Chapter 533 — The Yu Family's Attitude

In a conference room at the Yu family auction house, Yu Haitian received the heads of the various families. Wu Gonggao, head of the Wu family, was absent and had sent Wu Chengtian in his stead. The Xiao family, to everyone's surprise, had sent the second brother, Xiao Ben, to represent them.

Yu Shuixing had not shown his face either, and that surprised the Kang family somewhat. After all, Yu Shuixing was the Yu family's man in the public eye; Yu Haitian was merely the person in charge of the Yu family's outside business dealings.

That morning, even though Yu Shuixing had not appeared either, Divine Doctor Kang was no fool — he had already deduced that Yu Shuixing was pulling the strings behind the scenes, quietly directing Yu Haitian from the back. He had assumed that once he had laid enough chips on the table, he would be able to meet Yu Shuixing that evening. Still, Yu Shuixing certainly had the standing to put on airs, and with the man absent, Divine Doctor Kang did not press the point.

Besides, that stray thought vanished in an instant. Before long, Divine Doctor Kang's head was spinning with hope and joy at the prospect of raising the Kang family's status.

"Divine Doctor Kang, my second uncle has matters to attend to this evening and will not be joining us. He has asked me to stand in for him," Yu Haitian said, glancing at Divine Doctor Kang. His tone was flat, the morning warmth gone.

Divine Doctor Kang did not take it to heart. He assumed Yu Haitian was putting on this show deliberately for the others' benefit. After all, as the organizer of the annual gathering of noble families, the Yu family could not openly align itself behind any single household — the chain reaction would be far too great.

"No matter at all. Master Yu is a busy man; there's no need for him to attend." Hearing Yu Haitian offer that explanation, Divine Doctor Kang took it as a personal courtesy and felt all the more pleased.

"Old Kang, you called us all here — what did you have to tell us?" The speaker was Song Xiangwen, head of the Song family. The Song family was one of the Four Great Families, a lineage of ancient martial arts, and had once produced a Xuan-tier expert. That expert was Song Xiangwen's younger brother, who had left home early on after reaching a dead end in his cultivation, venturing out into the world in search of fortuitous opportunities. He had not returned to this day, his fate unknown.

Otherwise, the Song family would have overshadowed even the Wu family. But even as things stood, Song Xiangwen spoke with a firmness of his own — which had much to do with his own strength at the peak late stage of the Huang tier.

"Hehe, I called you esteemed family heads here because I have good news to announce." Divine Doctor Kang rose to his feet, first nodding courteously to each family's representative before continuing. "After years of painstaking research, the Kang family has at last achieved a breakthrough and developed the Beautifying, Muscle-Nourishing Wound Medicine! I need not elaborate on what this medicine can do. It is, however, still in the research stage and cannot yet be produced on a large scale, so we have managed only a small batch. Apart from the two jars sent to auction, we intend to supply the rest to your families first."

Song Xiangwen nodded in evident satisfaction. "That's a fine way of doing things. Keep the goodies in the family, so to speak!"

Song Xiangwen was hale and hearty for his years. After his first wife died, he had taken a second, and just now his young mistress had been egging him on to snatch up those two jars of Beautifying, Muscle-Nourishing Wound Medicine at the auction. But Song Xiangwen was an old fox — he would never do something so foolish. And sure enough, the moment the auction ended, someone had come knocking at his door.

"Hehe, every family here gets a share, and the price is most favorable — only five million per jar!" Seeing the expressions around the room, Divine Doctor Kang knew his scheme had succeeded. These people's impression of him, it seemed, was quite favorable.

"Five million — not expensive!" Song Xiangwen nodded. The other noble families present, Xiao Ben excepted, were not bothered by the five million either. What they cared about was face. As long as the price was lower than the hammer price at the auction, that was a show of deference — let alone when it was nearly half as much!

"In total, I have prepared twenty jars. Subtracting the two sold at auction, that leaves eighteen. Nine families are seated here, so each family receives two jars!" Divine Doctor Kang smiled. "Though if any family doesn't want theirs, they're welcome to pass them to someone else!"

Who would refuse such a fine thing? Only a fool would. And sure enough, a fool did step forward. But was the one who spoke really a fool?

"The Yu family won't be taking ours. Whoever wants it, take it." That blunt, senseless remark from Yu Haitian chilled the atmosphere in the room in an instant.

Even Divine Doctor Kang froze, baffled — he had no idea what Yu Haitian meant by it.

Seeing everyone's stunned faces, Yu Haitian offered a mild smile. "As the host of the auction, the Yu family shouldn't be snatching goods from everyone else. I already got a tongue-lashing from my second uncle over it yesterday. Hehe…"

Of course, Yu Haitian said nothing about the fact that an identical product would appear on the market tomorrow — at a price of only one million! Out of self-interest, the Yu family had no desire to see another family rise, not even a bottom-rung household that ranked below the Five Lesser Families.

He who takes another's gift has no room to speak. Since that was so, the Yu family naturally would not leave the Kang family any grounds for complaint.

Hearing Yu Haitian's explanation, the others relaxed at once — so that was the reason. And so the two remaining jars of pre-sale Beautifying, Muscle-Nourishing Wound Medicine were promptly snatched up by representatives of the other families.

Though Divine Doctor Kang said nothing about raising the Kang family's status, not a person present failed to see what the Kang family was after. Now that these people had received the Kang family's largesse, even if they did not actively support the promotion, they would not throw obstacles in the Kang family's way. And so, under the Yu family's sponsorship, the Kang family's elevation seemed all but a foregone conclusion — barring any unforeseen complications.

When they walked out of the auction hall, Divine Doctor Kang's face was alight with excitement and relief.

"This time, Zhaolong, my grandson, has done a truly extraordinary service!" Divine Doctor Kang gazed at Kang Jinglong, growing more delighted the longer he looked. Under his leadership, he felt certain the Kang family would flourish and prosper.

Kang Guifeng was elated as well. With his son performing so brilliantly, the seat of family head was now all but settled. Even if the old master were to pass on one day, Kang Cuipu would have nothing left to contend with.

For Kang Jinglong had already been chosen in advance to serve as the third-generation head of the family. What else was there for Kang Cuipu to fight for?

"You flatter me, Grandfather. I have merely done my duty. I am a member of the Kang family too, and naturally I wish our family well," Kang Jinglong said modestly.

"Indeed. We all want what is best for the Kang family." Divine Doctor Kang nodded. "This time, there should be no more mishaps in our family's promotion to noble house."

"Grandfather, something about Yu Haitian's manner tonight strikes me as odd." Kang Jinglong frowned. He had a vague sense that Yu Haitian's attitude was somehow off, yet he could not quite say what was wrong with it.