Chapter 100

After Wei Zeping was carried away by the paramedics and taken to the hospital, everyone finally sat down to discuss serious matters.

"Master Chen, your spiritual water is truly miraculous. I sent it to a testing agency, and whether it's trace elements or water quality, it's no different from ordinary mineral water, but the effect is extraordinary," Liu, the bald man, said excitedly, slapping his thigh.

Chen Fan smiled faintly.

Spiritual energy is无形, how could modern technology detect it?

"Master Chen, how much of this spiritual water can you provide daily?" Xu Ao asked solemnly.

This time, the big shots from the north of the river gathered, and so many influential tycoons came not just for Master Chen, but also for the spiritual water industry behind him, which generates over a hundred billion in profit annually. This is pure profit, enough to drive the world's tycoons mad.

At Chen Fan's nod, Old Wei mustered his strength and explained in detail to everyone.

"Two or three hundred bottles a day? Each bottle for fifty thousand, and the rest goes to us?" The eyes of the big shots all lit up.

The price of a hundred thousand per bottle was just Old Wei's initial estimate. In fact, the big shots believed that through various means of hype, they could sell it for even higher prices.

"This deal can be done," Old Zheng nodded.

Next, they discussed various details in detail.

The spiritual water was not given for free but in exchange for the resources each big shot held. There was no avoiding the haggling and delays, but before that, Xu Ao said solemnly:

"Master Chen, the leaders of all the cities north of the river are here, except for Old Master Wu from Jiangzhou."

"Old Master Wu?" Chen Fan frowned slightly.

Zhou Tianhao had mentioned to him that this Old Master Wu was a person of Tang Yuanqing from Nanjing.

"Is he a traitor, still thinking the north of the river is the same as before?" Liu, the bald man, sneered.

"Indeed, I will handle this matter," Chen Fan nodded.

Everyone was taken aback. Was Master Chen going to take personal action? Many people were already starting to mock Old Master Wu.

The negotiations on the rooftop of Tian Sheng Building continued until midnight.

Meanwhile, Jiang Churan and others had long returned home.

...

Jiang Churan knocked on the door in a daze. When Aunt Tang opened the door and saw her in a dazed state, she asked curiously:

"Churan, what's wrong with you?"

Jiang Churan forced a smile but said nothing.

Sitting on the sofa, Jiang Haishan was holding Friedman's "A Monetary History of the United States." Hearing this, he looked up and, seeing his beloved daughter's unusual state, frowned and asked:

"Churan, what's going on? Didn't you go to the Tian Sheng banquet tonight?"

He suddenly thought of something and said discontentedly:

"Is it that Chen boy who upset you again?"

He then shook his head and said, "Chen Fan is arrogant and looks down on everyone. In my opinion, Li Yichen is the best match for you, Churan."

"How can you talk like that! There's nothing wrong with Little Fan," Aunt Tang said, placing her hands on her hips angrily.

Seeing the two about to argue, Jiang Churan suddenly spoke up:

"Dad, Mom, do you think there are people in the world who can rise to the top in one step?"

"What do you mean?" Jiang Haishan asked, his expression unusually serious.

"For example... you have a friend who is just an ordinary student. But one day, you suddenly find that he has become someone you can only look up to," Jiang Churan said with difficulty. "But no matter how you think about it, you can't understand why."

"He has an average family background, abilities, means, personality, and even academic performance. How can he leap over decades of accumulation to reach such a position?"

"What you're describing is indeed rare, but it's not impossible," Jiang Haishan shook his head. "Hard work is important, but if there is a patron, one can rise to the top in one step."

"A patron?" Jiang Churan's eyes lit up. "What level of patron is needed to elevate an ordinary high school student to the level of Shen Ronghua? Can the Wei family do it?"

"Shen Ronghua?" Jiang Haishan laughed. "Churan, you underestimate the richest man in Shen."

"Shen Ronghua is one of the top figures in our Jiangnan Province, even the mayor is slightly inferior to him. To elevate an ordinary student to his level in one step is impossible. The Wei family is far from qualified, and there is no one in our Jiangnan Province who can do it. Only the true big shots in Yanjing might be able to."

"Is that so..." Jiang Churan was puzzled.

'Could Chen Fan have met a big shot in Yanjing? That's impossible!'

"Churan, what's really going on?" Aunt Tang asked, confused.

"Nothing."

Jiang Churan forced a smile and went straight upstairs to her room, leaving the two of them puzzled.

...

She lay in bed, tossing and turning for hours, her mind full of the image of Chen Fan drinking a full glass and then turning away.

'Chen Fan... Master Chen?'

How could this be? It doesn't make sense.

Jiang Churan was a rational person, but the more rational she was, the more she couldn't understand.

Finally, she gritted her teeth, got up, and sneaked out of the house, heading towards the mountain villa. It was close to the New Year, and the weather was bitterly cold. She was only wearing a thin nightgown, and her face was pale from the cold, but she was determined and didn't waver.

It was around 4 or 5 in the morning, and the east was gradually turning white.

She pushed the villa gate, which opened easily. Inside the mountain villa, white mist swirled, like a fairyland. But Jiang Churan paid no attention to this. She followed the stairs up to the third-floor sea-viewing platform and indeed saw Chen Fan sitting in a wicker chair, eyes closed, meditating.

"Did you know I was coming?" Jiang Churan asked coldly.

"What if I did? What if I didn't?" Chen Fan opened his eyes, his gaze indifferent. "What do you want from me?"

Jiang Churan pondered for a moment and finally said with determination: "Before, you asked me if I believed you were Master Chen."

"I'm giving you my answer now."

"I... don't... believe!"

She looked directly into Chen Fan's eyes and answered, word by word.

"Oh? Why?" Chen Fan asked with interest. "Half of the upper class in the north of the river knows I am Master Chen. Why don't you believe it?"

"Because of reason!" Jiang Churan raised her head, her expression proud. "Old Master Wei, Xu Ao, Liu Guodong, and even Old Master Zheng all say you are Master Chen, but I still don't believe it. Because you don't have any of the qualities that make a great person."

"Chen Fan, you seem low-key, but you look down on everyone and ignore the rules of society."

"Your social skills and ability to handle affairs are even worse than Li Yichen, let alone those business elites."

"Your business and political abilities are almost zero!"

"You haven't even read the works of famous economists like Daniel Kahneman and Finn Kydland!"

...

"You have no character, no family background, no ability, no social skills, and no knowledge."

"You have nothing, so how can you become Master Chen!"

By the end, tears were in her eyes, and her voice was hoarse.

It was as if she wanted to vent all the frustration, confusion, and regret of the night.

Jiang Churan had received elite education since childhood and could judge a person's future achievements and family background from their attire, speech, and the depth and breadth of their knowledge.

She had never been wrong until she met Chen Fan.

In her understanding, Chen Fan was just an ordinary student who could only mix in the lower-middle class of society.

But he had risen to the top, becoming the pinnacle of the north of the river, completely shattering Jiang Churan's understanding from childhood.

"Is it just because of this?"

Chen Fan shook his head and said disdainfully, "Jiang Churan, I told you in the bar that you shouldn't measure me by your wisdom and perspective."

"You can never imagine what kind of existence you are talking to."

He paused, stood up, and walked to the edge of the platform, overlooking the sea of clouds.

"Fine, you're wondering why I can become Master Chen, right?"

"Today, I'll show you why I am Master Chen!"

With that, Chen Fan stomped his foot and shouted, "Array, activate!"

In an instant, from the misty mountain peak to Yan Gui Lake, golden pillars rose, and a surging cloud of mist enveloped the mountain. In Jiang Churan's shocked eyes, a white mist snake rose from the sea of clouds, like a dragon dancing in the sky, emitting a long roar.

Its appearance was exactly the same as the yin snake Chen Fan had once slain, except it had two horns.

She looked around and found herself in an endless sea of mist, as if the entire misty mountain range was enveloped by a vast sea of clouds.

"This... this is?" Jiang Churan was utterly shocked.

The white mist giant snake flew out, circling around Chen Fan, like a pet snuggling up to its owner.

"I can suppress the north of the river and force many heroes to bow, not by knowledge or means, but by true power."

"The power to control life and death!"

Chen Fan, hands behind his back, turned to look at her, his gaze like looking at an ant.

Faced with a scene that was almost mythical, Jiang Churan suddenly realized: 'No wonder they call him Master Chen. Such abilities are truly godlike.'

Then, overwhelming regret flooded her mind, drowning all her thoughts.

On the night of January 28, 2008, the Cloud Mountain Array was completed!

——

PS: Thanks to Zhi Shang de Lunkuo, Juedui ± Shu Chong for 1000. Thanks to NB Ah Ah Ah for 500. Thanks to Di Zhan Huang, Shishen Zhe Can Ye, Liu Yi, Jin Sheng Nian Wei Lai, Zui Wen Zhi Yi Bu Zai Jiu, Wu Jin Qian Shang, Hotfen1, Wo Shi Yi Wei Da Shen, Xiao Ye Xihuan Leng Xue'er, Ji Qing Nian Hua, Yi Lei ~, Lao Na Yong Da Bao, Eviljohn, Xia Ti Zui Liu Nian for their support.

Second update is here, third update around 12 PM. Votes please O(∩_∩)O

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