Chapter 842
I will never let you down, sir.
"The city lord of Qingyun City remains unchanged, and the Town Domain Division will act as a witness to ensure that all parties abide by the rules. If anyone violates the rules, the Town Domain Division will step in to punish them."
What do you all think of this plan?
Sun Wanli was the first to speak: "Deacon Lin, this plan is basically acceptable to the Sun family. However, some details need to be discussed."
"Elder Sun, please speak."
“The first issue is the rent,” Sun Wanli said. “How should the rent be set? Who should set it? If the rent is too high, and the various parties can't afford it, then this plan is meaningless.”
"The rent will be jointly agreed upon by the Town Administration and the City Lord," Lin Zhengyang said. "I can guarantee that the rent will be within a reasonable range, so that it won't be unaffordable for any of the various factions."
"How much exactly?" Sun Wanli pressed.
"This needs to be determined based on the size and location of the stronghold," Lin Zhengyang said. "My initial estimate is that the annual rent for a medium-sized stronghold would be around 100,000 spirit stones. The specific figure can be negotiated when the contract is signed."
"One hundred thousand spirit stones." Sun Wanli pondered for a moment. "That's reasonable. The Sun family can accept it."
"Where is Elder Zhao?" Lin Zhengyang asked Zhao Tiefeng.
“The Zhao family can accept this,” Zhao Tiefeng nodded. “But I have a question. How many troops can be stationed at the stronghold? If there are too few troops, it won’t provide adequate protection.”
"My suggestion is that each faction should station a maximum of one hundred people in Qingyun City," Lin Zhengyang said. "Anything exceeding this number requires an application to the Town Commandery and the City Lord, along with additional fees."
“One hundred people is too few,” Zhao Tiefeng frowned. “The Eastern Wilderness is extremely dangerous; we need to send a large number of people to explore it. One hundred people are simply not enough.”
"Elder Zhao has misunderstood," Lin Zhengyang said. "One hundred people refers to the permanent staff at the stronghold, not including those who venture into the Eastern Wilderness for exploration. Those you send to explore the Eastern Wilderness are not subject to this restriction. It's just that the permanent staff within Qingyun City cannot exceed one hundred."
"I see." Zhao Tiefeng nodded. "Then the Zhao family can accept it."
"Where is Elder Lu?" Lin Zhengyang asked Lu Yuanfeng.
Lu Yuanfeng remained silent until he heard Lin Zhengyang's question, at which point he slowly spoke.
“Deacon Lin, the Lu family has some objections to this plan,” he said.
"Elder Lu, please speak."
“First and foremost, the Lu family was the first to set their sights on Qingyun City,” Lu Yuanfeng said. “Before other forces intervened, the Lu family had already discussed submission with City Lord Wang. Now that the Town Commandery has intervened and made Qingyun City a neutral city, it is a loss for the Lu family.”
"Secondly, the young master of the Lu family was beaten to death in Qingyun City." Lu Yuanfeng's gaze fell on Zheng Yi. "The Lu family hasn't settled this score yet. It's difficult for the Lu family to accept signing a contract with City Lord Wang under these circumstances."
The atmosphere in the council chamber immediately became tense.
Wang Tianhai's expression changed slightly, while Zheng Yi remained calm.
"Elder Lu, I regret what happened to Young Master Lu," Lin Zhengyang said. "But as far as I know, Young Master Lu provoked Mr. Dark Night first, which is why he was killed. Mr. Dark Night acted in self-defense and was not at fault."
"Self-defense?" Lu Yuanfeng sneered. "Killing someone with a single punch, that's self-defense?"
“Young Master Lu is a late-stage Mahayana Realm expert, not some ordinary person without the strength to even kill a chicken,” Zheng Yi said. “He challenged me, I accepted, and I defeated him. What’s wrong with that?”
"You—" Lu Yuanfeng glared at Zheng Yi, a flash of anger in his eyes.
“Elder Lu, I understand the Lu family’s feelings,” Lin Zhengyang interrupted him, “but we are here today to discuss cooperation, not to settle old scores. The matter concerning Young Master Lu is in the past; if the Lu family wishes to seek revenge, they can find another opportunity. However, on this occasion, I hope everyone can remain rational and not act impulsively.”
Lu Yuanfeng remained silent for a moment, but ultimately suppressed his anger.
“Alright, let’s leave aside Young Master Lu’s matter for now,” he said. “But Deacon Lin, the Lu family was the first to set their sights on Qingyun City, you can’t deny that, can you? Now that Qingyun City has become a neutral city, the Lu family suffers the greatest loss. Deacon Lin, do you have any compensation in mind?”
"Compensation?" Lin Zhengyang frowned. "What kind of compensation does Elder Lu want?"
“The Lu family wants a larger base,” Lu Yuanfeng said. “Other forces’ bases can only hold a maximum of one hundred people, while the Lu family’s base should be able to hold two hundred. Moreover, the Lu family’s rent should be half that of other forces.”
“This demand is outrageous,” Sun Wanli immediately objected. “Why should the Lu family’s base be larger than others? Why should the Lu family’s rent be lower?”
"Because the Lu family was the first to set their sights on Qingyun City," Lu Yuanfeng said. "If the Town Guard hadn't intervened, Qingyun City would already belong to the Lu family."
"Elder Lu's words sound nice," Zhao Tiefeng added. "The Lu family wanted to seize Qingyun City by force, but they were defeated by Mr. Dark Night. Now that the Town Commandery is mediating, the Lu family not only shows no gratitude but also demands special treatment?"
"Zhao Tiefeng, what do you mean?" Lu Yuanfeng glared at Zhao Tiefeng.
“My meaning is very clear,” Zhao Tiefeng said without backing down. “The Lu family’s demands are excessive. If the Lu family receives special treatment, the Zhao family should receive it too.”
“The Sun family should have one too,” Sun Wanli echoed.
The council chamber immediately erupted into chaos.
Lin Zhengyang frowned and patted the table.
"Quiet!" he shouted.
The three stopped arguing and looked at Lin Zhengyang.
“As I’ve said before, this plan treats everyone equally,” Lin Zhengyang said. “The Lu family wants special treatment, but I cannot grant that. Similarly, the Sun and Zhao families cannot receive special treatment. Everyone’s conditions are the same: the rent is the same, and the size of their strongholds is the same. This is the principle of the Town Commandery, and it cannot be changed.”
“But…” Lu Yuanfeng wanted to argue.
“No buts,” Lin Zhengyang interrupted him. “Elder Lu, I know the Lu family has suffered great losses. But this is something the Lu family brought upon themselves. If the Lu family hadn’t been so assertive and had been willing to negotiate properly with City Lord Wang, things wouldn’t be like this today.”
"The fact that the Town Administration Bureau is now mediating is giving all parties a way out. If the Lu family doesn't accept this, they can choose to leave. However, in the future, the Lu family will no longer be able to establish a base in Qingyun City or explore the Eastern Wilderness. This would be a greater loss for the Lu family."
"Elder Lu, you should consider this carefully."
Lu Yuanfeng's expression was uncertain, and he remained silent for a long time.
He knew Lin Zhengyang was right. The Lu family was now in a dilemma; if they didn't accept the Zhenyu Division's plan, they would lose their chance to enter the Eastern Wilderness. This would be an unbearable loss for the Lu family.
“Alright.” He finally conceded. “The Lu family accepts Deacon Lin’s proposal.”
“Very good.” Lin Zhengyang nodded. “Since all parties agree, let’s discuss the specific details.”
In the following period, the parties had detailed discussions on issues such as rent, size of the outpost, and number of personnel stationed there.
After some bargaining, the following agreement was reached:
I. Qingyun City shall become a neutral city, and no force shall be allowed to control Qingyun City or interfere in its internal affairs.
Second, all factions may rent out strongholds in Qingyun City as a springboard into the Eastern Wilderness. The annual rent for a stronghold is 100,000 spirit stones, the area of the stronghold shall not exceed five acres, and the number of permanent residents shall not exceed one hundred.
Third, all forces operating within Qingyun City must abide by the city's laws and regulations. Any violations will result in the expulsion of the violator and the confiscation of their stronghold by the Town Authority and the City Lord.
IV. The Town Administration Bureau shall establish an office in Qingyun City to oversee compliance with the agreement by all parties. The expenses of the office shall be shared by all parties.
V. This agreement shall come into effect on the date of signing and shall be valid for ten years. After ten years, the parties may negotiate to renew the agreement or amend the terms. "Does anyone have any further comments?" Lin Zhengyang asked.
The group looked at each other and shook their heads.
"Since there are no objections, please sign the contract." Lin Zhengyang took out a contract from his pocket and placed it on the table.
The contract was made of special material, with the terms just agreed upon written on it, along with the seal of the town's administrative office.
Wang Tianhai was the first to step forward, sign his name on the contract, and affix the city lord's seal.
"Lord Wang has signed," Lin Zhengyang said. "Next, please have all the representatives sign."
Sun Wanli stepped forward and signed the Sun family's name on the contract.
Zhao Tiefeng also stepped forward to sign.
Finally, there's Lu Yuanfeng.
He stood before the contract, hesitating for a moment.
Signing this contract means that the Lu family has given up its attempt to monopolize Qingyun City. This is a huge setback for the Lu family.
But he also knew that there were no other options now.
He took a deep breath and signed the Lu family's name on the contract.
“Alright.” Lin Zhengyang put the contract away. “All parties have signed. From today onwards, this contract is officially in effect. The Town Authority will supervise all parties to ensure compliance with the agreement; any violations will not be tolerated.”
"Thank you, Deacon Lin," Wang Tianhai said, bowing.
“Lord Wang, there’s no need for such formalities,” Lin Zhengyang said. “The duty of the Town Guard is to maintain order in the Tianyuan Domain. As long as all parties abide by the rules, Qingyun City can enjoy long-term peace and stability.”
After the talks concluded, representatives from all parties left one after another.
Sun Wanli and Zhao Tiefeng left the city lord's mansion and departed Qingyun City with their respective guards.
Lu Yuanfeng was the last to leave. Before leaving, he gave Zheng Yi a deep look.
“Mr. Dark Night, I hope we will have the opportunity to meet again in the future,” he said.
"I'll be waiting anytime," Zheng Yi said calmly.
Lu Yuanfeng snorted coldly and turned to leave.
After everyone had left, Wang Tianhai finally let out a long sigh of relief.
“It’s finally over,” he said. “Sir, thanks to you and Deacon Lin, Qingyun City was able to maintain its independence. I am extremely grateful.”
“No need to be so polite,” Zheng Yi said. “This is just the first step. Next, various forces will establish strongholds in Qingyun City, making the situation even more complex. We must be prepared for all eventualities.”
“Sir, you are right.” Wang Tianhai nodded. “I will continue to strengthen the city's defenses, remain vigilant, and never let my guard down.”
Lin Zhengyang walked over and looked at Zheng Yi.
"Mr. Dark Night, today's negotiations were able to proceed smoothly thanks to your deterrent," he said. "If you hadn't killed Lu Xuanfeng with a single punch, the three great families wouldn't have compromised so easily."
"You flatter me, Deacon Lin," Zheng Yi said.
“I am telling the truth,” Lin Zhengyang said. “I am already aware of Mr. Dark Night’s strength. If you are willing, I can recommend you to the Town Guard Division for him to join. With your abilities, you will surely be able to make great strides in the Town Guard Division.”
“Thank you for your kind offer, Deacon Lin,” Zheng Yi shook his head, “but I have no plans to join the Town Guard for the time being. I’m used to being free and unrestrained, and I don’t like being tied down.”
"What a pity," Lin Zhengyang sighed. "However, if you change your mind later, you are welcome to come and see me at any time. The gates of the Town Territory Division are always open to you."
"Thank you, Deacon Lin," Zheng Yi said, cupping his hands in thanks.
Lin Zhengyang nodded and left the city lord's mansion with the officials from the Town Administration Bureau.
He set up an office in Qingyun City, left a few people to supervise all parties to abide by the agreement, and then returned to the headquarters of the Town Domain Division.
The crisis in Qingyun City has now come to a temporary end.
As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun shone on the city walls of Qingyun City, turning the entire city into a golden-red hue.
Standing on the city wall, Zheng Yi gazed at the distant horizon, his heart filled with countless emotions.
From Tianyuan City to Qingyun City, from the Han family to the Lu family, he had experienced far too much. But he knew this was just the beginning.
The Tianyuan Domain is a complex and murky place, with the nine great families holding sway in a deeply intertwined web of power. He may have defeated the Lu family today, but tomorrow other forces may challenge him.
He must constantly improve his strength in order to survive in this dog-eat-dog world.
"Sir," Wang Tianhai approached, "what are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking about the future," Zheng Yi said.
"In the future?" Wang Tianhai asked, somewhat puzzled.
"Although the crisis in Qingyun City has been temporarily averted, various forces will establish strongholds here," Zheng Yi said. "The situation in Qingyun City will become even more complex in the future. We must be prepared to deal with all possible challenges."
“You’re right, sir,” Wang Tianhai nodded. “However, with you here, I feel much more at ease.”
“I can’t stay in Qingyun City forever,” Zheng Yi said. “From now on, you will still have to rely on your own strength to protect Qingyun City.”
“I understand,” Wang Tianhai said. “I will continue to work hard to increase my strength and will never let you down.”
Zheng Yi nodded and turned to walk towards the city lord's mansion.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Under the supervision of the Town Administration Bureau, Qingyun City gradually returned to its former tranquility. The Sun, Zhao, and Lu families, in accordance with the agreement, rented strongholds and stationed personnel within the city. Although the three forces were secretly wary of each other, they maintained a relatively peaceful coexistence on the surface.
That morning, Zheng Yi was practicing the Heavenly Gang Technique in the backyard of the city lord's mansion as usual.
The early autumn sun was gentle and bright, casting dappled light and shadow on the bluestone ground through the branches and leaves of the old locust tree in the courtyard. A gentle breeze blew by, bringing a touch of coolness and stirring up a few withered yellow leaves, which swirled and drifted down into the air.
Zheng Yi sat cross-legged on a flat bluestone, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and even. A faint golden aura surrounded him, the Heavenly Qi he had gathered over the past half month.
After half a month of arduous training, his understanding of the Heavenly Gang Technique deepened further. The Heavenly Gang Qi within his body had multiplied from a single wisp to several wisps, significantly increasing his attack power. (End of Chapter)