137 Rogue Negotiation

Little Dog pointed at Qu Buping and his companions, saying to Hall Master Yu, "Hall Master, they are the ones."

Hall Master Yu gave a subtle signal, and the dozen or so subordinates he brought with them immediately spread out in a fan formation. The other patrons in the tavern, realizing that something was amiss, had already slipped away.

Peach Blossom looked at these men and said to Qu Buping, "It seems you've stirred up a huge mess. They've come looking for you, haven't they?"

Qu Buping chuckled, "Surely not. I have no acquaintance with them whatsoever. And we don't have any money either; what could they possibly want with us?"

Little Dog retorted, "Don't try to deny it. You were fighting with us just moments ago. Now that Hall Master Yu is here, playing the coward won't help you."

Unable to hold back his anger, Qu Buping cursed, "You little pup, keep yelping away like that and infuriate me, and I'll beat you into a mangy dog!"

Peach Blossom cast a sidelong glance at Qu Buping and said, "I've been wondering why you, brat, were being so polite today. Turns out you harbored malicious intentions all along. You caused the trouble, but trying to drag us down with you is out of the question."

With a smile, she turned to Hall Master Yu and said, "Friend, you do your fighting, and we'll do our eating. Let's keep out of each other's way, shall we?"

Hall Master Yu laughed, "That would be best. Young lady, you are truly a sensible person who knows better than to wade into muddy waters."

Fuming with vexation, Qu Buping cursed, "You stinking wench, taking bribes but refusing to lift a finger to help. You've got no sense of loyalty whatsoever."

Peach Blossom replied righteously, "You didn't make that clear when you invited us to dinner, so you can't blame us."

Hearing this, Qu Buping burst into hearty laughter and said, "Depending on others is never as good as relying on oneself. Since you won't help, it still won't stump us. At worst, we'll just fight for our lives once more!"

With that, he shouted to Hall Master Yu, "Are you going to fight us one by one or all at once?"

Hall Master Yu, however, replied, "Hold on. I can see that you young fellows are talented and ambitious. The old man would prefer to negotiate a settlement rather than resort to bloodshed."

As it turned out, Hall Master Yu was seasoned in the ways of the martial world. While he was not afraid of Qu Buping and his group, he did not underestimate them either. Until he figured out their backgrounds, he had no wish to push things to extremes.

Little Yu spoke up, "Very well then, how do you propose to settle this?"

Hall Master Yu said, "My side has only two conditions. First, we take this woman with us. Second, you compensate my subordinates for their medical expenses to the tune of one hundred taels of silver."

Little Yu answered, "Compensation for medical expenses is acceptable, but we can only pay one tael of silver. We don't have any more than that, and furthermore, that young miss cannot be handed over to you."

Hall Master Yu stated, "The amount of medical compensation is negotiable, but we must take this woman with us."

Little Yu replied, "That is out of the question. We will never hand her over to you. Anything else is negotiable."

Hall Master Yu said, "It seems you have no sincere desire to negotiate. In that case, we shall settle this with force."

Qu Buping chimed in, "Wait! We can hand this girl over to you, but since everyone present has a stake, you can't hog her all to yourself. You'll have to pay two thousand taels of silver to trade for her." Before he could finish speaking, he was struck by the young maiden once more, who scolded, "What do you mean I'm only worth two thousand taels? Even two million taels wouldn't be enough!"

Ashamed and furious, Qu Buping retorted, "What kind of creature are you? Two million taels—even if you were made of solid gold, you wouldn't be worth that much! Are you made of precious jewels?!" Everyone who heard this found it highly amusing; they had all assumed the young girl struck Qu Buping out of anger at his attempt to sell her, but it turned out she was merely displeased that the price was set too low.

Hall Master Yu said, "Three young friends, this old man is patiently discussing this with you once more. Do not be ungrateful. Let me tell you, we are definitely taking this woman with us."

Qu Buping said, "That won't do. Unless you use silver to trade for her, I won't hand her over to you even if it costs me my life."

Hall Master Yu demanded angrily, "What relation is she to you?"

Qu Buping chuckled, "Need you ask? She keeps beating me up, so naturally she's my wife. Aside from a wife, which woman would dare to beat me?"

Hearing this, Miss Zhu flew into a rage and raised her hand to strike him again. This time, Qu Buping was prepared; he grabbed her dainty little hand, planted a kiss on it, and praised, "Goodness, what a lovely little hand! You've beaten me so many times, kissing it once isn't too much to ask, is it?!"

Miss Zhu's pretty face flushed crimson with embarrassment as she scolded, "Scoundrel!"

Qu Buping replied, "That's right, I am a scoundrel by nature." He then turned to Hall Master Yu and said, "Other people might be afraid of scoundrels like you, but I am not. A scoundrel is never afraid of another scoundrel." As he spoke, Qu Buping assumed a fighting stance.

Seeing that a fierce battle was about to break out and feeling that remaining silent would compromise his elegance, Hua Sanxiao stepped forward and said, "Hall Master Yu, Friend Qu. This humble person would like to offer a word of advice. Might I be heard?"

Seeing him step out, Little Yun thought to herself that things were finally looking up, and hurriedly said, "Young Master Hua, you are a renowned chivalrous hero of the Jiangnan region, and the greatest of them all..."

Hall Master Yu had been on the verge of making a move, but upon seeing Hua Sanxiao step out to mediate, he said, "Young Master Hua, how do you propose to resolve this matter?"

Hua Sanxiao said, "How about this? Let us all ask this young lady surnamed Zhu and see which side she is willing to follow: if she... considering Young Master Hua's face, this old man agrees." Thereupon Hua Sanxiao asked, "Young miss, whom do you intend to follow?"