"Brother Luo, isn't that statement a bit harsh?" Xiao Zhengguo, Elder Xiao, asked with a somber face after a long silence. "Although those under us have been reckless, could it be... that this young man with the surname Chen has an extraordinary background?"

He had noticed early on that the focus of the file seemed to be a young man named Chen, but he hadn't taken the matter seriously. After all, given his status, no young man, regardless of their background, should be this important. But now... Could it really be because of that young man with the surname Chen? If so, he had to take this seriously. If a mere youth could bring the great Chief Luo Yuanzhi to his door to negotiate, and even make him speak so bluntly, the implications were self-evident.

"He is a very special young man. His medical skills are excellent; he once saved Old Master Xuu's life," Chief Luo Yuanzhi nodded.

"HISS!"

Even someone of Elder Xiao's status couldn't help but feel his face twitch as he drew a sharp breath. "Old Master Xuu... Brother Luo, are you talking about Old Master Xuu of the Xuu Family of Capital City? General Xuu?"

He had once been the Commander of the Provincial Military Region of Jiangnan Province, a position of great authority. Even so, he was leagues below a founding figure like Old Master Xuu. They were not even in the same category. And now, Chief Luo Yuanzhi was saying that the young man with the surname Chen was the lifesaver of General Xuu, Old Master Xuu himself. How could he not be shocked? No wonder Chief Luo had acted that way... so that was the reason.

He knew very well that Luo Yuanzhi had been a trusted soldier under Old Master Xuu for over a decade. Although Luo later went his own way, their bond remained... And now, his own third brother had dared to provoke Old Master Xuu's lifesaver. This was going too far.

Thinking of this, Elder Xiao frowned slightly and then said slowly, "Brother Luo, this is my Xiao Family's fault, and it is my own negligence as well. However, let's not beat around the bush. How do you propose we handle this?"

Although he recognized the gravity of the situation, Luo Yuanzhi had arrested two people: his own third brother, Xiao Nanshan, and the public face of the Xiao Family, a candidate for future succession. Weren't these actions too drastic? Was this not a blatant show of disrespect to the Xiao Family and to him, Xiao Zhengguo? After all, Old Master Xuu had many lifesavers. There was one in Tongzhou City with the surname Dong. Offending that man wouldn't have escalated things to this degree. Thinking this, Elder Xiao felt a flicker of dissatisfaction. Was Luo Yuanzhi making a mountain out of a molehill, trying to make an example out of them?

"Not beat around the bush?" Chief Luo Yuanzhi's brow twitched. His turbid, profound eyes swept over Elder Xiao's face, which was tight with suppressed anger, before he spoke slowly. "Brother Xiao, do you think I'm the kind of person who lacks judgment? Do you think I'd blow something out of proportion and refuse to let it go?"

He had clearly seen through Elder Xiao's thoughts.

"Uh..." Elder Xiao was taken aback. A grave expression appeared on his old face, and he gave a wry smile. "Brother Luo, can you please just give me a straight answer? What exactly is going on? Is that young man with the surname Chen really that intimidating?"

"Background? He doesn't seem to have much of one, so 'intimidating' isn't the right word. But... did you know, Brother Xiao, that not long ago, I personally invited him to be the Chief Instructor of our Flying Leopard unit?" Chief Luo Yuanzhi first shook his head, then dropped the bombshell.

"What!?"

"Chief Instructor? Isn't that..."

Hearing this, both Elder Xiao and the silent old man in the goat-horn cap behind him couldn't help but tremble. In an instant, their eyes filled with utter shock that was clearly genuine.

"Brother Luo, I recall that the Chief Instructor of your Flying Leopard unit was the man who came from the Capital City decades ago, wasn't he?" Elder Xiao couldn't help but ask.

"Yes. But he was ambushed some time ago and has... passed on," Chief Luo said grimly.

"So now... I remember that this position requires at least the strength of an Innate Ancient Martial Artist to qualify, doesn't it?" Elder Xiao pressed his lips together. He hesitated for a long moment before his fingers trembled as he asked the question.

"Yes. That's why I said his background isn't intimidating. It's his strength that is truly, truly terrifying..." He paused slightly, then raised his voice, articulating each word with chilling emphasis as he stared into their eyes. "IN! NATE! AN! CIENT! MAR! TIAL! AR! TIST!"

The words were terrifying.

"Impossible! An Innate Ancient Martial Artist? How old is that kid?" the old man in the goat-horn cap couldn't help but interject. He adjusted his small, round-framed glasses. His voice was already hoarse, but the gaze that shot from his cloudy eyes was sharp and piercing.

"Alan, I can't withstand such an aura from you anymore. Please..." Feeling a terrifying pressure descend upon him, Chief Luo Yuanzhi shuddered and forced a bitter smile.

"Chief Luo, my apologies." The old man in the goat-horn cap froze. The fearsome aura around him instantly receded, and he apologized. He had gotten carried away.

"Brother Luo, you weren't joking just now, were you?" Xiao Zhengguo couldn't suppress the tremor in his heart and brought the topic up again. "The young man in this file, who is barely in his twenties... he truly possesses... that level of strength?"

This was no laughing matter. An Innate Ancient Martial Artist... the weight of those words alone was enough to make the Xiao Family, and him, Xiao Zhengguo, feel as if they were facing a powerful enemy, enough to rob them of sleep. It was preposterous! What did it mean to be an Innate Ancient Martial Artist? Even their Xiao Family, at the height of its power and prosperity, had only one such being, and he was already old, the same age as himself. Yet Luo Yuanzhi was claiming that a young man in his twenties had reached the Innate realm of an Ancient Martial Artist? Not only did Xiao Zhengguo not believe it, but the old man behind him—Alan—didn't believe it either.

"Chief Luo, is this true?" Alan asked, staring at Chief Luo Yuanzhi with a grave expression.

"I have no reason to lie. Otherwise, why do you think I came here in person today?" Luo Yuanzhi replied calmly. His words, however, made Elder Xiao and the old man in the goat-horn cap look at each other, their faces pale.

"...Whew." After a long moment, Elder Xiao Zhengguo finally let out a heavy breath. He looked at Chief Luo Yuanzhi with a bitter smile. "Brother Luo, thank you. Regarding this matter... what are that young man's intentions?"

Clearly, after understanding Chen Fei's identity and background, even a man like Elder Xiao Zhengguo could only shake his head in bitter resignation. Their Xiao Family did have a Strong Innate Ancient Martial Artist of their own, but that was beside the point. Was it worth making an enemy of another one, especially when they were in the wrong? The biggest issue, however, was that this was an Innate Ancient Martial Artist in his twenties. The thought alone was enough to induce a feeling of powerlessness, let alone the idea of offending him... That would be courting death. And he, Xiao Zhengguo, certainly wanted to live a few more years.

"His intentions... sigh, fine, I'll be blunt. He means for your Xiao Family to give him a proper explanation, otherwise..." Though he didn't finish, his meaning was crystal clear.

"A proper explanation?" Elder Xiao Zhengguo's brows twitched, and a wry smile touched his lips. "Brother Luo, let's be frank with each other. From the sound of it, he intends to pursue this matter to the end? But no matter how wrong Nan Shan was, he's still my own brother. I can't just abandon him, can I?"

Though his words sounded like a complaint, they revealed his position. He hadn't mentioned Xiao Qianrang's name, only his brother, Xiao Nanshan. The implication was obvious. Xiao Qianrang could be sacrificed by the Xiao Family. But could they be shown some face regarding his brother, Xiao Nanshan, and just let the matter drop?

"Brother Xiao, I understand your position, but..." Luo Yuanzhi hesitated. Logically, for Xiao Zhengguo to make such a concession on behalf of the Xiao Family was already a huge step. They were giving up an outstanding junior who had a chance at becoming the family heir—a great sacrifice. The problem was Chen Fei. From what he knew of Chen Fei, if the young man decided not to cause trouble, things would be fine. But once he decided to 'raise a fuss', a concession of this level would likely not be enough to stop him.

Seeing this, Elder Xiao Zhengguo's expression darkened. He hesitated for a moment, then frowned and said, "Brother Luo..."

"Why don't we meet him first before deciding anything?" Suddenly, the old man in the goat-horn cap, who had been standing behind him, spoke up, interrupting the words that were about to leave Xiao Zhengguo's lips.

"Meet him?" Elder Xiao Zhengguo was stunned for a moment. Then his expression turned grim as he realized the problem might not be as simple as he had thought. Taking a deep breath, he said slowly, "Brother Luo, would you trouble yourself to make an introduction for us?"

"An introduction? It's not my place; it wouldn't be appropriate. However, Brother Xiao, you can go through Dong Wencheng, the party secretary for Tongzhou City. He knows the young man and can act as an intermediary. Now, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave." Having said his piece, Chief Luo Yuanzhi stood up and left.

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