For those belonging to the Five Families, everyone who knows of Li Er Ye's existence deeply understands one thing: Li Er Ye is invincible and is the final trump card of the Five Families.

This is also why Ma Qianqiu is worried, because the betrayal of the Ma Family will definitely not lead to a good outcome.

This night, for the Five Families teetering on the edge, was a sleepless night.

Ma Qianqiu had no choice but to rack his brains in order for the Ma Family to survive, pondering possible ways to respond to the crisis, with the worst-case scenario being how the Ma Family can barely survive after the demise of the Chu Group.

The Zheng Family has already fallen apart; amidst different factions, the clansmen are fiercely arguing over the contention for interests.

Li Chenggui, Huang Jingwei, and Chen Tiande were rushing to Li Er Ye's residence while contacting individuals in the political circles to prepare to challenge Ye Fan and seek justice for Zheng Guodong's death.

The instigators who caused all this, Ye Fan and Mengyao, who brought great loss to the Five Families, retired early.

They didn't seem to care at all about the raging rumors and stormy waves outside.

If Li Chenggui and the others knew that while they were scrambling to avoid meeting the same fate as Zheng Guodong, Ye Fan was already sound asleep, they would be furious to death.

On the morning of the second day, messages began to spread one after another, shocking the Northwest Business Community and then extending to the business community of Huaxia.

Besides the business circles, unprecedented turmoil also erupted within the political circles.

"Zheng Guodong died!?"

"How is that possible?"

"A prominent mogul of the Northwest Business Community was killed; this is just too outrageous."

"Who would dare to kill Zheng Guodong?"

"We must find the murderer and execute the villain on the spot."

Within the political circles, after the initial shock, these individuals were filled with indignation and murderous intent.

Zheng Guodong's identity was too unique; not only did he have extensive connections, but many of the high-ranking officials who were close to him were unsettled. Even Zheng Guodong's death alone would stir great waves, let alone the fervent shouting for vengeance fueled by Li Chenggui and others.

"Ye Fan, who is he? Where did he come from?" an official dismissively asked.

"He has a deep relationship with Chu Mengyao, the CEO of Chu Group," someone explained.

"Hmph, the Chu Group, a newly emerged company, is already fortunate to stand alongside the Five Families, yet they audaciously attempt to create trouble in the business world and cut off our financial paths; they're just courting death." A high-ranking figure arrogantly stated, "No matter who Ye Fan is, no matter the background of Chu Group, just deal with Chu Group, find someone to arrest Ye Fan, bring him to justice, and kill him after convicting him."

Such sentiments were expressed by various high-ranking officials and individuals from different institutions.

The Five Families have deep roots and far-reaching influence; indeed, government-business collusion is needed for prosperity, achieving a win-win situation. Therefore, those in the political circles linked with the Five Families aren't just members of those families; they include individuals with decisive power who had intimate relations and many intertwined interests with the Five Families. Now that the Five Families are in trouble, these individuals have stepped forward determined to make Ye Fan pay dearly.

However, just as these high-ranking officials were coordinating intensively, ready to send people to seize Ye Fan and shut down Chu Group.

A voice emerged, and suddenly, all voices within the political circles vanished; there was utter silence, and no one came forward to challenge Chu Group or find fault with Ye Fan anymore.

This person was Fu Lao.

"Everyone, behave." Fu Lao only sent out these six words.

Though simple and seemingly powerless, the words greatly shocked everyone in the Northwest Political Community, terrifying those with ties to the Five Families, and astonishing those without such ties.

"Fu Lao is remarkably busy; why would he care about such trivial matters involving Chu Group and Ye Fan?"

"There must be something going on; could it be that Fu Lao supports Chu Group from behind?"

"It's very likely."

Such speculation terrified the high-ranking officials who, due to the complicated transactions with the Five Families, and having benefited significantly, now had intimate relations with them.

But now, Fu Lao not allowing interference in the affairs between the Five Families and Chu Group could mean that he's displeased with the Five Families' rampant domination in the business world and means of achieving their goals, seeking a new rising company to replace their original status. Hence, they'd dare not act foolishly now.

Otherwise, just the charge of accepting bribes would be enough to bring them down.

"Destroy all connections and evidence linked to the Five Families." These high-ranking officials unanimously chose to adopt such measures.

They weren't choosing a side but responding to Fu Lao's order as though it were imperial decree; they couldn't afford any trivial mistakes.

Even with the slightest possibility that Fu Lao favors Chu Group, they'd make the wisest choice, decisively sever ties with the Five Families, destroying any evidence of transactions with them, and act as innocently as possible.

Soon, the business community fell silent.

No one sought vengeance for Zheng Guodong's death anymore, reducing this formidable business mogul to a hot potato. Regarding Zheng Guodong's death, no one was willing to mention it, and everyone wisely kept their mouths shut.

No high-ranking official was willing to mediate for the Five Families, suddenly tarnishing their reputation.

High-ranking officials initiated by Li Chenggui and others all simmered down, and no one jumped around anymore.

The Five Families lost their political support.

Within the political circles, no voice with high authority supported them anymore.

This development spelled disaster akin to extinction for the Five Families.

Without political backing, the vast business territories of the Five Families must inevitably change drastically.

Within the Zheng Family, someone immediately stood up to publicly declare that Zheng Guodong had died of a sudden illness.

"Sudden illness? Sudden my foot, the Patriarch was murdered, not deceased from illness; he was murdered!" Those concerned with Zheng Guodong's fate sobbed and cried with grief.

Only now did they understand what truly constituted turning black to white, confusing right and wrong.

For those indifferent to Zheng Guodong's fate, their public statements obviously served to obtain more benefits for the Zheng Family by suppressing those associated with Zheng Guodong at the behest of political authorization.

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