121: Chapter 118 True Intentions! Xia Kaishan Bows His Head? [Bonus Chapter for 10,000 Monthly Tickets]

Chapter 118: Original Intention! Xia Kaishan Bows His Head? [Bonus Chapter for 10,000 Monthly Votes]

Night fell. At the Wuling City Branch of Xinghe Group,

in the general manager's office,

"Old Xing, since you couldn't get through to my phone, didn't you know to call someone else and have them come find me?"

Yang Zhiyuan lacked his usual scholarly composure, his voice tinged with a trace of fury. "I asked you to go to Xingsha City personally; wasn't it precisely to prevent any unexpected situations?"

Before he could even rejoice upon receiving the news that Fang Yu had become a Tier 2 Starry Sky Seed, he received word that Fang Yu had been reassigned to the Provincial Branch.

It was like a bolt from the blue.

If Fang Yu had simply been reassigned to the Provincial Branch, that would have been fine.

But according to the news transmitted by Xing Ye, the Provincial Branch had known about it for a long time yet hadn't notified him from start to finish.

Even though the personnel files had already been transferred, Director Lin Chuan hadn't given him a single call.

This proved that the situation was extremely severe.

You must know that as a director, Director Lin Chuan far surpassed Yang Zhiyuan in both status and strength, yet Director Lin Chuan was not Yang Zhiyuan's direct superior—the General Manager of the city branch directly coordinated with the Patrol Envoy.

All this indicated that

someone at a higher level had spoken up.

This was precisely what caused Yang Zhiyuan's defense to break down—Yang Zhiyuan understood, and Xing Ye naturally understood as well, which was why Xing Ye sat there and couldn't even be bothered to explain another word.

"Old Xing, didn't you fight for it at the time? Didn't you let Fang Yu speak up?" Yang Zhiyuan stared at Xing Ye. "Management rights could be handed over to the Provincial Branch, but at least the personnel files should have stayed. This isn't just my personal matter."

"General Manager,"

"How could I fight for it?" Xing Ye finally couldn't help but retort, "I'm merely a supervisor; would I dare to contend with Director Lin Chuan?"

"I didn't even know I was that formidable."

"Furthermore, let Fang Yu speak up? What was I supposed to say?"

"Do you know how much Huguang Martial Arts University's extra cultivation plan for him is? 150 million! What about our Wuling City Branch? 20 million?" Xing Ye shook his head. "How could I bring myself to say that to Fang Yu?"

Yang Zhiyuan glared at Xing Ye.

He understood Xing Ye's words, but he was truly irritated—the cooked achievement had flown away, and it had even caused the higher-ups to have opinions. Anyone would be irritated in his position.

"General Manager,"

"I'll go get busy first. Call me if anything comes up." Xing Ye stood up directly and turned to leave.

His position was one rank lower, so he was somewhat reluctant to offend Yang Zhiyuan. Yet, he was also an Earth Martial Artist and ultimately possessed his own pride—in terms of strength, the gap between the two sides was not large.

Although Yang Zhiyuan was burning with anger inside, he ultimately didn't say anything more.

Returning to his own office,

"Hu Yan." Xing Ye directly dialed Hu Yan's phone. "Prepare some things. Tomorrow, I will represent the city branch to visit Fang Yu's home to extend condolences regarding Fang Yu taking second place in the selection battle."

"Right."

"I remember Fang Yu's grandfather is still alive; prepare more health supplements. In addition, add both his grandfather and his father into the special medical roster of the group's affiliated hospital—"

He hung up the phone.

"Yang Zhiyuan? Hmph, you messed things up yourself and blame me for not fighting for it. If I ignore you, what can you possibly do to me?" Xing Ye muttered inwardly.

Wuling City, Shengchuan Group.

The chairman's office.

"Second place in the Huguang Martial Arts University selection battle? And leading the students behind him by a sheer cliff-like margin."

Gu Qing walked into the office, looking at the message forwarded by Chairman Wang XunDao with shock. "With this kind of strength, his technique must have reached Inner Scenery. He should have already become a Tier 2 Starry Sky Seed."

Gu Qing's vision wasn't low either, and he instantly guessed quite a bit.

"Mhm."

"According to the information I received, he has already become a Tier 2 Starry Sky Seed." Chairman Wang XunDao nodded.

Chairman Wang XunDao knew quite a few Earth Martial Artists, and the news of Fang Yu becoming a Tier 2 Starry Sky Seed had already spread across Huguang Province through various channels. It wasn't hard for him to look it up.

"Chairman, congratulations."

"It is said that a Tier 2 Starry Sky Seed can easily become a top Earth Martial Artist, and in the future, there's even hope to become a Sky-Patrol Martial Artist." Gu Qing immediately laughed. "For twenty million, we signed an endorsement contract with a martial arts Genius like this. It's such a great deal."

"Back then,"

"when you told me he had hope of becoming the second Wang Heng, Chairman, I still didn't quite believe it—based on his current rate of progress, there is completely hope." Gu Qing sighed with emotion.

In Gu Qing's view,

although the current Fang Yu still couldn't compare to that peerless Genius of the Xia nation renowned throughout the Alliance, judging by his rate of progress over the past half year, the difference probably wasn't all that much.

"His rate of progress is indeed quite exaggerated." Chairman Wang XunDao also felt it was somewhat unreal.

Fang Yu's progress shattered his expectations time and time again.

"Old Gu,"

"I had you come over because there is a matter for you to handle." Chairman Wang XunDao said, "Take a trip to Huguang Martial Arts University and re-sign an endorsement contract with Fang Yu, raising the endorsement fee to 50 million a year."

"Raise it to 50 million?" Gu Qing was stunned.

Wasn't this eagerly rushing to deliver money?

"No one else knows Fang Yu. If I weren't truly unable to spare the time these past few days, I would go in person." Chairman Wang XunDao said, "You don't need to tell Xiaomo about this matter—but you must let Fang Yu know that it was because Xiaomo was dissatisfied with the endorsement fee that she took the initiative to ask me to raise the price."

"Understood, Chairman." Gu Qing already roughly understood Chairman Wang XunDao's meaning.

The two exchanged a few more matters.

"Go quickly and return quickly," Chairman Wang XunDao said.

After Gu Qing left,

soon, another middle-aged man in a suit came to his office and said respectfully, "Chairman, did you call for me?"

"Manager Fang, didn't you send me a message? Tell me about the situation." Chairman Wang XunDao said softly.

The person opposite him was precisely one of his confidants, Manager Fang of the Shengchuan Group's Public Relations Department.

"The matter you arranged for me last time has been closely monitored by people I assigned," Manager Fang said. "Today, across various online platforms within the province, the matters regarding Fang Yu and Xia Tao have been dug up once again. There is also plenty of content pointing directly at Xia Kaishan and He Chang, and their view counts and share counts are skyrocketing."

"Up to now, it has been three hours, and there is still no sign of any suppression or control over public opinion," Manager Fang said.

"Oh?" Chairman Wang XunDao's eyes lit up.

"According to my judgment, there should be a big figure who wants to make an issue of this and make a move against Xia Kaishan and the others." Manager Fang said, "Previously, Fang Yu's influence was insufficient, so it was temporarily suppressed—but now, Fang Yu has become a five-star member of Xinghe Group, and the situation is getting a bit hard to keep under wraps."

"Chairman, should we follow up?"

Chairman Wang XunDao was thoughtful.

"There's no need to follow up further on the matters between Fang Yu and the Xia family; when immortals fight, mortals shouldn't get mixed up in it." Chairman Wang XunDao shook his head gently. "Go promote Fang Yu's matters with an unlimited budget."

"Find out everything about Fang Yu from childhood to adulthood for me."

"I hope that within a week, the search volume for "Genius Counterattack" across the entire Wuling City and even Huguang Province can climb to the top of the provincial rankings."

"Once Fang Yu becomes famous, naturally someone will initiate a team fight."

Time blinked and arrived at December 3rd.

The night grew darker.

At Huguang Martial Arts University, inside the Student Manor, in Fang Yu's courtyard,

whether it was the official documentary filming or Xinghe Group's promotional filming, everything had already ended. Fang Yu's courtyard finally returned to quietness once more, leaving only Fang Yu and Meng Shi.

Inside the living room, Fang Yu was eating dinner.

"Fang Yu,"

"According to the group's arrangement, they hope you can participate in a livestreaming event tomorrow—" Meng Shi was still dressed in professional attire. Even after a busy day, her hair was meticulously coiled into a low bun, with all the stray hairs tucked away, revealing her smooth, full forehead and slender neck.

She maintained a pristine image.

"Reject it," Fang Yu said, shaking his head.

"But—" Meng Shi still wanted to strive for it.

"Meng Shi, I know you have my best interests at heart." Fang Yu put down his chopsticks and said softly, "Over these past two days, I have seen your hard work and professionalism, from the opening of various official accounts to helping me organize materials and arrange my itinerary plans—"

"Everything you have done is to elevate my commercial value." Fang Yu said, "I understand the logic."

Meng Shi looked at Fang Yu in surprise.

She had originally thought that the martial arts Genius before her, who was always busy cultivating, hadn't paid much attention to her work at all.

"However,"

"remember one thing: whatever work you do for me, do not put the cart before the horse." Fang Yu slowly said, "First of all, I am a Martial Artist, not those celebrities."

"For me, elevating my strength is the top priority."

"Next,"

"on the premise of not affecting my cultivation, you can simply edit and film some things, and publish some of my cultivation processes, but try to minimize the videos. As for livestreams—I will absolutely not do livestreams." Fang Yu said.

"Remember,"

"the premise of commercial activities is that they do not affect my cultivation. If they do affect it, I will not hesitate to apply to replace you and the team behind you. Your job is to assist me in cultivating, rather than to elevate my commercial value." Fang Yu slowly said, "Xinghe Group's purpose in cultivating me is also in the hope that I will become an Earth Martial Artist or even a Sky-Patrol Martial Artist."

"Do you understand?" Fang Yu looked at Meng Shi.

That sharp gaze made Meng Shi feel a faint trace of dread in her heart.

"Understood." Meng Shi nodded hastily.

"In addition, have you contacted the matter I asked you to arrange?" Fang Yu inquired.

"It has been arranged." Meng Shi immediately said, "I have already contacted the group's public relations department to cooperate with some official institutions. Regarding some public opinion online, they will provide a certain degree of protection—"

"Mhm." Fang Yu nodded.

The outbreak of various online news over these past two days was completely within Fang Yu's control.

Moreover, through Meng Shi's report, Fang Yu quickly confirmed that two forces were secretly fighting each other: one force wanted public opinion regarding him to erupt—while another force wanted to suppress it.

Therefore, Fang Yu chose to make a move himself.

As a newly promoted five-star member, and a Tier 2 Starry Sky Seed member who was heavily focused on by Inspector Ye, Fang Yu was making a request for help for the very first time, so the provincial public relations department of Xinghe Group gave him plenty of Face.

The result was that

in just a few days, before the official documentary even came out, the public opinion impact concerning Fang Yu had grown larger and larger. Even quite a few passerby anchors and internet celebrities were already trying to follow the trend and hype up the hot topic.

Everything

was evolving in the direction that Minister Ji Lianyun and Fang Yu anticipated.

New Moon.

"Bastard!

"A bunch of trash!

"Can't even suppress this bit of public opinion!!" Xia Kaishan stayed inside his villa's study, angrily crushing the cup in his hand. "That scumbag Minister Ji Lianyun actually dares to stab me in the back at a time like this."

A few days ago, when the selection battle ended, when Professor Lu Min and Wanjin successively transmitted Fang Yu's selection battle results over,

Xia Kaishan had been furious at the time, but he wasn't panicked.

After all, no matter how high Fang Yu's talent was, as long as he didn't become a Sky-Patrol Martial Artist, he couldn't truly do anything to him—even for a Tier 2 Starry Sky Seed, the majority couldn't become Sky-Patrol Martial Artists.

But the events of the following few days, the outbreak of online public opinion, exceeded his control.

Even though he mobilized the power of Jixing Group, he unexpectedly couldn't suppress it—this quickly made him realize something was amiss, and after investigating the force behind it, it ultimately led him to lock onto Minister Ji Lianyun.

The two sides had always been fighting.

Only, as the deputy minister of the inspection department, and right as the Global Collegiate Martial Arts Tournament was about to begin, Minister Ji Lianyun used the pretext of promoting the martial arts geniuses participating from within the province, leaving Xia Kaishan completely unable to fight openly.

Furthermore, now the power of Xinghe Group had also begun to intervene, which gave Xia Kaishan an even greater headache.

Suddenly,

his phone rang.

"Old He." Xia Kaishan answered directly, gritting his teeth as he said, "How is it on your side?"

It was precisely the call from He Chang.

"Let's reconcile."

He Chang's voice leaked a trace of exhaustion. "The investigation has been restarted, and I estimate I'm going to take on a disciplinary penalty. Although you won't truly be affected, I'm afraid you won't have it easy either—reconciliation is beneficial for both of us."

"Reconcile?"

"That's asking me to bow my head?" Xia Kaishan's voice revealed fury. "Xia Tao's revenge hasn't been avenged yet; I will absolutely not bow my head. Some public opinion alone, can it affect me? I haven't truly violated the law."

"Theoretically speaking, that is so."

"If you stubbornly refuse to reconcile, no one can really do anything to you either," He Chang sighed. "However, I have read Fang Yu's data in detail; he has the potential to become a Level 1 Starry Sky Seed."

"Even if he fails, reaching our level in the future won't be difficult."

"There's no need to keep fighting like this."

"Tomorrow, I will visit Fang Yu once. As for you—decide for yourself." He Chang hung up the phone.

Xia Kaishan's eyes revealed a sinister ruthlessness.

He understood that He Chang was making a clean break from him.

PS: Fourth chapter, bonus for 10,000 monthly votes!