It turned out the Ye family’s business had reached an extrely dangerous point. The only reason they could continue to contend with the Li and Wang families was entirely due to the support of a few large shops.
But today, these large shops had sent word early in the morning: their cooperation with the Ye family was over. This sent the Ye family into a panic. Once these shops ended their partnerships, the vast stores of herbs piled up in their warehouses would be unsellable. This would be a massive disaster for the Ye family.
"Sigh. Fewer and fewer shops are willing to buy our Ye family’s dicinal herbs. If we can’t sell them, our family will exist in na only."
"The Wang family is in the potion business themselves. Their shops handle a large portion of Blue Moon City’s dicinal herbs, so it’s incredibly difficult for us to compete with them."
"Why don’t we see if we can reconcile with the Wang family?"
"Reconcile? Do you think that’s possible?"
Before Ye Xuan could even speak, a large group of clan mbers had already started sighing in despair. They, too, had been worn to exhaustion by the family’s troubles these past few days.
"Reconciliation with the Wang family is impossible," Ye Xuan said calmly, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes. "As I see it, between our Ye family and the Wang family, only one can survive. It’s them or us."
Ye Batian gave a bitter smile. "Destroy the Wang family? I’ve never even considered it. They’re one of the three great families of Blue Moon City. It’ll be a victory for our Ye family if we can just survive this ti."
Ye Xuan was noncommittal, smiling faintly. "Grandfather, according to you, these shops didn’t side with the Wang family when they first moved against us. Why would they suddenly turn on our Ye family now?"
Ye Batian’s brow furrowed. "That’s what we’re confused about as well. These shops have always had a good working relationship with our Ye family. Even though the Li and Liu families have tead up this ti, our Ye family’s herbs are still the best in all of Cyan Mountain Town. Logically, they shouldn’t be refusing us."
"Father, is there any doubt? The Wang family must be pulling strings behind the scenes," Ye Zhanxiong said through gritted teeth.
"I know the Wang family is behind this, and it must be Wang Tian’s doing after he returned yesterday," Ye Batian sighed. "But what puzzles is that the upstream supplier for these shops is the Blue Moon City Alchemist Association. Unless the Wang family has also bribed the Alchemist Association, these shops wouldn’t act together."
"Patriarch, our Ye family has always been on good terms with the Cyan Mountain Town branch of the Alchemist Association. Should we send soone to try and speak with them?"
Ye Batian gave a bitter smile. "I went to the Alchemist Association’s branch in person as soon as I got the news. Unfortunately, not only did I not see the person in charge, I couldn’t even get through the front gate. As I see it, the Alchemist Association is dead set on joining forces with the Wang family."
"What?"
"What are we going to do?"
"The Alchemist Association is the only major player in the potion market with a larger share than the Wang family. If both of them blacklist our Ye family’s herbs, it will be impossible for us to operate in Blue Moon City."
Hearing this news, the Ye clan mbers panicked. If what the Patriarch said was true, then there was no point for the Ye family to keep struggling. They might as well just give up.
The Wang family and the Alchemist Association together controlled about eighty percent of the market in Blue Moon City. If they tead up, the Ye family stood no chance against them.
"There’s no need to panic," Ye Batian said. "As far as I know, the Alchemist Association and the Wang family have never been particularly close. Otherwise, they would have monopolized Blue Moon City’s potion market long ago. I suspect this is a decision made by the Cyan Mountain Town branch on its own. I’m preparing to send soone to the Alchemist Association in Blue Moon City to inquire. As long as we can get through to them, our Ye family might not fall after all."
"Patriarch, but that depends on our people actually reaching Blue Moon City. Right now is the peak season for shipping herbs. Our Ye family can’t afford to wait."
"That’s right. A round trip to Blue Moon City takes at least four or five days. Even if the Association in Blue Moon City agrees to take our goods by then, our Ye family will have already lost most of our market share."
The Ye clan mbers broke into a flurry of discussion, the worry on their faces plain to see.
Ye Batian sighed. He knew his clansn were right, but at this point, it was the only plan they had.
"Alright. Zhanxiong, take so n to Blue Moon City yourself. You must do whatever it takes to establish contact with the Alchemist Association there. As for things here, I will personally go talk to the branch again. I hope Elder Liang will consider our many years of cooperation and not be so utterly ruthless."
The Patriarch spoke gravely, having quickly made his decision.
Just then, a Ye family disciple suddenly ran in, saying frantically, "Patriarch, this is bad! The Li and Liu families are publicly buying herbs in the town square! They’re proclaiming that the Alchemist Association has canceled their cooperation with us and switched to them instead. I saw Steward Xuu from the Alchemist Association branch there as well. A lot of the herb farrs who work with us seem to be thinking of selling their herbs to them."
"What?"
"The Wang family is trying to wipe us out completely."
"This is outrageous!"
The eyes of the many clan mbers were practically shooting flas of fury.
"The Alchemist Association? What a coincidence," Ye Xuan said, rubbing his nose. A confident smile imdiately appeared on his face. "Grandfather, I have a way to make the Alchemist Association cooperate with our Ye family."
"You? What could you possibly do?" In an instant, everyone in the assembly hall stared at him, their faces filled with doubt and disbelief.
They refused to believe that Ye Xuan, a teenager, could have any solution.
"Grandfather, just trust . This is a matter of utmost importance to the family; why would I deceive you? For now, you all go to the square and placate the herb farrs. My father and I will go to the Alchemist Association branch. After we persuade the person in charge, we’ll join you imdiately," Ye Xuan instructed decisively.
Seeing Ye Xuan’s confidence, the Patriarch’s heart skipped a beat. ’Could it be? Does this kid really have a way to persuade the Alchemist Association?’
Though still skeptical, he knew this was no ti for hesitation. After giving a few orders, he imdiately led a group of people straight to the square.
Just as Ye Xuan had said, the most urgent task now was to calm the wavering herb farrs. Everything else would have to wait.
anwhile, Ye Xuan and his father headed for the Alchemist Association branch in Cyan Mountain Town.
The Alchemist Association was a top-tier power in Blue Moon City, and the sa was true in Cyan Mountain Town. Its branch building was a beautiful landmark in the town.
Ye Zhanyun had been here many tis before, so he knew the way well. As they walked up the steps of the Alchemist Association branch, Ye Zhanyun cautioned Ye Xuan not to speak out of turn and to be on his best behavior.
The head of the Cyan Mountain Town Alchemist Association branch was a first-grade Alchemist nad Elder Liang. However, this man spent most of his ti in his laboratory developing potions, so most of the branch’s general affairs were handed over to Steward Xuu.
Now that Steward Xuu had gone to the square with the Li family, the only one who could change things was Elder Liang.
As Ye Xuan and the others were walking up the steps, a clerk at the counter saw them from a distance.
"Hey! What are you people doing here? Get lost! This is no place for the likes of you."
This clerk had been working at the counter of the Alchemist Association branch for a long ti. How could he not recognize Ye Xuan’s father, Ye Zhanyun? He had personally greeted him with great deference several tis in the past; Ye Zhanyun was soone he had always needed to curry favor with.
But tis had changed. The winds at the Alchemist Association had shifted, and the Ye family was no longer soone he needed to fawn over. All of the Association’s business had been redirected to the Li and Liu families. In other words, even though the Ye family was still the leading power in Cyan Mountain Town, a re second-generation heir was now soone he could look down on and show off to.
"Hehe, young man, I am Ye Zhanyun. I would like to see Elder Liang of your branch. Could you please announce ?" Before Ye Xuan could speak, Ye Zhanyun had already spoken with a placating smile.
"Oh, so it’s the Ye family," the clerk said in a sarcastic tone, waving his hand impatiently as if shooing away flies. "And here I was wondering who it was. Let tell you, our Elder Liang is busy. Go on, hurry back to wherever you ca from. Don’t just stand there blocking our entrance."
"This is just a small token of my appreciation. I would still ask that you please inform him, young man." Ye Zhanyun took out a Profound Ticket and offered it.
"Well now, five hundred Profound Coins right off the bat. The Ye family is still quite wealthy, aren’t you?" the clerk sneered, shoving Ye Zhanyun’s hand away. His face darkened. "Do I look like the kind of person who would take your money?"
"See Elder Liang? Do you have any idea how busy Elder Liang of our Alchemist Association is? Do you think he’s soone you can just see whenever you feel like it?"
"Let tell you, as long as I’m here today, you won’t be seeing anyone."
"What are you still standing around for? Don’t hold up our business. The exit is to your right. See yourselves out."
The clerk waved his hand dismissively, a look of impatience on his face, his spit nearly spraying onto Ye Xuan’s father’s face. He had the perfect look of a petty villain enjoying a mont of power.
To be honest, he really wanted to take those five hundred Profound Coins. But now that their Steward Xuu was cooperating with the Wang family of Blue Moon City and had given clear instructions that very morning, he wasn’t about to risk angering the steward for a little bit of money.
Ye Xuan, who had been standing silently at the side without a chance to speak, finally frowned upon seeing this.
Seeing Ye Xuan frown, Ji Ling—who had followed him here and had also been swallowing his anger at the side—finally exploded...
SMACK!
He landed a heavy slap right across the clerk’s face. "Open your damn dog eyes and see who you’re talking to!"
"Your boss is so busy? Do you have any idea how busy my young master is?"
"A little clerk like you acting so arrogant? Do your parents know? Does your boss know?"
"You dog! Acting so high and mighty! Believe it or not, I could send you to see King Yama in a minute!"
The clerk was seeing stars from Ji Ling’s slap. He was completely stunned, clutching his face in utter disbelief.
’This is the Alchemist Association branch, the most prestigious place in all of Cyan Mountain Town!’
’Usually, everyone who cos here coaxes and flatters , smiling apologetically.’
’But today, I was actually hit!’
’And the one who hit was from the Ye family—a family on the verge of collapse!’
’This is completely outrageous!’
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