The noise in the hall stopped at once as everyone turned to look at the third-floor alcove, where that calm but sharp voice had come from.
It was Minister Wei of the Ministry of Finance.
Dressed in deep indigo robes embroidered with silver cloud patterns, the middle-aged man leaned casually against the carved railing. His thin mustache twitched with faint amusement. As the official who personally oversaw Immortal Cloud City's treasury, tax ledgers, and spirit-stone reserves, Minister Wei feared almost no one in the city… least of all a lecherous old Grandmaster Realm sect master who liked to play beast in brothels.
Sect Master Dai Qiu's face immediately darkened.
"Hrmm."
His thick brows knitted together until they looked like two angry black caterpillars.
"Twenty thousand gold pieces!"
Dai Qiu barked and slammed his palm on the table so hard the wine cups jumped.
Minister Wei smiled mockingly.
"Twenty-five thousand."
"Thirty thousand!"
"Thirty-five thousand."
