In the reception hall, Xiao Zhan and Gu Ni were waiting.
Before long, the door creaked open, and Zhou Changqing and Ya Fei walked in.
"Uncle Xiao, Master Gu Ni, how did it go? Did you find anything out?" Seeing the deep frowns on both Xiao Zhan and Gu Ni's faces, Zhou Changqing's mind raced. He knew this wasn't going to be simple.
After Zhou Changqing and Ya Fei were seated, Xiao Zhan nodded, his tone heavy. "We got it out of him. I'm afraid this is going to be difficult to handle."
"Uncle Gu Ni, what's going on?" Ya Fei asked, turning to the equally grim-faced Gu Ni.
Gu Ni glanced at Zhou Changqing, then at Ya Fei, choosing his words carefully before speaking. "There are many factions involved in the ambush against little friend Changqing. More than half the powers in Wu Tan City had a hand in it."
"The Dou Shi spilled everything, naming everyone involved."
"This incident was spearheaded by the Jia Lie Clan, in alliance with the Ao Ba Clan, the weapons tycoon Qieluo, and a dozen or so other factions of varying sizes from across Wu Tan City."
"The Jia Lie and Ao Ba Clans targeted you because of the marketplace. By providing the Xiao Clan with your Treasure Arms, you severely squeezed the market share of the other two clans' shops, causing them massive losses. That's what prompted this."
This was a classic case of: if you can't solve the problem, get rid of the person who created it.
"As for Qieluo, I imagine you already know the reason. The remaining factions were simply motivated by greed for the Treasure Arms. They want to get the crafting method from you."
"Hmph! Them? They think they're worthy of coveting the Treasure Arms? They're not afraid of biting off more than they can chew!" Ya Fei scoffed, a flash of disdain in her captivating eyes.
Even the Miteer Auction House had never entertained the thought of monopolizing the Treasure Arms, choosing instead to cooperate.
Setting aside Zhou Changqing's monstrous talent for a moment, if one were to offend him and fail to completely eliminate him, he would become a massive threat in the future.
Just look at his ability to develop and forge something as heaven-defying as the Monster Core Armaments right after creating the Treasure Arms. With such terrifying research and development capabilities, who could guarantee he wouldn't create even more powerful weapons in the future?
In fact, Ya Fei's intuition told her that Zhou Changqing might have already developed something even more powerful than the Monster Core Armaments he had previously revealed!
The economic potential of Monster Core Armaments was in no way inferior to that of tier-two medicinal pills!
As a family of merchants, how could the Miteer Clan possibly forsake such profits and destroy their own treasure trove?
But just because the Miteer Clan was clear-headed didn't mean others were. Otherwise, the phrase 'blinded by greed' wouldn't exist.
Zhou Changqing found the idea of these people wanting his crafting techniques rather amusing. He shook his head and said, "They're being naive. Treasure Arms can't be forged by just anyone who gets their hands on the method. If you don't meet the necessary conditions, you couldn't craft them even if I handed you the plans for free."
"What's the difference between that and someone with no talent for alchemy wanting to become an alchemist and refine pills? It's just wishful thinking."
Hearing this, the other three in the room grew thoughtful. While it was true they had never considered harming Zhou Changqing, they had all wondered about the creation of Treasure Arms. Who wouldn't want access to such a lucrative secret? It was like how everyone wished they could become an alchemist.
"Changqing, this matter ultimately started because of my Xiao Clan. You were dragged into this for no reason, and for that, I must apologize." Xiao Zhan looked at Zhou Changqing with sincere regret, rising to his feet and clasping his hands in a formal apology. If he hadn't approached Zhou Changqing for a partnership, the young man would never have suffered such an undeserved calamity.
Faced with Xiao Zhan's sudden apology, Zhou Changqing quickly stood to steady him. "Uncle Xiao, what are you saying? My decision to provide the Xiao Clan with weapons was my own. What does that have to do with them? How can the blame for this possibly fall on the Xiao Clan?"
In this world, how could one truly live a life completely untouched by conflict? Even in his past life as an ordinary person, he would occasionally get into disagreements over trivial matters, let alone in this cultivation world where killing was commonplace. It was normal to be hated for no reason at all. Many ordinary people lived peaceful lives, only to be killed one day by the aftershocks of a battle between powerful experts passing by. On the Dou Qi Continent, which expert hadn't climbed a mountain of bones to reach their peak?
If Zhou Changqing truly wanted to avoid all trouble, he could have hidden himself away in some remote, uninhabited mountain range. He never would have brought out his Treasure Arms for sale in the first place.
The moment he revealed the Treasure Arms, he had already anticipated that he would be at the center of a storm. Offending people was inevitable.
The Jia Lie Clan's sudden murderous intent seemed to stem from the marketplace competition with the Xiao Clan, but even without that incident, who could guarantee they wouldn't have become his enemies for some other reason in the future?
So, what was done was done. Zhou Changqing didn't regret cooperating with the Xiao Clan, nor would he shift the blame onto them. To borrow a phrase from his past life: does being the good guy mean you have to let them put a sword to your throat?
"Changqing, what do you plan to do now?" Ya Fei asked, turning to him. An idea was already forming in her mind. "The Jia Lie Clan and their allies have failed, but now they're your declared enemies. They certainly won't let this go. They'll do everything they can to eliminate you."
Xiao Zhan immediately straightened his back, his voice cold as he declared, "Then we go to war! Even if it costs the lives of every member of my Xiao Clan, I, Xiao Zhan, will make them pay!"
"Yes, the Miteer Auction House can also provide assistance," Gu Ni added.
Seeing this, a smile appeared on Zhou Changqing's face, a touch of warmth entering his expression.
"Uncle Xiao, it hasn't come to that yet. Our opponents make up more than half the factions in Wu Tan City. Even if the Xiao Clan were to throw its entire strength against them, it would be a futile effort with catastrophic losses."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ya Fei gently set down her teacup and stated calmly, "If the Xiao Clan isn't enough, then add the Miteer Clan to the equation. I can return to the imperial capital immediately and dispatch a Dou Ling and ten Da Dou Shi from the clan. Together with the Xiao Clan, we can annihilate them all."
Her words stunned the three men into silence. They stared at the woman who was usually enchanting and flirtatious, but now radiated an extraordinary, domineering aura.
A Dou Ling and ten Da Dou Shi? To annihilate more than half of Wu Tan City's factions?
Xiao Zhan gasped as he recovered from his shock. What incredible daring this woman possessed!
Even Gu Ni stared at Ya Fei in astonishment. A Dou Ling expert was an elder-level figure even within the Miteer Clan. Such an individual could not be mobilized easily.
He had never imagined that Zhou Changqing held such an important place in Ya Fei's heart.
"Whoa, whoa, that's not necessary. Sister Ya Fei, there's really no need for such a massive display," Zhou Changqing said, waving his hands in refusal. He glanced at her with surprise and a hint of subtle tenderness.
He didn't doubt the truth of her words; she truly had the ability to make it happen. But he also knew that doing so would force Ya Fei to pay an unbearable price.
After all, Ya Fei's standing within the Miteer Clan wasn't particularly high. She was essentially a beautiful pawn, a tool for a marriage alliance.
He was a man. Even if he were to rely on a woman, this wasn't the way to do it.
"Are you just going to let it go, then?" Ya Fei demanded, looking at Zhou Changqing with indignation, as if she were the one who had been ambushed.
Having suffered such a major setback, Zhou Changqing had no intention of letting it go. He narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. "Of course not," he said slowly. "Otherwise, they'll think I'm an easy target. I already have a plan. Soon, I'll be sending the Jia Lie Clan and their allies a very special gift!"