"It seems my taste aligns perfectly with yours, Brother Li Xun!" Qian Renxue chuckled softly, a glimmer of light flashing in her eyes.
"What a coincidence," Li Xun replied, visibly pleased by their shared interests. "Sister Xue, where were we in our conversation?"
"Your memory," Qian Renxue sighed with a helpless smile. "It seems the matter you asked Salas to arrange this meeting for isn't too significant."
"Look at this head of mine, how could it not be important?" Li Xun playfully tapped his head, then retrieved a map of the continent from his Soul Guiding Device and placed it on the tea table. "If it weren't for a pressing issue, why would I have sought you out, Sister Xue?"
Qian Renxue looked at the map with curiosity.
The map Li Xun presented was marked with numerous red triangles, covering most regions of the continent. Naturally, the Heaven Dou Empire was the most densely marked, accounting for eighty percent of the red triangles. Next was the Star Luo Empire, while the remaining areas had only scattered red markers. Though sparse, a closer look revealed that these markers were all located in significant towns on the map.
However, amidst this vast map, the location of Spirit City was conspicuously absent.
"Brother Li Xun, what do these red markers represent?" Qian Renxue tilted her head slightly, her gaze fixed on Li Xun.
"Sister Xue, are you aware of the chain restaurants that have been flourishing across the continent in recent years?" Li Xun asked with a smile.
"I do know a bit about them," Qian Renxue nodded instinctively, then paused. "Could it be that these markers represent all the locations of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's restaurants?"
As one of the Upper Three Sects, whose every move could influence countless people, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School had established chain restaurants across the continent. How could she not know about this? However, details about this venture were scarce, not only for her but also for other major forces on the continent. Even if they were aware of the profits, others could only envy them. After all, not everyone had the financial resources to compete with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School for a share of the pie, especially with the backing of the Spirit Hall's bishops.
Qian Renxue had learned about this through reports from her subordinates. She knew that some bishops of the Spirit Hall were involved in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's chain project. However, with the Elders Hall and the Pope's Hall now operating under separate power structures, she wasn't entirely sure how many bishops were involved. She assumed the Pope would know more than she did. A shadow flickered in her eyes.
"These markers indeed represent all the current locations of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's restaurants," Li Xun confirmed with a nod. "The reason I sought you out today is related to this."
"You want to open a store in Spirit City?" Qian Renxue glanced at the blank area between the two empires on the map.
"Yes, I asked Bishop Salas to arrange this meeting because I wanted to discuss this business opportunity with you, Sister Xue," Li Xun picked up his teacup and took a sip, using it to mask the expression on his face.
This was a crucial step in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's plans. Li Xun had spent a long time considering how to approach this matter. He believed that even if they were to join the Spirit Hall, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School couldn't appear too eager, as it would make them seem cheap. Additionally, it could easily raise suspicions among the higher-ups of the Spirit Hall.
After all, you were part of the prestigious Upper Three Sects, yet you chose to join our Spirit Hall. What exactly are you aiming for?
Therefore, there must be a pretext or collaboration to act as a lubricant between the two forces, making their union smoother and less rigid.
"Collaboration?" Qian Renxue's eyes lit up, sensing the atmosphere around her becoming more lively. "Is it the same with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and the various bishops of our Spirit Hall?"
She had originally thought that the bishops of the Spirit Hall were merely following the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to make money, as only financial gain could bring together people from different factions.
But if this collaboration involved the true decision-making layers of the factions, then the nature of it would be entirely different. Moreover, the scale this time was so large.
Qian Renxue glanced at the map.
Li Xun nodded: "After all, Spirit City is where the Pope resides. As the foremost power on the continent, even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School wouldn't rashly expand their business there."
"But if Sister Xue, as the Young Master, takes the lead, then everything will be much easier."
"And what do I get out of this?" Qian Renxue smiled, her beautiful eyes meeting Li Xun's gaze.
"In terms of profit, you get forty percent, I get sixty." Li Xun not only didn't shy away from Qian Renxue's gaze but even returned it with equal intensity.
"As the Young Master of the Spirit Hall, you're only giving me this much profit? It should be sixty for me and forty for you." Qian Renxue blinked, ultimately not as thick-skinned as Li Xun, and began to avert her gaze.
"That's not little, my Young Master. You get forty percent without lifting a finger, while I have to run around tirelessly."
Li Xun showed a victorious smile: "Besides, the people below also need to eat."
"Hasn't the money for the people below already been included in the costs?" Qian Renxue rolled her eyes at Li Xun.
Did he really think she didn't know how to do business?
Although she had been undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire since a young age, as the sole heir of the Spirit Hall, how could she neglect her studies?
"Then fifty-fifty, Sister Xue, no less. Any less and I'd just be working for you!" After a long while, Li Xun gritted his teeth, as if making a firm decision.
"What, not willing to work for your sister?" Seeing Li Xun's expression, Qian Renxue was amused and laughed heartily. Her semi-mature figure trembled with her laughter.
"Sister Xue, have you forgotten what we said in the Sunset Forest?" Li Xun glanced at the alluring sight, his eyes shifting: "You wouldn't want our first collaboration to be stillborn, would you?"
Because the time span was so long, it took Qian Renxue a while to recall their past conversation.
Understanding flashed in her eyes: "I didn't expect you to still remember what happened so many years ago."
"The situation on the continent is ever-changing. As part of the younger generation, I naturally have to look further ahead to avoid the old stubborn ones charging headlong into a wall."
Li Xun laughed. Indeed, it was necessary to play the emotional card: "Yes, those old things would only drag us into an endless abyss."
Hearing Li Xun's words, Qian Renxue lowered her head into memories, inevitably thinking of Bibidong, and hatred spread in her eyes.
Forcing herself to compose her mood, Qian Renxue looked up and smiled at Li Xun: "Then let's not take advantage of each other, fifty-fifty, how does that sound?"
"Deal!" Li Xun extended his hand to Qian Renxue: "Sister Xue, just as I said before, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School might still have opportunities to collaborate with the Spirit Hall."
"You really kept your word."
Qian Renxue looked at Li Xun's serious expression and smiled gently, grasping the large hand in front of her: "Brother Li Xun, would you be willing to engage in a deeper level of cooperation with me?"
(End of Chapter)