Chapter 70: Ning Zhuo Offers to Surrender

Ning Zhuo suddenly stood up, raising his voice to drown out Yuan Er. “Enough of your nonsense! You accuse us of trying to assassinate you, of plotting against your monkey pet—where is your evidence?”

“Can you produce any proof?!”

Yuan Er was momentarily taken aback. His eyes reddened with fury. Pointing at Ning Zhuo, his gaze fierce and murderous, he shouted, “You little thief, you dare come to my house and insult me? You deserve to die, you deserve to die!”

Ning Zhuo lifted his chin, strode directly around the desk toward Yuan Er, shouting loudly, “Come, come! My head is right here—Yuan Er, if you want it, take it yourself.”

Step by step, he closed in. Overwhelmed by Ning Zhuo’s aura, Yuan Er wanted to back away but was blocked by his chair and fell heavily into it.

A dignified cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, forced into retreat by a mere youth at the third level of Qi Refinement—should outsiders witness this, his reputation would be utterly ruined.

Seeing this, Ning Zhuo laughed heartily, no longer pressing on. He took a few steps back, his tone softening. “Master Yuan Er, you are a clever man.”

“Since I have come here under orders to offer you terms, naturally I have my own means of protection. But let us leave that aside.”

“If I were to suffer even the slightest harm here, what do you suppose Lord Fei Si would think? What would my Ning family do? How would the Flying Disk Workshop retaliate?”

Yuan Er was cowed. He clenched his fists so tightly that his fingernails pierced his skin, drawing blood.

Yet this pain was nothing compared to the humiliation and rage seething within him.

Ning Zhuo, on the other hand, seemed utterly at ease. With hands clasped behind his back, he paced leisurely about the small study. Had Yuan Er, in his wrath, attacked as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Ning Zhuo’s end would be tragic. Yet, he strolled as if in a peaceful courtyard, knowing that the more calm and confident he appeared, the greater his intimidation.

Head held high, Ning Zhuo spoke steadily, recounting the life stories of Yuan Yi and Yuan Dasheng, narrating in detail the founding of the Monkey Head Gang and the pivotal battles that shaped it.

This sensation of being so thoroughly understood sent a chill through Yuan Er’s heart.

Though his opponent was but a third-level Qi Refinement youth, Ning Zhuo now seemed to him a giant beast, jaws wide, ready to consume him and the entire Monkey Head Gang whole.

Once more, Ning Zhuo stepped before Yuan Er, his gaze sharp as if to pierce the soul. “Master Yuan Er, your father and your Uncle Monkey fought desperately their whole lives to build this foundation. Now, in your hands, will it be lost?”

“Are you willing? Can you face your father and your Uncle Monkey?”

Yuan Er glared back. “Isn’t it all because of you, because of your people, that I’ve ended up like this?”

“No, you are mistaken!” Ning Zhuo swept his arm wide. “If not us, it would have been someone else! This world is ruled by the strong—when you grow weak, you become food for the powerful.”

“How else did your father and your Uncle Monkey rise up? How else was the Monkey Head Gang established?”

“Your thoughts now are no different from those of the defeated you once trampled beneath your feet.”

“Stop blaming fate, Master Yuan Er.”

“Such thinking is too cowardly. At least preserve some dignity for your father and your uncle!”

Yuan Er continued to glare but could find no words.

He was born into the world of gangs, steeped in the creed of the strong preying on the weak; he had no grounds to refute this.

Ning Zhuo lifted his chin and resumed the topic. “Join us, and we can help you—only then will we act on your behalf.”

Yuan Er took a deep breath. “How can you help me?”

Ning Zhuo turned his back, hands still behind him, and walked a few paces, leaving Yuan Er to face his retreating figure. His tone became enigmatic. “Are you aware of the relationship between the Flying Disk Workshop and Lord Fei Si?”

“Let me share a secret: forty percent of the profits from the sale of mechanical monkeys go directly to Lord Fei Si.”

“Though Lord Fei Si would never publicly admit it, even a little consideration from him would change your life entirely.”

“Such a connection is enough to subdue those ambitious elders.”

Yuan Er drew another deep breath.

Once more, resentment surged within him.

“So, the Flying Disk Workshop is so powerful because of mutual interests with Fei Si, because Fei Si supports them from behind.”

“Despicable, truly despicable and corrupt!”

“No wonder my Monkey Head Gang has been bullied so miserably.”

“With a formidable Golden Core cultivator backing them, and one as ruthless as Fei Si, how could we ever win?!”

The more Yuan Er thought, the deeper his grief and indignation, his courage failing him entirely.

Ning Zhuo observed every subtle change in Yuan Er’s expression and continued, “Not only that, but we will also sell you a large number of mechanical monkeys.”

“From now on, you must abandon your monkey pets and use only Fire-Burst Mechanical Monkeys.”

Yuan Er was stunned, then protested, “That’s impossible! If I issue such an order, I’ll be overthrown at once—they would never obey such a ridiculous command.”

Ning Zhuo laughed, clearly prepared. “Of course, I wouldn’t have you give up your position as gang leader.”

“You need only tell them that, from now on, the Flying Disk Workshop will never touch the fire persimmon harvesting business; it will belong solely to your Monkey Head Gang!”

“The only condition is that you must use Fire-Burst Mechanical Monkeys and abandon all monkey pets.”

Yuan Er could hardly believe it. “What did you say?”

Ning Zhuo chuckled. “Surely you don’t think our Flying Disk Workshop wants to steal your business?”

“Your perspective is too narrow.”

“Our interests are bound up with Lord Fei Si. If we were to seize the fire persimmon harvesting business for ourselves, would that not be competing with the people for profit? That would harm Lord Fei Si’s reputation—we would never do such a thing.”

“We only sell Fire-Burst Mechanical Monkeys, reducing the risks of harvesting fire persimmons, lowering casualties—this is the true boon to the nation and its people.”

Yuan Er’s face turned pale; for a moment, it all seemed absurd.

All this time, he believed their opponents wanted to seize the very foundation of the Monkey Head Gang’s livelihood, and so he fought desperately. But now, it seemed their aim was never there.

Then why had they been so tense, so on edge, making so many moves as if facing a mortal enemy?

It was as though Ning Zhuo could read his mind. “Master Yuan Er, stop overthinking things.”

“If you continue using monkey pets, you are our enemy. If you use Fire-Burst Mechanical Monkeys, you are our customer!”

“The difference between an enemy and a customer—even a child could understand.”

“According to Lord Fei Si’s wishes, from now on, Fire Persimmon City has no need for such outdated means of harvesting as monkey pets.”

“Each monkey is a living being—how can you be so cruel?”

“Mechanical monkeys are wonderful—they fear nothing, their efficiency is superb.”

“I promise you, as long as you join us, we will secretly provide you with special models of mechanical monkeys, superior in every way to the standard versions.”

“This will give your Monkey Head Gang a clear advantage in harvesting fire persimmons.”

Yuan Er’s heart sank to the depths. He knew very well that if he accepted these conditions, he would forever be at their mercy. The supply and maintenance of mechanical monkeys would all depend on the Flying Disk Workshop. The huge Monkey Head Gang would have its lifeblood held in their grip.

Meanwhile, the Flying Disk Workshop would vastly increase its influence over the market through them.

The Monkey Head Gang would still have to fend off rivals competing for their business, while the Flying Disk Workshop would simply sit back and collect profits, watching the tigers fight without staining their hands with blood.

“What a scheme, what a brilliant scheme!” Yuan Er moaned in despair, all will to resist gone.

A mysterious gleam flickered in Ning Zhuo’s eyes. “Master Yuan Er, have you come to a decision?”

Yuan Er was filled with sorrow; at this point, could he truly choose otherwise?

From the moment the Millennium Fire Persimmon Grove exploded, he had been utterly defeated—he had no choice at all.

Thus, Yuan Er circled the desk and stood before Ning Zhuo.

Taking a deep breath, struggling to suppress the grief and anger in his heart, he bent and bowed, his voice trembling, “Yuan Er pays his respects to Master Ning!”