Divine Doctor and His CEO Wife-Chapter 138: Hongmen
These prestigious families had been entrenched in the Land of Shenzhou for hundreds or even thousands of years, their roots deep and their branches sprawling. Even as dynasties rose and fell and eras changed, they remained firmly at the world’s apex. These great clans had also formed solid alliances among themselves, wielding considerable influence in military, political, and commercial affairs. A mere whim of theirs could affect countless lives.
To those ancient families, the so-called powerful clans of Yuncheng City were nothing more than ants. Even the Jiang Family, which seemed imposing on all fronts, was nothing but one of Xing Zhanlong’s pawns.
Chen Xiao said calmly, "He’s coming to Yuncheng City? Wouldn’t that make it easy to topple him? I’ll just kill him with a single slash."
"Are you sure?" Leng Baiyu sneered. "He is, after all, the commander of Dragon Soul’s Hidden Guard and a high-ranking member of a special department. If you take him out, there will be no place for you in the entire Divine Land! Don’t underestimate the power of the state."
Chen Xiao curled his lip. "It’ll be fine as long as no one finds out, right?"
"Too risky," Leng Baiyu said. "Besides, his strength is unfathomable. Even I can’t gauge its depths. Don’t act rashly; he isn’t that simple."
"Fine," Chen Xiao replied, not bothering to argue.
However, below the level of a Great Grandmaster, I should still be able to kill one with a forceful burst of power. That Xing Zhanlong can’t have reached the terrifying cultivation realm of a Great Grandmaster, right? A Great Grandmaster can be called a Martial Saint! Or even an Earthly Immortal! Throughout history, those who reached this realm are few and far between, all of them legendary figures whose names are recorded in the annals of history. Since Xing Zhanlong couldn’t even make it to the top of an organization as small as Dragon Soul, he probably isn’t that formidable.
As for Leng Baiyu, he couldn’t see through her. Her aura was strange, as if she was undergoing some sort of transformation. It fluctuated between strong and weak, making it difficult to perceive clearly. But Chen Xiao knew his Senior Sister was on the cusp of a new breakthrough. This period was crucial for her. That was likely why she had asked him to handle the matter on the Alice, instead of taking action personally.
After a few rounds of drinks and several courses, the atmosphere quickly grew lively. Li Chenqian, the City Governor’s son, was especially active in nurturing relationships among the guests.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Chen Xiao finally broached the main topic. "City Governor Li, I heard the new port project is selecting private investors. Are there two slots available for local Yuncheng City entities?" 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"Yes," Li Buyi nodded. "To be precise, there are two slots for local enterprises in Yuncheng City. As a result, many corporations have been establishing themselves in Yuncheng City recently to position themselves for the new port, which is giving me quite a headache. The competition is fierce. Furthermore, every interested company has powerful backing, which puts me in a difficult position, especially since there are only two slots."
"Then just give one to me," Chen Xiao said.
"Well..." Li Buyi forced a smile and glanced at Leng Baiyu.
Leng Baiyu frowned. "Don’t be ridiculous. This is a major project highly valued by the higher-ups. How could it be decided so easily? It’s not City Governor Li’s call to make, so don’t make things difficult for him."
Luo Qingli asked, "In that case, City Governor Li, how do you plan to determine who gets the slots?"
"At this point, all the parties are vying for them, and I no longer have any say," Li Buyi admitted. "For instance, Chief Instructor Leng certainly hopes you’ll secure a slot, but Xing Zhanlong naturally wants Jiang Tianquan and his people to take over the new port. The Qin Family from Zhonghai also wants a piece of the pie. I heard the second young master of the Zhonghai Qin Family has partnered with Hongmen, and they are now here in Yuncheng City. Hongmen has also put forward a man named Wei Zihuan."
Wei Zihuan? Chen Xiao was naturally very familiar with the name.
Luo Qingli also felt as if she had heard it somewhere before.
"I’m just a minor figure; I can’t afford to offend any of these powers, so an internal appointment is out of the question," Li Buyi explained. "Moreover, the factions are all evenly matched right now. It seems very likely that the final outcome will be decided by you all settling it amongst yourselves. However, I can probably get a few advantages for you and your associates, Mr. Chen, all within the rules."
"Understood," Chen Xiao nodded. He had only been joking with Li Buyi earlier. Although Li Buyi wielded considerable power as the city’s governor, he was also subject to many constraints. The factions involved this time all had frighteningly powerful backgrounds. If he dared to just give a slot to Chen Xiao, he would be stripped of his position the very next day. With so many forces competing, the outcome could only be determined by their own abilities.
Li Buyi pondered for a moment before saying, "In a few days, I’ll hold a Sail Raising Conference to decide the two investment slots. Mr. Chen, what method do you think would give you the best chance of winning?"
"Fists," Chen Xiao replied without hesitation. Why use your brain when you can solve a problem with your fists?
Li Buyi looked exasperated, but on second thought, it made sense. If the final contest at the conference was decided by martial strength, Chen Xiao’s chances of winning would probably be much higher.
"However, experts from Hongmen and Xing Zhanlong’s underlings will likely be in attendance. Are you confident, Mr. Chen?"
"No problem," Chen Xiao nodded.
Leng Baiyu stated flatly, "When it comes to martial strength, our sect fears no one."
"Then I am relieved," Li Buyi nodded. "I’ll adapt to the situation as it develops."
Chen Xiao smiled. "It’s certainly good to have friends in high places." In a way, Li Buyi was indirectly helping them.
Suddenly, Xu Yanran’s phone rang. "Excuse me, I need to step out and take this call." She hurried out of the room.
The group chatted idly for a while, but after ten minutes, Xu Yanran still hadn’t returned. Growing worried, Luo Qingli rushed out to check on her, only to stop in her tracks, dumbfounded. Several men were lying haphazardly on the ground, clutching their stomachs and wailing in pain, while Xu Yanran was mercilessly stepping on their heads.
"Trying to harass a respectable woman in broad daylight, you hooligans? Too bad for you, you ran into me!" she declared, having given each man a swift kick to the groin. The three of them were in such agony that their eyes rolled back into their heads before they passed out completely.
There were a few other guests in the living room. Seeing how fierce Xu Yanran was, they all wore strange expressions and quickly gave her a wide berth.
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
A series of orderly footsteps echoed as a group of young men in matching uniforms appeared. "Who dares lay a hand on our Hongmen disciples?!"
There were about seven or eight of them. Their eyes were bright and piercing, they radiated vitality, and their stances were solid. They were clearly trained fighters. They strode forward with the swagger of dragons and tigers, shouting as they pushed their way through the crowd and frightening the other guests into scattering.
The young man standing in the center of the group remained silent. His clothes were different from the other Hongmen disciples, featuring exquisite silver trim that made them look more refined. A young girl stood beside him. The girl’s features were pleasant enough, though her high cheekbones and very thin lips gave her a harsh look. While she could be considered a minor beauty, her gaze held a sinister glint.
After the Hongmen disciples finished their clamoring, the young man in the silver-trimmed robe finally spoke, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Kneel, apologize, and come with us. Do so, and you might avoid some unnecessary pain."
