Changzhou.
Although it was just a mere provincial-level city, inside this city itself, hides an unnumerable number of experts.
Of course, there are many levels of experts.
They're divided into a total of five categories and further differentiated into the lower and upper stages.
External Jing Level, Internal Jing Level, Vein Expansion Level, Mortal Ascension, and Immortal Dao.
Even those like Yue Qiang and Yue Han merely reach the Upper stage of the External Jing Level. As for those bodyguards beside Tang Zhao Ming, the strongest amongst them are at Upper Stage External Jing Level, and all others in Lower Stage.
What's puzzling them is Zhang Qin Feng's strength, which is comparable to somebody in the Lower Stage of the Internal Jing Level.
But what they have no idea about is Zhang Qin Feng's access to Gene Enhancer Serum, something that will be treated as a Mythological Immortal Medicine in this world.
As an organization of cultivators, the Brilliant Tiger Gate is said to be one of the top 3 in Changzhou. Their influences start from Shanghe, straight to Taizhou, and reach Changzhou.
Every city has a designated hall. Here in Changzhou is where the Golden Tiger Hall is established. Yue Qiang and Yue Han are the appointed Hall Elders.
But still, being one of the top three doesn't mean the Yue brothers are allowed to decides how to rule over Changzhou. Two similar organizations, Hongxin Party and Heilong Gang, also controlled a quarter of Changzhou.
Of course, nobody dares to break the verbal agreement before this.
Unfortunately, Zhang Qin Feng's rash action today may cause them trouble in the following day.
Although Brilliant Tiger Gate, Hongxin Party, and Heilong Gang each controlled a-fourth of this city, none of them dare to disturb the power granted by the Central Government.
And Both good and bad luck comes at the same time.
Here in Changzhou, five districts are distributed to five families to manage. Eastern Tang, Southern Wu, Western Jia, Northern Xu, and Central Li.
And Tang Zhao Ming is the third of three children of the current patriarch of Tang Family, Tang Long.
The good luck is because Tang Family's strength is the weakest amongst the five families, but bad because Tang Zhao Ming is the most pampered son of Tang Long.
Yue Qiang explained their circumstances, including the reason they needed gold each time for any transactions.
"So... All transactions between gangs, hiring, and trade needed to be paid using gold?" this is the first time for Zhang Qin Feng. Like the apocalypse, where Cores replaces printed banknotes and credits are issued personally within the base.
"Yes," Yue Qiang nodded. He also explained the reason they're urgently in need of gold last and this time.
As a newly established hall in the Brilliant Tiger Gate, their influence around here can be said as too weak compared to the Hongxin Party and Heilong Gang.
Very often, projects released by the Changzhou government are open for them to bid. But because of a lack of gold reserve, Golden Tiger Hall only capable of fighting for smaller projects.
And to make things worst, the smaller gangs in Changzhou colluded with them and trying to increase the competition in these smaller projects. That made the cost of obtaining the projects increases, as they had to bid past their estimated budget.
Of course, that doesn't mean smaller projects are unprofitable.
One of the examples is this Titanium Mine.
The management of Fenglu Street and the Guangming Auto Traders is also part of the profitable smaller projects they won.
But today, Tang Zhao Ming's reach towards their Titanium Mine project gave them a hint about Tang Family's intention. Perhaps it was started due to his childishness, but that gave the Tang Family a reason to pressure the Golden Tiger Hall.
"Then, is there anything I can do to help?" Zhang Qin Feng asked.
"Help? Unless you can bring us around 100kg worth of gold, it's going to be difficult for us to fight against the Tang Family. What we need is a fee to convince other families to stop the Tang Family, and it won't be done without 20 to 30kg of gold." Yue Han shakes his head due to disappointment.
They're indeed underestimating Zhang Qin Feng.
"Big brother," Zhang Qin Feng called them.
"Huh?" they turned to Zhang Qin Feng patiently, only to be shocked.
"I've brought 200kg worth of gold with me today."
...
...
...
Monday morning.
A new petition to increase the road, construction, business, and pollution tax is brought up in their weekly meeting. More than 50 government officials in all kinds of positions had their attention shifted into this matter.
"Due to the increase in complaint and disturbance caused by the East Coast Mining Company, I suggested that we increase the tax brought up in the petition to help the Eastern District!" Tang Long stands up as he speaks.
The legal representative for East Coast Mining Company remained quiet, as told by his employer.
An increase in overall tax by 10% means 6million dollars will be taken out from their 60 million estimated profit per year. Although that's nothing much for a businessman like Yue Qiang, nobody would complain if they managed to save 10 or 100 dollars.
As a politician, Tang Long is as powerful as a Vein Expansion Level's cultivator. All the point that he brought up has their reasons, and there's no debate at all that this petition will be approved with an overwhelming vote.
But the end result of this petition is totally unexpected.
57% voted to disagree, 37% agrees, and 6% remained neutral.
The result stunned Tang Long, causing him to express his dissatisfaction after the weekly meeting.
"What happened to the voting just now?" Tang Long asked with an emotionless tone towards the four families representative.
"We believe that by giving the East Coast Mining Company some leniency, they'll be able to bring good results for our Changzhou City. We're still at the bottom when it comes to metal production amongst the 22 provinces, correct?" the representative from Central Li Family answered.
"True." the other two families representatives added.
"If the East Coast Mining Company is willing, I'll allocate a piece of land to construct a refinery," the representative from Southern Wu Family brought the legal representative over.
"I'll thank everyone present on behalf of my employer," the legal representative replied to all of them.
"All of you!!!" Tang Long pointed at the four families and left with a stomach full of anger.
"The Golden Tiger Hall have hidden quite well this time. I'll accept the defeat this time, but I won't stop here!" Tang Long muttered as he entered his car. The driver saw his boss's awful expression and dares not to speak as he drove his boss back.
"Tell the owner of Tianjin Antiques, we've done what we promised," the younger representative between them pointed at his subordinate.
"Yes, sir." the subordinate excused himself.
...
...
"Thank you," Yue Qiang thanked the caller before he ended the call.
At the same time, the legal representative he sent to the weekly meeting called and shared with him the good news. After talking about that for a while, Yue Qiang ended the call and walked over to his office's balcony.
His mind returned to two days ago, after sharing everything with Zhang Qin Feng.
"I've brought 200kg worth of gold with me today," Zhang Qin Feng said.
"What? Are you joking with me, Xiao Feng? Where is the gold now?" Yue Han asked.
"In my car. You can drive it away if you wanted to," Zhang Qin Feng smiled as he replies.
"Hahaha! Then let's exchange our keys. I'll let you have this western-made Beeming Model 3s. Tomorrow, my boy will drive this car back to you." Yue Han said.
He happily took the key into his hand and let Yue Qiang settled everything else.
Yue Qiang transferred 60 million dollars over to Zhang Qin Feng without any hesitation. Right now, in his mind, he's busy thinking about which party should the gold be used for.
"Can you share with me what you're going to do with the gold?" Zhang Qin Feng asked. He's curious about what the gold can be used for.
"I'll have to consider which family to help us, or we'll bring half of them over to the Tang Family to ask for forgiveness," Yue Qiang said.
"Do you think that the Tang Family is going to be satisfied with 100kg gold?" Zhang Qin Feng asked. None of them is a fool, and the Tang Family's reply is somehow expected.
"But we're not in a friendly relationship with the other four families," Yue Qiang added.
"Then, let's invite all the young master from the four families. Show them 100kg of gold, and let them split it as they like. All we need is some support when Tang Long is trying to cause trouble for us." Zhang Qin Feng said.