Negotiation

The bustling street was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. If the two figures standing in front of the Prime Minister's Mansion's residence were merely somewhat noticeable, then as the Black Dragon Carriage stopped, almost everyone's eyes fell on them.

Even more astonishingly, as the carriage door, engraved with a black Coiled Dragon, was opened, the Prime Minister, dressed in a black dragon robe, personally stepped out to greet them.

Upon hearing the words of the girl beside Ran Jianli, Xu Yinhe seemed to understand something, and a smile appeared in his hawk-like eyes:

"You're still the same as always."

"I'm sorry, I had to go to the palace to see Li Yaoxuan today, and Feng Jiuxuan was also out on business. Most of the people you know are not in the manor today."

While speaking,

Xu Yinhe glanced sideways at the woman with the Veil Hat Ran Jianli:

"Who is this?"

"My disciple."

After a long silence, Ran Jianli spoke up again, "I brought her along to broaden her horizons this time I came to the capital."

A strange light flashed in Xu Yinhe's eyes as he said softly, "Going to the capital now will certainly broaden one's horizons, but things aren't very peaceful Capital City lately."

Ran Jianli stared at Xu Yinhe: "There's nothing I can do. She said she wanted to come and broaden her horizons, and besides, I've come to see my old friend, you."

Xu Yinhe pondered for a moment, his eyes showing no emotion, then nodded slightly and turned to the woman behind the Veil Hat, asking softly:

"Ran Qingmo, right?"

Ran Qingmo blinked her eyes behind the Veil Hat, silently put away the Source Crystal in her hand, and nodded:

"Um."

Xu Yinhe's expression was as calm as a lake, but the corners of his lips seemed to curve slightly for a moment:

"Come with me and your master into the mansion."

Ran Qingmo shrank her neck:

"Okay."

For some reason, she felt that Xu Yuan's father must be in a bad mood right now; the smile and gentleness on his face couldn't hide the dangerous aura emanating from him.

Xu Yinhe keenly noticed the subtle movement, but he didn't say anything, only glancing at the gatekeeper and the guards in front of the gate.

Even a seventh-rank official is required to Prime Minister prime minister, and a keen eye is essential for being an official.

Without a word, someone came to fetch the horse, while another went to open the gate. With a deep, rumbling sound, the magnificent main gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion, several meters wide, was slowly opened.

Standing before the steps, Xu Yinhe extended his hand:

"State Preceptor Ran, please."

Ran Jianli glanced at the layout behind the courtyard gate, his stubble twitching slightly as if he were smiling.

"I thought you would let us into the carriage and enter your mansion. It would probably take a long time to walk here."

Xu Yinhe replied in a low voice:

"I have already informed people to prepare a small gift for Qingmo upon our first meeting."

"Besides, it's been a long time since I've seen my old friend. It'll be easier to catch up while we walk and chat."

"."

Ran Jianli's eyes flashed with thought, then he patted his disciple's shoulder with his calloused hand and strode into the mansion.

Ran Qingmo remained standing still, staring intently at the middle-aged man standing at the bottom of the steps.

She felt that her master was very impolite.

Xu Yuan once said that when the host gestures for someone to enter, one should go in together with them, rather than walking ahead.

After a brief pause, she quickly caught up with her master.

What made her eyes widen slightly was that after the master and apprentice entered the gate of the Prime Minister's Mansion, Xu Yuan's father appeared beside them without warning.

I glanced at my master subconsciously, only to find that he seemed to be used to it.

I felt inexplicably down.

She's still too weak compared to her master and the others.

But soon,

Her dejection was replaced by a faint sense of anticipation, and her clear gaze swept back and forth within the Prime Minister's Mansion through the black Veil Hat.

The Prime Minister's Estate covers a large area and is frequented by many people, especially in the front courtyard. In addition to servants, guards, and maids, there are also officials who come to pay their respects, high-ranking members of some business associations, and even some leaders of secular sects with swords at their waists.

However, the three of them seemed to be enveloped by some kind of energy, and the passersby, each going about their business, seemed to have failed to notice them.

After walking for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, they arrived at a huge wetland lake, where the first person to be able to see them appeared.

The lake breeze carried a slight dampness. A child emerged from deeper within the Prime Minister's Mansion, approaching them directly. He first bowed expressionlessly to Xu Yinhe.

"Your Excellency, Your State Preceptor, Miss Ran."

Ran Qingmo stared at the other person, blinked, and looked somewhat puzzled.

This was an extremely polite child, but his eyes were as empty as death, like a walking corpse.

Xu Yinhe ignored the child and looked at Ran Qingmo instead, his voice softening slightly:

"He will take you to the storeroom of my Prime Minister's Prime Minister's Mansion to choose a gift."

Upon hearing this, Ran Qingmo subconsciously looked at her master.

Ran Jianli frowned and spoke:

"Chancellor Xu, since when did your Prime Minister's Mansion start employing children as laborers?"

Xu Yinhe turned around and asked in return:

Can't you tell?

Ran Jianli an eyebrow slightly, then frowned and said:

"How can this child possess the soul power of a saint?"

Xu Yinhe whispered:

"Your disciple should be familiar with Ming Xuan's master, so I sent him to lead her to the storeroom."

As the words fell,

A middle-aged man in a scholar's robe emerged from the ring hanging around the child's neck, his voice seemingly possessing a deep, resonant quality:

"Ran girl, it's been a long time."

Ran Qingmo looked at the familiar figure, his gaze sweeping back and forth between the child and himself:

"Who is he? Didn't you go to the Northern Border with Xu Yuan?"

Old Man Luo chuckled:

"This is a long story, Chancellor Xu is really generous to you. Even that kid Xu Yuan has to apply to enter the treasury."

As a remnant soul living under someone else's roof, Old Man Luo was very perceptive. He glanced at the burly old man and knew that this Chancellor Xu was most likely going to talk to the other party in private.

After saying that, he looked at the muscular old man who was probably also a saint.

Ran Jianli spoke up at this moment:

"Qingmo, go. Even for the sake of his son, Chancellor Xu should give you some gifts."

Ran Qingmo stood still without responding immediately. She pursed her red lips, stared at Xu Yuan's father, opened her mouth as if to speak, but hesitated. Finally, she asked in a low voice:

"Uncle Xu, has Xu Yuan come back?"

"No."

Xu Yinhe's answer was very simple.

Ran Qingmo lowered her eyes, a visible hint of disappointment flashing in them:

"Oh"

Xu Yinhe peered through the Veil Hat at the girl's expression, hesitated for a moment, and then continued:

"He should arrive in Di'an City in a few days. You can wait for him at the manor."

Ran Qingmo's eyes lit up, a simple joy rising in her heart, and she immediately nodded:

"Good."

A complex emotion flickered almost imperceptibly in Xu Yinhe's eyes. He took a deep breath, nodded with a smile, and said in a low voice:

Go ahead.

"Um!"

After saying that, Ran Qingmo followed the soul and the child and quickly left towards the other side of the Prime Minister's Mansion.

Watching the figures of the two people and one soul gradually disappear around the corner of the courtyard wall,

Ran Jianli a soft hum:

"Your mansion is truly a place where hidden talents reside; there's even a Saint's Remnant Soul within."

Xu Yinhe glanced at the other person, his voice neither cold nor indifferent:

"You don't need to test me; he is the saint within that Soul Ring."

The younger generation has left, and given the current situation, there's no need for the remaining people to be so polite.

Upon hearing these straightforward words, Ran Jianli showed a hint of surprise:

When did you become so decisive?

Xu Yinhe strode along the vast wetland lake toward the inner courtyard, his voice calm:

"They just don't want to beat around the bush anymore."

Ran Jianli followed slowly, grinning broadly, his expression suggestive:

"It seems something has happened to you recently. I can smell the killing intent emanating from you from a great distance."

"Something did happen."

Xu Yinhe did not deny it, glancing at the shimmering lake surface under the rising sun. "Ran Jianli, what is your identity in coming to see me this time?"

Ran Jianli narrowed his eyes, feigning ignorance:

"I came here to catch up with you, didn't I?"

Xu Yinhe slowly turned his eyes back and continued to ask:

"Is it the Grand Preceptor of the Great Yan State Preceptor, the leader of the Sect Alliance, or Ran Qingmo's master?"

A fleeting glance exchanged between them, and a strange light flashed in Ran Jianli's eyes, but he still did not give a direct answer:

"Is this important?"

Xu Yinhe nodded, his hawk-like gaze meeting the other's clear and bright eyes.

"It's very important, because even if you didn't come to me today, I would most likely have come to you anyway."

"Oh?"

Ran Jianli chuckled softly, then curled his lips into a smile, "Which of my identities are you looking for?"

A moment of silence,

A lake breeze ruffled their robes, and a few sparrows darted away under the clear sky.

Xu Yinhe said, enunciating each word clearly:

"The Sect Alliance Leader, and also the Sect Master of the Tianyuan Sword Sect."

Ran Jianli's eyes narrowed slightly, and he said softly:

"Then it seems I can only come to see you in my capacity as Master Qingmo."

"Ran Jianli".

Xu Yinhe interrupted the burly old man in front of him, "I've said it before, there's no need to beat around the bush, and you don't need to raise the price again. What I want to do is beneficial to both the Prime Minister's Prime Minister's Mansion and the Tianyuan Sword Sect."

Having been friends for decades, Xu Yinhe knew very well what a delicate mind lay hidden beneath the seemingly carefree old man before him.

If the other party were truly as they appear, they would probably have been removed from their position as leader of the Sect Alliance long ago.

Ran Jianli pondered for a moment, a hint of interest gradually appearing in his eyes:

"You said you wanted to find the leader of the Sect Alliance and the sect leader of the Sword Sect, but that would only benefit the Sword Sect."

Speaking of this,

He gently shook his head and whispered, "So, you're planning to take action against the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion?"

Xu Yinhe stared at him silently.

Ran Jianli perfectly.

The absence of denial implies acquiescence.

A multitude of matters flashed through Ran Jianli suddenly asked softly:

"Xu Yinhe, given the current situation in Di'an City, does your Prime Minister's Estate really have the resources to deal with the Heavenly Oversight Pavilion?"