From the fake emperor to the concubine

“Mr. Wang, there’s no need for such formalities,” Zheng Yi said. “We’re business partners; helping you is helping myself. After all, you haven’t paid off your twenty million spirit stones yet, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

It was a joke, and they both laughed.

“By the way, sir, there is one more thing I would like to ask you.” Wang Tianhai’s expression turned serious again.

"What's up?"

"The Lu family will be arriving in Qingyun City in seven days. How should I respond?" Wang Tianhai asked. "Although I know I need to stall for time, I'm still unsure of exactly what to say."

Zheng Yi thought for a moment, "Who sent the Lu family?"

"The letter says that Lu Tianming is coming in person," Wang Tianhai said.

“Lu Tianming is the fourth elder of the Lu family, a very high-ranking person,” Zheng Yi said. “His personal visit shows that the Lu family attaches great importance to this matter. When you receive him, your attitude should be neither servile nor overly assertive; you shouldn't be too humble, nor too forceful.”

"How exactly do we do it?"

“First, you need to show respect to the Lu family,” Zheng Yi said. “The Lu family is one of the nine great families. As a mere city lord, it’s only right that you show them some respect. This will make Lu Tianming think you’re sensible and won’t make things too difficult for you.”

"Secondly, you need to show your difficulties," Zheng Yi continued. "You can tell him that submitting to the Lu family is a major decision that requires careful consideration. Furthermore, Qingyun City has just experienced a coup, and the situation is unstable. You need to stabilize the situation first before considering other matters. Let him understand your difficulties and give you time."

"Finally, you can subtly reveal some information, implying that other forces are also trying to win you over," Zheng Yi said. "This will put pressure on Lu Tianming and prevent him from being too forceful with you. But be careful not to be too explicit; just hint at it."

Wang Tianhai listened attentively, nodding occasionally.

“You are absolutely right, sir,” he said. “I have learned a great deal.”

“There’s one more thing,” Zheng Yi added, “When you’re negotiating with Lu Tianming, you can appropriately raise some conditions.”

"Conditions?" Wang Tianhai was taken aback. "What conditions?"

“For example, you could ask the Lu family to provide more resources and protection, or demand that Qingyun City retain its autonomy, and so on,” Zheng Yi said. “Doing so has two advantages: first, it can test the Lu family’s sincerity and see how much they are willing to pay; second, it can buy time, because the negotiation terms need to be negotiated back and forth, and this process may take a long time.”

Wang Tianhai suddenly understood, "Sir, you are truly brilliant. This way, even if I ultimately refuse the Lu family, I can say it's because the terms weren't agreed upon, rather than directly rejecting them."

“That’s exactly what I mean.” Zheng Yi nodded.

The more Wang Tianhai listened, the more he felt that Zheng Yi made sense, and his admiration for him grew deeper.

“Sir, I have another request,” he said.

"What's up?"

"When Lu Tianming comes to Qingyun City in seven days, I would like to invite you, sir, to come as well," Wang Tianhai said. "With you here, sir, I will feel much more at ease."

Zheng Yi pondered for a moment.

He didn't really want to get involved. After all, the Lu family was one of the nine great families, and his current strength wasn't enough to confront them head-on. Getting too deeply involved might bring him trouble.

But then he thought again. Wang Tianhai still owed him 20 million spirit stones. Although he had already paid it off, as the city lord of Qingyun City, Wang Tianhai still had many areas where they could cooperate in the future. If the Lu family were to control Qingyun City, it wouldn't be a good thing for him either.

“Alright,” he nodded. “I’ll go to Qingyun City with you in seven days.”

Wang Tianhai was overjoyed. "Thank you, sir. With your help, I can rest assured."

He chatted with Zheng Yi for a while longer, discussing some details, before saying goodbye and leaving.

After seeing Wang Tianhai off, Zheng Yi returned to the living room and sat alone in deep thought.

“The Lu family,” he murmured.

The nine great families are all incredibly difficult to deal with. The trouble with the Han family hasn't been resolved yet, and now the Lu family has emerged.

The waters of this Tianyuan Domain are deeper than he imagined.

"Master," Zheng Bowen walked in from outside, "Has Lord Wang left?"

"I'm leaving." Zheng Yi nodded.

"Did he come to see you because of something?" Zheng Bowen asked curiously.

"It's nothing serious, he just asked me for some advice." Zheng Yi briefly explained the trouble Wang Tianhai was facing.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Bowen exclaimed in surprise, "The Lu family? The Lu family, one of the nine great families?"

"That's right."

"This is a huge problem," Zheng Bowen said. "The Lu family is so powerful; how can Lord Wang, a mere border city lord, possibly stand against them?"

"That's why he came to me for help," Zheng Yi said.

"Does the head of the family intend to help him?"

“I’ll help.” Zheng Yi nodded. “I need to go to Qingyun City in seven days.”

"The head of the family is going in person?" Zheng Bowen asked with some concern. "Won't it be dangerous?"

"Probably not," Zheng Yi said. "The person the Lu family sent is Lu Tianming. Although he's a late-stage Mahayana Realm expert, he's here to negotiate, not to fight. As long as we don't completely break off relations, there shouldn't be any conflict."

"That's good." Zheng Bowen breathed a sigh of relief.

Zheng Yi stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the rain scene outside.

The rain was still falling, drizzling, showing no sign of stopping.

"Bowen, go and call everyone here. I have something to tell you," he said.

"Yes," Zheng Bowen replied, turning and leaving.

Soon after, Su Wanqing, Zheng Hongzhi, Xiao Tianxing, Liu Ruyan, and Chen Feng arrived in the living room.

"Master, what is it?" Su Wanqing asked.

Zheng Yi turned around and looked at everyone.

"I'll be going to Qingyun City in seven days, and I might stay for a few days," he said. "During this time, you all stay in Tianyuan City and take good care of your families."

"Master, what happened?" Zheng Hongzhi asked.

Zheng Yi briefly explained the trouble Wang Tianhai had encountered.

After hearing this, everyone showed a solemn expression.

"The Lu family. One of the nine great families," Xiao Tianxing swallowed hard. "That's the top-tier power in the Tianyuan Domain."

"Master, you're going to deal with the Lu family. Will it be dangerous?" Liu Ruyan asked worriedly.

"Probably not," Zheng Yi said. "I'm only going to accompany Wang Tianhai in negotiations; I won't have a direct confrontation with the Lu family."

But what if?

“There’s no ‘what if’,” Zheng Yi interrupted her. “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything I’m not sure I can handle.”

Seeing Zheng Yi's determined gaze, everyone said nothing more.

"While I'm away, I'll leave the household affairs to you all," Zheng Yi said. "Hongzhi, you're in charge of guarding the residence and strengthening its defenses. Wanqing, continue your cultivation and inform me immediately of any developments. Bowen and Tianxing, you're responsible for gathering intelligence and monitoring the Han family's movements. Ruyan and Chenfeng, you're in charge of logistics and taking care of everyone's daily needs."

"Yes!" everyone responded in unison. Zheng Yi nodded. "Alright, everyone can disperse."

Everyone left, leaving Zheng Yi alone in the living room.

He walked to the table, picked up the letter from the Lu family, and read it again.

“Lu Tianming,” he murmured, “I hope you’re an easy person to talk to.”

Over the next few days, Zheng Yi continued his secluded cultivation to prepare for his trip to Qingyun City seven days later.

He is currently at the mid-stage of the Mahayana Realm, still some distance from the late stage. However, his strength is not solely reflected in his cultivation level; his combat experience, cultivation techniques, and magical artifacts are all advantages. Even against a late-stage Mahayana Realm expert, he would have a fighting chance.

Of course, it would be even better if we could make a breakthrough within seven days.

He devoted a great deal of time and energy to his practice every day, almost without sleep.

Meanwhile, Zheng Bowen and Xiao Tianxing were also gathering information in the city.

"Patriarch, we've gathered some information about the Lu family," Zheng Bowen reported to Zheng Yi that day.

“Speak.” Zheng Yi opened his eyes.

"The Lu family ranks fifth among the nine great families, with strength slightly above average," Zheng Bowen said. "The patriarch is Lu Yuanshan, whose cultivation is said to have reached the Tribulation Transcending stage, making him one of the top experts in the Tianyuan Domain."

"The Lu family currently has five elders, all of whom are experts in the late stage of the Mahayana realm. Lu Tianming is the fourth elder, responsible for the Lu family's affairs in the eastern part of the Tianyuan Domain. It is said that he is shrewd and ruthless, making him one of the more difficult members of the Lu family's core to deal with."

"The Lu family's sphere of influence is mainly in the central and eastern parts of Tianyuan Domain, overlapping somewhat with the Han family's. The two families have always been competitors and their relationship is not good."

Zheng Yi nodded after listening.

“Competing with the Han family,” he murmured. “That’s an interesting piece of information.”

If the Lu family and the Han family don't get along, then he might be able to take advantage of that.

"Any other news?" he asked.

“Yes,” Zheng Bowen said. “We also learned that the Lu family has recently encountered some trouble in their operations in the Eastern Wilderness. It's said that one of their expeditions went missing deep within the Eastern Wilderness, suffering heavy losses. That's why they're so eager to control Qingyun City as a forward base for entering the Eastern Wilderness.”

"Missing?" Zheng Yi frowned. "What danger is there in the Eastern Wilderness?"

"It's said that deep within the Eastern Wilderness lie some ancient ruins, containing not only precious resources but also terrifying monsters and forbidden formations," Zheng Bowen said. "Many expeditions that ventured into the Eastern Wilderness never returned."

Zheng Yi nodded and memorized this information.

It seems the Lu family is determined to acquire Qingyun City this time, and it won't be easy for Wang Tianhai to refuse them.

“Alright, I understand,” he said. “Keep gathering information and let me know as soon as you have any new leads.”

"Yes," Zheng Bowen replied and left.

Zheng Yi closed his eyes and continued his cultivation.

Seven days passed in a flash.

Zheng Yi changed into clean and tidy clothes, put on the human skin mask, and flew out towards Qingyun City.

He was still using the identity of "Dark Night" today, dressed in a black robe and with his face covered by a thin veil, making him mysterious and unpredictable.

Half a day later, he arrived in Qingyun City.

Wang Tianhai was already waiting at the city gate.

"Mr. Dark Night, you've arrived." Wang Tianhai greeted him with a relieved expression.

"Master Wang." Zheng Yi nodded in greeting.

“Lu Tianming has arrived and is resting at the City Lord’s Mansion,” Wang Tianhai said. “He said he would negotiate with me this afternoon, so your arrival is perfectly timed.”

“Then let’s go,” Zheng Yi said. “Let me see what kind of person the Fourth Elder of the Lu family is.”

The two walked together toward the city lord's mansion.

Inside the city lord's mansion, a middle-aged man dressed in a gray robe was sitting in the hall, leisurely sipping tea.

He was around fifty years old, with an ordinary appearance, looking like a typical businessman. But the aura he exuded commanded respect.

It was a deep, restrained power, like a sleeping beast that could awaken at any moment.

This is Lu Tianming, the fourth elder of the Lu family.

"Lord Wang, I've long admired your name." Lu Tianming stood up as Wang Tianhai entered, a warm smile on his face.

"Elder Lu, you're too kind." Wang Tianhai bowed respectfully. "Elder Lu has come from afar; it is my fault for not providing adequate hospitality."

"Not at all." Lu Tianming waved his hand, then his gaze fell on Zheng Yi behind Wang Tianhai.

“Who is this?” he asked.

"This is Mr. Dark Night, a friend of mine," Wang Tianhai introduced.

"Dark Night?" A glint of light flashed in Lu Tianming's eyes. "Is that Dark Night, who has recently risen to fame in the Tianyuan Domain?"

"That's me," Zheng Yi nodded.

Lu Tianming looked Zheng Yi up and down, seemingly assessing his strength.

"I've heard so much about you," he said with a smile. "I've heard that Mr. Dark Night once single-handedly killed five experts at the early stages of the Mahayana Realm, demonstrating his extraordinary strength. Seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."

"Elder Lu, you flatter me," Zheng Yi said calmly.

Lu Tianming withdrew his gaze and sat down again.

"Lord Wang, I've come this time carrying the Lu family's sincerity," he said bluntly. "The Lu family hopes to cooperate with Lord Wang to jointly develop the resources of the Eastern Wilderness. I wonder what Lord Wang's decision is?"

Wang Tianhai sat down in the main seat, and Zheng Yi sat down beside him.

"Elder Lu," Wang Tianhai began, "I am very grateful for the Lu family's sincerity. However, submitting to the Lu family is a major matter, and I need to consider it carefully."

“That’s only right,” Lu Tianming nodded. “I wonder what concerns Lord Wang has?”

"I have just regained my position as city lord, and Qingyun City is in dire need of reconstruction; the situation is still unstable," Wang Tianhai said. "If we were to submit to the Lu family now, I fear it would cause unrest in the city."

"This problem isn't difficult to solve," Lu Tianming said. "The Lu family can send people to help City Lord Wang stabilize the situation. With the Lu family's support, those petty scoundrels naturally won't dare to cause trouble."

"But..." Wang Tianhai hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

"Does Lord Wang still have any concerns?" Lu Tianming asked.

Wang Tianhai glanced at Zheng Yi, who nodded slightly.

"I have a few conditions that I'd like to discuss with Elder Lu," Wang Tianhai said.

"What are the conditions?" Lu Tianming raised an eyebrow.

"First, I wish to retain Qingyun City's autonomy," Wang Tianhai said. "Although we have submitted to the Lu family, I will still be in charge of the city's affairs, and the Lu family cannot interfere." (End of Chapter)