Qian Ran opened the box, and inside lay a stunningly beautiful woman.
Her voluptuous figure was folded head to toe, displayed before Qian Ran. The woman wore a black blindfold and semi-transparent black silk, curled up unconscious in the box. Draped over her was an elegant palace gown.
This is quite the novelty.
Qian Ran could only marvel at the ingenuity. Truly impressive. This was a new approach, one even he hadn't thought of.
Who would have guessed? Xu Tiannan was useless himself, but when arranging things for others, he was surprisingly meticulous.
Without hesitation, Qian Ran carried the woman to the bed.
...
Early the next morning, as Qian Ran walked out of the room, Xu Tiannan was already waiting for him.
"Qian Ran, I've delivered everything you requested," Xu Tiannan said directly. "I believe we can continue to collaborate in the future. If I become the Emperor of the Sun-Moon Empire, you'll have nothing to lose."
"I agree. I'll ensure the Holy Spirit Cult works well with you," Qian Ran replied perfunctorily.
After all, he wasn't planning on returning to the Sun-Moon Empire anytime soon.
With Ye Xishui and Long Xiaoyao assisting Zhang Lexuan, Qian Ran couldn't be bothered to meddle. Delegating arrangements was enough.
"Thank you." Xu Tiannan let out a relieved sigh.
As long as Qian Ran didn't intervene and the Holy Spirit Cult cooperated with him, his rise to power was assured.
"No need to thank me. I'll take that woman from last night. Arrange for her to meet an untimely 'accident' in the palace—just find a scapegoat."
"No problem," Xu Tiannan gritted his teeth and reluctantly agreed.
With a wave, Qian Ran departed without another word.
"Finally rid of him," Xu Tiannan muttered under his breath. "Hopefully, he never returns to Mingdu. No, once I ascend the throne, if he dares to come back, I'll make sure he dies here!"
Never before had Xu Tiannan stooped so low.
Qian Ran toys with the women of the Xu family, and it's up to a man of the Xu family to clean up after him!
This humiliation was one he would never forget.
When he seized power, Xu Tiannan swore, Qian Ran would pay in blood.
Outside Mingdu's city gates.
Qian Ran stood waiting with five women: Juzi, Keke, Nana, Meng Hongchen, and Xue Lingxun.
"Mengmeng, when you arrive at Shrek Academy, make sure to listen to Qian Ran," Jing Hongchen instructed Meng Hongchen earnestly. "Men appreciate obedient women. But don't let anyone bully you. Speak up if you're wronged; your grandfather will always support you."
By now, Jing Hongchen completely trusted Qian Ran.
Once Qian Ran matured, the entire continent's balance of power would shift.
Tying the Hongchen family's fate to Qian Ran's wagon meant dedicating all efforts to assisting him. If Qian Ran gained control of the Sun-Moon Empire, the Hongchen family would inevitably rise as its strongest family—akin to how the Dai family ruled the Star Luo Empire.
Qian Ran had promised them a hereditary duchy.
Currently, Jing Hongchen held a Duke's title because of his immense personal strength as the head of Mingde Hall. Once his strength waned, the family's influence would naturally decline. But a hereditary title would ensure their lasting prosperity.
This was why Jing Hongchen placed such immense importance on Qian Ran.
Both emotionally and strategically, he leaned entirely toward Qian Ran.
And following Qian Ran offered high returns with minimal risk—so long as Qian Ran stayed alive, every promise he made would easily be fulfilled.
"It's clear, Grandpa. You've said it so many times already," Meng Hongchen replied, half shy and half annoyed. Why was Grandpa so insistent lately? He used to be dead set against her liking Qian Ran, but now he was pushing her to cling to him.
Feelings weren't so simple!
If she were as calculating as Grandpa wanted, would Qian Ran still like her?
"Good, as long as you understand. Also, your brother is still studying at Shrek Academy. Take care of him when you're there," Jing Hongchen added with a chuckle. Despite everything, he couldn't stop worrying.
"Alright," Meng Hongchen pouted.
She recalled her brother's poor relationship with Qian Ran.
If the two clashed, whom should she side with?
She wasn't about to help her brother. If he still disapproved of her and Qian Ran, she wouldn't even acknowledge him as family!
"Qian Ran, I'm entrusting Mengmeng to you. If you need anything, just ask. I'll also arrange for the experimental equipment and precious metals you requested to be delivered to you in secret," Jing Hongchen said after a quick glance around.
The resources of Mingde Hall, once heavily guarded secrets, were now at Qian Ran's disposal with Jing Hongchen's support.
"Alright, I'll take good care of Mengmeng. No need to worry," Qian Ran replied.
After Jing Hongchen left, Qian Ran found a caravan heading to Shrek City and placed the women into his Sumeru Ring.
"What is this?"
Keke, Meng Hongchen, and Xue Lingxun were all entering for the first time.
"This is a small world Qian Ran controls," Juzi explained, amused at their curiosity. "You've always wondered how Qian Ran could suddenly vanish and reappear? He wasn't disappearing—he was coming here."
"So that's it..."
Xue Lingxun finally unraveled a mystery that had puzzled her for so long.
Qian Ran possessed such a massive secret? If word got out, every major force on the continent would go mad over this small world. Whether for personal or military use, its potential was immense.
"Aren't you afraid we'll expose your secret?" Xue Lingxun couldn't help but ask. Qian Ran was being incredibly bold—didn't he understand the principle of keeping wealth hidden?
"If I can't trust you, who can I trust on this continent?" Qian Ran answered sincerely. If he couldn't trust the women he shared his life with, he might as well live as a recluse.
Qian Ran firmly believed his women would never betray him.
"Qian Ran, you're the best," Keke said, leaning against him, visibly touched. With Qian Ran's trust, how could they ever let him down?
"Hmph, I wouldn't trust her," Meng Hongchen remarked, glancing at Xue Lingxun. They all knew about Xue Lingxun's past attempt to ambush Qian Ran in his dorm, so there was some lingering hostility.
Even if they managed to coexist peacefully for Qian Ran's sake, their bickering was something he could do little to control.
(End of Chapter)