Chapter 1043: Marrying Jin Miaolin Sounds Pretty Good
Chapter 1043: Marrying Jin Miaolin Sounds Pretty Good
The corners of Mei Gongzi's mouth twitched slightly. "That's not what people are saying outside. Everyone's saying your Blue Gold Tree clan is the richest of all."
Tang San replied, "We wouldn't dare claim that. It's just that our clan's history is quite long, and our fruits and whatnot not only have amazing effects, but more importantly, they're effective for anyone of any race. Naturally, we've accumulated a bit of wealth. But on the other side, that's also brought great disaster upon our people. When I traveled outside, I didn't even dare reveal my identity, for fear of… Well, you know."
Luo Qingzhu sighed. "The Blue Gold Tree clan's life energy is of great help to all races. I am truly sorry that instead of appreciating the blessings you can bring, people have treated you like nothing more than a resource. But I can assure you that Kali City has never done such things. We've only ever engaged in fair trade to purchase Blue Gold Tree resources like dry branches and the likes."
Tang San nodded sincerely. "I didn't mean to imply anything, so don't worry about that. I may not trust others, but I trust the integrity of Lord Mei."
Luo Qingzhu probed gently about the Blue Gold Tree clan, especially about the Ancestral Tree, and Tang San made no effort to conceal anything. What he'd said to the Ancestral Court, he repeated to them.
Dinner went smoothly. On the surface at least, Mei Gongzi's attitude toward Tang San softened; she no longer kept him away with cold disdain.
After the meal, Mei Gongzi and her second mother said their goodbyes and returned upstairs. Watching their graceful figures depart, Tang San's lips curled in a faint smile. With news of the Blue Gold Tree clan's neutrality spreading, he knew more main cities would soon come knocking. Who could resist? And more importantly, why should they resist? It was a great return on zero investment!
Being coveted by all but owned by none was dangerous; being everyone's shared asset meant being treasured by all. The Blue Gold Tree clan's near-destruction had come from failing to grasp that simple truth.
***
Back upstairs, Mei Gongzi and her two mothers sat together in their living room. Important things had to be discussed.
"What do you think of this Jin Miaolin?" Mei Gongzi asked.
Luo Qingzhu narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Well, if you want a woman's perspective, I think he truly likes you. A person's eyes don't lie, and the way he looks at you is not the kind of lustful gaze you might get from others; he looks at you with genuine emotion. I think he seems pretty honest. Su Qin, what do you think?"
Su Qin smiled bitterly. "I'm hardly qualified to give opinions; I'm a failure in such matters myself."
Luo Qingzhu chuckled in a somewhat helpless manner. "You know, Lin Ximo has come seeking you more than once. He's shown plenty of sincerity. Why not give him a chance to make amends?"
Su Qin's expression darkened slightly. She shook her head. "No need. Some things are impossible to get past. Let's talk about Little Mei."
Luo Qingzhu sighed inwardly. She had grown fond of Su Qin and Mei Gongzi, and now that old grudges turned out to be baseless, she truly wished for Su Qin's happiness. She hated seeing her always so melancholy.
Mei Gongzi quickly changed the subject. "If Jin Miaolin is truly here for me, that could be troublesome."
"But didn't he promise to send at least one Great Demon King to aid us? That's more than we expected," Luo Qingzhu pointed out.
"I'm just worried he'll keep pestering me. That would be annoying," Mei Gongzi said. If that happened, she would truly feel a lot of undue pressure.
Luo Qingzhu smiled. "If not for Tang San, Jin Miaolin would actually be a good match. He truly likes you. His clan is peaceful and produces resources everyone needs. He holds the Ancestral Tree's true legacy. And now, with the Scourge Dragon at his side, he has strength practically on par with ordinary Emperors. A union between our two clans would be mutually beneficial. The only issue is the distance between our cities.
"But with that said, his move for neutrality is brilliant. Speaking from the perspective of a city ruler and clan leader now, Jin Miaolin is no simple man. His victories may look like luck or the result of some artifacts he'd happened to come across at the auction. And they are, in a sense. But why did he acquire these items and not others? What did he see in these items, which sold at modest prices compared to others, that others didn't? That takes vision. And after choosing them so well, he also wields them perfectly. Even if his strength is not up to par compared to his most exceptional peers, his intelligence is beyond them. Little Mei, if he reaches the finals, you must not underestimate him."
Mei Gongzi nodded slightly. "Do you think he can make it?"
Luo Qingzhu nodded back and said seriously, "I have a feeling he will. He already has two victories plus two bonus wins, so he's ahead of everyone else. If he somehow gets one more win, he should indeed secure a top-three finish. And don't forget, he hasn't even used all the items he bought at the auction."
Mei Gongzi's eyes flickered. "I didn't expect him to become the biggest wildcard."
Su Qin added, "Speaking of that, Little Mei, have you tried reaching Tang San? It's like he vanished since the finals began. Could he be disguised as one of the female contestants?"
Mei Gongzi's expression dimmed. Tang San had said he'd cut contact to avoid discovery and had important plans, which of course made sense, but she still felt his absence keenly.
"I believe him. If he says he'll succeed, then he'll succeed. I won't disturb his plans," she said firmly. Through the Asura Sword, she could contact him in an emergency, but she wouldn't jeopardize his mission.
Luo Qingzhu nodded. "Focus on your own matches. If you win the championship, your fate is in your hands. This isn't like the Ancestral Court's Elite Competition. The champion here is guaranteed to become an Emperor. And if you prove yourself here, then whether Tang San is here or not, nobody will force you to marry against your will."
Her words gave Mei Gongzi strength. Yes! If I win, I choose my own path. Worst case, I'll pick a female contestant just to stall. Once I'm Emperor, who can stop me?
the poing team's Thoughts
penguin: man, can Su Qin cut Lin Ximo some fuckin slack now? Bruh…