211: Chapter 211 Mediation Begins

The next day, Li Residence.

When Manager Zhou arrived at the Li Residence, Li Wannian had already been waiting at the entrance for a long time.

"Manager Zhou, your presence brings great honor to my humble home. Please forgive me for not welcoming you from further away," Li Wannian said with a Face full of smiles, maintaining a very humble posture.

"Patriarch Li, you're too polite." Zhou Yuansheng waved his hand. "I've come regarding the matter of Qingshi Mountain. You should have seen Wanbao Pavilion's survey report by now, right?"

"I have seen it." Li Wannian's expression turned bitter. "But I feel that this report is somewhat biased."

"Where is the bias?"

"Those three so-called 'encroaching mine tunnels' are actually old tunnels that have existed for many years; they weren't newly dug by the Li Family," Li Wannian said. "Furthermore, whether the direction of those tunnels truly crossed the boundary is also a matter of dispute."

Zhou Yuansheng's eyebrows twitched slightly.

"Is Patriarch Li implying that Wanbao Pavilion's survey report is inaccurate?"

"That's not what I mean," Li Wannian said hurriedly. "I just feel that the survey should be conducted by a neutral institution mutually recognized by both parties. Although Wanbao Pavilion is neutral, the survey team was invited by the Jiang Family, so it's inevitable..."

"The survey team was proposed by Shopkeeper Nangong himself, not invited by the Jiang Family," Zhou Yuansheng interrupted him.

Li Wannian was stunned.

"Is what Manager Zhou says true?"

"I asked Jiang Wanshan personally, and he answered it himself," Zhou Yuansheng said. "If Patriarch Li doesn't believe it, you can verify it yourself."

Li Wannian's expression changed slightly.

He had originally thought the survey team was invited by the Jiang Family, which would have allowed him to make an issue out of it. He hadn't expected Wanbao Pavilion to intervene on their own initiative; that changed everything.

Wanbao Pavilion's proactive intervention indicated they took this matter very seriously. If the Li Family continued to make trouble, they wouldn't just be offending the Jiang Family, but Wanbao Pavilion as well.

"Then what is Manager Zhou's meaning?"

"My meaning is to handle things according to the rules," Zhou Yuansheng said indifferently. "The data in the survey report is factual; the Li Family has indeed crossed the boundary, and compensation is only natural. If Patriarch Li is dissatisfied, you can request a third-party review. But I remind you, a review takes time and incurs costs. Moreover, if the review results match Wanbao Pavilion's report, the Li Family will not only have to pay compensation but also bear the costs of the review."

Li Wannian's Face turned ashen, but he didn't dare to lash out.

Zhou Yuansheng's attitude was already very clear; he was not standing on the Li Family's side.

"Manager Zhou, I need time to consider."

"Three days." Zhou Yuansheng held up three fingers. "I want your answer in three days."

He rose, cupped his fists, and left the Li Residence with his two assistants.

---

Li Wannian sat in the hall, his expression shifting between light and dark.

"Patriarch, what should we do?" Grand Elder Li Wanjun stepped out from behind a screen, his expression grave. "Zhou Yuansheng won't help us, and Wanbao Pavilion is standing with the Jiang Family. If we agree to the compensation, three million Spirit Stones plus giving up the South City Market will severely damage the Li Family's Origin Qi. If we don't agree..."

"To not agree is to defy orders," Li Wannian gritted his teeth. "Although Zhou Yuansheng is just a manager, he represents the Heavenly Dao Palace. Neither you nor I can afford the consequences of defying orders."

"So we just accept it?"

Li Wannian was silent for a long time before slowly shaking his head.

"We can't just accept it. If we do, the Li Family is finished."

He stood up and began pacing back and forth in the hall.

"Zhou Yuansheng is one of Taiyin Star Lord's people. Our Li Family's backing is Star Lord Luohou, not Taiyin Star Lord. He won't listen to us."

Li Wanjun frowned. "Does the Patriarch intend to seek out Star Lord Luohou again? We asked the Heavenly Dao Palace for help before, but Star Lord Luohou's people knew Zhou Yuansheng was coming, so they didn't send anyone else."

"We can only seek help again." Li Wannian stopped walking. "Although Star Lord Luohou is far away in Tianque City, the Li Family pays him a significant tribute every year. At a critical moment, he must say a word on our behalf."

"But would a Star Lord intervene for such a small matter?"

"That's why we must make him feel it's not a small matter." A sharp glint flashed in Li Wannian's eyes. "The Jiang Family has Wanbao Pavilion backing them, and Wanbao Pavilion has been secretly expanding its influence these past years. The Heavenly Dao Palace has long found them an eyesore. If Star Lord Luohou can use this opportunity to suppress Wanbao Pavilion, it would be a convenient move for him."

Li Wanjun was struck with realization.

"I'll go prepare a transmission for the Star Lord right away."

"Wait." Li Wannian stopped him. "Don't just send a transmission. Prepare a generous gift and have our most trusted person deliver it to Tianque City personally. Remember, it must be presented to Star Lord Luohou in person and cannot pass through anyone else's hands. It will take ten days to get to Tianque City from here; the Star Lord will handle it upon receiving the transmission first."

"Understood."

Li Wanjun took his orders and withdrew.

---

The news quickly reached Ling Hao's ears.

"Li Wannian has sent someone to Tianque City," Shadow Seven reported. "According to our mole in the Li Family, Li Wanjun prepared a generous gift to be presented to Star Lord Luohou, requesting the Star Lord's intervention."

Ling Xiao's brow furrowed. "Star Lord Luohou is in charge of intelligence for the Heavenly Dao Palace, and his status is even higher than Taiyin Star Lord's. If he intervenes, Zhou Yuansheng will be even less likely to resist."

Ling Hao nodded, not at all surprised.

"As expected. The Li Family has their own backing, so of course they would seek out their master. When we had the Jiang Family ask Wanbao Pavilion to step in, we had already accounted for this step."

"Then what should we do?" Ling Xiao asked.

"Do nothing," Ling Hao said indifferently. "Star Lord Luohou is an intelligence chief, not an enforcer. Even if he wants to help the Li Family, he won't come to Tianhuo City personally. At most, he'll send someone to pass a message. So long as Zhou Yuansheng saves Face on the surface, he'll continue to do what he must in private."

"But what if Star Lord Luohou directly orders Zhou Yuansheng to favor the Li Family?"

"He won't." Ling Hao shook his head. "The interior of the Heavenly Dao Palace is not a monolith. Taiyin Star Lord and Star Lord Luohou each manage their own departments and don't report to each other. Zhou Yuansheng can ignore Star Lord Luohou's orders; after all, he is Taiyin Star Lord's man. Between his direct superior and someone else's superior, he will naturally listen to his own."

Ling Xiao looked thoughtful.

"Besides," Ling Hao continued, "Star Lord Luohou is an intelligence chief and is best at weighing pros and cons. He will do the math: is it worth offending Wanbao Pavilion for the sake of the Li Family in Tianhuo City? The answer is clearly no."

"Then won't the Li Family's efforts be in vain?"

"Not entirely." The corners of Ling Hao's mouth curled slightly. "Since Star Lord Luohou accepted the Li Family's gift, he has to show something for it. He might tell Zhou Yuansheng to 'handle it with leniency,' such as reducing the compensation amount or extending the deadline. But to have Zhou Yuansheng overturn Wanbao Pavilion's survey report? Impossible."

"That's good then." Ling Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.

Ling Hao stood up and walked to the window.

"However, we cannot let our guard down. Star Lord Luohou might send someone to Tianhuo City to investigate. At that time, our identities will be at risk of exposure."

"Then we..."

"Remain still," Ling Hao said. "As long as we don't take the initiative to cause trouble, they won't find anything. A 'merchant from the Southern Region' isn't worth the Heavenly Dao Palace making a big fuss over."

---

The next day,

A transmission talisman flew in from the Void Realm and landed in Zhou Yuansheng's hand.

Zhou Yuansheng opened the transmission talisman, and after reading the contents, his expression changed slightly.

There were two handwritten decrees on the transmission talisman.

One was from Taiyin Star Lord: "Regarding the matter in Tianhuo City, take a long-term view; do not be anxious or rash."

The other was from Star Lord Luohou: "The dispute over Qingshi Mountain should be resolved rather than aggravated. The compensation amount can be discussed, but the facts must not be overturned."

Zhou Yuansheng was silent for a long time before tucking the transmission talisman into his sleeve.

Both Star Lords had spoken.

Taiyin Star Lord's meaning was to "delay," while Star Lord Luohou's meaning was "it can be discussed, but the case cannot be overturned."

Taken together, it was one sentence: the compensation could be less, but the Li Family must admit fault.

"Manager Zhou, what did the Star Lords say?" the young Cultivator asked.

Zhou Yuansheng gave a brief summary of the two decrees.

The young Cultivator frowned. "The meanings of the two Star Lords seem a bit different."

"It's only natural they're different," Zhou Yuansheng said indifferently. "Taiyin Star Lord doesn't want to get involved in meddlesome affairs, while Star Lord Luohou wants to help the Li Family without offending Wanbao Pavilion. So, as the errand boy, I have to find a balance in the middle."

"Then what do we do?"

"Proceed as usual," Zhou Yuansheng said. "Go to the Jiang Family tomorrow and have Jiang Wanshan lower the compensation amount. Lower it to a level the Li Family can accept. If both families take a step back, the matter will be settled."

"But will Jiang Wanshan agree?"

"He will." Zhou Yuansheng smiled. "Jiang Wanshan is no fool; he knows when to quit while he's ahead. If the Li Family is pushed too hard and the two families truly start a war, it won't benefit anyone."