Expansion of The House; A Deal Was Made
The old patriarch was still mad even after he got spittle all over him, he continued angrily, “We have been so poor that we couldn’t feed or cloth ourselves. We can’t afford medicines when we are sick; our youths can’t afford to get married. And you want to talk about our ancestor’s accomplishment? Are you kidding me?!”
After hearing that, Liu Erping finally quiet down. He knew that the old patriarch was smarter than everyone else. What he said made sense, so he didn’t say any more.
Cheng Biyuan didn’t know what went through the old patriarch’s mind. And even if he did, he would have just laughed it off. After all, these were not things that could be changed over night.
“Xiao Xiao, do you think it will be dangerous letting the villager go out tomorrow?”
Cheng Biyuan felt that his family had attracted all the unwanted attention for all walks of life. If that led to any villagers being harmed, he’d feel very bad about it.
Walking next to him, Cheng Xiao Xiao understood her father’s thoughts. Softly she said, “Dad, but that can’t be the reason we forbid them to leave the village for the rest of their lives. And even if they stay in the village for the rest of their lives, it still doesn’t guarantee that they will be safe forever. Nobody can predict accidents!”
“You’ve already said all you could. They more or less understand the situation here. If they really got themselves in any sort of trouble, that’s on them, not us!”
“That being said, we can’t just stand by either. Otherwise, how can we live here carefree?” Cheng Biyuan had on a very austere look.
Cheng Xiao Xiao thought about it some and suggested, “Dad, why don’t we send the mystical beasts to guard the path between our village to the town? If anyone try to harm the villagers, they can protect them secretly. If something happens inside the town, there’s not much we could do!”
“Perhaps. Have fairy Yuteng arrangement some protection on the path. We will do our best to protect the villager!”
“I understand, dad!”
“We are employing a lot of people right now. Once we’ve cultivated all the barren land, you can grow whatever you want. And let’s find another spot and we will dig out a pond. The mystical fish taste fresh and smooth and everybody loves it!”
“Dad, you can supervise them to have that done!”
“Xiao Xiao you give this some more thoughts. What else do we need? You are the only one who knows what your ideal paradise looks like!”
“Hehe, dad. You have been around longer than me. You can decide!”
The two of them walked and chatted at the same time as they headed toward home.
Somebody has been to Willow Village!
This new spread like wild fire in the town of Daling. Even the skeptics couldn’t sit tight anymore after seeing the mystical animals in carriages showed up in town!
Of course, even more people inquired this mysterious group how they were able to get inside of Willow.
Everybody knew that Willow has been barricaded with mystical beasts guarding all roads leading into the village, making it almost impossible to enter. Now not only was someone able to get inside, they had further stroke a deal with the Cheng’s. Naturally everybody who had been waiting around the time were getting anxious.
Zhu Bo ignored inquires from all parties. With his status, he didn’t even need to answer to School of Divine Condor, let along any other powers.
Everybody surrounded Lai Yue Inn for half a day asking around to no avail. However, it didn’t matter that they didn’t get any further information; what’s important was that this group of people had definitely gotten inside Willow!
The Ning’s residence!
“Ning lao di, you sure this is true?” Old Lin was slightly taken aback.
A very serious-looking old man Ning nodded, “Most definitely, I’ve seen the Cheng’s mystical animals with my own eyes!”
“It looks like someone had beat us to it and stroke a deal with the Cheng’s!” Old man Lin’s heart sank.
“These people acted fast!” frowned old man Quan, and then he asked again, “Brother Ning, were your men find out more details? Who were these people that were able to strike a deal with the Cheng’s?”
“They are with Lai Yue Inn in this town. If I am guessing correctly, the one behind them are the Green Mountain Manor!” said old man Ning slowly.
Old man Du exclaimed uncontrollably, “What? Green Mountain Manor?!”
It wasn’t just him, the other two old men also had an incredulous look on their faces. They have heard of Green Mountain Manor. They knew very well what those three words meant.
The richest manor in the empire. Even the royalties dared not touch them. Rumor also had it that they have connections with One Hall, one of the four top powers.
They wouldn’t even had expected it in their dreams that the Cheng’s had teamed up with Green Mountain Manor.
Their window had closed!
The same thought crossed their mind at the same time. In looking back, they were the first ones who discovered the mystical animals. And yet in the end, they had lost out on the opportunities.
Of course, none of these were important. The more important issue at hand was how were they going to report back to their sect. What were they going to say about their mission to acquire the mystical well and mystical animals?
If they had failed in this mission, how were they able to return to their sect, and what would people say about them in the future?
What could they do to possibly get a share out of what Green Mountain Manor has?
After a long pause, old man Lin slowly started talking, “I have decided to take a trip to Willow tomorrow. Whatever means I have to use, I must set up a meeting with the Cheng’s. Else we will for certain be left with nothing at the end!”
“You are right. Even those from Green Mountain Manor had taken actions. If we just keep on waiting, this will turn into a fruitless trip!” Old man Quan nodded and seconded old man Lin’s opinion.
Old man Du looked at the other two men and said, “Yes, we will take a trip together tomorrow. As long as we are sincere, I trust that Cheng Biyuan will meet with us. As I recall I had met him once long time ago!”
“Me too! I hope this kid still remembers us!” Old man Lin smiled. A gentle smile as though he was looking approvingly at someone of a younger generation.
Their conversation there was quickly leaked by a slave.
The western quarter of the Ning’s resident!
Sitting in the reception pavilion, Ning Xunzong listened to the recount of the slave. He squinted his eyes, you could still see the coldness exuding from them. After the slave was finished, he waved for him to go away.
The slave left quickly. Only him and his two classmates were left in the pavilion. Ning Xunzong said angrily, “Those three geezers tried to get ahead of us. Damn them!”
“They belong to the nine top sects. We must proceed with caution. Shi di Ning, it looks like your grandfather has some friends in high places. How come you didn’t go and join the nine top sects instead?”
Not only did shi xiong Zhou not get angry, he started asking unrelated question.
Ning Xunzong frowned and said, “I’m not sure either. Grandpa didn’t ask me to go join any of the nine top sects. Shi xiong Zhou, shi xiong Gu, we really should report this to instructor Mu sooner rather than later!”
“Report this to instructor Mu?” The corner of shi xiong Gu’s mouth twitched a couple of times and he shook his head wordlessly.
Seeing that, Ning Xunzong was baffled and asked, “Shi xiong Gu, what do you mean by that? We shouldn’t report that to instructor Mu?”
“I don’t see the need to!” replied shi xiong Zhou. He casted Ning Xunzong a strange glace, “Shi di Ning, you know as well as I do that instructor Mu is thinking very poorly of us right now. He probably wants to strangle us all. I am not going to talk to him!”