In fact, given Chen Zhenjun's identity as the Executive Vice Minister of a department in Capital City, his position was incredibly high-ranking and influential. He wielded immense power... Naturally, he couldn't remember the last time he had uttered those two words: "I'm sorry." Hearing them now, a complex look fleetingly crossed Chen Fei's mother's eyes.

"Compared to him, you're definitely more of a man," she said lightly, then turned and entered the kitchen.

Upon hearing her words, Vice Minister Chen Zhenjun was initially stunned. He then looked at the figure disappearing into the kitchen and couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile. It seems this resentment will be very difficult to resolve. But this really has nothing to do with him...

"Mom, I'm home."

About ten minutes later, the front door opened, and Chen Fei walked in familiarly. He paused when he saw a middle-aged figure sitting in the living room, then smiled with some embarrassment. "Um... Hello, Uncle."

The man looks to be in his forties or fifties, so calling him 'Uncle' is perfectly appropriate. But who exactly is he?

"You're back?" At that moment, Lin Ling came out of the kitchen wearing an apron and holding a spatula. She spoke rapidly, "This is Chen Zhenjun, Uncle Chen. Say hello and then come help in the kitchen." As soon as she finished, she hurried back into the kitchen, worried that the food in the wok would burn.

"Hello, Uncle Chen. Um, I'm going to help my mom in the kitchen. Why don't you watch some TV for now? There's fruit and tea over here," Chen Fei said promptly.

Chen Zhenjun just chuckled and nodded. "It's all right. Go on and help your mother. Don't mind me."

"Oh, okay then. I'll head to the kitchen." Chen Fei smiled and went into the kitchen. Lowering his voice, he whispered, "Mom, who is that guy? He has a powerful aura, different from ordinary people. He's some kind of official, isn't he?"

Having met so many officials, especially high-ranking ones, his eye for people had been well-trained. He could tell at a glance that this man was extraordinary and possessed a unique presence... It was similar to the aura of Zhuo Qun, the current Secretary of the Northern Mountain Municipal Committee, whom he had met back when the man first came from Capital City.

Lin Ling's eyes widened slightly in surprise. I can't believe my son's perception is so sharp. He could tell Chen Zhenjun was an official at a glance.

But immediately afterward, looking overwhelmed, she pulled out a few chopsticks and tapped Chen Fei on the head with them. "Stop wondering about things that don't concern you. All you need to know is that he's an old friend of mine. It seems he holds some official post in Capital City now, but I'm not too sure about the details. Here, take these and wash the chopsticks. And the bowls, too."

"He's really an official from Capital City?" Chen Fei was taken aback. He was surprised the man had such a 'big' background—a capital official. As the saying goes, an official from the capital is three ranks higher than one from the provinces. It's like they get a natural bonus to their status.

But he quickly pushed such gossipy thoughts aside. Given my current situation and power, even if the man is influential, it's not enough to make a ripple in my heart. At most, I'm just a little curious as to how Mom knows an official like him.

About half an hour later, a table of sumptuous dishes, perfect in color, aroma, and taste, was served, looking incredibly inviting.

"I can't believe that after all these years, your cooking is still so incredible. Thank you for your hospitality," Chen Zhenjun said as he looked at the feast on the table. His eyes flickered as a memory surfaced. He seemed to recall eating a meal she cooked once before... Only, that time, the other person at the table wasn't Chen Fei, but his cousin, Chen Zhenguo.

"Practice makes perfect. I've enjoyed cooking since I was young, and it's been many years," Lin Ling said with a noncommittal smile. She then turned her head to Chen Fei, unexpectedly getting straight to the point. "Xiaofei, this is Uncle Chen, the old friend I mentioned on the phone. His son is ill, and he'd like you to take a look."

Since he couldn't feign ignorance, Chen Fei immediately began to ask about the situation. "Uncle Chen, what exactly is wrong with your son? Can you give me a brief explanation? Rest assured, as long as the condition isn't too complicated, I should have no problem resolving it."

Seeing this, Chen Zhenjun seemed to finally let his guard down. "Ah, Lin Ling, thank you," he said, sighing with a touch of weariness. He then took a stack of photos from his briefcase and handed them to Chen Fei.

"Mr. Chen, if I may call you that? Please, take a look at these photos first. They were taken of my son, Little Liin, right before I came here," he said.

"Alright, I'll take a look... What in the world is this...?" Chen Fei nodded and took the stack of photos. He had just begun to speak when a glance at the top photo made his expression change involuntarily, and he muttered aloud.

Seeing his reaction, Chen Zhenjun's heart skipped a beat. "How is it, Doctor Chen? Is the condition very serious?" he asked, trying to maintain a calm expression so as not to put too much pressure on Chen Fei.

Chen Fei, however, just looked puzzled. "Why would your son get involved with something like this?"

Something like this is incredibly difficult for an ordinary person to encounter, perhaps not even once in a lifetime, let alone the son of a Capital City official... I can't believe those people from the Southern Borderlands would be bold enough to cause trouble in Capital City. Do they have a death wish?

SMACK!

The next moment, Lin Ling struck Chen Fei on the head with a chopstick. "You little brat, what kind of way is that to speak?" she scolded, her face stern. "Have you no manners? Apologize to your Uncle Chen right now!"

"No, no, it's alright..." Chen Zhenjun quickly waved his hand, then turned back to Chen Fei, his tone and expression tense. "I think Xiaofei has a lead, that's why he asked... Doctor Chen, my son was previously serving in the military. He was stationed in the Southern Borderlands, so, you see..."

Just by glancing at the photo, Chen Fei seems to have figured out my son's condition. It proves the person Dr. Xunn recommended isn't just an empty name; he has real skill... So, is it possible? Could there be a way to save my son?

"He served in the Southern Borderlands?" Chen Fei shot Chen Zhenjun a complex, astonished look. He was no longer the ignorant boy he once was—the Wuu Xia Among—and knew that anyone who could serve in a place like the Southern Borderlands was no simple character. After all, that place was the main base, the very den, of those old poisoners.

After his initial surprise, he glanced again at the photo of the emaciated, unconscious young man covered in gray patches. He frowned and said slowly, "Let me see the person first. Does he have access to a computer where he is now?"

"A computer?" Chen Zhenjun paused slightly.

Sensing his confusion, Chen Fei explained, "Let me see your son's condition via video call first. Forgive my bluntness, but judging from these photos, I'm afraid he doesn't have many days left. I don't even know if I can get there in time."

"What!?" Upon hearing this, both Chen Zhenjun and Lin Ling turned pale. The former shot to his feet. "Mr. Chen, please wait a moment! I'll call and inform them right away!" As soon as the words left his mouth, he pulled out his phone and anxiously hurried into an adjacent room to make the call.

At first, Lin Ling thought Chen Fei was just trying to scare them. "Are you just trying to scare people, young man? At his age, how could... Ah, what is this!" She subconsciously grabbed the stack of photos to see for herself. The moment her eyes landed on the first picture, her hand trembled, and the entire stack scattered across the floor. Her face turned pale, her heart pounded in her chest, and the hairs on her arms stood on end.

"Mom, it's better if you don't look," Chen Fei said, coming back to his senses and stopping her with a wry smile.

"Doctor Chen, I've made the arrangements," Chen Zhenjun said, walking out of the room.

"Let's use the room, then. I'll get my laptop," Chen Fei said. He got up and went to his bedroom to retrieve it, saying to his mother on the way, "Mom, why don't you eat first?"

"How can I possibly eat now? That was terrifying..." Lin Ling was still shaken, gently pressing a hand to her chest as if to erase the horrifying image from her mind. After a moment, she began to calm down. A sigh escaped her lips. "No wonder he came all this way to find me," she lamented. "So the situation is already this serious."

Meanwhile, in the other room, Chen Fei had booted up his laptop, added the other party's QQ number, and started the video call.

It was clear that the preparations on the other end were meticulous; they were using a high-resolution camera. Through the video, Chen Fei saw the current state of the young man from the photos.

"Take off his shirt." Chen Fei's brows furrowed as he spoke instinctively. He then realized he wasn't physically there and didn't know if the people on the other end could even hear him. But in the next moment, a pair of hands in protective gear reached toward the young man and unbuttoned his shirt.

The young man's entire chest cavity looked sunken, and it was covered with dense gray patches of varying sizes. The most terrifying part was that as the ravaged body's chest rose and fell weakly, the gray patches seemed to move, twisting grotesquely with the folds of his skin. The sight was enough to send a chill down anyone's spine, let alone Chen Zhenjun's—the father of the man on the screen.

"Little Liin..." he couldn't help but murmur bitterly, his own chest aching with pain.

"Let's go. It looks like we need to hurry."

A solemn voice suddenly rang in his ear, making him lift his head in disbelief. "Doctor... Doctor Chen!?" he stammered, dazed.

"Uncle Chen, it seems we have to hurry over there," Chen Fei said, the corners of his lips curving into a faint, confident smile. "Fortunately, he can still be saved. Otherwise, I would have felt terrible for making you travel all this way to find me."

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