As Wu Long went along the streets, getting used to the new feeling, he noticed a presence on a street far ahead on his route to Yu Huan and Bi Rui’s house. He was too concentrated on what was happening with the new heightened sensations from feeling the rain droplets around him before, resulting in a slight decrease in awareness of the far corners of his spiritual sense area, thus noticing the presence a little later than he would normally, but still far enough ahead that it did not have any dangerous consequences. He did not change his course and slightly smiled as he recognized the cultivation method of that presence and when he got close saw a man in plain dark gray travel cloak, plain gray robes and a bamboo hat. What made him stand out was a golden badge with an ox head with the word “executive” attached to his sash with a knotted strap.

There were two larger men behind him, in black travel cloaks and larger, more closed-off bamboo hats with veils made of beaded straps and strips of fabric. The cloaks they wore clearly bore an ox head insignia. 𝑖𝘦.𝒸𝘰𝑚

“Not hiding anymore it seems”

Wu Long chuckled as he saw the badge which identified the man as Golden Ox Mercenary Corps executive. The man smirked and nodded.

“We believe it is no longer feasible, and hence no longer necessary. Do you have anything against tea?”

The mercenary pointed his hand to the nearby small neighborhood teahouse, which was currently empty as it was still quite early in the morning. He looked at Wu Long with a polite smile, indicating that this was a peaceful meeting.

“Heh”

Wu Long nodded with a chuckle, slightly intrigued about this courtesy visit even if he more or less knew what it entailed.

The two proceeded to the tea house as the two larger people stood in front of the entrance, barring anyone from entering.

Wu Long and the mercenary sat at a table, and the servant, a young teen quickly started approaching them with a nervous expression. “Two teas, the best you got”, the mercenary just waved him off while he was still by the kitchen entrance, and not looking in his direction, his gaze still on Wu Long as he took off the bamboo hat with the other hand and placing it on an empty seat beside him.

Wu Long silently sat, as the man curiously looked at him. It was apparent that Wu Long walked under the rain with no raincoat or a hat but he was completely dry as if he enjoyed a walk on a sunny day.

Most Revolving Qi Realm cultivators could in fact achieve such a feat, but there would be a visible line of rainwater stopping around them, like a small bubble made out of invisible Spiritual Qi. In Wu Long’s case, however, he clearly let the rain fall on him.

The waiter brought two cups of tea, and the mercenary placed the exact amount for the teas. Wu Long smiled as he shook his head and placed a gold coin on the table as the man and the waiter both raised their eyebrows. “We must at least compensate for the disruption your two brickheads cause, as well as for the years of life he just lost trying not to spill that tea”

He simply explained with a smile and the waiter started profusely bowing and then ran off to the kitchen, eager to leave the two alone.

“Very generous of you”

The mercenary smiled and Wu Long shook his head.

“Generosity is when someone is giving out rewards exceeding that of the deed or compensation exceeding the damage, if a just amount is paid for the cause it is merely natural”

“Haha, would that not mean that my two associates have disrupted their business for a week just from standing there for the duration of our conversation?”

“Not them but me”

Wu Long simply smiled and the smile on the face of the man slightly faded.

“I came here to peacefully talk in good faith”

“You must have overestimated my generosity then, just like you had overestimated it with my pay to this teahouse. I will listen to what you have to say though, so your ‘peaceful talk’ will still happen”

The two looked at each other and the man very slightly gulped as previous carefree attitude completely disappeared off his face.

“This is the middle of the Imperial Capital”

“I know”

Their eyes were locked as the man more and more realized that it was not them that dictated whether a visit would be peaceful. The mercenary corps executive was in the Core Formation Realm but did not even remotely feel safe in front of the man he knew was capable of wiping one of the two major noble houses of Wood Spirit Empire off the face of the continent. The two ‘brickheads’ he brought were mostly customary for executives to bring along and they helped with simple duties like now. He did not for a second believe that they could do anything to stop Wu Long.

He looked down first, unable to retain eye contact as he saw the steam rising from the teacup placed in front of him.

“Is there a chance of me surviving this meeting at all?”

He then asked as his voice slightly trembled.

“Yes”

Wu Long nodded, not denying that the man did have a possibility, albeit a slim one.

“What is the outcome I survive in?”

The man asked and Wu Long smiled. Asking that question was already being on the right track as he recognized the position he was in.

“Do not make a wrong choice when I ask you questions”

Wu Long answered before taking his teacup and raising it to his face, breathing in the aroma and taking a sip.

“But for now, state why were you sent here”

He then gestured for the man to start talking with an open palm.

“The message I came to give is, ‘Instead of facing off, bringing damages to both sides, it is better to cooperate and profit together, how about we put our differences aside and help each other get what we want’. I am only a messenge-…”

“I already stated the way for you to survive, any other effort is meaningless”

Wu Long interrupted the man’s attempt, and the latter sighed, stretching his trembling hand to the tea.

“What conditions were you ordered to offer?”

“I was supposed to find out your conditions for cooperation, as for what to offer is the usual”

The man said, and Wu Long nodded, understanding the usual as money, women, power and authority. Something every negotiation starts with.

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