Dragon's Origin

“Brother Wang, the Daoist school isn't just the Laojun Temple lineage!” Lü Wenhou replied calmly, without the slightest hint of nervousness. “On some matters, the Daoist school is united, but often, they aren't as close as a family! Otherwise, it would be a single Daoist lineage now, instead of six branches, right? Brother Wang!”

Wang Sheng couldn't refute this, as it was the truth. The Daoist school's six branches exist precisely because of differences in certain ideologies and varying interpretations of the patriarch's teachings.

In fact, the divisions were even more severe in the past. There used to be seven branches, but one branch collaborated with the Shanyue Kingdom, employing brainwashing tactics, and was subsequently annihilated by the other six branches of the Daoist school.

“The Laojun Temple alone can't just do whatever the Eight Great Families want, can they?” Wang Sheng retorted with a faint smile.

“The Laojun Temple is indeed powerful, with deep foundations and experts like Old Ancestor Lingxu, making their strength not to be underestimated.” Lü Wenhou fully agreed with Wang Sheng, but he still had his reasons: “However, the Laojun Temple currently has reasons why they can't take action.”

“Please elaborate!” Wang Sheng gestured, inviting him to continue. The pills Lü Wenhou provided were indeed miraculous; he already felt much better after chatting for such a short while.

“At the last Daoist Assembly, the entire Daoist school clearly stated its position of non-involvement in worldly affairs. That's the first reason.” Lü Wenhou spoke methodically, numbering each point: “Secondly, the Laojun Temple recently annexed a side branch of the Daoist school and is still in the process of assimilating it. This has made the other five branches of the Daoist school very wary of the Laojun Temple. If the Laojun Temple intervenes in your affairs, it will give the other five branches of the Daoist school and other families an opportunity to join forces.”

Wang Sheng nodded, finding both reasons plausible. He understood better than anyone that many things in this world are about vested interests, and the Daoist school is no exception. The six branches of the Daoist school already have differences in understanding, so any move by the Laojun Temple would only lead to misunderstandings, rather than the cooperation they had when obtaining the patriarch's inheritance last time.

This is something that Wang Sheng can't change, even with his title of a secular elder of the Laojun Temple. Everyone understands what Wang Sheng is doing now. Accepting Wang Sheng or standing up for him would not only incur the hostility of the Eight Great Families, but the other five branches of the Daoist school would also think that the Laojun Temple is expanding its power in preparation to annex them.

“The Laojun Temple's base in the Thousand Absolutes Ground has been completely evacuated.” Lü Wenhou wasn't afraid to add the final straw: “It's said that the Grand Master of the Laojun Temple personally went to the base and took the people away. Old Ancestor Lingxu also left with them, but he did release a statement through Worry-Free City, saying that anyone who dares to kill you will have their entire family killed by him.”

Wang Sheng believed that this was the greatest support Old Daoist Lingxu could give him. After all, the old Daoist is a member of the Laojun Temple, and when the Grand Master personally came to explain the stakes, Old Daoist Lingxu couldn't act willfully.

Fortunately, Wang Sheng had anticipated this, and he had even instructed Old Daoist Lingxu before his departure, so nothing was unexpected.

Seeing Wang Sheng's calm demeanor, without any signs of anxiety or anger, Lü Wenhou continued: “Of course, the Imperial Family is also impossible. I believe you know better than anyone that cooperation with the Imperial Family is merely based on mutual interests. When it comes to the life and death of the Imperial Family, they can't challenge the bottom line of the Eight Great Families. Even if you stay in the capital and never leave, it won't work.”

“Can Worry-Free City do it then?” Wang Sheng asked with a smile.

“Worry-Free City is originally a place where wanted criminals from all over reside.” Lü Wenhou nodded without hesitation: “This is a rule that the entire world has followed for hundreds of years, not a regulation formed in the capital within a few years that can be broken so easily.”

“Are you sure Worry-Free City dares to take us in?” A smile appeared on Wang Sheng's face, his eyes looking at Lü Wenhou with a non-smiling expression.

After staring into Wang Sheng's eyes for a long while, Lü Wenhou finally sighed and admitted: “Actually, Worry-Free City doesn't dare either.”

“Then what opportunity do we have to cooperate?” Wang Sheng wasn't surprised. Worry-Free City only appeared after the Lin family was destroyed. Even if they didn't contribute much at the time, they couldn't have stayed out of it. Worry-Free City came into being because the Lin family was destroyed. The same powers that established that rule for Worry-Free City can also abolish it.

“Of course, Worry-Free City doesn't dare to openly accept you, Brother Wang.” Lü Wenhou smiled somewhat awkwardly, turned his gaze towards Lin Xiu, gave her a gentle smile, and then said: “However, no one knows that Lü Wenhou is the City Lord of Worry-Free City, so some things can still be done secretly.”

Wang Sheng and Lin Xiu were both intelligent people. They immediately understood from Lü Wenhou's words that Lü Wenhou planned to secretly cooperate with them using his unexposed identity.

“Why?” Wang Sheng asked Lü Wenhou: “Knowing our current situation, why would Brother Lü still want to cooperate with us?”

“Brother Wang, I am the owner of Yu Bao Zhai.” Lü Wenhou laughed. He wasn't afraid of Wang Sheng questioning his reasons, he was only afraid that Wang Sheng would directly refuse. As long as Wang Sheng didn't completely block the path, he would have something to talk about: “Essentially, I am a businessman. This time, I am optimistic about both of your futures, so I am investing in your futures.”

Lü Wenhou's words instantly reminded Wang Sheng of a figure in Earth's history, a man named Lü Buwei. He was also a merchant, best known for hoarding rare commodities. He invested in Zichu, assisted Zichu in becoming the King of Qin, and became the Prime Minister of Qin, the Marquis Wenxin. He was a successful merchant recorded in history.

Lin Xiu was the number one expert five hundred years ago. If he could gain Lin Xiu's favor, once Lin Xiu recovered, Lü Wenhou would definitely surpass the Eight Great Families. Relatively speaking, Wang Sheng wasn't as important. After all, no matter how powerful Wang Sheng was, he couldn't be more skilled than Lin Xiu.

However, economically speaking, Wang Sheng was much more powerful than Lin Xiu. Li Zhen Fang's acquisition of hundreds of billions of gold coins within a short three to two years was unprecedented. Wang Sheng couldn't come forward, so Yu Bao Zhai's owner, Lü Wenhou, with his outstanding commercial skills, could dominate the business world, which wouldn't seem out of place.

“How do you propose we cooperate?” Wang Sheng asked calmly.

“It's a bit embarrassing to say.” Lü Wenhou had a somewhat embarrassed expression on his face and said apologetically to Wang Sheng: “For the time being, I estimate that you won't be able to provide Miss Lin with a suitable place to heal. So, it's best if I take Miss Lin away to find a place to recuperate.”

“What about him?” Lin Xiu took the initiative to ask.

“I'm afraid Brother Wang will have to suffer for a while.” Lü Wenhou said with a wry smile: “If you both disappear at the same time, the whole world will search for you both, digging three feet into the ground. So, the best way is for me to only take one person.”