The atmosphere of the merchant alliance was completely stagnant.

This time, people with business status gathered here to make a rough plan for the future business direction of the Sixteenth House of Huai'an.

No one expected that King Chen would also come.

Mr. Li frowned, suddenly looked at Zhuang Ming, and whispered: "Are they here for you?"

As soon as these words came out, he suddenly felt extremely ridiculous.

What kind of person is King Chen?

The high-ranking king with a different surname controls the lifeblood of the Sixteenth House of Huai'an City. He has great power and is the embodiment of the royal power of Huai'an.

Although Zhuang Ming is outstanding, he is just a businessman.

King Chen may have disliked Zhuang Ming.

But it's probably just disgust, not necessarily high regard for Zhuang Ming.

Why did you come here specifically for Zhuang Ming?

At this moment, Zhuang Ming also stared at him. He did not expect that King Chen would come here.

Logically speaking, King Chen has not yet taken care of his affairs, and now he must be busy dealing with all his messy affairs. There are already four major events in the Sixteenth Mansion of Huai'an, and he cannot take care of him.

"Could it be that... you didn't come here just for me?"

Zhuang Ming thought this way, tilted his head slightly and looked at Xue Qing.

Xue Qing looked solemn, lowered his head, and said softly: "Master, do you want to avoid his sharp edge?"

When Zhuang Ming heard this, he couldn't help laughing and said: "In the past six years, others have always avoided my edge in Huai'an, but now it's my turn to hide my head and show my tail?"

After finishing speaking, he waved his hand and said: "It doesn't matter. If he comes for me, if I retreat now, I will be too weak. It will be even more embarrassing to be forced out by him... If he doesn't come for me,

Naturally, he will have his own business, and in order to do it, he may not embarrass me too much."

Xue Qing was still a little hesitant.

Zhuang Ming sighed: "It's a blessing, not a curse. It's a curse that can't be avoided. Just go and greet him."

For him now, these trivial matters in the mortal world are related to his business, his money, and the important matter of raising dragons. In fact, they are his Tao.

For practitioners, the Dharma is the great road.

For those who do business, business is the way.

For him, both are avenues.

And those who practice Taoism will surely be accompanied by disaster.

This may not be a catastrophe caused by the anger of heaven.

Maybe it was someone blocking his way.

Whether it was Song Tianyuan or the current King Chen, they were actually human calamities on his path of cultivation.

It's just that Song Tianyuan's calamity has passed, but the calamity brought by King Chen is still present.

"If I broke through the Dao Seal back then, something unexpected happened and caused a backlash, it would be a disaster."

"The recent situation is also my fate."

"Elder brother once said that avoiding disaster is also a skill."

"But if the disaster cannot be avoided, there is no need to avoid it anymore."

"You just need to use all means and do your best to cope with the disaster."

——

The arrival of King Chen made many people who had previously talked loudly about the future business situation become silent.

"See you, Your Majesty."

One after another, people saluted.

Mr. Li also went up to greet you and saluted, "See you, Your Majesty."

King Chen changed into a white shirt today and looked very elegant. He immediately returned the greeting and said, "Mr. Li, you're welcome."

After he finished speaking, his eyes swept over and landed on Zhuang Ming. Deep in his eyes, his expression condensed for a moment, and murderous intent flashed through him.

Zhuang Ming just put his hand in his sleeve and stroked the baby dragon, but his expression was as usual, as if he didn't notice.

"Why does the prince have free time today to come to Zhongding Mansion?"

"I was passing through here, and I heard that the merchant alliance meeting of the Sixteenth Prefecture of Huai'an was also scheduled to be here." King Chen laughed, and said in a gentle tone: "Now that I have been ordered to take over the Sixteenth Prefecture of Huai'an, for

From now on, we should also know something about the financial transactions and various situations in the Sixteenth House of Huai'an..."

"It's as it should be." Mr. Li said, "It's the little old man who suddenly made a mistake. Please ask the prince. Don't be surprised."

"It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter." King Chen said: "After all, it is a meeting of the merchant alliance, and everyone present is a merchant. This king, in fact, came uninvited. I hope you will not blame me."

"Your Majesty, your words are serious."

Mr. Li responded.

And many businessmen also agreed.

King Chen laughed and said: "At noon, the meeting of the merchant alliance is about to begin. Please just assume that I am not here and everything will continue as usual... I am here today just to listen and plan for the future of Huai'an.

I have a general understanding, that’s all.”

Having said that, who among the people present can truly regard King Chen as nothing?

Mr. Li was very respectful and invited King Chen to sit on the high throne.

The old man himself added another seat, next to King Chen, and placed it slightly lower.

As he sat down, he glanced at Zhuang Ming with a strange expression.

Zhuang Ming nodded and said nothing.

Mr. Li's meaning is very obvious. Since King Chen is here in person, it is best for Zhuang Ming not to show up.

At this time, Zhuang Ming also frowned slightly.

He always felt that King Chen would not come just for him.

But did King Chen really come here just to understand the future business situation of Huai'an?

"That's all."

Zhuang Ming exhaled. He spent a whole night and a lot of thought before making many plans. He was quite confident that he could convince everyone.

In his original expectation, even if not all of them could be convinced by him, at least some of them who were in a worrying situation would seriously consider whether to re-establish cooperation with Zhuang's Trading Company.

But when he heard that King Chen had arrived, Zhuang Ming knew that the plan he had spent all his energy on had been abandoned.

King Chen does not need to take any action or utter any words. With his status and the power he controls, as long as he is here, he can intimidate everyone.

Even if Zhuang Ming's tongue blossomed like a lotus flower and he could talk like hell, no one present dared to respond to Zhuang Ming in front of King Chen.

——

This business alliance meeting seemed a bit depressing.

Zhuang Ming sat here with an expressionless face.

Xue Qing, who was next to him, felt a bit like he was sitting on pins and needles.

In the afternoon, the business alliance meeting came to an end.

"Your Majesty..."

Mr. Li turned around and looked at King Chen.

The business alliance meeting has now been completed.

As usual in previous years, preparations for the night banquet are already underway. These businessmen will disperse and rest somewhere. Tonight, they should be at the banquet, drinking, eating, and talking about business.

But now that King Chen is here, Mr. Li dare not talk about the dissolution of the meeting.

King Chen chuckled and said, "I do have something else to say. I want to delay you for a while, so I would like to ask you to leave the meeting."

Mr. Li responded: "Your Majesty has something to say, but please give me some advice. If I am not busy, I can leave later. It won't be too late."

Many businessmen spoke again in a hurry, not daring to have the slightest objection.

King Chen stood up, put his hands behind his back, and said: "I have heard your previous opinions, and I have some words to talk to you about, so-called..."

When he said this, a guard came trotting in from outside.

Came at just the right time!

"Your Majesty." The guard came closer and was busy saluting.

"What's the matter?" King Chen said with a dissatisfied look on his face, "Don't you see that I want to discuss important matters with you?"

"Your Majesty, I forgive you, but the birthday gift has arrived." The guard responded hurriedly.

"Oh?" King Chen suddenly looked happy and said happily: "Is it really here?"
To be continued...