Old Master Cao’s words were aggressive, but Wang Shan was an old hand. Since he had promised Gou Feng to help, he certainly wouldn't give up so easily.
“Brother Cao, please don’t be angry. The previous matters were Gou Feng’s fault. But hasn’t he realized his mistake? Otherwise, he wouldn’t have begged me to come find you two for help?”
“Hmph!” Old Master Cao still seemed unconvinced. However, one doesn’t hit a smiling face. He didn’t want to lose face repeatedly and compromise his etiquette, so he just snorted coldly and said no more.
Seeing this, Tang Haoran continued, “At our level, it’s understandable to occasionally use unconventional methods in business competition. Whether the methods the Gou family used were excessive is debatable, but whether you agree to seek peace depends on the Han family’s attitude. Finding us two doesn’t seem very useful, does it?”
Upon hearing this, Gou Feng quickly replied, “No, no. You two at least have some business dealings with the Han family. If you could help mediate, I believe Han Lang would be willing to forgive my Gou family.”
Wang Shan also followed up meaningfully, “Indeed, it’s better to resolve enmity than to foster it! Although the Gou family is one of the Eight Great Families, they are, after all, just ordinary people. If they were to fight to the death, wouldn’t it result in mutual destruction?”
Old Master Cao couldn’t sit still upon hearing this: “Hey, Wang Shan! What kind of talk is that! What do you mean the Gou family is just ordinary people? Is it that for such a small matter, the Han family still has to yield…”
Before Old Master Cao could finish speaking, Tang Haoran stopped him.
Old Master Cao didn’t understand Wang Shan’s underlying meaning because he was unaware of Han Lang’s identity as a cultivator.
However, Tang Haoran not only knew but was also well aware of the Special Investigation Bureau.
He understood that if Han Lang were to truly annihilate the entire Gou family in anger, the Special Investigation Bureau in Lecheng might not be able to protect him.
Therefore, for the Gou family to seek peace might not be a bad opportunity for Han Lang.
With this in mind, he quickly replied, “Brother Wang speaks wisely! We can agree to be mediators. However, since it’s about seeking peace, shouldn’t the Gou family show some sincerity? We can’t just rely on our silver tongues when we go to persuade them, can we?”
Although Old Master Cao was somewhat confused by Tang Haoran suddenly stopping him, he quickly echoed when it came to asking for benefits for Han Lang, “That’s right! Just tell us if you want to cede territory or pay reparations!”
Hearing the two agree, Gou Feng was naturally overjoyed and repeatedly replied, “Cede territory, cede territory! As long as the Han family is willing to negotiate, my Gou family is willing to hand over the markets in Yiyang District and Pingyang District!”
Seeing Gou Feng’s earnest expression, Old Master Cao looked puzzled.
These two markets, Yiyang District and Pingyang District, accounted for at least half of the Gou family’s total output value!
To so readily hand them over, had the Gou family gone mad?
“Alright! Since Patriarch Gou is so sincere, I, Tang, will reluctantly make this trip! However, whether the matter can be resolved ultimately depends on the Han family’s decision!”
Gou Feng smiled and repeatedly agreed, “Indeed, indeed! I would trouble Patriarch Tang and Old Master Cao to put in good words for me then!”
Old Master Cao became even more bewildered upon hearing this.
Why had Gou Feng’s demeanor changed so drastically? While his request was understandable, his subservient attitude was completely inconsistent with the ruthless Gou family patriarch he was before.
“Alright, alright! I have noted this matter. As soon as the Han family responds, I will notify you immediately. If there’s nothing else, we’ll call it a day! I see that Old Brother Cao seems a bit tired, why not let him rest early!”
Hearing this, Wang Shan and Gou Feng no longer lingered and immediately got up to bid farewell.
After the two left, Old Master Cao finally asked with a hint of confusion.
“Old fellow, don’t you think Gou Feng is a bit strange today? He used to be so eager to fight and kill Brother Han, but why has he suddenly changed his ways?”
Tang Haoran smiled, poured himself a cup of tea, and then asked back, “Brother Cao, do you know that there is a special group living among us called cultivators!”
“I’ve heard of that, of course, but I’ve never seen one with my own eyes. Even if they exist, aren’t these mythical figures not that common?”
Tang Haoran lounged back on the sofa, looking at Old Master Cao with a hint of meaning and smiling, “It’s not that they are uncommon, it’s just that you lack the eyes to discover them. Who knows, perhaps such people are right beside us. Heh heh…”
Old Master Cao savored these words and suddenly, as if struck by enlightenment, exclaimed excitedly, “You… you mean, Brother Han, he… he…”
Tang Haoran nodded slightly.
But Old Master Cao’s heart was in turmoil.
He lowered his head and kept muttering softly, “No wonder… no wonder… at such a young age, he could always come up with clever strategies and contend with the Eight Great Families, who were much stronger than him. It turns out it’s because he has this other identity. Alas, then how did you know?”
When Tang Haoran heard this question, he just looked at Old Master Cao silently.
After a while, Old Master Cao realized it himself.
“Could it be that you… you are also…”
Tang Haoran nodded slightly again.
Old Master Cao’s shock was now beyond words.
It took him a considerable amount of time to calm his emotions.
However, he soon continued to ask, “Then, according to you, are Wang Shan and Gou Feng also cultivators?”
Tang Haoran finally spoke, “No! Sitting so close, I don’t feel their cultivator aura. Moreover, given Gou Feng’s personality, do you think he would have come to beg for mercy if he were a cultivator like Brother Han?”
Old Master Cao nodded in agreement, “That’s true! If he were a cultivator, Lecheng would have been turned upside down long ago!”
Tang Haoran quickly denied, “Not necessarily!”
After speaking, he briefly explained the rules of the Special Investigation Bureau and the cultivator world to Old Master Cao.
Old Master Cao nodded continuously as he listened. By the time Tang Haoran finished, he finally understood completely.
“No wonder that brat Wang Shan said earlier that you would stop me from scolding him when the Gou family and Han family fought to the death! So that fellow had hidden meanings in his words! But since he dared to say that, it clearly shows he knows you know about this matter. Looking at it this way, doesn’t that mean he knows your identity?”
“Yes!” Tang Haoran also frowned now, his face filled with worry.
“It seems that this Wang Shan might be more than he appears! He might have quite a few friends in the cultivator world. We need to be wary of him from now on!”
Old Master Cao nodded in agreement after hearing this.