txolops Chapter 89 Fellow Daoist Han's Heart Flutters for My Daughter
Chapter 89 Fellow Daoist Han's Heart Flutters for My Daughter
"Zhou Yuan of the Miaoyin Sect, accompanied by her daughter Ziling, pays respects to Senior Hongfu!"
Zhou Yuan led Zi Ling forward to pay her respects, her waist bowing just right, showing both respect and the dignity of a sect.
"We are both Core Formation cultivators, so we can address each other as equals," Hong Fu said, gesturing for them to sit. Her gaze swept over them with a hint of scrutiny and inquiry before she cut to the chase: "Sect Leader Zhou, has your personal visit today concerned the medicinal herb transaction?"
Zhou Yuan nodded slightly, a perfectly measured look of difficulty on her face.
Her fingers unconsciously rubbed her cuffs as she slowly said, "This is also one of the purposes of my trip. Recently, the Star Palace has been putting pressure on us, not only wanting to increase the share of medicinal herb transactions by 20%, but also wanting to change the number of transactions to twice a year. I can't make that decision, so I wanted to come and ask Fellow Daoist Han for his opinion."
Having said that, Zhou Yuan stopped talking and simply looked up at Hong Fu, trying to catch a trace of emotion on the face of this female cultivator from Huangfeng Valley.
Although Hong Fu usually disliked managing trivial matters, she instantly understood the other party's hidden meaning—Xing Gong was not there to discuss things, but clearly to test Han Xiaoliu's bottom line and, incidentally, to find out about their financial situation.
She secretly considered: having just arrived in Tianxing City, her foundation was not yet stable, so it was indeed not advisable to antagonize the Star Palace. However, she also could not show weakness to them; it would be best to avoid confrontation for the time being and continue to gradually build relationships as before.
Thinking of this, Hong Fu picked up her teacup, took a sip, and calmly declined, saying, "Xiao Liu has always handled all the transactions; I never interfere. Since you set the rules, let's follow the old rules."
The implication was crystal clear: If you want to negotiate, go find Han Xiaoliu, not me.
Although she was rebuffed, Zhou Yuan's expression remained unchanged, as if she had already expected this outcome.
Seeing the somewhat tense atmosphere, Zi Ling, who was standing next to her, obediently poured some tea for her mother and sighed softly.
"Does Fellow Daoist Hong Fu know the true state of my Miaoyin Sect today?" Zhou Yuan suddenly changed her form of address, her tone filled with sorrow.
Since arriving in Tianxing City, Hong Fu has led everyone into seclusion for intensive cultivation. Apart from learning the local language, she only has a superficial understanding of the situation in the Chaotic Star Sea.
Seeing this, Yu Niangzi quickly stepped forward, leaned close to Hong Fu's ear, and whispered to her, explaining in detail the recent changes in Miaoyin Sect and the various unfavorable rumors circulating in the streets.
Her Daoist partner died, leaving her a widow and orphans, and now she's being bullied by a behemoth like the Star Palace...
Upon hearing this, Hong Fu felt a surge of sympathy and a rush of justice, and her gaze towards Zhou Yuan softened considerably: "I see. May I ask what Fellow Daoist Zhou needs me to do today?"
"I came here this time hoping to invite Fellow Daoist Han Xiaoliu to join my Miaoyin Sect as a guest elder. But he is away and has not returned, so I can only return empty-handed." Zhou Yuan gave a bitter smile, her eyes full of helplessness. "If there are no other Core Formation cultivators to oversee things in the future, I don't know how long this Miaoyin Sect can hold on."
"If you just want to find a master to keep watch and deter villains, that's not difficult." Hong Fu puffed out her chest, looking like a chivalrous person.
A glint of light flashed in Zhou Yuan's eyes as she seized the opportunity. She immediately pressed her advantage, saying, "If you can persuade Fellow Daoist Han to become a guest elder of my Miaoyin Sect, I am willing to give him one-tenth of the sect's annual spirit stone revenue as an offering!"
"How much exactly is the 10% profit you mentioned?" Hong Fu had never liked business and knew nothing about buying and selling, but that did not stop her from being curious about the amount of spirit stones.
Zhou Yuan gestured with her fingers, her tone calm yet firm: "The Miaoyin Sect's annual revenue is usually between 300 and 500 million spirit stones, with a net profit of around 100 million each year. If we add the profit from Fellow Daoist Han's medicinal herbs, the total profit should be around 200 million."
"Cough cough cough—!"
Hong Fu choked on the tea she had just taken a sip, coughing until her face turned bright red. Her eyes widened as if she had heard some astronomical figure.
2 million? Then 10% is 200,000?!
Hongfu's heart began to pound violently.
She had diligently cultivated in Huangfeng Valley for many years, receiving only a few thousand spirit stones as her annual salary. Yet, the Miaoyin Sect could casually hire a guest elder and give him 20 spirit stones a year?!
The Chaotic Star Sea is indeed a place of great feng shui!
No wonder that kid Xiao Liu let Xuan'er open shops all over Tiannan, the people here... are really rich and stupid!
The composure and calmness I had just displayed vanished in an instant.
Hong Fu took a deep breath, put down her teacup, and her expression became extremely solemn and serious:
"Let me reintroduce myself. I am Hong Fu, a late-stage Core Formation cultivator. From today onwards, I will be a guest elder of your Miaoyin Sect!"
Seeing Hong Fu's earnest expression, which seemed to regard money as dirt yet remained unusually resolute, Zhou Yuan couldn't help but click her tongue and, suppressing a laugh, asked, "Then... what about Fellow Daoist Han?"
"Ignore him, he's not important," Hong Fu said decisively, waving her hand.
What a joke! Spirit stones are the most important thing! Hong Fu will never be polite about getting spirit stones for free!
"In that case, I will personally deliver the annual offerings to my sister from now on!" Zhou Yuan stood up and solemnly bowed to Hong Fu.
The gloom that had been hanging over her face vanished, replaced by a radiant smile.
With this late-stage Core Formation cultivator as their backer, the elders of the Star Palace would have to think twice before trying to nibble away at the Wonderful Sound Sect!
Zhou Yuan had no idea that the guest she had recruited was not just a Core Formation cultivator, but an entire Core Formation group!
With a huge weight lifted from her shoulders, Zhou Yuan's mood instantly brightened. Her previously tense nerves relaxed, and the shrewd and charming sect leader of the Miaoyin Sect returned to her former self.
She raised her glass and toasted Hong Fu, chatting and laughing as they talked about all sorts of trivial matters in Tianxing City, even revealing many little-known secrets of the demonic path.
After several rounds of drinks, the two became increasingly familiar with each other. Hong Fu also gained a clear understanding of the distribution of various forces in the Chaotic Star Sea and the number of Nascent Soul cultivators in each force from Zhou Yuan.
Through careful observation, Zhou Yuan also discovered that although this fellow Daoist Hong Fu acted somewhat eccentrically, she was a pure and upright cultivator at heart, and could even be described as the kind of person who had her own "light of righteousness" to uphold, and was by no means a demonic person who cultivated demonic arts.
Although she still had doubts and couldn't understand how such a righteous female cultivator could teach a lecherous disciple like Han Xiaoliu, it didn't prevent her from appreciating Hong Fu herself.
This put her mind at ease, making her feel that entrusting her daughter to Han Xiaoliu, with such a mentor backing her up, wasn't such a bad thing after all.
Looking at Hong Fu across from her, Zhou Yuan secretly pondered: As Han Xiaoliu's master, if she could strike while the iron was hot and finalize the marriage agreement for the two children with her, then the two sides would truly be a family in the future!
Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan put down her wine glass and said mysteriously, "Sister Hongfu, there is something else I want to discuss with you and would like to hear your opinion."
"Please speak, little sister. As long as it's not something extremely difficult, I'll grant your request!" Hong Fu was in high spirits and waved her hand generously.
"This is it, this is my daughter, Wang Ning. After her father died, she vowed revenge, which is why she changed her name to Zi Ling." Zhou Yuan affectionately patted Zi Ling's head, a relieved smile on her face. "This girl has been clever since she was little, exceptionally talented, and has an excellent character! What do you think, sister?"
Upon hearing this, Hong Fu carefully examined Zi Ling. She noticed the girl possessed an extraordinary air, a composed demeanor, and bright, intelligent eyes that sparkled with life. Hong Fu couldn't help but nod in approval: "Indeed, quite remarkable; a bright and insightful young talent!"
Zhou Yuan was overjoyed and pressed her advantage, saying, "Since you're satisfied, sister, why don't we arrange a marriage between Fellow Daoist Han and my daughter today, so they can become Daoist partners in the future? What do you say?"
The air seemed to freeze the moment Zhou Yuan said this.
Long Kui and Lu Xueqi, who were standing behind the two, were so shocked that they were frozen in place, their eyes almost popping out of their sockets as they stared at Zhou Yuan in astonishment!
Saying he wants to steal his son-in-law in front of the young master's mother-in-law? Is this guy playing dirty tricks?!
Hong Fu also looked at Zhou Yuan with a surprised expression, her expression becoming very hesitant and embarrassed.
Zhou Yuan mistakenly thought the other person was curious about the reason, and quickly explained, "It's because Fellow Daoist Han personally expressed his affection for my daughter, that's why I took the liberty of asking!"
My beloved little girl?!
Long Kui and Lu Xueqi exchanged a glance, their minds screaming: Is this woman here to curry favor? No, she's definitely here to complain!
Seeing that Long Kui's face was already red with anger and she was about to start cursing with her hands on her hips, Lu Xueqi quickly covered her mouth and blocked the wild words that were about to come out.
Lu Xueqi could only glare furiously at the innocent-looking little girl in front of her, making Zi Ling break out in a cold sweat.