"Dong Wencheng? I remember now. He seems to be the eldest son of that old man Dong..." Seeing Luo Yuanzhi mention the name 'Dong Wencheng,' Elder Xiao Zhengguo furrowed his brow in thought for a long while before his expression darkened. He was getting on in years, and his memory wasn't what it used to be.

"Master, Chief Luo has left," the old man in the ram-horned cap behind him said hoarsely and respectfully.

"Yes, he's gone." Elder Xiao Zhengguo nodded with a wry smile, then couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Alan, did you interrupt me just now because of..." He could tell Alan had deliberately interrupted him; otherwise, the man rarely spoke.

"Yes." The old man with the ram-horned cap nodded slightly, his murky, profound eyes betraying a hint of astonishment. "If it is as Chief Luo said, an Innate Ancient Martial Artist in his early twenties... I believe this is the first time I have ever heard of such a thing. Not to mention that such an incomparably talented young man, with achievements that defy history, often has an unruly disposition..."

"I understand. Young people are impulsive and unwilling to suffer grievances. If he truly holds a grudge against our Xiao Family, the consequences would be unimaginable." As he spoke, sweat was already beading on Elder Xiao Zhengguo's forehead. After all, this was no laughing matter. The anger of a Strong Innate Ancient Martial Artist might be unbearable even for their Xiao Family, despite having their own Innate expert, because their family and businesses were simply too large and vulnerable.

"The most important thing is the young man's potential and talent. If he has truly reached my level in his twenties, then give him another five or ten years, who can guarantee how far he will go?" Alan voiced the crux of the matter, his aged face full of gloom and apprehension. Just imagine it: an Early Innate Ancient Martial Artist in his twenties. What would he be like in his thirties? And in his forties? The mere thought is enough to make one's skin crawl!

"I… I understand…" Hearing his most trusted retainer speak so, Elder Xiao Zhengguo couldn't help but take a deep breath as a chill shot up his spine. During the war, he had saved the other man by chance, and out of gratitude, the man had stayed by his side ever since. Now, he had become a powerful Early Innate Ancient Martial Artist! He was not only Xiao Zhengguo's greatest pillar of support but also the true Sea-Calming Divine Needle of their Xiao Family. But now, even he was this wary of the young man named Chen. Although Xiao Zhengguo couldn't truly grasp what this so-called potential and talent meant, or how terrifying it was, he now understood one thing very clearly.

It seems I have to make a choice. If that's the case, then our Xiao Family cannot afford to provoke that young man!

Thinking of this, he delayed no further. He turned to Alan behind him and said with a solemn expression, "Alan, please invite Secretary Dong Wencheng for a visit. Don't go yourself. Have Pengcheng call him." The Pengcheng he mentioned was his eldest son, Xiao Pengcheng, who had inherited his former position as the Commander of the Provincial Military Region of Jiangnan Province.

"Yes, I understand." At these words, the figure gradually vanished.

"Elder Mr. Xiao!?"

Receiving a personal phone call from Xiao Pengcheng, the Commander of the Provincial Military Region of Jiangnan Province, was enough to surprise someone of Dong Wencheng's status. But what shocked him even more was that Elder Xiao Zhengguo actually wanted to see him. Naturally, he didn't dare to delay. He quickly set aside his work and took a car to the Xiao Family's villa district.

"Ah, Dong has arrived. Please, have a seat," Elder Mr. Xiao greeted him with a very amiable smile.

"Elder Mr. Xiao, you're too kind. But why did you ask to see me today?" Dong Wencheng asked cautiously, sensing that something was amiss.

"It's like this…" Elder Mr. Xiao raised an eyebrow and slowly said, "I heard from Brother Luo that you seem to know a young man named Chen Fei. I was wondering if you could make an introduction. I'd like to have a meal with him to discuss a few things."

"Mr. Chen!?" Dong Wencheng's heart skipped a beat, and his face grew grave. After a long silence, he slowly asked, "Elder Mr. Xiao, may I ask… is this meal a hostile banquet?" He actually summoned the courage to look the old man straight in the eye, causing the latter's face to twitch.

"Dong, what kind of talk is that… What if it is, and what if it isn't?" Elder Xiao Zhengguo said, his expression becoming blank.

"If it is, then I apologize, Elder Mr. Xiao, but I cannot be involved in this matter. Farewell." Who would have thought Dong Wencheng would be so blunt? He stood up as if to leave.

"Hey, sit down, sit down…" Seeing this, even Elder Xiao Zhengguo felt his pride stung. With an awkward expression, he shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Is that young Mr. Chen really so formidable? That old fellow Luo Yuanzhi was like this, and now so are you… Are you all determined to show me, Xiao Zhengguo, no respect at all?"

"I'm sorry, Elder Mr. Xiao, but this matter is truly special. Mr. Chen isn't just my father's lifesaver; he's also a genuine urban marvel, a powerful Ancient Martial Artist. I dare not offend him," Dong Wencheng couldn't help but reply with a bitter smile.

"A lifesaver and an urban marvel?" Elder Mr. Xiao's face twitched slightly. He couldn't help but say slowly, "Dong, on account of the good relationship our two families have always had, could you give me the bottom line? Just how powerful is this… this Mr. Chen, that every single one of you is this wary of him?"

"How powerful is Mr. Chen?" Dong Wencheng fell silent for a long time before finally shaking his head. "I'm not entirely sure myself. However, as far as I know, Mr. Chen raised a storm in the Hong Kong Black Market on two separate occasions and returned unscathed both times. Moreover, it seems they have no intention of pursuing the matter. On the contrary…"

"On the contrary, what?" A figure emerged from the darkness, his voice hoarse and grave. It was none other than the old man in the ram-horned cap. At this moment, the emotional ripples in his eyes were slightly tense. Yes, that really looked like nervousness…

"On the contrary, the Hong Kong Black Market seems to be showing signs of goodwill," Dong Wencheng said, shaking his head with an expression of amazement. Every time he recalled what his brother-in-law, Chen Yao, had told him about these matters, even a man of his status and rank couldn't help but feel utterly astounded. After all, that was the Hong Kong Black Market! With his rank, he certainly understood what those words signified.

"What did you say!?" The old man with the ram-horned cap froze, his mouth hanging wide open for a long time. Given his level and realm, he understood the Hong Kong Black Market even better—it was a true behemoth. Never mind the legendary Grandmaster who single-handedly founded it; the three vice-chairmen under him were, at the very least, Early Innate Ancient Martial Artists or S-Level Superpowered beings. Each one of them was his equal, and some were even far stronger. But what was he hearing now? He had actually heard that this Mr. Chen, a young man merely in his twenties, had not only clashed with a titan like the Hong Kong Black Market, but they weren't pursuing it and were instead extending goodwill? Honestly, hearing those words was more shocking than a bolt from the blue. This was the Hong Kong Black Market we're talking about! To put it bluntly, if he were in the same position, he would never receive the kind of treatment this young man was getting, but now…

"Alan…" Seeing his old retainer so profoundly shaken, Elder Xiao Zhengguo couldn't help but whisper, his own face twitching.

"...Hah. Master, we should meet him in person. However, you had best prepare yourself mentally… because if this is true, we absolutely cannot afford to offend him," the old man said after a long silence, expelling a turbid breath.

"I…" A jolt went through Xiao Zhengguo. Not only him, but even Dong Wencheng's eyes trembled slightly. Although he had always had unconditional faith in Chen Fei's background and strength, hearing these words come directly from the mouth of the Xiao Family's own expert still left him breathless with shock and awe. After all, that man was also a genuine Innate Ancient Martial Artist!

"...Comrade Wencheng, please, give that young man a call." After a long pause, Elder Xiao Zhengguo suddenly shook his head with a bitter smile and spoke to Dong Wencheng. "You can rest assured. Even if I wanted to now, I'm afraid I couldn't set up that kind of hostile banquet."

"Well, alright then." After hesitating for only a moment, Dong Wencheng took out his phone and dialed Chen Fei's number.

Meanwhile, in a top-tier private room at the Dongyun International Private Club in Tongzhou City, Chen Fei had just lain down on the bed to rest when the cellphone in his jacket pocket suddenly rang.

"Who's calling me at this hour?" Chen Fei mumbled in annoyance. With a wave of his hand, the phone hidden in his jacket flew into the air and floated toward him.

"Hello, who is this?" He didn't bother to check the caller ID before lightly tapping to answer the call.

"Mr. Chen, it's me, Dong Wencheng."

Dong Wencheng's voice came through the receiver, causing Chen Fei to pause for a moment. He then smiled and said, "Ah, Secretary Dong. What's the matter?" He had heard that the reason Luo Yuanzhi knew about his arrest was because Secretary Dong Wencheng had found Lei Long. In that case, that kid Dong Jianhui must have told his father, right?

"Mr. Chen, is everything okay on your end? The thing is, Elder Mr. Xiao of the Xiao Family would like to invite you for a meal," Dong Wencheng said from the other end of the phone.

"Elder Mr. Xiao? Xiao Zhengguo?" Chen Fei paused, then a smile touched his dark, translucent eyes as he slowly replied, "For Elder Mr. Xiao to invite me to a meal, the honor is all mine. Uncle Dong, I'm a bit tired right now, so I'm going to rest. As for the meal, you can let Elder Mr. Xiao handle the arrangements. I'll be on call."

As soon as he finished speaking, he hung up. Holding the phone, he murmured to himself, "The Xiao Family… heh."

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