Chapter 123: Chapter 108: An Innate? It’s Not Like I Haven’t Killed One Before

“What should we do then?” Bai Jingfei looked curiously at Zhao Yiqiu. Zhao Yiqiu was usually more clear-headed than him, so he figured Zhao Yiqiu must have an idea.

“Spread the word, tell the Minghai Commerce Association one thing: have Hai Dongsheng wait. Hopefully, he won’t regret making such a decision. Our Evergreen Commerce Association will not give up so easily. Let him pay for his arrogance!” Zhao Yiqiu said coldly.

“Is this okay?”

Even Yan Botao asked in surprise. Without knowing what Li Changqing had planned, was it wise to send out such a fierce message first?

“Old Zhao is right; we can’t lose our momentum. I will arrange it.” Bai Jingfei’s eyes lit up, then he turned around and went downstairs.

He was preparing to arrange for someone to spread the news.

Our Evergreen Commerce Association accepts the challenge. Let’s hope your Hai family can bear the consequences.

If Li Changqing knew how much these three people had faith in him, he would have been dumbfounded.

Nothing had been done yet, but the harsh words were already out.

At this time, Li Changqing was still engrossed in his carving.

This carving was the most challenging work Li Changqing had ever attempted in his two lifetimes. Each attempt required Li Changqing to focus with utmost concentration.

The slow progress left Li Changqing somewhat speechless.

Is this wood carving really so extraordinary?

Was it really being suppressed to this extent?

However, Li Changqing was stubborn. The more it suppressed him, the more determined he was to finish this wood carving.

As for the current problems faced by the Evergreen Commerce Association, to be honest, Li Changqing really hadn’t thought much about it.

In his previous life, he hadn’t done much business. After arriving in the Cang Yuan Realm, Li Changqing simply thought that having masters around should prevent such problems.

He had completely underestimated the domineering nature of the Hai family.

Furthermore, he believed that Yan Botao and the others could solve most of the issues since they were from families with several generations of business experience. What couldn’t they handle that required his intervention?

Moreover, he had already dealt with the Yunling Sect. He had personally visited them, and knowing he was from the Evergreen Commerce Association, the Yunling Sect dared not act against them.

And yet you can’t deal with just one Hai family?

Li Changqing had previously thought that even if they became hostile to the Hai family, their advantage in pre-made dishes would provide enough leverage to stand against the Minghai Commerce Association.

Even if the people from the Minghai Commerce Association became desperate and wanted to act against the Evergreen Commerce Association, they would have to consider Yan Botao, an Innate. Besides, if things really kicked off, he could let Ah Fei go and help. Who would be afraid of whom?

But Li Changqing hadn’t anticipated the extent of the Hai family’s influence in Dao Mark City, nor their unorthodox ways.

It was simply mobster behavior.

Blocking the Evergreen Commerce Association’s business.

Not touching the Evergreen Commerce Association’s people directly, but targeting other merchants, intimidating them away from cooperating with the Evergreen Commerce Association.

This despicable tactic really left Yan Botao and the others with no options.

So, the following day, Sun Yueru and Ma Chen received a letter; upon learning about the situation in Dao Mark City, they hurriedly followed the instructions in the letter and went to the Yan family to find Li Changqing.

Although they were unaware that Li Changqing was the trump card of the Evergreen Commerce Association, since it was Yan Botao’s instruction, they complied. Besides, they had shares in the Evergreen Commerce Association, so they were anxious about the situation.

When the two sought out Li Changqing, they were met with a closed door.

“Mr. Changqing is in seclusion and is seeing no one,” Zhang Fuguang directly blocked the two of them outside.

“In seclusion?”

The two were anxious; what should they do now?

On the other side, they were waiting for Li Changqing to save them, but now Li Changqing was in seclusion?

“Is there anything I can help convey to Mr. Changqing for you as soon as he comes out of seclusion?” Seeing their anxiety, Zhang Fuguang offered.

“Thanks a lot.”

They didn’t recognize Zhang Fuguang, but anyone working around Li Changqing must be trustworthy.

So they explained the whole story.

“Understood, I’ll pass it on to Mr. Changqing,” Zhang Fuguang nodded.

The two looked into the distance once more, but in the end, they could only leave helplessly, waiting for Li Changqing to come out of seclusion.

After they left, Zhang Fuguang also went to the back bamboo grove to see if Li Changqing might emerge from seclusion.

But he was immediately stopped by Ah Fei.

It was clear that Li Changqing wasn’t planning to end his seclusion any time soon.

Zhang Fuguang took back the food tray left outside and then turned to leave.

Noon.

Zhang Fuguang had lunch with Zhang Siyao, and seeing his daughter’s complexion improved significantly, no longer the sickly pale and thin girl she once was, Zhang Fuguang smiled contently, gently patting her head.

Zhang Siyao looked up curiously at her father.

“Siyao, Dad has to go out for a while and will be back in a few days. During this time, stay at home and help Dad bring food to Mr. Changqing daily, then remember to take the tray back. Can you manage that?” Zhang Fuguang asked.

“I can.” Zhang Siyao nodded obediently.

“Good, that’s great.” Zhang Fuguang always seemed to have more to say when it came to his daughter.

After finishing their meal, Zhang Siyao watched as Zhang Fuguang took his short knife from under the bed and left home.

This scene left Zhang Siyao a bit dazed, as if she had seen it happen many times before.

Two days passed, and still, the Evergreen Commerce Association made no moves, but their strong words left all the city merchants shocked. Where did the Evergreen Commerce Association get the confidence to make the Hai family regret?

Yan Botao and the others received news that Li Changqing was in seclusion, leaving the three of them perplexed.

With Li Changqing in seclusion, they were at a loss about how to handle the predicament.

They had secretly sought to collaborate with other merchants but were told to steer clear as soon as they heard the Evergreen Commerce Association was involved.

Some even shut their doors, fearing misunderstandings with the Minghai Commerce Association.

Meanwhile, within two days, not a single deal was made.

Such inaction made the Evergreen Commerce Association the butt of jokes among many merchants for just being all talk.

They thought the Evergreen Commerce Association was just pretending to be tough.

Celestial Water City.

A bullock cart slowly rolled into the city, driven by an old farmer.

A man dressed in black laid on some straw on the cart.

“Sonny, we’re in Celestial Water City,” the old farmer called back to the hitchhiker, but when he turned around, he found the cart empty, save for two copper coins left on the edge.

“Huh, where’d he go?” The old farmer wondered aloud.

He had met this strange man on the road, who asked about the Hai family’s location. Since it was on the way, he took him part of the way.

In Celestial Water City, the most renowned family was the Hai family.

The patriarch of the Hai family was Hai Songtao.

He was a prominent figure in all of Minghong State.

In his youth, he had been a ruthless killer, making it onto the underworld registry, hunted by many powerful figures. But with sheer strength, he countered and killed numerous would-be assassins and survived to establish the Hai family.

Later, he founded the Minghai Commerce Association.

The Hai family held great influence throughout Minghong State.

The younger generation of the Hai family was equally impressive.

Particularly Hai Dongsheng, who became Innate before the age of forty.

He had potential to achieve Innate Perfection in the future.

Hai Songtao groomed Hai Dongsheng as his successor, entrusting the Minghai Commerce Association to him.

Hai Dongsheng’s ruthless nature resembled his own, making him fond of Hai Dongsheng.

When he learned someone challenged the Hai family’s authority, he promptly approved Hai Dongsheng’s plan to force the Evergreen Commerce Association out of Dao Mark City.

To show them the Hai family’s authority was unchallengeable.

To make others know who ruled in Dao Mark City!

Atop the green-tiled pavilion.

Hai Songtao read the letter in his hand, revealing a faint sneer, “Make my Hai family pay a price? What arrogance and folly. I’ve already investigated that the Evergreen Commerce Association is just a band of misfits.”

“Tell Dongsheng, since they’re so arrogant, let them pay the price first. They are just a newly promoted Innate after all.”

“Send someone to smash their commerce association. If they dare to resist, I will personally go to Dao Mark City myself!”

“Just an Innate – it’s not like I haven’t killed one before.”

Hai Songtao exuded a strong killing intent, making even the man kneeling before him shudder involuntarily.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep