Chapter 340: “Giving It All”

Inside the private room, while the other officials were away, Mi Youfu casually probed Gu Ning’an, trying to figure out his background and interests.

Seeing that Gu Ning’an was unmoved by wealth, Mi Youfu naturally shifted his focus to pleasure.

To cater to the tastes of the two officials in the room, the pipa-playing servant was, of course, human—her appearance and figure were also top-tier.

However, before Mi Youfu could even summon her over, the man in white across from him seemed to have read his mind and directly stated that he preferred the musician to simply continue playing.

With both wealth and pleasure rejected, Mi Youfu was at a loss for what else he could use to build rapport.

As for cultivation techniques, he only possessed one blood-refining manual, which was merely a body-refining method—and even then, it likely had side effects.

In his eyes, Gu Ning’an was someone close to the Fifth Prince, who in turn had connections with the Flood Dragon Emperor, a powerful demon.

Thinking about it that way, if Gu Ning’an wanted to cultivate, he would surely have access to far superior techniques tailored for humans.

“Innkeeper Hua is incredible—she practically crushed her opponent in the second match as well,” Doubao remarked, his small eyes fixed on the array projection before him. The image displayed on it was remarkably clear, almost resembling a holographic display from future generations.

Gu Ning’an smiled. “Indeed, and she hasn’t even used any real techniques yet.”

“She’s relying purely on her cultivation level to overpower her opponent.”

Noticing Gu Ning’an’s apparent interest in the Hunt Duel, Mi Youfu joined the conversation. “Mr. Gu might not know this, but Hua Erniang’s strength lies entirely in her physical combat abilities. She’s not very proficient with spiritual techniques.”

Gu Ning’an chuckled. “Oh?”

“Yes,” Mi Youfu sighed. “She’s just too stubborn. All this, just to throw her life away for a few people…”

“What are you talking about? Life and death?”

General Zhong pushed open the door with a hearty laugh.

“Exactly, Lord Mi. We step away for a moment, and you start scaring Mr. Gu?” Minister Ma chimed in with a grin.

“No, no! You two know me better than that!” Mi Youfu pointed at the arena projection, smiling. “I was talking about Hua Erniang—she’s risking her life over a few people.”

“So that’s what it was.” Minister Ma nodded with a smile and took his seat, his gaze falling on the small Blaze Bug named Doubao, which hovered near Gu Ning’an’s ear, seemingly whispering something.

General Zhong also noticed this and subtly shifted his attention to Mi Youfu.

Realizing that both men were looking at him one after the other, Mi Youfu quickly understood their intent.

So, he pricked up his ears and listened in.

And once he heard it, he couldn’t help but twitch the corners of his mouth.

Seeing his expression, the two high-ranking officials assumed he had overheard something important and began winking at him, signaling him to relay it.

Mi Youfu pursed his lips and transmitted a message: [It’s nothing important.]

But the two wouldn’t let it go, their eyes widening as if Mi Youfu was deliberately keeping something from them.

Left with no choice, he repeated what he had overheard using a sound-transmitting technique.

Doubao: “Sir, why do those two look so happy after stepping out?”

Gu Ning’an: “Probably because they had a good meal?”

Doubao: “Then why do the people who went with them look so unhappy?”

“Did those two, being the highest-ranking, eat everything?”

Gu Ning’an: “That’s possible too…”

When Mi Youfu imitated their voices and transmitted the conversation into the minds of the two officials, their expressions shifted dramatically—first confusion, then anger, then disbelief…

Finally, both turned to glare at Mi Youfu in unison.

Mi Youfu sighed helplessly and transmitted another message: [Don’t blame me. I didn’t want to say it, but you insisted on listening…]

“Mr. Gu…” Minister Ma calmed himself, then smiled. “Your earlier words—‘The grand mansions reek of meat and wine, while bones of the frozen dead lie along the roads’—were truly enlightening.”

“It reminded us of the words the Fifth Prince often tells us—Everything for the people!”

“The Great Wu is plagued by hardship, disasters, and suffering, while we indulge in pleasure here… It is truly shameful…”

“We have failed to live up to the trust the Fifth Prince has placed in us…”

“Therefore, General Zhong and I, along with the officials present here, have come to a decision…”

“We have decided to donate all of our wealth to disaster relief and to aid the people!”

With that, Minister Ma stood up, followed by General Zhong and the other officials, all rising in unison and declaring:

“We shall follow the Fifth Prince’s benevolence and love for the people, giving up all our wealth to aid the disaster victims!”

Gu Ning’an couldn’t help but be slightly taken aback.

In his eyes, none of these Great Wu officials were free of sins and karmic burdens.

Especially the two men at the main table—their hands were stained with so much blood that even some demonic cultivators or rogue practitioners paled in comparison.

These were people driven by greed to their very core—so why would they suddenly claim to give up all their wealth willingly?

A thought crossed his mind, and Gu Ning’an subtly shifted his hand to the Dragon position, using divination to calculate the situation.

Only then did he understand why this group was suddenly acting as if possessed.

Gu Ning’an smiled and asked, “Are you truly willing to give up all your wealth?”

“Of course!” the officials responded in unison.

Gu Ning’an said, “In that case… allow me to calculate exactly how much wealth you all possess.”

“Good!” Minister Ma waved his hand. “Bring paper and brush!”

In no time, a section of the table, previously laden with fine food and wine, was cleared, and ink, brush, and paper were set before them.

Gu Ning’an dipped the brush in ink and began writing without hesitation, leaving the officials staring in bewilderment.

“Mr. Gu… perhaps it would be better if we simply told you? After all, we know our own assets best.”

Gu Ning’an’s brush moved swiftly as he replied, “No need. I already know exactly how much wealth each of you possesses.”

“Hm?” Minister Ma was startled and couldn’t help but lean over to see what Gu Ning’an had written.

On the rice paper, it read:

[Minister Ma]—32 mansions in the capital; private treasury containing 32 million taels of silver; 128 shops in Yiyang County, with merchandise and silver assets totaling 23.11 million taels…

[General Zhong]—10,000 acres of fertile land; 13 fortress towns strategically positioned in a triangular formation, with hidden treasures and silver amounting to 47.83 million taels…

Seeing his own wealth written out in such clear and precise detail, Minister Ma felt a chill run down his spine!

The silver amounts recorded by Gu Ning’an even included sums that he had long forgotten about!

A cunning man always has multiple escape routes—who would be foolish enough to store all their embezzled wealth in one place?

And yet, this man had even listed the 200 taels of silver that Minister Ma had hidden under a greenstone brick outside the western city gate!

That had been his first bribe, received when he was merely a lowly seventh-rank official. He hadn’t dared to keep it at home or spend it, so he buried it near the city gate as an emergency escape fund…