Chapter 129: The Price

"Creak!"

As the man's disdainful, strange laughter faded, the tightly shut gates of the Ye family estate slowly creaked open. Immediately, a large number of Ye family guards surged out, their expressions tense as they vigilantly stared at the Luo family's formation outside the gates.

"Patriarch Luo, may I ask what is the meaning of this display of force before my Ye family's doors?" The elder of the Ye family stepped out, followed by Ye Hong, Ye Shan, and others, as he fixed his gaze on Luo Sen, who sat mounted on his horse with a sinister smirk.

"Oh, Elder Ye, I trust your health has been well of late?" Luo Sen sneered as he looked at the elder. "I have long heard that your cultivation has already broken through the peak of the Yuan Realm and that stepping into the Ancient Dan Realm is just a matter of time. Seeing you today, it seems the rumors were indeed true."

Though he spoke these words, Luo Sen thought to himself, "This old man is certainly a nuisance, but the Golden and Silver Protectors I have invited this time will ensure that no matter how formidable his cultivation is, it will be to no avail." Glancing at the two mysterious figures behind him, the smile on Luo Sen's face grew even more pronounced.

"Luo Sen, there is no need for such posturing. Let us speak plainly: you have come straight for my Ye family, so what is it you are after?" Ye Hong's expression shifted as he spoke in a deep voice.

"Heh, nothing much. I just want to invite your Ye family to find a new place and vacate Luoyang Town, allowing my Luo family to take over the management. What do you think, Patriarch Ye, Elder Ye?" Luo Sen chuckled sinisterly, showing no regard for the people of the Ye family.

"Dream on!" the elder roared, his white beard trembling in fury. "What ability does your Luo family have to force my Ye family to surrender Luoyang Town? Never mind you, even your father, Luo Fu, would not dare speak such arrogant words in front of me."

"Ha! If not for your Ye family having Ye Shan back then, my father would have long since wiped you out. Why would he have let you cling to life in Luoyang Town for so many years? Now that Ye Shan has been missing for years, his life or death unknown—he has likely died in some foreign land—it is truly Heaven aiding my Luo family!" Luo Sen laughed heartily instead of backing down after hearing the elder's words.

In the era when the elder ruled the Ye family, the Luo family was led by Luo Sen’s father, Luo Fu. At that time, the emergence of Ye Shan, with his terrifying martial talent, had shaken all of Luoyang Town. His reputation had even spread beyond the town, reaching as far as Nanyang Prefecture. He had suppressed the Luo family, another major power in Luoyang Town, forcing them to act with extreme caution. Back then, even Luo Fu, the head of the Luo family, had to treat the elder with great respect.

"Even if Shan'er is missing, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. My Ye family has not yet fallen into such a desperate state that your Luo family could easily destroy us. I fear that in the end, you will only lose your own men and gain nothing," the elder said with a cold, indifferent expression.

After speaking, the elder’s gaze fell upon the two mysterious figures in gold and silver robes behind Luo Sen, and his expression grew solemn.

"And what of it? Since I dared to move against your Ye family, how could I have done so without sufficient preparation? I have invited two Protectors from a major sect in Yongle City. With their help, destroying your Ye family will be as easy as reaching out to grab something." Luo Sen’s tone was calm, yet within that calmness lay a sense of arrogance and confidence—all of which, clearly, stemmed from the two mysterious figures.

When they first emerged, not only the elder but also Ye Hong and Ye Zhan had noticed the presence of those two. Their gold and silver battle robes were completely out of place compared to the attire of the Luo family, making them incredibly conspicuous. It was impossible not to notice them.

The elder’s expression shifted. He had already guessed the truth upon seeing the two mysterious figures behind Luo Sen, but he had not expected his suspicions to be confirmed. It was precisely the presence of these two that gave Luo Sen his confidence.

"Once the help of these two is removed, the Luo family will be like a tiger that has lost its fangs; they will pose no threat whatsoever." The elder’s mind raced. A moment later, he asked in a deep voice, "My two friends, I am Ye Zhongqi. I do not know what benefits the Luo family has offered your sect to destroy my house. I am willing to offer half of the Ye family's assets as payment, provided that your sect does not interfere in the affairs between our two families."

"Oh, half the assets?" The silver-robed man chuckled. "My good old man, it is not that I do not wish to agree, but it is difficult for you to offer more than what the Luo family has already promised."

"What price has the Luo family paid?" the elder pressed.

"If we cleanse your Ye family from Luoyang Town, the Luo family will take absolutely none of your assets; it will all go to us. Furthermore, they will cede half of the Luo family's own assets to us as payment," the silver-robed man laughed. "Do you think your Ye family can afford such a price?"

"This Luo family is truly insane. Father, there is no need for us to follow them into madness. At worst, we will fight to the death!" Ye Zhan roared, his eyes burning with fury.

"Shut up! What do you know?" The elder’s expression fluctuated wildly. Gritting his teeth, he shouted, "Very well. If your sect does not intervene, I am willing to offer half of our assets, and once the Luo family is destroyed, all of their assets will belong to your sect."

"No, no, no," the silver-robed man said with a playful smirk after hearing the elder's words. "This does not increase our benefits in the slightest; instead, it would cause our sect to break its word."

"However, if your Ye family is willing to pledge loyalty to our sect and work for us, my brother and I could consider not interfering in this matter," the silver-robed man suggested.

"Protector Silver, what is the meaning of this?" Luo Sen’s expression changed drastically upon hearing this, and he hurriedly asked. If these two were to withdraw, his Luo family would be plunged into an abyss of despair.

Without their combat strength, the elder alone could likely contend with several of their Yuan Realm experts. The outcome would be certain. He had spent such a high price to invite these two specifically to hold off the elder. Without the threat of the elder, Ye Zhan and Ye Hong would be nothing more than weaklings, easily crushed. If it were not for the powerful organization behind these two, which his Luo family could not afford to offend, Luo Sen would never have been so polite.

Hearing Luo Sen’s question, the silver-robed man merely glanced at him indifferently. The golden-robed man, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke in a slightly hoarse voice: "Patriarch Luo, do not worry. The Ye family will certainly not agree. My second brother was merely joking with them."

Hearing this, Luo Sen breathed a sigh of relief. He had truly been afraid that if these two really backed out, he would have been in deep trouble.

Just as the golden-robed man had anticipated, upon hearing the silver-robed man's words, the elder’s expression turned extremely dark. He glared at them coldly and said, "My Ye family may be weak, but we still have our pride. To put it nicely, that is working for your sect; to put it bluntly, it is being a lapdog. And that, my Ye family will never do."