In my twilight years of cultivating, I became a Supreme Daoist of the Longevity Path

Chapter 31: 028: Insight and Strategy, Cooperation _1 Chapter 31: 028: Insight and Strategy, Cooperation _1 Xu Wei had only taken a few steps when she felt an intimidating presence from behind, making her halt in surprise.

At this moment, Chen Dengming’s unequivocal voice once again rang in her ears.

“Go on ahead, I’ll handle things here.

Even if you don’t trust me, surely you trust the Luo Family?

Who would dare to stop you if you are delivering a message to the Luo Family?”
Upon hearing this, Xu Wei felt a sense of warmth and reassured her, quickening her pace and walking away.

From afar, she could still hear Chen Dengming’s voice.

“Of course I know this place is under the control of the Gold Word Workshop.

Are you telling me I’m not part of the Gold Word Workshop?

Is it such a big deal that I’m sending an ordinary person to deliver a message for me?”
“You’re a part of the Gold Word Workshop?”
The elderly man with the surname He standing upstairs was taken aback.

He momentarily forgot about Xu Wei who had left, and studied Chen Dengming carefully, gradually furrowing his brows.

At this moment, a voice transmission landed in the elderly man’s ears.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated on 𝑛𝗈𝘃𝗴𝘰.co

“I am Chen Dengming.

I wonder if you have heard of me?

I heard that Lord Xu stated that they will reward me generously if I return.

Was that untrue?”
“Chen…”
The man’s pupils contracted sharply, and suddenly remembered the ordinary person who had killed a cultivator on Hutong Street more than three months ago.

His mind went blank for a moment, staring dumbly at Chen Dengming, who looked back at him with a grin.

Chen’s white hair at his temples appeared particularly eerie at this moment.

“Are you really Chen Dengming?”
“Would anyone dare to impersonate me under the wanted situation on Hutong Street?”
The old man forced a deep sigh as he looked at the spot where Xu Wei had disappeared round the corner, and his voice was heavy.

“Daoist friend Chen, please come in for a cup of tea, I’ll send the message to Lord Xu that you have returned.

However…

if Xu Wei is your old acquaintance, I advise you not to meddle in her affairs.”
“Oh?”
Chen Dengming looked surprised, followed by a thoughtful nod.

He made his way into the building.

He had no idea what trouble Xu Wei had gotten herself into, and the other party didn’t seem to want to tell him either.

He had assumed that since Xu Wei was just ordinary, any problems she might have wouldn’t be serious, and he might be able to resolve them.

After all, if it was anything serious, given an ordinary person’s status in the gathering place, she would have been dead, or worse than dead.

But at the moment, neither was Xu Wei dead nor did she appear especially worse than dead.

It was odd that even a cultivator was warning him not to interfere.

This made Chen Dengming somewhat alert and suspicious.

However, he had planned his appearance well in advance this time.

Even if there was any danger, he could simply leave the gathering place again.

He’d planned his exit strategy well in advance.

…

Half an incense stick’s time later.

On the top floor of the Zanhua Building.

Chen Dengming successfully met Xu Ning, the head of the Gold Word Workshop.

This Qi Cultivation sixth layer cultivator, even when he repressed his spiritual might, was rather impressive, giving off a distinct sense of oppression.

In fact, this feeling is caused by the stronger control and range of Spiritual Energy by the high-level cultivator, which suppresses the control of the surrounding Spiritual Energy by the low-level cultivator, naturally making the low-level cultivator feel pressure.

However, Xu Ning was a rather hearty man.

His face was square, his nose was high, and he gave a good impression.

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He was extraordinarily enthusiastic upon meeting Chen Dengming, warmly welcoming him with hearty laughter and praising his past exploits.

“Brother Chen, I didn’t expect you to return after more than three months, giving me such a pleasant surprise.

You were able to kill a cultivator in Hutong Street before attaining Innate Spiritual Energy.

Now that you are a cultivator yourself, won’t you be even stronger?

Hahaha!”
“Not at all, Lord, you think too highly of me.”
Chen Dengming, too, was clever with his words.

He knew how to flatter, and as such, he was well-liked wherever he went.

He replied modestly, “My minuscule abilities are nothing compared to a single finger of yours.

I believe it was your formidable reputation that intimidated those people on Hutong Street, allowing me the opportunity to step up.”
“Hahaha!

Chen is good with words, come, let’s drink tea!”
Upon hearing this, Xu Ning laughed the louder, and immediately raised his teacup.

He wasn’t one to enjoy flattery, but as they say, everyone helps to hold the sedan chair.

Engaging with someone who knew how to speak pleasantly always lifted one’s spirits.

The initially stern-faced old man with the surname He and the other two cultivators present all visibly relaxed and joined in the laughter.

They were all family here.

If the lord was laughing, why should they put on long faces?

Who were they trying to impress?

Whom were they trying to offend?

Every one of them was a seasoned player in the cultivation world, none were fools.

“As I’ve said, the moment you, Brother Chen, decided to return, I, Xu Ning, promised to reward you handsomely.

That was in no way an empty promise.

So, Brother Chen, what do you wish for?

Spirit Stones, Cultivation Techniques, Magic Artifacts, or something else?

Feel free to state your request.”
“Lord, you are too polite.

It is only right for Chen to contribute a little effort to our Gold Word Workshop.

Despite the risks, these risks now seem negligible…”
Everyone among them was sharp-minded and quickly understood his subtext: he was putting the reward aside for now and focusing on solving the bounty hunt issue in Hutong Street.

“Brother Chen, rest assured, I will take care of your risks.

Now that you are a cultivator, this little matter is nothing!”
Xu Ning laughed heartily and invited everyone to sit down for a tea chat, constantly probing each other in the rounds of toasting.

In the process, he naturally asked about Chen Dengming’s recent progress and how he broke through.

At the same time, he also remembered that Chen Dengming seemed to have some connections with Miss Luo Family in the past.

This became a major concern for everyone.

“Regarding Fairy Luo…”
Chen Dengming frowned slightly, put down his teacup with a ‘hiss’ sound, glanced at Xu Ning, then the other three, and hesitated to laugh.

“Lord, after all, Fairy Luo’s status is esteemed…”
Xu Ning ‘oh’ with meaningful elucidation, glanced at the others, and waved his hand.

The others had doubts in their hearts, apprehensive and suspicious, looking at Chen Dengming with uncertainty, they could not help but wonder – could this young man really be so lucky as to have an affair with Miss Luo?

“They all left, you can talk now.”
After He Sun and the other cultivators left, Xu Ning looked at Chen Dengming and gave a faint smile.

Chen Dengming laughed, “Lord, I believe you, being intelligent as you are, should have guessed some of the answers.”
Xu Ning looked at Chen Dengming seriously, crossed his hands together, asked, “Is it related to the bounty from Miss Luo?”
Chen Dengming raised his eyebrows, nodded with a smile, “Exactly!

Actually, Fairy Luo is looking for someone to help her cultivate the Golden Silkworm Gu, and that person is not necessarily me, but I could certainly help her.

Initially, it was she who brought me to this gathering place.” he said, placing his hand on the table.

The sound of ‘sisi’ came from his sleeve, and a Snake Gu with green scales and a red mark on its head crawled out, hissing and staring at Xu Ning with cold eyes.

“This is the Snake Gu that I trained with Gu medicine…”
Xu Ning glanced at the Snake Gu.

This was a mere ordinary creature, but it dared not fear his Spiritual Might.

This seemed to show some peculiarity.

He asked, “Since Miss Luo is looking for you, why didn’t she send someone to find you directly?”
Chen Dengming retrieved the Snake Gu, “Perhaps because I had already offended Hutong Street and escaped the gathering place without her knowing.

Or perhaps she knew and expected that I would go to the Luo Family after seeing the bounty, as I, as a commoner, was hunted down by Hutong Street and had nowhere to go.”
Xu Ning nodded slightly, leaned back in his chair, said, “So …

you haven’t been to the Luo Family yet.

Instead of going to the Luo Family at this time, you came to see me.

What for?”
Chen Dengming took out several packs of Gu poison, smiled, “Lord, don’t worry.

Chen will certainly go to the Luo Family.

In fact, I have already sent someone to deliver a message to the Luo Family.

But before going there, I would like to find a powerful and trustworthy partner to do some business.”
“Oh?”
Xu Ning raised an eyebrow, recalling the commoner Xu Wei mentioned by He Sun earlier, he couldn’t help but look at Chen Dengming with increased admiration.

This Chen Dengming indeed had a bit of courage and strategy.

He dared to negotiate a partnership deal with him with only the strength of the first level of Qi Cultivation, but also had the foresight to prepare an escape route.

This showed both courage and wisdom, which is unlike a reckless man.

Even if he changed his mind or became greedy, he would still hesitate due to the presence of Miss Luo Family.

If what he says is true, and the Luo Family really comes to take him away, yet he has done something to Chen Dengming, how would he explain to Miss Luo?

Even thinking deeper, Chen Dengming might be concerned that he would sell him to Qian Yuan, or that Qian Yuan might come to kill him directly.

Therefore, with the deterrence of the Luo Family, both he and Qian Yuan would not dare to act recklessly against Chen Dengming.

Unexpectedly, he was initially concerned about Chen Dengming’s relationship with Miss Luo, but Chen Dengming turned the table and exploited his concern to negotiate conditions with him.

Furthermore, he showed savoir-faire in both advancing and retreating, addressing himself as ‘Chen’, giving him due respect.

“Well, good!”
Xu Ning burst into laughter, looking at Chen Dengming, said, “Tell me, how do you want to cooperate?

For the sake of you being someone admired by Miss Luo, I, Old Xu, wouldn’t mind making an exception to cooperate.”
This statement was clearly meant as a warning to Chen Dengming, indicating that he would only make an exception due to respect for Miss Luo.

Otherwise, you, a mere first level Qi Cultivator, are not yet qualified to sit down and talk about cooperation.

…

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(Second update, 6k words and seeking monthly tickets and set update reminders!)