Yao Qing Steps In

Night had fallen. It was the third quarter of the Rat hour.

The lights in the City Lord's Manor's rear courtyard were still on.

Yang Zhenshan stood outside the bedchamber door without knocking.

He knew Yao Qing could sense his aura.

Sure enough, the door opened from within.

Yao Qing stood inside the doorway in moon-white sleepwear with an outer robe draped over it. Light spilled from behind him, casting a soft halo across his handsome features.

"Zhenshan?" He was slightly startled. "So late at night..."

Yang Zhenshan said nothing. He stepped inside and shut the door behind him.

Yao Qing had a wife—the daughter of a minor family whom his father had forced upon him in a political marriage before he came to Lin'an City. Only after she bore him a son was Yao Qing sent away to Lin'an City.

That wife and his son, Yao Shiyuan, now lived in the central courtyard of the City Lord's Manor.

As for the rear courtyard, besides Yao Qing, the only other person who could come and go freely was Yang Zhenshan.

Yao Qing looked at him, his eyes holding some confusion as well as concealed concern. "Did something happen?"

Yang Zhenshan walked to the window with his back to him and fell silent for several seconds.

"I went to see Wang Tiannan."

Yao Qing raised a brow. "What did he say?"

Yang Zhenshan turned around and looked straight at him.

"He hid his strength. Mid-stage Qi Refining Level Nine, and he has a mid-grade Profound-rank cultivation technique."

Yao Qing's expression changed slightly.

Yang Zhenshan continued, "The Zhao Family and the Li Family have already handed over their shares in the mine, but the Wang Family has kept resisting. I went there today, intending to strike while the iron was hot, but..."

He paused, a trace of chill entering his voice.

"That old fox Wang Tiannan showed me his hand to my face."

Yao Qing was silent for a moment. He walked over, raised a hand as if to pat Yang Zhenshan's shoulder, then stopped midway.

"You want me to step in?"

Yang Zhenshan looked at him, his gaze deep.

"You're the City Lord and the referee of the Great Clan Tournament. It would be perfectly reasonable for you to mediate."

Yao Qing withdrew his hand and stood with his hands behind his back, tilting his head slightly.

"Zhenshan, how far do you want me to go?"

Yang Zhenshan did not answer immediately.

He walked to the table, picked up a teacup, and slowly took a sip.

"Mediate," he said. "Make him hand over what he should hand over, in your capacity as City Lord."

Yao Qing looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Yang Zhenshan set down his teacup and met his eyes.

"If he refuses a toast only to drink a forfeit..."

He paused.

"Then let him know who calls the shots in Lin'an City."

A glimmer of amusement flashed through Yao Qing's eyes.

That amusement carried understanding, indulgence, and something else that could not quite be named.

"Fine," he said. "Tomorrow at noon, I'll host a banquet at the City Lord's Manor and invite Wang Tiannan over for a chat."

Yang Zhenshan nodded and cupped his fists. "Thank you."

Yao Qing waved a hand, stepped closer, and lowered his voice. "Between you and me, there's no need for that."

Yang Zhenshan looked at him, fell silent for a moment, then turned and headed outside.

When he reached the door, Yao Qing's voice came from behind him.

"Zhenshan."

Yang Zhenshan stopped.

Yao Qing stood beneath the lamplight, looking at him as if he wanted to say something but held it back.

After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked, "Are you still leaving tonight?"

Yang Zhenshan paused, then turned halfway back. "There are still matters to attend to at the Yang Family."

He strode away.

The next day at noon, at the City Lord's Manor.

The banquet hall was not large, but it was elegantly arranged. A landscape painting hung on the wall, while an incense burner rested on the table, smoke curling upward in delicate wisps.

Yao Qing sat in the seat of honor, dressed in a green brocade robe, a smile on his face.

Yang Zhenshan sat in the guest's seat, holding tea, his gaze calm.

Wang Tiannan was the last to arrive.

He strode in with a smile piled across his face and cupped his fists toward Yao Qing. "City Lord Yao summoned me, yet Wang arrived late. Please forgive me, forgive me."

Yao Qing smiled and waved a hand. "Brother Wang, you're too courteous. Please, sit."

Wang Tiannan sat opposite Yang Zhenshan. His gaze swept over Yang Zhenshan, but his smile did not change.

"Oh, Brother Yang is here too?" His tone was exaggerated. "What a coincidence."

Yang Zhenshan lifted his teacup, slowly took a sip, and did not respond.

Yao Qing clapped his hands, and the servants filed in like a school of fish, setting down wine and dishes.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of food.

Yao Qing raised his wine cup toward the two men. "Come, let me toast you both once more. Lin'an City enjoys its current peace thanks to the support of clan heads such as yourselves."

The two raised their cups and drained them in one gulp.

Wang Tiannan set down his cup and said with narrowed, smiling eyes, "City Lord Yao is too polite. We merchants all rely on the City Lord's care."

Yang Zhenshan still said nothing, merely eating his food slowly.

Yao Qing filled his cup again, glanced at Yang Zhenshan, then turned to Wang Tiannan.

"Brother Wang, I invited you here today not only for drinks. There is another matter I would like to discuss with you."

Wang Tiannan's smile stiffened slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.

"Please speak, City Lord."

Yao Qing set down his wine cup, his tone casual.

"I have heard about the twenty percent stake in the Blackstone Mine. According to the rules of the Great Clan Tournament, shouldn't your Wang Family hand over its shares?"

Wang Tiannan sighed and put on a troubled expression.

"City Lord Yao, it isn't that I refuse to hand them over. It's just that... there are too many matters involved at the mine. The accounts need checking, the miners need settling, the tools need inventorying. All of this takes time."

Yao Qing nodded to show his understanding.

"Of course. But Brother Wang, that time cannot stretch on forever."

"After all, the wager was made before the whole city. If you drag it out too long, it will not reflect well on the Wang Family's reputation either."

Wang Tiannan nodded repeatedly. "The City Lord is right. I will do it as soon as possible, as soon as possible."

Yao Qing looked at him, his smile gentle.

"How soon is as soon as possible?"

Wang Tiannan froze, then smiled. "One month. Within one month, I will certainly complete the handover."

Yang Zhenshan set down his chopsticks and finally spoke.

"One month?" He looked at Wang Tiannan. "Brother Wang, you already said that once at the mine."

Wang Tiannan's smile remained, but his eyes grew a few degrees colder.

"Brother Yang, the mine is the mine, and before the City Lord is before the City Lord. When I, Wang Tiannan, speak, my word counts."

Yang Zhenshan said no more. He picked up his wine cup and slowly took a sip.

Yao Qing watched the two men from the side, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

He set down his cup and leaned forward slightly.

"Brother Wang, let's open the skylight and speak plainly."

The smile on Wang Tiannan's face stiffened slightly.

Yao Qing continued, "Regarding that twenty percent stake, give me a definite answer today. Are you handing it over, or not?"

Wang Tiannan was silent for a moment. Then he rose and cupped his fists toward Yao Qing.

"City Lord Yao, it isn't that I refuse to give you face. It's just that this matter..."

He paused, and his tone hardened.

"If the Yang Family wants that twenty percent stake, they can have it."

"But the mine's accounts need time to be checked, the miners need time to be settled. These are not matters that can be resolved with a single sentence."

"If the City Lord insists on forcing me, then I can only go to Blackstone City and ask the people of the upper city to judge who is right. After all... this Blackstone Mine does not belong to you, City Lord Yao!"

The Blackstone Mine belonged to the Champion Marquis of Blackstone City. Wang Tiannan was warning Yao Qing not to stretch his hand too far.

After saying that, he turned to leave.

Yao Qing remained seated, watching him go.

When Wang Tiannan reached the door, his hand had just touched the doorframe.

A crushing pressure descended with a thunderous boom.

It was so powerful that it felt as though a mountain had suddenly appeared atop his shoulders.

Wang Tiannan's body instantly stiffened, unable to move.

His pupils contracted sharply, and all color drained from his face.

Only two words sprang into his mind:

Foundation Establishment!!

This was the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Realm!

Yao Qing remained seated where he was, holding his wine cup as he slowly took a sip.

"Brother Wang, leaving in such a hurry?" His tone was even, impossible to read for joy or anger.

Wang Tiannan stood rooted to the spot, his body trembling slightly.

He wanted to move, but could not.

He wanted to speak, but when he opened his mouth, he found that his throat seemed seized by something, leaving him voiceless.

The pressure grew increasingly heavy, making his legs go weak as he nearly dropped to his knees.

Cold sweat seeped from his forehead and slid down his cheeks.

Yang Zhenshan sat to one side, still holding his teacup, calmly watching the scene unfold.

A long while passed.

Yao Qing set down his wine cup, and the pressure slowly withdrew.

Wang Tiannan's body loosened. He staggered, only managing to steady himself by gripping the doorframe.

He turned to look at Yao Qing, his eyes filled with shock.

"City Lord Yao, you... you reached Foundation Establishment?"

Yao Qing nodded and smiled.

"I was fortunate enough to break through."

Wang Tiannan's face turned ashen, while towering waves roiled within his heart.

Yao Qing had been stuck at the peak of Qi Refining Level Nine for more than a decade. Having passed fifty, with his vitality and blood declining, his chances of breaking through to Foundation Establishment should have been infinitesimal.

How could he possibly have broken through?

Unless...

An image flashed through Wang Tiannan's mind.

A few days ago, after Yang Zhenshan's battle with Yang Yueshan, he had gone to inspect the Yang residence and inadvertently seen a cave entrance concealed beneath boulders.

He had sneaked in that night to investigate and discovered more than a dozen cultivators being used as medicinal humans.

But at the time, he had been unable to determine whether they were truly being used to refine Blood-and-Flesh Pills.

Then he remembered something else.

Ten years ago, Yang Zhenshan's dantian had been damaged. He had been stuck at Qi Refining Level Eight for seven full years before suddenly breaking through to Level Nine.

Last year, Yao Qing had suddenly entered seclusion.

Now, Yao Qing had reached Foundation Establishment.

A thread gradually became clear in his mind.

Medicinal humans. Blood-and-Flesh Pills.

Wang Tiannan's expression grew uglier and uglier.

He looked at Yang Zhenshan. Yang Zhenshan remained expressionless, merely watching him.

Then he looked at Yao Qing. Yao Qing still wore a smile.

The silence continued for a long time.

Long enough that Wang Tiannan felt even the air had frozen solid.

At last, he spoke, his voice hoarse.

"City Lord Yao... impressive methods."

Yao Qing smiled and raised his teacup.

"Brother Wang, regarding that twenty percent stake..."

Wang Tiannan took a deep breath and cupped his fists. "Within three days, the Wang Family will certainly complete the handover."

Yao Qing nodded, smiling with satisfaction.

"Brother Wang is decisive."

Wang Tiannan said nothing more and turned to leave.

This time, no one stopped him.

After walking out of the City Lord's Manor, Wang Tiannan stood outside the gates and raised his head to look at the sun in the sky.

The sunlight was glaring, yet he felt chilled to the bone.

The Yang Family and Yao Qing...

When had they formed an alliance in secret?

Of the four great families of Lin'an City, was the Yang Family about to take the lead?

The coachman brought the carriage over. Wang Tiannan frowned tightly as he climbed aboard, lost in thought.

But the four great families of Lin'an belonged to the Champion Marquis of Blackstone City, while Yao Qing served the imperial court and had come to weaken the Champion Marquis. The two powers were like fire and water.

Yet the Yang Family was eating the meat given by Blackstone City while maintaining an ambiguous relationship with Yao Qing...

At that thought, Wang Tiannan suddenly understood. "Someone."

A guard flashed out from the shadows and clasped his fists. "Master."

Wang Tiannan lowered his voice. "Notify the mine. I'll be away for a few days. For the next few days, avoid clashing with the Yang Family if possible."

"If it truly can't be delayed, hand that side over."

The guard froze for a moment, but did not dare ask further. He clasped his fists. "Yes."

"Also, prepare a fast horse for me. I'm making a trip to Blackstone City."

The guard clasped his fists again.

Meanwhile, in the city lord's manor banquet hall.

Yao Qing raised his wine cup toward Yang Zhenshan.

"Zhenshan, it's done."

Yang Zhenshan raised his cup, clinked it against his, and drained it in one gulp.

But when he set down the cup, his brows furrowed slightly.

Yao Qing noticed his expression and asked, "What is it?"

Yang Zhenshan fell silent for a moment before saying slowly, "There was something wrong with Wang Tiannan's gaze."

"I've fought him for so many years. He's not the sort to bow his head so easily."

Yao Qing was startled.

Yang Zhenshan looked at him, his eyes deep. "He should have guessed something."

Yao Qing's expression changed slightly.

Yang Zhenshan rose and walked to the window, looking outside.

"The matter of the Blood-and-Flesh Pill... he may have discovered it!"