Douluo: Steal Tang San's luck and become stronger!

A deep worry appeared on her beautiful face.

“What worries me most is… I haven’t received any definite news from my father, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, even in Yu City where the headquarters is located, for almost a month! There are only some intermittent, seemingly heavily interfered, vague messages, the content of which is roughly ‘critical situation,’ ‘be careful,’ ‘preserve strength’ and the like… I suspect that something big may have happened at headquarters as well!”

Tang Lan and Wang Qiu'er listened quietly without interrupting.

Lin Yanhong took a deep breath and continued.

"I've analyzed it, and there are only two possibilities for this situation. First, our former business rivals, the Radiant Flame Merchant Guild, have taken advantage of the chaos to unite, or even collude with some powerful forces, to launch a full-scale attack and purge against us! Second..."

Her gaze turned sharp and cold.

"It's those lunatics from the Holy Spirit Cult! They want to completely control the trade lifeline and the flow of goods in the western part of the empire, while our Radiant Flame Merchant Guild, being a big name, attracts a lot of attention, and insists on neutrality, refusing to completely submit. We may very well become a thorn in their side, something they want to get rid of as soon as possible!"

She looked at Tang Lan, her phoenix eyes filled with earnestness and a hint of barely perceptible hope.

“Brother Tang Yun, I can see that you and Sister Qiu’er are no ordinary Soul Masters. Your strength is unfathomable, and your origins must be extraordinary. I, Lin Yanhong, have always been a strong-willed person and rarely ask for favors, but today…”

She stood up and solemnly bowed to Tang Lan and Wang Qiu'er.

"In my capacity as the president of the Rose City branch of the Radiant Flame Chamber of Commerce, and also in my personal capacity as Lin Yanhong, I earnestly request that you both lend a helping hand to the Radiant Flame Chamber of Commerce if possible! Investigate the truth behind the disappearance of the various branches. And if... if my father and headquarters have indeed met with misfortune, please also help me... find out the whole story!"

Her voice trembled slightly, but her eyes were incredibly firm.

"As long as you two are willing to help, whatever you need, as long as the Guangyan Chamber of Commerce exists, I, Lin Yanhong, will never refuse! In fact... I am willing to represent the Guangyan Chamber of Commerce and promise to offer half of the Chamber's current total wealth as a reward to you two after the matter is accomplished! I only ask... to preserve a little of the Chamber's foundation and to seek justice for my father and those missing companions!"

Lin Yanhong's words echoed in the quiet banquet hall. Her resolute and earnest words, and her courage to give up half of her vast family fortune, were indeed enough to move most people.

Her final, pointed addition—"If possible, even if Brother Tang Yun wants something else... as long as I can do it, I will... fulfill your request."

This caused an uncontrollable blush to appear on the fair and beautiful face of the usually charming and powerful president in red, and her eyes flickered as she dared not look directly at Tang Lan.

The implication of her words was quite clear. For a mature woman in dire straits who still had some capital, this was perhaps the most direct way she could think of to increase her leverage.

"cough!"

A crisp cough, clearly tinged with displeasure, rang out. Wang Qiu'er put down her chopsticks, her clear eyes glaring fiercely at Tang Lan, her gaze clearly conveying the message, "You dare to agree and see what happens."

Although she trusted Tang Lan, this did not prevent her from instinctively being wary and dissatisfied with this kind of "sex deal".

Tang Lan looked completely innocent, as if she hadn't understood the deeper meaning behind Lin Yanhong's words at all, and simply gave Wang Qiu'er a reassuring look.

He gently swirled the wine glass in his hand, pondering for a moment.

While the Guangyan Chamber of Commerce's wealth is indeed astonishing, it doesn't hold as much appeal for Tang Lan, who owns the Tang Clan, possesses divine inheritance, and whose vision has long transcended worldly wealth.

What he valued even more was the Guangyan Chamber of Commerce's extensive intelligence network and supply channels, spanning over a dozen cities in the southwest, and possibly even further, as well as the capabilities and decisiveness displayed by Lin Yanhong. If he could bring them under his wing or establish a stable cooperative relationship, it would greatly benefit the Tang Clan's future development in the southwest region, and also their current actions against the Holy Spirit Cult.

Moreover, helping the Guangyan Chamber of Commerce might inadvertently touch upon the Holy Spirit Cult's plans in the southwest, which does not conflict with his and Wang Qiu'er's infiltration mission, and may even be mutually beneficial.

Thinking of this, Tang Lan put down her wine glass, looked calmly at Lin Yanhong whose eyes were filled with trepidation and expectation, and slowly spoke.

"I have sensed Chairman Lin's sincerity. The crisis facing the Guangyan Chamber of Commerce is probably related to the Holy Spirit Church, and the Holy Spirit Church is also our target."

He didn't agree directly, but his words conveyed a consistent stance.

"As for the remuneration..."

Tang Lan paused, and under Lin Yanhong's tense gaze, continued.

"Half the wealth is unnecessary. I am not a greedy person. However, since Chairman Lin has spoken, we will not do our work for nothing."

"Here's the arrangement: if this succeeds and the Radiant Flame Merchant Guild is preserved, or even rebuilt, then... I want a long-term dividend of 30% of the Radiant Flame Merchant Guild's future profits, and the Radiant Flame Merchant Guild's intelligence network, which, when necessary, must provide convenience and support for me... for the forces behind us. Of course, it's a mutually beneficial cooperation."

Instead of demanding half of the existing assets, he requested 30% of the future long-term profits. This ensured long-term benefits without short-sightedly undermining the chamber of commerce's recovery and development capabilities. Furthermore, the requirement for cooperation with the intelligence network directly addressed core needs.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yanhong was first taken aback, then her eyes lit up with surprise! This condition was far more "gentle" than she had expected! Although a 30% profit share was not insignificant...

However, compared to immediately cutting off half of its assets, this would cause far less damage to the Chamber of Commerce's vitality and would be more beneficial in the long run. Furthermore, intelligence cooperation is part of the Chamber of Commerce's efforts to expand its network and solidify relationships; cooperating with such a powerful entity would also be advantageous to the Chamber.

"Brother Tang Yun is truly righteous!"

Lin Yanhong quickly stood up and bowed solemnly once again.

"On behalf of the Radiant Flame Chamber of Commerce, Yan Hong agrees to this agreement! As long as we can overcome this crisis and preserve the Chamber's foundation, a 30% profit share is no problem! We will share intelligence and cooperate fully!"

A huge weight seemed to have been lifted from her heart, and her gaze towards Tang Lan held not only gratitude but also genuine respect and trust.

This "Tang Yun" is indeed extraordinary in his actions. Instead of taking advantage of the chaos, he offered a solution that was more beneficial to both sides.

Lin Yanran, standing to the side, also smiled happily, her eyes shining even brighter as she looked at Tang Lan. Wang Qiu'er pursed her lips, but her expression was noticeably better; at least Tang Lan hadn't actually accepted those "other things."

The banquet concluded in a much more relaxed atmosphere. Both parties reached a preliminary agreement on cooperation and agreed to discuss further details and initial action plans the following day.

The next day, the weather was unexpectedly clear. Sunlight shone on the scarred but still standing walls of Rosette, and on the slightly crowded but still vibrant streets within the city.

Although war clouds loomed outside the city and the threat of beast tides remained, the people inside seemed to have grown accustomed to this mix of tension and daily life. Many vendors still set up stalls on the streets.

The market sold locally grown fruits and vegetables, handicrafts, simple soul tool parts, or in-demand goods transported from further inland. Passersby came and went, the sounds of bargaining, children's laughter, and vendors' shouts mingling together, creating a surprisingly lively scene. This "lively" atmosphere contrasted sharply with the battlefield outside the city, littered with corpses and scorched earth—it was as if they were two different worlds.

Walking down the street, Tang Lan and Wang Qiu'er could hear many passersby talking in hushed tones, most of their words praising City Lord Xu Yu.

"Thanks to Lord Xu! If it weren't for him leading everyone in a desperate resistance, our Rose City would have fallen long ago!"

"Yes, I heard that City Lord Xu is already a Title Douluo! A Title Douluo in his forties, that's incredible!"

"With City Lord Xu here, we feel at ease! He is a genius Soul Master that our Rose City has only seen once in a century!"

"Hopefully reinforcements will arrive soon. Lord Xu and the soldiers defending the city are working too hard..."

These discussions further elevated Tang Lan's opinion of Xu Yu. To not only defend the city in such a dire situation but also maintain order and public morale to a certain extent, this City Lord Xu was indeed a capable official; his personal cultivation and leadership skills were commendable. Becoming a Title Douluo in one's forties would certainly make one a genius, but clearly, he wasn't yet.

The two walked casually down the street, but were actually paying attention to some special marks and symbols. As the number one sect in the world, the Tang Clan had an intelligence network and contact points all over the world, especially in the border areas and important cities, where they had hidden deployments.

Finally, after passing through two relatively bustling streets, Tang Lan stopped in front of a blacksmith shop that looked unremarkable.

The blacksmith shop has a small storefront with a black signboard bearing five faded but still powerful characters: Chen's Blacksmith Shop.

Upon seeing this name, Tang Lan couldn't help but recall the two master forging experts, Chen Tang and Chen Ju, who had made great contributions to creating the first batch of high-quality hidden weapons for the Tang Clan in Tang City.

Although these two brothers are not top-tier in terms of their own soul power cultivation, they are extremely talented and passionate in the art of forging, and are utterly loyal to Tang Lan.

"Go in and have a look."

Tang Lan whispered to Wang Qiu'er.

The two entered the blacksmith's shop one after the other. A wave of heat, accompanied by the clanging of hammering, hit them. The shop was simply furnished, with some finished farm tools and ordinary sword blanks hanging on the walls. The furnace was blazing, and a burly middle-aged man, shirtless, muscular, and with skin reddened by the fire, was hammering a red-hot iron ingot, sweating profusely.

Hearing footsteps, the burly man didn't even look up, and asked in a deep, muffled voice.

"Who is it? What do you want to buy? We have farm tools and swords, and we can also make custom soul tool prototypes, but you'll have to wait, and the materials are expensive."

Tang Lan did not answer immediately, but instead glanced at several inconspicuous corners in the shop. There were some patterns that looked like natural wear or decoration, but in Tang Lan's eyes, they formed the unique secret marks of the Tang Clan.

"We're not here to buy anything."

Tang Lan spoke, her voice calm.

Upon hearing this, the burly man paused in his actions, then raised his head, wiped his face with the towel draped around his neck, revealing a square face weathered by time but with bright, piercing eyes.

He sized up Tang Lan and Wang Qiu'er, two unfamiliar faces, his eyes filled with wariness and doubt.

"Not buying anything? And those two are..."

Tang Lan didn't say much, and directly took out a palm-sized, jet-black, and heavy token from his pocket. The token had an ancient design, with a complex pattern embossed on the front, and in the center was a powerful, ancient character that seemed to contain some kind of artistic conception—Tang!

The moment the burly man saw the token, his eyes widened in shock and excitement, all the wariness and doubt on his face instantly replaced by astonishment! He dropped the hammer in his hand onto the anvil with a clang, not caring about it anymore.

He took a sudden step forward, but then stopped abruptly. He first peeked out of the shop to look outside, and then, with an agility that belied his burly physique, quickly closed and bolted the heavy wooden door of the blacksmith's shop!
After doing all this, he turned around, bowed respectfully to Tang Lan and Wang Qiu'er, his voice trembling with excitement.

"Your subordinate... Your subordinate Lu Yun greets... Your Excellency! I was unaware which lord from the sect has graced us with his presence. Please forgive me for failing to greet you properly!"

In Lu Yun's eyes, these two people must be core members of the Tang Clan with extremely high status, given that they possess the "Tang" token, which represents one of the highest authorities in the Tang Clan, and that they can accurately locate this contact point known to only a very few people! He didn't even dare to ask their names directly.

Tang Lan put away the token and nodded slightly.

"No need for formalities. Is this place safe?"

"Don't worry, sir! This shop is well-prepared inside and out, and there's a secret room at the back. It's absolutely safe!"

Lu Yun quickly said, while stepping aside to lead the way.

"My lords, please follow me!"

He led Tang Lan and Wang Qiu'er through the front of the blacksmith's workshop to the narrow passageway behind where miscellaneous items were piled up. He tapped a few times on a seemingly ordinary wall in a specific rhythm, and the wall silently slid open a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through, revealing a stone staircase leading down behind it.

The three entered, and the walls closed. At the end of the stone steps was a simple stone chamber, about ten square meters in size, built of thick rock, with a few soul-guiding lamps lit.

The air here is circulating, and there are obviously hidden ventilation openings.

Upon entering the stone chamber, Lu Yun bowed again, displaying utmost respect.

Tang Lan waved her hand, signaling him to relax, and then asked.

"Lu Yun, are you in charge of this 'Chen's Blacksmith Shop'? What is your relationship with the two masters, Chen Tang and Chen Ju?"

When Lu Yun saw that this "sir" had directly mentioned Chen Tang and Chen Ju, two masters with high status in the Tang Clan's casting department, he was even more certain that the other party was of extremely high status, and quickly replied.

"Reporting to Your Excellency! Your subordinate, Lu Yun, was assigned by Masters Chen Tang and Chen Ju to run the 'Chen Family Blacksmith Shop' here. Not only here, but also in seven important cities on the southwestern border of the empire, my brothers and I have shops that use the 'Chen Family' name."

His face showed gratitude and pride.

"All of this is thanks to the support of the sect leader and the sect! After receiving funding and trust from the sect leader, the two masters resolved to carry forward the Chen family's forging techniques, while also establishing more stable intelligence points and supply depots for the sect." (End of Chapter)