Liang felt a flicker of interest. One item? He suspected it was the exact item the opposing faction sought. Regardless, he had no interest in such dangerous artifacts; they would only lead to trouble.
After a moment, he nodded. "Then we have a deal."
Actually his goal was to leverage three specific items, yet he demanded five. Why the discrepancy? Perhaps he believed that the additional two would create a buffer.
After all, it certainly won't hurt to try. Each of these treasures held the promise of unimaginable wealth, a fortune that even the current him doesn't have.
A sigh of relief escaped Xia. This negotiation had been a struggle.
"Please, brother Liang, follow me," she said, leading him down a concealed passageway.
He nodded and followed her through a hidden passageway.
After a few moments they emerged into a vast chamber dominated by a shimmering spatial portal.
