he doesn't pay when it's due, he'll die."

In the imperial capital, they say killing is forbidden—but that's only on the surface. In reality, people disappear every day without a trace. Wherever there are people, there's a dark side, and the capital is no exception.

Ye Shi's eyes widened in surprise. "When did you find out?"

"The day before yesterday."

Ye Shi stared at him in shock and muttered, "You knew all along, and I was still working so hard to raise money..."

Mu Chen turned to him and said, "If Ye Xun had brought the real thing and given you the primordial stone, I wouldn't have pushed the price down so much."

Ye Shi was stunned for a moment, then smiled. "You're so thoughtful."

Whatever Mu Chen did, it always made sense! You reap what you sow—Ye Xun had brought this on himself.

---

Ye Xun lay on his bed, panting in pain.

He couldn't help but think: That guy Mu Chen is truly ruthless! If one day he stops loving Ye Shi, he might just kill that foolish boy without mercy.

"Dad, how could you agree to such a low price like three million?" Ye Rong bit her lip, nearly in tears.

"Shut up," Ye Xun said coldly.

He hadn't wanted to either, but with Mu Chen's attitude, he had no choice but to agree. The gambling debts in the capital were piling up, and if he didn't pay on time, he'd be skinned alive.

All the casinos in the capital have powerful backers. The thugs there aren't to be trifled with.

At first, he thought sixty million in hand would easily take care of his gambling debts. But in the end, Mu Chen had slashed the price, and there was no other way—he had to agree. The casino had only given him two days to raise the money.

"If you want to blame someone for this mess, blame yourself. You kept shouting and raising the price, and that angered Mu Chen," Ye Xun said coldly to Wang Li and Ye Rong.

Ye Rong bit her lip sadly. Although it had been her idea to raise the price, Ye Xun had agreed to it.

Ye Xun sighed, filled with regret. Judging from Ye Shi's attitude, if he had just given him the book directly, Ye Shi might have agreed to the original sixty million deal.

If I'd known it would turn out like this… why did I have to be so greedy?

Regret is hard to buy.

"Wang Li muttered unhappily, "Mu Chen, the Ye and Mu families are still family friends..."

Thinking of the fancy clothes she wouldn't be able to buy, Wang Li felt disappointed.

Ye Xun glanced at Wang Li in disgust. If she hadn't suggested using a fake product, things might not have ended up like this.

The fake only cost 20,000 yuan stones, yet Mu Chen had spotted it at a glance. That guy Mu Chen—he's simply a monster.

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