The warriors driving war chariots were not from any faction Zhang Tian Guang was familiar with.
He was somewhat baffled.
It was the secretary who reminded him, "These are the Yanhuang Guards protecting Lingmeng Mountain! Not long ago, Marshal Li, who was in semi-retirement, came out of seclusion and was appointed the Great Commander of the Yanhuang Guards. He's scheduled to take office as early as tonight!"
Zhang Tian Guang slapped his forehead, "I almost forgot. I've already received the official notice from my superiors. Oh dear, we must prepare thoroughly for a city-wide welcome."
The secretary had already prepared a plan, which the Chaoge Public Reception Office had drafted overnight.
Zhang Tian Guang checked the time, "Let's not go into Mingyue Xuan for now. The Jian Tian Yuan, to put it bluntly, is a special department. The further we can keep our distance, the better."
The secretary chuckled inwardly.
The City Lord was being polite. In reality, the Jian Tian Yuan was specifically established to investigate and supervise high-ranking local officials like Zhang Tian Guang.
Especially for powerful regional leaders far from the imperial capital, where he was the highest authority. He was, in essence, a local emperor, and the Jian Tian Yuan was what made them fearful and restrained.
"City Lord, Marshal Li is not like others. He's specifically transferred here to help us guard Lingmeng Mountain, and you know Marshal Li's background."
The most renowned marshal among the Great Xia's ten thousand forces, the foremost power in Shenzhou, Li Tian Xing! Su Dan Novel Network
Zhang Tian Guang nodded and smiled, "When I was still in logistics, I went to the Northern Region and served as an advisor to Marshal Li for several months. We have some acquaintance."
The secretary couldn't help but be curious and asked cautiously, "Then, about Marshal Li's master, are those legends true?"
Zhang Tian Guang glared at him, "You believe that too? Li Tian Xing earned his accolades through bloody battles, his medals forged in a mountain of corpses. How could he possibly succeed through anyone else?"
The secretary mumbled, "But the saying 'Unmatched National Scholar, Great Xia's National Preceptor' has been circulating for a long time."
Zhang Tian Guang snorted, "It's all baseless nonsense. It's even questionable whether this Great Xia National Scholar truly exists. Last time, they talked about some lizard monster that almost caused the end of the world, it was all so exaggerated. Hmph, it's laughable."
The secretary couldn't help but remind him, "Dean Su's sisters were ordinary people before, and suddenly became rising stars in the imperial capital. There must be a reason for this."
Zhang Tian Guang impatiently replied, "There's already an explanation for that. It was our Lord of the Imperial Capital who promoted new talent. I am one hundred percent impressed by Dean Su's strength."
He had witnessed Su Bing Yan's power firsthand with many local magnates not long ago, and was thoroughly convinced.
However, what Zhang Tian Guang didn't know was that Su Bing Yan's cultivation and strength were purely due to Qin Ye Xuan's teachings.
"I'll see that student Qin later," Zhang Tian Guang mused, "Dealing with Marshal Li is more important right now."
Meanwhile, inside Mingyue Xuan Hotel, things had quieted down.
Jin Gao Yue was personally cooking for Qin Ye Xuan's table.
And Su Ning Shuang's imposing aura made Song Qing Ya and her mother very uneasy.
Qin Ye Xuan smiled, "Ning Shuang... you should go back first. I'll come find you."
Su Ning Shuang, in a particularly good mood, suddenly teased him, pinching his "tender cheek," "Should I call you 'sister' from now on?"
Qin Ye Xuan's eyes widened. This little girl was looking for trouble.
But Su Ning Shuang knew he didn't want to reveal his identity, so she smugly refused to leave, just waiting for him to call her "sister."
It was unruly and chaotic.
Qin Ye Xuan helplessly said, "Sister Ning Shuang, can you leave now?"
Only then did Su Ning Shuang leave triumphantly.
Song Qing Ya finally breathed a sigh of relief and lowered her head, remaining silent.
The Fourth Madam kept scrutinizing this young miracle doctor, her doubts about Qin Ye Xuan's identity resurfacing.
"Is that Minister Su your girlfriend?"
Qin Ye Xuan shook his head indifferently, "You could say she's a distant relative."
He didn't want to discuss it further.
The Fourth Madam was relieved.
So, she was just a distant relative. Then there was still a chance for the young miracle doctor and her daughter.
"Auntie, there's something I'd like to ask," Qin Ye Xuan said, drinking the Qing Lu wine, finally getting to the main topic, "What are your Song Jing Consortium's recent commercial projects?"
"Ah, Student Qin is also interested in these?"
This could be considered a Song family secret, but the Fourth Madam unhesitatingly opened up all their recent commercial projects on her tablet.
There were four major projects in total, but as Qin Ye Xuan scrolled through the tablet, his gaze fixed on an inconspicuous commercial plan codenamed "Dragon Gate."
"What is this Dragon Gate project?"
The Fourth Madam looked embarrassed, "This was personally drafted by Shi Xiong. Only he knows about it."
Song Qing Ya also became interested, "Father has been very secretive about it; even his most trusted secretary doesn't know."
Is that so?
Qin Ye Xuan directly took out his phone and dialed Song Shi Xiong's number, "I'll ask your family's elder about it."
The Fourth Madam was shocked and disbelieving.
Song Qing Ya was also dumbfounded, "You're going to ask my father directly? Even though you saved his life, that man is ruthless and disavows all kinship."
In her urgency, she spoke the truth.
But Song Shi Xiong was no longer the cruel and ruthless business magnate he used to be. He had been cured by Qin Ye Xuan's puppet technique. Upon receiving the call, he rolled out of bed and replied respectfully, "Master, what is your command?"
Qin Ye Xuan said coldly from Mingyue Xuan, "The Dragon Gate project proposal, give me a copy to look at. I want the most detailed one. Hurry up!"
My heavens!
What kind of tone was that?
It was like giving orders.
The Fourth Madam and her daughter were extremely nervous.
But the next moment, Qin Ye Xuan's phone received the data sent personally by Song Shi Xiong. The speed and the submissive attitude were unimaginable.
The Fourth Madam grasped her daughter's hand, her voice trembling, "He, he's ordering the old man around like a dog? How, how did he do this?"
Song Qing Ya dared not speak, nor dare to think.
As Qin Ye Xuan read the Dragon Gate project, his eyes narrowed.
The nine tributaries of the Yellow River converged here, forming a long river with eighteen bends, named Dragon Gate River.
Seventy li east of this river, there was a natural archway formed by a cliff face.
Near this archway, Song Shi Xiong had acquired a plot of development land, less than a hundred meters from the Dragon Gate River.
And this land must have some issues.
Qin Ye Xuan slowly stood up and paced back and forth in the hotel.
He could now confirm that this archway area was the exact location of "The Golden Carp Leaping the Dragon Gate."
In other words, the Dragon Gate Assembly, which was supposed to occur in several hundred years, was about to begin ahead of schedule!
As the saying goes, "When the Golden Carp leaps the Dragon Gate, all demons in the world will appear."
The Dragon Gate Assembly was not only the most mysterious gathering of the three major schools of thought—Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism—but also the day when all demons, ghosts, and monsters would emerge.
On this day, if the Golden Carp could truly leap over the Dragon Gate, it would transform into a true dragon and ascend.
If a powerful being could intercept this true dragon and consume it, it was said they could attain enlightenment!
And if a demon ate it, they could achieve a positive outcome.
As for ghosts and demons, they could achieve great perfection with the help of this dragon, becoming peerless heavenly demons, fearing no human threat under heaven and earth, truly transforming into great demon kings...