Chapter 399: Trade consortium, taking a step back (2/2)

Han Yunxi’s gaze grew complicated after hearing the name as well. Although she didn’t know him by sight, she’d long heard of his name. Ouyang Ningnuo was the head of Cloud Realm Continent’s Trade Consortium. Although he looked like a cultured man, he was a crafty, treacherous type! He controlled key branches of trade across all of Cloud Realm Continent and was capable of affecting an entire nation’s economy. For example, although Medicine City’s Medical Materials Association was controlled by the city’s three great families, that wasn’t actually the case. If Ouyang Ningnuo was feeling unhappy, he could make it impossible for two-thirds of Medicine City to sell any of their wares. Rumors had it that trade between Medicine City and Medical City involved the man as well, because he’d supposedly bought off the countless people within the medical academy and the three great medicinal clans.

Besides that, the trade between Tianning and Western Zhou at their borders were even beyond the control of the commanders-in-chiefs stationed there. The true master behind the scenes was this man, who had the skills to make connections with any type of tribe or ethnic group. Apparently, he had a large stake in Cloud Realm Continent’s two largest black markets as well.

Leaving aside the veracity of the rumors, his identity as head of Cloud Realm Continet’s Trade Consortium was already a hefty status. Every source of authority needed to yield three steps before this man, no matter what kind of person they were. But why was he traveling with Jun Yixie? Was he here for the fish as well?

“This one is of humble birth. For Your Highness Duke of Qin to remember my name really is honor accumulated from three previous lifetimes,” Ouyang Ningnuo was very modest.

Long Feiye wasn’t buying any of it, and asked coldly, “Since when has Cloud Realm Continent’s Trade Consortium become the Northern Li imperial clan’s dog?”

These were harsh words, but Ouyang Ningnuo didn’t get angry. He gladly explained, “Your Highness Duke of Qin, I am simply doing a spot of business with the Duke of Kang. I ask that Your Highness Duke of Qin give the trade consortium some face for my sake. Your Highness and the Duke of Qin can certainly settle your private affairs after matters here have concluded.”

Long Feiye had no quarrel with Ouyang Ningnuo, and had even cooperated with him on private business matters in the past. Since he was asking for face so bluntly, he wasn’t in a position to reject him. Of course, Long Feiye was no idiot either, and demanded, “What, has Cloud Realm Continent’s Trade Consortium gotten their eyes on doing business with my Tianning’s famine situation?”

His question came straight to the point. A typical smart man might only see that Ouyang Ningnuo was cooperating with Jun Yixie to get some fish, but Long Feiye had seen through their darker designs. The two of them weren’t catching fish because they wanted or needed to; but for matters of trade. Of the three countries on Cloud Realm Continent, only Tianning citizens enjoyed eating fish. Currently, they were conveniently caught in the middle of a famine, so Ouyang Ningnuo was probably planning to gather fish and sell them back to the disaster regions!

“Your Highness Duke of Qin, trade is a free market. If there was any grain to buy, I’m certain Emperor Tianhui and yourself would be all too happy to spend silver on supplies. Naturally, the fish on Fishery Island are free for anyone to take as well. Your Highness Duke of Qin wouldn’t be planning to claim it all by force, would you? If news of that spread, it’d greatly hurt your illustrious name.”

See here, how beautifully Ouyang Ningnuo weaved his words! He was the one planning a despicable business deal, but he’d tossed out such a highfalutin excuse to make everything sound reasonable and logical. If Long Feiye still didn’t back off after his words, wouldn’t he just be seen as taking over Fishery Island with the pretense of settling private grudges with Jun Yixie?

Han Yunxi’s lips curved up mockingly. Her first impression of this Ouyang Ningnuo was…absolutely shameless! Although Long Feiye kept staring at Ouyang Ningnuo without speaking, she knew that he had to give the other man some face. After all, he was the representative for the trade consortium. It was even harder to risk offensive when the man was working with Jun Yixie. Once they did, they’d only be pushing the entire trade consortium to side with Jun Yixie instead. Han Yunxi was a 100% cool-headed woman–aside from dealing with Long Feiye, of course.

While Long Feiye was hesitating, a figure suddenly emerged from the waters to land on the beach of Fishery Island. He was none other than Jun Yixie! With a scornful smile, he said, “Long Feiye, for the sake of saving Master Ouyang some face, your lord shall set aside our private grudges for now. We can chose another day to fight!”

This guy, he’d been provoking Long Feiye on purpose in the first place!

Long Feiye narrowed his eyes at him, his expression dangerous. But in the end, he didn’t make any moves. He too, was a 100% cool-headed man who understood the customs forbidding combat on Fishery Island. Now that Jun Yixie had made it on land, there was no way he could touch the man. Anyone who violated the rules or went counter to its morals would be cursed by all the people in the world. There were plenty of chances to deal with Jun Yixie later, so it wouldn’t be too late to teach him a lesson after they’d gotten their fish!

“Fine, Ouyang Ningnuo. Your lordship will give you this face!” Long Feiye re-sheathed his sword and returned to his ship.

“Many thanks to Your Highness Duke of Qin,” Ouyang Ningnuo was still polite and refined in his speech. He changed to a smaller boat and sailed onshore with a bunch of attendants. Long Feiye and Han Yunxi did the same with General Baili and his daughter. Despite giving Ouyang Ningnuo face, they had no such reservations once they alighted on the island. Like what he just said, the fish here were free for all and first come, first serve. Rather than wasting their time with words, they should act to find the best ‘fisheye’ to lure out the fish!

“Mingxiang, you’ve got a lot of pressure on your shoulders,” Han Yunxi murmured. She wasn’t joking this time. Ouyang Ningnuo had admitted that he was gathering fish to sell back to Tianning’s disaster regions. If his side really found the largest haul of fish first, Long Feiye and Tianning would both lose face. Leaving aside the fact that the people desperately needed this fish, the current situation was important enough to demand a victory for their side!

Baili Mingxiang knew she had a large duty to fulfill, but she was still rather confident. “Esteemed wangfei, don’t worry. I’ll definitely give it my all.”

Two teams of men and horses all embarked upon the beach. Jun Yixie held himself with a haughty air and looked down upon them all, while Ouyang Ningnuo was as courteous as ever. He said, “Your Highness Duke of Qin, many thanks for making allowances. I shall head off first, then.”

Since Long Feiye had already yielded a step, he simply gave a generous nod. Jun Yixie and his team faded into tiny figures in the distance before he finally spoke up. “Baili Mingxiang, lead the way!”

1. Ouyang Ningnuo (欧阳宁诺) – Ouyang is a double character surname, Ning is “peaceful, tranquil,” Nuo is “promise.”