Xu Yunhou’s body trembled, and he suddenly turned his head to look.
A boy of about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a gray robe, appeared at the doorway.
“Mr. Xu, Grandpa Zheng wants you to come in.”
The boy was in the midst of puberty, and as soon as he spoke, his voice was incongruous with his refined face, like a duck’s quack.
“Thank you!”
Xu Yunhou’s face showed excitement, he bowed respectfully, and followed the boy into the room.
Upon entering, there was a small side room, and to one side of the side room was the main hall.
Entering the main hall, the light was quite dim.
Inside, a shrine was placed, with tablets displayed on it.
The tablets were like a forest. In front of the shrine, a man in a blue robe sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, his eyes slightly closed.
Hidden in the shadow of the shrine, the man was like a statue, showing no movement at all.
The boy walked to the man and sat down cross-legged, saying, “Grandpa Zheng, Patriarch Xu has arrived.”
The man then opened his eyes and glanced at Xu Yunhou.
The moment he opened his eyes, it was as if lightning flashed in the dim ancestral hall, causing a phantom electric charge.
Being looked at this way, Xu Yunhou’s heart trembled, and a chill spread throughout his body.
A faint, indifferent pressure flickered and vanished.
“Mr. Zheng!”
Xu Yunhou dared not sit, he bowed his body, showing extreme humility.
“Xu Xilou is dead?”
Gongsun Zheng spoke, his voice calm.
“Yes.”
Xu Yunhou’s heart trembled and he said, “That person killed Xu Xilou, killed my son, and nearly a hundred clansmen!”
“Xu Xilou had some talent. In the past few years, has he managed to perfect his dark energy?”
“One step away,” Xu Yunhou replied truthfully.
“How old was the person who killed him?”
“Twenty-five or twenty-six.”
Gongsun Zheng said, “The fragment of the Dragon Mark Compass is also in his possession?”
“Yes.”
Xu Yunhou replied, “This person’s name is Chen Fan. It is said he is a live-in son-in-law of a local family, but he must have another origin. At the time, all the Xu clansmen carried firearms, but they couldn’t kill him, and instead, they all died.”
“The wounds on Xu Xilou were caused by qi energy being cleaved.”
“It is indeed worth my trip!” Gongsun Zheng nodded. “You may go back. I will personally descend the mountain.”
Xu Yunhou’s heart rejoiced, he bowed deeply, and retreated from the ancestral hall.
“Grandpa Zheng, you haven’t descended the mountain in years, have you?” the boy asked.
“Gongsun Liang, he is twenty-five or twenty-six years old and has already reached the Hua Jin level. You must work even harder!”
Gongsun Zheng said slowly.
“Grandpa Zheng, I am already working very hard.”
The boy’s expression turned bitter upon hearing this.
“You will accompany me down the mountain this time.”
Gongsun Zheng said.
The boy immediately showed joy, “That’s great, Grandpa Zheng, I can finally descend the mountain.”
“Silence!”
Gongsun Zheng said unhappily, sternly, “How do I usually teach you? Have you learned your qi nurturing techniques in vain? I’m taking you down the mountain not for you to play, but to broaden your horizons and let you know that your skills are not yet mastered!”
The boy’s expression turned bitter, and he said, “Do I need to pack anything?”
“No need to pack anything. Go to the east of the village and find your Uncle Qi. Tell him where you are going and your purpose, and arrangements will be made.”
Accustomed to Gongsun Zheng’s strictness, the boy was still excited, “Grandpa Zheng, when can we descend the mountain?”
“In three days.”
He paused and added, “Bring that Dragon Mark fragment here.”
The boy ran to the side room and soon returned with something for Gongsun Zheng.
It was a Dragon Mark Compass.
After taking it, he caressed the object, closed his eyes, as if savoring and comprehending something.
Soon, his long robe fluttered without wind, and wisps of qi flowed and swirled around him.
Profound and mysterious!
…
As the lamps were lit.
At the Hanjiang Grand Hotel, in the Baihe Hall.
“Little Wang, hasn’t your boss arrived yet?”
Sitting in the main seat, a man nearing fifty, wearing glasses, with considerable authority, looked at his watch, his expression somewhat displeased.
Wang Dongdong stood before the table and said, “Well, Uncle, isn’t there still some time left?”
“Your boss certainly has a lot of airs!” the man said with a smile, “If he is truly a major boss in Hangjiang, as you say, then it’s no big deal for me, the director of the office, to wait.”
“However, I know quite a few people, and I’ve asked around. Among the major bosses in Hangjiang surnamed Chen, there isn’t one named Chen Fan.”
“It’s alright if I didn’t find him, perhaps I’m just ignorant. But I happened to find out something else: the Su family once had a live-in son-in-law, who coincidentally was also named Chen Fan!”
Wang Dongdong was stunned.
“Brother, it can’t be, your boss is a live-in son-in-law?”
A shrewd and well-fed middle-aged woman’s eyebrows twitched, and she exclaimed in surprise.
“Sister-in-law, would I mistake this?” the man with glasses said, “Regarding our Wenwen’s matter, I, as her uncle, naturally have to be concerned. I’ve asked many people last night and today. To say how good our Wenwen is, she has looks and a job, and when choosing a husband, of course, we must choose a good one!”
The man glanced at Wang Dongdong and said, “The economic foundation determines the superstructure, but it’s not like the economic foundation determines everything!”
Wang Dongdong’s face turned green and then white.
“Uncle, I told you, I’ve met that Brother Chen. His demeanor and conversation are not those of an ordinary person!” Miao Wenwen quickly came to her boyfriend’s rescue. “Besides, even if he is a live-in son-in-law, if he can own Villa Number One, he shouldn’t be judged by ordinary standards!”
“Villa Number One caught fire a while ago and caused a sensation in the whole city. Even if Villa Number One belongs to him, he might have lost everything.”
“Moreover, that Mr. Chen is only Little Wang’s boss, which doesn’t prove anything.”
Miao Wenwen’s uncle, Miao Gang, said leisurely.
Miao Wenwen was a little choked with anger but couldn’t refute.
She liked Wang Dongdong because he had saved her from trouble. Although Wang Dongdong had a bit of a rogue aura, at her age, she hadn’t thought that much about it.
However, when it came to marriage, she had to obey her family’s arrangements.
Just then, Wang Dongdong’s phone vibrated. He took it out, looked at it, and his face lit up with joy. “My boss is here, I’ll go and greet him!”
He eagerly walked out of the private room to welcome him.
As he left, Miao Gang said again, “Wenwen, you really need to consider this matter carefully. Your uncle won’t harm you. I still suggest you break up with Wang Dongdong. This young man, although he gives generous gifts, being rich for a while doesn’t prove anything!”
“Wenwen, on this matter, Dad and your uncle have the same idea!”
Miao’s father also said.
Miao Wenwen felt like crying and lowered her head, not speaking.
“Your parents and uncle are all doing this for your own good. A person’s conversation and demeanor determine his future achievements. In this regard, Little Wang is no match for Xiao Lin, whom your uncle introduced to you!”
“This is a major life event, you must not have rebellious thoughts, understand?”
Miao Gang earnestly advised.
Miao Wenwen’s tears had already started to fall.
It was at this moment that the door was pushed open, and Wang Dongdong led someone in.
It was none other than Chen Fan.