Meanwhile, within the Sunx Family's luxurious mansion in Forty-Nine City, Sunx Qinian and Sunx Lie, among others, were once again gathered in the top-floor conference room, waiting for a phone call.

"Second Brother, I must say, you're quite generous!" Fourth Master Sunx began with biting sarcasm, his face a mask of ridicule as he looked at Sunx Qinian. "You know the old man hasn't created a new piece in over twenty years. Every work of art he has left becomes one less when used! Don't you feel the sting? Do you really think you can get another one from him in the future? You must be daydreaming!"

In his view, the old man's calligraphy and paintings were priceless. Using one meant it was gone forever. What's more, it was being used to pressure the Central Guard Bureau and embarrass the Xuu Family. If this backfires, things will get interesting. It seems that old fool is dead set on pushing the Xuu Family away. What happens if the Chen Family seizes this opportunity and pulls the Xuu Family over to their side?

"It's my property, I'll use it however I wish. Is it any of your business?" Sunx Qinian shot him a cold glance, his voice laced with acid. Just then, the phone on the table rang.

"Is that the call?" Sunx Lie asked, opening the eyes he had kept closed. At once, every other person in the room fixed their gaze on Sunx Qinian, who picked up the phone without hesitation.

"An internal line from the Central Guard Bureau. As expected, it must be Zheng Weiguo." Seeing the caller ID, Sunx Qinian couldn't suppress a look of pride, despite the lingering sting of his sacrifice. So what if you're Zheng Weiguo, the Chief of the Central Guard Bureau? You won't give me, Sunx Qinian, any face? Fine. But will you dare to disrespect the patriarch of the Sunx Family? Hahaha!

With this thought, he answered the phone and put it on speaker, his posture deliberately arrogant. He answered with a single, clipped, "Hello."

"Is this Second Master Sunx? This is Zheng Weiguo," a calm, even voice came through the speaker.

Hearing Zheng Weiguo's composed tone, Sunx Qinian frowned. Displeasure crept into his face and voice. "Well, if it isn't Zheng Weiguo. As the busy Chief of the Central Guard Bureau, what could possibly possess you to call an old man like me? Oh, right. I assume you received the calligraphy and painting?"

Zheng Weiguo's voice remained unnervingly calm. "Yes, it's been received. But Second Master Sunx, Elder Huang would like to have a word with you."

The call was on speaker, so the moment Zheng Weiguo uttered the words "Elder Huang," the expressions of many in the room changed instantly.

"Elder Huang? Could it be..." Whether it was Sunx Lie, Fourth Master Sunx, or even Old Master Sunx sitting in the seat of honor, they all stiffened. A trace of contemplation and bewilderment spread across their faces as a single, sudden image flashed through all their minds.

Could it be Old Man Huang Xing, the first Chief of the Central Guard Bureau? The faces of Old Master Sunx, Sunx Lie, and the others turned grave, and a hint of panic flickered among them.

Old Man Huang Xing had been Old Master Xuu's most powerful and formidable right-hand man back in the day! He was from the same generation and was the very first Chief of the Central Guard Bureau. His status and position were so high that the mere thought of him was enough to make a man break out in a cold sweat.

But for him to suddenly surface now, out of the blue, and ask to speak to their Second Brother, Sunx Qinian? What could it possibly mean?

"Bureau... Bureau Chief Zheng," Sunx Qinian stammered, clearly aware of who Huang Xing was and completely taken aback. "The Elder Huang you mentioned... is it Old Man Huang Xing?"

But in the next moment, the voice that came through the phone was no longer Zheng Weiguo's. It was another voice, one so ancient it sent a chill of fear down their spines. "Hello? Can you hear me? Little Sunx, it's been a long time. How is Chief Sunx's health these days?"

Elder Huang!? Everyone's eyes narrowed. They exchanged glances, each seeing the same indelible shock in the other's eyes.

"Elder Huang, hello. This is Sunx Qinian," he said, his face grim, yet his tone was forced to be respectful, even reverent. "Thank you for asking. My father has been in good health lately, with a hearty appetite."

He had no choice. Old Man Huang Xing's identity was simply too special—he was the first Chief of the Central Guard Bureau. His counterpart, the first leader of the Dragon Group, had passed away years ago. Even Sunx Qinian's own father was courteous when meeting Huang Xing, treating him with the same deference shown to figures like Elder Xunn Lun. Sunx Qinian might be over seventy and esteemed as Second Master Sunx, but strictly speaking, in front of a man like that, he was just a junior. How could he dare be presumptuous?

After all, back when Old Man Huang Xing was in power, who knew how many times Sunx Qinian's own uncles, both living and dead, had suffered at his hands? They were as docile as lambs in his presence. His title as one of the 'Four Great Demon Kings' of Forty-Nine City was no joke.

"That's good. Chief Sunx is a treasure of our Republic, our greatest asset. As long as the old man is hale and hearty, nothing is more important. Oh, by the way, you sent this work of art over, didn't you? How thoughtful of you, Little Sunx. To know that I, Huang Xing, care for little else but have a soft spot for this sort of thing... I really appreciate it. Thank you." Elder Huang's hearty laughter boomed through the phone once more.

Hearing this, Sunx Qinian's expression froze. "No, Elder Huang, I..." he began, his face twisting. What does he mean, thoughtful? What does he mean, he cares for little else but has a soft spot for this? He'd sent that painting to force Zheng Weiguo to release someone! To hand over that arrogant whelp who dared to step on his, Sunx Qinian's, head!

But now...

"What is it, Little Sunx?" Elder Huang Xing's voice came through the phone again, but this time it was much colder, sending a chill through their hearts. "Judging by your tone, it seems I, Huang Xing, may have been mistaken?"

"No, no... Elder Huang, please don't say that. Since you like it, please consider the artwork a gift from our Sunx Family, a token of our respect." Sunx Bingze, the eldest of the family's second generation, hurriedly interjected with a bitter smile.

How could he not understand what was happening? To think that Old Man Huang Xing himself would step in for that boy...

"...Is that you, Bingze? Well, if you put it that way, then I, Huang, will shamelessly accept. When you get the chance, be sure to pass on a message to Chief Sunx for me. Tell him he's still as sharp as ever! Haha!" With that, Old Man Huang Xing hung up, leaving the group on the other end staring at each other, their faces grim and ashen.

BANG!

Sunx Qinian snatched the teacup beside him and slammed it down on the table, oblivious as water splashed onto his phone screen. "Zheng Weiguo! Huang Xing!" he seethed, his entire body trembling with rage. "Damn them! How dare they push things this far!?"

Clearly, he had never expected this outcome. He thought Zheng Weiguo would obediently bow his head and hand over the boy. Instead, things had taken this disastrous turn. Once that piece was in Huang Xing's hands, it was truly a 'tribute,' and there was no getting it back. After all, only a bastard of that caliber was qualified to handle such a hot potato. Who else would have the nerve?

But this meant Sunx Qinian had suffered a double loss! That was a priceless work of art from his father's own hand! Even he only possessed that single piece!

Meanwhile, the others in the room had no time for Sunx Qinian's rage. "I never thought even Old Man Huang Xing would personally intervene," Sunx Lie murmured, his expression a mask of deep, complex thought as he stroked his chin. "Does that boy really have so much pull?"

Forty-Nine City has its own rules! The older generation retired from the stage decades ago; they can't just reappear so casually! And to meddle with our Sunx Family, of all people! Our own old patriarch is still alive, after all!

"I don't know how much influence that boy has, but I know Old Master Xuu must have had a hand in this," Fourth Master Sunx said, pausing to sweep his gaze over Sunx Qinian with a dark, mocking look. "Second Brother, you've created a huge problem for our Sunx Family! And all for what? For your worthless grandson, who was stupid enough to hire a foreign Assassin Organization and get caught red-handed with proof! Are we really going to push the Xuu Family away over this? What if the Chen Family is clever enough to seize this opportunity and win the Xuu Family over to their side? When that happens, we'll have to face both the Xuu and Chen Families. At that point, won't every one of us in the Sunx Family have to fear for our own survival?"

"You..." Sunx Qinian began, his face twisting in fury.

"That's enough, Second Brother!" Old Master Sunx, Sunx Bingze, cut him off, his face expressionless. "Your actions this time were indeed shortsighted. Fortunately, it seems the Xuu Family doesn't intend to pursue the matter further; they only want to protect one person. So let them. After all, even Old Man Huang Xing has stepped in. This matter is not to be mentioned again. Understood?"

"I... very well." Sunx Qinian's chest heaved a few times. In the end, he nodded, his face a grim mask of reluctance.

But whether he truly intended to let the matter drop, only heaven knew.

At the same time, news of Chen Fei's acquittal spread, sending a tremor through Forty-Nine City.

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