Chapter 727 - The Bid ended

Xiong Zhi politely smiled at Mistress Tang. 

"I am not asking Mistress Tang or Master Lu to trust our family. Instead, our Xiong family will place our bets and trust you."

Mistress Tang's finger suddenly halted.

What?

Even Old Xiong was stunned. 

Suddenly a premonition began to appear in the headmasters' minds.

Xiong Zhi placed her hand on her ċhėst solemnly. "The Xiong family is willing to pay a certain amount for the plaque. However, we do not wish to own it or monopolize it."

She looked at the Guan family's table.

"If possible, we want the Guan family to first house the plaque. They have just lost their former head and their turbulent period has come. As a comrade of our family, and as a legendary family who helps our own, we wish to support the idea of entrusting the plaque to the Guan house and uphold the honor of the previous ancestors, including the deceased former Guan headmaster. Of course, this is only for a period of time. A notarized agreement must be accomplished to ensure that fairness will be followed."

Whoosh.

There was a deafening silence after Xiong Zhi's speech, very silent that one could hear the drop of a needle in the quiet room.

Then the uproar in the crowd started.

"To pay, but not to monopolize?"

"One plaque for everyone?"

"How can the other heads agree to such a ridiculous idea?"

The more informed ones were calmer and thought of the implications.

"It's true that the Guan family faced a setback after their former family head died. If they housed the plaque, it can bring honor to their family once again. This can be a great help to the Guan family."

"Not only that, but it is the same as telling us that the legendary families still support the Guan family at the back, is it not?"

"Shh, we still can't tell. Are the other families even willing to step back or not?"

"If they did, given the instability that will happen otherwise, there are indeed more benefits this way."

The people began to express their varying opinions while observing the subjects in question.

Mistress Tang was silent, but she had a solemn expression on her face. 

The two heads actually began to consider Xiong Zhi's suggestions.

On the other hand, Ming Zhi Yi on the stage stared coldly at Xiong Zhi. His expression was darkening.

Indeed, it was a solution to avoid the conflict between the families. However, it was too idealistic and rather naive, that none of the heads who thought only of their own family's interests would think of it. Even Ming Zhi Yi himself did not expect that such a naive yet effective offer would be brought up in this auction.

It was too out of the world.

What the young woman suggested was a perfect counter for his trap. Not only the discord would not be sowed, but their alliance would just get stronger. The weak Guan family would not be an easy prey anymore if they had the plaque and the protection of other families. 

If the legendary families agreed with the young woman and placed the plaque in the Guan estate under the protection of the four families, then it was the same as the legendary families declaring their protection over the Guan family as one of their own.

Not only could he not weaken them, but they would just get stronger instead!

No! He could not allow that!

Ming Zhi Yi stepped forward. 

"Young heiress, that is a nice speech, although very… innocent and naive. What is important now is who will stand above all others. Who will be able to bring endless honor to their own family? This is the time to show one's dominance over others. The world will not allow one to be softhearted, because it can swallow them whole if they did."

Ming Zhi Yi subtly taunted the heads of the legendary families.

Their greed, their dėsɨrė for domination, and their arrogant pride… All these that once ruined many clans, here should be the place where they would be displaying them!

These fools who only knew arrogance and selfishness!

However, Ming Zhi Yi did not consider that before the bid started, Xiong Zhi went to them and parted words of warning.

Mistress Tang suddenly stood up. 

She looked at the young woman who boldly faced others despite her young age. Her old face smiled warmly at her. She remembered what the young woman had previously said when she went to the Tang family's table.

["Mistress Tang, I know that you can see what is behind the sweet and delicious trap. The Tang family is powerful and may be able to overcome it easily. However, have you ever wondered how this precious item appeared at such a sėnsɨtɨvė time? Mistress Tang, please choose wisely."]

Mistress Tang had wondered what 'choice' the young heiress was talking about. 

'So it was because of this.'

Monopolize the plaque, gain the honor in dedication to their ancestors, but then their family had to face the possibility of offending the other legendary families and the hard-won balance for centuries would crumble. Aside from these, she had to be careful with the huge snake that was waiting for the right time to strike.

On the other hand, Mistress Tang could do what the young heiress suggested. Gain a right over the plaque, an honor not as great as the first option, but the alliance between the legendary families will be much stronger. They would also be able to fend off the snake that was lurking around.

Now, thinking about it, the wisest choice was clear.

Without hesitation, Mistress Tang declared. 

"The Tang family is moved by the sincerity of the Xiong family. The former head of the Guan family was once my friend. We agree to let the Guan family house the plaque first. We will contribute a certain amount for the plaque and I will mobilize the power of our family for the plaque's protection." 

Everyone gasped.

How could it be?

The Tang family actually agreed and gave way?

Ming Zhi Yi narrowed his eyes. "It seems everyone is forgetting something. This an auction where the bidder of the highest bid shall get the prize. This plaque can only be owned by one family. Are you truly willing to give it to others? This is an honor to dedicate to your ancestors!"

Old Lu stood up as well. "It is not like we are giving it away. It is a shared ownership, much like how our family businesses work. I, as the head of the Lu family, agree to pay a certain amount and dedicate protection to the plaque. We support that the plaque will be hosted by the Guan family first. Of course, this must be only temporary." He looked at his old friends. "Let's talk later about the details of this shared ownership."

Ming Zhi Yi clenched his hands.

He found the sight before him hard to believe.

What was this?

Why were they giving way to one another?

The cruel, greedy, ruthless, and selfish legendary families were now willing to compromise? They even put their interests away?

This was the Honorary Plaque of Virtue that he painstakingly got in the underworld! This was supposed to sow discord between them and even weaken one of them!

The guests now had wide eyes and open mouths. They perplexedly exchanged looks.

The Lu family also agreed! 

Did it mean that the insane bidding war that they were waiting for would not happen?

At this time, Guan Gu Ri stood up. 

His face was solemn. He bowed at the other family heads with sincere gratitude. 

His heart was beating fast. 

Guan Gu Ri thought that this impossible idea of the Xiong Heiress would not work. 

But it actually did! 

His heart swelled up with gratitude.

His eyes moistened.

The plaque would help them, because the legendary families made it clear to the world how much importance they paid to it. Being entrusted with the plaque symbolized getting affirmation and support from the other legendary families. Thus, those minor families who were trying to steal their position and cause trouble for them would have to think twice now.

'Grandpa, with the help of the others, I can bring honor and glory to our family. I will not have to worry about others aggressively attacking our family now with the protection of the other legendary families.'

He saluted solemnly.

"I, Guan Gu Ri, give my utmost gratitude to the other family heads. As long as I live, as long the Guan bloodline continues, we will never forget this gratitude."

Old Lu's and Mistress Tang's hearts calmed down after seeing the young head thanking them.

Even though it was unfortunate to not have the plaque under their own name, this kind of outcome where they shared the plaque was still alright.

The legendary families had walked hand in hand for a very long time.

Their ancestors would understand, wouldn't they?

Besides… their real enemy was the man who created this situation.

If they were dissatisfied about this shared ownership in the future, then they could deal with it at that time. 

For now, they have a common enemy to be wary of.

They all simultaneously looked at the motionless man on the stage.

Silence.

Ming Zhi Yi unclenched his fists. His dark eyes regained their calmness.

Oh well, there was no need to be too upset about this one thing. He still had many gifts prepared for them.

However, later, he must teach the troublemaker a lesson to vent his anger. 

His dark eyes then fall on the young woman's body who caused all of this. Wicked thoughts started to stir in his mind.

After the other families took their seats, Guan Gu Ri raised his placard. 

"I bid one hundred and one billion."

Thus, the much anticipated bidding war ended in this unexpected way.

*****