The specifics regarding how the Xiong Clan would be integrated needed to be discussed. There were a number of issues. For one, they did not want to change their names, which might lead to friction in the future. However, Fang Yuan was fine with that.
Right now, given how many more Gu Yue clansmen there were, they would eventually be assimilated into the village at one point or the other, within a few generations. As for the recipes for their Beast Strength Gu, while they were willing to hand it over, they were demanding a price as an initial upfront investment.
"When we're already doing you a favor by allowing you into our village, why this sort of price?" Fang Yuan asked.
"Lord Fang Yuan, we might be coming into this village, but we will not have resources that we would otherwise need to start up properly," the Xiong Elder said. "We would need some kind of founding seed in order to ensure our future prosperity within the Gu Yue Clan. Please understand. A price of 100,000 primeval stones is quite the bargain, actually, for our signature recipes." The Xiong Clan was worried about being ostracized when they joined Gu Yue Village - but even were that the case, the one thing that someone could rely upon were resources. They were intending to use this as a foundation whereupon to nurture future Xiong clansmen. The price was high, but given the fact that they were handing over several Rank Two recipes and gu worms was not necessarily unreasonable.
The two sides began haggling over the price well into the night before deciding to resume the negotiation in the morning.
As for his spies, Fang Yuan did manage to find out something rather interesting from them later that evening. One of the Rank 2 Gu Masters had brought along his younger sister, a Rank 1 Gu Master, and the two of them were talking near a hallway.
"Primeval stones? Are we asking for them?"
"Yes, we did. 50,000 as a matter of fact."
"That's good."
"Do you think it'll be enough now that our primeval spring-"
"Shhh!" the other brother said, not wanting her to say something else.
Fang Yuan was able to discern something from the conversation, namely, that the Xiong Clan's primeval spring seemed to be dying.
Since the three clan's spirit springs were located in different areas, it made sense that the damage to each one was slightly different. The Gu Yue clan was located at the top of the mountain, where 'Man's Triumph Over Nature' was most effective. The Xiong Clan, at the foot of the mountain, still had to deal with the ice until this day as well as hazards like mudslides.
For that matter, Fang Yuan was not even sure if the Gu Yue Clan's primeval spring would continue to flourish. It seemed to be showing signs of recovery, but that could very well just be wishful thinking on the clansmen's part. All that could be said based on his own assessment was that it was holding steady - neither declining nor getting better significantly. It was only with time that one could tell if it would really recover or not.
This was just the confirmation he needed, however, to help him orchestrate his plan.
The next morning, as they gathered to negotiate, Fang Yuan requested to speak to the other Xiong Clan elders alone.
To their surprise, Fang Yuan even sent out the elders of his own clan when negotiating. He did not say anything for five minutes, letting them stew while wondering what it was that he was up to as he sipped his tea.
"Hmmm..." Fang Yuan began. "I sent everyone out as there is a matter that is rather sensitive. I don't think that you would want it slipping out either. Namely, regarding your primeval spring."
The elders began sweating. Had news managed to slip out? How - they had only found out about a month back? Did someone betray them?
"Lord Fang Yuan, please understand our position - the price of our Bear Strength Gu can be negotiated."
Fang Yuan waved his hand. "No matter. I don't intend to use this method in order to force any kind of change in that price. If you want, you can sell those recipes at 50,000 primeval stones."
The elders were dumfounded for a moment.
Such generosity?
Fang Yuan's righteous nature truly shone through even now wh-
"There is something else entirely I am interested in," Fang Yuan said, interrupting their train of thought. "Namely, the Xiong Clan's secret Rank 5 methods."
"Ah - Lord Fang Yuan, I'm afraid that we don't entirely understand what you're talking about," one of the elders said nervously. There was no way that news of that could have possibly gotten out - Fang Yuan had to be bluffing.
"Back when the wolf tide was near its peak," Fang Yuan said. "The plan of the Xiong Clan was to hide themselves if the Lightning Lycan King happened to strike, deceiving it with your Rank 5 methods and allowing us to take the brunt of it, no? Thankfully I dealt with that problem without involving your clansmen, but to think that you were thinking of such a dirty trick..."
The elder's expressions froze.
What the hell?!
How could he possibly know this?
There were hardly any elders on their side who happened to know about this plan. While it was somewhat feasible that news of their primeval spring dying leaked out, this was incomprehensible.
Fang Yuan's expression changed from being gentle to being rather domineering.
Fang Yuan was using memories from before he had used the Spring Autumn Cicada to his advantage here. Although he had advanced to Rank 5, what was a Rank 5 Gu Master without a Rank 5 gu worm? The Gu Yue clan had lost its own Rank 5 gu worms thanks to first gen Gu Yue - that Blood River Python could've been quite good now, but it was dead.
Fang Yuan could refine one himself. But it was more profitable to simply extort one.
"If I do nothing and reject your offer," Fang Yuan said. "Imagine what happens to your clan - without a spirit spring even if I do nothing the Bai Clan will make its move. Or someone else like Zuo Chen will come knocking on your doorstep. Your clan will truly be finished given enough time."
The elders were silent. They might have been seething - but they were considering what to do next.
That Rank 5 method was their clan's trump card - if the Gu Yue clan tried something even after they had joined, it would be one of their few assurances that nothing untoward might happen. A last resort of sorts.
However, not only would they be handing this over to the Gu Yue clan, but they would be giving it to Fang Yuan, someone who could fully make use of it being at Rank 5. It was handing their enemy a weapon that could be used against them. It was not a matter of primeval stones but of power.
"A wise man submits to circumstances," Fang Yuan said simply. "Take your time to think about it."
"Fang Yuan, I think we have offered up enough," one of the elders retorted. "Surely there is no need to go this far?"
"Why, what you can you keep doing with your Rank 5 method anyway?" Fang Yuan asked. "Won't you still have problems feeding it? No doubt you intend to leave certain people behind to take care of it and make sure it has sufficient sacrifices. But how long can that continue? Isn't it better that the Gu Yue clan take it off your hands and feed it instead?"
Fang Yuan left, allowing them to stew regarding the current situation. He was already certain of what their answer might be.