Chapter 3848 — Not in the Least Bothered
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
Meng Jueming, senior disciple in charge of affairs, commanded a mere dozen or so newcomers of the Azure Cloud Pavilion, the great majority of whom had not even succeeded at Foundation Establishment. But Nan Tianguan, senior disciple in charge of affairs, commanded every disciple of the Soaring Sky Pavilion's inner sect below the Golden Core stage. The power in his hands, the cultivation resources under his control, were enough to make countless people green with envy and itch with desire. The standing and authority of the two could not even be mentioned in the same breath.
Even Hu Yunfeng, the pavilion master of the Welcome Pavilion—a man of real power, head of an independent department—did not dare show the slightest presumption before Nan Tianguan, let alone a mere Meng Jueming.
Of course, not every head of an independent department held Nan Tianguan, senior disciple in charge of affairs at the Soaring Sky Pavilion, in any regard.
Hu Yunfeng was the way he was only because the Welcome Pavilion ranked last among all the independent departments. Were it the master of a top-tier department like the Law Enforcement Hall—a man of Gongyang Jun's power—he would not even deign to glance at Nan Tianguan.
Even so, in the eyes of the market's merchants and managers, Nan Tianguan, senior disciple in charge of affairs at the Soaring Sky Pavilion, remained utterly coveted—a god of wealth worth securing with lavish sums.
Let him walk into any shop in the market, and he was certain to receive the most magnificent of receptions—treatment such as would befit one's own father, and no less!
So long as one bought Nan Tianguan's favor, so that later, when he procured resources for the Soaring Sky Pavilion's disciples, he might tilt things slightly toward one's own shop, the profit therein was nothing short of astronomical—enough to drive any merchant wild with greed!
Yet Hong Zhong, manager of the Hong Chamber of Commerce's North Island branch, had always turned a deaf ear to Nan Tianguan—and now, when the man had come to his door in person, knowing full well who he was, he still dared to receive him with such a cold face!
No wonder Nan Tianguan was so shocked and thrown off balance by such a stark contrast. Hong Zhong could sit in the manager's seat of a branch, so he must be a merchant through and through—and what merchant would treat a god of wealth this way?
Watching Nan Tianguan's astonished expression, Hong Zhong said with a hint of a smile: "The Hong Chamber of Commerce may not be an intelligence organization, but to do business out here on North Island, keeping one's eyes and ears open is the basics. You are, after all, the senior disciple in charge of affairs at the Soaring Sky Pavilion—is it so strange that this old man should recognize you?"
To be recognized by a figure of Hong Zhong's rank, a manager of the Hong Chamber of Commerce, ought to have been proof of one's eminence. Yet hearing these words, Nan Tianguan's face in that instant turned all the more forbidding.
To know full well who this seat of mine is and never once inquire after me—and now, when I come in person, not only to fail to enshrine me but to treat me so slightingly—was this not a slap in the face to my very person?
He had thought that by virtue of his standing he could at least overawe the other man somewhat. Instead he had been slapped down so, and so imperturbably at that, that Nan Tianguan truly felt his cheeks burn with shame.
Forcing his expression under control, Nan Tianguan feigned a cold laugh: "Hmph. Knowing full well who I am, and still daring to slight me so—it seems Manager Hong has great confidence in himself. I only wonder whether the higher-ups of the Hong Chamber of Commerce on Central Island will have anything to say once they hear of this."