Zhang Yang frowned slightly, surprised by Ouyang Jiankang's request.

Ouyang Jiankang, the Great Elder of the Ouyang family and its strongest member, spoke with the full authority of his entire clan.

As for Zhang Yang, though young, he represented the future hope of the Zhang family and was a powerhouse at the Great Perfection level, thus fully capable of representing the Zhang family as well.

Both Ouyang Jiankang and Ouyang Hao appeared somewhat tense, neither speaking for a moment.

Ouyang Jiankang’s proposal for an alliance was straightforward, yet its meaning was clear enough for Zhang Yang to grasp.

The Medical Saint Zhang family was a millennium-old lineage; even with a sparse population, they were incomparable to the Ouyang family, who were merely upstarts with just over three centuries of history, whereas the Zhang family had maintained their status as guardians without interruption, a Super Clan at the Great Perfection level.

Such an alliance, in essence, would remain mostly nominal, with the Ouyang family necessarily becoming more reliant on the Zhang family.

This meant that in the alliance, the Zhang family would gain significantly more benefits, while the Ouyang family would receive merely a form of protection—a point Ouyang Jiankang had already subtly conveyed.

As long as they rendered aid when the Ouyang family required assistance, they would be heavily rewarded.

This "heavy reward" implied more than just aid during crises; it suggested a regular sharing of resources with the Zhang family even in times of peace. Resorting to last-minute pleas wouldn't constitute an alliance; only fools would approach matters that way.

"Mr. Ouyang, your proposal catches me off guard. How about this: I will discuss it with the elders back home first, and then I will give you our reply?"

After a moment of consideration, Zhang Yang replied softly.

The Medical Saint Zhang family had always adhered to a policy of isolation. This very fact had caused the other major millennium clans to look down upon and slight them. A family with so few members choosing to walk alone—even with peak masters among them—was considered no real threat due to sheer numbers. The Li and Hu Yan families, when they dared to pressure Zhang Yang on the Long Family plains, even watching the Long and Zhang families unite without intervention, were precisely because they never truly respected the Zhang family at that time.

The current Zhang family, however, was different. Setting aside the elimination of the millennium clan, the Hu Yan family, the mere rumor of possessing two Great Perfection experts ensured they could no longer be ignored.

Being taken seriously felt good, but it also introduced new dangers. At this juncture, having true allies could solidify the Zhang family’s prestige.

In fact, the agreement made earlier with Shaolin was already a very simple form of alliance. Shaolin desired Zhang Yang’s protection after reaching the fifth level, so their proposal was veiled, falling short of a true pact.

The Ouyang family, on the other hand, sought the current strength of the Zhang family, which could offer them substantial help right now—hence the formal request for an alliance.

"Mr. Zhang taking time to consider is only proper. We shall depart now. Here is the Ouyang family's address. We await your good news!"

Ouyang Jiankang spoke gently, a wave of relief washing over him. Zhang Yang hadn't rejected the offer outright; as long as there was hope.

He then produced a jade box and placed it gently on the stone table.

Zhang Yang did not press them to stay; the visitors from the Ouyang family had achieved their objective and departed satisfied.

Only after they left did Zhang Yang open the exquisite jade box.

"A millennium ginseng, and an entire root exceeding three thousand years!"

Gazing at the contents, Zhang Yang's eyes brightened slightly, and he nodded softly. The Ouyang family showed genuine sincerity, offering a rare celestial treasure as a first meeting gift. Zhang Yang hadn't received such treatment when he first visited the Long family. If this was merely a gesture, he could imagine the far greater gifts that would accompany a formal alliance.

Besides the millennium ginseng, there was a delicate map beside it, detailing the exact route to the Hu Yan family headquarters. Marking their own address so clearly demonstrated the Ouyang family's strong desire for an alliance.

Putting the box away, Zhang Yang fell silent, closing his eyes to ponder the matter deeply.

Aligning with the Ouyang family presented both advantages and drawbacks, but overall, the benefits outweighed the risks. After all, the power disparity favored his Medical Saint Zhang family. Strength meant increased leverage, and this alliance appeared more like the Ouyang family soliciting the Zhang family’s guardianship. If this were the case, the alliance would pose no future threat and likely bring them considerable benefits.

Beyond these factors, Zhang Yang considered a unique aspect of the Ouyang family. This clan represented the government, the state. They had fully integrated into the current administration since the War of Resistance, holding considerable influence in both political and commercial circles—an influence that even surpassed that of the Long family's external branches. Even figures like Zhang Keqin, a high-ranking provincial official, could be swayed. An alliance would effectively grant Zhang Keqin a powerful backer, one who would certainly offer full assistance in that domain.

After a while, Zhang Yang took out his phone and dialed home. Regardless of his own thoughts, this concerned the entire clan. Zhang Yang would not act unilaterally; he had to report to the family elders. Even though he now possessed the authority to fully represent the family in terms of strength, emotionally and relationally, he remained the younger generation.

Upon receiving Zhang Yang’s report, Zhang Daofeng dared not delay, immediately relaying the matter to the Old Master. The Old Master, Zhang Daofeng, and Zhang Yungan convened a special meeting to discuss it.

Ultimately, they relayed their decision to Zhang Yang: they agreed to the alliance, but the nature of the partnership had to remain confidential. The Ouyang family would not receive aid unless facing a major crisis. Should they encounter truly devastating trouble, the Zhang family would provide full assistance, regardless of the enemy.

Receiving confirmation from the family settled Zhang Yang’s mind. He merely awaited an opportune moment to visit the Ouyang family and finalize the pact.

Zhang Aiying and the others were absent today, but Yang Guang showed up again. His main interest, naturally, was Zhang Yang’s car. The moment he arrived, Zhang Yang tossed him the keys, and the young man happily scurried away. Without him around, it saved any potential interruptions to his time with Mi Xue.

Zhang Yang took Mi Xue out for a full day of sightseeing. This was Mi Xue’s first time in the Capital; she had long held an aspiration for the city. For those not living there, the Capital always held a certain mystique in childhood—its majestic palaces, the Great Wall, and so on. Today, Zhang Yang took her to the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.

"Ring, ring!"

Just as they walked down from the Great Wall, Zhang Yang’s phone rang. It was an unfamiliar number, a landline in the Capital. Everyone knew Zhang Yang was in the Capital, and his usual circle wouldn't call him during this period, as they were all busy with their own affairs.

"Director Zhang, you came to the Capital without even sending a heads-up. If Li Juan hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known. How should I punish you, I wonder?"

The moment the call connected, a bright, pleasant voice—a sound Zhang Yang recognized—greeted him. It was Huang Jing, calling from Canada. Last time, he had saved the Huang family from annihilation, and in return, they gifted him shares worth hundreds of millions, making him the largest shareholder in the hotel group. Normally, the Chairman's seat would be his, but he had no interest in that role, remaining a regular director for now, though being called "Director Zhang" was not incorrect.

"This is my home; I'm visiting family. Why would I need to announce it?" Zhang Yang chuckled lightly. He was born in the Capital as a child, and both his parents had lived there for a long time; claiming the Capital as his home was entirely accurate.

Huang Jing paused for a moment on the other end, then laughed. "So you’re a native of the Capital? I truly didn't know. But I don't care—you came without notice, so you absolutely must come to the hotel tonight. I’ve specifically instructed the head chef to prepare a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast. You’ll have three penalty drinks!"

Huang Jing’s voice was lovely, possessing a quality that made refusal difficult. After a brief thought, Zhang Yang readily agreed. "Alright then. I'll be there tonight. You all wait for me at the hotel!"

He hung up the phone. Coming to the Capital, it was indeed worthwhile to visit his largest asset. Moreover, with Mi Xue accompanying him, he intended for her to gain experience in hotel management, planning for her to oversee this business in the future. Eventually, all these shares would be handed over to her management. Given Zhang Yang’s stake and his relationship with the Huang family, Mi Xue could easily displace Huang Jing as the General Manager if she so desired.

The descent from the Great Wall was early afternoon, leaving time before evening. Zhang Yang took Mi Xue to explore other parts of the Capital before driving to the hotel at dusk. As the premier establishment in their large chain of five-star hotels, the Capital branch was the first they opened and remains the best.

The hotel was situated in the bustling Eastern District. Zhang Yang drove his Hummer, as Yang Guang had taken his Bugatti, with a promise not to speed. Zhang Yang trusted his young cousin’s word; despite his youth, Yang Guang was generally stable.

"Welcome, Director Zhang!"

As the car stopped and Mi Xue walked arm-in-arm with Zhang Yang to the hotel entrance, a line of over a dozen people bowed deeply toward him, startling Mi Xue. Leading the group was Huang Jing, standing beside a sulking, pouting young woman—Ren Lijuan, undoubtedly.

This girl had only just learned today that Zhang Yang was a director of their hotel, holding a significant stake. This realization brought her a profound sense of disappointment, the source of which she couldn't quite pinpoint. Unconsciously, she had been comparing him to Xiao He, but after the comparison, she lost all inclination to draw parallels. While Xiao He attended a better university than Zhang Yang, for a graduate, university was merely a path traveled, a key and capital for advancement. Zhang Yang was the same age as Xiao He, yet he was now a director in a hotel group valued in the tens of billions, holding the largest share, with those shares alone worth hundreds of millions. Xiao He, meanwhile, was still working in a restaurant, striving for a managerial position. By comparison, there was simply no contest.

However, judging him this way felt unfair to Xiao He. He and Zhang Yang were not from the same world. If Zhang Yang were just an ordinary person, he might not be significantly better than Xiao He, perhaps even slightly inferior.

My condition isn't good today, so the second chapter is a bit late. My friends, please forgive me!