Logically, if it were only Chen Yaoyang, Hee Yuanpei wouldn't be afraid given his current status. The man was his junior, after all, hardly worth any concern. The problem was that the old man from the Hong Kong Chen Family had also arrived, and with him, an even more terrifying young man. Of course, he was afraid!

First, he feared the Chen Family would kick them while they were down. Second, he dreaded the consequences if that young man truly became enraged; things would take a disastrous turn. After all, this was the same young man who could grievously injure even the formidable old monster of the Ma Family. In other words, no one in their Hee Family of Macau could stand against him. They couldn't find a single person capable of withstanding his fury! How could he not be terrified under such circumstances?

Otherwise, with his dignified status as the current Clan Leader of the Hee Family of Macau, why would he rush to the Casino of the Nine Heavens of the Milky Way in such a panic over a mere youngster?

In short, it all came down to one word: Fear! He was truly afraid!

"Clan Leader, you've arrived."

About twenty minutes later, a flustered Hee Yuanpei arrived at the Casino of the Nine Heavens of the Milky Way.

Upon seeing his clan leader approach, Sixth Lord Hee finally breathed a sigh of relief. His eyes brightened as he stepped forward to greet him respectfully.

Hee Yuanpei, the current Clan Leader of the Hee Family of Macau, looked deceptively young with his dignified expression, commanding presence, and hair dyed black. In reality, he was already in his seventies, belonging to the same generation as Chen Yaoyang's father. He was an individual of great status and prestige.

Even so, his expression was slightly panicked at this moment. Glancing at the empty space beside Sixth Lord Hee, he couldn't help but frown and ask, "Where's He Che? Hasn't he arrived yet?"

"His phone was off; I couldn't get through. I sent Mountain Eagle to find him. Mountain Eagle just called to say he found him and that they'll be here in ten minutes," Sixth Lord Hee explained.

That damn bastard… Hearing this, Hee Yuanpei seethed, fighting the urge to slap his son, who had unfortunately not yet arrived. Although He Che wasn't entirely at fault for the initial incident, the major crisis that followed was triggered by him. And now, he had suddenly switched off his phone. Could that damned fool have done it on purpose?

Just then, a series of rapid footsteps sounded, and Black Hawk, a middle-aged man, walked in with He Che.

"You damned bastard!" Upon seeing his son, Hee Yuanpei could no longer contain his swelling anger.

"Dad!" He Che cried out with a trembling voice, shrinking his neck. He couldn't help but ask, "Dad, what on earth is going on? Did something happen?"

"You have the nerve to ask me?" Hee Yuanpei raged. "Let me ask you, did you or did you not set up a young man named Hua Zhinan? The people backing him have come knocking on our door, and you're asking me what happened?"

"Dad, are you talking about Chen Yaoyang? I know about that, but wasn't that at the behest of Army Junior from the Holy Fire Sect? No matter how impressive Chen Yaoyang is, he shouldn't be more important than Army Junior, right?" He Che replied, a sense of foreboding creeping into his heart as he offered his defense.

After all, he hadn't acted recklessly. He had acted on Army Junior's explicit instructions! Army Junior was the Young Lord of the Holy Fire Sect, the grandson of a Half-Step Innate Powerhouse! With such a terrifying background, how could He Che dare to disrespect him?

"Army Junior, Army Junior! Is that idiot the only one you see?" He Che's explanation, far from placating his father, only enraged him further. Hee Yuanpei viciously slapped his son across the face, causing it to swell and turn bright red in an instant.

"Dad, you…" He Che was stunned, never expecting his father would actually strike him. Did I say something wrong?

Witnessing the scene, Sixth Lord Hee, who had a good grasp of priorities, knew the gravity of the situation. He cautiously interjected, "Clan Leader, since it has come to this, we should quickly figure out how to gain their forgiveness."

He Che was jolted by these words. A look of utter disbelief washed over his face as he stared at Sixth Lord Hee. "Sixth... Sixth Lord, what exactly is going on? What in the world has happened?"

Sixth Lord Hee glanced at him and sighed. "Although you aren't to blame for this, the young man you detained seems to have a significant background. It's not just Chen Yaoyang, the acting head of the Chen Family, who has arrived. An elder of the Chen Family is here as well…"

He Che inhaled sharply, cutting Sixth Lord Hee off. He trembled as he spoke, "Wait, wait a minute. Are you talking about the Great Elder of the Chen Family? The one who's on the same level as our own old Clan Leader? Are you saying he came here personally?"

As the son of Hee Yuanpei, the Clan Leader of the Hee Family of Macau, he certainly knew what the "old man" of the Chen Family represented. He was an existence on par with their own Hee Family's old Clan Leader—a true 'Living Fossil,' a terrifyingly powerful old monster of an Ability User. He was also the number one expert in the Chen Family.

Now, he had personally arrived. Compared to him, Chen Yaoyang seemed utterly insignificant, practically a non-entity. He Che finally understood why his father was so furious. Could that kid really have such a terrifying background? To command such respect that the great Elder of the Chen Family would come in person?

At this thought, He Che's palms grew slick with sweat, his forehead beaded with it, and his knuckles turned white from clenching his fists.

"Yes, that's the one. But he isn't even the main problem right now. It's another young man…" Sixth Lord Hee nodded, continuing his explanation.

"Chen... Chen Fei. I think that young man's name was Chen Fei," He Che mumbled, dazedly interrupting Sixth Lord Hee. He vaguely remembered the name was Chen Fei.

"His surname is Chen?" Hee Yuanpei's brows furrowed slightly. Then, as if remembering something, his eyes flickered. "Right," he said anxiously, "where is that young man named Hua Zhinan? You haven't done anything to him, have you?" He was terrified his son would deliver some 'shocking' news. If so, the Hee Family of Macau would be in for a true disaster, a terribly grave situation.

"No, no! He's just in a room upstairs. I only had people guard him to keep him from leaving. Other... other than that, I didn't do anything else," He Che stammered, a wave of relief washing over him.

He was lucky that Chen Yaoyang had called him beforehand. That call had made him realize the other party might have some backing, so there was no need to take things to the extreme. He had merely restricted the man's freedom politely, under the pretext that he had lost a bet and owed money.

So, the situation shouldn't be that bad, right? He Che muttered to himself, his forehead covered in sweat.

"He's just upstairs? Quick, take me there now," Hee Yuanpei said, finally able to breathe a little easier. He immediately ordered his son to lead the way. The one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it. Right now, Hua Zhinan was the key, so it was imperative they 'invite' him out first.

「Meanwhile, in a certain room within the high-rise hotel of the Nine Heavens of the Milky Way!」

Two burly men in black stood guard outside the room.

Inside, the room was pitch-black and unlit. In the deepest, darkest corner, Hua Zhinan was curled into a ball, his hair a disheveled mess. Whether from fear or self-blame, he kept muttering to himself. I'm so useless! Why, why, why am I so useless…

It was clear that he had emotionally collapsed. The tension, panic, and helplessness roiling inside him were the most severe he had felt in his entire life. His face was ghastly pale, and his lips trembled, even turning a shade of blue.

In just a day or two, he had plunged from the highest clouds straight into an abyss. He had gambled recklessly in a Macau casino and lost one hundred million. The pressure he was under was simply unimaginable for an ordinary person.

Although he was a bit clearer-headed now and realized he had likely been set up, what difference did it make? The result was that he had lost one hundred million yuann in a Macau casino. Could he possibly escape? Wouldn't they call his parents?

No, please no!

Dad, Mom, don't come to save me. Don't you dare bring money to save me… It felt as if a nerve had been cruelly stretched to its absolute limit, yet somehow, it hadn't snapped. Hua Zhinan buried his head in his arms, choking back silent sobs.

He hated his own incompetence and his own foolishness. He had fallen into this desperate, dangerous trap because he couldn't stand being provoked. It didn't matter if he lost the bet. It didn't even matter if he died. But he was terrified of dragging his parents down with him! That was one hundred million yuann! One hundred million! How could they possibly repay it?

Don't come, please don't come…

It's one hundred million yuann. You can't repay it. Dad, Mom, please don't come…

Hua Zhinan kept his head buried, murmuring to himself between choked sobs. He had never felt so miserable and pathetic, nor so scared. If only I were stronger, just a little bit stronger…

"Mr. Hua!"

Just then, the door was suddenly thrown open from the outside.

Hee Yuanpei strode in first with an anxious look, followed by the equally worried Sixth Lord Hee, and the trembling He Che.

This is bad… When Hee Yuanpei saw the scene before him—the young man curled up in the darkest corner, his face stained with tears—his heart seized. A chill ran down his spine, and his scalp began to tingle.

This is terrible… Of all the things I calculated, I never anticipated his mental fortitude would be this 'poor.' If the Great Elder of the Chen Family and that other young man were to see him in this state… Even though Hee Yuanpei was a major figure in Hong Kong and Macau, he couldn't stop his body from trembling uncontrollably.

"Who… is it you?" Seeing the figures suddenly barge in, Hua Zhinan forced his sobs to a halt. He kept his head down, his vision blurred as he spoke.

He didn't recognize Hee Yuanpei or Sixth Lord Hee, but he certainly recognized He Che—the one who had personally kicked him from the clouds and into the abyss.

Even though the sight of him had scared He Che so badly that his face was now deathly pale, Hua Zhinan couldn't see it.

First, because his head was down.

Second, because he had been crying so much his vision was too blurred to see anything clearly.

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