CHAPTER 590: CHAPTER 590: COOPERATION

"What should I call you?" Chiba Yichiryu asked.

"Xiaoye Shiyilang."

Chiba Yichiryu recalled memories associated with this name, but despite dredging up even the days of his youth when he peeped at the neighbor’s sister-in-law bathing, he found no recollection of the name Xiaoye Shiyilang.

"May I ask where you are from?" he inquired further.

"From where I come."

???

"You requested to see me. Is there something you need?"

After a brief exchange, Chiba Yichiryu felt he had gotten a glimpse into Xiao Zhan’s personality, knowing that Xiao Zhan didn’t want to reveal too much about himself, so he went straight to the point.

"Collaboration." Xiao Zhan uttered two words.

"How do you propose we collaborate?"

"I will help you eradicate the Yagyu Family."

Hiss!

As these words were spoken, the hall burst into a chorus of sharp intakes of breath.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Xiao Zhan in shock.

Chiba Yichiryu’s face changed color, and then he scoffed, "What do you mean, ’eradicate the Yagyu Family’? How dare you speak so recklessly! Just who are you, exactly?"

Xiao Zhan looked at Chiba Yichiryu and let out a cold laugh, "While others are already dealing you lethal blows, you’re still cowering in fear, too scared to face reality. Does who I am really matter? Shouldn’t the real question be how you are going to survive?"

Chiba Yichiryu’s face turned slightly awkward upon this blunt retort.

"The Yagyu Family is the strongest martial family in the Federation. Not only do they have numerous masters, but they are also guarded by a Seventh Grade Sovereign. You say you will annihilate them; what do you base this claim on? Just the two of you?"

"Yes, just the two of us."

Upon hearing this, the others in the hall couldn’t help but let out murmurs of disbelief.

Had the person making this claim been a middle-aged man past his prime, they might have believed it. However, it was a boy who seemed barely weaned – how could they possibly believe that?

Let alone the others, even Chiba Mako, who had been saved by Xiao Zhan, didn’t believe it.

She acknowledged Xiao Zhan’s strength, but the opponents he was up against were not just a few individuals; it was an entire family, one that was under the protection of a Seventh Grade Sovereign.

And Xiao Zhan had only one other person with him. How could this be possible!

"Xiaoye Shiyilang, I am very grateful for your intervention to save me and for your desire to assist the Chiba Family. However, the Yagyu Family is no ordinary opponent. Before we make a decision, we need to consider all possibilities more carefully," Chiba Mako said.

Her tone was soft; she did not want to offend Xiao Zhan, who undoubtedly possessed great strength.

Whether Xiao Zhan was boasting or not, befriending him could only benefit the Chiba Family.

Xiao Zhan, however, ignored Chiba Mako’s words and instead looked straight at Chiba Yichiryu, saying, "I know you don’t believe me. I’ll set an example for you. Within one day, I’ll bring you the head of Yagyu Yuudai."

Yagyu Yuudai.

The core power of the Yagyu Family, a Sixth Grade Spirit Master, and the younger cousin of Family Head Yagyu Kenjiro.

He was also the father of Yagyu Shino!

Hearing this name, Chiba Yichiryu’s expression instantly transformed, and his gaze toward Xiao Zhan became incredibly serious.

He stared intently at Xiao Zhan’s face, as if trying to gauge the sincerity of his words.

But Xiao Zhan’s confident demeanor did not reveal any flaws.

Chiba Yichiryu grew more doubtful. Could Xiao Zhan truly possess such power?

However, seeing how young he looked, it seemed impossible.

"How do you wish to collaborate?"

After much thought, Chiba Yichiryu asked this question.

He understood that he actually did not need to overthink; the Yagyu Family’s action this time had effectively declared the Chiba Family and the Yagyu Family were now in a state of irreconcilable conflict.

Therefore, regardless of whether Xiao Zhan could exterminate the Yagyu Family, at least for now, there was no significant loss to him.

If he couldn’t annihilate them, the Chiba Family’s situation would be the same as if Xiao Zhan had not appeared.

If he could, then of course that would be the best outcome.

In that case, he had to consider the price that needed to be paid if Xiao Zhan annihilated the Yagyu Family.

He looked at Xiao Zhan, knowing the price would not be small.

But Xiao Zhan said, "Let’s just cooperate like that."

"What I mean is, what do you need us to pay?" Chiba Yichiryu wouldn’t think that Xiao Zhan didn’t understand, he would think that Xiao Zhan wanted a lot.

However, Xiao Zhan truly didn’t want them to pay much of a price.

"You just need to help me clean up the Yagyu Family’s underlings."

Xiao Zhan did not need to rely on the Chiba Family for monopolizing assets.

The Ghost Abacus had been developed over many years, and he did have his industries within the Baka Federation, but for various reasons, they had not grown very large, nor dared to expand too much.

However, in such chaotic times, he was not afraid of restrictions anymore.

Therefore, in terms of liquidating the Yagyu Family’s assets, Xiao Zhan left it to the Ghost Abacus.

The reason Xiao Zhan chose to cooperate with the Chiba Family was also simple: he saw them as a boning knife, to pluck out the remaining forces of the Yagyu Family one by one.

After all, Xiao Zhan was too inconvenient to do this within the boundaries of the Baka Federation.

If he used his own men, although he could succeed, it would be too conspicuous.

A sudden emergence of an unknown force would surely attract the focused observation of the Baka Federation, and if they dispatched troops to eradicate it, it would be troublesome.

But by relying on the power of the Chiba Family, the nature of the situation would change; it was an internal competition, and the military would not get involved.

Chiba Yichiryu frowned, Xiao Zhan’s demand was not entirely believable to him, he did not believe Xiao Zhan’s demand was that simple, yet he did not continue to inquire further.

He only needed to know one thing, and that was enough: as long as his family and the Beichen One Strike Style survived, it was better than anything else.

...

After leaving the Chiba Family.

Xiao Zhan, bringing Yagyu Shino along, came to an abandoned area and then had Chiba Mako send a message to the Yagyu Family to come rescue Yagyu Shino.

After sending the message, Chiba Mako spoke to Xiao Zhan.

"Mr. Xiaoye, will they come?"

"Don’t know."

Xiao Zhan shook his head; predicting the distorted human nature of little Baka was quite tricky.

However, it was expected that they would come, considering Yagyu Shino was a direct descendant.

"Mr. Xiaoye, what if Yagyu Kenjiro also comes?" Chiba Mako asked again.

"That would be perfect."

The Yagyu Family had one Seventh Grade, and three Sixth Grades; even if they all came, Xiao Zhan was not afraid.

If he could win, he’d fight; if not, he’d run and wait for another opportunity to strike.

Xiao Zhan was not afraid of their arrival, only afraid they would not come!

Chiba Mako did not expect Xiao Zhan to be so confident, not even fearing Yagyu Kenjiro.

"Mr. Xiaoye, may I presumptuously ask, what realm are you in?" Chiba Mako even used honorifics.

"You’ll find out soon."

Saying this, Xiao Zhan’s expression suddenly became serious, as a group of people appeared within his perception range.