Chapter 551: Ming Yaoyao's Shock
Chapter 551: Ming Yaoyao's Shock
January 15, 2025
At this moment, on the first floor of an eastern tavern in the city.
Elder Ming had already seated himself with Ming Yaoyao.
Their current task was to wait here for Su Chen's arrival and meet with him.
Elder Ming carried with him many words and suggestions from his Palace Lord.
Ever since the Heavenly Alchemy Expo, Zhu Ming Gong had been eager to communicate with Su Chen.
They wanted to discuss and see if they could ease tensions and explore the possibility of a renewed friendship.
Su Chen had, in fact, spotted the two of them earlier.
But to ensure his safety, he first wanted to observe the surrounding situation.
These past few days, Qiu Xiyu had been by Su Chen's side.
She had known about his meeting with the Second Elder of Zhu Ming Gong quite early on.
However, Qiu Xiyu's understanding wasn't that detailed.
She only knew that Su Chen was waiting here to discuss matters with someone from a certain power.
Without probing further, she didn't ask which power it was.
As she followed Su Chen and noticed Ming Yaoyao from a distance, Qiu Xiyu's expression turned slightly somber.
Although she didn't know why Ming Yaoyao was here,
She was unaware of the topic of their conversation.
But Ming Yaoyao's attire made her feel uneasy.
It felt like a provocation.
"Junior Sister Qiu, I have some matters to discuss with them, which will take about half an hour.
After that, we can set off."
Su Chen instructed Qiu Xiyu to wait briefly.
If it was only Elder Ming, Qiu Xiyu probably wouldn't have been too curious.
She could have found a place to rest and patiently waited.
But upon seeing Ming Yaoyao, she couldn't help but want to listen in.
"Is this beautiful fairy here to hold Su Shixiong accountable?"
Qiu Xiyu spoke in a playful tone, setting the stage for what she wanted to say next.
"Accountable for what? We barely exchanged a few words."
"Then, can I listen in from the side?"
Qiu Xiyu continued in a teasing tone, as if it were a casual request.
Seeing Qiu Xiyu's initiative, Su Chen thought for a moment and agreed.
There wasn't anything crucial to discuss with Zhu Ming Gong anyway.
Qiu Xiyu, as a member of the Qiu family, had a connection through Qiu Ruoshuang.
Su Chen considered her as one of his own.
If she wanted to listen, then let her.
Soon, Su Chen entered first and sat across from Elder Ming and Ming Yaoyao.
Qiu Xiyu followed slightly behind and entered the tavern.
She found a seat behind Su Chen at a nearby table.
"Elder Su."
Upon seeing Su Chen, Elder Ming's attitude was relatively amiable.
Facing Su Chen, he wore an apologetic expression.
Unlike in Summer Domain City, where his words carried a sense of superiority.
"Elder Ming, you've gone through a lot of trouble to come here, and the journey must have taken several days."
Su Chen's response made Ming Yaoyao, sitting beside him, feel slightly uncomfortable.
This phrase, "You've gone through a lot of trouble," was typically used by peers or superiors when addressing subordinates.
In Ming Yaoyao's eyes, Su Chen should be one rank lower than her grandfather.
Honorary Elders, while holding the title of Elder, lacked real authority, and their status was far inferior to that of true Elders.
This manner of speaking shouldn't have been directed by Su Chen towards her grandfather.
Qiu Xiyu, sitting behind them, was slightly surprised.
Elder Ming addressed Su Chen as "Elder."
This title caught Qiu Xiyu off guard.
However, she remained silent, continuing to listen attentively as Elder Ming continued.
"After hearing Elder Su's words, our Palace Lord felt a bit uneasy.
I've come here to apologize on his behalf.
Sometimes, our subordinates fail to perform their duties adequately.
We, as their leaders, didn't follow the Palace Lord's instructions.
Please, Elder Su, don't hold it against the Palace Lord."
Su Chen nodded in response.
"I understand Palace Lord Yao's situation, and I know his character.
He has his difficulties, so I can understand his actions."
Elder Ming's words aimed to bridge the gap and bring Su Chen and Zhu Ming Gong closer.
But Su Chen's response directly widened the distance again.
Understanding Palace Lord Yao's difficulties and knowing his character.
Su Chen only acknowledged understanding and knowing.
He deliberately avoided the latter part of the sentence, leaving it unspoken.
Not a word about reconciliation or renewing their friendship.
He even interrupted Elder Ming, preventing him from saying certain things.
As the Second Elder of Zhu Ming Gong, he couldn't help but understand the underlying meaning of Su Chen's words.
But today, he had to speak up.
At least, he had to try.
"Elder Su, we are somewhat connected by fate.
Previously, our Palace didn't anticipate certain situations, and the choices we made were inappropriate.
Now, I only ask for mutual goodwill.
If you have any requests or ideas, Elder Su, please feel free to bring them up.
I will report to the Palace Lord when I return, and you will receive a response soon."
Elder Ming was taking a huge risk with these words.
He didn't care about anything else, not even saving face.
Some things, when spoken, would be embarrassing, causing one to lose face.
But Elder Ming still spoke his mind.
However, Su Chen had lost trust in Zhu Ming Gong.
He had given Zhu Ming Gong much tolerance, and when they harmed his interests, he had compromised many times.
But his compromises only led to further threats.
For such a cooperative partner, Su Chen could only keep his distance.
The only silver lining was that Zhu Ming Gong had never betrayed him.
The most they did was to stand by and watch.
But even that was enough to disappoint Su Chen.
The favors he had given to Zhu Ming Gong should have been enough for them to protect him.
During the Heavenly Alchemy Expo, Zhu Ming Gong even had to organize their own self-defense.
They wanted him to bear this disgrace, to endure and withstand everything.
From that moment on, Su Chen had decided not to maintain a friendly relationship with Zhu Ming Gong.
"Elder, let bygones be bygones.
We should look forward.
If we keep dwelling on the past, we will only trap ourselves in worry.
Let's not bring up these matters again in the future."
Su Chen's words were slightly polite.
But the refusal was still clear.
The Second Elder was not surprised by this.
It wasn't going to be that easy to persuade Su Chen with a few nice words.
If it had worked, he would have found it strange.
Hearing Su Chen's refusal, the Second Elder began to present the conditions he had prepared.
"Elder Su, I know you still have reservations.
Here, I will also offer you some conditions.
The sect will grant you real power in the future, allowing you to establish a manor in Zhu Ming Gong.
You will also have autonomy over resource allocation.
You can have things your way, and your word will hold weight within the sect."
This condition indeed sounded appealing.
The so-called "establishing a manor" meant that Zhu Ming Gong would provide a mansion.
Its significance was not merely owning a courtyard but also the ability to cultivate and recruit talents independently after its establishment.
It was as if a new power had emerged within the sect.
Allowing the establishment of a manor indicated an extraordinary contribution.
It meant that the entire Zhu Ming Gong would work hard to please him.
It was an extremely favorable condition.
However, Su Chen wasn't interested in such an offer.
It seemed advantageous on the surface.
But no one could predict what it would be like once he actually joined Zhu Ming Gong.
Given Zhu Ming Gong's past behavior, how could Su Chen trust them?
"Please, Elder, there's no need to linger here. The path Zhu Ming Gong and I are on is truly not..."
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Seeing that Su Chen was about to refuse, the Second Elder sitting across from him quickly interjected.
"Elder Su, please don't rush to refuse. I haven't finished speaking yet.
Before I came, the Palace Lord mentioned one more thing.
My granddaughter has also reached a suitable age.
She is of a similar age to you, Elder Su, and you two already know each other from the Xuan Ying Conference.
This child often mentions you from time to time.
The Palace Lord is thinking of taking our relationship to the next level.
Let's bring our families closer together.
From now on, we will be like a family.
There will be no more of the previous suspicions, and with our interests aligned, we will share the risks."
Before the Second Elder could finish his words, Qiu Xi Yu, sitting at the other table, was already struggling to contain herself.
She almost got up and walked over to speak.
From their conversation, Qiu Xi Yu had already learned their identities.
People from Zhu Ming Gong.
Qiu Xi Yu didn't understand how Zhu Ming Gong had become involved with Su Chen.
However, it was unacceptable for Zhu Ming Gong to marry their heir to Su Chen.
Qiu Xi Yu felt a twinge of apprehension.
She had just carefully observed Ming Yaoyao's appearance, and in the Jin State, such beauty would undoubtedly be praised as a fairy.
Ming Yaoyao had a gentle and graceful appearance, though her temperament was not necessarily so.
This type of beauty often attracted the attention and favor of men.
But Qiu Xi Yu felt that Su Chen would refuse.
After all, she was listening nearby, and Su Chen wouldn't agree, would he?
As Qiu Xi Yu waited, Su Chen, without much hesitation, gave his response.
"Elder, your words have taken me by surprise.
"It's true, I never considered these matters."
"Well, think about it now, young man. There's no need to be so rigid and dull." Elder Ming's face held a hint of amusement as he advised Su Chen.
Seeing Su Chen's unwavering stance, he decided not to press the issue further with vague words.
"Elder, my heart already belongs to another." Su Chen spoke with conviction.
"I appreciate the consideration from the esteemed members of Zhu Ming Gong, but this matter is truly inappropriate, and I must decline."
"I understand the difficulties Zhu Ming Gong has faced in the past, and I ask that you understand the challenges I face as well." With that, Su Chen prepared to leave, indicating his intention to not continue the discussion.
As Su Chen stood up, Ming Yaoyao, who had been silent until then, couldn't hold back any longer. In her mind, she had been holding back for far too long. She had wanted to interrupt Su Chen earlier.
"Elder Su, are you rejecting me? Do you think I, Ming Yaoyao, am not good enough for you?"
Su Chen, already on his feet, glanced at her but chose not to engage in an argument. He was ready to depart.
"Elder Su, are you sure you won't regret your refusal today? Who is this person who has captured your heart? From which sect do they hail? What makes them better than me? Could you share a few words about them?" Ming Yaoyao continued.
"In my opinion, I, Ming Yaoyao, should be the best choice for Elder Su. Within a year, I will reach the Fifth Rank Intermediate Realm. Although Zhu Ming Gong has encountered some troubles, it remains one of the top sects in Jin State. Even without the jade essence pill, our pill refinement skills are still among the best."
Ming Yaoyao's words were restrained, but she had wanted to say more. She felt that Su Chen had no right to reject her, and it was she who was making the concession.
Su Chen, hearing her words, still didn't want to respond. After standing up, he was ready to walk out.
Sitting behind Su Chen at another table, Qiu Xiyu couldn't help but smile at his response. However, Ming Yaoyao's attitude irritated her to no end.
Su Chen was no ordinary person; he was the youngest Sixth Rank Array Master in the world, with no equal in history and likely none in the future. How dare Ming Yaoyao look down on such a talented array master?
Zhu Ming Gong was indeed a major sect, a fact Qiu Xiyu was well aware of. Their sudden rise to fame due to their jade essence pill craftsmanship had even influenced the Qiu Family. However, with the alliance between the Odd Tower and the Crystal Pavilion, Zhu Ming Gong's dominance had waned. No matter how powerful they were, they couldn't compare to the Qiu Family's influence.
Seeing Su Chen about to leave, Ming Yaoyao followed suit and stood up. She approached Su Chen, ready to question him further.
This time, Qiu Xiyu seemed to have reached her limit. She stepped forward, gently taking Su Chen's hand, and said, "If you want to know my identity, I am Qiu Xingchuan's daughter, Qiu Xiyu. I, Qiu Xiyu, am also well-known. I shouldn't be easily outshone by the Ming Family's fairy, right?"
Qiu Xiyu's words not only surprised the Ming Family grandfather and granddaughter but also caught Su Chen slightly off guard.
However, he quickly realized that Qiu Xiyu was trying to help him out of this situation. After making her statement, she pulled Su Chen away from the restaurant.
Once outside, Qiu Xiyu immediately released his hand. She was willing to hold it, but she still felt a bit shy.
"Elder Su and Zhu Ming Gong had some interactions in the past, but this year, Zhu Ming Gong's influence has been declining. As array masters, we don't need to curry favor with them," Qiu Xiyu added, assuming that Zhu Ming Gong's attempt to recruit Su Chen was due to his talent in array formations.
In reality, Zhu Ming Gong was unaware of Su Chen's expertise in array formations. They already regretted their decision regarding the jade essence pill craftsmanship.
Su Chen didn't elaborate further. He called out to Qiu Xiyu, and they prepared to leave together.
"The matter is settled, and it's time we paid a visit to the Qiu Family," he said with a smile.
The two of them laughed and set off on their journey.
Inside the restaurant, the Ming Family grandfather and granddaughter exchanged glances, unsure of what to say.
As a core member of Zhu Ming Gong, Ming Yaoyao was well aware of the Qiu Family. Jin State had many major sects, but their strengths varied. Behind the top sects were other influential powers, including the Qiu Family.
"Qiu Xingchuan's daughter, and he's from the heir lineage of the Qiu Family. The Qiu Family now has two Unification Realm experts. How did Su Xing manage to associate with them?"
(End of Chapter)
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