Negotiating Terms

Li Guanqi had not thought that far ahead. His grandfather had been mysterious ever since he was a child; Li Guanqi could never see through him anyway. Rubbing his chin, Li Guanqi muttered to himself, "Seems the old man is quite formidable... But... why hasn't he reached out to me once in all the years since he left?" Looking at the slightly fawning elder before him, Li Guanqi maintained his manners. Bowing with utmost respect, he said, "Senior Gu, there is no need to treat me like this. You flatter this junior far too much." Gu Yong was slightly taken aback. He had not expected Li Guanqi to be so reasonable. What was more, the respect Li Guanqi displayed was not an act; he genuinely felt from the bottom of his heart that he ought to respect the elder. A sharp light flickered deep in Gu Yong's eyes, his expression inscrutable. In similar situations in the past, the people he dealt with had been exceptionally difficult. It had been hard enough getting them to speak civilly, let alone show him this much respect. Smiling benignly, the elder looked at Li Guanqi. "Then what does young friend think...?" Without a second thought, Li Guanqi hurried to the elder's side, warmly taking his arm with an affectionate grin. "How could this junior presume to have ideas? Naturally, Elder Gu calls the shots. Whatever you say goes." Watching this unfold, Qi Rongxuan and the others were so terrified they hardly dared to breathe. Abnormal—even fawning—as the elder's behavior toward Li Guanqi might seem, the old man was still the Head Pavilion Master of the entire Great Xia Domain's Tianji Pavilion! Normally, members of the branch pavilions like them would eagerly drop to their knees to pay homage whenever they saw him. Hearing this, Gu Yong breathed a sigh of relief as well. Patting the back of Li Guanqi's hand, he chuckled, "Good! Then leave this minor matter to me. So long as you don't take issue with it when the time comes, young friend." Li Guanqi smiled broadly. "How could I possibly? Senior and I hit it off like old friends! If not for our vast age difference, I'd already want to slaughter a chicken, burn incense, and swear brotherhood with you right now. You've got quite the thick thighs..." Gu Yong understood everything up to that point, but the last remark gave him pause. "Young friend, you joke. I'm just a withered old man; my legs aren't even as thick as your arms." Li Guanqi beamed. "They're thick, definitely thick." Having secured the compensation, Li Guanqi was delighted. What was given to his sect was practically given to him anyway, wasn't it? The elder also felt relieved. Raising his eyes to look at the Tianji Chart hovering around them, a sharp gleam flitted through his gaze. He could naturally sense that the Chart Spirit was dead, but he had anticipated such an outcome. However... "Young friend, might this old man discuss a matter with you?" Li Guanqi's expression immediately turned solemn, his voice steady as he replied, "Senior Gu, what are you saying? If there is anything you need, just say the word. If it's within my ability, I will certainly do everything I can." These words pleased the elder immensely, and he stroked his beard with a smile. Still bent low, Qi Rongxuan and the others dared not raise their heads, but they breathed sighs of relief in their hearts. They had been terrified that Li Guanqi would take advantage of the elder's concessions and act presumptuously. This show of deep respect felt like the proper way of things. With a soft sigh, the elder looked solemnly at Li Guanqi. "This Tianji Chart is of paramount importance to the Tianji Pavilion. I can reshape the Chart Spirit for you. Would you be willing to allow the Tianji Pavilion to retain one-third of the Chart Spirit's consciousness?" Seeing Li Guanqi hesitate, the elder spoke candidly, "Of course, I won't hide anything from you. Doing this brings immense benefits to the entire Tianji Pavilion. I certainly won't let you lose out either. In the future, of the profits the Tianji Pavilion earns through the Tianji Chart, we will give you... half a... a full ten percent!" Li Guanqi frowned slightly. He had thought it would be some grand windfall, never expecting it to be a mere five percent. Besides, if the Tianji Pavilion reshaped the Chart Spirit... would that affect him? Seeing Li Guanqi lapse into contemplation, Gu Yong grew anxious. With a pained grimace, he said, "Young friend... you must believe me. Ten percent... is really not a small sum." Hearing this, Li Guanqi broke into a grin. "Aiya, Elder Gu, what are you thinking? Do I look like the sort of greedy fellow who is never satisfied?" Gu Yong gave Li Guanqi an odd look, while Qi Rongxuan cursed under his breath, *Pah! Your heart is black to the core! Pitch-black!!* Li Guanqi's eyes crinkled into crescents as he smiled. "This junior was just wondering whether ten percent might put you at too much of a disadvantage, Elder." Gu Yong glanced toward the empty distance and gritted his teeth. "Fifteen percent! Not a single bit more... I truly cannot go higher... Trust me, just this fifteen percent... accumulated over a century, it will rival the wealth of the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion!" Hearing that, Li Guanqi's entire body stiffened. His throat bobbed with difficulty; his mouth felt parched, his whole body heating up. *Rival the Pavilion Master of the Treasure Pavilion?! How fucking much is that?!* *And that's just fifteen percent...* Gu Yong continued, "As for control, you needn't worry. What the Tianji Pavilion will control is merely a portion of the Chart Spirit. As for the Tianji Chart itself... you will still retain absolute authority over it!" Without a second thought, Li Guanqi grabbed the elder's hand, his gaze solemnly earnest. "From the moment I met Elder Gu, I felt an extraordinary kinship! It's a deal, then—neither of us can go back on our word!" Even as he spoke, Li Guanqi swept up the Tianji Chart and shoved it directly into the elder's arms. His divine sense surged, drafting a Heavenly Dao contract in less than a breath. Looking at the Tianji Chart in his arms, the elder was somewhat dazed. Turning to see Li Guanqi offering the Heavenly Dao contract with both hands, he did not know whether to laugh or cry. Shooting a drop of blood essence into the jade pendant, Gu Yong thoroughly finalized the Heavenly Dao contract in that instant. Li Guanqi grinned so broadly his smile practically reached his ears. Carefully stowing away the jade pendant, he said, "Put it away, Elder! Take the Tianji Chart back, and just return it to me once it's finished." Gu Yong did not stand on ceremony, stowing the Tianji Chart away with a wave of his hand. Li Guanqi immediately felt as though the connection between himself and the Tianji Chart had been shielded by some mysterious force. Looking at the elder, Li Guanqi suddenly asked, "Elder... you wouldn't keep it and not return it, would you?" The elder's mouth twitched, and he could not help but inwardly curse, *Not return it? Your grandfather would tear me to fucking pieces!! How would I dare...?* *No wonder we couldn't uncover a single thing about him in the past... Who would dare investigate him?* *That's Su Xuan!!* The elder hastily assured him, "Rest assured, young friend. One month. In one month, I will personally deliver it to you." Li Guanqi chuckled and rubbed his nose. "Haha, this junior was just joking! You're like family to me, Elder, so how could that happen? Oh, right, Elder Gu, leave me a jade slip. If you ever need anything from me later on, just say the word." Gu Yong hesitated a moment, then slowly drew a translucent purple jade slip from his robes. A faint shimmer played across the jade slip, making it clear at a glance that it was no ordinary item. Carved on the front was a myriad-beast pattern, with the character "Gu" engraved in the center. On the reverse was a colossal pavilion nestled amidst a swirling sea of clouds.