Chapter 1675

"Wait, I just thought of a plan."

Bei Mingyuan looked at the guard, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes.

"Young Master, what is your plan?"

The guard asked.

A faint smile curled at the corner of Bei Mingyuan's mouth. "We're going to make Xiao Yifeng deliver himself right to our doorstep."

Xiao family, study.

"Still no movement?"

Xiao Yifeng frowned as he looked at the intelligence in his hand.

The subordinate shook his head. "Yes, the people of the Bei Ming clan still haven't made any move."

Xiao Yifeng sighed. "What on earth is this Bei Mingyuan up to?"

The subordinate spoke up. "Young Master, should we take the initiative to strike?"

Xiao Yifeng shook his head. "Now is not the time. We can't tip our hand."

The subordinate acknowledged and was about to withdraw.

"Wait, I just thought of an idea."

Xiao Yifeng looked at the subordinate, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes.

"Young Master, what is your plan?"

The subordinate asked.

A faint smile curled at the corner of Xiao Yifeng's mouth. "We're going to make Bei Mingyuan deliver himself right to our doorstep."

Bei Ming clan, great hall.

"What did you say? Xiao Yifeng wants to negotiate with us?"

Bei Mingyuan frowned as he looked at the guard below.

The guard nodded. "Yes, Young Master. Xiao Yifeng sent word through someone, saying he wishes to negotiate with you, offering a supreme treasure in exchange."

Bei Mingyuan was silent for a moment. "This Xiao Yifeng truly has some nerve."

Hei Yue furrowed his brow. "Young Master, this might be his trap."

Bei Mingyuan shook his head. "It doesn't matter. We'll pretend we don't know, and just play along with his plan."

Hei Yue gave a slight nod. "Yes, Young Master."

Xiao family, study.

"What did you say? Bei Mingyuan agreed?"

A flicker of doubt crossed Xiao Yifeng's eyes as he looked at the subordinate.

The subordinate nodded. "Yes, Young Master. Bei Mingyuan has accepted your terms and agreed to negotiate with you."

Xiao Yifeng frowned slightly. "What on earth is this Bei Mingyuan really after?"

The subordinate spoke up. "Young Master, I feel this might be their trap."

Xiao Yifeng shook his head. "No, it's not a trap. I think Bei Mingyuan may genuinely want to make the exchange."

The subordinate was taken aback. "Young Master, are you really going?"

A faint smile curled at the corner of Xiao Yifeng's mouth. "Of course. I want to go meet this Bei Mingyuan in person."

Several days later, Xiao Yifeng and Bei Mingyuan sat facing each other in the great hall. A trace of a smile played on both their faces, but the light in their eyes was exceptionally sharp.

"Young Master Xiao, you truly have nerve."

Bei Mingyuan spoke first.

"Likewise."

Xiao Yifeng said with a slight smile. "Young Master Bei, I have one thing I don't understand, and I hope you'll enlighten me."

"Oh? Young Master Xiao, please speak."

Bei Mingyuan gave a slight nod.

"You clearly knew it was a trap, so why did you still come?"

Xiao Yifeng asked.

Bei Mingyuan smiled. "Because to us, you people are also a trap."

Xiao Yifeng was momentarily stunned, then understood, and his expression darkened.

Bei Mingyuan glanced at Xiao Yifeng's expression and laughed again. "But we are also sincere. As long as Young Master Xiao hands over the supreme treasure, we can still negotiate."

Xiao Yifeng gave a cold laugh. "Young Master Bei, do you think I'd believe you?"

"That depends on Young Master Xiao's sincerity."

Bei Mingyuan said with a slight smile.

"The supreme treasure isn't on me. I can let you search."

Xiao Yifeng said.

Bei Mingyuan frowned. "A search? That doesn't seem like Young Master Xiao's usual style."

"I just want to cooperate with you."

Xiao Yifeng said, looking into Bei Mingyuan's eyes.

Bei Mingyuan said nothing, quietly gazing at Xiao Yifeng. Their eyes clashed in the air, as if testing each other's patience and resolve.

In the end, Bei Mingyuan broke the silence. "Fine. Since Young Master Xiao is so sincere, we'll naturally consider cooperation."

He stood up and walked toward the outside of the great hall. "Let's go."

Hei Yue followed behind him, and the two disappeared outside the great hall.

Xiao Yifeng watched their retreating backs, a flicker of doubt crossing his eyes. He always felt something was off, but exactly what it was, he couldn't say.

He took a deep breath, stood up, and walked out.

He knew this contest had only just begun.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng walked out of the main hall, took a deep breath of the biting cold air, and felt his doubts covered with a layer of fog that would not lift. He felt Bei Mingyuan's reaction had been somewhat unexpected, but as to exactly where, he still could not say.

He slowly walked back to his residence, his thoughts flying all over the place. He trusted his intuition, but at the same time he understood that sometimes intuition was not necessarily correct. He needed more information, more clues.

Back at the residence, he went straight to the study. Although the preparations for the negotiation were ready, he still needed to ponder them more carefully. He believed that only through meticulous preparation could he seize the initiative in the negotiation.

In the study, he reread the materials at hand: about Bei Mingyuan, about their family, about this potential negotiation. His gaze slid over every line, as if searching for some hidden clue.

However, no matter how he searched, he still could not find any clue that could dispel his doubts. Instead, he grew more and more confused by Bei Mingyuan's actions.

Over the next few days, Seeing Xiao Yifeng and Bei Mingyuan had multiple contacts and exchanges. Each exchange deepened his doubts by another layer. Bei Mingyuan seemed truly intent on negotiating, and his obsession with the supreme treasure appeared even stronger than imagined.

This made Seeing Xiao Yifeng even more confused. He could not figure out what Bei Mingyuan was plotting.

Time slipped away quietly amidst doubt and thought. Finally, a month later as agreed, Seeing Xiao Yifeng and Bei Mingyuan held their final negotiation in a forest outside the city.

They sat on either side of a long table in the forest, their gazes meeting across the table. Their eyes crossed like flashing blades and swords, as if engaging in a silent contest.

Finally, Bei Mingyuan broke the silence. "Young Master Xiao, I admit you do have some skill, but you still do not understand what we want."

Seeing Xiao Yifeng frowned slightly. "What is it you want?"

Bei Mingyuan smiled. "What we want is not the supreme treasure, but you."

Seeing Xiao Yifeng was stunned. "Me? Why?"

Bei Mingyuan smiled mysteriously. "This is our family's tradition; only the strongest partner can inherit the strongest bloodline."

After hearing this, Seeing Xiao Yifeng fell silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed. "I see. I understand now."

Seeing the smile on Seeing Xiao Yifeng's face, Bei Mingyuan was also slightly stunned. "You understand?"

Seeing Xiao Yifeng nodded. "I understand why you agreed to this negotiation."

"Oh? Why?" Bei Mingyuan asked, somewhat curious.

Seeing Xiao Yifeng looked at him. "Because you need me."

After hearing this, a flash of surprise crossed Bei Mingyuan's eyes, then he laughed. "Young Master Xiao, you are indeed clever. Then, may we begin the negotiation now?"

Seeing Xiao Yifeng slowly shook his head. "No, this negotiation is no longer necessary."

Bei Mingyuan was stunned. "Why?"

Seeing Xiao Yifeng stood up and looked into the depths of the forest. "Because I have already found what I was looking for."

Having said this, he turned and walked into the depths of the forest. Bei Mingyuan watched his back, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

From the depths of the forest, a figure slowly emerged, holding an old, tattered scroll in his hand. He walked up to Bei Mingyuan and handed him the scroll. "This is what you wanted."

Bei Mingyuan took the scroll, looked at the writing on it, and the surprise in his eyes grew ever stronger. He raised his head and looked at Seeing Xiao Yifeng's back. "This is...?"

Seeing Xiao Yifeng stopped, turned, and looked at him. "This is our family's secret scripture, and also what you wanted."

Bei Mingyuan fell silent for a moment. "Why do you give it to me?"