Fang Yuan rode atop his hump wolf, while beside him were Ge tribe leader and Ge Guang. Along with them were Man Duo and Shi Wu from Man tribe.
Man Duo approached Chang Shan Yin and spoke politely.
"Senior Chang Shan Yin, could you enlighten this junior with tales of when you fought Ha Tu Gu and his bandits?"
Fang Yuan looked at this weak youth called Man Duo, whose aptitude was crippled. Yet within Man Duo's eyes burned ambition, a desire for strength, and a trace of cunning.
Fang Yuan smiled and spoke in a majestic voice.
"Of course. Ha Tu Gu was my friend when I was young, but…"
Above the sky, the moon rose high as the group advanced for several hours atop hump wolves before arriving at a hill. At the peak of the hill, Man tribe leader had already been waiting for quite some time.
Man tribe leader descended from his wolf as he looked toward Fang Yuan, who also dismounted in turn.
"The moon tonight is bright and joyful, just like the moment we meet, hahaha… it must be radiating its brilliance to welcome the hero of our Northern Plains, Chang Shan Yin!"
Fang Yuan laughed as well.
"Brother Man Tu is too modest. How could I compare to someone like you, who commands men while I merely command wolves?.. Haha."
Man tribe leader froze for a moment before deeply praising Fang Yuan while placing his hand over his chest.
Behind them, Ge tribe leader laughed while concealing the tension in his tone as he said,
"Man Tu truly is an extraordinary man, a renowned hero throughout the region!"
Man Tu frowned briefly before laughing toward Ge tribe leader, pretending not to understand the hidden meaning behind his words. Fang Yuan did the same, easing the tense atmosphere.
Man Tu led the group toward Man tribe's camp and into the banquet, where Fang Yuan sat beside Ge tribe leader. However, Fang Yuan was placed at the seat to the right of Man tribe leader.
Young girls entered and danced to the melody of music while the fragrance of sweet wine and delicious food spread through the air. The atmosphere was extremely lively, and it did not seem as though there was any conflict between the two sides.
Fang Yuan raised a toast to Man tribe leader, but internally, he activated his methods.
"Brother Man, I offer you this toast. I hope you can grant me a favor and forget your conflict with Ge tribe!"
Man Tu's gaze became troubled, while inside his mind, Fang Yuan's will tampered with his thoughts and emotions.
"Brother Chang, I would not dare refuse your toast, but Hong Yan Valley is small, and my tribe has expanded greatly in recent years, our numbers becoming far too large… if we reconcile with Ge tribe, I fear they will not be sincere. Furthermore, they did not marry Yao Ge to my son after we prepared for the wedding, and instead hid her inside their camp."
Man Tu initially felt anger and rejection toward the idea, even refusing Fang Yuan while implying that Ge tribe lacked sincerity. Ge Guang's expression immediately turned ugly, but Ge tribe leader quickly spoke.
"Man Tu, it is not that I do not wish for your son to marry Ge Yao, but… my daughter has fallen for Lord Chang Shan Yin. I even wished to propose an engagement between them… As you know, what is the value of a friendship with heroes like Lord Chang Shan Yin compared to a mere woman?"
Fang Yuan almost wanted to laugh when he saw old Ge tribe leader trying to use him as a shield, but he did not mind. Fang Yuan continued manipulating the thoughts of everyone in the hall with ease while simultaneously drinking wine. He was even analyzing and deducing at the same time!
Man Tu and Man Duo were greatly shocked, to the point that their expressions paled slightly as they looked toward Chang Shan Yin, who was drinking wine cheerfully.
"Haha, I did not expect Brother Chang Shan Yin to still be interested in beautiful women even at this age. Such is the conduct befitting a true man of the Northern Plains!… If Brother Chang is interested in Ge Yao, how could I, Man Tu, oppose you over a mere woman?"
Man Tu laughed on the surface, but he still had not received confirmation whether Chang Shan Yin was truly interested, or whether Ge tribe leader was merely using him as a shield.
"What if he and Chang Shan Yin are plotting against me?.. They are both rank four Gu Masters, and Chang Shan Yin is even at peak rank four… No, Chang Shan Yin did not bring his wolf group." Man tribe leader shook his head in denial while looking toward Fang Yuan, who had yet to speak.
After finishing his cup, Fang Yuan slammed it onto the table as he stood up laughing.
"Brother Ge, you are truly generous. How could I, Chang Shan Yin, refuse your kindness?.. To be honest, Lady Ge Yao is beautiful and outstanding, and she left a deep impression on me during our journey through the poisonous grasslands. Look at this, this is my betrothal gift for Miss Ge Yao."
Fang Yuan sneered inwardly. He had almost completely seized control over the emotions and thoughts of everyone in the hall, planting his own ideas within them. Over time, his plan would proceed exactly as he desired.
Fang Yuan took out ten Gu worms along with several white trees that had dark trunks, countless branches and leaves, and emitted a chilling aura. Everyone in the hall gasped upon seeing the Gu worms and those sacred white trees.
"All of these are rank four Gu worms!"
"Ah, aren't these Snow Siberia Trees?.. Then these Gu worms must be the rare Snow Wash Gu?!"
"Snow Wash Gu only appears within Snow Siberia Trees, which grow exclusively in extremely poisonous regions. That is why this Gu worm is so rare and possesses extraordinary healing abilities. Who would have imagined that Lord Chang Shan Yin would present ten of them as a betrothal gift!"
Man Duo's expression turned hideous as rage surged from his heart. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to destroy the Gu worms in Fang Yuan's hands! This betrothal gift had completely ruined all of his plans!
Man Tu's lips twitched uncontrollably, and he could not help but glare at Ge tribe leader with eyes spitting flames of fury. Yet he still congratulated them regardless.
"Brother Chang Shan Yin, you are a hero of the Northern Plains, and naturally you can obtain as many women as you desire!.. Miss Ge Yao is the jewel of Ge tribe, and she will undoubtedly stand out among them."
Old Ge tribe leader nearly leapt up in ecstasy from this overwhelming victory! Not only had he humiliated Man tribe within their own camp, he had also drawn Chang Shan Yin onto Ge tribe's side and even managed to bind him to Ge tribe through marriage! This was a decisive triumph!
"Ge tribe will witness a new dawn with Chang Shan Yin, though I may not live to see it. But at the very least, I have secured the future of my daughter and Ge Guang!"
Ge tribe leader felt as though he could now die without regrets.
The banquet continued, but unlike the lively atmosphere from before, it had now become filled with tension. The only person who truly appeared happy was Fang Yuan. He drank wine, offered toasts to every person present, and even shared food with Man tribe's elders.
Those elders were extremely nervous because of Man Tu's fiery gaze, but how could they possibly refuse the Wolf King Chang Shan Yin?
And the second happiest person was Ge Guang!
"I'm going to become Chang Shan Yin's brother-in-law?!.. Lord Chang Shan Yin is a man among men, the hero of the Northern Plains. He is also a wellspring of knowledge and possesses wise and admirable conduct. I never imagined he would marry Ge Yao!.. This truly is Sister's fortune!"
The banquet eventually ended, and as the host, Man tribe leader, his sons, and the tribe elders had no choice but to personally see off Chang Shan Yin and Ge tribe leader. However, once they returned to the tent, their expressions immediately darkened.
The first to shout was Man Duo.
"Father, this Chang Shan Yin is far too arrogant! He slapped us across the face twice inside our own camp before leaving, and that old fox Ge is mocking us! I say we kill them!"
Slap!
Man Tu slapped his son Man Duo before roaring at him.
"Do you think I'm an idiot?! Killing a rank four Gu Master is difficult enough, but two of them is more than enough trouble! If not for Chang Shan Yin, everything would have gone smoothly. We would have killed Ge tribe leader before annexing their tribe, just as planned, but this Wolf King ruined everything!"
Man Duo held his cheek, which had already turned purple from the slap, and could not help but say,
"Father!.. This son believes this is our only chance. Chang Shan Yin cultivates enslavement path and is weak in direct combat, and he did not bring his wolf group with him… Ge tribe leader is also weaker than you. Let us gather the elders and kill them!"
Man Tu wanted to slap his son again, but suddenly stopped as inspiration flashed through his mind. He stood up and grabbed his son by the head before patting his shoulder.
"Well said, my son!.. This is indeed something I failed to notice before, but you have enlightened me!"
Inside Man Tu's mind, Fang Yuan's will smiled sinisterly as it planted even more thoughts.
"Yes, yes! Kill them, hahaha."