The capital gradually calmed down during the following period.
Traces of the Wu family's existence were meticulously erased. At this pace, in a few years, no one would remember that such a glorious family had ever existed.
After the downfall of the Wu family, the three major powers began to carve up the Wu family's interests.
These were the Li family, the Qin family, and Xu Hanchen's faction.
Xu Hanchen had become astute now. If he didn't do certain things himself, others would. It was better to pave a path for Chen Jinzhao during his remaining time. Only then could Chen Jinzhao have a higher starting point, making it less arduous to eliminate certain forces in the future.
Because of this, Xu Hanchen was deeply feared by some.
The previous aristocratic families and clans had also been wary of Xu Hanchen, knowing that perhaps only one of them could end well. However, at that time, Xu Hanchen had still been honest and upright, not willing to break rules to achieve his goals.
After the annihilation of the Wu family, Xu Hanchen gradually revealed his fangs, making these aristocratic families and clans realize that Xu Hanchen could also bite!
The waters in the capital were becoming increasingly murky.
No one knew what would happen next. More accurately, no matter what major events unfolded, they would not be surprised.
While the major powers in the capital were still engaged in covert struggles, Yu Wendong had already rushed to Fengtian alone, accompanying Li Qiutao in a small tavern.
Night had descended upon Fengtian, and snow began to fall again.
The streets of Fengtian were sparsely populated. By the entrance of a small tavern by the roadside, Xiao Wu stood shivering, occasionally blowing warm air into his hands.
Inside the small tavern.
Yu Wendong and Li Qiutao clinked glasses, drinking strong liquor.
"This cursed place is truly cold," Yu Wendong couldn't help but say.
Li Qiutao chuckled, "What's there to be afraid of? You'll get used to it if you stay. As the son-in-law of the Li family, how come you have time to fly from the capital to accompany me for a drink?"
"Don't mention it," Yu Wendong was quite dejected.
"I'm just a nobody in the Li family. Living in such a grand estate feels stifling, like being tied down."
"Others would beg for such a life, so be content," Li Qiutao said with a wry smile.
Yu Wendong shook his head again.
"Let's not talk about this."
"I flew from the capital specifically to see you. The Wu family has been wiped out, you must be the happiest, right?" he asked, looking at Li Qiutao with a smile. Li Qiutao did not hide his thoughts from Yu Wendong and replied with a bitter smile, "I should indeed be happy, but I just can't bring myself to be."
"Why?"
Li Qiutao put down his wine glass and said, exhaling alcohol fumes, "My goal has not yet been achieved, and Chen Jinzhao's physical condition is worsening."
Yu Wendong's eyes flickered, and he looked up at Li Qiutao sitting opposite him. "How can that be? Both you and I know Chen Jinzhao's condition. He can recover so quickly after every injury. I think no one in this world has a healthier body than him."
"You don't understand," Li Qiutao said with a heavy tone.
Meeting Yu Wendong's confused gaze, he continued to explain, "Do you know that the essence of this world's operation is equivalent exchange? When he gains something, he must lose something. His rapid recovery after each serious injury is consuming his life."
"This..."
Yu Wendong's expression changed slightly.
Chen Jinzhao was his future son-in-law; how could this be the case?
Li Qiutao said, "I'm still trying to find a way to slow down this trend as much as possible. Otherwise, I might have to send my son to his grave before me."
"Are you not afraid I'll break off the engagement by telling you all this?" Yu Wendong asked with a wry smile.
Li Qiutao glanced at Yu Wendong. "You won't."
"Even if you agreed, your daughter wouldn't, so I'm not worried at all."
Yu Wendong sighed, "You truly understand me."
The two fell silent for a moment.
Yu Wendong then asked, "When do you plan to tell Chen Jinzhao about these matters? You can't keep it from him forever. If something unexpected happens to you or him one day, it will be too late to regret. Of course, I'm just stating a possibility, not cursing you."
"Wait a little longer," Li Qiutao sighed.
He did not intend to tell Chen Jinzhao about these matters until he found a solution to Chen Jinzhao's physical troubles.
"In other words, I actually have no face to tell him these things. If I die one day, remember to tell him all this for me. Whether he resents me or hates me, I won't care," Li Qiutao's words made Yu Wendong's heart heavy. He quickly changed the subject, raising his glass. "What nonsense are you talking about? We will both be fine. The Wu family has been destroyed, and the biggest obstacle in our path has been removed. The remaining matters should go smoothly. I hope you can tell him these things personally one day, not through me."
"Come, let's drink!"
"Stop thinking about such inauspicious things!"
Li Qiutao grunted.
After they had been drinking in silence for a while, Yu Wendong saw Xiao Wu pacing outside the tavern and said with a smile, "Your two young brothers are quite skilled. Can you find some for me too? Now that I'm the Li family's son-in-law, many people are after my head."
"Them? You'd better give up on that idea," Li Qiutao said.
"I rescued Brother Xiao Wu from the Divine Kingdom Research Institute when he was young, and he has been by my side ever since. The Divine Kingdom Research Institute has been destroyed, so where can I find anyone like them for you?"
Recalling the scene of rescuing the two brothers, Li Qiutao still felt a pang of sadness.
The brothers were only a few years old at the time, sold by organ trafficking dealers to the Divine Kingdom Research Institute and almost fell victim to those people. Li Qiutao had promised the brothers he would help them find their parents, but he hadn't told them that their parents had long been killed by the Divine Kingdom Research Institute as test subjects.
He shook his head, no longer dwelling on these unpleasant past events, and continued to drink and chat with Yu Wendong.
Seven days passed in a flash.
As everyone had predicted, Chen Jinzhao had recovered seventy to eighty percent, while Xu Jinsong, who was in the next hospital room, had only recovered one to two percent. The difference was staggering.
Yu Mengzhi was unaware of this and was still happy for Chen Jinzhao.
Seeing the smile on Yu Mengzhi's face, Chen Jinzhao suppressed the urge to tell her the truth. These beautiful moments, no matter how brief, were worth cherishing.
Meanwhile.
Since there was still some time before the New Year, Yu Mengzhi took the initiative to propose spending the next half month traveling with Chen Jinzhao in the Northern Kingdom, allowing Chen Jinzhao to relax. Chen Jinzhao naturally had no reason to refuse. However, before their journey could officially begin, they had already attracted the attention of some sinister forces.
This trip was destined to be less than pleasant.