Qiangu Dongfeng looked at Leng Yaozhu sitting opposite him and cleared his throat.
"Yaozhu, would you like some tea?"
"Let's get down to business."
Leng Yaozhu didn't even lift her eyelids.
She sat upright in the chair, her back straight, her hands folded on her knees, her gaze fixed on the silvery-white, Heaven-Supporting Pillar outside the window.
Qiangu Dongfeng's hand froze in mid-air before silently retracting it.
He rubbed his hands together, and the forced smile on his face began to falter.
This woman.
He'd been chasing him for over a century, and every time they met, he acted the same way—like a rock that could never be warmed.
"Well, then I'll just say it directly."
"You say."
Qiangu Dongfeng leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the table. He organized his thoughts before speaking.
" Gu Yue, that girl, is currently in Eastsea City with Qing Linyun."
"Um."
"What I mean is, have Gu Yue keep an eye on things over there."
Leng Yaozhu finally looked up at him.
The coldness in those phoenix eyes was like a knife scraping across your face.
What should I be aware of?
"That's right, it's Soul Spirit Technology."
Qiangu Dongfeng's voice was a little weak. He avoided Leng Yaozhu's gaze and pretended to look out the window.
"We at the Spirit Pagoda have been studying the 'Heaven-Supporting Pillar' technique for so long, but we still haven't figured it out. Since Gu Yue is studying there and is Qing Linyun's student, she has the advantage of being close to him and should be able to see some of it."
You want my apprentice to be your spy.
Leng Yaozhu's tone was as flat as if she were saying that the weather was nice today.
But Qiangu Dongfeng sensed the suppressed anger beneath the surface.
That's a very direct statement.
Qiangu Dongfeng's heart skipped a beat. He knew Leng Yaozhu wouldn't give him a friendly look.
"You can't say that," he quickly waved his hand. "What 'spy' nonsense, that sounds awful. It's just normal academic exchange, sharing information."
"Exchange what you have and what you don't."
Leng Yaozhu repeated herself, a cold smile playing on her lips.
" Qiangu Dongfeng, your Spirit Pagoda, the number one Soul Spirit organization on the continent, requires an eight or nine-year-old girl like me to learn Soul Spirit Technology from a fifteen-year-old child. Who would believe that if you told them?"
The Qiangu Dongfeng was momentarily choked.
He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word for a long time.
This is indeed a disgraceful matter.
But he had no choice.
The Soul Spirit Technology of the Heaven-Supporting Pillar blocked the Spirit Pagoda like a wall. He sent three groups of people to make contact, but they couldn't even get close to the door of the production workshop.
The researchers sent there returned and reported that the core technology of the Heaven-Supporting Pillar" was completely inaccessible to the peripheral staff, leaving them with no way to begin their investigation.
The only possible entry point is through Gu Yue.
Because Gu Yue is Leng Yaozhu's apprentice.
Because Gu Yue is currently taking classes under Qing Linyun's tutelage.
"Yao Zhu."
The Qiangu Dongfeng softened its tone.
"I know this is difficult for you. So, I won't let you help for nothing."
He sat up straight.
"Regarding the research and development of Soul Spirit Technology, I'm transferring control of the three branch towers south of the Spirit Pagoda to the Phoenix Clan."
Leng Yaozhu's eyebrows twitched slightly.
The three branch towers to the south are the most profitable area of Spirit Pagoda. The annual turnover of Soul Spirit transactions accounts for 40% of the entire Spirit Pagoda.
"Besides."
Qiangu Dongfeng gritted his teeth, as if he had made a great decision.
"Of the eighteen branch towers in the Douluo Continent, how many can you directly control right now? Three."
"I know," Leng Yaozhu said calmly.
I'll give you two more.
Leng Yaozhu finally turned her gaze away from the window and onto Qiangu Dongfeng's face.
A hint of seriousness appeared in her eyes.
"You can choose the person and location for the two branch tower master positions."
Qiangu Dongfeng spoke very seriously.
"My people will never interfere. The Phoenix Clan can insert their nails wherever they want."
The office was silent for a few seconds.
Leng Yaozhu did not answer immediately.
She tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest, her mind racing with calculations.
The project control of the three southern branch towers, plus two new branch tower master positions.
These conditions are undeniably generous.
The Phoenix Clan already wielded considerable influence within the Spirit Pagoda, but acquiring these two branch pagodas would constitute a genuine expansion of their territory.
From now on, the Phoenix Clan's influence within the Spirit Pagoda will be so great that even the Qiangu Family will have to give way to them.
Furthermore, control over the Soul Spirit project in the three southern branch towers means that the Phoenix Clan can directly intervene in Soul Spirit pricing and distribution channels. This is a huge boost to the Phoenix Clan's economic strength.
but.
Gu Yue is only eight or nine years old.
Leng Yaozhu's voice turned somber.
"You're letting an eight or nine-year-old child do this kind of thing for you?"
'That old man really has the nerve to say that.'
Leng Yaozhu sneered inwardly. Looking at Qiangu Dongfeng's feigned sincerity, her disgust rose again.
She's not an ordinary child.
"Qiangu Dongfeng" quickly said, his tone ingratiating.
"She's your apprentice, Leng Yaozhu's disciple, the heir to a reclusive family, and her talent is unbelievable. I wouldn't trust anyone else with this."
"Besides, Gu Yue herself won't be in any danger. She just goes to school and attends classes normally, occasionally appearing in front of Qing Linyun. The Heaven-Supporting Pillar doesn't know she's one of ours. She's just a child, how can Qing Linyun possibly guard against her?"
Leng Yaozhu remained silent for a long time.
She closed her eyes and leaned back in her chair.
Qiangu Dongfeng dared not speak, and just stared at her expectantly. He knew that he couldn't rush her at a time like this, or it would be all over.
About two minutes later, Leng Yaozhu opened her eyes.
I agree to your terms.
A weight has been lifted from Qiangu Dongfeng's heart.
"But."
Leng Yaozhu added two more words.
Qiangu Dongfeng heart leaped with anticipation once more.
I need to ask Gu Yue what he thinks first.
She looked into the eyes of the Qiangu Dongfeng.
"That child may be young, but she has a strong will. If she doesn't want to, I won't force her."
Qiangu Dongfeng's face fell slightly.
"Yaozhu, everything's been settled, why are you still asking her? She's just a child."
"She is my apprentice."
Leng Yaozhu's tone left no room for negotiation.
"My disciple Leng Yaozhu, you're making decisions for her without even asking her opinion? Is this how your Spirit Pagoda operates, Qiangu Dongfeng?"
Qiangu Dongfeng was rendered speechless by the rebuttal.
He opened his mouth, but could only manage to utter one sentence.
"Alright, go ahead and ask."
'What kind of mess is this?'
The pent-up frustration in Qiangu Dongfeng's heart.
After discussing it for a long time and outlining all the terms, he was shut down by the other party's simple statement, "I need to ask the child."
Who is this "Qiangu Dongfeng"?
The master of the Spirit Pagoda, the patriarch of the Qiangu Family, and one of the most powerful people on the continent in public.
Outsiders, everyone gives him face.
As a result, even the opinion of an eight- or nine-year-old girl was more influential than the words of Leng Yaozhu, the tower master.
Leng Yaozhu stood up and straightened her clothes.
"I'll be going now if there's nothing else."
"Hey, wait a minute."
The Qiangu Dongfeng also quickly stood up.
"Yaozhu, it's noon, let's have lunch together. I've had it arranged at your favorite restaurant."
Leng Yaozhu turned and glanced at him.
The meaning in his eyes was very clear.
You're dreaming.
" The Qiangu Dongfeng."
Her voice was as cold as ice.
"Do you think that just because we're starting to work together today, you can take advantage of me?"
"I did not mean that."
That's what you mean.
Leng Yaozhu took a step forward, the cold light in her phoenix eyes piercing straight into Qiangu Dongfeng's eyes.
"Let me tell you, we're discussing business today. Business is business, and personal matters are personal. Aside from the Spirit Pagoda, there's nothing else between us."
"If you bring up dinner again, you won't even see me next time."
The Qiangu Dongfeng stood still, its face flushing red and then turning pale.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something.
Leng Yaozhu had already turned and walked towards the door.
She opened the door and walked out without looking back, her long legs swaying gracefully, exuding the charm of a mature woman.
The door closed behind her with a crisp sound.
Qiangu Dongfeng stood alone in his office, staring at the closed door, his lips twitching for a long time.
He plopped back down in his chair.
"The warm-hearted man lined up with dogs."
He gritted his teeth and cursed.
"That's fucking right."
If I ever chase after you again, I'll be a dog.