Especially since Yan Chixing's reputation was on the line here—if the Longshan Family agreed to his request, then Yan Chixing would become their friend.
Conversely, if the Longshan Family disgraced Yan Chixing by refusing him, he would become their enemy. This was, after all, Great Flame Dynasty territory. No matter how powerful the Longshan Family was, could it stand against the Great Flame Dynasty? In Yan Chixing's view, his words had struck the perfect balance between firmness and flexibility.
Lin Qi narrowed his eyes at the supremely confident Yan Chixing, then firmly shook his head.
"Dragon Mountain Seal, my apologies, but our Earl greatly appreciates this interesting little trinket, so it is impossible for us to hand it over." Lin Qi lifted his teacup and drained the fragrant tea in one gulp. "I find the terms you have proposed utterly astonishing! It is merely two hundred million gold coins. Even if the Flame Dragon Principality brought out that much gold, would we hand over something we have taken a liking to just for those coins?"
A faint, undisguised sneer lingered in Lin Qi's smile. If the Flame Dragon Principality truly had sincerity, they should have offered a higher price to reclaim the Dragon Mountain Seal. Whether Lin Qi accepted their offer was one matter, but what price they offered was another—it represented how much they valued the Dragon Mountain Seal, and how much respect they showed the Longshan Family.
But these people from the Flame Dragon Principality had not shown sufficient sincerity. They had merely invited Yan Chixing over, and this Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, who thought so highly of himself, had actually demanded so bluntly that the Longshan Family yield!
Yes, if Lin Qi agreed to Yan Chixing's proposal, outsiders would see it as the Longshan Family yielding