Chasing after her husband? Is it even possible to win him back?

There's no problem getting the Yin Sha Pearl sorted out, but once it's done, everything in the council has to remain the same, and the First Seat's methods will remain as stable as ever.

"coming."

"They seem to be from the Xu Kingdom."

"With a beast-face and black clothes, it must be the Bronze Fang Beast."

The whispers among the ghosts gradually grew louder. The Ninth Seat's deputy and the two ghosts, Li Anshan and Li Anshan, looked at the convoy that was gradually approaching on the main road ahead and breathed a sigh of relief.

The people of Yan did not do anything foolish.

Seeing that the ghost guards mixed in with Prince Zou's entourage also looked relaxed, the people of Xu did not do anything irrational.

Very good, everything is fine.

Li Anshan let out a slight breath and stepped towards the convoy ahead, while the second-in-command of the ninth seat followed a step behind.

“Li Anshan, the fifth seat of the Foreigners’ Council, has come to welcome His Highness Prince Zou.” Li Anshan looked at the stopped convoy and lowered his posture considerably, cupping his fists and bowing to the bronze beast leading the way.

“Ming Huai, the ninth seat of the Foreigners’ Council, has come to greet His Highness the Prince, Leng Junzi.” The man named Ming Huai was half a step behind Li Anshan and bowed with clasped hands.

"You two have worked hard. Please wait a moment while I inform His Highness the Prince." Xie San's deputy nodded to the two ghosts and then turned to walk towards the caravan.

Actually, there was no need to announce it. After all, both ghosts used the Yin Sha Resonance technique to make their voices heard, so whether it was Prince Zou, Xie San, or Chu Xunfeng's group, they all heard what they were supposed to hear.

Chu Xunfeng then lifted the curtain and stepped out of the carriage.

Meanwhile, Prince Zou, perhaps prompted by Xie San, stepped out of the carriage with the help of a black-spotted fanged beast.

Xie San's deputy led the way, with Prince Zou in front and Chu Xunfeng behind, and the caravan following slowly behind them.

"Greetings, Your Highness, and greetings, Mr. Leng." Seeing that the two main figures were walking in, the two ghosts gave the Foreigners' Council a lot of face, so they naturally returned the greeting and bowed again.

"You two need not stand on ceremony," Prince Zou said with a light laugh. "I understand that the Foreign Council is extremely interested in the array formation that Chu Xunfeng presented."

“That is the truth, but our Foreigners’ Council will not lose its composure over this. Please settle into the city first, and we can discuss this further later.” Li Anshan replied with a smile.

"I have already handed over the formation to His Highness the Prince. I will no longer participate in the detailed discussions on cooperation. After the Foreigners' Council and His Highness the Prince reach a cooperation agreement, His Highness the Prince will inform me of what I should do, and I will do my best in return." Chu Xunfeng clasped his hands in a fist salute to Li Anshan before turning his gaze to Minghuai.

Minghuai also smiled and bowed to Chu Xunfeng, "The news of Ninth Master only arrived in the inner city recently. I have neglected Leng Junzi. Please forgive me."

"It's alright. In the end, I was just asking for a favor. Ninth Master gave me the opportunity, so how can you say I'm being negligent?"

A smile appeared on Minghuai's face.

Chu Xunfeng lived up to his reputation; his answer was truly flawless.

What we'll get to know each other from now on will surely be full of surprises.

Chapter 57, Old Friend, But Enemy

“Your Highness, Lord Xie, I do not intend to participate in the negotiations in order to avoid suspicion. On the other hand, I have an agreement with Gui Lao Jiu and must go to the Ninth Seat.”

"It's alright. You are no longer a wanted criminal by the imperial court. As for your personal safety, do you need my help?"

"Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness, but my senior brother and sister are enough for us." Chu Xunfeng said, glancing at Xie San.

“Since that’s the case, then I won’t presume to be sentimental.” Prince Zou, speaking casually and with an extremely amiable attitude, glanced at the two men and two ghosts beside Chu Xunfeng and nodded slightly. “Go and return soon.”

Chu Xunfeng nodded, then stopped looking at Li Anshan, who seemed to have more to say. He turned his gaze to the group of ghosts, including Minghuai, who were waiting for him in the courtyard of the mansion. "Please lead the way, Lord Minghuai."

“No need for such formality. Young Master Chu is not my subordinate. Just call me by my name.” Ming Huai smiled as he looked at Chu Xunfeng approaching. “Then come with me.”

Chu Xunfeng nodded slightly, and the two people and two ghosts behind him followed.

Inside the mansion, Li Anshan, who had just watched Chu Xunfeng and his group leave with Minghuai, and who had only invited his group to sit down for a talk, couldn't contain his anxiety and asked, "Isn't Your Highness worried?"

Prince Zou glanced at Li Anshan, made a quick decision in his mind, and then smiled. "Mr. Li, are you perhaps referring to Chu Xunfeng?"

Li Anshan paused slightly, and when he saw that Prince Zou's gaze was focused on his face, he realized that he had been too hasty. He gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "Your Highness, please don't take it to heart. I was out of my mind and lost my head."

With a slight sigh, he changed the subject.

Chu Xunfeng has made it clear that he will not participate in the negotiations, and Li Anshan's worried attitude is a sign of his distrust of the Prince Zou... This kind of attitude cannot be directly expressed on the surface.

Since Prince Zou did not pursue the matter too much, and Li Anshan was not stupid, he naturally treated Prince Zou as the one in charge of the transaction and began to talk to him.

Actually, this was because Li Anshan was too concerned and confused. If it weren't for the Yan people, Prince Zou would naturally be the one in charge of this transaction, but now...

Of the three, the Ghost Clan naturally holds the highest status, with the Xu Kingdom even slightly lower. As for the Yan Kingdom...

“They won’t be content to be mere background figures.” On the main road, Minghuai, who was leading his men and Chu Xunfeng’s group, spoke with a serious expression. “In the Ghost Market, the Yan people can’t easily attack you, but once you enter the inner city, I suggest that Chu Xunfeng and the others try to stay with Prince Zou as much as possible.”

"Yes, I know that." Chu Xunfeng nodded slightly. "Regarding my deal with Elder Jiu, he said he would leave everything to me. He wants the results, so please tell Elder Jiu that we will have to wait for a while."

Minghuai was silent for a while, then smiled helplessly, "Ninth Master didn't really expect you to help him find the answer. After learning about what you got in the Ghost Market, he was already heading to the Black Forest. He didn't care about the previous deal at all."

"I don't care what Jiu Lao thinks, but I've promised, so I'll do it. If it works out, the deal is done. If it fails, I've done my best."

Chu Xunfeng passed the deal with Gui Lao Jiu to Zou Junwang and Xie San. If neither of them could find the truth of what happened back then, then Chu Xunfeng would indeed be powerless to help.

But in Minghuai's eyes, with Chu Xunfeng causing such a commotion in the Ghost Market, does he really still have the energy to help Guilao Jiu investigate those things?

"Prince Zou?" Minghuai raised an eyebrow. "Would he do his utmost for this?"

"This is my deal with him." Chu Xunfeng glanced at Minghuai. "Don't worry, in the end, I am the only seller in this market. What Gui Lao Jiu wants to investigate is not a big problem for Prince Zou at all."

When Minghuai heard Chu Xunfeng's words, he was first taken aback, and then suddenly laughed, "Saying this doesn't quite fit the image of the cold gentleman that is rumored to be out in the world."

“An image is just a set of impressions. If needed, I can smile just as gently as a gentleman.” Chu Xunfeng’s expression softened slightly. “Those Yan State spies who had a lot of contact with me in the Wild Marsh Wetlands must have a deep impression of this.”

So, a spy for the Yan people...?

When Minghuai heard Chu Xunfeng mention the group of Yan people who were still temporarily staying at Li Anshan's residence, he became suspicious and asked, "Speaking of Yan people...Young Master Chu, have you heard of...Luo Ze?"

“Luo…Ze…” Chu Xunfeng breathed a sigh of relief, and the image of the somewhat thin and hunchbacked Yan Kingdom man who carried a food box and wine pot during the last New Year of the Demon Clan immediately came to mind. “So, the Yan Kingdom man in charge in the Black Forest is Luo Ze?”

"Judging from Young Master Chu's expression, you know him." Ming Huai was also somewhat surprised. "What a small world."

"Yes, really small." Chu Xunfeng nodded. Hearing Luo Ze's name, Chu Xunfeng felt a little emotional but not much. After all, they had different positions from the beginning. Even if they met in the Black Forest, it would just be another game.

———Li Anshan's Residence———

"My lord, the man who escaped last night has woken up." In the east wing of the mansion, a burly man dressed in gray cotton and linen clothes knelt down before Luo Ze, his expression serious.

"He was certain that he and You Jiu had destroyed the formation guarded by the disciples of Baidi City last night."

“…” Luo Ze, sitting in a large chair with a hunched back, pondered for a moment, “In other words, Chu Xunfeng used less than six hours to inscribe a new formation that is more efficient and capable than ours.”

The kneeling man remained silent.

"We need to accelerate the pace of reforms in Ke'an. We must produce better results before the Xu people impress the foreign council."

"My lord, we still have manpower scattered throughout the ghost market... how about..." The kneeling man didn't finish his sentence, but he raised his hand and gestured twice at his neck, the meaning of which was self-evident.

"Take down Chu Xunfeng under the protection of the bronze beast."

"Leaving aside whether it's even possible, do you think the people in the Foreigners' Council are blind? The First Seat's spokesperson showed up in the Ghost Market, do you really think that's to support Chu Xunfeng?"

Startled by Luo Ze's words, the kneeling man froze, his face turning pale. "My lord, should we withdraw those men...?"

"No, just keep them silent. As long as things don't break down, having these people is actually a way of showing our attitude."

Luo Ze took a deep breath. "You go down first and keep a close eye on Ke An's progress. His achievements are our only hope."

"clear."

Chapter 58, The Transaction

For Luo Ze, a member of the Yan Kingdom, Ke'an, who they said was responsible for researching how to separate turbid qi from yin qi, seemed to be the only opportunity at the moment.

The reason we say "seems" is because they still have a desperate option.

Killing Chu Xunfeng directly and seizing the technology from Leng Junzi, then using a substitution trick, might achieve the Yan Kingdom's goal.

However... such a desperate gamble is only a method used when one is standing on the edge of a cliff and has no way to retreat.

Ideally, this should not be used, but we must lay the groundwork for this plan so that it can be implemented at any time.

While Luo Ze was pondering how to devise a plan, the people of Yan were unaware that the room for maneuver they had anticipated was gradually collapsing, and the precipice was approaching their footing.

"This...this Yin Sha Pearl seems to be completely different from the Yin Sha Pearls we know." Li Anshan held the Yin Sha Pearl, which was the size of a basketball. His expression was blank at first, and then an indescribable astonishment and fervor appeared on his face.

"This is a product of the formation created by Chu Xunfeng." Xie San, standing behind Prince Zou, explained in a low and hoarse voice, "According to Chu Xunfeng, this is a failed experiment."

"Failure?" Li Anshan suppressed his excitement and placed the enormous Yin Sha Pearl on the table, but he was reluctant to move his hand away. If this Yin Sha Pearl were something he owned, he would immediately go into seclusion to absorb it before considering anything else.

"Because it's more like a treasure than a Yin Sha Pearl." Xie San repeated Chu Xunfeng's words in a low voice, "He first carved the Trinity Array for His Highness the Prince to be too large. The Yin Sha Pearls produced when it is activated will basically look like this. It is obviously not a Yin Sha Pearl."

Li Anshan wasn't a fool. This blunt explanation immediately made him understand. The thing he was holding clearly couldn't be used as currency in the ghost market, and...

“The Yin energy here is extremely pure… in fact, it is quite different from the Yin energy I know.” Li Anshan frowned slightly, and after thinking for a moment, he couldn’t explain it. He could only turn his gaze to the composed Prince Zou and Xie San.

"Neither Xie San nor I quite understand this. Chu Xunfeng might know, but he didn't elaborate, only saying one sentence." Prince Zou smiled slightly, picked up his teacup, and raised it slightly towards Li Anshan, as if offering a toast. "This is a good thing."

Li Anshan was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed and finally removed his hand from the huge Yin Sha Pearl. "Young Master Chu is right, this... is indeed a good thing."

It's definitely a good thing. At least for now, the quality of this Yin Sha Pearl is enough for him to use his strength to persuade the first, second, and third seats to invest heavily in Chu Xunfeng and Xu Guo. As for whether the Yin Sha is pure or not, or what problems it might have... that's not something that Li Anshan, the fifth seat, should consider.

"Your Highness, name your price?" Li Anshan composed himself and looked solemnly at the middle-aged man who had also perked up and adopted a serious expression.

"Name your price..." Prince Zou tapped his finger on the table, "Does it really give me the right to name a price?"

Prince Zou understood that the current situation was essentially a contest between the Xu and Yan kingdoms for allegiance to the Foreigners' Council. As the favored party, Li Anshan was now directly asking him to name his price. What was he planning?