Chapter 240: Night Rain Madness
"There's something not quite right about this Song Fuli... Is it just my imagination?" Ning Zhuo's expression remained unchanged as he pondered silently.
Song Fuli glanced at him from the corner of his eye, but Ning Zhuo didn't notice.
However, a subtle ripple of unease stirred in Ning Zhuo's heart, sensing something strange about Song Fuli.
Song Fuli then spoke to the two of them, "Our Cloud Trading Firm trades throughout the world. Everywhere we go, in addition to selling specialties from the Flying Cloud Country, we also purchase a large number of local specialties."
"Regarding this, I would like to collaborate with you both."
Song Fuli first looked at Ning Zhuo, "Young Master Ning Zhuo, I'm quite interested in the Mechanical Explosive Monkeys you've personally developed."
"These mechanical monkeys are cheap to produce, move smoothly and precisely, and can be used for dangerous tasks like harvesting fire persimmons."
"So, releasing them into other dangerous environments to collect rare herbs and flowers that ordinary people can't reach is also feasible."
"I'm wondering if we might have the opportunity to purchase some Mechanical Explosive Monkeys from you?"
Upon hearing this, Ning Zhuo immediately revealed a hint of joy.
He didn't hesitate and nodded in agreement, "For me, this is certainly a good thing! I'm very happy to do business with you, Senior Song."
The two of them quickly discussed the scale and price of the transaction with just a few words.
After concluding this deal, Song Fuli turned to Zhu Xuanji, "Lord Zhu, I am interested in purchasing the Night Rain Demon Blade."
He was naturally referring to the weapon in Zheng Jianlian's possession.
"I understand that you have very close relations with the Zhou, Zheng, and Ning families."
"So, I would like to ask you to introduce me to Zheng Family's Golden Core cultivator, Zheng Jianlian, so I can speak with him directly."
Zhu Xuanji thought for a moment and nodded slightly, "Alright."
Song Fuli smiled, "Here is a small token of appreciation for you, to serve as the introduction fee."
As he spoke, Song Fuli took out a storage bag and handed it to Zhu Xuanji.
Zhu Xuanji didn't accept it, shaking his head slightly, and said thoughtfully, "If your business with the Zheng family succeeds, I'll accept it. If it doesn't, then let's leave it at that."
After chatting for a while, Song Fuli and Zhu Xuanji left together, leaving Ning Zhuo to continue shopping at the Cloud Market.
The Zheng Family.
Cultivation chamber.
Zheng Jianlian was gently wiping his mechanical sickle with a cloth.
In the dim chamber, the sickle appeared as dark as black iron, completely submerged in shadow, as still as a boulder.
No one would associate it with the fearsome weapon that wreaked havoc in the recent Golden Core battle.
Suddenly, the door to the chamber was knocked on.
Zheng Shuanggou's voice came through immediately, "Brother, Zhu Xuanji has brought the Cloud Trading Firm's leader, Song Fuli, to visit you."
Zheng Jianlian looked up at the door, his eyes bloodshot, a wave of irritation and disgust rising in his heart.
"Wait a moment, I'll be out soon," Zheng Jianlian's voice was hoarse, suppressing his annoyance.
He stood up, carefully putting away the mechanical sickle, and pushed open the door.
Shortly after, he arrived at the guest hall.
There, he met Song Fuli and Zhu Xuanji.
Song Fuli got straight to the point, stating that his purpose in coming was to purchase Zheng Jianlian's mechanical sickle.
Zheng Jianlian's brow furrowed immediately, his face showing a trace of anger, "What? You want to buy my Night Rain Demon Blade!"
Zheng Jianlian glared at Song Fuli, then shifted his gaze toward Zhu Xuanji.
He was clearly displeased, speaking bluntly, "Lord Zhu, you're personally leading Brother Song here to purchase my mechanical sickle. What exactly do you mean?"
"Are you suggesting that I quickly get rid of this troublesome weapon to deal with the Taiching Palace's upcoming trouble?"
"You should know that the reason I and the Zheng family are in this predicament is because we followed your orders and carried out your plan."
Zhu Xuanji looked a bit embarrassed and quickly offered some comforting words.
Song Fuli also chimed in with a few remarks.
But Zheng Jianlian cut him off directly, "Not selling! This is my mechanical sickle, no matter how much you offer, I won't sell it!"
Zheng Jianlian refused outright, his mood growing increasingly irritable, his tone quite harsh.
Song Fuli didn't take offense, maintaining his gentle smile, "Brother Zheng, won't you at least hear our offer?"
He then quoted a high price.
The offer indeed showed his sincerity in wanting to buy!
Even Zheng Shuanggou, standing to the side, couldn't help but be tempted.
But Zheng Jianlian's stance was firm, shaking his head repeatedly, "I said I won't sell, and I mean it!"
Song Fuli continued, "Then, let me propose another way."
"If you can sell the Night Rain Demon Blade, we will mediate between the Zheng family and the Taiching Palace, possibly resolving the current crisis your family is facing."
Hearing this, Zheng Shuanggou immediately showed interest, "Fellow Daoist Song, please explain in detail."
Song Fuli replied, "You must understand, I am merely an intermediary in this purchase. The real buyers of the Night Rain Demon Blade are powerful cultivators."
"These people are all beings at the Nascent Soul stage or higher."
"If I report the situation to them, they might be willing to step in and mediate."
"Many things that weigh heavily on you and me may just be a word to them."
The hall fell into a brief silence.
Zheng Jianlian let out a cold laugh, "If not for the Taiching Palace's Golden Core disciple disguising himself as a demon cultivator, how would I have killed him?"
"If I agree to sell this weapon, abandoning the tool that our family painstakingly forged over many years!"
"And then compromise with the Taiching Palace through some powerful cultivator?"
"What does that make all our previous efforts?"
"Should the Zheng family bear all the responsibility for the death of the Taiching Palace's Golden Core disciple?"
"Isn't the fault his own?"
"And now, it's us, the righteous cultivators who slay demons, who have to pay the price. Is this the justice of the righteous path?"
A series of questions made the hall even more silent.
Seeing no one speak for a long time, Zheng Jianlian stood up, waved his sleeve, and sneered, "Since we can't agree, I bid you farewell!"
With that, he left.
He returned to the cultivation chamber alone and continued carefully wiping the mechanical sickle.
Zheng Shuanggou, looking somewhat embarrassed, escorted Zhu Xuanji and Song Fuli to the door.
He clasped his hands in apology, trying to explain for Zheng Jianlian, "Ever since this incident happened, my brother has been deeply resentful."
"To be honest, I completely understand him."
"After all, eight years ago, when he obtained the damaged Night Rain Demon Blade and the mechanical blueprint, he vowed to complete this weapon."
"He spent eight long years painstakingly preparing, dedicating an immense amount of time and energy, and only recently, when the time was right, did he finally succeed in forging it."
"This is far more than just a mechanical weapon! More accurately, it's the product of eight years of his blood, sweat, and tears."
"Now, to ask him to sell his life's work, especially for this reason, is indeed difficult for him to accept all at once."
Song Fuli quickly expressed his understanding and reiterated that his offer still stood. If Zheng Jianlian ever changed his mind, he could contact him immediately.
Song Fuli left first.
This left Zhu Xuanji and Zheng Shuanggou to speak alone.
Zhu Xuanji sighed deeply and said frankly, "I have already written to the royal family."
"To be honest, I don't have the authority to make decisions regarding the current situation. Just because I want to protect your family doesn't mean I can."
"I believe both you and your brother are well aware of this."
"If—just hypothetically—the royal family's response is unfavorable..."
"I think that the Cloud Trading Firm's Song Fuli is a connection worth pursuing for the Zheng family."
"That's why I made the introduction."
Zheng Shuanggou nodded repeatedly, clasping his hands in gratitude, "Lord Zhu, your sincerity is deeply appreciated. Thank you."
Zhu Xuanji looked a bit ashamed and nodded slightly before turning to leave.
Inside the cultivation chamber.
Zheng Jianlian had been wiping the mechanical demon weapon for quite some time.
He stretched out his hand, gently stroking the Night Rain Demon Blade, a look of affection and obsession on his face.
His eyes were filled with bloodshot veins.
The veins grew more and more pronounced until they finally transformed into a red light, swirling in his eyes.
"Wait."
Just as Zhu Xuanji was about to leave, he stopped and turned back.
"If Brother Zheng Jianlian is truly unwilling to part with the demon weapon, and if the royal family refuses to intervene..."
"Perhaps I can still help you."
"I want to ask, how exactly did you come into possession of this demon weapon?"
Zheng Shuanggou thought for a moment and then replied, "About eight years ago, my brother killed a Foundation Establishment cultivator during an expedition to the Immortal Palace."
"At that time,
the Foundation Establishment cultivator was wielding the mechanical sickle, acting like a madman, slaughtering innocent cultivators."
"My brother couldn't stand it and acted in the name of justice, killing him on the spot. That's how he obtained the damaged mechanical demon weapon and a complete mechanical blueprint."
Zhu Xuanji nodded and asked if he could borrow the blueprint.
Zheng Shuanggou nodded, "The blueprint was made public when we forged the mechanical black snake. We've made many copies already, so of course, Lord Zhu can borrow it."
Zheng Shuanggou immediately ordered someone to retrieve the blueprint from the family vault.
Zhu Xuanji then asked, "Aside from the blueprint, was there anything else?"
"I practice the Trace Back Art. The more related items I have, the better."
"Maybe I can trace something back."
Zheng Shuanggou shook his head, "Eight years have passed. Even if something was left behind, it wouldn't still be here."
(End of this chapter)