Chapter 93: I’m Negotiating a Big Deal

At Qingyue Lake, Liu Zheng and several other heads of small families sat on the grass by the shore. They looked at the lake with worried expressions.

The workers under them had already gone on strike. Only they remained there.

After returning to the City Lord’s Manor, Wang Mingming discussed with his father Wang Yuan, refined the God-Demon Pill, and then rushed straight to Qingyue Lake without stopping.

He went directly to the troubled-looking Liu Zheng and called out, “Uncle Liu Zheng, busy?”

Liu Zheng glanced at the newcomer. Upon seeing him, he quickly stood up. “Young City Lord, it’s you! What brings you here?”

“Uncle Liu Zheng, I’m just free and thought I’d offer some help,” Wang Mingming said with a dry laugh.

Liu Zheng sneered inwardly, but showed no trace on his face, maintaining a respectful expression. “Young City Lord, you jest. How could I dare trouble your esteemed self?”

“Uncle Liu Zheng, what’s this talk of esteem? I, Wang Mingming, may be first in the exams, first in the Hunting Competition… and now the City Lord’s son, but I’m still your good Mingming,” Wang Mingming said with a serious face.

Liu Zheng was stunned. Are you still bragging about those two first places? Doesn’t everyone in Clear Moon City know you cheated to get them?

Looking at Wang Mingming’s smiling face, Liu Zheng took a deep breath and said, “The Young City Lord has seen the Field Master’s post, right? You want to get involved with Qingyue Lake?”

Wang Mingming nodded, speaking earnestly. “Yes. Uncle Liu Zheng, you’re in a tight spot now. Qingyue Lake is contracted to you for ten years, and we shouldn’t interfere. But my City Lord’s Manor has the duty to manage all of Clear Moon City. We have an obligation to help.”

“Young City Lord… you really are as shameless as ever,” Liu Zheng sighed, finally speaking his mind.

Wang Mingming wasn’t angry. Too many people had called him shameless; he was immune. After thinking, he lowered his voice. “Uncle Liu Zheng, with my City Lord’s Manor investing, we become family. In the future, the contract for Qingyue Lake might… continue.”

Liu Zheng was slightly startled. His mind raced with possibilities, and he quickly asked, “Young City Lord, how do you plan to invest?”

“Ten thousand Yuan Coins, for three-tenths. How about that?” Wang Mingming held up one finger.

Liu Zheng’s face changed, looking quite annoyed. “Young City Lord, you’re taking advantage. Qingyue Lake, even with a little development, is worth more than ten thousand Yuan Coins. Besides, what can ten thousand do? Pay everyone’s monthly wages, hire a few Dojo experts a couple times, and it’s gone.”

If Qingyue Lake were truly developed, it wouldn’t be tens of thousands of Yuan Coins, but a continuous stream of income. Ten thousand for three-tenths was practically robbery.

“Uncle Liu, think about it. If we cooperate, you won’t have to worry about others taking Qingyue Lake away in the future. It will always be yours,” Wang Mingming recalled Wang Yuan’s instructions and spoke softly.

“Three-tenths is too much. If the Young City Lord is sincere about cooperating, I, Liu, will definitely agree. But if this is a ploy to take back the Qingyue Lake contract, I’ll accept that too,” Liu Zheng said with a grim expression. An arm can’t twist a thigh. They couldn’t compare to the Wang Family, a great clan, before. And now, with Wang Yuan as City Lord…

Wang Mingming looked around. The other family heads, all partners, were there. He lowered his voice further. “Actually, two and a half tenths is negotiable.”

“Two and a half tenths?” Liu Zheng’s expression darkened. He couldn’t hold back anymore and said loudly, “Young City Lord, are you trying to drive me to ruin? At most two-tenths.”

The other family heads also rushed over, looking displeased. “Young City Lord, only two-tenths. Two and a half is too much.”

“No, it must be two and a half. My City Lord’s Manor is not only providing ten thousand Yuan Coins but also granting you the contract rights. We’re contributing a lot,” Wang Mingming said.

“Two-tenths!” Liu Zheng was firm.

“Two and a half!” Wang Mingming didn’t budge.

“Young City Lord, at most two point one-tenths,” one of the nearby family heads furrowed his brow and spoke up.

“No, absolutely two and a half…”

Both sides bargained, arguing until their faces were red and their necks thick. Wang Mingming even rolled up his sleeves, looking ready for a fight.

“What’s going on over there?” At the edge of Qingyue Lake, a man and a woman walked quickly over, looking puzzled.

With newcomers arriving, both sides immediately stopped. Wang Mingming put his hands behind his back and walked to the side.

Liu Zheng and the others turned their heads, silent.

The man and woman frowned slightly. Their speed suddenly increased, and in an instant, they were in front of Wang Mingming. They asked coldly, “Is this place Clear Moon City?”

Wang Mingming glanced at them but couldn’t gauge their cultivation levels. “This is Clear Moon City. Who are you, and why are you here?”

“Clear Moon is good. Let’s go,” the man said, having gotten his answer, and prepared to leave.

The woman nodded slightly, about to leave, when her gaze suddenly sharpened. She pressed a palm on Wang Mingming’s shoulder. A wisp of Primordial Energy entered his body, circulated, and she exclaimed in shock, “Meridians all open, flawless physique. A genius not seen in a thousand years!”

Wang Mingming’s face changed. He stirred the Primordial Energy within, trying to break free, but couldn’t move an inch.

“Release the Young City Lord at once!” Liu Zheng and the others looked alarmed and hurried forward, surrounding the two.

The man also looked at Wang Mingming, a hint of pleasant surprise appearing on his face. “Junior Sister, are you sure?”

“Senior Brother, you can verify for yourself,” the woman said.

The man quickly placed his hand on Wang Mingming’s other shoulder, infused a wisp of Primordial Energy, and was immediately stunned. “It’s true. A genius not seen in a thousand years.”

Hearing their words, Liu Zheng relaxed slightly. These two probably meant no harm. But they still didn’t dare let their guard down, watching the pair intently.

Ignoring Liu Zheng and the others, the man spoke directly. “I am a disciple under Elder Lin Shan of the Qingshan Sect. Are you willing to join our sect?”

Wang Mingming was dumbfounded. Laozi really is a man of great fortune. I come out to negotiate a deal and run into sect disciples who want to recruit me?

But right now, I’m the Young City Lord. This… Qingshan Sect? Never heard of it.

So, Wang Mingming put on a slight smile. “You two, could you let go first?”

The two looked at each other and released their hands simultaneously. A trace of arrogance appeared on their faces. “We see you have good talent. You can join our sect. Are you willing?”

“Qingshan Sect… where is this sect? Never heard of it,” Wang Mingming rolled his eyes and quickly backed away. Liu Zheng and the others hurriedly shielded him.

“Can’t blame you for your ignorance. Clear Moon City is just a small, run-down border town of the Great Cloud Kingdom, the lowest kind of city,” the man said proudly, full of disdain for Clear Moon City and brimming with arrogance. “Our Qingshan Sect is highly renowned throughout the Great Cloud Kingdom. Elder Lin Shan is a Dao Fruit Martial Artist! Even the royal family treats him with respect!”

“Dao Fruit Martial Artist… sounds kinda impressive,” Wang Mingming smacked his lips. Then his expression turned serious, and he clasped his hands. “May I ask, if I join the Qingshan Sect, how much monthly pay will I get?”

The two: “…”

How much monthly pay for joining the Qingshan Sect?

Is this something a Martial Artist should ask?

Taking a deep breath, the man said, “Upon joining the Qingshan Sect, you can receive one Body Tempering Pill worth fifty Yuan Coins each month. You can also obtain an Innate Realm Martial Arts Technique and Innate Realm Martial Skills.”

“And then?” Wang Mingming looked at him expectantly.

“And then? Isn’t that enough?” Both were stunned. These things were extremely hard to come by. Countless people fought desperately to get them. Once you join the Qingshan Sect, you can have them. And this person is still not satisfied?

“I thought there’d be a lot of money every month,” Wang Mingming pouted. He pointed at Qingyue Lake and said proudly, “See this lake? The big deal I’m negotiating. Once developed, just selling the Demon Beasts and resources from the lake could bring me thousands, even tens of thousands of Yuan Coins in income every month. No money? Go play somewhere else.”

The two were dumbstruck. Selling Demon Beasts? Developing Qingyue Lake?