The Grand Void – Becoming a Dragon

The atmosphere of the business alliance froze.

This time, people with merchant status gathered here to make a rough plan for the future business direction of the Sixteen Mansions of Huai'an.

No one expected that King Chen would also come.

Old Li frowned, suddenly looked at Zhuang Ming, and said in a low voice, "Are you here?"

As soon as these words came out, he suddenly felt extremely absurd.

What kind of person is Chen Wang?

The high-ranking king with a different surname controls the lifeline of the sixteen prefectures of Huai'an City, and holds great power, as if he is the embodiment of Huai'an royal power.

Although Zhuang Ming is outstanding, he is just a businessman.

Perhaps King Chen hated Zhuang Ming.

But it's probably just disgust, not necessarily high opinion of Zhuang Ming.

Why did you come here specially for Zhuang Ming?

But at this moment, Zhuang Ming's gaze also narrowed, he did not expect that King Chen would come here.

It stands to reason that King Chen hasn't taken care of his tail yet, and now he must be busy with his messy affairs. He has already been involved in the four major affairs in the Sixteenth Mansion of Huai'an, so he can't take care of him.

"Could it be... not for me?"

Thinking of this, Zhuang Ming turned his head slightly and looked at Xue Qing.

Xue Qing looked solemn, lowered his head, and said softly: "Young Master, do you want to avoid him?"

Hearing this, Zhuang Ming couldn't help laughing, and said: "For six years, in Huai'an, others have always avoided me, but now it's my turn to hide my head and show my tail?"

After finishing speaking, he waved his hand and said: "It's okay, if he came for me, I would retreat now, but I would be too weak, and it would be even more embarrassing to be forced out by him... If he didn't come for me, Naturally, there will be his business, and in order to do it, he may not make things difficult for me."

Xue Qing still hesitated a little.

Zhuang Ming sighed: "It's a blessing, not a disaster. A disaster can't be avoided. Go and meet him."

For him now, these trivial matters in the mundane world are related to his business, related to his money, and also related to his major matter of raising dragons, which are actually his way.

For those who practice, the law is the way.

For a businessman, business is the way.

For him, both are the way.

And those who cultivate the Tao must be accompanied by calamities.

This is not necessarily a catastrophe where the heavens are angry.

Maybe it was someone who blocked his way.

Whether it is Song Tianyuan or the current King Chen, they are all human disasters on his path of cultivation.

It's just that Song Tianyuan's calamity has passed, and the calamity brought by King Chen is still in the present.

"If I broke through the Dao Seal back then, and a sudden change occurred, and it caused a backlash, it would be doomed."

"The recent situation is also my doom."

"Eldest brother said that avoiding robbery is also a skill."

"But if the calamity cannot be avoided, then there is no need to avoid it."

"Just use all kinds of means and do your best to deal with the catastrophe."

——

The arrival of King Chen silenced many people who had previously talked about the future business situation.

"See my lord."

One after another, someone saluted.

But Mr. Li also went up to greet him, and said salutingly, "See you, my lord."

Chen Wang changed into a white shirt today, looking very elegant, and immediately replied: "You are welcome, Mr. Li."

After he finished speaking, his eyes swept over and landed on Zhuang Ming. In the depths of his eyes, his expression froze for a moment, and murderous intent flashed past.

Zhuang Ming just stretched out his hand in his sleeve, stroking the young dragon, and his expression was as usual, as if he didn't notice it.

"Why is your lord so free today to come to Zhongding Mansion?"

"This king is passing through here, and I heard that the meeting of the merchant alliance in the sixteen mansions of Huai'an is also scheduled here." Chen Wang laughed, and said in a gentle tone: "After all, this king has been ordered to take over the sixteen mansions of Huai'an. In the future, we should also know something about the money transactions and various situations in the sixteen prefectures of Huai'an..."

"It's as it should be." Li Lao said: "It's the little old man who suddenly made a sudden move. Please don't be offended by the prince."

"It's okay, it's okay." Chen Wang said: "After all, it is a meeting of the business alliance, and there are merchants in the room. This time, this king is actually uninvited. I hope you don't blame me."

"My lord is serious."

Li Lao hurriedly responded.

And many businessmen also echoed.

King Chen laughed and said: "At noon, the meeting of the business alliance is about to start. You just think that the king is not here, and everything is as usual, and you will act as usual... The king is here today, just to observe, and to plan for Huai'an in the future. There is a general understanding, that’s all.”

Having said that, who in the field can really treat this King Chen as nothing?

Mr. Li was quite respectful, so he asked Chen Wang to sit on a high position.

And the old man himself added another seat, next to Chen Wang, the position is slightly lower.

When he was seated, he glanced at Zhuang Ming with a strange look on his face.

Zhuang Ming nodded and said nothing.

What Li Lao meant was very obvious, since King Chen was present in person, Zhuang Ming had better not show his head.

At this moment, Zhuang Ming also frowned slightly.

He always felt that Chen Wang would not come for himself.

But Chen Wang came here really just to understand the future business situation in Huai'an?

"That's all."

Zhuang Ming exhaled, it took him a whole night and a lot of effort to make a lot of plans, and he was quite sure that he could persuade everyone.

In his original expectation, even if he couldn't convince all of them, at least some of them should be in a difficult situation and would seriously consider whether to re-establish cooperation with Zhuang's firm.

But when he heard of King Chen's arrival, Zhuang Ming knew that the plan he had expended his energy to formulate had been invalidated.

King Chen didn't need to take any action or utter any words. With his status and the power he wielded, as long as he was here, he would invisibly intimidate everyone.

Even if Zhuang Ming's tongue was full of lotus blossoms, and he could tell the truth, everyone present did not dare to respond to Zhuang Ming in front of King Chen.

——

This business alliance meeting seemed a bit depressing.

Zhuang Ming sat here with a blank expression on his face.

But Xue Qing who was beside him felt a bit like sitting on pins and needles.

In the afternoon, the meeting of the business alliance will end.

"My lord..."

Old Li turned around and looked at Wang Chen.

The meeting of the business alliance is now complete.

According to the practice of previous years, preparations for the night banquet are already underway. These businessmen have dispersed and rested where they will stay. Tonight, they should be at the banquet, drinking and eating, and talking about business.

But now that King Chen is here, Mr. Li dare not talk about the end of the meeting.

Chen Wang laughed and said: "I do have some things to say, I want to delay you for a while, so I ask you to end the meeting."

Li Lao hurriedly responded: "My lord has something to say, but please give me some pointers. I'm not too busy to wait. It's not too late to leave later."

Many businessmen, hurriedly spoke again, not daring to raise any objections.

But Chen Wang stood up, put his hands behind his back, and said: "This king has heard all your previous opinions, but I have something to talk to you, the so-called..."

When he said this, there was even a guard trotting in from the outside.

Just in time!

"My lord." The guard came up and was busy saluting.

"What's the matter?" Chen Wang said dissatisfiedly, "Didn't you see that this king wants to discuss important matters with you?"

"Your Majesty forgives the crime, but the birthday gift is here." The guard hurriedly responded.

"Oh?" Chen Wang suddenly showed joy, and said happily: "It's really here?"

"Already entered the city." The guard replied.

"Okay, quickly respond."

King Chen seemed quite excited, he quickly looked at the crowd, and said: "This time, I will be rude first, and I will discuss with you the future business situation in Huai'an later."

Zhuang Ming was below, frowning slightly, feeling a sense of familiarity.

He had been cheated of 200,000 taels of silver in Gaoyuelou before, and he had this kind of discomfort.

Sure enough, when Zhuang Ming was thinking this way, one of the people in the business alliance spoke at the right time.

"The villain has the guts to ask the lord why he came to Zhongding Mansion here?"

"This king is here to celebrate this birthday."

When Chen Wang heard this, he responded seriously.

Not to mention Zhuang Ming, even Li Lao, they all vaguely understood something in their hearts.

Among the merchant alliance crowd, the person who spoke was obviously also the ruler of the merchant family in Fengcheng.

Back then in Gaoyuelou, it was this fellow who had been answering calls for King Chen.

Now it was him again, boldly speaking.

If it's an ordinary businessman, who would dare to ask about the prince's affairs?

If it was an ordinary businessman, how could King Chen pay too much attention to it?

Zhuang Ming vaguely understood.

Elder Li also understood.

Many people understand.

"Birthday gift?"

The man seemed to think of something, and exclaimed: "Could it be that the birthday of the Holy One is approaching, and the prince prepared a birthday gift for the Holy One?"

Chen Wang looked serious, nodded and said: "That's right."

Hearing the words, the man hurriedly bowed down and said: "A villain is not talented, but he also has a family heirloom. I would like to present it to the emperor. Please take it with me, my lord."