Chapter 418 - Courtesy to Others

After Deacon Yang left,Zhongxuan Sheng looked at Jiang Wang with a spirited gaze, “What kind of strengths do you actually have that charm the elderly so much?”

Even Elder Madam Li favored him at first sight and offered the Stone Gate Grass as a meeting gift.

Back then, Zhongxuan Sheng was inwardly seething with jealousy.

From the Monk who cried out to take him as a disciple, to Elder Madam Li’s favorable regard, and now the overly enthusiastic Qing Xi.

“You’re a friend to the elderly!” Zhongxuan Sheng exclaimed.

Yan Fu shrugged his shoulders, barely holding back his laughter.

“That’s not right,” Zhongxuan Sheng pondered.

“Shouldn’t the elderly prefer someone like me who’s fair and plump?”

Jiang Wang was also quite puzzled by Qing Xi’s sudden goodwill, and as he listened to Zhongxuan Sheng’s rambling, he replied subconsciously, “It’s not like raising pigs.”

Zhongxuan Sheng was caught off guard by the retort and, after a moment’s thought, turned his head and glared fiercely at Xu Xiangqian.

It was all because of Xu Gaoe that Jiang Wang had been led astray!

When had he ever been so back-talking before?

Xu Xiangqian, who was devouring pastries, was confused by the sudden hostility.

He thought to himself, this fatso is really stingy!

Is he glaring at me just because I ate a few extra bites?

Li Longchuan, with a look of disgust, flicked off the pastry crumbs Xu Xiangqian had spilled between them and jokingly reminded, “With all this gift-giving, the Business Alliance is in business after all.

They’re not going to make you pay for it later, are they?”

“I definitely can’t accept that, I need to send it back immediately!” Xu Xiangqian was now very sensitive about money.

Zhongxuan Sheng wasn’t sure if Xu Gaoe was genuinely naive or just pretending to be, and didn’t bother to intervene, simply stretching out his hand to take the jade box in front of Jiang Wang, “I’ve already prepared a set of medical supplies for you, this extra set should benefit me, the gift from Alliance Hierarch Qing is definitely good stuff.

I can use it to enrich the De Sheng’s inventory as well…

but this set of information, you should take a close look at it.”

When did you ever prepare medical supplies for me?

Of course, Jiang Wang wouldn’t voice this thought aloud, and he understood the caution expressed by Zhongxuan Sheng.

It was obviously not convenient to state these concerns in front of others.

He could only shake his head, indicating his helplessness at this shameless behavior.

Gao Zhe pondered for a while, then spoke up, “I heard that the Business Alliance has also sent someone to Daze County this time.

Is Alliance Hierarch Qing’s gift a way of hoping that Brother Jiang could take care of them when the time comes?”

The upcoming Seven-star Tower meeting was not on the agenda for any of the others present.

Xu Xiangqian had previously shown some interest and had enthusiastically announced a plan to sweep through the contenders of each faction at Ganma Mountain, but he had suddenly changed his mind and said he was leaving Qi Country to wander (loaf around) in the Near Sea Archipelago — perhaps it was to avoid debts, as it was said that the old dean of Qingya Sub-court had been looking for him everywhere.

Upon hearing Gao Zhe’s words, Xu Xiangqian inquired, “Who is the person the Business Alliance is sending over there?”

“Um,” Gao Zhe hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure of the specific candidates.

Yan Fu rotated his teacup and said softly, “A first-class Deacon, Fang Chong.”

In terms of intelligence, he was clearly a step ahead of Gao Zhe.

“Tsk,” Zhongxuan Sheng clicked his tongue, “Old Jiang, you’re quite prestigious.

Even a first-class Deacon of the Business Alliance needs to ask for your help!”

The Business Alliance has only twelve first-class Deacons, who are undeniably among the Alliance’s top brass, with a cultivation level of at least Inner Mansion Realm.

And the Seven-star Tower’s entrance limit is the cultivation level of the Inner Mansion Realm.

Theoretically, any cultivator below and including the Inner Mansion Realm, regardless of their level, could participate in the Seven-star Tower.

But in reality, cultivators who hadn’t pushed open the Heaven and Earth Gate needn’t even consider the Seven-star Tower, as they wouldn’t be able to get an entry slot.

The rules for the Seven-star Tower slots differ from the Heavenly Abode Secret Land, and not every family has allocated slots.

Apart from the Tian family of Da Ze, who as the local powerhouse has a fixed allocation, all other slots are obtained through competition.

Of course, due to the exchange of interests between Sunshine County and Chongjia Island, the relationship between the Zhong Xuan Family and the Tian family is currently considered close.

Zhongxuan Sheng had already managed the connections, so Jiang Wang could enter the Seven-star Tower directly with a fixed slot from the Tian family of Da Ze, without needing to compete further.

The limit for the Seven-star Tower is the Inner Mansion Realm, and a first-class Deacon of the Business Alliance won’t be weak either.

When Zhongxuan Sheng said this, it was nothing more than a reminder to Jiang Wang not to get too carried away, and if he started to think he could actually take care of Fang Chong just because he’d been praised a few times, that would mean he wasn’t thinking clearly.

Jiang Wang certainly wasn’t going to take it seriously, he simply responded with a smile.

But Gao Zhe countered, “With Brother Jiang’s current strength, how can he not be able to take care of others?

Not to mention that he single-handedly swept away the Pingxi Duo and the Sea Covering Hand on his own, just the level of Inner Mansion Realm itself, what’s that?

Even God’s Inner Mansion would be easily within his grasp.”

His words could be seen as both flattery and a probing of strength.

But just listening was enough, taking it too seriously was not at all necessary.

Actually, Gao Zhe’s personality wasn’t quite in sync with Jiang Wang.

The reason they often gathered together was purely because of the current cooperation between the Zhong Xuan Family and the Gao family.

If Zhongxuan Sheng didn’t take advantage of leading the Yang Region to secure the Gao family’s allegiance, Xuan Zun from his side would.

The principle of one becoming strong as the other weakens was understood by all.

As people mature, it becomes harder to act spontaneously and freely.

“Brother Gao, you’re speaking as though it’s nothing much,” Yan Fu smiled warmly, holding his tea cup and making a circular motion in front of him, “All of us here, except for you and me, are all within God’s Inner Mansion, within easy reach.”

Everyone laughed.

Indeed, Jiang Wang, Zhongxuan Sheng, Li Longchuan, and Xu Xiangqian were all winners of the Heavenly Abode Secret Land.

And now they had all pushed open the Heaven and Earth Gate, so reaching God’s Inner Mansion was really not difficult.

Even Gao Zhe himself touched his nose and smiled embarrassingly.

As everyone was joking and laughing, a servant from the Li family suddenly came in and whispered something to Li Longchuan.

Despite the short distance, those present consciously controlled themselves from eavesdropping to show respect.

One could see that Li Longchuan’s eyebrows slightly raised, evidently surprised.

“What’s the matter?” Jiang Wang asked, “If you have something to do, you can go first.

I’ll be leaving soon anyway.”

“It’s not that,” Li Longchuan shook his head.

“It’s my sister…”

“Li Fengyao is coming?

Ah, that’s right!” Xu Xiangqian suddenly stood up.

“Gentlemen, nature calls, allow me to take care of that.

Safe travels, Brother Jiang.”

Without waiting for a response from everyone, he ran off in a flash.

Jiang Wang listened with a cringe.

“Safe travels,” somehow didn’t sound too positive no matter how he heard it.

“How odd,” Jiang Wang was somewhat puzzled.

“I’ve met Longchuan’s sister.

She’s very nice and incredibly beautiful.

Why would Xiangqian seem to fear her like a tiger?”

He had this doubt for quite some time.

Previously at the ruinous Marquis’s mansion, after Li Fengyao had appeared, the typically fearless Xu Xiangqian suddenly turned into a different person, always acting timid and cautious.

“You don’t know?” Zhongxuan Sheng asked quite loudly, holding back a mischievous laugh.

Jiang Wang was baffled: “Why would I know?”

Li Longchuan covered his face and said, “The reason why Xu Xiangqian is afraid of my sister…

is because he has been pursuing her from a very early time, and then he was beaten by her a few times.”

“It was a thrashing,” Zhongxuan Sheng added.

“Eighteen times in total,” Yan Fu said with a calm face, providing more data.

It seemed like they were all very interested in Xu Xiangqian’s embarrassing moments, not to mention the gleeful Zhongxuan Sheng or the engrossed Gao Zhe.

Even the normally impassive Yan Fu…

had an unmistakably excited look in his eyes, right?

“…So he’s been scared off, right?” Jiang Wang realized.

But it was hard to imagine Li Fengyao, with her proud demeanor, actually thrashing Xu Xiangqian.

What would that scene look like…?

It must be interesting, right?

“Ahem.

It wasn’t exactly a beating,” Li Longchuan had to maintain his sister’s image after all.

“A sparring, just a sparring session.”

“As to why you should know about this…” Zhongxuan Sheng said with a stifled grin.

“The day before yesterday, someone deliberately teased him about it, asking him why he wasn’t continuing to pursue Li Fengyao.

Xu Gaoe said…

it was not that he was scared of Li Fengyao, but a gentleman does not covet what others love.

You, Jiang Wang, have been utterly enchanted by her, so he formally decided to withdraw from the cohort of Li Fengyao’s suitors.”

Jiang Wang: …

There was a silence for a moment.

“You knew?”

“You knew too?”

“You all knew?”

After a round of questions, he received affirmative answers from everyone.

Clutching at his last hope, Jiang Wang looked at Li Longchuan: “Does your sister…

know too?”

“Ah, yes,” Li Longchuan answered honestly.

Jiang Wang: …

So that’s it!

No wonder Xu Xiangqian made himself scarce so quickly.

Although he was timid the last time, he still dared to make small talk.

Jiang Wang glanced at the statue-like Fourteen standing by: “Fourteen, which way did Gao with the tall forehead run off to just now?

Which direction?

Point me the way.”

Fourteen’s shoulders shook slightly, as if he could barely contain his laughter.

Though everyone called him Xu Gaoe, this was the first time Jiang Wang openly referred to Xu Xiangqian as Gao with the tall forehead.

This guy really was… so irritating!

Back in You Nation, after he suffered a beating from the onlooking crowd, he harbored wicked intentions to drag Jiang Wang into the fray.

They had only just met then.

Who would have expected they’d become so familiar now, yet still up to the same antics?

“Brother Longchuan,” Zhongxuan Sheng prompted, eager for the drama.

“You just mentioned your Noble Sister…

how exactly?”

Just the thought of a beautiful woman coming to thrash Jiang Wang soon…

He was quite looking forward to it.

Even the usually composed Yan Fu had a bright gleam in his eye.

Li Longchuan looked at Jiang Wang, his expression slightly complex: “My sister said she also wants to participate in the Seven-star Tower event and asked if Brother Jiang would like to set off with her.”

“Ah?” Zhongxuan Sheng initially looked a bit disappointed, but then, thinking quickly, he eagerly agreed: “Of course, of course!”

His smile widened.

She’s going to batter him all the way to Da Ze County!

That’s just too much!

“With such an earnest invitation, Jiang Wang, you absolutely should not refuse.” The hefty man advised fervently.

“Longchuan’s sister is as good as your sister.

Serving your sister diligently on the road is unquestionably an inescapable duty,” Gao Zhe declared righteously.

“That’s true, after all, we’re all acquainted, traveling together means looking out for each other.” Yan Fu appeared very objective, as though he was not at all there for the spectacle.

Jiang Wang: …

In fact, Jiang Wang really wanted to ask—”If I say no, will your sister beat me?”

But, thankfully, he wasn’t foolish enough to ask a question that would most certainly lead to a beating.

He just chuckled awkwardly, “Ha, ha.

So your sister is also going to Seven-star Tower.”

“Quite sudden, huh?” he added drily.