Chapter 197: The Harem’s Pact with Duo Bao Pavilion

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Inside Duo Bao Pavilion's council chamber, Lan An, accompanied by Xiao Qing Xuan and Ai Er, followed Bao Li's plump figure.

Ji Ya and Shui Niang Qing sat quietly, their faces still masked. Opposite them were the stunning stewards of Duo Bao Pavilion, Cheng Bi and Bao Qiao.

Cheng Bi, an Eastern beauty, radiated elegance. Bao Qiao, a blend of Eastern and Western allure, exuded a unique charm.

"Please, sit," Cheng Bi gestured to Lan An. Bao Qiao began preparing tea.

Lan An nodded, settling calmly. To his left sat Shui Niang Qing and Ji Ya; to his right, Xiao Qing Xuan and Ai Er.

Bao Li tactfully excused himself, his role complete.

"I hear you wish to do business with Duo Bao Pavilion?" Bao Qiao spoke directly, cutting to the chase.

Post-festival, Ji Ya and Shui Niang Qing had approached them, proposing a major partnership. As merchants, this piqued their interest. Duo Bao Pavilion thrived on commerce, and Lan An's displayed wealth at the festival qualified him for negotiation.

However, a deal required mutual benefit. Duo Bao Pavilion pursued only high-profit ventures.

Lan An accepted a teacup from Bao Qiao, casting a teasing glance at Shui Niang Qing.

"Hmph," she huffed softly, her cheeks flushing as she recalled him mistakenly drinking her tea.

Before the group's eyes, Lan An removed his Seamless Mask, revealing a strikingly handsome face with a roguish charm. His silver-white eyes glimmered as he sipped the tea, nodding appreciatively.

"You?" Cheng Bi gasped, standing, her beautiful eyes wide with shock.

Bao Qiao frowned, puzzled by her companion's reaction. Lan An's face, though strikingly handsome, was unfamiliar to her.

"Long time no see, Cheng Bi," Lan An smiled, greeting her warmly. He held fondness for her, given her acquaintance with Meng Ying.

"How can it be you?" Cheng Bi sank back, eyes fixed on him, dazed.

Over two years ago, he was a youth selling beast corpses at Duo Bao Pavilion for scraps, fighting in the Beast Arena to afford an auction. Though impressed by his talent, she never imagined this day.

Cheng Bi herself was no stranger to genius, having met countless prodigies. Lan An's potential stood out, but only slightly her curiosity stemmed from his conquest of the Hundred Faces Fairy, Meng Ying.

Busy with duties, from selecting festival guests to timing the event, she'd had no time to dwell on a small-town prodigy. Now, he sat before her, a lavish tycoon, his transformation earth-shattering.

A voice transmitted from the void: "Steward Cheng, our investigation reveals he's the recent Saint Spirit Ranking champion, with enmities against many factions and ambiguous ties to numerous female prodigies."

Cheng Bi inhaled, noting the report from her trusted intelligence elder.

"Something on my face?" Lan An teased, noticing her stare.

"Giggle, just marveling how a carp has leaped the Dragon Gate to soar the skies," Cheng Bi regained composure, smiling seductively, her merchant poise intact.

Bao Qiao's eyes sparkled, having received similar intelligence via transmission. Duo Bao Pavilion's information network was terrifying, stripping Lan An bare the moment he unmasked.

"You jest. I'm still a carp, far from the Dragon Gate," Lan An shrugged with a wry smile.

"Hmm, I'll wager, besides this little girl, the other three are your women, one being Hundred Faces," Cheng Bi said playfully, eyeing the masked trio. Ai Er's youthful appearance excluded her.

"Not bad. But Meng Ying's absent, busy with her noble teaching duties," Lan An chuckled, glancing at his companions.

Understanding, they removed their masks.

Three breathtaking faces illuminated the room, joining Cheng Bi and Bao Qiao's beauty to dazzle the space. Only Ai Er's dirt-smudged face remained unchanged, Lan An leaving her be.

"Wow, the sisters are so beautiful!" Ai Er's eyes sparkled with heart shapes.

"Still boasting your mother's prettier?" Lan An teased, ruffling her cloth cap.

"Of course! Though the sisters are gorgeous, Mother's a tier above," Ai Er puffed her cheeks, confidence unshaken.

Lan An was speechless.

"Ji Ya? How?" Cheng Bi exclaimed, staring at Ji Ya.

Unaware of their Life-Death Pact or complex bond, she was stunned to see the aloof Ji Ya tenderly holding Lan An's arm.

Even Bao Qiao was shocked. Their Young Mistress's invitation to Ji Ya had been declined, yet here she was, Lan An's woman an absurd twist.

"Thanks to you, my sister and I met Xiao Nan," Ji Ya bowed sincerely to Cheng Bi. Years ago, Cheng Bi's help in finding a healer for Ji Bing sparked their connection with Lan An, a debt Ji Ya cherished.

Cheng Bi covered her lips, studying Lan An, at a loss for words. Finally, she asked, "Is Ji Bing well?"

"Thanks for your concern. Bing'er's thriving, currently in seclusion," Lan An replied, warmth flooding him as he recalled the past. He kissed Ji Ya's delicate hand.

Ji Ya smiled blissfully, letting him do as he pleased.

"What a peculiar man," Bao Qiao mused, having learned of Lan An's U Yuan battle and Yue Qi's appearance via transmission. His daring rescue of Ji Ya explained her devotion.

Shui Niang Qing and Xiao Qing Xuan, unaware of Lan An's past, listened intently.

"So, the youth who aided Hai Hong Sect against the Shark Bandits was you?" Bao Qiao smiled charmingly.

"Indeed," Lan An admitted. Duo Bao Pavilion's reach would uncover it regardless.

Shui Niang Qing nodded, confirming his words.

"A true tale of hero and beauty. You sure know how to win hearts. Does Hundred Faces know?" Cheng Bi giggled, her chest swaying beneath her robe.

"I hide nothing from them. They'll know in time," Lan An said coolly, unfazed by jealousy.

"Such finesse," Bao Qiao purred, diving into business. "You wish to partner with Duo Bao Pavilion?"

The women perked up.

"Not I, but my Harem, partnering with you," Lan An corrected.

"Harem? What kind of faction?" The women exchanged confused glances.

"The Harem is our rising force," Ji Ya explained calmly for Lan An.

"Rising? We only partner with those of substantial wealth," Cheng Bi said frankly. Honesty was key in business better to set clear terms upfront for lasting trust.

"Of course. The Harem won't disappoint. I guarantee at least 200,000 Supreme Spirit Stones annually," Lan An said confidently.

"200,000 a year?" Cheng Bi and Bao Qiao's eyes flashed with skepticism.

Duo Bao Pavilion's festival earned millions, but such events were rare, held perhaps once a decade. City branches averaged 20,000 Supreme Spirit Stones yearly. The Harem's claim matched ten major cities' profits—unthinkable for a single faction.

"That's conservative, possibly exceeded. Dare you cooperate?" Lan An said meaningfully.

The room gasped.

"If your words hold, the Harem will be Duo Bao Pavilion's greatest ally," Cheng Bi and Bao Qiao said gravely, exchanging glances.

"Excellent. What privileges come with such an alliance?" Lan An asked, smiling.

"That's premature until we formalize the partnership," Bao Qiao replied, her smile radiant, thinking him eager.

Cheng Bi added, "First, explain the cooperation's nature."

Lan An tapped the table, cutting to the chase. "I supply goods; you sell them, keeping one-tenth of the profits."

"What goods?" Bao Qiao asked, nodding to the void. A powerful barrier sealed the room, ensuring utmost secrecy.

Cheng Bi produced an Image Recording Jade to capture the scene for Duo Bao Pavilion's elders. Xiao Qing Xuan did the same.

This was a pivotal moment. A successful deal could catapult the Harem's growth.

As high-ranking stewards, the women held full authority.

"My goods are…" Lan An waved his hand.

Clatter

Dozens of jade bottles appeared, making the women's eyes leap. Beauty Nourishing Pills ten bottles, each with ten pills.

Cheng Bi and Bao Qiao stood, feeling as if dreaming. Ai Er drooled, yearning to devour them all.

"With these ten bottles, can Duo Bao Pavilion earn 200,000 annually?" Lan An asked, smiling.

"Absolutely," the women nodded confidently, their eyes complex.

Given Lan An's extravagance, he likely held more Beauty Nourishing Pills, showing only a fraction. His festival spending ten pills without bargaining made sense. He had an abundance.

Would flooding the market devalue Beauty Nourishing Pills? No. Demand from beauty-obsessed women was insatiable, far outstripping supply.

With ten bottles, sparingly sold to wealthy female cultivators, profits would be astronomical.

Before they could recover, Lan An waved again.

Over a dozen resplendent garments appeared.

"I need Duo Bao Pavilion to sell these too, keeping one-tenth of the spirit stones," Lan An reiterated.

"No issue," the women replied in unison.

The garments were Peak Earth-grade, uniquely exquisite, captivating even the seasoned stewards. Other women would go mad for them.

One-tenth profit wasn't small it surpassed ten major cities' earnings, especially if auctioned strategically, fetching far more than market sales.

Seeing their agreement, Lan An nodded. "Each year, the Harem will supply 100 Beauty Nourishing Pills and ten Peak Earth-grade garments. If cooperation thrives, quantities will increase."

Cheng Bi and Bao Qiao calculated silently.

One Beauty Nourishing Pill could fetch 10,000 Supreme Spirit Stones. A hundred pills meant a million, with Duo Bao Pavilion earning 100,000 in commission—potentially more, given Lan An's Supreme-grade pills.

The rapid value surge of Beauty Nourishing Pills stunned them.

Ten Peak Earth-grade garments, rare and ethereal, could outprofit the pills at auctions, their allure driving women wild.

This was just the start. Lan An hinted at possibly supplying Heaven or Spirit-grade artifacts later.

"Will you take spirit stones or other collateral?" Cheng Bi and Bao Qiao asked, smiling brightly. Success here would skyrocket their status.

"Spirit stones," Lan An said bluntly. Once trivial, they were now vital for the Time Acceleration Array.

The women stood courteously.

Bao Qiao presented a translucent token inscribed with "Duo Bao Pavilion," twinkling like stars. "This VIP token grants access to our highest-ranking officials at any branch and a 20% discount on purchases. We'll deliver 900,000 Supreme Spirit Stones as a deposit," Cheng Bi said, smiling.

Lan An and the women rose. He accepted the token.

"Duo Bao Pavilion is honored to partner with your Harem," Cheng Bi said, beaming.

Bao Qiao extended her jade-like hand.

Lan An smiled, grasping it—smooth, cool, and soft. No contract was needed; the Image Recording Jades ensured trust.

None could foresee that, in this room, a historic milestone for Yue Long Star was born.