Free Web NovelChapter 465: Chapter 255: Opening Banquet (2)
That’s right. Leave of their own accord, rather than wait to be swallowed up by the Cheng Family.
Over the past several months, those three families had been plagued by internal disputes. The conflict between the Qiu Family’s eldest daughter and eldest son was particularly intense. Although these were internal family matters, people like him could still find out the details if they made the effort.
And Ding Wu had once approached him in private, beating around the bush to ask about the situation in other county towns.
He knew exactly what Ding Wu was implying.
If things continued like this, they stood to gain little, only suppression and a life of subservience. So, he was just waiting to see when those three families would leave of their own accord.
He wasn’t worried about what the Cheng Family might dare to do to him; he represented the Li Family. As far as he was concerned, as long as Cheng Zongyang abided by the Li Family’s rules, whatever else he did was none of his business.
Besides, Cheng Zongyang’s cultivation was still at the Seventh Grade, so he was even less concerned.
As for the future, that would be a problem for his successor.
At the mention of Tianduan Mountain, everyone’s gaze involuntarily shifted to the three Patriarchs. Xu Tieshan shook his head slightly.
"Most of the danger in the mountains comes from poisonous creatures. The slightest carelessness, and you’re afflicted. If we didn’t have Insect-Repelling Items, we wouldn’t dare enter so recklessly. It’s shameful to admit, but despite our numbers, our harvest was meager. A few of our men even wandered into a fog-shrouded area and vanished without a trace. Even when someone went in with a rope, they couldn’t see a thing, so we had no choice but to avoid that strange Foggy Forest."
Qiu Fengxing and Ding Wu nodded in agreement, and the latter added:
"That area is truly bizarre. Rope or no rope, the moment you step inside, you lose all sense of direction. You start to hallucinate, and before long, you become dizzy, nauseous, and may even pass out. It’s a toxic miasma. Anyone who goes in has to be dragged out to save their life."
Listening to their accounts, Cheng Zongyang understood that they had explored the Yin Realm area of the Soul Gathering Stele. That place had not only the gray fog of the Yin Realm but also Geomagnetic Stones. With that double protection, it would be a miracle for anyone who entered to get out.
"Tianduan Mountain has no shortage of dangerous places. A place like that isn’t surprising," Chen Kaishan said, his eyes glinting.
’Could there really be a place like that in the part of Tianduan Mountain near the County Town? When did it appear?’
He had lived in the County Town for many years and was naturally familiar with the area of Tianduan Mountain near Jade Peak County, but he had never seen or heard of any misty region.
But he just assumed it was a newly formed toxic area. The mountain fires that had broken out everywhere back then had changed many things.
"Alright, today is a joyous occasion. Let’s not talk about such things. Steward Chen, please, lead us off," Li Mingxin said, giving Chen Kaishan plenty of face.
Hearing this, Chen Kaishan chuckled and said, "Very well..."
After Chen Kaishan said a few words, everyone raised their cups for a toast, ready to begin the feast.
But among those present, only the Patriarchs of the three families felt a bitter taste in their mouths.
The Cheng Family’s trend of rising above them had begun ever since the Liu, He, and Lu families were wiped out. Now, they were thoroughly suppressed.
The current situation was simple: either submit or leave. There was no third option.
But they had left their main families to come here and expand their branches, to grow their clan’s influence. How could they possibly submit to another?
As the three Patriarchs, seated near one another, drank, they couldn’t help but exchange glances, their eyes filled with wry smiles.
After several rounds of drinks and courses, Li Mingxin made an excuse about having prior business and left. Soon after, the other three families, unable to sit still, also made their excuses and departed.
In the end, only the people from Cheng Zongyang’s and Chen Kaishan’s sides remained.
The slight tipsiness Chen Kaishan had been showing vanished as he circulated his Inner Strength. He put down his cup and said to Cheng Zongyang, "That fellow from the Li Courtyard was staring at you the whole time."
Cheng Zongyang chuckled. "Staring at me for what? I haven’t done anything."
Hearing this, Chen Kaishan knew Cheng Zongyang didn’t want to talk about it and changed the subject. "The Da Yi Commerce Association is open for business. You’re going to be busy from now on. Don’t just spend all your time in closed-door cultivation."
Cheng Zongyang immediately grew serious. "Don’t worry, I’ll fulfill the duties of my position. However, I want to find two people to be my assistants, to handle things when I’m not around."
Chen Kaishan’s eyes widened. "We’ve just opened and you already want to be an absentee boss?"
Cheng Zongyang gave a sly grin. "No, no, no. I need to get out and travel, to see if there are any other good products to procure. After all, the procurement department’s job is just to inspect goods and add them to a list for you to decide on. Two assistants can handle that."
"Get out and travel? Where are you planning to go?" Chen Kaishan frowned.
Cheng Zongyang took a sip of wine before replying, "Anywhere, really. It’s all for the sake of finding good things for the Commerce Association. Take the Wilderness Rice, for example. The Commerce Association’s experiments with it should be yielding results by now, right? So if I don’t go out and look around, how can I find more great products?"
Chen Kaishan thought for a moment, then said, "According to the rules, a Steward has the right to recruit staff. But if the people you find cause trouble, you’ll be held responsible. There’s no shirking it."
Cheng Zongyang smiled. "Of course, that’s no problem. The people I choose are all talented."
Chen Kaishan stood up. "Handle it yourself, then. Just don’t neglect the Commerce Association’s business, or you’ll be held accountable for that too."
After seeing Chen Kaishan and Zheng Tianhai off, Cheng Zongyang and Li Lu returned to the third floor.
Li Lu couldn’t help but ask, "Boss, are you really leaving?"
Cheng Zongyang walked to the corridor railing and looked down at the people coming and going on the street below. His lips curved into a smile only when his gaze fell upon the bustling Commerce Association. Without turning his head, he said:
"That’s right. I need to go over there for a visit."
Hearing this, Li Lu understood he was referring to the people from the faction behind Cheng Zongyang and didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, he asked, "About the assistants, do you need help finding them?"
Cheng Zongyang shook his head slightly. "I already have people in mind. I’ll be leaving in a while—for half a year at the shortest, a year at the longest. Everything will proceed according to plan."
Li Lu nodded with a serious expression and asked, "Should I summon them?"
"No need. I’ll make the arrangements. You can go back to your work," Cheng Zongyang said.
After Li Lu left, Cheng Zongyang released the Acupoint Sealing on his body, allowing his True Qi to flow and his cultivation to be restored.
He took the bottle and cup and continued to drink alone, gazing out at the street, lost in thought.
Cheng Yuanli brought some people to the third floor to clear away the dishes, taking care not to disturb Cheng Zongyang.
But the movement behind him pulled Cheng Zongyang from his thoughts. He handed the wine bottle to Cheng Yuanli and said, "Don’t let this wine go to waste. Drink it bit by bit, and train hard after you finish."
Cheng Yuanli took the bottle. There was still a good amount left. He couldn’t help but ask, "What kind of medicine wine is this?"
Cheng Zongyang said, "Qi Condensing Medicine Wine. You’re a Seventh Grade now, so your next step is to condense your vital energy and refine it into True Qi. This will help your cultivation."
Cheng Yuanli said excitedly, "Thank you, Young Clan Leader!"
Cheng Zongyang waved his hand. "Your cultivation and Martial Arts both need to improve. The County Town will need you all to watch over it in the future."
"Yes!" Cheng Yuanli clasped his hands in a salute.
After Cheng Zongyang left, he looked at the bottle in his hands, holding it preciously. Then he turned his head and saw that many of the expensive dishes were still untouched. Knowing they shouldn’t be wasted, he said:
"Pack it all up and send it to Tiantuan Village."
He himself didn’t lack such ingredients, but they could be sent to Tiantuan Village as a reward for those who were training hard.
Cheng Zongyang’s plan to mass-produce Martial Artists had already been completed. Three hundred Entry Grade Martial Artists were now continuing their training in Tiantuan Village, and the selection for the second batch had already begun.
If he wanted them to stay motivated in their cultivation, there naturally had to be incentives.
After leaving the restaurant and returning to the Cheng Residence, Cheng Zongyang entered the Wilderness World. It was time for him to make some preparations for his sea voyage to the East Sea Abyss.
As it happened, in the marketplace cottage, Luo Dingran was organizing things at the counter when he saw Cheng Zongyang appear. He immediately said, "Sir."
Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly, and his eyes immediately fell on some materials in Luo Dingran’s hands.
"What are these?" Cheng Zongyang asked, puzzled by the metallic-looking objects.
Luo Dingran replied, "These are the Array Materials that Luo Daoist needed. I just managed to procure them." At this, he brightened up. "He said the Teleportation Array is almost complete; all that’s left is to craft this Startup Order."
Cheng Zongyang’s eyes lit up when he heard this. "Let’s go, let’s go check it out."
With that, he strode quickly toward the door.
Luo Dingran smiled faintly and immediately followed.
