Mainland Martial Arts

Chapter 434: The Four Major Families of Lingyuan City

Hongze was the first to break the silence. He raised his head slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of shrewdness and cunning. The corners of his mouth rose, outlining a meaningful smile. He said slowly: "This price is not easy to negotiate. It depends on what you want to ask." His voice was low and hoarse, but it was particularly clear in this quiet little house. Every word seemed to carry some kind of hint, making it unpredictable.

Upon hearing this, Xu Tian and Chen Yu exchanged a look of astonishment and bewilderment. Chen Yu's eyes widened, a hint of confusion and bewilderment in them. He leaned forward slightly and asked anxiously, "Aren't you in the antiques business? How much do you know?" His voice was skeptical, as if he found Hongze's words unbelievable. His hands tapped softly on the table, revealing his inner uneasiness.

Hong Ze simply smiled and shook his head, a smile that seemed to conceal a deeper secret. He didn't directly answer Chen Yu's question, but instead looked at them quietly, a mysterious glint in his eyes, as if waiting for them to understand for themselves.

Chen Xin'er sat nearby, her eyes gleaming with intelligence and sharpness. She quietly observed Hong Ze's every move, seemingly forming some intuition. She raised her head slightly, her gaze clear and resolute, and softly explained, "It seems that selling information is the core business now, and the antique trade may just be a decoy." Her voice was gentle and resolute, like a gentle breeze, dispelling any remaining doubts from Xu Tian and Chen Yu's hearts, yet also heightening their vigilance.

Hong Ze's eyes flickered with surprise after hearing Chen Xin'er's words, but it quickly gave way to admiration. He nodded slightly, a smile playing on his face as he praised, "This young lady truly has a keen eye for talent! We're just a small business, but don't worry, if you need information, even if we don't know it, we'll find a way to get it for you." His eyes revealed a hint of confidence, and he crossed his arms over his chest, as if to demonstrate his ability and determination.

Xu Tian frowned, a hint of suspicion and dissatisfaction in his eyes. He looked around. This small room, with its sparse furnishings, didn't look like a place where a large amount of information could be gathered. He snorted coldly and said, "You're just a small shop, at most the size of an inn. Where would you get the people to gather information?" There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice, and he stared at Hong Ze sharply, as if trying to see through his lies.

Chen Xiner was not affected by Xu Tian's words. She continued to analyze calmly: "It should be a family in Lingyuan City who is supporting it." There was a hint of certainty in her eyes. Her hands were gently placed on her knees. She sat elegantly and calmly, as if she knew everything.

Hong Ze heard Chen Xiner's words and a smug smile spread across his face. He straightened his back, his eyes revealing a hint of pride and confidence. He said loudly, "Yes, we are the Ming family, one of the four major families in Lingyuan City. It can be said that we know a little bit about what's going on in Lingyuan City." There was a hint of boasting in his voice, as if to show them the powerful force behind him and to imply that the information he had was absolutely reliable.

Chen Yu couldn't help but feel hesitant and worried after hearing Hong Ze's words. He glanced at Xu Tian and Chen Xin'er with a hint of inquiry in his eyes, then turned back to Hong Ze and asked, "How will you charge?" There was a hint of caution in his voice, as if he was afraid of hearing a price they couldn't afford.

Hongze smiled, his eyes revealing a hint of greed and calculation. He tapped the table lightly and said, "See what you want to know." There was a hint of anticipation in his voice, as if he was already calculating how much benefit he could gain from them.

Chen Xiner pondered for a moment, her eyes revealing a hint of decisiveness and resolution. She raised her head, looked at Hongze, and asked first, "We would like to understand the current four major families and the distribution of their power." Her voice was clear and firm, and her eyes were fixed on Hongze, as if waiting for his answer and observing his reaction.

Hong Ze listened to Chen Xiner's question and smiled with satisfaction. He held out his hand, spread his fingers, and shook it. "That's no problem, ten Xuanjing coins." There was a hint of unquestionable confidence in his voice, and a hint of pride in his eyes, as if he was proud of being able to offer such a high price.

Upon hearing this, Xu Tian's eyes widened, burning with anger. He stood up abruptly, his hands clenched into fists, his body trembling slightly with anger. He shouted, "It's so expensive, why don't you just go and rob it!" His voice was like thunder, echoing through the small room, threatening to tear the roof off.

Hong Ze remained unmoved. He sat there with a faint smile on his face, his eyes revealing a hint of indifference and disdain. He shrugged gently and said, "If it's too expensive, then go ask somewhere else." His voice was a hint of provocation, as if he was betting that they wouldn't dare leave. After all, in Lingyuan City, there weren't many places that could provide such detailed information.

Chen Xiner watched Xu Tian and Chen Yu's reactions and sighed slightly. She knew they urgently needed this information. Although it was expensive, they had no other choice. She gently patted Xu Tian's arm, signaling him to calm down. Then she pulled out ten Xuanjing coins from her pocket and tossed them to Hong Ze without hesitation, saying, "Let's see what he has to say first." There was a hint of helplessness in her voice, and a firm look in her eyes, as if she had already prepared for the worst.

Xu Tian watched Chen Xiner's actions. Although he was still dissatisfied, he knew her decision was right. He sat down helplessly, a hint of reluctance and worry in his eyes, and secretly prayed that the ten Xuanjing coins would not be wasted.

Chen Yu also sat down, his eyes revealing a hint of heartache and helplessness. He looked at Chen Xiner, then at Hong Ze, silently thinking in his heart, I hope this time we can get some truly useful information, otherwise they will lose a lot.

Hong Ze carefully examined the black crystal coins in his hand, turning each one slightly in the sunlight. After confirming their authenticity, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a satisfied smile. He cleared his throat, and his hoarse voice broke the silence in the room: "Of the four major families in Lingyuan City, the Ding and Ming families have the deepest foundations." Hong Ze spoke slowly, each word like a recounting of an ancient and mysterious story. "The status of these two families in Lingyuan City is long-standing. They have dominated this land for many years. Their influence is like the tangled roots of an ancient tree, deeply rooted in every corner of Lingyuan City."

Happy New Year of the Snake! May blessings fill the world. In this hopeful Year of the Snake, may you be as intelligent and agile as a spirit snake. In your career, you will be able to keenly perceive opportunities, flexibly respond to challenges, rise step by step, and reap abundant rewards. In your life, may you be as graceful and free as an auspicious snake, with a harmonious and warm family, happiness and well-being. In your studies, may you shed your skin and be reborn, constantly breaking through yourself and achieving remarkable results. May your love be as affectionate and sweet as a spirit snake, accompanying you hand in hand forever. May you be filled with joy and success every year, may all good things come as expected, and may you have a brilliant, peaceful, and happy Year of the Snake, and begin a new and exciting chapter.