Chapter 226 - 222: Negotiation
Chapter 226: Chapter 222: Negotiation
Chapter 222: The Negotiation
Biluo Mountain was steep and treacherous. Towering trees formed a lush, green canopy over a dense jungle. From time to time, the crisp, melodious songs of birds would rise and fall, a constant CHIRP CHIRP.
A gentle breeze blew past, causing the leaves and branches to sway and RUSTLE.
Several tents were pitched at the entrance to Biluo Mountain. In front of the largest one, two squads of guards stood watch, their postures as straight as spears. None of them had a low Cultivation.
Inside the tent were two rows of chairs. In the seat of honor on the right sat a middle-aged man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, exuding a powerful aura. A Great Saber rested on the ground by his feet, its sharp blade glinting with a cold light. Two elders with equally formidable auras occupied the two seats below him.
In the seat of honor on the left sat a man in scholarly robes with a longsword at his waist. His eyes were narrow, and a faint smile was always on his face. An elder and a middle-aged man in green robes sat in the two seats behind him.
The middle-aged man in green was none other than Gao Zhisong, wielder of the Seven-Snake Centipede Whip, who had since returned. The man in scholarly robes in the seat of honor on the left was, naturally, the Liu Family Head, Liu Liqun.
As for the men on the right, they were Cao Bohao, the Patriarch of the Cao Family from Red Sun Main City, along with Cao Weifang and Cao Weiyuan.
"Sigh, this Biluo Mountain treasure is so hard to find. Who knows how long it’ll take?"
"I know. Our two families have mobilized so many men, and we still have nothing to show for it."
"How could a perfectly good Treasure Map be missing a small piece? It’s so frustrating!"
"We’ll just have to search slowly. Biluo Mountain is only so big, after all. If we spend three to five months scouring every inch of the place, I refuse to believe we won’t find it."
"Brother Cao, what kind of treasure do you think is hidden on Biluo Mountain?"
"Who the hell knows? We don’t even know the treasure’s name. It’s probably written on that missing piece. If it weren’t for that small missing fragment, we could have just gone into the mountains to find it instead of wasting our time here."
Inside the tent, the group continued their idle discussion.
Just then, the tent flap was thrown open. A guard hurried inside, dropped to one knee, and reported with cupped fists, "Reporting to the two Patriarchs! A young man has arrived outside. He claims to have a fragment of the Biluo Mountain Treasure Map!"
As soon as the guard finished speaking, everyone in the tent froze for a moment. Once they processed his words, they were overjoyed.
"Quick, show him in!"
Cao Bohao and Liu Liqun said in near-perfect unison.
"As you command!"
The guard immediately bowed and backed out of the tent to fetch the visitor.
"Younger Brother Liu, do you think that young man who asked to see us really has a Treasure Map Fragment?" Cao Bohao asked loudly.
"It’s hard to say. The chances are probably low, but it costs us nothing to take a look!" Liu Liqun said, the faint smile never leaving his lips.
"Hmph. If he doesn’t have a Treasure Map Fragment, I’ll be the first to cut him down!"
Cao Bohao snorted, his killing intent palpable.
A brief silence fell over the tent.
A moment later, a young man in green robes with a longsword at his waist walked in. He had sharp brows and bright, star-like eyes. It was none other than Ye Xing.
"And what might we call you, little brother?" Liu Liqun asked with a slight smile, his eyes narrowing as he cupped his fists.
"This junior is Ye Xing. Greetings, Patriarch Liu, Patriarch Cao, and all the Elders!" Ye Xing clasped his fists and bowed. His movements were smooth and natural, neither servile nor arrogant.
"Kid, I hear you have a fragment of the Biluo Mountain Treasure Map. Take it out and let us see. If you’re lying, don’t blame my Great Saber for being merciless," Cao Bohao said coldly, his eyes fixed on Ye Xing.
"Hehe, of course I have the Treasure Map Fragment. It’s just that this humble one didn’t come by it easily—"
"What are your terms?" Liu Liqun, the Liu Family Head, asked.
"Well, this junior doesn’t really have any terms. It’s just that I’m a little short on cash lately." Ye Xing glanced around at everyone, a greedy look in his eyes. "I’ve long heard that the Cao Family of Red Sun Main City and the Liu Family of Biluo City are both great families of this era, with vast wealth. I wonder if the two Patriarchs could lend this junior ten thousand Gold Coins to spend?"
"Ten thousand Gold Coins?"
Everyone from the Cao and Liu Families in the tent was stunned. They clearly hadn’t expected the young man in green to make such an outrageous demand. When they came to their senses, they all stared at Ye Xing as if he were an idiot.
"Heh, asking for ten thousand Gold Coins right off the bat." Cao Bohao’s expression turned cold. "A mere Martial Arts Sixth Realm Cultivation, yet you’re not afraid of having the money but not the life to spend it."
"What? You don’t have ten thousand Gold Coins? Then I’m leaving. I’m not giving you the Treasure Map Fragment for anything less than that," Ye Xing said with a pout, turning to leave.
"Hmph. If you don’t hand over the Treasure Map Fragment, I’ll cut you down where you stand," Cao Bohao barked. With a CLANG, he drew his Great Saber from the ground.
"What are you doing? If you dare make a move, I’ll destroy the Treasure Map right now!" Ye Xing looked extremely nervous. He quickly pulled the Treasure Map Fragment from his pocket and clutched it tightly in his hand. He watched Cao Bohao with extreme vigilance. If Cao Bohao dared to attack, he would immediately circulate his True Qi and blast the fragment in his hand to dust.
No matter how high Cao Bohao’s Martial Arts skill was, there was still some distance between them. He could never be faster than Ye Xing could destroy the Treasure Map Fragment.
"Haha, please, both of you, calm down. Brother Cao, your temper is a bit too fiery. Little Brother Ye, don’t be nervous. Everything is negotiable. Ten thousand Gold Coins is no small sum, after all. An amount that large would be a major blow even to our Cao and Liu Families." The Liu Family Head, Liu Liqun, said with a slight smile, his eyes darting. "How about this: Little Brother Ye, why don’t you join our treasure-hunting party? You should know, the treasure is worth far more than ten thousand Gold Coins. During the hunt, any treasure you find yourself will be yours to keep. If it doesn’t add up to ten thousand Gold Coins, Brother Cao and I will make up the difference. What do you think?"
"Treasure hunting? That does sound interesting!" Ye Xing looked thoughtful for a moment, then shook his head. "No, that won’t work. My Cultivation is only at the Martial Arts Sixth Realm. If I get lucky and find some treasure or a Secret Manual, what happens if you all get greedy and decide to murder me for it? I’d lose everything, including my life." As he spoke, Ye Xing shook his head repeatedly.
"Haha, Little Brother Ye, you’re overthinking things. Brother Cao and I wouldn’t stoop to bullying the weak," Liu Liqun said, trying to persuade him with a magnanimous smile.
"I wouldn’t be so sure. You could turn on me in an instant, and who would I have to appeal to for justice?" Ye Xing’s gaze shifted as he said in a low voice, "I’ll only believe you if you’re willing to make a poison vow—a vow on your own lives."
BANG!
With a loud crash, Cao Bohao slammed his palm down on the tea table beside him, shattering the wooden table to pieces. Cups broke, and tea splashed all over the floor.