Joining the Pellet Association. (2)
1219 Words
Zhu Yuan sat unmoved. Silently he held his enclosed fingers below his chin and his face was set in a serious thoughtful expression. Chairman Zeng Xiao observed the young man across him with a hint of surprise.
"Is this brat only a teenager. What's with this composed look. Most distinguished pellet practitioners would have been flustered and jumping up to the roof with excitement!"
"Perhaps he didn't fully understand the math??" The weathered chairman of the pellet association guessed. He felt a pang of uneasiness fleet across his experienced heart.
He needed to act with utmost tact at this vital juncture. The last thing he wanted was to rock the boat before he solidified a mutually beneficial partnership with this outstanding youth and the power behind him.
These two previously unknown individuals were simply heaven sent especially with so much unfinished medicinal projects and works in progress within the association. He needed to rope them in softly. Any manipulation was out of bounds. He simply could not risk it. The only cards he was left with was a mutually beneficial set up where both parties could profit handsomely.
And if the first collaboration was to be believed, the profits were simply monstrous. Chairman Zeng Xiao was prepared to revise the profit ratio right away after looking at the bigger picture but Zhu Yuan coughed lightly and adjusted his sitting position.
"Cough.. ahem.. This offer seems appropriate. After doing some preliminary calculations I'm sure my master will be inclined to accept."
"Although it will take some cajoling from this junior. All the same esteemed senior truly has a generous heart." Zhu Yuan concluded with a non committal voice. It was as if he were commenting over the price of roasted potatoes in the market.
"Appropriate my foot..!! This brats head is too calm... WTH kind of transactions does this Old Man Yuan subject this brat to. Even royalty would be flustered when dealing with this type of business.!" Chairman Zeng Xiao lamented inwardly. It was as if he was negotiating with the head of an illustrious merchant family.!
Beneath Zhu Yuan's extremely forced calmness, his heart was threatening to leave it's chest with excitement.! He was simply erupting with joy!
In truth earlier, he had not even done any calculations. Just the mention of the full imperial reward had made his head blank out. The seriously zoned out Zhu Yuan had made the experienced old Zeng Xiao heart uneasy but all for the wrong reasons.
"10,000,000 bronze spirit stones!!!!"
"All this money..... Oh My .. I just became stinking RICH..!!! Haha I Zhu Yuan just hit the golden JACKPOT!!"
"All this from just an afternoon's work!!?? .. Haha . . . Even I didn't know I was this AMAZING!!!"
Zhu Yuan was seconds away from jumping up on the huge beautiful marble table to do a celebratory dance and hug chairman Zeng Xiao in elation.!
"Splendid. Simply splendid. Alright I shall commence on writing the official letter and recommendations right away." Chairman Zeng Xiao laughed softly after finally seeing Zhu Yuan's excited face. He pulled a drawer and retrieved a sheaf of expensive parchment. He then took out his official spirit essence quilt and began writing.
Halfway he paused and and left all he was doing..
"Hoho... Oh .. I almost forgot."
Zeng Xiao leaned in and opened another drawer and retrieved a intricate purple cloak. On top of the cloak was an ornate purple badge that had the prestigious emblem if a silver refining kiln on it.
"I officially congratulate young scholar Zhu Yuan for becoming the youngest master pellet refiner in the history of Red Eagle Pellet Association."
He proudly handed Zhu Yuan the revered items that were the ultimate dream of many pellet practitioners within the town but were only in the possession of a very few elites. Zhu Yuan promptly stood up to receive them with a bow of respect.
"Thank you esteemed senior for the opportunity. I pledge to always do my best to not bring the pellet association to shame."
"Hoho.. Hearing this, this old man is extremely content and looking forward to what the future holds."
"Here is another set. Kindly pass them on to your master with my utmost regards. Whether he accepts them or not it's up to him. We the pellet association are extremely proud to be associated with him all the same."
Zhu Yuan also received the second revered cloak and badge on behalf if Old Man Yuan with a timid laugh.
"Old Man Yuan... How will you react to this..?"
Reaching for yet another drawer, chairman Zeng Xiao retrieved two golden placards that were even more intricate. They had an exquisite golden emblem of the pellet association on them that shone brightly in the dim evening sunlight. Below the emblem there were two words that held immense prestige in all of Red Eagle Town. "Golden Placard"
Zhu Yuan froze looking at the two exquisite placards on the table. It was his first time seeing them but he had this feeling that these two golden placards represented unprecedented privilege.
"These are the Red Eagle Pellet Association's Golden Placards. They are given only to outstanding individuals who have performed extra ordinary feats and service to the pellet association."
"Currently only ten individuals including myself and my two deputies hold these special items. You young scholar Zhu Yuan and your revered master Old Man Yuan are the eleventh and twelveth in all our history." Proclaimed Chairman Zeng Xiao with pride.
"Err... Esteemed Senior how.. how can I accept such a gift and privilege.." Zhu Yuan stammered as he gazed at the golden placards with wide shivering eyes.
"Haha... Don't be like this young scholar. This is something you have earned today."
"I don't think anyone deserves them more so than you and your master do. You have single handedly opened up our humble pellet association to new and greater heights. Please accept them and set this old man at ease."
"With this you will be able to access all of the pellet association's resources and backing anywhere in the Celestial Sky Continent. No matter where you are as long as you show this Golden Placard in any of our branches and offices, you will be attended to a hundred percent without the slightest hesitation. Please accept them."
Zhu Yuan's mind was reeling with shock and astonishment as he slowly took the golden placards and held them in his hands. They reflected their golden essence into his eyes overwhelming him further.
"Esteemed elder ... Err... I don't know what to say... "
Seeing the perplexed Zhu Yuan, Chairman Zeng Xiao laughed softly.
"Hoho... What are you saying. We are now family and here in our humble association we treat our own to the utmost of our ability. Think nothing of it."
Senior elder and Chairman Zeng Xiao mouthed the last sentence offhandedly but his eyes held a mischievous glint. He had succeeded in his first phase of roping in the pair of reclusive master and outstanding apprentice.
A lot more still had to be done but he was content with the days accomplishments.
"Young scholar Zhu Yuan, allow this old man and his association to latch onto your future accomplishments without reservations. Haha... Blue Eagle and Purple Eagle Clans in the future had better eat our dust and not complain.!"
*****
- Writer
