"Not to act so clever, I told you," Old Zhang squinted at him. "I am paying for this, whereas you are taking it for free. How can those two things be compared?"

"No way. Even you, sir, have to pay?" Wang Guan naturally didn't believe it. "Surely, I should at least get a discount, shouldn't I?"

"...Have some tea."

Old Zhang raised his cup as a gesture, and from that motion alone, Wang Guan knew he had guessed correctly again. Since they were on the same side, even a three-to-five-tenths discount was practically a giveaway.

Of course, knowing this in his heart was enough; there was no need to state it aloud. Wang Guan smiled knowingly and, responding to the invitation, began savoring the West Lake Longjing with Old Zhang while casually discussing his recent experiences.

Soon enough, the pot of tea was empty, but Zhang Qing still hadn't returned. Seeing this, Wang Guan grew slightly perplexed. "My conditions weren't exactly unreasonable. If they still won't agree, then don't blame me for not giving you face, sir."

"Don't worry, they will definitely agree to your terms."

Old Zhang remained composed, gesturing toward the box on the table. With practiced cunning, he said, "As expected, they must be deliberating on how to acquire that item of yours."

"Grasping at too much, aren't they afraid of choking?" Wang Guan frowned. "Time and again, it's endless. It's quite tiresome. Perhaps I should just lose my temper and be done with it."

"Lose your temper over what?"

Old Zhang waved his hand. "Young people are too impatient. Since they recognize the potential value of this thing, they won't let it go easily. Moreover, they understand your temperament. They know that taking food from the tiger's mouth—demanding something from you—will absolutely require paying a higher price. So, no matter how you look at it, you stand to profit. You should be happy about that. Why lose your temper?"

"That does make some sense..." Wang Guan pondered for a moment, nodding seriously. "That's right. If they want to snatch a treasure from my hands, they must be prepared to be thoroughly fleeced by me."

Whether intentional or not, Wang Guan happened to say those words just as Zhang Qing walked in from outside, ensuring every syllable was clearly heard, which brought a wave of bitterness to the latter's heart.

"Well, have you finished consulting?" Wang Guan adopted a more assertive stance. That was how business negotiation worked; if you didn't want to be led by the nose, you needed to take the initiative to guide the direction and secure an advantageous position.

However, it must be said, this was currently a seller's market. Wang Guan felt supremely confident. Whether this deal went through or not had absolutely no bearing on him, so there was no need to be timid. In contrast, Zhang Qing and the others had too many factors to weigh, which inevitably constrained their movements and put them at a disadvantage everywhere.

Of course, everyone understood this clearly. Agreeing to Wang Guan's terms wasn't submission or yielding to pressure; it was for the sake of future grand ambitions and securing greater benefits.

So, Zhang Qing cut the pleasantries short. He nodded directly. "Layman Wang, we agree to your terms."

"Very good."

As anticipated, Wang Guan was not surprised and nodded. "In that case, please prepare a contract. Old Zhang and Boss Fang can serve as notaries. After signing, the Zitan Yinchenmu bead will be loaned to you."

"Not just the bead," Zhang Qing quickly interjected at that moment. "There's also this fluorescent resin. We hope Mr. Wang would consider transferring that to us as well."

"No rush," Wang Guan shook his head. "One matter at a time. Let's settle this first, then discuss other things."

"Oh."

Zhang Qing was momentarily disappointed but knew he couldn't rush things, so he nodded. "If that's the case, then Layman Wang, please accompany us to Mount Longhu."

"No problem!"

Wang Guan was equally straightforward and immediately began packing. Primarily, he retrieved the Zitan Yinchenmu bead from the secret vault, phoned his parents to explain the situation, and only then headed to Mount Longhu with Old Zhang and the others.

The process involved in between needs no elaboration; by the time they arrived at Mount Longhu, it was already very late. The long journey had left everyone somewhat weary; they didn't even have the mood for drinks. After a hurried dinner, they stayed the night at Fang Mingsheng's Penglai Courtyard.

After resting for one night, everyone recovered their spirits the next morning. Especially after ascending Mount Longhu and seeing the magnificent mountains, clear waters, and beautiful scenery, they became even more vigorous, chatting and laughing animatedly.

As they admired the mountain landscape, under Zhang Qing's guidance, they slowly arrived at a magnificent, opulent palace.

Of course, this palace was what was known as a Daoist temple. As everyone knows, the Buddhist monasteries and Daoist temples on famous mountains and great rivers are structures comparable to imperial palace architecture. While they might lack the sheer grandeur of court buildings, they possess a greater sense of secluded wonder, peril, and refined elegance, demanding at least a higher standard of engineering skill.

However, this was Wang Guan's second visit to Mount Longhu, so he felt no particular novelty; instead, he maintained a composed and unhurried demeanor, walking into the palace and then into a reception hall. Several Daoists, radiating an aura of celestial grace and profound wisdom, had been waiting for some time. Upon seeing Zhang Qing arrive with his party, they all rose to greet them.

Yes, they were greeting Old Zhang. After all, Old Zhang had deep ties with Mount Longhu. Furthermore, this time he had not disappointed expectations, successfully completing the task entrusted to him—he was a great hero returning in triumph, deserving of a fervent welcome.

Of course, while welcoming Old Zhang, the group of Daoists certainly did not forget the main business. Following a signal from Zhang Qing, they understood that Wang Guan was the principal party. Regardless of their inner thoughts, their surface expressions were filled with eager smiles.

Wang Guan, for his part, was quite gracious, responding warmly and incessantly addressing them as 'True Man' or 'Daoist Master.' While it bordered on insincerity, in this society, who could truly shed their mask to live purely authentically? If everyone acted on pure emotion, many people would surely find it unbearable and prefer a bit of polite pretense. Besides, this wasn't hypocrisy; it was merely courtesy.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the conversation naturally steered toward the main topic.

By 'main topic,' it really meant the Daoists gazing intently at Wang Guan. Without any explicit prompting, Wang Guan understood the unspoken request and, with tact, took out the Zitan Yinchenmu bead.

Seeing this, and without needing any command, someone rushed forward with water. Wang Guan was even more direct: he dropped the bead straight into the water. Instantly, a purple aura swept in from the east, bathing the entire hall in radiant light.

This description might be slightly exaggerated, but witnessing the transformation of the Zitan Yinchenmu bead firsthand, even with prior psychological preparation, everyone couldn't help but gasp in awe, their eyes alight with excitement and fervor.

"The true treasure of the Daoist Gate, truly lives up to its reputation."

"It is indeed a relic of Mount Longhu, exactly as recorded in the Ming Dynasty ancient texts."

"Lost for hundreds of years, to finally welcome back this sacred object is truly a heavenly fortune..."

In an instant, the Daoists were a mixture of joy and relief, their complex emotions clearly displayed. Excitement and thrill were inevitable, but naturally, some also harbored secret sighs—that such a treasure didn't belong to them; truly, the heavens were blind.

Using darker speculation, if time had been pushed back a hundred years, the Daoists of Mount Longhu seeing this item would likely have had no qualms. They would have snatched it first and discussed it later.

But this was now a society governed by law, and Wang Guan was certainly not someone to be easily victimized. No matter what their internal thoughts were, at this juncture, they had to restrain themselves and proceed through legitimate means and friendly negotiation.

At this point, Wang Guan sat back like a fisherman, leisurely sipping tea. Since the terms were already settled, he certainly wasn't in a hurry; after all, someone else was bound to be more anxious than he was. As expected, after a moment, the group gradually sobered up. Though traces of lingering fascination remained on their faces, they gradually calmed down and began to address the issue of lending the item.

During this, one Daoist made a final, reluctant appeal. "Layman Wang, this is a sacred object of the Daoist Gate. Due to certain reasons, it accidentally fell into the secular world. Its return to Mount Longhu now is a rare opportunity, and we hope Layman Wang..."

"This True Man,"

Wang Guan directly interrupted before the Daoist could finish his sentence. "We agreed not to discuss sale; I will not sell this item. If you continue to press this matter, then there is no need for us to continue talking."

"Alas!"

In an instant, many Daoists shook their heads and sighed in disappointment. Sensing Wang Guan's rigid stance and resolute tone, they dared not press further, lest they scare away the cooked duck and miss the opportunity.

Noticing the atmosphere growing tense, Old Zhang stepped in to smooth things over. "Don't look so disheartened. Remember, whether through purchase or lease, the item will definitely remain at Mount Longhu. In a sense, this is cause for celebration."

"Exactly,"

Fang Mingsheng smiled. "With such a treasure presiding over the Mid-Autumn Ceremony, it will certainly cause a sensation. I don't know about others, but I fully intend to sit in the front row during the blessings."

"Layman Fang, rest assured. Not just the front row, but the very first seat."

At the same time, an elder Daoist made this promise. After weighing the pros and cons, he decided it was best to secure the treasure first; other matters could be planned out later.

Gain an inch, then advance a foot. Better to have one bird in hand than a flock in the forest. A lease was a lease; it was better than nothing. Thinking this, the elder Daoist shot a meaningful glance at Zhang Qing, signaling him to step forward and negotiate with Wang Guan.

Zhang Qing understood immediately. In reality, there wasn't much left to negotiate.

Wang Guan's terms were not excessive, and after discussion, they had no reason to disagree. The focus now was on finalizing the contract, obtaining several copies, and having everyone sign. Afterward, Wang Guan kept one copy for himself, and Mount Longhu retained another. Fang Mingsheng and Old Zhang, as witnesses, also took one copy each.

Frankly speaking, the contractual constraints were not that high, but their respective backgrounds and relationships were the strongest guarantee for upholding the agreement.

In any case, Wang Guan wasn't worried about Mount Longhu reneging. After securing his copy of the contract, he immediately rubbed his hands together, asking with barely concealed impatience, "The Zitan Yinchenmu bead is temporarily in your (custody). Now, is it time for you to fulfill the promise you made to me?"

"Wang Guan is absolutely right,"

Old Zhang seized the moment to voice his support. "Since you gave your word, you must keep it. Don't dawdle. It's much more practical to quickly take people to the treasure vault to select items."

This person, of course, included Old Zhang himself.

The Daoists were a bit amused by this situation, but since the contract was signed, they had no intention of going back on their word. They immediately had Zhang Qing lead the way. As for themselves, they stayed behind to continue marveling at the Zitan Yinchenmu bead, simultaneously discussing how to fully exploit its efficacy to attract more devotees...