< Chapter 70: Ning Zhuo’s Persuasion >
Ning Zhuo abruptly stood up, his voice booming over Yuan Er’s: “Cease your slander! How could we possibly have assassinated you, or harmed your monkey pet? Do you have any evidence?”
“Can you produce any evidence?!”
Yuan Er was taken aback, his eyes turned blood-red with fury. He pointed at Ning Zhuo, his gaze fierce and murderous: “You little thief, you’ve come to my house to deceive me. You deserve to die!”
Ning Zhuo raised his head high, directly stepping around the desk towards Yuan Er, shouting: “Come, come, come! My head is right here, feel free to take it, Leader Yuan!”
As he advanced step by step, Yuan Er, intimidated by his momentum, wanted to retreat but was blocked by his chair, causing him to fall back into it.
He, a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, was being forced into such a position by a young Qi Refining stage cultivator. If outsiders saw this, his reputation would be utterly destroyed.
Seeing this, Ning Zhuo laughed heartily but did not continue to press. Instead, he took a few steps back, his voice softening: “Leader Yuan, you are a wise man.”
“I was ordered to come here to recruit you, so naturally, I have protective measures. But let’s not dwell on that.”
“If I suffer even the slightest injury here, what do you think Master Fei Si will do? How will the Ning family respond? How will the Flying Disk Workshop retaliate?”
Yuan Er was intimidated. He clenched his teeth hard, his fists tightening so much that his fingernails dug into his flesh, drawing blood.
However, this pain was nothing compared to the humiliation and anger he felt at this moment!
Ning Zhuo, on the other hand, seemed completely relaxed. He clasped his hands behind his back and strolled around the small study.
Yuan Er was once filled with shame and anger. As a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, if he acted out of rage, Ning Zhuo’s fate would undoubtedly be tragic. However, Ning Zhuo strolled leisurely, because he knew that the more composed and confident he appeared at this moment, the more he could intimidate his opponent.
Ning Zhuo raised his head and spoke eloquently, beginning to recount the lifelong experiences of Yuan Yi and Yuan Dasheng, detailing the rise of the Monkey Head Gang, with every key battle described in utmost detail.
This feeling of being thoroughly understood sent a chill through Yuan Er’s heart.
Although the opponent was merely at the Qi Refining third layer, Ning Zhuo seemed like a colossal beast with its mouth wide open, ready to devour him and the entire Monkey Head Gang.
Ning Zhuo once again stepped in front of Yuan Er, his sharp gaze penetrating to the core: “Leader Yuan Er, your father and your Uncle Monkey fought tirelessly their whole lives to build this foundation. Are you going to let it fall apart now that it’s in your hands?”
“Are you willing to let that happen? Can you face your father and your Uncle Monkey with this outcome?”
Yuan Er glared, “Isn’t it because of you that I’ve ended up in this situation?”
“No, you’re wrong!” Ning Zhuo waved his hand emphatically, “Even without us, there would be others! This world is about the survival of the fittest; if you’re weak, you’ll naturally become the prey of the strong.”
“Otherwise, how did your father and your Uncle Monkey rise to power? How was the Monkey Head Gang established?”
“What you’re thinking now is exactly what those you trampled underfoot thought.”
“Stop blaming others, Leader Yuan Er.”
“Such thoughts are too weak. Give your father and your Uncle Monkey some dignity!”
Yuan Er still glared but was left speechless.
He came from a gang, and in his bones, he believed in the law of the jungle, so he had no way to refute it.
Ning Zhuo raised his head and resumed, “Join us, and we can help you. Only then will we assist you.”
Yuan Er took a deep breath, “How will you help me?”
Ning Zhuo turned around, hands behind his back, taking a few steps away, leaving only his back to Yuan Er. His tone was somber, “Are you aware of the relationship between the Flying Disk Workshop and Lord Fei Si?”
“Let me tell you a secret: forty percent of the profits from the sale of mechanical monkeys go to Lord Fei Si.”
“Although Lord Fei Si would never openly admit this, just a little favor from him can make your situation drastically different.”
“This connection alone is enough to intimidate those ambitious elders.”
Yuan Er took another deep breath.
His heart surged with resentment once more.
“So, the Flying Disk Workshop is so powerful because of its interests with Fei Si, because Fei Si supports them from behind.”
“Disgusting, truly disgusting and corrupt!”
“No wonder my Monkey Head Gang has been bullied so miserably.”
“With a Golden Core stage cultivator backing them, and a ruthless one like Fei Si at that, how could we ever win?!”
The more Yuan Er thought about it, the more aggrieved and furious he became, losing all his courage.
Ning Zhuo had been closely observing every change in Yuan Er’s expression. He continued, “Moreover, we will sell a large number of mechanical monkeys to you.”
“From now on, you must abandon your monkey pets and switch to using mechanical Explosive Monkeys.”
Yuan Er was stunned when he heard this, and immediately said, “That’s impossible! If I were to announce such an order, I would be overthrown immediately. They would never comply with such an absurd command.”
Ning Zhuo laughed heartily, prepared for this response, and replied, “Of course, I wouldn’t let you lose your position as leader.”
“You just need to tell them that from now on, the business of harvesting Huoshi will be entirely in the hands of the Monkey Head Gang, and the Flying Disk Workshop won’t touch it at all.”
“The only condition is that you must use the mechanical Explosive Monkeys and abandon all monkey pets.”
Yuan Er couldn’t believe it, “What did you say?”
Ning Zhuo chuckled, “You don’t think that our Flying Disk Workshop wants to steal your business, do you?”
“Your perspective is too narrow.”
“We have intricate interests tied with Lord Fei Si. If we were to seize the Huoshi harvesting business, wouldn’t that be competing with the people for profit? That would be extremely detrimental to Lord Fei Si’s reputation, and it would never happen.”
“We only sell mechanical Explosive Monkeys to reduce the risks of harvesting Huoshi, lower personnel casualties, and benefit the country and the people. This is the true virtue.”
Yuan Er’s face turned pale, finding it all quite absurd.
All along, he had thought that the opposition aimed to seize the Monkey Head Gang’s foundation for survival, and thus, he had fought desperately. But it turned out that their goal wasn’t this at all.
Then why had they been so tense and acted like they were facing a formidable enemy?
Ning Zhuo seemed to read his mind, “Leader Yuan Er, don’t overthink it.”
“If you continue using monkey pets, you are our enemy. If you use mechanical Explosive Monkeys, you are our customer!”
“The difference between an enemy and a customer is clear even to a child, isn’t it?”
“According to Lord Fei Si’s wishes, Huoshi City will no longer need the outdated method of using monkey pets for harvesting.”
“Every monkey is a living being; how can you be so cruel?”
“Mechanical monkeys are much better—they don’t fear death and are highly efficient.”
“I assure you, if you join us, we will secretly sell you special models of mechanical monkeys. These monkeys will be superior to the regular models in every aspect.”
“This will give your Monkey Head Gang a significant advantage in harvesting Huoshi.”
Yuan Er’s heart sank to the bottom. He knew very well that if he agreed to these terms, he would forever be at their mercy. The supply and maintenance of mechanical monkeys would all depend on the Flying Disk Workshop. The entire Monkey Head Gang’s lifeline would be in their hands.
The Flying Disk Workshop would greatly increase its influence over the entire market through them. The Monkey Head Gang would still have to fend off business competitors, while the Flying Disk Workshop would just sit back and collect money, watching the tigers fight from the mountain without shedding a drop of blood.
“What a brilliant scheme, truly brilliant!” Yuan Er lamented, losing all will to fight.
A ghostly light flickered in Ning Zhuo’s eyes, “Leader Yuan Er, have you thought it through?”
Yuan Er felt a deep sorrow. At this point, did he really have a choice?
From the moment the Millennium Huoshi Forest exploded, he was completely defeated and had no other options left!
Thus, Yuan Er walked around the desk and stood before Ning Zhuo.
Taking a deep breath, he forcibly suppressed the sorrow and anger in his heart, bowed, and said with a trembling voice, “Yuan Er greets Mr. Ning!”