Chapter 1595: State of Mutual Hostility
Translator: Lordbluefire Editor: Lordbluefire
Old He’s corpse landed on the ground, his head separated from his body. Countless gazes turned over, all of their hearts trembling as they stared with terror on their faces at this sudden scene.
Qin Wentian acted directly, slaying an immortal emperor.
“Little He!” That old man who was one of the auction house’s leaders cried, staring at the ground dyed red with blood. His eyes flashed with terrifying killing intent. Many experts from the auction house stepped forward, staring at Old He’s corpse as their intent to fight soared up into the sky.
Qin Wentian actually dared to kill? How the hell did he get the guts to do this?
The spectators around were all frightened silly. This was especially so for the transaction pavilion owners. Right now, it was like cold water was being poured onto them as they instantly awoke. They finally understood what level of conflict this was. And as for them, were they even qualified to participate in this?
Old He was an immortal emperor from the Ancient River Auction House, yet Qin Wentian killed him just like that, without even wasting words. Old He wanted to obstruct the people from the governor’s manor, but Qin Wentian reacted instantly, in proof of his earlier words. Those who defied orders shall be executed!
Although they were the owners of the transaction pavilions, what do they count for? Qin Wentian even dared to kill Old He and did so in the face of the Ancient River Auction House. Right now, how could they still not understand that the governor’s manor was planning to make a move on the Ancient River Auction House, using them as an example to warn the people of the northern city regions. Just when everyone was gradually forgetting about the existence of Qin Wentian, Qin Wentian appeared.
When everyone felt that the governor’s manor was a symbol of uselessness, the people from the governor’s manor actually came in such a domineering manner to the Ancient River Auction House.
“Everyone from the governor’s manor listen up. Immediately execute my orders, those who dare to obstruct us from our investigation, execute them directly.” Qin Wentian barked out another command, his tone much heavier compared to earlier.
“Yes, governor.” The experts from the governor’s manor replied together. During these years, although they feared Qin Wentian, they all knew that many people looked down on their governor’s manor outside. Their reputation was very low, the other governor’s manors in the other regions were all extremely imposing. Only their northern governor’s manor was severely lacking, everyone dared to antagonize them and when they collect tribute every ten years, it felt like they were begging the powers to pay up instead of the powers voluntarily paying. Not only so, these powers in the northern regions also liked to make things difficult for them.
They had long suppressed this breath of resentment for way too long, over tens of years. Now, their lord governor was finally going to act. When they smelled the scent of blood, they understood that when they saw Qin Wentian killing the three vice governors long ago, he was nothing but a beast in human form. Although he had remained low-profile for many years, he finally revealed his sharp claws and fangs.
The experts from the auction house turned their gazes to the old man, one of the leaders of the auction house. At this moment, the old man looked exceptionally calm. He merely glanced at the corpse on the ground before coldly speaking, “Let them investigate.”
Evidently, he also understood that Qin Wentian was truly making a move against them. If they obstructed him, it meant that their auction house wanted war.
In addition, the other party had sufficient reason to do this. As for the Ancient River Auction House, they had already sent out hidden messages to their allies for help but none of their allies arrived yet. Even if they wanted a war, they had to first ensure they had more experts on their side. Currently, Qin Wentian’s forces were stronger and they would lose for sure if they clashed head-on. At that time, they would already have lost their lives, what would be the point for everything else then?
Hence, what they needed to do now, was to endure.
Their faces were filled with rage, as they clenched their fists. The experts from the auction house wanted nothing more than to slaughter their way over but they didn’t do so and all chose to obey the old man’s order.
The old man didn’t hide any of his actions. He took out his messaging crystal in front of Qin Wentian and sent a strand of his immortal sense within. Everyone understood what he was trying to do. Qin Wentian naturally understood as well but he simply watched quietly.
Today, it was useless no matter who came.
The various immortal emperors from the governor’s manor, chained up and lock several important locations of the Ancient River Auction House. The experts from the governor’s manor then entered and began their search. Qin Wentian and the Evil Emperor stood outside, calmly watching everything.
“Governor Qin, my Ancient River Auction House is still considered to have some status in the northern city regions. By doing this, have you thought about the consequences?” The old man calmly asked, his eyes staring at Qin Wentian after he sent the message.
“Isn’t the Ancient River Auction House the one who wanted this seat to investigate all those ‘incidents’ years ago? Now that this seat is doing so, you actually say such a thing. What do you mean by this exactly?” Qin Wentian stood with his hands behind his back, coldly looking at the old man.
“Governor Qin truly knows how to act. Everyone knows that you were once a bandit and also understand why you were put in this governor’s position. Hence, I honestly recommend that before the governor’s manor does anything, you guys best think of the consequences or be prepared.” The old man continued, his tone was calm and wasn’t filled with anger at all. Yet, even so, there was no denying that his words were extremely threatening.
A cold light flashed through Qin Wentian’s eyes. Threatening him? Very well.
Very swiftly, a person was escorted by the governor manor’s guards outwards. This was a peak-stage immortal emperor. He icily stared at Qin Wentian as he asked, “Lord governor, what do you mean by this?”
Qin Wentian swept his glance over but he didn’t say anything. He quietly continued waiting.
After that, more and more people were escorted out by the guards. Upon seeing this scene, the face of the old man finally changed as a strange light flashed through his eyes.
So it turned out that the governor’s manor has planned for this day for a very long time.
Today, they truly came prepared.
From afar, more and more experts came over. Gradually, the area around the Ancient River Auction House was filled to the brim, there were crowds standing both on the ground and in the air.
Although the Ancient River Auction House was a major auction house in the northern city regions, its human flow had never been as high as it was today.
The governor’s manor has been keeping a low-profile for so many years but the instant they acted, they were making a move against the Ancient River Auction House whose backer was the Jialan Clan. How could this fail to attract attention? Also, this seemingly affected the benefits and interests of various major powers. After all, in the past tens of years, it was very rare for people to pay their tributes. Hence, this had another meaning in it. Many people wanted to see what changes would this current situation evoke.
In the air, there were a few major powers who arrived with many experts. There were even several immortal emperors among them, including peak-stage ones. They directly stood beside the Ancient River Auction House the moment they arrived and the location they were at was the closest to the center of the storm. All of them were staring balefully at the people from the governor’s manor.
Clearly, these people came with unkind intentions.
However, Qin Wentian didn’t even incline his head to look at them. He stood with his arms behind his back and quietly stood there. He even closed his eyes as though in meditation. That handsome face was extremely attractive and many young female cultivators all had bright light flashing through their eyes as they stared at him with admiration.
Young, strong, handsome, iron-blooded methods. It has been many years since the northern city regions saw such a dazzling governor.
Finally, after many experts of the auction house were escorted out by the guards, the people from the governor’s manor returned to their original positions. The old man from the Ancient River Auction House coldly spoke, “Lord governor, what are you planning to do exactly?”
“Evil Emperor, I’ll hand them to you.” Qin Wentian’s eyes remained close as he spoke.
“Mhm.” The Evil Emperor nodded. His eyes flared with a strange light as he took a step forward.
“Hold on.” The old man roared. “Lord governor, what do you want the Evil Emperor to do?”
“I naturally want to investigate the incidents.” Qin Wentian replied.
“Investigate? Then why must you capture the people of my auction house?” The old man coldly asked.
“Maybe, all of them have some problems but your auction house didn’t discover anything. Since my governor’s manor said that we would investigate the incidents that happened those years ago, we will naturally put in our best efforts to do so. Why are you trying to obstruct me?” Qin Wentian opened his eyes as a resplendent light shot out. This light was sharper compared to swords and directly shot into the eyes of the old man.
The old man felt his heart shaking but he icily continued, “Qin Wentian, don’t go too overboard.”
“Evil Emperor.” Qin Wentian disregarded the old man. He waved his hand, the Evil Emperor’s eyes gleamed even brighter with a green light as he stared into the eyes of one of the captives. The eyes of the person reflected the green light as his expression turned wooden, like he was in a daze.
“Twenty years ago, do you know anything about the incidents of plundering and robbery that happened to the Ancient River Auction House?” The Evil Emperor asked.
“I know.” That person nodded as he replied.
“Tell me the exact details.” The Evil Emperor spoke.
“The date of tribute collection had almost arrived then. In order to avoid paying tribute, our auction house put up a grand show.” That person replied.
“Shut up!” That old man screamed, his voice like a thunderbolt, causing the soul of that person being questioned to shake. After that, the green light in his eyes dissipated, he stared at the old man as his expression paled.
“Evil Emperor, continue.” Qin Wentian calmly spoke.
“Mhm, Zhu Yan. Eight years ago I heard that you once spoke about an incident that happened ten years before, that incident was about a person being assassinated at the doorstep of the Ancient River Auction House. Was that assassination carried out by one of the experts of the Ancient River Auction House?” The Evil Emperor directly asked.
“Yes. That target was someone our auction house wanted to kill since a long time ago. Just so coincidentally, the date for the tribute collection then had arrived and we used this chance to kill two birds with one stone, finishing off that target. After that, we made a report to the governor’s manor, but how would they be able to even trace it back to us? Not only for that incident, every time when the date of tribute collection neared, even if we don’t want to pay the tax, we have to find an excuse. The governor’s manor’s people are all cowards, it’s fine even if they knew about it. They are just a bunch of trash.” Zhu Yan’s mouth curled up in a mocking smile as he revealed the truth.
The entire space turned silent. The old man’s chest heaved up and down, he was so angry that his entire body was shaking. His eyes slowly turned over and landed on the Evil Emperor, “That should be enough. Who doesn’t know about the Evil Emperor’s ability? He can make them say whatever he wants to. This is a clear case of using my people to frame my auction house. What despicable methods.”
“Despicable methods?” The Evil Emperor glanced at that old man. “Your Ancient River Auction House is the one who used all types of shameless methods, yet you still have the face to say such a thing?”
“Hmph. It’s pointless to argue with you.” The old man glanced at Qin Wentian. “This is why I was asking what Governor Qin plans to do exactly. It’s fine that you want to deal with my auction house, but why is there a need to use such a method to frame me?”
“I heard that because the northern governor failed in collecting sufficient tributes during these years, he would be held in disdain everytime he gathers at the Lifire Palace every ten years. Is this the reason why Governor Qin did this?” Another voice rang out. Everyone turned their heads over, the person who spoke was actually from a major power. Right now, there was a mocking expression on his face. Clearly, he was here to help the Ancient River Auction House!