Chapter Sixteen: The Tang Corporation

"Why not just establish a conglomerate?" Tang muttered as he walked along, "Let subordinates develop several product lines—weaponry, medicinal herbs, vehicles, magical artifacts, and the like. Hmm, communications must be included too. Nowadays, communication methods are all point-to-point; contacting someone is a hassle. The distance is limited, and interstellar communication is impossible. A few space stations would do the trick. Also, creating something like phone numbers would make things much more convenient... Am I thinking too much? Let's take it step by step. Which should I start with? Let me think carefully..."

"Tang, what are you talking about? I don’t understand a word!" Zhang Qiang asked.

"It's like this... Actually, even if I explained, you wouldn’t get it. Simply put, I want to found a conglomerate—let’s call it Tang Group," Tang replied.

"Tang Fruit Group? Selling sugar and persimmons?" Zhang Qiang asked in confusion, prompting Tang to smack him on the head.

"Idiot! My surname is Tang, so it’s Tang Group. Got it?" Tang explained.

"So Tang, what’s the main purpose of this Tang Group?" Liu Mingde chimed in.

"Good question. The Tang Group is mainly for this and that... You understand?" Tang patiently explained to Liu Mingde.

"Oh, I get it now. But it sounds difficult," Zhang Qiang finally grasped the idea.

"Naturally. So the first issue to solve is recruiting talent! We need more people to help out."

"How do we recruit? And how do we convince others to help us?" Liu Mingde was clearly more astute than Zhang Qiang. After all, anyone with such cultivation as a rogue cultivator couldn’t possibly be dumb.

"Tang! Hurry over, the banquet’s about to start!" Hua Shaojie called out, waving to Tang and his companions from the banquet hall.

...

After the banquet, Tang gathered Zhang Qiang, Liu Mingde, Guo Ziping, Hua Shaojie, Lü Zhengyang, Ding Pengfei, and Gu Zhenzhen together. He arranged a formation within a formation, with several sofas forming a circle, and began discussing the grand plan for founding the Tang Group.

A few days later, Tang and his companions returned to Earth to begin his journey of responding to invitations. Back at the Talent Summit, he had received dozens of invitations, and now he intended to visit them all one by one.

Zhang Qiang, Liu Mingde, and Guo Ziping followed Tang everywhere, enjoying the hospitality of various sects and families. The others returned to their own homes to communicate with their sects and clans, preparing to join Tang in establishing the Tang Group. After discussions with their families and sects, the leaders of these clans and sects immediately agreed to support the endeavor. Whether based on Tang's cultivation and abilities or his miraculous healing skills on the battlefield, supporting Hua Shaojie and the others was the obvious choice. Building good relations with someone like Tang could only bring benefits.

Tang first visited the six major sects, then quickly made rounds to the Hua family, Lü family, Ding family, and Gu Ling Sect—the homes of Hua Shaojie, Lü Zhengyang, Ding Pengfei, and Gu Zhenzhen—gathering the four and then continuing his visits to other families and sects. By the time he finished his rounds, Tang's purse was fattened, and his spiritual power had advanced significantly in both purity and concentration.

As Tang visited each sect and clan, word of his miraculous healing abilities on the battlefield had spread throughout the cultivation world. Those sects and clans he visited spared no expense to invite Tang to heal their wounded. Truly witnessing Tang’s extraordinary healing skills, cultivators who had suffered from demonic backlashes or various injuries flocked to him, desperate for his help. To persuade Tang, they offered spirit stones, medicinal herbs, refining materials, ores, and special items—anything one could imagine, nothing they couldn’t produce.

Today, as Tang and his companions finished visiting the last sect and were just exiting its gate, a beautiful female cultivator blocked Tang’s path. She said she needed him to cure her mother's chronic illness and even swore that if Tang succeeded, she would willingly serve him as a slave for life. Tang was left speechless. To keep such a beauty as a lifelong slave—Tang couldn’t bear it. He wanted to say she needn’t be a slave, but could be his wife instead. Unfortunately, before he could get the words out, Guo Ziping stepped in to plead, saying that if Tang could cure her mother, Guo himself would serve Tang as a slave for life.

What was going on? Tang was perplexed, but Liu Mingde spoke up.

"Tang, this beauty is the one Guo fought for in Moon City last time—her name is Liu Yuefeng," Liu Mingde explained, then smiled knowingly at Guo Ziping, who looked embarrassed.

"So that’s it. I see," Tang said, a clever idea forming in his mind.

"Your name is Liu Yuefeng?" Tang asked.

"Yes," Liu Yuefeng replied, neither arrogant nor servile.

"What you said just now—was it true?"

"No falsehood. Heaven and earth bear witness!"

"Very well, but I’d like to make a small change. I don’t want you as a slave, but as a wife. Are you willing?" Tang said with a wicked smile.

Liu Yuefeng blushed and said nothing. Guo Ziping grew anxious, exclaiming, "Tang, I—" Tang raised his hand to stop him. "I haven’t finished speaking yet."

"Liu Yuefeng, listen carefully. I want you to be Guo Ziping’s wife. Are you willing? Don’t force yourself," Tang suddenly grew serious.

"I... I am willing," Liu Yuefeng said, biting her lip. She knew Guo Ziping—he had once pursued her fervently, but at the time their cultivations were worlds apart, so she had refused him outright. After that, he disappeared from her life. She hadn’t expected to see him again today, and if Tang hadn’t mentioned Guo’s name, she might not have realized who he was. She had never looked at him closely before, and Guo Ziping’s appearance had changed considerably. What surprised Liu Yuefeng most was that Guo Ziping’s cultivation now nearly matched her own, perhaps even surpassing her slightly.

At this moment, Tang understood Liu Yuefeng’s thoughts clearly. He snorted and spoke sternly to her.

"I want you to genuinely and willingly be with Guo Ziping as his wife, not to force yourself because I cured your mother’s illness. My words stand: when you truly fall in love with Guo Ziping, I will help your mother. Let’s go!" Tang strode away angrily. The onlookers began to discuss animatedly. Some said Liu Yuefeng’s filial devotion was admirable, and Tang should help her. Others believed Tang was right—forcing a relationship never brings happiness. Still others thought Tang should just take Liu Yuefeng for himself; such a stunning beauty was rare... Opinions were endless, making Liu Yuefeng’s face flush red, pale, then green in turn. Guo Ziping wanted to stay and comfort her, but Liu Mingde pulled him away.

Just then, Liu Yuefeng’s mother approached, gently stroking her daughter’s head.

"Let’s go. Don’t be sad, my child. My illness is nothing new; there will be other chances," she said.

"But Mother, every time your illness flares up, the pain is unbearable. It breaks my heart," Liu Yuefeng replied.

"It’s alright. Decades have passed and I’ve managed so far. Besides, Tang’s words are not without reason. Let’s go home," the mother said, taking her daughter’s hand and turning to leave. Guo Ziping kept looking back at Liu Yuefeng with every step.