Chapter 526: Conversation with the Second Elder of Zhu Ming Gong

Chapter 526: Conversation with the Second Elder of Zhu Ming Gong

December 20, 2024

At Zhu Ming Gong, the one leading the group was the Second Elder, Ming Yaoyao's grandfather, Elder Ming.

The last time Su Chen had discussed matters with them, the one who came was also the Second Elder.

They were already familiar with each other.

This time, Su Chen went to Zhu Ming Gong to inquire about their thoughts.

He wanted to know their true attitude towards him.

Su Chen didn't have any strict demands on Zhu Ming Gong.

He knew they wouldn't dare to openly oppose Wulan Manor.

Su Chen didn't blame them for this; when he first arrived at Zhu Ming Gong, Palace Master Yao Wen had already talked to him about it.

Moreover, with the alliance between Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion, Zhu Ming Gong was under significant pressure.

But now, Su Chen couldn't even obtain any information or intelligence from Zhu Ming Gong.

This was something Su Chen found hard to accept.

The promise to regularly send him messages was made by the Second Elder of Zhu Ming Gong himself.

Yet, it was now difficult to fulfill.

Su Chen, of course, wanted to ask about it, and there was no need to be shy about it.

On this day, after circling around Summer Region City, Su Chen was actually checking if there were any people from Wulan Manor.

From what he could see, it seemed that no one from Wulan Manor had come.

However, it was difficult for him to confirm the final result with just his own strength.

So, when he went to find someone from Zhu Ming Gong, he also wanted to ask them how many people from Wulan Manor had come to the Heavenly Alchemy Expo.

The people of Zhu Ming Gong were staying in an inn in the southern part of Summer Region City.

As a top-tier Alchemy Faction, they were already quite wealthy.

Moreover, in the past two years, Zhu Ming Gong had made a fortune by trading Jade Essence Pills.

Naturally, they would choose the best inns to stay in.

There were countless inns and guesthouses in Summer Region City.

Even if they couldn't accommodate everyone, many residences could be rented for a price.

Here, there was no need to worry about accommodation.

Even if a major sect wanted to lease the entire inn, smaller sects could still find places to stay.

In Summer Region City, they were used to receiving guests.

Su Chen headed south.

Before leaving, Su Chen changed into the disguise he had always used when he was at Zhu Ming Gong.

This way, he wouldn't have to spend too much effort explaining his identity if he ran into the Second Elder.

The inn where Zhu Ming Gong was staying was considered high-class in Summer Region City.

As Su Chen had expected, they had indeed leased the entire inn.

The sky had already darkened.

But the ground floor of the inn was bustling.

The people of Zhu Ming Gong were discussing matters with various sects.

After today's exhibition, many people came to Zhu Ming Gong to negotiate cooperation.

Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion had put pressure on Zhu Ming Gong.

But the level Zhu Ming Gong demonstrated today was still worth getting closer to.

Furthermore, Zhu Ming Gong was currently facing pressure from Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion.

These sects chose Zhu Ming Gong without hesitation.

This would also bring more goodwill to Zhu Ming Gong.

Originally, they might have been looked down upon, but in this situation, they could instead gain respect from Zhu Ming Gong.

As he entered the inn, a young attendant immediately approached with a smile.

"Who is the guest looking for?

The inn has been leased by Zhu Ming Gong, but I don't know which esteemed guest from Zhu Ming Gong the guest is here to see."

This inn's attendant was very quick-witted.

After Zhu Ming Gong leased the inn, he directly took on the task of reception.

With a smile on his face, he waited for Su Chen's response.

"I'm here to see Elder Ming of Zhu Ming Gong. Please inform him, brother."

Upon hearing this, the attendant's expression showed a hint of difficulty.

"This Elder of Zhu Ming Gong doesn't usually meet with people casually.

The guest also knows that everyone wants to meet those in high positions.

However, these esteemed guests don't have the energy to meet everyone individually."

The inn attendant was very skilled in conversation.

He spoke in a tone as if confiding his troubles, telling Su Chen that if he went to see Zhu Ming Gong's Elder, he would most likely fail.

Not only would he likely fail, but he might also get scolded.

The attendant's way of speaking didn't make people feel uncomfortable; it didn't give off the impression that he was making things difficult for Su Chen.

Seeing this, Su Chen gave a textbook response.

He reached into his pocket and took out a tael of gold, subtly slipping it into the attendant's hand.

"Please inform Elder Ming that Su is here to visit.

I believe Elder Ming will remember who I am.

If Elder Ming doesn't want to see me, brother, there's no need to force it, and I won't blame you."

He held a small piece of cold gold in his hand.

But the attendant felt it radiating a scorching heat, too hot for him to refuse.

The next moment, the attendant went upstairs to report.

Su Chen was well-informed about the room numbers of the esteemed guests from Zhu Ming Gong. After all, he had been delivering items back and forth daily, making multiple trips to the third floor.

The attendant didn't keep Su Chen waiting for long and soon led him upstairs with a smile. The door to the upper room on the third floor was already open.

As Su Chen approached the door, Ming Elder's eyes lit up upon seeing him. "This attendant mentioned someone named Su looking for me, and I wondered if it might be Elder Su. But I thought it was unlikely."

"I never expected it to be Elder Su indeed. Come in and take a seat," Ming Elder said, waving his hand to dismiss the attendant.

The attendant, being considerate, bowed and retreated. Before leaving, he couldn't help but glance at Su Chen. He was surprised to learn that Su Chen was also an Elder, and he looked so young.

In his heart, he sighed in relief, grateful that he had always been cautious and respectful towards everyone, never offending anyone without reason.

Inside the room, the Second Elder had a smile on his face, looking delighted. "It's been a while since we last met, Elder Su. You seem to be doing well."

They exchanged pleasantries during their first meeting, and Su Chen politely returned the courtesy with a smile.

Two cups of fragrant tea were already prepared in the room. As the aroma of tea filled the air, it was time to get down to business.

"Elder Su has been quite busy lately and has gained some reputation in Jin State," Ming Elder said with a hint of jest.

His words implied that he was referring to Wulan Manor sending people to cause trouble in Heaven's Pivot City. If Su Chen had been at a disadvantage and encountered a major problem during that incident, the news might not have spread so widely.

But in the end, Wulan Manor was the one at a loss. The negative news surrounding Wulan Manor was so pervasive that the entire manor was in a state of anxiety.

Su Chen's victory over Liu Siyun from the Liu family during the competition further amplified the spread of this news.

"Elder, you're joking. After all the trouble, I didn't gain much benefit. Instead, I got myself into a pile of trouble. As expected, people from Wulan Manor are probably searching for me everywhere. There must be quite a few of them in Summer Region City, right?" Su Chen said half-jokingly.

The Second Elder waved his hand in agreement. "Wulan Manor didn't come here with the intention of attending the Heavenly Alchemy Expo. They have plenty of other troubles to deal with. Their previous allied sects are now challenging them, so they don't have the energy to focus on this event."

Ming Elder didn't expect that Su Chen was seeking this information.

With Wulan Manor's reputation questioned, the sects they had cooperated with would certainly demand explanations. Once trust is broken, it's likely to happen again and again.

Furthermore, these sects could take advantage of the situation to demand more benefits from Wulan Manor. The previous profit-sharing ratio might have been fifty-fifty, but with this opportunity, they might push for a sixty-forty split.

These sects would naturally want to negotiate with Wulan Manor.

The Second Elder wasn't concerned about Su Chen's current predicament. After mentioning it, they both shifted the conversation to the main topic.

"Elder Su, what brings you to me this time? With your straightforward nature, I doubt it's just a friendly visit," the Second Elder said with a smile.

Su Chen laughed and began discussing the matter at hand. "Elder, when we spoke previously, you made some promises to me. Unfortunately, these promises haven't been fulfilled recently."

"Elder, you know about my situation with Wulan Manor. I require relevant intelligence and information. However, Zhu Ming Gong hasn't provided me with any intelligence for over three months. Learning that you're here, I've come to seek your help." Su Chen's tone was polite and respectful.

The Second Elder of Zhu Ming Gong, upon hearing Su Chen's words, casually nodded. "This oversight is on us. Sometimes, our subordinates can be impulsive and forgetful, leading to delays and missed tasks."

The Second Elder's words directly shifted the blame to the subordinates of Zhu Ming Gong. Su Chen couldn't be sure of the exact situation, but it was possible that the subordinates had indeed neglected him.

Often, the executive disciples of major sects would prioritize tasks based on the importance of the person. If the higher-ups didn't show interest, they would naturally procrastinate and delay. Many tasks, if not done immediately, would eventually be forgotten.

"I'll pass on your message when I return and ask them to be cautious.

As for the subsequent monthly deliveries, I'll ensure they continue as usual."

As Elder Ming spoke, his expression suddenly turned somber, revealing a hint of difficulty.

"Since we've met today, I also have something I'd like to discuss with you."

Previously, Elder Ming had agreed to Su Chen's request so readily that Su Chen suspected he was hiding something.

"Elder Ming, it's not easy for us to arrange a meeting, and it's even rarer to have the opportunity to discuss matters in person.

It's better to talk face-to-face to avoid misunderstandings."

Elder Ming nodded in agreement upon hearing Su Chen's words.

"You're right. It's much better to talk in person than through letters.

Words on paper can easily lead to ambiguities."

As he spoke, Elder Ming refilled Su Chen's teacup with hot tea.

When a high-ranking official personally pours tea for you, it's usually a sign that they have something unpleasant to say.

"Elder Su, your visit to the Elixir Grand Exhibition must have been influenced by some news.

The rumors about Elder Su and our Zhu Ming Gong are spreading more and more in the outside world.

It's obvious to anyone that the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion are intentionally spreading these rumors to promote themselves.

They want to prove that their sects are the true inheritors of the Jade Essence Pill technique.

But why should only they be allowed to learn this Jade Essence Pill technique?

My Zhu Ming Gong, though not as grand, can also flourish in this Elixir technique!"

Elder Ming seemed to be trying to prove something with his words.

Perhaps the Zhu Ming Gong had been facing many doubts and challenges recently.

In fact, after the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion issued their condemnations, the entire Jin State began questioning the Zhu Ming Gong.

Some places even started spreading rumors that Su Chen, the Honorary Elder, was a thief secretly trained by the Zhu Ming Gong.

The Zhu Ming Gong's possession of the Jade Essence Pill technique was said to have been stolen by Su Chen from the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion.

These doubts and rumors were widespread but still circulated privately.

After all, most people were sensible enough not to provoke a powerful and popular sect like the Zhu Ming Gong.

Why did the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion target Su Chen specifically?

Why didn't they directly mention the Zhu Ming Gong by name? The reason lies here.

What Elder Ming of the Zhu Ming Gong wants to discuss is still this matter.

"As an Elder of the Zhu Ming Gong, I've always remembered Elder Su's help.

We won't ask where you learned the Jade Essence Pill crafting technique.

You also don't need to proactively explain to us.

But in the current situation, we hope you can cooperate a little.

It's been a few years, and it's best if Elder Su goes into seclusion and avoids public appearances.

Your previous high-profile actions only intensified the rumors.

Don't refute, don't speak out, and don't show yourself.

This is the best response."

Upon hearing Elder Ming's words, a wry smile appeared on Su Chen's face.

"Elder Ming, your words seem to imply that you believe the Jade Essence Pill technique was indeed stolen.

Let me tell you the truth. The skills I possess have nothing to do with the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion.

Do you believe these words of mine?"

Su Chen spoke, not expecting that even in the eyes of the Zhu Ming Gong, these rumors were considered credible.

In response to Su Chen's explanation, the Second Elder nodded.

"My belief in you is irrelevant. It's important that the majority of Jin State believes in you.

The Palace has made its decision after discussing this matter.

We'll handle this incident low-key, without explanations or responses, just avoiding it.

Elder Su, don't take any other actions on your own.

If you do, it'll only make things worse, and even the Zhu Ming Gong will find it hard to explain.

Just live in seclusion peacefully, it's actually quite free."

As the Second Elder spoke, he revealed a demeanor befitting a high-ranking official.

He wasn't discussing but rather arranging matters for Su Chen.

Su Chen was already somewhat displeased with this tone and attitude.

"If I let these mud be thrown at me, I'll probably have to hide for the rest of my life.

If I show myself even a little, I might be captured in this vast Jin State.

Moreover, the Jade Essence Pill technique was not stolen from those two sects.

If not for these incidents, I wouldn't even know the names of the Odd Tower and Crystal Pavilion."

Upon hearing Su Chen's words, the Second Elder couldn't help but frown.

Previously, when discussing matters with Su Chen, he wouldn't argue too much.

But today, Su Chen was a bit difficult to talk to.

The Second Elder grew slightly impatient, and his gaze towards Su Chen also changed.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end