What rank are you to speak to someone of my status?

Seeing Ning Wangshu sit down, Manager Song immediately put on a beaming smile again and said, "By the way, I remember hearing Xiao Zhang mention earlier that you, young brother, are surnamed Ning?"

"Mm."

Ning Wangshu gave a light acknowledgment and said, "Ning Wangshu!"

Hearing this, Manager Song smiled and said, "So it's Brother Ning! My surname is Song, Song Guowei!"

"Greetings, Manager Song!"

Ning Wangshu nodded slightly.

Song Guowei looked at Ning Wangshu and then said, "Brother Ning probably still doesn't know why I've specially invited so many experts to help this time, right?"

"Please speak frankly, Manager Song! Manager Zhang indeed didn't mention it to me before, only saying he invited me here to meet with you face to face," Ning Wangshu said.

Song Guowei nodded, took a light breath, and said, "Here's the thing: I have a rival. Earlier, we had fierce conflicts over competing for several mines."

"In the end, I came out on top and secured those mines. But recently, my rival somehow found an expert who directly routed my men, injuring no fewer than twenty or thirty of them."

"The other side also threatened that if I didn't hand over those mines, I shouldn't expect to start operations on them..."

Hearing this, Ning Wangshu was taken aback and said, "For something like this, Manager Song, why didn't you call the police?"

"Call the police?"

Song Guowei gave a bitter laugh and said, "The other side's connections and influence are no less than mine. What use would calling the police be?"

"Besides, with this kind of thing, unless there's a huge gap in background and connections between the two sides, generally speaking, it's settled on our own terms. Whoever is stronger gets the mines."

"If your strength isn't enough, you can't keep your mines. In the early years, fights and deaths over mining claims were very common."

"Although things have become more regulated in recent years and such incidents have decreased, the essence hasn't changed much."

"So, if I want to keep those mines, I have to suppress the other side, or rather, defeat the expert they've brought in!"

Ning Wangshu understood. "So that's how it is!"

He paused for a moment, then added, "From what Manager Song is saying... those mines must be worth a lot?"

Song Guowei nodded slightly. "The value of those mines is roughly around three to four billion. Even if I lost them, it wouldn't be a crippling blow to me."

"But I can't swallow this humiliation! And if I admit defeat this time, my standing in Jiangnan Province will plummet from now on."

"So, no matter how you look at it, I have to hold onto those mines!"

"Understood!"

Ning Wangshu responded.

At this point, Song Guowei continued, "Brother Ning, if you're willing to help me keep these mines this time, I can give you the same one million as Master Hu as a token of appreciation. What do you think, Brother Ning?"

In Song Guowei's view, Ning Wangshu's earlier display had clearly shown strength no less than Hu Guangji's, so he didn't hesitate to offer the same price.

When Hu Guangji heard that Song Guowei was offering Ning Wangshu the same compensation as himself, he was slightly displeased, but after thinking it over, it wasn't his money anyway. Besides, Ning Wangshu's strength was indeed decent and could provide some help, so he held back and said nothing.

However, Ning Wangshu didn't immediately respond to Song Guowei. Instead, he pondered briefly, glanced at him, then raised five fingers and said flatly, "Fifty million!"

"Manager Song, for fifty million, I'll settle this matter for you. No matter what experts the other side brings later, I'll handle them all!"

"Fifty million?"

Song Guowei frowned. Although fifty million was nothing to him, and couldn't compare to the value of those mines or his status in Jiangnan Province, compared to the one million he had promised Hu Guangji, Ning Wangshu's asking price of fifty million was indeed a bit too high.

Just as Song Guowei was deliberating, Hu Guangji couldn't hold back and snorted coldly, "Young man, I admit you do have some skill."

"But at best, you're just at the early Xiantian Realm. Opening your mouth for fifty million—isn't that a bit of an extortionate price?"

"Even I only get one million. Manager Song is generous and offered you the same price, letting you stand on equal footing with me."

"What qualifications do you have to dare ask for fifty million?"

Hearing this, Ning Wangshu glanced at him and said flatly, "I told you before, in my eyes, whether it's your so-called Xiantian expert or an ordinary person, there's no difference."

"You have no qualifications to stand on equal footing with me either."

"Precisely because your appearance fee can reach one million, I'm asking for fifty million to set a clear gap in tier between us!"

"What tier are you to share the same price as me?"

"Besides, since I dare to make this offer, I naturally have full confidence and conviction!"

Hu Guangji had been sneering and sarcastic earlier, and Ning Wangshu was already annoyed, so there was no need to be polite now.

"Arrogant!"

Insulted so lightly by Ning Wangshu, Hu Guangji flew into a rage and stood up abruptly.

Especially the line about him having no qualifications to stand on equal footing with Ning Wangshu and setting a tier gap—that was something Hu Guangji couldn't stomach.

Seeing Hu Guangji's anger, Song Guowei quickly stepped in to mediate: "Both of you, please calm down. You are both guests I invited to help. Don't let internal strife break out over this."

Of course, there was some conflict in his heart.

If he truly agreed to Ning Wangshu's asking price, Hu Guangji would certainly be displeased.

Even if he didn't mind spending a few tens of millions more and proactively raised Hu Guangji's compensation to Fifty Million as well, judging by the implication in Ning Wangshu's words just now... if he did that, Ning Wangshu would likewise be dissatisfied.

And if he didn't agree to Ning Wangshu's price, he feared Ning Wangshu would simply walk away.

In his view, based on the move Ning Wangshu had just displayed—no less impressive than Hu Guangji's—he was definitely also an expert. Hu Guangji himself had admitted he wasn't very confident he could handle the Wu Shengtian the Qi Family had brought in.

If he could add Ning Wangshu to the mix, his odds of victory would undoubtedly increase greatly.

Just as Song Guowei was hesitating, Ning Wangshu suddenly spoke: "How about this, Manager Song. If this Master Hu can handle the opponent himself without needing me to act, then you only need to pay me five million in Travel Expenses."

"If this Master Hu can't handle it and I need to step in personally, then Fifty Million is non-negotiable!"

He paused, then added: "And if I do act personally but still can't resolve this matter for you, Manager Song, you only need to pay me five million in Travel Expenses."

"What do you think?"

Hearing Ning Wangshu's words, Song Guowei's eyes lit up, and he immediately agreed: "Good! We'll do it just as Brother Ning says!"

After speaking, he suddenly added: "But, Brother Ning, what if the two of you individually can't deal with that Wu Shengtian and need to join forces?"

Ning Wangshu gave a faint, confident smile: "Manager Song, that possibility doesn't exist. Either I won't need to act, and this Master Hu can handle it on his own."

"Or, if I do act, there will be no need for anyone else to interfere. I've said it before—what's this 'Xiantian' or not? Before me, they're no different from ordinary people!"