Meanwhile.
North of the city, the Zhao family villa.
Unlike the other families, who were comfortably watching from the sidelines, the atmosphere in the Zhao family living room was noticeably heavier.
Looking at his eldest nephew, who was currently enjoying the attentions of a beautiful woman,
Zhao Jiutang frowned deeply. After a long pause, he couldn’t help but speak up:
“Wanliang, that kid is about to ascend to rising power status in less than a month — it’s just too uncanny.
If he really chooses to establish his temple in the north of the city, our Zhao family will be the first to bear the brunt.
By then, the other three families, plus those rising powers in the north of the city, will all be eager to watch us fight it out…”
Before he could finish, Zhao Wanliang raised a hand to cut him off.
“Alright, Second Uncle, what are you so panicked about? You’re the head of our Zhao family, for heaven’s sake — afraid of a rising power? Is that appropriate?”
Zhao Jiutang’s old face flushed with heat, and he sighed: “Isn’t it because I’m thinking of the Zhao family’s interests…”
“Second Uncle, you underestimate the Zhao family.” Zhao Wanliang chuckled softly, a hint of mockery flashing through his eyes: “Do you really think the Lord of Wealth from the Jun family can suppress the Lord of Wealth from the Zhao family? Or that the King of Hell’s influence can exceed that of the God of Longevity? You need to understand — personal ability and temple business are never the same thing.”
Zhao Jiutang’s brow remained furrowed. After a moment of silence, he nodded: “That may be so, but… ah, never mind. The Zhao family is ultimately yours to run, Second Uncle is just here to assist you. Whatever you say goes, we’ll follow.”
Zhao Wanliang rose and poured a cup of wine, handing it to him: “Tomorrow’s City Lord assembly — I’ll go with you.”
“You’re coming too?”
“Just to take a look, and to size up this future rising power of the north with his remarkable abilities.” Zhao Wanliang’s lips curved slightly: “After all, I’ve wanted to meet him for a long time…”
Zhao Jiutang nodded: “That’s fine. You should show your face. It’s getting late — I’ll head back now and come pick you up tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
After seeing Zhao Jiutang off, Zhao Wanliang dismissed the serving girls.
The spacious living room was left with only him.
He took out an ancient-looking jade talisman from his bosom, closed his fingers around it—
“Crack.”
The jade talisman shattered, and a wisp of blue smoke curled upward, spiraling into a vortex.
From the smoke came a low, solemn voice:
“What is it?”
“City God, I handled this matter rather nicely, didn’t I?”
Zhao Wanliang picked up a cup of wine beside him, took a sip, and said in a relaxed tone.
“Not bad — a close call, but no real danger.” There was satisfaction in City God Li’s voice.
“Then we just wait for good news from your side, sir.” Zhao Wanliang swirled his wine cup.
“It’s already here.”
“Hm?” Zhao Wanliang’s movements paused.
“Today, the Great Emperor of Fengdu personally visited Jiangdu on an inspection tour, and was quite impressed with this official.”
“The Great Emperor of Fengdu came in person?” Zhao Wanliang’s expression turned serious.
“Though it was merely a clone, it’s no different from a personal visit. In any case, the matter of the prefecture position is ten to one in our favor.”
Inside the City God Hall, City God Li blew lightly on his tea foam, unable to hide his smile: “As long as that Lu Chen gives another push and puts in a few good words, this prefecture position will be mine and no one else’s.”
“Then I wish you an early ascent to the prefecture position, sir — congratulations in advance.” Ambition lit up Zhao Wanliang’s eyes: “When that time comes, the position of Jiangdu City God… I’ll still be counting on your patronage, sir.”
“You brat, do you and I really need such formalities?”
“True, true!” Zhao Wanliang laughed heartily, then his laughter abruptly turned cold: “Just thinking about how that fool is still completely in the dark, not knowing this is a trap you and I set for him — it makes me want to laugh!
So what if he’s capable?
The more capable he is, the more he’s just a useful gun.”
City God Li narrowed his divine eyes and smiled faintly: “Success comes from secrecy. Before the prefecture position is settled, be cautious in all things. For the next few months, keep a low profile and don’t clash with him, lest complications arise.”
“Rest assured, sir.” Zhao Wanliang swirled his wine glass, his tone leisurely: “I know what’s urgent and what can wait.
As long as he doesn’t go too far, I can turn a blind eye for now.
Once you ascend to the prefecture position, there’ll be plenty of time to deal with him slowly.”
He paused, his sneer deepening: “If he’s smart, he’ll be like the other families — a dragon coiled up, a tiger lying low;
if he’s not… I’ll show him what it means to have disaster strike from the blue, what it means for calamity to descend.
Does he really think that by currying favor with a few gods, he can run rampant in the mortal world?
Don’t forget — in the struggles of mortals, gods rarely interfere.
Even if he has great power in the Heavenly Court, in the mortal world, he’s nothing but a rising power.
I refuse to believe any god would sacrifice tremendous merit for his sake and directly involve themselves in mortal conflicts!”
Listening to Zhao Wanliang’s words,
City God Li was silent for a long while, then nodded slightly: “Before the prefecture position, do not stir up trouble; after the prefecture position, this official will not interfere.”
At these words, who knows what nerve they struck in Zhao Wanliang — he actually doubled over with laughter:
“Sir, your words are really… All these years, how many matters in Jiangdu City have you not interfered in? If not for your surveillance of the entire city and your insight into every opportunity, how could our Zhao family have stayed one step ahead and risen so quickly?
You’ve interfered — far too much.”
“Hmph, you brat.”
City God Li wasn’t angry at all. Instead, he chuckled softly, and in that laughter there was even a rare trace of indulgence.
“Is it that after calling me ‘sir’ for so long, you’ve forgotten who this official really is?”
“How could I forget?” Zhao Wanliang set down his wine cup, and a chilling smile slowly spread across his face: “I’m afraid no one in all of Jiangdu City could imagine that the august City God of Jiangdu… actually came from the Zhao family.”
He bowed solemnly toward the blue smoke:
“Isn’t that right — Grandfather!!”
Inside the City God Hall, City God Li narrowed his divine eyes, and the corners of his mouth rose silently.
…
The next day, close to eleven o’clock.
At the entrance of the Nanshan residential compound.
Mother Lu was straightening Lu Chen’s collar, gazing at her son — neat in his suit, striking and handsome — and tears kept falling despite herself.
“Little Chen, you really are your mother’s pride…”
“Mom.” Lu Chen smiled helplessly and reached out to wipe her tears.
“Alright, alright, what are you crying for on such a big day?” Lu Jianming said this, but his own eyes were red too: “It’s getting late, hurry up and go — the sooner you leave, the sooner you’re back.”
Lu Chen nodded, waved to the neighbors gathered behind him, and then got into the car.
Wang Zhidong drove, Zeng Rou sat in the passenger seat.
Behind them followed ten cars, all filled with key members of the Jishi Hall.
“Little Chen, go for it! Make our Nanshan compound proud!”
“That’s right — our slum really produced a golden phoenix!”
The news of Lu Chen’s ascension to rising power status had spread last night.
The entire compound had erupted.
Who could have imagined that the Lu family — once so unremarkable even in the Nanshan compound — would in just one short month join the top tier of Jiangdu!
Even TV dramas wouldn’t dare script something like this.
So last night, the Lu family’s doorstep was bustling with visitors, and the celebration didn’t end until the early hours of the morning.
Watching the motorcade slowly drive away, the neighbors crowded around Lu Jianming and his wife:
“Jianming, looks like we’ll have to call you Master Lu and Madam Lu from now on!”
Mother Lu’s face instantly turned red.
Lu Jianming, however, laughed heartily and waved his hand:
“Say no more — lunch is on me today! Let’s go!”
…
On the road.
Wang Zhidong drove smoothly. Lu Chen leaned back in the rear seat, quietly watching the flowing street scenes outside the window.
“Boss Lu, may I ask you a favor?” Zeng Rou suddenly spoke up softly.
“Go ahead.”
“In private… may I call you ‘Cult Leader’? Calling you ‘Boss Lu’ always feels… a bit unnatural.” Zeng Rou explained.
She did want to change.
But years of habit from her time in the Rakshasa Cult made calling him Boss Lu feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Lu Chen laughed: “Fine. Except in public settings and at the company, call me whatever you like. You can even call me Lu Chen.”
“This subordinate wouldn’t dare.” Zeng Rou’s expression turned serious as she shifted to the main topic: “Cult Leader, today’s City Lord assembly — do you need us to make arrangements in advance? I’m worried…”
“Worried about what?”
Zeng Rou spoke bluntly: “These past few days I’ve been quietly investigating the powers in Jiangdu. The Zhao family in the north of the city acts domineeringly. I’m afraid… they might make things difficult for you, Cult Leader — try to give you a show of force right off the bat!”
— A show of force?
Lu Chen smiled faintly.
At today’s assembly, it was still unclear who would be giving whom a show of force.
“Don’t worry. Yu Feng will be there — they won’t dare act rashly.”
“Yes! This subordinate is ready at all times. If you need anything, Cult Leader, we’ll be there at a moment’s notice.”
Lu Chen nodded slightly, his gaze returning to the window, a faint arc grazing the corner of his lips.
He guessed that City God Li was probably spying from somewhere at this very moment.
Good.
Then starting today, he would turn their scheme against them.
— City God Li, you want the prefecture position and you’re using me as a gun, aren’t you?
— And that young master of the Zhao family, you want to use City God Li’s power to become a ghost immortal, don’t you?
— Fine. Let me see just how tightly you two jackals are bound together.
Lu Chen’s expression was calm as a cold pool, but in his heart, a great chess game was already laid out.
And the first move of this game
was to officially tear off all pretense with the Zhao family!
He wanted to see whether City God Li would grovel before him for the sake of the prefecture position,
or whether, for the Zhao family’s sake, he would reveal the wolfish ambition lurking beneath!
“Let me — wait and see!!”
