Chapter 14: Investment from the Miteer Family
Hearing Xiao Yuan's question, Ya Fei slightly furrowed her brows and pretended to be annoyed:
"Little brother Xiao Yuan, did you come here just to pick up your things?"
Xiao Yuan smiled at her reaction and said, "If I just wanted to pick things up, I could've sent someone. But we agreed I'd come in person, so of course I wanted to see you again, Sister Ya Fei. Right now, I'm far behind others in cultivation. Once I have these resources, I'll need to immerse myself in training. I probably won't be able to visit you as often after this."
Saying that, Xiao Yuan casually grabbed a chair and sat beside Ya Fei.
"True, in three years you'll have to go and officially dissolve your engagement with Nalan Yanran too. Here, these are the items you requested, and I also included a top-grade purple-gold card."
Ya Fei nodded, then handed Xiao Yuan a storage ring.
"Oh? It's actually a mid-grade storage ring? Sister Ya Fei, is this a gift from you?"
Xiao Yuan took the silver-white ring, sensed it briefly, and asked with a smile.
"Let's just say it's an investment from your big sister. After all, resources here in Wu Tan City are limited. Having a mid-grade ring is already pretty good."
Ya Fei giggled and nodded, then suddenly shifted the topic:
"By the way, I remember the best cultivation method in your Xiao family is your father's, right? That Mid Xuan-tier technique, Furious Lion's Rage Qi?"
"That's right."
Xiao Yuan nodded, puzzled by her mention.
"What a coincidence—just yesterday, a hunter delivered a High Xuan-tier cultivation method. It's called Whirling Wind Technique, apparently a legacy of some predecessor. It shouldn't have any hidden dangers. If you want it, I can give it to you at the starting bid—200,000 gold coins!"
Ya Fei smiled brightly at him.
High Xuan-tier, Whirling Wind Technique...
Xiao Yuan froze for a moment. It sounded familiar—wasn't this the technique that the Jia Lie clan bought at auction?
But… 200,000 gold? That was nearly two years' profit for the Xiao family. How could he possibly afford that?
Hmm... or maybe...
Seeing the look in Ya Fei's eyes, Xiao Yuan quickly imprinted his soul mark on the ring, then pulled out the purple-gold card and scanned it with his soul power.
"500,000 gold coins? Sister Ya Fei, didn't I only invest 10,000 gold coins in the beginning?"
Xiao Yuan exclaimed in surprise.
"Only 500,000? That's nothing. You've brought the Miteer family far greater returns than that."
Ya Fei waved her hand dismissively and continued, "Two years ago, when you said you'd help me return to the capital—maybe even become the head of the Miteer family—I was skeptical. But now, I think it's actually possible."
"Oh? So the banking venture is going well?"
Xiao Yuan asked with a grin. He had only mentioned the concept of a bank briefly to Ya Fei—essentially introducing the operations of a modern banking system. The actual execution had been handled by her. His contribution was a 10,000-gold investment, nothing more.
"Mhm. Soon, Wu Tan City will have its own Miteer Bank. The purple-gold card I gave you works throughout the Jia Ma Empire. Its holder is of the highest status. Consider it part of the Miteer family's investment in you.
"In fact, the medicinal herbs were ready that very afternoon. But we needed to report your ability to cultivate to the family so they could reassess your potential for investment. That's what took the extra time—everything was finalized just yesterday. As for that Whirling Wind Technique, if you want it, the auction house will just buy it outright and gift it to you."
As she spoke, Ya Fei turned her hand over. The storage ring flashed, and a green scroll appeared.
"Oh? I'm only at third-stage Dou Qi. Is all this really worth it?" Xiao Yuan looked slightly confused, then quickly caught on and added, "Sister Ya Fei, don't tell me you exaggerated the report?"
"I did. I told them you began cultivating six months ago and you're already at seventh-stage Dou Qi, with potential to break through to Dou Zhe within the year. Exceptionally talented."
Ya Fei smiled with narrowed eyes, full of charm.
"Aren't you afraid of getting caught?"
Xiao Yuan blinked, curious.
Ya Fei smiled and shook her head before calmly explaining:
"The family has always wanted to invest in you. They just needed a reasonable excuse. Your proposal about the bank—if taken to the royal family—would've greatly disrupted the Miteer family's position.
"But investing in someone who can't cultivate would've been controversial. Even if we gave you resources, you couldn't protect them. Some elders opposed the idea. So everything was delayed.
"But now that you're able to cultivate—and are supposedly a genius—don't mention a mere 500,000 coins. If you need herbs, pills, techniques, or Dou Skills, the Miteer family can provide them all. If you rise to become a Dou Wang or Dou Huang in the future, the Miteer and Xiao families will be strong allies."
"As for fudging the report? It doesn't really matter. Worst case, if you really are just a 'waste' and die unexpectedly, the Miteer family could just eliminate the person responsible. We'd still come out looking justified, and wouldn't have lost too much. It's basically a win-win."
Xiao Yuan nodded in realization, seeing through the logic clearly.
"Hehe, you're certainly blunt, little brother Xiao Yuan."
Ya Fei didn't deny anything. Business was business. Though she had a good relationship with Xiao Yuan over the years, family interests still came first. Xiao Yuan understood this too, and never saw Ya Fei as someone to rely on entirely—they each had their own goals to pursue.
"But the storage ring really is my gift to you. It suits your usual style."
Ya Fei added with a sweet smile.
"It does. I trust your taste, Sister Ya Fei."
Xiao Yuan nodded in agreement. Most of his white robes had also been custom-made by Ya Fei.
After all, the Xiao clan-issued uniforms were all black by default—completely incompatible with his aesthetic.
Seeing his agreement, Ya Fei nodded in satisfaction and then added:
"By the way, Whirling Wind Technique is a wind-element cultivation method. Since you're still in the Dou Qi stage, your attribute hasn't revealed itself yet. But since your father has wind affinity, it's likely you do too. If not, just let me know once you reach Dou Zhe, and I'll find a compatible method and skill from the family vault."
Xiao Yuan shook his head and smiled:
"Better put Whirling Wind Technique up for auction. I'm sure the Jia Lie clan has their eyes on it—they'll bleed for it. That way, it's like they're safekeeping my future property. But as for Dou Skills, I really do need them. I'll have to trouble you, Sister Ya Fei."
Hearing this, Ya Fei withdrew the scroll and smiled:
"Alright. I'll discuss it with the family. At the very least, it'll be a Xuan-tier Dou Skill."
"Perfect. That would be ideal."
(END CHAPTER)
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