50 582 - Compromise for the Greater Good

'The troops of the Water Palace will attack first?'

Cheng Aofang, Shang Liuhuan and Zhuang Youwen subconsciously looked at one another, they all muttered in their heart: 'It seems the Water Palace is really prepared to risk it all, wanting to fight head on, with eggs against rocks…'

"Elaborate!" Cheng Aofang said.

Miao Yi asked: "I heard that the Wooden Palace and the Sun Palace are in negotiation, both sides take turns to send envoys to discuss, is there such a thing?"

Cheng Aofang affirmed: "Each side sent an Advisor and two Deacons, we have negotiated back and forth for several rounds."

Miao Yi immediately said:

"Both of us will make preparations. When the negotiation takes place in the Wooden Palace, 130,000 troops of the Water Palace will immediately attack. Under such a large-scale attack, regardless of the outcome, the Sun Palace has to send experts urgently to settle the situation. So there won't be so many defending the Wooden-Sun Palace border. As soon as the Water Palace makes its move, Palace Lord can immediately eliminate the experts sent by the Sun Palace for the negotiation, it's like chopping one arm of the Sun Palace. Then you can gather all of the Wooden Palace's Red Lotus experts and go straight to the Sun Palace, using the number advantage to kill the Palace Lord Shi Xiaotian in one fell swoop. Afterward, please send reinforcement to help the Water Palace to remove the remaining experts of the Sun Palace! When the majority of your troops reinforce us, we can comfortably remove all the remaining threats and stabilize the Sun Palace, and the outcome would be determined!"

After listening to this, Shang Liuhuan and Zhuang Youwen glanced at each other, they both nodded and said: "If that's the case, Palace Lord, this is feasible!"

Cheng Aofang nodded slightly, then looked at Miao Yi: "It sounds like all the advantages and benefits are on my side. Do you know that when the experts of the Sun Palace arrive, your side will have to bear tremendous pressure? Are you not worried about us not saving you? After all, it's even better if all of you die."

Miao Yi asked back: "If we all die, I would like to ask Palace Lord, what will happen if the troops of the Wooden Palace are scattered among the territories of three Palaces? I'm afraid that when the news spread, Palace Lord wouldn't be able to deploy more troops in time, other Palaces would take the chance to deal with the Wooden Palace. Besides, after this negotiation, we naturally have to set up a 'lawful agreement' to restrain each other!"

"Since you are not worried, I have nothing else to say." This was the attitude of the strong. Cheng Aofang looked at Shang Liuhuan and Zhuang Youwen: "Do the Advisors have any opinion?"

The two clasped their hands and said: "We will follow the Palace Lord's order!"

Cheng Aofang nodded and told Miao Yi: "Tell Tao Qingli to draw up a 'lawful agreement' as soon as possible. This matter should be done sooner than later, the negotiation with the Sun Palace can't be stretched out for too long, otherwise it will make the other party suspicious."

"Palace Lord is wise!" Miao Yi flattered, then immediately left with Zhao Fei.

Cheng Aofang suddenly flashed toward the door and watched the figures disappearing over the horizon, then she called: "Shang Liuhuan!"

"Subordinate is here!" Shuang Liuhuan stepped forward and waited for order.

Cheng Aofang turned back and said: "A cultivator, who is below the Red Lotus realm, could become a Hall Master in the Water Palace. And the Water Palace dared to let this cultivator take charge of such an important business. You have also seen his performance. I need to know his general situation as soon as possible. You personally arrange someone to investigate this matter, do it immediately!"

"Understood!" Shang Liuhuan acknowledged the order and left.

Flying in the air, Zhao Fei suddenly sighed: "My brother, in fact, I don't think it is necessary to give her half of the income of the Water Palace. Cheng Aofang might agree to form an alliance with us with just the Sun Palace as bait."

"Then what will happen after the alliance?" Miao Yi immediately turned around and asked. Seeing Zhao Fei remained silent, he also sighed:

"This is a shortcoming of the Water Palace, it can't be done! If the Water Palace had just a little strength for self-protection, why would we put so much effort into making a wedding dress for others? Of course just the Sun Palace could make her agree to form an alliance. But if we didn't pay tribute, even if she didn't find trouble with us afterward, what about others? What would we do if someone else coveted the Water Palace? You think we could pull this off again? Only if we paid tribute would she protect us. To put it bluntly, this is the protection fee that we need to pay her."

Zhao Fei groaned: "I'm only afraid that as a Lord, a 'lawful agreement' might not be able to restrain her. If there's a time that she wants to expand, forcefully break the agreement and annex the Water Palace, we will have no way to deal with it."

Miao Yi shook his head: "This is also a reason why we give her half of the income. If she annexes the Water Palace, she will wield too great a power, and more or less she has to take into account the opinions from the top. Unless she is strong enough to oust the Overlord, this ending is the most perfect for her: occupying two Palaces and getting half of the income of the Water Palace. This also helps us avoid the most worrisome thing. As she said, once she eliminates Shi Xiaotian of the Sun Palace, if she doesn't reinforce us quickly and let us die, the lawful agreement will not have any binding effect. Then even if it's just half of the income, others might not let her take it, so she will try to protect us instead."

Zhao Fei smiled bitterly: "I'm afraid that this lawful agreement will restrain us the most. Who knows how long the Water Palace has to submit."

"We have to have confidence in ourselves! As long as there is a chance, we may turn over. If there isn't even a chance, we have nothing left. With the shortcomings of the Water Palace, it's unavoidable to take a step back for the greater good. As long as there's a chance, we can snatch the agreement back from her hand, if not, let's accept the protection of others honestly!" Miao Yi also smiled wryly.

The two of them returned to the Water Palace and described the situation. Tao Qingli said bitterly: "The two Hall Masters have worked hard."

Naturally no Palace Lord would be high spirited when faced with such a situation.

Zhao Fei sighed in his heart, exactly as Miao Yi had said, this was the shortcomings of the Water Palace, the debt made by Tao Qingli herself, and now she had no choice but to pay for it. He clasped his hands:

"It was Miao Yi who worked hard. He talked reasons to Cheng Aofang and two Advisors of the Wooden Palace and quickly sealed the deal. I didn't even say a word."

Miao Yi clasped his hands: "This subordinate is incapable, making the Palace Lord suffer a loss."

Tao Qingli smiled bitterly: "I can't blame anyone but myself for this matter. If the Water Palace had the ability to protect itself, there wouldn't be a situation like today."

Miao Yi muttered in his heart: 'You finally admit it, it doesn't matter if you're unlucky, a lot of people are involved because of you.'

He also felt wronged and frustrated. When he was in Flowing Cloud Dune Sea, Granny Tao had agreed to let him be a Hall Master. But now he had to give away half of the profit from this position. But still, it's better than nothing, at least he can have the income from 5 Manors, and the autonomy in his own hands.

Sikong Wuwei wasn't worried about the loss of income but the safety of Tao Qingli instead. He frowned:

"Will it be dangerous letting Qingli go and sign the agreement like this?"

Zhao Fei and Miao Yi looked at each other, on the way back, they had discussed this. Zhao Fei waved his hand:

"Second brother is worried too much, Cheng Aofang wouldn't dare to harm big sis. To her, killing Qingli has no benefits. With the Sun Palace by the side competing, she would have no way to swallow the Water Palace. If the top appointed a powerful new Palace Lord, she would lose all hook, line and sinker. So not only will she not harm big sis, she will ensure sister's safety. This trip will definitely not fail!"

"That's good!" Sikong Wuwei nodded.

Then they sat down and discussed some more details…

---

In the Flowing Cloud Dune Sea, a spirit eagle flew over and knocked on the window of the Tempest Tavern.

The Lady Boss, who was meditating cross-legged on the bed, suddenly opened her eyes. She waved her hand and the bolt of the window slid open. The spirit eagle immediately flew in and landed on the coat hanger. It titled its head and chirped.

The Lady Boss got down from the bed and took out the jade slip from the eagle's leg. The letter came from Miao Yi. It contained a bunch of secret words making her frowned. There were only 3 words at the end that she could understand: 'Under the bed!'

'Under the bed?' The Lady Boss frowned and turned around, looking at her bed. Using her sense to probe it and as expected, there was something under it. She spread her palm, a jade slip flew out and landed on her hand.

Upon checking, she realized this was the key to decode the message which Miao Yi had left behind. Obviously he was afraid that someone would intercept the spirit eagle to snoop on the secret between them.

'This will need some time to study!' The Lady Boss stepped out of the room and asked a staff member to bring some fresh meat for the eagle.

After understanding the message, stating that Miao Yi had returned safely, with some sweet words attached, the Lady Boss didn't reply. She brought the spirit eagle out, went to the rooftop and directly let it fly back.

Watching the eagle passing through the clouds, with her hair fluttering in the wind, the Lady Boss wore a faint smile and muttered to herself: "I always think about your safety, are you thinking the same?"

'Crack!' Two jad slips turned to dust and went with the wind. Between her fingers was the spirit feather that the Carpenter brought back. With a little strength, it also turned to dust and scattered in a blink of an eye.

"Unconscientious! Just using correspondence to deal with me? I'll keep you out of contact and make you itch…"

---

In the Raincloud Manor, a figure with unbelievable speed flew over and landed in the mansion, shocking the maids who were playing in the courtyard.

"Where's Miao Yi? Tell him to come out and see me!" The visitor said solemnly.

This person wasn't anyone else but An Zhengfeng, the manager of the Celestial Nation Chamber of Commerce in Flowing Cloud Dune Sea. After receiving Miao Yi's message, he rushed over like a meteor. At this moment he was wearing a mask to disguise himself.

A maid weakly replied: "Manor Head Miao has been promoted to the Hall Master of Suppressing First Hall of the Water Palace. He has gone there to take up the appointment."

"Hall Master of Suppressing First Hall…" An Zhengfeng's mouth twitched. 'Boom!' He shot away in an instant, leaving the two maids looking at each other.

However, before they could recover, three other figures dropped down from the sky, Yan Beihong in a red robe with two Advisors arrived.

"Brother Miao!"

Yan Beihong laughed loudly and strode directly into the main hall. But before reaching the door, he heard the maid said weakly: "Manor Head Miao has been promoted to the Hall Master of Suppressing First Hall of the Water Palace. He has gone there to take up the appointment."