chsdbacks Chapter 64: Nangong Feiyan
Chapter 64: Nangong Feiyan
The Nangong family,
Xiao Ling'er led Zhang Ping through the back door, through the magnificent courtyard, and up to the mountain pavilion.
Zhang Ping noticed that most families with some influence in Lanjiang City liked to build tall buildings with panoramic views. The Lu family did the same, as did the Nangong family, and their buildings were even more well-located and offered better views.
"Aunt Nangong!" Xiao Ling'er called out.
The pavilion hangs precariously on the edge of an artificial cliff, shaded by ancient trees. A woman dressed in a magnificent red dress stands with her back to the two people, gazing silently into the distance. Only when she hears the shout does she turn around.
Her condescending gaze fell upon Zhang Ping. "You're here. Please have a seat."
"Greetings, Patriarch Nangong!" Zhang Ping glanced at her quickly, then immediately bowed his head and obediently sat down at the stone table. One word popped into his mind: strong woman!
As the head of the Nangong family and a woman who commands respect in Lanjiang City, Nangong Feiyan possesses an extremely strong aura of authority and is also exceptionally beautiful.
"I heard from Ling'er that you want to buy the Dragon Blood Stone I have. I'm curious, what do you want it for?" Nangong Feiyan asked calmly, her gaze inquisitive.
Zhang Ping clasped his hands in a fist salute, appearing slightly reserved: "Patriarch Nangong, I do indeed wish to purchase Dragon Bloodstone. As long as you are willing to sell, the price is negotiable. As for its use... I presume you already know, it is for making a secret medicine."
"Oh? May I see your secret medicine formula?" Nangong Feiyan chuckled. She didn't believe this story; only Ling'er, being naive and unaware of the value of dragon bloodstone, was unaware.
The secret medicine that can be made using dragon bloodstone is at least for those at the late stage of the Refining Realm. How could a down-and-out martial arts school possess such a formula?
Let alone the fact that Chongxin, the master of Sitong Martial Arts School, is only at the half-step Bone Forging Realm, even if he had truly entered the Bone Forging Realm, obtaining such a secret medicine formula would be extremely difficult.
The reason is simple: once a secret medicine involves the level of alchemy, it becomes controlled by these top families. Very few leak out, and even if someone is lucky enough to obtain it, it will quickly end up in their hands. They can use it privately, but selling it would be an offense!
Zhang Ping fell silent. He raised his head, looking directly at that stunningly beautiful face, and suddenly smiled: "Patriarch Nangong, since you've sent me here, you must be willing to sell the Dragon Blood Stone. Name your price; why pry into the secrets of a nobody like me?"
This statement is quite explicit.
Xiao Ling'er, who was secretly eating pastries, noticed that the atmosphere was not right and reached out to tug at Nangong Feiyan's clothes.
"You little brat," Nangong Feiyan said, giving her a light tap, her expression softening considerably. She then changed the subject, "Dragon Blood Stones can be sold, but the price is quite high."
Zhang Ping said solemnly, "Please speak, Master."
She stood up and walked to the edge of the cliff, her back to the two of them. "The south is in chaos, but the prefectural city remains peaceful. Today you have made a name for yourself as Ghost Blade. I guess you will settle down in the prefectural city in the future."
"Getting the Dragon Bloodstone is simple: exchange it for Chongxin's martial arts techniques and your Sitong Martial Arts School's secret medicine formula. And," she turned to Zhang Ping, "you will become a vassal of my Nangong family in the future."
These three sentences made Zhang Ping frown deeply. He had expected the Dragon Blood Stone to be difficult to obtain, but he hadn't anticipated such trouble.
He understood that things at this level couldn't be bought with money. The Nangong family wasn't short of money either.
Chongxin's cultivation technique, the Revolving Divine Skill, was quite famous in the prefectural city. If he hadn't been attacked by the mysterious person, Chongxin would have had a chance to break through from the mediocre realm to the Bone Forging realm.
As for the five secret medicines from Sitong Martial Arts School—two for skin tempering and three for meat refining—although they were valuable, the Nangong family didn't covet them and mostly collected them to enrich their resources.
He could barely accept the first two conditions, but the third condition, becoming a vassal of the Nangong family, was complicated.
Zhang Ping was aware of the relationship between the Nangong and Leng families. Or rather, all the martial artists of any caliber in the city were aware of it. Due to the Demon Extermination Bureau, the two families could not directly wage war, but the disputes between their subordinate forces had never ceased.
Asking him to seek refuge with the Nangong family would be, to put it nicely, to be their vassal; to put it bluntly, it would be to become their henchman. This was simply unacceptable.
After a moment's consideration, Zhang Ping tentatively asked, "Patriarch Nangong, could the condition of becoming a vassal be replaced with another?"
"You have no bargaining chips to tempt me," Nangong Feiyan shook her head, speaking bluntly.
"Furthermore, making Sitong Martial Arts School an vassal of the Nangong family isn't without its benefits. We will provide support, and some secret medicines and techniques will be available for exchange. If we can find exceptionally talented children to send to us, the family will also reward them. It's not what you think."
She knew that Zhang Ping was worried that becoming a vassal of Nangong would offend the Leng family.
But when you want to get something, there's no such thing as getting something without paying a price.
Zhang Ping, holding his teacup, sighed inwardly upon hearing the words "no chips." Although his strength had touched the threshold of Bone Forging, he was ultimately alone and his foundation was shallow.
But when she heard Nangong Feiyan mention Sitong Martial Arts School, her mind immediately changed.
Yup!
To outsiders, Chongxin had disappeared, and the Sitong Martial Arts School had declined. Although he had used the Lu family to issue challenges and establish the name of Ghost Blade, he was bound to take over the martial arts school. Ghost Blade's reputation was already well-known, and countless people were waiting to learn martial arts from him. He couldn't possibly abandon such a lucrative business and run off elsewhere, could he?
Therefore, Nangong Feiyan's intention was to make Sitong Martial Arts School a vassal of the Nangong family.
Contrary to his expectations!
Outsiders were unaware of his relationship with Lu Wanrou during this challenge; they simply assumed that the martial arts school had taken on a job from the Lu family.
With that thought... Zhang Ping felt relieved. This meant there was more room for maneuver.
But he didn't show any joy; instead, he seemed even more troubled: "May I add one more condition?"
Nangong Feiyan looked at him with surprise: "Speak."
"The martial arts school often needs to collect materials. Could we borrow the Nangong family's resources? Also, we have some biographical books that we might be able to consult at the Nangong family's residence?"
If we could borrow the resources of the Nangong family, it would be much easier to obtain materials for branding demons and books about this world or demons.
"Alright, only you, Zhang Ping, are allowed." Nangong Feiyan agreed readily, but gave him a meaningful look.
Zhang Ping didn't care. Even if the other party could use this to spy on him, it didn't matter. With the speed at which his strength was improving, if a day ever came when they turned against him, he would no longer fear the Nangong family.
Seeing that the deal had been struck, Xiao Ling'er happily stuffed a few pieces of pastry into her mouth: "Zhang Ping, remember to call me when you make the secret medicine!"
"Okay." Zhang Ping nodded.
Then, Nangong Feiyan waved her hand, and the Dragon Blood Stone, which had been casually placed on the empty stone bench, flew into her palm.
"This is the Dragon Blood Stone you requested. It originates from the East Sea and is said to have been formed from the essence of dragons."
The dragon blood stone is about the size of a fist, with a yellowish base color and a surface covered with scarlet blood streaks, as dense as roots.
"Thank you, Master!"
Suppressing his excitement, Zhang Ping accepted the Dragon Blood Stone and bowed deeply to Nangong Feiyan in gratitude.
"Hmm," a look of complete control appeared on Nangong Feiyan's beautiful face, "As long as you remain loyal to the Nangong family, the speed at which your strength will increase will far exceed your imagination."
"With the help of the Nangong family, you can break through to the Refining Realm in as little as ten years. At that time, you will be considered a hero among the younger generation of the entire Wei Kingdom."
"...Yes!" Zhang Ping replied, feeling a little strange.
Afterwards, Nangong Feiyan left. He chatted with Xiao Ling'er for a few moments, mostly about the movements of demons in the south. After their conversation, he took his leave and returned to the martial arts school's headquarters.
After he left, Xiao Ling'er also left.
Two figures appeared silently in the empty pavilion.
"Send someone to the Sitong Martial Arts School's headquarters to keep an eye on things and see what he's doing with the Dragon Blood Stone."
"Yes, Master!"
……