7: 50%

“Leave this to me! Uncle Song, you go about your business!”

“Alright!”

After Xu Song left, Xu Ming said, “The South Gate Official and West Gate Official are reliable; they’ve helped us before! The North Gate Official is a slippery character who offends no one! The East Gate Official has some connections with the Chen Family!”

“No wonder he didn’t come. If I’m not mistaken, he’s probably already fled!”

Xu Qing felt a bit regretful. If he had known this earlier, he wouldn’t have returned to the City Lord’s Mansion first; he would have just killed that dog!

“What about the Huang Family and Qing Si Workshop?”

“Xu City is in ruins waiting to be rebuilt. My suggestion is not to engage in further slaughter. Now that you’ve wiped out the Chen and Su Families, you’ve established your prestige in Xu City. At this time, it’s appropriate to show both grace and might!” Xu Ming proposed!

“Alright! Then I’ll listen to Third Grandpa!”

“Since Third Grandpa says the South Gate Official and West Gate Official are reliable, then you will take them to inventory the assets of the Chen and Su Families, replacing the Marquis’s armored guards stationed there! Also, send someone to check out the East Gate!”

Xu Qing handed the City Lord’s Token to Xu Ming!

“Yes, Young Lord!”

“Clack clack! Clack clack!”

In the City Lord’s Mansion reception hall, only the sound of fingers tapping on the table echoed.

Each tap was like a heavy hammer striking Hai Dagui’s heart. In just a short moment, he was drenched in sweat!

“Hai Dagui!”

Xu Qing’s cold voice came from above!

“Your subordinate is here!” Hai Dagui quickly said!

“I don’t want to bring up past matters, and I don’t wish to create more slaughter today. I will spare your life and give you a task: take the North Gate and East Gate soldiers to clear out the clansmen of the Chen and Su Families in various towns.”

“Additionally, issue a sea-wide warrant for the East Gate Official. If you fail, the Chen and Su Families will be your example!” Xu Qing spoke softly!

“Yes, City Lord! Your subordinate will go now!”

Hai Dagui breathed a sigh of relief and quickly agreed!

“Get out!”

“Yes, City Lord!”

Hai Dagui backed out of the room.

“This superior pressure is surprisingly effective!”

A look of joy appeared in Xu Qing’s eyes. When he intimidated Hai Dagui just now, he used his innate superior pressure.

This talent is effective even against Martial Artists two Realms higher than himself, capable of greatly suppressing the minds of all living beings!

Of course, this talent is just a paper tiger. If he encounters someone stubborn who directly attacks, there’s nothing he can do, as one must be strong oneself to forge iron!

After Hai Dagui walked out of the City Lord’s Mansion, he couldn’t help but breathe in large gulps of air!

He turned his head to look at the City Lord’s Mansion, a look of fear flashing in his eyes. The suffocating feeling just now left a deep impression on him!

This young City Lord was truly terrifying; just one glance made his breathing rapid!

He glanced at the Huang Family and Qing Si Workshop, then left quickly without looking back. If he couldn’t complete the task, his entire Family would follow in the footsteps of the Chen and Su Families!

Seeing this, the expressions of the two Families changed.

They had originally thought that after Hai Dagui, they would be summoned, but even after Xu Song returned with a group of newly bought servants and maids, they still hadn’t been called upon!

“Brother Huang, what should we do?” Master Qing Si was a man of medium build with a refined, middle-aged face.

However, his usual refinement was gone, replaced by anxiousness.

“Wait! We can only wait!”

Master Huang’s shrewd face showed an expression no less anxious than Master Qing Si’s.

They didn’t dare to leave, because once they did, they might become the second Chen Family tomorrow!

Thinking of the tragic state of the Chen Family, both of them shivered in unison.

Not long after, Xu Song returned.

“Gentlemen!”

“Steward Xu Song!”

Seeing Xu Song greet them proactively, the two quickly cupped their hands in salute.

“My Young Lord doesn’t want to see you!”

“Ah!”

Upon hearing this, both their expressions changed immediately!

“Steward Xu Song, please inform City Lord Xu that the seizure of the Xu Family’s properties was forced by the Chen Family. Our two Families are willing to return everything to its original place and are willing to cede thirty percent of our Family’s assets as compensation to City Lord Xu. We only hope City Lord Xu will spare us this once!”

Master Huang gritted his teeth and stated his conditions!

Master Qing Si quickly followed, “Yes, yes! Please say a few good words, Steward. Afterwards, I will host a banquet at Qing Si Workshop to entertain the Steward!”

“Very well! I’ll go and try!” Xu Song frowned.

“Thank you, Steward Xu!”

The two quickly expressed their gratitude.

Xu Song turned and returned to the City Lord’s Mansion.

He was gone for half an hour, and Master Huang and Master Qing Si could only anxiously crane their necks and wait, with no other options.

“Gentlemen!”

Finally, Xu Song emerged from inside!

“Steward Xu, how was it?”

Seeing Steward Xu, their expressions immediately tensed up!

“Gentlemen, to plead on your behalf, I reasoned and appealed to emotions, expending no small amount of effort!” Xu Song said with a serious expression, as if he had put in great effort.

“Steward Xu, this is a small token of our appreciation, and there will be a generous reward later! We hope Steward Xu doesn’t mind!”

Master Huang and Master Qing Si were both shrewd individuals and promptly offered their tokens of appreciation.

Xu Song looked at them and nodded with satisfaction.

“Gentlemen, originally the Young Lord intended to wipe out both your Families!”

As soon as these words came out, both their faces changed dramatically!

Xu Song’s tone shifted, “However, through my mediation, the Young Lord told me to inform you that in addition to my Xu Family’s properties and all gains from the past year, my Young Lord also wants Moon Crescent Valley and eighty percent of the Qing Si Workshop market share!”

“What?!”

Master Huang and Master Qing Si’s expressions changed simultaneously!

Moon Crescent Valley is rich in mineral resources, containing two Ore veins!

One of them is a very abundant Black Xuan Stone Ore mine. If utilized properly, it can be mined for fifty years. The Huang Family discovered it less than ten years ago, and its value is immense!

Black Xuan Stone Ore can be smelted into Black Xuan Iron, a Profound Grade Elementary material that can be used to refine Profound Rank Elementary and Intermediate Xuan Treasures!

Additionally, there is the Black Stone Ore, a companion Ore of the Black Xuan Stone mine, from which Black Iron can be smelted. This is an Advanced Mortal Grade Artifact Refining Material that can be used to refine Mortal Grade weapons.

This is the Huang Family’s property. It can be said that the Huang Family’s rapid growth is largely related to this Ore vein. It brings the Huang Family at least two hundred thousand Low Grade Origin Stones annually, accounting for fifty percent of the Huang Family’s assets!

Losing this Ore vein means their Artifact Refining shop would essentially lose its source of Materials.

The Qing Si Workshop is similar. Qing Si Workshop has many brothel and restaurant businesses in Xu City, but its core business is the Qing Si Workshop Market, the largest trading market in the city, where many foreign merchants rent shops!

Coupled with Loose Cultivator stalls and various commercial facilities, Qing Si Workshop earns a fortune daily, accounting for sixty percent of Qing Si Workshop’s total assets!

If they give up eighty percent of the market share, it means nearly fifty percent of Qing Si Workshop’s assets would go to Xu Qing!

“What? Do you two have an objection?” Xu Song said coldly, “My Young Lord is already very generous, only taking fifty percent of your assets. As for the Chen Family and Su Family, hehe…”

“Of course, my Young Lord said he won’t force you. How to choose is up to you two!”

With that, Xu Song turned to leave!

“Wait! Steward Xu!”

Seeing Xu Song about to leave, Master Huang’s expression changed, and he quickly called out to Xu Song!

“Steward Xu, I’ll go get the land deeds right away!” Master Huang gritted his teeth and agreed!

“Me too! I can sign the contract now!” Master Qing Si also stopped insisting!

Compared to the Chen and Su Families, who were annihilated, what’s fifty percent of their assets?

“Straightforward! Gentlemen! Congratulations on making the right choice!”

Xu Song said with a smile!

Hearing this, Master Huang and Master Qing Si’s expressions subtly changed. It seemed Xu Qing really intended to wipe out their two Families, and if they didn’t agree, they would probably truly follow in the Chen Family’s footsteps!

Ignoring the cold sweat, Master Huang immediately got into his carriage and rushed home to retrieve the land deeds!

Meanwhile, Master Qing Si followed Xu Song into the mansion to sign the contract. Of course, Xu Qing did not appear; Xu Song made all the decisions!

By the time Master Qing Si had signed the contract, Master Huang had also arrived!

When the two walked out of the mansion gate, they were drenched in sweat!

Just then, Xu Ming returned, with a team of armored guards escorting carts full of large wooden crates behind him!

Seeing this scene, a sense of relief from surviving a catastrophe immediately rose in their hearts!

Compared to the annihilated Chen and Su Families, they had preserved their Families. At least being alive was better than anything!

“Young Lord! Here are the contract for eighty percent of Qing Si Workshop’s share and the land deed for Moon Crescent Valley!” Xu Song handed the two contracts to Xu Qing!

Xu Qing nodded.

If he wanted to, even if he took sixty or even seventy percent, the Huang Family and Qing Si Workshop would agree, unless they left Xu City.