Volume One: The Emperor's Sword Chapter 50: Competing for Wealth

Yun Que pulled out a thick stack of silver notes from his robe, carefully counting out twenty, each worth ten thousand taels.

A total of two hundred thousand taels.

Before the eyes of all, Yun Que strode up to Mu Gui, flicked his wrist, and scattered the notes into the air.

With a fluttering sound, the twenty notes rained down, covering Mu Gui’s face.

“These two hundred thousand taels, use some to buy medicine for your head, and with the rest, get yourself a decent coffin. With so few days left to live, why keep stirring up trouble?”

The hall fell into utter silence.

Then came Mu Gui’s furious roar. He snatched the notes from his face, tore them to shreds, his elderly face turning the color of a bruised plum.

Every member of the Mu family present felt the same sting.

Utter humiliation!

They had tried to buy him off with a hundred thousand taels, only for him to not only refuse but to turn around and throw two hundred thousand back!

For the Mu family, whose wealth rivaled that of nations, such an affront was unheard of. When it came to money, the Mu family of Yan had never known fear.

“Scoundrel! How dare you humiliate me, you brat!” Mu Gui fumed, striking the floor with his cane.

“Old man, are you being reasonable at all? I gave you money for medicine out of respect for you as an elder. You yourself said the Mu family is all about business and fairness. What, are you saying my money’s fake? Go ahead, have it checked, see if it isn’t genuine Wild Goose silver notes.”

Yun Que showed no trace of anger, speaking with a cheerful smile, not even glancing at the notes strewn across the floor.

In truth, he felt a pang of pain.

He had only seven hundred thousand taels left, and throwing out two hundred thousand in one go was no small expenditure.

Normally, he’d never hand out money so freely, but today was different.

Here, representing the Yun family before the Mus, he could overlook all else—but he would never let his father lose face!

Mu Qingyao pinched her fingers, feeling an inexplicable satisfaction inside.

Mu Qingzhou paused in surprise, a silent, wry smile on his lips.

He had never expected Yun Que to turn the tables, beating the elders of the Mu family at their own game with money.

Yet this only made Mu Qingzhou more intrigued by Yun Que. He’d intended to intervene, but now he was in no hurry. He wanted to see what other means this young man might display.

“Very well, very well!” Mu Gui forced himself to regain composure, sneering coldly.

“It seems our Mu family has been too modest, making others think we’re destitute. Boy, today I shall teach you what it means to compete in wealth! If a hundred thousand taels can’t tempt you, I’ll add tenfold—one million taels for your marriage contract!”

A million taels—a sum ordinary households couldn’t spend in generations, enough to buy ten marquis’ estates, or, in spirit stones, a full hundred pieces.

“What, still not enough?” Mu Gui, confidence restored, boomed, “If it’s not enough, I’ll add another million!”

Two million taels!

Even among the elders of the Mu family, such a sum raised eyebrows, while the servants outside the hall listened in trembling disbelief.

Two million taels of silver—beyond their wildest dreams!

Yet Mu Gui waved his hand as though it were nothing.

He would leave Yun Que with no escape, barking, “Is it enough, boy? If not, no matter—three million taels!”

In a few words, he’d raised the bid to three million taels.

Mu Gui was not only venting his anger, but also using this chance to sever the Yun-Mu marriage contract, so his grandson could rightfully become Mu Qingyao’s husband.

“Go, bring the money!” Mu Gui ordered with a sweep of his hand, and a servant hurried away.

Soon, the servant returned, carrying a thick stack of silver notes, which he set before Yun Que.

“Three million taels—such wealth,” Yun Que remarked, clicking his tongue, circling the notes before spreading his hands. “I can’t match that sum.”

Mu Gui burst into triumphant laughter. “This is what it means to crush someone with money! Compete with me in wealth, and I’ll bury you with silver! Take the money and be gone!”

Yun Que didn’t touch the money, instead giving Mu Gui a look reserved for fools.

“With so much money, why not buy better medicine? Your mind is clearly ailing. I said I can’t put up that much silver, did I say I have nothing of value? Since you insist on competing in wealth, I’ll oblige you.”

With that, Yun Que pulled out a jet-black pebble, weighing it in his hand.

“This stone is worth nearly a thousand spirit stones—translating to about ten million taels of silver. Your three million taels are hardly impressive. It wouldn’t just fail to bury me; it wouldn’t even dust my coat.”

Mu Gui’s eyes twitched, and he sprang to his feet, suspicious. “What worthless stone could be worth a thousand spirit stones? You’re just being a sore loser!”

Mu Qingzhou glanced at it, surprise flickering in his eyes. “A soul stone, and of fine quality—worth at least a thousand spirit stones.”

With the Mu family’s head as witness, Mu Gui slumped back into his seat, secretly alarmed.

Among the elders, many were cultivators with keen eyesight, and they too recognized the stone in Yun Que’s hand, now regarding the young man with newfound respect.

To produce such a rare treasure hinted at a wealth far beyond their imagination!

Mu Wan cast a casual glance at the soul stone, a hint of amusement at the corners of his mouth, as though the more fiercely Yun Que and Mu Gui clashed, the more it pleased him.

Mu Gui soon recovered, scoffing, “A mere thousand spirit stones—that’s just ten million taels. The Mu family could raise ten times that!”

He no longer spoke for himself alone, but now included the entire Mu family in his tone.

A thousand spirit stones—a true fortune. Even if Mu Gui could manage it, it would hurt the family deeply.

Yun Que merely smiled, putting the soul stone away. He had no intention of showing the rest of his dozens of stones.

Never flaunt all your wealth—enough was enough.

Show all his treasures, and he might frighten Mu Gui to death.

“Words are just words. Put your money on the table—let’s see you bury me,” Yun Que said with a cheerful smile.

At this moment, Mu Wan interjected, “Money is but a vulgar thing. Such comparison is inelegant. Third Uncle, why not compete with something more refined?”

He resumed sipping his tea, a faintly malicious smile at his lips.

A sly one, Mu Wan rarely spoke, but when he did, it was always to fan the flames.

Mu Gui snorted, “Indeed. Gold and silver are beneath us. Let’s compare something finer. The Mu family has magical treasures—does your Yun family?”

Mu Gui’s words made Mu Qingzhou frown with displeasure.

Not because Mu Gui suggested magic treasures, but because he disparaged the Yun family as a whole.

It was one thing to mock Yun Que, a mere youth, but quite another to slight the entire Yun family—especially as Yun Changji had perished in battle, and had once been a dear friend of Mu Qingzhou’s.

In Mu Qingzhou’s eyes, Mu Gui, as an elder, was going too far.

“Third Uncle, do not despise youth for their poverty,” Mu Qingzhou said coolly, his tone calm but heavy with authority.

Mu Gui was already unable to back down, forced to double down on seniority.

“So what if I do? Someone! Bring me the Thousand-Leaf Sword!”

At Mu Gui’s hoarse shout, a steward of evident cultivation left and soon returned, carrying a wooden box. Upon it was a delicate, translucent lock, emitting a faint aura of formation.

Mu Gui pressed a mechanism on his cane, revealing an intricate key, which he used to open the lock.

Inside lay no sword blade, but a layer of green leaves—plain at first glance, but as the box opened, the leaves stirred of their own accord, and a gentle breeze wafted through the hall.

The aura of a magic treasure was unmistakable!

The leaves themselves formed the treasure—a mysterious sword woven from green leaves, bearing a subtle resemblance to the Flower Spirit Sword in its hairpin shape.

Cradling the box carefully, Mu Gui grinned.

“Flower Spirit and Thousand-Leaf—these twin swords are meant to unite. Once my grandson reaches the late stage of Qi Refining, this sword will help him seize the title of Sword Heir. Hongwen and Qingyao are truly a perfect pair!”

He turned his gaze to Yun Que, his disdain undisguised. “Today, I’ll broaden your horizons. Behold—an invaluable magic treasure! If you want my respect, bring out your own!”

Everyone knew—a mere sword servant from the Sword Palace could hardly possess a magic treasure, perhaps not even a decent magical tool.

All the more so for the already fallen Yun family.

“A magic treasure, is it? Very well.”

Yun Que smiled with easy grace, touched his storage pouch, and slowly drew out a sword hilt.

In that instant, a sword aura sharp enough to suffocate surged forth, instantly filling the entire Mu family hall!

A magic treasure—the Serpent Sword!