Tang Ya's self-importance

Xu Jingyao set down his teacup and laid his fan on the table. "Pavilion Master Qian, you're speaking frankly. Then I'll be frank too. Carefree Pavilion already gives Treasure Pavilion the lowest supply prices of any of our channels. If we lower them any further, Carefree Pavilion won't have any profit left."

The smile on Qian Duoduo's face remained unchanged. "You must be joking, Pavilion Master. Carefree Pavilion's low prices are famous across the continent."

"You're well informed, Pavilion Master Qian."

Xu Jingyao made no attempt to deny it, gently opening his fan. "But low prices also mean low profits. Research and development costs money, transportation costs money, and opening up distribution channels costs money. Carefree Pavilion's Shrek City branch has been open for a year, and we spent the first six months operating at a loss. You should be aware of that too, Pavilion Master Qian."

Qian Duoduo nodded. That much he did acknowledge.

Carefree Pavilion's Shrek City branch had indeed made little headway in its first six months. Only later had a few hit products allowed it to gain a foothold.

"Then what are you proposing, Pavilion Master?"

Xu Jingyao turned to glance at Yan Shaozhe. The latter was holding his teacup, looking perfectly composed, as though to say, "I'm in no hurry. You two carry on." But his shoulders, leaning slightly forward as he strained his ears to listen, had long since betrayed him.

"I can offer another five percent off."

Xu Jingyao withdrew his gaze and closed his fan. "But Treasure Pavilion has to agree to one condition."

"Please go ahead, Pavilion Master."

"Your purchases must not fall below this amount."

"Agreed. You're a decisive man, Pavilion Master."

Qian Duoduo stood and raised his teacup. "I'll toast you with tea in place of wine, Pavilion Master."

Xu Jingyao stood as well. Their teacups touched lightly, and both drained their cups.

Yan Shaozhe spoke at just the right moment, his face wreathed in smiles. "Pavilion Master Ziqing, you certainly are straightforward."

"As for the cooperation between the academy and Carefree Pavilion-"

"Rest assured, Dean Yan."

Xu Jingyao sat back down, pointing his fan toward Sea God Lake outside the window. "Carefree Pavilion will supply Shrek Academy with a batch of custom teaching Soul Tools every year, priced at cost plus ten percent. In addition, Carefree Pavilion is willing to establish a scholarship at Shrek Academy, specifically to support outer court students with strong talent but modest family means."

Yan Shaozhe's eyebrows nearly flew up to his hairline.

Scholarships?

Supporting outer court students?

"Do you truly mean that, Pavilion Master?"

"Would I lie to your face, Dean Yan?"

Xu Jingyao smiled mildly. "However, the list of scholarship recipients must be jointly reviewed by Carefree Pavilion and the academy. Since Carefree Pavilion is providing the money, we ought to have some say in who it's spent on. You understand, Dean Yan?"

"I understand, I understand. Completely!"

Yan Shaozhe nodded repeatedly, unable to suppress the smile on his face.

As long as it did not touch the inner court's core affairs, Yan Shaozhe could not have been happier to have someone contribute money and effort to these outer court matters.

The outer court had many students and limited resources. Every year, promising seedlings were buried because they could not afford the expenses of cultivation.

Carefree Pavilion's willingness to provide money was a windfall, like meat pies falling from the sky.

Zhang Lexuan had barely spoken from her place beside them, but now she suddenly asked, "Pavilion Master Ziqing, forgive my presumption, but why is Carefree Pavilion being so generous to Shrek Academy?"

Xu Jingyao glanced at her.

This senior disciple of the inner court was more composed than he had imagined.

Yan Shaozhe's mind was full of resources, and Qian Duoduo's was full of business. Only Zhang Lexuan was still asking "why."

"A good question, Miss Zhang."

Xu Jingyao tapped his fan lightly against the table. "Carefree Pavilion does business in many places, but the Douluo Continent is so vast that we cannot do business in just one country. Shrek Academy is the holy land of Soul Masters everywhere. Building good relations with Shrek Academy is equivalent to building good relations with the entire Douluo Continent's Soul Master World. Dean Yan and Dean Qian understand that principle too."

Yan Shaozhe laughed heartily, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.

Qian Duoduo stroked his beard, his smile inscrutable.

Zhang Lexuan did not pursue the question and merely nodded, but the scrutiny in her eyes had not entirely faded.

Xu Jingyao did not mind.

He had told the truth, just not the whole truth.

The three parties talked for a long while longer, moving from the technical details of Soul Tools to Shrek City's future commercial layout, and from the training of outer court students to the situation in the Original Three Kingdoms.

The longer they talked, the more excited Yan Shaozhe became and the more satisfied Qian Duoduo grew. Xu Jingyao remained as unhurried as ever, his eyes smiling beneath his mask. He said neither too much nor too little, striking just the right balance.

Only when the sun had slanted westward and the tea had been changed three times did the meeting finally draw to a close.

"Pavilion Master Ziqing, the academy has arranged a welcoming banquet tonight. Please do us the honor of attending."

Yan Shaozhe rose to see him off, his expression even warmer than when he had arrived.

"I appreciate your kindness, Dean Yan."

Xu Jingyao cupped his hands. "But I've only just arrived today and still have some matters to attend to. Let's dispense with the welcoming banquet."

"Then tomorrow-"

"We'll discuss tomorrow when it comes."

Yan Shaozhe did not insist, smiling as he escorted him downstairs.

Qian Duoduo and Madam Zhou accompanied them as well. Along the way, Qian Duoduo was still discussing supply details for a particular Soul Tool with Xu Jingyao in a low voice. They looked like old friends of many years, with no sign that just two hours earlier they had been arguing over discounts until their faces were red.

Upon stepping out through the outer court doors, Xu Jingyao immediately spotted Xuan Zi still sitting on the corridor bench. A pile of empty boxes stood before him, and he clutched the last fried chicken drumstick in his hand, basking in the sun with narrowed eyes.

"Xuan Zi, will you be attending the welcoming banquet?"

Yan Shaozhe asked.

"Huh?"

Xuan Zi opened his eyes, looked at Xu Jingyao, then at Yan Shaozhe. "Finished talking?"

"As long as you're done. I'm not going. I'll go buy another couple of boxes of that new braised food from your branch and take them back to go with my wine."

Xu Jingyao could not help chuckling. "If you like it, Xuan Zi, I'll have someone deliver it straight to your residence later."

Xuan Zi's eyes lit up, and he thrust out his greasy hand. "Then it's a deal!"

Yan Shaozhe covered his face, unable to bear the sight.

Xu Jingyao smiled and bade everyone farewell, then headed out of the academy with Shadow Douluo.

He had only taken a few steps when hurried footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.

"Pavilion Master Ziqing! Wait!"

Xu Jingyao turned and saw a woman in her early twenties running briskly toward him from a side path.

She wore a fitted martial outfit, her hair tied in a ponytail, and had delicate features. But at that moment, her face was flushed, and her eyes were filled with anxiety and unwillingness to accept things.

Tang Ya.

Tang Ya, the Tang Sect's sect master.

Xu Jingyao paused, gently opening his fan.

Tang Ya ran up to him, panting, her chest heaving violently. Her gaze held a measure of suppressed anger and a sense of grievance she could hardly conceal.

"Pavilion Master Ziqing, I'm Tang Ya, sect master of the Tang Sect."

"I know."

Xu Jingyao nodded, his tone mild. "Do you need something, Sect Master Tang?"

"Why wasn't the Tang Sect included in the cooperation you discussed today?"

There was a questioning edge to Tang Ya's voice. "The Tang Sect is also an affiliated sect of Shrek Academy, and we have a share in Treasure Pavilion's business too. Why did you exclude the Tang Sect from your three-party talks?"

Xu Jingyao looked at her and fell silent for a breath.

This Tang Sect master was indeed still too young.

Or rather, she thought far too highly of herself.

"Sect Master Tang." Xu Jingyao gently closed his fan, his voice measured and unhurried. "Today's meeting concerned Carefree Pavilion, Shrek Academy, and Treasure Pavilion. Carefree Pavilion's Soul Tool business has no overlap with the Tang Sect's hidden weapon business, and Treasure Pavilion's consignment channels don't carry Tang Sect goods either. I don't quite understand why the Tang Sect should have been present."