Sanlang and I Truly Hit It Off at First Sight!

Although Wu Ming felt a bit of disdain for Liu Sanlang's bluntness, he still stepped forward.

Facing the exquisitely patterned cloud talisman, Wu Ming asked curiously, "Third Young Master, let's set aside the matter of the apology for a moment... but investment alone cannot be the ultimate goal; profit is. You are investing in me, investing in the Gujian Sect—what is the return you are ultimately looking for?"

Liu Qi smiled and replied solemnly.

"Naturally, it is you yourself!"

"Mmph!" In an instant, Zhang Miao's delicate body trembled. A radiant glow seemed to flow through her beautiful eyes, her face flushed with a moist, rosy hue, and she covered her nose tightly with both hands... yet drops of blood still trickled from between her fingers, landing on her clothes like striking, scarlet plum blossoms.

Gu Bai was startled at the sight: "Young friend from the Zhang Family, are you alright?!"

Zhang Miao waved her hands repeatedly: "I'm fine, I'm fine, just too happy, hehehe..."

"??"

Gu Bai was increasingly confused, yet he had a vague intuition that he was facing an unfathomable abyss and that it would be best not to pry any further...

Wu Ming couldn't help but curse with a vulgarity typical of the Gujian Sect in his heart.

His fiancée was bleeding in public just because her lover's heart was set on another man... what kind of twisted joke was this!?

Seeing that Wu Ming was clearly annoyed, Liu Sanlang sighed, "Miaomiao, please try to restrain yourself a little."

"I have been restraining myself!" Zhang Miao argued, "It's your fault for talking nonsense..."

"If you hadn't interrupted, what I said would have been quite serious..."

As he spoke, Liu Sanlang could only offer a wry smile, and the Red Cloud Talisman twisted slightly, as if shaking its head in helplessness.

"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, I am truly sincere about befriending talented and extraordinary people like yourself. I have absolutely no... other intentions!"

Wu Ming found it laughable: "Your method of befriending talented people is to build a Qingluan Post Station right at their doorstep? Do you think you're watching a virtual streamer!?"

Liu Sanlang was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh: "It does seem a bit inappropriate... but I thought this was exactly what your sect needed right now. And since I happened to have an opportunity to influence the location of a newly built post station, I thought I might as well do you a favor."

Wu Ming asked again: "Based on that previous 'token of appreciation' alone, you were already the Top Donor of the Gujian Sect. Adding such a valuable favor on top of that, the cost of this friendship seems far too high."

Liu Sanlang replied: "Not high at all! In my view, Brother Wu has the kind of value that makes it worth doing everything in one's power to befriend him! I only regret that I am merely the third son of my family and my resources are limited, so I can only offer a favor. Otherwise, the sincerity of a noble family would be worth far more than a mere Qingluan Post Station!"

These words finally made Wu Ming nod seriously: "Hmm, that's a fair point. I can add two points of favorability for that."

Liu Sanlang was taken aback, then said in a deep voice: "Every word I say comes from the bottom of my heart, heaven and earth can bear witness! As long as I can befriend someone with such deep immortal affinity as Brother Wu, I am willing to go through fire and water!"

Wu Ming said: "No need for heaven and earth to bear witness, and no need to go through fire and water. Once the Qingluan Post Station is built, I will consider you a friend!"

Liu Sanlang was overjoyed: "It's a deal!"

As soon as he finished speaking, another surge of nosebleed erupted from Zhang Miao... and Zhu Ying, who had witnessed the entire scene from the side, felt completely bewildered.

"You, what on earth are you two doing... Wu Ming, get a grip!"

Wu Ming cupped his hands toward his senior sister. "Senior sister is right to reprimand me."

He then looked at Liu Sanlang. "Brother Liu, senior sister says you need to pay more."

Zhu Ying was shocked. "I did not!"

Liu Sanlang, however, nodded in deep agreement. "Senior sister is correct. It is only right to add another sum for Brother Wu..."

"Don't call me senior sister!"

Despite her words, Zhang Miao had already taken a small silk pouch from her bosom. She opened it to reveal five hundred spirit stones inside.

Liu Sanlang sighed. "Miaomiao and I have only recently begun our formal cultivation, and the resources provided by our family are still limited. This is all the spirit stones I can produce on short notice. I hope senior sister will not find it lacking..."

Zhu Ying raged, "Are you even listening to a word I'm saying?!"

Just then, a faint cough echoed from within the Sect Leader Temple.

It was Gu Bai who had finally spoken.

"Young Master Liu, your sincerity is truly moving. However, you and Ming'er have only met once a month ago. How can you be so certain... that he is the one? As far as I know, while the Liu Family is known for treating guests with courtesy, they would not go so far as to value a rogue cultivator of Desolate People origin to this extent."

"For you and the young friend from the Zhang Family to be willing to sincerely apologize for your family's mistakes is a rare virtue indeed, but your eagerness to befriend Ming'er goes far beyond the scope of mere character."

After a pause, Gu Bai continued, "Furthermore, if you go to such great lengths to befriend Ming'er today, how will you handle befriending others in the future? If others feel you are showing favoritism, and jealousy or even resentment toward Ming'er arises as a result, what then?"

These words were both a question and a subtle test.

After thinking carefully for a moment, Liu Sanlang replied seriously, "In response to you, True Person, although I have only met Brother Wu once, that single encounter was enough to see the depth of his immortal destiny!"

"The True Person may not be aware, but the current matriarch of the Liu Family, Madam Rong, is not my biological mother. My mother was a descendant of the Li Family of Qingzhou, and our ancestors produced many Celestial Masters capable of deciphering talismans. Although my mother passed away early and I could not inherit the full teachings, I did learn the art of physiognomy. The moment I saw Brother Wu, I vaguely realized he was no ordinary person. Upon reflection and review afterward, the more I thought about it, the more astonished I became."

"That Fragrant Dye Dharma Sword of that day was bestowed by the Sanqing Immortal Sect and carried immense immortal destiny and fortune. Madam Rong worked hard for a long time to ensure the Liu Family would monopolize that destiny, waiting until the timing was perfect and the sword was within her grasp... yet Brother Wu merely happened to be there and effortlessly snatched the sword from my hands."

"A fool might be angry or unwilling, or even attempt to take desperate risks. But I have understood one principle since childhood: when you encounter someone you cannot compete with, it is better to follow them than to fight them. Did the Liu Family not rise in Wujun, and did Luohuang Mountain not rise in Qiongzhou, precisely because they followed the right people at the right time?"

"In conclusion, my judgment was not wrong. Those who blindly fought are now suffering the consequences, and not even Madam Rong is an exception! Yet, I have already become friends with the promising Brother Wu!"

Wu Ming reminded him, "Currently, only a friend-in-waiting."

Liu Sanlang apologized. "I was too impatient. Afterward, I will commission the people at Wuting to begin laying the Lingguang Path as soon as possible..."

Then, the Red Cloud Talisman turned back toward Gu Bai to address the old man's second question.

"As for the matter of showing favoritism... the Sect Leader need not worry. Brother Wu is currently obscure only because he has not been cultivating for long and has yet to have the opportunity to display his talents before the eyes of the world. Once the world witnesses his prowess, they will only marvel at my foresight and the wisdom of my investment!"

These words not only praised Wu Ming but also fully displayed his confidence. The sophistication of his rhetoric caused even Gu Bai to nod in approval.

"In that case, I have one more question: you have mentioned 'investment' twice now. I fear that you not only wish to befriend Ming, but also have a practical request..."

The Red Cloud Talisman bent slightly, as if nodding in frank admission.

Liu Sanlang said, "The Sect Leader is truly discerning. While I am sincere in my desire to befriend him and try my best to avoid being utilitarian, I do indeed have a favor to ask of Brother Wu... I hope to form a team with him to explore the Moli Immortal Mansion together!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Gu Bai could not help but cough, and Zhu Ying's expression changed drastically, a bone-chilling coldness suddenly radiating from her body.

An Immortal Mansion, it's the Immortal Mansion again!? And it's that very Moli Immortal Mansion that no one has been able to fully traverse for hundreds of years!? You Liu Family members are truly birds of a feather!

As for Wu Ming...

"Fine, it's a deal!"

The moment he heard the words Immortal Mansion, Wu Ming had already made his decision without the slightest hesitation!

Zhu Ying was shocked, "Wu Ming, have you lost your mind!?"

Wu Ming said, "Brother Liu, my Senior Sister says you need to add more money."

Zhu Ying was even more shocked, "I did not say that!"

Liu Sanlang understood, "Miaomiao, write an IOU!"

Zhang Miao was mesmerized, "...You two really have such great chemistry! I knew you two were the real deal!"

Wu Ming said, "...Young Master Liu, I think the matter of the Immortal Mansion is of great importance and requires careful consideration. My health has not been very good lately, so perhaps we should put it aside for now."

"Brother Wu, please do not misunderstand!" Liu Sanlang said helplessly. "Miaomiao, I am begging you, please wipe the nosebleed off your face first; it's about to drip onto the IOU..."

Just as the situation began to descend into chaos, Gu Bai finally spoke.

"Why Moli?"

Thanks to Long Leiming and Baizhu de Chaoshui for the tips!