Chapter 37: Gobsmacked
For uncountable breaths, Ling Fan stood dazed.
Suddenly, she jumped into action and rushed out.
Swoosh!
The Fairies looked up startled.
"Leader!"
Ignoring everyone, Ling Fan's eyes calculated the shortest distance to the Main Hall.
"HA!" she exclaimed, her dainty figure flipping over a wall.
"Brilliant" chortled Elder Bing.
Wang Chunhua shot to her feet. Taking a steaming bun out of Wang Chuntao's mouth, she roared, "Follow!"
"Big Sis, Sister will try to flip over the wall too!"
Wang Chunhua grabbed her sister's arm, "You wanna break your neck!?"
The other Fairies shot looks at each other.
Qin Rong asked, "If Youngest Master just left, then her actions can only be due to that Master Zhao."
The others nodded in aggreement.
"Little Sister's got it bad," said Tang Xifeng.
"You think it's healthy she crushing on an older man?" asked Alchemist Liu.
"Humph! Don't you like the same man?" asked Qin Rong.
Alchemist Liu blushed. "You don't understand, Master Zhao's so charming."
"Big Sis, are the Zhao men charming?" asked Tang Xifeng to Elder Bing.
Elder Bing's eyebrows furrowed deeply. Shaking her head, she said, "Not of the ones I know."
"Didn't Matriarch Zhao claim Master Zhao Ding was considered Zhao Clan's most handsome man?" asked Mo Lai.
"You girls don't know what charm is. Many years before your time, our Patriarch was known as Ling Dreamboat. In fact, the daughters of Savant City's great clans held a secret war for the right to woo Patriarch Ling."
"Impossible!"
"Our Patriarch!?"
"Fierce Leader's Mother was the winner of that war," finished Elder Bing.
"How romantic! Leader's Mother fought for her love!" swooned Mo Lai.
Elder Bing chuckled, "Sister Mo, you know I was there when your mother lost bitterly in a duel with Yao Roulan."
Mo Lai's nodded. "Mhm, Mother still greatly resents that loss. Father's a well known fatty now."
Sipping a cup of wine, Tang Xifeng exclaimed, "Che! You know who's a cutie?"
Everyone gathered together.
Who?
Who?
Looking about into the expectant eyes of her fellow fairies, Tang Xifeng said, "That Mu Donghai. Did you see his big green eyes and smooth clear complexion? Isn't his features fine like a woman?"
Gasps erupted about. Shocking realization gleamed in their eyes. Wasn't he already an Empyrean, an accomplished man? Didn't that eye patch just make him appear more manly?
"Sister Liu, who do you think is better, Mu Donghai or Master Zhao Ding?" asked Mo Lai.
"Is that even a question? Zhao Ding truly has the aura of unfathomable aura. He may not be an Empyrean yet, but isn't it only a matter of time?"
Tang Xifeng's eyes misted over. "An accomplished man must have money. This Tang bets he could buy her all the wine she wants."
Elder Bing's ears perked. Certainly that was bonus for her.
Qin Rong chuckled. "Sister Liu have you even seen Master Zhao's face? Even I, with my status as a Zhao Clan member have yet to see his true appearance."
"Is love only about looks?" replied Alchemist Liu.
"What about our men? Did you see how they were fighting over us, the other day?" asked Mo Lai.
Everyone's face blackened.
Obviously, not one of the men were considered good looking.
Clearing her throat, Elder Bing said, "Rest assured, Leader has given me the task of recruiting. Not only will we recruit talents, we'll be sure to bring in handsome ones."
The eyes of each of the Fairies gleamed with anticipation.
After running through several courtyards, Ling Fan finally shot into the main hall.
Father!
Sitting in a chair, Ling Ming was currently reviewing the accounts.
"Beautiful daughter, you've come to visit father!" joyously exclaimed Ling Ming.
"Mhm! Beloved Father, Daughter needs the best sword we have in our inventory."
"A sword?"
Chest still huffing, Ling Fan said, "Master Zhao Ding is leaving on a trip with Brother Zhao. Recently, he lost his weapon and sorely needs a new sword. As he saved Daughter's life, can't we gift him the best sword we have?"
Ling Ming shot up to his feet.
"Daughter is right..our Ling Clan does owe Master Zhao Ding. Someone, ask Manager Wu over!"
After several breaths, Manager Wu came in. Cupping his hands, he said, "Patriarch, Young Miss how can this Wu be of service?"
"Manager Wu, our Ling Hua just reminded us of a great obligation. You may not know, but recently Master Zhao Ding, a top hidden expert, saved the life of my daughter. Therefore, our intention is to gift him the best sword in our inventory. What do we have available?"
"This Wu understands. In our vault, we can surely find a suitable sword."
"Lead the way," commanded Ling Ming.
After few breaths, Manager Wu escorted the Father and Daughter deep into the secret vaults of the Ling Clan. Ling Fan looked in wonder in all directions. She never knew about these vaults.
Noticing her reaction, Ling Ming chuckled. "Daughter, are you surprised? In these vaults are hidden our most valuable items. More specifically, these are items we procure to earn profit at auctions."
"So that's how it is...Daughter understands."
Finally, Manager Wu led them into a large area with several large chests. Taking out a token, he embueed it it with power and runes lit up across the walls and floors.
"Long ago, Father contracted a Formations Master to setup protective formations."
Opening his eyes, Manager Wu said, "The formations are deactivated. Striding forward he heard a twang and immediately rolled forward.
Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk! Thunk!
"Dammit!" roared Manager Wu.
Eyes constricting in concern, Ling Ming asked, "Manager Wu, are you okay."
Standing up, Manager Wu dusted himself clean. "Thank the Divinities this old man's reflexes are still good. Patriarch, if you recall, last week this Manager described how some of the formations were failing. This trap firing, is the result of that deterioration."
Ling Ming cheeks scrunched in dejection.
"Father what's wrong?"
Sighing, Ling Ming said, "This requires us contracting a formations master? Not only will it take a considerable amount of time to recruit one, the cost will be astronomical."
Ling Fan chuckled.
"What, did father say funny?"
"Father, relax. Earlier, Brother Zhao was over and asked us to host his fiance's cousin, Mu Donghai. Somehow, that man infuriated Lord Godkiller and cannot safely reside in the Zhao Clan manor. Since Mu Donghai is a relative, Brother Zhao just can't turn him out."
Ling Ming's eyebrows curled. "Daughter, you just can't accept such requests. Bringing strange men into our Clan is scrupulous in many eyes. Father is sorry, but we'll have to decline and ask Mu Donghai to leave."
Ling Fan chortled.
"Young Miss, you can't just disrespect our Patriarch," said Manager Wu disapprovingly.
"Father, our men will die if you send them over to remove Mu Donghai. Isn't he a relative of Mu Huizhong and Mu Huiqing? Aren't they both Empyreans? Aren't they all from Ninth Heaven? If you want to offend Golden Talisman Empyrean Mu Donghai?...Daughter will only start fleeing for her life right now."
Ling Ming and Manager Wu's faces visibly paled.
Whoosh!
Ling Ming sighed in deep relief. Didn't he almost kick an iron plate?
Tenderly, he patted Ling Fan's head. "Daughter you just saved Father's life."
Manager Wu bowed. "Young Miss, this Wu thanks you for saving his life."
"Father, don't all the Mu Family members also excel in formations? Considering we are hosting Senior Mu, wouldn't he be happy to repair all our formations?"
Finally, the light of realization filled Ling Ming's eyes.
Manager Wu nodded furiously in approval. "Young Miss, your wisdom is profound. Truly you're our Ling Clan's pillar!"
Hurrying forward in excitement at the news, Manager Wu opened up several cases. "Young Miss, please take a look."
Ling Fan skipped and hopped forward in glee.
Ling Ming chortled. Wasn't his daughter adorable?
Three weapons stood out to Ling Fan. One was a saber, the two others were swords. Recalling a conversation with Tang Xifeng, Ling Fan knew sabers were boutique weapons. Immediately, she ruled out the saber. Looking at the two swords, one gleamed with silvery light and the other was heavier and black. Instinctively, Ling Fan felt the first sword was too refined. From what she knew of all the Zhao men, weren't their characters unruly and unbridled?
Ling Fan pointed to the black one. "Manager Wu can you tell me more about this one?"
"Very special, is the only way it can be described. Young Miss, this was a special requisition at a public auction in Eighth Heaven. The metal is unknown as it is from a meteorite that fell from the sky. May I havea strand of your hair? It's best to demonstrate it's capability."
Curious, Ling Fan handed over a strand of her delicate hair.
Manager Wu angled the sword's edge up and dropped the hair over it. To her astonishment, it cleanly split in half and then imploded with an with an electric pop.
She gasped in surprised.
Ling Ming sighed in reluctance. "Fabulous weapon. Sadly, it doesn't match Father's attribute."
Manager Wu nodded, "As you can see, not only is it incredibly sharp, the blade itself stores lightning. If you don't die from the blade itself, most assuredly you'll die from the shock."
Ling Fan slapped her thigh. Jumping in glee she blurted, "This one! This one! Father, Daughter will gift this one!"
Manager Wu winced a bit and looked at Ling Ming.
Ling Fan stiffened, catching his look. "Father, is there a problem?"
"We were hoping to auction it off for at least 200 million spirit stones. If we don't the loss will be about 175 million."
Even Ling Fan choked at the number. However, a breath later, she steeled herself. Weren't there lots of ways to make money? Wasn't her force about to take over Savant City's underground? Humph! She'd earn back that money ten fold.
"Father, trust Daughter. Master Zhao Ding is an unfathomable Savant. Surely, wouldn't this be an investment by promoting good relations? Many say, in the Zhao Clan he's most likely to become a Grand Empyrean."
Ling Ming's mouth gaped in shock. Grand Empyrean! Master Zhao Ding was that talented?
Ling Ming's eyes narrowed. "Daughter, who-who did you hear this from?"
"Ah! Matriarch Zhao said those very words. In fact, later Daughter is supposed to go over for pointers today."
Uncontrollably, Ling Ming trembled.
However, Ling Fan's next words gobsmacked him stupid.
Leaning over, she whispered, "Father, later when Daughter grows of age, she hopes Master Zhao Ding will call her wife."
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
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