Chapter 99: The Zheng Family Cheated, What Does It Have to Do With Me, Tang Wen?
Chapter 99: Chapter 99: The Zheng Family Cheated, What Does It Have to Do With Me, Tang Wen?
Five Families City was, in reality, just a gathering place for five clans and the refugees they had taken in.
Their greatest advantage was their geographical location—it was a reasonable distance from all the major powers, and the roads were not difficult to travel.
The Five Great Clans also followed the rules, which was why everyone was willing to come here to trade.
But they weren’t unique. A certain power nearby also had a similar geographical advantage.
They had always wanted to organize trade fairs, auctions, and the like, to turn their own camp into another hub for trade caravans.
Unfortunately, Five Families City had always done a good job, so they never got the chance.
But it was predictable that as soon as Five Families City allied with the notoriously villainous Black Mountain Camp through marriage, the surrounding powers would abandon them.
When that happened, the other camp’s opportunity would arrive.
Furthermore, Black Mountain Camp and Five Families City had a feud.
Originally, only by uniting could the five clans of Five Families City contend with Black Mountain Camp.
Once even one clan was infiltrated, the balance of power would shift, and their collective strength would immediately weaken considerably.
The other four great clans were naturally against it. As for the Huang Family, which was to be joined with Black Mountain by marriage, they too were unwilling to become vassals to the Black Mountain King.
To be a king in the city or a dog for the Black Mountain King—anyone would know how to choose.
Qian Sanduo looked at Tang Wen.
To sabotage the martial arts matchmaking competition, they still needed Tang Wen to make a move.
He spoke up, "Black Blade is very powerful. If I suddenly interfere and lose, my life will be in danger. If I win, I’ll have made a mortal enemy of him and the entire Black Mountain Camp!"
Aside from Zheng Nanzhu, who was a little irked, everyone else understood: it was time to negotiate the price.
The elder Miss Zheng felt that Tang Wen was either so arrogant that he looked down even on her, or he simply wasn’t a man!
Patriarch Zheng said with an amused laugh, "Is Flame Camp afraid of something like this?"
Tang Wen shook his head lightly. ’There’s no way I’m working for free, let alone taking on this kind of risk.’
’But the risk... that’s negotiable.’
’Worst case, I’ll go back and enter seclusion in the Royal Palace.’
’The food in the Royal Palace is pretty darn good!’
Patriarch Zheng became interested. "Then let’s follow the rules of the martial arts matchmaking. If you defeat the Black Mountain Ghost, I will marry Zhu’er to you! As for your current wife, you can bring her to the Zheng Family as well. We can even give you a dose of Protective Marrow Liquid."
"Father?" Zheng Nanzhu was about to say something but was silenced by a look from Patriarch Zheng.
’They really have Protective Marrow Liquid?’
Even though Tang Wen didn’t need it, that didn’t stop him from wanting it!
A single dose of Protective Marrow Liquid could very likely allow a talented Martial Artist to become Extraordinary.
Possessing Protective Marrow Liquid also meant that the Zheng Family would not decline for at least the next fifty years.
Tang Wen shook his head and said firmly, "Thank you for your kind offer, Patriarch Zheng, but there’s no need to mention this again."
"Can that wife of yours possibly compare to my daughter?"
"Father!"
Zheng Nanzhu’s voice was filled with displeasure. ’Some woman from a backwater village can be compared to me?’
Tang Wen gave her a faint glance and smiled slightly. "My wife is, of course, a peerless beauty."
Although no one could see his smile, the confidence in his eyes said it all.
"Peerless beauty? I’d love to see her. People come and go through Five Families City, but I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than Sister Zheng."
The cloying voice spoke again, the implication being that a "peerless beauty" certainly couldn’t be more beautiful than Zheng Nanzhu.
Zheng Nanzhu shot her a look. Although she knew the girl was just trying to stir up trouble, what woman could remain indifferent when her looks were being disparaged?
She said in a passive-aggressive tone, "Indeed, it makes one want to see for oneself!"
Tang Wen ignored her.
The atmosphere grew awkward.
Patriarch Wang took over the conversation. "Ahem! I hear Commander Qian came this time for the Water Mill Diagram? If Commander Tang Wen can defeat Black Blade, we will give you the diagram for free."
"And the craftsmen."
"We will also send ten craftsmen to work for you for a year."
"And if he fails?"
"In the unlikely event he fails, you can have the Water Mill Diagram at half price, and you’ll have to pay some wages and provisions for the craftsmen we send."
"That’s acceptable," Qian Sanduo began. After all, he was a Trade Team Leader, which was to say, a merchant.
Seeing them agree so readily, he naturally had to raise the price; Tang Wen couldn’t be had so cheaply:
"But it will be difficult for us to explain this when we get back."
Patriarch Zheng stroked his beard. "This is difficult to explain?"
Tang Wen couldn’t follow his line of thought either. He was inwardly puzzled, but his eyes remained calm.
Just then, Qian Sanduo waved his hand and said, "There’s something you all might not know. Commander Tang Wen’s wife is not only incomparably beautiful, but her status in our camp is in no way inferior to Miss Zheng’s status in Five Families City."
"Heh, as far as we know, Her Majesty the Flame Queen doesn’t seem to have a daughter, does she?" Patriarch Zheng said irritably.
Tang Wen caught on and played along. "My wife is the Queen’s own niece and General Zhou’s own niece."
Hm?
The two patriarchs furrowed their brows.
They knew of General Zhou, a veteran Extraordinary.
His own niece, the Queen’s own niece... and with the Queen having no children of her own...
*A sharp intake of breath.*
Her status wasn’t just "not inferior" to Zheng Nanzhu’s—it was clearly a whole Level higher, if not more!
General Zhou alone was on par with Patriarch Zheng.
To say nothing of having the even more powerful Queen as her backer.
"Is that true?"
Qian Sanduo jumped in, "Absolutely! It’s just that the two of them have not yet entered the Extraordinary realm and are focused on their Martial Arts Training, so it hasn’t been announced."
Flame Camp was remote and had always maintained a low profile.
It was perfectly normal that Five Families City wouldn’t know.
"After this is done, I can personally go and explain things to your wife." Zheng Nanzhu was doubtful. ’Does such a person really exist?’
Her beautiful eyes stared at Tang Wen, trying to see through the black cloth covering his face.
Tang Wen said, "In that case, why don’t we delay for a few days? I’ll send someone to inform her first, and then I’ll sabotage the matchmaking."
"So, Commander Tang is henpecked!" Zheng Nanzhu tilted her head up, a hint of disdain in her voice.
’This girl is trying to provoke me.’
Tang Wen shook his head inwardly. ’Henpecked? Your reading comprehension is terrible!’
’What I clearly mean is—you need to add more money!’
Fortunately, the two men in the main seats were perceptive.
"Dragging this out will lead to gossip, and Black Mountain Camp will cause trouble. It’s better to resolve this quickly. Commander Tang, if you have any conditions, please state them."
This was the sentence Tang Wen had been waiting for. He didn’t hold back. "I enjoy Martial Arts Training, and I’ve long heard that the Wang Family’s Hard Skills are unmatched in this world! I was wondering if I could..."
"No!"
The girl with the cloying voice jumped in. She was from the Wang Family, and naturally, she was unwilling to let her family make such a huge sacrifice for her "plastic sister," Zheng Nanzhu.
Patriarch Wang’s pupils constricted. "Young man, don’t be too greedy!"
"But my heart is set on it. How about this, I’ll only look for seven days."
Patriarch Wang laughed in anger.
Tang Wen held up his hand, spreading five fingers. "I have always respected Elder Wang. I’ll take a step back—five days!"
Patriarch Wang ground his teeth.
Tang Wen nodded. "Understood! Then let’s change the condition. Elder Zheng just mentioned that your family has Protective Marrow Liquid?"
"And you think this matter is worth a bottle of Protective Marrow Liquid?" Patriarch Zheng sneered.
"You’re asking for the sky!" Zheng Nanzhu was so angry she could grind her teeth. ’This Tang Wen isn’t henpecked at all, he’s just trying to milk this for benefits.’
’Hypocrite!’
Tang Wen waved his hand lightly. "Of course it’s not worth that much. What I mean is, could you perhaps reveal the source of the Protective Marrow Liquid? Just the information will do."
Qian Sanduo’s eyes lit up. "Ah, yes, yes, yes. Consider us, Flame Camp, to be in your debt!"
Flame Camp had a good reputation; a favor from them was quite valuable.
Patriarch Zheng snorted. "It was just a fortunate coincidence. Our Zheng Family obtained it by chance."
Tang Wen remained noncommittal.
Qian Sanduo just smiled, the word "disbelief" practically written on his face.
Neither of them spoke again. Commander Qian picked up his teacup and took a sip.
’These two are tough negotiators.’
Patriarchs Zheng and Wang grumbled to themselves.
Qian Sanduo made some small talk with them.
More than an hour passed, yet Tang Wen remained perfectly calm and unhurried.
Patriarch Wang finally relented. "Half a day! The Golden Bell Shield Visualization Image, I’ll allow you to study it for half a day!"
"Good. In that case, I want to study from 6 PM to 6 AM." Tang Wen immediately stood up, cupped his fist in his hand, and agreed in one breath.
He looked so eager, as if he were afraid the other party would go back on their word.
’What could he possibly learn in half a day?’
That’s what Patriarch Wang had originally thought.
But now, he was hesitant.
「That afternoon.」
On the martial arts stage, upon learning that Tang Wen would also be participating, Black Blade and Mr. Tie Shan stared at him with hostile expressions.
"Why is there another one?" Mr. Tie Shan sneered. "This morning, didn’t Commander Tang say he had no intention of competing?"
Tang Wen nodded. "Now, I want to compete."
"Three people. How do we compete?" Black Blade’s face was filled with killing intent.
"Simple. We’ll draw lots," a member of the Zheng Family said.
On Five Families City’s territory, the two men were helpless and could only tacitly agree.
"Fine. But I want to inspect them first."
"Please."
Black Blade and Mr. Tie Shan inspected the lot-drawing cylinder over and over again. Everything was normal.
The two of them drew first.
They drew their bamboo slips and held them in their hands.
Tang Wen was the third to reach into the cylinder. It was unclear how the Zheng Family had arranged it, but a bamboo slip immediately jumped into his palm.
"Reveal the lots!"
The three revealed them at the same time.
Black Blade: Fight.
Mr. Tie Shan: Fight.
Tang Wen: Bye.
Two sharp gazes shot toward Tang Wen.
No one was a fool.
The various major powers looked at Tang Wen with playful, intrigued expressions.
But his gaze was calm and unflustered.
’The Zheng Family was the one that cheated. What does that have to do with me, Tang Wen?’