bookbashuk Chapter 706 - 141: Such a Commotion? (First Update)
Chapter 706 - 141: Such a Commotion? (First Update)
During the three days at the Han Family, aside from the initial tumultuous day, the remaining two days were particularly leisurely.
Mu Qingge stayed in the small courtyard arranged by Han Caicai, focused on cultivation, continuing to accumulate the spiritual power needed for a breakthrough. Inside and out, Mo Yang guarded with the Dragon Tooth Guards.
"Little Lord, some things have happened at the Han Family in the past two days." On the third day, after Mu Qingge finished cultivating, Mo Yang appeared before her and said.
"What happened?" Mu Qingge casually brushed the wrinkles on her robe and asked.
Mo Yang calmly replied, "In the past two days, the eldest son of the Han Family seems to have been seriously injured, and that Han Yiren seems to have been stimulated by something, suddenly losing memory and becoming insane."
Mu Qingge’s eyes narrowed slightly; she hadn’t told Mo Yang about what happened the previous night.
But hearing it today, Han Huohuo and Han Yiren’s affairs had already been exposed.
Mu Qingge restrained the flickering light in her eyes and asked, "What is being said within the Han Family?"
Mo Yang slowly shook his head, "There is little private discussion within the Han Family about this matter. It appears someone is secretly controlling the spread of information, though it’s heard that the Han Family has invited many pharmacists and pill masters to treat the two, yet without effect."
Mu Qingge imperceptibly nodded and said to him, "The affairs of the Han Family are unrelated to us. Inform others not to get involved. Pack up; it’s time to leave tomorrow."
"Yes, Little Lord." Mo Yang responded and bowed before retreating.
Not long after he left, Mu Qingge saw Han Caicai approaching with a jar of wine. Wearing a robe with flourishing patterns that fluttered in the wind, paired with his enchanting face, he truly exemplified the word ’bewitching.’
Mu Qingge watched as he approached and sat before her, opened the seal on the wine jar, and poured a cup for each from the table.
After setting the jar down, Han Caicai raised his cup and said to Mu Qingge, "Leaving tomorrow?"
Mu Qingge also raised her cup and nodded, "It’s about time."
Han Caicai smiled, his slanted eyes revealing no true emotion, "Then let me wish you a swift journey and a fruitful return in advance."
Mu Qingge picked up her cup and clinked it with his, smiling, "What do you mean by a fruitful return?"
Han Caicai drank from his cup before replying with a sly smile, "Tianping City is a floating guest city. There are no families there, but floating guest clans directly manage it. Moreover, Tianping City is close to the Le Shui Mountain Range, which serves as a barrier between the Linchuan Realm and the Middle Ancient Realm, and it contains many spirit stone mines. Particularly, a branch of the Le Shui Mountain Range outside Tianping City, Yu Yan Mountain, is said to have an intermediate spirit stone mine belonging to floating guest clans. If you say you’re just going to Tianping City for leisure, I wouldn’t believe it."
After speaking, he looked at Mu Qingge, who had a smile on her face, and added, "Considering the timing, it’s about when the heavenly-level floating guest team is dividing the interests of the mines."
"You are well-informed." Mu Qingge laughed.
Han Caicai raised an eyebrow, his slanted eyes gleaming brightly, "Don’t forget what my Han Family’s Wanxiang Building does."
"Knowing everything, speaking truthfully, saying exhaustively, as long as you’re paid." Mu Qingge said, reciting Wanxiang Building’s motto with a smile.
Han Caicai showed a smile and filled their cups again.
With the strong liquor downed, some already-settled matters dissipated into the air.
"I was going to tell you some news about Xuan Yue, Bailian, and Giant Spirit, but then I realized you’re not the same Mu Qingge who just arrived in the Middle Ancient Realm. You probably already know what you want to know, so I won’t do this losing business deal." Han Caicai laughed.
Mu Qingge suddenly turned her gaze and laughed, "I do hope to collaborate with Wanxiang Building’s intelligence network."
This statement caused Han Caicai’s hand to pause, his slanted eyes revealing a calculating gleam, "That depends on what price you can offer. You know, Wanxiang Building’s information isn’t cheap."
Mu Qingge leaned back against the chair, with a lazy expression. She looked at Han Caicai and said, "Since it’s about collaboration, naturally it should be a win-win partnership."
"Let’s hear it." Han Caicai’s face remained unchanged, just carrying a fox-like smile.
Mu Qingge lightly tapped her fingers on the table, her eyes half-closed, and said to Han Caicai, "Although I have my intelligence network now, it was established too recently, and many areas are inaccessible. What I want is to share intelligence with Wanxiang Building."
"Quite ambitious, what will you exchange for it?" Han Caicai chuckled coldly.
Mu Qingge raised an eyebrow and smiled, "Intelligence? Your Han Family surely finds it unworthy. How about I trade elixirs and weapons instead?"
"How would this exchange work?" Han Caicai asked further.
Mu Qingge curled her lips, "I won’t let you lose out. Every year, I’ll provide the Han Family with a fixed amount of elixirs and weapons. All the Han Family needs to do is provide me with information when I need it for free, and for the daily gathering of information about me and Dragon Teeth, it must be immediately notified to me. Other information should be copied and sent to Luoxing City every month."
"This deal seems unprofitable for me." Han Caicai laughed sarcastically.
Mu Qingge, however, replied indifferently, "I won’t compete with you for the intelligence business, so even if you copy it for me, it’s harmless. But my elixirs and weapons are not easily obtainable by ordinary people."
"So, you’re saying I would actually benefit?" Han Caicai laughed.
Mu Qingge raised an eyebrow, "Of course!"
Han Caicai laughed with a meaning unclear, "Tell me what your fixed amounts are."
Mu Qingge leaned forward, looking into Han Caicai’s slanted eyes and said, "Every year, ten divine-level elixirs, a hundred treasure-level elixirs, and ten divine-level weapons."
Han Caicai was about to speak, but Mu Qingge interrupted, "Don’t rush to haggle, you’ve visited the first floor, you should know the value of these items."
Han Caicai pursed his lips tightly, his narrow eyes watched Mu Qingge for a long time without saying anything.
After a moment, he slowly said, "Double the Treasure Level Elixirs, and add two more Divine Level Weapons."
Mu Qingge sneered and shook her head, saying, "Don’t push your luck."
Han Caicai didn’t mind and said, "Prices are all negotiable."
"What you’re asking for is impossible," Mu Qingge directly rejected.
Han Caicai raised an eyebrow, smiling slyly. "Then it’s 180 Treasure Level Elixirs, and eleven Divine Level Weapons."
"130 Treasure Level Elixirs, and ten Divine Level Weapons unchanged," Mu Qingge countered.
Han Caicai slowly shook his head, "Add twenty more."
"Alright! Deal." Mu Qingge agreed readily.
Han Caicai curved his lips into a charming smile, saying to Mu Qingge, "Had I known you’d be so agreeable today, I should have set the price even higher."
"Then you only have yourself to blame," Mu Qingge replied playfully.
Han Caicai laughed wryly, "On the surface, it seems I won, but in reality, it’s you who won. Mu Qingge, when will I truly win against you?"
Mu Qingge nodded with a smile, "I’m always ready."
Han Caicai raised his wine cup and said to her, "Tomorrow I’m busy, so I won’t bother seeing you off. If you’re unfamiliar with the Northern Continent, I can send an attendant to guide you."
"Don’t worry about me. If I could come from Linchuan, how would the Northern Continent trouble me? You go attend to your business." Mu Qingge raised her wine cup as well.
After they finished the wine Han Caicai brought, he stood up and left, his back elegant and without any hesitation.
After he left, Mo Yang stepped in and said to Mu Qingge, "Little Lord was rather agreeable in this negotiation."
Mu Qingge raised an eyebrow and scolded jokingly, "You’ve grown stingier over the years accompanying me."
Mo Yang remained silent.
Mu Qingge stood up, hands behind her back, gazing at the scenery outside the courtyard. She slowly said, "To me, it’s already a gain that Han Caicai can let go of his obsession. Anyway, I’ve taken enough advantage of him; it doesn’t matter to suffer a small loss occasionally."
Her answer left Mo Yang unable to argue back. He merely looked at her silently, a softness in a corner of his heart unknown to others.
Outsiders only see Mu Qingge’s strength and brilliance, how would they know her subtlety within?
In her heart, what’s important, what can be discarded, she’s always been clear about it, never letting anything affect her.
...
The next day, Mu Qingge left Fengyun City with the Dragon Tooth Guards. As Han Caicai said, he didn’t appear, only sent an attendant to see her off, escorting Mu Qingge and her group out of Fengyun City before returning.
Mu Qingge and her companions continued their journey, heading towards Tianping City.
After more than twenty days, they were nearing Tianping City, and Mu Qingge felt the barrier to breakthrough again after nearly a month of accumulation.
This time, Mu Qingge didn’t break through outside, but entered the space, inside the Cultivation Tower.
The Spiritual Energy there was the most abundant, able to assist her during her breakthrough.
Inside the Cultivation Tower, Mu Qingge sat cross-legged, surrounded by ample Spiritual Power, increasing her confidence a bit. She took out three Elixir Bottles and poured out all the elixirs within them.
A total of nine Divine Level Elixirs, all used for breakthrough.
Mu Qingge gazed at the nine elixirs in her hand and muttered, "Breaking through in the Cultivation Tower this time, along with these nine elixirs, should be no problem."
After speaking, she took a deep breath and swallowed all nine elixirs.
Once all nine elixirs were ingested, her body was immediately filled with Spiritual Power, wildly crashing against the barrier of the Golden Realm.
Mu Qingge calmed her mind and entered into a cultivation state.
She controlled the rushing Spiritual Power within her, repeatedly attacking the barrier.
That barrier, under her relentless assault, began to show slight cracks.
Inside the Cultivation Tower, the originally calm Spiritual Power seemed to be drawn by Mu Qingge, forming vortices like a whirlwind, swiftly rotating around her and being absorbed.
Suddenly, all the Spiritual Power in the Cultivation Tower became restless, even the sky in the space showed a hint of disturbance.
The Qiong and Bai Xi who were cultivating in the space were simultaneously alarmed, rushing to the outside of the Cultivation Tower, seeing a huge vortex at its peak, faintly manifesting like a funnel...