The footsteps paused at the door before the guard pulled it open to reveal a figure. The guard then left the room and closed the door with his head bowed.
After the figure entered the room, his gaze immediately landed on Ah Mieu.
Ah Mieu also looked at this man, and they both took a moment to assess each other.
One would think the Patriarch of the influential Han Clan would have an ostentatious air about him. However, he was instead dressed in a dull gray robe that resembled the ones worn by some low-level servants Ah Mieu saw while wandering around the Clan.
When that was paired with his wrinkled face of a man approaching his sixties, he gave off an austere air, like a kind grandpa one would find in the rural countryside.
Ah Mieu did not doubt this was how the old man saw himself, but it was extremely deceiving to someone who might not know his identity. After all, this old man had formed the Han Clan when he had the appearance of someone in their thirties, which was a hundred years ago.
But worse of all, he merely had the appearance of someone in their thirties. Ah Mieu did not have information about him before he created the Han Clan, so he could have been a lot older than his appearance then.
If one added all of this together and then recalled that a Martial Artist at the Grandmaster Realm can only live up to one hundred and fifty years old, then his current appearance was odd to say the least.
He wasn't just an old man; he was an old monster.
"Greetings to my young friend, what prompted you to visit our Clan?"
The kind-looking old man said with a wrinkled smile as he approached the table.
Ah Mieu stood, then, with a faint smile on his face, he cupped his fist and said with a bow.
"Greetings, Patriarch Han Mo, this junior's name is Ah Mieu."
"Ah Mieu, is it? You can just call me Grandpa Mo."
Grandpa Mo said as he casually sat in the seat across from Ah Mieu.
Ah Mieu hummed in response before he sat back down. Afterward, he smiled and said.
"Grandpa Mo, you should have investigated my identity and found out that I was Young Master Nihil of the Inner Circle's Nine Desires Pavilion."
The hand that Grandpa Mo extended to pick up the teapot paused briefly before retracting. He then stared at Ah Mieu across from him, the kind smile on his face turning a bit more serious.
Ah Mieu, seeing this, nodded in his heart before saying once again.
"You should have also discovered that I went to the Northern District's branch of the Shadow Messenger Guild to buy information about your Han Clan."
Grandpa Mo paused for a moment before suddenly speaking, but his words were not directed at Ah Mieu.
"Leave us."
The smile on Ah Mieu's face became a bit more sincere when he felt the four pairs of eyes on him disappear. His words were said intentionally, as he did not want anyone to overhear what he had to say. Thankfully, Grandpa Mo had read his intentions and complied with his request.
Grandpa Mo calmly placed his hands inside his sleeves before he said with a puzzled expression.
"Little friend Ah Mieu, since you're referring to your identity in the Nine Desires Pavilion in the past tense, is it safe to assume you are not here while representing the Nine Desires Pavilion?"
Ah Mieu hurriedly shook his head and responded.
"Grandpa Mo, please be at ease. I have officially parted ways with the Nine Desires Pavilion. My presence here is for my own personal reasons."
Upon hearing this, Grandpa Mo could not help but openly release a sigh of relief and loosen his clenched fists inside his sleeves. However, he seemed to realize his actions were too blatant, so he gave Ah Mieu an apologetic smile and said.
"I mean no offense, my young friend Ah Mieu. It's just that the appearance of the Nine Desires Pavilion at my Clan would be akin to fire being lit amid a swarm of moths."
Hearing such a humorous analogy, Ah Mieu let out an abrupt laughter, but he had tried stopping himself, so it came out sounding extremely weird.
After coughing in his fist to cover up his embarrassment, Ah Mieu then said.
"Grandpa Mo, the reason why I visited your Clan is to propose a collaboration."
Intrigued by those words, Grandpa Mo said.
"Young friend, Ah Mieu, please speak freely. I'm quite curious about the details of this collaboration."
Ah Mieu nodded.
"Then, Grandpa Mo, I will just come out and say it. I want to take over the City of Pangu, and I need your help."
Upon hearing this, Grandpa Mo's expression stiffened, then after two seconds, he confirmed Ah Mieu was not joking, and instantly, his face morphed into a bewildered expression. He opened his mouth several times to speak, but closed it each time.
Finally, after what felt like forever, Grandpa Mo managed to say.
"I see now why you wanted my hidden guards to leave. My young friend Ah Mieu, forgive my skepticism, but did you just claim you wanted to take over Pangu City?"
Ah Mieu smiled and said with a nod.
"That's right, Grandpa Mo, but to accomplish my goal, your direct connection to the Main Circle is needed. Specifically, your blood ties to the ruling family of the Myriad Inscription Sect."
Grandpa Mo's expression changed slightly upon hearing Ah Mieu's latter words. But after a moment of thought, he concluded that, given this child's previous identity and status within the Nine Desires Pavilion, he could discover their Clan's most well-guarded secret.
Grandpa Mo released a sigh, then looked at the child across from him and decided to humor him.
"My young friend Ah Mieu, let's say there is a world that I agree to come under your banner. How would we take over Pangu City?"
Even just saying these words out loud made Grandpa Mo feel like he was being absurd.
But Ah Mieu suddenly shook his head and said while waving his hands.
"No, No. Grandpa Mo, I'm not proposing you work for me; I want a genuine partnership with you. One where we are both equals."
Grandpa Mo paused for a moment, then said.
"Then, I suppose you being so open and honest is your first step to establishing such a relationship."
After saying that, Grandpa Mo motioned for Ah Mieu to continue.
With a smile still on his lips, Ah Mieu said.
"Grandpa Mo, my plan to take over Pangu City is simple to understand. In fact, you've done it to take control over the Eastern District."
Grandpa Mo thought for a moment once again, then shook his head.
"My young friend Ah Mieu, if your plan is to control the resources coming into the city and create a monopoly, then it's simply impossible. There are too many industries. Perhaps it's possible to control the resources of the Outer Circle, but not for the Upper Circles."
Ah Mieu, upon hearing this, had his smile widen by quite a bit before he said in a slightly amused tone.
"Grandpa Mo, it seems my plan isn't so simple after all. At least I need to explain it in a bit more detail for you."
Grandpa Mo was not angry at An Mieu calling him an idiot in a roundabout way; instead, he remained quiet and allowed him to speak.
Seeing that things were getting a bit serious, Ah Mieu reined in his smile, but he didn't immediately speak. He got up to pace around the room for a bit, seeming to be deep in thought about how to go about explaining his plan.
Only after two minutes of patiently waiting did Grandpa Mo hear this odd child start speaking.
"Grandpa Mo, I don't want to control the resources of the city; instead, I want to become the source of the resources that those Clans and Sects in the Main Circle need to survive."
Just with that one sentence, Grandpa Mo had several ideas pop into his mind. But after a moment, he shook his head once again and said.
"Do you plan on controlling the Spirit Mines across the continent? Perhaps, it's possible to control a few of the mines, but neither the Clans and Sects in Pangu City, nor the Royal Family will allow a single individual to monopolize so many mines. Not unless your cultivation can surpass everyone under heaven."
Grandpa Mo released a faint chuckle after saying those words. However, Ah Mieu shook his head and said.
"Grandpa Mo, it seems you have a flawed misconception as to what I mean by becoming the source of the cultivation resources that those Clans and Sects in the Main Circle rely on. Well, rather than cultivation resources, what I'm referring to is a bit more unique, but is nonetheless still very important to a cultivator's existence."
"Oh? Then I hope young friend Ah Mieu could enlighten this old man."