Celestial Night Emperor

Chapter 19: Chapter 19: A Grand Reception from the Old Guard

At the exit of a highway in Su City, over three hundred luxury cars completely filled the open space.

The area had been cleared. A red carpet was rolled out, and the ground was instantly covered in fresh flowers.

A man got out of one of the front cars and jogged over, his excitement palpable.

The man, about forty years old, knelt on one knee and placed his left hand across his chest, performing the exclusive, highest-ranking salute reserved for the Night Emperor’s subordinates!

A salute of life and death from the battlefield.

Qin Tianxuan frowned. ”And you are?”

”Subordinate Li Changshan, Captain of the Third Camp, Second Division of the former Lieyang Army!”

Qin Tianxuan remembered. ”Back when we were fighting off the outer realm invaders in the Western Domain, you were just a private in my second company, weren’t you? You fought alongside me. Look at my memory... how many years has it been?”

”Sir, it has been six years, nine months, and twenty-one days. This subordinate has never forgotten. Fighting by your side was the honor of my lifetime!”

Qin Tianxuan clapped him on the shoulder. ”You were injured and left the Battle Department later on. What are you doing now?”

Li Changshan’s voice quivered with emotion. ”This subordinate returned to Jiangnan County and inherited my family’s fortune. I’ve since opened a small company in Su City. I’m ashamed I haven’t accomplished anything major.”

’A small company?’

Qin Tianxuan took out his phone, searched for Li Changshan’s name, and couldn’t help but laugh. ”Changshan Heavy Industry! The number one heavy industry enterprise in Jiangnan and one of its ten wealthiest men. You call this a small company?”

Li Changshan smiled, embarrassed.

Behind them, a crowd had already formed a line, arranged by status and rank, waiting for an audience with Qin Tianxuan.

”Sir, this is our Governor of Su City. He’s a former soldier of mine. Back when I was in the Lieyang Army, he was just a sentry. Now, he’s a regional magnate. Come, Chen Hai, come and pay your respects!”

The Governor of Su City, Chen Hai, was so nervous he didn’t even know how to properly salute.

”There’s no need for a formal salute. Your status is quite high now,” Qin Tianxuan said, shaking his head.

Despite this, Chen Hai still performed the battlefield salute of life and death.

Behind him were the director and deputy director of the Jiangnan Celestial Patrol Bureau, who were veterans from the Night Emperor’s War Pavilion.

Then came the head of the Security Bureau, the Public Security Bureau, the Military Supervision Office...

People from various departments across Jiangnan, and particularly Su City, had all come. Veterans from the Intelligence Hall, War Pavilion, and Celestial Medicine Hall were all powerful figures now. However, their ranks had been too low in the past, so they’d never had the chance to meet the Night Emperor. Today, they were filled with anticipation.

Seeing the ever-growing crowd, Qin Tianxuan clasped his hands in a gesture of respect. ”Thank you, my brothers, for still remembering an old commander like me. However, I have already resigned from all my duties in the Battle Department. There’s no need for all this.”

He then lowered his voice and said to Li Changshan, ”I have business to attend to. You’ll be in charge of hosting our brothers. Bill all the expenses to the God of Wealth Hall! You all don’t need to pay. That’s my rule!”

Li Changshan was reluctant to see him go but could only obey the order.

Only after Qin Tianxuan had left did Li Changshan take out his phone.

”President Li, today is your nephew’s engagement banquet! The guests have all arrived, they’re just waiting for you!”

”Let them wait!” Li Changshan said coldly. ”Tell that bastard Li Xiaohai not to use my name to build himself up. I have more important things to do right now!”

This nephew was a distant relative who had ridden on Li Changshan’s coattails to become an entrepreneur in Su City, a fact that had always displeased Li Changshan.

He turned back to continue hosting his old comrades-in-arms.

By this time, Prince from the God of Wealth Hall, one of the Night Emperor’s subordinates, had already picked up Qin Tianxuan in his car.

As the Night Emperor’s grand steward, specializing in managing finances, Prince looked more like a dashing young nobleman. He wasn’t very old and was deeply trusted by Qin Tianxuan.

”Sir, the Dongshen Group has completed all acquisitions. The ten major consortiums have all been restructured, and it is now the number one conglomerate in Jiangnan. Among your assets, the second-largest entity is Changshan Heavy Industry. If you are interested, Sir, I can also discuss acquiring it.”

Qin Tianxuan smiled. ”Forget about Changshan Heavy Industry. Their boss, Li Changshan, was one of my grunts back in the Western Domain. We fought side-by-side!”

”Ah, so he’s one of our own brothers. Heh, good thing I didn’t act rashly.”

Prince continued his report, ”We have found twenty-seven suitable properties in Su City that would be perfect for Madam Han and Young Master Niannian to live in. You can take a look at them first.”

Qin Tianxuan took the documents and glanced at them casually. ”These are all too extravagant. I don’t like them. Find a normal, quiet place, preferably with a small yard. Although Han Biwei is the eldest daughter of the Han Family, she has been independent and lived a simple life these past few years. Don’t scare her off!”

”Yes, sir!”

”Mm, where are Han Biwei and Niannian?”

Prince hurriedly reported, ”We arranged a hotel for them, but after two days, Madam Han complained it was too expensive and rented a small apartment herself. There was nothing we could do. Right now, she should be taking the Young Master to an engagement banquet!”

”Hm? What engagement banquet?”

”Oh, it’s for the second young miss of the Han Family, Madam Han’s cousin. It’s considered an internal family gathering.”

Qin Tianxuan checked the time. ”Then let’s go straight to the banquet. A lively feast... Niannian would probably enjoy that.” A gentle smile appeared on his face as he spoke.

The car immediately turned around and headed straight for the Millennium Grand Hotel.

At this moment, the Han Family’s grand engagement banquet in Su City had not yet officially begun, but the venue was already packed with distinguished guests, buzzing with excitement.

A few bored individuals were gossiping in hushed tones.

”Han Qianqian really has some skills, hooking Young Master Li like that!”

”Young Master Li? Please, he’s just a scumbag. He already had a woman, but he kicked her to the curb for the Han Family’s young miss. Doesn’t even acknowledge his own kid.”

”And isn’t this Li Xiaohai just riding on his uncle’s reputation?”

”His uncle is the founder of Changshan Heavy Industry. Damn, if I had an uncle like that, I’d be successful too!”

”Shh, stop talking about that. I heard the Han Family’s eldest young miss, that Han Biwei, is back!”

”Holy shit, Han Biwei? The one who ran away from home all those years ago and supposedly had a kid with someone?”

”Tsk, tsk. She used to be the belle of Su City. I wonder which bastard got so lucky.”