CHAPTER 559: CHAPTER 16: LITTLE FOX, OLD FOX

After leaving Linlan Street, Yue Jinghua and Shalman did not immediately return to the Duke Mansion. According to the agreement made when they left Fengdan County, Yue Jinghua still needed to visit Yun Luo.

On the way, they casually stopped a passerby and quickly ascertained the location of Yunhu Commerce.

Unlike the decline and desolation of the Duke Mansion, Yunhu Commerce is one of the two Imperial Merchants used by the Empire, occupying more than ten acres of land.

Along the way, auspicious pines and cypresses lined the path, and at the grand entrance stood a stone stele, flanked by a pair of Pixiu beasts carved out of golden stone.

After stating their purpose, the two guards simply said that Yun Luo was not inside the Commerce. Just as Yue Jinghua and her companions were about to leave, they were informed that Yun Shangjun, the president of Yunhu Commerce, had invited Yue Jinghua inside for a chat.

When brought inside, they saw an elder with a face like a red date and an extraordinary aura, seated in the hall—it was indeed Yun Shangjun himself.

"So, you are the new Lord of Fengdan County mentioned by Luoluo, Yue Jinghua from the Duke Mansion? I’ve heard that as soon as you arrived at Imperial City, you gave the Ji Family’s brat a good thrashing," Yun Shangjun sized up the young man before him. Though young and wearing a peculiar mask, the youngster’s dignified aura was unmistakably not that of an ordinary person. All day long, his granddaughter talked nonstop, full of praise for Yue Jinghua here, concern for Yue Jinghua there.

Upon hearing this, Yue Jinghua understood that good news seldom goes beyond the gate, while bad news spreads far and wide; Yunhu Commerce had many eyes and ears in the Imperial City.

For the moment, Yue Jinghua could not tell whether Yun Shangjun’s words were complimentary or critical. She merely smiled lightly, "Elder Yun errs in his words. It was Ji Yun who first slandered me and subsequently disrespected his elders, disturbing my mother. Only then did I take action to teach him a lesson. As a son or daughter, if one cannot protect one’s mother, how could one be worthy of the title of a human being?"

"You are not wrong in your actions, it’s just that the means were a bit too abrupt. In a place like Imperial City, to be too sharp is to invite misfortune. That’s also how your father ended up. Although Luoluo is willing to help you establish a foothold in Imperial City, I, as an old man, do not wish to cooperate with someone as young as you," Yun Shangjun said with a tinge of emotion.

As her grandfather, how could he not know Yun Luo’s thoughts? However, with the current unclear situation of whether the Blood Cherry Duke Mansion will rise or not, Yunhu Commerce will certainly not rashly take sides with Liao Yuejinghua.

Yue Jinghua understood then—Yun Shangjun had misunderstood her relationship with Yun Luo, thinking that Yun Luo fancied her and that she wanted to take advantage of this relationship to seek help from Yunhu Commerce.

Finding herself misunderstood as a kept man was not a pleasant experience, yet Yue Jinghua was not angry; instead, she smiled, "Elder Yun misunderstands. My visit today is not to seek help from Yunhu Commerce; on the contrary, I am here to offer help to Yunhu Commerce."

Yun Shangjun’s mouth twitched, feeling Yue Jinghua’s words were quite disrespectful, "Young man, you are too arrogant. When I was your age, I would never dare to speak in front of my elders like this. With your current strength, what makes you so confident to make such bold claims in front of me?"

"It’s precisely because I can help Yunhu Commerce crush Yanyue Chamber of Commerce and make Yunhu the unparalleled super Commerce in the Empire," Yue Jinghua’s eyes blazed, "Isn’t that exactly what Elder Yun has been pursuing for many years?"

Yanyue and Yunhu, on the surface appear to be at peace with each other, but behind the scenes, they are engaged in an open and secret struggle.

Yunhu holds the unique technique of Holy Rune engraving, while Yanyue controls the Empire’s main channels for managing Dark Beasts.

Yunhu’s last shipment of Ancient Xuan Beast Eggs was intended to venture into the business of Dark Beasts, only to encounter an unexpected problem en route.

It was the Yanyue Chamber of Commerce, with their deliberate calculations, that exposed the fact that among the batch of semi-dormant eggs lost by Yun Luo was an Ancient Dragon Egg.

After the incident, while Yun Kun searched everywhere for a dragon egg to replace the lost one, the Yanyue Chamber of Commerce obstructed him at every turn, ensuring that Yunhu Commerce couldn’t find even a single dragon egg.

On the surface, neither party said much, but the grudge was firmly established.

Fortunately, this time Yun Luo unexpectedly brought back a Black Dragon, regaining some face for Yunhu Commerce.

However, these secrets were never shared by Yun Shangjun with others, not even Yun Luo who only understood half of the story. Yet today, this young man who came knocking spells out the entire affair in just a few words.

"How bold of you to say such things. The Yanyue Chamber of Commerce has a hundred-year foundation, the hard work of generations all concentrated in one place. You, a mere greenhorn, how could you possibly assist us? Besides, although our two families are not on good terms, it does not mean that a single issue with a dragon egg would lead us to turn against each other and fall out," Yun Shangjun said, his eyes clear, seemingly not taking Yue Jinghua’s words to heart.

"Elder Yun is mistaken. Yunhu Commerce might have no intent to harm others, but the Yanyue Chamber of Commerce has long been in action. Did you know that just a few months ago, the Yanyue Chamber of Commerce started spending a hefty sum to recruit Tattoo Masters from outside? And two days ago, two veteran Tattoo Masters who retired from Yunhu Commerce to return to their hometown were hired away by the Yanyue Chamber of Commerce." Yue Jinghua smiled as he skillfully tossed out a few of the latest pieces of information gathered by the Eagle Department.

The expression on Yun Shangjun’s face indeed changed.

"As the lord of Fengdan County, I have ordered the construction of a concealed Transmission Array on the path from Xuan Beast Ridge to Wohua Imperial City, which will continuously deliver high-quality Dark Beast Cubs to the Imperial City," Yue Jinghua already commanded Qian Luo to utilize the Titan, shuttling back and forth, setting up various Transmission Arrays along the road. In a few months, a brand-new Transmission Array would be completed.

Once done, Fengdan County, Five Saints Town, Mazaro Mountain Farm, Greenland Black Forest, and Wohua Imperial City would be more closely connected.

Yun Shangjun’s complexion grew extremely solemn, as if plunged into deep thought.

Yue Jinghua understood that Yun Shangjun, the Old Fox, had already started to waver.

"Moreover, Yun Luo should have also mentioned to Elder Yun that I have good relations with the Helian Family of the Ruison Federation. Both Fengdan County and the Skyships are equipped with Xuan Crystal Cannons," Yue Jinghua threw in another strong claim.

Upon hearing that Yue Jinghua had even gotten his hands on Xuan Crystal Cannons, Yun Shangjun couldn’t remain seated any longer, "Are you speaking of the Helian Family, the number one Artifact Refining family of Rui Song? Xuan Crystal Cannons? No wonder last time the Empire’s Taxation Army suffered heavy losses and couldn’t breach Fengdan County; turns out Fengdan County possesses powerful weapons like the Xuan Crystal Cannon."

After his exclamation, Yun Shangjun still had some concerns, "These matters are merely your side of the story. Even if Fengdan County is flourishing under your leadership, at the Imperial City, the Duke Mansion is left with nothing. Why should I believe you? Unless you can prove your business acumen and demonstrate a strength that cannot be underestimated."

"That won’t be difficult. Just give me a month’s time, and I will prove to you that the Duke Mansion possesses the strength and is worth your partnership. We can take the shops on Linlan Street as a wager; if I can get the shops in order, will Elder Yun lease some of Yunhu Commerce’s prime storefronts to the Duke Mansion at half price?" Seeing that Yun Shangjun was already shaken, Yue Jinghua unhesitatingly put forward his request.

Yun Shangjun hesitated for a moment but eventually agreed to Yue Jinghua’s terms.