Every Chamber of Commerce president was a major merchant in their own right, usually with their eyes up on their foreheads, but at this moment, they were so choked up that they couldn’t speak, their faces flushed with shame, and they bowed their heads so low that one could hardly see their faces, only the beads of sweat dripping down their foreheads.
Ye Fengyun’s face was also flushing red, so annoyed that he wanted to slap himself hard. How had he bragged without thinking and let this slip? He’d come here to embarrass Nanyan Chamber of Commerce, and now wasn’t he just making others look good?
"Regardless, this one is the real Ice Mist Flame Heart Flower, and you all just lack the eye power," Ye Fengyun said in annoyance and embarrassment. Right now, the actual right and wrong didn’t seem to matter. What mattered was restoring some pride.
"No, you’re wrong, this one is the real Ice Mist Flame Heart Flower," Mu Hanyan asserted confidently.
"Mu Hanyan, you’re clearly just being obstinate. All the major Chambers of Commerce had their Old Tributors personally assess it. You can’t possibly be better than every single one of them," Ye Fengyun said frantically. After all, he’d already let something slip and couldn’t be bothered to hide it any longer.
"Fine then, if you say we’re wrong, then we’re wrong. You win, okay? You can just go back and ask Senior Wenren to take a look, and that’ll clear everything up," Mu Hanyan said, not wanting to argue with Ye Fengyun. After all, between Ye Fengyun’s slip of the tongue, which had already made them look good, and the actual minor discrepancies in both "Ice Mist Flame Heart Flowers," why bother with further entanglement? Arguing back and forth wasn’t going to lead to any results.
"You..." Ye Fengyun was so choked up he could hardly speak. He’d been ready to argue with Mu Hanyan to the end, but when Mu Hanyan conceded, arguing further just made him seem petty. In fact, as Mu Hanyan spoke with an air of "It’s as if I can’t be bothered to argue with you, so I’ll just let you win, what’s it to me," it already made Ye Fengyun look petty.
Ye Fengyun, being a direct disciple of the Holy Dragon Master and holding a status far above other disciples at Longyan Academy, perhaps not much less than some lower-tier masters, was choked into silence by Mu Hanyan. One could only imagine the frustration in his heart.
"No, I must settle this with you today, which one is the real Ice Mist Flame Heart Flower," Ye Fengyun grew more frustrated as he thought about it, his obsessive tendencies flaring up again.
"No need to argue further. Young Master Mu is correct; that is the real Ice Mist Flame Heart Flower," Wenren Qingqiu’s voice sounded from outside at this moment.
"Master," Ye Fengyun was greatly surprised and quickly bowed in respect.
"Greetings to Senior Wenren," Mu Hanyan and the others hadn’t expected Wenren Qingqiu to come and also hurried to stand up and bow.
"Greetings to Senior Wenren, greetings to Senior Wenren," the Chamber of Commerce presidents and the merchants and customers gathered by the wall also bowed in unison.
Wenren Qingqiu waved his hand to signal they need not be so formal and then began to collect the medicinal herbs from the table. Only after that did he say to Ye Fengyun, "Although the Chambers of Commerce had called upon their Old Tributors in seclusion for many years, they indeed misjudged. This one, this is the true Ice Mist Flame Heart Grass."
"Yes, Master, I understand," Ye Fengyun obviously dared not doubt Wenren Qingqiu’s judgment. How could he argue with Mu Hanyan any longer? Yet he felt such intense shame that he almost wished he could bury his head in the ground.
"Furthermore, when will you change this unyielding and competitive nature of yours?" Wenren Qingqiu’s expression suddenly became severe as he spoke sternly, chastising, "I sent you to Nanyan Chamber of Commerce to purchase medicinal materials, and yet you used that as an excuse to create difficulties for Nanyan Chamber of Commerce, misusing your privileges. Tell me, are you deliberately trying to oppose me?"
Wenren Qingqiu’s beard trembled wildly with a face full of rage; he obviously became truly furious and unintentionally released the oppressive aura of a Sword Saint. Although the surrounding Chamber of Commerce presidents possessed some cultivation, they trembled under this pressure, not daring to take an extra deep breath.
"Disciple dares not, disciple... disciple only saw them bullying others with their power and was afraid they would tarnish your good name, Master. That’s why I wanted to... to give them a warning," Ye Fengyun stammered in explanation, having never seen Wenren Qingqiu this angry before. He was shocked.
"Hmph, do you really think your Master has become senile, that you need to worry about everything? Speaking of bullying with power, do you think these Chambers of Commerce willingly take your orders out of goodwill? It’s all because of my reputation. Aren’t you also bullying others with your power?" Wenren Qingqiu’s anger intensified as he loudly rebuked Ye Fengyun after hearing his explanation.
Ye Fengyun shuddered. His Master was right; the very reason the major Chambers of Commerce followed his commands, joining hands to suppress the Nanyan Commerce, was all due to his Master’s reputation. Even the prior difficulties he placed on Nanyan Commerce were because he had his Master’s reputation to back him. In the end, he was indeed the real bully.
"Enough, I won’t say much more. Go back and reflect in seclusion. When you’ve figured it out, you may come out," Wenren Qingqiu waved his hand and said.
"Yes, Master," Ye Fengyun dared not utter a word of objection, responding dejectedly.
"Alright, everyone disperse," Wenren Qingqiu then said to the Chamber of Commerce presidents and the onlookers.
The presidents, fearful of Wenren Qingqiu’s wrath turning on them, dared not linger and scurried out at once.
They had arrived with great momentum and now slunk away in defeat. Although there was no loss of wealth, they had utterly lost face. It won’t take long for news of today’s events to spread far and wide.
Strange flowers and herbs that even the presidents of the time-honored Chambers of Commerce couldn’t identify, and which only with great difficulty were identified by the retired Old Tributors from their families, were easily recognized by the Nanyan Commerce. Even Wenren Qingqiu personally confirmed their authenticity without any doubt. Once this news spreads, who would dare to say Nanyan Commerce lacks depth, who would dare question their strength?
To suppress Nanyan Commerce again would be impossible now.
If they had known it would turn out this way, they would have been better off not coming at all. Instead of slapping others, they have given a significant boost to someone else’s reputation. Reflecting on this, they felt so regretful they could die.
As the presidents were turning to leave, Mu Hanyan, with sharp eyes, spotted Yuan Tianbo hiding at the very back of the crowd. Huh, this guy also came, and today he’s playing it cool, not sticking his head out like before.
Seeing Yuan Tianbo humble himself for once, Mu Hanyan was not inclined to make it hard for him anymore. However, suddenly remembering something, she changed her mind.
"Yuan Tianbo, you stay," Mu Hanyan said.
"Don’t see me, don’t see me, don’t see me, uh..." Yuan Tianbo had been secretly praying not to be noticed by Mu Hanyan, and upon hearing her words, his face fell as he stopped in his tracks, resigned.
"I apologize; my unworthy disciple acted presumptuously and caused you difficulties. I will surely make it up to your Nanyan Commerce and ensure it does not affect the reputation of the Chamber," Wenren Qingqiu said to Mu Hanyan and the others, seeing that the crowd had mostly dispersed, not taking Yuan Tianbo too seriously, and bowed in apology.