Vol. 1 - Ch. 327 - A Presumptuous Request

The timing hadn't quite matched up. However, once the other party verified their identity and produced the corresponding White Moon Ant Eggs, Chen Tianquan didn't insist on the original schedule. Instead, he went ahead and completed the trade early.

After carefully inspecting each White Moon Ant Egg, Chen Tianquan nodded slightly and had the Blood Rice unloaded from the Azure Wolves' backs. He then brought out the Blood Rice Fruits they had brought in storage.

Typically, a trade of this nature would involve both sides inspecting each other's goods. However, faced with Chen Tianquan's meticulous and cautious handling of the exchange, the Cui Clan representatives simply stood by and observed, making no move to interfere.

This was precisely the kind of confidence and strength that came with belonging to a powerful clan.

Once both sides confirmed that there were no errors or falsifications in each other's goods, they quickly completed the trade and settled on the time and designated clan contact for their next exchange.

After the trade concluded, the Cui Clan representatives didn't linger. They departed Qingyan Village at once. Before leaving, however, they offered a parting word: "This village falls within our Cui Clan's territory. If you don't mind, you're welcome to rest here for a few days before setting off."

After giving it some thought, Chen Tianquan accepted the offer and decided to stay in the village for two days. He planned to leave with Chen Tianyu's group once their business was finished.

However, because the Cui Clan's representatives left quickly, Chen Tianquan's plan was derailed.

After all, the clan had already discussed how advantageous it would be to glean some valuable, hidden information from the Zhou Clan during the trade. After all, the Zhou Clan was at least a mid-tier clan, and surely there were aspects in which the Cui Clan fell short by comparison.

…

"Excellent. Being able to complete this trade with your esteemed clan is truly a stroke of fortune for us here at the Zhao Clan."

"Clan Head Zhao is far too polite."

In Yunmeng City, Chen Tianyu had also finished his trade quickly and met the current Zhao Clan head, Zhao Kuangyi.

In the trade, the Bitter Lotus that the Zhao Clan had brought the previous time was factored in.

However, the gap in strength between the Zhao and Cui Clans was considerable, so it made sense that the Zhao Clan would still hold the Bitter Lotus in such high regard.

Once the trade was completed, both sides were thoroughly satisfied and began exchanging pleasantries.

Yet beneath these pleasantries lay each side's intention to quietly probe the other for useful information.

"If none of you would mind, please stay with our clan for a few days. I'll have Elder Qimeng show you around in the meantime and let you take a proper look at our Yunmeng City."

Zhao Kuangyi said this with a smile, though the gesture was largely meant to show off the clan's strength. After all, it was impossible to know just how much larger Yunmeng City was compared to Yong'an City.

Chen Tianyu merely smiled without responding. Truthfully, when Chen Qingyu had accompanied the Zhou Clan here previously, he had already seen Yunmeng City through the power of the sacred tree. Naturally, none of this came as a surprise to him.

After a moment of thoughtful silence, however, Chen Tianyu spoke up:

"To be honest, there is one place I'd like to visit and pay my respects during this trip. I'm just not sure if it's convenient."

"Oh?"

Zhao Kuangyi's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this, but he quickly recovered, smiling and saying:

"Where might that be? Please, Elder Chen, feel free to speak."

Having received Zhao Kuangyi's nod of encouragement, Chen Tianyu replied immediately, "That would be your esteemed clan's ancestral shrine."

"......"

The moment these words left Chen Tianyu's mouth, the smile instantly vanished from Zhao Kuangyi's face. The other Zhao clansmen present were likewise struck with visible shock. The atmosphere fell utterly silent in an instant, so quiet that one could have heard a pin drop.

Zhao Kuangyi's expression turned unpleasant, and he seemed genuinely at a loss for how to respond.

An ancestral shrine is no ordinary place, it is one of the clan's most vital and sacred sites. How could outsiders possibly be permitted to view it?

Though this location wasn't the clan's original ancestral shrine, after settling this territory, the clan relocated the original shrine here. It now houses the memorial tablets of countless generations of Zhao Clan ancestors.

Even the younger generations within the clan weren't permitted to freely wander in and view it.

Seeing the displeased look on Zhao Kuangyi's face, Chen Tianyu quickly explained apologetically:

"Please don't take offense, Clan Head Zhao. This request wasn't made with any deliberate intent.

"Within our Chen Clan, there's a tradition passed down for several dozen years. Whenever a trade is completed with another clan, both sides pay respects to each other's ancestors, praying for their continued blessing and protection.

“If your clan has the time, you're welcome to visit us and pay your respects to our ancestors as well. Of course, if you would rather not, then consider this request never spoken."

Upon hearing Chen Tianyu's explanation, Zhao Kuangyi relaxed considerably, though a trace of doubt remained in his eyes.

The question was how much truth was there to what Chen Tianyu had just said? Could there be some hidden scheme at play that the clan itself wasn't yet aware of?

Yet, as Zhao Kuangyi studied Chen Tianyu's calm and composed expression, tinged with a faint hint of apology, and the equally unremarkable expressions of the other Chen clansmen behind him, he found himself beginning to doubt his own judgment.

Could the clan simply not have kept up with the latest news? Why had he never heard of such an ancient tradition?

Recalling what Chen Tianyu had just said, he wondered if it could really be true that the Chen Clan had a lineage stretching back several hundred years.

After a moment's hesitation, a smile spread across Zhao Kuangyi's face again.

"Ha ha ha, so it's simply a minor matter after all. No harm done. Though our clan's ancestral shrine is a place of great significance to us, our ancestors may not welcome too many visitors disturbing their rest."

Having said this, Zhao Kuangyi turned his gaze toward Chen Tianyu, as though trying to read his expression.

Hearing this, Chen Tianyu's face took on an even deeper look of apology.

"I'm truly sorry. My request was presumptuous. If it isn't convenient, there's no harm in simply forgoing the visit."

What a presumptuous fellow! You really are quite the piece of work!

Zhao Kuangyi thought to himself. Yet, seeing that Chen Tianyu was genuinely prepared to drop the matter and not visit the shrine, Zhao Kuangyi found himself speaking up once more.

"Since it's a tradition of your esteemed clan, it's only right that it be honored. Now that our two clans have formed an alliance, how could I bear to send Elder Chen away disappointed?"

"Qimeng, please take Elder Chen to the ancestral shrine to pay his respects to our ancestors."

"Yes, Clan Head."

"Then I'll have to trouble you all greatly!"

Chen Tianyu nodded in thanks.

Meanwhile, Zhao Kuangyi remained silent and deep in thought. Had Chen Tianyu insisted on going after his earlier remarks, Zhao Kuangyi would have had reason to suspect that the Chen Clan was hiding something. However, he hadn't noticed any obvious flaws in the man's behavior.

Still, that alone wasn't enough to dispel his suspicions entirely.

Even if it was simply a matter of paying respects, there was no real harm in it. The clan's totem wasn't kept within the shrine itself.

Besides, there weren't any great secrets hidden within his own Zhao Clan's ancestral shrine. All that lay within were the memorial tablets of their ancestors. The shrine's significance to the clan went far beyond its physical contents.

Since the Chen Clan wished to pay their respects, so be it. He might as well let them go. After all, he was rather curious to see what the Chen Clan was really up to and what they had in mind.

Zhao Kuangyi didn't accompany them; it would be petty and small-minded of a clan head to tag along for something like this.

With the clan's Qi Manipulation Realm martial artists watching him, he didn't believe this man could carry out any hidden schemes without being noticed.

"Take our guests to rest for a while and make sure the Azure Wolves are cared for properly as well."

After Chen Tianyu left, Zhao Kuangyi turned to his clansmen. His gaze lingered on the Azure Wolves with a touch of envy. Their coats gleamed and their frames were tall and imposing.

Even from just these few beasts, it was clear that the Chen Clan possessed considerable skill and depth.

He wished his clan could get their hands on a batch of beasts like these, but ferocious beasts were notoriously difficult to tame and even harder to come by.

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