The Human Emperor c1-2382

by Huangfu Qi (皇甫奇)

  “Wang Chong, you are different from before.”

  Wei Hao scanned Wang Chong from head to toe with a look of amazement. The current Wang Chong was truly different from how he was; in the past, he would have never come to the Eight Gods Pavilion.

  Even more so, he wouldn’t have listened to his advice.

  Yet, this current Wang Chong was calm and his disposition was completely different from before. It felt as though he was an entirely different person.

  “HAHAHA! Good lad, looks like you have finally thought it through! As your brother, I am happy for you!”

  Wei Hao suddenly thought of something and slapped Wang Chong’s shoulder with a delighted expression.

  As the saying goes, a person grows in times of trouble. In Wei Hao’s perspective, the reason why Wang Chong had undergone such a massive change was because of Ma Zhou.

  Wang Chong had truly awakened!

  There was nothing else that could delight Wei Hao more than this.

  “Hehe.”

  Wang Chong only smiled. He knew what Wei Hao was thinking of, but Wang Chong wouldn’t point out the truth to him. Besides, Wang Chong had another mission here.

  “It’s about time.”

  Wang Chong smiled and looked at the crowd. As though responding to Wang Chong, a commotion suddenly broke out.

  Before he could even spot the person, a cold voice had already echoed:

  “Yo! Isn’t this Young Master Wang?”

  The voice was filled with sarcasm and mock. The crowd parted and a young man dressed in a white robe with cloud embroidery on it walked over. A fur coat was draped over him and he had a small silver hat on his head. With a peach blossom fan in his hands, his footsteps were light and wide. However, the contempt on his face was apparent.

  A chuckling crowd followed closely behind him.

  “Su Bai! What are you doing here?”

  Seeing those people, Wei Hao’s expression changed. He abruptly stood up and glared at the group with hostility.

  “We don’t welcome you here, scram!”

  Wei Hao stood in front of Wang Chong, worried for him. Su Bai was the son of Duke of Su and Duke of Su had a close relationship with the Yao Clan.

  Wang Chong had just offended the Yao Clan and this Su Bai was probably here to cause trouble!

  “Hmph, Wei Hao, did you think that the Eight Gods Pavilion was opened by your family? Why can’t I come here? Besides, did I say that I was here for you? Wang Chong, don’t you agree with my words?”

  As he spoke, Su Bai glanced at Wang Chong, who was sitting behind Wei Hao, coldly.

  Wang Chong glanced at Su Bai’s direction and saw Gao Fei standing behind Su Bai with his head lowered. He knew that Gao Fei was the one who pulled Su Bai over. Gao Fei wasn’t able to deal with Wei Hao and him, so he brought reinforcements over.

  To be more direct, Gao Fei was sent by Su Bai to do Wei Hao in. However, Su Bai’s plan failed and as such, he couldn’t resist the urge to confront them face on.

  However, Wang Chong wasn’t interested in this matter at all.

  “Su Bai, you came at a good time. Lend me some money!”

  Wang Chong lifted his head and spoke calmly.

  The moment his words sounded, all sound within ten zhang vanished. The laughter and chatter of the crowd who were looking at the commotion abruptly changed into flabbergasted stares.

  10 zhang ~ 33.3m

  Even Wei Hao, who was standing in front of Wang Chong as though an eagle protecting its hatchling, was stunned.

  Borrowing money?

  Wang Chong was borrowing money from Su Bai? What was going on?

  Didn’t Wang Chong know that Su Bai hated him? Given the relationship between Su clan and Yao Clan, how could Su Bai possibly lend him any money?

  “Hahaha! Wang Chong, have you gone insane? On what basis did you think that I would lend you any money?”

  After a moment of shock, Su Bai finally burst into laughter. The crowd following behind him also couldn’t help but roar in laughter as well.

  “This lad must be insane!”

  “How could he possibly think that young master would lend him money!”

  “I think he probably hasn’t awoken from his dream yet, spouting dream talk here!”

  …

  The crowd behind him roared in laughter as well, and the contempt of their action was clear.

  A descendant of the Wang Clan, Wang Chong, was actually borrowing money from the son of the Duke of Su? There was no funnier joke than this in the Eight Gods Pavilion today.

  Wasn’t this lad being too presumptuous?

  Hearing the laughter in the surroundings, Wei Hao was embarrassed.

  “Wang Chong, what are you trying to do?”

  Until now, he still didn’t know whether Wang Chong was serious on this matter. Given Su Bai and Wang Chong relationship, it was impossible for Wang Chong to borrow any money from him.

  “2% interest, calculated on a daily basis for a month! When the time comes, it will be repaid along with the interest!”

  After saying those words, Wang Chong laughed heartily, to the point that his back was arched backward. These few words plunged the entire lounge into silence.

  Even the scions by the other tables, upon hearing those words, had their attention focused here. Their eyes were widened to the brim.

  Gasps of cold air could be heard. Even Su Bai’s eyes were completely widened, as though it was the first time he was meeting Wang Chong.

  Wang Chong’s words were simple and concise; everyone could understand the meaning behind his words, but they were unable to believe their ears. 2% interest, if tallied on a daily basis, meant a 60% interest in a month! If so, ten silver taels will become sixteen silver taels!

  Wang Chong’s interest rate was even more insane than a loan shark’s!

  “Wang Chong, you are insane!”

  Wei Hao’s face was devoid of any color. He immediately turned around to grab Wang Chong’s arms. He was so nervous that his fingernails were plunging into Wang Chong’s flesh.

  “If you lack money, you could just ask me for it. Why should you borrow it from them at such a high-interest rate!”

  Wei Hao thought that Wang Chong was joking, but from the looks of it, it didn’t seem to be the case.

  Chapter 27: Su Bai’s Scheme

  Wang Chong shook his head and sent a consoling gaze to Wei Hao.

  He never did thing rashly. Even though a daily 2% interest rate sounded like an exorbitant sum, as long as he was able to take down the right to distribution for the Hyderabad ores, everything else was just a small sum.

  “Su Bai, these words aren’t only effective to you. It is the same for other people as well. As long as you have the money to loan me, I will write down a debt note to serve as evidence.”

  Wang Chong said. His words weren’t loud, but everyone heard it clearly. In an instant, everyone’s eyes were filled with astonishment.

  All the scions in the Eight Gods Pavilion were born in distinguished families and possessed incomparable wealth. These people had never worried too much about their livelihood.

  However, no matter how rich their families were, how much their daily allowance was, who would fuss over an excess of money? Regardless of how much money their families gave them, there were people like Wei Hao who engaged in gamble duels with others and had found themselves frequently lacking taels.

  “Hehe, to think that a descendant of Duke Jiu would lack money to the point of coming to the Eight Gods Pavilion to ask for it! Wang Chong, if you need money, there’s no need to go to so much trouble. I will bestow this silver ingot on you; there’s no need to repay me!”

  After the primary shock, Su Bai chuckled. He took out a silver ingot and threw it over to Wang Chong’s round table.

  2% interest, if going by daily basis, meant 60% a month!

  Wang Chong’s deal was truly tempting.

  However, Su Bai suddenly recalled something important. Duke Jiu’s clan was known to
be incorruptible; in other words, they were ‘poor’.

  A descendant of their clan, such as Wang Chong, could only receive a monthly allowance of several silver taels at maximum.

  With these few silver taels, how much interest could he pay? Even if Wang Chong had offered an overwhelmingly high interest rate, it was no use, he was likely to default on his payment. In that case, he might as well feign generosity and bestow upon him a few silver taels. At the same time, he could also have his fair share of joy mocking him by doing so.

  Contrary to his expectations, Wang Chong flicked the silver ingot and it fell onto the floor.

  “Su Bai, this little sum of money isn’t even sufficient for me to floss my teeth. You better use it for yourself.”

  Wang Chong sneered coldly in disdain.

  “Hmph! You find it lacking? Fine, I will bestow you with another one!”

  With a contemptuous gaze, Su Bai’s wrist flicked and another silver ingot fell on Wang Chong’s round table.

  Without even looking at it, Wang Chong bellowed in laughter and flicked the silver ingot to the floor as well.

  “Not enough!”

  Wang Chong said indifferently. The scorn in his eyes made Su Bai twitch in anger.

  “You brat, don’t get too greedy. It is because I am in a good mood today that I bestowed you with two silver ingots. How much do you need? Three? Or four? Or is it still insufficient? Do you need an entire gold tael? Given your monthly allowance, are you sure that you can afford it?”

  Su Bai said disdainfully.

  “An entire gold tael? Hmph, Su Bai, looks like you aren’t as rich as you look. Since that’s the case, I don’t need you to lend money to me anymore. How about this, after I borrow some money from the others, I can lend you a couple of gold taels to spend.”

  Wang Chong snorted.

  In an instant, Su Bai’s complexion darkened.

  What do you mean by I am not as rich as I look?

  Even if a scion came from a reputable and wealthy family, their monthly allowance was only a few gold taels. At the very most, they would only have a dozen or so.

  Even a son of royalty did not dare to treat a gold tael as dirt, who did Wang Chong think he was? Lending him a few gold taels to spend?

  How infuriating!

  “Alright, Su Bai. I was thinking how incredible you were, to think that you would only weigh so much. Since you’re so lacking, you should just stand by the side!”

  Wang Chong stood up from his seat and waved his hands in contempt, gesturing for Su Bai not to block the way and stand by the side.

  “Everyone, listen. ‘2% interest, calculated on a daily basis for a month’. This is effective to everyone. I will borrow however much that you are willing to loan! As long as you are willing to lend the money to me, you will be able to earn a substantial sum after a month!”

  “Wang Chong, are you serious?”

  Another voice suddenly sounded in the room. By the side, the snubbed Su Bai’s complexion turned awful.

  “Of course!”

  Wang Chong said. “In the Eight Gods Pavilion, is it possible for me to renege on my words?”

  “However, what if the time comes and you are unable to pay up?”

  Another voice sounded.

  Su Bai’s complexion was gradually turning more and more awful

  “What a joke! Even if I can’t pay up, is it possible for the Wang Clan to be unable to pay up? As long as you have my debt notes, are you all still worried that you aren’t able to get back your gold taels?”

  Wang Chong sneered coldly with a haughty expression.

  The surroundings burst into laughter. Indeed! Even if Wang Chong was unable to pay up, the Wang Clan behind Wang Chong couldn’t possibly be unable to do so.

  As long as Duke Jiu remained in the Wang Clan, the Wang Clan’s reputable was infallible.

  “Alright! Wang Chong, you said so. Here is two gold taels, take it!”

  A scion squeezed through the crowd and happily placed two golden sheets on the table.

  They could earn a significant income just by borrowing money to Wang Chong for a month.

  “Here is my gold! Wang Chong, remember to write me a debt note!”

  Fury crept onto Su Bai’s face. Before he could throw a tantrum, another scion walked up and placed a few taels onto the round table.

  After which, the third scion, the fourth scion…

  “Those bastards, are they intentionally going against gongzi?”

  The face of those around Su Bai darkened as well. The actions of these scions were clearly an act to humiliate Su Bai. Yet, so many people still went ahead to lend Wang Chong money.

  Even Su Bai dared not to step out and make an enemy of all of these people.

  “Wang Chong, you must be mad! Why do you need so much money?”

  Wei Hao had seen everything and he whispered furiously into Wang Chong’s ear. He was anxious and angry. He knew about Wang Chong’s monthly expenses and he had no need for so much money.

  He couldn’t understand what Wang Chong was trying to do by borrowing so much money.

  “Wei Hao, don’t worry. I am not borrowing the money to squander, I have a use for it. Later on, you will understand.”

  Wang Chong said calmly. He borrowed an ink slab, brush, and paper from a scion and wrote out debt notes after debt notes.

  After seeing the debt notes, the people around Wang Chong increased significantly.

  “Wang Chong, here is my silver. Write me a debt note!”

  “Me too! …”

  …

  Wang Chong surroundings became lively in an instant.

  Upon seeing this sight, Su Bai’s face warped in anger and he turned around to leave.

  “Gongzi, do we leave just like that?”

  Amidst the crowd, Gao Fei squeezed to Su Bai’s side. Indignance was spelled clearly on his face.

  It was precisely because of Wang Chong’s intervention that he lost more than a dozen gold taels previously. He was unwilling to let Wang Chong get away scot-free for that.

  “Leave? Hmph, why should we leave?”

  Su Bai stopped, turned around to look in Wang Chong’s direction and sneered coldly:

  “Didn’t you hear him? 2% interest rate, compounded on a daily basis. Furthermore, he borrows whatever sum that he could get. Why should we leave when such a good opportunity lies before us?”

  “What does gongzi mean?”

  Gao Fei was perplexed. If he wasn’t leaving, then what else could he be up to?

  “Hmph, this fellow wants money? Fine, we’ll give him a big gift then. I would like to see how he can afford the interest rate with that measly few silver taels of daily allowance he has. ——Look for Yao gongzi and tell him about the matter here. As for what you should do, you will know later on.”

  Su Bai sneered coldly.

  “Yes, gongzi! I will be going right now.”

  Hearing Su Bai’s words, Gao Fei came to a realization. Delighted, he quickly rushed to look for Yao Feng.

  Ordinary scions like them were only given from a few silver taels to a maximum of a dozen gold taels every month. However, Yao Feng was different. He wielded the ability to whip out hundreds of gold taels in an instant.

  If Wang Chong was unable to fork out the necessary sum to repay his debt, this might serve as an impetus to deal with the Wang Clan. Even if Wang Chong really repaid the debt along with the interest, they would be able to earn a huge sum and weaken the Wang Clan’s financial ability at that.

  Since they were able to earn a few dozens of gold taels so easily in the span of a month, why should they miss out on such a good opportunity?!

  …

  The news reached Yao Feng’s ears swiftly.

  “What? Wang Chong is borrowing money in the Eight Gods Pavilion?”

  In a tavern not too far away from the Eight Gods Pavilion, deep creases appeared on Yao Feng’s forehead.

  In the very morning, he had heard that Wang Chong went out to look
for two foreign monks to play with them. Yet, at this moment, he was hearing that Wang Chong had appeared at the Eight Gods Pavilion. The news on both sides did not tally to one another.

  “Yes, gongzi, I saw it myself! It is definitely true!”

  Gao Feng said respectfully. Trepidation could be seen in his eyes.

  Hearing Gao Fei’s words, Yao Feng’s frown deepened.

  “Wait a moment!”

  Yao Feng abruptly stood up, lifted a veil and walked into an inner room.

  “Father, do we have to look into this matter? Could there be something deeper into it?”

  With a bowed body, Yao Feng told everything he had heard in great details to his father to ask him about it. On this matter, his father seemed to be highly interested in Wang Chong’s movements.

  Yao Guang Yi frowned silently.

  “Don’t move recklessly on this matter. I will be leaving for the borders today to deal the crushing blow to the Wang Clan. For the time being, before I manage to accomplish my plan, try not to alarm the Wang Clan.”

  Buttoning his top button, a devious smile appeared on his face:

  “However, keep a close eye on the matter. Doesn’t that lad want money? Satisfy his request then.”

  “Yes, I understand your words.”

  Yao Feng answered with a lowered head. A hint of excitement flashed through his eyes upon knowing that his father was about to dealing the fatal blow to the Wang Clan.

  After this matter was done, no one would remember the humiliation he had suffered in the Vast Crane Pavilion.

  “Take this money pouch and pass it to Su Bai.”

  After walking out from the inner room, Yao Feng threw a heavy coin pouch and it landed on the table before Gao Fei.

  “Yes, I will carry out your commands now.”

  Gao Fei grabbed coin pouch and left excitedly. After which, he rode on a stallion and rushed back to the Eight Gods Pavilion.

  …

  Within the Eight Gods Pavilion, Wang Chong was still busy taking the money and writing debt notes.

  Pouch after pouch of taels came flying from all corners and as such, Wang Chong’s hands had never stopped moving. A tael, two taels, three taels… At minimum, the coin pouches had a few taels and at maximum, they went up to dozens of taels.