Four Great Merchant Associations Jointly Certified: I, Wang Mu, Am the Northern Region's Foremost Benevolent Man

"Does it matter?"

"It matters a great deal!"

If the Young Master of Langya were merely the Young Master of Langya, then it would be nothing much!

After all, there were Four Great Merchant Associations in the Northern Region. At worst, they could simply avoid dealing with him in the future...

But the Young Master of Langya was also the Young Master of King Wei's Mansion and the Young Master of the Northern Darkness Sacred Ground. That was a different matter altogether!

In this vast Northern Region, how many factions did not survive by watching his every expression?

Donating more than the Young Master Wang and stealing his thunder for the moment was only a secondary matter.

The key was that, in the eyes of those with ulterior motives, it would not be excessive to see this as choosing sides, would it?

That would be tantamount to openly going against the Young Master Wang!

How many people had the nerve to do that?

Were they tired of living?

Upon hearing this analysis, many people at the scene who had not understood the crux of the matter suddenly came to their senses.

Sure enough.

During the subsequent fundraising.

Not a single faction donated more than ten thousand Spirit Stones.

That included the sects that had previously declared they would donate hundreds of thousands, even millions.

Now, they too had lowered their banners and silenced their drums.

They merely picked auspicious-looking figures, such as nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine!

After all.

Being on good terms with the Three Great Merchant Associations was one thing.

But truly making their stance clear was something they did not dare do.

Although the Wang Family had shown signs of decline in recent years.

A starved camel was still bigger than a horse!

What if they provoked them into anger and were made an example of?

As the donations went on, the amounts grew smaller and smaller.

Tang Qian's expression became increasingly ugly.

Qiu Shan Hong, the Guild Master of Penglai, along with the guild masters of the other two associations, snorted coldly and nearly flicked their sleeves as they left.

Only after Gou Ansheng and the others repeatedly persuaded them did they reluctantly sit back down.

The fundraising ended.

Without any surprise.

Wang Mu claimed first place.

According to the rules publicly announced by the Three Great Merchant Associations, the three guild masters had to jointly present Wang Mu with an award to display his boundless merit.

"The Young Master is busy with official duties. Before coming, he instructed that if he was fortunate enough to receive an award, I would collect it on his behalf!" Nie Tingting said with a smile.

That damned fellow—he had indeed done it on purpose!

He had even given instructions about collecting the award in advance!

Tang Qian ground his teeth in fury.

The red-clad woman before him was breathtakingly beautiful, with a captivating figure no less remarkable than the twelve golden beauties of Wondrous Sound House who had appeared earlier.

Yet in Tang Qian's eyes, her smile had become incomparably ugly and hateful!

"Many thanks to the Young Master Wang for his generous contribution!"

Qiu Shan Hong was, after all, an Old Monster who had lived countless years. His scheming ran deep, and no matter how dissatisfied he was inside, he could still maintain a composed exterior.

Nie Tingting accepted from the three guild masters a jade stele engraved with the four words [Boundless Merit].

With her exceptional eye.

She instantly sensed that it was extraordinary.

"Gasp, Millennium Seaheart Jade of superb quality! And this craftsmanship is also top-notch..."

Nie Tingting clicked her tongue in admiration and said it aloud before everyone, "Such a treasure could casually fetch hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones if placed at an Auction!

Our Young Master will definitely like it!"

Tang Qian: "..."

Gou Ansheng: "..."

Qiu Shan Hong: "..."

Everyone: "..."

Well, damn.

Others got an advantage and still acted innocent.

But these people?

They had gained the advantage, then slapped people across the face several times!

The Young Master Wang had only donated ten thousand Spirit Stones.

Yet he had obtained this spirit jade worth hundreds of thousands of Spirit Stones.

How was that any different from picking it up for free?

Who would not like that?

One could only say...

He truly was worthy of being the Young Master of the Langya Merchant Association.

His business methods were truly unmatched!

A grand ceremony of tremendous fanfare.

Came to nothing as Nie Tingting departed.

Tang Qian remained expressionless from beginning to end.

But his fists had never loosened.

Had his powerful will not restrained him, he would have been unable to stop himself from striking long ago.

Originally.

The Three Great Merchant Associations had also arranged a banquet.

But anyone with eyes could feel that the atmosphere at the scene was strange and icy to the extreme.

They all made excuses and left.

Only those factions close to the major merchant associations gritted their teeth and remained.

Inside the room.

Everything was silent.

Qiu Shan Hong stood with his hands behind his back in the shadows, his entire person as cold as seawater.

Tang Qian looked at his back, gritted his teeth, and said, "I'm sorry, Dad. I ruined the matter! I never expected that Wang Family playboy to act in such a despicable manner!"

Qiu Shan Hong asked in return, "A playboy? Do you think what happened today was something a playboy could accomplish?"

Tang Qian: "..."

Qiu Shan Hong's expression could not be clearly seen in the dim light. "With only ten thousand Spirit Stones, he completely wrecked the grand ceremony that our Three Great Merchant Associations had painstakingly prepared for so long...

This Young Master Wang either has an expert guiding him from behind, or... we have all misjudged him!"

Tang Qian said nothing, but his gaze had already proven that he was more inclined toward the latter.

Qiu Shan Hong turned slightly and looked at Tang Qian, narrowing his eyes. "I know you are eager for revenge, but remember this...

Never allow hatred to completely blind your eyes!

If you cannot even see your opponent clearly, then in the end, you will surely lose so thoroughly that not a shred of you remains!"

Tang Qian understood that this was both a reminder and a warning.

A cold layer of sweat rose on his back.

He hurriedly said, "I understand, Dad! From now on, I will never underestimate an enemy even a bit!"

Qiu Shan Hong nodded.

He turned around, and his expression beneath the light became somewhat gentler. "Although an accident occurred during this ceremony, it does not matter!

The important part comes afterward. Making money is, after all, a long-term affair!"

"Yes!"

"Tut, tut, tut..."

"It truly is a fine piece of jade. Not bad, truly not bad!"

On Heavenly Severing Island.

Wang Mu played with the spirit jade stele engraved with the words [Boundless Merit], thoroughly satisfied.

Covering her lips, Nie Tingting laughed softly. "I imagine that Young Master Tang is so angry right now that his lungs are about to burst!"

Wang Mu smiled, then suddenly asked, "Has our foundation's headquarters been completed?"

Nie Tingting hurriedly replied, "It is about to be finished. Following your instructions, it was built within Daliang Royal City, not far from the royal palace."

Wang Mu nodded. "Place this spirit jade stele at the entrance to the headquarters! In the future, whenever a branch is established anywhere, make an identical one and put it there!"

Nie Tingting froze. "Young Master, this was given by the Penglai Yunhai Chamber of Commerce. Wouldn't it be inappropriate to place it at the entrance to our headquarters?"

Although this jade stele was quite valuable, it was not truly priceless.

The Langya Merchant Association could easily find something better.

Why use someone else's?

If people found out, would they not think we could not afford our own?

Wang Mu smiled faintly. "The most important thing for a foundation is not financial resources, but reputation! Put this at the entrance. When people ask about it in the future, say that our foundation's merit and benevolence are recognized by the Four Great Merchant Associations!

Who would dare question us then?"

The moment Nie Tingting heard that, she immediately understood!

She inwardly cursed, Holy shit!

This spirit jade stele had been awarded by the Penglai Cloud Sea Foundation to the benefactor who donated the most.

And Wang Mu himself was the founder of the Northern Region's first Charity Foundation.

Was that not certification by the Four Great Merchant Associations?

In the entire Northern Region.

There could be no more authoritative certification than this!