The commercial mutual flattery—no, the business negotiations—continued.
Qin Zhaorong and Qu Rou went back and forth, engaging in a fierce debate over Shang Qingmeng's appearance fee.
Both represented their respective sect gates and were people of standing. Though their words clashed like needle against blade, they remained proper—no veiled barbs, much less shrewish street brawling. A few compliments were sprinkled in now and then, making the scene appear fierce while in truth remaining exceptionally measured.
And because they were too measured, they could not reach an agreement.
According to Qin Zhaorong, Shang Qingmeng's swordsmanship ranked among the foremost experts even among Nether Passage Realm grandmasters. She alone could stand against three Nether Passage Realm experts from Southern Jin. Doubling her appearance fee was already a friendship price; White Cloud Manor was making a killing and should not be too greedy.
Besides, there were no chance encounters without cause in this world. Since Shang Qingmeng had come, it meant she was fated with Qilin Mountain's minor mystic realm. She had not come here to stir up trouble.
Where fate came and went, there was Heaven's will. Should a fortunate convergence of causes and conditions bring them some treasure, she hoped White Cloud Manor would show some flexibility. They should not twist reason into nonsense and, relying on their status as hosts, disturb this destined encounter.
Her little mouth went on and on—she was especially eloquent, her words sharp and her logic airtight. She was one step short of telling White Cloud Manor to hand the minor mystic realm over to Sword Heart Studio.
Qu Rou was not angered. Instead, she broke into a radiant smile, charm overflowing without bounds. With lotus flowers blooming from her mouth, she was equally skilled at haggling over prices.
As for Shang Qingmeng's true strength and