Chapter 93

Having made up his mind, Zhang Weixin was completely at ease and began to ask Liu Yunyan for benefits. He said, "I see, no wonder Miss Liu was so eager to discuss cooperation with us brothers. However, as the saying goes, 'No one gets up early without profit.' Although Miss Liu said that she would double the reward after the matter is accomplished, I am a practical person, so I hope Miss Liu can give me a concrete answer. What benefits can I and my brothers get from this cooperation? If this is clarified, I can go back and give the brothers an account, and we can continue the discussion."

Liu Yunyan naturally understood Zhang Weixin's meaning. Although she wished she could bite this Zhang Weixin who was taking advantage of the situation to vent her anger, the situation was stronger than her. At this moment, she could only endure and try to negotiate with him, waiting for a chance to settle accounts with these people later. Liu Yunyan had to remain calm and said to Zhang Weixin, "What Master Zhang said is reasonable, but I am also following orders. I can only promise Master Zhang that once the brothel is established, half of the profits will belong to Master Zhang and his brothers. Of course, if 'Feiyan Hall' can establish itself in Youzhou, I will report to my superiors to secure better returns for Master Zhang."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Weixin sneered and said, "Miss Liu, you are really good at calculating. With just a few words, you take half of the brothel's profits. You must understand that whether the brothel is newly built or acquired, it is our 'Qingyuan' brothers who are providing the money and effort. If we can acquire an existing one, that's fine, but if we can't and have to build a new one, we will have to invest a lot of money before it starts making money, and that money will also come from us brothers. Miss Liu, you just talk and promise future returns, but you want to share the same amount of profit with us brothers. This is too disrespectful to our brothers' hard work. Moreover, whether Miss Liu's so-called future returns can be realized is uncertain. After all, you can't make the final decision on the returns. I'm afraid that if we don't get the returns, we might be punished by your superiors or by you, and in the end, we might lose everything. I would be blamed by my brothers and become a sinner of 'Qingyuan'."

Zhang Weixin's aggressive stance made Liu Yunyan somewhat regretful, regretting that she had revealed the truth in a moment of urgency, giving the other party a chance to exploit her weakness. However, there was no medicine for regret, and even if there were, Liu Yunyan would use it to regret volunteering for the mission to the main hall.

For Liu Yunyan, the key now was for Zhang Weixin to be willing to cooperate. Even if she had to give him more benefits, it was acceptable. So she calmed herself and said, "Master Zhang is right, I did not think it through. Please forgive me. As for how to handle the brothel's profits, Master Zhang can propose a solution, and we can discuss it further."

Zhang Weixin shook his head and said, "Miss Liu is flattering me. I am just an ordinary member among the 'Qingyuan' brothers. The money for this cooperation is pooled by all the brothers, and I alone cannot make the decision. I need to go back and discuss it with my brothers."

Zhang Weixin's words made Liu Yunyan somewhat angry. She thought, "If you can't make decisions for your brothers, why did you come to talk to me? Your brothers should at least send someone who can make decisions." Thinking this, Liu Yunyan said somewhat unhappily, "What do you mean, Master Zhang? If you can't make decisions, why did your brothers send you to talk to me? Are you trying to mock me?"

Liu Yunyan's reaction was within Zhang Weixin's expectations. However, Zhang Weixin was not afraid of her anger and knew that she did not want to fall out with him. So he paid no attention to Liu Yunyan's angry expression and replied very calmly, "Miss Liu, don't be angry. Listen to what I have to say. First, I came to discuss with you on behalf of my brothers, which is true. Second, the reason I said I can't make decisions is not to play tricks, but because of the rules we have among our brothers."

"What rules have you and your brothers set?" Liu Yunyan asked.

"Very simple," Zhang Weixin answered, "For all major matters, we must discuss them together and then make the most beneficial decision for everyone. Since this matter involves my brothers, I need to go back and discuss it with them before I can give you an answer."

After hearing Zhang Weixin's explanation, Liu Yunyan had no grounds to argue and had to endure it, saying, "If that's the case, please go back and discuss it with your brothers. When you have a result, we can talk again."

With that, Liu Yunyan stood up and reached out to pull Yang Xiaoyun, intending to return to their residence. However, before her hand touched Yang Xiaoyun, Zhang Weixin stopped her, saying, "Miss Liu, hold on."

"Master Zhang, what do you mean? Are you saying that our deal is off, and you want to take action against me here?" Zhang Weixin's move made Liu Yunyan tense, and she asked in an unfriendly tone.

Zhang Weixin waved his hand and said, "Miss Liu, you misunderstood. If I wanted to take action, I would have done it long ago. There's no need to talk for so long. However, if I remember correctly, yesterday I asked Xiaoyun to convey two conditions for our cooperation to you. The first is direct negotiation, and the second is that if we agree to cooperate, you will free Xiaoyun and her family. You agreed to these conditions, didn't you?"

"That's right, I did agree to these conditions. But we haven't reached an agreement yet, so why are you keeping Yang Xiaoyun?" Liu Yunyan countered.

Zhang Weixin smiled slyly and said, "Miss Liu, you are mistaken. We agreed that if we are willing to cooperate, you would free the Yang family. Since we have come to discuss with you, it means we have already agreed to cooperate. We just have some differences in the distribution of benefits, but we haven't said we won't cooperate. My request to keep Xiaoyun is reasonable. Not only is it reasonable, but it's also a concession to you. I didn't ask you to hand over the rest of the Yang family, which means you are getting a benefit. What more can you be dissatisfied with? Are you going to go back on your word?"

As he spoke, Zhang Weixin moved closer to Liu Yunyan and Yang Xiaoyun. His expression was no longer as friendly as before, but rather had a hint of sternness. Wu Peng, who was standing nearby, also stood up, his eyes fixed on Liu Yunyan, and his right hand already in his pocket, gripping a 95-type pistol, ready to prevent any sudden moves.

This sudden change caught Liu Yunyan off guard. Although she was a seasoned person, she was usually calm in such situations. However, Zhang Weixin's agility greatly surprised her. She knew that Zhang Weixin and his group had been Taoist priests and knew some martial arts, but since they had only met once, she did not know how skilled he was and did not consider him an expert. She thought her own skills were sufficient to handle the situation, which was one of the reasons she agreed to come to "Tianfu Building."

From Zhang Weixin's movements, she could now determine that his martial arts were far superior to hers. If he wanted to keep her or take her life, it would be no problem. Moreover, there was Wu Peng, who was his fellow disciple and likely had similar skills. Wu Peng's hand in his pocket was also a concern, as he might have a hidden weapon that could threaten her life at any moment.

Seeing the strength disparity, Liu Yunyan could only accept her misfortune. She knew it was impossible to take Yang Xiaoyun away today. So she watched Zhang and Wu with caution and said calmly, "Master Zhang, what are you saying? Although I am not a man, I am not one to go back on my word. I just misunderstood the conditions you proposed yesterday. I hope Master Zhang will not hold it against me. Since we have agreed, I will leave Yang Xiaoyun here today. I hope Master Zhang and your brothers will also keep your word on the cooperation."

Zhang Weixin nodded and said, "That's best. As for the cooperation, Miss Liu, please rest assured. Since we have agreed, we won't go back on our word. I will discuss this with my brothers today and meet you here again tomorrow at this time, okay?"

Liu Yunyan readily accepted Zhang Weixin's arrangement, then bowed to the three and hurriedly left the private room. To be on the safe side, Zhang Weixin asked Wu Peng to secretly follow her back to her residence and confirm that she would not harm the Yang family before returning to "Qingyuan."

Wu Peng agreed and left. Zhang Weixin did not rush to leave but pulled Yang Xiaoyun back to sit down. Yang Xiaoyun, somewhat worried, said to Zhang Weixin, "Brother Xin, Liu Yunyan suffered a big loss today. Given her character, will she harm Uncle Yang and the others when she gets back?"

Zhang Weixin gently patted her shoulder and comforted her, "Don't worry, sister. I already sent Brother Thirty-One to follow her. Brother Thirty-One's skills are not bad, and he can handle Liu Yunyan. Besides, she is now in need of us and won't harm your family for now. Not only now, but even when we start formal cooperation and help her establish the Youzhou branch, she won't dare to harm you or your family until she has enough power. Don't worry, nothing will happen."

"But what if she has enough power later? Will she come to seek revenge?" Yang Xiaoyun still had some concerns.

Zhang Weixin's face turned serious, and he said with a hum, "Power? She is an enemy spy in Youzhou. How easy is it for her to gain power? Besides, do you think only she can build her power? Do you think your brother Xin and the other brothers will just sit on their wealth and do nothing?"

As he spoke, Zhang Weixin held Yang Xiaoyun's shoulders, making her face him, and said slowly, "Sister, today, with no one else around, I will tell you something from my heart. Since the day I endured hardships and came here, I have made up my mind. I want to achieve a great cause in this era and on this land. Now, this cause has a good start. As long as we persist, we will surely have a day when we are remembered in history."

Although Yang Xiaoyun found Zhang Weixin's words today sudden and different from what she had expected, to her, Zhang Weixin was her support, her sky. All she could do was stay by his side and wait for the moment of glory or decline.