Negotiation

"No." Elder Xu Bai replied, frustrated.

"What should we do now?"

"This boy is really causing us problems. He should have listened to his father's orders." 

Elder Xu Ting chimed in, saying, "Stay calm. I understand your frustration, but remember, Xu Hanyu is still very young." 

"Young, but old enough to know what his father said. He's just making things harder for us. When Xu Dan comes back, he will definitely blame us for letting that ungrateful kid go missing." Elder Xu Bai crossed his arms. 

"I know you don't like him, but he is still part of our clan." 

"Fine, but you can't deny the fact that he's certainly complicating matters. We've searched everywhere and still haven't found him. If we don't locate him, Xu Dan will surely blame us…!?" 

"I believe Xu Dan won't do that to us. So no need to worry Elder Xu Bai."

"Tch."

With that, Elder Xu Ting didn't speak further as he knew he wouldn't be able to calm him down.

"Let's head back to the clan for now. It's late, and everyone is tired from searching." Elder Xu Jia suggested.

The three of them looked at the others who were sitting and resting, clearly exhausted, and nodded in agreement. 

"Alright. We've done all we can for now." Elder Xu Ting said. 

…

Lord Xu sat calmly in the carriage, hands resting on his knees, back straight. As the carriage slowed, the driver's voice broke the silence. "Lord Xu, we've arrived at the Fu Clan's tavern."

He opened his eyes, glancing out. The tavern was medium-sized, bustling with people. He stepped down and entered, the lively atmosphere of clinking glasses and murmurs filling the air.

A waiter approached. "Are you Lord Xu from the Xu Clan?"

"That's right."

"Please, follow me." The waiter then led him up the stairs to a private room. 

Inside, Lord Xu was taken aback to see not only Fu Lao wearing dark blue clothing of their clan; the Fu Clan, but also Lord Huo sitting at the table laughing at each other.

The Fu Clan was the leading business in Tai Hua City, not for weaponry, but for producing high-quality crystals.

Then, Fu Lao noticed him at the door and said, "Oh? You're here?" Which had also caught the attention of Huo Liang.

Huo Liang's eyes widened in shock, and his expression quickly shifted. "Xu Dan? What are you doing here?"

Lord Xu stood silent for a moment, surprised, but composed.

Meanwhile, Fu Lao chuckled, breaking the tension. "Ah, sit down. I invited you both. Apologies for not mentioning it in the letter."

Lord Huo's face shifted into a smirk, "So, the Xu Clan too? How fortunate…" he said in a voice dripping with sarcasm, clearly not pleased with the surprise.

Lord Xu remained calm, his gaze flicking to Lord Huo. "Nice seeing you here, Huo Liang. I didn't expect to see you." 

Huo Liang's smirk tightened, "Seems the Fu Clan had more in mind than just business with the Huo Clan," he replied coolly, masking his irritation.

The tension in the room thickened, and Fu Lao chuckled lightly. "Now, now, let's not make this a rivalry. We're here to discuss business." He gestured to the chairs. "Please, sit. Let's get to the point."

Huo Liang leaned back, fingers drumming on the armrest. So, the Xu Clan's been invited too? Fu Lao's playing both sides. And Xu Dan—he thinks he can stand toe to toe with the Huo Clan. Tch!

"Of course, Fu Lao. We'll get to it soon enough," Huo Liang replied with a slight smile. "But it's hard to ignore the presence of our dear friends from the Xu Clan." His gaze met Lord Xu's, a challenge in his eyes.

"Indeed, business comes first. But let's not forget the importance of respect."

With that, Lord Huo let out a quiet "Tch." his disdain barely masked.

Meanwhile Fu Lao was unbothered, just chuckled as he poured tea for both men. "Now that we're here, I suppose we should talk business."

Lord Xu's eyes narrowed. "Straight to the point. Why bring us here, to your tavern, instead of Tai Hua City?"

"No particular reason. I just thought it'd be better to celebrate here if our negotiations are successful. Plus, I also had a meeting with someone else later today in this place." Fu Lao leaned back in his chair.

"I see.."

Lord Huo, still glaring at Lord Xu, forced a smile before began to speak to Lord Fu.

"Hm. Will our Huo Clan benefit from it?" 

"Of course! Both of your clans stand to gain. This is a deal." He pulled a paper from his sleeves and began pointing at the terms.

Lord Xu raised an eyebrow. "What kind of deal, exactly?"

Fu Lao's smile widened. "Knowing that both of your clan's business armory has been improving these past years in the market, I think this would be a good opportunity to offer a negotiation with both of you. The deal is simple: we reserve certain goods—those both of your clans' favor—specifically for your use, whenever you need them. As you know, our Fu Clan's crystal business has been thriving and shows great potential for even greater profits in the future. These crystals, once integrated into your weapons, will not only strengthen your weapons but also improve their overall effectiveness, giving your clans the advantage in the market as many people would get interested with it."

He paused, making sure both men were absorbing the full impact.

"But that's not all," Fu Lao continued. "In addition to the enhanced armory, there's also a substantial monetary reward. When our Fu Clan successfully sells products—such as your weapons that we reserved, or any goods—that have been upgraded with our crystals, both of your clans will share in the profits. You'll receive half of the money from those sales."

After hearing that, Lord Huo's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected the Fu Clan to offer such a generous share, and the mention of direct profits from crystal sales caught his interest. "Half the money?" he murmured, clearly intrigued. "That's more than just a partnership…"

Fu Lao's smile became more assured. "Exactly. With the growing demand for these enhanced goods, your clans will profit not only from the goods themselves but also from the sales of these upgraded products. It's a win-win situation."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone persuasive. "And let's not forget—Fu Clan's crystal business has incredible potential. As we expand, so will the profits. You're not just securing enhanced armory; you're ensuring a long-term flow of money as our business grows. It's a deal that promises both immediate and long-term gains: superior armory, a steady income from shared sales, and a partnership that will only grow stronger with time."

Meanwhile, Lord Xu's thoughts raced. The deal sounded solid—both the Xu Clan and the Huo Clan would benefit from the supply of specialized goods and the growing crystal trade. 

The potential for profit was clear. But there was something else that lingered in his mind: Fu Lao was careful with his words, offering a tempting future, but there was a catch.

If I accept this deal, our Xu Clan would have to provide Fu Clan's goods without refusal. No matter what. Our Xu Clan would be expected to reserve these goods for the Fu Clan, to be at their disposal whenever they asked. He thought.

It wasn't a minor detail, but it weighed heavily on Lord Xu's thoughts. 

Still, he couldn't deny that the rewards of this partnership were great, and the thought of strengthening ties with the Huo Clan in business, of all things, was something he never could have imagined.

Plus, the Huo Clan was no ally. Their families had always been rivals. And yet here they were, forced into cooperation by the potential of this deal.

Lord Xu kept a neutral expression as he considered the offer. If the deal went through, it could lead to an alliance with the Huo Clan—something he wasn't entirely comfortable with, but it could be useful in the future. The downside was having to supply the Fu Clan whenever they asked, but the benefits might make it worthwhile.

Suddenly, Fu Lao's voice broke his thoughts. "So, what do you think? It's a good deal, isn't it?"

"…"

Is this really a good idea for their clan? Lord Xu couldn't help but feel tempted but at the same time he was worrying about this partnership. He was afraid that he might make a wrong decision. 

A silence, until—

"Deal!" Lord Huo's voice suddenly burst out in excitement.

"Oh? That was a really fast decision for Lord Huo. Have you ever thought about it for a moment?" Fu Lao said, raising an eyebrow. 

With that, Lord Huo chuckled, a smirk curling on his lips. His eyes flicked slightly toward Lord Xu, but it was hard to read what he was truly thinking.

"Of course. I know what's good for my clan," Lord Huo replied confidently.

"Alright…" Fu Lao then said, his gaze steady as he passed the parchment to Lord Huo. 

"Then you can sign this pact with your fingerprint here, please."

With that, Lord Fu turned his attention to Lord Xu, his eyes probing. "Lord Xu, so what's your answer?" 

Despite being business competitors, the Xu and Huo Clan had never clashed directly. However, market pressures were evident, and Lord Xu sensed something was amiss with the unusually quiet Huo Clan. 

"I'll consider it, but I need to discuss it with the Elders first. This matter is too important to rush."

"Tch." Huo Liang, who had been silently observing, scoffed with a touch of arrogance, making his irritation clear.

Fu Lao, however, smiled warmly, sensing the underlying tension. "Haha! Of course, consulting with the elders is wise. Then I will wait for your answer four days from now, Lord Xu. That should be enough, right?"

"Hm, I will send a letter to your place." 

"Alright, Good to hear…!" 

"Then, I'll take my leave first. I have other trading matters to attend to." Lord Xu said, standing up.

"I see, it was nice meeting you. Farewell, Lord Xu…" Fu Lao said, offering a polite bow.

With that, Lord Xu left the private room, his footsteps echoing in the hallway and leaving the two men inside the room. 

As he stepped out of the tavern onto the bustling street, he heard hurried footsteps approaching. A young man from his clan ran toward him, urgency etched on his face.

"Lord Xu! You have an emergency letter!" the young man called out, handing him a sealed letter.

Lord Xu took the letter and opened it quickly. As he read, his eyes widened in shock. 

"Han'er is gone?!"

Without a second thought, he folded the letter back up and looked at the messenger with determination. 

"We must return back to the clan. Prepare the carriage!"

"Understood!"