Early the next morning, Ye Haochuan called Niu Kui up.

"Let’s go, off to the County Marquis Mansion to collect some things!" Ye Haochuan said with a grin.

"Collect things? Collect what?" Niu Kui asked, looking puzzled.

"You’ll find out when we get there!" Ye Haochuan replied, putting on a mysterious air.

Niu Kui rubbed his head, chose not to ask further, and dumbly followed along.

Before long, the two arrived at the County Marquis Mansion, with the gatekeeper still being the same guard captain from yesterday.

As soon as he saw Ye Haochuan, the guard captain’s eyes filled with subtle resentment.

After yesterday’s incident, Ye Haochuan backed down and paid the compensation, shirking all responsibility, while they were left in a bind, unable to pay up and without any support, leaving them helpless against any revenge from Young Master Li.

Despite his resentment towards Ye Haochuan, the guard captain dared not display it too openly, considering Ye Haochuan’s status.

Soon, the guard captain reported their arrival inside, and Liao Li, upon hearing Ye Haochuan’s visit, said nothing and invited him in.

"May I ask what brings you here today?" Liao Li asked nonchalantly, seemingly presuming Ye Haochuan to be a coward.

Ye Haochuan didn’t mind, smiling as he said, "I’m here today to ask Lord County Marquis to adjudicate."

"Oh? Is someone causing trouble for people from the Half-Mountain Residence in Skywolf City?" Liao Li remarked casually, with a hint of mockery.

Based on his understanding of the Li Family, though Ye Haochuan had paid and apologized, the Li Family wouldn’t easily let him off.

Leveraging his status as a guest elder of Half-Mountain Residence, the Li Family wouldn’t openly confront him, but subtle, underhanded dealings were still possible.

"It’s not that someone is troubling me, but yesterday I won some things and want the other party to fulfill the bet. I’m just worried they might refuse, so I came to ask Lord County Marquis to arbitrate!" Ye Haochuan snickered.

"Oh? Such a thing really happened?" Liao Li asked curiously, "Tell me, who dares to undertake such a thing on the land of Anxi County? If it’s true, I will certainly stand up for you!"

"That would be wonderful!" Ye Haochuan chuckled, handing a contract to Liao Li.

Upon glancing over the contract, Liao Li’s smile quickly froze.

"This... this..." Liao Li looked at Ye Haochuan in disbelief, "Are you joking with me? How could the Li Family..."

"Lord County Marquis, do I look like I’m joking?"

Ye Haochuan said with a smile that seemed both genuine and mocking, "After you left the Li Family yesterday, I suddenly had the urge to return and make a bet with the Patriarch of the Li Family. The Li Family members were eager, but unfortunately, luck wasn’t on their side, and they lost all their family assets to me.

This is clearly written in black and white, with fingerprints as evidence. If Lord County Marquis doesn’t believe it, you can bring the patriarch over to compare the fingerprint!"

Seeing Ye Haochuan’s confident demeanor, Liao Li suddenly felt a tinge of unease.

"Someone, go call the Patriarch of the Li Family over!" Liao Li ordered.

Soon enough, someone left to carry out the order.

Meanwhile, Liao Li scrutinized Ye Haochuan, hoping to discern some clues from his expression.

Unfortunately, Ye Haochuan maintained a calm smile, showing no signs of fear.

An hour later, a middle-aged man hurriedly arrived—none other than the Li Family Patriarch, Li Chun.

"Slander, this is blatant slander, Lord County Marquis. You must imprison this fraud..."

Even before arriving, Li Chun’s voice could be heard. Clearly, the person who went to fetch him had already explained the whole situation to him.

"What’s all the noise? Since I’m presiding over this, I won’t be biased!" Liao Li said with impatience, "Here, take a look. Is this the contract you signed?"

Li Chun snatched the contract from Liao Li’s hand, quickly glanced over it, and his expression immediately turned grim.

"Fake, it’s all fake. I didn’t meet anyone last night. How could I lose Crimson Crystals, let alone the entire Li Family? Do you really believe such a foolish wager?" Li Chun said indignantly.

"Patriarch Li, you’re quite forgetful!" Ye Haochuan said casually with a smile, "Could it be that the esteemed Patriarch of the Li Family also breaks his word? Fortunately, I have a contract; otherwise, there’d be no way to deal with you!"

With that, he turned to Liao Li and said, "Lord County Marquis, words may be denied, but the fingerprint on this contract cannot be faked. Is it real or not? Let’s just have the Patriarch compare his fingerprint and find out."

"Compare we shall; an upright heart fears no shadow!" Li Chun snorted, pulling out a piece of blank paper and stamping his fingerprint on it.

But soon, he was dumbfounded.

The fingerprint on the paper was identical to the one on the contract, without the slightest discrepancy.

"How is it possible?" Li Chun stared blankly at the palm seal on the contract, muttering, "This can’t be, it must be fake, it must be fake!"

"Patriarch Li, you speak like a layman. Everyone’s palm prints are unique. Even a Great Power with high-level cultivation cannot create an identical fake, okay?" Ye Haochuan said, curling his lips.

"That’s not wrong, but..."

Li Chun tried to explain, only to be interrupted by Ye Haochuan, "Yesterday when the Li Family Patriarch took a contract claiming my friend owed Young Master Li one hundred thousand Crimson Crystals, you didn’t say ’but’. Does the Patriarch believe this contract holds no legal weight?"

"No, I..." Li Chun struggled to find suitable words to explain.

If he said the contract had no weight, wouldn’t he be contradicting himself?

But if it did, wouldn’t he be obliged to uphold this contract?

In his anxious helplessness, Li Chun finally turned to Liao Li for help.

Seeing this, Liao Li cleared his throat, saying, "My friend, there seems to be some unresolved mystery in this issue. Let me understand the whole truth before making a final decision!"

Stalling for time? Will I let you have your way?

Ye Haochuan chuckled internally, but outwardly wore an expression of difficulty, saying, "Lord County Marquis, are you planning to be biased? The contract is right here; what isn’t clear?"

"The Li Family Patriarch is still professing his innocence; this County Marquis cannot ignore it, can I? I assure you, once all the facts are clear, I will render you justice!" Liao Li replied awkwardly.

"Lord County Marquis, yesterday when my friend professed his innocence, you weren’t so fair..."

"This..."

Liao Li looked embarrassed, his mind racing for a solution.

Though he favored the Li Family, Ye Haochuan had clearly come prepared, catching them off guard.

Just then, a loud voice called out from outside.

"The Prefecture Master is here!"

"The Prefecture Master has arrived?" Hearing this announcement, Liao Li’s face lit up with joy as he said, "The Prefecture Master must have come regarding the Demon Beasts’ issue, which cannot be delayed. This issue with the contract will be addressed later!"