"Strong? The Russian Far East Gang and the Blood Blade of Italy are both organizations that act with ruthless decisiveness, and they're willing to do anything for money. The Russians are inherently extremists who love a good fight; the Italians are more like jackals in the night—once they've targeted you, it's hard to shake them off. However, compared to the Crimson Fang, their strength is still lacking," Miss Wuu said slowly.

Russians are almost universally recognized for their extremism, a trait many see as a core part of their nature. Not to mention the notorious 'Bald Head Party'... In short, the Far East Gang would do anything and dare anything for money. As for the Blood Blade of Italy, although they seem more low-key, they are utterly unrelenting when it comes to killing. They revel in it, and they love money even more.

"Then let them work together. I'll add another thirty million. Help me contact both of them. This time, I want to see if that SOB can get lucky again," Young Master Sunx, Sunx Long, said, leaping to his feet. His eyes flashed with a gleeful excitement, as if he could already see Chen Fei lying in a pool of blood. His tone was exceptionally vicious.

"Alright, I'll take this matter seriously," Wuu Xiaojun replied, subtly shaking his head. A moment later, a rare thrill of excitement began to bubble up inside him.

After all, despite having struggled for so many years to rise through the ranks in Italy, this was the first time he had ever hired two major underground organizations to assassinate the same person. The novelty of it gave him an inexplicable rush, like he was playing with fire, and it made his blood boil.

***

At the same time, an unusually large number of family members had gathered at the old Chen Family estate, filling the air with an indescribable sense of oppression. Perhaps it was because the old patriarch had just been laid to rest.

As one of the top three elite Red Families in Capital City, the Old Chen Family was an existence many powers in Forty-Nine City looked up to. But now, their Sea-Calming Divine Needle, their Pillar of the Sky, had fallen. This was undoubtedly a disaster for the family. At the very least, many of the demons and monsters the old patriarch had kept suppressed might now dare to emerge and challenge the Old Chen Family, to step out and 'speak up.'

This had been the unwritten law in Forty-Nine City for years.

There are no eternally prosperous Red Families. Nor can anyone's lingering prestige alone be enough to protect their descendants and maintain the family's glory after they are gone. That is simply unrealistic.

Thus, the Old Chen Family, which had once stood at the pinnacle of Forty-Nine City's inner circles, now had to confront a grave problem. With the old patriarch gone, how were the remaining members to navigate this sensitive and turbulent period? How could they strive to ensure the family's long-term prosperity, rather than becoming a mere flash in the pan, destined for decline?

Inside the study of the old Chen Family estate, numerous people were seated around the sofas. The current family head, Chen Bingzhang, sat in the central, most prominent seat. He leaned back against the sofa, his eyes slightly closed in silence, his fingers tapping a slow, heart-pounding rhythm on the table.

Besides him, the only others qualified to sit in the Chen Family study were clan elders of his generation and family elites like Chen Zhenguo and Chen Zhenjun, who had achieved dazzling success in politics or business. In other words, everyone in the room today was a major figure, the sort of person whose slightest move could send tremors through their circles.

However, the expressions on their faces were all quite similar to Chen Bingzhang's, a mixture of complexity, anxiety, worry, and frustration.

"Eldest Brother, you can't just remain silent like this," Chen Yaohong, Chen Zhenguo's father, said, breaking the silence.

Chen Bingzhang slowly glanced at him but did not reply, causing others in the room to grow impatient. An equally white-haired elder spoke up, "Big Brother, now that the old patriarch has been laid to rest, I think we should start preparing for other matters as soon as possible. After all, nearly half of Capital City's customary three-month period of peace has already passed. If we wait until the three months are over, those family powers who are at odds with our Old Chen Family will surely be unable to restrain themselves. They will jump out and cause us trouble."

He paused briefly before adding, "Especially the Sunx Family. Zhenguo took a ministerial position from them this time. I'm certain they won't be able to hold back their anger and will kick us while we're down."

"But what can be done? This is all unavoidable."

The words had barely faded when Chen Yaohong couldn't help but speak again. "It's a harsh thing to say, but... doesn't every family that was once glorious in Capital City inevitably end up in our current predicament? The only difference is that some withstand the pressure and flourish once more, while others fail and begin to decline. Sigh." He couldn't help but let out a soft sigh and shake his head.

Though the words were true, now that things had reached this point, the oppressive frustration in his heart was all too real.

After all, what was the Old Chen Family's status in Capital City before this? What heights had they reached?

And now, that height, that position, was about to enter a steep decline.

To begin the fall from a great peak into a low valley. The feeling was truly agonizing, like a hand cruelly twisting your heart, creating a disorienting sense of imbalance.

"While that may be true, we can't just sit back and await our doom. We need to prepare and take action," the white-haired elder who had spoken before immediately interjected as soon as Chen Yaohong finished. A strange light flickered in his aged eyes. "Moreover, if our Old Chen Family could find some helpers, perhaps those people wouldn't dare to be so presumptuous." As he spoke, he subtly glanced toward a certain person on the sofa.

"Helpers? Hua Qin, are you referring to..." Chen Bingzhang finally spoke for the first time, his brows furrowed in confusion. He had not yet grasped the meaning behind his cousin's words.

"Big Brother, I'm referring to the Xuu Family."

Seeing that Chen Bingzhang seemed to be paying attention, the white-haired elder known as Hua Qin visibly perked up. "As we all know," he said excitedly, "our Chen, Sunx, and Liu families are known as the top three noble Red Families of Forty-Nine City because each of us has a living elder. But besides us, there is another special case in Forty-Nine City: the Old Xuu Family! Because Old Master Xuu is still alive! We often overlook them because the Xuu Family is small, but now… What if we could win over the Old Xuu Family, or even form an alliance? With Old Master Xuu's prestige, who would still dare to target our Old Chen Family then?"

"But hasn't Old Master Xuu always preferred to avoid getting involved in the disputes between our three families?" someone questioned.

Chen Zhenjun slowly added with a frown, "If Old Master Xuu had any such intentions, he would have acted long ago. Why would he wait until now?"

"Exactly." Chen Bingzhang also shook his head slowly. "Among the elders still living in Forty-Nine City, Old Master Xuu is the only one who doesn't care for power struggles. You can see that from the current positions held by his son and daughter. Therefore, I also believe Old Master Xuu would not agree to an alliance with the Old Chen Family. Hua Qin, your idea is not feasible."

"Not feasible? Big Brother, perhaps you should let me finish." The elder named Hua Qin shook his head, his expression turning serious. "In the past, Old Master Xuu certainly wouldn't have interfered. But things are different now."

"How are they different?" Chen Yaohong asked, frowning. He never appreciated people being deliberately mysterious.

"For that, you'll have to ask our Third Brother here, and Zhenguo." The elder named Hua Qin tilted his head, a sharp glint flashing in his old eyes as he continued suggestively, "Have you all forgotten? A while ago, Old Master Xuu was critically ill with paralysis in his lower limbs. It was rumored that even a saintly healer like Mr. Xunn was powerless to help. And yet, he was somehow cured in Jiangnan and returned to Capital City walking on his own two feet."

He paused, and his aged eyes suddenly grew sharp, sweeping over to Chen Zhenguo, whose expression had already started to shift. "I must say, Zhenguo, you have a remarkable son," he said with a sigh. "And he is now Old Master Xuu's lifesaver. So, if we just have him ask Old Master Xuu, how could that old man refuse, considering the debt of life-saving grace? Throughout his life, he has always valued gratitude and integrity above all else."

Hearing this, Chen Zhenguo fell silent.

Elder Chen Yaohong also fell silent.

Even Chen Zhenjun and Chen Bingzhang were silent.

They all knew that Hua Qin was right. Old Master Xuu prized friendship and integrity above all else, and Chen Fei was now the man who had saved his life. If Chen Fei were truly willing to ask, Old Master Xuu would undoubtedly not refuse such a request. At that point, the Old Chen Family's losses would be reduced significantly.

But the problem was, why on earth would Chen Fei help them now?

Considering what the Old Chen Family had done back then, forcibly driving him and his mother out of Capital City, could they really expect him to feel any sense of belonging to the family? To help them? Was that even possible?

"Cousin-Uncle, based on my interactions with him and my understanding of his character, if he finds out what happened all those years ago, he will absolutely never help our Old Chen Family with anything," Chen Zhenjun said, unable to stop himself from shaking his head. He had had a brief encounter with Chen Fei, which gave him more authority to speak on the matter than anyone else in the room.

If that kid really finds out what happened, we'll be lucky if he doesn't seek revenge, let alone expect him to take orders and help us.

This is difficult. Truly, truly difficult.

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