There was nothing for it. Elder Hong had no choice but to agree. He had already made up his mind: his only option now was to spend a fortune hiring several hundred people to dig up Yin Grave Mountain. Even if the cost ran high, at least he could meet the requirement.
Elder Hong could barely contain his curiosity. He asked Xu Yi several times what use he had for the Dark Yin Jade, but Xu Yi simply refused to answer, saying only that he had his reasons.
Elder Hong's face flushed with anger. He had wanted to leave in a huff, but Xu Yi grabbed him again. "Old Hong, don't rush off. My time is precious, and I'm busy cultivating. Where's the Spirit Gathering Array? If I'm delayed and end up dying at the hands of Old Demon Zhong, that won't do you any good, will it?"
Before he had tried to bring Xu Yi into the merchant association, Elder Hong had thought him refined and exceedingly courteous, practically the very image of an Aristocratic Clan scion.
But as soon as he had brought Xu Yi into the association as a guest elder, he realized that Xu Yi was a mixture of rubber hide and shamelessness, utterly impossible to deal with. He was even more relentless with his tongue; the casual words he spoke came out like poison sprayed from his mouth.
By now, Elder Hong hardly dared deal with him. Clenching his jaw, he said, "Brother Xu, why the rush? It's all in black and white, and the agreement's settled. Do you think we'd go back on our word? The Spirit Gathering Array is ready. For your sake, the young master has paid dearly this time—even giving up his own cave abode."
Half a cup of tea later,