Chapter 493 - 247: Madam, Would You Be Willing...

Chapter 493: Chapter 247: Madam, Would You Be Willing...

And so, her identity was self-evident.

Chen Sheng’s eyes lit up, and he discreetly sized her up.

’The most beautiful woman in Nanzhao... she truly lives up to her reputation!’

"My apologies for my poor reception, Lord Chen. I was unable to welcome you from afar. Please forgive my lack of courtesy."

A perfectly calibrated, gentle smile appeared on Lady Lan’s face, and her voice was soft and melodic.

While he was observing her, Lady Lan was observing Chen Sheng in turn.

He stood tall and ramrod straight, with a handsome face and deep, tranquil eyes. He had a steady, extraordinary air about him and carried himself with the latent power of a dragon or a tiger.

This image, however, was slightly at odds with the rumors she’d heard of King Chen of the Underworld—a man known for his decisiveness in slaughter, who had washed two sects in blood.

"You’re too kind, Sect Leader Lan. I am the one who has disturbed you by visiting so abruptly."

Chen Sheng clasped his hands in a return salute, his attitude deferential. He then introduced Sun Yuzhi.

Lady Lan smiled and nodded at Sun Yuzhi. Her gaze lingered on her for a moment, as if recalling some rumor, but she said nothing further.

"Lord Chen, Sun Zhenfu, please follow me. We can talk inside."

Inside the Hundred Poison Hall.

The pillars were carved with lifelike images of all sorts of venomous insects and exotic Gu.

The hall was decorated with potted plants and artifacts characteristic of the Southern Border. A faint, exotic fragrance that calmed the mind and spirit drifted through the air.

After they were seated as host and guests, a maidservant served a uniquely fragrant Southern Border Spirit Tea.

After a round of polite pleasantries, Lady Lan gently set down her teacup. Her beautiful eyes turned to Chen Sheng as she asked, as if in passing:

"Lord Chen, you are a very busy man. For you to personally visit my Ten Thousand Poisons Sect in this remote place... to what do we owe the honor?"

For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall grew tense.

Chen Sheng raised his cup, took a sip of the fragrant tea, and set the cup back down. His gaze met the full-figured Lady Lan’s directly.

"I have come to help the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect."

At his words, the hall fell silent for several long moments.

Lady Lan’s brow furrowed slightly, and Ouyang Ke looked stunned. A moment later, she forced a smile and asked:

"I’m not sure I understand what you mean."

Chen Sheng’s gaze swept around the hall. He didn’t speak, but his meaning was clear.

Lady Lan explained:

"Please, speak freely, Lord Chen. These are all my trusted confidants."

"I have been entrusted by the Nie Family to come and resolve the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect’s predicament."

Chen Sheng stated bluntly, his voice firm.

Lady Lan’s brow twitched as she forced a smile.

"It’s not that I don’t trust you, Lord Chen, but we are being targeted by the Profound Yin Valley—a Major Sect of the Southern Border—as well as numerous other sects within Nanzhao Prefecture. Are you suggesting you will help us with the power of the Government Office?"

Lady Lan didn’t doubt Chen Sheng’s words.

After all, as the Nie Family’s son-in-law, he was practically one of them.

The problem was that the Profound Yin Valley was a Major Sect in the Southern Border, one of the Demonic Dao Sects, and they had a Pill Realm Grandmaster at their helm.

And while Chen Sheng’s reputation was immense and his potential remarkable...

at the end of the day, he was still just a Tongxuan Cultivator.

’How could he possibly contend with the Profound Yin Valley?’

’And as for the Government Office...’

’The authority of the Yunzhou Government Office diminished the farther south one traveled from Yunzhou City.’

’In a place like Ning’an, the Noble Sects and the Government Office at least shared power, giving the government a certain amount of influence.’

’But in Nanzhao...’

’The Government Office’s local strength was mediocre at best; they were in no position to help.’

’In fact, if the Nanzhao Government Office openly sided with the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, it would only incite even greater chaos.’

’The other Jianghu Sects would unite and annihilate the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect first, branding them as traitors.’

Chen Sheng didn’t answer her question. Instead, he asked one of his own:

"Surely the Sect Leader is aware of my identity?"

"You..."

Before Lady Lan could finish, Chen Sheng cut her off.

"I am the son-in-law of the Nie Family. My presence here *is* the Nie Family’s statement."

"Of course, if Sect Leader Lan believes I am not qualified to represent them, then I will take my leave right now."

"No, no, please, Lord Chen, don’t be angry! That’s not what I meant at all."

Lady Lan quickly apologized and tried to placate him. Only when she saw that he wasn’t truly angry did she finally raise the most pressing question:

"What exactly are the Nie Family’s intentions?"

"That depends on the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect’s intentions."

"What do you mean?"

Lady Lan’s brow furrowed, her beautiful eyes hardening.

"Sect Leader Lan, let’s not mince words. The Ten Thousand Poisons Sect has pledged allegiance to the Nie Family, presumably to leverage our power against the Profound Yin Valley. But you must also consider this.

Do you take the Nie Family for Kaisan Hall?

The amount of effort the Nie Family puts forth will depend on the price the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect is willing to pay.

If you are merely a vassal in name, then my coming here to state the Nie Family’s position is the absolute limit of our support.

If, however, the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect is willing to cede the majority of its interests...

then... the Nie Family will provide commensurate support. It wouldn’t even be out of the question for us to negotiate directly with the Profound Yin Valley on your behalf."

On his way to Nanzhao Prefecture, Chen Sheng had spoken with Nie Xiangjun and come to understand the Nie Family’s position.

The Nie Family was not Kaisan Hall.

They wouldn’t pour all their resources into supporting a group just because it called itself a vassal.

For a Noble Family like theirs, only one thing truly mattered: interests.

Lady Lan’s expression stiffened. She quickly tried to explain:

"Ke’Er will soon marry into the Nie Family."

"Soon?"

Chen Sheng grinned.

"But has he married into the family *yet*?"

Ouyang Ke, standing to the side, paled but could not find the words to refute him.

"Besides, what does a marriage alliance matter? Am I not also engaged to marry into the Nie Family?

Did that stop them from sending a branch of the family to put down roots in Ning’an?"

Chen Sheng had never been surprised by the Nie Family’s branch meddling in Ning’an, nor would he ever try to stop them.

The Nie Family had given him real, tangible support, so now that he had the power to reciprocate, he was determined to repay that debt.

’In the end, it all came down to interests.’

’If the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect thought a simple marriage alliance and the title of a Nie Family vassal was enough to fly our banner and scare off their enemies, they were full of shit.’