Chapter 922 There are Not Many Conditions
Upon hearing good news, the grimace on Qin Yefeng's face finally began to soften.
"What good news? Tell me at once."
The young woman dared not delay, immediately speaking.
"Han Fushi of the Talisman Order is willing to help us deal with the Lecheng Talisman Order!"
Hearing this, Qin Yefeng's face instantly lit up with surprise!
The Han Fushi the young woman spoke of was none other than the head of their An City Talisman Order. As An City's Administrative Chief, Qin Yefeng naturally recognized him and had dealt with him on more than one occasion.
"Is that truly so?"
The young woman nodded, giving Qin Yefeng an affirmative reply.
"However what? Say it all at once; don't prevaricate. " Qin Yefeng urged, a hint of displeasure in his voice.
"However, he has conditions. As for what they are specifically, he said he wants to discuss them with you in person. " the young woman explained.
"As long as he's willing to talk, that's good news. Immediately tell him via a Communication Talisman that I, Qin Yefeng, am willing to speak with him. If he's free, we can even talk now."
The young woman nodded in affirmation, then immediately, following Qin Yefeng's instructions, sent a Communication Talisman back to Han Fushi.
In mere moments—just a few breaths' time—the young woman received the other party's reply. Before she could even begin her report, Qin Yefeng eagerly interjected.
"What did he say?"
Qin Yefeng hastily inquired, his voice laced with urgency, a powerful anticipation woven into his impatience.
"He said he'd handle his current affairs first. He'll come to the Administrative Courtyard to see you in an hour."
Qin Yefeng's expression brightened. He immediately ordered the two to prepare for their guest. Even though the other party was coming to negotiate terms, he still needed to put on a proper display, fully demonstrating his sincerity for cooperation.
An hour later, Han Fushi, the esteemed head of An City's Talisman Order, arrived at the An City Administrative Courtyard as promised. As An City's Administrative Chief, Qin Yefeng not only greeted him personally but had also prepared a lavish feast in advance for his guest.
In these chaotic times, many common folk couldn't even afford a meal. Yet, for an Administrative Chief governing a city, resources for food and drink were plentiful, completely without lack. Even if ordinary citizens starved, the Administrative Courtyard would never go without sustenance.
Naturally, a figure like Han Fushi, who commanded an entire region, certainly wouldn't lack for food or drink. Nevertheless, Qin Yefeng's attitude and the deference shown still brought him considerable satisfaction.
At the dining table, Qin Yefeng and Han Fushi sat facing each other. Standing behind Qin Yefeng were his trusted lieutenants—the elderly man and the young woman. Behind Han Fushi, a young lad stood, appearing no older than twenty.
The two exchanged toasts, lavished praise upon each other, and indulged in polite formalities. After three rounds of wine, Qin Yefeng judged the moment ripe and proactively brought up the matter mentioned in Han Fushi's Communication Talisman.
"Han Fushi, regarding this matter of the Lecheng Talisman Order, I implore you to devise a solution for me. The Talisman Masters of your esteemed Talisman Order possess astonishing abilities. Should the Lecheng Talisman Order lend its support to the Lecheng Administrative Courtyard, then victory in this campaign would, I fear, prove most challenging for me."
Qin Yefeng said with a smile to Han Fushi. His words not only conveyed his request but also subtly flattered the Talisman Order.
"Haha, Administrative Chief, rest assured. Simply leave this matter to me. I assure you, I can absolutely achieve a result that satisfies you. " Han Fushi chuckled heartily, then said to Qin Yefeng with a smile.
Han Fushi's assurance deepened the smile on Qin Yefeng's face. Though his expression radiated happiness, in his heart, he did not entirely trust the other man's words.
"Might I inquire how Han Fushi intends to proceed? Would you be willing to share a detail or two?"
At these words, a flicker of displeasure immediately crossed Han Fushi's face, and the wine cup he had just raised was gently set back down.
Qin Yefeng, of course, observed Han Fushi's reactions in their entirety. Knowing the other man was somewhat displeased, he quickly offered an explanation.
"Han Fushi, please, do not misunderstand me. It is not that I distrust your capabilities in the slightest; I am merely curious as to what methods you intend to employ, nothing more."
Upon hearing Qin Yefeng's explanation, Han Fushi's expression softened slightly, and the wine cup he had lowered was once more raised.
Seeing this, Qin Yefeng finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had known Han Fushi for a considerable time, yet their interactions were sparse. One significant reason for this was Han Fushi's notoriously difficult temperament.
It was precisely for this reason that he had to extend such a grand welcome to Han Fushi. He wished to avoid the risk of the man becoming displeased and deciding to withdraw his offer of assistance, which would indeed be a colossal loss.
Since he was now beholden to another, no matter how much he disliked Han Fushi, no matter how much he loathed dealing with him, he still raised his wine cup with a placating smile and clinked it against the other's.
The wine in their cups was drained in a single gulp, and both men successively set their glasses down.
"The current head of the Lecheng Talisman Order is Wang Yiming, but he's merely a clueless little brat. He ascended to that position purely through sheer luck. Though we are both Black Talisman Masters, I despise him in my heart and have never considered him worthy of standing on equal footing with me. If I were to engage him in a one-on-one duel, I am confident I could finish him within three moves."
Han Fushi's answer was evasive, leaving Qin Yefeng feeling utterly helpless. Yet, he dared not reveal the slightest trace of this on his face. Instead, he smiled and nodded, appearing to wholly concur with Han Fushi's pronouncements.
"I have long been aware of Han Fushi's formidable strength. Indeed, throughout Lecheng, there are precious few who could possibly contend with you on equal terms. Wang Yiming of Lecheng is merely a junior; naturally, he couldn't possibly make any waves in your presence. " Qin Yefeng chuckled.
Qin Yefeng's words greatly pleased Han Fushi. He chuckled heartily once more, raised his wine cup, and clinked it against Qin Yefeng's.
"Hahahaha, that few can contend with me is hardly worth boasting about. To have *no one* capable of matching me—*that* is the outcome I desire."
Setting his wine cup down, Han Fushi burst into booming laughter. Qin Yefeng, maintaining his placating smile, offered another string of deferential remarks before Han Fushi finally revealed his strategy for dealing with Wang Yiming.
"I still maintain certain connections with the higher authorities. I will petition them to exert pressure on Wang Yiming, and in doing so, the Lecheng Talisman Order will cease to impede your grand endeavor, Administrative Chief."
After so much talk, after nearly half a day of flattery, Han Fushi finally addressed the crux of the matter, and only then did Qin Yefeng's heart feel some ease.
"I extend my gratitude to Han Fushi in advance. Provided you can render me this great service, I shall certainly offer a substantial recompense. May I inquire what you would require of me, Qin? " Qin Yefeng asked with a smile.
"Administrative Chief, truly you are worthy of your station as a city's ruler; your words and actions are utterly astute. My conditions are quite simple: I shall help you manage the Lecheng Talisman Order, and in return, you will construct for our Talisman Order the grandest Talisman Ancestor Temple in An City—one that surpasses the splendor and majesty of any other sect's temple! " Han Fushi chuckled.
Qin Yefeng agreed to Han Fushi's conditions without a moment's hesitation.
"That presents no issue whatsoever. I can make arrangements for this immediately. However, as Han Fushi is well aware, the current situation in An City sees our populace either deceased or ailing, and our labor force is far from what it once was. Therefore, constructing a large-scale temple would be impossible in a short timeframe. I will, however, require some time. " Qin Yefeng stated.
"Haha, naturally, I shall grant you ample time. Haste makes waste, a principle I am quite familiar with. " Han Fushi chuckled.
"That Han Fushi understands truly delights me! Come, come, let us toast again!"
At this moment, Qin Yefeng's joy was not feigned; it was truly genuine. For an instant, he suddenly felt that perhaps Han Fushi was not so utterly detestable after all.
However, this fleeting thought of Qin Yefeng's persisted for only an instant before vanishing without a trace.
"Administrative Chief, please do not be so hasty. My conditions are not yet fully laid out."
The smile on Qin Yefeng's face momentarily froze, but he quickly regained his composure.
"It's quite alright, quite alright. Han Fushi, pray tell if you have any further conditions; feel free to state them."
Qin Yefeng responded with a smile, deliberately feigning an air of nonchalance.
"Should the Administrative Chief successfully annex Lecheng, then I shall require you to construct yet another Talisman Ancestor Temple for our Talisman Order in Lecheng—one that, once again, surpasses all other temples in size. Beyond that, I shall also need your official endorsement to publicly disseminate our Talisman Order's doctrines and to recruit devout believers. Furthermore, our Talisman Order's primary means of attack lies in talismans, and the crafting of these talismans naturally necessitates materials. Talismans of varying grades demand different types of materials, so I will require the Administrative Chief to procure a substantial batch of these for me. And, there's more. . ."
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