Chapter 679: I Can Do It Right Now

Shanming Chifeng talked with them for two days, showing not a single ounce of wit, and grew even more irritable; he feared that if he provoked him too far, the man would truly smash everything and attack Shankou Hall.

He needed to cut out a larger piece of flesh; Naito Hirotake was not worried—he lowered his gaze, hiding the myriad thoughts within.

Shanming Chifeng was no threat; his son was as foolish as he was, and the Odaigaki clan was old and worn out. These lands could be ceded to them for now—he would reclaim them one day, as long as he could rule Shankou Hall.

Now, with Pan Yun as an excuse, Naito Hirotake could easily account for himself to Dainai Jiaohong upon returning.

He curled his lips slightly, rose, and bowed slightly to show respect to Pan Yun.

Pan Yun gave him a slight nod, sat beside Shanming Chifeng, and said nothing—only interjected when their talks hit a dead end: "Both sides should step back a little. Let the Qingmu Village be the boundary: the east belongs to the Shanming clan, the west to the Dainai clan."

Naito Hirotake said nothing; another retainer seated below him strongly objected: "This is impossible..."

Pan Yun frowned slightly: "Right now, Qingmu Village and everything west to Shankou Hall are in our hands. If we refuse to yield, what can you do?"

The retainer was silenced by her words.

Shanming Chifeng's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed: "Exactly! We won't give it back—what can you do?"

The Dainai retainers fell silent in unison, all turning to look at Naito Hirotake.

Shanming Chifeng felt a strange twist inside—he had said this before, and every time the Dainai clan had countered him, ready to fight again.

Why did they stay silent now that Pan Yun had spoken?

Shanming Chifeng glanced at his opponent across the table, then back at Pan Yun seated beside him, his heart filled with complex emotions.

Odaigaki Kage was satisfied with a slight nod—he had known all along that negotiations required someone like Pan Yun: forceful and powerful.

When the clan head says "fight," the other side doesn't believe it—indeed, the clan head could never personally fight;

but when Pan Yun says "fight," she will fight.

Odaigaki Kage gloated inwardly, muttering: Do you think my money is spent for nothing? Go ahead, keep talking tough if you dare.

After a moment's thought, Naito Hirotake said: "Let us each step back—let the Waterwheel Village be the boundary."

Pan Yun said nothing, her gaze flicking toward Odaigaki Kage.

Odaigaki Kage immediately leaned close to Shanming Chifeng's ear and whispered.

Shanming Chifeng lifted his chin and declared: "Let the Tsukimi Mountain be the boundary."

Naito Hirotake's expression changed slightly—Tsukimi Mountain was a range east of Qingmu Village, with the village nestled in a narrow pass, easy to defend and hard to attack. Last time, if Pan Yun hadn't led a surprise raid on their camp, drawing off most of their troops, Takenaga Hisanori's five hundred men could never have broken through.

Tsukimi Mountain had always been the Dainai clan's vital rearward barrier against the Shanming clan—he refused to cede Qingmu Village because he didn't want to hand this pass over to the Shanming clan.

Seeing Shanming Chifeng had exposed his intent, he shot a glance at Odaigaki Kage and silently cursed: old fox.

With Pan Yun present, negotiations dragged on painfully; under Odaigaki Kage's signals, Shanming Chifeng repeatedly demanded that Dainai Jiaohong come himself to negotiate.

Each time, Naito Hirotake would quickly steal a glance at Pan Yun, as if terrified she would reveal Dainai Jiaohong's grave injury.

Pan Yun remained silent.

But Shanming Chifeng was blind to subtleties; Odaigaki Kage, however, was an old fox—he suspected something the first time Naito Hirotake glanced at Pan Yun, was eighty percent certain the second time, and when he caught the third glance, Odaigaki Kage narrowed his eyes and began to study Naito Hirotake closely.

Smart people always overestimate themselves, believing others are fools, thinking their displays of kindness are generous—yet they don't realize this only ruins everything.

Odaigaki Kage's lips curled slightly—he urged Shanming Chifeng to firmly insist on Tsukimi Mountain as the boundary.

Naito Hirotake, as expected, held out only briefly before sending a messenger back to consult Dainai Jiaohong.

Dainai Jiaohong was simultaneously dealing with the Uzumine Shrine and quelling internal clan unrest.

So many clan members and warriors had died—including Dainai Yazi—and many within the clan now questioned Dainai Jiaohong's competence; coupled with his current grave injury, several elder clan members sought to replace him as clan head.

Dainai Jiaohong knew that beyond the elders, his own retainers were untrustworthy—he didn't know how many wanted to usurp him, so he had no time even to rest and heal.

Upon hearing the message brought back by Naito Hirotake's messenger, Dainai Jiaohong fell silent for a long moment, then said: "Since it is Young Lady Pan's wish, then follow Young Lady Pan's wish."

The treaty was thus settled.

Hearing Dainai Jiaohong's reply, and seeing Shanming Chifeng's wary, uncertain gaze, Pan Yun's lips curled slightly—everyone's clever, aren't they?

Odaigaki Kage pretended not to have heard a word; as soon as the treaty was signed, he immediately bowed respectfully and ushered the clan head and Pan Yun out, smiling: "Clan Head, this is the biggest event for the Shanming clan in years—it deserves a banquet to celebrate."

Shanming Chifeng liked the suggestion and nodded immediately, adding offhandedly: "Young Lady Pan must come too."

Pan Yun smiled and agreed.

The army finally marched back.

Zhang Weiliang still lay on a wooden board, carried back by soldiers.

For two days, he briefly woke once, glanced at Tao Yanbai as he applied medicine, then slipped back into unconsciousness.

When they carried him back to Shigokuro Castle, Pan Yun came to visit him—she barely leaned in to look, and their eyes met as he opened his own.

Pan Yun straightened and smiled: "Awake? How do you feel?"

Zhang Weiliang spoke dully: "That lightning strike—you summoned it?"

Pan Yun nodded.

Zhang Weiliang: "Then why didn't you summon lightning to strike me back then?"

Pan Yun looked bewildered: "You wanted to get struck by lightning?"

Zhang Weiliang: "I didn't want it at all! If I'd known you were this powerful, I never would've provoked you—saved myself so much trouble!"

Pan Yun: "Are you blaming me for this?"

Zhang Weiliang fell silent, then asked after a long while: "Is my Upper Dantian still intact?"

"You've been awake this long and haven't checked your own cultivation?" Pan Yun looked disgusted. "Need I give you a turtle shell to hide in?"

Zhang Weiliang was furious, mustered his courage, and probed his Upper Dantian.

His Yuan energy moved sluggishly—he knew this was due to damaged meridians—but the energy flowed smoothly into his dantian. Though his lower abdomen throbbed with pain, not a single bit of energy leaked out.

His eyes brightened, and he exhaled deeply: "I'm fine!"

He added, relieved: "That sword pierced straight through my belly—I thought my Upper Dantian was destroyed."

Pan Yun: "Your Upper Dantian wasn't destroyed—you nearly died."

Zhang Weiliang, alive and well, didn't care at all—he beamed: "Surviving a great disaster brings great fortune. My parents prayed for me since childhood—I've always had great luck."

Pan Yun used her talent to assess him and said, "You've nearly spent it all; your personal luck isn't that great."

Zhang Weiliang stiffened all over.

Pan Yun turned and said, "Rest now. I'm leaving—there's a victory banquet tonight."

Zhang Weiliang hurriedly called out, "Where's my sword?"

Pan Yun pointed with her finger; Zhang Weiliang saw the sword on the table, scarred and battered, and his heart ached: "How did it get this damaged?"

Pan Yun said, "I've secured a batch of refined iron from the Yamato for weapons. When you're able to get up, go pick one out and repair your sword."

Zhang Weiliang's eyes darted: "Yamato's refined iron?"

Pan Yun nodded.

Yamato's refined iron is famous; the Great Ming most loves importing it from them, but their craftsmen's forging skills are poor.

So they like smuggling Great Ming broadswords—if you combine Yamato's refined iron with their own craftsmen…

Zhang Weiliang felt he was recovered: "I'll go pick out the refined iron tomorrow!"

Pan Yun turned back and smiled brightly at him: "Others have already started selecting; don't worry, I'll save you a piece."

Zhang Weiliang: "... I can get out of bed right now." (End of Chapter)