Chapter 377

Chapter 377: The Situation Escalated

No wonder Mo Wanfang was furious. The Head of the Jin Family acted unreasonably. Out of a hundred thousand Green Fox Demons, ten thousand remained alive, ten thousand had been killed, and eighty thousand were sold! Now this man wanted to casually return merely ten thousand or so to Fang Lie and call it settled? How absurd! Did he consider Fang Lie a weakling? Or did he truly not desire reconciliation? Was he blindly relying on the Mo family’s prestige to suppress Fang Lie?

Whatever the reasoning, Mo Wanfang grew deeply displeased. Let’s be clear—he was merely a mediator invited by the Jin Family. If they refused to compromise and dumped everything onto him, he wouldn’t shoulder their burdens. He’d simply walk away!

Seeing Mo Wanfang’s anger, the Jin Family Head felt bitter. He wasn’t foolish—having invited Mo Wanfang, he genuinely sought peace. With Fang Lei backed by the Benevolence Token, provoking him meant certain doom. How could the Jin Family Head lack sincerity?

Yet he faced immense difficulties. The Green Fox Demons had been sold as slaves. Once merchants sold goods, reclaiming them damaged their credibility. A small quantity could be retrieved with apologies and compensation.

But eighty thousand fox demons?

Green Fox Demons were rare beauties, highly prized by lustful collectors. Each fetched astronomical prices, especially those with striking purple features sold at auctions. Even Jin Family youths had purchased them as personal maids or playthings.

The demons were scattered among twenty to thirty thousand buyers—all wealthy or noble. These owners cared little for money, having bought the foxes for pleasure. Many became cherished concubines.

Demanding the return of personal maids or beloved concubines from powerful figures? Nearly impossible! Asking nobles to sell their concubines amounted to grave insults!

Worse still, many foxes had been sold within Mo Sect’s great family clans. The prestigious Mo family alone purchased dozens. Even Mo Wanfang had dirty hands—his cousin owned twin sister concubines who’d borne children.

The Jin Family couldn’t possibly demand Mo family members surrender their concubines to Fang Lie. Such requests would ignite the Mo family’s wrath!

Other Mo Sect clans had bought thousands of foxes. Retrieving them all would make the Jin Family every clan’s enemy—an unbearable consequence.

As for remaining foxes, many couldn’t be traced. Known ones resided in distant regions under local tyrants or major sects. While Jin could pressure individuals, handling masses exceeded even Mo Sect’s capabilities.

Recovering ten thousand foxes already demonstrated Jin’s utmost sincerity. Yet Fang Lie and Mo Wanfang dismissed this effort.

Desperate, the Jin Family Head pleaded, "Too much time has passed. Many were auctioned—we don’t know the buyers. Retrieving this many was our limit!" He added, "I know it’s insufficient. As compensation, we’ll offer small spirit pearls."

"Think I need coins?" Fang Lie roared. "Return every last clansman! For each missing fox, I’ll slaughter one Jin member until accounts balance!"

"You go too far!" the Head retorted. "By what right?"

"By your villainy!" Fang Lie shot back. "How dare you question rights after stealing my family’s servants? Answer me!"

The Head fell silent, defeated by his own wrongdoing. Turning to Mo Wanfang, he sighed, "I’ve tried everything. It’s hopeless."

"Hopeless?" Mo Wanfang frowned. "Return half at least! You sold eighty thousand yet retrieve ten? How can I mediate?"

"You don’t understand!" the Head lamented. "The buyers are powerful elites. Handling a few is manageable, but tens of thousands? Impossible!"

"Isn’t it just about buying back a fox demon servant?" Mo Wanfang asked, puzzled. "It’s not a major issue. Why use force? Spending more coins would solve everything."

"It’s not that simple. Green Fox Demons are captivating and tender, beloved by many. Most end up elevated as concubines by their masters, some even bearing heirs!" The Head of the Jin Family grimaced. "Even your cousin took two Green Fox Demon concubines. How could I dare ask to buy them? This isn’t about wealth—it’s about face. What respectable clan would sell their concubines? They’d become laughingstocks!"

"Ah?" Mo Wanfang froze momentarily before groaning. "This complicates matters!"

For prestigious family clans, coins meant nothing. Face mattered most. Demanding concubines would spark outright conflict!

Hearing Mo Wanfang’s cousin was involved, Fang Lie’s eyes blazed. He snarled, "So the Mo family’s equally vile! Hand those two over immediately, or prepare their funeral!"

Watching Fang Lie’s crimson glare, Mo Wanfang’s frustration boiled. He cursed the Jin Family Head’s loose tongue—why drag Mo kin into this? Now Fang Lie targeted him directly.

Worst of all, Fang Lie’s bullheadedness meant he’d never relent without reclaiming his people. Yet the Mo family’s dignity barred surrendering disciples’ concubines. Such humiliation would make them the Five Great Family Clans’ mockery.

Fang Lie’s ultimatum backed the Mo family into a corner.

Defeated, Mo Wanfang sighed. "Let’s pause today. Return to Ten Thousand Flower Valley while I consult my father."

"Agreed." Fang Lie’s tone chilled. "But know this—the Fang Family won’t bend. Surrender them or face war. For justice, I’ll shatter heaven itself!"

His ironclad vow left Mo Wanfang trembling and the Jin Family Head drenched in sweat. Fang Lie spun away with a cold snort.

Mo Wanfang shot the Jin Family Head a venomous glare. "Congratulations on drowning Mo family in your mess. Farewell!" He stormed onto the Qingyun Flying Boat toward Mo Sect.

The Jin Family Head paled, regretting his scheme to entangle Mo family as allies. He’d underestimated Fang Lie’s adherence to ancestral rules—the man charged ahead like a blind bull, ignoring Mo family’s might while demanding concessions.

Now the Mo family stood humiliated, their wrath inevitably falling on Jin clan. Regardless of outcomes, this planted lasting enmity. As Five Great Family Clans’ leader, Mo family would retaliate viciously.

Powerless to undo this, the Jin Family Head flew toward Jin City—their fortress housing most combat power besides Mo Sect headquarters. After briefing his clan, he’d grovel before the Sect Leader.

Meanwhile, Mo Wanfang rushed to Mo Sect’s secret room, where Patriarch Mo Qianxun seized his arm. "Well? Did Fang Lie spare Jin Family?"

"Worse." Mo Wanfang groaned. "He now hates Mo family, demanding we surrender his kin or face bloodshed."

"What?" Mo Qianxun roared. "Has that Fang madman lost reason? Why blame us for Jin’s sins?"