Chapter 140: Really Giving You Half

Xiao Yan saw Lei Le looking at him and helplessly shrugged his shoulders.

┓(`)┏

"I'm not some irredeemable villain—I and Ya Fei both warned you, but you let lust cloud your judgment."

Of course, Xiao Yan never intended to save him; such a reckless, mouthy fool was truly detestable.

"D…Dou Huang?!" The cold energy inside him had turned Lei Ou's hair into a thin layer of ice; his lips trembled.

Though he was only a Dou Ling, even facing a Dou Wang shouldn't have left him unable to see the opponent's move before his limbs were frozen and pinned to the wall.

Gazing in horror at Hai Bodong standing before him, Lei Ou knew only a Dou Huang could have done this.

Upon hearing those words, everyone except Xiao Yan showed shock—the unassuming cloth-clad elder was a Dou Huang!

"Xiao Yan brother, you're becoming more astonishing by the day. You've even made the acquaintance of such a supreme powerhouse." Ya Fei's beautiful eyes turned to Xiao Yan; his cultivation talent and public pill refining had already stunned her back then, when he was merely sixteen.

And now, barely two years later, he had already reached the level of a Dou Huang.

Seeing Ya Fei's astonished gaze, Xiao Yan smiled and asked, "By the way, who is Miter Tengshan?"

"He is our clan's Senior Elder and current Clan Leader, one of the Ten Greatest Warriors of the Jia Ma Empire—a high-level Dou Wang," Ya Fei explained.

"Oh, high-level Dou Wang." Xiao Yan spoke indifferently, casually plucking a grape from the table and popping it into his mouth to chew. To Xiao Yan, a high-level Dou Wang meant less than a grape he could eat!

Soon after, news spread that a clan elder had been pinned to the wall and a Dou Huang had appeared; many clan elders rushed over, fully armed. Soon, Miter Tengshan arrived at the Pai Mai Chang.

Dressed in splendid robes, Miter Tengshan's expression turned ecstatic the moment he saw Hai Bodong, tears welling in his eyes.

Several of Miter Tengshan's old comrades-in-arms also recognized Hai Bodong, their faces filled with trepidation.

"Hai Lao, I never imagined I'd see you again. When you vanished into the Snake People Empire and never returned, I exhausted every resource searching for you—but found not a trace." Miter Tengshan spoke, voice trembling with emotion.

Seeing Miter Tengshan, Hai Bodong's frostbitten expression softened slightly; he lifted the warm tea Ya Fei had poured and took a small sip.

Watching Miter Tengshan and the senior elders behave this way, Ya Fei recalled a chapter of the clan's past.

The Miter Clan certainly hadn't always been the Jia Ma Empire's largest merchant guild; once, it was merely a small-town commercial family.

It was because Miter Tengshan, in his youth, befriended Hai Bodong before he became a Dou Huang; later, when the Jia Ma Empire's regime changed and power structures were reshuffled.

Under Hai Bodong's protection, Miter Tengshan massively expanded and absorbed rival guilds, eventually forming the empire's largest commercial empire, while Hai Bodong was honored by the Miter Clan as Supreme Elder—a guardian deity of the family.

"Something happened back then, so I secluded myself for all these years. But thankfully, it's resolved now. All this time has passed, and that brash youth who swore he'd become the richest man in the empire? Now he's a Dou Wang." Hai Bodong spoke calmly.

In the hall stood many outstanding young members of the clan; these fresh bloodlines of the Miter Clan stared in stunned silence at their usually stern, unyielding Senior Elder, now wearing such a reverent, emotional smile, all wondering who Hai Bodong truly was.

After all, over twenty years had passed; time had worn away the past, turning green banana leaves brown and cherry blossoms red—it was natural they didn't recognize Hai Bodong.

Some also glanced at Xiao Yan; in the entire hall, besides Hai Bodong, even Miter Tengshan stood, yet only Xiao Yan sat calmly beside them, sipping tea and nibbling snacks, utterly at ease—completely out of sync with the hall's tense atmosphere.

After a moment of silence, Miter Tengshan waved his hand, shattering the ice columns pinning Lei Ou, and said gravely: "You insulted Hai Lao—normally, you'd be expelled from the clan immediately. But considering your past service, I strip you of your Elder title and assign you to manage a branch in a border city. For three years, you are forbidden to return to headquarters!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Ou's face showed not anger, but gratitude: "Thank you, Senior Elder. Thank you, Hai Lao, for sparing my life."

Neither Xiao Yan nor Hai Bodong spoke; they knew killing an Elder outright would fracture the clan, plunging everyone into fear.

With all matters settled, Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow at Hai Bodong. It was time to speak.

"This man beside me is Xiao Yan, a skilled Alchemist. Because he helped me greatly, I've promised to give him half of the Mitel Auction House." Hai Bodong spoke calmly, yet his words struck like thunder, leaving everyone in the hall stunned.

Half!

Half of the entire Mitel Auction House!!!!

The Miter Clan's assets weren't limited to the Auction House—but the Auction House accounted for over eighty percent of the clan's income!!!!

Lose half its revenue, and the entire Miter Clan collapses instantly!

"Hai Lao, this is utterly impossible!" Not only Miter Tengshan rushed to stop him—even other Elders and even Lei Ou stepped forward to plead.

WHOOSH—a violent chill instantly descended, freezing everyone in place, making them shiver violently and swallow their words.

"My decision is final. No objections. Moreover, Xiao Yan won't directly take half the Auction House—he won't manage its operations or revenue. He only requires us to supply him with medicinal materials and find any he needs." Hai Bodong's gaze was icy, his tone absolute.

Even with this explanation, everyone still winced in pain. Unconditionally supplying medicinal materials! Some were cheap, others expensive—just the few materials earlier had cost over a million Gold Coins.

Worse still, you won't even give them the pills you refine!

Watching Xiao Yan calmly sip his flower tea, Hai Bodong smiled faintly and said, "You're Ya Fei, correct?"

Ya Fei hurried forward, bowing deeply: "Yes, Hai Lao."

"Xiao Yan needs the Auction House to supply him with medicinal materials, and he's agreed to assist the clan if needed. I'm an old man, busy with my own affairs, wandering like a cloud and crane. To facilitate communication between Xiao Yan and the Auction House, I intend to betroth you to him. Will you accept?"

PUFF PUFF PUFF!!!!!! Xiao Yan spat his flower tea straight into Hai Bodong's face.

Even he was stunned—he immediately protested: "Hai Bodong! We never agreed to this!"

(End of Chapter)