Chapter 266: The Negotiation
Zhang Ruochen walked out of the Silver-Robed Elder Pavilion, stood on the stone steps, raised his head to gaze at the vast sky, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "The Four Directions Commandery Prince is completely finished. The pattern (geju) of the nine commanderies west of the mountain range is probably about to undergo earth-shattering changes."
The sky was dim, and the night curtain was like black silk, covering the Heavenly Demon Martial City, making this city built among the lofty mountains and ridges appear especially mysterious.
Crossing the bluestone street, Zhang Ruochen arrived outside Huang Yanchen's cultivation residence.
Before he could knock, the main gate (damen) had already opened.
"Greetings, Young Master. The Commandery Princess has been waiting for you for some time." A sixteen or seventeen-year-old maid, quite beautiful in appearance, carrying a colorful lantern, opened the door and welcomed Zhang Ruochen inside.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the maid and discovered that she actually possessed the cultivation of the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection. At her age, reaching the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection was already quite remarkable, and she would surely become a student of the Martial Market Academy in the future.
The maid led Zhang Ruochen to the living room, poured him a full cup of hot tea, then gracefully withdrew and closed the door.
Huang Yanchen had long been waiting in the living room. She had been cultivating, but the moment Zhang Ruochen stepped into the living room, she stopped her practice, opened her eyes, and said coldly, "Please, have a seat."
Zhang Ruochen was not polite. He found a chair and sat down opposite Huang Yanchen. After carefully observing her for a moment, he said, "Senior Sister, your cultivation speed is truly impressive. You should have already reached the Earth Extreme Realm Middle Position, right?"
"How can my cultivation speed compare to yours? You are a great expert, capable of slaying even Heaven Extreme Realm powerhouses. Compared to you, I am far behind!" Huang Yanchen rolled her eyes, showing no kindness toward Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Senior Sister, there's no need to be modest in front of me. Back in the Western Courtyard, the Vice Dean told me that you have hidden strength. The Vice Dean wouldn't lie to me, would she?"
Huang Yanchen gritted her teeth, annoyed. "That gossipy old woman."
The corner of Huang Yanchen's mouth curled up, revealing a beautiful smile like a blooming lily. "You impersonated the secret disciple of Pavilion Master Lei. Didn't you anger him?"
Zhang Ruochen rarely saw Huang Yanchen smile. At this moment, her smile was exceptionally beautiful, like melting ice, giving a pleasing sensation.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen had a strange feeling, sensing that Huang Yanchen was somewhat off today, too abnormal (fanchang).
"Pavilion Master Lei was indeed very angry, but this matter has already been resolved. Senior Sister, there's no need to worry about me," Zhang Ruochen said.
On the way back, Huang Yanchen had held back some words because Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi were present. Inviting Zhang Ruochen for a private talk tonight definitely had her purpose.
Zhang Ruochen got straight to the point. "Senior Sister, what exactly is the important matter that requires us to discuss it alone?"
Huang Yanchen nodded, put away her smile, and said, "I already know roughly about the Four Directions Commandery and the Venom Spider Merchant Guild. Once Pavilion Master Lei sends the evidence to the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Manor, the Four Directions Commandery will surely face sanctions. At that time, the surrounding commanderies can attack the Four Directions Commandery, seizing its territory, population, wealth, and resources."
Zhang Ruochen seemed to understand why Huang Yanchen had invited him over, but he still pretended not to know. "Senior Sister, what do you mean?"
"My meaning is simple. I just want to know if your Cloud Wu Commandery wants to annex the Four Directions Commandery and become a medium-sized commandery?"
Huang Yanchen stared intently into Zhang Ruochen's eyes, as if trying to see through his true thoughts.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment. "Although the royal clan of Cloud Wu Commandery has some Martial Dao Myth-level experts, none have reached the Heaven Extreme Realm Great Perfection. According to the regulations of the First Central Empire, a clan must have a Heaven Extreme Realm Great Perfection powerhouse to become the royal clan of a medium-sized commandery and help the First Central Empire govern that region."
Huang Yanchen said, "With your talent, within ten years, you will surely reach the Heaven Extreme Realm Great Perfection. At that time, you can naturally become the clan's pillar of strength for Cloud Wu Commandery. Who would dare to talk nonsense?"
"Zhang Ruochen, this is an excellent opportunity. If Cloud Wu Commandery wants to become a medium-sized commandery, our Thousand Water Commandery will give full support."
"Moreover, Pavilion Master Lei greatly admires you. With just one command from him, the Martial Market Bank will fully support Cloud Wu Commandery. The Martial Market Bank is spread throughout the entire Four Directions Commandery. With their support, it can be said that more than half of the Four Directions Commandery has already fallen into Cloud Wu Commandery's hands."
"By annexing the Four Directions Commandery, Cloud Wu Commandery's national strength will become the foremost among the nine commanderies west of the mountain range. With the support of Pavilion Master Lei and Thousand Water Commandery, Cloud Wu Commandery unifying the nine commanderies west of the mountain range is only a matter of time. In the future, Cloud Wu Commandery could even unify the entire Heavenly Demon Ridge and develop into a high-ranking commandery."
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "I never realized that Senior Sister had such grand ambitions. Your ambition is not small, and I, your junior brother, admire it."
Huang Yanchen shot Zhang Ruochen a glare, straightened her chest, revealing her slender, snow-white neck. "Who told us that we are now a family? If I don't plan for you, who will? If you can become the king of a high-ranking commandery in the future, I will be the queen."
"Stop! Stop!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Senior Sister, when we got engaged, didn't we agree it was just a fake engagement?"
"Can an engagement be fake? Zhang Ruochen, don't think I have to marry you. There are plenty of people pursuing me. It's just that you have shown increasingly impressive Martial Dao talent. If you break off the engagement, everyone will think it's because your standards have risen and you no longer see me as worthy. Wouldn't I become that abandoned woman? What kind of eyes would others look at me with, and what kind of eyes would they look at you with?"
"Wouldn't the martial artists in the Martial Dao world all see you as a heartless and unfaithful man?"
"So, this marriage of ours probably can't be called off. Marrying you is a bit of a grievance (weiqu), but for the sake of our reputations, I have no choice but to accept it!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Actually, we don't need to care about others' opinions. The most important thing is to follow our own hearts. If Senior Sister really feels aggrieved (weiqu), let me be the bad guy. Two years from now, I will personally go to Thousand Water Commandery to break off the engagement."
"Being dumped by you? Then how will I marry anyone in the future?" Huang Yanchen bit her lip, extremely annoyed, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was too dense. She had already made her meaning so clear, why couldn't he understand?
His Martial Dao talent was so high, why was his emotional intelligence so low?
Couldn't he see her true feelings?
Huang Yanchen clenched her ten jade-like fingers, biting her lip, silently vowing that if Zhang Ruochen dared to mention breaking off the engagement again, she would fight him to the death.