The two sat in silence for a long while.
Xiao Yuan thought she was weighing the pros and cons.
But in truth, Ya Fei was listening closely to his inner thoughts.
Only after his thoughts ended and nothing more came did Ya Fei speak again.
"Helping you, little brother, is naturally no problem. But what can you offer me?"
Her expression still brimmed with allure, and her voice was still just as captivating.
Although she had already learned everything from Xiao Yuan's inner thoughts, she still wanted to negotiate for a little more.
After all, she was a merchant. Profit was in her nature.
"I can help you secure your position within the clan. I might even be able to help you, Miss Ya Fei, take the clan leader's seat."
Xiao Yuan sipped his tea, his tone casual, as though he were discussing something perfectly ordinary.
Such a bold claim made Ya Fei's red lips part instinctively, but when she saw how utterly nonchalant he looked, she hesitated for a moment.
Then she heard Xiao Yuan's inner thoughts.
[Looks like this little enchantress definitely won't believe me.]
[But it's actually very simple. I just have to bring Hai Bodong, who's wandering around out there, back to the Miteer Clan, and the problem will be solved.]
[But the question is, how do I bring it up?]
[Putting aside whether Ya Fei knows who Hai Bodong is, he's a bargaining chip. Just throwing that information out there definitely won't work.]
[Tsk, doing business with this little enchantress is such a pain. I've probably killed who knows how many brain cells just in this short while.]
Little did he know, Ya Fei was raising her teacup and taking a dainty sip to hide her amusement.
What a silly boy. Little brother, your inner thoughts have already given away everything you're thinking.
Ya Fei found the young man before her rather adorable.
Especially when he put on that grown-up act.
Still, Ya Fei could confirm one thing now.
Whether or not this young prodigy from the Xiao Clan could foresee the future, he certainly knew a great deal about many things.
The name Hai Bodong rang a bell.
Though she had never met him, she seemed to recall that his name had appeared among the ten strongest from the previous generation.
They said he had left Jia Ma Holy City many years ago and had vanished without a trace.
And what connection did this legendary figure have to the clan?
After thinking for a moment, she decided to follow Xiao Yuan's lead and see if she could glean any more information about Hai Bodong.
So Ya Fei lightly bit her red lip and spoke slowly:
"Little brother, words alone aren't proof. How can you expect me to believe you?"
"Heh, I knew you'd ask that."
Xiao Yuan chuckled. He had expected it.
"But before that, let me make one thing clear. If Miss Ya Fei agrees, there'll be no getting off my bandit ship for the rest of your life.
"If you betray me, all I can say is that I, Xiao Yuan, am no gentleman who spares a pretty face."
As he finished speaking, Xiao Yuan released a trace of his aura. Ya Fei's breath caught, and her red lips parted.
It felt as if someone had clamped a hand around her throat, leaving her unable to breathe!
This aura was even more terrifying than that of Master Gu Ni, who had just broken through to four-star Da Dou Shi!
That meant the Xiao Clan's young prodigy standing before her had already surpassed four-star Da Dou Shi!
And it had only been a few days since news had come from the Xiao Clan...
Seeing Ya Fei's frozen smile, Xiao Yuan drew in his aura. Then he took a small porcelain bottle from his Storage Ring, set it on the table, and pushed it toward her.
Ya Fei instinctively wanted to ask what it was, but Xiao Yuan gestured for her to take a look herself.
So Ya Fei picked up the porcelain bottle and gently tipped it over the tray on the table.
A crystal-clear, pearl-like pill rolled out and came to rest at the edge of the tray.
A rich medicinal fragrance spread at once, making her heart and mind shiver!
A fourth-grade pill?!
No, this had to be fifth-grade!
Xiao Yuan explained:
"This is Marrow Cleansing Powder. Master Gu Ni should have mentioned it to you before. Consider it a token of my sincerity."
At his words, Ya Fei's breathing quickened.
One slender, fair hand slowly covered her enticing red lips. Her ample chest rose and fell, tracing a series of heart-stopping curves.
"This is really for me?"
"Mm-hmm. As long as Miss Ya Fei agrees to this deal, it's yours."
Xiao Yuan wore a smile of absolute confidence.
Perhaps because he had forged a Flawless Body, Marrow Cleansing Powder was no longer of much use to him.
And even after giving away two, he still had six left.
Besides—
[If I can buy off this little enchantress with Marrow Cleansing Powder, I'll be making a killing!]
[The way she's described in the original story, her business and intelligence-gathering skills are absurdly good!]
[It's just a shame she has no talent for cultivation. In this Dou Qi Continent, where strength reigns supreme, the clan will eventually cast her aside.]
[Without Xiao Yan's help in the original story, her best ending would probably be getting used as a pawn in a marriage alliance.]
Ya Fei: "..."
She fell silent.
Her fiery, peach-blossom eyes were practically glued to the pill!
Just as Xiao Yuan had thought, how could she not be tempted?
This was Marrow Cleansing Powder!
When Master Gu Ni had approached her before, he had told her about this miraculous medicine. It was said to improve the user's aptitude.
She had seen its effects with her own eyes!
It could completely turn her fate around and change her future!
Otherwise, just as Xiao Yuan's inner thoughts had said, once her training ended, there was a very good chance the clan would send her off as a pawn in a marriage alliance...
As for the Xiao Yan mentioned in his thoughts, she instinctively dismissed him.
Compared to a future as vague and illusory as a prophecy,
as a merchant, she valued what she could see and touch right now. She knew better than anyone how to seize the future with her own hands!
Xiao Yuan had no idea what Ya Fei was thinking, but he could guess from her expression.
So when he saw Ya Fei nod, he smiled and held out his hand to the enchanting woman before him.
"Then, here's to a pleasant partnership?"
"A pleasant... partnership."
[ Ding, congratulations! You have obtained the Heaven-Slaughter Halberd. ]
The instant he heard the notification, Xiao Yuan's face went blank with astonishment for the first time in days.
[Holy crap, this is awesome! I got another gold-tier reward!]
He had never expected the system to give out weapons, too!
[No wonder I hadn't heard a notification before. It was saving up something huge for this moment!]
Xiao Yuan was already laughing inside. When he looked at Ya Fei, his heart soared with delight!
He had noticed that every time he met a new woman, he got something good.
It had happened with Xun'er, and with Nalan Yanran. Now the same was true of Ya Fei!
However, Ya Fei hadn't heard his inner thoughts. She had only heard something about saving up something huge, and Xiao Yuan's expression had suddenly turned oddly bright and excited.
That struck her as strange.
"Little brother, are you all right?"
"I'm fine, of course I'm fine! Sister Ya Fei, as agreed, I'll leave the Jialie Clan's affairs to you. It's getting late, so I'll head back first."
With that,
Xiao Yuan didn't give Ya Fei another chance to speak. He stood up and left the room.
Ya Fei was left alone. She watched his hurriedly retreating figure, then lowered her gaze to the pill on the tray.
She couldn't help murmuring softly:
"Little brother, you really are a strange one."