Under One Person: The Sea Emperor Who Shattered Heaven and Earth

Jiang Zhen chuckled but didn't answer; he simply patted Wang Ye on the shoulder.

Then Jiang Zhen walked past him and continued toward the camps of various sects, preparing to catch up with those familiar faces one by one.

He walked past Lu Jin and nodded: "Old Lu, your hair is really lucky. It's been white since you were a child, and it looks like it hasn't changed at all now that you're old."

Lu Jin laughed and said, "Uncle-Master, how old am I? Besides, white hair makes you look handsome."

Jiang Zhen said, "Shuiyun and Changqing are still behind. You should go and pick them up first."

Jiang Zhen then walked up to Lü Ren and Lü Ci. After talking for a while, he discovered that Lü Ren was now serving as one of the Ten Elders, and Lü Ci still had the same temper as when he was young.

……

Jiang Zhen walked down from house to house, and just as he was about to reach Fang Dongtian, his steps suddenly froze.

Jiang Zhen stared at Fang Dongtian for less than half a second, as if he had remembered something.

"Oh dear, Fang Xu!" Jiang Zhen suddenly turned around and strode towards his hometown leader's office. "I just remembered! National affairs are of utmost importance! Let's go to the meeting first! We can catch up later! Let's go! Let's go!"

Zhang Zhiwei was trying not to laugh, while Fang Dongtian had a dark expression.

Zhao Fangxu was also confused: "Huh? Uncle Jiang, wasn't the meeting scheduled for the afternoon?"

“I said start now! Hurry up! The leaders back home are very busy, and we can’t let them be delayed because of me.”

As Jiang Zhen walked back, he happened to pass by the North China region's team. He slightly veered off course and stopped right in front of Zhang Chulan.

Zhang Chulan was squatting there rubbing his legs when he suddenly saw Jiang Zhen, this big Buddha, walking towards him. He was so frightened that he almost jumped into the sea.

I felt a chill run from my heels straight up to the top of my head.

"You are Zhang Chulan... the successor of the Qi Body Source Flow?" Jiang Zhen spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but it silenced everyone around him.

Zhang Chulan's inner thoughts exploded in that instant:

"I'm doomed! Laozi, Buddha, Jade Emperor, whoever happens to be passing by, please help me! I haven't even gotten married yet! What should I do! Should I kneel down and kowtow or just beg for mercy! Sister Bao'er, save me!"

He quickly turned his head to look at Feng Baobao. Feng Baobao's current state shocked him even more. At this moment, Feng Baobao was breathing on Jiang Zhen like Hakimi in his Spinosaurus form, with Xu San and Xu Si holding her tightly on either side.

Jiang Zhen glanced at Feng Baobao, then at Zhang Chulan. He thought to himself that the two key figures in the story were now present.

Then, in less than a fraction of a second, Zhang Chulan quickly switched to the most standard, most obsequious, and most harmless smile.

He suddenly bent over, his back bent at a ninety-degree angle, his tone extremely humble and ingratiating:

"Grand Ancestor Jiang! Greetings! This junior is Zhang Chulan—I have long admired your great name, your illustrious reputation, and your magnificent fame. Today I finally get to see your true face—you are so handsome! My admiration for you is like a surging river, unstoppable! Are you thirsty? Are you hungry? Would you like me to go and get you some food and drink?"

Jiang Zhen stared at Zhang Chulan for a long time, looking at his shameless attitude, and finally couldn't help but sneer.

He then ignored the two of them.

Zhang Chulan suddenly collapsed to the ground, looking as if he had been pulled out of the water.

"Sister Bao'er... I feel like I almost died just now."

Feng Baobao also returned to normal, thought for a moment and nodded seriously: "Hmm, I can't handle this old man."

Zhang Chulan rolled his eyes: "Nonsense, is it a question of whether we can win or not? It's a question we wouldn't even dare to think about!"

Chapter 133 Half a Century of Furnishings

Jiang Zhen hurriedly got into the car, and just as the door was about to close, a large hand blocked it, and an eye peeked out from the crack in the door, staring intently at Jiang Zhen.

"Uncle-Master, it's been decades since we last met. I've missed you dearly. By the way, how many of the Taoist classics I left you have you read?"

"Dongtian, look, I have a very important meeting to attend. We'll have a proper chat next time," Jiang Zhen said with an awkward laugh.

"It's alright." Fang Dongtian squeezed in quickly, then looked at Zhao Fangxu in the passenger seat.

"Chairman Zhao, I'm sorry, it will take some time before we arrive at our destination. I'd like to catch up with my martial uncle first, as I have some questions about Taoist classics."

During the rest of the trip, Jiang Zhen had a bitter face, and Fang Dongtian quickly figured out Jiang Zhen's progress with just a few words.

"Uncle-Master, are you saying that you've already seen half of what's happened in these past few decades?"

"No, Dongtian, I have a lot of things to do. Every day, the moment I open my eyes, I have to take care of so many people's food, drink, and daily needs. And Dongtian, your stuff is just outrageous. You look at the table of contents, but one book can be extended into several other books..."

Fang Dongtian shook his head: "Uncle-Master, I'm not saying your progress is too slow, but after your wedding, I'm already prepared that you won't even look at it."

"Given your status and position, no one can force you. The fact that you've managed to see half of it without external interference, while not a great progress, is commendable because of your perseverance and self-control. That's already excellent."

Jiang Zhen was taken aback for a moment, then a smile appeared on his lips: "Hey, after all, it has made you a habit to some extent. Although it is boring and tedious, if you keep gnawing on it little by little, you will find that you are halfway through before you know it."

Fang Dongtian nodded: "Although progress is important, the purpose of reading, besides experiencing the thoughts of the Taoist sages, is more importantly to cultivate the mind, calm the mind, endure the tedium, and withstand the boredom. Congratulations, Uncle-Master, on subduing your restless mind."

……

In the dead of night in Shanghai, the Wusongkou Wharf is brightly lit.

The official mobilization capacity was on full display at this moment. From dawn till late at night, the massive fleet behind the Zhenhai finally completed its docking and disembarkation.

The flow of people on the gangway never stopped. People from New World carried their luggage and walked down one by one. Some people squatted down and touched the ground the moment they stepped onto the stone slabs of the dock. They were then pulled up by their companions behind them with a smile and continued to walk forward.

Jiang Zhen only left them with one sentence:

“Listen up, everyone—now that you’re back in your hometown, go wherever you’re supposed to go, and if you’re supposed to go home for a visit, hurry up and go home. Don’t act like foreign guests visiting the city, expecting to be waited on hand and foot.”

Then, an orderly evacuation began.

The authorities had prepared contingency plans well before the fleet entered the port. The verification of the identities of hundreds of thousands of people, the connection with their relatives, and the temporary accommodation were carried out in an orderly manner with the assistance of a large number of government personnel, employees of Nadutong, and members of the Shanghai Canal Gang.

What surprised the officials the most was that none of these people from the New World were short of money.

As a result, a series of bizarre scenes appeared on the streets of Shanghai.

Countless people wearing long white trench coats with the word "Justice" printed on the back appeared in groups in convenience stores, pan-fried dumpling stalls, and high-end hotels.

Although they looked intimidating, they were extremely generous when it came to paying. When buying street food, they would simply pull a gold coin out of their pocket, stuff it into the vendor's hand, wave their hand, and say, "Keep the change." Their arrogance was chilling.

The stall owner held the gold coin and looked at it for a long time, then put it in his mouth and took a bite. After confirming that it was real, he stood there stunned behind the stall, not even realizing it when the people in line behind him called out "boss" a few times.

A large number of official escorts kept explaining to the stall owners who had suddenly received a windfall: "It's true. We have set up special exchange points over there. If you want to exchange it for money, we will exchange it for you at the market price."

During a scheduling meeting, a manager reported excitedly over the phone: "Boss, the spending is really strong—they're giving us all hard currency."

......

Meanwhile, after the meeting with his hometown officials, Jiang Zhen handed over all the remaining strategic cooperation, material coordination, and tax rate clauses to Huang Chunjie.

"You can deal with them during the Spring Festival. I'm too old to hear about these numbers; they give me a headache."

Huang Chunjie watched Jiang Zhen stride away, then glanced at the rows of representatives still sitting in the conference room waiting to continue negotiations. He took a deep breath, opened his folder, and sat down at the very front of the long table.

Jiang Zhen, along with his wife Lin Zhu and their three children—Jiang Ping, Jiang An, and Jiang Shun—boarded a car bound for the Canal Gang's headquarters in Shanghai.

The Shanghai headquarters is located in the old city. It was once the headquarters of the Canal Gang. Even though it is now surrounded by modern commercial districts and overpasses, the building stubbornly retains the charm of the last century - exposed brick walls, carved gate towers, and stone lions in front of the stone gate that have been worn smooth by wind and rain, yet still hold their heads high.

The car stopped at the entrance, where Wang Weiguo and several trusted confidants were already waiting at the bottom of the steps. This once powerful and influential tycoon of Shanghai strode down the steps and personally opened the car door for Jiang Zhen, his movements as practiced as a seasoned butler with decades of experience, the curve of his back perfectly measured.

"Madam, young master and young lady, we've arrived home."

Jiang Zhen stepped out of the car and looked up at the lacquered gold plaque engraved with "Grand Hall of the Canal Gang". Although it had faded a bit, every stroke and line was still exactly as he remembered it.

Jiang Zhen stopped in his tracks as he walked through the front yard and into the hall.

The decor and furniture arrangement in the lobby were exactly the same as when he left.

The patina on the mahogany table is smooth and rounded, clearly indicating that someone has been polishing it daily. In the large bronze jar in the corner, several red fish are swimming happily.

“Sir,” Wang Weiguo explained softly from the side, “the furnishings here haven’t changed since you set sail. The old masters gave strict orders before they left—no one could touch anything. Even if a brick broke, the old kiln workers had to fire a new one exactly the same to replace it. They said, what if the leader came back and entered the house and everything had changed? What if he couldn’t find his way around? What if he couldn’t find his home? So they’ve kept guarding it like this until now.”

Jiang Zhen reached out and gently stroked the rosewood armchair.

The sensation from his fingertips felt as if he had traveled back in time.

"Weiguo, you've had a tough time." Jiang Zhen sighed, overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Jiang Ping, Jiang An, and Jiang Shun looked around curiously. They were born and raised in the New World, and now, standing in this hall filled with the scent of old things, the three of them unconsciously slowed their pace.

Especially since this is where their father started his business.

"Dad, is this the hometown you always talk about?" Jiang An, the daughter, reached out and poked the fish in the big vat, then turned to ask.

"Yes, this is my hometown." Jiang Zhen smiled.

Everyone took their seats in the hall, and Wang Weiguo arranged for the finest tea to be served.

As they were talking about the changes over the years, Wang Weiguo suddenly remembered something.

"By the way, sir, the little task you assigned at sea before—investigating that ID of 'Shanghai's Number One Affectionate'—has yielded results."

Jiang Zhen was taken aback. If Wang Weiguo hadn't mentioned it, he would have almost forgotten about it.

He casually ordered someone to check which young master was so audacious, his intention was just to have some fun. Jiang Zhen also found it novel. Putting aside his status at sea, just in Shanghai, someone actually dared to call him "little bastard" and "stinky outsider".

"Oh, that thing." Jiang Zhen picked up his teacup and took a sip. "It was just some online banter. You guys didn't bother them, did you? I, Jiang Zhen, am not one to hold a grudge against a kid."

Wang Weiguo hurriedly shook his head: "Of course not. As for the leader, our canal gang has always operated legally. However, since you're curious about whose son he is, we did some research..."

"And the result?" Jiang Zhen asked with a smile.

Wang Weiguo's expression shifted several times, finally becoming extremely interesting. He hesitated, then said:

"Sir, we searched through all the household registrations and files on supernatural individuals in Shanghai. The result? ...We found that there is no such person in Shanghai."

"Hmm?" Jiang Zhen raised an eyebrow.

“His registered residence and actual place of residence are in Kunshan. He is an ordinary person…” Wang Weiguo explained.

Jiang Zhen sighed and shook his head, rubbing his forehead. "Young people these days... they're really something. Let's just let this go and not mention it again."

After staying at the main building for a few nights, Jiang Zhen did not linger in Shanghai.

After he returned, invitations to see him poured into Wang Weiguo's hands like snowflakes, all wanting to make an impression.

Jiang Zhen refused to meet with anyone.

He then took Lin Zhu and their three children to Lin Zhu's sect—Tengshan.

Tengshan Mountain remains as verdant as ever, and the fragrance of herbs filling the mountain is invigorating.

The nuns showed great respect for the arrival of this "Sea King's son-in-law," and Lin Zhu returned to her familiar medicinal field in a very good mood.

Jiang Ping, Jiang An, and Jiang Shun were naturally familiar with the Tengshan faction because of their relationship with Lin Zhu and Fang Ying. Only Jiang Ping and Jiang Shun were a little uncomfortable at first, since apart from their fathers, there were only the two of them, grown men, here.

Fortunately, with Lin Zhu's constant introductions, he quickly became familiar with Teng Shan's fellow disciples.