"Yi Chen," Fang Yuan said, his voice steady, "what do you mean by developing arable land? I’ve already examined this place. The soil around this place is completely barren, it is unfit for cultivation."

He did not loosen his hold on Hong Yiting.

Yi Chen inclined his head slightly, unbothered by the pressure in the air.

"First, allow me to assure you once again that I mean no harm," he said calmly. "As for the land... under normal circumstances, you are correct. It is definitely non-arable."

A faint smile touched his lips.

"But our clan happened to possess a method. With a certain item from my clan, I can transform this soil into fertile land. Enough to sustain crops for the next hundred years."

Hong Yiting, still close to Fang Yuan, spoke softly, almost under her breath.

"In return, their clan wants to establish a teleportation formation. One that connects to their sub-branch."

Fang Yuan’s gaze flickered, then he released her, letting his arm fall to his side.

"I won’t be able to provide you with a blueprint for that, I’ll have to be the one constructing it," he said flatly.

Yi Chen’s smile widened slightly.

"We’ve already seen the blueprint Miss Hong brought to us."

Fang Yuan shook his head.

"No. That was incomplete."

His tone sharpened.

"Even when finished, that formation doesn’t link to a fixed point. It connects to the nearest active teleportation array it can find."

Yi Chen’s eyes narrowed in realization.

"The city portal..."

"Correct," Fang Yuan replied. "Its only real advantage is that it’s free to use and the short distance."

"How crafty of you," Yi Chen said with a faint smile. "But I’m glad you were honest and that you’re genuinely willing to cooperate."

Fang Yuan’s brows drew together slightly. "Crafty? What do you mean?"

"That formation would allow instant travel from here to the city’s main portal at no cost. A benefit like that..." Fang Yuan said, "surely you didn’t think it wasn’t worth at least a share in the wine production."

Hong Yiting’s voice slipped in, small and tight.

"I... I negotiated for the Thousand-Year Peach Blossom Brew..."

Fang Yuan paused to stare at her.

...What? Did i pick up someone with a great fortune?

For a brief moment, even he didn’t know what to say.

Then, slowly, he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I’ve never been more proud of the decision I’ve made," he said, his tone shaky.

Shortly after calming himself down, then did he look back at Yi Chen.

"That was my oversight," Fang Yuan continued. "In return, I’ll give you the complete, direct blueprint so you’ll be able to craft it yourself."

Yi Chen eye widened in surprise.

"But in exchange you will take responsibility for this slum district."

Yi Chen’s face turned a bit sour at that.

Fang Yuan’s voice remained calm, but firm.

"I’m not asking for charity, just for an opportunity. If you require laborers, give these people priority. Give them the chance to earn."

Silence lingered for a moment before Yi Chen smiled again.

"I can agree to that," he said. "But you should also understand that those in the city struggle to find work as well."

Fang Yuan paused for a moment before letting out an awkward cough.

"Right..."

He rubbed the side of his face.

Damn... I really didn’t think that far ahead.

Just as the conversation reached a lull, a young woman dressed in the Flying Crane Sect uniform hurried over.

The moment Yi Chen noticed her, his hand instantly moved to the hilt of his sword, his gaze sharpening with caution.

Seeing this, Fang Yuan quickly spoke.

"It’s fine. She’s with me."

Only then did Yi Chen loosen slightly, though his guard did not fully drop.

Fang Yuan walked toward the girl asking,"What happened?"

The disciple caught her breath before speaking urgently.

"Elder Zhao Lusi has found the portal connecting to your realm. She said you should come immediately."

The moment those words left her mouth, Fang Yuan’s expression brightened.

[ Congratulations! Your wife has successfully brought the entirety of the lower realm into the upper realm. ]

That was the notification he heard a while back, it has been a while since he last saw his clan members, his disciples and well.... his one and only wife.

Suppressing the excitement rising within him, Fang Yuan turned toward the others.

"Hong Yiting, I’ll leave you in charge of everything here."

Then he looked at Yi Chen.

"Elder Yi, something urgent has come up. I’ll return later to fulfill my end of the bargain. I hope you’ll support lady Hong here in my absence."

Yi Chen studied him briefly before nodding.

"Will do."

Fang Yuan wasted no further time. Turning around, he immediately followed Zhu Xuan, his pace quickening.

Hong Yiting watched Fang Yuan leave, her cheeks gradually turning red as the memory of the earlier hug resurfaced in her mind.

Only after his figure disappeared into the distance did she finally calm herself.

Beside her, Yi Chen turned slightly.

"Now that he’s gone, should we halt the discussion for now, or do you wish to continue?"

"Let’s continue," Hong Yiting replied almost immediately.

As she spoke, her expression gradually became more serious.

"I would like the arable land to be prepared so that as soon as we have a large area of arable land ready, we can hire people to work there."

Yi Chen frowned slightly.

"Farming does not yield the greatest returns."

"It doesn’t, that’s true," Hong Yiting admitted. "But the Clan Head is also currently building a massive foundation in the middle of the slum district. We’ll be needing far more workers soon enough."

Yi Chen narrowed his eyes slightly.

"But he was the one asking us to hire your people."

Hong Yiting nodded.

"It was a roundabout way of asking whether your clan had workers available."

A faint smile appeared on her face as she continued.

"Clan Head wouldn’t dig such a massive hole in the middle of the town without a reason."

Yi Chen narrowed his eyes.

"And you have an idea of what he intends to build on that land?"

"I do," she replied with a smile.