Translator: CinderTL
"Ah..." Wang Yu sighed, explaining, "We're trying to get more. Initially, they only offered five drops of pool milk. It was only after constant pressure from the clan that they gradually increased it to ten drops. Even doubled, it's still far too little. With so many members in the Wang Family, it's barely enough to go around."
Wang Ying nodded in deep agreement. He and his brother had toiled tirelessly for the clan for years, yet neither had ever tasted pool milk.
Xu Sanyan understood. So this was how they negotiated—by squeezing every last drop out of others.
"And recently, Suspended Bitter Mountain has been acting up again," Wang Yu added. "The clan head wants to give them a warning, to make them rein in their scheming."
Wang Ying interjected meaningfully, "A small mineral vein was discovered near the border between Suspended Bitter Mountain and the Yang Family of Ruler Mountain. The two sides are currently locked in a stalemate."
"A mineral vein?" Xu Sanyan pondered briefly, catching Wang Ying's implication. They wanted him to stir up trouble. "Does the Wang Family not want it?" he asked curiously.
Wang Ying shook his head. "The Wang Family takes sixty percent, while the remaining forty percent goes to the family that mines it. The current dispute is over the mining rights."
"So that's how it is," Wang Yu sneered. "They're locked in a fierce struggle, fighting tooth and nail. Their brains are practically turning to mush. I heard the Yang Family's second son went missing recently—I bet Suspended Bitter Mountain had something to do with it."
Xu Sanyan asked, "If Suspended Bitter Mountain is so powerful, how can the Yang Family possibly compete? Shouldn't we intervene?"
"Why would we?" Wang Ying replied with a smile. "Let them fight. The deeper their hatred, the easier they are to control. Besides, Suspended Bitter Mountain wouldn't dare wipe out the Yang Family entirely—they'd only resort to covert killings to pressure them into withdrawing."
"Hmm..." Xu Sanyan nodded in understanding. The small mineral vein was like a bone the Wang Family had tossed out, inciting two wild dogs—Suspended Bitter Mountain and the Yang Family—to fight over it. The Wang Family maintained a delicate balance, allowing them to wound each other without either side being completely destroyed.
The conflict fueled mutual resentment while weakening both factions. The weaker they became, the easier they were for the Wang Family to control.
Tsk, how ruthless, Xu Sanyan thought, his lips twitching inwardly. Yet his face remained impassive as he asked, "So what do you two propose?"
Wang Ying and Wang Yu exchanged glances before bowing respectfully. "The First Madam instructed us to follow Brother Lin's lead in all matters. She also sent the young lady to assist us. We'll depart together tomorrow."
Xu Sanyan usually didn't concern himself with such matters, but as their nominal leader, he had to take charge. After all, they were his subordinates.
The First Madam...
Xu Sanyan's gaze shifted. The last drop of pool milk had come from her. Why was she so attentive to him?
Could she be trying to win me over?
Xu Sanyan had met the First Madam twice, both times in the clan head's study. She possessed an air of dignified grace, her face kind and benevolent, radiating both maternal warmth and regal authority—the very image of a clan matriarch.
Xu Sanyan's mind wandered.
If it were her... it wouldn't be so bad.
"Alright then," Xu Sanyan said. "Let's visit the Yang Family tomorrow."
"Understood. If Brother Ruolin has no further instructions, we'll take our leave," Wang Ying said, rising to his feet.
"Very well. I'll see you out."
After escorting them out, Xu Sanyan closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, silently pondering his next move.
The clan head likely intended to use the mineral vein as an opportunity to further suppress Suspended Bitter Mountain. To achieve this, Xu Sanyan would need to subtly favor the Yang Family, providing them with covert support until Suspended Bitter Mountain was forced to yield. Only then could they resume negotiations regarding the pool milk.
As for the mineral vein itself, it was merely a pretext.
Even without it, they could easily find other ways to harass Suspended Bitter Mountain. After all, when you're looking for trouble, it's never hard to find.
If all else fails, I'll just take a stroll up Suspended Bitter Mountain and ask everyone I see, "What are you staring at?"
At that moment, Xu Sanyan heard footsteps behind him. Without turning around, he knew it was Chunmei.
Chunmei stood silently behind him, not disturbing his thoughts. She simply placed her slender, jade-like hands on his shoulders and gently massaged him, helping him relax.
Xu Sanyan closed his eyes to rest. A gentle breeze swept through the stone pavilion, bringing a hint of coolness and scattering the stray strands of hair at his temples. Chunmei delicately smoothed his hair with her fingers, creating a surprisingly tender scene.
Just then, Wang Zixuan arrived. She froze in place, watching the scene from a distance, her lips tightening with jealousy.
Chunmei was the maid she had personally chosen. Who would have thought the little minx had such audacity? How dare she try to seduce her fiancé behind her back?
A mere collateral branch member—where did she get such nerve?
Xu Sanyan opened his eyes, glanced at Wang Zixuan, and beckoned her over. "Perfect timing."
Wang Zixuan shot Chunmei a venomous glare, then instantly plastered on a radiant smile as she hurried forward to nestle in Xu Sanyan's arms. She waved dismissively at Chunmei. "You may leave now."
"Yes," Chunmei murmured, her lips pressed into a thin line, unable to refuse.
Xu Sanyan spoke up. "Stay. Tonight, bring Xiazhu too. Let's have a lively evening together."
"Yes."
At dawn the next day, eight figures set out westward from Thousand Autumns City. The group consisted of seven men and one woman: Xu Sanyan, the Wang brothers Wang Ying and Wang Yu, and four other Wang Family disciples.
The woman was Wang Mingxin, the First Madam's daughter.
The Wang brothers kept their eyes downcast, noses pointed at their hearts, maintaining a silent, respectful distance behind Xu Sanyan and Wang Ying as they led the way. Wang Mingxin, however, clung to Xu Sanyan, chattering incessantly.
"Brother Lin, do you think this flower looks pretty in my hair?"
Xu Sanyan smiled and nodded. "Beautiful. It's definitely beautiful."
Having just emerged from the warm beds of Chunmei, Xiazhu, and Wang Zixuan, his mind was as pure as a sage's, utterly devoid of any carnal desires.
Wang Mingxin coyly offered him the wildflower. "Then, Brother Lin, could you put it in for me?"
Sigh...
Xu Sanyan sighed inwardly. He couldn't fathom the First Madam's intentions. Was she sending her daughter to seduce him? Had the Wang Clan Head approved of this?
Moreover, the First Madam seemed to underestimate him. While Wang Mingxin was undeniably beautiful, he was hardly a lecherous man.
Xu Sanyan reached out to take the flower. As their fingers brushed, Wang Mingxin deliberately grazed his hand.
Little tease... Xu Sanyan thought, inwardly scoffing, but he smiled as he tucked the flower into her hair. After studying her for a moment, he exclaimed admiringly, "Truly beautiful."
"Hehe~" Wang Mingxin giggled, covering her mouth with feigned shyness. In her heart, however, she felt nothing. She was merely following her mother's instructions, knowing little about the man before her except that he possessed extraordinary talent, having already reached the Soul Refining Realm at such a young age. She also knew he was her cousin's fiancé.
Her mother must have seen this as an opportunity for early investment.
The Soul Refining Realm cultivation level was indeed worth investing in. In this era where immortals had vanished and sages had retreated into seclusion, the Void Harmony Realm and Soul Refining Realm stood at the pinnacle of cultivation. Moreover, achieving Soul Refinement at such a young age carried even greater significance.
Wang Mingxin mused that marrying him wouldn't be a bad idea. As for the fact that he was Wang Zixuan's fiancé...
That didn't matter.
(End of the Chapter)
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