Big Deal (3)
He wanted the attention, but he didn't expect that his opponent wouldn't even pay him any attention. He looked pissed off, but before he could say anything, his instructor shot him a look and he knew better and swallowed his words.
"So you are the Cheng's maiden - Cheng Xiao Xiao!" said Mu Qingtong as he gave her a long, meaningful look.
"You knew who I am, why ask?" said Cheng Xiao Xiao coldly, "So what's with coming here with all these people?"
"Aren't you an interesting one?" laughed Mu Qingtong as he approached her slowly while staring at her intensely. "You know what this is about, why do you ask?"
"Nonsense!" shouted Cheng Xiao Xiao blatantly, "You want to show off, go somewhere else. We don't like strangers here!"
"Miss Cheng, the old saying had it that anyone that come to your house is a guest..."
Cheng Xiao Xiao cut him off right away, "We don't welcome unfriendly guests, please leave!"
"You..." Now Mu Qingtong was mad. Nobody had ever talked to him like that before, especially in front of his students. But he managed to keep his temper under control, with a mild tone, he said, "Miss Cheng. We are here to ask for a favor, you don't need to be so standoffish. Is that how you were raised?"
"You mean I should be raised to offer you fine wine and fine dining right about now?" said Cheng Xiao Xiao sarcastically, "Surely you knew about my confrontable with Ning Xunzong previously."
"Ugh, yes!" Mu Qingtong had no idea why she brought that up, but had no intention to cover that up.
Looking even more sarcastic, Cheng Xiao Xiao said, "Well, if that's the case, why should we welcome you? You are right. I knew why you guys are here. You want us to submissively hand over our mythical animals and the mythical well, and my family to become your servants. Should we kneel down now and greet our masters?"
"What?" A hint of annoyance flashed through Mu Qingtong's face. Sternly he turned and looked at Ning Xunzong. Ning Xunzong was too scared to meet his gaze.
Mu Qingtong wasn't an idiot. The few sentences from Cheng Xiao Xiao and judging by the reaction from Ning Xunzong, he could put two and two together and now the reaction from the Cheng's made sense. Apparently, the Ning's went too overboard previously, leading to the consequences today.
"Greetings, Miss Cheng, I am Long Yuze of the Long's of Emperor City!" Suddenly a middle-age man wearing a brocade robe appeared out of nowhere and greeted Cheng Xiao Xiao with cupped hands.
"Greetings, Mr. Long!" Cheng Xiao Xiao bowed slightly. Of course she knew all these people came with the same purpose in mind, but since they were still amicable, she had no reason to be rude to him.
Right then, another middle-age man stood out and greeted her with cupped hands, "Miss Cheng, I am Xue Xingchen of the Xue's of Emperor City!"
"Miss Cheng, I am Su Yiyang of the Su's of City of Huang!" said another middle-age man.
The presence of these three surprised everyone from School of Divine Condor. These were all very powerful families. One could hear the crowd started discussing among themselves.
Mu Qingtong looked extremely displeased that others had the upper hand. He was even more mad that idiot Ning Xunzong and his two idiot friends. They discovered the mythical beasts and mythical spring, not only were they not able to secure a deal, but they had offended the Cheng's, putting them in an awkward position.
"Greetings, Mr. Xue, Mr. Su!" Cheng Xiao Xiao bowed slightly again. She had never heard of them before in the past, nor did she care particularly.
"Hoho, Miss Cheng. Sorry to come unannounced!" Her standoffish manner did not deter Xue Xingchen.
"Yes, Miss Cheng, we apologize in advance for disturbing your home!" said Su Yiyang with a smile.
Long Yuze looked at her, then nonchalantly he said, "Miss Cheng, pardon our intrusion. I have brought a gift that I hope you'd accept!"
As he was saying that, two servant carrying the present walked in front of her.
Xue Xingchen followed suit, "I have also brought something with me as well. I hope you'd enjoy my gift!" The four servants of the Xue's appeared with the gifts.
"So have I. I sincerely hope you wouldn't turn it down."
Six more servants appeared after Su Yiyang finished saying that and a total of twelve servants with gifts waited for Cheng Xiao Xiao to accept them.
As the saying goes, you get more bees with honey. The newcomers were polite so there were no reasons for Cheng Xiao Xiao to be rude and throw them out. He nodded slightly and said to them, "Anyone passing by are guests. No matter what your purpose, c'mon in and we can chat!"
"Thank you!"
"Thank you!"
"Thank you!"
The three of them replied at the same time. Cheng Xiao Xiao didn't say more before taking them back to the courtyard.
The representative from the School of Divine Condor were completely ignored. Ning Xunzong shouted angrily, "Cheng Xiao Xiao is such an infuriating nasty girl!"
"Shut up!" The foul-mood Mu Qingtong wanted to give him a swift kick. He was too angry at him.
Looking at all the others being welcomed inside, one of the student of Divine Condor walked up to Mu Qingtong and asked softly, "Instructor Mu, what do we do now?"
"You all wait right here!" said Mu Qingtong to his dozen of students, then to the one next to him, "Zhengyang, you come with me!"
"Yes, instructor Mu!" Xu Zhengyang tried not to let his excitement shown and followed.
Cheng Xiao Xiao took the guests into the courtyard; Mrs. Cheng and the two kids had already retired inside the house. The guests could tell there were people inside, but they didn't pay it too much attention.
The twelve servants put all the gifts on top of the square table and left immediately. Cheng Xiao Xiao hosted the three remaining guests and offered them seats. Right after they were seated, Mu Qingtong entered with his student. With cupped hands he greeted Cheng Xiao Xiao, "Miss Cheng, we were a bit imprudent earlier, we hope you'd forgive us!"
"...." Cheng Xiao Xiao, who was preparing tea, casted him a glance but didn't respond. She merely walked inside the kitchen to bring the hot water out for tea.
Looking at her backside, Mu Qingtong's look was full of malice. When Cheng Xiao Xiao returned from the kitchen, none of the four were talking, and they all had a different look on them.
Quickly, Cheng Xiao Xiao finished preparing tea. She handed one out to each person and said nonchalantly, "Mythical tea made with mythical water. They are somewhat decent, I hope none of them will go to waste!"
"We will certainly enjoy the good tea!"
"I can't wait!"
"What an honor to be able to try the tea made with water from the mythical spring!"