Chapter 42: Influence
Five Elements Sect spared no expense in their hospitality. Not only was Li Pin accommodated in a five-star hotel, he was also granted a suite that boasted an expansive two hundred square meters. It had everything, including a living room, a study, and a relaxation area.
As Li Pin entered his room, his gaze was immediately drawn to the bar in a corner of the living room, bathed in the warm glow of ambient lighting.
At the bar, there was a slender woman mixing some wine. Adorned in a silver-white slip nightgown, her back was fair and white, appearing as smooth as silk.
The woman turned as she heard the noise, revealing her innocent yet alluring face.
"Mr. Li, you're here."
An Youran!
Li Pin immediately recognized her.
His mind immediately drifted back to when Zhao Yuan mentioned there would be an "activity" after the gathering. It quickly dawned on Li Pin why An Youran would have access to his room.
He swept a glance across the room… It had been neatly organized.
Did she touch my belongings?
Li Pin was not fond of this type of "arrangement."
"Mr. Li, this is a red-wine blend I specially made for you. I learned how to make blends at the Cornelius Winery. I hope you will like it," said An Youran with a glass of red wine in her hand, as she swayed gracefully towards Li Pin.
Beneath the light, her silver-white slip nightgown was gleaming brightly.
"Leave," Li Pin said.
An Youran's movements became a little stiff.
She smiled and replied, "Mr. Li, I'm aware of the misunderstandings between you and my sister. I sincerely apologize to you on her behalf, and I will do my utmost to fulfill any request you may have. I— "
"If you're truly sorry, you should have made her come and apologize in person," Li Pin interjected, his gaze hardening as it met hers.
An Youran's smile became a little strained. After a hesitant pause, she tried again. "Mr. Li… Wanyi—"
"Just leave."
The pursuit of physical intimacy was insignificant when put against the boundless desire to ascend through the practice of cultivation. Li Pin didn't actually despise the idea of having someone accompany him on his journey in the future. That person, however, had to be someone capable of truly touching his soul. An unrestrained desire for physical pleasure devoid of emotional connections would inevitably erode his unwavering spirit for martial arts.
"Mr. Li…" An Youran pleaded with an aggrieved look on her face. "Please grant me the opportunity to make amends. I'll accept any form of punishment you see fit, without a word of protest."
"Make amends?" Li Pin shook his head. "Even now, you remain oblivious to your mistakes. Rather than reflecting on your sister's actions, your mind seems clouded by the notion that I am wielding my power to oppress you. I do not accept your apology."
Li Pin pointed at the room door. "Go."
"I…"
An Youran bit her lips, which were covered in bright red lipstick. Seeing Li Pin's steely expression, she dared not provoke him further.
An Youran bowed and apologized, "I'm very sorry."
Though she didn't show any emotions on the surface, deep down, she was fuming. She had already lowered herself so much to apologize! What more did he want!?
All her sister did was make a few comments about him! Besides, it wasn't even her who fanned the flames of conflicts. Why was she the one being unjustly saddled with the blame!? She too had become a victim of this public spectacle, her reputation tarnished because of the commotion![1]
Besides, Li Pin seemed to emerge unscathed from this entire ordeal. So, why was he so fixated on this minor incident and refusing to let it go?
His lack of courtesy is such a turn-off!
***
After An Youran left, Li Pin took out his phone and made a phone call to Zhao Yuan.
—That's sooner than I expected.
On the other end of the phone, Zhao Yuan sounded surprised.
"Were you guys the ones who arranged An Youran to be in my room?" Li Pin asked.
—Hehe… Are you satisfied with this arrangement?
After asking that, Zhao Yuan immediately continued talking.
—Rest assured. Master was able to befriend a director from Star Palace Entertainment through Baron Zhu Di. Everything's been taken care of. Please simply relax and enjoy yourself.
At this moment, a sudden thought struck him. Could it be that she didn't do as she was told?
Almost immediately, the Jiang Province City's well-respected representative for the Five Elements Sect sneered.
—So, it seems she's rebelling! An Youran's a little famous. But like all the other celebrities, she is only popular because of all the resources that Star Palace Entertainment throws at her! Without the resources provided by the Star Palace Entertainment, she's a nobody…. I'll have Master contact the director of the Star Palace Entertainment right away.
Li Pin knew Zhao Yuan was telling the truth.
In the long-established and highly-developed Taibai Kingdom, the entertainment industry had flourished, spawning an abundance of idols and celebrities. However, beneath the dazzling facade of fame, these celebrities had a surprisingly low social standing. To those wielding influence and authority, these entertainers were mere tools, expendable resources to be blacklisted at will.
Even more insidious were the carefully crafted traps hidden within their contracts, ensnaring them into giving back most of their hard-earned money and leaving them with huge debts.
"I get what you mean, but there is no need to do that," Li Pin said. "An Wanyi is the instigator of all of this."
—An Wanyi…
Everything immediately became clear to Zhao Yuan.
—I understand. It was our mistake. Master Li, please wait for our good news.
"I'll deal with my own affairs later."
—Master Li, focus on your training and uphold the prestige of the Five Elements Sect in the martial arts world. Such trivial matters are just a waste of your valuable time.
Li Pin nodded in agreement.
With the help of the connections within the Five Elements Sect, it would be a breeze to gather enough evidence to sentence An Wanyi to a few years in prison.
"Great, I look forward to your good news."
Upon hanging up the call, Li Pin let out a sigh.
It's no wonder that the Five Elements Sect was so certain that once he joined their sect, they would be able to bind him to their chariot[2].
For some, once they had subordinates, money, and authority, they would get so absorbed in the power and influence that came with this status that they would be unable to extricate themselves from it.
***
As a kingdom that adhered to a monarchical system, the principle of "top-down leadership" prevailed in Taibai Kingdom. Applying this concept to Zanglong City, the ones that occupied the highest positions would be none other than the council composed of the nobles and Astral Cultivators. Only then did the local governments and Public Prosecutors Office come into play.
Due to the intricate web of relationships between the local council and various powerful factions, some wealthy individuals and leaders of powerful factions held even more influence than the local government and the Public Prosecutors Office.
As the top martial arts influence as well as a large conglomerate with total assets worth over tens of billions in Zanglong City, the Five Elements Sect would undoubtedly be considered one of those powerful factions.
The intervention of such a powerful faction meant that even while Li Pin was resting in the Star Brilliance International Centre, the chairman of Hanyang University, Zhang Minglong, had already received a call.
—Understood! No problem! I will never tolerate such reckless and harmful behavior to taint the high standards and dignity we uphold in Zanglong City's educational institutions! Yes! No problem! Thank you Old Brother Tian for your kind reminder![3]
The director readily agreed to a request.
Then he hung up the call. Recalling the reprimanding tone of the "top dog" who called just now, his face darkened.
To hell with this! What is Jing Gufeng thinking!? Is he trying to ruin Hanyang University and force it to close down!?
As the thought crossed his mind, an aura of unspoken authority emanated from his very being. His eyes were ice-cold.
After a while, he picked up his phone and made a phone call.
"Secretary He, help me notify all the directors that I am holding a meeting tomorrow at ten in the morning. I have a big announcement to make."
Then he thought of something.
"There's no need to inform Jing Gufeng about it."
—Understood.
Secretary He gave an assenting reply.
1. Fan the flames means making a bad situation worse. ☜
2. In a Chinese context, binding a person to a chariot means forcing a person to join a cause or battle they don't want to. ☜
3. Old Brother is used in Chinese context to show someone a sign of respect, often someone of higher status, with a bit of pandering involved. ☜
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