"Are all the Double Eagles everywhere a man and a woman?" Zhang Rongfang asked curiously upon seeing them.
It was the sa back in Tan Yang.
"Uh, I’m not sure," Black Eagle Copper Heart replied. "I wonder what orders you have for us, summoning us suddenly?"
"Nothing much, it’s just that I’ve just arrived in Wushan and need to understand the local powers," Zhang Rongfang replied.
"Though there are many experts in Wushan Prefecture, most are not locals and have migrated from elsewhere," Copper Heart thought for a mont, speaking solemnly.
"Naturally, the three big families stand at the top with their Super Grade expert connections, and they are already filled with many talents. Their power is formidable, and there’s no need to elaborate."
"Outside the three big families are the affiliated families, scattered gangs. And secondary forces like our Golden Wing Pavilion.
Below that are small factions that can’t make a climate."
"However, there are indeed a few individuals to be cautious of," Copper Heart began detailing so retired officials and experts.
Zhang Rongfang morized the noteworthy ones in his mind.
After half an hour of talk, it was Bai Ying’s turn.
Bai Ying introduced the specific distribution and bases of the Golden Wing Pavilion in Wushan, along with current businesses, finances, cash flow, and the status of mbers in the main and secondary buildings.
They each managed different scopes with many deputy experts under them.
Having obtained the information he wanted, Zhang Rongfang nodded in satisfaction.
"These materials are sufficient."
He carefully examined the two.
"Aside from gathering intelligence, I need to discuss one more thing with you today."
"Please go ahead," they lowered their heads respectfully.
Zhang Rongfang paused.
"No matter what Wushan was like before, now that I’m here, when you arrange industries following these points."
"One, no forced prostitution.
Two, no framing to seize family assets."
Based on the industries Bai Ying just ntioned, Golden Wing Pavilion operates several large gambling houses, music halls, and brothels here.
So he must set these rules.
In these tis, life is already hard enough for the common folk. He may not govern everyone, but he can restrain his subordinates.
"Understood!"
They responded firmly without hesitation.
Zhang Rongfang was satisfied and waved them away.
The agreent was that unless sothing crucial arose, they wouldn’t need to contact him later.
Leaving the courtyard.
Black Eagle Copper Heart was about to step onto his carriage.
"Copper Heart, why not co sit with for a bit?" Bai Ying Xiang Ling suddenly smiled slightly and invited.
"Alright. We haven’t seen each other in a while."
Copper Heart hesitated, then joined Xiang Ling on her carriage.
The vehicle slowly moved to the distance.
Ten minutes later, it stopped by a Wujiang River embanknt.
The coachman went elsewhere, leaving the two inside.
"What’s your impression of this newly appointed spirit envoy?" Xiang Ling toyed with a newly folded paper crane and asked casually.
"How else? Slightly dumb and naive," Copper Heart sneered.
"Indeed," Xiang Ling chuckled, "Without setups in music halls and brothels, where does good rchandise co from? You can’t attract the city’s big figures rely with those self-degraded inferior types."
"Young man ascending to a high position thinks he can do whatever he wants. He hasn’t faced setbacks, but when real trouble hits, he’ll see how harsh reality is."
Copper Heart was nonchalant.
"What’s your plan? Just go along?" Xiang Ling asked.
"Go along? He has no one, intelligence cos from us directly. Even if we did sothing, how could he know?" Copper Heart laughed disdainfully.
"Seriously thinks strength equals everything? Ridiculous. A barely grown brat, easy to manipulate."
"Since you don’t mind, that’s good. I feared the thing I previously asked your side to cooperate on would fail," Xiang Ling gave him a seductive look, patting her ample bosom.
"Rest assured, the rchandise takes ti to refine; Sea Dragon has offered a hefty price. It mustn’t be muddled," Copper Heart asserted.
"Don’t rush to act publicly; wait until my side completely dismantles her family, toppling that competent uncle of hers, leaving no support. Then when she’s desperate, you step in.
By then, she’ll have no choice but to comply." He showed a flash of ruthlessness.
"Fine." Xiang Ling picked up a banana from the small table, peeling it languidly. "Once everything’s done, I want all girls under thirty from her family."
"Lucky you," Copper Heart remarked sourly. "Be cautious, though. Word is that spirit envoy was ruthless in Tan Yang. Don’t get yourself embroiled."
"Don’t worry, I’m not acting personally. Even if discovered, so scapegoats can always be pushed forward," Xiang Ling’s eyes almost curved into crescent moons.
She bit into the banana lightly, revealing her pink tongue from red lips.
Heated, Copper Heart swiftly exited the carriage. He hurried away to avoid further temptation by this venomous woman; despite her captivating allure, she was known as a viper beauty in the Wushan Prefecture martial world.
She mastered poisons and concealed weapons, secretly controlling an organization nad Dream Boat.
She discreetly leveraged Golden Wing Pavilion’s identity and authority for Dream Boat.
Dream Boat reportedly boasted unmatched allure that ensnared the senses, rendering one blissfully unaware.
Among Dream Boat’s offerings was a drink known as Dream Liquid, one cup sufficed to bring an ecstatic floaty delight.
Combined with Dream Boat’s abundant beauties and frequent events, its indulgences ranked it among Wushan Prefecture’s five notable gold sinks.
Thus Xiang Ling, despite leaving Golden Wing Pavilion, could still live rather freely.
*
*
*
Evening, Comrce Office.
Inside the dining hall.
Zhang Rongfang and Lu isha sat side by side, with his sister Zhang Rongyu and brother-in-law Suda Heqi opposite them.
In the entire hall, only the four of them were entitled to dine at the main table.
Maidservants and guards stood around serving them.
Four dishes and one soup were placed on the table, all served in basins.
Onion-braised pork chops, shrimp cucumber chunks, black chicken mushroom red date soup, stir-fried bitter lon beef strips.
The chunks of pork chops glistened golden and oily under the candlelight, emitting a mouthwatering aroma.
"isha, Rongfang, are you two... at odds?" Zhang Rongyu looked at them with slight concern.
She scooped a spoonful of cucumber chunks into each of their bowls with a spoon.
"It’s nothing, I’ve been wandering around outside all day and didn’t spend ti with isha," Zhang Rongfang replied with a smile.
"That’s good. isha has been helping you get familiar with the environnt these days, and she’s a girl. If there are any disagreents, try to accommodate her more," Zhang Rongyu said softly.
"I know," Zhang Rongfang replied compliantly within the Comrce Office, lacking the aloof fierceness he had during martial practice.
Lu isha, watching this scene, couldn’t help but compare it with the ti Zhang Rongfang suddenly acted up. She inwardly sneered, thinking this person was truly hypocritical, a master of pretense.
She glanced at Zhang Rongyu, feeling that these siblings were trouble. Although she didn’t want to engage with her, she saw her brother, Suda Heqi, glaring at her from across the table.
Reluctantly, she replied.
"He’s powerful now, dares to fight anyone when he practices martial arts."
"What do I know with my little strength, just so basics from when I was in Great Dao Teaching," Zhang Rongfang said modestly.
"It’s already good enough. Being recognized at eighteen is quite an achievent," Suda Heqi consoled, "Rongfang, you can continue to advance your martial skills. I can ask a friend to find you a more suitable teacher."
He sincerely hoped Zhang Rongfang could be independent and strong, so that Xiaoyu wouldn’t have to constantly worry and sigh.
Zhang Rongyu smiled with relief on the side. She couldn’t believe her ears when she heard about her brother’s recognition.
She didn’t expect it to be true when the Protector in the house tested him.
That day, she was overjoyed and handed out red envelopes to everyone in the residence.
"Besides, at this age, you should consider getting engaged," Suda Heqi’s eyes lingered on Lu isha.
Seeing her indifferent expression to the topic, he was sowhat disappointed.
"isha," he called.
"What?"
"If you have ti, think of so ways to find your brother Rongfang a suitable match?"
"This, it’s quite troubleso, isn’t it?" Lu isha showed a hint of impatience, "Brother, you know he’s both barbaric and of Confucian origins. Even if he changes paths now, the conditions aren’t that great. To find soone, we may have to lower our standards."
As soon as she said this, the atmosphere at the table got a bit awkward.
But it was the truth.
"Lu isha!" Suda Heqi’s expression turned stern, looking displeased at his sister.
After a pause, he softened.
"Help us out. My wife and I haven’t had any luck yet, so we might have to rely on Rongfang to carry on the family line. Please put in a little more effort."
Suda Heqi patiently persuaded, gently holding Zhang Rongyu’s hand as a gesture of comfort.
"Alright, alright," Lu isha reluctantly agreed.
Zhang Rongfang, on the side, was speechless. He didn’t expect to face such troubles even after reaching Wushan Prefecture.
Currently, he was not interested in anything else, only wanting to see how the continuous rise in life attributes would change things.
Moreover, he was about to study the Lock Script, leaving no ti to consider matters of marriage.
"Eat, eat, don’t delay so the dishes don’t get cold. isha, have so soup. I personally simred it for two hours; it’s great for boosting Qi and blood," Zhang Rongyu stood to serve Lu isha so soup.
Being polite, Lu isha couldn’t refuse and accepted it with thanks.
"Sister-in-law, if you have ti, also look around in social circles. It’s too much for just to handle."
Though she looked down on Zhang Rongyu, she wouldn’t make a fuss in front of her brother.
She only regretted that if her brother married soone from a more prominent family, he might have advanced further by now.
Not like now, remaining just a minor figure in comrce.
This was because Zhang Rongyu contributed nothing but burdens.
Yet, looking at Zhang Rongyu’s pretty, pure smile as she eagerly served the soup,
Lu isha lowered her head, muttering sothing unintelligible, but said nothing further.
Observing this, Zhang Rongfang seed to realize sothing and shook his head, understanding the subtle relationship between Lu isha and his sister Zhang Rongyu.
The four of them quietly resud their al.
Halfway through, a ssenger soldier quickly entered from outside, saluting and kneeling before Suda Heqi.
"Sir, there is an urgent summon from the yan!"
Suda Heqi’s expression beca serious, and he stood up imdiately.
"I’ll be right there."
"Yes!" The ssenger soldier quickly withdrew.
"What happened? Did sothing else occur?" Zhang Rongyu stood up, concerned, and took a light red official robe from a maidservant, draping it over her husband’s shoulders.
"Hmm, you all continue eating, no need to wait for ," Suda Heqi instructed, then moved to the door, whispering a few words to Zhang Rongyu before leaving hurriedly.
Zhang Rongfang, with his keen senses as a Ninth-Grade Expert, naturally heard a bit, given he sat just six ters from the door.
He picked up from his brother-in-law’s fragnted words the na "Dangshan Tiger."
User Comments
0 comments from readers