Meng Jingwei wracked her brain to persuade the old man.
She knew very well that a whole night had passed, and the old man couldn't possibly not have found Qing Muye.
The people she had sent out had no news yet, likely because the old man had deliberately guarded against them and avoided her people's tracking.
She got up, walked to the side, and poured two cups of hot tea. Turning back, she handed one to the old man. "Master, please consider what I've said. I'll wait for your decision."
After speaking, she sat quietly, holding her tea and sipping it slowly.
Suddenly, she thought of something and immediately said, "This restaurant belongs to A Ye. The fact that he could open a restaurant in your Hidden Clan in such a short time shows his strength. The tea sold in the restaurant is half local mountain tea from your Hidden Clan, and half tea from our Lancheng. Yet, under his marketing, the expensive Lancheng tea sells much more than your local tea. The same goes for the wine."
"What are you trying to say?" The old man, after a long silence, finally spoke.
Meng Jingwei smiled. "I'm saying that A Ye is a great help in you reclaiming the Hidden Master position. Yet, you treat him as an enemy. Isn't that asking for trouble?"
As she spoke, she blew the tea foam from her cup and took a sip.
The old man's heart was in turmoil, contemplating Meng Jingwei's words and weighing the pros and cons.
He smoked his long pipe, exhaling faint wisps of smoke, then picked up his tea and took a sip before putting it down.
Finally, he shook his head. "I really haven't found that kid Muye's whereabouts."
Meng Jingwei had grown up under his watch.
She was cunning, intelligent, and sharp.
Since she could guess his methods, and still speak them out in front of him, it meant she must have a backup plan.
The old man dared not trust Meng Jingwei easily.
"Oh."
Meng Jingwei took a sip of tea and nodded with a knowing air. "You really didn't find him? If you didn't, then so be it."
She placed her teacup on the table, propped her chin on her hand, and rested it on the table. "Actually, you've never understood that I have more than just you as a partner."
"What do you mean?"
The old man's pale eyebrows suddenly furrowed, and a hint of caution appeared in his eyes.
"Of course, I mean what I say."
Meng Jingwei's red lips curled into a sneer. "I can patiently talk to you here because you are my master. But I gave you a chance, and you didn't cherish it. Therefore, our cooperation ends here."
"What do you want to do?"
The old man glared, as if he had thought of something.
"If you don't cooperate with me, then I'll go to He Kaqingtang. I believe I'm also very valuable to her. One me for one Qing Muye. Guess if He Kaqingtang will agree?"
Meng Jingwei had no way back and could only burn her bridges.
However, after she finished speaking, the old man's face turned gloomy. Angrily, he slapped the table. "How dare you!"
"My legs are on me, so you tell me if I dare."
"Then you have to see if you have the ability to leave here."
"Is that so?" Meng Jingwei smiled. "Master, in this world, you are not the only one who is cunning."
She deliberately used a provocation, making the old man puff his chest out and his veins bulge on his forehead.
He suddenly stood up, but felt a wave of weakness, and slumped back into the chair.
"You, what did you do to me?"
The old man questioned Meng Jingwei, his gaze drifting to the cup of tea on the table. He suddenly understood.
As expected, he had underestimated her.
Meng Jingwei sat calmly, looking at the cup of tea in front of the old man. "Nothing much, just added a little something."