After leaving the Cheng family's villa, Jiang Xiu strolled around on the street. The memories of Cheng Lingran which he hid under the dust had now come to light, bringing him endless regret and pain.
Pain is sometimes forever etched in people's memory. However, in this timeline, Jiang Xiu couldn't feel the sorrow even if he wanted to. His parents were alive, and he had grand aims. The Divine Dao and the Immortal Path were his final destination.
His heart was shackled.
He, the grand Sect Master of the Heaven Treading Sect, a genius who had overturned the heavens, overcame all obstacles and swept everything before him, faced great experts and all kinds of plots, wasn't even afraid of killing himself by beheading. Yet he was quite scared of causing complications for Cheng Lingran, fearful of hurting her, and thus didn't dare hold thoughts of pursuing her.
What status would he use to pursue her? A destitute Jiang Xiu? There's no way she'd like him that way. The all-powerful Mr. Jiang would only burden her with pressure from everyone else and force her to feel wronged.
This Deity has remained cold and indifferent, burdening you for one lifetime, with what face would I face the world if I burdened you another lifetime?
A drizzle rained from the sky.
He raised his head and looked at the rainfall, the droplets sliding along his face.
"Mr. Jiang, all the gang bosses of Jiang City have gathered and wish to see you."
After Jiang Xiu had unified the underworld of Jiang City, there was no doubt that the lands, businesses, and resources would get rearranged. Tang Zhenshan, Ye Yiliang, Boss Zhong, Wen Zuoling and the others were all experienced men, so they naturally wouldn't be willing to surrender their assets and power easily.
They were unable to endure anymore after no activity from Jiang Xiu even though many days had passed.
"Tell them to gather at my villa."
Since Mr. Jiang had sent words out, all kinds of expensive cars stood outside the villa. Each one of the persons who got down the car was someone who name was enough to make people tremble. They were too worried as Jiang Xiu hadn't appeared yet so they only could wait outside the villa. They stood there in ranks while holding their umbrellas. It was indeed a magnificent sight to behold.
A taxi tried to enter the villa zone at this moment but was barred from entering.
"Go to the side, vehicles are barred from entering!"
The taxi driver had never encountered this kind of scene but didn't dare to say anything. He drove to the side and stopped the taxi, guessing that some big shot must have arrived.
The two girls in the car were displeased. These two were none other than Ouyang Qian and Li Dan, the reason for Cheng Lingsu's birthday party ending early as they had to go to school tomorrow..
"How can they stop us here? It's over a 10-minute walk to my home from here."
The driver said to them, "Two ladies, I don't need money for this ride. Please walk the rest of the way."
Ouyang Qian and Li Dan were left helpless since the driver didn't charge them. "It's raining outside."
The driver replied to them, "You can wait on the sidewalk then. I suppose it'll stop soon."
Ouyang Qian and Li Dan explored their heads outside the taxi's window to take a look and were frightened. There was a never ending line of black-clothed men holding umbrellas on both sides of the road, and numerous expensive cars were parked aside.
"Wow, this big brother, for whom has the road been blocked for?"
The girls asked curiously.
That man looked towards then and spelled it out in a hushed tone, "Mr. Jiang!"
The two girls glanced at each other, both unable to hide the excitation in their eyes.
"By Mr. Jiang, do you mean that person?"
Ouyang Qian cried out.
"Besides that person, who else would act in such a grand style and make all the leaders of Jiang City come here?"
"Okay. We shall also wait!"
The girls were extremely jubilant as they weren't expecting to catch a glimpse of Mr. Jiang.
An ordinary man wearing plain clothes stepped past them just as they said that. His body was drenched all over from the rain, and so were his canvas shoes. He took steady and powerful steps as he walked in the rain.
"Mr. Jiang!"
Jiang Xiu had returned by walking, and it took 3 hours to do that. These people had also waited for 3 hours. One of them quickly hurried past and held an umbrella for him.
Hearing someone call out that name, the girls inside the taxi looked towards that direction. The view was dusky under the streetlamp and misty due to the rain. They could only see a tall figure walk past, and all of the people bowed as he passed by them, calling out the name 'Mr. Jiang' with respect. The pride, as well as the awe, exuded by the person, was enough to shake people to the core, filling them with excitation.
"S-So he's Mr. Jiang."
The two blooming girls couldn't help but go silly when they witnessed this scene. They couldn't help fantasize. I'd be delighted with my life if I could walk that path with him while holding his hand and sharing his glory.
In the next second, Jiang Xiu had shifted a bit to the side, revealing a little of his face. The two girls felt as if they received an electrical shock, their eyes grew wide open. "Impossible!'
By the time they wanted to take another clear look, Jiang Xiu had already turned away.
"We surely saw it wrong. It's already so dark, so it's possible to mistake someone."
"It can't be that damn fruit seller."
Their gazes followed Mr. Jiang as he left.
This night, wind and rain hailed down on Jiang City, drizzling endlessly. Everyone present there felt incredibly nervous as the dusky light from the street lamps fell on them.
"Let's go in."
Besides a few people, the others didn't have the qualifications to enter the villa, including their personal bodyguards. Even Old Lin who was accompanying Ye Yiliang wasn't allowed in.
"Old Father Tang!"
Jiang Xiu called out only to Tang Zhenshan and ignored the others, including Ye Yiliang. This made him feel unwell as he had offended him. He expected that he'd face trouble this time.
After entering the villa, the big shots all sat down at the big table in the hall. Tang Zhenshan sat to the left, Ye Yiliang to the right and a dozen others were seated on the sides. All of them sat there obediently, unlike their usual behavior, not even daring to smoke a cigar, afraid that it'd offend Mr. Jiang.
"Mr. Jiang, regarding the businesses…"
Tang Zhenshan spoke as he possessed the highest qualifications and was acquainted with Jiang Xiu.
"This Deity isn't interested in the businesses."
"They can keep running the same way as before."
The people present were astonished and unable to hide the happiness in their gazes. All of them finally relaxed as they were all fearing that Jiang Xiu would abuse his authority. They had to do whatever he wanted, even if he wished for their deaths, let alone wealth.
"Jiang City isn't small, and the surrounding population is close to 10 million. You also have many resources in your hands, but there are too many vicious fights. Re-integrate all of them."
All of them nodded.
"Everyone can consult regarding this matter."
"Come and find this Deity if you're unable to settle it."
The approach was similar to laissez-faire and it was a brilliant move.
Old Father Tang continued, "There's one other matter."
"According to the rules, Mr. Jiang must handle your affairs within seven days from the day you unified Jiang City's underworld and pay respects to Wang Xuehai at his wharf."
"Pay respects at the wharf?"
"Yes. Wang Xuehai oversees Hang City, and his influence reaches several surrounding cities, including more than half of Jiangnan province. He's one of the decision makers in Jiangnan."
"Those who take up the post of overseeing Jiang City had to pay respects and also drop in during the New Year. This is etiquette."
Jiang Xiu smiled coolly, "Etiquette?"
"What's the background of this Wang Xuehai?"
Tang Zhenshan explained, "Wang Xuehai's ancestor was a powerful member of the army and laid the foundation for more than half of Jiangnan province. He had several ten thousand men in his army, left behind quite a shocking amount of assets and had innumerable followers. Although hundred years have passed by and the era has changed, their family background is still deep and is a notable family in Jiangnan."
"When someone mentions Jiangnan, they'd certainly mention the Wang family, and mentioning the Wang family means they'd certainly mention Wang Xuehai. The Wang family has operated in Jiangnan for several generations. Even when Gu Shu had come to Jiangnan province, he hadn't visited his office first but rather went to the Wang family first."
"Similar to a landowning class then."
"Something like that."
"Martial arts are passed through their family for generations, yet they also don't lack geniuses brimming with intelligence. The Wang family has stood at the top of Jiangnan for hundred years, and several people had tried to take them down, but no one had succeeded. As Jiangnan province's economy boomed, several people tried to grab a piece of it, but they couldn't prevail too. The powers from Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Korea were all driven out by him."
Tang Zhenshan exposed an expression full of worship when mentioning Wang Xuehai.
"Mr. Jiang, you'll have to visit there and pay respects to Wang Xuehai."
"What if I don't?"
"This…"
Everyone looked at each other. They had never heard such a case happen where someone refused to pay respects to Wang family's boss. Even Lin Zhenbei who had lorded over Jiang City in the past visited the Wang family, he didn't have the qualifications to enter through the main entrance and had to go in through the side door. He only called out to Mr. Wang from outside the door was sent back. Everyone was actually wondering how Wang Xuehai would react to Jiang Xiu.
"If Mr. Jiang doesn't pay respects, that would be smearing mud on the Wang family's face. It's very likely that it'd invite trouble."
In Tang Zhenshan's perspective, there was a need to integrate the powers in Jiang City, so there was no time to respond to the Wang family.
Yet he didn't know how far Jiang Xiu's ambitions laid.
"Trouble?"
Jiang Xiu smiled coolly, "Isn't this Deity busy with the college entrance exam next month?"
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