The secret room blocked out sound, but not perfectly. If a fight broke out, he would certainly notice immediately.
But the problem was, from beginning to end, everything had been completely quiet, leaving Tie Daoku unable to figure it out.
Creeeak.
Just then, the door suddenly swung open from the inside.
"Brother Daoku, please come in. We're done talking," said a Bai Family Gu Master.
Tie Daoku stepped into the secret room. The first thing he saw was the wine table smashed to pieces by Bai Zhanlie's fists, with all manner of fine dishes mixed together on the floor in a terrible mess.
Tie Daoku couldn't help raising an eyebrow.
Obviously, this banquet was ruined. Even if it weren't, none of the present Bai Family members had any appetite.
Their faces were ashen, their expressions blank, as though they had suffered a tremendous blow.
Only Fang Yuan looked as calm as ever, even sporting a healthy, ruddy glow.
He had just reached an agreement with the Bai Family members and used a Poison Oath Gu on the spot. Everything was now settled.
"What exactly happened?" Tie Daoku asked, shaken and uncertain.
"I'm leaving now. I hope you all take care." Fang Yuan tossed out these words and walked out of the secret room.
"Fang Zheng, you just wait for me at the arena!" Tie Daoku growled.
Fang Yuan didn't even acknowledge him, slipping away and vanishing from everyone's sight.
"Everyone, what exactly happened?" Tie Daoku, utterly bewildered, turned and asked. How had the Bai Family members' expressions all changed after just a conversation? He couldn't sense any trace of their desire for revenge.
"Sigh..." Bai Feng let out a deep sigh.
He raised his head to look at Tie Daoku, his gaze complicated. "Brother Tie, things happened suddenly. I'm afraid I can't explain. Our Bai Family is withdrawing. We will no longer oppose Fang and Bai."
"What?!" Tie Daoku blurted out, his face filled with disbelief.
"Our Bai Family's enterprise is too small to afford such turbulence. Farewell!" Bai Feng rose and was the first to leave the secret room.
"There's no need to worry, everyone. So he's sided with the merchant group — does that make my Tie Family any less a hegemon of the Southern Border?" Tie Daoku hurriedly tried to persuade them. To deal with Fang and Bai, the more people involved, the better. If the Bai Family withdrew, he would be left isolated and outnumbered!
But how could he know the secrets behind it all?
His persuasion missed the mark entirely. The Bai Family was determined to go their separate ways. In the end, he couldn't stop them.
Watching the Bai Family members' retreating figures, Tie Daoku's face turned ice-cold as he muttered, "Subduing the enemy without fighting — what a clever trick, Fang Zheng! But don't think for a moment that I, Tie Daoku, will give up. Hmph!"
His resolve was iron. Others might have given up, but he chose to persevere.
He decided to go register at the arena district right now. He would intercept Fang Yuan at the arena!
"Sir, please wait." A shop assistant rushed over and politely blocked his path with a fawning smile. "You haven't paid your bill yet."
"Huh?"
……
"Five hundred thousand Yuan Stones. Such a massive sum, and they only gave us one day to raise it. How are we supposed to manage that?" Walking along the wide street, Bai Lian spoke with deep worry.
"With my status as an Elder of the Bai Family, I can take out a loan of three hundred thousand at the money house. The remaining two hundred thousand gap... I'll have to pawn the Little Tornado Gu." Bai Feng had already come to terms with this.
The other Bai Family members couldn't help but show emotion.
Bai Zhanlie blurted out in shock, "Elder, your Little Tornado Gu is your core Gu — are you really going to pawn it?"
Bai Feng gave a bitter smile.
"Even if the Elder pawns the Little Tornado Gu, that still won't be enough to cover two hundred thousand. Pawn my Lotus Robe Gu as well." Bai Lian pressed her lips together tightly.
Hearing this, the other Bai Family members also came to a realization.
"Pawn my Flowing Thoughts Gu too."
"And my Little Drilling Wind Gu."
"My triple-pronged bone spear... I'll contribute it as well..."
Bai Feng nodded slowly. "If you can all set aside your personal interests for the family, how can our Bai Family fail to prosper? Today's humiliation will be repaid a thousandfold in the future! But for now, the family must come first. I will take full responsibility for this matter. When we return to the family, I will bear all the consequences."
"Elder!" Everyone was shocked.
Not only had they failed to get their revenge, but they had also signed such a humiliating and detrimental treaty. Though it was the most correct choice, returning to the family would surely bring immense pressure and criticism.
Political struggles were everywhere.
But Bai Feng taking full responsibility for the entire affair undoubtedly protected the political futures of Bai Lian, Bai Zhanlie, and the others.
Bai Feng showed a gentle, fatherly smile and sighed. "Say no more. I am already old. The family's future lies with you all. Without giving and sacrifice, how can there be rewards? It is precisely because of the sacrifices of countless people, the forbearance of countless others, that our family enjoys its glory and prosperity, and that our loved ones can smile."
"Mm!" Bai Lian and Bai Zhanlie nodded in succession, each having gained some understanding.
The ashen pallor gradually faded from their faces, and a gleam grew brighter and brighter in each pair of eyes.
……
Three days later. Grand auction.
"Ladies and gentlemen, what you see before you is a Frost Breath Gu. A Third Transformation Gu Insect that can exhale icy mist, inflicting frostbite and slowing down opponents. Its greatest advantage is that it only consumes half a portion of faint silver True Essence with each use. The starting bid is twenty-three thousand Yuan Stones!" On a circular platform, the hosting Gu Master activated a Sound Amplification Gu to project his voice.
"Twenty-five thousand."
"Twenty-eight thousand."
"Thirty thousand!"