Chapter 416: What is Your Ultimate Goal

Chapter 416: Chapter 416: What is Your Ultimate Goal

Wang Chenning had once said he wanted to carve out a place for himself overseas and be his own master.

And now, with all this praise for the emperors of old, was he dreaming of becoming one?

Men and women really do think differently. When women thought of an emperor, they imagined the imperial harem with its countless concubines. When men thought of an emperor, while they might fantasize about the three thousand beauties in the palace, their minds were more focused on wielding absolute power, accomplishing jaw-dropping feats, and etching their names into the annals of history.

Wang Chenning, of course, wasn’t about to waste his breath explaining himself. After a hearty laugh, the topic was dropped.

Few people took Wang Chenning’s "emperor dream" seriously anymore.

After they had walked a little farther, Luo Yuqing sidled up to Wang Chenning and whispered a reminder, "After hitting a high point like this, it’s best to be a little more low-key. Otherwise, you’ll definitely rub some people the wrong way. There’s a saying: ’The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.’ Building popularity requires pacing. Don’t be so high-profile for now!"

Wang Chenning listened, then smiled and replied, "I know!"

Luo Yuqing added, "You should really think about how to monetize your influence! Who knows, one day it could all just disappear!"

Wang Chenning replied with absolute certainty, "Don’t you worry. Things will only get better and better for me!"

Luo Yuqing gave him a sweet smile in return.

For safety reasons, and because Zhao Xiao’an had to return to Yandu that afternoon, Wang Chenning and his group left the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum at three-thirty, without even having seen the entire site.

After leaving the tourist site, Wang Chenning explained the situation to Yang Xiaokang, saying they needed to take Zhao Xiao’an to the high-speed rail station.

Zhao Xiao’an had brought her luggage with her that morning, so she didn’t need to go back to the hotel and could head straight to the station.

Yang Xiaokang and the others were a little disappointed that Zhao Xiao’an was leaving early.

In the station waiting room, Zhao Xiao’an gave Wang Chenning a hug right in front of everyone. As she held him, she whispered a solemn warning in his ear: "After I’m gone, you’re not allowed to get intimate with any other women. When you get back to Yandu, I’m going to conduct a thorough inspection!"

Even though she’d whispered it, Wang Chenning couldn’t help but smile wryly.

"Why don’t you just put me in chains?" he retorted. "Or maybe plant a tracking device on me!"

His words earned him a sharp pinch from Zhao Xiao’an.

Just as Zhao Xiao’an was about to board the train, Wang Chenning told her he would return to Yandu two days after her at the latest.

With her leaving, he didn’t want to stay out on the road much longer either. It was just too crowded.

The next time they traveled, he decided, they had to do it incognito. Otherwise, it would be another huge spectacle, and there would be no peace.

After her ticket was checked and she had settled into her seat on the train, Zhao Xiao’an sent Wang Chenning a message: "This trip wasn’t very relaxing; it turned into an investment tour. You have to make it up to me next time and take just me out!"

"No problem. Let’s wait for summer break!" Wang Chenning replied, adding a smiling emoji to the message.

Zhao Xiao’an: "I’m taking a screenshot, just in case you try to go back on your word!"

"Is my reputation really that bad?"

As he was replying to Zhao Xiao’an, a new message from Wang Liqing popped up.

"We’ll be arriving at Jinling South Station in half an hour. By high-speed rail."

Seeing the message, Wang Chenning immediately turned to Luo Yuqing and Yang Xiaofei. "You two go on ahead with Yang Xiaokang. I’ll catch up with you later!"

"What is it?" Luo Yuqing asked, looking at him quizzically. "Are you having another secret rendezvous with Zhao Xiao’an?"

"I’m waiting for someone," Wang Chenning said with a smile. "Two of my own bodyguards, actually."

"Alright, then." Hearing this, Yang Xiaofei and Luo Yuqing didn’t press him for details.

Yang Xiaokang, likewise, didn’t ask any further questions. He only asked if Wang Chenning wanted him to leave a car behind.

Wang Chenning refused. "It’s fine. I’ll head straight to the restaurant later."

So, Yang Xiaokang left with Yang Xiaofei, Luo Yuqing, Li Yanxian, and Li Fuzhen. As they departed, he told Wang Chenning to call him directly if he needed anything.

A moment later, a message from Luo Yuqing came in: "I left a car for you. The license plate is Su A678**. The key is taped to the inside of the front left wheel well."

Wang Chenning smiled.

’This woman is quite thoughtful,’ he reflected. ’The advantages of age really show at times like this.’

Forty minutes later, Wang Chenning was waiting at the arrivals exit when he spotted Wang Liqing and Wang Liyu, who were in disguise.

After exchanging nods from a distance, Wang Chenning headed for the parking lot, with Wang Liqing and Wang Liyu following at a discreet distance.

After retrieving the key from the front left wheel well, Wang Chenning opened the door and slid into the back seat.

Wang Liqing got into the driver’s seat, and Wang Liyu took the front passenger seat.

"Brother Ning, you’re incredible!" After getting in and giving the car a quick check to ensure everything was secure, Wang Liqing turned around, her face lit up with a brilliant, adoring smile. "You come to Jiangnan for one trip, and suddenly everyone is revolving around you. The internet is flooded with posts about you. It’s unbelievable!"

Wang Liyu chimed in, her expression just as worshipful. "Brother Ning, we think in a few more days, all of Yandu will be yours for the taking!"

"Don’t be ridiculous," Wang Chenning chided with a laugh. "Yandu is far more complex than your Tokyo ever was. Even if you achieve all your goals, you can never have it all. This world requires balance; one power can never achieve absolute dominance."

"Brother Ning, watching you make investments everywhere, it feels like making money is so easy!" Wang Liqing said with a grin. "From now on, when we’re making our plans, does this mean we don’t have to worry about funding?"

"To a certain extent, yes. Just remember one thing: the people who study traditional medicine are the ones who make the big money."

Taking the hint, Wang Liqing and Wang Liyu stopped their chitchat and began to report on what they had been up to.

While Wang Chenning had been away from Yandu, they had planned and executed several operations.

They had not only "taught a lesson" to Bai Qianxun, Zhang Guoping, Lin Annian, Lin Yijing, and Hu Wencheng, but they had also sown seeds of suspicion among them.

Initially, all of them had suspected Wang Chenning was the one pulling the strings, but since he had been causing such a stir publicly and out of town, their suspicion of him had dropped significantly.

It was safe to say that Wang Chenning’s plan had successfully incited conflict among these wealthy families.

"You’ve done an excellent job." After listening to their report, Wang Chenning didn’t hold back his praise. He commended them generously, then told them he would give them a very special reward that evening. "I’m going to give you acupuncture. Afterward, you’ll feel a change in your reflexes. Then, I’ll teach you a few killing techniques."

Wang Chenning didn’t mention any other material rewards; he knew they had no need for such things.

Wang Liqing and Wang Liyu understood his meaning and immediately expressed their thanks.

They went on to tell Wang Chenning that they had also recruited three new members, though they couldn’t be considered official yet as they were still in a probationary period.

Their official recruitment would depend on Wang Chenning’s final decision.

"Alright. We’ll discuss it when I’m back in Yandu." Wang Chenning had too few people he could truly rely on. He needed more die-hards.

He planned to recruit such people from various channels, but he would be the one to give the final approval.

Every single one of them had to be completely loyal to him.

As the car neared their destination, Wang Liqing asked cautiously, "Brother Ning, can you tell us... what is your ultimate goal?"