**Chapter 37: Reaching an Agreement**
"Second Young Master, Third Young Master."
The bearded man cupped his hands, then gave his name. "Gu Yiping."
"Young Master Xu, your eyes are very sharp. You saw through my thoughts. I won't lie to you—carrying on the legacy of the Dragon Elephant Sect is indeed my life's ambition."
"I will go with you to your house. If you can offer the right terms, even this original copy is not impossible to part with."
After the negotiations, Xu Mingyuan and the others saw that it was too late and stayed overnight at the Baiyang Inn.
The next day, they returned to the village.
The horses trod on the green stone boardwalk. The fields on both sides spread out like a blanket, rippling in layers with the wind, endless.
Gu Yiping saw children chasing white egrets in the fields and couldn't help sighing inwardly, "This kind of peaceful scenery is rare."
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After arranging for Gu Yiping to be settled, Xu Mingyuan made a special trip to the bamboo house by the Emerald Pool.
"You want to start a martial hall? To cultivate usable people for the family?"
"Father, you see right through me."
Xu Chuan smiled faintly. "Then you must grasp the balance between what we give and what Gu Yiping asks for."
"Your son has a plan." Xu Mingyuan added, "In addition, I want to expand Xu's winery, restaurant, clothing shop, and fruit shop to other counties."
"This is a very complex matter, involving many aspects. The most important thing is whether we have loyal people available. You can first find or cultivate suitable candidates. It's not too late to wait a few years."
"Qingjiang County is our nest—the most important thing. If this place is not stable, everything else is out of the question."
Xu Chuan seemed to open a box. He looked at Xu Mingyuan, then continued, "The Xu family's business foundation rests on several pillars: food, clothing, housing. Now we can expand slightly."
"For example, carpentry, blacksmith shops, pharmacies, and other industries that benefit the family's development—these can be put on the agenda."
"You can also establish a family school, allowing the children of family members, guards, and others to learn literacy and knowledge for free, cultivating loyalty to the Xu family from a young age."
Xu Mingyuan nodded frequently. His admiration for Xu Chuan in his heart was boundless.
"If Father managed it himself, he would surely multiply the family's wealth."
Xu Chuan smiled. "Manpower has its limits. Your father can't handle every aspect alone. Don't push yourself too hard. I'll occasionally come up with ideas for you."
"Your son understands."
"Finally—"
"Father, speak. Your son listens carefully to your instruction."
"It's that your big brother has already married. You're next." Xu Chuan's mouth curled. "If you don't hurry, I think your mother will be pushing you like a duck to the slaughter."
"Don't blame your father for not speaking up for you."
"Father, I still have a very open mind. I hope you can also find a woman of your own heart to spend this life with."
Xu Mingyuan was distressed.
He knew that one day he would be urged, but he hadn't expected his father to bring up this matter while discussing the family's century-long plans.
It truly caught him off guard.
"I know, Father. I'll do my best."
He fled like a rabbit back to the house.
Xu Chuan continued to practice the breathing method of the *Minor Dragon Elephant Skill*, feeling the power of heaven and earth.
The reason he was here was that he felt it was strange—that the earth's energy might gather here, and the power of heaven and earth would be more intense.
He had come and confirmed his conjecture.
---
When Xu Mingyuan returned, he also spoke with Xu Mingwei.
The two brothers discussed it at length and made detailed plans.
Nowadays, many of the Xu family's affairs had gradually been handed over to the two brothers, Xu Mingwei and Xu Mingyuan.
Xu Chuan was slowly stepping back.
---
**The residence's main hall.**
Behind a sandalwood screen, Gu Yiping looked at the "Fishing Alone on the Cold River" painting hanging on the wall. His fingertips unconsciously tapped the armrest of the master's chair.
The beams and pillars in the hall were painted with scarlet lacquer. Birds were carved among tangled lotus patterns. The copper bells on the eaves sent a faint sound of silk and bamboo with the wind.
Gu Yiping had stayed at the residence for more than a day.
He had also gained a preliminary understanding of the Xu family.
The courtyard was classical and magnificent, covering over a hundred acres. The overall colors were low-key and calm—definitely not a weak family in Qingjiang County.
The family members, maids, and guards were all disciplined, gentle, and rarely spoke more than necessary.
More than that, the red-gold-pupiled white tiger had walked through the moon-shaped gate with the tiger, nearly causing him to slap the table in alarm.
Seeing that the Xu family had depth, his belief that they could help him open a Dragon Elephant Martial Hall and carry on the legacy of the Dragon Elephant Sect grew to seventy percent.
Just then.
Xu Mingwei walked out of the back hall. The jade buckle at his waist clinked. He sat down directly in the master's chair.
Xu Mingyuan immediately sat to his left.
Gu Yiping looked at him and thought silently, *This young man is quite extraordinary in appearance, but he's too young.*
"Brother, this is the head of the Dragon Elephant Sect." Xu Mingyuan took the lead in introducing them.
Gu Yiping looked at Xu Mingwei and smiled.
They exchanged greetings.
"This is my eldest brother, Xu Mingwei. He represents our family."
Gu Yiping didn't care why the family head wasn't present. Xu Mingwei's appearance here meant he could decide everything.
"Brother, what is your cultivation level?"
"Peak of the acquired realm."
Xu Mingyuan was slightly surprised, but his face remained calm as water, revealing nothing. He said only, "That is enough to preside over a martial hall."
"Otherwise, it would be more troublesome."
"What do you mean?" Gu Yiping asked.
"Currently, in Qingjiang County, the Black Wind Martial Hall, the Black Tiger Martial Hall, and the Tianlong Martial Hall stand like three legs of a tripod. They fight occasionally. But if a new martial hall suddenly emerges, it will be suppressed."
"Almost certainly, it will encroach on others' interests."
Gu Yiping nodded, feeling this was correct.
"So our family is taking a risk by cooperating with the Dragon Elephant Sect."
Xu Mingyuan continued, "My Xu family will help with publicity, recruit disciples, and provide the grain and supplies needed by the martial hall for three to five years. In return, you will give us copies of the known Dragon Elephant martial arts, martial techniques, secret medicines, and food formulas."
He began to analyze the pros and cons.
The construction and management of a martial hall were very complicated. If Gu Yiping tried to do it alone, it would likely take over ten years.
He was over forty and still wanted to spend time on his martial arts, hoping to break through to the grandmaster level.
He couldn't balance both.
As for martial arts, techniques, formulas, and the like—though precious, they were all dead things. If he didn't pass them on, they would go with him when he died.
His greatest wish in life was to carry on the Dragon Elephant Sect. So the things the Xu family was asking for were within his acceptance.
"I agree."
After a long while, he nodded.
"Then let's discuss the details. I propose dividing the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall into inner and outer divisions."
"The inner division will be the authentic Dragon Elephant martial arts. Admission will be strict. The hall master will select and take disciples as his own. The successors of the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall will be chosen from within. Our family will not interfere."
"After five years, the medicine and food supplies needed by the inner disciples will need to be found by the hall master himself."
"The outer division will be under my Xu family's control. We will provide recruitment and martial arts. The hall master will need to instruct the outer disciples once a month."
"The proceeds of the entire hall—we propose a seventy-thirty split in the hall master's favor."
Gu Yiping was silent again, savoring the rules Xu Mingyuan had laid out.
According to him, the inner division of the Dragon Elephant Hall was the true Dragon Elephant Sect legacy. The outer division could essentially be considered the Xu family's private property.
*"It seems the Xu family has already had the idea of getting involved in a martial hall, but lacked a suitable person to preside over it."*
The matter of a martial hall was complex. Without a decade or two, it would be difficult to see results.
The Xu family's investment would certainly be substantial.
And he only needed to manage his inner division. The clear separation gave him more time to focus on martial arts.
"I agree."
"I wish us a happy cooperation."
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