"Let me make this simple — tell me plainly what you want. I have no patience left for games," Han Li said coldly, his expression betraying no sign that Yan Shi's words had affected him in the least.
Yan Shi's brow creased slightly. This young man before her was far more difficult to handle than she had anticipated. Neither soft words nor hard ones seemed to make any impression on him, leaving her feeling almost at a loss.
"Must I truly lay all my cards on the table and lay the matter bare before him?" Yan Shi was unwilling. In all her years wielding power over the Frightened Dragon Society, when had she ever conceded everything without gaining even a sliver of advantage in a negotiation?
She turned her head to glance at Fifth Madam Wang. Among these sisters, Wang was the only one with the standing to oppose her decisions, and so she looked to see whether the other had any better suggestions.
"Fourth Sister may handle the negotiations with this man entirely on her own authority. I will have no objections," Wang said in her characteristically icy tone, discerning Yan Shi's intent at once.
Yan Shi was greatly relieved and felt somewhat reassured.
"Very well. Since you have no intention of beating around the bush, then we sisters will lay our terms before you plainly and directly." The moment these words left Yan Shi's lips, she fully recovered the bearing of one of Jiayuan City's three great gang leaders. The helpless, fragile woman of moments ago had vanished entirely, replaced by the commanding aura of one long accustomed to authority.
"Good. Now that is the kind of opponent I wished to negotiate with!" Han Li smiled faintly.
Yan Shi drew herself up and spoke with measured authority: "Eliminate the Frightened Dragon Society's mortal enemies — the Five-Color Gate and the Dominator's Villa. Rid the Mo Residence of all future threats, and I will present the Warm-Sun Jade to you with both hands. You may also choose any one of Caihuan and the others to be your wife."
Her tone hardened as she continued: "But should you attempt to seize the jade by force, or take us sisters hostage as leverage, then you would be gravely mistaken. I have already entrusted the jade to a trusted confidant. At the slightest sign of trouble, it will be destroyed immediately, and we shall perish together!" Her expression was solemn, and there was no trace of jest in her eyes.
"Lady Yan, you should be careful not to bite your own tongue with such talk! You would have me single-handedly destroy the Five-Color Gate and the Dominator's Villa? I must commend your imagination!" Han Li appeared entirely unfazed, as though he had long anticipated this threat.
He had known from the start that obtaining the Warm-Sun Jade would not be so simple as brute force. Beyond the verbal threats, who knew how many hidden contingencies these women had prepared. Seizing them and wrenching the jade's location from their lips would be a last resort at best — far better to make them hand it over willingly.
"But are you not a cultivator, Young Master Han?" This time it was the alluring Third Madam Liu who spoke. She cast Han Li a soul-stealing smile before delivering her words in a honeyed, fragrant tone: "How could these mortals of the jianghu possibly be your match? Besides, we are not asking you to slaughter every last one of their members — merely to make certain key leaders disappear."
"What of it? I cannot speak for other cultivators, but I know my own abilities well enough. I am not foolish enough to single-handedly oppose organizations with tens of thousands of members. Moreover, do you truly believe that cultivators can slaughter ordinary people at will, without consequence?"
Han Li cast Third Madam Liu a cold glance, the chilling intent in his eyes freezing her smile in place. With the Art of Eternal Youth circulating within him and his guard firmly raised, her beguiling charms could have no effect whatsoever.
"Then... from what you are saying, are there restrictions on cultivators regarding us common people?" Yan Shi asked, somewhat surprised.
"I do not know the precise details myself. After all, I only recently became a cultivator and have not yet truly come into contact with these rules," Han Li replied lightly. Then, seeing that Yan Shi appeared about to speak again, he raised his hand to silence her and continued in a cold tone: "But anyone with half a brain would understand. If cultivators could freely slaughter ordinary people at will, would the so-called three great powers of Lanzhou and three great gangs of Jiayuan City still exist today? Corrupt cultivators would have wiped you out countless times over — and you beautiful women might very well have become their playthings long ago."
Han Li's final remark was delivered without the slightest tact, bringing a flush of crimson to the women's faces even as a flicker of fear crossed their eyes.
"But these are merely the young master's conjectures, not necessarily the truth!" Yan Shi was not yet ready to give up, still attempting to persuade him.
"Even if there were but a one percent chance, I would not court my own death." Han Li left Yan Shi not the slightest room for hope, speaking without any courtesy.
"Do you intend to take our daughters' dowry without giving anything in return — to walk away with empty hands?" Yan Shi's expression darkened noticeably, and she placed deliberate, heavy emphasis on the word "dowry."
Though Han Li's expression remained unchanged, inwardly he felt a surge of irritation.
"The yin poison in my body was put there by your husband in the first place! The fact that I have not troubled you over it should be more than enough — what more do they want?" Han Li thought bitterly.
But he also knew that voicing such thoughts now would accomplish nothing. These women clearly had no intention of handing over the Warm-Sun Jade unless they gained something in return.
So Han Li lowered his head in thought for a moment, then raised it, cleared his throat, and spoke in a clear, resonant voice:
"I will give you two paths to choose from. Pick whichever you will."
"The first is this: the entire Mo Residence packs its belongings and departs at once, leaving Lanzhou far behind. Find a place beyond the reach of your enemies, settle down as an ordinary wealthy family, and live out the rest of your lives in peace, free from the slaughter of gang politics. As for your safety along the way, I will guarantee it personally — not a single pursuit force from your enemies will lay a finger on you."
Han Li paused here, observing the changes in the women's expressions.
Only Second Madam Li appeared somewhat tempted. Yan Shi and Third Madam Liu both remained silent, clearly opposed to the suggestion. As for Fifth Madam Wang — Han Li did not bother looking. With that icy demeanor of hers, nothing useful could be read from her face.
Seeing this, Han Li sneered inwardly. Both Yan Shi and Third Madam Liu were women of considerable ambition. Having them relinquish their power over the Frightened Dragon Society to become mere country wives — they would never agree to that. He had known this from the moment he made the proposal.
"And the other choice?" Third Madam Liu could not help but press when Han Li did not continue.
"There is another path..."
Han Li rose from his chair, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling as he slowly spoke of the other option — the one he was certain Yan Shi and the others would choose.