Chapter 1364: Contract Formed

"Also, these monsters decay very quickly." Dong Rui picked up a slice of braised beef and threw it into his mouth, savoring it for a long time; it was fresh, fragrant, and chewy—good! "Like that Hinge-Tail Tiger, even if I didn't kill it, it wouldn't live for more than half a year." "Your demon puppets used to have this problem too." Later, Zhu Xiuer used her ancient demon immortal skills to give Dong Rui a trick, which greatly extended the lifespan of the demon puppets.

He Lingchuan still didn't know how that was done, and he was too lazy to ask—even if he asked, he probably wouldn't understand.

Anyway, in order to get this secret method, Dong Rui had cooperated with He Lingchuan on the Xushan plan in Lingxu City.

"These three demon puppets are likely just initial products; anyway, their lives are short, so they were thrown into battle after being created, and their loss is not a pity." Dong Rui held up two fingers. "This indicates two points: first, the opponent likely has more powerful demon puppets; second—"

"The more powerful the demon puppet, the harder it is to control. That's why this Demon Puppet Master used three initial products to track Xiao An."

Hearing this, He Lingchuan tapped the table: "Understood, he might have a superior. But his superior is either very busy or has status and couldn't possibly track Xiao An in person all the time."

"Next, as long as we figure out why the Demon Puppet Master must catch this little girl, the truth will likely surface."

"Where do you want to start?"

"Xiao An mentioned more than once that she wants to go home, to return to that village." He Lingchuan smiled. "At least, we know where her destination is."

"Xingyun Village is long gone."

"But she doesn't know that herself." He Lingchuan opened the sand table of the central Flash Gold Plain and pointed to the location of the Yao Nation. "Remember when we completed the mission at Lingshan and escorted the Three-Tailed Fox Demon from White-Head Ridge to Giant Deer Port?"

He changed the topic quickly, and Dong Rui was startled: "Oh, I remember."

"The Three-Tailed Fox Demon was pursued by General Zhongwu on the grounds of killing more than a thousand Yao Nation civilians, and even Princess Ya, whom the Yao King loved, could not escape the poison hand." He Lingchuan recalled. "The victims died with their essence and viscera sucked dry, very much like what a fox demon would do."

"Oh right, I remember now. The Three-Tailed Fox Demon denied it, saying that neither she nor the little fox demon had gone down the mountain or harmed anyone during that time." Dong Rui realized. "You suspect that the Three-Tailed Fox Demon was a scapegoat, and the real murderer was the Child-Ghoul?"

"Now it seems, it's not impossible." He Lingchuan continued. "It killed too many people that time; it couldn't have taken the brains of every single one to eat. The Yao Nation probably didn't notice that the brains of some corpses were missing."

"That was more than half a year ago."

He Lingchuan made a mark on the sand table: "The Yao Nation princess and civilians were killed near the Three-Tailed Fox Demon's White-Head Ridge."

"And Chen Village and Greenery Villa are at this location."

He continued to mark: "And here, Xiao An's final destination, Xingyun Village."

"Connecting these points is the Child-Ghoul's route over the past few months." He paused. "It's very likely also the route the Demon Puppet Master took."

"The Child-Ghoul's killings in other places were sporadic; only at White-Head Ridge did it begin a massacre, so there must have been an incentive." He Lingchuan pondered. "That area is worth investigating."

"Also, Xiao An said her father lived in the mountains, the house was large, and there were large red and white stones outside the gatehouse. This is a characteristic; it's worth investigating together. In addition, these Demon Puppet Masters, like you, need to capture demons for research; their residences are mostly not in the county town, but in the suburbs."

Combining the above, there are quite a few clues to investigate.

Dong Rui put down the second large bowl, rubbed his belly, and burped: "Full, I'm going to take a nap."

Yaopo, Boss Situ Military Camp.

Two months ago, this was still the front line of the battle between the Boss Situ family and the Pixia people; but with the fall of the Ghost King and the advance of the Allied Forces, Yaopo returned to peace, and the people could live in peace again.

In just two months, the grass and trees outside the city were green, and the shadows of the war that had ravaged it before were almost invisible.

However, Yaopo received a new task today: the contract between the Poliu Nation and the Kan tribe would be signed here.

When the Pixia people were defeated by the Allied Forces and retreated on the northern line, they casually threw the Qingye region, which originally belonged to the Poliu Nation, to the Kan tribe. The latter coveted the rich resources and commercial interests here and refused to return it to the Poliu Nation.

The two sides argued endlessly, and the Allied Forces' northern line could not advance and was in danger of collapsing at any time.

As the leader of the Allied Forces, Boss Situ Yu came forward to mediate many times, saying all the good words and exchanging countless letters, and finally, the two sides talked it out and were ready to sign the contract.

Before entering the tent, Boss Situ Yu let out a long sigh.

Today was his fourth, and should be his last, mediation of this matter, right?

Inside the tent, the representatives of the Poliu Nation and the Kan tribe sat on each side, and the middle was not empty either; Kang Lang was sitting there.

Boss Situ Yu entered, and everyone stood up to welcome him.

The terms had basically been negotiated, and the Poliu monarch and the Kan tribal chief did not come in person, but sent representatives to Yaopo to sign.

"Alright, sit down." Boss Situ Yu sat down and saw a long file on the case, which, when unfolded, was the signed agreement document of both sides.

As soon as he saw this, his head ached. He would rather go to the battlefield to kill the enemy than check such a long contract clause by clause! Kang Lang below, however, was glowing with health, his back straight.

He was the sixth son of the Poliu monarch and also the son-in-law of the Kan tribal chief, and was about to become the key figure in resolving the Qingye dispute. Among everyone present, he was the most joyful one.

Boss Situ Yu looked at him and remembered the idea He Lingchuan had relayed through his son, which could indeed be implemented. "Alright, what is in front of everyone is the latest Qingye agreement. We must review it clause by clause, and then sign and seal it right here!"

There was no objection below, so the review began.

The Kan tribe occupied Qingye and knew they were in the wrong, so they demanded 50% of the city's revenue;

The Poliu Nation was willing to stop the war, but the premise was that they wanted 70% of the revenue.

Originally, this was the focus of the two sides' inability to talk, but the Boss Situ family asked He Lingchuan for advice and got an "impossible method," and the peaceful cooperation on the Allied Forces' northern line finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Of course, what He Lingchuan proposed was only the idea and concept; how to implement it specifically still required the three parties to negotiate on their own.

As long as personal interests were involved, even the dullest and most stupid people would immediately become shrewd, let alone two major forces.

The Boss Situ family put a lot of effort into this and used the greatest patience, finally successfully bridging the gap.

This round of deliberation took two hours, interspersed with several questions and arguments.

However, it was finally negotiated.

Both representatives and Kang Lang had to sign and seal, in four copies.

The Poliu Nation, the Kan tribe, and Kang Lang each kept one, and the Boss Situ family, as the witness, of course also had to keep one for the record.

By the time Boss Situ Yu held this agreement in his hand, he was simply relieved of a heavy burden.

Two hours, his throat was hoarse! Both representatives stood up, politely declined the Boss Situ family's banquet, and bid farewell to the host.

They were in a hurry to go back and report; this piece of paper was of great importance.

With it, the Allied Forces' northern line could set aside disputes and continue to launch attacks on the Pixia people!

Only Kang Lang was full of energy; when he stepped forward to thank Boss Situ Yu, that bow almost touched the floor: "Thank you, Marshal Boss Situ!"

"Congratulations to City Governor Kang on taking office!" Boss Situ Yu patted his shoulder. "Work hard; from now on, you are the cornerstone of peaceful communication between Poliu and the Kan tribe; remember to be impartial."

"Yes, Kang Lang remembers."

By virtue of his special status, Kang Lang became the Qingye manager entrusted by both the Poliu Nation and the Kan tribe, and from the time the agreement took effect, he took office as the Qingye City Governor.

He was no longer that dispensable sixth prince of Poliu.

As long as he acted fairly in Qingye and communicated effectively between the two sides, the Allied Forces could crush the Pixia people's conspiracy and continue to launch a strong attack on them.

Boss Situ Yu added: "You must prepare a few more guards when you go out, so as not to become a thorn in the side of the Pixia people."

Kang Lang smiled: "I will follow your instructions!"

Afterwards, he also took his leave and strode away.

Over the past few days, he had many ideas for Qingye, and now he couldn't wait to implement them.

At this point, the Qingye dispute was resolved, and the Allied Forces also felt a heavy stone lifted from their hearts.

Boss Situ Yu looked at Kang Lang's excited back and praised: "The owner of the Yangshan Archipelago truly has talent."

The confidant beside him didn't understand: "Marshal?"

"The Original Homeland Society supported by the Yangshan Society has already contacted many talents. But like He'er, those who hold real power are, after all, a minority." The Boss Situ family carried the banner against Pixia, and the Boss Situ father and son worked together with a division of labor. "Most members of the Original Homeland Society are aristocratic children like Kang Lao Liu, who have the status of a famous family and the spirit to try, but are actually idle people."

"Ah... you see it very accurately."

"This time, the Original Homeland Society planned well, and Kang Lao Liu leaped to become the key figure in resolving the Qingye dispute. With him as a precedent, other aristocratic idlers will inevitably look at the Original Homeland Society with admiration, and also hope that they will be supported and rise with the wind from now on." Boss Situ Yu smiled slightly. "He Lingchuan not only helps us but also helps the Allied Forces, and also sets up a banner and builds a reputation for his own Original Homeland Society."

Killing three birds with one stone was nothing; what was truly remarkable was that He Lingchuan was still keeping a low profile to this day.

Outsiders all thought he was just a wealthy merchant from afar.

Thinking of this, Boss Situ Yu was slightly startled again.

He Lingchuan's secret support for Kang Lao Liu was just like when He Lingchuan helped his father and son repel Pixia, also using the method of setting up models and creating templates, allowing himself to be at ease and become a popular figure sought after by various countries and forces in the central Flash Gold Plain.

Even the Yao Nation sent envoys to contact Yangshan—He Lingchuan never hid this from the Boss Situ father and son.

Boss Situ Yu still remembered his helping hand with gratitude, but what exactly did this Island Master He want to do in the Flash Gold Plain?

People always have a purpose for doing things, right? But Boss Situ Yu still hadn't seen through it.

Was He Lingchuan's various actions really just so that Yangshan's commercial business could spread everywhere in the Flash Gold Plain? It seemed so, but it also seemed like more than that.

Thinking as he went, he walked back to his tent without realizing it.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1365 =====