As the Clan Leader of Macau's Five Big Families, ranking third, Ma Kun was nearly thirty years older than Chen Yaoyang and certainly had the authority to call him nephew. Chen Yaoyang accepted it without retort, but the corners of his mouth still held the subtle trace of a cold sneer.

Of course, he understood why the other party had called him. It was most likely an attempt to fish for information and figure out who, exactly, Mr. Chen was.

So, Old Master Ma, even you have a day like this? Interesting, very interesting. You're starting to feel the fear, aren't you? Heh.

Chen Yaoyang rejoiced internally, yet he maintained an air of ignorance.

"So it's Uncle Ma. To what do I owe the pleasure of this call?" he asked with a faint smile.

On the other end of the line, Ma Kun's brow furrowed reflexively. A grim shadow crossed his murky eyes, but he managed to suppress his irritation. "I am ashamed," he said calmly. "It is due to my poor handling of my grandson. I've made a laughingstock of myself in front of you, my wise nephew."

In the past, such a casual tone from a junior like Chen Yaoyang would have certainly displeased Ma Kun. However, today's situation was different. First, the Ma Family had recently suffered a major catastrophe: Ma Kun's great-uncle—their patriarch and Sea-Calming Divine Needle—had been grievously injured by a mysterious person and was now secretly in recovery. Second, during this sensitive period, it seemed the Ma Family had provoked big trouble in the form of a mysterious young man.

Given these factors, Ma Kun had no choice but to be cautious. He had to swallow his pride and patiently deal with this junior, Chen Yaoyang, hoping to quickly ascertain the other party's identity.

He refused to believe a mere youngster could look down on their Hong Kong Ma Family. What a joke!

"Uncle Ma, your words have left me confused. What do you mean by 'poor handling of your grandson'?" Chen Yaoyang feigned ignorance, his lighthearted tone carrying a hint of mockery.

"You..." Seeing that Chen Yaoyang, a mere junior, was still playing dumb even after he, the august Clan Leader of the Ma Family, had personally called, Ma Kun could no longer contain the rage simmering in his heart.

Yet at the same time, he felt a prickle of unease. After all, if the other party didn't have an ace up his sleeve, would a 'mere' Chen Yaoyang dare to speak to me like this?

At this thought, Ma Kun's weathered face grew grim. "Chen Yaoyang, I don't want to beat around the bush," he said coldly. "Can you give me a straight answer today? What is the background of that Mr. Chen? Is he from your Chen Family?"

"Our Chen Family? My apologies, Uncle Ma, but you've guessed wrong this time. That Mr. Chen is certainly not one of ours," Chen Yaoyang replied.

"Then why is his surname Chen? Is it merely a coincidence?" Ma Kun pressed.

"Indeed, it's just a coincidence. Otherwise, do you think our Chen Family would still be at the bottom of Hong Kong's Five Great Tycoon Families?" Chen Yaoyang replied calmly, his voice tinged with a sigh.

Yes, if Chen Fei were truly a member of their Hong Kong Chen Family, why would they still be languishing at the bottom of the ranks? Based on my terrifying understanding of Chen Fei's power, securing the second spot, if not the first, would have been absolutely no problem!

"HISS!"

On the other end of the phone, Ma Kun couldn't help but take a sharp breath. He asked, dumbfounded, "Chen Yaoyang, are you serious? You know that such things cannot be said lightly." He was well aware of this, and as the acting head of the Hong Kong Chen Family, Chen Yaoyang surely knew it too.

But now, Chen Yaoyang had said it anyway, with such certainty and conviction that beads of cold sweat began to form on Ma Kun's old brow as he listened.

Is he being serious?

Those who reached their position were no fools. Ma Kun now understood with painful clarity that the Ma Family had truly provoked a major disaster, one that even their esteemed Hong Kong Ma Family would find incredibly difficult to handle.

With this in mind, he took a deep breath. "My wise nephew Yaoyang, Clan Leader Chen, for the sake of the kinship among Hong Kong's Five Great Tycoon Families, could you tell me the identity and background of that young man?"

The shift in address—from the senior 'nephew' to the clipped 'Chen Yaoyang,' and finally to the respectful 'Clan Leader Chen'—perfectly mirrored the change in Ma Kun's mindset. From slight concern, to greater importance, and now to utmost gravity. Clearly, he no longer dared to take this matter lightly.

"Clan Leader Chen? It's truly rare to hear those words from your mouth, old man! But just for that, I, Chen Yaoyang, won't hold back. I'll tell you who he is." Chen Yaoyang felt as refreshed as if he were eating ice cream on a hot summer day. He narrowed his eyes and spoke slowly.

To be honest, it's been some time since I became the head of this generation of the Hong Kong Chen Family, but it seems he never acknowledged me, let alone respected my status, until today. This is the first time, and it naturally fills me with an indescribable sense of elation.

"I'm all ears," Ma Kun said with a grim expression, clearly displeased.

"Uncle Ma, if I may ask an inappropriate question... the elder of your Ma Family—he isn't doing too well these days, is he?" Chen Yaoyang licked his lips, squinting as he smiled faintly.

"Chen Ya... Clan Leader Chen, I think you are well aware that given my great-uncle's status, he is not someone a junior like you has any right to comment on. Not you, not even your father," Ma Kun snapped, his face changing drastically as his tone turned ice-cold. Although the news that the Ma Family's Sea-Calming Divine Needle was seriously injured was no longer a secret within the circles of the Five Great Noble Families, the Ma Family still could not tolerate outsiders commenting on it. To put it bluntly, it was a direct provocation against the Hong Kong Ma Family, an offense that could not be easily tolerated.

"Heh, Uncle Ma, rest assured, I am quite aware of what I'm saying. In fact, I was there outside the Black Market Ancient Castle when I personally saw the elder of your Ma Family seriously wounded in just one or two moves," Chen Yaoyang retorted with a cold laugh.

This time, Ma Kun fell silent, tightly suppressing his anger as he waited for Chen Yaoyang to continue.

Seeing this, Chen Yaoyang couldn't help but admire the man's patience. Deciding not to drag it out any longer, he said, "Back then, outside the Black Market Ancient Castle, I saw it all with my own eyes. The person who gravely injured your family's patriarch was a young man. And most importantly, that young man's surname is..."

"His... his... his surname is Chen?" On the other end of the line, Ma Kun's hand holding the phone began to tremble violently without him even realizing it. A look of sheer terror flashed across his cloudy eyes as his voice quivered.

He simply couldn't imagine that his own grandson had been reckless enough to provoke *that person*.

Back then, outside the Black Market Ancient Castle, even the strongest patriarch of their Ma Family, the Sea-Calming Divine Needle, was defeated as easily as an adult beating a child. He was left grievously injured, which led to the Ma Family's current predicament.

And now, a junior from their Ma Family had once again recklessly provoked that monstrously powerful young man... No wonder the Chen Family was so fearless. No wonder a mere Chen Yaoyang dared to speak to him, Ma Kun, in such a tone!

So it was all because of that young man. That terrifyingly powerful young man with the surname Chen.

A long silence followed on the line. Chen Yaoyang could hear the man's breathing grow heavier and knew that he was afraid. The mighty Clan Leader Ma, a man nearly thirty years his senior, was truly scared. His body was trembling.

After a long while, Ma Kun's voice came, low and laced with deep bitterness. "My dear nephew Yaoyang, Clan Leader Chen... this matter... it is our Ma Family's fault. I don't know if you could put in a good word for us in front of him, for the sake of the solidarity among Hong Kong's Five Great Tycoon Families."

"Put in a good word?" Chen Yaoyang immediately shot back coldly. "Uncle Ma, given his status and power, do you think our Chen Family has the audacity to try and persuade him?"

He was telling the truth. It was laughable. Even the Great Elder of the Chen Family was as meek as a loyal old servant in front of Chen Fei. Hell, the Ma Family was terrified at the mere mention of his name. In the rankings of Hong Kong's Five Great Tycoon Families, the Chen Family was two places below the Ma Family.

If you don't dare, what makes you think we would? Are we trying to get ourselves killed?

"I've said all I can say, Uncle Ma. As for what to do next, that's a matter for your Ma Family. Sorry, I'm hanging up now." After saying this, Chen Yaoyang hung up without hesitation. A faint, satisfied smile spread across his lips. It was so gratifying. It truly felt like the first time in many years.

"That young man with the surname Chen... that young man with the surname Chen..." Meanwhile, on the other end of the phone, Ma Kun heard the dial tone and felt all the strength drain from his body. He slumped into his chair, dazed, his gaze trembling.

At this moment, he finally realized what a terrifying disaster the Ma Family had once again provoked. His face turned ashen with rage as he slammed a hand on the armrest, wishing he could personally strangle his useless grandson or just shoot him dead.

How much damn nerve do you have to provoke such a terrifying existence? And you even dared to make a move on that Mr. Chen's woman! How many damn lives do you think you have to spare? Why don't you just ascend to the heavens?!

Despite his inner turmoil, Ma Kun clearly understood the gravity of the situation. After a moment's hesitation, he rose from his study and walked toward a forbidden area deep within the Ma Family compound.

"Who is it?" a cold, agitated voice called from within, laced with impatience.

"Great-uncle, it's me, Ma Kun."

Hearing that cold, irritated voice, Ma Kun's aging body couldn't help but tremble slightly as he answered with the utmost caution.

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