"Hm? Didn’t you say the Chen clan had already set out and would arrive in Yong’an City today? Why haven’t we seen any sign of them?"
…
"So you mean that from now on, all of the Chen clan’s Blood Rice will be sold exclusively to the Xie family?"
"Exactly. Unlike the other three great clans, the Xie family has abundant resources. We can take all your clan’s Blood Rice."
Xie Hongyuan smiled faintly and calmly picked up her teacup, taking a light sip.
Chen Tianquan fell into thought. A few days ago, he had set out for Yong’an City with clan members and supplies, only to be stopped halfway by the Xie family, who invited him for a private discussion. Thinking back to the clan leader’s words before he left, he had already guessed the truth—the person who had contacted the clan earlier was likely from the Xie family.
Still, he didn’t rush to agree. After a brief pause, he said, "I need to discuss this with the clan leader. Would that be all right?"
"Of course. Our clan has messenger birds; one can reach Chaotic Burial Mountain in two days."
Xie Hongyuan clapped her hands lightly, and a small bird with red-and-white plumage landed in her palm. Chen Tianquan recognized it instantly—it was the same bird he had seen before, confirming his suspicions.
"Miss Xie, you’re too kind. Please wait a moment."
Instead of using the bird, Chen Tianquan pressed his palms together and began praying devoutly. This was a method of communication the Chen clan had only recently acquired, and for now only members in the Blood Coagulation Realm could use it.
Xie Hongyuan set her teacup down, her expression sharpening. The Incense Flame Totem—truly worthy of its reputation. If the Chen clan were allowed to grow, their potential was not to be underestimated.
But building a clan’s strength took decades, and few ever lasted to the end. Moreover, the Chen clan’s numbers were far too small; even if their children began cultivating now, it would take twenty or thirty years before they could stand on their own. Promising, yes, but no immediate threat.
With that thought, her smile returned.
Chen Tianquan’s body trembled slightly before his hands lowered. He looked at her.
"It’s done. I’ve made contact. The clan has agreed—but we have one small request. Would Miss Xie be willing to hear it?"
Her brows furrowed slightly, but she nodded. "Go ahead."
"To thank the Xie family for their repeated help, we are willing to sell you all of our Blood Rice in the future at the same price. Our other request is that we be allowed to own a small shop in Yong’an City—not a large one, just enough to sell miscellaneous goods. Our clan is lacking in this area, so we’d like your help. All costs or rent will be covered by us."
Upon hearing this, Xie Hongyuan’s brows relaxed and she smiled again. "That’s simple enough. While our shops can’t match the Shi family’s, we still have some available. There’s one on South Street. I’ll send someone with the deed, and you can inspect it. If it’s unsuitable, we’ll find another."
"No need. It will only be used to sell things we no longer need. In that case, I must trouble Miss Xie."
"You’re too polite."
The two exchanged a smile, sealing a pleasant cooperation between their clans.
…
"My lord, we found traces of a Chen clan member."
"But they seem to have vanished!"
At the city gates, Shen Li and Gan Di, who had been waiting for hours, listened to their subordinates’ report. Their expressions darkened. The disappearance of the Chen clan, combined with the absence of the other two great clans, pointed to only one possibility—before reaching Yong’an City, the Chen clan had already been intercepted.
This explained why the other clans hadn’t shown up: they knew coming would be pointless. By cutting the Chen clan off early, they ensured the Blood Rice wouldn’t reach the Shen or Gan families at all.
Realizing this, Shen Li and Gan Di’s faces twisted with anger. They had agreed on fair competition, yet the others had used their strength to play dirty.
"Despicable!"
"Truly despicable!"
"The Xie and Shi families have gone too far!"
"We’re leaving. I’m reporting this to the clan immediately!"
"So am I!"
Cursing furiously, they turned and stormed off toward their respective clans.