Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

Chapter 122: Why Do You Have to Be So Loud

Holding the treasure chest in his hands, Chu Liang examined it for a moment and suddenly felt somewhat awkward.

If it were items belonging to those three individuals, he wouldn't feel guilty even if he had casually checked them. After all, those three were not exactly virtuous people. However, this treasure chest seemed to hold considerable value, and those three couldn't possibly possess treasures worthy of being stored inside it.

It was most likely a stolen loot.

If it belonged to someone else, Chu Liang naturally couldn't claim it for himself. However, the three individuals had vanished quickly, making it challenging to catch them and inquire about the rightful owner.

After some thought, he decided to return to First-Rate Sword Hut first and ask Xu Sui if there was any way to help locate the owner.

Upon returning to the hut, Xu Sui happened to be absent, likely inside the hut delivering water to Xu Kunwu who was forging the sword.

And so, Chu Liang waited in the hall for him, idly playing with the treasure chest.

At that moment, Di Nufeng strolled in casually and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I found a treasure chest, but I don't know how to find the owner. I am going to ask Brother Xu if there's a way to locate the owner," Chu Liang replied.

"Why don't you just open it to see what's inside? Maybe you'll figure out who the owner is," suggested Di Nufeng.

"But this treasure chest seems quite mystical and probably requires a specific technique to..." Chu Liang began.

"Let me handle it. I'm the best at opening treasure chests," Di Nufeng said confidently.

With that, she extended a finger, and a golden-purple flame, resembling a flying bird, kindled on the tip of her finger , swirling in the air and vanishing in an instant.

Looking at Chu Liang's palm, there was now only a thick book left. The chest was gone.

"Where's the treasure chest?" he blinked and asked.

"It's opened." Di Nufeng stated bluntly.

"No..." Chu Liang gestured to the empty space, "it's opened, but where's the chest?"

"It's already opened. Why do you still need the chest?" Di Nufeng asked puzzledly.

You make a good point...

Chu Liang was speechless.

He then shifted his attention back to the thick book in his hand, thinking that something stored in such a precious chest must undoubtedly be of considerable value.

As they opened and inspected it, they discovered that it was a thick ledger, densely recording financial transactions over several years.

"All these are..." Di Nufeng also stared at it with a solemn expression as she completed her unfinished sentence, "Numbers![1]"

Chu Liang nodded, contemplating, "This is a ledger documenting secret transactions between the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts and the Wolf Fang Gang, and it's not the kind that sees the light of day. The proceeds are ultimately taken elsewhere and converted into cultivation resources before being reintegrated into the Wolf Fang Gang."

"I suspect this involves high-ranking members within the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts making private transactions of spirit beasts. The Wolf Fang Gang must be merely a channel instead of the actual buyer. Logically speaking, given the background of the Whale Gang, especially in a bustling city like Taotie City, they wouldn't need such high-profit-sharing channels."

"If it involves high-ranking individuals benefiting at the expense of the public, then it makes complete sense. This ledger is kept securely not because it's inherently valuable but because its exposure would reveal these dirty dealings."

In this world, money laundering was incredibly easy. One could have enjoyed a simple trip outside and come back claiming to have found treasures in some hidden realm or dangerous place. Ill-gotten wealth could easily have been concealed by exchanging it for a rare spiritual item. If someone had the intention of investigating these schemes thoroughly, the only discrepancy would have been the number of spirit beasts possessed by the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts.

The arrival of Miss Xu Hongqiu from the Whale Gang, the turmoil in the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts, and the middle-aged man who attacked him hastily last night... all these connections suddenly clicked in Chu Liang's mind.

So that was why...

He revealed a look of realization.

Di Nufeng, on the other hand, was still confused. "What can you tell from these numbers? Is there some kind of secret code?"

Sigh.

Chu Liang sighed silently. It is not Di Nufeng's fault.

If his teacher, being the formidable one, was also highly educated, how would others survive?

At this moment, Xu Sui returned from outside. Upon seeing the two, he greeted them and asked, "Esteemed Senior, Young Hero Chu, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes." Chu Liang raised his head and asked, "Brother Xu, I want to ask you about the manager of the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts. Do you know who it is?"

"Hmm? The Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts..." Xu Sui paused, pondering, "That is an important industry of the Whale Gang, managed by someone surnamed Xu, I believe his name is Xu Nanling."

Chu Liang smiled slightly. It was indeed that guy.

...

Later in the evening, the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts welcomed two unexpected guests.

Because the reported visitor was Di Nufeng of Mount Shu, Xu Hongqiu put aside her current task and personally came out to greet them. Behind her were Xu Nanling, Elder Cangxing, and two squads of subordinates from the Whale Gang.

It could be said that everyone capable of fighting from the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts was present.

"As your humble junior, I am Xu Hongqiu of the Whale Gang. I have long heard of the Esteemed Senior's name." Upon seeing Di Nufeng, she first took the initiative to bow and introduce herself.

Then, she looked up at Di Nufeng with her eyes glimmering, displaying a formidable aura as she stared straight at Di Nufeng.

Di Nufeng didn't exert any pressure on Xu Hongqiu; instead, she casually put her hands in her sleeves and glanced over at Xu Hongqiu lazily. Then, she said with a smile, "Oh my, you're Xu Bashan's daughter? Despite his ugliness, he managed to have such a beautiful daughter. Truly..."

"Esteemed Teacher." Chu Liang gently tugged at her sleeve.

"What's the matter? Can't I exchange some polite greetings with her first before getting down to business?" Di Nufeng turned her head back and whispered.

Well, why don't you redefine the term "polite greetings."

"Previously, the incident in South Gate City was resolved thanks to you two cleaning up the mess related to my Whale Gang. I've been wanting to express my sincere gratitude, but recent matters have kept me occupied, preventing me from doing so. It's truly my shortcoming that the senior has to visit me first. I apologize for the inconvenience."

Xu Hongqiu maintained a composed expression as she spoke politely to Di Nufeng.

"Uh—" Di Nufeng waved her hand, indifferent, and remarked, "There's no need to mention how I eradicated evil. I do around one hundred and eighty of those annually. I came today mainly to inquire about what happened last night."

"Last night?" Xu Hongqiu looked at Chu Liang.

"Oh..." Chu Liang sighed, feigning embarrassment as he said, "I insisted I was fine and that it was just a misunderstanding. However, my teacher insisted that we come here to ask you to explain things clearly... cough, cough, cough!"

With that, he coughed heavily a few times.

There was no other choice.

He had left in such a righteous manner last night. If he suddenly became hostile, it wouldn't look good on him. And so, he discussed with his esteemed teacher and the strategy was that one of them would play the good cop while the other would play the bad cop.

"I have a disciple who is honest and upright," Di Nufeng said with a distressed expression. "Being away from home makes him an easy target for bullying. As his teacher, I must protect him. I just came to ask this. Who attacked my disciple last night?"

"Senior, we are at fault..." Xu Hongqiu looked uneasy as she pondered how to explain to Di Nufeng.

However, Xu Nanling's expression stiffened. He wasn't a fool and could see that this duo was here to cause a scene.

They were most likely seeking compensation.

But he wasn't afraid at this moment.

After the chaotic event at the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts last night, all the deficits in the number of demonic beasts were counted as losses. Although the amount of deficits was suspicious, without concrete evidence, his position remained unshaken.

Even if Xu Hongqiu brought an imperial edict, she wouldn't be able to do anything to him.

In fact, he had always looked down on Xu Hongqiu. He had watched her grow up. She was not even twenty yet, so how capable could she be?

Upon hearing Xu Hongqiu take the initiative to admit fault, he felt somewhat displeased.

If she admitted that the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts was at fault, it would be akin to acknowledging it was solely his responsibility. This young woman would not only be at a disadvantage but would also likely face extortion. She had also effectively threw him under the bus.

To say she lacked capability was indeed the case. If someone experienced in the martial world were to handle this, they would undoubtedly insist on their innocence and, at most, argue that it was a misunderstanding.

So, he confidently stepped forward, loudly interrupting Xu Hongqiu, "I was the one who beat him up!"

As long as he was the first to display an imposing manner.

In an instant, he had thought through various scenarios. Regardless of how Di Nufeng questioned or held him accountable, he believed he could refute each point, ensuring that she left empty-handed.

Unfortunately, the envisioned verbal battle did not take place.

Upon seeing him suddenly step forward and loudly interrupt, the smile on Di Nufeng's face faded. She stomped her left foot, raised her right leg, and then swiftly kicked.

Bang!

Rumble!

Although this kick seemed neither fast nor heavy, it landed on Xu Nanling's chest, and his body instantly disappeared from the hall. Subsequently, the walls of the hall produced a resounding boom, followed by another crash from the walls of the courtyard. Afterward, the walls of the shops across the street also echoed with a bang.

With each booming sound, the people in the Hall of Ten Thousand Beasts trembled. Finally, after six or seven consecutive crashes, the noise ceased.

This seemingly casual kick sent Xu Nanling flying three streets away!

Di Nufeng lowered her leg and scratched the inside of her ear with her left hand. She looked somewhat displeased as she glanced in the direction where Xu Nanling had disappeared, asking as if to no one in particular, "Why do you have to be so loud?"

1. I can't with her man. WHO DOESN'T KNOW IT'S NUMBERS ☜