"So, we still need to cooperate with the other six families. That would speed up the County Town’s recovery..."

Cheng Zongyang listened carefully to what Li Yihuo was saying but didn’t commit to anything.

Luo Dingran had also said it was best to cooperate with the other six families. Li Yihuo’s method, while good and highly targeted, would take too long.

His best recommendation was also to work with the other six families.

After listening to him for a while longer, Cheng Zongyang suddenly asked, "If we do cooperate, what do you suggest?"

What he lacked now was manpower; he had always been the one propping up the entire family. In the future, he would need the family to support his efforts in developing the Wilderness World.

Whether it was money, the bodies of Martial Artists, Soul Crystal Stones, acquiring Lifespan, or even other things in the future, he would need the family to work for him.

After some hesitation, Li Yihuo didn’t answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Young Master, what is your relationship with the other six families? Different relationships call for different methods of cooperation."

A smile touched Cheng Zongyang’s lips. "Why don’t you tell me what the options are?"

Understanding Cheng Zongyang’s intent, Li Yihuo said,

"If the relationship is excellent, you can cooperate on all fronts, even forming a business alliance. This is extremely beneficial for commercial development. Of course, that’s assuming the profits are distributed fairly..."

Li Yihuo explained the various scenarios one by one, and Cheng Zongyang listened to them all.

But he was quite surprised when Li Yihuo finally described how one might cooperate with an enemy.

The method for cooperating with an enemy was certainly unconventional.

It involved using the other party’s hatred to create a wager, thereby achieving one’s own objectives.

Of course, this required one to be strong enough to crush them if they went back on their word. ’They’re enemies anyway, so what does it matter if they renege?’

’That’s actually a pretty good method. I might be able to use it in the future.’

Finally, Cheng Zongyang looked at Li Yihuo and said, "Your theories are indeed impressive, but I don’t know how they’ll hold up in practice. Still, I’m willing to give it a try. Tell me, what are your demands?"

Li Yihuo thought for a moment, then said, "I haven’t made any proper contributions yet, so I dare not make any demands. It won’t be too late to bring them up once I have proven my worth. However, there is one matter I hope the Young Master can help me with."

Cheng Zongyang was very satisfied with Li Yihuo’s attitude. "Go on," he said.

Li Yihuo clasped his hands. "Young Master, I’m sure you know about what happened to the An Family. That’s all in the past now, but some of the An Family’s old enemies are still around, and they’ve been searching for me in the County Town. I haven’t dared to show my face, so I was hoping the Young Master could help me with this."

Hearing this, Cheng Zongyang knew exactly what he meant.

He wanted Cheng Zongyang to take care of the people causing him trouble. Even if Li Yihuo hadn’t asked, Cheng Zongyang would have done it anyway.

If Li Yihuo was to be put in charge of all commercial operations, it was only natural to resolve these unnecessary problems for him to avoid any delays to his work in West City.

He said to Li Yihuo, "Alright. I’ll have Gang Leader Li handle it. I’ll also have him assign a few men to protect you.

If anyone gives you trouble, just tell them. I can also make you a promise: if you want to become a Martial Artist, I can help.

It might take some time, but reaching Entry Grade won’t be a problem. As for how far you go after that, that will depend on your own ability."

Hearing this, Li Yihuo looked at Cheng Zongyang in shock!

’He can really help someone become an Entry Grade Martial Artist?’

Martial Artists usually started training from a young age, tempering their foundations and building up their qi and blood!

For a man in his forties like him, it was already far too late to start the path of a Martial Artist.

Just then, he heard Cheng Zongyang continue, "Furthermore, if your children wish to become Martial Artists in the future, they can be sent to Tiantuan Village for training. I can guarantee that any who meet the requirements will reach Entry Grade."

At that, Li Yihuo no longer hesitated. He dropped to his knees and declared, "Young Master, rest assured! This subordinate will do everything in his power to help you build your entire commercial operation!"

"Alright, get up. There’s no need to kneel; I don’t like it. Also, go outside and call for Housekeeper Zhang."

"Yes, sir." Li Yihuo rose to his feet. He then went out and called Zhang Chuchu in.

Cheng Zongyang asked first, "Are Steward Zhou and Miss Cheng awake?"

Zhang Chuchu clasped his hands. "Young Master, they are both awake and have already had breakfast. They heard you were busy and didn’t want to disturb you. They asked me to let you know that they’ve gone to the apothecary."

Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly, then said,

"From now on, Mr. Li will be the Cheng Family’s Chief Shopkeeper. Take him to see Steward Zhou later. Tell him that all future commercial operations will be handed over to the Chief Shopkeeper, and that Steward Zhou is to work under him.

Then, go to the Celestial Break Gang and find Gang Leader Li. Have him find two or three reliable men to act as the Chief Shopkeeper’s bodyguards. Also, have Gang Leader Li send people to investigate who’s been causing trouble for him. Tell him to handle it as he sees fit."

"Yes, I’ll see to it."

Zhang Chuchu quickly committed the instructions to memory, then clasped his hands and took his leave.

Li Yihuo also clasped his hands and departed.

After the two men had left, Cheng Zongyang fell into thought.

He was hosting a banquet for the six families at noon. Whether the Lu Family showed up or not, he needed to think carefully about how to handle the other five.

Cooperation was one thing, but he also had to use this opportunity to make his true stance clear.

Of course, it would be best if they could reach an agreement. He just estimated the chances of that were low.

If it didn’t work out, he would just have to try Li Yihuo’s method.

Thus, he didn’t linger any longer and took a carriage to the Celestial Break Gang’s headquarters.

Because they were activating the backup plan, Li Lu was also quite busy. In addition to expanding into two new halls, he also had to recall a large number of former reserve members, who would then be assigned to the various halls.

So, when Cheng Zongyang found Li Lu, he was in the middle of handling matters for the newly established halls.

After all, there was a meeting that night, and he had to get everything arranged beforehand so he could give a full report and delegate tasks.

When Li Lu saw Cheng Zongyang, he was a little surprised. "Is something urgent? You could have just sent someone to let me know. I would have come to you. There was no need for you to make the trip yourself."

Cheng Zongyang shook his head. "It’s nothing major. I just came to tell you something in person."

He knew that after their last conversation, Li Lu’s attitude toward him had changed.

Their dynamic had shifted into that of a superior and a subordinate, though it wasn’t yet obvious.

The incident with burning the farmland—even though it wasn’t successful—had made Li Lu fully understand his own status and position.

He was well aware that his cultivation, his resources—everything—depended on Cheng Zongyang. If he wanted to advance to a higher position in the future, he couldn’t do it without the Cheng Family.

As a result, he became increasingly deferential toward Cheng Zongyang.

Cheng Zongyang didn’t mind this dynamic. The Celestial Break Gang had been developed under his support from the very beginning, with the express purpose of serving the Cheng Family and his plans.

Now that the gang had taken over all of West City, they could watch each other’s backs. At the same time, it also served to divert some of the heat that would otherwise be directed solely at the Cheng Family.

It was a matter of perception.

One scenario was West City being home to both the Celestial Break Gang and the Cheng Family. The other was the Cheng Family occupying all of West City.

It was like the difference between pricing an item at 39.9 versus 40.

The former was always more palatable.

"Go ahead," Li Lu said, setting aside his work.

Cheng Zongyang and Li Lu walked into the main hall, dismissing everyone else.

"I want to send people to Qianye Prefecture, Shangyong County, Qingfeng, and Dan Yang. All of these places are relatively close to Jade Peak County."

Li Lu was taken aback. "Did something happen?" he asked.

Cheng Zongyang shook his head. "No, nothing’s happened. I just need you to send people to investigate something. I need to find out if the six great families of Jade Peak County have any connections in these other counties and in the Commandery City!"

Hearing this, Li Lu guessed what he was planning. A jolt of alarm went through him, and he looked at Cheng Zongyang with a disbelieving gaze. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

When he left the Li Courtyard last night, he had assumed Cheng Zongyang was just speaking in a fit of pique. He never imagined he would actually take action today.

Seeing the look on Li Lu’s face, Cheng Zongyang knew exactly what he was thinking and said at once,

"Don’t worry, I have no intention of moving against them right now. We have to at least wait until the County Town has stabilized."

Li Lu wasn’t sure if he should believe him, but he asked anyway, "At the restaurant at noon today... you really aren’t going to do anything?"

Cheng Zongyang smiled. "I’m not an impulsive person. Not unless they provoke me first. Alright, go find some sharp-witted people for the job. Report back to me during the meeting tonight, and don’t let anyone else know about this."

Li Lu nodded in agreement.