Xuan Mei leaned forward then, and met his gaze squarely. "In that case, what would you desire of me? What can I offer that would make you change your mind? Why don"t you tell me that, rather than have me make my ... silly offers?"He paused as he thought about it. But Lingxi stepped in again, and took over the negotiations again. Or so it seemed:
"I should point out that you are rather ... alone, without any powerful supporters at the moment. Well, Elder MIng will certainly support you, since he has to rely on you to get those medicinal herbs for his daughter. But there is no one else who would be inclined. And you will be spending at least another eight to ten months here. If you wish to leave in Spring next year.
"Why not remain for another year? And stand to make some easy benefits? All that it will cost you is your name. And Xuan Mei here has already said that you can name your own benefits. So why not consider it?"
Qin Feng had to admit that she had a very sound reasoning. And it was true that he still had a way to go, before he could break through the Foundation grade, and into the real Qi Gathering Stage. So more time, and more support, for his cultivation would be good for him as well.
So he nodded slowly at the trio. Even as he considered what he stood to gain. He wasn"t about to let them off so lightly, after all that he had had to go through. Besides that, he still had to work with the puppet, so that he could bring it back up to its optimum condition.
"Well, I will admit that you have me tempted. But what are the benefits that I would get for helping you create this ... illusion? You have not touched on how far you would go, so far. And don"t try to drag Elder Ming into this. It doesn"t need both your fathers to get me approved to join all of the Hunts from now on. Elder Ming has always had the authority to do so, so don"t try to convince me otherwise."
He shook a finger at Xuan Mei then, and c.o.c.ked his head at her. "Now, since you are trying to get out of an unwelcome marriage proposal, I am likely to be targeted by the fellow who wishes to be your groom. That means that I am likely to be put at risk! For more than an entire year!
"Surely you have come up with some plan for me to avoid the danger that is certain to come my way. Why don"t you share that with me first?"
Xuan Mei sighed, as soon as she was confronted with Qin Feng"s question. "I suppose that is true. That l.u.s.ty old man is likely to come for you, so long as you are ... betrothed to me. But he wouldn"t dare to make any overt gestures towards you. Not with my father around. I think you should know that my father knows what is at stake. And that he would do all that he can to protect you."
Qin Feng laughed at once. "All that he can to protect me? When he has to go through so much trouble to tie his daughter to a more powerful Sect out in the East? If he really had the power to oppose your ugly old suitor, why would he bother to come up with such a scheme?"
Then he scowled at the young woman and shook his head. "Your story is full of holes as it is, and since you can"t even manage to tell a proper lie, I will leave that aside for the moment. Let us get on with what is more important. What are you offering me, in exchange for this ... role that you would have me play? What do I get out of this?"
"Like said earlier, I do not appear to have anything that might even vaguely interest you. My father might be able to get you a spot in the Annual Selection Trials for the Inner School but you don"t seem to be too concerned about your martial arts as far as I can see. So I doubt that would interest you."
Qin Feng sniffed as soon as she mentioned that. How could he miss that look in her eye, which told him that she was hoping for him to express some interest in that particular event, which would make things easier for her. Just what sort of advantage would being an Inner School disciple be for him? After all, he would be expected to take on those stupid missions that required him to risk his life for the Heaven Sword School. Why would he bother with something as idiotic as that?
Of course, he would be protected by the Heaven Sword School if her ugly old suitor came looking for trouble. And Elder Yuan would have no choice but to support him in the Inner School as well, since he was the one who recommended him there. Too bad it wasn"t what he was looking for!
Xuan Mei shook her head back at him again, as if to say that she could not think of anything that might pique his interest. "Honestly, I cannot even begin to guess what you would need, much less want, in exchange for playing a part in this ... act of mine.
"And unless you wish to get your hands on some rare and unusual martial arts, which my father might be able to arrange for you, I cannot really think of anything that you might be interested in," she sighed softly.
"So I think it would be easier if I simply asked you what you would desire, in exchange for this ... arrangement? What do you want?"
Qin Feng scowled as he considered what she had just mentioned. Elder Xuan"s specialty was in martial arts, wasn"t it? And he had already seen how lacking his abilities in that particular arena was, from his last trip in the Southern Woods. So ...
"Simple, I want a letter from you ... an undated one. Senior Disciple Sister Lingxi and Younger Sister Ming Qingsong here shall testify that you handed it to me just before you leave for ... whichever Sect that you have applied for. Basically, you will be rejecting me in the same, and make it clear to anyone who reads it that you are leaving me in the lurch.
"So that no one can claim that I have done anything to betray your trust in me. And that your breaking of our ... nuptial pact was entirely your fault."
"What? But that would ..."
He sniffed, and turned his head to stare at the equally shocked Lingxi. But he interrupted Xuan Mei before she could say anything further:
"Why would you care what it would do? It is only your reputation here, isn"t it? Why should you bother, if you are already leaving the Heaven Sword School? I am the one who is going to be laughed at, and who has to fend off your ugly old suitor, so I will need some grounds for treating you as a shameless woman by then, don"t you agree?
"That way, I can scold and revile you all I wish, and still have people on my side. Perhaps that will be enough to keep me safe, long enough so that I can leave this place in peace."
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