As soon as this statement was made, the bustling front of the hall turned suddenly quiet. Everyone, including Zhao Cha and Wei Xin who had already walked to the second-floor staircase, all turned their heads in unison, staring bizarrely at the burly man Wu He standing at the door.
Feeling uneasy under their strange gazes as if there was filth on him, Wu He was about to speak again when Yang Ge, from behind the counter, spoke indifferently, "What do you seek from Yang Erlang?"
Wu He sharply turned his head, his expression slightly impatient as he looked towards Yang Ge, "Who are you?"
Yang Ge: "Quite a coincidence, I also bear the surname Yang."
"Hahaha..."
The idlers in the front hall burst out laughing, slamming their hands on the tables.
"You..."
Wu He’s expression changed, his gaze flaring up with annoyance and fury as he stepped towards the counter.
Yang Ge slightly tilted his head, a faint smile still lingering on his face.
However, the temperature in the inn suddenly dropped a few degrees.
The laughter from the idlers abruptly ceased, and many rubbed their scalps vigorously, shivering.
The foot that Wu He had just landed pulled back smoothly, his eyes losing their irritation and impatience in an instant, and he gave a bow neither servile nor overbearing, "I have eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai, please forgive me, Second Master."
The idlers in the front hall could tell that this man was a bully who reigned supreme in his own domain, lacking basic respect for the outside world, but he still had the brains to bend or stretch as needed...
Yang Ge chuckled softly and replied leisurely, "We are not familiar with each other, no forgiveness needed... Let’s talk business first!"
Unfazed, Wu He continued, "Second Master, the Sect Hierarch of the Five Poisons Cult, Yan Shijun, heard that you lost three million taels of silver and was greatly concerned. After much investigation, he was fortunate to retrieve the silver you lost and specifically instructed me to return it to you."
Upon hearing this, the idlers in the hall were stunned, their faces full of disbelief as they all turned to look at Yang Ge.
They all knew that Yang Ge had lost a shipment of silver; he had even had messages sent outside the inn about it previously.
But they didn’t know... that Yang Ge had lost three million taels of silver!
What scale is three million taels?
Let’s put it this way, during the Xiping era in Wei, the total annual tax revenue was between six and eight million taels of silver!
That is to say, Yang Ge’s worth nearly approached half of Wei’s total tax revenue!
Wow, just wow, the usual betting base of ten coins in Mahjong, and they complain ’What kind of family plays so high’!
Privately, losing nearly half a year’s total tax revenue of Wei in a casual stance?
Truly, looks can be deceiving, and the depth of the sea immeasurable, the richer they are, the stingier they become...
At the same time, the attitude of the Five Poisons Cult also refreshed the idlers’ recognition of Yang Ge’s status in the martial arts world.
In these days, they had often discussed the Five Poisons Cult and bombarded with various rumors and old tales, the idlers felt that this once dominant overlord of the Southern Border who had re-entered the martial world was unfathomable!
Yet that big salted fish, who stayed indoors daily joining them in card games, eating melons, and watching plays, could make the Five Poisons Cult travel from the Southern Border to Lai Lu Ting with silver to bow and admit their wrongs to him!
The intensity of that impact, how should one put it...
It’s like they were nesting in an ordinary diner, heatedly discussing how fierce and prominent a newly debuted gangster with twin flower badges was.
Then upon turning their heads, that gangster ran into the diner and respectfully poured tea and called the greasy middle-aged owner "Brother."
All their principles shattered!
They didn’t even wanna be involved in the martial world anymore!
And at the staircase area, Zhao Miao’s gaze towards Yang Ge at this moment was exactly like how she looked at delicious food.
She knew this stingy, teasing Dark God... was extremely powerful.
Updat𝒆d fr𝑜m freewebnøvel.com.
But just how powerful he actually was, she lacked a precise understanding, which is why she had naïvely asked Li Qing when she might have a chance to spar with Yang Ge.
Now with the Five Poisons Cult as a reference, she finally had a clear and accurate understanding of just how powerful Yang Ge really was!
This was many times more impressive than she had imagined!
In the midst of utter silence, the sound of Yang Ge tapping the counter with his left index finger was exceptionally clear. He pondered for two seconds, then suddenly smiled, "It seems your sect has made a mistake. I lost not three million taels, but a full five million taels."
The gazes of the bystanders began to diverge at his words.
Some, puzzled, turned towards Wu He, wondering if the Five Poisons Cult had really taken two million taels of silver from Yang Ge.
Others stared at Yang Ge in shock, amazed at how his face could remain so thick and his heart so dark, transforming three million taels of silver into five million in an instant—faster than a robbery!
Still others hesitated between Yang Ge and Wu He, trying hard to discern who was telling the truth...
Wu He, seemingly having anticipated that Yang Ge might ask this, replied unflinchingly, "Second Master, our sect did hear that you lost five million taels of silver, but we indeed only found three million. Why not take these three million first? For the remaining two million, allow our sect to dispatch some capable hands to search further."
Yang Ge shook his head in regret, "It seems the three million taels you found are not the sum I lost. Take it back. I don’t want money that isn’t mine."
Wu He looked up, with a defiant smile, he said lightly, "Our sect comes with full sincerity. Why must you reject us from a thousand miles away, Second Master?"
Yang Ge also smiled, "Clearly, your sincerity is still not enough!"
Wu He slowly lost his smile, "Then what would show that my sect’s sincerity is sufficient?"
Yang Ge replied, "Haven’t I made myself clear? I only want the five million taels of silver I lost. Whoever took it should bring it back to me, and we’ll call it even. Otherwise... hehe!"
Wu He pondered for a moment and also sighed lightly with regret, "It appears that the three million taels our sect found are indeed not the sum you lost, Second Master."
Yang Ge sighed too, "Indeed. If you are willing, help me search again. If it’s too troublesome, forget it. Perhaps another day I’ll go to the South Border myself."
Wu He squinted his eyes, smiling, "That would be good. If Second Master graces the South Border, our sect will surely receive you warmly!
Yang Ge extended his hand towards the door, "Then let this be settled. Please take your leave."
Wu He bowed, "I dare not trouble Second Master to see me out, farewell!"
After saying this, he turned around and strode out of the inn’s main door, waving at the huge caravan outside. The caravan then began to move slowly, passing by the Yuelai Inn.
Yang Ge glanced at it and then withdrew his gaze, turning to look at the silent hall and chuckled, "What are you dazing at? Continue!"
The bystanders in the inn still stared at him, not daring to make a sound.
Even after thirty years of chronic rhinitis, one could sense the thick gunpowder smell in the conversation between Yang Ge and Wu He.
Were they really going to confront the Five Poisons Cult?
Would the martial world ever find a peaceful spot for a drink table again?
"What are you afraid of?"
Yang Ge scratched his head, "Afraid that my inn’s food is poisoned?"
The crowd was taken aback, then snapped out of it. Right, with Second Master holding the fort, what did they have to fear?
"Eat, eat!"
"Drink, drink!"
"Whose turn was it just now? Come on, buddy..."
"A punch for you!"
"Riding on your head!"
The bystanders resumed their usual liveliness, and the inn burst into activity once more, their eyes gleaming, untouched by the previous tension.
They just liked to loaf around, but that didn’t mean they were actually weak!
Yang Ge turned back to his ledger, considering whether he might actually go to the South Border himself to look for some chili seeds.
Along the way, he could deal with the Five Insects Cult that not only robbed him of his money but also dared to negotiate boldly with him...
’Ah, I don’t want to go out, I just got home!’
He tossed the pen down in annoyance, marking a thick stroke against the Five Poisons Cult in his mind.