Chapter 86: I'm Tired
Heroes may withstand hardships and adversity, but they often succumb to sweet temptations.
Looking at the teary eyed Hun Xin standing before him, Xiao Yan's lips curled into a victorious smirk.
"Call me Master," he said.
"Where's my candy?"
"Call me Master first."
"I want the candy first."
A vein throbbed on Xiao Yan's forehead. This girl really is just a little foodie, isn't she?
But adhering to his principle of "better to eliminate a thousand than let one slip by," Xiao Yan turned to the other three individuals. "Come back tomorrow morning and collect 10,000 gold coins each."
"Thank you, Young Master! Thank you!" The three men were overjoyed.
To them, 10,000 gold coins was a fortune they could only dream of earning in their lifetimes.
Watching their reactions, Xiao Yan's expression softened, a hint of amusement flickering in his eyes. Wealth, after all, is a double edged sword.
A Dangerous Gift
Sudden wealth might bring comfort and happiness, but it could also corrode a person's spirit and will.
In his previous life, Xiao Yan had seen friends who won the lottery or struck it rich gambling. Yet, many of them ended up in ruin, burdened with debt and lost in despair.
When someone acquires wealth far beyond their ability to manage, it often marks the beginning of their downfall.
Xiao Yan wasn't particularly concerned with what these men would do with their newfound riches. If they succeeded, they'd owe him a favor. If they failed, they'd be ruined by their own greed a lesson learned the hard way.
After all, Xiao Yan was no saint. A villain's generosity always comes at a cost.
As the three men left, Xiao Yan turned to look at the tiny figure that barely reached his thigh.
"Jia Lie Patriarch," Xiao Yan said, glancing at Jia Lie Bi. "Have someone escort this child home."
"Yes," Jia Lie Bi replied promptly, signaling two of his subordinates.
"Where's my candy?" Hun Xin asked, her large, watery eyes fixed on Xiao Yan.
"You two," Xiao Yan ordered the guards, "go buy her a hundred lollipops. When you're done, come back to claim your reward."
"Yes, sir!" The guards immediately agreed, not daring to question him.
Hearing the promise of a hundred lollipops, Hun Xin's eyes sparkled like stars.
"Thank you, Master!" she said sweetly, her smile as radiant as sunlight.
"This can't be the chosen one," Xiao Yan muttered, rubbing his temples.
Business Negotiations
After Hun Xin was escorted away, Xiao Yan returned to his seat, sinking into it with a satisfied sigh.
"Xiao Yan," Yafei said with a helpless look, "you've promised over 100,000 gold coins to these people. And it's our Mittel Auction House footing the bill. Quite a clever move on your part."
Though her tone was teasing, there was a hint of exasperation. The auction house could afford the expense, but Xiao Yan's casual demeanor left her unsure if she'd ever recoup the costs.
Without saying a word, Xiao Yan casually tossed the Qi Gathering Powder in his hand onto the table in front of her.
"Sell this," he said. "It'll cover the cost, won't it?"
Yafei examined the pill, her lips curving into a small smile. "It will. Perhaps it'll even fetch double."
She knew that, with her expertise, the pill could easily sell for over 200,000 gold coins. However, despite the profit, she felt a twinge of disappointment.
A single pill could cover the money promised, but Yafei was a shrewd businesswoman. She knew the value of strong connections outweighed mere wealth. Xiao Yan's nonchalant generosity showed he wasn't the type to be easily controlled, making her position more challenging.
The Power of Temptation
"Here," Xiao Yan said, addressing the three family patriarchs. "Each of you gets one."
He tossed small jade bottles to them, as if discarding worthless trinkets.
The three men opened the bottles and immediately recognized the pills inside. Their faces lit up with barely restrained excitement.
"Thank you, Sir Xiao Yan! Your generosity knows no bounds!"
Each pill was worth as much as their annual family earnings. Xiao Yan's casual gift cemented their loyalty.
"Good," Xiao Yan said, waving them off. "You may leave. But tomorrow, I want you to bring Hun Xin to me. Treat her family well, and ensure they willingly entrust her to me. If money is an issue, offer more. One million gold coins if necessary just get it done."
"Yes, sir!" Jia Lie Bi replied eagerly, practically bowing as he left.
A Test of Resolve
Once they were gone, Xiao Yan turned his attention to Yafei, who had been watching him with a mixture of curiosity and unease.
"Something wrong?" Xiao Yan asked with a smirk.
Yafei forced a smile but said nothing.
With a wave of his hand, Xiao Yan placed ten jade bottles on the table beside her.
"All of these Qi Gathering Powders are yours if you agree to be my concubine," Xiao Yan said bluntly.
Yafei froze, her smile faltering. For a moment, she seemed lost in thought, but then she shook her head.
"Wealth is indeed valuable," she said softly, her voice steady. "But if I traded myself for it, I'd lose who I am."
Her words were resolute, yet there was a tinge of bitterness.
Xiao Yan chuckled. "Interesting. A woman of principle, even in business. Not bad."
He gestured for her to sit beside him. "Come here. Let's talk."
Yafei hesitated briefly but then complied, taking a seat next to him. She met his gaze directly, her expression calm but guarded.
"We've only just met. How could you possibly know anything about me?" she asked with a faint smile, her demeanor poised and elegant.
Ignoring her question, Xiao Yan leaned back and said, "I can help you become the head of the Mittel family the most powerful merchant in the Jia Ma Empire, maybe even the entire northwest."
Yafei's eyes widened, her usually composed expression cracking as her pupils shrank.
The words struck a chord deep within her. The lifelong injustices she had endured, the weight of being underestimated and sidelined by her family all of it came rushing back.
For years, she had been treated as an outsider in her own family, her ambitions dismissed despite her talents. The thought of reclaiming what was rightfully hers burned in her heart.
"You're serious?" she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Absolutely," Xiao Yan replied, his tone confident. "And if you agree to cultivate with me, your Dou Qi will advance faster. Becoming a Dou Huang (Dou King) won't be impossible."
The promise of power, combined with the fulfillment of her long held dreams, was too tempting. Yafei's breathing quickened, and a faint blush spread across her cheeks.
Finally, after a long pause, she leaned her head against Xiao Yan's shoulder and closed her eyes.
"I'm tired," she murmured, as though surrendering to fate.
(End of Chapter)
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