Chapter 649: Failed Negotiations

“Reckless girl, see? You almost caused a big problem.”
The old man with a white beard watched Happy and her group enter the main hall of Lingxiao Palace, then turned to point at his granddaughter’s forehead, making her flinch in pain but too afraid to say anything—clearly shaken by what had just happened.
“Well, now you’re silent?”
Seeing his granddaughter become subdued, the old man continued in a stern tone, “Do you realize how serious this is?”
“…”
The players nearby, witnessing the old man scolding the little girl, felt relieved and smiled.
“Don’t think just because you have some skills you can show off recklessly. See? They don’t even want to deal with you or argue. Don’t act so rashly in the future.”
“I understand,” the girl said, hanging her head listlessly.
The onlookers found it even more interesting. After hearing the details from other players, both Chinese and foreign, they laughed heartily.
But upon reflection, given the chaotic environment just now, Happy had still managed to keep track of her surroundings accurately and dodge those advanced hidden weapons with ease—this made many foreign players who had underestimated her reconsider their views.
Outside Lingxiao Palace’s main hall, people speculated about how the negotiations between Lingxiao Palace and Happy would end! Would peace be maintained, or would things turn hostile, or might another accident like the one just now occur?
…
While everyone was discussing, the atmosphere in the reception hall of Lingxiao Palace’s main hall had become tense.
After sitting down, Happy got straight to the point and asked Qin Qing for her stance, giving Lingxiao Palace no chance to think or delay.
“Brother Happy, we’re also very angry about the Tianmo Sect’s actions. Foreign players dare to attack our top gang in the Central Plains—this is an open challenge to our martial arts community!”
“So, Palace Master Qin agrees with me—expelling foreign guild forces?” Happy interrupted before she could finish, disrupting her planned response. “It seems the rumors that Lingxiao Palace is behind this are completely false.”
“…”
Happy spoke quickly, her firm words and intense gaze putting pressure on Qin Qing for the first time in their conversation.
“But Young Master Happy, perhaps we don’t need to expel all guild forces?”
“Of course we do!” Happy replied without hesitation.

“Every union that enters the Central Plains has certain ambitions. Perhaps it’s just the Sanlong Club for now, but soon, more Sanlong Clubs will appear, or there will be more union organizations like the Sanlong Club that are exploited to serve as weapons… To avoid misunderstandings, I think it’s necessary to expel all unions, while those merchants can be accepted and retained.”
“…But Young Master Kai Xin, you should know that our Lingxiao Palace has significant business dealings with these foreign union organizations. Doing this will cause great losses; I’m very conflicted.”
Qin Qing felt she was trapped in Kai Xin’s circle of influence. Taking a deep breath, she tactfully stepped back to express her views.
Hearing this, Qin Yun and Hai Dongqing immediately grew nervous, watching Kai Xin closely, not daring to miss any change in his expression.
It was clear that Qin Qing was trying to gain an advantage for herself.
If Kai Xin continued to insist, it would seem like forcing things.
Changing his tone, Kai Xin said calmly, “As far as I know, Palace Master Qin possesses quite a lot of resources in the coastal areas, and those resources are quite abundant, yielding even greater profits… We don’t have to completely abandon business with foreign unions; we can cooperate in other ways. I believe they won’t give up easily either. Palace Master Qin, don’t discard more things just for short-term gains.”
“What does that mean?”
Qin Qing’s expression darkened before she smiled cunningly, “Young Master Kai Xin, is this a reminder or a threat?”
In the hall, many elders and experts from Lingxiao Palace frowned and broke into cold sweats.
“What on earth is Palace Master Qin thinking?”
Kai Xin pretended to be surprised as he looked at Qin Qing:
“I came here only hoping to reach a consensus so that we can more easily expel those foreign organizations. We can use Lingxiao Palace’s influence to make them back down. It seems the Mu Family doesn’t have any direct conflicts of interest with Lingxiao Palace, and… if the Mu Family wants to deal with vicious foreign organizations like the Sanlong Club, they don’t need Lingxiao Palace’s help at all. I’m quite confident about that. As for whether it’s a threat or not… Palace Master Qin! Have you gone astray?”
“…”
Qin Qing’s face turned pale.
“Never mind.”
Kai Xin suddenly stood up.
Looking down at Qin Qing, he said firmly, “It seems Palace Master Qin is reluctant to give up her current interests. Well, if that’s the case, only the Mu Family can step in personally and go to the coastal areas to expel those foreign organizations. Goodbye.”
“!!!”
Kai Xin’s last words sent Qin Qing and her sisters, along with Hai Dongqing, into a state of shock, sweating profusely.
The Mu Family intervening in the coastal areas!!!

It turned out that the real purpose of Happy wasn’t to deal with foreign forces, but to take advantage of Lingxiao Palace’s reluctance to give up such profits and then openly intervene in the coastal cities.
So this was…
The Mu Family intended to break the balance of power among the four top gangs in the Central Plains during this time?
“Stop!”
The many elders of Lingxiao Palace became anxious immediately.
The Mu Family had countless experts and was the strongest among the four top gangs in the Central Plains. Needless to say, Happy’s personal strength was extraordinary—back then, he alone forced Yipin Hall to retreat nearly a thousand miles, forcing them to give up resources from several provinces. If he intervened in the coastal areas, Lingxiao Palace’s resources would surely be greatly reduced.
Qin Qing also couldn’t remain calm anymore and said coldly, “Young Master Happy, I think it’s better to clarify this matter.”
“Haven’t I made myself clear enough?”
Happy stopped at the entrance of the hall, smiling without turning around:
“Since Lingxiao Palace refuses to support us, the Mu Family will have to carry out the revenge mission on its own. Intervening in the coastal areas will be inevitable. Master Qin, don’t worry. As long as the foreign forces are eliminated, the Mu Family will withdraw from the coastal areas.”
Upon hearing this, Qin Qing and Qin Yun’s expressions turned extremely ugly.
Haidong Qing’s expression was strange.
The elders gritted their teeth:
We’d be fools to trust you.
If you refuse to leave later and claim the foreign forces haven’t been eliminated, won’t the coastal areas still be infiltrated by you?
Everyone inwardly cursed the Mu Family for being too greedy.
What they didn’t know was that Qin Qing had long planned to enter the heart of the Central Plains and had even begun to ally with Yipin Hall to split up the Xiyi Gate and suppress the Mu Family. Happy had simply detected this early and turned the tables!
Since Lingxiao Palace was targeting the Mu Family, Happy decided to ignite the fuse early and confront them head-on during the battle on Mount Tai.
There were still over twenty days left.
Lingxiao Palace’s strength hadn’t yet grown, so there was enough time for the Mu Family to end a large-scale battle!