287: Chapter 287 Marriage Alliance

Twilight, Jinyue Martial Arts Hall.

Miao Manman stood before the floor-to-ceiling window, staring at the bustling crowd downstairs and the parking lot that did not have a single empty space, lost in her own thoughts.

In the mere three days since that exchange tournament, the White Clothes Association had suddenly experienced an explosive expansion.

First, His Majesty the Emperor made a public statement, affirming the contributions and significance of the White Clothing Society and the White Clothes Association.

Then, His Highness the Crown Prince announced he was joining the White Clothes Association, and on the same day, Elder Zheng became a Senior Advisor to the White Clothes Association.

The next day, Group Leader Yun of the Hu Xiao Special Service Group announced that all three teams of the Hu Xiao Special Service Group had become members of the White Clothes Association. Even the Grand Secretary appeared in person to heap praise upon the White Clothing Society.

With the backing of the imperial family and the Grand Secretary, and led by several Spirit Map powerhouses, things became unstoppable from then on.

Within the third day alone, over a hundred Open Origin experts visited, clearly expressing their intention to join, while those at the Blood Refining and Qi Manipulation levels were simply too numerous to count.

So, for these three days, all the employees at Jin Yue were so busy they didn't have a moment to rest, and even she could rarely catch her breath.

Yet she still wasn't happy, because as a member of the White Clothing Society, the most she could do was handle reception.

The recruitment of mid-to-lower-level members for the White Clothes Association was handled by Shang Yuqing.

Thinking of that woman acting all seductive and swaying about in front of people, she couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

"Miss Miao, stealing a moment of leisure here, are you!"

Miao Manman turned around to see Golden Scorpion walking over with a faint, ambiguous smile.

"Hall Master Jin, if anyone should be busy, it's you. What do I have to be busy with?"

Golden Scorpion laughed heartily and stepped forward to offer her a cigarette.

"You don't mean that. Feeling uncomfortable because someone else stole your thunder?"

Miao Manman pulled a long face. "Are you here to make fun of me?"

Golden Scorpion waved his hands repeatedly. "You're overthinking it. Why would I make fun of you?"

Saying this, he took a drag of his cigarette and exhaled a long trail of smoke.

"Old Jin here is a fool. I practiced my ancestral Cultivation Technique for over a decade and didn't even realize I was doing it wrong."

"If it weren't for meeting Brother Long and receiving his guidance, my life would have been over. I might have even had to sell the martial arts hall by now and go look for work in the black market."

"But after going through all that, I think I've finally wised up."

"I handed this building and the Wuque Method directly over to Brother Long to handle, which is why business is booming now. As for me, I've had a transformation and am now someone of importance."

"All day long, I'm surrounded by Open Origin experts. Who would have dared to imagine that in the past?"

"So, from my experience, have you realized anything?"

Miao Manman shook her head blankly.

"Ah? You still don't understand?" Golden Scorpion scratched his head a bit.

"Brother Long is a very generous person, but he can be generous to you once; he can't just be generous to you for no reason forever, right?"

"How much has he helped you, and what have you done for him? You need to be aware of that yourself."

"In other words, we must know what our own value is, especially when it comes to Brother Long."

"Your status is determined by how useful you are."

Miao Manman immediately thought of something, her face darkened, and she was about to explode in anger.

But just then, Shang Yuqing came clicking over quickly in her high heels.

She shouted from a distance, "Golden Scorpion! What are you doing hiding here and slacking off!"

Golden Scorpion turned around in a panic. "Ah! I'm not hiding, I'm just smoking a cigarette!"

"Go downstairs, get the car, and come with me immediately!"

"Where are we going?"

"Are you blind? Can't you see the Jin Yue building is about to be packed? Come with me to Rexue, and make that bastard Fei Shan give up his building! And we can vent some of your frustration while we're at it!"

"Alright!"

Golden Scorpion immediately scurried off.

Shang Yuqing walked up to Miao Manman and looked her up and down.

"Secretary Miao, when you have time, worry more about company affairs. Have you seen how jammed the parking lot downstairs is?"

"There are some things the boss doesn't like to say, but I can't help myself. Don't just eat and not work."

"I really don't know what he's thinking, hiring nothing but dead weight."

After saying this, Shang Yuqing walked away with her usual seductive sway, leaving Miao Manman fuming with rage.

She stomped upstairs, arrived at the door of the new conference room, shoved aside Lu Xiaohu who tried to stop her, and kicked the door open, rushing inside.

Then she shouted at the bewildered Tang Long, "Tang! You said before that you wanted to marry me, does that still count!"

As soon as she said this, she immediately regretted it.

Because she only then realized that Yun Zhuoyue was actually behind her.

Yun Zhuoyue's gaze swept back and forth between her and Tang Long with an expression of disbelief.

"The two of you... do you need me to step out for a moment?"

Tang Long's face twitched, and then he shook his head.

"No need. I will give you my answer regarding your matter right now."

"Regardless of how Hu Xiao expresses its stance, advancing to the Spirit Map stage requires undergoing at least three strict reviews. It cannot be done based on your word alone."

"And as for you, Manman. You refused at the time, so there is no such thing as whether it counts or not. I have no plans to marry in the short term. Go back to work."

While Miao Manman stood there stunned, not knowing what to say, Yun Zhuoyue was already furious and sliced the brand-new conference table in half with a single strike of her blade.

"Tang Long! Don't push your luck!"

"I have come to you time and again to plead with you; I have already been polite enough to you!"

"You know the current situation better than I do; having one more Spirit Map powerhouse means one more guarantee! Our entire Hu Xiao group has joined the White Clothes Association; what right do you have to distrust us!"

Tang Long retorted coldly, "The White Clothes Association is a disciplined organization. You don't even respect the leader; why should I trust you?"

"And I am warning you again: you are not qualified to bargain with me! If you and Hu Xiao cannot do it, I will consider kicking you out of the White Clothes Association."

"This table costs twelve thousand eight hundred; you must compensate for it at full price. Now, please get out! Go to the finance office downstairs and settle the bill!"

"Xiaohu! Ask Elder Jiang to come up!"

Yun Zhuoyue gritted her teeth in hatred, pointed her blade at Tang Long, but in the end, didn't say anything else. She turned around and dragged the confused Miao Manman away.

Tang Long looked back at the broken conference table and couldn't help but rub his forehead.

Two minutes later, Lu Xiaohu led Elder Jiang inside.

Seeing the state of the room, Elder Jiang couldn't help but frown. "Little Tang, arguing with Group Leader Yun again?"

Tang Long laughed. "That woman just never gets it; she's getting more and more out of line. I haven't had time to clean up, excuse the mess. Sit here."

Elder Jiang didn't mind and sat down on the other sofa with Tang Long.

"Sir Tang, President Tang, even an old man like me has to wait in line to see you now. It's truly remarkable."

Tang Long poured him tea. "What are you saying, Elder? I originally wanted to find time to visit your estate to talk, but who knew you were in such a hurry too."

"I have to be in a hurry." Elder Jiang lifted his cup and blew on it.

"These past few days, the Emperor, the Grand Secretary, and the people from Sangyu have been coming and going like a revolving door."

"One must see the situation clearly before making a decision."

Tang Long smiled. "What price did Xu Chaoyang offer the Jiang Family?"

Elder Jiang shook his head slowly. "He didn't give any promises; instead, he wanted me to supply a large amount of equipment at cost price. However, yesterday he hinted to me that we could have a marriage alliance after the matter is settled."

"A marriage alliance? Isn't his son..."

Elder Jiang smiled bitterly. "His son is gone, and Wei Mingzhu cannot bear children, so... the marriage alliance has to be with him."

Tang Long couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Congratulations, Elder Jiang! You are going to be the father-in-law of the Emperor!"

Elder Jiang feigned anger. "You brat, stop with the sarcasm!"

Tang Long was overjoyed. "I think the terms are quite good. Governor Xu is not even fifty yet; he's in his prime. Once he becomes Emperor, Xiao Lan will be the Empress. If she bears a son in the future, half of Dongyu will bear the name Jiang. That's a very good deal."

Elder Jiang waved his hands quickly. "You must absolutely not tell Lan Lan, otherwise she will pluck out my beard. Sigh, stop talking nonsense, tell me your conditions quickly."

Tang Long thought for a moment. "After Xu Chaoyang is finished, how about you serve a term as Governor?"

Elder Jiang almost jumped up. "What! Are you giving me a benefit, or are you trying to take my old life? Is that Governor position something a person can sit in?"

"Song City will be very chaotic by then; it won't work without someone of sufficient weight to hold the fort."

"Talk to Old Zheng about this; he might be interested. If he won't do it, pull in his son Zheng Duo. The Zheng Family has plenty of money; they can definitely hold the fort."

"But the Zheng Family lacks military strength, unlike you, who can hold the throat of the army. Don't be in such a hurry to refuse; I have a big gift, you might as well listen before deciding."

Elder Jiang narrowed his eyes. "Let's hear it."

Tang Long leaned into his ear. "I can help you get more of those black experimental subjects at your estate. Maybe... there might even be live ones."

"Really! Where!"

"A Divine Ruins. I have already organized people to go in before; there are at least a thousand of them."

"A thousand of them..." Elder Jiang's eyes couldn't help but go blank.

After being stunned for a long while, he asked Tang Long extremely seriously, "Brat, this Divine Ruins you speak of, it wouldn't be the same place Xu Chaoyang mentioned, would it? He never mentioned this kind of intelligence."

Tang Long chuckled. "That's because they have never actually entered a real Divine Ruins. Later, I will set an ambush in the Divine Ruins and bury Xu Chaoyang there."

"And what about the Grand Secretary?"

"I don't need to worry about the Grand Secretary; I believe Xu Chaoyang will take care of it. If I haven't guessed wrong, Xu Chaoyang also has Huagai Realm-level combat power behind him."

Elder Jiang's expression grew increasingly grave. "In other words, you are already confident in dealing with Huagai Realm?"

Tang Long smiled and stood up. "For that, please forgive me for not being able to disclose it."

After being silent for a while, Elder Jiang suddenly asked again, "Brat, when we mentioned marriage alliances just now, I actually think you and Xiao Lan are a very good match."

"Her Aptitude is a bit worse than yours, but with the financial backing of my Jiang Family, she will definitely reach Spirit Map in the future."

"I'm not boasting, but my granddaughter is excellent in both appearance and character. Although she has been a bit spoiled since she was young, this girl is very sensible and will definitely be a virtuous wife to you in the future. Besides, she is a pure maiden; isn't she better than the sister of Bishop Shang?"

"Will you consider it?"