Gao Zhinan's status in Northern Mountain City had indeed changed. He now represented the city's new richest man, a titan of capital with connections that reached the heavens, a man who dominated the sea of commerce! Naturally, his presence was enormously intimidating to a small-time merchant like Hua Ming, making him feel as if he were dreaming. He could hardly believe this was true.

Of course, what shocked him most at this moment was that Chen Fei had managed to get such a personage to help, actually convincing the wealthiest man in Northern Mountain City to personally call him and his wife. This thought instantly filled him with tremendous confidence! After all, to a super-rich tycoon of Director Gao's caliber, a sum of fifty or even a hundred million was nothing, perhaps no more significant than one or two million was to Hua Ming himself.

With that thought, he couldn't help but say excitedly, "Director Gao, about the matter with my unworthy son..."

"I know. Mr. Chen already told me on the phone," Gao Zhinan said hurriedly when Hua Ming brought up his son. "Mr. Hua, why don't you give me an account number? I'll transfer the money to you now." He had called for this very purpose, so there was no need to make the other party worry any longer. Are you kidding me? This was a personal request from Chen Fei himself, and the man's son was apparently one of Chen Fei's 'brothers.' Under these circumstances, he wouldn't dare be negligent.

"Money... oh, oh, the account! The account!"

Though Gao Zhinan said it so casually, Hua Ming felt like he was listening to a fairytale. He couldn't believe a hundred million could come so easily. And it was from the city's top tycoon—Director Gao of the Vast Sea Group—who was lending it to them without interest! It was like a dream, too incredible to be true!

Wang Ying, who had clearly heard Gao Zhinan's words over the speakerphone, looked on with a mixture of shock and disbelief. "O-Old Hua," she stammered, "I'll go get the bank card. My mind's gone blank; I can't remember the account number." Clearly, she had never expected that her son's classmate and roommate, whom he often invited over for meals, would turn out to be such a powerful figure! He even knew the head of the Vast Sea Group and could get him to proactively call and offer a loan. Even if the name Gao Zhinan hadn't meant much to her before, she couldn't help but feel utterly shocked now. Indeed, you can't judge a book by its cover! She had just been thinking that Chen Fei was all talk!

"Go, get it quickly!" Hua Ming urged, being the first to snap back to reality. Turning back to the phone, he said hastily, "Director Gao, please hold on for a moment. I'm having my wife get the bank card." He was speaking to the head of the Vast Sea Group, after all. How could he dare keep someone like that waiting?

"No problem, Mr. Hua, don't rush. I'm not busy," Gao Zhinan said with a laugh, before his tone turned slightly more serious. "However, Mr. Chen asked me to pass along a reminder. For now, don't transfer the money just yet. It seems he wants to understand the situation first, so it would be best to wait until you hear from him before you act."

"Mr... Mr. Chen?" Hua Ming stammered. "Director Gao, may I ask... who exactly is that young man?" It was only then that he noticed the honorific Gao Zhinan was using. Chen Fei is the same age as my son, yet Director Gao calls him 'Mr. Chen'... Could it be? His gaze trembled.

"Mr. Chen is, of course, Mr. Chen Fei," Gao Zhinan said with a smile. "Though he is young, he is someone I respect immensely. Otherwise, I wouldn't be making this call today." His words sent a shiver down Hua Ming's spine.

What kind of joke was this? Director Gao Zhinan of the Vast Sea Group was a titanic figure in Northern Mountain City with immense power and influence. And yet, he was saying he held great respect for Chen Fei? This... this felt like a dream! After the initial shock, however, Hua Ming showed his shrewd side. Realizing Chen Fei's standing in the other man's eyes, he didn't press for details. After managing to calm himself down, he said, "I understand, Director Gao. I will wait for word from Mr. Chen before I act."

At this moment, even though he knew Chen Fei was from the same generation as his son, Hua Ming no longer dared to call him 'that young fellow' or 'Xiaofei,' let alone use his full name directly. If even the head of the Vast Sea Group showed him such respect, who was he, Hua Ming, in comparison?

"Here, Old Hua, the bank card and account number," Wang Ying said, returning to the study.

On the other end of the line, Gao Zhinan noted the number, then hung up to arrange the transfer.

Seeing this, Wang Ying was more stunned than pleased. She stared at her husband in disbelief. "Old Hua, was that really Director Gao? Is the hundred million problem... solved just like that?"

"It really was Director Gao," Hua Ming confirmed, still sounding somewhat dazed. "He's the richest man in Northern Mountain City, so a mere hundred million is nothing to him... However, it seems Mr... er, Mr. Chen wants us to wait. He apparently wants to understand what's actually happening with Zhinan first."

It was no wonder he felt that way. Everything that had just happened—the esteemed head of the Vast Sea Group personally calling them, offering to lend them a hundred million without interest—it all felt like a dream. Only in a dream would such a pie-in-the-sky miracle occur!

"Since Xiaofei said to wait, let's wait," Wang Ying murmured. "Maybe he really does have a friend in Macau who has some influence..."

Just then, Hua Ming's phone chimed with a familiar alert. "It's a text message."

His fingers trembled. He slowly took out his phone to check the message, and his eyes widened. "Director Gao's transfer came through! Exactly one hundred million!"

"Really? That's wonderful!" Wang Ying cried, overcome with emotion. "The Greatly Merciful Bodhisattva is watching over us! Truly, a blessing!" With this hundred million, their son Zhinan would be safe.

Hua Ming took a breath. "Since Mr. Chen told us to wait, we'll wait a bit longer..."

***

"The Young Master of the Holy Fire Sect?" On another call, Chen Yaoyang's brow was slightly furrowed as he spoke with Chen Fei.

"That's right. It seems your friend, Mr. Chen, accidentally offended Junn Yuanyi, the Young Master of the Holy Fire Sect. The Young Master was displeased and secretly had He Che, son of the Hee Family's Patriarch, set a trap for your friend. They not only fleeced him but also detained him," Chen Yaoyang explained, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"So you're saying they won't release him?" Chen Fei asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Uh, Mr. Chen, I've failed you in this matter. It happened right here in Hong Kong and Macau, yet I, Chen Yaoyang, couldn't handle it properly. It's... sigh..." Chen Yaoyang said, his voice filled with frustration and anger.

Apparently, when He Che relayed the request from Chen Yaoyang, the acting Head of the Hong Kong Chen Family, the Holy Fire Sect's Young Master, Junn Yuanyi, had simply smiled dismissively. He then stated, in a tone he likely thought magnanimous, "Since he's the one asking, fine. We'll hold him for one more day and then let him go." Setting aside the fact that this was a favor for Chen Fei, just hearing those words and that tone—"fine, hold him for one more day"—was more infuriating to Chen Yaoyang than being slapped in public. When he heard He Che's report, he was so angry he almost smashed his phone. I'm the goddamn acting Head of the Chen Family, one of Hong Kong's Five Great Tycoon Families, and I personally called to intervene. And they still won't release him immediately? They want to hold him for another day? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Do they think our Chen Family is trash, someone they can just ignore?

"Alright, don't blame yourself. I wasn't planning on letting this slide so easily anyway," Chen Fei said with a faint smile. "Perfect. Since he won't release my friend, I'll personally go to Macau and detain *him* for a few days for fun."

"What? Detain *him* for fun?" Chen Yaoyang was naturally startled. "Mr. Chen, he's the Young Master of the Holy Fire Sect! And his grandfather is supposedly the most powerful expert in their entire sect..."

"I know. Just a Half-Step Innate," Chen Fei interrupted flatly, a cold glint flashing in his dark eyes. The Young Master of the Holy Fire Sect? Hah. So what? He was well aware of the Holy Fire Sect's reputation as a second-tier Ancient Martial Arts sect, and he knew their strongest expert was a Half-Step Innate. But he simply didn't care. With his current Cultivation Level, so what if he faced a Half-Step Innate? At worst, it would be a 50-50 fight, or perhaps 40-60 in their favor. And if he couldn't win, did he not know how to run? Besides, if his luck was good and he broke through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer in the coming days, any Half-Step Innate would be nothing more than dregs before him, not even worth mentioning. What was there to be afraid of?

"Alright, I'm hanging up now," Chen Fei said, his decision made. "I have to get to Macau today."

"Wait, I... Mr. Chen..." Chen Yaoyang was stunned by Chen Fei's casual dismissal. Just a Half-Step Innate? He knew that even in the Hong Kong Black Market, the publicly acknowledged most terrifying underground power in both Hong Kong and Macau, a Half-Step Innate Ancient Martial Artist or an A+ Level Ability User would absolutely be considered part of the top echelon, holding a pivotal position. Yet Chen Fei had just brushed it off so calmly? This was...

But while he was still reeling in shock, Chen Fei had already hung up.

With a flash in his eyes, Chen Fei spoke coolly to the Member of Flying Leopard in the driver's seat. "Change of plans. Take me to Tongzhou City Airport now."

"Yes, sir!" WHOOSH! Hearing the order, the driver immediately spun the wheel without the slightest hesitation. The powerful engine of the off-road police SUV let out a deafening ROAR as it shot forward, moving much faster than before. Are you kidding me? He'd been listening to Chen Fei's calls the entire way. He knew this terrifying man had a friend in trouble in Macau. How could he dare delay for even a second? He was terrified that the foul-tempered Chen Fei would take his anger out on him. That would be a true injustice, like snow in June.

"Oh, right, one more thing," Chen Fei's voice suddenly sounded beside him. "How do you guys usually get to Hong Kong and Macau? I left my travel permit at home."

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