When Xiao Yan's voice rang out, teasing yet serious, Nalan Yanran felt as though a mouthful of blood had lodged in her chest, begging to be spat out!
"Pfft-"
It was not Nalan Yanran coughing up blood, but the arrogant young man beside her spraying out a mouthful of tea.
Ten?!
How does that sound?
Great! Just wonderful!
Why don't you invite every Dou Shi in Wutan City while you're at it!
Nalan Yanran's pretty face flushed crimson, and even the finger she pointed at Xiao Yan was trembling!
"Xiao Yan! Have you no shame? Do you have even a shred of honor?"
Ten helpers?
In three years, she would be a Dou Shi at the absolute most. If he brought ten Dou Shi, they would not even need to attack. They could simply jump on her together and crush her to death!
What contest would there even be?
Xiao Yan spread his hands innocently.
"Miss Nalan, you can't put it that way!
"My cultivation talent is mediocre. In three years, I'll only be a mere Dou Zhe.
"If I don't invite enough helpers, what am I supposed to do if you slip past them during the match and attack me directly?
"I have to keep a few people back to protect myself, don't I?
"Ten really isn't many!"
"You...!"
Nalan Yanran ground her teeth so hard they might shatter, but she had to admit that Xiao Yan's sophistry made a certain amount of sense!
Only after a long while did Nalan Yanran say, "I can promise not to attack you during the match. Surely you can reduce the number of helpers now?"
Xiao Yan chuckled.
"I don't trust you."
Nalan Yanran choked with fury!
She really was in no mood to explain to Xiao Yan that she could be trusted, nor did she want to!
If the chance arose, she really did want to slip past his helpers during the match and drive a sword straight through him!
Seeing that Nalan Yanran was about to fly into a complete rage, Ge Ye sighed, stood up, and stopped her.
He had finally seen through the situation. There were only two ways today's affair could end.
Either, as Xiao Yan had said, she broke off the engagement and he raised a storm, with both sides tearing away each other's dignity and going down together!
Or they let Xiao Yan fleece them, as he was doing now!
That was right. Ge Ye had already realized that if the astronomical demand for thirty portions of Qi Gathering Powder earlier had merely been intended to disgust their side...
Then this demand for ten helpers was the work of a boy as cunning as a devil, waiting for Ge Ye to haggle so he could squeeze out more benefits!
After all, Xiao Yan now held the upper hand in this contest.
He had no reason to cling stubbornly to an outrageous condition until the negotiations collapsed.
As long as Ge Ye offered him a price, the boy would surely give ground.
The only question was how much the boy would settle for.
Alas, there's no getting out of this council hall today without this boy peeling a layer of skin off me!
After firmly pressing down on Nalan Yanran's shoulder, Ge Ye forced a smile at Xiao Yan that looked uglier than crying.
"Nephew Xiao Yan, nephew Xiao Yan, let's talk this through. Let's talk this through!
"Ten... ten helpers really is a little... a little too many. If word gets out, it won't do your reputation any good either. It would make our victory seem dishonorable, wouldn't it?"
Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, silently reflecting that this old fellow had indeed grown shrewd with age. He had tasted plenty of salt in his time and knew how to play along.
He had already seen through Xiao Yan's aim.
"Oh? You make a good point, Elder Ge. Then tell me, how many would be appropriate?"
Ge Ye felt a surge of delight. Just as he had expected, there was room to negotiate!
He tentatively held up three fingers. "Nephew Xiao Yan, what do you think of three?"
At that, Xiao Yan scoffed and did not even bother responding to Ge Ye!
Ge Ye looked somewhat embarrassed.
He, too, felt that he had cut the number too ruthlessly!
After hesitating a moment, Ge Ye said again, "Nephew Xiao Yan, five. How about five? When an Alchemist invites helpers, three to five is generally considered best."
Only then did Xiao Yan lift his eyes.
Today's affair had dragged on for quite some time. He was getting annoyed himself and did not want to keep wrangling with them.
"Elder Ge, having me reduce the number of helpers isn't out of the question."
Here it comes!
Ge Ye perked up, knowing they had reached the meat of the matter.
"Please, speak, nephew Xiao Yan!"
Ge Ye looked ready to listen with utmost attention.
Xiao Yan held up two fingers and said unhurriedly, "It's simple. Five is fine, but for every helper I give up, your Misty Cloud Sect must compensate me with two portions of Qi Gathering Powder and another hundred thousand gold coins."
"Hiss-"
At those words, everyone in the hall sucked in a sharp breath!
Even the corners of Xiao Zhan's eyes twitched violently. His own son's outrageous demand had stunned him!
Ge Ye felt as though he was about to have a heart attack.
I knew you wanted to fleece me, but I truly never imagined you'd dare strip me this bare!
You aren't the least bit afraid of offending the Misty Cloud Sect!
Looking at Xiao Yan's "pay it or don't, suit yourselves" expression, Ge Ye sighed. He knew there was no avoiding a heavy loss today.
So be it!
I'll bleed a little and get this over with sooner!
He gritted his teeth and began calculating rapidly in his mind.
He had brought three portions of Qi Gathering Powder supplied by the sect. Together with the two in his personal collection, that made five.
He also had some two or three hundred thousand gold coins on him.
Now he could only slash the price in half and see whether the other party would accept.
And although five helpers would still put immense pressure on Nalan Yanran, with the Misty Cloud Sect's deep reserves, she still had a chance of defeating five ordinary Dou Shi!
Besides, during the match, her opponent would have to keep people beside him for protection. She might only have to face three!
Five is acceptable for our side!
After a painful battle between conflicting impulses, Ge Ye finally made up his mind. He shakily held up five fingers, his voice hoarse.
"Nephew Xiao Yan... five fewer helpers! We'll... we'll pay five portions of Qi Gathering Powder and two hundred and fifty thousand gold coins!
"That's the absolute limit of what I can authorize!
"Any more, and I'd rather give up my position as elder today and have the Sect Master come negotiate with your Xiao Clan personally!"
That was both the truth and a threat.
If matters really escalated until the Misty Cloud Sect Master had to intervene personally, the nature of the affair would change completely.
Xiao Yan smacked his lips, feeling that the price was fairly acceptable.
He had achieved his goal. If he pushed further, a cornered dog might leap over the wall, and that would only spoil things.
He nodded with a show of "great reluctance."
"Since you've gone that far, Elder Ge, refusing again would make me, Xiao Yan, seem unreasonable."
"All right. For the sake of the gold coins... ah, no, for your sake, Elder Ge, it's settled!
"Three years from now, at the Misty Cloud Sect, I'll fight Miss Nalan, and I may invite five helpers to assist me! Let this agreement stand!"
As his words fell, Ge Ye slumped back into his chair, relieved of a crushing burden.
With trembling hands, he took a jade bottle and a Purple Gold Card from inside his robes, set them on the table, and pushed them over, his eyes filled with pain and reluctance.
Having done all that, he stood, cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan, and spoke in a raspy voice.
"Clan Chief Xiao, our Misty Cloud Sect acted rashly today. We take our leave!"
With that, he pulled along Nalan Yanran, who was still consumed by anger and humiliation, and the arrogant young man, who had long since been scared witless, and headed out without looking back.
At the doorway, Nalan Yanran suddenly broke free of Ge Ye's hand.
She whipped her head around. Her beautiful eyes, once so overbearing, were now filled with icy hatred and humiliation etched into her very bones.
She fixed Xiao Yan with a fierce stare and spoke each word distinctly.
"Xiao Yan, three years from now, at the Misty Cloud Sect, I'll be waiting for you!
"For today's humiliation, I, Nalan Yanran, will make you repay me a hundredfold!"
With that, she turned and left resolutely.
Yet her retreating figure carried a desolation and discomposure that had not been there when she arrived.
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