LĂŒqiu Qingfeng's appearance was unexpected, but Wei Tu wasnât exactly surprised.
Two years ago, after soul-searching Yan Gongcheng and learning that his defection to the Spider Heart Sect was ordered by LĂŒqiu Jinyuan, Wei Tu had already started suspecting that the Blood Flood Dragon Merchant Guild might have hidden backers.
Among those possible backers, LĂŒqiu Qingfeng was naturally one of them. After all, her relationship with LĂŒqiu Jinyuan was famously poor. It wasnât far-fetched to think she might have a hand in pushing him to target the guild.
"So itâs the Ninth Princess?"
"Wei greets you."
Suppressing his thoughts, Wei Tu smiled slightly. After clasping his hands in greeting to both Nangong Zhe and LĂŒqiu Qingfeng, he calmly took a seat directly opposite LĂŒqiu Qingfeng without the slightest hesitation.
With his worldly experience, it wasnât hard to guess Nangong Zheâs intentionâintroducing this higher-level "patron" at such a moment likely meant he had a request and wanted to stabilize Wei Tuâs stance.
After all, with Ying Ziming gone, the guild's main branch couldnât afford to lose another major fighting force like him at such a critical time.
And for LĂŒqiu Qingfeng, the guild might be one of her few remaining private assets. She didnât want it to collapse, which was probably why she had decided to show herself and meet him in person with Nangong Zhe in tow.
Since he saw through their motive, there was no reason for Wei Tu to lower himself to play along.
Besides, even if there was a gap in status and cultivation between him and LĂŒqiu Qingfeng, it wasnât wide enough for him to grovel.
"How... daring!"
Nangong Zhe was shocked and angry when he saw this. After all, the LĂŒqiu Clan was royalty in the Donghua Demon Kingdom, and as the Ninth Princess, her status was even more exalted.
Sitting down beside her without her permission was basically a direct provocation.
However, just as the words were about to leave his mouth, Nangong Zhe caught himself and swallowed them back down.
Disrespecting a royal princess was certainly a grave offenseâbut the man in front of him wasnât some ordinary cultivator or random Nascent Soul.
If Wei Tuâs potential was fully realized, he could one day break through to Divine Transformation.
Even if he didnât reach that, with enough time, he could still easily reach the peak of what even the LĂŒqiu Clan could offer.
His current low profile was only because he hadnât been cultivating long enough.
From that perspective, Wei Tu more than qualified to sit beside the Ninth Princess.
Outside the Donghua Demon Kingdom, in the broader world, his status would definitely outweigh hers.
In other words, just like the Ninth Princess, Wei Tu was born to be a masterânot someone that a subordinate like Nangong Zhe could criticize at will.
...
Noticing Nangong Zhe's flicker of anger and hesitation to speak, Wei Tu narrowed his eyes. He had already guessed most of what the man was thinking.
"I wonder why President Nangong introduced me to the Ninth Princess today?" Wei Tu broke the silence and took the lead in steering the conversation.
At those words, LĂŒqiu Qingfengâs brows furrowed slightly. She was a bit annoyed at Wei Tu's lack of respect.
She didnât believe for a second that he couldnât tell she was the one in charge, not Nangong Zhe.
A moment ago, he had seated himself without greeting her. She let it go.
Now, he was blatantly ignoring her and speaking directly to Nangong Zheâas if she didnât exist. That was just plain rude.
'He's young and comes from a sect in the Southern Yan Sea Region. Maybe he doesnât understand demon kingdom etiquette or royal decorum. He doesnât know any better.'
LĂŒqiu Qingfeng consoled herself.
After all, she couldnât just throw a fit over a petty slight and ruin any future cooperation with someone as promising as Wei Tu.
But she was wrong.
Wei Tu, raised from the bottom, wasnât some soft, pampered noble. By his early teens, he already understood the rules of hierarchy.
He was deliberately provoking her, testing her limits. That way, heâd have a better grasp of boundaries for whatever negotiations followed.
"Princess..." Nangong Zhe looked over at LĂŒqiu Qingfeng, clearly seeking her opinion.
Wei Tu might be excused for not knowing the rules, but as her subordinate, Nangong Zhe had to follow protocol.
"Speak plainly," LĂŒqiu Qingfeng said coolly.
Now that she had shown her face, she wasnât in the mood to beat around the bush.
Sincerity might not win over Wei Tu completely, but gaining his trust and securing cooperation was still worth the effort.
With her approval, Nangong Zhe no longer hesitated. He immediately explained the current crisis the Blood Flood Dragon Merchant Guild was facing and expressed his sincere request for Wei Tu to stay and weather the storm with them.
"As long as Fellow Daoist Wei is willing to stay, once we pull through this crisis, Iâm willing to give you 20% of the guild's equity."
Nangong Zhe looked earnest.
20% equity?
That might sound small, but Wei Tu understoodâthis was an incredibly generous offer from Nangong Zhe and LĂŒqiu Qingfeng.
From the outside, it looked like the Blood Flood Dragon Merchant Guild was under LĂŒqiu Qingfengâs remote control. But control from a distance didnât mean she had the power to monopolize the actual profits.
After all, decision-making power wasnât the same as the right to dividends.
Everyone in the guild was starving for resources. That 20% equity might seem small, but after factoring in what needed to be given to other cultivators, it was already a significant offer.
"20% equity is a lot, but Wei doesnât like gambling his future alongside strangers while carrying the risk." Wei Tuâs tone was calm, and not a trace of emotion showed on his face. He wasnât the least bit moved by the offer.
And he meant what he said.
He didnât want to risk his life dealing with the Spider Heart Sect alongside the Blood Flood Dragon Merchant Guild.
When people get killed, they die. That was a simple truth.
Two years ago, he thought Ying Ziming wouldnât die, but in the end, Ying Ziming was still killedâhunted down by both the Holy Son of Fa Guang and the ancient sect master.
Against the Spider Heart Sect, maybe he was an exception⊠or maybe not.
In a head-on battle, with no advantage, he didnât want to bet on that slim chance.
Besides, 20% equity was a generous slice, but only under the assumption that the Blood Flood Dragon Merchant Guild would survive.
Without that, the equity might not be entirely worthless, but it sure wasnât worth a Nascent Soul cultivatorâs life.
At least for Wei Tu, it wasnât enough to tempt him.
His answer disappointed both LĂŒqiu Qingfeng and Nangong Zhe, but neither was surprised.
If Wei Tu were someone willing to risk everything for a small profit, he wouldnât have abandoned his comrades and fled alone from Jinglei Island two years ago.
"Given the current situation, if I donât intervene personally, relying on the guild alone to repel and eliminate the Spider Heart Sect would be no different than daydreaming," LĂŒqiu Qingfeng finally spoke, her lips parting as her clear voice rang out.
It was the first time sheâd spoken since Wei Tu entered the private room.
Her voice was crisp and pleasant, like jade beads falling on a plate. But maybe because of her noble background, it carried a subtle tone of authority that naturally commanded respect.
"However, if I do make a move, Fellow Daoist Wei should have nothing to worry about when it comes to the Spider Heart Sect."
She lifted the corner of her lips slightly. Though hidden behind her veil, a trace of confidence flickered across her face.
The strongest person in the Spider Heart Sect was just the Earth Spider Matron, who had only recently broken through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage.
With her strength, eliminating that woman wasnât difficultâgiven the right opportunity.
But that confidence meant something different to Wei Tu.
Seeing her expression, he couldnât help feeling a bit more contempt toward LĂŒqiu Qingfeng.
It was clear she didnât know that LĂŒqiu Jinyuan, her old rival, was secretly backing the Spider Heart Sect.
'Of course! LĂŒqiu Qingfeng came from the main branch. Even with every advantage, she still lost to LĂŒqiu Jinyuan from a concubine line.'
'Now, how could she possibly make a comeback?' Wei Tu thought silently.
Clearly, compared to the Third Prince LĂŒqiu Jinyuan, this Ninth Princess was sorely lacking. She wasnât even close to being a match.
If she hadnât said what she just did, he mightâve considered betting on her. But now that she had, her lack of ability was glaringly obvious.
Still, no need to rub salt in the wound.
Donât slap someone in the face, donât expose their flaws.
Naturally, Wei Tu wasnât going to voice what he was really thinking in front of her.
"Your Highnessâs strength is exceptional. Dealing with the Earth Spider Matron should be easy work," Wei Tu said with a sincere look, tossing her a compliment.
Upon hearing this, LĂŒqiu Qingfeng didnât exactly feel proud, but her mood clearly lifted. Even her gaze toward Wei Tu softened.
But that didnât last long. As soon as his next words fell, her face stiffened.
"Since Your Highness is confident in handling the Earth Spider Matron, then Weiâs staying in the Blood Flood Dragon Merchant Guild would be unnecessary. Itâs better I resign early and go somewhere else."
Wei Tu clasped his hands in salute, his tone firm and respectful.
Before LĂŒqiu Qingfeng declared she would personally take action, him resigning from the guild mightâve made him seem like a petty man.
But now? That concern was gone.
As for whether this would offend LĂŒqiu QingfengâŠ
Wei Tu wasnât too worried.
If a simple rejection was enough to make her turn on him later, then it only proved that working with her wouldâve been a terrible decision to begin with.
Better to leave now.
Besides, the Blood Flood Dragon Merchant Guild was filled with eyes and ears, and Yuanjun Island wasnât just some random spirit island. Even if LĂŒqiu Qingfeng wanted to kill him, she wouldnât act rashly right now.
Once Cao Mi recovered from her injuries, the two of them together would be strong enough to rival a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Escaping LĂŒqiu Qingfengâs pursuit wouldnât be that hard.
But what truly made Wei Tu commit to this decisionâ
âwas that compared to LĂŒqiu Qingfeng, LĂŒqiu Jinyuan was clearly the more dangerous one.
Pick the softer target. If he had to offend someone, better it be LĂŒqiu Qingfeng now than LĂŒqiu Jinyuan later.
"Why refuse me?" LĂŒqiu Qingfengâs voice dropped coldly as she looked up at Wei Tu, clearly suppressing her anger.
If the offer wasnât enough, she could always raise it.
But Wei Tu didnât look like he wanted to cooperate at all. That was what she couldnât accept.
According to Nangong Zheâs investigations, Wei Tu was a greedy type.
If he werenât, he wouldnât have demanded three spirit crystals before agreeing to carry out the mission to Jinglei Islandâs branch.
"Itâs simple. Your Highness is a member of the LĂŒqiu royal family. Royals mean trouble. Without Your Highness, I could still stay in the guild. But now that youâre here, this place is clearly a hotspot for trouble." Wei Tu shook his head and replied.
Hearing this, LĂŒqiu Qingfeng was stunned. Her anger vanished instantly.
Because, frankly, what he said made perfect sense.
You need to be alive to enjoy wealth.
Yes, Wei Tu was greedy, and yes, he accepted tasks for payment. But rejecting her invitation was no lie either.
The only difference between the two was the level of risk involved.
The current task seemed less dangerousâafter all, the Earth Spider Matron wasnât her matchâbut what about afterward?
LĂŒqiu Qingfeng knew how to think from anotherâs perspective.
Over the centuries, sheâd tried recruiting cultivators like Wei Tu. They were rare, but not unheard of.
The difference wasâ
Wei Tuâs value to her was the highest.
'Heâs not rejecting me because he hates me. He just doesnât want to get dragged into the mess. That means... I might still be able to use him someday,' she thought as her almond-shaped eyes sparkled briefly.
"In that case, I wonât make things difficult for Fellow Daoist Wei. I wouldnât want you to think I donât know how to treat guests from afar."
LĂŒqiu Qingfeng chuckled softly, speaking with grace to ease the tension.
Wei Tu also realized then that LĂŒqiu Qingfeng wasnât some naĂŻve fool. She was just a poor match compared to LĂŒqiu Jinyuan.
"LĂŒqiu JinyuanâŠ" Wei Tu repeated the name silently in his heart.
He had never met the man, but just interacting with LĂŒqiu Qingfeng today was enough for him to imagine what kind of powerhouse it took to crush her so completely.
"Nangong, bring out the guest elder spirit contract between Fellow Daoist Wei and the Blood Flood Dragon Merchant Guild. Hand it to him."
"From today on, weâre still friends."
LĂŒqiu Qingfeng said again.
Cooperation didnât depend on time or place. Wei Tu leaving the guild didnât mean thereâd be no future opportunities to work together.
As long as he stayed on Yuanjun Island, there was still a chance to build that relationship further.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Nangong Zhe didnât dare hesitate. With a wave of his hand, he took out a blood-red jade slip and used his magic power to pass it to Wei Tu.
With the guest contract in hand, Wei Tu had no further reason to linger. He gave a slight bow and took his leave from LĂŒqiu Qingfeng and Nangong Zhe.
Not long after.
Once divine sense confirmed that Wei Tu had flown away from the merchant guild, Nangong Zhe frowned and glanced at LĂŒqiu Qingfengâwho had returned to her true silver-haired appearanceâthen said with a bit of confusion, "Your Highness, Wei Tu has clearly offended your dignity. Why give him any courtesy?"
As soon as he said that, LĂŒqiu Qingfeng understoodâNangong Zhe was playing dumb to cheer her up.
She didnât call him out. Instead, she smiled inwardly and pretended to scold, "Fool! You and I are people who plan for big things. Why would we offend someone with such potential over a minor slight?"
"Besides, Wei Tuâs background isnât so simple either. His sect in the Southern Yan Sea must be a powerful one. Otherwise, they wouldnât have produced someone as talented as him."
"Thereâs no need to make him an enemy."
"Now is the time to build goodwill. We might still cooperate again someday."
"Your Highness is wise!" Nangong Zhe quickly flattered her with a deep bow.