Chapter 138: The Fat Man’s Fury

Getting three fire ginseng plants for free made Qin Feiyang quite happy, but he didn't show it. He still wore a look of displeasure.

This left Manager Li feeling deeply regretful and uneasy.

Elder Wan walked over to Qin Feiyang with a smile on his face and said meaningfully, "Haotian, when you left the Pill Palace back then, hoping to use our Martial King Palace to embarrass the Pill Palace, not only did we not mind, but we even took the initiative to help you..."

Qin Feiyang smiled and said, "Senior, you've got it wrong. The reason you helped me is because the value I displayed caught your eye."

"Uh!"

Elder Wan was taken aback, his face turning an extraordinarily colorful shade.

"Right, right, right. It is indeed because of that, but at least we did help you."

"Just look at the Treasure Pavilion and the Royal Family. Who stepped up to say a word for you?"

"They were all watching you make a fool of yourself. That is the difference between our Martial King Palace and them."

"You are a smart and sensible child; you can surely tell who the most reliable people are."

Just as Elder Wan finished speaking, Manager Li and the First Prince cast dissatisfied glances at him.

Manager Li said, "Old Wan, sowing discord like this is quite uncalled for."

The First Prince chimed in, "Indeed, Senior Wan. We didn't slander your Martial King Palace like that. Given your advanced years and high standing, you should uphold some sense of integrity!"

Elder Wan was currently extremely awkward, having lost all face. He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Manager Li smiled and said, "Haotian, I agree to your terms right now. Help me refine ten Crimson Fire Glaze Pills, and I will give you three of them as payment—a three-seven split."

Qin Feiyang remained silent.

The First Prince's eyes flickered as he smiled and said, "Brother Jiang, a three-seven split lacks sincerity. The Royal Family is willing to offer a four-six split. How about that?"

Manager Li was dumbfounded on the spot and raged, "You brat, are you deliberately undermining me?"

The First Prince replied, "Since Elder Wan has already started it, let's rely on our own capabilities now!"

Manager Li was so angry that his beard and eyebrows twitched.

"The situation is getting more and more delicate!"

The elegant woman muttered to herself, then looked at Qin Feiyang with a smile and said, "Haotian, it was Elder Wan and my fault before. How about this—I agree right now to a fifty-fifty split."

"What?"

"A fifty-fifty split?"

Manager Li, the First Prince, and Lin Han all stared at the elegant woman in disbelief.

The Martial King Palace was truly willing to spend a fortune.

"The Treasure Pavilion is also willing to offer a fifty-fifty split!"

"The Royal Family agrees as well!"

Manager Li and the First Prince gritted their teeth and spoke up one after another.

They were both clever men and knew that continuing to bicker like this would lead nowhere. Therefore, they simply matched the terms and left the choice to Qin Feiyang.

And right now, no matter what choice Qin Feiyang made, he was bound to offend someone.

He was well aware of this fact himself. However, he wasn't foolish enough to play a three-way elimination game.

Scanning the group, he put on a troubled expression and delayed making a decision.

Finally, he let out a deep sigh and said, "None of you are people I can afford to offend, so I have only one choice: I will help all of you, but the terms remain unchanged—a fifty-fifty split."

This was his true goal.

It was impossible for him to aid only one faction while abandoning the other two. Only by keeping all three factions in his grasp could he maximize his own benefits.

Hearing this, Elder Wan and the others fell silent.

People are inherently selfish. No one wants to share something good with others.

Yet, after pondering for a long while, they realized a problem: this matter was simply beyond their control.

Forcefully abducting this kid?

Putting aside the kid's own abilities, the other two factions certainly wouldn't let the matter rest.

Coercion was even less viable.

This kid had now become a prized commodity; if you threatened him, the others would protect him, and in the end, you would only offend him, gaining nothing while losing much.

Thinking it over, they came to a single conclusion:

Although this kid appeared arrogant on the surface, he was actually a cunning little fox. Everything had already been calculated by him.

Qin Feiyang glanced over them and smiled. "If you can't make a decision right now, go back and think it over carefully."

"There's no need, I agree," said the elegant woman.

"We agree too," Manager Li and the First Prince nodded.

Elder Wan smiled and said, "Haotian, staying at the Flying Phoenix Tower is not a long-term plan. Come back with us!"

The First Prince said, "Brother Jiang, why not accompany me to the Royal Palace? I will definitely arrange the quietest place most suitable for alchemy for you."

Elder Wan raised an eyebrow and snapped angrily, "Adults are talking, children shouldn't interrupt."

The First Prince's face twitched. Had anyone ever seen a twenty-year-old child?

"Your Highness, I have a prior agreement with the Martial King Palace, so I must decline your kind offer," Qin Feiyang said with a smile.

Actually, this was just an excuse. The real reason was that the system of the Royal Palace was identical to the Imperial Palace of the capital, a system he currently held some aversion toward.

There was another factor as well: the dignified Royal Family had actually colluded with the Lin family, which disgusted him immensely.

The First Prince nodded and said, "Very well. The gates of my Royal Palace will always remain open to you. I have some matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."

"I won't see you out," Qin Feiyang cupped his fists.

Lin Han smiled and said, "I will take my leave as well. Little brother, remember to come visit the Lin family when you have time."

"I certainly will," Qin Feiyang smiled.

"Then Lin will await your grand arrival at home."

Lin Han was secretly overjoyed. As long as this young man entered the Lin family, he would find a way to win him over, and by then, the Lin family's status in Yan City would undoubtedly rise dramatically.

Had Qin Feiyang known this thought, he certainly would have sneered at it.

After the First Prince and Lin Han left, Manager Li chatted with Qin Feiyang for a while before also taking his leave. Qin Feiyang handed him the one hundred healing pills and one hundred bone-mending pills he had already refined.

The elegant woman smiled and said, "Let's head back too!"

Qin Feiyang retrieved another jade box, handed it to the elegant woman, and said, "Elder Ji, I have some personal matters to attend to and cannot return just yet. Could you please hand this over to Ling Yunfei?"

The elegant woman frowned and asked, "What is the matter? Do you need our help?"

"It's nothing much. You all go on back; Elder Shi's presence is enough," Qin Feiyang said lightly.

"Very well!"

The elegant woman nodded and instructed Shi Zheng, "Protect his safety no matter what."

"Understood," Shi Zheng replied with a bow.

The elegant woman took the jade box, placed it directly into her Universe Bag without opening it, and turned to leave with Elder Wan.

After Shi Zheng closed the door behind them, he gave Qin Feiyang a thumbs-up and praised, "You are the most sharp-witted young man I have ever seen. Extraordinary!"

"Phew!"

Qin Feiyang let out a long breath, shook his head with a smile, and said, "Elder flatters me. My luck is just slightly better than others."

"Luck?"

Shi Zheng shook his head skeptically and asked, "Where are we heading next?"

"Which district is the Lin family in?" Qin Feiyang asked instead of answering.

"The Eastern District," Shi Zheng said.

"Good. Let's rest for a bit. When dawn breaks, we'll head to the Eastern District."

A sharp glint flashed through Qin Feiyang's eyes as he stepped into the ancient castle to continue transcribing the Return Art.

Pill Palace!

The议事大殿 (Assembly Hall).

Elder He and Jia Hei hung their heads, their expressions shifting uncertainly.

Before long, an executive elder rushed into the hall in a flurry.

Elder He hurriedly looked up at the executive elder and asked, "Have you found out?"

"It has been verified," the executive elder nodded and said in a deep voice, "Although I didn't see Jiang Haotian at the Flying Phoenix Tower, Lin Han and the First Prince told us upon leaving that they witnessed Jiang Haotian swallow a top-grade Crimson Fire Glaze Pill and break through two minor realms consecutively!"

Hearing this, Elder He's body trembled.

Deep within his heart, an unshakeable wave of regret surged like a tide, drowning his senses!

As for Jia Hei, his face turned utterly ghastly!

After a long while, Elder He finally spoke to the executive elder, "You may withdraw. Oh, and go find Situ Tianyu and have him come over here."

"Yes!" The executive elder bowed and retreated.

"Old man Jia, this is the fine mess we've made!"

"If it weren't for our greed for power and wealth, forcing him to hand over the Netherworld Demonic Flame, he would right now..."

At this point, Elder He could not go on. All his words and all his regrets condensed into a helpless, prolonged sigh.

"This little bastard cannot be left alive!"

Jia Hei muttered inwardly, a chilling, murderous glint flashing through his aged eyes.

Shortly after, the fatty arrived at the Assembly Hall and bowed, "This disciple greets the two elders."

Elder He asked, "I heard that rumor was spread by you?"

The fatty's eyes flickered slightly as he nodded, "It was indeed spread by this disciple."

"Why would you help him?" Elder He frowned.

"Damn it, helping Boss Qin or not is Fatty's freedom. What the hell does it have to do with you guys? You've got too much time on your hands and nothing better to do," the fatty cursed inwardly, but bowed and said, "Although he left the Pill Palace, he is my friend. Besides, he also gave this disciple a top-grade Crimson Fire Glaze Pill..."

"What?"

The two men were startled.

Jia Hei hastily demanded, "Show me that pill."

The fatty replied, "This disciple has already consumed it."

"Consumed it?"

Jia Hei froze, then flew into a towering rage, roaring furiously, "You piece of trash, are you worthy of consuming a top-grade Crimson Fire Glaze Pill?"

His gaze was filled with extreme contempt!

The anger in the fatty's heart flared up!

This was given to him by Qin Feiyang; why wasn't he worthy of consuming it? To be called trash on top of that?

This was truly bullying people too far!

Just wait, old bastard, Fatty will make you cry sooner or later.

Elder He frowned and chided, "Old Jia, watch your language."

"Hmph, such a fine top-grade Crimson Fire Glaze Pill actually wasted on a pig. Simply detestable," Jia Hei snorted, his harshly insulting words completely unmasked.

Hearing this, the fatty felt the anger burn inside him!

At that moment, a crazy thought sprouted in his mind!

"Can you tone it down?" Elder He glared fiercely at Jia Hei, then turned to the fatty and said, "Since you are so close to Jiang Haotian, this elder has a task for you: go and persuade him to return. Once this matter succeeds, this elder will break the rules and promote you to an inner disciple."

"Really?" The fatty's eyes widened.

"Of course it's true," Elder He nodded.

"Good, consider this matter settled," the fatty said, overjoyed, patting his chest and swearing oaths of success.

"Then it's settled. You may leave!" Elder He waved his hand.

"This disciple takes his leave."

The fatty bowed, turned around, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"Even Fatty doesn't want to stay in this trashy place anymore, yet you want Fatty to go persuade Boss Qin? Keep dreaming!"

"You two old fogies, just wait. You'll soon find out that Fatty is not someone to be trifled with!"

With an internal sneer, he swiftly left the Assembly Hall.