The Qiangu Family's Power! A Clash of Wits at the Meeting!
A few days later.
The Spirit Pagoda Meeting.
Qiangu Dongfeng sat in the main seat, his back ramrod straight, the smile on his lips neither warm nor cold.
Leng Yaozhu sat to the side, her fingers tapping lightly twice on the armrest.
The old fox was putting on a serious face today; she knew this meeting was specifically for the Leng Family.
"Thank you all for your hard work."
The sound of the Qiangu Dongfeng is neither hurried nor slow.
"The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the Shrek exchange program."
Those in the know remained silent, their eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought.
Those who were unaware of the situation gasped in surprise.
"The Spirit Pagoda is cooperating with Shrek? They haven't crossed paths since their feud! What's the Qiangu Family up to?"
Qiangu Dongfeng picked up his teacup, took a sip, and glanced at everyone present, the smile on his lips deepening.
"The principle of a meeting is to discuss together and seek common ground while reserving differences."
"Everyone, please speak up!"
Below the stage, representatives from several small families exchanged knowing glances.
The conflict between the Qiangu Family and the Leng Family is not something they can meddle in.
"Whoever gets involved in this mess will die."
They chose to remain silent.
The majority's choice is their choice.
A veteran member of parliament finally couldn't sit still any longer and spoke up with a frown.
"Pagoda Master, this won't do! My Spirit Pagoda's exchange plan is to do this after we win the Heavenly Sea Grand Competition."
Isn't this tarnishing the reputation of our Spirit Pagoda?
Sending our genius to Shrek is probably not a good idea!
Several people nearby chimed in, "Yeah, yeah, isn't this undermining our own prestige?"
Qiangu Dongfeng held his teacup, his gaze calm as he looked at the member of parliament who had spoken.
He neither nodded nor shook his head.
The speaker's voice gradually lowered, and he awkwardly shut his mouth.
She picked up the teacup in front of her to hide her somewhat unnatural expression.
Another voice came from the other end of the conference table, unhurried and with a hint of amusement.
"This is good news, everyone."
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged man leaning back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly twice on the table.
"We'll send the genius from the Spirit Pagoda there for an exchange; what if he keeps winning?"
Doesn't that prove that the Spirit Pagoda is superior to Shrek?
"This will bring us so much benefit!"
His gaze swept over everyone present.
"Losing isn't a big deal. After all, Shrek Academy is the best, everyone knows that."
He deliberately pronounced the words "First Academy" in a light, airy way.
The sarcasm in his words was clear to everyone present.
The crowd whispered among themselves and nodded frequently.
The person who spoke thought that even if they lost, they wouldn't lose out, and if they won, they would make a fortune. Besides, the person sent over was a disciple of the Leng Family, not someone from the Qiangu Family.
Even if something happens at Shrek, the loss will only be to the Leng Family.
No matter how you calculate it, the Qiangu Family will never lose out.
"Besides, it's His Heavenly Phoenix's disciple leading the exchange, so why are we afraid he'll run away?"
Everyone suddenly realized.
The genius who became famous throughout the world at the Heavenly Sea Grand Competition was Leng Yaozhu's disciple, not from the Qiangu Family.
If he were to defect to Shrek, it would be a disgrace to the Leng Family.
If he were to be poached by Shrek, it would be a loss for the Leng Family.
Those Qiangu Family fight are always the winners, regardless of the outcome.
Leng Yaozhu leaned back in her chair, her slender fingers tapping lightly twice on the armrest.
He calmly swept his gaze over the various expressions on the faces of the councilors present, a slight smile playing at the corners of his lips.
"I'll replace all of these people when I get the chance!"
"A bunch of despicable scoundrels!"
She didn't say anything, but picked up her teacup and took a sip.
Qiangu Dongfeng sat in the main seat, his gaze fixed on Leng Yaozhu.
"Yaozhu, what are your thoughts? Tell me your opinion."
The conference room fell silent.
The lawmakers froze.
All eyes were on Leng Yaozhu.
There was curiosity, scrutiny, and schadenfreude.
There was also a lingering, inexplicable worry.
Leng Yaozhu leaned back in her chair, tilting her head to look at Qiangu Dongfeng, a slow smile curving her lips.
The smile wasn't very deep.
Yet it carried a calm that sent chills down the spines of those Qiangu Dongfeng.
It seemed as if everything was under her control, as if she had seen through his carefully laid plan long ago.
"Since the Pagoda Master has said so,"
Leng Yaozhu's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
"Then my disciple has an unshirkable responsibility to Spirit Pagoda."
"My Leng Family, and I myself, will provide our full support."
A buzz of whispers filled the conference room.
Several members of the Leng Family's direct line of councilors led the applause, their faces beaming with perfectly appropriate smiles.
"Your Majesty the Heavenly Phoenix is truly righteous!"
"The Leng Family has truly devoted themselves to the revitalization of the Spirit Pagoda!"
Representatives from the smaller families who had initially remained silent also chimed in.
Qiangu Dongfeng sat in the main seat, looking at the composed smile on Leng Yaozhu's lips, his fingers paused on the armrest.
Why did this woman agree so readily? Does she have some other plan?
He lowered his eyes, suppressing the fleeting doubt that crossed his mind.
No matter what Leng Yaozhu's plans are, as long as Bai Yuan leaves the Spirit Pagoda, the Leng Family will lose a trump card.
Whether the child wins or loses at Shrek, stays or leaves, it's all good news for him.
Qiangu Dongfeng raised his head, and a polite smile returned to the corners of his mouth.
"Okay, since everyone agrees, it's settled then."
Led by disciples of His Highness Heavenly Phoenix, they will travel to the Shrek Academy for a year-long exchange program.
He stood up and nodded slightly to Leng Yaozhu.
Meeting adjourned.
Leng Yaozhu looked at him and nodded slightly in return.
People gradually left the conference hall in twos and threes.
Leng Yaozhu sat in the chair, watching the faces—some excited, some worried, some expressionless—walk past her.
Qiangu Dongfeng played this move brilliantly; on the surface, it was giving resources to the Leng Family, but in reality, it was digging a pit for them.
Sending Bai Yuan to Shrek is a matter of honor for the Spirit Pagoda if they win, and a responsibility for the Leng Family if they lose.
If something happens to Bai Yuan at Shrek, it will jeopardize the Leng Family's future.
If Bai Yuan were to be recruited by Shrek, it would be an absolute dream come true for the entire Qiangu Family.
Leng Yaozhu stood up and walked towards the door.
The high heels clicked crisply on the floor.
The meeting room doors closed slowly behind us.
Shrek is not a den of dragons and tigers, and Bai Yuan is not someone to be trifled with.
Qiangu Dongfeng wanted to sit back and watch the tigers fight, but she insisted on letting the Qiangu Family see for themselves.
Who is the tiger, and who is the accomplice?
At the end of the corridor, Bai Yuan was waiting for her. "Teacher, is the meeting over?"
Leng Yaozhu nodded, walked past him, and left with a remark.
"Go back and pack your things, we're going to Shrek in a couple of days."
Bai Yuan followed behind her, the smile on his lips deepening.
"OK."
It seems that the Leng Family's influence in the Spirit Pagoda is still no match for that of Qiangu Dongfeng.
Today's meeting, seemingly a discussion and exchange of plans, is in reality Qiangu Dongfeng testing the Leng Family's bottom line.
He suggested sending Bai Yuan to Shrek. If Leng Yaozhu refused, Qiangu Dongfeng would accuse her of being selfish and disregarding the bigger picture.
If they agree, the Qiangu Family can sit back and watch the tigers fight.
Regardless of whether Bai Yuan wins or loses, stays or leaves at Shrek, the loss will be to the Leng Family's strength.
Since we can't avoid it, we might as well face it head-on.
Bai Yuan watched Leng Yaozhu figure, silently making plans in his mind.
Going to Shrek Academy for an exchange was a trap set by Qiangu Dongfeng for him, but it was also a platform he built for himself.
He wanted to make the Spirit Pagoda a force to be reckoned with at the Shrek Academy, so that the entire continent would see that the Leng Family's disciples were even stronger than Shrek's geniuses.
He needed to accumulate enough prestige and power during the exchange so that when he returned to the Spirit Pagoda, those small families who had remained silent at the meeting would come to him.
He wanted to be Leng Yaozhu's sharpest sword when she needed help.
As for the Spirit Pagoda...
One day, he will take it from the Qiangu Family himself.