Chapter Eleven: The Art of Negotiation

Du Yiqiang’s eyes darted rapidly as he hesitated, but then Ye Xin sighed softly. “Boss Du, this is the most I can do for you.”

Ye Xin’s tone was immaculate, each word colder than the last. When he fell silent, a chilling aura slowly spread outward. The warriors of the Black Tiger Hall all turned their gaze to Du Yiqiang, awaiting his decision. Du Yiqiang’s expression shifted like a stormy sky; after a long pause, he gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice, “Black Robe, you owe me a favor!”

“I understand,” Ye Xin replied. “In the future, Black Robe will certainly repay you with a generous gift.”

Taking a long breath, Du Yiqiang waved his hand and barked, “We’re leaving!” Without another glance at Ye Xin, he strode into the forest. The other warriors of Black Tiger Hall sighed in relief and hurried after him. Though they did not fear battle, no one wished for a needless death—leaving without a fight was surely the best outcome.

Once the Black Tiger Hall disappeared into the woods, Mountain Cannon hurried out, not bothering to speak to Ye Xin as he dashed after them. Ye Xin ignored Mountain Cannon, turning his head to regard the woman. She returned his gaze, silent, still holding her dagger and the small porcelain vial with steady hands.

It wasn’t long before Mountain Cannon returned, calling out, “They’re really gone… That’s odd! This doesn’t add up… Why would Du Yiqiang give in so easily?!”

“You think it’s odd because you don’t understand Du Yiqiang,” Ye Xin said with a smile.

“What’s with him, then?” Mountain Cannon asked, eyes wide.

“As the saying goes, ‘the barefoot fear nothing, but those with shoes do.’ Du Yiqiang is a man with shoes,” Ye Xin explained slowly. “He has his own brothers, his own power, his own reputation. Men like him lost their youthful recklessness long ago; they won’t risk everything on a whim. Besides, if he falls here, he can rise again elsewhere. As long as the green hills remain, there’s always firewood to burn. With that mentality, Black Tiger Hall has never been able to truly expand.”

“But he didn’t have to run off so soon!” Mountain Cannon still didn’t get it.

“Negotiation is an art—one you don’t understand,” Ye Xin said.

“What do you mean, an art?” Mountain Cannon blustered. “How do you know I don’t understand? Try me!”

“Negotiation…” Ye Xin’s eyes narrowed, as if recalling something distant. “You wield strength as a sword and your bottom line as a shield, keeping maximum patience. You weave interests into snares, probing and evaluating, until, at last—you give up what must be lost to claim what must be gained.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?” Mountain Cannon’s eyes grew wider with each word.

“I told you, you don’t understand.” Ye Xin laughed. “You have to keep the negotiation at your own rhythm. With every step forward, you retreat half a step, letting the other side think they’re winning and getting the upper hand—that way, you stay in control. If you keep pressing, you might push your opponent into a corner, and then they’ll fight like a trapped animal.”

“Huh… I think I’m starting to get it.” Mountain Cannon scratched his head.

“Du Yiqiang lost his edge long ago. What matters most to him now isn’t what he can gain, but what he cannot lose,” Ye Xin explained. “He can make up for losing this deal elsewhere, but if his authority is questioned—if the foundation of his control over Black Tiger Hall is shaken—then he’ll fight me to the death.”

“So… you started off saying you wanted a share of the profits, but when Du Yiqiang drew his sword, you backed down and let him save face in front of everyone. Then you suddenly killed the old man, crushing his hopes of gaining more. Afraid he’d get angry, you tossed him a small gift. That’s what you call rhythm?” Mountain Cannon looked at Ye Xin, testing his understanding.

“More or less,” Ye Xin replied. “Every time he mustered his courage, I found a way to diffuse it. Only then could I maintain my advantage.”

“Why make it so complicated?” Mountain Cannon grumbled. “Wouldn’t it be easier to just fight? Or are you—Black Robe—afraid of them?”

“I’m not afraid. But what about her?” Ye Xin tipped his chin toward the silent woman. “If one of the Black Tiger Hall warriors got desperate and charged her, do you think she’d show any mercy to herself?”

Mountain Cannon turned to look at the woman. Her hand was still rock-steady. After a moment’s hesitation, he sighed, “No, she wouldn’t.”

“And if she still thought we were putting on a show for her and destroyed the Infant Transformation Fruit—wouldn’t that leave me with nothing?” Ye Xin said.

Mountain Cannon was speechless. After a moment, he gave a wry smile. “I admit it, you really are something. In the time it takes to pass gas, you thought all of that up?” Looking back, it was clear that Ye Xin’s efforts to resolve the conflict peacefully had been the best choice.

“Now, isn’t it our turn to talk?” The woman suddenly spoke, her voice clear and melodious as an oriole’s song.

“Yes,” Ye Xin nodded, then offered his hand. “Give me the Infant Transformation Fruit, and you can go.”

“Why should I?” The corner of the woman’s mouth curled into a mocking smile.

“You chose to die rather than surrender because you knew what would happen to you,” Ye Xin said quietly. “Du Yiqiang of Black Tiger Hall is no good man. He’d not only take the fruit but also humiliate you—and then kill you.”

“He’s no good, but you are?” she sneered.

“I wouldn’t claim to be a good man, but I am certainly the most trustworthy man in the world,” Ye Xin answered. “Hand over the fruit and I’ll release you at once. If you wish, this friend here can escort you back to Nine Cauldrons City.”

“Hey, wait a minute!” Mountain Cannon shouted anxiously. “Black Robe, you’re something else! I still don’t know what’s going on, and you’re pawning me off already? When did I agree to escort her to Nine Cauldrons City?”

“Five thousand gold coins,” Ye Xin cursed inwardly but turned helplessly to Mountain Cannon.

“What good is gold? I can’t eat it,” Mountain Cannon protested.

Ye Xin’s eyes narrowed slightly. Never underestimate a catchphrase—it often reveals a person’s needs. Someone who says money’s no use because you can’t eat it is almost always a glutton.

“Mountain Cannon, do you really want to stay in Destiny City forever? Don’t you want to see the world?” Ye Xin said gently.

He spoke softly, trying to relax Mountain Cannon, but Mountain Cannon, wary of Ye Xin, actually took a step back and replied indifferently, “Isn’t everywhere the same?”

“Ha, just saying that proves you’ve never been,” Ye Xin laughed. “Let me tell you, Nine Cauldrons City is dozens of times larger and more prosperous than Destiny City, with beautiful women everywhere…”

“Not interested.” Mountain Cannon was already shaking his head before Ye Xin finished.

“And the food in Nine Cauldrons City—you can’t even imagine it.” Ye Xin played his trump card. “For example, roast camel: you buy a young camel, open its belly, stuff a lamb inside, then put a goose into the lamb, and a pheasant inside the goose. Slow-roast it for three days and nights—the meat is golden outside and tender inside, with an aroma lingering in the courtyard for a month. The taste… ah, one bite and it melts in your mouth. Mountain Cannon, do you get anything like that in Destiny City?”

Gulp. Mountain Cannon was, indeed, a glutton, swallowing hard. The woman looked on, puzzled. She was from Nine Cauldrons City herself and had never heard of such a delicacy, but Ye Xin spoke with such conviction that it didn’t seem made up.

“The cuisine of Nine Cauldrons City includes dozens, even hundreds of seasonings. How can Destiny City compare? Here, a sprinkle of salt is considered gourmet,” Ye Xin continued. “Frankly, people here are rough. They don’t know how to enjoy life.”

“I still… don’t really want to go,” Mountain Cannon muttered, though his tone had clearly softened.

“And Nine Cauldrons City has fine wine…”

“You think I’ve never had wine? What kind of man doesn’t drink?!” Mountain Cannon retorted.

“There are four or five hundred kinds of wine in Nine Cauldrons City,” Ye Xin said. “There’s flower wine, rice wine, yellow wine, clear wine, beer, white spirits. How many have you tried?” In truth, clear wine is also rice wine, but Ye Xin listed as many as possible for effect.

Mountain Cannon’s eyes widened. The woman grew even more skeptical—she’d never heard of beer, even in Nine Cauldrons City.

“I… I…” Mountain Cannon finally caved. “Fine, Black Robe. If you need my help that much, I’ll do you this favor.”

“That’s more like it.” Ye Xin smiled.

“Give me the money first,” Mountain Cannon demanded, palm out.

“What’s the rush?” Ye Xin was briefly taken aback.

“No way. Money in hand is money of my own,” Mountain Cannon insisted.

“You really don’t play by the book, do you?” Ye Xin said helplessly, taking out a gold note. “Here’s ten thousand.”

“Ten thousand?” Mountain Cannon took the note, inspected it, then suddenly handed it back. “Take it. I’m not going.”

“What do you mean?” Ye Xin was baffled. “I offer you five thousand more and you refuse?”

“I haven’t known you long, but I’ve realized you’re a schemer,” Mountain Cannon shook his head repeatedly. “Giving me an extra five thousand for nothing—there must be some plot. I’m not going!”

“Sometimes you’re sharp, sometimes hopelessly dense,” Ye Xin muttered with a laugh. “What’s going through your head? I always meant to pay you ten thousand—after all, you’ll be escorting her safely to Nine Cauldrons City. It’s a long journey, she’s injured, and there may be other bandits. Plus, you’re nearly at the Marshal level—it’s a fair price. I offered five thousand at first so we could haggle, then settle at ten. You’d be happy, and so would I.”

“So, Black Robe, I treated you as a friend, but you’re playing me? You were going to give me ten thousand, but tried to bargain me down to five? Forget it, I’m not going—no way, no how!” Mountain Cannon shook his head vigorously.

(Updates every day at noon and 6 p.m.! Some doubted I could keep it up for even a month—well, I’ll show them what I’m made of. Two chapters a day, rain or shine!

Also, due to outlining, some personal matters, and a trip to Changchun for medical treatment, it’s been three months since my last release. Some unexpected events left me fearing I’d be forgotten.

Now, nervously publishing again, I see some old friends haven’t abandoned me. The results are modest, but I see hope. So I’ll stick to honest, hard work.

Thank you all for your support. The days of being a live-in son-in-law are full of trials, and you are my true family now… Whether I can stand tall depends on you.

Lastly, I beg for your bookmarks and recommendations—please and thank you.)