Chapter 123: Taking Delivery in Three Months

Li Zhi declared, "From now on, anyone wishing to place a bulk order for Immortal Spirits exceeding one million in value must wait three months for delivery! If they are willing to sign a contract and provide an official government guarantee, we shall sell to them. Otherwise, forget it!"

"Understood!"

After the Hebei noble clans departed, they did not leave the capital. Instead, they took up residence within the city walls, evidently still having business to attend to. Li Zhi, feeling uneasy, dispatched men to keep a close watch on them.

The following day, Lou Yi returned with news. "Reporting to Your Highness, that group has indeed made contact with the Guanlong noble clans! According to my investigation, they are preparing to purchase Immortal Spirits worth eight million Kaiyuan Tongbao. As for their specific intentions, it remains unknown."

"Where are they?"

"In a courtyard in the South City! The eight million in currency has just arrived..."

"What!"

Li Zhi’s expression shifted, and a wicked thought flickered through his mind. He glanced left and right, confirming they were alone, then whispered, "What if we plan a robbery and take it from them?"

"Huh?" Luo Tong was startled by the suggestion. "Your Highness... you intend to rob the noble clans?"

"The capital is our territory. If we want to rob someone, it is a favor to them! Even if the matter were exposed, so what? Who would dare to punish us? Besides... I am doing this for the sake of the nation, so a little robbery is justified!"

It sounded noble, but if they were truly discovered, it would be a troublesome affair.

"To check the influence of the noble clans, we must not only make grand gestures, but also engage in such underhanded tactics!" Li Zhi smiled and instructed Luo Tong, "I leave this matter to you. Take the Golden Blade Guards, scout their situation, and then strike at the opportune moment. You must succeed in one blow!"

"Pfft! I knew you would assign this to me!"

Luo Tong rolled his eyes. As the young heir of the Luo family, being dissolute or overbearing was not considered disgraceful, but being a bandit or a thief sounded shameful and damaging to the family reputation.

"Besides you, who else could shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"

"I..." Luo Tong hesitated for a long while before reluctantly agreeing. "Fine, I will go. But if this matter is exposed later, you must testify for me!"

"Agreed!"

Li Zhi had not expected Luo Tong to value his reputation so highly.

The night was pitch black, with the wind howling. A few dark shadows flitted across the rooftops, their movements as light as dragonflies skimming the water. Accompanied by the whistling wind, they were nearly impossible to detect.

"Lou Yi, where is the group you mentioned? Which courtyard is it?"

"Returning to my lord... it is so dark, I can hardly distinguish one place from another!"

"Fool!"

Undoubtedly, they were lost. Lou Yi had only visited once, during the day. In the dead of night, with visibility near zero, searching for a hidden courtyard was no easy feat.

"Keep looking carefully. If it really doesn't work, we'll head back! Why are we wandering around in the middle of the night..." Luo Tong grumbled, sitting down on a roof beam.

"My lord, wait a moment!"

Lou Yi departed using his light-foot skills, intending to make one final search.

*Whoosh...*

As he stood up, a gust of wind whistled, sounding jarringly loud in the silent night. Simultaneously, a sharp cry erupted from the courtyard below: "Who goes there?"

"Who is on the roof?"

Lou Yi’s movements had been quiet, yet they had been detected. It was clear the people below were highly vigilant.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...*

Over a dozen dark shadows emerged in the courtyard, looking up at the roof. Luo Tong and his men had been discovered.

"Awkward!" Luo Tong didn't know what to say. He had intended to handle this stealthily, but they had been compromised halfway through. What to do? Retreat!

Lou Yi rushed back, "My lord, the courtyard seems to be right below..." Having circled the area, he began to recognize his surroundings. Upon returning and checking, he confirmed the target.

"One finds what one is looking for after all, even if it takes some effort!"

"Let's go down!" Luo Tong leaped from the beam, landing steadily in the courtyard, followed closely by the Golden Blade Guards.

The dozen shadows below surrounded them, raising torches. "Who has the audacity to come to my residence and cause trouble? Seize them and take them to the magistrate!"

"Attack!" Luo Tong gave a sharp command. His long sword flashed as he swept forward, felling three men instantly, before darting left and right with ease.

The Golden Blade Guards dispersed like a blossoming lotus, using their three-man formation to remain invincible. The enemies could not withstand even a single exchange.

In a mere ten breaths, all the men were slain, not one spared!

At that moment, the door to the main hall facing the courtyard opened. Huang Wenyuan, head of the Huang clan, emerged alongside the other Hebei noble clan leaders. Behind them stood a troop of murderous-looking swordsmen, their eyes locked on Luo Tong’s group.

"Who are you people?"

"How dare you rob us? Are you courting death?"

"To be so rampant under the feet of the Emperor!"

The noble clans were not afraid, merely shocked. They could hardly believe that such criminals would appear in Chang'an; had they not brought along martial arts experts, they would have certainly suffered losses.

"Hmph!"

Luo Tong let out a cold snort, signaling the Golden Blade Guards to remain silent. In such matters, one must never have their identity revealed or leave any evidence behind. It was best to get the job done quietly.

*Swish!*

Luo Tong lunged at Huang Wenyuan. Huang Wenyuan, shocked, retreated repeatedly. "All of you, attack! You must capture them and send them to the authorities!"

*Clang, clang...*

The swordsmen behind Huang Wenyuan were no ordinary men. They easily parried Luo Tong's opening strike and launched a swift counter-attack, forcing him back into the courtyard.

*Swish, swish, swish!*

The dozen swordsmen attacked in unison, engaging Luo Tong and the Golden Blade Guards in a fierce battle.

*Puff, puff...*

Knowing these swordsmen were formidable, Luo Tong retreated into the shadows, waiting for an opportunity. Twice, he struck from the darkness, killing a man with a single blow each time.

"Do not scatter! Stay together!" Seeing two of his experts fall, Huang Wenyuan shouted in panic.

However, the combat prowess of the Golden Blade Guards was beyond their expectations. Perhaps these men were considered experts elsewhere, but against the guards led by Luo Tong, they were nothing.

*Puff, puff, puff...*

The swordsmen were killed one after another. Huang Wenyuan grew desperate, as did the other clan leaders. If this continued, none of them would survive.

"Brave warriors, stop fighting! Tell us what you want, and we will satisfy you! Do you need money? We may not have a fortune, but we can certainly provide a hundred thousand Kaiyuan Tongbao!"

The noble clans were indeed generous. They offered a hundred thousand at once. An ordinary person might have been bought off.

"These people must be assassins hired by our enemies to claim our lives!"

"Could it be the imperial court...?" They quickly realized the assassins in the courtyard were no simple thugs; it was highly likely the court was trying to root them out.

"Regardless of who they are, I don't believe they aren't interested in money!"

Huang Wenyuan snorted and increased the offer: "Brave men, as long as you let us go, we are willing to pay two hundred thousand!"

"Three hundred thousand!"

"Four hundred thousand!"

The price continued to soar until it reached one million!