Chapter 156: Zhao Yunlu's Sigh

How could Xingcai possibly be a match for Li Yuanjing?

Under Li Yuanjing's relentless series of psychological tactics, which were almost as crude as an old sow wearing a brassiere, she quickly broke down into tears and confessed everything that had happened tonight.

By this afternoon, she had actually given up, no longer harboring any thoughts of seeking revenge against Li Yuanjing.

After all.

Zhao Yunlu had not brought her along, so even if she wanted to exact revenge, she had no opportunity.

However.

Just as Xingcai was preparing to return to her martial arts practice, an elderly maid by Zhao Yunlu's side suddenly approached her, claiming she could help her get her revenge.

Furthermore.

The old woman told Xingcai that.

If Xingcai did not assassinate Li Yuanjing tonight, Zhao Yunlu herself would be in danger.

Xingcai naturally possessed a fiery temper and was easily provoked; she immediately mustered the troops left behind by her father, Zhang Kewang, and charged all the way over here.

Once Xingcai finished speaking, she began to piece together the cause and effect, feeling an overwhelming sense of remorse. She wished she could tear that old woman apart piece by piece, and said through gritted teeth:

"It's all my fault for being so foolish as to fall for that old hag Gui's trap! I'm so furious, so infuriated. Li Yuanjing, just kill me! When I turn into a vengeful ghost, I'll go back and tear that wretched woman apart!"

"Why would I kill you?"

Li Yuanjing merely offered a faint smile at this, patted his hands toward the outside of the tent, and said:

"Eldest Miss Zhao, what do you think?"

At this moment, Zhao Yunlu walked in from outside the tent with an extremely complicated expression. She quickly took a deep breath, bowed deeply to Li Yuanjing with her hands folded, and said:

"Master Li, you are truly wise. If not for your brilliant insight, I'm afraid the feud between our two families would truly have become impossible to resolve..."

Clearly.

Zhao Yunlu had been standing outside the tent, listening to Li Yuanjing interrogate Xingcai for quite some time.

"Eldest Miss, how, how could you..."

Xingcai finally snapped back to her senses, looking at Zhao Yunlu in utter disbelief before hurriedly shifting her gaze back to Li Yuanjing.

Li Yuanjing sneered:

"If I, Li Yuanjing, were as foolish as you—with all your brains located right in your chest, shouting about killing and fighting at every turn—do you think I could have survived until now?"

"..."

Xingcai was still young after all. After a moment of stunned silence, the realization finally dawned on her, causing her cheeks to turn completely crimson. Unable to contain herself any longer, she burst out again:

"Li Yuanjing, you bastard, I'm going to kill you! Waah... Eldest Miss, this scoundrel, he's bullying me..."

Zhao Yunlu was also left somewhat speechless.

She never imagined that someone as shrewd as Li Yuanjing would actually pick on a young girl like Xingcai...

Yet.

Even though both sides had temporarily resolved their conflict, the initiative still firmly remained in Li Yuanjing's hands. How could she possibly bicker with him over such a trivial matter?

She hurriedly spoke to Li Yuanjing respectfully:

"Master Li, that old woman Gui used to be my mother's personal attendant from her maiden family. As for why she turned out like this, I, to be honest, cannot really explain it. Furthermore, I am now somewhat concerned for my father's safety..."

Li Yuanjing nodded:

"Miss Zhao need not worry too much. Chief Zhao is a hero of our times; ordinary people will hardly be able to trouble him."

"Besides, the fact that those people were willing to expose this old woman Gui tonight may well turn out to be a blessing in disguise for your Qingshigan!"

"Don't worry, I have already sent someone to inform Chief Zhao, and they should be arriving shortly."

"Report—"

"Master, Chief Zhao Changlong of Qingshigan has arrived..."

Just as the two were speaking, Dong Peng's voice came from outside.

Li Yuanjing and Zhao Yunlu exchanged glances.

Zhao Yunlu could not help but let out a long sigh of relief.

Soon after.

Zhao Changlong hurried into the large tent and, with a look of shame, cupped his fists toward Li Yuanjing:

"Brother, it is all this old brother's incompetence. Never did I imagine that such a thing would happen..."

Li Yuanjing smiled and said:

"Old Brother Zhao, think nothing of it, you needn't take it to heart. In this world, how can there be so many perfect scenarios? We can consider this as a friendship forged through conflict."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhao Changlong saw that Li Yuanjing did not appear genuinely angry, which allowed him to relax slightly. He hastily stated that he would compensate Li Yuanjing for all losses incurred during this incident.

Moreover.

Should Li Yuanjing wish to continue their cooperation regarding the fine porcelain, he would offer a substantial discount.

Things had already progressed this far, so Li Yuanjing naturally had no intention of abandoning the partnership, and readily agreed.

The two sides then carefully discussed the security arrangements for the night to ensure no further accidents would occur, before finally retiring to their respective quarters.

...

However, after Li Yuanjing parted ways with Zhao Changlong and his daughter, Zhao Yunlu entered her father's temporary tent. Her expression changed instantly as she stared fixedly into Zhao Changlong's eyes and demanded:

"Father, what on earth is going on tonight?!"

Zhao Changlong let out a deep sigh and shook his head with a bitter smile:

"My child, do you really think I orchestrated tonight's events? While I do indeed wish to make contact with the White Lotus Sect, I am not so despicable as to smash my own rice bowl! I truly knew nothing about tonight's affair. Come to think of it, this was perhaps just a warning from the White Lotus Sect to us."

"A warning?"

Zhao Yunlu knitted her delicate brows, staring intently at her father as if trying to find any trace of deception on his face.

Zhao Changlong did not flinch, meeting his daughter's gaze with utmost frankness.

After a long while.

Seeing no flaws on her father's face, Zhao Yunlu let out a deep sigh and said:

"Father, what do you plan to do next, then?"

Zhao Changlong let out a long breath and said:

"My child, you have seen the current situation. Compared to the White Lotus Sect, our Boshanshan Gang really has no room for resistance. I accept this cooperation with Li Yuanjing because, after all, nobody turns down silver. But!"

"My child, I still wish to cooperate with the White Lotus Sect—not for any other reason, but simply so the two of us can survive..."

"Sigh."

"My child, if only you were a boy, how wonderful that would be. Then your father wouldn't have to be so cautious, constrained by others at every turn, and living under someone else's roof. How I hate that your mother died so early..."

Seeing Zhao Changlong burst into tears with old age tears streaming down his face, especially as he mentioned her late mother...

Zhao Yunlu's beautiful eyes instantly filled with a complex mix of emotions.

After a long while.

She spoke in a somewhat hoarse voice:

"Father, are the words of those people from the White Lotus Sect reliable? If, if I were to participate in their selection for the candidate Saintess, would they truly spare Qingshigan?"

...

Li Yuanjing was naturally unaware of the undercurrents between the father and daughter of the Zhao family.

However.

By this point, Li Yuanjing had learned a profound lesson, fully grasping the importance of security, as well as the significance of optics and the greater strategy.

Early the next morning.

Unfazed by the previous night's assassination attempt, Li Yuanjing continued on toward the Boshan Kilns in the company of Zhao Changlong and his daughter.

Over the next few days.

After successively visiting several kilns, Li Yuanjing finally reached an agreement with Zhao Changlong and his daughter to purchase their first batch of five thousand pieces of fine and exquisite porcelain.

For this initial order of fine and exquisite porcelain, Li Yuanjing paid an upfront deposit of twenty-five hundred taels of silver.

The remaining balance of thirty-five hundred taels would be paid after the goods were delivered.

Essentially, each piece of porcelain averaged just over a tael of silver.

At this price, Li Yuanjing certainly did not shortchange Zhao Changlong and his daughter, as it was only slightly lower than the market rate.

Yet, in the open market, who would ever purchase such a massive quantity of fine and exquisite porcelain from a civilian kiln like Boshan all at once?

Li Yuanjing's move was undoubtedly a tremendous boost to the entire Boshan ceramics industry.

When the group finally returned to Qingshigan, it was already the Minor New Year, the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month.

Through these few days of association, Zhao Changlong had come to understand Li Yuanjing much better, growing increasingly admiring of his magnanimity and straightforwardness.

Upon parting, he gripped Li Yuanjing's hand firmly and said:

"Brother, you can rest easy. At the kilns, we will definitely work extra shifts to get the job done right. At the latest by the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the goods will be delivered to you intact."

"Haha."

"Then I must thank Old Brother Zhao."

Outwardly, Li Yuanjing was very warm toward Zhao Changlong, but deep down, he had already distanced himself considerably from him. This experience further cemented his core plan to recruit his own artisans and build his own kiln.

Otherwise.

Depending on an old slicker like Zhao Changlong, how could such an arrangement ever last long-term?

After exchanging parting courtesies with Zhao Changlong, Li Yuanjing went over to Zhao Yunlu, smiling and cupping his fists:

"Eldest Miss Zhao, thank you for your hospitality over these past few days. When Miss Zhao delivers the goods to my Quanzicun village later, I, Li Yuanjing, will surely sweep the floor and welcome you with open arms!"

Zhao Yunlu had visibly lost weight over the past few days, but she managed to squeeze out a faint smile:

"Then I thank Master Li in advance."

Li Yuanjing acutely captured the subtle changes in Zhao Yunlu.

In fact.

As early as a few days prior, Li Yuanjing had already noticed anomalies on Zhao Yunlu's end.

However, he chose not to show it, and instead smiled as he cupped his fists once more:

"In that case, Yuanjing will take his leave. Miss Zhao, the green mountains remain and the flowing waters endure; let us meet again someday!"

Silently watching Li Yuanjing's straight, tall figure as he quickly left Qingshigan, the procession gradually vanishing along the winding mountain path.

Zhao Yunlu let out a long, melancholic sigh and suddenly closed her eyes tightly.

Then.

When she opened them again, her beautiful eyes were filled with absolute determination, as if she had made a crucial and weighty decision!