At this moment, in the main hall of the concealed Wang family residence, a middle-aged man who bore a slight resemblance to Wang Wei sat quietly at the head of the room. On the two seats below sat representatives from the hidden Guo family…
Wang Changfeng understood the intentions of the Guo family representatives, but he had no intention of easily agreeing to their demands. The hidden Guo family’s plan to hold a martial arts competition had already stirred discontent among many hidden aristocratic families. Wasn’t this just a publicity stunt?
However, soon some of the hidden families began switching sides and supporting the martial arts competition instead. It seemed the hidden Guo family must have used some means to sway them, or perhaps there was another force supporting them from behind the scenes…
“May I ask if the head of the Wang family has made a decision yet? My elder and I still need to return and report to my father. The martial arts competition concerns the issue of our hidden families revealing ourselves to the outside world. We hope you will give it careful thought!”
On the seat to the right sat a young man who appeared about the same age as Guo Junyu. He was Guo Chen, the future heir of the hidden Guo family. The Guo family had their reasons for sending him as an emissary—on one hand, they wanted to show respect to the other hidden families, and on the other, they wanted to give him some experience.
“This is a major matter concerning the hidden Wang family. I hope I can discuss it with the elders before making a decision. After all, this isn’t something I can decide alone!”
Frowning slightly, Wang Changfeng disliked the young man’s overbearing attitude. It was as if he looked down on everyone else. True, he was the young master of the hidden Guo family, but he was still just a youth.
“If I’m not mistaken, the real power of the hidden Wang family lies entirely in the hands of its head. If the head agrees, no one else would dare to object!”
Guo Chen knew the middle-aged man was merely stalling for time, but he wasn’t in a hurry. Compared to Guo Junyu, his temperament was much better. No wonder that idiot Guo Junyu was always overshadowed by his older brother—temperament and intelligence were both serious flaws.
“Should I take your words as pressuring me to make a decision sooner rather than later?”
Wang Changfeng’s lips curled into a cold smile. He was no novice himself. As head of the family, how could he lack skill? If a mere junior from the Guo family could intimidate him, how could he stand on equal footing with the head of the Guo family?
“I would never dare to pressure you, Master Wang. I only hope you won’t miss the bigger picture. Becoming allies with our hidden Guo family shouldn’t be a bad deal for the Wang family, should it?”
A flash of coldness flickered in Guo Chen’s eyes, though he didn’t show it too openly. He needed to apply enough pressure without overstepping, or he might anger Wang Changfeng, which would do him no good. Worse still, it might push the man directly into opposing the Guo family.
“The matter of an alliance indeed cannot be decided by me alone. If you could grant me some time, I believe I could convince the elders of our family. That would be beneficial for both of us!”
Though Wang Changfeng spoke this way, he was still deeply displeased with the Guo family’s actions. It seemed those families who had switched sides before must have been tempted or threatened.
Rather than being a true contest among hidden aristocratic families, this martial arts competition was merely a publicity stunt by the hidden Guo family to establish itself as the supreme power among the hidden families. If all the hidden families became allies of the Guo family, wouldn’t their status skyrocket overnight?
“Never thought some people would still be so hypocritical. If you don’t want to agree, just say so. Why bother lying and making others wait longer? Honestly, do you think others are all fools?”
Just as the atmosphere became slightly awkward, a voice drifted in from outside. Wang Changfeng furrowed his brow while Guo Chen’s face turned dark with anger. That remark was clearly aimed at him…
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