My Beautiful Duchess Wife

*Snap, snap, snap...* After a few sounds, the dark elf clutched his ankle, staring at Lin Peng in shock. Beside his foot were five deep holes burned by flames. His ankle had clearly been pierced directly by Lin Peng's fiery fingers.

Shaking his head somewhat boredly, he chuckled, "With your strength, you'd be fine dealing with ordinary mid-to-high-level demons. But... you're far from capable of handling me!" With that, he abruptly turned around, and from the eye sockets beneath his mask, it was clear this new leader was quite angry. After a cold snort, Lin Peng shouted, "Anyone else want to challenge me? If so, start now, otherwise, I don't have time to play around with you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful aura, carrying astonishing heat, billowed out, causing his cloak to flutter. Everyone seemed greatly shocked, and at the same time, several people rushed out from the other rooms.

Leading the group was a fat man dressed in luxurious clothes. Behind him stood several extremely muscular men, clad in black armor, their swords gleaming coldly in the moonlight, their sheaths gleaming.

“Brook!” Joyce shook her head helplessly at the fat man, then turned to Lin Peng and said, “This gentleman is a businessman with whom we have a long-term business relationship, not a member of our Night Moon Society!”

"Oh? Hehe, may I ask what kind of business you're in?" Lin Peng asked with interest. He covered one hand, constantly turning it over. At the same time, the flames on his fingers danced around them.

Fatty Brook smiled shyly, "Just a small amount of food and some daily necessities. Hehe... I'm sorry for making you laugh, sir!" The four bodyguards behind him were all basically high-level demons. Although they were only at the beginner level, they were still quite good bodyguards. As for Fatty himself, in the heat he sensed, he seemed to have the strength of a peak mid-level demon.

Lin Peng smiled faintly, waving to the burly men as he walked towards Brooke. Joyce, understanding the situation, dispersed them and then helped Portland up, slowly following Lin Peng towards the merchant Brooke.

“Let’s go in and sit down and talk, hehe… As the new leader of the Night Moon Society, you have to fulfill your responsibilities and make sure the brothers live a good life!” Lin Peng said with a smile, heading straight for Brooke’s room.

After everyone was settled in their rooms, Lin Peng glanced at the dark elf and said, "Are you alright? If not, go and rest!"

"I'm not that fragile!" she said, gritting her teeth, which made Lin Peng chuckle. Her flames were hotter than ordinary flames. That wound must be excruciatingly painful.

Since he had nothing else to do, he watched as Joyce tore open his clothes to bandage Brook's wound, then turned to Brook and said, "Hmm... judging from your cooperation with Nightmoon, you must not be doing very well in Darkmoon City. Heh... you must be being suppressed by the Furen family! Hmm... if you cooperate with me in the future, you don't need to worry about these things!"

Brooke was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled and said, "I only do business with ordinary people. I wouldn't dare to compete with those powerful families!"

However, despite saying this, the bodyguards behind him tightened their grip on the hilts of their knives.

Lin Peng nodded slightly and smiled, "In Darkmoon City, which is still His Highness the Duke's territory, as for shops and such, just a word from me will guarantee no problems. Besides... I have brothers in the city defense team, so you don't need to worry about the security team. Hmm... as for your sales volume, that's a problem!" At this moment, Lin Peng was truly overjoyed. He had originally planned to support another small merchant, but it turned out that there was one in the Night Moon Society.

Brook was overjoyed. Since arriving in Darkmoon City to start his business, he had truly suffered so much because he lacked a strong backer. Although he had cooperated with the Nightmoon Society these past few times, they were still a small force and there was no one who could truly protect him.

Now, this guy, who seems to be one of the Duke's men, has made such a vote, which can't be said to be anything but an opportunity.

"But what about the Chris family and the Furen family?" Brooke asked hesitantly, trying to get more information out of them.

With a hearty laugh, Lin Peng stood up, gazing wistfully at the moonlight outside: "In Darkmoon City, the real power lies with the Duke and that guy Jess. The true rightful owner of Darkmoon City is the Duke. If you can truly position yourself correctly, you'll benefit from the next move. Is the sheriff's harassment really that powerful? I'll have the city defense team take action directly, let's see who the real power is. Hmm, as for the shop issue, hehe… You know, in Darkmoon City, the Duke is still the most powerful figure on the surface. It's just a matter of a word! But… where did you get your goods from?"

Lin Peng's sharp black eyes were fixed on Brooke. If a spy had infiltrated the ranks, things would be bad. Therefore, he too had his concerns.

Brooke was secretly overjoyed and immediately straightened up: "My lord, please rest assured. Originally, I came from a small merchant family in the Crimson Demon Territory. However, I offended some important figures there, which is why I came here. Of course, it's also a test from my family. Hehe... the quantity of goods will absolutely put your mind at ease. As for the struggle in Darkmoon City, if you need my help, I will support you without hesitation. Well, if you don't believe me, we can sign a contract!"

Seeing Lin Peng's still sharp eyes, showing no sign of relaxation, Brooke conceded. Instead, he took out a piece of paper that looked somewhat shiny. It seemed to emanate some magical energy.

"This is a magical contract. As long as we discuss it and sign it, and each of us drips our blood onto it, it will definitely take effect. What do you think?" Brooke probed Lin Peng's reaction.

Lin Peng frowned. To be honest, he had never seen anything like it before. However, from the moment they met until now, this guy seemed incredibly excited. And… his eyes didn't flinch at all; it couldn't be fake, could it?

He shook his head slightly, then suddenly laughed: "Brook, if we're going to cooperate, there's no need to use this kind of thing. It's like, to be brothers, you don't necessarily have to be from the same country!"

As he spoke, the whole room erupted in hearty laughter.

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Inheritance of the Flame Demon

Four days later, undercurrents began to stir even more intensely in Darkmoon City. First, the city official announced that, for some unknown reason, the prices of all goods in Darkmoon City had suddenly begun to rise this year. At the same time, the food crisis sent a chill through the entire city. Darkmoon City itself doesn't produce food; it primarily survives by manufacturing tools and relying on its abundant iron ore and handicrafts.

If a real food crisis were to occur, and there were no enough foods to eat, it's hard to imagine how much unrest would erupt under such circumstances.

Inside the Duke's palace, both Sia, with furrowed brows and a pained expression, stared at Lin Peng. Now, they truly could only hope Lin Peng would find a solution. Otherwise… their faction would have no choice but to concede.

Lin Peng remained unchanged, sitting calmly as always. Seeing that both officials were looking at him, he gave a faint smile: "Hehe... Now, this conveniently gives us an excuse. Originally, I was planning to find some way to cause them trouble. It seems they've delivered themselves to our doorstep! Hehe..."

He chuckled twice, leaving Xia and Eileen somewhat bewildered.

Seeing that even the two peerless beauties didn't understand, Lin Peng's lips twitched slightly as he thought to himself: Indeed, beauty doesn't equate to wisdom. This kind of wisdom is truly a headache. He shook his head slightly and explained, "A city official actually said the city would face an economic crisis this year, and then… a finance official couldn't even control the food and daily necessities. Just say they're embezzling, wouldn't that be a huge deal? Also, we could launch a conflict, claiming they're spies from an enemy country, trying to sabotage Dark Moon City. Hehe… anyway, Dark Moon City is practically a border. Hmm… that's it!"

Sia and Eileen exchanged a glance, their eyes sparkling. It had to be said, this idea was quite brilliant. The problem was, what about food and other goods?

"Then... what about the food and those commodities, especially daily necessities?" Xia asked with some worry.

Lin Peng held up a finger, shook it, and asked, "Do you know about the Crimson Demon Territory?"

Both women nodded. Sia frowned and thought for a moment before asking, "You mean, we should go to the Red Devil Territory to buy it? But the lord there, Jerry, is one of Prime Minister Kula's men."

In fact, both Xia and Eileen are very intelligent people. It's just that the limitations of the previous generation prevented their ideas from being very original. Of course, Lin Peng, who isn't from this world, understands this perfectly well.

He then extended another finger, gently shook it, and chuckled, "A few days ago, I found a merchant. In a few more days, he'll be returning with his goods. If you two can find a few good shops, I can even make you richer. I can let you dominate the commerce of Darkmoon City!"

"You mean, you've already found a partner in secret. Then... I have to tell Nadas. A shop is a small matter, but the main problem is the Chris and Furen families. If they sideline us, it'll be difficult to operate. And... what if they also bribe the Darkmoon City's ranger organizations? We can't possibly have the city guards watching over the shops all day long!"

Xia had thought things through very carefully, basically understanding every single step. Of course, Lin Peng had also calculated everything long ago.

"As long as you handle the shops and the security team, leave the rest to me. As for those two shops, hehe... why can't we harass them?" With a laugh, Lin Peng was basically confident about this situation. Perhaps, with a bit of luck, they could even bring those two families down.

"By the way, how is the Kuris family doing?" Lin Peng asked softly, pulling the two women back to reality.

Eileen smiled faintly, but even this slight smile exuded a captivating charm. She clapped her hands lightly, and a burly man entered the council chamber, his rugged appearance comparable to Nadas'. His nose was exceptionally large, almost like a bull's.

After bowing to the two officials, his dark armor did not hinder his movements at all, and he looked directly at Lin Peng. That fierce and menacing gaze would have truly frightened Lin Peng if he hadn't already gained strength.

"This is Howard from the Kuris family, a mid-level Great Demon. From now on, he will protect you. You can also contact the Kuris family." Sia introduced him casually, then looked at Lin Peng.

At that moment, Lin Peng's eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light. He had already gripped the flaming battle blade in his hand, and with a stomp of his foot, even the sofa he was sitting on exploded. With a bang, the flaming battle blade struck Howard's battle blade, which was wreathed in demonic flames.

Both of them directly deflected the force and took three steps back.

Howard frowned, then showed excitement: "I didn't expect Lord Lin Peng to have such strength!" In terms of speed and power alone, he's basically on par with me!

Of course, Lin Peng hadn't revealed his true strength yet. Otherwise... his fire skills alone would have been enough to kill him. However... similarly, as a direct descendant of a family, Howard definitely had some special tricks up his sleeve.

At this moment, both Sia and Irene were stunned. Lin Peng, who had always appeared as a master of intelligence, actually possessed such strength. After a moment of contemplation, Sia asked, "Is this what you meant last time, the power you inherited from that fire giant?"

Lin Peng smiled and nodded: "Yes, I am now also at the strength of a Great Demon. Hehe... As for that fire giant, I still don't know his origins!"

He transformed the palace experience into the firebird taking him to his master to receive the inheritance. This... ironically, it didn't attract the attention of the Duke and Princess. However, the strength he's now displaying has made them somewhat concerned.

"Could it be... the power of the Flame Demon clan! By the way, Howard, why don't you step out for a moment?" Eileen said somewhat warily. Howard nodded, knowing they were probably discussing some secrets, and turned to leave the council chamber.

Hia nodded slightly and said coldly, "Hmm, not bad. A fire giant, whose entire body is covered in flames, there's no other possibility but the Flame Demon clan. Hmph, even the current Red Demon Jerry is only because he has a little bit of Flame Demon bloodline. I didn't expect you to have accepted the Flame Demon clan's inheritance. Hehe... at least, you'll have the foundation to become a master in the future."

"Flame Demon?" Lin Peng asked, somewhat stunned, with a questioning tone.

Sia and Eileen both nodded, especially Eileen, who said with a hint of jealousy, "The Flame Demons are practically legends in this Demon Realm. Well... about a few thousand years ago, the Flame Demon clan was summoned by the Fire God, seemingly to help the Fire God fight an extremely powerful opponent. But... after they left, they never returned! However... a few thousand years ago, the Flame Demon clan's strength was truly beyond existence. Legend has it... there were at least double digits at the Demon Lord level alone. Their clan leader seemed to possess the strength of a Demon God."

"In the depiction, the Flame Demon is a form whose entire body is covered in flames. They are born in flames and die in flames! That's why they are called Flame Demons!" Sia added.

Lin Peng was so happy he almost laughed out loud. After nodding slightly, he said, "Then... I'll take my leave now. Um... if there's anything else, I'll ask for your help!"

With that, he opened the door and left. Howard followed closely behind him.

"Sister, it seems we've really struck gold this time!" Eileen giggled, then looked at Lin Peng with a hint of jealousy. Sia nodded slightly: "Yes, not bad. The Flame Demon possesses talent comparable to royalty. And... he has a portion of the Fire God's power! And... just his head alone is enough for us!"

"Hehehe..."

……

Lin Peng, of course, didn't hear what Sia and Eileen were saying. He simply led Howard to his carriage, intending to first take a real look at Darkmoon City. Inside the carriage, a little girl was already sitting, seemingly quite impatient.

When Howard first saw the carriage, he was completely stunned. Then, seemingly extremely excited, he circled the carriage once before finally stopping to look at the fiery giant horse. After a while, the fiery giant horse seemed very unwilling to be admired like this. It snorted and then its four legs leaped up and stomped on the ground, making a crackling sound and accompanied by whirlwinds of fire.

Howard was startled, his body, even taller than Nadas, staggering backward. Looking at Lin Peng's smiling face, he said, "Sir, your carriage is truly amazing. Could...could you sell it...?"

Before he could finish the last two words, Angelina, the little girl sitting in the carriage, jumped down: "No way, not even a second thought. No matter how much you offer, we won't sell." With that, she pulled Lin Peng into the carriage.

At this point, Howard could only scratch the back of his head and get into the car.

Inside the carriage, Lin Peng had already installed even more things. A small, freezer-like metal box was opened, from which he took out a bottle of dark red liquid and several glasses, and began pouring: "Hehe... have some drinks first! Hmm... my darling won't let me drink alcohol, so... only soft drinks. But... this fruit wine is pretty good!" Hearing Lin Peng call her "darling," Angelina blushed slightly. Howard, however, seemed oblivious to the little girl, still somewhat surprised as he touched the interior wall of the carriage. He sat down on the sofa opposite Lin Peng.

A soldier climbed into the driver's seat, turned to the front window and asked, "Sir, which way to?"

"Just wander around, somewhere with lots of shops!" he said, taking a sip of his drink before closing his eyes. Who could blame him? Howard was still looking at him with such eager eyes, as if looking at him so much he'd sell him a horse-drawn carriage.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Troublemaking

The city of Darkmoon is quite lively during the day. On the main streets, travelers and other noblewomen can be seen entering shops at any time, selecting items they like. Blacksmith shops and craft shops are particularly numerous.

Of course, travelers frequented the blacksmith shops, while noblewomen went to the craft shops. This was to display their nobility and, at the same time, to highlight the refined taste of their families.

However, when a carriage drawn by two fiery giants entered the street, all the nobles instinctively stepped aside. Anyone who could ride in such a carriage was someone whose family would absolutely not dare to do anything to others.

You can tell just by looking at the fierce eyes of the coachman driving the carriage.

"Sir, we've arrived at the busiest street, South Road. What do you think it is?" The coachman knocked on the front window and asked softly as the carriage stopped.

With a clatter, the heavy carriage door slammed shut. As countless noble ladies looked up, a smiling voice appeared with the figure: "Hmm... then you wait here for a moment, I'll take a look first!"

The coachman and soldier bowed in agreement, then got off the carriage and held onto the door. Two more people appeared inside.

He was at least 2.5 meters tall, with bulging, enviable muscles. His head was completely bald and appeared to bear some scars. Overall, he looked like a ferocious demon.

The next item evoked a maternal feeling in the ladies and young women. A doll… that's what everyone was thinking.

Her big, bright eyes blinked, and as soon as she appeared, she grabbed the hand of the young man in front of her. Only then did they notice the young man in the lead. He had black hair and eerily black eyes.

In the demon realm, his physique would be considered weak. However, dressed in a samurai robe, he appeared perfectly proportioned. He wasn't tall, only about 1.8 meters. He wasn't thin, but compared to the person next to him, he was practically a child.

Of course, it was Lin Peng and his two companions who came next. Looking around, they spotted a shop whose signboard seemed to be made of gold. It proclaimed "Taste and Life" in large characters, and below it were the words and crest of the Chris family.

Lin Peng's lips curled slightly; he'd finally found someone powerful. He'd first see just how influential the Chris family really was.

He exchanged a glance with Howard, then strode towards the shop. Just as he reached the shop door, a very young but burly man with a ferocious appearance emerged from inside.

He was clad in leather armor, and the long sword at his waist was exceptionally large. Behind him were several slightly weaker tribesmen, and he coldly stared at Lin Peng. Unfortunately, Lin Peng seemed completely oblivious to him, turning his gaze instead to the interior of the shop.

Everywhere there were cabinets filled with handicrafts. There were also many exquisitely crafted trinkets. In the hall, guests chatted and laughed, and occasionally a waiter would take out some of the trinkets and have them try them on to see what the quality was like.

The hall was adorned with gilded reliefs, each one incredibly lifelike and priceless. The pillars and other decorations were also extravagantly luxurious. Perhaps this was true wealth and power. However, in Lin Peng's eyes, such displays were nothing short of ostentation, the mark of a nouveau riche.

He gave a cold snort: "A good dog doesn't block the way. Is this how the Chris family treats its guests?" With that, he tried to walk directly into the shop.

At that moment, the burly man with a ferocious face hadn't moved aside. He stared coldly at Lin Peng and chuckled, "So it's the Chief of Staff, huh... Our shop is only for true nobles. And..."

At this point, the burly man glanced temptedly at the fiery chariot in the distance. He snorted twice and said, "If you resell that chariot to me, I might let you in. Hehehe..."

Arrogant, utterly arrogant. This was the first time Lin Peng had encountered something like this since arriving in Darkmoon City. However, since he had come here to cause trouble, this incident saved him the trouble of looking for more problems.

He exchanged a glance with Howard, then chuckled wickedly, "You think you can buy my carriage with your Chris family's resources? No offense, but in my eyes, you're nothing but nouveau riche!"

Upon hearing this, the people on the street all looked at the burly men from the Chris family with amusement. Among them, the leader of the burly men was none other than the current eldest son of the Chris family, Daniel Chris.

His fierce face twitched with bulging flesh. His arms, which were at least as long as Lin Peng's thigh, had veins bulging. He looked like he was about to explode with rage.