Chapter 223: 223. Chapter 220: The First Meeting with Bai He

223. Chapter 220: The First Meeting with Bai He

Early the next morning, Li Xuan got up early, washed up carefully, then changed into clean, tidy clothes, took Bai Chuan and left the inn, preparing to attend the banquet.

Li Xuan has basically obtained all the information about the Min Clan, but it is of little use; he cannot use overly extreme methods against the Min Clan, after all his target is the Po Clan behind the Min Clan.

If he were to use strong influence on the Min Clan to recruit the Po Clan later, it would be unnecessary, because the Min Clan, a small matter, would affect his future plans.

If there were no Po Clan issue, Li Xuan could easily take down the Min Clan.

For example, cultivating a reliable Clan Leader within the Min Clan…

For example, cornering the surrounding food supplies so the Min Clan starves to death…

For example, using overwhelming force, Bai Chuan could strike and kill outright…

……

Li Xuan has many such schemes, but he cannot use them; he must resort to gentler methods.

After a dozen minutes, Bai Chuan stopped the carriage in front of the largest restaurant in Wusi City; Li Xuan's invitation specified that Bai He would be entertained here.

"Young master, the private room I booked for you is on the Third Floor; the dishes are ready, and once everyone arrives we can start the feast." After jumping down from the carriage, Bai Chuan said to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan nodded, went straight up to the Third Floor, and entered the private room that Bai Chuan had booked for him; since Li Xuan was the host, he arrived early in the room to wait for Bai He.

It was still early, so Li Xuan sat in the room, closed his eyes to rest, awaiting Bai He's arrival.

Creak…

As the door opened, the private room's door swung open, and Bai Chuan led in an elderly man with crane‑like hair and a youthful face, his spirit bright, from outside the room.

The elder wore white robes, looking ethereal and dignified, but Li Xuan could sense the garments had been washed many times and the man was somewhat gaunt.

Indeed, this is the Clan Leader of the Min Clan, a Bashier Ji Chun Min Xi Hun Douluo of 82nd level, Bai He!

"Grandmaster Bai He! I have long admired you!" Li Xuan enthusiastically rose from his seat, hurried forward, bowed to Bai He, and said.

Seeing Li Xuan's enthusiasm, Bai He was also taken aback; this kid knows how to act.

"Haha, Young Master Ande, sorry for the wait; I have heard of you for a long time as well." Bai He returned the warmth, smiling broadly at Li Xuan, and grasped Li Xuan's arm.

Both were extremely cordial, as if old friends reunited after years, but each knew this was merely a staged performance.

Li Xuan's main alias Feiyu has already been exposed and is now wanted by the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, but the alias Ande is unknown, so this time Li Xuan is using Ande's alias.

The Ande alias is the identity of the former lord's son of Ladi Canyon; when the previous lord handed over the domain, he gave this identity to Li Xuan.

Moreover, using the Ande identity, sending the Min Clan to Ladi Canyon is perfectly legitimate.

"The junior has prepared the delicacies; please sit, please sit." Li Xuan immediately arranged for Bai He to be seated.

Bai He nodded and sat down, taking a seat beside Li Xuan.

"Uncle Bai, have the dishes brought out." Li Xuan said to Bai Chuan.

"Yes, young master!" Bai Chuan replied, then went to summon the waiter.

"Young Master Ande, you invited me here for a banquet today; are you trying to recruit the Min Clan?" Bai He asked directly, addressing Li Xuan.

Hearing Bai Chuan's words, Li Xuan was taken aback; no warm‑up at all? Straight to the terms? "Haha, Grandmaster Bai He, the junior indeed has that idea. My newly established domain needs some soul masters suitable as communication personnel. I heard your family is in Wusi City, so I came all the way from the Star Luo Empire to invite the Min Clan to join my domain." Li Xuan said with a smile, his tone gentle and friendly.

"Young master, thank you for the banquet, but since the great war ten years ago, the Min Clan swore that even if they starve, they will not join any other faction. If there is nothing else, I will take my leave now." Bai He said, stood up, and prepared to depart.

"Grandmaster Bai He, hold on. I can promise you that the Min Clan members will not become soldiers; they will only handle communications and patrols, with a monthly salary of at least one hundred gold Soul Coins per person." Li Xuan extended a single finger.

"Also, Grandmaster Bai He, even if we don't reach an agreement, I should still treat you to this meal; let's eat first and then you can go back." Li Xuan said warmly to Bai He.

Li Xuan's humble approach was meant to display his open‑hearted attitude, reminding Bai He of Yang Wudi; in that case, Li Xuan could contact the Po Clan.

After hearing Li Xuan's words, Bai He hesitated for a moment.

Immediately, the waiter began serving the dishes, and soon a table laden with colorful, fragrant, and tasty food was placed.

Having not tasted meat for a long time, Bai He silently swallowed some saliva; there was no choice, the Min Clan was too poor, never having any extra provisions.

"Then thank you, Young Master Ande." Bai He sighed helplessly, clasped his fists in greeting to Li Xuan, and sat down.

"Grandmaster Bai He, please." Li Xuan said with a smile to Bai He.

Li Xuan, having worked hard for both the Po Clan and the Min Clan, produced a wine pouch of the Wine‑God Flower, intending to get drunk together with Bai He.

When the wine pouch was opened, a refreshing fragrance of wine wafted out, instantly filling the entire private room.

"This is… this is a Wine‑God Flower wine pouch, Young Master Ande, I didn't expect you to have such a fine item." Bai He widened his eyes, looking incredulously at the pouch in Li Xuan's hand, and said to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan also didn't expect Bai He could recognize the Wine‑God Flower pouch; it's not a common item.

"Haha, I once, during my time at the Clear Sky Sect, had the fortune to taste a century‑old Wine‑God Flower wine pouch." Bai He showed a nostalgic expression; it seemed he also enjoyed drinking.

"What a pity, this wine can slightly enhance a child's cultivation talent." Bai He sighed, speaking regretfully.

"Grandmaster Bai He, this wine pouch is for you; take it home and share it with the children." Li Xuan smiled, produced another wine pouch, and handed it to Bai He.

Bai He's eyes widened instantly; back when he was at the Clear Sky Sect he only received a small cup, and now Li Xuan has produced two wine pouches! "Thank you, Young Master Ande, this is too precious; I'll decline. The battle between the Clear Sky Sect and the Spirit Hall was terribly brutal; our four great Soul Master families were nearly wiped out. After ten years of recovery we barely regained a breath of life. Young Master Ande, please be kind and let the Min Clan recuperate, and do not stir up conflict again." Bai He hesitated, then ultimately refused Li Xuan's wine pouch, deeming it far too valuable.

More importantly, Bai He has no intention at all of bringing the Min Clan into any other faction.

"Haha, Grandmaster Bai He, rest assured, after the Min Clan joins my domain they will not fight, only handle logistics and communications, so there will be no casualties. Moreover, I can provide the talent‑enhancing item to the Min Clan on a regular, measured basis." Li Xuan said with a tempting smile, pushing the wine pouch that Bai He had returned back toward him.

"This… I still need to consider this carefully; let's change the wine we're drinking." Bai He hesitated, then sealed the wine pouch and gave it back to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan smiled and shook his head, then in the Small Cave Heaven produced two vats of aged liquor and began drinking with Bai He. Li Xuan's body contains three kinds of flame and is immune to all poisons, so even if he drinks a lot he never feels dizzy.

"Haha, Young Master Ande, the battle back then was terrible; otherwise, with the conditions you gave me, I would have agreed long ago." Bai He, his face flushed, said as he pulled Li Xuan.

Li Xuan understood; Bai He doesn't trust him.

So Li Xuan didn't continue to nag, but instead started casual conversation.

Bai Chuan returned to the private room and stood in the corner, neither eating nor drinking, quietly waiting.

"Thank you, Young Master Ande, for today's banquet; I'm full and have had plenty to drink. I'll head back now; next time the Bai family hosts a banquet, they should invite Young Master Ande for a gathering." Bai He stood, clasped his fists in greeting to Li Xuan, and prepared to turn and leave.

"Grandmaster Bai He, please think this over carefully; joining my domain carries no risk and includes allowances, and besides the Wine‑God Flower wine pouch there are other good things." Li Xuan smiled at Bai He, then escorted Bai He out of the private room.

After seeing the Bai family leave, Li Xuan's soul power stirred, the alcohol in his body instantly evaporated, and his expression grew serious.

"Young master, this Bai He doesn't know how to appreciate generosity." A flash of murderous intent flickered in Bai Chuan's eyes.

Don't be fooled by Bai Chuan's usually pleasant demeanor, but don't forget that Bai Chuan's martial soul is the Tiger Soul Blade; it's just that his Killing Qi is now restrained and he has sheathed the blade.

"It's fine; dealing with them is still easy," Li Xuan thought cheerfully.

"Anyway, I'll be staying here for a while, so I'll gradually grind with them," Li Xuan said to Bai Chuan, smiling and shaking his head.

"Alright, young master, as long as you have it clear in your mind, that's enough," Bai Chuan said after hearing Li Xuan, slowly restraining his Killing Qi and waiting respectfully beside him.

Bai Chuan believes Li Xuan can handle the Min Clan.

After all, in Bai Chuan's mind, Li Xuan is immensely powerful.

"Bai Shu, later I'll go check the beggars in Wusi City, find a few who cause trouble, I have use for them, and also buy a larger Courtyard," Li Xuan thought for a moment and said to Bai Chuan.

"Yes, young master, I'll take care of it right away," Bai Chuan respectfully bowed to Li Xuan, then turned to find people.

Li Xuan watched Bai Chuan leave the private room, lifted the wine cup before him, drank it in one gulp, and then left the private room himself.

……

After returning to the inn, Li Xuan returned to the Palm Sky Bottle, summoned a drop of Green Spirit Liquid, diluted it, and poured it onto ten ordinary blue‑silver grasses.

These blue‑silver grasses were just the ones Li Xuan found by the roadside, all freshly sprouted tender shoots.

Li Xuan could not be sure whether other century‑old medicinal herbs could generate a soul ring, so after consideration he decided to cultivate the blue‑silver grass.

After absorbing the Green Spirit Liquid, the ten blue‑silver grasses grew rapidly, reaching two meters tall in the blink of an eye, with massive leaves a full half meter high.

"Wow, this thing makes perfect feed, growing so big so fast," Li Xuan said in amazement at the blue‑silver grass, admitting he had definitely underestimated its growth ability.

After successfully cultivating the blue‑silver grass, Li Xuan returned to his own inn.

Not long after, Bai Chuan walked in from outside.

"Young master, I've already bought a Courtyard, and the other people are already in place," Bai Chuan said to Li Xuan cleanly and efficiently.

"Alright, let's go right now," Li Xuan nodded, then got up from the bed.

Bai Chuan led Li Xuan out of the inn and arrived at the City Lord's Mansion in Wusi City.

Looking at the plaque before him, Li Xuan was instantly stunned.

"Bai Shu, what's going on? Why bring me to the City Lord's Mansion?" Li Xuan asked Bai Chuan with a puzzled expression.

"This is the best Courtyard in Wusi City; they really ran out of money, sold it to me for a hundred gold Soul Coins, young master, rest assured you can stay, no one has any authority here, it's been almost twenty years since anyone came," Bai Chuan shrugged, smiling at Li Xuan.

"Alright, let's go in; this counts as officially settling down," Li Xuan nodded at Bai Chuan, then entered the City Lord's Mansion.

The City Lord's Mansion must have been exquisite in its heyday, with pavilions, towers, and halls, blue stone paving, and glazed tiles.

But after all these years, it has become utterly dilapidated.

In the central Courtyard of the City Lord's Mansion, ten ragged beggars, bound with coarse ropes, were thrown onto the ground.

"Young master, these are the leaders of those beggars; they bully men and dominate women, commit all sorts of evil, and basically have no cultivation," Bai Chuan introduced them to Li Xuan.

"Never mind, Bai Shu, go fetch the club, I have something to ask him," Li Xuan shook his head, then said to Bai Chuan.

"Alright, young master," Bai Chuan nodded, then turned and left.

Li Xuan glanced at the beggars, then seized one and brought him to the back room, let the beggar fall to the ground, and Li Xuan returned to the space of the Palm Sky Bottle.

Next, Li Xuan took out a Flower Pot, transferred the blue‑silver grass into it, so he could bring the blue‑silver grass out of the Palm Sky Bottle.

The bound beggar stared at Li Xuan, who vanished and reappeared suddenly, eyes wide in shock, a continuous "Wooo", while desperately shrinking back.

Li Xuan, smiling at the beggar's expression, shook his head, then extended a finger; a cluster of golden flame turned into a fire line that incinerated the rope on the beggar and the tattered cloth in his mouth into ash.

"Young master, spare me, young master, spare me!" The beggar, the instant he broke free of the restraints, fell to his knees, couldn't stop kowtowing to Li Xuan, his voice trembling.

"It's fine, this young master will grant you a heavenly bounty," Li Xuan smiled slightly, extended a finger and tapped the beggar's head.

The beggar's eyes widened suddenly, his body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground; Li Xuan used soul power to stun him.

Li Xuan sat cross‑legged on the ground, and his soul power easily entered the blue‑silver grass's Spiritual Space.

(End of chapter)