Chapter 1344: Money can make the devil turn the mill

At lunch the next day, Ye Zhangqing happened to hear that people from the Heavenly Union Merchant Association had arrived.

It was the Heavenly Union Merchant Association that had betrayed him before, and they had come now to collect their reward for doing so.

Naturally, Ye Zhangqing couldn't feel any goodwill toward the Heavenly Union Merchant Association—after all, who would like someone who betrayed them?

But Ye Zhangqing wasn't so naive as to harbor only hatred in his heart.

Put bluntly, in this world, if the profit is big enough, any hatred or grudge can be set aside.

Right now Ye Zhangqing needed to contact the merchant association and obtain an Imperial-tier Chuānyīn fú, and the Heavenly Union Merchant Association was his only chance.

So, with hardly any hesitation, after dinner that day Ye Zhangqing took the initiative to visit them.

Within Bai Song Gu, Ye Zhangqing's movements were unrestricted, and Qiu Baiyi kept her word, assigning no one to restrict him.

As long as he didn't leave Bai Song Gu, Ye Zhangqing remained quite free.

Arriving without hindrance at the Dong Fu where the Heavenly Union Merchant Association members resided, when he saw that the visitor was Ye Zhangqing, the association member was momentarily stunned.

How dare he come knocking again? Is he here to take revenge?

Many thoughts flashed through his mind, but on the surface the association member still smiled and asked.

"Young Master Ye, is there something you need?"

"I want to see your person in charge; I have a business matter I'd like to discuss with him."

Huh???

Hearing this, the association member was somewhat bewildered—just a few days ago we sold you out, and you still dare to come talk business with us?

Just as this person hesitated, the voice of the Elder in charge suddenly sounded in his mind.

"Bring him to see me."

Since the Elder had spoken, the association member naturally dared not refuse, and gestured for Ye Zhangqing to come in.

"Young Master Ye, please."

Led by this member, Ye Zhangqing met the Elder who was leading this delegation—and, as ill luck would have it, it was the very Elder who had betrayed him.

Seeing Ye Zhangqing, the Elder showed not the slightest embarrassment; on the contrary, he smiled and said.

"Young Master Ye has arrived; please take a seat."

Truly a businessman, his cheek is thicker than most people's—here, it's as if the previous incident never happened.

Ye Zhangqing also didn't bring up the past; after sitting down, the Elder personally brewed him a cup of tea and smiled.

"I never drink alcohol when discussing business; this is White Dew tea, which our association brought from other worlds. Young Master Ye, try it—it tastes quite good."

He took a sip.

"Hmm, it's indeed good, but let's skip the tea tasting—I came this time to discuss a business matter with you, Elder."

Ye Zhangqing didn't want to waste time; hearing this, the Elder smiled and said.

"Aren't you afraid I'll betray you again, Young Master Ye?"

This time, the Elder brought up the past himself; after speaking, he looked at Ye Zhangqing with a full smile, seemingly wanting to see his reaction.

Would he fly into a rage, or erupt in a torrent of curses?

Unfortunately, none of those imagined reactions occurred; even upon hearing this, Ye Zhangqing's expression remained calm and unchanged, and he spoke tranquilly.

"You're a businessman, and the Heavenly Union Merchant Association is a merchant association—everything revolves around profit."

"Last time, I didn't offer enough, and you chose the side that paid more—I don't mind, and I don't dwell on it."

"This time I believe I can offer you a satisfactory price; without profit, I doubt you would betray me."

Ye Zhangqing said this neither hastily nor slowly; hearing it, the Elder broke into a grin.

"Young Master Ye, you have real talent for business."

"What you say is correct; we of the Heavenly Union Merchant Association are businessmen, and businessmen care only about profit—everything else is irrelevant to us."

"I'm now interested in talking with Young Master Ye; may I ask you to elaborate on the details?"

The Elder was very pleased with Ye Zhangqing's answer; in front of businessmen, talking about loyalty and righteousness is just bullshit.

"Profit is everything; without it, I simply wouldn't bother with you."

Hearing this, Ye Zhangqing didn't waste words and spoke bluntly.

"I need one Imperial-tier Chuānyīn fú, and you must arrange to deliver it to me; the price is negotiable—you name your figure."

Upon hearing the request for an Imperial-tier Chuānyīn fú, the Elder didn't ask Ye Zhangqing what he intended to use it for.

He might have already guessed, but he didn't expose it.

Ye Zhangqing's purpose for the Imperial-tier Chuānyīn fú had nothing to do with the Heavenly Union Merchant Association; as long as the money was sufficient, that was all that mattered.

After a moment of silent calculation—likely estimating the price—once Ye Zhangqing had finished his cup of tea, the Elder, while refilling his tea, spoke up.

"The market price for an Imperial-tier Chuānyīn fú is five hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones, but given Young Master Ye's special circumstances, I'll quote a flat rate of one million top-grade spirit stones."

"The Heavenly Union Merchant Association will take responsibility for getting the Chuānyīn fú into Young Master Ye's hands."

That's a straight doubling—hardly not black-hearted—but Ye Zhangqing nodded his agreement without the slightest hesitation.

"All right."

Ye Zhangqing wasn't short of money; seeing this, the Elder broke into a grin.

"Then let's have a pleasant cooperation."

Afterward, Ye Zhangqing paid a deposit of one hundred thousand top-grade spirit stones; he didn't have that many spirit stones on hand, but he could make up the difference with other treasures, as long as their value equaled one million top-grade spirit stones.

Ye Zhangqing possessed plenty of treasures; even though the Viper had taken some earlier, it was still easy to gather enough to equal one million top-grade spirit stones.

As for the balance, it would be paid after receiving the Imperial-tier Chuānyīn fú; how to pay and how to collect the money is entirely the Heavenly Union Merchant Association's concern—Ye Zhangqing need not worry about it.

With the matter settled, Ye Zhangqing didn't linger and left shortly thereafter.

"I doubt I can keep this from Qiu Baiyi, that woman; I have no idea what she'll do."

On the way back, Ye Zhangqing thought helplessly.

He had already anticipated this, but there was nothing he could do; Ye Zhangqing could only make this choice.

As for how Qiu Baiyi will decide after she returns, that is her own affair; even if she directly turns hostile, forcibly seizing that Emperor-rank Chuānyīn fú, or offering a higher price, causing the Heavenly Union Merchant Association to betray him again.

That is not something Ye Zhangqing can control.

Ye Zhangqing thought correctly; the fact that he had contacted the Heavenly Union Merchant Association was indeed known to that Great Emperor Elder earlier that same night.

"Let's wait for the Valley Master to return and decide."

Without questioning Ye Zhangqing or the Heavenly Union Merchant Association, this Great Emperor Elder decided to wait for Qiu Baiyi to decide herself.

She knows the Valley Master's thoughts, worried that she might ruin the Valley Master's important affair.

After contacting the Heavenly Union Merchant Association, the higher-ups of Bai Song Gu showed no reaction; Ye Zhangqing continued to cook every day and then return to his Dong Fu.

As for Qiu Baiyi, she has not returned yet; she has been locked in fierce battle with the Viper for two days and two nights, and today is the third day.

This is normal; battles between Emperor Sovereign Realm experts often last ten days or half a month, which is quite common.

Moreover, as the Emperor Sovereign Realm battle between the two sides continues, the people below have also been erupting in conflicts one after another, and the situation is increasingly developing toward an uncontrollable direction.