Chapter 520: Mu Linger’s marriage affairs (2/2)

Ouyang Ningnuo knew that Head Elder Xie had been moved as soon as he asked that question! He too, didn’t dawdle and said, “As long as Head Elder Xie has ways to ensure the Mu Clan marries Mu Linger to me, I promise to unconditionally promote the Xie Clan’s medicinal ingredients for the next five years. At the very least, it’ll allow the Xie Clan to take over 50 percent of the market.”

Head Elder Xie was now both moved and pleasantly surprised by the offer. Medicine City’s three great clans gave most of their wares to Cloud Realm Trade Consortium for selling. However, all three clans had the same type of ingredients for sale and it was up to the Consortium to choose how much they bought and from whom. Naturally, the differences depended on the benefits for each party.

If one did a comparison with the most expensive ingredient—Chinese scorpions—the Wang, Xie, and Mu Clans were all capable of providing the same quantity at the same time to Cloud Realm Trade Consortium. However, because the Mu Clan sold theirs at a lower price, they could provide Cloud Realm Trade Consortium with better profits, thus making them the best seller. In under three years, everyone across Cloud Realm Continent knew about the Mu Clan’s scorpions, but nothing about the Xie or Wang Clan’s own creatures. If Ouyang Ningnuo could unconditionally promote the Xie Clan for the next five years, then they would have a chance to surpass the Mu Clan even without a genius pharmacist like Mu Linger in their hands. Then they’d become Medicine City’s number one clan.

“This matter deserves further thought. If you have time, make an appointment to come to Medicine City…for a good talk,” Head Elder Xie relented.

“Very well, I’ll certainly come to visit!” Ouyang Ningnuo was very happy. He took away the contract on the table before Head Elder Xie could grab it, leaving the latter in rather awkward straits.

“This…” Head Elder Xie was very displeased.

Ouyang Ningnuo didn’t look embarrassed at all, but smiled and said, “Although Head Elder Xie has expressed support on the matter, the matter still requires further thought and discussion.”

Like that, Ouyang Ningnuo left merrily with the contract in tow, leaving Head Elder Xie with a black face. He sorely regretted the fact that he’d been so hasty to give into Ouyang Ningnxuo’s demands.

“Head Elder, that fellow’s too stingy! So much for being sincere, I’d say he’s treating the marriage as a business deal too!” his retainer spoke up in exasperation.

“Hmph, we’ll see how he negotiates with me when we meet again!” Head Elder Xie said resentfully.

“Head Elder, then the Duke of Kang…” the retainer trailed off.

Before Ouyang Ningnuo had arrived, Northern Li’s Duke of Kang had also dropped by to discuss Mu Linger’s marriage affairs. He expressed the fact that Northern Li’s crown prince was interested in making the girl one of his imperial concubines, and that he wanted the head elder to offer his support. Moreover, the Duke of Kang had given very alluring terms. He said that as long as the marriage went through, Northern Li’s imperial clan would allow the Xie Clan to cultivate the snowfields in North Jiang. The snowfields there were the only kind that existed upon the high plateaus of Cloud Realm Continent. It was the best location to foster winter plants, and all three medicine clans had be eyeing the land for awhile.

Head Elder Xie creased his brows and kept silent. Ouyang Ningnuo and Jun Yixie had both made him generous offers, but he could only accept one. Whatever the case, he’d need to convince the Mu Clan to approve Mu Linger’s marriage first and make sure the girl couldn’t make prescriptions for the Mu after she was wedded off.

“This is difficult…” Head Elder Xie muttered to himself. He was certain he’d lose sleep tonight.

“Head Elder, that Ouyang Ningnuo’s cooperated with the Mu Clan in the past. I say the Duke of Kang’s more dependable than him!”

“Jun Yixie is indeed dependable, but have you forgotten? He’s also the head of the Hundred Poisons Sect. Medical City’s got their eye on him!” Head Elder Xie chided. Even if he was the head of Medicine City, his rank meant nothing if he ever offended Medical City.

“Head Elder, the Duke of Kang might be head of the Hundred Poisons Sect, but not Northern Li’s crown prince!” the retainer said quickly.

Head Elder Xie nodded in agreement. Actually, he privately favored the Duke of Kang more, but he had no idea the man was already in cahoots with Mu Yingdong. Moreover, Northern Li’s imperial clan had long given the Mu Clan access to their snowfields. It was about time for their first crops of plants to mature there as well. Currently, Jun Yixie was in none other than Mu Yingdong’s rooms, the two of them raising their glasses in a toast.

“This old man guarantees that Xie Deyi will agree to your terms after such a generous offer,” Mu Yingdong was ecstatic. He had lured Xie Deyi to Pill Fiend Pharmacy intentionally just so the man could capture Mu Linger and put his plans into action. Otherwise, he’d never be so willing to lose a pharmacy genius. Now he was waiting for Head Elder Xie to come pressure the Mu Clan into letting Mu Linger marry. Then he’d be able to agree with perfect reason to hand her off to Northern Li’s crown prince.

Jun Yixie had planned everything out, so he was less interested in this topic compared to that of the Medicine Forest’s poison pond. “Are there still no clues, even now?”

Mu Yingdong furrowed his brows. “You said that Han Yunxi had poison pond water in her hands…this… This old man really doesn’t understand it! Did she make a trip to the pond beforehand?”

Jun Yixie creased his brows as well. “You have to get to the bottom of this for this lord!”

Even his master had been helpless before the poison on his shoulder. After thinking of various possibilities, he believed that the toxin came from a plant raised in poison pond water. Han Yunxi had mentioned it in their previous face-off as well. Master had told him to take command over Northern Li’s horse farms first and forbade him from interfering in matters behind Medicine and Medical City, much less anything to do with Long Feiye and Han Yunxi. He had only come to South Ning Prefecture this time under the excuse of finding out more about the poison pond, which his master approved.

Mu Yingdong’s revenge against Pill Fiend Pharmacy and Head Elder Xie’s final decision on a marriage partner would all have to wait until everyone met again at Medicine City. Meanwhile, Han Yunxi had actually been awake all night at the Duke of Qin’s estate, trying to figure out ways to save Mu Linger.

Early next morning, she went to Pill Fiend Pharmacy. She didn’t ask Long Feiye or Gu Qishao how their fight had went, leaving the two men extremely uneasy. Both of them appeared in front of her without a second thought…