C6 Negotiate!

After eliminating Qin Dian, Qiao Mao knew he couldn't linger. He strode up to the elderly vendor selling candied hawthorns and took ten skewers from him. Dropping a Spirit Coin in exchange, he scooped up Qiao Shuang and swiftly departed.

At present, his power was merely at Mortality Transcending Level One Heaven. Leveraging his past life's combat experience and mastery of the Wind Thunder Palm, taking down a warrior at Mortality Transcending Level Three Heaven posed no challenge. He remained fearless, even against martially trained adversaries.

But the issue was complicated by Qiao Guang's clandestine alliance with the Qin family. Should the Qin family dispatch assassins, the Qiao family wouldn't come to his aid.

In a quiet alley, Qiao Mao tenderly wiped the blood from Qiao Shuang's face with his sleeve. Her eyes were wide as she gazed at him.

"Don't be scared, Shuang," Qiao Mao reassured her. Though Qiao Shuang had reached Mortality Transcending Level One Heaven, she was, after all, only eight years old.

"Mr. Qiao Mao, why do they want to kill you? Are they all evil?" Qiao Mao was taken aback that Qiao Shuang wasn't crying; instead, she looked at him earnestly.

Qiao Mao realized she was too young to grasp that the carriage had actually targeted her. He smiled and replied, "Yes, they're bad people, but they can't defeat me."

"Mr. Qiao Mao, you're so strong. I want to grow up fast and help you fight those villains. I'll protect you," Qiao Shuang declared, her tiny fists balled with determination.

Bitterness swelled in Qiao Mao's heart. At just eight years old, Qiao Shuang was thinking of protecting him, yet in his previous life, he had been apathetic as she died before his eyes.

"I was so indifferent to Shuang's death in my past life, and now she wants to protect me. I owe her far too much," Qiao Mao whispered to himself. His resolve to safeguard Qiao Shuang only grew firmer.

"My current strength is insufficient. Without a trump card, I'll surely be at a disadvantage," Qiao Mao reflected inwardly.

He had just awakened, his cultivation level at a mere Mortality Transcending Level One Heaven, and he was up against the entire Qin family and Qiao Guang. Their strength was overwhelming, and he was no match for them.

His sole advantage was his reincarnation, which granted him foreknowledge of certain events. Yet, there remained numerous uncertainties, as his rebirth had altered the course of some events from their original trajectories.

"If I had the backing of the Zhang family, things would be a lot easier," Qiao Mao mused.

The Zhang family, Qiao family, and Qin family were the three dominant families in Martial Sun City. The Zhang family's power was comparable to that of the Qin family.

Qiao Mao knew that after the Qiao family's downfall, the Zhang family also met with disaster. Eventually, the Qin family rose to unrivaled prominence in Martial Sun City. Qiao Guang had taken his forces to the Qiao Main Family.

Having made up his mind, Qiao Mao took Qiao Shuang and headed straight for the Zhang family. Before long, they reached the gates of the Zhang estate.

"You wish to see our Patriarch? Even though you're the son of Qiao Dou, you're not worthy of meeting our Patriarch," the two guards sneered.

Their words stung, but it was true that Zhang Tianbei, Patriarch Zhang, wouldn't just meet anyone, especially not Qiao Mao, without good reason.

However, today was different. Qiao Mao needed to meet the Patriarch, or the situation could turn dire.

After a brief pause, Qiao Mao's face lit up with a hopeful expression. "Tell Zhang Tianbei that I can heal Zhang Yu's leg injury, allowing him to walk again."

Zhang Yu, the son of Zhang Tianbei, had suffered a fall in his youth that left him with a broken leg. He could walk, albeit with great difficulty, and his condition remained a constant hindrance.

"You claim you can heal the Young Lord's chronic leg ailment?" The guard's brow furrowed, and he retorted angrily, "Are you trying to make a fool of the Zhang family?"

Zhang Yu's injury had plagued him for years, and despite seeking treatments far and wide, none had been effective. His cultivation had stagnated, and he had become the subject of ridicule.

Now, Zhang Yu had secluded himself within his family's estate, to the point where many in Martial Sun City had all but forgotten about his existence.

"You'd better report to your Patriarch immediately, or the consequences will be more than you can handle," Qiao Mao stated icily.

The guard, fuming with anger, found himself at a loss for words. Yet, he knew the gravity of the situation. As Qiao Mao had pointed out, the repercussions were not something he, a mere guard, could shoulder. With a dark expression, he said, "Stay here. I'll inform the Patriarch. And if you fail to heal our Young Lord, you'll pay dearly."

Qiao Mao remained silent. He and Qiao Shuang waited patiently at the entrance. Shortly after, the guard returned and announced, "The Patriarch invites you inside."

Without a word, Qiao Mao followed the guard to the Zhang family's grand hall. Seated at the head was a middle-aged man with strands of white in his hair and a look of concern etched on his face.

This man was Zhang Tianbei. Though only in his forties, he bore the countenance of someone in his sixties, clearly weighed down by worry over Zhang Yu's leg injury. He lifted his head slightly, his voice deep with concern, "I've been told you can heal Binn's leg injury?"

"Indeed," Qiao Mao replied, his tone steady.

At these words, a flicker of hope sparked in Zhang Tianbei's clouded eyes. Yet, having led the Zhang family for many years, how could he readily trust the word of a fifteen-year-old boy?

"If you fail to heal him, not even Qiao Dou's intervention could save you," Zhang Tianbei declared, his presence suddenly sharp and imposing.

Qiao Mao chuckled. As an Old Monster who had lived for two centuries in a past life, he was far from intimidated by Zhang Tianbei's threat. Above all, Qiao Mao was confident in his ability to heal Zhang Yu. He confidently stated, "Patriarch Zhang, if I cannot heal Zhang Yu, you may take my life."

Zhang Tianbei's gaze narrowed as he scrutinized Qiao Mao. He found himself unable to fully grasp the young man before him. It was unexpected for someone of Qiao Mao's age to exhibit such resolve.

"If you truly believe you can cure Binn's ailment, you may choose any reward from the Zhang family. But should you fail, you are well aware of the consequences." Eventually, Zhang Tianbei consented.

Since Zhang Tianbei had given his word, Qiao Mao was careful not to take the situation lightly. After all, the lives of his mother and others were at stake.

"I have a medicinal recipe here. If you can gather these herbs as quickly as possible, I'll be able to heal the wounds on Zhang Yu's legs. As for compensation, I'm confident you'll soon understand its value," Qiao Mao said as he handed over the prepared recipe for the Jade Spirit Pill to Zhang Tianbei.

Zhang Tianbei accepted the recipe, giving it a quick look. While the herbs listed weren't hard to come by, Martial Sun City lacked even a single Spirit Flame Master. How was Qiao Mao going to concoct the Jade Spirit Pill?