With everyone seated, and the emptied plate taken away to be replaced with a teapot, Zhen Huai is the first to break the silence, as he takes out a silver medallion—that is shaped like a coin with the Zhen family's crest imprinted on its center.
Placing the medallion down, Zhen Huai slides it towards Long Hua.
"What's this for?"
"Think of it as a membership card. It's also a key to activate the hidden entrances. Since it's silver, you're allowed to take one item for free every month. But the items are limited to the first 50 pages of the catalog."
Hearing this, Long Hua takes out the catalog, and looks through it, while asking—
"Of the spirit herbs that are in the first 50 pages, which of them has the highest concentration of spirit Qi?"
"You planning to make pills out of them?"
An awkward expression appears on Long Hua's face in response to Bai Wen's question.
To the side, Zhen Huai is looking on with a curious gleam in his eyes.
"Something like that… I guess?"
The thing that Long Hua has in mind is probably uncommon in the Everlasting Spirit Realm. However, it's something that he's seen in the Leng Bing Realm.
Shrugging a shoulder, Zhen Huai says—
"I'll arrange for someone to get you a set of Purple Cloud Grass."
"How many are in a set?"
"Three."
Cutting into the conversation, Bai Wen looks to Zhen Huai with his one eye raised, while asking—
"Lao Zhen, isn't the medallion you're giving him a rank higher than the one you gave me—when we first met?"
"Your point?"
"You're playing favorites."
"I consider this a power move when conducting business."
Saying this, Zhen Huai turns to Long Hua, whereas Bai Wen thought—
(That's to say, I wasn't worthy of you using a power move against?)
Looking back at Zhen Huai, Long Hua asks—
"Business?"
"You do not have any ways to acquire spirit stones, but any cultivation methods, or divine arts that you have—can be traded in for resources."
Understanding Zhen Huai's intentions, Long Hua leans back in his chair with a smirk.
"I see. In that case, how much would you pay—for the two divine arts that you saw?"
Most of the cultivation methods that Long Hua is able to remember at this time—is tailored specifically for himself.
The value of such cultivation methods isn't much to the general masses. But divine arts are different; so long as one meets the requirements, anyone can learn them.
"As expected, doing business with a smart person is much more refreshing. I'll pay you 10,000 spirit stones per cultivation method, or divine art."
Dropping the pistachio nut in his hand, Bai Wen widens his one eye at Zhen Huai for this offer.
"10,000 spirit stones for a Heaven Manifestation realm divine art? Lao Zhen, your heart must be as black as the night. Lao Long, how about you just sell those divine arts to me instead?"
The price given by Zhen Huai can only be seen as a complete rip-off, but instead of refusing it, Long Hua turns to Bai Wen, and asks—
"Lao Bai, how much do you think those two divine arts are worth?"
"The price of Heaven Manifestation realm divine arts can't be measured in spirit stones; they're measured in immortal jades. 10,000 spirit stones are worth only one jade. It's impossible to give an accurate price—since whenever these divine arts appear, they're auctioned off."
Taking in this information, and sinking into thought, Long Hua places a hand beneath his chin.
(Now then, how will you handle this?)
With anticipation in her eyes, the Tian Cheng inside of the dreamscape, looks to Long Hua, who replies to Zhen Huai with—
"You said, you'll pay 10,000 spirit stones per cultivation method, or divine art; you never specified the level they need to be. Can I take that to mean—that regardless of their level, you'll pay 10,000 spirit stones no matter what?"
"Correct. Outer realm cultivation methods, and divine arts—have immense value after all."
"Lao Bai, price of an outer realm Qi Condensation level cultivation method, or divine art?"
"Those were also never brought outright."
"In that case, the value of those two divine arts is worth mountains of immortal jades, correct?"
As Zhen Huai nods in confirmation, Long Hua smiles, and asks Bai Wen—
"Is it possible for me to use immortal jades for cultivation right now?"
"Not possible. This is exactly why Lao Zhen is able to rip you off."
Raising a sigh, Long Hua knows that he doesn't really have much of a choice in this matter.
"Selling you those two divine arts for this price isn't impossible."
Resources at this time are of great importance, and the only way to acquire these resources without having to be in someone else's debt—is to possess personal wealth.
"But you have conditions attached to this deal, correct?"
Nodding to Zhen Huai's question, Long Hua says—
"Correct. I don't like the sour taste of seeing an enemy of mine using those divine arts against me. Hence, regardless of who you decide to pass these divine arts to in the future, you must notify me of their identity, and your relationship with them."
"What if I still wish to pass it onto an individual you're against?"
"Then you need to pay me extra per person. Naturally, I won't go against your decision every time. I'll even give you a clear-cut reason—as to why I'm against it being passed onto a specific individual."
Constricting his eyes, Zhen Huai contemplates the condition. This is a condition that he can accept, but just accepting it as it is—isn't very pleasant from a merchant's point of view.
"In that case-"
Cutting Zhen Huai off, Long Hua says—
"If you're planning to cut the proposed price of 10,000 spirit stones down, you can forget about this deal. Besides, my first condition isn't something that you're really against, so there's no need to make a show out of it. Within an influential household, there are bound to be numerous heirs—all vying for the rights to succeed it. I wonder, where do you rank in this household of yours? Is it seventh, or is it perhaps twelfth? Regardless, I do not believe it's one."
The more Long Hua said, the darker Zhen Huai's expression becomes. Just as the former had guessed, within his household, Zhen Huai's standing doesn't even enter the top fifty.
"Admittedly, I do need resources, but the resources don't need to come from you. I can just as easily do business with the Ling Yuan family through Lao Bai—even if there are a few inconveniences along the way."
With Long Hua having said that, silence looms in the air.
Eventually, Zhen Huai raises a sigh, and massages his temple, while asking—
"You said, first condition. So, what are the others?"
If Long Hua had a fan in his hand right now, he would definitely unfold it at this time. Maintaining an air of confidence, he says—
"As expected, doing business with a smart person is much more refreshing."
"Tch."
Compared to Zhen Huai—who clicked his tongue as a response to this, Bai Wen chuckles, while pouring a cup of tea for the former.
Afterword
Originally, I wanted to finish this volume at 200 pages, but after numerous delays, along with a dozen re-reads, I felt like the entirety of the volume was somewhat lacking in plot progression. In the end, it ended up being a volume with over 300 pages. Even though this story has over 530 pages’ worth of text now, I still consider it to be in its infancy because much of everything that has been written so far is meant to set up future events.
Most likely the price per eBook will increase once the story has been developed some more. Ideally, I wish to be able to write full time.
Chen Shi Yao Ying was supposed to meet Long Hua in this volume, but I severely underestimated how long it would take to get through the events that I had originally planned. Hopefully, the meeting can be next volume.
"Lady Nian…"
With an expression of concern, Zhui Yun looks to Nian Yao Yao—who has a nervous expression on her face.
"…I'm fine...…"
Answering Zhui Yun with a tone of uncertainty, Nian Yao Yao looks to her left.
"I'm somewhat surprised that you would make your decision this quickly."
Saying this is the third person who is present, Nian Tao Tao.
Currently, they are in Jing Yao's office, but the office's owner is nowhere to be seen, and neither is Jing Yin present.
As for Qing Yue, the moment they returned here, Nian Tao Tao had sent her away—with the task of continuing her Disciplinary Bureau duties, while keeping an eye on Long Hua.
"…"
Responding to her mother's remark with silence, Nian Yao Yao gathers her thoughts.
Having witnessed the strength that Long Hua had been able to demonstrate back in New Moon Village, Nian Yao Yao can only say—
"That guy is indeed a ticking time bomb. With strength like that, it's all but inevitable for him to fall under public scrutiny in the future. Once that happens… My company would have a difficult time explaining itself out of the mess—that is my employer-to-employee contract with him. I originally thought it was fine to cut my connection with him five years later—by then, he would be sent off to the frontlines. But… In case his identity gets revealed earlier than that—cutting him off right now, is probably a better call. Even if his identity doesn't get exposed early, with a five-year gap of no dealings between us—it would make things far more convenient in the long run."
Ultimately, the employer-to-employee contract must be cut off no matter what. In that case, Nian Yao Yao figured that she may as well do it early.
(I can still hire him under the guise of a mercenary if needed. So, in actuality, nothing's really changed—other than the fact that he isn't associated with a Guild on paper.)
The only other concern that is left—is whether or not the termination of their work contract will count as a violation of her main contract with Long Hua, the one that was drawn up with Immortal arts.
(It should be fine. I cut him off on good terms. However…)
If it does count as a violation, Nian Yao Yao can only imagine what the punishment might be.
Turning to her mother, Nian Yao Yao asks—
"And what about you? Any plans to perform an ambush? I seem to recall you sending your other Moon Guards away before we entered the sewers."
Originally, Nian Tao Tao did have an ambush in mind, but now—
"Against that thing? Throwing good troops at it—is the same as tossing lives into a grinder. Utterly meaningless."
...…
Celestial bodies, as far as the eye can see.
Within the vast voids of space is a lone figure—who is drifting about at random.
The man is dressed in a scale-patterned black robe over a white layer. His flowy black hair—that reaches to his ankles, makes it impossible to see the features of his face.
"Hmm. What a difficult situation to be in. Is this how a mortal child would feel when they have their toy taken away from them?"
Drifting outwards from the man's right hand is a bundle of red threads—that are as thin as strands of hair. The ends of these threads are connected directly to the man's palm.
Among the vast quantity of red threads, there is one among them that is stretching off into the great beyond.
As for where the opposite end of this thread is tied to, only the man would know.
If one is able to use a powerful magnifying glass on this thread, they would be able to see numerous V-shaped cuts throughout its body—as evidence of a blade like weapon, having been used to make numerous attempts at severing it.
"No matter."
Waving his left hand, the man causes the remnant bits of sword Qi—that are on the thread, to dissipate.
"What is cut off can always be mended. And what is mended, will be much more difficult to break."
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