Giving Too Much

Ming Lunyu gave Ma Hongjun a look. Understanding, Ma Hongjun took out a tea set and brewed a pot of tea.

Ming Lunyu poured tea for everyone.

"Clan Head Yang, have some tea." Ming Lunyu gestured invitingly to Yang Wudi, then took a sip himself.

Yang Wudi nodded and took a sip as well. His eyes immediately lit up.

"Fine tea! Truly fine tea! Fresh and natural, rich and smooth, brimming with spiritual energy. This must be a rare tea leaf of the highest quality! If I am not mistaken, it was produced by a Ten Thousand Year Nine Yang Tea Tree."

"I had long heard that the Breaking Clan had considerable accomplishments in the art of alchemy. Seeing it today, the rumors were indeed true. You identified the tea's origin from a single sip." Ming Lunyu nodded in satisfaction.

"You flatter me, Young Master. But there is no need for all this beating around the bush. Please tell me the purpose of your visit. Surely you did not come to the Breaking Clan merely to have tea with this old man?"

"Good! Clan Head Yang truly is a straightforward man. I like dealing with straightforward people like you! Xiao Jun, clear the tea away!" Ming Lunyu waved his hand grandly.

Ma Hongjun made as if to collect the tea set.

"Ah, wait, Miss Ma, do not be hasty!" Yang Wudi hurriedly pressed down on Ma Hongjun's hand. "Young Master, I gave it some thought. Discussing serious matters requires the right atmosphere too. This tea provides quite a fitting atmosphere."

Ma Hongjun looked to Ming Lunyu for confirmation.

Ming Lunyu smiled faintly and waved his hand.

Ma Hongjun stepped back.

"Alright, Clan Head Yang, let us end the joke here. I will be direct. I hope you will serve me. Better still, I hope you can bring the entire Breaking Clan to join me."

"..." Yang Wudi had expected as much. He fell silent and thought it over carefully.

"I want to know what I can gain by serving you?" Yang Wudi chose to ask the most crucial question.

Ming Lunyu snapped his folding fan shut. "A good question!"

"First, your Breaking Clan can gain the protection of two Titled Douluo."

"Two?"

"That is right, two! Fu'er."

At Ming Lunyu's command, Tang Fu'er stepped forward. A heavy Soul Power pressure spread outward as the Dark Gold Sky-Slaying Hammer crashed onto the ground. Nine Soul Rings emerged, especially the three blood-red hundred-thousand-year Soul Rings that struck terror into one's heart.

Yang Wudi lost his composure again. Under Tang Fu'er's deliberate Soul Power pressure, cold sweat poured from him.

"This, this..."

Only after Ming Lunyu waved his hand and Tang Fu'er withdrew her martial soul did Yang Wudi finally gasp for breath, looking as though he had just been pulled from the water.

"A hammer martial soul, surname Tang... Might you perhaps be..."

"We are not from the Clear Sky Sect. Fu'er belongs only to Esteemed Brother." Before Yang Wudi could finish, Tang Fu'er wrapped herself around one of Ming Lunyu's arms and declared firmly.

"Brother?" Yang Wudi was filled with confusion over that form of address. "May I ask how old you are, Young Master?"

"I am twelve this year, though I will soon be thirteen."

Yang Wudi sucked in a sharp breath. A twelve-year-old boy was being called Brother, which meant Tang Fu'er was even younger?! A Titled Douluo under twelve years old? Yang Wudi's faith was beginning to waver.

He had no idea how many times he had lost his composure that night. He felt that no matter how absurd anything he encountered in the future might be, it would no longer stir him.

"It is not what you think. Fu'er is actually over a hundred years old. There is a special reason she calls me Brother."

Fortunately, Ming Lunyu offered that explanation, preventing Yang Wudi's faith from shattering completely.

"The protection of two Titled Douluo? That is indeed highly tempting..." Yang Wudi was already moved. After all, even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, one of the Upper Three Sects, only enjoyed such treatment.

"By the way, where does Young Master come from?" Yang Wudi asked.

"Grass Chicken Village? The City of Slaughter? Either would do. If you agree to pledge loyalty to me, I can explain it to you in detail. But for now, you only need to know that you need not worry about me being from the Clear Sky Sect or Spirit Hall." Ming Lunyu said.

Though Yang Wudi did not understand what it meant to come from the City of Slaughter, he was reassured. He truly did not think highly of Spirit Hall, and he despised the Clear Sky Sect even more.

"Besides what I just mentioned, if you fully resolve to pledge your life and loyalty to me, I can also grant you a great opportunity. Are you not troubled by your inability to break through to Titled Douluo? I have a method that can help you. Not only can it allow you to break through, it can also further improve the quality of your martial soul."

"Of course, empty words are not my style. Bo'er, show Clan Head Yang something tangible."

Dugu Bo stepped forward and took a large pink flower from a storage Soul Tool known as the Ruyi Hundred Treasures Pouch.

"Oh! This is... Aromatic Silk Beauty!" Yang Wudi let out a piercing cry. Disregarding his dignity, he threw himself before the Aromatic Silk Beauty and stared at it with feverish obsession.

"A legendary immortal herb, the bane of all poisons in the world! With it, I can ignore all risks and research medicines to my heart's content!"

"Well? If you agree to serve me, I will grant you the right to use this Aromatic Silk Beauty." Ming Lunyu smiled, looking entirely confident.

"I would brave boiling water and raging fire for you, Young Master! If you had brought out the Aromatic Silk Beauty earlier, I would have pledged loyalty immediately! There is no need to say anything more. From this day onward, this life of mine belongs to you, Young Master! The Breaking Clan will also follow your lead from now on."

Yang Wudi held the Aromatic Silk Beauty as though it were the greatest treasure in the world, his eyes full of obsession.

"Clan Head Yang, how much do you know about immortal herbs?" Dugu Bo asked.

"This..." Yang Wudi thought for a moment. "I dare say I recognize seventy or eighty percent of the immortal herbs in this world."

"That will do." Dugu Bo smiled in satisfaction. "Young Master, why not..."

"Mm. We can." Ming Lunyu said to Yang Wudi, "We actually have a treasured place under our command, Ice Fire Lake. The Aromatic Silk Beauty was found there. You..."

"Ice Fire Lake?" Yang Wudi asked urgently. "Is it the sort of place surrounded by countless heavenly treasures, with lake water divided into clearly distinct halves?"

"That is precisely it."

Yang Wudi went mad again.

"The Ice and Fire Twofold Polarity Eyes! Those are the Ice and Fire Twofold Polarity Eyes! A peerless treasure land unlike any other in the world! If I could see it with my own eyes, I would die without regrets!"

Ming Lunyu and the others calmly drank their tea, quietly waiting for Yang Wudi to finish going mad.

After a while, Yang Wudi finally calmed down. His old face reddened, and he felt somewhat ashamed of his previous behavior.

"Young Master, may I ask..."

"If you can become one of my trusted confidants, I will take you to the Ice and Fire Twofold Polarity Eyes. Moreover, you may use it however you wish."

"Then what are we waiting for? What Young Master has offered already exceeds the value of my entire person! This old man can swear loyalty right now, the kind where I would give my all to the bitter end. I would not hesitate to climb mountains of blades or plunge into seas of fire!" Yang Wudi said urgently.

"Do not rush. Have you truly thought it through?"

"Of course!" Yang Wudi only wanted to hurry to the lovely Ice and Fire Twofold Polarity Eyes and make medicine, make medicine, make even more medicine!

"I see." Ming Lunyu knew Yang Wudi's words were sincere. Given his character, after accepting such immense favors from Ming Lunyu, he would certainly become utterly and unwaveringly loyal.

That was indeed the case. In Yang Wudi's eyes, Ming Lunyu was a patron among patrons. At a glance, he had recognized Yang Wudi's talent and ambitions, and he spared no effort in providing a stage where Yang Wudi could fully display his abilities. A man would die for one who understood him. Yang Wudi was truly moved.

Ming Lunyu's expression turned serious. "Listen carefully. Not just anyone can become my trusted confidant. Hear my conditions first, then decide whether to agree—but once you hear them, if you refuse, there will be only death."

Ming Lunyu's aura sharpened, and his face became solemn.

Yang Wudi unconsciously swallowed. After considering it again and again, he still made his decision. "Please tell me, Young Master. At this point, if I choose to retreat, not only would I betray the path of breaking, I would also lose the Ice and Fire Twofold Polarity Eyes. Even if I survived, I would regret it for the rest of my life."

Ming Lunyu revealed an appreciative smile. He leaned close and whispered to Yang Wudi.

After hearing him out, Yang Wudi wore a strange expression and stared silently at the space between his legs for a long time.

Finally, his expression hardened. "Young Master, I am willing! At my age, some things no longer hold much meaning anyway! By your method, I am still the one gaining from it, so what is there to hesitate over?"

Ming Lunyu was delighted. "Very good! Then when do you intend to accept the contract?"

Yang Wudi pursed his lips. "Right now."

"Right now?" Ming Lunyu's eyes carried a teasing glint. "Do you not need to wait until you come with me to the Heavenly Dou Empire before making the contract? After all, your clansmen are still outside..."

"There is nothing to fear." Yang Wudi spoke with absolute resolve. "So long as I remain Yang Wudi, no matter what I become, I will still be the clan head of the Breaking Clan!"