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**
"The trouble stems from the Snake-People Clan?"
Although he already had a guess, Xiao Lin still spoke up to ask.
"Yes, this batch of medicinal ingredient business for our Xiao Clan is quite large. Many of the ingredients used by several Alchemists in the clan, led by Elder Xiao Li, are related to this medicinal business."
Xiao Lin had only proposed the intention to form this merchant caravan in the early stages, but its actual completion occurred during the three years he was away in the Central Plains. Thus, it was no wonder Xiao Lin was unclear about this matter.
At the same time, because this business involved the Snake-People Clan of the Tagore Desert rather than other factions within the Jia Ma Empire, the Xiao Clan's reputation didn't carry much weight.
In this way, it all made sense.
Xiao Lin had been wondering who within the current Jia Ma Empire would dare not give the Xiao Clan some face.
So it was the Snake-People Clan! That explained it.
However, once he thought of the Snake-People Clan, an immature idea began to form in Xiao Lin's mind.
"So, what is the current situation with this medicinal merchant caravan?"
To solve this problem, he first had to understand the specific reasons behind it.
"Our Xiao Clan's medicinal merchant caravan has already attempted to traverse the Tagore Desert once. However, just after entering, they were detained by the Snake-People Clan. Later, we had to pay a certain price to ransom our clansmen back."
Speaking of this, Xiao Zhan felt a burst of depression.
In fact, although the Snake-People Clan occupied the Tagore Desert, it wasn't that they strictly forbade humans from entering.
If there were only a few people, they would simply treat it as if you were passing through. But if a large-scale group like a merchant caravan attempted to cross the Tagore Desert, the result would be different.
As everyone knew, the Tagore Desert itself was very lacking in resources.
The Snake-People Clan obtained some of their resource needs by plundering the surrounding countries. Think about it, under such circumstances, what would be the fate of a merchant caravan entering their territory?
They would absolutely keep the people and the goods entirely!
After all, this was equivalent to delivering resources straight to the Snake-People's territory for them to rob!
Would they be polite to you?
Since the Xiao Clan's caravan was intended to pass through the Tagore Desert to purchase medicinal ingredients from other places, they didn't actually have many resources for the Snake-People to plunder at the time.
But the funds the caravan brought along all fell into the hands of the Snake-People Clan. Afterward, the Xiao Clan even had to spend money to ransom the people. To be honest, the loss from the Xiao Clan blindly making this trip was not a small amount.
Precisely because of this, many high-level members of the clan had suggested bypassing the Tagore Desert and opening a new route. But in doing so, because the costs would increase and the profits would decrease, many clansmen were also opposed to it.
As a result, the discussions among the Xiao Clan's upper echelon regarding this matter had split into two factions. Just when Xiao Zhan was feeling distressed over this, Xiao Lin returned.
At this moment, Xiao Zhan explained the entire sequence of events to Xiao Lin from start to finish.
"I understand. In a few days, I will personally make a trip to the Tagore Desert and have a talk with the Queen Medusa of the Snake-People Clan."
After listening to the Xiao Clan's predicament described by Xiao Zhan, Xiao Lin immediately made a decision.
"Father, you want to go see Queen Medusa? No, that's too dangerous!"
"Yes, Father, Zhan is right. The Snake-People are Magic Beasts; they have no good feelings toward us humans. You are the Clan Leader of our Xiao Clan, it's too dangerous to go see Queen Medusa directly!"
Immediately after Xiao Lin voiced his thoughts, he was met with the opposition of his son and daughter-in-law. From their perspective, Xiao Lin was completely placing his life in the hands of the Snake-People Clan!
Compared to Xiao Lin's safety, the establishment of this medicinal merchant caravan had instead become unimportant.
"Rest assured. When have you ever seen me do something I wasn't certain of? This time, I am going to the Snake-People Clan to negotiate with Queen Medusa. Regardless of whether it succeeds or fails, I can return safely. Do you have so little confidence in me?"
As if he had guessed that the two would object, Xiao Lin spoke with a smile and a face full of confidence. To be honest, if he were truly just an ordinary Dou Wang, he wouldn't take this risk.
But the question was, was he a Dou Wang?
It was precisely because of his powerful strength that Xiao Lin could say these words and have the courage to seek a negotiation with Queen Medusa!
"Father, are you truly certain?"
Seeing that his father didn't seem to be lying, Xiao Zhan asked, half-doubting.
"What do you think?"
Xiao Lin gave his son a look, leaving him to figure it out for himself.
Seeing this, for a moment, the couple Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue didn't know what to say. However, the worry in their eyes did not completely vanish because of this.
"Alright, I've already been to the Central Plains once. Could I still be afraid of going to the Tagore Desert? No matter how dangerous the Snake-People Clan is, could they be more dangerous than those people in the Central Plains?"
To soothe his son and daughter-in-law, Xiao Lin could only comfort them once more with painstaking patience.
Finally, under Xiao Lin's repeated guarantees, the couple Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue reluctantly agreed. However, they still repeatedly asked Xiao Lin to guarantee that his own safety was the number one priority!
Regarding this, Xiao Lin naturally patted his chest and gave his word. Finally, this matter was considered settled. Following that, over the next few days, Xiao Lin stayed within the Xiao Clan.
Well, mainly to spend time with his eldest grandson—Xiao Ding!
Perhaps it was due to their natural blood connection, but the little fellow quickly became close to Xiao Lin. All day long, he would call out "Grandpa" after "Grandpa." Xiao Lin never tired of accompanying him in all sorts of play.
During this time, Xiao Lin would occasionally spread his Wings of Dou Qi and take the little fellow up into the sky for a few circles!
This made the little fellow shout with joy.
Regarding this, the couple Xiao Zhan and Yang Xiyue had complained more than once that Xiao Lin spoiled his grandson too much.
Xiao Lin, however, turned a deaf ear.
He was spoiling his own grandson, so what? Xiao Lin was quite righteous and confident!
After playing with his eldest grandson for a few days, Xiao Lin finally decided to set out for the Tagore Desert to find Queen Medusa. Because he was in the Jia Ma Empire, he was currently just Xiao Lin.
Therefore, the cultivation level he exposed was merely the Dou Wang realm. As such, to go to the Tagore Desert, he could only spread his Wings of Dou Qi and fly there.
Swish—
Xiao Lin was currently in the middle of flying toward the Tagore Desert.
"Medusa, ah. I finally have the chance to see my future granddaughter-in-law. I just didn't expect to cross paths with her under these circumstances."
On the way to the Tagore Desert, Xiao Lin's mood was quite good.
Yes, even though he hadn't seen Medusa in person yet, in Xiao Lin's heart, he had long since regarded her as his future granddaughter-in-law.
The fact that Xiao Lin chose to personally visit the Tagore Desert this time also had the underlying reason of seeing his future granddaughter-in-law in advance.
As for the so-called negotiation? It didn't really matter.
In Xiao Lin's eyes, both sides were "family" anyway, weren't they?
**
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