Chapter 461: Conditions
"I have lost!"
When Orange Moon Star Envoy spoke these three words, the entire Martial Market Arena erupted once again.
"Eleven moves to defeat Lu Fantian, ten moves to defeat a Star Envoy of the Black Market First Class Hall. Zhang Ruochen, the title of king among the younger generation is truly well-deserved."
"Too powerful! These two battles will definitely make it onto the next issue of the *Eastern Domain Storm Report*."
At this moment, some also recalled the wager between Zhang Ruochen and Orange Moon Star Envoy before the fight.
Duanmu Xingling stood up, smiling sweetly. "Orange Moon Star Envoy, didn't you claim that if you lost to Zhang Ruochen, you would submit to his disposal? Do those words still hold true?"
Orange Moon Star Envoy cast a cold glance at Duanmu Xingling. "Since I said it, I naturally won't go back on my word."
Everyone was curious about how Zhang Ruochen would handle Orange Moon Star Envoy.
After all, capturing a Star Envoy of the Black Market First Class Hall was a major achievement, sure to earn him massive rewards from the Martial Market Bank and the Holy Academy.
They guessed Zhang Ruochen would send Orange Moon Star Envoy to the Enforcement Hall of the Martial Market Bank to exchange for merit points.
"Clatter, clatter!"
Just then, a commotion arose from outside the Martial Market Arena.
Soon after, a group of soldiers clad in battle armor rushed in from outside.
They stood in neat formation, split into two rows, each one a cultivator at the Heavenly Extreme Realm, full of spirit, naturally exuding a fierce killing aura.
A rugged man with a resolute bearing walked out from between the two rows of soldiers, hands clasped behind his back.
His eyes were like lightning, his nose bridge high, his cheekbones prominent, his features as if carved by knives and axes—very three-dimensional, exuding a strong masculine energy.
It was none other than one of the six kings of the younger generation, Bu Qianfan.
"Why have soldiers from the Heavenly Might Camp come to the Martial Market Arena?" a handsome young noble asked, glancing at the two rows of soldiers and immediately recognizing their identity.
The Heavenly Might Camp of the Ministry of War—a name that thundered like thunder.
"Haven't you seen the man walking at the front? He wears the Silver Fish Treasure Armor of a Hundred Household Banner Commander, with an extraordinary bearing, and he looks only about twenty years old."
"To become a Hundred Household Banner Commander in the Heavenly Might Camp at the age of twenty, it can only be Bu Qianfan."
"What? Bu Qianfan?"
"Bu Qianfan coming to the Martial Market Arena is probably for Zhang Ruochen. This is going to be interesting. They are both kings of the younger generation; if they fight, it will be earth-shattering."
"Actually, Zhang Ruochen and Bu Qianfan have already clashed once on the Pilgrimage Heavenly Stairway, but neither went all out, so no winner was decided."
Seeing Bu Qianfan enter the Martial Market Arena, all the martial artists in the venue grew excited, thrilled, and eagerly anticipated a battle between Zhang Ruochen and Bu Qianfan.
Many young martial artists admired Zhang Ruochen, while just as many regarded Bu Qianfan as a youthful war god.
Zhang Ruochen also noticed Bu Qianfan walking in. He quickly drew his sword, striking nine times in rapid succession, tapping on the acupoints where nine of Orange Moon Star Envoy's meridians converged, immobilizing her.
Though Orange Moon Star Envoy couldn't move her entire body, the corner of her eye caught sight of Bu Qianfan approaching from afar, and a flicker of unusual emotion crossed her face.
Entering the Martial Market Arena, Bu Qianfan first glanced at Orange Moon Star Envoy, then shifted his gaze to Zhang Ruochen. "Zhang Ruochen, may I have a word in private?"
Zhang Ruochen's observational skills were sharp, and he naturally noticed the strangeness in Bu Qianfan's expression.
He had a premonition that Bu Qianfan's arrival at the Martial Market Arena wasn't to challenge him but was related to Orange Moon Star Envoy.
"Of course."
Zhang Ruochen nodded and stepped down from the battle platform.
Bu Qianfan walked up to Zhang Ruochen, releasing a powerful surge of true qi from his body, forming a spherical domain that enveloped both of them.
Using sound transmission, he spoke secretly, "Zhang Ruochen, I want to spare Orange Moon Star Envoy's life. Name your price—anything."
Just as I thought.
Zhang Ruochen wasn't surprised. He stared into Bu Qianfan's eyes and asked, "Why?"
Bu Qianfan pondered for a moment, a hint of softness appearing in his eyes. "Don't you want to know why I lost to Di Yi in three sword strikes? It's because of her. She is the flaw in my heart."
"So it's a woman again."
Zhang Ruochen chuckled, unsure if he was laughing at Bu Qianfan or himself.
As the saying goes, even heroes struggle to resist a beautiful woman.
Even a man of iron will like Bu Qianfan could be held back by the word "love."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I can spare her life, but I have a condition."
"What condition?" Bu Qianfan asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "One of the Five Elements Spiritual Treasures: the Source of Spiritual Fire. Once you deliver the Source of Spiritual Fire, I'll hand her over to you."
Of the Five Elements Spiritual Treasures, Zhang Ruochen had already obtained three. Adding the Saint-Nurturing Sacred Soil that Duanmu Xingling possessed, he was only missing the Source of Spiritual Fire.
The Bu Holy Clan had secured management rights over the Five Elements Ruins Realm, so they could surely collect a large amount of the Source of Spiritual Fire. Given Bu Qianfan's status in the Bu Holy Clan, obtaining a portion of the Source of Spiritual Fire would be no problem.
Thus, Zhang Ruochen's condition wasn't excessive.
Killing Orange Moon Star Envoy would only bring Zhang Ruochen some rewards, which might not be as valuable as the Source of Spiritual Fire.
Moreover, given Orange Moon Star Envoy's position in the Black Market, she surely had a vast organization behind her.
Killing her would mean offending that organization, and they would stop at nothing to eliminate Zhang Ruochen.
Since Bu Qianfan had come to him voluntarily, Zhang Ruochen decided to do him a favor and spare Orange Moon Star Envoy's life.
"Deal."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen agree, Bu Qianfan finally breathed a sigh of relief. "This time, I owe you a favor. If you ever need help in the future, feel free to come to the Heavenly Might Camp of the Ministry of War to find me."
With that, Bu Qianfan withdrew his true qi, led the soldiers of the Heavenly Might Camp, turned, and left the Martial Market Arena.
Since Orange Moon Star Envoy could become a flaw in Bu Qianfan's martial path, she naturally held an irreplaceable place in his heart.
Even if Zhang Ruochen had demanded all the Five Elements Spiritual Treasures in exchange, Bu Qianfan wouldn't have hesitated.
If Zhang Ruochen had refused to release Orange Moon Star Envoy, Bu Qianfan would have used force to take her away.
"What's going on? Bu Qianfan just left like that?"
"Bu Qianfan only said a few words to Zhang Ruochen and then turned away. That doesn't seem like his style."
"What did he discuss with Zhang Ruochen?"
Everyone was curious, having no idea what had happened.
Bu Qianfan and Zhang Ruochen had used sound transmission for their conversation, so outsiders knew nothing of its content.
Xie Yun'an walked over and stood beside Zhang Ruochen. "Brother Zhang, should we send Orange Moon Star Envoy to the death cell of the Enforcement Hall now?"
Although Orange Moon Star Envoy had been captured by Zhang Ruochen, this was still the Martial Market Arena, under Xie Yun'an's jurisdiction. If she were sent to the Enforcement Hall, Xie Yun'an would get some credit.
That was why he was so eager, even wanting to cut off Orange Moon Star Envoy's head immediately to claim the reward.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Xie Yun'an. "Why send her to the death cell? Since Orange Moon Star Envoy was captured by me, I'll handle her myself."
"This..."
Xie Yun'an looked troubled. "Orange Moon Star Envoy's identity is no small matter. If she's captured, the Black Market's experts will surely not let it go. It would be safer to send her to the Enforcement Hall. What if someone rescues her..."
Zhang Ruochen cut him off. "Say no more. I have my own plans."
With that, Zhang Ruochen led Orange Moon Star Envoy away from the Martial Market Arena.
Watching Zhang Ruochen's retreating figure, Xie Yun'an wanted to stop him but didn't dare offend him too much.
A warrior from the Martial Market Bank approached and stood beside Xie Yun'an, asking quietly, "Elder Xie, what now?"
Xie Yun'an's eyes sank, a strange smile curling on his lips. "Zhang Ruochen is a hot-blooded young man. Though his talent is high, he's still a man. He's probably taken a fancy to Orange Moon Star Envoy's beauty and been swayed by lust."
"These Black Market seductresses are cunning. If she bewitches Zhang Ruochen, she might escape," the warrior said with concern.
Xie Yun'an nodded gravely. "We absolutely cannot let that seductress escape because of Zhang Ruochen's selfish desires. Go to the Enforcement Hall now and invite the Hall Master himself to make the arrest. Only he can rein in Zhang Ruochen. I'll lead the men to follow Zhang Ruochen to the Martial Market Courier Station where he's staying. We must not let that seductress get away."
"Understood."
The warrior immediately leaped onto a savage beast's back, whipped its rump, and charged out of the Martial Market Arena, heading toward the Enforcement Hall.
"Follow me."
Xie Yun'an led dozens of Enforcement Hall-trained warriors, trailing closely behind Zhang Ruochen, surrounding the two of them like an iron barrel, afraid Orange Moon Star Envoy might escape.
Duanmu Xingling also followed, watching from a distance with a puzzled expression. "What is Zhang Ruochen doing?"
Others might think Zhang Ruochen was coveting Orange Moon Star Envoy's beauty, driven by lust, and thus hadn't handed her over to the Enforcement Hall.
But Duanmu Xingling knew better. She understood Zhang Ruochen.
She knew he wasn't that kind of person.
Returning to the Martial Market Courier Station, Zhang Ruochen led Orange Moon Star Envoy into his room.
"Creak."
He closed the door, sat calmly on a chair, glanced at Orange Moon Star Envoy, and pointed a finger from a distance, unsealing one of her meridians.
Orange Moon Star Envoy's limbs regained movement. She flexed her wrists, retreated to the window, and sneered, "Zhang Ruochen, what condition did Bu Qianfan agree to?"