Chapter 352: Trading Favors

Chapter 352: Trading Favors

The two jade slips in my hands are all that everyone in my group pays attention to.

Out of everyone, Lin appears to be the most aggrieved by the inclusion of the 'My Future Wife, Xun' slip.

Right as it looks like she’s about to say something, with a clap, Xing Lan, Xing Xun’s mother, gathers everyone’s attention to her.

“Ah, right! Our family has some gifts for you all. Ones which I think you all may appreciate.”

She with just a wave, an assortment of items appears in front of all the people at the table. A move that shows me she has a space ring on her, as well. A small sign of the material value the previously destitute family now has available to them.

And with a closer look, the sheer value and variety of items only prove my thoughts.

... Xing Xun’s been looting treasure locations like I was, hasn’t she?

This is easily shown by what is in front of Mei Lin, Ai, Lin, and Shi.

Space rings.

Each of which was located in a forgotten treasure location, but I couldn't reach because of the difficulty level in doing so.

And by difficulty, I mean at least one of those was in the family graveyard of a local clan. With others in similarly tenuous locations.

Well. She certainly has a lot of guts.

However, what is likely more important to the women the space rings are in front of are not the rings, but the jade slips beside the rings.

They appear remarkably similar to the jade slip that Xun had given to me. Except, the line is blank, waiting to be filled out.

Right then, Xun’s voice creeps out of my jade slip.

“I hope you all like the gifts. This is just a small token of my appreciation for taking care of someone precious to me.

“Of course, I know for some of you here, you likely care for them to a similar degree that I do. Considering the circumstances, if you insert your qi into the slips in front of you, we will be able to have regular talks about a variety of things.”

At this line, I can’t help but to turn my eyes towards Shi. Throughout, Shi has been amused or surprised at the wealth displayed by the family. Given her position, she has experienced wealth, a variety of interpersonal interactions, and is probably the eldest one here to navigate matters of love.

Out of anyone on this side, she would know how to handle this.

And it seems I’m not the only one who thinks this, as everyone in our group has instinctively looked to her for her response.

Her eyes are squinted, suspicious.

She only gives a glance to her left and right, Ai and Lin, respectively, to give an indication of action.

They all send their qi into the slips.

A moment of silence follows, with curious looks thrown between them. On my new jade slip’s side, I can sense a connection being made to theirs. But I’m surprised to hear a voice pop out of an unexpected place.

“... is it working?”

Xun’s voice has come out of all three of their slips, but not mine.

She actually did it. She made mobile phones, using jade slips.

“... Now that I think of it, there was something that I was hoping to give to your family, to help us both.”

Xing He and his wife pause, as it seems they weren’t expecting gifts back.

“Consider this as either a gift or an investment for our two groups. I’ve come across a particularly lucrative source of spirit stones and wanted to give some to you.”

At my words, I see a hopeful flash in Xing Lan’s eyes. She is indeed the highest level of all the Xing’s, being at the peak of Foundation Establishment and a step away from Core Formation.

A terrifying thing, as they had no cultivation when I had first met them.

With the absurd increase in their spirit roots and Xun’s background, I should have assumed a pace like this would be a foregone conclusion.

“That is wonderful! The other clans have been pressuring us and no suppliers are providing us with spirit stones at this time. Of course, our little Xun has come up with ways around their blockade, but they will take time and, unfortunately, at least 100 spirit stones to accomplish.”

I can’t help but to smile at this, as it seems they are in the exact situation I suspected.

They have plenty of assets and personnel, but their cash and spirit stone levels are low. Xun probably got most of what she has by using her future knowledge to influence experts, gather treasures, and hold off enemies. But she was still only working off a limited basis and operational area.

After all, their enemies are already wary of her and her family. With the family’s rapid growth, even more so.

So, everything will almost certainly cost far more than it actually normally would and any spirit stones they do find will be used for cultivation and maintaining a positive image in others' eyes.

A delicate balancing act.

... Let’s tilt the scales.

I wave a hand and drop 15 superior spirit stones on the table.

The equivalent of 15,000 regular spirit stones. Or 15x the annual income of a small mortal city.

I take a little joy in the gaping that both Xing Lan and her husband do before they regain themselves.

Just as I was about to do, they were about to decline, but stop before bowing their heads and speaking.

“... Thank you for the generous investment. Our family looks forward to getting ever closer as we move together.”

While this may seem like an enormous investment compared to what I’ve given Mei Lin’s family and others, I won’t be able to reach out to the Xing family as regularly as I do my personal groups. There has to be a small measure of separation between us, so that we can function autonomously for a bit.

That will prevent her enemies from becoming mine, and mine becoming hers. On the other side, it also makes it easier for her to be ‘friends’ with those who would normally avoid me, and vice versa for me.

Sigh.

Politics.

Thank goodness for the scan, as I would have floundered around these things without it.

My attention is soon brought over to Ai, Lin, and Shi as they rush to return. Their faces practically scream that there is something they want to say.

Soon, I hear Xun’s voice come out.

“James? We should all probably talk about something.”