Chapter 548: 548 Han Yan is preparing to extort!
Mu Hanyan then realized just how significant Zhao Sinin’s martial uncle was. No wonder the guy was loaded with treasures—his martial uncle Pang Dezong was actually the Court Alchemist.
"Hmm, got it," Mu Hanyan said indifferently.
So what if Pang Dezong was a Holy Sword Master and an Imperial Alchemist, even if he was acting as the interim Dean? Could he really eat her alive?
With such a major incident in Exotic Beast Valley, Pang Dezong was too busy dealing with the aftermath to have any spare time to look for Fourth Miss Zhao. By the time he had a moment to himself, she would likely be nothing but a pile of bones.
Far from pressuring Lady Mu, Pang Dezong’s identity gave her a pleasant surprise.
Initially, she thought that one Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill plus one Seven-Transformation Refining Qi Pill was already quite a generous offer, to the extent that even an offer to join Zhengying Academy could be disregarded. But now, she had set her sights higher.
To be frank, Lady Mu was still very interested in those wondrous and mysterious Alchemy Artifacts on Zhao Sinin and Qu Fengting.
Not knowing how good Pang Dezong’s relationship with Zhao Sinin was, now that she knew, she would be even less polite.
Soon, they arrived outside Chong Dezong’s tent.
After being announced by the guarding Disciple, Mu Hanyan entered the tent.
"So you’re Mu Hanyan, I’ve heard you’re quite capable," Pang Dezong said, still carrying an air of arrogance despite needing something from Mu Hanyan.
He had already learned of Mu Hanyan’s true capabilities from other Swordsmen, and although it was completely different from what they had previously understood, he wasn’t overly surprised. The Holy Court Continent never lacked geniuses. In fact, to become a Holy Sword Master, one must be a genius, so he didn’t take it too seriously.
"You flatter me," Mu Hanyan replied with composure.
"My name is Pang Dezong, Holy Sword Master at Zhengying Academy, Chief Alchemy Master, and Head Imperial Alchemist for the Anyun Royal Family. Given that the Lord of the Academy is in seclusion and has not emerged, I have been appointed as the Interim Dean," Pang Dezong said with unyielding pride, straightening his back to display the Holy Sword emblem and the Dean’s Token on his chest.
"It’s an honor to meet you, Senior Pang," Mu Hanyan replied, not quite sure how to address him due to his multitude of titles, and feigned a demeanor of respect and trepidation.
When someone else is putting on such an act, it’s only polite to play along a little.
"The purpose for calling you here, I believe you already know, one Bone Marrow Cleansing Pill, one Seven-Transformation Refining Qi Pill, plus a Disciple spot at Zhengying Academy; I have only one demand, everything that happened in Exotic Beast Valley stays sealed tighter than a bottle. Apart from the Family Head, not a word to anyone else," Pang Dezong, quite satisfied with Mu Hanyan’s performance, nodded and laid out the terms directly.
Even as he spoke, Pang Dezong’s demeanor remained imperious and unyielding, leaving no room for Mu Hanyan to negotiate.
But there wasn’t any need to haggle. Every young Swordsman called before him trembled before his might, not daring to breathe too deeply. And upon hearing his terms, who wouldn’t be trembling with excitement, agreeing without a second thought? Who would dare to bargain with him?
Unfortunately, what worked on others didn’t work on Lady Mu.
Having spent some time in the Nanyan Chamber of Commerce, and with the teachings of Qu the Godman, Mu Hanyan could tell that Pang Dezong was posturing and putting on airs to elevate his own status. He intended to emotionally overpower her from the start, then lay out a fairly good offer—to prevent anyone from getting too greedy and incessantly nagging him.
She had encountered many stately seniors before, and she herself was regarded as such in others’ eyes. With God-man Qu acting all high and mighty by her side, how could she be overwhelmed by Pang Dezong’s presence, and how could she be swayed by such paltry benefits?
Mu Hanyan was about to drive a hard bargain—and she aimed very high. She wouldn’t stop until she knocked the man before her off his pedestal!
(Little Eight is about to come out, it seems like it will be two or three days. Little Eight is just a term of affection used by Chu Xi and Qing Jue; his name is not actually Little Eight. He takes his surname from Ling Chuxi, so his full name is Ling... Well, the name is a bit peculiar, but you’ll know when you see it. A heads-up for those who haven’t read the previous work "Shocking Poisonous Concubine": Little Eight is the eighth child of the female protagonist Ling Chuxi and the male protagonist Huangfu Qingjue. Chu Xi and Qing Jue ultimately have eight children because the Heavenly Dao in their world couldn’t outmaneuver Chu Xi, so it only troubled her with small matters. For instance, Chu Xi wanted a daughter, so the Heavenly Dao made sure she gave birth to six sons before finally having her only daughter, followed by an eighth child, another boy.)