Chapter 117: The Young King

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At the highest-floor private suite of Yunhu Pavilion, named “Wine Tasting,” the space was not merely a room but perched atop Yunhu Pavilion’s rooftop. Through vast, transparent floor-to-ceiling windows, one could overlook the mountainous scenery and river views, making it the finest vantage point on Yun Song Mountain.

The suite was decorated in a Song Dynasty-inspired style: from the solid wood tables and chairs to porcelain imitating Ru kiln ware, from exquisite Song brocade silk fabrics to a gilded incense burner tucked in the corner—all evoked a sense of antiquity and refined charm.

The decor was dignified and elegant, inviting those seated within to appreciate its tasteful allure.

Song Yunkun stood by the window, hands clasped behind his back. Sunlight danced on the shimmering lake, framed by verdant peaks and flowing waters, though lacking in distinctiveness, the view bore the profound and majestic aura unique to the northern lands.

He casually remarked, “The scenery here is quite pleasant.”

Beside him, Song Yunhe smiled and replied, “In Dongjiang, only this place can barely be called elegant.”

He lamented somewhat, “The top-floor restaurant at Jinsheng Hotel used to be better, more suitable for business meetings. This place feels a bit too quiet…”

“Is that the hotel Sixth Uncle wrecked?” Song Yunkun asked.

“Yeah.” Song Yunhe deliberately brought up Jinsheng, intending to steer the conversation toward their father.

Though cousins, Song Yunkun and Song Yunhe had only met a handful of times.

With slicked-back hair and a meticulously trimmed thick beard, Song Yunkun wore a sharp black Tang suit. Though his tone seemed polite and courteous, there was an unmistakable air of aloof superiority that made him unapproachable.

Song Yunhe felt the pressure and resorted to mentioning their father, partly to build rapport and partly to remind this cousin that he, too, was a legitimate member of the Song family and need not act so distant.

As the vice president of Longteng Corporation in Beizhou, Song Yunkun naturally caught the implied meaning from his distant cousin.

He sighed inwardly. He’d long heard this cousin was unremarkable, and now it seemed true—was it really necessary to invoke their father to curry favor?

With this meeting, Song Yunkun lowered his expectations. Yet outwardly, he lavishly praised Song Chunqiu, which delighted Song Yunhe and quickly bridged the gap between them.

As they laughed together, a knock sounded at the door.

Song Yunhe responded, and a strikingly beautiful attendant ushered in a pair of youths, a boy and a girl.

Upon seeing them, Song Yunkun’s eyes lit up.

Busy as he was, he had no time to attend to the Kirin Cup.

It wasn’t until Dongjiang sent news of a thirty-one-fold surge in sales of the “Mighty Dragon” energy drink that he took notice.

After investigation, the exaggerated figure was confirmed accurate. But this success wasn’t due to the Dongjiang branch’s efforts alone—it came from recruiting a youth named Gao Wu to promote the Mighty Dragon series.

Having reviewed the report, Song Yunkun found Gao Wu’s personal image exemplary—of impeccable background, a flawless record akin to a saint, and possessing immense commercial potential.

It was precisely because of this that, as vice president of a company worth hundreds of billions, Song Yunkun humbled himself to visit Dongjiang and meet Gao Wu.

In the video, Gao Wu was heroic and handsome, with a sunny, generous personality and an infectious charisma that seemed almost innate.

Seeing him in person, Song Yunkun confirmed the video was genuine and that the footage’s distortion had understated the youth’s charm.

Merely standing there, Gao Wu radiated like the morning sun. Even Song Yunhe, accomplished and a senior warrior, appeared ordinary beside him, like a passerby.

By contrast, the girl, Song Mingyue, bright and serene, though not dazzling, complemented Gao Wu harmoniously.

“Second Brother, this is my daughter Mingyue, and this is Gao Wu, the Kirin Cup’s top warrior,” Song Yunhe enthusiastically introduced them, then turned to the two youths: “This is Vice President Song Yunkun.”

“Greetings, Vice President,” Gao Wu nodded respectfully.

Song Mingyue also nodded but remained silent.

“We’re family, no need for formalities, please, sit...” Song Yunkun was quite pleased with Gao Wu and smiled warmly.

After some polite exchanges, no one mentioned business just yet; they began their meal.

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Gao Wu enjoyed conversation. Though not especially skilled, his enthusiasm and openness carried him. Song Yunkun and Song Yunhe were truly adept talkers; while there was a difference in their levels, the atmosphere remained convivial.

During the meal, the three men each drank a few cups of the local Ice Lantern wine—chilled for a crisp, refreshing taste that burned like fire once swallowed, causing a sweat to break out over the body.

Cold outside, hot inside—thus the name Ice Lantern.

Made from sorghum blended with northern berries, it was a strong spirit.

Unaware outsiders often underestimated its potency and easily overindulged.

At this business dinner, all exercised restraint, and they shared only a bottle.

After the meal, the servers brought tea, and the group gathered around the tea table. Only then did Song Yunkun broach the main topic.

He had been impressed with Gao Wu’s conduct and demeanor at the table.

Warm but not sycophantic, generous but measured, the confidence radiating from the young man added to his heroic presence.

In this regard, though Song Yunhe was eloquent, his words sometimes felt heavy and hollow, lacking the natural grace Gao Wu possessed.

For an eighteen-year-old, such composure was admirable and sparked Song Yunkun’s interest in collaboration.

“You are the idol of all Beizhou youths, with a sunny and positive image. Our company wishes to invite you to be the spokesperson for the Mighty Dragon energy series...” Song Yunkun said straightforwardly, outlining the situation.

Gao Wu’s face lit up with excitement: “It would be an honor to be the spokesperson for the Mighty Dragon series.”

Song Yunhe smiled: “I’ve watched Gao Wu grow up. His character and abilities are top-notch.

“Indeed, the advertisements he’s done have been extraordinarily effective.”

As head of the Dongjiang branch, Song Yunhe’s invitation was partly to support his daughter and partly to curry favor with their father.

To him, it was a matter of courtesy. He never imagined Gao Wu would win the Kirin Cup championship, excel in the finals, and become the idol of countless youths.

An unintentional move had yielded dazzling results, earning the Dongjiang branch its first commendation from headquarters under his leadership.

Both professionally and personally, he was committed to supporting Gao Wu.

Song Yunkun understood his cousin’s sentiment, but in such significant matters, personal feelings mattered little; the key was whether Gao Wu could shoulder the responsibility.

If Gao Wu failed, the money and resources spent would be negligible compared to the embarrassment it would bring.

The current general manager was retiring, and by seniority, Song Yunkun’s chances of promotion were slim—unless he delivered exceptional results.

The difference between success and failure hinged on one letter: he had to be proactive yet prudent.

“So, if you become the spokesperson for the Mighty Dragon series, what ideas do you have?” Song Yunkun asked.

While the detailed business plan wasn’t Gao Wu’s to decide, he needed to understand the partnership’s significance and the responsibilities he’d assume.

Song Mingyue quietly sipped her tea, and upon hearing Song Yunkun’s question, she glanced at Gao Wu.

Though they could communicate mentally, she wanted to verify Gao Wu’s thoughts and avoid presumptuously speaking for him.

She knew Gao Wu’s martial talent was somewhat limited, but he was extraordinarily intelligent, possessing a unique worldview.

In many ways, Gao Wu thought deeper and further than she did, though his impulsive nature sometimes made him seem unreliable.

Gao Wu gave Song Mingyue a reassuring look and said he indeed had some ideas.

“As a spokesperson, I must actively uphold the brand’s image and cooperate with company promotions. Privately, I must be cautious with my words and behavior to avoid controversies that could harm the brand.

“I have over thirty million followers on Kuaiyin, with each short video garnering hundreds of thousands of likes—a significant flow of traffic. This is a major advantage for me as a spokesperson...”

Song Yunkun nodded. These were basic principles, but for an eighteen-year-old to grasp them was commendable.

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Song Yunhe was equally pleased, thinking Gao Wu was smarter and more sensible than his own daughter in this regard.

Gao Wu then shifted gears: “If I become the spokesperson for the Mighty Dragon series, I have a small proposal.”

“Oh? Let’s hear it,” Song Yunkun said with interest, curious what an eighteen-year-old might say.

“The Mighty Dragon series is a new product from Longteng Corporation. In this field, companies like Taiji and Kunlun have already established stable customer bases,” Gao Wu explained.

“It’s well known that changing user habits is difficult. I think we should target teenagers—they are more open to new products and more adaptable.”

Song Yunkun glanced at Song Yunhe. Though the business rationale was simple, it far exceeded what most eighteen-year-olds knew. He suspected Song Yunhe might have briefed Gao Wu beforehand.

Song Yunhe quickly caught on and shook his head.

Determining the target market and strategic marketing was not his concern, nor had he ever thought about such matters.

“Do you have a concrete idea?” Song Yunkun asked Gao Wu. His cousin was good at drinking and chatting but disliked practical work and probably hadn’t thought of such things.

This made Song Yunkun even more curious about Gao Wu.

Gao Wu said, “Since we’re focusing on teenagers, I think we could use a competition format, like hosting a ‘Beizhou Youth King’ tournament. We’d select youths from across the region, and anyone who can beat me would win a prize of ten million yuan and the title of Beizhou Youth King...”

Song Yunkun fell silent, pondering Gao Wu’s plan. It was simple, even rough.

However, several points were excellent. First, the title ‘Beizhou Youth King’ was catchy and highly attractive.

Second, it leveraged Gao Wu’s popularity and the fame of the Kirin Cup championship.

Third, the concept was easy to implement; once it became a topic of conversation, it would attract massive attention.

If managed well, it could spark a trend. Should that happen, investing a billion or so would be well worth it.

Such brand operations not only promoted the Mighty Dragon series but also deepened consumer recognition of Longteng Group.

Most consumers’ perception of a brand determines its value.

If people see it as a luxury item, even a discarded snakeskin bag can fetch a high price. If they see it as cheap, no matter how hard it tries, it won’t command a premium.

Gao Wu smiled broadly at Song Yunkun, his grin radiant and carefree despite the scrutiny.

Song Yunhe seemed about to speak but held back.

Song Yunkun smiled and said, looking directly at Gao Wu, “The Kirin Cup is a high school competition, but some top prodigies have already skipped grades and entered the Martial Arts Institute early. Others train privately with masters, never enrolling in school.

“If you were defeated early on, wouldn’t the title of Beizhou Youth King become a joke?”

Gao Wu’s smile grew even brighter. Rising, he moved to the spacious hall area and bowed to Song Yunkun and Song Yunhe: “Please forgive my poor performance.”

Then, he launched a punch forward, the strike tearing through the air with explosive force.

The deep, violent roar resembled the blast of a 155mm cannon, the sheer power causing the floor-to-ceiling windows to vibrate, stirring dust hidden in every corner into a swirling frenzy.

Song Yunhe, who had been smiling, now froze, his eyes betraying astonishment.

As a senior warrior, he clearly sensed the wild ferocity of Gao Wu’s phantom strike. If he stood before Gao Wu, he would be unable to withstand that punch.

Song Yunkun’s face revealed a flicker of surprise. He saw even more clearly and estimated the punch’s combined physical and source power to be about eight thousand kilograms—already at the level of a top-tier warrior.

Remember, Gao Wu was only eighteen; such raw power and talent were terrifying.

“Clap, clap, clap...”

Song Yunkun stood and softly applauded, exclaiming, “Excellent martial skill and cultivation—truly worthy of the title Beizhou Youth King!”