The carriage traveled along the imperial road, the two men seated opposite each other.
The curtains hung lightly, already blocking out the noise and clamor of the streets.
The formation patterns carved into the carriage body were sufficient to prevent any prying eyes.
"What do you plan to do?" Jiang Wang asked.
Since they had already entered the Jubao Merchant Association, their whereabouts could no longer be hidden from Chong Xuan Zun. Whatever they needed to do, they had to act quickly.
Because once Chong Xuan Zun's subsequent moves began, they would likely be overwhelmed, constantly on the run!
He didn't ask "what should we do" because someone like Chong Xuan Sheng would never be at a loss for what to do.
"For the Jubao Merchant Association, they currently have the advantage in their competition with the Four Seas Merchant Alliance. This is the time to expand that advantage.
Their operations in the State of Yang indeed cannot bypass the Chong Xuan family. Whether it's me or Chong Xuan Zun who leads the family makes no difference to them.
The reason they chose Chong Xuan Zun is simply because they believe that at this moment, he can provide them with greater help!"
Chong Xuan Sheng said with determination: "I'm going to make them realize they're wrong! Completely and utterly wrong!"
Proving the Jubao Merchant Association wrong would be a difficult task.
Because they were actually right!
Setting aside the battle in the Yang territory, Chong Xuan Zun truly could provide the Jubao Merchant Association with greater assistance, in every aspect.
Whether it was personal connections, influence, or even his standing within the family, he held a significant advantage over Chong Xuan Sheng.
The people at the Jubao Merchant Association weren't blind or foolish; on the contrary, they were extremely shrewd merchants who spoke the language of business and valued only profit.
They had partnered with Chong Xuan Sheng because they needed to crush the Four Seas Merchant Alliance, and there happened to be a huge opportunity in the Yang territory.
Now they were switching to partner with Chong Xuan Zun because they saw a brighter prospect.
But since Chong Xuan Sheng said this, he certainly had his own plan.
So Jiang Wang simply asked: "What do you need me to do?"
"If I remember correctly, you have a good relationship with Xu Xiangqian from the Qingya Academy?" Chong Xuan Sheng asked.
Jiang Wang pondered briefly: "I suppose we're like-minded! But we haven't spent much time together, and I'm not sure he'd be willing to help with anything major."
He needed to clarify the relationship to prevent Chong Xuan Sheng from having unrealistic expectations that might ultimately affect his overall plan.
"Like-minded is enough! I don't need him to help with anything major." Chong Xuan Sheng tapped his thigh; it wasn't a specially made carriage, so he felt quite constrained sitting there, but there was no room for luxury at this moment: "You just need to arrange a meeting with Li Longchuan through him."
"Meet Li Longchuan?" Jiang Wang asked in confusion: "What happened at the Celestial Realm's entrance showed that he seems unwilling to get involved in your dispute with Chong Xuan Zun."
"I also don't need him to help with anything major; I just want to give him a gift." Chong Xuan Sheng said: "A gift he cannot refuse!"
Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow: "The Qiushan Bow?"
"Do you think he can refuse it?" Chong Xuan Sheng asked.
After killing Ji Cheng, the Tianxiong Ji family's heirloom, the Qiushan Bow, became Chong Xuan Sheng's war trophy. This famous bow was a true treasure, especially for those skilled in archery, making it a divine weapon surpassing all others.
When Chong Xuan Sheng gave gifts, he was indeed generous.
Jiang Wang thought for a moment: "Any archery master would be unable to refuse the Qiushan Bow, but giving such a valuable gift so abruptly might make him hesitate."
Chong Xuan Sheng said: "That's exactly how it should be given. What hasn't the Li family of Shimen seen? What don't they have? If the gift is too light, he won't even give it a glance!"
With that, he took out a storage box and handed it over: "In this storage box, there's only one Qiushan Bow. I'll trouble you to deliver it!"
This wasn't a difficult task; Xu Xiangqian was still in Linzi. The Qingya Academy had a branch in Linzi, and Xu Xiangqian had previously invited Jiang Wang, but due to a series of events, they hadn't met.
Jiang Wang accepted the storage box and asked: "Just deliver the gift?"
"Just deliver the gift, nothing else needs to be said or done."
Jiang Wang nodded, indicating he understood: "I'll go now. Is there anything else I should be aware of?"
Chong Xuan Sheng was silent for a moment, then looked up at him and said: "Brother, I'm asking you to gamble with me again!"
Jiang Wang simply smiled and said: "Your luck in gambling has always been good!"
He stood up, lifted the curtain, and left.
Watching the curtain fall again, Chong Xuan Sheng murmured: "You didn't even ask how big this gamble is or what's at stake!"
...
Unlike the main campus, the Qingya Academy's Linzi branch was just an ordinary academy, teaching only reading and literature, not cultivation.
This was because anyone who established a school and taught cultivation within the State of Qi had to be under Qi's control. They had certain responsibilities and duties in peacetime, and their conscription during wartime couldn't be refused.
And the Qingya Academy, as one of the world's four great academies and a top institution in Confucianism, did not wish to be restricted.
For these reasons, this branch academy was not allowed to teach cultivation methods.
Of course, since the Qingya Academy itself didn't take any national stance and its disciples served various states, the State of Qi wouldn't treat them too harshly or block their own talent.
Besides not being allowed to teach cultivation methods, the Qingya branch was still treated with considerable respect in other aspects.
At this branch academy, exceptionally brilliant and outstanding students might be selected to study at the main campus, thereby embarking on the path to transcendence.
Overall, it seemed no different from an ordinary private school.
When Xu Xiangqian traveled to Qi as a scholar, he had taken up a position as a teacher at the Qingya Academy's Linzi branch. After winning a cultivation seed at the Celestial Realm, he spent his days wandering around Linzi.
When Jiang Wang found the branch academy, he wasn't there.
If the branch head hadn't calculated the time and said he would be back soon, Jiang Wang would have gone out to look for him.
After waiting less than the time it takes to burn two incense sticks—about the time needed to recuperate his Heaven and Earth Isolated Island technique—Xu Xiangqian indeed returned, his face flushed with vitality, his robes billowing in the wind.
"Back from my cultural observations today, hey!" When he saw him in the courtyard, that enormous forehead leaned forward: "Isn't this Brother Jiang? What wind blew you here?"
Jiang Wang squinted at him and asked: "And what wind were you observing?"
Xu Xiangqian chuckled, lowering his voice: "The Warm Jade Waterside Pavilion."
But not because he was embarrassed.
He glanced outside: "Can't let that old pedant hear."
The "Warm Fragrance and Soft Jade"—judging by its name, one could tell what kind of place the Warm Jade Waterside Pavilion was.
As a core disciple of the Qingya Academy's main campus and a student of the famous Confucian scholar Mo Ya, the branch head, no matter how much of an "old pedant," couldn't possibly control him.
This alone showed that while he might seem unserious on the surface, he was fundamentally respectful to his teachers.
Jiang Wang smiled and said: "To be honest, since we parted at the Celestial Realm, I've neglected to pay my respects! Today I've come to seek Brother Xu's help for something!"
Xu Xiangqian first straightened his long robe, sat opposite him properly, then said seriously: "Brother Jiang, please speak freely."
Being coy and beating around the bush was not the way to treat friends.
Jiang Wang didn't hide the fact that he had come specifically to ask for help, saying directly: "I'd like to ask Brother Xu to act as a middleman and arrange a meeting with Li Longchuan of the Li family of Shimen!"
"That's a small matter!" Xu Xiangqian agreed immediately.
"Just one thing." He said earnestly: "I'll only arrange for you to meet; I won't be responsible for anything else. No matter what business you have with him, I won't take a stance. Brother Li and I are friends; I cannot make things difficult for him!"
This was a true gentleman—not coy, not pretentious, and not lacking in sincerity.
Jiang Wang nodded: "That is only natural!"