Chapter 397: Agreement and Transaction
Help Lord Ma become the leader of the Golden Warhorse Clan?
As Ma Teng's words fell, Mo Yu was momentarily stunned, and a look of surprise quickly flashed across his face.
The Golden Warhorse Clan was a powerful force comparable to the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion. Even among magical beast races, it was one of the stronger clans. The position of clan leader in the Golden Warhorse Clan was akin to being the master of the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion—an influential figure even across the vast Central State.
Now Ma Teng wanted to become the clan leader of the Golden Warhorse Clan and needed Mo Yu's help. Could it be that the old clan leader was about to pass, and Ma Teng was planning a coup to seize power?
With that thought, Mo Yu frowned slightly and hesitated. "Lord Ma, this is a matter involving your clan's internal affairs. I don't think it's appropriate for me to interfere."
Hearing Mo Yu's words, Ma Teng was taken aback for a moment, then quickly realized that Mo Yu had misunderstood. He chuckled.
"Hehe, you misunderstand, my young friend. The position of clan leader in the Golden Warhorse Clan has always been determined by nominations from the clan elders, followed by a fair competition. There's no bloodshed or force involved. Given your reputation in the Western Region—despite being young and even causing trouble for the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion—you're much more talented than my daughter. I would like your assistance in this contest for leadership."
"Inviting a young human to help? Father, I think you're losing your mind."
Nearby, the young woman in golden clothes snorted, casting a disdainful glance at Mo Yu. She lifted her chin slightly, her bright eyes filled with a hint of challenge. Over the years, she had rarely encountered peers who could match her. Her father's praise of Mo Yu made her feel competitive and envious.
Mo Yu, however, simply smiled and ignored the challenge in her eyes. He could tell that she harbored no real malice—she was merely upset by her father's earlier remarks.
"Please, young friend Mo Yu, take a seat," Ma Teng said with a smile.
Mo Yu nodded politely and, guided by a servant, found a random seat in the hall. Once seated, he looked back at Ma Teng and, curious about what he had said earlier, asked, "Lord Ma, what exactly did you mean earlier? What can I possibly help with?"
"Hehe, since I'm asking for your help, I'll be straightforward," Ma Teng said, coughing lightly and waving his hand. The servants in the hall quickly retreated with respect.
Once the servants had left, Ma Teng's golden eyes focused on Mo Yu, and after a moment of silent contemplation, he suddenly smiled.
"Young friend Mo Yu, would you be interested in becoming my son-in-law?"
"What?"
Mo Yu was momentarily stunned. His gaze shifted to the young woman standing beside Ma Teng.
He had to admit, as the daughter of Ma Teng and the princess of the Golden Warhorse Clan, Ma Yunlu not only had a noble status but also an astonishing beauty, like that of a celestial maiden. If Ma Teng were to announce this, countless young elites from all over Central State would be scrambling to become the son-in-law of the Lord of Golden City.
However, Mo Yu was not just any ordinary person. With grand ambitions and a past already entangled with various romantic relationships, he had no desire to involve himself in more complicated affairs. Although Ma Yunlu was undeniably exceptional, Mo Yu had no interest in getting involved in such matters.
At the same time, Mo Yu couldn't help but feel curious about why Ma Teng would suddenly want him as a son-in-law.
On the other side, Ma Yunlu's face turned red with embarrassment as soon as she heard her father's words. She glanced at the silver-eyed young man across from her, and when she saw his calm, indifferent expression, she was taken aback. Feeling a mix of embarrassment and annoyance, she turned to Ma Teng and protested, "Father, do you really want to marry your daughter off so quickly?"
"Haha, young friend Mo Yu has made quite a name for himself in the Western Region at such a young age. Even the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion couldn't deal with him. I think he would make a great husband for you, Yunlu. Plus, you know the competition for the clan leadership is about to begin. As my only child, you will inevitably have to face your cousin Ma Chao. While your strength is considerable, defeating Ma Chao will be very difficult. Finding a strong husband to stand in for you would be a better option," Ma Teng sighed as he patted Ma Yunlu's hand.
Hearing this, Ma Yunlu bit her lip, frustration written on her face. Although she was competitive by nature, she couldn't deny that her father's words were true. Her cousin, Ma Chao, the son of her father's elder brother, was the undisputed leader of the younger generation within the Golden Warhorse Clan. He had achieved human form without relying on a transformation pill, a feat that spoke volumes about his abilities. Even among the top young elites of the Four Great Pavilions, Ma Chao could hold his own.
Listening to the conversation between the father and daughter, Mo Yu started to understand the situation. He shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, Lord Ma, but I'm already engaged. I'm afraid I can't help you with this."
Hearing this, Ma Teng was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected anyone to refuse his beautiful daughter. Even Ma Yunlu seemed taken aback. While she didn't agree with her father's decision to marry her off so suddenly, being rejected outright still left her feeling oddly unsettled.
Mo Yu, however, remained calm under their gazes. With engagement ties to both the Xiao Clan and the Lei Clan, and deep emotional bonds with Yun Yun, Cai Lin, and Little Doctor Immortal, his romantic entanglements were already numerous. Adding Ma Yunlu to the mix was the last thing he wanted.
As attractive as Ma Yunlu was, he wasn't interested in pursuing her.
Seeing Mo Yu's firm attitude, Ma Teng idly drummed his fingers on the table. He hadn't expected his daughter to ever face rejection.
"Young friend Mo Yu, I'll be honest with you. The reason I invited you here is because the Golden Warhorse Clan's leadership competition is about to start. Both my elder brother and I have been nominated as candidates for the position of clan leader, meaning the next leader will be chosen between us."
Mo Yu nodded. According to the information he had gathered, the current clan leader of the Golden Warhorse Clan had two sons. The elder brother, Ma Zhen, governed the Dikun Mountains, while the younger brother, Ma Teng, ruled over Golden City. If the old clan leader were to step down, the next leader would indeed be chosen from these two.
Seeing Mo Yu deep in thought, Ma Teng continued, "According to tradition, part of the competition involves our descendants, and this is a crucial test."
Mo Yu wasn't surprised by this. As a long-standing and powerful clan, it made sense that leadership succession would be tied to the abilities of the next generation. Even in human royal families, having a talented grandson could significantly bolster a prince's chances of becoming the crown heir.
Understanding more now, Mo Yu thought he could see why Ma Teng was so eager to find a son-in-law.
Although Ma Yunlu was talented, she wasn't quite at the level of the most outstanding young elites.
"Lord Ma wants me as a son-in-law to..." Mo Yu muttered to himself.
Sighing, Ma Teng explained, "My elder brother is quite lucky. He has many children, and his eldest son, Ma Chao, has already broken through to Tier 7 and achieved human form without help. His strength rivals even some of the older generation's experts. Although I dote on Yunlu, she's no match for Ma Chao. However, the rules allow a son-in-law to compete in place of a child, which is why I thought of you."
"But I'm human, and as I said, I'm already engaged. I don't think I can help you, Lord Ma," Mo Yu replied, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture.
Mo Yu had no doubts about his ability to defeat Ma Chao, even though Ma Chao was a Tier 7 magical beast and a top figure among the younger generation. But he had no interest in becoming Ma Teng's son-in-law.
Seeing Mo Yu's unwavering stance, Ma Teng felt both disappointed and impressed. He had to admit, many young elites would jump at the chance to become his son-in-law, yet Mo Yu remained unmoved, sticking to his principles—something Ma Teng couldn't help but respect.
After a moment of contemplation, Ma Teng finally spoke again. "As for your being human, you needn't worry. Our Golden Warhorse Clan has long had friendly relations with humans, and intermarriage is not an issue. How about this: during the leadership competition, you could temporarily take on the title of Yunlu's husband. After you defeat Ma Chao, you're free to leave Golden City. Once I become the clan leader, I'll announce the annulment of the marriage. You'll be free, and we'll both win. How about that?"
Hearing this, Mo Yu was momentarily taken aback. This offer wasn't bad at all—it would only be a temporary arrangement. However, he wasn't ready to agree just yet; he wanted to see what else Ma Teng had to offer.
Noticing Mo Yu's hesitation, Ma Teng smiled and added, "If you agree, I can guarantee you a reward that will more than satisfy you. And if there's anything specific you need, just say the word."
This was exactly what Mo Yu had been waiting for.
He smiled, cupped his hands in respect, and said, "To be honest, Lord Ma, I do have something in mind. I came to Golden City looking for something specific."
"Oh? What might that be?" Ma Teng asked, stroking his beard.
"I need treasures imbued with spatial energy—the more, the better," Mo Yu said bluntly.
"Spatial treasures?" Ma Teng was momentarily surprised, then smiled. "So that's what you're after. Hehe, our Golden Warhorse Clan might not have much of other things, but we do have plenty of spatial treasures. You've come to the right place."
With that, Ma Teng chuckled and removed the gray storage ring from his left hand, casually tossing it onto the table in front of Mo Yu.
"This storage ring was originally meant for the auction at our upcoming trade fair, but since you need it, I'll give it to you as a gift."
Mo Yu quickly took the ring and sent his spiritual power into it. Inside, he found an array of rare and valuable treasures, all brimming with spatial energy. The collection left him momentarily stunned, but then his brows furrowed slightly.
"These treasures, though plentiful, still aren't enough to bring my Void Flash Thunder to its peak," Mo Yu said, his voice tinged with disappointment.
Ma Teng was startled by Mo Yu's reaction. This collection was incredibly valuable—enough to satisfy the needs of dozens of small and medium-sized factions. If not for his need for Mo Yu's help, he wouldn't have been so generous.
For Mo Yu to say it wasn't enough? Ma Teng looked at him with a newfound sense of curiosity. This young man clearly had extraordinary ambitions.
"These spatial treasures represent most of what I have at my disposal. If you need more, you'll have to wait until I become the clan leader. How about this: if you help me win the leadership contest, I'll give you three more storage rings filled with the same amount of spatial treasures. How does that sound?"
Hearing this, Mo Yu furrowed his brow for a moment, then nodded. "In that case, we have a deal."
Four rings filled with spatial treasures should be more than enough for his Void Flash Thunder to reach its peak.
"Now that everything is settled, I'll have my steward escort you and the Black Bat King to your quarters. You can rest until the clan leader competition in five days."
With a wave of his hand, Ma Teng summoned a steward to lead Mo Yu out of the hall.
As Mo Yu and the Black Bat King left, the hall fell into silence. Ma Teng's smile gradually faded, and he let out a deep sigh.
"Father, are you really going to let Mo Yu fight in my place?" Ma Yunlu asked, her bright eyes fixed on her father. She bit her lip, a hint of reluctance in her expression.
"Haha, that boy may seem aloof, but he's strong and confident. My golden eyes don't lie," Ma Teng said with a smile.
"He's just putting on a front. He's probably all talk and no substance," Ma Yunlu muttered under her breath. Clearly, Mo Yu's repeated rejection of the marriage proposal had left her feeling quite bitter.
Ma Teng chuckled and gently patted her head before turning to leave the hall.
"Alright, stop grumbling. You'll see soon enough whether he's a dragon or a worm. It's a shame he won't agree to be my son-in-law..."
As Ma Teng's voice faded, Ma Yunlu's face turned even redder. Watching her father walk away, she suddenly stomped her foot in frustration, her face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance.
(End of Chapter)
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