Both Shun Long and Liu Mei were stunned for a moment, hearing that the Pale Moon guild was willing to take out so many spirit stones every month, in exchange for 'Shun Long joining their guild'.
Liu Mei turned to look at Shun Long next to her, who had clearly understood that the 'Pale Moon merchant guild' didn't really value his abilities as a D rank mercenary all of a sudden.
Instead, they were enticed by the strength of the 'Silver-winged panther king' next to him.
As a peak rank 5 magic beast, the black panther is definitely as strong... no, it is even stronger than the average SS-rank mercenary.
Looking at the bald man in front of him, Shun Long pondered seriously over his offer.
10.000 spirit stones a month, would mean 120.000 spirit stones in a year.
Although it wasn't a huge amount to the current Shun Long who still had nearly a million spirit stones inside the 'Stone of Time', it was still quite a big sum.
After glancing at the black panther who was sitting near the door, Shun Long turned his head to look at the middle-aged man in front of him and said
''What you really value, is just the 'Silver-winged panther king's' strength, right?''
Zhang Dingxiang suddenly fell speechless for a second, seeing how bluntly Shun Long had exposed his thoughts, before he scratched his head as he answered with a smile
''That.. hehe, although it's true, I'm sure that young master can see, that our guild is still willing to pay you as much, as the other guilds pay for their SS-rank mercenaries.''
Shun Long however, shook his head, as he asked with a serious look in his eyes
''Elder Zhang, do you think that an SS-rank mercenary, is as strong as a peak rank 5 'Silver-winged panther king'?''
''That...''
Zhang Dingxiang didn't know how to respond to this.
After all, it was true, that average peak rank 5 magic beasts could probably fight off against 3 of their human counterparts at the same time, and still escape alive if needed.
The bald middle-aged man was also very clear that he had tried to take advantage of Shun Long, since it wasn't him who had the cultivation of a late-stage Nascent Soul expert, but his magic beast instead.
Zhang Dingxiang took a deep breath as he then said matter-of-factly
''Young master Shun, I admit that you are right, however, no matter how strong an SS-rank mercenary may be, in the end they are still just one person.''
After thinking for a moment, a glint flashed through the middle-aged man's eyes as he continued
''How about this? Young master Shun will only have to help our guild once in the next 3 months, and in return, I will gift the young master a pinnacle rank 1 silver grade cauldron, along with the payment of 30.000 spirit stones. After that, perhaps the young master will like our guild and won't want to leave.''
A light flashed by Shun Long's eyes when he heard Zhang Dingxiang's words, when Liu Mei's soft voice suddenly sounded in his ears, as she looked at the middle-aged man in front of her and asked with a smile beneath her veil
''Elder Zhang, can you please give us a moment to discuss this?''
A bright smile covered Zhang Dingxiang's face, as he looked at the white-veiled Liu Mei who had been quiet all this time, before he replied amiably
''Of course! You should discuss this between yourselves. I will be waiting outside the room, so call me when you are ready.''
''Thank you!'' Liu Mei said in her gentle voice, as she waited for Zhang Dingxiang to leave the room.
Then, with a worried look on her face, she looked at the young man next to her as she said
''Long-ge, there is definitely something fishy with this 'Elder Zhang'. Although he tried to hide it, I am certain that he had been expecting your question.''
Shun Long nodded his head, and holding Liu Mei's hand he said
''Don't worry, I noticed it as well. It seems like his main goal for asking us to join the 'Pale Moon merchant guild', has something to do with whatever is going to happen 3 months from now.''
Liu Mei nodded her head without saying anything else. Since Shun Long understood what she had wanted to convey, there wasn't much else to add to it.
Shun Long then fell into contemplation for a while.
He didn't ask Zhang Dingxiang what the 'Pale Moon merchant guild' was planning to do 3 months from now, since he clearly understood that this was something pointless to do.
From Zhang Dingxiang's tone, this had to be something really important for their guild, while he as an outsider couldn't be given much information or that would risk their plans getting exposed.
Of course, Shun Long could choose to refuse joining the 'Pale Moon merchant guild' as well, but if he chose to join, he could also use the guild in the future to buy or sell anything that he may need, including medicinal herbs, or even information regarding the 'Dragon Lord's villa'.
A few minutes later, Zhang Dingxiang heard Shun Long's voice that called him, and with a smile on his face he asked
''Young master Shun, have you made your decision?''
Shun Long nodded his head and looking at the middle-aged man in front of him, he too smiled as he replied
''I accept your conditions, but, I want a pinnacle rank 2 silver grade cauldron.''
Zhang Dingxiang was elated when he had heard the first part of the sentence, but when he heard that Shun Long wanted a pinnacle rank 2 silver-grade cauldron, his left eye involuntarily twitched. The price of a pinnacle rank 2 silver-grade cauldron ranged anywhere from 30.000 to 50.000 spirit stones.
With an ugly smile on his face, the middle-aged man looked at Shun Long and said
''Young master Shun, your request is a bit too excessive. In that case, just for helping our guild once, we would have to pay you from 60.000-80.000 spirit stones in the end.''
Shun Long however shook his head at the bald man in front of him, as he replied with a deep look in his eyes
''Senior Zhang, your words aren't correct. Even if your pavilion sells something for 50.000 spirit stones to outsiders, that doesn't necessarily signify the true value of the item. Additionally, as a large merchant guild, I do not believe that you also do not offer discounts to your members.''
Shun Long then pretended to think for a moment, as he looked at the middle-aged man in front of him, and with the same sly tone that Zhang Dingxiang had spoken to him earlier before he said smilingly
''How about this? Senior Zhang only has to tell me what you need my help with 3 months from now, and in return, I won't even take the pinnacle rank 1 silver grade cauldron from you. After all, it is also a big risk for me to agree to help you, without even knowing what's going on.''
Zhang Dingxiang now regretted trying to trick Shun Long, as he sighed and said
''Very well, young master Shun. It was my mistake earlier. Our guild is of course very accommodating with our mercenaries wishes. You can choose a cauldron from the ones on the wall, but please remember, that no matter what, you have to help our guild 3 months from now.''
Shun Long looked at the middle-aged man in front of him and said with a serious tone
''As long as your request isn't too excessive, I will of course help you.''
The middle-aged man nodded his head, allowing Shun Long to choose a cauldron from the ones on the wall as he thought to himself
''Even if I let you take all of these cauldrons, our guild would still profit from you in the end.''
Of course, his request wasn't going to be 'too excessive' as well. After all, this was going to be something that involved more than one SS-rank mercenary.
After choosing a cauldron, Shun Long gave Zhang Dingxiang his address, before he and Liu Mei left the 'Pale Moon merchant guild' and returned to the 'King's courtyard'.
Sitting cross-legged on the floor, Liu Mei watched Shun Long as he took out his new medicinal cauldron, as well as the 'Blood Vermilion fruits' from the 'Stone of Time'.
After warming up the new medicinal cauldron in front of him, Shun Long brought his spiritual strength to its peak, before he finally started refining the rank 3 'Blood combustion pills'.