499: None of them joined

Everyone present had a look of surprise; their eyes widened, and their mouths were slightly agape, as if they couldn't believe what they had just heard.

Bai Luo also looked very surprised. When she heard Ma Dong's offer earlier, she had silently sighed in her heart.

The Yu Beast Association was, after all, still quite inferior in strength compared to the Imperial Citizen Association.

They couldn't be as wealthy and extravagant as the Imperial Citizen Association, offering two flawless energy crystals plus a three percent share of the business.

In her opinion, such generous terms would be hard for anyone to refuse, and Li Yang should have accepted Ma Dong's invitation.

But to her utter surprise, Li Yang decisively refused.

Ma Dong's face instantly turned very ugly. His brows furrowed tightly, and a hint of anger and confusion flashed in his eyes.

He cursed under his breath.

Was this kid messing with him? The reward he offered was much higher than the Yu Beast Association's, yet he still disagreed.

He felt his sincerity had been treated as a joke, and a furious fire burned in his chest.

Just then, Bai Luo quickly walked over to Li Yang with light steps. A charming smile hung on her face, and a hint of triumph was in her eyes.

She casually linked her arm through Li Yang's and deliberately raised her voice, saying,

"Oh dear, it seems Young Master Li doesn't want to join your Imperial Citizen Association?"

Her tone carried a hint of provocation, as if she was declaring her victory to Ma Dong.

Li Yang, however, didn't react to Bai Luo's actions. His gaze remained fixed on Ma Dong, revealing a sense of scrutiny and observation.

He wanted to see Ma Dong's reaction after being rejected, hoping to glean more information about the Imperial Citizen Association from Ma Dong's expression and actions.

Indeed, Bai Luo's slightly provocative words were like Mars falling into the dry kindling of Ma Dong's anger, instantly igniting his fury.

His face turned crimson, the veins on his forehead slightly bulged, and his eyes widened. He glared fiercely at Li Yang and angrily said,

"Do you know what you're saying? Not joining our Imperial Citizen Association? You've learned so much inside information; do you think it's possible for you not to join?"

His voice was full of threat and anger, as if if Li Yang uttered another 'no,' he would immediately resort to force.

Hearing Ma Dong's aggressive words, before Li Yang could respond, Bai Luo quickly spoke up.

She slightly raised her chin, a hint of triumph and provocation in her eyes, yet her tone was respectful as she said,

"Lord Ma, have you forgotten? Young Master Li is preparing to join our Yu Beast Association. In that case, he hasn't violated any rules, has he?"

She deliberately emphasized the words "Yu Beast Association" to remind Ma Dong that Li Yang wasn't obligated to join the Imperial Citizen Association; joining the Yu Beast Association would also be acceptable.

At these words, Ma Dong's face grew even uglier. His lips were tightly pressed into a line, and his eyes revealed a hint of annoyance and unwillingness.

He knew in his heart that Bai Luo was right.

If Li Yang joined the Yu Beast Association, strictly speaking, there would be no problem with the rules.

In this complex power structure, no matter which faction one joined, there were always higher-ups supporting them.

It was just that business resources were allocated based on the influence and strength of each faction.

Now, if Li Yang were to join the Yu Beast Association, the Yu Beast Association would undoubtedly receive more support from above.

Some resources and opportunities that the Imperial Citizen Association could have monopolized would be shared with the Yu Beast Association.

For Ma Dong, who was determined to expand the influence of the Imperial Citizen Association, this was undoubtedly a huge blow.

However, just when everyone thought Li Yang would either succumb to the Imperial Citizen Association's temptation or naturally join the Yu Beast Association, Li Yang suddenly broke this seemingly predetermined situation.

He slightly curved his lips, a faint smile on his face, his gaze gentle yet with an undeniable firmness, and slowly said,

"President Bai, I don't think I ever said I was going to join your Yu Beast Association, did I?"

As he spoke, he looked with a smile at Bai Luo, who was still holding his arm.

Li Yang's words exploded among the crowd like a bombshell.

Everyone present seemed to be under a spell, instantly frozen in place, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

Their eyes were wide, and their mouths slightly open, as if they wanted to say something but were momentarily speechless.

Everyone's hearts were filled with doubt and confusion, and they all muttered to themselves.

He won't join the Imperial Citizen Association, and he won't join the Yu Beast Association, so what exactly does he want to do? Does he intend to join the Rogue Wolf Gang?

However, this thought was dismissed by everyone as soon as it arose.

The Rogue Wolf Gang's actions were ruthless and brutal, without any rules. How could Li Yang possibly choose to join them?

Seeing Li Yang's "uncooperative" attitude, Ma Dong's face became very grim.

His brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes revealing a hint of anger and threat. He looked at Li Yang with a serious and earnest expression, enunciating each word clearly as he said,

"This so-called Young Master Li, do you know what you're saying? Some things, once known, are no longer up to you..."

His voice was low and cold, seeming to hide endless fury that could erupt at any moment.

And at this moment, Bai Luo, who was beside Li Yang, also panicked.

She clutched Li Yang's hand tightly, her fingers slightly white from the exertion, her face full of anxiety and worry.

She said urgently,

"Are you crazy? Even if you don't join our Yu Beast Association, joining any of the four major powers would be fine! You've learned so much internal information; if you don't join any faction, you won't even be able to leave this planet!"

In fact, this was also why factions like the Imperial Citizen Association and the Yu Beast Association had unhesitatingly shared inside information with Li Yang.

In this complex power structure, some things are like a thin sheet of paper; it's fine if you don't know, but once you tear through that paper and learn what you shouldn't, you often become involuntarily entangled in various conflicts of interest and dangers.

Bai Luo herself couldn't explain why, but a strange intuition surged within her, constantly reminding her that it was best to speak favorably for Li Yang at this moment and firmly stand by his side.

This intuition was like a bright lamp suddenly lit in the darkness, allowing her to make a choice in this complex situation without hesitation.

Seeing that Li Yang remained unmoved, Ma Dong's face grew even darker. His eyes widened in anger, and he glared fiercely at Li Yang, shouting,

"Kid, tell me, are you joining our Imperial Citizen Association or not?"