Chapter 48: Theatrics Act II

"We greet the branch head." Ellia and Lyra nodded their heads and greeted her.

Feng Zhiming had near zero knowledge of the guild but he knew this woman, she was famous throughout the lands, a seven hundred year old Heavenly Eye Cultivator.

"I greet the esteemed Silver Songbird of Elysium, I am Feng Zhiming of the Heavenly Divine Demon Sect."

He took the initiative to actually kneel on one knee, Anissa saw his actions and mimicked them

Lyra looked at him with a beyond surprised expression.

"This is the same person?!" she thought to herself.

The woman walked over to stand before Feng Zhiming with her hands clasped in front of her at waist level.

She looked down at his lowered head as she spoke in a playful tone

"It seems that you at least give me face when I stand before you."

Feng Zhiming slowly raised his hand and took her right hand before bringing it to his lips, a gesture of respect.

"I'm sure the branch head, with all her wisdom, understands my intentions were not bad."

He looked up at her with the most innocent expression he could muster.

"Charming aren't we?" she chuckled as she took the empty seat beside Old Wu.

"How can I dare to claim a semblance of charm when the respected branch leader sits before me." Feng Zhiming spoke as he returned to his seat.

Anissa, Ellia, and Lyra were collectively blown away by his performance, they merely stood speechless.

*Ahem*

Old Wu cleared the air by coughing.

Everyone quickly took a seat.

"Who do you think you are, laying your dirty lips on Madam Hua?" Lyra spoke while clenching her fists, still trying to hold back.

"I'm not sure where you're from, but I was taught to greet all beautiful women that way." Feng Zhiming instantly retorted.

Lyra looked at him with an annoyed expression.

"Seem's you're not consistent with your manners."

She flipped her hair, Anissa also nodded ever so slightly.

"Trust me, I greet all beautiful women, all beautiful, women, in the same manner." Feng Zhiming made sure to speak slowly and clearly, while smirking.

Lyra smiled off the obvious insult while unleashing her rage at the table which was enduring her brutal grasp.

At the same time Feng Zhiming had a strange feeling, he could feel Anissa staring a hole into the back of his head.

"That's enough jests for now, let us begin the discussion." Ellia interrupted the heated face off once again.

"Indeed, junior Feng, let us know the real reason you wanted to see inscriber Wu today." Madam Hua added.

Feng Zhiming put his hand around inscriber Wu's neck, as if they were old friends.

"Of course, you're all well aware. I come for the compass."

The room went quiet for a moment, this elusive creature seemed to be getting more and more valuable by the day.

"The guild is naturally fair and inscriber Wu is free to do business with whoever he wishes."

Madam Hua spoke in an understanding tone.

"However, you interrupted our offer before we had a chance to discuss it, so I hope you wait for us ."

Feng Zhiming chuckled.

"Unfortunately my dearest madam, the compass is no longer on the bargaining table, I have purchased it in advance. Now if you want to discuss the matter of the Elysium guild forcing someone to sell, that's a different story."

Lyra smacked her hand on the table as she proclaimed. "Lies! He was bargaining with us a few hours ago."

Madam Hua turned her gaze to inscriber Wu, its overbearing pressure weighing down on him.

"Well?" she asked simply.

"It is true the compass belongs to the young master here."

As inscriber Wu spoke in a shaky toke he handed the compass to Feng Zhiming, who instantly stored it away in his storage ring.

"Well Madam, are you going to kill me for the compass?"

Feng Zhiming began to stand up.

She smiled before responding.

"Please take a seat junior, I'm sure we can discuss some sort of arrangement."

Feng Zhiming complied, it was going just as he had foreseen.

"I can't deny the invitation of a beauty after all."

Unseen tension began to fill the room.

"We need some sort of leeway, good sir." Ellia chimed in.

Anissa merely sat in the chair, her hand still resting on her blade, ready to strike at any moment. She wasn't one for negotiations so she trusted Feng Zhiming to handle them in their entirety.

Feng Zhiming began to think about it, completely denying them would only fracture his relationship with the guild of Elysium, a faction no one knew the depths of.

However, there was nothing in the world he'd have over the creature right now.

If he could reach the creature he could figure out why the assembly so desperately wanted the creature dead, his curiosity had reached its apex.

"Is there really nothing you want? Cultivation materials, techniques or even a bloodline replacement?" Madam Hua spoke as she eyed Feng Zhiming.

Feng Zhiming shrugged his shoulders.

"Bloodline replacement is useless to an Ethereal Core cultivator not even approaching the Heavenly Eye stage madam, however since you seem so sincere, I might have an idea of what I want."

She looked at him with an expectant gaze, this creature was something that the higher ups in the guild were adamant on capturing she needed a way to find it.

"The guild is very flexible and is willing to comply, please speak your price." She encouraged him to speak up.

Feng Zhiming finally let his demands be known as he tilted his head slightly while grinning and replied in a serious tone.

"You."