A Top Scholar in Everything

"Master Bai, the Elder of the Qiong Family asked me to inform you that a Great Marquis from Villiduo is attending today's banquet.

Both the Qiong Family and the Ning Family are now commoners.

The Qiong Family holds some martial prowess, while the Ning Family is a wealthy household.

This is just on the surface.

It's not easy for us to negotiate here.

You are currently a prominent figure in Villiduo, so we've come to invite you to be our guest and oversee the business of both families."

Villiduo Shelter.

Inside the Operations Department.

A young member of the Qiong Family respectfully said.

This person is named Qiong Xiong, the cousin of Qiong Xue, and considered one of the capable juniors in the Qiong Family's generation.

He initially thought that with a name meant to be fierce and overbearing, he could act as such.

But ultimately, living within the Qiong Family, a high and noble house of the past, it was inevitable to acquire some luxurious playboy habits.

Fortunately, Qiong Xiong was not unruly.

He knew when to stop.

Now that the Qiong Family is in decline, with no one in the empire to speak for them, he knows he cannot continue to squander like this, so he manages the family's business attentively, and is considered one of the few ambitious juniors left in the Qiong Family.

The rest of the juniors.

Some around the same age as Baiyu, but most are obsessed with pleasure, unable to progress far on the path of Martial Artists, nor are they adept in other areas, mostly living idle lives waiting for death.

Otherwise.

The Qiong Family wouldn't have fallen so.

With a reputation like that of a Legendary Ship, one of the twelve great families of the empire, they now have to rely on an outsider like Baiyu.

Of course, because Baiyu has no kith or kin, his parents had many old acquaintances, having significant influence in East Prosperity.

Plus, due to Qiong Yue's will.

Later backed by the Third Prince, and being a student under Qiong Jiu.

This put the Qiong Family at ease.

They dare let Baiyu manage the Qiong Family and oversee the Legendary Ship, unafraid of having their family business taken away.

In a word.

If not for Baiyu.

The Qiong Family wouldn't have anyone capable of handling the Legendary Ship, and wouldn't it be divided by the pack of Wild Wolves across the empire.

Likely, without Baiyu, the Qiong Family wouldn't have survived the calamity in Zenith City.

Thus.

From top to bottom in the Qiong Family, those who formerly disapproved of Baiyu are now silently keeping quiet.

Who would now dare gossip behind Baiyu's back?

The elders would directly enforce family law, protecting him as a revered figure.

So even with all the favor Qiong Xiong received.

He wouldn't dare show any presumption in front of this master, instead, his posture was humble to the point of dust.

"Hmm, I understand this matter now."

Baiyu had been staying in the shelter for several days.

He had a general understanding of the matters in the Operations Department and visited the Shang Family with Shang Yufei once.

After all.

Sitting in this position now, these social engagements are necessary.

Otherwise, not only would he lose face, but the old chairperson and his recommender, Uncle Pang, would also be disgraced.

Moreover.

Many times these relationships are needed.

If not for Pang Fei and the kindness of those old Celestial Essence subordinates, could he have smoothly inherited Erza?

If not for the Third Prince, he couldn't have become the chairman.

He lacks no cultivation resources and wealth now, partly earned with his own efforts, like helping the Third Prince in the Spirit Realm tides, but also gained through relationships.

Baiyu didn't reject these.

Where there are people, there is society.

Now with the cooperation between the Ning and Qiong Families, there's no need to elaborate on the Qiong Family, and the Ning Family, Ning Fugui had given him considerable benefits before, with Linjiang City's business originally managed by Erin, with the Third Prince's support, Ning Fugui surely put in effort.

These favors.

Baiyu kept them in mind.

Helping within his ability, mutual benefit in alliance, separation only leads to detriment.

He isn't someone who is heartless, moreover, helping the Ning and Qiong Families brings him many advantages.

"Qiong Xiaoyu, why are you, a little girl, tagging along?"

Seeing the charming, Spiritual Qi-filled young girl standing behind Qiong Xiong, Baiyu teased with a smile.

Qiong Xiaoyu he hadn't seen often.

But she was quite attached to him.

Back when they fled Zenith, aboard the Legendary Ship, she clung to him calling "Brother Bai" every day, like a sticky toffee, unable to shake her off.

Finally settling the Qiong Family in Wind Dove City, away from this girl, unexpectedly she latched on again.

"If sister Xue can come with you, why can't I?"

Qiong Xiaoyu's eyes were filled with grievance like a maiden in a deep boudoir.

"You can, you can, later I'll introduce you to some friends for you to play with. Your sister Xue came with me for business."

Baiyu patted her head, not bothering with the child.

Qiong Xiong laughed awkwardly at the side, unsure of what to say.

"I suppose my teacher asked you to bring me back, right?

Go back first, I'll come later tonight, and I'll bring Xiaoyu with me.

If anyone at home blames you, just say it's all arranged by me."

Baiyu said decisively.

With a thousand courage, Qiong Xiong dared not go against Baiyu's will, agreeing promptly.

After he left.

Qiong Xue, who had been napping on a nearby table, lazily woke up and yawned:

"I think the family is indecisive, not trusting the Ning Family.

The elder spent most years cultivating and suppressing Pollution Level, otherwise, she wouldn't have been teaching at a school, doing such leisurely work. She must have reached a crucial stage in cultivation, so she's too preoccupied to handle these affairs.

I wonder who the Qiong and Ning Families are associating with."

"We'll find out when we go back. Anyway, I'm not too busy at the association now, after wrapping up here, I'll have to prepare for the Tier Six entry, the Third Prince has already settled that."

Baiyu contemplated: "The empire is preparing for major military action, and in the future, the Mutual Aid Association will be busy. The Third Prince told me her father is recovering well, possibly about to regain control.

In recent years.

The Imperial Elder Council, some have made mistakes, and it's likely a bloody upheaval will ensue.

If we can distance ourselves from the nobles, then do so.

We are doing legitimate business, and if there's trouble, there are still places to seek redress.

But Uncle Ning, being a merchant, acts differently.

Unlike us Martial Artists, who are decisive and ruthless."

Today's event was because Ning Fugui met a notable person, the one managing the business, so they wanted to meet.

It's likely lots of money was discreetly sent over.

Afraid the other party might not fulfill after taking the money.

So they invited Baiyu along.

Baiyu had little understanding of these matters, but the cooperation between the Ning and Qiong Families was his doing.

After Qiong Yue departed, she entrusted the Qiong Family to him.

This trip.

He couldn't refuse.

Moreover, the prosperity of the Qiong Family was beneficial to him, an insight he understood.

Erza's millions in monthly expenses were maintained by the Qiong Family.

They say training Martial Artists and the Extraordinary is a money pit.

But the Legendary Ship, truly raised with funds, where mere maintenance could bankrupt an ordinary wealthy family.

Qiong Family's substantial resources still support it.

Otherwise, who could sustain such expenditure?

Yet if they stopped, the Qiong Family would lose the greatest martial safeguard, and wealth would only be numbers, undoubtedly snatched by other families.

The Qiong Family must be supported.

Thinking this, Baiyu pulled Xiaoyu: "Come, let's go play. I have a talking Hamster, would you believe it?"

"Brother Bai, you're lying, how can a Hamster talk?"

"Then, how about a bet?"