After everyone had settled into their seats, attendants served tea. Su Qing's tea was served by the young man who had been at the entrance earlier, apparently at Clan Leader Ye's instruction. Most of the Nine Heart Begonia clan's senior members wore strange expressions. Ye Hanxuan sat at the head, with the young man and a young woman standing on either side of her.
"Clan Leader Ye, I won't waste any more words. What do you think of your clan joining my Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild?" Tang Xuan asked directly.
Ye Hanxuan looked at Tang Xuan. "President Tang, our Nine Heart Begonia Sect may be small, but we don't need to depend on someone else to survive."
"Clan Leader Ye, the Nine Heart Begonia Sect still exists because the situation on the continent is relatively stable. But in a few years, when the continent descends into turmoil, will your sect still be able to protect itself?" Tang Xuan put a soul-searching question to Ye Hanxuan.
"A sect like yours, renowned yet weak, will become a sacrificial pawn in the struggle between major powers no matter which side you join. Your sect's legacy could be extinguished. Have you considered that, Clan Leader Ye?" Tang Xuan's words struck precisely at the sore spot shared by Ye Hanxuan and the Nine Heart Begonia Sect.
Ye Hanxuan's brows knitted tightly. "But your Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild isn't our only option!"
Tang Xuan chuckled. A dead duck's beak stayed stubbornly hard.
"Spirit Hall harbors a wolf's ambition. If you join them, you can only resign yourselves to becoming cannon fodder. The same goes for the two great empires. On this continent, the only power capable of protecting the Nine Heart Begonia clan without encroaching on your interests is probably my Heavenly Journey Merchant Guild."
Tang