“I heard my son spent the afternoon with the two Lord Immortals,” Ge Jinsheng said. “I hope he didn’t bother you two too much.”

Ye Mingxi laughed. “Not at all, Your Excellency! The Young Lord was a fantastic host. We learned a lot about Black Mane Palace’s culture.”

Ge Jinsheng glanced at Ge Nianlan, who was eating to his right. “I see. You’ve done well then.”

Ge Nianlan glanced up from his food and smiled. “Thank you, Father.”

“Then, I suppose our negotiations can proceed in a smoother fashion,” Ge Jinsheng said.

Ge Nianlan didn’t show the confusion on his face, but he couldn’t help but wonder what Ge Jinsheng was talking about.

“Nian’er,” Ge Jinsheng said. “What do you think of studying in Yunkong Pavilion for five years?”

Ge Nianlan nearly let the bowl slip out of his hands. He swiftly turned his head to look at Ge Jinsheng, who sat at the head of the table.

“Four years?” Ge Nianlan asked. “How come?”

“As a part of the treaty, the individual parties will send one disciple to the other sect as a show of peace and willingness to learn about the other’s culture,” Ge Jinsheng said. He glanced at Ge Nianlan. “What do you think of this arrangement?”

This was the perfect opportunity to go to Yunkong Pavilion. However, something about the arrangement made Ge Nianlan’s hands sweaty.

Clearly, Ge Jinsheng had refused this offer in the future portrayed by the cursed artifact, because Ge Nianlan was unwell. This time, Ge Jinsheng gave him the choice, but this choice was veiled with some hidden meaning. By the look Ge Jinsheng was giving him, he clearly disliked the offer set on the table. To have his own son study in a potential enemy’s territory for five years would be disadvantageous. But Ge Nianlan had his own concerns.

“May I ask who the disciple who is coming to Yunkong Pavilion will be?” Ge Nianlan asked.

“That would be Lord Hanjing’s only disciple, Huai Zhen!” Ye Mingxi said with a broad smile.

“Huai…Huai Zhen?” Ge Nianlan asked.

Ge Jinsheng and Baili Liuye’s eyes rested on Ge Nianlan. The child quickly tucked away his surprise. In its place, before the adults could even think too far into it, was a small pout.

“I wanna meet him,” Ge Nianlan said. He fidgeted for a moment and glanced at the adults. “Is it possible to do a two-year study there and a two-year study here? That way, we can get to know each other as well.”

Ge Nianlan did not feel comfortable leaving Huai Zhen unmonitored in Black Mane Palace until his plan was set into motion. If he was able to successfully get into Huai Zhen’s good graces, then he cared little of what happened next. Besides, he was still anxious about the Eight Saints. He wanted to first make sure that those who were protective of him were safe and those who disliked him wouldn’t become a threat in the future.

“That wouldn’t be a bad idea either,” Ye Mingxi said. He turned to Baili Liuye. “A-Zhen and the Young Lord are the same age, aren’t they? If we let them study together, they could become good playmates.”

In the end, it would help strengthen the bond between Black Mane Palace and Yunkong Pavilion if the Young Lord and the Dragon Tree Guardian’s only disciple could become friends.

Ge Jinsheng hummed in contemplation. “It wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

“Indeed,” Baili Liuye agreed. His gaze remained concentrated on Ge Nianlan, who was actively avoiding looking at him. He wondered what this little fox was brewing.

“I have one more request,” Ge Nianlan sheepishly whispered. When the adults’ undivided attention was back on him, he fiddled with his fingers and spoke softly, “I was wondering if it’d be okay to have Young Master Huai come here first?”

He glanced at Baili Liuye and Ye Mingxi. “I’ve always been in bad health since I was a child and I’ve only just started getting better. I’m a bit reluctant to leave Black Mane Palace so soon, now that I can explore it and interact with everyone else.”

Ye Mingxi looked at the pitiful boy and sucked in a quick breath. “Of course, we can arrange that! It isn’t even that hard. Right, Liuye?”

Baili Liuye let out an elongated hum. “That’s right. It wouldn’t be a burden at all.”

Ge Nianlan’s eyes lit up. He looked at Ge Jinsheng, as if the man would ever argue against his son staying by his side. Ge Jinsheng chuckled softly and nodded as well.

“That sounds fine to me. I’m glad you took everything into consideration,” Ge Jinsheng complimented.

Ge Nianlan beamed. “Thank you, Father.”

“Let’s let the discussion rest here for now. We should eat before the food gets cold,” Ge Jinsheng said.

Following the meal, Ge Nianlan was taken back to his room. Baili Liuye watched as he left with a servant by his side and turned to follow the others to Ge Jinsheng’s study.

The walk to Ge Jinsheng’s study remained silent. And when the heavy doors closed, the three men sat in silence, as the servant dutifully poured their tea. Only after the servant left, did Ge Jinsheng look up from his tea. His gaze fell on Baili Liuye.

“I hadn’t known that Lord Immortal Hanjing was so good at coaxing children,” Ge Jinsheng said.

Baili Liuye took a sip of tea to wet his throat. Ye Mingxi glanced at the man and then to Ge Jinsheng.

Ye Mingxi awkwardly cleared his throat. “He—”

“Did you tell him about the treaty?” Ge Jinsheng asked.

“He was already curious about why cultivators from Yunheng Region were in Black Mane Palace, so, someone else must have informed him,” Baili Liuye said. “I merely gave him a new pet and accompanied him to read for an afternoon.”

The Dragon Tree Guardian took another sip, lowered the teacup, and met Ge Jinsheng’s gaze.

“The Young Lord is an intelligent child,” Baili Liuye said. “If I was not worthy of his trust, I assure you, Your Excellency, that he would not have so easily agreed to come to Yunheng Region. Besides, he put down his own stipulations, did he not? We, at Yunkong Pavilion, will do everything to grant his wishes.”

Ge Jinsheng’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Let’s calm down,” Ye Mingxi said. He turned to Ge Jinsheng. “Your Excellency, what do you think of the new conditions? It is far more in your favor than the Council had first proposed. If there is anything else you would like us to do, please tell us.”

“You say this as if your little Council has already approved of the new conditions my son proposed,” Ge Jinsheng said. “Are you so confident that they won’t back out?”

“They won’t,” Ye Mingxi promised. “We already negotiated with them before coming out here.”

So long as land, people, and money wasn’t involved, Eternal Pagoda said that anything to get Black Mane Palace on their side would be approved.

“I see,” Ge Jinsheng hummed. “Then, let me add one more condition.”

“Please tell us.”

“I will sign the treaty,” Ge Jinsheng said. “Only after these five years are over.”

Baili Liuye stiffened. He glanced at Ge Jinsheng. “May I ask why you have come to this decision, Your Excellency?”

Ge Jinsheng smiled as he leaned back. “You say my son has great intuition, but mine doesn’t fall behind either.”

Baili Liuye was like a slippery snake. For Eternal Pagoda to send this man out here, it meant that they were serious in succeeding with this treaty this time around. It also meant that Ge Jinsheng, in theory, could ask for anything else he wanted. He already had them by their necks. The little show of power, by insisting his son study in Yunkong Pavilion for five years, was just a bluff. If he had refused outright, they wouldn’t have been able to say a thing about it.

Besides, Ge Jinsheng had always known his own worth. And as of right now, even if the great sects of Yunheng Region gathered to take down Yinxue Region, it would be like an ant trying to fight an elephant.

Ge Jinsheng leaned against his thighs and lightly tapped his chin. A sly smile took over his face as Baili Liuye’s expression darkened.

“Lord Hanjing, I respect you dearly. If it weren’t for those dogs at the Eternal Pagoda, I would gladly let my son become friends with your disciple. And I would gladly sign the treaty. Unfortunately, our Black Mane Palace has been burned before,” Ge Jinsheng said.

He grinned a grin that looked so similar to Ge Nianlan’s smile.

“We have to be careful that the event from several hundred years ago won’t happen again. After all, we here at Black Mane Palace do not give out second chances. This is an exception, only because of how much I treasure our friendship,” Ge Jinsheng said. “But if something else goes wrong…forget about a treaty. I fear it would only result in a war.”

“I understood,” Baili Liuye said. “Don’t worry, Your Excellency. Eternal Pagoda will not betray Black Mane Palace’s trust a second time. If you want the reassurance of five years, then we will comply.”

“Good,” Ge Jinsheng smiled. He leaned back. His expression frosted over again. “However, in place of the official treaty, how about we sign a smaller contract? That way, Eternal Pagoda can rest easy during our trial and I can rest well at night, knowing that my son is not in any danger.”

“Are the details negotiable?” Baili Liuye asked.