Chapter 455

Chapter 455: Each Has a Plan

Seeing Xi Manyun at a loss for words, Wang Chen chuckled, “Let me ask you a different question. Would you like to take over Xiang Yingzhe’s responsibilities?”

Xi Manyun was momentarily taken aback, then nodded and replied, “Yes.”

How could she not want it!

The workshop and five streets managed by Xiang Yingzhe were highly lucrative.

If Xi Manyun lacked ambition, as a female cultivator with both beauty and talent, she could easily find a partner of equal or higher status to rely on and live a comfortable life.

There was no need for her to endure exclusion in the Celestial Guardian’s pavilion, struggling in frustration.

The Xi family was a large clan with many talented descendants, both from the main and collateral branches. Xi Manyun was neither a prodigy nor a male, so it was impossible for her to receive full support from the family.

If she wished to advance further in her journey of cultivation, she had to secure some cultivation resources for herself.

By taking over Xiang Yingzhe’s workshop and five streets, Xi Manyun could thrive on the offerings from the shops and workshops.

She could even give back to her family!

This was the kind of opportunity she had always dreamed of.

But despite her desires, Xi Manyun remained clear-headed.

This responsibility was not easy to shoulder!

If she accepted it, it would mean she was fully aligning herself with Wang Chen and stepping onto his ship.

There would be no room for reconciliation with Wu Jingwei.

Was it worth it?

“It’s good to have ambition,” Wang Chen said. “But there’s no need to rush. Think it over when you return, and let me know your answer tomorrow.”

As the celestial guardian, he had the authority to delegate power and share benefits with those beneath him.

However, he had no intention of being sidelined or treated as a pushover.

Xi Manyun was currently the only steward Wang Chen could potentially win over. He was willing to offer encouragement, but it ultimately depended on whether Xi Manyun could stand firm.

If she couldn’t rise to the occasion, Wang Chen saw no reason to waste his efforts.

Xi Manyun bowed deeply and said, “Thank you for your generosity, Immortal Master. I will consider this matter carefully.”

Such a significant decision was not one she could make alone.

As Xi Manyun left the Celestial Guardian’s pavilion, Wu Jingwei arrived at the Grand Celestial Guardian’s residences, seeking an audience with Grand Celestial Guardian Luo Han.

The chief steward was seething with anger.

Since his promotion to the Purple Palace, he had never faced such humiliation and wished to tear Wang Chen to pieces.

But despite his boldness, Wu Jingwei dared not confront Wang Chen openly.

Otherwise, he risked being branded as insubordinate, and even Luo Han might not be able to protect him.

Being an inner sect disciple of the West Sea Sect was no trivial matter; in the lower ranks, it was akin to holding the authority of an imperial envoy, capable of overshadowing him regardless of background.

Thus, Wu Jingwei placed his hopes for restoring his dignity entirely on Grand Celestial Guardian Luo Han!

Wu Jingwei’s request to see Luo Han was not something that could be granted easily.

After his message reached the Grand Celestial Guardian’s residences, he waited a long time without any response.

This made Wu Jingwei uneasy, and he felt a rare sense of anxiety.

It was important to note that Luo Han had always been quite polite to him; previously, whenever he visited, as long as Luo Han was not in closed-door cultivation or preoccupied with other important matters, he would be summoned to meet quickly.

But today, he had been waiting far too long.

Just as Wu Jingwei was feeling restless, an elderly man with white hair entered the reception hall.

Wu Jingwei quickly stood up and greeted, “Uncle Sun.”

This wrinkled old man, though only at mid-level Qi Training, held a position just below Luo Han in the Grand Celestial Guardian’s residences. He was an old servant brought by Luo Han from his home and acted as the steward of the residences.

Luo Han trusted Uncle Sun immensely and entrusted him with all daily matters.

Luo Han had no partner by his side, only a few warm bed servants, but none could compare to this old steward!

Because of this, Wu Jingwei treated him with great respect and did not dare to be the least bit careless.

Uncle Sun smiled and said, “Master Wu, the master knows about your visit.”

He knows?

After waiting for so long, all he received was those three words.

What does that mean?

Was he supposed to just endure it quietly?

The result was far beyond Wu Jingwei’s expectations, leaving him feeling very reluctant.

But no matter how unwilling he was, he dare not cause trouble in the Grand Celestial Guardian’s residences, so he bowed his head and said, “Thank you, Uncle Sun.”

“No problem,” Uncle Sun waved his hand. “You can go back now and focus on your work.”

After sending the bewildered Wu Jingwei away, Uncle Sun returned to the inner courtyard and reported to Luo Han, who was sitting cross-legged on a soft couch, “Master, Master Wu has left.”

“Hmm.”

Luo Han opened his eyes, his gaze flickering with purple light—an indication of reaching the complete stage of the Purple Palace.

“That Wu family boy is really regressing; when faced with problems he can’t solve, he thinks he can just use me as a sword?”

The Grand Celestial Guardian’s words were filled with disdain.

Uncle Sun nodded in agreement, “Some people below need to be put in their place.”

He then frowned, “But the new celestial guardian is also a bit arrogant. Master, should we just let him run wild?”

“This Wang Chen is not an ordinary person.”

Luo Han handed a scroll to Uncle Sun. “I just received this information from the sect.”

The subordinate celestial guardians were nominally under his control, but in reality, they had a high degree of freedom and were not subjects of his absolute command.

Luo Han had ruled Daying for ten years, nearly turning this border city of West Zhou into his own independent kingdom.

There had always been some murmurs within the sect about wanting to recall Luo Han, and many had that intention.

However, Luo Han was unwilling to let someone take away the hard-earned territory he had built!

He was working to maintain connections in the sect while also guarding against internal issues.

The former celestial guardian of the Xun Celestial Guardian’s pavilion had left after his term, but during his time, he had been completely sidelined by the people below. Even though his own inability was the main reason, the behavior of the local forces in Daying was quite unsightly.

As the chief steward, Wu Jingwei had not only seized power from the subordinate celestial guardians but had also conspired with eleven other stewards to take all the benefits for themselves.

Though Luo Han himself did not directly benefit, how could the former celestial guardian speak well of him once he returned to the sect?

Now that the new celestial guardian had just arrived, Wu Jingwei was eager to show his power and wanted to continue sidelining his superior—a scene that perfectly exemplified arrogance.

Wang Chen was young and vigorous; it was entirely normal for him to refuse to tolerate Wu Jingwei’s aggressive behavior.

And if this matter escalated, the one in trouble first would be the Grand Celestial Guardian himself. Wu Jingwei even wanted him to step in against Wang Chen, which was simply an unrealistic fantasy!

Even if Luo Han wanted to deal with Wang Chen, he would not be so impatient.

After reading the contents of the scroll, Uncle Sun’s expression became serious. “He is indeed a remarkable individual.”

While everyone regarded Uncle Sun as an old servant beside Luo Han, his true identity was that of an advisor and strategist, devotedly brainstorming for Luo Han’s grand endeavors.

Luo Han smiled and said, “So, let them fight it out amongst themselves for now!”