ca-book Chapter 31 Trading
Chapter 31 Trading
Seeing that the situation was really not right, if the stalemate continued, someone's hand might slip and blood might be drawn.
Regardless of who strikes first, the first to die will be that old bald monk.
Huizhen wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and finally moved out from behind the stone seat.
His oversized monk's robe had changed color from rolling and crawling on the ground, and coupled with his expression that was hard to tell whether he was crying or laughing, he didn't look like a monk, but rather a jester for people's amusement.
"Hey, hey! Let's talk this out, don't resort to violence!"
He rubbed his hands together, forced a smile on his chubby face, and first bowed repeatedly towards Monk.
"Chief Monk, let the brothers put down their weapons first. The Pure Land of Ten Thousand Buddhas is a place that follows rules. We all believe in Buddha, we're not some barbarians who eat raw meat and drink blood. What can't we sit down and talk about?"
Monk remained silent with a cold expression, but he still put down the heavy hammer in his hand.
The dragonblood kobolds below, seeing that their leader had not spoken, all stepped back slightly, but their eyes remained fixed on the platform.
Seeing that things had stabilized, Huizhen breathed a sigh of relief, then turned around and smiled apologetically at the two people on the platform.
"These two foreign friends are truly skilled; they've certainly broadened our horizons today. They're both top-notch heroes. As the saying goes, 'No fight, no friendship,' so why don't we each take a step back and become friends..."
"Make friends?"
Liz chuckled.
She leaned against the supporting pillar next to her, looking down at her clean white fingernails. "You mean making friends with us, locking us in a cage and watching us fight like wild animals for your amusement? Sigh, actually I quite enjoy seeing blood, but being stared at like a monkey show is still disgusting."
Huizhen's face looked rather pale, and she coughed twice.
"It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. I don't come to the South often, and I didn't know that slave traders were so rampant here." He quickly went along with it, afraid that the long-eared woman would say something else provocative. "How about this, I'll shamelessly act as a peacemaker. The Southern Kingdom will send people to escort you two out of the city in style. Not only that, but we'll also provide you with supplies and travel expenses outside the city."
He cautiously pointed to the broken blade in Xinzang's hand.
"In exchange, you two will leave the abbot unharmed. You know this is ultimately Nanbang territory, and there are hundreds or even thousands of warrior monks surrounding it. If someone dies, no matter how skilled you are, how far can you fight your way out?"
"Besides, even if you escape from this Pure Land of Ten Thousand Buddhas, you'll be in danger everywhere. Why not get a guarantee from us?"
Xin Cang ignored the monk.
The blade remained firmly pressed against the old dog's skin as he glanced at Liz out of the corner of his eye.
This woman may be crazy, but the monk was right about one thing: there's no point in fighting to the death. They need a way to get out safely.
Liz didn't respond, but looked back at him with interest, her eyes seeming to say: The knife is in your hand, you've got it.
"I not only need to leave, I also need weapons and armor. A thousand units, made to my size."
Everyone was stunned when he said that.
The old abbot's withered Adam's apple bobbed.
It's unclear where this old dog-headed man got his confidence from, but he actually stood his ground for once, stiffening his neck and saying, "Don't even think about it!"
How could he not understand what this request meant?
Equip a thousand humans with weapons? This is blatantly trying to get Nanbang to die quickly enough, essentially asking him to aid the enemy. If he were to agree, he would be recorded as a sinner for all time in the history books of the Pure Land of Ten Thousand Buddhas, and even after death, he would have to suffer in the eighteenth level of hell.
Shinzo hadn't expected him to agree anyway.
He learned a lot during his time at the Pure Land of Ten Thousand Buddhas: how to ask for an exorbitant price and how to bargain on the spot.
He slightly deflected the blade, avoiding the old abbot's major artery, lest the old man provoke him and try to kill himself.
"Then let's change the terms. Take me to see the main hall of the city-state," Xin Zang said. "I've heard that your Pure Land of Ten Thousand Buddhas has miracles left by a true Buddha. I want to see for myself whether it's real or just a myth."
The old abbot's expression softened slightly, but he still disagreed after hearing the second half of the sentence.
"Impossible! We must never allow you to desecrate the true Buddha."
Huizhen, who was wiping her sweat on the side, finally couldn't hold back anymore.
"Oh, my dear old abbot, why do you disagree with everything?"
The fat monk, in a fit of rage, slapped his thigh repeatedly, spitting everywhere. "I've been working myself to the bone to save your life, can't you just not be ungrateful? You've guarded that dilapidated hall for thousands of years, generations have practically gone blind from looking at it, and you still haven't figured anything out. Why not let this young brother take a look? It won't cost you a piece of flesh, will it?"
These words are hurtful and offensive.
The old abbot opened his mouth, his face turning red, but he couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal for a long time. Finally, he lowered his head in dejection, admitting defeat.
Seeing that the deal was settled, Liz, who had been leaning against a pillar watching the show, slowly walked over.
"I've heard something about that too."
She naturally leaned closer, resting her chin on Shinzo's shoulder, a faint fragrance wafting over.
Xin Zang frowned, instinctively wanting to dodge, but because he was still holding a hostage, he could only freeze half of his body without moving.
"Is there a drow elf imprisoned here? I've searched for so long in Abyss and haven't seen him once. Why don't you bring him here so I can meet him privately?"
The old abbot was stunned for a moment.
His cloudy eyes darted around, completely baffled as to why this long-eared woman was looking for someone from her own clan.
But this condition really didn't carry much weight, so I simply agreed.
He lowered his eyes and mumbled an agreement through his nose.
Now that the higher-ups have reached a preliminary consensus, Monk below seems to understand.
Today's farce is no longer their concern.
He gripped the handle of the heavy hammer, his palms covered in slippery sweat.
How could he not know that burning sensation in his chest just now, even if others didn't?
That was a sign that the gods were using his body as a means of communication. The great dog-headed god originally intended to use his body to subdue the evil leader with thunderous force.
But that power had clearly already taken shape, yet suddenly a mistress appeared.
Monk now felt an emptiness in his chest, and even a bit of a chill.
He silently recited the prayer twice in his heart, hoping to ask for divine guidance on what to do next.
But my mind was deathly silent.
The deity who usually guided him through his difficulties never gave him a reply.
It was as if his connection with the gods had been abruptly severed.
A rebellious thought suddenly popped into his head.
An omnipotent god... could it be that something scared them away?
Monk swallowed hard, feeling apprehensive.
If the priests found out about this idea, they would surely tie him to the stake and burn him alive.
But intuition can sometimes be more accurate than divine revelation.
Clang.
He slammed the hammer heavily onto the stone floor, then turned and winked at his brothers behind him.
The dragonblood kobolds looked at each other, and although they still seemed a little aggrieved, they obediently put away their weapons.
Monk silently took half a step back, half of his body disappearing into the shadow of the pillar.
This mess can only be settled later.