While Long Xiao was chatting with Zhao Xinlan, Lu Ying went to the living room to see Zhao Xintian.
Zhao Xintian was a little disappointed not to see Luo Caishen. However, he knew that it was normal for Luo Caishen not to want to see a junior like him.
Zhao Xintian handed the ancient painting to Lu Ying and then explained his intentions.
Lu Ying pushed the ancient painting back without even looking at it and said, "Young Master Zhao, although I know Long Xiao, we don't have a special relationship. I can't guarantee that this matter can be resolved for you."
"Manager Lu, this painting is a gift from me, a junior, to Elder Luo. Whether it can be done or not is not important. Please leave it for Elder Luo."
"Do you know Long Xiao?" Lu Ying asked.
Zhao Xintian shook his head and said, "I've met him a few times, but I haven't interacted with him. I've heard that he's very skilled, his medical techniques are exquisite, but he's too straightforward and not easy to get along with."
Lu Ying nodded and said, "You're right, but you missed one point. Long Xiao is not someone who values money too much. He often treats people for free. He won't make things difficult for you because of money. There might be other hidden reasons."
Hearing Lu Ying's words, Zhao Xintian couldn't help but feel nervous. The incident of people dying in an explosion had to be kept secret, and even more so the cause of the explosion. If anyone found out, it would be a big trouble.
Zhao Xintian pushed the ancient painting forward again and said, "Then I'll trouble Manager Lu."
Finally, Lu Ying agreed to try. After sending Zhao Xintian away, she returned to the living room, picked up the ancient painting, and went to Luo Meng's study.
The two opened the ancient painting, and Luo Meng chuckled, saying, "This Zhao Liang must have done something shady again, otherwise he wouldn't have brought out this painting."
"Grandpa, is this painting very valuable?" Lu Ying asked.
Luo Meng nodded and said, "It was auctioned for 150 million yuan in the Black Sea. It's not too expensive, but it's rumored that this painting contains Lao Tzu's Great Dao, making it very mysterious."
"Grandpa, you've been cultivating for many years and haven't been able to break through to the Heavenly Realm. If you look at this painting more, perhaps you can find a breakthrough point."
Luo Meng nodded and said, "I'll try to see if I can figure something out."
After Lu Ying left, Luo Meng hung the "Lao Tzu Riding a Green Ox Westward" painting in his study, sat in his chair, and stared at the painting.
In the painting, Lao Tzu was riding a green ox. The surroundings were desolate, with no flowers or trees, not even a hint of green.
Luo Meng first carefully examined the environment in the painting but found nothing. Then he began to observe Lao Tzu and the green ox.
After staring at the painting for two hours, Luo Meng felt his eyes dry and drowsy, and he still couldn't see anything special.
Lu Ying left her grandfather's study and drove alone to Xinglin Caotang.
Upon entering, Lu Ying saw Xiao Ming standing alone, with his hands behind his back, looking up at the sky thoughtfully, as if pondering a problem.
"Xiao Ming, what's wrong? Did you get a nosebleed?" Lu Ying asked with a smile.
Hearing Lu Ying's voice, Xiao Ming said happily, "Sister Lu Ying, are you going to treat me to a big meal?"
"No, I have something to discuss with Brother Long. We'll go for a big meal later." Lu Ying said.
Xiao Ming pointed to Mingyue's consulting room and said, "Brother Long is helping in Mingyue's consulting room. You'll see him when you go in."
Lu Ying walked into Mingyue's consulting room. Long Xiao was explaining the precautions to a patient while holding a packet of medicine.
"Brother Long," Lu Ying called out.
Long Xiao looked up and saw Lu Ying. He quickly handed the medicine to the patient and said, "Decoct the medicine as I told you, and you'll be cured in three days."
Afterward, Long Xiao took Lu Ying away from Mingyue's consulting room.
Long Xiao directly led Lu Ying to Zhao Xinlan's ward and introduced Zhao Xinlan and Zhao Xinyu to her.
When the two learned that Lu Ying was Luo Caishen's granddaughter, they tried to get up, but Lu Ying quickly stopped them.
"You're injured, don't move around."
Long Xiao explained the situation to Lu Ying. Zhao Xinyu said, "Manager Lu, my father and my brother treat me like a servant, beating and scolding me as they please. In their eyes, I'm not a member of the Zhao family at all."
Lu Ying was very sympathetic to the siblings, but it wasn't a solution for them to stay at Xinglin Caotang all the time. The Zhao family would definitely suspect that Long Xiao had discovered something and was targeting them.
"Brother Long, if we keep them here all the time, the Zhao family will definitely suspect you have some intentions. Why don't we send them to my hospital?"
Luo Caishen operated a high-end hospital with excellent facilities, serving only the wealthy. It was difficult for ordinary people to get in.
"Manager Lu, the Luo family hospital is a high-end hospital, and we don't have the money to stay there," Zhao Xinyu said with difficulty.
Lu Ying smiled and said, "You are Brother Long's friends, so why would you need money?"
Lu Ying made a phone call to the hospital, and soon an ambulance arrived at the entrance of Xinglin Caotang.
As the two got into the car, Lu Ying said, "Don't worry, Brother Long. Huiren Hospital has excellent security. You don't have to worry about their safety."
Long Xiao nodded and said, "Tell Zhao Xintian that these two are my friends. If he dares to lay a finger on them, I'll send him to the black coal mines in Xishan Province."
After seeing off the Zhao Xinyu siblings, Long Xiao received a call from Sun Sizhu before he even returned to his room.
"Long Xiao, who exactly have you offended? For the past few days, people have been coming to me every day, asking me to hand over Ouyang Tuo."
"Elder Sun, are you alright? Did they trouble you?" Long Xiao asked urgently.
"Not really. I made up a story, and most of the five great families believed it. There are also some people of unknown identity. Although they don't believe me, they only monitor me and haven't forced me to hand you over."
"Elder Sun, those people of unknown identity are likely from hidden sects, and they are very difficult to deal with. My current strength is not enough to contend with them. I will use a different identity when I see you in the future."
"What identity will you use?" Sun Sizhu asked.
Long Xiao thought about it and mentioned that he would be participating in a competition in the capital in a few days. "Next time I go to the capital, my name will be Hu Lei. I'll be an ordinary martial artist, representing the Donghai Martial Alliance in the competition."
"Okay, I understand. Also, you should discard this phone number and get a new one to avoid people finding you through this number."
After the call ended, Long Xiao pondered Sun Sizhu's words and decided they made sense. He immediately turned off his phone, took out the SIM card, and threw it away.
Although changing a phone number was a troublesome matter, Long Xiao did it anyway.
This time, he got two phone numbers: one was public, and the other was only given to a few close friends.
The rules for the top five promotion stages were simple. Ten people would draw lots to determine a擂主 (leitai lord), and the others would challenge them. The one who defeated everyone would be the first place.
Then, another 擂主 would be drawn, and the challenges would continue in a cycle to select the second place.
This process would continue until the top five were selected. Although it was tedious, it gave everyone multiple opportunities to perform.
In the world of martial artists, strength reigned supreme. As long as you had sufficient strength, nothing else mattered. Whoever had the bigger fist was the boss.
Long Xiao and his group arrived at the manor early. As soon as they sat down in the spectator stands, Ming Tianya, the Vice President of the Martial Alliance, walked towards their stands.
"Hu Lei, come down. President Ming has something to say to you." Lu Xin, the President of the Huazhong Martial Alliance, beckoned to Long Xiao and said.
Long Xiao pretended to be arrogant and said, "Who are you? Do you think I'll come down just because you tell me to? How embarrassing."
"Hu Lei, why are you like this? You dare to disobey President Ming?" Lu Xin, after being retorted by Long Xiao, shouted loudly.
Long Xiao smirked and looked at Ming Tianya, saying, "President Ming hasn't said a word, so how can I be disobeying him? I think I'm disobeying you. Are you trying to usurp power and become the President of the Martial Alliance?"
"Nonsense, I have no such intention."
"The intention is in your mind. Who knows if you have it?"
"Long Xiao, you're fucking rebelling..." Lu Xin was furious and swore.
Ming Tianya interrupted Lu Xin and said, "Be quiet. If Hu Lei doesn't want to come down, then he doesn't have to. I just came to see Hu Lei and tell him to fight well and display his true strength."
Zheng Dongyang gently nudged Long Xiao, wanting him to speak more politely to Ming Tianya.
Long Xiao smiled and said, "Don't worry, President Ming. I will definitely win first place for the Donghai Martial Alliance."
Ming Tianya was not angry with Long Xiao and laughed heartily, "Well done, young man. We martial artists fight for first place. We speak with strength."