Nan Batian said, "As a subordinate, the worst thing to do is to seek credit for everything. I intended to accomplish something first, then report it to Lord Yelu. I didn’t expect to be misunderstood by Brother Liu, which forced me to come out and speak to Lord Yelu, not to claim any credit!"
Everyone frowned, what a cunning argument, even just to avoid seeking credit, Nan Batian, how eloquent can you be?
Yelu’s brow furrowed slightly, although he didn’t believe it, it could serve as an excuse.
Bai Mosheng said, "Ha ha, Guild Leader Nan really has a way with words, to be able to say even that."
"It’s not that I have a way with words, just a sincere heart."
Bai Mosheng said, "Alright, let’s assume you wanted to give Lord Yelu a surprise."
Yelu couldn’t help but snicker, what the hell is that supposed to be, a surprise?
However, he still held back, as Nan Batian was still of use to him.
Bai Mosheng said, "One last question, Guild Leader Nan, you said the transport was to capture the Zoroastrian Sect?"
Bai Mosheng said, "Guild Leader Nan, if after all the trouble, the Zoroastrian Sect is not caught, the arms are not found, and the Mianshui River is channelized without cause, how will the final losses be accounted for?"
Upon hearing this, Nan Batian bowed with his hands clasped and said, "Lord Yelu, Mr. Bai raises a good question. I guarantee with my own head that there will be results within fifteen days. If not, I admit to all previous wrongdoings and will accept the punishment. Does that sound good to Lord Yelu?"
After hearing this, Yelu looked at Nan Batian and a smile emerged on his face, "Alright, if it’s as you say, after fifteen days, if we find the arms and the demon people of the Zoroastrian Sect, then all these matters shall be dropped. Otherwise..."
Hearing this, Nan Batian said, "I will take my own life to apologize for the crimes!"
Yelu said, "Good, good, good."
Yelu didn’t plan to pursue Nan Batian’s misdemeanors further, after all, what he cared about more at the moment was the matter of the arms, because he had already heard that the Inspection Envoy would arrive at the Mianshui River in no more than twenty days. So these fifteen days also constituted the final deadline he was giving Nan Batian.
Before this, he could accept all past wrongdoings.
Upon hearing this, Liu Laoguai wanted to say something, but Bai Mosheng stopped him.
Yelu said, "Enough, Guild Leader Nan has already explained that this matter was a misunderstanding, everyone else may leave, but Guild Leader Nan, stay behind."
Upon hearing this, everyone else was stunned, and one or two large merchants said, "Lord Yelu, our money?"
Yelu looked at them and said, "What money?"
Yelu said, "Didn’t Guild Leader Nan help you transport the goods out of Mianshui County?"
"Yes, since they’ve been transported out of Mianshui County, what are you talking about?"
The merchants were rendered speechless at once, and Yelu said, "Do you mean to say you don’t have to pay for transporting goods?"
"But that’s too much."
One merchant said, hearing which Yelu chuckled and said, "You don’t want to transport them, huh? Fine. Guild Leader Nan, whatever he paid you for the transport fee, give it back to him, and ban him from transporting goods for a month."
"Ah, Lord, I was wrong, I was wrong, I’m transporting fruits and vegetables—if I stop for a month, wouldn’t they spoil? Lord, spare me."
Yelu said, "Enough, get lost."
Hearing this, the merchants quickly scurried away. Watching them run off, Yelu turned to Liu Laoguai and said, "Guild Leader Liu, do you have anything else?"
"Lord Yelu, we have nothing else, we take our leave."
Bai Mosheng immediately pulled Liu Laoguai away, and Liu Laoguai looked at Bai Mosheng and said, "Why are you pulling me?"
Bai Mosheng whispered in his ear, "The Inspection Envoy is coming from above, and what Lord Yelu cares about most right now is that batch of arms. Everything else is not important. Don’t go looking for trouble now!"
Liu Laoguai was dragged away from Yelu Mansion by Bai Mosheng.
Now, only Nan Batian and Yelu remained in Yelu Mansion. Yelu looked at Nan Batian and said, "Nan Batian, do you have anything else to say to me? Want to deceive me with those lies for ghosts?"
Upon hearing this, Nan Batian immediately knelt down and said, "Lord Yelu, I am terrified. How dare I deceive you, my lord. It is true that the Fishing Guild is out of money and cannot even make ends meet, which compelled me to take such a desperate measure. My goal was to make some money, but what I said about luring out the Zoroastrian Sect is also true."
Yelu said, "Enough, enough, at least you spoke a truth. Now tell me, can the Zoroastrian Sect be captured?"
Nan Batian said, "Rest assured, Lord, within fifteen days, the arms and the demon people of the Zoroastrian Sect will definitely be captured."
"Good, Nan Batian, I tell you, as long as you can capture those demon people of the Zoroastrian Sect, and prevent the arms from heading north to support the Zoroastrian rebels, I can clear all these charges from you. But if the arms are not found, you are aware of the consequences, and this time I cannot protect you!"
Nan Batian said, "Rest assured, Lord Yelu. If the arms cannot be found, I will come to you with my head."
Yelu nodded slightly and said, "That’ll do, leave forty thousand taels of silver and you may go."
Nan Batian was startled, and Yelu looking at him said, "Don’t feel like parting with it? You must have made sixty thousand taels by now."
"Yes, my lord, it will be presented immediately."
Realizing he could no longer hide it, Nan Batian presented the silver notes with both hands, deducting the five thousand taels owed to Qimu Ge, and so after much ado, he had only made fifteen thousand taels.
He cursed under his breath at Yelu’s ruthlessness!
After paying the money, Nan Batian left Yelu Mansion, his eyes darkened as he gazed at the sky.
By his side, Tang Ziyue said, "Guild Leader, what about the arms?"
Nan Batian said, "Hmm, don’t worry about it, it will be resolved."
Meanwhile, in the North Mountain Mine, Xiao Hu was perched at the top of a cave, peering inside. He saw a group of blacksmiths, bare-chested, forging, and specifically working on arrowheads.
Xiao Hu narrowed his eyes and said, "Ha, Nan Batian, you really have the nerve. This time I’ll see you dead!"