Sitting in Tongzhou City's car number one, Gu Feishuang recalled everything that had happened and couldn't help but sneak a peek at the idly chatting Chen Fei and Dong Wencheng in the front rearview mirror. She felt as if she were dreaming.

A dream even more absurd than Cinderella suddenly turning into a princess.

She had never imagined that she would one day be sitting in the official car of Tongzhou City. She also never anticipated that Brother Fei, who she already thought was incredibly awesome, was actually even more formidable than she had imagined. He even knew the top official of Tongzhou City, who had personally come to their rescue, showing such respect.

This is... I don't even know how to describe it.

"Fei Shuang," Chen Fei, sitting in the back, suddenly said.

"Ah? What is it, Brother Fei?" Gu Feishuang's heart leaped into her throat as she responded blankly.

"Hey, what are you doing? I didn't say I was going to eat you. Do you have to be so scared?"

Seeing her reaction, Chen Fei speechlessly tugged at his ear and said nonchalantly, "I told you I knew Secretary Dong, but you didn't believe me. You believe me now, don't you? Heh heh."

"But, who could have imagined that you actually knew such an important person, Brother Fei? After all, that's Secretary Dong…" Seeing Chen Fei's familiar, grinning demeanor, Gu Feishuang suddenly felt a little better. She pouted and muttered, her voice growing quieter and quieter.

"Hey, what did you say? It sounded like a mosquito buzzing," Chen Fei pretended not to hear, exaggerating his response.

"Hey! What did you say? You're the mosquito! Your whole family are mosquitoes…!" Gu Feishuang blurted out without thinking. The moment she realized what she'd said, her pretty face flushed red, and she fell silent again.

By then, however, her heart was no longer filled with so much turmoil. After all, Chen Fei's attitude toward her remained as considerate as ever... Since that's the case, what more could I ask for?

Seeing this, a slight smile touched Chen Fei's lips. I've finally smoothed this over, he thought with an inward sigh of relief. We're friends, after all. I don't want any strange external factors to cause our relationship to grow distant and fade; that truly wouldn't be worth it.

At this moment, Secretary Dong suddenly asked, "Mr. Chen, could you come to my place tonight? My father, he…"

"Yes, let's go. How is Elder Dong's condition now?" Chen Fei nodded. If it weren't for that mess with Lau Tianqi and Captain Pu, he would probably already be at the Dong Family Villa treating Elder Dong.

After all, if Dong Wencheng hadn't helped him get smuggled back to the mainland from Hong Kong, he still wouldn't know where he'd be right now. That was a debt of gratitude he could not forget.

"Very bad."

As soon as his father's condition was mentioned, even a hardened man like Dong Wencheng couldn't stop his eyes from reddening slightly. He said with feigned calmness, "He has been lying on his sickbed for many days. He completely lost consciousness two or three days ago, and the doctors say his vital signs are very poor."

"If he's only been in a coma for two or three days, we should still be in time," Chen Fei said as if he had a plan, his tone both reassuring and as if he were talking to himself. "It's just that without the Midnight Black Lotus, Elder Dong's obsession with advancing to the First-Class Master level will have to be delayed a little longer."

Gu Feishuang, sitting in the front seat, listened in confusion. What Midnight Black Lotus? What First-Class Master level?

After about half an hour, the car first dropped Gu Feishuang off at her destination before heading straight to the Dong Family Villa without hesitation. Following behind was the car carrying the couple, Chen Yaoyang and Dong Shuxian.

After all, tonight was the moment that would decide Elder Dong's fate.

To live! Or to die!

When car number one arrived at the Dong Family Villa, Dong Wencheng led Chen Fei upstairs with a composed expression. However, Chen Fei noticed that the municipal secretary's hands were trembling.

Seeing this, Chen Fei sighed softly. He raised his hand, hesitated for a moment, then patted the man on the shoulder. His voice was calm and firm as he said, "Secretary Dong, rest assured. Even if Old Lord Yama himself comes tonight, he won't be able to snatch Elder Dong's life from my hands!"

"Mr. Chen."

Dong Wencheng and Dong Shuxian, who was standing behind him, both trembled. Then, in unison, they said softly, "Mr. Chen, our father's life is in your hands."

Chen Fei smiled and nodded slightly, then gently pushed open the door before them. CREAK. A chill, invisible to the naked eye, seeped out like a cold spring, causing everyone present to shiver. An inexplicable coldness gripped their hearts. Seeing this, Chen Fei frowned slightly.

Looking at Elder Dong lying unconscious on the sickbed, he was now a world away from the robust figure Chen Fei had seen before.

He was emaciated with a dark pallor on his forehead, and the veins all over his body protruded in a horrifying way. Even his breaths were shallow, taking in little air and exhaling much. The sight made Dong Wencheng and Dong Shuxian's eyes turn red again. Dong Shuxian clapped a hand over her mouth, nearly bursting into tears.

"Everyone, out!" Chen Fei suddenly said, his cold voice permitting no argument.

"Mr. Chen…"

Dong Shuxian seemed to want to say something, but Dong Wencheng cut her off.

"Shuxian, don't say any more. Let's go outside."

Dong Wencheng shot a meaningful look at the silent Chen Yaoyang nearby, then led his sister out of the room. However, just as he was about to step through the doorway, he couldn't help but turn his head back. "Mr. Chen, I'm entrusting my father to you."

With a soft thud, the door was gently closed.

Don't worry. To date, there hasn't been a single promise I, Chen Fei, have made that I haven't kept, Chen Fei thought, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He turned to look at the quietly unconscious Elder Dong on the bed and suddenly smiled. "Elder Dong, it seems you and I are both not very well-liked. Otherwise, who would have the heart to poison you when you're already in this state? That's really... a bit too vicious, isn't it?"

What!? He had also been poisoned?

「In Jiangnan Province, deep within a range of rugged mountains.」

Giant, sky-blotting trees covered the sun. The area was teeming with snakes and insects, ancient vines hung from the branches, and strange rock formations dotted the landscape amid a bewildering fragrance. It was a remote and forbidden mountain region, rarely visited by humans.

Deep within the ancient forest, concealed beneath waves of greenery, lay an exceptionally well-hidden, modern military facility, nestled silently in a low-lying valley.

Perhaps because the place was so remote and desolate, no one could imagine such a place existed here. Even if a helicopter occasionally flew overhead, its view would likely be obscured by the towering trees and dense foliage.

However, not far from that modern military facility, on the edge of a sheer cliff, a young man stood in silence. He was as calm as nature itself. His eyes were without a ripple, his expression as indifferent as stone, inspiring an inexplicable chill in anyone who saw him.

"You're here again, Seven."

Suddenly, a figure as burly as a mountain bear emerged from the dense jungle by the cliff. He had brawny muscles, bulging veins, and fists the size of basins. When he moved, the very ground seemed to tremble slightly.

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