354: Lively and lively

“Alas…”

Wang Yu sighed and explained, “Try to ask for more. Actually, at first, there were only five drops of tan milk. Later, after continuous pressure from the Family, it slowly increased to ten drops. But even if it doubled, it’s still too little. Our Wang Family has many people, and this amount is simply not enough to go around.”

Wang Ying nodded in agreement. His Brothers had toiled for the Family for many years, yet they had never tasted tan milk.

Xu Sanyan understood. So this was how they negotiated, trying every means to extract things from others’ hands.

“And recently, Xuanku Mountain hasn’t been very well-behaved. The Wang Family Head’s intention is to give them a warning, to make them rein in those small ambitions,” Wang Yu said.

Wang Ying hinted, “Recently, a small ore vein was discovered at the border between Xuanku Mountain and Chi Shan Yang Family. Both sides are currently in a stalemate.”

“Ore vein?”

Xu Sanyan pondered for a moment. He understood Wang Ying’s meaning, that he wanted him to stir things up. So he asked curiously, “Doesn’t the Wang Family want it?”

Wang Ying shook his head, “The Wang Family takes sixty percent, and the remaining forty percent goes to the Family that mines it. What both sides are currently fighting over is this mining right.”

So that’s how it is.

Wang Yu scoffed, “Both sides are openly and secretly fighting, having a grand time. People’s brains are almost beaten into dog brains. Not long ago, I heard that the Yang Family’s second son went missing. I estimate it was probably Xuanku Mountain’s doing.”

Xu Sanyan asked, “If Xuanku Mountain’s strength is so great, how can the Yang Family be their opponent? Don’t we need to intervene?”

“Why should we intervene?”

Wang Ying smiled and explained, “Let them fight. The deeper their enmity, the easier it is for us to manage. Besides, Xuanku Mountain wouldn’t dare to truly annihilate the Yang Family. At most, they’ll secretly kill some people, wanting the Yang Family to retreat in the face of difficulty.”

“Hmm…”

Xu Sanyan understood. That small ore vein was like a small bone thrown out by the Wang Family, enticing Xuanku Mountain and the Yang Family, like two wild dogs, to fight. And the Wang Family would maintain balance, allowing them to be injured but not killed.

As both sides fought, they accumulated grudges and also weakened their strength. The weaker they were, the easier it was for the Wang Family to control them.

Tsk, how insidious.

Xu Sanyan secretly curled his lips, but his face remained calm as he spoke, “So, what do you two mean…?”

Wang Ying and Wang Yu exchanged glances, then cupped their hands and said, “The Great Madam instructed that everything should be arranged by Mr. Lin, and the Great Madam also sent Young Miss to assist. Tomorrow, we will go together.”

Although Xu Sanyan usually didn’t manage these matters, he was, after all, their nominal leader, and they were merely subordinates.

Great Madam…

Xu Sanyan’s eyes shifted. The last drop of tan milk was sent by the Great Madam. Why was she so concerned about him?

Could it be that she wanted him?

Xu Sanyan had seen the Great Madam twice, both times in the Wang Family Head’s study. This woman was graceful, with a kind face, appearing benevolent yet not lacking in dignity, possessing the demeanor of a Family matriarch.

Xu Sanyan let his thoughts wander,

If it were her… it wouldn’t be impossible.

“Alright, then let’s go to the Yang Family first tomorrow,” Xu Sanyan said.

“Yes, if Mr. Lin has no other instructions, we will take our leave,” Wang Ying said, rising.

“Alright, I’ll see you two out.”

After seeing them off, Xu Sanyan closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, silently pondering what to do.

The Wang Family Head’s intention should be to use this opportunity with the ore vein to continue suppressing Xuanku Mountain. So, he would need to be biased, overtly and covertly helping the Yang Family, until Xuanku Mountain voluntarily yielded. At that point, they could discuss the issue of tan milk again.

As for that ore vein, it was just an excuse.

Even without the ore vein, they could find trouble for Xuanku Mountain from other aspects. If they really wanted to pick a fight, wouldn’t it be easy to find one?

If worst came to worst, he could just take a stroll on Xuanku Mountain and ask anyone he saw, “What are you looking at?”

At this moment, footsteps came from behind Xu Sanyan. He didn’t need to turn around to know it was Spring Plum.

Spring Plum stood silently behind him, not disturbing his thoughts, but simply raising a pair of slender hands to his shoulders, gently kneading and massaging him to help him relax.

Xu Sanyan closed his eyes to rest. A gentle breeze swept through the stone pavilion, bringing a hint of coolness and blowing away the stray hairs at his temples. Spring Plum gently used her fingers to comb his hair, and this scene looked surprisingly warm.

As luck would have it, Wang Zixuan arrived at this very moment. She froze in place, looking at the scene from a distance, pursing her lips as jealousy welled up in her heart.

Spring Plum was a maid she had personally chosen. She hadn't expected the little girl to be so cunning, daring to seduce her fiancé while she was away?

A mere collateral branch member, where did she get such boldness!

Xu Sanyan opened his eyes and glanced over, then beckoned, “You’ve come at just the right time.”

Wang Zixuan glared at Spring Plum, then instantly put on a smiling face, quickly stepping forward and snuggling into his embrace, casually waving her hand at Spring Plum, “You can go down first.”

“Yes.” Spring Plum pursed her lips, not daring to refuse.

Xu Sanyan spoke, “Stay. Call Xia Zhu tonight too. Let’s all have some fun together.”

“Yes.”

…

The next morning,

Outside Qianqiu City, eight figures traveled westward. Among them were seven men and one woman. The seven men were Xu Sanyan, the Wang Brothers, Wang Ying and Wang Yu, along with four other Wang Family disciples.

The one woman was the Great Madam’s daughter, Wang Mingxin.

The Wang Brothers kept their eyes down, silent throughout the journey, leading the group and diligently traveling behind the two. Wang Mingxin, however, chattered away, clinging to Xu Sanyan,

“Mr. Lin, do you think this flower would look beautiful on my head?”

Xu Sanyan smiled and nodded, “Beautiful, it would definitely be beautiful.”

He had just emerged from the beds of Spring Plum, Xia Zhu, and Wang Zixuan. Now his state of mind was as pure as a Saint’s; female beauty held no attraction for him whatsoever.

Wang Mingxin, acting coquettishly, handed him the wild flower, “Then can Mr. Lin help me put it on?”

Alas…

Xu Sanyan sighed. He couldn’t understand what the Great Madam meant by sending her daughter to seduce him.

Did the Wang Family Head agree to this?

Furthermore, the Great Madam underestimated him too much. Although Wang Mingxin was indeed beautiful, how could he be a lecherous person?

Xu Sanyan reached out to take the flower. As their fingers touched, Wang Mingxin deliberately brushed against him.

Little hussy…

Xu Sanyan secretly curled his lips, but a smile was on his face as he placed the flower in her hair. After examining it, he praised, “Truly beautiful.”

“Hehe~”

Wang Mingxin covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her face flushed with shyness, but in her heart, she was indifferent. She was merely following her mother’s instructions. She didn’t know much about the man in front of her.

She only knew that this person had extraordinary talent, already possessing Soul Refinement Realm cultivation at a young age, and she also knew he was her cousin’s fiancé.

Her mother must have seen this point and invested early.

Soul Refinement Realm cultivation was indeed worth investing in. In this era where Immortals did not exist and Saints were reclusive, He Dao Realm and Soul Refinement Realm were the peak of the pyramid. Moreover, this person achieving Soul Refining at such a young age held even greater significance.

Wang Mingxin pondered in her mind, it wouldn’t be bad if she could marry him. As for him being Wang Zixuan’s fiancé…

That wasn’t important.