The Rich Cultivator

"That’s impossible!" Qiao Fu roared, his grip tightening on his axe. He stormed toward the door, his fury uncontrollable, but Tyler’s voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding, halting him in his tracks.

"I wouldn’t do that if I were you," Tyler warned, his words laced with an unsettling calm. "Unless you want to lose your life in the hands of your so-called loyal subordinates in one fell swoop."

Qiao Fu hesitated, his knuckles white as he gripped his weapon. He turned back to face Tyler, his eyes blazing with fury. "What have you done to them?"

"Nothing much," Tyler replied with a nonchalant shrug. "Just a little... persuasion. You see, loyalty is a fragile thing, especially when greed are involved. I simply offered them more money."

Tyler’s smirk widened. "In simpler terms, I bought them."

The words hit Qiao Fu like a thunderclap. His mind raced, trying to process the sheer audacity of Tyler’s actions. During the previous battle, He understood that Tyler is rich. But it seems like he underestimated his wealth. Those grandmasters—his prized assets, whom he’d paid generously. They are group of pirates who gave up on pirate buisness and worked for him.

Qiao Fu’s voice trembled with disbelief. "You think you can just buy loyalty like that?"

"Of course I can," Tyler said with a chuckle. "Loyalty to someone like you is as shallow as a puddle. When faced with a better offer, they didn’t even hesitate."

Qiao Fu’s jaw tightened, his rage boiling over. Yet, despite his fury, a sliver of doubt began to creep into his mind. He had always ruled with fear and wealth, but now he realized how tenuous that grip truly was. Facing with someone who is wealthier, he felt like an ant.

As the tension between the two men reached a boiling point, far from the villa, another storm was brewing.

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