I'm in Tokyo, caught in the clutches of the demon princess.

Page 293

The Thousand Blades Pavilion is no joke; there are hundreds of blades here that can take form, and hundreds more are still in their original blade form.

Some are good knives, but because there is too much time and resources, they cannot be awakened or transformed.

These knives are currently placed in areas with strong odors.

Too many people have died here.

In front is a bamboo forest, and behind is a mountain, a natural soul-locking field where resentment lingers. Originally, it could have nurtured ghosts and vengeful spirits, but those souls were absorbed by the River of Oblivion, so naturally there were no more vengeful spirits, and instead, there was a demonic blade.

As a result, the entire Thousand Blades Pavilion became a breeding ground for demonic blades.

The reason why a demon sword is called a demon sword is not only because it has side effects on the user.

It can also influence the user's mind, and even eventually control the user.

However, it must be said that the enhancement that the demon sword brings to its user is terrifying, like a heretical or unorthodox method.

Moreover, compared to demon swords, famous swords are not only more difficult to obtain, but most of them are born with spiritual energy, possessing a weak intelligence from the moment they are sharpened, and gradually developing their own consciousness.

Developing a bond with a newly born legendary sword is relatively easy. All you need to do is feed it with blood, keep it by your side every day, and take good care of it. The legendary sword will easily become familiar with the user, recognize the user, and grow together with the user.

Even the user's descendants tend to have a favorable impression of them and are more likely to accept them.

Therefore, famous swords are passed down through generations in any family.

Chapter 370 Informal Talks

If passed down for a long time, its historical significance far exceeds that of the knife itself; it becomes a symbol of the family. The best example is the flower and bird, which is called the ancestor in the Fengze family and has a higher status than the head of the family.

Famous swords themselves are imbued with a certain aura, which will unconsciously influence those around them.

Moreover, given the seniority of flower and bird enthusiasts, even those who have been dead for hundreds of years would probably have to call them "senior" if they crawled out of their graves.

In addition, a mature and intelligent sword is very difficult to tame.

They have extremely high standards and are incredibly proud.

Feng Zejian found the page about wind and sand.

As a famous sword, the original owner of the Wind and Sand Sword must have been a young master from a renowned family.

But as for the original owner, apart from being decent-looking, there was nothing else to say.

Honestly, if it weren't for the famous sword Fengsha in it, this book could be called the Record of the Demon Sword.

Moreover, the sandstorms here are quite unique; she wasn't corrupted by the resentment here and turned into a demonic blade.

It's actually very rare for a famous sword to become a demonic sword; the Wangchuan sword is an extremely special case.

A top-tier sword, created under the perfect combination of timing, location, and human factors, becomes an unparalleled demonic blade.

Even so, Wangchuan remained in control, unaffected by resentment, like a hard shell with sharp spikes, simply to protect the softness within.

The painful experience did not erode his inner strength; things that were originally incompatible achieved a delicate balance within Wangchuan's body.

The River of Oblivion is now like a rose tainted with deadly poison—beautiful, thorny, and poisonous.

Feng Zejian returned the sword manual to Wangchuan after he had read it enough.

Just then, there was a knock on the office door.

"I go."

Feng Zejian got up to open the door.

The people who came were none other than those middle-aged people who led the younger generation.

"Gentlemen, are you here to discuss matters related to the loan terms?"

Several people nodded.

"Exactly."

"Please come in, everyone. Xue, prepare some tea. Our guests have arrived."

Several middle-aged people sat on the sofa, looking at each other in bewilderment.

The boy and the girl making tea seemed to be strangers to each other.

Moreover, even though the eldest sister of the Thousand Blades Pavilion was still here, this young man was handling things like the master.

Liang Gongxue poured tea for several middle-aged people in turn.

Feng Zejian served Wangchuan alone.

He blew on the steaming tea and presented it to Wangchuan, who naturally accepted it.

This scene shocked the people present. Who was this young man? How could he act so intimately with the eldest sister of the Thousand Blades Pavilion?

Wangchuan took a sip of tea.

"Now, you'll be in charge of finalizing the next steps. I'll assist you from the side."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged men were even more shocked.

Feng Zejian nodded slightly.

"it is good."

Kazema and Suzumiya Yuki sat down opposite the three of them.

He was sitting upright and proper in the wind and rain.

"Xue, your main responsibility this time is to take notes. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

Suzumiya Yuki nodded.

"clear."

Feng Zejian then asked, "Are the audio recording equipment and video recording equipment ready?"

Suzumiya Yuki took out her phone and DV camera.

"Everything is ready."

The people on the other side were a little confused by this display of strength. How could the other side be so well prepared? Compared to them, they seemed like cavemen.

Feng Zejian forced a smile and asked, "Are you all ready?"

Feng Zejian took the initiative by asking the question directly.

The others couldn't very well not respond.

"Okay, all done."

"Before we begin the formal discussions, there are a few things I would like to remind you all. This discussion will be conducted in an alternating speaking format. I will not interrupt you, and I would appreciate it if you would refrain from speaking while I am speaking. You will have time to speak later."

Kazema reminded her, "Xue, turn on the recording equipment and the video recording equipment."

"All right."

Feng Zejian took a breath.

"Gentlemen, we will now officially begin drafting the terms of the sword rental agreement between Thousand Blades Pavilion and human forces. First, let me introduce myself. I am the temporary negotiator appointed by Thousand Blades Pavilion, and Xue is in charge of taking notes. Please introduce yourselves."

The people opposite are introduced one by one from left to right.

First, there was a bald, somewhat fierce-looking middle-aged man.

"Human negotiator, Lei Mingcun."

Then there's the man with long red hair and a beard.

"Human negotiator, Shiranui Ran."

Next up, the only middle-aged woman on this trip.

She wasn't wearing clothes but draped them over her shoulders, and looked to be in her early thirties. She was well-maintained, but the wrinkles on her neck betrayed her age; this woman was at least in her forties or fifties.

“Representative of humanity, Abe Maruko.”

The last one was a large man who had lost his left arm and an eye.

"Humanity's representatives, martial arts flourish."

Feng Zejian nodded.

"I have remembered your names. There are some things I need to say in advance. This is only a preliminary draft, and the terms will be supplemented from time to time. The final interpretation right of this lease agreement belongs to Qiandao Pavilion. If you agree, this negotiation will continue. If you disagree, it will be temporarily suspended. We will continue when you agree."

Feng Zejian came up with an unfair contract right away.

However, such clauses are commonplace in today's society.

"agree."

Feng Zejian revealed a satisfied smile.

"Alright, let's move on to the next step. The first clause of the rental agreement states that when the agreement officially takes effect, we need to confirm whether the Thousand Blades Pavilion's service scope is a specific organization, force, or family, and whether the purpose of the rented knife is for assassination, protection, or other missions. Regardless of the mission, the human side has the obligation to provide prior notification and detailed information afterward."

"Gentlemen, does this make sense for the first point?"

Lei Mingcun was the first to raise objections.

"Some missions are top secret, and it's not convenient to disclose them."

Feng Zejian revealed a kind smile.

"We don't want to know the details of the mission. The details we're talking about are different from Mr. Lei Mingcun's understanding. We only need to know the approximate time, how many demon swords will be on the mission, and the purpose of the demon swords beforehand. After the mission is over, we need to know the start and end times of the mission, the reason for the damage to the demon swords, the aftermath of the demon swords, and the compensation issues. That's what will be mentioned in the later terms."

"What I've said hasn't covered the details of the mission; the core of this clause lies in the Demon Blade."

Upon hearing Feng Zejian's words, Lei Mingcun fell silent.

"Since Mr. Lei Mingcun has remained silent and no one else has any objections, then the first point is considered passed. Let's move on to the second point."

"The second clause is a disclaimer. Because the Demon Blade itself is unpredictable, if the user experiences any problems during the use of the Demon Blade, resulting in illness, injury, or death, the Thousand Blade Pavilion shall not be held liable."

Chapter 371 Detailed Terms and Conditions for Renting a Knife

"The Demon Blade's actions do not represent the position of the Thousand Blade Pavilion. However, the human side must not dispose of the Demon Blade on its own. It must be sent back to the Thousand Blade Pavilion by a designated person, and the two sides will discuss and decide on its disposal."

"The supplementary clauses to these terms state that if the above problems are caused by human error, we shall not be liable for any such problems. Improper operation includes, but is not limited to, misuse, verbal abuse, improper maintenance, neglect, abuse, and dissatisfaction with the user's behavior."

Abe Maruko was somewhat dissatisfied.

"Isn't this request a bit excessive?"

Feng Zejian said emphatically:

"In my opinion, this clause is not excessive. The demon sword itself is not a docile existence. The demon sword is a double-edged sword. Otherwise, why would it be called a demon sword? Moreover, the places where the demon sword can be used are inherently dangerous."

"Moreover, the second clause clearly states that even if the Demon Blade itself does something wrong, you cannot dispose of the Demon Blade without authorization. For example, if a person breaks the law, only the law can judge the person in accordance with the rules. Even if you have means and power that exceed the law, it is still illegal. The same applies to the Demon Blade. You are just renters of the Demon Blade, not its actual managers."

"Furthermore, the second clause explicitly states that the matter shall be handled after consultation between both parties, which is in accordance with the rules. You may think that this clause is unreasonable, but it is precisely for your benefit. Let me further explain the statement that it has nothing to do with the Thousand Blade Pavilion."

"This is not about shirking responsibility, but rather a friendly signal. Just as a fight between younger generations doesn't affect the relationship between older generations, our stance is always on your side."

Having said that, Abe Maruko had nothing more to say.

This clause does sound a bit uncomfortable, but it's within the bounds of the rules and is perfectly acceptable.

"Then, let's proceed with the drafting of the third clause."

"If any problems arise with the demon sword during the rental period, immediate medical attention and reporting are required. During the reporting process, a detailed account of the incident and its cause must be provided, along with surveillance footage from before and after the incident. If it is later determined that the problem was caused by the human party, the human party must first pay ten times the rental fee for the sword within one year as a breach of contract fee, and compensate the demon sword for medical expenses, lost wages, mental distress, and subsequent nutritional expenses. If the demon sword subsequently suffers from disability or chronic illness, aftercare and retirement expenses will be charged as appropriate."

All that Feng Zejian said boiled down to one thing: money.

And it's not just a little bit, it's a lot, a great deal.

"This figure sounds like an astronomical number."

Feng Zejian once again revealed a harmless smile.

"Several people have fallen into a misconception. The astronomical figure is based on the premise of breach of contract, which is also set to punish the breacher. Let me do the math. If the human side is more cautious and careful, the human side only needs to pay for renting the sword. Even the maintenance of the demon sword is not something the human side needs to worry about. We will maintain it ourselves when it is returned."

"If the intention is to breach the contract, then the price will definitely be high. But if the intention is to cooperate sincerely, then what you give will be completely within your acceptable range. There's also something else to add: even if the user of the Demon Blade accidentally breaches the contract and accidentally damages the Demon Blade, although we will pursue the liability for breach of contract, the extent of this is open to discussion. This extent depends on the Demon Blade's own wishes and the user's attitude."

"This isn't a one-off deal. You want to do this for a long time, and we want to do it even more. Ultimately, this clause is to protect the interests of the Demon Blade itself. We're aiming for a win-win cooperation. When our vital interests are involved, we have to make things clear. So we can only be a little timid first and a gentleman later."

"You may think that these terms are more beneficial to us. As I said before, in the supply and demand relationship, you are the demand side. You need us to achieve your goals, but that doesn't mean we can ask for exorbitant prices. This clause is drafted because you rent our demon sword to achieve your goals, and we do not participate in the distribution of these profits. So, the biggest beneficiary is still you. On the other hand, we need to pay for it with time, energy, and even our lives. We need to protect our interests as much as possible. A rental fee alone is far from enough."

"This is a form of protection for the vulnerable. Do you all understand what I mean?"

The four middle-aged men were all speechless.