Chapter Forty-Two: Bargaining Chip

The larger the family, the more descendants it has, the fiercer the struggle for power becomes, and the harder it is to access resources. Yet, if Fan were to reveal that he had grasped the realm of Intent, his family wouldn’t even need to ask—the families behind these friends would immediately offer help in their hour of need. After all, wiping out the far-flung Zhang Clan would be effortless for their families, and forming an alliance would mean befriending a future pillar of the kingdom.

“It’s better not to let this be known. Only you few should be aware of it. Though your families are powerful, compared to the great sects or the mighty clans that govern one or more counties, you’re still far behind. If anything goes wrong, your families could be annihilated in an instant,” Fan said quietly. “Moreover, if each of you can support me with twenty Qi Meridian experts, that will suffice. Just watch how I destroy the Zhang Clan.”

Hearing their words, Lin Fan felt warmth in his heart, but he still shook his head. He hadn’t realized before what comprehending Intent meant in the kingdom, which was why he’d displayed it so freely before Xiao Shuihan and the others. It was only when he taught them martial skills and they explained the significance of Intent within the kingdom that he became cautious. It wasn’t for his own sake, but for the Lin family. Even when killing those six Qi Meridian experts earlier, he first lured them away before decapitating them with his Intent Blade Technique.

“Alright, we’ll contact our families at once!” Xiao Shuihan and the others, seeing Fan’s refusal, said no more. They each produced a Sound Transmission Jade Talisman and began contacting their families to summon Qi Meridian experts for Lin Fan.

At the same time, Lin Fan sent a short voice message to Xiao Beicheng’s grandfather and father, briefly explaining the situation.

“That little rascal really knows how to stir up trouble!” On the other end of the voice transmission, Old Master Lin—Lin Batian—shook his head with a laugh, showing no trace of anger. Since the destruction of the three great families, he no longer considered his grandson a child. This was someone who had survived storms of blood and fire; how could he speak empty words or gamble the fate of the entire Lin family?

Moreover, this was the Lin family’s opportunity. If they could eliminate the Zhangs, even if they only claimed half of Zhang Clan’s assets, the Lin family’s strength would skyrocket twentyfold. The gap between the Lin and Zhang families was immense—the Zhangs’ income in just two or three months exceeded the Lin family’s annual earnings. More importantly, after the Zhang Clan fell, what of their Qi Meridian and Meridians Opening experts who were not direct members? They would naturally be absorbed into the Lin family…

In this way, the Lin family’s ranks would be quickly replenished. As for the loyalty of these people—well, under the threat of death, they would surely swear soul oaths.

Knock, knock, knock!

Suddenly, the door to Lin Fan and his friends’ private room was knocked on. From outside came Iron Tooth’s voice: “Young Master Lin, Young Master Mo Shaoyan and Miss Mo Qing’er have arrived!”

“Let them in,” Lin Fan replied with a gentle smile. He had already met Mo Qing’er once before, but this was his first encounter with Mo Shaoyan.

Creak!

The door opened, and a tall, upright youth entered, accompanied by a charming young woman. The young man was sturdy, his gaze sharp as a hawk’s, exuding the aura of a fierce predator. One glance was enough to sense danger, as if he might attack at any moment. The charming girl was none other than Mo Qing’er, whom Lin Fan had previously met at the Four Seas Tavern.

“So you’re the one seeking an alliance with my family to destroy the Zhangs?” Mo Shaoyan strode straight to the table, his eyes keen as he looked at Lin Fan.

Seeing Mo Shaoyan get straight to the point, Lin Fan nodded without hesitation, “That’s right, I want to ally with your family to wipe out the Zhangs. I hope you’ll send word to your clan, Brother Mo Shaoyan.”

“What’s your leverage? What power stands behind you? If you don’t say, how can I report to my family?” Mo Shaoyan glanced at the youths around Lin Fan, his brow furrowing. He recognized some of them; they were scions of families far stronger than his own. But he couldn’t risk his entire family on the whims of these powerful clans’ heirs, in case this was just a jest at the Mo family’s expense—if so, their destruction would be assured.

“One Meridian Opening expert and a hundred Qi Meridian experts,” Lin Fan replied coolly.

“Not enough,” Mo Shaoyan frowned again. Though the strength Lin Fan named was impressive, even with these reinforcements, the Mo family would only match the Zhangs in top combat power, and have a slight edge in lower ranks. Destroying the Zhangs would still be extremely difficult, as the deciding factor was the Meridian Opening experts. Without overwhelming superiority, even if they had more Qi Meridian experts and gained the upper hand early, a single Meridian Opening expert could turn the tide.

Thus, real victory depended on the Meridian Opening experts. With only parity at that level, both families would be left crippled even in a pyrrhic victory, leaving them vulnerable to other outer city families. The Mo family couldn’t take that risk. If Lin Fan could provide two Meridian Opening experts, then the Mo family might dare to gamble.

“Before joining forces with your family, I’ll make sure the Zhangs lose a Meridian Opening expert,” Lin Fan said calmly, his words startling Mo Shaoyan, whose expression changed at once. It was as if his thoughts had been read. He had just been thinking that if this youth could provide one more Meridian Opening expert, his family could take the risk. Now, although Lin Fan wasn’t offering an extra expert, his plan was just as good—perhaps even better.

After all, extra Meridian Opening experts would give the Mo family an edge, but who could guarantee that the experts would truly show up when the battle came? Perhaps Lin Fan was deceiving him. But if the Zhangs lost a Meridian Opening expert beforehand, that was another matter entirely—it would prove Lin Fan’s backer had the power to kill such an expert and the resolve to ally with the Mo family to the end. After all, killing a Meridian Opening expert of the Zhang Clan would create an irreconcilable blood feud.

It was as good as pledging allegiance with blood.

Moreover, with Lin Fan’s own Meridian Opening expert, the Mo family would have a clear advantage in any conflict with the Zhangs.

Hearing this, even Xiao Shuihan and the others were astonished. They couldn’t imagine where Fan found the confidence to claim he could kill one of Qingxue County’s top experts.

The room fell silent as Mo Shaoyan pondered these words. After a long while, he looked up and said, “If you can ensure the Zhangs lose a Meridian Opening expert, I’m authorized to make an alliance with you on behalf of the Mo family.”

In truth, before entering the seventh-floor private room of the Four Seas Tavern, Mo Shaoyan had already contacted his family. Their instructions were simple: if the opportunity was real and the leverage sufficient to truly destroy the Zhangs, they would not miss this chance.

Now, upon hearing Lin Fan’s offer, Mo Shaoyan agreed at once. If Lin Fan could deliver, the Mo family would gladly join forces with him. With six Meridian Opening experts to the Zhangs’ five, the Mo family would have the clear advantage, making the risk well worth it.

“Give me three days, and you’ll get the news you want,” Lin Fan said with a bright, white-toothed smile—a sunny expression that, for some reason, sent a chill through Mo Shaoyan’s heart.

“Then my sister and I will take our leave. We look forward to your good news, Brother Lin!” Mo Shaoyan gave a cupped-fist salute and left with Mo Qing’er. As they departed, Mo Qing’er cast a deep, thoughtful glance at the composed Lin Fan.

“Miss, what do you think of all this?” After leaving the Four Seas Tavern and turning a corner, Mo Shaoyan—the upright, dangerous-looking youth—bowed respectfully to the young woman beside him, even adopting an honorific in his speech.

“This Lin Fan is very interesting. If he can really eliminate a Meridian Opening expert of the Zhangs in advance, no matter what method he uses—be it poison or using others to do the deed—your family should ally with him,” she replied. “And if he fails, I’ll call in the main family to help you exterminate the Zhangs. It’s just a minor clan—no need to worry. For the sake of that hundred-year-old Flesh Ganoderma you contributed, I’ll grant your branch the right to return to the Mo Li family and reclaim the surname Mo Li.”

As she spoke, the girlish features of Mo Qing’er began to shift, as if a watery veil rippled across her face, transforming her appearance and even her height, which rose to 1.723 meters. Her bearing became strikingly elegant.

When the ripples faded, a peerlessly beautiful and slightly aloof face was revealed—enough to cause the downfall of kingdoms.

Yet Mo Shaoyan dared not even raise his head to look upon her. His eyes stayed fixed on the ground, showing not a hint of disrespect, and he nodded dutifully at every word.

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