Chapter 1179: Chapter 1168: Power Struggles at the Top
Ning Fan smiled and said, “Senior, that old fellow Duan Yunfei is my friend despite our age difference. We’ve drunk wine together, composed poetry, and played with swords. Asking him for such a small favor is just a matter of a word, isn’t it?”
Nalan Jiuhuang wasn’t afraid and said word by word, “In a short time, you’ve managed to make the Cloud Breaking Sect work for you. You’ve indeed done well, young man.
However, your good luck ends here. These… are just the appetizers before the meal; losing a round, why rush?”
“Hiss…”
Everyone gasped, looking at Nalan Jiuhuang in shock. It seems that in this old woman’s eyes, she doesn’t care about human life at all. The death of nearly a hundred people didn’t make her blink an eye.
Ning Qiankun exhaled a breath and negotiated, “Senior, if you retreat now, the Ning Family will pretend that nothing ever happened. If you persist, the Ning Family will accompany you to the end. Let’s see who will win on the battlefield.”
“Good, well said.”
Nalan Jiuhuang smiled charmingly, her beautiful eyes like a crescent moon fixed on Ning Fan, domineeringly said, “If in the end, my Nalan Family breaks through your defenses, I have only one condition. If the Ning Family Head agrees to this condition, I will let you off this time. From then on, dust returns to dust, soil returns to soil, and we won’t mention this again. How about it?”
“What is the Senior’s condition? Feel free to say it.”
Ning Qiankun sipped his tea calmly, his expression unchanging.
“It’s very simple.” Nalan Jiuhuang held her forehead with her hand, smiled mysteriously, “If the Ning Family is defeated, I only want Ning Fan. Only by bringing him back to the Nalan Family can we give a perfect explanation to the deceased Nalan Clan members.”
“That’s impossible!”
Ning Qiankun quickly retorted, leaving no room for negotiation.
Are you kidding? Ning Fan is the next Family Head of the Ning Family. How could he become someone else’s hostage or fish on the chopping block, waiting to be slaughtered?
If that were the case, how would the Ning Family’s reputation stand, and how could they establish themselves in Huaxia?
This is a provocation, a blatant challenge.
Nalan Jiuhuang, relying on her status as an Aerial Mastery Realm expert, completely overlooks the Ning Family, and her demands are ridiculously whimsical.
Ning Fan came over, pulled Ning Qiankun to sit down, then stood in front of Nalan Jiuhuang, looking at her disdainfully with a smirk, “Senior, I agree to your condition!”
“Fan’er…”
Ning Qiankun was shocked, his eyes wide open, unable to believe the words Ning Fan uttered.
Duan Yuanmeng was walking out at this moment, hearing this also turned her head, furrowed her brows with a trace of concern.
Although Ning Fan teased her several times and seemed a bit unserious, this man possessed a hidden charm—not the superficial kind, but a deeply buried one—that made Duan Yuanmeng, this young girl, become infatuated with him unbeknownst to herself.
It must be said that the emotions of a lovestruck maiden are very unpredictable.
The scene became silent, even those seasoned elders of the Nalan Family showed smiles.
Once Ning Fan is taken to the Nalan Family to receive punishment or is directly killed, it would be enough to honor those deceased Nalan Clan members, including Nalan Yanfeng.
Not only would it provide an explanation to everyone, but the nature of this matter is also significant. After all, Ning Fan is the next Family Head of the Ning Family, appointed heir by Ning Qiankun.
If the Nalan Family could judge Ning Fan, it would mean the Ning Family has reached a dead end, and the Nalan Family completely need not consider them.
However, all this depends on the outcome of the upcoming battle, with odds fifty-fifty.
Nalan Jiuhuang looked at Ning Fan’s young face with interest, propped her hand on the table, her eyes charmingly looking at him, and teased, “Little boy, if I were seventy or eighty years younger, I might have been persuaded by you. Unexpectedly, at such a young age, you have such boldness, admirable yet laughable.”
“That’s not your concern.”
Ning Fan felt the seductive power in Nalan Jiuhuang’s gaze was strong enough to almost draw out his seven souls and six spirits.
Ning Fan, who traveled internationally and dominated in Huaxia, was well-informed and skillfully avoided this seduction, saying faintly, “No wonder you’ve lived this long, it seems your life philosophy is indeed profound.
If I guess correctly, when you walked the Jianghu before, you would oppress the weak and use high-level Charming Skills when confronted by someone stronger. Isn’t it so?”
“What sharp eyes!”
Nalan Jiuhuang’s body paused, a glimmer in her eyes, nodding in praise, “Ning Qiankun, how fortunate you are to have this kirin of a son; if he survives, your Ning Family will have a century of no worries.”
“Hehe, Senior, I think the same. We heroes share the same view.” Ning Qiankun was delighted, laughed heartily, and felt somewhat proud of his own judgment.
Nalan Jiuhuang, the woman who usually held high standards, rarely praised others, and this outspoken compliment was the first in decades.
Even the head of the Nalan Family—Nalan Wushuang—was often scolded fiercely by Nalan Jiuhuang, never receiving a kind word.
The seasoned elders of the Nalan Family exchanged glances and shook their heads with wry smiles, thinking perhaps the Ninth Aunt has changed?
Ning Qiankun cleared his throat and changed the topic, “Senior, and esteemed family brothers, since my Fan’er has agreed to the request, I must also ask, if the Ning Family won this battle, what compensation would you offer?”
“Compensation? Hehe…”
Nalan Jiuhuang pursed her thin lips, shook her head, and laughed, “I don’t believe it. With me here and such precise arrangements made, can your Ning Family win?”
“Then let’s wait and see, it’s still unknown who will be the ultimate victor.”
Ning Fan summed up, sat back in his seat, bowed his head, and calmly drank his tea, saying no more.
The Quiet Thought Hall fell into silence, everyone waiting for the upcoming results.
Meanwhile, at the scene of the conflict, a sense of eeriness spread.
Except for Nalan Wuwei who escaped, other teams were still advancing rapidly, albeit in different directions.
From a high vantage point, one could see a Nalan Family team navigating a winding path, attempting a surprise attack on the Ning Family.
However, despite their incessant turns, it seemed as though the path was endless, leaving them sweating profusely, yet the Ning Family villa remained out of sight.
“What’s going on?”
Everyone halted, exchanging puzzled glances.
At this time, the scorching sun and the residual heat of autumn made their clothes soaking wet.
Due to the Nalan Family employing a blitz tactic, everyone carried only half a day’s dry food and a jug of water.