"Lord Bai..." Cold sweat beaded on Xia Jingwu's forehead. Forcing a thin smile, he stepped forward and cupped his fists. "Lord Bai, this humble one is Xia Jingwu. We had a brief meeting three years ago—I wonder if Your Lordship remembers me?"
Bai Zhengchu regarded him coldly. "Who the hell are you?"
"Heh heh..." Xia Jingwu chuckled awkwardly. "Your Lordship has many important matters to attend to, so naturally you wouldn't recall someone like me. But I've developed quite a friendship with Captain Kang Sheng under your command. Today's events came about for a reason—might Your Lordship step inside for a moment so I can explain the full details?"
As he spoke, Xia Jingwu discreetly slipped the space ring from his finger and pressed it toward Bai Zhengchu without drawing attention.
Inside that ring lay his entire fortune—nearly all of his wealth was stored in that single piece of jewelry. Yet he handed it over without hesitation, because he knew that if the trading company couldn't survive this crisis, no amount of treasures would do him any good.
"You know Kang Sheng as well?" Bai Zhengchu raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Xia Jingwu bobbed his head and bowed repeatedly. "It's my great fortune to do so."
Bai Zhengchu sneered. "Looks like Kang Sheng's position as guard captain is in jeopardy. What sort of riffraff is he associating with these days?"
At these words, Xia Jingwu's face changed dramatically.
With a single remark, Bai Zhengchu had dragged Captain Kang Sheng into the mire, inviting disaster upon him through no fault of his own. Even if Bai Zhengchu didn't pursue Xia Jingwu and the Five Directions Trading Company afterward, Kang Sheng would certainly not let the matter rest.
His relationship with Kang Sheng was built entirely on Holy Crystals—the flimsiest of bonds.
"Brazen of you—bribe me, the Vice Commander, in full view of the public!" Bai Zhengchu snorted coldly, snatched the space ring from Xia Jingwu's hand without even glancing at it, and tossed it to one of the warriors who had accompanied him. "The Five Directions Trading Company struck people first, showed contempt for the laws of Purple Star City, and then attempted to bribe me. Three additional charges. Seize them all."
"Yes, sir!" The group of warriors shouted in unison and moved to surround the members of the Five Directions Trading Company.
Among the company, apart from Hua Youmeng, who was at Return Void Stage Three, only the woman named Gao Hong had reached Return Void Stage One. Everyone else possessed only Saint King Realm cultivation. If Hua Youmeng were in good condition, they might have stood a fighting chance—but she had been struck by Xia Jingwu's Mystic Flower Rain Dew and was utterly powerless. Though her mind remained clear, she could not channel her Saint Origin, and could only watch helplessly as her brothers and sisters were taken.
Before long, every member of the Five Directions Trading Company had been subdued. Xia Jingwu and Yao Qing in particular had been beaten until their noses were bruised and faces swollen.
"We didn't hit anyone—why are you grabbing us? I refuse to accept this!" Yao Qing craned his neck and shouted.
"Oh? You didn't hit anyone? Plenty of witnesses outside the city gate saw the attackers were people from your Five Directions Trading Company. Do you think they're all lying?"
"I said we didn't hit anyone, and that's the truth!" Yao Qing snarled through gritted teeth.
"Lord Bai..." Gao Hong's expression flickered with struggle for a moment before she called out loudly: "Reporting to Your Lordship—the attackers were not from our company. That person defeated Steward Min in a single blow. What ability could our humble Five Directions Trading Company possibly have to employ such a formidable expert? Your Lordship is brilliant and wise—you surely must have considered this?"
Bai Zhengchu narrowed his eyes and looked toward Gao Hong, snorting coldly. "Are you suggesting that I, the Vice Commander, can't tell right from wrong and am incompetent in my duties?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Gao Hong trembled under his overwhelming pressure but still clenched her teeth and said: "It's only that if Your Lordship arrests us innocent people while the true culprit walks free—if Commander Lu were to learn of this, I wonder whether he would think Your Lordship unable to distinguish right from wrong and incompetent in your duties."
"Insolent!" Bai Zhengchu barked, his expression turning fierce.
Gao Hong forced herself to meet his gaze.
After a long moment, Bai Zhengchu let out a cold laugh. "I didn't expect a small trading company like yours to harbor so many brave souls. I like that! Fine—if you say the attacker isn't one of yours, then... where is he?"
"He's still here!" Gao Hong couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief and hurried to reply.
"Gao Hong!" Hua Youmeng's beautiful face tightened, her gaze reproachful as she looked at Gao Hong.
Gao Hong gave a bleak smile. "Chairman, he brought trouble upon himself. We can't let the company bear the consequences for him. Whether or not you blame me, I have to hand him over."
As she spoke, she pressed a pressure point on Hua Youmeng's back, instantly rendering her unable to speak. Hua Youmeng could only stare at her helplessly.
"The attacker is still in your company, and you dare tell me he isn't one of yours?" Bai Zhengchu regarded Gao Hong with a cold sneer. "Do you take me for a fool?"
Gao Hong replied in a steady voice: "Precisely because he isn't from our company, I did my best to keep him here and wait for Your Lordship's arrival—so that the authorities could apprehend the true culprit."
"Glib tongue!" Bai Zhengchu smiled slightly, seemingly somewhat satisfied with this answer. "Very well—lead the way, then. I want to see which bastard dares cause trouble in my Purple Star City!"
"This way, please!" Gao Hong gestured with her hand and immediately took the lead.
Even as she guided them, she did not set down the weakened Hua Youmeng. Instead, she lifted her into her arms, cradling her against her chest.