WK Chapter 73

What’s the difference between this and giving it away for free!

 

Xia Fuyang whispered in Xi Zixing’s ear: “What’s going on?”

 

They hadn’t even launched their attack, and the other side had surrendered directly?

 

Xi Zixing: “Who knows.”

 

The person behind the screen spoke again: “Letian, take Young Master Xia, Young Master Xi, and that brother Xiaoyuan outside. I have something to say to this young master.”

 

Xue Letian pointed at his own nose: “I’m going out too?”

 

“Mm.”

 

“Alright then.”

 

He stood up and extended his hand: “Let’s go, young masters.”

 

Xia Fuyang smiled and stood beside Qu Dubian, “You say go out and we just go out? My brother is so young. If you ask him to stay alone, what if you kidnap him?”

 

Da Hei barked once.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan said: “My young master is still young. It’s indeed inappropriate to leave him alone.”

 

Qu Dubian looked at the screen, patted Ye Banban’s hand that was pressing on his shoulder, “It’s fine, Brother Xiaoyuan, you go out first. Da Hei is with me.”

 

Ye Xiaoyuan thought of Liuliu and nodded: “Call me if anything happens. I’ll be right outside.”

 

He gestured to Xia Fuyang and Xi Zixing: “Let’s go.”

 

Since Ye Xiaoyuan was leaving, naturally they didn’t insist on staying either. Xia Fuyang whispered: “Are you comfortable with this?”

 

Ye Xiaoyuan: “The young master has his own reasons for what he does.”

 

After everyone left, they thoughtfully closed the door.

 

Qu Dubian stroked Da Hei’s head, “Mysterious big boss, can you come out now?”

 

The sound of a wheelchair turning came from behind the screen. Xu Tingfeng, dressed in cyan robes, wheeled around and stopped not far from Qu Dubian, smiling and saying: “The mysterious big boss has come out. Is the young master satisfied?”

 

Qu Dubian looked at his legs.

 

In the height of summer, this person still had a thin blanket covering his legs, yet there wasn’t a drop of sweat on his face.

 

Xu Tingfeng: “I was injured a few years ago. I can’t stand up anymore.”

 

Qu Dubian shifted his gaze: “I’m sorry.”

 

A few seconds later, he couldn’t help looking at Xu Tingfeng again.

 

This person was quite handsome, and looked strangely familiar.

 

Xu Tingfeng picked up the half-finished contract from the table, casually looking at it, “There are quite a few traps in this contract. If you’re not careful, you’ll step right into them.”

 

Qu Dubian: “That’s why I said that person didn’t have sincere intentions to cooperate.”

 

Xu Tingfeng raised his eyes, hiding a smile: “The contract didn’t have so many traps initially. I revised it quite a bit.”

 

Qu Dubian: “?”

 

Xu Tingfeng: “Business is like warfare. You always need to keep some cards up your sleeve.”

 

Qu Dubian: “If you wanted to trap us, why were you suddenly so agreeable just now?”

 

Xu Tingfeng folded the contract neatly and tucked it into his sleeve, “Cangwen Bookstore and Young Master Xi’s small bookstore have joined forces. Although they have the upper hand now, they are ultimately alone. If they anger the other bookstores, it will only be counterproductive.”

 

“This time, we’re actually representing several other major bookstores in the negotiations.”

 

The contract changing from a 90/10 split to a 10/90 split would be a severe backstab. Qu Dubian thought, if he were the owner of those major bookstores, he would probably be so angry he’d cough up blood.

 

“So what are you doing now?”

 

Xu Tingfeng: “Actually, a 90/10 split isn’t very reasonable either.”

 

Qu Dubian also thought it was a bit outrageous. He nodded: “We can discuss it further.”

 

“I’ll give you the shops directly,” Xu Tingfeng smiled, “You don’t need to worry about the other bookstores either. We can take this opportunity to consolidate them. I’ll negotiate for you. They’ll listen.”

 

“…”

 

The neither good nor bad incense smoldered gently in the elegant room.

 

Qu Dubian sneezed.

 

His expression changed from puzzled to conflicted to suspicious. Stroking Da Hei’s head, he cautiously said: “It sounds good, but there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

 

Xu Tingfeng: “Of course not.”

 

He wheeled a bit closer, stopping just an arm’s length from Qu Dubian. Under Da Hei’s watchful eyes, his warm hand held the child’s wrist.

 

“However, this is a not-so-formal meeting gift from your uncle to you.”

 

Qu Dubian was shocked: “Uncle?!”

 

Xu Tingfeng responded with a smile: “Yes, good nephew.”

 

–

 

Next door.

 

Another elegant room.

 

Xia Fuyang seemed like he was sitting on pins and needles, unable to sit still. His anxiety was evident.

 

“What could they be talking about for so long? Brother Xiaoyuan, how can you be so calm about leaving him in there alone? Why don’t we go in and check?”

 

Xue Letian: “Why are you so anxious? The boss won’t eat your brother.”

 

Xia Fuyang squatted cross-legged on the table, anxiously biting his thumb, “Aiya, you don’t understand.”

 

Xi Zixing calmly said: “A member of the royal family is even less to worry about.”

 

Xue Letian spat out a mouthful of tea: “Who?? A member of the royal family?”

 

Xi Zixing glanced at the stunned Xia Fuyang and the bamboo hat-wearing “Brother Xiaoyuan” who showed no reaction.

 

The first time they met, he had sensed something strange. “Brother Xiaoyuan” spoke in a gentle voice, and he initially thought it might be a woman dressed as a man, perhaps some lady out for entertainment.

 

Later, he had privately investigated and found that the Xia family only had one adopted sister, and no brother at all.

 

Extended family members were mostly in Jizhou and hadn’t come to the capital.

 

And among those who often visited Xia Fuyang, most were of the same age or older than him. He had never heard of Xia bringing around any small child.

 

There was a recent rumor, though, that the Seventh Prince had fought with Xia Fuyang at the Crown Prince’s banquet.

 

Moreover, he had heard his father mention at home that the Seventh Prince kept a dog that he often brought to school.

 

Now, seeing Xia Fuyang’s reaction, the last trace of uncertainty in his mind vanished.

 

Ye Xiaoyuan remained silent, giving Xi Zixing an extra glance.

 

Not very old, but quite perceptive.

 

Xue Letian calmed his pounding heart and looked toward the next room. He knew Xu Tingfeng’s identity.

 

No wonder he had acted as if he was giving things away for free—he had recognized that child as his own nephew!

 

He had been wincing in pain over the losses, but it turned out the other party had seen through everything; this was a case of one’s own family member playing against another.

 

–

 

Inside the room.

 

With Qu Dubian present, the atmosphere couldn’t cool down.

 

In no time, the room had transformed into a scene of warm affection.

 

“Uncle, you’re really giving this to me?”

 

Qu Dubian snuggled up close to his little uncle, looking at a new contract Xu Tingfeng had written. It wasn’t formal, just a rough draft.

 

Xu Tingfeng said gently: “I’ll give you a few shops first, though we can’t write your name on them. If you need money, just have someone approach Xue Letian. Don’t be shy.”

 

He felt some tenderness.

 

Sister Yuqing had some martial arts skills, and his uncle was physically robust with strong martial arts. Though he had heard that the Seventh Prince had been sickly since childhood and was mentally prepared, upon meeting his little nephew for the first time, he still found him too thin.

 

Frail and delicate.

 

“Your uncle has some more money, but it’s for other purposes, so I won’t give it to you for now.”

 

Qu Dubian waved his hands repeatedly, “I don’t want it. This is already more than enough, and actually, I’m quite wealthy.” Getting a few shops for free was already like pie falling from the sky.

 

Besides, his little uncle was in the capital with leg problems, appearing so frail while struggling in the business world—it must be very difficult.

 

He had nothing to offer in return at the moment.

 

Qu Dubian looked around, jumped off the stool, ran to a small table to get some prepared snacks, and eagerly brought them to Xu Tingfeng: “Uncle—”

 

His foot caught on a stool leg.

 

The child lost his balance, the plate tilted, and his head went toward the ground.

 

Xu Tingfeng’s eyes tightened, he gathered true qi in his hand and quickly reached for Qu Dubian’s collar!

 

However, he saw his little nephew slap the ground with his palm, bouncing up, tossing the plate, flipping to stand upright, and then catching the plate back in his palm.

 

Perfectly steady.

 

Xu Tingfeng: ? His little nephew didn’t seem as weak and sickly as rumored.

 

Qu Dubian, noticing the flowing energy around his uncle: ? His uncle didn’t seem like a pitiful, weak disabled person.

 

Uncle and nephew looked at each other in mutual surprise.

 

Xu Tingfeng couldn’t help laughing: “Not bad, very much like a member of my Xu family.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Uncle knows martial arts too.”

 

Xu Tingfeng: “Yes, taught bit by bit by your grandfather.”

 

He happily accepted his little nephew’s not-so-heartfelt respect, took a piece of snack, “Later there was an accident, and I ended up like this. My legs can’t stand up, can’t train, but the true qi is still there, just don’t know how much of my skill remains.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Uncle, is there a possibility your legs can recover?”

 

Xu Tingfeng: “Recover…”

 

His smile faded a bit, “The best treatment time has already passed.”

 

His expression became complex for a moment. Qu Dubian vaguely saw a cold mockery in his uncle’s eyes, but it disappeared instantly, returning to a gentle appearance.

 

“Forget it, let’s not talk about this. Come, let me see what type of internal martial arts you’re practicing.” Xu Tingfeng pulled Qu Dubian’s hand, pressed two fingers on his wrist pulse, and sent in a weak internal breath.

 

Qu Dubian circulated the first part of the Mian Shou Jue internally. He hadn’t bought the second part yet, mainly because his dantian hadn’t broken through, so even if he bought the second part, it wouldn’t be much use.

 

The gentle true qi, upright and long-lasting, was transmitted back through the fingertips. Xu Tingfeng was slightly surprised: “Such vibrant true qi.”

 

Calm as water, without any aggression, as if it could accommodate everything.

 

He had thought it was one of those commonly circulated basic internal martial arts manuals. He wanted to check his nephew’s pulse to see what kind of method would suit him, and to replace it with a good one—not asking to break through the dantian or store true qi, just to strengthen the body would be good.

 

Unexpectedly, his nephew didn’t need it.

 

Xu Tingfeng: “Where did you find this internal martial arts manual? It’s quite extraordinary.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Da Hei dug it out from an old book tower.”

 

Da Hei glanced at his cub and yawned.

 

Xu Tingfeng looked at the dog lying by his little nephew’s feet, raised an eyebrow, “Then you’re very lucky, probably some master’s collection. But if there’s a next time, don’t practice by yourself rashly. Find someone to check it for you.”

 

Qu Dubian: “Okay, I’ll ask Uncle more in the future.”

 

Xu Tingfeng made an “mm” sound: “You can find me, but don’t be too obvious, keep it somewhat hidden. Mm… about our meeting today, those who know, know; those who don’t, don’t specifically go tell them.”

 

Over these three years, with the Crown Prince, Second Prince, and Third Prince all standing in court together, most people’s attention was basically on the three of them.

 

The attention on the other princes was much less.

 

His interaction with Xiao Qi wouldn’t attract too much attention.

 

However, on the surface, the relationship between the Xu family’s third branch and the Sword-Holding Marquis’s manor was still tense, and overall, it was still better for him to remain in the shadows.

 

It was convenient for handling some private matters, such as helping to deal with the corpse of the Vice Minister of Revenue’s son last time.

 

He explained a few more things to Qu Dubian, worried that his little nephew wouldn’t understand, or might think his uncle didn’t want to be close to him.

 

Like Qu Dubian’s maternal grandparents, Xu Tingfeng treated him as a normal child.

 

However, Qu Dubian patted his hand, blinked, and said, “Uncle, no need to say more. I’m very smart, I understand everything.”

 

Xu Tingfeng was taken aback.

 

He belatedly remembered something he had completely forgotten: this child, along with two other similarly young fellows, had challenged the owners of several major bookstores, even reaching the point where Xue Letian had to step forward to negotiate on their behalf.

 

He smiled, then pinched Qu Dubian’s cheek, looking at the child’s clear and intelligent eyes, and started feeling sorry for him again.

 

“Mm, if you have any problems, don’t overthink. Tell me, and I’ll settle them for you.”

 

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(advanced chapters available on kofi)