Chapter 5: The Grand Opening of the Farm Chapter 6: You dare to marry, I dare to take

  "Haha, I didn't expect it, really didn't expect it. Old Fourteen, you're not only a genius at both martial arts and business, but also have such a great hand at doing business! I'm truly impressed!!" Wang Guanxiao felt the awkward atmosphere in the room and immediately burst out laughing, "Today you've taught your Fourth Brother a lesson, come on, let me toast you a cup!!"

  "I dare not, it's just some small ideas, whether they can succeed or not, we'll have to try and see!" Wang Guanlan took the wine cup from Wang Guanxiang's hand and drank it all in one gulp. Perhaps he had drunk a bit too much, after downing the cup of wine, he coughed twice, his face turning slightly red. "Qingling, my dear, do you think I can afford to lose this small profit?!"

  "It's really reckless!" Qingling took a deep breath, and at this time, she also had to admit that she was a bit rash and underestimated the young man in front of her. "However, for the sake of the martial artists in the three southwestern states, Qingling still hopes that the Fourteenth Young Master can consider it, not necessarily planting as much as before, just need to be able to slightly satisfy the needs of the three southwestern states!"

  "Haha, it seems that Miss Qingling is really a kind-hearted person who cares about the well-being of all sentient beings. This noble virtue makes me admire and respect her!" Wang Guanlan chuckled and said, "However, I'm still a petty person, so I often like to use my own narrow-mindedness to measure others' kindness. Some words are hard to say out loud, so please don't mind, Miss!"

  "It's nothing, it's nothing! As they say, 'faithful words are bitter to the ear', but whatever Young Master Shi has to say, please go ahead and speak freely!!"

  "Alright, I'll say it!" Wang Guanlan seemed to have really had too much to drink and was becoming somewhat unguarded. "You see, Miss Qingling, since you arrived in Yicheng, all you've been talking about is the welfare of the tens of thousands of martial artists in the three southwestern provinces. You came here as a persuader, hoping I'd maintain the original amount of Fengwei grass cultivation. For you, it's just a matter of moving your mouth, and if it succeeds, I'll be the one to bear the great loss, while you'll gain a resounding reputation. If it doesn't succeed, you've tried your best, showing off the elegance of this generation of martial artists from the Sacred Land of Wulin in front of me. But I'll be the one to carry the infamy of being ungrateful and not considering the well-being of my fellow practitioners, even inviting deadly danger upon myself! Haha, what a wonderful calculation, Miss Qingling! Is this really the way your Jingling Lake Sacred Land does things?!"

  This remark can be considered as a heart-piercing statement. Even Qingling, with her deep cultivation, couldn't help but change color at this moment. Xiu Yan covered her mouth with her hand, unable to bear it. Wang Guanlang, the fourth son, seemed to have been completely sobered up by Wang Guanlan's words and straightened his body, as if he wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a word. Although he had admiration for both Qingling and Xiu Yan, he had to admit that Wang Guanlan's words were extremely reasonable and difficult to refute. In an instant, Qingling was pushed to the brink of despair.

  "Fourteen Young Master, you're taking this too seriously. Qingling didn't mean it that way. Before this, Qingling hadn't thought that Fourteen Young Master was a business genius, so she also didn't know that Yicheng would gain such huge profits under your management. If she had known earlier, Qingling wouldn't have opened her mouth!"

  "But you've already opened your mouth, and now I'm the one who's being forced into a difficult situation. Even if you apologize now, it's too late! Wang Guanlan was not convinced by her apology, which may or may not have been sincere. "You see, I'm afraid that by now, all the martial artists in the three southwestern states know that Qingling has come to persuade me, Wang Guanlan. Whether it succeeds or not, the pressure is already on me. Even if you explain things clearly to them afterwards, it's likely to have the opposite effect and attract unwanted attention to my wealth, which I haven't even obtained yet. It will only bring me more trouble! What can be done about this?!"

  "This——!"

  Even the clever and resourceful Qingling was confused by Wang Guanlan's words at this time, and after being stunned for half a day, she finally said, "How does Young Master Fourteen think this matter should be handled?"

  "It's just 4 million taels of silver, what can't be earned back?! Wang Guanlan leaned back in his chair, a smile spreading across his face, "It's not a big deal, but I don't like being cheated. As long as you, Qingling girl, can prove that you are genuinely coming to me with good intentions, for the benefit of the millions of martial artists in the three southwestern states, and speaking on their behalf, then I, Wang Guanlan, won't hesitate to part with these few hundred million taels of silver, and do my part for the millions of martial artists in the three southwestern states!"

  Upon hearing this, Qing Ling's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she felt a sense of unease. Wang Guanlan had once again kicked the ball to her feet, just like earlier when she used the interests of the Southwest Three States' martial artists to pressure Wang Guanlan. Now, however, Wang Guanlan had pushed this pressure back onto her head. At this moment, she was forced into a corner by Wang Guanlan and had no choice but to make a statement.

  "So, what does the Fourteenth Master want Qingling to do? Qingling can promise here that as long as it doesn't go against morality and conscience, and is a matter of martial arts righteousness, Qingling will definitely do his best and not shrink back!!"

  "No, no, how could I let Miss Qingling do those things that go against morality and the code of the martial arts?!" Seeing Qingling take the bait, Wang Guanlan's smile became even more radiant. "What does Miss Qingling think of my fourth brother?"

  "Ah?!" Wang Guanlan suddenly blurted out, causing everyone at the table to pause in surprise. Before they could react, Wang Guanlan continued, "Qingling, my fourth brother is a man of excellent character and comes from a respectable family, making him one of the best matches in the world. I know he has admired you for a long time. If you are willing to marry him, I will consider those phoenix tail grasses as a wedding gift to you both. You can dispose of them as you see fit. Doesn't this conform to moral integrity and the code of the martial arts world?"

  "Pffft, cough, cough! ---!" Wang Guanxiao completely lost his composure, spitting out a mouthful of wine and dishes, pulling his throat to cough continuously, "Old Fourteen, you, cough, cough, cough, you, you, you---!"

  I don't know if it's true or false, this guy spent half a day with you, his face was flushed red, and he kept coughing with his head down, but he didn't say a single word of refusal.

  Qingling finally lost her composure, her face flushing red, her slender hand tightly gripping the hilt of her sword, a cold and murderous aura spreading throughout the room, directly targeting Wang Guanlan.

  He didn't know that Wang Guanlan had obtained the Green Spirit Ghost Fire, which gave him extremely strong immunity to spiritual forces. He was completely unbothered by the killing intent and just chuckled, looking at Qingling with a mischievous gaze like a cat playing with a mouse. "What? Did I say something wrong? Is this against morality and conscience? The union of men and women, yin and yang harmony is the way of heaven, it's natural. My brother isn't a bad person, you marrying him wouldn't go against morality or conscience, nor would it violate the martial arts code. Isn't that right?"

  "Don't you think this method is despicable?!"

  "You're the one who's despicable! If anyone is despicable, it's you who started it. I'm just giving you a taste of your own medicine!" Wang Guanlan's tone was no longer polite as he spoke, with a hint of teasing in his voice. "Jingling Lake is a sacred place for the martial arts world, and its reputation shouldn't be tarnished by empty promises, right? Or do you think my fourth brother isn't good enough for you? That wouldn't be fair, would it? Marriage between men and women doesn't have to be a perfect match, but if you really don't think he's worthy of you, then choosing me is also an option!!"

  "Clang——!"

  The sound of the sword being drawn from its scabbard echoed through the room, and with this movement, Lü Han and Yuan Yin almost simultaneously stood up, respectively standing in front of Wang Guanlan and Wang Guanxiang, their faces wary as they stared at Qingling, whose sword was already halfway out of its scabbard. However, in their hearts, they were trembling with fear. The cultivation level of this Qingling was something they couldn't discern, but his battle achievements were enough to make the two of them despair. He had single-handedly killed a martial arts master, and his strength was undoubtedly far above theirs. Moreover, there were no other Flower Fox Guards present at the scene, only the two of them. No matter how they looked at it, even if they joined forces, they wouldn't be a match for Qingling.

  However, what put them at ease was that Qing Ling's long sword did not leave its scabbard, but instead pushed it back, took a deep breath, and forcibly calmed his own heart. His pair of beautiful eyes stared tightly at Wang Guan Lan's body, after a while, he slowly said, "Alright, let's settle on this, I choose you!"

  "Cough, ah——!"

  "What?!"

  "Hmph!!!"

  ……………

  The scene suddenly fell into a dead silence, with everyone having an exaggerated expression staring at the two people sitting and standing, their eyes converging on them, not knowing how to react.

  Wang Guanlan's mouth corners began to twitch, her eyes blinked fiercely a few times, "What did you say, you chose me?!"

  "Not bad, I'll choose you!" Qingling said, "As you just said, for the benefit of the tens of thousands of martial artists in the three southwestern states, I am willing to marry you!!"

  "Damn it!!!" Wang Guanlan cursed in a low voice, but this sound was so clear and piercing in the silent hall that everyone present looked at him again, their faces turning very strange. Several people were even holding back their breath with great difficulty. In such an occasion, atmosphere, and under such a topic, someone suddenly blurted out a "damn", it's really damn fitting!!!

  Qingling endured the urge to chop Wang Guanlan into a million pieces, and instead put him on the chopping board, asking, "Fourteenth Young Master, I said I'm willing to marry you, what do you say? Dare you not to marry me?"

  "How dare you, why not dare?!" Wang Guanlan raised his head, like a small rooster, "What's there to be afraid of, it's a big deal, let's get married now, come on, go to the bridal chamber!!" As he spoke, he even reached out to pull Qingling.

  "Clang!!" This time, the long sword was really out of its scabbard. Before Rong Han, who was in charge of protecting Wang Guanlan, could react, the tip of the blue steel long sword had already reached Wang Guanlan's throat.

  "What? Regretting it, or wanting to murder your husband after all??!!" Wang Guanlan narrowed his eyes, not caring that the long sword revealed a murderous intent as if it were real.