Chapter 956: Duel

Proofreader : Papatonks

Knock~

An old man was inspecting a document over a finely carved jade table when someone knocked.

He raised his aged face and asked, "What is it?"

"It's me, father. I have something urgent that needs your attention."

The old man recognized the voice and said, "Oh, Ranze, come in!"

Creak~

Wu Ranze lightly stepped forward, followed by six Soul Harmony guards carrying a wounded and an aggrieved second young master.

The old man's eyes showed he understood the situation as he sighed.

Wu Ranze bowed and spoke flatly, "Father, I request that brother is to be confined for half a month, lest he ruin the company's affairs."

"What did he do this time?" The old man gave a long sigh as he returned to inspecting the document, giving no regard to his sons' spat.

Wu Ranze smiled but then Wu Randong got out of the guards' hands and slammed the table as he barked, "Isn't it obvious from how I look. Someone beat me up!"

"Father, he is an important customer that will propel our company to higher heights in our trading with the lands." Ignoring the tantrum, Wu Ranze reported, "Brother had a clash with the customer, but fortunately he was not heavy-handed, nor did he much care for this incident, still willing to trade with us. Before brother makes things any worse, I beseech father to confine brother and prevent from irritating our customer and driving the biggest deal our company has ever seen."

Wu Randong whipped his head at Wu Ranze and spat, "Brother, you're just going to pin this on me without even hearing the whole story?"

"Ranze, is his deal that valuable?"

The old man ignored his youngest's annoyance and asked what mattered.

Wu Randong nodded, never looking away from his father, "Not just valuable, but far more important than even North Sea Gel."

Ka!

The old man paused, his eyes shook and snapped on Wu Ranze, "Like the North Sea Gel?"

"Not just that, but far far bigger!"

"Absurd. We've been wanting to trade in the North Sea Gel for thousands of years yet never got the chance. Northern lands have it in short supply and have it on a tight guard. Now you come to me saying there's something way better? What is it then?"

The old man showed excitement for once.

Wu Ranze spoke, "Father, it's what I've been meaning to tell you about. Take this..."

Wu Ranze presented a black stone.

The old man frowned.

"Father, please cultivate a bit with it." Wu Ranze had a vague smile, just like how Zhuo Fan did it to him.

The old man did as told. What happened to Wu Ranze before happened with him as well. The rock was gone and a surge of Yuan Qi filled him with endless power.

The old man cried out as he turned to Wu Ranze in shock, "W-what is this thing?"

"Demon spirit stone!"

Wu Ranze bowed, looking excited as well, retelling all that transpired, finishing with, "The customer had given us a hundred thousand in advance then will sign with us an indefinite contract and all he wants is to use our commercial line. I already promised him this and I ask that father works fast to strike a deal with the city lord, to get his approval."

The old man's eyes shone as he laughed, "Sure, there's no way we're going to miss the deal of the century! I'll go to the city lord right now and see what he wants in return. That old Baili Jingyu couldn't just stick to booze and women, but had to play dumb as well, insisting that we have to talk in person. Ranze, you'd be more than enough for something as simple as this. Well, not that it matters, since in two years, I'll withdraw from being chairman of the company and you'll be taking over. Then he'll be your problem, ha-ha-ha... "

Wu Ranze laughed along, his eyes dead, like there was nothing exciting in becoming the top dog.

[Since it's only obvious.]

He had established himself in the Serene Shores Trading and his father had nothing but praises for him while the rest of the members admired him greatly. So young yet the highest manager under his father, bringing many important deals without the help of his father helped consolidate his value within the company.

It had long gone from his father being assured of passing the mantle, becoming an obvious choice.

But what about vying for power, for status?

Did you expect him to see his poor excuse of a brother as a worthy match? He didn't amount to even a bucket of spit. There was nothing to be jealous of.

"Wait!"

Wu Randong butted in with a red face and bloodshot eyes, "Father, brother, is money all you care about? He has humiliated the company's members, and your own flesh and blood got beaten up, yet you don't even care? What worth would any trade be, regardless of how big, if it's crooked?"

The old man shot him a cold look, "Randong, I have told you both before, that respect is paramount in our line of work. The people we deal with all come from important clans. We may have spread out throughout the lands, but we never mix money with politics, ever. The moment we cross the line will be the second we become petty and lead the company to ruin. Why else do you think I've been wasting so much time catering to that spineless Baili Jingyu? It's all due to having Baili in his name!"

"Don't ever say his name around me. I hate him to death!" Wu Randong spat in fury.

Wu Ranze shouted, "Brother, that's enough! We only grew to our current influence because we value respect above all else in our dealings. It's what pays for all the resources you get to use to cultivate. How else would you have reached the Soul Harmony Stage so fast? Without power, you'd be weak and at anyone's mercy!"

"And bowing and scraping isn't a weakness?"

"We are weak against the top while strong against those at the bottom. But if we break our principles, the clan will be over and no matter where we go, we'll be the weakest. You think about that."

Wu Ranze huffed and said to the guards, "Father and I will be going to the city lord's manor. You make sure to confine him. Above all else, make sure he doesn't go and disturb that valued customer, or you'll have to answer for it!"

Father and son walked out without giving Wu Randong a glance as the guards bowed.

Bam!

They didn't even have to stand straight as the lavish room sported an extra large hole, with the sun's warm rays falling upon them. As for Wu Randong, he was nowhere to be found.

"Damn it! Second young master ran away! After him!" They all panicked as they scrambled out of the hole.

In their rushed search, they failed to notice the bush just below the room, where Wu Randong stuck his head out to watch them leave. He gnashed his teeth, "There won't be any deal, not if I can help it!"

Wu Randong stepped cautiously in another direction, towards the biggest tavern in Goldbough City.

An hour later, in a grand room, Gu Santong lay on the bed, weak and unconscious.

Zhuo Fan sat at his bedside, watching over him with constant sighs.

He could've carried Gu Santong in his ring, but the fear of something happening to him prevented that. Instead he chose to carry him always to sense every little change in his son. After so many days, he relaxed knowing his condition was stable.

"Serene Shores Trading..."

Zhuo Fan's eyes shone as he contemplated, "Wu Ranze and the entire company are capable in trading, but too obsessed with profit. All merchants value gain over parting, especially this one. It's easy to be stabbed in the back even after the deal is done. As for that second young master..."

"Get out! Whoever you are, get out now and duel me!"

The ravings coming from outside cut his thoughts short.

Zhuo Fan chuckled.

[Wuran Dong?]

[Speak of the devil, ha-ha-ha...]