Ji Feiyang frowned. Zhen Deyuan seemed to have an unfettered arrogance, and Ye Bufan watched him with interest, curious about the source of his confidence.
Ye Bufan placed a hand on Ji Feiyang's shoulder, signaling that he would handle the situation.
The two exchanged a glance, and Ye Bufan shifted his gaze to Zhen Deyuan.
"Elder Zhen, is it? You say I've embarrassed the Martial Alliance. So tell me, do you want this resolved publicly or privately?" Ye Bufan asked.
Hearing Ye Bufan's words, Zhen Deyuan chuckled inwardly, finding the young man quite perceptive.
"Then tell me, how do we resolve it publicly, and how do we resolve it privately?" Zhen Deyuan inquired.
Ye Bufan smiled slightly, took a sip of water, and said, "Ultimately, you feel the Martial Alliance has lost face. Publicly, we'll settle it on the arena. As for privately, naturally, I'll find a way to heal Elder Zhang Meng, compensate you with some money, and then this matter will be dropped."
When the topic of compensation was mentioned, Zhen Deyuan's eyes lit up. Although he tried to conceal it, the two elders behind him couldn't help but chuckle.
"As expected!" Ye Bufan saw that Zhen Deyuan and the two elders behind him were only after money. Zhang Meng was defeated, and they intended to exploit him for the last bit of profit.
"Hmm..." Zhen Deyuan feigned contemplation for a moment before addressing Ye Bufan. "As elders of the Martial Alliance, if we were to resolve this publicly in the arena, it would be too unfair to you. We've been in the Martial Venerate realm for many years, while you, despite being a young Martial Venerate, are still quite inexperienced in my eyes. Even if you won, it would still be seen as bullying the weak."
"Hmph! So, what you mean is you want money, right?" Wu Cheng snorted coldly. "Still incorrigible, a disgrace to the elders of the Martial Alliance."
"Wu Cheng! What are you saying? If it weren't for your poor management, do you think the Martial Alliance would be in this state? Am I not doing this for the good of our Martial Alliance?" Zhen Deyuan's face darkened, and he roared at Wu Cheng.
"How about this. Elder Zhen Deyuan, since I've caused losses to the Martial Alliance, I'll transfer some money to the Martial Alliance's account in my name," Ye Bufan interrupted their bickering.
"No. I object," the elder to Zhen Deyuan's left refused without hesitation.
The other elder immediately chimed in, agreeing with the refusal.
"What a joke. If you're looking out for the Martial Alliance, shouldn't you be depositing money into the Martial Alliance's account? What, do you want the money to go into your own accounts?" Wu Cheng let out a bitter laugh, finding the three individuals before him utterly consumed by greed.
"Wu Cheng, the three of us are afraid that with your close relationship with Ye Bufan, after he transfers the money to the Martial Alliance, you'll just transfer it back to him," Zhen Deyuan said.
"You..." Wu Cheng was infuriated by the three of them. "Zhen Deyuan, Ke Anhe, and Yu Yingyan, you truly are something."
"Transfer it to the three of us, and we'll hold onto it. When it needs to be used, the three of us will naturally disburse it," said Ke Anhe, the elder to Zhen Deyuan's left.
"Gentlemen, I am the one providing the money, shouldn't it be up to me to decide where it goes?" Ye Bufan spoke up. "I think it's not entirely safe for the three of you to be in charge. My suggestion is that I transfer a portion to the accounts of all the Martial Alliance elders, with the total amount reaching the agreed private settlement sum. Wouldn't that be safer than leaving it with the three of you?"
Ye Bufan's words left Zhen Deyuan, Ke Anhe, and Yu Yingyan's faces ashen. They had meticulously planned their scheme, yet they hadn't anticipated Ye Bufan's countermove.
Wu Cheng burst into laughter upon hearing this, especially seeing Zhen Deyuan's discomfiture.
"I think Ye Bufan's suggestion is very reasonable," Wu Cheng stated.
Zhen Deyuan, Ke Anhe, and Yu Yingyan exchanged glances, seemingly contemplating something in secret.
"In that case, it's not impossible. The Martial Alliance spends a lot on cultivating talent. Elder Zhang Meng, whom you crippled, and his disciple Zhuang Sijie, are both resources cultivated by our Martial Alliance. If we calculate the cost of cultivating each person at three billion, then for two people, it comes to six billion," Zhen Deyuan declared.
Upon hearing the price Zhen Deyuan quoted, Wu Cheng knew they were attempting to extort him. Just as he was about to speak, Ye Bufan interjected.
"Oh, so that much? Then I don't have that much money. We'll choose the public resolution," Ye Bufan said.
While Zhen Deyuan, Ke Anhe, and Yu Yingyan were immersed in their plan to extort money, Ye Bufan suddenly shifted the conversation, a move they hadn't anticipated at all.
"Ye Bufan, you need to think carefully. You are no match for the three of us," Ke Anhe warned Ye Bufan. "In the arena, we will not hold back."
Yu Yingyan's eyes darted around, as if a thought had struck him.
"If you want to resolve this publicly, it's not impossible. However, the three of us can give General Ji some face. As long as you give us some money, we can go all out in the arena," Yu Yingyan proposed.
Hearing Yu Yingyan's words, Ji Feiyang, who was sipping tea, couldn't help but spit out his drink in laughter.
"No, no, no, no need to give me face. And let's skip the arena talk. Let's just start now," Ji Feiyang said, internally laughing heartily: What a joke, this is truly a colossal joke. How much confidence do they have in themselves?
Zhu Zizhen couldn't help but chuckle after hearing this.
"What are you laughing at? Don't think that just because you're a divine doctor, I won't dare to lay a hand on you," Zhen Deyuan snapped.
"I'm just laughing at the three of you, acting like buffoons trying to get money. This whole charade is utterly unnecessary," Zhu Zizhen retorted. "It's not like a Martial Alliance elder can't be treated after being crippled. However, I refuse to treat him."
"Old man, you're asking for death." Zhen Deyuan grabbed a bowl from the table and hurled it at Zhu Zizhen.
Wu Cheng, quick-witted, was about to catch the bowl when he saw it reach Zhu Zizhen's vicinity. After a mere second, it rebounded back.
Zhen Deyuan was greatly startled and took a step back, preparing to catch the bowl. To his surprise, it flew back towards him and shattered into pieces, scattering towards him, Ke Anhe, and Yu Yingyan.
Caught off guard, the three were scratched by the shards, each sporting a bloody gash on their faces.
"Hahahahahahaha." Ji Feiyang burst into laughter at the sight. "Brother Ye, your skills are truly remarkable. Teach your elder brother Ji some tricks when you have the time."
Ye Bufan cupped his fists. "Brother Ji, you flatter me. It's merely a trivial skill."
"Ye Bufan, don't push your luck too far!" Zhen Deyuan, Ke Anhe, and Yu Yingyan shouted in unison.