Chapter 86: Negotiations With Small Cultivation Families
“Esteemed guests,” Wang Li’s voice resonated within the room, carrying an air of quiet authority, “we appreciate you heeding our summons. As you know, the Xia Family recently dealt a devastating blow to the nefarious Crimson Talons and their demonic allies.”
The envoys exchanged nervous glances. The news of the Xia Family’s victory had reached their ears. Now, they sat before the victors, unsure of what awaited them.
“During our efforts,” Wang Li continued, his voice low and measured, “we stumbled upon irrefutable proof of your esteemed families’…shall we say, ‘unorthodox’ dealings with these very demonic forces.” He withdrew a stack of folded parchments, each bearing the crimson seal of the Crimson Talons. “Contracts, detailing the exchange of resources and services between your families and these demonic entities.”
A collective gasp rippled through the room. The envoys paled, their carefully crafted facades crumbling under the weight of Wang Li’s revelation.
“Matriarch Xia,” stammered one of the envoys, an overweight man with a bead of sweat trickling down his forehead, “there must be some misunderstanding. We are all pillars of righteousness in the cultivation world. Collaboration with demons… it’s simply unthinkable!”
Wang Li’s lips curled into a humorless smirk. “Unthinkable? Perhaps. Yet, the evidence speaks for itself.” He gestured towards the parchments. “These contracts leave little room for misinterpretation. Now, the question remains: what shall we do with this information?”
The envoys exchanged desperate glances. They knew their families’ reputations, their very standing within the cultivation world, hung by a thread.
“We are willing to discuss…compensation,” the portly man ventured, his voice barely a whisper.
Wang Li nodded, a glint in his eyes, unseen beneath the mask. “Indeed. Compensation for our silence. The Xia Family has no desire to see esteemed families like yours tarnished by such revelations.”
The negotiation that followed was a masterclass in diplomacy, orchestrated by Wang Li. He played upon their fear, leveraging the incriminating evidence to his advantage. While the envoys were well-versed in the art of negotiation, their position was undeniably weak.
“We propose,” Wang Li stated, his voice firm, “a monthly tribute. A small percentage of your families’ resources, a token of your…appreciation for our discretion.”
“Resources?” one of the envoys squeaked. “What kind of resources?”
Wang Li’s lips curved into a sly smile. “A modest contribution, based on the resources each of your families possesses. A small percentage of the Spirit Stones mined from your quarries, perhaps? Or perhaps a selection of rare Essence Fruits from your sacred groves?”
He listed a variety of resources – raw materials, finished products like pellets and array formations, even weapons and artifacts. It was a comprehensive list, encompassing the wealth of a cultivation family.
The envoys groaned internally. This was a hefty price to pay, a significant chunk of their resources flowing into the coffers of the Xia Family. Yet, they had little choice.
The discussion continued, a back-and-forth of numbers and concessions.
Wang Li squeezed every possible advantage for the Xia Family.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, an agreement was reached.
“Twenty percent,” Wang Li declared, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. “Twenty percent of each resource type, delivered to the Xia Family every month. In exchange, your ‘unorthodox’ dealings shall remain…undisclosed.”
Relief washed over the envoys, tinged with a bitter aftertaste of defeat. They had been forced to bend the knee, to accept the Xia Family’s harsh terms. With a series of resigned nods, they sealed the deal with blood oaths, binding them to their agreement.
The envoys departed shortly after, their figures disappearing into the twilight. Silence descended upon the council room, thick with the weight of the negotiation. Xia Bingling turned to Wang Li, her eyes sparkling with admiration.
“Brilliant, Wang Li,” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “You negotiated a spectacular deal! The resources we’ll receive will propel the Xia Family to new heights!”
Wang Li chuckled, a low rumble that vibrated through his chest. “Anything for you, my dear” he replied, his voice devoid of the mask’s distortion.
He then removed his mask and gestured playfully. “Should we have a victory toast now?”
Xia Bingling’s smile widened. This victory, however, called for a more intimate celebration. She rose from her seat and with a feline grace, moved towards him.
The air crackled with unspoken desires.
With a knowing glance, Wang Li opened his arms, a silent invitation. Xia Bingling wasted no time. Her voluptuous form melted into his embrace, her ample bosom pressing against his chest.
A wave of heat washed over Wang Li, a pleasant counterpoint to the mental exertion of the negotiation. He tightened his hold, his hand finding its way to the soft swell of her breast, gently cupping it through the silken fabric of her robes.
A low moan escaped Xia Bingling’s lips as he trailed kisses across her face, his touch a delicious brand against her skin. His lips descended down to the soft valley between her cleavage, sending shivers down her spine.
In the dimly lit council room, the weight of the world momentarily lifted.
The threat of demonic incursion, the delicate negotiations – all faded into the background as their desires took center stage.
The afternoon sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the Xia Family Manor. Inside the council room, a different kind of negotiation unfolded.
Wang Li traced patterns on the smooth skin of Xia Bingling’s back. Her silk robes lay abandoned on the floor, revealing a figure both powerful and alluring. Her full lips, usually adorned with a calm authority, were now parted in a moan, a testament to the fiery passion that Wang Li had ignited.
As their bodies intertwined, a symphony of pleasure filled the air. Wang Li, a master of seduction as much as strategy, explored every curve of her voluptuous form. Her skin, smooth as polished jade, sent shivers down his spine. Xia Bingling, usually composed and in control, surrendered completely to his touch, her moans echoing his whispered praises.
In the throes of passion, however, Wang Li never lost sight of the larger picture. Between heated kisses and stolen glances, he addressed the matter at hand.
“Bingling,” he gasped, his voice husky with desire, “the time has come for the Xia Family to expand.”
Xia Bingling, her breath ragged between moans, managed to stutter, “Ex… pand? Now?”
“Precisely now,” Wang Li affirmed, his fingers trailing a path down her arm. “With the resources we’ve secured, we have the power to solidify our position as a major force.”
He outlined his plan, his voice a low murmur against her ear. “We need to send our most skilled cultivators to discreetly take control of strategic locations. Spiritual Stones Mine possessing lots of undiscovered Spriit Stones, peaks boasting pure spiritual veins, herbal gardens overflowing with rare plants – these are the resources we need to elevate the Xia Family to new heights.”
A gasp escaped Xia Bingling’s lips, this time not from pleasure, but from revelation. “Spirit veins… If we do…acquire…a good…Spiritual Vein Peak…our cultivation speed could double!”
“Indeed,” Wang Li chuckled, his voice laced with a hint of mischief. “Imagine the potential for our younger generation. We can finally compete with the likes of the Azure Peak Sect or other great sects.”
Matriarch Xia Bingling, her voice a breathless murmur, responded, “Y-yes, Wang Li. We will s-start this soon enough…”
His hand, previously tracing feverish patterns on her back, now trailed down, skimming the curve of her hip. “But expansion isn’t just about territory,” he continued, his voice returning to a seductive purr. “We need manpower. Open the recruitment process. Cultivators seeking advancement, resources, and a powerful family as their backing – they will flock to us. We need to select the most promising individuals, and cultivate their loyalty. I will personally oversee this recruitment process.”
Xia Bingling, overwhelmed by a potent mix of pleasure and ambition, let out a choked sob. “Yes,” she gasped, her voice barely a whisper. “We will become a force to be reckoned with. The entire cultivation world will tremble at the name Xia!”
Wang Li, his desires momentarily sated for the moment, focused on her face. “They will indeed,” he agreed, his voice laced with a hint of hidden ambition. “But for now, Matriarch,” he continued, his gaze dropping to her lips, “there are other matters that require our… undivided attention.”
He brushed a stray curl from her face, his touch both tender and possessive. Xia Bingling, her mind ablaze with newfound power and desire, met his gaze. “Later,” she managed, her voice breathless. “We will discuss these plans in detail later. But for now…”
Their lips met in a searing kiss, a collision of passion and ambition.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the room in a warm, dusky glow, the sounds of moans and whispered promises filled the air.
Wang Li and Xia Bingling, fueled by their carnal desires and newfound ambitions, plotted a course that would reshape the landscape of the cultivation world.
The seeds of power had been sown, and the Xia Family was poised to blossom into a force that would leave its mark on the annals of history.
