Looking at Zhang Haoran's eccentric demeanor, Ying Xuan's dim wits, He Dazhuang's tears of love, Xiao Hanyi's silent coldness, Bai Zhanlong's murderous intent, Zhang Haoming the Taoist who scrounged for food, and Wang Er Zhuang and Meng Gang waiting to be married, Lin Zhan deeply felt exhaustion: "Old Jiang, with the brothers in this state, it's hard to lead the team. I'll have to rely on you for support."
"Alas, Old Lin, with everyone like this, communication is impossible. There's nothing I can do. Perhaps we should disband," Jiang Zheng said helplessly, gesturing towards Zhang Haoran and Ying Xuan.
Upon hearing the word "disband," everyone immediately perked up, declaring that if they were to split, they should at least divide the ransom money first.
"Yan, do you think we're being a bit too optimistic? With these kids like this, do you two think China still has hope?" the Black Dragon Emperor said to his two brothers.
"After we return to the Human Race Royal Court, we'll have a good talk with the current management. If it doesn't work, we'll have to find a new batch of people. Looking at these brats makes my blood pressure rise," Yu Longyan said, holding his head.
Lin Zhan, upon hearing about dividing the bounty and thinking of William, exclaimed, "Damn it, you guys distracted me so much I forgot about the main business. We still need to get the ransom!"
He quickly went to Yu Longyan's side, "Ancestor, there are still three people. Can you find out if they're still alive? And I have a ransom here too."
Yu Longyan handed Lin Zhan a stone, "I'll send you to the entrance of the tomb later, and you'll see those three kids. Then, crush this teleportation stone, and you can leave the secret realm."
"Lin boy, when you get back to China, go to the Myriad Races Battlefield and try it out. Go straight into the hunting grounds, and forge your blade with the blood of the myriad races. Carve out a path as a mighty man of the human race." With that, Yu Longyan waved his hand, and a flash of white light sent everyone out of the tomb.
Outside, the waiting knight William George and brothers Andre Ivanov and Victor Ivanov, felt a flash of white light and a sense of illusion before a group of figures stood before them.
William rubbed his eyes, "Boss Lin, you're finally back! If you hadn't returned soon, I wouldn't have been able to see you."
Lin Zhan looked at William, who was in tattered clothes and covered in hoof prints, and said, "William, how did you end up like this? Damn, what's that smell?"
As soon as Lin Zhan got close to William, an overpowering stench hit him, "This is so strong, William, did you crap yourself?"
William looked at Lin Zhan with a mournful gaze, "It's been 8 days. I haven't eaten or drunk anything, and I've been beaten every day. It's a miracle I'm still alive."
"Who beat you up to this extent, leaving you with hoof prints?" Lin Zhan's curious gaze then shifted to the 'Heavenly Cripple and Earthly Flaw' brothers, Andre Ivanov and Victor Ivanov.
"Captain Lin, it wasn't us. Besides, we're in no shape to beat him up," Andre said, pointing to his and his brother's bandaged arms and legs. "It was William's own flying horse, Pegasus. It got tired of William being so slow and beat him up every day."
"You got kicked by your own horse and you're telling me this? You idiot," Lin Zhan said to William impatiently.
"Didn't you promise to keep me alive until the end? But I've suffered this treatment, so you have to compensate me and give me my money back," William argued stubbornly.
Lin Zhan looked at William as if he were an imbecile, "Are you sure you want a refund?"
"Yes, you didn't keep your promise," William, oblivious to the situation, insisted on a refund.
Lin Zhan immediately tore up the IOU for five lord-tier spirit cores that William had signed, "Alright, we're even. One more question, was it that flying horse that kicked you?" he asked, pointing at Pegasus.
"Little Gold, Little Black, Little Treasure, kill that horse for me. It dared to ruin my business, it doesn't know the meaning of death," Lin Zhan said aloud, but mentally instructed his three spirit pets to keep it alive.
Upon hearing Lin Zhan's command, the three beasts charged towards Pegasus. Little Treasure made the first move, spewing a large fireball that knocked down Pegasus just as it was about to flap its wings and fly. Little Gold immediately leaped to Pegasus's side and knocked it unconscious with a whip of its tail.
"Boss, we've got it. What should we do with it? Should we roast it or boil it?" Little Gold asked Lin Zhan.
The battle between the three spirit pets amazed everyone. They knew the three beasts would win, but they never expected it to be so easy. They had captured Pegasus in one encounter, and the slower Little Black didn't even get a chance to participate.
"No, no, Boss Lin, you can't harm Pegasus. You're violating the agreement," William hastily stopped Lin Zhan.
"Agreement? What agreement? Our transaction is already over."
"Besides, this flying horse harmed my protected target, thus breaking my rules. It's not unreasonable for me to kill it and eat it, especially since you're the one complaining," Lin Zhan said coldly to William.
"No, no, Boss Lin, I'm willing to re-enter the agreement. Five... no, ten low-level lord-tier spirit cores, as long as you let Pegasus go and guarantee our safety, I'm willing to pay ten low-level lord-tier spirit cores," William said anxiously.
Everyone's eyes lit up: "Holy cow, it's gone up in price again!"
"Knight William, I think you've misunderstood. I'm not short of a few spirit cores," Lin Zhan told William.
He then pointed to Adam, "See? Adam paid the price of five mid-level lord-tier and ten low-level lord-tier spirit cores for me to safely escort him out. So, I have no reason to protect you," Lin Zhan said in a devoid-of-emotion tone to William.
"No, Boss Lin, you can't do this. I'm willing to pay the same price as Adam Sol, as long as you safely escort me and Pegasus out," William, sensing Lin Zhan's killing intent, voluntarily raised his offer.
This time, not only the Chinese contingent but also the Andre brothers were stunned. Someone was voluntarily walking into a trap to be extorted.
"Heh heh, William, I think you've really misunderstood me," Lin Zhan said with a sinister grin.
"Dazhuang, Er Zhuang, tie William up. I don't want to do business with people who lack integrity anymore."
"Little Gold, kill the flying horse. We'll roast it later." After speaking, Lin Zhan turned to Little Gold and the Dazhuang brothers.
"Boss Lin, name your price, as long as you let us go," William said, watching the two tall and strong Chinese team members walk towards him with a sinister grin.
At the same time, he felt Little Gold tightening its coils around Pegasus's body, which would suffocate Pegasus to death in the next second.
William hurriedly shouted, "Boss Lin, I'm willing to pay double the price. Stop!"
"If you had said that earlier, why would we have gone through all this trouble?" Lin Zhan said with a smile, and at the same time, he signaled Little Gold to release Pegasus.
"Please, Mr. William, let's sign the contract." Lin Zhan took out paper and pen and said gently to William.