Chapter 152: The Quarrel Over the Macheten
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
On the surface, Gu Shenwei had made peace with ng Mingshi by offering a drink to him, while in fact, their hatred for each other had increased.
Gu Shenwei ca forward to pay his respects and Fifth Young Master ng seed to know that he was also here to hire macheten. Fifth Young Master ng feigned surprise and said, "Oh, this is so coincidental. Isn't this Slave Huan? Are you running errands for the Tenth Young Master? This young chap really doesn't know how to take care of his n, running errands in the middle of the night…"
Gu Shenwei felt certain that ng Mingshi's coming "in the middle of the night" to hire macheten was definitely not coincidental. He said, "These n have already decided to work for ."
"Has the paynt been agreed upon? Has the contract been signed?"
Gu Shenwei shook his head.
ng Mingshi nodded empathetically. He had co prepared, therefore he was able to keep his emotions and attitude under control. He hugged Slave Huan across the shoulders and walked him over to a less crowded place. "Give so face and let hire these n, there are many macheten for hire, why don't you keep looking? Let's not keep arguing and let these poor fools be happy. If you need money, feel free to let know. I don't want to promise too much but I'm still able to fork out a few thousand taels, um, say 20 thousand taels?"
Twenty thousand taels were exactly the amount of money Gu Shenwei took from the Golden Roc Fort. "Say, Fifth Master aren't you looking for the Machete God? Why are you taking an interest in these guys?"
ng Mingshi patted the shoulder of Slave Huan and said, "The Machete God is ant to maintain a stable society while these n are hired to grind, it's different. Hey, are you looking to join the Horned Dragon Society? I can introduce you into it. If the Tenth Young Master or Master Yu are interested, we would welco them as well. There's no greater thing than having people from the Stone Castle to join."
The hypocrisy of Fifth Young Master ng made Gu Shenwei vigilant. The ng family had close relations with the Golden Roc Fort and if the Horned Dragon Society was looking to induct the Tenth Young Master, it was not the place of an ordinary killer to bring the matter up to him. "Fifth Master is too kind, but I can't give up hiring these n. Why don't we let them pick who to work for?"
The quickness at which ng Mingshi changed his expressions made Gu Shenwei feel as though a new person was suddenly switched to his side.
The Fifth Master swiftly lifted his arm away from Slave Huan's shoulder, as if he had by accident touched sothing ugly and dirty. "So, you want to go against ?" He said. He lifted his voice and it was a little sharp.
"I don't dare to." Gu Shenwei maintained the basic level of formality but took a step back and reached his hand towards the hilt of his knife but after a mont's thought, let it drop down again.
"Ha!" ng Mingshi spread out his arms with a look of soone who had been publicly shad and felt angry and unjustified. He spun around so as to let everyone see himself, then talked loudly in the direction of the n he brought along, "Everyone heard it! I had forgiven this slave from the Golden Roc Fort who had offended in the past and even offered him support and treated him as a brother. Now I wish for a little favor from him, yet he is putting on airs and acting as if he really is my equal. Today, I have to fight back for my honor's sake. Is there any wrong in doing so?"
"There's no wrong in it, Fifth Young Master ng has a great heart and tolerated enough." The crowd started to chi in and many looked even angrier than Fifth Young Master ng.
This was not the arrogant and foolish ng Mingshi that Gu Shenwei rembered, perhaps he had received the secret guidance of sobody else. Gu Shenwei retreated a few steps and waited for the commotion caused by the crowd to die down a little. Then he said, "If it is a personal matter of yours truly, I would never have dared to contest with Fifth Young Master ng. However, I am selecting macheten for the Tenth Master, therefore I humbly seek the understanding of Fifth Young Master ng."
"Do you seek to pressure by using the na of a little chap? You slave, I want these n. Let's see who can snatch them away from ."
ng Mingshi struck an aggressive pose with his hand on his hips as a man dressed as a servant ca forward. He first bowed to his master, then cleared his throat and said in a clear, loud voice, "Five hundred taels every month for each person as paynt for your services and the minimum term of the contract is three years. Sign the contract now using your palm print and you shall receive one thousand taels as upfront paynt for the first two months of your service!"
The monthly inco of an average macheten does not go above a hundred taels and one with a little reputation could earn up to two or three hundred taels per month. The fee offered by the Horned Dragon Society could get them top class macheten.
The taels of silver from the opened trunks shone brightly and the crowd who stood behind let out sounds of appreciation. Everyone seed to want to pick up a machete and endorse the contract on the spot.
It just so happened that the 20 over macheten standing opposite remained silent, as if none of them had witnessed these temptations.
Fifth Young Master ng was a little shocked and looked dissatisfyingly at the servant at his side. The servant also started to feel a little anxious and walked to the front of the macheten. "Boss Tuo, these are your n. Let us hear whether you agree to these terms or not."
Tuo Nengya tilted his body and shifted all of his body weight onto his left leg. He said unhurriedly, "There's still one more hirer. Let's see what his offer is like."
"Hey, Boss Tuo, you best not be too cocky. This here is Fifth Young Master ng, not a landlord from the South City. You don't get to bargain."
ng Mingshi stepped in, "No hurry, let's follow what Boss Tuo says. Slave Huan, how much do you plan to offer?"
Gu Shenwei did a quick ntal calculation: Five hundred taels per person for each month for 23 macheten, that would amount to over 10 thousand taels a month and over four hundred thousand taels of silver over three years. Even if he used that bit of inheritance from Tie Hanfeng, he would still not have enough. The 20 thousand taels of silver from the Golden Roc Fort was an inadequate asure. Furthermore, he had already spent a substantial amount of it.
However, there was always a way to get so money in the South City. Once the team of macheten was ford up under the banner of the Golden Roc Fort, the money would start to flow in successfully.
"The sa conditions," said Gu Shenwei, while noticing that there were people coming in from the outside of the forest and gathering around. They seed to be following the commotion but this was after midnight and only soone with a motive would have gone to the Rouge Forest for a walk.
Fifth Young Master ng had co prepared and Gu Shenwei knew he had been caught unawares and fallen into a trap. He made it seem as if he was loosening his stiff legs and walked forward by two steps, getting closer to ng Mingshi, getting ready to hold him hostage.
"I'll double it to a thousand taels of silver!" Shouted ng Mingshi emotionally while lifting his head high, as if competing with Heaven. He did not notice the actions of the young slave.
The many lackeys who had co along with Fifth Young Master ng were shocked when they heard his offer. The retainer for the upcoming Machete God was 10 thousand taels of silver, yet these normal macheten who were not getting any younger could earn a thousand taels of silver every month. Comparatively, they stood to earn even more than the Machete God annually.
There was silence throughout the forest and it was only after a while that people started to shout their approval, followed by cheers from the crowd at the sa ti. It was as if Fifth Young Master ng had won the Machete God Contest.
The servant turned his palms to the sky and looked as if he had nothing to say. With this offer, any other type of persuasion would seem like a cheap deal.
Tuo Nengya did not change his expression. He did not even blink once. He turned his sight to the young killer from the Golden Roc Fort.
"Five hundred taels, no more." Gu Shenwei planned to wind it up in this manner. He placed no importance on face and could let the ng family get all the glory. All he wanted was practical benefits.
After winning so easily, ng Mingshi felt lost. If he had known that it would be so easy, he would not have increased the offer by so much. "Tell your master, she wins in a knife fight, but if she wants to enter into a contest of riches with the ng Family, we have never lost before…"
Fifth Young Master ng had prepared a huge victory speech to humiliate Slave Huan. After saying a few lines of it, he was interrupted by the insensible servant. "Fifth Master, Fifth Master…"
"What is it?" ng Mingshi roared while turning to face the servant. The servant nearly fell onto the floor and looked like a dog in trouble with its master, his knees shaking. "He shook his head", the servant said.
"Who?" Gu Shenwei asked.
The servant pointed reluctantly and looked as if he had many questions left unanswered and that he was indignant as a result.
Tuo Nengya t Fifth Young Master ng's gaze and shook his head slowly. "Apologies, Fifth Master, we choose killer Yang Huan."
ng Mingshi was like most children from rich families - being pampered from young, they were not accustod to rejection. To counter Slave Huan he has planned beforehand, but now he faced unexpected mishappenings and did not know how to react all of a sudden. He started to rage and showed his true colors. "You dare to go against , you bunch of old fools? If you wish to call this dog-like slave as your master, then go face your death along with him!"
ng Mingshi turned and looked to leave. A row of n ca out from the crowd and drew their machetes. The lackeys left the scene. It was ti for them to earn glory for Fifth Young Master ng.
Tuo Nengya held his machete with both hands. The over twenty macheten behind him stood in four rows and looked solemnly in preparation for what was about to happen.
Gu Shenwei shifted his body slightly to the front and let his Internal Breath fill his entire body, getting ready to capture Fifth Young Master ng alive. Whatever Tuo Nengya's motivation for his choice was, they were now in the sa boat.
Just as the bloodshed was about to start, a shout of "Halt" ca from the crowd. A youthful master clad entirely in white ca out of the crowd, holding a paper fan even on that cold day. He did not look to be from the ng's residence but a master with so significant background.
"Everyone is here to do business, not to make enemies or kill. I have an idea to satisfy both parties."
ng Mingshi was slightly more courteous towards the master in white. He made a symbol of respect by wrapping one palm over the other fist and said, "Since Marquis Gao has an idea, it's all for the best. I don't wish to be demanding but these macheten are obviously in cahoots with that slave, they plan to make lose face in front of everyone."
White-clad Marquis Gao grinned and opened his fan, waving it twice by habit, then closing it. "I heard that skilled macheten bargain and choose their master, Boss Tuo would rather earn less than accept the invitation from the Horned Dragon Society, perhaps because he feels that the Society doesn't have any skilled martial artist and that would result in many dangers to co in the future. What I have in mind is, why don't we send soone from the Horned Dragon Society out for a round of competition with Yang Huan? The winner has the right to be Boss Tuo's master. Don't you think?"
ng Mingshi accosted himself silently. How could he have thrown all this earlier plans to the wind? He changed to an expression of big-heartedness. "Yes, yes, what's the point in having everyone involved in a mass fight, isn't there a Machete of Blood Contest? Since the bonfire is still burning, let's continue the Contest!"
No one asked for the opinion of the young killer and Boss Tuo.
Marquis Gao stepped aside and a youth wearing a purple cape ca forward from behind his back.
This youth was very tall and stood above everyone. His body was well-proportioned and did not look bulky in the least bit. His steps were steady and he generated the power for each step from the hips, keeping the upper torso still.
"Ye Silang!" Soone shouted this na out.
"Sword Sacrificer Ye Silang!" Soone added another two words in front of the na.
Ye Silang removed his cape and threw it to one of his followers.
The youth wore leather pants and was naked from the waist up. His muscles looked shiny like tal tools that had been ground before. There was not a single scar on him. A sword hung from his waist and its length was proportional to his body. In comparison, Gu Shenwei's sword was a long dagger.
Gu Shenwei had seen the swordsman from the Great Snowmountain before and knew that those people wielded a sword like a machete. Ye Silang was a true swordsman, the first swordsman Gu Shenwei had t.
He recalled what his Master Shifu Tie Hanfeng had said before, "One who wields a sword is either a brainless idiot or a deity."
Ye Silang looked like a god, a flawless god.
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