Patriarch Lei felt it was unnecessary to call Gu Yaoyang back for a simple inquiry.
Patriarch Wen held the same opinion. The fact that he made this request meant he was confident in achieving his objective.
However, neither Patriarch Lei nor Patriarch Wen had anticipated that Gu Yaoyang would not come alone.
Beside him was Xia Qingtian, who had just touched up her makeup.
“Yaoyang, you…” Patriarch Lei and Patriarch Wen exchanged glances. They were both skeptical of Xia Qingtian.
“She is my fiancée. She has the right to know about my background,” Gu Yaoyang stated frankly. “I have no intention of a deceptive marriage.”
“But this matter is of great importance,” Patriarch Wen frowned.
“Precisely because the matter is of great importance, she should know even more,” Gu Yaoyang replied.
“Gentlemen, even if you intend to send Yaoyang to his death, shouldn’t you ask me first if I’m willing to become a widow?” Xia Qingtian had discussed it with Gu Yaoyang before coming, and they had reached a conclusion.
Patriarch Wen and Patriarch Lei revealing his background at this moment was likely related to the treasure map, and possibly to the annihilation of the Lu family years ago.
If these two matters were involved, Gu Yaoyang, as the sole descendant of the Lu family, would be the most suitable as bait.
“What is this talk!” Patriarch Lei frowned.
“Then does Patriarch Lei mean that the words you are about to speak can guarantee Yaoyang’s safety, prosperity, and carefree existence, with absolutely no danger to his life?” Xia Qingtian immediately asked.
This question stumped Patriarch Lei.
He wished he could.
But unfortunately, he couldn’t even protect the Lei family.
With this thought, Patriarch Lei looked at Patriarch Wen with some displeasure.
“You have a choice,” Patriarch Wen decided to ignore Xia Qingtian and spoke to Gu Yaoyang. “You can choose to live a stable life, and this matter will be completely unrelated to you. I will choose someone else to accomplish this. As for your background… we will provide a more reasonable explanation to the public.”
“If I had a choice, you wouldn’t have set up such an elaborate scheme,” Gu Yaoyang said, looking at Patriarch Wen. “Neither of us has a choice. I know this very well, and you know it too.”
Hearing this, Patriarch Wen felt a slight sense of relief.
Despite a minor deviation, the overall situation was still largely as he had envisioned.
“After all, this is a matter of risking one’s life,” Xia Qingtian interjected. “After obtaining the treasure, we want seventy percent!”
“Seventy percent? What nonsense are you talking about!” Patriarch Wen frowned. “Impossible.”
“So you only want people to risk their lives for you, but you yourself are unwilling to give anything?” Xia Qingtian smiled. “Zhou Bapi wasn’t as ruthless as you!”
“What kind of talk is that!” Patriarch Wen was very displeased with Xia Qingtian’s comparison. “I guard the territory and protect the people. I have never had any selfish intentions!”
“Are Yaoyang and I not people? Does your definition of people have a special group? And you exclude us so conveniently?” Xia Qingtian smiled. “Your slogans are quite grand.”
“Tch.” Hearing this, Patriarch Lei was the first to chuckle. He had long wanted to comment on this.
Patriarch Wen’s face turned red and then pale. After giving Patriarch Lei an annoyed glare, he turned to Gu Yaoyang, hoping he would rein in Xia Qingtian.
Gu Yaoyang, however, spread his hands and said, “Don’t look at me. In family matters, my word doesn’t count.”
Seeing that Gu Yaoyang already had the demeanor of a son-in-law before he had even married into the family, Patriarch Lei could no longer laugh. He even felt annoyed, so he immediately sided with the younger generation and said coldly, “That treasure originally belonged to the three families of Lu, Miao, and Tang. What does it have to do with your Wen family? If you’re so willing to hoard wealth, why don’t you just manage the treasury? Why do you still want military power?”
Patriarch Wen’s brow furrowed upon hearing Patriarch Lei’s words, but then he relented. “At most, thirty percent!”
“Thirty percent?” Xia Qingtian appeared dissatisfied. She then crossed her arms and said, “Then if the plan fails, we don’t get the treasure, and I lose my handsome husband, that’s not a good deal…”
“What do you want!” Patriarch Wen’s eyelids twitched as he glared at Xia Qingtian.
Meeting Patriarch Wen’s gaze, Xia Qingtian was still a little scared. But she knew that if she didn’t fight for Gu Yaoyang now, it would be difficult to do so later.
Gu Yaoyang had endured so much grievance and suffering. He might not care, but Xia Qingtian could not ignore it.
“I want the Lu family’s original house and land. All the properties that rightfully belong to Yaoyang must be returned!” Xia Qingtian immediately stated. “If they cannot be returned in full, then convert them to cash! In addition, I want the primary resources from the military’s energy cooperation for the next ten years, and a seventy percent profit share!”
“Quite ambitious…” Patriarch Wen’s eyelids twitched. He looked at Gu Yaoyang again, seeing him in a useless state of “listening to his wife about everything.” Patriarch Wen took a deep breath and said, “I can agree to the preceding matters, but for cooperation with the military, I can only offer a profit share of up to thirty percent.”
“Thirty percent?” Xia Qingtian raised her eyebrows slightly and tutted. “You don’t seem very sincere…”
Patriarch Wen was truly angered now. No one had ever dared to speak to him like this! To negotiate with him! It was better to negotiate with his gun! He pulled out the pistol he had worn for decades and slammed it onto the table. “Is this enough sincerity!”
With a “bang,” Xia Qingtian was startled. She instinctively wanted to hide in Gu Yaoyang’s arms, but she managed to hold back. She stood tall, her voice trembling slightly. “It’s enough to demand our two lives, but not enough to demand that we risk our lives for you!”
“Then let’s add three percent of the annual turnover from the Lei family’s auction house business,” Patriarch Lei said. Seeing how scared Xia Qingtian was, yet standing in front of Gu Yaoyang alone, appearing to seek justice for him, he had a change of opinion about Xia Qingtian for the first time. “Is this enough?”
Before Xia Qingtian could speak, Gu Yaoyang preempted her, pulling Xia Qingtian into his arms and saying, “It’s enough.”
Only then did Xia Qingtian look up at Gu Yaoyang, her eyes turning red. “I don’t want them to bully you.”
“I know,” Gu Yaoyang kissed Xia Qingtian’s forehead, his lips curving upwards. “With you protecting me, no one can bully me.”
To have someone seek justice for him made Gu Yaoyang feel very fortunate. Since it was for the Lu family, he had no choice in the matter. These additional terms were Xia Qingtian seeking justice for him. He understood all of it. Xia Qingtian cared more about those things, felt more heartache.
“Go, go!” Patriarch Wen, tired of watching the two juniors show off their affection, said irritably, “Don’t be an eyesore here!”
Patriarch Lei, rarely seeing Patriarch Wen at a disadvantage, smiled meaningfully.
After concluding their business, Xia Qingtian and Gu Yaoyang returned to the auction venue.
“The next item to be auctioned is the final highlight, and one that everyone has been eagerly awaiting,” the female host said, raising her wrist. A specialist then brought a transparent, square box onto the stage, displaying an exhibit that resembled a piece of paper made of a special material. “The treasure map.”