ã€ŠUrban Super Medical Saintã€‹


 Chapter 1 Farewell

    "Master, tomorrow I'm going to the county seat for my school preparations, and I won't be able to visit you every day anymore. Here is your favorite Huadiao Wine, aged ten years, and your favorite beggar's chicken wrapped in lotus leaves. Today, let's drink and eat to our hearts' content," said a young man in front of a tomb on Baiyun Mountain, holding a jug of Huadiao Wine and placing a beggar's chicken in front of it, along with two porcelain bowls, pouring wine into the bowls while muttering to himself.This young man was named Ge Dongxu, a villager from Ge Family Village at the foot of Baiyun Mountain. Buried in the grave was his master, Ren Yao.
    Ge Dongxu had followed him in cultivation practice from the age of eight until Ren Yao's death at fourteen. Now, two years after Ren Yao's death, Ge Dongxu was a sixteen-year-old teenager. Because he had been admitted to Changxi No. 1 Middle School, he was leaving for the city tomorrow and had come to bid farewell to his master today.
    Speaking of Master Ren Yao, although Ge Dongxu had followed him in cultivation for six years, he knew very little about his life, and didn't even know his name until right before he closed his eyes for good. All along, his master had been a crazed old man whose sanity fluctuated.
    Ren Yao didn't often appear in the village and mostly lived in a dilapidated small Daoist temple deep in Baiyun Mountain. On the rare occasions he did visit the village, he was usually seen in a demented state. The mischievous children in the village, seeing the old man in such a state, would playfully chase him, throwing rotten fruits and mud at him.
    Ge Dongxu, being naturally humble and kind-hearted, was not like other mischievous children. Whenever he saw his peers throwing things at the old man for fun, he always stepped in to shield Ren Yao. As a result, he ended up being the one covered in dirt.
    Once, when Ge Dongxu was protecting Ren Yao and got dirty again, Ren Yao suddenly became lucid, drove the other children away, and after staring at Ge Dongxu for a long time, he suddenly asked, "Would you like to accept me as your master and follow me in cultivation?"
    Ge Dongxu was about to shake his head, but seeing Ren Yao's white hair and ragged clothes, looking quite pitiful, he inexplicably nodded and agreed.
    Ren Yao was overjoyed and immediately took Ge Dongxu to meet his parents to formally accept him as a disciple.
    Ge Dongxu's parents naturally refused to let their son be apprenticed to a crazed old man, although he seemed very normal at that time.
    Whether it was the shock of being rejected by Ge Dongxu's parents or not, Ren Yao's sanity slipped again right there and he left muttering to himself.
    From then on, he would come to visit Ge Dongxu every now and then.
    Seeing Ren Yao in his demented state persistently bothering their son, Ge Dongxu's parents were afraid he might harm him. After a few visits, they couldn't help but try to drive him away.
    No matter how much they tried to send him away, Ren Yao still came every few days, and Ge Dongxu's parents still insisted on chasing him away, not letting him near their son.
    Until one day, when Ge Dongxu suddenly developed a high fever that wouldn't subside, and the doctors were at a loss, Ge Dongxu's parents, tear-filled and desperate, were preparing to send him to the city for treatment, when Ren Yao suddenly appeared, scooped up Ge Dongxu, and ran off.
    Ge Dongxu's parents, frantic, chased after him. Strangely enough, although Ren Yao was clearly an old man with white hair, he ran faster than Ge Dongxu's father with a child in his arms, and soon disappeared into the forest.
    At the time, Ge Dongxu's parents didn't think much, seeing their son being carried off into the woods by a demented old man and disappearing from sight, tears streaming down their faces, fearing the worst as their son's fever was not subsiding.
    But to their utter surprise, while they were desperately searching the mountain and calling their son's name, Ge Dongxu suddenly appeared from a small mountain path running towards them, not only looking very spirited but also moving agilely, nothing like his feverish self before, who was so drowsy and weak that he could barely stand.
    From that day on, Ge Dongxu's parents made a significant decision to allow their son to apprentice under Ren Yao, the intermittently crazed and lucid old man.
    Interestingly, after Ge Dongxu's parents gave their consent, Ren Yao suddenly became mostly lucid. However, although Ren Yao became mostly lucid, he hardly remembered past events, nor did he know his own name. Later, Ge Dongxu's parents noticed a scar on the back of Ren Yao's head and speculated that he must have suffered some head trauma, which was why he was like this. They wanted to take Ren Yao to the city hospital for a check-up, but Ren Yao stubbornly refused, and there was nothing they could do.
    Fortunately, apart from not remembering his past and occasionally losing his mental clarity, Ren Yao remembered the matters of cultivation. He taught Ge Dongxu how to draw talismans, identify various herbs, locate and hit acupoints, and practice breath control.
    When imparting these teachings, Ren Yao always took Ge Dongxu to the Broken Taoist Temple on the mountain, forbidding Ge Dongxu's parents from watching. Fortunately, after following Ren Yao in his practice, Ge Dongxu had not fallen ill since then and seemed to become exceptionally intelligent and agile. He learned things much faster than other children his age, and he was also much stronger. Thus, Ge Dongxu's parents let Ren Yao teach their son. Sometimes they were curious, but they thought that Ren Yao must be a mysterious figure from the martial world with his own rules, so they refrained from asking what exactly Ge Dongxu learned from Ren Yao.
    As parents, as long as their son was healthy, everything else was secondary.
    Two years ago, in a summer, Ren Yao finally succumbed to the ravages of time and passed away. In his final moments, perhaps as a last flicker of brightness before his passing, he suddenly remembered some past events. Regrettably, the time left to him was too short, and Ge Dongxu only learned a small part of these memories; it was then that he finally learned his master's name.
    Thinking back on the little details of the past with his master, Ge Dongxu became lost in thought until the wine filled his porcelain bowl and spilled out, at which point he suddenly snapped back to reality, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, poured the bowl filled with Huadiao Wine over Ren Yao's grave, and then picked up another bowl and gulped it down until it was empty.
    A blush crept over his still somewhat youthful and simple face, but it quickly faded.
    "Master, after you left, I have diligently practiced every day and have not slacked off. I haven't shown off the skills you taught me in front of others, nor have I used them for wrongdoing. Rest assured, no matter where I go, I will always remember your teachings," Ge Dongxu said as he poured another bowl of Huadiao for Ren Yao and drank one himself, also eating some beggar's chicken.
    "Also, Master, I have some good news for you. During my morning practice today, I finally broke through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. You probably didn't expect my progress to be this rapid. This is all thanks to the Bagua Furnace pendant you left me. It contains another universe, holding the cultivation insights of our Pill Talisman Sect ancestor Ge Hong, and also includes the complete volume of the Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture. Unfortunately, this secret was discovered too late, or else you might have been inspired by this Pill Scripture and not left your disciple so hastily," Ge Dongxu said as he reached for a small Peach Wood Sword pendant hanging around his neck. The Peach Wood Sword pendant looked ordinary, but when Ge Dongxu touched it, a faint green light flowed over it, emitting a slight fragrance of peach wood.
    In fact, there used to be another old-fashioned Bagua Furnace pendant hanging there, left to him by Ren Yao when he died. Once, by accident, Ge Dongxu dropped a drop of his blood on it, and the Bagua Furnace reacted to his blood, entered his body, and disappeared without a trace. At the same time, many cultivation-related knowledges, especially on medicine and pill-making, inexplicably filled Ge Dongxu's mind.
    Originally, Ge Dongxu had practiced with his master Ren Yao for six years, barely breaking through to the Second Level of Qi Cultivation. But since acquiring the cultivation knowledge from the Bagua Furnace pendant and the complete Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture, his cultivation speed had increased significantly, achieving the Third Layer in just two years.
    As he chatted with his master and ate and drank, Ge Dongxu didn't notice that he had emptied a five-kilogram jar of wine. Despite being only sixteen, aside from a slightly flushed face, he showed no signs of drunkenness.
    Seeing the jar empty, Ge Dongxu finally stopped talking, respectfully kowtowed three times to his master's grave, then got up and walked down the mountain along a narrow path.
    The path was overgrown with weeds, clearly a trail seldom trodden.
    At the end of the path lay Ge Family Village. Ge Family Village used to be a poor and secluded mountain village, but in recent years, Changxi County had vigorously developed tourism. City dwellers liked to escape the summer heat and play in the mountains, and Ge Family Village, located at the foot of Baiyun Mountain, the tallest mountain in Changxi County, had luckily benefited from this development. The village had not only gained paved roads but also, due to the influx of tourists, many villagers had opened small stores or homestays in their homes, effectively earning money without leaving their houses.
    To attract tourists, the villagers even promoted their ancestral hall, claiming that Ge Family Village was the birthplace of the legendary Taoist scholar, alchemist, and medical practitioner of the Eastern Jin dynasty, Ge Hong.
    Previously, Ge Dongxu had not believed it, thinking it was just a tale fabricated by the village elders to attract tourists. But since the Bagua Furnace pendant merged into his body and his mind filled with various new information, he had realized that he truly was a descendant of Ge Hong, which was why his drop of blood had reacted with the Bagua Furnace pendant passed down by the Pill Talisman Sect ancestor Ge Hong.
    Ge Dongxu's mother, Xu Suya, was a private tutor at the village elementary school, and his father, Ge Shengming, ran a homestay at their home, serving both as chef and boss.
    It was the end of August. The weather in Jiangnan Province was still scorchingly hot. However, it was cooler in the mountains, and since the children were still on summer vacation, many city dwellers liked to come to Baiyun Mountain to escape the heat and have fun. With the increase in tourists, Ge Shengming's homestay business had also greatly improved.
    Thinking of the recent good business at home and that it was now mealtime¡ªan urgent time for help at his father's place¡ªGe Dongxu quickened his pace.
    But before he could reach home, from a distance Ge Dongxu saw many people gathered around the courtyard of his house, pointing and gesturing inside. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ps: This is the new book's debut, please vote and leave lots of comments to support, thank you very much.

 Chapter 2 Showing Ones Edge [Please Bookmark, Please Recommend]

    "Cancel the bill? Do you have any idea what brand this dress I'm wearing is? It's Chanel! Talking to you country bumpkins about Chanel, you wouldn't understand. But do you have any idea how much this dress costs? It costs a full ten thousand yuan! Ten thousand yuan could practically buy out this lousy family-run rustic resort. And you think just canceling the bill is enough? What a joke!" In the shop, a woman dressed in garish and flamboyant fashion stood with one hand on her hip and the other pointing and gesturing at the man and woman in front of her, a look of utter disdain and superiority on her face.She was wearing a beige dress that was now covered in vegetable juice stains.
    Standing beside her were six or seven fashionably dressed men, one of whom wore a Longines mechanical watch, clearly a man of wealth.
    "Ten thousand yuan!" The simply dressed young woman standing opposite the garish woman turned so pale that she lost all color in her face, and the middle-aged man next to her also went white at the figure.
    In the nineties, most workers in Huaxia Country earned only three to four hundred yuan a month, making ten thousand yuan a tremendous amount of money for many people.
    "This, this... I'm really sorry. I didn't mean it, it was you who stumbled, and that's why I..." The plainly dressed young woman's face was pale as she stammered out her apology.
    "What kind of attitude is that? Are you saying this is my fault?" The garish woman's voice suddenly turned shrill when she heard this, her finger almost poking the other woman in the nose.
    "Qiuzi!" The middle-aged man hurriedly stopped the young woman who still wanted to argue and then bent forward with a conciliatory smile, "The child doesn't understand, please don't be angry. Fortunately, the dress is just dirty. It should be fine after a wash. I'll pay for the laundry, and the meal is still on the house!"
    "Damn, what are you talking about? Can a luxury brand like this just be casually washed after being stained with vegetable juice? Is one meal enough to settle this? Do I look like I need your charity for a meal?" The man with the Longines watch protested loudly, advancing on the middle-aged man and shoving him hard in the chest.
    The middle-aged man was caught off guard and pushed back several steps, only stopping when his back hit a table. While rubbing his lower back vigorously, he looked up with an expression of anger and said, "Hey, how can you push people like that?"
    "So what if I push you? If you don't give Yue Ting a satisfactory explanation today, I'll do more than just push!" The man with the Longines watch said arrogantly, while the other trendy young men behind him rolled up their sleeves, looking at the middle-aged man with hostility.
    "Who dares to touch my dad? Just try it!" As soon as the man with the Longines watch finished speaking, a voice that was still tinged with boyishness but filled with anger suddenly came from behind the crowd. A teenager about sixteen or seventeen years old emerged, walking up to the middle-aged man, steadying him, and asking with concern, "Dad, are you alright?"
    This teenager was naturally Ge Dongxu, and the middle-aged man was his father, Ge Shengming. The young woman was named Ye Qiu, an assistant hired by the father.
    "I'm fine, how did you get here? Go back inside, this has nothing to do with you," Ge Shengming said urgently upon seeing his son.
    "How can it have nothing to do with me when you're being bullied?" Ge Dongxu replied, then looked up at the young man who had shoved his father.
    "Damn, a little brat who still reeks of mother's milk, what are you staring at? Get lost!" The man became even more irate when he saw a mere teenager staring at him.
    "The ones who should get lost are you! It was clearly this woman who tripped and bumped into Sister Qiu. What's that got to do with us?" Ge Dongxu retorted, not displaying a trace of timidity typical of a young person.
    "Damn, do you know who I am? You ****** milk-scented brat dare to talk back to me like that?" It was the first time the man with the Longines watch had been cursed at by a country lad, and he became furiously embarrassed, raising his hand to slap Ge Dongxu across the face.
    But before the Longines watch man's hand could touch Ge Dongxu, Dongxu grabbed his wrist. With just a little bit of force, the man with the watch immediately bent over in pain, crying out, "It hurts, it hurts! My hand is about to break, you ****** let go!"
    Watching a teenager casually hold the wrist of a twenty-four or twenty-five-year-old burly young man, who was now bent over and crying out in pain, everyone except Ge Shengming was as shocked as if they had seen a ghost, staring incredulously at the young face still carrying a hint of innocence.
    Because the visual contrast was simply too stark!
    "Dongxu, let go quickly!" Ge Shengming, fearing his son might really break the man's wrist, hurriedly shouted at Ge Dongxu.
    "Okay, Dad." Ge Dongxu nodded and released his grip. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    As soon as Ge Dongxu let go, the Longines watch man immediately became infuriated with embarrassment and viciously aimed a kick at his stomach.
    The sight of a robust adult forcefully kicking a youth was something the onlookers found almost too brutal to witness, much less see with their own eyes. Thus, many people cried out instinctively at the scene, and even some women closed their eyes, completely forgetting how composed the youth had been when he dealt with the Longines watch man just moments ago.
    "Hmph, still want to hit someone!" Just when everyone thought Ge Dongxu would definitely be knocked to the ground, his expression darkened slightly as he reached out and gently flicked the Longines watch man's leg upwards.
    "Bang!" A loud noise.
    The Longines watch man tumbled backwards, landing spread-eagle on the ground in a most disheveled way.
    "Haha!" The onlookers burst into laughter.
    "Are you okay, Brother Kun?" A few young men hurriedly went to help the Longines watch man up.
    "Okay, my ass! I'm about to have my butt broken into four pieces, and you're not beating up this brat for me!" Brother Kun shouted angrily while holding his buttocks and getting up.
    Only then did the young men snap to reality, some rushing forward directly, others grabbing chairs as they launched into action.
    Seeing several young men going after a single youth, the onlookers' expressions changed, and some of the men wanted to rush forward, but were held back tightly by the women beside them.
    The women were more cautious, it was clear that these young townsmen were not to be trifled with, and they didn't want their own men getting into trouble over a rash move.
    In the blink of an eye that ensued as they all pulled and tugged, the young men had already reached Ge Dongxu.
    Ye Qiu had already started screaming, trying to rush forward, but was held back by Ge Dongxu's father, Ge Shengming.
    "Dongxu, go easy on them!" While holding Ye Qiu, Ge Shengming furrowed his brows, feeling a mix of anger and helplessness.
    Though he never inquired into what exactly his son had learned from Ren Yao over the years, as a father living with him day and night, he more or less knew his son had learned some real skills from Ren Yao; ordinary men stood no chance against him.
    ps: As the new book is uploaded, I see many familiar readers leaving messages and rewards, which warms my heart and moves me greatly. Thank you all for your constant support. During the launch of a new book, ranking is very important, hence please don't find it troublesome to add the book to your shelf, as that counts towards the ranking score, and also kindly click, recommend, as these actions are converted into scoring points too. I really need everyone's help, so please support as much as possible. There will be more updates on the old book as well, right up to its completion, thank you.

 Chapter 3 Lets Have a Good Talk [Please Bookmark, Please Recommend]

    "Don't worry, Dad, I've got it under control," Ge Dongxu said as he spoke, his body suddenly squatting down, spinning around his right leg as the axis, just like a spinning top, while his left leg whipped out like a lash.Those young men seemed to have some size to them, but their stances were clearly unsteady. With a sweep like that from Ge Dongxu, "bang bang bang," in the blink of an eye, they were all sprawled out on the ground. Two of them even lost control and smashed their chairs against their companions.
    "Damn!"
    "No way!"
    The onlookers were all dumbstruck, hardly believing what they were seeing, and Kun Brother and the haughty Yue Ting, who was looking down on everyone before, were also taken aback.
    They had never dreamt that five or six young men would be brought to the ground by a single youth's sweep.
    "You spill soup on your mother's dress, refuse to pay for it, and even attack others, it seems like this rundown family resort doesn't want to stay in business! Akun, call the police! Have them arrest everyone!" Yue Ting's shrill voice erupted as her face, which had a bit of beauty to it, was now twisted with anger.
    Upon hearing the woman wanting to call the police, Ge Shengming's face suddenly turned pale. Farmers from the mountains, ordinary citizens, feared the police the most. Moreover, it was his own son who had been fighting, and if the police really took him away, what would that mean for them?
    "Please, please don't call the police, I'll apologize, I'll pay whatever you want," Ge Shengming pleaded earnestly as he repeatedly bowed.
    "Too late, old man! Just wait for your son to be arrested and sent to jail!" Kun Brother, seeing Ge Shengming's constant bowing and supplication, smugly pulled out a black Ericsson phone from his pocket.
    In the mid-1990s of Huaxia Country, when cell phones were far from common, a single phone would cost over ten thousand yuan, something ordinary folks could not afford. It was often a symbol of status and wealth in society.
    When Yue Ting had mentioned her dress was Chanel or something, Ge Shengming and the onlookers didn't have much of a concept about it, somewhat thinking that she was bluffing¡ªin those times, why would any article of clothing be that expensive? But as soon as Kun Brother pulled out his cell phone, Ge Shengming including the onlookers had their eyes widened in surprise.
    This was an item that only the truly rich could afford to buy and use! In their village, nobody owned one to this date.
    Seeing Kun Brother take out his cell phone, Ge Shengming was completely panicked. He grabbed Ge Dongxu and said, "Dongxu, quickly apologize to these brothers and sisters..."
    As Ge Dongxu saw the panic and worry written across his father's honest face, his own expression, which had been fairly calm, gradually grew darker. His gaze towards Kun Brother who was proudly ready to dial on his phone, and Yue Ting who was standing arrogantly with her hand on her hip, grew especially cold.
    "Dad, don't worry, I'll handle this," Ge Dongxu gently removed his father's hand from his arm and confidently walked towards Kun Brother and Yue Ting.
    Strangely, although Ge Dongxu was just a young man dressed simply, when they saw him approaching, Kun Brother and Yue Ting instinctively took a step back. Kun Brother even subconsciously hid his hand behind his back, looking at Ge Dongxu with a mix of apparent ferocity and inner timidity, "Kid, what do you think you're doing? My dad is the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel. He's friends with county leaders, even the county police chief!"
    "Dongxu, don't mess around!" Seeing Kun Brother bragging about his connections, Ge Shengming panicked and called out.
    Others might not know his son's capabilities, but he did.
    "Dad, don't worry, I've got it under control," Ge Dongxu turned back and gave his dad a reassuring look, then reached out and grabbed both Kun Brother and Yue Ting's arms.
    He knew that these were the leaders among the group of young people.
    "What are you doing? Let go of me!" Kun Brother and Yue Ting immediately shouted, struggling to break free from Ge Dongxu's grasp.
    But Ge Dongxu gripped their hands, which appeared neither large nor thick, but were ice-cold and rigid like iron pincers.
    They didn't struggle initially, but as soon as they did, Ge Dongxu exerted force and immediately, they were in so much pain that cold sweat beaded on their foreheads. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "Gentle, gentle, it hurts!"
    "I didn't plan to hit you guys. I just wanted to have a heart-to-heart chat with you, but you kept making a fuss," Ge Dongxu said with a cold face.
    "We won't yell anymore, we won't yell anymore," Kun and Yue Ting quickly said.
    They now realized that this young man was formidable in a fight. It's best to take a short-term loss and plan for revenge later.
    "That's more like it!" said Ge Dongxu, his icy expression turning into the simple and sincere smile characteristic of mountain folk. Then, while leading them into the inner room, he turned to Ge Shengming and Ye Qiu and said, "Dad, Sister Qiuzi, please continue to entertain the guests. I'll have a good chat with Kun and Sister Yue Ting inside."
    Ge Shengming watched his son "escorting" Kun and Yue Ting to the inner room, his face showing a helpless and worried smile. In the end, he did as his son had instructed and went to entertain guests with Qiuzi. He also shooed away some of the village kids who had gathered to watch the excitement.
    Once inside, Ge Dongxu released their hands, closed the door, then looked at Kun and Yue Ting with a faint smile and said, "We're just simple country folk here, not like you city folks. Please, feel free to sit down."
    Watching Ge Dongxu's face bear the simple smile unique to those from the mountains, which even carried a trace of a young man's shyness and immaturity, Kun and Yue Ting almost found it impossible to associate the youth before them with the fierce individual who singlehandedly routed five or six young men in the restaurant.
    "Speak up, what exactly do you want?" Despite their status, Kun and Yue Ting were not truly afraid of Ge Dongxu. They were worried about getting physically hurt, but since he was only a martial artist, they weren't truly intimidated. They sat down carelessly and looked at Ge Dongxu, expecting an answer.
    "It's not about what I want. What exactly do you want? I know both of you have significant statuses. We're just ordinary people. You might temporarily submit to me, but if you take revenge later, wouldn't we suffer?" Ge Dongxu looked at them calmly as he spoke.
    Kun and Yue Ting, faced with Ge Dongxu's calm expression, unexpectedly felt a chill run through them.
    Is he really just a fifteen or sixteen-year-old youth? Such meticulous thought and sharp insight were totally uncharacteristic for someone his age!
    "Since you understand, why did you still dare to beat us? You can't be na?ve enough to think that, just because you know some martial arts, you can do whatever you want. Do you actually believe we are scared of you and won't seek retaliation afterward? Let me tell you, this matter won't just end like this! Unless you have the ability to silence us forever or kneel down to me right now, knock your head on the ground, and be my underling from now on, doing whatever I ask," Kun said arrogantly, propping up his legs while looking at Ge Dongxu as if he had the upper hand.
    In these times, people with status like them were only afraid of fools. Since Ge Dongxu understood everything, it made things easier for them.
    Because a wise man would always have reservations!
    "Smack!" Just as Kun was basking in self-satisfaction, confident that he had Ge Dongxu under control, Ge Dongxu suddenly picked up a book from the table and smashed it down hard on his head.
    "Watch your mouth. Who do you think is your 'old man'?"
    "You dare to hit me! Do you really want your shop to..." Kun was caught off-guard by Ge Dongxu's blow. Wasn't this kid afraid of reprisal? How come he was still so arrogant? Fuming with rage, Kun jumped up.
    ps: I'm genuinely grateful for your company along this journey. Many readers have rewarded the book, and I recognize many familiar names. I won't list them all here, but they are ingrained in my memory. Please continue to support this book. Every favorite, every click, every recommended ticket, and every reward you give allows this book to achieve higher rankings and go further. The current schedule for this book is one chapter at 6 a.m. and another at 1 p.m. If my writing goes well, there may also be occasional bursts of chapters.

 Chapter 4 Paper Man

    "Slap! Slap! Slap!" Just as Kun Ge had barely jumped up, Ge Dongxu suddenly reached out and grabbed his neck, and started beating his head with the book in his hand."Say 'father' one more time, I dare you?" The smile on Ge Dongxu's face had disappeared without a trace, replaced by icy coldness.
    Kun Ge felt the chilling hardness at his neck and the throbbing pain in his head. Looking at Ge Dongxu's icy expression, he shivered internally and suddenly realized that this young man in front of him was no pushover! To avoid suffering right now, he thought it best to act more obediently.
    "I won't say it again, I won't say it again!" Seeing Ge Dongxu raise the book to hit his head again, Kun Ge hastened to cry out.
    "If you had been like this earlier, you wouldn't have been beaten. You really do deserve a thrashing," Ge Dongxu finally let go of him and sat back down in the chair, muttering.
    Kun Ge was gnashing his teeth with hatred inside, but at this moment, he didn't dare to be arrogant and talk back.
    "Right, just now you mentioned that this matter wouldn't just end here, right? And that I should kowtow to you, become your lackey, right?" Ge Dongxu spoke again after sitting down.
    Kun Ge and Yue Ting exchanged glances, then said in unison, "No, no, it was just a joke. It's only a piece of clothing, right? Let's just forget about it, forget about it."
    A wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him; it's better to deceive this young Ghost Head for now!
    "Too bad you've already spilled the beans, do you think I'd believe you now? But if I don't believe you and let you go just like that, what should I do if you come back for revenge later?" Ge Dongxu stroked his chin, looking troubled as he observed them with bright, intelligent eyes.
    Kun Ge and Yue Ting, seeing Ge Dongxu's troubled look and his eyes surveying them, wished they could slap themselves hard. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    This was certainly self-defeating. If they had simply agreed to drop the matter and leave earlier instead of trying to be tough and stubborn, now they wouldn't be facing the problem of the young Ghost Head not willing to let them go, unpredictable in his next moves.
    "It seems I'll have to go through some trouble after all!" After contemplating with his chin in hand for a while, Ge Dongxu finally stood up with a look of distress, took out two pieces of yellow talisman paper from a drawer, mixed some cinnabar powder, then took a writing brush, dipped it in the cinnabar, and handed it to Kun Ge, "Here, Kun Ge, do me a favor and write down your birth date and name."
    "My birth date?" Kun Ge looked at Ge Dongxu full of confusion.
    "Yes, the year, month, day, and Chinese Hour you were born. Just write this down along with your name, and then you can leave," Ge Dongxu said.
    "Really?" Kun Ge exclaimed with a look of surprise. He had thought he would have to endure some torment by Ge Dongxu, at the very least a beating, and did not expect it to be so easy.
    "Of course, it's true," Ge Dongxu nodded, a faint sneer flashing in the depths of his eyes.
    Without any suspicion, Kun Ge picked up the brush and awkwardly wrote his birth date and name on the yellow talisman paper. After he finished, without waiting for Ge Dongxu's instructions, he dipped the brush in the cinnabar himself and passed it to Yue Ting.
    Yue Ting hesitated for a moment when she took the brush, but in the end, she dutifully wrote down her own birth date.
    After all, it was just a birth date and name; she didn't think that Ge Dongxu, a rural youth, could do anything significant with it.
    "So, can we leave now?" After finishing writing, Yue Ting put down the brush, and as she watched Ge Dongxu cut two yellow pieces of paper into the shape of a person, she couldn't explain why, but an eerie feeling crept over her. Her voice trembled as she asked.
    After asking the question, realizing her own voice was shaking, Yue Ting felt she was being overly sensitive. In this day and age, all this talk about talismans, curses, and paper effigies was stuff from TV shows and movies, just tricks to fool people. How could she, a young person, believe in such things? She had really been bewitched!
    "Wait a second," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. He snipped a little lock of hair from the heads of Yue Ting and Brother Kun with scissors, and then waved his hand, "You may go now."
    Yue Ting and Brother Kun promptly picked up their feet to leave, not expecting that at this moment, Ge Dongxu's mouth was curled into a cold smirk. The hair he'd cut was now sticking to the paper figures, much like the meridians of a person.
    Then, Ge Dongxu flicked the "armpit" of the paper effigy lightly.
    "Ah!"
    "Thud!"
    The two of them had just reached the door and were about to pull the handle when they suddenly felt a pain in their armpits, lost their balance, and ended up kneeling on the ground.
    At first, they felt nothing amiss, merely puzzled why their armpits had suddenly felt a sharp pain, like a needle prick. But when they realized their companion had also dropped to his knees, a shiver went through their hearts, and they blurted out, "Did your armpit suddenly hurt too?"
    The words came out nearly at the same time, almost identical. Both of their faces instantly turned pale, drops of cold sweat rolled down their foreheads, and their eyes involuntarily showed a look of terror.
    "You little bastard, how dare you use such trickery on us!" After the initial shock, Brother Kun spun around, glaring furiously at Ge Dongxu, who was casually sitting in a chair with his legs crossed, smiling and holding two paper figures. The figures bore their names and birth details scrawled in red.
    Previously, they hadn't been bothered by it, but now, seeing the crooked red letters made them feel particularly offended, and there was even a sinister vibe emanating from them.
    "I had no choice. We're just an ordinary family. If I didn't take precautions and you called the cops the moment you left my house, wouldn't we be at your mercy? And you'd better be a bit more polite. You're the ones who started the trouble, so you can't blame me for dealing with you now," Ge Dongxu said with a helpless expression, pinching the arm of the paper figure lightly as he spoke.
    "Ah! It hurts! It hurts!" Brother Kun immediately screamed in pain.
    Seeing Brother Kun scream like that, Ge Dongxu felt annoyed by his previous arrogance and the way he had pushed his father, but ultimately, he was a good-hearted young man. Seeing Brother Kun in pain, he let go.
    "What, what do you want from us?" This time, having personally witnessed and experienced the bizarre events, Brother Kun was truly scared. He looked at Ge Dongxu as though he were some evil ghost, stammering with a pale face, while Yue Ting, by his side, had already turned pale, her thick makeup unable to hide her pallor.
    "Don't worry, I'm only taking precautions for the future and don't wish any harm on you. As long as you don't cause trouble for my family afterwards, I won't do anything to you. But if you decide to make trouble for us later, then you can't blame me for not being polite," Ge Dongxu assured them with a sincere look on his face.
    Seeing Ge Dongxu's earnest expression, this time tears fell from the eyes of Yue Ting and Brother Kun.
    Over a dress, for the sake of young people's bragging rights, now their lives were in the hands of Ge Dongxu. And why had they been so compliant? Why hadn't they thought to write something false for him?
    PS: During the release of this new book, please don't forget to cast your recommendation vote after reading, and if you haven't added the book to your shelf, please do so. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 5 Brother Xu, please [3 updates today, please favorite and recommend]â€

    "Master, we definitely won't dare to do it again in the future. Please, could you return that paper figure to us?" Yue Ting pleaded with tears streaming down her face."Yes, yes, master, we really won't dare again. Please give us that paper figure back!" Brother Kun also begged tearfully.
    "I'm not any master, my name is Ge Dongxu. I definitely won't give you this paper figure back. But rest assured, this paper figure can only cause you to break arms or legs, it can't take your lives. Of course, as long as you don't trouble my family, I definitely won't lay a hand on you," Ge Dongxu said.
    "Brother Xu, can I call you brother? Please give us that paper figure back. I swear, I swear, if I, Lin Kun, dare to do anything harmful to your family in this lifetime, may I be struck by thunder from the heavens," Lin Kun continued to plead tearfully.
    Could he feel reassured? What if one day Ge Dongxu felt unhappy and played with the paper figure, bending their arms just for fun? Who could he cry to then? What he feared most was, what if by accident his third leg got bent? Then he could only be a eunuch for the rest of his life!
    "Brother Xu, I swear too, I swear too!" Yue Ting also hurriedly promised.
    "Promising is fine! How about this, write down your vows, and drop a drop of blood on them," Ge Xudong, seeing their pitiful looks, thought it over and spoke. He felt that if he kept this paper figure, they would probably live in constant fear every day and likely die young.
    "Thank you, Brother Xu, thank you, Brother Xu." Both of them were immensely grateful upon hearing his words. They quickly picked up the brush and wrote their vows on yellow paper, and as instructed by Ge Dongxu, they also added a vow not to reveal the events of today, then dropped blood on it.
    Ge Dongxu took the two pieces of yellow paper in his hand, muttered something under his breath, and then suddenly the two pieces of paper with vows written on them burst into flames, causing Yue Ting and Lin Kun to stare wide-eyed, their hearts pounding nonstop.
    "Okay, remember your vows, otherwise if you're struck by lightning, don't blame me," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then "rip, tear!" he tore the two paper figures into pieces.
    "Ah! Ah! Ah!" Both of them yelled in shock as Ge Dongxu tore up the paper figures.
    "What are you screaming for?" Ge Dongxu couldn't help but laugh as he glared at them.
    "You just tore up the paper figures, how come we're alright?" The two of them then realized that nothing had happened.
    "Nonsense, I didn't activate the Unique Power, so of course you're fine. Otherwise, couldn't everyone learn to do this? What? Got ideas to break your vows?" Ge Dongxu looked at them, half-smiling.
    "Ah, no, no! Brother Xu, you must be joking, how could we dare break our vows!" Upon hearing this, the two jumped in fright, shaking their heads like rattles.
    Having witnessed Ge Dongxu's capabilities first-hand, they didn't dare to joke with their lives!
    What if they were really struck by lightning? No, it wasn't a matter of if, but rather quite likely! That was a risk they absolutely couldn't take, as once taken, there was no chance for regret at all!
    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu secretly chuckled inside. He didn't yet possess the power to enforce others' vows, he was merely frightening them. Yet, seeing the two of them now, Ge Dongxu knew that even if someone gave them great courage, they wouldn't dare to break their vows.
    Who these days would dare jest with their own lives!
    "Alright, the vows are made, you can really go now. Oh, and when you leave, be nicer to my dad. And remember to pay for the things that got broken during the fight!" Ge Dongxu kept his smile hidden inside as he said this.
    "Of course, that's only proper." The two quickly agreed, now devoid of any preceding arrogance.
    "Then that's settled, let's go," Ge Dongxu said.
    "Yes, yes, please go ahead, Dongxu." Lin Kun hurriedly opened the door and struck a welcoming pose, while Yue Ting flashed Ge Dongxu a flattering and ingratiating smile.
    Truth be told, if Yue Ting hadn't worn such heavy makeup, she would have looked quite charming and her figure was also noteworthy, with curves in all the right places. Her coquettish smile indeed made Ge Dongxu, who was in his adolescence, feel a stir inside, and his cheeks blushed slightly.
    After the fight at the farmstay, other customers had already left, leaving mostly the group of young people who came with Lin Kun and Yue Ting.
    When they saw the inner door open and Lin Kun and Yue Ting following Ge Dongxu out with apologetic grins, like two followers, their eyes nearly popped out in astonishment.
    "Uncle, I'm sorry, it was all my fault earlier. Here's one thousand yuan for today's meals and for the damage caused, do you think that's enough?" As soon as they stepped out, Lin Kun quickly stepped forward to bow and apologize to Ge Shengming, offering him one thousand yuan with both hands.
    One thousand yuan was already quite a large sum of money at the time, causing Ge Shengming to be visibly shocked as he quickly waved his hands and said, "No need, no need. It was our carelessness that caused the lady's clothes to get dirty. We should be the ones treating you, how can we ask you for money now? No need, no need!"
    Seeing that Ge Shengming was reluctant to accept the money, Lin Kun felt extremely frightened, almost to tears.
    If you don't take it, aren't you putting my life at risk, brother Kun?
    "Uncle, it was our youthful impulsiveness that caused you to lose business today, you must accept this one thousand yuan," Lin Kun insisted, pushing the money into Ge Shengming's hands.
    Of course, Ge Shengming dared not accept it; these were influential people.
    So, it was a battle between pushing and declining, leaving the other young ones almost petrified.
    Was this really their boss, Kun? The same man who strutted around in many parts of Changxi County? The son of Changxi Grand Hotel's owner?
    "Dad, since they are sincere, you might as well accept it," Ge Dongxu said, seeing his father hesitate to accept the money.
    Ge Shengming looked at his son doubtfully. He knew that ever since his son had followed Ren Yao, there were many times when he should no longer be treated as a child.
    "Rest assured, they have realized their mistake," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, nodding at his father.
    "Correct, correct, Dongxu is right, we've recognized our mistake," Lin Kun and Yue Ting quickly nodded in agreement.
    "Dongxu!" The followers were completely flabbergasted. What was this rhythm? People in their twenties addressing a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old as 'brother'? Despite his doubt, Ge Shengming, seeing his son nod, finally accepted the one thousand yuan.
    In fact, the one thousand yuan was quite tempting for Ge Shengming. His farmstay, even during the peak summer period, only made profits of about two or three thousand yuan a month. During the off-season, there were days without a single customer.
    Now that his son was going to study in the city and would certainly need to attend university in the future, spending was inevitable. He, as a father, naturally had to work hard to earn money. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Seeing Ge Shengming accept the money finally allowed Lin Kun and Yue Ting to heave a sigh of relief. They quickly apologized a few more times and then hurriedly left with their group.
    "Kun, Ting, should we go back first, or should we call the police now?" After leaving the farmstay, on the way to where their cars were parked, a young person asked.

 Chapter 7 Hero Saves the Beauty [3rd Update, Request for Votes]

    The next morning, Ge Dongxu carried his suitcase onto the minibus that traveled between the countryside and the city.Ge Family Village was not actually far from the county town of Songyang Town, only about forty kilometers away, but because it was all mountain roads, and the roads at that time were not as good as they are now, it took almost an hour and a half with several stops along the way for Ge Dongxu to reach the county town of Songyang.
    Dongxu had previously visited the county town with his parents twice. However, those trips had always been with a purpose, and as soon as their business was finished, they left; they had never spent the night in the county town, let alone played there. But this time, he was here to study and live, and for the next three years, he would spend most of his time here.
    Today was Saturday, and it was not actually the official day to enroll at Changxi County No.1 High School. Ge Dongxu had come two days early because he needed to find a place to rent before school started.
    Carrying his suitcase, he stood at the bus station and roughly felt the energy flow of the county town, then headed towards the direction of the sun.
    The east belongs to wood, and from the bus station looking over, there was a small mountain, richly covered with trees. The air nearby should be relatively fresh and contain more of the spirit of wood, making it a somewhat more suitable place for him to cultivate. Of course, it could not compare to Baiyun Mountain.
    Carrying his suitcase, he walked along the streets toward the east.
    Back then, the streets were not as wide as they are now, and the buildings on either side of the street were basically all four or five stories tall, with high-rise buildings being a rare sight. Cars were still a rarity, so the streets were mostly filled with people and bicycles, and it was rare to see a few vehicles, which meant the traffic situation was good.
    However, all of this was only relative. Dongxu had not walked for long when he saw a young woman being blocked by a Yamaha motorcycle.
    The woman had a ponytail, wore a white casual tee on her upper body, and denim shorts below. She was about 165 centimeters tall, quite tall. Just her figure alone was enough to turn heads, not to mention her innocent face with a hint of innate allure ¨C it was hard not to attract attention.
    "Xinyu, this bike is cool, isn't it? Come on, I'll take you for a ride," the man on the motorcycle said to Dong Xinyu with a proud look on his face, his eyes occasionally scanning her chest and long legs.
    In the nineties, motorcycles were a symbol of wealth and coolness among the young, which was evident from the envious glances many young people threw at the bike as they passed by on the street. Some girls even looked at Dong Xinyu with envious eyes, as if they wished they were the heroine.
    "Thank you, but I don't need it," Dong Xinyu said, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she then moved to walk away.
    But she had barely taken a few steps when the man chased after her and grabbed her arm from behind.
    "Hey, Chen Zihao, what are you doing?" Dong Xinyu hadn't expected Chen Zihao to come up and grab her arm directly, she was somewhat taken aback and began to struggle to shake off his hand, calling out at the same time.
    "Dong Xinyu, don't think you're all that just because you have a pretty face. There's no girl that Chen Zihao wants to chase that he can't. Today you might not want to go for a ride with me, but you're going to have to accompany me anyway," Chen Zihao said, holding onto Dong Xinyu's hand without letting go, a look of bullying on his face.
    "Chen Zihao, let go!" Dong Xinyu cried out.
    Chen Zihao, however, did not pay any attention to Dong Xinyu, but furrowed his brows fiercely and looked around, saying, "What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a couple having a quarrel?"
    The people around, seeing how fierce Chen Zihao was, and noticing that he was riding a motorcycle, and through the conversation between the two, it was obvious they knew each other, so no one dared to interfere.
    "Chen Zihao, you bastard, who's your couple!" Dong Xinyu, seeing she couldn't break free, raised her other hand to hit Chen Zihao, but he caught her other hand too and chuckled, "Fighting is intimacy, scolding is love. You even want to hit me, aren't we a couple then?"
    Dong Xinyu saw Chen Zihao grabbing her hands and teasing her like that, and she was so angry and anxious that tears were rolling in her eyes.
    "Hey, big guy, bullying a girl in broad daylight like this, isn't that a bit shameless?" Just as Dong Xinyu's tears were rolling in her eyes, a plainly dressed boy who was clearly from the countryside approached, holding a bag. He patted Chen Zihao on the shoulder, showed a row of snow-white, neat teeth, and asked with a smile.
    This youngster was none other than Ge Dongxu, who had come to the county town to attend high school.
    "Fuck, you're just a countryside bumpkin whose hair isn't even fully grown yet, and you dare meddle in my business, are you tired of living? Get lost!" Chen Zihao turned his head, saw that it was a clearly rural boy daring to interfere with his affairs, and anger made him release one of Dong Xinyu's hands. He then raised his hand and swung a slap towards him.
    But just as Chen Zihao's hand was swinging over, there was a "smack!" as Ge Dongxu grabbed his wrist, and immediately felt his wrist clamped by an ice-cold iron pincer, causing him so much pain that he immediately began to wail.
    "Kid, let go, you're killing me!" Chen Zihao shouted, while he had already let go of Dong Xinyu's other hand and threw a punch at Ge Dongxu.
    However, his punch only got halfway before his wrist was grabbed by Ge Dongxu again.
    "Whose daddy are you? Try calling out again and see what happens?" Ge Dongxu detested people who always called themselves 'daddy' in front of him. His face slightly chilled, and he increased the strength of his grip a bit more. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    "I won't say it, I won't! Let go of me!" Chen Zihao, with both hands in pain, finally didn't dare to be arrogant anymore and hurriedly begged.
    Ge Dongxu didn't want to cause trouble, so seeing Chen Zihao begging for mercy, he let go of his hand.
    "Damn it!" As soon as Ge Dongxu let go, Chen Zihao immediately regained his bullish arrogance, stepped out of the car, and aimed a kick at Ge Dongxu.
    "Watch out! Chen Zihao, what are you trying to do?" Dong Xinyu saw Chen Zihao raise his foot to kick Ge Dongxu, and shouted in shock and anger.
    But before Dong Xinyu's voice had died away,
    there was a loud "bang!" Ge Dongxu had already kicked Chen Zihao's stomach in advance, causing him to feel a sharp pain in the belly, and the whole person lunged forward, falling face down to the ground.
    Immediately, Dong Xinyu's eyes widened, and she covered her small cherry mouth with her jade hand, unable to believe as she looked at Chen Zihao who had fallen to the ground.
    Some people who were watching this scene were also very surprised.
    Because whether in terms of body size or age, Chen Zihao appeared larger, yet it was Chen Zihao who ended up being the one knocked down by a kick.
    "Well kicked!" But soon someone shouted out.
    Even though these people saw Chen Zihao riding a motorcycle, tall and looking arrogant, they didn't dare to step forward to help. However, they didn't mind cheering when someone stepped up to teach him a lesson.
    ps: New book seeks all kinds of support, thank you!

 Chapter 7 Hero Saves the Beauty [3rd Update, Request for Votes]

    The next morning, Ge Dongxu carried his suitcase onto the minibus that traveled between the countryside and the city.Ge Family Village was not actually far from the county town of Songyang Town, only about forty kilometers away, but because it was all mountain roads, and the roads at that time were not as good as they are now, it took almost an hour and a half with several stops along the way for Ge Dongxu to reach the county town of Songyang.

    Dongxu had previously visited the county town with his parents twice. However, those trips had always been with a purpose, and as soon as their business was finished, they left; they had never spent the night in the county town, let alone played there. But this time, he was here to study and live, and for the next three years, he would spend most of his time here.

    Today was Saturday, and it was not actually the official day to enroll at Changxi County No.1 High School. Ge Dongxu had come two days early because he needed to find a place to rent before school started.

    Carrying his suitcase, he stood at the bus station and roughly felt the energy flow of the county town, then headed towards the direction of the sun.

    The east belongs to wood, and from the bus station looking over, there was a small mountain, richly covered with trees. The air nearby should be relatively fresh and contain more of the spirit of wood, making it a somewhat more suitable place for him to cultivate. Of course, it could not compare to Baiyun Mountain.

    Carrying his suitcase, he walked along the streets toward the east.

    Back then, the streets were not as wide as they are now, and the buildings on either side of the street were basically all four or five stories tall, with high-rise buildings being a rare sight. Cars were still a rarity, so the streets were mostly filled with people and bicycles, and it was rare to see a few vehicles, which meant the traffic situation was good.

    However, all of this was only relative. Dongxu had not walked for long when he saw a young woman being blocked by a Yamaha motorcycle.

    The woman had a ponytail, wore a white casual tee on her upper body, and denim shorts below. She was about 165 centimeters tall, quite tall. Just her figure alone was enough to turn heads, not to mention her innocent face with a hint of innate allure ¨C it was hard not to attract attention.

    "Xinyu, this bike is cool, isn''t it? Come on, I''ll take you for a ride," the man on the motorcycle said to Dong Xinyu with a proud look on his face, his eyes occasionally scanning her chest and long legs.

    In the nineties, motorcycles were a symbol of wealth and coolness among the young, which was evident from the envious glances many young people threw at the bike as they passed by on the street. Some girls even looked at Dong Xinyu with envious eyes, as if they wished they were the heroine.

    "Thank you, but I don''t need it," Dong Xinyu said, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she then moved to walk away.

    But she had barely taken a few steps when the man chased after her and grabbed her arm from behind.

    "Hey, Chen Zihao, what are you doing?" Dong Xinyu hadn''t expected Chen Zihao to come up and grab her arm directly, she was somewhat taken aback and began to struggle to shake off his hand, calling out at the same time.

    "Dong Xinyu, don''t think you''re all that just because you have a pretty face. There''s no girl that Chen Zihao wants to chase that he can''t. Today you might not want to go for a ride with me, but you''re going to have to accompany me anyway," Chen Zihao said, holding onto Dong Xinyu''s hand without letting go, a look of bullying on his face.

    "Chen Zihao, let go!" Dong Xinyu cried out.

    Chen Zihao, however, did not pay any attention to Dong Xinyu, but furrowed his brows fiercely and looked around, saying, "What are you looking at? Haven''t you seen a couple having a quarrel?"

    The people around, seeing how fierce Chen Zihao was, and noticing that he was riding a motorcycle, and through the conversation between the two, it was obvious they knew each other, so no one dared to interfere.

    "Chen Zihao, you bastard, who''s your couple!" Dong Xinyu, seeing she couldn''t break free, raised her other hand to hit Chen Zihao, but he caught her other hand too and chuckled, "Fighting is intimacy, scolding is love. You even want to hit me, aren''t we a couple then?"

    Dong Xinyu saw Chen Zihao grabbing her hands and teasing her like that, and she was so angry and anxious that tears were rolling in her eyes.

    "Hey, big guy, bullying a girl in broad daylight like this, isn''t that a bit shameless?" Just as Dong Xinyu''s tears were rolling in her eyes, a plainly dressed boy who was clearly from the countryside approached, holding a bag. He patted Chen Zihao on the shoulder, showed a row of snow-white, neat teeth, and asked with a smile.

    This youngster was none other than Ge Dongxu, who had come to the county town to attend high school.

    "Fuck, you''re just a countryside bumpkin whose hair isn''t even fully grown yet, and you dare meddle in my business, are you tired of living? Get lost!" Chen Zihao turned his head, saw that it was a clearly rural boy daring to interfere with his affairs, and anger made him release one of Dong Xinyu''s hands. He then raised his hand and swung a slap towards him.

    But just as Chen Zihao''s hand was swinging over, there was a "smack!" as Ge Dongxu grabbed his wrist, and immediately felt his wrist clamped by an ice-cold iron pincer, causing him so much pain that he immediately began to wail.

    "Kid, let go, you''re killing me!" Chen Zihao shouted, while he had already let go of Dong Xinyu''s other hand and threw a punch at Ge Dongxu.

    However, his punch only got halfway before his wrist was grabbed by Ge Dongxu again.

    "Whose daddy are you? Try calling out again and see what happens?" Ge Dongxu detested people who always called themselves ''daddy'' in front of him. His face slightly chilled, and he increased the strength of his grip a bit more. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I won''t say it, I won''t! Let go of me!" Chen Zihao, with both hands in pain, finally didn''t dare to be arrogant anymore and hurriedly begged.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t want to cause trouble, so seeing Chen Zihao begging for mercy, he let go of his hand.

    "Damn it!" As soon as Ge Dongxu let go, Chen Zihao immediately regained his bullish arrogance, stepped out of the car, and aimed a kick at Ge Dongxu.

    "Watch out! Chen Zihao, what are you trying to do?" Dong Xinyu saw Chen Zihao raise his foot to kick Ge Dongxu, and shouted in shock and anger.

    But before Dong Xinyu''s voice had died away,

    there was a loud "bang!" Ge Dongxu had already kicked Chen Zihao''s stomach in advance, causing him to feel a sharp pain in the belly, and the whole person lunged forward, falling face down to the ground.

    Immediately, Dong Xinyu''s eyes widened, and she covered her small cherry mouth with her jade hand, unable to believe as she looked at Chen Zihao who had fallen to the ground.

    Some people who were watching this scene were also very surprised.

    Because whether in terms of body size or age, Chen Zihao appeared larger, yet it was Chen Zihao who ended up being the one knocked down by a kick.

    "Well kicked!" But soon someone shouted out.

    Even though these people saw Chen Zihao riding a motorcycle, tall and looking arrogant, they didn''t dare to step forward to help. However, they didn''t mind cheering when someone stepped up to teach him a lesson.

    ps: New book seeks all kinds of support, thank you!

 Chapter 8 Renting a House

    "Screw your mother!" Chen Zihao scrambled up from the ground, gave the cheering crowd a furious glare, and then, with a ferocious look on his face, charged towards Ge Dongxu, who was already walking away with his back to him, carrying a bag, and kicked out at him again."Watch out!" Many people shouted.

    But while their voices were still echoing in the air, Ge Dongxu had reacted as if he had eyes in the back of his head, delivering a backward kick. Chen Zihao fell to the ground once again with a "thump" and took another face-first tumble. This time it was worse than before; he even chipped half of his front tooth, and blood was streaming from his lips.

    "Nice!" This time the crowd burst into applause.

    Chen Zihao got up from the ground, and this time seemed to realize that the young man from the countryside was not to be trifled with and might have some skills. He dared not charge forward again. Moreover, having thoroughly embarrassed himself that day, he finally climbed onto his motorbike.

    He revved the engine and sped towards Ge Dongxu.

    "Watch the motorbike! Chen Zihao, have you lost your mind?"

    "Ah! Be careful!"

    Seeing the motorbike charging at Ge Dongxu, many people turned pale and shouted out. Some women even covered their eyes, not daring to watch. But Ge Dongxu seemed completely unaware and continued to walk unhurriedly with his bag. However, if someone had been able to observe him closely at that time, they would have noticed his gaze was particularly cold.

    "Screech!" In the end, Chen Zihao didn''t dare to crash the motorbike into Ge Dongxu. He swerved and brushed past him, then executed a sharp turn and stopped several meters away from Ge Dongxu, glaring at him fiercely and said, "Kid, you better watch out! You better hope I don''t see you in town again, or it''ll be really bad for you!"

    After finishing his threat, Chen Zihao rode off on his motorbike.

    Ge Dongxu watched Chen Zihao''s retreating figure and shook his head with a bitter smile. His parents didn''t want him to cause trouble in the county town, but he had managed to find trouble as soon as he got off the bus.

    Of course, if the same thing happened again, he wouldn''t hesitate to intervene.

    "Thank you so much for just now!" Just as Ge Dongxu was shaking his head with a bitter smile, a pleasant fragrance suddenly wafted over from behind, followed by a ponytailed girl in denim shorts, showing off her long white legs.

    "It was nothing, just lending a hand," Ge Dongxu replied with a hint of shyness on his face in front of the innocent yet subtly charming young girl.

    "My name is Dong Xinyu. What''s yours?" Dong Xinyu said, extending her delicate hand towards Ge Dongxu.

    "Ge Dongxu, ''Dongxu'' as in the rising sun in the east." Ge Dongxu gently grasped the delicate hand reaching out to him, his face flushing even more with shyness.

    "The guy just now was called Chen Zihao. He went to the same high school as me but was one year above. Relying on his family''s wealth and power, he always harassed the pretty girls at school," Dong Xinyu''s pretty face blushed slightly as she said this, realizing that her words might sound like she was boasting about herself. Fortunately, Ge Dongxu didn''t seem to notice, and only then did she secretly breathe a sigh of relief and continued, "Luckily he graduated this year and will probably go to college in a few days, otherwise it would have been really troublesome. However, if you''re going to stay in Songyang for these few days, it''s better to avoid him. In the end, it''s all because of me that you got involved." sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "How could this be your fault? If anyone is to blame, it''s that guy''s parents for not educating him properly!" Ge Dongxu said.

    "How old are you to talk like an old soul?" Dong Xinyu couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Ge Dongxu who, despite looking to be just fifteen or sixteen years old, spoke as if he were as old as her parents.

    "Really?" Ge Dongxu smiled awkwardly. Having trained with Ren Yao since he was young and spending a lot of time with the elderly, he naturally developed more of an adult way of thinking, although his nature was still that of a young person.

    "Of course. Also, the way you taught Chen Zihao a lesson was so calm and cool, not like a youngster at all. Oh, you must have practiced martial arts, right?" Dong Xinyu said, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "I''ve practiced some, and a few average men shouldn''t be able to get close to me," Ge Dongxu admitted. After all, he was still a na?ve youth who came from a mountain village, and being praised by a beautiful girl to his face made him blush, touching his nose sheepishly and modestly.

    "A few average men can''t get close to you?" Dong Xinyu''s beautiful eyes glanced at Ge Dongxu''s body which, due to being in the developing stage, appeared rather tall and lean, and suddenly she pursed her lips and chuckled, giving him a sidelong glance as she said teasingly, "Hehe, I''ve discovered that not only are you mature for your age, but you also like to boast! Hehe, just kidding with you. Anyway, I really should thank you today. I''m meeting with a friend and gotta go. Bye!"

    After saying this, Dong Xinyu waved at Ge Dongxu, swayed her slim waist, and walked away with her long, white legs, exuding youthful energy.

    "He thinks I''m boasting?" Watching Dong Xinyu''s retreating figure, Ge Dongxu shook his head with a smile. He had been modest in his statement; in reality, with his current Combat Power, even a dozen men couldn''t get close to him.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu didn''t feel the need to catch up with Dong Xinyu to explain. After shaking his head with a smile, he continued to carry his suitcase and walked eastward.

    In the 1990s in Huaxia Country, even big cities didn''t have many proper real estate agencies, let alone small places like Changxi County. Typically, landlords would simply write ''for rent'' or hang a rental sign outside their own homes.

    At that time, the Changxi County town had very few apartment-style commercial buildings; it mostly consisted of four- or five-story buildings built along streets or small alleys. Houses were connected to each other, with each family occupying a building from the ground floor to the top. Each floor was about forty or fifty square meters, with internal stairs winding from the ground floor to the top.

    The first floor was often used as a storefront facing the street, the second floor as a living room and kitchen, and from the third floor up were the residential rooms. Since a building typically had four or five floors or sometimes even six or seven, it was common for one or two floors to be vacant. Some households would rent out one or two floors rather than leave them empty.

    As he walked, Ge Dongxu saw some rental properties, but none that he liked, and the ones he did like were not for rent. It was only when he was about to reach the lush little hill he had seen from far away at the bus station that Ge Dongxu finally found a rental place he liked.

    The rental property was a five-story building along the street with a sign-making shop on the ground floor, filled with various types of signage.

    The shop was tended by a slightly overweight middle-aged man who, seeing Ge Dongxu standing at the door looking at the rental advertisement hung outside, got up and walked to the front, asking with a smile, "Young man, are you looking to rent a place?"

    ps: The new book urgently needs support such as recommendations, collections, rewards, and promotions. Thank you very much!

 Chapter 9 Special Rental Conditions [Seeking Recommendations and Favorites]

    "Yes, boss, are you the landlord?" Ge Dongxu nodded and asked."Indeed, I am the landlord. However, I only rent rooms to high school students from Changxi No. 1 High. If you''re not a student there, I''m afraid I can''t rent a room to you," the landlord said.

    "I just passed the entrance exam to Changxi No. 1 High this year." Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "So you''re a freshman this year, that''s great. Which township are you from, and how many points did you score on your entrance exam?" the landlord''s eyes lit up upon hearing that.

    "I''m from Baiyun Mountain Township, and I scored five hundred fifty points on the entrance exam." Ge Dongxu felt a bit puzzled by why the landlord was asking these questions, but he still answered honestly.

    "Five hundred fifty points, that''s quite high! Good, good." The landlord nodded continuously in praise, looking at Ge Dongxu with much more affection.

    At that time, the full score for Jiangnan Province''s middle school leaving exam was five hundred ninety points, and the admission score for Changxi No. 1 High was five hundred twelve points, so Ge Dongxu''s score was indeed commendable.

    "Uncle Landlord, how much is the rent? Also, can you show me the room first?" Ge Dongxu was there to rent a house, not to discuss academic achievements, so naturally, he didn''t want to keep circling around on this topic with the landlord.

    "Right, right, look at how confused I am. As for the rent, in this area it''s generally around one hundred fifty per month, but seeing as you have such good grades and you''re from the countryside, uncle will give you a discount, one hundred. As for the room, just wait a moment, I''ll get your aunt to come down and watch the shop while I show you around," the landlord said, after Dongxu raised the question, suddenly remembering the actual reason for his visit, he slapped his head and then sized Dongxu up, smiling.

    "Thank you, Uncle Landlord." Ge Dongxu''s family wasn''t wealthy, so any savings on the rent naturally made him happy; he quickly bowed slightly to express his thanks.

    "You''re such a sensible kid." Seeing Ge Dongxu''s polite demeanor, the landlord looked at him even more affectionately and complimented him, then opened the door behind the shop counter that led to the back room and called out inside.

    Soon after, a middle-aged woman who looked rather kind and amiable came out from the back room.

    "Ah Juan, this young man, oh, what''s your name again?" the landlord, while introducing, suddenly remembered he didn''t yet know Ge Dongxu''s name.

    "Auntie, my name is Ge Dongxu, I am here to rent a room," Ge Dongxu said politely, smiling slightly at the middle-aged woman.

    "From Changxi No. 1 High?" the woman known as Ah Juan asked.

    "Yes, from Changxi No. 1 High, and he scored five hundred fifty points on his entrance exam," the landlord said.

    The middle-aged woman''s eyes brightened slightly and she nodded, "That''s very high, quite a few points above the admission score line."

    "Yes, if only he could give a few points to our Lehao, we could save quite a bit of money!" the landlord remarked, then with Ge Dongxu looking somewhat puzzled, led him through the back door of the shop into the rear room on the ground floor.

    The ground floor was divided into two rooms, the front one being used as a shop where customers frequently came and went, somewhat like a public space, while the back room, separated from the shop by a wall and a door, became a completely private area.

    Inside, there were various items such as cardboard boxes, bicycles, brooms, dustpans, among other things, and the stairs leading to the other floors were also here, with several pairs of slippers placed at the foot of the stairs.

    "Just go up with your shoes on, since your aunt is going to thoroughly clean it again in a couple of days!" Seeing Ge Dongxu about to take his shoes off, the landlord waved his hand laughing.

    Though Ge Dongxu noticed the stairs were very clean, he still insisted on taking off his shoes to go up.

    The staircase was a spiral wooden one, painted in a reddish-brown color, and felt very good to step on.

    The spiral staircase was in the middle of the house, neatly dividing it into front and back sections.

    "The kitchen and dining room are at the back on the second floor. The side facing the street has the living room and a bathroom," the landlord explained, pointing to either side of the staircase as they reached the second floor. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    These areas were for the landlord''s use, so he casually mentioned them before leading Ge Dongxu upstairs.

    "The floors above the second floor are all bedrooms. The third floor is where your aunt and I live, with the master bedroom at the front and a study at the back. The fourth floor has my son Cheng Le Hao''s bedroom and the guest room. The fifth floor is for rent, and each floor has a bathroom," the landlord explained as they climbed the stairs. Reaching the fourth floor, he turned his head to look at the master bedroom, saw that the door was closed, and walked straight over, knocking loudly, "Bang, bang, bang."

    "Classes are starting in a couple of days, can''t you let me sleep in peace for two more days?" a dissatisfied voice came from the room, followed by the door swinging open, revealing a chubby young man in boxer shorts and no shirt, about the same age as Ge Dongxu.

    "All you do is sleep all day. Look at him; he''s been up early to find a place to live from Baiyun Mountain," the landlord scolded, seeing the chubby boy''s disgruntled grumbling.

    "Hey, buddy, you''re coming to Changxi High School?" the chubby boy asked eagerly, recognizing the condition set by his father for the tenant. He completely ignored his father''s scolding, leaving his dad to shake his head in frustration.

    Watching the father and son, and recalling everything that had happened, Ge Dongxu finally understood why the landlord was so specific about the tenant''s profile and so concerned about his grades. It turned out he wanted a study companion for his own son to encourage him to study!

    However, Ge Dongxu saw that the family was quite nice and didn''t mind the additional task.

    "Yes, my name is Ge Dongxu!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, nodding his head.

    "Then we''ll be classmates from now on. Come on, Dongxu, let me show you your room," Cheng Le Hao said enthusiastically, draping his arm around Ge Dongxu''s shoulders.

    Seeing that his son seemed to like Ge Dongxu, the landlord''s expression relaxed considerably, and while following behind, he said to his son, "Lehao, Dongxu scored 550 in the middle school exam. You were enrolled through a paid seat, and your foundation is weaker than most; you must learn diligently from him. If there''s anything you don''t understand, ask Dongxu. Aim for a good university."

    "I know, I know!" Cheng Le Hao said impatiently, clearly having endured his dad''s nagging often.

    "You child!" the landlord said, slightly irritated, smacking him on the back of his head.

    "Dad, you''ll knock me stupid!" Cheng Le Hao exclaimed.

    The landlord was about to hit him again but eventually retracted his hand sheepishly, unsure whether he was genuinely worried about harming him or because Ge Dongxu was there.

    The layout of the fifth floor was similar to the floors below, with a large master bedroom of over twenty square meters at the front and a smaller bedroom at the back, albeit with a small balcony.

    The interior was elegantly decorated and very clean, equipped with necessary furniture such as a desk, bed, and cabinets.

 Chapter 10 I Am Strong [Please Recommend, Please Collect]

    "How does it feel? You''re satisfied, right?" Cheng Le Hao asked."Very good," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Since you''re satisfied, I should tell you that originally the rental was just for one of the two rooms on the fifth floor. But it''s empty anyway, so from now on the whole fifth floor is yours to use. If guests come, however, and I can''t manage room arrangements on my side, you''ll have to temporarily vacate the back room," the landlord said with a concealed sigh of relief, smiling after seeing Ge Dongxu''s satisfaction.

    To be honest, he rather liked Ge Dongxu. Although he came from the countryside, his whole demeanor was proper and polite, and he looked honest. His clothes were plain but very neat and clean. Of course, the main reason was that he was an exceptional student at Changxi No.1 Middle School.

    "Then I really thank you, Uncle," Ge Dongxu was very satisfied with such a room for the price and quite grateful to the landlord.

    "From now on, we''re like family, no need to be polite with Uncle here," the landlord said with a smile, then turned to Cheng Le Hao, "Le Hao, go downstairs and help Dongxu carry his luggage up."

    "Okay!" This time Cheng Le Hao didn''t grumble and agreed readily, then was about to go downstairs to carry the luggage.

    "No need, I can do it myself, I''ll do it myself," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "Dongxu, you must be exhausted from looking for a room all day. You rest first, let this kid carry it, he''s so plump he should move around more!" the landlord said.

    The landlord could say that, but of course, Ge Dongxu couldn''t really let him do that, so he quickly followed downstairs.

    But Cheng Le Hao was quite enthusiastic, and quick to act in this matter. Ge Dongxu hadn''t even reached the ground floor when the plump boy had already descended the stairs, his face flushed red, both hands straining to lift the luggage.

    "The stuff is a bit heavy, let me do it," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said upon seeing this and went down the stairs.

    "It''s not just a bit heavy, it''s seriously killing me! It''s better if we both do it," Cheng Le Hao said, gasping for air.

    "Nonsense! I just saw Dongxu carrying it with one hand into our house. It comes to your hands, and suddenly it''s killing you, and you can''t lift it with both hands! I bet it''s not the luggage that''s heavy, it''s that you spent the entire summer just eating, sleeping, and playing games, and now you''re weak!" the landlord also went downstairs and seeing his son''s face beet red and forehead sweating, whilst saying the luggage was incredibly heavy, he couldn''t help but glare angrily.

    At that moment, Ge Dongxu just reached out and took the suitcase from Cheng Le Hao, who was straining to carry it, indeed with just one hand, effortlessly.

    Cheng Le Hao stood there dumbfounded! And the landlord took the opportunity to lecture his son again, "You brat, do you see that? You''re almost the same age, and as for stature, you''re even larger than Dongxu, yet look at him? Now look at yourself? Aren''t you ashamed?"

    Cheng Le Hao, being reprimanded like that by his dad and seeing Ge Dongxu''s ease, didn''t believe it and naturally felt disgruntled. He stepped forward briskly, grabbed the handle of the luggage, and said, "Dongxu, let go, let me try again. I refuse to believe this. You can lift it so easily with one hand, and I struggle so much even with two!"

    "No need to try again, it really is quite heavy. I''m a mountain person, used to heavy labor, so I''m strong," Ge Dongxu said kindly, not wanting Cheng Le Hao to embarrass himself further.

    But Cheng Le Hao was stubborn and insisted on trying, so Ge Dongxu reluctantly let go.

    "Bang!" The moment Ge Dongxu let go, Cheng Le Hao, still not exerting full strength in his tug-of-war, not only failed to lift the luggage all at once but was also pulled forward by its weight, nearly toppling over it.

    "Look at you, all you do is play games, sleep, and snack all day. From today on, your gaming console is confiscated, no more snacks, and you''re starting to exercise," the landlord said sternly after seeing Ge Dongxu handle his bag with ease while his own son nearly toppled over with the luggage, his heart wrenching.

    "Dad, you really can''t blame me for this, the suitcase is seriously heavy. If you don''t believe me, try lifting it yourself," Cheng Le Hao immediately burst into tears and cried out in protest.

    "I''ll lift it myself, but if it turns out to be light, you, my boy, will have to seriously start your workouts," the landlord didn''t believe Ge Dongxu could lift what seemed to be a heavy suitcase effortlessly. He walked over, pushed Cheng Le Hao aside, grabbed the suitcase with one hand, and said with an easy smile, "Silly boy, look... "

    However, before he could finish his sentence with "okay," his face turned red, and it took a strong yank to lift it.

    "Dad, seems like you also need to step up your exercise," Cheng Le Hao couldn''t help but laugh when he saw his dad''s face turn red and struggling to lift the suitcase with one hand, and quickly teased.

    "Cheeky kid, itching for a spanking, huh? Even daring to boss your own dad around!" The landlord glared at Cheng Le Hao, then turned his astonished gaze to Ge Dongxu and asked, "Dongxu, what on earth did you pack in this suitcase? Why is it so heavy?"

    "The weather is still hot, and clothes are lighter, so I brought some extra books. That''s why it''s a bit heavy," Ge Dongxu explained with a smile.

    "No wonder it''s so heavy! But you''re strong, almost catching up to your uncle," the landlord revealed a look of understanding.

    "Oh, come on, Dad, don''t flatter yourself. Dongxu lifted it easily with one hand, while you almost popped a vein on your forehead," Cheng Le Hao immediately unabashedly pointed out.

    "All you do is run your mouth. Look at Dongxu, he knows to bring books when he goes out. And you?" The landlord''s face turned slightly red, and then he swiftly changed the subject and started to scold.

    "Aren''t my books at home? Why would I need to lug them around?" Cheng Le Hao muttered, then, seeing his dad raise his hand as if to hit him, he quickly scampered up the stairs.

    After reaching the stairs, he couldn''t resist shouting to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, you''re strong, I''ll leave the heavy lifting to you!"

    Having said that, he promptly dashed upstairs.

    "This kid!" the landlord shook his head in defeat and then told Ge Dongxu, "You see what I''m dealing with, this guy has been coddled since he was little. You guys will be attending the same school, the same year, and you might even end up in the same class. Now you''ll be living one floor apart; you''ve got to help your uncle keep an eye on him."

    "Rest assured, Uncle, I will," Ge Dongxu, now rather fond of the father and son duo, nodded with a smile and agreed.

    "Good, good, with your help, I''ll feel much more at ease," said the landlord, his mood brightening as he patted Ge Dongxu on the shoulder. "You go settle into your room. If you need anything, just let your uncle or aunt know, I''m going to check on the store."

    "Thanks, Uncle, go ahead with your business; I''ll bring down the rent later," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "No rush about the rent, no rush!" said the landlord, still smiling as he headed to the store.

    Ge Dongxu went up to the fifth floor, opened his suitcase, took out his toiletries, arranged them in the bathroom, and was about to put away his clothes when Cheng Le Hao suddenly barged in, grabbed Ge Dongxu''s arm, and dragged him towards the window. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Do you see that girl with the ponytail and denim shorts?" Once by the window, Cheng Le Hao pointed to the house across the street, his eyes lighting up as he asked in an excited, wolfish manner.

 Chapter 11 The Girl Across

    Ge Dongxu followed Cheng Le Hao''s pointing finger and looked across the street from the building. His expression briefly froze; wasn''t that Dong Yuxin, the girl he had met on the street earlier?"I see her, what about it?" Ge Dongxu''s face quickly shifted to one of confusion, not understanding why Cheng Le Hao was so excitedly dragging him to look at Dong Yuxin. Did he witness the scene where he played the hero just now? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    No way, when I came to his place earlier, he was still fast asleep in his room wearing nothing but boxers!

    "Holy crap, brother, are you truly clueless or just pretending? Didn''t you notice that the girl across the street is super hot? Tsk tsk, such a pretty face, those legs so white and long, and then there''s¡­ hiss-slurp!" Cheng Le Hao gave Ge Dongxu a sidelong glance, his voice trailing off as he couldn''t help but let his saliva drip, quickly sucking it back in with an expression as lecherous as one could be.

    "Definitely hot, but that seems unrelated to you. Don''t tell me, you''re planning to chase after her!" Even though Ge Dongxu disapproved of Cheng Le Hao''s lewdness, he couldn''t deny that Dong Yuxin was indeed beautiful. He nodded and deliberately sized up Cheng Le Hao from head to toe with his gaze.

    "Hey, don''t look down on a fatty! Maybe Dong Yuxin likes a bit of meat on the bones, you know?" Cheng Le Hao was annoyed at Ge Dongxu''s scrutinizing look, shot him a disdainful glance, and then purposely hitched up his trousers, giving his flab a shake that left Ge Dongxu feeling a bout of chills.

    "I think your chances are about as good as winning the lottery, so you might as well calm down, exercise properly, and aspire to have abs like mine," Ge Dongxu lifted his shirt to reveal his steel-like eight-pack abs and said.

    "Holy shit! No wonder you''re so strong! Those are the legendary eight-pack abs, huh? Let me touch them, let me touch!" Initially, Ge Dongxu wanted to give Cheng Le Hao a good knockdown, but instead, the fat man exhibited no sign of enlightenment. Seeing this, his eyes lit up as if he had discovered a new world, reaching out his chubby hands to touch Ge Dongxu''s abs. Ge Dongxu, disgusted, quickly pulled down his shirt and harshly slapped away his hands.

    "Pssh, what''s so great about that? You''re not Dong Yuxin. Even if you let me touch them, I wouldn''t care!" Cheng Le Hao retorted dismissively after Ge Dongxu slapped his hand away.

    Having said that, Cheng Le Hao returned to lying on the windowsill, his eyes squinted and drooling at the corners of his mouth as he stealthily watched Dong Yuxin.

    "Tsk tsk, she''s indeed the perpetual top school beauty at our school! Starting the day after tomorrow, she and I will be schoolmates, then I''ll be able to see her every day. Just the thought of it excites me," Cheng Le Hao murmured to himself, his eyes glowing.

    "Your two families live right across the street from each other, don''t you see her every day?" Ge Dongxu rolled his eyes and said.

    "She rarely comes out, so it''s hard to catch a glimpse of her," Cheng Le Hao said. As he spoke, he suddenly slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Crap, I''ve been so busy arguing with you, a guy who doesn''t understand women, that I forgot to grab the binoculars."

    With that said, Cheng Le Hao hurriedly ran downstairs.

    Watching his hefty figure quickly exit his room, Ge Dongxu was completely speechless.

    This guy actually used a telescope!

    However, Cheng Le Hao didn''t run away for long before he came back with a face full of disappointment, saying, "I was too late, she went inside."

    "We live just across from each other, and we''ll both be alumni in the future. Is it necessary to spy on her with a telescope? Just say hello the next time you see her, get to know her, and that''ll be it," Ge Dongxu saw Cheng Le Hao''s dejected look and couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the same time.

    "Talk is cheap for you! That''s the school beauty of Changxi No. 1 Middle School we''re talking about, and she''s a senior this year. We''re just freshmen. Do you think she would even care to acknowledge you if you greet her? Besides, it''s said that there are a lot of guys in Changxi No. 1 Middle School who are after Dong Yuxin, and several of them are top students with good family backgrounds, but she just ignores them all," Cheng Lehao rolled his eyes as he spoke.

    "Really? I actually don''t think she''s the type to reject people outright. She probably just isn''t interested in dating right now, which is why she''s intentionally ignoring those guys. By the way, you haven''t even started attending Changxi No. 1 Middle School yet, so how do you know so much already?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "I asked a classmate about it. His brother goes to Changxi No. 1 Middle School," Cheng Le Hao replied.

    "I see. But we''re still students, young, we should focus more on studying rather than worrying about school beauties, women!" Ge Dongxu seriously advised.

    "Get out, talking to a bookworm like you who hasn''t even grown up or seen the world about women is like playing the lute to a cow." Cheng Lehao rolled his eyes disdainfully when Ge Dongxu, instead of joining in on the conversation about women, advised him to study hard.

    With that, Cheng Lehao turned and clomped downstairs.

    The thoughts of teenagers in the mountains are more simple and conservative than those of city folks. Moreover, at that time, Ge Dongxu and his peers were young and fully focused on the middle school exams. In Baiyun Mountain Town Middle School, aside from a few rebellious youths, the topic of women was always off-limits. Ge Dongxu, besides studying, put a lot of effort into cultivation, maintaining his demeanor and spirit, so he certainly didn''t have the energy to talk about women. But Ge Dongxu was, after all, at the age where adolescence stirs, and he began to harbor a faint curiosity towards the matters between men and women, especially after the pressure of middle school exams had lifted and a summer vacation had passed. His curiosity about the opposite sex seemed to explode like crazy-growing grass after the rain, to the point where he''d even dream about it at night.

    Originally, after helping Dong Yuxin, Ge Dongxu had pretty much put her out of his mind, free of distractions. But just now, after what Cheng Lehao said, that youthful heart couldn''t help but begin to feel restless. As he tidied up his room, the pretty face of Dong Yuxin, her puffy chest, perky butt, and long, white legs would uncontrollably pop into his mind.

    "What''s gotten into me today? It''s all Cheng Lehao''s fault!" Ge Dongxu, essentially a boy with a pure heart, felt guilty whenever such inappropriate images surfaced in his mind. He grumbled to himself and simply put down his work, sat cross-legged on the floor, adjusted his breathing, and tried to keep his Spirit Platform clear and serene.

    After doing this for a short while, Ge Dongxu''s state of mind gradually regained its calm, free from distractions.

    With his mind cleared, Ge Dongxu then opened his eyes, stood up, continued tidying the room, and felt particularly refreshed.

    This meditation technique was also one of the secrets behind how Ge Dongxu could achieve good results in his studies and be the only person from Baiyun Mountain Town to get into the county''s best middle school despite spending a lot of time on cultivation. Whenever he found studying tedious and hard to focus, just meditating like this for a while would refresh him, enabling him to immerse in his studies efficiently, making him far more productive than the others.

 Chapter 14 Thousand-Year-Old Wild Polygonum Multiflorum

    "If it really doesn't work out, I can just continue to cultivate slowly like this, and over time I will definitely see some improvements," after pondering for quite a while without coming up with any good solutions, Ge Dongxu consoled himself."But after graduating from high school, I definitely have to go to university. After university, I will surely need to enter society to work and live, and it won't be possible to become a hermit secluded in the deep mountains, unconcerned with worldly matters. Given how it is now, the spiritual energy in the big cities will probably be even more diluted. Could it be that I should continue to cultivate at this snail's pace in the future?" Just as Ge Dongxu had begun to console himself, he suddenly remembered that this wasn't just a problem for the three years of high school, but an issue that pertained to the rest of his life's cultivation, and he couldn't help but start to worry again.
    "I absolutely can't go on like this! My master taught me and placed great hopes in me, how can I allow myself to continue on carelessly and dispirited? Moreover, I was fortunate enough to inherit Ge Hong Ancestor's mantle; if I were to waste such a grand opportunity, that would simply be begging for a lightning strike."
    "Since I don't have money, then I should work hard to earn it, to become a wealthy tycoon. When I have enough money, do I still need to worry about not being able to afford the materials for refining elixirs or setting up a Spirit Gathering Array?" In the darkness of the night, Ge Dongxu's gaze gradually became resolute.
    That night, a sixteen-year-old boy made up his mind to become a tycoon while in his rented room!
    After making his decision, Ge Dongxu closed his eyes and went to sleep.
    Sleep is the most natural form of deep relaxation and rest, and even for cultivators, it's no exception. Of course, due to their cultivation and meditation, they can sleep fewer hours than ordinary people and still maintain robust energy and physical strength.
    Waking up at about 4:30 in the morning, Ge Dongxu got out of bed because Mao Hour is when the sun rises in the east, all things thrive and vitality is at its peak, making it another optimal time for cultivation in the day.
    After washing up, Ge Dongxu once again went to the balcony on the fifth floor, sat cross-legged facing the east, and closed his eyes.
    In the east, the sky behind the park's mountains began to turn red, with the purple and red of the morning glow tumbling like turbulent seas.
    Finally, a round of the red sun broke through the clouds, casting golden red rays onto the earth.
    "Huff!" Ge Dongxu exhaled a breath of stale air, then opened his eyes, got up, and went downstairs for breakfast.
    The cultivation during Mao Hour, just like during the previous Chinese Hour, made almost imperceptibly slight progress.
    After breakfast, Ge Dongxu didn't return to his rented room but meandered aimlessly around the county, looking to see if there were any business opportunities for making money. However, as a boy who came from a mountain village without any experience in doing business, how could he spot any business opportunities just by wandering around? It was when he passed a small bridge on the riverfront road and saw a few fortune tellers that Ge Dongxu's eyes lit up, but he quickly laughed bitterly and dispelled the thought. Not to mention that his master had advised him before passing away not to casually reveal his cultivation or use it to make a living for profit, would anyone come to him given his young age, even if he was willing to swallow his pride and set up a stall to tell fortunes?
    After wandering around aimlessly for quite a while, Ge Dongxu suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared at a traditional Chinese medicine shop in front of him, smacking his forehead and saying, "Look at my poor memory, I only thought about buying medicinal ingredients to refine medicinal cuisine and elixirs, and purchase jade to arrange the Spirit Gathering Array. Why didn't I think of that thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum? I don't need it right now anyway, so why not sell it and buy the materials I need instead?"
    Ge Dongxu had been practicing cultivation in Baiyun Mountain for years, and last year, he came across a secluded cliff on the mountain where he inadvertently discovered a Polygonum multiflorum plant.
    Having studied medicinal herbs and the healing arts with Ren Yao for six years and inheriting knowledge passed down from Ge Hong, he easily identified it as a thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum.
    Polygonum multiflorum can nourish the blood and liver, solidify essence and benefit the kidneys, strengthen muscles and bones, and darken hair. It is a nourishing good medicine that is neither too cold nor too hot, and its benefits surpass those of rehmannia and asparagus root. It is indeed a precious medicinal material.
    Not to mention that it has nourishing effects when consumed by ordinary people, even cultivators can benefit from it to some extent. However, nowadays most Polygonum multiflorum is cultivated artificially, with wild ones becoming scarce, especially a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum which is extremely rare and precious. So when Ge Dongxu discovered a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum on Baiyun Mountain last year, he was very excited, and wanted to dig it up right away. But then he remembered that the effects of consuming this wild thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum directly were far less than if it was combined with other herbs and brewed into a medicinal decoction or refined into an elixir. If he were to just dig it up and consume it directly, it would be a waste. It would be better to wait until he had gathered the other herbs, dig it up then, and brew it into a medicinal decoction or refine it into an elixir according to ancient methods.
    However, among the several ancient methods Ge Dongxu knew that required thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, the other herbs needed were also extremely precious, and there was no way he could collect them all in a short time. So after careful consideration, he let go of the idea of digging it up immediately. Instead, he concealed it further, making it more hidden, so that it could continue to grow in the crevices of the cliffs, to be dug up when needed in the future.
    Because he always cherished the extreme preciousness and rarity of the thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, something that was difficult to come by, he planned to save it for his own medicinal refining in the future. Thus, Ge Dongxu had never thought about selling it, nor did he consider the immense wealth it represented.
    Today, as he passed by the traditional Chinese medicine shop and saw the price tags of some nourishing herbs hanging at the entrance, he suddenly remembered that he was not, in fact, a poor boy; if he sold that thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, he could likely be considered a wealthy man.
    Thinking about selling the Polygonum multiflorum to raise money, Ge Dongxu's heart suddenly came alive, and he wished he could return to Baiyun Mountain right now to dig up and sell that thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum.
    "The thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum is the greatest wealth I possess, if sold, it would be gone, I must inquire thoroughly, haste makes waste. Otherwise, if I sell it for too low a price, wouldn't that be a great loss?" Although Ge Dongxu was only a sixteen-year-old boy, having lived with an elderly person for six years, he naturally picked up the elder's calmness. He quickly realized that his eagerness was misplaced and immediately took several deep breaths, letting his mind gradually calm down.
    With a heart neither arrogant nor impulsive, Ge Dongxu looked at the medicine shop ahead without the previous excitement, and after thinking for a moment, calmly walked into the shop.
    In this day and age, Western medicine is much more popular than traditional Chinese medicine. Even though it's called a Chinese medicine shop, there are still quite a few Western medicines on display. Perhaps it was because it was still early, or maybe the shop just didn't have much business. There were no customers in the store, only a middle-aged man attending it. Seeing Ge Dongxu come in, he didn't show much energy and just asked lazily, "Young man, what medicine do you need to buy?"
    "Uncle, I'm not here to buy medicine, I'd like to consult you about something," Ge Dongxu said, bowing slightly to the middle-aged man.
    "Come to consult about something? Young man, are you sure you haven't made a mistake? This is a pharmacy," the middle-aged man said with some curiosity as he looked at Ge Dongxu.
    ps: There will be another update after midnight, which is also the start of a new week's rush for the rankings. By then, dear readers, please be sure to support the event and strive to push the book into the top ten of the new book list.
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 Chapter 13 Talisman Drawing and Cultivation

    Returning to the rented house, Ge Dongxu saw Cheng Le Hao''s room door was tightly closed, and he breathed a sigh of relief inside. He did not want Cheng Le Hao to see him carrying a large pile of yellow ritual paper.He dashed into his own bedroom, then closed the door. Ge Dongxu prepared some cinnabar and laid out the yellow ritual paper. He took a deep breath, completely clearing his mind of any stray thoughts, focusing his mind, and with a brush in hand, he began drawing talismans.

    The talismans he was drawing were relatively simple runes, such as the Heart-Cleansing Talisman, Evil-Repelling Talisman, House-Protecting Talisman, and some Water Arrow Talismans and Fireball Talismans with not very strong attack power.

    However, simple as these talismans might be, drawing them successfully was not easy. Even after eight years of following the Dao and inheriting Ge Hong''s legacy, with his cultivation having reached the Qi Cultivation Third Layer Realm, he had wasted nearly a hundred sheets of yellow ritual paper but only managed to successfully draw one Evil-Repelling Talisman and one Fireball Talisman, with a success rate of about two percent.

    After drawing over a hundred sheets of yellow ritual paper, Ge Dongxu was nearly spent. He sat cross-legged for a brief period of breath regulation before he felt some strength return. Then he stood up and carefully stored the actual talismans imbued with mana, the Evil-Repelling Talisman, and the Fireball Talisman.

    These two talismans had almost taken him half a day, nearly a hundred sheets of yellow ritual paper, and three days'' accumulation of mana to complete. To others, they might seem like nothing more than ordinary ghost drawings, but to him, they were the fruit of his labor, which of course had to be well kept for any emergency.

    Because his current success rate in drawing talismans was so low, he needed to prepare in advance. This was what it meant to be prepared for anything.

    "I wonder when I''ll be able to reach the realm where the talismans follow my heart, able to create a talisman with a single stroke, without the hardship of the process," Ge Dongxu muttered to himself somewhat dissatisfied after storing the talismans.

    What Ge Dongxu did not know was that in this world today, those who truly knew how to draw talismans were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, and they were mostly older people whose success rates were not much better than Ge Dongxu''s. If people knew that a teenager of about fifteen or sixteen could produce real talismans and was still unsatisfied, they would probably be banging their heads against a wall.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu was just grumbling to himself. He knew that to reach the state where talismans followed his heart, it required not only an extremely refined spiritual power but also that his mana reached at least the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, and even his highly skilled master had only achieved the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer. He had a long way to go.

    After storing the talismans and grumbling a few words to himself, Ge Dongxu''s stomach started to protest with a growling sound.

    It turned out that drawing talismans not only consumed mental and mana energies but also physical strength. Moreover, Ge Dongxu was at an age where he was still growing, so after half a day''s practice, the bit of food he had eaten for lunch was long digested.

    He went downstairs for dinner, and after eating, Ge Dongxu did not linger outside and went straight back to the rented house.

    When Ge Dongxu returned, Wu Xiaojuan was washing the dishes, evidently, they had just had dinner. Seeing that Ge Dongxu had returned to his room early and had not roamed outside, Wu Xiaojuan felt much relieved. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Smiling, he greeted Wu Xiaojuan, then continued upstairs. Passing by Cheng Le Hao''s room, he saw him lying on the bed reading a novel, Huang Yi''s "A Step into the Past." This novel was very popular recently and was rather explicit in some aspects. Perhaps for this reason, when Cheng Le Hao heard footsteps at the stairway, he quickly stuffed "A Step into the Past" under his pillow, pretending to be pondering something. But the chubby fellow had not noticed the tent pitched high in his crotch.

    "Damn, it''s you, kid!" When Cheng Le Hao realized it was Ge Dongxu, he gave him a white look and then took out "A Step into the Past" from under the pillow and continued reading.

    "What novel are you reading? Hiding it like it''s something shady!" Ge Dongxu asked casually.

    "Huang Yi''s novel ''A Step into the Past'' is really good. Do you want to read it? I''m on the third volume right now, and I still haven''t returned the first two volumes. I can lend them to you," Cheng Le Hao said.

    "Thanks, but I''d better stick to my own reading," Ge Dongxu smiled, shaking his head as he walked away.

    "Damn, you''re already this diligent before school starts!" Cheng Le Hao rolled his eyes and then lowered his head to enjoy his novel once more.

    Ge Dongxu returned to his room, closed the door, and instead of reading, sat cross-legged on the bed, guarding his Spirit Platform, maintaining its clarity, and commenced his daily meditation.

    The Cultivation Technique Ge Dongxu practiced was called the ''Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Method'', a Superior and Profound method. Unfortunately, nowadays nature''s spiritual energy is scarce, everywhere is filled with murky energy, and only during the Chinese Hours of zi and mao can one barely cultivate. At other times, even Superior and Profound techniques are mostly ineffective, so Ge Dongxu usually relied on the Meditation Method to condense spiritual power, which is unaffected by the fluctuations of the murky energy of nature''s spiritual energy.

    Since Talisman Drawing had consumed a significant amount of mental energy today, Ge Dongxu needed to meditate promptly to recover his spiritual power.

    He sat in this position until the zi hour, which is from eleven at night until one o''clock in the morning.

    Ge Dongxu quietly opened his room door, crossed the stairway, passed the room behind it, and reached the balcony.

    A bright moon hung in the sky, and the moonlight, like water, poured down, carrying a hint of coolness rare in the summer days. At this time, the usually bustling county city had become exceptionally silent. One could faintly hear the chirping of insects.

    "The zi hour, when Yin is at its peak and Yang begins to arise, the time of Yin Yang transition, is the best moment for cultivation in the day. Treasure it," Ren Yao''s words flashed through Ge Dongxu''s mind and, almost reflexively, he sat cross-legged, with his hands embracing his abdomen.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu''s abdomen rhythmically ballooned and contracted, and at the tip of his nose, one could vaguely see breaths moving in and out, like one''s breath on a cold winter day, visible as a mist, though relatively less obvious.

    Quietly, the moon hid behind the clouds, and soon an hour passed. Ge Dongxu slowly opened his eyes, sighed lightly, stood up and returned to his bedroom, lay on his bed with his hands behind his head, gazing at the ceiling with a somewhat desolate expression.

    "The county town has a high population density, dense buildings and not few factories. Even though I picked a place close to a park on the mountain, the air here is still much muddier compared to Baiyun Mountain. Even during the zi hour, the spiritual energy in the air is pitifully scarce. Cultivating here ten times might not even compare to one session on Baiyun Mountain. But I need to study in the county town, so it''s definitely not convenient to return to Baiyun Mountain for cultivation. What should I do?" Ge Dongxu gazed at the ceiling, feeling the Mana in his body that had scarcely increased, and couldn''t help feeling quite vexed.

    Since receiving his inheritance two years ago, he had made rapid progress, and after each cultivation session, the Mana in his body had a noticeable increase, yet today it was barely discernible.

    "It seems I can only think of solutions through Elixirs and setting up Spirit Gathering Arrays, but Refining Elixirs requires precious materials, and setting up Spirit Gathering Arrays needs Jade. Where can I, a poor student from the mountains, get the money to buy these expensive materials?" Ge Dongxu thought about two solutions, but the need to buy expensive materials for either Refining Elixirs or constructing Spirit Gathering Arrays caused him more worry and a headache.

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 Chapter 14 Thousand-Year-Old Wild Polygonum Multiflorum

    "If it really doesn''t work out, I can just continue to cultivate slowly like this, and over time I will definitely see some improvements," after pondering for quite a while without coming up with any good solutions, Ge Dongxu consoled himself."But after graduating from high school, I definitely have to go to university. After university, I will surely need to enter society to work and live, and it won''t be possible to become a hermit secluded in the deep mountains, unconcerned with worldly matters. Given how it is now, the spiritual energy in the big cities will probably be even more diluted. Could it be that I should continue to cultivate at this snail''s pace in the future?" Just as Ge Dongxu had begun to console himself, he suddenly remembered that this wasn''t just a problem for the three years of high school, but an issue that pertained to the rest of his life''s cultivation, and he couldn''t help but start to worry again.

    "I absolutely can''t go on like this! My master taught me and placed great hopes in me, how can I allow myself to continue on carelessly and dispirited? Moreover, I was fortunate enough to inherit Ge Hong Ancestor''s mantle; if I were to waste such a grand opportunity, that would simply be begging for a lightning strike."

    "Since I don''t have money, then I should work hard to earn it, to become a wealthy tycoon. When I have enough money, do I still need to worry about not being able to afford the materials for refining elixirs or setting up a Spirit Gathering Array?" In the darkness of the night, Ge Dongxu''s gaze gradually became resolute.

    That night, a sixteen-year-old boy made up his mind to become a tycoon while in his rented room!

    After making his decision, Ge Dongxu closed his eyes and went to sleep.

    Sleep is the most natural form of deep relaxation and rest, and even for cultivators, it''s no exception. Of course, due to their cultivation and meditation, they can sleep fewer hours than ordinary people and still maintain robust energy and physical strength.

    Waking up at about 4:30 in the morning, Ge Dongxu got out of bed because Mao Hour is when the sun rises in the east, all things thrive and vitality is at its peak, making it another optimal time for cultivation in the day.

    After washing up, Ge Dongxu once again went to the balcony on the fifth floor, sat cross-legged facing the east, and closed his eyes.

    In the east, the sky behind the park''s mountains began to turn red, with the purple and red of the morning glow tumbling like turbulent seas.

    Finally, a round of the red sun broke through the clouds, casting golden red rays onto the earth.

    "Huff!" Ge Dongxu exhaled a breath of stale air, then opened his eyes, got up, and went downstairs for breakfast.

    The cultivation during Mao Hour, just like during the previous Chinese Hour, made almost imperceptibly slight progress.

    After breakfast, Ge Dongxu didn''t return to his rented room but meandered aimlessly around the county, looking to see if there were any business opportunities for making money. However, as a boy who came from a mountain village without any experience in doing business, how could he spot any business opportunities just by wandering around? It was when he passed a small bridge on the riverfront road and saw a few fortune tellers that Ge Dongxu''s eyes lit up, but he quickly laughed bitterly and dispelled the thought. Not to mention that his master had advised him before passing away not to casually reveal his cultivation or use it to make a living for profit, would anyone come to him given his young age, even if he was willing to swallow his pride and set up a stall to tell fortunes?

    After wandering around aimlessly for quite a while, Ge Dongxu suddenly stopped in his tracks and stared at a traditional Chinese medicine shop in front of him, smacking his forehead and saying, "Look at my poor memory, I only thought about buying medicinal ingredients to refine medicinal cuisine and elixirs, and purchase jade to arrange the Spirit Gathering Array. Why didn''t I think of that thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum? I don''t need it right now anyway, so why not sell it and buy the materials I need instead?"

    Ge Dongxu had been practicing cultivation in Baiyun Mountain for years, and last year, he came across a secluded cliff on the mountain where he inadvertently discovered a Polygonum multiflorum plant.

    Having studied medicinal herbs and the healing arts with Ren Yao for six years and inheriting knowledge passed down from Ge Hong, he easily identified it as a thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum.

    Polygonum multiflorum can nourish the blood and liver, solidify essence and benefit the kidneys, strengthen muscles and bones, and darken hair. It is a nourishing good medicine that is neither too cold nor too hot, and its benefits surpass those of rehmannia and asparagus root. It is indeed a precious medicinal material.

    Not to mention that it has nourishing effects when consumed by ordinary people, even cultivators can benefit from it to some extent. However, nowadays most Polygonum multiflorum is cultivated artificially, with wild ones becoming scarce, especially a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum which is extremely rare and precious. So when Ge Dongxu discovered a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum on Baiyun Mountain last year, he was very excited, and wanted to dig it up right away. But then he remembered that the effects of consuming this wild thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum directly were far less than if it was combined with other herbs and brewed into a medicinal decoction or refined into an elixir. If he were to just dig it up and consume it directly, it would be a waste. It would be better to wait until he had gathered the other herbs, dig it up then, and brew it into a medicinal decoction or refine it into an elixir according to ancient methods.

    However, among the several ancient methods Ge Dongxu knew that required thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, the other herbs needed were also extremely precious, and there was no way he could collect them all in a short time. So after careful consideration, he let go of the idea of digging it up immediately. Instead, he concealed it further, making it more hidden, so that it could continue to grow in the crevices of the cliffs, to be dug up when needed in the future.

    Because he always cherished the extreme preciousness and rarity of the thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, something that was difficult to come by, he planned to save it for his own medicinal refining in the future. Thus, Ge Dongxu had never thought about selling it, nor did he consider the immense wealth it represented.

    Today, as he passed by the traditional Chinese medicine shop and saw the price tags of some nourishing herbs hanging at the entrance, he suddenly remembered that he was not, in fact, a poor boy; if he sold that thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, he could likely be considered a wealthy man.

    Thinking about selling the Polygonum multiflorum to raise money, Ge Dongxu''s heart suddenly came alive, and he wished he could return to Baiyun Mountain right now to dig up and sell that thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum.

    "The thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum is the greatest wealth I possess, if sold, it would be gone, I must inquire thoroughly, haste makes waste. Otherwise, if I sell it for too low a price, wouldn''t that be a great loss?" Although Ge Dongxu was only a sixteen-year-old boy, having lived with an elderly person for six years, he naturally picked up the elder''s calmness. He quickly realized that his eagerness was misplaced and immediately took several deep breaths, letting his mind gradually calm down.

    With a heart neither arrogant nor impulsive, Ge Dongxu looked at the medicine shop ahead without the previous excitement, and after thinking for a moment, calmly walked into the shop.

    In this day and age, Western medicine is much more popular than traditional Chinese medicine. Even though it''s called a Chinese medicine shop, there are still quite a few Western medicines on display. Perhaps it was because it was still early, or maybe the shop just didn''t have much business. There were no customers in the store, only a middle-aged man attending it. Seeing Ge Dongxu come in, he didn''t show much energy and just asked lazily, "Young man, what medicine do you need to buy?"

    "Uncle, I''m not here to buy medicine, I''d like to consult you about something," Ge Dongxu said, bowing slightly to the middle-aged man.

    "Come to consult about something? Young man, are you sure you haven''t made a mistake? This is a pharmacy," the middle-aged man said with some curiosity as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    ps: There will be another update after midnight, which is also the start of a new week''s rush for the rankings. By then, dear readers, please be sure to support the event and strive to push the book into the top ten of the new book list.

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 Chapter 15 Worth a Million [Monday, urgently seeking recommendation tickets]

    ps: Monday is the most important day for competing in the rankings, so I kindly ask all readers to please vote and support us. There will be more updates during the day......

    "Isn''t this a Chinese medicine shop? I''d like to ask about something related to Chinese medicine," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Asking about Chinese medicine, eh? Well, you''ve certainly come to the right person, as I have some knowledge on the subject." Since there were no customers in the shop and Ge Dongxu was very polite, the middle-aged man smiled as Ge Dongxu posed his question about herbs.

    "Thank you, Uncle. I''d like to know, how much would millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum cost nowadays?" Ge Dongxu responded with a bow and then asked.

    "Millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum? Ha-ha, come on, young man, have you been mesmerized by martial arts novels? Thinking that consuming millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum will help you open the governor and conception vessels and become a master in the martial world or something?" Upon hearing this, the middle-aged man was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter.

    "No, I''m just curious," Ge Dongxu said, somewhat embarrassed by the reaction.

    "Ha-ha, don''t be shy, young man. I also had a phase when I was obsessed with martial arts novels, dreaming about falling into an abyss and then consuming a millennia-old Lingzhi or ginseng, suddenly gaining the cultivation power of sixty years. But all those things, they''re just in novels, and taking them seriously is not right. Polygonum multiflorum is just an herb and, although it does have a nourishing effect, it''s definitely not as miraculous as it''s described in martial arts novels. The ''Compendium of Materia Medica'' records that this herb is warming, tastes bitter, nourishes the kidneys, and warms the liver..." Seeing Ge Dongxu''s embarrassed expression, the middle-aged man was convinced that he was confused by martial arts novels and started giving a lecture.

    "Uncle, I really am just curious about how much millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum would sell for?" Ge Dongxu interrupted, a bit helplessly.

    Becoming slightly unhappy as Ge Dongxu interrupted his lecture, the middle-aged man said, "You young fellow, it seems you''re beyond help. Even if millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum had those miraculous effects, it would still cost at least a million. Can you afford that?"

    Ge Dongxu was stunned upon hearing this. He knew millennia-old wild Polygonum multiflorum would be valuable, but he hadn''t expected it to be that expensive.

    Considering that in Changxi County, the latest apartment housing costs about one thousand yuan per square meter, and a whole five-story building like the one Cheng Yazhou owns would cost at most about three hundred thousand yuan.

    One million yuan was undoubtedly an astronomical figure for Ge Dongxu at the moment.

    However, Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person, and he quickly recovered. Ignoring the middle-aged man''s earlier comment about him being beyond help, he eagerly asked, "Really, one million?"

    "I really do find you amusing, yes, over one million. Two years ago, Yongqing Hall in Linzhou City of the provincial capital acquired an eight-hundred-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, and a wealthy individual paid a million yuan for it," the middle-aged man said, shaking his head as he looked at Ge Dongxu, his eyes filled with a hint of longing.

    "Yongchun Hall in the provincial capital," Ge Dongxu muttered to himself, then happily bowed to the middle-aged man again and said, "Thank you, Uncle, for your information. Goodbye."

    After finishing speaking, Ge Dongxu turned around and walked away with joyful and excited steps, for he had already seen a million yuan beckoning to him.

    "This kid has deviated!" The middle-aged man watched as Ge Dongxu left with a face full of happiness and excitement, and couldn''t help shaking his head.

    He could never have dreamed that this plainly dressed young man would possess a wild Polygonum multiflorum that was a thousand years old!

    After leaving the herbal medicine store, it took Ge Dongxu a long while to calm down.

    After all, it was a huge amount of one million yuan, and even though he had cultivation power, it was very hard to control his emotions at once; he needed to adjust gradually.

    Once he had calmed his emotions, Ge Dongxu then returned to Cheng Lehao''s home.

    Passing by Cheng Yazhou''s room, it was closed, and he didn''t know whether Yazhou was oversleeping or engaging in novels, playing games. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, Ge Dongxu was not in the mood to care about that at the time, he returned to his room and sat at his desk, thinking about the wild Polygonum multiflorum that was a thousand years old.

    "That uncle mentioned Yongqing Hall, even specifying the time, the age, and the price very precisely, which shows that the information is reliable. The price of the wild Polygonum multiflorum that is a thousand years old should be worth at least over one million. I have to enroll at school tomorrow. It''s definitely not suitable to go back to Baiyun Mountain now, and such a large sum of money definitely can''t be carried with me; I must get a bank card, and to get a bank card, I certainly need an identity card. I''ve heard that now in the town, you can get an ID card as soon as you turn sixteen, not like before when you had to be eighteen. I will turn sixteen in another month, just in time to investigate some things thoroughly, and then go to the bank to get the card after getting my identity card. The thing is, I''m only just about to turn sixteen, which still isn''t the legal age of adulthood. I wonder if the bank will agree to issue the card; if not, that would be somewhat troublesome."

    Sitting at the desk, Ge Dongxu''s mind was racing.

    About the matter of the wild Polygonum multiflorum that was a thousand years old, Ge Dongxu did not want to alarm his parents just yet. The first reason was that the matter wasn''t even certain yet; bringing it up might disappoint them. The second reason was that the amount was indeed too enormous; if he did tell his parents, it would definitely disrupt their peaceful life and might even frighten them, leaving them anxious and restless with so much money. The third reason was that, in the eyes of his parents, Ge Dongxu was still a minor; once his parents learned he had such a large sum of money, they would definitely want to control it and not let him manage it freely, which would restrict him in investing in cultivation.

    "Whether the bank agrees to issue me a card or not, the first thing is to get the identity card, and I have one month for that. During this month, I should mainly focus on my studies and cultivation. Other matters should be dealt with slowly; I can''t rush them, I need to maintain a regular mindset." After pondering the matter for a while, Ge Dongxu quickly gathered his thoughts and silently warned himself to keep a regular mindset.

    For a sixteen-year-old to have such a mindset without supervision is related not only to Ren Yao''s long-term guidance but also significantly to Ge Dongxu''s own temperament. From this aspect, he is a person very suited for cultivation.

    A cultivator not only needs a steadfast and persistent heart but also a tranquil and unattached heart.

    These might seem contradictory; if one is steadfast and persistent, how can they be tranquil and unattached? But actually, it is not so. This is like the yin and yang sides of things¡ªboth opposing and complementing each other, the key is in balance. The heart of cultivation is similarly such.

    Ge Dongxu had a steadfast and persistent heart for cultivation, never giving up since childhood, even without Ren Yao''s guidance and monitoring, he still persisted day after day without failure. But on other matters, even faced with a huge amount of a million yuan, aside from initial shock and anxiety, he quickly managed to let it go and treated it with a regular mindset, which is being tranquil and unattached.

 Chapter 16 The School Beautys Invitation [Monday, Please Vote for Recommendation]

    ```After setting aside the matter of receiving a huge sum of a million, Ge Dongxu once again laid out yellow talisman paper on the table, prepared the cinnabar ink, and began to write talismans.

    This time, Ge Dongxu only wrote thirty talismans before he set down the brush, as the nature''s spiritual energy in the county town was thinner than at Baiyun Mountain, he still hadn''t fully recovered the mana he spent yesterday, and couldn''t continue.

    None of the thirty talismans were successful, but Ge Dongxu did not get discouraged. Although not a single talisman was successful, he had slightly improved his proficiency in talisman writing. As long as his mana could become more concentrated, the success rate would definitely increase.

    "If I persist, one day I will reach the realm my master spoke of, ''when the talisman follows the heart, and with a stroke of the brush a talisman is formed,''" Ge Dongxu''s eyes revealed a firm gaze, then he collected all the discarded yellow talisman papers and threw them into the trash can.

    That day, apart from going out at noon and in the evening to resolve the problem of hunger and to deliver the monthly rent to Cheng Yazhou, Ge Dongxu didn''t leave again. He spent the whole time in his room meditating and reading.

    The books Ge Dongxu read the most were on physics and chemistry, as he had a special interest in them. He believed that Taoist studies analyze and interpret the world and the universe through Tai Chi and the Two Instruments, the Four Symbols, and the Eight Trigrams, whereas physics and chemistry analyze the world and the universe from another perspective. The former views the universe as a whole for analysis, while the latter starts from the analysis of specific parts. This was similar to the relationship between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.

    Traditional Chinese medicine talks about the Yin Yang and Five Elements and views the person as a whole. Therefore, the treatment of illness isn''t just for the symptoms, but from a holistic differential diagnosis. Western medicine tends to treat the symptoms directly, such as treating the head for a headache and the foot for foot pain. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. Of course, in Ge Dongxu''s view, traditional Chinese medicine regards the condition from a holistic perspective, which is a layer higher than Western medicine. But in terms of effectiveness, Western medicine is often quicker and more direct.

    Regardless, Western medicine has a lot to offer as a reference for traditional Chinese medicine. Just as Ge Dongxu believes that natural sciences are greatly referential for his cultivation path, this is why he is particularly interested in physics and chemistry, hoping to find inspiration for his cultivation.

    In the meantime, Cheng Le Hao had come up several times and saw that Ge Dongxu had begun studying even before school started. Although he couldn''t help but complain, deep down he greatly admired Ge Dongxu. After going downstairs, he even picked up a book to read for a change. This scene was just witnessed by Wu Xiaojuan who came upstairs to clean, which made her so happy that she kept telling Cheng Yazhou downstairs that renting the house to Ge Dongxu was a good decision.

    Although the spirit energy in the county town was much thinner than at Baiyun Mountain, making cultivation progress almost imperceptible, Ge Dongxu still persisted in cultivating during the period of the midnight hour and the next day''s Mao Hour.

    The next day was Monday, and it was also the day to report to Changxi No. 1 Middle School.

    Because she saw her son take the initiative to study yesterday, Wu Xiaojuan believed that Ge Dongxu played a big role in this. Therefore, when Ge Dongxu came downstairs in the morning, she insisted on having him join them for breakfast, persuading him, "You are at the age when you grow the most. You should really sleep more, but to get into a good university, you will have to wake up early and sleep late. So, in the future, you should have breakfast here with me. This way, you won''t have to take time to find a breakfast place outside, and it might save you a few minutes of sleep as well. Anyway, it''s only a few buns, eggs, and porridge in the morning, so it''s not too much trouble."

    Ge Dongxu, after all, was a young man with a thin face, and with Wu Xiaojuan insisting and Cheng Le Hao not giving him a chance to speak, forcefully seating him at the dining table, he found it even harder to refuse. He could only continuously express his thanks and then joined Cheng Le Hao''s family for breakfast.

    After breakfast, Ge Dongxu and Cheng Le Hao left together.

    "Don''t rush off, it''s still early. Wait a bit," said Cheng Le Hao, as he pushed a mountain bike from the back door to the front street, glancing at the house diagonally across from them, he pulled Ge Dongxu who was ready to walk along the street towards the school''s direction.

    "What''s there to wait for on the street? Let''s talk about it at school," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Of course, there''s a good reason to wait, hehe, the school beauty hasn''t left her house yet!" Le Hao wore his trademark lecherous grin on his face.

    ```

    """

    "No way, are you planning to confess to the school beauty on the first day of school?" Ge Dongxu asked exaggeratedly, even though he knew what Cheng Le Hao was thinking. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That''s the school beauty we''re talking about! And she''s a senior in high school. Confess to her? Am I crazy? I''m planning to follow her from a distance, just to admire her from afar. Forget it, there''s no point talking about this boy-girl stuff with a bookworm like you who knows nothing but studying." Cheng Le Hao rolled his eyes at Ge Dongxu repeatedly after hearing this.

    "Oh please, ''admiring from afar?'' Isn''t that just peeping?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Peeping my ass, this is what they call ''a fair maiden makes a gentleman''s good match!'' It''s admiration, get it? Don''t be so crude, okay? Dong Yuxin is the goddess in my heart!" Cheng Le Hao said disdainfully, as if Ge Dongxu couldn''t possibly understand his "noble" feelings.

    "Alright, alright, it''s admiration. Since you admire Dong Yuxin so much, how about this¡ªI''ll introduce you to her when we get to school. It''s a bit undignified standing around on the street like this, as if we''re trying to chase her." Ge Dongxu smiled as he spoke.

    "Go away, get lost, don''t disturb me while I''m waiting for my goddess." Cheng Le Hao, obviously not aware that Ge Dongxu knew Dong Yuxin, took his words seriously, thinking he was just mocking him, and straightforwardly shoved him away.

    "Alright then, I''ll go ahead." Seeing that Cheng Le Hao wasn''t listening to him, Ge Dongxu didn''t bother to explain further, just shook his head smilingly, and walked toward the school with his backpack, unhurriedly along the street.

    About five to six minutes into his walk, a breeze brought a faint, pleasant scent from behind, followed by a bicycle speeding past him. On the bicycle was an attractive figure.

    It was the attractive figure of a girl with a ponytail, long beautiful legs, and a youthful rear wiggling on the bike''s seat.

    Just after brushing past Ge Dongxu, the owner of the attractive figure let out a sudden "Oh!", then stopped her bicycle and looked back at Ge Dongxu.

    "It really is you! You''re still in Songyang Town!" The owner of that attractive figure was naturally Dong Yuxin; she called out in surprise when she saw it was truly Ge Dongxu.

    She obviously thought that Ge Dongxu, coming from a rural area, wouldn''t continue to stay in the county town.

    "I''m starting school at Changxi No.1 High today, so of course I''m still in Songyang Town," Ge Dongxu smiled and said.

    "Ah, you''re a new student at Changxi No.1 High! So you''re going to Changxi No.1 High to register and start school now?" Dong Yuxin said, her face full of surprised astonishment.

    "Yes, senior, you''re going to Changxi No.1 High as well, right?" Ge Dongxu asked with a plain and honest smile. Although Dong Yuxin was very beautiful and brimming with youthful vitality, Ge Dongxu was still calm and composed in her presence, not feeling nervous or restrained.

    "Yeah, we can go together. What do you say, junior, want a lift on my bike?" Since Dong Yuxin wasn''t some icy beauty and was relatively cheerful by nature, she felt more relaxed seeing Ge Dongxu''s composed attitude. Moreover, since Ge Dongxu was just a freshman, she felt a natural advantage psychologically. So, when Ge Dongxu called her senior, she patted the back seat of her bike and looked at him with a smiling gaze.

    PS: Monday''s recommendation tickets are very important, so please don''t think it too much trouble to log in and vote. I will try to keep up with three chapters in the morning, noon, and evening this week. Thank you.

    """

 Chapter 17 Senior, Get in the Car [3rd Update, Request for Votes]

    "No need, no need, I''m too heavy." Ge Dongxu, who finally still was a boy from the mountains, wasn''t as open as city people when it came to interaction between the sexes. He had never been so close to such a beautiful girl before. When Dong Yuxin suggested carrying him for a ride, his normally plain face couldn''t help but turn red, and he quickly waved his hands.At that moment, the usually composed and mature Ge Dongxu showed the nature of youth he should have at his age.

    Having seen the cold and steady side of Ge Dongxu the day before, the sudden sight of his embarrassed panic made Dong Yuxin''s eyes light up. She felt a sense of accomplishment and, for some reason, dismounted the bicycle, pushed it towards Ge Dongxu, and said, "Then you take me, this should be okay, right? Don''t say you''re too scared to carry a girl!"

    As she spoke, Dong Yuxin''s beautiful eyes looked at Ge Dongxu with a teasing smile.

    Since the girl had already pushed the bicycle into his hands, asking him to carry her, Ge Dongxu had no reason to refuse, even though he wasn''t used to being so close to a girl so suddenly. Moreover, Dong Yuxin''s teasing gaze and tone made him feel slightly challenged.

    "What''s there to be scared of?" Ge Dongxu took the bicycle, mounted it, then suppressed the nervousness in his heart and pretended to be carefree as he patted the seat behind him and smiled, "Senior, get on."

    When Ge Dongxu hopped on the bike and patted the seat behind him, inviting her to get on, it was Dong Yuxin''s turn to feel her cheeks heating up and turning red.

    To be honest, she had never ridden on a boy''s bicycle before. She didn''t know what had gotten into her; she first offered to carry him, then pushed the bike to him, and now she couldn''t find the words to say no.

    "I''ll just ride. He''s just a freshman, and I''m a senior. Am I afraid of him?" Dong Yuxin finally bit her lip, adjusted her hair to disguise her nervousness, then bravely sat down, gripping the back of the seat, and said delicately, "Hey, be careful, and don''t let us fall!"

    "Don''t worry! Settle in." Ge Dongxu said, then started pedaling the bicycle, carrying Dong Yuxin along the street toward the school. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Dozens of meters away, Cheng Le Hao, who had been trailing far behind, watched Ge Dongxu confidently ride away with Dong Yuxin towards the school. His eyes widened as if he''d seen a ghost in broad daylight.

    Dammit, no way, he''s actually riding a bike with Dong Yuxin to school? That''s Dong Yuxin, my goddess, the reigning beauty queen of Changxi No.1 High School, and he''s just a freshman, a mountain boy from Baiyun Mountain!

    How is that possible? God, this must be a hallucination in broad daylight!

    "Crash!" Suddenly, the shocked Cheng Le Hao rode his bicycle straight into the curb and fell, exclaiming in pain as he clutched his backside.

    After shouting a few times, Cheng Le Hao remembered Ge Dongxu was currently riding with Dong Yuxin to school. He quickly got up, picked up his bike, and hurried toward the school.

    Ge Dongxu was naturally unaware that Cheng Le Hao had crashed his bicycle into the roadside cliff because of him. At the moment, he was riding his bicycle towards the school at an unhurried pace, facing the morning sun and enjoying the cool breeze, with Changxi''s top school beauty sitting behind him.

    Years of hard cultivation had kept his mind as calm as still water, but now, it felt as if a stone had been thrown into it, rippling through his calmness. His heartbeat unconsciously quickened. He wanted to say something to ease the barely-there awkwardness, but he didn''t know what to say, which made him even more nervous and uneasy.

    Dong Yuxin''s mindset wasn''t much better than Ge Dongxu''s at this point. Initially, she thought Ge Dongxu, wearing plain clothes and apparently from the countryside and younger than her, posed no threat since he was also a freshman. She felt a condescending sense of superiority, thinking it would be no big deal to sit behind him as she believed it impossible to feel anything for him.

    However, once she actually sat behind Ge Dongxu, her jade-like hands holding the bicycle''s rear seat cushion, Dong Yuxin''s cheeks unknowingly started to feel warm, and her heart began to beat faster.

    But after all, Dong Yuxin was a senior two grades ahead of Ge Dongxu and a city dweller. Realizing something was amiss, she took the initiative to distract herself, "By the way, you''re called Ge Dongxu, if I''m not mistaken?"

    "You''re not mistaken." Ge Dongxu replied, feeling his nervousness ease slightly.

    Just as Ge Dongxu had relaxed a little, the bicycle started bumping along the road: the path to the school was in poor condition, full of pits and bumps.

    "This part of the road is tough to ride, be careful." Holding on to the rear seat cushion wasn''t very stabilizing, and as the bicycle jolted, Dong Yuxin felt unstable and instinctively let go of the cushion to grab Ge Dongxu''s shirt at his waist to better steady herself.

    Yet doing so meant that with every bounce of the bicycle, Dong Yuxin''s jade-like hands inevitably touched Ge Dongxu through his clothes.

    For sixteen-year-old Ge Dongxu, in the tender phase of youth and particularly sensitive to contact with the opposite sex, and with his sharpened senses from years of cultivation, the light touch of Dong Yuxin''s hands through his clothes due to the jolting bicycle made him tense up. His mind wandered and he nearly missed seeing a large pothole ahead. He quickly braked and swerved, narrowly avoiding it.

    But although he avoided the pothole, Ge Dongxu forgot that he was not alone. With his sudden braking and swerving, an unprepared Dong Yuxin reflexively tightened her grip around Ge Dongxu.

    Dong Yuxin certainly hadn''t expected that one day she would have such a close encounter with a boy. She was momentarily dumbfounded and forgot to let go of Ge Dongxu''s waist.

    "My goddess! What a beast!" Who''d raced up from tens of meters away, saw Dong Yuxin''s jade-arm wrapped around Ge Dongxu''s waist, and his eyes widened again as his heart wailed!

    "Bang!" Once again, the bicycle crashed into the roadside cliff.

    ps: Third update, another chapter at eight tonight, please help by favoriting and voting. I''ve also started a WeChat public account, do follow for occasional updates on novel progress and personal life snippets.

 Chapter 18 Dont Tell Me You Still Have 8-Pack Abs [4th Update]

    "Isn''t that Dong Yuxin? Oh my God, my goddess! What a beast!""Clang!" With a sound, someone went straight into a light pole by the roadside.

    "Crash!" Another person riding a bicycle slammed right into another bike ahead, both tumbling to the ground.

    This was a road leading straight to Changxi No. 1 Middle School, bustling with students headed to the same place.

    Dong Yuxin was also the goddess in many of their hearts!

    "Hey, you, I told you to be careful, why did you suddenly make that sharp turn? You did that on purpose, didn''t you?" Dong Yuxin finally realized what had happened, quickly let go of him, and then hit Ge Dongxu''s back twice in a row.

    "Clang!"

    "Clang!"

    More "accidents" happened because of Dong Yuxin''s incredibly intimate gesture.

    "No, definitely not. I didn''t foresee that big hole suddenly appearing ahead, so why don''t you bike instead, and I''ll walk." Ge Dongxu, being interrogated like this by Dong Yuxin, felt his entire face begin to heat up and said hurriedly.

    Although it wasn''t intentional, having touched a girl''s "tofu" for the first time in his life, Ge Dongxu still felt a little guilty like a thief.

    Even though she couldn''t see Ge Dongxu''s face directly, Dong Yuxin could still sense his embarrassment and nervousness from his tone, and after looking back at the big hole behind them, she couldn''t help but let out a chuckle, poking Ge Dongxu''s back with her finger and said, "Why are you so nervous? I''m just teasing you, I bet you don''t have the guts to be a real thief!"

    "Cough cough!" Ge Dongxu coughed awkwardly, his mind involuntarily reliving the electrifying, intimate collision.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu becoming increasingly embarrassed, Dong Yuxin felt more relaxed, and it even seemed to her that she had suddenly grown much closer to the boy in front of her.

    Her hand didn''t return to the back of the seat but naturally rested lightly on Ge Dongxu''s waist. When Dong Yuxin realized her hand was on Ge Dongxu''s waist, her pretty face instantly blushed. She thought about retracting her hand but found the position quite comfortable, so she sneaked a peek at Ge Dongxu, who seemed not to notice anything unusual, and then she reassured herself to keep it there, even puckering her lips and warning in a soft voice, "But you''d better not suddenly brake or swerve again, or you''ll have me to deal with!"

    "Definitely not anymore," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "By the way, I still don''t know where you''re from?" With Ge Dongxu''s assurance, Dong Yuxin didn''t continue to warn him but instead started asking about other things.

    "From Ge Family Village in Baiyun Mountain town. Now I''m renting a place right across from your house," Ge Dongxu replied. Oddly, after the close contact they just experienced, he felt more relaxed when he came back to his senses, no longer as nervous and uneasy as before because there was a girl sitting behind him.

    "Huh, how did you know I live opposite your house? I get it now, you must be renting the place from that peeping Tom, the fatso who lives across from me, right? That''s how you know I live opposite you," Dong Yuxin was first surprised, then suddenly remembered the fatso who always hid behind his window to spy on her, thinking she was unaware.

    "No way, you knew about that!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help feeling a moment of silent sympathy for Cheng the Fatty upon hearing this.

    "Nonsense, a girl''s sixth sense is very sharp. That guy hides behind the window peering at my house all day long, thinking I don''t know!" Dong Yuxin said.

    Ge Dongxu felt a flush of embarrassment upon hearing this, thinking to himself that it was fortunate he never had a habit of peeping at girls; otherwise, he might have ended up with the notorious label of a peeping Tom.

    "Look here, Dongxu, you can''t start picking up bad habits from that dead fatty," Dong Yuxin added.

    "Yes, yes, but actually, Lehao is pretty nice. He peeps at you because you''re just too beautiful. As the saying goes, ''For a lovely lady jetting slim, gentlemen would yearn,'' everyone has a love for beauty, and since you live right across from him, it''s natural for him to sneak a peek at you," Ge Dongxu defended Cheng the Fatty in his mind, though he felt what Cheng was doing was wrong. After all, he now lived under the same roof and had become friends with him, so naturally, he felt compelled to speak on Cheng''s behalf.

    No girl dislikes being complimented on her beauty, and Dong Yuxin was no exception. She took great pleasure in Ge Dongxu''s words, though she feigned annoyance and asked, "So, you mean to say that if a beautiful girl lived opposite you, you would do the same?"

    "Cough cough!" Ge Dongxu suddenly realized he had inadvertently ensnared himself with his words but, fortunately, he was quick on his feet and immediately came up with a retort, "Of course not! If I were to look, I''d definitely be upfront and honest about it. Look, right now I''m talking to you in a totally upfront and honest way, aren''t I?"

    "Psh, flatter yourself! It''s only because you helped me the other day; otherwise, this senior wouldn''t bother with a freshman like you!" Dong Yuxin said, her face reddening slightly as she rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu''s back.

    "Isn''t it because I''m rather handsome?" Ge Dongxu said, becoming more relaxed and casual in his conversation with Dong Yuxin.

    "Psh, such a kid, what''s so handsome about you? Besides, you''re as dark as charcoal," Dong Yuxin immediately retorted dismissively, becoming more at ease with Ge Dongxu and lacking the wariness and restraint she showed around other men.

    Truly, people their age should be just as casual and unrestrained. Now that they had seemingly become close friends, it was only natural for them to be their true selves.

    "Hey, senior, that''s not fair to put me down like that, I''m already sixteen this year. And I''m not dark, this is a bronze color, you know, bronze, representing masculinity and fitness," Ge Dongxu indignantly protested.

    "By law, you''re only an adult when you''re eighteen. I''m just eighteen this year, and you at sixteen, if not a kid in my eyes, then what? Besides, charcoal is charcoal, what bronze color? You think you''re one of those bodybuilders on TV? Don''t tell me you have six-pack abs too!" Dong Yuxin continued with a look of disdain.

    "Heh heh, I actually do," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Pfft! Blowing your own trumpet won''t make your tongue sprain, a skinny and still developing kid like you with six-pack abs? Hee hee, let me feel it!" Dong Yuxin couldn''t help but laugh, her hand honestly made its way to Ge Dongxu''s waist and then to his abdomen, actually pressing down to check. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The weather in Jiangnan was still quite hot at the time, and Dong Yuxin was wearing a white T-shirt that revealed her snowy white arms. Her slender fingers felt less like pressing and more like massaging through the clothes. And because her arms were encircling his waist again, Dong Yuxin''s upper body inevitably leaned in closer to Ge Dongxu, her back warmth causing a faint touch that set one''s heart racing.

    For an instant, Ge Dongxu felt a shock like that of an electric current, his body''s muscles tensing up abruptly.

    ps: Fourth update, asking for recommendations, clicks, favorites, and rewards, thank you. Also, just to mention, I''ve achieved the unity of nine-nine into one, developing a single ab, wondering how many abs my dear readers have, haha.

 Chapter 19 Remember, Call Me Senior [Please Favorite, Please Recommend]

    "One, two, three, four, five, six..." Dong Yuxin''s delicate fingers traced Ge Dongxu''s abdominal muscles, pressing down on each one until suddenly she realized something. Her fingers snapped back as if shocked by electricity, and her cheeks instantly became burning hot.Although her hand withdrew, the tips of her fingers lingered with an indescribable strange sensation, giving her the urge to reach out again and press along those powerful abs.

    An ambiguous and awkward atmosphere that can hardly be described in words began to ripple between the young man and the youthful beauty, rendering them both suddenly silent.

    Eventually, it was Ge Dongxu, the mountain boy who had slowly become accustomed to interacting with beautiful girls, who broke the silence.

    "See, I wasn''t bragging, right? It''s an eight-pack," Ge Dongxu said, trying to sound casual but with a hint of pride, seemingly oblivious to the impropriety just a moment ago.

    "Oh please, look at you being all proud. Even with eight-pack abs, you''re still just a little boy in my eyes," Dong Yuxin said, regaining her lively spirit and immediately belittling him when she saw that Ge Dongxu seemed unaware.

    "Come on, I''m sixteen years old. In the old days, I would be married with kids by now," Ge Dongxu felt pretty annoyed being repeatedly told he was just a kid by Dong Yuxin.

    "That was in ancient times. Now, you''re not an adult until you''re eighteen, so, hehe, you''re just a little brat, while I''m already an adult," Dong Xinyu said, feeling exceedingly pleased and happy at Ge Dongxu''s annoyance.

    Along the way, the two chatted and laughed. Sometimes Dong Yuxin would pout her sexy cherry lips and pound Ge Dongxu''s back with her fists in jest. This scene formed a beautiful sight on the morning streets.

    Older men and women who saw them couldn''t help but feel nostalgic about their youth, while others shook their heads, lamenting that the morals of students these days were declining, criticizing them for dating at such a young age. At this time, the most people on the road were students reporting to Changxi Middle School, and when they saw a clearly out-of-town boy biking with their school''s top beauty, Dong Yuxin, they were all staring agape, hardly believing what they saw.

    Damn, isn''t that my goddess!

    Damn, good cabbage has been nabbed by a pig!

    Considering how suave I am, why doesn''t the goddess fancy me but fancies that dark-skinned kid instead? There''s no justice, no justice!

    ...

    Cheng Le Hao, who was lagging far behind, watched Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin flirt with each other from the start with shock, but then his feelings turned to envy, jealousy, and hatred, and in the end, all he could do was look up in admiration.

    This guy is just too freaking awesome! On the first day of school, he''s already hooked up with the beauty of Changxi Middle School. And here I was laughing at him for not understanding women, yet he turns out to be such a dark horse!

    "We''re almost at the school. Let me down here, it wouldn''t be good for the teachers to see," Dong Yuxin said in a low voice to Ge Dongxu when she could see the school gates from afar. Although she considered her interactions with Ge Dongxu to be perfectly normal and not a case of puppy love, she still felt a bit guilty, fearing that being seen by a teacher might lead to misunderstandings.

    When it comes to the matter of student romances, middle schools and parents in Huaxia Country are far stricter than in Western countries like the United States. While Ge Dongxu was still in junior high, a boy got called to the office for passing a love note to a girl, and even her parents were called in.

    It''s safe to say that what would be considered normal curiosity and affection between teenagers during this special time are seen by teachers and parents as something terribly dangerous. If they found out their children were dating, many parents reacted as if the sky were falling.

    Therefore, when Dong Yuxin mentioned this, Ge Dongxu also immediately realized the situation and quickly stopped the bike, letting Dong Yuxin get off.

    "Let''s walk the bike together; that way the teacher won''t think we''re dating!" Dong Yuxin got off the bike and, while walking shoulder to shoulder with Ge Dongxu, said, but her pretty face turned slightly red when she got to the word ''dating,'' "Pfft, I''m not dating you anyway!"

    "Xinyu, I heard from Lehao that many boys in school are secretly chasing after you. Haven''t you taken a fancy to one and secretly passed notes or something?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile upon hearing this.

    Now that he had had a bit of "skinship" with Dong Yuxin, their relationship had made great strides, and Ge Dongxu spoke without much reservation. Besides, matters between men and women were topics that were both yearned for and suppressed at their age.

    "Pfft, as if I would fancy them. They''re all like little kids who haven''t grown up. I like mature, steady guys! Go away, why am I even telling you this. Remember, call me senior, senior. You think you can call me Xinyu?" As Dong Yuxin spoke, she waved her small fist at Ge Dongxu with a threatening expression, yet she couldn''t help but recall the cold and steady way Ge Dongxu had dealt with Chen Zihao the day before yesterday.

    "He might look young, but he''s indeed more steady than the other boys. Pfft, why am I even comparing him? He''s just a first-year high school student!"

    "Alright, senior, you sure are mature for your age. You have to remember you''re still a student," Ge Dongxu said seriously.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu call her senior, Dong Yuxin first showed a hint of pride, but then, hearing the serious lecture that followed, she immediately raised her small fist to hit Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu quickly pushed his bike forward to dodge, while Dong Yuxin chased after him. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Senior, we''re almost at the school. You should restrain yourself a little," Ge Dongxu slowed down after not getting far, and Dong Yuxin had already caught up. Just as she was about to teach Ge Dongxu a lesson with a smug face, he turned around and said something seriously again.

    Dong Yuxin, who was about to throw a punch, suddenly realized they were nearing the school gate, surrounded by classmates, and her pretty face blushed. She quickly withdrew her hand, but she couldn''t help kicking Ge Dongxu''s foot and then threatened with a "ferocious" face, "You little brat, dare to make fun of senior, just you wait and see!"

    "I didn''t, senior!" Ge Dongxu said with an innocent face.

    "You still say you didn''t!" Dong Yuxin kicked him again.

    "Really, I didn''t," Ge Dongxu''s mouth twitched as he spoke.

    "Still saying you didn''t," Dong Yuxin pouted and kicked him once more, suddenly realizing that kicking like this was good¡ª it wasn''t too obvious and managed to hurt Ge Dongxu.

    "Senior, you''re framing me!" Ge Dongxu complained with a pained expression.

    "So what if I am?" Dong Yuxin tossed her hair back, her chest puffed up proudly, and she said triumphantly.

    "Sure, sure, of course, who am I to argue? You''re the senior, and I''m just a freshman," Ge Dongxu said helplessly.

    "That''s more like it." Seeing this, Dong Yuxin''s face showed a victorious and smug smile. Although Ge Dongxu gritted his teeth in irritation, he had to admit she looked beautiful.

    "Bro, isn''t that Dong Yuxin? Doesn''t she always give boys the cold shoulder? How come she''s all smiles with a boy today?" As Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin went towards the school gate, smiling and walking shoulder to shoulder, a skinny boy wearing glasses said to the tall, proud young man next to him.

    That young man was none other than Chen Zihao, who had been pestering Dong Yuxin on a motorbike the day before yesterday.

 Chapter 20 Threat

    "Damn, it''s that kid! Dong Yuxin, this woman who pretends to be decent, actually hooked up with him!" Upon hearing this, Chen Zihao followed the direction the bespectacled boy was pointing and immediately recognized Ge Dongxu, his eyes blazing with anger, his face darkened."Brother Hao, do you know that country bumpkin?" The bespectacled boy pushed up his glasses, sounding quite surprised.

    "Hmph!" Chen Zihao did not answer the bespectacled boy''s question but instead strode toward Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin.

    He had made a fool of himself the day before yesterday, and naturally, Chen Zihao wouldn''t tell the bespectacled boy about it.

    "Hey, isn''t that Chen Zihao? Didn''t he graduate already? Why is he still at Changxi Number One High School?" Near the school gate, quite a few people recognized Chen Zihao, the older student, and were surprised to see him there.

    "I heard his college entrance exam scores were bad, so he''s retaking his final year at Changxi Number One High School," said a classmate who knew the inside story, whispering.

    "Seriously? Our school is the only key high school in Changxi County of Jiangnan Province, not a school for retaking college entrance exams. How can this be?" A classmate said, looking surprised and displeased upon hearing this.

    "Psh, what''s so strange about that? If you had a dad who was the head of the personnel department at the county education bureau and a rich mom who owns a restaurant, you could come to Changxi Number One High School for a repeated year too," the classmate with insider knowledge said disdainfully.

    "Damn, don''t jinx it! Do I need to repeat a year with my grades?" another classmate immediately retorted with a roll of his eyes.

    While classmates near the school gate were quietly discussing Chen Zihao, Dong Yuxin finally saw an unfriendly-looking Chen Zihao walking toward them, and her smile instantly disappeared.

    "Oh no, isn''t this guy supposed to have graduated? Shouldn''t he be at university by now? Why is he still here?" Dong Yuxin''s face showed deep surprise and unease as she whispered to Ge Dongxu.

    "Who cares what he''s doing? It''s none of our concern," Ge Dongxu said indifferently. After all, as a man who possessed Strange Arts, why would he fear a second-generation rich kid?

    "You don''t get it, do you? Haven''t I told you that this Chen Zihao has some background, and he even knows some socially influential people? Last time, you offended him because of me, and normally it wouldn''t matter if he went off to university, but him still being here today probably means it''s not that simple," Dong Yuxin, seeing Ge Dongxu''s bewildered face, couldn''t help but kick him out of irritation.

    "Don''t worry. If this guy dares to cause trouble for you and me, I''ll definitely teach him a lesson," Ge Dongxu stated.

    "No, you really shouldn''t mess around. I''ve heard his dad is a leader in the education bureau. If you really fight with him at school, the school leaders and teachers will definitely side with him," Dong Yuxin said, frightened, suddenly grabbing Ge Dongxu''s hand as if afraid he would go knock Chen Zihao down like he did the day before yesterday.

    Ge Dongxu obviously didn''t expect Dong Yuxin to reach out and grab him. His hand was suddenly held by a soft, moist delicate hand, and he was quite stupefied.

    All his life, he had never been held by a girl! Let alone by a school beauty who was two years older than him.

    Ge Dongxu was stunned, and so were the students at the school gate.

    "My god, no way! The school beauty is actually taking the initiative to hold that country bumpkin''s hand!"

    "Oh, bro, I totally worship you!" Fat Cheng, who was riding his bicycle from afar, stared at their joined hands, his eyeballs almost dropping to the ground.

    Seeing this, Chen Zihao was so enraged his lungs nearly burst, his eyes glared deathly at Dong Yuxin, his face looking so hideous it frightened Dong Yuxin into clutching Ge Dongxu''s hand even tighter.

    "Kid, you''ve really got some nerve, daring to hit on my girl!" Chen Zihao approached Ge Dongxu and said in a lowered voice.

    Although Chen Zihao had some connections and was bold, he was still just a student and didn''t dare to strike anyone in front of so many people at school, and even if he did, he knew he couldn''t beat Ge Dongxu. Thus, he didn''t rush up to start a fight.

    Chen Zihao''s words reminded Dong Yuxin, who hurriedly let go of Ge Dongxu''s hand. She looked at Chen Zihao with embarrassed and annoyed eyes and also lowered her voice, "Chen Zihao, what are you talking about? Who is your girlfriend?"

    This topic was ultimately too sensitive and embarrassing for a young girl like Dong Yuxin, so she couldn''t speak loudly.

    "Of course it''s you! Just to let you know, for your sake, I begged my dad and mom to let me repeat a year at Changxi High School." Chen Zihao unabashedly scrutinized Dong Yuxin''s beautiful face and her chest, his face full of smug threats.

    "What? You''re repeating another year at Changxi High School?" Dong Yuxin''s face turned pale upon hearing this.

    "That''s right, I even promised my dad that as long as he arranges for me to be in Class 3, I will study hard. So, Miss Dong, we are in the same class this year! How about that? I am pretty considerate towards you, right?" Seeing Dong Yuxin''s pale face, Chen Zihao became even more proud.

    "You''re shameless!" Dong Yuxin was both angry and frightened by his words.

    "Dong Yuxin, aren''t you being a bit too harsh? After all, we''re going to be classmates," Chen Zihao said with a smug smile.

    "Have you said enough? If so, get lost!" Ge Dongxu''s deep, dark eyes grew increasingly cold as he finally couldn''t help but speak out coldly.

    "Kid, don''t think you''re something special just because you can fight! I''ve been looking for you since that day, and I didn''t expect you were also a student at our Changxi High School. Heh, this will be a long acquaintance. You''ve got some suffering waiting for you," Chen Zihao, furious that Ge Dongxu dared to talk to him like that, almost kicked him but eventually held back and threatened coldly.

    "Hey, Chen Zihao, what are you doing? This has nothing to do with him!" Dong Yuxin became anxious when she saw that Chen Zihao was obviously looking to settle scores with Ge Dongxu.

    "What? You''re scared now? You feel pity for him?" Chen Zihao said coldly.

    "What nonsense are you talking, Chen Zihao? He and I have nothing to do with each other. Please don''t mess around!" Dong Yuxin said, her eyes turning red.

    "Okay, if you become my girlfriend, I''ll let him off," Chen Zihao said with a sneer.

    "You¡ªI''m going to tell the teacher!" Dong Yuxin stamped her foot in anger.

    "Go ahead and tell the teacher then. I''ve done nothing. Let''s see who the teacher will believe," Chen Zihao said fearlessly.

    His dad was the head of the personnel department of the county education bureau, responsible for the entire county education system''s staffing, job title evaluations, awards, and so forth. He was a powerful bureaucrat in the education system. Which teacher would dare offend his dad?

    "You..." Dong Yuxin then remembered that Chen Zihao''s father held a leadership position in the county education bureau and was so angry and anxious that she almost burst into tears.

    "You better not bully Dong Yuxin, or I promise you''ll regret it greatly!" Ge Dongxu''s gaze swept over him coldly, then he reached out and took Dong Yuxin''s hand, saying, "Let''s go, senior. Don''t bother with such people. This is a school, he wouldn''t dare to mess around."

    ps: Another update at 8 p.m., please favorite and recommend. Thank you very much.

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 Chapter 21 Alright then! Lets go to and from school together from now on

    Her small hand was forcefully grasped by Ge Dongxu''s hand, and as she saw his cool and composed expression once again, Dong Yuxin seemed to suddenly forget Chen Zihao''s existence. Looking at Ge Dongxu, her heart began to thump wildly."Damn! That country bumpkin actually dared to grab the school beauty''s hand!" Near the school gate, eyeballs were practically dropping to the ground.

    "God, this guy is so damn cool!" Cheng Le Hao, who had just caught up and was hesitating whether to greet Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin, saw Ge Dongxu boldly grab Dong Yuxin''s hand. His eyes uncontrollably revealed an ardent admiration.

    As for the silent battle between Chen Zihao and Ge Dongxu, Cheng Le Hao, being a freshman, didn''t know Chen Zihao and naturally couldn''t sense the severity of the situation. He just vaguely felt that the atmosphere between them was somewhat off.

    However, this was not surprising to Cheng Le Hao. A freshman managed to charm a senior girl; it would be strange if the older students showed Ge Dongxu a good face!

    "What are you doing? Let go!" Dong Yuxin had walked a few steps with her hand in Ge Dongxu''s grasp when she suddenly felt many burning gazes on her. It was then that she realized her hand was still held by the first-year student who had just reported to school. She quickly pulled away and glared at him, whispering sternly.

    "Ahem," Ge Dongxu also realized that his act was somewhat reckless and offensive and awkwardly chuckled.

    "Kid, you better just hide in school every day!" Just as Ge Dongxu felt embarrassed, he heard Chen Zihao''s threatening voice beside him. Yet, Chen Zihao didn''t dare to make a scene at the school gate and coldly brushed past them.

    "Dongxu, I''m sorry, it''s all my fault. Don''t worry, I''ll talk to the teacher today," Dong Yuxin said, gazing at the arrogant departing figure of Chen Zihao, her face full of guilt.

    "He hasn''t done anything to us now, so it would be pointless to tell them. Besides, didn''t you say his dad is a leader in the Education Bureau? The teachers wouldn''t just listen to your side of the story. Don''t blame yourself for this, and don''t worry about it. He can''t do anything to me!" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Nonsense, what do you mean he can''t do anything to you, thinking just because you learned a bit of martial arts you can really fight! I heard Chen Zihao has connections even outside the school. But what you said is also true, Chen Zihao doesn''t cause trouble at school, so telling the teachers is pointless. So, let''s commute to and from school together every day, especially since you''re renting a place at that fat guy''s house, which is just diagonally opposite my house. If we''re together, he should restrain himself a bit; besides, if something happens, I can report it to the teacher in time," Dong Yuxin rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, scolded him, then after a moment''s thought, she came up with a plan.

    "That''s really not necessary, even if he really brings a few people, they can''t do anything to me." Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but be dumbfounded upon hearing this, as he was indeed a person with Mysterious Arts, not needing a woman''s protection.

    "Enough, this is no joke. You''re just sixteen, how many people can you fight! Besides, others beg me to commute with them and I couldn''t care less, and here you are, a freshman, getting this treatment and still acting all delicate!" Dong Yuxin saw Ge Dongxu refusing her arrangement and rolled her eyes annoyed.

    Ge Dongxu really wanted to say he wasn''t being delicate, but saying that he knew would definitely hurt Dong Yuxin''s pride, and definitely his own foot since Dong Yuxin would surely employ her kicking technique again.

    "Fine then! Let''s commute together from now on," Ge Dongxu said helplessly.

    "What do you mean ''fine then!'' It''s as if I''m forcing you! Humph!" Dong Yuxin saw Ge Dongxu''s reluctant face, got angry, kicked him, and turned her head away, ignoring him.

    Ge Dongxu hadn''t expected that even after he had agreed, his foot still couldn''t escape being trampled on. But watching Dong Yuxin turn her angry head away, taking in her slender waist and perky bottom, and her hair like silk, he just couldn''t feel aggrieved. He could only try to appease with a smile, "Of course you aren''t forcing me, it''s just that, it''s just..."

    "What is it then?" Seeing Ge Dongxu grinning apologetically, Dong Yuxin turned her head toward him, her beautiful eyes probing as she questioned him.

    "It''s, it''s... Your appreciation, senior!" Ge Dongxu stammered for quite a while before blurting out a sentence that made his skin crawl.

    "Hehe, that''s more like it." Dong Yuxin''s angry face finally broke into a smile, and suddenly the sunlight seemed to brighten beautifully.

    Ge Dongxu stared at that charming smile, suddenly a bit stunned.

    "What are you staring at? Never seen a school beauty?" Dong Yuxin glanced at Ge Dongxu proudly, then pointed toward the teaching building located behind a large flower bed with a fountain, right in front of the school gate, and said, "That''s the teaching building, your freshman classes are on the first floor. My friends are here, I''m going to find them so I won''t accompany you."

    "Okay, Yuxin, I can go by myself, you go ahead!" Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Remember to call me senior, senior!" Dong Yuxin saw Ge Dongxu calling her by her name again and immediately glared at him to correct him while again kicking his foot.

    "Alright, alright, if you keep kicking me like this, one day you will have kicked me into a cripple," Ge Dongxu said with a pained smile.

    "Serves you right, who told you to be so disrespectful. Also, remember not to leave after class; you have to wait for me!" Dong Yuxin shot Ge Dongxu a glare, then flicked her hair and turned to leave.

    Watching Dong Yuxin sway her youthful waist with a hint of pride, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but smile wryly and shake his head, then walked past the flower bed towards the first floor of the teaching building. Far off, he could faintly hear the voices of girls questioning Dong Yuxin from behind.

    "Hey, miss school beauty, who is that guy? Kicking him and giving him the cold eye. Don''t tell me you''ve fallen for that unsophisticated guy!" On the other side of the flower bed, two girls surrounded Dong Yuxin, asking curiously.

    One of these girls wore glasses and appeared serene, easily mistaken for a studious girl. The other, however, had a somewhat fuller figure, particularly her well-developed chest which was impressively voluptuous, catching the gaze of many passing boys who would sneak glances at her ample bust. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Teenage boys at the age of fifteen are indeed curious about these features of the opposite sex.

    The one who had spoken was the girl with the fuller figure.

    "Pssh, what nonsense! That guy''s just a freshman! But you say he''s unsophisticated; I didn''t feel that way though!" Dong Yuxin rolled her eyes in denial and then, as if possessed, unexpectedly spoke up for Ge Dongxu.

    ps: Today''s update is complete. The new book urgently needs support for ranking; please help by adding to your favorites, recommending, and leaving lots of supportive comments. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 22 From Now On, Youre My Boss [Please Recommend, Click, and Add to Favorites]

    "It''s over, looks like the rumors I heard all along the way were true. The school beauty must really be into that guy, otherwise why would such a dowdy and dark fella, who''s always so picky, ever catch Dong Yuxin''s fancy?" said the plump girl, dramatically slapping her forehead."Oh, stop it! I''ve only just met him two days ago. What''s all this about being into him?" Dong Yuxin rolled her eyes and said, although her cheeks inexplicably began to feel a bit hot.

    "Then can you explain why you don''t think he''s dowdy?" asked the plump girl.

    "Su Qian, do you think he''s dowdy too?" Dong Yuxin didn''t pay attention to the plump girl but turned to ask another girl, who looked quiet and gentle.

    "Yeah, he is pretty dowdy, and he''s also younger. That really doesn''t fit your aesthetic," Su Qian nodded earnestly.

    "See, even Su Qian says so. Tell me, isn''t there something off?" the plump girl insisted.

    "Tsk, you''re all judging by appearances. I look at the inner qualities. Besides, what time is it now? We''re in our final year of high school, the most crucial one. Jiang Lili, don''t you go spreading nonsense. Who has time to think about that stuff?" Dong Yuxin said.

    "That''s not necessarily true, look at Su Qian and Li Jian being together, it hasn''t affected their studies, right?" retorted Jiang Lili unconvinced.

    "Lili!" Su Qian immediately glared at Jiang Lili.

    "Hehe, don''t worry, we only talk about this stuff when it''s just the three of us, I won''t tell anyone else. Why so nervous?" Jiang Lili laughed when she saw Su Qian''s glare.

    "Alright, alright, let''s drop these topics and head to the classroom," Dong Yuxin urged, pushing the two of them.

    "Speaking of going to class, Yuxin, you should be careful. I heard that Chen Zihao didn''t do well on his exams and chose to redo the year, and he''s in our class now," Su Qian whispered while pushing up her glasses.

    The three girls had been classmates since freshman year and had become close as sisters, knowing each other''s business quite well.

    "Actually, I think Chen Zihao isn''t too bad. He''s tall, and his face, well, it''s pretty handsome, at least he''s not dark. Plus, his dad is a leader in the education bureau, and his mom owns a restaurant. If he pursued me, I might just be tempted," Jiang Lili said, looking down at her full bust somewhat narcissistically as she spoke.

    She was well aware that many boys in her class sneaked peeks at her chest during lessons, but since her face wasn''t as pretty as Dong Yuxin''s and she wasn''t as tall and slim, the titles of class beauty or school beauty couldn''t land on her but went to Dong Yuxin instead. Privately, Jiang Lili grumbled a lot about this, thinking the silly young boys didn''t know how to appreciate a woman.

    In this regard, Jiang Lili was among the more mature, bold high school girls. Of course, girls mature earlier than boys generally, and an eighteen-year-old girl pretty much knew everything she needed to. It was only because of their student status and the control of parents and teachers that they didn''t show it.

    Su Qian and Dong Yuxin knew privately that Jiang Lili was quite vain about her bust and often bragged in front of them. Of course, she also frequently talked about men with them. Seeing her flaunting herself now, with that smidge of a lovesick look, they couldn''t help but roll their eyes in unison.

    "You''re the very gold digger the textbooks talk about! You can''t seriously be considering someone like Chen Zihao!" Dong Yuxin said in a low voice.

    "Talking to you innocent little girls about this stuff is like playing the lute to a cow," Jiang Lili said with a look of disdain.

    "Really, Jiang Lili, so talking to us is like playing the lute to a cow!" Dong Yuxin and Su Qian said, taken aback, and moved forward to pinch Jiang Lili.

    Jiang Lili hurriedly ran away, and as she ran, her chest heaved tumultuously, causing the eyes of many boys to almost pop out.

    ...

    Ge Dongxu had just gone around the flowerbed and arrived at the academic building, preparing to check the class assignment list posted on the wall, when suddenly a chubby face appeared in front of him¡ªit was Cheng Le Hao.

    "Dongxu, you are really awesome, from now on you are my boss!" Cheng Le Hao''s plump face was full of sycophantic adoration.

    "Get lost, what are you blabbering about!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly pushed Cheng Le Hao away, as he wasn''t used to being looked up to with such sycophantic admiration by another guy.

    "Boss, don''t be modest. On the way here, I saw you hugging and holding Dong Yuxin, looking all lovey-dovey. Holy moly, that''s so badass, how did you manage to hook up with her? Teach your brother a trick or two." But Cheng Le Hao was not at all annoyed and again pressed his chubby face close while speaking.

    "Stop talking nonsense, I just gave her a ride on my bike!" Ge Dongxu retorted with an annoyed glare.

    "Hehe, right, just a bike ride. But that''s still bloody brilliant. Just share one or two tricks with your brother," Cheng Le Hao said with a grin.

    "What tricks? It''s simple, I took the initiative and introduced myself, said I was her alumnus and also her neighbor, living diagonally across from her home, and I wanted to get to know her." Seeing Cheng Le Hao''s insistence, Ge Dongxu knew he wouldn''t let him go without saying something, so he just made things up off the top of his head.

    He naturally couldn''t bring up Chen Zihao''s matter to Cheng Le Hao, to prevent him from worrying.

    "Is it really that simple?" Cheng Le Hao''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    "Of course, what else could it be? It''s just getting to know each other, it''s nothing. Only someone like you, with dirty thoughts, would make things so complicated. In fact, Dong Yuxin is quite easy to talk to," Ge Dongxu said as a matter of course.

    Cheng Le Hao looked up and down at Ge Dongxu, feeling that there had to be more to it. But after thinking it through, Ge Dongxu lived dozens of kilometers away in the mountains, having no connection with Dong Yuxin for generations, and he was also a new student. If it wasn''t like what Ge Dongxu said, what else could it be?

    "So it''s really that simple? Had I known, I would''ve confidently introduced myself to her long ago." After thinking for a long time and coming up with no other possibilities, Cheng Le Hao slapped his forehead in regret. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s exactly that simple. Sometimes it''s us who overcomplicate things. But now it''s too late for you since Dong Yuxin already knows about your peeping. So, don''t even think about showing your face and introducing yourself to her next time; she won''t give you a warm welcome," Ge Dongxu said with a straight face as he saw Cheng Le Hao''s regretful expression, though he couldn''t help but silently chuckle.

    He needed to keep his story consistent. With the peeping excuse, when Cheng Le Hao would introduce himself to Dong Yuxin and she didn''t pay much attention to him, it would make sense.

    "Damn, you''re kidding, she found out? That''s so embarrassing!" Cheng Le Hao''s head drooped down upon hearing this.

    "Isn''t that obvious? A woman''s intuition is the most sensitive. You always hide behind and peep at her; it would be strange if she didn''t find out," Ge Dongxu replied, applying his newly learned knowledge on the fly.

    "A woman''s intuition! Damn, so you understand even more than me! No way, boss, even if the school beauty is yours now, you''ve got to let your brother bask in some of your glory, right? You have to say a few good words about me in front of her to change the poor impression she has of me," Cheng Le Hao pleaded with a frown, completely altering the bookish image Ge Dongxu had in his mind.

    ps: Seeing the supportive, caring, and encouraging messages from many readers, I am truly moved. Today both my old and new books will have three updates each. The new book will have one update in the morning, afternoon, and evening; the evening update will be around eight o''clock. Please continue to support and leave messages to help boost the popularity. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 23 Classmates

    Seeing Cheng Lehao''s pitiful plea for help, Ge Dongxu was about to say that he had already put in a good word for him, but then had second thoughts. He wondered if this wasn''t the perfect opportunity to push him into studying harder."No problem, but I have one condition," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Whatever the condition is, just say it. As long as it can make the school beauty stop being biased against me, I''ll agree," Cheng Lehao immediately said with a resolute look on his face.

    "Alright, from now on, you''ve got to study hard, sleep early and get up early, and you''re not allowed to always think about playing games or reading novels. As long as you do these things, I''ll definitely put in a good word for you. Actually, girls naturally tend to like boys who do well in their studies. Dong Yuxin asked me how many marks I scored on the middle school exams. When I told her my score, she became significantly nicer to me and even let me give her a ride on my bike. So, this isn''t really a condition, but whether you want to change the school beauty''s view of you or any girl''s opinion, or even to overlook your chubby figure, this is the best way," Ge Dongxu said.

    Initially, Cheng Lehao wasn''t too happy about Ge Dongxu asking him to study more, but after hearing the rest of his speech, he was immediately convinced, especially with such a vivid success story in front of him. He couldn''t help but be touched, putting his arms around Ge Dongxu''s shoulders and saying, "You''re absolutely right, that''s why you''re a true brother. Fine, from now on, I will take your advice and study seriously. If I don''t, boss, you have the right to teach me a lesson!

    "That''s your own words; you can''t go back on them!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but be overjoyed when he heard this and quickly said.

    "If I go back on my word, I''m a turtle and a bastard," Cheng Lehao immediately swore.

    "Alright, it''s settled then," Ge Dongxu said, immediately raising his hand and giving Cheng Lehao a high-five when he heard the oath. Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel sentimental, thinking that it really was a case of opposites attract. No, that''s not right, it''s the attraction between men and women!

    "Ok, it''s settled. It''s getting late; let''s go to our class and report," Cheng Lehao said, his whole demeanor becoming particularly spirited and shedding his previous laziness as he high-fived Ge Dongxu.

    "You go first; I still don''t know which class I''ve been assigned to," Ge Dongxu said to Cheng Lehao.

    "No need to check; I looked for you earlier. You''re in Class Six, and I''m in Class Seven. We''re right next to each other," Cheng Lehao said.

    "Next door classes, huh? That''s great; it will make giving each other a shout easier," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, walking together with Cheng Lehao toward the left side of the corridor.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu found the classroom for Grade One, Class Six.

    There to register the new students in the classroom was Ge Dongxu''s homeroom teacher, Li Haoran, a young teacher with a warm and scholarly temperament.

    After reporting to the homeroom teacher, paying the fees at the administration office, and receiving his books and school uniform, Ge Dongxu returned to Grade One, Class Six.

    The homeroom teacher arranged seating for the whole class based on their heights. Thanks to Ge Dongxu''s years of training, although neither of his parents were very tall, his own stature was quite respectable, now standing at one meter sixty-eight.

    That height was already fairly tall among the freshmen, so he was placed in the first row from the back, second desk from the end. His desk mate was a skinny and tall boy with glasses, who had the refined look of a scholar.

    However, when the boy started to speak, Ge Dongxu immediately lumped him with the fatso Cheng, because as soon as Ge Dongxu sat down, the guy leaned in, a face full of ambiguous admiration, and whispered, "My name''s Du Yifan. I never expected you were a freshman too! That''s so ******* awesome! Quick, share some tips with me, how did you manage to hook up with our school''s top beauty on the very first day of school?"

    "Don''t talk nonsense, I live just across from Dong Yuxin and have known her from before," Ge Dongxu hurriedly explained, while a wry smile couldn''t help but emerge inside, not expecting that the landlord''s son was kind of a sleazebag, and now his desk mate turned out to be one as well, not to mention that he had witnessed the whole scene at the school gate earlier.

    "That''s still super awesome. I have a middle school classmate who lives just across from Dong Yuxin''s house, but that guy hasn''t even spoken to her to this day," Du Yifan said.

    "You''re not talking about Cheng Lehao, are you?" Ge Dongxu asked with a laugh and cry, looking at Du Yifan. He now knew who this "refined" boy was; he was the brother of a schoolmate Cheng Lehao had mentioned a few days ago, also studying at Changxi No.1 Middle School.

    "Damn, you know fatso Cheng? Then how come I''ve never seen you before?" Du Yifan was surprised and astonished that Ge Dongxu knew Cheng Lehao.

    "I just moved into Cheng Lehao''s house, so it''s not strange that you haven''t seen me," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Damn, you just moved into Cheng Lehao''s place and already got together with Dong Yuxin, fatso Cheng has really lived up to the pig''s life all these years." When Du Yifan first heard Ge Dongxu knew Dong Yuxin, his admiration for him decreased a bit, but now hearing that he had just moved into Cheng Lehao''s place, his admiration for him shot right back up. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu also didn''t expect to encounter Cheng Lehao''s classmate, and thus was unsure how to continue explaining. Fortunately, by this time everyone had taken their seats, and the homeroom teacher Li Haoran tapped his desk to signal everyone to be quiet, giving Ge Dongxu the chance to ignore Du Yifan.

    After signaling everyone to be quiet, Li Haoran began calling each student''s name for them to introduce themselves.

    Originally, because of the conversation they just had, Ge Dongxu had categorized Du Yifan with fatso Cheng, but after Du Yifan''s self-introduction, the homeroom teacher specifically added, "Du Yifan ranked fifth in the whole school in the middle school examination, scored full marks in math. Everyone should learn from him, and Yifan should also continue to maintain and strive to improve his weaker subjects, Chinese and English."

    This took Ge Dongxu by surprise, as he didn''t expect this somewhat sleazy Du Yifan to be a top student, especially with a full score in math, which was quite rare.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was secretly surprised, the homeroom teacher specifically mentioned his name, saying, "Apart from Yifan, Ge Dongxu in our class got full marks in science. Now it''s his turn to introduce himself."

    Ge Dongxu hurried onto the stage, and gave a brief introduction. As Ge Dongxu came from a mountainous area, dressed simply, and his skin was dark from frequent outdoor labor, he did look somewhat unsophisticated. Therefore, even though everyone was shocked that he scored full marks in science, they didn''t pay much attention to him. Instead, several handsome boys and pretty girls were the focus of everyone''s attention. After the introductions were over, many students were privately discussing who was handsome and who was pretty.

    "That Li Wanjun, although not as pretty as school beauty Dong Yuxin, is still quite good-looking, just not tall enough. That Deng Yujie too, she''s developed quite a good figure, and then there''s Lin Yaran, did you notice that although her face is average, her legs are exceptionally long..." Du Yifan was also no exception, as he hadn''t stopped commenting on the girls since Ge Dongxu came down from his introduction.

    Listening to Du Yifan left Ge Dongxu dumbfounded, hardly able to imagine that this guy was actually the fifth-ranked student in the whole school!

 Chapter 24 Schools Out

    Changxi Number One High School, as a provincial key high school, prides itself not only on its hardware and teaching resources but also on its strict school regulations.On the first day of school, the morning was a bit chaotic with activities like receiving textbooks, cleaning, selecting class leaders, and so on, but by the afternoon, everything returned to normal order. Moreover, even on the first day, evening self-study sessions commenced, not sparing the freshmen.

    Since Changxi Number One High School admits students from all over Changxi County, it provides not only student dormitories but also a student canteen.

    Typically, students who live in the county town go home for meals and sleep, though a few find commuting inconvenient and time-consuming, choosing to both eat at the school canteen and reside in the student dormitories.

    In this regard, the school does not enforce any mandatory rules.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t choose to stay in the student dormitory because he needed to practice cultivation, but he opted to have lunch and dinner at the school.

    Cheng Le Hao''s parents, concerned that their son was growing and studying hard, and that the school canteen might not provide adequate nutrition, insisted that he eat at home. In fact, many parents from the county town had similar concerns. As a result, the students who really stayed to eat at the school canteen were mostly those from outside the county town, like Ge Dongxu.

    Since Ge Dongxu ate lunch and dinner at the school canteen and it was broad daylight, Dong Yuxin didn''t need to worry. Besides, she needed to study and had her circle of classmates, so she never sought out Ge Dongxu during the day.

    Since Dong Yuxin didn''t look for Ge Dongxu, naturally, he didn''t take the initiative to find her either.

    As freshmen in high school, everyone had just transferred from different places and schools across the county to Changxi Number One High School. Very few actually knew about Dong Yuxin, the top school beauty. At that time, Du Yifan was the only one who happened to see Ge Dongxu with Dong Yuxin. Hence, for a youth like Ge Dongxu, who appeared a bit unsophisticated and came from a mountain area, he was easily overlooked in a class of fifty unless you were Du Yifan, no one would particularly pay attention to him.

    Not only did they not pay attention, but some students, from better-off families and a bit snobbish, would occasionally throw disdainful glances his way as if to assert their own superiority.

    As a cultivator, Ge Dongxu was naturally more detached in character. He was pleased that others did not pay attention to him, and he was even less concerned about the disdainful glances from a few classmates.

    So went the day, and apart from getting familiar with Du Yifan, who had been appointed by a teacher as the study committee member, Ge Dongxu merely became acquainted by face with the other classmates.

    The evening self-study had two sessions, from six-thirty to nine-twenty, with a fifteen-minute break in between.

    No sooner had the bell for the end of the second session of evening self-study rung than Dong Yuxin, whose backpack was already neatly packed, quickly left the classroom.

    "Hey, Yuxin, wait for us! Why are you in such a hurry? Are you that eager to reincarnate?" Seeing this, Su Qian and Jiang Lili hurriedly grabbed their bags and left the classroom. They finally caught up with Dong Yuxin at the staircase entrance on the ground floor, panting.

    "You guys go ahead, I''m going to Class One Grade Six to walk with Ge Dongxu," said Dong Yuxin as she caught sight of Su Qian and Jiang Lili, turning to the direction of Class One Grade Six while waving at them.

    ```

    "No way, you''re really ditching friends for a pretty face! It''s only the first day, and you''re already ditching us," Jiang Lili and Su Qian couldn''t help but feel dumbfounded.

    "Get outta here, what are you talking about! Didn''t I tell you before, because of me, Dongxu offended Chen Zihao the day before yesterday. I''m worried that Chen Zihao might try something on the way home from school, so I need to walk with him, just in case something happens, to have some backup. What were you two thinking!" Dong Yuxin retorted, not happy with their comments.

    "So that''s it, but isn''t it safer for four people to be together than just two?" Su Qian pushed her glasses up on the bridge of her nose and asked, puzzled.

    Dong Yuxin was taken aback by the question. Yeah, isn''t it safer with four people? Why leave the two of them out?

    "Hehe, isn''t it obvious? She wants a world for two!" Jiang Lili said with a suggestive smile.

    "Lili, if you keep this up, I''m going to get angry!" Dong Yuxin began to feel embarrassed and annoyed at Jiang Lili''s teasing about her and Ge Dongxu.

    "Alright, it was just a joke. Why would our school beauty be interested in some bumpkin of a freshman? Let''s go together; it''ll be a good chance to get to know Ge Dongxu." Seeing that Dong Yuxin was getting angry, Jiang Lili didn''t dare to joke anymore, nudged her, and said.

    "Remember that, no more joking about such things, if the teachers hear and get the wrong idea, I''ll be coming to you to settle the score," Dong Yuxin warned.

    "Got it, got it. But if you don''t want to be misunderstood, we should all walk together after school. Although he''s just a freshman and looks so unsophisticated, totally not matching with you, if you keep walking to and from school together like this, it would be hard not to be misunderstood," Jiang Lili said.

    "Lili has a point. Let''s stick together from now on. Besides, he''s just a high school freshman and since it''s on the way, the teachers definitely won''t get the wrong idea. Normal interaction between male and female students should be perfectly fine," Su Qian, although appearing demure, was clear-headed and spoke logically.

    "Mhm." Dong Yuxin nodded her head, then paused, realizing they had arrived at the entrance of class 6, first year. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Since Dong Yuxin and the others had left the classroom quickly after the bell, the students of class 6, first year, were just starting to trickle out when they reached the entrance.

    As they stepped out, the girls saw Dong Yuxin and her two friends; it wasn''t as much of a big deal for them since they were all girls. They were just somewhat envious of Dong Yuxin''s beauty and figure, and of course, Jiang Lili''s maturity and curves. Su Qian wasn''t as noticeable. That wasn''t to say Su Qian wasn''t pretty or well-endowed; she just seemed more ordinary next to Dong Yuxin and Jiang Lili.

    The boys were suddenly faced with three obviously older girls standing at the classroom corridor, each stunningly beautiful, especially Dong Yuxin''s grace and stature, and Jiang Lili''s mature voluptuousness. Their hearts raced, their strides became awkward, wanting to look but somewhat daunted.

    After all, they were all freshmen, on their first day of school, and no one yet had the courage to strike up a conversation with such beautiful and sexy upperclasswomen. Even the popular guys in the class didn''t have the nerve.

    "Holy crap, Dongxu, look, just look, isn''t that the school beauty Dong Yuxin? Good heavens, she''s not here waiting for you, is she? Man, not just one, but three! Dongxu, you''re freaking amazing, I''m sticking with you from now on!" At that moment, still inside the classroom, preparing to follow his classmates out, Du Yifan caught sight of Dong Yuxin. He was shaken, his eyes showing disbelief, followed by a chicken-blooded excitement as he grabbed Ge Dongxu''s arm and whispered in an enthusiastic and admiring tone.

    ps: New book climbing the ranks, please support! Clicks, additions to favorites, recommendations, comments, and rewards are all greatly appreciated, thank you!

    ```

 Chapter 25 The Aura of a Newcomer

    ```Ge Dongxu had of course already seen Dong Yuxin and her friends by then, and seeing that she indeed came to wait for him to walk home together after school, he couldn''t help feeling a touch of warmth in his heart. As for Du Yifan''s words, he acted as if he hadn''t heard them.

    This guy was just like that kid Cheng Le Hao, acting all superior. If Ge Dongxu really responded to him, this kid would only get more excited. Cold treatment was more appropriate.

    "Hello, hello, three senior sisters. My name is Li Xingchen. Excuse me, are you looking for someone?" Just as Ge Dongxu ignored Du Yifan and simply walked quickly out with his backpack, finally, a male student mustered up the courage to approach and say hello.

    Although Li Xingchen repeatedly tried to act more mature and gentlemanly, even bowing slightly, his stuttering tongue and trembling voice betrayed his nervousness.

    However, this didn''t prevent many male students from looking at Li Xingchen with admiration.

    These days, having the courage to strike up a conversation with three senior sisters on the very first day of school at Changxi No.1 Middle School, and such beautiful ones at that, was definitely a feat of courage. At least they wouldn''t dare.

    Of course, this also had to do with individual capital. The reason why Li Xingchen had the nerve to strike up a conversation with older senior sisters was not only because he was the tallest and most handsome in Class 6 of the first grade but also because his family was relatively well-off. In his self-introduction earlier, he had specifically mentioned that his dad worked at the county public security bureau, bragging with some pride. He was also one of the few in the class who looked at Ge Dongxu with disdain.

    However, while Li Xingchen''s behavior was seen as bold and brave by the freshmen, it seemed somewhat childish and laughable to Dong Yuxin and the other two senior sisters, showing a lack of maturity. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To stutter while speaking and still think he can chat them up, thinking he''s got the guts and skill.

    Newcomers will be newcomers!

    "Yes, but we''re not looking for you." Jiang Lili, a relatively bold and impetuous girl, looked down on Li Xingchen''s immaturity and deliberately teased him.

    "Then who are you looking for? I''ll call them for you." Li Xingchen, failing to detect the sarcasm in Jiang Lili''s words and seeing that she actually responded to him, was overjoyed and quickly asked. As he spoke, his face beamed with pride, and he intentionally glanced at the other students, clearly boasting.

    "No need, he''s here." Jiang Lili pointed at Ge Dongxu, who had just appeared at the entrance, and said.

    At that moment, everyone except Du Yifan was stunned. The smug look of triumph on Li Xingchen''s face instantly froze, as if he''d been hit with a paralysis spell.

    It''s him! The three beautiful senior sisters actually came to look for this bumpkin from Baiyun Mountain! How is that possible?

    "Yuxin senior sister, you''re here. These two are your classmates, right? Hello, my name is Ge Dongxu." Ge Dongxu, of course, didn''t care about the other students'' reactions. He greeted Dong Yuxin and then naturally extended his hand to Jiang Lili and Su Qian.

    With a mentality far more mature and composed than most boys his age, and having been hugged from behind by the school beauty Dong Yuxin and held her hand during the day, he had long lost the nervousness of first-time interactions with a girl.

    Jiang Lili and Su Qian clearly didn''t expect Ge Dongxu, the new student dressed in such a down-to-earth manner, to have such natural and proper manners. They were taken aback for a moment, unprepared for his greeting.

    Classmates from Class 6 of the first grade, along with students passing by in the corridor, were again shocked to see Ge Dongxu extend his hand so naturally and confidently to the two senior sisters. Damn, isn''t he much cooler than Li Xingchen? He actually went and offered a handshake directly.

    Li Xingchen was evidently shocked as well, but he soon turned to disdain and contempt. Psh, who do you think you are, trying to act like an adult with a handshake upon first meeting? As if the senior sisters would bother with you.

    ```

    It had a distinct whiff of the sour grapes.

    There were quite a few students who, like Li Xingchen, harbored a bit of jealousy toward Ge Dongxu. After all, Ge Dongxu dressed in a rather unfashionable way, had dark skin, and came from a mountainous area, so many believed they were better than him.

    "Hehe, this is kind of interesting!" But, contrary to everyone''s expectations, after pause, Jiang Lili actually extended her hand to Ge Dongxu with a faint blush on her pretty face and said, "Hello, I''m Jiang Lili."

    "Hello, I''m Su Qian." Su Qian also reached out and shook Ge Dongxu''s hand lightly.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu so effortlessly take the hands of two upperclassman girls, the boys felt a complex mix of emotions, as if their hearts were upset bottles of mixed flavors. Li Xingchen was especially downhearted.

    Without comparison, you''d never know; but now, Li Xingchen''s behavior just moments ago seemed particularly childish compared to Ge Dongxu''s.

    If I had known it was this easy, I would have done the same thing! It would have been so cool and impressive!

    "The two upperclassman girls and me too, I''m Du Yifan, Ge Dongxu''s..." As Du Yifan watched Ge Dongxu easily shake hands with the two girls, he couldn''t hide his excitement. Rushing forward from behind, he too tried to imitate Ge Dongxu by reaching out to Jiang Lili and the others.

    At this point, Jiang Lili and Su Qian, who had shaken hands with Ge Dongxu, were beginning to regain their composure, feeling somewhat embarrassed and annoyed that they had been somewhat overshadowed by this unsophisticated freshman''s presence. Seeing Du Yifan, the bespectacled boy, also daring to try his luck with them, they felt the unwelcomed challenge to their status as senior girls and immediately snapped, "What ''Yifan'' or whatever, go away, it''s not like we came for you. Let''s go, Ge Dongxu!"

    Indeed, why should they, as senior students, be led around by the nose by a freshman? Naturally, they should be the ones in charge.

    Seeing that the two senior girls didn''t even spare him a glance, Du Yifan was internally dismayed.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu knew all about Du Yifan''s character and was rather pleased to see him rebuffed. He patted his shoulder and said, "I''m heading off first."

    Then, he casually approached Dong Yuxin and the others and said, "Let''s go."

    Having a girlfriend really changes a man! Even though we were deskmates and brothers, he didn''t even bother to help me out! Watching Ge Dongxu walk away accompanied by Dong Yuxin and the other three senior girls, Du Yifan felt a sharp pang of resentment. The other students'' perception of Ge Dongxu began to change.

    Suddenly, the guy from the mountains, who seemed rough around the edges, appeared unusually tall and handsome.

    How could he not? On the very first day of school, three beautiful senior girls had specifically waited to walk home with him. Especially that tall senior girl, who was practically a school beauty, the goddess of many a boy''s dreams!

    What they admired most was the boy''s serenity amid the attention. He was as unflappable as if a mountain were crumbling in front of him, completely unfazed by honor or disgrace!

    "Yifan, where''s Dongxu?" Just as Du Yifan was stewing in his resentment, a pudgy hand suddenly patted his shoulder heavily, and a voice rang out beside his ear.

    "Don''t even talk about that guy who ditches his buddies for a girl!" Du Yifan grumbled. He had been a top student and quite popular with the girls in middle school, so being dismissed so disdainfully by the two senior girls had really hurt his pride.

    ps: My new book is climbing the ranks, and I''m extremely grateful for any and all support. Still aiming to update in the morning, around noon, and at eight in the evening.

 Chapter 26 Get Lost [Seeking Recommendation and Favorites]

    "What''s this about genders but no humanity, what happened?" Cheng Le Hao had just come out from the classroom and didn''t know what was going on, he asked, puzzled."Just look!" Du Yifan pointed towards Ge Dongxu and his group who were gradually walking away.

    "That''s Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin, wait, why are there two more? Damn! No way, that''s incredible!" Cheng Le Hao recognized Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin''s figures from their backs instantly. First he was shocked, and then when he noticed there were two more girls'' silhouettes, he was so astonished he almost jumped.

    "Tell me, is this guy not totally dismissing his bros for girls? There are three of them, aren''t the three of us just right? We could even let him have the school belle, but look, this guy keeps all to himself, that''s really not cool of him," Du Yifan complained angrily.

    "Forget it. I''ve realized that chatting up girls just isn''t my thing; even if I followed them, I''d be too nervous to speak. And you, kid, although you''re somewhat witty, compared to me you''re basically on the same level, not much better. We should learn from Ge Dongxu in the future," Cheng Le Hao said.

    Du Yifan, who was already a bit resentful, recalled Ge Dongxu''s calm and suave demeanor, and suddenly felt dispirited, he had to admit, "That guy is truly incredible. You didn''t see it just now, but when he left the classroom, he shook hands with a busty upperclassman and a quiet upperclassman so coolly. No blush, no heartbeat. Tsk, we really can''t compare to him."

    "What''s so incredible about that? This morning he was even riding his bike with the school belle Dong Yuxin, and Dong Yuxin was hugging his waist from behind," Cheng Le Hao whispered.

    "Damn, no way!" Du Yifan''s eyes widened on the spot. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What do you mean no way? I was right behind them this morning!" Cheng Le Hao whispered back.

    "That''s too awesome! I''m telling you, Fatty Cheng, I heard he just moved into your place two days ago, compared to him, you''ve been practically living a pig''s life these years."

    "You''re the one living a pig''s life! Do you think just anyone can do what he does? Only a true master can manage that, got it?" Cheng Le Hao retorted irritably.

    "That''s true!" Du Yifan nodded solemnly after hearing this.

    ...

    "I say, ladies, can we maybe not make such a big deal next time? I''m worried that one day I''ll get stoned by classmates while walking on the road!" Walking towards the school gate pushing his bike and feeling envious, jealous, and hateful gazes, Ge Dongxu said to Dong Yuxin and the other two with a wry smile.

    He was a cultivator, naturally more reserved in character, not liking to stand out, but now as a freshman, standing among three upperclassmen, it was hard not to stand out!

    Especially Dong Yuxin, new students may not recognize her, but who among the upperclassmen does not know this top school belle, not to mention Jiang Lili, whose bust alone made her somewhat famous among the boys at Changxi Middle School, often the subject of private discussions.

    Only Su Qian seemed relatively ordinary in comparison, but that was only comparatively speaking.

    "Don''t play coy with us after taking advantage! If it weren''t for Dong Yuxin''s sake, I wouldn''t bother with you!" Jiang Lili immediately shot an annoyed look at Ge Dongxu.

    This was not just because of what Ge Dongxu had just said, but also because he hadn''t ogled at her chest like other boys usually did, which she had always taken pride in.

    Of course, if Ge Dongxu was like other boys and did sneak a peek at her chest, he would definitely have been scorned by her. Yet when Ge Dongxu truly didn''t notice her prized chest, she felt somewhat annoyed.

    From this, it''s clear that girls really are quite complicated creatures.

    "But I didn''t get any advantages!" Ge Dongxu replied feeling wronged.

    "You..." Jiang Lili, always the fieriest among the three, was instantly annoyed by Ge Dongxu''s remark and rolled her eyes.

    Yeah, what advantage did he get?

    "Pfft!" Dong Yuxin, seeing Jiang Lili at a loss, couldn''t help but laugh out loud, saying, "Lili, you''ve met your match this time."

    "Psh, what match? He''s just a freshman! If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t even bother talking to him." Jiang Lili said disdainfully.

    Jiang Lili''s words were a bit too much. Ge Dongxu felt slightly annoyed inside, but, considering Dong Yuxin, he didn''t say anything.

    However, though Ge Dongxu didn''t say anything, suddenly a voice rang out, "Student Lili is absolutely right, just a freshman, a complete bumpkin, nothing impressive at all!"

    Of course, it was none other than Chen Zihao speaking.

    "How can you be so foul-mouthed? Nobody would think you''re mute if you didn''t speak. Get lost!" Ge Dongxu, already feeling irked inside, saw Chen Zihao popping up again like a bad penny, and his face darkened as he shouted without any politeness.

    Apart from Dong Yuxin, who knew that Ge Dongxu seemed simple on the surface but could be fierce when provoked, neither Jiang Lili nor Su Qian knew this. Seeing Ge Dongxu, who was just respectfully addressing his seniors, suddenly cursing at Chen Zihao, a notorious bully in the school, and even telling him to get lost, they turned pale with fright, thinking to themselves, "This is bad, a fight''s going to break out."

    Seeing this, the four-eyed boy with Chen Zihao grinned maliciously, thinking that Ge Dongxu dared to offend brother Chen Zihao and was surely going to suffer for it.

    Sure enough, upon hearing this, Chen Zihao''s face turned furious, and he clenched his fists, saying, "Kid, keep being arrogant and see if I don''t smash your head in!"

    "What, you want to fight? Come on!" Ge Dongxu glanced at Chen Zihao disdainfully and challenged him.

    Ge Dongxu''s words seemed to remind Chen Zihao. His face underwent several changes, and finally, he dropped a harsh sentence, "Kid, you''re arrogant. We''ll see about that!", and then he actually rode off on his bicycle.

    Unable to fight Ge Dongxu, Chen Zihao certainly couldn''t afford to lose face!

    The four-eyed boy couldn''t help but be dumbfounded. This wasn''t Chen Zihao''s style at all!

    Jiang Lili and Su Qian were also dumbfounded. Was this really Chen Zihao? To be cursed and challenged by a freshman and just walk away like that?

    And, was this really a freshman? To dare to curse Chen Zihao like that!

    "Hey, couldn''t you have just endured it a bit? It seems you''ve deepened your feud with Chen Zihao." Dong Yuxin had already anticipated this outcome, and her face couldn''t help but show deep worry.

    "This guy deserves a lesson! Looking at him pisses me off, and what good would enduring do?" Ge Dongxu said nonchalantly.

    "You need to endure even if it''s futile. I heard Chen Zihao knows people in society; you''re definitely going to suffer badly now. I advise you to find some time to apologize to him and beg for mercy; perhaps there''s still a chance to turn things around." Jiang Lili said.

 Chapter 27 Boldness

    "Lili''s right, Chen Zihao definitely wouldn''t dare to do anything to you at school, right? But once you''re outside the school gates, it''s definitely a different story. You can''t expect Yuxin and us to accompany you every day," Su Qian followed up, echoing the sentiment."Actually, you guys really don''t need to stick with me. It''s just dealing with people from society, right? Let him send his horses over; I''m truly not afraid of him!" Ge Dongxu said.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu wasn''t taking advice and bragging so boldly, Jiang Lili and Su Qian naturally thought he was trying to play the hero in front of Dong Yuxin, to win the heart of the beauty. Their gaze towards him couldn''t help but take on a different flavor, thinking he was quite naive and foolish.

    That''s Chen Zihao we''re talking about! What''s there for you, a freshman from the mountainous area, to be so arrogant about!

    Only Dong Yuxin knew that Ge Dongxu wasn''t trying to play the hero in front of her or to please her. If that were the case, he would have surely clung to her after helping her that day instead of walking away. The way he spoke must be because he didn''t want her to worry. So, she felt very touched and hesitated before saying, "How about I go and apologize to Chen Zihao another day? After all, he and I are now classmates. Apologizing should resolve the issue."

    "Don''t you dare. If you apologize to him, that guy will definitely stick to you! Don''t worry, it will be alright. He can''t do anything to me!" Ge Dongxu, seeing that Dong Yuxin was willing to apologize to Chen Zihao for his sake, felt somewhat touched and hurriedly advised.

    "What Dongxu said makes sense. If you apologize to Chen Zihao, he will definitely stick to you every day," Su Qian and Jiang Lili said. They naturally stood on Dong Yuxin''s side. As for Ge Dongxu, they didn''t have much affection for him. If something really happened, they wouldn''t care too much.

    "Then what should we do?" Dong Yuxin''s eyes began to redden a bit upon hearing those words.

    "What can we do but wait and see! No matter what, Chen Zihao still wouldn''t dare to mess around in school," said Jiang Lili and Su Qian.

    "Right, you don''t need to do anything for now! Things will always pass," Ge Dongxu also advised, his eyes flickering with thoughtful light under the night sky, thinking that he should find a good time to have a proper "talk" with Chen Zihao soon, to stop his harassment once and for all.

    "I hope so," Dong Yuxin knew what kind of person Chen Zihao was, understanding that apologizing was only the last resort. Seeing her friends and Ge Dongxu all advising her, she thought it over and nodded.

    With Chen Zihao stirring things up, everyone was clearly not in the mood, plus Jiang Lili and Su Qian ultimately had some contempt for Ge Dongxu, the freshman from the mountain area. They didn''t want to talk to him much, so the mood was somewhat heavy on the way.

    Ge Dongxu, being a cultivator, had a sixth sense that wasn''t inferior to a woman''s, so he easily sensed the subtle contempt from Jiang Lili and Su Qian, and naturally couldn''t be bothered to initiate conversation with them. And the less Ge Dongxu did so, the more irritated Jiang Lili and Su Qian became, thinking that he, a freshman, was too arrogant and unappreciative.

    Luckily, before they reached the rough section of the road, Jiang Lili and Su Qian turned a corner at a street intersection and parted ways from Ge Dongxu and Dong Yuxin.

    Just as Jiang Lili and Su Qian had left, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt a warm and soft sensation at his waist¡ªit turned out that earlier, with Jiang Lili and Su Qian present, Dong Yuxin didn''t dare to rest her hand on Ge Dongxu''s waist and instead clutched the back seat. Now that they were gone, she became bold.

    "The road ahead is a bit uneven, be careful when you''re cycling, and don''t let it be like it was this afternoon," Dong Yuxin said, her pretty face blushing under the dim streetlights, looking exceptionally charming, though Gex Dongxu couldn''t see it.

    "Don''t worry," Ge Dongxu replied, his mood unexpectedly lightening and he felt particularly cheerful, completely forgetting the previous harassment and provocation from Chen Zihao, as well as the disdain from Jiang Lili and Su Qian.

    "Dang dang dang!" As soon as Ge Dongxu''s voice fell, the bicycle started to bounce along.

    Sitting behind, Dong Yuxin''s face blushed as she stealthily looked around and quietly wrapped her arms around Ge Dongxu''s waist. She felt this gave her more of a sense of security and comfort.

    Ge Dongxu''s body stiffened for a moment, but his legs soon started pedaling more briskly, youthfully spirited.

    "Stop the car and let me down here." As they were nearing her home, Dong Yuxin''s face turned red as she clung tightly to Ge Dongxu''s waist and said.

    "Afraid your parents will see?" Ge Dongxu stopped the bike and asked.

    "Pfft, we haven''t done anything, what''s there to be scared of? It''s just annoying when they ask too many questions!" Dong Yuxin smoothed her hair back and said indifferently, but under the streetlights, a blush spread unknowingly across her pretty face, making her look particularly enticing.

    "Ha-ha, that''s true." Ge Dongxu chuckled and nodded in agreement.

    "What are you laughing at!" Dong Yuxin saw the smile on Ge Dongxu''s face and for some reason felt a sudden rush of embarrassment and annoyance, and she kicked him.

    Ge Dongxu, bewildered by Dong Yuxin''s unexpected kick, wondered, can''t one laugh without making a mistake?

    Young as he was, even with mysterious arts at his disposal, how could he understand the mind of a young girl?

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s confused expression, Dong Yuxin also felt that her kick had been somewhat senseless, but she wanted to kick him nonetheless. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Tomorrow, same time, start walking ahead of me slowly and wait for me." Of course, Dong Yuxin would not admit she was wrong. She got on her bicycle, tossed her hair, threw those words at Ge Dongxu, and then pedaled away.

    Ge Dongxu still stood there, scratching his head in confusion, but he didn''t feel any annoyance from being kicked; on the contrary, he felt an indescribable sweetness in his heart.

    "I''m telling you, boss, she''s already ridden off into the distance. If you keep staring like that, you''ll turn into a ''Looking-for-Husband Stone.'' No, make that a ''Looking-for-Wife Stone.''" Just as Ge Dongxu was standing there in a daze, Cheng Le Hao''s voice came from behind him.

    "Looking at your big head!" Ge Dongxu turned and snapped back, then headed home with a spring in his step.

    "Wait for me, boss." Cheng Le Hao hurriedly pushed his bike and followed after him.

    ...

    Midnight had passed, and in the darkness, Ge Dongxu lay with his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling in a daze. Usually, after his midnight cultivation, Ge Dongxu would fall asleep quickly. But tonight, images of Dong Yuxin''s smiles and frowns, the electric shock he felt when she suddenly hugged him from behind, and even the occasional flashes of Jiang Lili''s voluptuous chest, kept drifting through his mind.

    As a teenager brimming with curiosity about the opposite sex, how could he possibly ignore Jiang Lili''s generously endowed chest, let alone remain unaffected? It was just that Ge Dongxu, as a cultivator, had self-control that ordinary teenagers lacked.

    In that case, Jiang Lili had somewhat wronged Ge Dongxu.

    Eventually, the images in Ge Dongxu''s mind settled on the detestable face of Chen Zihao.

    How to deal with him? Call him out and beat him up? Obviously, that wasn''t a suitable solution. It seemed he had to come up with a strategy using techniques.

    ps: Today''s update is complete, thank you for your support.

 Chapter 28 Changxi Grand Hotel

    Changxi Grand Hotel, the nineties, the only three-star hotel in Changxi County, and the only hotel that was involved in serving foreigners.The Changxi Grand Hotel had twelve floors and was the iconic building of Changxi County at that time. Many people who came to the county from rural areas would specifically visit to see it and take a photo with it. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It''s fair to say that Changxi Grand Hotel was tremendously prestigious, and those who could often be seen entering and leaving were among the most influential figures in the political and business circles of Changxi County. Ordinary folk hardly dared or would even think of setting foot in this hotel, as the cost of a single banquet could equate to half a month''s income for an average person, and if one ordered the more expensive dishes and drinks, it could amount to half a year''s income, which was not unusual here.

    Even the somewhat wealthy families in the city would only consider coming here during festivals, celebratory events, or to entertain important guests.

    In short, at that time, Changxi Grand Hotel was the most luxurious high-end venue in the whole of Changxi County. In fact, the requirements for a three-star rating then were high standard and high specification, some of which are now the requirements for four-star and even five-star hotels.

    For example, the requirement for dedicated porters to provide luggage services for 18 hours, duty managers to attend to guests 24 hours a day, having an enclosed bar, a small shopping center, providing turn-down service, a caf¨¦ (simplified Western restaurant) offering buffet breakfasts, and 18-hour meal delivery service for Chinese and Western-style breakfasts and meals, are now the requirements for four-star hotels. Likewise, requirements such as the front desk manager providing 18-hour service, rooms with bathtubs, accessible rooms for disabled guests, providing formal Western meals, and the ability to provide Chinese and Western banquet services are now requirements for five-star hotels.

    Because of this, Changxi Grand Hotel had an extremely high social image and status throughout Changxi County at the time, and Lin Jinnuo, the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel, had become an influential figure in Changxi County due to the hotel. As for his son, Lin Kun, he too became one of the notable figures among the second generation in the political and business circles of Changxi County, due to this the county''s only international three-star hotel. Below him, there was a group of underlings who eagerly followed his lead.

    It was already eleven o''clock at night, and on the second floor of the hotel, in the splendidly decorated KTV room, the singing was still loud and the drinks were flowing. Women dressed in white tight tops and ultra-short skirts, showing off their long, white legs, could be seen standing in the lobby or moving in and out of the various private rooms.

    "Look here, Chen Zihao, it''s rare that your dad is on a business trip and your mom is too busy with the restaurant to mind you, and you''re sulking all evening. Who are you trying to impress? If you don''t want to stay, then just scram!" In a luxurious KTV private room, Lin Kun leaned back on the sofa with his legs crossed, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He blew a ring of smoke and pointed at Chen Zihao, who was sitting on the other side, drinking morosely.

    "It might be better for you to go home early, after all, Chen Zihao is still a student," a woman''s voice chimed in, and it was Yue Ting.

    Today, Yue Ting was not wearing her Chanel suit, but a low-cut vest and denim shorts, revealing a deep cleavage and her plump, white thighs, which made the men in the room steal glances at her, though they dared not stare.

    That''s because Yue Ting was the big sister of their circle.

    "Yue Ting''s right, Chen Zihao, you better come here less often in the future. Anyway, every time you come, you just look like a corpse," Lin Kun waved his hand impatiently at Chen Zihao.

    "Sister Ting, Brother Kun, I''m sorry for ruining everyone''s good time with my moodiness. I''ll punish myself with this bottle," seeing that Lin Kun and Yue Ting were somewhat annoyed, Chen Zihao panicked, quickly stood up, grabbed a bottle of beer, and downed it in one go.

    "That''s more like it. Speak up, what''s bothering you so much? Is it ''cause you have to repeat a year at high school? If that''s it, there''s nothing I can do to help!" Lin Kun''s mood seemed to lighten after Chen Zihao chugged the bottle as an apology. He blew another ring of smoke and asked.

    "It''s not about that. Repeating a year doesn''t really bother me, especially with the school beauty by my side¡ªI''m actually looking forward to it. What''s annoying me is that someone messed up a good thing for me," Chen Zihao responded, waiting for Brother Kun''s question, gritting his teeth as he spoke.

    "Damn, so someone was hitting on your girl, huh! No wonder you''ve been so down today. But let me tell you, Chen Zihao, you''re a repeater after all, and you''re a big guy. While your looks aren''t great, you could still pass for handsome at a glance. Damn, someone steals your girl and you don''t fight to get her back, but drown your sorrows in booze instead. Are you even a man?" Yue Ting said, pointing at Chen Zihao and scolding him harshly, completely lacking the demeanor of a business magnate''s daughter¡ªshe was totally acting like a tough girl.

    "Haha, Sister Ting, Chen Zihao is still a student after all; he''s hardly a man! Brother Kun is the real deal." A guy as fat as a pig burst out laughing upon hearing this.

    "Shit, Shen Fatty, you''re no man. If you''ve got the guts, pull it out and let''s compare." Chen Zihao was feeling extremely depressed by Yue Ting''s scolding but didn''t dare retort, so when he heard the fat guy mocking him, he immediately pointed and cursed at him.

    "Yeah, pull it out, let''s compare!" Everyone in the room started egging them on, even the women joined in.

    Instantly, the one called Shen Fatty chickened out, but his mouth was still tough, "What''s there to compare with your ''embroidery needle''? A win would be meaningless!"

    "Tsk!" Everyone let out a sound of disdain upon hearing this.

    "Enough!" Lin Kun and Yue Ting, ultimately the bosses of the group, didn''t really want things to go too far, and seeing how things were going, they simultaneously waved their hands to stop it.

    Seeing Lin Kun and Yue Ting speak up, no one dared to continue mocking.

    "Actually, what Yue Ting said just now makes a lot of sense. Chen Zihao, you''re a repeater and a big guy, yet you''re too scared to take back your girl. Is that guy someone with a big backing or what? But that''s unlikely, looks like the big shots'' kids in Changxi County are either not yet in high school or have already gone to university," Lin Kun pointed out after the room quieted down.

    "That guy has had some martial arts training. I can''t beat him!" Chen Zihao said in extreme frustration.

    "Damn, you can''t even beat him? You''re such a wimp, I can''t believe how big and tall you are. You''re just a pretty face¡ªnot useful at all!" Shen Fatty, having just been despised, immediately mocked him gleefully.

    "Enough, Shen Fatty!" Lin Kun glared at Shen Fatty, then turned to Chen Zihao, "Isn''t he just a high school student? Have him meet you here next Saturday at three in the afternoon. You''ll all be free from class, and it''s a good time. I want to see what high school kid is so cocky, daring to hit on my bro''s girl."

    "Thanks, Brother Kun!" Chen Zihao, seeing that Lin Kun agreed to help him, couldn''t help but feel overjoyed and quickly bowed in thanks.

    "Alright, you''ve got school tomorrow, now get lost!" Lin Kun waved him off, not really concerned about a mere high school student.

    ps: Today will continue with updates in the morning, afternoon, and evening as we push up the charts for the new book. Please dear readers, help by clicking, voting, adding to your favorites, rewarding, and commenting. I sincerely appreciate the support from all the readers since the book was first published.

 Chapter 29 Mens Agreement

    The next day, Ge Dongxu didn''t complete his entire Mao Hour cultivation practice, but finished half an hour early instead. Because school started at seven o''clock with a morning reading class, and attendance would be taken.He ate breakfast at six-thirty and left home at six-forty.

    "I won''t disturb your little world of two, go for it, boss!" As soon as he went out, Cheng Le Hao hopped on his bike and zoomed away.

    Ge Dongxu watched Cheng Le Hao''s fast-disappearing figure, shook his head with a wry smile, and then walked unhurriedly along the street toward school.

    He hadn''t walked far when a light fragrance wafted over from behind, and soon there was someone beside him.

    "Here you go!" Dong Yuxin pushed her bike directly to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t refuse, jumped on the bike, and Dong Yuxin sat on the back seat, her jade hand gently resting on his waist, grasping his shirt.

    Everything seemed very natural, as if after one night, the two had become close friends who had known each other for a long time.

    Riding the bike with Dong Yuxin to school, when they reached that bumpy section of the road, Dong Yuxin confidently wrapped her arms around his waist. Her upper body didn''t seem to deliberately keep distance from Ge Dongxu''s back anymore, and there was occasional light contact due to the road conditions, causing both young hearts to thud excitedly.

    The entire day went by without any unexpected incidents, but what made Ge Dongxu feel somewhat uneasy was that his classmates kept sneaking curious glances at him from time to time, including the girls, as if he were from another planet.

    But that was normal, considering how flamboyant he was the previous night when three senior girls had waited for him after school.

    Of course, there were a few guys with higher self-esteem who sneered at Ge Dongxu and talked behind his back with other students, saying it was no big deal, just that the senior girls had matters to discuss with him. They said that it would be impressive if those girls came to wait for him again today. Among these guys was Li Xingchen.

    It wasn''t surprising that they thought this way. After all, he was just an unsophisticated freshman. If it wasn''t for the senior girls having something to discuss, why would they come to wait for him at the classroom door?

    However, everyone was dumbfounded come study hall in the evening.

    Because those three senior girls from last night actually showed up at the entrance of Class 6 of the freshmen again.

    If the first time was by chance, what about this time?

    Damn, that''s seriously awesome, having beautiful senior girls waiting for school dismissal every day! How did this guy pull it off?

    However, Ge Dongxu didn''t show any trace of pride; on the contrary, when he walked out of the classroom and saw Dong Yuxin for the first time, he felt rather annoyed. He sensed that she must have been wronged today because her eyes were a bit red when she saw him.

    But with many onlookers at the classroom door, Ge Dongxu didn''t ask what happened, instead, he greeted Du Yifan and then left with the group that included Dong Yuxin.

    "What happened? Did Chen Zihao hassle you again?" When they reached the school gate, Ge Dongxu finally couldn''t help asking in a low voice.

    "You had to show off, didn''t you? Dong Yuxin, worried you''d get bullied, specifically went to see Chen Zihao today, asking him not to trouble you. But he said he wouldn''t let you off unless Dong Yuxin immediately agreed to be his girlfriend." Jiang Lili looked unhappily at Ge Dongxu, obviously annoyed by his show of strength, which made her ample bosom heave up and down as she spoke, particularly eye-catching in the night.

    "Lili, I''ve said it before, this has nothing to do with Dongxu! He was just trying to help me!" Dong Yuxin said with tears in her eyes.

    "He''s just trying to help but doing more harm," Jiang Lili retorted. She always thought that newcomers like Ge Dongxu, with no real ability, were just trying to show off, the epitome of immaturity and incompetence.

    "Lili, I''ve already told you it was Chen Zihao last time..." Dong Yuxin stomped her foot, clearly aware of what had happened.

    "Lili''s not entirely wrong. Don''t worry, Yuxin, I''ll go talk to Chen Zihao and make things clear. Starting from tomorrow, he won''t bother you anymore." Having said that, Ge Dongxu handed his bicycle to Dong Yuxin, then turned around and strode back to the school.

    "Lili, look, just look." Dong Yuxin, seeing this, urgently stomped her foot, wanting to chase after Ge Dongxu.

    "If he wants to act tough, let him. Besides, this issue needs to be resolved eventually. Luckily, it''s happening at school, Chen Zihao won''t do anything to him, and as a newcomer, he definitely won''t be foolish enough to fight in school. At most, he''ll just have to apologize. That''s better than you agreeing to be Chen Zihao''s girlfriend," Jiang Lili and Su Qian said, holding Dong Yuxin back.

    Dong Yuxin was anxious and kept stamping her feet, but she knew her friends were right. It was better to resolve the issue sooner rather than always feeling like there was a rock hanging over her head. But the thought of Ge Dongxu having to bow to Chen Zihao for her sake made her feel very guilty.

    "Regardless, you should let me go have a look, just in case something unexpected happens," Dong Yuxin said, shaking off her friends'' hands, still unable to put her mind at ease.

    "Alright, alright," Jiang Lili and Su Qian relented, accompanying Dong Yuxin.

    ...

    "Kid, what do you want?" At the flower bed beside the teaching building, Ge Dongxu cut off Chen Zihao''s path with a cold face, causing an inexplicable fear in Chen Zihao who instinctively took a step back, then quickly realized he was on school grounds and pointed angrily at Ge Dongxu. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If you''re a man, come directly to me. What kind of skill is it to threaten and pester a girl?" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "Alright then, if you don''t want me threatening and pestering Dong Yuxin, be at Changxi Grand Hotel at 2:40 this Saturday afternoon to settle our differences. Do you dare to come?" Chen Zihao''s face went through several changes, then he looked at Ge Dongxu with provocative eyes.

    Ge Dongxu had been thinking of finding a place outside school to deal with Chen Zihao, and now that Chen Zihao had offered a location, it couldn''t be more suitable. He nodded and said, "Fine, Saturday afternoon at 2:40, Changxi Grand Hotel. But don''t bother Dong Yuxin in the next few days, otherwise don''t blame me for being ruthless."

    When Ge Dongxu spoke the last sentence, a chilling aura seemed to emanate from him, tightening Chen Zihao''s body involuntarily as if targeted by a fierce beast. It took him a while to suppress the fear in his heart and nodded: "Fine, Saturday afternoon at 2:40, don''t be absent. I want to see just how tough your bones are."

    After speaking, Chen Zihao hopped on his bicycle and rapidly pedaled away.

    As Chen Zihao rode off, Ge Dongxu turned to head back, soon running into Dong Yuxin and her returning friends.

    "Dongxu, are you okay?" Dong Yuxin asked with concern.

    "I''m fine, what could be wrong? And you, stop worrying needlessly, right, Dongxu?" Jiang Lili glanced at Ge Dongxu and said.

    "It''s all settled, I''ve talked to Chen Zihao and he won''t bother you anymore," Ge Dongxu said, ignoring Jiang Lili and smiling at Dong Yuxin.

 Chapter 30 Intentional Humiliation [Third Release, Requesting Votes]

    "I mean, the problem still lies with Dongxu. As long as he apologizes to Chen Zihao, everything will definitely be much simpler," Jiang Lili said, glancing at Ge Dongxu with a bit of frustration when he ignored her. She couldn''t understand where on earth this mountain boy had his eyes; he was completely oblivious to her charms."I''m sorry, Dongxu, for dragging you into this. Did you promise something to Zihao?" Dong Yuxin thought more deeply than Jiang Lili, not believing that Chen Zihao was that easy to talk to.

    "I''m just a poor student from the mountains, what could I possibly promise Chen Zihao? Don''t worry; the matter has been cleared up. Chen Zihao definitely won''t bother you anymore," Ge Dongxu replied, naturally not revealing any agreement he had with Chen Zihao to Dong Yuxin. He was happy to let Jiang Lili and the others misunderstand.

    "Could Chen Zihao have really changed his ways? Could Dongxu really just need to soften and apologize?" Although Dong Yuxin still had her doubts, everything was indeed as Ge Dongxu had said; what could a poor mountain student promise to Chen Zihao? So, she finally had to say, "That''s good then, thank you, Dongxu."

    As she spoke, her look towards Ge Dongxu was filled with gratitude and guilt.

    Dong Yuxin knew very well how hard it was for a guy like Ge Dongxu to bow his head and admit fault. Yet today, he had done so for her, humbling himself before Chen Zihao.

    "Okay, finally you''ve come to your senses, kid. You''re still a freshman and a countryman; you can''t compare to Chen Zihao. Trying to prove yourself will only end in your detriment," Jiang Lili preached to Ge Dongxu in her role as a senior. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and didn''t respond.

    He had never been the one to show off. It was Chen Zihao who did! But no one knew that, only he himself knew.

    It was still at the bumpy road''s junction ahead where Jiang Lili and Su Qian parted ways with the two men.

    Under the dim street lights, the road remained uneven with no change. For some reason, Dong Yuxin''s arm was wrapped around Ge Dongxu''s waist even tighter than that morning, as if the two had truly become an early-dating, youthful couple.

    On Saturday afternoon at 2:40 sharp, Ge Dongxu stood at the entrance of Changxi Grand Hotel, feeling somewhat ill at ease.

    The people entering and exiting the hotel, each dressed to the nines, glanced at him with contempt and superiority as they walked past. Even a bellboy in a small vest and white shirt, under the instructions from the lobby manager, purposely came over to suggest that Ge Dongxu not stand at the entrance of the hotel.

    This made Ge Dongxu feel humiliated and also faintly realize that Chen Zihao choosing this location was meant to ridicule and embarrass him.

    However, Ge Dongxu did not storm off angrily! As a practitioner of the mystical arts, if he lacked even this level of forbearance, then his years of cultivation would have been in vain.

    Ge Dongxu quickly suppressed the turmoil inside him and stood calmly by the flower bed at the entrance of the hotel, considering this as a test for his temperament.

    Chen Zihao didn''t emerge from some corner of the hotel until five to three, stood at the entrance without saying a word, just waved at Ge Dongxu, then turned, and walked back inside, a condensing sneer playing at the corner of his mouth.

    When Ge Dongxu saw Chen Zihao appear, he walked toward the hotel''s main entrance.

    The hotel staff who had been eyeing Ge Dongxu for a while saw a young man dressed in country clothes trying to enter and immediately stepped forward to stop him.

    Changxi Grand Hotel was the only international hotel in Changxi County, naturally not allowing a country boy dressed as shabbily as Ge Dongxu to barge in aimlessly.

    "Young man, what are you doing here?" The staff eyed Ge Dongxu sternly, as if he was a thief trying to sneak into the hotel to steal something.

    "Chen Zihao, you find this amusing? If you don''t want to have a proper talk with me, that''s fine, I''ll just leave. But you better not regret it later." Ge Dongxu ignored the staff and said to Chen Zihao, who deliberately turned away and walked inside, dismissing him.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu acting so insolent even in such a place, Chen Zihao really felt like turning around and slapping him.

    You goddamn bumpkin, acting all arrogant with me!

    However, the real show was yet to come. It was impossible for Chen Zihao to really let Ge Dongxu leave like that, so he reluctantly turned back and waved to the staff, "Let him in, he''s here for me."

    The staff clearly recognized Chen Zihao, and a flash of confusion crossed his face, but he still let Ge Dongxu in.

    "You hick, never been to a place like this, huh? Today, I''ll let you open your eyes wide so you don''t remain ignorant of the ways of the world! You''re nothing in my eyes, not even worth a fart," Chen Zihao said, looking down on him with utmost contempt as he waited at the elevator door for Ge Dongxu to approach.

    "He who insults others will be insulted himself, I advise you not to bring shame upon yourself! The more you say now, the more you''ll suffer later," Ge Dongxu frowned slightly and said calmly, showing none of the nervousness or unease one would expect from a country boy entering the most luxurious establishment in Changxi County for the first time.

    The truly cultivated remain unshaken in face of dishonor or honor; the more critical the moment, the calmer one must be!

    That was exactly how Ge Dongxu was. When he first walked into the hotel, although he was also astonished by its opulence, just like what he had seen on television, he quickly suppressed the emotional turmoil inside him.

    "Damn it, I can''t wait to see how long you can keep this act up! Hopefully you can still talk tough later!" Seeing Ge Dongxu still more arrogant than himself even in such a place, Chen Zihao was so furious he felt like his lungs were about to explode, gritted his teeth and spat out those words before angrily walking into the elevator.

    Although Ge Dongxu didn''t know where Chen Zihao was taking him, having Mysterious Arts within him, he followed without fear.

    The elevator opened on the third floor at the KTV entertainment hall.

    Since it was daytime, there were very few people coming to play at KTV. There weren''t many staff in the hall either, but there were two women in low-cut, ultra-short skirts standing at the elevator doors.

    "Chen Zihao, what do you mean by bringing me to a place like this?" Ge Dongxu quickly realized that a place like this wasn''t suitable for a student like him, nor were such women meant for him to casually look at, so he quickly averted his gaze and angrily looked at Chen Zihao.

    "No particular reason? Didn''t you want to have a proper talk with me? I chose this place. What, scared now? Pff, such a country bumpkin who''s never seen the world!" Chen Zihao looked at Ge Dongxu with scorn, his face full of mockery.

    ps: With the third update completed, dear readers, please leave more comments and support after reading, thank you very much.

 Chapter 31 Goodbye Kun Ge

    "Seriously, Brother Hao, where did you pick up this country bumpkin? He''s just a kid whose fuzz hasn''t even filled in yet! You''re terrible!" The two women standing at the door obviously knew Chen Zihao, and they glanced disdainfully at Ge Dongxu before playfully hitting Chen Zihao."This is a spring chicken! Isn''t that what you girls like?" Chen Zihao said with a wicked smile on his face, even patting the woman''s tightly skirt-wrapped buttocks as he spoke.

    "Ah! Brother Hao, you''re so bad, be careful or I''ll tell Brother Kun!" The woman immediately exclaimed dramatically, invoking Brother Kun''s name.

    Seeing the woman bring up Brother Kun, Chen Zihao laughed sheepishly, no longer daring to lay hands on the two women. Instead, he turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Let''s go, country bumpkin!"

    Brother Kun? Ge Dongxu felt his heart skip a beat, as a chill flashed in the depths of his eyes. He had now come to understand who the "people in society" Chen Zihao knew were, as mentioned by Dong Yuxin, and he fully comprehended why Chen Zihao had invited him to meet here today.

    So, he had asked Brother Kun to come and teach him a lesson!

    "The humiliator is humiliated by others, it seems everything I just said to you was casting pearls before swine!" Now that he knew Chen Zihao''s backup today was Lin Kun, Ge Dongxu was much more certain.

    Originally, when Chen Zihao brought him to such a place, he thought it would be unavoidable to go through some troubles.

    "Kid, what are you showing off for, you''ll be crying soon!" Chen Zihao cursed and then quickly walked ahead.

    Past the lobby was a corridor, decorated as lavishly as gold, and in the daylight, no customers could be seen, only four men, wearing black suits and sunglasses, stood rigid and stern at the door of a private room, just like in a Hong Kong movie.

    "Stop!" When Chen Zihao approached the door, one of the men reached out to stop him.

    "Please tell Brother Kun that I''ve brought the guy," Chen Zihao said, sneaking a smug glance at Ge Dongxu, thinking to himself that Brother Kun''s act must have scared this kid to the point of wetting himself!

    But just as he looked, Chen Zihao became so frustrated he almost spat blood because not only was Ge Dongxu not scared in the least, he seemed quite interested in the four men wearing black suits and sunglasses, scrutinizing them up and down.

    Damn, is this guy missing a brain cell or what? He''s not even scared like this!

    "Is this the kid? Brother Kun has already explained, when you arrive, bring him in!" The man said while deliberately twisting his neck, causing a "crack crack crack" sound, and another man helped push open the door of the private room.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu wasn''t intimidated by the man''s gesture; he looked on as if watching a monkey perform, giving the man such a look that it frustrated him to the point of vomiting blood. If it weren''t for Brother Kun''s earlier instructions to try to scare him first and deal with him in the private room afterward, he would have been unable to stop himself from flattening Ge Dongxu''s face with a punch. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn! Kid, you''ve got some nerve, even daring to mess with... cough cough... cough cough... my Brother Kun''s girl," Ge Dongxu had just stepped through the door after Chen Zihao when he saw Lin Kun slouching with his legs crossed on a leather sofa, puffing smoke rings, squinting his eyes, and cursing as he pointed at him, several men stood behind him, sporting tight tank tops, bulging muscles, and tattoos.

    But Brother Kun had only gotten halfway through his tirade when he seemed to be choked by the smoke, constantly coughing.

    Chen Zihao, of course, didn''t realize Brother Kun wasn''t choked by smoke but startled; seeing Lin Kun''s dominating presence and his immediate berating of Ge Dongxu, Chen Zihao naturally felt a surge of smug satisfaction, and he raised his hand to slap Ge Dongxu on the head, saying, "Damn it, don''t you know I roll with Brother Kun? Act tough in front of Brother Kun again, I dare you?"

    This slap was something Chen Zihao had been holding back for a long time, and now that he finally landed it, the satisfaction he felt was immense!

    But as joyous as Chen Zihao was, Lin Kun, as well as Yue Ting sitting in the corner watching the drama unfold, were scared out of their wits.

    "Chen Zihao, fuck your mother!" Lin Kun picked up the ashtray from the table without thinking and smashed it towards Chen Zihao.

    Joking around, it wasn''t long ago that they had sworn at Ge Dongxu''s house never to trouble Ge Dongxu''s family again or provoke Ge Dongxu, otherwise they would be blasted by bolts from the blue!

    Now, because of Chen Zihao, the two of them ended up getting involved in this matter today. If Chen Zihao beat up Ge Dongxu, how could they possibly escape being implicated in this ordeal!

    If they couldn''t escape being implicated, wouldn''t they be blasted by bolts from the blue?

    Others might not believe this oath, but having witnessed Ge Dongxu''s seemingly magical spell themselves, how could they not believe it?

    "Bang!" With a loud sound, the ashtray hit Chen Zihao right on the forehead, followed by Chen Zihao''s scream and the "clang" of the ashtray hitting the floor, one after another.

    Chen Zihao was holding the spot on his forehead where he was hit, tears welling up in his eyes, and looked bewilderedly at Lin Kun, who was storming towards him around the table, and at Yue Ting, who was also standing up from the corner and walking towards him.

    "Brother Kun, what are you doing?" Chen Zihao asked with a gloomy face.

    "What am I doing? I''m ****ing pissed!" Lin Kun answered Chen Zihao with a heavy kick and a string of curses.

    With anger boiling, Lin Kun''s kick was especially hard, sending Chen Zihao to the ground immediately, where the pain made him curl up into a ball.

    But Lin Kun didn''t care whether he was in pain or not, and began kicking him wildly. Not just him, Yue Ting also rushed up and joined in, wildly kicking the downed Chen Zihao.

    Chen Zihao was about to bring the wrath of bolts from the blue upon them; how could they not vent their fury by beating him mercilessly to suppress their shock and fear?

    "Brother Kun, Sister Ting, stop hitting me, stop! Please, I''m begging you, my bones are breaking, my legs, my legs!" Chen Zihao howled like a ghost, rolling around on the ground.

    Ge Dongxu watched Chen Zihao rolling on the ground and howling, and although a moment of pity flashed in his eyes, it quickly turned to coldness. Then, with a calm face, he walked around the table and sat down in the spot where Lin Kun had been sitting, quietly observing as Lin Kun and Yue Ting beat Chen Zihao.

    After all, this kid was only nineteen years old and still a student, yet he was already so lawless. If one day he really entered society and gained some power and money, who knew how many people he would harm?

    How could they not teach him a profound lesson?

    When Ge Dongxu sat down in Lin Kun''s spot, a few people in the room who hadn''t seen him before were about to teach him a lesson for acting so arrogantly, when they were hastily pulled back by the people beside them, scared.

    Those who held them back were naturally the ones who had accompanied Lin Kun to Baiyun Mountain last time.

    Are they kidding? Didn''t they see that Chen Zihao was already beaten like a dead dog all because of this mountain boy! They must have a death wish, daring to concern themselves with where this master chooses to sit!

    ps: Continuing with three updates today. Updating two books at once is really as tiring as a dog, so please continue to support with your votes and leave more comments!

 Chapter 32 Brother Xu

    "Brother Xu, here''s some freshly squeezed orange juice for you," one of the more perceptive guys hurriedly poured a glass of fresh orange juice and respectfully handed it to Ge Dongxu."Hmm," Ge Dongxu merely nodded noncommittally, took the orange juice, and had a sip. Autumn was raging now, after standing outside for a while, he couldn''t deny that he was actually a bit thirsty.

    "That''s about enough," after a sip of the cold orange juice, his anger seemed to subside somewhat. Seeing the ruthlessness of Lin Kun and Yue Ting''s beating, he feared it might indeed cause serious problems. Ge Dongxu put the glass down on the table and said indifferently.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu speak, Chen Zihao and Yue Ting stopped, panting for air. Yue Ting even lightly pressed her ample bosom, not sure if it was still from fright, needing to calm her nerves.

    With Lin Kun and Yue Ting ceasing their kicks, Chen Zihao also stopped rolling and wailing, then hurriedly lifted his eyes towards the leather sofa opposite him.

    Lin Kun and Yue Ting had been merciless in their beating. Chen Zihao was only concerned with protecting his head with his arms and rolling around, not at all contemplating why Lin Kun and Yue Ting suddenly erupted in violence against him, nor did he have the strength to pay any attention to the rest of the room. Only after Lin Kun and Yue Ting stopped did he vaguely remember someone had spoken up for him and that the voice seemed somehow familiar.

    "Damn it, you, you little shit actually¡­" It was better before Chen Zihao looked up, but upon doing so, he couldn''t help but become so furious his lungs might explode and subconsciously pointed at Ge Dongxu and cursed.

    Great, while I was being battered to the ground, wailing in pain, you just sat there on the sofa watching the show, all high and mighty.

    Poor Chen Zihao was beaten senseless, it took him a while to realize that the reason for his beating was because of Ge Dongxu.

    "Fucking hell! Daring to curse at Brother Xu, are you ****ing tired of living!" Lin Kun and Yue Ting, seeing Chen Zihao quickly forget his pain as the scars healed, weren''t about to be polite with him any longer, and without needing instructions from Ge Dongxu, immediately lunged forward to kick him wildly again.

    "Xu¡­ Brother Xu! Ge Dongxu!" This time, Chen Zihao didn''t curl up rolling around, but rather stared blankly at Ge Dongxu, looking completely dumbfounded.

    "Enough, any more might kill someone!" Ge Dongxu waved his hand again.

    "Damn, such scum deserves to die! How dare you compete with Brother Xu for a chick!" Lin Kun said bitterly, giving Chen Zihao another kick.

    "Exactly, deserves to die! Don''t you even look at what you are!" Yue Ting followed with a kick and spat indignantly.

    This time Chen Zihao saw and heard clearly, the fear in his heart, oh how he wanted to cry!

    He couldn''t have dreamed that the first-year student from the mountain area could actually make Lin Kun and Yue Ting call him ''Brother Xu''!

    Lin Kun and Yue Ting were big shots in Changxi County''s young elites! And both were in their early to mid-twenties, while Ge Dongxu was only sixteen!

    "If you kill him, you''re responsible!" Ge Dongxu glanced indifferently at Lin Kun and Yue Ting.

    That indifferent glance immediately caused Lin Kun and Yue Ting''s hearts to nearly leap out of their throats. They hastily bowed and approached Ge Dongxu, apologizing repeatedly, "Brother Xu, sorry, really sorry. If I had known that this blind fool was messing with you, I wouldn''t have dared to interfere in this matter!"

    "Yes, yes, we truly didn''t expect that Brother Xu was still a student at Changxi No.1 Middle School!" Yue Ting also bowed repeatedly, her ample, snow-white chest straining the neckline of her shirt as she bowed, resembling the peaches from the Queen Mother''s orchard, unfurling under Ge Dongxu''s gaze and giving off a seductive fragrance.

    Ge Dongxu was still nothing but a high school freshman who had never been exposed to society, much less such overt sexual temptation right before his eyes, which frightened him into hurriedly shifting his gaze and taking a deep breath in the dark.

    "Do not look upon impropriety! I''m still just a student!" Ge Dongxu sternly warned himself, and then he gradually suppressed the urge to peek again, regaining a calm state of mind.

    "From what you''ve said, if it wasn''t for me, you two could just mess around, right?" After regaining his composure, Ge Dongxu''s gaze coldly swept over the two of them, and he asked lightly. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "This, this, uh, uh..." The two stammered, not knowing how to answer.

    In the face of Ge Dongxu who could decide their fate, they dared not lie recklessly.

    "Smack!" Ge Dongxu suddenly slapped the table and harshly demanded, "Speak! Is it or isn''t it?"

    Ge Dongxu''s sudden outburst not only scared Lin Kun and Yue Ting to the point where their souls nearly flew away but also frightened everyone in the private room who hadn''t understood the extent of Ge Dongxu''s fierceness, sending shivers down their spines.

    Because they suddenly realized that the seemingly rustic teenager, once angered, actually radiated a dominant and chilling aura befitting a superior.

    "It is, it is!" Lin Kun and Yue Ting wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads and finally nodded heavily.

    "Very good, it seems the lesson I taught you last time wasn''t profound enough!" Seeing the two nodding, Ge Dongxu''s chill grew even thicker, but his expression remained as calm as ever.

    "Brother Dongxu, please no, it was profound, really profound! We swear, we swear that from now on we will repent and never again engage in such despicable deeds!" Upon hearing Ge Dongxu say that the last lesson wasn''t deep enough, the two were terrified to their very cores. Yue Ting in particular immediately started tearing up, nowhere near the imposing figure of a big sister but rather a pitiful, helpless little woman.

    This scene left everyone in the private room agape and shivering, completely bewildered by the harsh lesson this high school freshman from the mountains must have given Brother Kun and Sister Ting for them to be scared to the point of tears by a mere mention.

    As for Chen Zihao, lying on the ground, he had long since forgotten his own pain, staring at the unfolding scene with nothing but shock in his eyes, trembling uncontrollably.

    If even Brother Kun and Sister Ting were this scared, what was he, Chen Zihao, in comparison? He had dared to threaten Dongxu time and time again, even dared to have someone fix him up, not knowing at all how the word ''death'' was written.

    "Are you sure you want to make an oath?" Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s eyes suddenly lit up with a sharp glint, becoming exceptionally piercing, as if able to see right through to a person''s innermost being.

    To swear, these two words, in today''s society which had widely lost faith, meant little more than a fart to many people, hardly credible or sufficient to constrain their actions.

    But for Lin Kun and Yue Ting, to "swear" meant a constraint that would follow them for life, more sacred than a marriage vow.

    At their weddings, loving men and women all say they will love each other for life, through sickness and health, for better or worse, but in the end, how many can really walk hand in hand until the end of life?

    When Ge Dongxu''s piercing gaze bore into them as though seeing through their souls, they started trembling, their hearts torn by an inner struggle.

    Because they both knew that once they swore an oath in the presence of Ge Dongxu, there would be no chance for regret!

 Chapter 33 Roll on

    Ge Dongxu watched the internal struggle of the two, nodding to himself. He had just heard them speak of turning over a new leaf, so he watched their expressions closely and realized that though their actions were arrogant, their true nature didn''t seem inherently bad. Now, seeing them wrestling with their inner conflicts further proved that their innate goodness had not been extinguished."Since you haven''t rotten to the core," Ge Dongxu said, "today I will persuade you to be virtuous, as an act of kindness and a benefit to society."

    Ge Dongxu thought to himself and spoke again, "The path of life is one''s own choice, and what path you choose determines what kind of life you will lead. I can tell you now that if you continue on this path, the only future awaiting you will definitely be imprisonment!"

    For youth like Lin Kun and Yue Ting, who were of a certain age and born with a silver spoon, spoiled and indulged, it was almost impossible for them to listen to others, not even their own parents. However, the words of this young man from the mountains, Ge Dongxu, struck them like the sound of the morning bell and the evening drum, suddenly awakening the kindness ingrained in their bones.

    "Thank you, Brother Dongxu, for your guidance. We are willing to swear," they said to each other with serious faces after exchanging glances.

    "Swear then," said Ge Dongxu with a nod, a flicker of relief in his eyes.

    Upon seeing Ge Dongxu''s nod, the two seriously took an oath never to do evil again.

    Seeing them take the oath, Ge Dongxu''s gaze softened considerably when he looked at them. But when his gaze shifted to Chen Zihao, it was laced with undisguised disgust.

    Last time, Lin Kun and Yue Ting caused trouble at Ge Dongxu''s family''s farm because Yue Ting''s Chanel clothes got splashed with vegetable juice. Without that incident, they would not have caused a scene. Essentially, they behaved like spoiled children because of the power and money of their families, arrogantly unreasonable. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Chen Zihao was completely different from Lin Kun and Yue Ting. At only nineteen, he dared to "abduct a civilian girl" in broad daylight, which showed an extremely vile nature. Plainly speaking, he had bad roots! Furthermore, because Ge Dongxu truly detested Chen Zihao, he had no intention of persuading him to be good.

    "Brother Dongxu, please have mercy. I won''t dare to do it again, I really won''t!" Chen Zihao was startled when he saw Ge Dongxu looking at him and quickly crawled to the front of the table, his face pale as he begged for mercy.

    "Next time, will there even be a next time?" questioned Lin Kun as he slapped Chen Zihao on the head upon hearing this. Their previous oath was about not doing the kind of evil that took advantage of their position to bully good people, but it didn''t mean they couldn''t hit a scumbag like Chen Zihao.

    "No more, no more, Brother Kun!" Chen Zihao quickly responded with a face full of dismay.

    "What''s the use of telling me there''s no more? You should be telling this to Brother Dongxu!" Lin Kun said, slapping Chen Zihao on the head again. He could tell that Ge Dongxu was very disgusted by Chen Zihao, so naturally, he would not be polite to him. What''s more, because of Chen Zihao, he almost got struck by five thunderbolts from heaven!

    "Yes, yes, Brother Dongxu, it''s all my fault, I was blind and didn''t see Mount Tai, I was ignorant. Please have great mercy and spare me!" Chen Zihao said, continuously slapping his already bruised and swollen face.

    "You''re a smart man, so I think you should know how to get along with Dong Yuxin from now on, and how to ensure she is completely assured that you will no longer bother her, right?" Ge Dongxu wasn''t someone with a heart of stone or ruthlessness, and seeing Chen Zihao''s face swollen like a pig''s head, his heart softened in the end, and he waved his hand, speaking indifferently.

    "Thank you, Brother Dongxu, I understand, I really do. Rest assured, from now on, whenever I see Dong Yuxin, I will definitely stay far away and never tell her about what happened today," Chen Zihao, seeing Ge Dongxu relent, was overcome with joy, hastily bowing profusely.

    He was truly scared by the beating today!

    "Get lost!" Ge Dongxu didn''t want to see Chen Zihao anymore, and seeing that he understood, he waved his hand dismissively, speaking as if he were shooing away a dog.

    "Yes, yes." Chen Zihao felt as if he had been granted amnesty, bowing repeatedly, then turned toward Lin Kun and Yue Ting, tentatively saying, "Brother Kun, Sister Ting..."

    "Why are you looking at us? Didn''t you hear Dongxu telling you to scram? Remember, from now on you have nothing to do with me, don''t come looking for me if there''s an issue!" Lin Kun glared and said.

    "The same goes for me!" said Yue Ting.

    Upon hearing this, Chen Zihao''s heart ached, knowing that today he had been officially kicked out of this circle!

    But Chen Zihao didn''t dare say anything, nodded his head, and then limped out of the private room, not daring to look back.

    After Chen Zihao left, Lin Kun played the role of host, walking over to Ge Dongxu with a flattering smile on his face, and cautiously asked, "Brother Dongxu, would you like me to call over some girls to chat with you, have a drink, and sing some songs?"

    Lin Kun''s suggestion made Ge Dongxu involuntarily recall the two scantily clad women he had seen at the elevator entrance, which startled him, and he quickly glared at Lin Kun, saying, "Are you sick in the head? I''m still a student!"

    When Ge Dongxu scolded him, Lin Kun suddenly remembered that Dongxu was still just a high school student, realizing that his flattery had missed the mark, he began to stutter, not knowing what to do.

    Indeed, in this sort of place, if you don''t call for girls to accompany you for drinks and singing, what else could you possibly do? Lin Kun really couldn''t come up with anything.

    "Yeah, you really are dumb, Brother Dongxu. What kind of person do you take him for? Can he mingle with those girls here? Dongxu, I''ll drink and sing with you! What would you like to drink? Liquor or beer?" Seeing Lin Kun at a loss, Yue Ting rolled her eyes at him and then turned to Ge Dongxu with a seductive smile, saying.

    However, Yue Ting''s appearance today, from her clothing to her makeup, was hardly different from that of a rough girl¡ªnot only were her clothes tattered, adorned with shiny metal ornaments and printed with many crude English slogans, but her face was also thickly made up with smoky eyes that normally looked nice. She had sweated a bit during the fight with Chen Zihao, and later, Dongxu''s fright had brought her to tears, making her face now look like a "Ghost Drawing Talisman," with her crimson lips, it was more of a ghoulish grin than a seductive smile, which gave Ge Dongxu quite a start.

    "I''ve already said I''m a student. Why would I drink?" Ge Dongxu glared at Yue Ting, annoyed. Although he could hold his liquor well, he only drank with his master and never in front of others, and today was no exception.

    "Yes, yes, look at me getting all muddled too. Then I''ll sing with Dongxu. Do you sing any songs? How about Zhang Xinzhe''s ''Love is like a tide''? It''s quite popular lately." Seeing Ge Dongxu glare at her, Yue Ting wasn''t angry, but continued with a face full of "seductive smiles," trying to please him.

    ps: Today''s three updates are complete, please support generously, thank you very much.

 Chapter 34 Isnt this very pretty?

    "I can''t sing a song, but could you please go wash your face first? It''s a good face, why make it look like a ''Ghost Drawing Talisman''?" Ge Dongxu said, hardly able to bear the sight of Yue Ting''s face smeared with sweat and tears.Such words probably could only be spoken by Ge Dongxu to Yue Ting, and instead of getting angry, she hurriedly got up to wash her face.

    Seeing Yue Ting stand up to wash her face, the others in the private room found it quite amusing and couldn''t help revealing their amusement.

    "Laughing your head off, huh? Asking for a beating, are you?" As Yue Ting passed by the hangers-on and saw all of them trying hard not to laugh, she picked up the songbook from the table and hit each one of them with it.

    Naturally, the people scattered, holding their heads, which made Yue Ting feel much better. Ge Dongxu shook his head as he watched, but gradually realized that this group wasn''t as bad as people imagined. They were simply spoiled because of their good family conditions and lack of discipline. In their inner circle, they also had their own lifestyle and way of expressing feelings.

    Yue Ting came back quickly after washing her face.

    Yue Ting, now barefaced, was actually quite beautiful, with slightly full lips that added personality and a touch of sexiness. The lines of her face were clear, with a hint of masculine energy, and a straight, pointed nose. Her eyes weren''t too big or too small, single-lidded, but pleasing to the eye.

    "Isn''t this much prettier? Why always overdo your makeup?" When Ge Dongxu saw the barefaced Yue Ting return, his eyes lit up, and he couldn''t help praising her.

    "Really?" Hearing Ge Dongxu compliment her, a woman like Yue Ting actually blushed rarely, feeling somewhat bashful and embarrassed.

    The people in the private room were stunned to see the domineering lady''s shy side brimming with femininity, and even Lin Kun, who often hung out with her, was taken aback.

    "What are you looking at? Never seen a beautiful woman before?" It was fine for Ge Dongxu to look at Yue Ting, but when the others gazed at her with their intense stares, it immediately irked her, and she grabbed the songbook and threw it at one of them.

    Watching this scene, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but shake his head inwardly, wondering what kind of family could raise such an extraordinary woman.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu wasn''t a gossip, and he wouldn''t ask such prying questions. Instead, he patted the couch and said, "Lin, Ting, don''t just stand there, come and sit. I have something I need to consult you on."

    "No, no, Dongxu, we really can''t bear your ''bro'' and ''sis'' titles," Lin Kun and Yue Ting said, breaking into a cold sweat at being called ''Lin bro'' and ''Ting sis'' by Ge Dongxu, and hurriedly protested.

    "I''m younger than you, so I should call you bro and sis," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "If you call us that, Dongxu, it could scare us to death," Yue Ting exaggeratedly clutched her ample chest as she spoke.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, Yue Ting is right; don''t scare us like that," Lin Kun nodded vigorously in agreement.

    "Alright then, as you wish. Please come and sit. I really do have something I need to ask you," Ge Dongxu helplessly said.

    Only then did the two of them sit down on either side of him. Yue Ting, whether intentionally or not, sat a bit close, her snow-white, full thigh lightly touching Ge Dongxu''s leg, causing him to hastily close his legs a little.

    "Dongxu, have some orange juice," Yue Ting said as she saw this, picking up the orange juice from the coffee table and passing it to Ge Dongxu while she moved her hips a bit closer, as if to make it easier to hand him the drink.

    Yue Ting was already twenty-four this year, obviously more mature than Dong Yuxin, and had a fuller figure. Sitting so close to her, especially with their legs touching, naturally made Ge Dongxu''s heartbeat quicken, but he felt it improper to move away, which would seem like a tacit admission of guilt.

    Yue Ting''s smile was so vibrant that she didn''t seem to notice the intimate contact between them at all. Yet, a sly and triumphant look flashed in her attractive single-lidded eyes, but Ge Dongxu failed to catch it.

    "Thanks," Ge Dongxu said as he took the orange juice, took a sip, and then set it on the table. He asked, "I wanted to ask if you guys know about the age requirements for opening a bank account? How old do I have to be to open one?" S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "We really don''t know that, but no worries, I''ll call and ask right now," Lin Kun and Yue Ting said as they shook their heads.

    "Alright, can you guys check for me? I''m sixteen this year, and I''ll get my ID card soon. Can I open a bank account then?" Ge Dongxu inquired.

    "Sure, I''ll call now," Lin Kun said as he stood up, took out his black Ericsson mobile phone, flipped through the contacts, and dialed.

    Through Lin Kun''s conversation with the other party, Ge Dongxu, who was nearby, learned that according to the rules, one needs to be at least eighteen years old to open a bank account. However, thanks to Lin Kun''s connections, someone who was sixteen could also open an account as long as they had an ID card.

    "Dongxu bro, no problem, just call me when you''re ready to set it up," Lin Kun said after hanging up the phone.

    "Alright, I''ll trouble you then," Ge Dongxu replied. He knew that with his age and identity, the bank definitely wouldn''t consider his application.

    "Dongxu bro, you saying that is like underestimating me!" Lin Kun said.

    "Then I won''t stand on ceremony with you," Ge Dongxu patted Lin Kun on the shoulder, stood up, and said, "Alright, I''m good now. You guys keep having fun; I''ll be heading out first."

    "Dongxu bro, let me walk you down," Lin Kun quickly stood up as well.

    "Dongxu bro, I''ll go down with you too," Yue Ting also quickly followed suit.

    The other followers hurriedly stood up as well, looking every bit like they wanted to join in sending him off.

    "Isn''t this a bit too much? I''m not the head of a triad or anything," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh as he waved his hand dismissively.

    "What''s with all this fuss, everyone just stay put for me!" Lin Kun glanced back at the crowd sternly, then hurriedly walked ahead to open the door, saying, "After you, Dongxu bro!"

    By now, Ge Dongxu had slowly grown accustomed to these people''s temperaments, so without further ado, he nodded and confidently walked out of the private room.

    Outside the private room, those four guys were actually hotel security arranged by Lin Kun to make a show of force and intimidate Chen Zihao who, according to rumor, had some martial arts training. Because the door had been closed, the four guards were unaware of what had transpired inside.

    However, when Chen Zihao left the room with his face swollen and limping, they did see that and were quite shocked. They even asked if something had happened, but Chen Zihao was in such a sullen mood, and besides, he wouldn''t discuss such an embarrassing event, so not only did he not answer, he glared at them and cursed, "None of your damn business!"

    Hence, the four men at the door remained puzzled, not knowing what had actually gone on inside. They were tempted to go in and check, but without orders from inside, they dared not barge in. When the private room door suddenly swung open and they saw the young man, whom they had previously dismissed as a country bumpkin, walk out accompanied by Lin Kun and Yue Ting, their jaws nearly hit the floor.

    What the heck is going on!

    PS: Recommending a fantasy novel by my good friend, "Prodigal Evil Emperor." If you like it, please show your support, thank you.

 Chapter 35 Haoge, what happened to you?

    Ge Dongxu naturally wouldn''t bother with the astonished expressions of the four people at the door, who looked as though they had seen a ghost. He simply proceeded with Lin Kun and Yue Ting by his sides through the splendidly decorated passageway, into the lobby, and then headed straight for the elevator.The two girls still guarding the elevator door were dressed strikingly.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu take the lead, with Lin Kun and Yue Ting flanking him respectfully, both girls bore humble, obliging smiles and spoke to him in soft voices. Their mouths hung open in shock, and they were unable to close them for a long time.

    When Lin Kun and the others approached, the girls finally snapped back to reality and remembered that they had previously mocked the young man as a country bumpkin. Their faces suddenly turned pale, and they quickly crossed their hands over their abdomens, bowing slightly and saying, "Director Lin, Miss Yue, this gentleman..."

    But when it came to addressing Ge Dongxu, they hesitated, not knowing what to call him.

    Because Ge Dongxu was clearly still a youth, calling him "sir" seemed somewhat inappropriate. Of course, it would have been fine before this encounter.

    "Call him Brother Dongxu!" Lin Kun said.

    The two had initially thought that even "sir" was somewhat unfitting because Ge Dongxu was still just a youth. They had never expected Lin Kun to ask them to call the young man Brother Dongxu.

    However, the women working here were all adept at reading the room and had quick wits. After a moment of inward shock, they immediately bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu with great respect, saying, "Hello, Brother Dongxu!"

    This time, their bows were much deeper than before, so much so that Ge Dongxu could see nothing but a swath of white under his eyelids, making his cheeks burn slightly.

    There was no helping it; even the boss''s son had to call this young man "Brother," and they had just mocked him. If they didn''t behave well and apologize by bowing even lower, didn''t they essentially not want to work here anymore?

    Ge Dongxu, of course, wouldn''t pick on these two girls in front of him, considering them pitiable.

    It was Yue Ting who pressed the elevator button, a task normally done by the two girls, but she took it upon herself. Moreover, when the elevator doors opened, she specifically blocked them with her hand, inviting Ge Dongxu inside.

    This scene naturally made the two girls even more terrified, silently grateful that Ge Dongxu didn''t bring up their earlier mockery.

    It should be noted that Yue Ting was the beloved daughter of the biggest private business owner in Changxi County! Her status was certainly not inferior to Lin Kun''s.

    The two were often together, partly because their parents hoped to match them, but unfortunately, Yue Ting wasn''t attracted to Lin Kun at all. Instead, they shared some kind of chemistry in their rebellious behaviors and often hung out together for fun. Both families secretly thought they might end up together.

    Exiting the elevator led them into the lobby.

    The lobby manager, along with the staff inside, saw Lin Kun and Yue Ting accompanying Ge Dongxu as they came out, inevitably causing another bout of shock and fear, especially for the person who had just rushed out to drive Ge Dongxu away, now dripping with cold sweat.

    "Where are you heading, Brother Dongxu? Let me drive you," Lin Kun said, after escorting Ge Dongxu out of the hotel, seemingly feeling it was still not enough.

    "No need, the place I''m staying isn''t far from here. I''d rather walk, it''s good exercise," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Upon hearing "exercise," Lin Kun and Yue Ting couldn''t help but inwardly wince, thinking to themselves, does your body really need exercise?

    Of course, they definitely wouldn''t dare voice this thought aloud. Seeing that Ge Dongxu declined their offer to drive him, they hurriedly presented their business cards with both hands.

    "Brother Dongxu, here are our business cards. They have our mobile numbers on them. Please call us anytime you need anything," Lin Kun and Yue Ting said as they handed over the business cards.

    Ge Dongxu took the business cards and saw that Lin Kun''s card stated he was the Vice General Manager of the Changxi Grand Hotel, while Yue Ting''s bore the title of Vice President of the Jiangnan Yu Group.

    "Vice president and vice chairman, those are impressive titles!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Hehe, it''s just for show. Basically, we are just idling around," Lin Kun and Yue Ting replied with embarrassed smiles.

    Seeing that the two didn''t appreciate the good life they had and recalling his own childhood in the impoverished mountain area and how now, only in his first year of high school, he had to think about making money for his cultivation, Ge Dongxu felt deeply moved and couldn''t help but say earnestly, "You don''t know how blessed you are. If you were to visit our Baiyun Mountain area, you''d see families who are still struggling for basic needs. Now that your parents have laid such a great foundation for you, you should cherish it. Moreover, considering your ages, you are much older than me and should be thinking about settling down and starting families. You can''t live under your parents'' care forever, can you?"

    Though just a teenager, he posed like a person who had seen life''s many phases, instructing the younger generation with earnest concern, which was oddly bizarre and absurd to behold.

    Yet, strangely enough, Yue Ting and Lin Kun, who usually didn''t heed anyone''s advice, took his words seriously for once, showing solemn reflections about life on their faces for the first time.

    It must be said, there really is a counter for every stance in this world.

    "All right, think it over," Ge Dongxu nodded to them, then turned and left.

    "Have a good walk, Dongxu," they said as they suddenly came to their senses and hurriedly waved to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu did not turn back, just waved his hand.

    The next day was Sunday, and besides eating, Ge Dongxu didn''t go out. Instead, he spent time in his room either reading books, meditating, or drawing talismans.

    Fatty Cheng, influenced by Ge Dongxu or perhaps due to the words he said a few days earlier, also began to diligently study. During this time, his mother went upstairs several times and was utterly shocked to see her son studying, almost dropping her jaw to the floor, mistakenly thinking the sun had risen from the west that day.

    On Monday, Chen Zihao''s appearance in the senior year caused quite a stir.

    Because Chen Zihao, who used to walk with his head held high and full of vigor, was limping today, and his once handsome face was bruised and swollen. He even had plasters on his forehead and limbs, looking utterly miserable, almost unrecognizable.

    "Bro Hao, what happened to you?" Chen Zihao''s lackey, a bespectacled male student, was also shocked and rushed up to ask with concern.

    "I crashed while riding a motorcycle," Chen Zihao hissed in pain as he spoke.

    He couldn''t help it; he had been beaten so badly on Saturday. Though it was painful then, it didn''t penetrate to the bone, but after a night, his whole body hurt nearly everywhere. Any slight movement made him break out in a cold sweat.

    "Wow, that''s a severe fall, are you alright, Bro Hao?" the bespectacled student quickly asked again with concern.

    "You ******, isn''t that a ridiculous question? Do I look alright to you?" Chen Zihao raised his hand as if to slap the bespectacled student, but he hurriedly lowered it again because he saw Dong Yuxin.

    "Yuxin, good morning," Chen Zihao hurriedly moved aside to let Dong Yuxin pass.

    Dong Yuxin, seeing Chen Zihao''s pig-like face, was greatly surprised, but what astonished her even more was Chen Zihao''s behavior at that moment.

    Every time before morning self-study, Chen Zihao used to deliberately block the door, chatting nonsense to prevent her from entering easily. But today, he voluntarily moved aside, with an obviously ingratiating smile on his face. Although the smile was forced, looking more pained than crying, it was starkly different from his previous lascivious, rascally smirk.

    However, Dong Yuxin, clearly fed up with Chen Zihao''s harassment, quickly stepped backward and scrutinized him with a wary look, sharply chiding, "Chen Zihao, what are you up to now?" S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ps: The third release will come around 8 pm, your support is greatly appreciated, thank you.

 Chapter 36 Chen Zihaos Apology

    "I, I didn''t do anything! I just stepped aside to let you in!" Seeing Dong Yuxin''s guarded expression, Chen Zihao felt like crying inside.My lord, as long as Dongxu has your back, you don''t have to do anything to me, okay? I wouldn''t dare to touch you!

    "Pfft, you think I would believe that?" Dong Yuxin said disbelievingly.

    As Dong Yuxin remained unconvinced, Chen Zihao couldn''t help but panic. He was genuinely afraid after being beaten up. If Dong Yuxin kept this attitude, it would surely reach Ge Dongxu''s ears afterward, and Chen Zihao knew too well what that would mean, even if he thought about it with his butt.

    "Dong Yuxin, I truly meant well by letting you go first. Also, today, in front of our classmates, I sincerely apologized to you. From now on, I, Chen Zihao, will never bother you again." Thinking about what happened in the private room on Saturday, he finally bit the bullet and bowed deeply to Dong Yuxin as he apologized.

    The students of senior year three class three were dumbfounded at the scene. Was this still the arrogant Chen Zihao? Could his brain have been damaged?

    Dong Yuxin was just as shocked. Was this still the same Chen Zihao who had the gall to block her on the main road?

    "Yuxin, what''s happening? It doesn''t seem like Chen Zihao is joking," whispered Jiang Lili and Su Qian as they arrived at the classroom door and witnessed the scene.

    "I don''t know either, but something feels off!" Dong Yuxin was bitten by the snake once and feared the well rope for ten years. Although she felt that Chen Zihao wasn''t joking, she still felt uneasy.

    "If I, Chen Zihao, continue to bother you, or if I bother Ge Dongxu, let me die a miserable death!" Chen Zihao, observing Dong Yuxin''s still wary and skeptical expression, cycled through several emotions before biting the bullet and making a vow. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He had no choice; Ge Dongxu''s words from that day had been echoing in his ears, and Chen Zihao dared not provoke the man again. Otherwise, what awaited him would surely be a fate worse than what had happened that day.

    Being part of that circle, Chen Zihao understood the energy of Lin Kun and Yue Ting and their families more than the average person. His family simply couldn''t compare with theirs. Yet Lin Kun and Yue Ting didn''t dare to breathe heavily in front of Ge Dongxu, and the mere thought of it made Chen Zihao''s heart pound and stripped him of any courage to oppose Ge Dongxu.

    This time, the senior year three class three students were utterly astonished! Previously, some had doubted whether Chen Zihao was just teasing Dong Yuxin. But now, with Chen Zihao uttering such a malicious vow, it was clear he wasn''t joking to such an extent just to tease someone.

    Dong Yuxin, Jiang Lili, and Su Qian were also completely stunned.

    "Why? Did you get beaten up by Ge ... cough cough, by someone?" It took a while for Dong Yuxin to snap out of it; she involuntarily recalled the scene on the road where Ge Dongxu reprimanded Chen Zihao and blurted out the question.

    However, upon mentioning Ge Dongxu''s name, Dong Yuxin quickly realized that this was not something to be said lightly and hurriedly corrected herself.

    "No, no, I fell off a motorbike," Chen Zihao, startled by the question, quickly shook his head in denial.

    Ge Dongxu had instructed him not to divulge the truth.

    "Riding a motorbike is pretty dangerous; you should ride it less in the future." Although Dong Yuxin suspected that Chen Zihao''s injuries weren''t from a fall, seeing that he had reformed and stopped bothering her, she looked at his pitiful state and showed a flicker of compassion as she spoke with concern.

    After all, they were classmates now.

    "Yes, yes," Chen Zihao felt almost moved to tears. After having bothered Dong Yuxin for so long without receiving a single word of concern from her, he didn''t expect that when he finally decided to give up and vowed not to bother her again, he would receive her caring words.

    "Yuxin, when you mentioned ''Ge'' just now, you don''t really think that Chen Zihao looks like this because Ge Dongxu beat him up, do you?" Jiang Lili and Dong Yuxin were desk mates; after entering the classroom, Jiang Lili leaned close to Dong Yuxin''s ear and asked in a low voice, full of disbelief.

    "No, of course not." Dong Yuxin vehemently denied it, as hitting someone as a student is a serious matter that could lead to expulsion. Even in front of her good friend, Dong Yuxin dared not voice the suspicions in her heart.

    "That''s what I thought, how could it be possible? With Ge Dongxu''s stature, where would he get the guts or the ability? You really scared me with what you said just now." Jiang Lili gently patted her prominent chest and whispered.

    After dealing with Chen Zihao''s matter, Ge Dongxu had a very peaceful day of classes.

    When evening self-study ended, Dong Yuxin and the others waited for him to go home together, just like before.

    The boys in the class were now completely convinced by Ge Dongxu, even those few who had looked down on him had to admit his superiority in this incident.

    Because of this incident, girls in the class began to take an interest in Ge Dongxu. During breaks, they would find excuses to talk to him, including the girls Du Yifan had commented on the first day of school. Beauties like Li Wanjun, the well-endowed Deng Yujie, and the long-legged Lin Yaran, had all privately approached Ge Dongxu.

    Such scenes naturally made many male classmates envious, jealous, and resentful!

    Why him? Why? Am I not fairer than Ge Dongxu? Am I not as handsome? Doesn''t my family have as much money? Am I not as proactive?

    Why does he just sit there without moving, and girls come up to strike up a conversation?

    Ge Dongxu himself did not understand why he was so popular with the girls; perhaps it was because people have a herd mentality, or maybe because girls are naturally drawn to gossip.

    In any case, these past few days, Ge Dongxu, who scarcely spoke to girls in junior high, had become quite the ladies'' man in the county town.

    "Hey, Dongxu, did you know? Chen Zihao has promised not to bother Dong Yuxin anymore," Jiang Lili glanced at Ge Dongxu and said on the way home.

    "Oh, really? That''s great. The guy has finally seen the light!" Ge Dongxu feigned surprise and then said happily.

    "Seen the light? I bet someone gave him a good thrashing! Dong Yuxin even suspected you were the one who hit him, which is really laughable. Do you even have the guts?" Jiang Lili scoffed and shot Ge Dongxu a disparaging look.

    She was becoming increasingly dissatisfied with Ge Dongxu for his lack of appreciation, always failing to even glance at her chest. But strangely enough, the more Ge Dongxu acted like this, the more she would seek him out to chat, even deliberately provoking him and putting him down over the last few days.

    Now she had begun to find excuses to provoke and belittle Ge Dongxu again.

    "Heh, you''re right, I''m just a high school student, I really don''t have that kind of courage," Ge Dongxu laughed it off, unconcerned.

    He had gotten used to Jiang Lili''s fiery temperament by now, and after all, there were some uncertainties about the incident; Jiang Lili speaking like this was for the best.

    ps: The first update on Monday will be at midnight. I sincerely ask all readers to remember to vote in support when reading the book on Monday, as Monday is very important for shooting up the rankings. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 40 Digging Up Thousand-Year-Old Polygonum multiflorum

    "Do you think it's a good thing or a bad thing if the county develops the entire Baiyun Mountain into a tourist area?" Wu Yili suddenly asked Ge Dongxu, who had lowered his head.But as soon as the question left her lips, Wu Yili couldn't help but shake her head subtly, thinking to herself that after all, he was just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy. What kind of answer could she expect from him?
    However, to Wu Yili's surprise, the expression on the young man's face in front of her turned thoughtful and serious. It took a long time before he managed a wry smile and said, "If it were just me living here, I would definitely choose to preserve the original and beautiful scenery of Baiyun Mountain, rather than develop it into a tourist area. But times have changed, many people in the mountains are trapped and can't leave, their lives falling further and further behind the outside world. If Baiyun Mountain were developed into a tourist area, many mountain villages could enjoy the benefits of tourism development just like our Ge Family Village. But once developed, these trees, these plants and flowers, the various wild animals and snakes, and the peace here..."
    A look of heaviness and reluctance appeared on Ge Dongxu's face.
    He had grown up here since he was a child and had deep feelings for every plant and tree; he didn't want anyone to disturb the tranquility, but as he grew older and read more, Ge Dongxu knew that the people in the mountains needed to live, and people in the cities needed places to have fun. It was just a matter of time before the entire Baiyun Mountain would be developed into a tourist area.
    Although he didn't know who the woman in front of him was, he could now guess that she must be connected with the development of Baiyun Mountain, otherwise why would such a woman¡ªwith her temperament, so beautiful and stylish, obviously cultured like a woman from the city¡ªsuddenly appear here?
    Ge Dongxu wasn't wrong; Wu Yili was one of the experts hired by Changxi County and Ouzhou City's Tourism Bureau. She was mainly responsible for assessing the environmental impact of the tourism development on Baiyun Mountain.
    To facilitate the experts' site inspections and discussions about the overall development of Baiyun Mountain, this meeting was arranged at Baiyun Mountain Resort, already developed into a tourist area.
    Wu Yili had woken up early in the morning and had left Baiyun Mountain Resort alone. She was so captivated by the pristine scenery of Baiyun Mountain that she unintentionally ended up on a secluded mountain path, leading to the subsequent events.
    "Yes, these trees and these flowers, such pristine tranquility, it's really hard to let go. But you're right, if it were my choice, I would choose to preserve all of this, but if it's for the people of the entire mountain area, we still have to choose development," said Wu Yili, nodding in agreement, her gaze towards Ge Dongxu taking on a different light. She realized that this mountain boy was quite unlike the average youth.
    "Letting go is necessary to gain; that's life. You can't have it perfect every time; you can only try to make it as perfect as possible. The same goes for the development of Baiyun Mountain¡ªI just hope we can preserve as much of these trees and plants as possible," Ge Dongxu remarked pensively.
    "How old are you, to have so many profound thoughts?" Wu Yili murmured, nodding involuntarily. But she quickly realized that she was speaking to a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy and couldn't help but roll her eyes at Ge Dongxu, laughing.
    Having lived with Ren Yao for a long time, Ge Dongxu had inevitably acquired an old person's sense of vicissitude and depth, but deep down, he was still just a teenager. So when Wu Yili spoke like that, Ge Dongxu felt a little embarrassed and scratched his head shyly, showing the bashfulness appropriate for his age.
    The two of them talked and walked, and soon they arrived at the main road leading to Baiyun Mountain Resort.
    "Baiyun Mountain Resort is not far from here. This road is safe, and I won't be able to accompany you further since I have other things to do," Ge Dongxu said, pointing to Baiyun Mountain Resort built halfway up the mountain.
    "Thank you, Dongxu. I don't know how to thank you for saving my life. Here's a little something from me, please accept it." Hearing that Ge Dongxu was leaving, Wu Yili realized that she had unwittingly reached the main road leading directly to Baiyun Mountain Resort and quickly opened her handbag, taking out a stack of hundred-yuan bills to stuff into Ge Dongxu's hand.
    "No need, no need, this is what I should do," Ge Dongxu hurriedly waved his hands and then turned to leave without looking back, no matter how much Wu Yili called after him.
    "This Dongxu!" Wu Yili, seeing Ge Dongxu disappear from sight in the blink of an eye, reluctantly put away the money, and then walked towards the resort. Yet in her heart, she firmly remembered this youth who had saved her life, had seen the most mysterious part of her body, and had displayed the composure and calm of an adult at every turn.
    After bidding Wu Yili farewell, Ge Dongxu quickly made his way toward the place where the Polygonum multiflorum grew.
    Soon, Ge Dongxu reached the edge of a cliff. The cliff was covered with some pine trees, various climbing plants, flowers, and under it was a gorge.
    Ge Dongxu grabbed a vine and descended along it, dropping about fifty meters until he reached a protruding rock covered with vine leaves.
    Among those vine leaves were leaves of Polygonum multiflorum as well as other wild vines that Ge Dongxu had deliberately redirected to conceal the area.
    Parting the layers of leaves, the roots of Polygonum multiflorum partially exposed on the rock crevice could be seen, with exposed roots larger than an adult's fist by half.
    Seeing the Polygonum multiflorum growing in the crevice again, recalling that it was worth at least a million, Ge Dongxu couldn't help but get excited, his hand holding the small hoe trembling slightly.
    "It's just a million. Is it worth getting so worked up?" Ge Dongxu secretly scorned himself, and after taking a few deep breaths, he managed to steady his emotions and then carefully chiseled the rock with the small hoe.
    The roots of Polygonum multiflorum had deeply penetrated the rock crevice, and after much effort and sweating profusely, Ge Dongxu finally extracted the whole root system intact.
    This was a forty-centimeter-long dark brown Polygonum multiflorum, irregular in surface texture and weighing at least ten kilograms.
    "This is a thousand-year wild Polygonum multiflorum, what a pity! However, one day, I will possess it again." Smelling the fragrant scent emanating from the thousand-year Polygonum multiflorum, Ge Dongxu, thinking of the need to sell it, could not help but feel a bit reluctant, but quickly that turned into firmness and strong self-confidence.
    He put the Polygonum multiflorum into a bamboo basket, covered it with vine leaves, and climbed up the cliff along the vine.
    Returning home with the basket on his back, Ge Shengming and his wife did not ask their son what he had gathered that day. They knew that their son had learned many things from Ren Yao, including medical knowledge, things they did not know.
    When Ge Dongxu was just around ten years old, he was the one who treated their colds and fevers, brewing the medicine which made them well. By the time Ge Dongxu was thirteen, he had started making medicinal wines for them. By drinking a little every day, they had not had a cold or fever for years, and had even appeared more vigorous and younger. Therefore, when it came to their son dealing with herbs, they were very confident and never questioned it.
    Of course, if Ge Shengming and his wife knew that the herbs in their son's basket were worth a million, they certainly would not have been able to refrain from asking. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    ps: I need to get something off my chest today. I've been writing books since 2007, nearly ten years, and I can say with confidence that I've never engaged in vote manipulation. Even though every book of mine has over ten thousand subscribers, and the average subscription for "The Supreme Immortal Doctor in the City" should be around twenty thousand when counting QiDian, I have never attained a significant ranking in monthly votes. This is because the grandfather who has passed away taught me from an early age to be honest, a lesson that has been deeply etched into my bones since I started contemplating life in middle school. But has the era really changed? Despite having over ten thousand collections for a new book and finally getting the new book to the sixth spot on the QiDian New Book List through the hard-won recommendation votes from my loyal readers, it fell beyond the tenth place in just one afternoon. I don't want to criticize other people's actions because that's just how society is today; many are compelled to behave this way. If you don't engage in manipulating votes, you simply don't stand a chance to rise above the rest, and with so many channels available, it's become all too easy to do. Yet I choose to continue to hold onto my principles, which is why I, an old author, am shamelessly asking other authors for recommendations¡ªit's all to avoid walking down that path! There's no other reason than seeing many authors continuing to write honestly as I do¡ªI can't offer them much, but I can tell them, I respect them, I won't use underhanded methods to beat them! Does this make me a stubborn old man? Maybe some things are worth holding onto, right? Like back when I left my job at the research institute because I refused to bribe my superiors as I earned a living through solid research capabilities. Is that being stubborn? Ridiculous? Do you know why scientific research in China struggles to advance? It lacks a sincere heart! The only time I ever seriously punished my son was when he lied. Writing this, I'm moved to tears! I beg my readers to give me the strength to persist. Please support me as much as possible. I want to fight for the rankings fairly and squarely; I don't want to forsake my convictions. Yet as I watch my rank being trampled step by step, the temptation grows and my resolve weakens. I must hold on, I must! Roar! At least when the end approaches and I look back on my life, I can say there was something I pursued to the very end.

 Chapter 38 Saving People [Monday asks for recommendation tickets]

    "What happened?" Just as Wu Yili began to feel increasing pain in her buttock wound, a numbness spreading from the wound and even a slight dizziness and chest tightness, her heart growing more and more panicked, a voice suddenly sounded behind her."I''ve been bitten by a snake!" Upon hearing the voice behind her, Wu Yili, like a drowning person grasping at straws, quickly turned her head to look.

    However, upon looking, Wu Yili couldn''t help but feel deeply disappointed because it was just a young boy.

    "Bitten by a snake in the buttocks? Let me see," Ge Dongxu''s gaze was sharp, and he immediately noticed Wu Yili''s hand pressing on her buttocks, where a faint bloodstain was visible on her beige pants just below where her hand was.

    "No, is there any adult around? If not, please hurry along the road to Baiyun Mountain Resort and call for help. Do you know Baiyun Mountain Resort?" Wu Yili, seeing that Ge Dongxu was just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy and a male, didn''t think much before blurting out when she saw him staring at her buttocks and offering to help.

    "The area where the snake bit you is already swelling up. If it''s not treated immediately, it won''t be fatal, but the muscle around the bite will likely atrophy and die. Baiyun Mountain Resort is several miles away from here, I can get there quickly, but their back and forth won''t be that fast. I''m a local, and I can usually handle wounds from poisonous snakes," Ge Dongxu, though still not of age, was already sixteen and knew the differences between men and women. He slightly frowned and then looked up at Wu Yili.

    If it were anywhere else, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t have wasted words and would have just treated her. But on the buttocks, he obviously needed to pull down the pants, and some places that shouldn''t be seen could not be avoided. Moreover, this woman, clearly a city dweller, was both beautiful and had an air of elegance. Without her permission, Ge Dongxu dared not take off her pants.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Yili glanced at the winding mountain road leading to the front mountain, a thoughtful look flashed in her eyes, knowing Ge Dongxu was right. She had walked a good half hour from Baiyun Mountain Resort along the mountain road earlier that morning to get here. Going back and forth would indeed take a significant amount of time. And now her buttocks were already numbing, even spreading to her thighs. Without immediate treatment, it might not be fatal, but as the young man said, the bitten area''s muscles could atrophy and die.

    Thinking about having a large, ugly pit of flesh on her body sent a shiver of fear through Wu Yili. She quickly redirected her gaze back to Ge Dongxu.

    Looking at him now, she noticed the medicine basket on his back and saw his clear, calm eyes, which increased her trust in him.

    "Then take a look, and if you can''t manage, please hurry to Baiyun Mountain Resort and call for help." Wu Yili was a decisive and strong woman in handling matters. Since she felt trust in Ge Dongxu, she no longer delayed and wasted no time.

    "This, this will require you to pull down your pants," Ge Dongxu said, seeing Wu Yili really wanted his help to treat the snake bite. Looking at her, his clear eyes showed a ripple, and his youthful, honest face also turned slightly red and flushed.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu falter in his words and noticing his face turning red, Wu Yili couldn''t help her face from blushing too, and her heart rate slightly increased.

    Illness should not be hidden from a doctor, and after all, he was still just a child¡ªwhat was there to be ashamed of?

    Wu Yili repeated these words to herself twice internally, gradually restoring her complexion to normal, then she pulled down her outer pants to her knees.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu''s face instantly turned completely red.

    However, Ge Dongxu was, after all, a straightforward and simple young man. He soon felt a twinge of guilt and quickly shifted his gaze to the part of Wu Yili that had been bitten by the snake.

    The wound had stopped bleeding and had turned purple-black, surrounded by swelling and blisters, blood blisters included.

    "You were bitten by a cobra," Ge Dongxu said gravely, his face showing the calm composure of an adult.

    "It must be a cobra; I saw that the snake''s head was triangular. What about now? Do you have a solution?" Ge Dongxu''s words and his displayed maturity gave Wu Yili an illusion for a moment. It was as if the man before her was not a youth, but a composed adult, adding a bit more confidence in her gaze towards him.

    "If it had been later, you would inevitably have some scarring, but now it''s not a problem," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Really?" Wu Yili asked with unconscious delight, noticeably relieved.

    She had indeed been worried about being left with an ugly scar.

    "No problem, just bear with the pain for a bit," Ge Dongxu confidently replied.

    "Do you need to cut open the wound to let the blood out?" Wu Yili asked, turning slightly pale.

    Being an overseas-educated scholar and a university professor, Wu Yili was well versed in many fields and knew quite a bit about general knowledge. She knew some methods on how to deal with snake bites. If the bite had been elsewhere, she would have quickly found a way to tie a band near the heart to prevent the venom from spreading, but since it was on her buttock, she did not know how to deal with it and simply pressed on it to prevent the poison from spreading upwards. Therefore, when Ge Dongxu told her to bear with the pain, she immediately thought that Ge Dongxu was going to cut open the wound to let blood out.

    "If that were the case, you would still end up with some scars, plus I don''t have a knife!" Ge Dongxu shook his head.

    As he spoke, his thumb and forefinger were already pressing on the upper part of Wu Yili''s buttocks, and he pushed down along the way.

    Wu Yili saw Ge Dongxu pressing directly on her upper buttocks with his fingers. She had wanted to speak up to stop him, but when she saw the black blood slowly oozing out of two small holes, and the swelling around them gradually subsiding, the numbness in her buttocks and thighs gradually returning to normal, she obediently closed her mouth, her beautiful eyes looking up at Ge Dongxu involuntarily.

    Seeing him focused intently on the area below, with his eyes serious and concentrated, and a few drops of sweat on his brows seemingly unnoticed, she felt a warmth in her heart and couldn''t help but reach up to gently wipe the sweat from his brows and forehead.

    "Thank you!" While Wu Yili was thinking of wiping more, Ge Dongxu suddenly looked up and gave her a smile, revealing a row of white, neat teeth. His smile was genuine and simple, his eyes dark and clear, giving Wu Yili a moment when her heart felt like it had been fiercely struck by something, leaving her somewhat lost.

    PS: It''s Monday, a critical day for climbing the charts. I would appreciate if you could log in to your account to click, recommend, and comment. If you could donate a little, boosting popularity, I would be even more grateful. As a new book in the race, I apologize for the inconvenience to my readers. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 39 39. Dont Call Her Auntie

    "Hey, what are you doing?" Just as Wu Yili was getting somewhat distracted and lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt a coolness at the injury on her buttocks, followed by a sharp pain. It turned out that Ge Dongxu had suddenly brought his mouth to her wound and was sucking hard.As a woman, Wu Yili instinctively screamed and raised her hand to push Ge Dongxu away.

    "There''s still some residual poison that''s hard to squeeze out!" Just as Wu Yili was about to push Ge Dongxu away, he lifted his head, spat a mouthful of blood onto the ground, and then said to Wu Yili, His teeth, which were once snow-white, were now tinged with fresh blood, standing out starkly, but his eyes remained dark and clear.

    Wu Yili''s hands froze in mid-air as she looked into those dark, clear eyes, feeling an indescribable sense of shame and gratitude. Then she suddenly realized something, hurriedly reached out to wipe the blood from the corner of Ge Dongxu''s mouth, and anxiously said, "You fool, how can you use your mouth to suck out the poison like that? You could get poisoned too."

    "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine," Ge Dongxu said, as he bent down again to suck the blood from Wu Yili''s injury.

    "How could you be fine? People''s mouths generally have tiny cuts, you could get poisoned by direct mouth suction like that," Wu Yili said, quickly extending her hand to stop him.

    "Alright then, there probably won''t be any more issues. Don''t move; just sit still. I''ll go find some herbs nearby to treat the snakebite," Ge Dongxu said. He knew he couldn''t explain to Wu Yili about his cultivation and that a mere snakebite couldn''t harm him. He looked at her wound and saw that the blood coming out was already bright red, knowing there would be no further issues. So, without arguing, he simply instructed her and then got up to search for herbs that could treat snake poison.

    "Be careful," Wu Yili said instinctively, her concern slipping out as she saw Ge Dongxu standing up to go look for herbs.

    "Don''t worry, I grew up in the mountains," Ge Dongxu replied, turning back to give her a brief smile. But as he turned his head, his gaze reflexively swept over that expanse of snow-white skin.

    Though it was just a fleeting glance as he turned his head, Wu Yili, being a woman, noticed it, and her face flushed slightly. She quickly pulled up her trousers and also picked up the handbag that had fallen to her side to cover the critical area, yet she couldn''t help but spit inwardly, "Little devil!" Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu soon returned with some herbs in his hand, the names of which Wu Yili could not call to mind.

    Seeing Wu Yili covering her buttocks with her bag, Ge Dongxu remembered the scene that kept coming up in his mind while he was looking for the herbs, his face blushing. In a low voice, he said, "Auntie, could you move your bag away for a second? I need to apply these herbs, and then there won''t be any marks left."

    "Auntie? Am I that old?" Wu Yili retorted reflexively, her eyes widening. After her outburst, seeing Ge Dongxu''s bewildered and blushing face, hands wavering, she couldn''t help but snort with laughter and move her bag away, adding, "Remember, from now on, call me sister, not auntie."

    "Oh, okay!" Ge Dongxu nodded awkwardly and then moved behind her to apply the herbs.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s embarrassed look, Wu Yili couldn''t help but blush. Honestly, she was thirty, and Ge Dongxu was only sixteen, a clear student, so calling her auntie was actually quite appropriate. Yet for some reason, she subconsciously disliked being addressed as ''auntie'' by Ge Dongxu.

    Although he said he was applying the herbs, Ge Dongxu didn''t actually attach the herbs themselves, but rather mixed several types together and dripped some juice on them.

    The droplets fell coolly, quickly soaking into her wound and skin.

    "It''s done!" Ge Dongxu wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a huge sigh of relief, feeling a huge burden lifted.

    When Wu Yili heard that it was done, she too let out a huge sigh of relief and hurriedly put her pants back on.

    As she put on her pants, Wu Yili could no longer feel any numbness in her legs or the tingling pain from the wound, knowing that the bite from the poisonous snake had indeed been cured by the young man before her. Realizing the dire consequences if he hadn''t arrived at that deserted mountain path¡ªwhere cries for help would be unheard and help would be unreachable¡ªshe felt an immense sense of gratitude and intimacy towards Ge Dongxu''s gaze.

    "Little brother, my name is Wu Yili, and you can call me Lili Sister. What''s your name? Where''s your home?" Wu Yili asked softly.

    Lili was Wu Yili''s nickname, a term of endearment only used by her parents and close friends.

    "Ge Dongxu, I live just at the foot of this mountain in Ge Family Village," replied Ge Dongxu.

    "Oh, Ge Family Village, I know it. I happen to have some things I need to find out about. Do you have any urgent matters this morning? If not, could you escort Lili Sister back to the holiday resort and we can chat along the way?" Wu Yili''s heart stirred at his response and she said.

    "Even if you didn''t say, I would have accompanied you back anyway. This little mountain path is one mostly walked by the locals, and not often by outsiders, so it''s common for snakes and insects to lurk around. We locals aren''t afraid because we have the experience, but it''s dangerous for you. If something happens again on the way, that would truly be troublesome," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you," Wu Yili felt a warmth in her heart upon hearing this. Seeing a few droplets of perspiration still shining on Ge Dongxu''s forehead in the sunlight, she couldn''t help but raise her hand again to wipe them away, causing Ge Dongxu to feel a mix of enjoyment and discomfort, prompting him to hurriedly step back and use his sleeve to vigorously wipe his forehead himself.

    "What''s the matter? Are men and women not supposed to have such interaction? I am much older than you," Wu Yili said with a slight eye roll, exuding the charm and allure of a mature woman in the morning sun, something Dong Yuxin, a young girl of eighteen or nineteen, couldn''t compare with.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but blush with awkwardness at Wu Yili''s words.

    "You''ve grown up in Baiyun Mountain, do you think Baiyun Mountain is beautiful?" Wu Yili, being a university professor and significantly older than Ge Dongxu, quickly regained her composure after a moment of coquettishness, and while walking, she adjusted her hair and asked.

    "Of course, it''s beautiful!" Ge Dongxu replied without hesitation.

    "But I''ve heard that life in the mountains is quite difficult," Wu Yili said, her eyes conveying a touch of sympathy as she observed Ge Dongxu''s old clothes and the bamboo basket on his back with a small hoe, clearly indicating that he had come to collect herbs. In the city, someone of his age would only need to focus on their studies, without the need to do such hard labor.

    Not to mention the dangers in the mountains!

    "Yes," Ge Dongxu nodded, acknowledging her point. Baiyun Mountain was in the countryside, the poorest area in the whole Changxi County, especially those mountain villages not yet connected by roads, where life was even harder. His own Ge Family Village, privileged by the tourism to Baiyun Mountain, had been living relatively better these years.

 Chapter 40 Digging Up Thousand-Year-Old Polygonum multiflorum

    "Do you think it''s a good thing or a bad thing if the county develops the entire Baiyun Mountain into a tourist area?" Wu Yili suddenly asked Ge Dongxu, who had lowered his head.But as soon as the question left her lips, Wu Yili couldn''t help but shake her head subtly, thinking to herself that after all, he was just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy. What kind of answer could she expect from him?

    However, to Wu Yili''s surprise, the expression on the young man''s face in front of her turned thoughtful and serious. It took a long time before he managed a wry smile and said, "If it were just me living here, I would definitely choose to preserve the original and beautiful scenery of Baiyun Mountain, rather than develop it into a tourist area. But times have changed, many people in the mountains are trapped and can''t leave, their lives falling further and further behind the outside world. If Baiyun Mountain were developed into a tourist area, many mountain villages could enjoy the benefits of tourism development just like our Ge Family Village. But once developed, these trees, these plants and flowers, the various wild animals and snakes, and the peace here..."

    A look of heaviness and reluctance appeared on Ge Dongxu''s face.

    He had grown up here since he was a child and had deep feelings for every plant and tree; he didn''t want anyone to disturb the tranquility, but as he grew older and read more, Ge Dongxu knew that the people in the mountains needed to live, and people in the cities needed places to have fun. It was just a matter of time before the entire Baiyun Mountain would be developed into a tourist area.

    Although he didn''t know who the woman in front of him was, he could now guess that she must be connected with the development of Baiyun Mountain, otherwise why would such a woman¡ªwith her temperament, so beautiful and stylish, obviously cultured like a woman from the city¡ªsuddenly appear here?

    Ge Dongxu wasn''t wrong; Wu Yili was one of the experts hired by Changxi County and Ouzhou City''s Tourism Bureau. She was mainly responsible for assessing the environmental impact of the tourism development on Baiyun Mountain.

    To facilitate the experts'' site inspections and discussions about the overall development of Baiyun Mountain, this meeting was arranged at Baiyun Mountain Resort, already developed into a tourist area.

    Wu Yili had woken up early in the morning and had left Baiyun Mountain Resort alone. She was so captivated by the pristine scenery of Baiyun Mountain that she unintentionally ended up on a secluded mountain path, leading to the subsequent events.

    "Yes, these trees and these flowers, such pristine tranquility, it''s really hard to let go. But you''re right, if it were my choice, I would choose to preserve all of this, but if it''s for the people of the entire mountain area, we still have to choose development," said Wu Yili, nodding in agreement, her gaze towards Ge Dongxu taking on a different light. She realized that this mountain boy was quite unlike the average youth.

    "Letting go is necessary to gain; that''s life. You can''t have it perfect every time; you can only try to make it as perfect as possible. The same goes for the development of Baiyun Mountain¡ªI just hope we can preserve as much of these trees and plants as possible," Ge Dongxu remarked pensively.

    "How old are you, to have so many profound thoughts?" Wu Yili murmured, nodding involuntarily. But she quickly realized that she was speaking to a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy and couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Ge Dongxu, laughing.

    Having lived with Ren Yao for a long time, Ge Dongxu had inevitably acquired an old person''s sense of vicissitude and depth, but deep down, he was still just a teenager. So when Wu Yili spoke like that, Ge Dongxu felt a little embarrassed and scratched his head shyly, showing the bashfulness appropriate for his age.

    The two of them talked and walked, and soon they arrived at the main road leading to Baiyun Mountain Resort.

    "Baiyun Mountain Resort is not far from here. This road is safe, and I won''t be able to accompany you further since I have other things to do," Ge Dongxu said, pointing to Baiyun Mountain Resort built halfway up the mountain.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. I don''t know how to thank you for saving my life. Here''s a little something from me, please accept it." Hearing that Ge Dongxu was leaving, Wu Yili realized that she had unwittingly reached the main road leading directly to Baiyun Mountain Resort and quickly opened her handbag, taking out a stack of hundred-yuan bills to stuff into Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "No need, no need, this is what I should do," Ge Dongxu hurriedly waved his hands and then turned to leave without looking back, no matter how much Wu Yili called after him.

    "This Dongxu!" Wu Yili, seeing Ge Dongxu disappear from sight in the blink of an eye, reluctantly put away the money, and then walked towards the resort. Yet in her heart, she firmly remembered this youth who had saved her life, had seen the most mysterious part of her body, and had displayed the composure and calm of an adult at every turn.

    After bidding Wu Yili farewell, Ge Dongxu quickly made his way toward the place where the Polygonum multiflorum grew.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu reached the edge of a cliff. The cliff was covered with some pine trees, various climbing plants, flowers, and under it was a gorge.

    Ge Dongxu grabbed a vine and descended along it, dropping about fifty meters until he reached a protruding rock covered with vine leaves.

    Among those vine leaves were leaves of Polygonum multiflorum as well as other wild vines that Ge Dongxu had deliberately redirected to conceal the area.

    Parting the layers of leaves, the roots of Polygonum multiflorum partially exposed on the rock crevice could be seen, with exposed roots larger than an adult''s fist by half.

    Seeing the Polygonum multiflorum growing in the crevice again, recalling that it was worth at least a million, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but get excited, his hand holding the small hoe trembling slightly.

    "It''s just a million. Is it worth getting so worked up?" Ge Dongxu secretly scorned himself, and after taking a few deep breaths, he managed to steady his emotions and then carefully chiseled the rock with the small hoe.

    The roots of Polygonum multiflorum had deeply penetrated the rock crevice, and after much effort and sweating profusely, Ge Dongxu finally extracted the whole root system intact.

    This was a forty-centimeter-long dark brown Polygonum multiflorum, irregular in surface texture and weighing at least ten kilograms.

    "This is a thousand-year wild Polygonum multiflorum, what a pity! However, one day, I will possess it again." Smelling the fragrant scent emanating from the thousand-year Polygonum multiflorum, Ge Dongxu, thinking of the need to sell it, could not help but feel a bit reluctant, but quickly that turned into firmness and strong self-confidence.

    He put the Polygonum multiflorum into a bamboo basket, covered it with vine leaves, and climbed up the cliff along the vine.

    Returning home with the basket on his back, Ge Shengming and his wife did not ask their son what he had gathered that day. They knew that their son had learned many things from Ren Yao, including medical knowledge, things they did not know.

    When Ge Dongxu was just around ten years old, he was the one who treated their colds and fevers, brewing the medicine which made them well. By the time Ge Dongxu was thirteen, he had started making medicinal wines for them. By drinking a little every day, they had not had a cold or fever for years, and had even appeared more vigorous and younger. Therefore, when it came to their son dealing with herbs, they were very confident and never questioned it.

    Of course, if Ge Shengming and his wife knew that the herbs in their son''s basket were worth a million, they certainly would not have been able to refrain from asking. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ps: I need to get something off my chest today. I''ve been writing books since 2007, nearly ten years, and I can say with confidence that I''ve never engaged in vote manipulation. Even though every book of mine has over ten thousand subscribers, and the average subscription for "The Supreme Immortal Doctor in the City" should be around twenty thousand when counting QiDian, I have never attained a significant ranking in monthly votes. This is because the grandfather who has passed away taught me from an early age to be honest, a lesson that has been deeply etched into my bones since I started contemplating life in middle school. But has the era really changed? Despite having over ten thousand collections for a new book and finally getting the new book to the sixth spot on the QiDian New Book List through the hard-won recommendation votes from my loyal readers, it fell beyond the tenth place in just one afternoon. I don''t want to criticize other people''s actions because that''s just how society is today; many are compelled to behave this way. If you don''t engage in manipulating votes, you simply don''t stand a chance to rise above the rest, and with so many channels available, it''s become all too easy to do. Yet I choose to continue to hold onto my principles, which is why I, an old author, am shamelessly asking other authors for recommendations¡ªit''s all to avoid walking down that path! There''s no other reason than seeing many authors continuing to write honestly as I do¡ªI can''t offer them much, but I can tell them, I respect them, I won''t use underhanded methods to beat them! Does this make me a stubborn old man? Maybe some things are worth holding onto, right? Like back when I left my job at the research institute because I refused to bribe my superiors as I earned a living through solid research capabilities. Is that being stubborn? Ridiculous? Do you know why scientific research in China struggles to advance? It lacks a sincere heart! The only time I ever seriously punished my son was when he lied. Writing this, I''m moved to tears! I beg my readers to give me the strength to persist. Please support me as much as possible. I want to fight for the rankings fairly and squarely; I don''t want to forsake my convictions. Yet as I watch my rank being trampled step by step, the temptation grows and my resolve weakens. I must hold on, I must! Roar! At least when the end approaches and I look back on my life, I can say there was something I pursued to the very end.

 Chapter 41 Going to the Provincial Capital [Please Collect, Please Recommend]

    The next day was Sunday. Ge Dongxu wrapped the millennium wild Polygonum multiflorum in a plastic bag, put it in his backpack, and then, as usual, took the rural-urban bus back to Changxi County''s Songyang Town in the afternoon.However, after returning to Songyang Town, Ge Dongxu didn''t go back to Cheng Le Hao''s home but went straight to the train station. After buying a train ticket to Linzhou City in Jiangnan Province, he had a quick dinner near the train station. Around eight o''clock in the evening, Ge Dongxu boarded the train.

    There were no bullet trains or high-speed trains yet, just a regular train that took a full twelve hours from Songyang Town to Linzhou City.

    This meant that Ge Dongxu would not arrive in Linzhou City, the provincial capital, until eight o''clock the next morning.

    Having never ventured further than Changxi County''s Songyang Town, Ge Dongxu had never even visited Ouzhou City, the administrative city a level above Changxi. And now, he was about to take a train alone to Linzhou City in Jiangnan Province. It would be a lie to say Ge Dongxu wasn''t nervous; after all, he was only a sixteen-year-old youth. In fact, this was his first time taking a train.

    Luckily, Ge Dongxu had a strong psychological constitution and quickly steadied his nerves, starting to look around the train.

    The night train didn''t have many passengers. The seat beside him was empty, and across from him, there was a young couple whispering and embracing, clearly in the throes of love.

    Although the young couple seemed unbothered, Ge Dongxu wasn''t accustomed to watching them embrace so freely, and since there was no scenery to appreciate outside in the late evening, he decided to rest with his eyes closed, hugging his backpack containing the millennium wild Polygonum multiflorum.

    The train would stop at each station, and people were constantly getting on and off. Eventually, the young couple across from him disembarked, and others took their place, but Ge Dongxu paid them no attention.

    After all, everyone was just a stranger, and it was the middle of the night. Besides, Ge Dongxu was just a youth, not a great beauty or a handsome guy, so no one was interested in striking up a conversation with him.

    Ge Dongxu enjoyed the quiet and even quietly circulated the True Qi inside his body to cultivate during the Chinese Hour of the Rat, but the effects were exceedingly poor. Eventually, he gave up and simply closed his eyes to sleep, as he needed to maintain his energy and spirit for selling the herbs at Yongchun Hall the next day.

    However, due to his preoccupation with the millennium wild Polygonum multiflorum and being on a train, Ge Dongxu''s sleep was intermittent at best. By around five o''clock in the morning, he had completely lost the desire to sleep, as this was the time he usually did his morning exercises.

    At around a quarter to seven o''clock, the train arrived at a station in Kuiji City, which was next to Linzhou City.

    At this point, the number of passengers clearly increased. Initially, two women with a child boarded from Kuiji City and sat opposite Ge Dongxu. Soon after, a man came and sat beside him.

    One of the women opposite him looked quite young, probably not yet thirty, while the other was a bit older, around sixty years old. The child was cradled in the younger woman''s arms, looking a bit over a year old. Normally, a child of this age should be chubby and cute. However, the child in front of him seemed listless and thin, with a slightly swollen abdomen, giving the appearance of being sickly. The young mother would hug the child tightly with a tender, heartbroken look and occasionally kissed his forehead. The older woman beside her would cough from time to time and even seemed to have difficulty breathing.

    The man sitting beside Ge Dongxu appeared to be in his fifties, but Ge Dongxu''s intuition told him he was probably older than that. The man had a lean face and a vigorous spirit, displaying a refined and scholarly temperament, which easily garnered a sense of affinity.

    "Madam, is your child ill?" the man asked as soon as he boarded the vehicle, occasionally glancing at the child in the young woman''s arms. Finally, he seemed unable to resist any longer and spoke up.

    "Yes! My child has been lacking appetite lately, sleeping poorly, and constantly crying. It''s been very distressing," the young woman replied, nodding her head.

    "I see, if you don''t mind, may I take a look?" said the man. Afterward, realizing how abrupt his offer may have sounded, he quickly followed up with a reassuring smile and explained, "Please don''t misunderstand, I am a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, and this is my business card. It breaks my heart to see a sick child, and one shouldn''t delay in such matters, so I took the liberty of offering my help. Of course, I''ll just take a look¡ªif you trust me, I can offer some treatment advice. Naturally, since we''ve met by fate, I wouldn''t charge you."

    The young woman and the older woman were initially wary upon hearing the man''s offer to examine the child, as cases of child abduction and trafficking were not uncommon and one must always be cautious. However, after hearing his explanation, their expressions visibly relaxed. The younger woman even smiled apologetically as she took his business card.

    A quick glance at the business card, and the young woman immediately exclaimed with delight, "So you''re the esteemed Professor from Jiangnan Province''s University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. That''s wonderful, we''re actually traveling to the provincial capital to seek out a reputable traditional medicine expert. You know, Western medicine is effective for things like colds and fevers, but for a condition like my child''s, they don''t have many answers. We consulted several practitioners in Kuiji City, but to no avail, and that''s why we decided to look for a specialist in the provincial capital."

    "So you''re Professor Tang Yiyuan! I''ve heard of your great reputation, and I didn''t expect you to look so young," the older woman chimed in with excitement when she heard that the man was an expert from the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Jiangnan Province. She eagerly leaned in to look at the business card in the younger woman''s hand, her face alight with enthusiasm.

    "Heh, you flatter me too much, big sister," said Professor Tang Yiyuan, who couldn''t help feeling a little smug at the woman''s praise and comment on his youthfulness, yet he quickly responded with modesty.

    "Yes, the weather has gotten much colder recently, and worrying about my grandson has made it hard to sleep, so my asthma has started acting up again," the older woman said in response.

    "Well, I''ll take a look at you too in a bit," Professor Tang Yiyuan said with a smile.

    "Oh, thank you so much! But my condition is chronic; it''s hard to treat," the older woman replied, full of gratitude.

    "Asthma is indeed a difficult disease to cure completely, but that doesn''t mean it''s untreatable. Don''t lose hope. Let me first take a look at your grandson," Professor Tang Yiyuan reassured her.

    "Thank you, Professor Tang. We really appreciate your help," the two women said, overwhelmed with gratitude. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t mention it," Professor Tang Yiyuan replied politely, then asked the young woman to hand him the child. However, as soon as the child left his mother''s arms, he started to cry, so Professor Tang Yiyuan had no choice but to let the young woman hold him while he examined the child.

    Professor Tang Yiyuan first took the child''s pulse and then expended quite some effort examining his tongue coating, which wasn''t easy with a small child who wouldn''t stick out his tongue on command, unlike an adult, causing quite a bit of a fuss.

    ps: In the wee hours, an urge to write suddenly came over me. I once wondered if many readers would laugh at my old-fashioned ways, but what I received was nothing but encouragement and support. I am at a loss for words and can only strive to keep writing, to do my best in crafting this book, as perhaps that is all I can do.

 Chapter 42 Heart Disease

    "How are the child''s bowel movements and urination?" Tang Yiyuan took the pulse, examined the tongue coating, and pressed the child''s stomach, then turned to the child''s mother and grandmother and asked."Both are not very good. The urine is yellow, and the stools are dry. Moreover, he hasn''t had a bowel movement for six or seven days now. It''s really driving me crazy," the young woman said, her eyes reddening as she spoke.

    "Don''t worry, it''s very normal for children to get sick," Tang Yiyuan reassured her, then followed up by asking, "Does the child usually drink breast milk or formula?"

    "I don''t produce much breast milk, so he''s been on formula since he was three months old," the young woman replied.

    "Hmm, have you changed his formula recently?" Tang Yiyuan nodded and asked again.

    "Yes, a friend of mine came back from the Netherlands recently and brought some formula with her. She said it was good, so I switched to it. The child liked it and drank even more than usual the first time," the young woman replied.

    "That should be the issue. ''Zhu Bing Yuan Hou Lun'' states that children''s food should not be excessive, as overeating harms the spleen, and a damaged spleen cannot digest food. The child''s stomach and intestines are still fragile. By switching his formula and then consuming so much at once, it likely caused food retention and indigestion. This is quite common, so you need not worry. I will prescribe a medicine to facilitate digestion, clear heat from the stomach, and relieve food stagnation. Just follow the prescription and give it to him a few times, and he should completely recover," Tang Yiyuan said with an understanding nod.

    As he spoke, Tang Yiyuan opened the briefcase he carried with him, took out paper and pen, and began to write the prescription in a flourish but failed to notice the hint of disappointment and hesitation on the faces of the two women sitting opposite him.

    After a long pause, the young woman hesitated and then said, "Professor Tang, we have also consulted Western and Chinese medicine doctors in Kuiji City before, and they all said the same thing, prescribing medicine for digestion, but it didn''t have any effect."

    "Oh!" Tang Yiyuan raised his head with a hint of confusion which quickly turned to enlightenment as he smiled and said, "Chinese medicine is different from Western medicine. The combination of each kind of medicine is crucial, and although different Chinese doctors might start with the same intention, the dosage of the medicine they prescribe can vary significantly, producing different effects."

    When Tang Yiyuan said this, he did so with great confidence, which was not surprising, as he was a professor at the Jiangnan Province College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a renowned expert in traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province, holding a towering figure in the traditional Chinese medicine community there. Naturally, an ordinary Chinese doctor''s prescriptions could not compare to his.

    Having explained, Tang Yiyuan handed over the prescription he had written to the child''s mother.

    The child''s mother thought about it and then apologized with a smile to Tang Yiyuan, thanking him before accepting the prescription.

    The older woman still seemed somewhat uneasy, took the prescription, and began to read it. As she did, her expression grew animated, and after hesitating for a while, she said, "This, Professor Tang, could you see if this prescription is the same as the one you''ve written?"

    Saying this, the older woman pulled out a prescription from her bag and handed it to Tang Yiyuan.

    Upon seeing it, Tang Yiyuan''s face turned red, as the prescription was almost identical to the one he had written. Even with slight variations, based on Tang Yiyuan''s years of experience, the effect should not differ much. Moreover, he noticed that the person who had written the prescription was one of his disciples from his early years.

    "That''s unexpected!" Tang Yiyuan quickly overcame his embarrassment, reviewed the prescription intently, and said, "Did you really follow this prescription and give it to the child, with no effect at all?"

    "No effect!" The two women affirmed together, shaking their heads.

    "That''s strange, these are clearly symptoms of indigestion! Could there be some other hidden illness?" Tang Yiyuan muttered to himself, puzzled.

    Engrossed in his own thoughts, Tang Yiyuan didn''t realize that the child''s mother and grandmother were right across from him. His words alarmed the mother and grandmother so much that one of them burst into tears, while the other started coughing anxiously.

    "Professor Tang, do you mean my son might have some serious illness?" the young woman asked tearfully, her tears falling like broken pearls.

    "Ah, no, that''s not what I meant at all. Please don''t misunderstand," Tang Yiyuan quickly realized he had misspoken and hurried to reassure them.

    Yet once suspicion takes root, it''s hard to eliminate, especially when the child is the apple of the eye for both his mother and grandmother, who were already extremely worried. Tang Yiyuan''s words inadvertently made them think the worst. No matter how much he tried to reassure them, both still looked distressed and had red-rimmed eyes. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu was young and knew his influence was limited; not many would take his words seriously. Moreover, he didn''t want to draw attention to himself, so when the two women holding the child approached him, although he noticed something was off with the child and the old lady seemed to have asthma, he didn''t pay much attention.

    After all, if they were ill, they would naturally see a doctor, and the doctor would take care of them. There was no need for him, a young man, to meddle.

    But after Tang Yiyuan''s actions, Ge Dongxu found it hard not to pay special attention to the child. He also began to observe the child quietly along with Tang Yiyuan, noting the child''s complexion, tongue coating, and eyes, among other things.

    Initially, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to get involved and knew that given some time, the child would naturally recover. However, seeing that the child was ill and how distraught the mother and grandmother were, he eventually gathered the courage to say, "Actually, the child''s problem isn''t indigestion or food retention; he has a heart issue."

    "What are you talking about, kid? What heart disease could a little child have?" Tang Yiyuan was startled by Ge Dongxu''s sudden statement and couldn''t help but scold with a frown.

    This scolding ignited a defiant pride in Ge Dongxu, who retorted without showing weakness, "Humans are highly intelligent beings. Even a child over a year old, let alone a few months old, has his own thoughts and feelings. Why couldn''t a little child have a heart condition?"

    Tang Yiyuan was somewhat at a loss for words. He wanted to express anger, but felt it beneath him to argue with a naive young man. Finally, he shook his head and said, "I won''t argue with you, your reasoning is flawed."

    This response from Tang Yiyuan was obviously a blatant dismissal of Ge Dongxu''s presence, which only fueled Ge Dongxu''s pride. He glanced at Tang Yiyuan and said, "I won''t argue with you either!"

    After speaking, Ge Dongxu turned towards the two visibly upset women¡ªunderstandably upset with his naive statement.

    They were already annoyed and this young man was making light of their child''s condition. If Tang Yiyuan hadn''t already scolded him and if they weren''t well-mannered women, they would have berated Ge Dongxu by now.

    "Auntie, Grandma, may I ask, what toys does the baby usually play with?" Ge Dongxu, ignoring the women''s upset expressions, asked with a smile.

    ps: Continuing to seek support, every click, every bookmark, every recommendation, every comment, and every penny in rewards are the greatest support to me and to this book. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 47 Yongchun Hall [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, you know best. How about this, drive the car to a place where there's a traffic cop, and we'll ask them, okay?" Ge Dongxu saw that the driver, after being exposed, not only refused to admit his mistake but also had an arrogant attitude, which made him quite annoyed, and he said coldly."Screech!" The driver abruptly brought the car to a halt, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Settle the fare. Since you don't trust me, you can get out and hail another cab."
    "You took me on a roundabout route, haven't even gotten me to my destination, and you still want me to pay you? Are you not being too much of a bully?" Ge Dongxu said angrily.
    "So I'm bullying you, what about it? Damn, what's a country bumpkin like you acting all high and mighty for? Either pay me what the meter says plus an extra ten yuan and I'll take you to Yongqing Hall, or pay up and get out right now!" The driver thought that Ge Dongxu, a young man, would be easy to intimidate, and with a menacing look, he stated.
    But Ge Dongxu was unwilling to comply and simply opened the car door and got out.
    Seeing Ge Dongxu getting out of the car without paying, the driver immediately got out too and went forward to grab Ge Dongxu by the collar. However, before his hand could touch Ge Dongxu's neck, Ge Dongxu grabbed his wrist, and he started to howl in pain.
    "You have two options, give you fifteen yuan, and you take me to Yongqing Hall, or you won't get a single cent. Of course, you can also call someone over, and we'll see if I get scared," Ge Dongxu said coldly.
    Only then did the driver realize he had encountered someone tough and reluctantly said, "Give me fifteen yuan, and I'll take you to Yongchun Hall."
    Being unfamiliar with the place, Ge Dongxu didn't want to make a big fuss, and seeing that the driver was willing to give in, he got back into the car.
    Because of the driver taking detours, and after such a commotion, Ge Dongxu arrived at Yongchun Hall at almost nine o'clock.
    Yongchun Hall was established at the end of the Qing dynasty and has been passed down for over a hundred and thirty years in Huaxia Country.
    Yongchun Hall still retains some of its ancient architecture from the late Qing dynasty, appearing particularly rustic and permeated with a sense of history, containing the cultural accumulation of the years, making people feel as if they have stepped into an ancient pharmacy upon entering, and unconsciously start to show a kind of solemn respect and trust for the antique Chinese medicine.
    Yongchun Hall is quite large, not only featuring a Chinese medicine museum but also a health clinic, a medicinal food restaurant, and a sales hall. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    The sales hall serves as the public business front for Yongchun Hall with Chinese medicine specialist clinics and a pharmacy.
    Ge Dongxu was not sure whom to approach, but figuring that he was there to sell medicine, it seemed appropriate to find the pharmacy, so he headed there.
    Although there were quite a few patients coming to Yongchun Hall for treatment, there were only a sparse number of patients waiting at the pharmacy counter to get their prescription filled. This was because Yongchun Hall also offered medicine brewing services, so most patients seeing a doctor here also entrusted Yongchun Hall to brew their medicines. Hence, patients generally only needed to pay at the cashier after getting their prescriptions and didn't need to worry about anything else. The prescriptions would naturally be processed to the brewing and pharmacy departments, and patients just had to return at the specified time to pick up their prepared medicine.
    While there were few patients waiting for their prescriptions, the pharmacists behind the pharmacy counter were very busy, continuously drawing drawers and grabbing medicines according to prescriptions, then wrapping up the medicine packages.
    "Where's your prescription?" As there weren't many patients waiting for prescriptions, Ge Dongxu, a young man dressed like a country person, stood out conspicuously. A pharmacist, having just finished one prescription, came to the back of the counter and asked Ge Dongxu.
    "Hello, doctor, I'm not here to fill a prescription; I've come to sell some wild Polygonum multiflorum. Do you have a specific place that buys medicinal herbs?" Ge Dongxu asked.
    "Oh, I didn't expect a young man like you to be selling medicine! We do have a place for that, but we have regular suppliers for our ingredients, and we only make one-off purchases for rare items. How old is your wild Polygonum multiflorum? If it's not old enough, our purchasing department won't even consider it." The pharmacist was quite nice. Upon hearing the question, he initially expressed surprise, then proceeded to explain the details to Ge Dongxu.
    Clearly, the pharmacist didn't believe that Ge Dongxu, a mere youth, could possess wild Polygonum multiflorum of significant age. Otherwise, if an adult had come with the same claim, he wouldn't have asked these questions but would have directed them straight to the purchasing department.
    "It should be about a thousand years old!" Ge Dongxu replied.
    "A thousand years!" The pharmacist exclaimed loudly upon hearing this, and everyone else stopped their work to look at Ge Dongxu. However, they quickly shook their heads with smiles, clearly disbelieving that a youngster like Ge Dongxu could have a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum.
    "Young man, thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum is extremely rare, and how can you recognize it? Don't be misled by martial arts novels, thinking that any wild Polygonum multiflorum you dig up is a thousand years old," the pharmacist said with a smile, shaking his head after his initial shock.
    Clearly, he didn't believe it either.
    "It really is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, I recognize traditional medicine," Ge Dongxu insisted.
    "Oh, then bring out your thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum and let me have a look," the pharmacist said with a smile, his expression casual. He clearly didn't believe Ge Dongxu; he just wanted to see the herb and then send the young customer on his way.
    "Fine!" Ge Dongxu opened his backpack and took out the dark brown, unevenly surfaced Polygonum multiflorum that weighed at least ten pounds.
    The moment Ge Dongxu produced the Polygonum multiflorum, the pharmacist's eyes widened in astonishment, and everyone hurried over. One of the older pharmacists even reached out to touch the uneven texture caused by rock pressure, his hand trembling slightly.
    "This Polygonum multiflorum is indeed very old, very old! Xiao He, take this young man to the purchasing department to find Chief Liu," the older pharmacist said, after caressing the thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum to steady his emotions, then turned to instruct a younger person next to him.
    "Okay, Teacher Zhang," the young person responded, then stepped out from behind the counter and said to Ge Dongxu, "Young brother, follow me; I'll take you to the purchasing department."
    "Thank you, doctors," Ge Dongxu replied with a slight bow to the pharmacists behind the counter, then turned to the young man with a smile and said, "Thank you for the trouble, Doctor He."
    "No trouble at all; it's a minor matter," the young man, actually an apprentice, replied with a smile, clearly pleased to be called a doctor, as he led the way.
    "Teacher Zhang, how does this Polygonum multiflorum compare to the one we sold in our hall a couple of years ago, which one is older?" After Ge Dongxu left, the pharmacist who had first attended to him had lost interest in preparing medicine and quietly asked the oldest pharmacist.
    "I think this one is older," Teacher Zhang replied thoughtfully and with certainty.
    PS: When I woke up today I saw my book had shot up to the fifth place on the Qidian Chinese Network home page's new book rankings; it's also doing well on platforms like Genesis Chinese Network and QQ Book City. My dear readers, your support is overwhelming; I am truly moved, and I thank you very much! I will still release one chapter in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening today. Please continue your powerful support as the gap is very small.

 Chapter 44 Thank You, Doctor [Seeking Recommendations]

    Ge Dongxu was not someone who held grudges when he had the upper hand, and considering that Tang Yiyuan was quite aged and had shown good intentions by offering to treat the child, Ge Dongxu chose not to rebut when Tang Yiyuan mentioned it was "an accidental success." Instead, he pretended not to hear and, smiling, said to the child''s mother, "Auntie, could you go make a cup of milk to see if the baby will eat?""Yes, yes, I''ll do it right now." The reply came not from the child''s mother but from the child''s grandmother, who, seeing her grandson''s revived spirits and apparent recovery from asthma, hurriedly took out a milk bottle, formula, and a thermos of hot water from her bag.

    The grandmother was quick and efficient, clearly accustomed to making milk. She had just finished making the milk when the baby, holding a teddy bear in one arm and reaching for the milk bottle with the other, cried out, "Milk! Milk!"

    Seeing the baby eagerly start to drink, both the child''s grandmother and mother relaxed completely and repeatedly thanked Ge Dongxu, "Thank you, young man, thank you. If it weren''t for your reminder, who knows how much more suffering my baby would have to endure!"

    "Haha, it''s nothing, really, just an accidental success," Ge Dongxu hastily responded modestly, quoting Tang Yiyuan directly as the words slipped out smoothly. This caused Tang Yiyuan''s face to alternately flush and pale, yet he found himself without a good way to respond.

    Because the fact was right there! This man had truly cured the child''s illness.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu had not the slightest intention of mocking Tang Yiyuan; his words were purely modest.

    Upon hearing Ge Dongxu say this, the child''s grandmother and mother were somewhat at a loss for words, as they needed to consider Professor Tang''s reputation.

    The atmosphere suddenly became somewhat awkward and unnatural.

    However, those of an older age, ultimately having richer experiences, are more adept at handling such situations. The child''s grandmother quickly broke the awkwardness with a cough and asked Tang Yiyuan, "I''m sorry, my old problem is acting up again, could I trouble Professor Tang to take a look?"

    The child''s grandmother''s request brought a touch of glow back to Tang Yiyuan''s face. He said, "Western medicine categorizes asthma as a common and intractable global disease and often resorts to using ''anti-inflammatory, anti-allergy, antispasmodic bronchodilator'' drugs to control the symptoms. However, these treatment methods are only symptomatic, offering temporary relief, and can lead to numerous side effects, like the drowsiness from anti-allergy drugs and hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other drug-induced diseases from hormone use. Antispasmodic bronchodilator drugs might even cause heart issues and sudden death due to sympathetic excitement. Chinese medicine, although slower in effect, addresses the root cause. Once cured and with continued care, the condition should not recur."

    "Yes, yes, Professor Tang is absolutely right. Initially, I also sought treatment from Western doctors, which seemed effective at first, but it never completely cured the condition and later led to drug dependency. During severe episodes, I needed nebulization to manage it. After prolonged use of steroids, I developed hypertension a few years ago, which scared me into switching to traditional Chinese medicine. But I wasn''t very confident in its efficacy, so I thought of also consulting specialists while visiting the Provincial Capital, and fortunately, I met Professor Tang. Now that you''ve explained it this way, I feel much more assured," said the child''s grandmother, eagerly nodding continuously.

    Upon hearing this, Tang Yiyuan''s expression relaxed significantly, and he said, "The underlying principle of asthma involves deficiencies in the organs of the lungs, spleen, and kidneys. Its pathogenesis involves abnormal ascending and descending movements of qi, leading to a failure of the lungs to distribute and descend qi properly, which causes the asthma. Therefore, the key to treating asthma lies in regulating qi flow, and in regulating qi flow¡­"

    While Tang Yiyuan was checking the grandmother''s pulse and examining her tongue coating, he continued to speak at length. Occasionally, his eyes flicked toward Ge Dongxu. The grandmother, clearly understanding Tang Yiyuan''s feelings, knew the earlier incident had embarrassed him. Thus, she inevitably spoke more, chiming in with a few sycophantic remarks.

    When Tang Yiyuan later realized his mindset was misguided, he couldn''t help but scoff at himself silently, thinking, ''Why am I wasting words on this? Do I really need to stoop to the level of this young man? Could I even expect this young person to understand?'' S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the end, Tang Yiyuan still believed that Ge Dongxu must have just happened to encounter a similar situation, which allowed him to accidentally cure the child''s illness, rather than truly understanding medicine, let alone possessing any exceptional medical skills.

    Ge Dongxu understood Tang Yiyuan''s mindset, but he was too lazy to make it clear. Initially, he did not want to attract attention.

    However, sometimes, the more someone wishes to avoid attention, the more likely events will seek them out. While Tang Yiyuan was both treating and chatting with the child''s grandmother, she suddenly started coughing violently.

    She coughed so relentlessly that she could not stop, eventually convulsing in pain.

    Recently, the elderly woman''s asthma, exacerbated by the child''s issues and changes in the weather, had grown more severe than before. However, because she was constantly worried about the child, she had suppressed her symptoms. Now that the child''s issues had been resolved, the tension she felt had eased, and her body, in turn, suddenly lost its resilience, leading her asthma to erupt like a volcano.

    Seeing the old woman in such distress, Ge Dongxu could no longer hide his abilities and hurriedly stood up, saying to the child''s mother, "Please step aside."

    At that moment, the child''s mother, bereft of ideas and hearing Ge Dongxu asking her to move aside, instinctively stood up with her child and stepped aside. Ge Dongxu quickly took a seat next to the grandmother, placing one hand on the acupoint on her cervical spine and gently massaging it, while his other hand massaged the "heavenly rush" acupoint in the center of the sternum.

    In just a few seconds, the grandmother''s breathing eased.

    This scene left both the child''s mother and Tang Yiyuan astonished.

    "Phew, thank you, doctor, I feel much better," the old lady exclaimed as she took a deep breath and then turned to Ge Dongxu.

    This time she did not address Ge Dongxu as a young fellow or boy, but directly as a doctor. By now, she surely understood that the young man before her was indeed a highly skilled doctor, and his treatment of her grandson was no fluke.

    "You''re welcome, grandma. I was just giving you a temporary relief. Since the train hasn''t arrived yet, sit up straight, and I''ll massage a few more acupoints to thoroughly alleviate your condition." Having already revealed his skill, and seeing that the old woman called him a doctor, Ge Dongxu simply stopped hiding his expertise and smiled as he spoke.

    "Thank you so much, doctor. You don''t know how painful it is when the asthma attacks," the old woman said eagerly, sitting up straight and expressing her gratitude.

    "Thank you so much, doctor!" the child''s mother also hurriedly thanked him on the side.

    Tang Yiyuan did not speak, but his expression was a mix of embarrassment and surprise as he watched Ge Dongxu. It was clear to him now that this young man was no ordinary person, and he indeed had some real skills.

    Of course, having practiced medicine for decades and serving as a university professor, Tang Yiyuan was surprised but did not think Ge Dongxu''s medical skills surpassed his own, especially since Ge Dongxu was only sixteen or seventeen years old.

    PS: The new book is just short by one rank to hit the front page of the new book ranking list. I kindly ask for more support from the readers. A member''s click counts the same as a recommendation ticket, so I greatly appreciate it if readers with an account could log in and click¡ªevery few hours counts as it does not accrue from continuous clicking. Please don''t exert effort in vain, thank you!

 Chapter 45 Healing Asthma

    After the old man sat up straight, Ge Dongxu didn''t hesitate but instead skillfully and precisely manipulated the Lung Shu acupoints, Spleen Shu acupoints, Kidney Shu acupoints, and the previously mentioned Heaven Rushing acupoints and Asthma Relief acupoints, pressing and kneading them back and forth, occasionally tapping and rubbing.About five or six minutes later, Ge Dongxu was so tired that sweat was faintly dripping from his forehead when the old man''s chest suddenly began to heave violently, and a flush of color spread across his face. The old man quickly grabbed a tissue to cover his mouth and then let out a violent cough that produced a mouthful of thick phlegm.

    With that mouthful of phlegm coughed out, the old man took a thorough breath of relief, a look of contentment and comfort on his face, as if he had just had a chilled bayberry juice on a June day, saying, "That feels so good, I haven''t felt this comfortable in a long time!"

    Seeing the old man''s comfortable expression, Tang Yiyuan was involuntarily shaken all over and, without bothering to greet the old man, hurriedly reached out to grab the old man''s wrist and started taking his pulse.

    This pulse examination left Tang Yiyuan utterly astounded.

    Before, when he had taken the old man''s pulse, it was clearly a taut pulse, an asthma pulse. But now, although his pulse was still taut, it had improved a lot, moving towards a state of composure and ease, neither sinking nor floating, neither fine nor overflowing; the rhythm was even -- this is the pulse of a healthy person, that is to say, a normal pulse.

    But how could this be possible? The old man''s asthma had just seemed quite severe, but now there were signs of recovery, just because of the young man''s few moments of kneading the acupoints! That was simply too miraculous.

    Tang Yiyuan naturally didn''t know that the few minutes of kneading that Ge Dongxu had done, which seemed simple, were actually using a lost technique, and moreover, he had stimulated True Qi while kneading. It was precisely for this reason that Ge Dongxu had broken into a sweat in just a few short minutes.

    The effects of such kneading were naturally miraculous!

    Ge Dongxu, after all, was young and only focused on curing the old man''s asthma, without considering that doing so was too shocking and disruptive. It wasn''t until he saw Tang Yiyuan''s expression that he suddenly realized he had gone too far. But by then it was obviously too late, so Ge Dongxu pretended not to notice Tang Yiyuan''s shocked expression and, smiling at the old man, said, "Your current condition is only temporary, and you''ll need to persistently take Chinese medicine for a period of time before you can completely eradicate your asthma. If you trust me, I''ll write you a prescription, and you should be completely healed after taking it for two weeks." S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Trust you, of course I trust you. Thank you so much, doctor," the old man quickly nodded, as if afraid that if he was too slow, Ge Dongxu might change his mind.

    Seeing the old man nodding eagerly, Tang Yiyuan felt somewhat embarrassed, but even more so, he was shocked by the medical skills Ge Dongxu had displayed.

    Since it had already come to this, Ge Dongxu didn''t bother with modesty. Seeing the old man nodding, he took out paper and a pen from his bag, swiftly wrote a prescription, and handed it to the old man, saying, "Just take this prescription to get the medicine, and take it for two weeks."

    As the old man took the prescription, Tang Yiyuan hesitated for a moment and said somewhat sheepishly, "Young man, may I take a look at your prescription?"

    "What, afraid I wrote the wrong prescription, endangering grandma''s condition?" Ge Dongxu raised his eyebrows slightly and asked.

    "No, no. The young man has already proven his medical skills, and I deeply admire that. Now I''m just curious and would like to see your prescription," Tang Yiyuan quickly said, his old face turning slightly red.

    ```

    He asked for the prescription out of curiosity to see it for himself, but also with a tinge of skepticism, always wondering if he could find any faults.

    The prescription was written by Ge Dongxu, and at this moment, the elder did not consider Tang Yiyuan''s face, but looked to Ge Dongxu, obviously waiting for his nod before she was willing to let Tang Yiyuan review it.

    "Then take a look, anyway, it''s not such an incredible prescription," Ge Dongxu said nonchalantly.

    Upon hearing this, the elder handed the prescription to Tang Yiyuan, who had just taken it and had not yet had the chance to scrutinize it closely before being struck by the powerful and vigorous calligraphy that danced across the paper, involuntarily exclaiming, "Good writing!"

    Shortly after, Tang Yiyuan started to examine the prescription in detail.

    "Angelica, prepared Rehmannia root, dried tangerine peel, pinellia, poria, roasted licorice..." Tang Yiyuan murmured as he read along. After he finished, he thought it over carefully and could not help showing a hint of admiration on his face, standing up to bow with clasped hands towards Ge Dongxu, "I was quite offensive just now, please don''t take it to heart, young sir!"

    After looking at the prescription Ge Dongxu had written, and comparing it to what he would have prescribed for the elder, Tang Yiyuan found Ge Dongxu''s to be superior, leaving him with no room for criticism. And if he were to draft one himself, he certainly couldn''t have come up with something as sophisticated. He finally let go of the disdain he had held for Ge Dongxu, realizing that although this young man might not have as comprehensive knowledge in traditional Chinese medicine or as much clinical experience as him, he undoubtedly excelled in treating asthma and also had unique approaches for treating children''s diseases.

    Seeing that Tang Yiyuan, a university professor who was much older than himself, bowed and apologized, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat embarrassed and hastily stood up to return the gesture, "Hehe, it''s nothing, I''m young, so misunderstanding is normal. Besides, I really only know these few tricks."

    Tang Yiyuan felt a secret relief when he heard Ge Dongxu say that he only knew these few tricks; otherwise, if someone so young could treat any disease with ease, wouldn''t it make him, a lifelong student of traditional Chinese medicine, seem incapable?

    Although Ge Dongxu spoke modestly, Tang Yiyuan knew that just with that skill alone, Ge Dongxu had already qualified to be listed among the prominent doctors of Jiangnan Province. So, although he was relieved, he did not have the slightest intention of underestimating Ge Dongxu, hastily saying, "That''s already very impressive. May I ask which famous doctor you apprenticed under?"

    "My master has passed away and was not fond of people mentioning his name during his lifetime, so I ask for your understanding that I''m not at liberty to reveal it," Ge Dongxu replied hesitantly.

    His master possessed strange arts, but due to a brain injury, he suffered from amnesia, only recalling some past events when he was on his deathbed. He advised Ge Dongxu not to reveal his name lightly to others before surpassing the realm of his master''s cultivation, lest it bring unnecessary trouble.

    Ge Dongxu did not understand this before, but as he aged, he gradually began to understand. His master feared that even the innocent could be charged simply for possessing a gem, and what his master had passed on was not just medical knowledge but also the secret arts of the mysterious sect.

    An old saying goes, "Heroes with martial power may violate prohibitions," and since ancient times, those in power have always been wary of those who wield martial power¡ªlet alone someone like Ge Dongxu, who has superpowers.

    The tradition of Chinese medicine has a long history, and since ancient times, it has not lacked extraordinary individuals who stay hidden in the city or retreat to the mountains, not keen on being disturbed. Such people still exist in today''s society, which Tang Yiyuan was somewhat aware of. So when he heard Ge Dongxu say this, it dispelled the previous amazement at his wonderful medical skills. However, learning that his master had passed away did bring some disappointment, as he had hoped to meet him.

    ps: I recommend a new book by my good friend Tomorrow and Tomorrow called "My Big and Small Beautiful Flowers"; readers who like urban romance stories should not miss it.

    ```

 Chapter 46 Communication [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Since that''s the case, I apologize for the offense, young master." Tang Yiyuan, once he knew that Ge Dongxu had a mysterious medical mentor and preferred not to mention him, respected his wishes and did not inquire further."My name is Ge Dongxu. Just call me by my name, Professor Tang," Ge Dongxu, not accustomed to being addressed as ''young master'' by a professor, replied upon hearing this.

    "All right, then I''ll call you Dongxu. Here''s my business card; you can contact me if you need anything." Tang Yiyuan nodded, then took out a business card and handed it to Ge Dongxu.

    "Thank you." Ge Dongxu took the business card, expressed his gratitude, and then examined it for a few moments. It listed many titles, not only Professor at the Jiangnan Province University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and doctoral supervisor but also expert of the Jiangnan Province Expert Medical Group, member of the Jiangnan Province Political Consultative Conference, and other significant positions.

    Ge Dongxu was young and lacked social experience, unaware that the most prestigious title among these was that of the expert of the Jiangnan Province Expert Medical Group. Being on this list meant that he was one of the top doctors in Jiangnan Province, and there were only a few such individuals. While there were many professors and doctoral supervisors in Jiangnan Province.

    In his eyes, being a university professor and a doctoral supervisor seemed even more impressive, so when he saw the term "doctoral supervisor," he thought this Professor Tang in front of him was quite remarkable, even mentoring doctorates. After all, he was just a high school student.

    "May I ask, Dongxu, where are you from? How can I find you if I need to?" Tang Yiyuan, seeing that Ge Dongxu put his business card away, seized the opportunity to ask.

    Although Ge Dongxu''s master was no longer alive, his medical skills were enough to amaze Tang Yiyuan, who naturally wanted to befriend him and perhaps seek his help in the future. At least in treating asthma, Tang Yiyuan considered the young man before him an authority, not just in Huaxia Country but in the entire world.

    "I''m from Ouzhou City," Ge Dongxu answered simply, without elaboration.

    Tang Yiyuan''s eyes flashed with a hint of disappointment at the response, but he did not press further. He was a smart man, and it was clear from Ge Dongxu''s words that he preferred to remain a hermit rather than enter into public service, following his master''s practices.

    Since Ge Dongxu did not reveal his contact information, Tang Yiyuan turned the conversation to the topic of traditional Chinese medicine. Mostly, Tang Yiyuan asked questions, and Ge Dongxu answered. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the beginning, Tang Yiyuan asked about common knowledge and cases in Chinese medicine, but upon seeing that Ge Dongxu answered easily, he began questioning him about some of the complex and unusual cases he had encountered and cured in his lifetime.

    These successful cases were a source of pride for Tang Yiyuan, who deliberately brought them up to Ge Dongxu, partly wanting to restore some face he felt he had lost and to challenge Ge Dongxu''s sharpness.

    However, when Tang Yiyuan posed questions about the complex and unusual cases he had cured and secretly prided himself on to Ge Dongxu, he did not expect Ge Dongxu to respond as easily as before, treating these challenging cases as if they were as common as a cold or the flu.

    Tang Yiyuan, not one to accept defeat, was about to list several more difficult cases to question Ge Dongxu about when the train arrived at the Linzhou train station in the provincial capital.

    Upon reaching the station, Ge Dongxu stood up to leave. Simultaneously, the mother and grandmother of the child opposite him also stood up quickly to thank Ge Dongxu, "Doctor Ge, thank you so much. This is a small token of our appreciation; please accept it."

    With those words, they took out a red envelope and tried to put it in Ge Dongxu''s pocket.

    It turned out that the mother and grandmother had prepared a red envelope in private but were concerned that Ge Dongxu might refuse it and create an awkward situation on the train, so they waited until the station to give it to him.

    "No need, no need, this is what I should do!" Ge Dongxu hastily refused.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu and the two women insist on giving and refusing the red envelope, Tang Yiyuan naturally felt it inappropriate to continue inquiring about Dongxu''s expertise on difficult cases.

    After pushing back several times, seeing that the two women were adamant, Ge Dongxu had to resort to the best move of all¡ªwalking away. No matter how much they clamored behind him, he just walked swiftly to the front.

    Tang Yiyuan had not expected Dongxu to leave as soon as he said he would. By the time Tang realized he should have followed up and discussed more with him, it was already too late. Dongxu had gotten off the train and disappeared into the bustling crowd in a blink of an eye.

    "What a pity," Tang Yiyuan couldn''t help feeling regret as he shook his head. He was not sure if he regretted not being able to continue the inquiry and stump Dongxu, or if he regretted losing the opportunity to learn from him, or perhaps both.

    Naturally, Ge Dongxu felt no such regret. After leaving the station and standing on the bustling road, watching skyscrapers towering into the sky, he felt like a country bumpkin entering the city for the first time, a bit overwhelmed and unsure of where to go.

    It took a while for Ge Dongxu to calm his nerves. Not caring about eating, he did what he had seen on TV and, for the first time in his life, hailed a taxi off the street and took his first-ever ride in a sedan.

    "Where to, young man?" asked the taxi driver.

    "To Yongqing Hall on Fengtang Road," Ge Dongxu replied. He had specifically looked up information about Yongqing Hall in recent days and knew that there were two Yongchun Halls in Linzhou, and the one on Fengtang Road was the headquarters and the largest.

    "Alright," the taxi driver responded, then turned down the vacancy sign, started the car, and began the meter.

    During the ride, the taxi driver observed Ge Dongxu through the rearview mirror several times, occasionally asking questions, including where he was from and whether it was his first time in the provincial capital.

    Ge Dongxu, unsuspecting, honestly answered that he came from Changxi County.

    But gradually Ge Dongxu realized something was wrong. He noticed the fare had jumped to thirty-one yuan, and they still hadn''t arrived at Yongqing Hall. He had specifically looked at a map before coming and knew the station was not far from Fengtang Road.

    "Master, are you sure we haven''t taken the wrong way?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "No, I''ve been driving a taxi in Linzhou City for over ten years, how could I get lost? It''s only another ten minutes or so." The taxi driver replied impatiently, turning the car into another street.

    "You definitely took the wrong way; we''ve been down this road before!" As soon as the car turned into another street, Ge Dongxu''s expression turned serious, and he spoke with a cold voice.

    As someone practicing spiritual cultivation, he had a good memory. A place he had passed by once in the car was not something he would forget in a short time.

    So when he saw the driver going back the same way they came, Ge Dongxu immediately understood that the taxi driver had realized he was from out of town and was deliberately taking him for a ride.

    "Look here, young man, watch what you say! I''ve been driving a taxi for over ten years, do you really think I''d know the roads less than someone who has just arrived in Linzhou City?" The taxi driver did not expect this country fellow, Ge Dongxu, to recognize the route. At first, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but upon recalling that the other party was just a countryman coming to the city to find work for the first time, what was there to panic about? Instead, he became angry and accused Dongxu of talking nonsense.

    The way Ge Dongxu dressed naturally led the taxi driver to assume he was a rural guy coming to the city to look for work.

 Chapter 47 Yongchun Hall [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Whether I''m talking nonsense or not, you know best. How about this, drive the car to a place where there''s a traffic cop, and we''ll ask them, okay?" Ge Dongxu saw that the driver, after being exposed, not only refused to admit his mistake but also had an arrogant attitude, which made him quite annoyed, and he said coldly."Screech!" The driver abruptly brought the car to a halt, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Settle the fare. Since you don''t trust me, you can get out and hail another cab."

    "You took me on a roundabout route, haven''t even gotten me to my destination, and you still want me to pay you? Are you not being too much of a bully?" Ge Dongxu said angrily.

    "So I''m bullying you, what about it? Damn, what''s a country bumpkin like you acting all high and mighty for? Either pay me what the meter says plus an extra ten yuan and I''ll take you to Yongqing Hall, or pay up and get out right now!" The driver thought that Ge Dongxu, a young man, would be easy to intimidate, and with a menacing look, he stated.

    But Ge Dongxu was unwilling to comply and simply opened the car door and got out.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu getting out of the car without paying, the driver immediately got out too and went forward to grab Ge Dongxu by the collar. However, before his hand could touch Ge Dongxu''s neck, Ge Dongxu grabbed his wrist, and he started to howl in pain.

    "You have two options, give you fifteen yuan, and you take me to Yongqing Hall, or you won''t get a single cent. Of course, you can also call someone over, and we''ll see if I get scared," Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    Only then did the driver realize he had encountered someone tough and reluctantly said, "Give me fifteen yuan, and I''ll take you to Yongchun Hall."

    Being unfamiliar with the place, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to make a big fuss, and seeing that the driver was willing to give in, he got back into the car.

    Because of the driver taking detours, and after such a commotion, Ge Dongxu arrived at Yongchun Hall at almost nine o''clock.

    Yongchun Hall was established at the end of the Qing dynasty and has been passed down for over a hundred and thirty years in Huaxia Country.

    Yongchun Hall still retains some of its ancient architecture from the late Qing dynasty, appearing particularly rustic and permeated with a sense of history, containing the cultural accumulation of the years, making people feel as if they have stepped into an ancient pharmacy upon entering, and unconsciously start to show a kind of solemn respect and trust for the antique Chinese medicine.

    Yongchun Hall is quite large, not only featuring a Chinese medicine museum but also a health clinic, a medicinal food restaurant, and a sales hall. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The sales hall serves as the public business front for Yongchun Hall with Chinese medicine specialist clinics and a pharmacy.

    Ge Dongxu was not sure whom to approach, but figuring that he was there to sell medicine, it seemed appropriate to find the pharmacy, so he headed there.

    Although there were quite a few patients coming to Yongchun Hall for treatment, there were only a sparse number of patients waiting at the pharmacy counter to get their prescription filled. This was because Yongchun Hall also offered medicine brewing services, so most patients seeing a doctor here also entrusted Yongchun Hall to brew their medicines. Hence, patients generally only needed to pay at the cashier after getting their prescriptions and didn''t need to worry about anything else. The prescriptions would naturally be processed to the brewing and pharmacy departments, and patients just had to return at the specified time to pick up their prepared medicine.

    While there were few patients waiting for their prescriptions, the pharmacists behind the pharmacy counter were very busy, continuously drawing drawers and grabbing medicines according to prescriptions, then wrapping up the medicine packages.

    "Where''s your prescription?" As there weren''t many patients waiting for prescriptions, Ge Dongxu, a young man dressed like a country person, stood out conspicuously. A pharmacist, having just finished one prescription, came to the back of the counter and asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Hello, doctor, I''m not here to fill a prescription; I''ve come to sell some wild Polygonum multiflorum. Do you have a specific place that buys medicinal herbs?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Oh, I didn''t expect a young man like you to be selling medicine! We do have a place for that, but we have regular suppliers for our ingredients, and we only make one-off purchases for rare items. How old is your wild Polygonum multiflorum? If it''s not old enough, our purchasing department won''t even consider it." The pharmacist was quite nice. Upon hearing the question, he initially expressed surprise, then proceeded to explain the details to Ge Dongxu.

    Clearly, the pharmacist didn''t believe that Ge Dongxu, a mere youth, could possess wild Polygonum multiflorum of significant age. Otherwise, if an adult had come with the same claim, he wouldn''t have asked these questions but would have directed them straight to the purchasing department.

    "It should be about a thousand years old!" Ge Dongxu replied.

    "A thousand years!" The pharmacist exclaimed loudly upon hearing this, and everyone else stopped their work to look at Ge Dongxu. However, they quickly shook their heads with smiles, clearly disbelieving that a youngster like Ge Dongxu could have a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum.

    "Young man, thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum is extremely rare, and how can you recognize it? Don''t be misled by martial arts novels, thinking that any wild Polygonum multiflorum you dig up is a thousand years old," the pharmacist said with a smile, shaking his head after his initial shock.

    Clearly, he didn''t believe it either.

    "It really is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, I recognize traditional medicine," Ge Dongxu insisted.

    "Oh, then bring out your thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum and let me have a look," the pharmacist said with a smile, his expression casual. He clearly didn''t believe Ge Dongxu; he just wanted to see the herb and then send the young customer on his way.

    "Fine!" Ge Dongxu opened his backpack and took out the dark brown, unevenly surfaced Polygonum multiflorum that weighed at least ten pounds.

    The moment Ge Dongxu produced the Polygonum multiflorum, the pharmacist''s eyes widened in astonishment, and everyone hurried over. One of the older pharmacists even reached out to touch the uneven texture caused by rock pressure, his hand trembling slightly.

    "This Polygonum multiflorum is indeed very old, very old! Xiao He, take this young man to the purchasing department to find Chief Liu," the older pharmacist said, after caressing the thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum to steady his emotions, then turned to instruct a younger person next to him.

    "Okay, Teacher Zhang," the young person responded, then stepped out from behind the counter and said to Ge Dongxu, "Young brother, follow me; I''ll take you to the purchasing department."

    "Thank you, doctors," Ge Dongxu replied with a slight bow to the pharmacists behind the counter, then turned to the young man with a smile and said, "Thank you for the trouble, Doctor He."

    "No trouble at all; it''s a minor matter," the young man, actually an apprentice, replied with a smile, clearly pleased to be called a doctor, as he led the way.

    "Teacher Zhang, how does this Polygonum multiflorum compare to the one we sold in our hall a couple of years ago, which one is older?" After Ge Dongxu left, the pharmacist who had first attended to him had lost interest in preparing medicine and quietly asked the oldest pharmacist.

    "I think this one is older," Teacher Zhang replied thoughtfully and with certainty.

    PS: When I woke up today I saw my book had shot up to the fifth place on the Qidian Chinese Network home page''s new book rankings; it''s also doing well on platforms like Genesis Chinese Network and QQ Book City. My dear readers, your support is overwhelming; I am truly moved, and I thank you very much! I will still release one chapter in the morning, one at noon, and one in the evening today. Please continue your powerful support as the gap is very small.

 Chapter 48 Dont Assume Others Are That Stupid

    "Hiss!" Hearing this, the pharmacists all took in a sharp breath, envy shining in their eyes.Two years ago, Yongchun Hall sold a batch of eight-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum for a million. And now, two years had passed, with prices having soared in general, plus the age of this Polygonum multiflorum being even greater, naturally, the price would be higher.

    Most of their salaries were just over a thousand, which was considered quite decent in Linzhou City.

    "It''s just a pity, such a young person selling such precious herbs, I''m afraid they are going to be undercut to the price of cabbage by Chief Liu," lamented Teacher Zhang, shaking his head.

    "Indeed, it''s such a waste. If this youngster hadn''t brought it to Yongchun Hall, we wouldn''t have the opportunity to intercept the sale. Otherwise, I would really want to buy it and make a fortune¡ªenough to last a lifetime!" a pharmacist sighed.

    "Alas, that''s fate for you! The young man could have become a millionaire overnight, but now, I guess he''ll be fobbed off by Chief Liu with just a few thousand at most," someone said, shaking their head.

    "I say, young brother, why did you come alone? Where are your elders?" whispered the young man who was showing the way.

    "I''m already sixteen, is there a problem?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "There''s no problem, per se, but it''s better to have an adult handle the sale of such items. Moreover, this Polygonum multiflorum seems to be quite old and should be worth some¡­" the young man whispered back.

    "Cough, cough, Xiao He, this has nothing to do with you; off you go," just then, a middle-aged man came out from an office and said to the young guide.

    The young man shrank his head and then hurried away.

    This middle-aged man was naturally Chief Liu from the procurement department, his office was close to the pharmacy, and he had noticed the commotion there. He had already had some suspicions, so when he saw Xiao He whispering, he made a point of coming out to dismiss him. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Young man, do you have some wild herbs you want to sell to us? If it''s not a wild herb of significant age, we do not purchase them separately," said Chief Liu, patting his round belly and speaking officiously to Ge Dongxu.

    The procurement department was quite a lucrative section, and with Chief Liu in a pivotal position, he naturally received quite a few benefits from herb suppliers. Hence, he was plump and chubby, with a fat face and large ears.

    "Yes, Section Chief Liu, I have a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum that I want to sell. Take a look and tell me how much I can get for it," Ge Dongxu said.

    "If it really is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, it could be worth a couple hundred thousand. Come in, let me have a look and see if it really is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum," Section Chief Liu said, his eyes lighting up slightly as he spoke, leading Ge Dongxu through the door.

    "A couple hundred thousand?" Ge Dongxu''s heart skipped a beat when he heard this, but when he saw the cunning and disdain inadvertently revealed by Section Chief Liu, he immediately thought of the taxi driver who had previously taken advantage of him being a country boy, unfamiliar with the city, leading him in circles.

    It seems that city folks are not as simple and honest as us mountain people; even those in this medical hall are the same. I need to be careful, Ge Dongxu warned himself inwardly, then calmly took out the Polygonum multiflorum.

    As the head of the procurement section, Section Chief Liu was very familiar with all kinds of medicinal herbs. As soon as he saw the wild Polygonum multiflorum Ge Dongxu had brought out, his eyes brightened fiercely, but he quickly returned to normal. He picked up the Polygonum multiflorum casually and weighed it in his hand, saying leisurely, "It''s wild, indeed, not cultivated, but the age is off, at most forty or fifty years. Polygonum multiflorum is unlike ginseng; it''s not considered a precious medicinal material. It is valuable only when it has aged. Look, it''s not easy for you to come all this way, I''ll give you two thousand yuan for this Polygonum multiflorum, and we at Yongchun Hall will take it off your hands, saving you the trouble of carrying it back."

    Having said that, Section Chief Liu looked at Ge Dongxu with a certain gaze. In his eyes, Ge Dongxu was just a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boy, and judging by his rural attire, two thousand yuan would surely seem an astronomical sum to him. He expected Ge Dongxu to be overjoyed at the offer.

    But to Section Chief Liu''s surprise, the young man in front of him was not at all pleased with the offered price. Instead, he took back the thousand-year Polygonum multiflorum from Section Chief Liu, placed it carefully back into its bag, and then packed it into his backpack.

    At first, when the boy started to put it back into the bag, Section Chief Liu retained some confidence that the young man was preparing to hand it over to him; it was not until he saw him packing it into the backpack that he realized something was amiss and hurriedly said, "Young man, what does this mean? Forty or fifty years of wild Polygonum multiflorum, and I''m already giving you a good price of two thousand yuan. If you go anywhere else, people won''t give you a thousand yuan tops."

    "Section Chief Liu, don''t take others for fools," Ge Dongxu retorted and then shouldered his backpack and left.

    "Hey, hey, young man, we can still talk about the price. Don''t walk away!" Seeing Ge Dongxu about to leave, Section Chief Liu became anxious. His portly figure quickly blocked the doorway as he spoke.

    "What''s there to talk about? This is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, and you''re saying it''s only forty or fifty years old. You''re plainly taking advantage of my youth, aren''t you? Besides, do you think I''m not aware that your Yongchun Hall sold a wild eight-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum for a million yuan two years ago?" Ge Dongxu said, staring at Section Chief Liu coldly.

    Upon hearing this, Section Chief Liu''s chubby face turned purple almost instantly. He never dreamed that this plainly dressed boy would have detailed information about the wild Polygonum multiflorum Yongchun Hall sold for a million yuan two years ago.

    However, as the head of the procurement section, Section Chief Liu was very shrewd. Seeing that Ge Dongxu was well-informed, he knew he couldn''t fool him about the price of wild Polygonum multiflorum; he could only try to deceive him about its age. After all, determining the age of medicinal materials is challenging, and even Section Chief Liu couldn''t precisely judge the age of the Polygonum multiflorum in front of him. He only knew that its size and skin color suggested it should not be inferior to the one sold two years ago. But whether it was a thousand years old, Section Chief Liu really couldn''t say. In fact, even some experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioners couldn''t accurately judge. So, Section Chief Liu was convinced that Ge Dongxu simply wanted to sell at a high price, which is why he claimed it was a thousand years old, when in reality, he surely didn''t know the true age of the Polygonum multiflorum. After all, he was just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy; how much could he possibly know about medicinal herbs? Recognizing Polygonum multiflorum was already commendable.

    Having had this realization, the purplish hue on Section Chief Liu''s face faded, and he regained his cunning composure. He pulled Ge Dongxu back to the coffee table and forcibly seated him on the sofa, saying with a smile, "Young man, bargaining is a part of doing business. But since you''ve done your research, I won''t try to hide it from you. Indeed, Yongchun Hall sold a wild eight-hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum for a million yuan two years ago. But as you know, not everyone can afford such precious medicinal material. It was by chance that we found such a wealthy buyer, which is why it fetched a high price. But in reality, it''s not worth that much. And of course, we need to make a profit, right? So, in truth, buying an eight-hundred-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum would cost at most three to four hundred thousand yuan."

 Chapter 49 So Its Mr. Ge

    "This is somewhat reliable," Ge Dongxu''s face relaxed slightly as he nodded in agreement.Seeing that he had swayed Ge Dongxu, Liu Kechang''s eyes flashed triumphantly, and he continued, "What I mentioned is the eight-hundred-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, but your Polygonum multiflorum isn''t really a thousand years old, at most it''s just three to four hundred years old. A three to four hundred-year-old Polygonum multiflorum can be worth forty to fifty thousand yuan at most. If you don''t believe me, I can get the most famous old traditional Chinese doctor from our hospital to come over. He is the most accurate when it comes to appraising such medicinal herbs."

    As he spoke, Liu Kechang reached for the telephone on his desk, preparing to make a call.

    Ge Dongxu was, after all, a young man. Although he had been influenced by his master for several years, he couldn''t remain as composed as an older person. Seeing that Liu Kechang was repeatedly deceiving him, he finally got annoyed, stood up, grabbed his backpack, opened the office door, and left without another word.

    At that time, the average annual salary of employees in state-owned enterprises and institutions in Linzhou City was only about eight or nine thousand yuan. Forty to fifty thousand yuan was equivalent to about five years of income for employees in such enterprises and institutions. Originally, Liu Kechang thought that by offering this price, Ge Dongxu, a young man from the countryside, would certainly not be able to resist the temptation and would immediately make a deal. As for making the phone call, it was just Liu Kechang putting on a show.

    But to his complete surprise, Ge Dongxu just stood up and walked away without a word, leaving him staring at the telephone in a daze for quite a while. By the time he realized he had to chase after Ge Dongxu or he might leave Yongchun Hall, Ge Dongxu was already nearly at the pharmacy.

    "Hey, hey, young man, wait, wait, what about a hundred thousand, a hundred thousand, how about that?" Liu Kechang was finally forced into a corner by this young man and chased after him, panting and calling out.

    "A hundred thousand!" The people in the pharmacy saw Ge Dongxu come out so soon and thought he had been let go at a bargain price by Liu Kechang. They never expected Liu Kechang to follow him out and directly offer a hundred thousand, shocking everyone in the pharmacy so much that their hearts couldn''t help but skip several beats. All eyes turned towards Ge Dongxu, thinking to themselves that it was unexpected for such a young man to drive the price up to a hundred thousand.

    However, Ge Dongxu continued walking forward without turning his head.

    At that point, the way the people in the pharmacy looked at Ge Dongxu completely changed.

    A hundred thousand yuan! This seemingly simple and unrefined young man didn''t even blink or hesitate! Even the oldest Zhang teacher in the pharmacy couldn''t help but feel inferior to such determination.

    "Two hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, how about that? I really can''t go any higher!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu walked away without turning back, Liu Kechang had no choice but to chase after him while raising the offer once more.

    "Two hundred thousand!" The people in the pharmacy''s eyes bulged out, thinking that this time Ge Dongxu would surely stop.

    To know, two hundred thousand yuan taken to the mountains could undoubtedly make someone the richest person in the village! Even in Linzhou City, two hundred thousand yuan was definitely a lot of money. At that time, the housing prices in the city center of Linzhou City were only around one to two thousand yuan per square meter, and in the outer areas, some were only eight or nine hundred to a thousand yuan per square meter. Except for the Zhang teacher in the pharmacy, none of them had a net worth exceeding two hundred thousand yuan.

    But contrary to everyone''s expectations, the young man still did not stop walking.

    What they didn''t know was that although Ge Dongxu was young, his perception was very sharp, and his thought process was extremely clear. Especially after being swindled by a taxi driver on the way here, he gained a new understanding of the maliciousness of people''s intentions and would no longer be easily swayed by others'' words.

    As for the figure of money, even though two hundred thousand was indeed a huge number for Ge Dongxu and very tempting, his determination was firm. He would not easily waver unless he reached the price he had in mind.

    "You, young man, why are you so stubborn and greedy? Your Polygonum multiflorum is at most a few hundred years old, I''m already offering two hundred thousand, aren''t you satisfied yet? Then you tell me, how much do you want?" Liu Kechang finally caught up with Ge Dongxu and stopped him, saying. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "First, I want to make one thing clear. My Polygonum multiflorum is a thousand-year-old wild one, not just three to four hundred years old as you said. I am very certain about this; you can''t fool me! Furthermore, two hundred thousand is indeed a large number, but the problem is my Polygonum multiflorum is worth more than that, so why should I sell it to you for two hundred thousand? This has nothing to do with me being stubborn or greedy. Now I''ll give you one last chance to make an offer. If you try to deceive me again, I''m really leaving. I believe Linzhou City doesn''t only have Yongchun Hall, a century-old brand."

    Liu Kechang looked at Ge Dongxu''s calm demeanor, and his expression finally became solemn. He began to regard the young man in front of him as an equal trading partner, rather than looking down on him from a height as he had done before, almost as if he had Ge Dongxu firmly in his grip.

    "Young man, what''s your name?" Liu Kechang asked.

    "Ge Dongxu," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "So, Mr. Ge, I''ll tell you the truth. Your Polygonum multiflorum does have some age to it, but I can''t conclusively say whether it''s a thousand years old. If it truly is a thousand-year-old Polygonum multiflorum, it is indeed worth more than two hundred thousand. But as for the exact amount, I can''t just offer that to you right now. I need to consult with a few old traditional Chinese medicine doctors to confirm," Liu Kechang said earnestly, his way of addressing Ge Dongxu having changed.

    Because by now, he found it difficult to see Ge Dongxu as an ignorant sixteen or seventeen-year-old young man. Moreover, once Ge Dongxu sold the Polygonum multiflorum, it wouldn''t be fitting to regard him as just a young man anymore because of his wealth.

    "That''s not a problem, as long as you don''t try to exploit my youth and deceive me, we can talk," Ge Dongxu said.

    Even though Liu Kechang had been rolling in the business world for many years, he couldn''t help but feel his face heat up upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s words.

    "How could that be!" said Liu Kechang sheepishly, and then he took Ge Dongxu to the counter. He asked the elder pharmacist, "Zhang teacher, you have much experience. Could you help me take a look and judge the age of this Polygonum multiflorum?"

    Upon hearing this, Zhang teacher nodded, then carefully picked up the thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum. He not only touched it with his hands but also sniffed it with his nose, and even used a magnifying glass to take a closer look.

    This time he was much more thorough and formal than before.

    After a long time, Zhang teacher finally looked up at Liu Kechang and said, "Liu Kechang, it is very difficult to judge the age of medicinal herbs. However, generally speaking, I should be able to judge it as being at least as old as the one from two years ago. But whether it''s a thousand years old, I can''t make that conclusion. I suggest you should still have Professor Tang take a look, he is the real expert in this field, and if he says it''s a thousand years old, then it definitely is."

    Seeing that Zhang teacher''s judgment was the same as his own initial assessment, Liu Kechang''s expression unconsciously became much more serious, and he nodded, saying, "If that''s the case, it is indeed prudent to have Professor Tang take a look as well."

    ps: The new book is striving for the rankings, your support would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

 Chapter 50 Someone Might Be Able to Cure Your Illness [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Professor Tang, the medicine you prescribed for me last time has indeed had some effect; the frequency of my fainting episodes has decreased. However, after taking this prescription, not only have I had significant issues with my stomach and intestines, but my menstrual pain and flow have also noticeably increased. Can you find a way to change the prescription?" In Professor Tang''s clinic, a young woman asked softly.She was a beautiful young woman with long, elegant black hair, slender willow eyebrows, enchanting eyes, a refined, pretty nose, and cherry-red lips like dewdrops. However, her complexion was pallid, almost sickly, which was rather heart-wrenching to see.

    The young woman was wearing a printed dress with a light white jacket over it, lending her an air that was both ethereal and elegantly simple.

    "Ms. Liu, it''s difficult! I have already changed the prescription many times before, with basically no effect. This time, I pondered the prescription for a long time before I wrote it. All medicines have their toxicity, and I increased the dosage this time too, so the effects are rather strong. I told you this in advance. Now it seems your body can''t handle this prescription. If I were to prescribe again, the result would be the same: too small a dose and there''s no effect, too large a dose and your body can''t cope. If it doesn''t work, we might have to resort to acupuncture. Your condition should be related to blockages in your meridians; all the prescriptions I provided were based on this diagnosis, which means the approach is correct. It''s just that the side effects of the medicine are too strong for your body to endure," Tang Yiyuan said with a hint of helplessness as he looked at the woman before him.

    Not only was Tang Yiyuan a professor and doctoral supervisor at Jiangnan Province University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, but he was also engaged as an expert by Yongchun Hall, where he would hold a clinic every Monday morning. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Today was Monday, so he was sitting in Yongchun Hall''s expert clinic.

    "That probably won''t work; I even made a special trip to the capital earlier this year to ask Professor Wei Min, a famous acupuncturist, for treatment, but it was of no use," Liu Jiayao sighed.

    "I know Professor Wei Min. If even she can''t help, then maybe acupuncture really isn''t the solution... However, there might be someone who could treat your condition," Tang Yiyuan began with a sigh, shaking his head, when suddenly the face of a youthful boy flashed through his mind, prompting him to change the direction of the conversation instinctively.

    "Who?" Liu Jiayao''s eyes brightened dramatically, and she asked eagerly.

    Liu Jiayao''s strange illness began when she was twenty-three. That year, her parents died in a sudden car accident. On hearing the terrible news, she fainted on the spot. In the following years, she often fainted inexplicably. Despite extensive tests at several major hospitals, including abroad, no diagnosis was made. It was speculated that the cause might be related to abnormal heart muscle function; sometimes, her heart''s contractions weren''t strong enough, leading to inadequate blood supply to the brain, resulting in these unusual symptoms. Since there were no organ abnormalities to explain the symptoms, doctors had no effective treatment or medication, only advising her to exercise more to strengthen her heart.

    So for years, Liu Jiayao had persisted with exercise, which helped her develop a toned and shapely figure, particularly her round and pert buttocks, which could capture a man''s soul if she wore a tight-fitting dress. Yet, the bizarre fainting spells still occurred intermittently.

    Out of desperation, Liu Jiayao turned to Traditional Chinese Medicine. Despite consulting many well-known doctors and consuming plenty of bitter concoctions, there was little to no effect. Only the prescription from Tang Yiyuan had some effect, but the side effects were also significant. After taking it for a while, the issues with her stomach and painful menstruation became unbearable, forcing her to seek help once again.

    When Tang Yiyuan previously admitted there was nothing he could do, she had felt a sense of despair; but now, suddenly hearing him mention someone who might be able to cure her, Liu Jiayao clung to the hope like a drowning person grasping for a lifeline.

    "This, this person... I also don''t know where he is," Tang Yiyuan hesitantly replied, finding it difficult to confront the hope in Liu Jiayao''s eyes, which resembled that of a drowning person clutching at a straw for salvation.

    "You don''t know? How could you not know?" Liu Jiayao responded, taken aback, her bright eyes quickly dulling.

    "I''m sorry, I only just this morning..." Seeing the look of despair on Liu Jiayao''s face, Tang Yiyuan regretted mentioning Ge Dongxu.

    Since he did not know Ge Dongxu''s whereabouts, why raise her hopes, only to cruelly dash them again?

    Tang Yiyuan had not finished speaking when the knock on the door sounded.

    "Come in." Tang Yiyuan frowned slightly, speaking with some displeasure. He usually let one patient in only after the previous one had left. Now that Liu Jiayao had not yet left and someone was knocking, it made Tang Yiyuan, already in a somewhat bad mood, feel even worse.

    "Professor Tang is seeing a patient, I''m sorry, miss, I have something to discuss with Professor Tang, and it will only take a few minutes of your time." The door was pushed open, and in came Liu, the head of the procurement department, followed by Ge Dongxu.

    "No problem, I''m done anyway." Liu Jiayao forced a smile, not noticing that Professor Tang Yiyuan looked as if he had just seen a ghost, staring straight at Ge Dongxu.

    "Is it you?" Ge Dongxu had not expected to encounter Tang Yiyuan here, and was taken aback.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, I didn''t expect to see you again so soon." As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, Tang Yiyuan immediately came back to his senses, a joyful smile appearing on his face.

    "Professor Tang, you know this Mr. Ge?" Liu, the department head, was no less surprised than Tang Yiyuan when he first laid eyes on Ge Dongxu, the youth from the countryside.

    "On my way back to Linzhou from my hometown this morning, we happened to sit in the same row on the train," Tang Yiyuan, aware that Ge Dongxu disliked ostentation, replied casually.

    "So that''s how it is. I was wondering how Professor Tang could know Mr. Ge, it turns out to be a coincidence!" Liu, the department head, showed a face of relief, while also secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

    This was because Tang Yiyuan had a lot of prestige in the Traditional Chinese Medicine community of Jiangnan Province, and he was very knowledgeable about Chinese medicine. If he had a relationship with Ge Dongxu, there would be no way Liu could take advantage of Ge Dongxu when negotiating prices.

    Although Liu now regarded Ge Dongxu with an entirely equal eye and went by the book when it came to handling affairs, when it came to the final price negotiation, he would definitely try to take a cut from Ge Dongxu. After all, Ge Dongxu was young, not from the industry, and despite having done some research, his knowledge of insider dealings was limited.

    But if Tang Yiyuan stepped in, then Liu would have no chance to cheat Ge Dongxu.

    "Thank you, Professor Tang, I won''t disturb you any longer, I''ll take my leave." Liu Jiayao forced a smile towards Tang Yiyuan and then prepared to leave.

    "Ms. Liu, there''s no rush, there might still be hope for your condition. After I finish discussing things with Liu, we can talk about your illness," Tang Yiyuan said hastily, stopping her as she was about to leave.

    Liu Jiayao did not realize that the man Tang Yiyuan had mentioned earlier, who might be able to cure her odd illness, was now right in front of her. Seeing that Tang Yiyuan had just previously claimed there was no solution, yet now suddenly called her back, she couldn''t help but feel a hint of confusion. However, having hope was certainly better than none, so Liu Jiayao did not hesitate to stay. She thanked Tang Yiyuan, then turned her somewhat curious and doubtful gaze towards the young man who was dressed in a rustic manner, clearly from a small rural area.

    ps: Continue to support with three updates today, let''s push the new book higher in the rankings!

 Chapter 51 Thats the young man from before

    "Section Chief Liu, what seems to be the matter?" Tang Yiyuan called out to Liu Jiayao, then turned to address Section Chief Liu. His gaze then shifted with a hint of confusion toward Ge Dongxu, who was with him. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.He could naturally tell that this issue was related to Ge Dongxu.

    "Professor Tang, the situation is this: Mr. Ge has a wild Polygonum multiflorum he wants to sell to our Yongchun Hall. He claims this wild Polygonum multiflorum is a thousand years old. Just now, Teacher Zhang from the pharmacy helped us take a look and said it should be older than the one Yongchun Hall sold two years ago, but as to whether it''s really a thousand years old, he couldn''t confirm. I''m even less sure, so I wanted to ask for Professor Tang''s assistance to have a look," Section Chief Liu replied humbly.

    "A thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum? Bring it here; let me take a look," Tang Yiyuan exclaimed, his eyes shining eagerly as he urged.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu took the Polygonum multiflorum out of his backpack and handed it to Tang Yiyuan.

    After briefly looking at it, Tang Yiyuan nodded excitedly and said, "Yes, this is a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum."

    "Professor Tang, don''t you need to look at it more carefully?" Section Chief Liu, seeing that Tang Yiyuan had hardly examined it before reaching a conclusion, quickly interjected a reminder, giving him a meaningful look as he spoke.

    On one hand, Section Chief Liu didn''t expect Professor Tang to reach a decision so quickly; on the other hand, he hoped Professor Tang would state a somewhat lower age, perhaps around eight hundred years or so, which would be close enough since the distinction between eight hundred years and a thousand years was already quite blurred and difficult to ascertain. But when it came to price, there was a significant gap. If Professor Tang pinned down the age as a thousand years, it would be difficult for him to negotiate the price later.

    Tang Yiyuan, old and shrewd as he was, clearly understood Section Chief Liu''s reminder and the meaning behind it. The problem was that the young man before him was no ordinary youth. From the moment Section Chief Liu mentioned that Ge Dongxu claimed it was a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum, Tang Yiyuan had already believed there would be no discrepancy, and it was precisely because of this preconceived judgment that he did not scrutinize it carefully. Otherwise, had it been brought by someone else, he certainly would not have identified it so rapidly. After all, the price of a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum was astronomical for ordinary people!

    "No need to look further, there won''t be any mistake. Regarding the price, two years ago we at Yongchun Hall sold an eight hundred year old piece for one million, and this one is older. Moreover, the current market has improved compared to two years ago. If sold by Yongchun Hall, it could definitely fetch one million seven or eight hundred thousand. Considering such valuable medicinal material and our cost risk, I think a purchase price of around one million three hundred thousand is appropriate. I wonder if Dongxu is satisfied with this price?" Tang Yiyuan stated, and at the end, he did not look at Section Chief Liu but instead turned to Ge Dongxu.

    Section Chief Liu was completely dumbfounded upon hearing this!

    The heck, was Professor Tang really serving as an outpatient expert for Yongchun Hall anymore, or was he turning his back on them, laying things bare in such an upside-down fashion? There went his bargaining power.

    Even though Ge Dongxu had suspected that the price wouldn''t be too disappointing since he saw Tang Yiyuan, he was still secretly startled by the figure of one million three hundred thousand.

    This price had surpassed his expectations. He had anticipated a price ranging from nine hundred thousand to one million, knowing that Yongchun Hall would also want to make a profit. He never expected Tang Yiyuan to immediately suggest one million three hundred thousand.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu wasn''t foolish enough to tell Tang Yiyuan and Section Chief Liu that he didn''t need that much money. After considering it for a moment, he nodded and said, "Since Professor Tang proposed this price, let''s go with it."

    Damn it, what does it mean to accept the price just because Professor Tang says so, as if he''s doing Professor Tang a favor by agreeing to sell. This is absolutely acting coy after getting a good deal! Absolutely!

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s expression and tone, Section Chief Liu felt so frustrated he almost spat out blood.

    But Tang Yiyuan was a leading authority in traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province, and he had good relations with the owner of Yongchun Hall; otherwise, with his status, he might not condescend to hold a half-day clinic at Yongchun Hall every week. Since he had spoken up, Section Chief Liu naturally couldn''t object. Moreover, Tang Yiyuan''s analysis was based on the actual situation. If Yongchun Hall were to purchase at that price, they stood to profit, so there was no reason for Section Chief Liu to push away such a surefire profitable deal.

    "Sure, let''s settle on that price! Do you have a bank account? I''ll notify our finance department to transfer the money into your account. One million three hundred thousand is a huge sum; it''s definitely not suitable to pay in cash," Chief Liu said with resignation, wincing as he mentioned the sum of one million three hundred thousand.

    "I do, here''s my bank card," Ge Dongxu said as he promptly took out his bank card.

    "Then come with me to the finance department," said Chief Liu, his teeth clenched with resentment at how smoothly and elegantly Ge Dongxu produced his bank card.

    One million three hundred thousand, just like that! This country bumpkin of a kid digs up some Polygonum multiflorum and sells it for one million three hundred thousand, while I''ve been slaving away without ever having made that much in my whole life!

    "Okay," Ge Dongxu nodded, then turned to Professor Tang Yiyuan and said, "Thank you, Professor Tang. I''ll come back later."

    "Don''t mention it; you deserve it," Professor Tang replied with a smile, evidently pleased upon hearing that Ge Dongxu would return later, hurriedly responding with courtesy.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and didn''t say much, following Chief Liu out.

    "Professor Tang, you just said that there''s still hope for my illness. Could it be you''ve thought of a new prescription?" Liu Jiayao finally got the chance to speak with Tang Yiyuan once Ge Dongxu had left.

    Although the amount of the transaction was enormous, it wasn''t much for Liu Jiayao, so she was more concerned about her illness.

    "No, I''m afraid there''s nothing I can do for your illness. But remember, I mentioned someone who might be able to treat your rare condition? I didn''t know where he was before, but now I do," Tang Yiyuan said with a smile.

    "Really? Where is he?" Liu Jiayao asked excitedly.

    "It''s the young man who was just here, Ge Dongxu," Tang Yiyuan replied with a smile.

    "What? You mean that young man from before?" Liu Jiayao''s beautiful eyes widened in shock. In her wildest dreams, she would not have imagined that the doctor who could possibly cure her strange illness, as mentioned by Tang Yiyuan, would not be an old traditional medicine practitioner or a young talent in the Chinese medicine community, but a rural-looking youth!

    "Exactly, it''s him. It''s a good thing he''s not here now because with the attitude you had earlier, I would have been embarrassed to ask for his help," Tang Yiyuan said earnestly.

    Liu Jiayao, who had become the head of a company and steered its business to flourishing success, making Qinglan Cosmetics well-known throughout the Jiangnan region and gaining a certain market share in Huaxia Country, was naturally a very shrewd and intelligent woman, not just a pretty face.

    Once Tang Yiyuan elaborated, she immediately understood why Tang Yiyuan had taken Ge Dongxu''s side during the Polygonum multiflorum sale instead of siding with Yongchun Hall; he identified the herb very quickly without detailed inspection, clearly placing great trust in the young man.

    But Ge Dongxu did not look like a doctor at all, and his age made it quite difficult to associate him with a miraculous doctor capable of treating complicated diseases. Even with her great trust in Tang Yiyuan, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but express her doubt, "Professor Tang, can he... can he really do it?"

    ps: I recommend my friend''s new book, "The Extraordinary Soldier King." If you like action-packed stories, feel free to check it out and add it to your collection, thank you.

 Chapter 52 Taking the Pulse

    "No doctor can cure all diseases, and I certainly can''t guarantee he can do it. But his medical skills are unique, especially in some difficult and complicated cases where even I can admit I''m no match for him. So, if there''s anyone in this world who can heal your condition, I believe he is definitely one of them," Tang Yiyuan thought and then replied.After leaving the train station, on the road, Tang Yiyuan kept thinking over and over about the incident on the train and his conversation with Ge Dongxu. Eventually, he realized a harsh truth: although Ge Dongxu was much younger than him, his medical skills were likely superior to his own, even incomparable in some aspects. For instance, the miraculous method of treating asthma, Tang Yiyuan knew, it would be very hard to find a second person like that in the world.

    It was precisely because of this that when he saw Liu Jiayao''s look of despair, he suddenly thought of Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan say this, Liu Jiayao, even if skeptical, found it inappropriate to express doubt and could only hope that the young man was as impressive as Tang Yiyuan described.

    But whenever she thought about that young face still carrying a trace of immaturity, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help feeling disheartened.

    This was, after all, a strange illness that many formidable Eastern and Western doctors hadn''t been able to solve. Could a young man really do it?

    "Ms. Liu, while we''re waiting for Ge Dongxu to arrive, I''ll see the other patients who have registered. When he arrives, I''ll discuss your situation with him and see if he''s willing to help. I forgot to mention, he''s a peculiar young man¡ªin layman''s terms, what we usually describe as a recluse who hides in the city. Such people often have quirky temperaments, so I can''t guarantee that I can convince him to help treat your illness, and you should be prepared. Also, don''t put on airs just because he''s younger," Tang Yiyuan instructed, and recalling how he got rebuked by Ge Dongxu on the train for showing off his seniority, his face couldn''t help but feel a bit hot.

    With Tang Yiyuan''s urging, Liu Jiayao, whose spirits were somewhat low, felt hope rise again and hurriedly said, "Thank you, Professor Tang. I''ll be mindful of that. You go ahead; I''ll wait outside."

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    "Okay, then I won''t stand on ceremony," Tang Yiyuan responded with a nod.

    To take care of the expert''s health and to allow enough time for the diagnostic process, the number of expert consultation slots is usually limited per day.

    Tang Yiyuan, with his extensive medical practice experience, quickly saw to the patients who had registered later since none of their conditions were severe. By the time Ge Dongxu returned to the expert consultation room, Tang Yiyuan had only one patient left to see.

    Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t want to disturb Tang Yiyuan, so he also prepared to wait outside.

    At this moment, his expression appeared as calm as ever, but his heart was beating much faster than usual because the bank card in his pocket now contained a whopping 1.3 million yuan.

    For any ordinary young person, this would have already caused an emotional breakdown, yet he managed to maintain a calm expression, which was definitely no small feat. A slightly faster heartbeat was indeed nothing out of the ordinary.

    "Hello, my name is Liu Jiayao. We just met in Professor Tang''s clinic room. I''m pleased to meet you." As Ge Dongxu walked towards the clinic room, Liu Jiayao started to observe him stealthily after seeing him handle the huge sum of 1.3 million yuan with a still calm expression. She finally began to believe that this young man was not ordinary and remembered that her own illness still depended on this young man, so she stood up, swayed her graceful waist, walked up to him, and extended her delicate hand.

    "Hello, my name is Ge Dongxu, and I''m also pleased to meet you." Ge Dongxu, who had seen a few beautiful women by now, felt a moment of nervousness when he saw such a beautiful woman like Liu Jiayao extending her hand towards him, but then he returned the gesture with a slight smile and shook her hand gently.

    Her hand was soft but surprisingly cold.

    Ge Dongxu frowned slightly involuntarily but said nothing.

    "I''m older than you, may I call you by your first name?" Liu Jiayao, being a company president herself, naturally had some social skills. Seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t seem averse to interacting with her and wasn''t as temperamental as the rumors suggested, she elegantly brushed her hair with her hand, smiled, and asked in a friendly and casual manner that didn''t make one feel alienated or awkward.

    "Of course, you can, Ms. Liu," Ge Dongxu nodded and smiled.

    Beautiful women always tend to make men feel good, especially when the beauty initiates contact. Few men could resist her charm, and Ge Dongxu was no exception. Moreover, he was naturally a simple man from the mountains; he treated others as kindly as they treated him.

    Finding that Ge Dongxu was much easier to get along with than she had imagined, Liu Jiayao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, just thinking about continuing to chat with Ge Dongxu when the door to the clinic opened, and the last patient had finished their visit.

    "Dongxu, you''re here, why didn''t you come in?" Tang Yiyuan saw that Ge Dongxu was already standing outside and was slightly startled, then hurriedly smiled and said. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You were seeing a patient. How could I disturb you?" Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Hehe, saying that makes me feel like you''re treating me like a stranger. Your medical skills are even more profound than mine, so how could you be a disturbance?" Tang Yiyuan laughed.

    Noticing that Tang Yiyuan had cleverly concealed Ge Dongxu''s identity in front of Director Liu, but now in front of Liu Jiayao, he made no attempt to hide it. Moreover, when Ge Dongxu had held Liu Jiayao''s hand earlier, he felt it was very cold, and Tang Yiyuan had specifically asked Liu Jiayao to stay earlier, Ge Dongxu realized that Tang Yiyuan probably wanted him to help diagnose this beautiful lady.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t want to make a fuss at the moment, but he owed Tang Yiyuan a favor, and Liu Jiayao had left a good impression on him, so he wasn''t upset about Tang Yiyuan taking the liberty to bring him a patient. Instead, he walked into the clinic with a smile, humbly saying, "I''m just a student, I can''t compare to Professor Tang."

    Without waiting for Tang Yiyuan to exchange pleasantries, Ge Dongxu turned to Liu Jiayao and asked, "Do you mind if I take your pulse?"

    "Of course not, thank you so much, Dr. Ge," Liu Jiayao didn''t expect Ge Dongxu to volunteer and was overjoyed, hurriedly said. As Ge Dongxu explicitly revealed his identity, Liu Jiayao also appropriately changed how she addressed him.

    "Hehe, just call me by my name, I''m not really a doctor, my main occupation is being a student," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Really? You''re just a student?" Liu Jiayao exclaimed in surprise.

    She thought prodigies didn''t need to attend school.

    "Of course, at my age, what else would I be doing if not studying?" Ge Dongxu said, laughing as he stretched out three fingers to take Liu Jiayao''s pulse at the "inch, bar, and cubit" positions.

    "In recent years, have you been experiencing occasional dizziness or even fainting spells?" Ge Dongxu asked closely after taking her pulse. He didn''t ask Liu Jiayao to show her tongue but frowned slightly.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, not only was Liu Jiayao shocked to the point of losing color in her face, but even Tang Yiyuan, the experienced herbalist, was so astonished that his mouth fell open.

    While diagnosing Liu Jiayao''s dizziness through her pulse was within Tang Yiyuan''s capability, further asserting that she had fainting spells was beyond his abilities.

    ps: That''s it for today''s update, continued support is greatly appreciated, thank you very much!

 Chapter 53 Treatment Methods

    "Yes, yes, Doctor Ge, you are absolutely right. This phenomenon started happening four years ago." After the shock, Liu Jiayao nodded repeatedly, her beautiful eyes sparkling with anticipation and admiration as she looked at Ge Dongcheng.Ge Dongxu was somewhat uncomfortable with Liu Jiayao''s gaze and shifted slightly, pondering for a moment before speaking, "Did something frightening happen to you four years ago, causing your emotions to fluctuate greatly?"

    At this point, Liu Jiayao and Tang Yiyuan were so astonished that they could hardly speak.

    Especially Tang Yiyuan, as a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, he knew how difficult it was for a doctor to diagnose an illness as if seeing it with his own eyes!

    "Four years ago, my parents died in a car accident, and I was indeed greatly frightened," Liu Jiayao finally regained her composure after a long while, her eyes slightly reddening as she responded.

    "I''m sorry! I didn''t mean to remind you of the painful memories," Ge Dongxu, although able to guess that something frightening had happened to Liu Jiayao a few years ago, did not expect it to be such a tragic event, and he sincerely apologized.

    "It''s been four years now, and I''ve gradually adapted. Doctor Ge, can my illness be cured?" Liu Jiayao wiped the corner of her eye and then looked at Ge Dongxu with a face full of hope.

    She was still young and naturally did not want to one day faint and never wake up.

    "This..." Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao with a troubled expression on his face.

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    Seeing the troubled expression on Ge Dongxu''s face, Liu Jiayao thought he could not treat her. Her hopeful expression gradually faded, and she gave Ge Dongxu a tragically beautiful smile, saying, "Even though it can''t be cured, I still thank you very much."

    Seeing the tragically beautiful smile on Liu Jiayao''s face, Ge Dongxu felt an inexplicable pain in his heart and blurted out, "I didn''t say it couldn''t be cured, I just, just..."

    "Just what? You say, no matter how much it costs, one million, two million, five million, I can give it all to you." Liu Jiayao''s face suddenly lit up brilliantly, and in her excitement, she abruptly grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hands.

    "I don''t treat illnesses for money! You don''t need to worry, it''s just that your condition is a bit inconvenient for me to treat," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile as he gently pulled his hands away from Liu Jiayao.

    "Not for money?" Liu Jiayao was slightly stunned, her gaze at Ge Dongxu slowly turning bewildered. She found that she could no longer see through the young man in front of her.

    Hadn''t he just been selling wild Polygonum multiflorum to make money a moment ago? And what could be so inconvenient about treating an illness?

    "Doctor Ge, do you mean to use massage or acupuncture instead of medication?" Tang Yiyuan, after all, was a doctor and had some understanding of Liu Jiayao''s condition. In addition, having witnessed Ge Dongxu''s miraculous massage technique in the morning on the train, he quickly grasped what Ge Dongxu meant when he said that.

    However, Tang Yiyuan''s way of addressing Ge Dongxu experienced a subtle change; he no longer called him by his name but switched to Dr. Ge.

    Clearly, Ge Dongxu''s diagnosis had completely won over Tang Yiyuan!

    "You''re right. The main reason Ms. Liu experiences dizziness and even fainting is due to blockages in the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian, causing hindered circulation, which results in an insufficient supply of Qi-Blood to the heart. The natural treatment method would be to unblock these two meridians. Originally, we could have used medication for treatment, but just now when I was diagnosing Ms. Liu''s pulse, I found that she had been previously prescribed a high dosage of medication to unblock the meridians, which damaged her gastrointestinal organs. Now, using more medication might not be appropriate because while it might cure this, it could cause ailments elsewhere," said Ge Dongxu, nodding.

    "Cough, cough, that prescription was written by me before, I was indeed rash," said Tang Yiyuan, his face flushing with embarrassment and guilt as he interjected. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Your idea to unblock the meridians is correct, but the consideration was not thorough enough. A major difference between Chinese medicine and Western medicine is that Chinese medicine treats the human as a whole, not just treating the head for a headache or the foot for foot pain. You only focused on unblocking the meridians, forgetting about Ms. Liu''s visceral tolerance, which actually resembles more of a Western medical treatment. Your prescription should have taken these factors into account," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What Dr. Ge said is correct," Tang Yiyuan nodded in agreement.

    Watching the scene unfold, Liu Jiayao was so shocked that her red lips parted slightly, forgetting about her own medical treatment.

    The scene should have been one where a professor lectures a youth, but here it was a youth instructing and criticizing a professor, while the professor nodded continuously like a student.

    "Due to this mistake, the current treatment options can only consider acupuncture and massage," said Ge Dongxu, pausing slightly with a hint of difficulty on his face.

    As both of these meridians pass through the chest, and the "Tianchi" acupoint of the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian is even above the breasts, achieving better results would ideally involve a whole-body meridian unblocking. If it were a man, Ge Dongxu would naturally have no hesitation, but for a delicate urban beauty, how could the young man not feel awkward?

    Was he supposed to ask this older sister figure in front of him to strip off her clothes for a full-body acupuncture and massage treatment?

    "Does acupuncture and massage really work? I went to Professor Wei Min in the capital city for acupuncture before, but it didn''t have much effect," said Liu Jiayao, who had previously experienced acupuncture focusing on the chest area in Beijing. Now, she finally understood why Ge Dongxu felt awkward and said it was inconvenient. Although Liu Jiayao was a female executive not typically prone to shyness, her cheeks burned and her voice trembled as she asked.

    "If you were just feeling a slight dizziness, ordinary acupuncture would be effective. But since you have progressed to fainting, it suggests that the blockages in your meridians are quite severe, and ordinary acupuncture can no longer help you unblock them; you would need my special acupuncture and massage techniques. Moreover, because of my limited abilities, one session wouldn''t be sufficient¡ªit might require seven or eight sessions. And since the meridians are interconnected, a full-body unblocking would be best, especially focusing on the chest area. Sadly, my master isn''t here; otherwise, he could cure you in one go," said Ge Dongxu, a wistful look in his eyes that quickly disappeared.

    "Since, since that''s the case, then, could I trouble Dr. Ge to help me with acupuncture, massage?" Liu Jiayao bit her glowing lips, her voice trembling as she stuttered out her request after a long pause.

    "This... how about this? I''ll start by prescribing some medicine to regulate your stomach and body, and after about a year or half a year, once your gastrointestinal system is in optimal condition, I''ll prescribe you a formula to unblock the meridians. You should be able to be cured after taking it for some time. As there is a distinction between male and female, it''s inconvenient for you and also for me, wouldn''t you say?" Looking at Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu''s heart felt a bit uneasy.

    ps: Writing two books simultaneously, three updates per day for each has become unsustainable. The old book is nearing its end, and I plan to focus on it in the coming days, so I should be able to wrap it up by next week, which will lessen the mental strain. Therefore, for today and tomorrow, there will be one update in the morning and one in the afternoon, but no updates in the evening. Updates will resume to three times daily next week, and if I finish the old book, conditions permitting, there might occasionally be more frequent updates, but for the next two days, it will be two updates per day. I hope for your understanding.

 Chapter 54 Lets Go to My House

    "I''ve had enough of suddenly losing consciousness without knowing when; I don''t want to wait any longer. If you would help me with acupuncture and massage, let''s do it today," Liu Jiayao said through gritted teeth, bravely looking up at Ge Dongxu, no longer trembling and lowering her head as before."Dr. Ge, Miss Liu is a good person. She has sponsored many children in the mountains to enable them to have an education. For this reason, you shouldn''t let Miss Liu''s condition be delayed any further. Besides, a doctor''s duty is parental, and there''s no issue of convenience. Personally, I trust in your unique massage techniques even more," said Tang Yiyuan, seeing that Ge Dongxu was still somewhat hesitant, and began to persuade him after looking back at Liu Jiayao.

    "In that case, I can only offend." With even a young lady not minding and Tang Yiyuan saying such, Ge Dongxu really had no reason to refuse.

    Particularly when Tang Yiyuan mentioned that Liu Jiayao had also sponsored many children in the mountains, Ge Dongxu felt even more respect.

    "It''s not that you are offending me, but I should thank you! Thank you, Dr. Ge!" Liu Jiayao said, bowing deeply to Ge Dongxu.

    As she bowed, her neckline gaped slightly, revealing a flash of porcelain-white skin, which both excited and tormented the young Ge Dongxu inwardly.

    But with the words already spoken, he had no way to take them back. Moreover, Tang Yiyuan''s words were not wrong; the best cure for the condition was indeed acupuncture and massage. Of course, this kind of massage and acupuncture would definitely consume a large amount of Ge Dongxu''s True Qi, as his so-called unique method involved manipulating Qi to administer acupuncture and massage to help clear the Meridians. He just found it inconvenient to reveal that he utilized True Qi.

    "I do have a private room here. Miss Liu, would you prefer having Dr. Ge perform the acupuncture and massage here, or would you like to find another place?" seeing the two had made their decision, Tang Yiyuan asked.

    "Dr. Ge, could I invite you to come to my house to give me the acupuncture and massage?" Liu Jiayao asked Ge Dongxu instead of replying to Tang Yiyuan.

    Women often tend to have a bit of cleanliness obsession, especially those like Liu Jiayao who come from good families. Under the premise of needing to remove all her clothing, naturally, if given a choice, she would prefer it to be done at home. Moreover, this way she could feel more at ease and relaxed.

    "I''m the same anywhere, just choose wherever you feel more relaxed," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then let''s go to my house," Liu Jiayao said, then turned to Tang Yiyuan and added gratefully, "Professor Tang, I really owe you a huge thanks. Today is not convenient, but I''ll make sure to visit you another day to express my gratitude."

    "Miss Liu, you''re being too polite. I didn''t really do much. In fact, I might have caused you some trouble," Tang Yiyuan replied.

    "Professor Tang, please don''t say that; my condition is already difficult to treat as it is," Liu Jiayao hastily responded.

    "For us maybe, but not for Dr. Ge," Tang Yiyuan said self-deprecatingly.

    "Professor Tang, your medical skills are very impressive. It''s just, just¡­ never mind. I''ll leave my address; you can write to me if there''s anything, but it''s best not to visit me. My parents still want me to study hard and get into a good university," Ge Dongxu initially wanted to compliment Tang Yiyuan, but felt it seemed a bit disingenuous, as in his eyes, Tang Yiyuan''s medical skills were at most above average. So, halfway through, he simply picked up a pen and paper and left his school and class for Tang Yiyuan.

    That morning on the train, Tang Yiyuan had wanted his contact information, but at that time Ge Dongxu was still wary of him and could not fully trust him. Now, discovering that although Tang Yiyuan''s medical skills were not impressive, he was indeed a decent person, a true benevolent doctor, he decided to leave his contact information.

    Fortunately, no one knew what Ge Dongxu was thinking at the time; otherwise, if someone found out a young man dared to secretly criticize Tang Yiyuan''s medical skills, they''d surely jump up and scold him angrily. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Tang Yiyuan never expected that after having been unable to ask for Ge Dongxu''s contact information on the train earlier, and now seeing his medical skills becoming even more miraculous, hardly daring to hope anymore, Ge Dongxu would actually take the initiative to leave his contact information. Although he said it was best not to seek him out, he mentioned that it was possible to write letters, which meant that Ge Dongxu didn''t mind if he reached out for advice when in trouble.

    This was an unexpected joy for Tang Yiyuan. He quickly took the paper with Ge Dongxu''s contact information and carefully put it away, saying, "Dr. Ge, rest assured, I will absolutely not disturb you unless absolutely necessary. Even if I really need something, I will seek you out privately and will definitely not alert anyone else."

    This time, Tang Yiyuan, an elderly professor and expert, used honorifics when addressing Ge Dongxu. This was very rare in Jiangnan Province. Because people in the South are different from people in the North, due to custom, Southerners seldom use the polite form "you" and generally just use "you", even toward elders on regular occasions. It is only when they deliberately want to express respect that they use the word "you". For example, when subordinates want to flatter their leaders, they will deliberately use "you", or sometimes when dealing with Northerners, who often say "you", Southerners also have to follow suit, otherwise, it would seem arrogant. In fact, when Southerners say "you", it doesn''t mean disrespect.

    At this time, Tang Yiyuan''s use of "you" was obviously intended to express his respect for Ge Dongxu, hoping to seek his advice when facing future difficulties.

    "Then it''s settled! I took a day off to come to the Provincial Capital today and must rush back to Changxi County before class tomorrow morning, so I won''t delay any longer. If there''s anything in the future, we can contact through letters." Having heard Tang Yiyuan say this, Ge Dongxu also felt completely relieved, exchanged a few more words, then left the clinic with Liu Jiayao.

    Tang Yiyuan initially wanted to see them out, but Ge Dongxu declined. Knowing Ge Dongxu''s character, Tang Yiyuan did not insist.

    Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu left the specialist clinic together and went downstairs.

    Downstairs was the registration hall, where a bold and vigorous young woman, about the same age as Liu Jiayao, was sitting. Seeing Liu Jiayao come down, she quickly stood up and approached her.

    "Ms. Liu, are you leaving?" the woman greeted as she approached. Her eyes skeptically scanned Ge Dongxu a few times, unsure of who this plainly dressed young man was, wondering why he was with her boss.

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    "Yes. Dongxu, this is my driver, Li Min. Li Min, this is my friend Ge Dongxu. You can call him Mr. Ge," Liu Jiayao nodded, then said.

    This was an agreement the two had privately made after leaving the specialist clinic. This form of address was mainly because Ge Dongxu did not want to draw too much attention to himself. After all, being a sixteen-year-old doctor, it would be hard not to attract others'' attention.

    Upon hearing this, Li Min''s eyes showed a flash of shock, but she quickly dismissed it.

    A sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy called a mister?

    Of course, Li Min was just a driver. Whatever her boss said, she would follow; thinking to herself was enough, and she wouldn''t voice her thoughts.

    ps: I need to focus on finishing the old book first, so there will be only this much update today. Please understand and continue to support the book, much appreciated.

 Chapter 55 I Dont See a Doctor for Money

    "Hello, Sister Liu," Ge Dongxu extended his hand, greeting her proactively."Hello, Mr. Ge," Li Min''s eyes flickered again with a hint of surprise. She hadn''t expected this young man, dressed so plainly, to behave so generously and appropriately, nothing like his attire or age.

    "Just call me Dongxu, ''Mr. Ge'' is too awkward," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "You''re a friend of Boss Liu, I wouldn''t dare to call you by your first name," Li Min replied with a smile, then started to lead the way.

    It wasn''t long before they reached the parking lot, which was quite empty, unlike now, where cars are parked everywhere. Of course, there were hardly any luxury cars, mostly black Nissan Sentras or white Volkswagen Jettas, along with a few Citroens and Xialis, so Liu Jiayao''s imported black Audi 200 stood out prominently parked there.

    Ge Dongxu spotted that car at a glance and was thinking that it was nice when Li Min had already walked forward, opened the rear car door, and tried to let Liu Jiayao take a seat. But Liu Jiayao stopped instead, turned to Ge Dongxu, and said, "Dongxu, after you."

    Ge Dongxu didn''t stand on ceremony with Liu Jiayao, and ducked into the Audi 200.

    Oftentimes, it''s not until you compare that you realize the gap between things. The first time Ge Dongxu rode in a sedan, he thought the taxi was very comfortable, far better than those rickety minibuses from the countryside. Now, sitting in the Audi 200 and touching its smooth leather seats, he couldn''t help but exclaim, "This is a really nice car! It even feels comfortable to the touch."

    Upon hearing this, a mocking glint flashed in Li Min''s eyes; she thought to herself, a country bumpkin is still a country bumpkin, probably never in his life had he ridden in such a nice car.

    This wasn''t Li Min''s fault. At that time, being able to drive was considered quite impressive, and even more so for a woman. Although Li Min was just a driver, her income was higher than many pharmacists at Yongchun Hall. Moreover, accompanying Liu Jiayao, she met government officials and business owners, which naturally elevated her perspective. For someone dressed as plainly as Ge Dongxu, if not for Liu Jiayao''s connection, she really wouldn''t have spared him a second glance.

    "Hehe, it''s not that expensive, just about four hundred thousand. You''re now a millionaire, you could easily buy one if you really wanted to," Liu Jiayao said with a smile.

    "You make it sound so easy, just about four hundred thousand. If I spent that way, my little bit of money wouldn''t last long!" Ge Dongxu said, laughing.

    The conversation between the two made Li Min, who was driving, jolt her hand on the steering wheel, nearly hitting a middle-aged man who was crossing the street on a bicycle.

    Goodness, you really can''t judge a book by its cover, this plain-looking young man is actually a millionaire!

    "If you can''t bear to spend that money, I could buy one and give it to you," Liu Jiayao said.

    Upon hearing this, Li Min''s hand on the steering wheel trembled once more.

    A forty-thousand vehicle! Even if you wanted to give a gift, this wasn''t the way to do it! Besides, the other party was just a countryside youth.

    "Hehe, I''m only sixteen this year, still a high school student, even if you gave me a car, I wouldn''t have any use for it," Ge Dongxu said, laughing.

    Only then did Liu Jiayao realize that Ge Dongxu was still young, and even with a car, he wouldn''t be able to drive it, so she could only laugh awkwardly.

    Liu Jiayao''s apartment was a twenty-story high-rise situated alongside the Jinglin River that flowed across the urban area.

    It was the first generation of high-rise residential apartments in the whole of Linzhou City and truly a high-class living area. Inside, there was an elevator, central air conditioning, as well as a security entrance system. Whenever someone visited, the residents could simply use the intercom to inquire and even see the visitor''s appearance on TV, just like in some of the buildings featured in Hong Kong TV dramas. Thus, to the ordinary people, living in these high-rise apartments was akin to living in Hong Kong.

    At that time, Hong Kong symbolized an extremely developed place, not like now when some cities in Huaxia Country''s mainland have caught up with, and in some respects are not inferior to, Hong Kong.

    Of course, such upscale apartments came with a hefty price tag, with per square meter reaching around five thousand, while the surrounding ordinary apartments only cost one to two thousand per square meter at most.

    Although Ge Dongxu had visited the Changxi Grand Hotel, and one could say he had seen the world for a rural person, a hotel differed from a residential property. Thus, when he first entered the Yadu Garden, this first-generation high-rise apartment with Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu still felt a sense of amazement. Especially since Liu Jiayao''s apartment was on the nineteenth floor, where standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows allowed one to overlook the broad Jinglin River and most of Linzhou City.

    This was because at that time, even though Linzhou City was the provincial capital, it lacked many skyscrapers, and the urban area was not that large.

    "This place is really nice!" Ge Dongxu stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooking the view below, feeling a sense of achievement and could not help but exclaim.

    "If you like it, there are still a few unsold units in Yadu Garden. I can help you buy one, so in two or three years if you come to Linzhou City for university, you''ll have a place to stay off campus," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Sister Liu, I''ve already said, I don''t cure patients for money. It''s like this now and it will be the same in the future. I won''t use my medical skills to make a living. If I did, I would lose my way of life," Ge Dongxu said, knowing Liu Jiayao''s intentions, he spoke with a serious face. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s resolute statement, Liu Jiayao stopped thinking about compensation and said with a smile, "It seems I''ll owe you a favor for the rest of my life that I won''t be able to repay."

    "You trust my medical skills so much? Aren''t you afraid you''re speaking too soon?" Ge Dongxu, now familiar with Liu Jiayao, spoke casually, losing the restraint one might have in front of a beautiful female executive.

    "If Professor Tang trusts you so much that he seeks your advice, what reason do I have not to believe you? If even you can''t cure my illness, then I''ll completely give up the hope of seeking medical treatment. When the King of Hell calls for me, I''ll go," Liu Jiayao said as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "Cough cough, don''t speak so gravely. Alright, let''s start earlier. I still have things to do later, and after I finish, I still need to catch the six o''clock train in the evening," Ge Dongxu hurriedly interrupted, seeing that Liu Jiayao was becoming a bit pessimistic.

    When Ge Dongxu mentioned starting, it reminded Liu Jiayao of the upcoming session, and her face turned red all of a sudden. She spoke in a very soft voice, "I''ll take a quick shower first."

    She didn''t wait for Ge Dongxu to respond, hurriedly entering her master bedroom and then closing the door.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu smiled wryly and shook his head. It was just a matter of needling and simple physical therapy; did it really require a special bath and change of clothes?

    Ge Dongxu waited outside for about fifteen minutes before the door of the master bedroom swung open. Liu Jiayao, wrapped in a white bathrobe, revealed a hint of snow-white chest, her hair casually draped over her shoulders and glistening with a few drops of water, looking exceptionally alluring.

    ps: Today I continue to rush to finish the old book, so the new book will have just two updates today. However, the old book should be completed by tomorrow morning at the latest, which means I can devote myself to writing the new book. On Monday, because I''m aiming for the rank list, I will still post a chapter of the new book at midnight, so I ask for readers'' support with more recommendations, clicks, comments, and if possible, donations, for which I would be extremely grateful. Since it''s the initial stage of the new book, please don''t mind the more frequent requests for support.

 Chapter 56 The Theory of Meridian Circulation

    "I''m ready!" Liu Jiayao, thinking about the immediate task ahead, leaned weakly against the doorframe and bit her red lips as she said to Ge Dongxu, all the while telling herself repeatedly in her heart, he''s a doctor, he''s a doctor, and also a child, just a child!However, no matter how much Liu Jiayao tried to convince herself, she couldn''t ignore Ge Dongxu''s nearly 1.7 meters height, the clearly defined Adam''s apple, and the increasingly evident stubble on his lips.

    How could she possibly treat him as a child?

    Liu Jiayao didn''t realize how enticing she looked, wearing a bathrobe with slightly damp hair, leaning against the doorframe. If Ge Dongxu hadn''t been a man of pure heart and firm resolve, any other man would have probably pounced on her at this moment.

    "Okay!" Ge Dongxu took a deep breath and then, like a hero marching to execution, he lifted his head and walked towards the bedroom.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu approach, Liu Jiayao turned away from the door and walked to the bedside, turning her back to Ge Dongxu as she started to undo her bathrobe.

    "Wait a moment!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly exclaimed, his gaze quickly scanning the bedroom.

    The room was arranged to be very cozy and feminine, with everything in pink. Pink curtains, pink bedding, a pink vanity...

    Such a color scheme easily evoked images of a princess from a fairy tale, hardly reminiscent of a female corporate executive, a strong woman.

    Yet the room of Liu Jiayao, the female executive, the strong woman, was indeed all pink.

    Feeling the romantic and ambiguous pink decoration filling the bedroom, Ge Dongxu''s heart did not stir with any flirtatious thoughts, but rather, a strong sense of tender affection inexplicably rose within him.

    He knew that within the heart of this seemingly strong woman, she deeply yearned to be loved and pampered like a little princess, but the ones who could love and pamper her were no longer here. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t I need to take it off for you to treat me?" Liu Jiayao''s hand froze on the tie, then slowly relaxed, as she turned around and asked Ge Dongxu, puzzled.

    "Before treating you, I need to explain a few things so that you are aware and can relax more during the treatment, and also cooperate with me. Otherwise, if you know nothing and your thoughts are in chaos and your energy scatters wildly, it might even affect me," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Thank you, you are very thoughtful," Liu Jiayao said softly, appreciatively.

    "We have already become friends, so we don''t need to be so formal, let''s sit down and talk," Ge Dongxu said, scanning the bedroom only to awkwardly notice that aside from a chair near the vanity, there was no extra chair.

    "Let''s sit on the bed," Liu Jiayao said, seeing that Ge Dongxu had an honest and upright look, especially since his gaze at her just now had not only lacked any inappropriate thoughts but also carried a hint of compassion. This eased Liu Jiayao''s nerves, and she sat down on the soft Simmons bed, then patted the spot beside her.

    Ge Dongxu initially wanted to suggest moving to the living room, but seeing Liu Jiayao''s invitation to sit on the bed and remembering what they were about to do, he felt it was alright and walked over to sit next to Liu Jiayao on the Simmons bed.

    "This bed is so soft; actually, from a health and wellness perspective, it is better to sleep on a hard bed," Ge Dongxu remarked as he sat down and felt himself sink into the mattress, saying this without thinking.

    "But sleeping on a hard bed makes my bones ache, I like it soft," Liu Jiayao replied.

    "Well, alright then," Ge Dongxu said, just making a casual remark, and smiled helplessly as he nodded his head, then changed the topic, "Western medicine now believes the human body has two circulation systems: blood vessels and nerves, but traditional Chinese medicine believes there is also a Meridians circulation system. Blood vessels carry blood, nerves conduct electrical signals, but the Meridians carry Qi-Blood. The former two can be concretely located, but Meridians and Qi-Blood are still mysterious, no one can truly understand it or display it for others to see. However, Meridians do exist, and so does Qi-Blood. Hm, you might not understand when I say Qi-Blood, but if I say True Qi or the Qigong that Qigong masters practice, which people often talk about, then you''ll know. Qi-Blood actually refers to that special energy."

    "Ah, I understand when you mention Qigong. So, Qigong is real, not a scam?" Liu Jiayao asked. After she spoke, she suddenly felt as if she might be questioning Ge Dongxu too, and quickly added, "I don''t mean you, I know you truly have skills."

    "It should be said that most Qigong masters are fake, but there are real ones. It''s like fortune-telling, most are deceiving people, but real fortune tellers do exist, sorry, I digress. Back to Qi-Blood, well, let''s use True Qi instead, I''m more used to describing that special energy as True Qi. Because True Qi is like air, invisible to the naked eye, so we describe it as Qi. Both Meridians and that strand of True Qi are indeed inherent to humans and related to the life and death of a person, hence the saying, ''a man lives as long as he breathes, a Buddha fights for a stick of incense''. Here, ''Qi'' actually refers to that strand of True Qi within the Meridians," Ge Dongxu explained further.

    "So, the saying that ''a man lives as long as he breathes, a Buddha fights for a stick of incense'' has this interpretation," Liu Jiayao said with a glimmer in her eyes, unable to resist interjecting.

    "The human body has the Twelve Regular Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, each of the Twelve Regular Meridians governs an organ within the body, and the body''s True Qi operates in each of the twelve meridians according to the twelve Chinese Hours, which is what is called ''midnight and noon channels'' flow. Cough cough, sorry, I digressed again."

    "No problem, what you are saying is eye-opening for me, very interesting," Liu Jiayao remarked.

    "So, if a certain organ has a problem, accordingly, the True Qi of the governing Meridian becomes obstructed at certain organ points, and then the person becomes ill. If methods like Acupuncture are used to stimulate certain Meridians and points, it can have a therapeutic effect. Conversely, if there is an issue with a Meridian and True Qi cannot flow through it, unable to provide life energy to the organs via the Meridians, the person will also become ill."

    "Oh, now that you''ve explained it, I completely understand. My current condition is exactly what you mentioned, the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and another Meridian are blocked, which is why my heart has issues. No wonder, Western medicine couldn''t detect any problems; it''s the Meridians they can''t detect," Ge Dongxu had said. Now, Liu Jiayao finally understood fully. However, after realizing, she suddenly thought of another question and couldn''t help but ask again, "In martial arts novels, there''s often talk of unblocking Meridians, especially the governor and conception vessels and then becoming a martial arts master. But according to what you just said, Meridians are supposed to be unblocked already."

    ps: As the rankings battle on Monday is very important, I will try to rush out another chapter at midnight on Monday. Please support me in abundance then, dear readers.

 Chapter 57 Its okay, this is normal

    "Hehe, you''ve already pointed out that it''s just a martial arts novel. Are you really taking it seriously? However, if we look at it from another angle, what''s said in martial arts novels isn''t completely without sense. It''s true that people''s meridians are naturally interconnected and that breath circulates automatically through the Twelve Regular Meridians and the Eight Extraordinary Meridians. But the size and resilience of each person''s meridians and the strength of their breath vary. It''s like the world''s rivers¡ªeach river has its own size and flow rate.""If you reinterpret the martial arts novels'' concept of ''unblocking meridians'' as expanding and strengthening all meridians to allow the breath to circulate more smoothly, and considering that the governor and conception vessels are ''the master of all yin meridians'' and ''the sea of the yang meridians,'' respectively, then the martial arts novels make some sense. Your current condition is that the two meridians passing through your heart are blocked. Although the breath still gets through, it''s very difficult. If you let this go on, and the meridians become completely blocked, the breath will no longer circulate freely within you, and your life will reach its endpoint."

    "What I''m doing now is like the martial arts masters in novels, using my own inner strength, which is True Qi, to forcefully clear the blockage. Because my True Qi is very strong, and it''s invading from outside your body, you should be able to feel it if you keep a calm mind. When you do feel it, your thoughts must follow that sensation, and you must not let your mind wander. While breath normally circulates on its own¡ªbecause your brain can''t sense it¡ªonce you can feel its presence, you can direct it. So you must synchronize it with my movements and not resist me. Remember this well, otherwise both of us will suffer."

    "So that''s how it is. I''ve got it, don''t worry, I will cooperate with you!" Ge Dongxu explained very clearly and thoroughly, and Liu Jiayao was a smart woman. After his explanation, she fully understood the principles and methods of Ge Dongxu''s treatment.

    Of course, understanding Ge Dongxu''s principles and methods was one thing, but the mystery was another. To Liu Jiayao, she understood, but still found the concepts of meridians and True Qi very mystical and magical, which made Ge Dongxu seem even more incredible in her eyes. She really wanted to ask if he was a martial arts master, but since Ge Dongxu was already opening his backpack and solemnly taking out an old-fashioned sandalwood box, Liu Jiayao didn''t dare to ask these gossipy questions at that moment.

    "Should I undress now?" Liu Jiayao put away her curiosity and asked Ge Dongxu.

    Strangely, after Ge Dongxu''s explanation and their time together, Liu Jiayao was no longer nervous. Instead, she was eager to experience Ge Dongxu''s magical skills and wanted to feel that mysterious breath herself.

    "Yes!" Dongxu watched as Liu Jiayao gently untied the belt of her bathrobe, revealing a glimpse of springtime beneath. He couldn''t help but feel his mouth go dry, but he finally took a deep breath and nodded.

    Seeing Dongxu nod, Liu Jiayao lightly pulled the belt and the bathrobe slid to the floor, revealing her perfect, sculpture-like body before Dongxu.

    This was the first time Dongxu had seen a woman''s naked body. Liu Jiayao''s heart might not be well, but because she had faithfully exercised daily for years as advised by doctors, her figure was exceptionally well-proportioned and fit. At twenty-seven, she was at a time in a woman''s life when her body was most mature and alluring, creating a stunning vision that no artist could fully capture.

    Dongxu''s gaze was captivated by this indescribable beauty and remained fixed for a long time until Liu Jiayao, blushing, asked, "Should I lie down now?"

    "Ah, yes, I''m sorry, Sister Liu, please lie down," said Dongxu, coming back to his senses and filled with a deep sense of guilt.

    Because he had just entertained an inappropriate thought, a thought he should not have had.

    "It''s okay; it''s totally normal!" Seeing Dongxu''s self-reproaching expression, Liu Jiayao, far from blaming him, felt a strong sense of tender affection instead. She gently reassured him before lying down on the bed.

    There Jiayao lay, naked on the pink bed, an even greater temptation than before. However, after the previous moment, Dongxu had completely refocused his mind, his dark eyes now exceptionally clear and piercing.

    That piercing gaze made Jiayao feel as if he could see right through her, causing goosebumps all over her body and a vague sense of loss in her heart.

    It seems she preferred the way Ge Dongxu looked at her just now, yet with the feeling of loss, she grew ever more respectful towards him. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She knew that a sixteen-year-old boy, able to exhibit such self-control in this situation, must be a person of firm determination and simple honesty. In all these years of interacting with all kinds of men, even when she was fully clothed, those men''s eyes seemed as if they could not wait to pierce through her clothes to glimpse her body.

    But Ge Dongxu, facing her naked body now, managed to keep his gaze clear and sharp, utterly unmoved. If it had not been for Dongxu''s brief moment of distraction and his obvious physical reaction just now, Liu Jiayao would have doubted his sexual orientation.

    Now, of course, she had no such doubts, only respect!

    "Because my abilities are limited for now, I won''t be able to completely clear your meridians using acupuncture alone, so later I will have to use my hands to massage them directly. You must be mentally prepared," Dongxu said gravely.

    "It''s okay! You''re the doctor, do whatever you think is necessary. I trust you," Liu Jiayao said.

    Liu Jiayao''s words made Ge Dongxu feel even more guilty about the wicked thoughts he had just entertained, and he silently warned himself not to let his mind wander again, then finally climbed onto the bed following her.

    Liu Jiayao''s biggest problem lay in the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and another meridian. The former was manageable since it was mainly along the arm, with the most sensitive area being just under the armpit. However, the location of the first point "Tianchi" on the latter was on the breasts, which made Dongxu break out in nervous cold sweat.

    Liu Jiayao was no exception. She had never exposed her body in front of a boy, let alone allowed a boy to touch those sensitive spots while naked.

    When Ge Dongxu''s hands touched those sensitive spots, her body couldn''t help but shiver slightly.

    Fortunately, both knew this was a medical treatment and they had to restrain their feelings. Also, with anything, one tends to get used to it over time. So, after an initial period of discomfort and nervousness, both their emotions gradually returned to calm.

    Soon regaining her composure, Liu Jiayao indeed felt a very faint flow, like a stream of air, moving slowly inside her body along the locations of the two meridians, as Dongxu had said.

    Remembering Dongxu''s words, Liu Jiayao quickly let her thoughts follow the flow.

    As soon as her mind caught up with it, the flow seemed to grow stronger and become more noticeable.

    In this way, Liu Jiayao completely forgot that she was lying naked on the bed next to a man who was moving around on top of her.

    ps: It''s Monday, not only is Qidian continuing to fight for the rankings but QQ Book City has also started an official PK challenge. The results of the PK will determine subsequent recommendations, so I ask my readers for their strong support. The old book will end today, and the new book will definitely be updated more.

 Chapter 58 Moved [Vote for Recommendation on Monday]

    It was unclear how much time had passed when Liu Jiayao realized that no more external airflow was coming through and she could no longer feel that stream of air, which startled her awake. She hastily looked towards Ge Dongxu to find his whole complexion pale, his clothes soaked with sweat, and even sitting there, he appeared as if he might collapse at any moment.Seeing this scene filled Liu Jiayao''s eyes with tears all of a sudden. She scrambled out of bed, not caring that she was undressed, and looked at Ge Dongxu with concern, urgently asking, "Are you alright?"

    "It''s okay, it''s just that it''s my first time clearing someone''s meridians like this, and I''m a little inexperienced, so I''m somewhat drained," Ge Dongxu managed to squeeze out a smile as he replied.

    "It''s all my fault! Will this cause you to lose your cultivation power?" Seeing Ge Dongxu smile at her in such a state made the tears brimming in her eyes finally spill over.

    Since her parents had passed away, she couldn''t recall the last time someone had cared for her with such pure and selfless love, just like her parents did.

    Today, she felt it again.

    The young man before her had no connection to her, sought neither her money nor her beauty, yet he had given so much for her!

    "It seems Sister Liu is still a fan of the martial world. You''re thinking too much. It''s not that exaggerated, I just expended more energy and need some time to recover. Right now, please let me rest with my eyes closed. I have things to attend to this afternoon, so I must complete them promptly before I rush back to Changxi County, or else my headteacher will scold me," Ge Dongxu smiled at Liu Jiayao once more, then closed his eyes.

    Although Ge Dongxu spoke lightly, Liu Jiayao, watching him rest without any delay, could not hold back her tears, which flowed even more freely. After a long while, she finally wiped her tears, got out of bed, and got dressed.

    As she got dressed, Liu Jiayao suddenly realized how much more relaxed her entire body felt, especially around her chest. She had always had a lingering chest tightness and a faint pain, but today, it had significantly lessened, especially the pain, which was almost imperceptible.

    She had been so focused on Ge Dongxu that she hadn''t noticed the change in her body until now.

    This realization made Liu Jiayao not only happy but also deeply moved.

    After getting dressed, seeing Ge Dongxu still sitting in meditation with his eyes closed, Liu Jiayao, perhaps out of some inexplicable sentiment, did not leave the bedroom. Instead, she walked over to the bed, laid down with her chin propped on her hands, and watched Ge Dongxu meditate, her expression somewhat infatuated.

    As she watched, something crossed Liu Jiayao''s mind, making her face suddenly turn red and her eyes become bewildered.

    But quickly, her expression and gaze turned resolute, as if she had made some significant decision.

    Ge Dongxu really overexerted himself this time by clearing Liu Jiayao''s Meridians, so much so that his own Meridians were nearly empty. After about an hour of Breath Regulation, he finally regained his strength. Of course, regaining his strength didn''t mean his True Qi was fully restored; that would likely take some more time.

    Therefore, even though martial arts novels exaggerate with phrases like "spending ten years of Cultivation Power" or "a cycle of sixty years", there is still some truth to them. Like Ge Dongxu, given the scarcity of nature''s spiritual energy nowadays, it would take a month or two for his Meridians to recover fully.

    Of course, the consumption of True Qi is one thing, but on a regular basis, due to cultivation, the True Qi slowly seeps into and nourishes the internal organs, making the body''s organs gradually stronger, which is another matter altogether. So, it''s not that when the True Qi is depleted, one''s cultivation power is gone. Rather, the foundation built from past cultivation still solidly accumulates, and it won''t be lost just because the True Qi is depleted. Thus, what those martial arts novels describe, such as a martial arts master imparting sixty years of his power, turning instantly into a frail, white-haired man, is nonsense. The body''s foundation won''t be lost just because of the consumption of True Qi.

    This is actually easy to understand. Just like how a person''s strength might be used up but can recover after some time, and the body doesn''t get affected¡ªin fact, it may even become stronger due to the exercise.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu opened his eyes, he saw Liu Jiayao lying on the bed staring at him, which startled him. He hurriedly jumped off the bed, scratching his head with a chuckle. "Sorry, Sister Liu, I was really exhausted and ended up meditating on your bed." sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What are you talking about? You were so exhausted because of me, and I don''t even know how to thank you!" Liu Jiayao said with a playful glare. She used to refer to herself as ''I'' when speaking to Ge Dongxu, but now she had switched to ''sister''.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu, feeling somewhat embarrassed, scratched his head again, not knowing quite what to say in modesty. Regarding Liu Jiayao''s change of address, he hadn''t noticed it. Being relatively young, he thought Liu Jiayao''s self-reference as ''sister'' was quite normal, just like Dong Yuxin who also insisted he call her ''senior sister'', frequently using that title, even though she was only a couple of years older than him.

    Ge Dongxu was unaware that for a female CEO like Liu Jiayao, referring to herself as ''sister'' to a man carried a different implication altogether compared to a young girl like Dong Yuxin.

    "You were all sweaty and tired just now. Continue resting a bit; I''ll run a hot bath for you. It''ll help you relax," said Liu Jiayao, noticing Ge Dongxu''s embarrassed state, her demeanor unwaveringly sincere, a brief haze passing through her beautiful eyes before she gave him a flirtatious smile.

    "No, no need. Now that I''ve cleared your Meridians, I should be going," said Ge Dongxu, who had after all seen and touched Liu Jiayao''s body, though she had behaved very naturally. However, facing her made him feel uncomfortable, as if guilty, especially about taking a bath there, he nearly jumped up in haste, frantically waving his hands.

    "What are you leaving for now? It''s almost noon! You''ve been busy all morning; can''t you have a bath and lunch here? Besides, going out smelling like sweat, do you want to suffocate people?" Liu Jiayao immediately grabbed his hand when she saw him about to leave, looking quite displeased as she scolded him.

    Realizing himself how badly he smelled, Ge Dongxu blushed and said, "But I can''t bathe here, I don''t even have a change of clothes..."

    "Wouldn''t I go down and buy you a change of clothes? A shirt is not going to cost you anything, right? Now, stay put. I''m going to draw the bath for you, or you''ll really make me angry," Liu Jiayao said, giving Ge Dongxu another playful glare, then without waiting for a response, she pushed him back onto the bed and turned, swishing her hair as she strode towards the bathroom.

    This was the most feminine and coquettish side she had shown in four years. Ever since her parents died in a car accident, she had been quite indifferent to everyone, let alone the men. But today, in front of Ge Dongxu, she was all eye-rolling and closely engaging, one could hardly believe they weren''t in a romantic relationship if Ge Dongxu hadn''t been just sixteen.

    ps: Another chapter will be updated at 1 PM and 8 PM today for the rankings, please support generously.

 Chapter 59 Taking a Hot Bath

    Seeing signs of irritation in Liu Jiayao, and also because Ge Dongxu couldn''t stand the stench of his own sweat, he stopped refusing. However, as soon as he touched the pink mattress, he immediately remembered his sweaty condition and hurriedly stood up, catching up and saying, "Sister Liu, let me do it myself.""Why? You''re only allowed to help me, but I can''t help you? Besides, you''re a guy, so of course, such matters like preparing a bath should be left to me," Liu Jiayao glanced sideways at Ge Dongxu and chided again.

    "Alright then." Faced with Liu Jiayao''s "dominance," Ge Dongxu had no choice but to completely retreat and honestly left the bedroom to stay in the living room.

    At that time, Ge Dongxu was still young and lacked social experience. He didn''t realize that in the city, even very close friends who visit generally bathe in the guest room if there is a shower, or in the living room if there isn''t. It''s rare for hosts to invite guests into their own master bedroom to bathe because the master bathroom is considered a very private place for the host. Not to mention a young female host actively offering to prepare a bath for a young man in her bedroom''s bathroom.

    Luckily, Ge Dongxu did not understand what this implied then; otherwise, if it had been another man, he might have joyously dragged Liu Jiayao for a coupled bath already.

    For such an attitude was too obvious! Unless the man was completely oblivious, he would understand the intentions of the woman.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu was not oblivious; he was just sixteen years old, without much social experience, and had always lived in the mountains, with a very innocent mind, not thinking about such things.

    After turning on the hot water, Liu Jiayao then rummaged through the wardrobe and took out a bath towel, a new towel, a new toothbrush, and a clean bathrobe of her own. Thinking that her bathrobe would soon be worn by Ge Dongxu, Liu Jiayao''s pretty face felt somewhat hot, yet she meticulously folded it and placed it in the bathroom along with the towel and toothbrush.

    After everything was arranged, the bathtub was nearly full. Liu Jiayao specifically felt the water temperature and seeing it was about right, she left the bathroom and called Ge Dongxu in, saying, "The water is ready now. Take a good hot bath. The bath towel, towel, and toothbrush are all prepared. The towels and toothbrush are new, and although the bath towel and robe are old, they are clean. Make do with these for now. Later, I''ll get you a set right here. There''s a Li Ning sportswear store nearby on the ground floor. I''ll go down and buy a set for you now, including shorts. After you finish bathing, wrap up in the bathrobe. Don''t put the dirty clothes back on."

    By now, Ge Dongxu realized that if he said no or acted formally with Liu Jiayao, she would definitely roll her eyes at him again, so he didn''t decline anymore and nodded, then went into the bathroom.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu not being formal with her this time, Liu Jiayao showed a happy smile, greeted Ge Dongxu, and then left the room.

    Liu Jiayao''s bathroom was also arranged very cozy and romantic, reflecting a woman''s touch from the tiles to the decor, easily identifiable as a woman''s bathroom.

    It was then that the young man from the mountains realized he probably shouldn''t be bathing in the bathroom of this room.

    But since Liu Jiayao had already prepared the hot water, it would be a waste to change bathrooms now. Therefore, Ge Dongxu had no choice but to brush his teeth uncomfortably in there because he had been on a train overnight and hadn''t brushed his teeth yet today.

    After brushing his teeth, Ge Dongxu took off his clothes and pants, then stepped into the bathtub.

    Immersing himself fully in the bathtub, the extremely tired Ge Dongxu felt all 36,000 pores open up, so comfortable that he almost shouted out loud.

    "Wealthy people really know how to enjoy life!" Ge Dongxu lay in the bathtub, his hands gently touching the smooth ceramics, unable to help feeling emotional.

    "It looks like I''ll need to divide this money into two parts, one part for myself and another for my parents. They''ve also worked hard for half their lives and should enjoy life a bit." While reflecting on the lifestyle of the wealthy, Ge Dongxu''s thoughts drifted unknowingly to his parents. He suddenly felt that he should allocate part of the money for them. As for what they might think, or whether it would disrupt their lives, Ge Dongxu believed that as long as he kept the amount within a range they could accept, there shouldn''t be any problems.

    Thinking this way, Ge Dongxu''s mood improved considerably. Previously, he had many concerns and was not planning to tell his parents about the money, but he always felt uncomfortable keeping it from them, feeling that no matter the reasons, he should not hide it from them.

    After soaking in the bath for a while, the water gradually became cool, so Ge Dongxu got up, experimented for a bit, and finally figured out the right way to adjust the hot and cold water before thoroughly rinsing himself from head to toe. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After the bath, Ge Dongxu grabbed a towel to dry himself off, and then put on a bathrobe.

    Ge Dongxu was still growing, now about 1.7 meters tall, and Liu Jiayao was also nearly 1.7 meters, so the bathrobe was not too small for him. However, the bathrobe had a faint delicate fragrance and recalling that Liu Jiayao had worn it, Ge Dongxu spaced out for a moment but quickly controlled his mind and avoided wandering thoughts.

    Just as Ge Dongxu had put on his bathrobe and stepped out of the bathroom, Liu Jiayao happened to walk in through the door.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu emerge from the bathroom in her bathrobe made Liu Jiayao''s pretty face blush slightly, but she quickly regained her composure and said, "Why did you come out without drying your hair?"

    "It''s okay, my hair is short, it dries quickly," Ge Dongxu smiled and replied.

    "What does short have to do with it? The weather has gotten colder, what if you catch a cold? No, you go back in, I''ll dry it for you." Saying this, Liu Jiayao placed the clothes she had bought on her bed, then pushed Ge Dongxu back into the bathroom.

    "I won''t catch a cold!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and cry, and said, he was after all a cultivator. If he were to catch a cold just because his hair wasn''t dried, his years of cultivation would really go to waste.

    "That''s still no excuse, stand still!" Liu Jiayao insisted as she pulled open the drawer beneath the washbasin, took out a hairdryer, and commanded.

    "Alright, then I''ll do it myself," Ge Dongxu reluctantly said.

    "I''ll help you!" Liu Jiayao insisted again.

    With no choice, Ge Dongxu stood reluctantly in front of the mirror while watching Liu Jiayao turn on the hairdryer to dry his hair.

    In the mirror, Liu Jiayao, nearly as tall as him, stood close to him while drying, her body slightly leaning towards him, her hand gently touching his hair, her eyes tender and focused on his head. For a moment, something inside Ge Dongxu seemed to be struck hard, and then he quickly warned himself not to let his thoughts wander.

 Chapter 60 It Turns Out You Are Quite Handsome

    After drying his hair, Ge Dongxu muttered a thank you and then fled the bathroom as if escaping.There was no helping it; the bathroom was cramped. Standing in front of the mirror, with each breath Ge Dongxu took, he could smell that incredibly nice fragrance.

    Once out of the bathroom, Ge Dongxu picked up the clothes Liu Jiayao had left on the bed and was about to change in the living room bathroom. He had just picked them up when Liu Jiayao stopped him, saying, "Wait a moment before you change; you can''t wear the underwear directly, it needs to be washed first."

    "They''re new and clean," Ge Dongxu, who had grown up in a mountain village, replied naturally.

    "What do you know, underwear is worn close to the skin. Even if they are new, you can''t just wear them without washing," Liu Jiayao exclaimed, snatching the clothes from Ge Dongxu''s hands and pulling out a pair of men''s underwear.

    "Really, it''s not a problem, otherwise, I¡­" Ge Dongxu was stunned upon hearing this. The underwear needed to be washed; what was he supposed to do? He couldn''t possibly wear his pants with nothing underneath.

    "Just keep wearing the bathrobe. I''ll wash it for you quickly and then blow it dry," Liu Jiayao, seeing the dumbfounded look on Ge Dongxu''s face, probably guessed what he was thinking, her face blushing slightly as she spoke.

    "Okay then, I can do it myself," Ge Dongxu replied, seeing as Liu Jiayao had offered, he couldn''t continue to insist. Otherwise, it would seem like he, the country bumpkin, was being unrefined. He reached out to take back his clothes to wash and dry them himself.

    "Enough, no need to be so formal with me! Besides, washing and cleaning up is really a woman''s job," Liu Jiayao said decisively, pushing Ge Dongxu away.

    "But, but those are my underwear, isn''t it inconvenient for you to wash them¡­," Ge Dongxu stammered, his face turning red. He wanted to say that they were his underwear and it might be inappropriate for a girl to wash them.

    "Oh, come on, you''re still a kid. What do you know about being meticulous?" Liu Jiayao chided, giving Ge Dongxu an exasperated look.

    "Sister Liu, I''m already sixteen years old, I''m not a child!" Ge Dongxu felt provoked by Liu Jiayao''s words and immediately retorted, feeling indignant. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Liu Jiayao paused slightly, taken aback by Ge Dongxu''s strong reaction, but quickly pursed her lips and smiled.

    "What are you laughing at? I have my ID card and everything." Being sixteen, Ge Dongxu hated when older people called them children, especially because he was a capable young man and disliked being treated as a child. Therefore, seeing Liu Jiayao laugh made him even more annoyed.

    Liu Jiayao stopped smiling, walked over to Ge Dongxu, and gently hugged him. Her cherry-like lips lightly kissed his forehead and said, "Silly boy, it was my mistake. You are definitely not a child! Does that satisfy you now?"

    Ge Dongxu froze completely, unaware of when Liu Jiayao let go of him or when she took his underwear and entered the bathroom.

    After a long while, Ge Dongxu finally touched the spot where Liu Jiayao had kissed him, dazedly walked back to the living room in his bathrobe, and sat on the sofa, lost in thought.

    All his life, except for being kissed by his mother when he was little, no girl had ever held him and kissed him like that. Even his mother, since he had grown up to the age of twelve or thirteen, would no longer make such affectionate gestures, at most she would pat his head.

    But today, Liu Jiayao not only hugged him but also kissed his forehead. Her tender words echoed in his ears, sounding like the voice of a soul enticer. Just thinking about it made him feel as if his soul was being hooked away. A strange feeling indescribable in words was rippling through Ge Dongxu''s heart.

    Although that odd feeling was indescribable in words, it carried a magical power that was mesmerizing, made one''s heart beat faster, and brought a sweetness, truly sweet as honey.

    It was not until Ge Dongxu heard the sound of a hairdryer coming from the master bedroom that his soul seemed to return to his body, restoring normalcy.

    "Ge Dongxu, you are actually just a sixteen-year-old high school student, really just a big kid, Sister Liu wasn''t wrong, don''t overthink it," Ge Dongxu admonished himself silently, finally regaining his composure.

    "All right, go change," Liu Jiayao soon walked out of the master bedroom, handed the underwear to Ge Dongxu, and despite a slight redness on her pretty face, her demeanor was casual as if such interactions were normal between them, without anything to be taboo about.

    "Thank you, Sister Liu." Ge Dongxu took the underwear and then went to the restroom in the living room with his clothes.

    At that time, Li Ning sportswear was still quite trendy, certainly not as commonplace as it is now. Especially for someone like Ge Dongxu, from a lower county, Li Ning sportswear could even be worn as a new outfit for the New Year.

    Ge Dongxu actually had quite a handsome face, with a high nose and bright eyes, and because he was growing tall, his body looked slightly lean, but overall very well-proportioned, giving him a vigorous appearance, not the delicate type of scholar without physical strength.

    The only thing that made city people look down on Ge Dongxu at first glance was his skin, as he often helped his parents with farming in the village, which had darkened his skin. At that time there wasn''t any talk of a healthy tan or malt color, generally, dark skin was seen as a sign of hard labor.

    In this regard, many people in Asian countries shared the same view as those in Huaxia Country. For example, in the Philippines, generally, only the wealthy class had lighter skin, with most people having darker skin than those in Huaxia Country. Therefore, some moderately wealthy Filipinos did not like it when others commented on their dark skin, as it implied they were still poor. Even some wealthy Filipinos specifically took certain medications and injections to whiten their skin, to appear more noble rather than poor. This was actually a kind of psychological oddity.

    In this respect, people in Western countries felt the same, but just the opposite to the Filipinos. For instance, in England, where it''s almost always cloudy and seldom sunny, the common working class has very pale skin. Whereas the wealthy, who often have the chance to go on vacation and spend time at the beach getting roasted, frequently ended up with tanned skin. Therefore, for the British, you couldn''t compliment them on having pale skin, being tanned was a status symbol for them. Some even went to the extent of desperate sunbathing in their own yards during vacations when they couldn''t afford to travel, just to appear as though they had gone on vacation.

    I digress, but anyway, Ge Dongxu''s dark skin didn''t look like that of a city person, inevitably causing people to look down on him. Coupled with his rustic attire, it was even more likely for people to underestimate him.

    Now that Ge Dongxu had changed into a Li-Ning brand tracksuit, except for his dark skin, not only did he look much more spirited, but also significantly more handsome, causing even Liu Jiayao to briefly lose her composure and laugh, "You actually look quite handsome!"

    ps: Today, let''s rock it! Asking for all kinds of support. Also, thanks to many fellow readers for their messages and rewards, and thanks to the user from QQ Book City, Depth-Height 100,000 points reward, becoming the first Alliance Hierarch of this book on QQ Book City. Initially, today should have been a celebration with an additional update for our Alliance Hierarch, but I''m too exhausted to write more, the additional update will be left until tomorrow.

 Chapter 61 Cant I Hold Your Arm?

    "Hehe!" Seeing Liu Jiayao complimenting him, Ge Dongxu felt a bit embarrassed."Giggle, you''re embarrassed even in front of Sister? Alright, it''s about time. Shall I take you down for a meal? How about KFC? It''s just fast food abroad, but there isn''t one where you''re from. Try something new, it''s convenient and there''s hardly any waiting." Seeing Ge Dongxu embarrassed, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but laugh for a while, then brought up the subject of eating, fearing that the young man couldn''t handle losing face.

    "I''ll do as you say." Ge Dongxu, seeing that Liu Jiayao wasn''t teasing him, breathed a sigh of relief and quickly responded. As for what to eat, he really didn''t care.

    "Then let''s go to KFC!" Liu Jiayao said.

    "Okay, I''ll go grab my clothes." Ge Dongxu nodded, then grabbed his backpack to go to the bathroom, as the clothes he had changed out of hadn''t yet been packed into his backpack. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What are you grabbing! If you''re so attached to those clothes, I''ll wash them for you later. I can give them back the next time we meet. Didn''t you say that my condition still needs several more sessions?" Liu Jiayao caught Ge Dongxu by the arm and said.

    "How could I trouble you like that, I can wash them myself." Ge Dongxu quickly responded.

    "Why are you being formal with Sister again?" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes and said.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu could only respond, "Alright then, actually, the clothes aren''t worth much. You can throw them away later, no need to wash them."

    "How come as soon as I mention washing, you''re willing to throw them away?" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu again, then reached out to grab his backpack and said, "What do you need a backpack at dinner for? Just leave it at my place, and you can come up and sit for a bit after we eat."

    "Sister Liu, I really do have other things to do this afternoon, I have to go right after eating, so I won''t come back up," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "Really busy? Then I''ll call Li Min to drive here later and have her take you," Liu Jiayao said, a hint of reluctance in her heart, but she didn''t press Ge Dongxu further.

    "No need, I''ll take care of it myself," Ge Dongxu quickly insisted.

    Liu Jiayao knew Ge Dongxu was a unique guy. Not sure what he needed to do, and worried it might infringe on his privacy, she didn''t press him when he declined and said with a smile, "Since you say so, I won''t insist. But if there is anything you need Sister for, don''t hesitate to ask me, or else I''ll get mad."

    "Alright, I won''t be formal with you," Ge Dongxu finally relaxed, not wanting to let Liu Jiayao know he was planning to spend a lot of money on jade.

    "That''s more like it, let''s go eat then!" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu respond this way, showed a happy smile, grabbed Ge Dongxu''s arm tightly, and said.

    When his arm was suddenly embraced closely by Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu stiffened for a moment and thought about pulling his hand free.

    "What''s wrong? I''m your sister, can''t I hold your arm?" Liu Jiayao said, displeased.

    Ge Dongxu had no choice but to go along with her, feeling a strange sensation in his heart, as if ever since he had given Liu Jiayao acupuncture and a massage, her attitude towards him had become particularly intimate, seemingly disregarding the distinction between men and women.

    Perhaps in her eyes, I am just a child! Ge Dongxu silently reasoned with himself, feeling vaguely disappointed.

    Liu Jiayao naturally didn''t know what Ge Dongxu was thinking. At this time, her health had improved significantly, and she would soon be fully recovered, which made her already good mood even better. Additionally, because of the previous treatments and the decision she had secretly made, seeing Ge Dongxu not oppose to her holding his arm, and being able to go out to eat with him, her mood improved even further. Her originally somewhat pale face radiated a youthful glow like never before, looking exceptionally beautiful.

    "By the way, Dongxu, when will you treat me next? Are you still coming to my house? Oh, I forgot, you are still a student, and it is not easy for you to come to the Provincial Capital. I will come to you then." Inside the elevator, Liu Jiayao was still holding Ge Dongxu''s arm. Anyone who saw them might think they were siblings, which is why she acted without any hesitation, not knowing that they were not related by blood at all.

    "Three months later, Ti would be best if you came to Changxi County. It really isn''t convenient for me to come to the Provincial Capital, but we''ll get in touch by that time to confirm," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Ah, it''s going to be as long as three months?" Liu Jiayao exclaimed spontaneously.

    "Your meridians have been blocked for some time now. You can''t continuously withstand such clearing. You need to take a break, let it stabilize this treatment, and then you can go for the next one. The time gaps can get shorter after the next session," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Oh, I see!" Liu Jiayao stole a glance at Ge Dongxu and saw that he seemed unaware of the real meaning behind her previous comment. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but her face turned slightly red.

    It''s a good thing he doesn''t understand romantic relationships yet, otherwise, he might have teased her!

    "However, don''t worry. After this clearing, your blockage has greatly improved. As long as you don''t overexert yourself or have major emotional fluctuations during this period, you definitely won''t faint," Ge Dongxu said, noticing that Liu Jiayao seemed a bit awkward and thinking she was worried about fainting. He reassured her with a smile.

    "That''s great! Thank you so much, Dongxu. Sometimes I''m really afraid that if I faint, I might never wake up, so I dare not fall asleep at night, always keeping my eyes open," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Don''t worry, with me here, I won''t let that happen again," Ge Dongxu said softly, feeling a surge of tender affection as he recalled the lonely and helpless days Liu Jiayao had been through.

    "Hmm!" Liu Jiayao lightly rested her shoulder on Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, but just then the elevator door opened, and she quickly lifted her head.

    After all, she and Ge Dongxu were not blood siblings, and at this time, Ge Dongxu was also not of an age to talk about love with her.

    The area where Yadu Garden was located was in the city center of Linzhou City, surrounded by bustling scenes. Hence, nearby there were not only Li Ning specialty stores but also Western fast food like KFC.

    At this time, Western fast food like KFC was still considered a high-end restaurant in Huaxia Country, frequented mostly by well-off individuals, mainly young people. So when Liu Jiayao pulled Ge Dongxu into KFC, many young people''s eyes were immediately captivated by her.

    Her tall figure, graceful demeanor, stunning beauty, and especially her tightly jean-clad thighs, rapidly accelerated the secretion of hormones among the young patrons dining in KFC.

    After the treatment, Liu Jiayao had specifically chosen a casual outfit, which made her appear even more youthful and sexy.

    "Hello, beautiful lady, and little brother, what would you like to eat? I can get it for you," said a man who appeared to be in his thirties, dressed nicely and looking somewhat handsome, who finally couldn''t resist Liu Jiayao''s charm and approached them openly.

    ps: During the new book period, unless specifically stated otherwise, updates are made three times daily: one chapter at seven in the morning, one at eleven noon, and one at six in the evening. Today there will be an extra update for the high-altitude Alliance Hierarch, making it four chapters today, with the fourth update around seven in the evening. During the new book period, I aim to climb the leaderboards, so please add this book to your library, click frequently, and recommend it. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 62 Thats a Good Boy [Requesting Recommendation Tickets]

    "Thank you for your kindness, but no need," Liu Jiayao replied indifferently, then released Ge Dongxu''s hand and said, "Dongxu, go find a seat. I''ll bring it over to you in a bit.""Sister Liu, let me do it," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No need, just go sit down," Liu Jiayao pushed Ge Dongxu slightly, making the other man who observed this feel his bones soften, thinking how nice it would be if that beauty pushed him like that.

    "Alright then," Ge Dongxu nodded and returned to his seat.

    After Ge Dongxu had left, that man apparently said something to Liu Jiayao, who glared at him a few times, then sheepishly returned to his own seat.

    However, watching Liu Jiayao''s slender waist and well-rounded, perky buttocks from behind, the man couldn''t give up, picked up his tray, and directly went to sit next to Ge Dongxu.

    KFC was not like Chinese restaurants with assigned seating rules; one could sit anywhere there was space. Although it was Ge Dongxu''s first time at KFC, he understood the rules there as he saw many strangers sitting together. Seeing that man stick to him like a plaster, he slightly frowned but didn''t tell him to get lost.

    After all, it was his right and freedom, and Ge Dongxu, who was very clear about such principles, wouldn''t abuse his abilities to infringe on someone else''s rights and freedom.

    "Young man, is that your sister? I''d like to make friends with her. See if you can help me out later, I''ll give you two hundred bucks, how about that?" The man sat next to Ge Dongxu and whispered.

    "Get lost!" Although Ge Dongxu was annoyed by the man sticking to him, he wouldn''t have told him to get lost, but now seeing him actually trying to bribe, Ge Dongxu could hardly bear it any longer and coldly responded without any courtesy.

    "It looks like you''re not so easy. How about five hundred bucks? All you have to do is say a few good words, I genuinely want to be friends with your sister," the man''s face slightly changed, but he still persisted. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Just drop that thought, she is definitely not going to be interested in you," Ge Dongxu said as he stood up and changed his seat.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu directly change his seat, the man showed a look of frustration but could do nothing in the end. After all, this was KFC with many people dining around; he couldn''t shamelessly pester Liu Jiayao.

    "What did that guy talk to you about just now?" Not long after, Liu Jiayao came over with a tray, set it down, went to wash her hands, returned, and asked in a low voice.

    She had seen that man talking to Ge Dongxu.

    "He wanted to spend five hundred yuan for me to say some good words about him in front of you. Haha, Sister Liu, this money would have been easy to earn!" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Are you asking for a beating?" Liu Jiayao raised her hand as if to hit Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu quickly ducked his head and then laughed, "I dare not, I dare not. But I think Sister Liu needs to bring a bodyguard when going out in the future, or else it''s annoying to always have men hanging around."

    "Are you worried that sister will be taken away by another man?" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s concern, Liu Jiayao''s eyes curved into crescent moons as she asked.

    "Cough, cough!" Ge Dongxu, still young and a bit bashful, became somewhat embarrassed by Liu Jiayao''s teasing.

    Of course, this was also because subconsciously, Ge Dongxu indeed did not want this beautiful sister to be snatched away by another man, which probably revealed his embarrassed look from the teasing, which might be called guilty conscience. Otherwise, if he truly had no thoughts at all, Ge Dongxu would not have been embarrassed.

    "Here, have a French fry; KFC''s fries are really good, can''t get this taste at home," seeing Ge Dongxu looking embarrassed made Liu Jiayao even happier. She grabbed a fry, dipped it in ketchup and brought it to Ge Dongxu''s mouth.

    "I''ll do it myself," Ge Dongxu reached out quickly to grab it.

    "Open your mouth," Liu Jiayao insisted.

    Ge Dongxu, his face flush, glanced around quickly and then promptly opened his mouth to bite the fries.

    "Pfft!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but burst into laughter, saying, "Such thin-skinned behavior won''t do, you won''t be able to find a girlfriend like that in the future."

    "Sister Liu, I''m only in freshman year of high school!" Ge Dongxu replied with a bitter smile.

    "True, you have to wait until college before you can have a girlfriend, by then I''ll be an old woman," Liu Jiayao said somewhat distantly.

    "How could that be? Sister Liu, you''re so beautiful, and your skin is so well-maintained, you''ll probably look like you''re in your twenties or thirties even in your fifties or sixties," Ge Dongxu blurted out without thinking.

    "Pfft! I just said you were thin-skinned, but I didn''t expect you to be so sweet-talking. However, I''d be completely satisfied if you just stayed as you are now when you go to college, and as for looking like I''m in my twenties or thirties when I''m sixty, I dare not hope for that!" Liu Jiayao said, beaming with happiness.

    "That''s definitely no problem. Your innate conditions are good, and it''s only because you contracted this strange illness four years ago, causing insufficient circulation of Qi-Blood, that your skin isn''t even better. Once I cure your illness, not only will you not age in the coming years, you might even look younger as the Qi-Blood circulates properly," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Really, are you just trying to make me feel better?" Liu Jiayao suddenly became excited upon hearing this, and in her excitement, she grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "Of course not," Ge Dongxu nodded with a smile, gently freeing his hand from Liu Jiayao''s hold. Being young, he was still uncomfortable being held by such a beautiful woman in public.

    "That''s great, hehe, so that means when you''re in college, I''ll still look as young as I do now. What do you say about me being your girlfriend then?" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu nod in confirmation, became even more cheerful.

    "Ahem!" While Ge Dongxu was okay with the earlier statements, the last remark made him choke on the Pepsi he was drinking.

    "Giggle!" Seeing Ge Dongxu choke on her words, Liu Jiayao smothered her mouth and started laughing joyously, taking a while before she picked up another fry dipped in ketchup to feed him.

    As the saying goes, once bitten, twice shy; Ge Dongxu, initially embarrassed and ready to take it by hand, this time obediently opened his mouth to accept it.

    "Hehe, that''s being good! Here''s another one," Liu Jiayao said with a smile upon seeing this.

    "Sister Liu, maybe let''s not," Ge Dongxu smiled wryly.

    "Nope, I want another one!" Liu Jiayao pouted, not giving in, her expression akin to that of a woman playfully begging her boyfriend during the throes of romantic affection.

    Although Ge Dongxu was still young and unaware of romantic emotions, he was almost irresistibly charmed by the allure Liu Jiayao exuded, and he obediently opened his mouth again.

    Liu Jiayao, seeing this, happily stuffed the fry into Ge Dongxu''s mouth and, perhaps because her fingers were a bit oily and salty from the fries, she gently sucked on her fingertip, causing Ge Dongxu''s heart to inexplicably quicken.

    Anyway, that move felt even more enticing than the pouting she did before!

 Chapter 63 Buying Jade

    Seeing Ge Dongxu put on a "silly brother" face, Liu Jiayao gave him a sideways glance and said, "What? Haven''t you seen a beautiful girl before?""Cough cough!" Ge Dongxu suddenly felt embarrassed again.

    "Giggle, your skin is still thin." Liu Jiayao started laughing, finding herself increasingly fond of seeing the boy in front of her looking embarrassed. His demeanor was simply genuine and charming.

    "Right, I''ve been meaning to ask you a question." Seeing Ge Dongxu''s face turning a bit red, Liu Jiayao finally changed the subject, still worried he might become angry out of embarrassment.

    "What question?" Ge Dongxu replied, finally letting out a quiet sigh of relief. He really had been a bit dreamy moments ago.

    "Since you helped me clear my meridians, does that mean you are also a martial arts expert like in the novels? Can you do qinggong or something?" Liu Jiayao whispered the question in a low voice.

    This topic was a bit absurd, naturally not suitable for others around to hear.

    "The novels exaggerate it quite a bit, but beating ten people alone wouldn''t be a problem. As for qinggong, that''s just fiction... perhaps..." Ge Dongxu heisted, a thoughtful look appearing in his eyes.

    Although he had inherited Ge Hong''s "Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture", for some reason although he knew it was the complete scripture and more profound cultivation techniques should follow, he could only read up to the qi cultivation stage. Beyond that was inscrutable. The qi cultivation stage didn''t mention qinggong, let alone the legendary cloud riding. Thus, when Liu Jiayao had asked, Ge Dongxu''s initial reaction was to deny the existence of qinggong, but after speaking, he thought since there were more techniques, who could guarantee that qinggong would not be one of them?

    After all, just because he couldn''t do it didn''t mean qinggong didn''t exist.

    Liu Jiayao was already shocked by Ge Dongxu saying he could fight ten people and hadn''t noticed the speculative look in Ge Dongxu''s eyes.

    Keep in mind, Ge Dongxu was only sixteen years old!

    However, upon reflection that he could clear her meridians, Liu Jiayao thought perhaps it wasn''t so surprising after all.

    "Qinggong, I can''t do it, but whether it exists in the world, I can''t really say right now." Mid-thought, Ge Dongxu changed his tune halfway through his sentence.

    "Oh, it would be magical if you could do qinggong!" Liu Jiayao said, her eyes filled with longing.

    Walking on rooftops and walls has been a dream, not just for men but also for women, since ancient times.

    "Indeed!" A wishful gleam appeared in Ge Dongxu''s eyes as well.

    It was Ge Dongxu''s first time at KFC and the food was quite tasty, with over half of the dishes ending up in his stomach. Liu Jiayao ate very little, and for most of the meal, she just quietly watched Ge Dongxu eat, a look of happiness and contentment on her face that made Ge Dongxu somewhat embarrassed.

    After eating at KFC, Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu her business card, carefully writing down her personal mobile number on it. She then asked for his contact details. Seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t have a mobile phone, Liu Jiayao initially wanted to buy him one, saying it would make communication easier, but Ge Dongxu refused, saying he was still a student and carrying a mobile phone was too conspicuous.

    Liu Jiayao knew Ge Dongxu didn''t like to draw attention, so she reluctantly let the matter drop.

    Upon leaving the KFC, Ge Dongxu wasn''t sure if he didn''t want to part with Liu Jiayao or if he was worried about men bothering her halfway, so he escorted her back down to Yadu Park. Only then did he say, "Sister Liu, I won''t accompany you upstairs. I have other matters to attend to urgently, otherwise, I''ll miss my train."

    "Hmm!" Liu Jiayao nodded and then stepped forward to give Ge Dongxu a gentle hug, softly saying, "Take care on your journey!"

    After she finished speaking, Liu Jiayao kissed his forehead gently once again.

    Ge Dongxu''s body stiffened for a moment, feeling a kind of indescribable sensation spreading throughout his body¡ªit was sweet and warm.

    "I understand, Sister Liu. Take care," it took Ge Dongxu a while to nod his head and wave at Liu Jiayao before he left Yadu Garden.

    After walking some distance, Ge Dongxu suddenly looked back and found Liu Jiayao still standing downstairs, quietly watching him leave.

    A slight tremor ran through Ge Dongxu''s heart. He quickly turned his head away, afraid that Liu Jiayao would see him looking back at her. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Standing by the roadside, Ge Dongxu waved down a taxi.

    "To Renmin Road at Jiang Region Jewelry," he told the taxi driver after getting in.

    Jiang Region Jewelry, managed by the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Jiangnan Province, boasted a professional background in geology and minerals, making its gems and jade somewhat more authentic compared to other stores.

    Ge Dongxu had come to the provincial capital not just to sell thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum but also to buy jade for setting up a Spirit Gathering Array. Therefore, he had made enquiries back in Changxi County. Despite still being a young man, Ge Dongxu already demonstrated the meticulousness and steadiness of an adult in his actions.

    Before coming, Ge Dongxu had looked up the route from Yongchun Hall to Jiang Region Jewelry. He knew that the distance between the two was somewhat far, but since he was departing from Yadu Garden this time, he was unsure of the distance and didn''t know if the driver would overcharge him like the previous ones had.

    Fortunately, with £¤1,300,000 in his account now, he had enough confidence. As long as the driver didn''t deliberately take him in circles, thinking him naive, he would turn a blind eye and go along with it, as he wasn''t familiar with the provincial capital anyway.

    However, this time the driver didn''t take advantage of him and dropped him off at Jiang Region Jewelry within the base fare.

    Walking into Jiang Region Jewelry, he saw glass display cases, while a winding staircase in the sales hall led to the second floor. Behind each display case stood young sales clerks, dressed in white shirts and black skirts, with shapely figures and attractive appearances.

    The glass cases displayed various gold, gem, and jade ornaments. Since Ge Dongxu was specifically there for jade, he went straight to the display case containing jade.

    "Could you please take out this jade pendant for me to look at?" Ge Dongxu pointed at a jade pendant shaped closely to a rectangular jade token inside the display case and asked.

    Two young sales clerks stood behind the counter. One with a melon seed face and phoenix eyes looked quite shrewd, while the other was slightly younger with an apple-shaped face.

    The melon-faced clerk, standing closer to Ge Dongxu, noticing he was only a teenage boy, said indifferently, "This pendant costs three thousand yuan. Are you going to buy it?"

    Then in the early 1990s, the jade market in Huaxia began to heat up, and prices have soared since then.

    The jade pendant Ge Dongxu had pointed at cost three thousand yuan, which was a significant amount for an average family. For sales clerks like her, not counting commissions, it could equal almost half a year''s salary, so naturally, the melon-faced clerk was not inclined to pay much attention to a young boy pointing at such an expensive item.

    "Whether I buy it or not, I should at least take a look at it first," Ge Dongxu said upon seeing the clerk''s indifferent attitude. He was slightly annoyed but did not lose his temper.

    Just then, a man approached¡ªit was the same man Ge Dongxu had encountered at KFC. The melon-faced clerk lit up upon seeing him. She moved a few steps aside, subtly elbowing the apple-faced clerk out of the way, all the while smiling and saying, "Oh, Manager Zheng, what brings you to our store today? Are you looking to buy some jade as a gift?"

    ps: I recommend a new book by Hotpot Brother titled "Urban Peach Blossom Mad Youth." If you like it, please add it to your favorites and support. Additionally, thanks to the reader Qing Shi San Kong for pointing it out, I have changed Pepsi back to Coca-Cola. Also, the previous mention of Primordial Fierce Beasts has been changed to Water Beasts, as I''ve been too busy with both a new and old book recently and didn''t have time to make changes, hence I forgot who reminded me. Thanks to that reader for pointing it out.

 Chapter 64 Call Your Manager Over [Additional Chapter for Alliance Hierarchs Deep Support]

    "Yes, there''s a project I''m working on recently, and I need to buy a few pieces to manage some relationships," Manager Zheng replied casually, but it was this casualness that gave off a sense of naked ostentation."Manager Zheng really has good taste. Jade has been very popular in the last few years, and it''s also very collectible without being tacky. It''s perfect for gifting," the melon-faced salesperson said with an even brighter smile, her attitude a stark contrast to how she treated Ge Dongxu.

    Witnessing this, Ge Dongxu was quite annoyed. He wanted to walk away, but then he reminded himself that he was there to buy jade, not to engage in a contest of ego with these people. Why let her affect him? Thus, he pointed again to the piece of jade he liked earlier and said to the apple-faced salesperson who had been squeezed out of the way, her expression clearly aggrieved, "Could you please take out that pendant for me to look at?"

    Seeing a big customer being poached by a colleague made the apple-faced salesperson feel wronged, but seeing that Ge Dongxu was interested in looking at jade, she immediately put aside her grievances and managed a small smile, "Sure, please wait a moment." Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As she spoke, the apple-faced salesperson opened the cabinet door and brought out the pendant for Ge Dongxu, handing it to him with a smile, "Please be careful with it, this is a genuine glutinous jade. Look at the transparency and the quality; it''s quite exceptional among glutinous jades..."

    The apple-faced salesperson was polite and attentive in her service to Ge Dongxu, not disregarding him because of his young age. She even started to explain the qualities of the jade. She was also understandably worried that his youth might mean he wasn''t familiar with handling such items, so she specifically reminded him to be careful as she handed over the jade.

    At first, Manager Zheng was captivated by the melon-faced salesperson''s smile and hadn''t noticed Ge Dongxu. However, once Ge Dongxu spoke up, he immediately turned his attention to him, his expression revealing a flicker of surprise before a sly smile formed on his lips. He pointed at the piece of jade Ge Dongxu had just picked up and said, "Oh, that piece of jade looks quite nice. Bring it here for me to have a look."

    "Sure, Manager Zheng, please wait," the melon-faced salesperson responded with a smile, then quickly walked over, reaching for the pendant in Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "What do you mean by this?" Ge Dongxu moved his hand slightly and asked the melon-faced salesperson, his face showing a hint of displeasure.

    "It doesn''t mean anything. Manager Zheng wants to see the jade, so let him have a look first," the melon-faced salesperson replied with a hint of impatience after seeing that Ge Dongxu wasn''t handing it over to her and was questioning her intent.

    "Sister Chen, this isn''t very nice," the apple-faced salesperson whispered to the melon-faced one.

    "What''s not nice about it? I''m telling you, Xiao Zhang, you''ve got to keep your eyes open in the future," the melon-faced salesperson glared at her apple-faced colleague before spreading her hands in front of Ge Dongxu again, "Please hand me the pendant, Manager Zheng wants to see it."

    "There''s a sequence to everything; first come, first served. This isn''t how you do things," Ge Dongxu finished speaking and ignored the melon-faced salesperson, not even giving a glance to the self-important Manager Zheng. Instead, he lowered his head and continued to examine the jade pendant in his hands.

    The melon-faced salesperson''s expression turned ugly upon seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t hand the jade over to her and even criticized her. Manager Zheng, who had initially just wanted to vent the frustration he had bottled up at KFC earlier, was surprised to find that the young man in front of him was just as unyielding as he had been in KFC, and this added to his irritation.

    "You''re just a kid, and you don''t understand jade. What are you looking at? And can you even afford this jade?" Manager Zheng couldn''t help blurting out arrogantly and disdainfully.

    "Whether I understand or can afford it is none of your business," Ge Dongxu responded without even looking up, then handed the jade back to the apple-faced salesperson and said, "This jade isn''t what I''m looking for."

    Before the apple-faced sales clerk could put the Jade away, the melon-seed-faced clerk had already taken it, muttering disdainfully, "If you can''t afford it, you just can''t afford it!", and immediately followed by offering the Jade to Manager Zheng with a flattering smile, "Manager Zheng, please have a look."

    "Heh, the young people these days, huh?" Manager Zheng shook his head, lamenting with a look of disdain.

    "Please bring out this piece of Jade for me to see." Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t bother with those two and pointed to another Jade Pendant, saying.

    This Jade Pendant was even more expensive, costing seven thousand Yuan, almost reaching the average annual income of a state-owned enterprise worker in the Provincial Capital at that time.

    The apple-faced clerk hesitated when looking at Ge Dongxu, but still carefully took it out for him.

    "Hey, little Zheng, is this sales clerk new here? How come she doesn''t know anything? This kind of youngster, at first glance, you can tell he can''t afford Jade. Why does she still persist in showing him Jade? However, this young guy does have some taste, you bring that piece of Jade for me to look at as well." Manager Zheng had been scolded by a youngster at noon, telling him to "get lost," and the grudge just wouldn''t settle in his heart. Seeing Ge Dongxu preening like a peacock and pointing at yet another more expensive piece of Jade, his irritation grew, he handed the pendant back to the melon-seed-faced clerk and then pointed at the Jade that Ge Dongxu was about to pick up, speaking again.

    The melon-seed-faced clerk immediately took the Jade that was lying on the counter, which Ge Dongxu hadn''t had the chance to pick up and inspect, and then cheerfully handed it to Manager Zheng.

    "Smack!" A slap on the counter, not too heavy but also not light, rang out. Ge Dongxu had finally become annoyed.

    "Is this how you do business? Call your manager over. I want to ask if there''s such a thing as first come, first served when looking at items?"

    "What are you shouting about? This Jade costs seven thousand Yuan. Can you afford it? If you can''t afford it, why are you even looking?" The melon-seed-faced clerk, startled by Ge Dongxu''s slamming of the table, quickly became embarrassed and turned angry, pointing at him and taunting.

    "That''s right, young man, if you can''t afford it, don''t hinder others'' business, right? You keep asking to see this and then that, do you think this is a vegetable market? This is jewelry and Jade, valuable goods." Manager Zheng said maliciously from the side and, taking control of the situation, gestured to the security guard in the jewelry store, "Security, please escort this young man out. He''s making a fuss and disturbing the peace. How are people supposed to shop for jewelry in peace?"

    "I really don''t know how someone like you became a manager, still hung up over some shameless incident from lunchtime." While speaking, Ge Dongxu ignored Manager Zheng and instead said to the apple-faced sales clerk, "Please call your manager over. I must have an explanation for today''s events; otherwise, I won''t be patronizing your store anymore!"

    The apple-faced clerk displayed a troubled expression upon hearing this, while the melon-seed-faced clerk had already a face full of mockery, "If you don''t patronize, then don''t. Acting like you''re some big spender, a major customer or something!"

    "What''s the situation here?" Just at that moment, a woman appeared at the staircase entrance. She was about thirty-five or six years old, wearing a beige professional suit and sporting an ear-length bob haircut that made her look quite competent.

    ps: This chapter is a special update dedicated to the first Alliance Hierarch of QQ Book City - Depth-Height, and also thanks to the other readers for their rewards. Your rewards are an additional show of love for Old Du, and for this, I am truly grateful.

 Chapter 65 Manager Tang [Seeking recommendation votes]

    "Are you the manager of Jiang Region Jewelry?" asked Ge Dongxu as he approached the woman with a badge on her chest.However, inside, he felt something odd, as the woman seemed somewhat familiar.

    "Yes, I am Tang Yahui, the manager of Jiang Region Jewelry. May I help you with something?" Tang Yahui, seeing a young man approaching her to speak, showed a trace of puzzlement on her face, but remained very gentle in her manner, not putting on airs due to Ge Dongxu''s young age.

    "It''s like this, I came to your store to look at jade stones. But whenever I asked to take a look at the jade, this salesperson, without waiting for me to finish, forcefully took it to show to another customer. Can Manager Tang give me an explanation? Is this how you treat customers?" Ge Dongxu pointed at the sales assistant with a melon-seed face, and asked Tang Yahui.

    "Of course not!" Tang Yahui replied briskly, then turned to the sales assistant with a slightly stern face, "Chen Xiaoling, what is this customer talking about?"

    "Manager Tang, this Manager Zheng is one of our regular patrons. He just happened to be interested in the piece of jade the customer was looking at, so I thought I''d let Manager Zheng have a quick look first. I didn''t mean anything else by it," Chen Xiaoling replied with a slight look of unease, and, inwardly, she was annoyed with Ge Dongxu for making a scene.

    "Yes, indeed, Manager Tang, I''ve been a loyal customer of your shop for years. I visit three to five times a year and spend thirty to forty thousand yuan. Miss Chen was just embracing the customer-first approach, there''s really nothing wrong with that!" Manager Zheng stepped forward to speak for Chen Xiaoling with a rather haughty tone. The implication was clear in his words¡ªI''m a big spender in your store, spending tens of thousands of yuan a year; what''s this kid compared to me?

    Considering that Jiang Region Jewelry''s annual turnover was only a few million yuan, the thirty to forty thousand yuan spent by Manager Zheng did make him stand out.

    Upon hearing this, Tang Yahui''s expression changed slightly, and a moment of hesitation flickered in her eyes before she finally said, "Manager Zheng is indeed our valued regular customer, and naturally, we strive to provide the best service possible. However, since this customer showed interest first, he should have the chance to view it first, don''t you agree? Here''s what we can do: today, if you take a liking to any piece of jade, I''ll give you a 30% discount. That''s the discount only middle-level personnel from the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources can enjoy."

    Because Jiang Region Jewelry emphasized professionalism in their line of work, their pricing wasn''t as inflated as other department store jewelers, and discounts were generall rare. However, since Jiang Region Jewelry was a business unit under the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, people from the Bureau often received a higher discount, similar to an internal employee discount, and naturally, the leaders received even greater discounts.

    In doing so, Tang Yahui was adopting a typical businessperson''s tactic¡ªpleasing both sides without offending either.

    "Haha, well, I must thank Manager Tang for that. I agree with your principle too, of course. However, it should depend on who that principle applies to! For the likes of a young man who clearly can''t afford jade yet wants to put on airs, without knowing his own limitations, why bother treating him like a customer at all?" Manager Zheng, having gained an advantage from the dispute, felt quite pleased but couldn''t help showing disdain for Ge Dongxu, glancing at him scornfully after reaping the benefits, still feeling that Tang Yahui was siding with Ge Dongxu in principle.

    Tang Yahui saw that even after she had spoken, Manager Zheng still wanted to kick the young man while he was down. She frowned slightly, quite unsure how to smooth things over.

    "Heh, a customer is a customer. Even if he can''t afford it now, can you guarantee he won''t be able to in a few years? If we were really to treat customers with such short-sightedness, I can assure you that this jewelry store would not last very long. Moreover, who said that my friend here can''t afford it?" Just then, a male voice came from behind Manager Zheng.

    "Dad, why are you here?" Tang Yahui saw the man who had spoken, a look of surprise and delight appeared on her face as she quickly called out.

    The man who had arrived was Professor Tang Yiyuan.

    When Manager Zheng heard someone defending Ge Dongxu behind him, he was initially quite irritated, but upon seeing Tang Yahui calling the man dad, his heart skipped a beat in shock. He quickly turned his head to look, and immediately blurted out in surprise, "Are you Professor Tang?"

    "Do you know me?" Professor Tang Yiyuan said, not recognizing Manager Zheng.

    "Yes, you''ve treated me before," replied Manager Zheng.

    "Professor Tang, we meet again. No wonder Manager Tang looked somewhat familiar to me; turns out she''s your daughter," Ge Dongxu said as he naturally noticed Tang Yiyuan and reached out to shake his hand.

    As Ge Dongxu spoke, both Manager Zheng and the melon-seeded face salesperson''s expressions became incredibly animated as they suddenly remembered the words that Tang Yiyuan had just spoken.

    "I didn''t expect you to be buying jade. If I had known you were interested in jade, I would have said something and accompanied you here," Tang Yiyuan hurriedly stepped forward to shake hands with Ge Dongxu and said.

    Even though he didn''t address Ge Dongxu as "Doctor," he still used the respectful "you" when speaking to him.

    Seeing the elder and the younger shaking hands, and Tang Yiyuan even using "you" to address Ge Dongxu, Manager Zheng and the melon-seeded face salesperson''s expressions turned even more splendid, while his daughter''s mouth slightly agape, her face a picture of surprise.

    She knew well that her father was a master of traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province. Although seemingly humble on the surface, he carried a sense of pride in his bones, not necessarily showing this level of respect and courtesy to some of the provincial leaders. She didn''t expect to see him acting so polite and respectful to a young man today.

    "How should I have foreseen the world to be so small, your daughter would be selling jade? But now that I know, it''s not too late. I was just fretting over how expensive these jades are; with you here, your daughter can give me a bigger discount. That one, like the 30% discount for mid-level officials of the Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources," Ge Dongxu, having seen Tang Yiyuan arrive and speak up for him just now, couldn''t be bothered to deal with Manager Zheng or Chen Xiaoling any longer and said with a smile.

    "Hehe, naturally, as my father''s friend, we will give you the maximum discount. But I wonder which piece of jade you are interested in?" Tang Yahui didn''t wait for her dad to answer and already took over the conversation with a smile.

    "Just this level of jade, the best-shaped ones, if you have them, bring me two hundred pieces. Remember, I need a 30% discount, otherwise I won''t have enough money to pay you," Ge Dongxu said after picking up the pendant that Chen Xiaoling had taken away, feeling it in his hand, and then giving it some thought.

    "Two... two hundred pieces!" As soon as Ge Dongxu uttered those words, everyone including Tang Yahui widened their eyes in shock, their mouths gaping wide open, aside from Tang Yiyuan whose expression remained somewhat normal. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was a piece of jade worth seven thousand yuan, and even with a 30% discount, two hundred pieces would cost nine hundred and eighty thousand yuan!

    What did nine hundred and eighty thousand yuan represent? That was enough to buy seven or eight apartments in the provincial capital, and their locations wouldn''t be bad either, all being at least one hundred square meters in size.

    And here was this young man, nonchalantly throwing out nine hundred and eighty thousand yuan with a single sentence!

    Manager Zheng, who had just been sneering that Ge Dongxu couldn''t afford jade and boasted about spending thirty to forty thousand yuan a year on jewelry in the Jiang Region, suddenly felt his cheeks burning with painful embarrassment.

    His face had indeed been slapped resoundingly!

    Chen Xiaoling, that is, the salesperson, was now pale as a sheet, inwardly filled with regret so intense that even her insides felt green with remorse. Ninety-eight thousand yuan! How much commission she could have made this month!

    Even Chen Xiaoling in her shock and regret had forgotten that their store couldn''t possibly have two hundred pieces of the same type of jade! Nor did anyone buy jade in such a manner!

    ps: The new book is vying for the rankings, and as the platform doesn''t have much in terms of recommendations for now, I can only rely on my readers to help by clicking, recommending, leaving comments, giving rewards, etc., to boost this book to the top. Thank you!

 Chapter 66 Could This Be the Legendary Rich Second Generation?

    For a long time, everyone gradually came back to their senses, and Manager Zheng had already slipped away quietly while everyone was focusing on Ge Dongxu.Having lost so much face, why would he wait to be embarrassed further by this young man?

    "May I know how to address you?" Tang Yahui came back to her senses, her eyes shining as she looked at Ge Dongxu, as if he were a pile of glowing gold.

    There was no way around it¡ªa 980,000 jewelry deal was not only a huge transaction at the time, but even today, it still wasn''t a small amount, and it would at least require the involvement of someone at a managerial level.

    As the manager of Jiang Region Jewelry, Tang Yahui''s position and annual income were directly tied to the store''s sales performance.

    With Ge Dongxu starting the conversation with 980,000, how could she not be dazzled?

    "Ge Dongxu, just call me Dongxu," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Mr. Ge, the quantity of jade you want is too large, and for the same type and style of jade, we only have one or two pieces at most, and other stores are the same. How about we go to my office to discuss in detail to see if there is another way to meet Mr. Ge''s requirements?" However, Tang Yahui still did not call Ge Dongxu by his first name, but referred to him as Mr. Ge.

    "That sounds good," Ge Dongxu nodded, then followed Tang Yahui''s invitation to go upstairs together. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a saleswoman with an apple-shaped face. Seeing a slight look of disappointment on her face, he suddenly had an idea, paused, pointed at the saleswoman, and said to Tang Yahui, "Manager Tang, this saleswoman served me with great enthusiasm just now, and I am very satisfied. Later, all my expenses should be counted as her sales performance."

    Tang Yahui was slightly taken aback, then smiled and nodded, "Of course."

    After that, she even specifically nodded at the saleswoman with the apple-shaped face to encourage her, "Zhang Qiqi, well done, keep it up."

    Zhang Qiqi''s face turned as red as an apple, and she quickly bowed repeatedly to Ge Dongxu and Tang Yahui, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Ge, thank you, Manager, I will definitely do well."

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu smiled and nodded at Zhang Qiqi, then followed Tang Yahui upstairs, and Tang Yiyuan naturally also went upstairs with them.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu and the others gone upstairs than the sales staff in the showroom crowded around Zhang Qiqi, saying, "Wow, 980,000 yuan, Qiqi, you''re treating us."

    "Our store doesn''t have that much jade, so the final deal definitely won''t reach 980,000!" Zhang Qiqi said, her face red.

    "That''s true, but looking at Mr. Ge''s demeanor, even if it''s not 980,000, having a deal of two or three hundred thousand is still possible, and your commission isn''t small either, you must treat us," someone said.

    "As long as there''s a transaction value of over 100,000, I''ll treat you." Zhang Qiqi said with a flushed face, her eyes full of excitement and anticipation.

    "That''s great, we get to have a feast today!" The sales clerks, all young girls, were very happy upon hearing this. Only Chen Xiaoling hung her face in annoyance and regret, no longer possessing her earlier shrewdness. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "However, you said Mr. Ge looked only about sixteen or seventeen, how is he so rich? Could he be the legendary rich second generation? Ninety-eight thousand, you could buy several big houses in Linzhou City with that. We would need to work for over a hundred years without eating or drinking! If only we could find such a wealthy husband in the future, there wouldn''t be a need to stand here smiling all day." After a joyful moment, some sales clerks gathered quietly when there weren''t many customers, whispering among themselves.

    "Right! Why don''t you chase after Mr. Ge later?"

    "I would love to, but with his wealth, why would he notice me!"

    "..."

    Unbeknownst to Ge Dongxu, he had just become the topic of conversation among the young sales clerks downstairs, nor did he realize that at sixteen, he was already seen as a "diamond bachelor" by the girls. At this moment, he was sitting on a long couch in Tang Yahui''s office, next to Tang Yiyuan, chatting sporadically, while Tang Yahui was busy making tea for them.

    "Mr. Ge, you want that type of glutinous ice jade, you just need it to be similar in shape to that pendant, and you even want two hundred pieces at once, definitely not for wearing, right? Do you have some other special use for it? Perhaps I can think of another way for you, and it will cost much less than buying it this way. After all, the value of a pendant includes not only the jade itself but also its carving, which is a significant part of its value. Sometimes the value of the carving even surpasses that of the jade itself." After serving tea to her father and Ge Dongxu, Tang Yahui sat down and asked.

    "Really? That would be awesome! I do have a special use for them. In fact, I don''t need any carving; I just need it to be polished smoothly and about the size of that pendant we just discussed, and the type of jade doesn''t have to be exactly the one we discussed, but I need to see it first to decide." Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s eyes lit up with excitement.

    His money didn''t just appear out of nowhere; it was from a thousand-year-old wild Polygonum multiflorum that he had saved. Besides wanting to buy jade with this money, he was also thinking of saving some for his parents and using a portion to generate more money. After all, he would need to buy a lot of jade and various elixir ingredients for his cultivation in the future. He had to find a way to make money. Although he hadn''t found a way yet, whatever it was would definitely require some initial capital.

    However, because Ge Dongxu was not familiar with the jade market, and just as Jadeite''s demand had reached a peak in the domestic market in recent years, it was only after seeing the prices that Ge Dongxu realized he had been too optimistic. Just buying the jade alone might deplete more than half of his wealth, which was largely thanks to Tang Yiyuan''s connection that Tang Yahui had offered him a substantial discount, otherwise his money wouldn''t have been enough to buy the jade.

    "You really just need it polished smoothly? What if the size and thickness differ slightly from that pendant? Would that be an issue?" Tang Yahui, though having guessed that Ge Dongxu had a special purpose for such a large quantity of jade, couldn''t help but show a trace of confused astonishment on her face, hesitating before asking again.

    "As long as it has the texture of the jade we just saw, a slight difference in size, thickness, or even shape is no problem." Ge Dongxu thought for a moment before answering.

    The reason he bought the jade was to inscribe Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans on it, akin to drawing talismans on yellow paper. But since the Spirit Gathering Array needed to continuously gather and store Spirit, yellow paper wouldn''t suffice, so he needed jade that could gather and store Spirit to inscribe these talismans, especially the type of jade that could do so. Earlier, when Ge Dongxu was examining the jade, he was not actually using his eyes but using his True Qi to feel the texture of the jade, to see if the jade could retain the True Qi. The first pendant could gather and store a bit, but it didn''t meet his standards; the second one did, though it was more expensive.

    Clearly, the better the quality of the jade, the more effectively it could gather and store Spirit. Thus, the quality of the jade was more crucial for Ge Dongxu than the shape; it was just more convenient to write Formation Talismans on a rectangular shape, not that it had to be that specific shape and size. It was like with paper¡ªsquare sheets could be written on, and so could round ones, the main thing was that the surface needed to be flat and smooth, suitable for writing. As for why Ge Dongxu needed two hundred pieces, he considered that currently, his success rate of drawing talismans on yellow paper was only about two percent, and achieving one percent on jade would be quite good, so to be safe, he needed two hundred pieces.

    Of course, it was possible that none of the two hundred pieces would successfully be inscribed, but given the earlier price, two hundred was about the upper limit Ge Dongxu could afford, so if the engraving failed, he would have to think of another solution.

    ps: After reading, please don''t forget to cast a vote! If you haven''t added this to your bookshelf, please help me by doing so.

 Chapter 67 Much Cheaper

    "If that''s the case, then you don''t need to spend that unnecessary money at all, you just need to purchase some raw jade stones and have a master craft them into polished pieces. Even the trimmings from good jade can be suitable for your use. Of course, the trimmings from good jade are not cheap either, but they are certainly much more affordable than the jade pendant you were just asking about." Tang Yahui spoke upon hearing this, her heart growing increasingly curious about what this young man in front of her intended to do with these jades.Jade has been associated with many ethereal legends involving gods and ghosts in the folk customs since ancient times, which is why many ancient nobles chose to be buried with jade instead of gold and silver. Even now, many people still believe that jade can ward off evil spirits, protect the home, and avert disasters, and so they often have jade carved into shapes like Guanyin, ruyi, dragons, tigers, and pixiu.

    As someone in the industry, Tang Yahui naturally had heard plenty of legends about jade and had also encountered people who used jade for special purposes. However, most of these people were elderly, or at least middle-aged; she had never met someone as young as Ge Dongxu before, and it was also her first time encountering someone who wanted such a large quantity all at once. Normally, people would only buy a few pieces and have them carved into specific shapes before having a master bless them. So, she couldn''t help but be curious.

    Of course, Tang Yahui had been educated in Marxism from an early age, and she did not believe in the mysterious uses of jade.

    "Then where can I buy them?" Ge Dongxu asked eagerly upon hearing this, thinking to himself how fortunate he was that the manager was Tang Yiyuan''s daughter; otherwise, as a country bumpkin with no experience in this area, he would indeed have spent a lot of undue money.

    "Hehe, I have some here, but I''m not sure if I have enough. It doesn''t matter, though; I still have some acquaintances in this circle who can immediately arrange for more to be delivered. Regarding the price, with me overseeing it for you, you won''t be taken advantage of," Tang Yahui replied.

    "Then thank you very much, but business is business, and you should still earn what you''re supposed to. Just because I know your father, it doesn''t mean you shouldn''t earn money from me. Of course, a suitable discount would be appreciated," Ge Dongxu laughed and said. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Doctor Ge, you''re being too formal. Regarding the jade stones from Jiang Region Jewelry, since it''s a government matter, it wouldn''t be appropriate to ask Yahui to forgo making money from you. As for the rest of the quantity that isn''t enough, it''s okay for the seller to make a profit. How could Yahui, acting as the intermediary, justify making more money from you?" Tang Yiyuan interjected before his daughter could reply.

    "Doctor Ge? Could it be that Mr. Ge is also a doctor?" Tang Yahui was startled to hear her father refer to Ge Dongxu as a doctor.

    A young man suddenly wanting to buy two hundred pieces of jade for some special purpose was already astonishing enough, but now this young man was actually a doctor, and judging from her father''s attitude, he clearly held high regard for his medical skills. Otherwise, why would he specifically address him as Doctor Ge, given Ge Dongxu''s young age?

    "Hehe, not only is he a doctor, his medical skills are much stronger than mine," Tang Yiyuan said without any need to keep it secret in the absence of others.

    "What!" This time, Tang Yahui was truly shocked. She knew her father''s status in the traditional medicine field of Jiangnan Province, and she knew that he rarely acknowledged the medical skills of others, let alone those of a young person.

    "Hehe, Professor Tang, you don''t have to praise me so much. Let''s talk about the jade stones instead," Ge Dongxu was somewhat embarrassed by Tang Yiyuan''s compliments.

    Tang Yiyuan then remembered that Ge Dongxu did not like others knowing about his medical skills and refrained from discussing the miraculous aspects of Ge Dongxu''s medicine any further. He turned to Tang Yahui seriously and instructed, "It''s enough that you know about this matter. You mustn''t mention it to anyone else; otherwise, Dr. Ge won''t be able to study in peace."

    "I understand, Dad. Don''t worry, even if I share this with someone else, no one would believe it anyway," Tang Yahui nodded and said.

    Feeling reassured, Tang Yiyuan didn''t press further on the matter. Instead, he turned the conversation to the jade, "Then have someone bring the jade for Doctor Ge to inspect as soon as possible. If it''s not enough, hurry and get more from other places."

    "Alright." Seeing her father valued Ge Dongxu, Tang Yahui dared not delay. She acknowledged with a reply, greeted Ge Dongxu, and then went out.

    Before long, she returned with a middle-aged man carrying a box.

    Upon opening the box, it was filled with unprocessed jadeite stones.

    "Basically, all the unprocessed jade in our shop is here. Take a look to see which ones are suitable, and then I''ll give you a quote. We won''t charge for the polishing, just a simple cutting," Tang Yahui pointed to the jade in the box and said.

    Ge Dongxu''s mind was fixated on the jade, so he didn''t bother with formalities with Tang Yahui. He began to carefully feel each stone. The unprocessed jade that Tang Yahui had brought was mostly of the lower grade varieties, such as glutinous ice type, rice white type, blue flower type, and bean green type. There was none of the glass type or ice type, let alone the top-grade old pit glass type or imperial green jadeite. These latter types were high-end goods among jadeite that certainly required renowned craftsmen or even master-level individuals to work on them; otherwise, it would be a waste of excellent material.

    Jiang Region Jewelry didn''t have the resources to employ such renowned craftsmen or masters, nor the capital to purchase such high-end goods. At most, they managed to bring in a few finished pieces to display in the store, enhancing the shop''s prestige.

    Of course, even if such high-end goods were available, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t be able to afford them.

    Ge Dongxu picked out some jade he thought suitable and piled them to one side, estimating they should yield about one hundred and forty to fifty jade tokens. Then he pointed to the selected jade and asked Tang Yahui, "How much for these?"

    The purchase of jadeite was different from other goods; it could cost hundreds of thousands or even millions, so as the person in charge of Jiang Region Jewelry, Tang Yahui was responsible for negotiating and overseeing the purchases. She knew the prices well, and upon Ge Dongxu''s inquiry, she added the cost and profit and said, "In total, it would be two hundred seventy-six thousand."

    "That cheap, are you sure you didn''t make a mistake? These should be enough to make about one hundred and forty to fifty jade tokens that I need." Ge Dongxu was taken aback when he heard this because if he went by seventy percent off the previous pendant prices, even for one hundred and forty tokens, it would be around seven hundred thousand. Yet now, the price had dropped by more than half.

    "Hehe, how could I make a mistake about this! Your requirements are low, so it''s possible to create about one hundred and forty to fifty jade tokens, but if we were to process them into pendants, bracelets, and such ornaments, the waste would be quite severe, not to mention the cost of craftsmanship. At this level of jade, every piece is carved and polished as an artwork, requiring not only time but also experienced master craftsmen. It''s not possible to just assign an apprentice to work on it like with lower grades of jadeite such as the green bean type. Moreover, you are buying so much at once; we''re just flipping the inventory, so I can naturally give you a larger discount on the price. Therefore, two hundred seventy-six thousand is not a small amount. Any more, and I think my dad would scold me for being a profiteer!" Tang Yahui said.

    Although Tang Yahui explained why the price difference was so large, Ge Dongxu was a smart man and didn''t naively think that this was the price he should get. He knew very well that if it weren''t for Tang Yiyuan''s sake, Tang Yahui wouldn''t have been so lenient with him; she would''ve likely overcharged him mercilessly.

 Chapter 68 Chance Encounter on the Return Journey [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "It looks like I owe your dad another favor," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, no longer continuing to talk about the price."Doctor Ge, you are being too modest, too modest," Tang Yiyuan hastily demurred, but his heart blossomed with joy.

    For someone like Ge Dongxu, owing him more favors was always better, as it would make it easier for him to seek help in the future.

    As the saying goes, ''a daughter knows her father best.'' Although Tang Yiyuan did not show his inner joy, Tang Yahui still noticed it, feeling increasingly surprised and curious about what special skills this young man possessed that made her father value his favor so highly.

    The conversation touched upon the topic briefly, and Ge Dongxu did not continue being polite with Tang Yiyuan but instead turned to inquire about other jades.

    Since he had to catch a train in the afternoon and was pressed for time, he did not want to delay.

    Tang Yahui, a woman who acted decisively, did not wait for Ge Dongxu to urge her again. She immediately called the master craftsman to tell him about the jade processing and asked him to start right away. Then she called a jade merchant friend in Linzhou City. After making the arrangements, she personally drove Ge Dongxu over, with Tang Yiyuan originally having other plans that afternoon but naturally abandoning them as accompanying Ge Dongxu was more important.

    During the drive, Tang Yiyuan asked many questions about traditional medicine. This time, he did not approach it with the same scrutinizing attitude he had on the train but instead brought out some medical puzzles he had to ask Ge Dongxu for advice.

    Because Ge Dongxu felt that he owed Tang Yiyuan a favor and also found him to be quite a good person, he did not hold back much and shared his knowledge generously, which greatly benefited Tang Yiyuan. Meanwhile, Tang Yahui, who was driving, was so astonished that they nearly had an accident.

    She had never imagined that in Jiangnan Province there would be someone who could offer guidance in traditional medicine to her father, especially a young man.

    Her father was a doctoral supervisor, so did that mean this young man could also supervise doctoral students? The mere thought made Tang Yahui feel as if it was all a fantastical tale.

    With Tang Yahui being an expert present, the jade merchant did not dare to cheat Ge Dongxu. Moreover, Ge Dongxu chose jades based on how they gathered and stored spiritual energy, picking them correctly almost every time, which made it difficult for the merchant to pawn off lesser quality goods as finer ones.

    After spending ninety-four thousand yuan, Ge Dongxu acquired approximately forty to fifty pieces of jade that could be made into Jade Tokens. Adding to his previous expenses, he had spent exactly three hundred seventy thousand yuan in total.

    While paying, Ge Dongxu thought about the remaining nine hundred thirty thousand yuan he would have left and felt a sense of relief. Otherwise, losing nine hundred eighty thousand yuan all at once would have really felt like being thrown back to much harder times.

    In reality, even after spending nine hundred eighty thousand yuan, Ge Dongxu would still have three hundred twenty thousand yuan left, which for an ordinary family was still a considerable sum. However, human nature is such that once you''ve had over a million, looking back at just a few hundred thousand can make you feel impoverished.

    Back at Jiang Region Jewelry, Tang Yahui helped Ge Dongxu arrange and supervise the polishing of the Jade Tokens, while Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan occupied her office to discuss knowledge of traditional medicine.

    After a thorough discussion, Tang Yiyuan was completely impressed by Ge Dongxu. Although he still addressed him as Doctor Ge verbally, in his heart, he had already regarded him as his mentor and considered himself a student.

    Around four-thirty, under Tang Yahui''s personal supervision and urging, the Jade Tokens that Ge Dongxu had requested were finally all polished. Then she personally drove him to the train station.

    As he boarded the train for the return trip and found his seat, looking out at the train station and the high-rise buildings behind it, and thinking about the one hundred ninety-eight Jade Tokens worth three hundred seventy thousand yuan in his bag and the bank card with nine hundred thirty thousand yuan in his wallet, Ge Dongxu felt an unreal sensation.

    This trip to the Provincial Capital had given him too many experiences he had never had before, and he had encountered many people he would definitely not have been able to meet otherwise. His mind seemed to mature unknowingly.

    Indeed, traveling thousands of miles is better than reading thousands of books. If it were not for being swindled by the taxi, if it were not for Director Liu eying people like she didn''t even blink, if it were not for meeting Tang Yiyuan and his daughter, how could I have so profoundly understood the evils and kindness of the human heart? If it were not for buying jade, how could I have known the complexities within the jade industry?

    As he thought, Ge Dongxu''s mind involuntarily conjured up that immaculately sculpted, pure white body. The captivating eyes, beautiful face, long neck, soaring peaks, slim waist, perfectly plump buttocks, and long, straight legs...

    "Stop! Stop! Ge Dongxu, how can your thoughts be so dirty? After all the trust Sister Liu has placed in you!" Ge Dongxu quickly realized he shouldn''t be thinking this and hurriedly chastised himself while trying not to dwell on that image.

    But the image was like grass with a strong will to live; just as Ge Dongxu suppressed it, it would break through the soil again unexpectedly.

    "Dongxu? Why are you here? Didn''t you go to class today?" Just as Ge Dongxu was struggling internally, suddenly a familiar voice came from across the way.

    "Ah, it''s Uncle Zhou! What are you doing here?" Ge Dongxu quickly looked up and was surprised to see Cheng Le Hao''s father, Cheng Yazhou, then began to silently lament.

    This really was hard to explain!

    "You rascal, I''m asking you, why are you turning the question on me? I am a businessman, of course, I travel for work. But what about you, a high school student¡ªwhy aren''t you in school and instead have run off to the provincial capital?" Cheng Yazhou''s face darkened slightly, his tone serious and interrogative.

    "I have a sister in the provincial capital, she''s ill. I came specifically to see her," Ge Dongxu knew Cheng Yazhou meant well, so he wasn''t annoyed by his questioning tone. He hesitated, and then suddenly remembering Liu Jiayao, he blurted out a reply.

    "I see. What about your parents? Why didn''t they come with you? Are they that trusting of you?" Cheng Yazhou said as he sat down across from Ge Dongxu and asked, his expression softened.

    His seat was just opposite Ge Dongxu''s.

    "Both of my parents are too busy, so I had to come by myself," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "A poor man''s child matures early! You''re so young and already off to the provincial capital by yourself. My son doesn''t know when he''ll grow up like you. By the way, is your sister very sick?" Cheng Yazhou''s face completely lost its sternness, replaced by admiration and affection.

    "She''s much better now," Ge Dongxu replied, his cheeks feeling slightly warm. He had always been an honest child and was unaccustomed to lying outright in front of others.

    "That''s good!" Cheng Yazhou nodded, showing a slight smile, and said, "You should have told your uncle earlier, maybe then you could have come with me."

    "Aren''t we together now?" Seeing that Cheng Yazhou no longer pressed him about his trip to the provincial capital, Ge Dongxu breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

    "That''s true." Cheng Yazhou nodded and smiled, then seemed to remember something, spoke no more, and his face showed a trace of melancholy and worry.

    ps: The ranking is falling; I will not speak of persistence or vent my complaints; I only ask for continued support from my readers. The situation is urgent; don''t forget to vote and leave messages of support; thank you very much. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 69 Sudden Illness

    "How is it, Uncle, was your trip to the Provincial Capital not smooth?" Ge Dongxu, who was very observant, noticed that Cheng Yazhou looked exhausted and his expression carried a mix of anguish and worry, prompting him to ask out of concern."Yes, the funds haven''t come through. Haha, you''re still young; you don''t need to worry about these things." Cheng Yazhou replied reflexively, but he quickly realized that Ge Dongxu was too young to discuss such matters and did not elaborate further.

    Seeing that Cheng Yazhou did not want to continue, Ge Dongxu did not press further but thought to himself that he needed to mention this to Cheng Lehao when he had time, and to encourage him to study harder. Knowing how hard the parents worked for the family, he could not afford to add to their burdens.

    Afterward, Cheng Yazhou asked about Ge Dongxu''s studies at Changxi High School and mentioned that his son had recently been studying more diligently. As he spoke of this, a look of gratitude and relief clearly appeared on his face.

    Cheng Yazhou had obviously been very tired these past few days. After talking for a while, he began to yawn incessantly, then he excused himself to Ge Dongxu, closed his eyes to rest, and soon began snoring, fast asleep.

    Seeing Cheng Yazhou asleep, Ge Dongxu, also feeling quite bored and worrying that unwanted images might begin to appear in his mind, decided to close his eyes as well and entered a state of meditation.

    After an indeterminate amount of time in meditation, Ge Dongxu suddenly heard Cheng Yazhou''s painful moans, which startled him and jolted him out of his meditation.

    Awakening from his meditation, Ge Dongxu saw Cheng Yazhou pressing his hands against his chest, curled up in his seat in agony, his face pale, covered in sweat, and breathing shallowly.

    Alarmed at the sight, Ge Dongxu quickly got up and asked, "Uncle, what''s wrong with you?"

    At the same time, he had already placed his hand on Cheng Yazhou''s wrist, feeling his pulse.

    "My chest hurts terribly! Hurry, go get a crew member, I, I might be having a myocardial infarction," Cheng Yazhou gasped out the words with difficulty, his eyes showing pain and panic.

    Because it was nighttime and not a peak travel period, the train car was not very crowded, and most passengers were asleep at this time, so no one but Ge Dongxu noticed the situation yet. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''re right, this is a myocardial infarction. At this time, calling a crew member won''t help. Lie on your side; I''m going to apply acupuncture now," Ge Dongxu, a skilled physician, naturally knew that a myocardial infarction was a severe, acute condition that could not be delayed. If prolonged, it could lead to extensive myocardial infarction, which even his current medical skills would be powerless to reverse. Thus, without any hesitation, he urgently spoke.

    "You?" Though Cheng Yazhou was in severe pain and struggled to breathe, he was still conscious. Seeing Ge Dongxu offering to perform acupuncture, his eyes widened in surprise. He was about to tell Ge Dongxu not to mess around as his sudden illness wasn''t something he could deal with when he saw Ge Dongxu pulling out an ancient-looking sandalwood box from his bag. As he opened the box and took out several silver needles, the words Cheng Yazhou was about to say were swallowed back.

    By the time he realized he shouldn''t let Ge Dongxu perform acupuncture, Ge Dongxu had already torn open his shirt and, without saying a word, expertly placed needles into his Shen Shu acupoint, Di Shu acupoint, Ju Que acupoint, Tan Zhong acupoint, among others.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu inserted the needles, Cheng Yazhou immediately felt much less pain, and his breathing seemed not as labored as before. At that moment, he finally understood that Ge Dongxu could indeed treat him, so he no longer insisted on calling someone else. Instead, he sat up as Ge Dongxu instructed, positioning his body upright.

    Due to the position of the seats on the train, which had a backrest and were narrow, Cheng Yazhou was lying on his side, making it inconvenient for Ge Dongxu to administer the acupuncture. Initially, Cheng Yazhou was in severe pain, so asking him to sit up was clearly unrealistic. Therefore, Ge Dongxu allowed him to remain lying on his side. Now that the pain had eased somewhat, he asked him to sit upright.

    After Cheng Yazhou sat upright, Ge Dongxu helped him target a few acupoints, then alternately gently rotated the silver needles with his fingers. Each rotation consumed some of his True Qi.

    As a result, Cheng Yazhou''s complexion soon became rosier, while Ge Dongxu''s face turned pale.

    There was no choice, today at Liu Jiayao''s home, Ge Dongxu''s True Qi had already been almost depleted. After most of the day, he had just barely recovered a bit of strength, when Cheng Yazhou suddenly fell ill again.

    Cheng Yazhou was a good person, and over the past few days, everyone had grown quite close. Faced with his medical condition, Ge Dongxu naturally did all he could.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu had consistently and diligently cultivated his skills over the years, building a solid foundation. Thus, although he had expended a lot of energy at Liu Jiayao''s home earlier, he was able to muster a bit of True Qi after recovering for most of the day. Otherwise, Cheng Yazhou''s myocardial infarction would not have eased so quickly.

    After a while, Ge Dongxu saw that Cheng Yazhou would not have any more problems and thus began to remove the silver needles one by one. He then massaged Cheng Yazhou''s chest and other areas for a while before finally letting out a long sigh of relief, saying, "Finally, it''s all right."

    Having said this, Ge Dongxu practically collapsed into the chair, breathing heavily.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s exhausted appearance, Cheng Yazhou was very touched and said, "Thank you, Dongxu. If it wasn''t for you today, Uncle Cheng might have died right here. Just like Lehao''s grandfather, who passed away suddenly from a myocardial infarction. The doctors told me this illness isn''t hereditary, but that all turned out to be nonsense."

    "We''re all family, Uncle Cheng, so there''s no need for formalities with me. However, you were wrong to blame the doctor earlier. This disease indeed does not necessarily have hereditary factors. The main issue is with yourself. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is said that improper diet, indulging in rich and fatty foods, or frequently overeating can harm the spleen and stomach over time, impairing their functioning. This leads to the production of phlegm from retained dampness which ascends and clouds the chest. When the clear yang fails to rise, and the qi circulation is impeded, this obstructs the heart''s vessels. Alternatively, phlegm can turn into fire, where heat can further congeal the liquids into phlegm and scorch the blood into stasis, blocking the heart''s vessels with phlegm and stasis, and thus causing heart pain. So, Uncle Cheng, you really need to lose weight, otherwise, you might face today''s situation again," Ge Dongxu waved his hand as he spoke.

    "Yes, yes. I was scared to death today. When I get back, I''ll start losing weight, and not just me¡ªLehao needs to as well," Cheng Yazhou nodded repeatedly, still frightened.

    He was only a little over forty this year, and if something similar to his father''s sudden myocardial infarction happened, how could he rest assured about Lehao and his wife?

    "That''s right. Also, don''t overwork yourself in the future and try to maintain a relaxed mood. This occurrence of a myocardial infarction surely also had to do with your recent travel and stressed mood," Ge Dongxu continued.

    "Yes, these past few days have not only worn me out but also stressed me quite a bit. However, let''s not talk about this. Let''s talk about you¡ªhow did you learn acupuncture, and how is it that you are so miraculously skilled?" Cheng Yazhou nodded, then quickly turned to Ge Dongxu with curiosity, asking him about his acupuncture skills.

    ps: The youth stage primarily sets the foundation for the protagonist''s rise in university and future, so it will not be lengthy, and readers can be assured.

 Chapter 70 Discussing Investment

    "When I was young, I once apprenticed under a master and learned Chinese medicine, but I wanted to study without distractions, so I''d prefer if only you knew about this, Uncle. Please don''t mention it to anyone else," Ge Dongxu replied.Cheng Yazhou, being a businessman, had seen a bit of the world and understood certain norms. Besides, he didn''t want his family to worry, so since Ge Dongxu asked him not to bring it up, it suited him just fine.

    "I understand, and I don''t want to concern your aunt and Lehao either, so you don''t need to tell them about it. I''m still somewhat worried about my condition though. You''re skilled in medicine¡ªother than maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle, do you have any other ways to ensure this illness won''t happen again? Lehao is still young; I really can''t rest easy just leaving things as they are." Cheng Yazhou nodded, then looked at Ge Dongxu with a gaze full of expectation and pleading, and as he spoke of Cheng Lehao, his eyes reddened a bit.

    "Since I''ve detected your illness in advance, Uncle, you don''t need to worry too much. Once you get back, I''ll write a prescription for you to adjust your condition, and if you pay attention to your diet and exercise more, you certainly won''t relapse," Ge Dongxu said. Find more to read at empire

    Having gone through the recent event, Cheng Yazhou had developed considerable trust in Ge Dongxu. His own father had died of a sudden myocardial infarction, and even after being taken to the hospital, they couldn''t save him, whereas Ge Dongxu had managed to snatch him from death''s grasp with just acupuncture. Such a vivid experience left no room for Cheng Yazhou to doubt Ge Dongxu, unless there was something wrong with his brain.

    "That''s good to hear, really good. For assisting Lehao in his studies and now saving my life, I don''t know how to thank you," Cheng Yazhou sighed with relief, his face full of gratitude.

    "Hehe, there''s no need for such formalities, Uncle. Speaking of which, what exactly happened in Provincial Capital? Were people intentionally avoiding repaying their debts, or were they genuinely unable to pay up?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, waving his hand, before bringing up Cheng Yazhou''s issue with debts.

    It wasn''t that Ge Dongxu was being nosy; he wanted his money to earn more money, and he needed to understand more about business to gain experience. Considering his age, it was unlikely anyone would discuss business matters with him, but since he''d just saved Cheng Yazhou, asking him about these matters was no issue. Moreover, if the other party genuinely had money and was deliberately avoiding payment, Ge Dongxu had the means to help Cheng Yazhou.

    "It''s not that they''re intentionally avoiding repayment, but rather their business has taken a loss and they temporarily can''t repay the money. Unfortunately, I urgently needed a large sum of cash to purchase a machine for producing laser anti-counterfeit labels, and without their repayment, I can''t afford the machine," Cheng Yazhou explained, unable to see Ge Dongxu in the same light as before ever since he''d saved him, and so he offered an explanation when asked again.

    "What, Uncle, are you planning to invest in the production of laser anti-counterfeit labels?" Ge Dongxu asked, his eyes lighting up upon hearing this. He had some funds at hand and was pondering how to make more money from them, and Cheng Yazhou''s words gave him a hint of an investment opportunity. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, he knew investments shouldn''t be made blindly, so he needed to gather more information.

    "Yes, laser anti-counterfeit labels have started to become popular over the last couple of years. I have a few clients who were using traditional labels but now they all want to switch to laser anti-counterfeit labels, and this is definitely a trend for the future. It''s better to start early to get more profit, as opposed to when everyone else jumps on the bandwagon and it''s too late. But importing a set of production machinery for the labels takes about one and a half to one and six million yuan. I''ve made some money from my businesses over the years, so I thought I could collect some of that money, mortgage my house for a loan, and bring in Lehao''s uncle as a partner. It should have been fine. But then two big customers ran into trouble, leaving me with very little capital," Cheng Yazhou said, clearly disheartened.

    "Why not find a few more people to partner with?" Ge Dongxu suggested, feeling somewhat enticed by Cheng Yazhou''s analysis.

    "It isn''t easy to find business partners, you''re too young to understand. When it comes to interests, even brothers can end up in conflict. I''ve been in business partnerships with close friends in previous years. It was fine when the business was good, but once we started losing money, they blamed me, and we ended up no longer being friends. Producing laser anti-counterfeit labels requires significant investment. I may talk a good game, believing in its prospects, but business is unpredictable. If we make a profit, it''s fine, but if we lose, it''s a different story. I''ve been burned before, so I can''t just casually bring in more partners. Lehao''s uncle, on the other hand, has a more agreeable personality, so I thought there wouldn''t be a problem there," Cheng Yazhou said with a rueful smile and a shake of his head.

    Ge Dongxu was intelligent. From what Cheng Yazhou had said, he understood that Cheng Yazhou''s primary concern was the fear of the business failing and dragging others down with him. Ge Dongxu admired him all the more for his concern and said, "Business is naturally risky; one shouldn''t blame others if things go south. I actually find the laser anti-counterfeit label business quite promising and would like to partner with you, Uncle. What do you think?"

    "You, partner with me?" Cheng Yazhou''s eyes widened in shock as if he suddenly didn''t recognize Ge Dongxu.

    It''s not surprising for Cheng Yazhou to react this way. Despite his years in business, he had never discussed business with someone so young, let alone consider a partnership. Moreover, this young person was his son''s classmate, which was even more absurd. Had it not been for Ge Dongxu''s life-saving act just before, prompting him to view this young man as out of the ordinary, Cheng Yazhou would have outright scolded Ge Dongxu for speaking nonsense.

    "That''s right. I''ve got some spare cash and am looking for a place to invest it," Ge Dongxu affirmed with a smile.

    "Are you serious, Dongxu? This isn''t a joke. Do you really have spare money? How much? Do your parents know?" Having spent over a month getting to know each other, Cheng Yazhou was still adjusting to the idea and subconsciously saw Ge Dongxu as a child.

    "I have about seven hundred thousand that I can use, earned by myself. I can make decisions on my own when it comes to that money," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Seven... seven hundred thousand!" Cheng Yazhou''s eyes bugged out, nearly exclaiming in surprise.

    "If it''s not enough, I could potentially shuffle around another hundred thousand, but any more than that would be impossible," Ge Dongxu said earnestly. He had planned to set aside about two hundred thousand for his parents, but if Cheng Yazhou''s situation was truly dire, he was willing to consider giving his parents less for now.

    ps: Continuing to seek all kinds of support, thank you very much.

 Chapter 71 Investing in Shares

    "Dongxu, today you have completely shocked me," Cheng Yazhou said as he repeatedly rubbed his temples, "First, you saved my life, and then you told me you could invest up to eight hundred thousand as a partner. My mind just couldn''t process it all at once, couldn''t make the turn. Give me a moment, let me settle down, let me settle down!"Ge Dongxu knew his performance tonight was astonishing and that Cheng Yazhou, who had always known him as a student, was finding it hard to accept. So, when he heard this, he wasn''t surprised or upset but just nodded with a smile and quietly waited.

    After a while, Cheng Yazhou seemed to slowly accept the reality and took a deep breath, looking seriously at Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, I''ve realized now that you are not an ordinary kid, and I can''t look at you the way I did before. Let''s discuss the investment partnership properly now."

    "Okay, you know more about this, Uncle Cheng, so you start, and I''ll listen," Ge Dongxu nodded and straightened up as he spoke.

    "Now I''ll ask you again, are you certain about making this investment? I can''t guarantee we will make money; in fact, it''s quite possible that we could lose everything," Cheng Yazhou looked seriously at Ge Dongxu and asked.

    "I trust Uncle Cheng''s analysis just now, and with Uncle Cheng''s full storehouse, his financial luck shouldn''t be bad," Ge Dongxu nodded his head in agreement.

    "Okay, you can read fortunes too. But, my financial luck hasn''t been good recently. If it hadn''t been for meeting you today, I would have been done for," Cheng Yazhou said with a laugh, not taking Ge Dongxu seriously.

    "Either way, I trust Uncle Cheng, as well as my own judgment and discernment; even if we lose everything, I will never blame you," Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    "Since you have so much faith in Uncle, I''ll discuss the detailed aspects of the investment with you," Cheng Yazhou said, seeing the determination in Ge Dongxu. He refrained from further persuasion, as it would appear he did not trust Ge Dongxu or want to partner with him.

    "Okay, go ahead," Ge Dongxu nodded. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Regarding the investment in an anti-counterfeit laser label factory, the major expenses are for purchasing the machinery, followed by the factory building and staff salaries. For purchasing machinery, as I mentioned before, it will roughly cost between $1.5 to $1.6 million, but I think we can negotiate it down to $1.5 million."

    "About the factory, I''ve previously mentioned that I rented one in the suburbs of the county town with a friend. The lease is for three years, but my friend left me with a mess after the business incurred losses. Since the lease is only up at the end of this month, we can continue renting it. We can also opt to buy it, as land in the suburbs is cheap, costing about twenty to thirty thousand per acre at most. The main expense would be the actual buildings, but even there, spending sixty to seventy thousand should be enough. However, since we haven''t started the business and don''t know whether it will profit or incur losses, and my funds are already tight, I am inclining towards continuing the lease. The rent is just eight hundred per month, payable annually."

    "Regarding salaries, the main expense is for laser plate making, which requires special skills, so the wages are higher, possibly needing one or two thousand, but salaries are paid monthly and aren''t a big problem. As for other materials like plastic film and adhesive, having built some credit over the years, I could initially pay in advance with deferred payment. So, adding it all together, if we have $1.6 million, we should be able to set up and operate the factory," Cheng Yazhou explained.

    "Lehao''s uncle doesn''t have much capital; two hundred thousand would be his limit. I can scrape together eight hundred thousand on my side, so you could put in six hundred thousand. We could then divide the shares into eight parts¡ªLehao''s uncle would have one share, I would have four shares, and you three. What do you think? If you feel the investment is too high, I could try to gather some more money, so you''d feel less burdened," Cheng Yazhou said.

    "Hehe, I''m only sixteen this year. Even if I lose it all, I''ll have plenty of opportunities to make money later, so there''s no psychological burden at all. Let it be six hundred thousand for three shares. But there''s one thing I need to make clear first¡ªI am currently focusing on my studies and won''t be able to participate in the management. So in this regard, Uncle Cheng, you''ll need to think this through to ensure neither you nor Lehao''s uncle suffer a loss," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That''s easy to handle; Uncle Lehao and I will be involved in managing the business, and the factory just needs to pay us a salary," Cheng Yazhou replied.

    "Alright, that''s settled then. I''ll make time to go to the bank tomorrow afternoon after school to transfer the money to you. Over the weekend, take me to see the factory. If the location feels right, we''ll settle on it," Ge Dongxu said.

    Because Cheng Yazhou had incurred losses with his last factory venture, Ge Dongxu was worried it might be related to the factory''s Feng Shui, so he wanted to take a look himself. However, Cheng Yazhou had just teased him about his fortune-telling, reminding Ge Dongxu to keep his special abilities hidden. Thus, this time he wouldn''t mention Feng Shui, but just said he wanted to see the location.

    "Alright, I''ll draft a contract when I get back to make things official. Then this weekend, we can call Uncle Lehao too, and go check out the factory together," Cheng Yazhou said without giving it too much thought.

    Of course, even with the wildest imagination, Cheng Yazhou could never guess that the young man before him not only possessed miraculous medical skills but also had proficiency in physiognomy and Feng Shui.

    "Done, it''s decided then. It''s getting late, Uncle should close his eyes and rest for a while; I need to rest too, otherwise, I won''t have any energy for class tomorrow," Ge Dongxu nodded and said. Stay tuned to empire

    "Yes, yes, you should rest too. You must be exhausted from performing acupuncture and massage on Uncle just now," Cheng Yazhou hurriedly said upon realizing that Ge Dongxu still looked a bit pale.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, then closed his eyes and soon fell asleep.

    Sleep is the most natural way for cultivators to rest and relax, also an essential part, although cultivators don''t need as much sleep as ordinary people do.

    The train arrived on time at six o''clock in Changxi County, and Ge Dongxu and Cheng Yazhou headed home together. Since the two were now business partners, they would definitely need to communicate and negotiate about various matters, and engage in financial transactions, so keeping it a secret from Cheng Yazhou''s family would certainly be unrealistic, at least it would be impossible to hide it from his wife, Wu Xiaojuan. Thus, on the way home, Cheng Yazhou discussed this issue with Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu was aware that it was a serious matter, so he had no objection to Cheng Yazhou mentioning it to Wu Xiaojuan. However, because he was worried it may affect Cheng Lehao''s study mindset and he might leak the information, he asked Cheng Yazhou to try not to mention it to him for the time being, as the young man usually wasn''t interested in his dad''s business affairs.

    So, after getting home, Ge Dongxu took a bath and had breakfast before heading to school, while Cheng Yazhou talked with Wu Xiaojuan about partnering with Ge Dongxu to invest in an anti-counterfeit laser label factory.

    When Wu Xiaojuan heard that Ge Dongxu had so much money, she couldn''t believe it. Helplessly, Cheng Yazhou ended up sharing with her about his myocardial infarction on the train and how Ge Dongxu had saved him, which she knew her father-in-law had died from. Hearing that her husband had a sudden heart attack on the train terrified her, but she gradually accepted the reality of Ge Dongxu having so much money.

    Because of this incident, it was clear that they could no longer view Ge Dongxu as just an ordinary young man.

    ps: Thank you, dear readers, for every click, every recommendation, every tip, every favorite, and every comment. Thank you for your support Along the way!

 Chapter 72 Transfer [Request for Recommendation Tickets]

    In the afternoon, Ge Dongxu went to the Industrial and Commercial Bank.Inside the Industrial and Commercial Bank, Ge Dongxu happened to run into the branch leader from the last time he came to get a card.

    This was a woman with the air of an office beauty, dressed in a white blouse underneath a black suit uniform, with a black knee-length skirt wrapping tightly around her hips, revealing two voluptuous legs clad in silk stockings, looking very plump and sexy.

    Because it was Lin Kun who had accompanied Ge Dongxu to get the card last time, and considering Ge Dongxu''s unusual age, the branch leader still remembered him. When she saw him come in, she didn''t rush to her office but instead made a point to greet him, "Xiao Ge, do you need to conduct any business?"

    After all, she was a leader of the Changxi County branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank and quite a figure in Changxi County. She wouldn''t casually call Ge Dongxu, a young man, Mr. Ge because of Lin Kun''s relationship, and since Lin Kun, following Ge Dongxu''s instruction, had not called Ge Dongxu ''Dongxu Brother'' in her presence that day, the fact that she voluntarily stopped to call him Xiao Ge and ask if he needed anything was quite a face-giving gesture on her part. It drew the attention of many onlookers.

    "Hello, President Yuan, I''m here to make a transfer." Ge Dongxu vaguely remembered that this leader''s name was Yuan Li and that she was the vice president of the branch. Seeing her taking the initiative to greet him, he quickly replied with a smile and a greeting.

    "Oh, a transfer, is it inter-bank?" Yuan Li asked casually.

    "Yes, to CCB (China Construction Bank)," Ge Dongxu nodded and replied.

    "How much is the amount?" Yuan Li nodded, initially ready to enter her office, but as she turned around, out of professional habit, she asked.

    "Six hundred thousand." Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Six hundred thousand!" Right then, Yuan Li''s delicate body shivered, and she set her raised foot back down, looking at Ge Dongxu with a very surprised gaze.

    Six hundred thousand was absolutely a large sum at the time, and even Yuan Li, as a branch leader, couldn''t ignore this figure. Her annual salary according to the account books was just over ten thousand.

    Of course, as a branch leader, she enjoyed many benefits, bonuses, and hidden income, not to mention the superiority of her status, which were all hard to calculate.

    But no matter how one looked at it, six hundred thousand was definitely a large sum for Yuan Li, and seeing this young man casually mention transferring six hundred thousand, how could Yuan Li not be surprised?

    "That''s right, is there a problem?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    Enjoy new adventures from empire

    "Of course not, come, come, sit in my office for a bit, there''s something I''d like to discuss with you," Yuan Li quickly said, with a very polite demeanor.

    Once in Yuan Li''s office, she personally poured water for Ge Dongxu. Watching Yuan Li smile as she poured water for him, her buttocks, wrapped in the skirt, slightly lifting, feeling very sensual and quite attractive to the male gaze. However, Ge Dongxu, the young man, while observing this scene, was puzzlingly reflective of the allure of money.

    The last time Yuan Li entertained him, it was completely out of respect for Lin Kun, but this time it had nothing to do with Lin Kun, it was all for Ge Dongxu.

    Because he was a young man with money!

    For the first time in his life, Ge Dongxu personally felt the status that money brought him! It was quite a pleasant feeling.

    After pouring a glass of water for Ge Dongxu, Yuan Li engaged in a bit of small talk before revealing her true intent. It turned out, she hoped Ge Dongxu would trouble Cheng Yazhou into opening a bank account at the Industrial and Commercial Bank.

    Although Yuan Li had made the special exception for Ge Dongxu last time as a favor to Lin Kun, Ge Dongxu still owed her a favor no matter how you looked at it. Besides, it wasn''t a big deal, so Ge Dongxu immediately used Yuan Li''s office phone to call Cheng Yazhou''s shop.

    Opening another account wasn''t a bad thing for Cheng Yazhou, especially since the Industrial and Commercial Bank had the most branches anyway, and he had been considering getting a card there. Once Ge Dongxu called, Cheng Yazhou rushed to the Industrial and Commercial Bank straight away.

    When Cheng Yazhou arrived at the Industrial and Commercial Bank and saw Ge Dongxu laughing and chatting with the bank''s leaders as if they were old acquaintances, he couldn''t help but be greatly surprised and thought to himself that he had really misjudged him before.

    With the presence of Yuan Li, a leader, Cheng Yazhou was able to open an account at the Industrial and Commercial Bank very quickly. However, it would take a few days before he could receive his card. Ge Dongxu''s six hundred thousand was transferred to this account on the spot.

    Cheng Yazhou took the passbook home and showed it to Wu Xiaojuan, who counted the string of digits after the six several times before she truly believed that Ge Dongxu was an extraordinarily wealthy high school freshman.

    In the following days, Ge Dongxu resumed his normal student life.

    He attended classes on time and returned home on schedule. In the morning, he still went to school with Dong Yuxin, but without the threat of Chen Zihao, Dong Yuxin seldom waited for him after evening self-study. This allowed Ge Dongxu, who had once been the talk of Class 6, to gradually fade into the background and become just an ordinary member of the class. Only his deskmate, Du Yifan, who heard from Cheng Lehao, knew that Ge Dongxu still drove the school belle to school every morning and continued to admire him greatly.

    Due to treating Liu Jiayao and Cheng Yazhou, Ge Dongxu had very little True Qi left in his body. Since the Spirit Qi in the city was scarce and muddled, he couldn''t recover in just a few days. Although he had bought nearly two hundred pieces of jade, he had not started making the Spirit Gathering Array Jade Talisman in these days.

    By Saturday, Ge Dongxu met Cheng Lehao''s uncle, Wu Qianjin. Wu Qianjin was in his early thirties and bore a striking resemblance to his older sister, Wu Xiaojuan, appearing quite astute. However, Ge Dongxu, finding nothing malicious in Wu Qianjin''s appearance, actually liked his shrewdness.

    After all, a sharp and clever mind is needed in business.

    The factory that Cheng Yazhou mentioned was in the eastern part of Songyang Town, a distance further beyond Changxi Middle School. That area was formerly rural but had now been included in the town limits as the county enlarged, making it part of the urban area.

    Still, aside from some houses close to the town that looked like urban street dwellings, other places remained distinctly rural, and it was unclear how many years it would take for the area to develop.

    The factory, which still maintained a rural appearance, was essentially similar to a warehouse and quite simple. It covered a considerable area of three acres, almost two thousand square meters. Its proximity to the road meant that transportation was convenient, and since it was in the outskirts, the rent was cheap. Probably for these reasons, Cheng Yazhou had initially rented the place.

    Ge Dongxu, having heard that Cheng Yazhou and a friend had previously lost money running a factory there, was a bit worried about the Feng Shui of the factory, which was why he wanted to check it out. Otherwise, with his limited social experience, he wouldn''t have been able to discern anything special about the factory, particularly since Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were more experienced than him in that regard, and there was no need for him to intervene.

    Once at the site, Ge Dongxu found the Feng Shui of the factory quite favorable, a place brimming with prosperity. The land behind the factory was high, with mountains in the distance, which was like having support from a mountain ¨C advantageous for stability. The front had lower terrain, and a small river flowed past, creating an open court, which is considered auspicious Feng Shui for wealth, encircled by mountains and water, ensuring abundant Qi.

    The reasons why the factory had good Feng Shui but still led Cheng Yazhou and his friend to losses could only be attributed to their misfortune in other aspects or personal mishandlings. After all, Feng Shui can influence a person''s fortunes and life, but it''s only a part of the equation. Just like a famous Minnanese song says: three parts are due to luck, seven parts are due to hard work, speaking to this very concept.

    Ge Dongxu favored the location once he saw the good Feng Shui of the factory. Furthermore, after staying for a while, he discovered that the area''s Feng Shui was quite favorable, with Spirit Qi seemingly more abundant than where he was currently living. If he practiced here, the results should be better than at Cheng Yazhou''s home.

    This discovery slightly moved Ge Dongxu, and he said to Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, "I think this factory is not bad. If it''s possible to buy it, why not make the purchase? After all, Uncle, you mentioned it wouldn''t take much money."

    S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 73 Individual Purchase of Factory Building

    "This factory building was originally owned by the Jiangqian Village collective; after Jiangqian Village was incorporated into the county town and became a street, the building came under the management of the street office. Last time I came here to rent the factory building with a friend, the director of the Jiangqian Street Office had hoped that we would just buy it outright. We were also limited by funds at the time, and we couldn''t guarantee that the business would definitely be profitable, so we eventually opted for renting. Now, I still feel the same, let''s earn the money and cover our initial costs, and then consider the situation," Cheng Yazhou said."Yeah, Dongxu, you make it sound easy, not needing much money. But it''s still three acres of land, plus the factory building, and with deed tax and all, it would come down to at least a hundred and forty or fifty thousand. That''s no small amount; I nearly went broke just raising the two hundred thousand for the factory start-up this time and can''t dare to increase the investment cost. Let''s rent instead; this kind of rural place won''t appreciate in value even if bought; it''s a waste to just throw the money away here. With a hundred and forty or fifty thousand, it''d be better to buy a house in the county town. At least you could get one on Lianchi Street, where the location is also quite decent. A store facing the street can be rented out for six or seven thousand a year, and the rent keeps on increasing every year, much better than here," Wu Qianjin chimed in with firmer resolve.

    Seeing that both were insistent on not buying the land and factory building outright, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to urge them further and thought for a moment before saying, "Since you both disagree, then I will spend my own money to buy it and rent it out to our factory after the purchase." Discover stories with empire

    "Dongxu, Qianjin is right, although Jiangqian Village is said to be part of the county town, it''s basically still a rural area. It was like this five years ago, is still the same now, and will remain so for a long time to come; spending this money really isn''t worth it, you really need to think it through," Cheng Yazhou saw that Ge Dongxu was willing to spend his own money to buy the property, thought for a while, and seriously advised.

    "Hehe, my money would just sit idle anyway. Besides, once bought, the land will still exist; how much could I possibly lose? Moreover, being a landlord feels pretty good," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment but still held on to his decision.

    Ge Dongxu actually knew that Cheng Yazhou was making sense, but what he valued more was the cultivation environment here; he felt that with three years of high school still ahead, he would eventually have to move out of Cheng Lehao''s house and come here to cultivate.

    "You make some sense as well; since you''ve decided, I''ll help you schedule a meeting with Director Jiang, what time would be suitable for you?" Seeing that Ge Dongxu was resolved, Cheng Yazhou no longer urged him, nodded, and Wu Qianjin was still shaking his head on the side, considering this an investment squandering money.

    "If we can meet now, let''s do it now and get this settled early," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Okay, let''s go to the street office now and find Director Jiang," Cheng Yazhou was impressed by how Ge Dongxu was not dragging his feet on matters, while Wu Qianjin kept stamping his feet in distress over the money.

    Though called a street office, it was actually just the former village head''s office. There, Cheng Yazhou and others found Director Jiang and brought up the matter of the land and factory building.

    Director Jiang''s eyes lit up immediately, then he haggled intensely with Cheng Yazhou; in the end, including all miscellaneous expenses like processing fees and deed tax, the total cost was approximately a hundred and sixty thousand, a bit more than expected. When the final price was set, and a contract was being signed, Director Jiang realized that the real buyer was actually a sixteen-year-old youth, which nearly made his eyeballs pop out.

    After signing the contract, many other procedures had to wait until Monday, when the government offices reopened, before they could be processed. Hence, Ge Dongxu took a city-country bus back home that day. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu was so eager to return home partly because he needed to go back to Baiyun Mountain to cultivate and restore his True Qi as soon as possible, and partly because he wanted to transfer the money to his parents a day earlier.

    Having purchased the land and factory building, Ge Dongxu only had a hundred and seventy thousand left in his account. He thought of momentarily giving a hundred and fifty thousand to his parents and keeping twenty thousand for emergencies.

    When he got home, during dinner, Ge Dongxu brought up to his parents that he had dug some herbs a few days ago and sold them for quite a sum. Ge Shengming and Xu Suya initially didn''t show much surprise; they simply acknowledged with an "Oh" and casually asked how much he made, as Ge Dongxu had frequently gathered herbs and captured snakes and centipedes in the mountains during summer vacations to exchange for money in the town.

    Ge Dongxu, not wanting to scare his parents and also worried about them fretting over his investments, simply said one hundred seventy thousand.

    Even so, Ge''s parents could hardly keep their composure; one of them couldn''t hold their bowl, which clattered onto the table, and the other dropped their chopsticks with a similar clatter, both staring wide-eyed and open-mouthed at Ge Dongxu.

    After a while, the couple suddenly stood up, each grabbing one of Ge Dongxu''s arms, and asked with trembling voices, "Can you, can you repeat that, how much?"

    "One hundred seventy thousand," Ge Dongxu replied, looking at his parents'' excited expressions, feeling a bit heartbroken but also secretly relieved he hadn''t told them about the one million three hundred thousand, unsure how they might''ve reacted.

    "This, this is, where''s the money, where''s the money?" Xu Suya asked with a trembling voice after confirming the amount.

    "It''s in my ICBC card. Tomorrow, we should go to Xiyuan Town, and you both can open an account. I''ll transfer one hundred fifty thousand into your account," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Although Baiyun Town controlled a large area, being a poor and backward mountainous region, it didn''t have a branch of Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Xiyuan Town, being the economically stronger town nearest to Baiyun Town, did have one.

    "ICBC card? When did you get an ICBC card? Also, wasn''t it one hundred seventy thousand? Why are you transferring only one hundred fifty thousand? What could a child possibly need with¡­" Xu Suya immediately began bombarding him with questions, somewhat excitedly.

    It couldn''t be helped; Xu Suya had never seen so much money in her life, and to her, Ge Dongxu would always be her child.

    Ge Shengming, noticing his son''s hesitant expression and remembering the recent incident when Lin Kun had caused trouble and he himself needed his son''s protection, and now hearing about the one hundred seventy thousand, suddenly realized that his son had truly grown up. He was no longer a child needing his father''s protection and upbringing, but rather becoming an adult who began to look after and support them instead. His heart swelled with a mix of emotions, both proud and a bit sad, but overall more comforted.

    As a father, what else could he hope for but a son who could make a living and establish himself early? But it seemed Ge Dongxu had matured too early, causing Ge Shengming to feel somewhat melancholic.

    "Enough, Suya. Can''t you see that your son has really grown up, he is no longer a child? Moreover, he is much more accomplished and capable than we are. He has his own thoughts; we don''t need to inquire too much into his affairs from now on. Besides, children from poor families have to grow up early. At around his age, my own parents had basically stopped meddling in my life," Ge Shengming suddenly decided, pulling Xu Suya close.

    Xu Suya, being a teacher, had a high level of awareness, but it was just that the news of her son making one hundred seventy thousand came so suddenly that it took her a moment to process. Now, with Ge Shengming putting it into perspective, Xu Suya was jolted, swallowing the words she had on the tip of her tongue, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

 Chapter 74 The Attitude of Parents [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Yes, our son has grown up; he doesn''t need us to worry about him anymore!" Xu Suya sighed, feeling somewhat lost, as if there were a hollow space inside her, and her eyes started to moisten."Mom, no matter how much I grow up, I''ll always be your and Dad''s child!" Ge Dongxu seemed to feel his mother''s sense of loss and moved forward to gently hug her, saying.

    "Yes! You know, Suya, with our son being so promising, we should be happy. Why are we feeling sentimental today? Seventeen thousand! Which kid out there is as promising as our Dongxu, as good at making money?" Ge Shengming also came over and grasped Xu Suya''s hand tightly as he spoke.

    Money really is a strange thing; it can change a person''s mood in an instant.

    Seeing this, Xu Suya suddenly realized that their family had suddenly gained a substantial fortune of seventeen thousand, so why should she feel sentimental? If others knew, wouldn''t they call her hypocritical? Others couldn''t even beg for this!

    Thinking this, Xu Suya immediately wiped the corners of her eyes and started to laugh, saying, "Exactly, what am I being sentimental for! No, we must drink some wine today to celebrate. Seventeen thousand, how many years would it take you and me to earn that?"

    "Haha, right, right, I''ll go get the snake wine that Dongxu brewed for us. We should drink a good few cups today." Ge Shengming joined in the laughter, then went to get the snake wine that Ge Dongxu had brewed for them and poured half a cup for Xu Suya and himself.

    "Give me some too, Dad." Ge Dongxu took a cup and smiled ingratiatingly at his old man.

    Although he had often drunk alcohol when he was with his master, his parents never knew about it.

    "You get out of breath as soon as you''re called fat. You''re only sixteen, why drink?" Xu Suya picked up a chopstick and tapped Ge Dongxu''s hand while laughingly scolding him. Read exclusive adventures at empire

    "Hehe, Mom, I''ve been training with my master since I was little; a little drink won''t hurt me." Ge Dongxu said with a mischievous grin.

    "Then have a little, as you know we can''t treat this child as an ordinary one." Ge Shengming finally relented and poured Ge Dongxu a bit, but only one third of a cup.

    "Psh, that''s not even enough to wet my lips!" Ge Dongxu complained discontentedly as he saw his dad pour him just a small amount.

    "Don''t let a little sunshine go to your head, or do you want me to confiscate your cup of wine now?" Xu Suya glared at him.

    "I believe, of course I believe!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly took back his cup, not daring to complain any further.

    "Haha!" Ge Shengming and Xu Suya burst into laughter upon seeing this, and Xu Suya even snorted proudly, saying, "Don''t think just because you made some money, you can haggle with your mom and dad. You''re still a child in this house!"

    "Yes, yes!" Ge Dongxu bobbed his head like a pecking chicken.

    Noting Ge Dongxu''s "sincere" attitude, Xu Suya and Ge Shengming finally nodded in satisfaction.

    However, once the drinking started, it could sometimes be hard to control, especially when in a good mood. Eventually, as they drank, Ge Shengming ended up pouring some more for Ge Dongxu without him even asking for it.

    "In ancient times, it was said, ''The poor study, the rich train in martial arts.'' Dongxu, tell your mom honestly, did you keep twenty thousand yuan for yourself because cultivation also costs money?" Halfway through the drink, Xu Suya couldn''t help but ask Dongxu why he had kept twenty thousand yuan for himself.

    "Mom really is a teacher ¡ª so cultured. Only you could say something like ''The poor study, the rich train in martial arts.'' Dad definitely couldn''t have said that." Seeing Xu Suya bring up the costs of cultivation, Dongxu was pleased. It was always better to clear some things up rather than keep them hidden, so he immediately gave his mom a thumbs up and flattered her.

    "You rascal! Picking on your dad for being uneducated, huh?" Ge Shengming immediately picked up his chopsticks and knocked Dongxu on the head.

    "Don''t hit our son on the head. Do you want to make him as silly as you?" Xu Suya immediately defended her son.

    "You two are too much, one says I''m uneducated, and the other even calls me silly!" Ge Shengming pointed at them and joked.

    Dongxu made a face at his dad and then slightly straightened his expression before saying, "Yes, cultivation does cost money, but don''t worry, I''ll earn it myself. You just spend this money without worries, and if it''s not enough, just tell me."

    "So, you mean to say you''ve earned more than just the one hundred seventy thousand?" Like parents, like child ¡ª the two of them immediately realized their son was still hiding something after he spoke.

    "Hehe, it''s more than that! I bought some materials for cultivation and took some to..." Dongxu scratched his head and carefully replied.

    "You''ve grown up, and your mom and I trust that you can judge and decide things on your own. You don''t have to tell us everything. We''re just ordinary folks; even if you told us everything, we wouldn''t be able to help you, but instead, we''d be worried. I think you''re hiding something for that reason. From now on, you can manage your own affairs. Your mom and I only have three requests: first, no matter how capable you become, never do anything that harms others or is against morality. Second, since you are still a student, you must focus on your education and get into a prestigious university, and find a respectable job. Your grandpa was poor, and your dad had to quit school when he was young, which has always been a regret for your grandpa and me. Third, if you ever face insurmountable difficulties, you must come back home, no matter what, because your mom and I will always be with you." Ge Shengming didn''t wait for Dongxu to continue speaking but raised his hand and, with a serious face, cut him off.

    "Dad, I''m sorry for what I said earlier. I will work hard and get into a prestigious university," Dongxu said earnestly, his eyes moistening a bit.

    "Silly boy, your dad may be uneducated, but luckily, he married an educated wife and had an educated son. Doesn''t that prove your dad''s capabilities?" Ge Shengming said.

    "Always trying to glorify yourself. If you hadn''t been so persistent back then, do you think I would have married you?" Xu Suya gave Ge Shengming a glance, but their fingers were intertwined under the table.

    "Hehe, that''s also a skill!" Ge Shengming boasted shamelessly.

    "Pssh, that''s just being thick-skinned!" Xu Suya shot Ge Shengming another look and then spoke again to Dongxu, "Our family might not be wealthy, but we don''t owe anyone money. Our income is enough for our household expenses. Since your cultivation needs money, you keep that money for yourself; no need to transfer it to us."

    "I have enough here. It always feels a bit better to have a bit more money in your pockets. Besides, you both should really buy some new clothes, and we should renovate the house a bit, get some new things," Dongxu said. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Silly child, you don''t need to give us so much. Since you have this intention, just transfer fifty thousand to us; too much, and your dad and I won''t be able to sleep at night," Xu Suya said.

    Dongxu wasn''t sure if the one hundred ninety-eight pieces of jade would successfully be engraved into a Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman; if not, more money would definitely need to be spent. He also wanted to buy a house in the Jiang Family village for his future cultivation, which was another expense, so hearing his mother speak like this, he thought that fifty thousand was indeed a large sum for them and hence didn''t push back anymore.

    During Mao Hour and the next day, Dongxu cultivated in the mountains, the effect being several times better than in the county town, but because he had overstrained himself the previous days, a day''s cultivation in the hills was far from enough for him to fully recover.

    On Sunday, after having breakfast, the family went to Xi Yuan Town, Dongxu transferred fifty thousand yuan to his parents, and then he took a car back to the county town from Xi Yuan Town.

 Chapter 75 Buying a House

    Returning to the county town, Ge Dongxu did not go straight back to Cheng Yazhou''s home, but made another trip to Jiang Family Village.Since he had only given his parents fifty thousand yuan, Ge Dongxu now had a balance of one hundred and twenty thousand in his account; he thought about buying another house in Jiang Family Village so he could move out of Cheng Yazhou''s house as soon as possible.

    After circling the village a few times, Ge Dongxu took a liking to a house on the eastern side of the village. It was an old house connected to three others, its walls even slanted due to typhoon damage, to the point that it could be considered a dangerous building.

    Behind this row of four houses were a small bamboo grove, a vegetable garden, and a winding river, with visible hills further away. In front was a shared courtyard belonging to the four households.

    This arrangement, where four families shared a courtyard in the front and a vegetable garden in the back, was very common in the rural areas of Changxi County. Moreover, often times, the houses connected to each other were inhabited by siblings and their parents.

    Ge Dongxu, being young, was not well-suited to negotiate the purchase of a house, and since all four houses were vacant with no one living in them, he just walked around the property a few times and felt that the house was the place in the area with the most abundant spiritual energy. If he could properly renovate and arrange it, his cultivation speed would surely increase significantly.

    After taking a fancy to the house, Ge Dongxu returned to Cheng Yazhou''s home and mentioned to him his desire to buy a house.

    Cheng Yazhou was startled at first, seeing as Ge Dongxu had just bought a factory building yesterday and now wanted to buy a house. Naturally, he felt obliged to advise Ge Dongxu, but seeing that Ge Dongxu was insistent on buying, Cheng Yazhou could do nothing but agree to help him negotiate with Director Jiang and the homeowners next week.

    Cheng Yazhou was quite efficient in handling matters, and by Monday, he had clarified the situation with the house for Ge Dongxu. He found out that the row of four houses belonged to two brothers from the village. Now, the two brothers and their families were permanently doing business out of town, leaving the four houses vacant, and unsuitable for living in due to typhoon damage from the previous two years. Since the brothers had settled their businesses out of town and were not planning to return to Jiang Family Village, they had no intention to reinforce or rebuild the houses. Today, Cheng Yazhou had already obtained the brothers'' phone numbers through Director Jiang and specifically called to inquire if they were willing to sell.

    Since it was an old and dangerous building, and the brothers had no plans to return, upon Cheng Yazhou''s inquiry, they hardly hesitated before agreeing to sell. They offered five thousand yuan for each house, but if he bought all four together, they would sell them to him for eighteen thousand yuan.

    Hearing that it would only cost eighteen thousand yuan, Ge Dongxu almost didn''t need to think before he asked Cheng Yazhou to help him buy all four at once.

    "Dongxu, your uncle has also carefully inspected the house for you. The houses are all old and dangerous, and even if you buy them, major reconstruction would be required before they are livable. Actually, only the foundations are worth a little money; it''s not worth spending this amount," Cheng Yazhou said, unable to resist advising when he saw that Ge Dongxu wanted to buy all four houses together.

    "It''s okay, Uncle. I just quite like the bamboo grove and river in the backyard, and if the house is properly renovated and decorated, it will certainly be very comfortable to live in. Besides, it''s just eighteen thousand yuan. Even if I just leave it for now, it''s no big deal," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. Naturally, he couldn''t tell Cheng Yazhou that the place had the best spiritual energy in the village and was the most suitable spot for his cultivation. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You, you, let''s leave it at that. You have your own ideas, and if you want to buy it, then buy it," Cheng Yazhou said, seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t take eighteen thousand yuan seriously. He wanted to reprimand him, but then he remembered that Ge Dongxu was only sixteen years old with a net worth of nearly a million and possessed skilled medical knowledge. Eighteen thousand yuan really wasn''t much after all, so he refrained from saying more.

    So, during that week, in addition to attending regular classes, Ge Dongxu also took the time to complete the procedures for buying the factory building and the four houses.

    ```

    With these developments, the sixteen-year-old boy now had a factory building, four dilapidated houses, and a thirty-seven point five percent share in an about-to-be-registered anti-counterfeit laser trademark factory.

    Since it was necessary to reserve some funds for emergencies, and the anti-counterfeit laser trademark factory had not started production, and its prospects were not one hundred percent guaranteed to make money, and as refurbishing or rebuilding the four dilapidated houses would require a substantial amount of money, Ge Dongxu decided not to rush into renovating them. He planned to wait until the anti-counterfeit laser trademark factory''s prospects became clear before starting to invest in remodeling the four houses.

    ...

    Time quickly moved into December.

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    The weather turned cold, but Cheng Yazhou, Wu Qianjin, and Ge Dongxu were all burning with enthusiasm.

    Because Changxi County''s Yaxu Trademark Factory had not only officially been established and started production but also received its first order.

    Just as Cheng Yazhou had predicted, laser anti-counterfeit trademarks were the trend, and there were still very few factories equipped with such machinery at the time. So although the initial investment was significant, the scarcity of production facilities and less competition meant that the profits were particularly substantial.

    For instance, the cost of producing an anti-counterfeit laser plate was estimated to be around 300 to 400 yuan each at that time, but it required an expenditure of two to three thousand yuan per plate, which indicates how lucrative the profits were, not to mention that the value of money back then was much greater than now. As for the actual trademark products, they were priced based on size, costing around six to seven cents per square centimeter, with the profit margin being over fifty percent. However, at that time, the profit mainly came from the plates'' production unless the client needed a large number of trademarks printed.

    Therefore, factoring this in, the first order for the Yaxu Trademark Factory came with nearly three thousand yuan in profit, an absolute fortune. Practically, if they collected just a portion of the deposit from clients, they could cover all costs, with the remainder being pure profit.

    Of course, such enormous profits were not sustainable in the long term and were sure to decrease gradually, something which Cheng Yazhou and his peers were well aware of. However, even if such high profits could last only a year or two, it would be quite extraordinary. The real fear was that it wouldn''t even last a year.

    However, at that time, an investment of one to one and a half million yuan was still a significant amount. Even if some people recognized the business opportunity, without seeing the massive profits actually being made, they might not have the capital or the courage to invest, which led Cheng Yazhou to believe that the high profits could be sustained for at least a year before they would start to decline gradually. But with a year''s time, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin optimistically estimated that they should be able to recoup the initial investment, and after that, real profit would begin to roll in.

    Ge Dongxu''s excitement, aside from the official start of production at Yaxu Trademark Factory and the beginning of revenue generation which presented a bright future, also stemmed from today being the day he finally began the formal construction of the Spirit Gathering Array Jade Talisman.

    Prior to this, he had spent almost a month and a half in preparation. Aside from getting his True Qi in the best condition, he also needed to repeatedly practice drawing the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans to ensure that he became skilled enough so that he wouldn''t fail when drawing on jade due to lack of proficiency.

    If he failed due to inexperience, Ge Dongxu would never forgive himself because a piece of jade cost nearly two thousand yuan!

    ```

 Chapter 76 Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation

    ```It was a night deep and serene, when all had slipped into profound slumber, yet Ge Dongxu sat alone cross-legged on his terrace, holding a jade token in his hands, allowing the cold breeze to sweep across his cheeks. He remained steadfast and immovable, fixating solely on the jade stone within his grasp.

    His fingers appeared to glide gently over the jade token, but they emitted a grating "squeak squeak," akin to claws scratching the surface of something hard.

    By the light of the moon, if one looked closely, it would become apparent that Ge Dongxu''s fingers as he etched upon the jade were extraordinarily translucent, and a barely discernible breath followed his engraving movements into the jade token.

    Indeed, in drawing talismans upon the jade token, no longer were cinnabar and a brush used, but rather, True Qi was directly infused into the jade. Using True Qi as ink, it was branded within the stone.

    Jade has the capacity to accumulate and contain spirit energy, allowing True Qi to inscribe runes within it that persist, whereas ordinary yellow paper cannot, thus necessitating the use of cinnabar as a medium, to hold the mana of the talisman, which then adheres to the yellow paper. As soon as the talisman''s mana is activated, the yellow paper instantly turns to ash.

    Of course, directly etching runes with True Qi inside a jade token is undoubtedly much more difficult than writing talismans on yellow paper. Especially since Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans are legendary talismans; even Ge Dongxu''s master, Ren Yao, had not seen them, let alone etched them into jade. Ge Dongxu only knew of some Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans thanks to the heritage he had received from Ge Hong.

    The Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman was the simplest Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman that Ge Dongxu currently knew of.

    Taiyin refers to the moon, which absorbs the Sun Essence and transforms it into gentle Taiyin luminescence. The sun is also called the Red Crow, the Golden Crow; its essence is extremely yang and vigorous, and cultivators dare not absorb it directly into their bodies, for otherwise their meridians would be immediately incinerated to ashes, and their lives would thereby reach their end. However, once the Sun Essence is absorbed by the moon and then sprinkles down, it becomes Taiyin luminescence, a soft and balanced force of yin and yang, and precisely the pure energy required by Dao practitioners.

    Yet Taiyin luminescence is exceedingly rare and cannot compare with the abundance of Sun Essence. On nights without moonlight, it is even more scarce, and the cultivation seated in meditation can absorb only so very little.

    But with a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation, the Taiyin luminescence can be accumulated, enabling the cultivator to absorb a large amount of pure Taiyin luminescence.

    Of course, this "large amount" is only relative to situations without a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation.

    His fingertips danced upon the jade token, concentrating his spiritual power fully as he controlled the True Qi to deposit stroke after stroke of rune inscriptions within the stone.

    Gradually, a complex and ancient rune, invisible to the naked eye and detectable only with spiritual power, began to take shape within the jade.

    But before the rune could fully form, the True Qi suddenly trembled slightly, and the mana-laden rune instantly dissipated into chaotic True Qi, scurrying in all directions.

    "Crack crack crack!" A web of cracks spread from within the jade token like spiderwebs, followed by a soft "pop" sound ¨C the jade token burst open, shattering into pieces.

    "As expected, it wasn''t going to be easy!" Ge Dongxu wiped the sweat from his forehead and cracked a bitter smile, not at all disheartened.

    This was within his expectations. In fact, he had lasted this long because, with life experience growing day by day, his character had gradually matured and steadied, or else the jade token would have exploded even earlier.

    Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, Ge Dongxu took out another jade token, took a deep breath, and then continued to engrave the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman.

    However, the result was still a failure.

    One token, two tokens, three tokens, four tokens... When the fifth also failed, Ge Dongxu''s face started to turn pale, a bitter smile showing at the corners of his mouth. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ten thousand wasted just like that! Truly squandering my resources!" Ge Dongxu silently mocked himself, then closed his eyes to recuperate, not continuing to etch any further.

    Using a brush to draw talismans on yellow paper, as long as his True Qi was abundant, he could produce a hundred in a day, but with the jade tokens, he could ultimately carve only five a day.

    ```

    ...

    In the following days, Ge Dongxu had one more thing to do each day, which was to carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman onto the jade token during the tranquil nights. Of course, none were successful. Stay updated through empire

    This also meant that every day, the sixteen-year-old Ge Dongxu was squandering nearly ten thousand yuan.

    Fortunately, Ge Shengming had wisely chosen not to inquire into his son''s affairs, otherwise, if he knew that his son was squandering nearly ten thousand yuan every day, it would have been no surprise if he were so heartbroken that he suffered a heart attack.

    Of course, watching ten thousand yuan turn into dust in his hands each day caused Ge Dongxu great pain in his heart, and he finally began to understand why, in ancient times, some who pursued the Dao often appeared as honored guests among officials and nobles, giving off an impression of courting the powerful and rich. In history, there was even a point when the Heavenly Master Dao was so prosperous that it nearly vied for the ruling status of the Huaxia Country.

    Because cultivating the Dao is an extremely luxurious act, requiring strong financial support. In ancient times, with the social hierarchy of scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, merchants were regarded as the lowest class and commerce was underdeveloped. Thus, those who cultivated the Dao naturally could not engage in commerce to accumulate wealth; yet cultivation required the consumption of vast amounts of wealth, leaving them no choice but to attach themselves to the influential and powerful, who provided their resources. In exchange, they would offer services at appropriate times.

    In contrast to Ge Dongxu''s heartache, Cheng Yazhou was overjoyed during these days.

    Yaxu Trademark Factory''s business was booming, netting nearly sixty thousand yuan in profits in just half a month. For Cheng Yazhou, this was undoubtedly the fastest he had ever made money in any business, and this was just the beginning.

    Of course, if Cheng Yazhou knew that Ge Dongxu was squandering nearly ten thousand yuan every day, he probably wouldn''t think the current rate of making money was fast.

    On the twenty-ninth of December, in the deep, silent night, Ge Dongxu once again sat cross-legged on the balcony, carving the jade stone.

    This also signified that he had wasted a total of one hundred and forty jade tokens, squandering nearly two hundred and eighty thousand yuan.

    Touching the jade token in his hand once again, and thinking of the ten thousand yuan slipping through his fingertips every day, Ge Dongxu''s mood was not discouraged but unusually calm.

    He belonged to the kind that grew more tenacious with setbacks, with a steadfast determination.

    One hundred and forty failures had not crushed his confidence; on the contrary, they had ignited his tenacity and tempered his will.

    Strands of True Qi once again entered the jade token from his fingertips.

    One piece, two pieces, three pieces, four pieces...

    This was the fifth piece, but on Ge Dongxu''s face, there was no trace of tension or anxiety, only the still calm of an ancient well.

    Strands of True Qi, like the strokes of a brush, inscribed one rune after another within the jade, the strokes linking together, gradually forming a complex and ancient talisman, exuding a mystical aura.

    The strands of True Qi fell unhurriedly, without the slightest tremble.

    Eventually, a complete talisman was stamped within the jade, like a seal invisible to the naked eye, but Ge Dongxu, connected to it with his mind, could see it clearly.

    ps: Asking for recommendation tickets to support, thank you.

 Chapter 77 Brother Xu, Can You Treat Illnesses? [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    A trace of magical power emanated from the talisman, casting a net that gathered the surrounding spiritual energy.As more and more spiritual energy accumulated, a large amount of impure energy followed.

    Clearly, the formation was of a low level, its "filtering" function not very strong.

    However, feeling the rich spiritual energy around him, Ge Dongxu was already fully satisfied. As long as he chose to cultivate during the hours when the impure energy of heaven and earth was relatively low, then with the help of the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, even cultivating in the county city would be twice as effective as in Baiyun Mountain.

    Do not underestimate this double efficiency, as it meant that Ge Dongxu now cultivating for one year was equivalent to two years previously in Baiyun Mountain.

    Ge Dongxu waited until the designated hour to begin his cultivation, and indeed, traces of cool spiritual energy flowed through his meridians toward his dantian, constantly nourishing and expanding his meridians, while also enriching and tempering the various organs they passed through.

    When his cultivation at that hour ended, not only did Ge Dongxu feel the fatigue from earlier symbol drawing disappear, but he also felt full of strength, and his mind seemed exceptionally clear and alert.

    "The Spirit Gathering Formation really is extraordinary. If I continue cultivating at this pace, perhaps in a year and a half, I might break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation," Ge Dongxu felt the harvest of this hour''s cultivation, and his mood was very good.

    However, when his gaze fell on the jade token in his hand, a twinge of pain involuntarily rose in his heart. Not only because he had previously spent nearly 280,000 RMB for this jade talisman, but also because he found that there were faint cracks on the jade token that were difficult for the naked eye to see.

    Clearly, although a jade talisman was not the same as a paper talisman and could be reused, it also had a limit to the number of times it could be used.

    "It seems I still need to work hard to earn money," Ge Dongxu caressed the jade talisman in his hand, his face showing a bitter smile.

    ...

    The next day, before the evening self-study began, the life committee member Lin Yaran, who Du Yifan described as a girl of average appearance but long legs, brought Ge Dongxu a letter.

    Since going to the provincial capital over two months ago, Ge Dongxu had regularly received letters from Tang Yiyuan instructing him about once a month. Ge Dongxu thought this was another from Tang Yiyuan, but upon receiving it, he discovered it was sent by Liu Jiayao.

    Only then did Ge Dongxu remember that the three-month agreement he had made with Liu Jiayao was nearly up. Indeed, upon opening the letter, Liu Jiayao was inquiring about this matter.

    Thinking of having to treat Liu Jiayao again, Ge Dongxu felt a mix of anticipation, but more so nervousness and fear.

    Since returning from the provincial capital, Ge Dongxu had consecutive dreams for a week or two, where Liu Jiayao would appear lying naked in bed in the dreams, and on a couple of occasions she suddenly turned into Wu Yili, and once even Jiang Lili, though Dong Yuxin hardly ever appeared in the dreams.

    Upon waking, there were even a couple of instances where Ge Dongxu''s pants were wet, which was quite embarrassing for him.

    Later, as time passed, Liu Jiayao gradually stopped appearing in his dreams, at least not naked. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So when Ge Dongxu suddenly received a letter from Liu Jiayao and thought about having to treat her again, his emotions instantly became complex. However, Liu Jiayao''s illness definitely needed ongoing treatment, so after his emotions had been complicated for a while, he planned to call her at noon the next day and tell her he would visit the Provincial Capital that weekend.

    In the end, Ge Dongxu decided to go to the Provincial Capital himself instead of having her come to Changxi County to find him.

    One reason was that Ge Dongxu worried the back-and-forth would tire her, and secondly, Ge Dongxu felt it was necessary to meet Tang Yiyuan in person. While some of Tang Yiyuan''s inquiries from these past days could be clarified through letters, others could not be explained clearly in writing and needed face-to-face guidance.

    Since he considered Liu Jiayao and Tang Yiyuan his friends, Ge Dongxu definitely had to treat them sincerely, and it was only natural for him to look out for them.

    While Ge Dongxu was thinking about going to the Provincial Capital, his arm was gently nudged by his deskmate, and Du Yifan''s whispered exclamation reached his ears,"Boss, quick, look outside, there''s a beauty on the prowl!"

    "I say, Yifan, can''t you focus on your studies instead? Always thinking about beauties!" Ge Dongxu replied irritably, but his gaze nevertheless followed the direction of Du Yifan''s pointing finger toward the window.

    "I''m combining work and leisure!" Du Yifan retorted, then seeing Ge Dongxu also looking out the window, he laughed slyly, lowered his voice, and said,"Boss, spot on, right? Look at those black leather pants, how shapely they wrap around her butt! Oh, it seems like she''s here to find someone."

    "Shapely, my foot! Focus on your studies!" Ge Dongxu was startled when he saw the woman, grabbed a textbook, smacked it on Du Yifan''s head, and then quickly left the classroom.

    "Damn, no way? Is the boss really going to hit on this woman? She''s not exactly a schoolgirl!" Seeing Ge Dongxu leaving the classroom, Du Yifan rubbed his head and muttered to himself.

    While he was muttering, Du Yifan saw the woman suddenly walk briskly towards Ge Dongxu, then hurriedly grabbed his hand.

    "Damn! No way, this is too awesome!" Du Yifan was immediately struck dumb.

    "What''s the matter, Yue Ting, why did you come to our school? And you look a bit pale," Ge Dongxu patted Yue Ting''s hand, signaling her to calm down.

    "Damn, he''s already holding her hand!" Du Yifan watched the scene unfold, his admiration for Ge Dongxu flowing endlessly like the Yangtze River.

    "Xu, Brother Xu, can you treat illnesses?" Yue Ting finally stabilized her emotions, then looked at Ge Dongxu with anticipation and asked.

    "A bit, what''s the matter?" Ge Dongxu hesitated, then finally nodded and asked.

    "Then, you must save my uncle! My uncle, he''s critically ill!" Upon hearing this, Yue Ting''s eyes suddenly lit up, her tears brimming as she pleaded.

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    "Yue Ting, I''m just a high school student, and if your uncle is critically ill, the hospital doctors should be saving him. I can''t help you with this," Ge Dongxu said with a flicker of hesitation in his eyes, but ultimately he wisely declined.

    This wasn''t to say that Ge Dongxu was indifferent to someone''s plight, but he was young, had no medical license, and why would someone let him participate in a rescue? Besides, he didn''t know Yue Ting''s uncle¡ªwhether he was a good person or a bad one. At best, his connection to Yue Ting was nothing more than a coincidence, not a genuine relationship. Moreover, Ge Dongxu''s medical skills were not omnipotent and not every illness was within his ability to cure. What if he went, and it didn''t work? Could he, a sixteen-year-old boy, bear that responsibility?

    ps: Currently ranked fourth on QiDian, we only need a little more to reach third in the new book rankings. On QQ Browser, we are ranked tenth in the recommendations and not far from the top three, while on QQ Bookstore we are seventeenth. So, I am setting a small target for next Monday¡ªif you help me get this book into the top three of QiDian''s new book rankings on Monday, I will strive to release five chapters. If the readers on QQ Browser also come through and get this book''s recommendation tickets into the top three, I will add two more chapters. If QQ Bookstore also rises, I will agonizingly add two more chapters. Of course, this is for Monday only, not for the entire week¡ªI couldn''t handle that.

 Chapter 78 Rushing Over

    "Dongxu, I know my request is very presumptuous. But my uncle has always cherished and loved me like his own daughter, and this time he had an accident because he was trying to crack down on a child trafficking gang. I know you are a kind-hearted and righteous extraordinary person, so please, you must help." Yue Ting said, sobbing and sniffling."You''re saying your uncle had a car accident while fighting a child trafficking gang, and that''s why he is in critical condition?" Ge Dongxu asked with a suddenly stern face.

    As a simple and honest youth from the mountainous regions, Ge Dongxu was innately filled with a sense of justice, so when he heard that Yue Ting''s uncle was in danger because he was fighting a child trafficking gang, he felt it was even harder to remain indifferent. Otherwise, if he learned in the future that such a hero had lost his life because he knew about the situation but failed to help, his conscience would surely be condemned.

    "Yes, yes! My uncle is the deputy police chief in charge of criminal investigations. Upon learning that an inter-provincial child trafficking gang had been active around Baiyun Mountain, he led his team there to make arrests overnight. Unexpectedly, while the arrests were made, someone knocked him down a slope, and he suffered severe injuries. When I got there, the people at Changxi County People''s Hospital said my uncle was badly hurt and must be transferred to the city hospital. I thought of you, knowing you are an extraordinary person, so I rushed to find you," Yue Ting said, nodding repeatedly.

    Hearing that Yue Ting''s uncle had been injured at Baiyun Mountain, Ge Dongxu felt even less reason to stand by idly and nodded seriously, "Then I''ll go with you to take a look, but I can''t promise I can save your uncle. And if your aunt and others refuse to let me help, there''s nothing I can do." sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. Thank you, Dongxu," Yue Ting repeated, nodding her head again and again.

    "Alright, I''ll grab my backpack and say goodbye to my classmates, then I''ll leave with you right away," Ge Dongxu said hastily and then turned to go back to the classroom. As he picked up his backpack, he said to Du Yifan, "Yifan, if the class teacher comes looking for me later, please ask for leave on my behalf, just say I have an emergency."

    "Boss, you''re so awesome!" Du Yifan gave Ge Dongxu a thumbs up.

    "Awesome my foot!" Ge Dongxu, clearly understanding the meaning behind Du Yifan''s ''awesome'', glared at him annoyedly and then grabbed his backpack and hurried out of the classroom.

    Exiting the classroom, knowing the urgency of the situation, Ge Dongxu didn''t waste time talking with Yue Ting, just nodded at her, and started jogging towards the school''s exit.

    He had only just reached the fountain near the teaching building when Ge Dongxu spotted a motorcycle parked there.

    Yue Ting swung herself onto the motorcycle, then handed the helmet to Ge Dongxu, saying, "Dongxu, wear this."

    "You wear it, I''ll be fine," Ge Dongxu declined, seeing there was only one helmet.

    "It''s cold out, but I''m used to riding the motorcycle all the time, I''ll be fine. You wear it, Dongxu," Yue Ting insisted.

    "I''m not afraid of the cold, and I''ve got you to block the wind in front of me! Stop your fussing and wear it right now!" Ge Dongxu insisted, showing a bit of warmth in his heart upon seeing Yue Ting''s reluctance but maintaining a stern face as he spoke.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. Then hold on tight to me later, and rest your face against my back, it''s okay!" Yue Ting, touched by Ge Dongxu''s concern for her not to catch cold, thanked him and then put on the helmet, started the motorcycle, and sped off towards the school exit.

    In the past, Ge Dongxu had never paid much attention to Yue Ting, but sitting behind her today, he realized her figure was truly exceptional. Her tight leather jacket and pants outlined tempting curves, especially around her waist and hips; the curves were breathtaking. If a man were sitting behind her, he would have been passionately aroused and reached out to hug her. Find exclusive stories on empire

    Although Ge Dongxu felt a slight stirring, he was still young and his nature was pure, so he simply placed his hands gently on her waist.

    "Dongxu, if you feel cold, just hold on to me tight, it''s really okay," Yue Ting saw that Ge Dongxu was only lightly touching her waist and said.

    "I know," Ge Dongxu replied, but he did not hold her waist any tighter.

    Yue Ting, moved by Ge Dongxu''s reluctance to hold her waist, couldn''t help feeling a faint sense of loss along with her gratitude.

    Under the cloak of night, the motorcycle raced rapidly, soon arriving at the county''s People''s Hospital.

    The two rushed out of the car and headed straight for the emergency room, only to be informed that Yue Ting''s uncle had been taken by ambulance to Ouzhou City for emergency treatment overnight.

    Hearing that her uncle had been urgently transported to Ouzhou City, Yue Ting was both incredibly anxious and worried but also found herself in a difficult position.

    "Let''s hurry to Ouzhou City!" Ge Dongxu patted Yue Ting on the shoulder and said.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. I treated you so badly before, yet you are still so...," Yue Ting, seeing that Ge Dongxu had taken the initiative to suggest rushing to Ouzhou City, couldn''t help but have her eyes turn red, showing her shame.

    "Why bring up the past? Let''s get going!" Ge Dongxu patted Yue Ting''s shoulder again and said.

    "Okay!" Yue Ting nodded vigorously, and then hurriedly got back on the motorcycle, with Ge Dongxu also mounting the bike.

    Soon, the motorcycle sped out of Changxi County, racing on the national highway headed towards Ouzhou City.

    After leaving the county town, the surroundings were wide open, and as the night deepened, the temperature grew even colder, with the wind cutting against the face like a knife.

    By the time they had covered about a third of the journey, whether it was the cold Yue Ting couldn''t endure or her concern for Ge Dongxu, Yue Ting turned her head slightly and called out to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, hold me tight, I''m a bit cold."

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu hesitated, but ultimately wrapped his arms around Yue Ting''s waist and pressed his face against her fragrant back.

    ...

    At Ouzhou Medical College''s First Affiliated Hospital, outside the emergency room, the atmosphere was enveloped by a heavy and oppressive mood.

    Two women were incessantly sobbing. One of them, who bore some resemblance to Yue Ting between her brows, was Yue Ting''s mother, Zuo Yun, while the other was Yue Ting''s aunt, Xu Jingfang.

    "I warned him so many times. He''s the deputy director of the police; he could have let others handle some affairs, but he never changed his obstinate attitude! Does he really still think of himself as a young man? Pushing himself! And now, see? He''s gambled with his life, and what am I to do now, left here alone?" Xu Jingfang cried with sobs.

    "It won''t come to that, little brother has always been tough, he will surely get through this!" Zuo Yun said, wiping away tears.

    Yet even as she spoke, she herself did not believe those words. Her brother, Deputy Director Zuo Le of Changxi County Public Security Bureau, had been seriously injured, so much so that as soon as the senior doctors at Changxi County People''s Hospital saw his condition, they immediately instructed them to rush him to the city''s First Affiliated Hospital.

    Throughout the journey until now, her brother had been in a deep coma, with blood intermittently bubbling out of his mouth. Upon arrival at the city hospital, the experts immediately took him into the emergency room.

    No sooner had Zuo Yun finished speaking than a chubby middle-aged man, panting alongside Lin Kun, hurried over from the other end of the corridor.

    "Mr. Yue, how is Elder Zuo doing now?" As soon as the chubby man arrived outside of the emergency room, he asked, with a look of urgency, the middle-aged man who was pacing anxiously back and forth in the corridor.

    This chubby man was none other than Lin Kun''s father, the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel, Lin Jinnuo. He had always had a good private relationship with Deputy Director Zuo Le, and since running a hotel involves maintaining a good relationship with the police department, Lin Jinnuo, for both personal and professional reasons, had rushed over from Changxi as soon as he heard that Zuo Le was seriously injured.

    The one referred to as Mr. Yue was the president of Jiangnan Yu Group, Yue Ting''s father, Yue Feng.

    ps: Congratulations to the book friend RPG Defense, your cameo as Chief Zuo Le has officially begun!

 Chapter 79 He Definitely Has a Way

    "I think it''s really touch and go this time!" Yue Feng sighed deeply, his hand subconsciously reaching for a cigarette, but remembering he was at the hospital, he put it back."How could this happen? Originally, Elder Zuo was about to become the bureau chief and join the Changxi County Committee team." Although Lin Jinnuo had braced himself, the news still dumbfounded him, and he said feelings of deep pain.

    "If he''s dead, what''s the use of being a bureau chief or a member of the county committee!" Yue Feng exclaimed.

    "Alas!" Lin Jinnuo sighed heavily upon hearing this, unsure whether it was for Zuo Le''s critical condition or for losing a backer in the official circles, or perhaps both.

    "It''s all our fault, we failed to protect Chief Zuo!" Several police officers in uniform had red eyes and spoke with self-reproach etched on their faces.

    They were all police officers who had been out on duty with Zuo Le tonight. The leadership from the bureau and the county leaders had been notified and were on their way, but they hadn''t yet arrived.

    "You can''t blame yourself for this!" Lin Jinnuo shook his head and sighed again.

    As Lin Jinnuo was shaking his head and sighing, Ge Dongxu and Yue Ting finally rushed to the city hospital.

    "Mom, dad, how''s uncle doing now?" As soon as she arrived outside the emergency room, Yue Ting asked in a rush, and Lin Kun, seeing that Ge Dongxu had actually come with Yue Ting, was greatly shocked. However, he seemed to remember something abruptly, and with a start, he hurriedly stepped forward, bowed slightly, and softly called out, "Dongxu."

    "Hmm!" Ge Dongxu nodded, but his eyes were on Yue Ting''s parents.

    While everyone else was mostly distracted by Yue Ting''s arrival and her questions, only Lin Jinnuo was still partly focused on his son, noticing him walking towards the young man with a respectful attitude, even appearing to call him "Dongxu." He wondered if it was the boy''s name or if he was truly being called ''brother.''

    Regardless of whether it was a name or a real brotherly call, his son''s behavior surprised Lin Jinnuo greatly. He knew his son''s true nature all too well; even though he had been making progress these days, it wasn''t easy to completely change the prideful attitude he had developed since childhood. Yet today, he was acting remarkably humble in front of a young man.

    "Your uncle has just been taken into the emergency room; we don''t know what will happen!" Yue Feng replied with a heavy heart.

    No sooner had Yue Feng finished speaking than the door to the emergency room opened, and a middle-aged man in a white coat with a badge identifying him as the chief physician walked out, looking very grave.

    "Director Qin, how is Zuo Le doing now?" Seeing the doctor come out, Xu Jingfang immediately stopped crying and rushed up to grab the middle-aged man''s arm, asking anxiously. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The patient is seriously injured. The examination shows he not only broke two ribs, but they also pierced his lung. He must have surgery immediately, but," Dr. Qin said.

    "Then what are we waiting for? You need to operate on Zuo Le right away!" Xu Jingfang interrupted before the doctor could finish.

    Dr. Qin slightly furrowed his brow.

    "Jingfang, calm down first, the doctor hasn''t finished talking!" Yue Feng stepped forward and took hold of Xu Jingfang.

    "I, I am calm, Dr. Qin, please continue," Xu Jingfang took a deep breath.

    "But not only are the patient''s lungs injured, he also has intracranial hemorrhaging. The injuries are extremely severe and complex, our hospital may not be able to handle it. I suggest transferring him to the Provincial Capital immediately," Dr. Qin said somberly.

    "What did you say? You want us to transfer hospitals again? Do you know how many hours it takes to drive to the Provincial Capital from here? Will Zuo Le be able to hold on by then?" Xu Jingfang first went numb at the words, and then her voice sharply rose, her eyes furiously staring at Doctor Qin as if he had harmed her husband.

    "The chances are very slim," Doctor Qin furrowed his brows slightly as he replied again.

    "So you still want him to be transferred? Is this the way you practice medicine? Are you fit to be a chief physician? You..." Xu Jingfang shouted shrilly at Doctor Qin, pointing at him in a barrage of accusations.

    "Jingfang!" Yue Feng stepped forward to pull Xu Jingfang back, while Doctor Qin, being a specialist of the hospital, had his face turn rather ugly. If it hadn''t been for the consideration that Xu Jingfang was the patient''s wife, and given Zuo Le''s status as the deputy director of Changxi County Public Security Bureau, Doctor Qin would have already left in a huff.

    "Maybe I could take a look, perhaps there might be a way," a young voice chimed in amidst Xu Jingfang''s wailing.

    The hallway suddenly fell deathly silent, everyone looked at the young speaker with eyes full of disbelief.

    "Yes, yes, let Dongxu take a look! He definitely has a way," as the incredulous stares of the crowd quickly turned into utter rage, Yue Ting suddenly spoke up, repeatedly echoing in support.

    "You! You! Get out! And you as well, get out! Are you hoping your uncle dies sooner?" Xu Jingfang''s suppressed emotions finally erupted completely, first pointing at Ge Dongxu, then at Yue Ting, shouting hysterically.

    "Auntie, I... how could I possibly wish for my uncle to die? I sincerely want to save my uncle, that''s why I specifically asked Dongxu to come," Yue Ting said tearfully and with a sense of grievance, all the while sending pleading glances toward Ge Dongxu, fearing he would leave in anger.

    "Get out! Leave right now! I never want to see you again! And there is no longer a niece like you!" Xu Jingfang completely ignored Yue Ting.

    Seeing this, Yue Ting still wanted to persuade, but her father had already pulled her aside, scolding her, "Do you think this place isn''t chaotic enough? Take this ''Dongxu'' and leave immediately!"

    "Uncle Yue, actually Dongxu might really have a way!" Lin Kun couldn''t help speaking up for Yue Ting.

    With his daughter causing such a scene, Yue Feng was already furious, but remembering that everyone else had already lost control and his brother-in-law was still in the emergency room, he knew he couldn''t lose his composure, so he had restrained himself from exploding in anger. However, when Lin Kun added to the chaos at this moment, Yue Feng finally couldn''t hold back and roared at Lin Kun, "Get the hell out of here!" Stay connected via empire

    "I''m sorry, President Yue, I''m sorry!" Lin Jinnuo had not expected his son to interject at this moment and quickly apologized to Yue Feng twice while pulling his son aside and giving him two fierce slaps to the head, scolding angrily, "Has water gotten into your brain, boy? Is this a matter to joke about? Are you trying to kill your father with worry?"

    In saying this, Lin Jinnuo felt his heart pounding fiercely, a surge of blood rushing to his forehead.

    Seeing things turn out just as he had expected, Ge Dongxu inwardly sighed and turned away.

    Ge Dongxu had very little confidence in being able to save Yue Ting''s uncle to begin with, and now with the family''s attitude being what it was, he certainly couldn''t insist on treating them. Otherwise, if things went wrong, it could completely drag him down too.

    He had done all he could; this was the full extent of his obligation. He was far from reaching the noble Realm of "If I don''t enter Hell, who will?" and he never expected to reach it in this life!

    Ge Dongxu had not gone far when Lin Jinnuo suddenly collapsed towards Lin Kun, spitting something out of his mouth.

    Seeing this, Lin Kun instinctively cried out in shock, "Dongxu, Dongxu, my dad has fainted, please come save him quickly!"

    ps: On QiDian, we are currently ranked fourth, and the difference between us and the new book total list''s third place is really small. On QQ Browser, we are ranked tenth in the recommendations list, and not far from the top three. On QQ Book City reading list, we are seventeenth, so let''s set a small target for next Monday. If you guys help me push the book into the top three on the QiDian new book total list by Monday, I''ll strive to release five chapters on Monday. If readers on QQ are also strong, and we get the recommendation tickets on QQ Browser into the top three, I will strive to add two more chapters. If QQ Book City reading list also climbs up, I will go all out and add another two chapters. Of course, this refers to Monday, one day, not the whole week, as my body can''t handle it. After midnight, I will first update one chapter, and then, depending on how many chapters, let''s work hard together! I believe in you! Hehe.

 Chapter 80 What are you going to do? [Ask for recommendation tickets on Monday]

    Ge Dongxu heard the words and quickly turned around, walking swiftly towards Lin Kun."Quick, lay your dad down flat, he, he might have had a cerebral hemorrhage!" That Dr. Qin, who had become an expert at the First Hospital affiliated with the City Medical College, was indeed skilled in medicine. Seeing Lin Jinnuo''s condition and his obesity, he immediately diagnosed a possible sudden cerebral hemorrhage. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Lin Jinnuo like this, Xu Jingfang momentarily forgot all about her sadness and anger.

    Yue Feng and the others were no exceptions.

    "Nurse! Nurse! Go get an ice pack right now, then move the patient to the emergency room," Dr. Qin ordered Lin Kun, then hastily called for the nurse.

    However, Lin Kun seemed as if he hadn''t heard Dr. Qin''s instructions at all. Seeing Ge Dongxu approaching, he urgently begged, "Brother Xu, please save my dad!"

    "Save what? Your dad had a cerebral hemorrhage because he was angered by this incident!" Dr. Qin saw that Lin Kun was ignoring his expert advice and instead pleading with a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, which made him so angry his face turned green.

    Upon hearing this, Lin Kun''s body shuddered, a hint of self-reproach and hesitation flashing in his eyes, but his gaze quickly firmed as he looked at Ge Dongxu and said, "Brother Xu, as long as you say you can save my dad, I''ll believe you."

    Facing Lin Kun''s trust, Ge Dongxu nodded his head and then took out an antique sandalwood box from his backpack. Although Dr. Qin''s words were not entirely correct, there was some truth to them. Lin Jinnuo''s sudden cerebral hemorrhage was indeed related to him, and he couldn''t stand by idly.

    Of course, Lin Jinnuo being so obese and having hypertension, coupled with his rushed arrival just now, also contributed greatly to the sudden cerebral hemorrhage.

    "What, what are you going to do?" Seeing Ge Dongxu open the sandalwood box and take out Silver Needle, Dr. Qin was both shocked and furious, pointing at Ge Dongxu and questioning him fiercely.

    Ge Dongxu ignored Dr. Qin and deftly inserted several Silver Needles into Lin Jinnuo''s head.

    "You, do you know you are committing a crime? Do you realize you are harming... harming..." Dr. Qin saw Ge Dongxu actually sticking needles into Lin Jinnuo''s head, shaking so much that his fingers trembled, and he kept cursing. But halfway through his rant, he couldn''t continue, his eyes bulging behind his glasses.

    Because he saw Lin Jinnuo, who had been unconscious, suddenly open his eyes and his breathing became steady.

    Xu Jingfang and the others all stared wide-eyed, the hallway falling utterly silent.

    "My head suddenly hurt a lot just now, and did I faint?" After a long silence, Lin Jinnuo broke the quiet, reaching up to touch his head.

    "Mr. Lin, don''t move. This needle needs to stay in a bit longer to completely seal the blood vessel to prevent it from bleeding," Ge Dongxu grabbed Lin Jinnuo''s hand.

    "You?" Lin Jinnuo, seeing Ge Dongxu holding his hand, was stunned.

    "Dad, you had a sudden cerebral hemorrhage just now. Brother Xu just now saved you with his acupuncture," Lin Kun quickly interjected.

    Lin Jinnuo had made his business so successful because he was naturally sharp-witted, and since he hadn''t completely lacked awareness earlier, he immediately realized what was happening upon hearing the news. He quickly expressed both his gratitude and shame to Ge Dongxu, saying, "Thank you so much, young man. I was unaware of the situation just now and may have offended you. Please don''t take it to heart."

    Stay connected with empire

    "It doesn''t matter. You can now sit up in the chair, and in a little while, I will help you remove the needle," Ge Dongxu said, as he and Lin Kun helped Lin Jinnuo to stand.

    "Okay, thank you so very much." After Lin Jinnuo''s corpulent body stood up, he once again expressed his gratitude to Ge Dongxu with a thankful face.

    Cerebral hemorrhage strikes suddenly and dangerously; it''s a medical emergency with a very high mortality rate. Moreover, one should avoid randomly moving a person with a cerebral hemorrhage as it might cause blood vessels to rupture and bleed more. But now, not only had Lin Jinnuo quickly regained consciousness, clearly having passed the critical period, but he had also gotten up and even found a seat on his own.

    If Doctor Qin hadn''t seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn''t have believed that such miraculous medical skills existed in the world. He even doubted his initial diagnosis, wondering if Lin Jinnuo had not experienced a cerebral hemorrhage, but merely had a normal fainting episode.

    But what sudden medical condition could it be, if not a cerebral hemorrhage, especially given that such an obese person had vomited during the fainting?

    While Doctor Qin was still shocked and his thoughts in chaos, he saw blood with a hint of dark color slowly flowing from where Ge Dongxu had inserted the needle.

    "That''s about right." Just as Doctor Qin was staring wide-eyed at this scene, Ge Dongxu stepped forward and removed the Silver Needle that was inserted in Lin Jinnuo''s head.

    "Was that, that bruising?" Unable to contain his astonishment and curiosity, Doctor Qin stepped forward and asked in a low voice, devoid of his earlier arrogance.

    No sooner had Doctor Qin asked this question than one of his assistants rushed out of the emergency room, looking very anxious and saying, "Director Qin, the patient''s blood pressure is getting lower, and his heartbeat is accelerating¡­"

    "Brother Xu, Brother Xu, it was all my fault just now, I was blind and foolish. Please go and save my Zuo Le! I''m begging you. If he dies, I won''t be able to go on living either! I''m kneeling before you." The assistant''s voice, as sudden as a bolt from the blue, echoed in the hallway, causing Xu Jingfang''s body to jolt violently, then she frantically rushed to Ge Dongxu and was about to kneel in front of him.

    "No, no, get up. This is a hospital, and even if I agree, the doctors here must agree as well," Ge Dongxu said, hurriedly helping her up.

    "They can''t save Zuo Le themselves, so they forbid others from saving him?" Xu Jingfang glared at Doctor Qin on the spot.

    "Doctor Qin, what do you think?" Yue Feng, being the head of Changxi County''s leading enterprise and a man of stable actions, knew Xu Jingfang was emotionally upset and quickly held her back, then turned to Doctor Qin and asked.

    "The patient was under our care when the incident happened, and our hospital must also bear the responsibility. So even if this doctor lends a hand, you must sign the surgery consent forms, and I must be involved throughout the process," Doctor Qin stated decisively, knowing the situation was urgent, not putting on airs or being verbose.

    "That''s no problem. We will sign the consent forms immediately. Whatever happens, we won''t hold Brother Xu or your hospital responsible," Xu Jingfang, knowing time was of the essence, quickly wiped her tears and nodded in agreement upon hearing Doctor Qin''s consent.

    "Then there''s no problem. Doctor, what do you think?" Doctor Qin nodded, then turned to Ge Dongxu.

    He wasn''t sure what title to use for Ge Dongxu, but since Ge Dongxu had just saved Lin Jinnuo and out of respect for his medical skills, he addressed him as "doctor."

    ps: It''s Monday, desperately asking for all kinds of support. Today, it all depends on you how high we can climb in the rankings. I''ll keep on writing.

 Chapter 81 Taking Action to Save People [2nd update, ask for recommendation tickets]

    "I have just one request, once I start the treatment, only Dr. Qin can be present. And when others come later and ask, just say that it was Dr. Qin who treated the patient, and I was just assisting. You must promise me this!" Ge Dongxu said with a grave voice.He certainly didn''t want to attract attention from all sides, let alone be interviewed and exposed by the media.

    "No problem, no problem," Xu Jingfang and the others nodded hurriedly, only Dr. Qin still hesitated a bit.

    "Dr. Qin, do you know Tang Yiyuan? I have a very good relationship with him," Ge Dongxu said, his real worry actually being that Dr. Qin might talk about his involvement, since Yue Ting and the others definitely wouldn''t dare to speak carelessly due to the favor they owed him. But Dr. Qin was a different story. Seeing him hesitate, an idea struck Ge Dongxu, and he mentioned Tang Yiyuan''s name.

    He wasn''t sure how well-known Tang Yiyuan was, but considering he was a doctoral supervisor and an expert on the Jiangnan Province Medical Expert Group, he should have some reputation in the medical community of Jiangnan Province.

    "You know Professor Tang! Then there won''t be any problem," Dr. Qin indeed knew Tang Yiyuan and seemed to hold him in high regard. Hearing this, he hesitated no further and quickly said so.

    Dr. Qin was a practitioner of Western medicine, and what he revered was not Tang Yiyuan''s title as a professor of Chinese medicine but his title as an expert in the Jiangnan Province Medical Expert Group. That title was very weighty in the province, allowing direct contact with high-ranking officials and magnates. Countless doctors had tried their best to get on that list but never had the chance. Despite being a well-known expert in the First Affiliated Hospital of Ouzhou City Medical College, Dr. Qin was still far from qualifying to be part of the expert group. Even their hospital''s director didn''t qualify. So when Ge Dongxu brought up Tang Yiyuan''s name and stated he had a close relationship with him, Dr. Qin had no more doubts.

    Seeing how Dr. Qin immediately agreed upon the mention of Tang Yiyuan''s name, Ge Dongxu regretted not invoking it earlier to avoid the hassle.

    At the same time, Ge Dongxu realized the weight Tang Yiyuan held in the medical community of Jiangnan Province! S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So Ge Dongxu followed Dr. Qin into the resuscitation room swiftly.

    At that moment, the line on the monitor had almost flattened, and everyone around was at a loss for what to do.

    Upon seeing Dr. Qin''s return, they looked at him as if he were a savior and asked anxiously, "Director Qin, what do we do now? Transferring to the Provincial Capital is definitely not an option."

    "You all leave, this doctor here can assist me," Dr. Qin said, waving his hand and simultaneously shaking his head at the sight of Zuo Le lying on the bed in a deep coma.

    Years of clinical experience told him that Zuo Le''s condition, barring a miracle, was beyond saving.

    Of course, as doctors, as long as the patient''s heart hadn''t stopped beating, they must do their utmost to resuscitate.

    Only then did the others notice the young man with Dr. Qin. As they were about to speak, the young man already spoke sternly to them, "Get out, all of you, and make it quick!"

    The First Affiliated Hospital of Ouzhou City Medical College was the best hospital in Ouzhou City. Being a part of it, each one of them carried a bit of pride, so when they saw Ge Dongxu, this young man, ordering them out so bluntly, their faces showed a hint of dissatisfaction. Just as they were about to protest, Dr. Qin, sensing Ge Dongxu''s urgency and remembering his miraculous methods from before, quickly looked stern and said authoritatively before they could speak, "Didn''t you hear the command to leave? What are you waiting for?" Read exclusive content at empire

    Dr. Qin''s words carried a different weight from Ge Dongxu''s, and with his say, they obediently left the resuscitation room.

    When the medical staff had left the resuscitation room, Ge Dongxu had already completed taking Zuo Le''s pulse and, with a grave expression, took out the Silver Needles. Then like a lightning, he inserted the needles behind and on the nape of Zuo Le''s neck within a single breath''s time, followed swiftly by acupuncture points at Zuo Yun''s Juque, Tanzhong, Tianchi¡­ and more.

    The former was to address Zuo Le''s cranial hemorrhage while the latter to stimulate his life potential to increase his cardiac output.

    After this dazzling series of Silver Needles insertion, Ge Dongxu wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a sense of relief, "Thank goodness, just in time. Any later and not even Hua Tuo reincarnated could have been of use."

    By this time, Doctor Qin''s mouth was hanging wide open, his eyeballs bulging like those of a goldfish.

    Because, in just a short moment, he had seen the nearly flat lines on the life-signs monitoring equipment beside the emergency table start to show regular fluctuations, and the blood pressure was gradually climbing up...

    Everything indicated that Zuo Le, who had been hanging by a thread, was gradually moving past the critical phase.

    "Actually, even if Hua Tuo were to return, I doubt he could perform such a miraculous feat as you have," Doctor Qin said after a long while. Unconsciously, he, a native of Jiangnan Province, used the respectful "you" that was seldom used.

    "I don''t deserve such praise," Ge Dongxu replied, before taking out a long silver needle from the rosewood box. This silver needle was more than twice as long as the others.

    Due to gravity, the lengthy silver needle bent downwards as soon as Ge Dongxu took it out from the rosewood box. With just a pinch of his fingers on the needle, however, it immediately straightened out.

    Then Ge Dongxu inserted the entire long silver needle into Zuo Le''s brain, and black blood slowly started to flow out along the silver needle.

    Doctor Qin''s mouth fell open once again, for he clearly understood that the slowly oozing black blood was a hematomas from the brain. This was definitely the most magical "surgery" to remove blood clots inside the skull he had ever seen in his lifetime.

    When the flow of the black blood had nearly stopped, Ge Dongxu then slowly pulled the silver needle out.

    "Phew!" Ge Dongxu let out a long sigh of relief.

    The most dangerous part for Zuo Le was not actually his lungs, but the cranial hemorrhage.

    Now that Ge Dongxu had finally sealed off the bleeding in his brain and cleared the clots inside his skull, from Ge Dongxu''s medical perspective, Zuo Le was, at this moment, truly past the critical period.

    As Ge Dongxu sighed in relief, Zuo Le slowly opened his eyes.

    Seeing Zuo Le open his eyes, Doctor Qin was so shocked he almost stepped back as if he had seen a ghost. Fortunately, he soon realized he was a doctor and the person before him was very much alive, not a ghost.

    "How are you feeling now?" Doctor Qin asked subconsciously.

    "Pain!" Zuo Le managed to gasp out the word.

    "Don''t talk, your lungs are still pierced by your ribs!" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Right, right, don''t talk now, listen to the doctor!" Doctor Qin hurriedly said.

    Zuo Le felt confused by Doctor Qin''s words. Shouldn''t the doctor be this middle-aged man in the white coat? And who was this young man dressed in sportswear?

    ps: Monday''s ranking rush is very important, I hope all my readers won''t find it troublesome to cast your votes, thank you very much.

 Chapter 82 Slip Away Quietly [3rd Update, Request for Recommendation Votes]

    As Zuo Le showed a puzzled look, Ge Dongxu pulled out some silver needles that were inserted into his chest and said, "You don''t need to think about anything right now, I am going to treat the injury in your lung. Although I have already needled some acupoints to suppress your pain perception nerves, you will probably still feel a bit of pain. Bear with it.""Mm!" Zuo Le''s heart was still full of doubts, but he was now certain that the young man before him was indeed his savior.

    Seeing that Zuo Le understood him, Ge Dongxu didn''t hesitate any longer. He gently probed the upper half of Zuo Le''s body with his hands and then found the broken rib. He quietly activated his True Qi.

    The True Qi entered Zuo Le''s body, and like an invisible tentacle, pulled out the broken rib from his lung and then one by one set them back in place.

    This was a task that greatly consumed "physical" energy in the form of True Qi, and soon beads of sweat the size of soybeans started to form on Ge Dongxu''s forehead.

    Dr. Qin, seeing this, hurriedly grabbed a towel to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead, with all the demeanor of an assistant, showing none of the signs of a senior expert doctor.

    Luckily, there was no one else present at the time apart from Zuo Le, otherwise, their jaws would have dropped to the floor in astonishment at the sight.

    When had a senior expert doctor been reduced to wiping sweat for a young man?

    "Phew!" Finally, Ge Dongxu let out a long sigh of relief and then took the white towel from Dr. Qin''s hand, expressing gratitude, "Thank you, Dr. Qin."

    "I should be thanking you, for letting me witness such miraculous medical skills!" Dr. Qin said with a face full of admiration.

    "Director Zuo should no longer be in any life-threatening danger. However, there are probably still some small bone fragments inside him that I am not suited to handle. That will have to be left to you," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Leave those to us," Dr. Qin replied with a nod.

    "Good, there must be quite a few people outside by now. You go out front to draw their attention, and I''ll follow behind. While they''re not paying attention, I''ll make my escape," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Actually, um, may I ask how to address you?" Dr. Qin suddenly realized he did not know Ge Dongxu''s name, only that Yue Ting and the others called him Brother Dongxu earlier. But of course, given Dr. Qin''s age, it would not be appropriate for him to address him as Brother Dongxu.

    "Ge Dongxu, you can call me Dongxu or Xiao Ge," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "I''ll just call you Dr. Ge then. In fact, with your medical skills, if word got out, countless patients would seek you out. Not only would you become world-famous, but you could also make a fortune every day. So why not..." Dr. Qin said.

    "What is the point of making money? For living, right? If I had countless patients coming to me every day, could I still live a good life? What use is all the money and fame? Besides, I am still young. There are many things I want to do, and I don''t want to be the center of attention wherever I go, followed by patients wherever I turn. So please don''t expose me. I don''t want fame, nor do I want to make money through medicine," Ge Dongxu interrupted before Dr. Qin could finish.

    "You do have a point. Like right now for me, even though I make good money, I am as busy as a dog every day. Sometimes, after several surgeries in a row, I am so exhausted I don''t even want to speak, and I wonder what it''s all for. But other than medicine, I have no other skills, and in the world, there are who knows how many people just like me. If I lose my job today, someone will replace me tomorrow. Not like you, your medical skills are truly unique in this world, available whenever you wish, for people who will come seeking you out. Rest assured, I know you are an extraordinary individual. Since you don''t want others to know, I will certainly not speak of it," Dr. Qin assured with a serious tone.

    After all, with his age and having personally witnessed that miraculous medical technique, how could Dr. Qin not understand the pros and cons of ingratiating himself with Ge Dongxu or offending him? Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Because he was a doctor, he too could fall ill at times, and so could his family, relatives, and friends. What if one day it was a terminal illness?

    Doing Ge Dongxu a favor now might very well be worth a human life in the future. But if he offended Ge Dongxu today¡ªa man like Dongxu was bound to become a big shot in the future¡ªdealing with a minor director of a city hospital would be as easy as drinking water for him.

    "Then thank you, Dr. Qin. If there''s anything urgent and you need to reach me, you can contact Professor Tang," Dongxu, whose social experience was gradually expanding, was getting crafty with his understanding of human nature. Seeing Dr. Qin agree, he said with a smile.

    Dr. Qin was a smart man, knowing that Dongxu had accepted his favor, he couldn''t help but happily say, "Thank you, Dr. Ge."

    Ge Dongxu smiled upon hearing this, and then said to Zuo Le, "Director Zuo, you also have to remember, the one who saved you is Dr. Qin here, not me."

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    Zuo Le, being clever enough to be the deputy director of the Changxi County Public Security Bureau, had already figured out the situation through the conversation between Ge Dongxu and Dr. Qin. Hurrying to say, "Dr. Ge is my life-saving benefactor, I''ll remember whatever you say, don''t worry!"

    Ge Dongxu nodded at Dr. Qin in relief and said, "Let''s go."

    Dr. Qin nodded and then led the way to the emergency room door, where indeed a crowd of people had gathered outside.

    Not only were there leaders from Changxi County and the Public Security Bureau, but also leaders from the city''s Public Security Bureau, and even a deputy mayor had rushed over in person. The hospital''s dean also rushed over in person.

    As soon as they saw Dr. Qin emerge, they hurried up to inquire about the situation. Meanwhile, Xu Jingfang and others knew that the key figure was Ge Dongxu. While other people might not have noticed the young man hiding behind Dr. Qin, Xu Jingfang and the rest noticed, and instinctively wanted to rush up to him. But seeing Ge Dongxu giving them a signal, they remembered the instructions he had given earlier; seeing Dr. Qin''s smiling face, obviously Zuo Le had been saved by Dongxu. Surprised and delighted, they still didn''t dare to forget Dongxu''s earlier instructions and cooperated by pulling Dr. Qin aside to ask about Zuo Le''s condition.

    As the attention of the crowd was drawn away by Dr. Qin, Ge Dongxu slipped out of the emergency room.

    Because Ge Dongxu was wearing a tracksuit and not a lab coat, he blended in with the families and friends who had come to visit once he stepped out of the emergency room. Except for Yue Feng and a few others, no one else took notice of him.

    "The patient has passed the critical period. After some time, when his condition stabilizes further and we carry out some treatments, he should be out of danger," Dr. Qin replied with a smile.

    Although they had guessed the answer, Xu Jingfang and others still cried tears of joy. They instinctively wanted to thank Ge Dongxu, but remembering his instructions, they had to hold back.

    "I''ll go see Mr. Ge off with Lin Kun. Please tell Elder Zuo for me to take good care of himself and that I''ll come visit him another day," Lin Jinnuo whispered to Yue Feng as he approached him.

    "Uh, thanks. We are not at liberty right now," Yue Feng whispered back.

    "What thanks? Actually, I owe him my life too. Cerebral hemorrhage, a lot of people even if saved, would still have many complications," Lin Jinnuo whispered, and then he and Lin Kun hurried to catch up with Ge Dongxu who was disappearing at the end of the corridor.

    "Mr. Ge, Mr. Ge!" Lin Jinnuo panted as he called out to Ge Dongxu from behind, causing the two nurses in the hallway to look on in astonishment.

    They had no idea why this chubby man was calling a teenaged boy a "Mr."

    ps: Now on Qidian we''re still in fourth place, and on the QQ browser recommendation ticket list we''re in eighth place, and on the QQ reading recommendation list in ninth place. Whether we can make it to third place on the new book list here on Qidian or not, I''m going to explode those five chapters first, and for the rest, I''ll do my best, and so should you. We can set high goals, and if we don''t meet them, so be it, but we shouldn''t be without goals, right? Heh.

 Chapter 83 Making Friends [4th update, asking for recommendation tickets]

    "Eh, why did you guys follow? Weren''t you going to visit Director Zuo?" Ge Dongxu expressed a hint of surprise when he saw Lin Jinnuo and his son catching up.Read the latest on empire sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s more important to get Mr. Ge back home. I can visit Elder Zuo anytime," Lin Jinnuo said, panting.

    "I can find a car to get back by myself. No need to trouble you," Ge Dongxu declined.

    "How could we not? If it weren''t for you today, I would have been a goner," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "It''s not that serious, there were doctors there!" Ge Dongxu said, somewhat embarrassed, with a light laugh.

    "Mr. Ge, you don''t have to be modest. I know I just had a cerebral hemorrhage. Even if I had been saved later, I would definitely have suffered some sequelae, not like now ¨C as if nothing happened, still able to run," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "Don''t think it''s nothing. This time was luck; next time might not be so fortunate. You still need to pay attention to exercise and watch what you eat and drink," aware that further humility would seem insincere, Ge Dongxu adopted a serious tone and advised.

    "Ah, I know all that. I will definitely exercise more from now on, but the eating and drinking, that''s really difficult! We run a hotel, and leaders come to the hotel from time to time. When a leader comes, isn''t it proper for me, the boss, to join them for a few drinks?" Lin Jinnuo sighed.

    Seeing Lin Jinnuo''s body as big as a pig''s, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a pang of sympathy. Indeed, every family has its own difficult scripture. Who says rich people live comfortably?

    "Dad, what''s more important, money or life? Don''t forget the pain once the wound heals. Do you think you''ll always be so lucky to have Brother Dongxu around? From now on, if you can avoid drinking, then don''t drink. Our family isn''t lacking money anyway," Lin Kun said from the side.

    "Lin Kun, you''ve finally grown up. Your father will listen to you and try to drink less from now on," Lin Jinnuo said, his hefty body quivering slightly with contentment.

    In the past, his son rarely said such caring words to him.

    "It''s all thanks to Brother Dongxu. If it weren''t for him, I would still be straying further and further on the wrong path," Lin Kun said earnestly.

    Lin Jinnuo''s flesh trembled again as he finally realized why his son had been showing such dedication recently. It was all because of the young man before them.

    "Mr. Ge, you saved my life and made my wayward son turn over a new leaf. I really don''t know how to thank you!" Lin Jinnuo said gratefully.

    "It was just a helping hand. And Mr. Lin, please don''t keep calling me ''Mr. Ge.'' I''m only sixteen years old, so just call me by my name," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Alright then, I''ll take the liberty of calling you Dongxu, and don''t call me Mr. Lin. I''m old, so you can just call me Old Lin. It sounds more friendly," Lin Jinnuo, a hotel owner, had the frank and forthright style of someone from the fraternity, direct and unpretentious.

    "Old Lin? Haha, I''ll just call you Uncle Lin," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No, I really can''t live up to that title of ''uncle,'' just call me Old Lin!" Lin Jinnuo hurriedly objected.

    "Alright then," Ge Dongxu, seeing Lin Jinnuo''s insistence, agreed to do as he wished.

    After all, one was a big hotel owner and the other a high school student; it was unlikely they would meet often in the future.

    While chatting, the three of them reached the hospital''s parking lot.

    Lin Jinnuo''s car was also an Audi 200, just like Liu Jiayao''s.

    Lin Kun was driving, while Lin Jinnuo accompanied Ge Dongxu in the back. Being a hotel owner, Lin Jinnuo knew all kinds of people and could mingle with them easily. He had his own unique way of building relationships and was also a very good talker.

    He felt both gratitude and respect for Ge Dongxu in his heart, naturally wanting to become friends with him by any means possible. And since Ge Dongxu was after all a young man with limited experience, under Lin Jinnuo''s earnest efforts to befriend him, he was quickly attracted by Lin Jinnuo''s charismatic personality, talking and laughing together, and taking the opportunity to ask about many business matters.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu, despite his youth, was interested in adult matters of society, Lin Jinnuo talked about many business issues, and even some political matters, including Elder Zuo.

    "This time, Elder Zuo really turned misfortune into fortune! Originally, when Director Yao stepped down, it wasn''t certain that Elder Zuo could take over the director''s position. But with this work-related injury, the directorship is definitely his now," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "It''s what he deserves," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "That is true; Elder Zuo is quite a decent man, capable and practical. Unlike some officials who don''t do any work, but are greedy. Frankly speaking, for us in business, we really don''t mind officials taking a bit more, but the problem is, they need to get some work done. You can''t just take the money and then go out of your way to cause trouble," Lin Jinnuo explained.

    Ge Dongxu smiled upon hearing this but didn''t speak, as these matters were beyond his understanding, so naturally, he did not feel it right to comment casually.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu remained silent, Lin Jinnuo knew he might not like these topics and changed the subject.

    With Lin Jinnuo''s company along the way, Ge Dongxu learned a great deal, so time felt like it passed very quickly, and before long, they arrived at Cheng Yazhou''s doorstep.

    "Dongxu, I really thank you for today, I''ll treat you to a meal another day," Lin Jinnuo said as he got out of the car and shook hands with Ge Dongxu.

    "Haha, no need to be polite, Old Lin. It''s getting late; I''ll go up first, or Uncle Cheng might start to worry," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "Alright, take care on your way up. If you need anything in Changxi County, just give me a call. I still have some connections there," Lin Jinnuo declared.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and nodded, then went back to Cheng Yazhou''s home.

    ...

    On Friday night, Ge Dongxu boarded the train to the Provincial Capital.

    As soon as he passed through the ticket gate, he saw Liu Jiayao.

    Liu Jiayao was dressed casually today, in bleached tight jeans and a snug woolen sweater with a denim jacket, exuding a youthful energy, not at all like a female company president.

    Upon seeing Ge Dongxu, she happily approached him and expertly linked arms with him, her lovely, enticing eyes scanning him up and down as she smiled and said, "We haven''t seen each other for three months, and you seem to have grown quite a bit taller."

    "It''s been three months, and Sister Liu seems to have become younger and prettier," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Hehe, in three months, your flattery has gotten sweeter too," Liu Jiayao cheerfully commented, playfully glancing at him with her enchanting eyes.

    "I''m only telling the truth," Ge Dongxu chuckled.

    "Really? Then it seems I have indeed become younger," Liu Jiayao said gleefully, touching her cheek.

    The driver was still Li Min. When she saw Liu Jiayao walking arm-in-arm with Ge Dongxu, she couldn''t help but feel puzzled as to why Liu Jiayao was so good to this young man. Not only had she personally come to pick him up early in the morning but she even walked arm-in-arm with him!

    Of course, she would never think that Liu Jiayao had taken a liking to Ge Dongxu!

    PS: Fourth update, I continue.

 Chapter 84 Zuo Les Promotion [5th Update, Request for Votes]

    Upon arriving at Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao sent Li Min away."You must be tired from sitting on the train all night. I''ve already prepared some porridge for you, along with some fried dough sticks and steamed buns. Go wash your face and brush your teeth first. I''ll get the porridge ready for you," said Liu Jiayao as she opened the door and handed Ge Dongxu a pair of slippers.

    Although it had been three months since Ge Dongxu had last seen Liu Jiayao, for some reason he felt even more familiar with her. He nodded without any pretense of formality at her words.

    After washing up and coming out, Ge Dongxu saw Liu Jiayao carrying a steaming bowl of porridge from the kitchen. Read exclusive content at empire

    Liu Jiayao, now without her jacket, wore a tight wool sweater that accentuated her curves, momentarily bewildering Ge Dongxu.

    After the meal, Liu Jiayao chatted with Ge Dongxu for a while, and then, as if by tacit agreement, they both entered her bedroom.

    This time, Liu Jiayao didn''t mention taking a bath, which was evidently because she had already taken one that morning. Her body carried a faint and pleasant scent of post-shower freshness.

    Although it wasn''t the first time he had seen Liu Jiayao''s near-perfect body, because he had had consecutive dreams of her over a week or two, Ge Dongxu''s reaction was even stronger than the last time. He felt very uncomfortable and, covering his lower body, nearly looked for a crack in the floor to crawl into.

    Fortunately, Liu Jiayao was very understanding. She smiled and told him it was okay, that she could understand him, which made Ge Dongxu feel all the more unworthy.

    With that deep sense of self-blame, Ge Dongxu''s state of mind gradually returned to tranquility, no longer tempted by the appealing form before him.

    After helping to clear Liu Jiayao''s meridians, Ge Dongxu naturally broke into a profuse sweat. However, having cleared her meridians before and assisted by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation in the past few days, his True Qi was quite abundant. Thus, despite sweating profusely, the effort was much easier than the last time.

    It was Liu Jiayao who prepared the bath for Ge Dongxu, getting him a towel and fresh clothes to change into.

    After a good soak in the bath, Ge Dongxu realized it was already half-past ten and told Liu Jiayao that he had arranged to talk with Tang Yiyuan.

    "I''ve been so busy lately I haven''t had the chance to invite Professor Tang for a meal to express my gratitude. Since you are here today, let''s invite him out for tea first to talk, and then have a meal together," proposed Liu Jiayao.

    Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan''s discussion would merely involve medical matters, so there was no need to avoid Liu Jiayao. Hearing this, he nodded and said, "Okay, you pick a place, then call Professor Tang."

    "The sun is quite nice today. How about we go to Longqi Mountain to find a quiet and elegant teahouse, have some tea, and try the local farmhouse dishes?" suggested Liu Jiayao.

    "That would be perfect as I like places with mountains and forests," Ge Dongxu enthusiastically agreed with Liu Jiayao''s suggestion.

    Teahouses that served tea and farmhouse dishes had just started to become popular at the time, so there was no need to reserve a place in advance. Liu Jiayao directly called Professor Tang and arranged to meet at the teahouse on Longqi Mountain.

    After making the arrangements, Liu Jiayao decided not to ask Li Min to take them but instead drove Ge Dongxu to Longqi Mountain herself.

    When they arrived at the agreed-upon teahouse, Professor Tang was already there waiting for them.

    Upon seeing Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao coming over, Professor Tang first shook hands with Ge Dongxu, and then with Liu Jiayao. When shaking hands with Liu Jiayao, Tang Yiyuan''s gaze lingered on her face, showing a look of surprise.

    "What''s the matter, Professor Tang? Don''t tell me you don''t recognize me after a few months," joked Liu Jiayao.

    ```

    "Heh, to be honest, in just three short months since we last met, you''ve really changed a lot. Not only do you seem more spirited, your complexion has become much more rosy than before, as if you''ve suddenly turned back into a twenty-year-old girl. If I ran into you on the street, I really might not recognize you," Tang Yiyuan said.

    "Really? With what you just said, I suddenly feel seven years younger!" Liu Jiayao touched her own smooth and delicate cheeks, laughing happily as she looked at Ge Dongxu with an unconsciously tender gaze.

    "I''m of an age myself, so why would I lie to a young person like you? Dr. Ge''s medical skills are truly miraculous. I can''t help but admire him!" Tang Yiyuan exclaimed with great emotion.

    The speaker was unintentional, but the listener took it to heart, and Liu Jiayao''s pretty face unknowingly blushed at Tang Yiyuan''s words.

    Since there was still time, the three of them started by ordering tea.

    "Professor Tang, Dongxu mentioned that you have some medical issues to discuss with him. Go ahead and talk; don''t mind me. I came purely to keep you company," Liu Jiayao said, pulling her chair up next to Ge Dongxu and addressing Tang Yiyuan.

    "An opportunity to consult with Dr. Ge face-to-face is rare, so I won''t stand on ceremony with you," Tang Yiyuan replied with a slight seriousness in his demeanor.

    "Of course, there''s no need to be polite," Liu Jiayao replied with a smile.

    Tang Yiyuan indeed did not stand on ceremony with Liu Jiayao, eagerly seeking knowledge from Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu appreciated that Tang Yiyuan, despite his age, was willing to ask questions without any sense of shame and was so dedicated to learning. Thus, aside from issues related to cultivation medicine, he answered every question without reservation.

    Watching Ge Dongxu, despite being so young, explain things like an old scholar to Tang Yiyuan, ripples of adoration flickered in Liu Jiayao''s eyes from time to time.

    Since he had class on Monday, Ge Dongxu took the train back to Changxi County that Sunday night.

    ...

    The year-end approached in the blink of an eye, and all the students at Changxi No.1 Middle School were immersed in the intense preparation for their final exams, including Ge Dongxu. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    While he was a cultivator and was always able to maintain full energy, clear thinking, and strong memory, he was only a bit smarter than the average person in terms of intelligence and not a learning genius. Like anyone else, he often needed to spend time reading and doing exercises to achieve good grades.

    Because of the upcoming finals preparation, Lin Jinnuo and Zuo Le, who had been discharged from the hospital, wanted to invite Ge Dongxu for a meal to thank him in person, but he had no time.

    Lin Jinnuo and Zuo Le, knowing that Ge Dongxu was still a student, did not insist and decided to wait until after the New Year. They planned to ask him out for a meal after school resumed, as the study pressure usually wouldn''t be as intense right after the start of a new term.

    As Ge Dongxu finally faced his final exams, Zuo Le was celebrated as a hero and a role model for having been injured while busting a child trafficking gang by the Provincial Public Security Department. When even the provincial authorities issued a document calling for everyone to learn from Zuo Le, Ouzhou City and Changxi County naturally had to show their support. So before the New Year, Zuo Le not only fulfilled his wish of becoming the director of the Changxi County Public Security Bureau, but he was also inducted as a member of the county''s Standing Committee.

    The former position of bureau director was considered a division-chief level status, while a Standing Committee membership was at the level of a deputy department head, which meant that Zuo Le had jumped two ranks, from deputy division head directly to deputy department head.

    Also, for this reason, Zuo Le and his family felt even more grateful towards Ge Dongxu. Without him, not to mention a promotion, they wouldn''t even know where their lives might be.

    PS: Here''s the fifth update, and I will keep pushing on. Regardless of the outcome, I aim to update some more by evening time.

    ```

 Chapter 85 New Year Greetings [6th update, seeking recommendation tickets]

    After the final exams, it was time to receive the grades.Although Ge Dongxu wasn''t a study genius, as a cultivator, he had advantages in studying that others did not possess. Despite spending a lot of time in meditation, Talisman Drawing, and cultivation, his final exam rankings were still much higher than when he had first entered Changxi High School.

    In his class, his grades were around sixteenth, but this time, he had jumped to fifth place. This surprised the class teacher, Li Haoran, who specifically called Ge Dongxu to his office to give him some encouragement.

    The top scorer was Ge Dongxu''s deskmate, Du Yifan, who was exceptionally strong in mathematics, physics, and chemistry, and had scored full marks in math. However, because of lower scores in politics, English, and Chinese, he was only ranked fifth in the whole grade.

    Cheng Le Hao''s grades had surged from the bottom of the class to thirty-second, which made his parents, Cheng Yazhou and his wife, so happy they almost couldn''t close their mouths. That day, Xu Suya prepared a lavish meal to formally thank Ge Dongxu.

    ¡­

    After receiving the report card, the three shareholders of Yaxu Trademark Factory held an annual meeting in the factory office. Though called an annual meeting, it was actually about profit distribution, as their small factory didn''t have much need for lengthy summary reports or future projections. Read exclusive chapters at empire

    The profits were very substantial. In just under two months, after all expenses, the net profit was around two hundred thousand. Because the laser trademark was still in high demand and short supply, there were few credits, and by the end of the year, nearly all debts were collected. Therefore, Ge Dongxu, the second largest shareholder, received seventy-five thousand in profits at the end of the first year.

    This profit made Ge Dongxu very happy, confirming that his decision to invest in the laser trademark was the right one, and that he hadn''t misjudged Cheng Yazhou back then.

    ¡­

    A few days later, it was New Year''s Eve.

    Since Ge Dongxu''s grandparents had passed away early and there was only Ge Shengming as the sole descendant, the New Year at Ge Dongxu''s home was relatively quiet with just the three of them.

    However, because Ge Dongxu had scored well in the final exams and had brought back a substantial amount of money previously, the family was in a particularly good mood. Despite being just the three of them, they still had a joyful and lively celebration. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On the first day of the first lunar month, according to the customs of Changxi County, people do not visit others to offer New Year greetings. Ge Dongxu took the opportunity to visit his master''s grave and poured a jar of Huadiao Wine for him.

    On the second day of the first lunar month, the family visited some of his uncles'' homes.

    On the third day of the first lunar month, dressed in new clothes and carrying gifts, Ge Dongxu''s family went to his maternal grandparents'' home to offer New Year greetings. This was a tradition formed over many years at the Xu Family. Every year on the third day of the first lunar month, the two daughters who had married out, the eldest son who worked in the county, and the second son who ran a business abroad, all returned to the old family home in Xiyuan Town.

    Ge Dongxu''s third uncle, Xu Zhewei, had opened a small restaurant in Xiyuan Town, and the annual reunion dinner was held there at the Xu Family Restaurant, this year being no exception. Thus, as soon as Ge Dongxu''s family reached the town, they headed straight to Xu Family Restaurant.

    Once daughters marry out, they consider themselves part of another family, so when Ge Dongxu''s family arrived, the families of the oldest uncle Xu Zheming, the second uncle Xu Zhebo, along with the grandparents, were already at Xu Family Restaurant. Needless to say, the third uncle Xu Zhewei''s family was also present.

    This restaurant was originally his business.

    However, Aunt Xu Suying and her family hadn''t arrived yet, even though their home was just in Xiyuan Town.

    "Happy New Year, Grandpa and Grandma, I''m here to give my New Year''s greetings!" As soon as Ge Dongxu arrived at the restaurant, he rushed to greet his grandparents.

    Since his grandparents had passed away early and Ge Shengming''s family was relatively poor, his grandparents were especially fond of this nephew, so Ge Dongxu had always been particularly close to his grandparents since he was young.

    "This Suying really is a daughter married off, like spilled water. Her home is just a short distance away, yet she is always the last to arrive every year. But my little nephew here, he came running from Baiyun Mountain early in the morning to greet us!" First, the grandparents complained about their eldest daughter, then they held Ge Dongxu by the hand, praising him repeatedly.

    "Why wouldn''t he come early? He gets a red envelope to take home every year!" Aunt Liang Zhen muttered from the side, her face showing a hint of disdain and dissatisfaction.

    It turned out that because their youngest daughter''s family was a bit poorer, even though the elders accepted the red envelopes from Xu Suya''s family every year for New Year''s greetings, they actually gave back more in return. The amount given to Ge Dongxu, their little nephew, was always more substantial secretly, fearing that he would suffer.

    Aunt Liang Zhen was petty-minded and always felt that the old man was giving his own money to outsiders.

    Upon hearing this, Xu Zheming quickly elbowed Liang Zhen and whispered, "Keep it down."

    "It''s true! You give elders money every year, and he doesn''t even spend it himself but uses it for his daughter instead. What sense does that make? Is it that easy to earn money?" Instead of calming Liang Zhen, Xu Zheming''s comment ignited her temper.

    This time Liang Zhen''s voice was a bit loud and everyone in the house heard it. Both elders pulled a face but didn''t say anything, pretending they hadn''t heard. On one hand, what Liang Zhen said was true and the elders were indeed biased in this matter, and on the other hand, Liang Zhen came from a well-off family, and her father had been a minor official in the town; marrying into the Xu Family was considered elevating the Xu Family''s status, so the elders often had to give way to their older daughter-in-law.

    "We''re all family, why do you have to be so nitpicky?" The eldest uncle said angrily as his face began to show he was unable to maintain his composure.

    "Even real brothers settle accounts clearly, where did I speak wrong?" Liang Zhen argued back unremittingly.

    "Mom, it''s Chinese New Year, can you say less?" Xu Jirong, Ge Dongxu''s older cousin, said embarrassedly while holding Liang Zhen''s hand.

    "Hehe, Jirong''s right. It''s Chinese New Year; having a harmonious gathering is the most important. Let''s all hold back a bit, just a bit!" Xu Zhewei and his wife, the hosts, usually close with Ge Dongxu''s family, quickly came out smiling to smooth things over.

    "Hmph, it''s nothing really? I was just chatting casually, and your older brother acts as if I''m bullying his sister-in-law." Liang Zhen said.

    Actually, such incidents happened more or less every year, so Ge Dongxu had no fondness for this aunt, but out of respect for his uncle, he as a junior didn''t react on the spot. Ge Shengming and his wife also had to consider the feelings of the elder brother, and knowing that they could not contribute much financially to the elders in previous years, the elders had pitied them, subsidizing them instead. When Ge Shengming opened his family inn, the elders had even secretly sponsored it. So, Liang Zhen''s words weren''t entirely baseless, but they were overly scrupulous, hence the couple did not confront her directly but only exchanged glances. Then Xu Suya walked up to the elders, handed them a thick red envelope, and said, "Dad, Mom, you have been helping us all these years, and Shengming and I have not fulfilled our filial duties. This year our situation is not bad, please accept this red envelope and don''t give us anything in return."

    ps: Didn''t achieve three targets, but still fiercely managed to achieve two alone, this is the sixth update, with the seventh coming later. That should be commended, right? I deeply appreciate the support from all readers, thank you very much.

 Chapter 86 Cousins Job [7th update, recommendation ticket]

    The old man took the red envelope and saw how thick it was, surely holding at least five or six thousand. He hurriedly said, "What are you doing? This isn''t how you should give living support money, and besides, Dongxu is attending high school now, and his annual tuition and living expenses are significant. In a couple more years, he''ll need to attend university, and that will be a major expense. You should keep this money for yourselves.""Dad, we have the money for Dongxu''s university. Take this money and buy whatever you want. Don''t hesitate to spend it," Xu Suya said as her eyes reddened slightly when she saw her father reluctant to accept the money.

    "Mom and Dad, since Suya is so filial, you should just accept it!" Liang Zhen spoke from the side.

    "You..." Finally, the two elders couldn''t help but glare at Liang Zhen.

    "Mom and Dad, my sister-in-law is right. Just take it. We still have tens of thousands in our account, so you don''t have to worry about Dongxu''s university in the future," Ge Shengming hurriedly stepped forward and said as he saw the situation.

    The elders, seeing that their son-in-law had also spoken up, reluctantly accepted the money to avoid hurting his pride. They thought to themselves that they would find a time to return the money privately later.

    And Liang Zhen''s face revealed a trace of disdain, clearly not believing Ge Shengming''s words and suspecting it was just for show.

    However, Xu Zheming and his son Xu Jirong, seeing that because of their mother''s insistence, Ge Shengming and his wife had to make a public stance, felt somewhat embarrassed. The younger generation cared even more about these things. Xu Jirong deliberately ignored his mother and went to Ge Dongxu instead, draping an arm over his shoulder and asking, "Dongxu, I heard you got into Changxi First High School this year. You''re way better than us cousins."

    "Cousin, you''re amazing too. Grandpa said you performed really well in the army and even received praise from the leaders," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. Although he was irritated with his aunt, he still felt close to this older cousin, often following him around like a shadow setting off firecrackers during the New Year when he was younger.

    "Seems like after getting into Changxi First High School, you''ve started talking like an adult," Uncle Xu Zhewei said with a laugh.

    "Of course, getting into Changxi First High School means one foot is already in the door of a university! It looks like our Xu family is going to have a university student," Uncle Xu Zhebo said.

    "University graduates aren''t as highly valued as before. In the past, graduates were guaranteed jobs, and even their education was funded by the state. But now, not only do they have to pay their own way, our Jiangnan Province has stopped guaranteeing job placements from this year. When Dongxu graduates from university, finding a job might itself be a challenge," Liang Zhen said, annoyed at seeing her son, Xu Zhewei, and the others praising Ge Dongxu, as if they were stealing her limelight, and couldn''t help but throw cold water on the discussion.

    "That''s different. Graduates from key universities are still highly sought after. Dongxu does well in school, and he''s bound to get into a key university," the grandfather said.

    "Dongxu might be doing well in our town, but all those who got into Changxi First High School were the top students from their respective schools. Once he''s there, he''ll just be average," Liang Zhen continued to dampen the spirits.

    "Who says Dongxu will be average at Changxi First High School? This year, he ranked fifth in his class and thirty-second in his year group," Xu Suya, no longer able to contain herself after hearing her sister-in-law belittle her son like that and out of respect for her brother, jumped in and said.

    "Really? If Dongxu maintains this performance, he''s definitely heading for a key university," the uncles said, their eyes lighting up upon hearing this.

    "Haha, that''s great!" The grandfather laughed heartily, pleased.

    The second aunt and third aunt also joined in, praising Ge Dongxu for being sensible and doing well in his studies. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After everyone had sung Ge Dongxu''s praises for a while, noticing that Liang Zhen looked somewhat displeased and remembering she was someone who really cared about saving face, they began to ask about Xu Jirong''s situation.

    "Right, Jirong, didn''t you transfer from the military to a civilian job this year? How has that worked out?"

    "There are actually several units interested in taking him in, all state-owned enterprises and institutions, but I always felt it would be better to get into a government department." Seeing everyone asking about Xu Jirong, a trace of radiance and evident pride finally began to surface on Liang Zhen''s face as she spoke. Experience exclusive tales on empire

    "Actually, state-owned enterprises and institutions are quite good. Many people are banging their heads against the wall trying to get in," Xu Zhebo remarked.

    "That''s right! After all, it''s a public-sector job, an iron rice bowl! This way, your entire family will all be on the public payroll, which is pretty remarkable, and you''ll all get pensions when you retire. Unlike us in business, we might make a bit this year, but who knows if we''ll lose or earn next year. When we get old, we have to rely on our children, unlike you guys, who are taken care of by the state; how cool is that!" Xu Zhewei and others also chimed in one after the other.

    "What are you talking about, it''s all just fixed salary, guaranteed income regardless of the weather, guaranteed income regardless of the weather," Liang Zhen said modestly with a wave of her hand, but anyone could read the pride and conceit on her face.

    "Sister-in-law, you''re being too modest now," Xu Zhewei and the others laughed and said.

    "Go on, who''s being modest with you guys." Liang Zhen rolled her eyes at Xu Zhewei and the others and said reproachfully.

    "Who''s being modest?" Just as Liang Zhen''s words fell, a woman''s voice was heard, none other than Ge Dongxu''s Aunt Xu Suying, who came in with her husband and daughter.

    "We were talking about the sister-in-law!" said Xu Zhewei.

    "Does the sister-in-law ever have a moment of modesty?" Xu Suying said with a smile.

    "Suying, are you asking for a beating? Today you''re going to clear things up for me, when have I ever not been modest?" Liang Zhen stepped forward with her hand raised as if to hit Xu Suying.

    "Okay, okay, my mistake. The sister-in-law is always very modest," Xu Suying said, still laughing as she quickly stepped aside.

    Xu Suying''s circumstances were much better than her sister Xu Suya''s. She had gone to a technical secondary school and upon graduation was assigned to the supply and marketing cooperative in Xiyuan Town. Although the cooperative was merely a public institution directly under the government and not considered a power structure within the town government, its benefits and treatment were quite acceptable. Xu Suya''s husband, Jin Yimin, was also a technical secondary school graduate. After his graduation, he was assigned to an office at the Xiyuan Town government. Although he was just a clerical official there, after all he worked in a government office, which meant decent benefits and a respectable social status.

    Liang Zhen was a rather status-conscious woman, and since Xu Suying and her husband were both on the public payroll, just like Liang Zhen and her husband, she tended to be closer to Xu Suying''s family.

    Seeing Xu Suying''s allusive words, Liang Zhen remained unconvinced, and finally Xu Suying had to think fast and change the subject, saying: "Right, I heard you talking about some job matters just now, was it about Jirong? Has his work transfer from the military been settled yet?"

    "There are a few potential units, but they''re all state-owned enterprises. I think it''s best to get him transferred to a government office, but my dad retired early, and he doesn''t hold much sway now, so it''s quite difficult. Oh, right, Suying, I heard you were in the same class as the wife of Director Zuo back in elementary school, do you think you could help me have a word with her?" Liang Zhen said, her eyes suddenly lighting up with hope.

    PS: This is the seventh update, I can''t type any more. That''s all for today. In order to have this burst of updates, I didn''t rest over the weekend, and because of the burst, the word count will soon exceed the requirements for the new book rankings on Qidian. At most, I can only support one more day, then it will fall off the Qidian new book rankings. The best performance of this book in the Qidian new book rankings so far is fourth place in the new book general list, and first place in the urban new book rankings. I am very grateful for the support from all the readers.

 Chapter 87 Director Zuo Has Arrived

    "Which Director Zuo are you talking about?" Xu Suying asked, slightly startled."Which other Director Zuo? Of course, the current Standing Committee member of the County Party and Director of the Public Security Bureau, Zuo Le. His wife, Xu Jingfang, used to be from your Xu family village. You mentioned to me two years ago that you went to Xu family village elementary school with her and were even in the same class," Liang Zhen explained.

    Xi Yuan Town was actually just a township previously, and the town center was quite small. However, in the past few years, it gradually expanded by incorporating some surrounding villages and then reformed from a township to a town. Xu family village was a village on the edge of Xi Yuan Town before it also got merged. Naturally, all the people in Xu family village bore the surname Xu, and Zuo Le''s wife, Xu Jingfang, just happened to be from Xu family village.

    But now that the village had become a street district, naturally, people scattered, and interactions couldn''t stay as close as when living together in the same village. Moreover, because Xu family village was a large village with six to seven hundred households, it wasn''t as familiar and intimate as smaller villages. Once merged into Xi Yuan Town, the relationships became even more distant. Gradually, except for some elders who still often kept in touch and greeted each other on the street, many of the younger ones no longer recognized each other.

    However, because Xu Jingfang had married the director of the county public security bureau, her name was quite eminent around the Xi Yuan Town and Xu family village area, so when Liang Zhen mentioned her, Xu Suying recalled and smiled, "So you were talking about Xu Jingfang."

    "Yes, exactly Xu Jingfang! See if you can talk to her about our Jirong''s matter. If Director Zuo is willing to put in a word, Jirong is certain to get into a county government agency," Liang Zhen hurriedly nodded, her eyes filled with a hint of hope.

    "Zuo Le?" Ge Dongxu overheard and was momentarily stunned, wanting to interject but hesitated and closed his mouth instead.

    "That''s years ago. Besides, I was only in the same class as Xu Jingfang for two years, during the first and second grade of elementary school. Later, her father moved her to the township elementary school, and we were never in the same class again. So many years have passed, she probably doesn''t remember me! And you know, nowadays, it''s not easy to arrange someone into a government agency unless they are close relatives or friends. I definitely can''t help with this," Xu Suying hurriedly waved her hand.

    With such ancient connections, a mere employee at a supply and marketing cooperative, she dared not forge a relationship with the esteemed wife of the Standing Committee member and the director of the Public Security Bureau, let alone ask for favors.

    "Yeah, Liang Zhen, you really shouldn''t trouble Suying with this. Xu Jingfang is the wife of the county public security bureau director. What can she possibly say? I think getting into a state-owned enterprise or public institution is quite good," Xu Zheming said.

    "How is that good? Can a public institution compare to a government agency? Look at Wei Fang''s son, he''s no better than our Jirong, but his father-in-law found a leader''s connection, which got him into the county health and planning bureau. Look how boastful she''s been these past few days, bragging in front of me about how her son excels in the army, and asking about whether Jirong has secured a position yet. What am I supposed to answer? You''re a long-time employee at the transportation bureau. You''ve been honest your whole life. When it came time for you to bring a gift to your bureau leader to get your son a position in the transportation bureau, you couldn''t even manage that, and then you have the nerve to say a public institution is fine. Additionally, our Jirong has earned military service merits and fully qualifies for a government agency position. Why shouldn''t he get in?" Once Xu Zheming spoke, Liang Zhen''s words fired off like a machine gun.

    "Zheming, Jirong''s employment is not a trivial matter; it''s something that affects his whole life. I think what Liang Zhen is saying is right, you still need to find a way," Xu Guozhong, also Ge Dongxu''s grandfather, didn''t blame Liang Zhen this time but spoke up.

    In the elderly''s hearts, the grandchild''s work was naturally important.

    "Big cousin, what are your own thoughts?" Ge Dongxu, seeing the situation, was moved and asked Xu Jirong in a low voice.

    "Getting into a government agency would naturally be better, and my credentials are quite good. But it''s not as exaggerated as my mom says. Isn''t working anywhere still working?" Xu Jirong replied in a low voice.

    "I see, I''ll ask around for you another day." Seeing that his big cousin still leaned toward getting into a government agency, Ge Dongxu thought about finding a time to ask Zuo Le, but, being young, he wasn''t sure how simple or difficult these matters could be, hence he didn''t make any promises.

    "You? Okay, okay, stop causing trouble here!" Xu Jirong said irritably upon hearing this.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and did not defend himself. He did not like to show off and he was not like some people who talk a lot before doing anything. He preferred to keep a low profile and be practical, liking to get things done before talking about them.

    "Dad, you don''t know, things are not the same as before, it''s not so easy to get into government offices now! Even our own Director of Transportation had trouble getting a relative in, and he couldn''t arrange it." While Ge Dongxu and Xu Jirong whispered, Xu Zheming bitterly responded.

    "Come on, that''s because your director''s relative is just too incompetent. Your director was afraid he''d embarrass himself by hiring him, that''s why he didn''t arrange it. He is just using that as an excuse to fob you off, and you actually fell for it? I don''t believe for a second that a Transportation Director couldn''t arrange something for a relative," Liang Zhen scoffed.

    Xu Zheming actually knew that what Liang Zhen said was true, but he too needed an excuse to save face and respond to his father. Now that his wife had blown his cover, he could only awkwardly shake his head, at a loss for a response. Experience new stories on empire

    "Bro, I think you should visit your director more often, or maybe give a little more in gifts. In today''s world, nothing gets done without gifts!" The younger brother, Xu Zhebo, who had been more active in business over the years, knew the importance of gift-giving in getting things done and thus spoke up.

    Xu Zheming fell silent upon hearing this.

    "Look at you, just look at you, what should I even say about him? He''s just got this lifeless attitude; marrying him is just asking for trouble!" Liang Zhen pointed at Xu Zheming and complained.

    "Alright, alright, big sister-in-law, don''t talk about big brother like that. Didn''t you marry him for that very temperament?" Xu Suying came out to mediate.

    "Well, I never expected he would be this honest, like giving gifts is as bad as killing him!" Liang Zhen retorted unapologetically.

    "Mom, just tone it down, I think it''s the same with public institutions," Xu Jirong finally couldn''t resist speaking up in defense of his father.

    "You father and son are cut from the same cloth! It''s so infuriating..." Liang Zhen pointed at the two and said angrily, but mid-sentence, her eyes suddenly lit up, and she quickly grabbed Xu Suying by the arm, pointing toward the entrance of the restaurant, "Suying, look, look, isn''t that Director Zuo and Xu Jingfang''s family? They''ve also come here to dine. This is a great opportunity; you must go and acknowledge your classmate."

    It turned out that Xu Jingfang was also returning to her parents'' home for a New Year visit today. Since Zuo Le is now a standing committee member of the county party and the Director of Public Security, his status is extraordinary. On the one hand, Xu Jingfang''s family felt it would be too shabby to invite them to eat at home, and on the other hand, they were motivated by vanity to show off their son-in-law, so they took their daughter, son-in-law, and the whole family to the Xu family restaurant.

    Xu Family Restaurant, though not a large hotel in Xiyuan Town, is clean and elegantly decorated, situated right at the center of the former Xu She Village. Generally, when people from Xu She Village have festivals or celebrations and host dinners, they prefer to come here.

    ps: The new book needs your support, whether it be favorites, clicks, recommendations, rewards, or comments, please leave them all! Thank you.

    S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 88 Ge Dongxu Loses His Temper [Seeking Recommendation Votes]

    "Elder sister, please don''t make it difficult for me, going to establish connections during the New Year, what if Xu Jingfang says she doesn''t know me? Wouldn''t that be embarrassing?" Xu Suying said with a troubled face."What''s there to be embarrassed about? After all, you were classmates once," Liang Zhen said.

    "But that was so many years ago, and besides, she is the wife of the county public security bureau director!" Xu Suying said.

    "It''s precisely because she is the wife of the county public security bureau director that you need to establish a connection," Liang Zhen said.

    "Enough, Liang Zhen, even if Xu Suying does establish a connection, Chief Zuo certainly won''t intervene on behalf of our family for Jirong," Xu Zheming said, finding himself unable to do anything but speak up as Liang Zhen pressured his sister. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Fine then, if Suying won''t go, you go yourself. After all, you''re from the same village," Liang Zhen said with a roll of her eyes.

    "That''s from who knows how many years ago; moreover, their family was from the front village, and our family was from the back village, a good distance away, so there was hardly any interaction," Xu Zheming said with a pained expression.

    "No matter what, when it comes to getting things done and finding connections, you always have an excuse. If you''re not going to go, then let''s just have dad go. He is an elder from the village; Xu Jingfang''s parents will definitely recognize him," Liang Zhen said angrily.

    "Enough, Liang Zhen, today I''ll give face to my uncle and cousin. I''ll go over to Chief Zuo now to greet him and see if my cousin''s issue can be resolved. If he can handle it, he will definitely help you. If he can''t, there''s no use in uncle asking either." Ge Dongxu, having seen his aunt repeatedly make things difficult for his uncle, even now dragging his grandfather into this situation, had no respect for his elders left. Added to this, the numerous times she had humiliated his own parents, he couldn''t stand it any longer and stood up to speak, even ditching the honorifics in addressing her out of frustration.

    "Suya, Shengming, is this how you teach your child? What kind of attitude is this? What attitude?" Liang Zhen, seeing Ge Dongxu address her by name, immediately pointed at Suya and Shengming with an iron-blue face and demanded.

    "You child, how can you speak to your aunt like that? Apologize to your aunt now!" Xu Suya and Ge Shengming, both startled by Ge Dongxu''s sudden display of assertiveness, quickly grabbed his hand and scolded.

    "Mom, Dad, I know exactly what I''m saying. Since she never truly sees us as family, why should I respect her? I''m going to see Chief Zuo today, but it''s only for the sake of my uncle and cousin; it has nothing to do with her," Ge Dongxu, who had always been a very obedient child and never lost his temper with anyone, confessed, but once he did get angry, he was unstoppable. That was the situation now.

    "You''re going to see Chief Zuo? Listen to this, listen! This young kid is actually saying he''s going to see Chief Zuo, and even claiming it''s for Zheming and Jirong''s sake? How ridiculous is that! Suya, Shengming, I think no matter how much education your son gets, he''ll still be a fool!" Liang Zhen, furious to the point of absurdity, scoffed disdainfully.

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    "Alright, alright, elder sister, Dongxu is just a kid, he was just talking big, are you really going to take him seriously?" The other two aunts, seeing Liang Zhen go as far as to call him a fool, quickly stepped forward to mediate.

    As for uncle Xu Zhewei, he had already left earlier to act as a greeter.

    "Fine, I''m the fool! After today''s incident with you, Liang Zhen, we will have nothing to do with each other," Ge Dongxu said forcefully as he pulled away from his parents and strode towards where Zuo Le and others had found seats in the hall, chatting and laughing.

    At that time, there were no private rooms in small places; everyone dined in the main hall.

    "This child, this child!" Although Xu Suya and Ge Shengming knew their son was not an ordinary teenager, seeing him actually go to find Chief Zuo still made them anxious enough to stamp their feet.

    In Huaxia Country, the common people always had a deep-seated belief that officials ranked higher than ordinary citizens. Xu Suya and Ge Shengming, both mere common folk, would normally regard even a police officer with great deference, let alone the county public security bureau director who oversaw the local police.

    To them, such an official was absolutely a high-ranking one!

    How could they not be frantic upon seeing their own son recklessly seeking out Director Zuo?

    "Look, look, this is all your great doing." Xu Zheming, seeing his nephew actually went to find Director Zuo, became so anxious that he pointed at Liang Zhen with trembling hands.

    "What about me? This is the brilliant son your sister raised! So foolish, I find it embarrassing!" Liang Zhen''s temper flared up at being blamed, immediately puffing out her chest and retorting.

    "You... I won''t talk to you." Xu Zheming, infuriated, finally stomped his foot violently, then shouted at Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, come over here to your uncle!"

    At this point, Xu Zheming obviously couldn''t afford to yell anymore. Should Ge Dongxu, in his scholarly indignation, really approach Director Zuo, the joke would truly be on them.

    "Dongxu?" Just having sat down, Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang jerked upright upon hearing Xu Zheming''s shout, quickly following the direction of the voice and, indeed, seeing a familiar young face. The couple immediately lit up with joy and hastily stood back up, striding towards Ge Dongxu.

    Watching Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang suddenly leave their seats to greet Ge Dongxu, Xu Zheming and the others were baffled and secretly cursed their luck.

    It was too late to stop them now!

    Just as Xu Zheming and the others were internally panicking, they witnessed a shocking scene. They saw the director stretching out his hands from afar before he even reached Ge Dongxu, appearing as if greeting a superior official coming to inspect the work.

    At this moment, Xu Zheming and the others widened their eyes. In the hall''s corridor at this moment were only Ge Dongxu and Director Zuo, with Zuo obviously reaching out his hands towards Ge Dongxu.

    Liang Zhen covered her mouth, her eyes bulging and her face suddenly flushing red.

    "Dongxu, what are you doing here too?" Zuo Le quickly took two steps forward, grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hands tightly, and asked excitedly.

    "This hotel is owned by my maternal uncle, and my maternal grandfather used to be from Xu Village." Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Ah, your grandfather was from Xu Village? Then we really are one family! Jingfang used to be from Xu Village too," Zuo Le said with a face full of surprise.

    "Right, where is your grandfather now? I might even know him!" Xu Jingfang stepped forward, equally surprised.

    "Over there." Ge Dongxu turned and pointed in the direction of his grandfather.

    "My eyesight isn''t so good, I think he looks somewhat familiar. Dongxu, you''ll have to lead me to greet the elderly, to pay my respects." Xu Jingfang, unable to see clearly from afar, told Ge Dongxu.

    "Sure, that works, my uncle also needs to ask Director Zuo for a little favor," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What favor? You''re being too formal, Dongxu. Besides, I heard from Lin Jinnuo that you call him ''Old Lin'' affectionately, and here you are being formal with me? Remember, I''m also a son-in-law of Xu Village, even closer to you. No, you must call me Elder Zuo, ''Director'' is too impersonal," Zuo Le laughed.

    Others might not know of Ge Dongxu''s miracles, but having experienced it firsthand, how could Zuo Le be unaware? This time, if it weren''t for Ge Dongxu, he would have not only missed out on a promotion but could have lost his life.

 Chapter 89 Seniority

    "Alright, but when you speak to my grandfather and the others later, be careful not to bring up the incident from that day. Just mention that I''ve helped you out a bit," Ge Dongxu said to Zuo Le, who nodded helplessly and then whispered in reply."I understand, I understand." Since Ge Dongxu had already given them instructions at the city hospital, both of them were clear on this, and they hurriedly nodded in agreement upon hearing his words.

    Seeing that they understood, Ge Dongxu didn''t harp on it anymore and led them toward Elder Zuo''s table.

    At this moment, Elder Zuo and the others had already stood up when they saw Ge Dongxu bringing Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang over. Liang Zhen stood up as well, but her face was flushed red, and she was constantly fidgeting with her clothes, clearly at a loss.

    She was, of course, filled with regret.

    A lifetime of opportunism, always trying to ingratiate herself with those of higher status, and to think that the person high above was actually a member of her own family, whom she had discarded like an old shoe!

    Is there anything more ironic or regretful in this world?

    "Elder Zuo, Jingfang, this is my grandfather, this is my grandmother!" Ge Dongxu introduced his grandparents to Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang first.

    Seeing a young man like Ge Dongxu calling the head of the county public security bureau ''Elder Zuo'' and directly addressing his wife by her name was enough to nearly give everyone else a heart attack.

    "Elders, we wish you a Happy New Year!" Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang quickly reached out to shake hands with the elders and respectfully kowtowed to wish them a Happy New Year, to which the two elders hurriedly responded, "You shouldn''t, you shouldn''t."

    "Elders, I am also from Xu Village, you look somewhat familiar, but I can''t recall exactly, and I don''t know how to address you?" After greeting the elders, Xu Jingfang specifically asked.

    "My name is Xu Guozhong, you may not recognize me, but I certainly recognize your grandfather; his name is Xu Guoli, correct?" Xu Guozhong replied with a smile.

    As Xu Guoli''s family had a grandson-in-law who was the head of the county public security bureau, they naturally rose in status and became well-known in Xu Village. Xu Guozhong, being of the same generation as Jingfang''s grandfather, naturally knew him.

    "Ah, then I should call you Grandpa. Grandpa Guozhong, Grandma, your granddaughter Jingfang wishes you a Happy New Year," Xu Jingfang exclaimed in surprise and then formally reiterated her New Year''s wishes to Xu Guozhong.

    "Grandpa Guozhong, Grandma, I, as a son-in-law of Xu Village, also wish you a Happy New Year," Zuo Le followed suit, calling them Grandpa and Grandma as well.

    Seeing Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang actually following the old customs and calling Xu Guozhong and his wife Grandpa and Grandma, Xu Zheming and the others were all dumbfounded.

    However, Ge Dongxu secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that this way, his own calling Zuo Le ''Elder Zuo'' wouldn''t pose any problems with seniority. Otherwise, if he called him Elder Zuo, it would be awkward for him on how to address his own parents.

    Yet, Xu Guozhong and his wife hurriedly said, "What era are we in now, no need to worry about seniority, no need to worry about seniority."

    "It''s proper, it''s the right thing to do," Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang replied in a hurry.

    Seeing Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang insisting, Xu Guozhong and his wife could not say anything more, just repeatedly praising them as good people, good officials.

    Their words were filled with the simplicity of ordinary folks.

    "This is my father, Ge Shengming, and this is my mother, Xu Suya." Ge Dongxu immediately introduced his parents to Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang.

    "Uncle and Auntie, happy new year to you." Seeing that the couple were Ge Dongxu''s parents, Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang naturally did not dare to neglect them and hurriedly shook hands and exchanged New Year''s greetings.

    "Oh no, we''re actually younger than you two when it comes down to it," Ge Shengming and Xu Suya said in embarrassed haste, their faces flushed.

    Xu Jingfang had been classmates with Xu Suying, so she was naturally a bit older than Xu Suya.

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    "Hehe, since Jingfang is from the same village as you, it''s only right to follow the old traditions and not mix up the seniority," Zuo Le said.

    "That won''t do either, my parents are older, so it''s not unreasonable for you to call them grandfather and grandmother, but we really can''t accept that. Let''s just call each other by names, let''s call each other by names!" Ge Shengming said. How could he dare to accept the title of uncle from the head of the county public security bureau?

    Xu Suya was the youngest, and Xu Suying was the second youngest, so although Xu Suya was only forty years old, their parents were already seventy-six.

    "Dongxu, what do you think about this..." Zuo Le and his wife said, looking at Ge Dongxu a bit awkwardly.

    "Let''s just call each other by names; names are meant to be used. If you really go by the old traditions, that would actually make my parents seem old!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Alright, then we''ll do as you say." In reality, Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang were not accustomed to calling Ge Shengming and his wife uncle and auntie, but on one hand, Ge Dongxu was their savior and quite an extraordinary person, and they were very grateful and respectful towards him, and it seemed like they were taking advantage of him if they were to treat his parents as equals; on the other hand, because Xu Jingfang was from the same village as Xu Suya, the generational seniority was there, which was why they addressed Ge Shengming and his wife as uncle and auntie.

    Seeing that Zuo Le and his wife even sought Ge Dongxu''s opinion on such a matter, and only dared to change the way they addressed his parents after he had spoken, the Xu family were all inwardly shocked and terrified, unsure of the exact relationship between Ge Dongxu and the Zuo couple and why Zuo Le, the head of the county public security bureau, was so respectful towards a young man.

    Of course, the one with the most complicated feelings at the time had to be Liang Zhen, who regretted her actions so much she almost wished to smash her head against a wall.

    After introducing his parents, Ge Dongxu then introduced his three uncles and two aunts to Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang, deliberately omitting Liang Zhen.

    This left Liang Zhen mortified, but she knew it was a situation of her own making and had nowhere to vent her anger. Naturally, even the head of the county public security bureau respected Ge Dongxu so highly that she, with her mercenary nature, would absolutely not dare to lose her temper at him. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After the introduction, Xu Jingfang''s relatives, also curious, came over.

    Xu Jingfang''s parents were quite old, senior villagers of Xu village, and did recognize Xu Guozhong and his wife. In the past, because they had a son-in-law who was the head of the county public security bureau, they held themselves in high regard in the village, but seeing their daughter and son-in-law addressing them so respectfully as grandfather and grandmother, they naturally could not keep up any pretense and pleasantly caught up with old times.

    As they were all from the same village, this catching up fostered deeper emotional connections, so that in the end, at Zuo Le''s suggestion, the two families simply decided to dine together at the New Year banquet.

    Given Zuo Le''s prestigious status, he should have sat at the same table as the elders, including Xu Guoli, and also take the seat of honor, while the younger generation and the women would have separate tables. Being part of the younger generation, Ge Dongxu would naturally sit with his cousins and his aunts. But with Ge Dongxu and his elders there, Zuo Le did not feel it was his place to take the seat of honor and insisted on arranging the seating according to the village''s seniority. Eventually, Xu Zhebo, who did business outside, had the foresight to recognize that the key lay with Ge Dongxu.

    Therefore, he suggested that Ge Dongxu be seated at the main table, not with his cousins, and arranged for him to sit next to Zuo Le, who then accepted the arrangement.

    PS: Three chapters completed today, please continue to support me, thank you.

 Chapter 90 Apology [Seeking Recommendation Votes]

    During the banquet, everyone naturally wondered how Zuo Le had come to know Ge Dongxu. Zuo Le explained lightly, mentioning only that Ge Dongxu had helped him before but didn''t specify the nature of the help.Zuo Le, being the head of the county public security bureau, didn''t elaborate, and even his father-in-law didn''t press him, thinking he could only ask his daughter privately later. The Xu Family, along with Ge Shengming, harbored the same idea, planning to ask Ge Dongxu after the banquet.

    Thus, no one brought up the matter again during the banquet, which secretly relieved Ge Dongxu.

    Through the course of the meal, except for the uncle''s family who felt particularly conflicted, especially Liang Zhen, everyone else was quite happy.

    With Ge Dongxu''s connection, Aunt Xu Suying and Xu Jingfang rekindled their old classmates'' relationship and even reminisced about some childhood incidents.

    Zuo Le, having worked his way up to head of the county public security bureau, acted with caution. Seeing that there were many people around, he didn''t bring up the matter Ge Dongxu had mentioned earlier until everyone had finished and Zuo Le had found an opportunity to pull him aside and asked, "By the way, you mentioned earlier that your uncle needed to see me. What''s the matter?"

    "It''s about my older cousin. He''s transitioning from military service this year, and he''s very well-qualified. I heard he even received commendations in the military," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Ah, that matter. No problem. What kind of organization does your cousin wish to join?" Zuo Le asked, feeling relieved upon hearing this. At his Level, relatives and friends often asked him for favors. While he could refuse others, he definitely found it hard to refuse Ge Dongxu. He had been genuinely worried that Ge Dongxu might pose a difficult request. Now, knowing it was a straightforward enlistment made him worry less.

    The local government naturally has the duty to arrange for military personnel transitioning to civilian careers, and since Ge Dongxu''s cousin had also been commended in the military, he would be given priority. Such matters are challenging for minor officials, but for an officer of Zuo Le''s level, it was merely a matter of facilitating the process; it was hardly a hassle at all.

    "Are you sure it''s no problem? My cousin wants to join a government agency. Don''t feel obliged on my account. If it can be done, do it; if not, he could also work in a public institution," Ge Dongxu stated upon hearing this.

    "Handling the placement of military personnel transitioning to civilian roles is a basic government duty. Besides, your cousin has commendations, so joining a government agency is not a problem at all. If he wants to join the public security bureau, I can make that decision right now. However, if he wants to go elsewhere, I will still need to make some inquiries, but it''s all manageable," Zuo Le replied with ease.

    "I think I''ll call my cousin and my uncle over so he can talk to you directly about his situation. You can then ask him personally and decide," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That works too," Zuo Le replied, appreciating Ge Dongxu''s thoughtful and thorough approach to matters.

    Although Zuo Le was grateful to Ge Dongxu for saving his life and respected his extraordinary abilities, he would have found it troublesome if Ge Dongxu had continually approached him without adhering to principles.

    Now, it seemed that despite his young age, Ge Dongxu handled matters methodically and was not like some who didn''t understand the importance of restraint.

    So, Ge Dongxu then called over Xu Zheming and Xu Jirong. As for Liang Zhen, Ge Dongxu naturally did not call her.

    However, Liang Zhen shamelessly followed along. Seeing Liang Zhen join them, Ge Dongxu didn''t say anything. Even though he was reluctant to acknowledge her as his aunt, he could not change the fact of their familial relationship.

    To have reached the positions of a standing committee member of the county committee and the director of the county public security bureau, Zuo Le naturally had a high EQ. Seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t seem to like his big aunt, he did not go out of his way to greet her, but instead politely greeted Xu Zheming and then kindly inquired about some situations regarding Xu Jirong.

    Xu Jirong''s credentials were indeed impressive, and even Zuo Le had a moment of appreciation for his talents as he smiled and said, "In that case, personally, I would like you to come to the Public Security Bureau. If you''re willing, after the New Year, I will have the personnel bureau transfer your file to the county Public Security Bureau. However, if you wish to go to other departments, like the county committee, the procuratorial organs, or the tax bureau, you will have to wait until after the New Year. I need to speak with the leaders of these departments and confirm before you can go. Of course, with your credentials, there shouldn''t really be any issues."

    "This young man has always wanted to be a police officer since he was young. He chose to join the military because he didn''t get accepted into the police academy. It would be best if he could go to the Public Security Bureau," Liang Zhen interjected before Xu Zheming and Xu Jirong could express their thoughts, hurriedly replying on their behalf. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Liang Zhen, being such a pragmatic person, was well aware of the advantage having Ge Dongxu as a connection could bring. She knew her son would definitely be able to advance steadily in his career at the county Public Security Bureau with just a little effort, as it had always been a powerful department in Huaxia Country. Many people were desperate to get in and could not. Even without the connections of Ge Dongxu and Zuo Le, it was one of the departments Liang Zhen most wanted her son to join.

    "What do you think, Jirong?" Zuo Le, ignoring Liang Zhen''s opinion, smiled and asked Xu Jirong.

    "Thank you, Director Zuo, I really want to join the Public Security Bureau," Xu Jirong said excitedly.

    "Since that''s the case, after government departments officially resume work on the seventh day of the first lunar month, come to the director''s office at the county Public Security Bureau to find me," Zuo Le said. Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

    "Thank you, Director Zuo, thank you, Director Zuo," the Xu family, including Xu Zheming, expressed their thanks excitedly.

    "No need to thank me. Jirong is Dongxu''s cousin and so outstanding, I would definitely help," Zuo Le smiled and said.

    Zuo Le''s words made Xu Zheming and his family feel somewhat uneasy, especially Liang Zhen, whose face turned bright red. She looked at Ge Dongxu, wanting to speak but not knowing how to start.

    Seeing that Xu Zheming and his family seemed to have something to say to Ge Dongxu, Zuo Le smiled, greeted Ge Dongxu, mentioned meeting again after the New Year, and then took his leave.

    After Zuo Le and others had left, the restaurant was left with only the Xu family and their two sons-in-law''s families.

    The atmosphere, which no one could tell when it had started, suddenly became subtle.

    Ge Dongxu still chose to ignore Liang Zhen, but after hesitating for a long time, Liang Zhen, with a red face, walked up to Ge Dongxu and said, "Dongxu, it was all my fault in the past, can you forgive your aunt?''

    "To tell the truth, as a junior, whatever you scold me or say about me, I can endure it. But you shouldn''t repeatedly bully my parents or fail to show respect for my grandfather and big uncle in front of so many people. Also, aunt, it would be good if you could temper your temper a bit, otherwise, sooner or later, it''s going to hurt you." Although they were family, the harsh words Ge Dongxu had just said were spur of the moment due to anger. Besides, Liang Zhen was ultimately his aunt. Considering the respect for their familial relationship, now seeing Liang Zhen admitting her faults, he felt he could not continue to ignore her, and again addressed her as aunt.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu addressing Liang Zhen as aunt again, for some reason, everyone felt a great sense of relief, almost as if the anger of this junior, Ge Dongxu, made the older generations feel somewhat scared.

    ps: Will continue with updates in the morning, afternoon, and evening. Please continue to support, and many thanks.

 Chapter 91 Visiting

    "Yes, yes, you''re right. I really should have kept my mouth shut, and from now on, I definitely won''t act that way anymore." Liang Zhen truly experienced today the consequences her snobbish attitude had brought upon herself. Fortunately, Ge Dongxu ultimately spoke up for her son on account of her husband and son''s sakes, otherwise, her son''s future would have been ruined because of her big mouth, which is why Liang Zhen kept nodding and admitting her faults as soon as she heard what was said.Afterward, Liang Zhen specifically offered Xu Suya and Ge Shengming a formal apology, which took Xu Suya and Ge Shengming somewhat aback as they were not used to such manners, but deep down they felt quite gratified.

    After apologizing to Xu Suya and Ge Shengming, Liang Zhen also made a point of pouring a cup of tea for Ge Dongxu''s paternal grandparents with great respect.

    There was no choice, with someone as influential as Ge Dongxu around, Liang Zhen was well aware that if she dared to show disrespect to the elderly couple, her family could forget about asking him for favors in the future.

    Thanks to Liang Zhen''s sincere attitude in admitting her mistake, the family quickly resumed their jolly atmosphere, chatting and laughing together.

    Find adventures at empire

    During this time, the elders couldn''t help but inquire curiously about how Ge Dongxu came to know Zuo Le.

    "Actually, there''s nothing much to it. I just lent Zuo Le a hand by chance one time," Ge Dongxu scratched his head, seeming rather embarrassed as he replied.

    The aunts were all the type who couldn''t keep their mouths shut, and since he was a younger family member and also relatively young, even if he warned them not to go around spreading rumors, there was no guarantee they could contain themselves. So, he simply stuck with his original, vague and general answer.

    Times had changed, and Ge Dongxu''s standing in the Xu Family was now quite exceptional. Seeing that he genuinely didn''t wish to discuss it, and considering that the matter also involved Chief Zuo, they were also worried that there might be some secret that was inconvenient to disclose. Therefore, no one pressed further, except for Ge Shengming and his wife, who glared at their son sternly in private, their intentions clear as day. You''re still keeping secrets from us? Just wait, we''ll deal with you once we get home.

    Thus, the matter ended up being pushed aside, which greatly relieved Ge Dongxu. As for his parents, he knew he couldn''t keep it hidden from them. If they asked him about it when they got home, he would certainly have to come clean.

    However, contrary to Ge Dongxu''s expectations, upon returning home, his parents didn''t mention a word about Zuo Le, which made Ge Dongxu feel rather awkward. Finally, before dinner, he took the initiative to say, "Dad, Mom, why didn''t you ask me about Zuo Le''s matter?"

    "My son has grown up; he should have his own secrets. As long as we know you wouldn''t do anything bad, that''s enough," Xu Suya said while patting Ge Dongxu''s head.

    "Heh, I''m your son, what secrets could I possibly have? I was mainly concerned about the aunts'' gossiping, hence the lack of details. But there are no secrets between us. Anything I can say to them, I can say to you." Ge Dongxu laughed and then briefly mentioned Zuo Le''s situation, of course skimming over many details and presenting it lightly, to prevent alarming his parents. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After all, his parents were just ordinary folks.

    "You did the right thing. Although your master instructed you to keep a low profile and not draw attention, good officials like Chief Zuo, who are unnoticed, may be passed by, but since we''re aware of him, we must lend a helping hand when needed. And the fact that you didn''t make a fuss afterwards puts our minds at ease. In the future, as long as you''re confident in your actions, your parents won''t pry, and you don''t have to explain things to us specially," Ge Shengming and his wife said with heartfelt approval, finally fully realizing that their son had grown up, was stable and calm like an adult, and no longer needed their concern.

    "Thank you, I feel truly blessed to have both of you!" Ge Dongxu said, deeply moved by his parents'' understanding and support.

    "You silly boy!" Xu Suya said with teary eyes as she stroked Ge Dongxu''s head, while Ge Shengming stealthily turned his face away and pinched his nose.

    ...

    Time spent with parents at home passed quickly, and soon it was already the tenth day of the first lunar month.

    On this day, the eldest uncle''s family brought some gifts and made a special trip to their house. The aunt had even bought Xu Suya a jade bracelet, which was something unimaginable in previous years.

    This year, the aunt''s unusual behavior indeed made the Ge Shengming couple feel unexpectedly honored.

    Besides bringing gifts, Liang Zhen also busied herself helping Xu Suya in the kitchen, and no matter how much Xu Suya tried to dissuade her, she wouldn''t leave.

    Of course, there are few acts of love without reason, and few instances of enthusiasm without cause. Liang Zhen''s warmth came naturally because she pinned her hopes on Ge Dongxu, considering her son had entered the Public Security Bureau. She also knew that Zuo Le''s respectful attitude towards Dongxu meant that a word from Dongxu might weigh more than a hundred acts by her son. Not only her son, but including herself and Xu Zheming, could be within the influence of Zuo Le, a standing committee member of the county party committee. If she could build a good relationship with Dongxu, it would naturally be convenient to ask for his help in the future.

    Especially since Xu Zheming was a long-time employee of the Transportation Bureau, having worked hard and honestly for most of his life, and was still just an ordinary employee, Liang Zhen naturally felt a bit discontented. Now that she had such an exceptional nephew, of course she wanted to cultivate a good relationship.

    "Dongxu, speaking of it, I really feel ashamed as your eldest uncle! All these years, I''ve been suppressed by your aunt. Now, thanks to your blessing, I''ve finally become my own master," said Xu Zheming as he watched Liang Zhen and Xu Suya bustling about the kitchen, and he looked at Ge Dongxu with deep emotion.

    "Eldest uncle is just being considerate of family harmony and doesn''t want to argue with the aunt; otherwise, how could she have the upper hand over you?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Haha, that''s right, that''s right. You, my boy, have the gift of gab!" The eldest uncle beamed at Ge Dongxu''s words, feeling his backbone straighten quite a bit.

    "It''s not that I have the gift of gab, it''s just the truth. You are my uncle, and how could I not understand your nature? You are just being accommodating!" Ge Dongxu said with a chuckle, complimenting him again.

    "Haha, alright, alright, no need to flatter your uncle anymore. If you keep it up, I''m going to blush. Actually, sometimes your aunt is right too. I''m just like this; sometimes I can''t even muster a fart for half a day. Like giving gifts to our bureau chief, I''m really not cut out for that sort of thing," Xu Zheming said.

    "Life is very short, uncle, don''t force yourself too much. If you think something is right, go for it. If you think it''s wrong, at your age, why bother changing your principles of life and live with regrets?" Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    Upon hearing this, Xu Zheming looked at Ge Dongxu, stunned, then gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder and said nothing.

    On that day, Xu Zheming''s mood was exceptionally good, and he drank quite a bit of alcohol. It was unclear whether it was because his son had found a good job or because of Ge Dongxu''s earlier words that made him feel like he had found a kindred spirit, or perhaps it was both.

    PS: If you have time, don''t forget to leave a comment to show your support, comments can also gather popularity, thank you.

 Chapter 92 Preparing to Rebuild the House

    School resumed after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, so a few days after the visit from his uncle''s family, Ge Dongxu packed his things and returned to the county town.Because he had an extra income of seventy-five thousand at the end of last year, not only did Ge Dongxu''s bank account not decrease after buying those four houses, but it actually increased by more than fifty thousand. Therefore, before returning to the county town, Ge Dongxu insisted on leaving twenty thousand for his parents so they could spend more freely.

    Originally, before purchasing the four houses, Ge Dongxu had one hundred and twenty thousand in his bank account. Then, including the house payment and various fees, he spent about twenty thousand. After earning seventy-five thousand at the end of the year and leaving behind twenty thousand, his account balance was around one hundred and fifty-five thousand. As for the factory rent, it was payable annually and was not a significant amount, so Ge Dongxu let the factory keep it to pay him later.

    Even though there were one hundred and fifty thousand in the bank, Ge Dongxu wanted to demolish the four dilapidated houses and rebuild them as soon as possible. But remembering that the crack in the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade was becoming more obvious and its effect not as good as before, he estimated it would break down within a month at most. Now with only fifty-four jade tokens left, although he had improved his cultivation power and his proficiency in talisman drawing, the chance of successfully crafting a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade with fifty-four jade tokens was still very slim. Therefore, he didn''t dare to touch the one hundred and fifty thousand for the time being, and the four dilapidated houses had to remain as they were.

    For the first few days of school, Ge Dongxu did not meet Dong Yuxin on his way to school, which puzzled him. So he took the opportunity during the class break to go upstairs and look for her.

    He found out that Dong Yuxin had moved at the beginning of the year to a house closer to school. This fact made Ge Dongxu feel a bit dejected. Not because Dong Yuxin moved away and that it would be hard to commute with her, but because it had been several days, and she hadn''t mentioned it to him until he asked about it.

    Perhaps it was because senior year and college entrance exam preparation were so intense. Ge Dongxu made excuses for Dong Yuxin in his heart, but no matter what, he couldn''t help feeling somewhat disheartened.

    However, the mood of young people changes quickly, and especially for a cultivator like Ge Dongxu, his disposition was naturally broad-minded. He quickly put aside this disheartening matter and focused on his studies and cultivation. As for the Yaxu Trademark Factory, there was no need for him, a shareholder, to worry. He simply had to sit back and collect the money. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In this way, more than half a month of school quickly passed.

    The cracks in the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade became more apparent, and its effectiveness worsened. Knowing the talisman jade wouldn''t last much longer, Ge Dongxu had no choice but to take the jade tokens and begin the extravagant effort of crafting a new Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade all over again.

    Because his cultivation power and skill in talisman drawing had improved during this period, he could craft six talisman jades per day instead of the previous five. Of course, this also meant he was spending more money daily than before.

    Today was the ninth day that Ge Dongxu had been crafting the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, which meant he only had the last six jade tokens left.

    After today, he would have to go to the Provincial Capital to purchase more jade tokens.

    Thinking that after today''s failure, he would have to buy more jade tokens, leaving his pockets empty, Ge Dongxu felt a twinge of pain in his heart.

    These days, money comes quickly and goes just as quickly!

    One, two, three, four; when he reached the fifth one, Ge Dongxu actually succeeded.

    This time, he had managed to craft a Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade with only fifty-three jade tokens.

    "Haha!" In the dead of night, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but crack a happy smile. If he were to calculate based on the success rate of the last time, this time he had saved a whopping one hundred and sixty to seventy thousand!

    Of course, Ge Dongxu knew that the high success rate this time was not only due to his improved cultivation power and proficiency in Talisman Drawing, but also due to a great deal of luck, so it would be hard to say for the next time.

    Nonetheless, this success had saved him a lot of money, and with it, he no longer had to worry about the Jade Talisman matter for at least the next two or three months. As a result, his funds had become much more flexible.

    "It seems that this weekend, I can ask Uncle Cheng to help me check out those four old houses to see if he can find a reliable construction team to help me tear down and rebuild the old houses." With some extra cash on hand, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but think about those old homes again.

    Ge Dongxu still wanted to move out and live alone as soon as possible, partly because of his cultivation, and partly because living with others always involved some discomfort.

    So, this weekend, Ge Dongxu didn''t go back to Ge Family Village. On one hand, he wanted to ask Cheng Yazhou for help with the house matter, and on the other hand, Zuo Le and Lin Jinnuo had asked Yue Ting to reach out to Ge Dongxu to invite him for dinner on Saturday evening, to express their thanks in person.

    Last year, close to the end-of-term exams and busy with studying, Ge Dongxu declined the invitation, but this time it would not be good to do so again, so he agreed.

    "Uncle Cheng, you seem to have been a bit off these past couple of days, not looking so well. Are you feeling unwell somewhere?" On the way to look at the houses with Cheng Yazhou, Ge Dongxu noticed that Cheng Yazhou seemed preoccupied and rather haggard, so he couldn''t help asking with concern. Enjoy new adventures from empire

    "No, I''m fine, perhaps I''ve just been tired from chasing after TV series these past few days," Cheng Yazhou replied hesitantly.

    "Then Uncle Cheng should be careful, staying up late is very harmful to one''s health," Ge Dongxu said, taking his words at face value, and then kindly reminded him.

    "Yeah, I know," Cheng Yazhou nodded, then shifted the topic to the houses and asked, "Dongxu, are you really planning to spend the money to tear down those four rooms and rebuild them?"

    "Yes, the environment here is good, with mountains in the distance and water nearby. If those four rooms were demolished, and if a two-story western-style villa of roughly two to three hundred square meters, surrounded by a garden and enclosed with walls, were built in their place, I think living here would be quite comfortable," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "It seems I can''t keep up with the ideas of your young people. However, demolishing and building a house involves a lot of procedures, and finding a trustworthy construction team is also an issue; it can''t be rushed. Of course, the cost will surely be substantial; you should be mentally prepared," said Cheng Yazhou, who knew that Ge Dongxu always had his own strong opinions and didn''t try to persuade him further this time.

    "I''m aware of that, but being too young, I don''t understand these matters, and since I''m still studying, it''s not convenient for me to deal with these things. I''ll still need to trouble Uncle Cheng to handle this for me," Ge Dongxu stated.

    "That''s no problem, even if you hadn''t mentioned it, I would definitely have stepped in to help you. As for the specific costs, I don''t know at the moment; we''d need to ask a construction team to find out. But if we want something decent, a price of three to four hundred per square meter is probably to be expected; add on the costs of decoration and the garden, it''s probably going to be around one hundred and eighty to ninety thousand," Cheng Yazhou nodded, then gave a rather uncertain estimate.

    In the countryside, building a house didn''t cost much money. If people knew that it cost one hundred and eighty to ninety thousand to build a house in the countryside, they would certainly believe it was an act of a spendthrift madman. But Cheng Yazhou was aware of Ge Dongxu''s temperament, so naturally, he estimated it according to a high standard.

    ps: Today''s update is complete, thank you. QQ Book City and other platforms are still on the new book lists, but on Qidian platform, because we''ve hit two hundred thousand words, it was automatically withdrawn from the new book list. Since the book was first published on Genesis, Qidian side almost had no recommendation before going live, and from now on, it can only rely on Qidian readers to vote and click a lot for more visibility opportunities.

 Chapter 93 Dinner Party

    Ge Dongxu now had one hundred and fifty thousand in his account, and he was certain that the factory would also yield profits in the next two months. After some consideration, he felt that such an investment was not significant, at least not when compared to buying jade¡ªit was practically nothing.So, without any hesitation, Ge Dongxu nodded and said, "Mm, since we''re building, we naturally need to pay attention to some details. If Uncle Cheng finds a suitable construction team, I''ll need to go over the layout with him in detail."

    Ge Dongxu understood Feng Shui, and he naturally wanted to arrange a good Feng Shui setup for his own house.

    "Compared to you, I''ve realized I''ve completely turned into a poor man and a miser!" Seeing that the young man Ge Dongxu didn''t even frown when he mentioned eighteen or nineteen thousand, Cheng Yazhou couldn''t help but say with a wry smile.

    "Hehe, I''m still young with few worries. Unlike you, uncle, who has to consider Lehao''s future. Naturally, you can''t spend money as liberally as I do," said Ge Dongxu with a laugh.

    "Ah, if that kid Lehao could have half your ability, I''d wake up laughing from my sleep, and I wouldn''t need to worry about this and that," Cheng Yazhou said, shaking his head and sighing.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu gave an embarrassed smile and then the two of them walked around the four dilapidated rooms. Ge Dongxu roughly gestured his ideas, such as where the villa should be built, what trees to plant around it, where to dig a pond, create a rockery, and so on.

    In fact, the true essence of Feng Shui is not the superstition that people imagine. On the contrary, genuine Feng Shui creates an environment where humans can coexist harmoniously with nature, allowing one to feel comfortable in body and mind at all times. Otherwise, it''s just fake Feng Shui.

    This is actually quite easy to understand. For instance, in Huaxia Country, the houses are generally positioned to face south with their backs to the north, a Feng Shui pattern that has been formed and passed down over thousands of years.

    Because Huaxia Country is located in the northern hemisphere on the eastern part of the Eurasian continent, with most of its land area north of the Tropic of Cancer, sunlight streams in from the south all year round, providing warmth.

    If houses were built facing east to west instead, it would probably be uncomfortable. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As someone who truly understood Feng Shui, Ge Dongxu''s layout ideas naturally conformed very well to the rules of nature. Therefore, with his simple strokes and gestures, even though Cheng Yazhou did not understand Feng Shui, he felt that if the layout were arranged according to Ge Dongxu''s ideas, the result would not only look beautiful but would also surely be very comfortable to live in.

    "I really don''t know how a young person like you thinks. It seems that if I ever build a house one day, I must consult you," Cheng Yazhou said with admiration after listening to Ge Dongxu''s description, the more he thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.

    "No problem," Ge Dongxu laughed. They were all friends, and in this matter, Ge Dongxu genuinely wanted to help Cheng Yazhou, so he wouldn''t be falsely modest anymore.

    "Haha, you sure are confident in yourself," Cheng Yazhou laughed.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu touched his nose and chuckled.

    After walking around the four dilapidated rooms, Cheng Yazhou had a rough idea in mind and said, "I have an approximate idea now. On Monday, I''ll first ask Director Jiang about the process and procedures for rebuilding the house, and then look for a construction team."

    "Okay, I''m not in a hurry with this matter. Uncle Cheng, don''t tire yourself out for my sake. Just help me handle it when you have the time," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Sure, don''t worry, I have it in mind. Besides, didn''t you give me a prescription for conditioning my body? I''ve been taking it lately and it''s been working great; even my white hairs seem to have reduced a bit," Cheng Yazhou nodded and said.

    "That''s good to hear," Ge Dongxu nodded. Then the two of them headed back home. On the way, when they passed by Yaxu Trademark Factory, Ge Dongxu saw that the factory gate was closed. He didn''t think much of it, assuming that the workers were off on Saturday.

    Ge Dongxu, with his limited social experience, had no idea that in a small place like theirs, aside from government agencies and state-owned enterprises, which privately-owned factory workers could enjoy two days off every week? It was good enough to have a job to earn some money.

    Moreover, since the beginning of the year, Yaxu Trademark Factory had been swamped with business, working overtime was still not enough, how could they possibly close for rest on Saturday?

    After returning to Cheng Yazhou''s home, Dongxu spent his time in deep thought, drawing talismans, studying, and doing homework. Evening approached in the blink of an eye, and remembering Zuo Le and Lin Jinnuo''s invitation, Ge Dongxu had to put away his books, went downstairs to say hello to Cheng Lehao, and then left for Changxi Grand Hotel.

    Zuo Le and Lin Jinnuo together had invited Ge Dongxu to dinner, and naturally, the venue was the Changxi Grand Hotel.

    Upon arriving at Changxi Grand Hotel, Yue Ting and Lin Kun were already standing at the hotel entrance waiting for him. Seeing Ge Dongxu coming, they hurried to greet him in a low voice, "Brother Xu, you''re here. My dad and the others are worried about attracting attention, so they didn''t come out."

    "That''s better. Otherwise, others might treat me like a panda," said Ge Dongxu quietly.

    Changxi Grand Hotel was actually a double-winged building; the right wing had twelve floors and was the tallest building in Changxi County at the time. The left wing, on the other hand, was only three stories tall, housing the hotel''s restaurants and large conference rooms.

    Because people back then were fascinated by tall buildings, when they saw Changxi Grand Hotel, they first thought of the twelve-story right wing and neglected the left wing.

    The most upscale restaurant private rooms of the hotel were located in the semi-circular section on the third floor of the left wing. Sitting inside, one could gaze across the street scenes through large curved floor-to-ceiling windows.

    Accompanied by Lin Kun and Yue Ting, Ge Dongxu entered what was considered the most upscale private room at that time.

    In the private room, not only were Zuo Le and his wife present, but so were the CEO of Dayu Group and his wife, Yue Feng and Yue Ting''s parents. Lin Jinnuo, the host, was needless to say there as well, but Ge Dongxu did not see Lin Jinnuo''s wife.

    "Dongxu is here, please take the main seat," said Zuo Le and the others, rising to greet him as Ge Dongxu entered.

    "No, no, I''ll just sit with Lin Kun and the others," said Ge Dongxu, seeing Zuo Le and the others trying to lead him to the main seat facing the door of the private room.

    "How could that be? You are the star today, and you must sit in the main seat," Zuo Le and the others disagreed.

    Unable to resist them, the young Ge Dongxu ended up sitting in the main seat accompanied by the leaders of Changxi County''s top enterprises, the restaurant industry big shot, and even the county police chief, making the two beautiful waitresses in slit qipaos standing to the side almost weak at the knees, nearly collapsing on the floor.

    These two attractive women were dedicated servers for the hotel''s most upscale private rooms and were no strangers to seeing big shots from Changxi County''s political and business circles. However, they had never seen such a young person of such high status before.

    Once the guest of honor had arrived, Lin Jinnuo asked the servers to notify the kitchen to serve the dishes and privately warned them, once out, not to gossip, or else they would not be able to continue working there.

    The servers, chosen by Lin Jinnuo to serve the guests of Changxi Grand Hotel, were not only picked for their beauty and figures but also because they were quite sharp and smart. In fact, even without Lin Jinnuo''s words, they knew that today''s event was not something to be shared casually. Now that Lin Jinnuo had specifically warned them, they were even more mindful.

    ps: Asking for all kinds of support, thank you.

 Chapter 94 Daughters Red

    "Dongxu, are you going to drink a beverage or have some alcohol?" After instructing the waiter to notify the kitchen to serve the hot dishes, Lin Jinnuo asked Ge Dongxu again.If Ge Dongxu had been an ordinary person, Lin Jinnuo wouldn''t have bothered asking and would have just served a beverage, but Ge Dongxu was rather special, so Lin Jinnuo made a point of inquiring.

    "Let''s have some Huadiao Wine, it''s more nourishing," Ge Dongxu said after thinking it over.

    He had developed a bit of a taste for alcohol during his time with Ren Yao.

    "Okay, it just so happens that I''ve got a jar of twenty-year-old Huadiao stored away. Lin Kun, go get it," Lin Jinnuo said promptly to Lin Kun upon hearing that Ge Dongxu wanted to drink Huadiao Wine.

    Huadiao Wine and Huadiao actually both refer to Huangjiu. In Jiangnan Province, there''s a custom where when a girl is born, the family will brew some wine, then bury it, to be opened and drunk when the girl gets married¡ªit''s called Huadiao, usually aged sixteen to eighteen years. The term Huadiao has been used when a girl passed away before reaching marriageable age and thus the wine was opened earlier. Nowadays, the distinction doesn''t really hold, and Huadiao more commonly refers to a type of brand of Huangjiu from Jiangnan Province.

    "Dongxu, today Zuo Le and I can thank our lucky stars because of you. We''ve been salivating over Boss Lin''s jar of twenty-year-old Huadiao for a long time, but he''s always been too stingy to share it. Today, because of your visit, he''s finally being generous," Yue Feng said with a sparkle in his eyes and a laugh.

    These days in the Huangjiu market, there''s a lot of talk about ten-year, twenty-year, or even fifty-year aged wines, but most of it is just for show. True decades-old Huangjiu is very rare and expensive, and ordinary people seldom get to taste the real deal. The decade-old Huadiao that Ge Dongxu poured for his master was not genuinely decade-aged¡ªit was most likely produced through special processes to approximate the taste of a true decade-aged wine.

    "Then I really have to thank Old Lin. Pour me a small bottle later; I''ll take it home with me," Ge Dongxu''s eyes also lit up as he said this.

    His request for a small bottle wasn''t for himself but was meant to be taken to his deceased master.

    "Heh, since Dongxu likes Huangjiu so much, why don''t you just take the jar of Huadiao home to enjoy at your leisure. We big lugs wouldn''t appreciate its flavor anyway; it''d be a waste of good wine," Lin Jinnuo remarked.

    "No need, no need, good wine is best shared with everyone¡ªthat''s what gives it flavor. I want a small bottle for a different purpose, not because I intend to drink more," Ge Dongxu hurriedly replied.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu had another use for the small bottle, Lin Jinnuo didn''t insist on being formal with him anymore.

    It didn''t take long for Lin Kun to bring over a wine jar that clearly looked quite old.

    Zuo Le, who obviously enjoyed good alcohol, couldn''t wait to open the jar as soon as Lin Kun brought it over, and immediately a fragrant aroma wafted out.

    The glasses had been prepared in advance by the waitstaff, and then Zuo Le, the Standing Committee member of the county committee and head of the county public security bureau, personally poured wine into each one.

    Originally the jar had contained ten jin of wine, but after twenty years, only about a third remained. The wine that was poured out had an amber color and was thick, resembling honey more than wine.

    Because there wasn''t a lot of wine, Zuo Le, the bureau head, seemed rather stingy, filling only Ge Dongxu''s and host Lin Jinnuo''s glasses. Everyone else got only half a glass, especially Lin Kun and Yue Ting, who received just under half a glass each, making them mock Zuo Le''s miserliness.

    "You two don''t know the first thing about wine. It''s already pretty good that I gave you a little to try. Complain anymore, and I might just cancel your share altogether," laughed Zuo Le.

    Hearing this, Lin Kun and Yue Ting quickly guarded their wine glasses as if afraid they would actually be confiscated, eliciting laughter from everyone present.

    "Come, Dongxu, I''d like to propose a toast to you, to thank you for saving my life and for guiding my son," Lin Jinnuo, the host, said as he lifted his glass, and after finishing his words, he tilted his head back and downed it all in one go.

    ```

    Ge Dongxu had no choice but to finish his drink as well. When he brought the wine to his nose, there was a unique and fragrant aroma. Before he had time to savor it properly, it smoothly slid down his throat, feeling quite marvelous.

    Zuo Le saw Ge Dongxu finish his drink, so he picked up the container to pour him another.

    "Just a little, just a little. A full cup like that is too wasteful," Ge Dongxu said hastily to Zuo Le. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Thus, Zuo Le only poured him half a cup, then lifted his own glass and said, "Dongxu, today Jingfang and I want to thank you with Old Lin''s wine for saving my life. Without you, there would be no Zuo Le today."

    With that, the couple drained their glasses.

    "You''re too kind, too kind," Ge Dongxu hurriedly responded modestly and then followed by draining his glass as well.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu drink another half cup, Lin Jinnuo and others, worried he might not be able to handle it, promptly urged him to eat some dishes.

    After eating for a while and seeing that Ge Dongxu was perfectly fine, Yue Feng and his wife also toasted Ge Dongxu, thanking him for saving their brother and for teaching their daughter.

    It turned out that since the incident with Chen Zihao, Yue Ting had become much more sensible and began to help her father with many things in the business. At first, Yue Feng and his wife were puzzled until last year''s incident with Zuo Le, and they, like Lin Jinnuo, only learned after asking that their daughter''s change was related to Ge Dongxu''s guidance, their gratitude for Ge Dongxu naturally deepened.

    After drinking a glass with Yue Feng and his wife, Lin Kun and Yue Ting also respectfully toasted Ge Dongxu, after which things became much more casual.

    Everyone was laughing and chatting, glasses clinking, and before long, they had emptied a whole container of wine. Fortunately, Zuo Le had thoughtfully set aside a bottle earlier, otherwise, there would have been nothing left.

    Because Ge Dongxu liked to drink yellow wine, and seeing that a container had been emptied, Lin Jinnuo called for two bottles of twenty-year Huadiao Wine to be brought out. However, it tasted much worse than the Daughter''s Red they had just drunk, leading to Yue Feng and others teasing Lin Jinnuo as a sly merchant.

    As the wine flowed and cheeks grew red, Zuo Le, somewhat hesitantly and with a flushed face, asked Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, you are highly skilled in medicine, and there''s something else I want to ask for your help with, but I don''t know..."

    "Are you asking about your inability to have children?" Ge Dongxu interjected before Zuo Le could finish.

    When he had entered the room earlier, both Yue Feng and Lin Jinnuo were with their children, but only Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang had not brought any. During the third day of the Lunar New Year at his uncle''s Xu Family restaurant, he also hadn''t seen Zuo Le and Xu Jingfang with children. Logically, at their age, it wouldn''t be normal to be childless, so Ge Dongxu had specifically observed them subtly and realized that their Meridians indicated they were without children.

    "Yes, yes, can you see if there''s anything you can do?" Zuo Le asked, excitedly.

    "Dongxu, you must help us. Everything in our family is good now, except for not having a child, which has always been a great regret for us," Xu Jingfang said, looking at Ge Dongxu with a face full of hope and urgency.

    "Don''t worry, don''t worry, let me take your pulse first," Ge Dongxu said, smiling and comforting them.

    "Dongxu, won''t taking the pulse after drinking be inaccurate?" Yue Feng asked, seeing Ge Dongxu ready to take Zuo Le couple''s pulse, concerned that Ge Dongxu''s drinking might have affected his judgment.

    "Hehe, it''s fine, I have a clear idea," Ge Dongxu waved his hand and said.

    His pulse reading was not only about the pulse beat, but also about the state of the Meridians. While the pulse might show significant changes after someone has been drinking, making it difficult to discern the truth, the flow of energy within the Meridians is intangible, the very source of life, and thus would not be affected.

    ```

 Chapter 95 Oppression

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu said he had a grasp of the situation, Yue Feng, although still somewhat doubtful and feeling that Ge Dongxu seemed a bit overconfident, refrained from raising any further questions.After all, Ge Dongxu was a remarkable person, and Yue Feng did not dare to easily offend him.

    Ge Dongxu took the pulse of both members of the Zuo couple and, after completing the examination, looked at Elder Zuo and said, "Elder Zuo, the problem lies with you, and it has nothing to do with Jingfang."

    As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, aside from Lin Kun and Yue Ting who didn''t show much surprise, everyone else in the private room who was in the know was utterly astonished. Yue Feng, who had doubted Ge Dongxu just moments ago, was so shocked that his mouth agape.

    When a couple encountered infertility, in ancient times the problem was almost always attributed to the woman. It wasn''t until the development of modern medicine that this notion was slowly corrected. Infertility is often significantly related to the man as well. The reason Elder Zuo and Xu Jingfang were infertile, after numerous checks, was found to be due to the lack of vitality in Elder Zuo''s sperm, leading to their infertility.

    But that was a conclusion reached after high-tech, multi-faceted testing. The fact that Ge Dongxu could determine the issue simply by taking the pulse was a shock to them all.

    "Yes, yes, Dongxu is absolutely right, the problem is with me. Do you see any way to help?" Recovering from their shock, both Elder Zuo and Xu Jingfang were extremely excited, their eyes blazing with the fire of hope.

    "Don''t worry, let me take a closer look at you." Ge Dongxu reassured them with a smile, then laid his fingers again on Elder Zuo''s wrist, gently closed his eyes, and a thread of True Qi slowly seeped from his fingertips into Elder Zuo''s meridians, carefully examining the area around the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.

    The Twelve Regular Meridians each govern one of the body''s organs, and the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian is responsible for the kidneys. When Ge Dongxu took the pulses of Elder Zuo and Xu Jingfang earlier, he noticed that the Qi-Blood was not flowing smoothly in Elder Zuo''s Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, which led him to determine that the issue was with Elder Zuo.

    Now, it was merely a matter of a thorough reexamination to see how serious the problem was and whether it could be treated.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu close his eyes to check Elder Zuo, everyone else held their breath, not daring to even exhale loudly, fearing they might disturb him, especially Xu Jingfang, who was so tense she had completely held her breath.

    "It''s not a serious problem. I didn''t bring my silver needles today, and since you''ve had quite a bit to drink, it''s not suitable for acupuncture. Let''s wait until tomorrow; either I''ll come to your home, or we''ll meet at the Changxi Grand Hotel. I''ll bring my silver needles to give you acupuncture therapy, then prescribe some medicine for you. As long as there are no surprises, after a couple of acupuncture sessions and a period of medication, you should be fine," Ge Dongxu said slowly, opening his eyes with a relaxed smile on his face.

    The blockage in Elder Zuo''s Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian was much less than the obstruction in Liu Jiayao''s two meridians, which is why it only caused issues with the vitality of Elder Zuo''s sperm. Otherwise, it wouldn''t just be this issue but might likely lead to kidney failure, impotence, and a series of other problems.

    In such cases, as long as Ge Dongxu could clear the blockage in the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, allowing the Qi-Blood to flow smoothly and nourish the kidneys, the sperm vitality would naturally not be a problem anymore.

    "Really? The hospital tests indicated that it was Zuo Le''s lack of sperm vitality that caused the infertility. We''ve tried many medications, both Western and Chinese medicine, but none of them worked. Pah, pah, look at me babbling on. Dongxu, if you say there won''t be a problem, then naturally there won''t be a problem!" Xu Jingfang said, her excitement making her speech nearly incoherent.

    "Haha!" Seeing Xu Jingfang''s incoherent state, Yue Feng and the others started laughing happily.

    Ge Dongxu also laughed along, for no matter how one looked at it, he was indeed a miracle doctor, and that level of confidence and certainty was something he possessed.

    Because of this incident, the atmosphere in the private room became even more pleasant. At some point, Lin Jinnuo even leaned his chubby head close to Ge Dongxu and, in a low voice, mentioned that he had been feeling somewhat lackluster in certain areas lately, and asked Ge Dongxu if he had any solutions.

    From the fact that Lin Jinnuo was asking Ge Dongxu about this type of adult private matter, it was clear that he had completely come to see Ge Dongxu as an adult, to the point where he even overlooked his age.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and cry upon hearing this, as if his physique would ever lack vigor!

    "Increase your exercise, I don''t have any other good remedies. And as for various tonics, you''d better not believe in them. With your body, consuming stimulants is just overdrafting your life," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Yue Feng was sitting right next to Lin Jinnuo, and when he heard Ge Dongxu''s response, he couldn''t help but burst out laughing, which led everyone else to ask what was happening and made Lin Jinnuo''s face turn bright red.

    Despite the embarrassment, Lin Jinnuo actually took Ge Dongxu''s advice to heart. After all, Ge Dongxu was a miracle doctor, and Lin Jinnuo wouldn''t dare dismiss his words as mere wind by the ears. Afterwards, he really did insist on exercising every day, but that''s a story for later.

    After this event, everyone continued to eat, drink, and chat. Since Ge Dongxu was still a student who was concerned about his studies and cultivation, and because he was renting a place at someone else''s home, it was inappropriate to return too late. So, at around eight o''clock, at Ge Dongxu''s suggestion, they concluded the dinner party.

    When the dinner party ended, Lin Jinnuo gave Ge Dongxu a card that shimmered with golden light, explaining it was a VIP card for the hotel. He said that from now on, Ge Dongxu could present this card whenever he consumed services at the Changxi Grand Hotel or any other dining, accommodation, and entertainment venues under his name.

    Aside from this only three-star foreign-related hotel in Changxi County, Lin Jinnuo also owned some hotels, dance halls, and other such dining, accommodation, and entertainment venues in other locations. Of course, his main asset was the Changxi Grand Hotel. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t understand the significance of this card and, assuming it was like the member VIP cards at some malls that offer discounts when shown at the time of purchase, he didn''t decline and accepted it.

    What Ge Dongxu didn''t know was that this was the Changxi Grand Hotel''s Super VIP Supreme Card, which not only meant all his expenses would be waived upon presentation, but he would also enjoy the highest level of service. Throughout the whole Jiangnan Province, or more precisely in Ouzhou City, up until now, Lin Jinnuo had only given out three of these cards, and Ge Dongxu''s was the third.

    Because Lin Jinnuo and the others were prominent figures in Changxi County, and since the hotel saw a constant flow of people which meant many eyes and many who recognized them, they merely escorted Ge Dongxu out of the private room and didn''t continue any further. Instead, Lin Kun and Yue Ting were tasked to take Ge Dongxu home on their behalf, while the others returned to the private room to continue their business.

    Escorted by Lin Kun and Yue Ting, Ge Dongxu exited the private room and hadn''t walked far before he saw Cheng Yazhou and another shareholder of the Yaxu Trademark Factory, who was also his brother-in-law, Wu Qianjin, standing in the passageway, smoking and looking rather upset.

    "Brother-in-law, what should we do now?" Wu Qianjin asked, frowning with a look of indignation in his eyes.

    "If it won''t work, we''ll just have to give more money," Cheng Yazhou said grimly.

    "I don''t think that''ll be of any use. Liu Shang isn''t going to make a move without seeing the rabbit, this time he''s definitely after the shares," Wu Qianjin shook his head.

    ps: The book''s second QQ group: 601021709, (new group, vacancies available.), everyone is welcome to join. Also, this Saturday, December 3rd, there will be a "Great God Speaks" event all day on QQ Book City, featuring invited "Great God" - Broken Bridge Remnant Snow [that''s me, heh]. So on December 3rd, throw any questions you may have, such as what exactly is Old Broken obsessed with? What has driven Old Broken further down the path of showing off? Does Old Broken really have foreign girlfriends in real life, and how many? Of course, I''ll try my best... not to answer!

 Chapter 96 The Factory is Forced to Close [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Fuck his grandmother! Ten percent of the shares, that''s equivalent to 160,000. He thinks he can have ten percent of the shares for just 50,000 yuan, and with the current profits, ten percent of the shares would bring in at least 10,000 yuan a month! Damn it, this is outright robbery!" Cheng Yazhou said with an ashen face."But what can we do? He knows he''s got us cornered! And for every day we''re not operational, we''re losing money. That''s not even the worst of it, the key issue is that our clients are waiting for their orders. If we delay and lose our reputation, the great progress we''ve made may well be ruined," Wu Qianjin said with an oppressed look on his face.

    "Let it be, the people cannot fight the officials! Let''s go in and talk to him again, if it really doesn''t work out, we might just have to agree. At least with him involved, he''ll take care of dealings with government departments in the future. It''s like paying to dispel disaster, solve the issue once and for all," Cheng Yazhou said, consoling himself after hearing Wu Qianjin''s words, deflated like a punctured ball.

    "Shouldn''t we let Dongxu know about this? After all, ten percent of the shares is not a small matter," Wu Qianjin hesitated, then asked.

    "He''s still a student, do you think it''s appropriate to tell him about such murky business?" Cheng Yazhou said with a wry smile.

    "Uncle Cheng, although I am a student, I am also a shareholder of Yaxu Trademark Factory. How can you not inform me when you''re facing difficulties?" Before Cheng Yazhou had finished speaking, a familiar voice sounded behind him.

    "Dongxu, how come you''re here?" Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin hurriedly turned around upon hearing this and, seeing that it was indeed Ge Dongxu, were startled and said with a look of surprise.

    "A friend invited me over for dinner, so I came," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Upon hearing this, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin instinctively glanced at Lin Kun and Yue Ting beside him. Although Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin had some wealth, they were not yet in the ranks of Changxi County''s wealthy class. Moreover, since Lin Kun and Yue Ting were quite young and not as well-known as their fathers, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin did not recognize them.

    Seeing the two unfamiliar young people, they assumed that when Ge Dongxu spoke of friends, he was referring to them.

    "I see," the two men nodded, their expressions no longer as surprised as before.

    After all, it wasn''t outrageous for Ge Dongxu, who at the age of sixteen had put up 600,000 yuan to join them in setting up a factory and had spent over 100,000 to buy land, to be invited to dine at the Changxi Grand Hotel.

    Of course, there was still some surprise, given Ge Dongxu''s young age.

    Of course, if they knew that Ge Dongxu''s friends were not Lin Kun and Yue Ting, but instead the standing committee member of Changxi County, the head of the county public security bureau, the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel, and the boss of Changxi''s leading enterprise, Dayu Group, their surprise would not be just a bit, but rather they would be shocked to the point of their eyeballs falling out.

    "I just heard something about shares and something dark. What exactly is going on?" Ge Dongxu didn''t want to talk much about himself, and seeing that they weren''t probing further, he didn''t elaborate and instead turned to inquire about their situation.

    Thanks to his cultivation, Ge Dongxu had strong eyesight and hearing. Although he was some distance away earlier, he could still clearly see the angry and helpless expressions on both men.

    Faced with Ge Dongxu''s earnest questioning, Cheng Yazhou knew he couldn''t hide it from this formidable young man and could only smile bitterly with a sense of resignation: "You saw it for yourself today, the doors of our Yaxu Trademark Factory are closed."

    "Saw it, so what, isn''t it because we''re closed for the weekend?" Ge Dongxu asked, quite surprised.

    "Of course not, our business is doing so well right now, we wish the factory could operate 24 hours a day. How could we possibly shut down on a Saturday?" Cheng Yazhou said with a wry smile.

    "So, it was a forced shutdown?" Ge Dongxu, being a smart man, his face immediately darkened upon hearing this. He finally understood why Cheng Yazhou had seemed in poor spirits these past few days¡ªit was because there were problems with the factory. And Cheng Yazhou, not wanting him to worry, had claimed that morning that he was tired from binging TV dramas. Stay updated via empire

    "Let me tell you the truth, Dongxu, because our business is good, a lot of departments have been coming to inspect our factory these days. Trade and Industry, Fire Services, Tax Authorities, you name it. We dealt with all of them, but got stuck on safety production. A deputy director of the Safety Supervision Office in Songyang Town, Liu Shang, has quite an appetite and is well aware of the profits in our laser trademarks, so he''s been relentless. He took fifty thousand and is dead set on buying a stake in our trademark factory," Wu Qianjin said, taking over the conversation bitterly.

    "Oh, there''s such a thing? How many shares does he want?" Ge Dongxu''s face grew even more somber. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ten percent," Wu Qianjin replied.

    "Fifty thousand for ten percent of the shares? Why doesn''t he just go rob someone?" Ge Dongxu said angrily.

    "Exactly, but the man has power! Without giving in to him, we can''t resume production," Wu Qianjin said indignantly.

    "Is there no law left, can''t we just report him?" Ge Dongxu said furiously.

    "Heh, Dongxu, you''re still young. Some things aren''t as simple as you think. The guy''s a deputy director of the Safety Supervision Office. If he decides to make it about safety production, what can you do to him? And about the shares, he didn''t say it outright. He had his wife''s cousin come to talk, suggesting that the cousin wanted to invest in the laser trademark business. How can you go and report him? If you really go to report him, I''m afraid after all the trouble, not only would you fail to bring him down, our factory might just end up closing down for good. Let it go, don''t worry about it, leave it to Uncle Cheng and Qianjin," Cheng Yazhou said with a bitter smile.

    "Damn it, when did a deputy director of the Safety Supervision Office in Songyang Town become so badass! To think they would dare to bully Big Brother Xu? He must really have the guts of a bear and the heart of a leopard!" After hearing all this, Lin Kun and Yue Ting finally understood the whole story. They knew that Ge Dongxu partnered with the two middle-aged men to run a factory, and now a deputy director from the Safety Supervision Office had set his sights on them, demanding a piece of their pie. They couldn''t help but see red and cursed out loud.

    "Shush, kids, don''t talk nonsense about things you don''t understand!" Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, seeing Lin Kun and Yue Ting cursing, were startled and quickly admonished them.

    Yue Ting and Lin Kun, about to argue back after being told by Cheng Yazhou they didn''t understand, were cut off as Ge Dongxu sternly said, "Yue Ting, go ask your uncle to come over, I''ll meet this Deputy Director Liu Shang with Uncle Cheng and Uncle Wu."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu reached out to push open the door of the private room.

    "Dongxu, don''t be rash!" Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, seeing Ge Dongxu''s temper flare up, paled with fear and hurriedly reached out to stop him, but Ge Dongxu was faster and had already pushed open the door of the private room.

    ps: Recommended by Qidian author Zhe Tian''s novel "The Supreme Martial World." There are fewer and fewer authors writing wuxia these days, please support them if you can.

 Chapter 97 What Are You Anyway?

    This was a small private room with three men sitting inside.The one facing the door of the private room was a somewhat fat fellow, who was puffing on a Zhonghua cigarette with his head tilted slightly upward, the very image of a petty grassroots official who thinks he''s exceptionally important just because he holds some minor authority, an insufferably arrogant type that just begs to be thrashed.

    A real high-ranking official would never adopt such an attitude!

    The three of them had been talking when suddenly the door to the private room was flung open; they immediately fell silent, turning their eyes toward Ge Dongxu with a mix of confusion and dissatisfaction as they barked, "Who are you? What are you doing coming in here?"

    "You must be Chief Liu, right?" Ge Dongxu walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down, looking at the man puffing on the Zhonghua cigarette across from him with disdain as he asked.

    "You little punk, who the hell are you? Get the fuck out!" The other two men, seeing a young guy barge in and speak to Chief Liu with such arrogance, immediately stood up and pointed at Ge Dongxu, scolding him.

    "I''m sorry, Chief Liu, this is another one of our shareholders, Ge Dongxu, he''s young and doesn''t understand how things work." Seeing that an argument was about to break out, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin had already rushed in and hurriedly explained.

    "Dongxu, we told you not to involve yourself in this kind of thing, why won''t you listen to us?" Wu Qianjin''s face darkened slightly as he reprimanded.

    "Who doesn''t know the rules here? Can you involve a kid whose hair isn''t even full-grown yet? Get him out!" Liu Shang, upon hearing this, initially showed a flash of surprise, but then his brows furrowed, and his expression became stern, pointing at Ge Dongxu with the fingers holding his cigarette, and scolded sharply.

    "Smack!" No sooner had Liu Shang''s voice fallen, Lin Kun had already stepped forward, slammed his palm down on the table, and pointed at Liu Shang, cursing, "Fuck, who do you think you are to tell Xu Brother to get lost?"

    Seeing Lin Kun barge into the fray with an even more arrogant posture than Ge Dongxu, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were so frustrated they were nearly in tears. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The situation had already been tricky enough, and now this hot-blooded youth was slamming the table and yelling at Liu Shang; weren''t they just adding fuel to the fire?

    "Dongxu, you and your friend, get out!" Originally, Cheng Yazhou had been quite concerned about keeping face for Ge Dongxu. Even when Wu Qianjin had spoken up to scold him, Cheng Yazhou had held back. But seeing that things could escalate further, potentially leading to the factory shutting down for good, Cheng Yazhou also hardened his expression and scolded.

    Initially, Liu Shang had felt slightly intimidated by Lin Kun''s aggressive stance, unsure if the latter had some significant backing. However, seeing Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin clearly looking to avoid trouble, Liu Shang''s courage swiftly returned.

    "Smack!" With a loud slap on the table, Liu Shang also pointed at Lin Kun and Ge Dongxu, speaking with an air of superiority, "Who the hell do you think you are? If I tell you to get lost, you better fucking get lost! Piss me off, and you can kiss your factory goodbye!"

    "You think you can close down Xu Brother''s factory just because you say so? Who do you think you are?" Lin Kun, upon hearing this, didn''t slam the table again, but looked at Liu Shang with the eyes one reserves for the dead, full of disdain as he mocked.

    Others might not know Ge Dongxu''s background, but would Lin Kun be in the dark?

    The very life of a Standing Committee member of the county party committee, the director of the County Public Security Bureau, was saved by him, and whether he could have a child in the future still depended on this man before him. And you, a mere deputy director of the public security department in Songyang Town, not even a legitimate section-level cadre, but merely a deputy section-level clerk, have the audacity to threaten the life savior of a Standing Committee member of the county party committee, the director of the County Public Security Bureau, to close down his factory? You''re literally asking for death!

    "Heh, don''t worry about who I am, just know that if I want to shut down your factory, then there''s no way you''ll continue running it!" Liu Shang replied arrogantly, then turned to Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, saying, "Elder Cheng, Elder Wu, do you still want to run your factory or not? If you do, then get these two out of here pronto! Damn it, what trash! Their beards haven''t even fully grown in, and they dare slam tables and shout!"

    Upon hearing this, Lin Kun was naturally about to flare up again, but with a slight raise of his hand from Ge Dongxu, Lin Kun immediately quieted down.

    "Dongxu! Stop being," Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin naturally wouldn''t bother with Lin Kun, but instead, they spoke to Ge Dongxu with somewhat troubled expressions.

    "Uncle Cheng, Uncle Wu, you know I''m not the kind of person who acts without considering the consequences. Don''t worry, I have a plan," Ge Dongxu once again interrupted Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin with a raise of his hand, then looked at Liu Shang and said, "Director Liu wants to talk about shares, right? I am one of the major shareholders after all, if I don''t agree, how could you possibly get any shares?"

    "Kid, what do you mean by that?" Liu Shang''s expression faltered slightly, then he asked discontentedly.

    "No particular meaning, I just want to tell Director Liu that I disagree with you owning shares in the business," Ge Dongxu replied indifferently.

    "Smack!" Director Liu slammed his hand on the table and stood up, his gaze swept over Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin as he coldly said, "Elder Cheng, Elder Wu, seems like there''s nothing left to discuss. Your Yaxu Trademark Factory better brace itself for closure!"

    Upon hearing this, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin''s faces went pale, their legs going weak.

    This was related to their hard-earned investments and their very livelihood!

    "Such arrogance! Such authority! Can you tell me, who gave you this power? To just shut down the people''s factories on a whim?" Just as Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were feeling despair, even beginning to resent Ge Dongxu, the door to the private room was suddenly pushed open, and an authoritative voice filled with anger resounded in the room.

    "Zuo, Director Zuo!" Liu Shang, seeing someone else push open the door and about to unleash a tirade in his arrogant manner, looked up and immediately shuddered, the words on his lips stumbling out into a stuttered "Director Zuo."

    "Director Zuo?" Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin both didn''t recognize Zuo Le and were slightly confused, but they did recognize Lin Jinnuo of the Changxi Grand Hotel who came in with Director Zuo. His hefty figure was hard to forget once someone had pointed it out. So when the two saw the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel, Lin Jinnuo, also come in, they couldn''t help but shudder.

    Compared to the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel, they, as shareholders of a small factory, were like minnows before a whale, incomparable.

    Find adventures on empire

    "Elder Zuo, you''ve arrived! Let me introduce you, these are my partners, shareholders of the Yaxu Trademark Factory, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin," Ge Dongxu stood up from his seat as he saw Director Zuo arrive, pointing to Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin as he introduced them.

    "Elder Zuo!" Upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s address to Zuo Le, Liu Shang and the other two nearly collapsed to the ground.

    Damn it, they had tried to extort from the head honcho himself!

    ps: Still a fresh new book, continuing to ask for clicks, recommendations, collections, comments, rewards, thank you.

 Chapter 98 Pursue to the End

    "Uncle Cheng, Uncle Wu, this is Chief Zuo Le from the county Public Security Bureau. You can discuss the specifics with him. I refuse to believe it¡ªwe run our factory and do business fair and square, and yet someone can simply order us to close our doors just like that?" Following that, Ge Dongxu turned to Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin and said, the Chief of the Public Security Bureau of D County? Hearing Ge Dongxu''s introduction, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin''s minds almost exploded, as they could never have dreamed that the woman Ge Dongxu had just asked to call her uncle was actually the Chief of the county Public Security Bureau. No wonder the young man with Ge Dongxu was so arrogant¡ªhe was a big shot!Wait, hold on, why did Ge Dongxu call the chief "Elder Zuo," and the woman who just called Chief Zuo her uncle seem to address Ge Dongxu as "Brother Dongxu" in the same way earlier!

    Ge Dongxu is clearly younger than them!

    Their minds were a mess until Zuo Le took the initiative to reach out to them. Only then did they abruptly come to their senses and hastily shook hands with Zuo Le, while Liu Shang was already sweating profusely, saying, "Chief Zuo, this is a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding, I didn''t mean it like that!"

    "What exactly did you mean then? Do you think I''m deaf? Alright, let''s say I am deaf, what about the boss of Changxi Grand Hotel, Lin? And Mr. Yue, the president of Dayu Group? Are they deaf too? Do you realize you''re committing a crime? You''re abusing your power! You''re openly extorting!" Zuo Le pointed at Liu Shang and scolded, each word cutting deep.

    "No, no, not at all. It''s him, it''s Sun Zhiyang, he sees the business potential in the laser trademark industry, wants to buy into Yaxu Trademark Factory, I was just here to connect them!" Liu Shang''s forehead beaded with even more cold sweat, yet he was smart enough to know he absolutely couldn''t admit to the crime of blatant extortion.

    "Is that so? For fifty thousand yuan, you want a ten percent share? Do you think we''re idiots, or are you the idiots?" Ge Dongxu asked with a sneer.

    "It was Sun Zhiyang''s lack of thorough consideration, not investigating properly," Liu Shang hastily said, winking frantically at Sun Zhiyang. Discover hidden content at empire

    "Yes, yes, it''s all my fault, I didn''t investigate properly," knowing that if Liu Shang goes down, he definitely can''t escape unscathed, Sun Zhiyang quickly took the blame. At most it would be seen as a business blunder, which could not be criminally charged.

    "Chief Zuo, no matter what, I share the responsibility as well. I admit my mistake sincerely and offer a sincere apology to the shareholders of Yaxu Trademark Factory!" Although Sun Zhiyang had taken most of the blame, Liu Shang would not be naive enough to think that things could be settled just like that¡ªnot with someone who is a standing committee member of the county party committee and the Chief of the county Public Security Bureau involved. So after Sun Zhiyang took the blame, Liu Shang immediately followed by bowing and apologizing repeatedly to Zuo Le, Ge Dongxu, Cheng Yazhou, and others, with genuine sincerity.

    Seeing Liu Shang bow and apologize to him, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin felt quite uncomfortable, and at the same time, they thought this might be the end of the matter.

    Liu Shang had long prepared for such situations; if he adamantly denied everything, Chief Zuo couldn''t do much about it and might actually stir up a lot of trouble. After all, Chief Zuo was not Liu Shang''s direct superior.

    Of course, after this incident, as long as Zuo Le, the standing committee member of the county party committee and Chief of the county Public Security Bureau, was in office, Liu Shang could forget about any chance of promotion, and even his position as deputy head might be at risk of being revoked, which would be a significant punishment for Liu Shang.

    However, contrary to what Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin expected, and to the surprise of Liu Shang and others, Zuo Le simply sneered in response, "You don''t need to apologize to me. As for what actually happened, let the prosecution''s people come, and you can explain it to them slowly!"

    When public officials are involved in abuse of power or corrupt practices, it is typically the prosecution''s office that launches the investigation. In saying so, Zuo Le effectively indicated his determination to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring Liu Shang to justice accordingly.

    "Chief Zuo, what are you¡ª?" Liu Shang clearly did not expect Chief Zuo to be resolute in taking action against him and couldn''t help but panic.

    "Boss Cheng, Boss Wu, you must cooperate with the comrades from the prosecutor''s office in their investigation." Zuo Le did not bother with Liu Shang but instead instructed Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, then directly called the chief prosecutor. As a member of the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee and the head of the Changxi County Public Security Bureau, he personally reported Liu Shang''s dangerous crimes of corruption and extortion, demanding they initiate an investigation.

    In Huaxia Country, among the three major judicial departments¡ªpublic security, prosecution, and law¡ªthe public security is at the forefront. Therefore, in many places, the head of the county public security bureau generally joins the Standing Committee of the County Party Committee, and in some places, the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee who oversees the three departments often doubles as the head of the public security bureau.

    Although Zuo Le was not serving as the Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee at present, he was also doubling as the first deputy secretary. This made him a leader of the prosecutor''s office too. His phone call prompted the chief prosecutor to not dare to neglect the matter, immediately starting to sign arrest warrants and dispatching personnel to the Changxi Grand Hotel to apprehend the suspect.

    "Of course, of course; that''s what we should do." Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were both excited and relieved, yet anxious, looking at Ge Dongxu with an uncontrollable hint of reverence in their eyes. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They naturally knew that Director Zuo Le''s swift and decisive action to pursue Liu Shang to the end was greatly related to Ge Dongxu. It also fully demonstrated Ge Dongxu''s significant importance in the director''s heart.

    How could it not be important? Whether Zuo Le could become a father again depended on Ge Dongxu''s miraculous healing!

    With Liu Shang''s bold and blatant extortion of Yaxu Trademark Factory, one could imagine how arrogant he usually was and how much filth was under his buttocks, and how could he withstand the investigation of the prosecutor''s office? Therefore, seeing Zuo Le unhesitatingly calling the chief prosecutor on the spot, Liu Shang was so scared that he collapsed to the ground. All his previous arrogance was gone!

    He knew his life was over! Yet in his wildest dreams, he never expected he would fall at the hands of a young man!

    Seeing Liu Shang collapsing to the ground, Sun Zhiyang immediately panicked and hurriedly said, "Director Zuo, Director Zuo, this has nothing to do with me. It''s all my brother-in-law''s doing; in fact, those shares are not even mine."

    "Director Zuo, this, this has nothing to do with me either! It''s Director Liu who told me to do this, that''s why we deliberately held up Yaxu Trademark Factory," another man, a confidant of Liu Shang at the Safety Supervision Office, also hurriedly tried to dissociate himself from the matter upon seeing Liu Shang sitting paralyzed on the ground.

    "You should save these words for when the prosecutor''s office people arrive," Zuo Le said coldly.

    In Songyang Town, where the Changxi County government is located, due to its small size and the fact that it was Zuo Le who made the call, the prosecutor''s office personnel quickly arrived at the Changxi Grand Hotel and took away Liu Shang and two others. Cheng Yazhou and the rest, including Zuo Le, Yue Feng, and Lin Jinnuo, followed as well.

    They followed, of course, to serve as witnesses, to confirm everything they had just heard outside.

    The prosecutor''s office staff, seeing a minor factory causing such a stir not only among the Standing Committee member and head of the Changxi County Public Security Bureau, Zuo Le, but also the bigwigs of Dayu Group and the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel eagerly wanting to come as witnesses, were trembling with nervousness. They thought Liu Shang really had bad luck to have poked such a hornet''s nest.

    What could be done? With these influential figures in Changxi County, if they were intent on framing someone, even innocent people could be implicated¡ªLiu Shang had bullied his way to their benefactor''s doorstep, so how could he possibly escape unscathed?

    PS: This Saturday, December 3, for the whole day, QQ Book City is hosting the "Great Gods Speaking" event, and I, "Broken Bridge in Snow" [that''s me, hehe], have been invited to guest online. So on December 3, feel free to fire away with any questions!

 Chapter 99 Reopening

    Just now in the hotel, because of Zuo Le and Lin Jinnuo''s arrival, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin almost failed to notice Yue Feng. It wasn''t until they were on their way to the prosecutor''s office that Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin realized that the other man was actually the big boss of all the factory owners!Thinking about how, because of Ge Dongxu, they had unexpectedly roused the attention of the Chief of the Public Security Bureau, a leading enterprise boss, and the owner of a grand hotel, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin''s hearts thumped wildly, almost believing they were dreaming. They even couldn''t resist pinching their thighs to make sure, and upon feeling the pain, they confirmed that they were not dreaming.

    At the Changxi Grand Hotel, Liu Shang had already broken down, and his two accomplices likewise. So, by the time they got to the prosecutor''s office, there actually wasn''t much for Ge Dongxu and the others to do. After a short recording session, they all went home, leaving the rest to be handled by the comrades of the prosecutor''s office.

    However, based on what Liu Shang had confessed so far, what awaited him was definitely a life behind bars. As for how long he would stay there, it would depend on how much he had swindled over the years.

    Of course, all this had nothing to do with Ge Dongxu and the others anymore. At this moment, what Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin cared about and were happiest about was the relationship between Ge Dongxu and Zuo Le.

    With this connection, they no longer had to worry about this inspection or that inspection at their factories.

    Not only that, but because of the relationship between Ge Dongxu and Lin Jinnuo, when they left the prosecutor''s office, Lin Jinnuo specifically gave each of them a silver VIP card.

    As long as they had this silver VIP card, they would enjoy a 50% discount on all their expenses at the Changxi Grand Hotel from now on. This made Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin so happy that they kept looking at the card over and over on the way home, making Ge Dongxu shake his head with mixed laughter and curiosity, especially curious about the golden card that Lin Jinnuo had slipped into his pocket earlier in the private room.

    But Ge Dongxu was a steady person, and didn''t make a big deal of it, thinking he would ask Lin Kun about it another day.

    ...

    "This, Dongxu, you''re so well connected to Chief Zuo and the others, why didn''t you tell Uncle earlier? It caused me to worry about the factory''s affairs for the past few days, barely able to eat or sleep," Cheng Yazhou said to Ge Dongxu on the way home, both happy and complaining.

    "How would I have known that running a factory would lead to so much trouble? Luckily, we just happened to run into each other today," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile. He was still a student, mostly exposed to textbook knowledge, and his interactions and life experiences were mostly within the school; how would he know about these dark sides of society?

    However, after this incident, Ge Dongxu''s mind had matured a bit more, unbeknownst to himself. Just like yin and yang in cultivation, society also has its sunny and dark sides, and sometimes, knowing only the sunny side is not a good thing. Only by seeing more clearly the dark side can one cherish the sunny side more.

    At this moment, Ge Dongxu had this psychological understanding, and he silently admonished himself that no matter how capable he became in the future, he should never become someone like Liu Shang! Instead, he should do more things that are beneficial to society.

    Don''t underestimate Ge Dongxu''s insights in this matter. Life is because of these firsthand insights that one will not go astray in the future. Especially for someone like Ge Dongxu who possesses supernatural abilities, these little life insights are even more valuable and important.

    "That''s also true. But, Dongxu, I''m really sorry about today. Before I had no idea you had such capabilities, that you knew Chief Zuo, Mr. Lin, Mr. Yue, so when I spoke earlier..." Wu Qianjin said, feeling quite embarrassed and anxious.

    "Ha, Uncle Wu, to say such things, aren''t you being a bit distant?" Ge Dongxu said, laughing and waving his hand dismissively.

    "No, no, just call me Old Wu! I don''t know why, but whenever you call me Uncle Wu now, I get a creepy feeling inside," Wu Qianjin hurriedly said.

    There was no helping it. Even heavy hitters like Director Zuo, Lin Jinnuo, and Yue Feng were simply called Elder Zuo and Old Lin by Ge Dongxu; how could he, Wu Qianjin, dare to let Ge Dongxu call him uncle?

    "Hehe, you and Uncle Cheng are different. I have a classmate relationship with Lehao, so I follow his lead in calling him that. Moreover, we''ve always addressed each other this way from the start, so there''s no need to change it, right? Shifting back and forth might even make me seem opportunistic!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "How could you be opportunistic! If you were, you wouldn''t have partnered with small fries like me and my brother-in-law to do business in the first place," Wu Qianjin quickly said.

    "Uncle Wu wasn''t such a humble man before. What do you mean by small fry! Someone of my young age is what you call a small fry!" Ge Dongxu teased.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu hadn''t changed his attitude because of people like Zuo Le, Wu Qianjin and Cheng Yazhou completely relaxed. They pointed at him and burst into laughter, saying, "If you''re a small fry, then there are no big shots in Changxi County!"

    Find exclusive stories on empire

    After joking around for a while, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but remember the matter with Liu Shang. Worried that Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin might be heading towards a situation he didn''t want to see because of their connection with Zuo Le, he gradually put away his smile and said seriously, "Uncle Cheng, Uncle Wu, there''s something I need to make clear first. Zuo Le is Zuo Le, and I am me. You mustn''t bend the rules just because of Zuo Le. Of course, if anyone tries to bully us by not following the law like Liu Shang did, there''s no need to be polite with them."

    "Dongxu, rest assured, we''re well aware of this and will definitely follow the rules," Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin both put away their smiles and said seriously upon hearing this.

    "That''s good. And on weekends, if you have the workers do overtime, make sure you pay them properly. Now that we''re making money, we can''t shortchange them," Ge Dongxu nodded and gave another reminder.

    "Hehe, don''t worry about that. Do you think Uncle Cheng and Qianjin are the kind of stingy people?" Cheng Yazhou laughed.

    This made Ge Dongxu feel somewhat embarrassed, and he chuckled awkwardly.

    ¡­ Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Due to Zuo Le''s attention, the very next morning, people from the Songyang Town Safety Supervision Office were sent to Yaxu Trademark Factory for another safety inspection. They issued a pass certificate that day, allowing the factory to resume production. That same day, Ge Dongxu visited Zuo Le''s home, performed acupuncture, and prescribed a medicine for him.

    Since Zuo Le''s condition was quite mild, and given that Ge Dongxu''s cultivation power had been steadily growing these days, he didn''t end up sweating profusely like he had at Liu Jiayao''s house. Of course, fatigue was still inevitable due to the use of True Qi.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu looking tired after completing the acupuncture on Zuo Le, both Zuo Le and his wife were very moved. They also fully understood why Ge Dongxu kept such a low profile and didn''t want others to know about his miraculous medical skills.

    Such medical treatment clearly demanded a lot of physical and mental effort. Both husband and wife doubted that Ge Dongxu could survive for long if patients kept coming without end.

    ps: A great author on QQ Reading said an event has started, and everyone is welcome to ask questions; an advance chapter update as a treat, hehe.

 Chapter 100 Whispers

    Time flew swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the beautiful, sunny days of swallows flying and grass growing all over Jiangnan.While first- and second-year high school students still had the chance to go on spring outings, the seniors had plunged headlong into the ocean of college entrance examination papers, with no time left for leisure.

    Perhaps because of this, or perhaps because he had moved, by the second semester of his freshman year, Ge Dongxu hardly ever had a chance to meet with Dong Yuxin. Even on the rare occasions when they did run into each other on campus, Dong Yuxin always seemed very hurried, as if she had forgotten the friendship they once shared.

    This occasionally made Ge Dongxu feel a twinge of loss. However, he understood that it was a highly stressful time due to their studies, and since they had no special relationship, it was natural that Dong Yuxin wouldn''t constantly think about a junior like him, especially after he moved.

    The business at Yaxu Trademark Factory was still thriving, but profits had started to show signs of decline. Fortunately, the volume of business had increased, so each month, Ge Dongxu, as a shareholder, still managed to earn fifty to sixty thousand yuan.

    This income was considered a fortune-making good business by the standards of the time.

    With Cheng Yazhou''s help, the four dilapidated houses were being demolished to build new villas. Because of Ge Dongxu''s high standards, the budget ended up being even higher than Cheng Yazhou''s original estimate, reaching 230,000 yuan. Fortunately, with fifty to sixty thousand yuan coming in each month, Ge Dongxu could handle it, otherwise he would have fallen short with the savings he originally had in his account. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As a result, although now a millionaire with fifty to sixty thousand yuan income each month, Ge Dongxu''s finances became tight again. He would have to wait until around April or May, when earnings came in, before he could afford to purchase some of the Jade Tokens. And the newly carved Talisman Jades were expected to last until only about May.

    Realizing that the profits for the next few months were likely to end up in someone else''s pocket made Ge Dongxu lament the slowness of his earnings and realize he needed to find more ways to make money, which was the righteous path.

    However, making money was not an easy task, especially for a young man with no business experience. Although Ge Dongxu thought about it, he had no good ideas for the moment. But because he associated making money with his future cultivation practices, he had recently been studying books on business investment apart from his schoolwork, hoping to learn some tricks to wealth.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu read these books in his room; otherwise, if the teachers knew that he was distracting himself with books on business investment during high school, they would surely have given him a serious talk.

    Life often seems to operate on the principle of "flowers don''t bloom when you want them to, but the willows grow into shade when you don''t intend them to." Since high school, Ge Dongxu had been pondering ways to make money, even beginning to delve into thick books on business investment during the second semester of his freshman year. Yet before he could learn how to make money from those books, the value of the land where he''d inadvertently bought a factory suddenly increased.

    The price rose because rumors spread from the county government that they were discussing rebuilding the old county government office building due to its dilapidation.

    There were several rumors about rebuilding the county government office building. Some said it was unfounded, others mentioned relocating to the LC district, and another that the county leaders were considering the rapid economic development of Changxi County and thinking of finding a suitable place in the suburbs to rebuild the office building. Then, starting from the new county government office building as a center, an XC district might be developed. Since the LC district to the south was in the direction of Baiyun Mountain and was hilly, it was unsuitable, and the west was also hilly terrain. That left the eastern and northern sides. Jiang Family Village was located slightly to the northeast. From there, not only was the terrain flat, but it also connected Changxi County with the economically strong town of Longjiang. So now there were rumors that if the county government decided to build a new office building and not in the LC district, it was very likely to choose Jiang Family Village.

    Of course, the county government had been talking about reconstructing its office building for several years, but each time the talk was big and the action negligible, always ending in nothing. But this time, the rumors were loud, and some speculative-minded individuals couldn''t resist the temptation, beginning to set their sights on Jiang Family Village and trying to buy up some land beforehand.

    The land where Yaxu Trademark Factory was located was used for the factory, but it was actually residential land. Therefore, some people turned their attention to Yaxu Trademark Factory, approaching Cheng Yazhou with an offer to buy their current factory and land for 320,000 yuan.

    When Ge Dongxu originally purchased the factory, it cost him about 160,000 yuan in total; now, in just about half a year, the value had doubled, making Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin envious. Wu Qianjin especially regretted not listening to Ge Dongxu back then.

    "It''s just an extra 160,000 yuan, and I''m not in a hurry for money. Selling it wouldn''t make sense; better to keep it and save us the trouble of finding a new factory," Ge Dongxu said upon hearing the news, surprised but considering that an extra 160,000 yuan wouldn''t change his situation much now. Moreover, he felt the Feng Shui of Jiang Family Village was good and despite this period possibly being just a blip, he believed that as the city developed, Jiang Family Village would eventually rise. Experience more tales on empire

    "Dongxu, aren''t you just taunting me? Just an extra 160,000 yuan! Remember last year, Uncle Wu''s entire fortune was only 200,000 yuan! Where else nowadays can you make an easy 160,000 yuan just by flipping something? Better sell it now; once this craze blows over, you won''t be able to get this price," Wu Qianjin, thinking Ge Dongxu was hesitant because it wasn''t enough profit, advised earnestly.

    "Qianjin is right; they''ve been talking about rebuilding the county government building for years, and it always comes to nothing. Plus, if the county government really were to rebuild, I feel the likelihood of it being in the LC district is higher since the facilities there are more established. And even if it''s not in the LC district, it might not necessarily be Jiang Family Village; there''s also Beiyang and Pingchao ahead in line. Moreover, the biggest fear is that these rumors are deliberately stirred up by people in Jiang Family Village," Cheng Yazhou added.

    "It doesn''t matter. For now, I''m not short on cash," Ge Dongxu casually responded. He was actually in need of money, but an extra 160,000 yuan was not enough to attract his attention, for if he truly wanted to buy Jade Tokens, he would need to spend tens or hundreds of thousands.

    "Actually, Dongxu, don''t you know Chief Zuo? He''s a member of the county committee and leadership team. If there''s any news about this, he definitely would know. Why don''t you ask him? If he says nothing''s happening, you could quickly sell then," Wu Qianjin, seeing Ge Dongxu''s reluctance to sell, grew anxious and suddenly remembered Zuo Le, thus brought him up.

 Chapter 101 The Man Who Bears the Burden

    "How can you ask him that? No, you all are also forbidden to ask," Ge Dongxu said sternly upon hearing this.Although young, Ge Dongxu knew this was definitely against principles.

    "Hehe, I was just mentioning it in passing, just in passing," Wu Qianjin said with an embarrassed smile as he saw Ge Dongxu''s expression turn serious.

    Even though Wu Qianjin habitually called him Uncle Wu, deep down he was somewhat afraid of this young man after the incident at the Changxi Grand Hotel.

    "Truthfully, it''s not that I look down on this profit, but because I think our country''s economic situation is so good right now that land, in general, is bound to appreciate in value, or at least preserve its value against inflation. It''s like the blue-chip stocks in the stock market; they might not skyrocket in the short term, but in the long term, they always grow in value. If it weren''t for the fact that I currently don''t have much capital I''d consider buying up the surrounding land as well," Ge Dongxu explained in a gentler tone upon seeing Wu Qianjin looking somewhat uncomfortable, feeling his tone had been too harsh before.

    These days, he had started to read books on business investments. Although he hadn''t immediately become a business expert, he had still learned something.

    After all, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were just small-time, local bosses, not the sort who would read books on business investments. Seeing how methodically Ge Dongxu spoke, they were somewhat taken in by his words.

    It took a while before Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin came back to their senses and said, "Since you think this way, we won''t persuade you otherwise. You shouldn''t lose money at least. As for buying more land, let''s forget about it!"

    At the end of the day, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin still weren''t optimistic about the rural areas around Jiang Family Village.

    Ge Dongxu himself wasn''t sure either, so he didn''t persuade them to buy land. Besides, the land prices in Jiang Family Village had already been driven up quite a bit. If it was just a fleeting trend, entering the market now might result in being stuck with a loss.

    Perhaps to prove Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin''s words, when the calendar turned to May, the trend that had started at the beginning of the year peaked in April and then suddenly disappeared in May, causing land prices to drop accordingly.

    Because of this, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin didn''t hesitate to blame Ge Dongxu for not listening to their advice and missing out on a money-making opportunity. By this time, besides the money set aside for building a house, Ge Dongxu finally had an additional one hundred twenty thousand in his bank account that he could use.

    At that moment, the Talisman Jade Ge Dongxu had carved two months prior was on the verge of shattering. Logically, it was time for him to buy new Talisman Jade.

    However, Ge Dongxu felt that one hundred twenty thousand could at most buy only sixty to seventy Jade Tokens. Last time, by a stroke of luck, he succeeded on the fifty-third token. This time, Ge Dongxu didn''t think he would be so fortunate. Moreover, if he continued in this cycle of earning money at the factory, spending it on Jade Tokens, earning more money, and then buying more Jade Tokens, he would never have excess funds. Furthermore, Yaxu Trademark Factory might not maintain its current profits, and as his cultivation progressed, the duration for which he could use Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade would only decrease. Eventually, he would find himself in a deficit. Therefore, Ge Dongxu thought that rushing to buy jade with the extra one hundred twenty thousand wasn''t a long-term solution. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The long-term solution was still to find a way to make enough money!

    To make enough money, the best method would naturally be like the ancient magicians who attached themselves to the powerful and wealthy for support, or making quick money by treating rich patients, but this was not the path Ge Dongxu wanted to follow. It was also the resolve he had made in front of his master when he was younger!

    A person of cultivation doesn''t just cultivate their breath; they must also cultivate their spirit. Once a resolution is made, how could it be shaken by a little difficulty?

    Ge Dongxu''s cultivation might be far from what his master had achieved back in the day, but he seemed to be a natural-born cultivator, possessing a persistent and determined heart. Therefore, Ge Dongxu was willing to slow down the pace of his cultivation rather than change the ambition he had initially set out with.

    "Why not just buy more land? After all, the land prices have fallen back again, and it won''t result in a loss if bought now. But if the county government office building really chooses Jiang Family Village as its site in the next couple of years, then the profits would be several times higher!" Perhaps it was the complaints of Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin that prompted Ge Dongxu, or maybe Ge Dongxu wanted to take a gamble, or perhaps the business investment books he read these days had given him inspiration and confidence, so without thinking of other ways to make money for the time being, Ge Dongxu suddenly made a decision.

    Once the decision was made, Ge Dongxu did not want to delay any longer. He not only planned to take out 120,000 from his account to buy the land, but he also took the property rights certificate of the factory building to Deputy Branch Manager Yuan Li of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of Changxi County, preparing to mortgage it to the bank.

    Yuan Li, whether it was because she believed in Ge Dongxu''s integrity or because of Lin Kun''s face previously, actually lent Ge Dongxu 160,000 according to the current market valuation of the factory and land, a full amount.

    This way, Ge Dongxu now had 280,000 in available funds.

    With 280,000 available, Ge Dongxu approached Cheng Yazhou and told him that he was going to continue buying land in Jiang Family Village.

    "Dongxu, just forget it, If you really feel that keeping money is a waste, it''s better to buy a shop along the street in the town. In recent years, the rent for shops has been steadily increasing," Cheng Yazhou said, taking a big jump when he heard that Ge Dongxu still planned to invest money in buying land in Jiang Family Village, and advised with a frown.

    "No, I still see potential in Jiang Family Village, Uncle Cheng, please help me arrange a meeting with Director Jiang to discuss this." Ge Dongxu had already borrowed the money from the bank and naturally would not give up halfway, he insisted.

    "You... alright, buying land is also a way of saving money, it''s better than spending it recklessly," seeing Ge Dongxu insisting on buying the land, Cheng Yazhou could only nod in agreement and even comforted himself with a remark.

    Fortunately, at this time Cheng Yazhou did not know that Ge Dongxu had also specifically borrowed from the bank, otherwise, he would not have spoken so.

    Thus, with Cheng Yazhou mediating the negotiations, Ge Dongxu spent a total of 280,000 yuan, purchasing another nine mu of land around the Yaxu Trademark Factory.

    The reason they were able to buy so much this time was that these plots were all barren lands, void of any structures, and hence comparatively cheaper.

    As a result, Ge Dongxu now had twelve mu of residential land in the town area, though to others, Ge Dongxu merely owned twelve mu of rural farmland. Discover stories at empire

    For this matter, Wu Qianjin privately complained a lot to Cheng Yazhou, believing that Ge Dongxu''s expenditure was a waste.

    And after spending such a large amount of money, the Talisman Jade finally crumbled into pieces, leaving Ge Dongxu with only a portion of money reserved for building a house in his pockets, his account nearly empty, and even owing the bank 160,000, very avant-garde, he had become a "debt-laden man."

    ps: Continue to ask for recommendation tickets to support, thank you.

 Chapter 102 Pregnant

    because he had no money in his pocket and still owed the bank 160,000, ge dongxu had no choice but to wait for the villa to be finished soon so that he could move to jiang family village sooner. even without the taiyin spirit gathering formation talisman jade, he could still barely cultivate.as for the profits of yaxu trademark factory in the coming period, ge dongxu planned to continuously invest in jiang family village before the end of this year. since he had already borrowed from the bank, ge dongxu decided to stick to this path for the year. as for the bank''s money, he planned to pay it back with next year''s profits. s§×ar?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    time quickly moved to mid-may.

    jiangnan province is located in the subtropics, and its climate becomes hot earlier than other places. female students in the campus had already started wearing skirts and t-shirts, exuding a youthful vibe.

    it was friday of this day, and as ge dongxu went home after school, cheng yazhou told him that chief zuo le asked him to give him a call.

    ge dongxu didn''t know what zuo le wanted, so he immediately borrowed cheng yazhou''s cell phone and called zuo le.

    "dongxu, i have some good news. jingfang went to the hospital today, and the result is that she''s pregnant!" ge dongxu had just connected the call when zuo le excitedly said.

    "that''s wonderful, congratulations elder zuo!" ge dongxu also felt happy for zuo le, and at the same time, he breathed a sigh of relief. no matter what, at the beginning of the year, he had boasted that if xu jingfang really couldn''t get pregnant, it would be embarrassing for him.

    "haha, i can''t thank you enough for this. tomorrow is saturday, will you be in the county town? if you are, jingfang and i would like to invite you to dinner, we both want to thank you in person!" zuo le said happily.

    ge dongxu was about to say there was no need, as he planned to return to baiyun mountain, but remembering that xu jingfang was already 42 years old, a definitely advanced-age pregnant woman, with considerable risks even with the pregnancy, he hesitated and then said, "that would be good, i can also check her pulse and prescribe some medicine to stabilize the pregnancy!"

    "thank you so much, dongxu, we had the same intention. after all, jingfang is older, if something goes wrong this time, it might be difficult in the future." zuo le and his wife had the same thought, and they were moved that ge dongxu had considered it first.

    "haha, i haven''t had the chance to thank you for our factory''s issue last time," ge dongxu said with a smile.

    "it''s not the same, not the same. back then, it was my fault as a county committee leader for not doing my job well; i should apologize to you," zuo le immediately said.

    "haha, anyway, we don''t need to be so formal with each other, just set a time and place," ge dongxu said.

    "let''s go to old lin''s place then, at six in the evening. i''ll have yue ting wait for you in the lobby," zuo le said.

    ge dongxu acknowledged and then hung up the phone.

    the next day, at six in the evening, ge dongxu arrived at changxi grand hotel as scheduled.

    it was the same private room and people, everyone''s face brimming with happy smiles. when ge dongxu pushed the door and entered, everyone instinctively stood up, their gaze inadvertently laced with a hint of awe and gratitude, of course.

    "dongxu is here, come take a seat, take a seat!" today was zuo le''s treat, and as soon as he saw ge dongxu, he immediately waved him over.

    with the experience from the last meal, ge dongxu was no longer hesitant or overly polite.

    after ge dongxu sat down, lin jinnuo immediately instructed the waiter to serve the dishes and huadiao wine.

    "jingfang, why don''t you switch seats with zuo le before we start drinking, so i can check the child''s health condition," ge dongxu said with a smile.

    "thank you, dongxu," xu jingfang promptly got up and switched seats with zuo le.

    "dongxu, auntie just got pregnant not long ago, can you already tell what''s going on?" yue ting couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    "of course, i can even tell the gender." ge dongxu laughed. everyone is born with a breath of primal energy; the stronger the life breath of this primal energy, the healthier the child will naturally be. as for the gender, you just need to feel whether this life breath is more yin or yang.

    "really? then...never mind, dongxu, don''t tell me whether it''s a boy or a girl. it''s nice to have something to look forward to." xu jingfang''s eyes lit up at first, but then she shook her head.

    ge dongxu smiled and then placed his hand on xu jingfang''s wrist.

    "the child is doing well; there won''t be any problems. i''ll prescribe some pregnancy and health-preserving medicine based on your constitution to ensure you have a healthy, chubby son!" ge dongxu laughed.

    "haha! i''m going to have a little cousin!" yue ting laughed happily upon hearing this.

    "what cousin? ah..." ge dongxu was momentarily stunned, suddenly realizing he had let the cat out of the bag and couldn''t help but slap his own head.

    "haha! congratulations, elder zuo, jingfang." lin jinnuo hurriedly stood up, cupping his fists towards zuo le and xu jingfang to congratulate them.

    yue feng and his wife also joined in the congratulations.

    in changxi county, the preference for sons over daughters was still quite strong. although xu jingfang had just told ge dongxu not to tell her the gender, deep down she was hoping for a son. and bureau chief zuo le of the zuo family, who only had one son himself, took the matter of not having children very seriously. now that he heard his wife was carrying a boy, he was all smiles, repeatedly giving thanks: "it''s all thanks to dongxu, all thanks to dongxu!"

    "elder zuo, you really shouldn''t say things like that carelessly!" lin jinnuo, seeing how the couple spoke, couldn''t resist teasing them, which made xu jingfang''s face turn red, while zuo le pointed at lin jinnuo, laughing and cursing, "you, old lin, daring to make such jokes. be careful or i''ll send inspectors to your hotel every day!"

    "no, no, director zuo, i was wrong, i apologize, i apologize!" lin jinnuo quickly apologized emphatically, while ge dongxu was still young and had not yet caught the teasing in lin jinnuo''s words, showing a puzzled look and couldn''t help but ask, "old lin, what did you do wrong?" explore more at empire

    "i, i..." only then did lin jinnuo realize that ge dongxu was still just a high school student, and his face instantly turned red.

    "let''s see if you dare to talk nonsense in the future!" zuo le and yue feng pointed at lin jinnuo, then said to ge dongxu, "dongxu, don''t listen to this guy''s nonsense, nothing good comes out of his mouth."

    "right, right, don''t listen to my nonsense." lin jinnuo hurriedly said.

    ge dongxu was a smart person. even if he hadn''t yet grasped the meaning of lin jinnuo''s words, he understood by now that this was not a topic to continue, so he laughed and said, "alright, the child has been seen, now let''s drink."

    so, everyone agreed, and lin jinnuo finally sighed in relief.

    some things are commonly said at the dining table; lin jinnuo had momentarily forgotten that ge dongxu was not the same as the others, and that his earlier comment was indeed not suitable.

    it was just a small interlude. soon, the private room burst into lively toasting, with everyone frequently toasting to ge dongxu and the soon-to-be father, zuo le.

    "elder zuo, there''s been a rumor lately that the county government is planning to rebuild the office building. is that true?" lin jinnuo suddenly asked when the wine was flowing freely.

    zuo le was slightly taken aback, then pointed at lin jinnuo and said, "old lin, you know the principle i work by; don''t ask me about this again. when it''s time to know, you''ll naturally find out."

    ps: continuing to ask for recommendation votes, thank you very much.

 Chapter 103 Old Fox

    "i understand, i understand, it won''t happen again, it won''t happen again. this drink is my apology." lin jinnuo, far from looking ashamed, happily picked up his glass and punished himself with a drink."you business people are all as cunning as foxes. if you ask me a similar question next time, i''ll cut ties with you." seeing lin jinnuo''s happy face, zuo le''s expression darkened slightly as he pointed at him.

    "is it really necessary to be so ruthless? i''ll definitely be careful next time, very careful," lin jinnuo quickly wiped the smile off his face and said seriously.

    ge dongxu watched the scene unfold and seemed to understand something, a thoughtful look flickered in his eyes.

    afterward, zuo le clearly had something on his mind, and lin jinnuo, realizing he might have gone too far, repeatedly toasted zuo le. yue feng and his wife also followed with several toasts, and xu jingfang whispered something in his ear, after which zuo le gradually regained his hearty demeanor.

    the time was still around eight o''clock when the dinner ended.

    at the end of the meal, ge dongxu didn''t forget to prescribe a nurturing and pregnancy care recipe for xu jingfang and reminded her of a few things to pay attention to.

    this time it was zuo le and his group who left first. lin jinnuo used the excuse of having something to discuss with ge dongxu to specially keep him behind.

    "is there something old lin can''t discuss in front of elder zuo and the others?" after they had left, ge dongxu asked.

    "didn''t you see elder zuo getting a bit annoyed just now? even though we all know well enough, this can''t be discussed in front of him anymore," lin jinnuo replied with a laugh, his plump face revealing a slyness akin to a cunning fox.

    "do you mean the county government really plans to rebuild the office building?" ge dongxu looked at the sly smile on lin jinnuo''s face, and suddenly, as if struck by lightning, he understood why elder zuo had been unhappy, and why lin jinnuo was so cheerful.

    it turns out elder zuo had slipped up just like him earlier and lin jinnuo had guessed the real answer.

    ''tsk!'' lin jinnuo looked at ge dongxu in surprise and couldn''t help but exclaim after a moment, "dongxu, it would be a huge waste if you didn''t go into politics or business! how did you figure that out?"

    "it''s not really that difficult. with elder zuo''s character, if it were not true, he would have definitely answered no right away. after all, denying something that isn''t true doesn''t breach any principles," ge dongxu replied, inwardly marveling, lin jinnuo managed to run such a large business, definitely with good reason. he clearly knew what kind of person elder zuo was and that elder zuo would never give him the answer, yet he still managed to get the truth he wanted without forcing elder zuo to break any principles.

    "truly, great heroes emerge from youth!" lin jinnuo gave a thumbs up.

    "so, old lin, what advice do you have for keeping me here?" ge dongxu asked.

    "how could i advise you? however, now that it''s confirmed that the county government is considering rebuilding the office building, it would eventually come down to picking a spot either in the old city or beiyang, or near pingchao and jiang family village. as you know, in our country, wherever the government buildings are located, that place will definitely become the future development center. it''s just that the specific location might not have been decided by the county leadership team yet, so i can only offer you a suggestion: if you have some spare cash, consider buying up the land around your factory. even though it''s only partially possible that it falls in jiang family village, business inherently carries no guarantees of success. anyway, given the current economic development climate of changxi county, the land around the county seat is always likely to hold its value. of course, if you''re tight on funds, don''t go out of your way to buy land, as there are still risks. plus, though the county government has plans, who knows when they will materialize? what if it gets delayed for years?" lin jinnuo said.

    "i bought that plot of land by the factory last year, and just a few days ago, i bought some more around it. now, i don''t have a single penny left," ge dongxu said. sea??h th§× nov§×lf~ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    this time, lin jinnuo was genuinely surprised and stared at ge dongxu for a long while before saying, "it seems i did an unnecessary thing."

    "hehe, not really. at least after your analysis, i feel much more at ease. i was hoping to make a fortune from these plots of land," ge dongxu laughed.

    "so, how much land do you have now in jiang family village?" lin jinnuo asked.

    "about twelve acres," ge dongxu replied.

    upon hearing this, lin jinnuo was taken aback again. twelve acres was quite substantial, requiring a few hundred thousand dollars. although this amount of money was not huge for lin jinnuo, it wasn''t small either, and for a young man like ge dongxu, it was even more significant. one could imagine the boldness of a young man possessing such courage, and even lin jinnuo felt extremely shocked.

    read exclusive content at empire

    initially, he thought ge dongxu was only skilled in mysterious arts and was not much different from other young people in other respects. lin had intended to offer him some guidance, but it turned out that ge dongxu had already surpassed him.

    since ge dongxu had already surpassed him, lin jinnuo naturally had nothing more to instruct. after chatting a bit more with ge dongxu, he had lin kun escort ge dongxu home.

    as they left the elevator, ge dongxu''s peripheral vision seemed to catch a glimpse of a familiar figure sandwiched between two men.

    ge dongxu was momentarily stunned and just as he wanted to take a closer look, the elevator doors closed.

    "it must be my imagination, how could she possibly be here!" ge dongxu shook his head and then left the hotel with lin kun''s company.

    "dongxu, i''ll go bring the car over," lin kun said.

    "no need, it''s so cool this evening, perfect for a nice walk. i''d rather walk back," ge dongxu waved his hand and smiled.

    after saying this, he did not wait for lin kun to insist, and headed towards cheng yazhou''s place.

    he hadn''t walked far when ge dongxu felt uneasy, and eventually, he returned to the hotel.

    "dongxu, is there something the matter?" at this time, lin kun was still in the hotel lobby. seeing ge dongxu return, he went up to him and asked.

    "just now i thought i saw a school senior. can you help me check who checked in when we came out and which room they''re in?" ge dongxu asked.

    normally, this was not allowed, but since ge dongxu asked, lin kun naturally did not object and went to inquire at the reception.

    as the deputy manager of the hotel and the owner''s son, lin kun quickly had the reception staff check the previous registrations and then they told him the room number.

    "dongxu, i got the room number. however, it seems inappropriate to just knock on the door. should i have a staff member find a reason to go in and check for you? or maybe check the surveillance room?" after asking for the room number, lin kun suggested to ge dongxu.

    "no need, i should be able to tell just by getting to the room door." at this point, ge dongxu felt increasingly uneasy. not wanting to waste more time, he waved his hand and declined.

 Chapter 104 Big Brother Xu Hits Someone

    "alright, i''ll take you there," lin kun, knowing ge dongxu was a man of uncommon abilities, didn''t protest further. he immediately led him to the elevator and pressed the button for the eighth floor.the room of the guest from just now was on the eighth floor, room 806.

    exiting the elevator, ge dongxu followed lin kun quickly toward room 806.

    as they arrived at the door of room 806, ge dongxu was about to press his ear against the door when he vaguely heard sounds coming from inside.

    ge dongxu''s face changed drastically and he immediately turned back to ask lin kun, "do you have a room key?"

    the hotel had good soundproofing, and lin kun''s hearing wasn''t nearly as keen as ge dongxu''s. he had not yet realized something was wrong and seeing ge dongxu asking for the key, he shook his head. then, out of professional habit, he showed difficulty on his face and pointed to the do not disturb sign on the door, saying, "dongxu, there''s a do not disturb sign hanging there, it''s not convenient for us to¡­"

    seeing that lin kun didn''t have a key card, ge dongxu directly knocked on the door forcefully.

    "fuck, can''t you see the do not disturb sign on the door? get lost!" a fierce and impatient voice shouted from inside.

    seeing that the person inside didn''t open the door, ge dongxu grew anxious. he told lin kun, "you stay out here."

    after speaking, ge dongxu lifted his foot and gave the door a fierce kick.

    "bang!" the door was forcefully kicked open.

    seeing the door fly open with ge dongxu''s kick, lin kun took a deep breath of shock, remembering the incident at the ge family village farmstay. he silently thanked his lucky stars that ge dongxu hadn''t kicked him like that; otherwise, his liver and spleen would''ve ruptured.

    while lin kun was inwardly gasping and feeling relieved, ge dongxu had already stepped briskly into the room.

    inside the room, jiang lili was wearing very little, with two middle-aged men touching her.

    jiang lili froze when she saw it was ge dongxu who entered.

    "fuck! who the hell are you? get the fuck out!" the two men became enraged at the sight of a young man bursting in, with one of them cursing angrily while lifting his foot to kick ge dongxu in the stomach.

    just as the man aimed a kick at ge dongxu''s stomach, jiang lili suddenly came to her senses and screamed, "ah! don''t!"

    "fuck! scumbags!" although ge dongxu wasn''t completely clear about what was happening, the sight of two middle-aged men bringing a high school girl to a hotel room was enough to know they were scumbags. when one of them kicked at him, he immediately counter-kicked fiercely.

    "thump!" with a kick as fast as lightning, ge dongxu sent the man flying into the wall with a heavy thud.

    swiftly, before the other man could react, ge dongxu kicked him as well. find your next read at empire

    "thump!" like the first, the second man was also kicked heavily into the wall.

    "ah!" jiang lili screamed again at the shocking scene before her.

    ge dongxu grabbed a bedsheet and threw it to jiang lili.

    jiang lili caught the bedsheet and hastily wrapped herself up.

    seeing jiang lili wrapped up, ge dongxu let out a sigh of relief, then walked over to the two men who were cursing as they tried to get up from the ground. before they could stand, he stomped heavily on their backs.

    "ah!"

    "ah!"

    the two men were immediately pinned to the ground by his stomps. s§×ar?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    although ge dongxu didn''t have much affection for jiang lili, she was a schoolmate and they had some interactions. the thought of what might have happened if he had arrived a moment later or had not returned when he grew suspicious made ge dongxu feel both frightened and furious.

    "scumbags! i''ll stomp you to death!" ge dongxu continued to stomp furiously on the two men.

    watching the high school junior who used to be so respectful in front of her and others ¨C the mountain boy she hadn''t thought much of ¨C suddenly reveal such a fierce side, jiang lili was dumbfounded.

    she couldn''t believe this person before her was the same ge dongxu she knew.

    "do you know who i am? you dare to hit me! if you''ve got the guts, kill me now; otherwise, you''re going to die a horrible death!" the two men, furious at being stomped on by a young man, shouted angrily.

    however, they quickly lost their fight under ge dongxu''s relentless stomping and began to beg for mercy.

    there was no other way; a wise man knows better than to fight against insurmountable odds.

    after venting his anger and calming his rage somewhat, ge dongxu called out to lin kun at the door, "you can come in now."

    lin kun dared to enter, and upon entering he saw the two men pinned to the ground by ge dongxu''s foot. the screams he had clearly heard from outside made him tremble.

    "manager lin, manager lin, you''ve arrived just in time. call security quickly and get this guy arrested. damn it, he barged in and attacked us for no reason, you owe us an explanation!" recognizing lin kun, the two men recovered their energy upon seeing him enter and began shouting loudly.

 Chapter 105 Mr. Lin, youve come at the perfect time!

    "it''s you guys!" lin kun obviously recognized the two men and showed a hint of surprise on his face."you know them?" ge dongxu asked with a cold face.

    "yeah, a couple of guys from the underworld in songyang town, they''ve got some clout there," lin kun nodded.

    lin kun''s family owned a hotel, and they also dipped into the entertainment industry, so naturally, they knew some people from all walks of life.

    "kid, scared now, huh? get your foot off, or else i''ll¡­" seeing lin kun reveal their identities, the two men couldn''t help but regain their energy, and even started to get aggressive again.

    "your mom''s old head!" ge dongxu, who had already deemed these two as scum, was even more confirmed in his judgment by lin kun''s words. seeing the two men acting all tough, he immediately lifted his foot and stomped on them again fiercely.

    the two men, in pain, cried out to lin kun, "president lin, call security! call security!"

    while the two men were shouting, the hotel security, already alerted by the commotion, finally arrived at room 806.

    ge dongxu had been frequenting the changxi grand hotel lately, and each time he was personally welcomed by lin kun and yue ting and seen off at the hotel''s entrance, so most of the security staff recognized ge dongxu. seeing that it was him fighting, they didn''t dare to rush in, but rather looked towards lin kun with questioning eyes.

    "damn it, are you all blind? don''t you see i''m being beaten up here?" the two men on the ground thought their savior had come, but when their saviors turned out to be like wooden statues, motionless, they couldn''t help but swear in anger.

    "dongxu bro!" lin kun, hearing the two men yelling, worried about the impact on the hotel''s business, quietly called out to dongxu.

    the room fell silent the moment lin kun''s "dongxu bro" was uttered.

    the two men on the ground stopped yelling. they understood very well lin kun''s standing, and anyone who even lin kun had to address as ''bro'' was definitely not someone they could afford to mess with. at this point, they finally understood why none of the security staff had come forward to help.

    as for jiang lili, she was completely stunned, staring at ge dongxu as if she had seen a ghost.

    although she was still in shock, she realized that even the two men on the floor had to call lin kun "president lin," and if jiang lili had half a brain, she''d know that this young man in front of her was no ordinary person.

    but even he had to call ge dongxu "dongxu bro," what did that imply?

    suddenly, jiang lili remembered the incident from last year when chen zihao came to class with a bruised and swollen face, limping, and apologized to dong yuxin, saying he wouldn''t bother her anymore.

    and suddenly, jiang lili finally realized why chen zihao had been bruised and limping, why he later never dared to bother dong yuxin anymore. it turned out all this was done by that first-year student who never seemed to be in her eyes!

    seeing lin kun whispering to him, ge dongxu remembered he was in a hotel, and he still hadn''t gotten a clear answer about jiang lili''s situation, so he said to lin kun, "have someone keep an eye on them. once i''ve got the whole story, we''ll settle the score with them."

    "sure thing, dongxu bro," lin kun replied respectfully, then waved at the security guards, "take them away, don''t let them go."

    "mr. lin, should we inform the boss about this incident?" the head of security, recognizing the two men beaten by ge dongxu, knew they had a bit of a reputation in the underworld and was somewhat worried that lin kun might not understand the seriousness of the situation, exacerbating matters and causing trouble for those who had to handle it. he cautiously reminded him.

    "right, call lin jinnuo over! fuck! what exactly is going on here? i came here to spend money, not to get beaten up! and what right does he have to arrest someone? once word gets out, does he think his hotel can continue to operate?" the man pressed down by ge dongxu showed a glimmer of hope when the head of security mentioned lin jinnuo.

    young men can sometimes be impulsive and fail to grasp the severity of a situation, but lin jinnuo was an old hand in the game and certainly knew how to weigh his actions.

    "what''s the situation?" just as their voices died down, the voice of lin jinnuo came from the doorway.

    it turned out that the commotion here had already been reported to lin jinnuo, stirring him into action.

    "perfect timing, boss lin! ah, it hurts like hell, get your people to take care of this brat for me," said the beaten man, as if he had seen his savior upon seeing lin jinnuo. s§×ar?h the n??elfir§×.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "dongxu!" however, lin jinnuo didn''t attend to the two men on the ground, instead staring at ge dongxu, surprised enough that his eyes nearly dropped out.

    because lin jinnuo had always thought ge dongxu was just a man with miraculous medical skills, a high school student who typically appeared very amiable and refined, never knowing he was also a master fighter.

    but now, the domineering presence of ge dongxu as he stood with his foot on the two men clearly showed he was a fighter as well.

    this completely overturned lin jinnuo''s understanding of him! discover hidden stories at empire

    "old lin, you''re here just in time. these two scumbags must have done something awful, forcing my senior sister to get a room with them here. you take them into custody for now; don''t let them get away. after i sort out what happened, i''ll settle the score with them," ge dongxu, seeing lin jinnuo''s arrival, spoke directly without any formalities.

    lin jinnuo, being an old-timer, immediately understood the situation when he saw jiang lili wrapped in the bedsheet, considering the identities of the two men. he knew they must have been up to some abominable deed.

    "fuck!" lin jinnuo stepped forward and kicked the two men, saying, "what do you take my hotel for?"

    the two men pinned by ge dongxu were underworld figures, well aware of lin jinnuo''s influence in both the legitimate and illegitimate spheres of changxi county. seeing that even ge dongxu only addressed him as old lin, they already felt extremely ill at ease. true to their fears, shortly after they heard the young man''s words, lin jinnuo didn''t hesitate to kick them. they were now thoroughly panicked and quickly begged for mercy, "boss lin, we''re sorry, we''re sorry! we admit our mistake, and we apologize to you and this young brother!"

    "apologies are bullshit! take them away, damn it; who do you think you are, doing such inhuman things!" lin jinnuo kicked the two men again, cursing them angrily.

    "lin jinnuo, let us go! you have no right to arrest us; i''ll sue your changxi grand hotel!" the two men, seeing lin jinnuo giving them no face and actually following ge dongxu''s command to detain them, yelled in a panic, not caring about offending lin jinnuo anymore.

    "old lin, he''s not wrong. call elder zuo and ask him to bring some people over." the scumbags'' words reminded ge dongxu. seeing the security take the two men away, he thought for a moment and then said to lin jinnuo.

    "elder zuo, who''s elder zuo?" hearing ge dongxu acknowledge that they had made a valid point, the scumbags felt relieved for a moment. but then ge dongxu mentioned elder zuo, and their hearts skipped a beat as they blurted out their question.

    "zuo le, chief zuo! now do you understand what kind of trouble you''re in? fuck!" hearing this, lin jinnuo slapped both men on the head.

    ps: it''s monday again; i earnestly request recommendation tickets, clicks, favorites, rewards, and comments in support. today will have at least four chapters.

 Chapter 106 This is a Different Matter [2nd Update, Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "director zuo... director zuo!" when the two scumbags heard this, their legs went weak, and they almost collapsed on the ground.they weren''t very afraid of lin jinnuo; after all, he was just a businessman. but zuo le was a terrifying figure specifically known for dealing with scum like them in changxi county! that wasn''t even the main issue. the crucial factor was that the young man just called zuo le "elder zuo"!

    with zuo le''s current position and status, the only people in changxi county who dared to call him that were probably only his best friends or his superiors. but now? this young man actually called him elder zuo!

    it was clear that once zuo le arrived and personally investigated this case, not only would today''s deeds be thoroughly exposed, but past misdeeds would likely also be unearthed. s~ea??h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    thinking about this, the two completely broke down in tears.

    "young man, young man, let''s talk this out, let''s talk this out!" the two cried desperately, begging for mercy.

    however, ge dongxu ignored such scum and simply waved his hand, signaling the security guards to drag them out.

    "old lin, lin kun, you guys go out first. i''ll call you back in once i''ve clarified the situation," ge dongxu said to lin jinnuo and his son after the guards left.

    "alright, but the door has been kicked and is busted, so it''s a bit inconvenient. maybe we should change rooms," suggested lin jinnuo, nodding his head and then considerately proposing.

    "that sounds good," ge dongxu also felt it was inconvenient to keep the door open, especially with jiang lili wrapped in a sheet, wearing only underwear underneath. upon hearing the suggestion, he nodded his head.

    fortunately, the room next to 806 was vacant, so ge dongxu, carrying jiang lili''s clothes, led the still somewhat dazed jiang lili to the neighboring room.

    once in the neighboring room, ge dongxu closed the door, then handed the clothes and trousers to jiang lili, saying, "go to the bathroom and put these on first."

    jiang lili silently took the clothes and trousers, then suddenly let go of the sheet wrapped around her, allowing it to fall to the floor.

    "what are you doing?" ge dongxu quickly turned away and exclaimed.

    "do you look down on me now? think i''m a piece of trash, a cheap woman? yes, i am trash, i am a cheap woman! if you men like to watch, then watch enough!" jiang lili said, standing bare-chested in front of ge dongxu, her expression becoming somewhat crazy and hysterical.

    "what are you talking about? why would i think you''re trash or cheap? if that were true, i wouldn''t have kicked the door in earlier," ge dongxu saw jiang lili''s self-degradation and wanted to explode in anger, but he ultimately restrained himself.

    "you say that, but you must still look down on me deep down! woohoo!" ge dongxu''s attempts to console her seemed to not only be ineffective but also made jiang lili cry even more.

    she sat on the floor, burying her face in her knees and sobbing.

    jiang lili''s crying put ge dongxu in a tough spot.

    eventually, ge dongxu reluctantly stepped forward, and without hesitation, picked up jiang lili''s t-shirt and put it over her head, pulling it down.

    this covered her body.

    "okay, i promise i won''t say anything about today''s events, and i''ll instruct others not to reveal them either. now that it''s just the two of us here, tell me what actually happened? you have to tell me what happened so that i can help you," ge dongxu said after forcing the t-shirt over jiang lili, sitting down next to her on the floor and gently patting her shoulder.

    "wah!" jiang lili suddenly threw herself into ge dongxu''s arms, crying loudly.

    having no experience in consoling girls, ge dongxu could only gently pat jiang lili''s shoulder, saying things like "don''t cry," which weren''t technically savvy.

    after jiang lili had cried loudly, her emotions were vented, and after not too much time, her mood gradually stabilized, and she sat up from ge dongxu''s embrace.

    seeing her face covered in tears and her eyes red, ge dongxu handed her a tissue.

    "thank you!" jiang lili wiped the tears from her face, and seeing how her crying had wet ge dongxu''s clothes, her pretty face blushed a bit.

    but as she recalled the recent events that had occurred to her family, the flush quickly turned pale.

    "xu, you must help me, help our family!" wiping her tears and thinking of the events that had happened to her family these days, jiang lili suddenly grabbed ge dongxu''s arm, tears falling from her eyes again.

    "you don''t need to call me like lin kun does, just call me dongxu. also, don''t rush, tell me slowly, i''ll definitely help if i can," ge dongxu said.

    "you can definitely help! you must help! if you help me this time, i, jiang lili, will be your woman for life!" jiang lili, tears streaming down her face, said.

    "what nonsense are you talking!" ge dongxu couldn''t help but scolded irritably upon hearing this.

    "i mean it seriously. if it weren''t for you coming this time, my life would have been ruined by those two men!" jiang lili said.

    "these are two different matters, can we talk about the crucial issues?" ge dongxu said with a headache.

    "alright, i won''t talk about that now. as long as you know deep down that my body is yours for life," jiang lili said, wiping away her tears.

    "jiang lili, if you keep talking like this, i won''t deal with your matters!" ge dongxu said, his head aching and growing angry. find your next read at empire

    "do you really look down on me?" jiang lili asked, tears falling again upon hearing this.

    "not at all, can we please talk about crucial matters?" ge dongxu looked at jiang lili beginning to cry again, feeling his brain almost exploding. he couldn''t understand the structure of a woman''s mind, why she would cling to such absurd issues at a time like this.

    "okay!" this time, jiang lili finally stopped dwelling on it, wiped her tears, nodded, and then explained the whole situation to ge dongxu.

    ps: it''s monday, so please don''t find it troublesome, help cast a recommendation vote, thank you.

 Chapter 107 Trashã€Third release, ask for recommendation ticketsã€‘

    ge dongxu grew angrier as he listened, but his gaze on jiang lili gradually became filled with deep sympathy.it turned out that the two men from just now, one named duan qiaoxue, and the other jin ma, were two friends her father had met early last year while doing business.

    in the beginning, they both seemed very generous and loyal. they not only paid promptly in their business dealings with her father but would also take small losses upon themselves rather than letting her father bear them. thus, through their back-and-forth interactions, her father came to regard them as confidants, and jiang lili, having met them, would enthusiastically call them "uncle".

    however, this relationship underwent a drastic change after a gambling event some days ago. in that gambling bout, not only did her father lose all his savings, but in his bet-blinded state, he also mortgaged their house to the bank to get more funds to continue gambling. in the end, he lost all the borrowed money and, completely maddened by his losses, begged his two friends to act as guarantors for a loan of one hundred and fifty thousand yuan from another gambler. he promptly wrote an iou and continued to gamble, only to continue losing.

    her father wanted to borrow even more when those two so-called good friends, duan qiaoxue and jin ma, saw he had nothing left to offer and refused to guarantee any more loans. moreover, they had been coming to their house every day to press for repayment, claiming they had guaranteed the loan out of goodwill. now the creditor was pressing them for the repayment daily, and they also mentioned that the creditor was involved in the underworld. if the money wasn''t repaid soon, there would be serious trouble.

    at that point, her father started to realize that his two "friends" had set him up in a scam. naturally, he cursed at them and refused to pay the debt.

    seeing jiang lili''s father refuse to repay the debt, the two men showed their true colors. not only did they have someone take her father to a place and beat him up, but they also showed him the iou, saying that it was black on white, debts must be repaid, and that no matter where they argued, her father was in the wrong. moreover, they warned her father that they had connections in both the underworld and the legitimate world, and he better not try anything, or it wouldn''t just be a matter of repaying the money in the end.

    jiang lili''s family was just an ordinary household and knew those people were capable of anything. naturally, they didn''t dare make a scene, and her father had since been left somewhat dazed from the incident and took to heavy drinking. what was worse was that those people would still come to their door demanding the debt.

    jiang lili, feeling helpless, cried and begged them to show mercy and spare her family, promising to repay the money once she started earning. s§×arch* the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    those two scumbags, whom she used to warmly call "uncle," then leered at her chest, saying that could work as well, as long as she was willing to please them really well, they could delay the debt.

    and then, the incident from earlier unfolded.

    "scum! they are nothing but scum!" a youthful ge dongxu, upon hearing the story, felt for the first time the urge to kill.

    but ge dongxu quickly suppressed this murderous impulse, knowing they lived in a lawful society where all should be left to legal judgment. moreover, with zuo le present, ge dongxu was confident they wouldn''t escape severe legal punishment.

    "dongxu, i know you''re capable, and you know many people. please help me, our family really has not a penny left, our house is gone, and my dad has even borrowed a lot from relatives and friends. we really can''t pay them back!" after saying this, jiang lili clutched ge dongxu''s arm and pleaded with tears.

    "hmph, repay what money? rest assured, i will make sure these scumbags get jailed!" ge dongxu, in his anger, didn''t bother to correct jiang lili''s address of him as "dongxu" and spoke with a cold face.

    "really? but i heard they have connections in both the underworld and legitimate world. there was even a time they beat someone so badly, my mom called the police. when the police came and saw the iou my dad wrote, they didn''t say a word and left," jiang lili said, both excited and worried.

    find exclusive stories on empire

    "don''t worry! this time, not just them but even the people backing them won''t get away with it!" ge dongxu declared coldly.

    "dongxu, was that mr. lin just now the owner of the changxi grand hotel? and who is chief zuo he mentioned? is he a government official?" jiang lili, seeing ge dongxu''s confident demeanor, had her eyes filled with deep hope.

    "yes, the chubby one just now is the owner of the changxi grand hotel, and the chief zuo mentioned is the chief of the public security bureau in our county," ge dongxu nodded and said.

    "ah! the chief of the public security bureau!" on hearing this, jiang lili''s mouth flew open, and she couldn''t recover her senses for a long time.

    for ordinary people, especially a high school student, the chief of the public security bureau is an enormously important official. furthermore, since the public security bureau is a law enforcement department, it further highlights the chief''s status in the eyes of ordinary people.

    "that''s right, so you don''t need to worry," ge dongxu nodded and told her.

    "ah, i''m not worried, i''m not worried. thank you, dongxu. you must ask chief zuo to punish those bad people severely!" as soon as ge dongxu spoke, jiang lili finally snapped out of it, hurriedly nodding repeatedly. and in her excitement, she even bowed to ge dongxu.

    jiang lili already had a large chest, and since she wasn''t wearing a bra, her bending over suddenly caused her neckline to stretch widely, hanging down, seeming even more enticing than when she wasn''t wearing one, which frightened ge dongxu into quickly turning his head away, with a wry smile he said, "you better hurry up and put on your clothes, and don''t call me dongxu in the future. what if other students from school hear you?"

    "got it, dongxu. i''ll just call you that in private from now on," jiang lili saw ge dongxu turn his head away, and not only did she not feel dejected, but there was even a hint of mischief in her eyes. she leaned in close to ge dongxu''s ear and whispered sweetly, then, without avoiding ge dongxu, she started getting undressed right there in the room.

    ge dongxu inadvertently turned his head back, saw a flash of white, and quickly turned away again, saying, "hey, jiang lili, don''t go too far, we''re still just students!"

    "what''s too far about it? anyway, you''ve already seen it before, and there wasn''t a problem, right?" jiang lili responded nonchalantly.

    "how can that be the same?" ge dongxu replied irritably.

    "so you''re saying, dongxu, that you did feel something? hehe, it seems you''re not as pure as you pretended to be in front of us before, right? could it be you''ve spied on me before?" jiang lili had a naturally cheerful and lively personality. thinking that her ordeal was finally about to end and the bad guys were going to be punished, she felt a cathartic joy, regaining some of her usual vivacity and spiciness.

    "ahem!" ge dongxu turned a little red with jiang lili''s question.

    "giggle!" seeing ge dongxu blush, jiang lili laughed out loud.

    seeing jiang lili laugh out loud, ge dongxu stopped blushing. in fact, he let out a sigh of relief.

    he knew that after experiencing something like that, it''s inevitable for a girl to be left with some psychological scars. the fact that lili could laugh out loud meant that her condition was relatively good.

 Chapter 108 Stubbornness is Useless [4th Update, Request for Votes]

    "have you had your fill of laughter?" ge dongxu finally turned around and, upon seeing jiang lili whose attire was now tidy, his face darkened slightly as he spoke."are you angry, dongxu? the most i can do is not to behave like this in the future, okay?" seeing the slight darkening of ge dongxu''s face, jiang lili felt an inexplicable shiver in her heart. she quickly stepped forward, hugged his arm, and gently shook it, revealing a pitiful expression on her face.

    looking at the docile and pitiful girl in front of him, who seemed like a rabbit and drastically different from the fiery jiang lili of the past, ge dongxu felt almost as if he didn''t recognize her anymore. after a long while, he forced a bitter smile and said, "i still prefer the way you were before, though a bit hot-headed and realistic, it looked normal and genuine, unlike now, which makes me feel somewhat uneasy."

    "what''s the matter? it depends on the person, you know! back then, you were just a freshman, and a poor boy at that, so as your senior, i naturally had to put on a fiery front and show some attitude. but now that you''re so impressive, and have rescued me from misery, of course i''d behave differently. otherwise, would i, jiang lili, still be considered normal?" jiang lili said, pouting.

    upon hearing this, ge dongxu realized there was some truth to it and could only force a bitter smile. "anyway, i hope that our interactions remain the same as before, unaffected by today''s events." continue your journey on empire

    "don''t worry, i understand! it''ll just be like this in private," jiang lili reassured. having been admitted to the most prestigious high school in changxi county, changxi no. 1 high school, she was naturally not dull-witted. she immediately nodded in agreement at his words.

    seeing jiang lili nod her head in agreement, ge dongxu let out a silent sigh of relief and said, "i''ll give elder zuo a call to see. he should be arriving soon. when he gets here, you just say what you need to say. there''s no need to be afraid."

    "yeah, i understand, dongxu. thank you," jiang lili nodded and said.

    seeing that jiang lili still insisted on calling him dongxu in private, ge dongxu initially wanted to persuade her otherwise, but considering the unpredictable temper of women, he figured more persuasion would lead to more trouble and let it be.

    of course, being called "dongxu" by jiang lili, who had always acted superior to him, gave ge dongxu a rather bittersweet feeling.

    so, ge dongxu used the room phone to call zuo le.

    as expected, zuo le had already arrived at changxi grand hotel, and his men were also on their way. he was currently in the hotel''s security room.

    knowing that zuo le was in the hotel''s security room, ge dongxu told him he would be right there and then hung up the phone.

    "elder zuo has arrived. let''s go there now," ge dongxu suggested.

    "okay," jiang lili nodded, then followed ge dongxu out of the hotel.

    they hadn''t yet reached the elevator when the doors opened, and lin kun hurried out.

    seeing ge dongxu and jiang lili coming out, he quickly pressed the elevator button and then used his hand to block the doors from closing.

    it was clear that lin kun was worried ge dongxu wasn''t sure where the security room was and had specifically come up to escort him.

    at this point, jiang lili was aware that lin kun was the son of the changxi grand hotel''s owner. seeing him take the trouble to personally welcome ge dongxu for such a trivial matter, she felt increasingly puzzled by this junior from the first year of high school.

    "what happened to those two scumbags named duan qiaoxue and jin ma? did they say anything?" ge dongxu didn''t bother with formalities when speaking with lin kun, as he stepped into the elevator with jiang lili and asked.

    it was the first time jiang lili had seen a genuine second-generation rich kid, and she felt somewhat nervous. however, when she saw how casually ge dongxu questioned lin kun and how respectfully lin kun responded, her anxiety gradually faded.

    "they''re quite obstinate, claiming that your friend here volunteered to get involved with them," lin kun spoke with some hesitation when mentioning jiang lili, fearful of upsetting ge dongxu. his gaze also inadvertently swept quickly over jiang lili.

    seeing that jiang lili wasn''t stunningly beautiful but had an attractive figure, it was clear why those two men had resorted to tactics to get her.

    even he, lin kun, would be tempted by such a woman!

    of course, even if lin kun had a hundred or a thousand times the courage he possessed now, he wouldn''t dare harbor improper thoughts about the woman with the impressive figure before him.

    "they''re lying, i, i was coerced!" jiang lili became anxious upon hearing this, and tears involuntarily started rolling in her eyes.

    "don''t panic, their stubbornness is useless!" ge dongxu saw jiang lili''s emotions drastically fluctuate and quickly tried to comfort her.

    "yes! but what if they outright refuse to admit it, and they also have the iou my dad wrote." jiang lili felt a bit calmer when ge dongxu spoke to console her, but she couldn''t help showing a worried expression on her face.

    "don''t worry, i will find a way to make them talk. not only about this matter, but everything they have done will also be completely revealed by them," ge dongxu patted jiang lili''s shoulder and consoled her again.

    when lin kun heard ge dongxu''s calm words, he couldn''t help but shudder. he thought back to the events that had occurred in ge family village. s§×ar?h the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    at the same time, lin kun began to silently mourn for those two guys and the people behind them!

    of all people to offend, they had to offend dongxu. they really didn''t know what death means!

    "um, thank you!" jiang lili either intentionally or because she really needed a shoulder to lean on at that moment, nodded and said thank you as she conveniently leaned her body against him, showing a rather dependent appearance.

    knowing that jiang lili''s emotions were still unstable, ge dongxu didn''t dare to push her away. instead, he gently held her fragrant shoulder a bit tighter.

    seeing this, lin kun hurriedly averted his eyes, feeling even more sorry for those two scumbags and the people behind them!

    so, this woman has another kind of relationship with dongxu. you guys are definitely going to suffer a very miserable death!

    after exiting the elevator, jiang lili finally moved away from ge dongxu''s shoulder.

    when ge dongxu arrived at the security room, a few detectives temporarily called in by zuo le had also made it to the security room.

    at first glance, this incident seemed quite ordinary, nothing more than two middle-aged men arranging a meet up with a woman, but once lin jinnuo explained the identities of these two men, along with jiang lili''s identity to zuo le, a detective by training, he knew this case wasn''t so simple but rather a criminal affair. so he immediately called in some of his reliable former subordinates.

    coincidentally, the detectives who came over today happened to be the ones ge dongxu had met outside the emergency room at ouzhou city hospital.

    they were all aware of what had happened back then, but were later instructed not to speak of it, so these detectives recognized ge dongxu. seeing him appear, they were all surprised and involuntarily showed a mix of awe and gratitude.

    the last time they had taken action together with zuo le, others might not have known the severity of zuo''s injuries, but they were very clear about it. yet, in the end, chief zuo recovered and left the hospital in not so many days, soon taking up the post of a county party standing committee member and the head of the public security bureau. naturally, these former subordinates of zuo le also benefitted from his rise.

    so for ge dongxu, this extraordinary man, they not only had a deep respect but also felt grateful. because by saving zuo le, ge dongxu didn''t just alleviate their guilt and self-blame but also helped them in their careers.

    ps: today''s update is complete.

 Chapter 109 Acupoint Sealing [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    because of this reason, the detectives were surprised to see ge dongxu arrive with a girl, and they hurriedly saluted him as if he were their leader.last time ge dongxu had slipped away, and they had no chance to express their gratitude; the salute just now was their way of expressing their appreciation, making up for the previous omission.

    the sudden gesture from the police startled ge dongxu, while jiang lili''s eyes nearly popped out in amazement.

    for her, a high school student with little worldly experience, no matter what was said, it was not as shocking as seeing these uniformed individuals salute!

    "no, no, you''re making it so that i don''t even know how to respond," ge dongxu quickly scratched his head and showed the unique shyness of a young man.

    seeing this, the police officers all smiled, lowered their hands, and one of them, who looked like an officer, asked, "elder zuo called just now but didn''t explain much, could it be that this matter is related to you?"

    "yes, it involves my senior here. let''s go inside and talk," ge dongxu nodded and said.

    "please, after you," a few policemen quickly stepped aside and said.

    seeing this, ge dongxu didn''t stand on ceremony, thanked them, and then led jiang lili into the security room. sear?h the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "chief zuo, sorry to trouble you again." since there were quite a few people in the security room, including some of zuo le''s subordinates, ge dongxu did not call zuo le ''elder zuo'' but referred to him as chief zuo instead.

    as ge dongxu''s social experience grew and he met more people, he gradually became familiar with formalities and no longer appeared as na?ve as before. he knew he could not diminish zuo le''s authority in front of these police officers.

    zuo le was slightly taken aback, then quickly understood ge dongxu''s intention, a hint of appreciation flashing in his eyes, and he hastened to say, "dongxu, you''re being too polite, this is my duty."

    as he spoke, zuo le''s gaze shifted to jiang lili and he asked, "is this the victim?"

    "exactly, this is the victim, my senior jiang lili. thankfully, i arrived in time to prevent a bigger disaster!" ge dongxu nodded, then added specifically, after all, jiang lili was still a maiden, and he couldn''t let others misunderstand.

    "jiang lili, do not be afraid. we will thoroughly investigate this matter and bring the perpetrator to justice! please cooperate with our investigation," zuo le said gently to jiang lili.

    jiang lili had been quite nervous at first at the sight of zuo le, the chief of the public security bureau, but seeing his kind manner and noticing that ge dongxu was indeed very familiar with him, she felt less anxious and nodded, "thank you, chief zuo, i will definitely cooperate with your investigation."

    "dongxu, this is the hotel security room, not a suitable place for taking statements. what do you think about moving to the public security bureau with jiang lili now?" zuo le nodded at jiang lili, then said to ge dongxu.

    "no problem, just follow the procedure," ge dongxu nodded and replied.

    seeing that ge dongxu had no objections, zuo le ordered his men to take the two scoundrels to the police car.

    the two were thugs from the streets, understanding that showing weakness was futile by now, and that remaining tough might still offer a chance. thus, their attitude was no longer humble as before, but rather, they shouted, proclaiming that they were the ones beaten, yet they were the ones being arrested, accusing zuo le and others of abusing their power.

    seeing that the two were still causing a ruckus at this point, ge dongxu was quite annoyed and also worried that their shouting could negatively affect zuo le and the others once they left. he gestured with his hand to the police detaining the two and said, "one moment."

    saying this, he walked towards the two men.

    duan qiaoxue and jin ma were clearly frightened by ge dongxu previously, and as they saw him approaching, fear flashed immediately in their eyes as they yelled apprehensively, "what are you going to do? the police are here, do you still want to hit someone?"

    "keep it real for me!" ge dongxu didn''t hit them, instead he pushed the police officer next to him who directly slapped them on their heads.

    these officers were all detectives, whose deducing abilities were much stronger than those of ordinary police officers. from the recent dialogue between ge dongxu, jiang lili, and zuo le, and seeing jiang lili''s reddened eyes, her beautiful and voluptuous appearance, they had already guessed something and had long wanted to thrash the two, and now seeing them yelling at ge dongxu, they finally could not restrain themselves and slapped them.

    "the police are hitting people! the police are hitting people!" the two men began to shout loudly.

    fortunately, the door of the security room was closed at that time, otherwise, it might really lead to a misunderstanding.

    zuo le furrowed his brow, while ge dongxu''s face suddenly darkened. he walked behind the two, searched around the back of their necks for a moment, then extended a finger to a spot where the governor vessel and the yang wei vessel intersect at the back of the head and gently massaged it a few times.

    suddenly, those two could no longer make a sound.

    the men, realizing that they had suddenly lost their ability to speak, panicked and their faces turned pale. the way they looked at ge dongxu was as though they had seen a ghost, filled with fear. although the others hadn''t personally experienced the horror of suddenly losing one''s voice, seeing the two men frantically moving their mouths without making a sound, their eyes filled with terror and their hair standing on end was enough to make the security room seem ominously eerie.

    only lin kun was somewhat calmer, though he was still shaking inside.

    "now we can take them out," ge dongxu said, seeing that the two men had become silenced, and nodded.

    "dongxu, was that the legendary acupoint sealing just now?" zuo le walked forward, following the others out, and asked in a low voice.

    as zuo le asked this, the police officers and others around them all perked up their ears, including jiang lili.

    acupoint sealing was seen by many as a magical and mysterious martial arts skill, often only seen in tv shows, movies, or novels, never witnessed in reality by them.

    "if you want to think of it that way, you can, but it''s really nothing. the acupuncture in traditional chinese medicine is to dredge and stimulate the meridians and acupoints of people, while what i just did was the opposite, and then they were unable to speak," ge dongxu casually explained.

    since these police officers all knew about ge dongxu''s miraculous medical skills, such an explanation actually made sense to them, but still, they felt a bit fearful of him, always feeling that his fingers were magical.

    on the way to the county public security bureau, afraid that cheng yazhou would worry if he returned late, ge dongxu took the time to call him and tell him that he would be back later.

    since this case also involved jiang lili''s parents, zuo le had already sent someone to notify jiang lili''s parents partway through, asking them to come to the public security bureau as well.

    at the public security bureau, ge dongxu saw jiang lili''s parents. speaking of which, jiang lili''s father was also just over forty this year, but he was very slow in reaction and his eyes appeared lifeless, his entire mental state resembling that of an elderly man nearing his death.

    however, ge dongxu felt no pity for him because, due to him, his daughter''s life was almost ruined, he absolutely did not deserve to be a father!

    of course, seeing him in this state, ge dongxu couldn''t bring himself to be angry at him anymore.

    in the end, this whole thing was a trap set by duan qiaoxue and others to deceive him; he too was a victim! find your next read on empire

    ps: the new book needs the strong support of all my readers, please don''t forget to vote for the book, thank you very much. i should individually thank those who have rewarded the book, but since there are too many of you, i can only express my thanks here once again. your rewards, no matter how big or small, are extra encouragement, and i sincerely appreciate it, thank you! additionally, in response to a cameo request from a reader at qq book city, the scumbag duan qiaoxue makes a grand appearance.

 Chapter 110 You Let Me Judge

    by the time they reached the police station, jiang lili''s parents, due to their prior experience with reporting to the authorities, were initially afraid to tell the truth. it was only when zuo le informed them that their daughter had nearly been ruined by those two men that they came to a sudden realization.jiang yidong, lili''s father, clutched his head and kept pulling at his own hair, his eyes bloodshot. he probably would have taken a knife to those two scumbags if they weren''t at the police station, while lili''s mother was sobbing and hitting jiang yidong.

    eventually, it was zuo le who calmed lili''s mother down and then he told jiang yidong, "i am zuo le, the head of the county public security bureau. you just need to rest assured, no matter what backgrounds duan qiaoxue and his associates come from, i will have them prosecuted according to the law."

    only then did they realize that the man before them was the head of the county public security bureau, and they immediately began crying and tried to kneel before him.

    zuo le couldn''t dare allow them to kneel, so he quickly helped them up and then personally recorded their testimonies.

    after clarifying that another suspect was involved in the case, he immediately deployed officers to apprehend him as well.

    however, duan qiaoxue and his two associates still had tough attitudes, insisting that the money was borrowed by jiang yidong. regarding lili''s affair, they claimed it was voluntarily done by lili to help her father repay his debts.

    thus, what seemed to be a straightforward case had hit a dead end unless zuo le and his team resorted to using torture. otherwise, the case would be dragged on for a while.

    of course, since all three were seasoned criminals with undoubtedly shady backgrounds, now that zuo le, the head of the county public security bureau, had taken interest, investigating them would inevitably lead to their imprisonment sooner or later. for now, their obstinacy meant that zuo le had no immediate way to deal with them.

    zuo le explained the situation privately to ge dongxu to avoid any misunderstanding that he was reluctant to do his best in handling the case.

    "they refuse to speak, do they? that''s simple, let me do the interrogating, and i guarantee everything will come out," said ge dongxu, his face darkening slightly, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

    as for such scum of society, it was only because of legal constraints and also ge dongxu''s concern about affecting his own moral nature, considering he was still a young man taking ruthless measures on his own, that he hadn''t dealt those two harsh punishment back at changxi grand hotel, ensuring they would spend their lives on a hospital bed.

    "you really have a way? i mean, without using torture?" zuo le asked in surprise.

    "yes," ge dongxu nodded.

    "that''s great, how can i assist you?" zuo le asked excitedly.

    "just write down the questions you want to ask on a piece of paper, and i''ll ask them, then you record the testimonies," said ge dongxu.

    in the interrogation room, the police were questioning duan qiaoxue. your next read awaits at empire

    "officer, how many times do i have to say it before you believe me? debts must be paid; it''s only natural. i admit that involving his daughter was wrong, and we are willing to accept any sentence or fine," duan qiaoxue stated weakly, his demeanor as if he were a pig not afraid of boiling water.

    "duan qiaoxue, do you think we don''t know who you are? who do you think you''re fooling? are you going to confess today or not?" the interrogating officer asked, his temper flaring up as he suddenly stood up and slammed his hand on the desk. sea??h th§× n?velfire.n§×t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "officer, i have already confessed everything i needed to confess," duan qiaoxue feigned confusion.

    the interrogating officer, infuriated to the point of explosion, was just about to slap duan qiaoxue when he suddenly saw director zuo entering the room. he hurriedly snapped to attention and saluted, reporting, "director zuo, this guy¡­"

    "that''s enough, i heard everything from outside. you all leave now, i''ll take over the interrogation," zuo le waved his hand and said.

    the two interrogating officers looked at each other and, after saluting sharply, exited the room.

    as soon as duan qiaoxue saw ge dongxu, this young man, he inexplicably felt his skin crawl and pointed at him, saying, "what, what do you want? i must tell you, this is the police station!"

    "why are you nervous? i''m not going to hit you! come on, let''s have a good talk." ge dongxu said as he sat down and then moved the lamp on the interrogation table away from him.

    "really?" duan qiaoxue was frightened by this young man at the hotel, especially after he softly rubbed the back of his head a few times, leaving him unable to speak. this incident made him inexplicably fearful of the young man in front of him, and now, the young man''s unusual demeanor truly made him puzzled.

    "of course it''s true. why would i hit you for no reason? besides, i''m still a high school student. do i look like someone who would hit people?" ge dongxu''s face displayed a harmless smile, and his voice became particularly gentle, carrying a hint of beguilement.

    "it seems not." duan qiaoxue shook his head, with a look of dazed confusion on his face.

    zuo le, watching the scene unfold, felt a chill in his heart and, without delay, began writing the questions he wanted to ask on a piece of paper while pressing the recorder.

    "yes, i''m here to help you. if you don''t believe me, just look into my eyes; you''ll know, eyes don''t lie." ge dongxu''s smile deepened, and his voice grew softer and more melodious.

    upon hearing this, duan qiaoxue unconsciously looked up into ge dongxu''s eyes.

    with that glance, duan qiaoxue''s expression became completely blank, and he responded, "i really do believe you''re here to help me now."

    "that''s right. but to help you, i first need to know what happened, so you must tell me the truth." although ge dongxu felt inward joy at his reaction, he continued to smile gently, his gaze growing softer.

    "of course." duan qiaoxue replied without hesitation.

    zuo le, being an experienced detective, knew exactly what to do and quickly passed the prepared questions to ge dongxu.

    ge dongxu then began asking the questions one by one, and duan qiaoxue, like a puppet, answered everything that was asked, detailing all the misdeeds he had committed over the years, even confessing the involvement of a deputy chief of the songyang town police station, who had been his protector.

    this interrogation lasted about an hour, and seeing that it was nearly enough, zuo le gestured with his hand for ge dongxu to conclude.

    ge dongxu then withdrew his gaze and gently rubbed his temples.

    the "bewitching soul technique" is a technique that heavily consumes spiritual power, and even if zuo le hadn''t signaled to stop, ge dongxu was already suffering from a headache and couldn''t continue.

    "what, what did you just do to me?" the moment ge dongxu withdrew his gaze, duan qiaoxue immediately shivered and looked at ge dongxu with a frightened expression.

    "what do you think?" ge dongxu replied with a cold smile, as zuo le cooperatively pressed the recorder once again.

    "you, you... how is this possible? how could i be so foolish!" hearing his own voice played back from the recorder, duan qiaoxue''s face turned deathly pale, looking at ge dongxu as if he had seen a demon from hell.

    "you''re not foolish, you''re scum! very much scum!" ge dongxu said as he stood up, but as he did, his head spun dizzyingly, and his body swayed slightly.

    "are you okay!" zuo le quickly supported ge dongxu.

    "i''m fine, just need to rest a bit and i can continue." ge dongxu said.

    ps: continuing to ask for recommendation tickets, thank you.

 Chapter 111 Accidents

    "hehe, with this detailed confession, if we still can''t solve the case, and need you to step in, then we might as well go back home to farm. don''t worry, not a single one of them will escape. leave the rest to us," said zuo le with a laugh, his gaze toward ge dongxu filled with a hint of awe without realizing it.now, he felt even more the mystery and dread that this young man embodied!

    fortunately, this young man wasn''t a bad person, or else he would certainly have been their police nightmare.

    "since that''s the case, i''ll save myself the energy. not to mention, my head still hurts," said ge dongxu, breathing a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

    "then you should go back and rest as soon as possible," urged zuo le anxiously.

    "mhm," ge dongxu nodded, and then the two left the interrogation room.

    afterward, ge dongxu said goodbye to jiang lili and others and went back to cheng yazhou''s place.

    once ge dongxu had left, zuo le immediately re-interrogated jin ma and another accomplice. since duan qiaoxue had confessed everything, jin ma and the other accomplice, fearing severe punishment if they confessed too late, also divulged everything.

    with confessions from these three people, zuo le held a police department meeting overnight and dispatched personnel to gather evidence. they also arrested all the suspects mentioned in the confessions, including the deputy police chief.

    the next day was sunday. while ge dongxu was reading upstairs, cheng yazhou knocked on his door to tell him that zuo le had called for him.

    after speaking with zuo le on the phone, ge dongxu learned that zuo le had conducted an overnight operation the previous night, breaking up a fraud gang that had been protected by the deputy chief of the songyang town police station. not only had jiang lili''s family been victimized, but over ten other families in changxi county as well, involving several million in funds.

    the jiang lili family''s gambling fraud case was a recent incident, and some of the money had not yet been squandered by duan qiaoxue and the others, so some was recovered. thanks to ge dongxu, zuo le also tried to reimburse jiang yidong as much as possible. of course, even though jiang yidong was a victim, because he was involved in gambling, he still received a stern lecture.

    but no matter what, it was thanks to ge dongxu''s timely arrival and zuo le''s prompt case breaking that jiang lili''s family was saved from who knows what miserable future. at the very least, jiang lili, a girl with excellent academic performances, might have had her life utterly ruined.

    "thank you, elder zuo," ge dongxu said, finally feeling relaxed after hearing what elder zuo had said, expressing his gratitude.

    "it is we who should thank you, being able to solve the case so quickly this time. you deserve the most credit. it''s just a pity you don''t like to showboat, otherwise, i would definitely apply for a bonus for you," zuo le said with a smile.

    "please don''t, it''s also my responsibility," ge dongxu responded hastily.

    "i knew you would say that. alright, i still have things to do, we''ll chat more when we meet," zuo le said, laughing as he hung up the phone.

    after hanging up the phone with zuo le, ge dongxu was returning the phone to cheng yazhou when he suddenly remembered what lin jinnuo had said the night before and hesitated before saying to uncle cheng, "uncle cheng, do you have any spare cash at the moment?"

    "i do have some spare cash, it was originally meant to pay back a bank loan, but if you need it, i can lend it to you temporarily," said cheng yazhou, startled at first, then he said.

    he thought ge dongxu might need the money because of his recent large spending.

    ge dongxu felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this and smiled as he said, "thank you, uncle cheng. i don''t need money right now. i just think that if you have spare cash, it''s better to buy some land in jiang family village. of course, you can also diversify, buying some in both beiyang and pingchao." s§×arch* the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    according to lin jinnuo''s analysis, if the county government doesn''t choose the lc district, beiyang and pingchao will likely have a better chance than jiang family village. however, dongxu had specifically gone to look at beiyang and pingchao two days ago and felt that the feng shui there was just average, so he was still more optimistic about jiang family village and obviously biased cheng yazhou toward it when urging him.

    cheng yazhou may not be as shrewd as lin jinnuo, but as a businessman, he thought quickly. remembering that ge dongxu knew director zuo le and that they had dined together the night before, he had an idea and said, "since you say so, i''ll hold onto this money for buying land, especially since the bank loan hasn''t matured yet."

    "mm, if you''re going to buy, you should do it quickly," dongxu nodded and said. he knew that even someone as principled as elder zuo couldn''t help but let slip some information; one can only imagine what those without principles would do. therefore, dongxu knew that he couldn''t keep the news secret for long.

    "alright, i''ll head to jiang family village now as well as take a look at pingchao and beiyang for any suitable land." dongxu had made his point so clear that if cheng yazhou still didn''t understand that dongxu must know some insider information, it would mean that all his years of experience would have been for naught, so upon hearing this, he immediately nodded with an excited expression.

    "mm," dongxu nodded again, without adding anything more.

    "can i bring qianjin along?" cheng yazhou was about to leave when he hesitated, turned around, and asked.

    "sure. but this is just my personal opinion and suggestion. if you buy it and have to hold onto it, you can''t blame me, so you need to make this clear to uncle wu. don''t force him to buy," dongxu said.

    "of course. as you said, the economic situation is good now, and even if we buy and hold onto the land, it will appreciate one day. our trademark factory is doing well right now, so it''s good to invest these profits rather than spending them recklessly once we have the money in hand," cheng yazhou nodded and said with a smile.

    "haha, if uncle cheng thinks so, then there won''t be a problem," dongxu laughed and replied.

    "thank you, dongxu," cheng yazhou suddenly said.

    as a businessman, cheng yazhou knew the importance of such information, and dongxu''s willingness to share it with him showed that he regarded him as a close friend or family.

    dongxu was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, "i just saw uncle cheng had some extra money, and it would be a shame to waste it. there wasn''t any other intention."

    "haha, i understand, i understand," cheng yazhou laughed and said, then turned and went downstairs.

    as soon as he was downstairs, he immediately called wu qianjin. when wu arrived, he didn''t waste a word and took him straight to jiang family village.

    nobody expected that even lin jinnuo, the owner of changxi grand hotel, who thought the news about the county government office building reconstruction had been circulated on and off for years, would think that even if the news was confirmed by zuo le, it would still take some time. but this time was an exception. read latest stories on empire

    on monday morning, the county committee leaders held an urgent meeting. following the meeting, a red-headed document was suddenly issued, stating that all transactions for state-owned land use rights in jiang family village were to be suspended.

    in huaxia country, the land didn''t belong to individuals; buying land meant acquiring the land use rights, with the maximum term being seventy years. thus, the county''s document effectively halted the trade in state-owned land in jiang family village. as for personal residences, those were private transactions, and the government wouldn''t ban them. however, once the government issued the document, no one would sell their houses at a low price at such a time, unless they were particularly foolish.

    ps: i recommend my friend''s hot new book, "the strongest show-off system in the city," by an author named "must-fire," which is indeed a great and boastful read from the pen name alone!

 Chapter 112 Bidding 3 Million [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    suddenly, the changxi county billionaires like lin jinnuo, who were already preparing funds to gradually buy land in beiyang, pingchao, and the jiang family village, were caught completely off guard, and the same happened to cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, who had also taken a fancy to the land and planned to talk with director jiang on monday. they too were struck unexpectedly and were dumbfounded!the changxi county government office building really was going to be rebuilt, and the site selection was actually in the jiang family village, which was especially sudden this time! s~ea??h the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    almost as soon as the county committee''s leadership team had finally made their decision, an order was directly issued to stop all transactions concerning the state-owned land use rights in the jiang family village!

    within a single day, the property prices in the jiang family village skyrocketed two or three times, and yet there was no market for these properties even at these prices.

    the four rundown houses that ge dongxu had bought, which were initially priced at five thousand yuan each, and later discounted because he bought all four, costing a total of only eighteen thousand yuan, or four thousand five hundred yuan each, were now being offered at more than ten thousand yuan each by other people, but no one was willing to sell.

    everyone was holding out for higher prices, waiting for the county government''s specific planning scheme to come out before seizing the opportunity for another leap in value.

    "damn it, why am i so stupid! why didn''t i listen to dongxu back then? that guy has hit the jackpot this time, completely struck it rich. a full twelve mu of land, plus four houses, how much would that earn! damn it! we labor so hard running our factory and it''s not worth as much as someone else flipping their hand." wu qianjin, back from being rebuffed by director jiang, was dejectedly pounding the table at the yaxu trademark factory.

    "yeah, we really are fools! we knew dongxu was no ordinary kid, why didn''t we listen to him? we just wasted a great opportunity to make money." cheng yazhou also expressed his deep regret.

    while the two were regretting their decisions, a car pulled up at the factory gate, and a man with the appearance of a boss got out, along with director jiang from the jiang family village street office.

    since the county government office building''s reconstruction was confirmed and would be located in the jiang family village, director jiang, who had previously been as inconsequential as a rural director dealing with trivial matters, suddenly transformed into an important figure overnight. from the afternoon onwards, countless people had sought him out.

    among them were many wealthy individuals, big bosses from changxi county, as well as relatives and friends of government officials.

    here came an ouzhou city real estate company boss, well-informed and seeking to deal, having heard that a shareholder of yaxu trademark factory owned twelve consecutive mu of land and was immediately interested. he insisted on having director jiang mediate, eager to talk with this shareholder.

    "director ma, this is mr. cheng and mr. wu from the yaxu trademark factory," director jiang said with a smile as he introduced cheng yazhou and wu qianjin to the man beside him, then turned to cheng and wu to introduce, "this gentleman is chairman ma xiaoguang, director of ouzhou city da ming real estate development company."

    ouzhou city is a coastal city in huaxia country with a developed economy and a strong commercial atmosphere. while most parts of the country were still distributing housing in-kind, ouzhou city had already taken the lead in transitioning to a monetized housing system. the commodity housing market in ouzhou city was at the forefront of the country, and property prices were relatively high on a national level. especially residential properties with street-front shops in bustling urban areas were priced exceedingly high. changxi county, under ouzhou city''s jurisdiction, was not much different in this regard.

    for example, when ge dongxu was considering investing in land, wu qianjin and cheng yazhou had advised him to buy street-front store properties in the county''s bustling districts. this reflects the idea of housing commodification that had already deeply permeated the minds of the people in ouzhou city.

    ouzhou city da ming real estate development company was a fairly well-known property company in ouzhou city, having developed two very famous estates in the city. cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, both businessmen who frequently dealt with ouzhou city, were aware of these estates and had heard of the company''s reputation. so, when they realized that the man before them was the chairman of the ouzhou city da ming real estate development company, they were startled and became somewhat nervous and restrained.

    there was no helping it, they could at most be considered slightly wealthy small-scale bosses, but the man before them was a tycoon of ouzhou city, a major boss! the gap between them was quite significant.

    "hello, director ma!" cheng yazhou and wu qianjin hurriedly extended their hands to shake hands with ma xiaoguang.

    your next read awaits at empire

    ma xiaoguang wore a faint smile as he shook hands with cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, then said, "director jiang mentioned that this factory building along with roughly twelve acres of surrounding land all belong to one of your shareholders, ge dongxu. could you help me get in touch with him? i''d like to discuss the acquisition of the land with him."

    cheng yazhou and wu qianjin exchanged glances, each seeing shock and regret in the other''s eyes.

    they were shocked because in such a short amount of time, even the well-known real estate company boss from ouzhou city had come knocking at ge dongxu''s door to talk about acquiring land. of course, their regret stemmed from not having listened to ge dongxu back then, and now they could only watch vast sums of money slip away before their eyes.

    "i''m sorry, but ge dongxu is somewhat indisposed right now, and at the earliest, he won''t be available until around 9:30 tonight. how about i leave his number for you so he can give you a call at that time? or we could arrange another appointment," cheng yazhou said, suppressing the complicated emotions in his heart as he spoke to ma xiaoguang.

    ma xiaoguang, being a big boss, did not know that ge dongxu was still a student and genuinely unavailable at the moment. hearing this, he slightly furrowed his brow, feeling a tinge of displeasure. however, as a businessman eager to make money, he wouldn''t let his displeasure show or storm off immediately. thus, ma xiaoguang''s brow soon smoothed out, and he handed three business cards to cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, saying, "in that case, i will leave my card here. please have mr. ge give me a call back when he''s available, and we can set up a meeting time."

    "alright, no problem. if you don''t mind being disturbed, i will have him call you as soon as he gets back tonight," cheng yazhou replied.

    "i don''t mind, i usually stay up late," ma xiaoguang said.

    "great, once he''s back, i will have him call you," cheng yazhou nodded and then hesitated before adding, "if you don''t mind, you could also give me a tentative offer now. i can let him know in advance, so he has something to consider."

    "hmm, that''s a good idea. for the twelve acres, i can offer three million," ma xiaoguang stated.

    "how much, three, three million!" cheng yazhou and wu qianjin stammered upon hearing this figure. director jiang did not speak, but his mouth hung open and his eyes were as round as marbles.

    no one understood better than them that ge dongxu had spent a total of only four hundred and forty thousand on that piece of land! and it had been just a bit more than half a year since then, not even a full year had passed.

    and now, the four hundred and forty thousand had transformed into three million!

    three million! even though the economy in the entire region of ouzhou city was relatively good and the locals were somewhat well-off, three million was still an astronomical figure for the average person.

    in fact, even today, three million is still a considerable number for many people!

    but now, all it would take was ge dongxu''s nod of agreement, and he would suddenly possess a fortune of at least three million, not to mention his shares in yaxu trademark factory and the four houses he had bought at the beginning of the year, which were also now worth quite a bit of money.

    and he was still just a young man, nothing more than a high school student! this, cheng yazhou and the others were very clear about!

    ps: i humbly ask for your recommendation tickets in support, thank you. also, in response to the request of fellow reader mu sherry in the comments section of ying long, ma xiaoguang makes a grand entrance. congratulations to mu sherry, applause!

 Chapter 113 Worried

    "yes, three million. if mr. ge agrees, i can sign the transfer agreement with him immediately." seeing the shocked expressions on cheng yazhou''s and wu qianjin''s faces, a hint of smug confidence flashed in ma xiaoguang''s eyes.as the ceo of a real estate company, ma xiaoguang had a sharp eye. after walking around jiang family village, he was very clear that once the county government settled in jiang family village, the piece of land occupied by yaxu trademark factory would definitely become the center of the xz district.

    in such a case, once the planning scheme for xz district was officially introduced, the prices of the land where yaxu trademark factory was located and its surrounding areas would inevitably be much higher than they were at present.

    therefore, if he wanted to acquire this piece of land, he had to act quickly. thus, ma xiaoguang immediately offered a large sum; he wanted to stun the landowner with this price, making him feel that if he missed this opportunity, he wouldn''t find another, and thus should immediately sell the land to him.

    now, from the shocked expressions of cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, it was clear that his calculation had worked!

    "alright, alright, i will inform dongxu as soon as possible and have him contact you immediately," cheng yazhou finally managed to suppress the shock in his heart, and of course, the endless regret, as he spoke.

    "good, i won''t disturb you any longer." ma xiaoguang nodded, then shook hands with cheng yazhou and wu qianjin again, and left yaxu trademark factory accompanied by director jiang. discover exclusive content at empire

    "three million! brother-in-law, three million! with that, we could buy three houses on city center road. then, we could live off rental income and never worry about food or clothing for the rest of our lives. if only we had listened to dongxu from the start, how good would that have been!" as soon as ma xiaoguang left, wu qianjin began to loudly lament, repeatedly smacking his own head. sear?h the n?vel(f)ire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    at that time, city center road was the busiest commercial clothing street in lc district, where a four or five-story building along the street, one of the most expensive in changxi county, cost about a million per unit and a unit like cheng yazhou''s with a storefront, although in a fairly good location and having increased in price over two years, was only about three hundred thousand.

    "enough, talking about this is useless! i think we better go find ge dongxu quickly, or it''ll be too late to even cry if this deal falls through," said cheng yazhou.

    "right, right, this price is definitely super high. translated into about fifty square meters per unit, that would be around twenty thousand per unit," wu qianjin hurriedly added.

    in changxi county, residential houses occupied an entire building, typically covering forty to fifty square meters, and the average citizen bought land to build houses on this sized plot.

    if it was in lc district with a storefront facing the street, the price could be at least one hundred thousand. however, if it lacked a storefront facing the street, it would only be thirty to forty thousand. jiang family village was still just a rural area after all, and nobody knew when the d county government building would officially start construction¡ªit might be delayed for a few more years due to financial issues.

    therefore, from this perspective, having twenty thousand for a piece of land at this time was already very high.

    seeing that wu qianjin agreed with his thoughts, cheng yazhou handed over the factory matters to wu qianjin and hurriedly cycled towards changxi no. 1 middle school.

    when ge dongxu, who was in class, saw cheng yazhou rushing to find him, he thought something serious had happened at the factory, so as soon as he came out, he hurriedly asked, "uncle cheng, what''s so urgent? has something happened at the factory?"

    "pshaw! don''t talk nonsense! it''s good news, great news!" cheng yazhou exclaimed excitedly.

    "what good news? is it worth you rushing over to tell me?" ge dongxu asked, bewildered.

    "it''s about the land you bought. it''s increased in value! now a real estate tycoon wants to buy your land. do you know how much he''s offering?" cheng yazhou asked excitedly.

    "so it''s about that! it seems the news has spread. did you and uncle wu buy any land?" ge dongxu realized why cheng yazhou had come and nodded as he asked.

    "buy land? we haven''t even discussed the details of buying land with director jiang before the county government issued a red-headed document, halting the transfer of all state-owned land. as soon as this document came out, it spread throughout jiang village, and now land prices are skyrocketing. where do we even have a chance to buy now?" cheng yazhou said, frustrated.

    "that doesn''t make sense. just last saturday evening, old lin was hinting about it, and from elder zuo''s tone, he deduced there was something brewing, at least for a while longer. how could it be settled today?" ge dongxu said, surprised.

    "that reminds me of the incident two years ago when the wen yuan county government was rebuilding its office building. it caused a huge uproar. the reason was that some county officials had leaked the news to their relatives and friends in advance, leading to the surrounding land and houses almost being bought out before the official document was issued. afterward, when the news broke, many people who had sold their properties at low prices were naturally unwilling, so it caused a lot of unrest. later, the city even sent investigators, but the reconstruction of the wen yuan county office building is still on hold. i guess our county leaders worried about repeating the same mistake, so they decided to issue the document immediately to prevent any misuse of power," cheng yazhou said thoughtfully.

    "i see. that explains it. the day before yesterday, old lin was asking elder zuo about this and even got scolded for it. how come the red-headed document was issued today? it turns out the county government adopted a quick decision-making approach because of the wen yuan case," ge dongxu realized.

    seeing ge dongxu say this, cheng yazhou felt much better inside and admired ge dongxu even more secretly. he had initially thought that ge dongxu had known the insider information and had only clarified it with him yesterday. now it appeared that ge dongxu had only just inferred it the night before, and his previous land-buying actions were investments made without prior knowledge.

    "ah, never mind the reason now. the important thing is there''s a real estate developer from ouzhou city who wants to buy your land, and he''s offering three million. he said as long as you agree, he can sign the transfer agreement with you right now," cheng yazhou remembered, slapping his forehead.

    although ge dongxu had decided to take out a mortgage on the factory to buy the land, hoping to make a profit, he hadn''t expected such a huge amount. hearing this, he couldn''t help but bulge his eyes and exclaimed, "three million!"

    "yes, three million! this price is definitely high, so i rushed to tell you. you must make a decision quickly. otherwise, if director ma suddenly changes his mind, this deal might fall through," cheng yazhou said eagerly.

    seeing cheng yazhou''s excitement, ge dongxu calmed down and smiled at cheng yazhou, saying, "uncle cheng, don''t worry. since director ma is a big boss, he definitely won''t foolishly agree to be the sucker. he must have his reasons for offering this price, and if we agree too hastily, maybe we''ll be the ones at a loss. even if my estimate is wrong, after all, i only spent a total of four hundred and forty thousand on this land from start to finish, and originally i didn''t expect it to sell so high. now that someone is offering so much, it''s practically free money, so even if director ma changes his mind, it''s just like missing out on a windfall¡ªit''s nothing to regret. so there''s no need to rush. since the county''s red-headed document has been issued, there''s no loss in holding onto the land," ge dongxu said.

 Chapter 114 Seeking Guidance [Requesting Recommendation Tickets]

    cheng yazhou stared blankly at ge dongxu like he was looking at a monster."what''s wrong, uncle cheng? is there a problem?" ge dongxu scratched his head, feeling somewhat embarrassed as he asked.

    "i''m beginning to suspect we''ve gotten our ages mixed up. you''re forty-one this year, and i''m seventeen. here i am, the uncle, and yet i''m not nearly as composed as you!" cheng yazhou said with a wry smile.

    "haha, uncle, you''ve got it wrong. it''s precisely because you''re forty-one this year, you''ve been through more, you know the difficulties of making money, so you value it more. i''m still young, haven''t gone through as much to earn money, so i can afford to be more detached," ge dongxu laughed.

    "are you trying to comfort your uncle, or are you trying to give him a hard time? here i am, a teenager, suddenly making a few million while uncle has worked his whole half-life and if you count it all up, has merely amassed a fortune of around a million," cheng yazhou pointed at ge dongxu and said with a bitter smile.

    "hehe, didn''t uncle also have quite a few unpaid debts to collect, amounting to more than a million?" ge dongxu said with a laugh.

    "okay, ge dongxu, you don''t care about making a few million, but you sure are clear about every dime of your uncle''s money," cheng yazhou shook his head as he pointed at ge dongxu.

    having said that, cheng yazhou still couldn''t stop thinking about the three million, and he brought the conversation back to that topic, saying, "what do you plan to do about director ma''s side? are you going to sell to him, or are you going to haggle over the price a bit more?"

    although ge dongxu spoke lightly, he actually valued money even more than cheng yazhou. the cost of cultivating could easily amount to tens of thousands of dollars in just one day, and as his cultivation improved, the financial demands would definitely increase significantly. so when cheng yazhou asked this question, ge dongxu bowed his head in thought.

    to be honest, three million was incredibly tempting to him. after all, he had only invested four hundred and forty thousand, and in just over half a year''s time, he could make over two million just by turning it over; any person would likely find it hard to resist such a temptation. s§×ar?h the n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    however, ge dongxu always felt it was too early to sell now, and he should withstand the temptation.

    "uncle cheng, can you give me your phone? i''ll give old lin a call. he does business on a larger scale and definitely has more foresight," ge dongxu thought for a while, and suddenly, an idea struck him, and he thought of lin jinnuo.

    "right, how could i have forgotten him!" cheng yazhou slapped his forehead and then handed his phone to ge dongxu.

    ge dongxu smiled, took the phone, and then dialed lin jinnuo''s number.

    explore more at empire

    lin jinnuo was in his office, smoking one cigarette after another, feeling very annoyed.

    he had thought that with inside information, he would surely make a good profit, but he didn''t expect the county government to pull such a move, catching him off guard and making him watch helplessly as a great moneymaking opportunity slipped away.

    while lin jinnuo was wallowing in his annoyance, his phone rang. he didn''t want to answer it, but seeing that it displayed cheng yazhou''s number and knowing cheng yazhou''s close relationship with ge dongxu, he didn''t dare to neglect it and hurriedly picked up.

    "old lin, it''s me, dongxu," lin jinnuo had just answered the call when he heard ge dongxu''s voice through the receiver.

    as soon as lin jinnuo heard ge dongxu''s voice, his displeased mood was immediately cast to the back of his mind. lin jinnuo had built his business empire from scratch, commanding a vast family business in changxi county and holding sway over both the legitimate and underground worlds naturally endowed him with exceptional abilities.

    ever since he witnessed ge dongxu''s miraculous medical skills in the hospital, lin jinnuo had been resolute in forging a relationship with him. the events of the recent period only added weight to this resolve, so the moment he received a call from ge dongxu, he promptly cast aside all emotional baggage and hurriedly said with a laugh, "you calling me is like the sun rising from the west. is there anything you need to instruct me to do?"

    "you''re the big boss; i wouldn''t dare to tell you what to do. i do, however, have some matters i''d like to consult you about," ge dongxu said quickly with humility.

    "you are my life-saving benefactor and my son''s mentor. it''s absolutely an honor for me to do something for you. ask me anything you need to know. i''ll definitely spare no detail in response. as for the words ''consult,'' please don''t mention that again, or i''ll get angry," lin jinnuo said.

    no one dislikes hearing kind words, and lin jinnuo''s were especially sincere. despite being only a youth, ge dongxu found the praise quite gratifying, momentarily feeling a bit carried away. however, he soon realized that his proud emotions were unwarranted, for he was still just a young man. compared to his mentor back in the day, he had much to learn and truly had no grounds for pride.

    "there is no sequence of study; those who excel are teachers. you''re an influential figure in the business world of changxi county, and i am but a newcomer. in this matter, i naturally have to ask for your advice," ge dongxu said, putting aside his pride and speaking earnestly.

    lin jinnuo, being someone adept at discerning truth from words and tone, especially, felt a chill in his heart upon hearing this, finding ge dongxu to be an incredibly rare kind of young man.

    despite his youth, he harbored mysterious arts. when faced with admiration from adults, he displayed neither arrogance nor rashness, but humility and steadiness.

    "since you put it that way, i, old lin, will take the liberty this time. tell me, what matter would you like to consult about?" lin jinnuo asked.

    "it''s about the jiang family village land!" ge dongxu said.

    "speaking of the jiang family village land, as a newcomer, you''re really slapping the face of us old-timers in the business community!" upon hearing this, a self-deprecating smile involuntarily appeared on lin jinnuo''s face.

    "that was just a fortunate blunder," ge dongxu replied modestly.

    "ha ha, you don''t need to be modest about that. when it comes to setting up a factory in the jiang family village, why is it that only you knew how to invest? that''s ability and vision," lin jinnuo countered.

    "let''s not talk about that. now there''s a real estate developer from ouzhou city who wants to buy my piece of land for three million. what do you think?" ge dongxu said with an embarrassed laugh, not humbling himself further. of course, he also didn''t feel it was right to tell lin jinnuo that he was interested in the feng shui of the jiang family village, and that he needed a large amount of capital, which is why he was investing in that piece of land.

    "three million, by current standards, is definitely not low. after all, even if you''re to build the county government office building, that still takes time. if you plan to wait, it would mean you are holding three million in capital there. if you cash out now, it''s like having three million in funds to continue investing in other areas. this must be taken into consideration. of course, the key still lies in the exact location of your land¡ªif the location is good, then the potential for appreciation is significant, and the appreciation could far exceed the profits generated from investing the three million in other industries. however, i am not yet clear about the exact location of your land," lin jinnuo said thoughtfully.

    three million was a huge sum for cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, enough to nearly make their eyes pop out, but lin jinnuo was a big boss. although he was also surprised by the number, he did not make a big fuss over it.

    ps: continuing to ask for support with your votes, thank you very much.

 Chapter 115 Decision

    ge dongxu roughly explained the location of his land in jiang family village to lin jinnuo.lin jinnuo had already been planning to invest in jiang family village, so there happened to be a map of changxi county on the table. he quickly pinpointed the approximate location described by ge dongxu with the help of the map.

    after ascertaining the location, lin jinnuo couldn''t help but take a sharp intake of breath, followed by a wry smile.

    that was because the piece of land was the one he had studied again and again and believed that if the county government was to build a large building in jiang family village, that land would most likely become the center of the xc district.

    of course, the area of land that lin jinnuo had studied was much larger than the twelve acres owned by ge dongxu.

    but what was the use of it being larger? the county government had already issued a document temporarily halting the transfer of state-owned land use rights in the whole jiang family village. lin jinnuo wanted to buy but could not, and by the time the county government finally settled on a planning scheme and lifted the restriction, the price would surely be many times higher than it is now. the profit margin would be limited by then, and due to speculation, it might even lead to an inflated land price and potential loss.

    unlike ge dongxu, who had bought it early at a bargain price, even if it was smaller, it was countless times better than him having the idea but ultimately not being able to implement it.

    "what do you think?" lin jinnuo, realizing that the land ge dongxu held was within the range he identified as the center of the xc district, didn''t answer immediately but asked ge dongxu for his opinion.

    "my opinion is, since the county government''s office building is confirmed to be built in jiang family village, my piece of land should still have room for appreciation. i don''t really want to sell it right now. however, i''m not familiar with the real estate and investment business, so i don''t have a clear idea of how much it could appreciate," ge dongxu pondered before replying.

    "dongxu, to be honest, that piece of land is exactly what i had my eye on before, so according to my idea, your piece should be right in the center of the xc area, hence it still has considerable space for appreciation. if you are willing to transfer it for three million, why not just transfer it to me instead of to those ouzhou city property developers?" lin jinnuo admired ge dongxu''s judgment even more upon hearing this. after thinking for a moment, he spoke in a deep voice.

    "since you say so, i will continue to hold on to it. anyway, i don''t have any good investment projects right now," ge dongxu, seeing lin jinnuo''s judgment was the same as his, made up his mind on the spot.

    "yes, it''s better to hold on to it," lin jinnuo said.

    having discussed this matter, ge dongxu, considering that he still had classes to attend, did not continue the conversation with lin jinnuo. he soon hung up the phone, returned the mobile phone to cheng yazhou, and said, "uncle cheng, i''ve decided to hold off for a while. could you send a reply to director ma for me?"

    cheng yazhou opened his mouth upon hearing this, but ultimately nodded and said, "fine, i trust your judgment. i''ll send the reply to director ma. but three million, thinking about it, i can''t help wanting to cash it in!"

    "actually, although the housing prices in jiang family village are soaring now, they definitely haven''t peaked. also, the specific plans haven''t come out yet. i think uncle cheng and uncle wu can still look around our factory area to see if some local families have more than one house. if you offer a higher price, they might be tempted to cash in. of course, if it''s too high, it''s not worth investing, as there are still risks. just focus on the area around our factory, no need to bother with other places," ge dongxu hesitated before calling cheng yazhou back as he was about to leave and suggested.

    since not just himself but also lin jinnuo and that director ma were optimistic about that land, ge dongxu felt much more confident in his judgment. so, he ultimately advised cheng yazhou to continue buying. those big bosses would still be thinking about how to get a whole piece of land from the government and wouldn''t bother buying one or two plots.

    for them, such acts were not significant and also troublesome. but for cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, it was different. they were just small business owners with not much spare cash. if they could flip properties and make a few tens of thousands from this opportunity, that would be a very attractive investment.

    "alright, if you say buy, i''ll buy," cheng yazhou immediately nodded in response this time.

    after this incident, he almost had a kind of blind confidence in ge dongxu.

    there was no helping it, in a bit over half a year, a young person could make more than two million just like that if he was willing to let go, the shock that gave cheng yazhou was simply too huge!

    ge dongxu smiled and then turned around to return to the classroom.

    "weird, uncle cheng comes to school but doesn''t look for lehao, what does he want from you?" as soon as ge dongxu returned to his seat, du yifan couldn''t help but ask in a low voice, driven by curiosity.

    "would you believe me if i told you that someone offered three million to buy my land, and uncle cheng came to ask for my opinion?" ge dongxu asked quietly.

    "cut it out, do you think i''m an idiot?" du yifan gave ge dongxu a look and said.

    "then there''s no need for you to ask anymore." ge dongxu said with a smile.

    "fine, i won''t ask. but it''s been a long time since the school beauty senior and that bustier senior, as well as the gentle senior, came to find you. even if the school beauty moved away and you don''t cross paths now, you should still take the initiative to visit them, right?" du yifan, originally uninterested in those matters and seeing that ge dongxu clearly didn''t want to tell the truth, shifted the topic to dong yuxin and the others. s§×ar?h the n??efire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "go on, what are you thinking about all day long? the college entrance exam is just around the corner, how can i go and disturb them!" ge dongxu replied irritably in a soft voice.

    "it''s exactly because the college entrance exam is almost here that you need to go and give them a boost. that way, even if they graduate and leave school, they''ll remember you, their junior." du yifan said quietly.

    "if that''s the case, then you go." ge dongxu replied.

    "cut it out, you think i don''t want to? but the problem is that those three seniors would absolutely ignore me!" du yifan said.

    while they were talking, ge dongxu saw the teacher glance their way and immediately nudged du yifan with his elbow. find your next read at empire

    du yifan immediately clamped his mouth shut.

    ¡­

    "hey, yuxin, weren''t you always very close to that dongxu? didn''t you two always go to and from school together? how come you haven''t been looking for him after school lately?" during the break in the evening self-study class in senior year three class, jiang lili quietly asked dong yuxin, who was still engrossed in solving problems.

    "lili, what''s gotten into you lately? you''ve been absent-minded and distracted for a while, and now you''re asking such an outrageous question. we''re about to take the college entrance exam, where do we have the time for him?" dong yuxin said, looking up and giving jiang lili a glance.

    "i''m fine, i''m very normal. wasn''t it you who said that chen zihao was pestering you on the street and that he helped you out of the situation? if that''s the case, how can you say you don''t have time for him?" jiang lili said.

    "i''m grateful to him, that''s true, but it''s been so long since then. besides, i''ve moved now, and we don''t take the same route. am i supposed to go out of my way to find him?" dong yuxin replied matter-of-factly.

    ps: old rules, robbing for tickets every morning, thank you.

 Chapter 116 Waiting for You After School

    "why can''t you just go find him? no matter how you look at it, he has helped you several times," jiang lili said."seriously? just because he has helped me, i should dedicate my whole self to him? lili, it seems you really have some problem. weren''t you always picking fights with him before? now you''re actually speaking for him." dong yuxin finally raised her head, giving jiang lili a strange look, unaware that jiang lili''s words about ge dongxu helping her several times had a hidden meaning.

    "that''s not what i meant. but i''ve just felt that you two were closer before, and recently you''ve been ignoring him too much. how about this, let''s wait for him after school tonight. i think he''s actually quite interesting," jiang lili said with a slightly guilty flush on her pretty face, then casually added.

    "wait, lili, did you take the wrong medicine today? you actually want to wait for dongxu after school?" dong yuxin reached out to touch jiang lili''s forehead.

    "are you going or not? if you''re not, i will!" jiang lili shoved dong yuxin''s hand away and said.

    "miss jiang, what kind of drama are you putting on here? the college entrance exam is in less than twenty days, and you still have the mood to wait for that guy after school? if you want to go, then go. i''m not going," dong yuxin said, slapping her forehead.

    jiang lili hesitated, wanting to say something more, but ultimately she didn''t try to persuade dong yuxin again.

    if even dong yuxin wasn''t willing to go, then su qian, who already secretly had an attachment, didn''t need to be mentioned. sure enough, when su qian heard that jiang lili was planning to wait for ge dongxu after school, she reached out like dong yuxin to touch her forehead, laughing and scolding her for being sick.

    as soon as evening self-study ended, jiang lili immediately hurried out of the classroom alone, leaving dong yuxin and su qian with astonished expressions.

    they thought jiang lili was just speaking impulsively, but they didn''t expect that she would dash out of the classroom as soon as the class ended. find adventures at empire

    jiang lili headed straight for class six of the first year as soon as she descended the stairs. on her way, boys who came out of their classrooms couldn''t help but stealthily glance at jiang lili''s chest, which was relatively more developed than that of the first-year girls.

    however, jiang lili, who usually felt a sense of pride and looked down on those little kids, had no interest in those surreptitious gazes today. as she approached class six of the first year, her heartbeat increased, becoming more intense and she felt increasingly anxious.

    she didn''t know how ge dongxu would react when he saw her. would he be upset? angry? disgusted...

    "boss, look, it''s big-chest..." du yifan was always especially alert when girls were around. as soon as jiang lili reached the entrance of class six of the first year, du yifan spotted her, his eyes lighting up behind his glasses as he quickly elbowed ge dongxu, who was packing his bag.

    "big your head!" ge dongxu looked up to see it was jiang lili and couldn''t help but glare at him, then hurriedly grabbed his bag and headed for the classroom door.

    "dongxu, i..." seeing ge dongxu quickly walk out of the classroom, jiang lili''s heart inexplicably shuddered and she called out timidly. she didn''t possess her usual fiery and proud senior sister demeanor.

    "let''s go!" ge dongxu didn''t want to be the subject of an audience. without waiting for jiang lili to finish, he nodded at her and said.

    "okay!" seeing that ge dongxu didn''t seem angry, jiang lili heaved a sigh of relief and immediately responded with a smile, chasing after ge dongxu with her youthful, energetic waist.

    "holy shit! no way, she''s so full of herself!" the boys from class 6 of grade one watched as ge dongxu spoke indifferently to jiang lili, then walked ahead while jiang lili cheerfully caught up. they could hardly believe their eyes and couldn''t help but curse out loud.

    "yifan, where''s the boss?" cheng lehao arrived at the entrance of class 6 of grade one, saw only du yifan, and didn''t see ge dongxu, so he couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    since dong yuxin and her group stopped looking for ge dongxu, cheng lehao had basically waited to walk home with ge dongxu every day after school.

    "there, over there! look at the busty senior running faster than a rabbit without even introducing her to us! but geez, the boss is still the boss, the busty senior is so busy with her studies and yet she comes to wait for him to walk home together!" du yifan pointed toward the departing figures of ge dongxu and jiang lili, his gaze behind the glasses falling on ge dongxu''s retreating figure, filled with admiration.

    "damn, it can''t be jiang lili!" cheng lehao stared at those two departing figures, one of which had a particularly plump and perky rear, and his eyes went wide.

    "but it''s wrong, shouldn''t it be dong yuxin?" it took cheng lehao a long while before he swallowed and spoke.

    "isn''t it obvious? definitely, the boss has set his sights on the school beauty''s best friend, then she discovered their affair, and after that, the school beauty got mad and stopped paying attention to the boss." du yifan pushed his glasses up on the bridge of his nose, confidently speculating.

    "wow, didn''t know you had the detective skills of holmes! it must be that, otherwise how could the boss and dong yuxin have split up just like that. but, heh heh, i actually found out later that jiang lili is the tastier one, that body is so stacked." cheng lehao''s chubby hand looped around du yifan''s slender shoulder, grinning lewdly.

    "heh heh, great minds think alike!" du yifan likewise revealed a lewd expression.

    obviously, for their age group, the unique physical attributes representing the opposite sex were more attractive than just a pretty face.

    "dongxu, i waited for you after school, are you upset by that?" walking side by side with ge dongxu, pushing her bicycle, jiang lili asked softly with caution.

    "how are things at home now?" ge dongxu didn''t answer jiang lili''s question, but instead switched the topic.

    because jiang lili''s question was difficult for him to answer; saying he was unhappy would definitely hurt her, and from a certain perspective, it would also be insincere. after all, having a beautiful senior wait for him after school would flatter any boy and ge dongxu was no exception. although the feeling wasn''t as strong and he could take it more calmly, to say he was unhappy would certainly be insincere.

    but to say he was happy, especially after the incident the day before yesterday, ge dongxu was actually a bit worried that jiang lili would start waiting for him after school every day.

    thus, ge dongxu simply shifted the conversation. from this, one could see that as ge dongxu dealt with more societal matters, his character had matured.

    sea??h th§× nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 117 Preparing for Refinancing

    ```"thanks to you, director zuo helped my dad recover most of the money. now we''ve not only paid off our debts, but we also have a little extra to buy a house in the county town again, though the location certainly won''t be as good as before. but compared to that time, it''s practically heaven now!" jiang lili said gratefully to ge dongxu, a happy smile spreading across her face.

    people are strange. lili''s living conditions used to be better, and she didn''t feel the happiness in life, but now she feels an unprecedented sense of bliss!

    it was as if after that terrifying period, she suddenly grew up.

    "that''s good," ge dongxu nodded, "now that your family situation has stabilized, you should focus on your studies."

    "thank you, dongxu. i will!" jiang lili nodded earnestly in response.

    everything that needed to be said was said, and ge dongxu found himself not knowing what else to say, while jiang lili, because of her deep respect for ge dongxu, couldn''t act as boldly as she used to and became somewhat silent, only occasionally stealing glances at him with her beautiful eyes.

    fortunately, the two weren''t far from the school gates when they had to part ways, so the awkwardness quickly disappeared with their separation.

    however, walking alone on the way home, because jiang lili had suddenly come to find him, the stunning scene he had seen the night before involuntarily popped into his mind, and it took ge dongxu a while to suppress these inappropriate images that kept surfacing.

    on the way, cheng lehao caught up with ge dongxu on his bike.

    "boss, isn''t what you''re doing a bit unscrupulous? you''re like looking at the pot while eating from the bowl, even prying away the school beauty''s best friend! but, i like it, heh heh!"

    "like it my foot! you''ve got all these messy things in your head, don''t forget the final exams are coming up soon." ge dongxu replied in irritation.

    "man, boss, i find you''re starting to sound more and more like my parents. boring, i''m off!" cheng lehao immediately took off upon hearing ge dongxu remind him of the final exams.

    "you little..." ge dongxu laughed and shook his head, but as he laughed, he suddenly realized that he was becoming more like an adult than a teenager.

    was this a good or a bad thing? ge dongxu suddenly felt a bit lost.

    why am i thinking so much, just do what needs to be done, the confused ge dongxu suddenly laughed.

    when he got home, cheng yazhou was waiting for him in the living room on the second floor. seeing him return, he hurriedly brought him into the living room and said in a low voice, "dongxu, your decision was indeed correct. i replied to director ma as you said, do you know what he said later?"

    "did he raise the price?" ge dongxu''s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

    "that''s right, he increased it to 3.8 million. he said that''s his final offer, and if you agree, you should get back to him, and if not, then forget it," cheng yazhou said with a slight tremble in his voice.

    3.8 million, for cheng yazhou at that time, it was a figure he never thought he would see in his lifetime.

    "forget it, don''t sell. but uncle cheng, please call him back later for me." although ge dongxu was startled by the figure, it confirmed his decision to hold onto the property even more.

    "okay, i''ll get back to him later. also, qianjin and i looked around near our factory today and found a few landlords willing to sell. the prices are a bit high, at least 35,000 before they would sell. i decided to take a leap and buy three, and qianjin bought one," said cheng yazhou.

    the houses in jiang family village are basically old two-story buildings, so buying a house is essentially just buying the land. therefore, 35,000 is already as high as the land price in non-main street locations in lc district, which is already quite expensive.

    "well, the trademark factory is still profitable for now, so buying a few more won''t hurt, at least there would be no loss." ge dongxu nodded in agreement.

    ```

    ```

    "hehe, with your words, i can rest assured, nephew. alright, it''s getting late; you should go up and rest early," cheng yazhou said with a smile.

    "okay." ge dongxu smiled, nodded, and then went upstairs to his room.

    back in his room, ge dongxu read for a while, then mixed some cinnabar and spread out the yellow paper, beginning to practice talisman drawing.

    as his cultivation gradually improved, his success rate in drawing talismans had reached about four percent, which was a whole double the two percent from before. sear?h the n?vel?ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    today, ge dongxu was drawing heart-cleansing talismans. these were talismans that helped maintain a calm demeanor and a clear mind, and they belonged to the third grade category of dharma talismans.

    the talismans ge dongxu currently knew could be divided into four grades: dharma talismans, spirit talismans, treasure talismans, and immortal talismans, each grade further divided into upper, middle, and lower third grades.

    ge dongxu could now barely manage to draw middle grade dharma talismans, but his success rate was very low, less than two percent.

    immersed in drawing talismans, he unconsciously succeeded in making three heart-cleansing talismans, and by this time, it was almost midnight.

    ge dongxu stored the three heart-cleansing talismans carefully, tidied up his room, then went out to the terrace, sat cross-legged, and began his midnight cultivation practice.

    moonlight fell like water, but without the aid of taiyin spirit gathering formation talisman jade, the moonlight was sparse and scattered, mixing into the murky air, so ge dongxu could not absorb much of it.

    unbeknownst to him, the moon had hidden behind dark clouds. ge dongxu slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and returned to his room.

    after washing up, he undressed and lay in bed, gazing at the ceiling, thoughts turning in his head.

    the higher the cultivation, the more demanding the purity of spiritual energy required. without the help of taiyin spirit gathering formation talisman jades, tonight''s cultivation practice was almost ineffective; it merely consolidated the cultivation level, preventing any drop.

    "now that the land prices in jiang family village are rising rapidly, the same piece of land should be able to secure a larger loan. perhaps i should talk with vice president yuan li, pay off the loan, have the factory land re-evaluated, and take out a new loan. then, i''ll have the money to buy jade." with the increase in land prices, ge dongxu had finally started to think about buying jade again. stay connected with empire

    ¡­

    the next day at noon, ge dongxu took advantage of the lunch break to make a special trip to the changxi county branch of the industrial and commercial bank.

    since ge dongxu was now considered a fairly significant customer of the branch, and had been personally received by vice president yuan li during his previous visits, one of the tellers on duty, who recognized him, greeted him proactively and politely asked if there was any business he needed to handle.

    as the last mortgage loan had been processed by yuan li, and ge dongxu also felt it more convenient to talk with her, he told the teller that he was there to see yuan li.

    it was now midday, and yuan li, being the vice president of the branch, would typically be resting, but due to ge dongxu''s somewhat special status, the teller still took the initiative to call yuan li''s office for him.

    "mr. ge, the leader said you can just go up to see her yourself," the teller said with a smile after making the call.

    there was a staircase next to the banking hall that led directly upstairs, and yuan li''s office was located there.

    "thank you." ge dongxu said his thanks and then ascended the stairs.

    ```

 Chapter 118 Maybe I Can Help You

    yuan li, still dressed in her office uniform, exuded the demeanor of a corporate beauty. since it was already summer in jiangnan province, yuan li had forgone her jacket and was simply dressed in a white shirt and a black pencil skirt.no sooner had ge dongxu pushed the door open than he was struck by a bright impression, but soon his attention focused on yuan li''s eyes.

    her eyes were somewhat red and swollen, clearly revealing that she had cried earlier.

    ge dongxu didn''t have a deep relationship with yuan li, but he had interacted with her previous credit card business, and especially the subsequent loan request, in which yuan li had been particularly accommodating. typically, loans would cover about 60-70% of the collateral''s appraised value, but yuan li had granted him the full amount. so, in a way, ge dongxu felt slightly indebted to her.

    seeing her with swollen eyes naturally evoked a sense of concern, and he asked, "manager yuan, has something happened?"

    "nothing, just a trivial matter. come, take a seat, i''ll get you a glass of water." upon ge dongxu''s inquiry, yuan li''s eyes momentarily reddened again, but she quickly conjured a strained smile and spoke to ge dongxu.

    hearing this, ge dongxu decided not to press further and smiled, saying, "i can get it myself."

    with that, he quickly took a cup, filled it from the water dispenser, and then sat down on the elongated sofa facing the office desk. s§×ar?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    given ge dongxu''s youth, yuan li couldn''t help but act more casually around him. instead of sitting behind the desk in a formal manner, she sat down next to ge dongxu.

    "tell me, what brings you, a young millionaire, to see me in the middle of the day?" yuan li asked, initiating the conversation as they sat down.

    "let''s talk about your issue first. if you''re really in trouble, maybe i can help," ge dongxu said. seeing yuan li clearly upset and still taking time from her midday break to meet him had genuinely moved him, and he really felt a desire to help her.

    "it''s adult stuff, talking about it with you won''t make a difference!" yuan li, seeing ge dongxu''s sincere concern, glanced at him gratefully but still refused to divulge her problems.

    "true, you''re an adult, but i''m also seventeen this year, not really a kid anymore. besides, have you ever seen a kid discussing loans with you? just talk about it, even if i can''t help, sharing it with someone else might make you feel better," ge dongxu urged.

    yuan li considered ge dongxu''s words and suddenly realized that this young man was different from others. she stared at him for a long while before sighing deeply, saying, "alright, indeed, this issue has really been suffocating me."

    then, yuan li began to share her story.

    two months ago, one afternoon, due to her period, she had felt unwell and gone home early. when she arrived, she opened her front door and suddenly heard noises coming from her bedroom. they were the sounds of a woman''s moans and a man''s panting, along with the creaking noise from a double simmons bed.

    yuan li violently pushed open the bedroom door and then saw a steamy scene unfolding on the simmons bed. the man in the scene was her husband, liu lihe, and the woman was her cousin, yang hong, who was also her husband''s business partner.

    because of this, she had divorced him a month ago.

    yuan li, having strong career aspirations, was constantly striving for the position of branch manager. fearing that having children would hinder her future prospects, she and liu lihe had been married for many years without having children. the house they currently lived in was assigned by her employer, and since liu lihe had wronged her first, the divorce was, relatively speaking, a straightforward matter.

    however, the issue lay in the herbal tea beverage factory that liu lihe and her cousin yang hong had invested in together. when they established the factory because of financial reasons, yuan li had guaranteed the loan under her name.

    originally, this wasn''t a problem, as long as liu lihe and yang hong regularly repaid their loan after the divorce. but what yuan li could never have imagined was that over the years, liu lihe and yang hong had been fooling around, and apart from regularly paying the interest to the bank, all other income was hidden from her as they claimed it was lent out to friends for interest. in reality, they squandered it all without her knowledge.

    private lending was always popular in the area around ouzhou city, and the interest rates were much higher than those of banks. therefore, it was challenging for banks, especially those in the smaller towns and counties, to attract deposits. this was another reason why yuan li had been so excited last year when she heard that ge dongxu was transferring 600,000.

    given this background and the fact that there wasn''t much interest to be earned from keeping money in the bank, yuan li, the wife and cousin to the pair, didn''t suspect anything untoward.

    a few days ago, a bank loan matured and needed to be repaid. when the bank went to collect the debt and couldn''t, they approached yuan li, the guarantor. that was when she went to inquire from liu lihe and yang hong and found out that the income from the beverage factory had been squandered by these two over the years.

    naturally, yuan li was furious, berated them harshly, and demanded that they find a way to repay the bank. she could think of ways to give them some time.

    today, the bank attempted to collect the debt again and failed. as the guarantor, yuan li was approached by the old branch manager. he mentioned that if the situation wasn''t handled well, it wouldn''t only damage yuan li''s reputation, but he also wouldn''t be able to recommend her for the position of branch manager when he stepped down.

    yuan li had no choice but to call liu lihe and yang hong again. unexpectedly, this time they simply played the scoundrels, claiming they had no money and could only mortgage the factory to the bank.

    since the factory was built at the foot of wangzhou mountain, the land was worthless and the buildings were fairly rudimentary. these were the minor investments initially; the real investment went into purchasing the production equipment and machines. discover more content at empire

    however, once the factory was sold, not to mention whether there was anyone willing to take over, even if there was, the production equipment and machines had depreciated over the years and selling them at half the price would be considered decent.

    if no one took over in a short period and the bank was forced to auction it off, the prices would undoubtedly be lower. by that time, if liu lihe and yang hong could not make up the shortfall, and they had neither the face nor decent jobs to lose, the bank would be left with no recourse but to approach yuan li, the guarantor, in the end.

    after yuan li made the phone call, she thought about how much she had dedicated to her family over the years; her husband and cousin both betrayed her, leaving her such a mess. compounded by the fact that she couldn''t share this with anyone¡ªfirstly, because she was a successful and ambitious woman who couldn''t afford to lose face, and secondly, it would surely impact her career advancement if word got out. alone, she thought about these disheartening things and lay on her desk, crying for a long while.

    ps: asking for your votes of support, thank you.

 Chapter 119 Herbal Tea

    "i am somewhat interested in investing in the herbal tea drink factory, how much money did you borrow back then?" after listening, ge dongxu saw yuan li''s eyes filled with tears and handed her a tissue while asking.ge dongxu said he was interested in the herbal tea drink factory not because he wanted to help yuan li specifically but because her words reminded him that it was a good investment opportunity.

    herbal tea is "neither cool nor tea." it is a beverage commonly made in lingnan, hong kong, and macau from a complex combination of locally produced herbs or single herbs, brewed to create a drink that cools the body internally, dispels "internal heat," and addresses conditions such as heatstroke in summer or dry throats in winter. people have developed herbal teas based on local climate and soil conditions, guided by traditional chinese health-preserving theories and using herbs as ingredients, providing benefits like clearing heat, detoxifying, generating fluids to quench thirst, and dispelling dampness.

    the climate in jiangnan province is actually quite similar to that of lingnan and hong kong, especially in coastal cities like ouzhou, where there''s a traditional habit of drinking herbal tea due to the easy onset of heatstroke from the humid and hot summers. in changxi county, during this season, one can find vendors selling herbal tea on the streets everywhere. these vendors mostly sell herbal tea made from immortal herbs.

    the history of herbal tea is long, tracing back to the shang dynasty of huaxia country. an important figure in the history of huaxia country''s herbal tea is ge hong, a taoist and medical scholar from the eastern jin dynasty, who is regarded as the founder of taoist herbal tea.

    it is said that in 306 ad, ge hong moved to lingnan. at that time, due to the prevalence of local diseases, he was able to thoroughly study the various fever-related medicines of lingnan. later, the medical works left by ge hong and the subsequent compilations by medical scholars in lingnan formed a rich cultural foundation for lingnan herbal tea, with formulas and terminology passed down through generations. the renowned "lingnan medicine valley" herbal tea, for example, adheres to the authentic formulas originated by the founder of taoist herbal tea.

    unfortunately, during the "cultural revolution," the culture of herbal tea was severely damaged. not only were herbal tea shops closed, but artifacts related to the production of herbal tea, such as tools, sites, relics, historical documents, and photographs, were almost entirely lost. fortunately, some of these cultural aspects were partially preserved in hong kong and macau. famous formulas like he''s original, shangqing drink, huang zhenlong, and wang laoji have been passed down from generation to generation.

    ge dongxu, as the direct descendant of ge hong, the founder of taoist herbal tea, naturally inherited a variety of unique and complete herbal tea formulas. however, ge dongxu habitually categorized this heritage under the field of medicine and never considered brewing herbal tea that is cooling but not cold, clearing heat without harming the spleen and stomach, non-toxic to the liver and kidneys, suitable for all seasons, preventative when healthy, and therapeutic when sick, "fighting dryness in autumn and winter, dispelling heat and dampness in spring and summer," and certainly healthier by many times than foreign sodas like coca-cola or pepsi.

    because he hadn''t thought of this aspect, ge dongxu had never considered setting up a herbal tea drink factory, especially since he didn''t have much money before. however, now, although he still doesn''t have money in his pockets, he owns land. those twelve acres of land could be sold for as much as 3.8 million currently.

    3.8 million, at this time in changxi county, is definitely a huge amount of money, enough for him to invest in several small herbal tea drink factories.

    "thank you for your kindness, dongxu. but when we invested in the herbal tea drink factory, we were very optimistic about its future, which seems wrong now. now, liu lihe can''t come up with the money to pay off the loan, partly because he and yang hong secretly squandered it behind my back, and partly because of the poor business. otherwise, if the business were booming, even their extravagant spending wouldn''t have left them with not even a penny to their names. moreover, you just mortgaged the factory to take out a loan not long ago, which shows you are also strapped for cash," yuan li said, moved by ge dongxu''s interest in investing in the herbal tea drink factory.

    seeing yuan li still considering his situation under these circumstances, ge dongxu finally understood why her ex-husband and her cousin managed to deceive her to this extent.

    this was a woman whose kind nature had not been worn down by society.

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    because of this, ge dongxu became even more determined to help her, especially since he had planned to invest in a herbal tea beverage factory. s§×arch* the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "you don''t have to worry about that. since i''m prepared to invest in a herbal tea beverage factory, i definitely have the necessary funds. for now, just tell me how much you''ve actually borrowed," ge dongxu said.

    "550,000! the factory building and equipment are currently worth at most 300,000. the apartment i''m living in has 85 square meters, and because it''s quite old, it could at most sell for about 50 to 60 thousand. i also have 30,000 in savings, and they might be able to squeeze out another 10 to 20 thousand from their side. so, the shortfall is roughly 150,000¡ªa conservative estimate," yuan li, seeing that ge dongxu insisted, said with a bitter smile.

    150,000, in this era, might be negligible for a county industrial and commercial bank branch manager, but at that time, it was an absolutely enormous amount. just the interest for one year could amount to nearly half of yuan li''s salary. so even though yuan li was the deputy manager of the changxi county industrial and commercial bank branch, she was tearful and utterly helpless about the money.

    "selling the apartment is out of the question. can you, a dignitary deputy manager, really live in a rented house? here''s the plan, tomorrow at eleven forty, you book a car and wait for me at the entrance of changxi no. 1 middle school. i''ll join you for a trip to the herbal tea beverage factory at wangzhou mountain. i''ll see what the factory is like, and if it''s passable, i''ll invest 500,000 to buy it. but don''t tell your ex-husband and cousin yet, let''s see how much they can really contribute. they''ve already taken great advantage; they shouldn''t continue to do so," ge dongxu thought it over and concluded that 500,000 was completely manageable for him, especially considering that if he had to build a new factory and buy new equipment, not only would it waste time, it would definitely cost more than 500,000. therefore, he didn''t mind spending 500,000 to buy the factory outright.

    this way, not only could he start the herbal tea beverage business with relatively less investment and quickly, but he could also help yuan li weather her financial crisis, achieving two ends with a single action.

    actually, yuan li had only revealed the loan amount because ge dongxu had persistently asked her. she hadn''t genuinely expected that ge dongxu would invest in the herbal tea beverage factory, considering it involved an investment of several hundred thousand¡ªafter all, who would casually throw in such an amount for someone they weren''t very close with.

    unless that person coveted her beauty, or wanted to engage in a power-for-money trade, considering that her looks and physique were quite remarkable, and the position of deputy manager of the changxi county industrial and commercial bank branch did hold some power.

    but ge dongxu was still a young man, and it definitely wasn''t because he coveted her beauty or wanted to engage in a power-for-money trade.

    so when yuan li heard ge dongxu say he really planned to invest money to buy their factory, and he was willing to pay an extra 200,000 for a factory worth at most 300,000, she was stunned and eventually said with disbelief, "you, you''re really planning to invest 500,000 to buy the factory?"

    ps: brother xu is finally about to start another promising business venture, support needed!

 Chapter 120 More Than One Plot

    "do i look like i''m joking?" ge dongxu said, looking at yuan li."but, but¡­" yuan li''s eyes were already brimming with tears at this point.

    her husband had betrayed her, cheated her, and the cousin she trusted had likewise betrayed her and pushed her into a corner. and now, a young man, with whom she''d only had a few encounters and at most some business dealings, was willing to lend a hand generously.

    at this moment, yuan li''s emotions were indescribably complex!

    "heh, are you worried i don''t have the money?" ge dongxu laughed as he took out the documentation for another nine acres of land in jiang family village from his backpack, "this is the land near my factory in jiang family village. you should know how much the land prices there have skyrocketed. it shouldn''t be a problem to get a loan of a hundred million or so for these lands, right?"

    "six thousand and fifty square meters!" yuan li''s eyes went wide when she saw the area listed.

    as the deputy branch manager of changxi county''s industrial and commercial bank, yuan li was of course keenly aware of how drastically land prices in jiang family village had soared, and money couldn''t even buy land there now. previously, when a teller called to tell her that ge dongxu wanted to see her, she thought to herself that this young man really had a good eye; the factory land was worth at least five or six hundred thousand by now.

    but what yuan li never expected was that this young man before her owned not just one plot in jiang family village, but another even larger plot, totaling nine acres¡ªand a bit more, in fact¡ªtriple the size of the factory plot.

    if the factory land was worth five or six hundred thousand now, then this plot would probably fetch around one hundred and fifty or sixty million. the two plots combined¡­

    at this thought, yuan li couldn''t help but cover her mouth, her beautiful eyes wide with astonishment.

    two hundred million, even for yuan li at this moment, was an astronomical figure, but the young man before her, as far as she knew, already had at least that much.

    after checking the area, yuan li then looked at the date and was completely stunned.

    because the date on it was very close to when ge dongxu had applied for the mortgage loan, and with yuan li''s wit, it wasn''t hard to deduce why ge dongxu had taken the loan at that time.

    it was to buy this plot of land!

    but this unexpected move by the county government had caught many well-connected individuals off guard, missing the opportunity. yuan li found it unimaginable, how a young man could have such a unique and sharp investment vision, and the audacity to invest in a plot of land in jiang family village before the land prices had even begun to rise.

    "you, you took out the loan last time just to buy this plot of land?" after a long while, yuan li finally regained her composure, but she still couldn''t believe that a young man could have such foresight and boldness.

    one has to understand that many powerful figures in both the political and business realms of changxi county had stumbled in this incident, missing out on the benefits they should have received!

    "yes, is there a problem?" ge dongxu asked.

    yuan li was almost driven mad by ge dongxu''s rhetorical question! yes, is there a problem? no problem, no one said you can''t do that! but, the issue is, how could you, a high school student, be so visionary and bold, making her, a deputy branch manager who was almost driven to desperation by money, feel so inadequate? stay tuned with empire

    it took a good moment for yuan li to stabilize her emotions. only then did she truly believe that ge dongxu was sincere in his desire to help her, and that he indeed had the capacity to do so, not just paying lip service.

    these days, it''s easy to talk the talk, but putting your money where your mouth is can be extremely difficult. siblings even settle accounts with each other, let alone a customer with whom there isn''t much of a relationship.

    perhaps that''s why yuan li was even more grateful. she looked at ge dongxu with a resolute face and said, "there won''t be any problem with a million loan for this piece of land. however, i must sell my house. even though you have money, i can''t let you suffer a loss like this!"

    "if you insist, then let''s do it this way. you don''t have to sell your house. after seeing the factory, if the condition is still so-so, i will invest four hundred and seventy thousand. if it''s still not enough, i will cover the rest, and you can consider the difference a loan from me." ge dongxu saw yuan li''s insistence, and knowing that continuing the conversation might hurt her pride, he thought for a moment and then said.

    "thank you, dongxu, thank you so much!" yuan li said, wiping away tears from the corner of her eyes, and suddenly stood up to give ge dongxu a deep bow.

    as she bowed deeply, a snow-white cleavage became visible beneath her fair neck, which startled ge dongxu. he quickly got up, waving his hands and saying, "president yuan, what are you doing? i''m helping you, but it''s also to make things easier for myself, given i was going to invest in the herbal tea beverage factory anyway."

    "so, i''m not even allowed to say thank you after you''ve done a good deed? is that it?" yuan li saw ge dongxu''s repeated gestures, wiped the corner of her eye again, and gave him an annoyed yet charming glare. it had an indescribable allure that made ge dongxu''s young heart skip several beats.

    "heh heh, why don''t we just go ahead and handle the mortgage loan, president yuan?" ge dongxu said with an embarrassed scratch of his head and a smile, quickly changing the subject.

    "if you don''t mind, just call me sister li. it feels so distant to keep calling me president yuan." yuan li nodded and said.

    "alright, then i''ll call you sister li from now on," ge dongxu actually liked yuan li''s straightforwardness and readily agreed without further ceremony.

    "i''ve made a profit this time, suddenly gaining a wealthy younger brother," yuan li said with a happy smile, evidently in a good mood as ge dongxu called her sister li.

    "ha, a few million and a wealthy person? hardly," ge dongxu said modestly.

    "a few million, just like that? i haven''t slept well in days over tens of thousands! and around here in our little place, if a few million doesn''t make you wealthy, then how much does?" yuan li said, raising her hand and tapping ge dongxu''s forehead with her delicate fingers, reproaching him.

    after hearing this, ge dongxu couldn''t be modest anymore, so he redirected the conversation back to the loan, saying, "actually, sister li, someone offered three hundred and eighty thousand for the land and factory, which i didn''t accept. do you think i could get a bigger loan? it would be best to have a hundred and three or forty thousand. that way, i can pay off the previous loan, get that land back, invest about fifty thousand in the beverage factory, and still have six or seventy thousand left over. a portion of this money could be used as a reserve for the beverage factory, and the rest i have other uses for."

    upon hearing that someone had offered three hundred and eighty thousand for ge dongxu''s land and he hadn''t sold it, yuan li was stunned for a while. then, as she smoothed over her prominent chest strained by her shirt, she said, "that shouldn''t be a problem, but we still need to follow the process."

    "i understand that," ge dongxu, having already taken out a loan once, knew about the process and nodded.

    "then i''ll have someone come over to start the appraisal report," yuan li said.

    after saying this, yuan li went to her desk and made a phone call. then, an asset appraisal staff member arrived.

    upon seeing the state-owned land use rights materials provided by ge dongxu, the staff member was so shocked he couldn''t recover for a long time.

    it was really because ge dongxu was so young; it made the appraiser feel like he''d wasted his own years living like a pig. sea??h th§× ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ps: cough cough, today i saw many comments saying that the author is into mature women, into big sisters, ah, can your thoughts not be so dirty? do i? do i? do i? important things must be asked three times?

 Chapter 121 Looking for a Partner [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    the asset evaluator seemed to know well and was quite optimistic about the land prices in jiang family''s village, as he gave ge dongxu''s piece of land an appraisal value of 1.9 million. consequently, yuan li had no trouble at all approving a loan of 1.4 million for ge dongxu.with this money, ge dongxu, besides redeeming the factory land, had no immediate use for the remaining funds, so he naturally deposited it into the industrial and commercial bank of china changxi county branch. this was a substantial transaction for yuan li, which made her mood much better. of course, she became even more grateful to ge dongxu.

    having taken care of the bank mortgage loan, ge dongxu rushed off to attend classes at school.

    when evening self-study ended that day, jiang lili proactively came to wait for him after school, which of course caused quite a stir, especially when du yifan saw jiang lili coming to wait for ge dongxu again; he seemed as if he had been injected with chicken blood, though it was unclear exactly what he was so excited about. s§×ar?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ge dongxu had the intention to advise jiang lili not to wait for him after school, but considering her imminent college entrance examination, he thought that speaking up might hurt her feelings and negatively affect her exam preparations, so on the way home, he swallowed his words several times just as they reached the tip of his tongue.

    of course, jiang lili''s figure was truly attractive, and walking with her was indeed a pleasant view. moreover, today jiang lili seemed to have gradually adjusted her attitude as well, regaining some of her usual liveliness. chatting and laughing with ge dongxu, the journey was not awkward and silent like the night before.

    after walking with jiang lili for a while, the two said their goodbyes.

    walking home alone, ge dongxu started to think about the acquisition of the herbal tea beverage factory.

    acquiring the herbal tea beverage factory, he definitely didn''t need to worry about the recipes. ge dongxu had several in mind, all originating from ge hong. they were genuine teas that were cool but not cold, could clear heat without harming the spleen or stomach, had no liver or kidney toxicity, were suitable for all seasons, could prevent illness when healthy, and treat diseases when sick, encapsulating the "autumn and winter moisture prevention, spring and summer heat and dampness removal" herbal tea recipes.

    the key issues were still production management and marketing.

    ge dongxu certainly had no time to handle these matters himself, so it was essential to find partners. when thinking about partners, ge dongxu first thought of his own relatives.

    the last investment in the trademark factory was initiated by cheng yazhou, who decided who to partner with. but this time, as ge dongxu was investing in starting a factory himself, he would decide whom to partner with.

    when it came to seeking partners, naturally, one would prefer to keep benefits within one''s own circle, so ge dongxu naturally thought of his second uncle who did business outside, his third uncle who ran a restaurant, and a relatively closer cousin. moreover, in ouzhou city, there was an existing custom of partnering with family members to run businesses, resulting in many family enterprises in this region. cheng yazhou''s decision to partner with his younger brother-in-law wu qianjin was also influenced by this custom.

    however, ge dongxu quickly dismissed the idea of partnering with relatives. he felt that running a business should remain strictly business, and once relatives got involved, too many personal feelings and complications would inevitably arise. especially considering his young age, people like lin jinnuo and cheng yazhou would maintain the necessary respect for him as an outsider, always valuing his opinions. but his own uncles and cousin, who had watched him grow up, might not necessarily do the same. if opinions differed, given ge dongxu''s character and his considerations for elders and family sentiments, he certainly wouldn''t be able to firmly speak his mind.

    and these days, ge dongxu had started to peruse some books on business and investment. the books mentioned quite a few flaws in family enterprises, and he himself began to pay intentional attention to the business news around him. he found that many family businesses in the ouzhou city area had a common characteristic: they typically grew very fast at the beginning but hit a plateau once they reached a certain scale and then gradually declined. the issue seemed to stem from stuffing too many relatives and friends into a business.

    so ge dongxu felt that, rather than involving relatives in his business, he would prefer to just give them money to invest and conduct their own businesses when he made profits in the future. moreover, he had many secrets that he did not find suitable to share with relatives.

    however, if he were to cooperate with relatives in running a business, it would be awkward for him when they inquired about its inner workings. unlike cheng yazhou and others, who would be mindful of their status and would definitely not pry unnecessarily, and even if they did, ge dongxu could ignore them. but if his uncles and other relatives pursued the matter, it would be fine once or twice, but after too many inquiries, they might take issue with it.

    since he had decided not to involve his relatives, ge dongxu naturally thought of cheng yazhou and wu qianjin. after all, the three had previously collaborated on a trademark factory, and their cooperation had been comfortable and smooth. moreover, both of them were trustworthy.

    after determining his partners, ge dongxu returned home and approached cheng yazhou to discuss his intention to invest in a herbal tea beverage factory, asking if he was interested.

    although ge dongxu was very confident in his formula, he knew that even a good wine needs no bush, so he could not guarantee 100% that the herbal tea beverage factory would be profitable and naturally sought cheng yazhou''s opinion.

    "the trademark factory is doing very well, why did you suddenly think of getting into the herbal tea beverage business?" cheng yazhou was quite surprised by ge dongxu''s idea.

    ge dongxu briefly told cheng yazhou about his trip to the bank that day and also specifically mentioned that he had an excellent herbal tea formula.

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    cheng yazhou knew ge dongxu''s medical skills were astonishingly remarkable, and he absolutely believed ge dongxu when he said he had an excellent herbal tea formula. so, after listening, cheng yazhou was somewhat tempted. his only concern was that he had never ventured into this industry and was utterly clueless about how to proceed. of course, regarding the matter of ge dongxu agreeing to buy the herbal tea beverage factory for a high price, he did have some reservations, but considering the favor ge dongxu had done for him, this could be overlooked.

    "i definitely trust your formula, and your insights have always been accurate. since you want to invest in this industry, there must be potential in it. however, as the saying goes, different trades are as different as different hills, and uncle has never dealt with herbal tea beverages before. i''m afraid of ruining your excellent formula," cheng yazhou said, stroking his chin.

    cheng yazhou''s remark about different trades being as different as different hills reminded ge dongxu of someone, tang yiyuan. he was an old traditional chinese medicine practitioner and would definitely have done research on herbal tea. in the future, he could be asked to consult, and with his reputation and prestige in the field of traditional chinese medicine, his help in promotion would unquestionably be beneficial. moreover, herbal tea was essentially a type of medicinal brew, and since ge dongxu would not have time to manage production, he could have tang yiyuan help find a traditional chinese medicine student with both good character and scholarship to help manage production.

    thus, the biggest remaining issue was only that of sales. of course, for a product like a beverage, sales are the most critical aspect. if the product cannot be sold, everything else is in vain.

    "that''s not a big problem. since we''re buying their herbal tea beverage factory for a high price, they ought to lead us in and hand over some of their sales channels to us. in the beginning, we need not be ruthless; let''s first stabilize their existing sales channels, then gradually become familiar with them through exploration, and slowly find ways to expand our herbal tea to the national market. besides, the market capacity for the laser trademark factory is always limited. profits have begun to decline notably, mainly compensated by volume. eventually, as more people enter the industry, it will probably no longer be viable. but beverages are different; we have so many people in huaxia country, and everyone needs to drink every day. once we really get our herbal tea off the ground, the profits will be far beyond what the laser trademark factory could match," ge dongxu analyzed. as for tang yiyuan, since he had not yet sought his opinion, ge dongxu did not want to bring him up yet.

    ps: speaking should be based on conscience; you''ve hurt the heart of a pure man, so votes for comfort, please! additionally, a fellow reader, he wu sha zhou, who''s a banking professional, pointed out that there is a problem with this method of evaluation for mortgage loans. i am especially grateful for his professional advice, which has been educational for me. however, due to professional and experience limitations, similar mistakes may still occur in the future. i request readers to point them out without dwelling on them too much, considering this as a story occurring in huaxia country, a parallel to china.

 Chapter 122 Independent Holding

    "you''re making sense. laser trademark factory can operate for another two years, and the three of us split the profits, but i estimate it won''t be that exciting, so we must seize the moment to plan the next investment project. the beverage market for herbal tea is indeed huge, and once it gets going, we surely won''t have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of our lives. the key is how to market it. but you''re right, at the beginning, we shouldn''t be too aggressive, we should slowly get accustomed to it as we go along, considering it''s just a small factory with a small investment. you tell me how much you want me and qianjin to put in, but not too much, okay? i''m not the same as you, a young tycoon¡ªi''m still in debt to the bank," cheng yazhou said, nodding his head."the herbal tea beverage factory is actually estimated to be worth around three hundred thousand, and the asking price of four hundred and seventy thousand is mainly because of my personal reasons¡ªit shouldn''t be counted against you two. so, we''ll calculate the investment for the factory and equipment at three hundred thousand, and have an additional two hundred thousand in reserve for purchasing raw materials and other variable expenses such as salaries, totaling an investment of five hundred thousand. the formula is my exclusive recipe, and i''ve named it qinghe herbal tea. it could be converted into capital shares, or i could hold the qinghe trademark independently from the beverage factory," ge dongxu explained.

    "although it''s for personal reasons, given our relationship, you don''t need to be so precise. we should still count the fixed assets of the factory at four hundred and seventy thousand. as for the formula, it''s difficult to asses its value. if we price it too low, it''s a big loss for you; if it''s too high, i don''t mind, but qianjin might have objections. let''s choose to have you hold the ''qinghe'' trademark and formula independently. for the next five years, we won''t pay any fee. after five years, we''ll pay an annual fee for the use of the trademark and formula," cheng yazhou proposed after pondering.

    "don''t bother arguing with me about the investment amount for the fixed assets of the factory, as i''m not short of that bit of money. regarding the trademark and formula, i also prefer to hold them independently, as right now, not even the basics are set, and if we were to convert the formula into capital shares, it would increase the costs for the beverage factory. so here''s the deal: three hundred thousand for fixed assets, plus two hundred thousand for working capital, making a total of five hundred thousand. i''ll contribute three hundred thousand, and you two will pitch in two hundred thousand. if you find this inappropriate, we can adjust, or you can discuss it with uncle wu and adjust later," ge dongxu said.

    "alright, i''ll discuss it with qianjin and then confirm the final investment amount with you. i know you''re not short of money; the main reason you''re bringing us in is because you trust us," cheng yazhou agreed with a nod.

    "hehe, yes. i''m still a student, so apart from offering the formula and helping with production, most of it is indeed dependent on you two," ge dongxu chuckled and nodded.

    "no problem, we''ll be drawing a salary anyway," cheng yazhou laughed.

    hearing this, ge dongxu chuckled and then remembered about visiting the factory at noon the next day, saying to cheng yazhou, "tomorrow at eleven forty, i have an appointment with deputy branch manager yuan li at the school gates to visit the factory together. you and uncle qianjin should also come along."

    "sure, one thing is personal relationships, another is business; we still need to see the site in person before investing," cheng yazhou nodded in agreement. s§×arch* the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    having arranged these matters with cheng yazhou, ge dongxu returned to his room.

    back in his room, ge dongxu thought about the imminent investment in the herbal tea beverage factory and was quite looking forward to it. he planned to go to the provincial capital this weekend, partly to buy the jade token, and also to arrange a meeting with tang yiyuan.

    although herbal tea isn''t a medicine, it is originally derived from medicinal soups, so when herbal tea is mentioned, people can easily associate it with the tradition of chinese medicine. tang yiyuan is a veteran practitioner of traditional chinese medicine, not just famous in jiangnan province, but also well-known in the wider chinese medicine community of huaxia country. having him represent us would be akin to having an authoritative spokesperson, which would surely be greatly beneficial for establishing the brand. moreover, transitioning from hand-cooked tea to industrialized production also requires some feasibility experiments. ge dongxu lacks expertise in this area and would need professional assistance; undoubtedly, tang yiyuan is the best candidate for this.

    of course, this would still depend on whether tang yiyuan is willing, so a meeting to discuss is necessary.

    as for liu jiayao, she was already almost completely healed. even if ge dongxu didn''t continue to provide acupuncture treatments, there wouldn''t be any issues¡ªshe''d just need some chinese medicine for regulation. however, liu jiayao found the taste of chinese medicine bitter, and insisted that ge dongxu give her another acupuncture treatment the next time he was in the provincial capital.

    so, in addition to those two matters, ge dongxu would also need to provide one last acupuncture session for that beautiful ceo sister on his upcoming trip to the provincial capital.

    after mulling it over for a while, ge dongxu started to read and then practiced calligraphy and making talismans until midnight, when he finally began to meditate.

    the next day at noon, ge dongxu, without even eating, hurried to the school''s entrance.

    there, a black santana called by yuan li was parked at the entrance, and yuan li was dressed in professional attire, with a white blouse paired with a black pencil skirt that revealed a fair stretch of her silky legs in stockings.

    cheng yazhou and wu qianjin were already waiting at the entrance, and they were talking to yuan li. cheng yazhou knew yuan li and was also relatively older, so he appeared normal. wu qianjin, a man in his thirties, facing such an office beauty who was also the deputy branch manager of changxi county''s industrial and commercial bank, was clearly somewhat restrained, nervously smoking and glancing towards the school to hide his inner tension.

    when wu qianjin saw ge dongxu, he hurriedly waved him over, calling out, "dongxu, over here."

    ge dongxu smiled and nodded, quickly walking toward them. getting closer, he said directly, "class starts at 1:50 pm, so we don''t have much time. let''s get in the car and talk."

    "you must not have eaten, right? i brought you some buns on the way. make do and fill your stomach with these," yuan li said, revealing a complicated look of gratitude and pity as she handed over a bag.

    find your next read on empire

    "president yuan really thinks of everything. we two guys didn''t consider this at all," cheng yazhou said with a laugh, smacking his forehead.

    "thanks, sister li," ge dongxu said after acknowledging yuan li as his elder sister, not standing on ceremony, casually thanking her before taking the bag and starting to eat the buns.

    seeing ge dongxu, so young and yet so casually calling the deputy branch manager of the county industrial and commercial bank ''sister'', and acting so naturally, wu qianjin couldn''t help revealing a look of envy and admiration.

    he wanted to as well! but whenever he saw yuan li, his heart would feel a bit flustered.

    the four of them got in the car without much ado. yuan li sat in the front passenger seat, with the three men in the back.

    as ge dongxu ate his buns, yuan li took out a thermos from her handbag, turned around, handed it to him, and said with care, "eat slowly, don''t choke."

    her gentle voice made wu qianjin, a thirty-year-old man, feel all warm and fuzzy!

    ps: many readers have been urging for more updates recently. let me explain that for now i can only ensure a slightly longer update on mondays. other days will have three chapters each day. i strive to have a backlog ready, to then give you all a surprise. i really can''t rush it more than this, i am sorry!

 Chapter 123 Shameless to the Extreme

    wangzhou mountain is just a small mountain ridge, incomparable to baiyun mountain. it''s not far from the county seat either, only half an hour''s drive away.on the way, cheng yazhou whispered to ge dongxu that he and wu qianjin had discussed it: their funds were a bit tight at the moment, so they could only invest one hundred and fifty thousand¡ªhim one hundred thousand, wu qianjin fifty thousand.

    ge dongxu didn''t really care whether they invested an extra fifty thousand or not. what mattered most was finding two trustworthy partners, so he had no objections when he heard this. that settled it: ge dongxu invested three hundred and fifty thousand for a seventy percent stake, cheng yazhou invested one hundred thousand for a twenty percent stake, and wu qianjin invested fifty thousand for a ten percent stake, with the recipe trademark solely owned by ge dongxu. however, it would be free to use for the first five years.

    the area surrounding wangzhou mountain is called wangzhou township.

    the beverage factory run by liu lihe and the others is located on the eastern side of the township''s town center, close to wangzhou mountain.

    wangzhou township''s town center is quite run-down and small; you can see from one end of the street to the other.

    the santana passed through the town center''s street, passing by the local government courtyard, which had signs for the chinese communist wangzhou township committee, the people''s government, the people''s armed forces department, the discipline inspection committee, the people''s congress presidium, and the police station. that building seemed relatively new and imposing compared to the rest of the town.

    at the end of the street, the santana turned left and drove for another three to four minutes on a bumpy road before reaching a factory building with the sign "liu jiansheng herbal tea beverage factory."

    "liu jiansheng" was the original tea recipe trademark brand used by liu lihe, named after an ancestor from their village. according to legend, the recipe for this herbal tea came from this ancestor, and every household in their village knew how to brew it. some villagers even set up tea stands in towns for a living. married to yuan li, a woman with broader horizons than her fellow villagers, liu lihe was thus inspired to persuade yuan li to help him with a loan to start a herbal tea beverage factory.

    initially, yuan li disagreed because it was a significant investment for them, but she couldn''t resist liu lihe''s relentless persuasion. deep down, she too wanted to get rich, so she eventually agreed.

    unexpectedly, the factory ended up thoroughly trapping them in a quagmire.

    ge dongxu had his own recipe and naturally was unwilling to use another person''s trademark brand, so he decided yesterday to rename it "qinghe," meaning clear and harmonious, with the implication of cooling without harming the body.

    the exterior of the factory was surrounded by a white wall and planted with trees all around. with the forest at the back, it exuded an extra touch of greenery. the factory itself covered an area of about three thousand square meters, which was decent.

    from the outside, it looked quite decent, but once inside, it appeared desolate. people, dressed simply, either chatted idly in the shade of the trees or squatted on the ground playing cards. surrounding the factory were piles of discarded herbal residue, and a complex herbal scent permeated the air.

    yuan li apparently came to the factory often, so as soon as she entered, someone recognized her and threw down their cards, saying, "the boss''s wife is here!"

    consequently, a swarm of people crowded around her, bombarding yuan li with questions, "boss''s wife, when will we get our wages for the past two months? our families are waiting on this money to put food on the table."

    not far away, at the window of an office in the factory, a man and a woman looked out at yuan li being surrounded by the workers.

    the man appeared to be in his early thirties, tall and handsome. at his age, with such an appearance, he was at the peak of his charm, but his expression of schadenfreude was somewhat punchable at the moment.

    the woman was younger, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. her looks were no match for yuan li''s, but she had a fuller figure, especially a notably large rear. watching the scene outside, her expression revealed a slight unease.

    "lihe, are we going too far with this?" the woman asked in a low voice. s~ea??h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "what''s too far about it? they say a couple owes a hundred days of grace for one night of marriage, but damn, as soon as she divorces me, your cousin turns her back and plays dumb. she''s clearly a bank leader, yet she lets the bank push us to death. fine, since we both don''t have formal jobs, and our only fixed assets are a rundown house in the village and this factory, let them auction off the factory, and take that shabby house. i couldn''t care less about the rest; what can the bank do to us anyway? in the end, they''ll still go to her. as for these workers, let them go to her also. let her taste what it''s like to be hounded for debts. isn''t that just perfect?" the man, naturally, was liu lihe, his handsome face revealing the shameless and vile sneer only a scoundrel would possess.

    "but¡­" the woman hesitated before speaking; she was naturally yuan li''s cousin, yang hong.

    "there''s no ''but'' about it. it''s clear that we can''t save the factory. by doing this, i''m also making her and the bank realize, we indeed don''t have a penny left. otherwise, if they actually found out about the fifty thousand in cash we have stashed, we wouldn''t be able to protect that money," liu lihe interrupted.

    upon hearing liu lihe mention the fifty thousand, yang hong fell silent.

    "i''ve divorced liu lihe already, this factory has nothing to do with me. if you want to collect your debts, go find liu lihe and yang hong. what''s the meaning of surrounding me?" yuan li said with furrowed brows and an annoyed expression.

    "yuan li, you''re being too heartless with your words. no matter what, you and he were once husband and wife. now, liu lihe and yang hong are saying the bank''s debt has come due, and the bank is forcing them to sell their factory buildings. they really can''t come up with a single penny right now. even though you''re a leader in the bank, it''s one thing if you don''t help with the bank''s money, but you should at least help pay back the hard-earned money of our fellow villagers. everyone agrees, right?" a very brassy woman said.

    "right, right! you need to pay back the money!" the others clamored in agreement upon hearing this.

    wu qianjin and cheng yazhou both frowned at this scene, looking at yuan li with a hint of sympathy in their eyes, while ge dongxu''s face had already darkened.

    as a cultivator, his senses were much sharper than normal people''s. when liu lihe and yang hong hid in the office to watch, ge dongxu sensed them, and when he focused his energies on his ears, he even vaguely heard some conversation between them. although the distance meant the sounds were unclear and fragmented, with ge dongxu''s intelligence, he could roughly infer the meaning from those fragments after a little deduction. continue your saga on empire

    "utterly shameless!" ge dongxu was extremely angry in his heart.

    not only had he cheated on his ex-wife, but he also seemed to think she was heartless and ungrateful for turning her back on him. ge dongxu found people like liu lihe even more despicable than duan qiaoxue and jin ma, who had previously conspired against jiang lili''s father, mainly because they were so disgusting.

    yuan li naturally couldn''t mention the affair between liu lihe and her cousin, and the one leading the commotion was actually liu lihe''s sister-in-law, han zhen, notoriously brazen in their village. she knew the real reason yuan li and liu lihe divorced. at that point, not speaking up for yuan li was one thing, but to take the lead in instigating, yuan li naturally felt very annoyed, and reached out to push her away, saying, "get out of my way, where are liu lihe and yang hong? we need to find them."

    "ah! you owe money and hit people, how dare you! you think you''re justified!" han zhen, caught off guard by the push, nearly fell on her backside and immediately shrieked, lunging forward to tear at yuan li''s clothes in a frenzy.

    yuan li, also caught unawares, had buttons on her shirt ripped open, causing her ample bosom to stretch the fabric, revealing a glimpse of skin.

    scrambling to cover her chest with her bag, yuan li''s eyes began to redden.

    "what are you trying to hide? if you won''t pay back the money, then let everyone have a good look at whether a city girl''s skin is whiter than ours country folk''s!" said han zhen as she reached to snatch yuan li''s bag.

    seeing this, others also started to jeer along.

    ps: at the request of mo wenqing, a friend from the ying long''s threads message board, despicable liu lihe makes a grand appearance. congratulations to my friend mo wenqing.

 Chapter 124 You Can Try to Rush Up

    ge dongxu hadn''t anticipated han zhen to be so fierce. besides, since she was a woman, he didn''t react initially. but now, seeing that she had even popped a button off yuan li''s shirt and yuan li had to cover herself with a bag, yet han zhen wouldn''t stop and even tried to snatch the bag to humiliate her in front of everyone, ge dongxu couldn''t help but get furious. he raised his foot and kicked towards her stomach as he cursed, "shameless woman, get lost!"although ge dongxu controlled the force of his kick, it was still quite powerful as it was driven by anger.

    the woman clearly hadn''t expected that an outsider would dare to strike her on her own turf. she was kicked so hard that she stumbled back several steps and then fell on her buttock to the ground.

    the factory yard immediately quieted down, everyone staring blankly at ge dongxu.

    yuan li, cheng yazhou, and wu qianjin did the same.

    usually, they only saw ge dongxu''s neighborly, sunny side, and perhaps at times, a maturity beyond his age. but they had never imagined that he could also be so fierce.

    however, after their initial shock, cheng yazhou and wu qianjin began to sweat coldly, realizing the situation was bad.

    this was a rural area after all; how could hitting someone here end well?

    as expected, han zhen immediately started to wail loudly on the ground, as if she had been assaulted by a group of men, and since most people in the factory were from her village, they knew she wasn''t a good person, but couldn''t accept her being struck by an outsider. seeing han zhen crying on the ground, some people rushed to hit ge dongxu.

    "hey, hey, what are you doing? he''s just a student, he doesn''t know any better!" cheng yazhou and wu qianjin hurriedly stepped forward to intercept them, while yuan li was already somewhat frightened, and the driver had stepped back to the factory entrance.

    but soon yuan li screamed and rushed forward to protect ge dongxu. sear?h the novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    by then, ge dongxu had moved to the front when he kicked the woman, and by the time they reacted, it was too late; some people had already started hitting ge dongxu with their fists and feet.

    seeing this, ge dongxu was somewhat annoyed, but since these people were ordinary folks and considered violence somewhat justified, especially seeing their fellow villager getting hit and rushing to help, he didn''t fight back with full force. he just slightly sidestepped and threw his arm horizontally, shouldering forward.

    the two men at the forefront felt an overwhelming force hit their chests. one couldn''t keep his balance and kept backing up, knocking down several others behind him.

    witnessing ge dongxu''s simple arm swing and shoulder thrust that made two large men lose their balance, and even caused them to knock down two men and two women behind them, everyone''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

    especially cheng yazhou, wu qianjin, and yuan li, who were so shocked their mouths hung open.

    they had never dreamt that the young man they knew was so capable of fighting!

    fearing yuan li might be further exposed, ge dongxu quickly grabbed the bag from her hand, shoved it against her chest, and said, "sister li, don''t be afraid; i''m here for you."

    it was only then that yuan li realized she had forgotten to cover herself in her fright. she blushed slightly and nodded at ge dongxu, feeling an unprecedented sense of security and trust in him, as if with him by her side, she could withstand even the sky falling.

    ge dongxu turned and walked towards the still-seated shrew, han zhen.

    han zhen saw ge dongxu approaching her and couldn''t help showing a look of panic in her eyes, pointing at ge dongxu and saying, "what, what do you want to do?"

    "slap! slap!" ge dongxu slightly crouched and directly slapped her face twice, saying, "i want you to remember that there must be limits to how people act!"

    having said that, ge dongxu stood up and swept his gaze over those who clearly looked angrily unsettled and seemed about to rush at him, and he said coldly, "you can try to come at me, to see if i alone can handle all of you?"

    read exclusive adventures at empire

    saying so, ge dongxu bent down and leisurely picked up a broomstick that someone had left in the factory yard.

    in changxi county, broom handles are usually made of either wood or bamboo, generally as thick as a child''s arm. the one ge dongxu picked up had a wooden handle.

    seeing ge dongxu bend over to pick up the broom, those people thought he was grabbing a weapon to fight them. seeing such arrogance from a young man, they all felt humiliated and provoked. some started looking around to see if they could find suitable weapons, while cheng yazhou and wu qianjin were terrified by ge dongxu''s action and hastily said, "dongxu, calm down, calm down! everyone, please cool..."

    it was a joke. how could a young man, no matter how tough, really beat so many people? and if the fight escalated to armed conflict, the result could very likely involve serious injuries. in the eyes of cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, it was certain that ge dongxu would be the one getting injured.

    after all, two fists are hard to match four, and even a hero cannot outfight a crowd!

    however, before cheng yazhou and wu qianjin could finish their plea for calm, they heard a "snap" sound. ge dongxu had actually broken the thick broom handle with his bare hands as if he were snapping a chopstick, not a broomstick thick as a child''s arm.

    the two men simply gulped, struggling to swallow, and retracted the remaining words they were about to say.

    the people who had been looking around for weapons, feeling as if they had been humiliated, suddenly inhaled sharply, as if they felt a pain in their arms.

    the two men who had been pushed earlier and stumbled backward were now trembling all over, filled with a wave of relief and fear.

    they weren''t fools; they could see plainly that, with ge dongxu''s strength, had he gone all out, their retreat would have involved more than a few steps; they likely would have broken several ribs.

    now no one felt that ge dongxu''s earlier words were arrogant, nor did they feel he had humiliated them!

    because the fact was there, if he really wanted to fight, they indeed wouldn''t stand a chance against him!

    the woman, who initially received two slaps from ge dongxu and had started crying and screaming, suddenly shut her mouth and glanced around, secretly preparing to slip away.

    people like her always bully the weak and fear the strong. since ge dongxu was both capable of fighting and fierce, she naturally wanted to flee to avoid getting slapped by him again, as she would have nowhere to cry.

    "stand right there! you wanted your salary, right? we need to settle this matter clearly, where do you think you''re going?" ge dongxu called her out.

    ps: please support, thank you.

 Chapter 125 Theres nothing much to say about this kind of person

    "i''ll forget about my share, we are all family here, all family!" han zhen, seeing ge dongxu calling her back, got so frightened that her legs began to tremble, and she hurriedly said.ge dongxu, hearing this, couldn''t help but look at yuan li with some confusion.

    "she is liu lihe''s sister-in-law!" yuan li saw the puzzled look on ge dongxu''s face and whispered an explanation.

    the explanation was not helping at all; not only did ge dongxu, who had already established a friendship with her, but even cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, who didn''t have much affection for yuan li, were filled with fury upon hearing this.

    liu lihe''s family really was despicable! after swindling yuan li to this extent, his sister-in-law even led the charge in demanding wages from her!

    "slap! slap!" ge dongxu, furious, stepped forward and grabbed han zhen by the collar, and fiercely slapped him on her face.

    "damn it! other people might not know what exactly happened between yuan li and liu lihe, but don''t you know, being his sister-in-law? yet, you still come here demanding wages from her. are you even human!" ge dongxu grew angrier as he spoke and couldn''t help but slap her several more times.

    at this moment, the people around who heard ge dongxu speak started to sense that something was amiss and looked at han zhen with a hint of doubt.

    previously, han zhen and liu lihe had told them that yuan li had found another man and had disowned them. not only did she divorce liu lihe, but she also made the bank press them hard for debts.

    whether yuan li had a man outside or not was something these workers did not know and couldn''t judge. but the bank pressing for debts, causing the factory to halt production, was true. moreover, in the eyes of the ordinary people, since yuan li was a leader at the bank, they naturally associated her with the bank''s actions. they were unaware that yuan li did not own the bank and that she was only a deputy branch manager with limited power. moreover, since they had divorced, she naturally wouldn''t continue to vouch for delays in payment or similar issues on behalf of liu lihe.

    at this point, han zhen was completely overwhelmed by ge dongxu''s dominance and barely dared to respond, while yuan li, seeing ge dongxu speak and vent for her, couldn''t help but have her eyes well up with tears.

    "stay right there, don''t move. if you dare take one step, i''ll break your leg; don''t think i can''t do it!" ge dongxu released han zhen''s collar and said coldly.

    "i won''t leave, i won''t leave." han zhen, covering her face, hurriedly said, terrified that ge dongxu might slap her again.

    seeing that han zhen didn''t move, ge dongxu then looked toward the factory office and shouted, "liu lihe, yang hong, have you seen enough? if you have, come out and clarify things in front of everyone."

    liu lihe and yang hong had, of course, seen everything clearly outside. seeing ge dongxu, this "fierce god," shouting at them, yang hong immediately turned pale, saying, "what do we do now? he''s not going to hit me too, is he?"

    "what''s there to be afraid of? this is wangzhou township, not the county town! moreover, i already called my classmate, and he''ll be here soon," liu lihe said darkly and with forceful pretense.

    liu lihe''s classmate was a police officer at the wangzhou township police station, and also his childhood playmate. liu lihe, when squandering the money made from this factory, often treated him to a good time.

    although the income of rural police officers isn''t comparable to their urban counterparts, due to being far from the emperor''s reach and dealing with powerless common people, rural police have more prestige than city police and are less restrained in their actions. for this reason, rural police hold a significant status in the eyes of the local community.

    with liu lihe''s assurance, yang hong felt somewhat relieved and asked, "should we go out now?"

    "go out, of course, we go out. if we don''t, wouldn''t it appear that we are afraid of them, that we have something to hide?" liu lihe said as he led the way out of the office.

    as liu lihe approached, ge dongxu finally had a clear view of his face and thought to himself, truly a case of a splendid exterior hiding a rotten interior. who would have thought that such a handsome and tall man could be so shameless and despicable. he guessed sister li must have been deceived by his looks in the past.

    "yuan li, didn''t you say you were going to bring someone to acquire our factory? what is this supposed to mean?" after approaching, liu lihe pointed at his sister-in-law and preemptively accused her. find more to read at empire

    "i should be asking you the same. isn''t the mess you dumped on me enough? now you even have your sister-in-law demanding wages from me?" when yuan li saw liu lihe and yang hong come out and accuse her first, she couldn''t help but become emotional, her voice sharp with accusation.

    "what do you mean by ''mess''? it wasn''t just me who managed the factory, you were also involved. now that we''re divorced, you just ignore it and throw the whole burden of debt on me, how can you do that?" liu lihe retorted.

    "you, you¡­ bullshit! all the money we made over the years has been squandered by you and yang hong, and i didn''t get a penny! and now that you''re insolvent, i was the guarantor initially, and i still have to cover for you!" yuan li trembling all over from liu lihe''s questioning, burst out with a curse.

    "you don''t have to cover for me! i''m not forcing you!" liu lihe shamelessly responded. s§×arch* the ¦Çov§×lfire .net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "you..." yuan li was so angry she was lost for words.

    ge dongxu gently patted yuan li''s shoulder and said, "sister li, don''t be angry, there''s no point in talking to someone like him!"

    after speaking, ge dongxu charged forward and fiercely grabbed liu lihe''s arm, giving it a harsh pull.

    "snap!" liu lihe''s arm was immediately dislocated, hanging loosely as he cried out in pain.

    ge dongxu, however, paid no heed to him and grabbed the other hand, once again giving it a vicious pull to dislocate it.

    everyone witnessing this scene broke out in a cold sweat, including cheng yazhou and others.

    they had never expected that once ge dongxu became ruthless, he could be so harsh! they used to think he was a good, obedient student!

    "alright, stop yelling. do you believe if you keep on, i''ll break both of your legs too?" ge dongxu coldly warned liu lihe.

    although in excruciating pain, liu lihe had finally realized how fierce ge dongxu was and dared not make another sound. inwardly, he cursed that police officer classmate of his for not arriving yet.

    seeing fear in liu lihe''s eyes, ge dongxu slowly took his arm, "snap, snap," he reset the dislocated joints.

    ge dongxu, already past sixteen though not yet eighteen, wasn''t legally an adult, but causing a disability would still hold him criminally responsible, albeit possibly with a lighter sentence. hence, teaching liu lihe a lesson was enough; there was no need to actually break his arms.

    "i suggest you answer whatever i ask you, otherwise next time i won''t fix them back, and your legs might be next," ge dongxu warned as he dusted off his hands.

    watching ge dongxu''s casual demeanor, people around felt their own elbows ache in sympathy.

    "fine, you''re ruthless! it was me who had my sister-in-law demand wages from yuan li¡­" liu lihe, looking at ge dongxu''s seemingly harmless face, was thoroughly intimidated and gritted his teeth as he spoke.

    there''s no choice, a wise man knows better than to fight when the odds are against him!

    "what''s going on? what''s going on? who was hitting people in the factory just now? is there no law anymore?" before liu lihe could finish, a fierce shout came from the entrance of the factory.

 Chapter 126 I Still Have Money By My Side

    hearing the shouts at the door, liu lihe and han zhen felt as if they heard the music of heaven, instantly invigorated."it was him, this bastard just pushed me down and hit my face!" han zhen pointed at ge dongxu and shrieked.

    "li geng, you came just in time, it was this guy who hit people! he just dislocated my two hands!" liu lihe also cried out, lifting his hands deliberately.

    the people who entered through the door were two men; one of them had a beer belly, was wearing a formal police uniform with a cap slightly askew on his head, a fierce look on his face, holding a baton in his hand. he had been shouting at the door, and was also liu lihe''s classmate.

    the other was a chubby auxiliary policeman, panting as he walked, making one wonder if he could even run should he encounter a criminal. he also held a baton in his hand.

    li geng, looking at liu lihe claiming that ge dongxu had dislocated his hands while deliberately raising them, cursed inwardly, "this idiot, if both hands are dislocated, why the hell are you lifting them so high? are you afraid i can''t see they are fine? damn it!"

    though cursing liu lihe inwardly as a fool, li geng outwardly swaggered, pointing his baton at ge dongxu and said, "damn, lawbreaking thug, hitting people, come to the police station with me!"

    upon hearing this, the auxiliary policeman behind him pulled out handcuffs.

    seeing this, ge dongxu slightly furrowed his brow and signaled to cheng yazhou with a glance. cheng yazhou, a smart man, sneered and stepped aside to call elder zuo on his phone.

    jokingly, even elder zuo is someone ge dongxu had to address respectfully, yet this village police officer dares to arrest him without a word, really lawless!

    "which eye of yours saw me hitting someone? you want to arrest someone without even asking!" after seeing cheng yazhou making the call, ge dongxu coldly asked.

    "damn! even dare to talk back, this is wangzhou village and i make the arrests here!" li geng, accustomed to throwing his weight around in this small place, saw a young ge dongxu daring to defy him and cursed as he jabbed his police baton towards his stomach.

    seeing li geng assaulting him, liu lihe''s eyes showed a gleeful and vindictive look, which han zhen also shared.

    the locals in small towns naturally hold a kind of inherent awe towards the police, believing common people would never dare to hit a policeman, and ge dongxu was no exception.

    however, liu lihe and han zhen were mistaken this time. normally, ge dongxu was an amiable, simple-natured youth with little temper. often, such people when angered, could be particularly fierce.

    that was the case with ge dongxu, who was now utterly disgusted and infuriated with people like liu lihe and han zhen because of the matter with yuan li. now that the police officer, clearly liu lihe''s accomplice, poked him with a police baton without any questions, why would he still be polite?

    "damn!" ge dongxu kicked fiercely at the baton thrust towards him.

    "bang!" the baton didn''t reach ge dongxu''s stomach, but was kicked back by ge dongxu''s foot, striking li geng''s beer belly, causing him to immediately double over in pain, tears streaming down his face.

    seeing li geng clutching his stomach unable to stand up after his baton was kicked by ge dongxu, the chubby auxiliary policeman also grabbed a baton and wanted to rush forward. but when ge dongxu''s cold gaze swept over him, the auxiliary policeman immediately chickened out, pointing at ge dongxu said, "daring to hit a cop, just you wait, just you wait!"

    while saying this, the chubby auxiliary policeman started retreating, then suddenly turned and ran, surprisingly quick, it was a wonder how his hefty body could achieve the speed of a rabbit.

    seeing one police officer unable to recover from being kicked to the ground by ge dongxu and one auxiliary policeman fleeing, everyone looked at each other with complex expressions, while liu lihe, han zhen, and yang hong were truly frightened.

    this kid is really a fool; he dares to hit anyone! even the police are not exempt!

    "what, what do you want to do? i''m telling you, lin er has already gone to call people, the police will be here soon, if you dare..." liu lihe saw ge dongxu suddenly looking at him, and his whole body shivered uncontrollably. s§×arch* the ¦Çovelfire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "crack!" the response to liu lihe was the sound of his arm being dislocated again.

    "ah!" liu lihe cried out.

    "crack!" ge dongxu popped it back into place.

    "ah!" liu lihe cried out again.

    this time, li geng, who was squatting on the ground, forgot to hold his stomach and stared straight at the scene in front of him, his forehead unwittingly covered in cold sweat.

    damn! what liu lihe just said was actually true! his arm really was dislocated!

    the people in the factory began to feel a bit sorry for liu lihe, but no one dared to rush forward.

    didn''t you see how proficiently he pulled and pushed? it was like he was a skilled worker! it was unclear what this young man used to do, whether he was specialized in setting bones or not, but this was no way to set bones!

    "now can you confess honestly? how much money do you still have on hand?" after popping liu lihe''s dislocated arm back in place, ge dongxu asked with a calm expression.

    "dongxu, should we just go back today? we can talk about the acquisition another time," yuan li ultimately feared dragging ge dongxu down and also because the auxiliary police had run away, a large group of people would definitely come soon, and since they were outsiders, they were bound to be at a disadvantage. hence, seeing ge dongxu pressing liu lihe for answers, she hurriedly stepped forward and whispered to dissuade him.

    seeing yuan li being cautious, liu lihe''s eyes suddenly brightened up, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, truly scared of ge dongxu now, the expert in disassembling and reassembling bones.

    "it''s okay, sister li!" ge dongxu turned his head and said to yuan li with a slight smile.

    seeing that ge dongxu could still smile and insist on standing up for her at such a time, yuan li''s tears suddenly couldn''t help but roll down her cheeks. she wanted to say something more, but ge dongxu had already gently hugged her shoulder and whispered, "i know what i''m doing, don''t worry!"

    yuan li swallowed the words that came to her lips, and for some reason, at that moment, the young man in front of her suddenly seemed very tall. she found herself naturally believing whatever he said. read new adventures at empire

    seeing that ge dongxu was not heeding advice, liu lihe''s heart, which had just settled, tensed up again.

    after comforting yuan li, ge dongxu looked at liu lihe again.

    "i, i don''t have any..." liu lihe shivered as ge dongxu looked at him, stuttering.

    "what, do you want me to do it again?" ge dongxu said coldly.

    "no, no, i''ll tell, i''ll tell, i still have money, still have money, ten thousand, ten thousand!" liu lihe hurriedly replied.

 Chapter 127 Are You Going to Hit Me? [Vote for Recommendation on Monday]

    as soon as liu lihe made this statement, there was an immediate uproar among the crowd."damn it, lihe, you got the money but still won''t pay us what you owe for our hard work, and you even tell us to ask your divorced wife for it, that''s just filthy!"

    "exactly, exactly! and we come from the same village too!"

    in the countryside, the monthly salary is only a few hundred dollars, and the factory is just a small one without many workers¡ªten thousand dollars would have been enough to pay their wages!

    seeing the commotion among the people, ge dongxu raised his hand to signal.

    despite his young age, ge dongxu''s gesture carried authority, and the crowd fell immediately silent.

    "just ten thousand dollars? seems like i really need to work on your legs too," ge dongxu said with a cold laugh.

    "no, no, i remembered wrong, it''s twenty thousand, twenty thousand!" liu lihe blurted out in panic upon hearing this.

    the onlookers then wore skeptical expressions, suspecting liu lihe was admitting this under duress.

    "who''s throwing punches here? which little bastard dares to cause trouble in our wangzhou township!" at that moment, over ten people poured in through the door, including some in police uniforms and some without, along with the chubby auxiliary policeman who had run off before.

    the one shouting was a man in a police uniform, probably in his forties.

    "mayor liu, chief wang, you''ve come at the right time. it''s him, it''s him, he hit me just now!" seeing the people from the town government and the police station arriving, liu lihe rushed forward as if he''d seen his own parents, sobbing and sniveling.

    the push and pull they''d had earlier was indeed more than anyone could bear.

    "yes, yes, mayor liu, chief wang, you''ve come just in time. arrest that guy quickly. this guy not only resisted arrest but also hit a cop. in front of me, he hit liu lihe and dislocated his arm!" at this moment, li geng''s stomach pain was gone, and he eagerly stood up, rushing forward to report.

    mayor liu was a middle-aged man with an air of leadership about him. after hearing li geng''s words, his eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he looked dissatisfied.

    damn, do they really take me for a fool? can''t even tell if someone''s arm is dislocated or not?

    however, in huaxia country, township police stations at this level are branches of the county public security bureaus and are managed by county-level public security authorities, not under the jurisdiction of township governments. they''re only responsible for assisting township governments and serving the social order of the townships. therefore, even though mayor liu is in charge of the entire wangzhou township, he still doesn''t have direct authority over the police station chief or officers. sometimes, even when he needs something done as the mayor, he still has to speak pleasantly to chief wang.

    thus, although mayor liu was irritated by li geng''s blatant lies in front of him, showing no respect for his status as mayor, he didn''t erupt in anger right away.

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    chief wang, of course, knew what his subordinates were like; seeing that liu lihe''s arm was clearly fine and yet li geng claimed it was dislocated, he cursed internally, "damn it, li geng, you idiot! didn''t you see mayor liu here? can you spew such nonsense?"

    however, no matter how wildly li geng blabbered, they were still on the same side, sharing the same trenches. despite being displeased with his reckless talk, chief wang didn''t call him out on it right then and there.

    small places often have a mindset that leans towards clannish behavior, especially for semi-militarized professions like the police. in such localities, the atmosphere of sticking together and valuing loyalty tends to be stronger.

    "who do you think you are? is there no law in your eyes?" chief wang glared fiercely at li geng and then turned to look at ge dongxu and others, while li geng was left feeling inexplicably rebuked by that look, thinking to himself that he had said nothing wrong.

    damn it! liu lihe''s arm was put back on by that guy! but it didn''t take long for li geng to figure out where the problem was, feeling so frustrated he could almost cough up blood. sear?h the n?velfire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "you are president yuan!" on closer inspection, chief wang did recognize yuan li.

    since the herbal tea beverage factory was located in wangzhou township and yuan li, the owner of the factory, inevitably had to deal with some of the local government leaders. after all, she was also the deputy branch manager of the county''s industrial and commercial bank. sometimes her involvement could significantly boost the status of the herbal tea factory, so chief wang recognized yuan li.

    "so it''s president yuan!" township head liu naturally recognized yuan li as well, and he stepped forward to shake hands with her.

    leaders, of course, look at issues and people differently from a small-town police officer like li geng. seeing that it was yuan li, both township head liu and chief wang''s attitudes softened significantly.

    "president yuan, what''s going on? it''s not easy for us to run a factory in such a poor township. why did the bank come to collect debts a few days ago, nearly forcing the herbal tea beverage factory to close? what brings you here today with more people?" after shaking hands with yuan li, township head liu asked her.

    "this bitch just came here to force our factory to shut down! to leave all of us without a meal! she even brought people to beat us! township head liu, chief wang, look at my face, it was people brought by this bitch who hit me!" seeing that both the township head and the police station chief had arrived, followed by a large group of people, han zhen resumed her aggressive demeanor, pointing at yuan li and ge dongxu and cursing them bitterly.

    township head liu and chief wang hadn''t noticed han zhen before, but now they saw her swollen face and remembered that closing the factory would certainly mean a loss of income for the township. besides, liu lihe had always taken care of entertaining them, and even though yuan li was an outsider, seeing the factory about to close and her, the deputy branch manager, unwilling to help, their expressions turned somewhat sour.

    "president yuan, what are you trying to do here?" chief wang asked with a displeased expression.

    "what can she do? this woman is just a disloyal and thankless bitch!" emboldened by the township head and station chief''s disapproval, han zhen stepped up her tirade against yuan li, her words sharp and bitter.

    ge dongxu was so enraged that his glare suddenly shot towards han zhen.

    "what are you looking at? you got the guts to hit me again in front of township head liu and chief wang? hit me then? go ahead, hit me!" han zhen stood with her chest out, her finger pointing at ge dongxu as she taunted him, the very picture of a shrew. even township head liu and chief wang couldn''t help but frown slightly at the scene, showing a hint of disgust in their eyes.

    as grassroots officials in townships, what they most disliked were such shrewish women, for they are the toughest to deal with.

    "you think i wouldn''t dare?" ge dongxu stepped forward, grabbed han zhen by the collar, and slapped her face fiercely twice.

    "wuwu! goddamn, is there no law left! chief liu, chief wang, you see, he hit me again!" han zhen didn''t expect ge dongxu to actually dare to hit her again. she was initially stunned, then immediately began to wail loudly, and if it weren''t for ge dongxu still holding onto her collar, she might have already thrown herself on the ground in a tantrum.

    "you woman deserve to be hit for the way you run your mouth!" ge dongxu raised his hand and gave han zhen two more slaps, then looked at township head liu and chief wang, who seemed somewhat bewildered, and said, "you heard it yourselves, this woman asked me to hit her!"

    ps: it''s monday, a great time to compete on the charts. throw all your collections, clicks, recommendations, rewards, and comments this way. there will be at least four chapters today, perhaps even five, hehe, you know what i mean.

 Chapter 128 Elder Zuo, How Did You Get Here? [Second Update]

    as soon as ge dongxu spoke up, mayor liu and chief wang suddenly came to their senses, looking at ge dongxu with complex and bizarre expressions.just now, when the chubby auxiliary police officer hurriedly ran to the township government to call someone, he didn''t make it clear who had hit who. when they arrived, mayor liu and chief wang naturally assumed cheng yazhou and wu qianjin were the culprits and completely overlooked ge dongxu.

    because ge dongxu obviously still looked like a high school student!

    but as it turned out, it was ge dongxu, the teen who still looked like a high school student, who had hit someone. not only that, but he had done it right in front of them!

    after ge dongxu said those words, he ignored mayor liu and chief wang and once again turned his attention to liu lihe, asking, "weren''t we just in the middle of a conversation? how much did you say you kept for yourself just now?"

    "i didn''t keep any, i don''t have a cent! you just pressured me into saying that! chief wang, please help me, he''s going to hit me again!" liu lihe was naturally unwilling to admit anything at this point, retreating behind mayor liu and chief wang while calling out.

    seeing a tall, grown man cowering behind a teenager, desperately seeking refuge behind mayor liu and chief wang, the scene was indeed rather comical.

    "it seems you really are trash that won''t shed tears without seeing a coffin!" ge dongxu saw that liu lihe had lied just before and was still lying, his face suddenly turned cold as he spoke sharply.

    "what are you going to do? arrest him! this is outrageous!" although chief wang was inwardly cursing liu lihe as a coward and incompetent, ge dongxu''s arrogance in front of him had already made him almost explode with rage, and he pointed at ge dongxu, roaring.

    "arrest who? have things been cleared up yet? just talking about arresting people?" right after chief wang''s words fell, a commanding voice sounded from behind. unbeknownst to them, a police car had stopped at the factory entrance, and a person had emerged from the vehicle, none other than the director of the county public security bureau, elder zuo.

    at this moment, his face was full of anger!

    how could he not be angry? he had just gotten out of his car and heard one of his subordinates ordering someone to arrest ge dongxu!

    "elder, elder zuo!" chief wang, who was already quite annoyed at being shouted at from behind in his jurisdiction of wangzhou township, turned around to see who had the audacity to rebuke him. but as soon as chief wang turned around, his whole body involuntarily shivered!

    as the head of the police station of wangzhou township, how could chief wang not recognize the director of the county public security bureau? this was his superior leader!

    "elder, elder zuo!" mayor liu also saw zuo le at this time, and seeing his furious look, he too shivered all over.

    zuo le was not only the director of the county public security bureau but also a member of the county party standing committee and a leader of the county government, which made him a superior to mayor liu as well.

    "elder zuo, how come you are here?" ge dongxu saw zuo le''s arrival and, surprised, forgot to address him as director zuo in front of others.

    "i just happened to be next door in yupu town when i got a call from elder zhou and rushed over! elder zhou told me that some cop was about to hit you; which bastard was it?" zuo le replied and then asked, his face looking menacing.

    as if it was a joke, it''s wrong for police to hit people, not to mention ge dongxu was still a minor!

    of course, ge dongxu was also a great benefactor to him, zuo le! how could zuo le not be furious when his benefactor was getting beaten up by the police? he was the director of the county public security bureau, after all, and these cops were all his subordinates!

    his own subordinates about to beat up his great benefactor made zuo le''s face burn with shame when he faced ge dongxu!

    seeing zuo le''s wrathful demeanor, as if he could kill someone with a gun, and remembering ge dongxu''s recent address to zuo le, the common people might be alright, still a bit confused about the situation, but chief wang and mayor liu, being insiders of the system, immediately turned pale with fear. chief wang, in particular, recalling how he had just ordered ge dongxu''s arrest, felt his legs go weak and couldn''t help but want to turn around and kick liu lihe, who was hiding behind him, in the legs.

    damn it! is he trying to screw me over?

    of course, at this point, li geng was already trembling with fear, inwardly crying and hating li to the core! s~ea??h the n?vel(f)ire.¦Çet website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    he was merely a lowly policeman, usually trained by director wang like a dog, and now suddenly there was a county public security bureau chief who could treat director wang the same way. you can imagine how dreadful the outcome would be.

    by this time, yuan li''s beautiful eyes were already wide open, and her lips were parted in shock. thankfully, she remembered to cover her chest with her purse, or else ge dongxu would have had to remind her again.

    she had never dreamed that ge dongxu not only knew the member of the county party standing committee, the head of the public security bureau, zuo le, but also called him elder zuo despite his young age!

    how strong their relationship must be!

    only cheng yazhou and wu qianjin, who had experienced this once before, remained relatively calm. although they knew about ge dongxu''s good relationship with zuo le, they felt a secret dread experiencing it for the second time.

    how long had that phone call been? zuo le had rushed over so quickly. even if he was in the next town, it meant that as soon as cheng yazhou had hung up, zuo le immediately dropped everything he was doing to come here urgently.

    "director zuo, it''s, it''s me, i''m a bastard, i didn''t know..." li geng, faced with zuo le''s stern gaze, knew he couldn''t shirk responsibility and stammered out his statement.

    "very good!" zuo le didn''t come forward to hit him, but just coldly interrupted him, then turned towards director wang, village chief liu, and then his gaze fell on ge dongxu''s face.

    "we will address the scum of the police force later. let''s first settle the score with this scum in front of everyone, so they don''t think sister li is heartless and ungrateful." ge dongxu, seeing zuo le looking at him, pointed at liu lihe and said.

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    "okay." zuo le nodded, his gaze shifting to liu lihe, while director wang, seeing this, was so scared that he hastily turned around, reached out, and dragged liu lihe, who was hiding behind him, out.

    "factory director liu, you said just now that i forced you, so now i''m not forcing you. please willingly tell me how much money you''ve hidden." ge dongxu looked coldly at liu lihe and asked.

    "it''s twenty thousand! it''s twenty thousand! i was confused just now, confused!" at this point, liu lihe knew only too well that it was already good enough that people like village chief liu didn''t beat him up. hoping they would help him again was probably as likely as the sun rising from the west. so, when ge dongxu''s gaze turned towards him, he immediately trembled and said.

    seeing liu lihe trembling like that, and the looks elder zuo and others were giving, the people from the factory couldn''t help but show a mix of anger and sympathy in their eyes.

    not knowing the full story, they naturally thought ge dongxu was using director zuo le''s power to force liu lihe, that liu lihe was saying this under duress.

    "twenty thousand? do you really think i don''t know that you''ve still kept fifty thousand?" ge dongxu saw that liu lihe was still trying to deceive him and almost couldn''t restrain himself from grabbing his arm.

    "how did you know that?"

    "how did you know that?"

    liu lihe and yang hong, shocked to see ge dongxu suddenly announcing the exact amount they had hidden, widened their eyes in disbelief, as if they had seen a ghost, and blurted out subconsciously.

    however, after the words came out, they quickly realized they had said something they shouldn''t have, and they hurriedly shook their heads while denying, "no, no, not at all!"

    people in the countryside, though down-to-earth, are not stupid. at this point, who didn''t realize that liu lihe and yang hong had been treating them like fools all along! immediately, each one of them felt a deep sense of being humiliated and deceived.

    "damn you, liu lihe! are you even human? you have fifty thousand yuan, and yet you still cry poor to us, refusing to repay our money and even inciting us to trouble president yuan! i''ll beat you to death, you little shit!"

    when a normally honest person gets angry, it''s truly terrifying. the workers from the factory swarmed up, pummeling liu lihe with punches and kicks, while the women scratched at his face and pulled his hair.

    yang hong was no exception; her clothes and skirt were torn off by several women.

    ps: here''s the second update, looking for your votes.

 Chapter 129 Winning People Over with Virtue [Third Update]

    Watching the chaotic scene where a group of people were beating and tearing at two individuals, the police officers from Wangzhou Township, who were responsible for public security, and naturally government employees, should have intervened to stop the violence. However, the problem was that both Director Wang and Li Geng had developed a deep hatred for Liu Lihe and Yang Hong, the shameless couple who had dragged them into this mess. Seeing that both Zuo Le and Ge Dongxu hadn''t said a word, they naturally didn''t bother to step in and put a stop to it.In fact, if it weren''t for Zuo Le being present, Li Geng was quite tempted to step forward and kick Liu Lihe a few times.

    Damn it, what the hell! Betraying their own townsfolk!

    "Enough!" Zuo Le, after all, was the director of the county public security bureau. Ge Dongxu, not wanting to make things difficult for him, made a gesture to Zuo Le, who then timely spoke up to halt the commotion.

    But the farmers, feeling that their good nature had been greatly deceived, were in such a rage that none of them listened to him and continued to assault Liu Lihe and Yang Hong.

    "Enough!" Ge Dongxu, seeing that the situation might escalate if the beating continued, also had to shout out.

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    And wouldn''t you know it, while Zuo Le, the director of the county public security bureau, had no effect, Ge Dongxu''s word seemed to carry unusual weight. The moment he shouted to stop, all the farmers immediately shuddered and ceased their beating.

    Zuo Le, the village chief, Director Wang, and the others were all dumbfounded.

    Fuck, what''s this rhythm! The words of the director of the county public security bureau are less effective than those of a brash youngster!

    The village chief and the others had no idea that Ge Dongxu had effortlessly snapped a broom handle just before and had twisted Liu Lihe''s arm as if it were a model, pulling and snapping it repeatedly. With such terrifying strength and brutal methods, who would dare to disobey him?

    Seeing that everyone had stopped, Ge Dongxu, looking at Liu Lihe''s face scratched up by the women, finally felt somewhat satisfied.

    For such scum, if it weren''t for the fact that this was a society governed by laws, Ge Dongxu would really have liked to have torn off his arm and not reattach it.

    Considering that he needed to continue running a factory here and would inevitably have to deal with government personnel like the village chief and the local people employed in the factory, Ge Dongxu felt it necessary to offer some explanation.

    His assertive actions just now, along with the timely arrival of Zuo Le, had already helped establish his authority, ensuring that nobody would dare cause trouble at his factory in the future. However, to win people over and have them willingly work for him, he would need to influence them with virtue and not let them think he was suppressing them with power.

    Of course, a necessary degree of assertiveness was still required, or else one would eventually end up in a situation where the good are bullied, and the kind are ridden like horses. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Now that his authority had been established, Ge Dongxu felt it was time to clarify the situation to everyone, so they would understand that he wasn''t bullying others with his power, but rather, all of Liu Lihe''s misfortunes were of his own making.

    The thoughts were spinning in his mind, and soon Ge Dongxu had weighed his words, opening his mouth to speak again, "You''ve beaten the man, but I think it was out of righteous indignation, and you knew when to stop. I''m sure Mayor Liu and Chief Wang won''t pursue this matter."

    "Yes, yes, we won''t pursue it, we won''t pursue it," Mayor Liu and Chief Wang hastily echoed on the side.

    There was no choice, even Director Zuo was on his side, and now he was speaking up for the villagers. Mayor Liu and Chief Wang would have to be out of their minds to talk about pursuing the matter.

    Ge Dongxu nodded to Mayor Liu and Chief Wang, then roughly explained the whole situation, and out of consideration for Yuan Li''s face, he did not go into detail about Liu Lihe''s affair with Yang Hong. But everyone present was not brainless. With Ge Dongxu''s explanation, recalling Liu Lihe and Yang Hong''s past intimate behavior at the factory, how could they not understand what was going on?

    After understanding the situation, and thinking back to how they had been deceived and incited by Liu Lihe and Yang Hong to demand debt from the poor Yuan Li, the factory workers felt ashamed and wished they could beat up Liu Lihe and Yang Hong again. Even Li Geng, a disgrace to the police, felt that Liu Lihe was no good. No matter how bad he was, he just bullied people and made some undeclared money relying on his uniform, but he wasn''t like Liu Lihe, who had wronged his wife and was scamming her to death.

    He was the scum of the scum!

    "Moreover, President Yuan did not come here to trouble Liu Lihe but to help him solve the problem. She invited me along with Boss Cheng and Boss Wu to invest in buying this beverage factory, so we can pay off the bank''s debt and revitalize the factory, allowing you all to go back to work and earn money. Of course, the factory is undoubtedly insolvent, and President Yuan has already planned to use all her savings and even mortgage her house to help pay off the debt. But unexpectedly, these two scumbags, not only did they hide their own money and refuse to repay the bank, but they also withheld your wages and let you demand your pay from President Yuan. Do you think such people are despicable?" Ge Dongxu continued.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu finished his words, the room exploded into an uproar. The women, easily swayed by emotions, could not help rushing at Liu Lihe and Yang Hong, scratching at them.

    "You two are not human, you''re animals, you''re scum!" Not only scratching, but the women also spat on their faces, cursing and pointing at them, and even Liu Lihe''s sister-in-law ended up being spat upon multiple times.

    After the scratching, spitting, and cursing, those from the factory who had previously demanded debts from Yuan Li said to her with shamefaced apologies, "We''re sorry, boss''s wife, we didn''t know you were a good person. Hit us, scold us!"

    "President Yuan, on behalf of Wangzhou Village''s government, I offer you our apologies and thanks," Mayor Liu finally understood that Yuan Li had come to revive their factory, bringing investment to Wangzhou Village, and couldn''t help but feel remorseful, hastily stepping forward and bowing deeply to apologize and express gratitude to Yuan Li.

    Seeing Mayor Liu apologize to Yuan Li, Chief Wang suddenly realized he should apologize too and hastily followed suit with a bow. However, Director Zuo looked at Chief Wang somewhat coldly. A new official usually takes office with a show of authority; Director Zuo had yet to assert his authority, but witnessing Chief Wang and Li Geng''s behavior today, he felt it was time to take a stand.

    Yuan Li had endured untold humiliations and grievances in those days, and when she came to the factory earlier, she was greatly humiliated. Now, seeing those familiar faces bowing and apologizing to her one by one, she couldn''t help but have her eyes redden with tears falling down, unable to speak for a long time.

    Seeing Yuan Li like this made everyone feel even more remorseful.

    In the end, it was Ge Dongxu who broke the silence, "Alright, let the past be the past. Now we need to inspect the factory to see how much it''s worth investing. Also, Director Zuo, please take care of Liu Lihe and Yang Hong for the time being."

    ps: Come on, I need you to prove with your votes, with your votes, with your votes!!!

 Chapter 130 Still Need to Work Hard to Make Money [4th Update]

    ```"Of course, they just stirred up the employees to demand wages from President Yuan and make trouble, while deliberately concealing their own assets, defaulting on the money they owe to the bank and the workers, which is all against the law!" Zuo Le said with a serious face.

    Originally, Liu Lihe and Yang Hong were still worried about the loss of those fifty thousand yuan, thinking it was definitely gone for good. They didn''t expect to not only lose the fifty thousand yuan and get beaten for nothing but also, upon hearing Zuo Le''s words, realized they had broken the law, which scared them to the point of peeing their pants. They scrambled to their feet and rushed to Yuan Li, sobbing and sniffling, "Yuan Li, it''s all my fault, I''m not a human, please I beg you, look at..."

    Yuan Li felt incredibly disgusted upon seeing this and turned her head away. As for Director Wang, Li Geng, and the others, they wasted no time and pounced like hungry wolves, seizing Liu Lihe and Yang Hong without hesitation.

    This was a golden opportunity for them to atone for their crimes with meritorious deeds!

    Unfortunately, they didn''t know that their attempt to make amends had come too late. Zuo Le had already decided to make an example out of them as the first step in a determined effort to rectify the internal discipline of the police force.

    There was actually not much to see at the factory, it was just some production equipment, including high-temperature extraction, filtration, filling, and other such devices. Ge Dongxu and the others didn''t understand these things and would have to experiment with them first to get to know how they worked. Luckily, the machines seemed to be in good condition and could operate normally. The workers operating them were among those who had just demanded wages, and they had all expressed their willingness to stay on and work. Therefore, if Ge Dongxu wanted to continue producing "Liu Jiansheng" herbal tea without changing the formula, it was possible to start right away. As for the sales channels, Ge Dongxu also inquired and found it wasn''t as complex as they had initially thought.

    Essentially, Liu Lihe had just been delivering the goods directly to several county and district non-staple food wholesale markets in Ouzhou City, with the stores in the market distributing them further. Beyond that, there were hardly any other sales channels to speak of, which explained the modest sales volume.

    However, for small factories like theirs, without any significant advertisement investment, their main expense went into the initial investment in factory equipment. The other costs, including wages and raw material expenses, were actually very low, so a large portion of the revenue would be profit. This aspect was rather similar to the Yaxu Trademark Factory that Ge Dongxu and the others were running. Even though the sales volume was not huge and the market was limited to the Ouzhou City region, with a large share in Changxi County, as long as Liu Lihe and Yang Hong didn''t squander recklessly and maintained operations, there would still be some surplus each year.

    After getting a grasp of the general situation, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin felt greatly reassured. On the one hand, the business wasn''t as complicated as they had imagined, and on the other, their investment in the herbal tea beverage factory was mainly due to Ge Dongxu. As long as there was no loss and a small profit yearly, it was acceptable to them. Wu Qianjin even couldn''t help but suggest they might as well continue to produce under the "Liu Jiansheng" brand. This would mean they wouldn''t need to change production processes, trademarks, packaging, and so on. Plus, they could retain the old customers without having to reintroduce "Qinghe" herbal tea to them.

    But Cheng Yazhou, well aware of Ge Dongxu''s brilliant medical skills, still preferred using his formula, and Ge Dongxu, naturally, thought the same. Thus, Wu Qianjin''s suggestion was immediately rejected.

    Wu Qianjin merely made the suggestion without insisting, especially since he had only invested fifty thousand yuan.

    Since Ge Dongxu had classes in the afternoon, after a quick look around and seeing no issues, he instructed the workers to clean the factory thoroughly before heading back to school by car. As for the subsequent transfer, re-registration of trademarks, and other procedures, naturally, Ge Dongxu didn''t need to worry; Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin would handle it all. He just needed to transfer the money to Cheng Yazhou and sign some documents. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As for resuming production, it would definitely have to wait until these procedures were completed and the new production processes were successfully researched. All these required time and couldn''t be rushed.

    Fortunately, the summer vacation was approaching, and Ge Dongxu would have two months off. He would then have plenty of time to research new production processes. Once the new production processes were successful, there wouldn''t be much left for Ge Dongxu to do. At most, he would provide some ideas and suggestions, with the specifics to be implemented by Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin.

    Time quickly arrived at Friday. After class in the afternoon, Ge Dongxu first returned to Cheng Yazhou''s home, briefly reviewed his books, then packed some clean clothes and left Cheng Yazhou''s home for the train station.

    ```

    After purchasing a train ticket to Linzhou City in the provincial capital, Ge Dongxu found a small restaurant near the train station to take care of a simple meal, then returned to the waiting hall to wait.

    With nothing else to do, Ge Dongxu took out a thick book on economics and started to browse through it casually.

    Unlike other high school students, in order to cultivate, he must start earning money early, and it had to be a substantial amount. Therefore, in his spare time, he tried to read as much as he could about investment and economics.

    However, this subject was not his genuine interest or hobby, it was purely out of necessity. After flipping through the book for a while, Ge Dongxu''s thoughts inevitably began to drift as he recalled the events of the past few days.

    The acquisition of the herbal tea beverage factory went smoothly after some initial troubles on the first day at the factory. On Thursday, Ge Dongxu transferred 520,000 yuan out of his account.

    Out of this 520,000 yuan, 350,000 was needed for his 70% share of the investment. The additional 170,000 was a personal expense, as Liu Jiansheng''s herbal tea beverage factory was only valued at a maximum of 300,000 yuan normally. To help Yuan Li, Ge Dongxu acquired it for 470,000 yuan, so this extra 170,000 came from his personal funds.

    Due to the fact that Liu Lihe and Yang Hong still had 50,000 yuan hidden, after paying the workers'' salaries, there was a surplus of 42,000 yuan. All of this was naturally appropriated to repay the bank loan. They had originally borrowed 550,000 yuan in total. Adding 42,000 to the 470,000 made 512,000 yuan, with only a shortfall of 38,000 yuan.

    Continue your adventure at empire

    Yuan Li had slightly over 30,000 yuan in savings, which was just enough to cover the gap, so she didn''t have to owe Ge Dongxu any money. Originally, Ge Dongxu intended to contribute 500,000 yuan, but could not win against her insistence on 470,000 yuan. He agreed to cover the shortfall herself, which was considered a debt to him.

    Although Yuan Li didn''t formally owe Ge Dongxu money, in her heart, she was very clear that she owed him a lot.

    This time, Ge Dongxu had taken out a loan of 1.4 million yuan, and with 520,000 yuan spent on the herbal tea beverage factory and 160,000 yuan on redeeming the factory land, he calculated that there was still 720,000 yuan lying in his bank account.

    Thinking of the 720,000 yuan lying in his account, Ge Dongxu felt a little excited. But when he remembered that the trip to the provincial capital would cost at least 300,000 to 400,000 yuan, his heart couldn''t help but ache with the expense. And this was all predicated on the successful carving of a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade. If the carving failed, he would have to spend even more money. Therefore, if the jade and price were right, he actually wanted to buy a bit more. As a result, it was hard to say how much money would be left in his account afterward.

    Thinking of this, Ge Dongxu felt that the task of earning money was arduous and the road ahead was long; he could not relax his studies, so he quickly put away the distracting thoughts and forced himself to concentrate on the economics book again.

    "Dongxu? What are you doing here?" Just as Ge Dongxu was about to read, a familiar voice reached his ear.

    PS: Fourth update, for the fifth, keep on voting!

 Chapter 131 Encounter Again [Fifth Update]

    Discover stories with empire"Uncle Cheng, how come you''re here too?" Ge Dongxu looked up, saw it was Cheng Yazhou, and couldn''t help feeling surprised.

    "I''m a businessman, it''s quite normal for me to be here. You, on the other hand, are not here because your sister is unwell again, are you?" Cheng Yazhou said jokingly as he sat down beside Ge Dongxu.

    Clearly, after the incident on the train last time and spending time together since, Cheng Yazhou had guessed that what Ge Dongxu had said was just a brush-off.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Cheng Yazhou with a somewhat embarrassed smile and said, "Not entirely, not entirely. I do have some other business in the Provincial Capital this time. What about you, Uncle Cheng? Are you here to collect debts again?"

    "Yes, but in addition to collecting debts, I have other business matters to deal with," Cheng Yazhou, a clever man, replied with a smile when Ge Dongxu turned the question on him, and so he didn''t press any further.

    "Oh, what book are you reading?" After answering, Cheng Yazhou saw the thick book in Ge Dongxu''s hand and curiously reached out to take a look. Once he saw it, he was taken aback for a moment before saying, "Uncle is truly impressed with you, young man. Lehao, that brat, isn''t even qualified to carry your bag."

    "Heh, I''m just idling and flipping through it; I don''t really understand it, to be honest," Ge Dongxu quickly said with false modesty.

    "Don''t be modest in front of your uncle. Look at Lehao, that boy. What else can he do now aside from constantly asking me for money? Look at you, at the same age, and now you are already the major shareholder of two factories and a big landlord. There''s no comparing, no comparing at all!" Cheng Yazhou kept shaking his head with a sense of exclamation.

    Seeing Cheng Yazhou speak like this, Ge Dongxu felt too awkward to keep being modest and said with a smile, "Lehao has made a lot of progress."

    "That''s true! And it''s thanks to you! If you hadn''t set an example and helped me keep an eye on him, who knows what that boy could have learned," Cheng Yazhou said with a mix of relief and gratitude on his face.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t expect to end up talking about himself after going around in circles, so he just smiled modestly and didn''t dare continue the conversation.

    After that, the two chatted intermittently, mostly about the current situation at Jiang Family Village.

    Ever since the county government decided to build the new building in Jiang Family Village, the news about this area has been spreading more and more. The land price in Jiang Family Village, especially around Yaxu Trademark Factory, has been rising sharply as more people with foresight have noticed its prime location. So, although Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin initially paid a high price, it now looks like they made a profit, though the exact amount is still uncertain.

    The next topic was the herbal tea beverage factory. Ge Dongxu wanted to bring up Tang Yiyuan''s matter several times, thinking it was a good opportunity to let him meet Cheng Yazhou since they were both going to the Provincial Capital. But, as the deal had not been finalized and due to his personality, Ge Dongxu ultimately didn''t mention it, figuring he would plan it after everything was settled and based on the timing and circumstances.

    Neither of them talked much about Yaxu Trademark Factory because its development has been quite stable, its scale will more or less remain the same without significant changes, and Ge Dongxu hadn''t been involved from the beginning. Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were in charge, so there was not much to discuss.

    So they chatted intermittently like this and boarded the train. On the train, Cheng Yazhou switched seats with the person next to Ge Dongxu so that they could continue their conversation. Then, unable to resist sleepiness and having to deal with matters the next day, Cheng Yazhou bade Ge Dongxu goodnight and leaned back in his seat to sleep.

    When Cheng Yazhou fell asleep, Ge Dongxu took out his book again to continue reading until well past midnight when he finally closed his eyes to rest.

    Cheng Yazhou''s first stop was in Kuiji City, next to the Provincial Capital. After advising Ge Dongxu to be safe, he got off the train before Ge Dongxu did.

    The train arrived on time at Linzhou City in the Provincial Capital at eight in the morning.

    Upon exiting the ticketing gates of the train station, Ge Dongxu saw Li Min waiting for him outside.

    Liu Jiayao was away on a business trip and wouldn''t be back until the afternoon, so she had asked Li Min to pick him up. Originally, Ge Dongxu had told Liu Jiayao that it wasn''t necessary, but she insisted, saying he must be tired from the day''s train journey. She wanted Li Min to pick him up so he could freshen up by taking a shower at her place before handling his business.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t resist Liu Jiayao''s kindness and just went along with her good intentions.

    Li Min wore jeans, a white T-shirt, and sneakers, her short hair just as before, carrying an air of brisk and heroic temperament.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu from a distance, Li Min waved at him and he hurriedly approached.

    "I''m sorry to trouble you, Sister Li, to have to come pick me up even on the weekend," Ge Dongxu said with a hint of apology as he approached.

    "Hehe, it''s fine, those of us in this line of work are basically on call for the boss 24/7," Li Min said with a laugh.

    "If it weren''t for me, you could have taken the day off. You just need to drop me at Sister Liu''s house and you won''t have to worry about me," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, if you need anything just give me a call. The boss instructed that I''m at your disposal today," Li Min nodded and said, a trace of perplexity flickering in her eyes.

    To this day, she still can''t figure out why Liu Jiayao treats this young man before her with such special consideration. You should know that even though this young man isn''t yet of age and is just a student, he''s still seventeen years old. Some more mature boys at this age might already have several girlfriends, and the bolder ones might have even tasted the forbidden fruit.

    Yet, Liu Jiayao seemed to let her guard down completely around this boy, not only walking arm in arm but even giving Ge Dongxu a key to her house, which Li Min only found out about today.

    Naturally, Li Min didn''t think there was any affair between Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu because their statuses and ages were clear to see!

    It just didn''t make sense, it just didn''t!

    Li Min shook her head secretly and then got into the driver''s seat.

    Since Liu Jiayao wasn''t there, Ge Dongxu sat in the passenger seat.

    The car sped along the roads of the Provincial Capital. Watching Li Min shift gears and turn the steering wheel with ease, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt that having a car wouldn''t be so bad. It would make visiting his parents more convenient, without having to squeeze onto the rural-urban buses.

    It wasn''t so much that Ge Dongxu disliked the crowds or the bumpy ride, but the mixture of odors on the rural-urban buses was unbearable for him.

    However, in Huaxia Country, he had to wait until he was at least eighteen to get a driver''s license, so for now, Ge Dongxu could only think about it. Moreover, because his birthday came late in the year, he would have to wait at least until the first half of his senior year of high school.

    As he was pondering this, Ge Dongxu noticed that Li Min''s hand on the steering wheel was slightly trembling, and her face didn''t look too good.

    "What''s wrong, Sister Li?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "My stomach''s a bit achy, I''ll pull over here for a moment to take some medicine," Li Min said as she made a turn with the steering wheel and pulled over to the side of the road. She then took out a bottle of medicine from the car''s drawer, poured out a pill, and prepared to swallow it.

    ps: Today''s five updates are complete, thank you for your support! S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 132 Pain Relief [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "Wait." Ge Dongxu hastily intercepted her, then reached out to take the medicine bottle from Li Min''s hand. Seeing that it was painkillers, he couldn''t help but frown slightly, then looked up at Li Min, who was gently pressing on her abdomen, and said, "You''re having menstrual pain, right? Why would you take painkillers for menstrual pain? Although painkillers work fast, taking them too much can lead to nervous system dysfunction, memory loss, insomnia, and other adverse effects.""Huh, how do you know I have menstrual pain?" Li Min was surprised to hear this and looked at Ge Dongxu with astonishment.

    "Of course I know a bit, give me your hand and let me take your pulse." Ge Dongxu said.

    "Pfft! Come on! I compliment you and you really think you''re a doctor. I have seen so many doctors for this menstrual pain problem and it hasn''t been any good. Ouch, it''s killing me!" Li Min couldn''t help but laugh at Ge Dongxu''s serious demeanor, but immediately after, her brows furrowed and she reached for the pills, ready to swallow them.

    "I told you not to take painkillers recklessly, and you''re still doing it." Ge Dongxu reached out and snatched the painkillers from her hand, rebuking her sternly.

    "What are you doing, Dongxu? Of course, I know that too many painkillers aren''t good, but what can I do when the pain hits? Give me the medicine quickly." Li Min didn''t expect Ge Dongxu to actually take her medicine away, and was somewhat annoyed.

    "Who says there''s nothing to be done when the pain hits? Don''t move, just sit there, I''ll help stop the pain for you." Ge Dongxu said in a deep voice. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Look, Dongxu, can you please stop messing around? I''m in so much pain." Li Min was so anxious she almost wanted to curse him out, but as Ge Dongxu was someone Liu Jiayao valued, she didn''t have the heart to lash out at him; if it had been anyone else, with Li Min''s temper, she would have already started scolding.

    "Who''s messing around? I cured Sister Liu''s illness. Your menstrual pain, what''s that in comparison?" Ge Dongxu, seeing that Li Min didn''t believe him, had no choice but to bring up Liu Jiayao''s case.

    "What, you''re saying you cured Manager Liu''s illness?" Li Min''s eyes widened in shock. As someone close to Liu Jiayao, Li Min naturally knew that the unexplained fainting illness had not occurred for over half a year, but she had always thought it was Tang Yiyuan who had cured her. Because of this, she even went to see Tang Yiyuan for her condition once, but there was little improvement with her menstrual pain.

    Originally, she wanted to ask Tang Yiyuan what was going on, but afraid of making him lose face, she didn''t go back. After all, this problem is common among many women, and many doctors don''t have any particularly good solutions; they say that in most cases, after getting married and having children, menstrual pain will naturally disappear. Li Min didn''t want to get married and have children for the time being, so she had to endure a few days of pain every month.

    "Don''t you know?" Ge Dongxu asked in return, thinking that Li Min, since she was close to Liu Jiayao, would know about this.

    "Of course, I didn''t know; I thought it was Professor Tang who treated her." Li Min replied. After a while, she still seemed somewhat incredulous as she looked at Ge Dongxu and asked, "Did you really cure Manager Liu''s illness, can you really treat ailments?"

    "If you don''t believe me then forget it, continue taking your painkillers." Ge Dongxu, seeing that he had made himself clear but Li Min still refused to believe, couldn''t help but shrug his shoulders in annoyance.

    "No, no, take a look at me. Didn''t you say you had a way to alleviate my pain?" Seeing Ge Dongxu say this, Li Min started to believe him somewhat and urged him anxiously.

    "Then sit up straight and lift your clothes a bit to show your belly button, and that should be enough," Ge Dongxu said.

    Li Min''s cheeks blushed slightly, but seeing that Ge Dongxu wasn''t joking with her, she lifted her clothes a bit and then sneakily glanced at Ge Dongxu. Noticing that there wasn''t much change in his expression, she couldn''t help but think to herself, what kind of taste does this guy have, is my abdomen not sexy?

    No wonder Li Min felt this way. She was a former soldier with some combat skills. After being discharged, she could have been placed in a state-owned enterprise, but because Liu Jiayao was looking for a female driver with certain bodyguard skills and offered high wages, and her family needed the money urgently, she applied for and became Liu Jiayao''s driver. Therefore, not only did Li Min have the air of a valiant female bodyguard, her figure was also quite nice due to years of training, with no excess fat on the abdomen.

    Li Min had thought that Ge Dongxu, this young guy, would surely have his imagination running wild once he saw her slender waist, but to her surprise, he was completely indifferent, staring at her waist as if it were a piece of pork.

    Poor Li Min had no idea that although this young man in front of her had yet to experience real combat, he had seen much more impressive scenes than this bit of exposed waist.

    "Relax your mind, don''t be tense. I''m going to start by massaging the acupoints near your navel," Ge Dongxu said.

    Pfft! You as a young guy aren''t even nervous, why the hell should I be tense! Li Min was feeling depressed and frustrated within when she heard Ge Dongxu telling her to relax and not to be nervous. What was this nonsense?

    As Li Min was wallowing in her frustration, Ge Dongxu had already pressed his thumbs on the acupoints on both sides of her abdomen, near the navel, and started to gently massage them.

    A warm sensation flowed from the acupoints along the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming as Ge Dongxu massaged. Li Min instantly felt the previously cold and painful area of her abdomen warming up, as though basking in the sunlight, and couldn''t help but let out a long sigh of relief, saying, "It feels so good!"

    "Disgusting! Shameless!" As soon as these words left her mouth, a woman''s scornful voice came from outside the car. It turned out that a middle-aged woman was passing by and saw a man touching a woman''s stomach. She lamented the decline of public morals and couldn''t help but voice her disdain.

    What was a completely normal situation turned Li Min''s face crimson with embarrassment due to the woman''s scolding. She quickly snuck a look at Ge Dongxu and, seeing his unruffled expression, felt greatly relieved.

    After Ge Dongxu finished massaging the acupoints on either side of the belly button, he proceeded to massage the Zhongji acupoint below it, then told her to pull down her clothes and lift up the trouser legs to start massaging another acupoint on the inner side of her calf, above the ankle¡ªthe Sanyinjiao acupoint.

    When Ge Dongxu had finished massaging the Sanyinjiao acupoint, Li Min no longer felt any pain, and even felt comfortably warm. She looked at Ge Dongxu in amazement and admired, "Your medical skills are indeed miraculous, no wonder even President Liu''s unusual illness was cured by you. I don''t feel uncomfortable at all now."

    "The massage I did this time can only ensure that you won''t feel pain during this menstrual period, but it will recur next time," Ge Dongxu said.

    ps: Sorry about the wrong names in the previous chapter; I didn''t catch them. Please vote as a punishment.

 Chapter 133 Youre Really Something

    "What should I do, then? I can''t ask you to help me massage every month, can I?" Li Min was stunned when she heard this."That''s easy to handle. I''ll write a prescription for you, and you should be fine after taking it for a couple of weeks. Of course, with your condition, you should avoid taking cold showers, and if you have a habit of winter swimming, stop that too, at least for a year or two," Ge Dongxu said.

    Li Min, initially relieved and cheerful that a prescription from Ge Dongxu could cure her, was immediately shocked by what he said afterward. With wide eyes, she asked Ge Dongxu in amazement, "How did you know that I have the habit of taking cold showers and winter swimming?"

    "I''m a doctor, of course I know. Moreover, the fact that other doctors haven''t cured your condition is probably related to this," Ge Dongxu replied matter-of-factly. When he was massaging Li Min earlier, he had felt a strong chill within her body, coupled with a great amount of dampness, accumulated over many years, so he deduced the causes.

    "No wonder, you really are incredible. The other doctors never thought about this issue," Li Min said, giving Ge Dongxu a thumbs up.

    Actually, it wasn''t fair to blame those other doctors, because there were very few girls who liked to take cold showers these days, and even fewer who went winter swimming. Moreover, menstrual pain is a common disease for women and is hard to cure. Their abilities to diagnose were not as brilliant and extraordinary as Ge Dongxu''s, so they didn''t consider that aspect.

    "Everyone overlooks something," Ge Dongxu said modestly, and then added, "By the way, let''s keep the fact that I can cure diseases to ourselves, okay? Please don''t go around spreading the word."

    "I understand, don''t worry," Li Min replied. Being chosen by Liu Jiayao to be by her side meant she was naturally smart. Upon hearing this, she immediately nodded with a serious expression.

    "Alright, then continue driving. When we get to Yadu Garden, I''ll write you a prescription," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Sure thing." With hope for a cure for her longstanding menstrual pain, Li Min''s spirits lifted. She smiled, replied cheerfully, and then restarted the car and hit the road. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "By the way, Dongxu, don''t doctors say that cold showers and winter swimming are good for health? How come I ended up having problems with them?" Li Min asked, puzzled, as they drove.

    "Everything should be done in moderation. When your body is healthy, cold showers and winter swimming certainly can improve your physique. But when your body is weak, you need to pay attention to keeping warm. You must have caught a chill some time but insisted on continuing with cold showers or winter swimming, worsening the symptoms. It wouldn''t have been a big deal if you had stopped for a while, as the chill would have dissipated and you wouldn''t have developed menstrual pain. But since you persisted with the cold showers and winter swimming, the chill couldn''t disperse and accumulated over time. If you don''t stop that habit, no medicine a doctor gives you will work," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Now that you mention it, I do remember one time after a particularly exhausting field training in the military, I took a cold shower afterward and then got a fever, which led to the onset of my menstrual pain. Later on, I even thought I was just weak and needed to do more of that kind of exercise, so I kept up with the cold showers and winter swimming. I''m lucky I met you today; otherwise, I''d still be suffering," Li Min said with a mix of hindsight and relief.

    "It''s not that exaggerated. If the doctors were a bit more careful, asked more questions, or you talked more about your lifestyle habits, the cause of your condition would have been found. Your condition is common, and the doctors didn''t think in that direction or ask more, and you''re not one to talk much, so naturally, it was delayed," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, continuing his analysis.

    Because she had served in the military and her current profession wasn''t one for talking, Li Min''s demeanor was rather cold and she didn''t speak much.

    "You''re giving them too much credit. Their medical skills can''t compare to yours," Li Min said with a laugh.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and didn''t bother to be modest anymore.

    The car quickly arrived at Yadu Garden, where Ge Dongxu wrote a prescription for Li Min before getting out of the car.

    Liu Jiayao had insisted on giving Ge Dongxu the keys to her apartment in Yadu Garden last time, claiming she often went on business trips and in case he ever came by and she wasn''t home, he could enter and rest.

    Ge Dongxu was still young and hadn''t thought too much about it, so when Liu Jiayao insisted on giving him the keys, he accepted them.

    Taking the elevator up to the nineteenth floor, he unlocked the door to find the familiar arrangement that gave him an inexplicably warm feeling, yet the absence of Liu Jiayao left him with a slight sense of loss, as if something was missing.

    After slipping into his sandals, Ge Dongxu carried his bag and pushed open the door to Liu Jiayao''s bedroom. Because his toiletries, along with his change of underwear and bath towels, were all stored in her bedroom.

    As soon as he opened the door, Ge Dongxu''s cheeks flushed intensely, because strewn messily on the pink bed were many pieces of women''s sexy, intimate clothing.

    Clearly, Liu Jiayao had not expected Ge Dongxu to come by this weekend before leaving for her business trip, so she hadn''t tidied up her bedroom.

    Not daring to look too much, Ge Dongxu found his things in the wardrobe and then hurried into the bathroom.

    After washing up and taking a shower, looking at his wet hair in the mirror, Ge Dongxu missed the days when Liu Jiayao was around.

    Because every time, she always insisted on helping him dry his hair.

    Dressed in clean clothes, Ge Dongxu went downstairs for a quick bite before heading straight to the Jiang Region Jewelry Mall. As he had made an appointment in advance while in Changxi County, when he arrived, Tang Yiyuan and his daughter Tang Yahui were already waiting for him in the sales hall, their eyes lighting up at the sight of him.

    The sales clerks behind the counters in the sales hall also looked at Ge Dongxu with burning eyes when they saw him, as if wolves spotting a sheep. It was a pity that Tang Yiyuan and his daughter directly escorted him upstairs, otherwise those clerks would have certainly fought to do business with him.

    There was no helping it; he was indeed a bona fide rich second-generation! It was said that last time, he had almost cleared out Jiang Region Jewelry''s unprocessed Jadeite level jade stock!

    Since the commission for Jadeite stones is higher than for gold or diamonds, Zhang Qiqi, who served him that time, made nearly ten thousand in commission¡ªalmost equivalent to two years of their basic salary. This made all the other sales clerks at Jiang Region Jewelry green with envy, and Chen Xiaoling, the "opportunistic" sales clerk with the melon seed face, was so frustrated she couldn''t eat for days.

    Nearly ten thousand, after all! For these young girls, it was definitely a substantial amount of money! And she had driven that business away herself; how could she possibly eat?

    Since Ge Dongxu had notified her in advance, Tang Yahui had already prepared ample stock this time.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu arrived, Tang Yahui ordered someone to bring out the unprocessed jade stones from the safe.

    The quality of the jade stones varied, but most of them were of the Jadeite level that Ge Dongxu had selected last time, clearly indicating that Tang Yahui had specifically stocked up on this level of jade for him.

 Chapter 134 Suggestions

    While selecting, Ge Dongxu saw a small piece of Ice Type Jadeite, the only one of its kind in the box.Ge Dongxu picked it up and touched it, feeling that the small piece of Ice Type Jadeite, having been bathed in the essence of the sun and moon over the years, had accumulated a trace of spirit energy. If it were to be used to make a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, not only would it gather moonlight more effectively, but it would also be purer.

    However, the success rate for crafting Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade was simply too low. Even though Ge Dongxu now had several million in wealth, he couldn''t afford to squander such high-quality jadeite. Therefore, after touching it, he obediently put it back and conscientiously picked out Ice Seed Jadeite instead.

    Since the price of jadeite continued to climb, even though the amount he purchased was about the same as last time, the price had risen by fifty thousand, reaching four hundred and twenty thousand. Moreover, when checking out, Tang Yahui hinted hesitantly, based on her judgment of market trends, that the likelihood of jadeite prices further strengthening was higher.

    This was something Tang Yahui definitely wouldn''t say to others, but since Ge Dongxu had a special relationship with her father, she couldn''t help but remind him when he mentioned he might continue to purchase jadeite of this level in the future.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t understand the jadeite market, so when he heard what Tang Yahui said, he immediately bit the bullet and bought an additional two hundred thousand worth of jadeite. As a result, this trip saw him spending a total of six hundred and twenty thousand on jadeite, leaving only a hundred thousand in his account from the original seven hundred and twenty thousand.

    Although Ge Dongxu''s money came quickly and was easy to earn, such extravagant spending still pained his heart. What pained him most was that this was just the beginning, and he estimated that the next time he came, he would probably need to take out at least a million.

    "With such a large demand, you could actually go directly to Myanmar or to Wanding, the largest of the five major trading markets in Huaxia Country''s YN, along with Ruili, Longchuan, Yingjiang, and Tengchong¡ªall in YN. Of course, the markets there are a bit chaotic, and it''s necessary to be knowledgeable to do well there. Plus, there are many who sell rough stones, although gambling on rough stones is quite a gamble. If lucky, you might spend a few tens of thousands to obtain jadeite worth millions, but there''s also the risk of losing everything. I can tell that you have a unique method of discerning jade, much better than me. You definitely won''t suffer a loss buying there, but the main concern is your personal safety. After all, you''re purchasing in large amounts, yet you are still young," said Tang Yahui, her gaze filled with indecision as she sat in the office drinking tea with Ge Dongxu, having handed over the jade to her father for polishing. After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke.

    "Oh! That''s actually a good idea." Ge Dongxu felt tempted upon hearing this, and as for personal safety, he had some ability to protect himself. However, when he looked up and saw the reluctance in Tang Yahui''s eyes, he suddenly realized how precious her suggestion was and was deeply moved, saying, "Thank you for the suggestion. If I manage to find good jade in the future, I will definitely give you a piece."

    "You''re welcome. I mean, I would have brought it up today or eventually, you would run off to those places to buy jade someday," Tang Yahui replied, her eyes shining as she hurriedly spoke.

    "Yahui is right, you don''t need to be so formal with her. But you really must pay attention to personal safety. It''s unfamiliar territory, and those border areas are somewhat chaotic. Plus, you''re young. So, if possible, it would be best if you took it slow and considered going a few years later," Tang Yiyuan said with concern.

    Tang Yiyuan, a seasoned practitioner of traditional medicine, was deeply influenced by the tradition of revering teachers and their teachings. Hence, following the custom of people from the South, Tang Yahui had naturally come to address Ge Dongxu as "you." However, believing that Ge Dongxu had granted him the favor of teaching medical knowledge, Tang Yiyuan still insisted on addressing Ge Dongxu as "you."

    "Thank you, Professor Tang. You make a good point. I''m still young now, and unless it''s absolutely necessary, I won''t be in a rush to go there," Ge Dongxu said with a serious look, nodding earnestly upon hearing the words.

    Huaxia Country was vast and abundant in resources, brimming with extraordinary people. Ge Dongxu''s level of cultivation was far from being able to dominate the world, especially since Yunnan and Guizhou had been known since ancient times as The Hundred Thousand Mountains, a place shrouded in mystery, with legends of hermits living deep in the mountains. His late master, Ren Yao, had been worried that Ge Dongxu, young and brash, might become arrogant with a bit of ability. Thus, he often cautioned him not to show off his techniques lightly in front of others and even on his deathbed did not forget to remind him.

    Over this period, Ge Dongxu, with the assistance of the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, had made rapid progress in his cultivation. His endeavors had also been smooth sailing. Even figures of authority in Changxi County, such as Lin Jinnuo and Zuo Le, showed him great respect. In his heart, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a hint of pride and complacency. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Tang Yiyuan''s words suddenly reminded Ge Dongxu of his master''s advice, and that nascent pride and complacency in his heart were immediately extinguished like a flame doused with water.

    "Hehe, it''s mainly because I haven''t been to those places either, so I''m a bit worried. If you feel it''s really necessary to go in the future, just give me a word, and I''ll help you find one or two trustworthy people to accompany you," Tang Yiyuan said with a sigh of relief, laughing.

    At this time, Tang Yiyuan did not know that Ge Dongxu possessed mysterious arts; ordinary men, even more than a dozen strong ones, couldn''t get close to him.

    "Sure," Ge Dongxu said with a smile and a nod.

    Next, while waiting for the Jade Tokens, Tang Yiyuan inquired about matters concerning traditional medicine, which Ge Dongxu answered one by one.

    Since a larger number of Jade Tokens were being purchased this time, they hadn''t been processed by noon, and Tang Yahui invited Ge Dongxu to have lunch at a nearby restaurant.

    During the meal, Ge Dongxu brought up his recent investment in a herbal tea beverage factory. He mentioned his lack of experience in the industrial production of traditional herbal tea formulas and sought Tang Yiyuan''s help.

    "Is it a new formula?" Tang Yiyuan perked up, immediately interested upon hearing this.

    "Yes, it''s a unique formula. It not only cools the body and reduces internal heat but also nourishes the vital energy. It has no liver or kidney toxicity, doesn''t harm the spleen or stomach, and is suitable for all ages and for all seasons," Ge Dongxu confirmed with a nod.

    If anyone else had claimed this, Tang Yiyuan would definitely have doubts. There are many varieties of herbal teas these days, but since they are designed to cool the body, they tend to be somewhat cold in nature. Drinking too much can damage the spleen, stomach and yang energy, making it hard to cater to all needs.

    But he had no doubt in Ge Dongxu''s words. Consequently, after hearing them, Tang Yiyuan became even more interested and said, "That would be my honor. If you hadn''t brought it up, I would have asked you myself! If you don''t mind, I would also like to involve my students in this project."

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan''s response, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel elated. Knowing that Tang Yiyuan would surely not accept money as a salary, he thought about it and simply offered, "Why don''t you join as a shareholder? I''ll give you 10% of the shares as a technical investment. My main focus right now is still on my studies, and I don''t have time to be involved in production and technical management."

    ps: Continuing to ask for your support, thank you.

 Chapter 135 Professor Tang Buys Shares [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    Tang Yiyuan was worried about how to further develop his relationship with Ge Dongxu, so he could legitimately consult him on medical issues regularly. Now that Ge Dongxu brought it up, they would become business partners, making it much easier to ask questions later on. He couldn''t help but be overjoyed and hastily said, "That''s exactly what I''ve been hoping for. However, when it comes to buying shares, I will invest my own money, my own money, and it can''t be considered a technical investment. With you around, I can learn the technology, so how can it count as a technical investment?""Hehe, all I''m contributing is the recipe, and I independently own the recipe and the trademark. The herbal tea factory is free to use them only for the first five years; after that, they have to pay me a usage fee," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Of course, your formula is priceless," Tang Yiyuan said matter-of-factly. He understood the value of a formula created by Ge Dongxu far better than Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin did.

    "It''s not that exaggerated, they''re just some ordinary recipes," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You''re being modest. What''s ordinary in your eyes is a priceless recipe in mine. So, let''s not talk about technical investment anymore. If you''re willing to let me buy shares, I''ll put up the money. Otherwise, I''ll work for you for free," Tang Yiyuan said.

    "Alright, if you insist on giving me money, I won''t be polite to you. Ten percent of the shares are fifty thousand yuan, and this ten percent is carved out from my share, so you can transfer it directly to me," Ge Dongxu said, seeing that Tang Yiyuan was resolute, and could no longer feign modesty. Besides, for a stalwart of the traditional Chinese medical community in Jiangnan Province like Tang Yiyuan, fifty thousand yuan was not a considerable sum.

    "Deal! Give me your card number, and I''ll transfer it to you later," Tang Yiyuan indeed didn''t even frown at the mention of fifty thousand yuan and agreed promptly.

    "Dad, it looks like you''re going to get rich with Doctor Ge! Come on, let me toast to you both and wish your business prosperity!" Tang Yahui knew her father had never been interested in business, yet he had surprisingly invested in Ge Dongxu''s factory, and she couldn''t help finding it amusing as she raised her glass with a smile.

    "Haha, definitely," Tang Yiyuan said laughingly, in a great mood, while Ge Dongxu felt somewhat embarrassed. Although he was confident in his recipe, what if it didn''t sell and they lost money?

    After settling the investment details, Tang Yiyuan couldn''t wait to ask about the herbal tea recipe.

    Going forward, Tang Yiyuan was already responsible for overseeing the production technology, so naturally, Ge Dongxu had nothing to hide about the recipe. He wrote it down for Tang Yiyuan right there and said, "I have to start preparing for the final exams soon, so I probably won''t have time to get involved in the production research until the summer holidays. If you have time, you can go ahead and give it a try."

    "Okay!" Tang Yiyuan carefully reviewed the recipe and noticed a Medicinal Guide, which made him very happy. "I was just worrying that once we scale up production, it would be hard to keep the recipe secret for long, and it would eventually get out. But with this Medicinal Guide, there''s nothing to worry about. As long as we keep the Medicinal Guide safe, nobody else will be able to produce the real Qinghe Herbal Tea." S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dad, what''s this Medicinal Guide for the herbal tea?" Tang Yahui asked curiously.

    "My child, I told you to study medicine with me when you were little, but you refused, and now you don''t understand, do you? Herbal tea is essentially a decoction made from herbs, and since it''s a decoction, it''s natural to prepare it following the principle of the emperor, minister, assistant, and courier herbs. It''s normal to have a Medicinal Guide. Modern herbal teas seem to lack this, so your surprise makes sense, but if you analyze it deeper, having a Medicinal Guide is not at all strange," Tang Yiyuan explained with a smile, pointing at Tang Yahui.

    "I see! Now that you''ve explained it, I understand," Tang Yahui, having learned a bit of traditional Chinese medicine from her father in her childhood, immediately grasped the concept once Tang Yiyuan explained it.

    Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan then discussed more about the herbal tea beverage factory. Since Tang Yiyuan had become a shareholder, and Cheng Yazhou was very likely in Linzhou City now, Ge Dongxu thought it was a good opportunity for them to meet. Once acquainted, they could discuss certain matters directly without needing him as an intermediary. After all, he would have to return to class after the weekend and wouldn''t have much free time on weekdays.

    So Ge Dongxu got Tang Yiyuan''s phone and called Cheng Yazhou.

    Cheng Yazhou was quite surprised to receive a call from this unknown number, but when he answered, he discovered it was from Ge Dongxu and asked what was the matter.

    Ge Dongxu then repeated to him the story about Tang Yiyuan buying into the company. Cheng Yazhou, being a businessman, naturally understood how significant it would be for the herbal tea factory to have a TCM university doctorate supervisor, a leading figure in Jiangnan Province''s field of traditional Chinese medicine. It wasn''t just about his network, but simply playing the card of his name alone would immediately elevate Qinghe Herbal Tea several notches, and this wasn''t even touching on the production technology oversight, after all, the man was a doctoral supervisor, a university professor!

    In the eyes of ordinary folk, especially in smaller places like towns and counties, a university professor, a doctoral student supervisor, that was someone they had to look up to with admiration.

    So when Cheng Yazhou heard Ge Dongxu had brought Tang Yiyuan on board and that he''d actually become business partners with a university professor, a doctoral supervisor level person, he couldn''t suppress a burst of pride and excitement. It was as if his own status had changed overnight, and he couldn''t wait to meet Tang Yiyuan face to face. However, since Tang was still in Kuiji City and couldn''t get away due to commitments that afternoon and evening, they would have to wait to meet until tomorrow or whenever Tang Yiyuan could come to Changxi County.

    Although Cheng Yazhou couldn''t immediately rush over to meet Professor Tang Yiyuan, he still asked Ge Dongxu to let him speak with Tang Yiyuan over the phone, where naturally all kinds of grateful and honored sentiments were expressed, leaving Yiyuan''s face flushed with embarrassment.

    What could he do? With Ge Dongxu there, what did it matter that he was a traditional Chinese medicine professor?

    After dinner, the three of them returned to Jiang Region Jewelry to continue waiting for the Jade Token.

    Around two o''clock, Ge Dongxu received the Jade Token. As he still had to give Liu Jiayao acupuncture, and he had a train to catch afterwards, Ge Dongxu hurriedly rushed to Yadu Garden after getting the Jade Token.

    Just as Ge Dongxu reached the nineteenth floor, the elevator doors opened and he saw Li Min standing in the hallway, which made him exclaim in surprise, "Eh, Sister Li, what are you doing here?"

    "Of course, I''m waiting for you. Just now Ms. Liu called me and said her flight was delayed. She was worried you might be anxious waiting for her, so she made a point of calling me, telling me to inform you. She didn''t call me long ago though, I reckon the plane still hasn''t taken off yet. You should give her a call."

    "Alright, I''ll go inside and call her right now," Ge Dongxu said as he opened the door. "Come in and sit down."

    "No need, I''ve done my part by letting you know," Li Min said, waving her hand.

    It''s actually quite inconvenient for a single man and a single woman to be alone together, and besides, this is Liu Jiayao''s home. Seeing Li Min decline, Ge Dongxu didn''t insist.

    PS: I recommend a book by a new author named Rentimeishi called "Days of Survival on a Deserted Island with a Beauty", a tale many men have probably fantasized about. Alright, I might be being unclean here, because the true tale for men should be Robinson Crusoe. Anyway, it''s a new author, new book; for those who like this genre, please add it to your shelf and give your support.

 Chapter 136 Friendly Restaurant

    Once inside, Ge Dongxu used the landline at Liu Jiayao''s home to call her.The phone was answered as soon as it rang, evidently Liu Jiayao had been waiting for the call.

    "Is that you, Dongxu?" As soon as the call connected, Liu Jiayao''s voice came through with a hint of surprise.

    "Sister Liu, it''s me. Haven''t you taken off yet?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Pfft, isn''t that obvious? Could I answer your call if I had taken off?" Liu Jiayao laughed.

    "Hehe, that''s true. By the way, when will you be back?" Ge Dongxu looked at the time and asked.

    "I can''t say for sure right now, but I guess I definitely won''t be home until the evening," Liu Jiayao replied.

    "I see..." Ge Dongxu said, feeling somewhat troubled. His original plan was to return by train that evening since he had class on Monday, and taking the Sunday night train would be quite a rush.

    "Yep, why don''t you stay in the city today and not go back to Changxi? Just stay at my place, okay? Tomorrow I can drive you back to Changxi County," Liu Jiayao suggested.

    "This..." Ge Dongxu hesitated. It wasn''t that he couldn''t stay an extra day, but he felt it was inconvenient to stay at Liu Jiayao''s place because, after all, there was a difference between men and women.

    "Don''t leave tonight, pretty please?" While Ge Dongxu was hesitating, Liu Jiayao''s voice came through the phone with a touch of pleading coquetry.

    Ge Dongxu, the young lad, was no match for such entreaties from a beautiful woman like Liu Jiayao. His heart thumped wildly, and he quickly said, "Okay, then."

    "Hee hee, it''s settled then. Wait for my call at home. If I come back late, we''ll meet directly at the restaurant to save you from starving, but if I''m back early, we''ll go together," Liu Jiayao happily said, seeing that Ge Dongxu was willing to stay.

    "Okay, I''ll wait for your call at home," Ge Dongxu responded.

    Afterward, the two chatted for a while longer before Liu Jiayao hung up the phone.

    At around seven o''clock in the evening, as dusk began to settle, the home phone rang.

    "You must be starving, right?" The moment the phone was picked up, Liu Jiayao''s concerned voice came through.

    "Not hungry, not hungry. Have you arrived?" Ge Dongxu hastily replied. Although he was still at the age to grow, as a practitioner, he didn''t get hungry as easily as others his age.

    "Just got off the plane. It''ll take some time to get home from the airport. I''m starving too, let''s just meet directly at the restaurant," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Sure, just say the word, and I''ll take a cab there," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Let''s go to the revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake in the Friendly Hotel. The scenery there is nice, and the food is delicious, especially the chocolate series of cakes which are particularly tasty," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Alright, whatever you decide is fine by me. I''ll follow your lead," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Okay, I''ll make a reservation now. You can head over there directly. I reckon I''ll be a bit later than you, so just wait for me at the lobby bar downstairs," Liu Jiayao said.

    Ge Dongxu responded with an okay and then hung up the phone.

    After hanging up, Ge Dongxu took the keys and left the house, hailing a taxi at the entrance of Yadu Garden and saying, "To the Friendly Hotel."

    The taxi driver acknowledged with an "Okay," but glanced at Ge Dongxu through the rearview mirror with a hint of confusion.

    The Friendly Hotel was a four-star establishment and, at the time, it was the most luxurious hotel in Linzhou City, much like the Changxi Grand Hotel in Changxi County. It was the kind of place that ordinary people seldom could afford. Moreover, the name itself suggested that it catered to foreign guests. Many international friends and leaders would stay at this hotel when visiting Linzhou City.

    Ge Dongxu was unaware of the reputation of the Friendly Hotel in Linzhou City and its significance. Sitting in the taxi, he watched the city lights beginning to glow in the early evening, neon signs illuminating both sides of the road, and the streets bustling with traffic. Linzhou City at night seemed even more prosperous than during the day.

    Mingyue Lake, also known as the Beauty Lake, is one of Huaxia Country''s first batch of national key scenic spots and one of the top ten scenic attractions in the nation. Surrounded by mountains on three sides, with shimmering waves and willows providing shade, it exudes the demure gentleness characteristic of Jiangnan women, resembling a beautiful woman from Jiangnan, hence its alternate name, Beauty Lake.

    Ge Dongxu had heard of the fame of Mingyue Lake early on. As a child, he often saw it on television, but his previous visits to the Provincial Capital had been rushed, and he never had the chance to visit Mingyue Lake until today.

    As the car drove by the lake, he could see the countless lights along the shore, which adorned Mingyue Lake with incredible beauty.

    The city of Linzhou had developed outward from Mingyue Lake, making it the true central area of the city at that time. Many high-end businesses and hotels were concentrated around the lake. Yadu Garden was also located near the city center, so the ride was not long. Just as the taxi meter jumped past the starting fare, they arrived at the Friendly Hotel.

    Ge Dongxu paid the driver, got out of the car, and looked up at the tallest building by Mingyue Lake. In the night, the Friendly Hotel was captivating, illuminated by enchanting lights.

    "Uncle Cheng!"

    "Dongxu!"

    As he approached the lobby of the Friendly Hotel, Ge Dongxu and Cheng Yazhou spotted each other and were mutually surprised.

    "It''s a small world after all! How did you end up here?" said Cheng Yazhou after a long moment, filled with emotion. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I''ve got a dinner appointment here with a friend. How about you?" Ge Dongxu replied, equally amazed at how small the world was.

    "I''m also here for a dinner meeting, but to discuss business," said Cheng Yazhou.

    "Is it business related to the trademark factory?" asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes, if we land this deal, our trademark factory will have a steady stream of long-term business. Not like before with random clients; after completing an order, we never knew when the next one would come," nodded Cheng Yazhou.

    "You''ve been working hard, uncle," said Ge Dongxu, feeling a bit guilty since his main responsibility at the moment was to focus on his studies and he couldn''t help with running the business.

    "Haha, it''s only right. Don''t forget, both Qianjin and I are salaried workers, and we get a commission for the business we bring in on our own," said Cheng Yazhou with a laugh.

    Yaxu Trademark Factory''s business came from clients seeking them out, as well as from personal efforts. The latter earned a commission, a system Ge Dongxu had devised based on his own situation, to avoid everyone relying on a fixed income for too long. Cheng Yazhou might have been fine with it; after all, he owed Ge Dongxu a life debt and likely had no objections, but Wu Qianjin would inevitably have concerns.

    In business, even with brothers, it''s best to keep accounts clear. Establishing rules upfront prevents conflicts later on.

    "That''s true but if it weren''t for you and Uncle Qianjin running around, our business would have probably folded a long time ago," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "Hehe, it''s not that dramatic. Alright, just focus on your studies and don''t worry about these matters," Cheng Yazhou said with a smile, waving his hand dismissively.

    "Hehe, even if I wanted to worry, I couldn''t be of much help," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Well, running the trademark factory is one thing, but you really gave me a shock with the herbal tea factory. You even managed to invite PhD supervisors and professors from Jiangnan Province University of Chinese Medicine! That''s a feat Qianjin and I could never match, no matter how hard we tried. It''s a pity that funds have been tight recently, otherwise we''d have to secure even more shares at any cost," said Cheng Yazhou.

    PS: It feels much more satisfying to move the evening''s third update to noon, so starting today, the third update will be at noon. Therefore, in an hour, there will be another update, with none in the evening.

 Chapter 137 A Youthful Inexperience

    "Hehe, no problem at all; I can allocate a bit more shares to you, consider the money as a temporary loan from me," Ge Dongxu laughed and said."No need, no need, let''s stick to the agreed amount. It''s just that seeing Professor Tang investing made me suddenly greedy," Cheng Yazhou waved his hand and laughed.

    Seeing Cheng Yazhou talk so honestly, without hiding his little schemes, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and said, "It seems that Uncle Cheng and Uncle Qianjin were still not confident about the herbal tea factory before!"

    "Hehe, who knew you had such capability, even involving a university professor," Cheng Yazhou didn''t deny it, just smiled somewhat sheepishly.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu laughed upon hearing this and said, "Professor Tang is usually busy, I always have to ask for his opinion before I can say anything."

    "Indeed, indeed, but tell me, don''t tell me your meeting today is with Professor Tang?" Cheng Yazhou asked.

    "No, a good friend," Ge Dongxu replied. He did not want to mention Liu Jiayao to avoid frightening Cheng Yazhou again.

    One should know that Qinglan Cosmetics is quite famous nationwide and almost a household name in Jiangnan Province. If Cheng Yazhou knew that he was having lunch with the gorgeous CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics today, it would probably scare him to bits.

    "Oh!" Cheng Yazhou showed a hint of disappointment on his face, but he didn''t ask any further.

    The two of them chatted for a bit more in the lobby, then Cheng Yazhou suddenly brightened up, whispering to Ge Dongxu, "Here they come."

    With that, Cheng Yazhou quickly walked towards the lobby entrance. Ge Dongxu, being a major shareholder of Yaxu Trademark Factory, thought it over and followed him out.

    As Cheng Yazhou walked toward the lobby entrance, a man and a woman stepped up the stairs.

    The man was about thirty-six or thirty-seven, not very old, but already somewhat balding and chubby. The woman accompanying him was around twenty-four or twenty-five years old, fairly attractive, with a decent figure. She wore a pair of washed white jeans that flattered her hips and a sweet smile, giving her an especially youthful and unsophisticated look.

    "Uncle Cheng, this is our Purchasing Department''s Manager Zhang Huowang. Manager Zhang, this is Cheng Yazhou, the factory manager of Yaxu Trademark Factory and a business friend of my father," the sweet-smiling young woman introduced helpfully.

    "Manager Zhang, nice to meet you. Thank you for honoring us with your presence," Cheng Yazhou hurriedly stepped forward and shook hands with Zhang Huowang enthusiastically.

    "Nice to meet you, nice to meet you, you''re an acquaintance of Che Yingying, so I had to give face," Zhang Huowang said neutrally, his chubby double chin lifting slightly in a somewhat dismissive manner.

    "Thank you, Manager Zhang and thank you, Yingying," Cheng Yazhou hurriedly said.

    "Hehe, Uncle Cheng, you don''t have to be so formal with me. By the way, shouldn''t we go inside and sit down to talk?" Che Yingying smiled and suggested.

    "Yes, yes, let''s sit down inside and talk," Cheng Yazhou said, as he turned around to lead the way, just as he saw Ge Dongxu already standing behind him and hurriedly said, "Dongxu, this is Manager Zhang Huowang, and this is Uncle Cheng''s friend''s daughter, Che Yingying. Manager Zhang, Yingying, this is Ge Dongxu, one of our factory''s shareholders as well."

    "Nice to meet you, Manager Zhang," Ge Dongxu smiled and extended his hand to Zhang Huowang.

    Zhang Huowang glanced at Ge Dongxu, his eyes revealing a hint of surprise before he frowned, but he still reluctantly shook hands with him.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t mind, after all, he was young, and it was natural for them to act a bit aloof since his Yaxu Trademark Factory needed their favor. The only thing Ge Dongxu disliked was that Zhang Huowang seemed a bit lecherous, his green-bean eyes occasionally stealing glances at Che Yingying''s well-shaped buttocks wrapped in jeans, exuding a lascivious look.

    But nine out of ten men are lecherous, and the tenth is color-blind¡ªit''s a lot of men''s nature and his own concern, so naturally, Ge Dongxu didn''t interfere.

    Then, Ge Dongxu also shook hands with Che Yingying, who seemed very surprised that Ge Dongxu had become a shareholder of Yaxu Trademark Factory at such a young age, measuring him with her dark eyes several times.

    "Dongxu just happens to have a dinner here as well, so we ran into each other. He''s not with me. Manager Zhang, Yingying, please," Cheng Yazhou hurriedly explained when he noticed Zhang Huowang frowning, obviously not liking the involvement of Ge Dongxu, the young lad, and then gestured for them to follow with a wave of his hand.

    Zhang Huowang then nodded and led the way in.

    Cheng Yazhou quickly nodded to Ge Dongxu as a greeting, then hurried off with Zhang Huowang and Che Yingying toward the elevator.

    "Young and inexperienced, how could Uncle Cheng choose such a young lad as a business partner?" from a distance, Ge Dongxu heard Zhang Huowang''s disdainful voice.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu smiled wryly and shook his head, helpless because his youth was an undeniable fact.

    "Ha, Dongxu is different from other youngsters, he handles things quite steadily," Cheng Yazhou quickly explained.

    "I can''t see it!" Zhang Huowang replied disdainfully, and then the three of them entered the elevator.

    After Zhang Huowang and the others went in, Ge Dongxu continued to wait in the lobby bar for Liu Jiayao.

    About twenty minutes later, Ge Dongxu saw Liu Jiayao.

    Since it was a business trip, she hadn''t had time to change after the plane, so Liu Jiayao was dressed more like an office professional at the moment. The white dual-sleeved shirt, partly see-through, gave a cool, seductive hint of femininity, and the black high-waist pencil pants beautifully outlined her long legs and perky buttocks, coupled with a pair of black high heels. Tonight, Liu Jiayao not only fully displayed the sharp, professional demeanor of a working woman but also perfectly showcased her curvy and tall figure.

    This was the first time Ge Dongxu had seen Liu Jiayao dressed so professionally, and his eyes lit up immediately. As he approached, he couldn''t help but look her up and down a few times, because he felt that Liu Jiayao had a unique charm at this moment.

    "What? Don''t you recognize your sister?" Liu Jiayao glanced sideways at Ge Dongxu, her voice teasing.

    "No, it''s just that you look so beautiful today, I almost didn''t recognize you," Ge Dongxu laughed. He was now quite familiar with Liu Jiayao, so his speech was more relaxed. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Little rascal! Now you realize how pretty your sister is!" Liu Jiayao said with a mischievous glance at Ge Dongxu, and then, delightedly, she hooked her arm through his, much to the amazement of the onlookers in the lobby, who nearly exclaimed, "Let go of that woman, let me do it!"

    At this, Ge Dongxu became a bit embarrassed, mumbling softly, "I always knew you were beautiful."

    "You say that now, but in a few years, when I''m older, you won''t say that anymore," Liu Jiayao paused, suddenly feeling a bit sentimental.

 Chapter 138 Talking Business

    "How could that be, Sis? You''re getting younger by the day, aren''t you? If you''re still worried, next time I come, I''ll bring you some of my homemade medicinal wine. Drink a little before bed every night, and I guarantee that even when you reach your forties or fifties, you''ll still look like you''re in your twenties or thirties," Ge Dongxu hurriedly reassured her."Really?" Liu Jiayao said with surprise and delight.

    Read new chapters at empire

    "Of course, it''s true. Would I lie to you?" Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "I knew you''d be good to me!" Liu Jiayao glanced at Ge Dongxu with a smug look, then hugged his arm gleefully.

    Feeling somewhat uneasy at her embrace, Ge Dongxu, the young man, tried to suppress his discomfort to avoid being looked down upon by Liu Jiayao, who seemed completely unaware, thinking he might be a lecher.

    The revolving restaurant was on the twentieth floor, surrounded by huge, transparent, floor-to-ceiling glass windows. As the restaurant slowly spun, diners sitting by the windows could enjoy a 360-degree view of Mingyue Lake and Lincheng.

    Liu Jiayao had already reserved a table for two by the floor-to-ceiling windows in the hall, and upon reaching the twentieth floor, a waiter naturally led them there.

    Their seat was directly facing Mingyue Lake, and looking down from there, one could see the myriad lights along the lake''s edge, and the illuminated pleasure boats on the water, antique and charming, adding layers of historical elegance to Mingyue Lake and making one feel as if they had traveled through time.

    "So beautiful!" Ge Dongxu felt that even if the food wasn''t great, the view alone was worth it.

    "Hehe, beautiful, isn''t it? In winter, when I have nothing to do, I like to sit by myself with a cup of coffee, quietly enjoying the scenery outside," Liu Jiayao said.

    Ge Dongxu imagined the winter sun warming him through the huge glass windows while the sunlight on Mingyue Lake turned the water into rippling gold, and couldn''t help but daydream for a long while before he exclaimed, "The life of the rich sure is comfortable!"

    "Oh please, as if you''re short on money?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look, then stood up and said, "What do you want to eat? I''ll get it for you."

    Liu Jiayao had ordered the buffet in the revolving restaurant.

    "I''ll come with you," Ge Dongxu said, getting up to follow her.

    "Sure, let''s go together then," Liu Jiayao said with a happy smile, then took Ge Dongxu''s hand and went with him to get their meal.

    ...

    In Huaxia Country, there''s always been a custom of talking business over drinks.

    Manager Zhang Huowang, who had been rather arrogant and dismissive towards Cheng Yazhou earlier in the lobby, softened significantly after a few drinks. With Che Yingying flatteringly buttering him up occasionally at the side, his mood improved considerably. From time to time, he''d crack dirty jokes with Che Yingying while intoxicated, his beady eyes leering at her, which greatly annoyed Cheng Yazhou. However, knowing how society operated, Cheng Yazhou could only send apologetic glances towards Che Yingying.

    Since she began working, Che Yingying had clearly experienced such behavior frequently. Although her eyes hid indignation and humiliation, her face still bore a sweet smile, and she raised her glass to toast Zhang Huowang from time to time.

    After a while, Cheng Yazhou gave Che Yingying a signal, and she took the excuse of needing to use the restroom to leave the private room.

    Once Che Yingying had left, Cheng Yazhou pulled an envelope from her bag and handed it to Zhang Huowang, saying, "Manager Zhang, you''ve just seen our samples; you don''t need to worry about the quality or the price."

    Back then, it wasn''t common to send cards as a backdoor gesture; people generally just stuffed money into an envelope.

    Zhang Huowang, seeing that Cheng Yazhou was playing ball, had a smile on his face. But when his hand felt the thinness of the envelope, his smile quickly vanished. He pushed the envelope back and said, "Boss Cheng, Qinglan Cosmetics is a big company. Last year, the total sales volume of Qinglan''s various cosmetic products reached 30 million bottles. Just think about how many labels we''d need if we switched to laser brand labels!"

    At this point, Zhang Huowang paused and showed a hint of difficulty, "Honestly, with such a large quantity, I really can''t call the shots!"

    Zhang Huowang''s words were, of course, a pretense. As the purchasing manager, bulk purchases of raw materials, which greatly affected product profit margins, were definitely overseen by senior executives, and even Chairman Liu Jiayao might personally get involved in negotiations. For laser brand labels that cost at most one cent each, 30 million bottles would cost at most 300,000 yuan¡ªwithin the decision-making power of Zhang Huowang as the purchasing manager of a big company like Qinglan.

    Claiming to be unable to make the decision meant either he didn''t want to give the business to Yaxu Trademark Factory, or he thought the money was too little.

    As an experienced businessman, Cheng Yazhou caught on when Zhang Huowang specifically mentioned Qinglan Cosmetics'' sales volume from the previous year, emphasizing the vastness of the numbers. Cheng silently cursed, "Damn, he''s really got a big appetite!"

    To get this deal, Cheng had already put ten thousand yuan in the envelope.

    Back then, ten thousand yuan was certainly not a small amount! And according to business custom, it wasn''t just a one-time payment; if they wanted to continue business next year, they''d definitely have to keep paying. Cheng had thought this amount would be enough, but Zhang Huowang still found it lacking.

    Of course, the essence of business is profit, and as long as there was a margin, Cheng would certainly not give up on the deal. In fact, since the market profit for laser brand labels was still quite high at the moment, giving a little extra was still very profitable, albeit somewhat irritating.

    "Manager Zhang, as the purchasing manager, how can you not be in charge of this matter?" Cheng Yazhou wanted to push further, to see whether Zhang Huowang was genuinely finding the amount too little or was just putting on airs to haggle. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Let''s talk about this some other time, some other time. Let''s drink for now, drink." Zhang Huowang pushed the envelope back again, and Cheng reluctantly took it back, feeling an internal urgency.

    Qinglan Cosmetics was a well-known brand in Jiangnan Province, and countless packaging and label manufacturers were eyeing it. Qinglan Cosmetics wanted to switch their labels to laser anti-counterfeit labels, and Cheng had found out about this in advance through a friend''s daughter¡ªChe Yingying¡ªwho worked in Qinglan''s purchasing department. Anxious not to be beaten to the punch by other label manufacturers, he had hurried over.

    The matter certainly couldn''t be delayed; it had to be finalized tonight, or else Yaxu Trademark Factory might miss its chance.

    Luckily, Zhang Huowang didn''t decline outright. Of course, Cheng couldn''t openly ask Zhang how much he wanted. This was a part of Huaxia''s culture, akin to wanting to be a saint but also a sinner!

    Everyone knew what was going on, yet such matters always had to be conducted subtly.

    ps: Why are all of you so smart, guessing everything correctly? Do you think it''s easy for me to set up a plot? I need your recommendation tickets for comfort! Also, the third update has now been moved to noontime.

 Chapter 139 Uncle Cheng, this is Liu Jiayao

    Cheng Yazhou was feeling anxious when Che Yingying, guessing that the time was about right, pushed the door open and came in.Seeing Che Yingying enter, Cheng Yazhou''s heart stirred, and he smiled at her, "Yingying, you''ve come at just the right time. I need to step out for a moment, so can you keep Manager Zhang company and have a couple of drinks for me?"

    As he spoke, Cheng Yazhou even gave Che Yingying a meaningful look. Although Che Yingying was a simple girl from the countryside, after working a few years, she had come to understand many of the tricks of the trade. Seeing this, she knew that Cheng Yazhou must not have reached an agreement with Zhang Huowang, so she nodded obediently and said, "Hehe, Manager Zhang is my superior, Uncle, even if you hadn''t asked, I would have ensured our leader eats well and drinks well!"

    "Haha, look at this brain of mine!" Cheng Yazhou said, exaggeratingly slapping his own head, then he said to Zhang Huowang, "Manager Zhang, excuse me for a moment, I have to step away."

    Zhang Huowang nodded indifferently, as if he didn''t know what Cheng Yazhou really was about to do.

    When Cheng Yazhou left the private room, he pulled out his wallet to look inside and couldn''t help feeling anxious.

    Because he hadn''t expected Zhang Huowang to be so greedy, he hadn''t prepared enough cash. And from his many years'' experience, he knew that with Zhang Huowang''s large appetite, adding a few thousand yuan would definitely not suffice; at least double was necessary or, to be safe, it would be best to have even more. But the problem was that the banks were closed, and money could only be withdrawn from ATMs, which had a daily limit. His card''s daily withdrawal limit was a maximum of five thousand yuan, which was clearly not enough.

    Just as he was growing desperate, Cheng Yazhou suddenly thought of Ge Dongxu and hurriedly looked around the hall. With that one look, he indeed saw Ge Dongxu.

    Cheng Yazhou was overjoyed and quickly walked over.

    "Uncle Cheng?" Ge Dongxu, seeing Cheng Yazhou walking towards him with an anxious expression, obviously had something to discuss with him, felt quite surprised and quickly stood up saying, "Sister, a friend of mine might need to talk to me about something."

    "Your friend?" Liu Jiayao swiftly turned to look behind her and saw Cheng Yazhou rushing over.

    "I am Cheng Yazhou, Dongxu''s friend, and you must be Dongxu''s friend too, sorry to intrude, I have some urgent matters to discuss with Dongxu." Before Ge Dongxu could stand up, Cheng Yazhou, having noticed Liu Jiayao, was initially stunned, clearly taken aback by Liu Jiayao''s beauty and poise. But remembering that Che Yingying was covering for him with Zhang Huowang in the private room, and that time was of the essence, he couldn''t afford to think too much about how beautiful and poised Ge Dongxu''s friend was. He hurriedly apologized to Liu Jiayao without waiting for her response and already pulled Ge Dongxu aside.

    "What''s the matter, Uncle Cheng?" Ge Dongxu asked with a puzzled face.

    "Do you have five thousand yuan in your card?" Cheng Yazhou asked instead of answering.

    "Yeah!" Ge Dongxu nodded, his expression becoming even more puzzled.

    "That''s good. Can you leave now, or are you not able to? If you can leave, that would be best. I''ll give you my bank card, you use your card along with mine, withdraw five thousand from each, and then come find me in the private room. If you can''t leave now, just give me your bank card." Cheng Yazhou hurriedly instructed, not even thinking to explain to Ge Dongxu.

    "What do you need so much money for? Oh, right, is it for that Manager Zhang wanting a kickback? His appetite is way too big! Forget it Uncle Cheng, if we can do this business deal then let''s do it, but we should still do business above board in the future. A little bit of social interaction is still acceptable, but we shouldn''t deal with someone who bites off more than they can chew like this," Ge Dongxu said, first in shock, then understanding quickly and speaking with a frown.

    "Don''t be so idealistic, Uncle understands these things. To tell you the truth, that Zhang Huowang is the purchasing manager for Qinglan Cosmetics. Just think about it, Qinglan Cosmetics is such a big company, and they sell millions of bottles of cosmetics every year. If we get this order, even if our laser branding business declines later on, we will still have a steady income of profit. What''s this expense in comparison? It''s also my fault for thinking too simply at the start and only preparing ten thousand yuan. If I had known, I would have prepared more." Cheng Yazhou explained. Continue your journey with empire

    "You''re saying that Zhang Huowang is the manager of Qinglan Cosmetics'' procurement department?" Ge Dongxu''s expression suddenly became animated upon hearing this.

    He never dreamt that the deal Cheng Yazhou was running tonight would involve Qinglan Cosmetics. If he had known earlier, there wouldn''t have been any need to rush around. The CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics was having dinner with him right now!

    "Yes, is there a problem?" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s expression, which did not seem to be one of being awestruck by the grandeur of Qinglan Cosmetics, but rather an odd one, Cheng Yazhou couldn''t help but ask in surprised bewilderment. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Without answering, Ge Dongxu turned to look at Liu Jiayao, whose pretty face now wore a hint of anger.

    Although she hadn''t deliberately eavesdropped on their conversation, it was taking place nearby, and it just so happened to involve Qinglan Cosmetics, so naturally, she paid some attention to it.

    Upon hearing bits of it, with Liu Jiayao''s high intelligence, she easily surmised what was happening.

    Thinking about how her company''s staff not only asked for kickbacks from Ge Dongxu''s friend but also had the audacity to make exorbitant demands, she naturally felt very annoyed and embarrassed.

    At that moment, Liu Jiayao had not yet realized that Ge Dongxu and Cheng Yazhou were business partners; otherwise, she would have been even more angry.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu turn to look at Liu Jiayao, Cheng Yazhou subconsciously followed his gaze, but felt somewhat perplexed. He couldn''t fathom why Ge Dongxu was looking at Liu Jiayao at this moment.

    When he saw the trace of anger on Liu Jiayao''s face, Cheng Yazhou felt even more strange. He wondered what could''ve possibly upset such a beautiful girl. Was it simply because he had interrupted them?

    "I''m sorry, Mr. Cheng, for not recognizing a person''s true character, which has led to quite an embarrassment. You''re in the laser trademark business, right? Rest assured, as long as the quality is up to standard, since you''re Dongxu''s friend, we will certainly let you handle this business," Liu Jiayao said somewhat awkwardly as Cheng Yazhou looked towards her.

    "What is this about?" Cheng Yazhou became even more puzzled upon hearing this.

    "Uncle Cheng, this is Liu Jiayao, the CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics Company. You didn''t tell me that Zhang Huowang was from Qinglan Company before. If I had known you were chasing this deal, then there wouldn''t have been any need for all this trouble!" Ge Dongxu explained hurriedly upon seeing Cheng Yazhou''s puzzled face.

    "What, you, you''re the CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, Ms. Liu?" Even though Cheng Yazhou was quite worldly, he was still so startled by the revelation that he stumbled over his words.

    After all, Qinglan Cosmetics Company had annual sales of hundreds of millions! That figure was absolutely astronomical to Cheng Yazhou.

    How could Cheng Yazhou not feel nervous facing her? Of course, amid the nervousness there was even more shock.

    He could never have imagined that Ge Dongxu''s friend he mentioned would turn out to be the CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics Company! If he had known about the deal beforehand, there would have been no need for him to step in at all!

 Chapter 140 Falling Out [Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    "That''s right, Mr. Cheng, rest assured, this matter is settled. You don''t need to worry about Zhang Huowang; I will naturally take care of him," Liu Jiayao nodded and said."Thank you, President Liu, thank you, President Liu; there''s no need to bother with that, no need at all. Doing business is just like this," Cheng Yazhou said, startled once again and hastened to say.

    "Such people are very detrimental to the company''s development, and they must be dealt with. Luckily, I happened to come across this issue this time. Speaking of which, I should be thanking you for allowing me to discover the problem in time," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Not at all, not at all, it''s definitely I who should be thankful to President Liu. But since you and Dongxu are friends, I won''t say too much thanks. I''ll let Dongxu say more on behalf of our factory, as he is also a shareholder of Yaxu Trademark Factory," Seeing Liu Jiayao speak in such a manner, Cheng Yazhou felt it inappropriate to persuade her further. In fact, he was also very displeased with Zhang Huowang, especially the way he looked at Che Yingying, which made him particularly annoyed.

    "Good for you, Dongxu, investing in a factory without giving your sister a heads up?" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help being greatly surprised upon hearing this and then looked at Ge Dongxu with an accusatory glance.

    In Liu Jiayao''s impression, Ge Dongxu was an exceedingly skilled and extraordinary doctor; such people were traditionally aloof, making it hard for her to associate him with businessmen. Moreover, Ge Dongxu was still young, a high school student, so Liu Jiayao never thought that he would start investing and partnering in factories at this age.

    "Hehe, it''s just a small factory; compared to your company, it''s insignificant, not worth mentioning," Ge Dongxu explained with a smile.

    "How can it be the same? What I have is an inherited business, not my own achievement. At your age, I only knew about studying and watching TV," Liu Jiayao said, giving Ge Dongxu a glance.

    "I''ve heard about President Liu''s deeds from a daughter of a friend of mine. She works in the procurement department of your company. She said you started managing such a large company at the age of twenty-three and are her idol she admires!" Cheng Yazhou said with a smile.

    "Oh? What''s your friend''s daughter''s name?" Liu Jiayao asked, intrigued.

    "Her name is Che Yingying, a very nice girl. I was able to get the news ahead of time also because she kindly informed me," said Cheng Yazhou, naturally trying to help Che Yingying by mentioning her when Liu Jiayao asked, and he could not help but feel overjoyed as he quickly said.

    "Che Yingying, right, okay, I''ll remember that," Liu Jiayao said with a smile as she nodded, already moved to cultivate and promote Che Yingying out of affection for Ge Dongxu.

    "Thank you, President Liu, then I won''t disturb you and Dongxu any longer," Cheng Yazhou said with a smile, taking his leave since his purpose had been achieved.

    Liu Jiayao, as it was rare for her to spend time alone with Ge Dongxu, did not retain Cheng Yazhou.

    When Cheng Yazhou returned to the private room and saw that Zhang Huowang was taking advantage of his manager''s status to tease Che Yingying, he felt some annoyance inside. However, remembering that because of him, Zhang Huowang would probably have to pack up and leave after tonight, his irritation disappeared in an instant. Thinking of it as the last feast for a condemned prisoner before execution, he decided to let him enjoy himself for the night. After all, his job loss was somewhat related to himself.

    Therefore, Cheng Yazhou pretended not to see it and sat down to continue drinking with Zhang Huowang. Without the need to please him any longer, ''absence of desire lends strength'', and his mentality had naturally shifted, no longer showing the enthusiastic respect he had before.

    Zhang Huowang had not yet noticed this change and continued to act superior, occasionally teasing Che Yingying while taking advantage of the alcohol. Continue reading stories on empire

    Originally, it was all right to just tease each other, especially since Cheng Yazhou had made up his mind that Zhang Huowang wouldn''t be around much longer and decided to let him be proud for one more night. But unexpectedly, after Zhang Huowang had a few drinks, he became more and more inappropriate.

    Later on, he even draped an arm over Che Yingying''s shoulders and grabbed her hand and glass with the other, saying, "If our feelings are deep, we chug. No, you have to drink this for me. Drink! Drink!"

    "Manager Zhang, Yingying has had enough to drink today. Don''t force her to drink more. If you want to drink, I''ll drink with you!" When Cheng Yazhou saw this, he stepped forward, somewhat annoyed, and removed Zhang Huowang''s salacious hand as he spoke. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Fuck! Mr. Cheng, what do you mean by this? Are you telling me you don''t want to do business anymore?" Zhang Huowang, seeing Cheng Yazhou''s change of attitude, immediately felt the alcohol rush to his head and pointed at Cheng Yazhou, cursing him out.

    "No, no, of course not. Here, Manager Zhang, I''ll drink up, see!" Che Yingying, seeing the two men stiffen their relationship because of her, hurriedly said this. She also repeatedly made eyes at Cheng Yazhou.

    "Drink what! Yingying, don''t bother with such people. The more face you give them, the more fucking full of themselves they become. What trash!" Cheng Yazhou, seeing Zhang Huowang so arrogant, naturally didn''t bother giving him any more face and pointed at him, mocking him without the slightest courtesy.

    "Fine, fine, Che Yingying, who is this that you introduced me to? I think you''d better write a resignation letter when you get back tonight and hand it to me on Monday! It would save me the trouble of having to report to HR myself and spare you the embarrassment." Zhang Huowang, as the purchasing department manager, was accustomed to being flattered and couldn''t stand being treated with such disdain. Without arguing with Cheng Yazhou anymore, he pointed at Che Yingying with a grim face, threatening her and then huffily left the table.

    Obviously, Zhang Huowang hadn''t lost his temper completely; he knew he couldn''t handle Cheng Yazhou, so he took his anger out on Che Yingying. After all, Cheng Yazhou was introduced by Che Yingying, and dealing with her was essentially a slap in Cheng Yazhou''s face.

    "Manager Zhang! Manager Zhang, we can talk this out, please!" Seeing Manager Zhang Huowang leaving, Che Yingying, in her desperation, hurriedly tried to chase after him.

    "Why bother with that kind of person?" Cheng Yazhou, however, held back Che Yingying.

    "Uncle Cheng, you''ve really done me in this time!" When Che Yingying saw Cheng Yazhou holding her back, she couldn''t help but stomp her feet with tears rolling in her eyes, repeatedly saying.

    She had never imagined that her good intentions would turn into such a disaster, potentially costing her her job.

    "Don''t worry, the one who''s going to be packing up and leaving is this Zhang Huowang!" Cheng Yazhou said with a smile.

    "Uncle, I''m not joking with you. Zhang Huowang is a relative of one of our company''s vice presidents and holds a lot of power. If he wants to fire me, I''m definitely out," Che Yingying said, thinking Cheng Yazhou didn''t realize how serious the situation was, becoming even more anxious, and internally blaming herself for meddling.

    "Oh?" Cheng Yazhou was momentarily stunned, but then he thought that even the vice president had to report to Liu Jiayao, so he dismissed the concern and said with a smile, "No problem, no problem, I know your chairman. All right, let''s go too."

    Che Yingying, seeing Cheng Yazhou still in the mood for jokes at such a time, was so frustrated that she stepped past him and quickly stomped out of the private room in her high heels.

    The salary at Qinglan Cosmetics Company was quite high, and as a department flush with resources, Che Yingying''s annual income in the purchasing department was substantial. Hence, she still wanted to catch up with Zhang Huowang and plead for a chance to make amends.

 Chapter 141 Mr. Liu, Hear Me Out

    "This girl! She actually didn''t believe the truth!" Cheng Yazhou saw that Che Yingying seemed to be angry with him and couldn''t help but smile and shake his head as he hurriedly followed her out.He had just chased her out and hadn''t reached the lobby exit when Cheng Yazhou saw Che Yingying and Zhang Huowang standing dumbfounded in the lobby, their eyes staring straight ahead as if they had seen a ghost.

    Cheng Yazhou followed their gaze and saw the esteemed CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics, Liu Jiayao, intimately linking arms with Ge Dongxu as they walked toward the door. Cheng Yazhou''s eyes nearly popped out as well.

    Although he knew that Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao were friends, he had never imagined they were close enough to walk arm in arm.

    This was Liu Jiayao, the beautiful CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics whose products had annual sales exceeding a hundred million!

    Yet now she was intimately linking arms with Ge Dongxu! If Ge Dongxu hadn''t been considerably younger, describing Liu Jiayao''s demeanor as a woman totally smitten would''ve been fitting.

    If Cheng Yazhou felt this way, it was even more so for Che Yingying and Zhang Huowang. Especially since Zhang Huowang had always looked down on Ge Dongxu, even saying he was unreliable since he was "inexperienced", but now what?

    Even their company''s CEO was intimately linking arms with this "inexperienced" guy!

    Zhang Huowang felt a burning pain on his face, but after the pain, he suddenly realized a very serious problem.

    The person he had mocked as "inexperienced and unreliable" was also a shareholder in the Yaxu Trademark Factory!

    Only moments ago, he had explicitly stated that he would not give the laser trademark business to Yaxu Trademark Factory and even threatened in front of Cheng Yazhou to fire Che Yingying!

    Realizing this, Zhang Huowang shivered all over and urgently grabbed Che Yingying''s arm, lowering his voice, "Che Yingying, I was confused just now, let''s go back and see your Uncle Cheng. We''ll give this business to Yaxu Trademark Factory." S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zhang Huowang''s sudden grip and apology finally snapped Che Yingying out of her daze. She realized that Cheng Yazhou was not joking earlier and that this young lad of merely sixteen or seventeen years old was indeed incredible!

    At such a young age, not only was he a shareholder of the Yaxu Trademark Factory, but he was also as close as a "lover" to her idolized CEO.

    "Manager Zhang, I guess you don''t need to decide on this matter anymore!" If Cheng Yazhou had felt somewhat guilty before, that sentiment vanished completely after Zhang Huowang forced Che Yingying to drink alcohol and even pointed at him and cursed.

    This kind of person was despicable and truly did not deserve any sympathy!

    "No, no, Mr. Cheng, I was confused because I drank too much just now. Please, forgive me¡­" Hearing Cheng Yazhou''s voice behind him, Zhang Huowang jolted, hastily turned around, and repeatedly bowed to Cheng Yazhou.

    The procurement department was a lucrative sector, and Zhang Huowang had secured his position through his brother-in-law. Naturally, he had reaped many benefits and was reluctant to lose his job.

    "What are you doing, Manager Zhang? I truly can''t accept that," Cheng Yazhou stopped Zhang Huowang, acting unaware, and then said to Che Yingying, "Yingying, go call the waiter so we can settle the bill."

    "Certainly, Uncle," Che Yingying glanced at Zhang Huowang with evident satisfaction and then responded with a sweet smile.

    "No need, no need, I''ll pay, I''ll pay," Zhang Huowang hastily interjected.

    "Uncle Cheng, Sister Yingying, are you also finishing up and leaving?" Just as Zhang Huowang finished speaking, a very young voice rang in his ear.

    Hearing this voice that was both unfamiliar and familiar, Zhang Huowang''s face instantly paled, and turning his head, he saw that the young man and Liu Jiayao had already appeared behind them.

    "Yes, President Liu, Dongxu, you are leaving too?" Cheng Yazhou quickly stepped forward and greeted them with a smile.

    And Che Yingying even forgot to reply.

    Before, when Ge Dongxu called Cheng Yazhou "Uncle" and referred to her as "Sister Yingying," Che Yingying thought it was nothing out of the ordinary, but now that Ge Dongxu addressed her in such a manner, she felt her whole body bristle.

    It couldn''t be helped, had she not seen how CEO Liu clung to the young man''s arm, looking utterly dependent?

    "Yes!" Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu both nodded with a smile.

    "CEO Liu!" It was only after Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu spoke that Che Yingying finally snapped back to reality and hurriedly stepped forward to call out in a restrained and low voice.

    "CEO, CEO Liu!" Zhang Huowang too stepped forward calling out in a low voice, his face filled with nervous unease. Although he was somewhat of a middle manager in the company and had numerous dealings with CEO Liu Jiayao, he normally wouldn''t be this anxious, but after what happened today, he no longer had the confidence he once had.

    Liu Jiayao did not look at Zhang Huowang but just nodded with a smile to Che Yingying and said, "Che Yingying, is it? Come to my office on Monday."

    "Yes, yes," Che Yingying, seeing that Liu Jiayao had called her by name, first froze, then immediately bowed continuously with a face full of surprise.

    Liu Jiayao smiled, then whispered to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, shall we head home now?"

    "Hmm." Ge Dongxu nodded, then smiling, said to Cheng Yazhou and Che Yingying, "Uncle Cheng, Sister Yingying, Sister Liu and I have some matters to attend to, we''ll be leaving first."

    He also ignored that Zhang Huowang!

    "Alright, alright, please go ahead, take care!" Cheng Yazhou and Che Yingying quickly said with a wave of their hands, while Zhang Huowang was already sweating profusely.

    It was because Liu Jiayao''s attitude couldn''t be clearer.

    "CEO, CEO Liu, I truly didn''t know Mr. Ge was your friend, so..." In a panic, Zhang Huowang rushed up, blocking their path, and stammered.

    "So you think you can just make outrageous demands, do you?" Liu Jiayao asked coldly.

    "No, no, I didn''t, I didn''t, please listen to me, CEO Liu..." Zhang Huowang hurriedly said, naturally refusing to admit it.

    "I don''t want to hear your explanation now; let''s talk on Monday. Now, don''t block our way," Liu Jiayao said, cutting him off directly.

    Zhang Huowang opened his mouth, wanting to explain more, but Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao had already brushed past him.

    Watching their retreating figures, Zhang Huowang''s previously puffed-up beer belly seemed to deflate suddenly, like a balloon losing air.

    Cheng Yazhou and Che Yingying exchanged glances, then shook their heads and went straight to settle the bill.

    People like him weren''t worth their sympathy!

    "It''s been a long time since I visited Mingyue Lake. Would you keep me company for a walk there, Sister?" Outside the restaurant, looking at the surrounding greenery and the flickering lights of Mingyue Lake, Liu Jiayao showed a hint of reminiscence and melancholy in her eyes, she gently hugged Ge Dongxu''s arm a little tighter and spoke softly.

    ps: Please recommend this, thank you.

 Chapter 142 First Kiss

    "Aren''t you tired?" Ge Dongxu asked with concern. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."With you here, I don''t feel tired." Liu Jiayao felt a rush of sweetness in her heart as Ge Dongxu showed his concern. She stopped thinking about the times her parents had accompanied her around Mingyue Lake and gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile.

    "Then I''ll listen to you," Ge Dongxu smiled. He actually wanted to take a walk by the famous Mingyue Lake as well.

    It was now summer, and the willows by Mingyue Lake provided shade. A gentle breeze brought a rare coolness, making it a popular spot for the people of Lincheng on summer evenings. Although it was almost nine o''clock, there were still quite a few people walking around the lake.

    Liu Jiayao leaned on Ge Dongxu and slowly walked around the edge of Mingyue Lake. Although she had just claimed she wasn''t tired, she had been bustling about for several days and was indeed fatigued, especially wearing high heels. The more she walked, the more she felt she couldn''t cope.

    "Shall we go back?" Ge Dongxu, noticing Liu Jiayao''s obvious signs of weariness, suggested.

    "But I still want to stroll. How about you carry me for a while, please?" Liu Jiayao said, her eyes suddenly lighting up as she shook Ge Dongxu''s arm and spoke in a coaxing tone.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao''s pleading eyes, Ge Dongxu couldn''t bring himself to refuse and crouched down, saying, "Climb on."

    "Hehe!" Liu Jiayao happily climbed onto Ge Dongxu''s back, wrapping her arms around his neck and leaning her head out from behind him, her cheek lightly pressing against Ge Dongxu''s cheek.

    "It''s so nice to have you here! It''s just too bad you have to go back to Changxi County tomorrow," Liu Jiayao whispered softly.

    "Yeah. But I will try to get into a university in Linzhou, so I can be with you from time to time," Ge Dongxu, feeling Liu Jiayao''s attachment, felt a stir in his heart and blurted out.

    "Seriously, you must try to get into Linzhou, and you are not allowed to go to any other city," Liu Jiayao immediately responded.

    "Of course not. With such a beautiful sister here, why would I go to another city?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "So sweet-tongued at such a young age, I wonder how many girls you will charm in college! Hehe, but I like when you talk like that," Liu Jiayao said, giving Ge Dongxu a light kiss on the cheek.

    Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned and after a while, said somewhat awkwardly, "I wouldn''t charm any girls!"

    "Hehe, you say that now because you''re young. When you''re older, you will naturally think of ways to charm girls. Actually, with your abilities, you don''t even need to actively charm them; many beautiful girls will flock around you," Liu Jiayao continued, revealing a hint of melancholy in her eyes, "By then, who knows if you''ll still remember what you said today."

    "What are you talking nonsense about? What kind of relationship do we have, how could I forget you!" Ge Dongxu said, his expression showing a hint of displeasure.

    "Really? Then tell me, what kind of relationship do we have?" Liu Jiayao, her eyes brightening, tilted her head and asked Ge Dongxu.

    "We are... we are..." Liu Jiayao''s question really stumped Ge Dongxu; he couldn''t quite say what their relationship was.

    "What are we?" Liu Jiayao pressed, her eyes showing a mix of nervous anticipation.

    "I can''t really say clearly, but it''s a very close relationship, yes, a very close relationship!" Ge Dongxu, pressed by Liu Jiayao''s questioning, blurted out in haste.

    "Very close... very close..." Liu Jiayao, upon hearing his words, trembled slightly and murmured softly, her eyes revealing a hint of confusion.

    Suddenly, Liu Jiayao''s dazed eyes lit up with a spark as she said, "Dongxu."

    "What''s up?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Turn your head here," Liu Jiayao instructed.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t know why Liu Jiayao wanted him to turn his head, but he did as he was told.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu turned his head than Liu Jiayao''s delicate and enticing lips sealed his.

    Ge Dongxu immediately felt as if a bomb had exploded in his brain as he stared blankly at Liu Jiayao.

    Though the kiss was brief, Ge Dongxu felt as if it had lasted a century. He would never forget the sweet, moist aftertaste.

    Because this was his first kiss!

    "Doesn''t it feel very intimate?" Liu Jiayao asked softly, looking directly at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu nodded subconsciously.

    Yes, that was the feeling! It was indescribable, a sentiment that had begun the day he treated Liu Jiayao''s illness, showered in her bedroom, and she helped him blow-dry his underwear and hair.

    "Can I kiss you again?" After a while, Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao with earnest eyes.

    Liu Jiayao hesitated, then cradled Ge Dongxu''s face and her sensual lips found his again.

    For both of them, it was their second kiss, and both were equally clumsy.

    After their lips parted again, seeing the passion still in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, Liu Jiayao felt a wave of weakness and muttered to herself under her breath; she then lightly pecked his cheek, whispering, "Silly boy, you are still young. We shouldn''t do this now, okay? Let''s wait for later."

    As a cultivator, Ge Dongxu had more control than most young men. He jerked at her words, waking from his daze, and recalling his behavior. He felt somewhat at a loss on how to face Liu Jiayao, as if he had made a mistake.

    "I''m sorry," Ge Dongxu said quietly, not daring to turn his head to face Liu Jiayao.

    "It''s not your fault, I initiated it," Liu Jiayao said tenderly, kissing his cheek again, "Just remember, no matter how many girls are by your side in the future, I''ll always be close with you."

    "Of course!" Ge Dongxu smiled happily, seeing that Liu Jiayao was not blaming him, which eased his worried mind.

    Afterward, Ge Dongxu carried Liu Jiayao on his back and they walked a bit more alongside Mingyue Lake before she suggested they head back, not wanting to tire him.

    Back at Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao took a shower and then Ge Dongxu performed acupuncture on her for the last time.

    Due to the kiss by Mingyue Lake, this session of acupuncture left Ge Dongxu sweatier and more tired than the previous ones.

 Chapter 143 Virtual Management

    After administering acupuncture to Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu took a shower, and then Liu Jiayao was still the one to blow dry his hair.Perhaps out of fatigue, or perhaps worried that continuing to interact like this late at night might lead to issues, Liu Jiayao, after drying Ge Dongxu''s hair, gently hugged him, stood on her toes, and lightly kissed his forehead, taking the initiative to say, "Good night!"

    More than half a year ago, when Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu had just met, both were nearly 1.7 meters tall; now Liu Jiayao was still nearly 1.7 meters, but Ge Dongxu had grown to 1.72 meters.

    "Good night!" Ge Dongxu also said softly, then fled back to the guest bedroom.

    ...

    The next day, Ge Dongxu didn''t ask Liu Jiayao to drive him back to Changxi County, instead, he accompanied her on a shopping trip.

    Since her parents had passed away, Liu Jiayao, young as she was, took over the huge company and simply had neither the mood nor time for shopping¡ªadded to her poor health, even Liu Jiayao didn''t know how long it had been since she had last gone shopping.

    Ge Dongxu insisted she not take him back to Changxi County, claiming that with his cultivation, even sitting on an overnight train wouldn''t affect his alertness for class the next day. Liu Jiayao thus insisted he accompany her for a shopping trip.

    Since Liu Jiayao felt like shopping, Ge Dongxu naturally couldn''t bear to refuse and ended up accompanying her for a great part of the day, playing the role of a bag carrier. Of course, Liu Jiayao didn''t forget to buy him clothes, but the large department stores at that time mainly sold foreign brands, or more formal attire, which weren''t quite suitable for a high school student from a small town like Ge Dongxu. Initially, Ge Dongxu declined, but Liu Jiayao insisted on taking him to Yanming Road, not far from Mingyue Lake.

    This was Linzhou City''s clothing street, home to several very popular and trendy casual clothing brand specialty stores, targeting a vibrant and fashionable clientele aged sixteen to twenty-five. For example, there was Giordano from Hong Kong, and the Italian casual clothing brand "Benneton," acquired by Hong Kong''s Deyongjia Group Co., Ltd., as well as the mainland''s own Mettes Bonwe casual brand specialty store.

    Actually, all these clothing companies utilized what was then a very common "virtual management" model in the international apparel industry, which focused on brand and design development capabilities at the core. The model outsourced non-advantageous or non-core production and sales segments to leverage resources efficiently, turning non-core capabilities into core strengths. Brands like Nike and Reebok had adopted this virtual management model quite early, while on the mainland, this model was just beginning to take off.

    Mettes Bonwe was the first company to start experimenting with operating the brand and managing data, outsourcing the garment production and sales to other companies, hitting the jackpot and becoming the first mainland brand as renowned as those from overseas and Hong Kong.

    When Liu Jiayao accompanied Ge Dongxu into these specialty stores, the decor that differed from the small county town shops, the simple, natural, casual, and comfortable design styles in clothing, and the uniformly youthful and vibrant sales staff instantly caught Ge Dongxu''s eyes, making him think that such clothing stores were bound to do well.

    In fact, just as Ge Dongxu had thought, stores like Giordano and Mettes Bonwe were bustling with people, mostly young men and women.

    After visiting several stores suitable for him, Ge Dongxu eventually settled on a pair of jeans and two T-shirts from Mettes Bonwe.

    After finishing their shopping and taking a brief rest back at Yadu Garden, they grabbed something to eat nearby, and then Liu Jiayao personally drove Ge Dongxu to the train station.

    "Don''t forget to come visit Linzhou during summer vacation!" Liu Jiayao lightly hugged Ge Dongxu as she saw him off on the train, reminding him.

    Ge Dongxu naturally agreed.

    ...

    As for the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, Tang Yiyuan was even more concerned than Ge Dongxu, the largest shareholder. On Tuesday, he specifically brought along a PhD student and personally rushed to Changxi County.

    The reception duties were naturally handled by Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, while Ge Dongxu, who needed to study, only joined Tang Yiyuan and the PhD student for lunch.

    The PhD student was named Huang Wenjie, and he was already twenty-nine years old. Since he was mentored by Tang Yiyuan, a leading figure in traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province, and being a PhD student himself, he naturally felt somewhat proud visiting a small place like Changxi County, always thinking highly of himself.

    In fact, being able to study towards a PhD at that time was indeed impressive, as it meant being truly at the top of one''s academic and research fields, especially being selected by Tang Yiyuan to be his PhD student, which made Huang Wenjie an exceptionally outstanding individual, unlike the current inflation in the number of Masters and PhDs.

    Especially for Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin who hadn''t had much education, a PhD was an incredible figure in their eyes. Thus, when Tang Yiyuan brought Huang Wenjie, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin did not dare to show any slackness because he was Tang Yiyuan''s student. Instead, they were thoroughly respectful, calling him "Doctor Huang" at every turn. This naturally made Huang Wenjie, who already carried some pride within, even more proud and somewhat aloof.

    However, Huang Wenjie''s pride was completely shattered during lunch when Ge Dongxu specifically came to join them.

    During the meal, his mentor maintained a respectful attitude towards Ge Dongxu throughout, addressing him with "you" in a deferential manner, almost causing Huang Wenjie''s eyeballs to drop onto the table. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having been with Tang Yiyuan for two years, even when facing some provincial leaders, Tang Yiyuan was neither servile nor overbearing, never showing such respectful courtesy before, let alone to a high school student.

    Poor Huang Wenjie had no idea that people like Tang Yiyuan, who inherently carried a sense of dignity, were truly convinced and admiring only of those who could steadily surpass him in medical skills. Furthermore, Ge Dongxu was exactly such a person, not only steadily surpassing him in medical skills but also sufficiently equipped to be his mentor, which recently accounted for Tang Yiyuan''s significant medical improvement. Therefore, although Tang Yiyuan was quite aged and held a status in Jiangnan Province, he always treated Ge Dongxu with the respect of a disciple behind the scenes.

    The way Tang Yiyuan treated Ge Dongxu naturally shocked Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin immensely.

    Considering that Tang Yiyuan was a university professor and a PhD supervisor, yet he was reverentially respectful to just a high school student!

    After the meal, since Ge Dongxu had classes in the afternoon, he did not accompany Tang Yiyuan and Huang Wenjie. He returned to school, while Tang Yiyuan and Huang Wenjie, accompanied by Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, set off for the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory in Wangzhou Township.

 Chapter 144 Surprising

    Before they set out, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin thought of Professor Tang Yiyuan and Huang Wenjie, a university professor and a doctoral student, respectively. Not to mention for a small village in the mountains like Wangzhou, which had hardly produced any college graduates, they were important guests; they would be considered important even to Changxi County. Now that they were going to visit the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory in Wangzhou for an inspection, it was only proper to give Wangzhou''s township government a heads up. On one hand, it was out of respect and importance for Tang Yiyuan and Huang Wenjie, and on the other hand, it could also elevate the status and standing of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory in the eyes of the township''s leadership.Even though, thanks to the relationship with Ge Dongxu and Zuo Le, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory had already stood out from the few township enterprises in Wangzhou, rising sharply in importance in the minds of the township''s leaders, such importance could never be too great.

    Therefore, before their departure, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin had called Township Chief Liu, saying that another shareholder of the tea factory, Dr. Tang Yiyuan, a doctoral supervisor from Jiangnan University of Chinese Medicine, was bringing his doctoral student to the factory for an inspection, and asking whether the township should also send someone to express a welcome.

    Upon receiving this call, Township Chief Liu was so excited, he nearly dropped the phone.

    It should be known that Wangzhou was a backward mountainous area, with neither money nor talent. The mere investment of several hundred thousand yuan in the "Liu Jiansheng" Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was enough to merit a mention in his annual performance report; one could imagine how stifled Township Chief Liu felt in his role.

    Indeed, a good wife can''t cook without rice!

    Now, Cheng Yazhou told him on the phone that the tea factory, now renamed to "Qinghe," actually had a shareholder who was a professor and doctoral supervisor from the Jiangnan University of Chinese Medicine. To Township Chief Liu, this was an incredibly pleasant surprise, one that would allow him to write a truly glorious passage in this year''s government annual report.

    So as soon as Cheng Yazhou had hung up the phone, the top leaders of Wangzhou''s party committee and government personally took charge of the arrangements to welcome Professor Tang Yiyuan, not only that, but Township Chief Liu also took the initiative to report the matter to the director of the office of Changxi County Government.

    In Huaxia Country, although a professorship is an academic position or title, and separate from administrative rankings, the treatment for an associate professor is in accordance with a division-level cadre, and for a professor, it aligns with a department-level cadre. If a professor were to take a temporary administrative position for training, they would be given at least a deputy county head or even a higher-level administrative post. So if one were to make a direct comparison, Tang Yiyuan was essentially at the level of a department-level cadre, except that he had no administrative power. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In such circumstances, if the county government leaders felt it necessary, they would definitely send at least a vice-county-level official to receive him, but if they deemed it unnecessary, they might completely ignore it. After all, Tang Yiyuan was a professor, not a bureaucrat, and had no power to dictate policy to Changxi County.

    The director of the county government office obviously hadn''t heard of Tang Yiyuan''s renown, and upon receiving the call, upon hearing that it was a professor from the University of Chinese Medicine, didn''t take it very seriously. Yet, he still instructed Township Chief Liu to ensure proper reception. He would look into the leaders'' schedules and arrange a meeting with Professor Tang Yiyuan if time permitted.

    Township Chief Liu was somewhat disappointed after hearing this, but since this was still a very important event for Wangzhou, he energetically mobilized the township government staff to prepare for the welcome.

    "Welcome Dr. Tang Yiyuan, PhD Supervisor from Jiangnan Province University of Chinese Medicine, to Wangzhou Village"

    "Welcome Dr. Tang Yiyuan, PhD Supervisor from Jiangnan Province University of Chinese Medicine, investing in Wangzhou Village"

    "Welcome Huang Wenjie, PhD from Jiangnan Province University of Chinese Medicine, to Wangzhou Village"

    "..."

    A series of red banners were hung up, and the dilapidated main street of the township suddenly became festive, as though a holiday celebration was underway.

    The Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was even less of a question¡ª not only had it been cleaned spotlessly, banners were also hung at the front.

    Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, after all, were not politicians and had no idea how significant the investment of a university doctoral supervisor professor could be to the political achievements of the township leaders. When their car carried them onto the broken-down street of Wangzhou, and they saw the red banners waving, with the Party Secretary Shangguan Yunfeng and Township Head Liu Yongjin, along with some government staff, smiling widely as they stood there to greet them, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin were almost blinded by the sight.

    Stay tuned for updates on empire

    Shit! Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin looked at each other, both seeing the surprise in each other''s eyes.

    With such a commotion, who knows what will happen elsewhere, but in Wangzhou Township, the fame of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory is definitely established now.

    The title of a professor really carries weight!

    "Professor Tang, welcome, welcome!"

    "Dr. Huang, welcome, welcome!"

    As soon as Tang Yiyuan and his student Huang Wenjie got out of the car, the secretary and mayor of Wangzhou Township rushed forward eagerly to shake hands warmly with them.

    Tang Yiyuan, an expert from the Jiangnan Province medical expert group, who is usually able to talk face-to-face with provincial leaders, was clearly used to such scenes. He smiled, shook hands unhurriedly with the secretary and mayor of Wangzhou Township, exchanged a few pleasantries, then headed into the factory accompanied by everyone who had come to welcome him.

    The Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was small and not of much interest to someone worldly like Tang Yiyuan. But after all, it was a factory invested in by Ge Dongxu, and he himself held a stake in it. Therefore, he naturally took it seriously, asking detailed questions here and there.

    The county secretary Shangguan and Mayor Liu found these professional questions quite dull and grew bored as Tang Yiyuan asked in detail.

    Just as they were feeling bored, Mayor Liu''s mobile phone rang.

    Less than a year had passed, and mobile phone prices had dropped again and again. Unlike before, pulling out a mobile phone no longer signified a ten-thousand-yuan household. Mayor Liu, as the mayor of Wangzhou Township, also had one.

    He saw the call was from the director of the county government office, and Liu''s heart skipped a beat. He hurried to a corner to answer the call.

    "Director Li, hello. May I ask if you have any instructions?" Mayor Liu asked humbly as soon as he picked up.

    "Is Professor Tang still at your Wangzhou Township?" the director of the county government office inquired.

    "Yes, yes." Mayor Liu''s heart thumped again. Naturally, he hoped Professor Tang would attract the county leaders'' attention. That way, he, as the mayor, would also have the chance to make an appearance in front of the leadership.

    "Remember, you must host him well. County Chief Peng and I will be rushing over immediately, and Secretary Jia Kai is already on his way from the city," Director Li''s serious voice came through the phone.

    Hearing that the county chief and the county party secretary were both rushing over, and that Secretary Jia Kai was specially coming back from the city, Mayor Liu was so shocked that he forgot to reply, his hand holding the phone trembling badly.

    After all, he was the mayor of a township, a sectional-level official, Mayor Liu could deduce from these arrangements in the county that Tang Yiyuan''s background was much greater than he had imagined.

    Otherwise, a university doctoral supervisor, who wasn''t from prestigious universities like Huaxia Qing University or Yanjing University, and moreover a Chinese medicine professor, wouldn''t have the county party secretary and county chief so eager to come over.

 Chapter 145 The Significance of Tang Yiyuan

    "Yes, yes, rest assured, Leader, I will make sure the reception is well handled," it took a few moments for Head Liu to snap back to reality, hurriedly saying. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."Remember, Professor Tang is very important!" Director Li reminded once more before hanging up the phone.

    After hanging up the phone, Director Li immediately called the head of the county television station, instructing Changxi County TV to promptly dispatch reporters to accompany the trip to Wangzhou Township.

    Then, a driver came to report that the car was ready, and Director Li hurriedly went to fetch County Mayor Peng Jin before they both got into the vehicle.

    In addition to County Mayor Peng Jin, several other key officials from the County Party Committee and County Government, who were in the office building, also set out in response.

    Initially, Director Li had not taken Head Liu''s call to heart. After all, a professor of Chinese medicine, unlike those in law or economics, was unlikely to have the chance to get involved in politics or influence their career advancement.

    Just after Director Li ended the call, the head of the county health bureau came to consult with him on a matter. Since the health bureau oversaw the county''s medical work, Director Li casually mentioned Tang Yiyuan''s name to him.

    Since the health bureau head belonged to the medical community, he recognized the name Tang Yiyuan and was startled, exclaiming that Professor Tang was no ordinary figure; he was an expert on our province''s specialist medical team.

    Upon hearing this from the head of the health bureau, Director Li sprang up from his seat as if his buttocks were on fire.

    As the director of the County Government Office, he was well aware of the significance of being an expert on the provincial specialist medical team. This was the "Imperial Physician" to the provincial leaders of Jiangnan Province! A person who could meet with provincial leaders from time to time, have a chat, and treat their illnesses, and who was generally treated by the leaders with equal respect. Could such a person be slighted in Changxi County?

    Of course not! Not only could he not be slighted, but he also had to be hosted well. Otherwise, if this expert were to speak ill of Changxi County in passing while treating provincial leaders one day, leaving a bad impression of Changxi County in their minds, wouldn''t that be disastrous?

    This was especially troubling to Director Li when he considered that such a "big shot" was coming to invest in Changxi County, which was a great honor for them, yet none of the local leadership had come forward to receive him. He felt increasingly fearful.

    Therefore, Director Li hurried to report to County Mayor Peng Jin. The leadership team in Changxi County was very united, unlike some places where the Party Secretary and the County Mayor couldn''t see eye to eye.

    After hearing this report, County Mayor Peng Jin was also taken aback and immediately gave it his utmost attention. He not only instructed Director Li to immediately take care of the reception arrangements, including arranging for TV reporters for interviews, but also personally called Secretary Jia Kai, who was away on business in Ouzhou City.

    Secretary Jia Kai was well aware of the weight carried by an expert physician who had direct contact with provincial leaders, and he too immediately rushed back from the city.

    After taking the call, Head Liu quietly shared the news with Secretary Shangguan Yunfeng in a low voice, and Secretary Shangguan became extremely anxious as well.

    Thus, Head Liu and Secretary Shangguan Yunfeng, who had initially been somewhat impatient, began to feel as though they were treading on thin ice, their hearts filled with trepidation. Of course, what dominated their feelings was an excitement almost akin to a surge of adrenaline.

    Because the greater Professor Tang Yiyuan''s importance was in the eyes of the county leaders, the greater Wangzhou Township''s significance would be in their esteem, as the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was located in their Wangzhou Township.

    ```

    Of course, this was all predicated on the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory not moving elsewhere; hence, while experiencing a mix of anxiety and excitement, Secretary Shangguan and Mayor Liu had already made up their minds to do whatever it took to ensure the factory was firmly rooted in Wangzhou Township.

    It wasn''t too far from the county seat to Wangzhou Township, about half an hour later, a formidable fleet of cars arrived at the Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory. Continue reading at empire

    Not only were there the county head, deputy county head, deputy secretary, and the head of the county health bureau, but also reporters from the TV station.

    My goodness, the sight of this procession of cars, and the people alighting from them, completely dumbfounded Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin.

    Not being part of the officialdom, they naturally didn''t comprehend the significance the title of Jiangnan Province expert medical group specialist held for the subordinate county leaders.

    It was only after they saw the county leaders, who they had only seen on television before, extending their hands to warmly shake hands with Tang Yiyuan, that Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin suddenly realized what an incredible shareholder Ge Dongxu had introduced to them.

    Thinking about how such an impressive individual behaved so respectfully in Ge Dongxu''s presence, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin felt their hearts could barely handle such a tremendous shock.

    Professor Tang wasn''t usually a high-profile person; however, because it was Ge Dongxu who provided the herbal tea recipe for the factory, Professor Tang had complete confidence that this was genuinely tea that cooled but did not chill, and that if properly promoted, not only would he make a fortune, but it would also significantly benefit public health. It might even, if well promoted, reach the global market like American beverages such as Coca-Cola.

    You should know that Qinghe Herbal Tea is many times healthier than carbonated drinks like Coca-Cola.

    So, Professor Tang, who usually kept a low profile, was not displeased when he saw that both the county leaders and the television station were alerted; on the contrary, he went against his usual style and became uncharacteristically high-profile for a change.

    He first warmly met with local government leaders like Peng Jin and even gave an interview to the Changxi County television station. As a result, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin also made an appearance on TV.

    Fortunately, Professor Tang and others knew Ge Dongxu preferred to stay out of the limelight and just wanted to quietly remain a student, so they didn''t mention Ge Dongxu during the interview.

    That evening, the Changxi County government leaders held a banquet at the Changxi Grand Hotel to entertain Professor Tang and Dr. Huang Wenjie, with Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin in attendance, and, of course, the Permanent Secretary of the county committee, Zuo Le. The owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel also heard the news and came specially to toast them several times.

    Because Professor Tang intended to establish good relations with the local government, and the Changxi County government leaders wished to do the same, that night''s reception was a merry one for both hosts and guests. Secretary Shangguan and Mayor Liu from Wangzhou Township, as the parents of their locality, rarely had the chance to be at such a high-level banquet and repeatedly assured, patting their chests, that they would provide excellent government support.

    That evening, the Changxi County television station news devoted a significant segment to the coverage of Professor Tang''s visit to Wangzhou Township in Changxi County and his investment in the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory.

    The Changxi County television station had a considerable viewing rate within the county, and with this broadcast, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory caused quite a stir in Changxi County even before it began production. Especially when the locals heard that Qinghe Herbal Tea was researched and improved by Professor Tang Yiyuan, a doctoral supervisor at Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine University, based on an old local herbal tea recipe, they felt an increased level of trust and anticipation.

    They generally believed that a herbal tea recipe improved by a doctoral supervisor professor would surely be better than what they could concoct using their traditional methods. That very night, a wholesaler from the Changxi County non-staple food wholesale market, who previously did business with the herbal tea beverage factory, called Cheng Yazhou''s cell phone, inquiring about when Qinghe Herbal Tea would hit the market.

    ```

 Chapter 146 A Piece of Sincerity

    Ge Dongxu had clearly not expected Tang Yiyuan''s influence to be so great. Just casually coming down for a visit, showing his face, had startled the county leaders into action, each of them making an appearance, and even the county television station gave the news extensive coverage.It wasn''t until the evening when Cheng Yazhou came back from dinner, mouth reeking of alcohol, that Ge Dongxu learned just how significant the title of expert from the Provincial Specialist Medical Team was to Tang Yiyuan. Remembering Tang Yiyuan''s humble demeanor in front of him, Ge Dongxu''s admiration for him only increased. At the same time, he was secretly glad that he had made the right move. With Tang Yiyuan on board, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory now essentially had an expert-level living signboard and spokesperson! There was no need for him to pull in advertisements himself, as others had already begun actively promoting the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory.

    As Cheng Yazhou was speaking to Ge Dongxu, his phone rang.

    Cheng Yazhou looked at the call and immediately answered when he saw it was from Lin Jinnuo, the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel, saying, "Manager Lin, what instructions do you have so late at night?"

    "What bloody instructions, is Dongxu with you right now? I want to have a word with him." Lin Jinnuo laughed, speaking somewhat crudely and casually. However, it was this very quality that made Cheng Yazhou feel much closer to him, no longer seeing the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel as someone high above.

    "Yes, yes. Hold on, I''ll give him the phone," Cheng Yazhou said, passing the phone to Ge Dongxu and whispering, "It''s Manager Lin."

    "Old Lin, what''s the matter calling me so late?" Ge Dongxu asked as he took the phone. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What''s the matter? I''m saying, Dongxu, don''t you consider me a brother? Investing in a herbal tea factory, such a promising project, how could you not call me? You didn''t call me but you called Lin Kun, that kid. Even leading him would be okay, prevent the kid from achieving nothing when hanging around me," Lin Jinnuo complained.

    Although Lin Jinnuo was full of complaints, Ge Dongxu listened with a warmth in his heart and laughed, "You''re a big boss, this is just a small investment of a few hundred thousand from me. I didn''t have the nerve to ask you to join in the shares!"

    "A small investment for big profits sounds even better! I have absolute confidence in you," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "Don''t, don''t, I''m still just a high school student," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said modestly.

    "There''s no need to be modest with me. Alright, since things are set this time, I won''t barge in. But make sure to remember me for any future projects! Whatever you fancy, I''ll even go so far as to sell my pots if I have to, just to raise the investment," Lin Jinnuo stated.

    What else could Ge Dongxu say upon hearing this? Of course, he agreed repeatedly.

    Just after hanging up with Lin Jinnuo, the boss of the leading enterprise in Changxi County, Yue Feng from Yu Da Group, also called. He too gave Ge Dongxu an earful for making money without including him, causing Ge Dongxu to embarassingly be modest once again.

    After hanging up with Yue Feng, Ge Dongxu handed the phone back to Cheng Yazhou.

    Cheng Yazhou took the phone, looked at Ge Dongxu with emotion, and said, "Dongxu, thank you for trusting your uncle and Qianjin, for pulling us into shares! From now on, whatever you say, your uncle will listen to you."

    Cheng Yazhou was right next to Ge Dongxu when Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng were on the phone, so naturally, he heard everything loud and clear.

    Thinking back on Ge Dongxu''s relationship with Lin Jinnuo and the others, he could have easily invited them to buy shares. Considering their connections and business experience, their participation would undoubtedly bring more benefits than his and Wu Qianjin''s, but Ge Dongxu chose not to call them. Instead, he exclusively called him and Wu Qianjin. Cheng Yazhou was truly moved in his heart.

    "Hehe, uncle, you''re being too formal with me. We are old partners. Of course, I would think of you first for any profitable business," Ge Dongxu laughed and said.

    "Alright, I won''t be polite. Anyway, uncle will listen to you from now on," Cheng Yazhou said, his eyes slightly moist.

    ```

    ...

    By Tang Yiyuan''s current status, he actually had a lot of freedom with his time. Because of his confidence in Ge Dongxu''s formula, he was quite eager to start its factory production as soon as possible, so before coming this time, he had made some arrangements in the Provincial Capital and planned to stay in Changxi County for a few days.

    So the next day, Wednesday, Tang Yiyuan did not go back to Changxi County, but took Huang Wenjie to the beverage factory to start researching factory production processes. Cheng Yazhou handed over the affairs of the trademark factory to Wu Qianjin to manage and specially accompanied Tang Yiyuan and Huang Wenjie as an assistant.

    Find your next read on empire

    After all, he was from Changxi County and familiar with things here.

    Ge Dongxu''s life suddenly became very busy. In addition to his regular studies, he often had to visit the herbal tea beverage factory at noon to check on the situation with Tang Yiyuan''s research and tuning, and after the evening self-study sessions at school, he needed to engrave Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades.

    Time flew by quickly, and before they knew it, it was the beginning of June, three days before Jiang Lili and the others were to take their college entrance exams.

    Changxi No. 1 High School was the exam site for Changxi County''s college entrance exam. Not only did the seniors need to start their holiday early to relax, but the first and second-year students also had to temporarily stop classes to free up classrooms for the exam.

    Today, when school ended, Ge Dongxu made sure to leave the classroom early to wait outside the door of Senior Year Class Three for Dong Yuxin, Jiang Lili, and Su Qian to finish school.

    Except for the days when the teacher delayed classes, Big-chested Senior Sister Jiang Lili had still been coming to the door of Junior Year Class Six every day to wait for Ge Dongxu after school.

    Today was no exception. She was ready to wait for Ge Dongxu upon dismissal, but instead found that Ge Dongxu was unexpectedly waiting for her at the door, which made her exclaim with pleasant surprise, "Dongxu, why are you here?"

    Seeing the sincere surprise on Jiang Lili''s face, Ge Dongxu felt a wave of warmth in his heart and said with a smile, "The college entrance exam is in just a few days, so I came especially to say a few words of blessing to you and the other two senior sisters."

    "Thank you, Dongxu!" Dong Yuxin and Su Qian also came out at this time, and upon hearing this, they were slightly taken aback, and then they smiled and said.

    "It''s been a long time since the four of us walked home from school together," Jiang Lili suddenly said with some sentiment as they walked.

    Dong Yuxin''s expression subtly changed upon hearing this; she used to be the closest to Ge Dongxu, while Jiang Lili had the worst relationship with him, always picking on him. But for some unknown reason, it was she who had gradually distanced herself from him, while Jiang Lili had grown increasingly close to him and even gave Dong Yuxin the illusion that Jiang Lili seemed to be infatuated with the younger boy before her.

    Thinking of this, Dong Yuxin couldn''t help but glance at Ge Dongxu and suddenly noticed that he had grown a lot taller and his skin had become much fairer than before; he no longer resembled the dark-skinned and rustic country boy who had just arrived in town.

    "There''s nothing to be done about it; we''re all seniors with intense studies!" Su Qian replied nonchalantly.

    "Yes, your college entrance exam is coming up soon; after today''s farewell, I don''t know when we''ll be able to see each other again," Ge Dongxu sighed, looking at Dong Yuxin with a complex expression in his eyes.

    This was the first girl with whom he''d had close contact and the first to give him an electrifying feeling, but then, for some unknown reason, they had gradually drifted apart. Perhaps it was because he was from the countryside and there was a gap in their social status, or maybe because his dark complexion had a rural air that was unattractive, or perhaps a young girl''s feelings are fickle, and once past the initial gratitude she felt, she naturally distanced herself from him.

    Regardless, these were the first three senior sisters he had really interacted with after coming to Changxi No. 1 High School. No matter how they saw him, he still held affection for them. So after his moment of sentiment, Ge Dongxu took out three Heart-Cleansing Talismans that he had specially painted for them and said, "You''ll be taking your college entrance exams in three days, and I can''t be of much help. But last time I went back to Baiyun Mountain, I specifically went to a Taoist temple in the mountains to ask for three talismans for you, and also requested the Taoist priest to consecrate them. Whether or not they work, consider them a token of my regards; I hope you can keep them close during your exams."

    ```

 Chapter 147 Believing Exists, Not Believing Does Not

    "Really? Thank you so much, Dongxu!" Ever since that incident at the hotel, Jiang Lili had always felt inferior in Ge Dongxu''s eyes. She constantly thought he looked down on her, always believing that Ge Dongxu truly cared about Dong Yuxin. Unexpectedly, he had gone to the extent of getting a talisman from the Taoist temple for them, including her. Overwhelmed with joy, she took the Heart-Cleansing Talisman, then suddenly hugged Ge Dongxu and planted a kiss on his cheek with a "pop"."Damn!"

    "Damn!"

    "Damn!" S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On the road, students from Changxi First Middle School, heading home after school, were shocked by the scene.

    "Beast! Beast! Our boss really got the busty senior! My busty senior!" Du Yifan and Cheng Le Hao were equally shocked. After their astonishment, they dramatically beat their chests and wailed in grief.

    Ge Dongxu was also startled, not by Jiang Lili''s sudden kiss. By now, he had even experienced French kisses, so such a light peck was nothing. It was the full, bouncy pressure when Jiang Lili hugged him that truly shocked him.

    They''re really big!

    Dong Yuxin and Su Qian were also taken aback by Jiang Lili''s sudden hug and kiss. They quickly recovered and pointed at Jiang Lili, saying, "Lili, have you gone mad? The school is right over there!"

    "What about the school? I''m graduating anyway! Can''t I hug and kiss my junior before I leave?" Jiang Lili replied nonchalantly.

    "Alright, alright. Do whatever you like. Really, it''s just a talisman, right? Don''t you know it''s superstitious? And you were so moved you even gave away your first kiss," Su Qian said, seeing Jiang Lili''s disregard. She then rolled her eyes, crushed the Heart-Cleansing Talisman Ge Dongxu handed her, and threw it away casually.

    "Hey, what are you doing? Even if it''s superstition, it was Dongxu''s kind gesture. You didn''t have to throw it away for me!" Jiang Lili, seeing Su Qian throw away the talisman paper, glared at her, then quickly picked up the crumpled Heart-Cleansing Talisman, smoothed it out, and carefully stored it with the one Ge Dongxu gave her earlier.

    "Isn''t that a bit extreme, Lili? Dongxu is from the mountains and believes in these things, but do you have to follow suit? Well, since you believe in it, here''s another one for you," Dong Yuxin hesitated a moment and then, smiling, handed her the talisman in her hand to Jiang Lili.

    Seeing this, a complex look flashed in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, and he silently sighed. He felt he had done enough as a friend. Since they did not appreciate his gesture and treasured his sentiment, it meant their fates were only meant to go so far.

    Jiang Lili knew Ge Dongxu had special feelings for Dong Yuxin. Seeing Dong Yuxin hand her the Heart-Cleansing Talisman Ge Dongxu gave, she hesitated to accept it, instead looking to Ge Dongxu.

    "These things, believe it and it exists, disbelieve and it doesn''t. Since Dong Yuxin doesn''t believe, Lili, you keep it. Make sure you keep it close during your exams. Okay, here we are at Wanghe Road. I wish you all the best in your entrance exams!" Ge Dongxu then reluctantly smiled at Jiang Lili, nodded, and bid the trio farewell with a blessing, walking away with a touch of melancholy and loss in his heart.

    As Dong Yuxin watched Ge Dongxu walking away, she recalled how he had addressed her as Dong Yuxin but referred to Jiang Lili simply as Lili. Suddenly, a sense of loss flashed through her heart, as if she had lost something. But this feeling vanished in a moment. She then smiled at Jiang Lili and said, "Lili, you now have three master-blessed talismans. You''ll definitely ace your exams this time!"

    "Yeah, yeah. Otherwise it would''ve been a huge loss. You even gave away your first kiss for this!" Su Qian joined in the teasing.

    "Anyway, it was Dongxu''s sincere gesture. You guys were a bit harsh just now. Besides, as long as Dongxu is willing, what''s a first kiss?" Jiang Lili argued.

    "Oh no, oh no, this girl hasn''t even graduated and she''s already crazy about boys, haha!" Su Qian quipped, her body shaking, and then she exaggeratedly teased some more.

    "You little minx, weren''t you the one who started dating in sophomore year?" Jiang Lili advanced and pinched Su Qian, and the two quickly started a playful scuffle.

    As Dong Yuxin watched Jiang Lili and Su Qian playing and joking together, Jiang Lili''s words flashed through her mind, bringing a sense of loss that quickly passed¡ªsoon, Yuxin joined in their playful banter.

    Returning to his room, Ge Dongxu thought about how Yuxin had passed on the Heart-Cleansing Talisman he had prepared especially for her to Jiang Lili. He shook his head with a wry smile, then buried those tender feelings that once touched him deeply, resolving not to think about them anymore.

    After today, their lives might never intersect again, and he had already done all that he could for her.

    Settling his mind, Ge Dongxu took out pieces of Jade Token and began carving the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Jade Talisman.

    His Cultivation Power had been growing; he could now carve seven pieces per day. However, his luck wasn''t as good as last time; after carving about a hundred pieces, he had not succeeded even once.

    But Ge Dongxu was not discouraged. He quietly continued his meticulous carvings. For him, such work was also a form of training, whether in terms of mental focus or control over True Qi. With each carving session, he felt subtle improvements. So even if he ruined a Jade Token, it was not without gain.

    Of course, the cost was considerable; casually, 2000 yuan would be gone.

    Three days later, the college entrance exam began.

    This year, the weather was not kind; during last year''s exams, the cool, drizzling weather had been favorable for the students. This year, however, it was scorchingly sunny, enveloping the entire Jiangnan Province in suffocating heat. With no air conditioning in the classrooms, many students found themselves drenched in sweat after each exam, their heads heavy and foggy. The tense atmosphere of the exams, compounded by such weather, meant that even students who were fully prepared could not perform their best.

    Jiang Lili, who was naturally fuller-bodied and detested hot weather, however, felt a continuous coolness swirling in her head during the exam days. It not only shielded her from the outside heat but also kept her mind exceptionally clear. Faced with difficult questions, she felt neither nervous nor confused; instead, her thoughts were remarkably sharp.

    "It''s over, it''s done; this damned weather might ruin my chances of getting into a good university. How did you guys do?" Once the exams ended, Su Qian found Jiang Lili and Dong Yuxin, looking dejected as she spoke.

    As their teachers had instructed, they had refrained from discussing or comparing answers after each exam to avoid affecting their performance in the subsequent ones. So, having held back during the previous sessions, Su Qian couldn''t keep it in any longer after the last subject test of the day.

    "I don''t feel good either; this hot weather made my head so foggy, I couldn''t solve problems I usually could," said Dong Yuxin, looking equally disheartened.

    "Really? I didn''t feel the heat at all! I felt quite good, actually. I think I have a good shot at getting into my dream school, Yanjing Institute of Broadcasting," said Jiang Lili.

    "No way, aren''t you the one who hates the heat the most? You didn''t feel hot this time?" Dong Yuxin and Su Qian said, surprised.

    "Not at all! Oh, I think it must be the Talisman Dongxu gave me that''s working," said Jiang Lili.

    "Pfft!" Both her friends rolled their eyes at her remark.

    "Believe it or not, I''m sure it''s the Talisman Dongxu gave me that worked. Why else would I feel so good and think so clearly?" Jiang Lili insisted.

    But Dong Yuxin and Su Qian, raised with atheistic beliefs, could hardly believe Jiang Lili''s words and couldn''t help but tease her again.

    ps: please vote for this story, thank you.

 Chapter 148 Farewell

    As Jiang Lili and the others were discussing matters about the college entrance exam, Ge Dongxu was at the herbal tea factory, holding a bowl of tea. He took a sip, then closed his eyes to savor the taste."The temperature and pressure settings this time were quite good, and the medicinal effects are present, but the taste is lacking," Ge Dongxu finally opened his eyes after a while and said.

    "You can distinguish the medicinal effects just by tasting like this?" Huang Wenjie couldn''t help but mutter softly upon seeing this.

    "Wenjie, you mustn''t speak recklessly. If Dongxu says the medicinal effects are there, then they definitely are," Huang Wenjie''s voice, although soft, was still heard by Tang Yiyuan, who showed a hint of displeasure and glared at him, saying.

    Others might not know about Ge Dongxu''s expertise in traditional Chinese medicine, but Tang Yiyuan was well aware of it. Moreover, as he had more contact with him, he became increasingly amazed at Ge Dongxu''s medical expertise, which seemed boundless.

    "Haha, if you can''t taste it, that''s because you don''t have the ability. Legend has it that Emperor Shen Nong tasted all sorts of herbs. Do you really think he was just testing for poison? If that were the case, why would he need to taste them himself? Tasting is to discern the properties of herbs," Ge Dongxu didn''t blame Huang Wenjie but simply explained to him lightly.

    Then he turned to Tang Yiyuan and said, "Professor Tang, let''s stick with the settings of this trial, but we could try adding a little bit more rock sugar and a touch of Immortal Herbs. After all, we''re making a beverage, not a medicine. While we want to preserve as much of the medicinal effect as possible, we need to make sure it''s tasty."

    "Alright," Tang Yiyuan nodded, then hesitated before saying, "The factory-based research and testing are going very smoothly this time. I estimate that by the time you are on vacation, our Qinghe Herbal Tea can start production and go to market. Do you think we should hurry up and finalize the packaging design now?" S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If you hadn''t mentioned it, I would have forgotten about that. I''ve thought about it privately. Since Qinghe Herbal Tea has the function of reducing internal heat, we should set the bottle color to fiery red, which could emphasize the concept of ''fire,'' and our people have always liked red, considering it festive. As for the rest, you can handle it," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Originally, I thought about going for green, to highlight the idea of Qinghe''s health benefits, but hearing your suggestion, I feel that your idea is more likely to attract attention and make an impression," Tang Yiyuan said with brightened eyes, showing a trace of admiration.

    "Green is also good. Once our herbal tea really catches on, we can launch a version in green bottles. That way, our product range won''t seem too monotonous," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and then said.

    Afterwards, the two discussed some ideas for the pattern design. As a practitioner, although Ge Dongxu hadn''t formally studied fine arts, the patterns he drew casually not only did not clash with the red background but, on the contrary, exuded a harmonious, natural charm, as if the yin and yang energies were melding together.

    ¡­

    After the college entrance exam ended and Ge Dongxu returned to the classroom, the herbal tea factory continued experimenting under the direction of Tang Yiyuan, while the trademark and packaging were entrusted to Wu Qianjin, who was in charge of contacting the manufacturers for production.

    One day, after evening self-study, Ge Dongxu was walking out of the school gate with Du Yifan and Cheng Le Hao, laughing and talking, when they saw Jiang Lili standing at the school entrance.

    "Damn, boss, you''re too awesome! Even though the senior student has graduated, she''s still waiting for you at the school gate after school," Du Yifan and Cheng Le Hao said with a mix of jealousy and admiration as they gave Ge Dongxu a punch on the shoulder, then wisely hopped on their bikes, waved at Jiang Lili, and rode off in a flash.

    "Dongxu, am I disturbing you?" Seeing the two wave at her, Jiang Lili''s expression noticeably changed, and her pretty face couldn''t help but turn slightly red. She walked up to Ge Dongxu and asked in a low voice.

    "Hehe, what''s there to disturb? How did you do on the college entrance exam?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "I did really well, I should be able to get into Yanjing Broadcasting College. I have to thank you for the talisman you gave me," Jiang Lili said excitedly upon hearing this.

    "Then I must congratulate you, that''s the place for famous hosts!" Ge Dongxu sincerely felt happy for Jiang Lili when he heard this.

    "Even if I become famous in the future, I''ll still call you Brother Xu, and this place will always be yours," Jiang Lili said, raising her hand to gently press her chest with a serious look on her face.

    "What nonsensical things are you saying? How old are you today? There are still so many people and events you''ll encounter in the future. Besides, I''m only sixteen myself, I don''t even know where my own life is headed yet?" This wasn''t the first time Ge Dongxu had heard Jiang Lili say this, but the last time it was said in a special environment, Ge Dongxu always thought it was something she said in a moment of agitation, not thinking clearly. But now, seeing the state Jiang Lili was in, clearly very lucid, and the fact that she had chosen to say this after the college entrance exam was over indicated a declaration of intent, which took Ge Dongxu by surprise, making him hurriedly say.

    "I know all this, and I know I''m not worthy of you, so rest assured, I''m not clinging to you, nor will I interfere with your life in the future. I just want to tell you that I am yours, no matter where I go in the future or how much I achieve, I will always be yours," Jiang Lili continued to speak seriously.

    "Let''s talk about the future when it comes, okay? When you talk like this, it makes me feel uncomfortable," Ge Dongxu didn''t know how else to console the seemingly intoxicated upperclassman and resorted to putting the issue on hold. After all, they were both young, who knew whether a few years from now, after she had seen the outside world, she would still remember him, her Brother Xu.

    Just like Dong Yuxin, hadn''t their relationship been quite good before? But what happened later? They gradually drifted apart.

    "Fine, this is my decision," Jiang Lili said as she ran her fingers through her hair and gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile. True to her word, she didn''t continue the serious topic, which secretly relieved Ge Dongxu.

    He wouldn''t truly be seventeen until October, thinking about this issue was really too far off for now.

    This time, Jiang Lili didn''t choose to part ways with Ge Dongxu on Wanghe Road ahead of time but accompanied him all the way to Cheng Yazhou''s apartment building.

    "Brother Xu, I won''t bother you again before you go to college, and I myself will also work hard at my studies. I will definitely become an outstanding woman in the future!" Having escorted Ge Dongxu to the bottom of Cheng Yazhou''s building, Jiang Lili looked at Ge Dongxu and said with determination in her eyes and a deep sense of reluctance.

    "Don''t say disturbance, no matter what, we are friends. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can also come to me," Ge Dongxu said. After spending some time together, they developed some affection for each other, and the thought of potentially not seeing this upperclassman for a long time made him feel a slight sense of loss.

    "Thank you, Brother Xu. Before parting, can I hug you? Just for a moment!" Jiang Lili pleaded.

    Ge Dongxu hesitated, but in the end, he opened his arms.

    Seeing this, Jiang Lili plunged into Ge Dongxu''s embrace and hugged his waist tightly, as if she wished to merge her entire being into his body.

 Chapter 149 The Great Fire

    Jiang Lili seemed to feel the changes in Ge Dongxu''s body as well, her pretty face blushing with a hint of joy and haziness. She tiptoed to hug him even tighter.Unfortunately, Ge Dongxu soon came to his senses and gently pushed her away, leaving her feeling suddenly empty.

    But Jiang Lili knew that both she and Ge Dongxu were still young, especially since Ge Dongxu was only a freshman in high school, and some things were definitely inappropriate. Ultimately, she dismissed her empty feeling and said to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, you go in first. I''ll watch you go in."

    Upon hearing her words, Ge Dongxu''s heart quivered slightly, but he turned around and entered the house calmly. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As Ge Dongxu pushed the door open and then slowly closed it behind him, tears finally streamed down Jiang Lili''s cheeks.

    She couldn''t forget that moment of despair¡ªthe kind that plunged her into endless darkness with a single step!

    And just when she had closed her eyes and taken off her shirt, lost in a sea of endless darkness, the door was suddenly kicked open.

    Ge Dongxu appeared in front of her and fiercely beat up those two filthy men time and again.

    She knew she could never erase that scene from her memory¡ªthe man who had pulled her out of an endless abyss!

    Now she had to part ways with him, and wouldn''t see him for a long time. She also made a quiet resolve that the next time she saw him, she would surely become an impressive woman. She knew that if she didn''t become such a woman, she wouldn''t even get the chance to meet him again, let alone be his woman, given how outstanding he was even in his youth.

    Jiang Lili left, and in the room, Ge Dongxu sat cross-legged and meditated for a good while before he gathered his thoughts.

    The way things work in this world is curious¡ªoccasionally, one or two incidents change the relationships between people. Previously, he was close with Dong Yuxin, and Jiang Lili was his rival; but now, it was Jiang Lili who reluctantly hugged him goodbye and affected his state of mind.

    With jade tokens laid out, Ge Dongxu continued to carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade.

    It must be said that Ge Dongxu had really good luck previously. Though his cultivation had significantly improved, he had ruined nearly one hundred and forty jade tokens and still hadn''t managed to successfully carve a single Talisman Jade.

    Days passed, and soon it was July, the time for summer vacation.

    After ruining exactly two hundred and twenty jade tokens, Ge Dongxu finally succeeded in carving a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, and once again resumed his normal cultivation.

    On the same day, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory officially began production.

    On this day, not only did the leaders of the county committee rush to offer their congratulations, but even the vice mayor in charge of medical affairs in the city personally came.

    Both Changxi County Television and Ouzhou City Television reported on the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory in the news that day, with the Changxi County Television even creating a special report on the factory.

    To express his gratitude for Ge Dongxu''s lifesaving help and for guiding his son onto the righteous path, Lin Jinnuo, the owner, specifically ordered a large red canister of Qinghe Herbal Tea to be displayed at the entrance of the Changxi Grand Hotel. The hotel''s menu also prominently featured Qinghe Herbal Tea, and red canisters of the tea were served for free at every table that evening.

    This was the first batch of products from the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory.

    At that time, the Changxi Grand Hotel was a landmark building in Changxi County; it was always bustling with people coming and going every day. As the leading high-class restaurant in the county, placing Qinghe Herbal Tea in the hotel not only decorated the Changxi Grand Hotel in brilliant reds but also immediately elevated the status of Qinghe Herbal Tea. Every customer who visited the hotel would remember the fiery red packaging even before they tasted the tea.

    Naturally, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory also planned a strong promotional campaign that day. In every village and township of Changxi County, particularly along every street in the county town, banners advertising the factory were put up.

    As soon as the banners were placed along the streets, it was clear how wise Ge Dongxu had been to choose red packaging. A wave of red swept through the streets, bringing festivity and instantly catching people''s eyes.

    Thus, the official opening day of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory caused quite a stir, especially in Changxi County where it could almost be described as creating a sensation throughout the town. So much so that over the following days, when people in Changxi County met, they no longer asked, "Have you eaten?" but "Have you tried it? The Qinghe Herbal Tea developed from our county''s traditional Chinese medicine formula by that renowned professor?"

    The sensational advertising was just the first step towards the product''s success. Whether the product could ultimately withstand the market test still depended on its quality.

    The taste of Qinghe Herbal Tea is quite unique; it is not addictive but instead offers a cooling sensation that truly quenches thirst, and because its medicinal effects were attested by Ge Dongxu, it genuinely has health benefits. Unlike some current herbal teas which, due to excessive additives, make you thirstier the more you drink, or even cause heatiness or harm the spleen and stomach if consumed in excess.

    Thus, once products like Qinghe Herbal Tea successfully took the first step, there really wasn''t much to worry about, because the eyes of the common people are sharp. They know very well what is good and what is not. Sometimes, when there really isn''t quality to choose from, they simply have to pick the best among the worst.

    Qinghe Herbal Tea was delicious and refreshing, and truly had the health benefits of reducing internal heat and nourishing energy. For example, when some children suffered from heat-induced cough yet clamored for a drink, their parents dared not give them beverages like Coca-Cola but instead tried giving them Qinghe Herbal Tea. As a result, the symptoms of the children''s cough showed signs of easing.

    In this way, Qinghe Herbal Tea stood out like a tall figure among many beverages, and the public naturally chose this tall figure.

    Especially in Changxi County, the fact that Qinghe Herbal Tea genuinely had health benefits spread thoroughly among the populace in just about ten days, and gradually spread throughout the entire Ouzhou City area.

    Because of this, after the fiery start on the official opening day of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, there came a few days of cool-down, and then an explosion in demand suddenly began.

    Various stores, restaurants, and beverage dealers either called to request deliveries or came in person to pick up goods. At one point, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was producing at full capacity, yet there were still signs of demand outstripping supply. If this frenzied demand continued, there surely would be stockouts before the summer ended.

 Chapter 150 Cultivation Breakthrough [1st Update, Seeking Recommendation Tickets]

    Although they anticipated some profit from the initial phase with Ge Dongxu''s formula and Tang Yiyuan''s endorsement, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was definitely not going to suffer losses, at least it could generate some profit.But including Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan, no one expected the market to be explosively hot, far beyond their imaginations.

    As for Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, there was even less need to mention it. Initially, they were not very optimistic about the herbal tea business, joining merely out of respect for Ge Dongxu. It was only after Tang Yiyuan joined that they gained real confidence. However, they never expected to see signs of demand outstripping supply from the start.

    "We''ve struck it rich, we''re really going to make it big this time! We must immediately start the second production line!" This was the excited shout from Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin after the sales volume broke through twenty thousand bottles in one day and continued to rise, ten days after the herbal tea factory became operational.

    Thus, ten days after the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory officially started production, all four shareholders unanimously agreed to immediately purchase a second production line. Not only that, but they also decided to establish a herbal cultivation base in Wangzhou township because, at this rate, the demand for herbs would be substantial.

    With the large quantity of purchases, it was inevitable that there would be variations in quality. For long-term consideration, establishing their own herbal cultivation base was deemed absolutely necessary.

    The four shareholders also discussed and decided that after the second production line was installed, they would immediately allocate some funds to advertise on the Ouzhou Television Station. As for the provincial station, it was still too early. Experience more tales on empire

    They decided not to use a celebrity endorsement; instead, they would use the vivid red bottles as a backdrop, and the slogan was simple, "Drink Qinghe Herbal Tea for cooling and nourishing your energy." These were all suggested by Ge Dongxu.

    Because the second production line needed to be set up, naturally that required a sum of money. However, since they had originally allocated two hundred thousand for operating funds, and since the goods had been selling fast and, due to demand outstripping supply, the factory required cash payments, there was unexpectedly enough money on the books to purchase the second production line without requiring another investment from the four shareholders.

    As the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s business was booming, Cheng Yazhou had completely withdrawn from the trademark factory and took charge of the herbal tea factory. Since Tang Yiyuan still had matters to attend to in the provincial capital, he could not stay long-term at the factory. Thus, he carefully chose a graduate from this year''s pharmacy program, trained him for a few days, and gradually let him take charge of the production aspect.

    Ge Dongxu still prioritized cultivation and academic studies. During the summer break, after initially spending some time in Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory and seeing that everything was running smoothly and that he particularly could not provide additional help, he returned to Baiyun Mountain to accompany his family and continued with his cultivation and studies.

    At midnight, the night was cool as water, and a bright moon hung high in the sky.

    In the courtyard of a rural household on Baiyun Mountain, a young man sat cross-legged, bathed in moonlight that seemed to spill like mercury over his body, even reflecting a hint of rosy light.

    Engendered from the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, the moon glow was absorbed by Ge Dongxu, starting from the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, transferring in order to the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, Lung Meridian of Taiyin, and so on, circulating back to the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian through the Twelve Regular Meridians, in a continuous cycle.

    For cultivators, their pursuit is the Path of Longevity. One reason people age and die, besides the weakening of Qi-Blood, is that as they age, their internal organs gradually weaken until they can no longer support the body, ultimately leading to death. Therefore, cultivators strive to enhance their Qi-Blood, nourishing their organs with it, so that the Qi-Blood flows abundantly in the organs, never deteriorating.

    The Twelve Regular Meridians connect and manage twelve organs ¡ª the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian governs the lungs, the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian governs the large intestine, the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming governs the stomach, the Lung Meridian of Taiyin governs the spleen¡­

    Ordinary people allow their Qi-Blood to circulate through the Twelve Regular Meridians on its own, naturally nourishing their twelve organs. However, cultivators are different; they not only absorb nature''s spiritual energy but also control the flow of Qi-Blood through the Twelve Regular Meridians in a continuous cycle to keep it growing and use the Twelve Regular Meridians to regulate the flow of Qi-Blood into the twelve organs to nourish them without deterioration.

    Since the organs are extremely complex parts of the human body, controlling the rhythmic circulation and nourishment of Qi-Blood inside them is exceedingly difficult.

    The Qi Cultivation Stage encompasses twelve layers, and Ge Dongxu has now mastered the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, and Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming. He could regularly channel Qi-Blood into the lungs, large intestine, and stomach, thus reaching the Third Layer. The day he could simultaneously control the flow of Qi-Blood into the organs through four meridians would signify his advancement to the Fourth Layer.

    Once the Twelve Regular Meridians fully govern the twelve organs, enabling the seamless flow and robustness of the Qi-Blood in these organs, it signifies that the Cultivator has completed the Qi Cultivation stage, also known as the Foundation Establishment stage, laying a solid foundational base. At this point, living up to 130 or 140 years would pose no issue whatsoever.

    Following the Qi Cultivation Stage comes the Dragon Tiger Realm, wherein the cultivation of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians takes place.

    The Eight Extraordinary Meridians consist of the Conception Vessel, the Governing Vessel, Thrusting Vessel, Belt Vessel, Yin Qiao Vessel, Yang Qiao Vessel, Yin Wei Vessel, and Yang Wei Vessel. The Conception Vessel intersects with the three yin meridians of the hands and feet, and the Yin Wei Vessel, collectively overseeing the body''s Yin Meridians and also known as the Sea of Yin Meridians. The Governing Vessel intersects with the three yang meridians of the hands and feet, and the Yang Wei Vessel, collectively governing the body''s Yang Meridians and also known as the Sea of Yang Meridians.

    Recognizing the True Dragon in fire and the True Tiger in water. When Dragon and Tiger converge, they transform into a yellow sprout, which then amalgamates and forms the Great Medicine, known as the Golden Core.

    Therefore, after Qi Cultivation, the cultivation of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians involves evolving the True Tiger from the Sea of Yin Meridians, also known as True Yin, and the True Dragon from the Sea of Yang Meridians, also known as True Yang. At that moment when Dragon and Tiger meet, a Golden Core forms, and one becomes a true terrestrial Immortal.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu is currently only at the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation, far from the legendary Golden Core Great Dao and the status of a terrestrial Immortal.

    Pure moonlight energy was absorbed into his body, enhancing the True Qi, which is also the Qi-Blood, within his meridians. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu controlled the True Qi, allowing it to slowly circulate through the Lung Meridian of Taiyin in his feet, and then carefully moved into the deeper parts of the spleen.

    When the True Qi reached the deeper part of the spleen, Ge Dongxu felt a piercing pain akin to being pricked by needles, but he remained undisturbed and slowly directed the True Qi to revolve inside the spleen following the pattern of a Tai Chi Diagram.

    With this rotation, his spleen seemed as if it were placed in a meat grinder. In an instant, beads of sweat the size of beans emerged from Ge Dongxu''s forehead, and his body could not help but tremble.

    Bits of acquired substances were expelled from the spleen along with the rotation of the True Qi, which seemed to flow more smoothly with each turn. Eventually, it formed a slowly rotating air cyclone, releasing strands of vibrant and pure energy that infiltrated every blood vessel and cell in the spleen.

    "Sigh!" Ge Dongxu took a deep breath, then opened his eyes, filled with a look of surprise.

    From starting from scratch to reaching the Second Level of Qi Cultivation, Ge Dongxu spent a total of six years. Later, after inheriting the complete "Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture," it took him just two years to reach the Third Layer.

    The path of cultivation is akin to climbing a mountain, becoming increasingly challenging as one ascends. Normally, it would take Ge Dongxu at least two more years to break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. However, in less than a year, he had achieved this breakthrough.

    Having the support of a Spirit Gathering Array clearly made a significant difference, indicating that sparing expenses was not an option moving forward, although cultivation truly was costly. After the initial joy, Ge Dongxu took out the Talisman Jade, which had now turned to powder, and shook his head in reflection.

    However, cultivating was precisely Ge Dongxu''s purpose for earning money. Feeling the abundant Qi-Blood within his body, as though a single punch could knock down a bull, filled Ge Dongxu''s heart with indescribable joy.

    PS: Monday again, seeking recommendation votes, four more updates today, thank you.

 Chapter 151 The Same Taste as Our Familys Herbal Tea [2nd Update]

    "Mom, where''s Dad?" Early in the morning, after practicing at Mao Hour, an invigorated Ge Dongxu returned from the mountain and asked his mother curiously upon not seeing his father."He went to town to get some Qinghe Herbal Tea. Lately, this Qinghe Herbal Tea is so popular that every guest asks for it. Honestly, if you ask me, what''s so special about it? It tastes just like the herbal tea we make at home," Xu Suya replied.

    Another scorching summer season had arrived, and Baiyun Mountain was welcoming its peak tourist period, and Ge Shengming''s family inn was experiencing a surge in guest traffic as well.

    "You''re right, if you ask me, even the tea Dongxu brews has a purer taste than that one," Xu Suya had barely finished speaking when Ge Shengming''s voice came from outside.

    He was just getting off the three-wheeler used for hauling goods, carrying a box with a fiery red packaging inside¡ªit was indeed the Qinghe Herbal Tea.

    Seeing his dad going to town early in the morning to fetch the beverages produced by his own factory, Ge Dongxu''s expression was indescribably splendid.

    After a while, Ge Dongxu scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Mom and Dad, actually, there''s something I haven''t told you."

    "We''ve said it before, it''s your business, you decide for yourself. If you want to tell us, you do; if you feel it''s unnecessary, then don''t," Ge Shengming spoke as he continued to move the beverages inside.

    Ge Dongxu hurriedly helped carry a few boxes and then sat down with his parents before scratching his head again, looking embarrassed, "I think I still need to mention this matter."

    "Alright, go ahead," Ge Shengming and his wife looked at their son curiously, noting his embarrassed expression.

    "Actually, that Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was started by me and a few friends. I am the biggest shareholder," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Pfft!" Ge Shengming, who had been busy to the point of smoke coming out of his throat, had just taken a sip of the iced tea on the table and sprayed it out when he heard Ge Dongxu''s words.

    "You, you mean the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory that''s so popular now, the one the Deputy Mayor attended the opening of, and Professor Tang, he''s your friend too?" Ge Shengming didn''t even bother to wipe the drops of water hanging at the corner of his mouth but stared blankly at his son and asked.

    Discover more stories at empire

    Ge Dongxu nodded with a smile.

    "Whack!" Xu Suya suddenly slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "That explains it! I knew the taste of this herbal tea was the same as the one you used to brew for us¡ªit was your recipe all along!"

    "You sneaky little guy! You''ve been doing business on such a large scale without me realizing it! And here I am, still running a family inn!" Ge Shengming''s mouth gaped upon seeing his son nod, then he heavily patted Ge Dongxu''s shoulder with an expression full of amazement.

    As a father, Ge Shengming was naturally supposed to be happy about his son''s impressive achievements, but when he compared himself to his son, he immediately felt a profound sense of defeat.

    "Actually, Dad, if you wanted to open a big hotel, it wouldn''t be a problem. I bought a piece of land in the county a while ago; we could totally build a restaurant even bigger than Uncle Three''s," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You also bought land in the county town?" Ge Shengming''s mouth fell open again.

    Ge Dongxu figured that since the subject was broached, there was nothing to hide from his parents, so he told them about his investment in setting up a trademark factory, buying land, and how much the land was currently worth.

    Ge Shengming and his wife were rendered speechless and stunned, taking a long while before managing to say, "You mean to say that our family now has assets worth several million?"

    "Pretty much like that, and considering the growth momentum of Qinghe Herbal Tea and the currently rising land values, I estimate we might have six to seven million in assets by the end of the year," Ge Dongxu said after some thought.

    "Six to seven million!" Ge Shengming and Xu Suya found it difficult to breathe.

    For a family like theirs, at this time last year, ten thousand yuan was still a significant amount to them. Now, Ge Dongxu was suddenly telling them that by the end of this year, they might possess assets worth six to seven million, a leap so large it was beyond the scope of their imagination and endurance.

    "So, Mom and Dad, you really don''t need to work so hard now. I''m currently building a villa in the city where you can live and go wherever you want to have fun," Ge Dongxu said as he handed each of his parents a bottle of herbal tea.

    They drank a big gulp of herbal tea before they seemed to slowly recover. Then, after staring at their son for a good while, making Ge Dongxu feel quite uncomfortable, they seemed to come to a significant resolve. They looked at each other, Xu Suya nodded at Ge Shengming, he nodded back, and then he began to speak, "Dongxu, your mother and I are very happy that you''re doing so well and earning so much money. But you know your mother has always loved children and the teaching profession. If you ask her to live in the city while she''s still young, she''d definitely get sick from boredom. As for me, you know I''ve been used to being poor since I was young; I get restless if I''m not working. Running this family farm might not make much money, but it''s my passion and happiness, simple and enjoyable. Plus, the environment in Baiyun Mountain is great, with fresh air and beautiful scenery, which your mom and I both love. So, we''d prefer to keep things as they are. Just knowing that you are successful makes us happier than anything else. Teaching and running the family farm have truly become our way of enjoying life, not just a means to earn money."

    "Your dad''s right, you''re already making so much money, there''s no need for us to get caught up in the hustle. Living simply and quietly is the best. With a successful son, we don''t have to worry about money. Your dad may be uneducated, but he really hit on something profound with his last sentence," Xu Suya followed up with a nod.

    Ge Dongxu, being a cultivator, pursued the natural way. Seeing his parents happy with such a lifestyle, which was indeed healthy, suited him just fine. Unlike some city dwellers who lived indulgently and dissolutely, appearing to lead lush lives but feeling incredibly empty inside, it did not necessarily mean they lived well. So, without further persuasion, he nodded and said, "Anyway, you decide what you want. Live the life you enjoy, and don''t overexert yourselves. Just let me know what you need. But, I think Dad could learn to drive. Then we could buy a car, so you two can be more free to go wherever you want." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What do we need a car for? A small truck would be so much better, good for carrying both people and for hauling goods from the market," Ge Shengming replied.

    "Alright then, it''s certainly better than the hard work of pedaling a tricycle," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, knowing that his father still had a small-scale farmer mentality and would need time to adjust his thinking.

    After all, slowly but surely, as people''s living conditions improve, their mindset will naturally evolve, and buying a car all at once might be too conspicuous in the village.

    "Haha, that''s for sure!" There isn''t a man who doesn''t like cars. Imagining himself with a car in the future, Ge Shengming couldn''t help but laugh joyfully.

    "Okay, once you''re past this busy summer period, I''ll give Director Zuo a call and ask him to arrange a good instructor for you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "There''s no need for all that trouble, I can go by myself," Ge Shengming replied.

    Ge Dongxu, having gained more experience in society, knew that the one thing the world never lacked was opportunistic people. He didn''t want his father to be treated like a dog by an instructor while learning to drive, so he firmly said, "No, let''s have Director Zuo arrange someone. We can pay a bit more."

    Knowing his son was considerate of him, Ge Shengming no longer opposed the idea and nodded, "Alright, you arrange it."

 Chapter 152 Another Increase [3rd Update]

    The benefits of breaking through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation were obvious. Since Ge Dongxu had broken through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, not only did he feel an abundance of True Qi and strength throughout his body, but his success rate in drawing talismans had also increased significantly.Drawing the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade had become much easier than before, no longer like the previous times when he didn''t have even a bit of confidence in each attempt. Therefore, this time Ge Dongxu only spent seven days, and after using seventy pieces, he successfully drew a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade.

    And this success was not due to luck; it was Ge Dongxu''s normal level of performance.

    Continue your adventure at empire

    Having only used seventy pieces for a successful drawing of a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, Ge Dongxu was naturally ecstatic. This success rate meant he would save a lot of expenses.

    However, it was only at midnight, while sitting cross-legged alone in the courtyard cultivating, that Ge Dongxu realized he had celebrated too early.

    He was like a child growing taller; with the increase in height came an increase in his appetite.

    With the breakthrough in his realm, the amount of moonlight gathered by a single Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade was no longer sufficient for his cultivation needs. Usually, with the help of the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade during a single midnight practice, he would definitely feel a significant increase in his cultivation, but today, he found almost no progress.

    Darn, it seemed that he would need at least two Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans to proceed. Once midnight passed, Ge Dongxu slowly opened his eyes with a very subtle expression.

    One Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade was not enough for his cultivation, which meant he had made great progress¡ªan undoubtedly good thing. However, it also meant that he needed to buy more Jade Tokens, and at that moment, his bank card was already running low on funds.

    But having started earning money at such a young age for cultivation, Ge Dongxu could not put the cart before the horse and skimp on buying Jade Tokens to save money.

    It seemed he needed to make a trip to the bank for a loan, then head to the Provincial Capital, and it was also a good opportunity to deliver the prepared medicinal wine to Sister Liu. Ge Dongxu quickly made up his mind.

    ...

    The next morning, after greeting his parents, Ge Dongxu left Ge Family Village.

    Once in Changxi County, Ge Dongxu first dropped off the medicinal wine at Cheng Yazhou''s house, collected some factory certificates, and then went to the Industrial and Commercial Bank.

    "I thought you big boss had forgotten about me. What brings you to see me today?" As she opened the office door, Yuan Li smiled while pouring a cup of water for Ge Dongxu and spoke with a laugh.

    Yuan Li was still dressed in her office attire, a white blouse and a tight-fitting black pencil skirt that wrapped tightly around her hips, showing off her full, silky legs as always¡ªplump and sexy. And perhaps because people feel spirited during happy events, she looked exceptionally youthful and beautiful today.

    "Heh, I''m short on money again, so this time I''m thinking of re-mortgaging the factory that I redeemed last time, to borrow some money from the bank," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "You, always remember your sister when it''s time for a loan!" With a laugh, Yuan Li lightly tapped Ge Dongxu''s forehead with her jade finger. The charm that is unique to mature women made Ge Dongxu''s heart involuntarily flutter.

    "Heh, that''s not it. Besides the loan, I also wanted to come see you," Ge Dongxu hastily said.

    "Really?" Yuan Li asked.

    "Really, really," Ge Dongxu hurriedly nodded.

    "That''s more like it." Yuan Li finally smiled happily, and after a while, she became serious and said, "Dongxu, I really want to thank you for last time."

    "Sister Li, isn''t that like treating me as an outsider?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, alright, you said not to treat you as an outsider, so today I want to cook a few dishes for you myself. Come to my place for dinner," Yuan Li said.

    With the conversation reaching this point, Ge Dongxu naturally couldn''t refuse. He smiled and nodded, "I never imagined that Bank Manager Sister is also a beautiful chef. I definitely have to try your cooking."

    "What''s beautiful? I''m an old woman already!" Yuan Li rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and spat, but her expression clearly showed she enjoyed Ge Dongxu calling her a beautiful chef.

    "Not at all, Sister, you are in the prime of your life," Ge Dongxu quickly said.

    "Giggle, you have such sweet talk, and you''re handsome, plus you have money and abilities. If you go to university in the future, I don''t know how many beauty queens you''ll make fall for you!" Yuan Li said, pursing her lips happily and laughing upon hearing this.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu was somewhat embarrassed by Yuan Li''s compliments.

    Looking at the young man''s smile, which held a boyish innocence, Yuan Li''s beautiful eyes revealed a hint of haziness. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If only I were ten years younger!

    "Hehe, look at you getting embarrassed. Alright, let''s not talk about that anymore, and discuss the loan instead," Yuan Li quickly collected her emotions, being an experienced and strong woman, and looked at Ge Dongxu with a smile as she spoke.

    "Um, this is my factory. Would there be a problem with getting a loan of five hundred thousand this time?" Ge Dongxu handed his documents to Yuan Li and asked.

    He was basing the loan amount on the valuation of the land from the last time.

    "Of course, it''s possible. You''re not still unaware that the planning map for the XC district has already been released, are you? The land around your factory is near the county government building, it''s the real commercial and residential center of the XC district. The state-owned land near the Jiang Family Village has now officially started to be placed on the market for public bidding. Do you know what the current bid is for a ten-acre land use right near your factory?" Yuan Li looked at Ge Dongxu, her eyes full of envy and admiration as she asked.

    Even now, she found it hard to accept this reality. A young man had such courage and vision to invest in a parcel of land near the Jiang Family Village so early on.

    "Really? I spent the summer in Ge Family Village and was completely unaware of this. How much is the bid for that land you mentioned now?" Ge Dongxu''s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked.

    "Six million! There''s still half a month before the announcement deadline, so it''s hard to say if anyone will offer a higher price," Yuan Li said.

    "Six million!" Even though Ge Dongxu had anticipated that once the planning map was released, his land would increase in value, he had not expected such a dramatic rise. Ten acres were worth six million, so his twelve acres could sell for seven million? Moreover, considering the circumstances, there seemed to be room for an even higher price.

    "That''s right, six million!" Yuan Li said, her gaze at Ge Dongxu filled with indescribable complexity.

    The land she controlled was worth almost seven million, and with the herbal tea factory now thriving under his management, Yuan Li estimated that by the end of the year, Ge Dongxu''s net worth would reach ten million.

    A seventeen-year-old millionaire, just the thought of it made Yuan Li feel as if she was dreaming.

    "It seems like I''m about to get rich again." Ge Dongxu soon regained his composure; what he truly cared about was cultivation. Making money was just to facilitate his cultivation.

    "It''s a pity that Sister is already married and over a decade older than you; otherwise, I''d definitely chase after you. How many millionaires are there in our entire Changxi County? And yet you, just a high school student, are about to become one!" Watching Ge Dongxu quickly regain his composure, Yuan Li couldn''t help but express her feelings.

 Chapter 153 What Are You Looking At? [4th Update]

    "Cough, cough!" Ge Dongxu was suddenly choked by his tea at Yuan Li''s remark."What''s the matter? When I was young, I was also the school beauty of Changxi No. 1 High," Yuan Li saw Ge Dongxu choking from her words and couldn''t help but roll her eyes at him in irritation.

    "Of course, of course! In fact, you''re still very charming now, really!" Ge Dongxu quickly said.

    "You and your sweet talk! Never mind, let''s not talk about this. Let''s get on with the loan processing," Yuan Li rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu again and then got up to take care of his loan.

    After sorting out the loan, Yuan Li gave Ge Dongxu her home address and reminded him to come over that evening before him leaving. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After leaving the Industrial and Commercial Bank, Ge Dongxu remembered that the official plan for the XC district had been released, and because he''d been at his hometown, he still didn''t know about it, so he decided to buy a mobile phone.

    This way he could also stay updated with the news in time.

    After all, mobile phones were getting cheaper and smaller. Tucking it into his backpack should be fine, and nobody would know.

    Therefore, Ge Dongxu spent some money and bought a Motorola mobile phone. Although mobile phones had become a lot cheaper than the tens of thousands they used to cost, they still cost several thousand yuan, so they were still considered luxury items. Thus, when Ge Dongxu, a teenager, casually bought a mobile phone, it really surprised people.

    After buying the phone, Ge Dongxu first called home and told his parents his mobile number. Since Ge Dongxu brought back money, Ge Shengming and his wife generously installed a landline phone at home.

    Then Ge Dongxu called Liu Jiayao, Tang Yiyuan, Cheng Yazhou, Wu Qianjin, Zuo Le, Lin Jinnuo, and others to tell them his mobile number.

    When Liu Jiayao received the call, she naturally asked when he would come to Linzhou. When Ge Dongxu told her he would go the next day, Liu Jiayao was very happy.

    "Dongxu, this time Old Lin truly understands the saying ''the new waves push the old waves forward.'' You''re freaking awesome! I think by next year, your assets could even surpass mine," Lin Jinnuo picked up the phone, saw it was Ge Dongxu calling, and couldn''t help but swear in admiration.

    "How can that be? How much is Changxi Grand Hotel worth? There''s no way I can compare with you!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly said modestly in response.

    "Changxi Grand Hotel may look glamorous on the outside, but it doesn''t make that much in a year. Your herbal tea, on the other hand, is different. Once the market opens up, it''ll snowball. And about that piece of land you have, man, it''s worth seven to eight million now," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "Hehe, it''s just good luck," Ge Dongxu said humbly once again.

    "If you keep being so modest, I''m going to get angry with you!" Lin Jinnuo said half-jokingly, half-angrily.

    "Alright, I won''t be modest. This number is mine, remember it. Call this number if there''s anything, but don''t call if it''s nothing important," Ge Dongxu said laughingly to Lin Jinnuo, as there was no need to be overly polite with him.

    "Speaking of which, I actually have something to discuss with you. Are you really going to sell that piece of land? If you''re going to sell, I''ll offer you eight million for it. I''m planning to open another hotel in the XC area. Of course, if you''re willing to be a part of it by investing the land''s value, that would be even better," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "I don''t have the capital to develop that land at the moment, so I will definitely sell it, but I need to think it over more specifically," Ge Dongxu said, slightly taken aback in his reply.

    "Sure, this is a big deal. Take your time thinking about it. When you''ve thought it through, let''s set a time to talk," Lin Jinnuo said.

    "Alright, I''ll think it over and let you know," Ge Dongxu said. Experience more tales on empire

    After hanging up, Ge Dongxu then called Yue Feng. Yue Feng was in manufacturing and hadn''t thought about buying land for property development or opening a hotel. He just marveled at how Ge Dongxu was going to make a killing this time and reminded himself to include him in any future money-making schemes.

    Naturally, Ge Dongxu couldn''t avoid being modest.

    Having made these calls, Ge Dongxu made a special trip to Wangzhou Township''s beverage factory. Seeing the factory yard filled with tricycles and small trucks loading goods and Cheng Yazhou busier than a bee, his heart swelled with joy. He knew Lin Jinnuo was right; once the market opened up, it would snowball, and who knows, maybe one day, their sales would reach billions and match Liu Jiayao''s company.

    Regarding the beverage factory, Ge Dongxu hadn''t mentioned it to Liu Jiayao and had also reminded Tang Yiyuan to keep it from her for the time being.

    Sometimes, men''s thoughts can be as complicated as women''s.

    After chatting with Cheng Yazhou at the factory for a while and getting an update on production and sales, Ge Dongxu had lunch at the factory before heading back to Cheng Yazhou''s place.

    Back at Cheng Yazhou''s home and after shooting the breeze with Cheng Lehao, seeing how the kid was fixated on video games, Ge Dongxu left him to it, went upstairs alone, read for a while, and drew some talismans. As the sun began to set and remembering he was invited to dinner at Yuan Li''s place, he pondered whether he should bring something along.

    With no experience in giving gifts to women, after considering for a while and still unsure what to buy, he simply grabbed a jar of his homemade medicinal wine.

    This medicinal wine was made according to an ancient recipe, with herbs gathered from Baiyun Mountain, and could nourish the vital energy, moisten the yin, and strengthen the kidneys. It was particularly effective for women''s beauty and skincare. Ge Dongxu brought back several jars, planning to give one to Liu Jiayao and to share some with others as well.

    Since Yuan Li invited him over and had joked about becoming an old woman earlier that day, he thought the wine would make the perfect gift.

    Yuan Li''s apartment, provided by her employer, was about eighty-five square meters and had two bedrooms, two living rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

    Ge Dongxu carried the jar of wine up five flights of stairs and knocked on Yuan Li''s door.

    Then he heard footsteps inside, followed by the door opening.

    As soon as the door opened, Ge Dongxu was taken aback. He saw Yuan Li still in her work uniform, only with an apron around her front. Due to the summer heat and cooking in the kitchen, her white blouse clung to her body, revealing her fair skin underneath.

    That wasn''t all; because Yuan Li was cooking alone at home without guests, she had unbuttoned the top two buttons of her shirt, leaving her collar open and revealing most of her fair, soft peaks. When Ge Dongxu knocked, she got up in a hurry and didn''t realize this detail. As she opened the door, her glowing white fullness was right before Ge Dongxu''s eyes, mere inches away!

    "What are you looking at? Haven''t you seen a pretty cook before?" Yuan Li, not yet aware she forgot to button up, saw Ge Dongxu standing at her door, holding a jar of wine and staring blankly at her. She rolled her eyes at him with a smile, recalling what he said in her office earlier that day.

    "Ahem, yes, I mean, no!" Ge Dongxu was at a loss for words, clearly flustered by Yuan Li''s attire¡ªat the peak of his adolescence, he found it quite provocative.

    "Look at you, can''t even talk straight. Come in, I''ll get you some slippers," said Yuan Li, giving Ge Dongxu another playful roll of her eyes before she bent down to fetch slippers from the shoe cabinet by the door.

    As she bent over, her blouse gaped open, and the two soft buns inside nearly tumbled out. Yuan Li finally realized what had gone wrong. Her face flushed red, and she cursed under her breath, ''Sly little rascal!''

    Strangely enough, even though she cursed him secretly, the thought of Ge Dongxu''s gaze and his flustered reaction didn''t disgust her or make her unhappy. On the contrary, she felt a hint of delight.

 Chapter 154 Drank Too Much

    Yuan Li, after all, was a leader, and her ability to react on the spot was strong. Seizing the opportunity as she bent down, she fastened her button, then acted as though nothing had happened, placing the slippers in front of Ge Dongxu and saying, "Put on the slippers, they''re cooler."Seeing that the slippers were new, Ge Dongxu felt a slight warmth in his heart.

    "It''s my first visit, and I didn''t know what gift to bring you, so I brought a jar of medicinal wine I mixed myself. Drink a little before you sleep each day, and I guarantee it will keep you looking younger," said Ge Dongxu as he put on the slippers and entered the house, placing the jar of wine on the table.

    "Really? Then this gift is rather precious; I must store it well," Yuan Li said as she purposefully placed the jar of wine in a cabinet in the kitchen.

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    "It''s nothing fancy, just some regular baijiu with a few herbs, but if you think it''s good, I''ll mix some more for you next time," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. Have a seat, I still have two dishes to finish in the kitchen," Yuan Li said, thanking him, then hurried off to the kitchen.

    "I''ll help too," Ge Dongxu followed and said.

    "Off with you, how can I let you help in the kitchen at my house? Just sit over there," Yuan Li quickly pushed Ge Dongxu back.

    Ge Dongxu had no choice but to return to the living room, looking around somewhat bored, but luckily Yuan Li soon had the dishes ready.

    Looking at the little table full of dishes, there were braised carp, sweet and sour spareribs, boiled shrimp...

    Ge Dongxu was a bit taken aback and said, "Sister, do I look like I can eat that much?"

    "You''re at the age where you''re still growing; of course, you should eat a lot. I don''t care, I''ve cooked these dishes, and if you don''t eat them all, you''re not leaving tonight," Yuan Li said, looking at Ge Dongxu with a determined look that did not allow him to leave until he finished eating.

    "Alright, I''ll try my best," Ge Dongxu reluctantly agreed, nodding.

    "What drink would you like? Is it the herbal tea from your own factory, or Coke? Sprite?" Yuan Li finally smiled as she saw Ge Dongxu nodding.

    "With such good food, how can we not have some wine? Let''s drink a little," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Are you old enough to drink?" Yuan Li asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Have you ever seen someone my age getting a loan from the bank?" Ge Dongxu countered with a question.

    "Lol, that''s true, you can''t just be seen as a typical high school student!" Yuan Li was slightly startled, then she laughed and said, "Let''s try the medicinal wine you brought, then."

    Yuan Li got up to fetch two wine cups, then brought out the jar of wine Ge Dongxu had brought, pouring a small cup for each of them.

    "Hmm, this wine is strong, let''s have some dishes first," Yuan Li took a sip, then stuck out her tongue slightly and fanned herself with her hand.

    Ge Dongxu was taken aback by her gesture, finding it particularly enticing.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu a bit dazed, Yuan Li then realized it was somewhat problematic to stick out her tongue in front of a young boy, rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, then picked up a piece of sweet and sour rib and put it in Ge Dongxu''s bowl, saying, "What are you staring at, didn''t you see enough just now?"

    Yuan Li''s words made Ge Dongxu blush furiously. He hurriedly stuffed the sweet and sour ribs into his mouth, prompting Yuan Li to burst into giggles.

    After eating some food, they started drinking.

    As they drank, Ge Dongxu found out that today was actually Yuan Li''s birthday, and, having handled the beverages factory''s loan issue efficiently, she was likely to be promoted to branch manager in two months. Thus, she had specifically invited Ge Dongxu to celebrate.

    "Sister Li, why didn''t you tell me earlier? If you had, I would have brought a cake," Ge Dongxu said, feeling a bit resentful.

    "At my age, every birthday brings me closer to becoming an old yellow-face. What''s there to celebrate with a cake? Come on, drink up. Today, let''s drink till we''re merry since it''s my birthday and I might get promoted," Yuan Li said.

    Ge Dongxu thought that it was too late to get a cake now, so he just raised his glass to clink it with Yuan Li''s.

    People say that alcohol is the best way to provoke nostalgia. The medicinal wine was strong, and after a few cups, Yuan Li''s face turned red, and her mind started to recall recent events, making her emotional.

    Once the emotions kicked in, she drank even more cheerfully.

    At first, Ge Dongxu hadn''t realized what was happening, and he drank each time Yuan Li clinked glasses with him. But after a while, he noticed something wasn''t right. Seeing Yuan Li filling their cups again, he hurriedly said, "Sister, that''s enough drinking, let''s eat some food."

    "It''s fine, I can hold my liquor," Yuan Li said with a flushed face.

    "I know, but drinking too much is harmful to your health. Let''s not drink any more today," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Isn''t this medicinal wine? It''s fine. Come on, keep me company and drink some more. It''s not every day your sister has a birthday and gets a promotion, let''s celebrate!" Seeing Ge Dongxu reluctant, Yuan Li simply sat next to him, grabbing his arm and shaking it.

    Unable to resist her, Ge Dongxu thought since it was her house, drinking too much would at worst mean sleeping it off, so he continued drinking with her.

    "It''s so hot! So hot!" After drinking quite a bit, Yuan Li felt a surge of heat throughout her body and subconsciously unbuttoned her collar. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu quickly stood up and said, "Sister, that''s enough, I really have to go."

    As Ge Dongxu stood up, Yuan Li also sobered up a bit, quickly standing and saying, "I''ll see you out."

    ps: Seeking recommendation tickets, thank you.

 Chapter 155 New Investment Direction

    Watching Ge Dongxu practically flee through the door, Yuan Li sobered up in an instant and, recalling the incident that had just occurred, wished she could slap herself twice.It''s a disaster, it''s a disaster, he wouldn''t think I was trying to seduce him, would he? Now he''ll look down on me! He won''t ignore me from now on, will he?

    As Yuan Li thought about it, she also remembered the physical reaction Ge Dongxu had when he held her, and her cheeks flushed again. This guy!

    That night, Yuan Li tossed and turned, unable to sleep, her mind in chaos. It was only around two or three in the morning that she finally drifted off to sleep in a daze.

    In her dreams, she seemed to see a man pressing down on her; she wanted to push him away, only to realize it was Ge Dongxu.

    Then Yuan Li woke up. When she did, it was already daylight outside, and she lay in bed, stunned, for a while.

    "Sigh," after a long time, Yuan Li let out a deep sigh, then got up from the bed.

    At the office, Yuan Li found it hard to concentrate on work and finally decided to give Ge Dongxu a call. During dinner the previous night, Ge Dongxu had given her his new mobile number.

    "Dongxu, about last night..." After the call connected, Yuan Li, who had always been efficient and decisive in her work, lost her usual composure.

    "Sister Li, I''m really sorry about last night, I didn''t mean to offend you, it''s just that..." Before Yuan Li could finish speaking on her end, Ge Dongxu was already hastily apologizing on the other.

    After returning home last night, Ge Dongxu indeed felt waves of guilt and also struggled to sleep for a good part of the night. He thought about calling Yuan Li in the morning but didn''t know what to say. Now that Yuan Li had called, he blurted out his apology.

    "Silly, what are you apologizing for? Sister didn''t mind anything, as long as you don''t hold a grudge against me, that''s all." Hearing Ge Dongxu apologize, Yuan Li''s anxious heart finally settled, and she replied eagerly.

    "Of course not, how could I!" Hearing Yuan Li say that, the stone in Ge Dongxu''s heart also fell to the ground; he truly worried that Yuan Li would see him as a lecher.

    "Really not? Then come over for dinner again tonight." Once her anxious heart settled, Yuan Li regained her usual confidence and said with a smile. Read exclusive adventures at empire

    Ge Dongxu let out an "Ah!"

    "What''s the matter? Afraid Sister will eat you up? You get all startled just by being invited to dinner," Yuan Li teased with a laugh. After last night''s incident and seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t hold it against her, she found their relationship seemed closer, and some things were easier to say.

    "No, no, it''s because I have to go to the Provincial Capital tonight," Ge Dongxu hurriedly explained.

    "Well, that''s more like it. Alright, Sister is going back to work now. If you want some good food, just give me a call, and I''ll make it for you." Yuan Li hung up the phone with a smile, and her mood was exceptionally pleasant for the entire day afterward.

    That night, Ge Dongxu set off for the Provincial Capital, bringing along three jars of homemade medicinal wine, one of which was for Liu Jiayao, and the other two for Tang Yiyuan and his daughter Tang Yahui.

    Because it was summer vacation, Liu Jiayao nagged him to stay in the Provincial Capital for a couple of more days. Unable to resist her pleading, Ge Dongxu ended up staying in the Provincial Capital for two more days.

    Perhaps it''s in the nature of girls to love shopping, and even a strong woman like Liu Jiayao was no exception. During those two days, Ge Dongxu spent half his time accompanying her on shopping sprees, and they even made another trip to Yanming Road.

    During his last visit to Yanming Road, Ge Dongxu had seen a leisure clothing specialty store and simply thought the business model was good and would definitely be prosperous, but he had not given it much thought. However, after visiting Yanming Road again and recalling the call from Lin Jinnuo a few days prior about purchasing his land, he hesitated to reply to Lin Jinnuo because he hadn''t yet figured out where to reinvest the substantial funds that would be freed up from selling the land.

    Of course, he could have invested in the hotel that Lin Jinnuo was preparing to build, but Ge Dongxu felt that Changxi County was after all a small place with few outsiders, so it didn''t seem wise to build another big hotel, and that''s why he hadn''t considered the investment offer.

    Now, seeing Zodan Nuo, Missida? Bonwe, and other specialty stores, and realizing that similar specialty stores had not yet appeared in their county town, an idea suddenly struck him. He felt that this was an emerging business model, and if he joined the fray early enough, he would definitely make money.

    After all, food, clothing, shelter, and transportation are always essentials that people cannot do without. The key is to find the right products and sales channels.

    However, Ge Dongxu was not familiar with the apparel industry, and he also didn''t have time to manage a business. Fortunately, Yue Feng''s Yu Da Group owned a garment factory, which was perfect for collaboration. As for Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin, Ge Dongxu didn''t plan to involve them anymore.

    On one hand, the trademark factory and the beverage factory were already keeping them busy enough, and they simply did not have the additional energy to manage a clothing company. Moreover, they didn''t have much available capital at the moment.

    After returning home, Ge Dongxu didn''t immediately go to discuss the matter with Yue Feng. Instead, he gathered some information on "Virtual Management," and after giving it some thought, he finally called Yue Feng and Lin Jinnuo to discuss the matter over dinner.

    "Old Lin, I can sell you my land, but the price is nine million. If you think that''s acceptable, we can sign the agreement tonight," Ge Dongxu said straightforwardly to Lin Jinnuo as they settled down in the hotel''s private room.

    Having heard that, Lin Jinnuo only pondered for a brief moment before nodding and saying, "Nine million is no problem. Are you planning to sell it to me directly, or are you considering an equity swap? I would prefer an equity swap."

    "I''ll sell it to you directly," replied Ge Dongxu.

    "Actually, running a hotel is still profitable. Are you sure you won''t reconsider?" Lin Jinnuo, a bit disappointed and not ready to give up, tried to persuade him.

    "I won''t reconsider. Changxi County is only so big, and there aren''t many outsiders visiting. Even if it''s profitable, how much can it really make? Besides, the investment is substantial," Ge Dongxu replied without hesitation, shaking his head. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Does it seem to you that there is a new investment project?" Lin Jinnuo, who managed to grow his business significantly, was indeed sharp. At the mention of this, his eyes lit up immediately, and he asked.

    "I have some thoughts, which is why I also invited Old Yue here," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Let''s hear it," urged Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng. Although they were both big bosses in Changxi County and were used to leading in business deals, Ge Dongxu, a young man, had earned more than eight million in just over half a year from land sales and had turned a small herbal tea factory into a major sensation in Changxi County in a short period. The way things were going, it looked like he would dominate the entire Ouzhou City by the end of the year. They couldn''t help but respect him!

    "I visited the Provincial Capital a while ago and saw businesses like Zodan Nuo and Missida? Bonwe. Their specialty clothing stores were booming. I specially looked up information on this aspect and found that ''Virtual Management'' is already quite common and successful in developed countries, whereas our country is just beginning. I think there''s potential. If you''re interested, we can partner up to create a leisure clothing brand," proposed Ge Dongxu.

    "Dad, look, Dongxu also thinks highly of ''Virtual Management.'' You''re always sticking to the old ways, always thinking it''s unreliable to spend a large sum of money to build a brand," Yue Ting chimed in, her bright eyes shining, as she stood with her prominent chest puffed out, a look of triumph on her face.

 Chapter 156 Donglin Yue

    "What, Yue Ting is also thinking about this?" Ge Dongxu looked at Yue Ting with a bit of surprise, as Yue Ting had always seemed more like a rebellious girl to him rather than a career-oriented heiress.""Yes! But dad won''t listen to me, he doesn''t agree with me using millions to fund a virtual brand," Yue Ting pouted. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dongxu, is this business really viable?" Yue Feng asked, ignoring his daughter and turning to Ge Dongxu instead.

    Compared to his daughter, who had only known fun and trouble, he naturally trusted Ge Dongxu''s judgment more. Enjoy new chapters from empire

    "Old Yue, your question is interesting, there''s no business that guarantees a hundred percent profit. But in business, you should understand the advantage of seizing the opportunity, when many people start to enter this path, it won''t be easy to get a share, and the profits certainly won''t be as attractive," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Dongxu, don''t worry about Old Yue, I trust your judgment, just tell me, how much do you need me to invest? I''ll have Lin Kun work with you. You are the only one who can manage him! Even if we lose out, we''ll just consider it tuition for the kid," Lin Jinnuo didn''t have as many worries as Yue Feng, and he slapped the table as he spoke.

    "What do you mean by that, Old Lin? Who said I''m not investing! Dongxu, tell me, how much do I need to invest, preferably more than this chubby guy here. And let me tell you, Yue Ting studied fashion design, and our company has a garment factory under it. If it''s about fashion, she''s definitely more professional than Lin Kun," Lin Jinnuo''s words reminded Yue Feng that his daughter was no pushover. If this investment project could really put her on the right track, it would be worth a lot more than a few million.

    And Lin Jinnuo was obviously right, in this world, Ge Dongxu was indeed the only one who could manage his daughter. Sometimes Yue Feng felt like a failure as a father, unable to control his daughter, whereas a high school student could keep her in line, with her always respectfully calling him ''Brother Xu''.

    "Oh!" Ge Dongxu became even more surprised after hearing this. He had seen Yue Ting''s previous rebellious outfits, always thinking she was a woman without taste, but it turned out she had studied fashion design.

    "Brother Xu, come on, say it, hahaha, now you''re really our boss!" Lin Kun and Yue Ting became excited upon hearing their fathers were ready to let them cooperate with Ge Dongxu on starting a company.

    "Damn! My old dad really screwed up!" Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng could not help but curse when they saw this.

    "Yue Ting, since you studied fashion design and your family has a garment factory, and you''ve had this idea for a while, you definitely know more about this than I do. Tell me, how much do we need to invest?" Ge Dongxu didn''t answer but looked at Yue Ting instead.

    He really didn''t have much experience in this area.

    "I''ve looked into this. The owner of ''Mister Bonwe'', Zhou Chengjian, only invested about four million initially to start the brand, but that was three years ago. It''s certainly going to be more now. And our capital is much stronger than Zhou Chengjian''s back then. If we''re going to do this, we should go big, I think it needs to be about ten million," Yue Ting thought for a moment and said.

    "I think that''s fine, it''s just over three million each if we split it three ways," Ge Dongxu said, as he now had over seven million left after selling his land and paying off the bank loans, so he was quite comfortable financially.

    "How can that be, you are the boss, naturally, you should contribute the most, we shouldn''t be contributing the same as you. How about this, you put in five million, Yue Ting and I each put in two and a half," Lin Kun immediately objected.

    "Tch, you''re the two fifty!" Yue Ting retorted.

    "Look at my head, since two hundred fifty sounds bad, then let''s make it two hundred each, Brother Xu six hundred," Lin Kun said.

    "I think that works, Brother Xu, what do you think?" Yue Ting nodded and then looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Watching Lin Kun and Yue Ting go back and forth, even owning equal shares with Ge Dongxu wasn''t enough, Yue Feng and Lin Jinnuo looked at each other with wry smiles on their faces.

    He really was a failure as a father! Look at Ge Dongxu, not even seventeen yet, and he''d already managed to keep his son and daughter in line, even more obedient than grandchildren.

    "Is that really necessary? I still need to study, and I definitely won''t have time to manage the company later on. It will have to rely on you to manage. Logically, you should hold the majority of the shares," Ge Dongxu said, watching them settle on the investment ratio through their back-and-forth, and he couldn''t help but cry and laugh.

    "It''s our duty to manage the company, boss. You just need to remotely give some pointers occasionally. Don''t worry, we''ve both been abroad for a couple of years and have seen some of the world. We will definitely not let you down and will manage the company well!" Lin Kun immediately said.

    "Yes, yes. Don''t worry, Dongxu, we will definitely work hard," Yue Ting also hastily added.

    Upon hearing this, Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng didn''t know whether to feel relieved or cry.

    They were relieved because it was the first time their son and daughter showed such a great determination to work hard, but they cried because all this was because they didn''t want to let Ge Dongxu down.

    What on earth is this mess?

    Ge Dongxu looked at Lin Kun and then at Yue Ting, seeing the fervent gaze they held towards him, and he simply said, "Then I''ll listen to you; I''ll invest six million yuan, and each of you will invest two million. As for legal representation, positions like chairman and general manager, you will hold those roles, and I''ll just be a shareholder. Of course, if I have time, I''ll also offer some suggestions. Old Lin, Old Yue, what do you think?"

    Finally, Ge Dongxu turned to Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng.

    "What else can we say? We''ve already left them in your care, following you can never be wrong," Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng said to each other with a wry smile.

    Thus, the venture into the fashion retail chain industry was settled at the Changxi Grand Hotel, with Ge Dongxu investing six million yuan, holding sixty percent of the shares, and Lin Kun and Yue Ting each investing two million yuan, each holding twenty percent of the shares. In terms of the brand name, Lin Kun and Yue Ting leaned towards a more Westernized name, like Zara or M&S, which sounded foreign and upscale. However, Ge Dongxu still had some national pride, disagreeing with a Westernized name, suggesting a name combining "Dong" from his name and their last names, naming the brand "Donglin Yue."

    Lin Kun and Yue Ting greatly admired Ge Dongxu, and with him suggesting to combine a character from each of their names to create the brand, they naturally loved the idea and immediately applauded.

    Thus, "Donglin Yue," a clothing brand that would resonate throughout Huaxia Country and the entire world for decades, was born.

    Afterward, they discussed the headquarters'' location, unanimously agreeing that it should either be in Ouzhou City or the Provincial Capital, definitely not in Changxi County, as this concerned the brand''s image.

    Ultimately, they decided to temporarily set up the company in Ouzhou City, since the fashion industry there was quite developed, and compared to the Provincial Capital, Lin Jinnuo and Yue Feng were more familiar with Ouzhou, making business operations more convenient.

    After determining the city for the headquarters, they moved on to more professional and detailed issues, including recruitment, fashion design, and brand promotion, etc.

    These were things Ge Dongxu did not understand, so he left Lin Kun and Yue Ting to plan and handle these aspects.

 Chapter 157 Explosive ã€Extra for Alliance Hierarch Genius Junã€‘

    Lin Kun and Yue Ting had been somewhat rebellious in their youth, yet after all, they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths. The education they received and the world they had seen were not something that children from ordinary families could compare with. Moreover, these years, they had been more or less involved in the management of their family businesses, and such experiences were even more valuable, far beyond what could be learned from books.Once the two of them resolved to strive and make a career alongside Ge Dongxu, they immediately displayed the business talents inherited from their parents.

    One week after that dinner meeting, a beautifully crafted business plan was delivered into Ge Dongxu''s hands.

    Although Ge Dongxu still lacked social experience and didn''t have much hands-on business experience at the time, his repeated successful investments and the successful launch of the red packaging for Qinghe Herbal Tea were enough to prove that his vision and judgment were far beyond the ordinary person.

    These capabilities were related to his innate talent, as well as his practice of meditation and the refining of his Spirit Platform from a young age, which gave him an exceptionally sharp sixth sense. It also had to do with his upbringing alongside an elder who had experienced the vicissitudes of life and observed people of all stripes, endowing him with an extraordinary steadiness and wisdom to see through all things.

    So while Ge Dongxu would certainly not have been able to write such a business plan, lacking the literary skills and knowledge in this area, he could still understand whether the business plan was good, bad, or feasible upon reviewing it.

    From this, it was clear that Ge Dongxu already possessed the preliminary qualifications to be a boss or a CEO.

    The real bosses and CEOs don''t need to do the specifics; what they need to do is to plan behind the scenes, control the overall situation, and make final judgments and decisions on major policy directions.

    Ge Dongxu read through the business plan submitted by the two of them and felt that they had written it very well, but they were still somewhat overly cautious with spending. In Ge Dongxu''s view, they had not emphasized the key point of "virtual management" when it came to hiring designers and investing in advertising.

    "What does ''virtual management'' mean?" Ge Dongxu asked the two after he had reviewed the plan and made his assessment.

    "Virtual management is, with limited resources, to achieve the greatest competitive advantage by only retaining the most crucial functions within a company and virtualizing other functions, using various external resources..." the two replied fluently.

    "Then what are our most crucial functions? It is the planning and promotion of our product brand, it is the design of the apparel. We virtualize sales and production, letting others handle it. Given that this is the case, you should be using those ten million to heavily invest in brand promotion and apparel design. This means we must spare no expense in hiring design talent for apparel design, and we should similarly spare no expense in advertising. It is also imperative to invite a celebrity to endorse the brand and make a sensation! If ten million isn''t enough, we will continue to increase our investment. If we fail, we can start over. We are still young; what is there to fear?" Ge Dongxu said.

    At that time, the chain stores of Metersbonwe were doing well, but they hadn''t yet hired a celebrity to endorse their products.

    "Alright, we understand. We will modify it and submit it to you later," Lin Kun and Yue Ting replied. Faced with Ge Dongxu''s bold decision, not only did they raise no objections, but they also felt a surge of excitement. Being young, they were full of the spirit for adventure and initiative.

    ...

    In the second half of that year, two sensational events occurred in Ouzhou City, both of which were related to Ge Dongxu.

    The emergence of Qinghe Herbal Tea was one phenomenon, blazing through Ouzhou City and eventually becoming so popular that every banquet in the Ouzhou City area would almost certainly include the fiery-red canned Qinghe Herbal Tea on the table. With its genuine effect of reducing internal heat and nurturing energy, the tea became a word-of-mouth sensation over the past six months, deeply embedded in the consciousness of seven million people in the Ouzhou City area and gradually spreading throughout the entire Jiangnan Province. Many families even began to forgo hospital visits for minor coughs, opting directly for a few cans of Qinghe Herbal Tea. Due to this, Qinghe Herbal Tea frequently sold out, and new distributors simply could not get any stock from the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, while only the longstanding distributors could.

    There was no helping it, the market demand for Qinghe Herbal Tea had far exceeded the expectations of Ge Dongxu and others, and their production expansion simply could not keep up with the growth of the market.

    Another phenomenon was the dramatic entrance of Donglinyue casual clothing brand. Unlike Metersbonwe''s initial "slow pace," Donglinyue was very high-profile from the start, especially in terms of advertising¡ªit could almost be described as a bombardment.

    Not only had they invited Hong Kong''s hottest megastar Xu Chenfeng as the brand spokesman, but they had also poured as much as seven million into advertisements across both Jiangnan Provincial channels and central television. Explore hidden tales at empire

    Central TV''s advertising rates at the end of the 90s were not nearly as high as they are now, where a few seconds could cost tens or even hundreds of thousands. For example, Wanglaoji, a brand that was popular throughout Huaxia, had an advertising budget of only ten million in 2002. Therefore, the seven million spent by Donglinyue Apparel, Ltd., for advertising at that time was definitely no small figure.

    And when the news of Xu Chenfeng''s yearly endorsement fee nearly hitting eight figures broke, it caused a sensation throughout Huaxia Country, turning Donglinyue Apparel into a focal point of media reports. However, the actual endorsement fee was, of course, not close to eight figures; Ge Dongxu and his partners'' total investment amounted to ten million, so it was impossible to pay such a high endorsement fee. But the endorsement fee was still high, at one million two hundred thousand.

    Nearly eight figures was just a publicity stunt in the advertising industry. Ge Dongxu didn''t particularly like this method, but the media loved gossip, and as things got blown out of proportion, Ge Dongxu himself could not control it, unless he was willing to clarify on behalf of the company.

    As Donglinyue became popular, the number of businesses seeking to join as franchisees naturally skyrocketed. Because Ge Dongxu had initially insisted that Lin Kun and Yue Ting invest heavily in fashion design, the apparel styles were quite attractive. Upon hitting the market, they were well-received, which further boosted Donglinyue''s fame and attracted even more franchisees.

    Whether it was the popularity of Qinghe Herbal Tea in the Ouzhou City area or the fact that Donglinyue franchise stores had already spread through capital cities and some developed cities across Huaxia Country, these successes seemed to have little effect on Ge Dongxu, the man behind the scenes.

    Aside from a few people who knew that with the current trajectory of Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue''s development, Ge Dongxu was likely to become Changxi County''s richest person next year, to the majority, Ge Dongxu was still just a high school student.

    And Ge Dongxu saw himself as a high school student as well. He attended classes punctually every day and then went home to practice Talisman Drawing and cultivation.

    However, starting in November, Ge Dongxu was no longer visiting Cheng Lehao''s home but returning to his own villa in the Jiang Family Village.

    By this time, Cheng Lehao had learned about Ge Dongxu''s partnership with his father in managing the trademark factory and the herbal tea factory. Seeing the villa where Ge Dongxu lived, Lehao''s admiration grew, accompanied by a deep-seated awe hidden in his heart. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, regarding his move to the villa, Ge Dongxu sternly warned Lehao not to leak the information. His classmates at school were unaware of this fact, even his deskmate Du Yifan didn''t know.

    ps: Thanks to the bookworm Tiancai Jun''s generous reward, becoming the second Alliance Hierarch of this book on Qidian Chinese Network.

 Chapter 158 Acquisition Plan

    In the spring of 1998, the entire Asia was enveloped in the cold wave of a financial crisis. Although Huaxia Country, thanks to the decisive and wise measures adopted by the government, ultimately did not fall deeply into this financial maelstrom that swept across all of Asia, its economy was still somewhat affected.That year, Ge Dongxu was seventeen years old, in the second half of his sophomore year. He had invested in two businesses which, instead of being affected by this financial tempest and plummeting into a cold trough, were actually developing at an explosive rate.

    Similarly explosive was his cultivation. Having inherited Ge Hong''s mantle and knowing how to carve the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, coupled with sufficient financial backing, and the fact that the villa was located on a Feng Shui treasure land rich in spiritual energy, Dongxu had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer just after the New Year. His true Qi entered the heart through the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, forming an air cyclone within the heart.

    In contemporary medicine, the heart is considered the most important organ in a vertebrate''s body, providing pressure for the blood and circulating it to every part of the body; the cessation of its beating often signifies the end of life.

    For cultivators as well, the heart is an immensely important organ and one of the hardest hurdles in the Qi Cultivation stage. Most cultivators, without exceptional talent or opportunity, typically find themselves stuck at this stage.

    Yet Dongxu, in this age of declining Daoist practices and scarce spiritual energy, had broken through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer at just seventeen, controlling the true Qi to form an air cyclone inside the heart, thereby significantly strengthening it¡ªan absolute miracle. Even in the previous eras when Daoist practices thrived and spiritual energy was abundant, reaching the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer at such a young age was commendable.

    Dongxu himself was unaware that he had created a miracle in this Dharma Ending Age. He only knew that he was becoming increasingly strong, that his Talisman carving was becoming smoother, and he was even able to barely draw top-grade Dharma Talismans. The only imperfection was that now he needed to use his family''s Feng Shui treasure land, setting up seven pieces of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade to meet his cultivation needs.

    This also meant that his expenses were exploding as well, which meant he could not be complacent with the status quo; he still needed to work hard to earn money.

    "Dongxu, are we really going to acquire the Linzhou City beverage factory?" Wu Qianjin asked with a worried frown in the conference room of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory.

    Previously, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory didn''t have any conference room, but now it had rapidly become a star enterprise in Changxi County, with production lines increasing and the plant expanding significantly. Even the local government, in order to retain this star business, had provided twenty acres of land for the expansion almost as a gift.

    After all, the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was now a major source of revenue for Wangzhou Township. Without offering incentives and land, there were plenty of other towns and counties in Changxi ready to offer them. Everyone who wasn''t foolish could see that even if the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory might not spread across Jiangnan Province or the whole of Huaxia Country, it would undoubtedly dominate the local beverage market in OuZhou City for years to come.

    "What do you guys think?" When Ge Dongxu saw Wu Qianjin''s worried expression, he knew he was reluctant to spend money that had just entered their coffers, so instead of asking him further, he turned directly to Cheng Yazhou and Tang Yiyuan, the other shareholders.

    "It''s a bit risky! But since you''re the majority shareholder, if you say we take it, we''ll take it. It''s just hard to part with the money we''ve just started to warm up, and we''d have to take out a loan, which really gives me mixed feelings. Honestly, I''m quite content with our current rate of earning. But of course, I''ll go along with your decision, you''re always right," Cheng Yazhou said after a moment of thought.

    "Right, right, of course we''ll listen to you, Dongxu. You make the call," Wu Qianjin quickly added. Now that he had risen from a small merchant to a shareholder of a star enterprise in Changxi County, all thanks to Ge Dongxu, he had to maintain the right attitude despite his reluctance to part with the money, lest one day Dongxu should decide to kick him out, leaving him nowhere to turn.

    "I''ll go by your decision, but it''s natural to have worries," Tang Yiyuan said after some thought. Find more chapters on empire

    "The acquisition price of thirteen million is indeed a bit high, but have you considered this? Our herbal tea sales are still increasing, and with summer just around the corner, we are certainly going to encounter a sales peak, by which time we''ll definitely be out of stock given our current rate of development. Moreover, there''s another phenomenon developing¡ªmore and more distributors from outside Ouzhou City are starting to inquire about our products, hoping to purchase from us. This is an excellent opportunity to break into markets outside the Ouzhou City area, but we don''t have enough production capacity to supply them. Therefore, the pressing matter is to proceed with the acquisition, which would quickly increase our production capacity and solve our supply issues. Only by solving the production issues can we confidently invest in advertising and promotion. To put it another way, the thirteen million we spend will not vanish, we''re buying tangible assets," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Then let''s make the purchase!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu was clearly decided, Tang Yiyuan and the other two didn''t waste further words and simply nodded in agreement.

    "Alright, I''ll talk to President Yuan about mortgaging the factory for a loan. We''ll leave enough working capital in the factory and if it''s still not enough, then we''ll have to dig into our own pockets again," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Hehe, it''s definitely not going to be enough. Looks like the house I just redeemed will have to be mortgaged again," Cheng Yazhou said with a wry smile.

    Although the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory had been booming over the past six months, because they had continuously expanded their production lines and made hefty investments, the real earnings were just over two million yuan. The factory''s main assets were not the buildings or the land, but the "Qinghe" brand itself. However, how much they could actually borrow against it was uncertain, and it was surely not going to cover thirteen million. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Over the years, I''ve managed to save some money, though I''m not sure if it''s enough. If it''s not, I''ll just have to swallow my pride and mortgage my house again," Tang Yiyuan said.

    He had been practicing medicine for many years and was a university professor; naturally, he had a considerable amount of money. However, even if his shares were only ten percent, thirteen million still amounted to one million three hundred thousand.

    One million three hundred thousand was a huge amount in 1998, even for Tang Yiyuan, and certainly not something he could produce at a moment''s notice.

    "You all stop pretending to be poor for a minute. If anyone should be complaining, it''s me¡ªI have the largest stake here!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Dongxu, stop being modest in front of us. With ''Donglin Qi'' being so successful, are you really short on money?" Cheng Yazhou laughed.

    "You only see the success of ''Donglin Qi'' but haven''t noticed how much we have put into advertising. To tell you the truth, I invested six million in ''Donglin Qi,'' and I haven''t seen a penny in return yet since all the earnings have been reinvested. If President Yuan isn''t willing to extend a larger loan to me, then I might have to temporarily mortgage the ''Donglin Qi'' brand," Ge Dongxu said with a bitter smile.

    Upon hearing Ge Dongxu say this, Cheng Yazhou and the others started looking at him more seriously.

    This was a man who was bound to be someone they looked up to in the future!

    ps: Starting today, I''m going on a trip with my family for eleven days and will be back at the end of the month. I''ll try to keep the updates the same as before, though there might be fewer updates occasionally. Please forgive any delays, and I''ll try to make up for it when I return. If you want to know more about this trip, follow me. I''ll be posting some photos. Hehe, the destination is a place known for its glitz and glamour!

 Chapter 159 Ill Take Care of You From Now On

    "Thirteen million! You''re asking for a loan of thirteen million!" In the office of the Changxi County branch manager of the Industrial and Commercial Bank, Yuan Li''s eyes widened as she looked at Ge Dongxu, almost as though she wanted to devour him.Last October, Yuan Li had been promoted to the branch manager of the Changxi County branch.

    "Not me, it''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory." Ge Dongxu said with a smile, facing Yuan Li''s astonished expression.

    There was a time when Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s predecessor was just a small factory that couldn''t even pay back a loan of a few hundred thousand, but now? The largest shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was casually asking for a loan of thirteen million!

    Yuan Li''s emotions were anything but calm.

    After a long while, she straightened her hair, gently tapped Ge Dongxu on the shoulder, and with a roll of her eyes said, "Whether it''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory taking out a loan or you, what''s the difference!"

    "There is a difference, though. If I personally asked for such a large sum, would your superiors approve it? But if it''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory applying for the loan, they would likely consider it," Ge Dongxu replied with a laugh.

    Ge Dongxu wasn''t just boasting; Qinghe Beverage''s sales were booming in the Ouzhou City area. No bank could ignore Qinghe Beverage, a client with such promising prospects. Of course, thirteen million was definitely a high figure.

    "Go on, you make it sound so easy. It''s thirteen million we''re talking about! If it weren''t for your sake, do you think I would even consider submitting it for approval?" Yuan Li nudged Ge Dongxu gently and rolled her eyes.

    A loan amount that large certainly wasn''t something Yuan Li, the manager of the Changxi County branch of the Industrial Bank, could approve directly. It would require going through several layers of approval.

    However, from Yuan Li''s words, it was not hard to tell that if it weren''t for Ge Dongxu''s sake, she definitely wouldn''t take such a risk. Because with such a large sum, even if the decision were ultimately made by higher-ups, her position as branch manager would be at stake if there were any issues.

    "Thank you, Sister Li," Ge Dongxu said, feeling a warmth in his heart as he looked at Yuan Li and spoke softly.

    "Silly boy, what''s there to thank your sister for? At worst, I just won''t be a manager," Yuan Li said, lifting her finger to gently poke Ge Dongxu''s forehead, feigning annoyance.

    "If you really end up not being a manager, I''ll look after you," Ge Dongxu suddenly blurted out as he looked at Yuan Li.

    "Really? You''ll look after me!" Yuan Li''s eyes lit up dramatically at his words, staring straight at Ge Dongxu.

    Feeling Yuan Li''s gaze, Ge Dongxu suddenly realized that looking after a woman wasn''t something to be said lightly, and he became somewhat flustered.

    "Just knew it, men are all talk, deceivers," seeing Ge Dongxu flustered, a hint of disappointment and self-mocking flashed deep in Yuan Li''s eyes. She gently poked his forehead again, rolling her eyes. Stay connected through empire

    "Who said I''m deceiving anyone! It''s just that you''ll eventually get married," Ge Dongxu said, not knowing where the emotion came from, suddenly sticking his neck out as he spoke.

    At his words, Yuan Li''s delicate body trembled slightly, then she stared intently at Ge Dongxu for a long time before finally pursing her lips into a smile and saying, "You said it, so if I don''t get married in the future, let''s see what you''ll do?"

    "Then I''ll look after you!" Ge Dongxu immediately replied.

    At that, Yuan Li''s body trembled again, a different kind of sparkle flashed in her beautiful eyes, but it quickly turned dull. In what seemed to be a mixture of emotions, she gently held Ge Dongxu''s head and buried it in her chest, which strained against her blouse. She kissed his forehead and said, "You silly boy, you''re great at making money, but after all, you''re still young and don''t yet understand what it means to look after a woman; it''s not a simple matter. But hearing you say that makes me very happy."

    Ge Dongxu sat on the sofa, caught off guard when Yuan Li suddenly hugged his head and buried her face in her towering bosom. The pleasant scent of her womanly fragrance occasionally wafted into his nose, and for a moment, he forgot to listen to what Yuan Li was saying, as a loud buzzing filled his head.

    By the time he came to his senses, Yuan Li had already pushed him away with a blushing face, realizing that her way of hugging was a bit inappropriate. It was just that, in the heat of the moment, she hadn''t thought too much about it.

    "Don''t worry, about the loan, I''ll try my best to fight for you," Yuan Li straightened her clothes and sat up properly, saying earnestly.

    Watching Yuan Li adjusting her clothes made her peaks seem even more towering, and Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but look.

    "You, where are your eyes looking?" Yuan Li poked Ge Dongxu''s forehead with her jade finger and rolled her eyes at him.

    Ge Dongxu''s face reddened, and he said with an awkward smile, "Then I''ll have to trouble you with the loan issue."

    "If you talk like that again, do you believe I won''t let you into my office anymore?" Yuan Li put her hands on her hips, feigning anger.

    "Right, right, it won''t be a trouble for you!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "Pfft, are you implying you don''t want me to help you with the loan anymore?" Yuan Li couldn''t help but laugh when she heard his words.

    "Haha, Sister Li, I can''t outtalk you, just do what you think is best," Ge Dongxu followed with a laugh.

    "You''re smart," Yuan Li said, proudly tilting her chin up.

    ...

    After some time, thanks to Yuan Li''s efforts and after the higher-up branch personnel conducted multiple surveys of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, the loan was finally approved. However, the amount was not thirteen million but ten million.

    This was the maximum loan amount the bank determined after assessing various risks.

    The herbal tea factory originally had a surplus of more than two million. After setting aside approximately one million for the factory''s working capital, the shortfall was two million.

    With a sixty percent stake in the two million, Ge Dongxu had to bear one million two hundred thousand.

    After investing in Donglinyue Apparel last year, Ge Dongxu had over one million two hundred thousand in his account, plus he received nearly two hundred thousand in profits from the trademark factory in the second half of last year. Technically, it was enough to cover the payment, but due to expenditures in cultivation, he couldn''t pay the one million two hundred thousand. In the end, he had no choice but to mortgage his villa for a loan, finally putting together the one million two hundred thousand.

    Thus, Ge Dongxu once again became a "debtor," owing a huge amount to the bank.

    Although the massive acquisition once more gloriously turned Ge Dongxu into a "debtor" and saddled Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory with a huge debt, time soon proved Ge Dongxu''s decision was extremely correct as it flew to May. Jiangnan Province, located in the subtropical region, began to welcome the hot weather, and orders came flying in like snowflakes.

    Because the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory had completed the acquisition and reform of Linzhou City Beverage Factory before the peak sales season, production capacity had greatly increased.

    Just in the month of May, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s sales reached six million. At this time, due to minimal advertising expenses, mainly relying on word-of-mouth from earlier periods, large supermarkets were just starting to emerge in big cities. Qinghe Herbal Tea wasn''t sold through these large supermarkets, nor was there any so-called entry fee expense. Therefore, the profits for Qinghe Herbal Tea were quite high at this time¡ªof the six million in sales, after deducting various expenses, profits were around four million.

    S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 160 The Problem with Grades

    After the sales and profit data for May were released, Cheng Yazhou and other shareholders were almost stunned on the spot, and even Tang Yiyuan, the veteran traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, was no exception.Because this meant that in just one month, shareholder Cheng Yazhou had earned eight hundred thousand, while Tang Yiyuan and Wu Qianjin each made four hundred thousand. At that time, in 1998, these amounts were what many people believed they could never earn in a lifetime, not to mention Ge Dongxu, who had made two million four hundred thousand from the herbal tea in just one month.

    However, Ge Dongxu was not dazzled by this figure, on the contrary, he made another major decision, which was to not repay the loans yet and instead invest all the profits generated in May into advertising.

    This time, even the most cautious and frugal Wu Qianjin did not frown and agreed immediately.

    If someone asked what the hottest advertisement in June was, surely someone would answer Qinghe Herbal Tea.

    The fiery imagery of the canned product splashing into the water, and the slogan "Drink Qinghe Herbal Tea to reduce internal heat and nourish life force," seemed to appear on any channel they turned to.

    That month, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory received orders not only from Ouzhou City or just Jiangnan Province but from all over the country.

    That month, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s sales reached eighteen million, three times that of May.

    This data energized Cheng Yazhou and others like a shot of adrenaline; they all awaited Ge Dongxu''s command to increase the investment and pursue further victories. However, Ge Dongxu, deviating from his usual approach, not only cashed out a portion of the profits to each shareholder that month but also did not continue to increase the investment in advertising. Instead, he asked Cheng Yazhou and others to focus on improving talent recruitment and management.

    Because over the past year, the expansion and development of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory had been extraordinarily fast, especially in the recent months, it had been alarmingly fast. If it were left unchecked, it would definitely go out of control, and stability was necessary.

    Tang Yiyuan, a university professor, immediately understood Ge Dongxu''s concerns the moment he raised them, and could not help but silently admire his wisdom.

    Indeed, he was already well past his prime, yet under the stimulation of such favorable circumstances, he had lost the calm and rationality he should have possessed, while a young man managed to keep a clear and calm mind throughout.

    After Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory slowed down, Ge Dongxu also faced the final exams of his second year in high school.

    In the second semester of the second year, the school had conducted a major in humanities and sciences division, and both Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan chose the science stream and were fortunate to continue being in the same class and at the same desk. Cheng Le Hao chose the humanities because there were more girls in the humanities class. Of course, his scores in science were not good, but his humanities scores were passable.

    Ge Dongxu''s academic performance continued to improve steadily, securing third place in his class and tenth in the science section of his grade. Ge Dongxu''s grades could have been even better, but now a significant part of his focus was on cultivation, and the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory and Donglin Yue Clothing Company also drew some of his attention.

    Since both ventures were at critical stages of development and related to his future money-making plans, Ge Dongxu had to devote part of his attention to them.

    However, to everyone''s surprise, Du Yifan''s grades suddenly plummeted, ranking only tenth in his class and fiftieth in the science section of his year, although he had always been fifth in his year group before. However, his math score was still perfect.

    Experience tales at empire

    "What''s going on with you, Yifan? Has it been because you''ve been too distracted with computers lately? I think you should put aside your computer studies for now, as the most crucial thing is to get into a good university," Ge Dongxu said with concern as he caught up with Du Yifan on the way home.

    Du Yifan was very talented in mathematics. By the second half of his first year in high school, Ge Dongxu had noticed that he had already started reading books about computers and had even ambitiously told Ge Dongxu that he would definitely become a great programmer one day. After the start of the second year in high school, Du Yifan''s determination had become even stronger, to the point where he no longer paid attention in classes like history and other humanities, always scribbling on paper. Ge Dongxu knew he was thinking about computer software programming.

    However, at that time, Ge Dongxu did not stop him because, to some extent, he was even more distracted than Du Yifan, spending a large part of his energy on cultivation and secretly investing in real estate and starting companies to make money. But this time, he suddenly discovered that Du Yifan''s grades had dropped severely and started to feel that it wasn''t wise for Du Yifan to continue being distracted, at least not without better time management.

    "Thanks, boss. I know what I''m doing," Du Yifan said, glancing at Ge Dongxu, hesitated to speak further, but finally managed a forced smile in response.

    "No, are you hiding something from me?" As Ge Dongxu''s cultivation soared and his social experience increased, his ability to perceive deepened, and he immediately noticed something was off with Du Yifan.

    "What could I possibly be hiding from you?" Du Yifan said, lowering his head.

    "No, lift your head and let me have a good look at you," Ge Dongxu said, noticing Du Yifan''s head lowered and seeing that the heavenly lines on his forehead were faint and almost broken, a shock going through his heart as he spoke in a serious tone.

    "Damn, boss, are you sick? What''s there to look at on me? If you want to look at something, why don''t you look at beauties? Speaking of which, ever since Busty Senior went to college, you haven''t flirted with any girls. Actually..." Du Yifan, pretending to be indifferent, lifted his head and looked at Ge Dongxu disdainfully.

    "It''s not me who''s sick, it''s your dad who''s sick, and it''s serious," Ge Dongxu said, ignoring Du Yifan''s rambling comments and staring at him with a serious expression. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "How do you know that?" Upon hearing this, Du Yifan''s eyes widened in shock, staring at Ge Dongxu as if he had seen a ghost.

    Though Du Yifan wore glasses and was thin, appearing sleazy around beautiful women, his frail body harbored an unknown strength and pride; thus, he had never told anyone about his father''s illness, not even Cheng Lehao.

    "Don''t ask how I know. Where is your dad now? Take me to see him," Ge Dongxu said gravely.

    "What''s there to see? He''s pretty sick anyway. But don''t worry, boss, I''m currently developing a software, and once it''s done, it will make money," Du Yifan said casually, trying to appear unconcerned, but the area behind his glasses became noticeably red, and his head tilted slightly upward as he sniffled.

    In an instant, Ge Dongxu understood why Du Yifan''s grades had plummeted. He hadn''t been focusing on his studies recently, but had been entirely consumed with developing software to make money.

    "I''m sorry, I haven''t been paying enough attention to you lately. Alright, take me to see your dad, I should be able to help," After realizing the situation, Ge Dongxu felt remorseful, he sighed, patted Du Yifan''s shoulder, and said.

    Ge Dongxu was not a talkative person, and combined with a maturity that far exceeded his peers, he sometimes seemed a bit out of place in class, but he and Du Yifan had been desk mates for two years and their friendship had always been strong.

    ps: Seeking recommendation tickets, thank you for your support.

 Chapter 161 Im Here to Return

    "You have a way?" Du Yifan''s body shook slightly upon hearing this, and then he looked at Ge Dongxu with doubt in his eyes."I should have one, or at least I could help," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Boss, this is not funny at all!" Du Yifan said.

    "Who''s joking with you? I learned some traditional Chinese medicine from an old man on Baiyun Mountain, and I do know some medical techniques," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thanks, boss, but forget it. My dad has chronic kidney failure, commonly known as uremia. It got severe all of a sudden, and the doctor said he needs a kidney transplant. I have a kidney to give, but not the money for the surgery. However, once I sell the software I developed, I should have the money," Du Yifan said.

    "Cut the nonsense. You keep calling me boss; do I look like someone who acts without considering consequences? Take me to see your dad," Ge Dongxu saw that Du Yifan didn''t believe him and simply sternened his face and said.

    "Boss, can you really treat my dad''s illness?" Sure enough, when Ge Dongxu got angry, Du Yifan started to feel a spark of hope.

    "Nonsense, can I joke about such a thing with you? Am I that kind of person?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Of course you''re not that kind of person, boss. It''s just my dad''s illness..." Du Yifan scratched his head and said.

    "Alright, let''s go," Ge Dongxu said as he patted Du Yifan''s shoulder, not allowing any further discussion.

    Du Yifan opened his mouth to speak, but eventually he just got on his bicycle and rode towards his home. Although he still didn''t believe that Ge Dongxu could cure his father''s illness, a sliver of hope was better than none.

    Ever since Ge Dongxu had moved to the Jiang Family village, he had also bought a bicycle for convenience. Seeing this, he got on his bicycle and followed.

    Du Yifan''s home was located on Xia Pu Road in the LC District, in a five-story building as well. However, it wasn''t considered a street-facing property and wasn''t worth much.

    "Yu Xi, you know your elder brother''s current situation. He has to go for dialysis every week, and it costs a lot of money. We really can''t pay back your money for the time being," Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan had just entered when they heard a woman''s voice coming down from the upstairs, tinged with sobs.

    "Sister-in-law, of course, Haibin and I are aware of my brother''s health situation and your family''s circumstances. But you have to understand the difficulties our family is facing. You know that Haibin recently lost money in his business. Now we don''t even have the capital to continue doing business. Can you figure out a way to shift some money to us?" another woman''s voice rang out.

    Hearing this voice, Ge Dongxu saw that anger clearly appeared on Du Yifan''s face, and his lifted foot halted in its step.

    "Yu Xi, we really don''t have any money at home now. Every time your brother goes to the hospital, it''s borrowed from my maternal family''s side. We are all family here; please wait a bit longer for this money. Once your brother''s health improves, we will definitely pay you back," the first woman''s voice rose again, this time not only with sobs but also with pleading.

    "Haibin, you deadbeat, can''t you say something?" the other woman''s voice suddenly turned shrill, as if she was pinching another man.

    "Cough, cough, sister-in-law, actually, actually..." a man''s voice stammered out.

    Your journey continues at empire

    "Haibin, I know your situation is difficult, but Haichen is your elder brother. As his younger brother, you can''t just watch him be ill and do nothing, right?"

    "That''s true, that''s true," the man, upon being addressed by the woman, couldn''t continue his previous thought and just kept nodding and agreeing.

    "What do you mean, ''that''s true''? Everyone has their own difficulties. Just because your brother is ill, does our family have to suffer along with you? Sister-in-law, I can understand your family''s difficulties, but have you ever thought about helping with ours?" the woman''s voice sharpened again.

    "What do you suggest we do then? I really can''t pay back the money now," the woman said, her voice laced with helplessness as she sighed.

    "Don''t you still have this house?" the woman with the sharp voice retorted.

    A brief silence fell upon the room. Du Yifan stood trembling slightly, her slender body tense, her fists clenched tightly.

    "Haibin, do you feel the same way?" After a pause, a woman''s voice broke the silence, filled with suppressed grief and anger.

    The man didn''t answer. Silence once again filled the room, then the sharp-voiced woman spoke up again, "Sister-in-law, Haibin and I mean just that. Real estate prices are decent lately; sell now and you can get a good price. Once the XC district is built up, who knows how it''ll be."

    The room fell silent once more, followed by the quiet sound of a woman''s sobbing, and then the bang, bang, bang of someone hitting the bed frame from another room, the sounds revealing deep helplessness, disappointment, and sorrow.

    "Go up," Ge Dongxu patted Du Yifan on the shoulder, anger evident on his face.

    From these conversations, he had basically understood what was going on.

    Du Yifan''s clenched fists slowly relaxed, and she climbed the stairs with heavy steps, her eyes reddening.

    "Yu Xi, let''s go. Big brother and sister-in-law didn''t mean to..." a man''s voice rose again.

    "Go? Debts must be paid, even between brothers, we must be clear..." the sharp voice of the woman cut in once more.

    "Bang!" The door was pushed open forcefully.

    The person pushing the door with force wasn''t Du Yifan, but Ge Dongxu.

    "How much does Yifan''s family owe you? I''ll pay it back," Ge Dongxu said coldly as he stepped in, looking at a woman dressed in garish clothes and with big curly hair.

    This was a back room on the fifth layer; there were three people inside. One woman, with tears on her face and features that resembled Du Yifan''s, looked like she was just over forty, but her face was visibly worn, making her seem much older than Ge Dongxu''s mother. This was presumably Du Yifan''s mother.

    The other two, a man and a woman, bore some resemblance to Du Yifan as well. The man, skinny and tall, wore an expression of awkward embarrassment, likely Du Yifan''s uncle, Du Haibin. The woman, the one Ge Dongxu was speaking coldly to, was naturally Du Yifan''s aunt Yu Xi. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Who are you?" Yu Xi, startled by the door suddenly being thrust open and the cold gaze of a young man upon her, couldn''t help but jump.

    "He''s my classmate. Aunt, don''t worry. The money our family owes you, I, Du Yifan, will pay it back, even if I have to beg," Du Yifan said, pulling at Ge Dongxu, then stepped forward to glare at Yu Xi.

    "What are you talking about, child. This is adult business, you kids shouldn''t get involved. Take your classmate upstairs," Du Yifan''s mother quickly wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, gave Du Yifan a stern look, and spoke.

    "Mom, I''m not little anymore. Next year I''m going to college!" Du Yifan said.

    At Du Yifan''s words, her mother was reminded of the upcoming college exams, and the fact that there was no money for her to attend, causing her heart to twist painfully, nearly bringing her to tears.

    "So you''re Yifan''s classmate! Off with you, go stand aside. There''s no place for children to interrupt when adults are talking," Yu Xi, having been intimated by Ge Dongxu''s stern demeanor at first, relaxed upon learning he was just Du Yifan''s classmate. At the same time, annoyance flared up, and she waved her hand impatiently at Ge Dongxu.

 Chapter 162 The Style of a Young Boss

    "You think you''re worthy of being called an adult?" Ge Dongxu said scornfully with disdain."Hey, what kind of way is that to talk, kid? Where are your parents?" Yu Xi, seeing a high schooler mock her to her face, couldn''t help but place her hands on her hips and point at Ge Dongxu''s nose as she scolded him.

    "You don''t need to worry about my parents. Just say it, how much money does Yifan''s family owe you? I''ll pay it off, and then you can take the money and scram early. Seeing someone like you makes me sick," Ge Dongxu said without any courtesy.

    "Dongxu!" Although Du Yifan was also really angry at his aunt who cared about nothing but money and not at all about family, and he wished he could slap her twice, they did owe her money after all. So, seeing Ge Dongxu talk big, he quickly tried to pull him back.

    In his urgency, he didn''t even use the honorific ''big brother'' but directly called his name.

    "Relax, Yifan, I''ve got a bit of money," Ge Dongxu patted Du Yifan''s hand that was gripping his arm, saying calmly.

    Hearing this, Du Yifan felt a surge of emotion that almost brought him to tears. Everyone in Class 6 of the second year in high school knew that Ge Dongxu came from the poor Baiyun Mountain area, and Du Yifan, as his deskmate, knew this all too well.

    Du Yifan still vividly remembered their first meeting, when Ge Dongxu wore such old and shabby clothes, and his skin was so dark. Now Ge Dongxu was telling him to relax, saying he had money¡ªhow could Du Yifan not cry?

    With his little bit of spending money, what could he do, really?

    "Fine, listen up. I want to see how a little brat like you is going to help someone pay back money," Yu Xi said with a mocking sneer.

    "Yu Xi!" Du Haibin gave his wife a tug.

    "What are you pulling at!" Yu Xi glared at Du Haibin, who then sheepishly let go of his hand.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu looked contemptuously at Du Haibin. He had never before seen a man so cowardly.

    "Just say it, without all the nonsense," Ge Dongxu said coldly, without a shred of politeness.

    "Alright, kid, you listen up. Du Yifan''s family owes our family eighty thousand yuan!" Yu Xi puffed out her already somewhat shriveled chest and said.

    "I thought it was a lot of money. Eighty thousand yuan has got you so anxious you''ve even thrown brotherly affection and familial bonds to the back of your mind. I truly pity you," Ge Dongxu said, mocking her with a cold laugh before taking out his phone from his backpack.

    Originally, when Ge Dongxu scorned them, Du Haibin was both angry and embarrassed, and Yu Xi was about to verbally lash out at Ge Dongxu, filled with anger, when her eyes suddenly bulged.

    At that time, mobile phones might not have been much to the wealthy, but for an ordinary family, it was still a rather expensive item. Not to mention high school students, many adults didn''t even own one.

    And now, a high school student had just pulled out a mobile phone from his backpack, and the shock this caused to the people in the room was imaginable!

    Especially Du Yifan, who knew exactly where Ge Dongxu came from. Seeing this, he was so stunned that his jaw almost dropped to the floor.

    He could never have dreamed that inside Ge Dongxu''s tattered backpack, there would actually be a mobile phone!

    In the midst of everyone''s shock, Ge Dongxu dialed Wu Qianjin''s number.

    The Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was developing quickly. Now, Wu Qianjin was basically in charge of the factory in Changxi County, while Cheng Yazhou managed the factory in the Provincial Capital. As for Tang Yiyuan, once the herbal tea beverage factory was on track, he shifted his focus back to the field of medicine, which was the career he truly had a passion for.

    Though Ge Dongxu mentioned the eighty thousand yuan lightly, it wasn''t a small amount. At that time, to withdraw it from the bank, one would need to make a reservation ahead of time; and besides, the bank was a distance away from Du Yifan''s home. It would be more convenient to give Wu Qianjin a call and ask him to take out some funds directly from the finances for the time being.

    "Wow, what do we have here? Dongxu, is the sun rising from the west today? The big boss himself is actually calling me." Wu Qianjin said dramatically upon receiving the call from Ge Dongxu.

    "I need eighty thousand in cash temporarily for a turnover, have someone go to finance and borrow it, then help deliver it to 300 Xia Pu Road. I''m in a hurry to use it." Because there were other people in the room, Ge Dongxu didn''t bother with pleasantries with Wu Qianjin and got straight to the point.

    "Okay, I''ll get it from finance and bring it to you right away." Wu Qianjin, upon hearing Ge Dongxu needed money, immediately replied. Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

    After hanging up the phone, Wu Qianjin didn''t send someone else to handle it; instead, he himself rushed to the finance office, withdrew eighty thousand in cash, and drove his Audi towards the county.

    Joking aside, who was Ge Dongxu? Without him, there would be no glory for Wu Qianjin today. Now that he needed something done urgently, of course, it was best to deliver it in person.

    Watching Ge Dongxu hang up the phone, the people in the room were stunned, still echoing with the words Ge Dongxu had spoken during the call.

    Terms like "turnover" and "finance" sounded grand and were typically uttered by leaders or big bosses, yet now, they were coming from the mouth of a high school student.

    It took a while before everyone recovered. Du Yifan tugged on Ge Dongxu''s arm still with some disbelief and asked softly, "Boss, are you really having someone send over eighty thousand yuan?"

    "Of course. It''s disgusting to owe these kinds of people money!" Ge Dongxu said, glancing disdainfully at Yu Xi and her husband.

    "Humph, if there''s no money when the time comes, I''ll tear your damn mouth up!" Yu Xi growled through gritted teeth. However, her tone was no longer filled with the earlier scorn and condescension, rather, it now carried a hint of lack of confidence.

    No choice; Ge Dongxu, with a smartphone in hand making a call, really put on the air of a big boss. If it weren''t for Ge Dongxu''s young age and the fact that he was Du Yifan''s high school classmate, she certainly would have mistaken him for a major boss.

    Of course, she still couldn''t believe it now, but her confidence was already wavering.

    "Don''t worry, you won''t be short of money from such people." Ge Dongxu sarcastically retorted, then turned to Du Yifan''s mother and said, "Auntie, Yifan, take me to see your dad."

    With these words from Ge Dongxu, Du Yifan remembered the purpose of Ge Dongxu''s visit and hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, my dad''s in the front room, I''ll take you there."

    After speaking, Du Yifan quickly grabbed his still somewhat dazed mother''s arm and whispered, "Dongxu used to learn some medical skills from an elder in his hometown, so he wants to help out with Dad''s condition."

    If Du Yifan had said this before, his mother would surely have reprimanded him for being silly. But having seen Ge Dongxu handle the phone call with such a boss-like demeanor, hope unwittingly lit in her eyes as she said, "Really?"

    "Of course, it''s true, Auntie. Don''t worry, even if I can''t cure Uncle''s illness, I can certainly at least alleviate the symptoms a bit," Ge Dongxu asserted.

    "Tsk, you''re not afraid of your tongue snapping from blowing your own trumpet!" Yu Xi finally found a chance to mock Ge Dongxu.

    "Are you even human? That''s your husband''s older brother! Do you actually wish he won''t get better? Believe it or not, if you say another word, I won''t hesitate to slap you across the face!" Ge Dongxu turned cold at her words. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Being a woman who didn''t easily back down, Yu Xi was about to puff up her chest and confront Ge Dongxu. But when she met his icy gaze, she inexplicably felt a chill in her heart, as if her instincts were telling her that this Du Yifan''s classmate who suddenly appeared would indeed dare to slap her.

    "Forget about them, boss, I don''t have such an uncle and aunt!" Du Yifan pulled on Ge Dongxu, saying.

 Chapter 163 Treating Illness

    Du Yifan''s words left Du Haibin both embarrassed and annoyed, while Yu Xi just "hmph"ed. Before, she would at least pretend to say a few insincere words, but now that things had escalated to this point, she couldn''t even bother to wear the last bit of her hypocritical mask."Don''t worry, Yifan, with your talent in computers, they are bound to regret what they did today!" Ge Dongxu patted Du Yifan on the shoulder and said.

    He was Du Yifan''s deskmate, and no one knew better than him about Du Yifan''s talent in computers. Thus, when he heard Du Yifan was going to develop software to sell, Ge Dongxu did not show any surprise. His only reaction was guilt and self-reproach for not having taken more care of his deskmate, to the extent that he was unaware of such a serious situation occurring at his friend''s home.

    "Can computer talent be eaten as food?" Yu Xi muttered disdainfully. This ruthless and shortsighted woman with little education couldn''t comprehend what computer talent meant.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s mouth curled into a cold smile, ignoring the woman and following Du Yifan into the room ahead.

    Inside, a similarly frail man was lying on the bed, but his legs were swollen disproportionally to his frail body, a shocking sight that was difficult to face directly.

    His palms were slightly red, clearly, he had just been striking the bed.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu enter, his expression became visibly excited, and with reddening eyes, he said, "You must be Yifan''s deskmate, Ge Dongxu, whom he often mentions, right? Regardless, your uncle is very grateful to you!"

    It was evident that Du Haichen had heard the conversation that Ge Dongxu and the others had in the back room.

    "Uncle, you shouldn''t say that. I feel ashamed. I have been Yifan''s deskmate for two years and yet I didn''t know about your illness. If I had known earlier, I would have visited you sooner. You wouldn''t have had to suffer so much," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What nonsense are you talking, child? This disease of mine, even doctors have no way to cure it. You having this intention is enough. It just pains me that it has been a burden on them, mother and son," Du Haichen said as he patted his chest, his voice breaking with emotion.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu''s nose turned sour. He knew that the man''s suffering probably stemmed not only from being a burden to his wife and son but also from his weak and heartless brother.

    "It''s okay, uncle. Don''t get worked up. Let me take your pulse first," Ge Dongxu said softly and then moved closer to sit at the edge of the bed.

    Upon hearing this, Du Haichen stopped hitting his chest and stared at Ge Dongxu for a while before extending his hand and sighed, "You are a good child. It''s just this disease of mine, oh..."

    "Don''t worry, uncle. There''s always a way to treat an illness," Ge Dongxu reassured him, then placed his fingers on the pulse.

    By now, Ge Dongxu had reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, not only had his True Qi grown much stronger than before, but it was also much easier to control.

    As soon as his fingers touched the pulse, strands of True Qi entered Du Haichen''s Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and then passed through the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian... reaching the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian.

    The True Qi, like an extension of Ge Dongxu''s own senses, allowed him to "see" through its investigation. In the interstitial space outside the blood vessels of Du Haichen''s kidneys, he spotted several accumulations of fluid. The kidneys were clearly shriveled and lacking in vitality, much like those of a severely ill person, and were incapable of processing these fluids.

    After examining the kidneys, Ge Dongxu continued his investigation and discovered that other areas of Du Haichen''s body were also affected to varying degrees by the kidney failure, though not severely. But if left untreated, the prognosis could become serious.

    "There''s no serious problem. Today I''ll start with some acupuncture for your uncle to increase his urination and reduce swelling, allowing him to regain mobility. With continuous acupuncture and herbal treatment for a while, he should fully recover." Ge Dongxu observed that the situation wasn''t very bad, since there wasn''t a large area of organic damage in the kidneys, and he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

    Now at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, he had not yet formed an Air Cyclone in the kidneys and his understanding of them was far less deep than that of the heart, lungs, large intestine, stomach, and spleen, where he had already formed an Air Cyclone. Of course, even so, his knowledge was much deeper than that of other doctors. If there had been a substantial organic change, it would have been quite troublesome for him. Now, dealing with simple exhaustion was relatively easy for him.

    He possessed True Qi, the Life Qi, which could nourish the kidneys and enhance their vitality.

    "Really?" Du Haichen suddenly became excited and grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hand upon hearing this.

    Du Yifan and his mother looked at Ge Dongxu with equal excitement.

    "Of course, I wouldn''t joke about something like this," Ge Dongxu gently patted the back of Du Haichen''s hand, then took his backpack and pulled out an ancient-looking wooden box.

    Upon seeing the ancient-looking box, Du Yifan''s eyes widened. Despite sharing a desk with Ge Dongxu for two years, he had not known that he carried such an item in his backpack.

    Ge Dongxu took a Silver Needle from the box and with a slight turn of his True Qi, the needle faintly glimmered as if lit by a lamp, reflecting light.

    Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    However, since the Silver Needle was too fine, it did not draw the attention of Du Yifan and the others. But Ge Dongxu saw this and smiled confidently; His Cultivation Power had grown much stronger than before, now a slight turn of True Qi could detoxify the needle, unlike previously, when it required several turns.

    Ge Dongxu had Du Yifan help his father remove his pants and lift his shirt, then selected Acupoints for water diversion, Guanyuan, Zusanli, Sanyinjiao, Yinlingquan, Taixi, Fuliupoint, gently twisting them, sending strands of True Qi through these acupoints, flowing through the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, clearing the Meridians and nourishing the kidneys.

    Gradually, the kidneys, which had already begun to atrophy, started to regain strength, and the fluids started to decrease bit by bit.

    At this moment, neither Du Yifan nor his mother could notice the changes, but Du Haichen seemed to feel something, feeling his bladder filling up progressively.

    Lately, because of the severity of his exhaustion, his daytime urination had dwindled, thus the sensation of a filling bladder was genuinely pleasant, bringing a gradual brightness to his dim eyes, shining with hope. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Since Du Haichen''s illness had dragged on for some time, improvement could not be rushed. Ge Dongxu occasionally twisted the needles and injected some True Qi at intervals.

    After several sessions, his mother finally noticed some reduction in the swelling of Du Haichen''s legs, and couldn''t help but excitedly point to his legs and say, "Look, Haichen, the swelling in your legs has gone down a bit. Really, it has reduced!"

    "Yes, Dad, it has really gone down a bit! Really!" Du Yifan said excitedly, his eyes suddenly reddening.

    No one could understand the pressure that this young man had borne these days. Nor could anyone grasp how much he had despised his own helplessness during this time.

    Now, he had finally seen hope!

    PS: Please support with a recommendation ticket, thank you.

 Chapter 164 You are Boss Wu of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory

    "Really? Brother, your leg''s swelling has gone down!" An excited voice came from outside, and Du Haibin rushed in.Seeing his younger brother burst in, Du Haichen turned his head away, tears welling up in his eyes.

    There was nothing more painful than lying on a sickbed while his own younger brother came to collect a debt. Although it wasn''t his brother''s intention¡ªmainly because of his sister-in-law¡ªDu Haichen still couldn''t forgive him.

    Seeing the elder brother turn his head away, Du Haibin''s expression became very awkward, but seeing that his leg had truly reduced in swelling, his eyes still showed joy.

    No matter what, they are still brothers!

    "Enough, why the excitement? He doesn''t even care about you!" Another voice came from behind Du Haibin.

    "You!" Du Haibin, angered, raised his hand, having had quite enough of his wife.

    "What ''you''? You think you''re going to hit me? Go on then, hit me!" Yu Xi, seeing this, puffed out her chest and lifted her chin.

    Looking at Yu Xi with her face drawing near, Du Haibin eventually lowered his hand.

    Seeing his younger brother so helpless, Du Haichen silently shook his head, and Ge Dongxu didn''t know whether to be angry at or pity the man.

    When Du Haibin lowered his hand, Yu Xi huffed and then turned to Ge Dongxu, saying, "It''s been half an hour, where''s the money you talked about? Stop bluffing!"

    "Relax, everybody else''s money might come short, but not yours," Ge Dongxu replied disdainfully.

    No sooner had his voice faded than a knock came from downstairs. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The moment the knocking sounded, everyone''s reaction was not to go down to open the door but to cast their gazes toward Ge Dongxu, including Yu Xi, who eyed him with disbelief.

    Could it be that this high school student could really make a phone call and have someone deliver eighty thousand yuan just like that?

    It''s no wonder they couldn''t believe it; eighty thousand yuan was definitely not a small sum for ordinary families like theirs! Otherwise, Yu Xi wouldn''t have come to collect debts regardless of Du Haichen''s serious illness.

    What she feared was that if Du Haichen died, the debt would vanish, so she wanted to take the opportunity while he was still alive to get the money back.

    "It should be the person I called. I''ll go open the door," said Ge Dongxu.

    "I''ll do it, I''ll go," blurted Du Yifan, hurrying down the stairs ahead of the others.

    Soon, Du Yifan brought Wu Qianjin upstairs. Du Yifan had never met Cheng Lehao''s uncle and didn''t realize that Wu Qianjin was that uncle.

    "Uncle Wu, how come you came yourself?" Ge Dongxu, seeing Wu Qianjin carrying a bag himself, was quite surprised.

    Wu Qianjin didn''t rush to answer. Instead, he looked around the room with a puzzled expression, and then smiled at Ge Dongxu, "How could I not come myself after your order? Besides, I have a car, and it''s just a few minutes'' drive."

    As Wu Qianjin spoke, Du Haibin and his wife Yu Xi were staring intently at him, their eyes growing wider, and then suddenly, they both stuttered, "You, you''re Wu, the manager, the boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory!"

    "Oh, you recognize me? I''m a bit embarrassed!" Wu Qianjin really hadn''t expected that he was now a celebrity in Changxi County, that he could just visit someone''s home and be recognized. He scratched his head sheepishly, yet couldn''t help feeling a bit elated inside.

    After all, just over a year ago, his entire fortune hadn''t even reached two hundred thousand!

    "Of course, of course. Who in Changxi County doesn''t know about Boss Wu from Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory! My brother and my husband, Du Haibin, have a beverage wholesale store in the vice food market of Xi W County, and the best seller is Qinghe Herbal Tea. Last year, it sold so well we ran out of stock. Your factory had limited supplies, but you still looked favorably on a fellow townsman and sent us a batch of goods. We will need to ask for your continued support."

    Yu Xi nodded her head like a pecking chicken, her face full of flattering smiles.

    There was no choice; Qinghe Herbal Tea was so popular that it was flying off the shelves, and now it was the businessmen who were begging the factory for stock.

    Yu Xi''s flattery delighted Wu Qianjin, making him feel even more conceited. He was just about to nod and say no problem when he suddenly caught sight of Ge Dongxu''s sneer. The words at the tip of his tongue were immediately swallowed back.

    After all, Wu Qianjin had become quite a figure in Changxi County. Having met many people, his judgment had naturally improved a lot compared to before.

    "Uncle Wu, please give the money you brought to this lady. You don''t have to supply them with goods anymore," Ge Dongxu said coldly, seeing that Wu Qianjin hadn''t picked up the conversation.

    "Why? Why not?" Caught up in the excitement of meeting the important figure, Wu Qianjin, Yu Xi hadn''t yet adjusted her thinking. Of course, even with the wildest guesses, she couldn''t have imagined that a high school student could be the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory. Seeing that she was having a good conversation with Wu Qianjin and Ge Dongxu suddenly interrupted to say they wouldn''t be supplying them anymore, she reflexively pointed at Ge Dongxu and asked shrilly.

    She had forgotten that Wu Qianjin had come at the call of Ge Dongxu.

    "Because I am the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory! I wonder if that''s enough of a qualification?" Ge Dongxu stated coldly.

    "You say you''re the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea? How old are you? What kind of international...," Yu Xi retorted sharply, pointing at Ge Dongxu again. But her question cut off halfway, her face suddenly turning pale.

    Obviously, she wasn''t completely foolish. She finally remembered that Wu Qianjin had come because of a phone call from Ge Dongxu.

    "Here is eighty thousand yuan, please count it," said Wu Qianjin, seeing Ge Dongxu''s attitude towards Yu Xi. He didn''t care how much Yu Xi had sucked up to him before; he threw her a bag of money with an expressionless face and said coldly.

    Offend Ge Dongxu and you still want to get goods from our Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory? What a joke.

    Wu Qianjin''s attitude confirmed what Ge Dongxu had just said. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

    The room fell silent, everyone staring at Ge Dongxu with an almost dazed look.

    Although Qinghe Herbal Tea hadn''t yet claimed to be popular throughout the whole country, saying it had taken over Jiangnan Province was no exaggeration at all. The explosive sales had led some to estimate that Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s sales volume would reach hundreds of millions this year.

    What is the concept of hundreds of millions? And what does it imply?

    Those present might not have a clear idea, as the number was too distant for them. But one thing they definitely understood was that if Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s sales volume really reached hundreds of millions this year, then the annual income of the big boss in front of them would be at least tens of millions of yuan!

    An annual income of tens of millions! And he was still a high school student! And this was just the beginning of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s rise!

    Yu Xi took the bag Wu Qianjin handed her with stiff movements, suddenly feeling so ridiculous, so pathetic.

    For eighty thousand yuan, she was willing to pressure her husband''s elder brother to sell his house! She had even acted all high and mighty in front of her nephew''s classmate.

    But it turned out, her nephew''s classmate was the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, casually tossing her eighty thousand yuan!

 Chapter 165 You Will Always Be My Boss

    "The money has been taken, can you leave now?" Du Yifan finally snapped back to reality, his gaze filled with contempt and resentment as he coldly addressed his uncle and aunt before him."Yifan, your auntie I..." Yu Xi this time didn''t get angry but forced a smile uglier than crying.

    "I don''t have an aunt like you!" Du Yifan rudely interrupted.

    "Yifan!" Du Haichen called out. Du Yifan could be young and impetuous, but for him, severing the deep brotherly bond of decades with his brother was very hard.

    "Dad!"

    "Haichen!"

    Both Du Yifan and his mother understood Du Haichen''s intentions and immediately called out, eyes reddening.

    Du Haichen, looking at the tearful and angry expressions on the faces of the mother and son, sighed softly, and finally waved weakly at Du Haibin and his wife, saying, "You can go!"

    Yu Xi opened her mouth wanting to say more, but Du Haibin had already taken her hand, and then with reddened eyes, he said to Du Haichen, "Brother, sister-in-law, Yifan, I''m sorry."

    After speaking, he pulled his wife away without further explanation.

    "Sigh!" After all, they were brothers, and watching Du Haibin forcibly taking his sister-in-law away, Du Haichen knew that from today on, the relationship between the two families would be completely severed.

    However, that was all he could do. As the elder brother, no matter what his younger brother did, he could always find forgiveness in his heart, but he had to consider the feelings of his wife and son too. His brother and sister-in-law had really hurt them too deeply.

    "Uncle, there''s no need to feel sad. Learn from this setback, and maybe after this incident, Yifan''s uncle will completely come around. If so, even if your two families are estranged, it might actually be a good thing for his future life path," Ge Dongxu could understand Du Haichen''s feelings at this moment, and he patted his hand as he spoke.

    Because he himself had had a similar experience, except his aunt was not as mercenary to such an extent, so in the end, he forgave her for his uncle''s sake.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. If it weren''t for you, uncle..." Du Haichen choked up towards the end.

    "Ha, don''t be so formal with me, uncle. Yifan and I were desk-mates!" Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    Hearing this, Du Yifan didn''t say anything but turned his head to quietly wipe away the tears in his eyes.

    "All right, all right, I won''t be formal with you. Rest assured that we will certainly..." Du Haichen also wiped away tears as he spoke.

    "You see, there you go being formal with me again!" Ge Dongxu interrupted with a laugh.

    Du Haichen was about to say something, but Ge Dongxu had already taken the lead and said, "The acupuncture is almost done for today, I''ll help you remove the needles first."

    "Oh, dad, your leg has almost completely gone down in swelling!"

    "Yes, yes! It''s really almost completely gone down!"

    As Ge Dongxu said this, he reminded Du Yifan and his mother, who hurried to look at Du Haichen''s leg. When they saw it, they were so excited they burst into tears and shouted.

    "Yes! It really has gone down in swelling, I feel much better now." Because of Wu Qianjin''s arrival, even Du Haichen had not noticed the change in his body. When his son and wife called attention to it, he only then realized his entire body felt much better, and he too couldn''t help the tears from overflowing. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t worry, uncle. As long as you keep up with the acupuncture and Chinese medicine for a while, your condition will completely improve," Ge Dongxu assured with a smile.

    If Ge Dongxu had said these words before, Du Yifan''s family would certainly not have believed him, but now the facts were laid out before them, leaving them no choice but to believe. Upon hearing this, they were all so overjoyed that they burst into tears, and Du Yifan''s mother was so grateful that she took Ge Dongxu''s hand, thanking him repeatedly, almost kneeling before him.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t bear such an atmosphere and said, "Now Uncle, you just rest well, I''ll go with Yifan to the pharmacy to get some medicine."

    "Don''t trouble yourself so much, just write a prescription and let Yifan go get it," said Du Haichen and his wife hurriedly, their tone very respectful.

    After going through such an event, how could they not understand that Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person? Moreover, Ge Dongxu was Du Haichen''s lifesaver!

    "Hehe, Uncle, Auntie, you are being formal with me again, what''s the relationship between Yifan and me?" Ge Dongxu chuckled.

    "Or maybe I should go and help get them," Wu Qianjin added from the sidelines.

    When Wu Qianjin spoke up, it gave Du Haichen and his wife a start. After all, Wu Qianjin was now a local celebrity in Changxi County, quite a different class from ordinary folks like themselves. They never imagined that with just one phone call from Ge Dongxu, Wu Qianjin would not only have brought money but was also offering to help fetch medicine.

    "Okay then, Uncle Wu, there''s no need for this courtesy. I forgot to tell you that Yifan and Lehao have been best pals since middle school. Yifan, Uncle Wu here is Lehao''s uncle," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "So we''re all family," Wu Qianjin said in surprise at first and then burst into laughter.

    The Du Yifan family felt the same way.

    "We''re all family here; you go busy yourself with the factory. It''s enough if Yifan and I go for the medicine," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Hehe, then I won''t be polite," Wu Qianjin said. He left his business card with Du Haibin, expressing his concern and telling Du Haibin to rest well and call him anytime if he needed help.

    Du Haibin and his wife were naturally very grateful, but they both knew in their hearts that such concern from a big boss like Wu Qianjin was mainly due to their connection with Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan left the building following Wu Qianjin downstairs.

    Wu Qianjin initially wanted to drive Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan, but Ge Dongxu gestured not to bother, and Wu Qianjin did not insist further.

    No sooner had Wu Qianjin and the other two left than Du Haibin rushed to get out of bed to urinate, producing a large volume, which left him and his wife so thrilled that they could not hold back their tears.

    It''s only after going through such hardships that one realizes how precious a normal life is.

    "Boss, I won''t say thanks. Anyway, from now on, my life, Du Yifan''s life, is yours, and I''ll do whatever you tell me to." As Du Yifan walked side by side with Ge Dongxu in the street, his face, normally marked by a sleazy expression, was now exceptionally serious.

    "Hey, what are you doing? Isn''t this a bit too dramatic?" Ge Dongxu punched Du Yifan in the chest, laughing.

    "Boss, maybe a small fry like me doesn''t amount to much to you, but I, Du Yifan..." Du Yifan said.

    "Damn it! What are you talking about? What do you mean not amounting to much to me? If you keep talking like that, do you believe I''ll punch you?" Ge Dongxu suddenly got angry. Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

    Seeing Ge Dongxu angry, Du Yifan started crying, saying, "Anyway, you will always be my boss!"

    This time, Ge Dongxu said nothing, just firmly hugged his shoulder.

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 Chapter 166 Chain Hotels

    "With the college entrance exam coming up next year, what''s your plan moving forward? Are you going to put computer science on hold or continue with it?" Ge Dongxu asked as he released his grip and walked alongside Du Yifan."I''m drawn to the virtual data and worlds, and the development of computers is really fast nowadays. I don''t want my computer studies to lag behind because of the college entrance exam," Du Yifan said after some thought.

    "I''m not very knowledgeable in this area, but since you believe what you''re doing is right, stick with it. However, learning is endless; eventually, you''ll need to go to university to access higher levels of knowledge. Plus, much of that knowledge requires mental maturity and different life experiences to fully understand, so university life is indispensable for you. You definitely can''t slack off in your studies," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    The advice Ge Dongxu gave Du Yifan was also a reminder to himself. Otherwise, why would he bother going to university with his current abilities and wealth?

    "Boss, no wonder you''re so awesome, tricking one school sister after another. Turns out you have such a profound understanding of life at such a young age!" Upon hearing this, Du Yifan looked at Ge Dongxu with admiring eyes.

    "What the heck! When have I ever tricked any school sisters!" Ge Dongxu said, clearly annoyed, and gave Du Yifan''s head a good thump.

    "Ouch, if you keep hitting me on the head like that, the computer science field will lose a genius," Du Yifan exclaimed dramatically.

    "Genius my foot, let''s see if you can even get into a university first," Ge Dongxu said with an eye roll and annoyance.

    "I''m sure I can get into a university. It''s just uncertain which one I''ll get into, as you know my English and Chinese are rather weak," Du Yifan deflated like a punctured ball and said with a wry smile.

    "That''s not good," Ge Dongxu shook his head and after thinking for a moment, said, "How about this? Once your dad is better, come and stay with me. I''ll teach you a meditation technique which should help improve your study efficiency."

    "Meditation? Boss, don''t tell me you''re also a martial arts master?" Du Yifan''s eyes suddenly lit up with excitement.

    "Shall we have a go and see?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, watching Du Yifan.

    "No way, with my skinny arms and legs, you could take me down easily even if you''re not a martial arts master. Let''s call Cheng Le Hao over next time. If you can take down both of us, then you''ll truly be a martial arts master," Du Yifan quickly sidestepped to avoid confrontation and said.

    "So in your eyes, taking down you and Cheng Le Hao qualifies someone as a martial arts master? That title isn''t worth much then," Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the remark.

    "Heh heh, all right, all right, let''s get serious, boss. Does that meditation technique really improve my study efficiency?" Du Yifan asked. As a former top student, Du Yifan naturally had his dream university in mind, but he didn''t want to neglect his computer studies. With such a divided focus, he could kiss that university goodbye.

    "At the very least, it can help you calm down when you get frustrated with learning Chinese and English," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That''s good enough for me. I''m fine with the sciences. Those are my biggest problems right now," Du Yifan said, delighted at the response.

    After the excitement, Du Yifan couldn''t help asking with some curiosity, "Why do you need me to move in with you just to teach me meditation? I usually sleep very late, and Cheng Le Hao''s place isn''t that big; I''m sure I''d disturb you."

    "Who said I still live with Cheng Le Hao? I moved out last year to live alone. And you think I want you to stay with me? Since you''re studying computer science and aiming for a good university, often staying up late, you''re certainly going to run out of energy. Staying with me should help keep your energy levels up," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Damn it, you moved and you didn''t even tell me, you fatso!" Du Yifan cursed at Cheng Le Hao, then his face lit up with excitement and he said, "Could it be that the boss is planning to make some tonic for me to take every night?"

    As for whether Ge Dongxu was a martial arts master, Du Yifan had just asked casually; deep down he didn''t really believe that Ge Dongxu was a martial arts master. However, he had witnessed Ge Dongxu''s medical skills firsthand, which was the reason for his question.

    "If you don''t want to wake up with a nosebleed every morning, then no problem, I''ll brew a tonic for you every night," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Then I''d rather not, but if you''re not making tonics for me, why should I move in with you?" Du Yifan hastily waved his hands and asked with a puzzled look.

    "You''ll understand once you move in," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The place he was living in now was not only a Feng Shui treasure land in the Jiang Family village, but he had also specially arranged the Feng Shui when building the house. The spiritual energy inside was denser than other places, which naturally brought great benefits to anyone living there.

    "Oh!" Du Yifan, seeing that Ge Dongxu wouldn''t say more, didn''t dare to ask further. Just then, they arrived at the pharmacy.

    Ge Dongxu gave the prescription to the pharmacy owner, and after getting the medicine, he returned to Du Yifan''s house. As soon as he pushed open the door, he heard laughter from upstairs. Hearing the laughter, Du Yifan''s eyes couldn''t help but redden, and he stealthily wiped the corner of his eyes.

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    ...

    The summer vacation passed by quickly, and in the blink of an eye, it was the final year of high school, twelfth grade.

    During the two months of the summer vacation, the sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory hit new highs again and again, with the sales volume in August reaching thirty-six million, double that of June.

    After continuous investment, Donglin Yue Clothing Company finally started to turn a profit during the summer vacation. Although it was still far from comparing with Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, the earnings were quite impressive, with the profits in August reaching 1.2 million. And this figure was set to continue growing rapidly with the increase in franchise stores.

    The company was finally making a profit, and with increasing funds, Lin Kun and Yue Ting proposed the concept of "virtual management" for the hotel, meaning to open a chain of budget franchise hotels.

    At this time, chain budget franchise hotels were an emerging industry in Huaxia Country, and Ge Dongxu thought this idea was feasible. Now that Donglin Yue Company had started making profits and the initial investment for a chain budget franchise hotel wasn''t too high, they could easily use the profits from Donglin Yue Clothing to acquire one or two small hotels in the capital of Jiangnan Province and some other Earth Level cities as company-owned hotels. They could gradually build up the brand and then expand further to attract franchise stores.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu agreed to the project, and an important factor was that Lin Kun''s family was in the hotel business, giving him experience in this field.

    After discussing, the three of them decided to name the hotel chain Kun Ting. ''Kun'' was taken from Lin Kun''s name and implied the concept of heaven and earth (Qiankun), while ''Ting'' was a homophone of Yue Ting''s name, with the meaning of ''courtyard''.

    ...

    Whether it was the herbal tea factory or opening a chain of hotels, Ge Dongxu didn''t need to worry about the details; he just needed to make decisions on the general direction.

    What he had to concern himself with now was that two fellows had suddenly moved into his house. One was naturally Du Yifan, who had already agreed to this, and the other, needless to say, was definitely Cheng Le Hao.

 Chapter 167 The Elderly

    Given the relationship between Ge Dongxu and Cheng Lehao, it made no sense for them to invite Du Yifan to stay at his place and leave Cheng Lehao out in the cold.So, before the school year started, Ge Dongxu had already suggested to Cheng Yazhou and his wife that Cheng Lehao stay with him.

    Others might not have known Ge Dongxu''s abilities, but Cheng Yazhou and his wife certainly did. With Ge Dongxu looking after their son, they were more than willing, continuously thanking him and telling him that if Cheng Lehao dared to not listen, Ge Dongxu should feel free to discipline him without holding back.

    Cheng Yezhou and his wife said this in front of Cheng Lehao, which really frustrated him, tears streaming down his face. Both were high school seniors, so why was there such a big gap between people?

    The villa was two stories high, with each floor covering about one hundred twenty square meters. The first floor, aside from the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom, only had one guest room with an en-suite bathroom, so both the living room and guest room were quite spacious.

    The second floor had a master bedroom with an en-suite bathroom, a study, and a cultivation room that Ge Dongxu had designed specifically for himself.

    As two people were moving in, Ge Dongxu thought about moving into the cultivation room himself, offering the master bedroom to one of them. However, the two guys were insistent, adamantly choosing to stay together in the guest room downstairs, saying it would be more convenient for Ge Dongxu if he ever brought a female classmate back upstairs.

    Of course, it was impossible for Ge Dongxu to bring a female classmate home to stay, but having someone live upstairs did make his cultivation inconvenient. Besides, that room downstairs was very spacious, easily accommodating two single beds and two desks. Since Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao did not mind sharing a room, Ge Dongxu just went along with it.

    The day the two moved in, Ge Dongxu taught them meditation and the basics of breath control.

    These were very basic cultivation methods, not some profound mental techniques. For those with good talent, it might be possible to gradually step into the threshold of cultivation. For those with average talent, like Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan at their age, these techniques could only help in maintaining health and prolonging life, definitely not enough to step into the realm of cultivation.

    Just like learning a language, cultivation should start in early childhood, becoming a mother tongue, a part of the body, otherwise, it''s merely parroting, unable to truly integrate a language into one''s bones.

    Even so, with the rich spiritual energy in Ge Dongxu''s villa, once he taught Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao the techniques of meditation and breath control, and they followed the practices for half an hour, they felt indescribably refreshed and clear-headed.

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    "Wow, it really is miraculous! I feel so energetic now. No wonder, boss, your academic performance is so good; you had this great technique!" Cheng Lehao exclaimed with an exaggerated face.

    "Thank you, boss. With this technique, I''m sure I can get into Huaqing University," Du Yifan said. After experiencing the incident with his father, Du Yifan had become much more composed than before.

    "What''s so good about Huaqing? I want to go to Yuezhou University. I hear the girls there are very open-minded, and it''s all bikinis on the beach in summer!" Cheng Lehao immediately said disdainfully.

    "Cut it out!" Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan gave him a contemptuous hand gesture together.

    And so, Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao settled into Ge Dongxu''s home.

    They both understood that their senior year was crucial. They were conscientious without needing Ge Dongxu''s supervision. Plus, living on different floors, they did not disturb Ge Dongxu''s cultivation. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    About a month had passed, and Du Yifan had improved significantly in a quiz, reaching fifth place in his class, while Cheng Lehao progressed even more, shooting from around thirtieth to the top ten. When the results came out, his parents were overjoyed, and they specially prepared a meal to thank Ge Dongxu on a weekend, which left Lehao feeling quite frustrated.

    It seemed that after all that effort, Lehao''s improvement was credited to Ge Dongxu, and had nothing to do with him personally.

    In Jiangnan Province, the weather starts to cool down after November, bringing intermittent autumn rains, yet the herb tea business did not slow down after the hot summer, instead, it continued to rise, albeit not as dramatically as during the summer because of the weather.

    Donglin Yue''s clothing company was not affected by the weather and continued to expand its franchises at a rapid pace. Kunting Chain Hotels finally opened its first directly-managed store in Ouzhou City in November, with the second one located in Linzhou in the provincial capital, where they had outright purchased a small hotel that was currently undergoing intensive renovations.

    However, none of these concerned Ge Dongxu; his primary focus was his master Ren Yao''s gravesite and the slightly better-than-thatched cottage he used to live in called the Broken Taoist Temple.

    Although it is said that after death, rest in peace, no amount of work posthumously could compare to filial piety during one''s lifetime. But now that Ge Dongxu had money, he still wanted to do something for his master. He spent money to rebuild the little Broken Taoist Temple, enshrined portraits of Ge Hong and his master, and spent more money to refurbish his master''s grave, planting flowers, plants, and trees around it according to the Feng Shui layout.

    Everything was modest, without purposely expanding the land, but many aspects like portraits, inscriptions, talismans, planting trees, and selecting stones and wood were personally tended to by Ge Dongxu during the summer break and several weekends after school started.

    Because every detail was meticulously crafted and thought out, by this weekend, the seemingly small project was finally completed.

    Carrying a real twenty-year-aged Huadiao wine and a beggar''s chicken, Ge Dongxu went early on Saturday morning to his master''s gravesite.

    "Master, I have reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation now, and I estimate that it won''t be long before I reach the Sixth Layer. If I can keep up this pace, there''s a good chance I might reach the legendary Dragon Tiger Realm. Isn''t that impressive, Master? It''s just a pity you can''t see this. Otherwise, you would have been extremely delighted," Ge Dongxu poured a cup of wine for his master and one for himself, then mused aloud.

    ¡­

    Capital City, a plain gray-bricked courtyard in a back alley behind Zhongshan Mountain. However, this inconspicuous courtyard stood out because there were two armed police officers standing guard on each side of the gate.

    A solemn atmosphere subtly emanated from the courtyard, causing anyone approaching it to unconsciously slow down their steps, speak softly, and refrain from loud or disruptive behavior.

    Today was a rainy day, and being in the north, Capital City felt the brunt of the cold wave from Siberia sooner than Jiangnan Province.

    Inside one room of the courtyard, the heating was fully turned on.

    An elderly man sat in a wheelchair, and though the heat was fully on, his thighs were still covered with a woolen blanket.

    The old man was frail, his back slightly hunched, and his face was covered with wrinkles like old tree bark, his hair and beard white. He was wearing glasses and reading a newspaper, evoking an image of benevolence that one might see on television.

    But if Ge Dongxu were here, he would definitely sense the dense, lingering Evil Qi and the innate authority surrounding the old man that required no anger to assert itself.

 Chapter 168 A Familiar Taste

    "Cough cough!" The old man suddenly covered his mouth, coughing violently, the nursing staff on standby hurriedly stepped forward, gently patting the elderly man''s back.After some time, the old man finally stopped coughing, gasping for air.

    "I''m old, so old, no good anymore." The old man shook his head, then returned to reading his newspaper.

    However, after just a short while, he started coughing violently again.

    "Commander, how about taking some medicine?" the nursing staff whispered gently.

    "No need, no need. This is an old problem of mine. When this season comes around, I''m always like this, can barely make it out of bed, and the coughing is unbearable. Even if you were to bring me medicine, it would only provide temporary relief. In the end, my stomach and intestines would be the ones to suffer." The old man had grown wise to his illness, knowing that medicine is good, but it also damages the gut. Once the gut is upset, frequent trips to the restroom become necessary. His legs weren''t convenient for him anymore, and he hated having digestive problems the most.

    Seeing the old man''s refusal to take medicine, the nursing staff had no other option but to continue gently patting his back, hoping to smooth out his breathing.

    But just as the old man had said, it didn''t take long before he began coughing again.

    The nursing staff was both anxious and heartbroken to see the old man suffering so much from his cough.

    This anxiety and sympathy reminded her of something. She was trained in medicine and had never believed in the healing and qi-nourishing properties attributed to herbal teas. However, just recently, she had a sore throat and felt a bit inflamed, and someone had happened to gift her a case of Qinghe Herbal Tea. She decided to give it a try.

    Surprisingly, it did have some effect¡ªcooling and refreshing, and it didn''t upset her stomach at all. After drinking it for a few days, her throat pain had completely disappeared.

    "Commander, you are sensitive to cold in your stomach. How about I fetch you a hot bottle of herbal tea? There''s one that was released a while ago that I tried and felt was quite good, and it won''t harm the gut," the nursing staff hesitated before suggesting.

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    "Herbal tea is good, I do like to drink it. Unfortunately, although herbal tea is good, the person who truly knew how to brew it is no longer here. Today''s herbal teas, they''re not the same!" The old man''s eyes revealed a trace of reminiscence and sorrow.

    The old man''s remark suddenly turned the nursing staff''s complexion deathly pale.

    The ancient saying goes, serving a leader is as dangerous as tending to a tiger. Although the old man had always been kind to her and never spoken a harsh word to her, his identity was extraordinary, a founding general who once held a vice-national level office. Even if he was kind and affable, she walked on thin ice every day in caring for him, allowing no room for the slightest error or neglect. Now that the old man suddenly mentioned that the person who truly knew how to brew herbal tea was gone, how could it not frighten her?

    The old man, having experienced countless trials and tribulations, and met innumerable people, saw the sudden change in the nursing staff''s complexion and immediately knew he had alarmed her. He quickly said, "Lin, don''t overthink it. I was just reminded of some old memories. Your suggestion is good. Go ahead, just as you said and get me a hot bottle of herbal tea to try."

    Relieved by the old man''s words, the one called Lin, the nursing staff, said, "All right, I''ll ask for permission. If it''s okay, I''ll heat it up and bring it over to you, Commander."

    "Herbal tea is just a drink, not a medication. Drinking a bit won''t hurt; there''s no need to be so nervous," the old man commented.

    Lin smiled and replied that she understood, but after leaving, she still asked the healthcare doctor responsible for the old man for approval before heating up a bottle of Qinghe Herbal Tea and pouring it into a cup for him.

    "This herbal tea! This herbal tea!" After taking a sip of the Qinghe Herbal Tea, the old man''s hand suddenly began to tremble. He muttered again and again, and the corners of his eyes appeared to dampen suddenly.

    "Commander, Commander, I''m sorry, I''m sorry. If you don''t like the taste of this herbal tea, I''ll dispose of it right away," the nursing staff said, seeing the old man''s sudden agitation, she became so nervous that her face turned white.

    "Who said I don''t like this herbal tea? This is real herbal tea! Real herbal tea!" The old man suddenly raised his voice, then gulped down an entire bowl of herbal tea in one go.

    "Ah, so cool and refreshing, comfortable! Just a bit too sweet!" After finishing, the old man put down the cup and took a deep breath, then suddenly became lost in thought, with a tear streaming down from the corner of his eye.

    Seeing the old man suddenly in tears, the nursing staff was so frightened that they didn''t even dare to breathe, full of regret internally.

    This time they had been done in by Qinghe Herbal Tea¡ªif only they hadn''t mentioned it!

    The old man this time seemed not to notice he had startled the nursing staff; he let the tears fall from the corners of his eyes as memories flickered through his mind.

    It was a time of war, an era when Huaxia Country suffered under the oppressive devastation of foreign powers.

    Countless joyful families were torn apart by the conflict, and numerous children lost their loved ones in the chaos of war.

    The old man was no exception.

    He had lost his family and even found himself collapsing on the roadside, barely breathing from hunger and disease¡ªif it hadn''t been for a middle-aged man who had passed by and kindly saved him, he would have long ceased to exist.

    That year he was twelve.

    The middle-aged man took care of him with great dedication, and during that time, the old man witnessed the man slaying several bandits trying to rob them using magical Techniques.

    With the attentive care of the middle-aged man, the old man quickly recovered. After his recovery, he wanted to become the man''s disciple and learn his Techniques to kill enemies and serve his country.

    But the middle-aged man said that he was already too old and not suited for the path of cultivation; he only taught him the most basic meditation and Breath Control techniques and left him in the care of a farming family before drifting away.

    After that, the old man never saw the middle-aged man who had saved him, took care of him, and taught him meditation and Breath Control again. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Armed with the Breath Control and meditation Techniques given by the middle-aged man, and his innate talent in warfare, he remained composed in every major battle and gradually grew into an outstanding soldier. Moreover, because of the Breath Control and meditation techniques taught by the middle-aged man, during the tumultuous years after the founding of the country, although he went through political persecution, was sent to the coldest places for re-education, and was confined to a cattle shed¡ªwhile many of his former comrades in arms could not endure and perished in that peaceful era¡ªhe survived. Despite being left with many ailments, he remained strong and lived to see the present day, becoming one of the last surviving founding generals of Huaxia Country.

    As people grow older, they tend to reminisce more about their younger days.

    In his lifetime, the old man had acted with integrity, without guilt in his heart. Now that the country was growing stronger and his children and grandchildren were all grown up and successful, he felt very comforted despite his poor health. The only regret that often came to mind was that he never saw that benefactor again, the middle-aged man who had been like a teacher and mentor in practice, if not in name.

    Now, this cup of Qinghe Herbal Tea made him think of that benefactor once more for it was he who had once given him tea with this very flavor while taking care of him.

    Over the years, the old man had always enjoyed drinking herbal tea, but he had never found the taste he truly longed for, hence why he previously said that while herbal tea was good, the person who really knew how to make it was no longer around.

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 Chapter 169 As Soon As Possible

    "Xiaolin, haha, I didn''t scare you, did I? Don''t worry, I''m fine, very fine, and I really need to thank you for introducing such good herbal tea to me." The elderly man gently wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes and said with a smile to the nurse.With that smile, the wrinkles on his face became even more pronounced, but they seemed to radiate a light. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Really? If you like it, I''ll heat up another cup for you next time," Xiaolin said, his heart finally settling as he spoke with a face full of surprise.

    "That''s a must. Now I need to make a phone call," the elder laughed.

    Upon hearing that he wanted to make a phone call, Xiaolin quickly handed him the phone.

    As the elder took the phone, he asked Xiaolin, "What did you say this herbal tea is called?"

    "Reporting to the commander, this herbal tea is called Qinghe Herbal Tea, produced in Jiangnan Province," Xiaolin replied, confusion flickering in his eyes. The old commander had always been focused on national affairs and rarely inquired about such matters.

    "Qinghe Herbal Tea, Jiangnan Province, alright," the old man nodded and then dialed a number.

    As soon as the call connected, a solemn and steady voice came from the other end.

    "Send me the information on Jiangnan Province''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory," the elder ordered straightforwardly.

    Xiaolin knew the elder rarely made calls, and when he did, it was always about something important. But he had never imagined that this time the call would be to request information on the Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory; he was so shocked his eyeballs nearly popped out of their sockets.

    After that phone call, the elder made another call to his daughter in the capital, asking her to come home.

    The two calls were made one after the other, and as a result, the information on Jiangnan Province''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory reached the elder''s hands before his daughter arrived at the Siheyuan.

    The old man originally had three sons and two daughters, but one son and one daughter died during the years of war unrest, leaving him with only two sons and one daughter.

    The two sons were both out of town; one was a local government official governing a region, and the other was a group army commander, while the daughter worked at the central bank.

    The daughter who worked at the central bank was the youngest child of the family. Her name was Feng Jiahui, a middle-aged woman in her forties, dressed neatly and conservatively, with a face that carried a certain degree of authority.

    "Dad, was there an emergency for you to suddenly call me back?" On her return home and seeing the old man sitting well in his wheelchair looking at the documents, Feng Jiahui breathed a sigh of relief and asked with a puzzled face.

    In families like theirs, in the eyes of ordinary people, phone calls between family members often carry a special and significant meaning.

    "Take a look at this," said the old man, handing over the documents to Feng Jiahui.

    Feng Jiahui took the documents and looked at them, noticing they were about Jiangnan Province''s Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory. The puzzled expression on her face deepened as she said, "Dad, why have you suddenly taken an interest in a small enterprise?"

    Feng Jiahui, as a central bank leader, had encountered countless large enterprises and corporations, including some of the world''s top 500 firms. The Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory might have been flourishing recently, but in her eyes, it was still nothing more than a small local business.

    Even she considered it to be just a small enterprise, so one could imagine what significance it held in the view of her father, who once commanded great influence in the world? Yet, her father had urgently summoned her to look at the information on such a small business, which couldn''t help but leave her perplexed.

    "This is not merely a small business, but a very special one," the elderly man said with a smile.

    "What''s so special about it? Is it just developing quickly? Oh, there is an interesting shareholder; the factory was established when he was not yet seventeen. But that''s not very unusual, there are quite a few teenagers like that in the capital." Hearing this, Feng Jiahui looked again but failed to see anything particular. The only notable thing was that the shareholder, Ge Dongxu, was somewhat young.

    Nevertheless, in those days, there was no shortage of wealthy second-generation individuals or children of officials, who, with the help of their families'' wealth and power, achieved something at a young age ¨C this was hardly a rare occurrence.

    Even if they were not the second-generation of the wealthy or officials, in a country as large as Huaxia, it wasn''t too extraordinary to see a few business prodigies emerge.

    People at Feng Jiahui''s level, who viewed the world from high above, were accustomed to encountering people who appeared impressive to the average person, but at her level, these individuals didn''t seem too remarkable.

    "Never mind, you won''t understand even if you look. Do you remember the lifesaver I mentioned to you before?" the elderly man asked.

    "Of course, I remember. He taught you the methods of deep contemplation and Breath Control," Feng Jiahui replied, her thoughts struggling to keep up with the leaps in her father''s conversation.

    "That savior once brewed a kind of herbal tea for me to drink; it had this Qinghe Herbal Tea flavor," said the elderly man. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

    "Ah! Does that mean that this Qinghe Herbal Tea is very likely run by the descendants of your savior?" Feng Jiahui had ascended to her position as a central bank leader not just on her family connections¡ªshe was smart and capable in her own right. As soon as the old man mentioned this, she immediately grasped the implication.

    "Exactly! Not being able to see the savior again and offer my gratitude has always been a regret weighing on my heart. Fortuitously, heaven seemed to show pity, offering me a clue before I pass away. Even if I cannot offer gratitude to him personally, meeting his descendants to express my feelings would still be gratifying," the elderly man said with melancholy, his emotions weighing on him, causing him to cough again.

    "Dad, don''t get excited. Now that we have a clue, we can just invite the person over and find out," Feng Jiahui quickly stood up and gently patted the old man''s back while trying to console him.

    "If it is indeed the descendant of the savior, it would be inappropriate to neglect our manners. Ideally, I should be the one to visit him personally, but given my current physical condition and status, it''s not advisable for me to travel. That''s why I need you to invite this Tang Yiyuan to the capital," the elder said.

    Obviously, even with the old man''s wisdom, he had been mistaken this time, thinking that the traditional Chinese medicine professor, Tang Yiyuan, was the descendant of his savior, not realizing it was Ge Dongxu.

    Given the common perceptions, it was understandable, as Tang Yiyuan, in terms of both age and status, seemed more likely to be that person''s descendant.

    A professor of traditional Chinese medicine would ordinarily not warrant attention from a central bank leader, much less a personal reception by the child of a vice-national level leader. However, since her father had made the request, and considering that it was very likely the descendant of his savior, Feng Jiahui did not dare to object. She said, "Alright, I will delegate my work and fly to Linzhou City today."

    "Good, as soon as possible!" the old man nodded, his eyes conveying a sense of anticipation.

    Although he only uttered the simple words "as soon as possible," they carried exceptional weight, coming from a person of his stature and age. He remained composed even in the face of major national affairs and rarely spoke with such urgency; but today, he had. Understanding the significance of his words, even as his daughter, Feng Jiahui did not dare to take them lightly. She quickly replied, "I''ll make arrangements right now."

    After speaking, Feng Jiahui hurriedly left the courtyard home. On her way, she called her secretary and asked her to book the next available flight to Linzhou City.

 Chapter 170 Someone Else

    Although Tang Yiyuan had frequently visited the provincial government residence and was a significant figure in the medical community of Jiangnan Province, he had never imagined that one day he would step into this solemn siheyuan, nor had he imagined that he would meet this elder, whom he could only ever see on television.Before coming, Feng Jiahui had not told Tang Yiyuan why her father had invited him. It would be more appropriate for her father to explain this matter. Moreover, back then, that person had not even left a name for her father. After so many years, she, an outsider, truly had no way to clarify.

    "Elder, Elder Chief, hello!" Even as someone well-traveled, Tang Yiyuan felt a surge of warmth around his eyes and instinctively straightened his back when he saw the elder.

    Not knowing why, the elder felt a bit disappointed upon seeing Tang Yiyuan because his instincts told him that this man was definitely not the Descendant or inheritor of his benefactor.

    However, the fact that Tang Yiyuan had produced Qinghe Herbal Tea was undeniable. And so, despite some disappointment, the elder still welcomed him with a smile, "Ha-ha, Professor Tang, please, have a seat, a seat."

    "Yes, Elder Chief." Tang Yiyuan took a deep breath and then carefully took his seat, keeping his spine straight.

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan acting so constrained and nervous, the elder became even more convinced that he was not the person he was looking for.

    Because in the elder''s mind, that person''s every action exuded a strong sense of confidence and ease. Even if his Descendant didn''t have comparable abilities, at least he should have inherited a bit of his confidence and ease.

    "You must be wondering why I invited you here, aren''t you?" the elder said cheerfully.

    Tang Yiyuan glanced at the elder''s legs covered with a blanket, his eyes showing confusion, and nodded, "Yes, Elder Chief."

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    Although his medical skills were excellent, what place was the capital? It was a gathering place for National Medical Masters. Tang Yiyuan was not yet confident enough to think that the elder''s daughter had invited him from afar just to treat the elder.

    "Who gave you the formula for this Qinghe Herbal Tea?" the elder saw Tang Yiyuan''s confused expression, smiled, and finally got to the point.

    Tang Yiyuan trembled when he heard this question and then suddenly became very tense.

    He finally understood why the elder had invited him¡ªit was because of the Qinghe Herbal Tea, or rather, because of Ge Dongxu behind the Qinghe Herbal Tea!

    No one knew better than Tang Yiyuan the miraculous nature of Ge Dongxu, especially his dealings with jade, which were shrouded in indescribable mystery!

    But the more mysterious a person, the greater the matters they are likely involved in!

    Now indeed, because of Qinghe Herbal Tea, he had alarmed this former influential figure of Huaxia Country!

    But was this a good thing or a bad thing? As the saying goes, a tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. For someone like Ge Dongxu, who possessed miraculous abilities, what awaited him once the state discovered him?

    Tang Yiyuan felt utterly unsure!

    So, he was nervous. Faced with a simple question, he did not know how to respond. Because Ge Dongxu had told him they were friends, but in reality, he was also his teacher, and subconsciously, Tang Yiyuan wanted to protect him.

    "Don''t be nervous. The owner of this formula is in my good graces," the elder noticed Tang Yiyuan''s nervousness and hurriedly reassured him with a smile.

    Tang Yiyuan looked at the elder, knowing the elder''s reputation and status, he surely didn''t need to lie to him. Moreover, with the elder''s status, if he were to delve deeper into the investigation, it would be easy to uncover Ge Dongxu. Hence, Tang Yiyuan finally let go of his nervousness and honestly replied, "Elder Chief, since you are aware of me, it must mean you have seen information about our Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory. You should know our factory has a young major shareholder, Ge Dongxu."

    "It''s him!" The elder was slightly stunned by this revelation. He had thought that if it was not Tang Yiyuan, then it must be one of Tang Yiyuan''s elders or someone similar. He hadn''t expected that, after all the twists and turns, it would lead back to the young shareholder of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory.

    "That''s right, the formula was provided by him. Since he still needs to study, he gave the formula to me and asked me to be in charge of the technology," Tang Yiyuan explained.

    "I didn''t expect that I was the one who misjudged!" The elder found the situation somewhat worth both tears and laughter, and Feng Jiahui felt it the most.

    Because this meant that her trip had been in vain and that she would need to make another trip, and this time, to invite a high school student.

    Keep in mind that she is a central bank leader!

    But the problem is that her father couldn''t care less whether she was a leader or not!

    "Since the old chief wants to meet him, why don''t I give him a call and ask him to come to the capital," Tang Yiyuan mustered his courage and said. After all, Ge Dongxu wanting to keep a low profile definitely wouldn''t be possible anymore, so it''s better to take initiative.

    "Let Feng Jiahui go again. After all, the young man is just a high school student. It''s not good for him to travel so far alone, and also someone needs to find a reason to inform his school," the elder said.

    Since the elder had spoken, Tang Yiyuan naturally did not dare to speak further, and Feng Jiahui felt the same. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    She just had to make another trip to Jiangnan Province, but this time Tang Yiyuan accompanied her.

    ...

    Ge Dongxu had never imagined that one day he would be face-to-face with the old revolutionary he had seen in history books and on television.

    To say he wasn''t thrilled would be a lie; this was a genuine hero of the resistance against Japan, a figure nobody in Huaxia Country could meet without feeling stirred and deeply respectful! Ge Dongxu was no exception.

    He had admired this veteran of the resistance against Japan since he was very young!

    However, Ge Dongxu wasn''t particularly nervous or uneasy; instead, he excitedly bowed and said, "Hello, Grandpa Feng!"

    From the moment Ge Dongxu stepped through the door, Elder Feng knew he was the person he had been looking for because he saw that person''s reflection in him¡ªcalm, confident, cool, and with an especially sharp gaze, as if he could see through everything.

    "Who taught you the herbal tea formula? Cough cough¡­" Seeing the person he was looking for, the elder''s excitement was no less than Ge Dongxu''s, and he immediately asked with a trembling voice, even erupting into a severe cough due to his agitation.

    "Dad! Please, don''t get too excited," Feng Jiahui hurried forward and gently patted the elder''s back.

    But once the elder caught his breath, it didn''t settle easily, and in her urgency, Feng Jiahui''s patting became somewhat forceful.

    "Let me do it!" Seeing Feng Jiahui being a bit too rough, Ge Dongxu stepped forward and offered. He couldn''t care less that this was Elder Feng''s house, and that, normally, an ordinary person shouldn''t get too close to an elder with such a status.

    "No way!" Feng Jiahui swiftly rejected him without a second thought, joking aside, what status her father held, how could she let a young kid pat his back.

    If he wasn''t gentle enough and caused any pain, that would be too much to bear!

    "I understand medicine," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Even if you do, it''s a no," Feng Jiahui replied instantly. In her eyes, Ge Dongxu was just a high school student, how much could he possibly know about medicine?

    ps: Traveling outside, I carry my laptop, tickets in hand, paying during the day, playing, writing at night to make a living, really up early till late, quite tired, today only two chapters, sorry.

 Chapter 171 The Benefactors Disciple

    Seeing Feng Jiahui say this, Ge Dongxu could no longer intervene, so he could only shake his head, preparing to take a seat."Cough cough, let him come." However, Elder Feng, while coughing and gasping for air, pointed at Ge Dongxu.

    "Dad! He''s just a high school student, what if he''s not careful..." Feng Jiahui couldn''t help being somewhat anxious.

    Since the matters discussed between Ge Dongxu and Elder Feng involved Elder Feng''s private affairs that had been sealed away for many years, there were only Ge Dongxu and her in the room, without any nursing staff accompanying them. As for Tang Yiyuan, who returned with Ge Dongxu, he didn''t come back up.

    Since he was not related to the Qinghe Herbal Tea formula, it was naturally inappropriate for him to freely enter and exit this Siheyuan.

    Yet Elder Feng kept pointing at Ge Dongxu, gasping for breath.

    Feng Jiahui, knowing her father''s temper, did not dare to disobey and could only instruct seriously, "Be careful, and make sure you don''t overdo it."

    Ge Dongxu furrowed his brows slightly, somewhat displeased, "I understand medicine, I know what to do."

    What a joke, if Elder Feng wasn''t a respected veteran of the revolution he admired, with Feng Jiahui''s attitude, he probably wouldn''t have even bothered to lend a hand!

    Who was Feng Jiahui? Not to mention coming from a prominent family, just the position she held, many people could only look up to her. When had she ever been talked back to by a high school student, frowning like this, her face couldn''t help but reveal a tinge of indignation. She really wanted to explode, but seeing her father glaring at her, she ultimately moved aside helplessly, yet her gaze was sternly fixed on Ge Dongxu.

    As a cultivator who seeks the path to undying life, who masters the arts of flying and escaping through earth and moving mountains and seas, Ge Dongxu may appear friendly on the surface, like a boy-next-door, but deep down he has the pride of a cultivator. How could he be frightened by Feng Jiahui''s glare? Not only was he not intimidated, but he also returned a faint glance to Feng Jiahui, nearly making her choke on her own anger.

    In this day and age, only this young man in front of her dared to disregard her so blatantly.

    Walking behind the elderly man, Ge Dongxu did not lightly pat the man''s back, but instead gently massaged the Dingchuan acupoint on his cervical spine, while his other hand was placed on the Tianchu acupoint in the center of the sternum, gently massaging both at the same time. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu placing his hands on the elderly man''s cervical spine and the center depression of the sternum, Feng Jiahui''s face changed dramatically, and she immediately shouted sternly, "What are you doing?"

    "I should be asking you that! Making such a fuss. Didn''t your father teach you how to treat guests?" The one who answered Feng Jiahui was not Ge Dongxu, but the angry voice of Elder Feng.

    His voice was full of strength, not at all like someone who had just been gasping for breath.

    "Dad, are you alright?" Feng Jiahui exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise, forgetting even her father''s rebuke that she did not know how to treat guests.

    "With this young man''s help, what could possibly be wrong with me! Now apologize to him!" Elder Feng said with a stern face.

    Only then did Feng Jiahui realize that her father was angry, and she immediately showed a sincere and fearful expression.

    Life is like that, when she gained certain things, sometimes she inevitably lost others. In ordinary households, it was normal for fathers to scold their children, and it even felt warm at times, because that''s what made a family feel like a family. But in a political family like the Fengs, Elder Feng''s scoldings often held a different significance, making children like Feng Jiahui unable to view their father''s scoldings with the same perspective as the children from ordinary families would from a young age.

    Even though the old man had long since retired, this situation hadn''t changed much.

    Seeing Elder Feng''s anger, Feng Jiahui, who was just over forty, became so flustered, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat guilty and hastily said, "Elder Feng, please don''t be angry. Aunt Feng just didn''t expect me to understand medical practices at such a young age, and I hadn''t explained beforehand that I would massage the Dingchuan and Tiantu acupoints."

    "Hmph!" Elder Feng''s expression softened slightly upon hearing this, he glared at his daughter, then looked at Ge Dongxu with a tender and kindly smile and revisited the old question, "Who exactly passed on to you the recipe for this herbal tea?"

    "My late master!" Ge Dongxu replied, a hint of sorrow flashing in his eyes.

    Ge Hong was the founder of Taoist herbal tea, but many of the recipes had been lost. The Qinghe Herbal Tea recipe, however, had been passed down, and Ren Yao had even taught it to Ge Dongxu. When Ge Dongxu thought about going into the herbal tea business, he went through the various herbal tea recipes that Ge Hong had left behind in his mind and ultimately chose Qinghe Herbal Tea.

    "I''m sorry for bringing up a painful memory, but please forgive me for asking you one more thing," Elder Feng asked with a hint of disappointment and apology in his eyes. "Did your master ever mention your grandmaster to you?"

    In Elder Feng''s view, the benefactor was at least thirty years his senior, and would be over a hundred years old by now if still alive. Ge Dongxu was so young that it was definitely not possible for him to be a direct descendant, but perhaps it was possible for him to be a disciple or even a grand-disciple. Normally, it would have been most appropriate to ask his master, but to Elder Feng''s surprise, Ge Dongxu was so young, and his master had already passed away.

    "May I ask why Elder Feng is so concerned with Qinghe Herbal Tea?" Ge Dongxu counter-asked instead of answering.

    This question had been lingering in his mind all the way here.

    "Because I drank this tea when I was young," the old man said with a nostalgic expression on his face. "That year, I was twelve and had fallen severely ill. I had gone several days without food and was undoubtedly on death''s door. Later, a middle-aged cultivator came and saved me, then looked after me diligently. During that time, I drank the chilled tea he brewed, which had the taste of Qinghe Herbal Tea. Right, he also taught me meditation and ''Breath Control'' techniques. Without those methods of meditation and ''Breath Control,'' I might not be in this world anymore. I have always wanted to find him, but unfortunately, he didn''t leave his name, and in the chaos of war, there was no way to start. As time passed, it became even harder to locate him. This incident has always been a regret in my heart. Oh, I remember he had a small Peach Wood Sword and a Bagua Furnace pendant on his waist at the time."

    After saying this, Ge Dongxu already knew who Elder Feng was talking about, and his eyes couldn''t help but redden. He took out his wallet, and then from it, he pulled out a yellowed photograph.

    In the photo was a white-haired cultivator leading a child in patched clothing.

    This was the only photograph that Ge Dongxu had taken with his master, and he always carried it with him.

    "Is it him?" Ge Dongxu asked, his voice trembling.

    "It''s him! It''s him! How do you have his photo?" Although many years had passed, and although Elder Feng had seen Ren Yao as a middle-aged man, he immediately recognized the white-haired old Daoist in the photograph as his benefactor, the one who had taught him meditation and ''Breath Control'' techniques.

    "The child he''s leading is me!" Tears fell from Ge Dongxu''s eyes.

    "You! You are the disciple of my benefactor!" Upon hearing this, Elder Feng''s whole body shook, and he then tried to stand up tremblingly from his wheelchair, tears rolling down from his increasingly cloudy old eyes. Enjoy new adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 172 Senior Brother Feng

    "Elder Feng, what are you doing? Please, sit down." Ge Dongxu saw Elder Feng trying to stand up and hurriedly came forward to support him."How can you call me Elder Feng? Speaking of which, your master was not only my benefactor but also my mentor! It''s a shame that he told me I was already old and not the right person for cultivation, so he didn''t pass on his true skills to me." Elder Feng managed to stand up despite trembling slightly, his hands shaking as he held a photograph.

    "Dad, please sit down." Feng Jiahui knew about her father''s painful leg condition, and seeing him standing unsteadily, she quickly stepped forward to persuade him.

    "No, you help Dad place this photo properly; Dad wants to pay his respects with a bow," Elder Feng said, waving his hand.

    "Elder Feng, you really shouldn''t, especially with my picture on there. Please sit down. I took care of master''s funeral and burial, after all. Another day, I will take you to visit his resting place to pay our respects," Ge Dongxu said, startled at his words.

    "Really? You were the one who attended to the benefactor''s last rites?" Elder Feng asked, gripping Ge Dongxu''s arm excitedly, his voice trembling.

    "Yes," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That''s good, that''s good," Elder Feng said, finally sitting back down.

    Seeing her father return to his seat, Feng Jiahui silently heaved a sigh of relief, then cast a complicated look at Ge Dongxu.

    Who would have thought that such a young man would be the disciple of her father''s benefactor?

    "Dongxu, others may call me Elder Feng, but you should not. You are his disciple, and I not only received his great kindness but also his teachings of contemplation and Breath Control¡ªeven though we don''t have the name of master and disciple, in reality, it exists. If you don''t mind, call me Elder Brother Feng as a favor to fulfill a wish of mine," Elder Feng said affectionately, holding Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "Elder Brother Feng!" Feng Jiahui''s mouth fell open, and her eyes widened in shock upon hearing this.

    If this young man was to address her father as a fellow disciple, what would she do? Should she call a high school student her "uncle" in seniority? She''d be laughed at to death!

    However, to Ge Dongxu it wasn''t that surprising; his master was a very traditional man. The fact that he taught Elder Feng the methods of contemplation and Breath Control showed that he truly considered taking him as a disciple. However, Elder Feng was then quite old and not suited for cultivation, which is why my master dismissed that thought, only teaching him the most basic contemplation and Breath Control methods. Given that, it''s true there was an actual master-disciple relationship, just without the formal name.

    "Alright, from now on I''ll call you Elder Brother Feng," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment, feeling that from his master''s generation, this manner of addressing was indeed proper. In fact, calling him Elder Feng or Grandpa Feng seemed somewhat disrespectful to his master, so he nodded and agreed.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu, this youngster, actually nod and agree, Feng Jiahui almost rolled her eyes and fainted.

    However, Elder Feng''s reaction was the complete opposite; hearing Ge Dongxu agree, he couldn''t help but burst into happy laughter, "Ha ha! Good! Good! Who would have thought that I, Feng Boyi, close to death''s door, would end up gaining a junior disciple!"

    It was strange that for someone in Elder Feng''s condition, such a burst of laughter would normally lead to a coughing fit, but this time there was no issue at all.

    "Ha ha, Elder Brother, you''re still full of vitality; how can you say you''re close to departing?" Ge Dongxu, suddenly with a new elder brother, felt quite joyful and joked with a smile.

    Elder Feng struck a chord with him because of his connection with his own master, lending an exceptional familiarity to their relationship, and seeing him gave him the feeling of seeing his master again.

    "Old indeed, old indeed. I''ll be ninety in two more years, brother. If I can make it to ninety, I''ll be completely satisfied," Elder Feng said with an open smile, waving his hand.

    "By the time my senior brother was twelve, he had already obtained Master''s instruction in deep contemplation and Breath Control methods, and he has been persistent throughout the years. Although his body has suffered some distress due to the hardships over the years, the energy within him is robust. It''s not just ninety years, I think even a hundred would pose no problem." When Ge Dongxu was massaging Elder Feng''s Dingchuan and Tiantu acupoints, he had already noticed that Elder Feng''s physical organs were quite deteriorated, but the energy within his Meridians was far from the decay of his body. Instead, it was brimming with vitality.

    "Ha ha, birth, aging, sickness, and death are natural laws, Dongxu, you don''t have to comfort me. Moreover, even if I live, having to sit in a wheelchair frequently makes for a rather dull existence over time," Elder Feng patted Ge Dongxu''s hand and said with a smile, revealing a touch of emotion in his eyes.

    He could tell, this newly accepted little junior brother, Ge Dongxu, genuinely wished for him to live a long and healthy life.

    "Ha ha, has senior brother forgotten who my master is? This little ailment of yours may be beyond others, but I have a way," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Do you really have a way?" Feng Jiahui immediately stood up, looking at Ge Dongxu with a face full of surprise.

    As a daughter, no matter how strict her father had been, she always wished for him to be healthy and live a long life. Besides, Elder Feng was the pillar of the Feng Family. As long as Elder Feng was around for one more day, the Feng Family would not fall! Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    How could Feng Jiahui not care about Elder Feng''s health!

    As for Elder Feng himself, rather than expressing surprise, he stared intently at Ge Dongxu, only after a long while wiping the corners of his eyes, he laughed and said, "I had indeed forgotten that you are the direct disciple of the old man."

    "So, senior brother, there''s no need to worry, leave your illness to me," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile upon hearing this.

    After saying that, Ge Dongxu turned towards Feng Jiahui, opened his mouth, and suddenly was unsure how to address this middle-aged woman.

    Calling her "Aunt Feng" was definitely inappropriate now. If not Aunt Feng, then what? Calling her by name seemed somehow presumptuous for a young man like him. Referring to her by her official position seemed more suitable, but he had no idea what her position was.

    "Can you, um, please bring me my suitcase?" In the end, Ge Dongxu simply avoided using any form of address.

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    Due to Elder Feng''s extraordinary status, Ge Dongxu''s suitcase had been temporarily detained outside when he entered the house.

    Feng Jiahui paused when she heard this request. To date, considering her position in Huaxia Country, how many people could there be who could ask her to fetch their suitcase?

    But now, a high school student was asking her, without any title or honorifics, to go outside and fetch his suitcase for him! For a moment, Feng Jiahui was truly unaccustomed to this.

    "What are you standing there for? Didn''t you hear your Shishu ask you to go help fetch the suitcase?" Elder Feng saw that Feng Jiahui did not move and became somewhat displeased, his face darkening as he spoke.

    "Shishu!" As soon as Elder Feng uttered these two words, both Ge Dongxu and Feng Jiahui were taken aback.

    "No, no, senior brother, I am only eighteen years old this year. I really can''t accept the title of ''Shishu,''" Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    And of course, Feng Jiahui dared not contradict her father. She could only look eagerly at the old man, internally anxious and wanting to cry.

    She was a Central Bank leader!

    ps: I''m outside, so there won''t be additional updates this Monday. I''ll try to make up for it when I return. Sorry.

 Chapter 173 173 Chapter Expelling the Cold Qi

    "Why wouldn''t you deserve the title? You and I are fellow disciples, moreover, you are the old man''s direct disciple. If the old man were still alive, he would be over a hundred years old now!" Elder Feng saw his daughter obviously reluctant to acknowledge this uncle-disciple due to the difference in their status and age, so he became somewhat displeased."Elder brother, times have changed! Let''s just call each other by our names, that way I won''t feel awkward and others won''t find it strange either, don''t you agree?" A melon forcibly twisted off its vine is not sweet, and Ge Dongxu had never been comfortable being called uncle-disciple by a woman who could have been his mother. Seeing that she was also clearly unwilling, he naturally insisted on disagreeing.

    Elder Feng looked at his daughter, then at Ge Dongxu, and finally had to say, "Forget it, forget it, you young people have your own way of thinking. I won''t force the issue of addressing each other. From now on, Dongxu, you don''t have to be polite with her, just call her Jiahui."

    "Yes, yes, just use names, only names." Seeing her father finally relent, Feng Jiahui let out a big sigh of relief, spoke hurriedly, and looked at Ge Dongxu with a hint of gratitude.

    If it had not been for Ge Dongxu''s persuasion, she surely could not have escaped the title of uncle-disciple.

    She didn''t dare to defy her father''s orders.

    "You girl! Can''t let go of your dignity now that you''re an official, is that it? I''m telling you, it''s fine to call each other by name, but you must remember in your heart that Dongxu is your father''s junior disciple, your uncle-disciple! This is a relationship with roots, not something you can casually acknowledge," Elder Feng, seeing his daughter''s delighted expression, pointed at her with his finger and said grumpily.

    "Dad, I know. I''ll get Dongxu''s suitcase inside right now." Feng Jiahui said hurriedly.

    "Dongxu, don''t take it to heart, these kids, I''ve spoiled them too much!" Seeing Feng Jiahui almost flee the room, Elder Feng shook his head and spoke to Ge Dongxu with a hint of apology.

    "Haha, Jiahui is already good enough. To be so amiable with me, even when she sits in such a high position¡­ But still, asking her to call me uncle-disciple is bound to shock the world, it''s only natural for her to be reluctant to accept," Ge Dongxu said.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu speak with the air of someone wise beyond his years, Elder Feng looked at him with a touch of admiration and said, "The old man had good judgement!"

    While they were talking, Feng Jiahui came in, carrying Ge Dongxu''s suitcase.

    Ge Dongxu opened the suitcase and took out the antique-looking sandalwood box.

    Upon seeing the sandalwood box, Elder Feng couldn''t help feeling sentimental again. The box had also been passed down from Ren Yao, and Elder Feng had seen it when Ren Yao had treated him back in the day.

    "Elder brother must have been severely affected by the cold back in the day, so much so that it penetrated into your bone marrow, like a relentless bone disease. With the state of your cultivation power, there was no way to drive it out. But fortunately, you have kept up with your breathing exercises since you were young and have managed to hold on until now. Otherwise, someone else in your condition would have been bedridden long ago, let alone be able to sit in a wheelchair like you do now and move around a bit when the weather is warm," Ge Dongxu took out the sandalwood box, but didn''t hurry to perform acupuncture on Elder Feng. Instead, he took his pulse and massaged his thigh a bit before speaking.

    "Exactly, exactly. During that special period back then, those people really made my father suffer terribly. In the frigid nine-nine cold days, even water had ice in it, and they still made father dig dikes. Standing in the water, it would chill you to the bone. Many people couldn''t stand it, and their legs just completely rotted away," Feng Jiahui, knowing that an eighteen-year-old like Ge Dongxu wouldn''t be aware of that special period, was amazed that he could deduce what happened almost perfectly with just a pulse diagnosis and some rubbing and kneading of her father''s leg, as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

    "It''s all in the past, let''s not mention it," Elder Feng waved his hand and said.

    Seeing that her father didn''t want to bring up those unbearable memories, Feng Jiahui stopped talking and looked at Ge Dongxu, asking, "Dongxu, can my dad''s leg really be cured?"

    "It can be cured, but with my current cultivation power and medical skills, I can''t completely heal it in one go. It will need to be done over several sessions," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    After finishing his words, Ge Dongxu helped roll up Elder Feng''s pant leg and then inserted silver needles into acupoints such as the crane''s crown, inner and outer knee eyes, yang mound acupoint, Blood Sea, and Liangqiu.

    "Elder brother, when I twist the silver needles, you should also circulate your True Qi as master taught you. It will hurt a bit, so bear with me," said Ge Dongxu after all the silver needles were in place.

    "Good!" Elder Feng nodded, then slightly closed his eyes, and embraced his hands around his lower abdomen.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu gently twisted the Silver Needle, and strands of True Qi followed his movements into Elder Feng''s body, seeping into his bones to drive away the coldness lurking in his marrow.

    It was as if a knife were scraping the bone, causing Elder Feng to break out in large beads of sweat that fell like rain, his whole body trembling slightly, yet he didn''t let out a single groan from his mouth.

    Feng Jiahui had never imagined that Ge Dongxu''s treatment method would be so intense. Seeing her father''s forehead sweating profusely and his body trembling, she was so frightened that she almost lost her soul. It was then she remembered that Ge Dongxu was just an eighteen-year-old high school senior¡ªhow could she let him treat her father?

    After all, her father was not an ordinary person, but a major figure related to the state. If something went wrong, even as his child, she wouldn''t be able to take the responsibility! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

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    But now that Ge Dongxu had already started, seeing the serious expressions on his and her father''s face, she didn''t dare to interrupt rashly for fear of causing a disaster.

    Yet without interrupting, seeing her father in such a state, she was genuinely worried whether Ge Dongxu knew the severity of his medical skills!

    After all, Ge Dongxu was only eighteen! She really didn''t know much about him, except that she had seen him show some of his skills earlier, and that he was the Direct Disciple of her father''s benefactor. But this didn''t change the fact that he was only eighteen!

    Just as Feng Jiahui was nervously at her wit''s end, Ge Dongxu himself began to tremble slightly, his sweat pouring down like rain, his complexion gradually turning pale.

    This made Feng Jiahui even more nervous.

    "Whew!" Just when Feng Jiahui was extremely anxious, about to call someone, Ge Dongxu suddenly withdrew his hands and took a long breath.

    "Whew!" Elder Feng followed suit, taking a long breath as well.

    "Dad, how are you? Are you alright?" Seeing this, Feng Jiahui rushed over and asked.

    Before her father could reply, she immediately berated Ge Dongxu, "You have some nerve! Do you have any idea how risky that was? What if..."

    "Presumptuous!" Before Feng Jiahui could finish, Elder Feng, full of anger, rebuked sternly.

    With Elder Feng''s anger, the temperature in the entire room seemed to drop suddenly.

    "Dad! I..." Feng Jiahui, who rarely saw her father so angry, couldn''t help but shudder.

    "Do you realize how much Vital Energy it takes for Dongxu to heal me in this way? Apologize to Dongxu immediately!" Elder Feng, still furious, demanded.

    "It''s not that serious, Jiahui was just worried about you," Ge Dongxu said with a tired smile, and then skillfully removed the needles from Elder Feng''s leg.

    "What are you standing there for? Do I need to break your leg before you understand you need to apologize?" As soon as Ge Dongxu removed the needles from Elder Feng''s leg, he suddenly stood up, full of life and vigor, with none of the slight trembling he had shown before.

 Chapter 174 I Just Want to Live the Life I Want

    "Dad, what''s this..." Seeing her father suddenly stand up, bursting with vigor as if his previous frailty had vanished, Feng Jiahui''s eyes widened, she didn''t even seem to hear her father''s angry threat to break her legs.After a while, Feng Jiahui suddenly realized what was happening and hurriedly turned to look at Ge Dongxu.

    Upon looking, she noticed that Ge Dongxu''s face was very pale, devoid of the prior sun-kissed glow. Remembering her father''s words and seeing his vigorous state, Feng Jiahui finally understood that she had truly made a terrible mistake.

    Someone young like Ge Dongxu was actually a miraculous healer. For ordinary people, having him offer treatment was not even a certainty, let alone him expending such cultivation power as he had just done!

    It was ridiculous that she had even blamed him.

    "I''m sorry, Dongxu, it was my fault just now¡­" Realizing her mistake, Feng Jiahui bowed apologetically to Ge Dongxu with genuine sincerity, finally acknowledging him as her uncle in her heart, though she still addressed him by his name verbally.

    "It''s all right, all right, you were only concerned for your father," Ge Dongxu hastily interjected with a wave of his hand.

    "Hmph, lucky for you Dongxu doesn''t hold grudges, otherwise what would you have done!" Seeing this, Elder Feng''s anger gradually subsided, he coldly said.

    "Yes, yes, it was my fault!" Feng Jiahui, no longer defiant, quickly nodded in acknowledgment.

    A person who could get her father on his feet so quickly and restore his health, regardless of his youth, commanded her respect.

    Moreover, being a clever person, Feng Jiahui was acutely aware that the younger Ge Dongxu was, the more it proved his remarkable abilities!

    "The cold energy within my brother''s body, my cultivation power is limited, I still can''t completely eliminate it. He will need at least two more treatments. So during this period, he better avoid cold exposure. If our master were here, he could have cured you in one go," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "It''s already very good, very good! Dongxu, you''re only eighteen, yet to possess such cultivation power is truly amazing! And I know, you were worried about my old body not handling your full force, which is why you were restrained; otherwise, you might have cured it in one go," Elder Feng said, his eyes filled with admiration. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu smiled noncommittally.

    Elder Feng''s words were somewhat speculative. Strictly speaking, he wasn''t yet a Daoist practitioner, merely hovering at the threshold of Daoism. These praises were aimed at commending Ge Dongxu, and unexpectedly, he had guessed correctly, which left him momentarily at a loss for words and staring at Ge Dongxu as if looking at a creature from another world.

    Because Ge Dongxu was only turning eighteen this year and was just a high school senior!

    After a long moment, Elder Feng regarded Ge Dongxu with a stern expression and asked, "Dongxu, with your skills, have you ever considered serving the nation?"

    Ge Dongxu had anticipated this issue ever since he had started treating Elder Feng. His master had also advised him not to reveal his Qimen Dunjia in front of others, partly due to this concern. But Elder Feng was an object of admiration in his childhood, and he also had a deep connection with his master; Ge Dongxu couldn''t just ignore him. Moreover, the times had changed compared to the past, which led him to reveal his true capabilities.

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    Now that Elder Feng had indeed brought up the question, Ge Dongxu''s face gradually became serious. He looked at Elder Feng and said solemnly, "The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen, and if the nation truly needs me, I certainly cannot shirk my duty. But I am a cultivator; unless it is necessary, I just want to live the life I desire."

    Ge Dongxu had made his thoughts very clear with those words. Elder Feng, being a wise man, nodded and said, "Since ancient times, there has always been a government department responsible for dealing with extraordinary individuals from the martial community, and it is no different today. These individuals, once they disrupt society, have a far greater destructive power than ordinary citizens, and some supernatural events also require their intervention. My intention is for you to be attached to this department in name, but I respect your choice. If in the future someone from this department discovers you and wants to invite you or trouble you, have their leader contact me. After all, you are my junior fellow disciple, and they should at least..."

    At this point, Elder Feng seemed to suddenly recall something. An odd expression appeared on his face, which then turned into a bitter smile as he said, "Heh, I seem to have forgotten that you can already control True Qi to help me dispel the cold. Moreover, back in the day, I saw the elder using Techniques to kill people. You certainly have inherited this, and with your current Cultivation Power, coupled with those incredible Techniques, not troubling them is already giving them face, unless they directly use modern weapons."

    "Could it be that none of them possess such Cultivation Power?" Ge Dongxu asked with a puzzled look. Not only had he inherited his master''s Techniques, but he had also taken on Ge Hong''s mantle. When it comes to the inheritance of Techniques, in this declining age of Daoist cultivation, probably no one could compare with him; only his Cultivation Power might be comparable since he was still young, only eighteen years old. This was why Ge Dongxu raised the question.

    However, no sooner had he spoken than he realized how foolish his question was. If there were anyone among them capable of doing such a thing, Elder Feng''s condition wouldn''t have dragged on till now.

    "No! Partly it''s a matter of medical skills, and partly, it''s a matter of Cultivation Power. If you''re interested, I can call and have them send an expert over to spar with you, then you''ll know what level you''re at now," Elder Feng said, a hint of expectation in his eyes.

    He still hoped that Ge Dongxu would join this special department.

    "Thank you, senior brother, but there''s no need. I cultivate for wellbeing, not to fight with others," Ge Dongxu declined without a second thought. He just wanted to cultivate in peace, live his simple life as a commoner, avoiding any contact with those people, and attracting their attention.

    Besides, those people didn''t even have the ability to expel the cold penetrating Elder Feng''s bones; their fighting skills could probably at best take on a dozen people, merely possessing some Low-Level Techniques. Ge Dongxu, who had now reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, really felt disdainful about sparring with them.

    "That''s probably for the best!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu was unmoved, Elder Feng nodded his head and did not press the issue.

    Afterwards, the two of them stopped discussing these matters and switched to talking about Ren Yao.

    When Ge Dongxu brought up that Ren Yao had suffered amnesia due to an injury, Elder Feng couldn''t help but shed tears, feeling somewhat guilty.

    Now that he knew the benefactor''s name and that he had once suffered an injury that caused amnesia, Elder Feng intended to investigate the matter, but Ge Dongxu vetoed it.

    Although Ge Dongxu also wanted to know all about his master''s past, his mentor had reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer in his lifetime, which suggested that such great masters probably still existed in the world. Ge Dongxu was currently only at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, and thanks to inadvertently inheriting Ge Hong''s mantle, his strength was rapidly improving daily. If things went smoothly, it was possible for him to advance to the legendary Dragon Tiger Realm in the coming years; hence, he wasn''t in a hurry to inquire into his master''s affairs just yet.

    If he truly encountered someone with skills like his master and couldn''t defeat them, dying before his abilities were fully recognized would be very unwise!

 Chapter 175 Meeting an Acquaintance in the Capital City

    The more Elder Feng interacted with Ge Dongxu, the more he realized the young junior brother''s composure and calmness, which increased his respect for Dongxu''s thoughts. Therefore, seeing that he currently did not want to pursue the matter, and knowing he had his reasons, Elder Feng nodded in agreement and did not bring it up again.After that, Elder Feng also reminisced about the times he spent with Ren Yao.

    Listening to Elder Feng''s memories, imagining how in the past his master wandered the lands as a healer with a heart to save lives and wielded his sword against enemies with the valor of a hero, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but shed tears.

    An old man and a young man, their talk lasted from noon until evening.

    Elder Feng, after all, was a man approaching ninety, and although Ge Dongxu had helped remove a significant amount of cold energy from his body, he was still frail and began to feel tired by evening.

    Seeing the old man''s weariness, Ge Dongxu was about to get up to leave when a young man walked in from outside. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The man, probably around twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, had an average appearance, and was just over 1.7 meters tall, but was well-dressed, walked with a straight back, had bright eyes, and carried himself with a composed and calm demeanor.

    As the man walked in and saw that Elder Feng was not sitting in a wheelchair and had no blanket over his legs and appeared to be in good spirits, his eyes couldn''t help but show a trace of excitement, but he quickly composed himself and walked up to Elder Feng, respectfully saying, "Grandfather!"

    "Ah, you''ve come," said Elder Feng, nodding slightly before pointing to the young man and telling Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, this is my eldest grandson, Feng Chenqing."

    After the introduction, Elder Feng turned to Feng Chenqing, his expression serious, and said, "Chenqing, this is Ge Dongxu, your grandfather''s junior brother. By relation, you should address him as your grand-uncle master. But seeing that you''d likely prefer keeping face and wouldn''t be willing, I won''t force you. You can just call him by his name like your aunt does, but remember in your heart that Dongxu is your grandfather''s junior brother and you should not disrespect him."

    "Yes, Grandfather, my aunt has already told me before coming!" Feng Chenqing said respectfully, nodding his head, then turned to Ge Dongxu and bowed deeply, saying, "Thank you for treating my grandfather''s illness."

    "Your grandfather is my senior brother, it was my duty," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Dongxu, today as senior and junior brothers we meet, I should have shown you the hospitality due from a host and taken you around to see the sights. However, as you know, with these old bones and my status, it''s inconvenient for me to move around, and being young, you might not enjoy your time fully with an old man like me around. So earlier, I asked Jiahui to call Chenqing over. He will take my place to accompany you tonight for a stroll and to dine at a specialty restaurant. Tomorrow is the weekend, don''t be in a hurry to go back; let him accompany you around," Elder Feng said.

    "There''s no need for such trouble, Senior Brother, I can just wander around by myself," Ge Dongxu hastily said.

    "What are you saying? You are my junior brother, and it is only right for these younger generations to show such affection," Elder Feng replied.

    "Then I''ll just have to trouble Chenqing," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "It''s my duty, my duty," Feng Chenqing hurriedly replied. There was no way around it; even though he was young, how could he dare put on airs in front of his grandfather''s junior brother?

    Seeing his reaction, Ge Dongxu no longer held back and got up to say to Elder Feng, "Then, Senior Brother, rest early. Tomorrow, I will work on your meridians again."

    "No need to expend your cultivation power anymore, I am already feeling much better, much better," Elder Feng replied, moved.

    "It''s no trouble, I am young now, and the energy spent quickly returns," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then left the courtyard accompanied by Feng Chenqing.

    Once outside the courtyard, Ge Dongxu noticed Feng Chenqing''s expression had significantly relaxed, and couldn''t help but privately reflect that being born into a wealthy family was not easy.

    Although his expression had relaxed, Feng Chenqing, mindful of his grandfather''s instructions, did not dare to neglect Ge Dongxu. Upon reaching where the car was parked, he made it a point to personally open the car door for Ge Dongxu, then opened the driver''s side door and got in.

    Fortunately, this scene was not witnessed by people from Feng Chenqing''s usual circle; otherwise, their jaws would have dropped.

    When had Feng Chenqing, one of the capital''s Crown Princes, ever been so humble as to open a car door for a younger man?

    "Dongxu, where shall we go?" Feng Chenqing asked after they had gotten into the car.

    "I''m not familiar with the capital either, you make the arrangements," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, I''ll take you to eat first, then show you around," Feng Chenqing responded upon hearing this.

    "That works, thank you," Ge Dongxu nodded politely.

    "You really shouldn''t be so formal with me. You are my grandfather''s junior, I''m in no position," Feng Chenqing hastily said.

    "Haha, we each have our own roles, no need to be so formal," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Feng Chenqing smiled upon hearing this but dared not continue the topic. Ge Dongxu could say this, but it wasn''t something he could casually mention.

    As the saying goes, a monarch''s words carry weight, law follows the utterance! Although his grandfather was not an ancient monarch, his words weren''t taken as law to such an extent, but he had been one of the few leaders at the peak of Huaxia Country''s power. His officially recognized junior, who wouldn''t take that seriously?

    Moreover, Ge Dongxu''s master had saved his grandfather''s life. Now, Ge Dongxu himself also had an obligation toward his grandfather. Otherwise, given his grandfather''s physical condition, it would have been difficult for him to live past ninety. But now, it seemed there should be no issues.

    "For us, the most interesting eats in the capital are some private home cuisines. But since you are from outside the city, what you''ve probably heard about most is the Peking Duck. How about we go for Peking Duck tonight and tomorrow I''ll take you to some well-known private home cuisines?" As the car drove out of the alley, Feng Chenqing suggested.

    "Indeed, Peking Duck is too famous, I''ve always wanted to try it," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Then let''s go to Quanjude for Peking Duck," Feng Chenqing said, then upon reaching the intersection, turned the steering wheel and headed towards the Quanjude restaurant.

    As night fell, cars streamed endlessly on the road, illuminated by lights all throughout, making the atmosphere far more bustling and majestic than in Linzhou, the Provincial Capital.

    Originally, Feng Chenqing had planned to arrange a private room for Ge Dongxu, but Ge Dongxu said that it wasn''t necessary for just two people, so they chose to sit in the main hall.

    Since Ge Dongxu had a special identity, Feng Chenqing had made a call ahead of time and informed the manager of Quanjude about their arrival. Thus, their Peking Duck not only arrived quickly, but the chef personally took charge.

    Quanjude''s Peking Duck was indeed as good as its reputation: the meat was rich but not greasy, crispy on the outside and tender inside, Ge Dongxu thoroughly enjoyed it.

    After eating the duck, Feng Chenqing suggested a walk around Shichahai, mentioning that the nighttime view there was quite nice.

    Ge Dongxu had no objections and followed Feng Chenqing out.

    Just as they reached the doorway, Feng Chenqing''s phone rang. He took it out to look and was about to hang up.

    Earlier during the meal, his phone had rung once and after checking it, Feng Chenqing had hung up; now seeing him about to hang up again, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat concerned and said, "It''s alright, you take your call."

    With Ge Dongxu''s permission, Feng Chenqing answered the call.

    When Feng Chenqing answered, Ge Dongxu clearly heard a young woman''s voice on the other end, evidently carrying a hint of displeasure.

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    After that, Ge Dongxu didn''t listen further because Feng Chenqing had already walked away with the phone, and naturally, Ge Dongxu wasn''t going to eavesdrop.

    "Sister Li!"

    Standing at the entrance of Quanjude, while interestedly observing the bustling streets around, Ge Dongxu suddenly saw a familiar figure, which surprised and startled him.

    ps: I''m on a family trip outdoors, playing during the day and writing at night, it''s really exhausting. For the next three to four days, I can only maintain two updates per day. I hope to write more when I return, thank you for your understanding.

 Chapter 176 I thought I was dreaming!

    "Yuan Li, things are different from when we were studying. Cui Mingshuo is now the deputy director in the Banking Regulatory Department of the Central Bank. Aren''t you aware of what the Banking Regulatory Department of the Central Bank does? The qualifications of banking leaders of various countries all need their review! By not giving Cui Mingshuo face, aren''t you making life difficult for your own future?" said a woman who was about the same age as Yuan Li but somewhat lacking both in looks and figure, with a bitter smile on her face."Su Qi, isn''t that a bit exaggerated? I''m just a branch manager in a little county branch below, far from the emperor''s reach. Can he really interfere with that?" Yuan Li said, unconvinced.

    "Come on, Yuan Li, are you really that naive or just pretending? Haven''t you heard the saying ''a capital official is equivalent to three levels up''? Besides, he holds a real power position in our industry. If he went to Jiangnan Province, not to mention the Ouzhou City branch manager would definitely have to receive him courteously, perhaps even the provincial bank leaders would come out to meet him. Now, tell me, if he deliberately badmouths you, do you think you''ll ever have a chance of getting promoted in this lifetime?" Su Qi said.

    Yuan Li''s expression changed upon hearing this, and finally, gritting her teeth, she said fiercely, "So what you''re saying is, I should just submit to his lecherous power? No way, I refuse! What''s so great about Cui Mingshuo?"

    "Alright, alright, no matter what he''s worth! Just humble yourself a bit later, make a toast if you can, laugh along if you can. Really, isn''t it a good thing to have men fancy you? Just like me, I''d love it if he took an interest in me," Su Qi said.

    "Tch, shameless. Be careful or I''ll tell your husband!" Yuan Li spat.

    "Bah, what''s there to tell? Is it fair that he gets to fool around outside, and I don''t?" Su Qi''s eyes revealed a hint of resentful bitterness.

    "There''s not a single good man! They have one thing in their bowl but are still eyeing the pot!" Yuan Li''s expression darkened upon hearing this.

    "Exactly, so actually, it''s quite normal for Cui Mingshuo to be like this. Now that he''s got this position, his confidence has inflated. There''s no need to take it to heart; just deal with it and move on," Su Qi said.

    "I know, but his smug face is just so disgusting! If it weren''t for the rare chance of a class reunion making it inappropriate not to show up, I''d really feel like just heading straight home," Yuan Li said, her eyes reflecting disgust and helplessness.

    "Don''t, don''t. Earlier when Cui Mingshuo invited you to ride in his car, you used me as an excuse, and that was okay, but if you just walk out now, he''s definitely going to hold a grudge against you," Su Qi said.

    "Sigh, being a woman is so tiring, and being a woman in the workplace is even more exhausting!" Yuan Li sighed in resignation.

    "Hehe, actually, it''s easy to avoid getting tired. With your beauty and now being single, wouldn''t it be restful to find a wealthy man to provide for you? Actually, Cui Mingshuo isn''t bad either. If it really comes down to it, why not just make a little sacrifice, Miss Yuan?" Su Qi teased.

    "Go away, I can fend for myself; why would I need someone to provide for me?" Yuan Li lifted her hand and playfully smacked Su Qi, but for some reason, she suddenly thought of something Ge Dongxu had once said.

    "If you really can''t be a bank manager, I''ll take care of you in the future."

    "This silly boy!" Remembering Ge Dongxu''s words, Yuan Li''s face suddenly blushed as she muttered softly.

    "Hey, who are you calling a silly boy?" Su Qi immediately objected upon hearing Yuan Li.

    "Ah, no, I didn''t mean you!" Yuan Li realized her murmur had caused a misunderstanding with Su Qi and hurriedly clarified.

    "If not me, then who are you talking about?" Su Qi persisted.

    At a loss for an answer, Yuan Li''s gaze suddenly sharpened, foolishly staring at the familiar face that had just appeared in her mind a moment ago.

    "No way! Am I seeing things?" Yuan Li raised a hand to rub her eyes. It was too much of a coincidence since they were thousands of miles away from Changxi County in the capital.

    Su Qi had also noticed Yuan Li''s unusual behavior by then and followed her gaze to see Ge Dongxu as well.

    A young man who still looked like a student!

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    Su Qi wore a puzzled face, not understanding why Yuan Li was staring at this young man who had suddenly appeared before them!

    "Sister Li, you didn''t expect this, did you? I''m also in the capital!" Ge Dongxu saw Yuan Li staring in disbelief, as if he had done something very proud of himself, and started to laugh.

    "Wow! It really is you! I thought I was dreaming!" Yuan Li finally realized it was true, and excitedly threw herself into Ge Dongxu''s arms in surprise.

    Su Qi''s eyeballs nearly popped out at that moment!

    Ge Dongxu''s eyeballs also bulged, for he certainly did not know that women are emotional creatures. Just a moment ago, Yuan Li was thinking of him, and now he had suddenly appeared before her eyes. One could imagine how intense the impact was on a woman''s psyche and emotions.

    In her excitement, it was not strange for an emotionally impulsive woman to suddenly embrace Ge Dongxu tightly.

    Having finished a phone call and about to look for Ge Dongxu, Feng Chenqing also had his eyes somewhat glazed over, secretly feeling impressed that indeed, someone who could befriend his grandfather despite his young age had quite the knack for charming ladies. He traveled all the way to the capital, and with just a stroll through the streets, there were acquainted girls throwing themselves into his arms!

    "This, Sister Li!" Ge Dongxu gently tapped Yuan Li''s fragrant shoulder and quietly reminded her in her ear. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On one hand, Ge Dongxu was somewhat uncomfortable with the stares from Su Qi and Feng Chenqing; on the other, he was also somewhat affected by the warmth and tenderness in his arms, feeling his blood flow accelerate a bit.

    With Ge Dongxu''s gentle reminder in her ear, Yuan Li realized that he had already grown into an eighteen-year-old lad with a height of 1.78 meters. Her sudden embrace could indeed seem ambiguous and lead to misunderstandings.

    So Yuan Li quickly released her hands and then straightened out her hair in an attempt to cover up and alleviate the awkward atmosphere.

    "I say, Yuan Li, who is this young man?" Seeing Yuan Li let go, Su Qi sized up Ge Dongxu with a look of ambiguity and curiosity, asking.

    "I forgot to introduce him, my sworn brother Ge Dongxu." After all, Yuan Li was a leader and quickly regained her composure, smiling as she pulled Ge Dongxu over to introduce him.

    "So you''re the sworn brother, hehe, hello Dongxu, my name is Su Qi, I''m Yuan Li''s college classmate." Su Qi reached out to Ge Dongxu with an outstretched hand.

    "Hello, Sister Qi." Ge Dongxu reached out his hand to her and they shook lightly.

    At this point, Feng Chenqing also walked up, and Ge Dongxu took the opportunity to introduce him to Su Qi and Yuan Li, of course without mentioning that he was Elder Feng''s grandson.

    Though Feng Chenqing had an average appearance, he had a fine temperament and was dressed elegantly, which made Su Qi take an extra glance at him, her eyes betraying a hint of puzzlement. Yuan Li, however, didn''t think much of it.

    She knew that Ge Dongxu was quite remarkable, and him knowing a few men of quality was not strange at all.

    "Sister Li, how come you are in the capital?" After the introductions, Ge Dongxu curiously asked.

 Chapter 177 You Accompany Sister on This Trip

    "Organizing a reunion. What about you?" Yuan Li responded, then asked back."Me? Oh, I came to visit a friend''s grandpa." Ge Dongxu paused upon hearing this and casually made up a reply. He certainly couldn''t say he was here to visit Elder Feng. Otherwise, he would really shock the two women in front of him!

    "I didn''t realize you had friends in Beijing," Yuan Li said, blinking at Ge Dongxu. Having spent some time with Ge Dongxu, Yuan Li could tell he wasn''t telling the truth, but she didn''t pursue it.

    "Yeah," Ge Dongxu replied with some emotion. He truly hadn''t expected that one day he would become a fellow student with Elder Feng.

    "Oh, by the way, where are you heading next? Do you want Chenqing to drive you?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    Having a car these days still carried a certain prestige. When Ge Dongxu asked this, Yuan Li didn''t react much. She knew Ge Dongxu was worth tens of millions now, so it wasn''t surprising his friend had a car. However, Su Qi couldn''t help but look at Ge Dongxu and Feng Chenqing with curiosity.

    "No need, I also drove here," Su Qi replied, clearly proud.

    Ge Dongxu heard this and didn''t mention the car anymore, but turned to Yuan Li and asked, "Sister, when are you heading home?"

    "Tomorrow''s Saturday. We''ve got another day of activities. Going back on Sunday? How about you?" Yuan Li asked.

    "If that''s the case, I''ll also stay here tomorrow, and I''ll go back with you the day after tomorrow," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment, then replied.

    "Great, have you booked your plane ticket yet? If not, I can book it for you," Yuan Li said with a happy smile upon hearing that Ge Dongxu chose to go back with her.

    "Hehe, no need to trouble Sister Li. I''ll book Dongxu''s plane ticket. I wonder if you''ve booked yours yet? If not, I can book yours too," Feng Chenqing quickly responded before Ge Dongxu could.

    "I haven''t booked mine yet. Well, it would really be helpful if you could do it, so we can pick the seats easily. I''ll give Dongxu the money for the ticket," Yuan Li said.

    "Hehe, don''t mention it," Feng Chenqing replied with a smile, not specifically declining the offer of money. At his level of success, quibbling over such a small sum would be below his dignity.

    "Okay, then I''ll give Dongxu my ID number later," Yuan Li said, ready to join Su Qi for the next activity.

    However, just as she was about to leave, she suddenly had a thought, pulled Ge Dongxu aside, and asked in a low voice, "Dongxu, are you free this evening?"

    "I''m free now, just letting Chenqing keep me company as I wander around. Is there something you need?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "That''s great. Then you can join me at the reunion tonight," Yuan Li said, her eyes brightening with excitement.

    "That might not be a good idea!" Ge Dongxu responded with a wry smile.

    "What''s wrong with that? Many classmates are bringing their spouses, and some even brought their mistresses. Today, you can just be my knight in shining armor!" Yuan Li gave Ge Dongxu a look and said.

    "What, has some toad been trying to eat swan meat?" Ge Dongxu''s expression darkened slightly as he asked.

    "Giggle, you crack me up!" Yuan Li playfully punched Ge Dongxu and then said, "But you''re right, so if you don''t want your sister to be devoured by toads, you''ll have to go with me."

    "You say that, what can I do?" Ge Dongxu said helplessly upon hearing this.

    "I knew you care about me, not willing to let others take advantage of me!" Yuan Li said happily, then pushed Ge Dongxu slightly and added, "Then you go and talk to your friend."

    "Alright." Ge Dongxu nodded, then turned to Feng Chenqing who was casually chatting with Su Qi behind him and said, "Chenqing, I''ll be joining Sister Li tonight, don''t worry about me."

    "How can that be? I am your driver today," Feng Chenqing said urgently.

    "It''s not that serious. I see you have something on tonight too, even if Sister Li didn''t have plans, I would have gone back early. Just leave me your number, and I''ll call you if I really need anything," Ge Dongxu said. Read latest chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    After thinking it over, Feng Chenqing knew that since Ge Dongxu was going to be with Yuan Li, it indeed wouldn''t be convenient for him to tag along and he did have some matters to attend to tonight, albeit less urgent than Ge Dongxu''s. Since Ge Dongxu insisted, he decided not to impose anymore and said, "Alright, call me anytime if you need anything."

    After that, Feng Chenqing exchanged numbers with Ge Dongxu, then bid farewell to the trio and left.

    "Really, Yuan Li, even if you want a shield, at least bring someone decent. Do you think it''s appropriate to bring him?" Su Qi couldn''t help but relax after Feng Chenqing left, pointing at Ge Dongxu with slightly furrowed brows.

    It wasn''t that Ge Dongxu looked shabby. In fact, over the past couple of years, Ge Dongxu''s skin had gradually become lighter, his height had shot up to 5 feet 10 inches, and due to his cultivation, his physique was well-proportioned, giving off a wholesome and sunny vibe. Even if his features weren''t handsome, they were definitely pleasing to the eye and easy to generate a good impression.

    Su Qi felt this way because Ge Dongxu was really too young and was also dressed in simple sportswear that made him look like a student, not like a successful figure from society.

    "What''s inappropriate? He''s quite good!" Yuan Li retorted unconvinced, pulling Ge Dongxu''s hand and sticking out her chest defiantly.

    "What''s good about it? Yes, he''s tall, and yes, he looks fine, but he totally looks like a student. If you bring him along, isn''t that just blatantly fooling people?" Su Qi rolled her eyes and said.

    "Oh, that''s true! It does seem too obvious!" Yuan Li conceded, looking at Ge Dongxu and slightly furrowing her brows.

    Because she knew what Ge Dongxu was capable of, she often viewed him through an adult''s perspective. But now that Su Qi mentioned it, upon a closer look, Yuan Li realized Ge Dongxu did indeed still seem too naive.

    If she really brought him along, it wouldn''t be shielding anymore; it would be deliberately slapping Cui Mingshuo in the face.

    After all, such matters, everyone knows it''s enough, but if you make it too obvious, then it puts people in an awkward position.

    Ge Dongxu touched his face, then looked down at his attire and couldn''t help but laugh wryly to himself. Well, his outfit really wasn''t qualified to be a shield.

    However, Ge Dongxu was a cultivator after all, and now a millionaire business owner, naturally having his self-confidence; he wouldn''t get cold feet or back out just because of Su Qi''s words.

    So, he touched his face, scanned around, and seeing a high-end mall on this street, Ge Dongxu came up with an idea, smiling, "This is simple, just wait here for me for a while."

    Without waiting for Yuan Li and Su Qi to respond, he had already quickly walked towards the nearest mall.

    ps: Since this book was uploaded, I''ve always had more than 6,000 words, but these days I''m out and really can''t manage, so today is still two updates, striving to burst out after a few days when I''m back home, really sorry.

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 Chapter 178 Astonishing Changes

    "What''s he up to?" Su Qi said, a bit stunned."I''m not sure either," Yuan Li was also somewhat puzzled.

    "Could he be going to the bathroom?" Su Qi wondered, wearing a look of utter disbelief.

    "You might be overthinking this, I bet he''s just getting prepared. Right, he''s probably going to buy clothes," Yuan Li suddenly slapped her forehead and said.

    "Buy clothes? Many of the brands in this mall are international. Some are worth several months of our salaries! He''s going to buy from here?" Su Qi said with a face full of surprise and disbelief.

    "Let me tell you a secret, he''s really rich," Yuan Li thought about how Ge Dongxu was probably rushing to buy clothes for her sake, and felt an extra sweetness in her heart. Seeing Su Qi''s incredulous expression, she couldn''t help but lean in and whisper to her.

    "Come on! That Feng Chenqing definitely looked like someone from a wealthy family, but this so-called sworn brother of yours, forget it. And I have no idea how those two came to be together, they are obviously not from the same league," Su Qi said dismissively.

    "Hey! What''s with you, Su Qi, looking down on people like that? Where is Dongxu lacking, huh?" Yuan Li immediately became unhappy at the words.

    "Hey, hey, Yuan Li, why are you getting so worked up? It wouldn''t be that you actually have a thing with your so-called sworn brother, would it?" Su Qi asked curiously, looking at Yuan Li.

    "Get out of here, what nonsense are you spouting! He''s only eighteen!" Yuan Li''s face suddenly flushed with a guilty conscience upon hearing this, but she firmly denied it nonetheless.

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    "Eighteen is great! So young and robust! Hee hee, you''re blushing! Oh, my God, you actually fell for that Ge Dongxu! You haven''t actually done anything with him, have you¡­" Su Qi had only been teasing casually, but when she saw Yuan Li''s face turn a bit red, she couldn''t help but exclaim as if she had discovered a new continent.

    "You little hussy, who''s shameless like you! If you keep this up, watch me tear your mouth apart!" Yuan Li, infuriated and embarrassed, made a gesture to tear at Su Qi''s mouth, which scared Su Qi into a quick trot toward the mall, begging for mercy as she ran, "Okay, okay, I''ll stop joking! Our Yuan Li, the beautiful Yuan Li, President Yuan, how could she possibly fall for a little boy? If she''s going to like someone, it would be a successful man with a stable, handsome career."

    "I really can''t figure it out, it''s only been six or seven years since we graduated, how could you have changed so much!" Yuan Li saw that Su Qi was saying she wouldn''t joke anymore, but the more she spoke, the more preposterous it got, leaving her looking helplessly resigned.

    "How could I not change? From a young girl to a young wife, from a student to a woman in the workplace, society has taught me so much. Teachers often said society was a big dyeing vat, which I never understood until later. As for you, to still retain this na?ve modesty after experiencing a failed marriage, I''m genuinely surprised. If it were me, I''d let Cui Mingshuo take advantage if he wanted to," Su Qi said with a sigh, giving Yuan Li a glance.

    "I''ve seen through marriage, I won''t step into the palace of matrimony again in this lifetime. But when it comes to the matters between men and women, it still requires feelings. Someone like Cui Mingshuo, who thinks he has some power and treats women like playthings, even classmates are no exception, he''s what I despise the most. Besides, his little bit of power came from his father-in-law''s promotion. Now that his father-in-law has passed away, he''s fooling around outside; what kind of man is that! If he had the ability to climb to his current position on his own, I might have had a bit more respect for him," Yuan Li said.

    "You, you''re still na?ve. These days, no matter how you get to the top, that''s his ability," Su Qi said unpersuasively.

    "Let''s not argue about this, it''s meaningless!" Yuan Li said.

    "Indeed, it''s pointless. Let''s head to the mall and see what your sworn brother is really up to? If we don''t leave now, they''ll start calling to hurry us along soon," Su Qi felt arguing was a waste of time too. After all, since entering society, many of the once pure-smiling classmates had changed; the only thing that might remain unchanged was the pure friendship of the old days. Of course, some people had even thrown away those pure friendships. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

    In the department store''s Ermenegildo Zegna counter, a young and attractive sales associate looked at Ge Dongxu, who seemed like a completely different person, with disbelief.

    When Ge Dongxu first came in, one of the sales associates didn''t think much of him, worried that he might dirty the clothes. Out of a customer-first mentality, she still suppressed her prejudice and served him.

    To her surprise, this young man who looked just like a student, from inside out, from his feet to his head, changed entirely into Zegna apparel. The price tags, ranging from thousands to tens of thousands, didn''t even make him frown; he simply went ahead and paid with his card. Then, he packed his old clothes into a bag and took them away.

    "The world of the wealthy is truly incomprehensible! Who would have thought this guy was so loaded!" The mistaken sales associate watched Ge Dongxu''s tall figure walk away effortlessly, repeatedly expressing her regret.

    After changing into a new outfit, Ge Dongxu felt quite good. Passing by the watch counter, he thought it over and spent a good ten thousand on a Swiss Eterna mechanical watch, then went to the restroom to tidy up his hair a bit. Even Ge Dongxu had some trouble recognizing himself in the mirror.

    The black, slim-fit, two-button suit, casually unbuttoned at one button, the dark red lining, the discreet yet dignified watch, and the shining black leather shoes perfectly complemented Ge Dongxu''s physique, which was even more exceptional than that of a model, and also highlighted the mature and cool demeanor he didn''t usually show.

    At this moment, no one could tell that he was still just an eighteen-year-old high school student!

    Of course, he couldn''t suddenly become a successful man in his thirties.

    He seemed more like a young man in his early twenties, with a calm and understated temperament.

    Indeed, clothes make the man. Ge Dongxu looked at himself in the mirror, lost in thought for a moment before leaving the restroom and heading towards the exit of the department store.

    Before reaching the entrance, Ge Dongxu saw Yuan Li and Su Qi walking towards him, looking around as if they were searching for him.

    Ge Dongxu''s lips curled into a confident smile as he walked briskly towards them, waving his hand at them.

    But to Ge Dongxu''s dismay, Yuan Li and Su Qi seemed not to notice him.

    "Can it really be such a drastic change?" Ge Dongxu touched his own cheek, finding himself in a somewhat amusing predicament.

    "Ladies, are you looking for me?" With no other choice, Ge Dongxu stepped forward, smiling as he asked.

    "No!" Su Qi blurted out without thinking, but after she spoke, she felt something was off, followed immediately by her opening her mouth in shock, pointing at Ge Dongxu and exclaiming, "You, you''re Ge Dongxu!"

 Chapter 179 Truly Earned by Myself

    "Yeah! Qi, you wouldn''t have forgotten me so soon, would you?" Ge Dongxu laughed."Tsk, tsk, tsk! I couldn''t tell, but it turns out you''re quite the handsome guy, and well, look at this physique. No wonder Yuan Li fell for you," Su Qi circled Ge Dongxu, appraising him from head to toe with continuous sounds of admiration, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at him.

    "Hey, Su Qi, what are you talking about!" Yuan Li had also been "stunned" by Ge Dongxu at first, staring at him without blinking, and when she suddenly heard Su Qi mention that she liked him, she got startled, quickly raised her little fist to hit her, then said to Ge Dongxu with a blushing face, "Dongxu, don''t listen to Su Qi''s nonsense, she''s always like this, she loves to gossip."

    "Hehe, it''s okay, it''s okay. Do I look all right now?" Ge Dongxu said with a somewhat embarrassed smile, then asked.

    "Of course, you look great! You''re really giving Yuan Li face! This way no one can gloat over her getting divorced, or laugh at her misfortune! Come on, let''s go." Su Qi said, and she grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hand and started to lead him out without another word.

    Su Qi suddenly grabbing his hand really gave Ge Dongxu a start, and he quickly withdrew his arm.

    Su Qi was slightly taken aback at his reaction, then said, "You''re killing me here. Am I that bad? I take the initiative to hold your hand and you don''t even appreciate it!"

    "Giggle!" Yuan Li couldn''t help but laugh at this, then she walked up and gently took Ge Dongxu''s hand, saying, "Don''t bother with her, Dongxu! Let her be crazy!"

    With that, she started to walk outside with Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu offered a sheepish smile, but this time, he did not shrug off Yuan Li''s hand.

    After all, he and Yuan Li were close, so how could he shake off her hand?

    "Hey, wait for me!" Seeing this, Su Qi quickly caught up, then, regardless, she grabbed the other arm of Ge Dongxu, and said with a hint of agitation, "What''s this all about! Yuan Li holds your arm, and you stand still like a good boy, but when I grab your hand, you act as if you''ve been bitten by a snake. Besides my face not being as pretty as Yuan Li''s, in what way am I inferior? I have the chest, I have the butt... *cough cough*, anyway, back in school, I also had many admirers."

    Ge Dongxu was at a loss for words, this time he really encountered a formidable woman!

    But truth be told, Su Qi did have a notable figure, and the pressure when she held his arm made him very uncomfortable, but this time he dared not shake her off.

    After all, Su Qi was Yuan Li''s classmate, and she had gone so far in what she said, he had to give her some face. He might as well sacrifice a bit of his dignity and let her take a little advantage.

    That''s what Ge Dongxu thought, but the men around them didn''t think so. They watched two vibrant women, one on each side, holding the arm of a young and handsome man, especially the one on the left, who looked as radiant and dignified as a white-collar beauty from TV dramas, and they were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

    When will I ever be that awesome!

    "Dongxu, did you spend a lot of money on this outfit?" Su Qi, unable to contain her curiosity, asked as they walked towards where the cars were parked.

    "It''s okay, including the watch, less than thirty thousand," Ge Dongxu nodded and replied nonchalantly.

    When he was buying jade tokens, he would spend hundreds of thousands, and lately, it had even amounted to millions, so thirty thousand really wasn''t a big deal to him. If only he hadn''t thought it unnecessary to buy an expensive watch, he could easily have afforded one of those gold Rolex watches that went for hundreds of thousands with his current wealth.

    Yet even so, Ge Dongxu''s casual mention of spending thirty thousand managed to stagger Su Qi, almost causing her to twist her ankle. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Thirty thousand! The average annual salary of a worker in the capital city last year was just over ten thousand, which meant this was equivalent to an ordinary worker''s salary for three years. And yet, Ge Dongxu had spent it in the blink of an eye, just to be an adequate decoy.

    The cost, the price, made Su Qi''s little heart start to pound. She didn''t dare to cling to Ge Dongxu''s arm anymore.

    Previously, the reason why she dared to tease Ge Dongxu and walk arm in arm with him was mainly because of the first impression he had given her. She never truly placed Ge Dongxu on a high pedestal in her mind, always feeling that he was just a young man from a small place. And she was a white-collar worker at a bank in the capital, feeling a sense of superiority both in terms of social status and age, which made her behave quite casually, without ever feeling anything improper.

    But now, she truly felt something was off. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

    In the last few years, although her husband had made some money from his business, they never dared to spend thirty thousand so casually, a few thousand was already the limit.

    "Dongxu, what does your family do? You''re spending so much money so casually," after a while, Su Qi couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    "This money is all earned by Dongxu himself," Yuan Li chimed in to help.

    "Earned it himself? Didn''t you say Dongxu is only eighteen years old?" Su Qi asked, eyes wide with disbelief.

    "It''s really earned by myself," Ge Dongxu had to confirm himself.

    "Okay, I got it!" Su Qi glanced at Ge Dongxu, nodding her head as if she understood everything.

    Ge Dongxu thought Su Qi really understood, so he didn''t explain further, while Yuan Li knew Su Qi had misunderstood him. She cleverly assumed that Ge Dongxu had some background in Changxi County and that it was not convenient to explain clearly.

    However, since Ge Dongxu didn''t continue explaining, Yuan Li didn''t feel it was right to explain further. She always knew that Ge Dongxu was low-key and didn''t like showing off; otherwise, with his wealth, he wouldn''t have dressed so plainly just now.

    Wearing such attire today, this must be a first for him!

    Thinking this, Yuan Li felt a sweetness in her heart, and unconsciously hugged Ge Dongxu''s hand a bit tighter.

    Su Qi didn''t drive a fancy car, just a white Jetta.

    Once in the car, Yuan Li explained to Ge Dongxu that they had also been at Quanjude eating roast duck just now, and the next item on the agenda for the evening was to go to a place called the Jinyi Entertainment Club to drink and sing.

    Halfway through the drive, Su Qi''s phone rang. A man''s dissatisfied voice came through, "What''s going on, Su Qi? Why haven''t you and Yuan Li arrived yet?"

    "Director Cui, we will be there soon, very soon," Su Qi hurriedly responded.

    "Aren''t you all classmates? Why call him Director?" Ge Dongxu asked curiously after Su Qi hung up the phone.

    "Giggle! You''ll understand once you start working and enter society," Su Qi laughed, now more convinced than ever that Ge Dongxu was wealthy because of his family.

    Otherwise, how could a truly capable person, who could earn so much money on his own, ask such a naive question?

    What Su Qi didn''t know was that the way Ge Dongxu made money was different from others; he only made decisions on the big directions, and details of dealing with people and government departments didn''t require his involvement. Thus, he didn''t have as deep an understanding of such realistic aspects of society yet.

    ps: Still on a trip, only two chapters today, sorry, sorry.

 Chapter 180 Alumni Meeting

    Continue your adventure at My Virtual Library EmpireThis was an opulently decorated club whose colorful lights could be seen from afar under the night sky.

    When Yuan Li and her two companions arrived, a group of classmates had already entered a large private room.

    The private room was similarly adorned in grandeur, with about twenty people¡ªmen and women¡ªseated inside. Most were around their thirties, with two women who appeared to be just over twenty sticking close to a couple of men who were starting to show a touch of corpulence.

    The table was laid with snacks and bottles of beer.

    A man with a classic "parted 70:30 hairstyle" sprawled on the long couch, taking up at least three people''s space, and looking very ostentatious.

    A woman on the stage was singing a love duet with a man.

    Seeing Yuan Li and Su Qi walk in, the ostentatious man''s eyes lit up. He sat up in his seat and waved Yuan Li over, saying, "Classmate Yuan Li, why have you just arrived? Come, sit over here."

    "Yeah, Yuan Li, why are you so late? Without you, even Director Cui doesn''t feel like singing or drinking." Someone chimed in, egging her on.

    "If Director Cui isn''t in the mood for singing or drinking, that''s a question for all of you in the capital, isn''t it? Why turn it around on someone from a small place like me?" Yuan Li responded with a laugh and then pulled Ge Dongxu to a seat on the side.

    As Yuan Li sat down with Ge Dongxu, people in the room realized she had brought someone with her, and a good-looking man at that. Some who had been keen to tease held back, and Director Cui''s face darkened noticeably. He looked at Yuan Li and forced a smile, "Old classmate, you brought a friend and haven''t introduced us?"

    "That''s right, that''s right. Classmate Yuan, you''ve got a handsome friend in the capital and only brought him out now? Not cool! Hurry and introduce him," some people started jeering again, with one or two women sounding particularly sour upon seeing the young and handsome Ge Dongxu.

    "You misunderstand, Sister Li. My name is Ge Dongxu, also from Changxi County. Because I happened to come to the capital this time, I joined in for some fun," Ge Dongxu said as he stood up.

    Hearing that Ge Dongxu was a fellow townsman of Yuan Li, a number of people in the room displayed a smirk that carried a touch of disdain. Director Cui, even more, slouched back into the couch, patted his belly and pointed toward Ge Dongxu, "Little Ge, both you and Su Qi are late with Yuan Li, shouldn''t you make some sort of gesture?"

    Director Cui''s right, let me suggest something. One drink for each lady, but Little Ge here, a man should tough it out a bit more, so make it a bottle," said a man, balding a tad although he was just in his thirties.

    "Great idea, I second that!" Many voiced their approval.

    "How is that okay? What era are we living in? We should advocate for gender equality!" Yuan Li spoke up for Ge Dongxu.

    "Since Yuan Li suggests gender equality, I find it very sensible. Women are no less capable than men, so let''s go with a bottle each." The balding man said, rising to his feet and opening three beers on the table.

    The men laughed at his antics, calling him as mischievous as he had been in university, while a few of the women who had a good relationship with Yuan Li and Su Qi spoke up on their behalf, questioning why it should be the women who have to match the men''s drinking, and not the other way around.

    Amidst the laughter and liveliness, Ge Dongxu couldn''t get a word in and somehow ended up being penalized a whole bottle, while Yuan Li and Su Qi each had to drink a glass.

    Drinking was no issue for Ge Dongxu, so he simply downed a bottle.

    "Great! Great!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s straightforward manner, everyone cheered him on, except for Director Cui, who felt somewhat irked. After Ge Dongxu set down the bottle, he suggested, "Ge, since you''re the new guy here and the youngest of us all, shouldn''t you toast the older brothers and sisters seated here?"

    With Director Cui''s suggestion, many joined in to cheer, while some slightly frowned but no one spoke up to object.

    But Yuan Li wouldn''t have it. A slight anger showed on her pretty face, and just as she was about to speak, Ge Dongxu had already picked up a bottle of beer, popped it open with a smile, and said, "No problem, good things come in pairs, I''ll toast everyone with another bottle."

    With that, Ge Dongxu chugged down another bottle.

    After all, it was a class reunion, and since he had come to be the shield, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to make it difficult for Yuan Li or spoil the mood for everyone.

    When Ge Dongxu finished another bottle, everyone cheered again, and Director Cui also called out in approval, even though his expression was rather gloomy, clearly not pleased. This was particularly true when he saw that as soon as Ge Dongxu had finished the bottle, Yuan Li immediately pulled him to sit and quickly offered him peanuts and beef jerky to eat¡ªthis made Director Cui feel even worse.

    "You fool, they obviously want to see you make a fool of yourself, why would you still drink? Eat something quick, fill your stomach." Yuan Li pulled Ge Dongxu to her side and whispered, her eyes filled with emotion. She was not oblivious to the fact that Ge Dongxu was doing all this to keep her from being put in a difficult position.

    "I just had Peking duck at Quanjude, just what I needed for my thirst," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "All you do is boast! You think you''re a German or what, drinking beer like water," Yuan Li scolded with a twinkle in her eyes and lightly pinched Ge Dongxu.

    "Heh, when it comes to drinking, even the Germans can''t outdrink me!" Ge Dongxu boasted.

    "Keep boasting, but I''m warning you, take it easy later. These folks have been rolling around in the workplace for years, each of them slicker than the last," Yuan Li couldn''t help but give Ge Dongxu another eye roll as she whispered.

    "Don''t worry, Sister Li, I know what I''m doing," Ge Dongxu whispered into Yuan Li''s ear reassuringly.

    "Now, Yuan Li, that''s not quite right. We''re all classmates here, and you two lovebirds are only busy whispering to each other. That won''t do, that won''t do, we have to separate them, or we can''t continue this reunion," the balding man started railing against Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li.

    "Boss Zhang, Boss Li, why don''t you lead the way!" After scolding Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li, the balding man turned towards two obviously well-fed men sticking close to two seductive-looking women, and said. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn, this Zhou Xialiu, you really are the worst! Nowadays people say it''s too expensive to pay for prostitutes, too tiring to date, it''s better to have a class reunion, breaking up one couple after another. It seems like that saying started with you," Boss Zhang and Boss Li laughed and pointed at the balding man, then gently patted the women beside them and said, "Didn''t you hear Manager Xie''s words? Go on, find that handsome guy and let President Yuan go."

 Chapter 181 Im a Little Attracted to You

    ```Indeed, the two women stood up and, swaying their serpent-like waists, walked toward Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu saw the commotion picking up and thought the class reunion was getting a bit too messy.

    Clearly, he wasn''t the only one who felt this way, as many cast a glance at Zhou Xialiu and at Director Cui, who wore a cold smile, and frowned slightly, disdain clearly visible in their eyes.

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    Anyone with half a brain could see that Zhou Xialiu and the General Managers Li and Zhang were all trying to curry favor with Director Cui.

    However, nobody voiced any objections. Most of them had graduated with a degree in finance and, after graduation, had mostly gone to work in banks. Those with connections stayed in the capital, while those without, like Yuan Li, returned to work in local areas.

    At that time, a finance degree was highly sought after, and with just a little effort and some smarts, it was possible to land a mid-level position in a bank, like Zhou Xialiu who was a department manager at a branch in the capital. As for General Managers Li and Zhang, they had gone into business for themselves.

    Still, they were only in their thirties, not long out of school. Among those attending the reunion, Cui Mingshuo had done the best for himself, holding a deputy director position in an important department at the central bank. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Since they were all from the banking system, they inevitably needed Cui Mingshuo''s favor, and even if they didn''t, they dared not offend him. As for General Managers Li and Zhang, being in business, they inevitably needed loans and such, and they often interacted with Cui Mingshuo and Zhou Xialiu, so when Zhou Xialiu made his suggestion, they joined in the raucous support.

    Yuan Li, seeing the two women swaying their hips as they approached, also felt somewhat annoyed.

    She really didn''t know how to counter this move!

    "Why has no one started singing? Weren''t we going to sing? Sister, how about I invite you to sing a song with me?" Ge Dongxu saw the two women were almost upon him, a strong fragrance assaulting his nostrils, which made him frown slightly. A thought struck him, and he suddenly grabbed Yuan Li and stood up, saying.

    Yuan Li, hearing this, blinked at Ge Dongxu and said happily, "Sure!"

    With that, she and Ge Dongxu took microphones and went to the screen to pick a song.

    As Yuan Li and Ge Dongxu stood up and left, General Managers Li and Zhang''s mistresses were a bit stunned, not sure what to do. Zhou Xialiu couldn''t come up with a plan on short notice either and could only offer an awkward laugh, saying, "Little Ge is quite crafty in his workings!"

    The crowd all laughed, and the two mistresses returned to the sides of General Managers Li and Zhang, coiling around them like serpents, while occasionally pinching them and complaining that they had been sent away and embarrassed.

    While everyone else was roaring with laughter, Ge Dongxu was getting worried. He leaned over to Yuan Li''s ear and whispered, "Sister, I think I''ve never sung love songs before!"

    "Pfft! And you were the one to propose such an idea! Now you have to go along with it whether you like it or not. I''ll find a popular love song, and you just hum along as best as you can," Yuan Li said, finding joy in Ge Dongxu''s predicament for not having sung love songs before yet stepping forward for her.

    "Sister, what''s with that expression? You look like you''re reveling in my misfortune. I did this for you, you know!" Ge Dongxu, seeing Yuan Li not in a rush and actually looking happy, couldn''t help but say with a mix of laughter and tears.

    "Do I? No way. There are only love songs here, which one have you heard more of? Do you know ''Heart Rain''?" Yuan Li turned the song catalog to show Ge Dongxu.

    Though Ge Dongxu had never put in the effort to learn a song thoroughly, back when he was studying, there was always a song before class¡ªthat''s when, before the teacher arrived, the class would sing led by the secretary for literature and arts. Whatever song was popular at the time, Ge Dongxu would hum along. So, looking at the song list, he found he could recall the melodies of quite a few. He knew a bit of the song "Heart Rain" that Yuan Li mentioned, but remembering that its lyrics were rather sad, he thought for a moment and said, "The lyrics of that song aren''t great; let''s choose this one, ''I''m Slightly Attracted to You''. I like this song better and I should be able to hum it."

    Yuan Li didn''t have much of a reaction when Ge Dongxu said the lyrics of "Heart Rain" weren''t good, but when he pointed to "I''m Slightly Attracted to You," her face flushed red, and she gave Ge Dongxu an enchanting side glance, leaving him confused by her meaningful look.

    "Let''s go with that one then." Seeing that Ge Dongxu seemed oblivious to the implication, Yuan Li couldn''t help but throw another glance at him and said.

    So the two selected "I''m Slightly Attracted to You," and the melodious tune began to play in the private room.

    You and I, men and women, can''t escape love

    ```

    Who has the courage to give their true heart regardless of everything else?

    What you''re saying includes not just you, but also myself.

    Should we continue or should we respond?

    Let love take its steps closer.

    I''m slightly moved by you,

    Yet so afraid to look into your eyes.

    A little bit moved, a little bit hesitant,

    I can''t believe my feelings are beyond my control.

    ...

    Ge Dongxu was a bit uncomfortable at first, singing off-key, and people were quietly mocking him. But as a cultivator, his vocal range was much broader than the average person''s, and soon enough, when he got into the groove, his magnetic, effortless voice filled the private room, quickly intoxicating the audience.

    The lyrics coincidentally expressed Yuan Li''s feelings at the time, and Ge Dongxu sang so well that Yuan Li quickly became emotional, especially when Ge Dongxu looked into her eyes singing "I''m slightly moved by you, yet afraid to look into your eyes," her eyes couldn''t help but moisten, and at some point, their hands found each other.

    "Great! Kiss! Give us a kiss!" When the song ended, someone from below started to tease.

    Yuan Li, hearing the calls, really wanted to slowly close her eyes and wait for Ge Dongxu''s kiss, yet she knew he was only eighteen, and he''d soon become a billionaire, while she was merely a divorced woman. How could she be worthy of his kiss?

    "Go on, stop fooling around!" Ultimately, Yuan Li waved her hand at the crowd, smiling brightly as she pulled Ge Dongxu back to their seats by his hand.

    "Not bad, Little Ge, have a drink." After Ge Dongxu came down, Cui Mingshuo made a point of getting up and grabbing two bottles of beer, handing one to him.

    Although Ge Dongxu didn''t like the man, since it was a reunion with Yuan Li''s classmates, he didn''t want to be rude, so he clinked bottles with him.

    "What does your family do for a living, Little Ge?" After having a sip with Ge Dongxu, Cui Mingshuo casually sat next to him and asked.

    "Nothing much, just a small business," Ge Dongxu replied casually.

    "Doing business is great, not like us who work for salaries," Cui Mingshuo said with a laugh, though his face clearly showed a hint of disdain.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and did not continue the conversation.

    "I know a number of business owners and government officials in Jiangnan Province. If you need any help with your business next time, just let me know. After all, you''re a friend of Yuan Li''s, and I ought to help when I can," Cui Mingshuo said.

    "Yeah, Little Ge, Director Cui has extensive connections. You should toast him a few more times," Zhou Xialiu chimed in.

    ps: I can only update two chapters today, but no matter what, I will update four chapters tomorrow.

 Chapter 182 I Wont Apologize

    "Heh, thanks, but I rely on integrity and product quality in my business, not really on networking." Ge Dongxu replied nonchalantly."Dongxu, that way of thinking is wrong, it''s even somewhat naive. Nowadays, without connections, it''s hard to get anywhere!" Cui Mingshuo, upon hearing this, didn''t mince his words and said with a sneer.

    "Heh, I don''t know if my idea is naive, but I think, Director Cui, your idea is quite terrifying." Ge Dongxu was already annoyed with Cui Mingshuo, and seeing him deliberately mocking him to his face, finally couldn''t bother to save his face, and just smiled lightly in response.

    The meaning couldn''t be clearer¡ªit was because of people like him that society had become terrifying!

    "Hmph, just a kid! What do you know?" Cui Mingshuo, just as annoyed with Ge Dongxu, had intended to embarrass him in front of everyone, but didn''t expect Ge Dongxu to confront him so boldly, which made him furious, darkening his expression as he spoke bluntly.

    The contempt was unmistakable!

    Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    Ge Dongxu became instantly enraged upon hearing this, and just as he was about to lash out, people around him sensed the tension and one of them already pulled Cui Mingshuo away, while Su Qi pulled Ge Dongxu aside and said, "Dongxu, you sing love songs so well, sing one with Sister Qi too."

    "I can''t sing love songs. I just bluffed earlier, and I only know that one song." Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t want to sing a love song with Su Qi, and hurriedly waved his hand.

    Since Cui Mingshuo had already been pulled away, Ge Dongxu didn''t bother to confront him anymore. After all, it was a class reunion, and Ge Dongxu actually didn''t want to spoil everyone''s mood.

    "How come you can sing with Yuan Li but not with me? Since you only know that one, sing that one then," Su Qi said with dissatisfaction.

    Seeing Su Qi say this, Ge Dongxu had no choice but to reluctantly step forward and sing one with her.

    The voice was still very pleasing, but it had less emotion than before, making it quite noticeable.

    So when Ge Dongxu and Su Qi finished singing, someone shouted from below, "Dongxu, you''re playing favorites! Su Qi was also one of our class beauties back in the day, how could you sing so dryly! No, no, you must sing another one!"

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s head began to ache. Singing was already hard enough for him, now he had to sing a love song, and even try to feign emotion with a woman he felt nothing for, it was enough to give him goosebumps.

    In the end, Ge Dongxu came up with a quick idea and reluctantly used the "urine escape" tactic.

    Once out of the private room, Ge Dongxu felt relieved.

    He didn''t like the atmosphere of this class reunion with Yuan Li, which made him feel oppressed.

    Once he relaxed, Ge Dongxu actually did feel the urge to pee, so he went to the restroom.

    "Oh, what a coincidence, you''re here too!" After relieving himself and washing his hands, Ge Dongxu saw Feng Chenqing walk in, and couldn''t help but express his surprise.

    "Ah, you''re here too," Feng Chenqing was also visibly pleased.

    "Yeah, Sister Li and some classmates are having a gathering. They dragged me here to join in the fun," Ge Dongxu explained with a smile.

    "I''m here for a friend''s friend''s birthday. They insisted I make an appearance," Feng Chenqing said.

    "Heh, must be a girlfriend''s friend," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Feng Chenqing laughed shyly.

    "Alright, I''m heading back to the private room," seeing this, Ge Dongxu didn''t say more.

    "Which room are you in? I''ll come by to visit later," Feng Chenqing said.

    "Don''t bother with that, your status is no small matter. If someone recognizes you, it could blow up," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Alright, just give me a call if you need anything," Feng Chenqing, a wise man, knew that Ge Dongxu preferred to keep a low profile, so he didn''t insist further.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and then left the restroom to head back to the private room.

    ¡­

    "Fuck, it''s just singing¡ªwhat''s with the attitude?" Cui Mingshuo cursed at Yuan Li in the private room. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Director Cui, you''re drunk, you''ve had too much," someone hurried to Cui Mingshuo and attempted to restrain him.

    "I''m clear as hell! She''s just a fucking bitch! What''s so great about her? I can have any woman I want¡ªwhy the hell are you acting all high and mighty? I could fuck you over with just one phone call!" Cui Mingshuo shoved the person holding him aside and pointed at Yuan Li, cursing arrogantly.

    At that, Yuan Li picked up a glass of beer and splashed it directly into Cui Mingshuo''s face.

    "Splash!" The beer hit Cui Mingshuo full in the face, soaking his hair and eyebrows with frothy droplets.

    The private room suddenly fell silent.

    On one hand, no one expected Cui Mingshuo to be so swollen with arrogance, and on the other, they were surprised by Yuan Li''s fierce temperament as she retaliated by throwing beer in Cui Mingshuo''s face.

    "Smack!" A loud slap broke the silence in the room.

    "You fucking bitch, how dare you splash beer on me! Do you fucking want to lose your job?" As he spoke, Cui Mingshuo reached out to grab Yuan Li''s hair, cursing menacingly,

    "Director Cui, Director Cui, you''re too drunk!" Seeing this, the people in the room panicked completely and hurried to restrain Cui Mingshuo, with Su Qi desperately trying to pry his hand away.

    "I''m not too drunk. Yuan Li, let me tell you, you''re done! Just so you know, the branch manager of your Ouzhou City is here today, and I''m calling him over right now. Motherfucker! What bullshit!" Cui Mingshuo struggled to shake everyone off, pointing at Yuan Li and cursing bitterly, while grabbing his phone to make a call.

    Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open, and a chubby head peeked in, its owner still holding a bottle of liquor.

    However, as the door swung open and he saw the scene, he was momentarily stunned, while Cui Mingshuo''s eyes lit up as he said, "Manager Liu, you''re just in time. This Yuan Li just splashed beer on me¡ªhandle it!"

    At this, Manager Liu''s face immediately darkened. Looking at Yuan Li, whose hair was somewhat disheveled and who still had the imprint of a slap on her face, he said, "Comrade Yuan Li, what is this about? Apologize to Director Cui right now!"

    "Why should I apologize? He insulted me first!" Yuan Li lifted her chin, tears brimming in her eyes, and said with quivering lips.

    "What kind of attitude is that? Do you think it was right to splash Director Cui with beer? Apologize to him right now!" Manager Liu demanded angrily.

    "I won''t apologize! He should be the one apologizing!" Yuan Li retorted.

    "Fine, fine. It seems you no longer want to be the branch manager!" Seeing Yuan Li disobey him, Manager Liu turned blue with rage, his face trembling with fat.

    The people in the room showed varying degrees of disdain and outrage, but no one spoke up for Yuan Li, except for someone who nudged her and whispered, "Just apologize, Yuan Li!"

    Su Qi also urged her this way.

    It couldn''t be helped; their positions were at best comparable to Yuan Li''s, with some even lower, including those stationed in the capital¡ªno one dared to stand up to Cui Mingshuo for Yuan Li''s sake.

    Since they didn''t dare confront Cui Mingshuo, they naturally could only persuade Yuan Li to back down.

    "What''s going on?" While everyone was trying to persuade her, the door to the private room was once again pushed open, and Ge Dongxu walked in, seeing a few women quietly consoling Yuan Li around her, he asked with a puzzled expression.

    ps: That''s it for today, four more updates tomorrow for sure. Talking about tomorrow, I''m returning home. For those interested in my journey, everyday life, and writing situation, feel free to join my WeChat public account.

 Chapter 183 Hitting People [First Update]

    "Wow! Dongxu!" Yuan Li heard Ge Dongxu''s voice, suddenly pushed the people beside her and threw herself into his arms, bursting into tears.No one stood up for her when so many people saw her, a woman, being hit by a man. Instead, they actually urged her to apologize to the man who had hit her. She felt so wronged and sad.

    Now that she heard Ge Dongxu''s voice, she couldn''t control her feelings of grievance and sadness anymore.

    "Don''t cry, Sister Li, don''t cry. I''m here for you!" Seeing Yuan Li cry her eyes out in his arms, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a surge of heartache and quickly embraced her, gently patting her shoulders.

    "Hmph, what a bold claim. Don''t you even look at your own status? A bumpkin daring to speak such words in the capital," Cui Mingshuo sneered.

    Ge Dongxu gave Cui Mingshuo a cold glance but didn''t rush up immediately; instead, he softly consoled Yuan Li.

    "Dongxu, let''s go." After a while, having found comfort in Ge Dongxu''s embrace, Yuan Li gradually calmed down, looked up at him with tear-stained eyes and said.

    "What happened to your face? Who hit you?" As soon as Yuan Li looked up, Ge Dongxu saw the slap mark on her face, and his expression suddenly turned cold.

    "It''s nothing, let''s go, Dongxu." Yuan Li forced a smile at Ge Dongxu and said.

    She knew this was the capital, not like the small place of Changxi County! She couldn''t let Ge Dongxu act recklessly.

    "Tell me, who hit you?" Ge Dongxu grabbed Yuan Li''s shoulders and asked, seeing the slap mark on her delicate face filled him with an unbearable mix of heartache, outrage, and self-reproach.

    Today, he had promised to be her knight in shining armor for the evening!

    Yuan Li bit her lip and shook her head, refusing to speak.

    "It was me! What about it?" While Yuan Li remained silent, Cui Mingshuo spoke up. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

    "It was you! You damn bastard hit Sister Li! Fuck!" Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu let go of Yuan Li, turned towards Cui Mingshuo, and charged at him, grabbing his hair, slamming him to the ground, and throwing punches at his head and face. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Fuck, who do you think you are? Daring to hit my sister!" Ge Dongxu cursed while he hit him.

    Everyone in the private room was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

    No one had expected the Ge Dongxu who had seemed shy while singing just moments ago to be so fierce, striking someone as soon as there was cause.

    "Let go, let go!" Soon the others snapped back to reality and rushed forward to pull Ge Dongxu away.

    "All of you get the hell away from me! You''re all unworthy of the title ''classmate''. Shit, you watched a man hit a woman and just stood there doing nothing?" Ge Dongxu stood up fiercely, his eyes coldly sweeping over everyone, his foot still on Cui Mingshuo''s head.

    "Let me go, let me go! You''re dead, kid, you''re so dead!" Cui Mingshuo started shouting.

    "Shout your mother''s head! Shut your mouth!" Ge Dongxu, enraged, was not about to take Cui Mingshuo''s defiance lightly. He lifted his foot and stomped down hard on Cui Mingshuo''s body.

    In no time, Cui Mingshuo was left with nothing but his howls, no longer daring to be defiant.

    "Qi Sister, come here, what the hell just happened?" Ge Dongxu, stepping on Cui Mingshuo, waved to the already scared stiff Su Qi.

    Among these people, except for Yuan Li, she had had the most contact with Ge Dongxu, even jesting and fighting with him. She never imagined that Ge Dongxu could be so fierce when provoked.

    "Dongxu, let it go, let''s just leave!" Seeing this, Yuan Li hurried forward, tears streaming down her face as she tugged at Ge Dongxu, consumed with regret and self-reproach.

    "You think you can leave? You hit someone and you think you can just walk away? This isn''t over..." Cui Mingshuo, seeing Yuan Li pulling Ge Dongxu to leave, somehow found his bravado again and started to make noise.

    "Fuck! Can''t you understand what I''m saying? Still daring to shout!" Ge Dongxu, seeing Cui Mingshuo opening his mouth again, immediately scowled and kicked and stomped him violently once more.

    Cui Mingshuo quickly shut his mouth, while the others felt a chill in their hearts, especially Zhou Xialiu, who thought to himself that it was good he hadn''t continued to make a fuss earlier, or else he would have been miserable.

    "Su Qi, you tell the story!" Ge Dongxu, seeing that Cui Mingshuo was no longer yelling, turned again toward Su Qi and demanded coldly.

    This time he didn''t call her ''Qi Sister'' nor did he speak to her in a negotiating tone, but with one of command.

    At that moment, Ge Dongxu finally revealed his truly domineering side!

    Gazing at Ge Dongxu, even though Su Qi clearly knew he was only eighteen and from a small place, for some reason, facing him, she felt as if he were a powerful figure with great authority. Trembling with fear, she meticulously recounted the entire incident to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu heard that Cui Mingshuo had insulted Yuan Li simply because she refused to sing a love song with him, had thrown beer at her, and then had struck her, even pulling her hair. Furthermore, he had instructed Manager Liu to revoke Yuan Li''s position, and Manager Liu had indeed threatened to dismiss her to coerce an apology to Cui Mingshuo. Enraged, Ge Dongxu was nearly about to explode.

    "You lot are utterly unworthy of being Sister Li''s classmates!" Ge Dongxu pointed at Zhou Xialiu and the others one by one, then finally landed on Manager Liu who was also a bit shocked out of his wits, and said, "You there, come here?"

    Seeing Ge Dongxu calling him, Manager Liu stepped back.

    Ge Dongxu, upon seeing this, stepped forward, grabbed his collar, raised his hand intending to slap him, but ultimately lowered his hand and scolded, "What the fuck kind of leader are you? Not speaking up for your staff is bad enough, but to actually abet the bully! Fuck!"

    Boiling with rage, Ge Dongxu shoved Manager Liu away, in the end choosing not to hit him.

    "What''s going on? What happened?" Just as Ge Dongxu had released Manager Liu''s collar, the private room door was suddenly barged open, and several security guards rushed in, followed by a man in a suit wearing a duty manager badge.

    It turned out that while Ge Dongxu was dealing with Manager Liu, Cui Mingshuo had hurriedly taken out his phone and dialed a number in desperation.

    "Manager Zhang, perfect timing. Arrest this guy quickly, and then call the police. He assaulted someone!" The moment the security guards arrived, Cui Mingshuo immediately pointed at Ge Dongxu and started shouting.

    "So what if I hit you? You asked for it!" As Cui Mingshuo started shouting again, Ge Dongxu turned, grabbed his hair, and pushed him back down to the ground, stepping on him.

    Laymen watch the excitement; experts observe the technique. The people in the private room saw Ge Dongxu''s ferocious side when he grabbed and subdued Cui Mingshuo, but the security guards, who had some experience in scuffles, gasped at the sight of Ge Dongxu easily grabbing the hair of such a tall northerner, pinning him to the ground with a foot.

    This guy was clearly a master!

    ps: Today my journey finally comes to an end. Tomorrow, January 1st, I''ll be launching, and I''m crying here, having to rush writing on the airplane and continue through the night when I get home. Regardless, I''ll grit my teeth and give you four more updates before the launch as compensation for this time. Tomorrow I''ll try to burst out as much as I can. I hope everyone can help by casting a monthly vote and support the official subscription. Thank you.

 Chapter 184 Do You Still Want to Leave? [2nd Update]

    Manager Zhang was clearly a perceptive person. Moreover, this being the capital and Ge Dongxu being dressed in high-end attire that day, who knew if he had any clout, so even though Manager Zhang recognized Cui Mingshuo and was aware of his influence, he didn''t heed Cui Mingshuo''s words but instead hurriedly said, "Sir, let''s talk this out calmly, please. Could you release Director Cui first?"Don''t look at how Cui Mingshuo was flaunting his bravado today, that was only because he knew the background of everyone present, so he was unreserved. In reality, he was humbler than anyone at his workplace. Because he knew there were many who could decide his future there.

    So seeing Manager Zhang simply asking Ge Dongxu to let go and not immediately ordering the security guards to come and help, he knew what Manager Zhang was wary of.

    Because Manager Zhang''s mindset at that time was the same as Cui Mingshuo''s at work. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "A load of crap, this punk is just a nouveau riche from a small county town in Jiangnan Province!" Cui Mingshuo yelled loudly.

    Upon hearing Cui Mingshuo''s shout, Manager Zhang''s face indeed changed color, and he cursed, "Dammit, a country bumpkin dares to run wild here! Let go of him this instant or don''t blame me for being rude!"

    "You can try being rude for a change!" Ge Dongxu saw Manager Zhang''s face change faster than flipping a book and couldn''t help but respond coldly.

    The thing he hated the most was this type of opportunist!

    "Dammit, and now you''re getting cocky with me, huh? What the hell are you guys standing there for? Didn''t you see Director Cui get hit by this punk?" Manager Zhang, seeing Ge Dongxu actually threatening him, had his face change again and cursed at the security guards who were still standing rooted to the spot.

    Although the security guards were somewhat wary of Ge Dongxu''s prowess, they were armed with rubber clubs, and they outnumbered him, naturally not afraid. Seeing the manager issue an order, they swung their rubber clubs and started to beat Ge Dongxu mindlessly while cursing, "Dammit, you dare hit someone in Jin Yi? Are you tired of living or what? Let go of him!"

    "Hey, what are you doing? This has nothing to do with..." Seeing the security guards raising their rubber clubs and rushing forward to attack Ge Dongxu, Yuan Li couldn''t help but turn pale with anxiety, and from somewhere she found the courage to rush forward, throwing her arms wide in front of Ge Dongxu.

    "Get lost!" Most of the security guards saw Yuan Li suddenly block the front and quickly drew back their rubber clubs, but one of them kept cursing without stopping and even aimed a blow at Yuan Li.

    Ge Dongxu hadn''t expected Yuan Li to rush up and shield him. By the time he realized it, the security guard''s rubber club was nearly striking Yuan Li''s delicate shoulder.

    Ge Dongxu''s eyes immediately flashed dangerously: "Dammit!"

    He reached out and embraced Yuan Li''s slender waist, pulling her aside, as his other hand shot up and grabbed the rubber club.

    "Let go!" Ge Dongxu demanded coldly.

    The rubber club in the security guard''s hand was now in Ge Dongxu''s grasp.

    "Do you know why I hit this person?" Ge Dongxu, holding the rubber club, looked coldly at the security guard, now empty-handed, and asked in a cold voice.

    The security guard who previously appeared very fierce suddenly felt like he was being stared at by a ferocious beast upon meeting Ge Dongxu''s icy gaze, felt a chill in his heart, and reflexively stepped back.

    "That''s because this person hit Sister Li!" Ge Dongxu said as he raised the rubber club and struck at the shoulder of that security guard.

    The other security guards naturally hurried forward with their rubber clubs to help.

    ```

    "Get out of the way!" Ge Dongxu barked coldly, his rubber stick striking their incoming rubber sticks like lightning.

    ```

    ```

    Although rubber sticks don''t conduct electricity, when Ge Dongxu''s rubber stick hit theirs, every one of them felt a current-like energy transfer from the stick to their hands. Their arms went numb instantly, they cried out "Ah!" and the rubber sticks they held dropped to the ground one after another.

    ```

    ```

    Instantly, four rubber sticks lay scattered on the ground, and the four security guards each covered the hand that had held a stick, their faces pale, looking at Ge Dongxu with a hint of fear in their eyes.

    ```

    ```

    Inside the private room, there was a moment of silence so still it seemed you could hear a pin drop.

    ```

    ```

    Previously, when Ge Dongxu had pinned Cui Mingshuo to the ground and beaten him, they hadn''t thought much of it, assuming Cui Mingshuo was just weak, unable to defend himself against Ge Dongxu, looking like a beaten dog in a one-on-one fight.

    ```

    ```

    But now, these four burly security guards had come at him with rubber sticks, and with one strike from Ge Dongxu''s stick, had all let go of theirs, and only then did the people realize Ge Dongxu was actually a very capable fighter.

    ``` Find more to read on My Virtual Library Empire

    ```

    "What skill do you have hitting a woman? If you''re brave enough, come hit me!" In the midst of everyone''s shock, Ge Dongxu had already struck the shoulder of one of the security guards with his rubber stick.

    ```

    ```

    The security guard immediately crouched down in pain, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

    ```

    ```

    As Ge Dongxu struck the security guard, Manager Zhang had already sneaked out of the private room, hurriedly picking up the phone to call the police.

    ```

    ```

    After hitting the security guard once, Ge Dongxu didn''t continue, but instead, threw the rubber stick aside and shouted at him, "Learn how to be human before you work as a security guard! And if there''s a next time, it won''t be so easy!"

    ```

    ```

    Having said that, Ge Dongxu turned back to Cui Mingshuo.

    ```

    ```

    Seeing Ge Dongxu turn towards him, Cui Mingshuo''s eyes showed a fear as he kept backing away, saying, "You, you, what do you want to do? Don''t go too far! This is the capital city."

    ```

    ```

    "I know this is the capital," Ge Dongxu replied as he stepped forward and grabbed Cui Mingshuo by the collar, "I''m just a guy from a small rural place. So what? You think that makes it okay for you to pick on me, right? That gives you the right to humiliate Sister Li, to hit her, right?"

    ```

    ```

    "Let me tell you, I was already holding back just now! But to think you actually see yourself as some big shot," Ge Dongxu said, unable to restrain himself from giving Cui Mingshuo a slap.

    ```

    ```

    "Dongxu, let''s just go," Yuan Li implored, worried that Ge Dongxu would lose control of his emotions and really hurt Cui Mingshuo, she pulled at Ge Dongxu''s hand, both touched and anxious.

    ```

    ```

    "Go? You think you can still leave? I''m telling you, Manager Zhang must have already gone out to call the cops. You''re fucking waiting to go to jail! You hit me too! You think you''re so badass just because you can fight?" Cui Mingshuo said with a vicious look on his face.

    ```

    ```

    "This has nothing to do with Dongxu. If you''ve got the guts, just come at¡­" Yuan Li, hearing this, was so anxious her tears rolled in her eyes.

    ```

    ```

    After all, the capital is not a small place like Changxi County; in ancient times, it would be right under the emperor''s nose. An ordinary citizen here could, with enough twists and turns, be connected to some royal relatives, let alone a character like Cui Mingshuo.

    ```

    ```

    He had managed to get into the central bank and become a minor department head in his early thirties, certainly with the help of his deceased father-in-law, but he also had his own connections and abilities. Not to mention Ge Dongxu was just a simple commoner, even if it were the top leaders of Changxi County who caused a ruckus here and beat Cui Mingshuo, they couldn''t expect to walk away without consequences.

    ```

    ```

    Yuan Li, who had once studied finance in college in the capital, knew this all too well.

    ```

 Chapter 185 How Are You Here? [3rd Update]

    "What are you supposed to be? Is Yuan Li''s face that big? You say it''s none of this kid''s business just like that..." Cui Mingshuo immediately yelled, his eyes revealing a hint of madness.Today, he had been beaten by Ge Dongxu to the point he was nearly bursting with anger.

    "Do you want me to push you down and hit you again?" Ge Dongxu tightened his grip on Cui Mingshuo''s neck and asked coldly.

    Cui Mingshuo immediately shut his mouth, but his gaze was filled with hatred as he stared at Ge Dongxu.

    "I''m giving you a chance, apologize to Sister Li now." Ge Dongxu ignored Cui Mingshuo''s hateful look and said coldly, looking down at him.

    Cui Mingshuo turned his head away, not responding to Ge Dongxu.

    He was a man of status and standing after all, and everyone present today had been his classmates in the past. Having been beaten by Ge Dongxu earlier, he had lost face completely. How could he possibly lower his head to apologize to Yuan Li now?

    "Very well! You had your chance and you didn''t take it, so don''t blame me!" Ge Dongxu said softly, then gently patted his abdomen.

    Last time, Yuan Li''s ex-husband, Liu Lihe, was so despicable and shameless, yet Ge Dongxu had held back. But this time, he finally made a heavy move.

    Because Cui Mingshuo''s behavior was beyond despicable and shameless!

    "You, you, what are you going to do?" Cui Mingshuo shivered inexplicably when Ge Dongxu spoke so casually, because it wasn''t like Ge Dongxu''s previous fierce demeanor.

    "I''m not doing anything. What could I do? You think if you don''t apologize, I''m going to break your legs? I''m not that stupid! This is the capital. If I really did that, going to jail would be inevitable. As for hitting you a few times earlier, at most it would warrant some police criticism or a few days of detention. It''s hard to avoid getting into a little fight when someone''s tempers flare up." Ge Dongxu released Cui Mingshuo''s neck and dusted off his hands, with an indifferent expression on his face.

    "Haha, so you''re scared now? Detained for a few days, you motherfucker hit me and you think just a few days in detention? Are you fucking day-dreaming?" Seeing Ge Dongxu maintaining his composure, Cui Mingshuo secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then quickly returned to his arrogant demeanor, pointing at Ge Dongxu with a wild look and shouting.

    "What, you want someone to arrest me and throw me in jail forever? Seems like Director Cui''s ''Energy'' is not small indeed!" Ge Dongxu asked with a cold smile.

    "What? Now you know how big I am! Come on, kneel down and beg me, maybe if I''m pleased..." Cui Mingshuo sneered.

    "It seems some people just can''t be given any leeway!" Ge Dongxu said with a cold laugh.

    "You, what are you going to do? I''m telling you, the police are on their way!" Seeing the fierce light return to Ge Dongxu''s eyes, Cui Mingshuo hurriedly backed away, regretting that he hadn''t been able to restrain his emotions, even though he knew well about Ge Dongxu''s fierceness.

    "With your cowardly appearance, if it weren''t for your status and power, who the fuck would even look at you!" Seeing that he hadn''t even made a move and Cui Mingshuo was already retreating in fear, Ge Dongxu shook his head in contempt and mocked.

    The others also showed a trace of contempt upon hearing this.

    This kind of person, he can only bully those who are timid and incompetent. When he really meets a fierce person, he just crumbles!

    Cui Mingshuo, seemingly agitated by Ge Dongxu who had shaken him just moments earlier, was furious enough to want to throw punches at Dongxu. However, his feet were involuntarily stepping backward because Dongxu was advancing toward him as he spoke.

    "What''s happening here? What''s happening here?" Just then, a group of police suddenly appeared at the door. A commanding officer coldly inquired, his gaze quickly scanning the surroundings before settling on Cui Mingshuo''s face with a slight start, "Director Cui, what are you doing here?"

    "Officer Zhu, you''ve arrived just in time. Look at me, here, here, he hit me!" Cui Mingshuo, seeing that a subordinate''s brother had come, couldn''t contain his joy. He hastily pointed at his face and head where Dongxu had struck, then pointed at Dongxu with fierce resentment.

    Officer Zhu, named Zhu Chen, was the deputy director of the police station for the district where Jin Yi Entertainment Club was located, and coincidentally, Cui Mingshuo was the immediate superior of his brother Zhu Min.

    Director Cui had previously sought his help in an incident, so they were no strangers to each other.

    Upon hearing this, Zhu Chen glanced at Cui Mingshuo. His eyebrows slightly creased, and his expression showed a tinge of difficulty. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For aside from Cui Mingshuo''s slightly disheveled hair, there were no signs on his face or head of being hit at all.

    Zhu Chen was an experienced officer, and he could tell whether Cui Mingshuo had been hit or not.

    Since there was no evidence of any assault yet Cui Mingshuo was pointing at his head and yelling, it was clear that he was deliberately trying to frame and take down the young man.

    Of course, for someone like Zhu Chen, handling a young man would usually be easy. But this was the capital, and one careless move could implicate a prominent figure. Moreover, the young man was dressed so properly and carried a commendable demeanor, Zhu Chen dared not act rashly.

    However, since Cui Mingshuo was his brother''s superior, which could affect his brother''s future, he could not simply dismiss him.

    "Officer Zhu, this guy who hit people is from Changxi County, Jiangnan Province!" Cui Mingshuo, evidently aware of Zhu Chen''s hesitations, quickly clarified Dongxu''s identity, feeling inwardly annoyed that Zhu Chen, despite clearly seeing his beaten condition, still hesitated.

    Upon hearing that Ge Dongxu was from a county under Jiangnan Province, Zhu Chen inwardly breathed a sigh of relief but his brows knitted slightly again, a look of difficulty and disdain flickering in his eyes. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    Zhu Chen fully understood Cui Mingshuo''s intention in revealing Dongxu''s identity, but since there were no visible injuries on Cui Mingshuo, his earlier statement was too blatantly manipulative, making Zhu Chen inwardly curse him as foolish and incompetent.

    Nevertheless, Zhu Chen still had to consider his brother''s career prospects. Although he internally struggled with and disdained Cui Mingshuo''s blatant and flamboyant actions, he finally turned to Dongxu, speaking sternly, "Comrade, you are suspected of assault and battery. Please come with us for an investigation."

    "Officer, this matter has nothing to do with my friend. It was Cui Mingshuo who insulted and hit me first, and my friend just couldn''t take it and got into an argument with him," Yuan Li explained hastily as she saw the police were about to take Dongxu away, almost tearing up in her urgency.

    "Don''t listen to her slandering me, Officer Zhu. He was the one who first splashed drinks on me and then this young man hit me. Look at my face, my head! If you don''t believe it, ask these classmates of mine," Cui Mingshuo quickly responded, not foolhardy enough to think his status alone could command Zhu Chen to act on his behalf.

    Whether it was out of their conscience or otherwise, aside from Zhou Xialiu and those two directors who spoke up, everyone else simply bowed their heads.

    At this point, both Zhu Chen and the other officers could clearly see what had really happened, and they all inwardly cursed Cui Mingshuo for being useless, while Zhu Chen cursed him even more harshly in his heart.

    This maneuver by Cui Mingshuo was essentially putting him in a difficult position!

 Chapter 186 186 Chapter Are you okay? [4th Update]

    "Director Cui, you''re an adult, how can you have the nerve to blatantly lie? I was just scaring you a bit, I didn''t actually hit you. Go look in the mirror!" Ge Dongxu said with a disdainful sneer."Damn it, you''re the one blatantly lying!" Cui Mingshuo, who always twisted the truth about others, had never been accused this way before. Seeing Ge Dongxu turn the tables on him left him swearing up a storm, though he did glance toward a mirror in the private room.

    When he looked, Cui Mingshuo was stunned.

    The others, hearing this, subconsciously turned their gazes to Cui Mingshuo and they were all stunned as well. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn! Just now you clearly beat me up until my face was swollen and I had lumps on my head!" After being stunned, Cui Mingshuo screamed like a stepped-on cat.

    "Director Cui, you may be dumb, but don''t think everyone else is too!" Ge Dongxu sneered coldly.

    As a cultivator, especially at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, Ge Dongxu could inflict pain that made someone scream, all the while not leaving any visible marks.

    A trace of annoyance flickered through Zhu Chen''s eyes, and rightly so, as Cui Mingshuo was obviously treating him like a fool!

    Su Qi and a few others all wore expressions of disbelief.

    Just moments ago, they had clearly seen Ge Dongxu beating Cui Mingshuo severely. How come there wasn''t even a bit of swelling?

    "Officer Zhu, listen to me, this guy really did beat me up until my face was swollen and I had lumps on my head, I still feel extremely painful now!" Cui Mingshuo, not being Zhu Chen''s superior and unable to command him directly, hurriedly explained, seeing the unmistakable displeasure on Zhu Chen''s face.

    "Enough, you all come with me to the police station!" Zhu Chen finally spoke out, gesturing with his hand, his expression darkening.

    Seeing Zhu Chen finally siding with him, Cui Mingshuo flashed a triumphant smile at Ge Dongxu and whispered smugly in his ear, "Kid, you''re going to suffer at the station!"

    "Is that so? I think you''re the one who''s going to suffer!" Ge Dongxu retorted with a disdainful sneer.

    "Keep being arrogant! You''ll be crying soon!" Cui Mingshuo said coldly.

    "Officer, this really isn''t Ge Dongxu''s fault!" Yuan Li panicked as the police were about to take Ge Dongxu away, clearly siding with Cui Mingshuo, and she stepped forward to intervene again.

    "Sister Li, it''s okay, after the scene we caused, it''s only right for the officers to do this. We shouldn''t make it difficult for them. I just hope they can live up to the uniform they wear and not wrongly accuse the innocent," Ge Dongxu said, holding Yuan Li back.

    Ge Dongxu''s words sounded particularly grating and juvenile to Zhou Xialiu and the others, their faces unconsciously showing a sneer of disdain.

    Anyone with common sense could see that Cui Mingshuo and Zhu Chen knew each other and that Zhu Chen was biased! Only someone from a small place like Ge Dongxu would say such naive things.

    "Hmph, we don''t need you to tell us that! Once we get to the station and the investigation is clear, we will handle the case justly!" Zhu Chen said coldly.

    After finishing his sentence, Zhu Chen waved his hand, "Take him away," then pointed at Cui Mingshuo and a few others, "Director Cui, you and these people come with us to make a statement."

    These people included Zhou Xialiu who had just testified, two executives, Yuan Li, and a few others.

    It was unclear whether Zhu Chen intended to make a show for everyone or genuinely wanted to investigate the matter thoroughly.

    However, by taking away Cui Mingshuo''s favourable witness Zhou Xialiu and two managers, he clearly showed some bias. As for how biased he would be, that could only be known once they reached the police station.

    "Take what? First explain the matter clearly!" Just as Zhu Chen was about to take Ge Dongxu and others back to the police station, Feng Chenqing hurriedly pushed through the crowd and coldly shouted.

    After speaking, he didn''t look at Zhu Chen and the others'' expressions or reactions, but hurried to Ge Dongxu''s side and asked in a low, concerned voice, "Are you alright?"

    A young woman, dressed fashionably, followed Feng Chenqing. She looked surprised when she saw Feng Chenqing quickly approach a young man and ask in a concerned, low voice.

    Recently, Feng Chenqing had made a girlfriend. Her family was alright, but not as wealthy as Feng Chenqing''s. Coincidentally, she had a friend who was celebrating a birthday.

    Women tend to have a bit of vanity, and she insisted on Feng Chenqing showing his face to join in the fun.

    Since her friend''s family was only moderately well-off, they didn''t choose a top-tier club but selected Jin Yi Entertainment Club instead.

    When the police came earlier, someone had just come out to use the restroom and saw them, mentioning it on their return.

    Normally, this wouldn''t be a big deal, as it''s common for people to drink too much and cause disturbances at entertainment venues, leading to police visits. However, upon hearing this, Feng Chenqing immediately left his private room in a rush to see what was happening.

    After all, his grandfather''s junior fellow disciple was having fun there tonight! If he alarmed the old man, then Feng Chenqing would indeed have failed in his duties!

    But as is often the case, what you fear most tends to happen. Feng Chenqing had just arrived at the scene of the disturbance when he saw Ge Dongxu and Zhu Chen''s commanding gesture.

    Although Feng Chenqing often casually called him Dongxu, Ge Dongxu was younger than him, and calling him "junior uncle" would indeed be shocking and inappropriate. Feng Chenqing was very clear that someone of his grandfather''s stature wouldn''t just casually acknowledge a junior fellow disciple. Thus, while he might call him by name outwardly, he could never truly regard him as just another young man.

    So, when he saw the police attempting to take Ge Dongxu away, Feng Chenqing immediately broke through the crowd and rushed in.

    Joking aside, this was his grandfather''s junior fellow disciple. If he were taken to the police station, would his grandfather not be furious?

    If his grandfather were to be furious, it would cause a stir throughout the whole Huaxia Country¡ª who could bear such a responsibility?

    "I''m fine, it''s just that Sister Li was treated unfairly," Ge Dongxu said upon seeing Feng Chenqing arrive, not particularly surprised since the two had just met in the restroom. He waved his hand dismissively.

    Hearing that Ge Dongxu was alright, but that it was his friend who had been mistreated, Feng Chenqing breathed a sigh of relief.

    But he only relaxed slightly because he had personally witnessed the close relationship between Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li.

    "Who are you? Is it your place to interrupt while the police are working?" Cui Mingshuo was thinking about how to deal with Ge Dongxu at the police station later and was annoyed to see someone unexpectedly butt in who was apparently on Ge Dongxu''s side. Without giving it much thought, he immediately started scolding Feng Chenqing.

    "And who are you? What does my questioning the police have to do with you? Besides, since when is it wrong to question the police while they are handling a case?" Feng Chenqing, being a clever person, sensed from Cui Mingshuo''s attitude that this incident definitely involved him. His expression darkened, and he asked sternly.

    ps: I''ve gone to the airport. This book will be listed tomorrow. I hope friends can continue to support Old Duan by purchasing the official version. I''ll try to deliver five chapters tomorrow. They will be uploaded after midnight. Please support us with a guaranteed monthly vote after midnight. This month marks the beginning of a challenging monthly ticket leaderboard struggle. I will strive to update, and you strive to vote. Thank you.

 Chapter 187 Impressive Background [First release, asking for monthly votes.]

    "How is this none of my business? I''m telling you, if your friend hit me, he can wait to go to prison!" Feng Chenqing was usually low-key, and Cui Mingshuo did not recognize him. Seeing Chenqing''s arrogant demeanor, Cui immediately pointed at his nose and said wildly."Is that so? You have quite the nerve!" Feng Chenqing sneered, then turned to Zhu Chen and said, "Comrade, what''s the meaning of this? I see this man doesn''t have any injuries, yet he''s clamoring that my friend hit him and wants him sent to jail? This is barefaced threatening, shouldn''t you, as a police officer, make a statement about this?"

    "Whether there are injuries, whether someone was hit, and whether prison is warranted is not for you to decide. We, the police, will handle the case impartially!" Zhu Chen, seeing the accusatory look on Feng Chenqing''s face, also felt a surge of irritation and said in a cold voice.

    He didn''t recognize Feng Chenqing either and assumed he was also from Changxi County, Jiangnan Province.

    Seeing that Feng Chenqing was also a hothead who had irritated Zhu Chen, Cui Mingshuo couldn''t help feeling a bit of schadenfreude and looked at Feng Chenqing with a smug expression.

    "Very good!" Feng Chenqing saw that Zhu Chen was not being impartial, sneered, and without giving him any more attention, turned to Ge Dongxu and whispered, "Dongxu, could you briefly tell me what happened? I''d like to make a call to clarify things."

    Ge Dongxu saw that Feng Chenqing didn''t pull rank by directly invoking his status as the eldest grandson of the Feng Family and not only wasn''t upset but rather showed a hint of admiration, nodding and saying, "That is only right."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu was about to give Feng Chenqing a brief account of the incident, when Cui Mingshuo began to scoff repeatedly, "What, trying to pull some strings and call someone? Let me tell you, I''m an official at the central bank, and you people from the small places, if you hit a central bank official in the capital, thinking of calling someone for help, forget it!"

    "You''re with the central bank? What''s your name? Which department?" Feng Chenqing looked up in some surprise at Cui Mingshuo, and asked in a deep voice. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Feng Chenqing''s aunt was a leader at the central bank, and of course, her level was very high within the bank, far surpassing what Cui Mingshuo could compare to. Now that Cui Mingshuo was flaunting the name of the central bank in front of him, it was natural for Chenqing to ask for clarification.

    Cui Mingshuo, of course, was unaware that the young man before him had an aunt who was one of the central bank''s top executives. Seeing the persistent questioning, Cui showed a smug look and arrogantly said, "Trying to get the lowdown? Fine, I''ll tell you, so you don''t keep...""

    "Cousin, why are you here?" Before Cui Mingshuo could finish speaking, a young woman hurried over, pushed through the crowd, and looked at Zhu Chen with some surprise, asking.

    "Li Hui! I''m handling a case. Are you playing here tonight?" Zhu Chen, seeing the young woman come in and showing a look of surprise, responded and then followed up by asking.

    "Yes, it''s my birthday tonight, so I invited a few friends to come here and have fun. A friend just told me that something happened here..." the woman who arrived later, identified as Li Hui, replied.

    "How come, Li Hui, is this man your cousin?" Feng Chenqing didn''t wait for Li Hui to finish, raising his eyebrows slightly as he asked.

    "Are these two your friends?" Almost simultaneously, Zhu Chen also interrupted Li Hui, pointing to Feng Chenqing and another girl who had just arrived with him, asking.

    "Yes, that''s right. Why?" Li Hui, still unaware of the situation, asked curiously.

    "I thought he was... never mind, since everyone knows each other, let''s sit down and clarify the issue. Have your friend''s friend apologize to Officer Cui, and we''ll consider the matter settled. What do you say, Officer Cui?" Zhu Chen, realizing that Feng Chenqing was not from Changxi County and also seeing he knew his own cousin, didn''t want to blow things out of proportion. He first spoke to Li Hui and then turned to Cui Mingshuo to ask.

    "Police Chief Zhu, what do you mean by this? This guy beat me up like this, and a simple apology is supposed to make it all right?" Cui Mingshuo had just been beaten up miserably by Ge Dongxu on the ground, so how could he possibly accept a reconciliation, and immediately spoke with a very ugly expression on his face.

    And Li Hui, seeing her cousin actually suggesting that Feng Chenqing''s friend should apologize to Cui Mingshuo, and that Cui Mingshuo was still not letting it go, couldn''t help but open her mouth in surprise and then hurriedly pulled Zhu Chen aside, asking, "Cousin, what''s your relationship with this guy? You didn''t just favor him and say something inappropriate to Mr. Feng, did you?"

    "Feng what young master? Huh, are you talking about your friend? He has quite the background!" Zhu Chen heard this and was initially puzzled, followed by a sudden jolt in his heart, accompanied by a very ominous feeling.

    His female cousin''s family also had a slight background, and she was always proud, so anyone who could be called ''Young Master Feng'' by her was certainly no ordinary person.

    "The eldest grandson of the Feng Family," Li Hui whispered into Zhu Chen''s ear.

    "Which Feng... you mean... Feng, Feng..." Zhu Chen was first stunned, then his whole body began to tremble, and his speech became less articulate.

    It couldn''t be helped, he, as the deputy chief of the police station, was considered a figure of authority in the eyes of ordinary folks, but compared to the Feng Family, that was like comparing an ant to an elephant.

    Li Hui nodded, then asked, "Did you just not..."

    With that question from Li Hui, Zhu Chen remembered his attitude just now, trembled all over again, and hurriedly walked up to Feng Chenqing, bowing deeply as he apologized, "I''m sorry, Young Master Feng, I have been offensive in my words just now, please forgive any offenses. Rest assured, I will get to the bottom of this matter right away and will absolutely not..."

    Zhu Chen''s drastic change in attitude, and addressing Feng Chenqing as ''Young Master'', left Cui Mingshuo dumbfounded and his face turned pale.

    The administrative level in the capital is high, and even the deputy chief of a local police station holds a rank several levels above that of a deputy chief in a typical rural township police station, equivalent to a deputy director in a county public security bureau.

    Just think, a deputy director of a county public security bureau addressing a young man as ''Young Master'' and also bowing to apologize, Zhu Chen could guess, even without thinking too hard, that this Young Master Feng, whom he had not taken seriously just a while ago, must have a significant background.

    The other people in the private room were also stunned.

    Clearly, they had not expected such a sudden and drastic turn in events! Especially Zhou Xialiu and those two executives, their complexions also turned pale instantly.

    They were on the same side as Cui Mingshuo just moments earlier.

    "Dongxu, what do you think?" Feng Chenqing didn''t pay attention to Zhu Chen but turned to look at Ge Dongxu, respectfully asking for his opinion.

    With Feng Chenqing asking for guidance, Cui Mingshuo and the others were naturally even more frightened, while Li Hui and Feng Chenqing''s girlfriend, along with Zhu Chen, were staring wide-eyed.

    They all knew of Feng Chenqing''s identity.

    They simply could not imagine who in the world could command such respect from Feng Chenqing at a local level.

    Especially Zhu Chen, who was staring wide-eyed; while cold sweat poured down his forehead, he wished he could rush forward and kick Cui Mingshuo to the ground, beating him until even his own mother wouldn''t recognize him.

    This was a total set-up! It was utterly outrageous!

    ps: The book is now live, please support the official release by subscribing. If you have any monthly tickets, please cast one. This month will see an intense competition for monthly tickets, and I''m relying on you all. There will be five consecutive updates today. Additionally, I wish all readers a Happy New Year and non-stop good fortune!

 Chapter 188 I Have an Aunt Named Feng Jiahuiã€2nd Updateã€‘

    "This is easy to handle; I''ll cooperate with this officer''s investigation, and we will proceed as necessary. It''s fine to ask here, or at the police station," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.Those who knew Ge Dongxu''s temperament should be aware that his words were genuine, without any hidden implications.

    However, those present were used to navigating social and governmental circles, always keen to speculate on their leaders'' thoughts. Ge Dongxu''s words, to their ears, took on added meaning, and they thought he was displeased with Zhu Chen''s attempt to take him to the police station earlier.

    Zhu Chen''s face instantly turned even paler, as he hurriedly stepped forward and said, "No need to go to the police station, no need to go there. We can clarify things right here."

    Feng Chenqing didn''t say anything but gave Zhu Chen a cold look. Yet, even this simple glance made Zhu Chen''s heart sink into the bottomless abyss.

    This was the eldest grandchild of the Feng Family, after all!

    "That''s fine too; I really don''t want to go to the police station. So, ask your questions, and I''ll answer," Ge Dongxu said, not giving it much thought. Seeing that Zhu Chen said there was no need to go to the station, he was pleased to avoid the trip and nodded in agreement.

    "Yes, yes," Zhu Chen eagerly nodded, then took out a notebook and pen and started to ask Ge Dongxu about the incident that had just occurred.

    The fact was that Cui Mingshuo had been the first to resort to violence, and Ge Dongxu had merely refused to let it slide with a few gestures of defiance. There was nothing incorrect or shameful about his actions. If there was anything to criticize, it was perhaps that Ge Dongxu''s retaliation seemed a bit too forceful. But under those circumstances, especially with someone like Cui Mingshuo, a heavier hand was quite normal, and Ge Dongxu had taken that into account; though he didn''t hold back, there were no visible marks of injury.

    As such, there wasn''t anything to hide, and Ge Dongxu recounted the events from beginning to end in detail.

    Those present had already realized the extent of Feng Chenqing''s influence. When Zhu Chen asked them, they all confirmed the truth of Ge Dongxu''s account, including Zhou Xialiu and the two company executives, who all turned their backs on Cui Mingshuo, corroborating the authenticity of Ge Dongxu''s testimony.

    After hearing these statements, Feng Chenqing''s face turned stormy, his gaze chillingly cold.

    This was the dear woman of his grandfather''s close fellow disciple! Not only had Cui Mingshuo insulted her, but he had also struck her! This was utterly outrageous!

    "Cui Mingshuo, from the Supervision Department, right? You''ve done well! Very well! And you''re the Ouzhou City branch manager of the Industrial and Commercial Bank, aren''t you? You''ve done very well too!" Feng Chenqing said coldly, his gaze ice-cold and lofty as he swept over Cui Mingshuo and Manager Liu.

    "What, what do you want to do?" Cui Mingshuo felt his skin crawl under Feng Chenqing''s stare, and Manager Liu was not much better off. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I don''t want to do anything. Didn''t you say you wanted to remove Sister Li from her position? Very well! You sure are capable, with great power! Alright, then I''ll just see if you''re still sitting in those positions tomorrow," Feng Chenqing said with a frigid voice.

    At that moment, Feng Chenqing''s demeanor showcased the domineering presence and pride fitting of the eldest grandchild of the Feng Family!

    "Who do you think you''re intimidating? Don''t think that just because Zhu Chen fears you, I will too!" Cui Mingshuo, seeing how things had developed and feeling quite fearful inside, believed that due to the particular nature of the central bank, not just anyone could meddle with their personnel appointments, especially not at his level. Even if there were to be any dismissals, his director would have to give approval. Feng Chenqing might have had a significant background, yet he was still young. Cui Mingshuo didn''t believe that he could affect his position, so he pointed at Feng Chenqing, speaking in a tone fierce on the outside but hollow inside.

    "Slap!" Who was Feng Chenqing? Besides his father, who else in Huaxia Country had the right to call themselves ''old man'' in front of him? Not to mention Cui Mingshuo. Seeing Cui Mingshuo dare to refer to himself as ''old man'' in front of him, Feng Chenqing grabbed his collar and slapped him across the face.

    "You''re hitting people! Zhu Chen, and all you police officers, are you blind? Didn''t you see him hit me?" Cui Mingshuo, already humiliated by being hit by Ge Dongxu, was now slapped by another young man without any courtesy. He immediately became furious and started shouting.

    Zhu Chen was just coldly looking at Cui Mingshuo, like he was looking at a dead man.

    How dare someone call himself "father" in front of one of the few Crown Princes of the capital. He was literally asking for a beating!

    The other police officers weren''t aware of Feng Chenqing''s identity. But since their leader hadn''t spoken up, and based on the statements given just now, they were also quite disgusted with this piece of shit, Officer Cui, so none of them responded to his words. Instead, they just watched him.

    "Oh right, I forgot to tell you something. I have an aunt by blood whose name is Feng Jiahui. I think you must have heard of her, and this Mr. Ge Dongxu here is a distinguished guest of our Feng Family!" said Feng Chenqing as he released Cui Mingshuo''s collar.

    The majority of the people in the private room were from the banking system. How could they possibly not know the name of one of the banking magnates? Not to mention, she also has an exceedingly prominent father.

    "Feng, Feng Jiahui!" Several screams erupted in the room followed by an abrupt silence as they clamped their hands over their mouths.

    Though Branch Manager Liu had been afraid just now, given his position, he had some connections and wasn''t completely intimidated by Feng Chenqing''s stance earlier. But now it was different¡ªthis was about the Feng Family! And Feng Chenqing also said that Ge Dongxu was their distinguished guest, which meant that this matter wasn''t just personal to Feng Chenqing, but related to the entire Feng Family.

    The Feng Family, huh! Let alone him being just a mere Level 2 branch manager, even the head of the head office wouldn''t dare to offend the Feng Family!

    "Young Master Feng, Feng Shao, I really didn''t know that Yuan Li was your friend. It''s all this Cui Mingshuo''s fault. He...he..." Branch Manager Liu was so terrified that he wet himself, his obese body tumbling and crawling to Feng Chenqing''s feet, stammering as he begged for mercy.

    Meanwhile, Cui Mingshuo was utterly dumbfounded, collapsing onto the floor.

    If Branch Manager Liu still harbored a sliver of hope, Cui Mingshuo had none left. Unless Ge Dongxu was willing to let him off the hook.

    Remembering Ge Dongxu, Cui Mingshuo hurriedly stood up from the ground, bowing repeatedly to Ge Dongxu, "Mr. Ge, Mr. Ge, you are a generous man. It was all because I had too much to drink earlier, I didn''t know..."

    "Officer Cui, who''s the fool here, you or me? With the way you were swaggering earlier, could it just be because you drank too much? It''s because you have a lousy character!" Ge Dongxu lightly patted Cui Mingshuo''s shoulder.

    With this light pat from Ge Dongxu, tears streamed down from Cui Mingshuo''s eyes.

    "Yes, it''s my character that''s flawed. I will definitely mend my ways, mend them!" stammered Cui Mingshuo, sobbing and sniffling.

    "I already gave you a chance just now!" Ge Dongxu said indifferently, then turned to Zhu Chen and asked, "Officer, may we leave now?"

    "Yes, of course you can," Zhu Chen promptly nodded.

    "Dongxu, where are you going? I''ll drive you," said Feng Chenqing urgently, his heart filled with trepidation.

    Today, he had been ordered by his grandfather to keep Ge Dongxu company, yet this incident had occurred. If Ge Dongxu took offense because of it, not even Feng Chenqing would be able to avoid criticism.

    ps: Begging for subscriptions and monthly tickets, thank you very much!

 Chapter 189 Ill Wander with You Everywhere [3rd Update]

    By now, everyone in the private room was aware of Feng Chenqing''s identity. Seeing Ge Dongxu state his intention to leave, Feng Chenqing immediately stepped forward, offering to drive him, his astonishment profoundly different from before.This was the eldest grandson of the Feng Family, the entire Huaxia Capital; which young person had the privilege to have him eagerly offer to be their chauffeur?

    But now?

    A young man from a small place had managed to earn such respect from the Feng Family''s eldest grandson. If one did not see it with their own eyes, who would believe it?

    "You keep having fun. Besides, you should sort things out here a bit. I''ll take Sister Li for a walk," replied Ge Dongxu nonchalantly.

    Feng Chenqing nearly felt like crying upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s words. Just earlier, because he was with his girlfriend instead of accompanying Dongxu, Dongxu almost got taken to the police station. Fortunately, he had arrived in time; otherwise, had Dongxu really been taken away to the police station, wouldn''t his grandfather have been furious?

    If he continued to play and something else happened, how would he explain it to his grandfather?

    "You don''t need to worry. I''m just going to take Sister Li out to clear her mind. I''ll call you if there''s any trouble," said Ge Dongxu with a smile, patting Feng Chenqing on the shoulder, knowing that the latter was worried because of his own status.

    Upon hearing Ge Dongxu mention taking Yuan Li out to clear her mind, Feng Chenqing bowed slightly to Yuan Li, apologizing, "I''m sorry, Sister Li, for the trouble this incident has caused you. Rest assured, I will definitely report this matter upwards and ensure that it''s dealt with seriously."

    "No, no, thank you!" With Cui Mingshuo already taught a lesson, Yuan Li''s heart harbored no grievances, and she replied hastily.

    Feng Chenqing smiled, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "If you have any trouble, call me anytime."

    There was no helping it; with Ge Dongxu deciding to take Yuan Li out to clear her mind, Feng Chenqing couldn''t possibly tag along like a third wheel. Of course, he also couldn''t say no. In the end, he could only ask Dongxu to call if anything came up, his heart filled with anxiety. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Alright," Dongxu nodded, then took Yuan Li''s hand and said softly, "Let''s walk around a bit."

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s tender concern for Yuan Li, and his handsome, youthful appearance, all the ladies in the private room showed unfettered envy, despite some of them previously feeling a schadenfreude about Yuan Li''s divorce. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    Now, they wished they were in Yuan Li''s place!

    Su Qi too was brimming with envy!

    "Okay," Yuan Li nodded, then turned to say something to Su Qi and gave a small nod to a few classmates who had somewhat helped her. She then gently took Ge Dongxu''s arm.

    As for the other classmates, especially people like Zhou Xialiu and the two company executives, their friendship with her effectively ended tonight.

    Times had changed; before, if Yuan Li had cut ties, most of these classmates likely wouldn''t have felt much regret. But now, seeing Yuan Li''s connection to the mysterious young Ge Dongxu and anticipating a bright future ahead for her, they deeply regretted their earlier opportunistic behavior. However, it was too late for regrets now that the damage was done and barriers formed.

    Before leaving, besides purposely greeting Su Qi, Ge Dongxu also made sure to acknowledge Feng Chenqing''s girlfriend, yet since the girl didn''t seem to have much in common with Feng, and considering the recent upset involving Yuan Li, he didn''t linger in pleasantries. After exchanging greetings, he left the private room with Yuan Li.

    After Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li had left, Feng Chenqing scanned the room and said indifferently, "I hope everyone can keep today''s matters to themselves."

    After finishing his speech, Feng Chenqing turned to his girlfriend and Li Hui and said, "Let''s go."

    Seeing Feng Chenqing getting ready to leave, Zhu Chen''s heart began to beat furiously, and he repeatedly gave his cousin significant looks.

    There was no choice, after all, Ge Dongxu had just left with the instruction for Feng Chenqing to handle the situation. To Zhu Chen, that "handling" naturally included him.

    Because just now, his butt was somewhat crooked.

    Zhu Chen''s cousin was indeed smart and quickly nudged her best friend with her elbow before whispering something into her ear.

    Her best friend hesitated for a moment but still approached Feng Chenqing and whispered, "Chenqing, Director Zhu didn''t know about this beforehand, and he''s also Li Hui''s cousin. Do you think we can overlook this and not report him as well?"

    "Don''t worry about this matter," Feng Chenqing said with a slight frown.

    "Chenqing, Director Zhu is also a good friend of my cousin. You wouldn''t deny him this bit of face, would you?" Feng Chenqing''s girlfriend pouted, somewhat displeased.

    "This isn''t a matter of face!" Feng Chenqing saw not only his girlfriend interfering in the matter but also showing displeasure because he didn''t agree. His expression darkened slightly, and he headed straight for the door of the private room.

    The person involved was his grandfather''s junior brother. Even if he had to report tonight''s events in full detail, how could it be something his girlfriend could casually interfere with?

    Seeing Feng Chenqing walk away without looking back, his girlfriend panicked and hurriedly followed him out. With this, Zhu Chen felt his heart sink even further and, overwhelmed with frustration, stepped forward and kicked Cui Mingshuo hard, cursing, "Fuck your mother!"

    Cui Mingshuo was kicked to the ground by Zhu Chen, and no one helped him up or spoke for him.

    This kind of person, in fact, his classmates all looked down on him, calling him no good. When he had power and influence, they would suppress their true feelings and fawn over him, curry favor with him. But once he lost his power, who would care about him? Not spitting on him or kicking him was already considering the old classmate relationship.

    "Chenqing, I''m so sorry! I was wrong, please don''t be mad," the woman outside the private room chased after Feng Chenqing, hugging his arm and shaking it.

    Feng Chenqing, seeing his girlfriend''s pitiful look, softened inside and sighed, "Don''t think this is a small matter; this could even mean trouble for me!"

    "It can''t be that serious, can it? Who exactly is that young man?" Feng Chenqing''s girlfriend''s eyes widened in disbelief, her face showing a shocked expression.

    You should know that in Huaxia Country, among the younger generation, there seem to be very few with a higher status than Feng Chenqing!

    "You don''t need to know about this for now. As for Li Hui''s cousin, although there were some problems with how he handled the situation, fortunately, I arrived in time and he didn''t commit any disciplinary or illegal actions. It''s not bad enough to warrant severe punishment. Otherwise, it wouldn''t matter if he were Li Hui''s cousin or even your own brother; I couldn''t protect him," Feng Chenqing explained.

    Having heard Feng Chenqing say this, his girlfriend dared not say another word.

    "I need to make a phone call," Feng Chenqing added quickly, then took out his phone to call his aunt Feng Jiahui.

    Since the incident involved Ge Dongxu and people from her department, Feng Chenqing naturally needed to report it to her immediately.

 Chapter 190 Because There Are No Ifs [4th Update, Seeking Monthly Pass]

    Feng Chenqing''s girlfriend, seeing that someone with his status was reporting to her over the phone at the very first moment and did so with such a grave expression, became increasingly shocked by Ge Dongxu''s identity.Although Feng Jiahui had been unwilling to call Ge Dongxu "Uncle Master" before and had even been rude to him due to distrust in his medical skills, she completely accepted him as her uncle after he truly cured her father''s illness. Her father had even lashed out at her several times for Ge Dongxu''s sake, to the point of threatening to break her legs, so Feng Jiahui had completely accepted Ge Dongxu as "Uncle Master" in her heart.

    Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    One can imagine how angry Feng Jiahui felt after hearing Feng Chenqing''s report!

    That was her father''s junior brother, who also had done a favor for her father. Even Feng Jiahui had to be respectful in front of him, and now a subordinate of hers had openly insulted and struck his friend, even boasting about getting Ge Dongxu imprisoned!

    How could this be tolerated? Wasn''t this a direct slap in Feng Jiahui''s face?

    After listening to Feng Chenqing''s report and asking again for details, Feng Jiahui hung up the phone with an icy face and immediately called the leaders of the Human Resources Department and the Internal Audit Department, demanding a halt to Cui Mingshuo''s work and an immediate investigation into his years of service.

    When Feng Jiahui got angry, it was no small matter. Cui Mingshuo soon received the notification to suspend his duties and stay within the capital in the coming days, and he was completely dumbfounded by this development.

    For someone like him, how could he possibly be innocent? Once an investigation began, prison was inevitable!

    In fact, Cui Mingshuo didn''t know that, even if he wasn''t going to prison, he wouldn''t have the chance to do any more bad deeds. Because Ge Dongxu loathed his despicable behavior, he had secretly taken steps to ensure that not only would Cui Mingshuo never be able to have sexual relations again, but his kidneys would also slowly atrophy and fail.

    Of course, at the time, Ge Dongxu did not know that Cui Mingshuo was facing jail, otherwise, he would not have acted so covertly.

    ...

    No matter the outcome for Cui Mingshuo, Ge Dongxu was no longer concerned or cared¡ªit was all in the past. The only thing he cared about now was the woman by his side who had been humiliated before.

    "Does it still hurt?" Walking by the lake at Shichahai, Ge Dongxu asked softly.

    After leaving the Jin Yi Entertainment Club, the two of them took a taxi to Shichahai.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. If it weren''t for you tonight, I really..." Yuan Li shook her head and then looked up at Ge Dongxu, speaking softly.

    "Didn''t we agree there''d be no thanks between us? Besides, it was my responsibility as a ''knight in shining armor'' that I failed tonight, you should be criticizing me," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Criticize you?" Yuan Li''s body trembled slightly, and her eyes showed a hint of infatuation. It was a while before she gently leaned on Ge Dongxu''s shoulder and whispered, "How good it would have been to have met you ten years earlier!"

    "Ten years earlier?" Ge Dongxu was taken aback and then laughed, "At that time I was just a snotty little brat."

    "Pfft!" Yuan Li could not help but laugh, saying, "I had forgotten that you were a little brat back then!"

    "That''s right, if it had been ten years ago, a beauty like you wouldn''t even spare me a glance," said Ge Dongxu, relieved to hear Yuan Li laugh.

    "You''re already so capable, and your words are so sweet. I wonder how many girls will be charmed by you in the future," Yuan Li tightened her grip on Ge Dongxu''s arm a bit, looking at him with delight and a playful scold in her eyes as she whispered.

    "I''m not being sweet-talked, I''m speaking the absolute truth," Ge Dongxu said with a serious face.

    "You really know how to make someone happy!" Yuan Li glanced at Ge Dongxu, her face filled with joy.

    "It''s getting a bit windy. Where are you staying tonight? I''ll take you back," Ge Dongxu said with a look of concern, for it was winter and they had walked by the lake for a while.

    "Can you walk with me a little longer, please?" Yuan Li pleaded, looking at Ge Dongxu.

    "Of course, it''s good, I''m just worried about you catching a cold," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No worries, don''t I have you to help keep me warm?" Yuan Li said with a laugh, hugging Ge Dongxu''s arm tighter.

    "All right then, let''s walk a bit more, but if you feel cold, just tell me," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Mm!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t object, Yuan Li nodded happily.

    Perhaps because Yuan Li was hugging too tightly, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat constrained, so he suddenly fell silent.

    Yuan Li seemed to really enjoy holding Ge Dongxu''s arm and walking quietly, so she didn''t say anything either.

    The two of them walked in tacit silence for a while. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dongxu!" Suddenly Yuan Li called out softly.

    "Hmm," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "If I were also a high school senior right now, would you be attracted to me?" Yuan Li asked after a moment''s silence.

    When she asked this question, Ge Dongxu could clearly feel Yuan Li''s body tense up slightly.

    Ge Dongxu suddenly remembered the song they had sung earlier in the private room and recalled how his heartbeat had quickened as he watched Yuan Li while they sang. He was somewhat taken aback.

    "Sorry! I shouldn''t have asked that," Yuan Li said, noticing that Ge Dongxu had not answered for a long time. A glint of tears appeared in her eyes, then she took a deep breath and whispered. She slowly loosened her tight hug around Ge Dongxu''s arms.

    "I wouldn''t!" Ge Dongxu seemed not to notice Yuan Li''s emotional change, nor did he hear what she had just said, as he replied confidently.

    Yuan Li''s delicate body shook violently, and her hands suddenly let go. Although she knew that a man as outstanding as Ge Dongxu was out of her league, she still harbored a faint hope, a ''what if''! Even if it was just that ''what if'', and not reality.

    Because she had truly taken a liking to this young man who had just turned eighteen! It was an affection she had never felt before in her life!

    If there truly was such a thing as unwavering love in this world, she believed that her feelings now represented just that!

    "Because there are no ''what ifs''! Because I am a little attracted to the current you, but I..." Ge Dongxu''s eyes showed a conflicted look.

    His thoughts turned to Liu Jiayao, and for an instant, even the image of Jiang Lili flashed across his mind. If he was attracted to Yuan Li, what about Liu Jiayao? What about the first kiss they had, the passionate kisses from before?

    At that moment, the eighteen-year-old Ge Dongxu felt a profound understanding of the contradictions and conflicts in romantic relationships.

    "Don''t say it!" Yuan Li turned around suddenly at his words, pressing her delicate finger against Ge Dongxu''s lips, while the tears she had been holding back finally overflowed and slid down her smooth, fair cheeks.

    A sense of joy and sweet happiness that she had never experienced before filled her heart completely in that moment.

    "Thank you, that''s enough for me! It really is enough!" Yuan Li suddenly threw herself into his embrace, hugging his waist tightly, looking up at him, and murmured.

    Gazing down at Yuan Li''s tear-streaked enchanting face and those lush lips under the dim yellow light, Ge Dongxu was moved and couldn''t help but lower his head.

 Chapter 191 Classmates Apology [5th Update]

    After a long moment, their lips parted, and Yuan Li nearly collapsed into Ge Dongxu''s embrace, her alluring eyes like silk, her pretty face flushed with a captivating allure under the light.Such beauty almost made Ge Dongxu give in to leaning down for another kiss, but in the end, he held back.

    Because he remembered Liu Jiayao, and the words she had said.

    Yuan Li, too, wanted to tiptoe up and initiate a kiss, for Ge Dongxu''s kiss, though clumsy and green, had left her completely intoxicated. But it was for that very reason that Yuan Li refrained from taking further action.

    She simply placed her finger on Ge Dongxu''s lips and said softly, "Thank you, Dongxu, I really had a great time tonight. I won''t marry again in this lifetime. If a few years from now, you still find me attractive, I''ll spend some time with you before I truly grow old. But not now, because you don''t really understand what it means to be moved. Maybe in a few more years, you will. Right now, you should seek out those women who truly deserve your emotions, not me."

    Ge Dongxu knew why Yuan Li said this; her age and a failed marriage left her with an indelible sense of inferiority when facing him now.

    If they were to enter into a real man-woman relationship now, he might bring her happiness and sweetness, but more likely, a heavy sense of guilt.

    In fact, wasn''t he the same? After all, he was just a high school student, and he still had another woman in his heart.

    Thinking of this, Ge Dongxu wrapped his arms around Yuan Li''s waist, both heartbroken and self-reproaching. Experience tales with My Virtual Library Empire

    Yuan Li''s waist was slender but felt soothingly soft and fleshy when embraced.

    Yuan Li felt the genuine affection from Ge Dongxu and couldn''t help but press her face tightly against his chest.

    Soon, Yuan Li felt a change in Ge Dongxu''s body and her face blushed slightly as she gently pushed him away, "You rascal!"

    Ge Dongxu scratched his head in slight embarrassment. A man, especially one of his age, holding such a sexy and beautiful woman, might know it''s wrong in his mind, but his body betrayed his brain.

    "You fool, it''s okay for me, but you''re not ready yet." Seeing Ge Dongxu a bit embarrassed, Yuan Li felt a twinge of pity, gently took his arm, tapped his forehead lightly with her fingertip, and said, "Go home. Otherwise, I might also... " Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yuan Li didn''t finish her sentence, but her face was quite red.

    Since it was a class reunion, aside from the classmates from the capital who had their own boxes and would each go home afterward, the others were staying at the same hotel to facilitate visiting and catching up.

    After tonight''s events, Yuan Li had already let go of the sentimentality associated with these classmates and even didn''t want to see some of them again. However, she had already booked the room and decided not to make any last-minute changes.

    When Ge Dongxu accompanied Yuan Li back to her hotel and they entered the lobby, they were both taken aback.

    They saw a number of classmates sitting by the lobby bar, including the portly Liu Branch Manager. As these people saw the two of them coming in, they all stood up and walked over, surprising the hotel staff, who thought Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li must be some important figures.

    "Yuan Li, I''m really sorry about earlier. We didn''t have a choice, so we had to..." Some classmates came forward, apologetically addressing Yuan Li.

    "I understand. Let bygones be bygones." After all, they were classmates, and there were indeed some practical reasons at the time, so seeing them waiting for her in the lobby bar, Yuan Li had no choice but to forgive them, and she quickly replied with a smile.

    "That''s good, that''s good." Those classmates were just waiting for Yuan Li to say these words. Seeing that she didn''t seem to bear any grudges, the heavy stone hanging in their hearts finally fell to the ground.

    However, Zhou Xialiu and the two company presidents still felt a heavy weight in their hearts because Yuan Li had not even glanced at them properly just now.

    "Yuan Li, we were all bastards. For the incident before, we had our difficult circumstances, please look..." Upon seeing that Yuan Li was ignoring them, Zhou Xialiu and the others had no choice but to approach with long faces and fervently apologize and explain once again.

    "What does your difficult circumstance have to do with me? There''s no need for you to apologize to me; from now on, we''ll just go our separate ways," Yuan Li said coldly.

    Previously, not only did these three not show the slightest consideration for their classmates'' friendship, they actually added insult to injury. Naturally, Yuan Li wouldn''t show them a good face, let alone continue to treat them as classmates.

    Upon hearing Yuan Li''s words, the three nearly burst into tears.

    How could it possibly not concern her? Just because of a single phrase her foster brother said before he left, Cui Mingshuo, who used to be the most impressive among their group of classmates, was suspended that very night and also warned not to leave the capital, undergoing an internal investigation.

    One could imagine just how significant her foster brother''s influence was within the Feng Family!

    Otherwise, solely based on Feng Chenqing''s influence, even if he were the eldest grandson of the Feng Family, it wouldn''t be possible to suspend a deputy director-level official just like that, let alone conduct an internal investigation!

    After all, every circle has its own rules. Otherwise, if any young master could just make a phone call to take down a deputy director, the world would be in total chaos!

    It was precisely because of this that Zhou Xialiu and the others were waiting here so eagerly.

    The matter clearly wasn''t just about Ge Dongxu''s personal relationship with Feng Chenqing, but involved the clan-level issues of the Feng Family.

    The Feng Family''s influence in Huaxia Country was enormous. When the matter escalated to the clan level, who would dare not to take it with the utmost seriousness?

    Lucky for Zhou Xialiu and the others that they didn''t know Ge Dongxu was Elder Feng''s junior brother, otherwise, they might have been scared enough to wet themselves!

    "Yuan Li, the chief culprit is Cui Mingshuo. He has been suspended and also has to face an internal investigation. But Cui Mingshuo has indeed become extremely arrogant over the past few years and has secretly done many bad things; he is getting what he deserves. However, we are just minor figures who, at most, flatter him and mindlessly stir the pot. Taking into account the many years of our classmate relationship, please spare us this time," said the three, noticing Yuan Li''s attitude towards them and glancing at Ge Dongxu standing by her side, growing more frightened, they actually started to cry.

    Although Yuan Li also knew that Feng Chenqing would certainly teach Cui Mingshuo a lesson, she had never imagined that Cui Mingshuo would be suspended that very night and also undergo an internal investigation. Upon hearing this, she was completely stunned.

    She had also studied in the capital and now, albeit minor, was a bank official. She knew that a deputy director-level official like Cui Mingshuo, holding an important position, couldn''t be handled by the eldest grandson of the Feng Family, who had not yet truly grown into a representative figure. The only explanation for Cui Mingshuo''s rapid handling was that the upper ranks of the Feng Family were angered and had spoken!

    But Ge Dongxu was only how old? Knowing Feng Chenqing was already incredible, utterly unimaginable, and now to think he could incite anger from the upper ranks of the Feng Family over her matter...

    Suddenly, even Yuan Li couldn''t see through her foster brother anymore, finding Ge Dongxu even more mysterious. At the same time, the more mysterious Ge Dongxu became, the more she cherished the emotional connection they shared when she recalled his tender and clumsy kiss.

    PS: Five consecutive releases, asking for monthly tickets and subscriptions to support; to take this book further, I am very thankful.

 Chapter 192 Thank You, Mr. Ge [1st Update, Request for Monthly Pass]

    After a long while, Yuan Li gradually recovered her composure and turned her head slightly to look at Ge Dongxu beside her, her eyes carrying a hint of inquiry.By now, Yuan Li was well aware that this matter was beyond her control.

    Zhou Xialiu and the others knew that Yuan Li didn''t have the final say in this matter, and their pleas for forgiveness were essentially for Ge Dongxu''s benefit. Seeing Yuan Li turn her gaze towards Ge Dongxu, they too looked at him with eyes filled with a pleading look. Stay tuned for updates on My Virtual Library Empire

    Ge Dongxu naturally disliked Zhou Xialiu and the other two, but he didn''t feel the need to take revenge over such a trivial matter.

    "Didn''t Sister Li say that from now on, we would go our separate ways? Let''s do just that. However, since you are Sister Li''s classmates, let me offer you a piece of advice: don''t be so opportunistic in the future. Sister Li is a person who values relationships and won''t hold a grudge against you. If it were someone else, it probably wouldn''t be so easy. Take care of yourselves," Ge Dongxu said after Yuan Li and her three classmates turned their expectant eyes toward him, realizing he needed to say something.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ge, thank you, Yuan Li. We''ll definitely not do it again, definitely not," Zhou Xialiu and the others were just waiting for this sentence from Ge Dongxu. Hearing his words, the heavy stone in their hearts finally fell, and they hurriedly thanked Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li.

    Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li were too lazy to bother with such people. They gave them a noncommittal glance, then called Su Qi and prepared to leave.

    Although Su Qi was from the capital, she had a good relationship with Yuan Li. They had agreed that Su Qi would not go home tonight and would instead spend the night with Yuan Li at the hotel. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu and Yuan Li about to leave, the branch manager Liu hurried forward and begged them desperately.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Yuan Li. He wasn''t familiar with the character of branch manager Liu, but felt that what Liu had done in the private room earlier was somewhat inappropriate for someone in his leadership position.

    However, when he calmly considered it from another perspective, Liu''s actions seemed to be a strategy to protect both himself and Yuan Li. Nonetheless, the words he spoke and his attitude had been exceptionally infuriating and frustrating.

    "Dongxu, branch manager Liu has always thought highly of me. It was with his approval that I was finally promoted to the position of sub-branch manager. What do you think..." Yuan Li looked at her superior pleading in front of her, and remembered that he had indeed valued her before. In the private room, given his status at that time, it seemed that he could only force her to apologize; nonetheless, the words he said and his attitude had caused her extreme humiliation and anger.

    "The Feng Family has its principles when dealing with matters. Someone like Cui Mingshuo, a degenerate, definitely needs to be dealt with. As for branch manager Liu, I think what truly decides his career is his performance at work," Ge Dongxu said, appreciating Yuan Li''s forgiving and forbearing attitude, as he was a person who also believed in giving people a chance. With that, he turned to look at branch manager Liu.

    "Yes, yes, I will definitely work hard in the future, I will work hard," manager Liu almost cried with joy upon hearing this, bowing continuously and nodding his head.

    Seeing manager Liu almost cry with joy, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt a bit of pity for him, and his heart also filled with a sudden sternness.

    If someone vengeful, upon gaining power and capabilities, were in his place, what would become of manager Liu?

    Power and capabilities are a double-edged sword. Using them to deal with someone like Cui Mingshuo benefits the public, but using them to indiscriminately deal with the innocent or those who have merely slighted you is a catastrophe!

    This sudden thought reminded the eighteen-year-old Ge Dongxu once again to warn himself to be a disciplined and good person.

    Because he was a person with a superpower!

    "Alright, you may go," Ge Dongxu''s attitude towards manager Liu softened a bit due to this sudden thought, not as indifferent as before.

    Ge Dongxu''s change of attitude finally put Branch Manager Liu''s mind at ease. After repeatedly bowing in gratitude, he left the hotel.

    After Branch Manager Liu left, it wasn''t long before Ge Dongxu left as well.

    The reason was that he couldn''t quite bear the shift in how Su Qi and others treated him¡ªbefore and after his change of demeanor. Seeing him was like seeing a leader, everyone spoke tremblingly in his presence. It was less comfortable than the earlier time spent in the private room.

    Upon leaving the hotel, Ge Dongxu took a car back to the courtyard house. He also made a point to tell Feng Chenqing not to mention the incident in the private room to Elder Feng, and that the matter should only be pursued as far as Cui Mingshuo, without further escalation.

    Ge Dongxu''s thoughts exactly aligned with those of Feng Chenqing and Feng Jiahui, which also secretly relieved them both.

    ...

    On Sunday morning, in the first-class cabin of a plane flying to Linzhou City, Yuan Li stretched her long, beautiful legs contentedly and said with a smile, "Although I''m a branch manager, I only got to enjoy first-class thanks to you. By the way, how much was the ticket? I''ll transfer the money to your account later."

    "Come on, Sister Li, why are you talking about money with me? Besides, they didn''t charge me for it," Ge Dongxu responded to Yuan Li, amused.

    "Hehe, I almost forgot you''re a young tycoon, with a net worth of several tens of millions, right?" Yuan Li whispered, leaning close to Ge Dongxu''s ear with a laugh.

    The tight wool sweater outlined her prominent curves, and the closeness increased the pressure, causing Ge Dongxu''s heartbeat to inadvertently speed up a bit. Still, he simply smiled a little without denying it.

    Last month, Qinghe Herbal Tea''s sales had reached 42 million. If calculated by the solar calendar, by New Year''s Day, the total annual sales might well reach 200 million. Meanwhile, Donglinyue Apparel had developed 300 direct stores and franchised specialty stores across various provinces and cities. Without any unexpected events, given this rate of development, the annual profit might not compare to Qinghe Herbal Tea, but it should be close to ten million.

    These figures weren''t the key point; what mattered was both Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue Apparel were growing at a frightening speed at this time.

    Only the Kunting chain of franchise hotels was still in the investment phase and hadn''t generated profit yet. However, given the development momentum, it was only a matter of time.

    So, a few tens of millions was understating it; by next year, it wouldn''t be a surprise if Ge Dongxu, a third-year high school student, had several hundred million.

    Actually, given the brand value of Qinghe Herbal Tea and the Donglinyue brand, where Ge Dongxu independently owned the Qinghe Herbal Tea formula and brand, if he decided to cash out now, he could have hundreds of millions in cash in an instant.

    Yuan Li wasn''t aware that Ge Dongxu was also the big boss of Donglinyue Apparel now popular across Huaxia Country, nor did she know about his ongoing development of a chain of budget franchise hotels. What she knew was limited to Qinghe Herbal Tea, and even then, as a non-shareholder, she was clueless about its exact sales figures. She just saw that Qinghe Herbal Tea was selling so well and assumed Ge Dongxu''s net worth must be at least ten million, which was why she made such a casual remark.

    But knowing was one thing; seeing Ge Dongxu''s noncommittal expression, Yuan Li opened her seductive, cherry-red lips and found herself at a loss for words for quite a while.

    After a long time, even a strong woman like Yuan Li couldn''t help but let her curiosity take over, leaning into Ge Dongxu''s ear to whisper again, "Ten million is still several tens of millions, ninety million is also several tens of millions. I''m really curious now, just how many tens of millions do you have in net worth? Twenty million? No, no, maybe more, do you have fifty million?"

    ps: Today will continue with five more consecutive updates. I strongly appeal for monthly votes and genuine subscriptions. The more support you give, the more motivated I am. Thank you.

 Chapter 193 The Big Boss Behind the Scenes [Second Update, Asking for Monthly Pass]

    Perhaps out of concern that the other passengers in first class would overhear and be shocked, Yuan Li leaned even closer this time.The soft pressure, the fragrant breath, the brush of hair across Ge Dongxu''s cheek, it was ticklish, just like his mood at the moment.

    "If you''re talking about cash on hand, I definitely don''t have that much, but if we''re talking about assets, I do have them," Ge Dongxu suppressed the fanciful thoughts in his mind, thought for a while, and replied.

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    His answer was quite modest, because if we were really to discuss assets, he had absolutely reached a billion by now!

    Upon hearing this, Yuan Li''s eyes bulged out on the spot, and she placed her hand over her sexy lips as if she was terrified of letting out a scream.

    Yuan Li was just driven by curiosity a moment ago when she asked the question; in fact, she didn''t believe Ge Dongxu had assets worth fifty million. At this time, a fortune above fifty million could directly put one on the list of Huaxia Country''s wealthy, even though this list couldn''t truly reflect the actual number and circumstances of the country''s wealthy. But at least it showed that fifty million was the threshold for entering the list and being worthy of the title "wealthy" in Huaxia Country.

    Yet Ge Dongxu was just a senior high school student, and Yuan Li somehow knew about his history of rise to wealth. She could believe that he might have a fortune of ten or twenty million, but the idea that he had already joined the club of Huaxia''s rich? Yuan Li simply couldn''t accept it at the moment.

    You must remember, Ge Dongxu was still a high school student! And how much time had passed since his rise?

    Thankfully, Ge Dongxu didn''t reveal that he was also the major owner of Donglin Yue Clothing Company and that his assets were at least a billion, or else Yuan Li would have truly screamed out loud.

    "You, you just love to scare people!" It took a while before Yuan Li could calm down her chest, which had heaved violently from shock, then she raised her fist and gently poked Ge Dongxu.

    "Actually, it''s not that much!" Ge Dongxu modestly said without thinking.

    "Not much? Do you have any idea how much I make in a year?" Yuan Li said with a roll of her eyes.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu chuckled and couldn''t continue to be modest anymore.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu laughing, Yuan Li couldn''t help wanting to hit him again, but before she could raise her fist, a voice full of surprise came from beside her, "Oh, President Yuan, what a coincidence."

    "President Cao, you''re here too." Upon hearing this, Yuan Li quickly turned her head and saw the face of a middle-aged man. She hesitated for a moment, then quickly revealed a smile and actively stood up to shake hands and greet him.

    "Yes, I happened to have some business in the capital these past few days. I didn''t expect President Yuan to be here as well. If I''d known earlier, I would have contacted you," the middle-aged man called President Cao said with a smile, holding Yuan Li''s hand for quite a while and not willing to let go until Yuan Li pulled back, making him reluctantly release her.

    After letting go, President Cao looked at Ge Dongxu with a puzzled expression and asked, "Who is this young man? Is he your relative? He looks like a student."

    In fact, Ge Dongxu always considered himself a student and wasn''t used to flaunting branded clothes in the streets, so he had switched back to his ordinary attire. Only the IWC watch looked relatively understated, which wasn''t conspicuous when covered by the sleeve, so he continued wearing it.

    This time, his ordinary attire made him appear somewhat green and inexperienced, lacking the preceding brilliance and sharpness of a young talent.

    Of course, this also had to do with Ge Dongxu''s current mindset. Since he now saw himself as a student, he naturally reined in his aura.

    "President Cao, hello, my name is Ge Dongxu. I call President Yuan ''sister,'' so you could say we''re relatives. I am indeed still a student," Ge Dongxu saw Yuan Li actively standing up to greet President Cao, and noticing President Cao asking, he also stood up and extended his hand towards him, so as not to seem arrogant and put Yuan Li in an awkward position.

    Yuan Li glanced at Ge Dongxu, her eyes brimming with joy when she saw him treating her like family.

    "Haha, so you''re really just a student, may I ask where you study?" Mr. Cao, noticing that Ge Dongxu was indeed just a student and seeing his simple attire, began to speak in a somewhat boastful and superior tone, acting the part of an elder.

    "Changxi No.1 Middle School," Ge Dongxu replied, not finding anything wrong with Mr. Cao''s attitude. After all, the man was older than him and also carried the title of ''President'', signifying a person of career success. It was normal for him to react this way upon learning he was a student.

    "That''s the top institution in Changxi County for producing college students. You''ll have to work hard so that you can become successful in the future," said Mr. Cao with an encouraging smile upon hearing this.

    "Hehe, I will," Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback before he replied with a smile and sat back down.

    Yuan Li, sitting beside them, found it hard to suppress a laugh when she saw Mr. Cao taking on the air of an elder to encourage Ge Dongxu, especially as Ge Dongxu was nodding and agreeing.

    He was a wealthy student, after all!

    Seeing this, Mr. Cao nodded with satisfaction and then found his seat according to his boarding pass.

    Since the flight from the capital to Linzhou was only two hours and there weren''t many people in first class, it was only about one-third full.

    After the plane had taken off, Mr. Cao noticed that the seat across the aisle from Yuan Li was empty and moved there to chat with her intermittently, his eyes occasionally drifting towards Yuan Li''s ample peaks, accentuated by her snug wool sweater.

    "Dongxu, why don''t you switch seats with me? I have some loan matters to discuss with President Yuan," Mr. Cao said to Ge Dongxu, after chatting for a while and apparently finding it inconvenient to talk across the aisle.

    Ge Dongxu noticed that Mr. Cao''s glances at Yuan Li were somewhat lecherous. Initially, he didn''t want to switch seats, but when he mentioned official business with Yuan Li, Ge Dongxu found it difficult to refuse, so he got up and swapped seats with him.

    After all, it was hard for a woman as beautiful and composed as Yuan Li not to attract male attention. Mr. Cao''s behavior was only natural, and Ge Dongxu couldn''t brand him a philanderer simply because of it.

    "President Yuan, the sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea have unexpectedly exploded, and my factory can no longer keep up with their packaging demands. It is imperative that we quickly add a production line. My trip to the capital was to procure equipment, but the cost is quite high, and I will need a substantial loan," said Mr. Cao once he took his seat, indeed starting a discussion about loans with Yuan Li. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu''s face betrayed a hint of surprise when Mr. Cao mentioned Qinghe Beverage. He usually only dealt with the high-level decision-making, not involving himself in the day-to-day operations or emerging publicly, his name not even listed in company registry or documents.

    He was more like the proverbial invisible big boss.

    So although Ge Dongxu knew that the packaging for Qinghe Herbal Tea was done by a company called Dapeng Packaging Factory, he had no idea who the owner was, and it now turned out to be Mr. Cao, sitting right before him.

    Since Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory wasn''t a public company and didn''t need to disclose shareholder information, and with Ge Dongxu barely participating in the management and operations, not to mention still being a high school student, even someone with an imagination as wild as Mr. Cao''s couldn''t possibly guess that the high school student before him was his biggest client.

    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have the guts to ask Ge Dongxu to give up his seat for him.

    PS: The book is currently fourth in the rankings for new books'' monthly tickets. Please, dear readers, continue to help push it higher. During the New Year''s seven-day double ticket period, each vote counts as two. Missing these days would make catching up difficult, so thank you in advance.

 Chapter 194 Keep Your Mouth Clean [3rd Update, Request for Monthly Pass]

    Yuan Li''s eyes lit up slightly at these words, and she said, "Oh, then I must congratulate President Cao. We at the branch bank certainly trust in the strength of your factory. If you are willing to take out a loan with our branch, I will try to offer you the most favorable terms possible."Banks engage in the business of borrowing at low rates and lending at high rates to earn profit margins. The amount a branch bank attracts in deposits and issues in quality loans is directly tied to the branch manager''s performance and income¡ªand even to their promotion prospects.

    As the branch manager of Changxi County, Yuan Li had managed to secure Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory¡ªa major client with monthly sales of tens of millions¡ªbecause of Ge Dongxu when she had just taken office. This had made her branch''s deposit-gathering capacity one of the top in the region among all the county-level cities under Ouzhou City. However, acquiring quality loan customers had always been a headache for her.

    President Cao''s Dapeng Packaging Factory was a packaging factory in Changxi County with some strength and, having climbed aboard the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory bandwagon last year, its profitability was on the rise.

    With the current growth trend of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, as long as Dapeng Packaging Factory could closely follow Qinghe Herbal Tea, its future profits could be expected to be even more substantial.

    Therefore, Dapeng Packaging Factory was considered by Yuan Li to be a prime loan customer. Naturally, she was quite intrigued when she heard that President Cao wanted to take out a loan.

    "Hehe, sure, sure. As long as President Yuan is willing to offer enough preferential policies, I definitely plan to borrow from your branch. In fact, if President Yuan has any need, I can even use my connections to introduce some friends to you. Like Cheng Yazhou, the owner of Qinghe Herbal Tea, I''ve had business dealings with him a long time ago. Our factory managed to secure the Qinghe Herbal Tea packaging mainly because of my relationship with Cheng Yazhou. You know how hot the sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea are, but I bet you have no idea how hot they''ve really become." President Cao, a shrewd businessman, noticed Yuan Li''s interest and squinted his eyes, his gaze falling on her ample chest. He then deftly changed the subject and stopped discussing the specifics of the loan.

    "Oh, how hot has it become?" Yuan Li glanced at Ge Dongxu and then asked curiously.

    She really did not know the extent of Qinghe Herbal Tea''s sales, just as President Cao had said, despite being aware of its hot market performance.

    "I heard that last month, Qinghe Herbal Tea''s sales volume exceeded forty million! And looking at their ordering pattern this month, it should continue to climb! Forty million a month, and that''s in the winter. Just think about it, what would that be next summer? And what about the annual sales volume?" President Cao said, his eyes showing both amazement and envy.

    Although President Cao bragged about his good relationship with Cheng Yazhou, Cheng used to be just a person handling print and packaging business, nowhere near his status as a big boss. But now? Cheng had transformed into one of the renowned herbal tea business owners in the entire Huaxia Country, and Cao Dapeng even depended on him for business. Naturally, he felt unsettled and harbored strong envy.

    "Forty million a month?" Yuan Li already had an idea of the enormous sales volume from Ge Dongxu''s earlier response, but she didn''t expect it to be this substantial. She couldn''t help exclaiming in surprise, yet her gaze turned toward Ge Dongxu, indescribably complex.

    In the past, she used to have a share in that factory, which could only generate a few tens of thousands in profit each year, just a few times better than a salary. But now? Even by conservatively calculating based on last month''s sales volume, next year''s sales could approach half a billion.

    Half a billion¡ªYuan Li couldn''t even begin to fathom that concept.

    "So if I introduce Cheng Yazhou to you, President Yuan, would you still need to worry about deposits?" Seeing Yuan Li''s expression of astonishment, almost bordering on stupefaction, President Cao started to laugh proudly, casually patted Yuan Li''s shapely thigh.

    "What are you doing?" Yuan Li immediately glared at President Cao and said.

    "Hehe, why do you have to be so serious, President Yuan? I''ve heard from the bank staff that you''ve been divorced for over a year now. I just got divorced at the beginning of the year as well. We could say we sympathize with each other..." President Cao showed no signs of embarrassment, guilt, or panic. Instead, he leaned closer to whisper in Yuan Li''s ear, smiling and moving his hand toward her thigh once again.

    "Slap!" President Cao''s hand hadn''t even touched Yuan Li''s thigh when his face was fiercely slapped.

    "Get lost!" A cold voice followed right next to President Cao''s ear, and a young face entered his vision.

    "Fuck, how dare you, a high school student, hit me!" President Cao had not expected Ge Dongxu to suddenly stand up and slap him. He was momentarily stunned, then, overtaken by rage, swung his fist at Ge Dongxu''s face.

    He was, after all, a distinguished entrepreneur from Changxi County, when had he ever been slapped by a high school student?

    "Slap!" President Cao had barely swung his fist when Ge Dongxu caught it with one hand, and President Cao felt as if his fist was about to be crushed, bending over in pain, he shrieked, "You, you fucking let go of me, it''s killing me! I think my fingers are going to break!"

    President Cao''s screaming naturally caught the attention of the other first-class passengers, who all turned their heads to look. Seeing what looked like a student holding a grown man''s fist with just one hand, causing him to scream as if he had lost his parents, left them dumbfounded.

    They then shook their heads, displaying a look of disdain.

    This was too fake, it''s not like they were in a movie. How could he be in so much pain from just a pinch? This man is too pathetic!

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    "Watch your language, or you can just deal with this," Ge Dongxu said indifferently, still holding onto President Cao''s fist.

    "Fuck! You little¡­" President Cao had never suffered such humiliation, especially given the contemptuous looks from the first-class passengers, which made him feel deeply shamed.

    However, as soon as President Cao started to speak, his palm felt as if it was on fire.

    "It seems you didn''t understand what I said," Ge Dongxu continued calmly.

    "I, okay, okay, I won''t curse, you¡­" President Cao opened his mouth to curse again but was forced to stop by the pain.

    "Sir, please let go of his hand, and you, sir, please stop shouting. You''re disturbing the other passengers," a beautiful flight attendant with a particularly shapely figure, dressed in uniform, hurried over and pleaded.

    While speaking, the flight attendant also took a special look at Ge Dongxu''s hand. Seeing that it was clean and white, like a scholar''s hand, she glanced at President Cao with a mix of bewilderment and disdain.

    Naturally, the flight attendant thought that even if Ge Dongxu''s hand was strong, such a clean and white hand couldn''t possibly cause a grown man''s fist to hurt to the extent that he needed to scream so loudly!

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 Chapter 195 I Changed My Mind [4th Update, Request for Monthly Pass]

    Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire"Okay, I''m sorry for the disturbance," Ge Dongxu was not an unreasonable person, but just now Cao Dapeng dared to speak to Yuan Li like that, even reaching out to touch her thigh, which made him lose control and smack him. Now, seeing the flight attendant stepping in to mediate, he let go and even bowed his hands to everyone.

    The passengers in first class looked curiously at Ge Dongxu when he apologized with a clasped fist, but they couldn''t make out anything specific.

    However, Cao Dapeng couldn''t stand the indignation from just before. Seeing Ge Dongxu let go and hearing the flight attendant say his loud complaints disturbed others, he became furiously embarrassed and pointed at the flight attendant, berating, "What are you talking about? Didn''t you see I was hit? Can''t I even shout a bit after being hit?"

    "Get real, your groping hand was trying to molest that lady, and her slapping you is very normal!" a male passenger said disdainfully as he couldn''t stand Cao Dapeng taking his anger out on the flight attendant.

    A woman like Yuan Li, with a beautiful face and figure, and full of mature charm, naturally draws the attention of men.

    Therefore, although the male passengers in first class couldn''t clearly hear what Cao Dapeng whispered to Yuan Li, they did see Cao casually hit Yuan Li''s thigh before and later, while leaning in to whisper, his groping hand secretly trying to touch her thigh. The male passenger sitting diagonally behind, who had been paying attention to Yuan Li, could see this.

    "What the fuck are you talking about? Who was molesting whom? Which eye of yours saw that?" Cao Dapeng naturally refused to admit his indecent actions and immediately turned his hostility towards the male passenger who had spoken.

    "What, you want to challenge me? Fine, give me your name, let''s see if I can afford to offend you. If I can''t, I''ll apologize to you. But if, heh heh, you''re just a nobody, then shut your fucking mouth. Think sitting in first class because you have some money is impressive? Everyone here can afford first class!" The man, seeing Cao Dapeng being arrogant and pointing and cursing at him, didn''t stand up to argue back, he just crossed his legs and looked at him disdainfully.

    The male passenger''s calm and arrogant demeanor and his words doused Cao Dapeng like a bucket of cold water from head to toe, making him suddenly remember that those qualified to sit in first class were all either rich or prestigious.

    Though he, the owner of Changxi County Dapeng Packaging Factory, could be considered some figure in Changxi and even dared to have some designs on the divorced bank manager Yuan Li because of his money, here he was merely an ordinary person. It was possible there were truly influential and elite people in the first-class cabin, and if he angered them, even his wealth couldn''t save him.

    With that thought, Cao Dapeng immediately lost his earlier bluster, just glared at the man, and then coldly smirked at Yuan Li, "President Yuan, your brother sure is imposing! Well, since President Yuan you look down on my little money, I''ll just find another bank."

    Saying this, Cao Dapeng turned and walked towards his seat. Just before sitting down, he muttered, "Damn, the bitch still acts pure! Fuck!"

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s expression instantly turned cold, and he stood and walked towards Cao Dapeng, Yuan Li thought Ge Dongxu was going to hit him again and quickly held him back, saying, "Let it be, Dongxu, he''s not worth getting angry over."

    As she said this, a touch of indescribable self-pity and sadness could be seen in Yuan Li''s beautiful eyes.

    The feelings men and women have about divorce are always different.

    The majority of men will emerge from the shadows of divorce as if nothing had ever happened. But for women, a single divorce often leaves a permanent scar on the heart, and causes others to look at her with strange and even demeaning eyes.

    The reason for Cao Dapeng''s behavior, beyond having money and feeling good about himself and finding Yuan Li sexy and attractive enough to provoke him, was his underlying belief that as a woman who had been divorced, she would be easy to exploit!

    Seeing the self-pity and sadness deep in Yuan Li''s eyes, Ge Dongxu felt both pain and anger, but he didn''t show it; he just gently patted her hand, gave her a reassuring smile, and said softly, "Don''t worry, I''m just going to have a word or two with him."

    Yuan Li hesitated upon hearing this but ultimately let go of her grip.

    "Sir..." While Yuan Li was holding Ge Dongxu''s hand, the air hostess from earlier had already stepped in front of Dongxu. Seeing Yuan Li release her grip, the air hostess quickly showed a troubled expression and tried to dissuade her.

    Actually, seeing the nouveau riche look on President Cao''s face, the air hostess also wished Dongxu could slap him again, but due to her duty, she could only stop him.

    "Don''t worry, I really just want to talk to that man," Ge Dongxu smiled to the air hostess and said, his expression hardly seemed that of someone about to fight, rather it appeared as if he wanted to have a heart-to-heart talk.

    The air hostess stared at Ge Dongxu for a long time, seeing his constant smile, she finally whispered, "Then just talk to him, don''t get physical."

    "Of course, I wouldn''t want to cause you trouble," Dongxu smiled and nodded.

    The air hostess was briefly dazzled by Dongxu''s sunny, boy-next-door smile, thinking it would be nice if a guy stood up for her like that.

    Ultimately, the air hostess stepped aside, but she closely followed Dongxu, afraid that he might start another dispute with President Cao. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    President Cao''s hand, which Dongxu had grabbed earlier, still throbbed with pain. Seeing Dongxu approaching him, he was indeed a bit scared, quickly shrinking back, but when he realized that Dongxu was just a high school student, he felt his reaction had been too cowardly and quickly sat up straight, glaring at him, "Kid, what do you want? Remember, we''re on a plane!"

    "Don''t worry, I won''t hit you this time," Dongxu said casually.

    "Haha!" The passengers in first class, hearing a high school student respond to President Cao in such a manner, couldn''t help but laugh out loud, their laughter filled with undisguised ridicule.

    "You, you, don''t get cocky, you''ll see what''s waiting for you back in Changxi County!" President Cao pointed at Ge Dongxu and said.

    "What, planning to have someone beat me up in Changxi County?" Ge Dongxu asked with a cold laugh, casually adding, "I was initially lenient after teaching you a lesson just now, and I wasn''t planning on pursuing it further. But because of what you said when you sat down earlier, I''ve changed my mind; you''ll definitely regret those words in the future!"

    After speaking, Ge Dongxu turned around and went back to his seat.

    When Ge Dongxu turned around to go back to his seat, the entire first class cabin was silent; apart from Yuan Li and President Cao, everyone else looked at him in daze for a while before shaking their heads dismissively with a laugh.

    Of course, they didn''t believe that a young man who looked like a student could make President Cao regret anything; he was merely a young man uttering brave words.

    President Cao naturally didn''t believe it either, and Dongxu''s words infuriated him to almost stand up and charge at him. Fortunately, he remembered the slight pinch''s power from Dongxu earlier and that his own actions had already caused dissatisfaction among the first-class passengers, so he ended up sitting back down with his face turning red and white.

    PS: Fourth update, calling for subscriptions and monthly tickets, thank you.

 Chapter 196 New Investment Idea [5th Update, Asking for Monthly Tickets]

    "Dongxu!" As Ge Dongxu sat back beside her, Yuan Li looked at him, her eyes slightly moist.Nobody in first class believed what Ge Dongxu had said, even thinking it was the naive words of a high school student, but Yuan Li knew that Ge Dongxu''s words were anything but naive; they were the kind that could truly make President Cao regret.

    And it was all because of her.

    A woman who didn''t deserve his cherished protection!

    "It''s okay, nothing''s wrong." Ge Dongxu reached out and grabbed Yuan Li''s hand, their fingers interlocking, while his other hand gently patted the back of her hand.

    "Mm!" Yuan Li nodded, then smiled at Ge Dongxu as tears silently rolled down her cheeks.

    ...

    The plane arrived on time at Linzhou City Airport.

    "Kid, you just wait and see!" After getting off the plane, President Cao pointed at Ge Dongxu and spat out the words hatefully, then hurried off with a grim face. Whether it was urgent business or fear that Ge Dongxu might catch up to hit him was unknown.

    Ge Dongxu watched President Cao''s retreating figure and shook his head, his eyes cold.

    "Dongxu, are you planning to change packaging manufacturers? Actually, it''s okay. After all, President Cao had Uncle Cheng''s support. Don''t let this affect your relationship with them. And if you change manufacturers hastily, and something goes wrong, that would be bad," Yuan Li said, worried, watching President Cao''s hasty departure.

    What she didn''t realize was that the factory wasn''t just Ge Dongxu''s; there were other shareholders as well. But what she didn''t know was that Ge Dongxu was not only the largest owner of Qinghe Herbal Tea but also its true leader, whose words nobody would dare to oppose.

    "Don''t worry, I''m the largest shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, so I do have the right to make decisions. Besides, someone like Cao Dapeng, it''s better for Cheng Yezhou to clear things up with him sooner. As for changing the manufacturer, you don''t need to worry. I won''t act rashly. Everything will be done step by step," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, patting Yuan Li''s hand.

    "You mean you''re not going to tell Cao Dapeng right away?" Yuan Li, being smart, couldn''t help but gasp at this revelation.

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    "At first, I planned to talk to Uncle Cheng as soon as I got back and have him tell Cao Dapeng directly to terminate our cooperation. But then I changed my mind. Some people have to pay the price for their actions and words," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Dongxu, you don''t have to get so angry for my sake, really!" Yuan Li clearly understood the difference between telling Cao Dapeng directly and postponing it. If Cao Dapeng took out loans to add new production lines and then his biggest client suddenly cut off cooperation, it would be a fatal blow to Dapeng Packaging Factory. Upon hearing this, she hugged Ge Dongxu''s arm tighter, saying emotionally.

    "How could I not be angry? You are my sister! Besides, people like him don''t learn their lesson unless they are taught a profound one," Ge Dongxu said as he looked at Yuan Li.

    "Mm!" Yuan Li had no more words upon hearing this, simply nodding her head, then leaning against Ge Dongxu.

    Upon leaving the airport, Ge Dongxu didn''t head to the train station but instead chartered a car to take him and Yuan Li directly back to Changxi County.

    For the driver, this long-distance charter trip was naturally a big deal. He hurriedly opened the car door for the two of them, inviting them to take their seats before he sat down in the driver''s seat and drove along the highway toward Changxi County.

    Throughout the journey, Yuan Li snuggled up to Ge Dongxu like a tender bird leaning on a person. Her voluptuous body was like a ball of fire, making Ge Dongxu feel a burning heat throughout his body, yet he had to suppress it forcefully, without showing any signs.

    Because it was clear that Yuan Li didn''t have that sort of thing in mind at all; her actions were very innocent and pure.

    Yuan Li''s actions made the driver sneak peeks at her through the rearview mirror all the way, his heart filled with envy and admiration for Ge Dongxu. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At such a young age, he''d managed to charm such a delicate beauty; at his age, he hadn''t even touched a woman''s hand, let alone someone so delicate, clearly a white-collar beauty working in an office.

    By evening, they had arrived in Changxi County.

    After having dinner at an outside restaurant, Ge Dongxu dropped Yuan Li home and left without entering her house.

    Having kissed her that time in Shichahai, Ge Dongxu found his resistance towards Yuan Li gradually weakening. He no longer dared to be alone with her like last time, for fear of making a mistake that shouldn''t be made.

    Yuan Li clearly understood Ge Dongxu''s thoughts. Watching his hasty departure, she blushed and spat, "This guy!"

    But afterward, recalling the past couple of days'' experiences, she leaned against the door, lost in a daze.

    After a long while, a deep sigh echoed in the room.

    ...

    Coming down from the upstairs, Ge Dongxu walked the streets of Changxi County alone, thinking about what had happened on the plane.

    Since he had decided to terminate the cooperation with Dapeng Packaging Factory, he definitely needed to find another packaging factory and also explain Cao Dapeng''s character to Cheng Yazhou. Although he was the major shareholder with decision-making power and Cheng Yazhou would certainly respect his opinion as long as he spoke up, respect was built on mutual understanding. So even though Ge Dongxu had decided to terminate the cooperation with Dapeng Packaging Factory, he still needed to clarify the situation to Cheng Yazhou. It wasn''t as easy as he''d made it sound in front of Yuan Li.

    Thinking about the packaging factory matter and how to explain it to Cheng Yazhou, Ge Dongxu unconsciously arrived at the Ge Family Village street.

    The county government''s plan had been released over a year ago. Now, Ge Family Village street was dotted with construction sites and rising buildings, showing signs of prosperity in the new urban area.

    The Yaxu Trademark Factory, where Cheng Yazhou used to work, had already relocated elsewhere, replaced by a high-rise under construction.

    This high-rise was naturally the new hotel funded and built by Lin Jinnuo, which for some reason seemed to be in a semi-suspended state of construction.

    Passing the high-rise under construction, Ge Dongxu remembered the Yaxu Trademark Factory. He slapped his forehead and smiled.

    "Lately, I''ve been focused on cultivation and learning, forgetting about investment affairs. Uncle Cheng used to run a package printing business, and Yaxu Trademark Factory''s labels are also part of packaging. Now that Qinghe Herbal Tea is selling so well, by next year, we''ll probably sell at least a hundred million bottles. That''s a huge business opportunity. Why not invest in our own packaging printing factory? Even if we don''t do business for other companies, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory alone could sustain the factory and save a lot of costs."

    The sudden inspiration gave Ge Dongxu another direction for investment. With the booming sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea, there was ample capital, a waste if left unused.

    But every investment comes with risks. Moreover, the rapid growth of Qinghe Herbal Tea caught Cheng Yazhou and others off guard; they hadn''t had time to fully enjoy and digest this sudden "happiness." How could they think of investing in another project?

    Ge Dongxu, on the other hand, already had three companies in his hands, and was also in the middle of exam preparation. If it weren''t for the incident on the plane pushing him to think of the best solution, he wouldn''t have thought about venturing into the packaging industry.

    Now that he had this guaranteed profitable investment idea, Ge Dongxu took out his phone and called Cheng Yazhou and Tang Yiyuan, asking them to find time to return to Changxi County this week.

    When Ge Dongxu called to discuss an important matter, Cheng Yazhou and Tang Yiyuan, no matter how busy, did not dare to delay and immediately said they would rush back to Changxi County tomorrow.

 Chapter 197 Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation [1st Release, Requesting Monthly Votes]

    ```Late at night, at the hour of Zi.

    Clouds veiled the sky, hiding the moonlight.

    As usual, Ge Dongxu sat cross-legged on the balcony connected to the training room on the second floor of the villa, cultivating with his eyes closed. Seven Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades were placed around him following specific directions.

    Streams of moon essence, invisible to the naked eye, penetrated the clouds and converged toward Ge Dongxu, swirling around him.

    True Qi began at the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and circulated successively through the Twelve Regular Meridians, becoming not only stronger but also purer with each circuit.

    The purpose of daily cultivation was not only to enhance the True Qi within the body but also to continuously refine it, making it increasingly concentrated and purified.

    In this repeated process, part of the True Qi nourished the twelve organs, making them more robust and vigorous, while another part entered the five organs that had already formed Air Cyclones, causing the cyclones to grow even larger.

    As the hour of Zi neared its end, Ge Dongxu felt the True Qi within his body surge mightily, like thousands of horses galloping. It seemed as if the Twelve Regular Meridians and the five organ cyclones could no longer contain so much True Qi. With a thought, he boldly directed a portion of the True Qi into the small intestine while it flowed through the Hand Taiyang Small Intestine Meridian.

    Immediately, familiar, intense pain flooded his body like a deluge, causing him to tremble all over as cold sweat poured down like rain.

    This process continued until the hour of Zi was over; suddenly, the Talisman Jades crumbled into dust, and a look of comfortable relief appeared on Ge Dongxu''s face.

    An Air Cyclone formed in the small intestine, slowly rotating, growing larger and stronger.

    Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation!

    In less than a year''s time, Ge Dongxu once again wrought a miracle in this Age of Dharma Decline, becoming a Cultivator at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    The True Qi flowed gently through the Meridians in his body, also spinning in a cyclone-like manner in the lungs, large intestine, stomach, spleen, heart, and small intestine.

    A breeze blew by, and Ge Dongxu felt as if he could ride the wind away.

    "Eh! What''s happening?" Ge Dongxu was undoubtedly a Cultivation prodigy; he immediately sensed that this was not a mere result of a breakthrough in Cultivation altering his mental state, but a genuine feeling of nearly being carried away by the wind with each gust.

    Of course, this sensation was very subtle, imperceptible without close attention.

    Ge Dongxu immediately stopped circulating his True Qi; the feeling disappeared as soon as he did so. Yet, when he circulated it again, the sensation of almost being carried away by the wind faintly returned.

    After several more attempts with the same results, Ge Dongxu ceased his cultivation and went downstairs to find a digital scale.

    This scale was purchased by Cheng Pudgy - he claimed it was for monitoring his weight loss, insisting he needed to weigh himself daily. However, the only changes ever seen were increases, never decreases.

    Nonetheless, Cheng Pudgy argued that this was normal since he was still growing in height. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Taking the digital scale, Ge Dongxu went back upstairs to his training room.

    Standing on the scale, Ge Dongxu maintained his usual composure, noted down his weight, and then circulated his True Qi again, only to discover the numbers on the scale had changed.

    The change was minimal, roughly two kilograms less. It''s likely that there had been changes before, but they were so small that Ge Dongxu hadn''t noticed them.

    "Why is this happening? Logically, it''s just a breath circulating within my body, and the Earth should still treat me as a whole, subject to the same gravitational force. So why has my weight decreased?" Ge Dongxu stepped off the digital scale, feeling puzzled and at the same time indescribably excited.

    ```

    Ge Dongxu still remembered Liu Jiayao asking him about Qinggong, at that time he had no answer. Now he had an intuition, if he could crack this secret, then Qinggong would no longer be just a legend to him.

    With that thought in mind, Ge Dongxu almost did not sleep at all that night, constantly pondering over the issue, but without any clue.

    When the next morning came, because he had to go to school, Ge Dongxu no longer thought about the matter.

    In the afternoon there was a physics class. At this point in the senior year, they had already entered the review stage, and today the physics teacher was revising mechanics. When the teacher mentioned gravity, describing it as one of the four fundamental interactions in nature, along with electromagnetic, weak, and strong interactions, it was as if a bolt of lightning had struck Ge Dongxu''s mind.

    If he considered his body to be a type of matter, then it would be more appropriate to regard the True Qi within him as a form of energy. When it circulated, if it generated a special magnetic field, and if the force of this magnetic field happened to repel the Earth''s magnetic field, then his previous confusion would be easy to explain.

    What a pity that it was only two kilograms, he probably needed to exceed his master''s cultivation, or even reach the Dragon Tiger Realm, to operate True Qi before he could achieve the lightness of a swallow!

    Although resolving his confusion was certainly gratifying for Ge Dongxu, there was also a hint of disappointment, because reducing his weight by two kilograms was obviously not enough to allow him to scale walls and leap over rooftops.

    However, Ge Dongxu quickly put aside this disappointment and felt only joy. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    Previously, he had always felt that natural science and Daoist teachings actually viewed the world from two different perspectives. Now he was more convinced than ever that studying natural science would serve as an analogy to his own path of Daoist cultivation and help to broaden his thinking.

    With this clear understanding, Ge Dongxu''s state of mind suddenly brightened. For some time, he had actually started to feel a bit confused, why continue spending time on exam preparation when he already had abilities and so much money?

    After his state of mind brightened, Ge Dongxu''s thoughts seemed to suddenly become exceptionally clear, and he fortuitously thought of airplanes.

    Why can airplanes take off? Since airplanes can fly, and I have surging True Qi in my body that I can control freely, even if I can''t fly like an airplane, I should at least be able to walk on walls and scale rooftops.

    Yes, I should look it up tonight, maybe that will give me some ideas, Ge Dongxu began to feel hopeful again.

    Scaling walls and leaping over rooftops is the dream of many, and Ge Dongxu was no exception!

    On this day, Ge Dongxu himself might not have realized it, but he had taken a monumental step on his path of cultivation.

    ...

    That evening, just as Ge Dongxu finished his self-study session and was returning to his villa with Du Yifan and Cheng Pudgy, he saw two sedans parked at the entrance of the villa. Wu Qianjin, Cheng Yazhou, and Tang Yiyuan were already waiting for him at the door.

    Seeing his own father and uncle, and a university professor eagerly waiting at the doorstep for Ge Dongxu, Cheng Pudgy felt an urge to bash his head against the wall when, before getting close, they all went up to him for handshakes and greetings, while barely nodding to him and Du Yifan, and Cheng Yazhou even glared at him, asking if he had listened to Ge Dongxu''s words.

    How come the difference between people can be so great!

    But he did not feel the slightest bit of jealousy towards Ge Dongxu, just ever-increasing admiration; Du Yifan felt the same way.

    To reach such a level as a high school student was something only their boss could achieve!

    "You''ve arrived, let''s talk inside," Ge Dongxu said after shaking hands with the three of them, opening the door to invite them in.

    Once inside, to avoid disturbing Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao''s studies, Ge Dongxu invited the three guests to his study to talk.

    ps: There will still be five updates today, and we are in the period of double monthly ticket votes. I would greatly appreciate the help of my readers in casting their votes, thank you very much.

 Chapter 198 Undermining the Enemys Foundations [2nd Update, Request for Monthly Tickets]

    "I''m really sorry for making you all come over here so late at night because of my classes," Ge Dongxu said with a bit of apology as everyone took their seats in the study."Haha, Dongxu, you shouldn''t say that to us. Without you, Wu Qianjin wouldn''t be where he is today. Just say the word, as long as it''s not about murder or arson, we will certainly not refuse," Wu Qianjin immediately said with a laugh.

    "Uncle Wu, you''re exaggerating a bit!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, waving his hand dismissively.

    "Qianjin is really not exaggerating. We owe our success today to you," Cheng Yazhou said with a slight seriousness on his face.

    "It''s not just me; our Qinghe Herbal Tea wouldn''t be so popular without everyone''s effort. You''re all giving me too much credit. I''m young, and compliments like these could easily inflate my confidence," Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu, at his young age, knew to self-reflect and not be arrogant, a look of admiration appeared in the eyes of the three people in the study.

    "Since you put it that way, we won''t be modest either. Tell us, what is the matter that you called us here for?" Cheng Yazhou said with a smile.

    "It''s about investing in packaging production," Ge Dongxu said, turning to look at Cheng Yazhou, who seemed to have something to say but hesitated due to the fact that it was Ge Dongxu who made the suggestion, making it awkward to voice any objections.

    However, Wu Qianjin and Tang Yiyuan both brightened up at the news, but they too looked towards Cheng Yazhou afterwards.

    Clearly, they thought Ge Dongxu''s suggestion was promising, but they also knew that Cheng Yazhou might find it a bit troubling.

    "I know that in the past, Cao Dapeng from Dapeng Packaging Factory had some business dealings with Uncle Cheng. If we invest in packaging production ourselves, Uncle Cheng might feel a bit guilty towards his friend," Ge Dongxu said, ready to have an open and honest conversation with Cheng Yazhou, and so he didn''t hold back his words upon noticing the latter''s hesitation.

    "In business, as long as it''s not a matter of integrity, there''s no real issue of owing or not owing someone, but a while ago Cao Dapeng mentioned he was planning to buy new equipment to expand production capacity and came to ask for my opinion. At that time, I hadn''t thought about getting into packaging production myself so I said it was fine. If he has purchased the equipment and we suddenly start our own venture, that would seem like we''re betraying him," Cheng Yazhou said after some thought, surprised that Ge Dongxu, who usually didn''t involve himself in specific business operations, knew about his relationship with Cao Dapeng.

    "Oh, Cao Dapeng asked for your opinion?" Ge Dongxu frowned slightly upon hearing this. He had planned to teach Cao Dapeng a harsh lesson because of something he had said on an airplane, but now it seemed from Cheng Yazhou''s perspective that doing so right after Cao Dapeng upgraded his equipment would indeed make Cheng appear dishonorable. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even if one couldn''t expect noble actions from someone like Cao Dapeng, others might act without principles, but one couldn''t be unjust oneself.

    "Yes, although I didn''t promise him that we would keep giving him the business after he added the new equipment, nor did we sign any long-term cooperation contract, there was still that implication. Of course, you are the major shareholder. If you decide to invest in packaging production, I will definitely comply with your decision. As for Cao Dapeng, we have a reason to justify it, so it''s not really betraying him," Cheng Yazhou nodded and said.

    "Let''s put this on hold for now. Let me tell you about something that happened yesterday. If you, Uncle Cheng, still feel uneasy about this, I can let Dapeng Packaging Factory handle our business until the end of the year. But after the year-end, no matter what, I will not give any business to Dapeng Packaging Factory," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and then said.

    He didn''t want to force Cheng Yazhou because of his personal grievances, but there would definitely be a bottom line.

    "Has Cao Dapeng offended you in some way?" Cheng Yazhou was a clever man, and upon hearing this, a thought struck him, and he blurted out the question.

    "If it were just offending me, it would be easy to talk about. I could let it go for the sake of Uncle Cheng, but the problem is Cao Dapeng''s character is unacceptable. Let me explain the details first." Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then speak!" Cheng Yazhou and the two others'' expressions suddenly turned serious.

    Cao Dapeng could praise himself to the sky, but that was nothing compared to the business interactions and the gradual friendship he had built with Cheng Yazhou. How could this bit of friendship compare to the relationship between Ge Dongxu and them?

    "A few days ago, I went to the capital for some business and on my way back to Linzhou City, I happened to share a flight with President Yuan Li."

    When Ge Dongxu mentioned his recent trip to the capital, Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin both showed a hint of surprise on their faces, while Tang Yiyuan''s expression became even more solemn and serious.

    He was naturally aware of whom Ge Dongxu had met in the capital. However, since this matter concerned Elder Feng, Tang Yiyuan wouldn''t inquire about it lightly, let alone mention it, even in the absence of Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin.

    "It was only then that I realized that Cao Dapeng was actually the owner of Dapeng Packaging Factory. Normally, meeting a fellow townsman on a plane would be a joyful experience. However, Cao Dapeng, under the pretext of discussing a loan with Sister Li, not only made inappropriate physical advances but also used frivolous language towards her. After I intervened, he even attacked Sister Li with insulting language. So, no matter the quality of Dapeng Packaging Factory''s products, with Dapeng''s character, I am absolutely against continuing¡­" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Damn that Dapeng! Dongxu, enough said, you handle it however you see fit. I don''t think we even need to tell him that we are severing our cooperation. Wait until he has bought new equipment and then pull the rug from under him! What crap, earning our money and still daring to offend your woman¡­ cough cough, President Yuan." Wu Qianjin couldn''t wait for Ge Dongxu to finish as he slammed the table, his face full of anger.

    It was a joke. How could others not know the relationship between Yuan Li and Ge Dongxu when Wu Qianjin and company were well aware? Back then, Ge Dongxu was willing to spend extra money to buy that factory for Yuan Li, and he always referred to her as Sister Li. If not for Ge Dongxu''s youth and distinguished status, Wu Qianjin would have teased him about Yuan Li long ago.

    Even though he didn''t voice the joke, in his heart, Wu Qianjin had already recognized Yuan Li as Ge Dongxu''s woman. Although Ge Dongxu was still young, just a high school student, this recognition seemed absurd and unbelievable.

    But the thing is, Ge Dongxu was a billionaire! Could one really measure him by his age and identity as a high school student?

    It goes without saying that if Cao Dapeng dared to covet Ge Dongxu''s woman, could Wu Qianjin not be angry? Could he not slam the table?

    "I think Qianjin is right, such a person should indeed be cut off at the knees so he regrets it for the rest of his life!" Tang Yiyuan said, also full of anger.

    Joking aside, he regarded Ge Dongxu as a mentor in his heart, and there was Cao Dapeng, making money from their Qinghe Herbal Tea, yet he dared to make advances on Yuan Li and insult her with his words; that was utterly intolerable.

 Chapter 199 Qinggong [3rd Update, Asking for Monthly Votes]

    Among the three, Cheng Yazhou actually felt the most anger and had the most complex feelings.Not only had Ge Dongxu saved his life, but his son''s progress and the brilliant heights his career had reached today were also all thanks to Ge Dongxu. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If anyone among the three was most grateful to Ge Dongxu, it would definitely be Cheng Yazhou.

    But it just so happened that Cao Dapeng was someone he had introduced!

    One could imagine the anger and complexity in Cheng Yazhou''s heart at that moment.

    "I think that''s it, damn Cao Dapeng, I really was blind!" Cheng Yazhou said with a face ashen.

    After speaking, he stood up again, his face filled with guilt, and said to Ge Dongxu, "I''m sorry, Dongxu, it was my poor judgment of character that caused¡­"

    "Uncle Cheng, don''t say that. Business is business, and what happened on the plane is another matter altogether. You shouldn''t confuse the two. But luckily, the incident on the plane not only showed us Cao Dapeng''s true character but also revealed another way to make money," Ge Dongxu quickly interrupted.

    "Right, right, Dongxu''s brain is just sharp. Although we saw a huge amount of packaging before, we never thought about investing in a packaging factory ourselves. With our own Qinghe Herbal Tea as a major client, this factory is guaranteed to be profitable!" Wu Qianjin, knowing Cheng Yazhou''s complex feelings, immediately followed with a laugh.

    "What do Uncle Cheng and Professor Tang think? Do you agree with investing in a packaging factory? If you agree, I think we should also set up a new company," Ge Dongxu seized the opportunity to shift the topic to investing in the factory.

    As for the matter of Cao Dapeng, there was actually no need to discuss it further at this point. Cheng Yazhou and the others naturally knew how to handle it. Talking more about it would only irritate Cheng Yazhou and embarrass him.

    After all, Cao Dapeng was his introduction.

    "I think it''s a good idea to move Yaxu Trademark Factory over and establish Yaxu Printing and Packaging Company," Wu Qianjin agreed.

    "In that case, on the matter of printing and packaging, Uncle Cheng and Uncle Wu, you are familiar with it, so you two prepare. As for the factory location, I think we still choose Changxi County. After all, Changxi County''s printing and packaging are well known nationwide. You have the final say on the exact location, then negotiate with the local government. If they offer a discount, that''s fine; if not, let''s not force it. After all, it''s right for our profits to contribute back to society," Ge Dongxu immediately decided.

    "Okay, let''s distribute the shares like Qinghe Herbal Tea. You sixty percent, Yazhou twenty percent, and Qianjin and I each ten percent," Tang Yiyuan nodded.

    Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin also nodded in agreement.

    After finalizing the establishment of Yaxu Printing and Packaging Company, the four chatted in the study for a while. Considering that Ge Dongxu had to go to school the next day, around ten-thirty, Tang Yiyuan and the others stood up to say goodbye and left.

    After Tang Yiyuan and the others had left, Ge Dongxu washed up and it was almost the hour of the rat.

    Ge Dongxu went to the balcony connected to his cultivation room and took out pieces of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade.

    Now that Ge Dongxu was not short of money and had a high level of cultivation, he purchased many Jade Tokens through Tang Yahui and took advantage of his spare time to carve a number of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades for future use.

    However, these Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade had not been activated, or as generally called "consecrated," so there was no loss.

    Ge Dongxu infused True Qi and activated a piece of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade one by one, totaling seven pieces.

    He then arranged them in specific positions, sat down with closed eyes to feel the effects, and discovered, indeed, after his breakthrough to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, the seven pieces of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade could no longer meet his cultivation needs.

    Thus, Ge Dongxu activated one more piece and then closed his eyes to feel again.

    "Huh, why is there no change? That shouldn''t be!" Ge Dongxu felt it for a while and found that the spiritual energy had not changed, feeling quite astonished, he then consecutively activated two more pieces. Stay connected through My Virtual Library Empire

    This brought the total of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade to ten pieces, but he still did not notice any change in spiritual energy.

    "What''s going on?" Ge Dongxu could not understand this phenomenon, as previously each additional piece of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade would enhance the gathering effect, but now there was no change at all.

    However, since midnight was the best time for cultivation, Ge Dongxu, unable to figure it out momentarily, did not continue to ponder deeply but instead sat cross-legged to circulate his True Qi and solidify his cultivation.

    Midnight soon passed, Ge Dongxu concluded his practice, picked up the Talisman Jade and saw very obvious cracks on it, knowing that with the advancement of his cultivation, these Talisman Jades were operating at full capacity and wearing out especially fast.

    Although Ge Dongxu was not short of money and therefore did not mind the wear of these Talisman Jades, what troubled him now was that beyond seven pieces, the concentration of gathered spiritual energy no longer changed, which would affect the progress of his cultivation.

    "Why does the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade stop changing after seven pieces?" Ge Dongxu packed up the Talisman Jade while walking back to his cultivation room, pondering over this.

    "Could it be that the concentration of spiritual energy in the Spirit Gathering Formation also has a saturation solubility like substances in a chemical solution? Yes, that must be it. I need to buy higher-quality Jade and carve higher-level Spirit Gathering Formations to further increase the ''solubility'' of spiritual energy." As he thought, Ge Dongxu started to consider physical and chemical knowledge, then suddenly slapped his forehead and burst into a happy laughter.

    He increasingly realized that the path of cultivation was also a science, and it shared many commonalities with natural sciences. After all, the path of cultivation originally involves the natural order of heaven and earth, which is what natural science studies as well.

    With this realization, Ge Dongxu was not in a hurry to sleep. He first reviewed his chemistry textbook about solubility, confirming his conjecture, then began searching online for the principles of airplane take-off.

    Upon reading, Ge Dongxu was struck as if by lightning, stunned for a while, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, stood up, lightly tapped his foot on the ground, and his entire body lifted off the ground, gliding directly about four or five meters through the air.

    This type of gliding wasn''t like that of a running long jump, but a genuine hovering flight, extremely graceful, just like watching martial arts experts lightly tap and soar into the air in movies.

    "Haha, indeed, according to Bernoulli''s Theorem, just by releasing True Qi outside the body, splitting it in two, keeping it flat below and convex above, and suddenly accelerating it, a pressure difference will occur due to different air flow speeds above and below, thereby generating an ascending force." Ge Dongxu, seeing he indeed mastered qinggong, felt extremely elated.

    Next, Ge Dongxu continued to "fly on the walls" in the room, but eventually, the limited space of the room made it somewhat unsatisfying.

    So, he simply left the room, walked to the balcony, then lightly tapped with the tip of his foot, and like a large bird slicing through the sky, he slowly landed in the yard.

    Luckily, it was already past one in the morning, pitch dark and in the middle of winter, so no one witnessed this scene which otherwise would surely have frightened someone sick.

 Chapter 200 Demand Enhancement [4th Update, Request for Monthly Pass]

    The courtyard provided much more space than the room, and after several attempts, Ge Dongxu found that due to his still low cultivation realm, the True Qi he could release was ultimately limited, and so was the amount by which it could lighten his weight when circulating inside his body.Each time he took to the air, the farthest distance he reached was roughly twelve meters, and the highest he soared was about five meters.

    Nevertheless, Ge Dongxu felt very satisfied with himself.

    After "flying" in the yard for a while, Ge Dongxu gently tapped his toes and flew up to the second-floor balcony like a large bird.

    Gently landing, he stood on the balcony, looking out at the scattered lights of Changxi County, with a surge of pride swelling in his heart.

    "Master, I haven''t let you down, have I? I''ve learned Qinggong!"

    Back then, Ren Yao had reached the eighth layer of Qi cultivation but didn''t know Qinggong; he could only forcefully leap six or seven meters by stomping his feet.

    To ordinary people, such a distance might seem like Qinggong, but Ge Dongxu knew it wasn''t, which is why he hadn''t been able to answer Liu Jiayao when she asked him about it.

    "This is only the beginning! One day, I''ll be able to fly and escape through the earth just like the immortals in the legends!" Ge Dongxu clenched his fists, his eyes shining with determination and confidence.

    Your next chapter awaits on My Virtual Library Empire

    Because he now possessed not only Ge Hong''s legacy, he had found another way to peek into the mysteries of the universe.

    Standing on the balcony for a long time, Ge Dongxu eventually returned to his room to rest.

    That night, Ge Dongxu slept particularly soundly.

    In his dreams, he saw himself soaring with Liu Jiayao, and then while flying, she suddenly turned into Yuan Li, and later unexpectedly became Jiang Lili, bare-chested, her ample, snowy bosom swaying before his eyes. As he couldn''t help but reach out to grab them, Liu Jiayao appeared, and Ge Dongxu abruptly awoke from his sleep.

    "This dream..." Ge Dongxu sat on the bed in a daze for quite some time before he smiled wryly, got up to wash, and then continued with his Mao Hour cultivation practice.

    Since the seven Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades were no longer sufficient for his current realm, the cultivation practice at Mao Hour didn''t yield much effect, providing only consolidation and a slight improvement, and the cracks in the talisman jades became more apparent after his practice.

    "Looks like I need to make a trip to the provincial capital this weekend to inquire Tang Yahui about higher-grade jade, or I may have to visit the Myanmar border if it comes to that," Ge Dongxu pondered after he finished meditating.

    ...

    "A grade above icy nephrite is ice type jadeite. Ice type jadeite is much more expensive. Some good-colored ice type bracelets and pendants can go for several hundred thousand or even a million, which isn''t unusual," said Tang Yahui, on a Saturday morning in the manager''s office of Jiang Region Jewelry Mall, with an expression of wry amusement on her face as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Being Tang Yiyuan''s daughter, she was aware of the substantial earnings from Qinghe Herbal Tea, but she was still taken aback when she heard Ge Dongxu wanted to buy ice type jadeite since Ge Dongxu''s way of buying was different from others¡ªhe would buy dozens or hundreds at a time.

    If it was really tens of thousands per piece, the amount would be astronomical, and even with Ge Dongxu''s wealth, it was something he wouldn''t be able to sustain.

    "That expensive? Then I really can''t afford it," Ge Dongxu said, frowning slightly upon hearing this. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You can certainly afford it if you want to buy, but the problem is the staggering sum if you plan to buy regularly," Tang Yahui said, looking at Ge Dongxu with a hint of awe in her eyes.

    Others might not know, but Tang Yahui was aware that the young man before her, only eighteen years old, had a net worth of over a hundred million.

    ```

    "Yes, I can''t afford to buy jade long-term either, and in the future, I definitely won''t stop at just the ice type," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    Tang Yahui''s mouth fell open when she heard Ge Dongxu wouldn''t stop at ice type, and it took her quite a while to close it again. Above the ice type is the glass type jadeite. These days, if it''s a well-colored, exquisitely carved piece of glass type jadeite, selling it for tens of millions is entirely possible.

    The thought of buying dozens or hundreds of pieces made Tang Yahui feel breathless just thinking about it.

    "Actually, the price of jadeite is determined by ''type,'' ''water,'' ''color,'' and ''work.'' ''Work'' refers to the processing and carving design aspect, which you don''t have a requirement for. ''Type'' and ''water'' refer to the specific quality and luster of the jade you need this time for the ice type, which can''t be changed. The only variable is the color. The price of jadeite can vary greatly depending on the color. For example, an ice type pure white jadeite and an ice type green jadeite, the prices can differ by a hundred times, and it''s quite common. If you have no specific requirements for the color of the ice type jadeite and are fine with slightly inferior colors, it could just be a few thousand or tens of thousands, then the price, you would certainly still be able to afford it," Tang Yahui finally suppressed the shock in her heart and suggested after some thought.

    "Color shouldn''t really affect me. But I need to check something, have someone send up a few pieces of ice type jadeite, I want to feel them," Ge Dongxu said, raising an eyebrow with a hint of excitement at the suggestion.

    If it was just a price of a few thousand to tens of thousands, then for the present Ge Dongxu, it really wasn''t much.

    "Okay," Tang Yahui nodded, then made a phone call to have someone bring over a few pieces of ice type jadeite.

    Ge Dongxu examined them and found that although there were some differences with green being the best and gray and black being the worst, the differences weren''t big¡ªcertainly not as big as the differences in their prices.

    "I basically have no requirements regarding the color, as long as it''s ice type, it can meet my current needs," Ge Dongxu said to Tang Yahui after examining the jadeite.

    "If that''s the case, then it''s easy to deal with. The price would probably just be a few times more than what you paid for the ice glutinous type, but I''m not sure how much you intend to purchase; I don''t have many unprocessed ice type jadeite pieces readily available," Tang Yahui responded.

    When he heard that the price would only be a few times more than the ice glutinous type, Ge Dongxu completely relaxed. Previously, he had purchased two hundred pieces at once for just four to five hundred thousand. Paying a few times more would only be in the million range, which to the now billionaire Ge Dongxu, really wasn''t much.

    "Let''s get a bit more, about five hundred pieces this time," Ge Dongxu replied after thinking it over.

    This time he planned to carve a higher level Spirit Gathering Array. Even though his cultivation had improved quite a bit, the success rate was surely lower than for the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation, and since money was no object now, he simply wanted five hundred pieces all at once.

    Tang Yahui''s mouth opened again upon hearing this, and it took her a long time to respond with a wry smile, "That many, even suppliers wouldn''t have that many low-price ice type jade pieces on hand all at once; I''ll have to visit several to find them. And I''ll need to negotiate the price for each piece of jadeite one by one. I don''t have the same financial resources as you; buying jadeite for you is like buying stones, so it might take some time."

    "No problem, you can deliver them to me in batches," Ge Dongxu replied with a somewhat sheepish smile.

    "Alright, I''ll get a hundred pieces for you first," Tang Yahui replied with a nod.

    "That''s settled then. You''re busy, so I''ll leave you to it," Ge Dongxu said, as there was no stock available this time, and he didn''t linger any further at Jiang Region Jewelry but got up and left.

    Liu Jiayao was not in Linzhou City these days. After leaving Jiang Region Jewelry, Ge Dongxu directly called a car to return to Changxi County.

    ...

    Time flew by to December.

    On this day, it was rainy and windy, and the weather was very cold, but Cao Dapeng''s heart was ablaze with excitement and boundless enthusiasm.

    It was because today, Dapeng Packaging Factory had a new production line up and running, boosting its manufacturing capacity to a new level!

    Thinking about how Dapeng Packaging Factory would keep pace with Qinghe Beverage Factory, as fiery and prosperous as the red cans, Cao Dapeng couldn''t help but get excited. He glanced at his watch and, seeing Cheng Yazhou hadn''t arrived yet, took out his phone and called him.

    ```

 Chapter 201 He is the Big Boss of Qinghe Herbal Teaã€Fifth Updateã€‘

    "President Cheng, where are you? Why haven''t you arrived yet? We are waiting for you to inaugurate our new production line and give us a good start." After getting through on the phone, although only through the receiver, Cao Dapeng''s face was still filled with a flattering smile."What new production line?" came Cheng Yazhou''s puzzled voice over the phone.

    "President Cheng really forgets things easily. I mentioned it to you yesterday that the new production line would be ready today and asked you to attend the event," said Cao Dapeng, slightly startled, then he quickly said with a forced laugh.

    "Ha, that matter. That''s your Dapeng Packaging Factory''s event; I, an outsider, should not join the bustling crowd," Cheng Yazhou said as if he had just remembered this matter, chuckling.

    Cheng Yazhou was still running his business when Cao Dapeng had already become a somewhat well-known boss in Changxi County. Naturally, he had his merits. Hearing these words, Cao Dapeng suddenly felt a chill, even though it was deep in winter, and cold sweat broke out all at once as he hurriedly said, "President Cheng, what do you mean by that? You are our factory''s benefactor; how could you be an outsider!"

    This time, even Cao Dapeng''s form of address changed to a more respectful "you," no longer being casual as before.

    On the other end of the phone, Cheng Yazhou suddenly fell silent upon hearing this.

    Although he was very angry that Cao Dapeng dared to lay hands on Yuan Li and insulted her verbally, after all, they had shared some past interactions. Now, sensing Cao Dapeng''s anxious trepidation over the phone, he ultimately felt a twinge of pity.

    Seeing the sudden silence on the other end, Cao Dapeng''s unease grew even stronger.

    "To tell you the truth, Dapeng, starting next month, our Qinghe Herbal Tea will discontinue our cooperation with your factory." Just as Cao Dapeng''s anxiety was mounting, Cheng Yazhou''s voice came through once again.

    "President Cheng, please don''t joke about this. This is about my entire livelihood!" Cao Dapeng''s hand trembled as he held his phone, nearly dropping it on the ground before quickly steadying it. He then squeezed out a smile uglier than crying and spoke in a tearful voice.

    If only I had known this would happen... Cheng Yazhou sighed deeply upon hearing this, then spoke again after a long pause, "I''m not joking with you, we really will discontinue our cooperation."

    "Why? Is it because our product quality has issues? Are our prices too high? Even if there are these issues, we can discuss them! How can you just discontinue like this!" Cao Dapeng was so anxious this time that tears nearly fell. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To keep up with the development of Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory, he had taken out a considerable loan to install the new production line.

    If Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory discontinued cooperation with him, then this newly installed production line would be left idle while the bank loan''s interest still had to be paid every month, enough to drag down his factory.

    The only solution was to immediately sell off the newly installed production line. But once machinery is in place, just like cars, as soon as ownership changes, it becomes second-hand and its price nosedives.

    And while cars are easier to sell due to high demand, machinery is not, as there are few buyers.

    Even if there happens to be a buyer in need, they would certainly push the price down.

    "It''s not about that; it''s about your character, which is why all our shareholders have decided to discontinue working with you," Cheng Yazhou said.

    "My character has issues? My character has issues? President Cheng, after all these years of doing business, don''t you already know what kind of person I am?" This response from Cheng Yazhou really stunned Cao Dapeng, who couldn''t recover his wits for a while, only after some time did he hurriedly respond.

    "I really didn''t know before, but now I do. Do you remember what happened on the flight from Heavenly Capital to Linzhou last month?" Cheng Yazhou thought about it and decided to clarify things.

    "Last month from Heavenly Capital to Linzhou, what does that have to do with this?" Cao Dapeng was baffled again and took a long time to recall what had happened on the plane, hearing the warning from the high school student in his ears, but he quickly shook his head and dismissed the high school student.

    It was just a high school student, after all. How could he possibly affect his partnership with Qinghe Herbal Tea?

    "Do you remember the young man who was sitting with President Yuan? He is the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea!" Cheng Yazhou said.

    "He is the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea! You''re saying that high school student is the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea! Mr. Cheng, are you joking with me? How is that possible!" Cao Dapeng was stunned for a good while, then burst out in disbelief.

    But deep down, he already knew it was true!

    "Do you think I would joke about something like this? So it''s not that your factory isn''t up to par, it''s that your character isn''t! You''ve offended someone you shouldn''t have. Take care of yourself, Dapeng." Cheng Yazhou said before hanging up the phone.

    "He is the big boss! He actually is the big boss!" Cao Dapeng heard the hanging up sound from the phone, and he just sat down on the ground.

    He remembered calling Ge Dongxu to give up his seat like he would to a junior, remembering how he had behaved inappropriately towards Yuan Li in front of him, remembering Ge Dongxu''s final warning, Cao Dapeng raised his hand and "slap slap" gave himself two slaps across the face.

    This is really a self-inflicted disaster!

    But who could have imagined a high school student being the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory!

    "Mr. Cao, Mr. Cao, what happened to you?" The people in the factory, seeing their boss who was radiant just a moment ago suddenly sitting on the ground and slapping himself, hurriedly went up to stop and support him.

    When the people stopped and supported him, Mr. Cao came to his senses. Now wasn''t the time for repentance, but for remedial action; otherwise, if Qinghe Herbal Tea really abandoned Dapeng Packaging Factory, his new production line would just sit there rusting.

    Rising up, Cao Dapeng hurriedly called Cheng Yazhou again.

    "Mr. Cao, calling me is useless. I can''t help you with this matter, and I don''t wish to help you." Cheng Yazhou picked up the phone and said bluntly.

    "It''s all my fault, all my fault for being foolish and lustful. But Mr. Cheng, after all our years of friendship, could you really watch me jump off a building? You know that I put all my money into this new production line, took out loans, and even consulted you initially. You can''t be so heartless, please, for the sake of our many years of friendship, help me out." Mr. Cao, a grown man and a boss, sobbed pleadingly amid tears and snot.

    "How can I help you? Do you not know Dongxu calls Yuan Li ''sister''? You actually dared to make advances on her right in front of him, how do you expect me to help you?" Cheng Yazhou, seeing that Mr. Cao''s voice was choked up on the phone, felt a bit of pity but also scolded him for not meeting his expectations.

    "I know, I know it was all my fault. Please, look at our years of friendship and help me this once. Let me meet him and beg for his forgiveness face to face." Mr. Cao continued to plead.

    ps: The fifth update is complete, calling for subscriptions and monthly tickets, thank you very much.

 Chapter 202 Figure It Out Yourself [1 update, request for monthly pass]

    "If you had offended someone else, I would have conveyed the message on your behalf, but you''ve offended him, and I''m not going to help," Cheng Yazhou ultimately refused coldly and then hung up the phone.Ge Dongxu had shown him great kindness, and he knew that Ge Dongxu was a man of loyalty. Once he asked for a favor, Ge Dongxu would certainly oblige to save face, but it was precisely for this reason that he couldn''t afford to ask casually.

    Especially not for someone like Cao Dapeng. He wasn''t worth it.

    "Fuck! Cheng Yazhou, you''re fucking inhuman!" Seeing Cheng Yazhou hang up on him, Cao Dapeng swore furiously, stomping his feet in anger.

    After cursing for a while, however, Cao Dapeng completely lost his temper. What replaced it was indescribable panic.

    Because if Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory decided to terminate their cooperation with him, his factory might very well go under!

    "No, I can''t just sit here and wait for doom. I must think of a solution. Right, try finding Zuo Le. He''s a county committee leader and the head of the Public Security Bureau. If he''s willing to mediate and pull some strings, perhaps there could be a turnaround." After panicking for a while, Cao Dapeng eventually calmed down and remembered that he had some distant kinship with Zuo Le, which resulted in some personal connections, so he hurriedly made a call to Zuo Le.

    "Director Zuo, hello," Cao Dapeng greeted respectfully as soon as the call connected.

    "You... are President Cao," Zuo Le sounded slightly surprised at first, but quickly realized who was calling.

    "Yes, yes, it''s me, Cao Dapeng," Cao Dapeng hurriedly confirmed.

    "What brings a big boss like you to call me?" Zuo Le asked with a chuckle.

    "I do have a favor to ask of you," Cao Dapeng said.

    "What is it? Just tell me. As long as it''s within the rules, I''ll certainly help if I can," Zuo Le stated.

    "You know I''ve been doing business with Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory for over a year. Not too long ago, you, Cheng Yazhou, Wu Qianjin from Qinghe Herbal Tea, and I even had dinner together. At that time, I specially mentioned adding a production line, and both Cheng Yazhou and Wu Qianjin nodded and agreed. Do you remember that?" Cao Dapeng asked.

    "I have an impression. I think that''s a good thing!" Zuo Le responded.

    "Yes, I also thought it was a good thing. So, I went ahead and added a production line. But now Cheng Yazhou says he wants to discontinue our cooperation, so I want to ask you to say a word or two on my behalf. What he''s doing is pushing me towards a dead end!" Cao Dapeng said.

    "Really? Don''t panic now. As far as I know, President Cheng isn''t the type to do that without good reason. Did something happen between you two?" Zuo Le frowned upon hearing this and then inquired.

    "There was a small misunderstanding. On the way back to Linzhou from Beijing by plane a while ago, I had a bit of a conflict with the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory on the plane. I didn''t know he was the major shareholder at the time, so I might have been a bit rude. But ''not knowing is not a crime,'' right? You should give me¡­" Cao Dapeng hesitated and then said.

    "The major shareholder? Are you talking about Ge Dongxu?" Zuo Le''s voice suddenly rose upon hearing this.

    "Correct, correct. I didn''t expect you to know Ge Dongxu, Director Zuo. That makes things much easier," Cao Dapeng, surprised to learn that Zuo Le knew Ge Dongxu, said with delight.

    "Easier my ass? You offended Ge Dongxu and now you want me to stick my neck out for you? I''m already being nice by not cussing you out. Go figure it out yourself!" As soon as Zuo Le confirmed it was Ge Dongxu, he immediately cursed. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having said that, Zuo Le hung up the phone directly.

    It was a joke. Ge Dongxu was his lifesaver, having cured his infertility, allowing him to have descendants in the future. With Cao Dapeng having offended Ge Dongxu, how could he possibly act as a mediator on his behalf?

    Zuo Le had just hung up the phone when Cao Dapeng''s face froze in shock, his heart rapidly filling with panic.

    This time, he had come to fully understand that this high school student, Ge Dongxu, was not only wealthy but also had significant influence!

    Swept by fear, Cao Dapeng thought of someone¡ªYuan Li.

    So Cao Dapeng instantly rushed to the Industrial and Commercial Bank in a frenzied hurry.

    ...

    "President Yuan, I apologize to you, a sincere apology! Please, be magnanimous and let me off this once. If you don''t show mercy, I really might jump off a building!" In the branch president''s office, Cao Dapeng, a grown man, was bowing and wiping away tears in front of Yuan Li, without any of the arrogance and flippancy he had shown on the plane.

    Watching Cao Dapeng grovel before her like a fawning dog, Yuan Li felt incredibly conflicted.

    Without Ge Dongxu, this scene would never have happened; even on the plane, she would merely have suffered Cao Dapeng''s advances and his demeaning disrespect in vain.

    But now! All because of Ge Dongxu, Cao Dapeng, this wealthy boss, was pathetically coming to her to bow and apologize, begging her to show leniency.

    "I will not interfere with Dongxu''s decisions; pleading with me is useless," Yuan Li said coolly, though her feelings were complex, she wasn''t about to play the good Samaritan right away.

    Having reached her current position, she had seen her fair share of characters and understood very well the mentality of people like Cao Dapeng. Pressured by circumstances, he might be humble and even subservient now, but as soon as he regained his footing and accumulated some capital, he would likely become haughty and domineering again.

    "So you mean there''s no problem on your end, and as long as Ge Dongxu is willing to let it go, then it''s okay, right? Thank you! Thank you so much!" Cao Dapeng, ever the sly one, misconstrued her words deliberately and kept bowing his thanks.

    Yuan Li watched Cao Dapeng repeatedly bow in thanks. Her lips parted as if to speak, but in the end, she couldn''t bring herself to say anything too cold-hearted.

    Seeing her reaction, Cao Dapeng secretly rejoiced and bowed several more times before hastily leaving Yuan Li''s office, giving her no chance to change her mind.

    After leaving Yuan Li''s office, Cao Dapeng drove straight to Changxi No. 1 Middle School.

    Upon reaching Changxi No. 1 Middle School, Cao Dapeng did not dare to barge in and find Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu, as the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, was doubtlessly the richest man in Changxi County. However, he kept a low profile there; even Cao Dapeng, who worked with Qinghe Herbal Tea as a packaging factory owner, had been unaware of his true status, which made it clear that Ge Dongxu did not want his identity as the big boss to be public knowledge.

    Cao Dapeng was aware of this much.

    After evening self-study was over, Ge Dongxu, along with Du Yifan and Cheng Yazhou, were laughing and pushing their bikes out of the school gate, about to mount them when they saw Cao Dapeng standing near the gate, wringing his hands.

    When Ge Dongxu saw Cao Dapeng, Cao Dapeng also spotted him and quickly walked over to him, smiling and slightly bowing.

    He had no choice, for this high school student, once insignificant in his eyes, now held the key to his financial future. If this student didn''t relent, his life''s struggles could all go down the drain.

    ps: Continuing with five updates today. The competition for monthly tickets is fierce; many authors on Qidian have issued red packet monthly tickets, forcing me to do the same. Luckily, it''s the Qidian readers who benefit, so the giving feels joyful, like a New Year''s gift. Still, I humbly ask my readers to please help by casting your monthly votes for me. Monthly ticket rankings are very important for a new book. I haven''t fought hard for rankings with my previous books, but I truly want to compete this time, so please grant me this favor.

 Chapter 203 Are you trying to push me to my death? [Second Update]

    "You guys go ahead, I''ve got something else to deal with," Ge Dongxu said as he saw Cao Dapeng approaching him with a slight frown, then he spoke to Du Yifan and chubby Cheng.Du Yifan and chubby Cheng glanced at Cao Dapeng, who was coming their way with a smile and a slight bow, puzzlement flashing in their eyes, but they quickly nodded and said, "Alright then, we''ll head back first."

    After they spoke, the two of them mounted their bicycles, while Ge Dongxu quickly pushed his bike to meet Cao Dapeng. Without waiting for Cao Dapeng to speak, he already said, "Let''s meet at the Changxi Grand Hotel."

    Without paying any more attention to Cao Dapeng, Ge Dongxu mounted his bike and sped off.

    If it had been before, Cao Dapeng would have cursed out loud at a high school student talking to him like this, but this time, it sounded to him like music from heaven. He hurried back to his car and then drove quickly to the Changxi Grand Hotel. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Cao Dapeng arrived at the Changxi Grand Hotel first and made arrangements for a private room, then he especially went to the lobby entrance to wait.

    "Eh, President Cao, what brings you here tonight?" In the lobby, Lin Jinnuo''s portly figure appeared, and he was somewhat surprised to see Cao Dapeng.

    Because Cao Dapeng, in Changxi County, was a boss with some reputation, especially with the rapid growth of Qinghe Herbal Tea over the past year, he too had benefitted, and his performance had also skyrocketed. If this trend continued, he could very well become the leading enterprise in Changxi County''s printing and packaging industry.

    So Lin Jinnuo was quite surprised to see not only that Cao Dapeng was at their hotel at this hour but also waiting for someone at the entrance.

    "What wind? I''m just hustling for a living. Not like you, Lin boss, building one hotel after another, not to mention having such an accomplished son. In just over a year, you''ve created a fashion brand that''s popular all over the country, impressive!" Cao Dapeng said enviously.

    "My son is indeed doing well, but let''s not talk about me. Haven''t you seen the hotel construction stopped over there?" Lin Jinnuo said, shaking his head. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Is there a problem with the cash flow?" Cao Dapeng asked.

    Lin Jinnuo just laughed without answering. He wasn''t that close with Cao Dapeng, so naturally, there were things he didn''t want to reveal.

    Right then, Cao Dapeng was in a difficult situation himself and the last thing he wanted was to see others doing better. He was hoping for someone to share the blame. Seeing Lin Jinnuo didn''t answer, Cao Dapeng was about to ask again when he saw Ge Dongxu appear at the hotel entrance.

    Just as Cao Dapeng was about to leave Lin Jinnuo and greet him, Lin Jinnuo''s portly figure proved to be unexpectedly agile, and he reached Ge Dongxu first.

    "What brings you here tonight, you busy man? I was actually thinking of looking for you these days," Lin Jinnuo said as he quickly reached out to shake hands with Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu was about to ask Lin Jinnuo what he wanted to see him about when Cao Dapeng walked up with a beaming smile and a bow, "Mr. Ge, good evening, good evening to you."

    After speaking to Ge Dongxu, Cao Dapeng looked at Lin Jinnuo and said, "So Lin boss knows Mr. Ge, I must be blind not to have recognized Mount Tai before my eyes!"

    "My son was brought up by Dongxu, how could I not know him? As for you, well, it looks like you have something to discuss with Dongxu. I''ll arrange a private room for you," Lin Jinnuo, being a smart man, could tell by Cao Dapeng''s demeanor that Cao Dapeng must have offended Ge Dongxu somehow. He pointed at Cao Dapeng and said.

    Cao Dapeng, upon hearing Lin Jinnuo mention that Ge Dongxu had brought his son into the business, remembered the name of the clothing brand "Donglin Yue"¡ª"Lin" referring to Lin Kun and "Yue" to Yue Ting. But what about "Dong"?

    At this thought, Cao Dapeng shivered uncontrollably and looked at Ge Dongxu with deep reverence.

    Is this still a high school student?

    In just over a year, he had become the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea, a brand that had become famous throughout the country, and now it seemed that in the same short period, he was also the big boss of Donglin Yue, which had also gained nationwide fame!

    "No need, no need, I have already arranged for a small private room. Mr. Ge, please." Putting aside his shock, Cao Dapeng bowed respectfully to Ge Dongxu.

    Naturally, Ge Dongxu would not stand on ceremony with Cao Dapeng, nor pay him any mind, and simply said to Lin Jinnuo, "Since you have something to discuss with me, I''ll deal with him first, and then we can talk later."

    Having said that, he walked towards the elevator led by Cao Dapeng.

    It was an elegantly appointed small private room. As the door opened, a variety of delicate pastries and tea had already been prepared.

    "Mr. Ge, please take a seat, please take a seat." Once inside the room, Cao Dapeng hurriedly pulled out the chair at the head of the table, inviting Ge Dongxu to sit.

    You don''t kick a man when he''s down. Poor people have their hateful aspects, but it was deep winter, and Cao Dapeng had first waited for him at the school gates and was now groveling. Regardless, Ge Dongxu could not carry on with a stern face, so he gestured to the chair beside him and said, "You sit, too."

    "Mr. Ge, about the incident on the airplane last time, I was wrong, I let my desires cloud my judgment, and I sincerely apologize to you," Cao Dapeng said, without sitting down, bowing deeply to Ge Dongxu.

    "Desires clouding judgment!" Ge Dongxu mulled over this phrase and found Cao Dapeng''s words rather honest. A woman like Yuan Li could easily cloud a man''s judgment, leading to mistakes.

    Thinking this, Ge Dongxu''s expression softened somewhat and said, "You should be apologizing to President Yuan."

    "I have already specifically visited President Yuan to apologize during the day, and she said that everything depends on your attitude. Mr. Ge, it''s all my fault, please spare me this time. The new production line I''ve just introduced is currently the most advanced in the country, all for meeting the needs of your Qinghe Herbal Tea and to provide the best quality. For this, I''ve taken out a massive loan of eight million. If you cut off our cooperation now, I''ll have to jump off a building," Cao Dapeng said, tears welling up.

    "After what happened on the plane, letting you handle our business is absolutely impossible. Don''t even entertain that thought. I can be agreeable on some things, but once you violate my principles, there''s no room for negotiation," Ge Dongxu said, frowning slightly as he saw Cao Dapeng, a grown man, shedding tears.

    Even if they didn''t invest in the printing and packaging industry themselves, there were countless businesses eager to take on their printing and packaging deal. Why should they let someone who had humiliated Yuan Li continue to make money off them?

    Just because of a few tears? Cao Dapeng''s tears simply weren''t that valuable!

    "Mr. Ge, are you trying to drive me to my grave?" Seeing Ge Dongxu dismiss the matter in one sentence, Cao Dapeng''s face paled dramatically, his eyes showing a hint of desperation and madness.

    "If that''s how you want to put it, then there''s nothing to discuss," Ge Dongxu said, getting up to leave.

 Chapter 204 Selling the Factory [3rd Update, Request for Official Subscription]

    "No, no, let''s keep talking, keep talking. But the problem is, for this new production line, I''ve really put everything I own on the line," Cao Dapeng hurriedly stopped Ge Dongxu from leaving. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality."It''s not that exaggerated. Over the past year, especially since May, you must have made quite a bit of money from us. Just one production line, it''s too much to say you''ve wagered everything on it. Here''s the thing, let me be honest with you, we''re planning to invest in the printing and packaging industry ourselves. We''ve been looking for factory facilities and equipment recently. Since you think the new line will go to waste without our Qinghe Herbal Tea business, if you''re willing to sell it to us at seventy percent of the cost, I might consider buying it," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    This time, Cao Dapeng didn''t panic or respond immediately; instead, he sat back down, took out a cigarette, lit it, and started smoking heavily.

    Now he fully understood that this high school student was easy to talk to when he wasn''t angry, just like that day on the airplane when he asked him to give up his seat, and he did so immediately, without any pretense. But once he managed to anger him, then there was no way a simple bout of crying would suffice to fool him. And once he started to retaliate, it would be one thing after another, absolutely cunning and ruthless.

    Indeed, just because of that incident on the airplane, not only did he take harsh revenge on Cao Dapeng, but he also managed to benefit by acquiring new equipment at a low price.

    But Cao Dapeng had no choice but to respond because if he missed this opportunity, it would be hard to find another one!

    "Is Qinghe Herbal Tea really planning to invest in the printing and packaging industry?" After a long time, Cao Dapeng pressed his cigarette fiercely into the ashtray, looked up with somewhat reddened eyes, and asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then can I package the entire factory, sell it at a low price, and convert it into shares?" Cao Dapeng asked, his reddened eyes filled with a hint of hope.

    He had thought a lot just now. Thinking of the rise of Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglin Yue, he was very certain that this young man in front of him was definitely a business genius. As long as he followed him, even if he sold the factory cheaply to buy into the shares, he would definitely make a fortune in the future.

    "No," Ge Dongxu shook his head firmly in response.

    Cao Dapeng had confidence in him, but Ge Dongxu also had confidence in himself. He wouldn''t leave a money-making opportunity to someone who had insulted Yuan Li and had questionable character.

    The look of hope in Cao Dapeng''s eyes dimmed immediately; it took him a while to say, "Buying the factory, installing machines, and hiring technical staff will undoubtedly consume a lot of time, effort, and, of course, money. How about this, I''ll sell you the entire factory, but you have to buy the new production line at the original price."

    "You want to sell the entire factory?" Ge Dongxu''s eyes slightly lit up at the mention.

    "To be honest, ever since the financial crisis in Asia, the printing and packaging business hasn''t been good. If it weren''t for your Qinghe Herbal Tea business supporting it, I might have already been at a loss. Now that you''re planning to stop cooperating with me, I''m really considering pulling out of this industry," Cao Dapeng lamented as he relit a cigarette.

    "Since that''s the case, I''ll let Uncle Cheng discuss the details and the price with you. Let''s close the chapter on the incident on the airplane, but let me advise you, Mr. Cao, don''t ever act like that again, or sooner or later disaster will strike. That''s all I have to say, goodbye," Ge Dongxu nodded, then stood up and left the seat.

    This time, Cao Dapeng didn''t stop Ge Dongxu; he just watched him leave and sat back down slowly after a long while.

    Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

    Once he was out of the private room, Lin Jinnuo was already waiting for him in the lobby. Seeing him come out, she quickly stood up to greet him.

    "I''ve booked a private room, shall we..." Lin Jinnuo said.

    "We''re not eating dinner this late at night, so let''s just sit by the window there and talk," Ge Dongxu pointed to an elegant seat by the window in the hall and smiled.

    "Sounds good." At this point, there were hardly any people dining in the hotel lobby, which was quite peaceful, so Lin Jinnuo didn''t object.

    "About the new hotel?" Ge Dongxu asked bluntly after sitting down.

    Every day on his way home, he would pass by the hotel Lin Jinnuo was building, which had been partially halted for some time.

    "Yes, there''s a budget issue, plus an investor pulled out, leading to financial chain problems. So, I was hoping to borrow some funds from you, you can set the interest," Lin Jinnuo said, embarrassedly touching his belly.

    "Why wouldn''t the bank lend to you?" Ge Dongxu asked, frowning slightly.

    "They refused to lend anymore. Don''t be fooled by my appearance; I actually owe a lot of debt to the bank. The Jinhui Hotel we''re currently constructing had already borrowed from the bank, and now there''s a significant shortfall. Lin Kun can''t pull much money from his side, and the banks are too scared to take this risk. I should have listened to your advice and not invested in building a hotel. Now I''m stuck between a rock and a hard place," Lin Jinnuo said with a bitter smile.

    "It''s not that bad. I just felt that you were over-constructing and the investment was too large with a slow cost recovery. I didn''t have much cash on hand at the time, so I didn''t want to invest. However, hotels have their benefits. Once it''s built, money will just come in. But regarding the loan, I''m not a banker, and I don''t deal with loans. I''ll accompany you to see President Yuan, and I''ll vouch for you," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "That''s very kind of you. With your guarantee, borrowing a hundred million wouldn''t be a problem," Lin Jinnuo said with a great joy.

    "Old Lin, don''t tell me you want to borrow a hundred million; I wouldn''t be up for that," Ge Dongxu joked.

    "Of course not, of course not, just around ten million," Lin Jinnuo said hurriedly.

    "Haha, then there''s no problem. If you can''t pay it back, I''ll just deduct it from Lin Kun''s money. By next year, his net worth will definitely be over ten million," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "If you count the brand value, this young fellow is already worth over ten million now. These days, he hasn''t stopped showing off in front of me. Luckily, you''re there to keep him in check, otherwise, his tail would be up in the sky," Lin Jinnuo said as Ge Dongxu mentioned Lin Kun, his words filled with helplessness. However, from his tone and expression, it was obvious that he was actually very pleased and proud, and he felt deeply grateful to Ge Dongxu.

    "Haha, Lin Kun does have real skills. Right now, he''s mainly handling our Kunting chain of budget franchise hotels. I estimate that by the second half of next year, once we have more chain stores and achieve scale, this sector should really start to perform," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Haha, all thanks to your excellent guidance, Dongxu!" Lin Jinnuo said happily.

    "Then tomorrow noon, I''ll make some time and meet in President Yuan''s office," Ge Dongxu said, slightly stunned upon hearing this, then he chuckled and touched his nose, finding the comment a bit awkward.

    He was not Lin Kun''s father after all; he was just a high school student!

    "Alright, I won''t say more thanks, I''ll keep everything in mind," Lin Jinnuo said appreciatively, not sensing anything off about his previous remark.

 Chapter 205 Bring Some Wine [Fourth Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets]

    The next day at noon, when Ge Dongxu arrived at Yuan Li''s office, Lin Jinnuo was already waiting for him. Upon seeing him enter, she hurriedly stood up to shake his hand and greet him, while Yuan Li gave Dongxu a gratefully affectionate look and stood up to pour him a cup of tea.From the incident with Cao Dapeng yesterday and the guaranteed loan for Lin Jinnuo today, Yuan Li saw the meticulous care and protection that Dongxu offered her.

    With Dongxu''s guarantee, things were quickly settled, and the next step was to submit it for approval.

    Whether the upper department would approve or not, Lin Jinnuo might not have been entirely confident, but Yuan Li was sure that the application would definitely be approved one hundred percent.

    Because Dongxu was not only the major boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea but also the Liu branch manager in Ouzhou City knew him too!

    Other people''s guarantees could be disregarded by the Liu branch manager who might decline them, but with Dongxu''s guarantee, he wouldn''t dare not to approve it no matter how brave he was. Moreover, Dongxu also had such a strong financial power.

    "It''s the weekend today; come to Sister''s house for dinner tonight!" After settling the matter, Yuan Li walked them out the door, then gently pulled Dongxu aside and whispered softly.

    Dongxu was quite concerned about being alone with Yuan Li and wanted to find an excuse to escape, but Yuan Li seemed to have guessed his thoughts and quickly added in a low voice, "No refusals, you have helped me a great deal, and I must be given a chance to express my gratitude."

    As Yuan Li looked at Dongxu tenderly, the words he had at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back. He nodded his head and agreed. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After school in the afternoon, he first went home to drop off his backpack, read for a while, saw that it was about time, greeted Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao, and then rode his bicycle out the door.

    Familiar with the route, he arrived at Yuan Li''s doorstep and just as he was about to knock, his mind inexplicably drifted to the scene he had witnessed the last time the door opened.

    The door suddenly opened during Dongxu''s reverie, giving him a fright.

    The house was very warm with the heating turned up, and Yuan Li was only wearing leggings and a tight white wool sweater.

    "What are you staring at? You! Hurry up and come inside; I need to go take care of the stove," seeing Dongxu somewhat distracted, Yuan Li first froze, then when she noticed where Dongxu''s gaze had fallen, her cheeks instantly turned a shade of red, she shot him a glare, then with a twist of her waist, quickly turned and walked to the kitchen.

    Dongxu gave a slightly awkward smile and then took off his shoes to enter the house.

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    "Let me help you take off your coat," Yuan Li quickly came out of the kitchen, seemingly having forgotten Dongxu''s earlier impertinent gaze, walked up to him, naturally helped him off with his coat, and went to hang it up.

    Watching Yuan Li''s natural actions, Dongxu couldn''t help but suddenly think of Liu Jiayao.

    He involuntarily made a comparison in his mind.

    If Liu Jiayao was a shade of green that made him feel relaxed, warm, and natural all the time, then Yuan Li, a woman full of mature charm, seemed more like a shade of red, giving him a fiery feeling.

    Perhaps because of this, Dongxu always subconsciously had a desire to avoid being alone with her; he feared he couldn''t control himself.

    Dongxu was well aware that it wasn''t because he was lecherous, but because he was at an age when his needs were strong.

    "What are you daydreaming about? Go sit down; I''ll be ready shortly," Yuan Li hung up the clothes, turned around to see Dongxu staring at her, lightly tapped his forehead with her finger, then swayed her slim waist and went back to the kitchen.

    Dongxu watched Yuan Li enter the kitchen, then followed her advice and sat down in the living room. But just after sitting down, he heard a "bang" from the kitchen as dishes hit the floor.

    Dongxu immediately stood up and headed toward the kitchen.

    "Don''t come over; the floor is covered in shards," Yuan Li saw Dongxu approaching, quickly told him, then crouched down to start picking up the pieces.

    "Be careful of the sharp edges, I''ll handle it, I''ll handle it," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "Ah!" Unfortunately, Ge Dongxu was too late, and Yuan Li still accidentally cut her finger, blood immediately flowed, contrasting sharply against her pale, delicate fingers, it was particularly glaring and especially heartbreaking.

    Without a second thought, Ge Dongxu grabbed Yuan Li''s finger and sucked on it.

    "Didn''t I tell you not to move, let me handle it?" After sucking a couple of times, Ge Dongxu finally let go and pressed on her wound, scolding her.

    "Who knows which woman will be lucky enough to marry you!" Yet Yuan Li, as if she hadn''t heard Ge Dongxu''s scolding, just gazed at him dreamily.

    "Sister Li, what are you talking about? I''m still just a high school student! Alright, you go out, I''ll take care of this," Ge Dongxu said, his face blushing slightly.

    "How can I let you men do this sort of task? I''ll handle it," Yuan Li smiled at the sight of Ge Dongxu blushing, then pushed him a bit and said.

    "I said I''ll handle it, I have thick skin, and good eyesight too," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, I''ll go get the broom, that should be fine, right?" Yuan Li pushed Ge Dongxu once again.

    "Haha, I forgot about the broom; Sister Li, you sure are sharp," Ge Dongxu was slightly startled and then laughed.

    "I think you''re making fun of me for being slow," Yuan Li extended her injured finger and wiggled it at Ge Dongxu, rolling her eyes.

    She didn''t realize that though the cut on her finger was a bit deep, the fact that it wasn''t bleeding was actually not normal.

    "How could anyone with a slow mind ever become a branch manager?" Ge Dongxu hurriedly said with a complimenting smile.

    "Always knowing the right things to say to please people!" Yuan Li rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, then pushed him again: "Now go out, don''t block the way!"

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then left the kitchen.

    After cleaning the kitchen, Yuan Li soon brought out the last dish, sweet and sour ribs, and called Ge Dongxu to the dining room for dinner.

    "How about some wine?" Yuan Li said.

    "Maybe we shouldn''t," Ge Dongxu remembered the last time he drank and his heart involuntarily thumped hard, he hurriedly said.

    "It''s not lively without wine. Don''t worry, we''ll just drink a little," spotting Ge Dongxu hastily waving his hand and also recalling the last occasion, Yuan Li''s pretty face blushed slightly as she said.

    "Then just a little," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What, afraid I''ll drink too much and devour you?" Seeing Ge Dongxu emphasizing drinking just a little, Yuan Li couldn''t help but glare at him.

    "Of course not, I''m more worried about myself," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    Upon hearing this, Yuan Li''s face turned crimson, she thought for a moment, then said, "Then we shouldn''t drink at all, putting up with it is bad for your health."

    As Yuan Li mentioned that drinking was bad for Ge Dongxu''s health, her cheeks became even more flushed, while Ge Dongxu listened, somewhat puzzled, not understanding why it would be bad for his health.

    Although Ge Dongxu was still a na?ve young man, his instincts told him not to pursue the matter further, instead he simply smiled and said, "A little won''t hurt."

 Chapter 206 Youve Grown Taller Again [Fifth Release, Request for Monthly Pass]

    "Are you really okay? You don''t feel uncomfortable?" Yuan Li asked with a flushed face."My alcohol tolerance is great. I can drink two or three jin of liquor with no problem," Ge Dongxu replied, not understanding why she asked, and straightened his back with a somewhat proud tone. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This time, Yuan Li was almost embarrassed enough to want to hide in a hole, but at the same time, for some reason, her gaze filled uncontrollably with an indescribable tenderness toward Ge Dongxu. She wished she could hold him tight and shower him with love.

    "What? Is there something on my face?" Ge Dongxu felt bewildered by Yuan Li''s stare.

    "You''re handsome, can''t a sister appreciate that?" Yuan Li suddenly came to her senses and rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu felt a bit bashful as he scratched his head, but he was inwardly pleased by Yuan Li''s compliment about his good looks.

    "Since you can hold your liquor so well, let''s drink a little," Yuan Li suggested with a smile, seeing Ge Dongxu''s bashfulness.

    "Then just a little," Ge Dongxu nodded in agreement.

    In the end, they still ended up drinking, but this time it was Huadiao Wine; Yuan Li somehow found out that Ge Dongxu liked Huadiao Wine.

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    Huadiao Wine was smooth at first sip, but packed a punch later on.

    Unconsciously, Yuan Li ended up drinking a bit too much. When Ge Dongxu noticed her flush with the influence of alcohol, under the lamplight she appeared exceptionally charming and radiant. He couldn''t help but bitterly smile to himself, having forgotten the potent aftereffect of Huadiao Wine.

    "Sister Li, that''s enough. Let''s not drink anymore," Ge Dongxu urged urgently.

    At this moment, the full effect of the wine hadn''t hit yet, and Yuan Li''s mind was still fairly clear. She nodded, "Hmm, we can''t drink any more."

    But without drinking, a man and a woman sitting together without talking about love or romance felt somewhat lacking in atmosphere. Soon enough, seeing that it was about time, Ge Dongxu stood up and said, "It''s getting late, I should go."

    "Hmm," Yuan Li actually worried she might not be able to control herself because she found Ge Dongxu''s allure growing increasingly stronger, especially after drinking. Looking at Ge Dongxu, she didn''t know why but she felt an impulsive yearning stirring within her, a feeling she''d never had for any other man before.

    As she walked Ge Dongxu to the door, and he put on his shoes to leave, perhaps the alcohol took hold of her mind or maybe it was a surge of emotion, but she ultimately couldn''t resist hugging him from behind, resting her face against his back, and murmuring, "Dongxu, I''m sorry, just let me hug you, just a hug is all I need!"

    Ge Dongxu''s body tensed up instantly and took a while to relax before he turned around to face and embrace her, a body that was warm and voluptuous like a bundle of fire.

    Four lips met once again, just like the last time by the Shichahai lakeside, and this time, Ge Dongxu''s hand moved down the exquisite curve of her waist to rest on Yuan Li''s shapely hips.

    "Dongxu, I''m sorry!" As Ge Dongxu''s hand began to wander further, Yuan Li suddenly snapped out of it and pushed him away.

    The push from Yuan Li brought Ge Dongxu back to reality, and he stood there stunned.

    "I''m sorry, Dongxu. If you''re feeling uncomfortable, I can help you, but we cannot..." Yuan Li said, looking at the bewildered Ge Dongxu, hating herself for the first time.

    Why couldn''t she be ten years younger? Why wasn''t the first man she met him!

    Now, how could her body be worthy of his purity?

    "Ah, it''s okay, it''s okay. Sister, you don''t have to say that, it''s actually my fault too," Ge Dongxu hurriedly waved his hand.

    "You always make excuses for me," Yuan Li gave Ge Dongxu a glance, really wanting to hug him again, but in the end, she didn''t dare to make a move.

    "Okay, I have to go now. Call me if you need anything, good night!" It was Ge Dongxu who stepped forward and gently hugged her, kissed her forehead lightly, then opened the door and left.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s retreating figure and feeling the warmth on her forehead, Yuan Li was completely entranced under the light.

    ...

    Perhaps Cao Dapeng feared that delays could lead to trouble, Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory quickly acquired Dapeng Printing and Packaging Factory for a favorable price of fifteen million. Considering future development needs, Cheng Yazhou and his team also spent an additional million to purchase the fifty acres of land surrounding Dapeng Printing and Packaging Factory.

    The loan Lin Jinnuo had applied for was approved at an unprecedented speed, leaving Lin Jinnuo so shocked that she hardly dared to believe it was real. She secretly marveled at how useful the Qinghe Herbal Tea major shareholder signboard was, unaware that it was Liu Branch Manager himself who, upon seeing Ge Dongxu''s name, had personally expedited the matter with great urgency. Otherwise, just the major shareholder signboard of Qinghe Herbal Tea wouldn''t have made Liu Branch Manager so eager to personally take charge of the process.

    After all, he was the Branch Manager of a Level Two branch, which is equivalent to a full departmental position. In Ouzhou City, countless business owners beseech him for loans every day. Although the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea was influential, Liu Branch Manager might not necessarily feel obliged to show deference given their current strength.

    The time soon arrived at mid-December, and that day, Ge Dongxu received a call from Tang Yahui saying that a batch of Jade had arrived and wanted him to find some time to go to the Provincial Capital to make a selection in person.

    These days, Ge Dongxu''s cultivation progress had been slow, and he was quite anxious. Hearing that a batch of Jade had arrived, he was naturally overjoyed and decided to take the train to the Provincial Capital on the Friday of that week.

    The train arrived on time at eight o''clock in the morning, bringing Ge Dongxu to the Linzhou train station.

    As soon as he came out of the train station, Ge Dongxu saw Liu Jiayao waving at him, dressed in a tender yellow trench coat and white high-heeled boots, looking exceptionally tall. A sense of warmth couldn''t help but fill his heart.

    "Annoying, you''ve grown taller again after a while!" She naturally and affectionately hooked her arm in Ge Dongxu''s, only to realize that even with her high heels, she was still a bit shorter than Ge Dongxu''s shoulder. Liu Jiayao pursed her lips, lightly hit Ge Dongxu, and chided him.

    "Haha, since Sister doesn''t like me getting taller, I''ll just shrink back down," Ge Dongxu said, laughing as he crouched down slightly.

    "Of course I like it when you grow tall and handsome, I just don''t like it when you change so fast. But once you come to Linzhou for school next year and I can see you often, I won''t think you''re changing too quickly," Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a glance, pulled him up, and spoke.

    "Then I''ll come to the Provincial Capital whenever I have time," Ge Dongxu said, his heart warming upon hearing her words.

    "That would be great!" Liu Jiayao nodded happily but then shook her head and said, "But that still won''t do, you''re at a critical moment with your exam preparations, you can''t come to the Provincial Capital often and neglect your studies."

    "No problem, I''m a top student!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Still, you can''t! Be good, listen to your sister," Liu Jiayao immediately countered him, then followed with a softer tone as she hurriedly touched Ge Dongxu''s arm.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao calling him "good" and to "listen to your sister," Ge Dongxu couldn''t help feeling amused, yet for some reason, his heart felt sweet.

    PS: Five chapters completed, continue to ask for monthly tickets and subscription support. Also, I''ve seen some readers complaining about slow updates; five chapters a day, ten thousand words, is really the limit for me already and is something unprecedented. Moreover, I''m practically typing the whole day and then posting all at once, without any reserved chapters. If someday I do have reserved chapters, I certainly will have a burst of releases, but recently this is truly all I can manage.

 Chapter 207 Study Hard, Make Progress Every Day [1st Update, Requesting Monthly Pass]

    Driving back to Liu Jiayao''s apartment in Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao urged Ge Dongxu to wash up, then went to prepare breakfast herself.When Ge Dongxu pushed open the bathroom door, he found that all the toiletries and clothes for changing were neatly arranged there, filling his heart with warmth.

    "You little rascal, why didn''t you blow-dry your hair again? I''ve told you so many times, it''s easy to catch a cold!" Just as Ge Dongxu finished washing up and changed his clothes, stepping out of the bathroom, he was pushed back in by Liu Jiayao, who had a frown on her face. Then, without any discussion, she picked up the hairdryer to blow his hair.

    Looking in the mirror, seeing Liu Jiayao holding the hairdryer and blow-drying his hair, with her cute face all flushed, Ge Dongxu felt an indescribable sense of warmth.

    This feeling was different from when he was with Yuan Li. Although it was also cozy with her, there was always a restlessness stirring inside him. But with Liu Jiayao, his thoughts tended to be purer.

    "Sister Liu!" Overcome with emotion, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but turn around and embrace Liu Jiayao''s slender waist.

    "Hey, what are you doing? How can I blow-dry your hair like this! Be good, stop fidgeting!" Liu Jiayao''s cheeks grew even redder, her eyes showed a hint of drunkenness, but she quickly raised her fist and gave Ge Dongxu a playful punch, exclaiming.

    "Alright then!" Ge Dongxu very "reluctantly" let go and turned back around.

    "Pfft!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s "reluctant" expression, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but giggle. Then, noticing that the hair was almost dry, she simply put down the hairdryer, wrapped her arms around Ge Dongxu''s waist from behind, and rested her small face against his back.

    When Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but want to turn around, Liu Jiayao let go of her hands and said, "Don''t get any funny ideas, let''s go eat."

    "What ideas could I possibly have? My thoughts are very pure," Ge Dongxu protested his innocence.

    "Pure my foot! Do you think I don''t know what you''re thinking?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a glare.

    Ge Dongxu''s face turned red instantly.

    No matter how pure his thoughts were, being tightly hugged from behind by a beautiful woman would still "taint" his thoughts.

    "Hehe, feeling a bit embarrassed now, aren''t you? You are a student now; you should be focusing on your studies, striving for improvement every day, got it?" Seeing Ge Dongxu embarrassed, Liu Jiayao giggled and tapped his forehead with her finger, instructing him, but her beautiful eyes were clearly filled with teasing and triumph.

    "Got it." Ge Dongxu found it comically ironic that he, Ge Dongxu, a dignified practitioner, a billionaire, and Elder Feng''s disciple, ended up being chided by a young girl to study hard and aim high. Life... ah, it''s simply wonderful!

    "Giggle!" Seeing Ge Dongxu nod his head helplessly in acceptance of the guidance, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but cover her mouth and laugh.

    Her laughter was crisp and melodious, laced with unabashed triumph.

    After a while, Liu Jiayao managed to hold back her laughter, wiped the corner of her eyes, pushed Ge Dongxu a bit, and said, "What are you standing there for? Let''s go eat."

    Without waiting for a response from Ge Dongxu, she reached out, grabbed his hand, and walked toward the dining room. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

    Ge Dongxu was pulled along a step behind, watching her pleasing silhouette, feeling even her movements exuded a sense of joy and triumph. He couldn''t help but smile.

    He enjoyed being together with Liu Jiayao like this.

    Relaxed, cozy, innocent, with a sense of home.

    The breakfast was simple, consisting of congee, buns, scrambled eggs with tomatoes, and a dish of shredded pork.

    Although simple, the thought of Liu Jiayao, the boss of Qinglan Cosmetics, going out of her way to cook for him herself filled Ge Dongxu''s heart with warmth.

    After breakfast, considering that Ge Dongxu had been on a train all night, Liu Jiayao urged him to rest a while. When Dongxu claimed he wasn''t tired, Jiayao pulled him to the sofa, had him lie down, and placed his head on her lap, proceeding to massage and knead gently.

    Ge Dongxu was truly not sleepy, but Jiayao insisted that he close his eyes. Under her tender massaging, he somehow dozed off for a bit without noticing.

    When he woke up, Dongxu saw it was about time and left Yadu Garden.

    Knowing that Ge Dongxu had his own things to do, Liu Jiayao didn''t press him for details, and only asked if he wanted to come back for lunch.

    Checking the time and realizing it was already ten o''clock, and that he had jade selection and shaping to do, Dongxu knew he would definitely not make it back by noon. After a moment''s thought, he said, "I can''t make it back for lunch, but I will join you for dinner tonight."

    "You''re not going back to Changxi tonight?" Liu Jiayao''s eyes immediately lit up with surprise.

    In the past, Ge Dongxu would usually take the train back the same night, rarely staying overnight.

    "Yeah, I have money now. If it comes down to it, I''ll just hire a car to take me back tomorrow direct, no need to spend the night on the train," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Look at you showing off! At the rate you''re spending, the money you make from selling medicine will run out sooner or later! But, heehee, it''s okay, Sister will take care of you. Just let me know when you''re running low on cash!" Liu Jiayao first gave Ge Dongxu a glance, then quickly burst into giggles, speaking in a very good mood.

    "Don''t look down on people. I probably have more money than you now," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Keep dreaming! When it comes to medicine, I couldn''t catch up to you even if I were riding a horse, but if you''re talking about having more money than me, let''s wait until you decide to make money with your medical skills or after you''ve been working ten years post-graduation," Liu Jiayao said with a smirk and a face of disbelief.

    Liu Jiayao didn''t believe him, for her current extensive enterprise was the result of her forebearers'' hard struggle. And the more she fought in the business world, the more she realized how hard it is to make money.

    Ge Dongxu was still just a high school student who, just over two years ago, had been eagerly selling millennium-old wild Polygonum multiflorum at Yongchun Hall to make money. How could Jiayao possibly believe that he now had more money than her?

    Unless Dongxu used his medical skills to make money, but Jiayao knew that if Dongxu said he didn''t charge for treating people, he truly wouldn''t.

    "Haha, then just wait and see!" Seeing that Liu Jiayao didn''t believe him, Ge Dongxu didn''t clarify further, thinking it would be interesting to see her expression when she found out one day that he was a big boss.

    "Giggle, then I''ll just wait and see," Liu Jiayao said, pursing her lips with a smile and casting a glance at Ge Dongxu.

    "You''ll be in for a shock," Ge Dongxu said, then he stepped out. Just after taking a few steps, Dongxu suddenly turned around and said to Jiayao, "Sister, don''t you want me to study hard, striving for progress every day? If I decide to stay over tonight, then..."

    Upon hearing this, Liu Jiayao was momentarily stunned, and then, seeing the mischievous smile on Ge Dongxu''s face, she realized he was teasing her about her excitement upon hearing he might stay. Flushing, she chased after him, fists raised, and began to pummel him at the elevator door, only stopping when Dongxu pleaded for mercy. She then proudly wagged her fist in front of his face and said, "Hmph, ever heard of work-life balance? I''m doing this for your own good!"

    "I know, I know!" Ge Dongxu nodded his head like a pecking chicken.

    "Giggle!" Liu Jiayao, seeing Dongxu nod his head like a pecking chicken, couldn''t help but laugh happily and triumphantly. Then, with a gentle push and a roll of her eyes, she said, "The elevator''s here, go on now. I''ll be waiting for you at home." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ps: There are still five updates for today, but the fifth one hasn''t been rushed out. It will probably be very late, so dear readers might as well save it for tomorrow.

 Chapter 208 Not Just [2nd Update]

    Ice Type Jadeite is considered a medium to high-end jade, even if the color is a bit off, but just a single piece can be worth the hard-earned annual income of the average working-class individual.If it hadn''t been for the wealthy buyer Ge Dongxu requesting the goods, Tang Yahui would never have dared to purchase over a hundred pieces at once.

    Sitting on the sofa and watching Ge Dongxu picking and choosing, each piece he considered was at least five thousand or more, and some with slightly better color needed thirty to fifty thousand a piece. Even though Tang Yahui knew that the person before her was definitely among the ranks of Huaxia Country''s wealthy, her heart still skipped a beat.

    "That''s enough, calculate how much money I need," after roughly half an hour, Ge Dongxu had picked out a total of one hundred and twelve pieces of jade that met his requirements.

    Essentially all of them were either purely white or black or gray Ice Type Jadeite.

    Each piece of jade had a number on it, and Tang Yahui checked each number one by one, and then picked up the calculator and calculated, "One million and eight hundred thousand." Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire

    "That''s quite a good deal," Ge Dongxu, seeing that the price was much cheaper than he had expected, couldn''t help but look at Tang Yahui with gratitude and said with a smile.

    "Only you could say that, anyone else would throw a fit over one million and eight hundred thousand!" Tang Yahui couldn''t help but roll her eyes at Ge Dongxu and said.

    "Process them all according to the previous specifications, and you keep the offcuts for yourself, they''d be good for making a small pendant or something," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Now that he was more familiar with jade, he also knew that at the level of Ice Type Jadeite, even a small piece the size of a peanut was valuable, yet such a small piece of jadeite was completely useless to him. The jade tokens he required had to be at least half the size of a finger in length and width.

    "Then I won''t be polite with you, these offcuts are also worth quite a bit of money," Tang Yahui said, eyes lighting up and her face showing delight upon hearing this.

    "What''s there to be polite about with me? You''ve helped me so much, and the prices you''ve given me have always been very favorable, it''s only right," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Tang Yahui gave a smile, knowing that Ge Dongxu was wealthy and had a good temperament, so she no longer said much and called the master craftsman to have it processed just like before.

    At noon, Ge Dongxu had a simple meal nearby with Tang Yiyuan and Tang Yahui accompanying him. Meanwhile, Ge Dongxu also discussed some traditional Chinese medicine topics with Tang Yiyuan. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Around three o''clock, Ge Dongxu received the one hundred and twelve jade tokens.

    Ge Dongxu casually packed them into his backpack and then left Jiang Region Jewelry.

    "Dad, what on earth do you think Dongxu wants all this jade for?" After seeing Ge Dongxu off, Tang Yahui couldn''t suppress her curiosity and asked.

    "Dongxu is an extraordinary person; how could we mere mortals understand his affairs? You should just focus on being a good manager," Tang Yiyuan replied.

    "Now that Qinghe Herbal Tea is so popular, if it weren''t for my studies being focused on jewelry jade, I''d almost want to go and help you out," Tang Yahui nodded and then put away her curiosity with a smile.

    "You, my dear, have a nerve. You didn''t want to learn traditional Chinese medicine from me before because you thought the profession didn''t make enough money, did you! Now that you see the herbal tea is profitable, you''re thinking about carrying on the family business," Tang Yiyuan pointed at Tang Yahui and said with a chuckle.

    ```

    "Hehe, Dad, I''m really a bit curious, how much money can you earn in a month with your shares now?" Tang Yahui asked with an embarrassed smile yet couldn''t resist her curiosity.

    "You, just focus on being my manager, then find me a satisfactory son-in-law as soon as possible and have a grandchild for me. After all, I only have one daughter like you, this money will eventually be yours, so why ask so much about it?" Tang Yiyuan deliberately avoided the question.

    "I know, I know, I already told you, I''d rather lack than be indiscriminate! I''d rather stay single than randomly find someone to spend my life with," Tang Yahui said impatiently.

    "Never mind, I can''t be bothered to lecture you, let''s go." Tang Yiyuan knew his daughter''s temper, gave up on speaking further, waved his hand, and turned to leave.

    "Dad, do you make five hundred thousand a month now?" Tang Yahui asked persistently from behind.

    "More than that!" Tang Yiyuan replied without turning back.

    "One million?" Tang Yahui''s delicate body shook slightly, and her voice trembled slightly as she asked.

    "More than that!" Tang Yiyuan repeated, then turned a corner and his silhouette disappeared from Tang Yahui''s sight, leaving her completely stunned.

    Her father, with only ten percent of the shares, made more than a million a month. So what about Ge Dongxu? Wouldn''t he make at least six million a month, and with the current momentum, how much would that be in a year? And he was just a high school student.

    Tang Yahui dared not continue thinking about it any more.

    She knew Qinghe Herbal Tea was very popular and profitable, but she had not expected it to this extent!

    While Tang Yahui was still dumbfounded, a woman dressed in a purple windbreaker, with a well-proportioned and plump figure, very fair skin, and short hair cut to her ears, showing a beautiful face, appeared before Tang Yahui. She waved her hand in front of her eyes and said, "Hey, Manager Tang, what are you daydreaming about? You''re not lovesick, are you?"

    If Ge Dongxu were here, he would definitely recognize this beautiful woman; she was the one he encountered on Baiyun Mountain who had been bitten on the buttocks by a viper and whom he had seen and kissed there.

    "Look at you, Professor Wu, even saying such a word like ''lovesick'', aren''t you afraid of ruining your elegant and beautiful image in front of your students overnight?" Tang Yahui suddenly snapped out of her daze, saw it was her close friend Wu Yili, and could not help but tease her with a smile while pointing at her.

    "Rest assured, my image in the students'' minds is not so easily tarnished by others. Tell me, what were you really daydreaming about just now, or did you find your true love?" Wu Yili smoothed her hair and asked.

    "True love, what true love? At this age, the good ones have all been picked over, and I''m not interested in the leftovers. Looks like I''m destined to be alone for life. But what about you, Professor Wu? I''ve heard pursuers from students to professors have lined up all the way from the gates of Jiangnan University to your office door. How about it, seen anyone you like? You should pick someone while you''re still young, don''t end up like me, old and only able to pick from others'' leftovers, no fun at all, might as well stay like this," Tang Yahui said with a roll of her eyes to Wu Yili while pouring her a cup of tea.

    "Even with a myriad of suitors, I would only take one sip from the ladle. Fate will come if it''s meant to be, and we shouldn''t force it if it''s not. What''s the use of having so many pursuers? Weren''t there plenty of people pursuing you back in school? What about you?" Wu Yili laughed as she sat down on the sofa, a young boy''s face with still a hint of childishness came to her mind unintentionally.

    That boy was the man she had had the most intimate contact with in her life, having seen and kissed one of the most important parts of a woman. Those dark, pure, innocent eyes sometimes still appeared in her dreams. It''s a pity he was just a boy!

    ps: Calling for your support with your votes, thank you very much.

    ```

 Chapter 209 President Li [3rd update, asking for monthly votes]

    "Speaking so poetically, did I remember wrong? You''re not a professor of environmental chemistry but a literary professor? Oh, why has your face suddenly turned red? You haven''t found ''that one ladle'' already, have you?" Tang Yahui teased Wu Yili, suddenly noticing that her fair face had flushed unexpectedly. Her gaze was clearly distracted, and she couldn''t help expressing her astonishment as if she had discovered a new continent."Enough, enough, stop talking nonsense! Let''s talk business. An elder is celebrating their birthday, and I need to buy a piece of jade. Help me choose one," Tang Yahui''s voice suddenly woke Wu Yili, who quickly tapped her lightly and said.

    "No, your face is even redder now. You definitely have something going on. Don''t worry, I''m older than you and prioritize friendship over love, so I definitely won''t compete with you. Come on, tell me, which high-ranking official''s son or academic powerhouse has managed to capture our beautiful professor''s heart?" Tang Yahui saw Wu Yili''s face grow even more brilliantly red, and her gossiping nature flared up uncontrollably.

    "Hey, Tang Yahui, if you keep joking around, I''m really going to buy jade from someone else," Wu Yili said in exasperation when Tang Yahui pressed on with her questions.

    She couldn''t possibly tell Tang Yahui that she, a dignified university professor, had just thought of a teenage boy!

    "Ah, what a false alarm. Alright then, can we please talk business?" Seeing Wu Yili almost furious from embarrassment, Tang Yahui sighed in disappointment and said.

    As her best friend, she still hoped that Wu Yili would find her other half sooner rather than later, to avoid dragging it out to her thirties like she had, wastefully letting her best years slip away, making it harder to find someone now.

    It wasn''t that she wasn''t a catch, but finding an outstanding man of a similar age was challenging because such men typically didn''t wait until this age; they were generally picked early and settled down with families.

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    Ge Dongxu naturally did not know that Tang Yahui and the Wu Yili he had met on Baiyun Mountain were good friends. He had already returned to Yadu Garden and was then dragged out shopping by Liu Jiayao.

    Liu Jiayao was a natural clothes horse; she looked good in anything, so soon Ge Dongxu''s hands were filled with bags, while Liu Jiayao blissfully held his arm.

    This scene made the men in the mall look on with envy, jealousy, and resentment! They couldn''t fathom how a woman like Liu Jiayao, who had the figure, the presence, and the looks, could fall for a plainly dressed young man like Ge Dongxu.

    Whenever they were shopping for clothes, each time Ge Dongxu attempted to pay, Liu Jiayao would shoot him a look and stop him from doing so.

    During these moments, salespeople tended to give Ge Dongxu strange glances.

    This left Ge Dongxu both amused and frustrated, and he really wanted to tell Liu Jiayao and the salespeople that he truly was rich, that he was genuinely wealthy! There were at least several million lying in his account.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t do that. Seeing that Liu Jiayao wouldn''t let him pay, he let it be, thinking to himself that her care was quite nice, and maybe one day he would give her a big surprise.

    Following tradition, after Liu Jiayao had finished buying clothes for herself, she would definitely continue to shop for clothes for him. This time was no exception.

    After visiting the department store, Liu Jiayao pulled Ge Dongxu to Yanming Road.

    "I recently discovered a boutique on Yanming Road that I think would really suit you," Liu Jiayao said once they arrived at Yanming Road.

    Thereafter, Liu Jiayao took Ge Dongxu to the Donglin Yue exclusive store.

    Seeing the name Donglin Yue, Ge Dongxu could only laugh and cry but still had to patiently try on several suits at Liu Jiayao''s insistence. He ended up taking two suits back with him.

    "I''m tired and hungry, let''s go to the revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake." Having placed each bag back in the trunk of the car, Liu Jiayao said with satisfaction.

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    On a cold winter day, sitting in a warm revolving restaurant surrounded by large floor-to-ceiling windows and viewing the myriad lights by the lakeside was quite another level of enjoyment.

    "Oh, what a coincidence! President Liu, you are here too!" While Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao were dining, four people, two men and two women, approached them.

    The two men, both around thirty, were dressed in foreign designer clothes and wore wristwatches. One of them was about six feet tall, with handsome and striking features, dressed head to toe in designer brands, truly the prince charming every woman dreams of. The other man was slightly less striking in build and features but had an artistic flair to his outfit, exuding a different kind of masculine charm.

    The speaker was the tall, handsome man.

    The two women were both very beautiful and sexy. One of them wore a tight skirt and stockings despite the winter cold, her slender waist and curvy hips sketching out breathtaking curves that were particularly sexy and explosive. The other woman wore a Korean-style casual trench coat and had long black hair, giving her a more demure and sweet look.

    "Oh, it''s President Li!" Liu Jiayao stood up and greeted the handsome man lightly, then turned to the artistic man with a slight smile. "Director Wu is here too!"

    Director Wu, the director of the Provincial Entertainment Channel, was fully named Wu Longcai. His name, which carried a heavy scent of money, matched his official title quite comically, and it was often the butt of jokes among people.

    "Yes, it''s rare for President Li to treat us, so he brought two newcomers out for a big meal. Unexpectedly, President Li is such a miser, inviting us to a buffet," joked Wu Longcai, referred to as Director Wu.

    "Wu Longcai! This is the buffet at Mingyue Lake, you know!" President Li laughed and pointed at Wu Longcai as he spoke.

    "President Liu, hello!" While the two men joked, the two women behind them smiled sweetly at Liu Jiayao, their expressions a mix of flattery and admiration, clearly recognizing Liu Jiayao, the beautiful president.

    "Hello!" Liu Jiayao smiled back at them.

    "President Liu, this young man looks unfamiliar. I know President Liu is a philanthropist who has sponsored many poor students. Could this young man be one of them, now that he''s made it to the provincial capital?" While it was just a casual meeting during a meal among acquaintances, President Li scrutinized Ge Dongxu with a puzzled look that concealed a hint of disdain and then asked.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu noticed that the conservatively dressed, pretty woman looked at him with a trace of disdain and scorn. In contrast, the woman wearing somewhat revealing clothes looked at him with a hint of encouragement and even nodded and smiled faintly, acknowledging him.

    "President Li, you are thinking too much," Liu Jiayao responded indifferently, clearly not eager to entangle too much with the current President Li.

    "Is that so? Actually, I really admire President Liu! I would also like to join hands with President Liu in doing some charitable work. I wonder if President Liu would give me the opportunity?" President Li glanced at Ge Dongxu with a hint of doubt, though the contempt remained evident.

    "That would be great news! If you two cosmetic giants of Jiangnan Province join hands in charitable work, that would definitely make sensational news. Our TV station will certainly cover it well," Director Wu immediately chimed in with a laugh.

 Chapter 210 Jealous? [4th update, asking for monthly votes]

    "If it really comes to that, Director Wu, you must plan this well for us," Mr. Li said."Of course," Director Wu replied with a smile.

    "Thank you, Director Wu. However, when it comes to charity, I still prefer to keep a low profile. You just focus on planning well for Mr. Li," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Sister Liu, that mindset isn''t right. It''s not about being high-profile or low-profile; it''s that an individual''s power is ultimately limited. Through Director Wu''s planning and strong promotion, we aim to draw more people''s attention and importance to charitable causes, thus attracting more people to participate," Mr. Li said earnestly.

    Mr. Li has a good heart indeed. Society lacks entrepreneurs like him," said the woman, who looked innocent and sweet, her eyes openly admiring as she looked at Mr. Li and spoke in a tender voice.

    "I do agree with Mr. Li on this, but it''s just my nature; I apologize," Liu Jiayao''s expression grew serious upon hearing this, and her gaze towards Mr. Li changed slightly.

    "Well, that''s true, personalities are hard to define clearly. However, I really admire you, Sister Liu. Let''s find a time to have tea together, talk about charity, and discuss cooperation on cosmetics," Mr. Li said.

    "Yes, if Mr. Li and Sister Liu get together, there will definitely be a lot of common topics. How about this young man, let''s give Mr. Li and Sister Liu a chance today? You come with me; I have two beauties with me," Director Wu, obviously a very shrewd person, knew of Mr. Li''s interest in Sister Liu and jokingly proposed.

    "Director Wu, there''s a hint of making up in quantity what you lack in quality with those words. Be careful, those beauties might not pay attention to their leader in the future," Mr. Li laughed.

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    "How could that be? We can''t compare with Sister Liu. Sister Liu is beautiful, has a great temperament, and is also a company president," spoke the sweet-looking woman again. Her voice was pleasant and flattering, comforting to hear, yet her eyes briefly flashed with envy and disappointment.

    The woman dressed in a revealing, fiery manner seemed somewhat silent, not as wild as she appeared.

    "Qianqian is being modest, but I really would like to find an opportunity to talk to Sister Liu. They say there''s no time like the present, I wonder if this young man could give me that opportunity?" Mr. Li said with a smile.

    It must be said that Mr. Li''s actions and demeanor were very appropriate. Moreover, being handsome and tall, it was very difficult for anyone to feel rejection or disgust towards him.

    At least women definitely found it difficult to refuse or feel aversion towards such a man.

    "I''m sorry, but Sister Liu and I happen to have matters to discuss. Why don''t you schedule another time with her?" Ge Dongxu found it hard to feel any goodwill towards Mr. Li, especially seeing the ulterior motives towards Liu Jiayao hidden under his hypocritical smile. Ge Dongxu didn''t wait for Liu Jiayao to speak and took the initiative.

    Liu Jiayao was momentarily stunned upon hearing this, then her beautiful eyebrows bent down, and her lips curled into a happy smile.

    Mr. Li hadn''t taken Ge Dongxu seriously, thinking he wouldn''t dare to interrupt. However, he unexpectedly helped Liu Jiayao decline, repeatedly calling her "Sister Liu," which annoyed Mr. Li.

    But being a cunning man, he didn''t show it, instead, he gave Ge Dongxu a fierce warning look behind Liu Jiayao''s back, then quickly returned to smiling at her.

    Clearly, he didn''t think Ge Dongxu had the authority to decide this matter! Everything still depended on Liu Jiayao.

    Indeed, neither in attire nor age did Ge Dongxu seem qualified to make decisions for Liu Jiayao.

    Although Liu Jiayao did not see the fierce glare Mr. Li secretly gave Ge Dongxu, Mr. Li''s arrogant demeanor, which completely disrespected and disregarded Ge Dongxu, still greatly annoyed Liu Jiayao.

    However, since Mr. Li hadn''t been rude, she couldn''t justly show her displeasure visibly; she only frowned slightly and said indifferently, "I apologize Mr. Li, but as you see, Dongxu and I rarely get to share a meal together. If you really have something you wish to discuss, please visit our company another day."

    Upon hearing this, a glint of sinister intent flashed in Mr. Li''s eyes, but his face bore a genteel smile as he replied, "Very well, I''ll visit another time then and won''t disturb you two any further."

    After he spoke, Mr. Li cast a sharp glance at Ge Dongxu without a word.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao''s clear disapproval of his suggestion, Wu Longcai felt somewhat embarrassed. He chuckled and greeted Liu Jiayao, then nodded at Ge Dongxu before following Mr. Li and the others to his reserved spot.

    However, as he nodded at Ge Dongxu, confusion flicked through Wu Longcai''s eyes; he just couldn''t see anything special about Ge Dongxu. He was also sure that Ge Dongxu was definitely not one of the wealthy or official second generations from the Provincial Capital''s upper class.

    Being a part of that circle himself, and working at a television station with extensive social connections, there were hardly any people in the Provincial Capital''s elite circles that Wu Longcai did not know.

    "Director Wu, you have a wide network. Have you ever seen that young man before?" Once they found their seats, Mr. Li inquired.

    "He seems unfamiliar. Since he''s not one of the students previously sponsored by Liu Jiayao and he calls her sister, nine out of ten, he must be a relative from her hometown, or someone from the same village. I heard that Liu Jiayao''s father came from an impoverished mountain area. These days, no one pays attention to poor relatives and they hardly ever visit, but rich relatives, no matter how far away, always have people thinking of and visiting them," Wu Longcai pondered and responded.

    "I think so too, absolutely no tact. Mr. Li was talking to Ms. Liu, and he had no business butting in," remarked Qianqian, who appeared pure and sweet, her face showing disdain.

    "After all, he hasn''t seen much of the world! It''s understandable. Alright, let''s grab some food," Mr. Li dismissively sneered and then stared at Qianqian''s chest with a smile.

    Qianqian, albeit dressed conservatively and looking pure and sweet, did have a rather prominent chest.

    When Qianqian noticed Mr. Li staring at her chest, a gleam of secret delight flashed in her eyes, but she modestly pulled her clothes a bit closer together.

    She was smart, aware that for a man like Mr. Li, surrounded by women, throwing herself at him would certainly not make him value her. Rather, acting demure might pique his interest more.

    Indeed, when Qianqian slightly adjusted her clothes, Mr. Li''s smiling gaze turned intensely warm. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

    "Sister Liu, that Mr. Li from earlier, he''s not a good man, don''t be fooled by his facade or his so-called philanthropy. Keep your distance from him in the future," Ge Dongxu sternly advised after Mr. Li and others had left.

    "Hehe, what''s the matter, are you jealous? Worried about someone stealing your sister? Seeing how eager you were to answer just now, were you afraid I''d agree to it on the spot?" Liu Jiayao, looking at the stern-faced Ge Dongxu, laughed, her eyes curving into crescents.

    ps: The fifth update is not yet complete; I''m still working on it, and it might be quite late, so dear readers, please wait and read it tomorrow during the day. I continue to ask for your monthly votes, thank you.

 Chapter 211 Do I Have Pride? [5th Update]

    "That Mr. Li is really not a good person!" Ge Dongxu, watching Liu Jiayao gleaming with happiness, said with a mix of laughter and tears.Women''s points of interest always differ from men''s, and strong women like Liu Jiayao are no exception. However, seeing her so proud and happy, Ge Dongxu felt a surge of joy in his heart.

    Although he was still somewhat naive about matters of love, at least he understood a bit now.

    "Why can''t you just admit you were jealous?" Liu Jiayao pouted unhappily.

    "Fine, fine, I was jealous! Just keep your distance from that Mr. Li," Ge Dongxu said helplessly.

    "Hehe, I knew you were jealous! This is your reward!" Liu Jiayao happily forked a strawberry into Ge Dongxu''s mouth.

    Fortunately, Mr. Li''s table was quite far from theirs; otherwise, if they saw Liu Jiayao feeding Ge Dongxu a strawberry, they would have probably been utterly shocked.

    The strawberry was a bit sour, but seeing Liu Jiayao''s happy face upon hearing that he was jealous, Ge Dongxu felt a sweetness that reached deep into his heart.

    "Don''t worry, silly! Even if that Li Bisheng looks a hundred times more handsome to others, in my heart, you''re always the most handsome, incomparable to anyone else!" After feeding Ge Dongxu a strawberry, Liu Jiayao suddenly put away her smile, reached across the table to grab his hand, gazed at him deeply with love in her eyes, and whispered.

    Ge Dongxu''s heart trembled suddenly, and for some reason, he felt an indescribable sense of guilt.

    In Liu Jiayao''s eyes, he was the most handsome and incomparable. But what about in his heart? Was she the only one there?

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t answer that question.

    "Sis! I really don''t deserve..." Ge Dongxu grasped Liu Jiayao''s hand back.

    "You don''t need to say anything, I understand. You were only sixteen when we met, so what did you know then? Your exciting world was just beginning, you still have many people to meet, many choices to make¡ªdon''t feel pressured, burdened, or guilty because of me. It wouldn''t be fair to you. Didn''t you say we were close, right? Very close! No matter what the future holds, as long as you still feel we''re close, that''s enough for me!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s conflicted and guilty look, Liu Jiayao''s heart trembled fiercely, but she grasped his hand even tighter, interrupting him before he could continue.

    She knew very well, it was her insistence that Ge Dongxu treat her ailment, her insistence on presenting herself physically to him when he was merely sixteen. She had imprinted herself deeply in his mind before he had a mature and correct understanding of gender matters. But she couldn''t, because of this, deprive Ge Dongxu of his future choices in love.

    "I will always feel that way," Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao interlaced their fingers, he looked at her, his gaze firm.

    No matter what the future holds, he knew, Liu Jiayao would always be a dearly close woman in his life.

    "That''s good then! Why worry about what ifs? Let things be as they are. For a man as outstanding as you, if there aren''t a few exceptional girls around you, I''d be embarrassed for you," Liu Jiayao''s heart trembled again at his words, then she burst into a joyful laugh.

    "By the way, what does that Li Bisheng do?" Ge Dongxu didn''t catch on but instead asked about Li Bisheng.

    "Still jealous of him? Didn''t I tell you, you''re the handsomest in someone''s eyes, what''s there to worry about?" Liu Jiayao said with a smile and rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, but she then explained, "Heard of Li Fang Cosmetics? He''s the CEO of Li Fang Cosmetics. Qinglan Cosmetics caters to the low-end market, while Li Fang targets the mid-range market; as for the high-end market, it''s basically monopolized by foreign brands. Li Bisheng is a very capable person. He started from scratch; when I first took over Qinglan Cosmetics, Li Fang Cosmetics had just begun to emerge for a year or two, but now their sales may not outdo Qinglan yet, but their profits have definitely surpassed us."

    "He really is a capable person." Ge Dongxu thought about how this guy had faced Liu Jiayao with one demeanor and secretly showed another to him, and couldn''t help nodding in agreement.

    "Don''t worry, you still can''t compare to you," Liu Jiayao thought Ge Dongxu was feeling a bit jealous again and rolled her eyes at him once more.

    "Of course!" Ge Dongxu said boldly as he nodded his head.

    To him, owning a cosmetics company from scratch was nothing. He, Ge Dongxu, had also started from scratch and now had four companies including Yaxu Printing and Packaging, while still only a high school student, not to mention that he was secretly a cultivator.

    "Giggle, so proud, this isn''t like you, you must be jealous!" Liu Jiayao pointed at Ge Dongxu''s unabashed demeanor and burst into laughter again. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Am I proud? It''s a fact!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Yes, yes, it''s a fact, you are impressive!" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and then pursed her lips, giggling softly.

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    After dinner, the two sat idle in the revolving restaurant for a while before they stood up to go home.

    ...

    "Please have a seat, President Li." On Monday morning, in the office of the chairman of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, Liu Jiayao smiled as she greeted Li Bisheng, although a flash of surprise darted through her beautiful eyes.

    Liu Jiayao had not expected Li Bisheng to actually come to visit her.

    "I apologize for the sudden meeting, President Liu, you don''t mind, do you?" Li Bisheng said with a smile he believed could charm any woman.

    "Hehe, the presence of President Li graces us, why would I mind?" Liu Jiayao said with a polite smile.

    "Haha, what great presence, what grace, I don''t deserve such words from you, President Liu. It should be said, it''s my honor that you, a great beauty, agreed to see me," Li Bisheng said, his eyes subtly sweeping over the prominent curves under Liu Jiayao''s office lady uniform.

    "President Li, you''re a busy man, you surely didn''t come just to chat with me, right?" Liu Jiayao laughed, then her expression became serious.

    "If President Liu, a great beauty, is willing to chat with me, I''d certainly be over the moon," Li Bisheng laughed.

    "Then, President Li, I''m afraid you''ll be disappointed, I have a company meeting soon," Liu Jiayao''s expression turned cold, and a hint of displeasure flickered in her eyes.

    Because Li Bisheng''s words had just been slightly provocative.

    "That''s really too bad. Then let''s get to the point," Seeing Liu Jiayao''s expression turn cold and spotting a flash of disappointment and annoyance in her eyes, Li Bisheng showed a hint of regret and said.

    "Go ahead," Liu Jiayao said indifferently.

    "I came here to discuss a cooperation with you, President Liu. This is something I''ve been thinking about recently. The night before last at Mingyue Lake Revolving Restaurant when I unexpectedly met you, it strengthened this idea in my mind, so I decided to pay a visit today. Your Qinglan Cosmetics targets the low-end market, my Li Fang Cosmetics targets the mid-end market. If our two companies join forces and complement each other, sharing sales channels, we will inevitably take over half the realms of the mid to low-end market in the near future. Once we accumulate enough strength, invest more in R&D and advertising, breaking into the high-end market and disrupting the foreign brands'' monopoly might not be impossible," Li Bisheng said seriously.

 Chapter 212 Refusal [Additional Chapter for Alliance Hierarch Red Dusts Bonds]

    Liu Jiayao watched Li Bisheng speak eloquently, painting a beautiful picture of the future, and she couldn''t help but be moved.Qinglan Cosmetics was constrained by its initial brand positioning and had always hovered in the low-end market. Sales were there, but profits had always been relatively low. Liu Jiayao had always wanted to lead Qinglan Cosmetics into the mid-end market, but was limited by sales channels, as well as the initial positioning image that had already formed in consumers'' minds. Of course, a critical issue was also financial strength¡ªLiu Jiayao''s idea had not been realized because of these constraints.

    If she really were to cooperate with Li Bisheng, joining forces with Li Fang Cosmetics'' sales channel platform, and leveraging the financial and research strengths of both companies, it was very possible for Qinglan Cosmetics to successfully break into the mid-end market.

    As for the high-end market, Liu Jiayao wasn''t considering it for the time being. The difficulty was still too great for domestic cosmetics brands at present.

    This was certainly related to some of the countrymen''s preference for foreign goods, but there were indeed factors such as quality involved as well.

    However, the moment she remembered Ge Dongxu saying that Li Bisheng was not a good man, and that if she really cooperated with him, Ge Dongxu would definitely not be happy, the temptation Liu Jiayao felt in her heart quickly dissipated.

    "Mr. Li, I am not considering a partnership for the time being," Liu Jiayao said.

    Li Bisheng, who had seen an obvious look of interest on Liu Jiayao''s face, was slightly surprised when she suddenly spoke words of rejection but quickly and presumptuously realized that this was Liu Jiayao''s negotiation tactic.

    "Ms. Liu, why do you have to answer so bluntly? You know well that a union would definitely be beneficial for both sides. If you''re worried about the issue of controlling stakes, we can sit down and have a proper discussion," Li Bisheng said.

    Li Bisheng''s words reminded Liu Jiayao of another matter. She asked, "Can you let me have absolute control?"

    "Ms. Liu, you''re making too big a joke. Li Fang Cosmetics Company is already a bit stronger than your Qinglan, and I am the sole shareholder of Li Fang. As far as I know, you own roughly 38% of Qinglan Cosmetics Company. It would be impossible for you to have absolute control after a merger of the two companies, no matter how the equity is negotiated or converted," Li Bisheng replied with a slight shock and then smiled bitterly.

    "Then there''s no way to talk. Qinglan Cosmetics embodies my parents'' hard work; I cannot hand it over to someone else to manage and operate, to let others decide its fate," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Ms. Liu, what do you think of me as a person?" Li Bisheng saw that Liu Jiayao disagreed and frowned slightly, then seemed to suddenly think of something, his gaze burning as he looked at Liu Jiayao and asked.

    "What do you mean by that?" Liu Jiayao''s eyebrows furrowed at once, a flash of disgust in her beautiful eyes.

    She disliked Li Bisheng staring at her with such a burning gaze.

    "To tell you the truth, I''ve always admired you. Since both of us are single, maybe we could try dating, have a romance. That way, our two families would be one, and there would be no issue with someone else managing..." Li Bisheng didn''t notice the flash of disgust in Liu Jiayao''s beautiful eyes. He continued to stare at her with a burning and affectionate gaze, speaking slowly with a very magnetic voice.

    Li Bisheng had always had great confidence in his own charm.

    He believed that expressing his admiration to a woman with his charm value, even if he couldn''t succeed, would definitely not provoke her disgust. Instead, even if she rejected him, it would fulfill her vanity to a certain degree, making her develop a subtle fondness and trust in him.

    "Thank you for your admiration, but you may leave now!" However, this time Li Bisheng miscalculated. Liu Jiayao did not give him a chance to finish speaking. She stood up, her pretty face cold as frost, pointing to the door and speaking coldly. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire

    "Jiayao, listen to me, I really am¡­" Li Bisheng hesitated slightly as he stood up, still somewhat unwilling to admit defeat as he spoke.

    "Get out! And from now on please call me President Liu, I''m not that close with you!" Liu Jiayao cut him off once more, her tone cold and unforgiving.

    "Alright then, regarding the matter of our cooperation, take some time to think it over. I believe you are a smart person and will change your mind." Observing Liu Jiayao''s icy demeanor, Li Bisheng finally accepted the reality of his defeat. However, he didn''t lose his temper; instead, he elegantly bid her goodbye and then left Liu Jiayao''s office.

    Even as he moved through the Qinglan Company building, a charming smile remained on his face, causing a number of female employees to gaze at him with dreamy expressions.

    It wasn''t until he sat down in his Toyota sedan that Li Bisheng''s handsome face twisted into a sinister sneer, almost verging on the ferocious. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn it, you wretched bitch, seeing me is an honor! And yet you dare to scorn me! Alright, since you want to play it that way, just wait and see how I deal with you. One day, you will be kneeling between my legs!" Li Bisheng laughed malevolently, then started the car.

    As he drove out of the gate, he saw a middle-aged man who was balding, sporting a beer belly, and muttering curses.

    Li Bisheng felt a surge of inspiration, stopped the car beside the man, rolled down the window, and greeted him, "Manager Zhang, long time no see!"

    This Manager Zhang was none other than Zhang Huowang, the former purchasing manager of Qinglan Cosmetics Company.

    Because he had made excessive demands during a trademark purchasing negotiation with Cheng Yazhou, and had the misfortune of encountering both Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, he was stripped of his managerial position by Liu Jiayao. He was allowed to remain in the purchasing department as an ordinary staff member only because a deputy director who was his relative pleaded on his behalf, combined with his long service to the company.

    "Ah, if it isn''t President Li. What Manager Zhang? You know very well that I was dismissed from that position. I even applied for a job at your company recently," said Zhang Huowang, hurriedly greeting him as he turned his head and saw it was Li Bisheng, the boss of Li Fang Cosmetics.

    Unwilling to settle for his demotion from the position of purchasing manager, Zhang Huowang noticed that the purchasing manager at Li Fang Cosmetics happened to be in trouble, leaving the position vacant.

    Since both Qinglan and Li Fang were cosmetics companies and both located in the Provincial Capital, Zhang Huowang was acquainted with the manager and had taken the initiative to apply for the job when he learned of the incident.

    Being an important division in the company, the purchasing department required its manager to be a mid-level executive. Naturally, Li Bisheng, as the president, conducted the interview himself. At the time, Li Bisheng did not like him and chose not to hire him. So Zhang Huowang had no choice but to continue at Qinglan Cosmetics.

    "I actually forgot about that. Come on, get in the car, let''s find a place to talk. We at Li Fang are still very interested in a talent like Manager Zhang," said Li Bisheng with a smile.

    Zhang Huowang looked skeptically at Li Bisheng, but soon cracked a smile and scurried to open the passenger door and got in.

    No matter what Li Bisheng''s reasons were for inviting him into the car, this was certainly an opportunity for him, Zhang Huowang.

    PS: Thanks to the book friend ºì³¾¤¤î¿°í for the reward, becoming the second Alliance Hierarch of this book on QQ Reading, celebrating with an extra chapter. Also, thank you to the other book friends for their rewards.

 Chapter 213 213 [First update, asking for monthly votes]

    The car carried Zhang Huowang to a coffee shop in the city center.The two entered the coffee shop together, but they did not leave at the same time. Li Bisheng left first. Zhang Huowang was still sitting by the window, his pudgy face changing from sunny to cloudy intermittently, his eyes looking out the window, but without focus.

    After a while, Zhang Huowang''s chubby face gradually darkened, and his gaze towards the window became increasingly fierce.

    His expression appeared sinister and frightening, startling the servers passing by him so much that they dared not give him another glance.

    "Damn it, Liu Jiayao, you dismissed me from my position for that pretty boy; if you are unkind, you cannot blame me for being unrighteous!" After a while, Zhang Huowang''s face twisted into a vicious smile, he muttered through clenched teeth, and then abruptly stood up and left the coffee shop.

    Liu Jiayao was unaware of Zhang Huowang and Li Bisheng''s meeting, and so was Ge Dongxu even more so.

    Since returning from the weekend, aside from continuing with his studies and cultivation, in the last couple of days, he had started to be busy with crafting Jade Talismans again.

    This time, the Spirit Gathering Formation he was engraving was called the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation, which is a level higher than the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation.

    Seven Stars refers to the Big Dipper that we are familiar with¡ªTian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang.

    Like the sun, the essence they radiate is extremely yang and forceful. However, due to the great distance from Earth, after traveling through vast space, by the time it reaches Earth, it becomes like the essence of the moon¡ªgentle in force and balanced in Yin and Yang, suitable for Cultivators to directly absorb into their bodies. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

    But because they are so distant, even though their essence becomes mild, it is also extremely sparse. Only by using a Spirit Gathering Formation to gather it can it truly be absorbed and refined by Cultivators in large amounts.

    Holding the Ice Type Jadeite, Ge Dongxu closed his eyes to concentrate, his fingers lightly tracing on the jade, threads of True Qi entering from his fingertips into the jade, outlining ancient and mysterious lines imbued with the Laws of Heaven and Earth within it.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu''s forehead was covered with sweat, and before long, the Ice Type Jadeite began to crack, and in a blink of an eye turned into fragments smaller than rice grains.

    "Phew!" Ge Dongxu exhaled deeply, his face showing a frustrated and wry smile.

    He had thought that now, being at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, whether in terms of his control over True Qi or the thickness of his True Qi, he was much stronger than before and should be able to successfully engrave the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation. Ge Dongxu had not expected the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation to be so difficult to engrave, that it would start to collapse halfway through.

    "It seems with my current Realm, it is absolutely impossible to successfully craft the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation!" Ge Dongxu was sitting cross-legged in the cultivation room, at a complete loss. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although the success rate of crafting the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman was very low in the past, it would only fail at the final juncture. But now, starting to collapse halfway indicates that with his current realm, it is impossible to craft the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation.

    Normally this would not be an issue, but the problem is that the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation was already operating at full capacity in absorbing Spirit Energy, which was no longer enough to satisfy his current realm.

    "Should I start concocting and refining pills prematurely to enhance my cultivation power through medicinal means?" Ge Dongxu pinched the bridge of his nose as he pondered with difficulty.

    Ge Hong is a legendary figure in Alchemy, and the legacy he passed down naturally includes the miraculous path of Alchemy.

    However, Elixirs are external forces. Currently, Ge Dongxu is still in the Qi Refinement, also known as the Foundation Establishment stage, which is about laying a solid foundation. The more solid the foundation, the higher the accomplishments in the future. If he relies on Elixirs too early, while they can rapidly enhance his Cultivation Power, it would be akin to forcing the shoots to grow faster; in the later stages, he would encounter obstacles due to an unstable foundation.

    If Ge Dongxu did not know about the Spirit Gathering Array, or if he were not some cultivation prodigy, then let it be. After all, with limited future cultivation, it would naturally be a good thing to quickly improve one''s cultivation. But now, having nearly advanced one realm in less than a year, and even having hopes of reaching the legendary Dragon Tiger Realm, Ge Dongxu naturally set higher standards for himself and was unwilling to use elixirs prematurely. He had decided that if he were to take them, it would only be after reaching the Eighth Layer Realm.

    The kidneys store the Innate Essence and are the foundation of the Innate. Upon cultivating to the Eighth Layer, True Qi enters the kidneys, forming an endless and nourishing air cyclone, gradually transitioning from Acquired to Innate, transcending the ordinary and achieving the foundation of cultivation.

    At this point, the cultivator is like a child that has grown up and is now capable of consuming nourishing substances.

    "The path of cultivation is inherently difficult. How can I allow myself to waver and seek shortcuts at the first sign of difficulty!" Soon, the hesitation in Ge Dongxu''s eyes gave way to determination, and he began to focus on solving the Spirit Gathering Array issue with all his mind and heart.

    But even after thinking for a long time, he still had no clue. After all, the gap between his current realm and the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation was vast, and he couldn''t simply overcome it through effort alone.

    Finally, with his head aching from all the thinking and still no solution in sight, Ge Dongxu left the training room and entered the study, aiming to switch his thoughts and give his mind a rest.

    Back in the study, Ge Dongxu picked up a chemistry textbook and began to read.

    By senior year, nearly all students bury themselves in piles of practice papers, waging a war against a sea of questions. But Ge Dongxu always opposed that approach.

    Aside from completing the papers given by his teachers, he never wasted a minute on other practice papers. Whenever he had time, he would choose to read textbooks and understand the fundamental principles; he even picked up college chemistry textbooks to read. He believed that as long as one thoroughly understood the content of the books and grasped the essentials of chemical changes, no matter how the exam questions varied, they would always remain derivative of the same core concepts.

    As he casually flipped through the table of contents, looking for anything that might still require his contemplation, Ge Dongxu''s gaze suddenly got caught on the section about solubility.

    Then he slapped his forehead hard, muttering to himself, "I''m really dumb. Since I thought of the spiritual energy gathered by the seven Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans reaching saturation like a solution''s concentration, why did I only think about buying better jade to carve higher-level Spirit Gathering Formations, rather than continuing to carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation on better jade? Factors affecting solubility include temperature, solute, solvent and so on. By switching to better jade, I naturally changed one of the conditions; therefore, surely the saturation level of the spiritual energy gathered by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation would change too."

    After smacking his forehead, Ge Dongxu hurriedly took out a piece of Ice Type Jadeite to carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation.

    To his surprise, he managed to successfully carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation in one go.

    Looking at the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade in his hand, Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned.

    In the past, he would have had to waste many pieces of jade before he could successfully carve a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation. He had not expected to succeed in one attempt today.

    However, Ge Dongxu soon came to terms with it¡ªhe was now at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Each layer''s breakthrough brought a surge in cultivation power, and the Ice Type Jadeite he was using now was a grade higher than ice glutinous jade, offering less interference as True Qi flowed through it. Moreover, over the years, he had persistently practiced carving the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation. With all these factors converging, it seemed not so strange that he succeeded in one attempt.

    After coming to terms with his success, Ge Dongxu immediately activated the formation and carefully felt the spiritual energy gathered by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation, finding the effect indeed better than before.

    "Ha ha, just as I thought!" Seeing the results matched his expectations, Ge Dongxu could not help but laugh proudly, his self-confidence soaring within him.

    He believed that with Ge Hong''s legacy and modern scientific knowledge, even if nature''s spiritual energy was scarce, he could still reach the heights of his predecessors.

    Because while his predecessors might have had richer nature''s spiritual energy, they could not have possibly accessed modern scientific knowledge.

    PS: Continuing with five consecutive updates today, earnestly seeking monthly tickets and subscription support, thank you very much.

 Chapter 214 Problem Arises [Second Update]

    Soon, Ge Dongxu had consecutively inscribed ten Taiyin Spirit Gathering Jade Talismans, except for two that had issues, all others were successfully completed in one go.The "zi" hour soon arrived, and Ge Dongxu arranged the Jade Talismans one by one. When the number reached nine, the spiritual energy stopped changing.

    However, within the Formation, the rich and pure Taiyin essence was already making Ge Dongxu feel as comfortable as if he were bathing in the sunlight. His realm was still at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and such a density of spiritual energy was already sufficient to meet his cultivation needs.

    An hour later, when the cultivation had ended, Ge Dongxu felt the True Qi surge within his body, filling him with strength.

    Because of this sensation, Ge Dongxu did not immediately go back to sleep, but instead took out a piece of jade and started to inscribe it with the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation.

    Although the final result was sure to be a failure, trying to inscribe the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation pushed him to his limits, not only helping to condense and refine his spiritual power and True Qi but also serving as advanced practice for the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation.

    After all, the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation was too low-level, and even if he continued to change the jade, it would likely be hard to support his cultivation at the next layer.

    After spoiling four pieces of jade, Ge Dongxu felt physically and mentally tired, so he stopped and stood up to go back to his room to rest.

    In the following days, Ge Dongxu''s cultivation resumed its regular pace, progressing each day, and sometimes at night when it was quiet, Ge Dongxu would also practice his Qinggong.

    Due to frequent practice, his body coordination and True Qi operation had become increasingly proficient, allowing him to "fly" thirteenth or fourteenth meters effortlessly, even more fluently and naturally than those depicted in movies.

    ...

    Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What exactly is going on?" In the conference room of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, Liu Jiayao''s pretty face was frosty as her severe gaze slowly swept over the two men and one woman standing before her.

    These two men and one woman were the managers of the production, procurement, and quality control departments of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, respectively.

    "We don''t know either." The three managers dared not meet Liu Jiayao''s eyes, only looking down at the Qinglan cosmetics laid out on the conference table, stammering with faces showing confusion.

    At this moment, these classic Qinglan cosmetics were emitting a faintly unpleasant odor, though they should have had a pleasant fragrance.

    "Don''t forget you are the managers of the production, procurement, and quality control departments! With the product quality in this kind of situation, someone must be responsible. Fortunately, it was discovered early; this batch has yet to hit the market. Otherwise, can you imagine what the outcome would be?" Liu Jiayao''s face turned ashen, as waves of fright washed over her from within.

    If such products were to reach the market, Liu Jiayao was absolutely certain that the Qinglan brand, painstakingly built by her parents, would be destroyed overnight.

    "Director Liu, please calm down. After this incident occurred, our production department immediately started a traceability investigation and did not find any signs of irregularities. And as you know, even if there is a problem, it''s unlikely to happen to several different types all at once," said the production department manager.

    "Are you implying that there were issues with the procurement and quality control departments?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    "That''s what I initially thought, but right after the problem occurred, I immediately reached out to Manager Yang and Manager Che. They promptly initiated an investigation and found that there were no issues with the raw materials," the production department manager said with a puzzled sigh.

    The Manager Che he mentioned was Che Yingying. After the kickback incident at Mingyue Lake''s revolving restaurant, Liu Jiayao, loving the house and its crow, focused on nurturing Che Yingying and soon found she indeed had some capabilities, which led to her recent promotion as the procurement department manager.

    "President Liu, the surplus of this batch of raw materials can be easily checked, and there really is no problem," Che Yingying replied confidently.

    "Perhaps it was just an accident! We must certainly investigate this, but now the key is to immediately allocate materials for production, otherwise we will run into supply issues." In the meeting room, a man about fifty years old said somberly, his face showing a trace of pain.

    Qinglan Cosmetics targets the low-end market and relies on volume to win, with very limited product profit margins. The scrapping of this batch would absolutely be a huge loss for them.

    "Uncle Hua''s right. You must hurry and proceed with the next batch of production, but this time you must be careful and thorough to avoid any mistakes whatsoever," Liu Jiayao understood that investigating was one thing and continuing production was another, she nodded upon hearing this and then spoke seriously.

    "Rest assured, President Liu, this time we will definitely be fully alert and ensure that no mistakes occur at any stage," all three managers solemnly replied and then left the meeting room.

    "Jiayao, I heard that Li Bisheng from Li Fang had approached you to discuss cooperating with our Qinglan Cosmetics, and you refused?" After the managers left, a lean man in his early fifties with slightly graying hair pushed up his glasses and asked Liu Jiayao.

    "Uncle Ren, how did you know that? Did Li Bisheng talk to you?" Liu Jiayao''s heart skipped a beat as she asked composedly.

    The matter had been discussed between her and Li Bisheng alone on the day, and Liu Jiayao had not mentioned it to anyone else afterwards.

    "Whether or not Li Bisheng talked to me is not important. What''s important is that with such a big matter, you should have consulted us. Although you are the majority shareholder, we, the minority shareholders, also have the right to know," the man known as Uncle Ren said, his expression slightly stern.

    Uncle Ren''s full name is Ren Chenle, and he''s one of the shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics. Zhang Huowang''s relative that Che Yingying previously mentioned referred to him.

    "Old Ren, that''s enough. Qinglan Cosmetics has been built over the years with great effort from Brother Liu, his wife, and all of us. If we were to cooperate with Li Bisheng, he would definitely want to be the major shareholder, and personally, I don''t agree with handing over Qinglan to him to manage," the man earlier referred to by Liu Jiayao as Uncle Hua saw that Ren Chenle''s attitude was somewhat unfavorable and frowned slightly as he spoke.

    Seeing Uncle Hua speak up, Ren Chenle opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.

    Uncle Hua is the second largest shareholder of Qinglan Cosmetics. Together with Liu Jiayao, they owned sixty-three percent of the shares. He also disagreed, so it was meaningless for Ren Chenle to continue.

    The meeting ended quickly.

    "Uncle Hua, thank you," Liu Jiayao called out to Uncle Hua after the meeting.

    "There''s nothing to thank me for. I''ve dealt with Li Bisheng before. He seems gentle and refined on the surface, but he is very ambitious and not simple. If Qinglan were to merge with him, we might benefit in the short term, but eventually, he would devour us completely. Your choice was correct. In this way, although we can''t make a fortune, we are steadily progressing, and I''m very satisfied," Uncle Hua said.

    "Do you also think that Li Bisheng is not a good person?" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but recall Ge Dongxu''s words when she heard this.

    "Heh, the business world is full of trickery, what''s there to talk about good or bad people? That the products had quality issues this time, I guess I''m thinking too much," Uncle Hua said. It seemed he suddenly remembered something, then laughed and shook his head as he walked out of the meeting room.

    Liu Jiayao watched Uncle Hua''s departing figure, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, feeling an inexplicable unease, yet unable to pinpoint the source.

    ps: Please subscribe and vote with monthly tickets.

 Chapter 215 Gigantic Crisis [Third update, request for monthly pass]

    In the Procurement Department, Zhang Huowang looked at Che Yingying with a heavy heart, his eyes betraying a sense of schadenfreude and satisfaction, as he deliberately approached and asked, "Manager Che, I heard there was a big problem with the product this time. Didn''t President Liu scold you?"Che Yingying glanced at Zhang Huowang with his gloating expression, frowned, a flicker of annoyance crossing her eyes. However, she had no way to deal with him and hummed an acknowledgment before turning to another man in the office and saying, "Old Li, call President Wang and have him send over the raw materials today."

    "Yes, Manager," Old Li replied, then hurriedly picked up the phone to make the call.

    Zhang Huowang''s heart skipped a beat upon hearing this, and a sinister gleam flashed in his eyes.

    The next day, the Qinglan Cosmetics warehouse was bustling with activity as forklifts unloaded production materials from trucks and transported them to the storage area.

    "Everybody, be careful with that!" Zhang Huowang, the former head of the Procurement Department, had shed his previous air of dejection and complaints and was now briskly advising and checking inventory with vigor, prompting Che Yingying to involuntarily reveal a trace of doubt in her gaze.

    Could this man have changed his ways?

    Unnoticed by anyone, once all the raw materials were stored, Zhang Huowang had an extra small gourd bottle in his hand, with a yellowed piece of paper attached that bore strange characters.

    Gently peeling off the yellowed paper, Zhang Huowang suddenly felt a chill envelop his body, sending a shiver through him.

    Yet, the corners of his mouth curled up into a cold, cunning smile.

    The first time he did this, he was unaware of what Li Bisheng was up to, thinking it was just some superstitious nonsense. The second time, he realized that the little gourd bottle had profound effects.

    Thinking this, Zhang Huowang shuddered again and hastily threw the little gourd bottle away as though it were a poisonous snake.

    "Liu Jiayao, you wretch! You demoted me just for a pretty boy. I''ll make sure you lose everything!" After discarding the gourd bottle, Zhang Huowang returned to the Procurement Department, laughing smugly to himself.

    ...

    Time flew past New Year''s Day, and the year 1999 began, quickly proceeding to the coldest time of the lunar calendar, the Great Cold.

    The Great Cold is the last of the twenty-four solar terms in Huaxia Country, a time when the sun reaches 300 degrees of celestial longitude. It''s the coldest period of the lunar year, hence the name Great Cold, signifying that the weather has reached its extreme in coldness. Find more to read at My Virtual Library Empire

    On this day, sitting in the conference room, although the heating was fully on, Liu Jiayao''s heart felt as cold as the Great Cold weather outside.

    Ever since the first instance of product quality issues, after working overtime to expedite two more batches, the situation was identical to the first.

    There was no problem with the raw materials, no issue with quality control, and the production process was error-free as well.

    No one knew where the problem was.

    As the year drew to a close, it was the season for major malls to hold sales promotions, but Qinglan Cosmetics'' distributors around the country had begun to run out of stock one after the other. Not to mention promotions, even normal sales were problematic.

    Yet this wasn''t the main issue. The main concern was the consecutive appearances of product quality issues three times, with no identifiable cause, leading to significant losses not to mention, Qinglan Cosmetics Company didn''t dare resume production before the problem was found.

    But where was the issue? No one knew. Even the third time around, all shareholders, including CEO Liu Jiayao, personally oversaw the first production line.

    However, the third batch of products still had issues.

    That faintly present stench was nauseating at first whiff!

    "We can''t go on like this, our cash flow is now problematic. If the next batch fails again, what do we do? Li Fang''s Li Bisheng wants to partner with us, right? Let''s work with him. It''s the only way out for our Qinglan Cosmetics now," Ren Chenle broke the oppressive silence of the meeting room.

    "Perhaps this is indeed our only way out at the moment," most shareholders sighed upon hearing this and then nodded in agreement, except for Liu Jiayao and Uncle Hua.

    Even Uncle Hua showed a wavering expression at this time, but after looking at Liu Jiayao and seeing her stern face, he refrained from nodding.

    "Hmph, I said it earlier, when Li Bisheng came to discuss the partnership last time, Jiayao should have consulted us. We had the upper hand back then, and since he took the initiative, negotiations would have been very favorable for us. But now, after this incident, negotiations will definitely be at a disadvantage for us," seeing that everyone but Liu Jiayao and Uncle Hua agreed, a hint of smugness appeared on Ren Chenle''s gaunt face as he spoke with a tone of reproach and dissatisfaction.

    "I''d rather halt production to find the cause than agree to partner with Li Bisheng," Liu Jiayao''s gaze swept over the shareholders in the meeting room and finally rested on Uncle Hua''s face, speaking with firm conviction.

    Uncle Hua looked at Liu Jiayao, a bitter smile crossing his face, and hesitated for a long while before saying, "I support Jiayao''s decision."

    "Old Li, Jiayao is young and impulsive¡ªdon''t you think you should think twice about following her lead?" Ren Chenle furrowed his brows and spoke. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ren Chenle had never really respected the young woman Liu Jiayao for taking over her father''s business. Furthermore, after Liu Jiayao ruthlessly dismissed his cousin''s husband, Zhang Huowang, from his position last year, he felt that Liu Jiayao was deliberately trying to embarrass him, harboring resentment against her ever since.

    Originally, Liu Jiayao had absolute control of the stock, and overall, Qinglan Cosmetics thrived under her leadership, with most shareholders supporting her; thus, he dared not speak out. However, now that Qinglan Cosmetics faced an unprecedented crisis, Ren Chenle no longer suppressed his dissatisfaction and contempt and assumed the stance of an elder.

    "Vice President Ren, I respect you as an elder, thus I''ve always spoken to you courteously. But please mind your language!" Liu Jiayao''s pretty face turned cold when Ren Chenle publicly accused her of being young and impulsive, displaying the assertiveness and dominance befitting a chairman.

    "Am I wrong? The situation is clear. With cooperation, our Qinglan Cosmetics might still have a chance. But if we continue to be stubborn, Qinglan Cosmetics will ultimately be ruined by your hands," Ren Chenle adjusted his glasses and said coldly to Liu Jiayao.

    "Old Ren, let''s say less, we can discuss this matter further," Uncle Hua intervened to mediate as the atmosphere became tense.

    "Hmph!" Ren Chenle snorted coldly, about to add more, when a knock on the meeting room door was heard, and then the tall and handsome Li Bisheng walked in.

    "Sorry for the interruption, hope your meeting is going well," Li Bisheng said with a smile as he entered.

    "Who let you in? Get out!" Liu Jiayao didn''t know why, but now, seeing that smile on Li Bisheng''s face, she found it especially detestable. On his arrival, her pretty face suddenly turned as cold as frost.

 Chapter 216 Suspicion [Fourth Update]

    "Hehe, Director Liu, don''t be mad at this girl. It was I who asked her to let me in. Actually, I come with good intentions, so why must you keep me at such a distance?" Li Bisheng responded to Liu Jiayao''s icy demeanor without getting angry. Instead, he smiled warmly as he spoke up for the secretary who had let him in, then gently told her, "You can go out now; it''s all right."The female secretary, charmed by Li Bisheng''s handsome and enchanting smile along with his magnetic voice, was almost bewitched and actually did leave, leaving Liu Jiayao fuming with a face ashen with rage.

    "Haha, so it''s Director Li! What wind has blown you here? Please, have a seat, have a seat." What infuriated Liu Jiayao even more was that Ren Chenle ignored what she had just said and got up with a smile, eagerly inviting Li Bisheng to sit down.

    "Vice President Ren, this is an internal meeting of our company. Irrelevant persons should not participate!" Liu Jiayao said coldly.

    "How could Director Li be irrelevant?" Ren Chenle retorted unconcernedly.

    "Thank you, President Ren. My visit is indeed related to your Qinglan Cosmetics. I''ve heard that Qinglan Cosmetics''s products have had a series of quality issues and that your cash flow is about to break. Is that true?" Li Bisheng said with a smile.

    "This is our internal news, how do you know about it?" Liu Jiayao''s expression changed yet again as her gaze swept over the shareholders present, paused briefly on Ren Chenle''s face, and finally rested on Li Bisheng''s face.

    "Hehe, there''s no wall in the world that is completely airtight. Besides, we''re in the same industry. When Qinglan Cosmetics has continuous issues in production, even if I''m the last to know, I should have heard the rumors by now. Now seeing this situation, it seems to be true. How about it? Has Director Liu changed her mind?" Li Bisheng said with a smile, and even with his composure, a gleam of cunning success flickered in his eyes as he looked at Liu Jiayao.

    "Director Li just talked about cooperating with me, and soon after, our Qinglan Cosmetics faced issues. Does this have anything to do with you?" Sensing the cunning success in Li Bisheng''s eyes, Liu Jiayao''s heart stirred. She stared at Li Bisheng and asked coldly.

    Upon hearing this, Li Bisheng first appeared completely astonished, then immediately followed by a sense of wrongful indignation.

    "Director Liu, if you speak like this, I can sue you for defamation! The production department, materials, quality control¡ªall are under your supervision. Can you tell me how I could have possibly sabotaged them?" Li Bisheng asked with a dark expression. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Liu Jiayao, looking at Li Bisheng''s brooding face, became even more convinced it was him. But just as he said, she had no proof of his tampering, and to continue would only be to humiliate herself, giving off the impression of being unreasonable.

    "Fine, I misspoke! But, Director Li, I will not agree to cooperate with your Li Fang. Don''t bother wasting your efforts." Liu Jiayao quickly calmed down and addressed Li Bisheng.

    "They say women act on emotion, and it''s really true. Given Qinglan''s current situation, frankly, you should be the one coming to me. Now that I''ve taken the initiative to come here and you still turn me away, tsk tsk, well, I won''t force you. To all present, if you are willing to sell your shares and the price is right, I might consider it." Li Bisheng glanced at Liu Jiayao with a look that suggested she was being foolish and then spoke.

    "Even if they are willing to sell shares, I have the right of first refusal under the same conditions! So, Director Li, you might as well give up on that idea!" Liu Jiayao said coldly.

    "That would still require Director Liu to have enough money though!" Li Bisheng said lightly, then turned to Ren Chenle and the others, cupping his hands in greeting, "Sorry for the disturbance, everyone. I''ll treat you to tea another day."

    "Hehe, where is this coming from, Director Li? We should be the ones to treat you next time." Ren Chenle and most of the shareholders got up and returned Li Bisheng''s gesture. Experience new tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    Watching this scene, Liu Jiayao''s face looked extremely troubled.

    She was well aware of what this scene implied, and once these shareholders really decided to sell their shares, although she had the right of first refusal, she would still need the funds to do so.

    Qinglan Cosmetics was operating in the low-end market, and part of the profits each year had to continue being invested, leaving not much for each shareholder to receive. If Jiayao could purchase back all the other shareholders'' shares when the price was low, she might be able to afford it. However, if the price exceeded her expectations, she would likely need a loan.

    But under the current circumstances, it was uncertain whether a bank would be willing to give her a loan.

    The meeting ended in disharmony.

    "Uncle Hua, would you also sell your shares?" Jiayao called out to Li Hua. Li Hua had been her father''s best friend and best business partner, always acting together.

    "Uncle has gotten old," Li Hua said. However, seeing the words made Jiayao''s face turn pale, he felt pity and, with a deep sigh, added, "I''ll try my best. Unless it''s absolutely necessary, I will always support you."

    "Thank you, Uncle Hua." Jiayao tightly held Li Hua''s hand.

    "This is your parents'' hard work; I don''t wish to hand it over to someone else either," Li Hua sighed.

    Jiayao''s eyes teared up when she heard this.

    Her parents had been gone for six years already, but as long as Qinglan was still there, she felt as if her parents were still by her side. Managing Qinglan well was also a way for her to honor her parents'' memory, and she would never allow Qinglan to be handed over to someone else, especially to people like Li Bisheng.

    Her woman''s intuition told her that this time Qinglan''s issues were definitely related to Li Bisheng.

    ...

    "President Ren, the money should have been received by now, right?" In a coffee shop, Li Bisheng lounged with his legs crossed, holding a coffee cup in one hand, took a sip, and asked Ren Chenle with a smile.

    "President Li is a man of integrity, here is the information you requested," Ren Chenle pushed an envelope to Li Bisheng.

    Li Bisheng pulled out the documents from the envelope and reviewed them. It detailed Jiayao''s earnings over the years, the funds she currently had available, and the psychological price point for the transfer of the shares of various shareholders, among other data.

    "Why isn''t there anything about Li Hua?" Li Bisheng frowned slightly.

    Li Hua held twenty-five percent of Qinglan Cosmetics shares and Jiayao held thirty-eight percent. If Li Hua refused to give up his shares, even if Li Bisheng purchased all the other shareholders'' shares, he would still not be able to control Qinglan Cosmetics Company absolutely.

    "Li Hua had a very good relationship with Jiayao''s deceased parents. I approached him, but he''s not willing to ease up just yet. However, don''t worry, my daughter is currently dating his son. He might not listen to me, but his son does listen to my daughter and me. Moreover, while feelings may fade over time, the love for money only grows deeper, so President Li, as long as..." Ren Chenle said with a smile.

    ps: Please vote for the monthly ticket, thank you.

 Chapter 217 Forceful Acquisition [Fifth Update, Request for Monthly Pass]

    "President Ren, the way you handled this matter wasn''t very proper, but it''s fine, collaborating with someone like you is what makes it interesting. Today, I will have someone transfer another sum of money to you, as compensation for your future son-in-law''s losses," Li Bisheng''s eyebrows slightly furrowed again, a trace of cold annoyance flickering in the depths of his eyes, yet his face wore a slight smile."Then thank you, President Li. Now, I''ll take my leave," Ren Chenle stood up and said.

    "Take care, President Ren," Li Bisheng stood up, smiling as he shook his hand. When Ren Chenle turned around, Li Bisheng''s face immediately darkened.

    This time with the acquisition of Qinglan Cosmetics, he was determined to succeed. The situation had reached a point where, with just a little more effort, Qinglan Cosmetics would not be able to withstand the pressure, and Liu Jiayao would be no exception.

    Unfortunately, he had run out of Yin Demonic Corpse Qi, and moreover, he did not want a completely ruined Qinglan Cosmetics, so he had to seize the opportunity to acquire it quickly. Otherwise, once Liu Jiayao, despite opposition from the shareholders, dug into her own pockets and desperately funded the next batch of production, Qinglan Cosmetics might recover. If that happened, even though he could still successfully acquire it, the cost would undoubtedly be great.

    So he preferred to give Ren Chenle some extra benefits to expedite his acquisition plans through this insider.

    ...

    "Zhang Huowang! Do you even care about company discipline? Coming to work at noon?" Che Yingying, from the purchasing department, glared angrily at Zhang Huowang, who only arrived at work around noon, burping.

    "What are you pulling, Che Yingying? Just because Liu Jiayao has your back? Listen here! Soon, Qinglan Cosmetics won''t be named Liu anymore. Without Liu Jiayao, who are you, Che Yingying, to act high and mighty? Be nice to me now, make me comfortable, and maybe when I become the manager, I might still throw you a bone to chew on, otherwise, I will kick you out!" Zhang Huowang picked his teeth with a toothpick, his chin tilted up arrogantly.

    "Zhang Huowang, you... you..." Che Yingying, still young and a woman unaccustomed to dealing with such shamelessness, was so angry she was on the verge of tears.

    "Zhang Huowang, even if Qinglan Company is currently in a difficult situation and might possibly be acquired by Li Fang, Che Yingying is still the manager, and Director Liu has always been good to us. It''s too much for you to speak like this," the others in the purchasing department couldn''t help but criticize Zhang Huowang upon seeing this.

    "Pfft! Good to you, maybe. When has she ever been good to me?" Zhang Huowang spat the toothpick out of his mouth and said.

    "You''ve been taking kickbacks harshly, and Director Liu still keeps you around, and that''s not being good to you? What would be, then?" Che Yingying, seeing that Zhang Huowang kept referring to himself in such a manner and disrespected Liu Jiayao so greatly, couldn''t help but expose his misconduct publicly in her anger.

    "I don''t give a damn!" Zhang Huowang shamelessly declared.

    "You..." Che Yingying was so infuriated she trembled all over.

    "Forget it, Manager Che, there''s no point in talking to someone like him," the others tried to pacify her, looking at Zhang Huowang with disdain.

    "Hmph, don''t look at me like that. In a few days, you''ll all be begging me," Zhang Huowang scoffed.

    "What do you mean by that? Did you sabotage our recent batches of products?" Che Yingying, alarmed by his words and recalling Zhang Huowang''s unusual diligence in recent days, had her face change and pointed at Zhang Huowang.

    Deep down, Zhang Huowang was guilty and got a scare from Che Yingying''s accusation. However, he quickly remembered that this kind of thing didn''t have any evidence and also seemed peculiar. Unless experienced firsthand, even if told, no one would believe it. So why should he be afraid?

    So, Zhang Huowang immediately jumped up, pointing back at Che Yingying, "Are you sick? Isn''t it you who personally checks every time materials are delivered? How could I sabotage anything?"

    Caught off guard by the question, Che Yingying was rendered speechless, although she remained suspicious.

    After this incident in the purchasing department, the news that Li Fang Cosmetics Company was going to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics quickly spread throughout the entire company.

    Even Cheng Chenle and several shareholders had already offered a price, the news that Liu Jiayao had recently been running to various major banks trying to secure a loan, only to be rejected, was also well known.

    That day, the weather was clear, a rare warm day in winter.

    Che Yingying sat by the office window and saw a Toyota slowly drive into the company gate and then stop in front of the building. A tall and handsome man emerged, dressed in a black woolen coat, black trousers, and black leather shoes, exuding an air of elegance.

    The warm sensation from the sun streaming through the window instantly disappeared, and Che Yingying felt as if she had plunged into an ice cellar.

    Yesterday, she had heard that today was the final deadline for Liu Jiayao by the shareholders.

    After today, if Liu Jiayao still hadn''t exercised her preemptive rights, their shares would be transferred to Li Fang Company.

    That morning, Zhang Huowang had swaggered into her office to boast. He said that today a shareholders'' meeting was to be held, and after today, Qinglan Cosmetics would belong to the Li family, and her position as manager would also come to an end.

    Che Yingying had a good impression of Qinglan Company, and of Liu Jiayao who had recognized her abilities. She never wanted to believe this was true. Yet, seeing that Toyota today, the man who stepped out, and the shareholders who specially came out to greet him,

    Che Yingying knew that it all seemed to be true. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    Liu must be feeling terrible right now, right? S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Zhang Huowang''s smug expression and the confidence on his face, it seemed that once Li Bisheng achieved absolute control, her position as manager was indeed likely to be at its end.

    Thinking about this, Che Yingying felt increasingly cold, and her heart was also uncomfortably blocked.

    She had just married her boyfriend of two years at the beginning of the year. Since she had become a manager and her income was high, they had jointly mortgaged a large house; if she suddenly lost her job, the mortgage money would have nowhere to go.

    That''s not acceptable, I need to call Uncle Cheng and see; he is now running the Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory, and business is booming. Why not ask him if they need people there?

    With that thought, Che Yingying''s spirit slightly improved. She quickly picked up the phone and dialed Cheng Yazhou.

    Cheng Yazhou was at work in the factory in the Provincial Capital at that time. Seeing that it was Che Yingying''s call, he picked up and joked, "Manager Che, how is someone as busy as you finding the time to call me?"

    "Uncle Cheng, stop joking with me. Where am I busy? I''m about to lose my job! I''m calling to see if you need to hire anyone over there," Che Yingying, seeing that Cheng Yazhou hadn''t changed his attitude despite becoming a big boss, laughed as she spoke, greatly relieved.

    "Really? I just heard from your father a while ago that you are now the manager of Qinglan''s procurement department, earning several times more than him! Did you do something wrong, and Liu fired you?" Cheng Yazhou said, feeling surprised.

    "I wish it were that simple. Our Qinglan Cosmetics is about to be forcibly acquired by Li Fang Cosmetics Company!" Che Yingying said.

    "Qinglan Cosmetics is about to be forcibly acquired? You mean, Liu doesn''t have the capacity to exercise the shareholder''s preemptive rights and has to reluctantly relinquish them?" Cheng Yazhou frowned upon hearing this.

    Che Yingying didn''t know that the true major owner of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory was Ge Dongxu, but Cheng Yazhou did.

    Considering the relationship that Ge Dongxu had shown with Liu Jiayao that day, it made no sense that Ge Dongxu would watch Liu Jiayao''s Qinglan Cosmetics Company be forcefully acquired and do nothing, unless Ge Dongxu was unaware.

 Chapter 218 Do you know about CEO Lius matter? [1st update, asking for monthly votes]

    [Due to consistently pushing for five updates every day for the past few days, some negligences in planning and details have arisen. The shareholdings of Liu Jiayao and Li Hua in earlier chapters have been slightly modified, which should now be more reasonable.]"Yes, today is the shareholders'' meeting. The CEO of Li Fang just arrived, and it''s basically a done deal now. Sister Liu is really pitiful, this was her late parents'' lifetime effort, and she has cared for it immensely. It''s sad that in the end...," Che Yingying sighed.

    "That''s not necessarily true! Don''t worry about your job situation for now. If it really comes to that, I''ll definitely find a spot for you. However, as long as Sister Liu isn''t willing to let go, that Li Fang CEO won''t be able to take it away easily," Cheng Yazhou said, having realized Ge Dongxu likely wasn''t aware of this and spoke with a grave tone.

    "Thank you, Uncle. But it''s definite that Sister Liu will..." Hearing that Cheng Yazhou could secure her a position, Che Yingying was naturally delighted, but thinking of Liu Jiayao, her mood plummeted again.

    "There''s nothing definite in this world. I have something urgent now and can''t talk further, we''ll discuss this later," Cheng Yazhou interrupted Che Yingying, then hastily hung up and immediately dialed Ge Dongxu.

    Yongqing Road, one of the busiest commercial streets at the heart of the provincial capital.

    Ge Dongxu was standing in front of a seventeen-story building that was nearly completed but clearly at a standstill, along with Lin Kun and Yue Ting.

    "Dongxu, what do you think of this location? If we take over this unfinished building and continue investing in it, turning it into our Kunting Hotel''s headquarters and flagship store, how does that sound?" Lin Kun asked with hopeful eyes.

    As the year-end approached, schools had already started their winter break.

    On the first day of the vacation, before Ge Dongxu had a chance to head back to his hometown, Lin Kun and Yue Ting, who heard that school was out, dragged him to the provincial capital.

    "You really have a big appetite. Taking over this building would cost a fair amount of money!" Ge Dongxu looked up at the unfinished building, surveyed the surroundings, and generally assessed the Feng Shui. He was quite satisfied with it, though the future investment, not to mention the initial acquisition, would likely be costly.

    After all, this was the provincial capital, not Changxi County, and it was in a central bustling area.

    "The developer of this building, impacted by the Asian financial crisis, faced a major liquidity problem and now urgently needs funds for cash flow. Therefore, the building''s price is genuinely cheap, just twenty million to seal the deal, practically giving away the land. Donglinyue has been selling very well these past few months, especially near the year-end, it''s tremendously popular. The company''s available funds have already surpassed twenty million, so purchasing it won''t be an issue. As long as Donglinyue Apparel remains stable, subsequent investments won''t be a problem. Moreover, Kunting chain hotels should start turning a profit next year," Lin Kun explained, his eyes burning with fervor.

    "Oh! Last month, it wasn''t nearly this much, and suddenly there''s so much more this month." Ge Dongxu was genuinely surprised.

    "It''s the end of the year after all, our country''s people buy a new set of clothes for the New Year, and nowadays, many young people choose Donglinyue," Yue Ting said, her face showing a hint of pride. She was mainly in charge of Donglinyue Apparel, while Lin Kun was focusing on the Kunting Hotel.

    "If that''s the case, then there''s no problem. Go ahead and handle the specifics. If unsure, you can consult your dads, considering the size of the project," Ge Dongxu said, reassured by hearing that there were sufficient funds at Donglinyue Apparel, and also feeling that the building was a bargain with good Feng Shui, he nodded in agreement.

    "Haha, working with Dongxu is awesome. It hasn''t been long, and soon, we will have our towering buildings and hotels in the provincial capital," Yue Ting and Lin Kun breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Ge Dongxu nodding, then laughed joyously.

    The twenty million was just the initial investment; the interior and exterior decorations would surely cost a lot more. Yue Ting and Lin Kun were actually quite unsure and hesitant to decide, but once Ge Dongxu nodded, they were completely relieved.

    They had an almost blind faith in Ge Dongxu, especially given the successive successes of Qinghe Herbal Tea, Donglinyue Apparel, and Kunting, they revered and trusted him to the core. As long as Ge Dongxu nodded, they would boldly charge ahead; even if the sky fell, he would support it.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, just about to remind them not to be too complacent, when his phone rang.

    Few knew Ge Dongxu''s phone number, and usually, besides his parents who would call to chat, others wouldn''t contact him, so it rarely rang.

    Now, hearing it suddenly ring, Ge Dongxu immediately took it out, saw it was from Cheng Yazhou, and quickly answered, laughing, "Uncle Cheng, what''s the matter?"

    "Do you know about Sister Liu''s situation?" Cheng Yazhou asked directly.

    "Sister Liu, are you talking about Sister Liu? What happened to her?" Ge Dongxu asked with a look of surprise upon hearing this.

    "It seems you don''t know yet. I just got a call from Che Yingying¡ªthat friend''s daughter you met last year at the revolving restaurant in Mingyue Lake. She told me that Li Fang Cosmetics Company is planning to forcefully take over the shares of Qinglan Cosmetics Company," Cheng Yazhou said, realizing that Ge Dongxu was unaware of the situation and quickly responded.

    "When did this happen?" Ge Dongxu''s face immediately darkened.

    Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire

    If there was one thing that could trigger Ge Dongxu, it was definitely Liu Jiayao.

    No one could touch her, harm her!

    "Today, you need to act fast, or it might be too late," Cheng Yazhou said solemnly.

    "Okay, is there any problem with the finance company?" Ge Dongxu asked in a heavy voice.

    "No problem, we will definitely support you all the way," Cheng Yazhou replied without hesitation.

    "Okay, thanks, Uncle Cheng." After saying this, Ge Dongxu hung up Cheng Yazhou''s phone and immediately called Liu Jiayao.

    But no one answered the phone.

    "Damn it!" Ge Dongxu cursed under his breath and then said to Lin Kun, "Drive me to Qinglan... never mind, you don''t know the way, it would only delay us. Help me hail a taxi right now."

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu looked upset, Lin Kun and Yue Ting didn''t dare to ask what was wrong and hurried to the roadside to help hail a car. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fortunately, there were many taxis in the Provincial Capital. By the time Ge Dongxu got through to Li Min''s phone, Lin Kun had already flagged down a taxi for him.

    "Keep your phone on at all times, let''s put the matter of this building aside for now, do not touch the money in the account, I might need it," Ge Dongxu hastily instructed Lin Kun and Yue Ting as he bent down to get into the taxi.

    "Do you need us to follow you..." Lin Kun and Yue Ting were quick to nod and then asked.

    "No need!" Ge Dongxu closed the car door, then told the taxi driver to head to Qinglan Cosmetics Company, before finally saying to Li Min on the phone who had already said hello several times, "Sister Li, it''s me, Ge Dongxu. Where is Sister Liu now? Give her my phone."

    "She''s in a shareholders'' meeting, she definitely doesn''t have time to take your call," Li Min said, her voice somewhat dejected.

    "I know she''s in a shareholders'' meeting, but she must take my call now, because I can help her," Ge Dongxu said in a firm voice.

    "You help her? How can you help her? The gap in Sister Liu''s finances is probably ten million!" Li Min''s voice became a bit sharp, quite dissatisfied with Ge Dongxu making such an out-of-place remark at this time.

    PS: It hasn''t been easy, already the seventh day and five continuous chapters. It''s a record-breaking event in my many years of writing. I ask for monthly tickets, subscriptions, and recommendation tickets, thank you very much.

 Chapter 219 What are you here for? [2nd Update]

    "What''s ten million anyway? Hand the phone to Sister Liu and tell her I''m the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea. As long as the other shareholders are willing to sell their shares, no matter the cost, I''ll buy them," Ge Dongxu said with overwhelming assertiveness."Stop kidding around, Dongxu, this matter¡­" Li Min started.

    "Do I look like the kind of person who jokes about this sort of thing?" Ge Dongxu said coldly, cutting him off.

    "But you''re just a high school¡­" Li Min couldn''t help but hesitate.

    "Even Sister Liu''s illness was cured by me. Have you ever seen a high school student with such superb medical skills?" Ge Dongxu countered.

    "No. So, you really are the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea?" Li Min finally began to believe Ge Dongxu''s words.

    Because Ge Dongxu truly couldn''t be viewed through the eyes of an ordinary person.

    "Nonsense, just hurry up and give the phone to Sister Liu. Don''t wait until the transfer contract is signed. By then it''ll be too late. I''m on my way to your company right now and will be there soon," Ge Dongxu said impatiently, as Li Min was still beating around the bush.

    "Okay, okay, I''m taking it to President Liu right now. Haha, I can''t wait to see the looks on those bastards'' faces!" Originally wandering around the company due to a troubled mood, Li Min happily grabbed the phone and ran towards the company.

    Just as Li Min entered the building and headed to the upstairs conference room, a taxi also arrived at the company''s doorstep.

    Ge Dongxu gave the taxi driver a hundred bucks and got out of the cab, leaving the driver grinning from ear to ear.

    "Ge Dongxu!" From the office window of the purchasing department, Che Yingying spotted Ge Dongxu walking briskly toward the company building and couldn''t help but show a look of surprise. She hurried out of the office.

    "Dongxu, what brings you to our company today? President Liu is in a meeting," Che Yingying called out as she came out of the company building.

    "I know she''s holding a shareholders'' meeting. Where''s the conference room? Take me there now," Ge Dongxu said as he had reached Qinglan Company and simply put away his phone.

    "Tsk tsk, I didn''t expect even you to know. Thinking of going to back up President Liu? Too bad, though, you''re just a small-time trademark factory shareholder. Your little bit of money is not even enough to be considered pocket change for buying shares. I suggest you save yourself the trouble," Zhang Huowang said mockingly and with schadenfreude as he popped up from somewhere while Ge Dongxu was talking to Che Yingying.

    "Get lost!" Ge Dongxu said unapologetically to Zhang Huowang.

    "Who the fuck are you telling to get lost? Who do you think you are? You think you can still get Liu Jiayao to fire me?" Zhang Huowang, seeing Ge Dongxu''s arrogance even at this time, cursed while reaching out to grab Ge Dongxu''s collar.

    "Get lost!" Ge Dongxu''s face darkened and he kicked straight toward Zhang Huowang''s belly.

    Suddenly, Zhang Huowang was sent sprawling to the ground by a kick and couldn''t get up for a long time, while Che Yingying was stunned by the sight.

    She never dreamed that this boy who looked like the wholesome boy next door could be so ferocious, toppling Zhang Huowang with just one kick.

    "Take me to the conference room," Ge Dongxu said, ignoring Zhang Huowang and grabbing Che Yingying''s arm to head towards the building.

    Che Yingying involuntarily followed Ge Dongxu into the building. As they ascended the stairs, she said, "The conference room is on the fifth floor."

    As soon as Che Yingying''s words fell, she heard a whooshing sound and Ge Dongxu had already disappeared from sight.

    "No way, that fast!" Che Yingying was dumbfounded and then hurriedly followed up the stairs.

    "Uncle Hua, you really want to sell too?" Inside the conference room, Liu Jiayao looked at Li Hua with eyes filled with sadness and despair.

    "Uncle is old now, can''t take the risk anymore. Besides, Li Feng has grown up, and I need to think about him too. I''m sorry, Jiayao, if you can''t purchase my shares at this price, Uncle has no choice but to transfer them to President Li," Li Hua said with a guilty expression.

    "Uncle Hua, please wait a little longer. If we can get through this period, I should be able to free up some funds," Liu Jiayao pleaded.

    "But what if problems continue to arise?" Li Hua asked.

    Liu Jiayao was completely stunned.

    Indeed, what if there were more problems? It wasn''t just about freeing up funds to buy shares anymore; there wouldn''t even be funds to purchase raw materials.

    "Forget it, Jiayao, President Li has shown his sincerity. If you can''t bear to give up on your parents'' hard work, continue to stay and work hard with President Li. Otherwise, you can transfer your shares to him and start anew or find a good family to marry into," Li Hua said.

    "Speaking of a good family, actually, I have long admired President Liu and really hoped to partner with her in a husband-and-wife team. I just don''t know if President Liu is willing?" Li Bisheng said with a smile.

    "You''re shameless!" Liu Jiayao bit her teeth, trying hard to keep her tears from falling.

    "How can you say that! A fair maiden is a good match for a gentleman. Besides, with President Li''s excellent conditions, uncle here thinks you should seriously consider it," Ren Chenle said with a smile that wasn''t really a smile.

    "You don''t deserve to call yourself ''uncle'' in front of me!" Liu Jiayao said coldly.

    "Hmph! So disrespectful!" Ren Chenle''s face darkened as he said.

    "Alright, enough. Let''s stop the nonsense and make the final vote," Li Hua interrupted.

    Although he hadn''t taken a firm stance at the last moment, he still had a soft spot for Liu Jiayao and couldn''t bear to see her ridiculed by others.

    "Yes, yes, let''s proceed to the final vote." Apart from Ren Chenle, the other shareholders echoed in agreement.

    After speaking, everyone''s gaze fell on Liu Jiayao''s face.

    The conference room suddenly fell silent.

    Now, as long as Liu Jiayao expressed her intention to abstain, Li Bisheng would be able to officially acquire their shares.

    At that moment, the door to the conference room was pushed open, and Li Min rushed in excitedly with her phone, saying to Liu Jiayao, "President Liu, it''s a call from Ge Dongxu."

    "What Dongxu or not, this is a shareholders'' meeting. Who let you in? Get out!" Ren Chenle immediately put on a stern face and scolded her upon seeing this.

    "You go out first, tell Dongxu I''ll call him back later," Liu Jiayao said to Li Min with a cold glance at Ren Chenle, then waved her hand.

    Her mood really wasn''t suitable for speaking with Ge Dongxu right now.

    "No, President Liu, Ge Dongxu said¡­" Li Min hurriedly started to say.

    "Are you deaf? Didn''t you hear President Liu tell you to get out?" Ren Chenle shouted again.

    "Sister Li isn''t deaf, it''s just that what she has to say is related to this shareholders'' meeting, that''s why she''s not leaving." Just then, a young voice rang out from the doorway, followed by a young man dressed in Donglin Yue casual wear walking in.

    "You? What are you doing here? Is this a place you can come?" Li Bisheng, seeing that it was Ge Dongxu, instantly saw his smile fade into a sullen frown as he questioned him condescendingly.

    "If you can come, why can''t I?" Ge Dongxu retorted.

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao gently pulled on Ge Dongxu, giving him a look; she didn''t want Ge Dongxu to be humiliated here.

    "Don''t worry, Sister Liu, I know what I''m doing," Ge Dongxu reassured her with a gentle pat on her hand, then continued to look coldly at Li Bisheng.

    A sharp aura faintly emanated from him. Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    "I''m the chairman of Li Fang Cosmetics Company. I''m here to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics Company. Who do you think you are?" Li Bisheng looked at Ge Dongxu with a face of disdain.

    sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 220 Im Just the Major Shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea [3rd Update]

    "I''m not anything special, I''m just the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, and I''m also a friend of President Liu," Ge Dongxu said with an equally mocking look at Li Bisheng. "Given that, do I have the right to stand here?"The meeting room fell silent all at once, everyone looking at Ge Dongxu with disbelief, except for Liu Jiayao, who was not disbelieving, but shocked.

    Che Yingying, who had just made it to the door of the meeting room, happened to hear Ge Dongxu''s words and was so shocked that her mouth fell open, then she quickly covered it with her hand.

    Those present might not know who the current legal representative of Qinghe Herbal Tea was, but Che Yingying did, and she also knew the relationship between Cheng Yazhou and Ge Dongxu, so while others might not believe Ge Dongxu''s words, Che Yingying believed them immediately.

    And it was precisely because she believed Ge Dongxu that Che Yingying was almost about to cry out in shock.

    After all, how old was Ge Dongxu?

    "What a joke, if you''re the president of Qinghe Herbal Tea, then I am the President of the country! Get lost, stay where it''s cool, this is not a place for you to cause a scene!" Li Bisheng quickly regained his senses, his face full of mocking disdain as he impatiently waved Ge Dongxu away.

    Li Bisheng couldn''t believe that a young man, who still looked like a student, could be the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, which was now popular throughout the whole of Huaxia Country.

    If that were true, then all the years he, Li Bisheng, prided himself on being a business genius, not managing to shape a cosmetics company into something decent until he was thirty-one, would have been for nothing?

    "President Li, it''s you who should stop causing a scene. With that little money of yours, you think you can come to my sister''s company and attempt a hostile takeover?" Ge Dongxu glanced disdainfully at Li Bisheng, then turned his head to Liu Jiayao, who was beside him with her mouth agape in shock, and asked, "Sister, are these people all transferring their shares? How much more do you need? I''ll have someone transfer it to you right now."

    At Ge Dongxu''s words, the tears that Liu Jiayao had been holding back suddenly fell, then she suddenly broke into laughter, wiped away her tears with her hand, and playfully slapped Ge Dongxu, saying, "You jerk, being the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, why didn''t you tell me sooner? You''ve made me unable to eat and sleep well these past few days."

    "Actually, I did mention it to you a while back, that I have more money than you," Ge Dongxu said with a bitter smile.

    "You never told me you were the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea. I thought you were just joking and boasting," Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The weight of Liu Jiayao''s words was naturally different from that of Ge Dongxu, this young man who had suddenly appeared.

    When Ge Dongxu had claimed to be the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, it was indeed hard to convince people because of his age.

    But Liu Jiayao''s words made others, even if they didn''t fully believe them, start to harbor doubts.

    Because they didn''t know Ge Dongxu, but Liu Jiayao did, and with her status, if Ge Dongxu was not truly capable of something, she wouldn''t be likely to say such unreliable things.

    Watching Liu Jiayao switch from sobbing to laughing, her face full of happy smiles, entirely free of her previous sadness and despair, Li Bisheng''s handsome face darkened as if it were about to drip water.

    Now he, too, began to harbor some doubts.

    "Heh heh," Ge Dongxu chuckled at Liu Jiayao, then asked, "How much do you actually need?"

    "If we''re only talking about achieving absolute control, we''re short by eight million three hundred thousand, but to own one hundred percent, that''s a lot more. We would need sixty-one million two hundred thousand," Liu Jiayao blurted out.

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    These numbers had been spinning in her head these past few days, and she had them memorized firmly.

    "Then let''s go for a total acquisition," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and said.

    "Aren''t you afraid of bursting your big bubble? Sixty-one million two hundred thousand for a total acquisition? Even if you are the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, can you mobilize that much capital at once?" Li Bisheng sneered, his gloomy face breaking into a mocking smile.

    He had managed to secure the funds by pulling strings to get a loan from the bank and converted some of Li Fang''s share equity to Ren Chenle and others. Only then was he able to mobilize enough capital to acquire the shares of Qinglan Cosmetics from their hands. Although Ge Dongxu claimed to be the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, Qinghe Herbal Tea had only truly taken off this year. How much could it really be earning? Outsiders didn''t know. Moreover, being a major shareholder didn''t necessarily mean holding a hundred percent control like Li Bisheng did. Perhaps it''s twenty percent, maybe thirty percent, or even higher, but one could be called a major shareholder with such a stake.

    So if Ge Dongxu really was the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory, Li Bisheng could believe he could mobilize a million or maybe eight hundred thousand, but he absolutely did not believe Ge Dongxu''s boast about fronting Liu Jiayao with sixty-one million two hundred thousand.

    "Oh, I forgot to tell you, I am also the major shareholder of Donglinyue Apparel!" Ge Dongxu flicked his clothes and said to Li Bisheng with a smile.

    "You''re also the major shareholder of Donglinyue Apparel? No wonder that day you made such a strange expression when I took you to the Donglinyue store to buy clothes!" Liu Jiayao heard this and opened her sexy little mouth in shock, then she couldn''t help but raise her fist and thump him.

    From despair to a series of surprises¡ªeven for someone with Liu Jiayao''s status¡ªshe couldn''t help but reveal her true feminine side at this moment.

    Very womanly!

    Liu Jiayao''s very womanly behavior seemed to confirm, from another perspective, that Ge Dongxu''s words held some credibility.

    "Just because you claim to be the major shareholder of Donglinyue means you are? Don''t try to stall for time, it''s no use," Li Bisheng''s face grew uglier, but he was decidedly unwilling to accept that a young man who looked like a student could actually be the major shareholder of two companies that were currently popular throughout the country.

    "My word is of course worthless; in the end, we have to put up real gold and silver. You can''t fake this kind of thing. If you can''t let it go, you can wait here while I call the legal representatives of Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue. If any shareholder wishes to sell their shares, I''ll have them instruct the finance department to transfer the money," Ge Dongxu said to Li Bisheng, looking at him with a very disdainful gaze.

    "Don''t you think what you''re saying is childish? You''re just a major shareholder; what power do you have to decide to move the company''s money? Besides, if you move the money like that, who counts as acquiring shares from the present shareholders here? Your so-called controlled companies don''t have priority purchase rights like President Liu," Li Bisheng relaxed and sneered when he heard Ge Dongxu''s naive statement.

    This time, he saw clearly that the young man was just full of hot air.

    The expressions on the faces of the other shareholders gradually darkened, especially Ren Chenle, who was already pointing at Ge Dongxu and demanding, "Get out; don''t cause trouble here!"

    Even Che Yingying and Li Min''s faces changed, looking at Ge Dongxu with some disappointment.

    Private matters were supposed to be separate; Ge Dongxu made it sound as if Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue were his own family businesses, thinking he could take as much money as he wanted, especially such a large sum, making his claim seem unbelievable.

    Poor them, they had no idea that Ge Dongxu, the shareholder, held a whopping sixty percent of the shares¡ªthe absolute control¡ªand in the eyes of the other shareholders, he was the undeniable leader. They wouldn''t utter a word until he spoke, but once he did, they would support him with all their might. Besides, with the current growth momentum and considerable profits of Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue, the sixty-plus million was indeed a large sum, but it was a limited impact on the operation of the combined companies if they were to take it out.

    It was this confidence that allowed Ge Dongxu to speak with such audacity!

 Chapter 221 Shut Up [4th Update, Requesting Monthly Pass]

    In the meeting room, only Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu with interest in her eyes, her lips curled into a sweet, contented smile, as if Ge Dongxu was the only person left in the office.She knew very well that although Ge Dongxu was young, he would definitely not create a fuss in this matter.

    "What''s your hurry? Do you really want to sell Qinglan to this Mr. Li that badly? Oh, right, you have a pointed forehead and narrow brows, prominent cheekbones¡ªthe very image of a petty person seeking glory through selling out. Don''t tell me you''ve secretly colluded with Mr. Li and received some benefits?" Ge Dongxu, seeing Liu Jiayao''s trust in him, gave her a smile before suddenly turning to Ren Chenle and pointing at him, mocking him without any politeness.

    "You¡ªyou can''t just slander people like that! Where did I show any desire to sell Qinglan to Mr. Li? It''s just a last resort!" Ren Chenle, with something to hide, was caught off guard by Ge Dongxu''s sudden accusation and jumped in fright, hastily denying it. He seemed rather infuriated and embarrassed.

    Shareholders like Li Hua were veterans of the business world and naturally perceptive. They also understood Ren Chenle''s character. Seeing his outraged and embarrassed demeanor and recalling his recent behavior, they began to look at him with a shade of suspicion.

    Could it be that he was really in collusion with Mr. Li?

    Seeing Ren Chenle, an old man, get frightened by a young man''s casual remark and giving himself away, Mr. Li slightly frowned.

    Fortunately, the things Mr. Li had actually done were unknown to Ren Chenle, and without any evidence, he wasn''t worried.

    "Since you don''t want to sell Qinglan to Mr. Li, then shut your mouth! Even if I''m young and not credible, can''t you wait even half an hour? And if I find out you really did collude with Mr. Li, I''ll show you no mercy!" Ge Dongxu was no fool; seeing Ren Chenle''s reaction, how could he not know that Ren Chenle was indeed hiding something? His gaze suddenly became cold and piercing.

    Share transfer is a personal right; even if Ren Chenle truly wished to sell his shares to Li Bisheng, Ge Dongxu had nothing to say about it. However, if he conspired with Mr. Li to frame Liu Jiayao, that was something Ge Dongxu couldn''t tolerate!

    "You¡ªyou..." Ren Chenle had never been scolded and threatened by a young person like this before, and he was trembling with rage.

    "You what? Shut your mouth! You better pray you haven''t done anything against Sister Liu!" Ge Dongxu cut him off without politeness. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t say that I have a clear conscience regarding Ren¡ªeven if there is something, who do you think you are? What right do you have to say that?" Li Bisheng, seeing Ge Dongxu''s domineering presence, even more brazen than his own, and not being taken seriously at all, was also enraged, his face turning an iron shade of blue.

    "If I don''t have the right, then you have even less of a right, Mr. Li. At least I am as close to Ms. Liu as a brother, we''re family. And what are you? Yelling and shouting here? Also, you better hope you haven''t done anything bad to Qinglan, otherwise, I will also hold you accountable!" Ge Dongxu said coldly, his domineering aura finally bursting forth from this young man, leaving no trace of amiability or warmth.

    "Fine, fine, such arrogance! You better go ahead and make the phone call to finalize the share purchase. If you''re just causing trouble on purpose, I''ll hold you accountable too!" Li Bisheng, who had always had a strong presence, had not expected to be preempted and overwhelmed by Ge Dongxu today, and was completely out of his usual composure, his face an iron blue and his lips quivering as he spoke.

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    "Then just watch," Ge Dongxu said coldly, then took out his cell phone and directly called Cheng Yazhou.

    "How is it going, Dongxu?" The call was picked up immediately after it rang, and Cheng Yazhou''s inquiry came from the other end.

    "Thank you Uncle Cheng. I''m young and don''t have any proof on me, so it''s hard to win over others. I need you to come to Qinglan Cosmetics Company, and it would be best to bring Manager Zhao from finance along," Ge Dongxu replied, feeling a small warmth in his heart.

    "Alright, I''m on my way right now," Cheng Yazhou agreed without hesitation, then hung up the phone and hurriedly called Manager Zhao from finance, also taking the company seal and some other documents.

    After calling Cheng Yazhou, Ge Dongxu made a call to Yue Ting.

    The legal representative of Donglin Yue was Yue Ting.

    "You and Lin Kun come to Qinglan Cosmetics immediately," said Ge Dongxu to Yue Ting, keeping it simple with just one direct sentence.

    "Alright,Dongxu, we''re actually already outside the Qinglan Cosmetics Company," Yue Ting replied.

    It turned out that when they saw Ge Dongxu rushing to Qinglan Cosmetics, without knowing what had happened, they had also inquired about the way and hurried over to Qinglan Cosmetics Company, so that in case anything arose, they could be at his beck and call.

    Ge Dongxu was slightly startled, then immediately felt a surge of warmth in his heart and said, "Then come up now, we''re in the conference room on the fifth floor."

    "Got it, we''ll come up right away," Yue Ting responded, then hung up and turned to Lin Kun in the driver''s seat, "Dongxu asked us to go to the fifth-floor conference room."

    "I''ve heard that the president of Qinglan is a great beauty. It seems Dongxu has quite a deep relationship with her!" Lin Kun smirked suggestively at Yue Ting while opening the car door and stepping out.

    "Mind your own business and don''t make wild guesses about Dongxu''s affairs," Yue Ting glared at Lin Kun as she spoke.

    "Aren''t I just worried for you?" Lin Kun said with a laugh.

    "Worried my foot! Let''s hurry up," Yue Ting gave Lin Kun a kick, her pretty face turning slightly red.

    "Haha, you''re blushing, Miss Yue is blushing," Lin Kun laughed, and before Yue Ting could react, he hurried upstairs.

    In the conference room on the fifth floor, it was silent. Shareholders like Li Hua looked at each other, a mix of disbelief and wry amusement on their faces, while Li Bisheng and Ren Chenle wore sullen and unsightly expressions.

    No one had expected that Ge Dongxu would actually make the call, and now he sat next to Liu Jiayao, seemingly heartlessly whispering to her without paying attention to anyone else.

    This attitude made both Li Bisheng and Ren Chenle grind their teeth with hatred while also feeling an unsettling anxiety.

    Could this youngster really be the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglin Yue, with the ability to mobilize over sixty million in funds just like that?

    "That Ge Dongxu, you little bastard, get the hell out here?" Just as Li Bisheng and Ren Chenle were seething with hatred and feeling an unsettling anxiety, Zhang Huowang burst in, fuming with rage.

    Indeed, what man wouldn''t be furious after being kicked to the ground by a young upstart?

    Seeing Zhang Huowang storm in, Li Bisheng and Ren Chenle were first shocked, then their faces twisted into cold smirks of schadenfreude, not making any move to stop him. On the other hand, the other shareholders all stood up and scolded Zhang Huowang, "Zhang Huowang, what are you doing? Get out now!"

 Chapter 22 You Dare Yell at Me? [5th Update, Asking for Monthly Votes]

    However, Zhang Huowang was at this moment blinded by rage, and furthermore, believing that Qinglan Cosmetics was certain to change hands, and that he would have the backing of the new boss Li Bisheng in the future, he fearlessly ignored the scolding voices of the shareholders. He broke through their obstruction and in two steps, he was right in front of Ge Dongxu.Then, Zhang Huowang clenched his fist and swung it toward Ge Dongxu, prompting angry shouts from the people in the conference room.

    "Zhang Huowang!" Liu Jiayao''s voice shrieked out as she suddenly stood up.

    Only Li Bisheng and Ren Chenle remained loungingly seated with their legs crossed, faces wearing cold smirks as if watching a play.

    They naturally wanted to see Ge Dongxu make a fool of himself.

    But Zhang Huowang''s fist had only swung halfway when his neck was abruptly seized by a strong hand. Following that, the hand slowly lifted; Zhang Huowang''s feet left the ground, and his face instantly turned red, almost purplish from lack of air.

    Struggling to breathe, Zhang Huowang desperately clawed at his neck.

    However, Ge Dongxu''s hand was like a pair of iron tongs firmly gripping his neck, making all of his clawing futile.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s hand grabbing Zhang Huowang''s neck and lifting the man, who weighed at least 160 or 170 pounds, the conference room became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.

    Who could have imagined that this young man, who looked barely twenty years old, could possess such strength!

    Of course, the aura he now exuded was even more terrifying.

    Li Bisheng''s pupils shrank violently as he watched Ge Dongxu''s hand holding Zhang Huowang, his face showing a grave expression.

    If he could sabotage Qinglan Cosmetics'' production through strange means, he naturally had some unknown skills up his sleeve. He had some fighting ability and strength, but to say he could lift a grown man by the neck with just one hand was beyond his capability.

    Yet Ge Dongxu had done it!

    Liu Jiayao had previously doubted whether Ge Dongxu was a martial arts master, even asking him if he knew Qinggong, but aside from treating her illness, she had never seen him take action. Now, having just witnessed with her own eyes how he casually extended a hand to lift a grown man, her beautiful eyes widened with astonishment.

    "You think you''re fit to yell at me? Get lost!" Ge Dongxu flung his hand, tossing Zhang Huowang three or four meters away; he then thudded heavily to the ground at the doorway.

    The thud of the impact landed like a hammer on Ren Chenle''s heart, causing his face to involuntarily turn pale and cold sweat to bead on his forehead.

    Regardless of the harsh words Ge Dongxu had said before, Ren Chenle, an old hand who had been through decades in the business world, wouldn''t genuinely be frightened by him, since Ge Dongxu was still too young.

    But now? Watching Ge Dongxu lift Zhang Huowang as easily as one would a chick, and then toss him aside like a dead dog, that action, so domineering, so cold-hearted, and so undisguised!

    Who would dare to underestimate him because of his age now? Who would think that the words he had just said were empty boasts?

    Moreover, Ren Chenle had a guilty conscience!

    Zhang Huowang wailed on the ground for a while before managing to get up, and with a facade of ferocity masking his fear, he pointed at Ge Dongxu and cursed, "Ge Dongxu, you little punk, just you wait..."

    "Fuck, who are you calling ''old man''?" Before Zhang Huowang could finish speaking, a young man and woman burst into the corridor.

    The man started throwing punches at Zhang Huowang without a word, while the woman, who looked quite glamorous in her tailor-made designer clothes, her curvaceous figure and fine demeanor making her appear like a high-level company executive, unexpectedly lifted her high heels and began to ferociously kick Zhang Huowang with the sharp points and heels.

    "Damn it, daring to challenge Brother Dongxu and calling me ''old man'' in front of him, are you fucking sick of living!" the woman who looked like a company executive cursed dirty words as she kept kicking.

    A complete spitfire, she was nothing like any corporate executive!

    All at once, aside from Zhang Huowang, who was curled up on the ground getting beat up by the two sudden attackers, wailing continuously, everyone in the conference room seemed petrified, dumbfounded by the incredible scene unfolding before them.

    It was beyond anyone''s comprehension how people dressed in Versace and Chanel, these high-end luxury brands, could curse and fight like street thugs and spitfires!

    Poor Li Bisheng and the rest had no idea that these two, before they followed Ge Dongxu, were rebellious folks who loved watching ''Young and Dangerous'' movies.

    Although they had since reformed, their unbridled nature at heart emerged as soon as they encountered this kind of situation.

    "Enough, I didn''t ask you to come here to beat people up." Ge Dongxu, moved yet somewhat amused, saw his two companions revert to their old ways after finally having become civilized. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Yes, Brother Dongxu! What do you need us for?" As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, Lin Kun and Yue Ting immediately stopped and rushed over to Ge Dongxu like underlings, their attitude extremely respectful.

    Besides being slightly rebellious in the past, these two were absolutely smart. Seeing the situation in the conference room and Liu Jiayao by Ge Dongxu''s side, they knew they had to make a big deal out of Brother Dongxu''s impressive presence, so they picked up the honorific "you" that they hadn''t used for a while, assuming the stance of obedient lackeys.

    Seeing those two having given Zhang Huowang a beatdown and then scurrying over to Ge Dongxu like bootlickers, everyone''s mind was thrown into absolute chaos, including the self-proclaimed badass Li Bisheng, who also felt utterly puzzled at that moment.

    He now completely failed to understand what sort of person Ge Dongxu was.

    Naturally, Liu Jiayao also widened her eyes with curiosity, sizing up Lin Kun and Yue Ting. She thought she knew Ge Dongxu well enough, but today she suddenly discovered that she actually knew very little about him.

    "This is Liu Jiayao, the President of Qinglan Cosmetics." Ge Dongxu didn''t answer the two directly but first introduced them with a smile: "Sister Liu, these two are the President Yue Ting and General Manager Lin Kun of Donglinyue Apparel."

    "Nice to meet you, Sister Liu!" Seeing Ge Dongxu address Liu Jiayao as Sister Liu and remembering his tense expression on the phone after inspecting the unfinished building, they didn''t dare to be negligent and swiftly bowed slightly to Liu Jiayao as if they were greeting a boss lady. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yue Ting, Lin Kun, hello. I''m about the same age as you, just call me by my name!" Liu Jiayao smiled and reached out to them.

    "How could we do that, even Brother Dongxu calls you sister, we naturally have to call you sister too. It''s the rule," Yue Ting and Lin Kun quickly said.

    "Rule?" Liu Jiayao was slightly stunned upon hearing this, and then she secretly shot Ge Dongxu a glare, while he just sheepishly smiled, thinking to himself, these two!

    Everyone else, upon hearing this, was once again completely dumbfounded. What kind of rule is this? They aren''t even members of the underworld, and still, there are these rules!

    Of course, what surprised them the most was Ge Dongxu''s introduction of Lin Kun and Yue Ting!

    Those two who fought like gangsters just a while ago were actually the President and General Manager of Donglinyue Apparel! How could that be?

    But to say they weren''t, have you ever seen thugs wearing Versace and Chanel? Have you ever seen thugs sporting Rolex gold watches and Cartier wristwatches?

    ps: It''s another five-chapter update, brothers and sisters, I''m really trying hard, getting up early and staying up late, but you also have to help with the votes! The new book is currently fourth in the monthly ticket rankings, and others are about to catch up soon, so please support and top it up. Today is the last day the monthly tickets count double, thank you.

 Chapter 223 Do You Know Them?

    Just when everyone was completely dumbfounded, finding it hard to link the two individuals who had just fought like thugs on the street with the chairman and general manager of Donglinyue Apparel, a shareholder suddenly seemed to discover a new continent and pointed at Lin Kun and Yue Ting, exclaiming exaggeratedly, "You, you are the chairman and general manager of Donglinyue Apparel!"Yue Ting and Lin Kun looked at the shareholder who was pointing at them in shock and awe as if they were looking at an idiot.

    What was there to be so shocked and awe-struck about, Dongxu had already mentioned it, hadn''t he? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But the others did not think so because they were skeptical about the identities of Ge Dongxu, Lin Kun, and Yue Ting, so upon hearing this, they all looked towards the screaming shareholder, especially Ren Chenle who could no longer contain himself and asked with a sullen face, "Old Lin, you know them?"

    "I don''t know them, but my nephew opened a Donglinyue Apparel specialty store in Beisheng District at the beginning of the year. I saw a photograph of my nephew with them when I visited his house a few days ago. I thought they looked familiar when I saw them just now, but I couldn''t recall where I had seen them. Just now, when Mr. Ge said they were the chairman and general manager of Donglinyue, that''s when I suddenly remembered," the shareholder with surname Lin replied.

    "So you are Uncle Lin Ziming," Yue Ting said, looking at the shareholder surnamed Lin, finally understanding why he had been shouting and pointing at them earlier.

    Yue Ting had a good memory; she had interacted with most of the franchisees in the early phase and remembered their names.

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    "Yes, yes, I''m Lin Ziming''s uncle. Hello, Chairman Yue, I didn''t expect to meet you and General Manager Lin here," the shareholder surnamed Lin hurried forward to shake hands with Yue Ting and Lin Kun.

    Watching the shareholder surnamed Lin hurriedly coming forward to shake hands with Yue Ting and Lin Kun, the expressions of the other shareholders were very subtle and elaborate because they all remembered the subservient demeanor Yue Ting and Lin Kun had shown in front of Ge Dongxu.

    It''d be one thing if Yue Ting and Lin Kun were just ordinary people, but the problem was that these two were the nationally famous chairman and general manager of Donglinyue Apparel!

    What did this imply?

    Now they finally understood why Ge Dongxu spoke so casually and confidently about reallocating the funds of Donglinyue Apparel as if the company was his alone.

    Wasn''t it so? As shareholders, the chairman and the general manager were supposed to be wealthy and prestigious individuals, but just now, for Zhang Huowang''s sake, they both rolled up their sleeves and rushed in to fight like thugs!

    Furthermore, they were clearly older than Ge Dongxu but had to address him as "Brother." It was clear to see what status Ge Dongxu, the major shareholder, held in their hearts. To move the company''s money, he really just needed to say the word, without needing to consult with them.

    Thinking of this, many people also thought of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, wondering if it was the same there.

    By this time, Li Bisheng''s face had turned from pale to flush, looking extremely displeased, then suddenly snorted coldly, stood up, and walked out without saying a word.

    Considering the developments so far, unless Li Bisheng was a fool, he should realize that even if Ge Dongxu couldn''t help Liu Jiayao acquire all the shares, securing a substantial percentage to grant her absolute controlling power was absolutely no problem. Under these circumstances, staying any longer would only bring him humiliation.

    Seeing Mr. Li rise to leave, Ren Chenle also stood up with a gloomy face, ready to go.

    "Dear shareholder, I advise you to transfer your shares before leaving. Otherwise, I can hardly guarantee that Mr. Liu will still be in the mood to acquire your shares after today. By then, your shares may be gradually diluted, leaving you no say in the board of directors. Don''t say I didn''t warn you today." Ge Dongxu had neither particular fondness nor dislike for the other shareholders, but he genuinely despised Ren Chenle and was determined to kick him out of Qinglan Cosmetics Company. Thus, seeing him also standing to leave, he threatened unabashedly.

    Upon hearing this, Ren Chenle''s foot, which had already stepped forward, slowly retracted, and then he sat back down with a dark expression.

    "Sister Li, please discuss the stock transfer with them," Ge Dongxu said.

    Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a deep look and then hummed, her gaze slowly sweeping over the shareholders in the meeting room, "For you, Qinglan Cosmetics might just be an industry to make money, but for me, aside from earning money, it also embodies a special emotional attachment. Therefore, when the company faces a crisis, you choose to transfer shares, while I choose to stand firm. I don''t blame you, really. However, I hope you can stick to the original plan and transfer the shares to me, so that similar crises in the future won''t involve you and won''t hurt our feelings. When we meet again, I''ll still address you respectfully as uncles."

    As Liu Jiayao''s voice faded, the room fell silent, and all shareholders except Ren Chenle showed expressions of embarrassment.

    "I''m sorry, Jiayao, I''m relieved that Mr. Ge stepped in to help you. Since you wish to hold 100% ownership, let''s transfer it to you as discussed before. A brand is difficult to build but easy to destroy, so you must quickly identify the problem; otherwise, even with Mr. Ge''s financial support, if the issue isn''t resolved promptly, the Qinglan brand might still fall," Uncle Hua eventually broke the silence first.

    "Thank you, Uncle Hua. I understand your feelings, and I will always remember your help and care over the years. Rest assured, I won''t let the Qinglan brand be destroyed on my watch." Liu Jiayao stepped forward and tightly grasped Uncle Hua''s hand, her eyes moistening.

    Uncle Hua nodded and then pulled out the share transfer agreement.

    Being the second largest shareholder of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, holding twenty-five percent of the shares, the amount involved in the transfer agreement was substantial, totaling twenty-three million.

    Liu Jiayao glanced at the agreement and then looked towards Ge Dongxu.

    "Don''t worry about the money, just sign," Ge Dongxu, knowing what Liu Jiayao meant, nodded affirmatively.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu had nodded, Cheng Yazhou and the Finance Manager Zhao hurriedly arrived at the meeting room.

    As the company''s finance manager, Manager Zhao naturally recognized Ge Dongxu, the major boss, and knew his status in the eyes of the company''s other shareholders, so upon seeing him, he promptly stepped forward and respectfully greeted him as boss.

    "How much funds are available in our company right now?" Ge Dongxu greeted Cheng Yazhou and Manager Zhao and then asked directly.

    "As long as the funds you use do not exceed sixty million, it will not impact the company''s normal operations. Of course, if you need more, we can also find a way to solve it." Cheng Yazhou had anticipated that Ge Dongxu would definitely need to use funds to help Liu Jiayao overcome this difficulty, so he had already inquired about the financial situation from Manager Zhao on the way here, and thus he immediately responded when Ge Dongxu asked.

    ps: Being older, I can''t continue to update over ten thousand words every day. I spent the weekend with my family and today is a triple update.

 Chapter 224 The Time Has Not Yet Come

    "Sixty million!" When Cheng Yazhou said this, not only did the shareholders in the meeting room gasp, but even Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but inhale sharply.The capital that was used did not exceed sixty million, which wouldn''t affect the normal operations of the company, indicating how enormous the funds in the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s account must be!

    It was at this moment that they truly understood just how explosively popular the sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea were and how extremely profitable it was!

    Just over a year, and the company''s account could casually handle up to sixty million in funds!

    In fact, it wasn''t only people like Liu Jiayao who were shocked, even Lin Kun and Yue Ting felt startled, the only one unshocked being Ge Dongxu.

    He was well aware of just how terrifying the sales of Qinghe Herbal Tea had been since last summer, even breaking fifty-five million in sales last month.

    If it weren''t for the money taken out recently to invest in a printing and packaging factory, the available liquid assets of the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory would be even more frightening.

    "Since that''s the case, you guys go ahead and purchase that building, there''s no need to use Donglin Yue''s money," Ge Dongxu nodded at Cheng Yazhou, then turned his head to instruct Lin Kun and Yue Ting.

    Only then did Lin Kun and Yue Ting fully realize that Ge Dongxu had called them over because he was worried about insufficient funds.

    Because of the financial heavyweight Ge Dongxu present, the acquisition of shares went very smoothly.

    After it ended, apart from Ren Chenle who left with a gloomy face, the others sat down for a meal to celebrate the deal.

    At the table, Ge Dongxu smilingly asked the shareholders to try not to talk about his affairs; as for Ren Chenle and Li Bisheng, having lost so much face, they certainly wouldn''t go around bragging about slapping their own faces.

    "Don''t worry, Mr. Ge, even if we went around saying it, there would have to be someone who''d believe it," said Li Hua, laughing heartily. S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although selling his shares inevitably made him feel somewhat disappointed, seeing that they didn''t end up in Li Bisheng''s hands, he was overall quite pleased.

    "Yes! Mr. Ge, you''re so young, even if we spilled everything, as long as Mr. Cheng, Ms. Yue, and Mr. Lin don''t come forward to confirm it, no one would believe it," the others also nodded in agreement.

    Ge Dongxu just casually mentioned it; in fact, whether or not these people would talk about him, after all, there were only a few of them, and if they did, it would be like throwing a few stones into the ocean¡ªit wouldn''t stir up much of a splash. So, seeing how they responded, he just laughed and raised his glass to toast the shareholders.

    ...

    "Alright, the acquisition is finally over, now it''s time to talk about our matter," in the living room of Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao sat on the sofa, her expression serious, looking at Ge Dongxu.

    "Our? What matter of ours?" Ge Dongxu asked, looking bewildered.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s bewildered expression, Liu Jiayao''s eyes suddenly reddened, and after a long while, she took a deep breath and said, "Of course it''s about the shares, that''s 6,120,000, not just some ten or hundred thousand matter, I definitely need to settle this with you clearly."

    "Do I really need to calculate this with you¡­" Ge Dongxu blurted out without thinking.

    Before Ge Dongxu could finish his sentence, Liu Jiayao could no longer hold back and threw herself into his arms, then her sensual lips sealed his lips, and they began to kiss passionately.

    The two quickly tumbled onto the sofa.

    When Ge Dongxu''s hand touched that burning hot body, both seemed to suddenly realize something, then all of a sudden everything stopped, and they looked at each other.

    Eye to eye, almost within reach.

    Read exclusive adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    Time seemed to have stopped in that moment.

    "Is it okay, Jiayao?" Ge Dongxu''s voice trembled as he asked after a long while.

    "I... I can, but will my loss of virginity affect your cultivation? I, I read in novels that..." At this point, Liu Jiayao''s cheeks were already flushed pink.

    Ge Dongxu felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him from head to toe, freezing him in place, and his passion receded completely.

    A phrase echoed in his mind, "In fire, recognize the True Dragon; in water, discerne the True Tiger. When the Dragon and Tiger intersect, they turn into Yellow Sprouts, and connecting these sprouts forms the Great Medicine, known as the Golden Core."

    The True Dragon is True Yang, and the True Tiger is True Yin. This refers both to the True Yin and True Yang energies that are cultivated in the Eight Extraordinary Meridians postnatally, and also to the innate bit of True Yin and True Yang every person carries from birth.

    If Ge Dongxu had no hopes for the Dragon Tiger Realm, then it would not matter when the Yin and Yang intersected or when he lost his virginity. But since he aspired to the Dragon Tiger Realm and even beyond to the Golden Core Realm, maintaining his virginity became crucial.

    While losing his virginity prematurely and the early intersection of Yin and Yang could, in a sense, also be considered "recognizing the True Dragon in fire and the True Tiger in water," which could help boost his cultivation power, it was akin to pulling up seedlings to help them grow, detrimental to long-term development.

    Only by breaking through to the Dragon Tiger Realm and truly understanding through his own cultivation what it meant to recognize the True Dragon in fire and the True Tiger in water, and continuously laying a solid foundation, should he then lose his virginity. Engaging physically with a woman, balancing Yin and Yang, would not only not delay his cultivation but could actually enhance his cultivation speed dramatically.

    "It really does affect you!" In her emotionally confused state, Liu Jiayao quickly noticed the change in Ge Dongxu''s emotions and couldn''t help but feel a bit dumbfounded.

    Influenced by novels and television, she suddenly remembered to ask, then found herself already muddled by desire, twisting her body, wanting to give herself to Ge Dongxu that very night.

    After all, Ge Dongxu was already considered an adult!

    But Liu Jiayao never imagined that Ge Dongxu really couldn''t lose his virginity.

    "I''m sorry, sis." Ge Dongxu, looking at her still-flushed beautiful face mixed with a bit of surprise and a hint of disappointment, couldn''t help feeling guilty.

    "You fool, what are you talking about!" Liu Jiayao, having heard this, quickly sat up and gave Ge Dongxu a reproving look.

    Then, Liu Jiayao seemed to remember something else, her face blushing slightly as she asked, "Then, when can you do ''that''? Surely you won''t need to wait until... I''d really be old by then."

    "No need, no need, it should only be a few years." Ge Dongxu replied hurriedly.

    "Pfft!" Liu Jiayao, seeing how flustered Ge Dongxu was, couldn''t help but laugh out loud and gave him a look, saying, "What are you so panicked about? Are you afraid I can''t wait and will run off with someone else?"

    Ge Dongxu chuckled sheepishly.

    "Then, will you...?" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu glance at her bosom, blushed slightly, leaned over, and asked softly.

    "It''s okay." Ge Dongxu smiled sheepishly.

    Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu''s sheepish expression, knew all too well that he was saying the opposite of what he felt. She thought for a moment, blushed, and whispered something into Ge Dongxu''s ear.

    "This... Thanks, sis, but let''s not, I''m okay." Ge Dongxu''s face showed a complex expression of temptation, conflict, and deep emotion.

    "What do you mean, ''it''s okay''? Come with me, otherwise I might not care about you anymore in the future." Liu Jiayao, seeing that Ge Dongxu was clearly tempted yet still chose to refuse, stood up and pulled his hand towards her bedroom.

 Chapter 225 Confusion

    ```It was a sunny winter day.

    Warm sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting dappled patterns on the pink bed.

    On the bed, a young man and woman lay in each other''s arms, asleep.

    Liu Jiayao felt the light entering the room and slowly opened her eyes, only to find one of her legs draped over Ge Dongxu''s waist. Remembering what they had done on the bed last night, where they had done almost everything a man and a woman could do except for the last step, a blush suddenly crept onto her pretty face, and her body became hot.

    Seemingly sensing the change in Liu Jiayao''s body, Ge Dongxu shifted slightly.

    Liu Jiayao quickly closed her eyes. What they had done in the heat of passion last night hadn''t seemed like a big deal, but now that she was sober, she found herself unsure of how to face this younger man.

    Ge Dongxu turned and saw that Liu Jiayao''s eyes were closed, but her eyelashes trembled slightly. He smiled knowingly, kissed her forehead gently, and then got out of bed and left the bedroom, taking care not to make a sound.

    The moment Ge Dongxu left the bedroom, Liu Jiayao opened her eyes. She touched her forehead where he had kissed her, and looked curiously at the bedroom door, wondering what Ge Dongxu was up to so early in the morning.

    After lying in bed for a while and seeing that Ge Dongxu still hadn''t returned, Liu Jiayao couldn''t resist her curiosity. She got up, opened the bedroom door, and saw that the living room was empty. Just as she was wondering, she noticed someone busy in the kitchen, which was separated from the living room by sliding glass doors.

    Instantly, Liu Jiayao felt her entire being filled with sweetness and happiness.

    She walked over, hugged Ge Dongxu from behind, and rested her face on his back. In a soft voice, she said, "Thank you, it''s so nice to have you."

    "Why are you up? Go back to sleep for a while. I''ll call you when it''s ready," Ge Dongxu said as he turned around and held Liu Jiayao, his eyes showing a hint of concern.

    "Look who''s talking! After what you did to me last night, I''m exhausted," Liu Jiayao said with a mix of shyness and annoyance. She pinched Ge Dongxu''s waist hard.

    Ge Dongxu laughed shyly in response.

    "Still laughing!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but pinch him again.

    "Ouch, the food is going to burn," Ge Dongxu hastily turned back to the stove.

    Liu Jiayao gave a snort of laughter, knowing that Ge Dongxu was deliberately changing the subject. She rolled her eyes at him playfully, then sashayed out of the kitchen to the bathroom to freshen up.

    ...

    "Do you really have to make such a clear distinction between us?" After breakfast, Ge Dongxu asked with a bitter smile, looking at Liu Jiayao helplessly.

    "Dongxu, you''re still young, and there are things you can''t see clearly right now. Besides, if you insist on doing this, it puts a lot of pressure on me. So, you have two options: either I sign a share transfer agreement with Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory or with you personally. Actually, even if we do this, if the previous product issue still isn''t resolved, I''d still be holding you back," said Liu Jiayao with a determined expression.

    Seeing the determination in Liu Jiayao''s eyes, Ge Dongxu could only reply with a wry smile, "In that case, let it be a personal investment in Qinglan Cosmetics."

    "There you go with that bitter face again. Yours is mine, isn''t it all the same! It''s just one more contract," Liu Jiayao said as she wrapped her arms around Ge Dongxu''s and rocked against him.

    "If it''s all the same, then why do you insist on signing a contract with me?" Ge Dongxu teased, gently rubbing Liu Jiayao''s nose.

    ```

    "I''m just considering that if something happens to me in the future, you could rightfully take over Qinglan Cosmetics. Moreover, you''ll have your own family, your kids¡­" Liu Jiayao replied.

    "What on earth are you talking about!" Ge Dongxu''s heart trembled, and he suddenly held Liu Jiayao in his arms, forbidding her to continue.

    He suddenly understood that the death of Liu Jiayao''s parents still cast an unshakeable shadow in her heart, and he also understood Liu Jiayao''s persistent concerns about her age.

    "Look how nervous you are, I''ll stop talking about it. As long as you''re aware, that''s fine," Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look and then curled up in his arms like a contented cat.

    "Right, I haven''t asked you yet what exactly happened to the company? And what about the product issue you mentioned?" After holding Liu Jiayao tenderly for a moment, Ge Dongxu remembered what she had said earlier and asked.

    "I don''t know where the problem lies; we''ve been following the regular production process, but the last three batches of products have had problems," Liu Jiayao said as she sat up, her face clouded with worry.

    "Oh, there have been such problems? Tell me more about it," Ge Dongxu said with a hint of a frown.

    So, Liu Jiayao recounted the entire situation from beginning to end. After hearing it, Ge Dongxu also felt it was incredible and suspected, "Could it be that Li Bisheng is behind this?"

    "I have my suspicions too, but Li Bisheng is an outsider; he couldn''t possibly do this. Moreover, during the subsequent two productions, Uncle Hua and I were monitoring the entire process and didn''t notice anything abnormal," Liu Jiayao said with a wry smile.

    "Oh, do you have any of the problematic products on hand? Let me have a look," Ge Dongxu said, although he also had his doubts, he still agreed with Liu Jiayao''s point of view, after all, they couldn''t make wild guesses about Li Bisheng just because he wanted to buy Qinglan Cosmetics.

    "Yes, there are some," Liu Jiayao nodded, stood up, and brought Ge Dongxu a bottle of the contaminated cosmetics.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu opened the cosmetic product, he immediately detected a faint stench.

    Ge Dongxu had never come into contact with Yin Demonic Corpse Qi, and besides, the Corpse Qi had gone through several production steps and had been distributed into so many bottles of cosmetics that it was extremely weak. Even if he had experienced Yin Demonic Corpse Qi before, it wasn''t certain that he would be able to recognize it.

    However, even though he couldn''t identify it, Ge Dongxu, a practitioner of the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, could vaguely sense that this faint stench was somehow different from ordinary stench, but exactly how it was different, he couldn''t articulate. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Strange!" Ge Dongxu frowned slightly, thought for a long time, but couldn''t figure out what was different about the stench, and then said, "Arrange for another batch of production before the end of the year, and I''ll help you keep an eye on it. If there is still a problem, then we truly can only stop production temporarily until we figure out the issue."

    "Yes, that''s what I was thinking. But the company has run out of money, and if we want to resume production, you''ll need to invest some money," Liu Jiayao nodded and then said with a bitter smile.

    "No problem," Ge Dongxu agreed without hesitation.

    ¡­

    "Director Li, I heard that Qinglan Cosmetics is going to resume production. Give me another bottle of that stuff, I want to bring down Qinglan Cosmetics!" In the CEO''s office of Li Fang Cosmetics, Zhang Huowang said with his facial muscles twisted with hatred, making him look particularly ferocious and frightening.

    After the shareholders'' meeting, Zhang Huowang was fired by Qinglan Cosmetics Company, and he didn''t even receive a cent of his year-end bonus.

    "Forget it," Li Bisheng said, a flash of unwillingness in his eyes.

    He was unwilling to fail so close to his goal, and even more unwilling to admit that he no longer had any Yin Demonic Corpse Qi to use; otherwise, without Zhang Huowang coming to him, he would have taken the initiative to find a way to act again.

 Chapter 226 Zhuang [Update 1]

    "Mr. Li, are we really going to let this slide? At the shareholders'' meeting that day, you were thoroughly humiliated by a high school student! How can you rest easy without reclaiming your dignity?" Zhang Huowang provoked resentfully."You step out first and keep your cell phone on. I need to think this over," Li Bisheng was indeed stimulated, and whenever he thought of that day''s loss of face, his handsome features contorted into a hideous expression. After a long while, his eyes glinted with a venomous look as he waved Zhang Huowang away.

    "Then take your time! Call me when you need me," Zhang Huowang, seeing Li Bisheng react like this, knew there was hope and a malicious smile appeared on his face as he bowed slightly and then left.

    After Zhang Huowang left, the expression on Li Bisheng''s face grew darker and darker until eventually he picked up the cell phone on his desk and said coldly, "Book me a ticket to the Capital for today, then come to my office."

    Soon after, a woman in uniform with a voluptuous figure entered Li Bisheng''s office.

    "Mr. Li, your flight is booked, it''s at two o''clock this afternoon," the woman reported as she came in, swaying her tightly skirt-clad hips as she approached Li Bisheng.

    "Come here!" Li Bisheng gestured to her with a wave.

    A flicker of fear flashed in the woman''s eyes, but she quickly approached with a charming smile.

    When the woman got close, Li Bisheng grabbed her hair and pushed her down to his crotch, his eyes revealing a cold glare.

    Liu Jiayao, you bitch, one day, I will have you under me just like this!

    ...

    "We actually succeeded this time!" In Qinglan Cosmetics Company, as she opened the cosmetics and inhaled the familiar fragrant scent, Liu Jiayao expressed her surprise to Ge Dongxu with a bright face.

    "As long as it worked. Now you and everyone at Qinglan Company can rest easy over the New Year," Ge Dongxu smiled and said, but he always had an uneasy feeling that something wasn''t quite right.

    Why did it not work the previous times, but now it suddenly did? What exactly was the problem with that faint bad smell?

    "New Year''s?" Liu Jiayao''s delicate body shivered slightly, her eyes filling with a touch of melancholy and reminiscence.

    "Why don''t you come to my home for New Year''s? My parents are really nice," Ge Dongxu, feeling a pang of pain in his heart, stepped forward and embraced her fragrant shoulders, asking softly.

    Liu Jiayao''s body trembled slightly again at his words, her beautiful eyes suddenly lighting up, but then they dimmed again, and she shook her head, saying, "My grandparents are still there; they just refuse to come to the big city. I will go to be with them for the holidays."

    "If that''s the case, then arrange your company affairs tomorrow and go to your grandmother''s home for the New Year earlier. I have to return home tomorrow too; my parents have already called several times urging me," Ge Dongxu said after hearing that Liu Jiayao would be spending the New Year with her grandparents, feeling slightly relieved, and after a pause, he added.

    Because the winter vacation had just started, Ge Dongxu had been dragged to the Provincial Capital by Lin Kun and Yue Ting, and then he happened to run into Liu Jiayao''s issue, keeping him busy up until now, with the New Year''s Eve just four days away.

    ...

    Li Bisheng had just left the airport when a plump woman was waiting for him at the exit.

    This was the regional manager of Li Fang Cosmetics Company in the Capital.

    "Mr. Li, you must be exhausted. The car has been prepared for you; it''s parked in the parking lot," the voluptuous woman hurried forward as she saw Mr. Li appear.

    "Hmm, very good." Li Bisheng nodded, then followed the regional manager of the capital to the parking lot. After he got into the car and started it, he stepped on the gas and sped away, while the voluptuous woman seemed to let out a sigh of relief rather than showing any trace of regret or resentment.

    In the past, she had been charmed by Li Bisheng''s tall and handsome appearance, his gentlemanly demeanor, but only after getting into bed with him did she realize under that handsome face was a heart so cruel and cold.

    In bed, his dominance was unbridled, never considering her feelings, and afterward, the toll on her was not only physical pain but also an indescribable weakness, as if some vitality had been drained from her body. After a few such encounters, Li Bisheng''s handsome face no longer seemed attractive to her; it was as terrifying as a demon''s.

    The black Toyota sedan raced out of the airport and soon arrived at a villa complex on the outskirts of the capital.

    From the outside, the villa complex looked very ordinary. From the front entrance, one could only see a small three-story building and nothing else.

    But as the black Toyota drove into the villa complex, not only were there stern-faced armed guards to stop him and check his credentials, but also, as he drove past the three-story building, the scene that unfolded before Li Bisheng suddenly opened up.

    There were mountains and water, as picturesque as a poem.

    The mountains, a ring of verdant mountain ridges with pine and cypress forests, and the water, a lake of about half a square kilometer.

    The lake reflected the green of the pines and cypresses, a lush emerald green.

    Around the lake scattered one hundred and eight different-style independent villas. Each villa was connected by pebble pathways, flanked by green bamboo groves, and each also had a separate exit.

    Behind each villa stretched clear lake waters, and willow trees were planted on the shores. It was winter now, and the willows were bare, offering little to the scenery, but come spring, they would surely sway gracefully, with gentle breezes and rippling waves, presenting a breathtakingly beautiful and heartening scene.

    The sedan did not drive into the lakeside villa community but stopped just short of it.

    For the area around the lake was off-limits to vehicles.

    Li Bisheng got out of the car, and looking towards the villa community that resembled a paradise on earth, a solemn expression crossed his face. He straightened his clothes before carefully stepping towards the villas. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After walking a while, Li Bisheng stopped in front of a villa.

    The villa had a natural wall made of unknown vegetation, and looking through the gate, one could see a pastoral landscape inside.

    The yard was planted with various flowers, herbs, and fruits and vegetables. At that moment, a young man wielding a small hoe was carefully loosening the soil around some herbs. Feeling someone approach, he looked up, saw it was Li Bisheng, and stood up straight, saying, "So it''s the senior brother! Why aren''t you enjoying yourself in Jiangnan Province? What brings you here today?"

    "I was thinking of the New Year, came to see how Master and my junior brother were doing," Li Bisheng said with a smile as he walked in, then pulled a card from the bag he carried and gave it to the young man, "The PIN is six eights, and I''ll trouble my junior brother to put in a good word for me with Master. Don''t forget my share of any benefits."

    "You''re too polite, senior brother, but of course," the junior brother happily accepted the card, his face lighting up with a smile. Then, pointing inside, he added, "Master is doing his exercises, they should end in about half an hour."

    ps: Today is a five-update day. It''s Monday, so don''t forget to cast your recommendation votes. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 227 Master [Second Update]

    "Hmm, then I''ll wait outside." Li Bisheng nodded and glanced around the yard. "You''ve taken good care of these herbs, Junior Brother.""Of course, these are all precious herbs Master collected from various places. How dare I neglect them! I don''t know when I will be able to, like you, Senior Brother, live freely and enjoy life to the fullest." The Junior Brother said enviously as he looked at Li Bisheng.

    "Haha, you get to listen to Master''s teachings every day by his side. I, your Senior Brother, can''t even ask for that. You don''t know how good you have it!" Li Bisheng laughed, but a hint of smugness was evident in his eyes despite his words.

    The path of cultivation was tedious and tough, with no clear end in sight. Like their master, who was quite old and had a fair level of cultivation, the idea of achieving immortality was nothing more than a pipe dream. At best, they could live maybe a decade or two longer than the average person.

    Li Bisheng did not want such a monotonous life for a nebulous goal. Once released by his master, he was like a bird escaping its cage, not just free, but also thriving with a few tricks up his sleeve and some special powers unknown to ordinary people. He was living a carefree and joyful life.

    "Bisheng''s here, come in," an old and slightly chilling voice came from the villa, just as Li Bisheng reveled in his self-satisfaction.

    The Junior Brother''s face changed when he heard the voice, recalling what he had just said. He hurriedly bent down to his work, whereas a cold, triumphant smirk formed on the corner of Li Bisheng''s mouth.

    This Junior Brother was only allowed to go out a few days each month, just like a university student confined to the ivory tower, how could he compare with someone like Li Bisheng who had been through the wringer in the business world for over a decade?

    With just that remark he made earlier, Li Bisheng''s Junior Brother was likely to suffer for a good while.

    Thinking this, Li Bisheng quickly hid the smug smirk at the corner of his mouth and tiptoed into the villa. He approached an elderly man in a grey robe sitting on a sandalwood Taishi Chair in the living room and reverently kowtowed, "Disciple pays respects to Master."

    "Mm, rise. I heard your plan to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics failed?" The old man had a goatee and wore a long robe. From a distance, he exuded a somewhat immortal aura, but up close, one could see his face was pockmarked, and a faintly chilling aura emanated from him, making people feel uneasy.

    "Master, it was all set to go through, but unexpectedly, a ''Cheng Yaojin'' interfered. He invested and helped Liu Jiayao, causing your disciple''s efforts to fall short." Li Bisheng respectfully responded.

    "Humph! Didn''t you say it was a sure thing?" The old man snorted coldly, a flash of displeasure on his face.

    Just like Ge Dongxu needed to earn money for his own cultivation and expenses, the elderly cultivator likewise needed resources. Although as a member of a special national department, he had been provided with a Feng Shui treasure land and an elegant environment for living and cultivation, and received substantial supplies and funds annually, it was not enough for him.

    This was similar to many of today''s officials who, despite already having high incomes, were never satisfied and always reaching out for more.

    Of course, being in a special department the old man held great power, but it wasn''t easy to reveal himself publicly, nor was it appropriate for him to intervene in mundane affairs at will. Embezzling, obviously, was out of the question, so instead, the old man trained several disciples before sending them out to accumulate wealth for him.

    But the business world is like a battlefield, and standing out in the commercial arena to become a business tycoon actually requires talent; just having a few Techniques is not enough. Besides, these Techniques should not be used carelessly, since there are special governmental departments monitoring them. Being a member of one such department, the old man would face sanctions if he recklessly used Techniques to harm people and amass wealth.

    Of course, this also had to do with the current era of decline in Daoist magic. Even with their Techniques, they were only slightly more powerful than ordinary people, and it was difficult for them to cause any significant disturbance. If pushed to the brink, ordinary people wielding knives could still kill them.

    In the end, among the disciples the old man sent out, only Li Bisheng was the most successful. At his young age, he was already the owner of a cosmetics company with annual sales surpassing a hundred million and profits close to twenty million. Although the other disciples had also achieved some success, they were far behind Li Bisheng.

    Initially, the old man had hoped that Li Bisheng''s business would reach new heights, eventually providing him with more material assistance. Therefore, he did not hesitate to give him several bottles of painstakingly collected Yin Demonic Corpse Qi and even pulled some strings to allocate some funds to him. Unfortunately, all his efforts ended in vain, which left the old man quite dissatisfied with Li Bisheng this time.

    "Disciple never expected things to turn out this way. Please calm your anger, Master, and give your disciple a few more bottles of Yin Demonic Corpse Qi. This time, I will surely bring Qinglan Cosmetics to its knees," Li Bisheng hurriedly said.

    "Do you think Yin Demonic Corpse Qi is so easily collected?" the old man said coldly.

    "I am aware, Master, but I just cannot accept this defeat! Moreover, Li Fang Cosmetics has now reached a bottleneck in its growth. The best and quickest way to take it to the next level would be to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics. When that happens, I will be able to provide Master with even more wild herbs and find more suitable partners for Dual Cultivation, helping Master break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation," Li Bisheng said.

    As Li Bisheng mentioned the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, the moles on the old man''s face seemed to suddenly emit a shining light.

    The old man was currently at the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation, and the Fourth Layer seemed to be just a step away. But, despite ten years of arduous cultivation, he could not make that single step forward.

    Once he could step into the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, he would become one of the true powerhouses within this special department. At the moment, he was only considered a high-ranking figure but not yet a true powerhouse.

    A couple of years ago, he had discovered an incomplete Dual Cultivation Technique. With this Technique and the help of medicinal supplements, his progress had noticeably accelerated.

    That''s why, in order to grant Li Bisheng greater financial power to help him gather more medicinal herbs and Dual Cultivation partners for himself, he had spared no effort in giving Li Bisheng Yin Demonic Corpse Qi, enabling him to use underhanded tactics to forcibly attempt a takeover of Qinglan Cosmetics Company. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hmph, even if you manage to bring down Qinglan Cosmetics, what use is it to you after acquiring it? And what about that unexpected newcomer? Have you looked into him yet?" Although the old man''s voice was still chilly, his expression had softened somewhat.

    "He''s just a local from the small area of Changxi County in Jiangnan Province, the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea," replied Li Bisheng, his eyes revealing a hint of joy. Since the old man had started asking questions, it meant the matter was not yet concluded.

 Chapter 228 A Plan to Gain Both People and Wealth

    "No one of any significance has ever come from that place!" the old man pondered and said, his expression gradually softening as he spoke, "I''ve heard that the CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics is a very young and beautiful woman?""Yes," Li Bisheng''s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly replied.

    "Then you should find a way to take her over and achieve both wealth and the woman," the old man said, a sinister look flashing across his face.

    "Master, I have indeed thought about using my charms to win her over, but she''s not taking the bait. I need your guidance," Li Bisheng feigned ignorance of the sinister expression on the old man''s face and said with a wry smile.

    "These days, a pretty face is nowhere near as useful as techniques. I''ve recently folded a paper doll out of boredom. If you can obtain that female CEO''s birth time and date, as well as her blood, use the blood to write her birth time and date on the paper doll, and I''ll teach you a set of spells to cast¡ªshe will be at your mercy," the old man spoke, revealing a paper doll folded from yellow paper that had appeared in his hands, marked with bizarre talismans and emitting a faintly eerie and sinister aura.

    Upon seeing this, Li Bisheng''s eyes lit up sharply, but they quickly dimmed as he bitterly smiled and said, "Getting her birth time and date is not difficult, but her blood¡ªthat will be tough. I certainly can''t kidnap her. After all, she is a well-known corporate CEO in Jiangnan Province, and I definitely can''t take overt action."

    "That''s your business. I can only help you to this extent!" the old man''s expression darkened slightly as he spoke.

    "Yes," Li Bisheng no longer dared to speak further upon seeing this and respectfully took the paper doll, then learned the spells from the old man.

    ...

    It was once again the Xu Family reunion day, on the third day of the first lunar month every year.

    Because of the incident from two years prior, Ge Shengming and Xu Suya''s status within the Xu Family had completely changed from before. Especially Auntie Liang Zhen, who always scrambled to sit with Xu Suya and chat about family matters.

    Therefore, the atmosphere during the New Year was exceptionally harmonious and lively, filled with joy and unity.

    Watching the Xu Family enjoying themselves together in such a merry and joyous scene, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat relieved that he hadn''t invited his uncles and others to invest in his factory. Otherwise, family gatherings would inevitably involve discussions about the interests of business, lacking the warmth of family reunion. Moreover, modest wealth is itself a form of happiness, just like his father and mother. Despite having a multimillionaire son, one insisted on running a farmhouse, driving a small truck, and taking joy in it, while the other continued to teach at school every day, also finding joy in the everyday.

    Since this was the case, Ge Dongxu thought it best to maintain the status quo. After all, the economic situations of these uncles and aunts were quite good, and they were living happily. Should they ever face financial difficulties, he could lend a helping hand. As for his maternal grandparents, his parents gave them ten to twenty thousand every year to use. Any more, and the grandparents would probably worry about how to spend the money instead.

    "Dongxu, have you had any contact with Director Zuo recently?" Just as Ge Dongxu was absorbed in the sight of his mother and aunts laughing and chatting merrily, his elder cousin Xu Jirong broke into his thoughts.

    "Heh, Director Zuo is quite busy, and I have been preoccupied with preparing for my college entrance exams as well, so we haven''t had much contact. Why do you ask?" Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "It''s nothing much. I''ve heard that after the New Year, Director Zuo might be transferred to the city bureau as deputy director, so I wanted to see if you knew anything about it," Xu Jirong said.

    "Oh, I didn''t know about that. Why, do you want to follow Director Zuo to the city bureau?" Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback and then asked Xu Jirong with a smile.

    In the past couple of years, Ge Dongxu had interacted with many people and situations, and his social experience had far surpassed that of an ordinary high school student. When his cousin asked him this question, he immediately guessed his intentions.

    "There tend to be more opportunities by Director Zuo''s side, so..." Xu Jirong, having his thoughts exposed by his cousin, was somewhat embarrassed and his face turned slightly red as he spoke.

    "Director Zuo is the leader, so he definitely has his considerations. I''m not one to interfere too much with personnel arrangements," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Ge Dongxu was very clear about his status in the eyes of Zuo Le, so when it came to matters of principle, he didn''t want to interfere to avoid causing him difficulty.

    "That''s true, I was just asking. Actually, I''m quite satisfied with the way things are now," Xu Jirong said with a slight hint of disappointment, but he could understand Ge Dongxu''s decision and laughed it off.

    "Hehe, don''t worry, cousin. There are some things I shouldn''t interfere with. But if anyone in the department deliberately makes things difficult for you or tries to hold you back, you can tell me, and I will definitely stand up for you. So what you need to do now is to work hard. With your ability, there will definitely be opportunities for promotion," Ge Dongxu said, patting his cousin''s shoulder.

    And Ge Dongxu''s words were no boast. Even putting aside the relationship with Zuo Le and Elder Feng, based solely on his status as the big boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, even the County Party Secretary would not dare to bother his cousin lightly. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It can''t be helped, in these times, economic work overrides everything else. Economic performance is the most important metric to evaluate local leaders. Hence, when investors come around, sometimes even the top one or two officials in the county would come out to greet and entertain them.

    Given the current development trend of Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory, not to mention the county leaders, even the city leaders pay special attention to it, fearing that this rising star company might move elsewhere. And from this, one can imagine that if Ge Dongxu revealed his identity, even the County Party Secretary would have to treat him cordially.

    "Don''t worry, I will definitely work hard," Xu Jirong said cheerfully, no longer feeling any disappointment.

    After the third day of the lunar new year, Ge Dongxu stayed at home for a few more days until the tenth. Then he left for the Provincial Capital, preparing to take a flight to the Capital from there.

    The cold energy in Elder Feng''s body, because of his old age, Ge Dongxu did not dare to act rashly and had to split the process into three sessions. He had agreed to visit the Capital on the eleventh day of the first lunar month.

    "No more, Dongxu, if you don''t stop now, I''m going to kick you out to the next room," Liu Jiayao, on the pink bed in an apartment in Yadu Garden, was nearly stripped bare by Ge Dongxu, gasping and desperately holding onto Ge Dongxu''s hand to prevent any further actions.

    "Alright, how about I just hold you to sleep, I promise I won''t move," Ge Dongxu, seeing Liu Jiayao threatening to send him to sleep in the next room, said reluctantly.

    Although the two had not yet taken the final step in their relationship, this situation was enough to satisfy Ge Dongxu, a young man in the prime of his youth.

    Ge Dongxu, being an energy-rich cultivator, additionally understood Meridian Points, and every time he teased her, it was just right, and Liu Jiayao couldn''t take it anymore.

    "You promised, if you move again, I really will kick you out," Liu Jiayao said, both loving and hating, her pretty face flushed.

    "I won''t move, I promise," Ge Dongxu said, and indeed he just held Liu Jiayao from behind without moving anymore.

    "Ge Dongxu, you big pervert, get to the next room!" However, it wasn''t long before Liu Jiayao''s scream echoed through the room.

    Afterward, Ge Dongxu left the master bedroom with a pillow in his arms, looking downcast, and went to the secondary bedroom.

    As Ge Dongxu lay alone in the secondary bedroom, staring at the ceiling and thinking about his interactions with Liu Jiayao, he heard the door being pushed open. Then, turning his head towards the door, he saw Liu Jiayao, fully dressed, standing there with a pillow in her arms.

    "Don''t get the wrong idea, I just can''t sleep alone, but I warn you, this time, you''re not allowed to take off my clothes... Ah!" Liu Jiayao said to Ge Dongxu, but before she could finish, Ge Dongxu scooped her up in his arms. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 229 Return to the Capitalã€Fourth Updateã€‘

    "Zhang Huowang, do you have a way to get Liu Jiayao''s birth time in Chinese Hour and her blood?" Li Bisheng asked Zhang Huowang in the chairman''s office of Li Fang Cosmetics Company."The Chinese Hour isn''t hard to find out. Back then, my cousin''s husband, Ren Chenle, started a business with Liu Jiayao''s father, Li Hua, and others. Their relationship was like brothers. Liu Jiayao''s father was the first among them to get married, and naturally, she was the first child born, so I heard from my cousin''s husband that when Liu Jiayao was born, he and the rest of them were so excited that they all waited outside the maternity ward. It seems likely he would remember the time of Liu Jiayao''s birth. As for the blood?" Zhang Huowang said this, his face showing a pensive expression. It took a while before he continued, "It''s not impossible to get it, but it will take some trouble and thought."

    "Oh, do tell," Li Bisheng said, confident about obtaining Liu Jiayao''s birth time in Chinese Hour. Only her blood had been beyond his means, which he had thought was difficult, but seeing Zhang Huowang''s expression, it seemed there might be a way to get it, which greatly pleased him.

    "Unless you kidnap Liu Jiayao and draw her blood, there''s absolutely no way to get it," Zhang Huowang said, pausing deliberately before looking up at Li Bisheng.

    "Don''t worry, as long as you tell me the method, I''ll make sure you''re well-compensated," Li Bisheng said.

    Zhang Huowang knew that Li Bisheng was not only the boss but also had very special abilities. Seeing that Li Bisheng already understood his implication, he didn''t dare to beat around the bush any longer, his face revealing a sly expression as he said, "Liu Jiayao''s blood type is RH-negative blood, commonly known as ''Panda blood type.''"

    "So you''re saying that Liu Jiayao has left her contact information in the Provincial Capital''s blood bank?" Li Bisheng''s eyes sparkled at the information, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

    "President Li is indeed smart. You get it with just a hint," Zhang Huowang, seeing that Li Bisheng had immediately guessed his idea just from mentioning that Liu Jiayao had a rare blood type, was inwardly startled and hurriedly flattered with a smile.

    "Haha! Would I be able to build such a big business from scratch if I weren''t smart? Alright, you can continue being the procurement manager at Qinglan Cosmetics Company. But remember, you must not reveal a word about our conversation today, or else..." Li Bisheng let out a round of proud laughter, but his last words came out particularly chilling.

    "Of course, of course," Zhang Huowang shuddered inwardly and quickly replied.

    "That''s settled then. You may leave," Li Bisheng waved him off.

    ...

    In Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao hung up the phone and with a slight frown, said to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, it looks like I won''t be able to take you to the airport."

    "What happened?" Ge Dongxu asked curiously.

    "The hospital called. They said a patient with RH-negative blood urgently needs a transfusion. People with our rare blood type usually leave contact information at the blood center in case our blood is needed and can''t be found elsewhere. The hospital said they tried several contacts but couldn''t reach them, and then they got hold of me, asking me to go as soon as possible," Liu Jiayao explained.

    "I see. Then you should hurry, don''t delay the patient. I''ll be fine here, I can just take a cab," Ge Dongxu replied, his fondness for the compassionate Liu Jiayao growing.

    "Alright, but be careful! The Capital is different from here," Liu Jiayao gently hugged Ge Dongxu, kissing him on the forehead as she cautioned.

    "Don''t worry, I''ve got it," Ge Dongxu responded with a smile. He hadn''t told Liu Jiayao that his trip to the Capital was to see Elder Feng; on one hand, because Liu Jiayao hadn''t asked ¨C if she had, Ge Dongxu certainly wouldn''t have kept it a secret from her, and on the other hand, because Ge Dongxu felt Elder Feng''s identity was too unique, he preferred not to mention him to others.

    So after they left the building, Liu Jiayao drove straight to the hospital, while Ge Dongxu hailed a taxi to the airport.

    The flight ticket was booked for Ge Dongxu by Yue Ting, who naturally secured him a first-class seat.

    Perhaps it was because many people travel to the capital in January for business, or perhaps because the economy of Huaxia Country was growing at a high speed, leading to an increase in wealthy individuals.

    Today, there were quite a few people in first class.

    When Ge Dongxu boarded the plane, there were already some people seated. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

    "Hey, you''re the young man who had dinner with President Liu that night," Ge Dongxu had just settled down in his seat for a short while when he saw a group of five people entering the first-class cabin.

    Leading the group was none other than the director of the Provincial Entertainment Station, Wu Longcai, followed by a young couple¡ªa handsome man and a beautiful woman¡ªwho looked familiar, as they were the station''s leading celebrities, but Ge Dongxu couldn''t recall their names at the moment. The two women behind them were those he had met that day.

    The one called Qianqian was wearing a Korean-style pink cashmere coat, a white inner layer, and white leggings. Her hair was casually tied behind her back, still looking as sweet and innocent as ever.

    The other woman was dressed just as sexy and explosive as before, but this time instead of a body-hugging skirt, she wore red leather pants. Her upper body was clad in a black leather jacket and a black high-necked tight wool sweater, matched with shiny and exaggerated accessories.

    The tight leather pants outlined curves that would make any man''s blood surge. The zipper of the leather jacket was undone, revealing the ample assets that the tight wool sweater hugged tightly.

    "Oh, it''s Director Wu, what a coincidence," Ge Dongxu, not one for putting on airs, saw that Wu Longcai not only remembered him but also took the initiative to greet him with a smile, so he too smiled and returned the greeting.

    The two leading celebrities, upon seeing Director Wu greet Ge Dongxu, flashed a hint of curiosity in their eyes, but considering his youth and ordinary attire, they didn''t pay much attention and merely nodded slightly at Ge Dongxu as a form of greeting before finding their seats and sitting down.

    At that moment, someone in first class recognized them, called out their names with a smile, and greeted them. It was then that Ge Dongxu remembered their names: the man was Liu Manman, and the woman Shangguan Yunfeng.

    The two women following behind also saw Ge Dongxu, with the sexy and explosive-looking young woman nodding and smiling at him, revealing two rows of snow-white, neatly aligned teeth as a way of greeting.

    The one called Qianqian merely glanced at Ge Dongxu, then looked down at her plane ticket, and said to the woman behind her, "Shiyi, I just remembered I have something to discuss with Director Wu; let''s switch seats." sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having said that, the woman called Qianqian didn''t wait for the one called Shiyi to respond; she quickly took two steps and sat down beside Director Wu.

    The woman called Shiyi frowned slightly but eventually walked toward Ge Dongxu. She then sweetly smiled at him and said, "Here we meet again. Let me formally introduce myself, my name is Wu Shiyi. You don''t mind if I sit next to you, do you?"

    "Of course I don''t mind. My name is Ge Dongxu, you can just call me Dongxu. If you want to sit by the window, I can switch with you," Ge Dongxu said as he got up with a smile, and naturally took her suitcase from her hand, stowing it in the overhead compartment.

 Chapter 230 Gossip [5th update, ask for recommendation tickets]

    "Thank you, I didn''t realize you were such a gentleman. I''ll take the window seat then," Wu Shiyi said with a smile to Ge Dongxu.Ge Dongxu hurriedly moved aside to let Wu Shiyi through.

    As Wu Shiyi squeezed past, perhaps due to the limited space or perhaps because her hips were indeed quite perky, she unintentionally brushed against Ge Dongxu. The contact was quite firm and bouncy, startling Ge Dongxu enough to make him hastily retreat backward.

    Seeing this, Ye Qianqian across the aisle gave a look of disdain, then turned to Wu Longcai and whispered in his ear, intermittently letting out a few crisp, pleasant laughs.

    As the head of the entertainment station, Wu Longcai was certainly no Liuxia Hui who could resist temptation. Used to such scenes, seeing that Ye Qianqian was clearly trying to curry favor with him, he didn''t play coy. He intentionally leaned a bit closer to her, occasionally making physical contact, and his hand would sometimes caress her thigh. At those times, Ye Qianqian would pinch Wu Longcai coquettishly and seductively, completely shedding any image of innocence, appearing instead as a thoroughly enticing vixen.

    "Dongxu, you''re probably not even twenty years old, right? Why are you flying alone to Beijing? Could it be that you''re studying there?" After the plane took off, perhaps out of boredom, Wu Shiyi curiously asked Ge Dongxu.

    "You''re not an entertainment gossip journalist, are you? I''m certainly no star," Ge Dongxu replied with a laugh.

    Wu Shiyi was momentarily stunned, then she pursed her lips and giggled, lightly hitting Ge Dongxu as she said, "You seem so serious, but I didn''t expect you to be witty! I''m not some entertainment gossip journalist; I actually graduated in broadcasting."

    "Although I rarely watch TV, I do glance at it occasionally. How come I''ve never seen you?" Ge Dongxu asked curiously.

    "There are only so many programs on TV, and it''s not easy for a newcomer like me to get on. Even if I do, it would be during the least desirable times. You hardly watch TV, so naturally, you wouldn''t notice," she whispered into Ge Dongxu''s ear, perhaps worried that Director Wu overheard her.

    "Director, this Wu Shiyi really doesn''t know restraint, even stooping to such levels," Ye Qianqian said with thick contempt and disdain, whispering into the director''s ear.

    Ye Qianqian didn''t see Ge Dongxu''s expression turn cold as she spoke. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t think too much," Wu Longcai said to Ye Qianqian after giving a glance towards Wu Shiyi.

    "As if I would think too much. Just look at how she dresses all flashy at the TV station every day; who is she trying to seduce?" Ye Qianqian whispered.

    "Heh heh, I don''t know about her, but you dress so conservatively every day, causing quite a regret among many at the station! You should really try to emulate Wu Shiyi; that would be a treat for us men," Wu Longcai said naughtily.

    "Director, you''re so bad, I''m not talking to you anymore!" hearing this, Ye Qianqian pouted and playfully hit and pinched Wu Longcai, making all the surrounding men go weak at the knees, wishing they could trade places with him. Only Ge Dongxu slightly frowned, his eyes flashing with a hint of disgust.

    For a woman like Ye Qianqian, no matter how beautiful or coquettish, Ge Dongxu had nothing but disdain.

    "I see, but in any field, as long as you work hard, there will always be opportunities," Ge Dongxu said smilingly to Wu Shiyi.

    "Hehe, maybe you''re right," Wu Shiyi laughed, her smile tinged with reluctance and resignation.

    Ge Dongxu was still just a high school student after all, and there were many social phenomena and rules he didn''t understand yet. Naturally, he couldn''t comprehend the helplessness in Wu Shiyi''s smile, nor did he know that for newcomers like her to rise in rank, it took more than just hard work¡ªthere were many other prices to pay. Continue reading at My Virtual Library Empire

    Even after paying those prices, many newcomers still might not get the chance to advance.

    "By the way, you still haven''t told me what you were doing in Beijing. I can''t help it, women are naturally curious, and women in our industry are even more so," Wu Shiyi quickly set aside the complex emotions in her heart and asked Ge Dongxu with a smile.

    She really was somewhat curious about Ge Dongxu. After all, no matter how ordinary Ge Dongxu''s clothes were, the fact that he dined with Liu Jiayao and flew first class to Beijing already suggested something out of the ordinary.

    After all, in their industry, they saw plenty of officials and wealthy people, but even though Ge Dongxu seemed a bit unusual, he couldn''t compare to people like Li Bisheng last time. Hence, Ye Qianqian, who was a bit mercenary, didn''t take Ge Dongxu very seriously.

    Perhaps it was because Ge Dongxu indeed had something unusual about him that when Wu Shiyi asked again, Ye Qianqian and Wu Longcai across the aisle also looked over at Ge Dongxu, their eyes filled with a hint of curiosity.

    "Okay, I''ll satisfy your curiosity. I haven''t attended university yet, and I won''t be going to study in Beijing in the future either. This trip to Beijing is to visit a friend," Ge Dongxu said.

    "A girl?" Wu Shiyi immediately asked again, her curiosity rekindled.

    "A guy," Ge Dongxu replied crisply.

    "Who are you kidding? All the way from Linzhou to Beijing just to see a guy?" Wu Shiyi expressed her disbelief.

    "Don''t believe it then," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "I mean, Ge Dongxu, what exactly is your relationship with Director Liu? How come you were eating with her last time? And how did you end up in first class?" Suddenly, Ye Qianqian also became curious and asked.

    But when she asked this question, it clearly carried a hint of disdain for Ge Dongxu.

    "Right, now it''s my turn to ask you. What are you doing in Beijing this time?" Ge Dongxu ignored Ye Qianqian and instead asked Wu Shiyi with a smile.

    "Hey, what''s the meaning of this, Ge Dongxu? I''m asking you!" Ye Qianqian, who usually had numerous men after her because of her good looks and figure, was surprised to find that Ge Dongxu paid no attention to her question. Annoyed, her pretty face tightened as she aggressively demanded an answer.

    "When you learn to respect others, then come and ask me what I mean," Ge Dongxu responded indifferently.

    "When have I ever disrespected you? Is there something wrong with my question? Don''t think that just because you don''t answer, I don''t know¡ªit''s all thanks to Director Liu that you can sit here," Ye Qianqian''s attitude made her even more furious out of embarrassed anger.

    "Since you already know, then why ask?" Ge Dongxu replied, still calm and unruffled.

    "I knew it! People like you can''t afford first class anyway. What are you showing off for? It''s all because you rely on..." Seeing Ge Dongxu respond in this way, Ye Qianqian thought she had hit the nail on the head, her face grew more mocking, and her words became sharper and more sarcastic.

 Chapter 231 Im Serious [1 update, asking for monthly pass]

    "Enough, Qianqian, hold back a little," Wu Longcai interrupted Ye Qianqian before she could finish her complaint."Director Wu, didn''t you see how his tone was when speaking to others? It''s so infuriating that she just couldn''t help it!" Ye Qianqian, clutching Wu Longcai''s arm, shook it with a look of grievance on her face.

    "Enough, the way you asked earlier was indeed problematic," Wu Longcai, being reasonable and smart, knew that while it was fine to criticize Ye Qianqian, an underling and a newcomer, Ge Dongxu was a different story. After all, his relationship with Liu Jiayao seemed not too bad, and Liu Jiayao invested a good amount of advertising in their TV station every year. It was better not to offend if possible.

    Seeing Director Wu not speaking up for her, Ye Qianqian pouted unhappily, but since Director Wu had spoken, she dared not pick on Ge Dongxu anymore.

    However, just because Ye Qianqian kept quiet didn''t mean that Shangguan Yunfeng, sitting in front of her and Director Wu, was pleased. He turned his head to ask Director Wu, "Director, who is he? He''s not old, but seems rather arrogant. And who is this President Liu you mentioned?"

    "Yunfeng bro, of course, he''s got the capital to be arrogant¡ªdon''t look at him being young; he''s acquainted with Liu Jiayao from Qinglan Cosmetics Company!" Ye Qianqian saw the Entertainment Channel''s top star, Shangguan Yunfeng, chime in and immediately felt emboldened again. She gave Ge Dongxu a sidelong glance and spoke with a mocking tone.

    "Oh, it''s Liu Jiayao! I''m pretty familiar with her. I just wasn''t aware she knew someone like him. Alright, don''t get upset over him. I''ll mention this to Liu Jiayao another day and have her teach him a lesson or two," Shangguan Yunfeng boasted arrogantly, casting a disdainful glance at Ge Dongxu.

    "Then thank you, Yunfeng bro. Make sure to remember to talk to her next time, OK?" Ye Qianqian said coquettishly, intentionally giving Ge Dongxu a provoking look as she spoke.

    "No problem," Shangguan Yunfeng replied and then turned away, looking supremely self-satisfied.

    Wu Longcai shook his head at the scene but said nothing more.

    After all, Shangguan Yunfeng was the Entertainment Channel''s leading lady and had some connections. Unlike the newcomer Ye Qianqian, giving him face was necessary.

    Moreover, Shangguan Yunfeng was indeed somewhat acquainted with Liu Jiayao.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t say anything either; he couldn''t possibly argue with these people or flamboyantly reveal his own status. He simply looked at them indifferently and remained silent.

    Because of the unpleasantness and seeing Shangguan Yunfeng''s apparent dissatisfaction with Ge Dongxu, Wu Shiyi didn''t dare to idle chat with Ge Dongxu anymore; otherwise, it would seem like she was deliberately offending Shangguan Yunfeng.

    Two and a half hours is neither long nor short.

    About an hour later, Wu Shiyi, perhaps feeling bored or still a bit concerned about Ge Dongxu''s pride being hurt, saw that Shangguan Yunfeng and the others were all engaged in their own conversations, gave Ge Dongxu a nudge with her elbow, and whispered, "Hey, don''t take it to heart, all right? Many people in our circle are like this."

    "Heh, don''t worry, I won''t take such banal comments to heart. It''s you, though¡ªyou still owe me an answer," Ge Dongxu responded with a smile, seeming unaffected. Wu Shiyi''s gesture nevertheless warmed his heart.

    "What can a newcomer like me do in the capital? I would just be there for show, to help toast and smile. The key figures are Director Wu and Shangguan Yunfeng, Liu Manman, and the others. Their main purpose for going to the capital this time is to get a new program approved by the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, and also to meet with the head of a company interested in sponsoring the program to discuss it. In fact, the sponsorship deal that Director Wu discussed with President Li at the rotating restaurant at Mingyue Lake last time was very appealing to him, but I don''t know why he suddenly changed his mind before the new year," Wu Shiyi whispered.

    Of course, Wu Shiyi didn''t know that Li Bisheng''s change of mind was due to his failed acquisition plan. He initially intended to increase his investment in advertising and create a big buzz.

    "If the program is good, and you''re the host, then I might consider sponsoring it." Ge Dongxu replied thoughtfully, his expression dead serious.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Shiyi looked at Ge Dongxu''s earnest demeanor, paused in surprise, then suddenly "pfft" couldn''t help but laugh out loud. She quickly covered her mouth, peeked over at Shangguan Yunfeng to see if he had noticed, and when she saw he hadn''t, she sneakily pinched Ge Dongxu and gave him a white-eyed look, saying, "You''ve got some nerve, using a newbie like me for your jokes, huh? I am from the provincial station after all."

    "I''m being serious," Ge Dongxu said, touching the arm Wu Shiyi had pinched, a wry smile on his face.

    "Serious my foot! Do you have any idea how much it costs to sponsor a show? Several million at least!" Wu Shiyi pinched Ge Dongxu again, her expression becoming greatly exaggerated when she mentioned the sum of several million.

    In Huaxia Country, the year 1999 could not compare with the present, where we easily throw around tens or even hundreds of millions for variety show sponsorships. Back then, several million was actually a lot of money.

    "Alright, then pretend I never said anything. Do you have a business card? If I really decide to go through with it, I''ll have someone give you a call," Ge Dongxu said, seeing that Wu Shiyi didn''t believe him and not wanting to explain any further. He thought it would be simpler to have Cheng Yazhou contact her directly. That way, she would believe it.

    "What''s the matter? Trying to hit on me?" said Wu Shiyi, rolling her eyes at Ge Dongxu as he asked her for a business card again.

    Ge Dongxu silently slapped his forehead, finding it speechless. He just thought Wu Shiyi was a nice person and wanted to help her if there was a chance. So, he asked for her business card instead of contacting the supervisor Wu Longcai directly, not expecting her to take it the wrong way.

    "However, you do have good taste!" Wu Shiyi did not notice Ge Dongxu''s speechless moment. After rolling her eyes at him, she immediately looked proud, jutting out her chin and intentionally puffing out her chest.

    And boy, was it really prominent and big, enticing Ge Dongxu''s gaze involuntarily.

    "Men are all the same!" Perhaps because of her profession, having seen such gazes often, Wu Shiyi was not the least bit intimidated by Ge Dongxu''s stare. Instead, she rolled her eyes at him again and said, "However, considering you''re fairly handsome and seem mostly honest overall, I''ll give you my business card. Just do not keep calling me for no reason; I''m very busy studying."

    After saying that, Wu Shiyi handed Ge Dongxu her business card. Discover hidden content at My Virtual Library Empire

    The card carried a faint scent which was quite pleasant, and it was delicately made. It bore Wu Shiyi''s name and cellphone number, stating she was a show host for the provincial entertainment television station, but there was no mention of which program.

    "I don''t have a business card, so I''ll just leave you my number instead. Whether it''s something important while we''re in the capital or back in Jiangnan, feel free to call me. Of course, if it''s not important, don''t call me just to bother me, I''m very busy studying," Ge Dongxu said as he took Wu Shiyi''s business card and pulled out paper and pen from his bag, wrote down his mobile number, and handed it to Wu Shiyi. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Please, like I''d harass you with calls. Keep dreaming!" Wu Shiyi said with a look of disdain, rolling her eyes at him again, though she still took the number and put it away.

    Because she was so engaged in the conversation with Ge Dongxu, Wu Shiyi didn''t realize that the commotion had caught the attention of Wu Longcai and others.

    Ye Qianqian wore a look of disdain on her face, while a fleeting expression of displeasure crossed Shangguan Yunfeng''s face. As for Wu Longcai and Liu Manman, they didn''t seem to have any reaction, obviously not caring about the private exchange between the two.

    ps: Today is still five updates, but I can only post two chapters at midnight; the rest are not finished yet as they require some thought and typing, which will be updated around 11 a.m. tomorrow. Also, a big thanks to all the readers for your tips and to Alliance Hierarch "Red Dust Bonds" for your generous support once again.

 Chapter 232 Youre Not Some Big Shot [2nd Update]

    "It seems like you TV hosts all have a pretty high opinion of yourselves," Ge Dongxu noted, having seen Ye Qianqian and others glance their way. He didn''t take it to heart, though; instead, he smiled at Wu Shiyi and teased her. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire"Of course, becoming a host isn''t easy; we''ve come out on top from a massive crowd. I won''t speak for the men¡ªsince talent seems more crucial for them¡ªbut look at the women, each one curvy, sexy, and beautiful as flowers. Just look at me!" Wu Shiyi said with proud confidence, puffing up her chest once more.

    Now Ge Dongxu understood. Female TV hosts were different from other women; not only could they speak and engage well, but they also enjoyed showing off in front of others. So, he smiled as he appraised Wu Shiyi up and down, then nodded seriously, "Hmm, indeed not bad, definitely something to be proud of."

    Speaking of which, perhaps because he''d gotten used to being intimate with Liu Jiayao these days, or maybe because Wu Shiyi''s chest was thrust out so prominently that Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but notice¡ªhe even took a few extra glances.

    "You, Ge Dongxu, just how old are you this year to be flirting with your elder sister like this?" Wu Shiyi saw Ge Dongxu evaluating her and noticed his roving eyes, so she reached out to pinch him, her face forming a fierce expression.

    "I was just stating the truth; well, if I stop talking, that should be fine, right?" Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile, then indeed sat up straight.

    "Look at you all serious; alright, I was just joking. I''m a host; it''s my fate to be scrutinized on stage, so I don''t mind your comments!" Seeing Ge Dongxu sitting properly, Wu Shiyi felt a bit unaccustomed and nudged him gently with her elbow as she spoke.

    "From your expression, you seem rather helpless," Ge Dongxu had really wanted to enjoy some quiet, but since Wu Shiyi addressed him, he had to speak up again.

    "Helpless? I''m just sour grapes. The day a lot of people scrutinize me will mean I''ve made it famous. But you know, making it in our line of work is really tough," Wu Shiyi sighed softly, her eyes revealing a hint of confusion.

    "Not at all, with your figure, face, eloquence, and kind heart, a beauty like you will definitely become famous someday," Ge Dongxu responded, comforting her with a smile.

    "Thanks! You do have good insight," Wu Shiyi nodded in agreement.

    "Can''t you be a bit more modest? Modesty helps one to progress," Ge Dongxu watched as Wu Shiyi took it all in without any humility and couldn''t help but feel exasperated.

    "In our line of work, we need to fight and show confidence; if we''re modest, then we''re left with nothing," Wu Shiyi explained.

    "Then why didn''t you compete with Ye Qianqian when she switched positions with you? That was a great chance to build a good relationship with the director," Ge Dongxu asked, hearing her explanation.

    "Being with you isn''t so bad either! I can speak freely," a trace of sadness flickered through Wu Shiyi''s eyes, but she quickly smiled again.

    "Haha, in the end, you''re still quite a humble woman¡ªnot as wild as your outfit would suggest," Ge Dongxu remarked, his gaze filled with admiration.

    He preferred women like that!

    Wu Shiyi, who had been jovial all along, suddenly fell silent, no longer talking to Ge Dongxu, just staring out the window in a daze.

    After a while, Wu Shiyi suddenly turned to look at Ge Dongxu and asked, "Do you think I''m a bit foolish? Am I not cut out for this industry?"

    "You were just telling me about the importance of confidently showing yourself, right? When you were with me just now, you seemed very confident. I think it''s good to keep it up; you''ll certainly become an outstanding host," Ge Dongxu said seriously.

    "Stop it, I''m being serious here," Wu Shiyi said, raising her hand and lightly hitting Ge Dongxu.

    "I am being serious," Ge Dongxu said, looking puzzled, for he had spoken earnestly.

    "Stop it! You''re not some big shot, so of course, I feel confident with you!" Wu Shiyi lightly hit him again and rolled her eyes.

    "That''s where your mindset is wrong. You need to treat everyone as equals! How can you look at people through colored glasses? Besides, even though I''m not a big shot, I''m definitely better than that Mr. Li!" Ge Dongxu said sternly.

    "Annoying! When I''m serious, you just start messing around. Never mind, it''s no use talking to you." Wu Shiyi rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, then propped her chin in her hands and gazed out the window, lost in thought.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration at the sight of Wu Shiyi pondering out the window.

    Indeed, this woman also saw herself as someone who got the chance to fly first class only because of Liu Jiayao.

    The plane soon began its descent, and Wu Shiyi finally snapped back to reality.

    "Right, the capital is huge, and you''re unfamiliar with it, so be careful," Wu Shiyi said in a low voice to Ge Dongxu as they returned to reality.

    "Thanks, I will, and you be careful too. Call me if you need anything," Ge Dongxu said warmly, smiling. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You wish, having a beautiful woman like me call you. You should call, but I might not answer," Wu Shiyi retorted, lifting her chin proudly.

    Just then, the plane safely landed, and Ge Dongxu just smiled without replying.

    At the airport, a large Cherokee with a military plate was parked containing two people; one was the eldest grandson of Elder Feng, Feng Chenqing, and the other was a middle-aged man around fifty, sitting in the passenger seat.

    Despite his age, the middle-aged man was sturdy and robust, with bright, spirited eyes. He sat rigidly beside the driver, resembling a crouching tiger, exuding a fierce aura.

    This man was none other than Elder Feng''s younger son, Feng Guozhen, a division commander of a certain military group.

    "Get off." Seeing the plane''s staircase extend, Feng Guozhen said sternly, then pushed open the passenger door, got out of the car and stood straight as a rod in front of the vehicle. Meanwhile, Feng Chenqing, the younger one, involuntarily shrank his head due to the chilly wind.

    One great advantage of first class was having the priority to board and disembark from the plane without having to squeeze through crowds.

    Ge Dongxu helped Wu Shiyi collect her luggage, then asked her to walk ahead with Wu Longcai and others while he followed behind.

    Wu Shiyi, out of respect for Shangguan Yunfeng, didn''t talk much to Ge Dongxu anymore. She just took her luggage, whispered thanks, and urged him to be careful before hurrying after Wu Longcai and his group.

    "Shiyi, I saw you exchanging contact information with that Dongxu. You''re not thinking of hooking him, are you? That''s really tasteless," Ye Qianqian whispered teasingly to Wu Shiyi as they walked along the corridor.

    "Hm, Shiyi, you''re one of us at the station too. You should be mindful of the influence your friends have," Shangguan Yunfeng looked back at Wu Shiyi, expressing some dissatisfaction.

    Shangguan Yunfeng preferred curvaceous and voluptuous women, and he was somewhat interested in Wu Shiyi, the newcomer. Although she dressed in a modern and open manner, her actions were rather conservative. Shangguan Yunfeng''s several hints hadn''t prompted Wu Shiyi to throw herself into his arms, so recently he had started to purposely make things difficult for her, letting her understand the severity of her situation.

    ps: I recommend the new author Long Lou''s book "Eternal Chronicles." I''ve read the beginning, and it seems decent. Writing as a newcomer isn''t easy, and those who like fantasy might want to check it out. If you like it, please support it.

 Chapter 233 Hes so awesome! [3rd update, ask for monthly pass]

    Wu Shiyi, after all, was a newcomer and naturally didn''t dare to confront Shangguan Yunfeng, the established leading lady who had a bit of a background at the station, so she hung her head and remained silent.As for Ge Dongxu himself, it didn''t bother him, but he couldn''t stand to see someone else being wronged because of him, so his expression darkened slightly as he contemplated speaking up for Wu Shiyi. By this time, however, those ahead had already deplaned.

    The wind outside howled, and everyone raised their collars. Seeing this, Ge Dongxu could only smile and shake his head, as it certainly wasn''t appropriate for him to shout in defense of Wu Shiyi.

    Although he hadn''t spoken up for Wu Shiyi, Ge Dongxu had taken note of the situation in his heart and thought about discussing the title sponsorship advertisement with Cheng Yazhou and Lin Kun once back in Jiangnan Province, trying his best to help Wu Shiyi.

    Where the plane had stopped, besides the Cherokee with the military license plate, there was also an airport shuttle waiting to pick up the head-class passengers.

    In comparison to the airport shuttle, the Cherokee with the military license plate was clearly much more conspicuous.

    As everyone disembarked from the plane, they couldn''t help but look towards the Cherokee with the military license plate. Most of them didn''t dare to stare blatantly, stealing only a few glances and feeling secretly astonished, wondering what VIP was aboard their flight to warrant a military vehicle being directly dispatched for pick-up at the airport.

    Wu Longcai and others were equally astonished. Being knowledgeable, they understood what it meant for a military vehicle to directly enter the airport to wait for someone.

    Only Ge Dongxu, upon seeing that military vehicle and the two individuals in front of it, couldn''t help but smirk bitter-sweetly, thinking that if he had known, he wouldn''t have informed Martial Brother Feng in advance and would have simply contacted him upon arriving in Beijing.

    People came off the plane one after another, and then they walked towards the shuttle. As they headed for the shuttle, they inevitably glanced once more toward the Cherokee.

    At that moment, Feng Chenqing had already spotted Ge Dongxu, so he whispered something to Feng Guozhen, who then strode powerfully over to the side of the boarding stairs.

    Seeing Feng Chenqing approaching, an imposing aura hit them directly, and that commanding presence, which was evidently that of a superior, even made seasoned figures like Wu Longcai''s hearts jump uncontrollably, not daring to glance sideways as they hurried toward the shuttle.

    After walking a few steps, Wu Longcai and the others dared to look back stealthily.

    They wanted to see who it was that had brought the military vehicle directly to the airport to pick someone up.

    When they looked back, Wu Longcai and the others'' eyes bulged in astonishment.

    Because they saw that authoritative middle-aged man, who obviously looked like a major figure, was actually holding Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly, and judging by Ge Dongxu''s demeanor, he seemed quite at ease and not nervous in the least.

    "There''s no need for such trouble in this cold weather. I could have just taken a cab," Ge Dongxu said to Feng Guozhen after shaking hands, and then he shook hands with Feng Chenqing, expressing his apologies.

    "This is what we should do, after all, you are an elder and moreover, you have come this time for my father''s health," Feng Guozhen humbly said, his eyes as sharp as swords, as if trying to see clearly the young man in front of him who looked unreasonably young, yet he couldn''t discern anything special.

    "Let''s talk in the car," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile, no longer standing on ceremony.

    Upon hearing this, Feng Chenqing hurriedly ran to open the rear door of the vehicle. Ge Dongxu then got in, and Feng Guozhen still took his place in the front passenger seat.

    Watching Feng Chenqing open the door for Ge Dongxu and seeing Ge Dongxu getting into the back of the car without hesitation, Wu Longcai and the others shuddered and came back to their senses.

    At this moment, Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian''s faces had turned ashen, cold sweat beading on their foreheads despite the winter chill. Wu Longcai''s face was clouded with a particularly ugly gloom, his eyes filled with concern, while Liu Manman''s face showed a hint of regret. Only Wu Shiyi still wore a look of shock on her face, her sexy mouth slightly open in disbelief, finding it hard to accept that the man she had been chatting and laughing with all the way had the clout to be greeted by a military vehicle driving directly into the airport.

    After that, Wu Shiyi remembered how she had been constantly pinching Ge Dongxu and rolling her eyes at him, incessantly nagging him along the way, and she couldn''t help but feel waves of apprehension, wanting to cry but having no tears.

    Oh heavens, oh earth, if only I had known how awesome this guy was, I would have used all my seventy-two Martial Skills to please him no matter what, even if, even if... pah, pah, Wu Shiyi, where is your mind going?

    Thus, the group of five, with their varied emotions, entered the shuttle bus in a daze.

    By then, the Grand Cherokee with the military plates had already sped away, for it was waiting for only one person, unlike the shuttle bus, which was waiting for many.

    "Mr. Wu, Mr. President," Ye Qianqian called out cautiously to Wu Longcai on the shuttle bus.

    "Hmph! Look at the fine mess you''ve made!" Wu Longcai glared at Ye Qianqian with such intensity he looked like he wished he could slap her.

    Such a person should have been someone to curry favor with at all costs, but now, because of Ye Qianqian, he was thoroughly offended. Fortunately, Wu Longcai himself wasn''t influenced by Ye Qianqian just now and hadn''t done anything outrageous, or else he would definitely have raised his hand to slap her by now. Discover exclusive tales on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Wuu wuu, Mr. Wu, how, how could I know he was so awesome!" Ye Qianqian said pitifully, her eyes brimming with tears.

    "Hmph!" Wu Longcai''s face remained unsympathetic to Ye Qianqian''s pitiful look.

    "Actually, it''s no big deal. There are plenty of people who use military plates to throw their weight around these days. The central government even said they would deal with this issue seriously at the beginning of the year, so I think this guy is just the type who loves to show off. He probably doesn''t have much of a background. Besides, we''re under the jurisdiction of the Propaganda Department, not the military, so what''s there to be afraid of!" Shangguan Yunfeng remarked, seeing the situation.

    In truth, he was still rather fearful and regretful in his heart, but since things had already happened, he could only try to think positively.

    "Hmph, wait until you''re also qualified to have a car drive directly into the airport to pick you up, then you can say that," Wu Longcai retorted without giving Shangguan Yunfeng any face, chastising him directly.

    Shangguan Yunfeng didn''t dare make another sound after seeing Wu Longcai lose his temper.

    The shuttle bus soon arrived at the airport terminal. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ah, Mr. Wu, I can manage myself, I can manage," Wu Shiyi hurriedly said when Wu Longcai specifically wanted to help her with her luggage as they got off the bus, making her flustered.

    "It''s only right for a gentleman to carry luggage for a lady," Wu Longcai said warmly to Wu Shiyi, taking the luggage from her regardless.

    "But, you are..." Wu Shiyi said, feeling very unaccustomed to Wu Longcai''s attitude toward her, her voice trembling.

    "There are no buts," Wu Longcai said curtly, cutting her off. Then he smiled and asked, "By the way, you seemed to have a pleasant chat with Dongxu on the plane, and even exchanged contact numbers, right?"

    "Yes, but it was just a casual chat, not serious..." It dawned on Wu Shiyi why the director had made such a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn in his attitude towards her, and her heart couldn''t help but skip a beat.

    ps: Two more chapters will be updated consecutively.

 Chapter 234 Reunion with Senior Apprentice Brother [4th Update]

    "Hehe, that''s also pretty good. Now that you know each other and have his contact number, in the future, whenever you''re free, keep in touch more often," Wu Longcai chuckled, interjecting.

    "I wouldn''t dare, I mean, he was even driving a military vehicle..." Wu Shiyi shrank her head, fully lacking confidence as she spoke.

    "Hehe, some things must be fought for by oneself. For someone like him to give you his contact information, it means he must appreciate you to some extent. Moreover, you''re quite an attractive prospect, and, well, what man doesn''t like a beautiful woman?" Wu Longcai said.

    Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Mhm!" Wu Shiyi''s face turned red at his words, recalling how Ge Dongxu had seriously critiqued her on the plane earlier.

    "You''re not bad, keep working hard," Wu Longcai said with a smile upon seeing Wu Shiyi''s blush.

    Ye Qianqian watched Wu Longcai''s friendly and kind attitude towards Wu Shiyi, her eyes filled with jealousy and an indescribable sense of regret.

    The place by Ge Dongxu''s side should have been hers! She could have had the chance to meet an influential person!

    But what was the result? Because of her opportunism, she not only lost this great opportunity but also offended him, and consequently, even Wu Longcai formed a bad impression of her, which was fatal for a newcomer like her.

    ...

    "Commander Feng, is Elder Feng''s health still good?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile from inside the car.

    "Very good. In this kind of weather, he usually wouldn''t even dream of walking on the ground, not to mention the severe coughing. But now, he''s moving freely, coughs much less, and is even starting to think about what flowers and vegetables to plant in the backyard come springtime. Speaking of which, we really need to thank you," Feng Guozhen turned around, expressing his gratitude earnestly.

    "Hehe, I''m glad to hear that. Your father is my senior brother; it was my duty," Ge Dongxu said happily.

    "If you say my dad is your senior brother, then stop calling me Commander Feng. Call me by my name. In fact, if we''re serious about the formalities, I should be calling you ''Uncle Master''," Feng Guozhen said.

    "Hehe, then I will call you by your name. However, I''m younger, and it''s friendlier for you to call me by my name. If we add the familial titles, it would be awkward for both of us," Ge Dongxu replied with a laugh.

    "Haha, that''s true," Feng Guozhen burst into laughter, really liking Ge Dongxu''s forthright and honest personality.

    The car soon arrived at the courtyard house. After entering the main gate, Elder Feng had already been waiting inside. Seeing Ge Dongxu''s arrival, the one who hardly furrowed his brow even in the face of bullets and guns suddenly became a bit stirred up, hurriedly stepping forward and gripping Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly, and saying, "Dongxu, you''re here, was the journey here exhausting for you?"

    "I''m young, and I was in first class; why would it be exhausting?" Ge Dongxu, too, gripping the old man''s hand, was quite moved.

    This was a genuine elder who had a relationship with his master. Seeing him, Ge Dongxu felt as though he was seeing his master again.

    "Hehe, it''s good to be young!" Elder Feng nodded with a smile.

    "Hello Dongxu, I''m Feng Guoqiang, thank you for coming to visit my father. He has been talking about you since this morning," said a man who resembled Elder Feng in his facial features but taller and exuding a quiet dignity and vast righteous qi, extending his hand with a smile after Ge Dongxu released Elder Feng''s hand.

    "Hello, Secretary Feng," Ge Dongxu said, knowing that the man before him was Elder Feng''s eldest son, holding the top office in a certain province. He then solemnly shook his hand. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You are my father''s recognized junior brother, you can just call me by my name, otherwise my father will be unhappy," Feng Guoqiang hurriedly said.

    "Right, Dongxu, don''t be polite with them. Just call them by their names," Elder Feng said.

    Ge Dongxu could only nod stiffly.

    Feng Guoqiang was now in charge of the Feng Family and held a rank equivalent to a high official in border areas. Not to mention an eighteen-year-old young man, but in the whole Huaxia Country, there were not many people who could call him by his name so casually.

    "It''s getting late. Now that Dongxu has arrived, let''s have the kitchen prepare. Today we''ll have a reunion dinner," Elder Feng said to his youngest daughter Feng Jiahui after having a brief chat with Ge Dongxu.

    Feng Jiahui smiled in response and personally went to instruct the kitchen staff, behaving completely like an ordinary housewife without any airs of being a leader at the central bank.

    Ge Dongxu watched Feng Jiahui leave with a beaming smile, his face involuntarily showing a hint of puzzlement.

    "Our family is different from ordinary people''s families. While others can sit together and have a reunion dinner on New Year''s Eve, our family is scattered far and wide, especially me and Guozhen, one in the military and the other in local governance. On New Year''s Eve, it''s not good for us to leave our posts in case something unexpected happens. Therefore, only Jiahui and her family can come to have a reunion dinner with our father on New Year''s Eve. The two of us brothers usually visit our father in the capital based on our work schedules. This year, our father said he met the disciple of his benefactor and even recognized a fellow apprentice brother, so he arranged to have a reunion dinner during the first month of the lunar year, which is why all of us children hurried back," Feng Guoqiang, who had vast experience in governance, saw the puzzlement on Ge Dongxu''s face and immediately understood his thoughts, explaining with a smile.

    "Senior Brother!" Ge Dongxu, moved by these words, grasped Elder Feng''s hand tightly. He knew Elder Feng truly regarded him as family.

    "After that special period was over, I was fortunate enough to make a comeback and re-engage in the state''s work, full of vigor and vitality. However, behind that, there has always been one regret in my heart, which was not being able to see the old man again. I wanted to provide him with peace and comfort in his final years, so he could enjoy his days. Fortunately, though I did not get to see him, meeting you has left me with no regrets," Elder Feng said, patting Ge Dongxu''s hand emotionally.

    "Dongxu, you not only cured my father''s physical ailments but also healed his heart!" Feng Guozhen, watching the old and the young holding hands, could not help but feel incredibly touched.

    "The kitchen may not be ready so soon. Let me give senior brother another acupuncture treatment first," Ge Dongxu quickly said, reminded by what Feng Guozhen had said.

    "No rush, no rush, you just got off the plane and need to rest. Let''s wait until after dinner to discuss this further," Elder Feng waved his hand.

    "My body can handle several days and nights without sleep, so that''s not an issue. What''s important is your health. Let''s dispel some of the cold qi first, so you''re in good shape, feeling spirited, and the dinner will taste even better," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Exactly, exactly, Dad, Dongxu is now your doctor. You should listen to what Dongxu says," Feng Guoqiang and Feng Guozhen, as his sons, naturally prioritized Elder Feng''s health first, echoing each other in agreement and looking at Ge Dongxu with extra gratitude.

    "Hehe, well in that case, I''ll listen to you, Dongxu. But do not overexert yourself; don''t get tired," Elder Feng said.

    "Don''t worry, Senior Brother, I wasn''t experienced last time. This time, I have more experience, and it should go more smoothly and easily," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Feng Guoqiang and Feng Guozhen exchanged glances and couldn''t help but give a wry smile. These days, probably only Ge Dongxu would have the nerve to practice on their father, and even say it so openly.

 Chapter 235 Growing Stronger with Age [5th Update]

    The purification of chemicals always faces the greatest challenge in removing the last bit of impurity, and expelling the cold energy from Elder Feng''s body was no different.

    The remnant of the cold energy had truly seeped into Elder Feng''s bone marrow; removing it without harming the old man''s body required extreme caution and was actually more difficult than the previous attempt, testing Ge Dongxu''s control over True Qi. If Ge Dongxu were still at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, he would have ended up exhausted just like last time, treading on thin ice with the utmost care.

    But this time, Ge Dongxu had reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, which made the expulsion of the cold somewhat easier.

    Nevertheless, as the cold had penetrated the marrow, Ge Dongxu needed to extract the threads of cold energy as carefully as unraveling silk from cocoons, to prevent any harm to Elder Feng. The endeavor left him sweating profusely, and after finishing, he could not help but move Elder Feng deeply.

    "Just the last bit of cold energy remains. I''ll come and rid you of it during the summer holidays, and your chronic ailment will definitely not recur. And thanks to your consistent practice of the Breath Regulation method taught by master, your vitality remains robust in spite of your age. I see no problem with you reaching a full century," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

    "Really? My father can truly live to be a hundred without any issues?" Feng Guoqiang and his brother both exclaimed with excitement upon hearing this.

    Though Elder Feng was now retired and no longer dealt with national affairs, he was a flagship figure of the Feng Family. As long as he lived, the Feng Family would be as stable as rock, and the longer he remained healthy, the more advantageous it was for the Feng Family''s steady development.

    The brothers had never dared to hope their father could live to be a hundred; they would have been content if he could just reach the grand old age of ninety. They hadn''t expected Ge Dongxu to be so confident in pronouncing that their father could live to a hundred.

    "Of course. Elder Feng has been practicing Breath Control for over seventy years. If it weren''t for the harm caused by this cold energy, his body might be in no worse condition than yours now," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Is the method of Breath Control and Qi Cultivation really that powerful?" Feng Guoqiang and his brother couldn''t help but ask skeptically.

    When they were younger, Elder Feng taught them the methods of Breath Control and Qi Cultivation. However, it was a practice that required sitting for two hours at a time, day after day, year after year, with exceedingly slow and subtle progress. The brothers had not persisted for long before they began to practice sporadically, and as they grew older, with more distractions and a sense of skepticism regarding its usefulness, they completely abandoned the practice.

    "Hehe, certainly. The cold energy within Elder Feng is currently being suppressed by his cultivated breath to prevent its resurgence; therefore, it is not advisable to use it recklessly. Once I remove the last of it this summer, if Elder Feng exerts the force of that breath, Guozhen, you, a general, may well find you''re no match for the strength of just one of Elder Feng''s hands," Ge Dongxu said with a chuckle.

    What Ge Dongxu''s master had passed on to Elder Feng was only the most basic entry-level method of Breath Control and Qi Cultivation from the Ge Hong Ancestor, but it still had its unique aspects. Having persisted for over seventy years, Elder Feng''s strength was not to be underestimated.

    "Dongxu, if you insist that my dad can live to be a hundred, given his current spirit, I''m inclined to believe that. But to say that he could knock me down with one hand, I simply can''t buy it," Guozhen shook his head immediately upon hearing this, his face full of disbelief.

    Although he was getting on in years, he had once been a fierce figure in the military; even now, it would be no problem for him to overpower three to five strong men if he really exerted himself. How could he possibly believe that his father, who was going to be eighty-nine after the New Year, could knock him down with one hand?

    "I find it hard to believe as well," Feng Guoqiang also shook his head. He definitely wished for his father to remain strong in his old age, but he believed in respecting objective reality.

    An eighty-nine-year-old, who could walk briskly was already quite impressive; how could he possibly knock down the vigorous Guozhen with just one hand?

    "Hehe, it has nothing to do with age. My master, until his passing, was well over a hundred yet still moved with vitality, and could effortlessly knock down over a dozen people without a problem. However, eventually the organs in his body reached their natural limit, and the breath could no longer nourish and sustain the organs at a rate fast enough to keep up with their aging, leading him to pass away peacefully," Ge Dongxu explained.

    Ge Dongxu''s words seemed like an enigma to Guozhen and Guoqiang, rendering them with expressions of sheer disbelief.

    "Dongxu, speaking to them about this is futile; they cannot comprehend. Do you have a way to temporarily suppress that cold energy, so I can give these two an eye-opening demonstration?" Seeing his sons doubting Ge Dongxu''s words, Elder Feng couldn''t help displaying some irritation and addressed Ge Dongxu.

    "No, no, Dad, we believe you, we believe you," the Feng brothers, Feng Guoqiang and his brother, were startled and hurriedly said. Enjoy new chapters from My Virtual Library Empire S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Making jokes, he is already eighty-nine, how could he afford to be reckless!

    "Dongxu, do you have a way? Never mind them¡ªif you do, you do; if you don''t, you don''t," Elder Feng ignored the two and looked at Ge Dongxu, asking.

    Hearing this, Feng Guoqiang and his brother had no choice but to gaze at Ge Dongxu with a bitter face.

    Seeing Elder Feng looking at him with eyes that were somewhat cloudy but still as sharp as a sword, Ge Dongxu knew he could not lie under such a gaze and had to say, "It''s all my fault for talking too much. Brother, please stop making things difficult for them."

    "Right, right, Dad, please don''t make it hard on yourself," the Feng brothers said with a mournful face, hastily agreeing.

    "What do you mean right? It''s one thing for you to doubt your father, but to doubt your father''s benefactor as well!" Elder Feng glared at them, then said to Ge Dongxu, "Since there''s a way, then go ahead and use it."

    Knowing the elder was angry, Ge Dongxu didn''t dare to persuade otherwise. Besides, he was quite confident in the elder''s strength, so he replied, "Okay. I''ll use the Silver Needle Qi Transmission to seal off the cold energy, temporarily preventing it from moving."

    With that said, Ge Dongxu took out the silver needles and inserted them into several acupoints on Elder Feng.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu actually performing acupuncture on their father, Feng Guoqiang and his brother unavoidably resented him, but out of respect for their father, they didn''t voice their blame.

    "Come on, Guozhen, throw a punch at me with all your might," Elder Feng felt the strand of cold energy cease moving and circulated his True Qi with full force, and commanded his youngest son with a spirit that seemed boundless.

    Feng Guozhen, who was almost moved to tears by the splendid vigor of his father¡ªa major general¡ªsaid.

    "Dad, what are you doing? Isn''t it enough that I believe?" Feng Guozhen begged.

    "Enough of your nonsense. You''re afraid to hit me, aren''t you? Fine, then I''ll hit you!" Saying so, Elder Feng reached out and pushed a palm toward Feng Guozhen.

    The bones of the elderly are fragile and easily broken; knowing this, Feng Guozhen dared not catch the blow and quickly retreated. To his astonishment, his father was swift and spry; in an instant, Elder Feng was upon him, placing a palm on Feng Guozhen''s chest. Immediately, Feng Guozhen felt an immense force pressing against him like a landslide.

    "Thump, thump, thump!" Feng Guozhen stumbled back seven or eight steps, and if Ge Dongxu had not quickly intervened to support him from behind, the major general would have ended up on the ground.

    The room instantly fell silent, and both Feng Guozhen and Feng Guoqiang looked at their father with eyes full of shock, as if they no longer recognized him.

    Is this the same eighty-nine-year-old man? Is this the same man who could only spend winters in a wheelchair before?

    PS: Starting tomorrow, the update schedule will change to two chapters at seven in the morning and one chapter at eleven noon. For now, I will settle with three chapters a day; maintaining five chapters every day over the long term is too exhausting, and rushing to come up with ideas each day can lead to problems. Therefore, temporarily there will be three updates per day. If I''m in a good state and have a backlog, I aim to occasionally have a burst of updates.

 Chapter 235 Elder Fengs Son-in-Law

    "Haha, how about now? Do you two believe it now?" After nearly pushing Feng Guozhen to the ground with a single palm, Elder Feng couldn''t help but burst into laughter, his voice booming like a bell, brimming with Vital Energy. Just by hearing that voice and not seeing the man, one would think it belonged to a man in his prime, not a nearly ninety-year-old man.

    "We believe, we believe." Feng Guoqiang and Feng Guozhen finally snapped out of their astonishment. The two imposing figures nodded their heads like pecking chickens and their gaze towards Ge Dongxu completely transformed. Not only was there no longer a trace of the earlier dissatisfaction, but it was also filled with gratitude and a hint of awe.

    Previously, regarding Ge Dongxu''s statement that their father could live to be a hundred, they harbored doubts in their hearts. But now, they had no doubts whatsoever.

    Indeed, if an eighty-nine-year-old man could almost push a strong man to the ground with a single palm, and yet not live to a hundred, then who could? S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Believe? Believe what?" Just then, Feng Jiahui''s voice rang out from the doorway, accompanied by a middle-aged man dressed quite properly. The middle-aged man appeared slightly restrained, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes when he saw Ge Dongxu.

    "Fang Fei, you''re here. You definitely won''t believe it, but just now Dad almost pushed Guozhen to the ground with a palm." Feng Guoqiang nodded slightly at the man, then said with a smile.

    Fang Fei was Feng Jiahui''s husband, a director at the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television. In the eyes of ordinary people, that was a very important official, and in the eyes of many stars and entertainers, he was a figure who could decide their fate. But in the Feng Family, he wasn''t considered a big deal. However, as he was family, that was another matter altogether, so Feng Guoqiang immediately nodded and smiled at him.

    "It''s not ''almost,'' if Dongxu hadn''t supported me in time, I would have already been sitting on the ground." Feng Guozhen added with a mix of happiness and a sense of embarrassment.

    "What? How is that possible?" Feng Jiahui and Fang Fei both widened their eyes in disbelief, their faces incredulous, even Fang Fei lost the restraint he had when he first entered.

    "You don''t believe it, right? Come on, Guozhen, let''s demonstrate again!" Sometimes, the older people get, the more they act like children. Hearing their disbelief, Elder Feng immediately waved Feng Guozhen over.

    "No, no, Dad, my chest still hurts a bit! I really can''t." Feng Guozhen hastily waved his hands.

    There was nothing to be done, sparring with one''s father, even if one was stronger, would still result in getting hit, not to mention that now he wasn''t even as strong as his father, so he was even more likely to be on the receiving end.

    Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

    As the commander of a certain group army, Feng Guozhen wouldn''t want to go through that again.

    Fang Fei and Feng Jiahui, being family, naturally understood his temperament. Seeing his flustered reaction, they began to believe what Feng Guoqiang had told them earlier.

    "Hehe, alright, Senior Brother, the needles should be removed now." Ge Dongxu saw Elder Feng getting hooked on the thrill and couldn''t help but feel a bit of a laugh, quickly speaking up.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu speak, Elder Feng reluctantly nodded his head, then allowed Ge Dongxu to remove the needles.

    After Silver Needle was removed, Elder Feng''s Essence Qi was somewhat diminished, but he was still much stronger than before.

    "Junior Brother, when you come during the summer vacation to help me dispel the last bit of residual coldness, I should be able to make the long journey to pay my respects to our elders, right?" Elder Feng felt a wave of weakness come over him, slightly furrowed his brows, and then asked.

    "Of course, by then you''ll truly have the strength to push Guozhen over with a palm. If you refrain from constant long journeys and exhaust yourself less, there shouldn''t be a problem." Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Even if I, your Senior Brother, wished to travel frequently, my status doesn''t really allow for that, does it!" Hearing this, Elder Feng was thoroughly reassured and said with a smile.

    "Fang Fei, let me introduce you, this is Father''s Junior Brother, Ge Dongxu. Dongxu, this is my husband, Fang Fei." Once Ge Dongxu finished speaking with Elder Feng, Feng Jiahui hurriedly brought her husband Fang Fei over to Ge Dongxu.

    "Hello, it''s a pleasure to meet you." Seeing Ge Dongxu chatting casually and jovially with Elder Feng, Fang Fei certainly didn''t dare to neglect him and quickly stepped forward to shake Ge Dongxu''s hand enthusiastically with both hands.

    "I''m also glad to meet you, huh..." Ge Dongxu''s face showed a hint of surprise, then he stared intently at Fang Fei for a few moments and glanced at Feng Jiahui beside him before saying, "Has your sexual desire suddenly increased recently?"

    Obviously, no one expected Ge Dongxu to ask such a question, especially Fang Fei, who was immediately dumbfounded, his face turning bright red as if he''d been caught stealing, while Feng Jiahui''s face also flushed with embarrassment and annoyance, she even pinched Fang Fei''s waist fiercely.

    "Dongxu, is there something wrong with Fang Fei''s health?" Elder Feng immediately turned grave, his expression serious.

    It was only after Elder Feng''s question that Fang Fei and the others were jolted back to their senses, especially Fang Fei and Feng Jiahui, who both showed a hint of alarm.

    It was at this moment they suddenly remembered that matters of the bed were private between husband and wife, impossible for others to know, yet Ge Dongxu had merely shaken hands with Fang Fei and discerned this detail, which showed the incredible extent of his medical expertise.

    However, following that realization, both of their faces showed a trace of panic and worry, as they naturally understood that Ge Dongxu wasn''t speaking without basis.

    "It''s not a big issue, just a small problem with Fang Fei''s thyroid. Coupled with his excessive mental stress lately, his heart yin has been consumed, leading to an inability to control his ministerial fire, hence his heightened sexual activity. Later, I will give him acupuncture, then prescribe some medicine for regulation, and he should be fine," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. He has indeed had quite a lot of work to do at his unit lately, and seeing him so worn out made me feel quite uneasy... He even said it was because he was in good health, I didn''t expect it was actually a health issue," Feng Jiahui hurriedly said with gratitude.

    "Haha, at Fang Fei''s age, it''s normal to be working hard, but he also needs to take care of his health!" Elder Feng said with a laugh, patting Fang Fei heavily on the shoulder, eyes showing a look of appreciation.

    Feeling the pat from Elder Feng, Fang Fei almost floated on air, and also experienced waves of relief, thinking how fortunate he was not to have strayed outside, otherwise his outcome today would have been very miserable.

    But a blessing in disguise it was, as Elder Feng''s attitude seemed to appreciate the subtlety of the situation, now looking at this son-in-law, who hadn''t achieved much, with a new perspective.

    Considering Fang Fei''s position, and that he was in charge of the entertainment industry, had he been so inclined, who knows how many women would have willingly thrown themselves at him?

    "Hehe, since we still haven''t started eating yet, let me give Fang Fei a couple of acupuncture needles," Ge Dongxu said with a chuckle, having already considered this issue, which was why he had made a point of scrutinizing Feng Jiahui earlier, noticing that she too showed signs of excessive fatigue. This assured him in bringing up the subsequent issue, while also finding Fang Fei quite likable.

    Of course, Fang Fei''s honesty had a lot to do with Elder Feng, no doubt.

    But no matter how you look at it, this was already quite remarkable!

    "We really can''t thank you enough, Dongxu. I did just ask the kitchen, and it''ll be about another fifteen minutes before we can start. What do you think?" Feng Jiahui quickly said, with Fang Fei promptly joining in with his own thanks, looking at Ge Dongxu with involuntary respect in their eyes.

    Helpless as they were, recalling the words Ge Dongxu had just spoken, as well as the times they had almost failed to control their own desires lately, Fang Fei felt waves of fear.

    Today, he had truly learned what it meant when they said a doctor could save lives but also take them!

    ps: Three updates today, with two in the morning and another around 11 a.m.

 Chapter 236 Six Meridians Divine Sword

    "That''s enough." Ge Dongxu smiled, then gave Fang Fei a few needles, and soon Fang Fei felt his somewhat groggy and fatigued mind clear up a lot, his gaze towards Ge Dongxu filled with increased reverence.

    After giving Fang Fei acupuncture, Ge Dongxu wrote a prescription for Feng Jiahui.

    After all these tasks were completed, Feng Chenqing came in to announce that the kitchen was ready, and they could start the meal.

    The Feng Family was relatively prosperous, totaling over twenty people with sons, daughters-in-law, grandchildren, the security chief, and nursing staff, so they split into two tables.

    The grandchildren and staff sat at one table, while young Ge Dongxu was pulled by Elder Feng to sit beside him, with other dignitaries sitting below him, making Ge Dongxu feel somewhat uncomfortable, almost wishing to join Feng Chenqing''s table and mingle with the younger crowd.

    The meal lasted from afternoon till evening, quite lively and joyful. During this time, Feng Chenqing and others all came up to toast Elder Feng, and after toasting Elder Feng, they toasted Ge Dongxu.

    Feng Chenqing was okay, having spent time with Ge Dongxu, but the other young people had not, and when they toasted, they couldn''t help but use curious looks to size him up, like Feng Jiahui''s daughter, a peculiar and sprightly girl, who even encouraged her cousins to take turns toasting Ge Dongxu.

    There was no help for it, young people always feel somewhat unreconciled that someone as young as Ge Dongxu would sit with their grandfather, while their own parents had to sit at the lower seats.

    However, after a few rounds, the third generation of the Feng Family grew somewhat convinced, as this young man from the South, Ge Dongxu, was not only generous in drinking, without any airs, but also drank as if it were water, many drinks later and still without any issue, not even visiting the restroom once, whereas they, drunk, had visited the restroom multiple times.

    "Haha, these kids, thinking they could outdrink you when you can even drive out the cold from inside me; now they see how capable you are," Elder Feng said with a hearty laugh as he watched his grandchildren making frequent trips to the restroom.

    "Dongxu, how much can you actually drink?" Feng Guozhen, as a military man, was a strong drinker, after seeing Ge Dongxu drink so much without a problem, he couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    "It depends on how I drink it. If it''s a normal drinking session, I''m actually about at my limit now, any more and I''d be drunk. But if I use some tricks, then I could really drink without ever getting drunk," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Eh, you mean you didn''t use any tricks earlier?" Elder Feng, hearing this, couldn''t help but express surprise. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "My master loved his drink in his old age, and I''ve been soaking in wine since I was very young, so I didn''t need to use any tricks to drink with them," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Dongxu, you''re not saying your tricks are like that Six Meridians Divine Sword, directly forcing the wine out, are you?" Feng Guozhen asked with a face full of surprised curiosity.

    "Pretty much," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Really? Really? Let''s see a demonstration!" Fang Wanyue, Feng Jiahui''s daughter, just returned from the restroom, heard this and suddenly brightened up, excitedly asking Ge Dongxu to show them.

    She had heard from her mother and her cousin Feng Chenqing that Ge Dongxu was a remarkable person with incredible skills. However, after meeting him and seeing he looked no different from an ordinary young man, not dressed in long robes with flying hair like the characters in TV and movies, she naturally was a bit skeptical.

    Of course, she was very impressed by his drinking skills now.

    "Watch your manners, do you think this is a circus act?" Elder Feng, hearing this, immediately put on a stern face and scolded her.

    Elder Feng''s face darkened, and Fang Wanyue''s complexion turned pale in an instant.

    Elder Feng had always been strict in family education. Not only Fang Wanyue, but even her parents and uncles deeply revered the elder.

    "Hehe, Elder Brother Feng, it''s natural for Wanyue to be curious, and besides, this is just a minor trick. Since everyone is in high spirits today, I''ll demonstrate a little," Ge Dongxu said, seeing Fang Wanyue''s pale face and feeling somewhat uneasy; he laughed and smoothed things over.

    "These young people have no idea what impressive means, Dongxu, you shouldn''t..." Elder Feng softened his expression upon hearing this and gave Ge Dongxu a bitter smile.

    "Hehe, it''s all right, Elder Brother. For me, this is really just a minor trick. Just don''t spread it outside," Ge Dongxu laughed, then asked someone to bring over an empty bowl and set it on the table.

    At this point, not to mention the youngsters who had already forgotten Elder Feng''s earlier scorn, everyone looked curiously and expectantly at Ge Dongxu and the empty bowl on the table, even Elder Feng''s face revealed a hint of curiosity and anticipation.

    Although he had persisted in Breath Control for over seventy years, it was after all only the most basic introductory Kung Fu. He could manage to use his energy to sweat out some alcohol, but as for forcing alcohol through his fingertips like the "Six Meridians Divine Sword" described in novels, that was far beyond his reach.

    Under everyone''s gaze, Ge Dongxu gave a faint smile, brought his middle and index fingers together, and a stream of alcohol shot out from his fingertips, continuously falling into the bowl.

    This scene, typically only seen in novels and television, was something those present had never imagined witnessing in reality; they stared transfixed. The younger ones, in particular, couldn''t help but show looks of awe and admiration towards Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu briefly demonstrated, then promptly stopped.

    There was a moment of silence, then after a while, the youngsters began to clap, and Fang Wanyue even exclaimed, "Wow, the Six Meridians Divine Sword, Dongxu, you''re amazing!" Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Dongxu, today I''ve truly seen something spectacular. It''s unfortunate that my father said you have no interest in politics; otherwise, I would definitely try to recruit you to the military," Feng Guozhen said with a look of regret.

    Feng Guozhen was a commander in a certain military group, and while the military had its share of experts trained in internal Cultivation Techniques and Hard Qigong, none could perform like Ge Dongxu, forcing alcohol out through their fingers.

    The young people were completely stunned by Ge Dongxu''s performance and were intensely curious. Feng Chenqing, the eldest grandchild of the Feng Family, couldn''t help but ask, "Dongxu, you''re so impressive, can you perform the legendary Qinggong?"

    Qinggong was the dream of countless young people in Huaxia Country, including Feng Chenqing, the eldest grandchild of the Feng Family.

    Regarding this question, Liu Jiayao had asked Ge Dongxu before, and at that time, Ge Dongxu couldn''t answer. This time, he didn''t respond but merely gave a noncommittal smile.

    However, this noncommittal smile brought silence to the entire room, everyone looking at Ge Dongxu with incredulous and reverent eyes, even Elder Feng was greatly moved.

    He was very aware of a special department in the country, which had recruited many extraordinary individuals, but as far as he knew, none could actually perform acts like scaling walls and rooftop-running; they merely jumped higher or further than ordinary people.

    ps: Another chapter at eleven.

 Chapter 237 Arent You Going to Call Mr. Ge to Arrange a Meeting?

    After a brief silence, Fang Wanyue wanted to ask Ge Dongxu to showcase something impressive to everyone, but before she could speak, her mother grabbed her and glared at her fiercely.

    This time was different from the last because Ge Dongxu chose to smile without saying a word, which meant that the question should be asked and left at that, and not pursued further. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The family reunion dinner ended in the evening.

    Since Feng Guoqiang, Feng Guozhen, and others were important and busy figures, they stayed a little while after dinner to chat with Elder Feng and Ge Dongxu before taking their leave, leaving behind a group of three generations of the Feng Family to continue keeping Elder Feng company in the courtyard house.

    "I''m old, and you young people should have your own lives. Dongxu, it''s rare for you to visit Jiangnan, so let Chenqing and the others take you around. No need to specifically stay here just to keep this old man company," said Elder Feng with a smile after Feng Guoqiang and the others had departed.

    Given the significant age difference between them, Ge Dongxu indeed did not have much to talk about with Elder Feng for an extended period. Hearing this, he responded without fuss, "Alright then, Senior Brother should also rest early. I''ll give you a slight massage tomorrow morning."

    "Good, go on," Elder Feng said with a smile as he patted Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    After saying this, Elder Feng specifically instructed Feng Chenqing and the others.

    "In this bitter cold and late night, there isn''t much else to do. How about we find a club, get a place to have a drink, and sing some songs?" After leaving Elder Feng''s room, Feng Chenming hunched his shoulders and then looked at Ge Dongxu as if asking for his opinion.

    Feng Chenming, the son of Feng Guozhen, had the peculiar fact that his father was a military man, yet he had no interest in the military. Instead, he had an interest in business, had established a foreign trade company that dealt with wine from France and was doing quite well.

    Because of this, he frequented clubs and similar venues more often than his older brother, Feng Chenqing, who worked in government, and he was well-connected.

    "Yeah, sure, let''s go to Di Jin. I''ve got a New Year charity fundraising event there tomorrow, so it would be great to see how the preparations are going," Feng Chenming had hardly finished speaking when Fang Wanyue immediately clapped her hands in approval.

    "You girl, why are you jumping in? We have to see what Dongxu thinks," Feng Chenqing, the eldest, said with a joking glare at Fang Wanyue and then also turned his gaze to Ge Dongxu.

    "Ah, that''s right, Dongxu, I heard from my mom that you''re also a big boss, and Qinghe Herbal Tea is your company''s product," said Feng Chenqing, prompting Fang Wanyue to look at Ge Dongxu with shining eyes as she seemed to remember something.

    "Wanyue, don''t cause trouble, okay? You and your group..." Feng Chenqing and the others exclaimed in frustration upon hearing this and, without waiting for Fang Wanyue to finish, hastily interrupted her.

    "Hey, what do you mean, dear cousins? I''m doing charity work here¡ªI''m trying to help poor children in the mountains who can''t afford to go to school. How is that causing trouble?" Fang Wanyue immediately retorted with a sense of indignation.

    "Doing charity work to help poor children in the mountains is indeed a good thing." Hearing Fang Wanyue, Ge Dongxu was reminded of Liu Jiayao''s support for children in the mountains and couldn''t help but feel more fondness and goodwill towards Fang Wanyue, interjecting with a smile.

    "See, see, even Dongxu says so!" Fang Wanyue said triumphantly, puffing up her chest proudly upon Ge Dongxu taking her side.

    Ge Dongxu had a status that was anything but ordinary. Once his "elder" spoke up, people like Feng Chenqing had no choice but to exchange glances and show a wry smile, not daring to make any more jokes about Fang Wanyue.

    Seeing that Feng Chenqing and the others did not dare to make fun of her anymore, Fang Wanyue looked at them triumphantly. Then, her eyes filled with anticipation, she turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Dongxu, just now you mentioned that helping children in poor mountainous areas was a good thing. Shouldn''t you, as the boss, also make a gesture?"

    "Of course!" Ge Dongxu replied as if it were a matter of course, although he faintly felt that something might be amiss.

    "That''s great! I knew you were a good person since you became martial brothers with Grandpa. Now, as one of the initiators of the New Year''s charity donation event of the Jingcheng Red Detachment of Women, I formally invite you to attend our New Year''s charity event tomorrow night." Fang Wanyue immediately jumped up with joy upon hearing this. Then, as if performing a magic trick, she quickly took out an invitation from her handbag and handed it to Ge Dongxu with both hands, quite seriously.

    Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned, but he still accepted the invitation and smiled, "Then I''ll definitely be there to show my support tomorrow."

    By now, he had begun to understand that this charity event might be a bit special, but it was definitely inappropriate to back out since he had already given his word. Besides, Ge Dongxu also believed that, regardless of what was special about the evening, the intention was always good, and he shouldn''t dampen Fang Wanyue''s enthusiasm.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu accept the invitation and clearly state that he would definitely support the event tomorrow, Fang Wanyue immediately gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile. She even made a special bow, then triumphantly said to Feng Chenqing and the others, "My dear cousins, do you think you have the choice not to come now?"

    Feng Chenqing looked at Fang Wanyue''s triumphant expression, his face a mix of chagrin and a wry smile. Since Ge Dongxu had clearly stated he would attend, how could they possibly not go?

    "Since I''m going to the Empire Club anyway tomorrow, I won''t go tonight. I''ll rest early; after all, it''s bitterly cold outside. Just go about your business, don''t worry about me," Ge Dongxu said, naturally not the type to enjoy crowded, opulent places. After accepting Fang Wanyue''s invitation, he thought about it and then spoke.

    ...

    At a hotel in Jingcheng, at the coffee bar.

    "Shiyi, since Director Wu doesn''t have any arrangements for tonight, why don''t you call Mr. Ge and invite him out?" Liu Manman, the leading actress of the Jiangnan Province Entertainment Station, said to Wu Shiyi.

    "Maybe I shouldn''t. He obviously comes from an influential background; I better not bother him with a call," Wu Shiyi said, tempted, but she quickly shook her head.

    "You''re still too young, there are some things you don''t understand! Precisely because he''s an influential man, that''s all the more reason to call him. In our line of work, if you want to climb the ladder and fend off the advances and ill intentions of some powerful and wealthy men, you always need somebody in your corner. Since Mr. Ge left you his phone number, it''s clear he''s somewhat interested in you, and I think he''s a decent person, not like those sleazy veterans you find in those circles. Besides, he''s still young. If you don''t take action now, before too long, a man like him won''t lack for women around him and he''ll have forgotten all about you," Liu Manman stirred her coffee gently, her movements graceful, speaking unhurriedly, with a hint of melancholy in her eyes.

    Wu Shiyi looked at Liu Manman and felt her melancholy gaze, her heart stirring mildly, reminded of the rumors within the station alleging that Liu Manman''s rise was linked to a leader from the province. But recently that leader had been taken down, and now there were rumors in the station that she might be replaced in the new program.

    Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire

    At first, Wu Shiyi did not believe it, because Liu Manman had always seemed to her a dignified and cultured woman with literary talent. Now, having heard her say this and sensing the melancholy in her eyes, for some reason, she started to believe those rumors.

    "But, but, I, I don''t have the confidence! What if he ignores me?" After a while, Wu Shiyi looked at Liu Manman and said with a wry smile.

 Chapter 238 This guy doesnt play by the rules at all!

    "Men are never not attracted to beautiful women. You''re young, beautiful, and your figure is so sexy, trust me, no man could resist that. Besides, even if he rejected you this time, there''s no harm in calling to nurture some feelings; after all, you have nothing to lose. And if you don''t mind, I can come with you later, so you won''t have to worry about awkward silences," said Liu Manman.

    "Then I''ll give it a try," Wu Shiyi bit her rosy lips and said, but in her heart, she remembered how she had joked with Ge Dongxu on the plane about not calling her with harassing calls, and how Ge Dongxu had responded with the same remark. At the time, she had taken his words as a joke, but now she found herself actually about to make such a call. Thinking of this, Wu Shiyi couldn''t help but feel a bit self-mocking.

    However, Wu Shiyi also knew that what Liu Manman had said earlier was the complete truth. If she truly wanted to make a name for herself in this industry, to rise to the top and protect herself from some people''s unspoken rules, she would need someone backing her.

    Just like before, when Shangguan Yunfeng had designs on her, she could pretend to be oblivious for a short while, but could she keep it up forever? This thought led Wu Shiyi to recall the shift in Director Wu''s attitude towards her after they had exited the shuttle bus.

    With these thoughts, Wu Shiyi no longer hesitated. She took out her phone and dialed the number Ge Dongxu had left her.

    ...

    Over at the siheyuan, just after Ge Dongxu had told Feng Chenqing and the others not to schedule any activities for the evening and that they would go to the Di Jin club the next night, his phone began to ring.

    Picking it up and seeing an unfamiliar number, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat surprised but still answered the call.

    "Hello, who is this?" Ge Dongxu asked after picking up the call.

    "Mr. Ge, you can''t possibly be that forgetful. We were on the same flight earlier today." No sooner had Ge Dongxu finished speaking than Wu Shiyi''s voice, now coquettishly sultry, came through the phone.

    Despite Ge Dongxu''s typical imperviousness to the elements, Wu Shiyi''s voice made him shiver in surprise as he hurriedly said, "Hold on, hold on, look here, Wu Shiyi, it hasn''t even been that long, how has your voice changed so dramatically? And what''s this ''Mr. Ge'' business? Can''t you speak normally?"

    "I... I..." On the other end of the line, Wu Shiyi had prepared to throw caution to the wind and deploy her "seventy-two martial skills" to seduce Ge Dongxu, hoping to make him her patron and protector in the entertainment world. But she was dumbfounded by Ge Dongxu''s plainly unromantic response just as she was getting started.

    The guy was not playing by the rules at all!

    Shouldn''t he have laughed wickedly a few times or made a few frivolous comments?

    "So, what is it? You called me for a reason, right?" Seeing that Wu Shiyi had suddenly become hesitant again, Ge Dongxu thought she had something she needed help with but was too embarrassed to say, so he took the initiative to ask.

    "Actually, there''s nothing much, just that I''m free tonight and was wondering if you are too. I wanted to invite you out for a coffee," Wu Shiyi, thrown off by Ge Dongxu''s unexpected tactics, finally resorted to an earnest reply.

    All thoughts of flirting, teasing, and banter just couldn''t be voiced anymore.

    Ge Dongxu, observing Feng Chenqing and the others'' troubled expressions, was already feeling a headache. Evidently, after he announced he didn''t want activities planned, Feng Chenqing and the rest felt they hadn''t fulfilled their duties as hosts, letting down his grandfather''s trust. But if he really went, he was actually not interested in those clubs, and there was an inherent generational gap between him and Feng Chenqing''s group, making their interactions less casual. Now, Wu Shiyi''s call came at just the right time, so Ge Dongxu almost immediately replied, "Oh, it''s just that? I don''t have any pressing matters either. Just tell me where, and I''ll head over."

    Wu Shiyi hurriedly reported the location, and Ge Dongxu noted it down, then hung up the phone and turned to Feng Chenqing and the others with a smile, "You don''t have to trouble yourselves to make time for me tonight, I have plans. Chenqing, if you''re free, could you drive me there?"

    "Of course, I''m free," Feng Chenqing hurriedly responded with a smile. Although he addressed Ge Dongxu by name, Ge Dongxu was after all known to his grandfather as a fellow apprentice, so taking him to tourist attractions was one thing, but to specifically accompany him to drink and chat, Feng Chenqing actually felt somewhat restrained and uneasy. Since Ge Dongxu had already made plans, he was relieved. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    So, Feng Chenqing drove Ge Dongxu to the location Wu Shiyi had arranged. Now that he knew Ge Dongxu was a martial arts expert, even capable of the "Six Meridians Divine Sword," there really was nothing to worry about. However, before leaving, he couldn''t help but ask Ge Dongxu to call him anytime if he needed anything.

    "Hehe, go about your business, you don''t need to worry about me anymore. If there''s really something, I''ll give you a call," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he got out of the car, patted Feng Chenqing on the shoulder, and then turned to walk towards the caf¨¦ by the street. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    As soon as he pushed the door open, he was greeted by the strong aroma of coffee. The waiter was about to ask Ge Dongxu how many people were in his party when Ge Dongxu had already spotted Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman waving at him from a window seat.

    Liu Manman was probably worried about being recognized, so she deliberately wore a pair of large black-framed glasses tonight, concealing some of her charm and adding a touch of a female intellectual. Because variety entertainment shows at that time were nowhere near as popular as they are in our current real society, and it was a local station''s show, hardly anyone recognized her at night, especially with the large black-framed glasses. Even if someone felt she looked familiar, since this was the capital city, they wouldn''t dare to be sure.

    But Liu Manman, having become the leading lady of the Jiangnan Provincial Entertainment Channel, naturally need not speak of her figure or attractiveness. Dressed in a high-necked white wool sweater, her chest''s prominence was immediately accentuated as she waved her hand.

    As for Wu Shiyi, despite being a newcomer and perhaps slightly lacking in poise compared to Liu Manman, she did not fall short in other aspects, especially in terms of figure ¨C Wu Shiyi was more youthful and spirited. Her wave caused such a surge that many of the nearby men turned to look at her.

    Ge Dongxu had a slight fondness for Liu Manman, the TV hostess. Although she hadn''t been overly enthusiastic towards him on the plane, she also hadn''t looked at him with arrogant eyes.

    Details reveal character.

    For a hostess as well-known as her, this was indeed rare and commendable.

    So, seeing that Liu Manman was also there, Ge Dongxu actually breathed a sigh of relief. When a single man and a single woman are together, and they are not boyfriend and girlfriend, sitting together for coffee always risks some awkward silences. With three people, that definitely would not be the case.

    "I already have friends over there," Ge Dongxu pointed towards where Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi were and said to the waiter.

    The waiter''s mouth gaped open in surprise, clearly not expecting that these two young women, both beautiful, sexy, and full of poise, and dressed so fashionably, would arrange to have coffee with a young man dressed so plainly late at night.

    In her view, women like Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi would arrange to meet with, if not a wealthy scion decked out in name brands, then at least a successful professional or someone wealthy.

    "Sir, please!" However, the waiter quickly recovered from her surprise, made a welcoming gesture, and cleared the way.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and nodded at her, then walked over to where Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi were sitting.

    ps: Still going with two consecutive updates, the third update will be at eleven noon. Begging for your ticket support, thank you.

 Chapter 239 Stop Calling Me Young Master

    Lin Manman was clearly more experienced than Wu Shiyi in social interactions. As soon as she saw Ge Dongxu approaching, she quickly stood up to pull out a chair for him and then apologetically smiled, "Mr. Ge, I heard Shiyi invited you for coffee, and I took the liberty of joining you without asking. You don''t mind, do you?"

    The gentlemen nearby, who were paying attention to Lin Manman, almost popped their eyes out when they saw her stand to pull out a chair for Ge Dongxu.

    They couldn''t figure out why a plainly dressed young man like Ge Dongxu deserved such attention from such a beauty.

    "The fine lady yet again goes to the boor!" many men inwardly lamented with regret. Enjoy exclusive adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

    "Not at all. You''re a beautiful celebrity after all. If my classmates knew I was having coffee with you, they''d be green with envy," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh as he took his seat.

    "Mr. Ge, you have quite the sense of humor. In front of you, how can I be worthy of being called a beautiful celebrity?" Lin Manman flirtatiously rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and playfully scolded.

    It must be said that everything about Lin Manman, from her laughter to her expressions, not only stirred men''s hearts but also made everyone feel comfortable and at ease.

    "Haha, stop calling me ''mister,'' it gives me goosebumps. Let''s just use names instead," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh as he settled into his seat.

    "Isn''t calling you by name too casual? If you don''t mind, we''ll call you Brother Xu," Wu Shiyi, who was also a host, was quick to react. She had been a bit nervous when she saw Ge Dongxu at first and let Lin Manman take the lead. Now seeing that Ge Dongxu was as down-to-earth as he was on the plane, her mind raced as she gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile.

    "You''re probably older than me, it wouldn''t be right to call me brother," Ge Dongxu said slightly startled, smiling.

    "No, not at all. Women always hope to stay eighteen forever," Wu Shiyi said with a laugh, winking playfully at Ge Dongxu.

    "And most girls hope to have an older brother to cherish and take care of them," Lin Manman added, giving Ge Dongxu an alluring wink with deep meaning.

    "Well, if you insist. But I''m really not cut out to be that kind of brother who knows how to pamper and take care of others, as they do in Korean dramas." Since Lin Kun, Yue Ting, and Jiang Lili were all older than him and still called him Brother Xu, Ge Dongxu was accustomed to being called ''brother'' by older girls. Seeing them blinking and flirting, he found it hard to refuse. After all, which man wouldn''t like to be called brother by beautiful women? So, Ge Dongxu nodded smilingly.

    "Wow, Brother Xu, you watch Korean dramas too!" Lin Manman looked at Ge Dongxu in surprise.

    Korean dramas were just beginning to catch on in Huaxia Country at that time; many people still preferred watching Hong Kong and Taiwanese dramas.

    "A friend likes them, so I watch along with her," Ge Dongxu chuckled, referring naturally to Liu Jiayao.

    "Brother Xu, you''re lying!" Wu Shiyi suddenly pouted.

    "How am I lying?" Ge Dongxu asked, puzzled.

    "If a guy like you is willing to watch Korean dramas with a friend, how can you possibly not know how to pamper and take care of girls?" Wu Shiyi exclaimed.

    Stunned by her words, Ge Dongxu then laughed, "Alright then, I didn''t realize the expectations were so low." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You might be surprised, but actually our demands as women are so low, it''s just that men don''t understand," Lin Manman said with a smile, then asked Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, what coffee would you like to drink?"

    "I prefer tea, and I''m not particular about coffee, you can order for me," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    In recent years, coffee had become wildly popular among the younger generation in Huaxia Country, as if drinking coffee was the only way to show a little bourgeois taste. Consequently, coffee shops had sprung up like mushrooms after the rain. The young nobles in higher circles were even more particular about their coffee; they not only cared about brands, such as Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee or Indonesian Kopi Luwak, but also insisted on freshly ground and brewed coffee, as if only that would reflect their taste.

    This was the first time Lin Manman had heard a ''young noble'' like Ge Dongxu who was not particular about coffee, preferring tea instead. She was slightly taken aback, then immediately smiled broadly and said, "Next time I''ll know, to invite Dongxu out, it should be for tea. But for this time, Dongxu, please indulge us girls, I will order the same for you as us."

    "Hehe, no problem," Ge Dongxu replied with a laugh.

    So Lin Manman ordered the same coffee for Ge Dongxu as they were having.

    Wu Shiyi and Lin Manman were both very sexy and beautiful women, and both being hosts, were naturally very articulate. Intent on pleasing Ge Dongxu, they managed to make this young man feel very comfortable, making him more talkative than usual.

    Of course, this was also because Ge Dongxu found Wu Shiyi and Lin Manman to be decent people, unlike Ye Qianqian, who he wouldn''t bother to give a second glance, even if she stripped naked to impress him.

    "Dongxu, we''ve almost finished our coffee, and if we drink more, we might have insomnia tonight. How about we go to KTV to sing?" around nine o''clock, Lin Manman suggested.

    "It''s a bit late, let''s skip it," Ge Dongxu glanced at his watch and hesitated before responding.

    "It''s not late, the nightlife is just getting started! And Dongxu, let me tell you, Manman sings really well," Wu Shiyi said.

    "Hehe, Dongxu, Shiyi is also great. It''s rare for others to hear us sing live," Lin Manman added.

    Since they were all familiar with each other and Wu Shiyi and Lin Manman affectionately addressed him as ''Dongxu brother'', after their words reached this point, Ge Dongxu felt it would be rude to decline as it might appear that he wasn''t interested in hearing their singing.

    "Alright, since I have nothing else to do, let''s go sing. But I must state beforehand that I''m mainly going to listen since I''m not really good at singing myself," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    So the three of them left the coffee bar and took a cab to KTV.

    At KTV, they reserved a small private room, then ordered some alcoholic drinks, beverages, and snacks.

    Lin Manman and Wu Shiyi, as expected of hosts, sang extremely well. Not only that, but their singing also diverged from ordinary women; they moved their bodies freely and naturally with the rhythm of the music.

    Both of them had fantastic figures, with all the right curves in all the right places, and their body movements provided Ge Dongxu not only a visual treat but also a sort of physical and emotional torment.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu had been quite intimate with Liu Jiayao in bed recently and had seen quite a few "big scenes," which considerably strengthened his resistance. Thus, he could still comfortably sit on the couch and enjoy, otherwise he might have ended up with a racing heart, flushed cheeks, and a dilemma of wanting to look but feeling scared to.

 Chapter 240 Are you looking down on me?

    The two took turns singing, and would drink alcohol to soothe their throats after singing as casually as if it were water, to Ge Dongxu''s surprise.

    As a high school student with not much exposure to society, Ge Dongxu had no idea that women like Liu Manman often appeared glamorous on the surface but were compelled to attend many social gatherings behind the scenes.

    In such settings, the tables were mostly filled with wealthy people or officials, and women like them were expected to drink and smile. Newcomers like Wu Shiyi had even less say¡ªthey simply had to drink whenever asked. Liu Manman, however, had endured long enough to gain some status and could sometimes assert herself, managing to have some choice in the social interactions.

    Of course, this depended on who she was dealing with. For someone like Ge Dongxu, who had military license plates on his car that could directly enter the airport in the capital, she definitely couldn''t afford to put on airs.

    However, after her influential backer fell from power some time ago, her position had become quite precarious. People who used to be courteous to her, both within and outside the television station, had started to dare to tease and harass her, and some even overtly or covertly indicated their desire to sleep with her.

    "Dongxu Brother, don''t just listen to us sing; come on and have a go!" After singing for a while, the two came down to pull Ge Dongxu up to sing.

    Perhaps it was the alcohol, or maybe the intimacy of the small private room lit with dim, ambiguous lighting that made the two of them lose their reservations. When they approached Ge Dongxu to sing, they came very close to him.

    Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

    "I really can''t sing. Just keep singing yourselves; I''ll be the audience and clap for you," Ge Dongxu quickly stood up to dodge the two, saying.

    "Hehe, that won''t do. Shiyi, go and drink more with Dongxu Brother. I''ll sing to liven things up. If he drinks more, he won''t say he can''t sing anymore," Liu Manman exchanged a knowing look with Wu Shiyi and then, smiling, gave Ge Dongxu a teasing glance, picked up the microphone, and went back to singing, while Wu Shiyi wrapped herself around Ge Dongxu, insisting he drink with her.

    "Shiyi, it''s your turn now," Liu Manman said after singing two songs, stepping down for Wu Shiyi to take over, and then she herself began urging Ge Dongxu to drink.

    Liu Manman, with far more experience compared to Wu Shiyi, was very bold and had a knack for persuading people to drink.

    After taking turns, Ge Dongxu found himself coaxed into drinking quite a bit.

    Ge Dongxu had already consumed a fair amount of alcohol at the quad yard and hadn''t tried to "Cultivate" to expel the alcohol; and now he continued drinking, indeed feeling slightly tipsy. Of course, he was far from drunk, but under the stimulation of the alcohol, his mind did become slightly excited.

    "Dongxu Brother, come on and sing a song? I just want to hear your voice," Wu Shiyi urged Ge Dongxu while in high spirits from the drinking.

    "I really can''t!" Ge Dongxu shook his head.

    "Then let''s dance," Wu Shiyi suggested.

    "I''m even worse at dancing," Ge Dongxu shook his head again.

    "I''ll lead you. Besides, we''re not dancing any formal dance. Just move and sway with the rhythm of the music. Come on, come on. It''s no fun just sitting there!" Wu Shiyi insisted on pulling Ge Dongxu up, while Liu Manman had started playing some high-energy music and also came over to tug at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu, ultimately being a somewhat shy person, couldn''t withstand the fervent invitations of the two women and was eventually pulled up to join them, swaying to the rhythm of the song.

    Finally, having endured until the end of the song, Ge Dongxu quickly said, "It''s about time, let''s head back."

    "Dongxu Brother, do you look down on us? Do you think we are very...?" Liu Manman''s delicate body trembled slightly, and she looked at him intently.

    "Not at all, you and Shiyi are both great. I knew you both were great when I saw you on the plane, or else I wouldn''t have shown up here tonight," Ge Dongxu, seeing the self-mockery in Liu Manman''s eyes, couldn''t help but remember Wu Shiyi''s words on the plane about how difficult it was to become famous in their line of work. Thinking about how Liu Manman had reached her current status and the hardships she must have endured, he felt a surge of sympathy for the woman in front of him.

    Of course, the reason why a wave of sympathy emerged in his heart was that Liu Manman was a decent person. If she had been like those women who acted like proud peacocks once they gained a little bit of fame, then, just like Ge Dongxu himself said, he would definitely not have appeared here.

    S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 241 Drank Too Much

    "Thanks, Dongxu. You''re different from other men. Other men always look at us with lustful eyes, but you, you see a different side," Liu Manman said as she loosened her arms from around Ge Dongxu''s neck and looked at him seriously.

    "Heh, you think too highly of me. If you keep going like this, I''m afraid I might be rude, so let''s just leave it at that!" Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    He certainly wasn''t Liuxia Hui!

    "Hehe, so Dongxu does have feelings after all! I thought that Shiyi and I were too vulgar and lowbrow to catch your eye," said Liu Manman, her beautiful eyes lighting up as she skillfully hooked her arms around Ge Dongxu''s neck again and whispered seductively into his ear, "A young, handsome, and nice man like you, Dongxu, I like it when you''re rude!"

    As she spoke, Liu Manman''s little tongue reached out and licked Ge Dongxu''s ear.

    Ge Dongxu immediately felt a tingling sensation and, with a wry smile, quickly pushed Liu Manman away, saying, "Manman, that''s enough for today."

    Liu Manman felt a momentary stiffness in her delicate body and a hint of disappointment flashed in her eyes. If before she truly had a motive to please and flatter Ge Dongxu, at that moment, she was without any ulterior motives; she simply wanted something pure to happen with Ge Dongxu.

    Because he was a very different man!

    "Dongxu, it''s still early, and I''m not done having fun yet! If you really don''t like dancing, then keep sitting, drink, and watch us sing and dance, okay?" Wu Shiyi came over, took Ge Dongxu by the arm, and shook it, a pleading look in her eyes.

    She too was increasingly feeling that Ge Dongxu was different from other men. If one needed to climb the ranks in this industry by finding a powerful man to push her up, she truly hoped it would be the man before her, so she really didn''t want to let him go just like that.

    Seeing Wu Shiyi''s pleading eyes softened Ge Dongxu''s heart, and he could only nod with a smile, "Since you''re not done having fun, I can''t spoil your mood, right? Go ahead and continue, but don''t pull me into the dancing."

    When it came to dancing, Ge Dongxu was inwardly frightened; as a normal man, how could he stand the temptation of hot and sultry bodies?

    "Thanks, Dongxu. You really are a special man. If I hadn''t felt your reaction when I hugged you earlier, I would have doubted if you were... Hehe, I''m off to sing now," Wu Shiyi, seeing Ge Dongxu nod, happily stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek, then cheerfully went off to sing.

    Ge Dongxu touched his cheek, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

    After that, the two really didn''t continue to bother him, only occasionally coming off the stage to clink glasses with him.

    Perhaps because they felt secure with Ge Dongxu, a man they could trust, they both totally let loose, singing heartily and drinking with enthusiasm.

    As they drank more, both of them got a bit drunk and began dancing a spicy, intimate dance right in front of Ge Dongxu, their movements bold and seductive, with Liu Manman even reaching out to touch Wu Shiyi''s tightly clad and shapely behind.

    Seeing this scene, Ge Dongxu''s head felt like it was going to explode, and he quickly stood up to pull them apart, saying, "That''s enough. You''re drunk. Let''s go home."

    "We''re not drunk. We were having fun dancing! Don''t you like watching? Let me tell you, Shiyi''s got big boobs; I''ll lift her top up for you," Liu Manman slurred, her eyes blurry with inebriation, and actually started to lift Wu Shiyi''s top.

    Ge Dongxu was flustered and quickly grabbed Liu Manman''s hand, saying, "You''ve really had too much to drink. Let''s go home."

    "Lift it if you want, it''s not like Dongxu is just any man. I like showing off to a man like him!" But as Ge Dongxu grabbed Liu Manman, he forgot about Wu Shiyi.

    Intoxicated, Wu Shiyi began lifting her own top. Fortunately, she was still wearing a bra, or else she would have been totally exposed.

    "Hey, will you ever stop? Keep this up, and I won''t take care of you anymore!" Ge Dongxu urgently pulled down Wu Shiyi''s top and his face darkened with annoyance.

    The outburst from Ge Dongxu surprisingly sobered up the alcohol-fueled pair a bit, and they looked at him as if they were children who had done something wrong, tongues tied, saying, "Are you angry, Dongxu? Don''t be mad! We won''t, won''t drink so much next time!"

    Watching the two of them, Ge Dongxu had the feeling of having fire but no place to vent, and he said with a wry smile, "We agreed that we''re leaving now. Don''t make trouble on the way, or I''ll really get angry."

    "No more trouble, no more trouble!" Although they were drunk, they still understood not to anger Ge Dongxu, hurriedly shaking their heads. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That''s good, let''s go," Ge Dongxu said, ready to lead the way.

    But after only a few steps, Ge Dongxu furrowed his brows, as he realized that although the two behind him were following, they were staggering as if they could fall at any moment.

    "Next time, I definitely can''t drink with these two women," Ge Dongxu said as he turned around with a helpless smile, wrapping his arm around the waist of each woman.

    "Dongxu, you''re so nice!" As Ge Dongxu put his arms around them, the two women seemed to find their support and almost completely leaned onto Ge Dongxu''s shoulders. This way, with Ge Dongxu holding both, he truly ended up with one on each side.

    With one on each arm, Ge Dongxu left the private room, and along the way, he didn''t know how many men''s eyes he blinded.

    Damn! Such hot chicks, and two at once, it''s maddening how some guys have all the luck!

    When they went to settle the bill, Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi suddenly seemed to have a moment of clarity, as though their senses had returned, and they fought to pay, leaving the cashier dumbfounded.

    Damn, I''m not less handsome than this guy, so why does he get to mooch off women and still look so cool? With such hot chicks, I wouldn''t mind paying them!

    Of course, in the end, it was still Ge Dongxu who paid. Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

    With one on each arm, Ge Dongxu walked out of the karaoke bar, standing at the intersection, and looked at the blushing faces of the two women in his arms with a wry smile on his face.

    Great, now I have to take them back to the hotel.

    "Dongxu, I want to sit with you!"

    "I want to sit with you too!"

    They hailed a taxi, and just as Ge Dongxu managed to stuff Liu Manman into the car, she grabbed his hand, insisting on pulling him in as well, while Wu Shiyi tried to push him inside from the other side.

    This scene instantly made the taxi driver give Ge Dongxu a thumbs-up, saying, "Buddy, you''re the real deal!"

    Ge Dongxu, seeing the admiration in the driver''s eyes, felt as though jumping into the Yellow River wouldn''t cleanse him.

    Squeezed into the backseat, one on his left and another on his right, Ge Dongxu felt so breathless that he suddenly missed Liu Jiayao.

    If it were Liu Jiayao, he wouldn''t have to hold back like this! Even with Yuan Li, he would dare to make a move now. But with these two women beside him, Ge Dongxu still wouldn''t act recklessly.

    After all, Ge Dongxu was a good man, a special man.

    He wouldn''t just follow the desires of his body; he valued the emotions between men and women as well.

    There was no need to mention Liu Jiayao; theirs was a relationship that came naturally, very intimate. With Yuan Li, it seemed like lust played a bigger part, but the feelings were real, just constrained by concerns, not as deep and natural as with Liu Jiayao.

    ps: Looking for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, thank you for your support.

 Chapter 242 Misunderstanding

    Tormented all the way, the taxi finally arrived at the hotel where Liu Manman and her companions were staying.

    Walking into the lobby and the elevator arm in arm, he naturally dazzled quite a few of the hotel front desk staff.

    As the elevator doors opened, Ge Dongxu, embracing two people, was just stepping out when he saw Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian standing at the elevator door, and he couldn''t help but pause slightly.

    Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian obviously had not expected to encounter Ge Dongxu here, let alone find him with his arms around Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi. Seeing the trio in the elevator, they too paused slightly. However, a hint of jealousy quickly flashed through Shangguan Yunfeng''s eyes, and Ye Qianqian was no exception.

    Of course, the objects of their jealousy were different, Shangguan Yunfeng was jealous of Ge Dongxu, while Ye Qianqian was jealous of Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi.

    Since Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian had mocked and ridiculed Ge Dongxu on the plane, Ge Dongxu naturally did not make an effort to greet them. After a brief pause, he took Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi out of the elevator, as if he hadn''t seen them, and just as they were about to actively greet Ge Dongxu, seeing his disregard, they swallowed their words and then entered the elevator, brushing past Ge Dongxu and the others.

    "Bitch! Just as Xu Feng fell from power, she''s hooked up with Ge Dongxu, what trash?" Through the crack of the elevator door not yet fully closed, Shangguan Yunfeng watched Ge Dongxu''s hands embrace the two''s slender waists and their perky buttocks swinging, his eyes filled with deep jealousy.

    Both Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi were Shangguan Yunfeng''s type, yet he had no opportunity to get them into bed until now.

    "Spit, Wu Shiyi, this shameless woman, hasn''t known Ge Dongxu for long, and she''s already hooked up with him!" Ye Qianqian also displayed thick jealousy, with a sense of regret in her heart.

    This opportunity was supposed to be hers.

    Since the two women had room cards in their bags, it was easy for Ge Dongxu to find their rooms, though there were two rooms.

    Ge Dongxu, of course, was not in the mood to deliver them separately; thinking that Liu Manman as the leading TV starlet, probably had the better room, he used her room card to find the room, then opened the door, intending to stuff both women into one room and be done with it.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was about to open the door with the card, the neighboring door opened, and Wu Longcai, the director, came out.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu arm in arm with two people, Wu Longcai was initially stunned, but quickly regained his composure and said, "Oh, it''s Young Master Ge, good night, good night!"

    As he said that, Wu Longcai hurried back into his room, his gaze lingering regretfully on Liu Manman''s graceful figure.

    Long before, Wu Longcai had taken a liking to Liu Manman, but since she hadn''t been at the station long and he hadn''t made a move, she was picked by a provincial leader, and then there was no chance for him.

    This time, with Director Xu deposed, Wu Longcai thought that this business trip to Beijing might present an opportunity to win over Liu Manman, of course, he would not force her.

    Wu Longcai was a leader with principles and self-respect; if a woman threw herself at him and he was interested, he wouldn''t hypocritically reject her. But if the woman had no feelings for him, he wouldn''t force any unspoken rules.

    Just now, he had heard footsteps outside and thought Liu Manman had come back, hoping to chat with her and probe her intentions, to see if there was a chance for a closer encounter. Unexpectedly, when he opened the door, he saw Ge Dongxu embracing Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi.

    No matter whether it was Liu Manman or Wu Shiyi, he knew he should stay away from them from now on.

    Watching Wu Longcai retreat anxiously into his room as if afraid of ruining his good luck, this time Ge Dongxu truly felt as if jumping into the Yellow River wouldn''t cleanse him.

    Of course, since Mr. Wu had already closed the door, Ge Dongxu, with his identity and character, was not about to knock on his door to explain.

    "What is this all about?" Ge Dongxu shook his head, bemused, then pushed open the door and dragged two nearly drunken women into the room.

    Liu Manman''s accommodations were indeed different, featuring a suite that even included a guest bedroom.

    Ge Dongxu scanned the room, and looking at the two women who seemed to hang onto him instinctively, he helped them take off their coats and shoes with a wry smile, then put them to bed in the master and guest bedrooms respectively.

    "Xu bro, stay with us!" When Ge Dongxu was placing Wu Shiyi on the bed, she reached out to pull him, startling him before he quickly said, "Alright, sleep now. Don''t drink like this next time."

    Ge Dongxu tucked her hand under the covers, then fled the room as if escaping.

    No other way about it, the intentions of the two beauties were clear, and if it had been someone other than Ge Dongxu, any man might have pounced without a second thought.

    After leaving the hotel, standing at the street corner, the cold breeze sobered him up completely, making him shake his head as he recalled the events, thinking that he should avoid women like Liu Manman in the future, lest he someday fail to hold back.

    ...

    The next morning, Ge Dongxu got up early, gave Elder Feng a massage, accompanied him for breakfast, and chatted. Around nine o''clock, Feng Chenqing and Feng Chenming, the two brothers, came running, and Ge Dongxu went with them to climb Fragrant Hills. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In a hotel room, Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi sat facing each other, exchanging looks as they remembered the events of the previous night.

    As for what happened after they left Qianqian''s room, because they had drunk quite a bit, they couldn''t remember much, just vaguely remembering Ge Dongxu taking them back to the hotel, and then he probably left.

    Looking at their current attire confirmed that much. Other than not having their outer clothing and shoes on, everything else was intact.

    Remembering someone of Ge Dongxu''s status not only helped them take off their outerwear and shoes, but also left the hotel without doing anything else left them feeling incredibly complex, and somewhat lost.

    Actually, last night, they really had wanted something to happen with Ge Dongxu, even if it wasn''t for anything particular.

    After a while, a wistful smile appeared on their faces. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Man sis, what do we do now?" Wu Shiyi asked.

    "What can we do? We just weren''t destined for it. Let''s not think about it anymore, take a shower, wash up, and go eat," Liu Manman sighed deeply, her face a portrait of resignation.

    "Actually, I feel that even though nothing happened, seeing what kind of person Xu bro is, if we really need help in the future, he probably wouldn''t refuse," Wu Shiyi reflected aloud.

    "Silly girl, it''s not the same! But, no matter what, it''s not so bad this way. Now that I think about it, I should thank you for allowing me to meet such a special man," Liu Manman paused for a moment, then looked at Wu Shiyi and spoke.

 Chapter 243 Party

    "It looks like Manman is genuinely smitten this time!" Wu Shiyi said seriously as she sized up Liu Manman with a chuckle.

    "You little brat, you''ve gotten bold, daring to tease a senior!" Liu Manman''s pretty face flushed slightly upon hearing this, a fleeting look of distraction passing through her eyes before she quickly raised her fists to hit Wu Shiyi.

    "Giggle, won''t do it again!" Wu Shiyi hurriedly dodged, then seized the opportunity to dash out the door, planning to head to her room for a shower and a freshen up.

    As soon as Wu Shiyi stepped out, she saw Director Wu, Shangguan Yunfeng, and Ye Qianqian walking towards her, apparently just after breakfast.

    "Shiyi, you''re up early!" Director Wu immediately wore a warm smile upon seeing Wu Shiyi, while Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian both showed a touch of disdain on their faces.

    "It''s not that early, it''s already past eight." Wu Shiyi laughed, having no recollection of last night''s events.

    "Of course it''s early, considering how late you were up last night, you should have slept till noon at least," Ye Qianqian said sourly.

    "Qianqian, don''t talk nonsense!" Director Wu glared at Ye Qianqian, then gently asked Wu Shiyi with a smile, "Is Mr. Ge awake yet?"

    "What Mr. Ge, ah, you mean Dongxu? How would I know if he''s awake?" Wu Shiyi said, puzzled.

    "Oh, so Mr. Ge isn''t inside?" Director Wu looked surprised.

    "Director Wu, what are you talking about? We just went out with Dongxu last night to sing and drink, and after we got a bit drunk, Dongxu dropped us off and left!" Wu Shiyi paused slightly, then hurriedly clarified after realizing Director Wu''s misunderstanding.

    "I see, I thought... haha, never mind, never mind," Director Wu was also slightly startled but laughed it off.

    "This is getting interesting, delivered to the door and he didn''t want it!" Ye Qianqian immediately sneered schadenfreudely upon hearing this.

    "Ye Qianqian, what are you saying? Is that something you should say?" Before Wu Shiyi could respond, Liu Manman emerged from her room, her face taut as she scolded Ye Qianqian.

    "I, I..." Liu Manman, after all, was the top celebrity of the entertainment channel, and her anger carried a certain force, making the newbie Ye Qianqian falter and start to stammer.

    "Enough, Liu Manman. Even if Qianqian spoke rather bluntly, the point she made wasn''t entirely baseless. We all know the real story," Shangguan Yunfeng, now on the same side as Ye Qianqian and also harboring some jealousy, couldn''t help but speak up in her defense.

    Liu Manman''s pretty face immediately turned icy upon hearing this, and just as she was about to speak, Wu Longcai interjected, "Enough, what is all this mess? Let''s drop it. Also, you all have free time during the day, but there''s a dinner in the evening, and none of you should make other plans." Find your next adventure on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Director Wu, can I not attend?" Liu Manman asked.

    "You cannot." Wu Longcai replied without hesitation.

    Upon hearing this, the corners of Shangguan Yunfeng''s and Ye Qianqian''s mouths both curved into a schadenfreude smirk.

    As she felt a pang of sadness, Liu Manman said, "Then I understand."

    She knew that her status was not what it once was.

    "Tonight''s dinner involves some very important guests, crucial for whether our show can launch on schedule and for securing advertising revenues, so Manman, you really need to put your heart into it," Wu Longcai added, likely realizing that his previous response seemed a bit too harsh, and slightly hesitated before he offered an explanation.

    ...

    The Imperial Brocade Club in the capital was a venue several notches above the Jin Yi Entertainment Club where Yuan Li had held the class reunion before.

    This place was a gathering point for high society ladies and wealthy magnates, as well as elites from various fields¡ªthe annual membership fee alone equated to the hard labor of an ordinary family for several years.

    Just from the lineup of luxury and imported cars in the club''s parking lot, one could tell this was not a place for ordinary people. Even the black Audi driven by Feng Chenqing seemed somewhat out of place here.

    At the entrance of the club stood a handsome, young man dressed in a black suit, tie, and wearing an earpiece to greet guests.

    Once inside, there were internal shuttle vehicles specifically designed to transport guests between different venues and villas.

    Accompanying Ge Dongxu were the brothers, Feng Chenqing and Feng Chenming. As for Fang Wanyue, being one of the organizers, she was already busy inside with arrangements and reception.

    The charity gala was held in a standalone villa within the club.

    Upon boarding the shuttle, it maneuvered through a small path surrounded by lush greenery. Soft lamplights along the way cast a gentle glow, winding their way around, occasionally revealing buildings where lights twinkled in the dark night, giving the area a serene yet bustling atmosphere.

    Eventually, the vehicle stopped in front of a villa.

    Although it was winter, the landscape lighting clearly revealed flowers in bloom and a forest of green trees around the villa.

    A long red carpet extended from the entrance hall of the villa, across the garden, all the way to the road.

    Fang Wanyue stood at the entrance in a tightly fitted pink evening gown, radiating more femininity and an elegant, noble aura than the day before. Next to her was a short-haired young woman in an evening gown¡ªbut far more revealing than Fang Wanyue''s, featuring a hollow nude color with a closed high collar, yet the chest area was open, displaying her lofty, fair bosom, hard to ignore.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu and the Feng brothers approaching, the woman in the revealing gown''s eyes immediately lit up, her gaze intense as if a wolf spotting a sheep. She then sauntered over with her waist, accentuated by her gown like a snake''s, and reached Feng Chenqing in no time, her face filled with surprise as she exclaimed, "Wanyue told me Feng Dashao would come tonight, I thought she was kidding¡ªdidn''t expect you really came!"

    As she spoke, the woman extended her hand to take Feng Chenqing''s.

    "I am Wanyue''s cousin, so consider me one of the family. No need for your attention; you better take care of the others," Feng Chenqing smoothly dodged to the side with a smile.

    Seeing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in the woman''s eyes, but she quickly smiled and greeted Feng Chenming, and finally, her eyes settled on Ge Dongxu with a puzzled look.

    Clearly, Fang Wanyue knew the importance of discretion, aware that Ge Dongxu disliked high-profile events, so although she had invited him, she didn''t make a big fuss about it.

    "This is my friend Ge Dongxu, Dongxu, this is Miss Lin Jingwen from Yuanbo Group, a true beauty with both wealth and good looks," Feng Chenqing helped with the introductions upon seeing the situation.

    Lin Jingwen''s expression grew even more puzzled upon hearing this as she could not recall any significant figure with the surname Ge in the capital. However, she quickly put on a sweet smile and extended her fair, delicate hand to Ge Dongxu, saying, "Good evening, Mr. Ge. Welcome to tonight''s charity gala¡ªhope you offer plenty of love later on!"

    "Thank you, indeed I will," Ge Dongxu responded with a smile as he gently shook Lin Jingwen''s hand.

    After greeting Lin Jingwen and casually acknowledging Fang Wanyue, the three entered the villa.

    S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 244 Auction

    The villa''s hall was vast, with smooth marble floors and a gigantic crystal chandelier, just like the lobby of a hotel.

    By the time the three of them arrived, the place had already gathered quite a crowd, all young people. The women were uniformly in evening gowns, most dressed rather provocatively with glittering beads, as if they were movie stars about to walk the red carpet at a film festival. Interestingly, there were actually several domestically famous actresses among them.

    The men were all in branded or even tailor-made suits, which, despite some lacking in looks or physique, made them appear particularly charismatic.

    Tonight, Ge Dongxu was dressed in a Zegna suit he''d bought previously. Except for his watch, which seemed somewhat modest, everything else was fine, and he didn''t stand out too much. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Master Feng, you''re here tonight too!"

    "Young Master Feng, long time no see!"

    "Good evening, Master Feng!"

    "..."

    As people swarmed towards Feng Chenqing and quickly surrounded him, particularly the women whose eyes shone brightly upon seeing him, Ge Dongxu finally understood why Feng Chenqing was reluctant to attend the charity evening here.

    Clearly, with his status, his presence among these youngsters was bound to become the center of attention.

    Even Feng Chenming, the Feng family''s Second Young Master, was no exception. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    Ge Dongxu, the instigator who got the Feng brothers surrounded, was quick-witted. Seeing the unfavorable situation, he took a glass of red wine from a waiter''s tray and slipped alone into a corner, quietly admiring a woman in a pristine white evening gown playing the piano by the stairs.

    "Tell me, Wanyue, who exactly is Ge Dongxu? He doesn''t seem to be from the capital," Lin Jingwen couldn''t help but ask Fang Wanyue curiously at the entrance of the hall.

    "He''s from the provinces. As for what exactly he is, you don''t need to ask too much; just know that he''s a man with money. Why? Interested? If you''re interested, I can introduce you. But whether he takes a fancy to you, I really wouldn''t know," Fang Wanyue said.

    "The man is quite handsome, and he has a good physique. But my family isn''t short of money now, and all the old man wants is for me to find a second-generation official. It would be fine to play around with him, but if it got serious, my old man would definitely disagree," Lin Jingwen said seriously after thinking it over.

    "Wow, your old man would definitely disagree? Let me tell you, Lin Jingwen, if you could hook up with Ge Dongxu, it would be incredibly lucky for your ancestors. Your father would not disagree; he''d beg for such an opportunity," Fang Wanyue immediately said upon hearing this.

    Others might not know Ge Dongxu''s identity, but Fang Wanyue was well aware!

    He was her grandfather''s fellow disciple!

    "Is it really that exaggerated?" Lin Jingwen naturally didn''t believe it and rolled her eyes at Fang Wanyue.

    "Don''t believe it then. I''m just giving you a tip as a good friend," Fang Wanyue rolled her eyes back and shrugged.

    ...

    The charity evening officially began not long after.

    The event proceeded in the form of an auction, where the items on auction were mostly donated by the women attending the evening, and then the men bid on them.

    The items donated by the women were interesting: earrings, necklaces, cheongsams they had worn... and even one daring woman who donated her lingerie, immediately causing a lot of screams and fierce bidding among the men.

    Seeing this scene, Ge Dongxu finally understood why the Feng brothers were reluctant to come.

    Especially Feng Chenqing, the eldest grandson of the Feng Family, for him, this event resembled more of a farce.

    However, Ge Dongxu didn''t see anything wrong with it. No matter the method, at least they had raised funds for charity.

    Halfway through the auction, the auctioneer presented a pair of turquoise earrings once worn by Fang Wanyue, her favorite pair.

    It could be said that many of the young men and women who came tonight did so because of Fang Wanyue, so when the earrings were introduced, they immediately sparked a climax at the party.

    The bidding quickly escalated from five thousand to fifty thousand, then slowly to a hundred thousand.

    After it reached a hundred thousand, not many dared to make frivolous bids, considering that real estate prices in the capital were only around three to five thousand per square meter; a hundred thousand was indeed a substantial amount for these young men and women.

    Seeing no one willing to bid higher, Ge Dongxu, who had been silent and low-key, directly shouted out five hundred thousand, after which the room fell quiet, and many turned to look at Ge Dongxu with astonishment.

    However, it didn''t take long for the astonished looks to turn into ridicule. Many whispered, "This guy looks unfamiliar, must be new around here. What a fool, shelling out five hundred thousand just like that in hopes of gaining Fang Wanyue''s favor. Does he even consider her social status? Is he even worthy?"

    "Five hundred thousand! I bet this guy will have to live on porridge and bran for a while after this!"

    "Living on porridge and bran is the least of his concerns. Did you see the frowns on the faces of Young Master Zheng, Young Master Lin, and a few others? Who here doesn''t know they are interested in Fang Wanyue? Initially, everyone was just joining in for the fun, but in the end, it''s known that it''s these few who are competing. And this fool just had to interfere, I bet he''s going to have a hard time mingling in the capital after this."

    "Heh, definitely. But, wow, I do have to admire the guy for being able to bid five hundred thousand without even a frown, not sure what his family does."

    "True, my monthly allowance is only twenty thousand. Five hundred thousand? I''d have to save up for two years!"

    "However, I think I saw him come in with Feng Chenqing and the Second Young Master."

    "Give me a break, that must be a coincidence! With the social status of Feng Chenqing and the Second Young Master? If this guy was really close to them, wouldn''t we know?"

    "¡­"

    Amid the buzzing discussions, the auctioneer had already brought down the gavel, and then a hostess brought the pair of turquoise earrings over to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu seemed not to have heard the comments about him, nor seen the looks he was getting, and didn''t reach for the earrings. Instead, he whispered something to the hostess.

    The hostess looked slightly startled for a moment, and then, still carrying the tray with the earrings, walked towards Fang Wanyue.

    "Damn! That guy really did it for Fang Wanyue, but this is way too blatant!" Seeing the hostess walk towards Fang Wanyue with the tray, everyone in the hall understood that Ge Dongxu had bought the earrings to give to Fang Wanyue, and started whispering amongst themselves again.

    "Lucky you, Fang Wanyue, persuading me to hook up with this Ge Dongxu earlier. Turns out you wanted me to test him out!" Nearby, Lin Jingwen, seeing the hostess approach her and Fang Wanyue, gave Fang Wanyue a contemptuous look.

    "Lin Jingwen, you shouldn''t talk nonsense like that, he and I are impossible," Fang Wanyue replied to Lin Jingwen, startled by her words.

    After all, he was her grandfather''s fellow Taoist disciple.

    ps: Please don''t forget to vote with your recommendation tickets, which are generated daily and expire if not used.

 Chapter 245 She is a Newcomer

    "Poor Ge Dongxu, it looks like he wasted 500,000 yuan. Half a million! I wonder how long he has to save up his pocket money!" Seeing that Fang Wanyue clearly wasn''t interested in Ge Dongxu, Lin Jingwen exaggeratedly exclaimed with sympathy.

    "I''m warning you, Lin Jingwen, some jokes can be made, but not about him. Moreover, 500,000 might be a large sum for you and me, but for him, it''s really nothing," Fang Wanyue said, her patience finally wearing thin as Lin Jingwen''s jokes became too much. She spoke sternly, her pretty face tensing up with seriousness.

    There was no way around it; after all, Ge Dongxu was her grandfather''s apprentice. How could such jokes be spread around?

    "Is it really that serious? He looks only about twenty-something. Does he really have that much money? Who exactly is his dad?" Lin Jingwen straightened her expression and dared not joke further, but her curiosity grew even stronger.

    "He''s not like us. We still need to ask our parents for money, but he doesn''t need to because he has started making money like my second cousin, and his business is much bigger than my second cousin''s," Fang Wanyue explained, admiration glinting in her eyes.

    Since last night, when she saw Ge Dongxu''s "Six Meridians Divine Sword," Fang Wanyue had grown intensely curious about him. She had pestered her mother to tell her a lot about Ge Dongxu, eventually learning that he had started his business in his first year of high school and that his net worth was already in the billions, far surpassing their youthful peers.

    Lin Jingwen''s mouth dropped open upon hearing this. Though still somewhat skeptical, seeing the admiration in Fang Wanyue''s eyes convinced her mostly.

    These days, there weren''t many young people in the entire capital who could speak about someone in such a serious and admiring tone as Fang Wanyue did.

    Because of the 500,000 yuan, Ge Dongxu found himself unintentionally becoming one of the focal points of the gathering. Many were whispering about him, and some even began approaching him to strike up a conversation, a few casting him not-so-kind glances. This made Ge Dongxu uncomfortable, prompting him to quietly leave the hall to get some fresh air and walk around.

    After all, he had done the charity work he came for.

    ...

    "I''ve booked this villa for tonight, Qianqian. Stay here this evening," a man around twenty-six or twenty-seven years old said, wrapping his arm around Ye Qianqian''s shoulders at a table in the Ti Jin Club, his breath thick with alcohol.

    "Since Young Master Yang has asked, of course I will comply. But you must not have any naughty ideas!" Ye Qianqian took the opportunity to lean closer, almost lying entirely in Young Master Yang''s embrace.

    "Hehe, what do you mean by ''naughty ideas''? Like this?" Young Master Yang smirked and reached to touch Ye Qianqian''s chest right in front of everyone.

    "Stop it, you''re so bad, Young Master Yang! You''re pretending to be innocent?" Ye Qianqian slapped away Young Master Yang''s hand, her voice coquettish.

    "Hehe, Shiyi, you see Qianqian has agreed to stay, so you should stay too," a somewhat chubby man said with a lascivous grin as he too reached out to hold Wu Shiyi''s shoulder.

    "President Dong, you''re no good either, trying to take advantage of someone. Unfortunately, I''m not available today," Wu Shiyi said, gently batting away President Dong''s hand with a playful tone.

    "Not available?" President Dong obviously knew what a woman meant when she said she was not available. He withdrew his hand, slightly disheartened.

    "Hey, Shiyi, has your period started? I remember yours starts several days after mine," Just as President Dong was retracting his hand somewhat disappointingly, Ye Qianqian suddenly blurted out in surprise.

    But once the words were out, she seemed to realize she had said something she shouldn''t have, and quickly covered her mouth.

    The room abruptly fell silent.

    Wu Longcai and Liu Manman glared fiercely at Ye Qianqian. Who were they if not people who could instantly tell that Ye Qianqian was doing this on purpose?

    Shangguan Yunfeng''s lips curled into a schadenfreude-laden sneer, while the elaborately made-up face of Wu Shiyi suddenly showed a look of panic.

    She had never dreamed that Ye Qianqian would expose her in this matter!

    "Slap!" In her panic, the boss suddenly stood up and slapped her across the face. Discover more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Damn it, you bitch! What, you think you''re too good for me? If you don''t want to sleep with me, just say so. What''s this ''inconvenient'' bullshit? You think you''re so high and mighty? Damn it! You''re not inconvenienced. Fine, let me feel for myself to see if you really are ''inconvenient''. If you really are, then I''ll let you off."

    After slapping Wu Shiyi, the boss immediately reached toward her legs.

    Wu Shiyi quickly stood up and dodged, pressing her legs tightly together.

    Seeing this, both Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian revealed a hint of schadenfreude and satisfaction, while Wu Longcai quickly got up and blocked the boss, who was preparing to continue, saying, "Boss, Boss, I''m sorry, I''m sorry, she''s a newcomer, she doesn''t know the rules. Please be generous and don''t stoop to her level."

    Then Wu Longcai quickly turned to Wu Shiyi and shouted, "Are you not going to apologize to the boss right now?"

    "I''m sorry, Boss, I''m sorry, Boss, I don''t know the rules. Please..." Wu Shiyi, with tears in her eyes, hurriedly bowed repeatedly.

    "Not knowing the rules is simple; you can start learning them tonight. I''m giving you a chance now. Go wait for me in my room, or take off your pants right now and let everyone understand clearly," the boss said.

    "That''s a good idea. Since it''s inconvenient, taking it off should be convenient enough," said Young Master Yang, clapping his hands, seeming to thrive in the chaos.

    Wu Shiyi bowed her head, tears of humiliation welled up in her eyes, while Wu Longcai kept apologizing to the boss and Young Master Yang.

    But neither the boss nor Young Master Yang gave any face to Wu Longcai, and seeing the situation turning bad, Liu Manman pretended someone had called her and took out her phone to leave the villa.

    When Liu Manman called Ge Dongxu, he was walking alone on the road of the club.

    Last night, during coffee, they had exchanged numbers, and seeing it was Liu Manman''s call, Ge Dongxu frowned slightly. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He was still "haunted" by the events of last night.

    However, since they had embraced and held each other last night, forming a subtly intimate relationship, with Ge Dongxu''s character of valuing loyalty, it was only right for him to answer her call.

    "Is that Dongxu?" As soon as Ge Dongxu picked up the phone, he heard Liu Manman''s somewhat urgent voice from the other end.

    "What happened?" Ge Dongxu immediately asked with concern.

    "I know it''s presumptuous to make this call, but Shiyi is in trouble now. Since Shiyi and I don''t really know anyone in the capital, I had no choice but to call you..." Liu Manman said nervously.

 Chapter 246 Is He the Man Behind Wu Shiyi?

    "We''re friends, all you need to do is tell me what trouble Shiyi has run into?" Ge Dongxu didn''t wait for Liu Manman to finish speaking when he interrupted her.

    "Someone wants Shiyi to sleep with them, but Shiyi doesn''t want to, and now they''re at a standoff. That person has some background in the capital, they are ..." Liu Manman felt a warmth in her heart and quickly said.

    "Where are you right now?" a cold glint flashed through Ge Dongxu''s eyes as he interrupted again.

    "We''re in the Emperor Jin Club." Liu Manman replied.

    "I also happen to be at the Emperor Jin Club, tell me where you are, and I''ll come over right now," said Ge Dongxu, his voice cold.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. We''re currently in Building 15," Liu Manman, upon hearing that Ge Dongxu was also at the Emperor Jin Club and would come over immediately, couldn''t help but feel deeply touched and relieved, and spoke hurriedly.

    "Good, I''m coming over right now. Don''t be afraid, I''m here for you. If that guy dares to lay a finger on Shiyi, you just slap him across the face," Ge Dongxu said and then hung up the phone. He then casually hailed one of the electric carts that shuttle between the club''s buildings and said, "To Building 15."

    "Yes, sir," the driver replied courteously, and then began shuttling down the tree-lined path.

    On the way, Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and then called Feng Chenqing, "Chenqing, come to Building 15. A friend of mine is in some trouble, and it might be better if you handle it."

    "Okay, I''ll be right there." Feng Chenqing certainly didn''t dare to delay upon receiving a call from Ge Dongxu, so he hurried out of the villa with Feng Chenming and called for a car to rush to Building 15. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After Liu Manman made the call, she returned to the villa to find the situation still at a standoff. She hesitated and then stepped forward to say, "Director Dong, the girl is young, she''s bound to be inexperienced at times. Why must you take it so personally? Can''t we just let it go this time?"

    Although she had already made the call, Liu Manman hoped the situation wouldn''t escalate because, after all, Young Master Yang and Director Dong were influential people. Moreover, as to Ge Dongxu, Liu Manman still didn''t really know the extent of his background or whether he could control the situation; she really had no idea.

    "I''ll let her go this time. Why don''t you stay then!" Director Dong glanced at Liu Manman and said.

    Liu Manman was immediately left speechless.

    "What, now that you''re a bit famous, you can''t let down your pride? But don''t pretend to be so high and mighty, wasn''t it Xu Feng who used to take care of you? Sure, Xu Feng is somebody in your place, but in the capital, he''s nothing! Even before my dad, he has to behave properly. Moreover, Xu Feng has already been arrested by now. So, what do you think, why not consider it? If you agree to stay, not only will Wu''s negotiation go through without a hitch, but I''ll also let this young girl off the hook," Director Dong''s eyes narrowed lasciviously as he scoped Liu Manman''s body, obviously aware of her past dealings.

    "Why must you force someone against their will, Director Dong? In our circle, everyone has some connections behind them. Consensual is one thing, but causing a scene when it''s against someone''s will, that benefits no one ¨C don''t you agree?" Liu Manman saw that Director Dong was unwilling to budge and her face gradually turned cold.

    "Liu Manman, shut up. If Shiyi doesn''t understand the rules, do you not either?" Wu Longcai saw Liu Manman''s stubborn attitude and knew things would turn out bad, so he quickly scolded her.

    These days, rich and powerful young masters like Director Dong and Young Master Yang didn''t care about money; what they couldn''t stand was being threatened or losing face!

    Of course, if your background is more powerful than theirs, that''s a different story.

    ```

    "Wow, the headlining actress of Jiangnan Province Entertainment sure has a different air about her! According to you, Wu Shiyi has got backing too, huh? Fine, call them up, let''s see if I can afford to offend them or not." Indeed, as soon as Liu Manman said this, Director Dong''s face grew even uglier.

    "Director Dong..." Wu Longcai quickly tried to smooth things over with an apologetic smile.

    "Director Wu, these kinds of issues, if Wu Shiyi had brought it up earlier, we could''ve talked it out amicably. We''re all out here to have fun; there''s no need to spoil the mood. But to bring this up now, and you expect us to let it go? If this gets out, people will think Director Dong and I are cowards!" Young Master Yang also spoke up with a cold expression.

    "Director Wu, it''s not that I don''t want to give you face today, but these two underlings of yours keep disrespecting me. You tell me, if not earlier or later, why mention having backup now? What are you implying? Trying to threaten me?" Director Dong scoffed coldly as well.

    Seeing the situation escalate to this point, Wu Longcai knew that sweet-talking was futile, so he finally played his trump card: "I don''t know if the two of you are familiar with Ge Dongxu? Wu Shiyi indeed has a quite good relationship with Ge Dongxu, so please both of you..."

    Wu Longcai, being a local, didn''t have many connections in the capital and certainly none with any VIPs. Even people like Young Master Yang and Director Dong were big shots to him, otherwise, he wouldn''t have to ingratiate himself with them like this. Now that things had escalated to this point, all he could do was try his luck by mentioning Ge Dongxu''s name.

    "Ge Dongxu? Who''s that? Never heard of him! Yang Tian, have you heard of him?" Director Dong frowned in thought then turned to ask Yang Tian.

    "Why bother thinking about it? There''s nobody prominent in the capital with the surname Ge!" Yang Tian said disdainfully with a sneer.

    Wu Longcai''s face showed a trace of confusion, and just as he was about to further explain, Director Dong already waved his hand impatiently, "Alright, Wu Longcai, Ge Dongxu or whoever, let her call him." Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire

    "No need to call, he''s already here." Just at that moment, the door was pushed open, and Ge Dongxu walked in.

    "Brother Xu!" Wu Shiyi suddenly looked up in disbelief at Ge Dongxu, her face bearing both a handprint and tears.

    "Ge Dongxu?" Wu Longcai''s face revealed a look of surprise; he hadn''t expected Cao Cao to literally arrive as soon as mentioned.

    Both Ye Qianqian and Shangguan Yunfeng were slightly startled when Ge Dongxu arrived, but they quickly remembered the backgrounds of Young Master Yang and Director Dong, as well as their earlier remarks, and their faces soon showed a schadenfreude expression.

    "He''s the one backing Wu Shiyi? Ge Dongxu? More like Ge nothing!" Young Master Yang and Director Dong, upon seeing Ge Dongxu barge in, were first taken aback, then their expressions darkened as they scornfully cursed.

    With their status, they knew almost everyone with any significance in the circles of the capital''s young elite. They were well aware of whom they could offend and who was untouchable to them.

    But Ge Dongxu''s face was definitely unfamiliar to them, so there was nothing to fear!

    Ge Dongxu ignored Young Master Yang and Director Dong and walked over to Wu Shiyi, looking at the handprint on her face and demanded coldly, "Shiyi, tell me, who slapped you?"

    "Damn! Are you dumb or what? In a place like this, you dare to cause a scene! Let me tell you, it was me who slapped her! What are you gonna do about it?" Director Dong, seeing an unremarkable youngster behaving so arrogantly, was taken aback for a moment before speaking up with evident disdain.

    ```

 Chapter 247 It Doesnt Matter Who You Are

    "Very well!" Ge Dongxu nodded coldly, then suddenly strode towards Dong Hu. Before anyone in the villa could understand what Ge Dongxu intended to do, he had already reached out, grasped Dong Hu''s neck, and, regardless of his corpulent body''s struggles, directly hoisted him by his neck in front of Wu Shiyi.

    "Shiyi, since he was the one who hit you, you hit him back!" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    As his words fell, the entire villa became dead silent, and everyone looked at Ge Dongxu as if they had seen a ghost, Wu Shiyi included.

    She had never dreamt that the brother Xu, who had joked and laughed with her on the plane, who had been teased and entangled by her and Liu Manman just last night, occasionally showing a big boy''s bashful expression, could have such a fierce, cold, and overbearing side.

    Without saying much, not even asking about the other party''s background, he directly grabbed and lifted the man by his neck.

    "Damn!" After a while, Wu Shiyi hadn''t raised her hand to slap him, but Young Master Yang pushed Ye Qianqian aside and rushed forward, lifting his foot aiming a kick at Ge Dongxu.

    "If you think you can beat me, just try kicking," Ge Dongxu said coldly, holding Dong Hu by the neck with one hand towards Young Master Yang.

    Seeing how Ge Dongxu held Dong Hu by the neck with one hand as easily as lifting a chicken or duck, Young Master Yang shivered all over. He then realized the young man before him was very strong; how could his almost hollowed-out body by women possibly beat him?

    "Do you know who you are holding? Do you know who I am?" Although Young Master Yang didn''t dare to kick, his presence did not show any fear as he pointed at Ge Dongxu and spoke in a very arrogant manner.

    "Who you are doesn''t matter, what matters is that he hit my friend!" Ge Dongxu said coldly, then turned to Wu Shiyi again, "However he hit you just now, hit him back the same way!"

    "If you dare to hit me, you can forget about mixing in the entertainment industry ever again!" Dong Hu struggled and said.

    Originally, Wu Shiyi truly dared not hit him, but as Dong Hu threatened and insulted her, she didn''t know where she found the courage, suddenly raised her hand, and gave him a hard slap, her fingers trembling as she pointed at him and said, "Don''t think I wouldn''t dare hit you, I could just give up the entertainment industry!"

    Seeing Wu Shiyi slap him back, Ge Dongxu then released his hand, patted her¡ªmore appropriate to say from excitement or perhaps fright¡ªlightly and said indifferently, "Don''t worry, whether you can stay in the entertainment industry is not for him to decide."

    "I can''t decide? Wu Longcai, tell him, who am I? Can I decide a¡­" Dong Hu hadn''t expected to actually receive a slap and could not help speaking in frustration.

    "No need, I''ll say it. Even your father couldn''t decide about this matter, let alone you, Dong Hu," as Dong Hu spoke, a voice suddenly interrupted. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Feng, Feng Chenqing!" Dong Hu, hearing this voice, turned his head wanting to curse, but as soon as he saw the speaker and the people standing beside him, he couldn''t help but shiver.

    "First Young Master of the Feng Family, Second Young Master, what wind has brought you here?" As Dong Hu involuntarily shivered, the previously very arrogant Young Master Yang had already run up to Feng Chenqing and his brother, repeatedly bowing and wearing a smile, his eyes especially when looking at Feng Chenqing, filled with a thick sense of reverence.

    It couldn''t be helped, these two brothers, especially Feng Chenqing as the Feng family''s eldest grandson, were absolutely top-tier figures in their circle. He and Dong Hu could only be considered second or third rate in front of Feng Chenqing, not in the same league at all.

    "What''s going on, Dongxu?" However, Feng Chenqing and his brother didn''t bother with Young Master Yang and Dong Hu, they went straight to Ge Dongxu and asked with concern.

    "I''m not exactly sure, but it seems this guy wanted my friend to sleep with him, and then a conflict arose!" Ge Dongxu said.

    Hearing that Dong Hu had actually tried to force Ge Dongxu''s friend to sleep with him, Feng Chenqing and his brother instantly turned cold, and their eyes on that Mr. Dong and Young Master Yang became as sharp as knives, as if they wished they could kill them right there.

    "Mr. Feng, please listen to me, it''s a misunderstanding, a huge misunderstanding." Dong Hu, frightened by the words, almost lost his soul and hurriedly bowed repeatedly to Feng Chenqing, sweating profusely.

    "Who are these two?" Feng Chenqing slightly frowned and turned to ask Feng Chenming.

    Feng Chenqing was a top figure in this circle who normally kept a low profile, so naturally he didn''t mingle with these types of people, and thus he only felt they looked somewhat familiar but didn''t actually know who they were. Previously, it hadn''t been him who spoke but Feng Chenming.

    Since Feng Chenming wasn''t keen on a career in politics but instead dealt with imported wines and had a wide network, he knew these young masters.

    "Nothing significant, just that their old man holds a minor position at the State Administration of Radio and Television. Depending on what Dongxu and his friend decide, if they don''t want to pursue it further, then my uncle could intervene by talking to their old man. If they do want to pursue it, hehe, just looking at their conduct, I suspect that investigating all the messy things they''ve been up to over the years would certainly land them in jail," said Feng Chenming, his gaze coldly sweeping over Mr. Dong and Young Master Yang.

    At these words from Feng Chenming, Dong Hu and Young Master Yang were so scared they almost fell to the ground. Only then did they realize that Ge Dongxu, whom they had mocked as "worthless Ge," actually had a much bigger background than they had imagined.

    Listening to Feng Chenming, it seemed that even as grandsons of the Feng Family, this matter was entirely up to Ge Dongxu, and from what he indicated, they could directly involve their elders. This was enough to show that Ge Dongxu was far more powerful than they had initially thought!

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    "Dongxu, what do you think?" Feng Chenqing nodded, then turned to Ge Dongxu and asked.

    "Let''s first clarify what exactly happened," Ge Dongxu replied and then turned toward Wu Shiyi, who was already staring in shock, and said, "Shiyi, can you tell us exactly what happened just now?"

    "Mr. Feng? Mr. Feng? Ah! The Feng family from the capital! Then that person who went to the airport to pick someone up that day..." However, Wu Shiyi, seemingly not hearing Ge Dongxu''s words, murmured and then suddenly exclaimed, her eyes filled with immense fear.

    Those who also showed eyes filled with fear included Wu Longcai, Liu Manman, and others.

    Because if this Feng Chenqing was indeed a young master of the Feng family from the capital, then the identity of the people who went with him to the airport that day became very clear.

    Considering that even a second-generation member of the Feng family had personally come to the airport for pickup, how could Wu Longcai and others not be frightened?

    What kind of status must someone have to necessitate the Feng family''s second-generation members to personally come to the airport to receive them? Even the top leaders of Jiangnan Province didn''t have that kind of clout!

    Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian''s faces had turned as pale as white paper, and especially Ye Qianqian, recalling her actions on the plane and what had occurred just now, felt waves of darkness before her eyes.

 Chapter 248 You must have seen it wrong!

    "Director Wu, you''d better speak," said Ge Dongxu, seeing that Wu Shiyi was completely stunned, and could only smile bitterly as he turned to Wu Longcai.

    "Yes, yes!" Wu Longcai, upon being asked by Ge Dongxu, immediately felt unexpectedly flattered and nodded in rapid succession.

    He then recounted the incident in full detail, without omitting a single point, naturally not forgetting to mention how he had tried his best to stop it earlier.

    After Wu Longcai finished speaking, there was no need for Ge Dongxu to say anything; Feng Chenqing and his brothers had already made a decision.

    Such scum, what''s the use of letting their father give them a light scolding that doesn''t really hurt? They needed to taste real hardship!

    "You really think you''re something, don''t you!" Feng Chenqing coldly glanced at Dong Hu and Yang Shao before turning to Ge Dongxu and saying, "Dongxu, handle this matter strictly."

    "Alright, let''s go," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Young Master Feng¡­"

    "Young Master Ge¡­"

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu and the others were about to leave, Dong Hu and Yang Shao panicked and tried to stop Feng Chenqing and his brothers, wanting to say a few more good words, while Ye Qianqian and Shangguan Yunfeng hurried after Ge Dongxu, begging him with terrified faces.

    Dong Hu and Yang Shao still had no idea just how significant Ge Dongxu''s background was. In their eyes, the root of the problem always lay with the Feng brothers. In contrast, Ye Qianqian and Shangguan Yunfeng were acutely aware that this Young Master Ge was a frightening figure whom even the second generation of the Feng Family would personally come out to meet!

    But how could Ge Dongxu and the others possibly care about them?

    In the end, Ge Dongxu and the rest left in an electric cart, speeding away.

    "Damn it! What''s there to be scared of! I refuse to believe that for such a trivial young guy, for such a trifling matter, they would actually stir up the higher-ups. At most, I''d be scolded by the old man and grounded for a while!" Watching the electric cart carrying Ge Dongxu and the others disappear into the night, Dong Hu finally couldn''t restrain his curse.

    "Exactly, what''s there to be afraid of! They wouldn''t care about all this trivial mess we have here!" Yang Shao cursed as well.

    Watching Dong Hu and Yang Shao cursing away, Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian looked at them as if they were fools.

    Even now, they actually thought this was a minor issue, that Ge Dongxu was just some youngster, that he couldn''t possibly alarm the second generation of the Feng family!

    "Damn, what''s with those looks?" The two turned around inadvertently and saw the idiotic stares from the other two, which infuriated them and they immediately started cursing.

    "We''re finished!" Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian didn''t care about their fiery outburst at all, and just sat down on the ground, utterly dejected.

    "Look at yourselves, what cowards! What''s there to fear! Even if Feng Chenqing is the eldest grandchild of the Feng family, so what? It''s not like he''s the one calling the shots at the Feng family. Can he bring me down just because he wants to?" Dong Hu said upon seeing this.

    "We''re cowards? Do you have any idea who came to meet Ge Dongxu when we landed at the airport on the same flight yesterday? It was Feng Guozhen! It was Feng Guozhen!" Shangguan Yunfeng said tearfully.

    "Feng Guozhen? That''s impossible, how could that be? You must have seen it wrong!" Dong Hu and Yang Shao were completely dumbstruck upon hearing this, unable to believe what they had heard.

    "To pick up the airport with Feng Family''s young master, a man around fifty years old, all suffused with military bearing, and resembling the young master himself, and yet it''s the young master who''s driving¡ªtell me, who else but Feng Guozhen could precipitate such a scenario that requires the young master himself to drive?" Shangguan Yunfeng said with a vacant look in his eyes.

    "Thud!" With that, Dong Hu and Yang the Lesser finally collapsed onto the ground as well.

    Feng Guozhen personally picking someone up from the airport¡ªwhat level does that imply?

    ...

    "Brother Xu, what a coincidence, you''re returning to Linzhou today too?" Seated in first class, Ge Dongxu looked outside, thinking that in a couple more hours he''d see Liu Jiayao, imagining the "foolish frolicking" in bed with her tonight, feeling waves of heat inside him, when he noticed Wu Longcai and his entourage of five.

    Leading the pack was still Wu Longcai, but right behind him were Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi, chatting and laughing. When they spotted Ge Dongxu, their pretty eyes lit up.

    Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian trailed listlessly behind, especially Ye Qianqian with dark circles under her eyes and a haggard expression, clearly having not slept well the night before.

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    "Yeah, it is quite a coincidence." Ge Dongxu nodded to the trio with a smile.

    "Qianqian, switch seats with Shiyi." Wu Longcai looked up at Ge Dongxu''s seat and then turned to speak to Ye Qianqian.

    It turns out that after the incident that night, and given that Ye Qianqian had offended Ge Dongxu, Wu Longcai had become quite cold towards her. Last time was purely by chance, as she found herself alone; this time, when issuing the tickets, Wu Longcai decided to give her a seat by herself, to sit with whoever she wished, keeping clear any ambiguous ties with the newcomer¡ªeven if she threw herself at him, he''d dodge her far and wide.

    But coincidentally, Ye Qianqian''s seat ended up being next to Ge Dongxu''s once again.

    Initially, Ye Qianqian''s eyes brightened at the sight of Ge Dongxu''s seat, considering perhaps an act of mercy from above, granting her an opportunity. What she hadn''t expected was that last time, she had looked down on Ge Dongxu, bluntly switching seats with Wu Shiyi, whereas this time, she wanted to sit next to Ge Dongxu, but Wu Longcai directly stripped her of that possibility, arranging for Wu Shiyi to continue sitting with Ge Dongxu.

    It was truly ironic.

    Ye Qianqian pouted, her eyes turned red, and her tears were about to fall, yet she dared not utter a single word of protest.

    "Director Wu, you''re biased, why is it Shiyi who exchanges seats with Qianqian and not me? I also want to sit next to Brother Xu!" Ye Qianqian dared not protest, but Liu Manman was not so inhibited, her eyes gleaming with mirth as she spoke.

    At Liu Manman''s words, everyone in the first-class cabin couldn''t help but turn to look at Ge Dongxu, thinking to themselves, who is this young man to be so popular with the ladies, to have even Liu Manman vying to sit next to him?

    This was a flight heading to Linzhou, so naturally, there were quite a few people from Jiangnan Province on board, and many recognized Liu Manman. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Brother Xu, you really have charm, now two big beauties from our station want to sit with you, what do you think we should do?" Director Wu asked Ge Dongxu with a smile.

    At his words, Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi looked at Ge Dongxu with a mix of schadenfreude and anticipation, waiting to see how he would respond.

    Ge Dongxu was no fool, naturally aware that choosing either of them would not end well, and indeed, he had begun to genuinely fear their clinging to him.

    There was no way out, holding it in was painful enough!

    "Director Wu, are you complimenting me, or causing me trouble?" Ge Dongxu said to Director Wu with a lack of good humor, then turned to Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman with an apologetic smile, "Shiyi, Manman, I''m sorry, but when we get back to Linzhou, we can find time to have tea together. Today, I have some business regarding an advertisement I want to discuss with Director Wu."

 Chapter 249 Qinghe Herbal Tea, have you heard of it?

    Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman were momentarily stunned by the words, then they pursed their lips and giggled softly. Standing behind Wu Longcai, Liu Manman even gently nudged him, saying, "Director Wu, since Dongxu pointed at you, just go along with it!"

    "You, Liu Manman, how can you be so casual and jest like this in front of Dongxu?" Wu Longcai was startled by her words and quickly turned around to glare at Liu Manman, then nervously said to Ge Dongxu with a forced smile, "Dongxu, don''t mind her. The host is just used to bantering."

    Upon hearing this, Liu Manman realized that maybe she went too far with that joke for Ge Dongxu and quickly stuck out her tongue slightly at him, saying, "Dongxu bro, it just slipped out."

    "Do I look like someone who can''t take a joke?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then patted the space beside him, "Director Wu, if you keep standing, you''ll block the way for the people behind."

    Only then did Wu Longcai hastily take a seat.

    "Has the program been approved yet?" Ge Dongxu asked once Wu Longcai had sat down.

    "It''s approved, and I have to thank you for that, Dongxu," Wu Longcai sat up straight and replied.

    Seeing Wu Longcai sitting so stiffly, as if he were talking to a superior, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and said, "Director Wu, relax a bit, just like before. Otherwise, you''ll tire yourself out, and I''ll feel awkward too."

    Could it really be the same as before? Even a member from the second generation of the Feng Family had to come out to receive people at the airport! Wu Longcai thought to himself, but since Ge Dongxu put it that way, he finally relaxed quite a bit.

    "Now that the program''s been approved, have we settled on the sponsors for the ads?" Ge Dongxu asked, seeing that Wu Longcai was visibly more relaxed.

    "There are quite a few interested parties, but we haven''t agreed on a price yet. Dongxu, do you have any friends who might want to advertise at the station? If they''re your friends, I can definitely offer them the best discount," Wu Longcai said, taken aback that Ge Dongxu was indeed inquiring about the advertising business, and a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.

    At this point, apart from a couple of well-done programs on Central Television, only HN TV Station was slightly more outstanding among other local stations. That was why, although Wu Longcai had planned a very promising program, he had great expectations for it, but in terms of naming rights for the ads, he never found a company willing to meet his desired price. Originally, Mr. Dong from the capital had shown interest and offered a good price, but after the incident the day before, it was completely off.

    The amount invested in a program is naturally closely related to how much advertising revenue it pulls in. The more advertising revenue it pulls in, the more money naturally goes into producing the program, and the more money put into the program production, as long as there isn''t an inherent problem with the program itself, the better the quality and effect of the program which naturally improves the ratings. Higher ratings naturally mean there wouldn''t be worries about attracting ads.

    This can be said to be a cycle!

    Now that the program has been approved, but the advertisers have yet to be secured, this was naturally a matter of disappointment and helplessness for Wu Longcai, who held high hopes for this entertainment program.

    "It''s my friend''s and my own company, Qinghe Herbal Tea. You''ve heard of it, right?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Qinghe Herbal Tea is yours? Then Cheng Yazhou..." Wu Longcai''s eyes widened, looking incredulously at Ge Dongxu.

    Everyone in Jiangnan Province knew how popular Qinghe Herbal Tea had been this past year! Especially since Qinghe Herbal Tea was also a major advertiser on the provincial station, investing six million in advertising there just last year! It was said to be even more on Central Television, while the provincial station''s total annual advertising revenue was only about one or two hundred million.

    Wu Longcai had previously approached Li Fang Cosmetics'' Li Bisheng, as well as Cheng Yazhou and Donglin Yue''s Yue Ting, because the latter also was a major advertiser for the provincial station.

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    Unfortunately, they thought the current advertising investment was already sufficient and weren''t very optimistic about his program, hence they were reluctant to pay a high price for the naming rights.

    However, Wu Longcai quickly accepted this fact, realizing that a person who could make the Feng family dispatch second-generation figures to pick up at the airport likely owning a company shouldn''t come as a surprise.

    "Indeed he is one of the shareholders, but I am the major shareholder. I''m also the major shareholder of Donglin Yue." Ge Dongxu nodded, then added another sentence.

    Since Wu Longcai already knew about the ties with the Feng family, it didn''t matter letting him know a bit more. Moreover, Ge Dongxu wanted to discuss advertising with him, he couldn''t keep hiding things, not even revealing what company they were talking about.

    Having heard this, Wu Longcai opened his mouth but eventually ended up with a bitter smile, "Compared to you, I feel like I''ve wasted my entire life."

    "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, we just excel in different areas. If you asked me to run a program, I definitely couldn''t," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Thank you, Dongxu." Wu Longcai looked gratefully at Ge Dongxu and said. That such a significant figure could offer comfort so wholeheartedly was extremely rare these days. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, for a major figure like him to stand up for a newcomer that night was even rarer, so in addition to the deep-seated fear in his heart, Wu Longcai felt profound respect for Ge Dongxu.

    He knew this young man in front of him was not only a major figure but also a great person.

    "Let''s talk about your program. Shiyi mentioned it to me on the plane that day, and I told her if the program was good and she hosted it, I might consider the naming rights. But she didn''t seem interested in discussing it with a ''poor student'' like me," Ge Dongxu said half-jokingly.

    "Dongxu, stop teasing me. How was I supposed to know that you weren''t just a poor student but a big boss!" Across the aisle, Wu Shiyi said with a blushing face, but her eyes were full of gratitude as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Previously when Ge Dongxu was talking to Wu Longcai, Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman across the aisle were naturally all ears, stunned by what Ge Dongxu had just said, and couldn''t fathom how a young man like Ge Dongxu could not only have such extensive connections but also be the major shareholder of two companies.

    At this point, they didn''t yet know that, apart from those two, Ge Dongxu was also the major shareholder of Kunting Chain Hotels, Yazhou Printing and Packaging Company, and Qinglan Cosmetics.

    "Shiyi is really good, and her style of hosting suits the program well. The only drawback is her lack of experience, but Manman is seasoned, and having her as a partner will definitely work. I will discuss this with the leadership at the station when we get back," Wu Longcai naturally understood Ge Dongxu''s intent, glanced at Wu Shiyi, and then continued with a smile.

    The five seats occupied by Wu Longcai were next to each other, with Wu Shiyi and her group across the aisle from Ge Dongxu, and Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian sitting behind them. The conversations of the two in front were naturally overheard by the two behind.

    The moment Wu Longcai voiced this, Ye Qianqian, needless to say, regretted it so much that she wished she could open the plane''s emergency exit and jump out. This was the entertainment channel''s major program planned for the year, and originally, it had nothing to do with newcomers like them. But now? Newcomer Wu Shiyi was guaranteed a spot. This opportunity, if not for her opportunism, should have typically been hers.

    Shangguan Yunfeng''s face changed drastically. He opened his mouth, but when his gaze fell on the back of Ge Dongxu''s head, he eventually shut it quietly.

    In the program''s design, there were supposed to be two hosts, and he was a guaranteed choice. However, Liu Manman was likely not going to participate due to issues with her backing. Unexpectedly, from Wu Longcai''s words, it seemed he was about to be replaced.

    But recalling the day of the airport pickup and the Second Young Master of the Feng family''s attitude toward Ge Dongxu, Shangguan Yunfeng just didn''t dare voice any opposition, otherwise even if Wu Longcai was the director, Shangguan Yunfeng would have protested at this moment.

 Chapter 250 Are you serious? [First Update]

    Ge Dongxu smiled and didn''t express any opinion.

    He had intended to help Wu Shiyi all along, and since Wu Longcai had this idea, that was even better.

    After declaring his stance, seeing that Ge Dongxu kept silent, Wu Longcai didn''t continue discussing the choice of host but started to introduce Ge Dongxu to the new shows that the entertainment channel was planning to launch this year.

    Ge Dongxu indeed didn''t understand entertainment programs, but perhaps due to his cultivation practices, he possessed exceptional judgment when it came to the developmental direction of many issues. Therefore, up to this point, his few business investment decisions had been very successful.

    The show that Wu Longcai wanted to launch was a singing competition, not much different from the well-known "Super Girl" in our real society, except that it used the name "Happy Girl," which "Super Girl" adopted later on.

    As soon as Wu Longcai introduced this new program, Ge Dongxu felt assured that the show would be a hit if managed properly. Moreover, he gave Wu Longcai an extra few looks and noticed that Wu had a well-rounded forehead and a radiant face, indicating that he was someone with good fortune, at least for the coming years.

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    So, after Wu Longcai had roughly introduced the new program, Ge Dongxu made up his mind and asked, "Director Wu, what''s your expected price for the naming rights of this program?"

    "Seven million!" Wu Longcai hesitated before replying, a self-mocking expression on his face, not sure whether he was scoffing at his own na?ve expectations.

    Because in 1999, seven million for a new program on a provincial entertainment channel was definitely a high number. To put things in perspective, the "Super Girl" was extremely popular in 2005, and its naming rights were only fourteen million. Of course, by 2006, the price had surpassed sixty million.

    "Seven million? No wonder you haven''t secured the sponsorship rights for the program. The price is indeed rather high," Ge Dongxu said with a chuckle upon hearing this. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Deciding to invest heavily in advertising was originally a decision made by Ge Dongxu, so he knew a bit about the costs of advertising.

    "There''s no choice, my plan is grand, involving national auditions. To achieve the impact I want requires a huge investment. If I sell the naming rights too cheaply, the budget allocation from the channel for investment will surely be drastically reduced. But now that you''ve also said so, it seems my idea is unfeasible..." Wu Longcai replied with a wry smile.

    "Haha, that''s not what I meant. I mean, your price is indeed high for others. How about this, ten million, and you give the naming rights of this program to Qinghe Herbal Tea. At the same time, Donglin Yue will invest a large amount of advertising funds into this program," Ge Dongxu said, cutting Wu Longcai off before he could finish, with a smile.

    "What? Are you serious?" Wu Longcai, upon hearing this, almost jumped out of his seat, his breathing growing hurried and difficult.

    The two who also found their breaths growing hurried and difficult were Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman. As for Shangguan Yunfeng and Ye Qianqian, they were in so much agony they felt like smashing their heads against a door.

    "Do I look like someone who enjoys joking about matters like this?" Ge Dongxu asked Wu Longcai with a smile.

    "No, not at all, I didn''t mean that, I''m just... just too happy. I didn''t expect, you, you would..." Even being the director of a provincial entertainment channel, Wu Longcai was so excited that he stumbled over his words.

    "Haha, don''t get too happy just yet. I still have conditions," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Please tell me, tell me. As long as you are willing to invest like this, any condition is fine," Wu Longcai replied eagerly. Jokes aside, Ge Dongxu offering to invest at such a premium was essentially saving his program; it was the greatest support. Unless Ge Dongxu''s condition was to remove him as the director, anything could be discussed. Given Ge Dongxu''s formidable background alone, even if Ge Dongxu wanted to replace him as director, Wu Longcai had no choice but to accept his fate.

    "First, you must ensure the investment in this program is upheld and strive to make the program the best it can be," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you, Dongxu, that''s a given," Wu Longcai hurriedly nodded.

    "Second, Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglin Yue have the right of first refusal for the sponsorship of the second season, and the price can only be up to twenty million. What I mean is that even if other companies offer more than twenty million, they would still have to give the sponsorship to me at twenty million. Of course, if no other company bids that high, then we will pay the same price," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "No problem!" Wu Longcai responded without hesitation.

    Without Ge Dongxu, securing even the first season would have been a problem, let alone a second one.

    Moreover, twenty million was an amount that, unless another company was insane, Wu Longcai found no reason to refuse the offer, out of gratitude or considering the price.

    Naturally, if Ge Dongxu''s influence in the capital was also factored in, Wu Longcai wasn''t really in a position to refuse at all.

    "If there''s no problem with these two conditions, I''ll have Cheng Yazhou discuss the specifics of the contract with you when you get back, and I''ll ask Yue Ting to talk to you on Donglin Yue''s behalf," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "That''s it?" Wu Longcai blurted out in shock, wondering what kind of conditions these were.

    The first condition wouldn''t even need mentioning by Ge Dongxu, as Wu Longcai would have done so anyway because it concerned his earnings and future! As for the second condition, since Ge Dongxu had already overpaid for their sponsorship rights, having the right of first refusal at the same price was practically a given, even without mention. Of course, as for the twenty-million price tag, Wu Longcai hadn''t bothered considering it.

    Nowadays, which company would be crazy enough to spend twenty million on a provincial station''s entertainment program sponsorship? Even CCTV programs would require careful consideration.

    "Just these," Ge Dongxu confirmed with a smile and a nod.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Longcai was stunned for a good while before digesting the news. Then, looking at Ge Dongxu puzzled, he asked, "Dongxu, why do you have so much faith in my program?"

    "Don''t you have confidence in your own program?" Ge Dongxu countered. Of course, he wouldn''t tell Wu Longcai that his faith was not only in the program but also in the man''s destiny.

    "I naturally have confidence in my own program, but to be honest, not as much as you do! I''m worried about what if..." Wu Longcai said with a wry smile.

    What should have been a very celebratory and joyous occasion suddenly became a weighty pressure for Wu Longcai once he had a moment to cool his head.

    This pressure came not only from the tremendous advertising fee but also from Ge Dongxu''s trust in him, which made Wu Longcai feel that he would deeply betray this trust if he failed.

    "Don''t worry, no need to feel pressured, just do your best, and leave the rest to the market. After all, no one can guarantee one hundred percent success, but as long as you try your best, you will have nothing to regret," Ge Dongxu reassured with a smile, patting Wu Longcai''s shoulder.

    "Dongxu, rest assured, I will do my utmost," Wu Longcai, who hadn''t felt such emotion in many years, felt a sudden surge of warmth in his nose from Ge Dongxu''s reassuring pat on the shoulder.

    ps: Four chapters today, and I humbly ask for a recommendation vote on Monday. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 251 Casting Spells [2nd Update]

    The plane landed on time at Linzhou Airport.

    After getting off the plane, Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman clung to Ge Dongxu from either side.

    However, considering Liu Jiayao was waiting for him outside, and since Liu Manman was quite a celebrity in Jiangnan Province, Ge Dongxu dared not get too intimate with them here. He quickly avoided the two women and struck up a sporadic conversation with Wu Longcai. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman, being intelligent women, naturally understood Ge Dongxu''s intentions and did not push themselves on him anymore. However, their gazes towards him couldn''t help revealing some disappointment and wistfulness.

    As soon as he exited the main hall, Ge Dongxu saw Liu Jiayao waiting for him at the exit.

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    Liu Jiayao was wearing a long blue wool coat and white high-heeled long boots, standing out like a crane amongst chickens, exceptionally tall and elegant. Ge Dongxu noticed her the moment he saw her.

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao happily approached and took his hand as she saw Ge Dongxu come out.

    Wu Longcai and others, seeing Liu Jiayao with Ge Dongxu again, felt quite different than last time. Previously, they thought Ge Dongxu was punching above his weight with Liu Jiayao, but now they realized that wasn''t the case at all.

    "Ms. Liu, hello!" Wu Longcai and the others hurried forward to greet her.

    "Oh, Director Wu, you''re also on this flight?" Liu Jiayao only then noticed Director Wu and the others, expressing her surprise.

    "Yes, just happened to be on the same flight, and just happened to sit next to Brother Xu." Wu Longcai replied.

    "Brother Xu?" Liu Jiayao heard this and felt a jolt, casting a puzzled glance at Ge Dongxu, but she didn''t specifically ask and instead said with a smile, "That''s nice. I was worried Dongxu would be bored flying alone."

    "Ms. Liu is really good to Brother Xu. No wonder Brother Xu is so indifferent to beautiful women; it turns out he has Ms. Liu on his mind!" Liu Manman commented with a laugh.

    "He wouldn''t think so!" Liu Jiayao''s face turned red upon hearing this, but her eyes were filled with joy.

    Ge Dongxu secretly gave Liu Manman a thumbs up, thinking that this woman deserved to be the leading star at the entertainment station, having quite a knack for understanding social cues. Her skill in flattering was indeed admirable.

    While walking out of the exit and exchanging pleasantries, Wu Longcai and the others wisely sped up and headed towards the parking lot first, while Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao walked slowly behind.

    "You look a bit unwell; have you been too tired these days?" Wu Longcai having left, Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao with concern.

    Although Liu Jiayao had made an extra effort with her makeup and attire that day, it couldn''t hide the fatigue on her face or the redness in her eyes.

    "It should be. Because there were production issues before the year''s end, I''ve been rushing things lately. Moreover, Uncle Hua and other shareholders have pulled out, leaving a gap in the management, so there has been a lot to oversee, making it quite tiring lately. But we''re already interviewing candidates, and with a sufficient supply secured for production, things have gradually stabilized. Should be easier after a while," Liu Jiayao hesitated, then nodded as she replied.

    "Since you''re so tired, why don''t you just stay home and rest instead of coming out especially to pick me up?" Ge Dongxu didn''t think too much about it, because this really was a temporary and objective difficulty facing Liu Jiayao, which could easily lead to biased judgments. However, upon hearing this, he was deeply touched and moved.

    Actually, Liu Jiayao felt the same way. These past few days, she often felt like she couldn''t catch her breath, especially when sleeping. It felt like a stone was pressing on her heart, and nightmares occurred repeatedly. Several times, she woke up from these nightmares drenched in sweat.

    However, since she had indeed been very busy during this period, she didn''t think there was a problem with her health, so she didn''t bring up her condition in detail.

    "I just wanted to see you earlier!" Liu Jiayao said tenderly.

    ...

    In the northern suburbs of Linzhou City, halfway up Xiaoyuan Mountain in a villa, Li Bisheng was performing the Stepping on the Big Dipper ritual, muttering words. In front of him was an incense table, on which stood a thin stick with a small paper figure tied to it. The paper figure was not only painted with strange talismans, but also had Liu Jiayao''s name and birthdate written on it in fresh blood.

    After performing the Stepping on the Big Dipper for a while, Li Bisheng seemed to run out of strength, panting heavily and sitting on the ground with a thud. It took him a while to stand up again, and he dipped a brush in fresh blood, tracing over Liu Jiayao''s name and birthdate, which gave the already dried letters a chilling and bloody aura.

    "Seventy-seven times makes forty-nine, this is already the forty-eighth time. Just one more time, hehe, Liu Jiayao, you will know how powerful I am!" After finishing the tracing, Li Bisheng''s face revealed a sinister grin.

    After the sinister grin, Li Bisheng left the room and made a phone call. Soon, a young woman arrived at the villa.

    Li Bisheng didn''t waste words with the young woman; he immediately had her undress, then he whipped and ravaged her, only climbing off contentedly after sating his desires.

    After getting up, Li Bisheng looked rejuvenated, while the woman appeared very worn out.

    "You can go now." Li Bisheng handed the woman a stack of money, speaking coldly.

    The woman was weak at first, but upon seeing the money, her spirits lifted. She sweetly thanked Li Bisheng, quickly dressed, and left the villa.

    "This Art of Yin Harvesting and Yang Replenishing is really not bad. Otherwise, I might have truly exhausted myself to death with these spell castings," said Li Bisheng, after the young woman left. He got up, took a shower, and felt completely revitalized.

    Li Bisheng was only at the first level of Qi Cultivation, which made him somewhat stronger than an ordinary man; his mana was pitifully weak. The paper figure technique taught by his master was a low-level technique, nowhere near the level of the techniques passed down by Ge Dongxu. Thus, Li Bisheng''s rituals were not only reliant on Liu Jiayao''s birthdate and blood but also needed to be performed seventy-seven times to be effective, a far cry from the ease with which Ge Dongxu had tormented Lin Kun and Yue Ting in the past.

    Of course, Li Bisheng didn''t know this at the time; otherwise, even if he had the guts of a bear or a leopard, he wouldn''t dare to cast spells on Liu Jiayao.

    After revitalizing himself, Li Bisheng returned to the room and began the Stepping on the Big Dipper once more. After performing the rituals and regulating his breath for a while, he confidently walked to the incense table, looked at the paper figure fastened on the stick, and sneered, "Liu Jiayao, the real show is just beginning. I will make you kneel before me and beg for mercy!"

    Then Li Bisheng muttered some words, and tapped a finger on the chest of the paper figure.

 Chapter 252 Murderous Intent [3rd Update]

    "Snap!" In Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao, who had just pulled out her house keys, suddenly felt a piercing pain in her heart. Her hand trembled, dropping the keys to the ground, while cold sweat poured from her forehead like rain, her face instantly turning as pale as paper.

    "What''s wrong with you?" Ge Dongxu, seeing this, his face changed drastically, and he hurriedly stepped forward to support Liu Jiayao.

    "My chest hurts, hurts badly!" Liu Jiayao said with a pained expression.

    "Chest pain, how can that be?" Ge Dongxu''s face changed again, and he quickly picked her up and placed her on the sofa, then placed one hand on her wrist.

    A thread of True Qi rapidly traveled along her meridians towards her heart.

    Before the thread of True Qi even reached the heart, Ge Dongxu "saw" through the True Qi strands of dark, bloody aura coiling around Liu Jiayao''s heart.

    "Ah!" While Ge Dongxu was still investigating, those strands of dark, bloody aura suddenly converged, forming a "poisonous snake" that lunged towards Liu Jiayao''s heart. Liu Jiayao''s entire body curled up in excruciating pain.

    "Dammit, asking for death!" Ge Dongxu initially wanted to thoroughly investigate who had inflicted this dark, bloody aura onto Liu Jiayao, but seeing her in unbearable pain, he momentarily set aside his careful investigation. His face turned grim, a murderous look in his eyes; he released Liu Jiayao''s wrist and formed a Dharma Seal with his hand, pressing down on her chest.

    Ge Dongxu had now reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, only two layers behind his master, and because he had cultivated a complete and superior mental method, his mana wasn''t as robust as his master''s but as for concentration and purity, it was comparable to his master''s back in the day. This was the first time he had harbored killing intent since he had truly become proficient in cultivation, so how could the power of his strike be ordinary?

    "Boom!" Ge Dongxu''s hand pressed down on Liu Jiayao''s ample chest. Liu Jiayao seemed to hear a muffled explosion within her body. The "poisonous snake" within was instantly killed, and immediately after, the pain in her chest ceased.

    Almost at the same time, in the villa at Little Yuan Mountain, a paper effigy fixed on a stick suddenly exploded into flames, turning into ash.

    At that moment, Li Bisheng, with a malicious smile on his face and murmuring words while pressing his fingers on the paper effigy''s chest, felt as if his own heart had been struck heavily.

    "Ahh!" With a cry, he fell back heavily, blood pouring from his mouth, nose, ears, and even his eyes, quickly reddening his face and the floor.

    After a long while, the blood finally ceased to flow, and by this time, Li Bisheng was like a blood-drenched figure, his once smooth skin now showing clear wrinkles, with much of his hair turned white.

    In just a few minutes, Li Bisheng seemed to have suddenly aged into a man of sixty or seventy years old.

    "Impossible? How could this happen?" Li Bisheng stared in terror at the ceiling, disbelieving that his spell-casting could have suddenly backfired, and now his entire body was weak and powerless, with the True Qi that he had painstakingly cultivated and augmented with yin supplements now chaotically surging inside him, clogging his acupoints and meridians. From Li Bisheng''s experience, if he didn''t quickly clear these blocked points, he might not die immediately, but he would likely be bedridden for the rest of his life.

    "She must have a master by her side! It must have been that person who broke my technique!" Li Bisheng was a smart man and quickly realized it wasn''t an issue with his own spell-casting. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The fear in Li Bisheng''s eyes deepened at this thought.

    Every circle has its own rules that must be followed. In their circle, there was an absolute rule that must not be broken: using techniques to seek wealth or take lives.

    Here, "seeking wealth" refers to illicit gains, such as what Zhang Huowang had been instructed to do by Li Bisheng previously. As for taking lives, that of course refers to what he was currently doing.

    Once discovered, not only would the people from that special national department pursue him, but he would also become a public enemy among his own circle.

    The fact that the other party could break his techniques and even cause him to suffer a backlash indicated that they were not merely from his circle, but were also of higher cultivation than him.

    If this matter were pursued further, it wouldn''t matter that Li Bisheng was no match for him; even if he were, he would likely be in deep trouble.

    At this thought, Li Bisheng, enduring the pain that felt like his body had fallen apart, along with overwhelming weakness, trembled as he took out his cellphone and dialed his master.

    ...

    In a remote mountainous area in Jiangnan Province, a crescent moon hung in the sky, casting cold moonlight.

    Under the moonlight, five men in different attires surrounded a zombie. The zombie, under the moon''s glow, sparkled with a metallic black sheen, its eyes red as cinnabar, its nails long and hooked like scythes, its canine teeth exposed like sharp swords, emitting a strong stench and the smell of blood.

    Among the five men, a middle-aged man held a mirror towards the zombie. A faint white light shot out from the mirror, falling on the zombie''s body, causing it to emit a "sizzling" sound. Black liquid seeped and dripped from its body like fat being rendered, spreading a disgusting odor.

    A man who appeared to be in his seventies, with a goatee, wielded a Peach Wood Sword, locked in combat with the zombie.

    Despite his age, the man moved with agility surpassing that of the younger, dodging the zombie''s sharp claws or blocking them in time with the Peach Wood Sword.

    The zombie''s claws were as sharp as swords, but rather than cutting through the Peach Wood Sword, they sparked upon contact, as if it were not a wooden sword but an iron sword instead.

    The remaining three were one older man and two younger ones. The two younger men held an ink bucket and an Ink Bucket Line respectively, while the older man stood in the middle of the Ink Bucket Line, flicking the line with his fingers like a six-fingered piano demon, continuously snapping the line.

    The older man, face full of pockmarks, was indeed Li Bisheng''s master, and among the two younger ones, one was Li Bisheng''s junior brother whom he had encountered at the villa by the lake.

    "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Each flick of the Ink Bucket Line struck the zombie.

    Every black line that hit the zombie made it as though sliced by a sharp sword, leaving deep gashes that split its skin and flesh wide open.

    Soon, the zombie''s body was crisscrossed with wounds like a chessboard, all left by the Ink Bucket Line.

    The zombie, clearly aware that if the Ink Bucket Line kept snapping like this, it would soon be dismembered, roared and charged towards the septuagenarian, trying to break through the encirclement.

    With the zombie''s fierce attack, the septuagenarian became flustered, his forehead drenched in sweat, and on several occasions, he almost got slashed by the zombie''s claws.

    "Old Cui, if not now, when will you take action?" Seeing that the zombie was only charging at him and he was almost unable to hold out any longer, the old man shouted loudly. Explore stories on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 253 A Counter Bite [4th Update]

    Li Bisheng''s master, upon hearing the words, fiercely snapped the Ink Bucket Line.

    The line harshly struck the leg of the zombie, which staggered and almost couldn''t stay upright.

    In the blink of an eye, Li Bisheng''s master forcefully tapped his toes on the ground and leaped over the horizontally drawn Ink Bucket Line toward the zombie, his hand mysteriously producing a piece of Talisman Paper.

    "Smack!" Li Bisheng''s master, taking advantage of the zombie being staggered by a heavy hit and entangled in front by the elder''s Peach Wood Sword, placed the Talisman Paper on the zombie''s forehead.

    The moment the Talisman Paper touched the zombie''s forehead, the creature fiercely struggled for a moment, then obediently froze in place.

    "Good heavens, if we had let this black zombie feed on fresh blood a bit longer and evolve into a high-level black zombie, we would probably have had to ask several directors to handle it." Seeing the green zombie immobilized by the Talisman Paper, the elder with the Peach Wood Sword heaved a long sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

    "You''re being modest, Lin," said Li Bisheng''s master, wiping the sweat from his own forehead and laughing. "With your cultivation, if you really pulled out all the stops, a high-level black zombie wouldn''t stand a chance against you."

    "Enough, Old Cui. When it comes to suppressing evil spirits and such, I might do alright, but you''re better against zombies. Especially these past two years, Old Cui, your cultivation power has grown deeper, and the zombie-suppressing talismans you draw are much more powerful than before. I think it won''t be long before you break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and then I probably won''t be a match for you," said the elder, known as Group Leader Lin, pointing at Li Bisheng''s master and laughing.

    "Haha, breaking through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation is not that easy! It''s still early, very early," Old Cui said, waving his hands modestly, but his eyes subtly revealed a hint of pride.

    Group Leader Lin and the middle-aged man who initially held the mirror were taken aback by the pride in Old Cui''s eyes.

    In their department, once someone broke through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, they became a true high-level decision-maker in the department, with power beyond what many outsiders could imagine.

    "I''m still only at the Second Level of Qi Cultivation now, and I don''t know if I''ll have a chance to break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer in this lifetime. I''ll need a lot of guidance from both of you, group leaders," said the middle-aged man, his face full of humble pleasantry.

    In this group, the elder with the Peach Wood Sword was the main group leader, and Li Bisheng''s master was the deputy group leader.

    "Haha, sure, sure, we all learn from each other," both group leaders responded nonchalantly.

    In this era, Daoist teachings were severely lost, and although cultivators recognized the importance of increasing exchanges, because of selfish motives, they held their techniques even more closely than during times when Daoist practices were thriving. True Daoist techniques, except for those passed down to direct disciples, were strictly kept secret for fear of others learning and using them.

    It was precisely because of this that in the modern era, Daoist arts had declined further and gradually turned into legends and feudal superstitions among ordinary people.

    The middle-aged man quickly expressed his humility upon hearing this, stating he wasn''t qualified to learn with them and still had much to learn from them.

    "Old Cui, I''m afraid we''ll have to trouble you to handle this zombie," Group Leader Lin said to Deputy Group Leader Cui after the exchange of courtesies.

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    "No problem," Deputy Group Leader Cui said with a smile, nodding.

    "You''ve worked hard; Lu Yuan and I will wait over there," Team Leader Lin nodded to Deputy Team Leader Cui and then led the middle-aged man to a pine tree a few dozen meters away.

    Seeing that Team Leader Lin and Lu Yuan had walked away, Deputy Team Leader Cui let the two disciples continue, one holding the Ink Bucket and the other the line, then he himself lifted the Ink Bucket Line and started to flick it at the zombie.

    The zombie, restrained by the Suppression Talisman, couldn''t move and was soon dismembered into pieces by the Ink Bucket Line, emitting bursts of foul smell, turning the faces of the two young men pale with disgust. However, Deputy Team Leader Cui remained unfazed, glanced briefly towards the distant pine tree, and seeing that they weren''t looking in his direction, he stealthily took out a small bottle from his pocket, pinched several Dharma Seals secretly, and invisible corpse qi began to enter the bottle. Soon, the foul smell in the air weakened significantly. Seeing the foul smell dissipate, Deputy Team Leader Cui sealed the bottle with a Talisman Paper and put it away, then instructed the young men, "Bury it."

    After giving the orders, Deputy Team Leader Cui turned and walked towards Team Leader Lin and Lu Yuan. However, after only a few steps, his cellphone vibrated in his pocket.

    A hint of surprise flashed across Deputy Team Leader Cui''s face as he stopped in his tracks.

    For someone like him, it was rare for anyone to call him.

    He took out his cellphone and saw it was a call from his disciple Li Bisheng, his face showing relief and a hint of excitement, thinking that Li Bisheng had successfully accomplished a great feat.

    "Is everything settled?" he asked directly as he answered the call.

    "Master, master, that, that woman has, has a master with her. I suffered a backlash while casting a spell, and now I am seriously injured, my True Qi is chaotic, and my meridians are blocked. You might need to come to Linzhou soon. Otherwise, once the person becomes suspicious of me and locates me, it would be troublesome," Li Bisheng spoke with difficulty over the phone.

    Being the astute person he was, Deputy Team Leader Cui naturally understood the troubles Li Bisheng referred to, not only concerning himself but also his master, because if Li Bisheng was controlled by the adversary, it was very likely they would trace back to him.

    "You didn''t suffer a spell backlash; it was that woman who brought in a master with nefarious techniques to hurt you," Deputy Team Leader Cui said sternly.

    "Yes, yes, it was that despicable woman who, out of spite for my attempt to acquire her company, hired a master who used nefarious techniques to harm me," Li Bisheng was initially stunned by the words and then quickly understood.

    "Alright, I understand. I''m currently with Team Leader Lin and others in Jiangnan Province, handling affairs, and I will head to Linzhou right away," Seeing Li Bisheng grasping his intention, Deputy Team Leader Cui, while walking towards Team Leader Lin and Lu Yuan, deliberately raised his voice as he spoke.

    After speaking, Deputy Team Leader Cui hung up the call. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Could there be another situation?" Deputy Team Leader Cui deliberately spoke loudly, which naturally did not escape Team Leader Lin''s ears. Seeing him approaching, he asked.

    "I have a disciple in Jiangnan Province, Team Leader Lin should remember him, right?" Deputy Team Leader Cui didn''t immediately reply.

    "Of course, I remember, the CEO of Li Fang Cosmetics, truly a business talent. Sadly, none of my disciples have the knack for business," Team Leader Lin replied, his face revealing a tinge of envy.

    "The corporate world is as perilous as a battlefield! A few days ago, he offended a woman during a business acquisition. Harboring resentment, she, from who knows where, hired a master who severely injured him using vile techniques. It was he who just called, saying he was seriously injured and that I must rush over quickly, or his life could be in danger," Deputy Team Leader Cui''s face was grim, a chilling light in his eyes.

 Chapter 254 You Know Techniques!

    ```

    "Hmph, it seems that our policies have been too lenient and gentle in recent years, so much so that some people are starting to take us lightly, becoming more and more brazen!" Group Leader Lin''s face turned cold in an instant, menace gleaming in his eyes.

    Group Leader Lin was naturally combative, and having been in a high position for years, he had gradually forgotten that he was once a member of that circle, and now saw himself as a leader above them, even capable of manipulating and controlling their destinies.

    "I also think that the top brass has been too lenient and gentle with these people in recent years, resulting in their growing lawlessness. If my disciple hadn''t been injured this time, we might not even have known about it! Imagine how many others are engaged in using techniques for profit and murder without our knowledge," said Deputy Group Leader Cui, seeing the murderous intent in Group Leader Lin''s eyes and a hint of schadenfreude flashing in the depths of his own.

    "Hmph, when I return this time, I will definitely report to the higher-ups and insist on strengthening the control over the Mysterious sect. It''s essential to execute a few as an example at the appropriate time, otherwise these unruly people might think our department is just for show!" Group Leader Lin nodded, the murderous intent in his eyes intensifying.

    Lu Yuan''s lips moved when he heard this, but seeing the grim faces of both group leaders, with the threat of death in their eyes, he ultimately closed his mouth.

    "Exactly, there''s no time for hesitation! We must rush to Linzhou now, otherwise I fear that it might be too late for changes to occur," said Deputy Group Leader Cui in a grave voice.

    "Good, it''s just the right time to kill the chicken to scare the monkey!" Group Leader Lin nodded in agreement.

    As the two group leaders finalized their plans, the two young people also finished dealing with the dismembered zombie. Then, the party of five descended the mountain, got into a vehicle with special military plates, and quickly disappeared into the night.

    ...

    "Dongxu, what just happened? Could it be my old illness acting up again?" In Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu with lingering fear, her eyes filled with persistent concern and reluctance.

    She was worried that she would faint suddenly as before and might never wake up again, never getting to see the man before her ever again.

    "No! Someone used a spell to frame you!" Ge Dongxu said with a serious expression, murderous intent shining in his eyes.

    "Someone used a spell to frame me? How is that possible? Are the legendary techniques real?" Liu Jiayao''s eyes widened in disbelief as she asked repeatedly.

    "Techniques are real!" Ge Dongxu looked gravely at Liu Jiayao''s incredulous expression and nodded, then took a paper talisman out from his close-fitting armor, saying, "Look."

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu''s words fallen than the paper talisman ignited without flame, and it was not just a small piece of paper burning, but an entire volley-ball-sized fireball.

    The fireball burned in Ge Dongxu''s hand, causing Liu Jiayao''s eyes to grow wider and wider.

    In the blink of an eye, the fireball suddenly extinguished, but Liu Jiayao''s eyes were still wide open, her ample chest heaving dramatically.

    "You, you, you know techniques!" It took a while for Liu Jiayao to finally manage to swallow and speak in a somewhat hoarse voice.

    "That''s right, I know a few," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Even if it''s true, I''m just a businesswoman, how could I possibly have offended them? Besides, I never even had any contact with them, so how could they use a spell to harm me? If it''s so easy to harm people with spells, wouldn''t they be able to kill whoever they want, whenever they want?" Liu Jiayao, the strong businesswoman, quickly regained her composure and analyzed.

    ``` Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ```

    "You''re right, casting spells to harm people isn''t that easy, and they certainly can''t do as they please, killing whoever they want to. It''s not just because the country has a special department monitoring these people, but also because casting spells to harm requires all sorts of stringent conditions and the depletion of one''s cultivation power; it''s not something you can just do whenever you want to harm someone. Moreover, with today''s advanced technology, those people might be somewhat stronger than the average person and have more devious methods, but their flesh and blood still can''t withstand bullets, so the idea of killing at will is just the fantasy of a fool," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "If that''s the case, then how could someone cast a spell on me out of thin air without having any contact with me?" Liu Jiayao looked puzzled.

    "Unless the other person''s mana has reached a level far beyond my imagination, in today''s society no one can cast spells on you out of thin air without any contact," Ge Dongxu said with a puzzled and contemplative look on his face upon hearing this.

    When he had broken the other person''s techniques just now, Ge Dongxu had already confirmed that the other person''s cultivation was certainly much weaker than his own.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu in deep thought, Liu Jiayao watched him quietly, not daring to speak up and disturb him.

    "Remember a few days ago when I went to Beijing and the hospital called you to ask you to donate blood? Nine times out of ten, the other party has used your fresh blood to cast the spell," Ge Dongxu said, his face showing a trace of realization, after a while.

    "Now that you mention it, I do recall feeling uneasy the night after I gave blood, as if something was weighing on my heart, causing me to have nightmares one after another." Ge Dongxu''s words made Liu Jiayao''s delicate body tremble slightly as she remembered the events of the past few days.

    "Hmph, to take a bag of blood and cast spells for so many days before they could actually harm you, that fellow''s cultivation is lousy enough," Ge Dongxu said coldly, now one hundred percent certain that the other party had used Liu Jiayao''s fresh blood to cast spells.

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    "So, you''re saying your cultivation is superior to that person''s?" Liu Jiayao exclaimed in surprise.

    "Of course, if I''m not mistaken, the person who cast the spell to harm you is now hanging on by a thread!" Ge Dongxu nodded, radiating strong confidence.

    Liu Jiayao was completely stunned by his words; just a touch on her chest by him, and the spell-caster was supposedly left with only half a life. Had she not just experienced this eerie event and had it been anyone other than Ge Dongxu speaking, Liu Jiayao wouldn''t have believed such a tall tale.

    "Right, besides yourself, who else knows your birth date and time?" Ge Dongxu gently touched Liu Jiayao''s hair and asked softly.

    He knew that today''s events had been more than Liu Jiayao could bear and had frightened her. The best way to calm her nerves was to temporarily avoid talking about spell-casting. However, with the enemy in the dark and Liu Jiayao in the open, Ge Dongxu couldn''t guarantee the other party wouldn''t attempt something else, so he had to find out who was behind this as soon as possible.

    "My birth date and time... Uncle Hua and the other former shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics all knew about it," Liu Jiayao replied after thinking for a moment, leaning softly into Ge Dongxu''s arms, which calmed her down considerably.

    Hearing that Uncle Hua and the other former shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics knew about it, Ge Dongxu instinctively thought of Ren Chenle.

    Ge Dongxu had met with several shareholders, and the only one who seemed to hold a grudge against Liu Jiayao was Ren Chenle. The others cared for Liu Jiayao and were only tempted by profit to sell their shares; it didn''t seem like they had intentionally targeted or had any issues with her.

    After all, everyone has a family to consider, and even if they don''t think for themselves, they have to think for their family members.

    From Ren Chenle, Ge Dongxu''s thoughts shifted to Zhang Huowang and Li Bisheng.

    In recent times, including himself, Liu Jiayao seemed to have truly upset only these three men.

    ```

 Chapter 255 Investigation

    "How about this, you call Uncle Hua and the others one by one and ask if anyone has recently inquired about your birthdate. Don''t call Ren Chenle just yet," Ge Dongxu pondered for a moment before he spoke.

    "You suspect Uncle Ren? That shouldn''t be the case. Even if Uncle Ren has issues with me, he still had some feelings for my dad back in the day, and it''s unlikely that he would go so far as to have someone cast spells to harm me. Besides, there''s no benefit for him to do so," Liu Jiayao immediately shook her head in denial upon hearing this.

    The acquisition storm had passed, and Liu Jiayao did not want to dwell on the past unpleasantness with Ren Chenle, still calling him Uncle Ren.

    "Sometimes people do bad things without needing a benefit. And I''m not suspecting that Ren Chenle had someone cast spells to harm you, but that someone obtained your information through him. Your blood type is not common knowledge, right? Only, since your relationship with him is not good now, if it truly was him who leaked the information and you called to ask him, he certainly wouldn''t admit it and might even become alert to our suspicion," Ge Dongxu replied.

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    Liu Jiayao was an intelligent woman; she nodded upon hearing this and then picked up the phone to call Uncle Hua and others one after the other.

    Although Uncle Hua and the others were quite puzzled as to why Liu Jiayao was suddenly inquiring about the specific time of her birth, they did not consider it a big deal. They asked out of curiosity, but when Liu Jiayao did not give any specific explanation, they did not press the matter further but simply told her that apart from discussing her birth in the early days, it had been a long time since any of them had talked about her birth, let alone the specific time.

    "It seems very likely that this information was leaked from Ren Chenle," Ge Dongxu was right beside Liu Jiayao and could clearly hear Uncle Hua''s and others'' conversations. After Liu Jiayao hung up the last call, he said gravely.

    "So, what do we do now? Should we call the police?" Liu Jiayao asked, though she immediately felt there was a problem with her question as soon as she asked it.

    How could they possibly call the police about such bizarre matters?

    "There''s no rush. If we really can''t track down the person behind the casting spells, I will think of a solution. For now, you call Ren Chenle and arrange a meeting, saying you have something to discuss with him," Ge Dongxu said after some thought.

    By ''think of a solution,'' he naturally meant asking Elder Feng for help and having him involve the special department for an investigation.

    But Ge Dongxu did not wish to bother Elder Feng with personal matters, nor did he want to be involved with the affairs of the special department, revealing his existence or owing them favors. He would only take this step as a last resort.

    "Let''s just leave this matter as it is. You''ve already taught the other party a lesson, and they probably know better than to trouble me further. Besides, you said casting spells is not so easy. I''ll just avoid donating blood in the future, and they won''t be able to do anything to me," Liu Jiayao did not make the call but spoke with a hint of worry in her eyes.

    After all, Ge Dongxu was young, and those in that mysterious circle were all enigmatic. How could Liu Jiayao rest assured letting Ge Dongxu continue pursuing this investigation? If they really got to the bottom of it, what then? Was he supposed to engage them in a spell battle?

    "Don''t worry. If the people in that circle were ranked, I would definitely be considered a top-tier master. The one who cast the spells is no match for me," Ge Dongxu, knowing what Liu Jiayao was worried about, held her shoulders tight and reassured her.

    "Really? But you are still so young! Isn''t it said that the longer one cultivates, the deeper the cultivation power?" Liu Jiayao said, somewhat incredulously.

    "Your statement isn''t wrong, but it''s a general trend and there are exceptions. Just like I''m still in high school, and yet, I already own several companies," Ge Dongxu spoke with immense confidence emanating from him. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''re not lying to me?" Although Liu Jiayao believed what Ge Dongxu said, she was still somewhat apprehensive.

    Because she was completely in the dark about that circle.

    "Rest assured! If I wanted to harm someone, I wouldn''t need to trouble myself so much. With just some physical contact, I could make the person seriously ill, or with something like one or two strands of hair, I could cast spells that make them wish for death. Why would I need to go through the hassle of getting your fresh blood through a hospital?" Ge Dongxu explained.

    Liu Jiayao''s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Ge Dongxu, "Didn''t you just say that casting spells requires very strict conditions and consumes a lot of cultivation power? If it''s like what you said, then wouldn''t one truly be able to do whatever they want?"

    "In the entire Huaxia Country, with over a billion people, how many truly possess Mysterious Arts? And among those with Mysterious Arts, how many have cultivation like mine? They are indeed as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. Besides, most of these people live in seclusion, exclusively pursuing the greater path. Those like me, still mingling in the mundane world, are probably unique. How could ordinary people ever encounter such individuals?" Ge Dongxu explained with a mix of laughter and helplessness.

    After all this talk, it turned out that Liu Jiayao still couldn''t believe that he was one of the top masters in that circle.

    "So, will you also one day sever all worldly ties, live in seclusion, and exclusively pursue the greater path?" Liu Jiayao''s delicate body trembled slightly as she asked softly.

    Ge Dongxu, thinking that Liu Jiayao would look at him with shock and admiration, was surprised by her sudden question about severing worldly ties, but he quickly hugged her tight and replied, "Don''t worry, how could I bear to leave you? If cultivating truly required me to abandon my family, I would rather not cultivate at all!"

    "I never said I''d marry you and have your kids, you know!" Liu Jiayao let out a sigh of relief, but her face flushed red when she remembered Ge Dongxu''s reference to abandoning his wife and children.

    "Heh, we''re like this already, if you don''t plan to marry me and have my kids, then who do you plan to marry and have kids for?" Ge Dongxu was surprised by her words, then grinned naughtily and laid his hands on Liu Jiayao''s lofty peaks, kneading them.

    "Hey! What are you doing, you scoundrel? Can''t a girl choose not to marry anyone? I don''t want others to make fun of me for marrying a younger man," Liu Jiayao exclaimed, struggling to free herself from Ge Dongxu''s ''devilish'' hands.

    "Anyone who laughs at you, I''ll beat them up!" Ge Dongxu declared.

    "Okay, okay. I know you''re good to me and affectionate, but even if you''re capable now, you''re still young and have experienced very little emotionally. Can we not talk about these topics right now?" Liu Jiayao said gently touching Ge Dongxu''s cheek with her hand.

    Ge Dongxu understood what Liu Jiayao was worried about, and knowing it was not the right time for such discussions, he nodded and said, "Then go ahead and call Ren Chenle to see if you can arrange a meeting with him right now."

    Liu Jiayao nodded and picked up the phone once more to dial Ren Chenle''s number.

 Chapter 256 Can We Talk Now?

    ```

    "Why is he here too?" In an elegantly decorated teahouse, as Ren Chenle was sitting by the window pondering over the reason Liu Jiayao had called him so late at night, he suddenly saw Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao walk in arm in arm. His face changed instantly, and he stood up abruptly.

    At the shareholders'' meeting at the end of last year, Ge Dongxu humiliated him in front of many people. Naturally, Ren Chenle harbored a deep hatred for him. However, Ge Dongxu was a billionaire, and since he had helped Liu Jiayao acquire all shares of Qinglan Cosmetics, Ren Chenle, despite his resentment, was helpless.

    "Since Mr. Ren is here, why the rush to leave? Unless, has he done something guilty?" Ge Dongxu stepped forward with a brisk stride, placing a hand on Ren Chenle''s shoulder.

    Ren Chenle''s face turned beet red, and then he reluctantly sat back down, glaring at Ge Dongxu and said, "What do you want?"

    "I don''t want anything, just have some questions for Mr. Ren," replied Ge Dongxu with a faint smile. He casually pulled out a chair for Liu Jiayao, letting her sit down before he took a seat himself.

    "Jiayao, I''m your elder, after all. Are you just going to stand by and watch your friend treat me like this?" Ren Chenle, knowing that Ge Dongxu was a ruthless man, turned his resentful gaze toward Liu Jiayao.

    "I''m sorry Uncle Ren, Dongxu actually has no ill intent. He just has some things he wants to ask you," said Liu Jiayao with a trace of shame, and after speaking, she glanced at Ge Dongxu somewhat reproachfully.

    "I have nothing to do with him, and I don''t want to answer any of his questions!" Ren Chenle said while trying to get up again, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes.

    During the acquisition of the shares that time, he had taken advantages from Li Bisheng and recalling the warning Ge Dongxu had given him at the shareholders'' meeting, he naturally felt guilty.

    "Why must Mr. Ren be so resistant? Could it be that Mr. Ren has a guilty conscience?" Seeing Ren Chenle''s evasive and panicky gaze, Ge Dongxu''s expression darkened slightly, and his voice became colder.

    "What could I possibly be guilty of? I just don''t want to¡­" Ren Chenle retorted immediately.

    "If your conscience is clear, then please sit down and have a proper talk," said Ge Dongxu as he stood up and pressed Ren Chenle back into his seat. Seeing Ren Chenle open his mouth as if to shout, Ge Dongxu reached out and touched the back of his head. In an instant, Ren Chenle found he could no longer make a sound and looked at Ge Dongxu with a face full of terror.

    At this moment, Liu Jiayao also noticed that Ren Chenle was trying to speak but no sound came out. A shiver ran through her, and she suddenly recalled what Ge Dongxu had said to her before at home, claiming he only needed minimal physical contact to make someone seriously ill, or with just one or two strands of hair, he could cast spells that make people unable to live or die. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At that time, Liu Jiayao had still been somewhat incredulous, but now she realized that Ge Dongxu indeed possessed such mysterious powers.

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao tugged at Ge Dongxu''s hand, her eyes filled with a look of pity.

    No matter what, Ren Chenle had a history with her father and was an elder who had watched her grow up.

    "Don''t worry, nothing will happen," Ge Dongxu whispered in her ear, and then he looked at Ren Chenle indifferently and said, "Rest assured, Mr. Ren, you are Sister Liu''s elder after all. About the last share acquisition, since Li Bisheng didn''t succeed, I don''t wish to pursue it further. I just want to ask about a recent matter. If you still refuse to have a proper conversation with me, you are free to go now."

    Even if Ren Chenle were a fool, he would understand at this point that Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person, and so how dared he get up and leave? Anxiously pointing to his mouth, he opened and closed his mouth incessantly, but unfortunately, no sound could come out of his throat.

    "Heh, it seems Mr. Ren does want to have a proper discussion, right?" Ge Dongxu asked indifferently.

    ```

    Ren Chenle hurriedly nodded his head like a pecking chicken.

    "I always say President Ren is a sensible man. Right, Sister Liu?" Ge Dongxu turned to Liu Jiayao and said.

    Liu Jiayao glared at Ge Dongxu annoyed and gave him a kick under the table.

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    Seeing that Liu Jiayao was not cooperating with his cool act, Ge Dongxu could only give a sheepish smile, stand up, and gently patted Ren Chenle''s head.

    "President Ren, can we talk now?" Ge Dongxu looked at Ren Chenle and asked faintly.

    "Yes, of course, ah, I can speak now!" Ren Chenle hurriedly responded, then suddenly realized he could speak again.

    This time Ren Chenle''s look at Ge Dongxu had completely changed, and he quickly said, "Mr. Ge, I was blind before and failed to recognize your greatness. You... "

    "Let bygones be bygones. In the end, it was Li Bisheng who suffered," Ge Dongxu waved his hand and said.

    "So Mr. Ge, you called me here this time..." Seeing that Ge Dongxu indeed didn''t pursue the matter of the share acquisition, Ren Chenle heaved a big sigh of relief and asked cautiously.

    "These last few days, have you mentioned Sister Liu''s birthdate to anyone else?" Ge Dongxu interrupted.

    "Jiayao''s birthdate?" Ren Chenle was taken aback at the question. He would never have dreamed that Ge Dongxu had called him here just to ask about this. If he''d known it was just this question, why had he even bothered to hide earlier, suffering for no reason?

    "Yes, my birthdate. Uncle Ren, have you mentioned it to anyone recently?" Liu Jiayao interjected.

    "Let me think, that''s right, I was dining with Zhang Huowang a while ago, and he seemed to have asked about it. What''s the matter?" Ren Chenle thought for a moment and replied.

    "Zhang Huowang! It was him?" Ge Dongxu frowned. Zhang Huowang is just a nobody, and Ge Dongxu didn''t believe that someone like him would know any ''Magician'', and even if he did, with his character, he couldn''t have convinced the ''Magician'' to take action.

    In Ge Dongxu''s estimation, Li Bisheng was the most likely suspect. But Li Bisheng was, after all, the head of a company; he couldn''t just assume it was him because he had once wanted to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics and then confront him without any evidence.

    "By the way, how come you dine with Zhang Huowang? Are you two close?" Ge Dongxu put away his suspicions. He knew that to get to the bottom of this, he had to bring Zhang Huowang in for questioning.

    "Uncle Ren is Zhang Huowang''s cousin-in-law," Liu Jiayao helped explain.

    "I see, that makes things easier," Ge Dongxu said, relieved. He nodded, looked at Ren Chenle, and continued, "I would trouble President Ren to please invite Zhang Huowang here as well, but of course, don''t mention that Sister Liu and I are here."

    Ren Chenle looked at Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao with a puzzled face and ultimately picked up his mobile phone obediently and called Zhang Huowang.

 Chapter 257 You Really Think Im a Good Person

    Ren Chenle was a wealthy relative whom Zhang Huowang always tried his best to curry favor with, and upon hearing that Ren Chenle wanted to invite him for tea, Zhang Huowang naturally hurried over immediately, almost tripping over his own feet.

    However, as soon as he saw Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao were also present, his smile instantly stiffened on his face.

    Yet he was confident that the things he had done would never be discovered by Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, and with Li Bisheng backing him up, he didn''t get as guilty and skittish as Ren Chenle and leave. Instead, he quickly darkened his countenance and sat down beside Ren Chenle. He looked at Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao and said coldly, "It seems it''s not my cousin-in-law who wants to see me, but you two."

    "That''s right, we have some questions for you," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Questions for me? I''m not an employee at Qinglan Cosmetics anymore. If you want to ask me anything, that depends on my mood," Zhang Huowang said, crossing his legs in an indifferent manner.

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    "Sit properly. Mr. Ge and Director Liu are asking you questions because they respect you. What are you putting on airs for?" Ren Chenle was very aware of the terrifying aspects of the young man, Ge Dongxu. Seeing Zhang Huowang acting so ungrateful, he slapped his thigh sharply and said sternly.

    "Cousin-in-law, what do you mean by this? Have you forgotten how they treated us?" Zhang Huowang''s face changed slightly, looking at Ren Chenle in puzzlement.

    "It was we who were at fault first, how can we blame Mr. Ge and Director Liu?" Ren Chenle gave Zhang Huowang a stern look. Without waiting for him to retort, he immediately followed up with a question, "I''m asking you, what were you doing asking about Director Liu''s birth hour during dinner that day?"

    "I didn''t do anything, it was just idle curiosity," Zhang Huowang''s face turned pale upon hearing this, but then he tried to respond very casually.

    "Idle curiosity? Are you full and have nothing better to do? Asking about Director Liu''s birth hour for no reason? You don''t have to speak the truth if you don''t want to¡ªI naturally have ways to make you talk," Ge Dongxu said with a cold voice.

    "Heh heh, since when is it a crime to ask about Director Liu''s birth hour? But I''m curious why you''re so nervous about this question. Could it be that Director Liu has been feeling unwell recently?" This was a public place, and since Zhang Huowang hadn''t really done anything to Liu Jiayao, even if there were a big fuss, it wouldn''t be his problem. So, with Ge Dongxu speaking so forcefully, Zhang Huowang felt indignant and sneered mockingly.

    "So it''s really you who did it. That being the case, are you also the one who revealed that Director Liu has RH-negative blood?" Ge Dongxu''s face turned icy as a cold light shot from his eyes.

    "What are you saying? I don''t understand a word!" Zhang Huowang still didn''t realize the great trouble that was looming over him and thought he had guessed correctly. A smug expression of schadenfreude couldn''t help but appear on his face.

    In any case, these kinds of matters could not be investigated and were none of his business.

    "It seems we really need to find a private room to have a good chat," Ge Dongxu said.

    "I''m sorry, I''m busy!" Zhang Huowang stood up and said.

    "That''s not up to you anymore," Ge Dongxu stood up and placed his hand on Zhang Huowang''s shoulder.

    As Zhang Huowang tried to struggle, he realized half of his body had gone numb.

    "You..." Zhang Huowang''s heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to confront Ge Dongxu, Ge Dongxu had already touched the back of his neck, and the words that were to follow turned into silence.

    Having witnessed Zhang Huowang suddenly lose his voice, and recalling what he had just experienced himself, Ren Chenle couldn''t stop shivering. He couldn''t help but look at Ge Dongxu with an unrestrainable hint of awe.

    "Waiter, please arrange a private room for us," Ge Dongxu called a waiter and said.

    "Of course, sir. Please wait a moment," the waiter gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile and then went to arrange the private room.

    Watching the waiter turn to leave, Zhang Huowang''s eyes emitted an unparalleled sense of horror. That''s because just moments before, he had desperately tried to struggle, to speak, but found that his body was not under his control at all.

    It wasn''t until this moment that Zhang Huowang realized that the young man before him also possessed uncanny abilities, and he couldn''t help but feel extreme panic.

    The waiter quickly arranged a private room and came over to lead them there.

    Ge Dongxu gave Zhang Huowang a smile and then, wrapping an arm around his shoulder, followed the waiter, appearing on the surface to be very friendly with each other.

    Once they entered the private room, Ge Dongxu let go of his hand.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu released his grasp, Zhang Huowang lost his balance, "Thud!" He crashed heavily onto the floor, causing Ren Chenle''s heart to skip a beat in fright.

    "I think, by now, you should know that I have ways to make you speak," Ge Dongxu crouched down and touched the back of Zhang Huowang''s head, speaking indifferently.

    "What did you just do to me? Why can''t I move my body? Why can''t I speak?" Zhang Huowang looked at Ge Dongxu with a face filled with terror.

    "Your cousin-in-law is much smarter than you; he wouldn''t ask so many questions," Ge Dongxu said coldly, then continued, "Now can you tell me, who asked you about Manager Liu''s birth time?"

    "Haha! Is it because Manager Liu is having issues with her health? Are you guys getting anxious? Go on, kneel down and beg me! Perhaps if I''m in a good mood, I might tell you," Zhang Huowang, seeing that Ge Dongxu was anxious about this question, calmed down instead, and arrogantly retorted with confidence.

    "It seems that without a lesson, you really think I''m a good person," Ge Dongxu said as he pressed on more than ten spots on Zhang Huowang''s body and then touched the back of his head again before standing up and saying to Liu Jiayao, "Turn around, don''t watch."

    Liu Jiayao initially felt confused upon hearing his words, but when her gaze fell on Zhang Huowang''s suddenly agonized expression, with even the muscles on his face distorted from pain, she quickly understood and turned around urgently.

    After Liu Jiayao turned away, it didn''t take long for Ren Chenle to also turn his head away with a pale face, no longer daring to look at Zhang Huowang''s twisted and ferocious face.

    About two minutes later, Ge Dongxu crouched down again and patted Zhang Huowang several times on the body.

    When Ge Dongxu stood up, Zhang Huowang was gasping for air, soaked with sweat, looking as if he had just been pulled out of water, his eyes filled with endless terror towards Ge Dongxu, as if he were a demon from Hell.

    "I forgot to mention something to you, Manager Liu''s health is just fine because I''m by her side. As for the person casting the spells, because their spellcasting was disrupted, the techniques backfired, and now they''re probably left with half a life. I''m asking about this matter now merely to find out who is trying to harm Manager Liu. It''s laughable that you would even think of using this to threaten me," Ge Dongxu said, sitting in a chair, looking at Zhang Huowang with contempt, speaking leisurely.

    "This, this is not possible!" Zhang Huowang said with a hoarse voice.

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 Chapter 258 The Truth Comes to Light

    "Whether it''s possible or not, I think that''s not for you to consider. What you should be thinking about now is whether to speak or not, of course, you can choose not to." Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "I''ll talk, I''ll talk, it was Li Bisheng! He wanted Liu''s blood and her birth details." Seeing Ge Dongxu''s nonchalant expression, Zhang Huowang shivered all over and hurriedly said.

    The pain that was so severe he had wished for death was something he never wanted to endure again.

    "It is him after all!" A murderous intent suddenly flashed in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, "So the product quality issues before the new year, those were definitely his doing as well."

    Upon hearing this, Zhang Huowang trembled with guilt.

    "It seems the product quality issues were the result of your tampering at his behest." Ge Dongxu''s face darkened as he observed this.

    "Not me! It wasn''t me!" Zhang Huowang hastily waved his hands.

    The financial loss from these few batches of problematic products was a staggeringly large sum; if the blame were pinned on him, even selling all his assets would only pay for a fraction of the damages.

    "Don''t want to talk, is that it? No problem." Ge Dongxu gave a cold laugh, then slowly stood up. Continue reading on My Virtual Library Empire

    "I''ll talk, I''ll talk, Li Bisheng gave me a bottle. I don''t know what was in it, just that it had a bad smell, was silent and invisible, just like air. He told me to open the bottle in the warehouse, and after that, the products turned out like that." Seeing Ge Dongxu slowly standing up, Zhang Huowang, frightened, hurriedly said.

    Seeing that it was indeed Li Bisheng who had instructed Zhang Huowang to do it, the murderous intent in Ge Dongxu''s eyes intensified, while Ren Chenle, upon hearing it, became so furious that he stood up and started furiously stomping on Zhang Huowang, who was still lying on the ground.

    "It was you! You scoundrel! You ungrateful dog! After all the trust I placed in you, I even quarreled with Jiayao for your sake. Damn it! I''ll beat you to death!"

    In those days, Ren Chenle was also one of the shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics. Naturally, the product issues had caused him significant financial losses as well.

    But that was secondary. The key point was that he would never have sold his shares in Qinglan Cosmetics if it weren''t for the continuous product problems.

    Now, because of Zhang Huowang, not only had he lost a lot of money, but he had also sold his shares of Qinglan Cosmetics at a low price. How could he not loathe Zhang Huowang?

    "Dongxu, what do we do now?" Liu Jiayao didn''t try to stop Ren Chenle, instead, she turned to ask Ge Dongxu.

    To someone like Zhang Huowang, even if he were beaten to death, Liu Jiayao wouldn''t feel a shred of pity.

    "Now that we know Li Bisheng did this, naturally, we are going to settle accounts with him!" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "How will we settle accounts with him? Just go to his door and confront him? He''s not like Zhang Huowang." Liu Jiayao said. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "To me, they are all the same." Ge Dongxu said, with a domineering aura faintly emanating from him.

    After speaking, Ge Dongxu turned to Ren Chenle and said, "That''s enough, Boss Ren. If you keep hitting him, you are going to cause serious problems."

    Ren Chenle then reluctantly, but resentfully, kicked Zhang Huowang one more time, saying, "For a two-faced rat like him, getting serious problems from a beating serves him right!"

    "I''m two-faced? Aren''t you the same? Don''t think I don''t know you sold shareholder information to Li Bisheng!" Zhang Huowang, when accused by Ren Chenle of being two-faced, couldn''t help but bite back.

    "Me, me, Mr. Ge, President Liu." Ren Chenle''s face turned pale in an instant, and his eyes were filled with terror as he looked at Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.

    Liu Jiayao''s gaze toward Ren Chenle was filled with disappointment and sadness. After a long time, she finally said, "This is the last time I''ll call you Uncle Ren. Take care from now on."

    "I''ve said before that I won''t pursue past matters. You are free to leave, but regarding what happened tonight, I expect you to keep silent. Otherwise, don''t blame me for being heartless and ruthless!" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "Jiayao, I''ve wronged you!" Ren Chenle bowed deeply to Liu Jiayao and then turned to Ge Dongxu saying, "Mr. Ge, don''t worry, I won''t speak of tonight''s affairs."

    Having said this, Ren Chenle cast a vicious glance at Zhang Huowang, then hunched over and left.

    Although Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu had not held him accountable for his past actions, Ren Chenle knew with the financial power displayed by Ge Dongxu and the terrifying abilities shown tonight, with his help, Qinglan Cosmetics would certainly prosper more and more, and Liu Jiayao would definitely become wealthier.

    Originally, if he had maintained the previous uncle-niece relationship with Liu Jiayao, he would have benefited from her rising fortunes, but now all of this had nothing to do with him anymore.

    "What should we do with this person?" After Ren Chenle left, Liu Jiayao pointed at Zhang Huowang on the ground, her face showing disgust but also a sense of helplessness.

    For the things Zhang Huowang had done, forcing him to pay back everything he had and then sending him to prison would have been more than sufficient, but the problem was that the deeds he committed were beyond belief and could not possibly serve as evidence to convict him.

    Yet to simply let go of Zhang Huowang, who had not only cost her money but even nearly taken her life, Liu Jiayao really felt somewhat reluctant.

    "People like him will not have a good end," Ge Dongxu said, then waved dismissively at Zhang Huowang, "You can get lost."

    Upon hearing this, Zhang Huowang looked incredulously at Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, not daring to leave.

    "What, you need me to show you out?" Ge Dongxu looked at Zhang Huowang with a corner of his mouth curling into a cold sneer.

    Zhang Huowang then realized Ge Dongxu was serious. Remembering what he had done, and knowing Ge Dongxu truly had no way to report him to the authorities, he inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, hastily got up from the ground, and dashed out of the private room.

    Just as Ge Dongxu had no means to lodge a complaint against him, if Ge Dongxu decided to make him suffer unbearably, Zhang Huowang likewise had no way to report it.

    Because such methods were too bizarre, beyond the understanding of ordinary people.

    "We''re really just letting him go like that?" After Zhang Huowang scrambled out of the private room like a rolling smoke, Liu Jiayao looked doubtfully at Ge Dongxu.

    "Of course not. He will have to face some consequences," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Liu Jiayao fell silent for a moment upon hearing this, then suddenly said, "Oh no, if you''ve let Zhang Huowang go just like that, what if he tells Li Bisheng about it?"

    "I can guess that Li Bisheng is the prime suspect in this affair. If I can guess that, Li Bisheng can certainly surmise that I disrupted his spell. Whether Zhang Huowang tells him or not, it doesn''t make much difference now," Ge Dongxu said solemnly.

    "That''s true. You are just a high school student but already the major shareholder of two companies, easily able to mobilize tens of millions in funds, and just happen to be with me. If I were Li Bisheng, the first person I would suspect would definitely be you," Liu Jiayao responded, taken aback, and then nodded.

    "So, now Li Bisheng has either fled or is hiding. But considering how hard he worked for his business empire, he probably wouldn''t abandon it so easily; I guess the latter possibility is more likely. After all, regardless of anything else, he is a company CEO with quite an influence in Jiangnan Province. It would be easy for him to hire some bodyguards. In his opinion, even if I know he''s behind this, he likely thinks I can''t touch him," Ge Dongxu continued his analysis after seeing Liu Jiayao nod.

    Liu Jiayao nodded again, just about to speak, when her phone rang.

    "It''s Li Bisheng," Liu Jiayao picked up her phone, glanced at it, and her expression shifted slightly.

    Having exchanged business cards and experienced conflicts over stock acquisitions, they both had the other''s contact information.

 Chapter 259 Such a Vicious Trick

    "Give it to me," Ge Dongxu reached out and said.

    "Maybe we should just let it be, since according to you, he''s the one at a loss," Liu Jiayao hesitated before speaking.

    In her heart, she was still somewhat worried, preferring to take the loss herself rather than have Ge Dongxu take risks for her.

    "This man dared to make a move on you; this cannot just be left at that. Besides, if such scum isn''t dealt with, who knows how many more people he will harm in the future! Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing," Ge Dongxu said with a stern voice.

    Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a deep look and finally handed him the phone.

    "President Li, it must be hard for you now," Ge Dongxu said coldly as soon as he picked up the call.

    "It really was you!" Li Bisheng gritted his teeth on the other end of the phone, his face twisted in fury. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    "I knew President Li was a smart man; you''ve already guessed it was me! Tell me, what did you call for? If it''s to beg for mercy, then save it, this matter won''t end so easily," Ge Dongxu said with a cold voice.

    "Beg for mercy? Haha, Ge Dongxu, you really think too highly of yourself," Li Bisheng''s brash laughter came through the receiver.

    Liu Jiayao''s face turned a bit pale as she heard Li Bisheng''s brash laughter from the receiver, her eyes showing concern.

    "So, President Li still wants to have it out with me?" Ge Dongxu said with a cold voice, a murderous intent suddenly rising in his eyes.

    "That''s right. If you have the guts, come to the southern side of Xiao Yuan Mountain at mid-slope. The place is quiet and undisturbed; we can settle our accounts properly there," Li Bisheng said.

    "President Li, don''t flatter yourself. Your little tricks hardly qualify you to settle accounts with me; I suspect you''ve sought help," Ge Dongxu said with a disdainful sneer.

    "Are you scared? If you''re scared, then obediently hand over your shares of Qinglan Cosmetics and beg me for mercy," Li Bisheng said with a cold laugh.

    "You really won''t cry until you see the coffin. The southern slope of Xiao Yuan Mountain, right? Fine, I''ll be there now," Ge Dongxu said and hung up the phone abruptly.

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao grasped Ge Dongxu''s hand, her eyes filled with worry.

    "Don''t worry, nothing will happen. And as you''ve heard, things have come to such a point that it''s not something I can just let go of," Ge Dongxu patted Liu Jiayao''s hand, trying to reassure her.

    After saying that, Ge Dongxu took out his phone and dialed Liu Jiayao''s bodyguard and driver Li Min, asking her to come over and stay with Liu Jiayao for the time being, just in case.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu was determined, and the situation was indeed as he said, beyond what could be resolved by his willingness to let go, Liu Jiayao did not try to persuade him further, nor did she say she would accompany him.

    Liu Jiayao knew very well that her presence would only distract Ge Dongxu.

    As Ge Dongxu was calling Li Min, Zhang Huowang was also calling Li Bisheng.

    "I already know about the situation," replied Li Bisheng with an icy voice.

    "How are you feeling now? I''ve heard..." Zhang Huowang asked timidly.

    "He can''t do anything to me!" Li Bisheng replied coldly and then hung up the call.

    Hearing this, Zhang Huowang couldn''t help but heave a sigh of relief, a malicious smirk of schadenfreude appearing on his face. Naturally, he hoped that Li Bisheng was all right, so that Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao would suffer.

    Zhang Huowang did not know that after hanging up his call, Li Bisheng was panting heavily, his gaze fixed intently on the villa''s gate.

    What he was waiting for was certainly not Ge Dongxu, because in his current condition, even if Ge Dongxu stood in front of him, he had no way of standing up.

    He was waiting for his master, Deputy Group Leader Cui, and others.

    Just one minute before he called Ge Dongxu, he had received a call from his master, who said they had already arrived in Xiaoyuan Mountain Town.

    It was after this call from his master that Li Bisheng called Liu Jiayao.

    This matter could not withstand scrutiny, so Li Bisheng needed to resolve it quickly. Once Ge Dongxu was executed, Li Bisheng would have the power to paint the situation as black or white as he pleased.

    Suddenly, Li Bisheng saw car lights turn on outside the courtyard through the window. His eyes suddenly brightened, and the corners of his mouth curled into a sinister cold smile.

    However, when the villa door was pushed open with force, what Group Leader Lin and the others saw was Li Bisheng with a pale, grief-stricken expression.

    "Master!" Li Bisheng''s mournful voice filled the villa.

    "Bisheng, what''s happened to you?" Deputy Group Leader Cui took a quick step forward, then hurriedly crouched down and pressed his hand against Li Bisheng''s wrist.

    "My meridians are blocked, and my True Qi is in chaos. I am having great difficulty even moving my body," said Li Bisheng, tears flowing.

    "Such a formidable Curse Spell! Such a venomous tactic!" After taking Li Bisheng''s pulse, Deputy Group Leader Cui''s face turned completely grim, killing intent flashing in his eyes, yet inwardly he felt a silent alarm.

    Spell backlash is actually common for cultivators, but this time the backlash was clearly beyond Li Bisheng''s limit. Not only were his meridians blocked and his True Qi in chaos, but his vitality had also been severely damaged. Even if he and Group Leader Lin helped to clear Li Bisheng''s meridians, the waning vitality in his body could never be replenished.

    From this, it was not hard to deduce that the opponent''s cultivation might not be inferior to his own. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Let me take a look," said Group Leader Lin, his face stern, as he stepped forward.

    "I have seen Senior Lin," Deputy Group Leader Cui stood up and made way for Group Leader Lin. Li Bisheng struggled to rise to greet him, but was pressed down by Group Leader Lin. Then, Lin placed his hand on Li Bisheng''s wrist. After taking his pulse, Lin''s face also turned completely grim.

    "What happened here?" Group Leader Lin asked.

    "It''s also because I was too ambitious, intending to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics Company. Unexpectedly, the female CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics had even greater ambitions than me, attempting to seduce me with beauty and proposing a marriage alliance, where she would hold absolute shares. I naturally rejected her temptation and refused to marry her. As a result, she became resentful from love and actually hired an expert to cast a Curse Spell to harm me, to force me to submit. When I sensed someone casting spells against me, I managed to break free, leading to my current condition," Li Bisheng said, mixing truth and falsehood, inverting black and white.

    "Indeed, a woman''s heart is most venomous!" Group Leader Lin said coldly, hardly doubting Li Bisheng''s words.

    Part of the reason was naturally because Li Bisheng was Deputy Group Leader Cui''s disciple, and Group Leader Lin was predisposed to see him as the victim. Another reason was that Group Leader Lin had seen Li Bisheng before and knew him to be a very handsome and attractive man, making the idea of a woman wanting to marry him seem plausible. The last reason was that Li Bisheng''s current description matched his terrible internal condition very well.

    "Please, Senior Lin, make a just decision for me," Li Bisheng said with a grieved face.

    "Don''t worry. There are family rules and state laws; no matter who the other party is, since they have violated national regulations by harming people with spells, they will certainly be punished!" Group Leader Lin said, gently patting Li Bisheng''s shoulder, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes.

    Group Leader Lin''s cultivation was even more profound than Deputy Group Leader Cui''s, and he could see that even if Li Bisheng''s meridians were cleared, the years he would live would likely be no more than those of these elderly gentlemen, or even less.

    Because Li Bisheng''s cultivation was far inferior to theirs.

    "Thank you, Senior Lin, for upholding justice! The other party knew I had escaped her Curse Spell and was searching everywhere for me. However, I dared not reveal my whereabouts until just now, when I knew Senior Lin and master were coming. I then deliberately called that woman, saying I was willing to submit. I believe they are now on their way here," Li Bisheng said as he struggled to clasp his fists.

 Chapter 260 Ambush

    "Good, no wonder you could establish such a large company at a young age, truly a smart person. This spares us some trouble," Group Leader Lin said with a severe voice, not having expected Li Bisheng to dare deceive him.

    "You flatter me, Senior Lin. It''s just unfortunate that my meridians are blocked, and my True Qi is in chaos so I can''t be of much help," Li Bisheng said, his eyes revealing a hint of longing. Explore more adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Although your cultivation is lower, being a practitioner, it shows that the person who could hurt you with a Curse Spell must be a master. Your master and I must preserve our strength, so currently, we can''t help you clear your meridians," Group Leader Lin said gravely.

    "Is that person really that formidable?" Li Bisheng exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this.

    In Li Bisheng''s eyes, his master and Group Leader Lin were absolutely top-notch masters within Qimen. He believed Ge Dongxu couldn''t possibly match his master and Group Leader Lin, yet Group Leader Lin, such a formidable figure, appeared so cautious.

    "That person is definitely formidable; his cultivation might not be less than mine. Fortunately, with Group Leader Lin, Lu Yuan, and your two junior brothers, our combined forces of five, aware versus unaware, will ensure even a highly capable person can''t escape," Deputy Group Leader Cui said somberly.

    "But as far as I know, that person is just a youngster!" Li Bisheng, hearing his master speak thus, was completely shocked.

    "Such viciousness at such a young age means we need to suppress him early. Otherwise, if he grows stronger, it would be a major disaster," Deputy Group Leader Cui said, his eyes flashing with shock, but he quickly added fiercely.

    "Being so capable at such a young age, the sect behind him must be no ordinary one; perhaps we should be more cautious," Lu Yuan hesitated and then said.

    "Hmph, Lu Yuan, you are gravely mistaken with that statement. The more it''s like this, the less we should tolerate them! Don''t forget, what is our duty? Our duty is to suppress those in Qimen who think they''re formidable and refuse to comply with discipline," Group Leader Lin''s countenance darkened abruptly as he spoke coldly.

    "Group Leader Lin, that''s not what I meant, I meant¡­," Lu Yuan tried to explain.

    "No matter what you mean! First, let''s capture this person, otherwise, if he gets away, it will leave behind a great menace," Group Leader Lin interrupted forcefully.

    "Yes!" Lu Yuan, being just a regular team member in their group, naturally did not have the power to contradict the group leader and had to nod his acknowledgment.

    Li Bisheng and Deputy Group Leader Cui exchanged a cold, cunning sneer at this sight.

    They were the clearest about what was really going on.

    "Let''s not delay. Let''s get things set up," Group Leader Lin said in a calmed tone after seeing Lu Yuan nod, then took the lead in exiting the villa.

    Seeing this, Lu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then quickly followed out of the villa.

    "Tao Jun, if that person shows any signs of escaping, you just¡­," Deputy Group Leader Cui began speaking to the disciple Li Bisheng had encountered at the lakeside villa previously. He halted briefly, miming the action of a handgun.

    Tao Jun''s eyes widened in panic. While their department was always equipped with firearms for every mission, they were only to be used when their lives were threatened, and definitely not lightly used against members of Qimen.

    For everyone in Qimen, this was a huge taboo.

    This was not hard to understand. In the past, they, the practitioners, were so transcendental and esteemed that even the most formidable characters among them were courted and flattered by royalty and nobility, none daring to offend them. But now? Even an ordinary person could claim their lives with a bullet.

    Thus, the emergence of firearms was an immense hatred in the hearts of all in Qimen, and also their greatest indignity.

    This was why, in duels among the practitioners of Qimen, the use of firearms, no matter the reasons, would be seen as an insult to Qimen Techniques, and was sure to incite public outrage.

    The personnel in this special department, despite being government officials, were also members of Qimen and often had to abide by the rules of their circle.

    "Hmph!" Deputy Group Leader Cui, seeing Tao Jun''s panicked expression, immediately turned colder.

    "Master, I understand," Tao Jun, startled by the reaction, quickly said.

    Vice Leader Cui nodded his head only when he heard this and stepped out of the villa.

    "Two junior brothers, help me to the door. I want to see how that kid dies!" Li Bisheng called out ferociously to two junior brothers who were also preparing to go out.

    ...

    "Master, let''s stop here."

    A taxi stopped at the southern entrance to Xiao Yuan Mountain, and a young man got out of the car.

    This young man was naturally Ge Dongxu.

    "Young man, there aren''t many people walking around in the mountains at night, so be careful," the taxi driver said, sticking his head out of the window to the Ge Dongxu who was getting ready to head up. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Thank you, master. I will be careful," Ge Dongxu said with a slight smile to the taxi driver.

    "Climbing Xiao Yuan Mountain on a cold late night is really an oddity," the taxi driver muttered to himself as he withdrew his head back into the car, shaking his head alone with a curious expression, then turned the car around and quickly disappeared into the night.

    As he watched the taxi disappear into the night, the smile on Ge Dongxu''s face slowly faded, and a layer of frost covered his face; in the dark night, his eyes flashed with a cold light.

    Climbing the mountain path unhurriedly, Ge Dongxu soon saw the villa halfway up the mountain still lit with lights.

    However, not a single light shone outside the villa; it was pitch black.

    Outside the villa courtyard.

    Team Leader Lin, Vice Leader Cui, and Lu Yuan, using the cover of darkness and positioning themselves as heaven, earth, and man, hid in the forest, while Vice Leader Cui''s two disciples each concealed themselves atop nearby pine trees.

    With their cultivation, they could not intervene in a battle of this level. However, being in the prime of their youth,they had powerful muscles and strength; should the techniques fail, it may require their involvement in close combat.

    Of course, in the eyes of Team Leader Lin and the others, it was unlikely to occur.

    With their combined strength, and having prepared against an unprepared enemy, even a famous expert from Qimen would hardly escape their fate, let alone an unknown youngster.

    "He''s here!" In the dark night, all five saw Ge Dongxu approaching the villa along the mountain path at an unhurried pace, and their expressions all subtly changed, revealing a solemn look.

    Simultaneously, Team Leader Lin, Vice Leader Cui, and Lu Yuan each held a jade token in their left hands and churned a spell with the right, gently tracing on the ground with their toes, and softly chanting a spell formula under their breath.

    As the three of them manipulated the spell, a sudden wind arose in the mountains.

    Nature''s spiritual energy gathered at the road in front of the villa, accumulating more and more until it reached a density terrifying to the average cultivator.

    Such density, though sought after by cultivators in its stable form, would resemble the center of a storm if chaotic and disorderly, potentially tearing and bursting the meridians of any cultivator who stepped into it instantly.

    However, because the area''s nature''s spiritual energy was suppressed by the three using jade talismans and mana, it appeared "calm and usual," indistinguishable from any other place.

    As Ge Dongxu came within about five meters of the "eye of the storm," Team Leader Lin and Vice Leader Cui still appeared composed, but Lu Yuan''s left hand, clutching the jade token, began to tremble slightly, and beads of sweat the size of beans appeared on his forehead.

    Clearly, controlling this "eye of the storm" was a challenging task for Lu Yuan.

 Chapter 261 Gunfire

    In the dark night, no one noticed how Ge Dongxu''s gaze had grown increasingly cold, a sneer of disdain curling at the corner of his lips.

    Such a setup would be a deadly trap for a practitioner at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, and even those at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation would suffer heavy damage upon entering the "eye of the storm." But for Ge Dongxu, who had advanced to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, this arrangement was nothing but child''s play.

    He had sensed the abnormality of the area from a hundred meters away, still outside its reach.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu apparently oblivious to the anomaly, step by step entering the "eye of the storm," the three men''s expressions turned cold, and they suddenly stomped their feet against the ground, their jade tokens abruptly glowing bright green.

    "Explode," the three men uttered an icy word between their lips and teeth. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Vermin!" Almost simultaneously, Ge Dongxu''s eyes burst with a lethal glint as his hands formed a spell, and he violently stomped the ground.

    In that instant, a formidable mana surged from Ge Dongxu''s body, rushing outward in all directions.

    Suddenly, the nature''s spiritual energy, which had been suppressed, exploded like a lit powder keg, centering around Ge Dongxu and blasting outward in all directions.

    "Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!" In the dark night, fierce winds arose abruptly outside the villa.

    The chaotic turmoil of nature''s spiritual energy, in the form of shockwaves, howled towards Team Leader Lin and his two companions.

    When Team Leader Lin and the others felt the terrifying shockwave and the piercing cold wind coming at them, their eyes were filled with fright and terror, and their body hair stood on end.

    They could never have imagined that, even though they had laid the ambush and struck first, it would be the young man who seized the initiative¡ªthe dreadful nature''s spiritual energy was now gushing out from him in all directions.

    Could it be that this young man''s cultivation and mastery of techniques were much higher than theirs?

    But how could that be possible? Even if the young man had started cultivating from the womb, his cultivation couldn''t possibly be much higher than theirs, could it?

    However, the situation at hand gave them no time to ponder such thoughts.

    Without any hesitation, the three men turned and ran.

    This was a storm formed by nature''s spiritual energy gathering! With their cultivation level, how could they dare to withstand it?

    "Crack! Crack!" As the spiritual energy storm passed, several small trees as thick as a grown man''s arm were forcibly snapped in half.

    "Ah! Ah! Ah!"

    "Thud! Thud! Thud!"

    The three cries of agony and the sounds of bodies falling echoed almost simultaneously in the night, reverberating through the mountain forest, accompanied by the howling winds, making for an especially mournful and frightening scene.

    Seeing the three men knocked to the ground by the storm, coughing up blood, Ge Dongxu''s lips curled into a disdainful sneer. Just as he was about to move forward to capture them, he suddenly felt a surge of alarm¡ªan intense and chilling sensation crept over him from behind a large tree.

    Without a second thought, Ge Dongxu stomped the ground hard and, like a large bird taking flight, he soared into the air.

    Almost at the same moment Ge Dongxu took off into the air.

    "Pfft!" The sound of a silenced gunshot suddenly rang out in the night.

    A bullet landed where Ge Dongxu had just been standing, hitting a piece of broken stone and sparking flashes of fire.

    The three people, severely wounded and slumped on the ground, quickly looked towards the direction of the gunshot upon hearing it.

    To their shock, their eyes widened in immense horror, and they no longer felt the pain racking their battered bodies.

    In midair, the young man they had just seen now turned in the air as freely as a large bird, then dove like an eagle swooping on its prey towards Tao Jun, who was hiding in a pine tree.

    By then, Tao Jun was already petrified. As he realized that Ge Dongxu was descending upon him from the sky, he scrambled to aim his gun, but Ge Dongxu was already upon him, snatching the gun with one hand and grabbing his neck with the other.

    Once he had wrenched the gun from Tao Jun''s grip, Ge Dongxu hurled it towards another pine tree.

    "Bang!"

    "Ah!"

    A disciple of deputy group leader Cui, who was hiding in another pine tree, immediately fell to the ground.

    "Thump!" The young man landed heavily, spitting out blood, unable to get up for quite a while.

    After eliminating the other threats, Ge Dongxu didn''t immediately jump down from the pine tree but swept his Divine Sense and his sharp gaze around the area once more. Only after confirming there were no more ambushes did he leap down from the tree with a cold face, grabbing Tao Jun by the neck.

    Burned by this experience, the young Ge Dongxu realized tonight that the real world was far more perilous than he had imagined.

    He had thought that Li Bisheng, despite his boldness, would only employ people from the Qimen to confront him with spells, but he had not anticipated the use of guns.

    After jumping down, Ge Dongxu picked up the severely injured group leader Lin and his two colleagues, who found it extremely difficult to even move, as well as the young man who had fallen from the tree. He didn''t care that they were ''wounded men,'' and threw them directly in front of Li Bisheng, who was shivering with fear and eyes filled with terror.

    "Very well! You''ve even resorted to guns! Smack! Smack!" Ge Dongxu, recalling the recent dangers and feeling a surge of fear, couldn''t help but slap Li Bisheng twice, then stomped ruthlessly on each of the injured men on the ground.

    "You, you dare to step on me, do you know who I am?" Although group leader Lin was terrified of Ge Dongxu''s horrifying skills, he was, after all, from a special department, an official of the Qimen, and Ge Dongxu was an ordinary citizen within the Qimen. Having been severely beaten by Ge Dongxu and now being stepped on by him was considered an immense humiliation. His face ashen with rage, he yelled.

    Deputy group leader Cui, on the other hand, remained silent, his mind racing.

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    He had intended to swiftly eliminate Ge Dongxu and then deal with the aftermath, but he had never expected Ge Dongxu''s abilities to far exceed his imagination, to the point where he could even "fly."

    It was now obviously a pipe dream to kill him, but letting him go would mean that once an investigation was instigated from above, his own deeds would likely be uncovered.

    Seeing group leader Lin still daring to yell at him at this point, Ge Dongxu was so incensed that he stomped on him once more and said coldly, "You were already trying to kill me; I don''t care who you are! You should be very clear in your mind that killing you would be as simple as squashing an ant right now. If I haven''t acted, it''s because I still have respect for the nation''s laws. But don''t think for a moment that this ends here today. Because you fired a gun, I believe that should be enough to send you to prison."

    "Prison? You might want to look at this first." After being stepped on by Ge Dongxu, group leader Lin had already stopped daring to make a sound, but when he heard what Ge Dongxu said afterward, he regained his courage. He struggled to reach into his pocket and pull out an ID, showing it to Ge Dongxu with an arrogant look on his face.

 Chapter 262 Sacrifice the Car to Save the Bishop

    Ge Dongxu had never seen the credentials of that department before, but he noticed the words "National Security" and the badge on them, so he realized that this man was indeed a staff member of the special department Elder Feng had mentioned.

    This department was not one to be exposed to the light of day; they presented themselves with the National Security Department''s credentials to the outside world.

    "You are actually people from that department!" Ge Dongxu''s face suddenly turned very unsightly.

    If it were team leader Lin and the others whom Li Bisheng had asked to help, Ge Dongxu could understand their actions; but the fact that they were from that department and had attacked him without discrimination, even using firearms, made Ge Dongxu extremely angry.

    "Indeed, we are from the Special Ability Management Bureau! If you surrender now, you might be given a lighter sentence; otherwise..." Team leader Lin saw Ge Dongxu''s face turn gloomy all of a sudden and thought he was scared, A look of pride crossed his face as he let out a sigh of relief and said.

    "Otherwise your mom''s head!" Ge Dongxu was already on top of his anger. Seeing team leader Lin trying to intimidate him with his officialdom, he smacked him with a slap and rebuked with an iron face, "What law have I broken that you set up an ambush for me? What unforgivable capital crime have I committed that you even used firearms? Tell me! Do you just disregard human life like that? Is this how you just kill people as you wish?"

    "Still trying to argue? You have injured Li Bisheng with a Curse Spell; you sought wealth and caused harm with a spell!" Team leader Lin looked at the enraged Ge Dongxu and began to sense that something was amiss. But as an official of the Qimen in the government, accustomed to a high position, how could he bow his head? He immediately retorted. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

    "I figure you must also be about seventy years old, right? A person of such a venerable age, how can your brain function like this? With my capability, if I truly wanted to use a Curse Spell, could Li Bisheng, with his meager Kung Fu skills, escape it?" Ge Dongxu retorted angrily.

    Team leader Lin, after all, was not brainless. It was just that earlier, because of Deputy team leader Cui''s involvement and considering Li Bisheng as one of their own, he had initially been biased and rushed to judge Ge Dongxu, unable to change his mindset. But upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s words, he immediately remembered how Ge Dongxu had just broken their three-man arrangement with a mere gesture and could rise into the air. With such skills, perhaps even the directors of their bureau would not be his match.

    If he truly wanted to use Techniques against Li Bisheng, how could Li Bisheng have escaped?

    Of course, team leader Lin did not know that Ge Dongxu had held back when breaking the arrangement earlier, or else the three of them would already be three dead bodies at this moment.

    If team leader Lin knew this, he would not have at all considered whether the few directors in their bureau were a match for Ge Dongxu.

    Because they were not on the same level at all, there was nothing to compare.

    "Kid, you deceived me?" Upon realizing the truth, team leader Lin glared at Li Bisheng angrily.

    "I didn''t! It was he who used the Curse Spell trying to seek wealth and harm lives!" Li Bisheng''s eyes flickered with panic, but he soon calmed down and insisted.

    "Li Bisheng, what exactly is going on? Answer honestly, and maybe your master can still save your life. Otherwise, once we investigate clearly, there will be no chance of leniency," Deputy team leader Cui, who had been silent all this while, suddenly spoke up, staring coldly at Li Bisheng.

    Li Bisheng shivered uncontrollably as he faced his master''s chilling gaze.

    He knew that his master had seen the situation turn unfavorable and was ready to sacrifice the car to save the general.

    But did he have a choice?

    By admitting his fault now, perhaps his master would somehow save his life, but if he implicated his master and dragged him down with him, he would''ve completely severed all paths of retreat.

    "Master I..." Li Bisheng, who had been vehemently denying the accusations, finally showed a look of shame on his face.

    "You..." Deputy Chief Cui, pointing at Li Bisheng with disappointed anger, then let out a long sigh, tears streaming down his face.

    "Esteemed Daoist, it is my lack of proper guidance, my credulity to his one-sided story, that almost brought harm to an innocent person." Deputy Chief Cui allowed the tears to roll down his pockmarked face as he spoke to Ge Dongxu with a look of self-reproach and shame.

    "It''s not entirely your fault, Elder Cui. Who would have thought this youngster would dare deceive us? I too have been negligent in my oversight, and I ask for understanding from this esteemed Daoist. We will definitely investigate this matter thoroughly and will not tolerate any leniency." Group Leader Lin, his complexion changing repeatedly, finally let go of his official pride and gave a formal bow to Ge Dongxu.

    "You think a mere apology suffices? You opened fire on me before even conducting an investigation, how can I trust that you won''t pull some stunt later on?" Ge Dongxu said disdainfully.

    "You, what sort of attitude is that? Don''t forget who I am..." Group Leader Lin, having lowered himself to apologize to Ge Dongxu, was shocked to see Ge Dongxu unappeased. The arrogance that lay deep in his bones resurfaced as he glared at Ge Dongxu.

    "Shut your mouth! Just because you''re from that department, your actions are all the more inexcusable! Isn''t this a case of knowing the law and breaking it? Have you ever considered what would have happened if I were not strong enough and had been killed by that bullet?" Ge Dongxu coldly rebuked Lin Group Leader, seeing that he was still trying to assert his authority despite knowing he was in the wrong.

    "Esteemed Daoist, it is all my fault, Group Leader Lin was just..." Deputy Chief Cui said with a face full of shame and self-reproach.

    "Elder Cui, there''s no need to be so humble. So what if we were wrong? It is we who are injured! Even if there has to be an investigation, that''s a matter for those higher up, and it''s not for an outsider like him to point fingers." Group Leader Lin said coldly. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Group Leader Lin''s defiant attitude, Ge Dongxu''s expression grew colder.

    He had not originally intended to interact with people from that department, but now he had, and with the situation having escalated to this point, if he didn''t thoroughly resolve the matter, who knew what trouble these people might stir up once they returned.

    After all, he had not only severely injured them, but also stepped on them and cursed them. Who could guarantee they wouldn''t seek personal revenge? And there was Li Bisheng; Ge Dongxu was not inclined to let him off either. Li Bisheng''s master was from the Special Department, and although they spoke nicely now, who knew if the matter would be dropped once he left.

    That gunshot had deepened Ge Dongxu''s understanding and wariness of human malice.

    "Quite the sentiment, ''so what if we were wrong!'' No wonder you dared to attack me viciously without discerning right from wrong, you dared to shoot at me! Since that''s the case, let the higher-ups investigate. I''m curious to see if they share the same sentiment." Ge Dongxu said coldly, and then took out his phone to give Elder Feng a call.

    It was only nine-thirty in the evening, and Elder Feng usually didn''t go to bed until ten o''clock.

 Chapter 263 Furious Rage

    Elder Feng''s room had two telephones.

    One was a hotline, which, when it rang, often signified that something significant was about to occur.

    The other was a private line. Given his status, aside from family, only a few people in the entire Huaxia Country knew this number¡ªindeed, besides his family, only those few were authorized to call it directly.

    Now, Ge Dongxu had also become one of those few.

    Seeing the private phone ring suddenly at this hour, a flicker of surprise crossed Elder Feng''s face.

    His private phone hardly ever rang in a year, let alone late at night. Its sudden ringing now indeed made Elder Feng somewhat unaccustomed.

    The staff responsible for Elder Feng''s meals and accommodations was startled by the abrupt ringing, fearing something significant had occurred, and hurriedly handed the phone to Elder Feng.

    "Is that my Senior Brother? This is Ge Dongxu." No sooner had Elder Feng taken the phone than he heard Ge Dongxu''s voice.

    "So it''s you, Dongxu. I was just wondering who would be calling me at this hour," replied Elder Feng with a relieved expression, breaking into a smile.

    These days, it seemed only this junior fellow of his could view him in such a pure light, unlike others who would first see his other identity. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Have I disturbed your rest?" Ge Dongxu then realized the lateness of the hour and asked somewhat embarrassedly.

    "Ha, since your miraculous rejuvenation, your Senior Brother here has been feeling more vigorous with age. It''s still early for me to sleep. Tell me, what brings you to call me at this hour?" laughed Elder Feng.

    "Do you still remember the matter you mentioned last time about the Special Department?" Ge Dongxu said, his face turning from embarrassment to seriousness.

    "Did you encounter their people? Was there a conflict?" Elder Feng''s smile gradually tightened, as he asked in a serious tone.

    The fact that Ge Dongxu was calling specifically about the Special Department at this hour could hardly be just for a simple inquiry.

    "Yes," replied Ge Dongxu.

    "Are you alright?" Elder Feng asked with concern.

    "I''m fine," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "That''s good. Tell me, what exactly happened?" Elder Feng breathed a sigh of relief, then asked with a stern expression.

    Ge Dongxu recounted the events from start to finish.

    "Alright, your Senior Brother understands now. But this is just your side of the story, and although I trust you, proper procedures still have to be followed before reaching a final conclusion. However, rest assured, once the matter is thoroughly investigated, they will certainly give you an explanation. For now, keep those people in custody and do not leave the spot," Elder Feng said, his facial wrinkles deepening and an aura of dignified authority emanating from him, which seemed to make the atmosphere in the entire room coalesce.

    Even though the old man spoke in a calm tone to Ge Dongxu¡ªintending not to make him feel like he was taking sides¡ªthe truth was, the old man had not easily acknowledged a junior in his later years, and now this brother of his had almost lost his life to a Special Department operative''s gun. How could the old man not be furious?

    "Success is built on a mountain of bones!" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The elderly man had walked through a life filled with gunfire and bloodshed, his hands stained with the blood of countless enemies.

    How could his anger be ordinary? Ordinary people aside, even those with Cultivation would likely lose their composure if they directly faced the Evil Qi he emitted in his rage.

    "Okay, thank you, brother," Ge Dongxu said.

    Ge Dongxu, who always acted uprightly, didn''t need the elderly man''s partiality. Seeing the elderly man''s response, he answered with even more respect, "Okay, I''ll wait right here."

    Ge Dongxu then repeated the address and hung up the phone.

    After ending the call with Elder Feng, Ge Dongxu worried that Liu Jiayao might be anxious and specifically called her to report his safety and advised her to rest early.

    While Ge Dongxu was calling Liu Jiayao, Elder Feng was also making calls. His first call was to Du Suiping, a former subordinate at the National Security Department.

    The second call went directly to the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau. The person in charge of this department was called Director rather than Chief.

    During the call, Elder Feng''s tone remained very calm, as if he were discussing a very ordinary matter. However, Director Fan on the other end of the line felt all his hairs stand on end, covered in a cold sweat despite the winter chill.

    His own people had almost shot to death the disciple of Elder Feng! Fortunately, Elder Feng''s disciple had a strong Cultivation. If he had been killed, it would have truly created a massive problem. Not only would he, the Director, have to step down immediately, but the entire Special Ability Management Bureau might have to be thoroughly reorganized from top to bottom.

    Of course, this was not the most crucial point. The most crucial point was that the fault lay most likely on his side.

    Even a simpleton, after giving it a little thought, would understand that as Elder Feng''s disciple, Ge Dongxu would not need to resort to such sinister methods to acquire Li Fang Cosmetics. Not to mention that Ge Dongxu was currently holding Group Leader Lin, Deputy Group Leader Cui, Lu Yuan, and six others hostage alone. Even the Director found his strength frightening. If he wanted to take action against Li Bisheng, why would he need to go through such great trouble?

    Killing Elder Feng''s disciple was already an enormous issue, let alone a wrongful killing! Just thinking about it made Director Fan feel a chill all around him.

    "Please rest assured, Chief. I will take people to Linzhou City myself and thoroughly investigate this matter," Director Fan said solemnly.

    "Good, I''ve already instructed Du Suiping to assist your investigation. You go together," Elder Feng said gravely.

    "Yes!" Director Fan answered solemnly, then he hung up the phone, his face gradually revealing a bitter smile.

    Even with the Director personally involved, Elder Feng still sent Du Suiping to assist the investigation, clearly showing his message.

    Elder Feng was very dissatisfied, even distrustful of the Special Ability Management Bureau, and this also showed how much he valued this case, or rather his disciple, not allowing the slightest grievance against him.

    But his own people nearly killing Ge Dongxu with a gun left Director Fan utterly without grounds for objection, especially since Du Suiping was initially from the National Security Department, and the Special Ability Management Bureau was technically under the National Security Department, which authorized Du Suiping''s involvement.

    After making this call, Elder Feng still felt somewhat angry and paced several rounds in the room before he gradually calmed down.

    It couldn''t be helped; to have such a disciple in his later years¡ªa disciple whose own master had greatly favored him¡ªnow nearly killed by a gunshot, was distressing. If it had been according to the old man''s wartime temperament, he would have slammed the phone and cursed out loud.

    ps: Recently, many readers have been urging for faster updates, complaining that the writing is slow. In fact, I''m more anxious than you are, as writing more means earning more. However, for now, I really can''t speed up. Both the plot and the wording require careful thought, and meticulous work takes time. Without drafts on hand and experiencing some blockages in thought, I can only maintain this pace to avoid ruining the story. Please forgive me.

 Chapter 264 Revealing True Strength

    In the courtyard house, the old man paced back and forth in the room until his anger gradually subsided. Meanwhile, the staff from the Special Ability Management Bureau had already been urgently mobilized.

    A dedicated military aircraft was also on standby at the airport, ready to depart for Linzhou City at any moment.

    This emergency mobilization, which even utilized a military aircraft, was not solely because this matter involved Elder Feng, but also because Director Fan Hong had learned from Elder Feng that Ge Dongxu''s power was extraordinarily formidable.

    Such a person, once truly provoked to turn to evil ways, could bring about an absolutely immense disaster, so this case could not be delayed even for a moment.

    In fact, when the emergency mobilization was initiated in the capital, personnel from the National Security Bureau and Special Ability Management Office in Jiangnan Province had already begun to investigate the acquisition storm involving Li Fang Cosmetics and Qinglan Cosmetics from the year before.

    The National Security Bureau, a department that usually keeps a low profile as if it has no relation to the daily lives of ordinary people, is in fact a national anti-espionage and political security agency. Once activated, its efficiency, the forces it can mobilize, and the temporary powers it can exercise are absolutely terrifying.

    They quickly investigated all the dealings of Li Bisheng over the past two years, including his suspicious activities, his close relationship with the former purchasing manager of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, Zhang Huowang, and all his recent phone and entry records.

    Of course, they also investigated Ge Dongxu, but their focus was on Li Bisheng. Regarding Ge Dongxu''s information, due to Elder Feng''s involvement, they only briefly checked his superficial data, but even so, they were taken aback by what they found.

    He started investing in businesses as early as his freshman year of high school and became the major shareholder of five companies by his senior year. Furthermore, the data suggested that he developed everything step by step on his own without any external help.

    Because the focus was on investigating Li Bisheng, Zhang Huowang, who was still dreaming about dealing with Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, was taken away for interrogation by the National Security Bureau in the middle of the night, nearly scaring him to death.

    As an ordinary citizen, he had never had any contact with this department before.

    As soon as the staff questioned him about his relationship and transactions with Li Bisheng, Zhang Huowang was so frightened that he spilled everything. By this moment, Zhang Huowang had fully realized that not only did Ge Dongxu have miraculous abilities, but the power behind him was also incredibly formidable.

    He had just called Li Bisheng not long ago, and it wasn''t much later that the National Security Bureau came knocking. If he dared to resist or not confess truthfully, wouldn''t that be simply courting death?

    At one thirty in the morning, Fan Hong and Du Suiping led a team of people to Linzhou City.

    As soon as they arrived in Linzhou City, someone immediately handed them a detailed investigation report.

    Both of them looked very grim after reading it, especially Fan Hong. In the dead of winter, as someone with cultivation abilities, a few beads of cold sweat involuntarily broke out on his forehead again.

    If before, he had held onto a fantasy that Ge Dongxu might be in the wrong, then he could have had an excuse. But now, that fantasy had completely turned into an illusion.

    "Director Fan, do you think we need to verify this again?" Du Suiping asked Fan Hong expressionlessly.

    Du Suiping was around fifty years old, and by rank, he was lower than Fan Hong. But because he was representing Elder Feng this time, his status appeared very special.

    "No need, let''s go straight to Xiao Yuan Mountain," Fan Hong said, waving his hand.

    "Alright." Du Suiping asked the question out of respect for Fan Hong. In reality, the information in their hands was already crystal clear.

    ...

    For Ge Dongxu, he recognized none of the individuals Du Suiping brought including Fan Hong. So when several cars suddenly appeared outside the villa and people carrying guns exited these vehicles, and a few of the elderly within the group exuded an aura even more powerful than the team leader, Lin, and the vice team leader, Cui, it was clear these were formidable practitioners from Qimen.

    Having just experienced a shooting incident, Ge Dongxu, unclear of the newcomers'' intentions, naturally did not let his guard down.

    Almost instantly, a powerful momentum emanated from Ge Dongxu''s body, his whole figure piercing the starry night like a sharp lance.

    In his right hand, he held the little peach wood sword pendant that had hung around his neck without anyone noticing when he had taken it. Traces of pure True Qi were infused into it, emitting a chilling sensation, while his left hand flipped and formed a spell sign, positioning it three inches in front of his chest. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His toes sketched a Tai Chi Diagram on the ground repeatedly and slowly.

    Suddenly, gusts of wind sprang up around the previously tranquil Xiaoyuan Mountain, forming visible shapes resembling sharp swords looming over everyone''s head, ready to strike.

    Moreover, as soon as Fan Hong and the others stepped into the yard, the lawn seemed to be stimulated by some force, twisting in the night as if it could launch an attack like snakes the moment Fan Hong and his group made a suspicious move.

    Of course, all of these were quite covert, hardly noticeable by the naked eye of an ordinary person.

    However, among those who came here, none besides Du Suiping was an ordinary person. So, as soon as they set foot inside the yard, a tremendous sense of crisis enveloped them instantly, causing their hair to stand on end.

    This was minor though; each one of them had their own level of Cultivation, especially since Fan Hong himself was involved this time, followed at the very least by experts of Vice Team Leader Cui''s rank. Considering a crisis, they were confident in their ability to escape.

    Yet, as they began to activate their True Qi, they were terrified to discover that a mysterious force around them was suppressing them, making the operation of their True Qi extremely difficult and slow.

    Even Fan Hong, the director, had his face turn pale instantly.

    Two of them, who reacted quickly, stopped mobilizing their internal energy and reached for their guns.

    But before their hands could touch the guns, the green grass under their feet suddenly grew rapidly, entangling their hands.

    The two were startled and just as they were about to struggle, a chilling voice suddenly echoed, "It''s best not to struggle, otherwise I can''t guarantee that your heads will remain intact."

    In fact, even if they hadn''t heard these words, they wouldn''t dare move by now.

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    They had already sensed a sharp nature''s spiritual energy targeting their Baihui acupuncture point, exuding a thick aura of killing intent.

    Inside the villa, when Ge Dongxu opened the door, Lin, the team leader, and the others had already seen and recognized Director Fan Hong and the others. They were utterly shocked, especially the guilty Vice Team Leader Cui and Li Bisheng, who were terrified and pale. They had no idea who Ge Dongxu had called, but within merely four hours, Director Fan Hong was summoned from the distant capital through the night.

    It seemed this night was destined to be harrowing for them; they were just startled by the arrival of Director Fan Hong when they witnessed that terrifying scene.

    Ge Dongxu, the young man, merely stood at the entrance, yet Director Fan Hong and the others were completely trapped in the yard, even devoid of the chance to draw their guns.

    What an horrific spell ¨C Lin, the team leader and others dared not even think about it. At this moment, Lin, the team leader, realized just how naive and ludicrous his earlier ambush on him was, and understood how foolish and ignorant he had been to pose authorities before him.

    Such a figure, was someone they could never ambush, nor someone before whom he could pose as an official.

 Chapter 265 Interrogation

    If there''s someone full of terror and stuck in a dangerous situation, it''s Fan Hong, the director of the situation, who might feel even more astonished than Team Leader Lin and the others.

    From what Elder Feng had said, Director Fan Hong had already guessed that Ge Dongxu was very powerful, and he might even be on par with him. But he never dreamed that Ge Dongxu could be so terrifying!

    He could casually summon nature''s spiritual energy and even use techniques to command the vegetation to serve him, instantly subduing all of them.

    If this kind of strength were shown by several old predecessors who remained hidden from the world, Director Fan Hong could have accepted it. But for Ge Dongxu, an 18-year-old high school student, to display such power, it was enough to send chills down his spine.

    If such a person were given more years to grow, once he brought calamity upon the world, it would probably only be possible to eliminate him by deploying the military.

    "Mr. Ge, please don''t misunderstand, I am Fan Hong, director of the Special Ability Management Bureau, and this is Du Suiping from the National Security Department, who Elder Feng personally selected to work with us on the investigation." Of course, at this moment, the spirit energy had transformed into a sword pointing at his Baihui acupoint, and if it pierced through, the consequences would be unimaginable. Director Fan Hong, already pale with fear, hastened to reveal his identity.

    "So it''s Director Fan and Mr. Du, my apologies for any offense." Ge Dongxu, hearing this, retracted the small Peach Wood Sword and the aura emanating from his body. He cupped his hands towards the people in the courtyard and apologized.

    As Ge Dongxu withdrew his imposing presence, the spiritual energy dissipated, and the lawn on the ground also returned to its peaceful state. The people in the courtyard immediately felt a sense of lightness and couldn''t help but take a deep breath of relief.

    Upon exhaling, they realized that their backs were completely soaked through.

    At this point, even without the information previously gathered by the Jiangnan Provincial National Security Bureau, Director Fan Hong and the others already knew that the issue definitely lay with Li Bisheng.

    It was laughable; with the strength Ge Dongxu had just shown, even without Elder Feng''s background, he wouldn''t bother provoking Li Bisheng, let alone resorting to any sly tactics.

    "Mr. Ge exaggerates, exaggerates indeed. It was my people who offended you earlier. It''s only natural for Mr. Ge to be cautious now," Fan Hong said hurriedly, with a very polite and respectful manner.

    Whether it was due to the terrifying power Ge Dongxu had just displayed, or his relationship with Elder Feng, Fan Hong couldn''t afford to put on airs, not to mention that he needed Ge Dongxu to show mercy in this matter.

    Ge Dongxu accepted Fan Hong''s words without objection and nodded indifferently. Then he made a special effort to give a fist and palm salute to Du Suiping: "I truly appreciate you coming all this way from the capital late at night. I''m sorry for the trouble."

    "Heh, it''s only right," Du Suiping said with a smile.

    "Elder Feng must have briefly mentioned the situation to you. Now that you are here, I will go over it in detail one more time," Ge Dongxu nodded and, after welcoming the group into the villa''s living room and everyone was seated, his expression turned serious before he began to speak.

    "There''s no need for that kind of trouble, it must be their fault!" Fan Hong said.

    "No matter whose fault it is, you and Mr. Du are here to handle the case, so let''s follow the procedure. I''ll recount what I know for you to take down, and then you can continue with taking their statements as necessary. I don''t need any special treatment from you because of Elder Feng; I just want a fair outcome based on the investigation results," Ge Dongxu waved his hand, rejecting Fan Hong''s offer of consideration.

    Fan Hong, looking at Ge Dongxu with great respect, couldn''t help but inwardly smile wryly, thinking it was no wonder he was on brotherly terms with Elder Feng. This man was truly something! It seemed that he wouldn''t be able to back off from this matter without a thorough investigation.

    "Alright, I respect Mr. Ge''s wishes. I, myself, will ask the questions, and Suiping, you take notes," Fan Hong said.

    "Alright," Du Suiping nodded, his eyes showing a hint of admiration towards Ge Dongxu.

    This person is extraordinary!

    By then, Team Leader Lin and the others were thoroughly terrified.

    At this point, they had naturally understood to whom Ge Dongxu had made the call, and finally realized why Fan Hong and the others had managed to arrive here from the capital in such a short time.

    The young man before them was actually one of Huaxia Country''s remaining few generals, the younger fellow disciple of Elder Feng! And they had almost shot him with a gun!

    ...

    As Ge Dongxu spoke, his account was naturally much more detailed and comprehensive, matching perfectly with the evidence the Jiangnan Province National Security Bureau had gathered.

    As for what happened at Xiao Yuan Mountain, Ge Dongxu didn''t go into detail, only mentioning that Team Leader Lin and his men had ambushed and attacked him and that Tao Jun had used a gun.

    But just those simple few sentences were enough to make Fan Hong and his colleagues break out in a cold sweat once again.

    This late at night, a gunman''s ambush, and the result was Ge Dongxu emerging completely unscathed¡ªthis indicated how terrifying his power was! Of course, it was also fortunate that Ge Dongxu wasn''t hit; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

    "Smack!" Just as Ge Dongxu finished speaking, Fan Hong slammed his palm down onto the coffee table, abruptly standing up with a face ashen with rage, pointing at Team Leader Lin and the others, he angrily said, "You really did me proud! You dared to set a trap and ambush someone without clarifying anything, and you even used firearms! Tell me, who gave you the authority to do that?"

    "Director Fan, I also didn''t expect that Li Bisheng, as Cui He''s disciple, would dare to break the law knowing the law, using techniques to frame the president of Qinglan Cosmetics Company and thus..." Team Leader Lin replied with a pale face.

    "What a ''didn''t expect''! Can you decide someone''s life with just a ''didn''t expect''? Who gave you the audacity? Who gave you the power?" Team Leader Lin''s attempt to deflect and make excuses only served to infuriate Fan Hong even more.

    "I... I didn''t intend to take Mr. Ge''s life, I... I just wanted to injure him and then capture him, but I didn''t expect Tao Jun to use his gun without authorization," said Team Leader Lin with a trembling voice.

    Fan Hong and the others immediately turned their gazes towards Tao Jun, and Ge Dongxu did the same.

    Team Leader Lin''s response had slightly altered Ge Dongxu''s opinion of him. Otherwise, if he had ordered his men to shoot from the beginning, Ge Dongxu would have held him accountable, no matter what.

    Because that would have definitely amounted to reckless disregard for human life!

    "It was the elder brother that told me to shoot," Tao Jun said with a shiver as everyone''s eyes turned towards him. He glanced at Master Cui He, then hurriedly turned to Li Bisheng.

    "Jun Sheng, interrogate him," said Fan Hong, not so easily deceived as the head of a department. His face darkened abruptly, and he commanded a man with a stern look behind him. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This man was in charge of discipline in the special department!

    Each member of the special department had cultivation within them, dealing with either people from Qimen, zombies, evil spirits, and other non-human creatures. Naturally, they couldn''t interrogate suspects in conventional ways. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

    Known for his impartiality and ruthlessness, Jun Sheng''s stern expression and the harsh aura he emitted caused Tao Jun''s entire body to tremble uncontrollably, his eyes continuously seeking Cui He.

    If Cui He had harbored any chances of luck before, from the moment he knew that Ge Dongxu was Elder Feng''s younger fellow disciple and that Du Suiping was a leader in the National Security Department personally appointed by Elder Feng, he knew that he couldn''t hide this incident, and that he couldn''t escape his fate tonight.

    "There''s no need to trouble you, Team Leader Jun. I was the one who ordered Tao Jun to shoot," Cui He finally spoke, his old face aging drastically as if he had become an old man on the brink of death.

 Chapter 266 Concerns

    "The things Li Bisheng used to sabotage Qinglan Cosmetics'' production and the Curse Spell were also given to him by me when he came to the capital last time," Cui He continued, taking out the bottle of Yin Demonic Corpse Qi previously collected from the zombie.

    At this point, the truth had seemingly come to light, but Fan Hong didn''t feel the slightest relief; on the contrary, his expression turned extremely ugly.

    In the past two years, Cui He had made rapid progress in his strength, and it was very likely that he would break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation soon. Once he made the breakthrough, it was possible for him to join the leadership of the Special Ability Management Bureau, so Fan Hong had high hopes for Cui He.

    Yet now, this person he had placed such hopes on, who might even join the ranks of the Special Ability Management Bureau''s leadership in the near future, turned out to be so sinister and cruel at heart.

    "I think there is nothing left for me here," Ge Dongxu said, seeing the truth revealed and not wanting to stay and interfere with their case. He stood up and spoke.

    Fan Hong and Du Suiping showed surprised and unexpected looks upon hearing this, as they had thought Ge Dongxu would be furious after the truth was unveiled and would demand that Fan Hong deal harshly with Cui He, Li Bisheng, and even Team Leader Lin. They did not expect him to simply stand up and take his leave.

    However, after their surprise and astonishment, Du Suiping looked at Ge Dongxu with solemn respect.

    A young man with such terrifying abilities and with Elder Feng''s background was able to control his desire for revenge at this moment and leave the decision to the Special Ability Management Bureau. This demonstrated great magnanimity and wisdom.

    After his surprise and astonishment, in addition to a respectful look, Fan Hong''s gaze towards Ge Dongxu also contained a complex sense of deep gratitude that was difficult to put into words.

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    Because Fan Hong knew that with Ge Dongxu''s abilities and background, as well as being the victim, if he really wanted to intervene forcefully, even Fan Hong would not be in a position to comment. But Ge Dongxu did not do so, showing trust and respect for the Special Ability Management Bureau and for Fan Hong himself.

    This also showed his attitude.

    He abides by the national laws and will not change due to his abilities or Elder Feng''s background.

    "Suiping, you continue the interrogation with the others; I''ll see Mr. Ge out," Fan Hong said as he got up, speaking to Du Suiping.

    Being from the National Security Department and so highly regarded by Elder Feng, Du Suiping was naturally an extremely astute person. Upon hearing this, he immediately understood that Fan Hong had something to say to Ge Dongxu. He stood up and nodded, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said with a gesture of respect, "Then, Mr. Ge, I shall not see you out."

    "Don''t mention it, you''re busy," Ge Dongxu replied politely and with haste, and then left the villa with Fan Hong accompanying him.

    "Mr. Ge, with such profound cultivation, have you ever considered joining our Special Ability Management Bureau to serve the country¡­" As he escorted Ge Dongxu to the door, Fan Hong looked at him with hopeful eyes and asked.

    "Thank you for the invitation, Director Fan, but I have no interest in officialdom. I bid you farewell; please stay." Before Fan Hong could finish speaking, Ge Dongxu interrupted, then with a gesture of respect, he strode away.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s figure quickly disappear into the night, Fan Hong''s expression was complicated.

    With such a young age and terrifying cultivation, not being used by the nation and leaving him to his own devices outside posed an enormous variable to national security.

    Yet Fan Hong couldn''t possibly force Ge Dongxu, partly because of his terrifying cultivation but more importantly because of Elder Feng''s connection¡ªthe latter being the key factor.

    Otherwise, even if Ge Dongxu''s cultivation were to grow even stronger, in the face of the power of the state he would ultimately still be inconsequential, unable to resist.

    Under the night sky, Ge Dongxu walked down the mountain path, his steps not becoming any lighter for having discovered the truth, but rather carrying a hint of heaviness.

    This was not just because of the dangers he had faced this evening, but also because of the complex look in Director Fan Hong''s eyes when they parted.

    If it''s said that ''a hero who uses martial skills breaks the law,'' then it has always been the case that the state never lets down its guard against martial artists. For someone like Ge Dongxu, who possesses terrifying superpowers, the implications were probably far more significant than simply ''a hero who uses martial skills breaks the law.''

    Fan Hong, as the director of the Special Ability Management Bureau, how could he ever feel at ease about his existence?

    In the past, Ge Dongxu was unwilling to interact with individuals from special departments due to these considerations, and his master had warned him about such matters before he passed away. Hence, he was not allowed to display his techniques easily.

    But it seemed as if destiny had its own arrangements. Ge Dongxu didn''t want to get involved with these people, yet somehow he ended up entangled with them, making it impossible to avoid.

    Even if he moved away proactively and made his stance clear, it still wasn''t enough to dispel Director Fan Hong''s concerns.

    I must become a more powerful being! Powerful enough to instill fear and trepidation in their hearts. Only then, even if they are uneasy, they would have no choice but to feel at ease!

    When Ge Dongxu reached the foot of the mountain, the heaviness on his face was replaced by determination.

    By the time he returned to Yadu Garden, it was already 3 am.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu opened the door to the apartment, a faint fragrance assailed his nostrils, followed closely by Liu Jiayao holding him tightly, as if fearing that the man before her would vanish the moment she let go.

    "Didn''t I tell you everything was okay? Why haven''t you gone to sleep?" Ge Dongxu tenderly kissed Liu Jiayao''s head and whispered.

    "But I was still worried without seeing you," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Now that I''m back, you can be at ease, right?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he lifted Liu Jiayao up in his arms.

    "Mm!" Liu Jiayao wrapped her arms around Ge Dongxu''s neck, nodded, and then broke into a happy smile.

    "Has Li Min already gone back?" Ge Dongxu asked casually as he carried Liu Jiayao into the master bedroom.

    "After your call, I asked her to go back," Liu Jiayao replied.

    "You''re quite considerate of others, yet you don''t know how to take care of yourself," Ge Dongxu put Liu Jiayao down on the bed, then lightly touched her nose and said in exasperation.

    "Aren''t you the same?" Liu Jiayao retorted with an unyielding roll of her eyes at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu was momentarily taken aback, then he let out a laugh and said, "Alright then, now I''ll take care of you. You go to sleep first. I''ll take a quick shower and then join you."

    "No, I want to wait for you in bed," Liu Jiayao pouted her alluring lips like a mischievous child, shaking her head.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao, who returned his gaze. Finally, Ge Dongxu could only say, "Then I''ll make it quick."

    With that, he hurried to the bathroom. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the bathroom, all the toiletries and a change of sleepwear had already been laid out, clearly prepared by Liu Jiayao while she was home alone with nothing to do.

    He took a quick shower and got into bed.

    Usually, Liu Jiayao would guard against him, this big lecher, trying her best to prevent him from getting frisky; but now, well past 3 am, she was the one wrapping herself around Ge Dongxu.

    Though he had experienced much and expended a considerable amount of True Qi that evening, Ge Dongxu was still brimming with energy compared to the average person, a veritable picture of vigor. How could he withstand Liu Jiayao''s active seduction? It didn''t take long before the room was filled with the colors of spring.

 Chapter 267 You Understand Cosmetics Formulas Too?

    The next day was sunny.

    The sun had climbed up high, and through the gauze curtains, sunlight dappled the pink bed where Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao still lay without getting up.

    "Do you really know Elder Feng, and even have a mentor-student relationship with him?" Liu Jiayao curled up in Ge Dongxu''s arms, asking incredulously.

    In the wee hours, the couple had a moment of intimacy; naturally, they didn''t talk about what happened at Xiao Yuan Mountain. After a long sleep and upon waking, Liu Jiayao inevitably asked about the progress of last night''s events.

    Since Liu Jiayao brought it up, Ge Dongxu had no choice but to stop deliberately avoiding the topic of his relationship with Elder Feng. He laid it all out, although he didn''t mention Tao Jun pulling a gun, to avoid worrying Liu Jiayao.

    "I wouldn''t dare to talk nonsense about such matters, of course it''s true, but you must never tell anyone," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That''s a given," Liu Jiayao said. Although she was convinced it was true, she was still stunned for a long time before nodding.

    "So Li Bisheng is definitely doomed?" After a while, Liu Jiayao shifted her thoughts from the relationship between Ge Dongxu and Elder Feng and inquired.

    "That''s for sure," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "If Li Bisheng is going down, then his Li Fang Cosmetics Company will definitely be dealt with. How about we buy it? With that, our Qinglan Cosmetics will surely ascend to a new level," Liu Jiayao''s eyes shone brightly after getting a definite answer.

    "I don''t want the day when Qinglan Cosmetics makes a name for itself worldwide for someone to gossip about Li Fang Cosmetics. So, I don''t agree with buying Li Fang Cosmetics," Ge Dongxu replied without hesitation. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He didn''t want people to say that they brought down Li Fang Cosmetics and then used it to become titans in the cosmetics industry.

    "If you disagree, then we''ll drop it," Liu Jiayao said immediately upon hearing this, though a trace of disappointment flickered in her eyes.

    She had always harbored the ambition to grow Qinglan Cosmetics to a point where it could compete with international brands, but with Qinglan''s current foundation, further breakthroughs were extremely challenging. Acquiring Li Fang Cosmetics and integrating both companies'' sales channels and research and development capabilities seemed like a fast track approach to a breakthrough.

    However, since Ge Dongxu was not keen on the idea, Liu Jiayao naturally followed his opinion.

    "Don''t worry. If I could make Qinghe Herbal Tea popular across Jiangnan, I can find a way to take Qinglan Cosmetics global," Ge Dongxu reassured Liu Jiayao about her aspirations, hugging her tightly with confidence in his voice.

    "Really?" Liu Jiayao''s delicate body trembled slightly, looking at Ge Dongxu with anticipation.

    If Ge Dongxu had said this before, Liu Jiayao would have accused him of boasting. But now, knowing that he had started from scratch and created Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglin Qi¡ªtwo brands that had swept through Huaxia Country¡ªshe was full of confidence in this eighteen-year-old business prodigy.

    "Of course, it''s true. For a brand to become popular, not only do you need good advertising, investment, and sales channels, but I believe the key is the quality of the product. Qinglan Cosmetics already has some reputation, with sizable annual advertising and numerous sales channels. What''s really missing now is a product that can genuinely impress people," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Don''t tell me you also understand cosmetics formulations?" Liu Jiayao said half in jest, half in disbelief.

    Liu Jiayao naturally knew that for Qinglan Cosmetics to reach the next level, product innovation was key. Without an impressive high-end product, no matter how much she invested in advertising or how much she expanded the sales channels, it would only result in increased sales, not a qualitative leap in development for Qinglan.

    Previously, Liu Jiayao had considered acquiring Li Fang Cosmetics precisely to take over its mature products, allowing Qinglan Cosmetics Company to directly enter the mid-range cosmetics market.

    "Of course. Don''t forget, I''m a doctor ¨C and not just any doctor, but a highly skilled one," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. Read exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    "What does being a doctor have to do with cosmetics?" Liu Jiayao couldn''t make the connection and looked at him puzzled.

    "You can be smart one moment and confused the next. Skin is a very important part of the body. As a highly skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, not only should I know how to treat skin diseases, but I should also know how to slow down skin aging and maintain its youth and vitality. There are methods that work from the inside out and others that protect from the outside in. The medicinal wine I gave you actually contains an effect to slow down skin aging from the inside out and maintain its youth," Ge Dongxu said with a light chuckle, playfully scraping Liu Jiayao''s nose.

    "Ah! So you''re saying you also have a topical formula!" Liu Jiayao suddenly realized, excitedly sitting up from the bed.

    As Liu Jiayao sat up, Ge Dongxu''s eyes couldn''t help but go wide.

    ...

    Eventually, the two of them got out of bed around two o''clock in the afternoon.

    Sitting in Mingyue Lake''s revolving restaurant, seeing the smug and slightly mischievous smile occasionally appearing on Ge Dongxu''s face across the table, Liu Jiayao gnashed her teeth and couldn''t help but stomp on his feet several times under the table.

    "Let me tell you, Ge Dongxu, if you don''t come up with a formula that satisfies me, we''ll see if I''ll let you do that again!" Liu Jiayao gritted her teeth, but recalling the embarrassing and ludicrous things she had done with Ge Dongxu during the day, her delicate and porcelain-like skin couldn''t help but blush like the evening sky.

    "Relax, I''ll definitely come up with a suitable formula, and it will be all-natural. The key issue will be industrial production. That''s not my area, so I can''t help with that," Ge Dongxu said, beaming with pride while Liu Jiayao, infuriated, kicked him again.

 Chapter 268 You Should Just Hold a Title

    "The issue of industrial production will be resolved by me, so you don''t need to worry about that. After all, over these years, Qinglan Cosmetics has invested quite a sum in product research and development, and we do have a group of decent scientific researchers," Liu Jiayao said with a satisfied expression after kicking Ge Dongxu under the table and seeing his feigned expression of pain.

    "Then there will be no problem. I will think it over in the next few days and then give you the formula," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Since it''s purely natural and personally made by you, I''m quite looking forward to and confident about the results. However, since cosmetics are applied on the skin, you still need to think about the scent. You cannot just consider it from a medical skincare perspective; the scent also needs consideration," Liu Jiayao reminded him after a moment''s thought.

    "Had you not mentioned it, I would have indeed overlooked the issue of scent," Ge Dongxu frowned slightly upon hearing this, his face showing deep contemplation.

    He indeed had several skincare formulas in mind, but many were considered from a medical perspective with little attention paid to scent. This was similar to the original recipe of Qinghe Herbal Tea, which prioritized reducing internal heat and replenishing vital energy, and was less palatable, but had later been improved to make it both efficacious and refreshing.

    "Scent? Scent?" Ge Dongxu echoed the words in his mind, then suddenly, a bright idea struck him.

    He remembered that several batches of products produced by Qinglan Cosmetics had an offputting scent due to the Yin Demonic Corpse Qi.

    "If I collect some Essence of Wood from fragrant flowers and plants and add a drop during each production cycle, the products should emit a subtle natural floral fragrance. Moreover, if this method indeed works, others would hardly be able to replicate it," Ge Dongxu thought more and more that this method was feasible.

    "What? Have you thought of a solution?" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu''s furrowed brows relax, asked with a touch of surprise.

    "It''s not a big problem, and that fragrance should be very natural and unique. Moreover, if it really works, you could even launch a perfume line," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Really? Perfumes are really lucrative!" Liu Jiayao''s eyes lit up instantly.

    "I''ve just realized that Sister Liu is actually a money enthusiast!" Ge Dongxu laughed as he saw Liu Jiayao''s excited and expectant expression.

    Liu Jiayao, however, was not embarrassed by Ge Dongxu''s teasing, but rather gave him a glance, then with a nostalgic look, she softly said, "Do you know? Gabrielle Coco Chanel founded the Chanel brand that deals with fashion, jewelry, leather goods, perfumes, and cosmetics among many fashion products and is known worldwide. When I was very young, I admired her greatly and dreamed that one day, I would also establish a globally renowned fashion brand. But as I grew older, I realized how unrealistically ambitious that dream was. To speak nothing of so many fashion products, even getting Qinglan Cosmetics internationally recognized has been challenging."

    "I''m sorry!" Ge Dongxu reached out and took Liu Jiayao''s hand with a hint of apology upon hearing her words.

    "Silly, why say sorry? I should be the one thanking you. It''s because of you that I see hope again. Perhaps I may no longer envisage involving in so many fashion brands like Madam Chanel, but now I see the hope that Qinglan Cosmetics will be globally known," Liu Jiayao gripped Ge Dongxu''s hand in return, gazing at him tenderly as she spoke softly.

    "Don''t worry, sister, Qinglan will surely become an even more famous brand than Chanel, and it will definitely span across many fashion products. Since this is your dream, then let''s not give up and work on it together," Ge Dongxu affirmed as he looked at Liu Jiayao resolutely.

    "Yes, for your words, I won''t give up!" Liu Jiayao nodded emphatically.

    ...

    School had resumed after January 15th.

    This was Ge Dongxu''s last semester in high school.

    From the first day of school, the entire senior class had entered a tense phase of study and exam preparation, and naturally, Ge Dongxu''s class, Senior Three Class Six, was no exception.

    However, Ge Dongxu seemed to be an exception.

    He still spent a great deal of time on cultivation as usual and occasionally needed to deal with business matters. Especially with Qinglan Cosmetics, on weekends, he even had to rush to the Provincial Capital to check the progress of new product development. He also had to help Liu Jiayao find a suitable location near Linzhou City to plant flowers.

    These flowers required meticulous care, and even Ge Dongxu was preparing to secretly set up a formation in the garden during the summer vacation to allow the flowers to absorb more Essence of Wood. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fortunately, since Ge Dongxu had cultivation, he had more energy and a better memory than ordinary people, and being naturally intelligent, he consistently ranked in the top ten of his class. Although there might be some uncertainty in getting admitted to Yanjing or Huaqing Universities, there was absolutely no problem with Jiangnan University, which had always been Ge Dongxu''s target. Thus, for many people, the college entrance examination was a great pressure and burden, but for Ge Dongxu, it was no different from the usual mid-terms or final exams.

    He didn''t feel any pressure or burden at all.

    In the second week after school started, Ge Dongxu received a call from Elder Feng.

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    "Fan Hong just came to see me. Besides reporting the handling of that matter and seeking my opinion, he also asked me for a favor," Elder Feng said, his voice somewhat heavy.

    "Is it about me joining the Special Ability Management Bureau?" Ge Dongxu''s expression turned a bit ugly upon hearing this. When he had left that day, he had already seen from Fan Hong''s complicated expression that he wouldn''t give up; indeed, he had not given up and had approached Elder Feng.

    However, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t blame Fan Hong. In his position, he had his responsibilities and considerations.

    It''s just that Ge Dongxu really didn''t like the idea of being deemed unsafe and to be constrained forcibly just because he was powerful.

    "You are an intelligent person, and Brother doesn''t need to explain any further. If you really want to refuse outright, Brother can hold it off while alive. But according to Brother, you should at least take a nominal position, just an advisor, at the same level as Fan Hong, with the same benefits, though it''s only a nominal role. Whether you accept tasks or not will be entirely up to you, and Fan Hong can only discuss them with you, without directing you," Elder Feng said on the other hand of the phone, pausing before speaking again.

    Having spoken to this extent, Ge Dongxu knew that continuing to refuse would make things difficult for Elder Feng, and he also knew that this was already the best Elder Feng could do for him.

    "Then I will follow Brother''s advice and take the position of an advisor," Ge Dongxu said, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

 Chapter 274 Expanding Production Again

    Inside the villa on the second floor, Ge Dongxu watched the black Cherokee disappear into the night, then returned to his room, read for a while, and, when it reached midnight, he sat cross-legged in the training room and practiced as usual.
    Bits of Essence of the Moon were gathered by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation and wrapped around Ge Dongxu, who absorbed them into his body. Like trickling water, they flowed through the Twelve Regular Meridians, nourishing his internal organs.
    The True Qi became stronger and more refined during practice.
    Soon midnight passed, and Ge Dongxu opened his eyes, his face showing a delighted expression.
    The battle at Xiao Yuan Mountain, although it had brought Ge Dongxu to the attention of the Special Ability Management Bureau and he had reluctantly joined, also put him through a life-and-death test under the threat of guns for the first time, and let him see for the first time the complexity and malevolence of human nature.
    Such an experience served as a spiritual baptism for eighteen-year-old Ge Dongxu, making his spiritual thoughts more refined and his Dao heart more perceptive.
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    After that, Ge Dongxu had found that the results of his practice had improved significantly. Only about three months had passed since the last time, and Ge Dongxu already faintly sensed that his next breakthrough was not far away.
    ...
    Several days later, a sensational news story emerged from Jiangnan Province.
    Li Bisheng, chairman of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, was arrested on charges including rape and bribery.
    Afterward, banks reclaimed debts, and all assets under the Qinglan Cosmetics Company and Li Bisheng's ownership were auctioned off. Of course, before the auction, Fan Hong had already transferred the twenty million yuan Qinglan Cosmetics was owed to their account through a series of operations.
    For the outside world, Li Bisheng's clangorous imprisonment was a bit unexpected, but that was about it. However, for the original shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, it was not only unexpected but also shocking. Especially those who knew more about the insider information such as Ren Chenle were scared nearly half to death by Li Bisheng's imprisonment, waking up from nightmares repeatedly for several days.
    For someone worth several tens of millions and possessing special abilities to be imprisoned unexpectedly, Ren Chenle, unless foolish, would have realized that Ge Dongxu's power was far more terrifying than he had imagined.
    As for others who did not have as much information as Ren Chenle, they were merely suspicious and dared not confirm that the matter was related to Ge Dongxu. However, when Liu Jiayao returned the compensation to them based on their former shares, these shareholders finally confirmed that the issue was related to Ge Dongxu, and they deeply regretted not having stood firm earlier, having missed a great opportunity.
    Of course, as Ren Chenle had once wronged the shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, Liu Jiayao did not return his share of the compensation to him. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Beyond the shock and even fear of the original shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, several people from the provincial entertainment station were also quite frightened. They had all heard rumors of Li Bisheng's intentions to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics and could vaguely guess that the matter was related to Ge Dongxu.
    Beyond the commotion caused by Li Bisheng, these days brought another piece of gradually sensational news. The provincial entertainment television station's first season of "Happy Female Voice" officially started selecting female singers nationwide, as well as the news of Qinghe Herbal Tea sponsoring "Happy Female Voice" with a huge amount.
    ...
    Time flew by, and before long, it was already mid-April.
    Spring was in full bloom, the sunshine was bright, and the temperature was mild; it was the best time of the year in Jiangnan Province, as well as a great time for excursions to enjoy the spring.
    However, high school seniors could only bury their heads in their books every day. Forget about excursions, they scarcely had time to spend outside, practically studying either in the classroom or in their rooms all the time.
    Ge Dongxu was an exception.
    It was a weekend, the sunlight was pleasant, and while many high school seniors were cooped up at home rigorously studying, Ge Dongxu was far away in a tea house on Longxi Mountain in Linzhou City, chatting over tea with Tang Yiyuan and three other shareholders of Qinghe Herbal Tea, accompanied by Liu Jiayao.
    "Given the current trend, I see that it's very likely the monthly sales will break through one hundred million by summer. If we exceed one hundred million, then our production will be overloaded," Cheng Yazhou said after taking a sip of tea, his face radiant with excitement.
    Liu Jiayao's delicate body trembled slightly, and her look towards Ge Dongxu conveyed an indescribable complexity.
    Qinglan Cosmetics had been developing for many years, and its annual sales had barely exceeded one hundred million; yet Qinghe Herbal Tea? It had been less than two years since its establishment, and its monthly sales could possibly break one hundred million in a few more months.
    And all this was due to the young man in front of her, only eighteen years old, who shared an extraordinary friendship with her.
    Unless one truly understood the man beside her, who would believe? A high school student had established a beverage company in just two short years that was set to achieve annual sales of over one billion.
    From Qinghe Beverage, Liu Jiayao's thoughts once again turned to the "Flower Spirit" cosmetic series currently being developed by Qinglan Cosmetics Company according to Ge Dongxu's formula.
    Originally, she had high hopes for this developmental "Flower Spirit", but she had always lacked some confidence. Now, however, she suddenly felt fully confident.
    Since a herb tea formula could help a herb tea company grow to achieve annual sales of over one billion within two years, there was no reason his cosmetic formula couldn't make Qinglan Cosmetics renowned worldwide.
    "If we add more production lines, do you think the staff and management can keep up with the growth? If they can't keep up, then let's slow down the pace of development. Haste makes waste; we would rather be stable than take risks just to make more money," Ge Dongxu pondered and said solemnly.
    "No big issue. We have invested a lot in staff training over these two years, and Professor Tang has also helped us identify numerous technical and managerial talents," Cheng Yazhou replied.
    "Then there's nothing to hesitate about, let's continue adding production lines. We can consider setting up branch factories in other cities, which could save quite a bit on transportation costs," Ge Dongxu said.
    "We were thinking along the same lines, but for choosing locations, it's best if you oversee that," Cheng Yazhou nodded and said.
    After more than two years of collaboration, Cheng Yazhou naturally understood that Ge Dongxu had some expertise in Feng Shui.
    "No problem, you can start with adding production lines, and we will still place this one in Linzhou. Building branch factories will be a matter for later. For now, you can start scouting various places and pick some suitable ones. By then, I will have finished my college entrance examinations and should have plenty of time to make the final decisions," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

 Chapter 270 Credentials

    "Mr. Ge, this is Xu Lei, the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau in Jiangnan Province and the Deputy Director of the Jiangnan Province National Security Bureau. If you have any issues in the future, you can directly contact him." After shaking hands and exchanging greetings with Ge Dongxu, Fan Hong specifically introduced Xu Lei to Ge Dongxu.

    "Hello, Director Xu, we''ve met before on Xiaoyuan Mountain." Now that he had become a consultant for this department, Ge Dongxu naturally "accepted his fate" and showed no signs of reluctance or dissatisfaction, smiling and extending his hand to Xu Lei.

    During the Xiaoyuan Mountain operation, Xu Lei, as the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau in Jiangnan Province, naturally participated in the operation.

    "Director Ge, hello. If there''s anything you need, feel free to contact me any time." Xu Lei, not expecting Ge Dongxu to remember him, was pleasantly surprised and quickly stretched out both hands to firmly shake Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    Ge Dongxu held the position of a director-level consultant, so Xu Lei addressed him as director.

    "Thank you in advance," Ge Dongxu said with a smile and a nod of his head.

    "You''re welcome, it''s my duty and my honor," Xu Lei replied, standing erect, his expression solemn, and his gaze toward Ge Dongxu filled with a hint of reverence.

    What happened at Xiaoyuan Mountain in the early hours of that day was still fresh in Xu Lei''s memory, and the recollection of it couldn''t help but leave him with lingering fear.

    One could say that Ge Dongxu''s terrifying level of cultivation made him a legendary figure within Qimen, beyond the regular reach of local heads like Xu Lei.

    "Alright, you all may leave now, Mr. Ge and I have some matters to discuss," Fan Hong said after Xu Lei had exchanged greetings with Ge Dongxu. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yes!" Xu Lei and the others responded, then exited the private room and carefully closed the door behind them.

    "I think it would now be more appropriate to address you as Director Ge, here are your identification documents. Since our department is even more special than any other bureau within the National Security Department, the identity is mainly to be revealed within Qimen, so there are two sets of documents, one for the National Security Department and the other for the Special Ability Management Bureau. The former is to facilitate your actions, whereas the latter will be needed when dealing with our internal personnel or people from Qimen." After Xu Lei and others left, Fan Hong took out the documents and solemnly handed them to Ge Dongxu.

    "Alright." Ge Dongxu looked them over briefly before putting them away.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu just flipped through the documents before putting them away, Fan Hong couldn''t help but smile wryly. This small booklet represented very special and powerful authority; in emergency situations, it could even directly mobilize local military forces, and the rank it represented was that of a deputy ministerial level. For anyone else receiving such documents, excitement would be an understatement, but only someone like Ge Dongxu could handle it so casually.

    "In times of need, you may present this document, it should help you avoid a lot of trouble, and even in emergency situations, it allows for the mobilization of local military forces to coordinate with your actions. Of course, if there really is any problem, just call Xu Lei; as the head of Jiangnan Province, he will ensure that everything is properly resolved. Our department, although only at the deputy ministerial level, cannot be measured by the usual standards of such a rank in many respects," Fan Hong felt compelled to explain.

    "Alright, I understand," Ge Dongxu''s expression finally turned a bit more serious as he nodded in agreement.

    Afterward, Fan Hong briefly explained the regulations of the Special Ability Management Bureau. Of course, most of these regulations were only applicable to actual staff within the bureau. As a nominal consultant like Ge Dongxu, the vast majority of the rules were irrelevant to him. The only rule closely related to him was that he still needed to lend a hand in the event of extreme and egregious incidents involving national security.

    Although Ge Dongxu was reluctant to join the Special Ability Management Bureau, it didn''t mean he wasn''t patriotic. He simply didn''t want to be constrained. Therefore, even without the last rule, he was bound to act if national security was threatened. Hence, after listening to Fan Hong''s explanation, Ge Dongxu wasn''t against joining the bureau anymore.

    Of course, this was a choice made out of necessity.

    "Here''s your salary card, your company car keys, and the keys to your residence in Linzhou City. I didn''t provide you with firearms. Given your abilities, firearms are superfluous," Fan Hong said as he finished discussing the regulations and then took out a bank card, a car key, and a bunch of keys of various sizes from his briefcase.

    "You can keep these things; I''m just holding the title, and besides, you know I don''t lack any of that," Ge Dongxu said, looking at the bank card, car keys, and house keys laid before him, feeling slightly surprised before smiling and pushing them back to Fan Hong.

    "Your acceptance of our invitation is already the greatest support for our work. These are items you, as an advisor of your level, are entitled to. If you refuse them, I''m the one who would be in an awkward position. It would be difficult for me to ask for your help when it''s truly needed," Fan Hong said earnestly.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Fan Hong, gave it some thought, and felt that he made sense. His role as an advisor wasn''t just a nominal one; if ever needed, it would certainly be for a grave matter. Besides, if he didn''t accept these items, who knew who would end up benefitting from them? It''d be better to keep them in hand and donate them to children in impoverished mountainous areas.

    Of course, if he didn''t accept them, Fan Hong probably wouldn''t be at ease either. Read chapters at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Alright then, but let the department use the car for now. I don''t have a driver''s license, nor do I know how to drive. As for the house, just leave it be for the moment. I need to wait until after the college entrance exam and the summer holidays before I can move to Linzhou City," Ge Dongxu took the salary card and said.

    "Hehe, not knowing how to drive is not a problem. Whenever you''re free, Xu Lei can arrange for someone to accompany you for a few practice sessions, and you''ll learn quickly. In a few days, Xu Lei will bring you your driver''s license. As for your car, since it is your dedicated car and quite special, others in the department are not qualified to drive it without permission. If you don''t live in the house right now, someone will take care of it, and you can move in whenever you like. In short, the car and the house are in Linzhou, and whenever you have time, let Xu Lei take you to see them. If they don''t meet your satisfaction, tell him, and he''ll change them for you," Fan Hong said as he pocketed the car keys and house keys on the table.

    "There''s no need for such trouble. I can go to a driving school during the summer holidays to learn," Ge Dongxu said, still not accustomed to the privileges that came with his change in status, and waved his hand.

    "Please don''t be modest with me. As the bureau''s director-level consultant, if you still need to get a driver''s license from a driving school, that would be a joke if it got out," Fan Hong asserted, looking at Ge Dongxu with a hint of something different in his gaze.

    If previously his feelings for Ge Dongxu were complex, with awe and gratitude for his release on Xiaoyuan Mountain, as well as deep wariness of his terrifying power¡ªwith the latter occupying a greater part of his mixed emotions¡ªit was why he approached Elder Feng to persuade Ge Dongxu to join the Special Ability Management Bureau. But now, observing Ge Dongxu''s every word and action, the wariness was gradually diminishing, and he finally understood why Elder Feng said that Ge Dongxu had a simple and sincere heart.

    With such strength and such a status and power, yet still being able to maintain such a modest heart, that was indeed very rare.

 Chapter 271 Seeking Advice

    Ge Dongxu was not an old-fashioned person. He knew that with his skills, learning to drive would be child''s play for him. Seeing Fan Hong say so, he no longer insisted and nodded, "If that''s the case, to avoid making a laughingstock out of our bureau, I''ll take the trouble."

    Fan Hong was briefly taken aback at these words, but then he suddenly realized that this young master, who had always seemed so nonchalant, was joking with him. He couldn''t help but burst out laughing.

    Only, the laughter came a beat too late, and it seemed somewhat strange.

    After a few laughs, Fan Hong stopped and steered the conversation towards the matter of Xiaoyuan Mountain.

    "Because of the incident at Xiaoyuan Mountain, we conducted a deeper investigation into the affairs of both Cui He and Li Bisheng over the past few years. We found that Cui He had committed many wrongs in these years, and Li Bisheng was similarly guilty, even harming numerous women. Speaking of which, we really owe you our thanks. If it hadn''t been for you, we wouldn''t have known how many more bad deeds Cui He could have done under the name of the Special Ability Management Bureau."

    "In light of the crimes Cui He has committed over the years, we''ve crippled his cultivation and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The same goes for Li Bisheng. However, since Li Bisheng is a public figure, he needs to undergo legal proceedings. But since all the evidence of his crimes has been collected, he will certainly not escape a life sentence. As for the damages caused to Qinglan Cosmetics products due to his use of techniques earlier this year, since it''s not appropriate to publicize, we''ll compensate Qinglan through other means by extracting it from his assets. Also, Li Fang Cosmetics will likely be auctioned off. If you are interested, you could..."

    "I don''t want to touch his stuff, to avoid idle gossip," Ge Dongxu firmly said as he waved his hand to decline. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Old Lin is not a bad person; it''s just that in recent years, his sense of self-importance has inflated a bit too much, leading to some extremities and flamboyance in his actions. For this reason, we have dismissed him from his public office. He will no longer hold any position in the Special Ability Management Bureau. The other two, who are disciples of Cui He, have been discharged from their public offices since they were only following orders. I don''t know what Director Ge thinks of this kind of..." Fan Hong, seeing that Ge Dongxu was not interested in Li Fang, continued to relay the outcomes for the people involved in the case.

    "I respect the bureau''s decision," Ge Dongxu interrupted Fan Hong before he could finish speaking.

    "Good, thank you, Director Ge," Fan Hong breathed a sigh of relief. He wasn''t worried that Ge Dongxu would be dissatisfied with the handling of Cui He and Li Bisheng; he was more concerned about the decision regarding Team Leader Lin.

    After all, Team Leader Lin was a veteran employee of the Special Ability Management Bureau, and Fan Hong couldn''t bear the thought of him actually going to jail. Fortunately, Ge Dongxu had no intention of pursuing the matter.

    "It is I who should thank you," Ge Dongxu said as he stood up, extending his hand with a smile.

    Fan Hong hurriedly stood up as well and shook hands with Ge Dongxu. By this time, he should have excused himself, as all that needed saying had been said, and Ge Dongxu''s gesture of standing and reaching out was clear enough.

    That should be it for tonight!

    But after shaking hands, Fan Hong seemed to miss the implicit message in Ge Dongxu''s words. An awkward expression appeared on his face, and after a moment, he sheepishly blurted out, "Um, Director Ge, may I ask you for some advice on certain matters?"

    "Regarding cultivation?" Ge Dongxu raised his eyebrows slightly and asked.

    "Yes, yes, I know this request is somewhat presumptuous, but I''ve recently encountered some difficulties, so I must seek your advice with a thick face. Of course, if Director Ge finds it inconvenient, I won''t insist," said Fan Hong, taken aback as Ge Dongxu pinpointed his thoughts, before hastily adding.

    "There''s no inconvenience. Is it that when your breath cycles to the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, it becomes sluggish and you feel a pain in your chest?" Ge Dongxu waved his hand dismissively and then sat back down.

    "Yes, yes, Director Ge is truly a divine being to have discerned this," said Fan Hong, nodding eagerly, his eyes filled with admiration and expectation as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "I''m not that skilled. However, I shook hands with you twice, and the first time I detected a subtle abnormality in your pulse. I didn''t pay it much mind before, but when we shook hands again just now, I felt it again, and you mentioned having difficulties, so it must certainly be an issue with your heart. As a cultivator, if there''s a problem with the heart, it undoubtedly lies in the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian during cultivation," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Director Ge''s diagnosis is correct. Now when my breath cycles to the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian, the True Qi is somewhat sluggish and I feel a faint pain in my chest, which I never had before," Fan Hong said.

    "Circulate your True Qi, and then let me feel your pulse and make a judgment. Right now, I can''t give you a definitive answer," Ge Dongxu said.

    Fan Hong was slightly stunned at these words.

    Each school, each sect, even every cultivator''s family that passes down their techniques, keeps them secret from all but their own disciples or direct family members.

    Fan Hong came from a cultivator family, and this technique was their unique family technique, not to be shared outside the direct family lineage. But if Fan Hong circulated his True Qi and let Ge Dongxu take his pulse, the way his True Qi circulated would likely be exposed to Ge Dongxu, who could then discern and learn the Fan Family''s secret mental method with a bit of effort.

    However, Fan Hong only paused momentarily before immediately extending his hand towards Ge Dongxu.

    At Ge Dongxu''s level, why would he covet his cultivation techniques?

    Seeing Fan Hong stretch his hand out, Ge Dongxu looked him in the eye, smiled, and then placed his hand on his wrist. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    Fan Hong, despite his age and his role as the director of the Special Ability Management Bureau, is not only a highly-placed official in government, but is also a notable figure in the world of Qimen. He attends and sits at the main table of every Qimen conference as an official representative. Yet today, with just a casual glance from the younger Ge Dongxu, he felt as if his thoughts were being read, and his face involuntarily flushed with some embarrassment before he began to circulate the True Qi within his body.

    After Fan Hong circulated his breath through a Circulation Cycle, Ge Dongxu withdrew his hand and after a moment of contemplation said, "Your current condition isn''t unprecedented, but because your cultivation hadn''t reached that layer, the symptoms were mild, so you overlooked them. Now you''re at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and one more step would take you to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. At this layer, cultivating the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian is crucial. Clearly, there is a flaw in the way your technique operates at this juncture, so this issue has begun to surface at this stage of your practice. If you were content with your cultivation halting here, the problem would remain as is without worsening. But if you wish to advance further, then you must resolve this flaw in your technique. Otherwise, if you try to force a breakthrough to the Fourth Layer, at best your cultivation power will be damaged, and at worst, your heart will be severely harmed, and you may even risk losing your life."

    ps: There''s one more chapter, but it will probably be in the evening.

 Chapter 272 A Grandmaster of the Generation

    After Ge Dongxu finished speaking, Fan Hong''s entire face had turned pale, and cold sweat continuously seeped out from his forehead.

    Since his great-grandfather''s generation, no one in the Fan family had broken through the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Even his great-grandfather and grandfather had failed at this stage of breakthrough, suffering heart damage. Although they had not faced life-threatening dangers as Ge Dongxu had mentioned, their lifespans were significantly shortened due to their heart injuries.

    Of course, compared to ordinary people, it was still considered acceptable.

    Fan Hong''s father, who had less talent in cultivation than Fan Hong, had only reached the Second Level of Qi Cultivation and thus had not encountered this issue. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    Since cultivating always carries risks during critical breakthroughs, the Fan family had never thought there was a problem with their Cultivation Method at this stage. They assumed it was due to shallow fortune and insufficient talent that they failed to break through. Now that Ge Dongxu had pointed this out, Fan Hong realized the problem with the Fan family''s Cultivation Method at this stage, and he would face the same fate as his great-grandfather and grandfather if he tried to advance¡ªmaybe even worse.

    "Thank you, Director Ge, for revealing this, saving me from a terrible fate. It seems that in this lifetime, I can only stop at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation." After a long time, Fan Hong stood up and bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu with a tone mixed with relief and a despondent sense of heroism falling short, as if he had suddenly lost all his fighting spirit, seeing no future ahead.

    Seeing the despair and confusion in Fan Hong''s eyes, Ge Dongxu ultimately felt pity for him. Hesitating a bit, he said, "If Director Fan trusts me, I could try to refine your Cultivation Method."

    Upon hearing this, Fan Hong was shaken to the core, looking at Ge Dongxu with disbelief in his eyes.

    Being able to refine a Cultivation Method in an age when Daoist arts had declined was certainly a feat reserved for someone who could establish a new sect and be called a grandmaster.

    Yet Ge Dongxu was only eighteen years old! Fan Hong could barely accept his current level of cultivation, considering the world of cultivation was always filled with tales of fortuitous encounters that, although shocking, were acceptable. Hence, Fan Hong had always thought Ge Dongxu had some fortuitous encounter.

    But to say that there was a grandmaster level person, capable of founding a new sect at the age of eighteen, that was something entirely different.

    Fan Hong''s guess was not wrong; Ge Dongxu indeed had experienced a serendipitous encounter. But what he did not realize was that Ge Dongxu was a natural-born genius who had pioneered the integration of modern technology and the practice of Dao. From this point of view, Ge Dongxu could indeed be considered a grandmaster of founding a new sect.

    Considering this, Ge Dongxu did have the potential to become a grandmaster, but becoming one would usually take decades. However, Ge Hong''s legacy had endowed Ge Dongxu with comprehensive Daoist knowledge, accelerating his growth into a grandmaster level figure. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If Director Fan is not reassured, then consider that I have never said anything," Ge Dongxu said, noticing Fan Hong staring at him in shock. Only then did he realize proposing such an astounding capability was even more shocking than the strengths he had demonstrated at Xiaoyuan Mountain, and he regretted mentioning it a bit.

    Ge Dongxu''s belated realization wasn''t unusual, as he had encountered too few practitioners from the Qimen and knew too little about the current state of Qimen. He wasn''t aware that in this era, no one could establish or refine any Daoist cultivation methods anymore¡ªthose were practices of ancient times.

    "Of course I believe. Please, Director Ge, enlighten me!" Upon hearing this, Fan Hong trembled vigorously and then, with a solemn face, he adjusted his clothes and knelt respectfully on the ground, bowing to Ge Dongxu.

    "Director Fan, what are you doing?" Ge Dongxu, startled, hastily reached out to help Fan Hong and explained, "In our Qimen, that is equivalent to acknowledging a teaching mentor, and such a gesture is befitting."

    Only then did Fan Hong stand up, with a solemn expression.

    "It''s not that exaggerated. We are all colleagues in the same path; it''s only right that we help each other," Ge Dongxu, already regretting somewhat, had to do his best after Fan Hong''s gesture and said with a wave of his hand.

    "That might be the case for Director Ge, but for me and my Fan Family, your action is a great favor that spares our juniors from Cultivation calamities and allows further advancement." Fan Hong still said solemnly.

    "Director Fan, don''t speak too soon. I''m only giving it a try and am not completely sure of success." Fan Hong''s gesture and words made Ge Dongxu feel a bit of a psychological burden.

    "Even if there''s only a ten percent chance, Fan Hong will hold this favor from Director Ge in high regard," Fan Hong said with deep respect.

    In these times, every faction and sect is so protective of its teachings, it''s nearly impossible to find someone as selfless as Ge Dongxu.

    "Since that''s the case, Director Fan, why not move to my home? It''s not suitable here with people coming and going." Since Fan Hong had said so, Ge Dongxu no longer modestly declined and thought for a moment before saying in a serious tone.

    "Okay." Having received such a great favor, Fan Hong no longer bothered with trivial courtesies with Ge Dongxu.

    So, the two of them left the private room.

    No sooner had they left the room than Lin Jinnuo, having heard the news, came and saw Ge Dongxu from afar and smiled, saying, "Look at you, Dongxu, coming to my place and not even telling me."

    "Haha, you''re such a busy man every day, how could I dare to disturb you?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Right, in front of you, how could I dare claim to be a big boss? Besides, if Ge Dongxu is here, even Old Lin has to come over and offer you a drink," Lin Jinnuo said with a laugh, then his gaze shifted to Fan Hong and others, smiling and extending his hand, "Hello, I am Lin Jinnuo, the owner of this hotel and a friend of Ge Dongxu. Please forgive any lapses in hospitality."

    "It''s quite alright. This is my business card, you can call me if there is anything in the Capital," Fan Hong, having researched Ge Dongxu''s background during the small incidents at Mount Xiao Yuan, naturally investigated his partner Lin Kun''s background as well, and recognized Lin Jinnuo even before he had introduced himself; and because of Lin Jinnuo''s relationship with Ge Dongxu, Fan Hong, a man of great authority, made a point of giving Lin Jinnuo a business card, clearly indicating a desire to befriend him.

    Of course, the business card didn''t list anything like the National Security Department or the Special Ability Management Bureau, but a trading company, along with Fan Hong''s name and contact number.

    "Thank you, thank you. So you are friends from the Capital. If I''m ever there, I''ll surely visit," Lin Jinnuo said with a smile while handing over his business card in return.

    Seeing Lin Jinnuo getting cozy with Fan Hong, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a mix of amusement and dismay, thinking that if this guy knew he was standing before the head of a national special department, even the leaders of Ouzhou City would tremble at the sight of him¡ªI wonder if he would still dare to be so casual.

    Next, Lin Jinnuo shook hands with Xu Lei and others, exchanged business cards, and personally escorted them out of the hotel.

    ps: Finally managed to rush out the third update, so you won''t have to wait for the evening.

 Chapter 273 Improving the Cultivation Technique

    After more than a year of development, buildings sprouted one after another in Jiang Family Village, and the county government building at the center had also topped out.

    On the streets, people came and went, a constant flow of cars, bright lights shining, already showing the vitality and prosperity of a new urban area, with not a trace of the backwardness and barrenness of the past.

    Ge Dongxu''s villa was by the river, with wooden fences in front and on both sides, as well as walls formed by the evergreen camphor trees and citrus trees, while a small path at the back led to a gently flowing stream.

    It had the feel of a peaceful retreat amidst the hustle and bustle, like a haven detached from the world.

    As soon as Fan Hong and the others entered the yard, they felt as though they had arrived in a different little world.

    There were no noisy crowds or traffic, nor was there the dusty air that floated around construction sites.

    Everything here was so natural, the air so fresh, that even a light breath made them feel a slight fluctuation in their True Qi.

    The concentration of nature''s spiritual energy here was actually far beyond that outside.

    "What a great place! What excellent Feng Shui! What a wonderful layout!" Fan Hong couldn''t help but exclaim three times in admiration.

    "Hehe, this small place is nothing grand, just a little spot I found myself, then I took some time to organize and arrange it during my leisure, it''s quite modest," Ge Dongxu said with a light smile.

    "Director Ge is being too modest. Honestly, even with all the great Feng Shui sites in the capital and our great efforts in arranging them, they still don''t compare to your place here," Fan Hong quickly responded.

    "Please, come inside," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, without further modesty.

    Although the place was small, he had put quite a bit of effort into it over the past two years. Not only had he used a large amount of white jade when laying the foundation of the house, but he had also buried many spirit-gathering Talisman Jades around the perimeter. Each tree and plant, the species chosen, and the location of planting were all meticulously considered.

    Though the concentration of spiritual energy couldn''t compare with some Blessed Lands and Cave Heavens in the mountains and forests, in a bustling city, this was already very rare.

    Inside the villa, Cheng Le Hao and Du Yifan were studying and cultivating in a downstairs room, and they found it strange to see Ge Dongxu leading a few people inside.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t want to distract Cheng Le Hao and Du Yifan, so he briefly introduced Fan Hong and the rest, then led Fan Hong upstairs, while Xu Lei and the others waited in the living room downstairs.

    Once upstairs, Ge Dongxu led Fan Hong into the cultivation room, then had him sit cross-legged, start his Cultivation Technique, while he placed his hand on top of Fan Hong''s Baihui acupoint and intently felt the circulation of True Qi within Fan Hong''s Meridians.

    After some time, Ge Dongxu lifted his hand and then closed his eyes in contemplation.

    Fan Hong saw that Ge Dongxu was deep in thought and didn''t dare to disturb him; he waited tensely and anxiously at the side.

    The matter was not only related to whether he could advance further, but also to the cultivation of his descendants.

    About an hour later, Ge Dongxu opened his eyes and said, "I now have a method for improvement, but I need you to confirm something. I will now channel True Qi into your body, using the new cultivation method to guide your True Qi through the Meridians. If you don''t feel any stagnation or pain in the chest, then it means it''s successful."

    "Okay," Fan Hong said, his face lighting up with surprise as he quickly closed his eyes.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu continued to place his hand on Fan Hong''s Baihui acupoint, then channelled True Qi, leading Fan Hong''s True Qi from the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian to the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian to the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, and so on through the Twelve Regular Meridians and back to the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, circulating round and round.

    After several Circulation Cycles, Ge Dongxu said, "I''m now going to remove my hand, but don''t stop, continue according to the way we just practised, and feel it carefully."

    After finishing, Ge Dongxu withdrew his hand and quietly watched Fan Hong.

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    Soon after, Fan Hong opened his eyes.

    His eyes were filled with indescribable ecstasy as well as gratitude and awe.

    Just moments ago, as he had cycled through several Circulation Cycles, not only did he no longer feel the pain in his chest, but his True Qi also flowed exceedingly smoothly. There were faint signs that the Realm, which had been stagnant for over a decade, was beginning to loosen.

    Clearly, after Ge Dongxu''s improvement, the Fan Family''s Cultivation Technique had undergone some qualitative changes.

    "Many thanks to Teacher for showing me the way, Fan Hong will never forget this kindness!" After a while, Fan Hong suppressed the overwhelming joy in his heart, stood up solemnly, and once again intended to perform a kowtow of respect to Ge Dongxu, this time addressing him as Teacher instead of Director Ge.

    Within Qimen, Ge Dongxu''s actions definitely qualified him as a benevolent mentor.

    "No, no, Director Fan, I really cannot accept being addressed as your Teacher," Ge Dongxu hastily supported Fan Hong, preventing him from kneeling and bowing.

    "It''s not that you''re not worthy, but rather that I, Fan Hong, am of dull aptitude and lack the fortune," Fan Hong said with a flash of disappointment in his eyes.

    The incident just now was sufficient to prove that Ge Dongxu was a Grandmaster Level figure. Such an individual could not be casually taken as a master by just anyone.

    "I didn''t mean that, I''m too young, it''s not appropriate to be your Teacher," Ge Dongxu quickly said. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fan Hong, who already regarded Ge Dongxu as a Grandmaster Level figure, naturally did not realize these were sincere words from Ge Dongxu and assumed they were merely polite refusals. Knowing he still lacked the fortune, he sighed quietly in his heart and then bowed his hands, saying, "Regardless, I shall eternally remember the great teaching kindness of Mr. Ge in my heart."

    Qimen, after all, is an ancient succession, and even though Fan Hong had taken a position in government, deep down he was still a practitioner of Qimen, and he had not dared to forget the tradition of respecting teachers and valuing doctrines. Since Ge Dongxu had granted him the favor of instruction, and yet Ge Dongxu was not willing to formally take him as a disciple, Fan Hong reverted to addressing him as Mr. once more.

    In ancient times, Mr. inherently implied the meaning of a teacher.

    "You''re too serious, Director Fan; it was merely a small effort on my part. If you have any doubts regarding cultivation in the future, we can continue to discuss and exchange insights," said Ge Dongxu. Seeing Fan Hong''s nature of remembering and seeking to repay kindness despite holding a high position in the public sector, Ge Dongxu''s esteem for him increased and he did not mind giving some guidance.

    Upon hearing these words, Fan Hong''s whole body shuddered, then he thanked Ge Dongxu profusely with a face full of ecstasy.

    After expressing his gratitude, Fan Hong didn''t dare to bother Ge Dongxu any further and bid him farewell.

    Xu Lei and the others were discerning individuals and noticed a subtle shift in Fan Hong''s attitude towards Ge Dongxu as he came downstairs. They felt a hint of the respect due to a junior, causing great surprise among them.

    "Mr. Ge, please return, please return," Fan Hong said, stopping Ge Dongxu before he could leave the villa.

    "Well then, I won''t see you out," replied Ge Dongxu, not accustomed to exchanging pleasantries, he shook hands with Fan Hong and the others one by one.

    "Xu Lei, cancel all surveillance on Mr. Ge and the people around him. Also, in the future, whenever Mr. Ge needs assistance, you must cooperate fully," Fan Hong said in a grave voice as he got into the car.

    "Yes!" A trace of surprise flitted across Xu Lei''s face, but he promptly accepted the order with due solemnity.

    ps: It''s Monday, I''m asking for a recommendation ticket, thank you very much.

 Chapter 274 Expanding Production Again

    Inside the villa on the second floor, Ge Dongxu watched the black Cherokee disappear into the night, then returned to his room, read for a while, and, when it reached midnight, he sat cross-legged in the training room and practiced as usual.

    Bits of Essence of the Moon were gathered by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation and wrapped around Ge Dongxu, who absorbed them into his body. Like trickling water, they flowed through the Twelve Regular Meridians, nourishing his internal organs.

    The True Qi became stronger and more refined during practice.

    Soon midnight passed, and Ge Dongxu opened his eyes, his face showing a delighted expression.

    The battle at Xiao Yuan Mountain, although it had brought Ge Dongxu to the attention of the Special Ability Management Bureau and he had reluctantly joined, also put him through a life-and-death test under the threat of guns for the first time, and let him see for the first time the complexity and malevolence of human nature.

    Such an experience served as a spiritual baptism for eighteen-year-old Ge Dongxu, making his spiritual thoughts more refined and his Dao heart more perceptive.

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    After that, Ge Dongxu had found that the results of his practice had improved significantly. Only about three months had passed since the last time, and Ge Dongxu already faintly sensed that his next breakthrough was not far away.

    ...

    Several days later, a sensational news story emerged from Jiangnan Province.

    Li Bisheng, chairman of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, was arrested on charges including rape and bribery.

    Afterward, banks reclaimed debts, and all assets under the Qinglan Cosmetics Company and Li Bisheng''s ownership were auctioned off. Of course, before the auction, Fan Hong had already transferred the twenty million yuan Qinglan Cosmetics was owed to their account through a series of operations.

    For the outside world, Li Bisheng''s clangorous imprisonment was a bit unexpected, but that was about it. However, for the original shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, it was not only unexpected but also shocking. Especially those who knew more about the insider information such as Ren Chenle were scared nearly half to death by Li Bisheng''s imprisonment, waking up from nightmares repeatedly for several days.

    For someone worth several tens of millions and possessing special abilities to be imprisoned unexpectedly, Ren Chenle, unless foolish, would have realized that Ge Dongxu''s power was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

    As for others who did not have as much information as Ren Chenle, they were merely suspicious and dared not confirm that the matter was related to Ge Dongxu. However, when Liu Jiayao returned the compensation to them based on their former shares, these shareholders finally confirmed that the issue was related to Ge Dongxu, and they deeply regretted not having stood firm earlier, having missed a great opportunity.

    Of course, as Ren Chenle had once wronged the shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, Liu Jiayao did not return his share of the compensation to him. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Beyond the shock and even fear of the original shareholders of Qinglan Cosmetics, several people from the provincial entertainment station were also quite frightened. They had all heard rumors of Li Bisheng''s intentions to acquire Qinglan Cosmetics and could vaguely guess that the matter was related to Ge Dongxu.

    Beyond the commotion caused by Li Bisheng, these days brought another piece of gradually sensational news. The provincial entertainment television station''s first season of "Happy Female Voice" officially started selecting female singers nationwide, as well as the news of Qinghe Herbal Tea sponsoring "Happy Female Voice" with a huge amount.

    ...

    Time flew by, and before long, it was already mid-April.

    Spring was in full bloom, the sunshine was bright, and the temperature was mild; it was the best time of the year in Jiangnan Province, as well as a great time for excursions to enjoy the spring.

    However, high school seniors could only bury their heads in their books every day. Forget about excursions, they scarcely had time to spend outside, practically studying either in the classroom or in their rooms all the time.

    Ge Dongxu was an exception.

    It was a weekend, the sunlight was pleasant, and while many high school seniors were cooped up at home rigorously studying, Ge Dongxu was far away in a tea house on Longxi Mountain in Linzhou City, chatting over tea with Tang Yiyuan and three other shareholders of Qinghe Herbal Tea, accompanied by Liu Jiayao.

    "Given the current trend, I see that it''s very likely the monthly sales will break through one hundred million by summer. If we exceed one hundred million, then our production will be overloaded," Cheng Yazhou said after taking a sip of tea, his face radiant with excitement.

    Liu Jiayao''s delicate body trembled slightly, and her look towards Ge Dongxu conveyed an indescribable complexity.

    Qinglan Cosmetics had been developing for many years, and its annual sales had barely exceeded one hundred million; yet Qinghe Herbal Tea? It had been less than two years since its establishment, and its monthly sales could possibly break one hundred million in a few more months.

    And all this was due to the young man in front of her, only eighteen years old, who shared an extraordinary friendship with her.

    Unless one truly understood the man beside her, who would believe? A high school student had established a beverage company in just two short years that was set to achieve annual sales of over one billion.

    From Qinghe Beverage, Liu Jiayao''s thoughts once again turned to the "Flower Spirit" cosmetic series currently being developed by Qinglan Cosmetics Company according to Ge Dongxu''s formula.

    Originally, she had high hopes for this developmental "Flower Spirit", but she had always lacked some confidence. Now, however, she suddenly felt fully confident.

    Since a herb tea formula could help a herb tea company grow to achieve annual sales of over one billion within two years, there was no reason his cosmetic formula couldn''t make Qinglan Cosmetics renowned worldwide.

    "If we add more production lines, do you think the staff and management can keep up with the growth? If they can''t keep up, then let''s slow down the pace of development. Haste makes waste; we would rather be stable than take risks just to make more money," Ge Dongxu pondered and said solemnly.

    "No big issue. We have invested a lot in staff training over these two years, and Professor Tang has also helped us identify numerous technical and managerial talents," Cheng Yazhou replied.

    "Then there''s nothing to hesitate about, let''s continue adding production lines. We can consider setting up branch factories in other cities, which could save quite a bit on transportation costs," Ge Dongxu said.

    "We were thinking along the same lines, but for choosing locations, it''s best if you oversee that," Cheng Yazhou nodded and said.

    After more than two years of collaboration, Cheng Yazhou naturally understood that Ge Dongxu had some expertise in Feng Shui.

    "No problem, you can start with adding production lines, and we will still place this one in Linzhou. Building branch factories will be a matter for later. For now, you can start scouting various places and pick some suitable ones. By then, I will have finished my college entrance examinations and should have plenty of time to make the final decisions," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

 Chapter 275 Liu Jiayaos Suggestion

    "Going to university is essentially for finding a good job in the future, and for someone as capable as you, there''s no need to sit for any college entrance exams or attend any university, right?" Wu Qianjin said with a smile.

    "If we''re talking about proficiency, setting aside making money, just for medical skills alone, Ge Dongxu could directly become a professor at our Traditional Chinese Medicine University." Tang Yiyuan said empathetically, clearly agreeing that someone as able as Ge Dongxu didn''t need to attend university.

    "Learning is endless. It''s true that I could indeed become a university professor in the field of Chinese medicine, but in other areas of knowledge, I still have much to learn. University can indeed teach me a lot. Besides, I am still young, and if I were to immerse myself in the business world early on, life would lose a lot of its pleasures, and I''d miss out on experiences that people my age should have. That wouldn''t really be beneficial for the maturation of my temperament," Ge Dongxu replied. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That makes sense, I had actually forgotten how young you still are. As for knowledge, you''re already a genius. If you continue to learn, wouldn''t that make you an all-round know-it-all?" Wu Qianjin said with a chuckle.

    "Actually, I have an idea. Medical skills can benefit the people, and Dongxu, your medical skills are so good, it would be a huge loss to humanity if they were to be buried. If you could, during your free time while studying at Jiangnan University, take up a part-time teaching position at the Traditional Chinese Medicine University and spread your medical knowledge, that would be excellent," Liu Jiayao said after sipping her tea.

    She had once suffered greatly from illness and thus felt deeply about the importance of medical skills. Moreover, Liu Jiayao was a woman with a compassionate heart.

    "Jiayao''s suggestion is really great. If Dongxu is willing to come to our Traditional Chinese Medicine University, I will definitely find a way to make the school promote you to professor out of turn and grant you the greatest degree of freedom," Tang Yiyuan said, his eyes lighting up immediately, his face full of excitement.

    Tang Yiyuan came from a family of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and had dedicated most of his life to the field. Although Qinghe Herbal Tea was making a considerable amount of money, for Tang Yiyuan, money had become just a number once it reached a certain amount. Instead, his enthusiasm for traditional Chinese medicine grew with age, always feeling that there was never enough time.

    "Sister Liu''s proposal is quite good, but being a professor at the age of eighteen... it would be hard not to become famous. How about this? When I come to Linzhou for university, I will see how things are at the time and consider being your teaching assistant," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Ge Dongxu had always been kind-hearted from a young age, and it was because of that kind heart that Ren Yao chose him as a closed-door disciple when he was very young. Liu Jiayao''s suggestion was very much in line with his thoughts, but being a professor and teaching at Jiangnan Traditional Chinese Medicine University was not in keeping with Ge Dongxu''s low-profile nature.

    "As long as you are willing to come to our Traditional Chinese Medicine University, you can set whatever conditions you want. But if you become my assistant, then I''d really be walking on thin ice," Tang Yiyuan said, his face beaming with excitement when he saw Ge Dongxu agree with Liu Jiayao''s suggestion.

    "Isn''t that an exaggeration?" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "That''s no exaggeration. We''re all friends here, so there''s no need to hide anything. I mainly learned medical skills from my father during the first half of my life, and for the past two years, I''ve basically been learning from you. You could say you''re my teacher. If you were to be my teaching assistant, wouldn''t I have to be extremely cautious?" Tang Yiyuan said earnestly.

    Upon hearing Tang Yiyuan''s words, Wu Qianjin and Cheng Yazhou finally understood the relationship between Tang Yiyuan, the professor at Jiangnan Province''s Traditional Chinese Medicine University, and Ge Dongxu, and they fully grasped why Tang Yiyuan always maintained a respectful attitude towards Ge Dongxu, much like a student before a teacher.

    "Hehe, you''re overstating it, we''re just learning from each other," Ge Dongxu responded humbly.

    "What more could you possibly learn from me in medicine? Maybe in terms of life experience, but that''s about it," Tang Yiyuan said.

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan put it that way, Ge Dongxu felt it wouldn''t be right to keep playing down his role and was about to change the subject when Tang Yiyuan''s cellphone rang.

    Professor Tang Yiyuan glanced at the phone, his face changing subtly, then he apologized to Ge Dongxu and others before standing up to take the call aside.

    "How could this happen? Wasn''t Governor Sang just fine a few days ago? How did he suddenly suffer a heart attack?" Professor Tang Yiyuan''s face turned pale shortly after he answered the call.

    "Isn''t it all because of the mine disaster in Sanyu County? These past days, Governor Sang has been personally overseeing Sanyu County, concerned for the miners trapped underground, and he hasn''t closed his eyes for several nights in a row. Now that the miners have been rescued, he is the one who has fallen ill. Professor Tang, you better come over quickly," an anxious voice of a middle-aged man came from the other end of the line.

    "Alright, I''m on my way," said Professor Tang Yiyuan in a deep voice, then hung up the call.

    After hanging up, Professor Tang Yiyuan hurried to the tea table, his expression grave as he addressed Ge Dongxu and others, "Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong has suffered a heart attack, and I must rush to the expert consultation immediately. I have to leave now."

    "Then you should go quickly," Ge Dongxu and the others hurriedly nodded in agreement.

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    Tang Yiyuan nodded, turned, and was about to leave, but he had just lifted his foot when he set it down again and turned to look at Ge Dongxu. Hesitating, he said, "Dongxu, could you please come with me? Governor Sang has a military background, having participated in the counterattack against Vietnam in his early years. His heart condition also originated from that time. Governor Sang has numerous health issues stemming from old injuries, and his health is among the poorer within the provincial leaders, hence he often needs traditional Chinese medicine treatment. I interact with him quite a bit and understand his character; he is a good leader. I''m worried that the situation might be quite serious this time, so if it''s possible, please¡­"

    "Let''s go together," Ge Dongxu got up and interrupted before Professor Tang Yiyuan could finish.

    "That''s great, with you joining, Governor Sang will definitely have no ques..." Tang Yiyuan said excitedly.

    "Heart problems are no small issue, let''s wait and see after the examination," Ge Dongxu interrupted Tang Yiyuan again.

    Although he now had an Air Cyclone formed in his heart and his understanding of the heart far exceeded when he was treating Liu Jiayao''s heart condition, the heart is still considered one of the most vital organs in vertebrates, providing the pressure for blood circulation to every part of the body in modern medicine. If the heart stops beating, it often means the end of life, and even Ge Dongxu did not dare to make guarantees about it.

    "Yes, yes," Tang Yiyuan quickly nodded in agreement, realizing the heart''s special importance.

    ...

    Jiangnan University''s First Affiliated Hospital in Jiangnan Province is also the best hospital in the entire province.

    In the Cardiology conference room, experts were gathering.

    At the front of the meeting room, on a small panel, several angiographic images were hung, displaying the heart condition of Jiangnan Province''s Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong.

 Chapter 276 Let him go out first

    "The patient''s left and right ventricles have already shown varying degrees of failure, especially the right ventricle, which had been injured in earlier years and now shows more severe signs of failure. This episode was primarily caused by the right ventricle. My recommendation is to perform a heart transplant surgery as soon as possible," a middle-aged doctor in a white coat said, pointing to the image above with a rod, his expression grave.

    As the middle-aged doctor in the white coat finished speaking, the entire conference room fell silent, punctuated only by intermittent gasps.

    Because the patient he was referring to was not an ordinary one, but the Executive Vice Governor of Jiangnan Province, a member of the Provincial Party Committee.

    The risks of heart transplant surgery are enormous. If something goes wrong, who will take the responsibility?

    However, from the images, the situation of Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong was indeed very dangerous, making heart transplant surgery the best and most reluctant choice.

    At least, that was what all the doctors present believed.

    "Fang Ting, has Professor Tang not arrived yet?" a dignified middle-aged woman with a hint of authority scanned the conference room, saw everyone waiting for her decision, sighed inwardly, and turned to ask a man standing behind her, who appeared to be in his early thirties.

    This middle-aged woman was none other than Feng Yaping, the wife of Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong and the President of Jiangnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

    As the President of Jiangnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Feng Yaping was naturally well-versed in medicine and aware of her husband''s condition, just as the chief doctor had analyzed.

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    But the risks of heart transplant surgery were simply too great. Even if there was a glimmer of hope, Feng Yaping did not want to take that route.

    And Feng Yaping''s glimmer of hope lay with Tang Yiyuan.

    As the President of Jiangnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she was quite familiar with Tang Yiyuan, knowing his high level of expertise in cardiothoracic diseases. Especially in the last year or two, his medical skills had improved dramatically, and many patients with complex and rare diseases who came to the affiliated hospital of Jiangnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were well treated by him. Feng Yaping even believed that Tang Yiyuan''s medical skills were now on par with those National Medical Masters in the capital.

    However, the other experts in the conference room clearly did not think that a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner could be of any help in this situation, especially the chief expert doctor who had suggested that the heart transplant surgery for Vice Governor Sang Yunlong be carried out as soon as possible. He frowned slightly and opened his mouth, but ultimately, considering Feng Yaping''s position, he shut his mouth again.

    "I''ve already made the call. He should be here soon," replied the man known as Fang Ting, who was Sang Yunlong''s secretary.

    Just as Fang Ting finished speaking, there was a knock at the door, which was then pushed open.

    "Professor Tang, you''re here, we''ve been waiting for you," Feng Yaping brightened up when she saw Tang Yiyuan enter the room. As for Ge Dongxu, who entered with him, she completely ignored him.

    Others, especially the expert doctor who had presented the situation, watched Tang Yiyuan enter with a hint of disdain in their eyes.

    This expert doctor was the chief director of the cardiothoracic department at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University and a member of the Jiangnan Province expert medical team.

    Because of his strong preference for Western medicine, he had always somewhat looked down upon Tang Yiyuan, this practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, considering him a slow, old-school doctor. He believed that for maintaining or regulating one''s health, Tang could still be useful, but in situations like the one today, a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine was utterly useless.

    "How is the situation?" Tang Yiyuan apologized and then immediately asked about Sang Yunlong''s condition.

    Since Ge Dongxu was always low-key and did not like to show off his skills in public, he had agreed on the way there that Tang Yiyuan would take the lead, and he would just follow by his side, stepping in only if truly necessary.

    Therefore, Tang Yiyuan did not specifically introduce Ge Dongxu to Feng Yaping and the others in the conference room.

    "The situation is very bad." Though the expert did not have a high opinion of Tang Yiyuan, Tang was still a member of the medical expert team and was specifically requested by Feng Yaping, so out of respect, he stood up, answered, then picked up a pointer to explain the images further. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, he did not forget to remind Tang Yiyuan at the end that performing a heart transplant immediately was the best treatment method, implying that traditional Chinese medical treatments would definitely not be adequate.

    Tang Yiyuan indeed had a considerable depth of knowledge in cardiac diseases, so when Liu Jiayao had heart issues years ago, he was eventually able to alleviate some of them. With guidance from Ge Dongxu over the past two years, his expertise in cardiac diseases naturally became even more profound.

    After the cardiac specialist explained this, Tang Yiyuan understood that with his medical skills, there was absolutely no way to provide conservative treatment for Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong.

    "Professor Tang, looking at Governor Sang''s condition, is there a way to manage it using traditional Chinese medicine?" Feng Yaping asked with hopeful eyes.

    "This¡­" Facing Feng Yaping''s expectant gaze, Tang Yiyuan looked troubled and finally turned helplessly to Ge Dongxu.

    He definitely couldn''t handle it; it was all up to Ge Dongxu now.

    "From the angiographic images, I can''t be certain. I need to take Governor Sang''s pulse to determine if traditional Chinese medicine can be used¡­" Ge Dongxu, seeing Tang Yiyuan looking towards him and knowing the difficulty of the situation, found it unavoidable and began to speak.

    "Do you young man know any manners? Is this a place where you can just speak up? Get out of here!" Before Ge Dongxu could finish, experts in the conference room had already frowned. The chief director of cardiology at Jiangnan University''s First Affiliated Hospital was already displeased and scolded Ge Dongxu without any politeness.

    "Professor Tang, is this your new student? He is very disrespectful. Let him step out; do not let him disturb us here," Feng Yaping, whose husband was critically ill, was naturally in a bad mood. Upon hearing Ge Dongxu, a young person, making bold statements, her suppressed emotions suddenly burst forth, her face darkened, and she even began to reproach Tang Yiyuan.

    "President Feng, you are mistaken. This is Ge Dongxu, not my student. He is also a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine and is highly skilled," Upon hearing this, Tang Yiyuan immediately felt terrible, his face changed drastically, and he hurriedly explained.

    "Professor Tang, I respect you as a pillar of traditional Chinese medicine in our province. That''s why so many are waiting for you to come for the consultation to make the final conclusion. But now, not only have you brought a young man who is barely in his twenties to such a meeting, but you also claim that he is highly skilled. Do you really plan to let such a young, inexperienced boy take part in Governor Sang''s consultation?" The chief cardiac specialist, already biased against traditional Chinese medicine, now felt greatly insulted seeing Tang Yiyuan intending to let such a young person join the consultation for Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong, his facial expression turned ugly, and he asked sharply without any politeness.

    ps: Recommendation for a new book "The Ghost-Catching Counterfeit Taoist" by the new author Chuishui Jing, which now has over five hundred thousand words. Having read the beginning, both the writing and the plot are quite good. Fans of this genre, please support the book. Thank you.

 Chapter 277 Show Your ID

    "Professor Tang, could it really be that this is what you mean?" Feng Yaping''s expression grew increasingly ugly.

    As the president of Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine University, she naturally understood that Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was not like Western medicine, particularly in surgical disciplines which are generally dominated by mid-career professionals, as performance tends to decline with age. However, TCM is a discipline of experience, where older age typically implies greater expertise. Therefore, when seeking treatment from TCM practitioners, people generally prefer someone older, while younger practitioners, even if trained by famous teachers, often lack public confidence.

    Especially someone like Ge Dongxu, who looked merely like a student still in school, it was even harder to believe he had exceptional medical skills.

    The doctors in the meeting room all turned their eyes to Tang Yiyuan, their expressions equally grim.

    "Yes, but please let me explain¡­" Tang Yiyuan nodded in response.

    "Since Professor Tang insists on promoting this young man''s involvement in the consultation, may I ask if he has a medical practice license? What is his professional title?" Before Tang Yiyuan could finish, the chief thoracic surgeon, with a hint of sarcasm, asked.

    Upon hearing this, Tang Yiyuan''s face showed signs of difficulty, since Ge Dongxu not only lacked a professional title, but even a medical practice license.

    "I do not have a medical practice license, nor have I ever obtained any professional title," Ge Dongxu, seeing Tang Yiyuan repeatedly challenged, naturally felt somewhat displeased and finally, with a slightly stern expression, stepped forward and responded firmly.

    "What a joke! What an enormous joke! Do you know who is currently suffering a heart attack? It''s our province''s Executive Vice Governor! You come to participate in a consultation without even having a medical practice license; do you think this is a game? What will you do if there''s a problem, can you afford to take responsibility?" As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke these words, the whole conference room erupted.

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    "Get out! Get out right now!" Many people directly lashed out at Ge Dongxu in anger.

    Feng Yaping didn''t berate Ge Dongxu, but looked at Tang Yiyuan with an ugly expression and coldly said, "Professor Tang, you must give me an explanation immediately."

    A bitter smile appeared on Tang Yiyuan''s face.

    How could he explain? He had already explained everything that there was to explain, which was that Ge Dongxu was highly skilled in medicine, but they simply did not believe it. What could he do?

    Was he supposed to randomly pull a patient from the hospital and demonstrate his medical skills?

    Forget about their current attitudes and Governor Sang''s critical condition, which certainly wouldn''t provide Ge Dongxu with the time or opportunity; even if it did, how could Ge Dongxu, a miraculous doctor, not have his own pride? Was he really going to perform like an acrobat just to show them?

    It was only now that Tang Yiyuan realized that he had underestimated the complexity of the situation.

    What status did Executive Vice Governor Sang have, and how could he possibly allow someone like Ge Dongxu, a ridiculously young man without even a medical practice license, to be involved in the consultation?

    "Let me explain," Ge Dongxu, knowing Tang Yiyuan''s difficult position, waved him off and spoke again: "Indeed, I do not have a medical practice license because I did not take the test, which doesn''t mean my medical skills are inadequate. Just as my age doesn''t reflect my medical skills either. In fact, today, if Professor Tang hadn''t spoken highly of Governor Sang as a good leader and a good governor, I wouldn''t have been here. Similarly, if it weren''t for Professor Tang''s previous compliments about Governor Sang being a good leader and a good governor, given your and their current attitudes, I would definitely have been too lazy to explain and would have left immediately, regardless of your requests. But I trust Professor Tang because I trust his judgment and character."

    "I don''t want a good leader to depart this way, so I''ll stay and give you an explanation. This document is not a medical license, but I think it should be enough to show that my medical skills are not necessarily connected to my age. Of course, if you still firmly disbelieve, then I can only apologize to Governor Sang," Ge Dongxu concluded, then took out a document from his shoulder bag and handed it to Feng Yaping.

    This document was exactly the National Security Department credential that Fan Hong had given him.

    At this moment, Feng Yaping was already somewhat stunned by the calm displayed by this young man, Ge Dongxu, as well as the confidence and pride that emanated from his very bones. When she saw him hand over a document, she instinctively reached out to take it.

    She trembled involuntarily the moment she opened it, her face showing an expression of utter shock.

    As the wife of the Executive Vice Governor of Jiangnan Province, and herself the President of Jiangnan Province''s University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she naturally understood the significance of this document.

    If this document was real, it was very likely that this young man held a rank equal to her husband!

    An eighteen-year-old at the deputy ministerial level!

    If the document did not have the words "National Security" on it, Feng Yaping would have probably thrown it away immediately. But with those two words, everything had to be reconsidered.

    Besides, this department was very special. Other than the minister, the identities of the other leaders were not disclosed to the public, and even the headquarters of the department were kept secret. Therefore, even though it was shocking and unprecedented for someone with Ge Dongxu''s identity to possess such a credential, it was still possible in this department.

    "I''m sorry, it''s not that I don''t believe you, but this document is truly astonishing. I need to make a call to verify this, so please¡­" Feng Yaping managed to suppress the shock in her heart after a while and said.

    However, her tone had become very polite by this point, using the respectful "you," and she had already believed it to a certain extent.

    From any angle, unless Ge Dongxu indeed had the skills to cure her husband, there was nothing in it for him.

    However, Sang Yunlong was her husband and also the Executive Vice Governor of Jiangnan Province. Even she had to consider standard procedures, especially since Ge Dongxu did not even have a medical practice license. If she allowed Ge Dongxu to participate in her husband''s treatment without clarifying everything first, she and everyone else present, including herself, might be held accountable should any issues arise.

    The people in the conference room saw Feng Yaping suddenly change her attitude towards this young man, Ge Dongxu, all displaying looks of confusion and shock. They did not know what kind of document Ge Dongxu had given to Feng Yaping, but it had caused her, the President of Jiangnan Province''s University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the wife of the Executive Vice Governor, to drastically alter her attitude towards him.

    "No problem, but please make it quick. Otherwise, if something really happens to Governor Sang, it will be too late for regrets," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Okay, okay," Feng Yaping nodded eagerly, then turned her head to Governor Sang''s secretary, Fang Ting, and said, "Call Director Zheng right away."

    The Director Zheng Feng Yaping mentioned was Zheng Zijie, the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department of Jiangnan Province, not a leader from the National Security Bureau.

    Since the National Security Department was very special, implementing vertical leadership, even as the wife of the Vice Governor, Feng Yaping was not familiar with the Director of the National Security Bureau.

    However, since the Public Security Department sometimes intersected and cooperated with the National Security Bureau, the Director of the Public Security Department was somewhat familiar with the National Security Bureau, which is why Feng Yaping''s first thought was to call the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department of Jiangnan Province. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 278 Hello Director Ge

    ```

    Fang Ting, as the secretary of Vice Governor Sang, naturally had the contact numbers of some major leaders in the province, and upon hearing this, he immediately dialed Director Zheng''s number.

    Fang Ting''s call hadn''t gone through when Feng Yaping had already reached out for his phone.

    "Secretary Fang, how is Vice Governor Sang doing now?" A man''s voice came over as soon as the call connected.

    "Director Zheng, it''s me, Feng Yaping," said Feng Yaping.

    "Oh, it''s President Feng. How is Vice Governor Sang doing now?" The man was slightly taken aback, then quickly inquired again.

    "The situation isn''t very good," Feng Yaping answered, then immediately lowered her voice and asked, "You should be quite familiar with the National Security Bureau, shouldn''t you, Director Zheng? I have a matter I''d like to consult you about."

    "National Security Bureau?" Director Zheng obviously hadn''t expected Feng Yaping to bring up the National Security Bureau at such a time, and he was taken aback before replying seriously, "I''m fairly familiar, but if it''s about their affairs, I''m unable to tell you."

    "No, no, that''s not it, I need your help to get a leader from the National Security Bureau to verify a document for me," Feng Yaping hastened to explain.

    "If it''s about a document, then I can help. I''m already at the hospital, where are you right now?" said Director Zheng.

    As the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department, Zheng Zijie was naturally fully involved in the mine rescue efforts, and since Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong was also in charge of public security, it was logical and appropriate for Director Zheng to come to the hospital to visit as soon as possible.

    "That works out well," Feng Yaping quickly informed Director Zheng of her current location after hearing his response.

    "I''m sorry, because of the special nature of Elder Sang''s position, and since you do not have a medical practice license, we needed to confirm before making an exception to allow you to participate in the consultation. Regardless, I am very grateful for your kindness, and I would like to apologize for my impertinent behavior earlier!" After hanging up with Director Zheng, Feng Yaping bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu and apologized.

    As the president of Jiangnan Provincial University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she naturally had insight and ability, but Ge Dongxu was simply too young; on top of that, she had been anxious about her husband''s safety, her emotions and mind were already in chaos, which led her to lose the usual calmness and judgment she should have had.

    Later, Ge Dongxu''s confident and proud discourse, along with the presentation of his document, had immediately awakened Feng Yaping; she had basically believed in Ge Dongxu''s identity and that he was highly skilled in medicine.

    Of course, being highly skilled in medicine is one thing, but whether he could treat her husband''s heart disease was another.

    After all, her husband''s heart condition had deteriorated to the point where a transplant was necessary. She sought Tang Yiyuan as a last resort, hoping to get a definitive answer from him so she could let go. In reality, she had no hope for Traditional Chinese Medicine''s conservative treatment.

    So although she believed in Ge Dongxu''s medical expertise, Feng Yaping didn''t have any confidence that he could treat her husband''s heart disease; otherwise, if she really had confidence, why would she care about Ge Dongxu''s identity and not just let him treat her husband first?

    "President Feng, don''t worry about it. I''m actually quite easy to talk to, and since you''ve already apologized, I certainly hold no grudges," Ge Dongxu said hastily, seeing Feng Yaping taking the initiative to apologize. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    Watching Feng Yaping proactively apologize to Ge Dongxu, the experts in the conference room were dumbfounded.

    They couldn''t understand what Feng Yaping was playing at. Were they really going to let this young man, who looked nothing the part and didn''t even have a medical practice license, participate in Governor Sang''s consultation?

    As the cardiothoracic experts in the conference room were bewildered, a square-faced man with an authoritative air about him pushed open the door and strode in.

    This man was none other than Zheng Zijie, the Director of Jiangnan Provincial Public Security Department.

    The Public Security Department is indeed a real power department within the government, and as the Director of the Jiangnan Provincial Public Security Department, Zheng Zijie naturally carried significant weight in the political arena of Jiangnan Province.

    ```

    The experts in the meeting room, seeing that it was Director Zheng who had entered, could no longer afford to ponder the change in Feng Yaping''s demeanor before and after and went forward to greet Director Zheng with utmost respect, including the chest surgeon who had acted so arrogantly earlier, a chief physician who seemed above everyone else.

    However, Director Zheng merely nodded slightly to acknowledge their greetings and then looked at Feng Yaping with a puzzled expression, asking, "President Feng, you just said..."

    "This is it." Not waiting for Director Zheng to finish his sentence, Feng Yaping handed over the credentials to him.

    As the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department in Jiangnan Province, Zheng Zijie had dealings with the National Security Bureau of Jiangnan Province for more than just a day or two, and his familiarity with credentials naturally surpassed that of university head Feng Yaping.

    When Feng Yaping passed the credentials to him, he just had to flip through them when suddenly his whole body shook, his eyes widened in an instant, and then he hastily looked over at Ge Dongxu.

    Because Ge Dongxu''s photo was on the credentials. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu in person who seemed even younger than the photo on the credentials, Zheng Zijie felt an even greater shock, along with an indescribable trepidation.

    Zheng Zijie knew very well that the younger the holder of such credentials, the more terrifying it signified! This was the exact opposite of Chinese medicine practice.

    And it was a deputy ministerial level!

    Amidst his shock and trepidation, Zheng Zijie instinctively stood at attention and saluted, and after saluting, he hastily lowered his hand and then extended both hands towards Ge Dongxu saying, "Director Ge, hello, I am Zheng Zijie, the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department of Jiangnan Province. If there is anything I can assist you with, please don''t hesitate to tell me."

    Who was Zheng Zijie? He was the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department of Jiangnan Province. Although he held a full department-level position and had not entered the Provincial Party Committee''s standing committee, in terms of real power, he was actually more influential than an ordinary executive vice governor who wasn''t part of the standing committee of the Provincial Party Committee.

    But now? Zheng Zijie was standing at attention and saluting to this young man Ge Dongxu, and his behavior and demeanor were just like that of a subordinate meeting a superior.

    Instantly, the entire meeting room fell silent.

    All the experts, especially the chief chest surgeon who had repeatedly scolded Ge Dongxu just now, couldn''t help but break out a cold sweat on their foreheads.

    If even Zheng Zijie had to stand at attention and salute, to offer a handshake, what kind of identity must that person hold? Surely he was not someone a physician could chastise with such casualness?

    In fact, not to mention these doctors, even Feng Yaping, though she was the president of Jiangnan Province University of Chinese Medicine and the wife of the executive vice governor of Jiangnan Province, also felt a bit guilty at this moment.

    "Thank you, Director Zheng, there''s nothing major that I need your assistance with. I just heard that Vice Governor Sang had a heart issue, I happened to have some knowledge of Chinese medicine, so I followed Professor Tang to take a look. However, due to my age and the lack of a medical practice license, they all wouldn''t believe me, so I had to take out this credential for President Feng to check," Ge Dongxu said lightly.

    Ge Dongxu wasn''t at all surprised or uncomfortable with Director Zheng''s attitude.

    After all, even Fan Hong now performed a disciple''s courtesy before him, and others like Elder Feng''s children, who were significant figures in their own right, he addressed them by their names directly.

    To others, Director Zheng might be a powerful figure in the political arena of Jiangnan Province, very impressive, but in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, he was just so-so.

    Moreover, if we were to talk about rank, Ge Dongxu was at the deputy ministerial level, one level higher than Director Zheng.

    Seeing a young man face Director Zheng''s salute and warm handshake with composure, the experts in the meeting room couldn''t help but feel their hearts race again. They recalled that from the moment this young man entered the room, he had been very calm, showing none of the restraint or nervousness typical of young people.

    Before, they had all taken his composure for the naivety and ignorance of youth, for not knowing the rules! They glared at him in anger and even scolded him. Now, it seemed that the truly naive and ignorant ones, who didn''t know the rules, were them.

 Chapter 279 I Accept Your Invitation

    "Rules are dead, but people are alive; a medical license sometimes can''t prove anything. Especially in an emergency situation, we should not rigidly adhere to protocols but handle things on a case-by-case basis. Besides, Director Ge is acting with good intentions¡ªhow can you doubt him? Is he really going to deceive you? Could he possibly have come here with the deliberate intention of harming Governor Sang?" Upon hearing this, Director Zheng''s face darkened slightly, showing a trace of dissatisfaction as he glanced at the experts in the meeting room.

    Director Zheng''s other remarks were dismissed by the people in the conference room.

    That was Deputy Governor Sang, after all. Who would dare to make an exception and let a Chinese medicine practitioner without a medical license meddle in his treatment? Only if they were out of their mind!

    However, Director Zheng''s last statement struck them like a thunderclap, jolting them awake.

    Indeed, that was Deputy Governor Sang. Who would dare to come here to harm him? If Director Ge wasn''t really capable, how would he dare to intervene in Deputy Governor Sang''s treatment?

    Of course, this was only hindsight. If Director Zheng hadn''t treated Ge Dongxu with the deference due from a subordinate to a superior, even if they clearly understood this, they would never have taken Ge Dongxu seriously.

    "Yes, Director Zheng is right. We were stuck in a rigid thought pattern and failed to appreciate Director Ge''s good intentions. We ask Mr. Ge not to take offense," the experts quickly apologized to Ge Dongxu.

    However, it was not difficult to detect from their words that these Western medicine experts still harbored doubts about Ge Dongxu''s medical skills, hence referring to his actions as good intentions rather than acknowledging any excellence in his medical expertise.

    "Director Ge, please don''t be upset by my attitude just now. I now formally invite you to join the consultation for my husband and ask that you accept this invitation," Feng Yaping said to Ge Dongxu, bowing sincerely and earnestly.

    "No blame attaches to the ignorant. I accept your invitation. But as a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, I still need to take Governor Sang''s pulse myself to reach a conclusion," Ge Dongxu stated.

    When Ge Dongxu said this, a look of skepticism flickered across the faces of the experts in the meeting room.

    The testing equipment and methods of Western medicine are universally acknowledged as the most advanced and accurate. Even in Chinese medicine hospitals, many practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine, after taking a patient''s pulse, would still recommend an ultrasound or similar diagnostic test.

    After all, machines are not prone to error, but the diagnosis can be mistaken due to the doctor''s abilities or the patient''s varying physical condition. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, this time, even though the experts were skeptical at heart, none dared to admonish Ge Dongxu outright; some even nodded hurriedly and agreed, "Right, right, for Deputy Governor Sang''s condition, we indeed need Director Ge to take his pulse before we can conclude."

    "Director Ge, the angiographic images are already quite clear; Elder Sang''s condition is indeed as Director Li stated. If you were to take his pulse, the diagnosis would be the same. What I want to know now is whether you think, with your traditional Chinese medicine skills, conservative treatment is an option for Elder Sang''s condition? If you also say there is no way, then I don''t want to delay any longer. Because every minute we waste, Elder Sang is at greater risk," Feng Yaping said, involving her husband in this matter, not hiding her doubts due to Ge Dongxu''s change in status and giving voice to her thoughts after a moment''s deliberation.

    "President Feng, I heard from Professor Tang on the way here that you are the president of the University of Chinese Medicine and also trained in traditional Chinese medicine. You must know that traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes looking at the whole. The current angiographic images only show Deputy Governor Sang''s heart condition; they can''t show what''s really going on with him as a whole. And these images can only provide a rough outline of the heart; the true minute changes within must be determined through traditional Chinese methods of inspection, listening, questioning, and pulse-taking," Ge Dongxu countered with a wave of his hand.

    "President Feng, I can say that Director Ge''s medical skills are the most impressive I''ve ever seen. I once had a patient with a severe heart condition, who had been seen by countless doctors, both Chinese and Western, and even had a National Medical Master from the capital try to help, all to no avail, but after Director Ge''s intervention, the patient has now completely recovered. It''s precisely for this reason that I took the liberty of inviting Director Ge. So whatever Mr. Ge says, please do as he suggests. Should there be any problem, I will take full responsibility," Tang Yiyuan interjected with a serious face, preempting Feng Yaping as her lips seemed to move, as if she were about to raise another doubt.

    "Thank you, Director Ge, and thank you, Professor Tang. My lack of proficiency prompted my earlier doubts. From now on, I will fully trust Director Ge. Should there be any issue, I will take responsibility; it has nothing to do with Director Ge and Professor Tang," Feng Yaping said decisively, a woman with considerable resolve who immediately responded with a firm tone after hearing Tang Yiyuan speak to such an extent. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Let''s wait until I have had a look; perhaps I too will be powerless, as the heart is not like other organs," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    ```

    The Western medical experts secretly sneered upon hearing this, convinced that Ge Dongxu had begun to look for a way out.

    They simply did not believe that such a severe heart problem could be cured by Traditional Chinese Medicine.

    At this moment, Governor Sang was in the intensive care unit, connected to numerous devices and inhaling oxygen, though his consciousness was still clear.

    Seeing a crowd escort a young man into the room, which even included his wife and the head of the Public Security Department, Zheng, Governor Sang''s eyes revealed a hint of confusion.

    Feng Yaping knew the cause of Governor Sang''s confusion and went up to the bedside to whisper an explanation in his ear.

    When Governor Sang heard that even Director Zheng addressed Ge Dongxu as "Director," a look of shock appeared on his face, and his gaze turned toward Director Zheng, seemingly seeking confirmation from him.

    Director Zheng evidently understood what Governor Sang was implying and nodded slightly at him, giving an affirmative answer.

    After receiving the confirmation, Governor Sang turned his gaze towards Ge Dongxu and struggled to sit up.

    "Professor Tang and President Feng stay behind; the rest of you, please step outside," Ge Dongxu said, stepping forward to pat Governor Sang, signaling him not to move.

    Since Director Zheng addressed Ge Dongxu as "Director," who else would dare to not follow his instruction? So, they all withdrew from the room.

    Once everyone had left, Ge Dongxu placed his hand on Governor Sang''s wrist pulse.

    A wisp of True Qi quietly entered Governor Sang''s meridians through his fingers, moving along the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian towards Governor Sang''s heart.

    At this point, Ge Dongxu''s expression became quite serious as he carefully directed the wisp of True Qi to check on Governor Sang''s heart condition.

    Governor Sang''s heart condition, as the Western medical expert had said, was very bleak.

    Of course, that was in the eyes of the Western medical experts. For Ge Dongxu, even a year or two ago, he would have been able to treat such a condition conservatively with Traditional Chinese Medicine, although the treatment period would have been quite lengthy, possibly taking several years. But now, with an Air Cyclone developed in the heart and True Qi moving in and out of it, Ge Dongxu''s understanding of the heart had far surpassed his past knowledge. Moreover, with the inherited medical skills from Ge Hong, what seemed to Western medical experts as a very bleak heart condition was, in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, much easier to treat than Elder Feng''s condition.

    Elder Feng''s condition was deep-rooted and intricately complex, while Governor Sang''s was relatively simple, being only a heart problem.

    After assessing Governor Sang''s condition, Ge Dongxu quietly breathed a sigh of relief and then released Governor Sang''s wrist.

    "Director Ge, how is Elder Sang''s condition? Is conservative treatment possible?" Feng Yaping asked urgently as soon as Ge Dongxu let go.

    ```

 Chapter 286 This Senior of Yours is Quite Boring

    Watching Liu Jiayao, such a great beauty, feed Ge Dongxu mutton skewers and hand him drinks, jealousy burned within Luo Cheng, who regretted giving Ge Dongxu such a good gig. Even the men at the neighboring tables watched with a mix of envy and resentment.
    "Damn it, why can't I meet a woman who has the looks, the figure, and is also so gentle and considerate!"
    Su Qian watched in confusion, unsure of the exact relationship between Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.
    At first, she thought Liu Jiayao might be Ge Dongxu's cousin or something, but now she seemed more like a girlfriend.
    But while others didn't know Ge Dongxu's background, Su Qian knew all too well. Just the fact that a high school student from a mountainous area could suddenly appear in the Provincial Capital was surprising and unexpected enough, let alone him having such a girlfriend that made even her feel ashamed; how could that be possible?
    "Sister Liu, that's enough. Please take care of yourself, and don't worry about me for now," Ge Dongxu said to Liu Jiayao with a smile after he had eaten two skewers of lamb and drank a beer with her "attentive" service.
    "Sure, I want to eat too." Liu Jiayao nodded, sat back in her seat, and started eating the mutton skewers.
    "Dongxu, aren't you a senior in high school this year? How come you've come to the Provincial Capital?" Su Qian couldn't contain her curiosity any longer and asked once Liu Jiayao had returned to her seat.
    The others also looked at Ge Dongxu curiously upon hearing this.
    In 1999, transportation was not especially convenient or fast, and it was indeed intriguing for a high school student to travel from a small place to the Provincial Capital.
    "I just had some things to take care of, so I took the opportunity to come over for the weekend," Ge Dongxu replied casually without even lifting his head.
    "Now that's where you're wrong, Dongxu. Senior year is crucial, and you shouldn't be distracted," Luo Cheng said with a "heartfelt" criticism.
    "I know what I'm doing with my own affairs. There's no need for you to worry," Ge Dongxu finally lifted his head, glanced at Luo Cheng, and then continued to focus on his grilling.
    "I'm just looking out for you," Luo Cheng said.
    "You're overstepping, Luo Cheng," Liu Jiayao finally frowned slightly and spoke sharply to Luo Cheng.
    Luo Cheng had wanted to take the opportunity of lecturing Ge Dongxu to show off his maturity and stability in front of Liu Jiayao, to highlight that his identity was more than just a student and to remind her of Ge Dongxu's high school status, hoping Liu Jiayao would look at him and Ge Dongxu differently. He didn't expect Liu Jiayao to bluntly rebuke him, completely overturning her previous elegance and gentleness.
    Luo Cheng's face turned red at once, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.
    "Come on, senior, eat some mutton skewers." Seeing that the mood was off, the round-faced girl cleverly grabbed a few skewers and offered them to Luo Cheng.
    Luo Cheng's expression lightened a bit as he took the skewers and began to eat silently, unable to comprehend how a woman like Liu Jiayao could take a liking to a high school student like Ge Dongxu.
    "Oh, by the way, Dongxu, did you know about Yuxin going to the United States?" Su Qian felt the need to change the subject due to the awkward atmosphere.
    "Dong Yuxin went to the United States? When did this happen?" Ge Dongxu asked, lifting his head upon hearing the news.
    "Last year's news. After finishing her freshman year, she went to the United States with her family. Didn't she mention it to you? You two were quite close before," Su Qian said, glancing at Liu Jiayao as she spoke.
    "No, we lost contact after you all graduated," Ge Dongxu shook his head, feeling a slight sense of loss in his heart.
    The United States is such a distant place¡ªsome people seem destined to merely pass through our lives.
    "Oh, I thought she would have mentioned it to you," Su Qian said, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. It was hard to tell if she was laughing at Ge Dongxu's past foolish attempt to 'aim for the swan as a toad,' but when her gaze swept over Liu Jiayao, it was tinged with confusion.
    Su Qian always had a serene demeanor. Back in those days when everyone hung out together, she seldom joined Jiang Lili in teasing Ge Dongxu. In fact, deep down, Su Qian always looked down upon Ge Dongxu, the junior who came from the mountainous region.
    However, the current closeness between Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu was completely beyond her understanding.
    Ge Dongxu smiled and was about to continue turning the skewers, but he eventually asked, "Is she doing well in the United States?"
    Regardless of anything, they used to be close, and since she had gone to a distant place, it was only right to be concerned. Not that Ge Dongxu had any special feelings for Dong Yuxin. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire
    "I don't know. We contacted each other a couple times just after she left, but then we lost touch," Su Qian shook her head, revealing a trace of disappointment.
    "Who is Dong Yuxin you guys are talking about?" Lin Minru asked, unable to curb her curiosity.
    "She's my best friend from high school, the school beauty!" Su Qian replied.
    "Wow! So, is that school beauty Dongxu's secret crush?" The two girls immediately brightened up, speaking with gossip-hungry anticipation.
    "That's quite normal, isn't it? Which guy hasn't had a crush on the school beauty? Right, Dongxu?" Luo Cheng interjected matter-of-factly, glancing intentionally at Liu Jiayao.
    Ge Dongxu smiled noncommittally and continued to turn the skewers.
    Of course, he couldn't be bothered to explain to people like Luo Cheng, and as for Liu Jiayao, there was no need for explanations between them.
    "Haha, Dongxu is too embarrassed to say," Luo Cheng pointed at Ge Dongxu and laughed.
    "But at your age, and still in senior year of high school, you really can only harbor a crush. But it won't be long now; once you get into university, you'll be free. By the way, Dongxu, how are your grades?" Luo Cheng, seeing that Ge Dongxu was ignoring him, continued to talk, always carrying a tone that Ge Dongxu found annoyingly condescending.
    "Sister Liu, how's the food going for you?" Ge Dongxu didn't respond to Luo Cheng, instead raising his head to ask Liu Jiayao.
    "It's about enough," Liu Jiayao smiled.
    "Since it's almost done, then Su Qian, fellow classmates, we'll take our leave first," Ge Dongxu said.
    He really couldn't be bothered listening to Luo Cheng, who was so full of himself, go on showing off and lecturing. Besides, this barbecue wasn't what he and Liu Jiayao wanted. It was better just to leave.
    "What's the meaning of this, Classmate Dongxu? Do you look down on me, Luo Cheng?" Luo Cheng, who had been enjoying himself, was caught off guard by Ge Dongxu's casual mention of leaving. He was stunned for a moment before his face turned red and he abruptly stood up.
    "Su Qian, your senior here is rather dull. I think you should stay away from him in the future." Ge Dongxu ignored Luo Cheng and turned to Su Qian instead, then pulled out a large red note and placed it on the table. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
    Since he didn't want to deal with Luo Cheng, Ge Dongxu naturally didn't want to owe him any favors.

 Chapter 281 Private Car [Blocked]

    "Director Ge, this is my business card; it has my personal contact number. If there''s anything you need in Jiangnan Province, please call me anytime," Minister Zheng personally escorted Ge Dongxu to the parking lot.

    One does not strike a smiling face, and Minister Zheng seemed to possess an air of integrity. Ge Dongxu, feeling somewhat embarrassed by the personal escort to the parking lot and the offering of a business card, said, "I don''t have a business card, so I will call you, and you can just save the number. If there really is something important, you can also call me."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu took out his mobile phone and dialed Minister Zheng''s number from the business card.

    "Thank you, Director Ge, I''ve got it," said Minister Zheng, holding his phone and seeing it vibrate, he quickly responded.

    "Then, goodbye, Minister Zheng." Seeing this, Ge Dongxu took the initiative to reach out for a handshake, then got into Tang Yiyuan''s car and drove out of the hospital gates.

    Minister Zheng watched as Tang Yiyuan''s car entered the main road before he turned and went back to the hospital.

    By the time he turned back to the hospital, Governor Sang had already left the ICU. After asking the nurse, he found out that Governor Sang had insisted on being discharged, claiming he was fine. The hospital had no choice but to persuade Governor Sang to undergo checks before being discharged, so he was currently undergoing tests.

    "What, Governor Sang is preparing to leave the hospital?" Although Minister Zheng had seen Governor Sang already able to leave his sickbed, looking completely fine just moments ago, hearing now that Governor Sang was undergoing tests to be discharged still startled him.

    After all, just a short while ago, Governor Sang was a patient scheduled for a heart transplant surgery! That he could now get out of bed and walk was frightening enough, and now he was even planning to be discharged outright.

    Could it be that these days, severe heart failure is as common and trivial as a cold or a fever?

    "Yes, Governor Sang looks just fine," the nurse, still confused and not understanding what had happened, marveled. Just moments before, Governor Sang had been needing oxygen masks even for breathing, and now he seemed well enough to be discharged?

    Minister Zheng, of course, could not answer the nurse''s question but secretly left the ICU in shock. He instructed his secretary to call Fang Ting to inquire about their location and then made his way there specifically.

    Minister Zheng arrived just as Governor Sang and Feng Yaping had just finished their examination.

    Upon questioning, Minister Zheng heard that Governor Sang''s heart indicators were now essentially normal, and he could perfectly be discharged and even return to regular work. Even though he had been somewhat prepared, it still took him quite a while to recover from his astonishment. Then he remembered he still had Director Ge''s phone number in his phone, felt a mix of gratitude and excitement, and also sternly reminded himself that this number must not be called lightly, only in truly critical moments.

    ...

    As the delay at the hospital was brief, the shareholders of Qinghe Herbal Tea met again after leaving the hospital, discussing adding new production lines and setting up branch factories in other provinces and cities a bit further, then dispersed.

    After the meeting, Ge Dongxu accompanied Liu Jiayao for a tour around Longxi Mountain and even made a specific visit to Jiangnan University, which was built adjacent to Longxi Mountain.

    Liu Jiayao''s beauty and perfect figure naturally attracted the attention of many male students throughout the campus.

    "Where would you like to have dinner tonight? The revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake again?" After touring Jiangnan University, it was starting to get dark. Ge Dongxu, taking the driver''s seat, started the car and asked.

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    A few days after meeting with Fan Hong, Xu Lei, the head of Jiangnan Province''s Supernatural Management Office, had specially delivered a driving license to Ge Dongxu.

    He now had both a Huaxia Country driver''s license and an international one.

    Ge Dongxu had a driver''s license by then, so he simply asked Wu Qianjin to arrange a car for him and spent half a day practicing in the factory area of Wangzhou Township on the weekend.

    As a cultivator, Ge Dongxu''s physical coordination and reaction abilities were much stronger than those of an ordinary person. After practicing for half a day, he drove even smoother than Wu Qianjin, an experienced driver. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Now that he had a driver''s license and knew how to drive, when he was in the Provincial Capital with Liu Jiayao, he naturally took over the driving.

    However, the car was still Liu Jiayao''s Audi, and his official car, which Ge Dongxu had checked out last time he was in the Provincial Capital. He figured, since he had a license, he might as well see if it was suitable and then drive it over to keep at Liu Jiayao''s place for convenience in the future.

    The car was indeed a luxury vehicle, a Grand Cherokee with a V8 engine, sharply defined contours, and a powerful appearance. Not only that, but the interior was also very luxurious and even the materials used for the car body were different from an ordinary Grand Cherokee¡ªthey were bulletproof.

    This kind of car is generally loved by men and feels great to drive.

    Ge Dongxu liked the car as well, but he felt it was a bit too flashy, especially with the distinctive military license plate, which really stood out and didn''t match his personality.

    When he drove the Grand Cherokee on the road and felt its presence, the traffic police at the posts all saluted him, thinking some high-ranking leader was inside the vehicle.

    So after driving around the city in this official car for a while, Ge Dongxu decided there was no real need to use this car unless necessary.

    When checking the car, Ge Dongxu also looked at a house.

    The house was located in the suburbs of Linzhou City, with mountains and water nearby, similar to the Mount Lake Villa Li Bisheng visited last time in the capital, but on a much smaller scale with not many villas.

    However, just like the outside, it was guarded by armed police, making it impossible for ordinary people to get in.

    The place had good air and a decent amount of spiritual energy, which would definitely make living there comfortable and beneficial for cultivation. Clearly, a lot of thought had been put into choosing the location, but the cultural atmosphere was not to Ge Dongxu''s liking.

    As soon as he entered and especially saw the armed police guarding the entrance, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat oppressed. So, similar to the car, he was unlikely to stay there unless necessary.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu could ask Fan Hong to arrange another apartment for him in the city center, but as a major business owner, that was naturally unnecessary.

    "Mingyue Lake Revolving Restaurant again? I''ve gotten a bit tired of it recently; let''s go somewhere else," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Then you tell me, wherever you say, I''ll follow," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Giggle, such a spineless man!" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu teasingly, then her eyes suddenly brightened, and she said, "How about we go to the riverside for some open-air barbecue?"

    "Come on, you''re the female CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics and a beauty at that. Do you really think going to the riverside for open-air barbecue is appropriate?" Ge Dongxu asked with a slight surprise and then laughed.

    ps: The Chinese New Year is approaching, and I''m stuck with my writing, almost to the point of despair. I''ll update one chapter this morning; the other two will depend on how the ideas flow. If I can get them written by 10 PM, I''ll definitely upload them; if not uploaded by 10 PM, I''m probably still stuck in despair. Please forgive me.

 Chapter 282 Director Ge is Being Polite

    "Who says a beautiful CEO can''t go riverside for some outdoor barbecue? Besides, I''ll have you with me, right? If some gangster comes to harass us, you can play the hero just like in the TV shows, hee hee, won''t that be fun!" Liu Jiayao, the beautiful CEO who normally lived a high-society life, grew more excited as she spoke of such common street-side occurrences, her beautiful eyes gleaming with thick anticipation.

    "No way, sis, that''s just TV, only TV. Besides, you''re a beautiful CEO worth tens of millions, can''t you be a bit more ambitious?" Ge Dongxu found it hard to contain his laughter when Liu Jiayao wanted to enact a damsel-in-distress rescue. He genuinely doubted if the person sitting beside him was really Liu Jiayao.

    "Anyway, I want to go to the riverside for barbecue, just once is fine, right? Worst case scenario, I can play along with you a little bit at night," Liu Jiayao begged, grabbing Ge Dongxu''s arm.

    "Really?" Ge Dongxu''s eyes gleamed with excitement.

    "You big pervert! It''s not true? Don''t tell me you''ll let me off the hook tonight?" Liu Jiayao''s pretty face blushed slightly as she gave Ge Dongxu a stern look.

    "Heh heh!" Ge Dongxu grinned mischievously.

    He was at an age when his physical desires were at their peak, and because of his studies and training, he couldn''t visit the Provincial Capital every day; it was usually once every couple of weeks. Each visit naturally meant making the most of it with Liu Jiayao.

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    Because of his training, Ge Dongxu couldn''t take the final step, and with his good physical stamina, it usually meant that Liu Jiayao ended up completely exhausted after their encounters.

    "You big pervert!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s wicked grin, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but pinch him hard, her body warming and weakening as she remembered those vibrant, lively scenes.

    The barbecue place was located by the banks of Qian River. The river flowed strong and continuous; on this side, there were lights from thousands of homes, while the opposite side, still undeveloped, appeared rural with only a few scattered lights, vast and empty.

    One side bustling and lively, the other desolate and empty, with the strong river in between, altogether creating a starkly contrasting and uniquely appealing scenery.

    It seemed the people of Linzhou had been stifled by the cold weather, and with the weather warming up to over twenty degrees, as if heralding the arrival of summer, combined with it being a weekend night, the famous Ah Fang''s Barbecue, situated on a scenic riverside platform, was unexpectedly crowded.

    "No way, there are no free seats!" Liu Jiayao arrived full of anticipation only to find the place overwhelmed with people, showing a tinge of disappointment in her eyes.

    "How about we take a walk around and check back later? Perhaps there will be a spot available then," Ge Dongxu suggested, trying to console her.

    "Never mind, it''s getting late. I don''t think we''ll snag a spot even if one opens up; it''ll just get taken by someone else. Let''s just find any place for now, and leave this place for another time," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Since we''re here, why not wait a bit, it''s not like we have anything else to do," Ge Dongxu said.

    "It''s so nice to have you by my side!" Knowing Ge Dongxu hated to see her disappointed, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but cling tighter to his arm, tilting her head back to look at him, whispering contentedly.

    "Is that so? Then why do you always threaten to send me to a different room every now and then?" Ge Dongxu teased. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You... you big jerk, who let you be so troublesome!" Liu Jiayao hadn''t expected that while she was exchanging sweet nothings with Ge Dongxu, his thoughts had darted off to that sort of thing. She was slightly startled, then both embarrassed and annoyed, she started pinching him frantically.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was about to raise his hands in surrender from being pinched, he suddenly saw a man stand up from a table near the river and walk briskly towards him¡ªit was none other than Xu Lei.

    "A familiar face is coming over." Although Ge Dongxu held a nominal position, Xu Lei, being the national special department''s head in Jiangnan Province, was technically his subordinate. Hence, feeling a little embarrassed to see him approaching, he quickly warned Liu Jiayao.

    "Hmph, quit making excuses. Who do you know here in Linzhou? I would like to see if you still dare to think nonsense..." Liu Jiayao naturally didn''t believe him and continued to "torture" Ge Dongxu.

    "Director Ge!" Just as Liu Jiayao was about to continue "torturing" Ge Dongxu, she suddenly heard a voice ahead. Looking up, indeed, there was a man walking towards them, who quickly reached their front. Her cheeks flamed red in an instant, and her hands hastily released Ge Dongxu''s arm, but her eyes fiercely shot him a glance.

    "Xu Lei, you''re here too!" Ge Dongxu gave Liu Jiayao a teasing and triumphant wink. Embarrassed and irritated, Liu Jiayao almost felt like biting the man, but, of course, with a stranger present, she tried her best to maintain the elegance and poise of a beautiful CEO.

    "Yes, Director Ge, are you here for a barbecue with friends? We have some space over there, and we were just about to finish." Xu Lei spoke respectfully.

    Ge Dongxu looked up, and indeed, the two men and a woman who had been sitting at Xu Lei''s table were already standing up, calling the waiter to clean up the table, and were beginning to help with the cleanup themselves.

    Ge Dongxu''s keen eyes, despite some distance, could see that there was still plenty left uneaten and even uncooked on their table, clearly because Xu Lei had seen him and Liu Jiayao without a spot and hurriedly got up to offer them his place.

    "Xu Lei, thanks a lot. I''ll treat you guys when I''m free next time." Since Liu Jiayao wanted to eat here and the other party was already cleaning up, Ge Dongxu felt it was only right to accept Xu Lei''s kindness with a smile and clapped him on the shoulder.

    "Director Ge, you''re too kind, too kind." Xu Lei''s shoulder was patted by Ge Dongxu, making him almost melt with admiration.

    After all, the man before him was a top-notch expert. Even their boss had to be highly respectful towards him. Accepting this favor from him was truly an incredible opportunity!

    ...

    "Who was that person just now? And why did he call you ''Director''?" Once they had a spot, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help her curiosity.

    These days, she and Ge Dongxu often had frank and direct interactions, putting on a real fight, so there really weren''t any secrets between them. Anything on her mind, she didn''t feel the need to hide or hold back.

    Of course, if Ge Dongxu chose not to answer, Liu Jiayao wouldn''t press further. She still had that much tact.

    Ge Dongxu had only been appointed as the consulting director of the Special Ability Management Bureau after the incident at Xiaoyuan Mountain. Since he was not very keen on this consulting role, he didn''t particularly mention it to Liu Jiayao. Now that she asked, he naturally had nothing to hide and smiled, "Do you remember after the Xiaoyuan Mountain incident when I told you a special department handled it? Due to that event, some of my abilities were revealed, and they hired me as a consultant. It''s just like a corporate consultant, no real power but the rank is quite high. That person just now is the head of this special department in Jiangnan Province, so that''s why he calls me ''Director''."

    PS: Managed to rush this out, thanks for the support.

 Chapter 283 Who exactly was that young man just now?

    "So you''re saying you''re now an official?" Liu Jiayao looked Ge Dongxu up and down as if he was an alien.

    High school student, billionaire, doctor, cultivator, and now an official as well.

    If someone else had told her instead of seeing this man in front of her, she probably would never have believed them.

    "Why are you looking at me like that? Don''t tell me you don''t recognize me?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "So what level is this advisor position of yours?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look and then couldn''t help but ask again.

    "Vice-ministerial level, I guess!" Ge Dongxu casually replied. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Vice-ministerial¡­" Liu Jiayao''s mouth dropped open, then she quickly exaggeratedly covered her mouth.

    Vice-ministerial is equivalent to the level of a vice governor.

    A vice-ministerial official at eighteen!

    Her man was a vice-ministerial official!

    It took Liu Jiayao a good while to completely digest this string of news.

    "You this fellow, can you remove the word ''guess''?" after a while, Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu, who appeared calm and casual as if what he was saying was completely ordinary, and couldn''t help but give Ge Dongxu a stern look as she spoke.

    "Is there a problem?" Ge Dongxu asked, puzzled.

    "Vice-ministerial level! And you''re still so nonchalant, even stating ''guess''? You, do you realize how provoking you look?" Liu Jiayao almost gritted her teeth.

    "Alright, actually, to tell the truth, I don''t really want this nominal position," Ge Dongxu finally understood why Liu Jiayao was saying all this, and couldn''t help but laugh and cry.

    Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu speechlessly.

    Should he be called pretentious, or acting cute after getting a bargain? Neither! This guy genuinely didn''t want this vice-ministerial nominal position.

    "Alright, let''s pretend I didn''t say anything. Let''s just order some stuff and start barbecuing," Liu Jiayao was completely defeated by Ge Dongxu.

    Now she fully understood that nothing that happened to this man of hers was surprising.

    "Exactly, let''s just order some food; that''s the main thing," Ge Dongxu laughed and then called the waiter over, ordering lamb skewers, lamb ribs, chicken wings, some corn, and other barbecue items and drinks.

    All these items were ready right away, and it wasn''t long before the waiter brought them over.

    Ge Dongxu took a few lamb skewers and chicken wings, placing them on the stove and skillfully flipping them.

    "Don''t tell me you used to sell lamb skewers before?" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s skilled movements, Liu Jiayao finally shifted her focus from the vice-ministerial level to the skewers.

    "Heh, not really. But back when I was with my master, I often cooked for him, and my family does run a farmhouse restaurant, so I really do have a knack for cooking," Ge Dongxu laughed and replied.

    "Ah, then I''ve never seen you cook for me!" Liu Jiayao was surprised, and then she gave Ge Dongxu a look.

    "You never give me a chance! You always drag me out to eat at restaurants," Ge Dongxu replied with an aggrieved face.

    "Alright, next time you come over, we''ll cook ourselves," Liu Jiayao said, her eyes shining with anticipation.

    "No problem at all. Just tell me what you want to eat, and I''ll cook it for you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You''re so kind!" Liu Jiayao''s gaze softened involuntarily as she heard his words.

    ...

    "Boss, who was that young guy just now? We even had to give up our seats for him, and I had just started eating!" A young man who was eating barbecue with Xu Lei in a Cherokee not far from the scenic platform asked with a reluctant face.

    "Didn''t you see me calling him ''Director'' just now?" Xu Lei turned his head and glanced at the young man.

    "No way, you mean he''s a leader in our bureau? How old is he?" Two men and a woman in the car all widened their eyes and said in disbelief.

    Because of Ge Dongxu''s special identity, Fan Hong later specifically instructed Xu Lei not to monitor him and his family. Therefore, only a few key leaders in the Special Ability Management Bureau of Jiangnan Province knew about Ge Dongxu''s existence; the lower-ranked staff did not.

    "Well, since you''ve encountered him today, I''ll mention this to you. The man just now was Ge Dongxu, our bureau''s newly appointed Director-level consultant. Whenever you see him in the future, you''d better be on your best behavior, no funny faces," Xu Lei nodded and then said seriously.

    Most employees of the Special Ability Management Bureau, except a few clerical staff, were Magicians with cultivated abilities. These individuals, inherently proud because of their Mysterious Arts, were free to do what they wanted outside of missions, not bound by strict norms.

    Like the three young people dining with Xu Lei today, the young man who had asked the question even had a few strands of yellow-green dyed hair, looking like someone who mixed with society. People unaware of his situation wouldn''t guess that he was a government employee with Mysterious Arts. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    The other two were similarly casual. The sole young woman among them wore jeans with several rips.

    "No way? A Director-level consultant, aren''t they usually all old men and women?" The young man with dyed hair said in disbelief.

    "What old men and women? They are seniors from Qimen!" Xu Lei couldn''t help but turn around and knock on the young man''s head.

    "Yes, yes, seniors from Qimen! But that young man just now didn''t seem to have any connection with seniors at all!" The young man ducked his head and then rubbed the spot where he had been hit, saying.

    "That''s because you haven''t seen his formidable skills. If you had, you wouldn''t think so. Anyway, when you see him in the future, you must show the utmost respect. If there''s any disrespect, don''t blame me for putting you in solitary confinement immediately!" Xu Lei said sternly.

    "Yes!" The three of them shivered slightly when Xu Lei mentioned solitary confinement, and all responded solemnly, though their eyes still showed hints of disbelief.

    No wonder, they were all young and competitive. They could accept Ge Dongxu being very old, but it was hard to convince them about someone younger than themselves without seeing first-hand.

    "Boss, since you say Director Ge is so powerful, why are we still sitting here?" another well-dressed young man asked.

    "You really are clueless!" The other two, a man and a woman, immediately scoffed.

    "Did I say something wrong?" the well-dressed young man asked defiantly.

    "Nonsense! What kind of place is this, with all sorts from the Nine Streams. The woman Director Ge brought..."

    "Slap!" The young man hadn''t finished speaking when Xu Lei raised his hand and slapped him on the head, "What kind of language is that?"

    "Boss, I''m sorry! I''ve been hanging out with those guys too much and picked up their habits!" the young man who looked like a delinquent hurriedly apologized.

    "If there''s another disrespectful word, it''s straight to confinement! And you''re not allowed to go near those messy places anymore," Xu Lei said with a grim face.

    Joking aside, even their bureau''s top boss, Director Fan, was extremely respectful toward Director Ge, treating him as a junior. Could his woman be referred to so disparagingly?

    "Yes!" The young man couldn''t help but shiver, and then continued, "The friend Director Ge brought is so stunning... ah... Boss, I mean no disrespect; I just meant to say that Director Ge''s girlfriend is beautiful."

 Chapter 284 Meeting Senior Sister

    Xu Lei snorted coldly but said nothing.

    The young man quietly sighed with relief and then continued, "Director Ge''s girlfriend is so beautiful. In such a place, if a few drunkards or some blind guys come to harass and make trouble. With Director Ge''s capabilities, a few ordinary folk are naturally not worth worrying about, but if they were to spoil his good mood, that would be regrettable. That''s why I specifically stayed, not because I''m worried about Director Ge''s personal safety, but to prevent those blind fools from ruining his good mood."

    "You, although you hang out in bright and bustling places every day, still have a quick-witted mind." Xu Lei nodded in approval upon hearing this.

    "Boss, our Cherishing Flowers Sect''s mental method is all about moving through a sea of flowers without a leaf sticking to the body. I frequent those places to train through worldly experiences and temper my determination," the young man clarified.

    "Pfft! Cherishing Flowers? I think ''plucking flowers'' is more like it." The other male and female immediately gave him a scornful look.

    "Ma Xiaoshuai, when they call you fat, you really do take it to heart!" Xu Lei said with a laugh as he pointed at the young man. Your journey continues with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Why don''t you guys believe me? I really am cultivating!" Ma Xiaoshuai cried out with an aggrieved face.

    "Alright, we believe you, is that good enough? But honestly, Ma Xiaoshuai, your sect''s mental method is really messed up. Navigating through a sea of flowers and not letting a leaf stick to you¡ª if it was an old man in his seventies or eighties, fine, but for a young guy like you, isn''t this just torture to your body and mind? Can you really withstand a beauty stripping in front of you?" the well-dressed young man said sympathetically as he looked at Ma Xiaoshuai.

    "This is a profound mental method; you wouldn''t understand," Ma Xiaoshuai said with an inscrutable look.

    "Enough with being profound or not. I won''t concern myself with how you train through worldly experiences or temper your determination, but remember one thing¡ªyou mustn''t harm good girls, otherwise I won''t be able to protect you," Xu Lei said earnestly, clearly quite aware of Ma Xiaoshuai''s cultivation matters.

    "Understood, Boss," Ma Xiaoshuai said, his mood visibly deflated upon hearing Xu Lei speak in this manner.

    The male and female were left confused, not quite understanding the underlying meaning of the conversation between Xu Lei and Ma Xiaoshuai.

    ...

    While Xu Lei and others were talking from afar in the car, people occasionally arrived at the barbecue restaurant.

    Seeing the place packed, some left with a disappointed and disheartened expression, while others lingered, relentlessly scanning the filled landscape platform of tables and barbecues to see if anyone would leave their seat.

    However, it was not long after dark, the prime time for barbecue had just begun, and no one was leaving their seats.

    "It really is a letdown. There''s no more seating. Forget it, I''ll take you ladies to another place for a big meal," a young man said to his three female companions upon seeing the crowd.

    "Let''s wait a bit longer; maybe a spot will open up," a woman with particularly long legs in jeans suggested.

    "Oh, what is he doing here?" the woman had barely finished her sentence when a quiet-looking girl expressed surprise as she spotted Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao at a table.

    "Oh, Su Qian!" Ge Dongxu''s sixth sense was very sharp. As soon as the quiet girl fixed her gaze on him, he immediately sensed it and hurriedly looked up. On seeing her, his face also inadvertently showed surprise.

    "What''s wrong? Do you know that girl?" Liu Jiayao asked curiously, following Ge Dongxu''s gaze to Su Qian.

    "A senior from high school, I haven''t seen her for over a year, I didn''t expect her to have moved to the Provincial Capital," Ge Dongxu replied, originally planning to keep his head down and continue grilling, but he eventually raised his hand and waved at Su Qian as a greeting. He just didn''t bother to stand up specifically.

    He still harbored some grudges about that day when he had specifically prepared three Heart-Cleansing Talismans for Jiang Lili, Dong Yuxin, and Su Qian, and Su Qian had just crumpled hers up and tossed it away.

    "Since you''ve run into your senior, why not go and say hello? Is it because it''s awkward with me here?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    "No, it''s just that we''re not that close," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile, a trace of loss fleeting through his eyes.

    Although that incident was over a year ago, and he hadn''t thought about Dong Yuxin during this past year, Dong Yuxin had been the first girl he had met in high school, and also one he had been quite close to, so seeing Su Qian still inevitably stirred up some memories of the past.

    Women''s intuition is always particularly sharp, and although the loss in Ge Dongxu''s eyes was fleeting, Liu Jiayao still noticed it and couldn''t help but feel very curious.

    Although Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu were close to taking the final step, she actually knew very little about his life, especially his romantic life, very little indeed.

    ...

    "What''s wrong? Do you know that woman?" The young man followed Su Qian''s gaze, and his eyes were instantly captivated by Liu Jiayao, he blurted out.

    "No, it''s that guy, he was a junior in my high school. But it''s strange, he''s only supposed to be in his final year of high school in Changxi County this year, what is he doing in the Provincial Capital? And he''s with a woman too," Su Qian replied, her eyes filled with surprise and confusion.

    It was only because the young man beside her said so that she noticed the woman with Ge Dongxu seemed stunning even from a distance, making her feel somewhat inferior, even Dong Yuxin seemed a bit less in comparison.

    It wasn''t that Dong Yuxin was less attractive or well-built than Liu Jiayao, but Liu Jiayao possessed a mature and elegant demeanor that Dong Yuxin did not.

    This kind of demeanor requires time and life''s sedimentation.

    "Maybe he has relatives in the Provincial Capital," said one of the round-faced girls.

    "There are only the two of them, and with us, that makes six people. Suzhen, since you know him, why don''t we join them at their table?" the long-legged girl suggested.

    "That''s a great idea! It''s more fun with more people," the young man immediately agreed.

    Having said that, without waiting for Su Qian''s reply, he was already eagerly walking towards Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing this, Su Qian and her friends quickly followed.

    Although Ge Dongxu still had some lingering grudges against Su Qian, since they were schoolmates and had shared some friendship back then, seeing Su Qian approaching with her friends, he stood up and smiled, "Su Qian, hello, I didn''t expect to run into you here."

    "Yeah, I didn''t expect it either. They are my classmates and seniors, we originally came here to have a barbecue, but it''s overcrowded. You have quite a few seats empty here, you won''t mind us joining you, right?" Su Qian said with a smile, her gaze inadvertently drifting towards Liu Jiayao, full of astonishment.

    As they got closer, that stunning feeling grew even stronger.

 Chapter 285 His Family is Very Rich

    "Eating barbecue is fun with a lot of people. I''ll treat everyone tonight!" Su Qian said, as the young man had already nonchalantly pulled out a chair and taken a seat.

    "Yeah, yeah, the more the merrier." The other two girls, after all still students, also sat down laughing, seemingly without much scheming.

    "Hehe, true, barbecue is indeed more fun with more people. But since you''re still students, we should be the ones treating you." Liu Jiayao actually wanted to learn more about Ge Dongxu''s love life and since Su Qian had spoken up and her classmate had already made himself at home, she didn''t wait for Dongxu to say anything. She smiled and took over the conversation not wanting Dongxu to feel awkward because of her presence.

    "Hehe, I am a student, but I''ve already started a small company outside, so I can treat you to dinner, no problem," the young man said, his face clearly showing a smug look of pride.

    "Yeah, Senior Luo Cheng is amazing. We plan to go work and intern at his company this coming summer vacation," Su Qian said as she took her seat, seeing that the senior and the other two classmates had already sat down and Liu Jiayao had spoken as well.

    Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu with a smile in her eyes when she heard this.

    "Then let''s go Dutch," Ge Dongxu said naturally not wanting to drive them away, but also not willing to accept Luo Cheng''s offer.

    "Dongxu, don''t argue with Senior Luo Cheng, his family is really rich," Su Qian said.

    "Dongxu, and this beautiful lady, don''t listen to Su Qian''s nonsense. It''s just a small hotel my dad owns, worth only four or five million. That''s hardly considered wealthy in the Provincial Capital! But anyway, treating you at a place like this is no problem," Luo Cheng said with a laugh, waving his hand with "humility," though his eyes kept darting towards Liu Jiayao.

    Too bad Liu Jiayao just smiled and looked at Ge Dongxu sitting opposite her, paying him no attention, let alone dazzling like the three girls when they heard about the hotel and the four or five million.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao''s look, which clearly carried a hint of schadenfreude, Ge Dongxu could tell she was probably laughing at him, "You''re being looked down upon," and couldn''t help but give her a wry look, then said, "Since that''s the case, I won''t be polite with you."

    There was no helping it, Luo Cheng had "humbly" gone that far, and Ge Dongxu, as a multimillionaire, had to give him some face and let him treat this time.

    "Of course, there''s no need for politeness. You are Su Qian''s junior, and I am Su Qian''s senior, which makes us all classmates!" Luo Cheng said, patting Ge Dongxu on the shoulder in a very familiar manner.

    After that, Luo Cheng called over the waiter and ordered a lot of barbecue ingredients, seemingly trying to flaunt his wealth. Ge Dongxu just gave a noncommittal smile and continued grilling the chicken wings and lamb skewers he had put on the grill earlier.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s skilled movements, Su Qian and the other two girls all revealed a look of surprise, while Luo Cheng chatted with Liu Jiayao half-heartedly, trying to draw her attention with subtle boasting.

    Unfortunately, what Luo Cheng didn''t know was that a woman like Liu Jiayao could hardly be drawn to a shallow man like him¡ªit was simply futile.

    "The chicken wings are ready. Ladies first, so Luo Cheng, you''ll just have to wait," Ge Dongxu said, not considering a man of Luo Cheng''s level as a rival. He didn''t pay attention to Luo Cheng''s attempts to chat up Liu Jiayao, and seeing the chicken wings were ready, he handed one to Liu Jiayao first, then to Su Qian and the other two girls. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    As soon as Liu Jiayao and the others took the chicken wings, a delicious aroma assailed their nostrils, and they looked down at the glistening wings in their hands, which were perfectly cooked without a trace of charring. The enticing color and tempting fragrance were irresistible, and without caring about the scalding heat or feminine restraint, they bit into them.

    With that first bite, the girls'' eyes immediately brightened. Although they initially took delicate bites, showing only the pearly white of their teeth and maintaining ladylike elegance, they soon abandoned any pretense of delicacy and started tearing in, reminiscent of hearty drinking and feasting.

    Of course, even when a beauty like Liu Jiayao tore into her food, there remained a captivating charm.

    "How is it?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile upon seeing their reactions.

    He started doing this kind of thing at a very young age, and now with his cultivation progressing rapidly, he had become exceptionally skilled at controlling the cooking process.

    "It''s amazing! Dongxu, your family wouldn''t happen to run a barbecue restaurant, would they?" It wasn''t Liu Jiayao who responded to Ge Dongxu, but the long-legged beauty.

    "Yeah, yeah, it''s really delicious. Your family really doesn''t run a barbecue restaurant?" Another girl with a round face nodded eagerly in agreement.

    "Giggle, Minru, you might have guessed a bit right. But Dongxu''s family doesn''t run a barbecue restaurant, they run a rural resort," said Su Qian with a smirk.

    She used to walk home from school with Jiang Lili, Dong Yuxin, and Ge Dongxu quite often and thus knew a bit about his family background.

    "No wonder the barbecue tastes so good, it turns out that your family runs a rural leisure home." When Luo Cheng saw that the girls were all praising Ge Dongxu''s grilling skills, he couldn''t help feeling a bit envious. Now that Su Qian mentioned it, a slight look of scorn appeared on his face.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled, as if he didn''t pick up on the belittling tone in Luo Cheng''s words. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His family did indeed run a rural leisure home, and he felt there was nothing wrong with that¡ªit didn''t seem inferior to running a hotel to him.

    At this moment, a waiter brought over what Luo Cheng had ordered.

    Luo Cheng then grabbed a handful of lamb skewers and chicken wings and handed them to Ge Dongxu, saying with a smile, "Dongxu, the capable should do more. The grilling task is all yours; we''re responsible for eating and drinking."

    There wasn''t anything wrong with that in itself, but Luo Cheng''s tone sounded condescending, which caused Liu Jiayao''s brows to furrow slightly, showing a bit of displeasure.

    "No problem." Ge Dongxu didn''t seem to find anything wrong with it, and smiled as he collected the lamb skewers that were just ready, placed them on a plate, then took the skewers and chicken wings from Luo Cheng and said, "The lamb skewers are ready too. You guys eat; I''ll keep grilling over here."

    Seeing Ge Dongxu busily enjoying himself, a hint of disdain flashed in Luo Cheng''s eyes. He then picked up two skewers of lamb and, smiling, offered them to Liu Jiayao, "Sister Liu, try Dongxu''s cooking."

    "Hey, senior Luo, you''re biased, aren''t you? You see Sister Liu, a great beauty, and forget about us juniors," Lin Minru, the long-legged beauty, immediately pouted.

    "Yeah, exactly!" The round-faced girl and Su Qian also joined in protest.

    Luo Cheng, flattered by the protests of the three girls, hurriedly grabbed a handful of lamb skewers and passed them to each of them, then deliberately turned to Liu Jiayao and said, "Sister Liu, they just love making a fuss; don''t take it to heart."

    Liu Jiayao just smiled noncommittally and then offered her skewer of lamb to Ge Dongxu.

    "I''m busy, you eat first." Although Ge Dongxu didn''t take Luo Cheng seriously, he felt a slight warmth in his heart seeing Liu Jiayao ignoring him and deliberately offering the skewer to him. His hands kept turning the meat on the grill while he smiled back at her.

    "Your hands might be busy, but is your mouth too? Come on, open your mouth," Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look with her charming eyes, pretending to be annoyed. Her cheeks were flushed a lovely shade of red from the firelight, making her look particularly enticing.

    Ge Dongxu, charmed by Liu Jiayao''s coquettish demeanor, swayed a bit and moved his mouth towards the skewer, biting off a piece.

    "The taste is quite good," Ge Dongxu said while chewing on the skewer of lamb.

    "You really have no shame, who compliments their own cooking?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look.

    "I''m just being honest," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Eat your skewer!" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu another look and held the skewer up to his mouth.

    Ge Dongxu laughed, then bit off the rest of the lamb skewer.

    "Beer or orange juice?" Liu Jiayao put down the stick and asked.

    "Beer, it''s more invigorating," Ge Dongxu replied.

    So Liu Jiayao poured a cup of beer for Ge Dongxu and then held it up to his mouth for him to drink.

 Chapter 286 This Senior of Yours is Quite Boring

    Watching Liu Jiayao, such a great beauty, feed Ge Dongxu mutton skewers and hand him drinks, jealousy burned within Luo Cheng, who regretted giving Ge Dongxu such a good gig. Even the men at the neighboring tables watched with a mix of envy and resentment.

    "Damn it, why can''t I meet a woman who has the looks, the figure, and is also so gentle and considerate!"

    Su Qian watched in confusion, unsure of the exact relationship between Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.

    At first, she thought Liu Jiayao might be Ge Dongxu''s cousin or something, but now she seemed more like a girlfriend.

    But while others didn''t know Ge Dongxu''s background, Su Qian knew all too well. Just the fact that a high school student from a mountainous area could suddenly appear in the Provincial Capital was surprising and unexpected enough, let alone him having such a girlfriend that made even her feel ashamed; how could that be possible?

    "Sister Liu, that''s enough. Please take care of yourself, and don''t worry about me for now," Ge Dongxu said to Liu Jiayao with a smile after he had eaten two skewers of lamb and drank a beer with her "attentive" service.

    "Sure, I want to eat too." Liu Jiayao nodded, sat back in her seat, and started eating the mutton skewers.

    "Dongxu, aren''t you a senior in high school this year? How come you''ve come to the Provincial Capital?" Su Qian couldn''t contain her curiosity any longer and asked once Liu Jiayao had returned to her seat.

    The others also looked at Ge Dongxu curiously upon hearing this.

    In 1999, transportation was not especially convenient or fast, and it was indeed intriguing for a high school student to travel from a small place to the Provincial Capital.

    "I just had some things to take care of, so I took the opportunity to come over for the weekend," Ge Dongxu replied casually without even lifting his head.

    "Now that''s where you''re wrong, Dongxu. Senior year is crucial, and you shouldn''t be distracted," Luo Cheng said with a "heartfelt" criticism.

    "I know what I''m doing with my own affairs. There''s no need for you to worry," Ge Dongxu finally lifted his head, glanced at Luo Cheng, and then continued to focus on his grilling.

    "I''m just looking out for you," Luo Cheng said.

    "You''re overstepping, Luo Cheng," Liu Jiayao finally frowned slightly and spoke sharply to Luo Cheng.

    Luo Cheng had wanted to take the opportunity of lecturing Ge Dongxu to show off his maturity and stability in front of Liu Jiayao, to highlight that his identity was more than just a student and to remind her of Ge Dongxu''s high school status, hoping Liu Jiayao would look at him and Ge Dongxu differently. He didn''t expect Liu Jiayao to bluntly rebuke him, completely overturning her previous elegance and gentleness.

    Luo Cheng''s face turned red at once, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward.

    "Come on, senior, eat some mutton skewers." Seeing that the mood was off, the round-faced girl cleverly grabbed a few skewers and offered them to Luo Cheng.

    Luo Cheng''s expression lightened a bit as he took the skewers and began to eat silently, unable to comprehend how a woman like Liu Jiayao could take a liking to a high school student like Ge Dongxu.

    "Oh, by the way, Dongxu, did you know about Yuxin going to the United States?" Su Qian felt the need to change the subject due to the awkward atmosphere.

    "Dong Yuxin went to the United States? When did this happen?" Ge Dongxu asked, lifting his head upon hearing the news.

    "Last year''s news. After finishing her freshman year, she went to the United States with her family. Didn''t she mention it to you? You two were quite close before," Su Qian said, glancing at Liu Jiayao as she spoke.

    "No, we lost contact after you all graduated," Ge Dongxu shook his head, feeling a slight sense of loss in his heart.

    The United States is such a distant place¡ªsome people seem destined to merely pass through our lives.

    "Oh, I thought she would have mentioned it to you," Su Qian said, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes. It was hard to tell if she was laughing at Ge Dongxu''s past foolish attempt to ''aim for the swan as a toad,'' but when her gaze swept over Liu Jiayao, it was tinged with confusion.

    Su Qian always had a serene demeanor. Back in those days when everyone hung out together, she seldom joined Jiang Lili in teasing Ge Dongxu. In fact, deep down, Su Qian always looked down upon Ge Dongxu, the junior who came from the mountainous region.

    However, the current closeness between Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu was completely beyond her understanding.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and was about to continue turning the skewers, but he eventually asked, "Is she doing well in the United States?"

    Regardless of anything, they used to be close, and since she had gone to a distant place, it was only right to be concerned. Not that Ge Dongxu had any special feelings for Dong Yuxin. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

    "I don''t know. We contacted each other a couple times just after she left, but then we lost touch," Su Qian shook her head, revealing a trace of disappointment.

    "Who is Dong Yuxin you guys are talking about?" Lin Minru asked, unable to curb her curiosity.

    "She''s my best friend from high school, the school beauty!" Su Qian replied.

    "Wow! So, is that school beauty Dongxu''s secret crush?" The two girls immediately brightened up, speaking with gossip-hungry anticipation.

    "That''s quite normal, isn''t it? Which guy hasn''t had a crush on the school beauty? Right, Dongxu?" Luo Cheng interjected matter-of-factly, glancing intentionally at Liu Jiayao.

    Ge Dongxu smiled noncommittally and continued to turn the skewers.

    Of course, he couldn''t be bothered to explain to people like Luo Cheng, and as for Liu Jiayao, there was no need for explanations between them.

    "Haha, Dongxu is too embarrassed to say," Luo Cheng pointed at Ge Dongxu and laughed.

    "But at your age, and still in senior year of high school, you really can only harbor a crush. But it won''t be long now; once you get into university, you''ll be free. By the way, Dongxu, how are your grades?" Luo Cheng, seeing that Ge Dongxu was ignoring him, continued to talk, always carrying a tone that Ge Dongxu found annoyingly condescending.

    "Sister Liu, how''s the food going for you?" Ge Dongxu didn''t respond to Luo Cheng, instead raising his head to ask Liu Jiayao.

    "It''s about enough," Liu Jiayao smiled.

    "Since it''s almost done, then Su Qian, fellow classmates, we''ll take our leave first," Ge Dongxu said.

    He really couldn''t be bothered listening to Luo Cheng, who was so full of himself, go on showing off and lecturing. Besides, this barbecue wasn''t what he and Liu Jiayao wanted. It was better just to leave.

    "What''s the meaning of this, Classmate Dongxu? Do you look down on me, Luo Cheng?" Luo Cheng, who had been enjoying himself, was caught off guard by Ge Dongxu''s casual mention of leaving. He was stunned for a moment before his face turned red and he abruptly stood up.

    "Su Qian, your senior here is rather dull. I think you should stay away from him in the future." Ge Dongxu ignored Luo Cheng and turned to Su Qian instead, then pulled out a large red note and placed it on the table. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Since he didn''t want to deal with Luo Cheng, Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t want to owe him any favors.

 Chapter 287 Its all his fault!

    "Dongxu, how can you act like this? Senior Luo Cheng is just concerned about you!" Su Qian, upon seeing this, not only failed to heed Ge Dongxu''s words but also stood up, looking at Ge Dongxu angrily, reproaching him.

    "Concerned about me?" Ge Dongxu laughed, his gaze upon Su Qian no longer warm as before but filled with estrangement, as if the two of them were complete strangers.

    Luo Cheng belittled Ge Dongxu and elevated himself, aiming to catch Liu Jiayao''s attention. To put it crudely, he was trying to steal Ge Dongxu''s thunder. This attitude was too blatant; anyone could see it clearly. Ge Dongxu did not believe for a second that Su Qian and the other two girls couldn''t see it either.

    However, since everyone was alumni, Ge Dongxu still gave Su Qian face. He made a point of greeting them when he stood up, aiming for a cordial parting without causing any awkwardness.

    What Ge Dongxu hadn''t expected was that Luo Cheng truly thought he was someone significant, getting up with a face full of rage to accuse him, and even more unexpectedly, Su Qian stood on his side to blame him.

    Su Qian''s contempt and her opportunist nature were laid bare at that moment.

    And it was at this moment that the friendship between Su Qian and Ge Dongxu finally dissipated into nothing.

    She was her, and Ge Dongxu was Ge Dongxu; there was no connection between them any longer.

    "Let''s go." Ge Dongxu pulled Liu Jiayao, who was about to speak out of anger, and smiled faintly.

    Liu Jiayao was momentarily taken aback, then flashed Ge Dongxu a sweet smile, intimately looping her arm through his.

    "Stop right there!" Seeing the goddess he had been courting so eagerly now intimately holding Ge Dongxu''s hand, Luo Cheng felt he had suffered an immense humiliation. With his dignity lost, anger mixed with alcohol rushed to his brain, and he shouted furiously at Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.

    Naturally, Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao paid no mind to someone like him; stooping to his level would only lower their own status.

    The pair acted as if they hadn''t heard Luo Cheng''s yelling and simply walked away.

    Watching this, Luo Cheng was so infuriated he wanted to rush forward, but Lin Minru and another girl with a round face finally came to their senses. They hurriedly stepped forward to pull him back, saying, "Let it go, senior. Just let it go."

    "Forget it; don''t get mad, senior. He is just like that, coming from the mountains with little real skill, always trying to act tough in front of others. He was the same back at school," Su Qian also quickly stepped up to restrain Luo Cheng. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu wasn''t bothered; he knew Su Qian was referring to the incident with Chen Zihao from the past. However, Liu Jiayao did get truly angry, and her expression chilled instantly. She stopped walking, wanting to turn around and scold Su Qian, but Ge Dongxu gently patted her hand on his arm and whispered, "Let it go, it''s meaningless."

    "Only you could be so forgiving," Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu, her face previously cold as frost now melting into tenderness, and she playfully scolded him with a glance.

    "Hey, beauty, have a drink with me!" Just as Liu Jiayao was reproaching Ge Dongxu, a man with his chest half-exposed, showcasing a howling wolf tattoo, approached unsteadily with a glass in hand, reaching out to flirt with Liu Jiayao.

    "Sorry, my sister is not available," Ge Dongxu said, gently blocking the man''s hand.

    "Look, kiddo, when your brother-in-law wants to drink with your sister, you shouldn''t get in the way. Off you go, off you go," the man insisted as he reached out again to try to flirt with Liu Jiayao.

    "Haha!" A group of men and women sitting at two tables nearby all started laughing upon seeing this.

    "Get lost!" This time Ge Dongxu was a bit angry and directly pushed the man.

    The man probably had a bit too much to drink, or he didn''t expect Ge Dongxu to actually dare to push him. He lost his balance, stumbled a few steps backward, and then plopped down on the ground.

    At this moment, the laughter from the group of men and women that had filled the room stopped abruptly. They all stood up, and some even grabbed wine bottles from the table, moving in to surround Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.

    Because Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao hadn''t taken two steps away, and since they probably noticed that Luo Cheng and his group were with Ge Dongxu, they ended up encircling them as well.

    "Fuck! There are really some who don''t know their place!" From the parking lot in the distance, Xu Lei and others inside the Cherokee saw what was happening, hurriedly got out of the car, eyes flashing coldly. When Xu Lei got out, he also made a point of making a phone call.

    "Brother Wolf, let''s talk this out, talk this out," Luo Cheng said, moving quickly up to the man with the wolf head tattoo on his chest who was already standing up.

    "Eh, fuck, aren''t you the son of the fat Luo from the Romantic Hotel!" Brother Wolf, red-eyed, glanced up at Luo Cheng, seemed slightly taken aback, and then suddenly recognized him. He clapped him heavily on the shoulder and said.

    "Right, right. Look, we''re all friends here. Give me some face today. Tonight''s bill is on me. How about we call it even?" Seeing that Brother Wolf recognized him and clapped his shoulder, Luo Cheng felt like he was saving face. While speaking, he even glanced over at Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu with a somewhat proud and smug look.

    "Fuck! Do I look like someone who can''t afford barbecue, Brother Wolf? Face, your mother''s face, how much is that worth? Fuck off a bit further, and leave your three chicks behind to have a few drinks with Brother Wolf. Fuck, what the hell, bringing three chicks out for barbecue, are you trying to show off?" Brother Wolf slapped Luo Cheng on the head and cursed.

    Su Qian and the other two girls, still students, had never seen such a scene. Seeing Brother Wolf wanted them to stay, their faces paled instantly. They hurriedly hid behind Luo Cheng, even clutching his clothes.

    "Brother Wolf, they''re just students, this isn''t right..." Luo Cheng, suppressing the fear inside him, said.

    "Fuck, what are you babbling about? Didn''t you hear Brother Wolf''s words? If it wasn''t for the fat Luo''s sake, I would have sorted you out too," a guy with a meaty face said, swinging a wine bottle from the table at Luo Cheng.

    As the guy swung the wine bottle, Luo Cheng immediately covered his head with his hands and ducked to the side.

    Seeing this, Su Qian and the other two girls tried to follow, but were already blocked by a few guys with dyed hair, laughing and joking. The girls screamed and instinctively ducked over to Ge Dongxu''s side.

    No matter what, Ge Dongxu was a man.

    "Brother Wolf, right? Considering that you are drunk, I''ll give you some face now. Get lost! I can let this slide. Otherwise..." Ge Dongxu said lightly after seeing Brother Wolf scare away Luo Cheng and then turn towards himself.

    "Haha! Fuck! You''re even more arrogant than me, kid!" Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Haha!"

    The others also laughed along, as if they had seen the funniest joke in the world, while Su Qian and the other two girls were shaking in fear, looking at Ge Dongxu with tearless eyes, even feeling the impulse to rush up and bite or kick him.

    It was all his fault, yet there he was acting nonchalant and overconfident. Wasn''t this harming everyone?

 Chapter 288 Director Ge, are you alright?

    "Liu Heng, growing bolder by the minute, huh? Broad daylight, in front of a crowd, you dare to harass women!" As the people around erupted into laughter, and women like Su Qian trembled, an authoritative voice suddenly rang out.

    Liu Heng, naturally, was Brother Wolf. Hearing his name called out, he froze for a moment, and just as he was about to see who it was, his head was violently struck by the butt of a gun, followed immediately by the cold barrel pressed against his head.

    "Put your hands on your head, squat down! And tell your people to squat down as well!" The commanding, icy voice sounded again in Liu Heng''s ear.

    Liu Heng was so frightened that his body hair stood on end. Without thinking, he squatted down, and did not forget to shout, "Everyone squat down for me, squat down!"

    But in fact, Liu Heng didn''t need to yell; his henchmen had already squatted down because as soon as Xu Lei pressed the gun to his forehead, Ma Xiaoshuai and the others had already been shouting, "Police action, everyone squat down."

    They also had their guns trained on the henchmen. A couple of them tried to slip away but were promptly brought down to the ground by Ma Xiaoshuai and a well-dressed young man with a kick, then beat their heads with the gun butts until blood flowed down.

    Xu Lei and his colleagues were very special police officers, having actually killed people, seen blood, and were even more elite than special forces. So when handling cases, they naturally could not be as "gentle" as ordinary station police officers. Moreover, these scum dared to harass Director Ge''s woman in broad daylight and wanted to harm Ge; not breaking their hands and feet on the spot was already considerate given the public setting.

    Liu Heng, a small-time leader on the streets, had seen his share of scenes and knew some rules. He knew that ordinary police officers handling cases seldom carried guns, especially for public order incidents where having a baton was already impressive. But now, Xu Lei and his team arrived, each with a gun, and they were vicious, using their gun butts to strike heads, and their bodies radiated a bone-chilling cold that could only come from those who had really taken lives and had blood on their hands.

    At that moment, Liu Heng was utterly terrified.

    He typically was involved in some gray business, collecting protection fees, and even if the police were to take action against them, they wouldn''t go as far as to use knives and guns, would they?

    Moreover, people like them usually had some interactions with the local station officers. As long as they did not go too far, the officers would generally not be too hard on them! Like tonight, they were just forcing some ladies to drink a few extra drinks, which, if the police happened to catch them, would most likely just result in a few words of reprimand.

    But today was different; these police officers said nothing before pointing their guns at them and hitting their heads. Such brutal and cold enforcement did not seem like dealing with a public order incident but rather treating them like violent murderers!

    "Officers, let''s talk this over, please, let''s talk it over. We were just joking with a few ladies, just joking!" Thinking this way, Liu Heng couldn''t help but sweat profusely, his face turning pale as he hastily pleaded.

    "Just a joke! Do you find this joke funny?" Xu Lei hit Liu Heng''s head with the gun butt again, causing fresh blood to flow down Liu Heng''s forehead.

    "Not funny, not at all funny! Officer, I was wrong, I was wrong!" With that hit, Liu Heng was even more frightened, tears nearly streaming out, feeling a strong urge to urinate.

    This guy, he really treated him like a murderer!

    The people enjoying the barbecue naturally witnessed this scene, but none of them felt that Xu Lei and his colleagues'' enforcement was problematic.

    It was because Liu Heng and his people had been so arrogant just now, openly forcing girls to drink in front of everyone. If it wasn''t for seeing how many of them there were, a few men would have been tempted to come forward to teach them a lesson earlier.

    Now the police had done them the favor of harshly disciplining these scumbags.

    "Humph! Keep it down!" Xu Lei saw that Liu Heng had been subdued and then approached Ge Dongxu, speaking in a low voice, "Director Ge, are you alright?" S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ha, you do care. I''ll leave this place to you, Sister Liu and I will be going first." Ge Dongxu patted Xu Lei on the shoulder quietly, then nodded slightly to the tall, leggy beauty Lin Minru and the round-faced girl before leaving with Liu Jiayao.

    Speaking of which, the two girls actually acted more like his senior high school sisters just now.

    Meanwhile, Su Qian and the other two girls were completely flabbergasted, and Luo Cheng was no exception.

    They had thought it a coincidence that the police had arrived just then, but now they realized that these officers had appeared because of Ge Dongxu.

    Once he understood, Luo Cheng''s cheeks burned with pain, as if he had just been slapped several times, while Su Qian''s face turned even paler.

    In that moment, she remembered many things, including the day in senior year when Chen Zihao came to class limping with a bruised and swollen face, and also when she threw away the Heart-Cleansing Talisman Ge Dongxu had given her right in front of him.

    Liu Heng also came to the realization at this moment that these police officers, who treated him like a murderer, were here because of Ge Dongxu and that woman. He trembled uncontrollably and knew he had crossed someone he shouldn''t have.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu left the barbecue restaurant on the viewing platform than sirens wailed down Qianjiang Avenue. Several police cars then pulled up on the road close to the barbecue restaurant, and more than a dozen officers rushed out. They didn''t waste any words and rounded up all the thugs squatting on the ground. A police officer with the rank of second-level police supervisor had already approached Xu Lei, looking at the gun in his hand with a mix of doubt and reverence.

    Xu Lei had deliberately called the municipal Public Security Bureau director when he got out of the car, asking him to send some officers from the nearby station for assistance.

    The director of the Public Security Bureau immediately made a call to mobilize police from the nearby station to head to the barbecue restaurant at the viewing platform.

    Xu Lei, knowing that the officer before him didn''t recognize him, took out his identification and handed it to him.

    The second-level police supervisor, who was also the head of the local police station, trembled as soon as he saw the ID passed by Xu Lei. He quickly stood at attention to salute, cursing Liu Heng and his gang internally. Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire

    Damn, even the Provincial National Security Bureau''s been alerted, tarnishing the reputation of the station that I manage. This could even lead to a demerit on my own record, affecting my career advancement.

    To Liu Heng, who was well-known in the area, the arriving station head was a familiar face. Seeing him rush over, there was a secret sigh of relief in Liu''s heart.

    Being an acquaintance, as long as he was taken into the station, it would always be better than facing these gun-toting guys!

    But as Liu Heng saw even the station head saluting Xu Lei with such a serious expression, his vision nearly blacked out, and he nearly passed out.

    Damn, if someone more important than the station head is here, could it be that they''re from the district or the municipal Public Security Bureau leadership? What on earth is the background of that young couple that I just provoked? Damn this trick, having such high-powered people come eat barbecue here, isn''t that just setting people up?

    Poor Liu Heng still didn''t know that Xu Lei wasn''t some Public Security Bureau leader but a leader from the National Security Bureau, an agency that under certain circumstances, has the national authority to apprehend people directly. Otherwise, Liu Heng would have indeed blacked out and fainted on the spot.

 Chapter 289 Take Them All Back

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    Liu Heng almost blacked out as he watched the chief of the police station salute Xu Lei. Luo Cheng, standing beside, recalled that he had just tried to hit on Ge Dongxu''s girlfriend in front of him and had nearly grabbed Ge''s collar in a fit of anger, which also scared him into a cold sweat.

    Goodness, could he, a mere son of a small hotel owner and a university student, dare to mess with someone even the chief of the police station saluted? S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As for Su Qian, who seemed gentle but was actually quite mercenary, was naturally filled with regret at this moment.

    "Take them all back, interrogate each one of them thoroughly," Xu Lei said coldly as he took his ID back.

    "Yes!" the chief of the police station replied, standing at attention, unable to stop the cold sweat from breaking out on his forehead.

    This was the Deputy Director of the Provincial National Security Bureau; the people in his department even excelled at counter-espionage. These ordinary police officers were mere rookies compared to them!

    If he demanded a thorough investigation, then these gangsters might as well have every detail of their underwear scrutinized.

    "Take them all back!" the chief of the police station said forcefully, wiping his forehead, then shouted at the officers.

    Thus, all the gangsters, including Liu Heng, were escorted onto the police car.

    "Clap, clap, clap!" the people at the scenic platform all started applauding.

    "Wait!" Ma Xiaoshuai called out, then took a wallet from Liu Heng''s pocket, pulled out a stack of money, and placed it on the table.

    "Clap, clap, clap!" The applause grew louder.

    Only Luo Cheng and a few others stood still, feeling like their emotions were in turmoil.

    ...

    "Director Zhang, it was just a bit of over-drinking and making a scene, is there really a need for such a big fuss?" Late at night, a bald man, sitting in the office of the chief of the Qianjiang Boulevard police station, rubbed his shiny head and spoke discontentedly.

    The bald man was named Wang Qiang, also known as Bald Strong, a notable figure in the gray area of Linzhou City, primarily running entertainment venues.

    Liu Heng was one of his men. Because of a word from Xu Lei, the Qianjiang Boulevard police station had not even notified anyone and directly dispatched police to raid the entertainment venues around Qianjiang Boulevard, taking away people related to Liu Heng and some other troublemakers.

    "Boss Wang, I had no choice, this was an order from above," Director Zhang, the same one who had responded to the call earlier, told Wang Qiang.

    "From above? Director Zhang, that''s not very friendly. I called Director Zhao of your district before coming here, and he didn''t mention any such notice," Wang Qiang said as he passed a Chunghwa cigarette to Director Zhang.

    "It was an emergency, directly ordered by the city bureau leadership," Director Zhang said with a bitter smile, putting down the cigarette Wang Qiang had handed him.

    Wang Qiang, who navigated the gray areas, wasn''t exactly a criminal, but he couldn''t be called a good man either. People like him often had extensive connections and were influential in both the lawful and the underworld.

    Wang Qiang was such a person and because his business was significant, he was considered a prominent businessman and wealthy entrepreneur in the city, he even held a title in the city''s political consultative conference. If not for Xu Lei''s insistence, Director Zhang really wouldn''t have wanted to make such a big fuss about this incident.

    "City bureau leadership? Which leader, Director Zhang? Just give me some insight. After all, you''ve already conducted the investigation and made the arrests. It''s only fair to let me understand so I can apologize in person and prevent that leader from holding a grudge against me," Wang Qiang said, realizing that Liu Heng and the others must have offended some city bureau leader or a leader''s relative or friend.

    This kind of thing could be big or small, but since the leader was angry, if Wang Qiang acted as if nothing had happened and showed no reaction, then a small issue was likely to escalate.

    For people like them, who earned money by bending the rules, if the higher departments really took things seriously, they couldn''t withstand scrutiny.

    Director Zhang looked at Wang Qiang, hesitated for quite a while, and only under Wang Qiang''s request, he reluctantly said, "Actually, the real trouble Liu Heng and his group faced was with the people from the National Security Bureau, so I think it''s best for you to pretend you don''t know about this. Liu Heng and his group have indeed been too audacious recently. Letting them suffer a bit might actually be a good thing."

    "National Security Bureau? Damn, these kids really know how to cause trouble!" Wang Qiang gasped in shock and cursed, then thought for a moment and said, "I''m not a good person, but when my guys are in trouble, I must do something about it. I''ll make a call and see what I can do. If it really doesn''t work out, then Director Zhang, you do what you must and I''ll cooperate however necessary."

    Upon hearing this, Director Zhang looked at Wang Qiang somewhat surprised. He clearly had not expected Wang Qiang to be so influential, to even know people in the National Security Bureau.

    Seeing Director Zhang''s surprised look, a hint of pride and satisfaction flashed in Wang Qiang''s eyes.

    This was exactly the effect he wanted.

    This is called leveraging!

    "I say Baldy Qiang, are you out of your mind calling me in the middle of the night, disturbing my sweet dreams?" Wang Qiang''s phone was quickly answered, and an unhappy voice came from the other side, it was Ma Xiaoshuai speaking.

    "Come on, you were lying in bed dreaming at this hour?" Wang Qiang scoffed.

    "What''s wrong with me lying in bed and dreaming at this hour?" Ma Xiaoshuai replied.

    "Stop beating around the bush. What exactly is going on with Liu Heng? Don''t tell me people in your line of work don''t know Liu Heng is my guy?" Wang Qiang said.

    At that, Ma Xiaoshuai on the other end of the phone fell silent for a while before finally speaking, "I had no choice, your subordinate was really clueless."

    "Given our relationship, was it necessary to make it this serious? Not even a warning for a brother?" Wang Qiang said discontentedly.

    "It''s not that I didn''t warn you, but this matter had to be handled this way. Do you know who was pointing a gun at Liu Heng''s head because of this?" Ma Xiaoshuai said with a bitter laugh.

    "Who? It wasn''t you, was it?" Wang Qiang asked.

    "If it were me, it would have been easier; it was our boss," Ma Xiaoshuai replied.

    "Xu Lei! Damn! What exactly did Liu Heng do to offend someone? This happened so suddenly, I hadn''t even thoroughly investigated yet. I only heard he got drunk at a barbecue and forced several female students to drink," Wang Qiang gasped sharply and then couldn''t help but curse loudly.

    "Come on, Baldy Qiang, you know our boss''s influence. Do you think our boss would personally aim a gun at Liu Heng''s head just because a few thugs forced a few female students to drink?" Ma Xiaoshuai asked, curling his lip.

    Naturally, Wang Qiang knew about Xu Lei''s influence because he, too, was a Magician mingling in ordinary society. Hearing this, cold sweat just kept beading on his forehead.

    "Damn! You mean that bastard offended someone even bigger than Xu Lei?" Wang Qiang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and cursed.

    "Good that you know, so let it be, and let your thugs take a good hard taste of jail. Damn, what are these guys doing, daring to harass women in public. And you, Baldy Qiang, keep an eye on your men for the sake of our friendship. Things are not like before. If our boss gets angry one day, we won''t be inviting you to the police station but directly here," Ma Xiaoshuai said.

    PS: At the request of a book friend for a cameo, Baldy Qiang makes a grand re-entry, this time his surname is Wang! Also, I went to celebrate the New Year''s Eve, wishing all book friends a happy new year, may your year be as awesome as Brother Xu''s.

 Chapter 290 I Dont Want You to Grow Old with Me

    "Okay, I got it. Thank you, this time I''ll give those little bastards a good lesson!" Wang Qiang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his face serious as he replied.

    He was joking, right? At the police station, all they''d get was administrative detention for a while, but if they ended up in Ma Xiaoshuai''s hands, who knew if they''d ever get out in this lifetime.

    "Thanks, but instead of thanking me, just do not call me in the middle of the night anymore," Ma Xiaoshuai said before hanging up the phone.

    After hanging up with Ma Xiaoshuai, the dissatisfaction on Wang Qiang''s face disappeared, replaced with a bitter smile as he said to Director Zhang, "Director Zhang, thank you. You handle the situation, and if you need my cooperation, just let me know, and I''ll fully cooperate."

    Thinking about someone even more badass than Xu Lei was enough to send shivers down Wang Qiang''s spine.

    ...

    In an apartment at Yadu Garden.

    "Dongxu, I really can''t do this anymore, I''m dead tired."

    "Then we''ll just stop."

    Silence...

    "Are you uncomfortable?"

    "Yeah."

    "How about I try harder?"

    After a long while...

    "Whew!" A long exhale echoed through the room, followed by two nude bodies getting up from the bed, walking into the bathroom, and then the sound of splashing water.

    "You big bad guy, you have to think of something, otherwise, I''ll be afraid to let you come to the Provincial Capital," Liu Jiayao said weakly, nestled against Ge Dongxu''s chest, biting his chest gently after they returned to the bed.

    "There''s nothing I can do about it! But if I don''t come to the Provincial Capital, what should I do when I miss you?" Ge Dongxu said with a pained expression.

    "Then teach me cultivation," Liu Jiayao said with a hint of distress, touching the spot on his chest where she had bitten after seeing Ge Dongxu''s pained look, then she suggested after thinking for a moment.

    "You''re already past the age for starting cultivation, so your progress would be very slow if you start now, and it wouldn''t be much help in that department. You''d be better off going to the gym more often," Ge Dongxu explained. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You! For your sake, I''ve already been going to the gym more frequently. Do you want me to develop a body full of muscles? That would just look hideous!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but bite Ge Dongxu again upon hearing this.

    "Then there''s nothing we can do about it, I''ll just have to try my best to hold back," Ge Dongxu said, frustrated.

    He was at the prime of his life in that aspect, and it was really tough for him to hold back when he was with Liu Jiayao. But if they got too intense, it would be very hard on Liu Jiayao.

    What a dilemma!

    "Will I never have the chance to cultivate in my lifetime?" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s frustration, Liu Jiayao asked with a wry smile.

    "That''s not necessarily true. I have a mental method that I can use to cultivate with you, to make up for your age delay. But I need to reach another realm where I can truly be intimate with you for it to work," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Then when exactly will you reach this other realm?" Liu Jiayao''s eyes brightened at his words, then she asked with a flushed face.

    "I''m not sure about that, it could be three to five years, or maybe even a dozen years," Ge Dongxu replied with a wry smile.

    ```

    He needed to enter the Dragon Tiger Realm and truly understand the essence of discerning the True Dragon in the fire and recognizing the True Tiger in the water before he could merge with Liu Jiayao, but he was currently only at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, several minor realms away from the Dragon Tiger Realm. Even if he were to advance at his current steady and rapid pace, it would still take at least three to five years. As cultivation often became more difficult later on, even if he reached the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Ge Dongxu could enhance his speed by refining elixirs, yet a period of three to five years or even more than a decade would be considered normal.

    Of course, if a person from the Qimen were present now and heard Ge Dongxu mentioning three to five years, possibly even a decade, to reach the Dragon Tiger Realm, they would all be absolutely frightened to the point of collapsing.

    It was the twilight era of cultivation now, and the Dragon Tiger Realm had become a legend within the current Qimen circle. Whether such beings still existed was a complete mystery to everyone. Ge Dongxu was only eighteen years old now. To say nothing of a decade, even if it took him another eighty years to enter the Dragon Tiger Realm, it would shock the entire community of cultivators in Qimen.

    "Three to five years isn''t bad, but if it''s about a decade, I''ll already be a middle-aged auntie," Liu Jiayao said with a wry smile.

    "How could that be? With my beauty-preserving medicinal wine and the Flower Spirit that our company is about to succeed in developing soon, along with your natural beauty, I guarantee you will still look like a young girl in her twenties," Ge Dongxu hurriedly reassured her.

    "I don''t have the same confidence as you do," Liu Jiayao said, her fingers unconsciously drawing circles on Ge Dongxu''s chest. After a while, she bit her lip and said softly, "Actually, you don''t have to take it so to heart. I know there are other women in your life; it''s just that you worry about me, so there''s a hurdle in your heart."

    "What nonsense are you talking about?" Ge Dongxu caught Liu Jiayao''s hand, slightly unhappy, but images of Yuan Li and Jiang Lili uncontrollably flashed across his mind.

    "Do you dare say there are no other women in your heart?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    Ge Dongxu was immediately at a loss for words. Whether it was Yuan Li or Jiang Lili, both women had been intimately close to him, especially after exchanging passionate kisses with Yuan Li. To claim there were no traces of them in his heart would be a lie.

    "It''s different, that''s more of a man''s nature and doesn''t mean I have them in my heart, just..." After a long hesitation, Ge Dongxu finally spoke with a conflicted feeling.

    "You fool! Have you forgotten what I told you before? When you met me, you were too young, that wasn''t fair to you. Plus, you said you feel very close to me, that''s really enough. Besides, you are destined not to be ordinary, and yet I am just a mortal woman. How long can my youth last, and how far can I accompany you?" Liu Jiayao didn''t let Ge Dongxu finish, placing her finger on his lips to stop him, her eyes filled with deep affection and contentment.

    Liu Jiayao was truly content. If she hadn''t met Ge Dongxu, perhaps she would be in eternal slumber by now, vanished from this world, unable to be nestled by his side like this moment, enjoying his care and love!

    "Jiayao, it won''t happen, you will definitely be with me, to explore that mysterious path together. If not, I would rather grow old with you," Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao and said with deep emotion.

    "You fool! You fool! I don''t want you to grow old with me! I don''t!" As Liu Jiayao spoke, she was already in tears.

    ...

    The next day at noon, Ge Dongxu took a ride back to Changxi County with Wu Qianjin''s car.

    Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

    Changxi County was home not only to the Qinghe Herbal Tea Beverage Factory''s old factory and raw material production base but also to the Yaxu Printing and Packaging Factory. Thus, Wu Qianjin usually needed to be based in Changxi County.

    The car didn''t arrive in Changxi County until the evening.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu got out of the car and returned to his room in the villa to practice Talisman Drawing, his phone rang.

    The call was from Lin Jinnuo.

    "What''s the matter, Old Lin?" Ge Dongxu asked directly after picking up the phone.

    "This, this Dongxu, your friend from the capital, the one we met last time at my hotel, Mr. Fan, just who is he really?" Lin Jinnuo was obviously quite agitated and nervous, his voice stuttering and trembling.

    This was unprecedented for a big boss like him.

    "What happened? Did he come to Changxi County and you ran into him again?" Ge Dongxu asked, puzzled.

    "Yes, no, it''s actually that I am now in the capital," Lin Jinnuo was somewhat incoherent.

    ps: Updating on the first day of the lunar new year, that''s as diligent as it gets, let''s not talk about a burst of updates.

    ```

 Chapter 291 Actually, I Am Also a Big Shot

    ```

    "Oh, so you encountered him in the capital." Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "It wasn''t that I encountered him, but that I ran into trouble in the capital. Thinking I had no friends there, I tried giving him a call to see if he could help. And then..." Lin Jinnuo said excitedly.

    Even now, Lin Jinnuo could not keep his composure when he remembered the scene he had experienced in an entertainment venue in the capital.

    This time, his trip to the capital was actually to help Kontin Chain Hotels scout for a direct-sale store in the capital.

    After the new year, the development prospects of Kontin Chain Hotels became increasingly bright, naturally speeding up its expansion. Lin Kun, who was mainly responsible for the chain hotels, was busy with the affairs of the headquarters in the Provincial Capital, as well as managing other company matters and was naturally overwhelmed. Since the capital was one of the most critical cities in the development of Kontin Chain Hotels, when preparing to open the first chain store as a direct-sale store, sending staff to check it out was something Lin Kun could not feel at ease about. As he could not leave the headquarters, he simply asked his father Lin Jinnuo, the seasoned veteran, to step in.

    After all, the matters in Changxi County were being handled by the old team, so he didn''t need to watch over them every day.

    Lin Jinnuo, a widower in middle age who had not remarried, was in the hotel and catering industry himself. Upon arriving in the capital, he naturally wanted to visit entertainment venues to have some fun when he was free. Accompanying him was the owner of a medium-sized hotel he fancied and was preparing to take over and convert into a Kontin Chain Hotel.

    There should have been no issues, but unexpectedly, that owner had somehow offended a local black society influence, and his eagerness to sell the hotel was due to this reason. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    While they were having fun at the entertainment venue, they just happened to run into the owner''s adversary.

    Although Lin Jinnuo was stout, he was someone who valued brotherhood, and in a moment of passion, he spoke up and even got physical to defend the man. As a result, he was beaten up, and knowing that he was a local tycoon from a small place, they said he had injured their people and demanded money, threatening not to let him go otherwise.

    Lin Jinnuo was handling affairs for his son and felt he couldn''t lose face. Moreover, the sum demanded by the other party was too large, and he had put all his money into the new hotel. He had even taken out a loan from the bank last year, guaranteed by Ge Dongxu, so where could he produce such an amount of money at once? Even if he could, it would hurt.

    Having no other choice, Lin Jinnuo remembered Fan Hong, whom he had met at the hotel last time, thinking that as a local resident of the capital, he might have some connections and could mediate the situation with a little financial ''bleeding.'' So, Lin Jinnuo made a call to Fan Hong and recounted the situation to him.

    Fan Hong said he wasn''t currently in the capital, so he couldn''t deal with the matter personally, but he would send someone to handle it immediately.

    At first, Lin Jinnuo thought Fan Hong was looking for an excuse not to help, but to his surprise, within minutes, several police cars arrived and arrested all those people.

    The gang leader who had been extorting Lin Jinnuo clearly had some connections in the capital and even recognized the leading police officer. At first, he was calm and attempted to cozy up to the officer, but without saying much, the officer beat him up.

    ```

    After that, the owner of the entertainment venue personally came forward to plead on behalf of the assailant, but the police officer gave him no face, merely whispering something in the owner''s ear, which caused the owner''s face to completely change, not daring to let out a peep. Enjoy new tales from My Virtual Library Empire

    In the capital, no less, where one has to have deep connections to operate such a large entertainment venue¡ªyet, after the police officer whispered in his ear, he didn''t dare to let out a peep.

    That wasn''t the end of it. After the incident, the owner of the entertainment venue made a point of apologizing to Lin Jinnuo. Later, another person came, not only to apologize, but also to deliver a bank card to cover Lin Jinnuo''s medical expenses. The owner of the hotel that was preparing to hand over its management to the Kunting Chain Hotel Company told Lin Jinnuo that this man was the behind-the-scenes owner of the person who had assaulted him, and was very capable in the capital.

    When the hotel owner spoke these words, his gaze towards Lin Jinnuo was filled with reverence.

    Although Lin Jinnuo was only from a small place, he was still one of the influential figures of Changxi County. By now he understood that Fan Hong was not simply the head of a trading company; his influence in the capital was substantial. So when Fan Hong specially called to say he had returned to the capital and was planning to visit, Lin Jinnuo hurriedly called Ge Dongxu to probe for some information from him.

    After all, this was the capital! Even the rank of a police station chief here was comparable to that of a county public security bureau chief.

    And now, someone casually called over the police station chief in mere moments; how formidable must Fan Hong be?

    Lin Jinnuo, coming from a small place and suddenly meeting someone so influential, knew nothing about his background; how could he not be nervous?

    "Are you all right?" Ge Dongxu didn''t wait for Lin Jinnuo to finish, guessing that Lin Jinnuo must have witnessed some of Fan Hong''s influence. He interrupted Lin Jinnuo and asked with concern.

    "Just got hit a few times, but I''m thick-skinned, no harm done. On the contrary, I made a fortune thanks to your friend," Lin Jinnuo replied.

    "Money is an extraneous possession, no matter how much you have, you can''t take it with you when you''re born or when you die¡ªyour health matters more. You should go to the hospital for a check-up, and if there''s any problem, come back quickly. I''ll help you look into it," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thanks, Dongxu, I know. But can you still tell me about your friend? You have no idea¡ªwhen a bunch of cops rushed in and started grabbing people, not only that, but several big bosses apologized to me afterward. Now that your friend said he wants to visit me, I don''t understand anything about him. Moreover, since he has done me such a big favor, what kind of gift should I prepare to show my gratitude? Also, the Kunting Chain Hotel is about to open up a branch here in the capital, do you think it would be appropriate to let him say a word to the local police station when the time comes, just to look out for us a bit?" Lin Jinnuo, moved by Ge Dongxu''s concern for his health, thanked him and then urgently inquired about Fan Hong.

    "You don''t need to prepare any gift; he won''t care for those things. As for the hotel, there''s no need to bring it up especially. He will know what he needs to know even if you don''t mention it. Just maintain a normal attitude," Ge Dongxu said casually.

    "You say that with such ease, Ge Dongxu, or should I say, Brother Xu, but this is the capital! With his level of influence, he''s clearly an important figure, and I owe him a huge favor¡ªis this really okay?" Lin Jinnuo, seeing Ge Dongxu''s casual tone, couldn''t help but express his mixed feelings of amusement and disbelief.

    "Don''t worry, you were attacked in the capital because of my company''s business; if anything, I owe you a favor. And the favor he owes me¡ªif we really start comparing, would turn out to be much bigger than what he''s done for you. Besides, we are all friends, so there''s nothing special you need to be thankful for. It''s true that he''s an important figure, but you know what, I am too, and I see that Old Lin, you''ve never been nervous in my presence," Ge Dongxu said with a touch of humor towards the end.

 Chapter 292 College Entrance Examination [Happy Chinese New Year!]

    "You''re a big shot?" However, the playful remark that followed from Ge Dongxu sent shivers down Lin Jinnuo''s spine, making him suddenly realize something. If Fan Hong was a big shot and he specifically came to Changxi County to meet Ge Dongxu, what did that imply?

    Could it mean that Ge Dongxu''s status might even surpass Fan Hong''s?

    Could it also mean that, had there been an issue earlier, if he had called Ge Dongxu, he could have had the police in the capital arrest someone just the same?

    Lin Jinnuo''s mind buzzed, struggling to keep up with such leaps in logic.

    He knew Ge Dongxu was incredibly capable and wealthy!

    However, Lin Jinnuo''s thoughts were still fixed on Changxi County, at most extending to the provincial capital. He had never considered that an eighteen-year-old high school student could wield influence in the capital.

    "Haha!" Seeing Lin Jinnuo, the typically nonchalant boss, shaken, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and said, "Look, whether I''m a big shot isn''t important. What''s important is that we are friends, so don''t overthink it. Just treat Fang Hong normally when you interact with him."

    Fan Hong had a special identity, and Ge Dongxu was still keeping it confidential, not revealing his true identity to Lin Jinnuo and continuing to refer to him as President Fan.

    "Yes, yes." Lin Jinnuo nodded repeatedly, then hung up the phone somewhat dazed. It took him quite a while to regain composure, understanding that with a son following such a person, he would definitely be left far behind.

    After hanging up with Lin Jinnuo, Ge Dongxu still specifically called Fan Hong. After all, Fan Hong was the head of a special department. If it weren''t for him, he would never have personally inquired about Lin Jinnuo''s matter.

    Fan Hong, upon receiving the call from Ge Dongxu, was naturally a bit excited, repeatedly saying it was his duty, and then the two exchanged a few pleasantries. One characteristic of Ge Dongxu was evident: if someone owed him a favor, he didn''t concern himself too much, but if he owed someone else, he always felt the need to show gratitude, and so he specifically asked about his recent cultivation progress during the call. Discover hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    This inquiry caused Fan Hong to feel quite exhilarated. Since Ge Dongxu had improved his cultivation method, his chest felt better than ever, and he made progress daily. According to Fan Hong''s estimate, if everything went smoothly, he might break through to the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation within three to four years.

    The Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation, while nothing significant for Ge Dongxu who was almost advancing to the Seventh Layer, meant the world to Fan Hong who had been stuck on the Fourth Layer for over ten years. Thus, when discussing cultivation, Fan Hong''s tone became even more respectful.

    Of course, seizing the rare opportunity, Fan Hong also specially sought advice on several cultivational issues, to which Ge Dongxu responded one by one.

    As the saying goes, a word from the wise is worth ten years of study. Whether it was his cultivation level, talent, or inherited Dao lineage, Ge Dongxu surpassed Fan Hong. His simple words profoundly benefited Fan Hong, who, after expressing his gratitude, ended the call. His excitement took a good while to settle.

    After hanging up with Fan Hong, Ge Dongxu began to calmly draw talismans.

    Talismans are ranked into Dharma, Spirit, Treasure, and Immortal grades, each consisting of top, middle, and low grades. Previously, Ge Dongxu could only barely draw middle-grade Dharma talismans, but now he was able to draw top-grade ones. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yet to achieve the realm of ''talisman follows the heart, landing strokes into talismans'', he still had a gap to bridge. His master, Ren Yao, told him that achieving that realm required the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation. However, Ge Dongxu had an intuition that as long as he broke through to the Eighth Layer, he might be able to barely achieve it.

    Of course, this referred to the lower-grade talismans he could draw!

    If he reached that realm, Ge Dongxu could substitute his hand for a brush, crafting talismans in the void, each talisman capable of controlling or killing instantly!

    That would truly be ''killing invisibly''.

    After drawing talismans for a while, Ge Dongxu began carving the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation on jade stones, again inevitably failing. However, compared to before, there was much improvement.

    Previously, when Ge Dongxu had just started using Ice Type Jadeite to carve the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation, he had barely started carving before he lost control of his mana and it quickly collapsed. Now, Ge Dongxu was able to continuously carve half of the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation before collapsing.

    According to Ge Dongxu''s estimation, once he broke through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, he should have a certain success rate, and even if using Ice Type Jadeite didn''t work, using higher-grade glass should help him succeed once or twice, though the cost would be incredibly high.

    After continuously ruining five jade tokens made of Ice Type Jadeite, Ge Dongxu felt mentally exhausted and his head ached tremendously.

    Ge Dongxu knew he had reached his limit and didn''t dare to continue. He meditated in silence for a while and started his cultivation exactly at the midnight Chinese Hour.

    An hour quickly passed, and Ge Dongxu felt his True Qi was purer and more robust than before.

    By the time of my high school graduation, I should be able to break through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer. By then, Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation definitely wouldn''t meet my cultivation needs. It seems that it''s truly necessary to take advantage of the summer vacation to visit the jade market on the border.

    Lying on the bed, Ge Dongxu looked at the ceiling, thinking about the jade needed for his subsequent cultivation, and finally decided to make a trip to the jade market on the border during the summer vacation.

    ¡­

    Time quickly moved to June, the days of the college entrance exams.

    On the day of the college entrance exams, Ge Dongxu gave Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao each a Heart-Cleansing Talisman. As for his classmates, after the incident two years ago when Su Qian directly crumpled and threw them away, Ge Dongxu would no longer easily commit such kindhearted "foolish acts".

    Ge Dongxu was a role model and leader for Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao. Not to mention asking them to keep the Heart-Cleansing Talisman close, even if Ge Dongxu told them to paste the talisman on their face, as long as the invigilators didn''t oppose it, they would do just that.

    For many, the college entrance exams were a life-determining test, and almost everyone was walking on thin ice, extremely nervous.

    However, for Ge Dongxu, it was similar to any regular mock test, just in a different place and a bit more formal. What made his parents exceptionally nervous, though, was that they put aside their family business two days before the exams and specifically came to the villa in the county town to cook for the three of them.

    It was a very strange psychology.

    Even though Ge Dongxu had already proven during his three years in high school that even if he didn''t attend college, he had already achieved things far beyond the reach of college students, a college admission notice from a prestigious university still held heavy significance in the hearts of his parents, as if no amount of money he earned could compare to that admission notice.

    This may be the deep-rooted concept ingrained in the hearts of the people of Huaxia Country over thousands of years.

    Scholar, farmer, worker, merchant!

    All are inferior; only reading is superior!

    Perhaps it was also because this had been the wish his parents had been hoping for more than a decade, ingrained so deeply that without seeing the final result, this wish always lingered unfulfilled.

    Perhaps Ge Dongxu''s brilliant achievements were too dazzling for ordinary folks like his parents; indeed, not as real or as praiseworthy as a prestigious college admission notice, which could also be shown off to relatives and neighbors.

    Ultimately, this college entrance exam seemed more like an ordeal for Ge Dongxu''s parents rather than for Ge Dongxu himself.

    ps: The first day of the New Year, wishing all readers a happy new year and a prosperous wealth! In the new year, I''m not asking for red envelopes, only for support through genuine subscriptions!

 Chapter 293 What are your plans?

    "How did it go?" When Ge Dongxu finished the last exam and walked out of the examination room, Ge Shengming and Xu Suya were already waiting outside, and they immediately asked with a face full of nervous anticipation.

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    They had been holding onto that question for two days, and today they could finally ask with ease.

    Seeing the look of anxious expectation on his parents'' faces, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt an inexplicable sting in his nose.

    Their expectations for their son were actually very simple and earnest: get into a university, then find a stable job, marry and have children, and live a peaceful life.

    To carry a child for ten months and then to raise them painstakingly for over a decade, were their expectations too high?

    "It''s been tough on you, Mom and Dad, but don''t worry, there''s definitely no problem with getting into Jiangnan University," Ge Dongxu walked over, put one arm around his father''s neck and the other around his mother, and said emotionally.

    "Really?" The couple, Ge Shengming, immediately showed surprise on their faces.

    Jiangnan University is not only the top institution in Jiangnan Province but is also definitely ranked within the top ten universities nationwide; the couple was absolutely satisfied with such a result.

    Of course, it would be even better to get into Yanjing or Huaqing University.

    The couple did not know that their son was fully capable of getting into Yanjing and Huaqing University, but he chose Jiangnan University.

    "Of course, it''s true," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Okay, okay. Later on, your dad will prepare a big feast for you. You must be exhausted after these past few days, right?" Seeing his son so relaxed and confident, Ge Shengming was both excited and distressed.

    "Big Brother Ge, you don''t need to go through all the trouble today. I''ve already booked a private room at the Changxi Grand Hotel. Today, all three of our families will go to the hotel to eat together," Cheng Yazhou said with a smile, shaking his head inwardly. Some time ago, Ge Dongxu was still looking sharp when he went to visit Liu Jiayao in the Provincial Capital; he wouldn''t be worn out, right?

    To wait for their son''s college entrance exam results, the Cheng Family and the Du family also specially waited at the door.

    "It''s always you, old Cheng, who thinks things through. This arrangement is good, just right for our three families to get together and have a lively time," Ge Shengming said with a laugh.

    While Ge Shengming was joking, Du Yifan came out.

    The Du family naturally came forward to ask how he had done on the exam.

    Du Yifan said he should be able to get into Huaqing University, and upon hearing this, the Du family burst into tears on the spot.

    Without having gone through the torment of illness on a sickbed or the pressure of debts demanded by one''s own brothers, few could truly comprehend the complexity of emotions that the Du family felt at that moment.

    "Yifan, remember this, no matter how successful you are in the future, you must never forget the kindness Dongxu has shown our family," Du Haichen said seriously, wiping his tears and holding his son''s hand tightly.

    "Dad, Mom, don''t worry, I understand," Du Yifan said, his eyes red.

    Having gone through that incident, he had matured and become sensible long ago.

    "Uncle and Auntie, I consider Yifan like a brother to me; let''s not talk about these things," Ge Dongxu stepped forward and gave Du Yifan a hug, saying.

    "Yes!" Du Haichen and his wife nodded, then turned their heads and wiped the tears from the corners of their eyes.

    "Lehao, how did you do?" Right at that moment, Cheng Le Hao came out of the examination hall.

    His chubby cheeks jiggled with each step he took, and for some reason, despite the arduous exam preparations, he still couldn''t manage to lose weight.

    "I did exceptionally well, getting into Yuezhou University is a sure thing," Cheng Lehao replied with a face full of pride.

    "Look at Dongxu and Yifan, one says Jiangnan University, the other says Huaqing University, and neither bragged about doing ''exceptionally well.'' It''s only you, my boy, who''s hopeful about Yuezhou University and acts so cocky," Cheng Yazhou couldn''t help but gently slap his son on the head when he saw him looking so smug.

    "Dad, how can you compare them? I had to pay my way in! Now I''ve been admitted to university, and not just any, but a key university!" Cheng Lehao protested with dissatisfaction.

    Seeing this, everyone couldn''t help but laugh, even Cheng Yazhou, as a father, pointed at Cheng Lehao with a resigned smile and said, "That''s all the ambition you''ve got, my boy."

    "Oh please, are you any better? Lehao is going to be the first university student in the Cheng family!" Wu Xiaojuan rolled her eyes at Cheng Yazhou and said.

    "Exactly!" Cheng Lehao said, puffing up with pride.

    "Stop showing off, kid. The results aren''t out yet! Don''t get all high and mighty now and in the end not even make it into Yuezhou University," Cheng Yazhou said with a laugh, giving Cheng Lehao a stern look.

    In reality, Cheng Yazhou was over the moon his son did so well, but he just couldn''t stand seeing his son act so full of himself.

    "As for this, I can vouch for Lehao, he shouldn''t have a problem getting into Yuezhou University," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "See, see! Now that Dongxu has said this, you have to believe it, right?" Seeing Ge Dongxu speak on his behalf, Cheng Lehao grew even more triumphant.

    "Of course, I believe what Dongxu says," Cheng Yazhou didn''t retort to his son this time, but instead said with a smile.

    "Damn, who''s the one concerned here?" Cheng Lehao''s face dramatically dropped, feeling deeply struck.

    "Dongxu, I won''t say thank you too much," Cheng Yazhou ignored his own son and instead firmly grasped Ge Dongxu''s hand, expressing his gratitude. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Whether it was for himself or his son, having reached this day could be said to owe much to Ge Dongxu''s blessing.

    Seeing how both Du Yifan''s family and Cheng Yazhou''s family were so grateful to his son, the parents of Ge Shengming felt a genuine sense of pride.

    During the meal, Lin Jinnuo, the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel, also made a special trip to the private room to offer his congratulations and a toast.

    Seeing Lin Jinnuo''s tremendous respect for him, his wife, and Ge Dongxu, with every toast downed in one gulp, Ge Shengming couldn''t help but feel a whirlwind of emotions as he remembered the year when his son caused trouble at his own farmhouse and scared him to death.

    Now that his son''s affairs were more or less settled, Ge Shengming started to think about the farmhouse business again, while Xu Suya began to think about teaching, as the village school hadn''t yet started summer vacation. As for the farmhouse business, it had already entered the busy season.

    Therefore, early the next morning, Ge Shengming and his wife drove back to Ge Family Village. Ge Dongxu did not go back with them as the school had things like score estimation, graduation photos, and class reunions that still required the presence of the students.

    "Summer vacation is here, do you guys have any plans?" Ge Dongxu asked Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao on the way to school.

    "Me? Of course, it''s gaming, reading novels, and sleeping in! These past six months have been stifling," Cheng Lehao blurted out without a second thought.

    "Careful, you might put on even more weight!" Ge Dongxu said, glaring at Cheng Lehao in annoyance, before turning towards Du Yifan.

    "I plan to keep working on the game development I didn''t finish last time, see if I can make some money, and continue focusing on computer science, especially the internet. I think it''s going to be a major trend in the future," Du Yifan said, his eyes shining with fervor.

 Chapter 294 The Three Musketeers

    "Why sell for money when the boss can just invest and we can start our own company for fun? When we play games, we''ll have whatever equipment we want. How awesome would that be?" Cheng Le Hao said.

    "If it was really like that, there would be no fun in playing games. But your idea is pretty good, and I also agree with Yifan''s view from earlier. Computers and the internet are definitely the direction of technological development. If you two are really interested in starting a company in this field for fun, I''d be very willing to invest," Ge Dongxu said, first gently kicking Cheng Le Hao''s plump butt, then after thinking it over, he continued.

    "Really?" Du Yifan''s eyes immediately lit up, full of anticipation as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "Hehe, just investing money isn''t a big deal for me. The key is you. You have a talent in computers. Can you handle running a company? I have no problem investing money, but I definitely won''t have time to take part in the management and operations," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That''s easy, what about me? Don''t forget I study humanities. I''m planning to move toward economics and management in the future. So, the boss invests money and plays the big boss, I handle management and operations as the general manager, CEO, or something like that, and Yifan focuses on the technical side. Wow, think about it, the three of us starting a company and embarking on entrepreneurship, it''s so cool just thinking about it. I''ve even thought of a name, we''ll be called The Three Musketeers!" Cheng Le Hao was actually just mentioning it casually at first. He was well aware that Ge Dongxu was meant for bigger things, not like them. He didn''t expect Ge Dongxu to actually agree with his idea, and he couldn''t help but get excited.

    "You are more like a Cheap Guest!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Not Cheap Guest, but Musketeer, the ''Sword'' from ''Precious Sword''," Cheng Le Hao corrected with all seriousness: "But, boss, is this really possible? I''m not joking with you. My dad always compares me to you. I know I''m leagues behind you, but he can''t keep looking down on me like this! Hehe, if I became the general manager of a company in college, darn it, just throwing a business card at him will be so awesome, he''d be totally stunned."

    "I think it''s not mainly about flinging a business card at your dad, it''s about flinging it at the campus belle when you get to Guangdong University, right?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Hehe! Boss, you''re experienced. How come I didn''t think of that just now?" Upon hearing this, Cheng Le Hao immediately said with a lecherous face.

    "Roll! Would I be as silly as you?" Seeing Cheng Le Hao''s lecherous look, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but lift his foot and kick his butt again.

    Cheng Le Hao exaggeratedly stumbled, then turned around, patted his butt, and ran to Ge Dongxu in a very subservient manner, saying, "Boss, I really want to do something serious. Do you really have the heart to watch me continue in this degenerate way?"

    "Le Hao, let me tell you, if we really start a company, it certainly won''t be for you to play games or to deceive girls. If that were the case, you''d be better off playing your games, reading your novels, and sleeping in. After all, your dad''s rich now; he can support you without a care for the rest of your life," Ge Dongxu suddenly said seriously.

    "Darn it, boss, you really look down on me too much. Don''t judge me by my weight or think that I only want to play games, read novels, and sleep in. That''s because I haven''t been given a stage or an opportunity to showcase my talent. In fact, I am also an ambitious and idealistic person. But think about it, our family had so little money before, I wouldn''t have even dared to dream of starting a business. Now that we have money, do you think my dad would agree to give me money to start a company now? So, as long as you''re willing to invest, I, Cheng Le Hao, will definitely be serious about it!" Cheng Le Hao immediately jumped up and said.

    "Alright, these are your own words. Yifan, what do you think? If you think it''s feasible, we''ll set up a company. Le Hao and I will invest money for shares, and you will join with your technical skills, each owning one-third," Ge Dongxu first said to Cheng Le Hao, then turned to Du Yifan, speaking with a serious face.

    "Of course, I think it''s a great idea, but I''m worried my technical abilities won''t be good enough..." Du Yifan, seeing Ge Dongxu was serious about investing in a company, immediately became anxious again.

    "I believe in your abilities, even if they aren''t quite there yet, but in the future you''re definitely going to be a top figure in the computer industry. Plus, once the company is established, you''ll certainly need to gradually recruit people in this field. You can''t rely on yourself forever; your role is as both the technical director and the spirit of the company. Moreover, my business focus isn''t on the computer company right now. The investment here is minor, and even if it loses money, it won''t affect me at all. You don''t need to feel any psychological pressure," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, waving his hand to stop Du Yifan before he could finish speaking.

    "Thank you, Boss. I will definitely do my best! I don''t want shares; if we really make money later, just pay me a higher salary," Du Yifan said, deeply touched by Ge Dongxu''s way of nurturing him to go further in the field of computers.

    "Hehe, what''s yours is yours, and you don''t need to argue with me about that," Ge Dongxu said, patting Du Yifan on the shoulder.

    "Right, we''re all brothers; it doesn''t make sense for us to be bosses while you just work for us," Cheng Le Hao chimed in. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After speaking, Cheng Le Hao looked at Ge Dongxu with a flattering smile and asked, "Boss, how much are you planning to invest? If it''s just tens of thousands, I could manage to come up with that now, but if it''s hundreds of thousands, that would be beyond me. Either lend it to me first or talk to my dad. If you speak up, he''ll agree without a second thought."

    "Opening an internet caf¨¦ costs at least several hundred thousand now, and since Yifan is studying in Beijing, the company will have to be based there; just the office building''s rent for a year will be a lot, not to mention the salaries of the staff. Since it''s high-tech, the salaries will definitely be high. A few hundred thousand won''t be enough! Moreover, companies in this high-tech industry, as far as I understand, tend to burn through cash at the beginning, so we need to prepare at least seven or eight million initially, then adjust according to the specific development situation. I plan to set aside about one billion for the next two years as subsequent funding for the company," Ge Dongxu replied.

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    On hearing this, Cheng Le Hao truly stumbled, nearly crashing down onto the road, and Du Yifan wasn''t much better off.

    Neither of them could snap back to reality for quite a while.

    It couldn''t be helped; they were just high school graduates. There was no need to talk about Du Yifan, who came from an average family and was using a computer bought for him by Ge Dongxu. The computer he used before was one he had gotten by working in an internet caf¨¦ during summer break, persuading the owner to give it to him instead of a salary, a broken-down desktop which he then fixed and made do with.

    A few tens of thousands was already a substantial amount for him, and hundreds of thousands, let alone millions, were astronomical figures in his mind.

    Yet Ge Dongxu casually mentioned that he planned to set aside about one billion for additional funding in the next two years, which scared Du Yifan so much that his heart nearly stopped beating.

    Cheng Le Hao''s family was certainly many times better off than Du Yifan''s, but the problem was he was still a student, and Cheng Yazhou kept a tight rein on his spending. Coming up with tens of thousands might be feasible, but hundreds of thousands were out of the question.

    As for seven or eight million, that was beyond what Cheng Le Hao could even consider.

    And when it came to one billion, the figure made Cheng Le Hao''s brain go completely blank.

    ps: In the holiday mood, so that''s it for today. Please forgive me.

 Chapter 295 You Are a Tycoon

    "Boss, we''re still students; you''re gonna scare someone to death like this!" After a long while, Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan finally came back to their senses, with Cheng Lehao dramatically patting his "plump" chest as he spoke.

    "Yeah, Boss, if you were investing a few tens of thousands, or even a hundred thousand for us to start a company, I wouldn''t feel too much pressure. But you''re talking about casually dropping seven or eight million, and then adding another hundred million on top, you''re really gonna give me a heart attack. Besides, with just Fatty and my abilities, if you inject so much money all at once, we wouldn''t know the first thing about managing it!" Du Yifan said with a wry smile.

    "I actually overlooked the fact that you guys lack experience in this area. But, it''s fine because we''re currently setting up a branch factory in another province and city, and right now it''s Lehao''s dad who is in charge of that. You two can get fully involved during this summer vacation, partly to learn about company preparation and management, and also to get out there and see the world. As for the funds, I was just making sure you had seven to eight million at your disposal from the start, but I didn''t expect you to spend it all at once. You can take it slow; once you gradually become familiar with everything and the company staff and all other aspects begin to take shape, then you can increase the investment. This seven to eight million is entirely up to you to control. Even if you lose it, consider it a learning experience. But if it exceeds this amount, I''ll start to get involved in the review process and won''t just throw money in it anymore. If you develop well, I might invest more heavily later on," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and said.

    "That''s better, but if you invest so much money, I definitely can''t hold on to that many shares," Du Yifan said.

    "As for the shares, it''s easy to talk since we''re all brothers. The key point is, Boss, where am I supposed to get the money from? Either you lend it to me or ask my dad for it," Cheng Lehao said gloomily.

    "You want to make a killing without investing anything yourself? That''s too good to be true. Of course, you should ask your dad," Ge Dongxu laughed and said.

    "With such a huge amount of money, only you can talk to my dad about it. If I did, and told him ''Dad, give me a few million to start a company,'' he''d probably break my legs on the spot," Cheng Lehao said with a wry smile.

    "It wouldn''t go that far. People''s perspectives change with the heights they stand on. Don''t believe me? When you go home this afternoon, try calling and asking your dad yourself," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No, don''t! Are you trying to get me killed?" Cheng Lehao immediately exclaimed.

    "Damn, if anyone''s going to get you, it''d be your dad, not me," Ge Dongxu quipped as he kicked Cheng Lehao.

    Cheng Lehao dusted off his butt and, as if nothing had happened, sidled up again and said, "The investment money for my share, I think it should be less. Don''t be like you. If I lose it, at least my dad won''t go too hard on me."

    "So, if I lose it, it''s okay, is that what you''re saying?" Ge Dongxu said, none too pleased. Stay tuned to My Virtual Library Empire

    "You''re rich; losing a bit won''t hurt," Cheng Lehao said heartlessly.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Cheng Lehao, only able to lament the misfortune of his choice in friends. However, he knew what Cheng Lehao said was true. In the late stage, if it comes to adding another hundred million or so, it wouldn''t affect him whether it''s Qinghe Herbal Tea, Yaxu Packaging, Donglin Yue, or even Qinglan Cosmetics; he was the major shareholder in all of them, and it wouldn''t be an exaggeration to say he was making a fortune every day. If he let Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao test the waters with that money, after all, the computer networking sector represents a growing trend, he would still allocate some funds to it even without the two of them. If it ended up lost, it wouldn''t hurt his foundations. But Cheng Yazhou was just a minor shareholder. If he really had to invest so much money and it all went down the drain, it would hurt him badly. Blaming Ge Dongxu after the fact wouldn''t happen, but he''d definitely give Cheng Lehao a terrible scolding.

    "To be friends with you, that''s just my bad luck," Ge Dongxu exclaimed in exasperation.

    "Hehe, to have a brother for life, don''t say things that hurt like that," Cheng Lehao chuckled, reaching out with his chubby hand to sling over Ge Dongxu''s shoulder.

    "Get lost!" Ge Dongxu promptly knocked his hand away. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    During their conversation, the three of them arrived at school and temporarily ceased discussing the matter of investing and starting a company.

    The trio estimated their grades, and all were very pleased with their scores.

    On the way home, they picked up the conversation about investing in a computer company again.

    "My investment will be just half of yours, boss, and for this great cause, I''ve decided to give up my life aspiration of admiring bikini-clad beauties on the beach every day and instead apply to a university in the capital. Otherwise, it wouldn''t be suitable for me and Yifan to live apart," Cheng Lehao said.

    "Get lost, who''s living apart from you!" Du Yifan retorted, immediately kicking Cheng Lehao away upon hearing his words.

    "Damn, Yifan, you''re so heartless and ungrateful. Haven''t we been living together for over half a year now?" Cheng Lehao exaggeratedly said, utterly disgusting both Ge Dongxu and Du Yifan.

    Du Yifan had already found the distribution of shares to be problematic since he was just a student and it was only Ge Dongxu who was willing to spend so much money to give him a chance to practice and develop his skills. Had it been someone else, he might not even have landed a job, so seeing Cheng Lehao''s investment halved, he also requested a reduction in shares, asking for just five percent.

    Five percent was still tens of thousands; Du Yifan felt it was too much and that he was greatly advantaged by it.

    However, Ge Dongxu firmly disagreed, and in the end, it was Cheng Lehao who spoke up. He suggested that since they were all like family, there was no need to argue. He proposed that Du Yifan''s shares should match his own at twenty-five percent each, while Ge Dongxu, as the eldest and the wealthiest, with the responsibility of dealing with any issues that arose, would hold the majority stake of fifty percent.

    Once the shares were settled, the three eighteen-year-olds, having just graduated from high school, started to discuss the name of the company.

    Cheng Lehao still insisted on his ''Three Musketeers'', but Ge Dongxu didn''t like the name. In the end, they decided on ''Yile'', which took characters from both Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan''s names and also had a nice meaning.

    Originally, Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan adamantly wanted to include Ge Dongxu''s name, but Ge Dongxu was concerned that if the company became famous, it would be easy for people to associate it with him, especially since he had been classmates with Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan. Moreover, adding his name would disrupt the intended meaning. After much persuasion, they agreed on the name ''Yile''.

    Because they had the idea of starting a company, and Cheng Yazhou hadn''t yet left for the Provincial Capital due to his son''s college entrance exams, Ge Dongxu simply called Cheng Yazhou over to the villa after returning home.

    Cheng Yazhou wasn''t particularly interested in investing in computers, especially since two of the major shareholders and the ones handling the business were his plump son and Du Yifan. If anyone but Ge Dongxu had proposed this idea, Cheng Yazhou would have immediately dismissed it.

    What an international joke, even if you have a lot of money, you can''t just waste it like that.

    But since the suggestion came from Ge Dongxu, Cheng Yazhou had to consider it carefully.

    PS: Two chapters today. I apologize, the updates have been a bit irregular these past days. They should return to normal starting tomorrow.

 Chapter 296 Qi Cultivation Level 7

    "Dongxu, do you think they can make it?" After considering it for half the day, Cheng Yazhou always felt this matter was unreliable.

    Neither of them were Ge Dongxu. If it had been after college graduation, perhaps he would consider investing some money in them, but right now they had just graduated from high school and had no damn social experience at all. Giving them seven or eight million to start a company out of the blue, and even possibly adding over a hundred million in the following two years, Cheng Yazhou always felt it was extremely unreliable.

    "Whether they make it or not, we have to try to find out. I''m quite optimistic about the future of computers, as well as Yifan''s technical potential. As for Lehao, I think he has a lucky face, and he''s actually smart too. The only shortcoming is that he''s a bit lazy. If you don''t put pressure on him, his laziness might get worse, but if you do give him some pressure, perhaps it''ll be a whole different story," Ge Dongxu said.

    "So, you''re using money to cultivate Yifan and my kid." Cheng Yazhou was astute, and his body shook slightly upon hearing this, looking at Ge Dongxu gratefully.

    "It''s not all about that, as I said, I''m quite optimistic about the future of computers and both of them. If my funds were limited, of course, I would be cautious, but right now I''m not short on money, so why not invest and see? The initial outlay is just a few million anyway, it''s just a loss if it fails, but at least we can try out this industry''s depth and let them gain some experience. It''s like killing two birds with one stone," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Now that you''ve put it that way, I have to support them no matter what, as their father," Cheng Yazhou said.

    "Heh heh, then it''s settled. This summer vacation, they''ll both follow you to learn. Let them have a go at it as much as possible and try to make decisions on their own," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Mhm, I understand. Actually, when I was their age, Lehao''s grandfather had already let me fly solo and run businesses. It''s simply that now everyone''s an only child, living conditions have improved, and we''ve ended up spoiling them," Cheng Yazhou said.

    Following that, the four of them discussed the specifics of setting up the company.

    When it came to the details, it became apparent how much effort and expertise Du Yifan had put into computing and the internet field.

    He talked about the search engines that had just appeared in the last two years, about email, about games, and he even talked about enterprise management software, about overseas...

    In short, if they were really going to start a computer company, there were many directions they could develop in.

    To Cheng Yazhou, an outsider to the field, all of this was an entirely new domain, and he listened in a daze. Ge Dongxu and Cheng Le Hao, however, had been under the same roof as Du Yifan for nearly a year, had been influenced by him, and being young, were more receptive to new things than Cheng Yazhou. Even Ge Dongxu had learned a bit of programming in his spare time, so after listening, he felt even more that this field had potential for development. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I didn''t expect this, kiddo, you already had so many ideas in your head. It seems I need to catch up on my studies quickly; otherwise, even the CEO position might get snatched by you, the tech guy," Cheng Le Hao said after listening, patting Du Yifan heavily on the shoulder. Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire

    "Ha ha, if you have that kind of thinking, I''m relieved," Cheng Yazhou said, laughing happily when he saw this.

    "Tsk, I''ve always had ideas, okay? It''s you who keeps shooting me down! Look at Dongxu, he has great vision; you should learn from him, you hear!" Cheng Le Hao gave his dad a white look, leaving Cheng Yazhou frustrated and so vexed he gave him a roasted chestnut knock on the head.

    ...

    After estimating their scores, they filled out their university preferences, had a class reunion, and a feast to thank their teachers.

    At the class reunion and the farewell banquet for the teachers, everyone felt inevitably sentimental, and Ge Dongxu was no exception.

    Next came the waiting for college admission notices. Regardless of how well or poorly one has done, all was set in stone, and a weight had been lifted off everyone''s shoulders. With everything settled, they let loose and had fun.

    Since attending high school in the county seat, Ge Dongxu had felt he hadn''t spent much time with his parents, so he had returned to his hometown, hoping to spend quality time with them. Meanwhile, Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao, who should have been enjoying their leisure time, were more diligent than ever.

    Not only did they start helping Cheng Yazhou with the preparatory work for setting up a branch factory, but also they used every spare moment to study.

    Of course, before leaving Changxi County to travel with Cheng Yazhou, Du Yifan had to inform his parents about the company''s establishment.

    When Du Haichen and his wife heard that Ge Dongxu and Cheng Yazhou planned to invest seven to eight million in a company and that their son would own twenty-five percent of the shares simply through his technical expertise, amounting to nearly two million in assets, they were almost shocked speechless. Then they insisted that this was not acceptable, saying that their family already owed Ge Dongxu much gratitude and could not take such a big advantage of him. In the end, it took much persuasion from Ge Dongxu and Cheng Yazhou for the couple to reluctantly agree. Nonetheless, they instructed Du Yifan in private to remember his roots: no matter how the company developed, he must always heed Ge Dongxu''s advice.

    Interestingly, when Ge Dongxu returned home intending to spend more time with his parents, he found they were so busy with the farm-stay business at its peak season that they had no time to pay attention to him. They were quite happy in their busyness, often leaving him to run around like a jack-of-all-trades at their beck and call.

    Though the multimillionaire Ge Dongxu was tasked with the servile work by his parents, he found joy in it. Every evening, when the family sat down for dinner after a day''s work, sipping wine and observing his parents'' content expressions, Ge Dongxu felt life was indeed very good.

    Deep into the night, at the foot of Baiyun Mountain, all was silent except for the intermittent croaking of frogs and chirping of insects.

    In the courtyard, Ge Dongxu sat cross-legged.

    Nine Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades were placed around him according to their directions.

    Strands of moonlight swirled around him, diffusing speckles of rosy light under the moon that cast Ge Dongxu in a particularly solemn and dignified air.

    True Qi flowed inside the meridians and the organs where the Qi wheels had been established, circulating in a specific sequence over and over again, constantly growing stronger and purer.

    When True Qi swelled like a raging river, with both the meridians and the Qi wheel-bearing organs struggling to contain it, Ge Dongxu resolutely guided the True Qi through the Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, eventually directing it gently into the bladder.

    Familiar severe pain caused Ge Dongxu''s body to tremble slightly. However, his Sea of Consciousness was clearer than before, like an immaculate mirror reflecting every change occurring inside the bladder, allowing him to adjust the True Qi according to the transformations within at any moment.

    Gradually, a Qi wheel began to form in the bladder, infusing it with a vital essence that nourished and strengthened the organ.

    At last, Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer had been reached!

    In the depths of the night, Ge Dongxu opened his eyes, filled with joy.

 Chapter 297 Overlooking All the Small Mountains

    Indeed!

    After the excitement, Ge Dongxu glanced around and discovered that all nine Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades had shattered into pieces.

    However, now that Ge Dongxu was a billionaire, he did not mind the loss. Seeing that Mao Hour had not yet passed, he got up, retrieved another nine Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades, activated them, and arranged them in their original positions before closing his eyes to cultivate and consolidate his realm.

    Once Ge Dongxu began his meditation, wisps of moonlight "whooshed" over. By the time Mao Hour was over, Ge Dongxu noticed noticeable cracks on the nine Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades, estimating they could at most endure one more session of his cultivation before being completely spent.

    Clearly, after Ge Dongxu''s breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, his ability to absorb the moonlight had greatly increased, causing the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades to operate well beyond their capacity.

    Going through nine pieces of slightly inferior Ice Type Jadeite for one or two cultivation sessions¡ªtens of thousands of yuan each time, amounting to tens of millions within a year¡ªwould have made the former Ge Dongxu''s heart bleed. But now, he didn''t mind the expense; this level of expenditure was nothing compared to his current income. The biggest issue was that, even with the overtaxed operation of the nine Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades, they still couldn''t meet his current cultivation needs.

    It seemed that to meet his current state of cultivation, he needed to inscribe the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation or use glass-type material to depict the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation. The latter might last a little longer, but to break through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, he certainly needed the spiritual energy gathered by the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation. Ge Dongxu put away the cracked Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades and pondered to himself.

    Back in his room, feeling energized from the breakthrough in cultivation, Ge Dongxu took the Ice Type Jade Token to inscribe the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation.

    After the breakthrough in his realm, Ge Dongxu clearly felt that inscribing the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation had become much more fluent. Previously he could only inscribe a little over half before it would collapse, but now it was close to success before starting to fall apart.

    This meant that there was a chance of success for Ge Dongxu to inscribe the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation using the Ice Type Jade Token, unlike before, where success was virtually impossible.

    However, inscribing the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation was still very draining on his vital energy, especially since each attempt was close to success, meaning the energy consumption was definitely much higher than before.

    Thus, after inscribing about five tokens in an evening, Ge Dongxu was exhausted and could no longer continue.

    It seemed he needed to make a trip to the border to purchase jade stones soon, but before that, he would first visit the capital to get rid of the last trace of cold in Elder Feng''s body and then take him to pay respects at their master''s grave to resolve this lingering concern.

    After packing up the jade stones, Ge Dongxu lay in bed, deciding to make a trip to the capital in the next few days and then to the border to purchase jade stones.

    The next morning at Mao Hour, after cultivating, Ge Dongxu made a special trip up the mountain to pay homage to his master and inform his master about Elder Feng''s situation. Then, taking advantage of the early morning when no one was around, he executed his Qinggong to see how much it had improved after the breakthrough in his realm.

    The attempt startled Ge Dongxu¡ªhe leapt lightly and soared about twenty-seven or twenty-eight meters away in an instant, reaching a height of thirteen or fourteen meters, equivalent to the fourth or fifth floor of a building.

    Seeing such an improvement in his Qinggong, Ge Dongxu, on a whim, soared into the air, stepping on tree canopies, and quickly reached the mountaintop from mid-mountain.

    Standing on the crown of a pine tree at the mountaintop and looking down, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a surge of pride as if all the mountains were small beneath him.

    Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

    "When you come to the Provincial Capital to study, you absolutely can''t live with me, and you can only stay at my place for one night each month at most!" Two nights later, in a pink bed at an apartment in Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao lay weakly on Ge Dongxu, breathless but speaking with firm determination.

    "You can''t be serious. I''ve been looking forward to coming to the Provincial Capital for studies, and now you''re saying I can''t stay with you often?" Ge Dongxu replied with a wry smile.

    "Dear, it''s not that I don''t want you to live with me, it''s just that neither of us can handle it and I''m worried that if we''re together every day, one day, we''ll both lose control," Liu Jiayao said as she kissed Ge Dongxu gently.

    Hearing this and recalling how they nearly went too far just now, Ge Dongxu knew Liu Jiayao was right; if he really wanted to wait until he reached the Dragon Tiger Realm before losing his virginity, it was best not to be with her all the time before then.

    If they were together every day, their willpower would weaken progressively, making it hard to guarantee they wouldn''t indulge in the forbidden fruit prematurely.

    "Alright," Ge Dongxu replied, frustrated.

    "Come on, didn''t the ancients say it? ''If love lasts a long time, does it matter whether we are together every second?'' Besides, if we really want to see each other, we can do so anytime, it''s just that you can''t stay over," Liu Jiayao said, trying to comfort him as she saw Ge Dongxu''s dejection.

    "I understand. I had another breakthrough the other day. I''m now more confident than ever that I can reach the Dragon Tiger Realm in three to five years and then unite with you," Ge Dongxu said as he kissed Liu Jiayao.

    "Really? That''s great! When that time comes, I promise you can do whatever you want, but you need to behave and stay in school these next few years," Liu Jiayao''s eyes sparkled as she replied.

    "Heh, whatever I want?" Ge Dongxu said with a mischievous laugh.

    "Ge Dongxu! Get to the next room now!"

    Soon after, shrieks from Liu Jiayao filled the room.

    ...

    "Sister Liu, I''m heading to the capital now. Aren''t you going to get up and see me off?" The next day, when the sun was already high, Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao on the big bed and smiled.

    "You bad guy, just go¡ªgo wherever you want. I still want to sleep a bit longer," Liu Jiayao slightly opened her beautiful eyes, shot Ge Dongxu a glance, then rolled over lazily, turning her back to him, ignoring him further.

    "I love you! I''m off," Ge Dongxu climbed onto the bed, kissed Liu Jiayao''s forehead gently, and spoke tenderly.

    "You bad guy, are you purposely not letting me sleep?" Just as Ge Dongxu kissed Liu Jiayao and was about to leave quietly, Liu Jiayao suddenly reached out with her jade arm, hooked it around his neck, and looked at him with eyes that had become brightly shining.

 Chapter 298 The Eastern Wizard

    "Not at all! I''m leaving now, you can sleep a bit longer," Ge Dongxu said softly.

    "You''re so sweet and loving, how can I sleep now! Wait for me, I''ll see you off," Liu Jiayao said as she got up.

    ... Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    It was still first class and a window seat.

    Ge Dongxu sat calmly by the window, his thoughts already flying to the capital. Considering his previous two trips to the capital had been in the harsh winter, he hadn''t really experienced its scenery; this time he looked forward to walking around and also checking out the newly opened chain hotel owned by Kun Ting.

    Lost in his thoughts, Ge Dongxu smelled a pleasant, heart-stirring perfume, prompting him to look up.

    What he saw made his eyes light up.

    A blonde Western girl with a suitcase had stopped right by his seat.

    She wore a white tank dress with a Huaxia Country landscape print, which alone, with her sensual figure, was enough to captivate countless men, not to mention her alluring face and deep blue, exotic soul-catching eyes.

    In almost an instant, Ge Dongxu noticed that all male passengers in first class had their eyes on the blonde, even two old men with graying hair were no exception.

    You''re only as old as you feel!

    However, Ge Dongx caught only a glimpse before turning away and naturally standing up, saying, "Let me help you with that."

    "Thank you!" the blonde replied in Chinese, her pronunciation quite accurate.

    "Your Chinese is quite good," Ge Dongxu complimented with a smile.

    "Only, only a little, so-so," the blonde replied in not-so-fluent Chinese, giving Ge Dongxu a flirtatious smile as she extended her hand, "Nico, nice to meet you."

    "Ge Dongxu, nice to meet you too," Ge Dongxu replied, slightly startled, then he also extended his hand and gently shook hers.

    This was his first encounter with a foreigner, and a beautiful, sexy foreign woman at that.

    "Ge, are you from the capital?" Nico asked, settling into her seat.

    "No, I''m from Jiangnan Province," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then, too bad, I could have asked you for recommendations on fun places in the capital," Nico said.

    "So you''re planning to visit the capital on this trip?" Ge Dongxu noted, finding it amusing when Nico mixed up ''originally'' with ''could have,'' but didn''t point it out. For a Western girl, her level of Chinese was impressive enough.

    "What did you say?" Nico asked, clearly having difficulty understanding Mandarin.

    Seeing that Nico didn''t understand, Ge Dongxu tried to speak in English.

    His English grades were average, fitting somewhere above the middle level, but that was in terms of academic ability. His listening and speaking skills were actually quite good, even better than the top English students in his class.

    "Yeah, your English is good!" Nico said, surprisingly glancing at Ge Dongxu.

    "It''s passable," Ge Dongxu replied modestly with a smile.

    The two then conversed a bit more, sometimes in English and sometimes in Chinese, and soon developed a mutual understanding, politely exchanging smiles. Nico picked up a fashion magazine to read, while Ge Dongxu turned to look outside the window, continuing with his thoughts.

    While he was thinking, a middle-aged woman with graying hair and a suitcase came in. To Ge Dongxu''s surprise, no men offered her help, but Nico, sitting by the aisle, immediately stood up and helped the woman put her suitcase in the overhead compartment.

    This small incident didn''t seem like much, but it made Ge Dongxu think more highly of the Western girl next to him.

    The flight from Linzhou to the capital took about three hours, during which they chatted some more.

    When they talked, they developed an interesting understanding: Ge Dongxu spoke English, while Nico spoke Chinese.

    This way, they both had the opportunity to practice speaking.

    "I really like Huaxia Country. It has a long history, hard-working and kind people, and an astonishing variety of food," Nico said.

    "Then you need to be careful, as delicious food is the natural enemy of beautiful women," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you for the compliment, don''t worry, next time we meet, I''m sure I''ll still be beautiful¡ªI have a secret for keeping in shape," Nico said, unashamedly immodest.

    They talked intermittently throughout the flight and it was quite pleasant.

    Nico found herself liking Ge Dongxu, this Huaxia man, not just because he was good-looking and radiated an attractive charisma, but also because his demeanor around her was always calmly indifferent and not like other men who occasionally revealed lecherous expressions.

    However, as the plane neared the capital, Ge Dongxu''s brow furrowed slightly.

    For he noticed that Nico, who had previously looked radiant, suddenly seemed a bit gloomy, and a tiny blood vessel on her nose became more visible.

    "Nico, do you know that in Huaxia Country there is a ''spell'' called fortune telling by face reading?" Ge Dongxu hesitated, then said.

    "I know, it''s like our Western astrology or tarot," Nico''s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she examined Ge Dongxu.

    "A bit. I see from your face that you might encounter some troubles during this trip to the capital, so I suggest you leave the capital as soon as possible, ideally right after disembarking," Ge Dongxu said seriously.

    Nico stared blankly at Ge Dongxu for a while, then suddenly covered her mouth and giggled.

    Seeing Nico''s reaction, Ge Dongxu knew she definitely didn''t believe him. Since the plane was already landing, it wasn''t convenient to persuade her further. Hesitating briefly, he took out a piece of paper, wrote down his phone number, and said, "This is my phone number. If something really happens, you can call me."

    "Are you trying to woo me, Eastern wizard?" Nico took the paper from Ge Dongxu, smiling playfully at him.

    PS: There will be another chapter today, but it''s not typed up yet¡ªI expect it to be ready by the evening.

    S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 299 Just arrange a car casually.

    "Me?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but look astonished.

    Did this foreign girl think too highly of herself? Or was it that all foreigners were like this?

    In the first-class cabin, quite a few men quietly gave Ge Dongxu a thumbs up, thinking that this young man was good, having the courage to shine for the country.

    Of course, there were also men who secretly sneered at Ge Dongxu for being despicable and clich¨¦, believing that this pretty and sexy blonde would certainly throw away the piece of paper Ge Dongxu gave her into the trash can the moment she turned around.

    "You''re a nice Eastern man; if I''m bored in the capital alone, I might consider giving you a call," Nico said as she put away the piece of paper.

    Seeing that Nico misunderstood his intention, Ge Dongxu didn''t know how to explain and could only shake his head secretly. He stood up to help Nico with her luggage, then grabbed his own suitcase, and then walked away.

    "Huh, how strange, this guy didn''t ask for my contact number? It seems that men from Huaxia Country are more reserved and shy," Nico said to herself, puzzled as she saw Ge Dongxu leave the plane without trying to chat with her again, just greeted her, waved goodbye, and strode away.

    This time, the person who came to pick up Ge Dongxu was still the Feng Family''s eldest young master, Feng Chenqing.

    Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire

    Once they arrived at the courtyard house, Elder Feng had been eagerly waiting and was very happy to see him. After a few words, he pulled Ge Dongxu towards the backyard.

    In the backyard, Elder Feng had turned it into a vegetable garden, with lush green vegetables and various fruits and melons.

    "Dongxu, take a look, these are all the fruits and vegetables I''ve grown these days, not bad, right?" Elder Feng said with a face full of accomplishment.

    "It looks like Elder Brother hasn''t spared any effort, huh? This is enough even for your own home." Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Yes, it''s all thanks to you! Otherwise, in the past, I wouldn''t have been able to do any of this. But this year, if I don''t plant something, I feel like I have no place to expend my energy," Elder Feng laughed.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, you don''t know, Grandpa now has the energy of a young man," Feng Chenqing chimed in.

    "Heh, after I expel the last bit of cold energy from your grandfather today, after that, even you, this young man, won''t be able to compare to him," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "I really hope so, then Grandpa could live a long and healthy life," Feng Chenqing laughed.

    "Haha, you little rascal, you''re not ambitious at all!" Elder Feng pointed at Feng Chenqing and laughed joyfully.

    Seeing Grandpa''s face crinkle with layers of laughter, Feng Chenqing felt an unprecedented warmth from the old man, his nose suddenly felt sour, but his face couldn''t help but smile.

    Elder Feng had a keen interest and pulled Ge Dongxu around the garden for a long time, sharing lots of insights on gardening. If it weren''t for knowing the old man''s true identity, it would be really hard to associate the small and somewhat hunched elderly man with the founding general who once stood at the peak of Huaxia Country''s power.

    Having come from the countryside, Ge Dongxu naturally knew about gardening. As Elder Feng spoke, he occasionally added a word or two, sometimes even giving suggestions.

    Elder Feng''s interest in the conversation grew even stronger with Ge Dongxu''s participation.

    Thus, they talked a great deal in the garden until Elder Feng felt his mouth was dry. Only then did they go back into the house, and then he started preparing to expel the last thread of cold energy.

    Because Ge Dongxu was now at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, not only had he risen in realm of cultivation, but he had also gained a deeper understanding of the medical knowledge inherited from his ancestors. Therefore, although the last wisp of cold air was the hardest to expel, this time, he found it the easiest to do so.

    After dispelling the final wisp of cold air, Elder Feng stepped out of the room, tried to jump, and astonishingly leaped two to three meters away, nearly causing Feng Chenqing to fall to the ground in fright.

    "Now I truly feel a surge of energy despite my age," Elder Feng stood in place, his murky old eyes becoming slightly moist, filled with myriad emotions.

    "Grandfather, you are not just energetic for your age, you''re even more robust than us young people! Now I really believe what Dongxu said just now," Feng Chenqing couldn''t help but express his feelings.

    "Haha!" Elder Feng laughed out loud.

    After the laughter subsided, Elder Feng took Ge Dongxu''s hand and said, "Dongxu, it''s the summer break now. In the next few days, let Chenqing show you around the capital. As for me, I need to arrange the visit to pay respects to our ancestors. Unlike you, I can''t just go wherever I want immediately, as there is work that has to be done beforehand."

    "I understand. The last two times I visited, it was winter, and I had classes, so I didn''t get to properly enjoy the capital. This time, I can actually have a good look around. However, there''s no need for Chenqing to accompany me; just arranging a car will suffice. I''ll wander around on my own, which is more convenient, and it won''t interfere with Chenqing''s work," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "That works too. Given your abilities and that particular status, you won''t get into trouble in the capital," Elder Feng thought for a moment before saying.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, whereas Feng Chenqing was somewhat confused, not knowing what his grandfather meant by "that particular status."

    Feng Chenqing naturally didn''t know about Ge Dongxu being appointed as a consultant at the director level to a special department. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu merely smiling without commenting, Elder Feng also smiled, then called the Head of Security and said, "Arrange a Beijing V license plate car for my fellow apprentice."

    Previously, Ge Dongxu did not understand the significance of the Beijing V license plate, however, the official car arranged for him by Fan Hong bore a Beijing V designation, so he later realized that it represented the Military Commission''s authority.

    "Mentor Feng, isn''t that a bit excessive? Any regular vehicle would suffice," Ge Dongxu commented.

    "The capital is a complex place; this will save you a lot of trouble. Moreover, given your current status and level, you ought to be provided with such a vehicle," Elder Feng said.

    Speaking of status and level, Director Fan also arranged a vehicle for me, which I''ve left in the Provincial Capital without using it," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile upon hearing this.

    "The Provincial Capital is where you live, and it would indeed be too ostentatious for someone as young as you to be seen driving that car every day; it would not be convenient for your future life. However, the capital is different from other places, and since you don''t live there, being somewhat ostentatious at times can prevent unnecessary vexation. Still, the vehicle that Fan Hong arranged for you could be very convenient in case of emergencies," Elder Feng said.

    "You''re right, mentor. For me, these are just external possessions. Whether high-profile or low-key, I just go with my heart. If I were to fuss over them, it would indeed be missing the point," Ge Dongxu responded with a nod and a smile.

    "Dongxu, looking at you now, your whole demeanor seems to possess an indescribable quality that wasn''t present before," Elder Feng said, his eyes lighting up as he looked intently at Ge Dongxu.

    "Having experienced more, my perspective has broadened and naturally, so has my presence," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "It seems that the incident at Little Yuan Mountain made quite an impression on you. You don''t blame me, do you?" Elder Feng, being very perceptive, immediately understood what Ge Dongxu was referring to.

    ps: In six more hours, it will be February. I will try to update a chapter at midnight, so please remember to vote with your monthly ticket at that time.

 Chapter 300 Special License Plate [Request for Guaranteed Monthly Votes]

    "How could that be? Speaking of which, I still have to thank senior brother. Having had these experiences, my mentality has matured even more, and I have gained a deeper understanding of the Heavenly Dao," Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    "That''s good," Elder Feng nodded with relief upon hearing this.

    Ge Dongxu was, after all, young and full of vigor. Elder Feng was still somewhat worried that Fan Hong''s oppression might cause him to develop a rebellious mindset. Now it seemed that, through this incident, Ge Dongxu had instead become more mature and open-minded, unlike some who are always troubled and never learn to let go.

    Listening to the conversation between his grandfather and Ge Dongxu, Feng Chenqing was secretly terrified.

    As the eldest young master of the Feng Family, he naturally understood what being assigned a dedicated car, especially a Yanjing V car, meant. Although he could also put a Yanjing V license plate on his own car, it wasn''t considered a dedicated car but merely a family car.

    Of course, even so, driving a car with a leader''s family license plate was extremely prestigious in Yanjing, essentially allowing unimpeded passage everywhere.

    And Ge Dongxu was just an eighteen-year-old youth, yet he was assigned a dedicated car with a Yanjing V license plate¡ªhow prestigious must that be?

    Of course, being the eldest son of the Feng Family, Feng Chenqing knew there were questions he could ask and others he shouldn''t. So, although he was extremely curious and terrified, he did not dare to ask carelessly.

    That day, Ge Dongxu did not go out. Instead, he had dinner in the courtyard house, chatted with Elder Feng, then returned to his room to practice engraving the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation.

    Both the affairs at Little Fate Mountain and not being able to consummate his relationship with Liu Jiayao continued to fuel Ge Dongxu''s strong will to become more powerful.

    And to become powerful, cultivation was definitely essential.

    After engraving five Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formations and failing without exception, Ge Dongxu was utterly exhausted. Then, after cultivating at the time of Zi, he went to bed to rest.

    The path of cultivation is all about balance¡ªalthough Ge Dongxu had a strong desire for power, he was very aware that the practice of cultivation is about letting things take their natural course, maintaining equanimity and specifically avoiding any excesses or deficiencies.

    The next day, Ge Dongxu finished his morning cultivation, had breakfast, then drove the black Audi with the Yanjing V license plate.

    ... S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At Yanjing Broadcasting Academy, a Honda car stopped by the gate, waiting to join the main road.

    A black Audi drove past on the main road, its red "Yanjing V" characters especially glaring under the summer sunlight.

    "Did you see that black Audi? Did you see that license plate? The red Yanjing V, it means unimpeded driving in our Yanjing, and those who can ride in this car are all incredible figures. Especially that Yanjing V we just saw, those amazing numbers on it mean that if you can latch onto the person inside, becoming famous is just a matter of moments," the man in the driver''s seat, dressed in casual designer clothes and looking quite handsome, pointed to the Audi that had just passed by, his eyes filled with awe and envy.

    "Is it really that impressive?" Sitting in the backseat were three young women, each stunning in appearance and physique, one of them with peach blossom eyes particularly enchanting and dressed provocatively, asked as her gaze followed the rapidly departing Audi, her eyes filled with intense heat and aspiration.

    "Hehe, is Yushan interested? But reality is harsh. People like him, at least until you become famous, you might have a chance to latch onto him. For now, be more pragmatic and stick with our Brother Liang," the chubby man in the passenger seat, also in casual designer wear but not nearly as good-looking, turned his head and looked at the speaking woman with a sly grin.

    "Sadly, Brother Liang only has eyes for Lili, I want to stick by him, but I just can''t!" the woman known as Yushan said with a face of "woe."

    "Yushan, what are you babbling about, can''t you stop joking around?" Sitting above Yushan, Jiang Lili immediately pinched her, her voice tinged with annoyance.

    "Hehe, I''m not joking, Brother Liang just likes your type of girl, there''s nothing I can do. Otherwise, I would''ve made my move long ago," Yushan said with a giggle.

    "Yushan, besides Brother Liang, isn''t there Brother Hui? Actually, Brother Hui has always liked you a lot, why don''t you just settle for Brother Hui?" the chubby guy in the passenger seat immediately drooled, his gaze lasciviously fixed on the faint glimpse of fair cleavage at Yushan''s neckline.

    "Brother Hui, reality is quite cruel! You should be more realistic," Jin Yushan glanced at the chubby guy, her voice coy and sassy.

    "Giggle!" The three girls in the back seat, including Jiang Lili, couldn''t help but laugh.

    "Haha!" The man known as Brother Liang in the driver''s seat also burst out laughing.

    Only Brother Hui turned into "Gray Brother," pointing at Jin Yushan and said, "Yushan, you dare look down on Brother Hui? Wait till the day Brother Hui becomes a world-famous director, then you''ll see how I''ll handle you!"

    "Pfft! Handle me? Are you up to it, Brother Hui?" Jin Yushan gave Wang Hui a disdainful roll of her eyes, her voice deliberately coy.

    "Right, Brother Hui, are you up to it?" Another woman also rolled her eyes at Wang Hui, following along in a teasing tone.

    "This is unbearable! Wait until we get to Xiangshan, we''ll find a secluded, lush spot for a battle of the spirits, and you''ll see if I''m up to it!" Wang Hui, as if his tail had been stepped on, his chubby face suddenly turned bright red.

    It turned out that Wang Hui had once had a girlfriend back in school, but after she cheated on him, she even told others that Wang Hui was no good in bed.

    This had become a sore point for Wang Hui.

    "Giggle, keep dreaming!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie burst into laughter.

    "Enough, stop these jokes, they''re not funny," Jiang Lili pushed Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, giving them a meaningful look.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie exchanged glances, then held back their laughter, and said, "Alright, alright, it''s just that our Lili is so pure and considerate, no wonder none of the beauties in college catch Brother Liang''s eye, only you do."

    "Can you guys stop joking around? Like I said, I already have a boyfriend. If you keep this up, I''m getting out of the car," Jiang Lili said, visibly flushed with annoyance.

    "Alright, stop teasing Lili," Chen Liang, sitting in the driver''s seat, a flash of annoyance appeared in his eyes, but his face remained smiling as he spoke.

    "Hehe, Brother Liang cares about Lili!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie laughed teasingly, but seeing Jiang Lili genuinely getting angry, they quickly added, "Alright, alright, we''ll stop joking, happy now?" Your journey continues on My Virtual Library Empire

    PS: A new month has started, asking for a guaranteed monthly ticket. This month I will continue to strive and hope the readers continue to support me, let Dongxu''s path of showing off go even further.

 Chapter 301 Thank You

    "Actually, Lili, even though the joke Yushan and Sijie made was somewhat inappropriate, you''re both going to be in the entertainment industry, where you''ll encounter jokes like this, or even jokes a hundred times cruder. So, if you want to make a name for yourself in this industry, you definitely have to face them with equanimity; otherwise, you can forget about making it big. As a newcomer, you simply don''t have the privilege of putting on airs or showing attitude," said Chen Liang as he stepped on the gas and got onto the main road, speaking in a solemn tone.

    "There was this senior when I was in school, academically brilliant, talented, and beautiful. She had the potential to be the leading lady in a drama, but because she couldn''t take a joke at a dinner table, she never really got any good roles. Just the other day, some alumni and I met up for dinner and talked about her. I heard she''s now shacked up with some county chief back in her hometown, and working as a host at a local TV station. Why settle for being a small-time chief''s mistress? Had she just loosened up a bit back then, becoming famous overnight would''ve been easy, and snagging a rich guy or a high-ranking official would''ve been a piece of cake!"

    "Lili, Brother Liang''s words are actually very realistic. If you want to climb the ladder, you''ve got to let go of what you need to; it''s not like you lose a chunk of flesh by just talking. And that boyfriend of yours, during the two years we''ve been classmates, not once have I seen a call or a letter from him, let alone flowers during the holidays. If he were my boyfriend, I''d have kicked him to the curb a long time ago," Lin Sijie said.

    "Exactly, Lili, what''s the deal with your boyfriend? I think you should just dump him. Why waste your time with him when there are so many good men out there?" said Jin Yushan.

    "Like me, for example!" Wang Hui said, gesturing towards himself.

    "Get lost! You call yourself a good man? Brother Liang is more like it," retorted Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie dismissively.

    "What terrible taste," Wang Hui said with disdain.

    "Okay, enough with the chatter. We''re talking about something serious with Lili here," Lin Sijie and Jin Yushan said, giving Wang Hui a stern look.

    "But I was talking about something serious too!" Wang Hui mumbled, then turned away.

    "Lili, go ahead and tell us. Brother Liang is here today, let him give you some insight from a man''s perspective," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said to Jiang Lili, as Wang Hui turned away.

    "There''s not much to say, he''s just the best man in my eyes," Jiang Lili said, her cheeks turning slightly red.

    "Oh, come on! That''s it? Don''t tell me you''re in a one-sided love!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie slapped their foreheads, displaying speechless expressions, while a shadow flitted across Chen Liang''s eyes once again.

    "Enough, let''s not talk about this anymore," Jiang Lili said, her face becoming even more flushed.

    Her relationship with Ge Dongxu wasn''t exactly one-sided love, but it certainly had a hint of it.

    "Alright, if you don''t want to talk about it, we won''t. But what Sijie said earlier is true. In our line of work, if you want to get ahead, you''ve got to let go when you need to. Just make sure to hold on to the last barrier and don''t give away too much to men too easily. Other than that, if those men want a little grease, just let them take a little. Men love that sort of thing, don''t they, Brother Liang?" Jin Yushan said, casting a flirtatious glance at Chen Liang.

    "Heh heh," Chen Liang laughed ambiguously, while Wang Hui turned to the side with a sly smile and stretched out his hand, saying, "That''s right, that''s right. Yushan, you couldn''t be more correct. A little grease doesn''t hurt; it''s not like it''ll cost you flesh. Here, grease me up a little."

    "Tsk, you think just anyone is worthy of touching me?" Jin Yushan swiftly slapped away Wang Hui''s outstretched hand.

    "Dear me, why is it so hard to find a pure, unmaterialistic woman these days?" Wang Hui said, rubbing his hand and putting on a woeful face.

    "You want pure and unmaterialistic? Isn''t that easy? Brother Hui, won''t you have a chance when school starts later this year?" Jin Yushan said with a roll of her eyes. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Tsk, do I look like that kind of person?" Wang Hui replied, suddenly adopting a righteous expression.

    "You''re just that kind of person!" the three women in the back seat said in unison.

    Seeing the women''s unanimous attitude, Wang Hui could only sheepishly turn around, while Jiang Lili and her two friends burst into laughter upon seeing this.

    Through the rear-view mirror, Chen Liang secretly swallowed as he saw the waves crashing at Jiang Lili''s chest when she laughed.

    ... Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

    Located in the western outskirts of the capital, the terrain of Xiangshan is perilous, the verdure continuous. Although the best time to visit Xiangshan is autumn, when the mountain is covered in flame-like red leaves of the smoke trees, splendid and beautiful, summer in Xiangshan, away from the city with its forests green and mountain streams trickling, is also not a bad place to escape the heat.

    As a cultivator, Ge Dongxu naturally preferred natural scenery over the bustling and hustling metropolis, hence he drove to Xiangshan for his first stop.

    Another reason he chose Xiangshan was because the earliest records of the mountain trace back to Ge Hong of the Jin Dynasty. It is said that Ge Hong set up an alchemy well and furnace on Xiangshan to refine pills.

    For Ge Dongxu, visiting Xiangshan was akin to searching for and retracing the footsteps of his ancestor.

    Perhaps due to the summer holidays, there were quite a number of visitors from other places as well locals in Xiangshan, and the traffic was heavy.

    However, it seemed that drivers in the capital were all aware of the prestigious Jing V license plate; no one dared to compete for the road with him. When Ge Dongxu''s car reached the parking lot, the parking attendant, upon seeing his plate, immediately smiled broadly, greeting him with great respect and leading him to a spacious parking spot.

    Another car, seeing the empty spot next to Ge Dongxu''s, initially wanted to park there too, but was immediately stopped by the parking attendant with a wave of his hand, forbidding the car from parking next to Ge Dongxu''s, in order to avoid making the space too tight for leaders getting on and off their cars and for other cars to move in and out conveniently.

    This scene left even Ge Dongxu, who had prepared himself mentally, utterly dumbfounded.

    He had driven a Jing V license plated car during a test drive in the Provincial Capital Linzhou before, and while that plate number wasn''t as exaggerated as this one, it was definitely regarded as exceedingly boastful locally, but only some traffic police recognized it. Ordinary people simply did not understand, knowing only that it was a car from the capital. Unlike here, where even the parking attendants knew.

    Clearly, many people in the capital, especially the old Beijingers, probably knew what the Jing V plate number represented.

    When Ge Dongxu got out of the car, the parking attendant, seeing just an ordinarily dressed young man, was nearly stunned.

    A license plate like this, a car like this, yet the person who came out was only an ordinarily dressed young man.

    If the attendant didn''t know for certain that no one would dare to fake a license number like that of Ge Dongxu''s car, he might have suspected it was a car with a fake plate.

    "Thank you," Ge Dongxu said, smiling kindly at the parking attendant.

    Startled back to reality, the attendant quickly waved his hands and said, "It''s what I should do, it''s what I should do."

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then nodded his head at him again as a gesture before leaving the parking lot and entering Xiangshan through the East Palace Gate, turning left and heading up the road.

 Chapter 302 Sang Yunlongs Phone Call

    Ge Dongxu entered the East Palace gate and, after turning left and traveling not far, a Toyota car also entered the parking lot.

    The car door opened, and out came five young men and women, led by Jiang Lili and the others.

    "Liang bro, look, it''s the same car we saw at the school gate earlier!" As soon as the group got out of the car, Jin Yushan pointed at the Jing V Audi with an exaggerated expression and shouted.

    "It really is," Chen Liang followed Jin Yushan''s pointing direction, his eyes brightened, and he nodded in agreement.

    "If only we had arrived a bit earlier, then we could have seen who was sitting inside this car?" Jin Yushan said with a face full of regret.

    On the way here, Chen Liang, a native son of the capital, had taken the opportunity to boastfully explain the different number sequences of the Jing V license plate and what levels of high-ranking officials they represented to them. So now, Jin Yushan and the others were even clearer about the significance this car represented.

    "Enough already, even if you did see, what use would it be? It''s not someone you could climb up to anyway," Jiang Lili saw Jin Yushan''s lovestruck expression and couldn''t help but pull her away with a blush, saying.

    In the past, Jiang Lili was also somewhat opportunistic, but after experiencing that setback, her mentality had changed a lot all at once.

    "Even if I can''t climb up to that level, can''t I still take a look? Who knows, maybe they will like my type?" Jin Yushan said as she placed her hands on her willowy waist, striking an "S" pose.

    "Heehee, Yushan, I''ve noticed that the parking lot attendant seems to really like your type, he''s been staring at you the whole time!" Lin Sijie said with a giggly laugh.

    "You little devil, am I that LOW? Hmph!" Jin Yushan pinched Lin Sijie, then swayed her hips with much allure, taking a few seductive cat steps.

    With her naturally enchanting looks and voluptuous figure, Jin Yushan was dressed very coolly for the hot summer days. As she began to walk with her catwalk sway, not just Wang Hui the fatty, but even Chen Liang who had his sights on Jiang Lili and had been pretending to show only superficial interest in Jin Yushan, couldn''t help but reveal a lustful glare, ogling at those long, smooth, fair legs.

    A small sedan that had just entered the parking area, seeing this, almost collided head-on with a car parked ahead, but managed to screech to a stop at the last moment, thus avoiding a car accident. The instigator Jin Yushan, far from feeling any guilt, instead laughed triumphantly, her laughter causing her to quiver with delight, dazzling onlookers.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu was not aware that his car and he, as a significant figure, were the subjects of discussion, including by his fellow schoolmate.

    At that moment, he was walking up the stairs alone, a feeling both strange and familiar washing over him, as though he had been to this place before but everything was completely different now.

    "Could the legend be true, that the Ge Hong Ancestor really set up a pill furnace here to refine ''Pills''?" Ge Dongxu''s heart stirred slightly, just as he was about to follow that subtle sensation, his cellphone suddenly rang.

    The strange, yet familiar feeling vanished in an instant.

    How inopportune! Ge Dongxu shook his head, then took out his phone.

    The call was from Sang Yunlong, the Executive Vice Governor of Jiangnan Province.

    This made Ge Dongxu somewhat surprised; ever since he had healed Sang Yunlong''s illness a few months back and Sang Yunlong knew that a person like him did not like to be disturbed, besides inviting him to his home once to express his gratitude in person, he hadn''t called again, and now unexpectedly, he was calling him today.

    After exchanging a few polite phrases, Sang Yunlong hesitantly asked, "May I know if Director Ge has any time in the next few days?"

    "I do have some things to attend to these days, is there something Executive Vice Governor Sang needs?" Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Well, I have an old superior coming to Jiangnan Province, and he has some chronic health issues. Considering Director Ge happens to be in Jiangnan, I thought it would be presumptuous, but I wanted to ask Director Ge for help to take a look," Sang Yunlong''s heart skipped a beat, thinking Ge Dongxu might refuse to help, but still put forth his request.

    "Your old superior?" Ge Dongxu''s expression became enigmatic all of a sudden.

    To someone in Sang Yunlong''s position, to be able to refer to someone as an old superior and also to set aside one''s status to personally call and ask Ge Dongxu for help, this old superior''s identity was bound to be extraordinary.

    "Yes, my old superior. It''s been two years since I last saw him. I suddenly received a call saying he was coming to Jiangnan Province and it reminded me of you," Sang Yunlong replied.

    "You''re not talking about Elder Feng, are you?" Ge Dongxu''s expression became even more subtle.

    "Uh, how did you know?" Sang Yunlong said in surprise.

    "Haha, how could I not know! But let me keep you in suspense for a bit, you''ll find out when your old leader arrives in Jiangnan Province," said Ge Dongxu, laughing as he had guessed correctly, and then he hung up the phone.

    After Ge Dongxu hung up, Sang Yunlong still felt like a monk who was baffled, scratching his head in confusion.

    "Old Sang, what did Director Ge say? Did he agree?" Seeing her husband''s perplexed face after the call, Feng Yaping asked with concern.

    "He didn''t agree," Sang Yunlong replied subconsciously.

    "Ah! He didn''t agree," Feng Yaping''s face showed a touch of disappointment.

    At Sang Yunlong''s current position, to advance further involved many factors, and without the intervention of upper-level figures, relying solely on his own efforts would be very difficult, indeed.

    Sang Yunlong used to be a soldier under Elder Feng and considered a member of the Feng Family.

    But the resources of the Feng Family were limited; they definitely had to consider the overall situation and make selective choices.

    Previously, as Sang Yunlong''s health wasn''t good, Feng Yaping had thought it best to let him finish his term and retire from the front line, to avoid further fatigue and not to waste the Feng Family''s resources. However, when Sang Yunlong''s heart disease struck recently, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, and now he was full of energy. Since he wasn''t of retiring age just yet, Feng Yaping naturally started to have ideas again. Explore more stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    Sang Yunlong himself harbored the same thoughts.

    Just as the couple were contemplating this, a phone call came from the Feng Family in the capital, saying that Elder Feng would be visiting Jiangnan Province in a few days.

    With Elder Feng coming, Sang Yunlong naturally thought of Elder Feng''s health and Ge Dongxu''s visit.

    In fact, since the day Ge Dongxu cured Sang Yunlong''s heart disease, he had contemplated asking Ge Dongxu to help treat Elder Feng''s health. However, considering Elder Feng''s extraordinary status and being uncertain of Ge Dongxu''s temperament, he had been weighing his options, looking for an opportunity to get in touch again, and then find a chance to discuss this matter.

    Unexpectedly, Elder Feng suddenly decided to come to Jiangnan Province, and Sang Yunlong felt this was a good opportunity, hence the phone call.

    What he hadn''t anticipated was that Ge Dongxu already knew Elder Feng and even started playing coy.

    "You misunderstood, that''s not what I meant." Seeing his wife''s disappointed expression, Sang Yunlong realized his phrasing had caused a misunderstanding and quickly explained. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If not that, then what do you mean?" Feng Yaping asked, puzzled.

    "Director Ge knows the old leader, but he didn''t specify how they know each other or what their relationship is. He said that I would find out once the old leader arrives in Jiangnan Province," Sang Yunlong explained.

    "So that''s how it is. Then, Director Ge must have treated the old leader before?" Feng Yaping speculated.

    "That should be the case. Otherwise, with the old leader''s health condition, he wouldn''t be allowed to travel such a long distance," Sang Yunlong said, his face showing signs of relief.

    "In that case, there''s not much for you to do," Feng Yaping said, her emotions slightly mixed.

    "That kind of thinking won''t do. If the old leader is in good health, isn''t it better that I have nothing to worry about? As for what happens next, I''m sure the old leader has his plans for me. You shouldn''t overthink it," Sang Yunlong said, knowing what his wife was thinking, as he softly patted her hand.

    "That''s true, the human heart is never satisfied," Feng Yaping said with a laugh.

 Chapter 303 Is This the Boyfriend You Mentioned? [Vote for Monthly Ticket]

    "I never expected Vice Governor Sang to be Brother Feng''s soldier, this is quite a coincidence," Ge Dongxu smiled, shaking his head as he put away his phone and continued walking through the fragrant hills.

    However, that subtle feeling he had before was gone, which left him slightly disappointed.

    But Ge Dongxu was a broad-minded person, so he wouldn''t insist on it.

    Since that subtle feeling was gone, he walked while focusing his attention on enjoying the scenery of Fragrant Hills.

    After a brief look at the Qinzhen Hall, he soon arrived at Jingcui Lake.

    In summer, places with water always have an additional hint of coolness. Although Ge Dongxu was nearly impervious to the heat and cold, he still liked this rare coolness in summer, so he slowed down his steps that had been hurried while browsing Qinzhen Hall.

    "Brother Xu!" While walking, Ge Dongxu suddenly heard a surprised and uncertain cry coming from behind him, causing him to pause and turn around with a look of surprise, only to see, not far away, a woman in a floral dress standing beside a willow tree, looking at him.

    Her lustrous black hair shined; her body, which used to be somewhat plump, was now a bit thinner, but it appeared all the more curvaceous and tall. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Especially those legs¡ªhe remembered they weren''t that long before. Unbelievably, in just two years they seemed to have grown several centimeters. Even though she was wearing flats today due to the climb, those legs still looked exceptionally long. He could hardly imagine the pressure they would put on men around her if she were to wear high heels.

    "Brother Xu, is it really you!" Just as Ge Dongxu was surprised to encounter Jiang Lili here and by her transformation, Jiang Lili already rushed toward him with her arms wide open, her face filled with joy.

    Yet when she got within a meter or two of him, Jiang Lili suddenly realized Ge Dongxu''s personality, thinking that her actions might displease him, so she abruptly halted, pulling back her arms and nervously clutching her dress. But her now somewhat thinned face was filled with excitement, her eyes fixed on Ge Dongxu without blinking, as if fearing he would disappear the moment she blinked.

    Seeing Jiang Lili first rush towards him, then restrain herself from moving closer, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help recalling their past together, including the request she made with courage before they parted ways after the college entrance examination.

    "Thank you, Brother Xu, before we part, may I hug you? Just for a moment!"

    With this memory in mind, looking at Jiang Lili nervously clutching her dress in front of him, it was as if a chord had been struck within Ge Dongxu''s heart, and he couldn''t help but open his arms, smiling warmly, "Haven''t seen you in over two years, don''t I get a hug?"

    Upon hearing this, Jiang Lili''s delicate body trembled slightly, hardly believing her ears. It wasn''t until she clearly saw Ge Dongxu standing under the sunlight with open arms that she finally threw herself into them, clinging tightly to his waist as if she wanted to merge her entire being into his body.

    Just like the last time they said goodbye after graduation.

    Ten meters away, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie stood with their mouths agape, surprised at seeing Jiang Lili, who usually seemed so reserved at the academy, embracing a young man so fervently, finding it hard to believe what they were seeing.

    Chen Liang''s expression darkened, his gaze towards Ge Dongxu full of jealousy.

    That voluptuous body, so alluring as to make one''s blood surge, he had always dreamed of holding it in his arms, but now it was embraced by another man.

    "Crap! This guy can''t be Lili''s boyfriend, right?" Wang Hui scratched his head, saying without a hint of jealousy in his eyes, only envy.

    Because he knew very well that he and Jiang Lili were hopeless.

    "You seem to have grown taller since two years ago, and you''ve become more beautiful," Ge Dongxu quickly let go of Jiang Lili. Because the now-slimmer Jiang Lili still had her voluptuous figure, even more prominent than before, holding her tightly made Ge Dongxu feel as if a flame had ignited in his lower abdomen.

    "Not really! But Dongxu, you''ve grown so much taller than before. Back then, you were only slightly taller than me, but now you tower half a head above me," Jiang Lili said with a flushed face and joy in her heart.

    "Lili, is this the boyfriend you mentioned? Why don''t you introduce him to our classmates?" Right then, Chen Liang walked up and asked with a somewhat sour tone.

    "Yeah, Lili, you''ve been talking about him for two years, and today we finally meet the ''True Master.'' You should give us a detailed introduction!" Jin Yushan immediately followed, her peach blossom eyes sizing up Ge Dongxu from top to bottom.

    At these words, Jiang Lili glanced timidly at Ge Dongxu, her face''s blush seeming to suddenly vanish, leaving her somewhat pale.

    Back then, she was always adamant about becoming Ge Dongxu''s woman. So whenever a classmate pursued her, she would claim to already have a boyfriend.

    But only she knew clearly that it was her own wishful thinking; Ge Dongxu had never formally agreed to her claim.

    Now that Chen Liang and the others suddenly brought up the boyfriend thing, Jiang Lili worried that Ge Dongxu would deny it outright, and she was even more concerned that he would be unhappy with her for imposing the title upon him without his consent.

    The former would make her lose all face in front of her classmates, unable to hold her head up, while the latter might cause Ge Dongxu to dislike her and ultimately lead to her losing him completely.

    And the latter was what she truly feared.

    Jiang Lili couldn''t describe why she had such an almost sick obsession, but ever since the day Ge Dongxu saved her and saw her body, she found herself unable to forget him. Even the memory of his eyes as he looked at her body that night excited her.

    "You all must be Lili''s classmates, right?" Upon seeing Jiang Lili''s suddenly colorless face, Ge Dongxu felt an inexplicable pang in his heart. He took her hand, then smiled at Chen Liang and the others as he asked.

    "Isn''t that obvious? Introduce yourself first! You''ve piqued our curiosity for a full two years, and today we finally see your true face," Jin Yushan said.

    "Ge Dongxu, Jiang Lili''s boyfriend," Ge Dongxu smiled and said.

    Jiang Lili''s eyes immediately widened, her heart almost missing a beat in surprise and joy.

    "Not good enough, we need more details," Jin Yushan immediately said.

    "What, you want me to report my measurements too?" Ge Dongxu, looking at Jin Yushan, couldn''t help but think of Jiangnan Province''s entertainment personas, Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman, and took the rare opportunity to crack a joke.

    "As if! With your skinny figure, there''s no way you have any ''measurements'' to talk about. Tell us your job, whether you have a car, a house, how much savings you have, and so on," Jin Yushan glanced at Ge Dongxu and then bombarded him with questions like a machine gun.

    ps: There are four updates today, shamelessly asking for a bottom-line monthly pass to help Dongxu go further on the path of showing off. Thank you very much. Your next chapter is on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 304 Can you bluff any more ridiculously?

    "Yushan, what nonsense are you spouting?" Jiang Lili quickly glared at Jin Yushan, then with a hint of worry in her face, she said to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, pay her no mind, that''s just how she is, never serious."

    "Look at you, Jiang Lili, that''s just too heartless, ditching friends at the sight of a man!" Jin Yushan protested with a face full of disdain and hurt.

    "Exactly, we''ve been talking about this boyfriend of yours for two years and now that we''ve finally caught him, you''re saying we can''t gossip about it?" Lin Sijie joined in. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "But you can''t just ask whatever nonsense comes to mind either," said Jiang Lili.

    "What do you mean nonsense? These are practical questions. How can someone take care of a beautiful woman like you without a car, a house, or savings?" Jin Yushan asked.

    Jiang Lili saw Jin Yushan''s "true colors" showing and became so anxious she was nearly in tears.

    She knew that Ge Dongxu hated this kind of opportunistic woman.

    Seeing Jiang Lili on the verge of tears, Chen Liang''s eyes darkened even more, and a scornful, cold smile curled up at the corner of his mouth.

    This guy must be broke! Otherwise, Lili wouldn''t be so anxious.

    Seeing Jiang Lili about to cry, Ge Dongxu grasped her little hand tightly and chuckled, "Actually, your classmate here isn''t entirely wrong."

    When he first left the mountain area, Ge Dongxu was simple-hearted, thinking everyone else should be like him, disliking opportunism, disliking flamboyance...

    After more experiences, he realized society is realistic, He could continue to be simple and kind, but he couldn''t expect others to be the same.

    Everyone has their own way of living, as long as they don''t hurt others, that''s fine.

    With Jin Yushan, laying out the realistic side so plainly, she actually wasn''t off-putting.

    What Ge Dongxu truly despised was people like Ye Qianqian from the Jiangnan Province Entertainment Channel, who on the surface dressed like a lady and spoke with insincerity, but deep down were full of realism and opportunism.

    At least the former didn''t deliberately hide her character, her demands, so if men pursued her, it was a case of mutual consent, no one to blame.

    When Ge Dongxu was initially with Dong Yuxin and the other three senior sisters, Jiang Lili always belittled him, prodding at him, while Su Qian did it less, but at that time, relatively speaking, Ge Dongxu felt a stronger affinity for Jiang Lili for this reason.

    Because Jiang Lili was more genuine!

    "Not bad, from this perspective, your boyfriend does have his merits. Come on, spill the beans already," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s eyes lit up, urging immediately.

    "Actually, there''s not much to confess. My main job is being a student, and in my free time, I''ve invested with a few friends and started a few companies. I''ve got cars, houses, too. Just recently, I started another company, so my savings aren''t that much at the moment, just seven or eight million," Ge Dongxu replied casually with a smile.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were momentarily stunned, and after Ge Dongxu finished speaking, they looked at his calm and collected demeanor, as if these things were nothing to him, they were stunned for a while longer before they finally giggled.

    "Haha!" Once they started laughing, they seemed unable to stop themselves, eventually bursting into loud laughter.

    They were laughing so hard they shook, drawing the attention of many passing male tourists who covertly swallowed hard.

    "Can you blow things even more out of proportion?" It took a while for Jin Yushan to stop laughing; then she rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and asked.

    "I''m telling the truth!" Ge Dongxu retorted, without a trace of the "shame" of boasting.

    "Lili, I''m impressed with your boyfriend. Blowing his own trumpet with such an earnest air, as if he''s dead serious," Seeing Ge Dongxu''s nonchalant attitude, as if he really was that impressive, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie couldn''t help wanting to laugh again, but ultimately, seeing that Chen Liang''s expression seemed a bit ugly, they just rolled their eyes at Ge Dongxu, then gently tapped Jiang Lili and said.

    "I..." Jiang Lili opened her mouth, not sure how to respond.

    Because she also found it somewhat hard to believe Ge Dongxu''s words, even though she knew he was no ordinary person.

    But the problem was, investing in several companies, owning houses and cars, and having savings of seven or eight hundred thousand yuan, this really exceeded her understanding of Ge Dongxu. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Jiang Lili with such an expression, the others naturally became even more convinced that Ge Dongxu was bragging.

    Still, the fact that Ge Dongxu could brag with such a straight face left Jin Yushan and the rest grudgingly impressed.

    Of course, Chen Liang saw Ge Dongxu smoothly sidestep the gossip question without showing any sign of stress, which made him feel somewhat upset, unlike the others.

    "Alright, we''re all adults here, so let''s not boast without cause. Let''s properly introduce ourselves. My name is Chen Liang, and I''m Jiang Lili''s senior," said Chen Liang, who, despite feeling somewhat upset, still managed to squeeze out a smile and extended his hand to Ge Dongxu.

    "Although Brother Liang hasn''t graduated yet, he''s already been involved in several TV series and movies, and he even earned enough money to buy his own car. He''s really quite impressive, unlike you, who only knows how to brag," Jin Yushan interjected from the side.

    "Jin Yushan!" Jiang Lili stamped her foot.

    "Okay, okay, I''ll stop taking digs at your boyfriend, happy now? Jeez, look how precious you think he is," Jin Yushan glanced at Jiang Lili with a playful eye roll.

    Seeing this, Chen Liang naturally felt a bit sour inside, and the smile on his face turned somewhat ugly, yet he pretended to be modest and said, "Don''t listen to Yushan''s nonsense. I just played some minor roles, nothing to be proud of."

    "That''s still pretty good, after all, we''re still students," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, shaking hands with Chen Liang.

    Hearing this and observing Ge Dongxu''s demeanor, Jin Yushan and the other two girls couldn''t help feeling that Chen Liang, despite his brand-name casual attire, was completely overshadowed by Ge Dongxu, who was also dressed in Donglin Yue casual wear. They found it oddly unsettling.

    The corner of Chen Liang''s mouth twitched because no matter how he heard it, the praise didn''t sit right with him, but he couldn''t find a way to object.

    After all, he was being complimented!

    "Wang Hui here, also a senior of Jiang Lili''s, but from the directing department. You''ve invested in several companies, right? If there''s any advertising work or something, I can take that on too," Wang Hui also extended his hand to Ge Dongxu.

    Looking at Wang Hui''s somewhat chubby and sleazy appearance, Ge Dongxu actually felt a sense of kinship and shook his hand with a smile, saying, "Our company often needs to shoot commercials; as long as your skills are up to par, we can consider it."

    "Giggle!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie couldn''t help but laugh again as they watched Wang Hui and Ge Dongxu shaking hands with such serious expressions.

    "Haha! Lili, your boyfriend is kind of interesting," Wang Hui, who had been serious a moment ago, couldn''t help but laugh and pointed at Ge Dongxu while speaking to Jiang Lili.

    Ge Dongxu just chuckled at the scene, without bothering to explain anything.

    Next, Ge Dongxu formally introduced himself to Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, both of whom were Jiang Lili''s roommates.

    Both women were clearly bold and skilled at teasing others, and during the handshake with Ge Dongxu, they deliberately ran their fingers across his palm and threw him a meaningful wink.

    However, they were doomed to be disappointed, for although Ge Dongxu was still a virgin, he could definitely be considered battle-hardened and well-tested. Like last year in the capital city, Wu Shiyi and Liu Shishi''s flirtations were much more intense than these two, and Ge Dongxu had managed to resist them, so their little moves were nothing to him.

    Following this, Ge Dongxu easily mingled with the five of them, visiting Xiangshan.

    Jiang Lili held Ge Dongxu''s arm with a happy expression on her face.

    ps: Continuing with four more chapters today, seeking monthly votes for the minimum guarantee, thank you.

 Chapter 305 Your Innate Conditions Are Lacking

    "Dongxu, your accent doesn''t sound like you''re from the capital, huh?" Seeing the girl he had long coveted linking arms so intimately with Ge Dongxu, Chen Liang, who originally wanted to maintain some gentlemanly decorum and avoid starting a fuss, couldn''t help but burn with jealousy. He stepped forward, walked beside Ge Dongxu, and asked.

    "Lili and I are high school classmates, of course, I''m not from the capital." Ge Dongxu casually replied.

    "Oh man, so you two are childhood sweethearts! Who''s older? It looks like Lili is a bit older, so that means you''re still a junior, huh?" Upon hearing this, Chen Liang felt a sting in his chest, and Jin Yushan suddenly perked up.

    "Graduated from high school this year!" Ge Dongxu declared.

    "Damn, Dongxu, you''re really something, snagging our school beauty in your freshman year! How about teaching Brother Hui a few moves?" Chen Liang felt an even greater pang, and Wang Hui looked at Ge Dongxu, his gaze filled with a touch of reverence.

    Bagging a senior girl while in freshman year of high school is much more difficult than a college freshman getting with a junior or senior!

    "Get lost, what makes you ''brother'' material?" Jiang Lili scornfully glared at Wang Hui.

    "I''m several years older than Dongxu, how does that not make me a brother? Hey, wait a minute, isn''t Dongxu younger than you? Why are you calling him ''bro''?" Wang Hui said, his face full of bewilderment.

    "I''m willing, and what''s wrong with me admiring Brother Xu?" Jiang Lili hugged Ge Dongxu''s arm tighter and proudly lifted her chin with a blissful and triumphant look.

    "Crap, comparing oneself to another can really kill you! Dongxu, how about I call you ''bro'', and you teach me how to get a girl like Lili?" Wang Hui said, looking hurt.

    "Your innate conditions just aren''t up to par, my teaching would be useless!" Ge Dongxu mercilessly teased.

    After all, everyone was classmates, so of course, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t wear a serious face.

    "Haha! Dongxu, that was a killer response!" Jiang Lili and the other two girls couldn''t contain their laughter upon hearing this.

    "Focus on the inside! The inside! But, never mind, it''s pointless talking about this with a kid who''s just graduated from high school and has never been through the wringer of society," Wang Hui said.

    "Pfft, your inside is even filthier than your outside!" Jin Yushan didn''t hesitate in rubbing salt in the wound. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Chen Liang, bro, aren''t you going to say something? You just gonna watch your buddy get trampled on like this?" Wang Hui, seeing the three girls joining Ge Dongxu in ribbing him, turned to Chen Liang for help.

    "Don''t you like being trampled by beauties?" Chen Liang retorted, causing Wang Hui to nearly choke on his own blood right then and there.

    "Alright, let''s not talk about that." Wang Hui said.

    "Exactly, with your standards, you might as well erase the words ''picking up girls'' from the dictionary." Jin Yushan continued to taunt.

    Wang Hui looked at Jin Yushan helplessly and then simply shut his mouth.

    "So, you''re from Changxi County too. Why did you come to the capital alone? And after arriving, why didn''t you look for Lili? If we hadn''t bumped into you today, I don''t think Lili would have even known you were in the capital," Chen Liang continued pressing Ge Dongxu after Wang Hui fell silent.

    "Li¨¤ng''s question is a good one! I mean, Dongxu, you could''ve used the excuse that you were too busy with high school to date, but now you''ve graduated. Having come to the capital, why didn''t you let Lili know, instead of going to Xiangshan alone? What does that mean? Where do you place Lili in your heart? Lili has been faithfully waiting for you for years!" At these words, Jin Yushan''s charming face suddenly darkened, her hands on her hips, ready to fiercely demand an explanation.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, you owe us an explanation for this. Without a good one, we''re going to feel really sorry for Lili," Lin Sijie said. Though she didn''t strike Jin Yushan''s exaggerated pose, her beautiful eyes were also fixed on Ge Dongxu with an intense stare.

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    "If Li¨¤ng hadn''t mentioned it, it wouldn''t even have crossed my mind. But Dongxu, what you did really wasn''t cool," Wang Hui chimed in with his judgment.

    Chen Liang, seeing that he had successfully stirred the pot, felt a secret sense of triumph and inwardly cursed Ge Dongxu for being useless.

    Having such a pretty girlfriend in the capital and not even looking her up upon arriving? He must be sick!

    "Yushan, Sijie, it''s not what you think..." Jiang Lili, clearly understanding the real nature of her relationship with Ge Dongxu, became frantic as everyone turned their accusations on him, almost bursting into tears.

    It had not been easy for Dongxu to finally agree to be so close with her; if their probing and judging upset him enough to leave in a huff, whom would she turn to?

    "I was indeed in the wrong about this matter, and if I come to the capital again, I''ll be sure to inform Lili right away," Ge Dongxu gently patted the hand that clutched his arm, seeing how close Jiang Lili was to crying, and spoke with a hint of guilt.

    This wasn''t his first trip to the capital; on the previous two occasions, he had considered looking up Jiang Lili but ultimately decided against it.

    Truth be told, given their relationship, him not visiting or even greeting her upon arrival in the capital was admittedly cold-hearted.

    Of course, the reason Ge Dongxu hadn''t visited or greeted her was related to her words from before; he wanted to give their relationship the cold shoulder.

    "Dongxu!" Jiang Lili never dreamed that Ge Dongxu would apologize because of her. At his words, her delicate body trembled violently, she looked up at him in disbelief, her eyes brimming red with glistening tears rolling inside.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie opened their mouths at the sight but eventually closed them.

    Although they still felt it was unfair to Jiang Lili, Ge Dongxu had already apologized sincerely, and Jiang Lili was clearly defending him, treating him as if he were a treasure she could barely hold on to, as if he were candy she feared might melt in her mouth. What could they, mere outsiders, say in such a situation?

    They could only wait to counsel and enlighten her in private, to help her understand that a man like that simply wasn''t worth her devoted vigil.

    Chen Liang hadn''t expected his crushing "killing move" to be diffused by Ge Dongxu with a simple apology, and it left him speechless from the heartache.

    It took Chen Liang a while to recover.

    Once he had, he couldn''t be bothered to dig further into Ge Dongxu''s business and instead started to boast and brag.

    Since Jiang Lili wasn''t an option at the moment, Chen Liang naturally didn''t want to make a fool of himself any longer, instead shifting his target to Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, drawing their attention and also indirectly showing off in front of Ge Dongxu to make him feel inferior.

    Chen Liang was a skilled actor, a native of the capital, boasting was his forte. By the end of the excursion, not only did he have Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie laughing non-stop, occasionally punching him lightly, even Ge Dongxu had to admire Chen Liang''s gift of the gab.

    "By the way, why didn''t you come back to Changxi County for the summer holidays?" Ge Dongxu asked, trailing a few steps behind with Jiang Lili.

 Chapter 306 Theres Not Enough Room in the Car

    "A while ago, my parents came to the capital for a visit, and we already met up, so I thought there wasn''t much to do if I went back home during the summer break. I stayed and found a tutoring job, and thought I''d see if there were any opportunities to appear on camera," Jiang Lili said.

    "Won''t that be quite tough? I know some people at our provincial station, if it really comes to it, I can arrange some on-camera opportunities for you during the summer break. You don''t have to go back to the province; I can find someone here in the capital as well," Ge Dongxu said, sounding rather sympathetic.

    "Giggle, Dongxu, give us a break! Can''t you pretend not to be so serious when you''re boasting?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, who were walking ahead, couldn''t help but laugh again at Ge Dongxu''s words.

    "I''m serious, if you guys are interested, I can still try to ask around for roles other than the lead or second lead," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Giggle! I can''t take this! You even brag thicker than Brother Hui," Jin Yushan laughed.

    "Am I being dragged into this?" Wang Hui asked feeling quite innocent.

    "What do you mean, dragged into this? You''re exactly that," Lin Sijie responded with a roll of her eyes.

    By this point, Ge Dongxu knew there was no point in continuing this topic. Further discussion would not make Jin Yushan and others believe him. He decided to wait for another opportunity to ask Jiang Lili alone.

    "Speaking of on-camera opportunities, I had dinner last month with Xu Yunxiang and some other senior students who graduated from our academy, and it did come up that a new show is about to start filming," Chen Liang added, taking over the conversation as, in truth, Ge Dongxu also didn''t have a chance to continue boasting on this topic.

    "Wow! Brother Liang, that''s so cool! You actually had dinner with Xu Yunxiang," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie suddenly looked at Chen Liang with sparkling eyes and a bit of exaggerated admiration.

    Seeing the admiring look from Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, Chen Liang, even though partly putting on an act, couldn''t help but feel quite pleased and proud.

    "It''s really no big deal, just a meal together," Chen Liang said "modestly," yet his gaze deliberately passed over Ge Dongxu and Jiang Lili.

    Unfortunately, Ge Dongxu seemed to have no idea who Xu Yunxiang was, and Jiang Lili''s thoughts were entirely on Ge Dongxu at that moment, which hurt Chen Liang''s feelings.

    Thankfully, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were quite cooperative, immediately raising their voices in protest, "That''s no big deal? Xu Yunxiang, the big star who graduated from our academy. No, next time you dine with him, Brother Liang, you must get an autograph for us."

    "That''s a small matter," Chen Liang responded coolly, feeling somewhat comforted by the continuing support from these beauties, and then resumed the earlier topic, "This show, mainly shot in our capital, is looking for several pure and pretty female supporting characters. If you''re interested, I could try to secure those roles for you."

    "Thank you so much, Brother Liang! You''re such a good guy. Here, one for you!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie immediately blew a kiss to Chen Liang upon hearing his words.

    "Don''t thank me too soon. I only have a minor reputation in the industry; my word doesn''t carry much weight, so don''t get your hopes up too high," Chen Liang cautioned, merely flaunting but, in reality, having little say over those supporting roles. Seeing Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s excited reactions, he quickly tempered their expectations.

    "We understand, even a small hope is still hope, definitely better than the empty promises from Dongxu and Brother Hui!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, always sharp, dimmed slightly in their eyes but still smiled sweetly at Chen Liang, not forgetting to roll their eyes at Ge Dongxu and Wang Hui.

    "I''m being dragged into it again, I knew I shouldn''t have come hiking at Fragrant Hills today!" Wang Hui lamented.

    "Cut it out, are we wrong though? Talking about ''when Brother Hui becomes a big director, then this, then that.'' Do you think that''s reliable? And we don''t even need to start on Dongxu," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie rolled their eyes in agreement.

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    Jiang Lili saw her two roommates dissing Ge Dongxu and couldn''t help feeling somewhat embarrassed. She stamped her foot and was about to scold them, but Ge Dongxu just smiled, patted her hand, and whispered in her ear, "It''s okay, let them say whatever they want."

    Jiang Lili''s ears were warmed by Ge Dongxu''s breath and she felt like she was about to float away. Her feet felt like they were stepping on cotton, and her cheeks flushed red, making Chen Liang''s heart ache again while Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie shook their heads secretly.

    As for Wang Hui, he grew even more admiring of Ge Dongxu.

    A man, still a high school student, had mesmerized their campus belle to this extent; it would be a total waste of talent if he didn''t pursue a career living off women in the future.

    They passed by Jingcui Lake, Cuiwei Pavilion, Shuangqing Villa, Xuanqiu Forest, Langfeng Pavilion, Heshun Gate, and Yutai Sect to reach Xianglu Peak. By the time they headed down the mountain, it was already noon and everyone was tired.

    Chen Liang suggested eating at Xiangshan Restaurant.

    The cost at Xiangshan Restaurant was naturally not low. At the end, Ge Dongxu wanted to pay, but Chen Liang stubbornly insisted on splurging and wouldn''t allow it. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''ve just graduated high school; it''s already not easy for your parents to give you money to come to the capital for a trip. If you treat us to a meal as well, you''d probably have to walk home," Chen Liang said.

    "Exactly, acting as if you own several companies, with savings of seven or eight hundred thousand!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie rolled their eyes and said.

    "Alright, Dongxu, don''t argue with Brother Liang anymore. He''s rich. Look, I don''t compete with him," Wang Hui said.

    "Puh-lease! You''re just shameless!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie scornfully said without holding back.

    Wang Hui immediately shut up.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and decided not to argue with Chen Liang anymore.

    Since it was summer, the weather became increasingly hotter after noon. Furthermore, they had just been hiking in the morning, so after lunch, nobody felt like sightseeing anymore and prepared to head back to school.

    "Dongxu, do you have any plans for the afternoon? If not, why don''t you come visit our school? It has pretty nice scenery," Jiang Lili said, a hint of anticipation shining in her eyes.

    Seeing Jiang Lili''s attitude with her boyfriend, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie felt their roommate was utterly hopeless.

    "There are lots of beautiful girls," Wang Hui blurted out, thinking it was impressive that a girlfriend would beg like this and intentionally added a remark.

    "Big brother Hui, are you asking for a beating? Lili is inviting her boyfriend to visit the campus, and you''re telling him there are lots of beauties?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie glared at him irritably.

    "Sure, these next few days I''m just here to have fun," Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t pay attention to Wang Hui and others and smiled while speaking to Jiang Lili.

    "Dongxu is also coming to our school? Then what should we do? One car won''t fit everyone. How about you take the bus, and I''ll take them back first?" Chen Liang said with a slight frown upon hearing this.

 Chapter 307 I Also Drove Here [Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Tickets]

    "I''ll go with Brother Dongxu, so I won''t take your car, Brother Liang," Jiang Lili clung to Ge Dongxu''s arm without a second thought. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

    Jiang Lili had finally caught Ge Dongxu in the capital; how could she bear to be apart from him?

    "Are you out of your mind? It''s so hot, and you''d let Dongxu go squeeze into a bus alone, when you could ride in a car? Why suffer with him? It''s not like you won''t see him later," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said with an annoyed glare.

    Taking a taxi to Xiangshan, the suburb where the school was located, was not a small expense, and as students, Jin Yushan and the others did not have money like Chen Liang, who had wealth at home and had also started acting and making money. He could afford to be extravagant, so their first thought was to take the crowded bus.

    As for the claims Ge Dongxu had previously made, they didn''t take him seriously at all and considered them a joke.

    Indeed, a high school graduate investing in several companies and having savings of several million was none other than a joke, wasn''t it?

    Seeing Jin Yushan and the others going back and forth with their remarks and ignoring him completely, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears. Just as Jiang Lili was about to insist on squeezing onto the bus with him, he quickly said, "It''s okay, I came here by car too."

    When Ge Dongxu said this, the atmosphere suddenly turned chilly.

    Everyone, including Jiang Lili, looked at Ge Dongxu as if he were a monster.

    It was strange enough that this eighteen-year-old came to the capital alone, and now he claimed he had driven here as well, wasn''t that the ultimate joke?

    Of course, Jiang Lili didn''t find it strange that Ge Dongxu had come to the capital alone at such a young age. After all, back in Changxi County, even when he was very young, he knew the owner of the Changxi Grand Hotel and the head of the county''s Public Security Bureau. What puzzled her was how Ge Dongxu could have a car in the capital?

    Because this was the capital, after all, thousands of miles away from the small place of Changxi County.

    "Dongxu, it''s okay to make a joke now then, but if you overdo it, it becomes meaningless and childish," after a while, Chen Liang''s expression darkened a bit as he spoke.

    "Exactly, you just graduated from high school. Don''t keep making these kinds of jokes!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie also felt Ge Dongxu was overdoing the jokes, and they gave him a cool look, their previous curiosity waning.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Chen Liang and the others and couldn''t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears as he pulled out his car keys.

    "I''m not joking," Ge Dongxu said.

    Looking at the fancy remote car key in Ge Dongxu''s hand, with four rings on it, the atmosphere chilled once more.

    "Holy crap! It really is a car key, and it''s Audi!" Finally, Wang Hui was the first to snap out of it, snatching the car key from Ge Dongxu''s hand, making a fuss.

    "Let me see, let me see," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie lost their composure as well, immediately reaching out to grab it.

    "It really is!" Holding the car key and examining it for a while as if there were counterfeit products of car keys, the two beauties then stared at Ge Dongxu with suddenly heated gazes.

    Chen Liang suddenly felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

    That slap to the face truly hurt!

    But isn''t this guy just Jiang Lili''s high school junior? Didn''t he come from a small place in Changxi County? How did he end up with a car in the capital, and an Audi at that?

    For fuck''s sake! That''s not how it works!

    Jiang Lili also looked up at Ge Dongxu, her eyes filled with stars. She found that she was increasingly unable to see through the once mountainous, dark-skinned school junior beside her.

    But she didn''t need to see through him anyway. Ever since the incident at the Changxi Grand Hotel, she had decided to be his woman.

    Good or bad, rich or poor.

    "What are you guys looking at me like that for?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help feeling uncomfortable as the three beauties, including Wang Hui, stared at him with shining eyes.

    "What? You''re kidding, right, Brother Dongxu? You really went under the radar with us, didn''t you? You have a car and didn''t even tell us, and it''s an Audi at that! How much did it cost?" Jin Yushan moved closer to him, almost as if she was about to embrace his arm like Jiang Lili.

    "Did I? Didn''t I tell you before that I have a house and a car?" said Ge Dongxu, quite speechlessly.

    "Don''t tell us you really own several companies and actually have savings of seven or eight hundred thousand?" Jin Yushan''s heart leaped as she spoke.

    "Of course it''s true. I rarely joke," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Once again, the atmosphere went cold.

    Jin Yushan and the others stared blankly at Ge Dongxu, as if trying to read something on his face, but Ge Dongxu was far too calm and composed to reveal any hint of pretense.

    "Giggle! Dongxu, with your performance just now, if you went into acting, you''d definitely win an Oscar!" After a while, Jin Yushan laughed lightly, playfully tapping Ge Dongxu, throwing him a coquettish glance.

    She had seen the car key, but she still couldn''t believe Ge Dongxu was a shareholder in several companies and had savings of seven to eight million.

    These days, with seven to eight million casually sitting in one''s bank account, just how much must one''s net worth be?

    And just how old was Ge Dongxu?

    "Seriously, Dongxu, it''s such a waste that you don''t act!" Lin Sijie also coquettishly rolled her eyes as she said to Ge Dongxu.

    Ultimately, she too found it hard to believe that Ge Dongxu was a shareholder in several companies and had savings of seven to eight million.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and reached out his hand to Jin Yushan.

    Jin Yushan placed the car key back in Ge Dongxu''s hand, her finger once again lightly hooking in his palm, and with a flirtatious look she said, "Handsome, shall we go for a drive tonight?"

    "For such a beautiful woman to say this in front of my girlfriend, is that really okay?" Ge Dongxu joked.

    "I''m very generous, as long as you, Brother Dongxu, like it," Jiang Lili said with a smile.

    "Heehee, true sisters indeed, then I won''t stand on ceremony," Jin Yushan said, pretending to cuddle Ge Dongxu''s arm just like Jiang Lili.

    Ge Dongxu quickly dodged, while Chen Liang felt like his whole world was falling apart.

    Walking and joking towards the parking lot, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s attitude towards Ge Dongxu had noticeably changed, occasionally making physical contact with him, and casting him a few sultry glances.

    This fit their personalities, and Ge Dongxu didn''t feel uncomfortable about it, and of course, he wasn''t likely to develop feelings for them.

    "Hey, Dongxu, where is your car?" Upon entering the parking lot, Jin Yushan began scanning around with her peach blossom eyes.

    In the afternoon, many people had left, so there weren''t many cars in the parking lot, which made it easy to scan at a glance.

    Apart from that car with the exaggerated Beijing V license plate, Jin Yushan did not see any vehicles bearing the four-ring logo.

    "Yeah, where is the car?" Lin Sijie also joined in.

    "Damn, Dongxu, you played us again!" Wang Hui suddenly realized what was happening, and gritted his teeth as he exclaimed. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Indeed, there were only a few sedans in the parking lot; Ge Dongxu couldn''t possibly be driving that car with the Beijing V license plate, right?

    A guy from a small place who was just a high school graduate, driving such a cool car with a Beijing V license plate in the capital¡ªand it was one of the cooler types at that!

    Even if they were beaten to death, that''s not where their thoughts would go.

    "Damn, Dongxu, that''s really not..." Chen Liang couldn''t help but spout off some foul language.

    Just now, he had indeed almost been shocked into submission by this young upstart from a small place.

    But before Chen Liang could finish his sentence, the lights of the Audi with the Beijing V license plate suddenly flashed.

    Then Chen Liang and the others turned to stone, looking at Ge Dongxu with horror-stricken eyes, as well as the car key in his hand.

    Even Jiang Lili, who had been hugging Ge Dongxu''s arm and refused to let go, was so frightened that she suddenly let go, her eyes equally filled with terror as she stared at the key in Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    Could he be any cooler?

    This was a car that could directly enter and exit one of the most prestigious places in Huaxia Country!

    For a long time, Chen Liang and the others shivered all over, especially Chen Liang, who, recalling his past actions and behavior and his previous attempts to hit on Jiang Lili, suddenly felt an urge to urinate.

    His face turned as pale as rice paper, and sweat poured from his forehead like rain.

    Was the woman of a man who could drive such a cool car something he could covet?

    Was he tired of living?

    Recalling their previous teasing towards Ge Dongxu, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie also felt a bit like they needed to pee, but as soon as they remembered what Chen Liang had said pointing at that car, their blood began to boil again, and they felt a fiery heat throughout their bodies. They looked at Ge Dongxu with not only admiration but as if they were about to unleash a voltage of a hundred thousand volts.

    ps: In order to write this exhilarating moment in one go, I stayed up until after eleven o''clock during the great New Year''s period. It''s not easy for an old man either. So if you''re enjoying this, please help out by casting a monthly ticket and recommendation vote, to help this book go further and achieve better results, giving me more motivation to write! Thank you.

 Chapter 308 He Wants to Cling to a Thigh Too! [Vote for Monthly Ticket]

    "What''s wrong?" Ge Dongxu looked at everyone''s strange expressions and asked in confusion.

    He simply didn''t have the heart to show off or act pretentious, and for a moment his mind couldn''t make the leap.

    However, after asking the question, Ge Dongxu also realized what was happening and couldn''t help but chuckle to himself.

    All these people were students in the capital, especially Chen Liang, who was born and raised there¡ªhow could they not recognize such an impressive Beijing V license plate?

    Ge Dongxu had just asked casually, but it scared Chen Liang so much that he shivered all over, his knees went weak, and he almost knelt down.

    There was no way around it; he had just been thinking about picking up Ge Dongxu''s woman and stealing his thunder.

    Such an act would irritate any man! And even more so from someone who drove such an impressive car.

    He didn''t proactively provoke you, which was already giving you face, yet you wanted to steal his thunder? That was utterly unforgivable!

    "This, Brother Xu, no, no, Mr. Ge, just now, on the way here, I, I..." Chen Liang, sweating profusely, stammered.

    "Alright, no need to be so nervous, you didn''t really do anything," Ge Dongxu saw Chen Liang''s sweaty face and said with a carefree smile.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ge, thank you, Mr. Ge," Chen Liang bowed repeatedly, his heart finally settling down.

    He was well aware that for someone like Ge Dongxu, if he really decided to make things difficult for him, he could forget about making a name for himself in the entertainment industry ever again.

    Because all it would take was for Ge Dongxu to ask someone to say a word, and banning someone like him, who wasn''t even famous yet, would be a matter of mere seconds...

    "Mr. Ge, we''re sorry, just now we..." Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said with trembling voices. Explore new worlds at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Mr. Ge? Haha, you all are Lili''s roommates, so isn''t it a bit too formal to address me like that?" Seeing the anxious look on Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s faces as they called him Mr. Ge, he smiled, waved his hand, and spoke in an easy-going manner.

    "Really? Then, then can we call you Brother Xu like Lili does?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie asked tentatively.

    "As long as you don''t feel I''m too young and calling me Brother Xu is a disadvantage to me, suit yourself," Ge Dongxu replied indifferently with a smile.

    "Ah, no, not at all. How could it be? Calling you Brother Xu is an honor for us!" The two were excited and their blood boiled as Ge Dongxu didn''t mind being called Brother Xu.

    "Haha, no need to exaggerate. You didn''t hold back in criticizing me just now!" Ge Dongxu teased as he saw their reaction.

    "Ah! Just now, we, we were short-sighted, please don''t take it to heart," the two said, going pale as Ge Dongxu brought up past events.

    "Hehe, how could I? Actually, I liked the way things were just now, since I''m still just a student. Alright, let''s head back to school," Ge Dongxu said, reflecting on the power of influence as his casual words made them turn pale.

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu took the still dazed and unresponsive Jiang Lili by the hand and headed toward the car.

    Indeed, the once familiar school junior had suddenly become this incredible figure in Chen Liang''s tales; it wasn''t something anyone could easily come to terms with.

    "Brother Xu, can I ride in your car?" Ge Dongxu hadn''t walked far when Jin Yushan''s trembling voice came from behind.

    "Of course, you can!" Ge Dongxu looked back and replied.

    "Really?" At his words, Jin Yushan suddenly started jumping for joy.

    "Of course! I rarely joke around," Ge Dongxu teased. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Brother Xu, you''re so mean, making fun of others again!" Now Jin Yushan could see that Ge Dongxu was truly easy to talk to and approachable, unlike those other impressive figures, so her courage grew and she quickly caught up, raising her small fist and lightly punching Ge Dongxu.

    It''s funny how a simple punch can feel so different; now that the status had changed, Jin Yushan felt a strange excitement when her fist touched Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, and she couldn''t help but tighten her legs a little.

    "Brother Xu, I want to ride in your car, too," Lin Sijie didn''t want to miss the opportunity and quickly followed suit.

    This is someone who could make them famous in just minutes, if he so desired!

    "Hehe, sit if you want, there''s still space," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Bro Dongxu, I want to sit too!" Wang Hui scurried over, grinning obsequiously.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but shiver, while Jiang Lili and the other two women almost reflexively glared at him and said, "Scram to the side, what are you doing joining in with us three ladies?"

    "But, but there''s Bro Dongxu, right?" Wang Hui continued with a sycophantic smile.

    He didn''t want to miss out on this golden opportunity either!

    He wanted to cozy up to power too!

    "Can you compare yourself to Bro Dongxu?" Jin Yushan and the others glared at him again.

    "Ah! Yes, yes, we''ll meet at the academy then, meet again then." After being glared at by Jin Yushan and the others again, Wang Hui''s plump head finally cleared.

    With that, Wang Hui didn''t wait for Ge Dongxu to speak and had already turned and run off in a flash.

    Three beauties accompanying Bro Dongxu, how enjoyable that would be, and here he was, a chubby third wheel. With such a lack of awareness, he feared Bro Dongxu might never look his way again!

    Seeing chubby Wang Hui run off as fast as a rabbit, Ge Dongxu opened his mouth but then walked to the car with a speechless expression, bringing Jiang Lili along.

    It''s like a performance with three women, actually he wouldn''t have minded Wang Hui taking some of the heat off him.

    "Do you want to sit in the front passenger seat or with Yushan and the others in the back?" Ge Dongxu asked Jiang Lili as they neared the car.

    "I''ll sit by your side," Jiang Lili replied.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu smiled and then quickly moved forward to open the car door for Jiang Lili.

    Watching such an impressive guy open the car door for Jiang Lili, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s eyes were filled with envy and daydreams.

    If only one day, they could have such an impressive and gentlemanly guy to open the car door for them...

    "Thank you, Bro Dongxu!" Jiang Lili said softly, her face glowing with happiness and gratitude.

    "Are you feeling like an outsider now? Senior Lili!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Jiang Lili shivered slightly at his words.

    Such a familiar yet strange title!

    "I''m not familiar with the capital, so you''ll have to guide me later," said Ge Dongxu after getting in and starting the car.

    "Okay," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie volunteered eagerly, their eyes revealing a deep confusion.

    Because Ge Dongxu''s words reminded them that he and Jiang Lili were from the same place.

    But how could someone from their place have such an impressive car in the capital? This was something they couldn''t figure out no matter how much they racked their brains.

    Of course, both beauties were shrewd and wouldn''t be so foolish to ask such a question.

    It wasn''t their place to ask.

    ps: There will be three chapters today, but I haven''t straightened out the ideas for the next two chapters. I had a headache wrestling with it last night, so I''ll write it during the day today, and I expect to upload the other two chapters around evening, please forgive me. This month I will continue to ensure at least three updates a day, and if I''m feeling good I might occasionally burst out, still asking for your monthly and recommendation tickets, thank you.

 Chapter 309 Happiness Comes Too Suddenly

    The car slowly pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road, heading towards Yanjing Media College.

    Along the way, many traffic police officers, upon seeing the Audi with a Jing V license plate, saluted one after another.

    At several intersections, some traffic officers even specifically stopped other lanes to let Ge Dongxu pass first.

    Sitting in the car, watching the standing traffic police smartly salute her vehicle, watching the car move unimpeded on the endlessly flowing lanes, Jiang Lili, Jin Yushan, and Lin Sijie, these three university students who hadn''t truly entered society yet, truly witnessed the power of that awesome license plate number and really felt the allure of that legendary privilege.

    Jiang Lili occasionally glanced at Ge Dongxu holding the steering wheel, her eyes no longer held the excitement from before, instead, there was an indescribable sense of loss and inferiority.

    Jiang Lili had always been confident in her figure and appearance, so once she had made up her mind, she always felt that as long as she didn''t want a title, just being Ge Dongxu''s secret woman, there might still be hope.

    After all, no man dislikes a beautiful woman, especially one like her who has no demands.

    Even so, Jiang Lili was still unsure, so when she said goodbye to Ge Dongxu, she told him she would strive to become an outstanding woman!

    But now, watching those traffic policemen on the road, raising their hands to their foreheads with a serious expression, Jiang Lili lost all her confidence, and the feeling of inferiority hidden deep in her heart intensified.

    Such an outstanding man, what kind of woman couldn''t he have?

    Even now, Jiang Lili was absolutely sure that if Ge Dongxu showed the slightest interest, her two roommates in the backseat would definitely be willing to strip naked and wait for him on the bed, even if both together, they wouldn''t hesitate at all.

    Because he''s someone who could make them famous in no time!

    Would he still remember what she had said to him originally? Would he still care about her, a woman who nearly lost her virtue?

    Definitely not, he definitely wouldn''t care!

    Jiang Lili guessed correctly; at that moment, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie in the backseat watching Ge Dongxu''s silhouette and the standing traffic police outside couldn''t help but fantasize and felt a thrill rushing through them, their sexy snow-white legs quietly pressed together.

    Such a young, handsome, and incredible man! If only they could¡­

    But Jiang Lili was wrong about one thing; Ge Dongxu had never forgotten what she had told him, and it was precisely because he remembered that the car had passed by the college gate without entering the previous two times.

    "What are you thinking about?" Ge Dongxu felt Jiang Lili''s occasional glances, filled with complex emotions, couldn''t help but turn his head to look at her and smiled as he asked.

    "It''s nothing," Jiang Lili replied, smiling at Ge Dongxu, her smile somewhat forced, somewhat poignant.

    The loss of confidence made her feel as if she had suddenly lost all her goals in life.

    Bewildered and helpless!

    A woman''s thoughts, Ge Dongxu, a young man who had not yet experienced much emotional turmoil, could hardly understand immediately, only faintly perceiving that Jiang Lili''s mood had suddenly turned somewhat gloomy. He thought she wasn''t having a good time at university and asked with concern, "How have these two years been?"

    "Pretty good," Jiang Lili replied.

    "Your family is doing okay too?" asked Ge Dongxu again.

    "Yeah, everything''s pretty good," Jiang Lili''s heart trembled slightly, she couldn''t help but recall the major changes that had occurred at home, the events that had happened at Changxi Grand Hotel, standing in front of Ge Dongxu wearing only underwear, her gaze gradually grew more complex and ultimately resolute.

    I must become his woman, even knowing it''s like a moth to a flame, bound to be burned to nothing!

    "That''s good," Ge Dongxu nodded, then he didn''t know what to ask next.

    "Dongxu, how many days will you stay in Yanjing this time?" Just as Ge Dongxu fell silent, Jiang Lili took the initiative to ask, a trace of nervousness in her heart.

    "It''s hard to say, maybe I''ll leave tomorrow, or maybe I''ll stay for another two or three days," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and replied, then he immediately asked, "Are you busy these days?"

    "Not at all!" Jiang Lili blurted out without thinking, her heart suddenly leaping to her throat, her eyes full of anticipation.

    "Then can you show me around Yanjing these next few days?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Of course!" Jiang Lili''s voice trembled slightly. Although she had guessed that Ge Dongxu would say this, she still couldn''t quite believe her ears.

    "Dongxu, we also have nothing to do these days, do you need us to accompany you too?" From the back seat, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie spoke in a half-joking tone, a hint of anticipation in their eyes.

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    In their eyes, a man like Ge Dongxu was not someone a single woman could tie down. Jiang Lili was at most one of his many lady friends; perhaps after a while, once the novelty wore off, he would forget about her. Thus, when Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie interjected, they didn''t have much psychological barrier.

    Fortune doesn''t come to those who don''t reach out!

    Share the blessings!

    Opportunities won''t come around again!

    ... S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    These were various reasons and excuses they could think of to interject.

    Of course, they didn''t dare to insist or cling on, nor did they have the confidence, so they finally broached the topic in a half-joking tone.

    "Parading through the city with three beauties, do you want me to attract the hatred of all the men in Yanjing?" Ge Dongxu joked.

    "Hee hee, that would be so striking!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu seemed not to oppose the idea, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were overjoyed and quickly responded.

    "Being striking is not my style," Ge Dongxu said.

    "It seems that Dongxu, having Lili is enough for you," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said softly.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and didn''t reply, his attitude couldn''t be clearer.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie saw that he didn''t reply and couldn''t help feeling a bit disappointed, but again felt that this was to be expected. A person like Ge Dongxu, how could he fancy small-time girls like them.

    Being able to ride in his car today, to get to know him was already incredibly lucky!

    To expect to have a closer relationship with him was simply wishing for too much.

    Jiang Lili looked at Ge Dongxu somewhat foolishly; if she still didn''t understand at this moment that she was different from other women in Ge Dongxu''s heart, that she mattered, she might as well smash her head with tofu and be done with it.

    It''s just that happiness seemed to come so suddenly, that she found it somewhat hard to accept.

    Previously, when Ge Dongxu was still just a student from the mountain area, just a person from a small place, she had thrown herself at him, he chose to push her away and keep his distance.

    Now, suddenly, he shook and transformed into a formidable figure who could drive a car with a special Yanjing license, drawing a line between them that she feared she could never cross even if she tried her whole life, making her begin to feel desperate. Suddenly, she found that she had quietly taken up a bit of space in his heart.

 Chapter 310 Brother Xu, introduce someone to me, will you?

    "What''s up? Why are you looking at me like that!" Ge Dongxu tilted his head to glance at Jiang Lili and asked.

    "Nothing much, I just suddenly realized that you''ve gotten a lot fairer and way more handsome than before." Jiang Lili trembled slightly, then gave Ge Dongxu a sweet smile.

    "Could it be that Dongxu was very dark before?" Jin Yushan asked curiously.

    "He was before?" Jiang Lili''s eyes brimmed with love as she looked at Ge Dongxu, her mind flashing back to his dark and unrefined appearance from the past, her face involuntarily breaking into a smile, "Not just dark, but also very unsophisticated!"

    "It wasn''t that exaggerated, was it? I still had quite a few girls who liked me back at school," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Tch, who?" Jiang Lili became lively and feisty as she remembered the past. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You," Ge Dongxu laughed. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Stop it!" Jiang Lili playfully hit Ge Dongxu with a shy swat.

    "Haha!" Ge Dongxu laughed triumphantly.

    "Hey, is it really okay for you guys to flirt like this? There are two single girls sitting behind you," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie protested.

    "Tch, it''s easy to get rid of being single, isn''t it? If you''re willing, there''d be a line from our dormitory building all the way to the main road," Jiang Lili said.

    "Tch, I''m after quality, not quantity. If you can find someone even one percent as good as Dongxu, I''ll sell myself without a second thought," Jin Yushan declared.

    "Right, Dongxu, do you have any friends? Introduce someone to us, they don''t have to be as outstanding as you, we''re not asking for much," Lin Sijie brightened up and inquired.

    "Yeah, yeah, Dongxu, introduce someone to us!" Jin Yushan''s eyes followed suit, lighting up with anticipation.

    "You really don''t need someone as outstanding as me?" Ge Dongxu asked, the corner of his mouth curling in a teasing manner.

    "Someone as outstanding as Dongxu is only suited for our Lili. We couldn''t possibly be that lucky. Anything goes, as long as it''s your friend, Dongxu. Just, no old men, please," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said.

    "No problem, once we get to the school, I''ll introduce Wang Hui to you," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Wang Hui?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie paused, racking their brains as to why that name sounded so familiar.

    Then, they suddenly realized, let out a gasp, and immediately their fists rained down like droplets on Ge Dongxu''s shoulders.

    "Dongxu, you''re too bad! You''re too bad!"

    "Haha! Isn''t this what you asked for? You said you didn''t need someone as outstanding as me, right? After thinking about it, Wang Hui was the only one who fell short," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "You still talking? You still talking?" Another flurry of playful fists descended.

    "Alright, alright, I''m driving here, and isn''t that your school up ahead?" Ge Dongxu, although indifferent to Jin Yushan and the others'' coquettish voices and flirtatious beating, hastily said.

    "Hmph, go ask your Lili!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said, feigning anger.

    "Haha." Ge Dongxu laughed again.

    The car entered the school gates. The security guard quickly straightened up, filling Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie with complex emotions and an uneasy heat within.

    If only they could be with him...

    Yanjing Media College wasn''t big, but the campus was beautiful and clean.

    However, Ge Dongxu''s gaze was not captured by the scenery of the college, but rather by a girl holding books, about to turn a corner some meters away.

    The girl''s back was very familiar; it was none other than Elder Feng''s granddaughter, Fang Wanyue.

    "Look, look, it''s Fang Wanyue!" Jin Yushan too recognized Fang Wanyue and suddenly pointed at her, causing a commotion.

    "It really is her!" Lin Sijie and Jiang Lili also exclaimed as if they had discovered a new continent.

    "Do you know her?" Ge Dongxu slightly startled, asked somewhat surprisingly.

    "Of course, we do. She''s a celebrity of our college. Not only is she beautiful, but most importantly, she has a very powerful background. We didn''t know this at first, until one time, a big shot in our college coveted her beauty and tried to force her to be his girlfriend. When the matter blew up, that big shot was directly expelled from the college. Later, a rumor came out, saying that she''s the daughter of the Director of the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television, her mother is a leader in the central bank, and her grandfather is Elder Feng." Jin Yushan replied, her eyes involuntarily showing a hint of envy and awe as she spoke.

    To them, such a legendary figure was something they could only look up to.

    "Oh, right, Dongxu, you should know her, right?" After answering, Jin Yushan suddenly remembered Ge Dongxu''s prestigious status and asked curiously.

    "Then, does she have a boyfriend now?" Ge Dongxu smiled, answering her question with one of his own.

    Ge Dongxu, who had a rather positive impression of the cheerful and charity-loving Fang Wanyue, was suddenly curious to find out that she was Jiang Lili''s schoolmate, especially since Jin Yushan had just mentioned someone trying to pressure her into being his girlfriend. Unexpectedly, a rare gossip curiosity was sparked within him.

    "Dongxu, you don''t have designs on her, do you?" Jin Yushan blurted out reflexively.

    Jiang Lili''s beautiful eyes dimmed a notch.

    Indeed, only such favored daughters of heaven would be worthy of Dongxu.

    However, Jiang Lili''s beautiful eyes quickly brightened again. She had never thought about wanting any status; she just wanted to be his woman.

    "Don''t forget you guys are still students. What''s on your minds all the time?" Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback by her words and then said, slightly annoyed.

    He and Elder Feng were fellow disciples; how could he possibly entertain thoughts about Fang Wanyue? The question he''d just asked offhandedly was less about gossip and more like the care a senior would show toward a junior.

    "Hehe!" Jin Yushan shrank her head back a little and replied, "Rumor has it that Fang Wanyue quite admires Xu Yunxiang and seems to be in a good relationship with him, as to whether they''re boyfriend and girlfriend, that''s not something we can know."

    "Xu Yunxiang, is that the celebrity from your college that Chen Liang mentioned before?" asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes, he was a senior to Fang Wanyue." Jin Yushan nodded, then pointed ahead and said, "Dongxu, right there is our dorm building."

    In fact, Jin Yushan didn''t need to point it out, as Ge Dongxu already knew that was their dorm since Chen Liang and Wang Hui were currently standing there with anxious expressions.

    Ge Dongxu parked the car in front of the dorm building.

    As soon as the car stopped, Chen Liang hurried forward a couple of steps to open the car door for Ge Dongxu, while Wang Hui naturally went to open the door for Jiang Lili.

    "Thank you," Ge Dongxu nodded and smiled at Chen Liang.

    This smile finally set Chen Liang''s mind at ease.

    "Mr. Ge, since Lili and the others are here with you, I won''t intrude. Here''s my business card, if there''s anything you need, please give me a call," Chen Liang said as he handed over his business card with both hands.

    "Okay, thank you," Ge Dongxu received the business card and glanced at it before tucking it away.

    "Mr. Ge, here''s my card," Wang Hui also hurried over and presented his card with both hands upon seeing this.

    "I''ll give your contact information to my company''s executives someday. Should there be a need for any advertising production, I''ll ask them to prioritize you, of course, provided your work is better than the others. If you really have the talent for directing, it''s not a problem for our company to invest a little money for you to make a short film or something in the future," Ge Dongxu responded to Wang Hui, whose impression he found favorable, as he smiled and accepted the business card.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ge, thank you so much. I''ll definitely work hard!" Wang Hui''s face trembled with excitement.

    Coming from a small place with no family background, it would be incredibly difficult for him to make a name for himself without someone recognizing his talent and giving him a boost.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu remember what he said to Wang Hui during their outing at Xiangshan (Fragrant Hills), Chen Liang felt a surge of envy and regret.

    If he hadn''t coveted Jiang Lili before, if he had been more modest during their time at Xiangshan, maybe he would have had this opportunity too.

    Of course, it''s too late to speak of ''ifs'' now, everything has already happened. With someone like Ge Dongxu, not taking issue with him, he should already be grateful; harboring other thoughts would indeed be delusional!

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s eyes suddenly lit up. They naturally also remembered what Ge Dongxu had said before: if they had any aspirations and as long as it wasn''t for a leading or supporting role, he could help them ask around.

    They had taken his words as a joke before, but now they knew it was not.

    ps: I recommend my friend Huo Lao San''s book "The Little Security Guard in Flower City." Readers who like romantic and impressive stories can check it out. Please give your support, thank you.

 Chapter 311 Welcome! Welcome!

    "Xu Ge, the sun is scorching right now. Why not sit in our dorm for a bit? I''ll take a quick shower, and then we can tour the campus," said Jiang Lili as she pulled Ge Dongxu''s hand, when Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were deep in thought.

    Having climbed Fragrant Hills, they naturally sweated quite a bit.

    "Yes, yes, Xu Ge, come sit in our dorm; hehe, it''s a girls'' dorm, and it''s summer!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie immediately used voices meant to tempt someone into committing a crime to lure Ge Dongxu.

    They, of course, hoped to have closer contact with Ge Dongxu.

    A student dormitory was clearly a great place for that.

    The still-present Chen Liang and Wang Hui lit up upon hearing this, their faces full of longing.

    The girls'' dormitory at the university had "always" been a mystical forbidden land that boys yearned for.

    Chen Liang and Wang Hui would be seniors after the summer vacation, yet in three years, apart from the day they welcomed new students, when they could enter the girls'' dorm building openly, they had never been allowed in at any other time, especially not during this season that filled one''s mind with wild thoughts about the girls'' dormitory; the dormitory auntie guarded against them like against thieves, never giving them the slightest chance.

    "No need, no need, you guys go ahead; I''ll just sit in the car for a while," Ge Dongxu said hurriedly, his face unwittingly reddening slightly, his mind still retaining the honest nature of a mountain villager.

    "Come on, Xu Ge, it''s fine, we won''t bite!" Seeing Ge Dongxu actually blush, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, as if they had discovered a new world, immediately moved forward to pull Ge Dongxu along.

    Witnessing this, Chen Liang and Wang Hui almost knelt down in envy and jealousy.

    This was the girls'' dormitory!

    When had it become like the brothels of ancient times, with beauties soliciting openly on the street?

    "Forget it, it''s not appropriate for a guy to go into the girls'' dormitory." Being pulled by two beauties out in the open, plus the deliberate physical contact with their soft and bouncy bodies, even the battle-hardened Ge Dongxu found his face becoming even redder.

    "What''s inappropriate about it, it''s summer vacation!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie insisted without taking no for an answer.

    "Forget it, if Xu Ge feels it''s not convenient, then I won''t go up either," Jiang Lili said.

    "You can''t be serious, how can you accompany Xu Ge all sweaty like that?" Jin Yushan said.

    Jiang Lili frowned slightly upon hearing this, then looked at Ge Dongxu with pleading eyes.

    She really couldn''t bring herself to have Ge Dongxu wait for her in his car downstairs, but what Jin Yushan said did make a lot of sense; feeling uncomfortable herself was one thing, but it wouldn''t be good if Xu Ge felt disgusted.

    "Okay then, but I wonder if the dorm auntie will agree?" Seeing Jiang Lili''s pleading eyes, Ge Dongxu found it hard to refuse, and of course, as a guy, he did feel a bit curious about the girls'' dormitory.

    It''s just that Ge Dongxu was a bit thin-skinned and felt slightly embarrassed about it.

    "No, no, it''s vacation time now!" Before Jin Yushan and the others could answer, a voice came from inside the dormitory building; it was the dorm auntie.

    The dorm auntie was also from Yanjing and was knowledgeable.

    The moment Ge Dongxu''s car parked at the door, she had noticed it.

    Seeing the dazzling red Beijing V license plate in the sunlight, followed by the numbers, her hairs almost stood up on end.

    My goodness, a big shot was visiting today! She wondered which of the three beauties had caught his eye, or maybe all of them?

    Seeing the plump, flirtatious dorm auntie with a smirk on her face, Ge Dongxu had a very familiar sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.

    In front of a brothel, a madam dressed in flashy clothes, heavily made-up, held a handkerchief in her hand...

    "Then, thank you very much." Ge Dongxu didn''t dare to continue imagining the scene, hastily expressing his thanks with goosebumps all over his body.

    "You''re welcome! You''re welcome! Welcome! Welcome!" The dormitory supervisor continued to smile flirtatiously.

    However, when Ge Dongxu was ushered into the dormitory building by Jiang Lili and the other two girls, climbing up the stairs, a male student saw the opportunity and tried to slip in as well, the dormitory supervisor immediately turned into a strict landlady, hands on hips, thrusting out her ample chest and looking down high and mighty at the male student on the steps below.

    "What are you doing? Can''t you see this is the girls'' dormitory? Do you think you can just walk in?"

    "But... that guy in front just went in," the male student pointed to Ge Dongxu''s quickly disappearing figure at the stairway entrance. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Did you see that car over there?" the dormitory supervisor pointed at the Audi.

    "I see it, it''s just an Audi, isn''t it? My family has one too," the male student said with pride.

    "Did you see the license plate?" the dormitory supervisor looked at the male student as if he was an idiot.

    "I saw it, it''s a Yanjing license. If my family lived in Yanjing, I could also drive to school every day," the male student continued, still looking proud.

    "Buddy, come here, let''s step aside for a chat." Wang Hui, who was still quite kind-hearted and couldn''t stand it any longer, stepped forward, fat hand reaching out to drape an arm around the male student''s shoulder, then pointed to Chen Liang''s car still parked in front of the dormitory building, saying, "See that car over there? It''s also got a Yanjing license, but did you notice the font color on the front is different?"

    "What does that have to do with anything?" the male student asked, confused.

    "Does anyone in your family hold a government position?" Wang Hui asked.

    "Yes, my uncle is a local government officer, a vice director," the male student said, his expression turning proud again at the mention.

    "Vice directors are a dime a dozen in Yanjing, but it''s pretty impressive in other places. You should call your uncle and describe the license plate to him, and then you will understand why the dormitory supervisor wouldn''t let you in but did let that guy before you go in," Wang Hui patted the male student''s shoulder before getting into Chen Liang''s car.

    Those capable of getting into Yanjing Media University invariably had some brains, especially those from wealthy families with government officials, tended to have a keener sense of certain matters than the average common folk. Watching Chen Liang speed off, disappearing from sight, the male student finally realized something was off and, unable to resist his curiosity, indeed called his uncle, the vice director.

    His uncle, who did have some insight, mistakenly thought his nephew had offended someone in Yanjing who drove that kind of car and was so frightened his hair stood on end, frantically asking whether he had angered the car''s owner.

    Only when he heard that he hadn''t, did his uncle let out a huge sigh of relief before explaining the significance of the license plate to him.

    Fuck! After hearing his uncle''s explanation, the male student finally understood why the dormitory supervisor had looked at him like he was an idiot.

    It turned out that even if he had been driving a Rolls-Royce, it couldn''t compare at all with that car. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    ¡­

    Jiang Lili and her roommates lived on the third floor.

    It was Ge Dongxu''s first time entering a girls'' dormitory building. Even as a formidable expert from Qimen and a chief-level consultant, he still felt a bit nervous, though it was okay when climbing the stairs.

    Since it was the summer vacation, most of the girls had gone home, and it was rare to encounter any girls on the staircase.

    But upon reaching the third floor and turning into the corridor, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt as if he had entered the realm of women, and not just any realm, but one of an open lifestyle with high beauty standards at that.

    The doors of the dorm rooms were wide open, and several attractive girls in bikinis were gathered around a table snacking and playing cards, similar to a group of men wearing only boxer shorts while smoking and playing cards.

    Faced with a glaring expanse of flesh, undulating like hills, Ge Dongxu got such a fright that he quickly averted his gaze, following Jin Yushan with eyes fixed forward.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu made it to Jiang Lili''s dorm safely in the end, without meeting any women wandering around the corridors in bikinis, or it really would have been embarrassing for him.

 Chapter 313 312 Chapter Lets talk about this later.

    After entering Jiang Lili''s dormitory and seeing the colorful bedding on the beds, Ge Dongxu was taken aback when he saw Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie exclaiming, "It''s so hot, I need to take a shower right away," and then began undressing in front of him. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fortunately, Jiang Lili knew Ge Dongxu''s temperament. Before Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie could take off their outer clothes, she quickly rushed over and gently hit them, saying, "Hey, don''t you see Dongxu is in the room? Really."

    "Hehe, Dongxu is not an outsider. If he sees, he sees. It''s a good chance for him to help us judge if our figures are good or not!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said nonchalantly.

    Ge Dongxu broke into sweat, thinking that women in the entertainment circle are indeed formidable!

    Still, Jiang Lili understood Ge Dongxu well. She glared at Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, who were about to continue undressing, and whispered, "Dongxu doesn''t like this."

    At her words, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s faces turned slightly red, and they shyly stole a glance at Ge Dongxu, who wasn''t looking at them but was gazing out the window instead.

    Just as expected! For someone as awesome as him, we could only be considered mundane and not worthy of his Dharma Eye!

    The two of them felt ashamed and sighed internally, then put down their hands that were about to undress.

    The dormitory building was an old-style dorm building, and the rooms did not have private bathrooms or showers, so they had to shower in a communal area.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie went to take their showers first, leaving Jiang Lili and Ge Dongxu alone in the room.

    The room, meant for four people, wasn''t large, and the atmosphere suddenly felt somewhat ambiguous.

    "Dongxu!" Jiang Lili moved closer, her breathing a bit rapid.

    But when Jiang Lili made a further move, Ge Dongxu suddenly stood up.

    "Dongxu!" Jiang Lili saw Ge Dongxu suddenly stand up, and the flush on her face immediately faded, leaving only paleness.

    "I still feel we need to calm down. You still need to seriously consider our relationship," Ge Dongxu said.

    "I have thought it through very clearly. Unless Dongxu thinks I''m just not acceptable and have no feelings for me at all, I won''t change my initial decision," said Jiang Lili, biting her lip and staring palely at Ge Dongxu.

    "You should know that I have feelings for you, but romantic matters..." Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "That''s already enough for me!" Jiang Lili rushed forward and hugged Ge Dongxu''s waist tightly, as if she were saying goodbye at graduation.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help his heart race faster.

    "Dongxu, why don''t I give myself to you tonight?" Feeling Ge Dongxu''s heartbeat, Jiang Lili said in a low voice, blushing and moving her red lips close to his ear.

    "You should know I''m not an ordinary person. These recent years, I haven''t been suitable for breaking my body¡ªthat''s a matter for later," Ge Dongxu gently pushed Jiang Lili away and said.

    Having seen Ge Dongxu''s skills at the Changxi Grand Hotel and remembering the Heart-Cleansing Talisman he had given her during their college entrance exams, Jiang Lili wasn''t surprised when he said he wasn''t an ordinary person, but it merely confirmed her suspicions from those days. Discover more content at My Virtual Library Empire

    However, hearing Ge Dongxu say he wasn''t suitable for losing his virginity was quite a shock to Jiang Lili, who blurted out, "You''re still a virgin?"

    "Is that so strange?" Ge Dongxu, seeing the surprised look on Jiang Lili''s face, said with a laugh.

    "No, I just thought given your capabilities, you would have already..." Jiang Lili stuttered, her face red.

    At this, Ge Dongxu started to feel a bit embarrassed.

    Indeed, if it weren''t for the needs of his cultivation, he would have lost his virginity by now.

    At eighteen, in a Western developed country, claiming to still be a virgin might be mocked, but in Huaxia Country, it was indeed a bit early.

    "Alright, stop daydreaming. When you''re with me in the future, try to minimize the intimate gestures. I''m worried I won''t be able to control myself," Ge Dongxu interrupted.

    Jiang Lili''s figure was very much like that of Western women, very voluptuous and quite a distraction.

    "Ah!" At his words, Jiang Lili''s sexy mouth opened wide, and she looked at Ge Dongxu as tears began to stream uncontrollably from her eyes.

    "What''s wrong?" Ge Dongxu, seeing Jiang Lili''s tears flowing incessantly, was taken aback.

    "No, nothing, I''m just happy! I didn''t realize I had such a strong attraction to you, Dongxu! Hehe!" Saying this, Jiang Lili wiped her tears and began to laugh.

    Seeing Jiang Lili suddenly laugh, Ge Dongxu gently embraced her, kissed her forehead, and said affectionately, "Of course you''re attractive, always have been."

    "Can I come in?" Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

 Chapter 313 Yes, Its Him [Requesting Monthly Votes]

    "Come in," Ge Dongxu replied.

    As Ge Dongxu''s voice trailed off, the door was pushed open, and Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie walked in.

    The two who had just taken showers emitted a faint scent of shower gel and shampoo, plus a few droplets of water still hanging on their hair tips, which fell onto their chests, outlining an enticing silhouette that was particularly seductive.

    "Lili, you can go take a shower now. We''ll keep Dongxu company," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said with a smile.

    "Dongxu, I''ll go take a shower then," Jiang Lili told Ge Dongxu. Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Go ahead," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    ...

    Once Jiang Lili left, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat ambiguous, as Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie still somewhat stubbornly surrounded Ge Dongxu from left and right.

    The light fragrance from the showers kept drilling into Ge Dongxu''s nostrils, and given that Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were both quite curvaceous and good-looking, their unintentional seductive gestures and coquettish voices made it hard to believe that Ge Dongxu could remain indifferent and desireless. If not, there would either be something wrong with his body, or perhaps his orientation.

    Fortunately, Jiang Lili cared deeply for Ge Dongxu, hurried back after a quick shower to the dormitory, which greatly relieved Ge Dongxu. He stood up and suggested, "Let''s go for a walk around the campus."

    "Yes, let''s do that!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie exclaimed eagerly.

    Thus, Ge Dongxu left the girls'' dormitory accompanied by Jiang Lili and the two others. He looked back at the mysterious place that countless male students yearned for, feeling as if he was back in the daylight once more.

    Thankfully, only he knew this feeling, or else he would''ve been mobbed by the male students of the Media Studies department!

    The campus wasn''t large, but it was shaded with green trees and featured a small, ripple-filled lake, making it a beautiful campus.

    Being surrounded by three girls, Ge Dongxu inevitably attracted envious, jealous, and resentful gazes from the male students.

    Luckily, there weren''t many students on campus during the summer break, so the number of such gazes was limited.

    "I do know some people over in Beijing, but you are still students after all. Your main focus should still be on studying. Even if you want to enter the entertainment circle early, it should be done step by step. It would be too much to ask him to step in. I''m thinking of bringing up your situation with Wu Longcai from the Jiangnan Province Entertainment TV Station when I get back to Jiangnan. Maybe he can check if there are any suitable roles for you and give you a recommendation," as they walked and stopped around the campus, Ge Dongxu said.

    "Wu Longcai? Are you referring to the Director Wu Longcai of the Jiangnan Province Entertainment TV Station, who recently became famous across Huaxia Country for ''The Happy Female Voice''?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, naturally hoping that Ge Dongxu could introduce them to some insiders in Beijing, felt a bit disappointed initially seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t plan to do so. However, their excitement skyrocketed upon hearing the name Wu Longcai.

    With ''The Happy Female Voice,'' a singing competition, becoming hugely successful, Wu Longcai, the director of this local entertainment TV station, also rose to prominence, becoming a hotshot in the entertainment industry.

    For students like Jin Yushan, a director of his caliber was an unattainable figure they could only look up to, hardly someone they could normally come into contact with. Recommending a supporting female role for them would be effortless for him.

    "Yes, that''s him. I''m quite familiar with him, so it''s convenient to talk," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    He was indeed close to Wu Longcai, whose achievements today could be attributed to his keen eye when he boldly overpaid to sponsor ''The Happy Female Voice,'' enabling Wu Longcai to showcase his talent and make the show a major success.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu''s returns were very rich as well. Not only did Qinghe Herbal Tea''s sales skyrocket with the huge success of ''The Happy Female Voice'' to the point of selling out, but he also held the priority rights for sponsoring the next season of ''The Happy Female Voice.'' No matter how high others bid next year, if Ge Dongxu offered twenty million, the station would have to give him the sponsorship rights.

    A few days ago, Cheng Yazhou had specifically called Ge Dongxu to mention that Wu Longcai had told him privately that several businesses had approached him to negotiate the sponsorship for next year''s ''The Happy Female Voice,'' with very high bids, including one from a major state-owned company offering thirty million.

    When the topic of thirty million came up, Cheng Yazhou was all smiles, saying that Ge Dongxu had a keen eye, earning the naming rights was like making ten million.

    "Thank you, Brother Dongxu, thank you, Brother Dongxu. Rest assured, we definitely won''t let you down. We will try our best." Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, after receiving a definite answer, excitedly bowed repeatedly to Ge Dongxu, revealing a swath of fair skin at their chests.

    "You don''t need to thank me. I just hope that when you become famous, you will remember that you were once just students and not put on airs like big stars," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Yes, we will definitely remember Brother Dongxu''s words today," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said seriously for once.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then turned to Jiang Lili and asked, "What are your plans?"

    His relationship with Jiang Lili was special; naturally, he wouldn''t treat her the same as he did Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu ask Jiang Lili, envy appeared in the eyes of Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie.

    They clearly understood that Ge Dongxu had merely given them a chance. Whether they could seize this opportunity still depended on their own efforts, just like they had been trying to please Ge Dongxu all along.

    But it was different for Jiang Lili¡ªwith Ge Dongxu''s strong support, even if she didn''t try hard, she was guaranteed to make a name for herself in this lifetime!

    "I want to try on my own," Jiang Lili said calmly as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "Lili, are you out of your mind? Don''t you know how difficult it is to become famous in our circle?" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said, looking at Jiang Lili in shock.

    Jiang Lili didn''t respond to her roommates; she only looked at Ge Dongxu.

    On the night of their graduation farewell, Jiang Lili had already told Ge Dongxu that she would try hard to become an outstanding woman.

    She hadn''t changed her mind.

    Because she knew she was just an ordinary woman, at least in comparison to Ge Dongxu. If she didn''t try hard, she really didn''t know how she could face him or what right she would have to be his woman.

    She wanted to prove herself through her efforts!

    "If you insist, then alright. But remember to tell me if anything happens. Don''t suffer in silence," Ge Dongxu said as he gazed into Jiang Lili''s eyes and finally nodded after a long while.

    He could see the ingrained insecurity that Jiang Lili held deep in her heart whenever she faced him. If he didn''t let her try on her own, that insecurity might never fade.

    He would just have to see how things went and, if necessary, secretly create some opportunities for her.

    "I know, I''m not stupid," Jiang Lili retorted coquettishly as she held onto Ge Dongxu''s arm, rolling her eyes at him while feeling overjoyed inside.

    "And they say I''m not stupid. With Brother Dongxu, the great enabler here, if it were me, I''d have long since... Ah... my foot!" Jin Yushan scoffed back at Jiang Lili, but before she could finish her sentence, a sedan raced rapidly toward her, causing her to shriek in alarm and quickly dodge to the side. In her haste, she twisted her ankle and fell to the ground, landing squarely on her bottom.

    The car, however, zoomed past her and then screeched to a halt with a "squeal," stopping about twenty or thirty meters away in front of a library.

    A young man wearing sunglasses and clad in designer clothes stepped out of the car, not even glancing at Jin Yushan, who was sitting on the ground due to his reckless driving, looked up at the library building, and quickly walked towards the library.

    ps: That''s all for the triple updates today. Please recommend and support with your monthly votes. Thanks a lot.

 Chapter 314 Say That Again?

    "Sir, don''t you owe that beautiful girl an apology?" Just as Xu Yunxiang was quickly heading toward the library, a young man stopped him, with a trace of displeasure on his face.

    The young man was naturally Ge Dongxu.

    "Are you mistaken, classmate? It was her who fell by herself, why should I apologize? Now, move aside, I''m in a rush!" Xu Yunxiang couldn''t believe that there were still students who dared to obstruct him in the School of Media, demanding an apology to a girl, which made him frown, glance disdainfully at him through his sunglasses, and then said impatiently.

    "Don''t you think it''s your fault for driving so fast on campus?" Ge Dongxu''s brows were also slightly furrowed, and his face was growing angrier. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He had thought this young man hadn''t seen Jin Yushan fall because he was driving too fast, but it turned out he knew, which made it even more detestable.

    "What a joke, it was her walking too much in the middle, what does that have to do with me? And who are you, which department and class do you belong to?" Xu Yunxiang wouldn''t bow down and admit his mistake to a student, especially since Ge Dongxiang had such an accusatory demeanor, which made him feel offended and angrily took off his sunglasses, pointing at Ge Dongxu and asked.

    The last sentence already had a threatening and intimidating tone.

    "Xu Yunxiang!" Just as Ge Dongxu''s irritation was intensifying at seeing this guy''s arrogant attitude after doing something wrong, exclamations from Jin Yushan and the others came from behind him.

    "So it''s Xu Yunxiang, no wonder he looked somewhat familiar!" Ge Dongxu said, frowning.

    In the last two years, Xu Yunxiang had acted in two relatively popular TV shows and a movie, and was seen in many advertisements, but Ge Dongxu wasn''t interested in those things, so he only felt that the person in front of him looked familiar, but it didn''t occur to him that this was the Xu Yunxiang Chen Liang had mentioned before.

    "Hmph! And here I thought you juniors didn''t recognize me anymore. Walk closer to the side in the future, and you, keep your eyes peeled next time. I''ll let it slide this time!" Xu Yunxiang saw the three girls who arrived later shouting out his name and became even more arrogant.

    After all, not only was he a senior to these juniors, but he was also currently a popular idol in the entertainment industry.

    How dare you, a student with no fame at all, stop him and demand an apology, do you even want to survive in the entertainment industry in the future?

    "Hey, what kind of attitude is that? Speeding in the campus and scaring someone into twisting their ankle, and you''re the one in the right, aren''t you?" Jiang Lili, who naturally had a fiery temperament, seeing Xu Yunxiang''s arrogance, stepped in front of Ge Dongxu and scolded him with a tense face.

    "Lili, let it be, it''s just a slight twist of the ankle." Jin Yushan was still somewhat intimidated by Xu Yunxiang, a popular celebrity, and quickly pulled Jiang Lili back upon seeing this.

    Lin Sijie also hurriedly tugged at Jiang Lili.

    The two of them didn''t have a backer like Ge Dongxu, and while Jiang Lili could afford to offend Xu Yunxiang, they certainly couldn''t. Moreover, there were rumors in the school that Xu Yunxiang had a good relationship with Fang Wanyue.

    Although Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie would strip naked without hesitation to sleep with Ge Dongxu, just to cling to him, they truly didn''t believe that he could compare to Fang Wanyue in terms of status.

    For Fang Wanyue not only had a father who was a leader at the Broadcasting and Television Administration, overseeing the very people like them who aspired to make a mark in the entertainment industry, but she also possessed a grandfather by the surname of Feng.

    The latter was once one of the peak figures who commanded great influence in the political scene of Huaxia Country. Even though he had already retired, a mere stomp from him would still reverberate throughout the entire political landscape of Huaxia Country.

    Even if Ge Dongxu was impressive, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie would never believe he could surpass Fang Wanyue, who had such a distinguished grandfather.

    After all, in Huaxia Country, there were only a few families that could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Feng Family, and their surnames were renowned nationwide. Although Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were still university students, they were nonetheless involved in the entertainment circle and interacted with different people. Living in a city that loved discussing politics and high-level gossip, they had heard about those notable families and the prominent names of their younger generations. Definitely, there was no such surname as Ge, nor the name Ge Dongxu.

    Of course, even if Ge Dongxu''s name wasn''t on that list, being able to drive a car with a Beijing V license plate at a young age, he was certainly an impressive figure to them, who were still at the bottom of the entertainment industry.

    He just couldn''t be compared to the likes of Fang Wanyue, who was born into the very top of elite aristocracy.

    When Xu Yunxiang saw Jiang Lili recognize him yet dared to point at him and berate him, he was initially taken aback, but noticing the wary looks of Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie as they pulled Jiang Lili back, and recalling his increasingly cordial relationship with Fang Wanyue, he felt no more reservations and arrogantly pointed back at Jiang Lili, "Which eye of yours saw me speeding? Which department are you from? What''s your name? Who''s your class advisor?"

    Xu Yunxiang had not become so infatuated with his sudden fame that he lost all sense. He knew to protect his own reputation. Thus, while he spoke, he not only left room for himself, denying the speeding allegation, but he also began to probe for Jiang Lili''s information, clearly with a threatening intention.

    "Not even the basic principles of being a person, I don''t know how someone like you became famous," Ge Dongxu said, his face darkening completely as he saw that Xu Yunxiang, instead of admitting fault and apologizing, was instead threatening Jiang Lili.

    "What did you say? Have the guts to repeat that?" Xu Yunxiang more furious than ever when faced with Ge Dongxu''s direct ridicule and belittlement.

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    "Bro Yunxiang! Bro Yunxiang! What are you doing?" Just as Xu Yunxiang was enraged, someone hastily ran over and grabbed hold of him.

    "Bro Dongxu, I''m sorry, I''m really sorry, Bro Yunxiang might have some misunderstandings," Chen Liang hurriedly apologized to Ge Dongxu after grabbing Xu Yunxiang.

    "There are no misunderstandings, what he needs to do is quite simple: apologize to Jin Yushan for his behavior just now," Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "Chen Liang, what the hell are you doing?" Xu Yunxiang, of course, recognized his junior Chen Liang, and noticing that he was holding him back and apologizing to Ge Dongxu, felt a sudden unease. However, he had risen to stardom over the past two years, having met many influential people and growing increasingly close to Fang Wanyue, even showing signs of a budding romantic relationship. His arrogance had inflated tremendously. Although he realized something was off, he did not yield.

    Seeing Xu Yunxiang''s tone was still confrontational, Chen Liang quickly whispered a few words in his ear.

 Chapter 315 Wanyue, Youre Here

    Xu Yunxiang''s expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

    He was aware that those who could drive such license plate cars were not ordinary people.

    Of course, he was not a small figure like Chen Liang, and he took pride in having made connections with many children of wealthy and influential families over the past two years, especially as his relationship with Fang Wanyue had grown increasingly close. He was not like Chen Liang, who would start sweating profusely upon seeing that license plate.

    Of course, this also had to do with the fact that he had never heard the name Ge Dongxu before.

    Still, no matter what, a tinge of wariness rose in Xu Yunxiang''s heart.

    "So it''s Young Master Ge. There might have been a little misunderstanding just now. Let''s forget about this matter, and I''ll treat you to tea another day," Xu Yunxiang said, indirectly apologizing to Ge Dongxu.

    "No need, I only need you to apologize to Jin Yushan in person," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Xu Yunxiang''s behavior had already caused Ge Dongxu to feel extremely disgusted, and he naturally had no intention of having tea with him.

    By this time, the commotion here had drawn the attention of some students, with many looking over and pointing at them, with Xu Yunxiang being the one pointed at the most.

    Because he was a famous celebrity who had emerged from the School of Communication, many people recognized him.

    Xu Yunxiang saw that he had already lowered his stance, but Ge Dongxu was still unwilling to let it go, insisting that he apologize to Jin Yushan face to face, which immediately made him feel that he was losing face, especially with many people watching the situation here.

    Xu Yunxiang''s expression became very unsightly as he looked at Ge Dongxu without responding.

    The atmosphere became a bit tense.

    "Let it go, Dongxu. My ankle actually isn''t twisted that badly," Jin Yushan said gently, tugging at Ge Dongxu and speaking cautiously.

    She was fearful of Xu Yunxiang and didn''t want Ge Dongxu to become enemies with Xu Yunxiang over such a trifling matter for her sake.

    In Jin Yushan''s view, she was just a minor character, and not worth these important figures quarrelling and harboring resentment for her.

    Of course, her heart was already filled with gratitude toward Ge Dongxu!

    Seeing that Jin Yushan clearly didn''t dare to blow the matter up, Xu Yunxiang''s mind stirred, a slight smirk of satisfaction curling up on his lips, as he thought he understood something.

    Just then, Xu Yunxiang''s phone rang again. He picked it up and saw that it was a call from Fang Wanyue, and his smirk grew thicker.

    "What''s happening, you haven''t arrived yet?" Fang Wanyue''s slightly dissatisfied voice came through as he answered the phone.

    "I''m here, Wanyue, right in front of the library. But there''s someone who''s relying on a bit of family background, and is currently being difficult with me," Xu Yunxiang said, deliberately glancing at Ge Dongxu while saying ''Wanyue'' with a purposely clear enunciation.

    "Really? Who is it? I''ll come over right away," Fang Wanyue said immediately upon hearing this.

    "It would be best if you could come. Otherwise, I''m just an actor, and they don''t take me seriously," Xu Yunxiang said, his face showing an even bolder look of self-satisfaction.

    "Alright, I''m coming out to have a look," Fang Wanyue said and hung up the phone, then hurriedly left the library.

    Xu Yunxiang calmly tucked his phone away. Jin Yushan, Lin Sijie, and Jiang Lili''s faces had all turned a bit pale, while Chen Liang''s eyes shone with a glint of anticipation and schadenfreude.

    Although Xu Yunxiang did not mention a surname just now, it did not prevent them from associating the name Wanyue with Fang Wanyue, the girl from the top-tier family at the academy.

    And Xu Yunxiang''s phone call¡ªthat intimate form of address¡ªalso amounted to a certain level of verification for some rumors about his relationship with Fang Wanyue at the academy.

    "Young Master Ge, it''s the same as what I said before, let''s just let this matter go, I''ll treat you to tea another day," Xu Yunxiang said as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    This time, he was no longer nervous but carried a hint of pride, as if he was already giving Ge Dongxu a lot of face.

    Indeed, with Elder Feng''s granddaughter stepping in, how many young people in the capital wouldn''t show respect?

    Not to mention the young man in front of him whose name wasn''t widely known!

    A Ge surname, were there any standout figures with this surname in the capital?

    Maybe as soon as he saw Fang Wanyue, he would have to kneel immediately!

    "Brother Dongxu, let it go, please let it go," Jin Yushan was on the verge of tears.

    "Brother Dongxu!" Jiang Lili also gently tugged at Ge Dongxu''s clothes and said worriedly.

    Seeing the three women''s faces turn pale with fear, Xu Yunxiang knew they had guessed who was on the phone; his look towards Ge Dongxu became even more smug, even carrying a hint of condescension.

    "I''ll say it again, apologize to this student, Jin Yushan." Ge Dongxu lightly patted Jiang Lili''s hand that was holding his own and said coldly to Xu Yunxiang, his eyes filled with disdain.

    "Young Master Ge, don''t go too far. I don''t know your true background, but let me remind you, the waters in the capital run deep, and there are far more than just you who can drive a car with a Beijing V license plate. Besides, this car of yours was arranged for you by your family, or maybe you''re just borrowing it from an elder in your family, so why put on such an air of importance? Is it worth creating such a stir over a young girl?" Xu Yunxiang, seeing that Ge Dongxu was uncooperative, simply dropped all pretense of civility and confronted him directly.

    Seeing Xu Yunxiang speak like this, the faces of Jin Yushan and the other two girls paled even further, while Chen Liang''s eyes brimmed with more schadenfreude.

    "Yunxiang, what''s going on?" Just as Xu Yunxiang finished speaking, a voice rang out.

    "Wanyue, you''re here! Look at this, what''s happening here? I was on time, just about to head to the library when this person..." Xu Yunxiang, hearing the voice behind him, felt a surge of joy and hastily turned around to speak.

    "Dongxu, what are you doing here?" before Xu Yunxiang could finish his sentence, Fang Wanyue interrupted with a voice full of surprise and delight.

    "Ah, Wanyue, you know him?" Xu Yunxiang exclaimed in shock.

    "Of course," Fang Wanyue replied.

    "Haha, it turns out it''s a case of ''a flood washing over the Dragon King Temple¡ªone family member failing to recognize another.'' I misunderstood, Young Master Ge, I apologize for earlier," Xu Yunxiang, true to his nature as an actor, changed his attitude and expression with a rapid 180-degree turn when he saw Fang Wanyue knew Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu knew Fang Wanyue, Jiang Lili and the other two girls secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and their looks towards Ge Dongxu became noticeably different, while Chen Liang was naturally somewhat disappointed¡ªand also secretly relieved that he hadn''t spoken out of turn.

    "Yes, yes, we''re all family here. Since it''s all a misunderstanding, let''s just let it go, don''t you agree, Dongxu?" Fang Wanyue said as she looked at Ge Dongxu. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as Fang Wanyue spoke these words, everyone present, except for Ge Dongxu, was shocked.

    Because Fang Wanyue''s tone clearly contained a hint of negotiation and request, but the problem is, she''s Elder Feng''s granddaughter!

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    For such a trivial matter, for a person of her level to step in and speak was already giving face, so why would she need to use such a tone of negotiation and request?

 Chapter 316 Your Friend Has Character Issues [Vote for Monthly Ticket]

    Especially Xu Yunxiang, whose face changed instantly, and his forehead started to break out in a cold sweat.

    In the entertainment industry, there has always been a complicated and extensive connection with the privileged elite. As a popular idol these past two years, Xu Yunxiang had also come into contact with some of the young elites in the higher societal circles. He knew very well that among these young people born into wealthy and powerful families, although their interactions seemed casual on the surface, there was actually a very distinct hierarchy of social status.

    Language like negotiating and requesting, as Fang Wanyue had used, generally only appeared when the parties were of equal standing, or even when the other party was of a higher status.

    This was quite normal. For a top-ranking third-generation elite like Feng Chenqing, it was impossible to speak with a requesting tone to the offspring of anyone lower than a provincial or ministerial level. Feng Chenqing would only speak in a tone of negotiation or request if they were dealing with someone whose background was comparable to that of the Feng Family.

    Though Fang Wanyue could not be compared with the Feng Family''s eldest grandson, she was nonetheless Elder Feng''s granddaughter, and her status among the third generation was still exceptionally distinguished.

    For her to use a requesting tone with Ge Dongxu, what did that imply?

    As long as Xu Yunxiang had not lost his mind, he would understand that Ge Dongxu was certainly not someone he, a mere actor, could afford to offend or contend with.

    Fortunately, judging by Fang Wanyue''s attitude, she seemed to be on his side and was relatively close to him. Having her as a card to play, Xu Yunxiang managed to avoid having to immediately kneel.

    "Yes, yes, it was all a misunderstanding. I sincerely apologize to Jin Yushan," Xu Yunxiang hurriedly followed up on Fang Wanyue''s words, though he didn''t literally kneel, he wouldn''t dare to behave arrogantly in front of Ge Dongxu now, even if he had the courage of a lion.

    With that said, he actually walked up to Jin Yushan, respectfully bowed, and said, "I''m sorry, Jin Yushan."

    "Dongxu, Yunxiang is my friend. Look, he has apologized. Can we just let this matter go, please?" Fang Wanyue saw Xu Yunxiang seize the opportunity quickly and quietly breathed a sigh of relief. She then stepped forward, grabbed Ge Dongxu''s arm, and started to sway it as she spoke.

    She had no other choice. This was her grandfather''s junior brother, after all!

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    Not to mention her friend. Even if someone was a friend of her parents, if they offended him, they would have no option but to yield.

    Of course, Fang Wanyue was not yet aware of another identity of Ge Dongxu''s. Her mother was somewhat better positioned, matching Ge Dongxu''s status, but her father was of a lower status than him. If they managed to offend him, even without the connection to Elder Feng, they would still have no choice but to yield.

    Witnessing Fang Wanyue holding onto Ge Dongxu''s arm and swaying it, with a strong air of coquettishness emanating from her, Jiang Lili and the others almost had their hearts stop beating, their eyes fixated on Fang Wanyue''s hand holding Ge Dongxu''s arm.

    Is this really the young miss of the Fang Family? Is her grandfather truly Elder Feng?

    At this point, Xu Yunxiang''s knees almost buckled, and he nearly knelt down!

    Oh heavens! To this day, I''ve not even touched this lady''s hand, and yet she''s holding onto his arm and won''t stop shaking it!

    Who have I actually offended?

    Xu Yunxiang''s heart pounded tumultuously, yet his complexion was turning a ghastly shade of pale green.

    Of course, at this point, everyone assumed that the matter should simply be let go.

    Indeed, with the young miss of the Fang Family deploying her womanly weapon of coquetry, even if Ge Dongxu was among the topmost elites of the capital, he would have to give face and let bygones be bygones at this juncture.

    In fact, when Ge Dongxu saw Fang Wanyue making such a request, he really felt it wouldn''t be right to embarrass her over such a small issue. Patting her little hand, he smiled and said, "Alright, alright. It was only a minor issue to begin with, if he had had a better attitude from the start, I wouldn''t have even bothered with him. Since you''ve stepped in and he has apologized, let''s put this matter to rest."

    "Thank you," Fang Wanyue let go of his hand and smiled sweetly at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu smiled back and cast a glance at Xu Yunxiang, a flash of disgust in his eyes, and said, "However, this friend of yours has questionable character, which I don''t like. It''s best if you don''t associate with him. Alright, let''s continue touring the campus, you can go about your business."

    Having said that, Ge Dongxu didn''t wait to see whether Fang Wanyue was listening or not, and took Jiang Lili and the others toward the lake.

    Watching the backs of Ge Dongxu and Jiang Lili with her three companions slowly moving away, the smile on Fang Wanyue''s face gradually faded. She turned to Xu Yunxiang and asked, "Can you tell me what just happened?"

    "It''s really nothing much, just that Dongxu''s friend was walking too close to the middle of the road. When I drove by, she accidentally twisted her ankle, and then Dongxu insisted that I apologize to her. I wasn''t convinced and said a few words, and he wouldn''t let it go. Luckily you were here, otherwise, I would''ve been at a disadvantage today. By the way, who exactly is he? Why do even you..." Xu Yunxiang explained with a wry smile on his face.

    Of course, he was going to defend his own side and wouldn''t disclose the full truth.

    "It seems he was right; your character really is lacking. Alright, you can go now, from now on I have nothing to do with you," Fang Wanyue cut Xu Yunxiang off coldly before he could finish speaking.

    "Wanyue, what do you mean by that? The facts are as I''ve said! How can you judge my character based on a single word from that person just now? Isn''t that a bit too arbitrary?" Upon hearing this, Xu Yunxiang''s face changed drastically, and he felt an indescribable sense of indignation.

    He was confident in the veracity and performance of his own words; there should have been no slip-ups.

    Unfortunately, Xu Yunxiang, even with a wild imagination, could never have guessed that Ge Dongxu was actually Elder Feng''s junior brother, had a net worth of hundreds of millions, and possessed special Techniques. Xu Yunxiang''s words subtly depicted him as a domineering, bullying young master of a wealthy family, which, when heard by Fang Wanyue, essentially felt like an insult to her intelligence.

    If Ge Dongxu were such a person, would her grandfather have acknowledged him as his junior brother?

    If Ge Dongxu were such a person, could he have earned a fortune of several hundreds of millions at a young age?

    Moreover, in Fang Wanyue''s eyes, Ge Dongxu was also a remarkable person who knew the "Six Meridians Divine Sword." If he really were a domineering bully, would he need to talk so much nonsense with Xu Yunxiang? A single finger would have been enough to pin him to the ground begging for mercy! Would he really need to politely ask for an apology?

    "Enough! Who do you think you are? He would bully you just because he has power over you? You really think too highly of yourself! Let me tell you the truth, it''s not just your friend who is beneath me, even if it were my oldest cousin, if he wanted to hit you, all you could do is take the beating! Bullying because of power? Are you insulting me?" Fang Wanyue interrupted coldly, with a scornful curl of her lip, before turning and walking away.

    Watching Fang Wanyue walk away, Xu Yunxiang stood there feeling as if he had plunged into an ice pit, the words she had said before she left echoing in his ears.

    He certainly understood who Fang Wanyue''s oldest cousin was!

    But the implication in Fang Wanyue''s words couldn''t be clearer: even if her oldest cousin were involved today, he would be in no position to do anything but negotiate and make requests!

    Chen Liang, who had not yet left, was completely petrified by shock!

    He couldn''t even dare to imagine what kind of status Ge Dongxu held!

    ps: Continuing to ask for monthly votes and recommendation votes, there will be an update at midnight on Monday, thank you very much.

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 Chapter 317 Your Role is Canceled [Request for Recommendation Tickets]

    When Xu Yunxiang felt like he had plunged into an ice cellar, Fang Wanyue was on her way back to the library, dialing the phone number of her best friend, Lin Jingwen, the heiress of the Yuanbo Group.

    She was the same girl who had stood at the villa entrance to greet guests with Fang Wanyue during the charity gala that Ge Dongxu had attended last time.

    "Oh, isn''t our Miss Fang supposed to personally deliver the good news to Brother Xu today? Why do you have time to call me?" As soon as the call connected, Lin Jingwen''s teasing voice came through.

    "Enough, don''t make me sick. That drama your family invested in, change the lead actor," said Fang Wanyue, her brows slightly furrowed.

    "What''s wrong, my Miss Fang? Wasn''t it you who insisted on recommending Xu Yunxiang to me? Now that negotiations with him are nearly complete, I specifically wanted you to give him a heads-up today, to make him owe you a favor. Why have you suddenly changed your mind? Did he make you angry?" Lin Jingwen asked, puzzled.

    "Forget it. I misread him; his character is no good," Fang Wanyue said.

    "Really? Did he get fresh with you? That''s understandable, you know, men... when they can''t control themselves," Lin Jingwen continued to tease, thinking it was just a lovers'' quarrel, not taking it to heart.

    "Lin Jingwen, what on earth are you thinking? I''m not in any kind of boyfriend-girlfriend relationship with him. I simply appreciated him for his worth, but his behavior today was so disappointing, I don''t want my connection to be the reason he gets ahead for nothing," Fang Wanyue said.

    "What exactly did he do to change your opinion of him so suddenly?" Lin Jingwen asked, now realizing that the situation wasn''t so simple and her tone became serious.

    "He wouldn''t dare do anything to me, but he offended Ge Dongxu without knowing it, and that made me see his true character. So from now on, he and I have nothing to do with each other," Fang Wanyue declared.

    "No way, that''s so ruthless! Wait, Ge Dongxu? You mean the guy who came with your cousin to the charity gala last time and directly bid 500,000 for your turquoise earrings, then returned them to you and vanished without a trace?" Lin Jingwen exclaimed in surprise.

    "''That guy,'' ''that guy,'' it''s Ge Dongxu!" Fang Wanyue corrected irritably.

    That was her grandfather''s junior brother, after all!

    "Okay, okay, so the true love of Miss Fang is still Ge Dongxu. Xu Yunxiang really doesn''t know what''s good for him, offending anyone but him! I got it; I''ll find someone else. These days, it''s hard to find a truly skilled and suitable movie star, but it''s easy to find an idol-type pretty boy," Lin Jingwen laughed.

    "Lin Jingwen, I''m warning you seriously once again, you can joke about anyone you want, but you''re not allowed to joke about me and him, or else we can no longer be friends," Fang Wanyue warned angrily as Lin Jingwen took up teasing her about Ge Dongxu again.

    "Fine, fine, I won''t joke about you two, but can you at least tell me what kind of background Ge Dongxu has?" Seeing that Fang Wanyue wasn''t joking, Lin Jingwen didn''t dare to continue, but her curiosity was piqued even more.

    At the charity gala last time, she had seen Ge Dongxu casually spend 500,000 to bid for the turquoise earrings and return them to Fang Wanyue. Similar jests had been made, but Fang Wanyue had seemed a bit angry, so she didn''t continue to press the issue afterwards. Now, seeing Fang Wanyue change her high regard for Xu Yunxiang so drastically for Ge Dongxu, she couldn''t help but bring up the subject again.

    "Don''t ask so many questions. If I could tell you, I would have already told you," Fang Wanyue said.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu''s true identity couldn''t be casually revealed, or it would cause an immediate sensation. What Lin Jingwen wanted to know was clearly Ge Dongxu''s real identity.

    "Alright, I wonder how long you plan to keep it a secret!" Lin Jingwen said, sounding resigned.

    The two best friends chatted for a bit more before hanging up.

    After hanging up, Lin Jingwen thought for a moment and called the director of the movie that Yuanbo Group was planning to invest in.

    The movie''s production cost wasn''t very high; it could only be considered a medium investment and wasn''t some kind of blockbuster New Year''s film. It was mainly overseen by Lin Jingwen.

    In terms of casting, besides a few big-name directors, the real decision-making power often lies with the investors. Of course, under normal circumstances, the investors tend to respect the director''s professional judgment. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Xu Yunxiang was recommended to the director by Lin Jingwen because of Fang Wanyue, and now, for the same reason, Lin Jingwen had to kick him out. When Lin Jingwen made the call, she couldn''t help but picture Ge Dongxu in her mind.

    She was really curious about what kind of person Ge Dongxu was to have such a big influence on Fang Wanyue!

    Xu Yunxiang wasn''t the male lead, he was more of a secondary male character, plus with the investors speaking up, there was naturally no problem on the director''s end. In fact, the director had even more power to choose his cast.

    However, the director knew Xu Yunxiang''s inclusion in the cast had something to do with Miss Fang of the Fang Family, so he still had some reservations and deliberately warned, "If we replace Xu Yunxiang, won''t that upset Miss Fang?"

    "It looks like Xu Yunxiang hasn''t stopped mentioning his relationship with Fang Wanyue! Don''t worry, this is Fang Wanyue''s idea," replied Lin Jingwen.

    The director was a smart man; upon hearing this, he understood that Xu Yunxiang must have offended Fang Wanyue. Not only would he not be able to use this guy for his current movie, but he also wouldn''t be able to work with him in any future projects.

    Fang Wanyue''s father was a leader at the Broadcasting Authority, who just happened to be in charge of the film and television sector! Not to mention her maternal grandfather''s family was one of the most influential families in the capital city.

    So, after hanging up with Lin Jingwen, the director immediately dialed Xu Yunxiang''s number.

    At the time the director called, Xu Yunxiang was asking Chen Liang about Ge Dongxu''s background.

    "Director Wang, hello." Seeing it was the director''s call, Xu Yunxiang gestured for Chen Liang to keep quiet and hurriedly greeted the director with caution.

    "Xu, the reason I''m calling is to inform you that we''re canceling your role in the film," Director Wang said.

    "Why, Director Wang? Didn''t you tell me this morning that the role of the second male lead was set for me?" Xu Yunxiang''s face changed drastically at the news.

    Although he was quite popular now, his foundation was still weak, nowhere near some established stars. Without a few films to accumulate and establish a solid reputation, it was easy to be forgotten, so he valued this film very much.

    "That''s something you need to ask yourself. What did you do?" Director Wang sneered before he hung up the phone outright.

    "Ask myself?" Xu Yunxiang was completely confused, and then he quickly thought of the incident that had just occurred, his face turning pale.

    ¡­

    The lakeside path on the campus was shaded by green trees, offering a cool retreat.

    Ge Dongxu was taking a walk by the lake with Jiang Lili and three other girls, yet the atmosphere was a bit tense.

    Among the three girls, besides Jiang Lili who was slightly better off, the other two kept casting awe-filled glances at Ge Dongxu, not daring to speak, and even Jin Yushan, with her feet hurting so badly she was sweating cold sweat on her forehead, didn''t dare to utter a word, enduring the pain silently.

    The scene that had just unfolded had truly frightened them.

    They could never have imagined that Ge Dongxu was so powerful that even Miss Fang would cling to his arm and negotiate and plead with him in an almost coquettish manner.

    If they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes, they would never have believed it!

    "Jin Yushan, what''s wrong with you? You look a bit pale," Ge Dongxu quickly noticed something was off with Jin Yushan and asked with concern.

    ps: A new week has started, and I ask my dear readers not to find it troublesome to cast a recommendation vote; the higher the ranking, the further the book will go. Recommendation tickets are generated daily, they can''t be accumulated, and if not used, they''ll be wasted. Thank you in advance. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 318 Why am I not the one who got hurt?

    "My leg twisted just now; it hurts a bit," Jin Yushan said with a forced smile.

    "Why didn''t you say so earlier? Let''s find a place for you to sit down, and I''ll take a look," Ge Dongxu reprimanded.

    "It''s okay, it''s just a slight pain, it doesn''t matter," Jin Yushan hurriedly said.

    "What do you mean it doesn''t matter when you''re sweating on your forehead? Sit down honestly," Ge Dongxu glared at Jin Yushan with displeasure, then insisted that she sit down on a bench by the lake, before crouching down and taking her injured foot in his hands.

    "Ah, what are you going to do, Brother Xu?" Jin Yushan exclaimed in shock when she saw Ge Dongxu crouch down to look at her foot injury.

    "Of course, I''m going to check on the injury on your foot," Ge Dongxu said.

    "It''s fine, it''s fine, just a bit of a sprain," Jin Yushan said, her eyes welling up with tears from the surprise and admiration.

    She had never imagined someone of Ge Dongxu''s status would care about her so much, or crouch before her to tend to her foot injury.

    And she was one hundred percent certain that this man had no ulterior motives towards her!

    "It''s swollen and seems to be quite a bad twist. Let me rub it for you; otherwise, you definitely won''t be able to get out of bed tomorrow," Ge Dongxu said with a slight frown, regretting that he hadn''t dealt with that fellow more harshly just now.

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu gently started massaging Jin Yushan''s swollen ankle.

    Jin Yushan felt goosebumps all over as she saw such a dignified personage as Ge Dongxu crouching on the ground, gently kneading her ankle, yet tears uncontrollably rolled down from her peach blossom eyes.

    She was a practical woman, who usually weighed things in terms of benefits and losses, and it was rare for her to be moved. But today, she was thoroughly touched by Ge Dongxu.

    She truly hadn''t expected someone like Ge Dongxu to be so good to her.

    Lin Sijie''s eyes were wide with amazement at this moment; how she wished the injured person were her!

    Jiang Lili watched Ge Dongxu crouch down to rub Jin Yushan''s foot without any jealousy or much surprise.

    Ever since Jiang Lili had met Ge Dongxu, she knew he was a man with a pure heart and kind spirit, who never judged people based on their status.

    In his eyes, there were only friends and non-friends, without any distinction between high and low, noble and humble.

    "There, you should get up and walk now, it definitely doesn''t hurt anymore," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as Jin Yushan was moved to tears.

    "Is it already better?" Jin Yushan asked in astonishment, her face still wet with tears.

    Although she knew that someone like Ge Dongxu couldn''t possibly spend a long time crouching and massaging her foot, and she certainly wouldn''t let him continue, it still seemed to have ended too quickly.

    It was only a few moments! She had been too emotional just now to fully relish the feeling of Ge Dongxu''s elite status as he crouched down to rub her foot, and it was over just like that? S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Of course it''s better, or do you plan to have me keep crouching and rubbing?" Ge Dongxu said, almost laughing and crying at the same time.

    He was, after all, a divine healer. Even for Sang Yunlong''s serious heart condition, he had only massaged for a little while; for a twisted leg like this, just a few rubs were actually overkill, like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut!

    "No, of course not!" Jin Yushan said, frightened, and she quickly shook her head repeatedly.

    Joking aside, even the young mistress of the Fang Family had to tread carefully around him, not to mention him crouching down to massage her foot¡ªgetting her to crouch down to massage his foot would be giving her face!

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    "Don''t worry, I know medical skills. Stand up and take a walk, and you''ll see," Ge Dongxu said, seeing Jin Yushan shaking her head like a rattle-drum, and he chuckled.

    Jin Yushan looked at Ge Dongxu with suspicion and disbelief. It was really hard for her to associate such a noble young master like Ge Dongxu with being a doctor, let alone believe that a gentle kneading of her twisted ankle would lead to an instant recovery.

    However, since Ge Dongxu said so, she definitely had to stand up and try.

    So Jin Yushan''s foot touched the ground once more, and then she stood up. After that, she let out an "Ah" in surprise.

    "What''s wrong? Does it hurt a lot?" Lin Sijie hurriedly asked.

    "No, it''s fine, completely fine! It''s unbelievable. Just a moment ago it was as painful as being pierced by needles," Jin Yushan said, looking at Ge Dongxu with a face full of disbelief.

    "Really?" Lin Sijie asked incredulously after hearing this.

    Jin Yushan, lagging a few steps behind just a little while ago, did not dare tell Ge Dongxu her foot hurt. She was in so much pain that her eyebrows were furrowed, her forehead breaking out in sweat, and Lin Sijie saw it all.

    Moreover, when Jin Yushan sat on the bench with Ge Dongxu holding her foot, her swollen foot was clearly seen by Lin Sijie.

    Anyone with normal thinking would believe that such a sprain could not possibly heal immediately.

    "Of course, it''s true! You don''t believe me? Look!" Seeing Lin Sijie''s incredulous expression and fearing she wouldn''t believe her, Jin Yushan even started lightly hopping on the spot.

    "Can you not jump? If you twist it again, I am not going to be responsible for massaging it again!" Ge Dongxu saw Jin Yushan hopping joyfully and couldn''t help laughing and urging her with a mix of amusement and concern.

    Please, although Jin Yushan was not wearing those exaggerated high heels, they were at least mid-heeled sandals!

    "Hehe!" Jin Yushan stopped at his words, blushing as she playfully stuck out her tongue at Ge Dongxu.

    After what had happened just now, she realized that as long as she did not annoy him, this young master Ge Dongxu was as approachable as a boy-next-door.

    Seeing Jin Yushan stick out her tongue at him, Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned, and then he couldn''t help but smile wryly to himself.

    She really thought he was an unflappable Liuxia Hui, making such tempting gestures in front of him so casually.

    Afterward, the four of them strolled around the campus for a while longer until the sun began to set gradually.

    The campus was only so big; after a few rounds, there wasn''t much else to see. Jiang Lili, worried that Ge Dongxu might be bored, suggested going for a walk around Shichahai.

    In the summer night, Shichahai was always a popular spot in the capital.

    Ge Dongxu naturally had no objection, and of course, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie wanted to go along too. However, being clever women, they knew that being a third wheel occasionally was fine, but to always be in the middle was annoying, so they excused themselves, saying that they had things to do in the evening.

    Ge Dongxu hadn''t seen Jiang Lili for two years and did indeed want some time alone with her to chat about private matters. Seeing that the other two said they had things to do in the evening, he did not insist. After sending Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie back to the girls'' dormitory, he drove off in the Audi with Jiang Lili, leaving the dormitory behind.

    Watching the Audi disappear from view, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie reluctantly retracted their gaze.

    "Yushan, hurry and tell me, how did it feel when Dongxu Brother was squatting in front of you, massaging your foot? Was it a tingling, numbing sensation like floating in the clouds?" As soon as they got back to the dormitory, a gossip-filled Lin Sijie asked.

    "Are you crazy? That was just a foot massage. What do you think it was?" Jin Yushan was alright at first, but hearing the last sentence, she felt something was off and, blushing, reached out to pinch Lin Sijie.

    "I obviously know it was a foot massage, but that was the young master Ge, don''t you feel something special? Do you know how excited I got watching from the side? Why couldn''t it have been me who got injured?" Lin Sijie said longingly.

    Maybe it was Lin Sijie''s yearning look that influenced Jin Yushan, as she couldn''t help but recall Ge Dongxu kneeling down to massage her foot with such focused concern by the lakeside.

    Then her face involuntarily flushed a shade of pink¡­

 Chapter 319 Nicos Phone Call

    The summer night at Shichahai was exceptionally beautiful.

    The lights twinkled, and the small boats in the lake drifted along.

    Gazing at the picturesque scene before her and holding hands with the man she thought of day and night, the man of her dreams, Jiang Lili walked quietly by the lakeside. Recalling the events of more than two years ago, she felt as though it were a lifetime away.

    Without the man beside her, she might now be standing in some dimly lit alley, wearing revealing clothes and flirting with the men passing by.

    Or perhaps she would be in a private room, in some glitzy place, wrapped in the arms of some man, being forcefully fed drink after drink.

    Just thinking about these things gave Jiang Lili the chills, and she couldn''t help but snuggle closer to Ge Dongxu, resting her head on his shoulder.

    "Thank you, Dongxu! Without you, I really don''t know what I would have become," Jiang Lili murmured.

    "It''s all in the past, let''s not dwell on it," Ge Dongxu''s heart trembled slightly as he wrapped his arm around her slim yet surprisingly plump waist and spoke softly.

    "Do you know? The first time I came to Shichahai, I thought how wonderful it would be if one day I could lean on your shoulder and walk with you like this. I''d be willing to live ten years less for that," Jiang Lili continued to murmur.

    "You fool, don''t talk such nonsense. It''s just a walk by the Shichahai, simple as that!" Ge Dongxu''s heart trembled again as he spoke.

    "Dongxu, would it be okay to kiss me?" Suddenly, Jiang Lili stopped in her tracks and looked up at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu was suddenly taken aback.

    Yuan Li involuntarily came to his mind.

    Last time, it was here that he had kissed Yuan Li, but that had been in winter.

    Thinking of Yuan Li brought Liu Jiayao to his mind.

    His first kiss with Liu Jiayao had also been by a lakeside, but not at Shichahai; it was at Mingyue Lake.

    What kind of man am I? Am I really a good man?

    For the first time in his life, Ge Dongxu was filled with confusion and doubt about his feelings.

    "Dongxu, would it be okay to kiss me?" Jiang Lili''s voice rang out by his ear once again.

    But Ge Dongxu did not kiss her; instead, he looked at her and said, "Lili, before you, I have kissed other women, and there''s one I will never give up on in this life."

    "Is that why you didn''t tell me when you came to the capital or visit me, Dongxu?" Jiang Lili asked, looking at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Dongxu, you really are a simple and good man. I don''t mind, so why should you? Kiss me!" Jiang Lili''s personality was still as fiery and direct as ever.

    "I don''t mind, so why should you?" Looking at Jiang Lili, who was tilting her head back, eyes closed and looking utterly beguiling, his ears echoing with the words she had said, Ge Dongxu suddenly smiled, then bent down to kiss her.

    Indeed, whether it was Jiang Lili or Liu Jiayao, in this respect, neither had any expectations or cared much. So why tie himself in knots, brooding over it?

    Would pushing Jiang Lili away harshly now be the right thing to do?

    What is right? What is wrong? His true feelings had already told him, otherwise he wouldn''t have admitted he was Jiang Lili''s boyfriend back in Xiangshan!

    Following the heart''s direction is the essence of self-cultivation. If the heart felt so, then so be it!

    With the inner conflict resolved, the repressed feelings for Jiang Lili were completely released.

    Ge Dongxu soon lost himself in Jiang Lili''s clumsy yet passionate kisses, delighting in the moment, his hands sliding down her smooth waist to rest on her round buttocks, a match for those of Western women.

    Jiang Lili''s desire in that aspect was much stronger than Liu Jiayao''s. Using the cover of trees and the night, she kept seeking Ge Dongxu''s kisses, her voluptuous body pressing tightly against him, moving in sync, as if she wished to melt into him.

    Even amidst her gasps, Jiang Lili suggested going to a hotel, and Ge Dongxu almost nodded in agreement. Fortunately, he maintained that last bit of clarity, and with a clenched jaw, pushed Jiang Lili away, looking at her with an apologetic expression, "Let''s just hold hands and take a slow walk by the lake."

    Jiang Lili let out an "Ah," her already flushed cheeks turning even redder.

    ...

    Around ten o''clock, Ge Dongxu drove Jiang Lili back to her school and arranged to pick her up early the next day for a trip to the Great Wall.

    Visiting the capital city, one must always make a trip to the Great Wall, even though it tends to be hot in the summer.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu dropping Jiang Lili off at her dormitory, the dormitory supervisor could hardly believe her eyes, blinking several times in astonishment.

    In this day and age, a girl from the School of Media and Communications getting into such a car, shouldn''t she be expected to not return all night?

    That''s right, it must be because her period arrived, how inconvenient!

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    What a pity!

    ...

    The road conditions were very good late at night, and Ge Dongxu drove swiftly, reaching the vicinity of the siheyuan before long.

    At that moment, his phone suddenly rang.

    The caller ID displayed an unfamiliar phone number.

    Ge Dongxu hesitated for a moment before answering the call.

    "Is this Ge? I... I''m Nico," came the voice of a woman, hard with accent and weak with breath, from the phone.

    "Nico? Are you hurt?" Ge Dongxu was slightly startled and then quickly asked with a change in his expression.

    "Yes, I... I''m hurt. I should have heeded your advice and left Beijing right away," Nico said.

    "Okay, don''t talk too much, where are you?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    Ge Dongxu had a soft spot for this blonde, and given that a woman had thought to call him when injured, he felt both emotionally and morally obliged to not ignore her plight.

    "Are you really a wizard from the East... Do you know more than just fortune-telling? Can you heal as well?" Instead of answering Ge Dongxu''s question, Nico asked him in return.

    "I can," Ge Dongxu replied.

    On the other end of the line, Nico let out a sigh of relief and then, intermittently, informed Ge Dongxu that she was at a Kuntin chain hotel.

    "Kuntin chain hotel?" When Ge Dongxu heard the address Nico provided in bits and pieces, a look of surprise crossed his face as he blurted out the question, almost as if confirming that it wasn''t just a coincidence. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But there was no longer any sound of Nico on the phone.

    Ge Dongxu''s expression changed once more, signifying that Nico''s situation was indeed dire.

    Luckily, the Kuntin chain hotel company had only recently opened its first direct-operated hotel in Beijing. Ge Dongxu intended to visit it if he had the time since Beijing would undoubtedly be one of the major cities for Kuntin''s expansion. Hence, he was aware of the specific address of the Kuntin chain hotel and had even looked it up on the map, knowing it wasn''t far from his current location.

    So Ge Dongxu quickly figured out the direction and road signs, recalled the map, then sharply turned around and drove toward the Kuntin chain hotel.

 Chapter 320 Treatment

    While driving on the road, Ge Dongxu called Lin Kun and asked him to notify the person in charge at the hotel that he was about to arrive at Kunting Hotel and needed some assistance from the front desk staff.

    Although Ge Dongxu was a major shareholder of Kunting Hotel chain, besides Lin Kun and Yue Ting, very few people in the company knew him, so he still needed Lin Kun''s help to communicate with his own hotel.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu could have directly shown his National Security credentials, but those credentials were ultimately too sophisticated; ordinary people might not be able to discern their authenticity. A young man rushing in and presenting such a document could easily cause suspicion or even panic at the front desk, so it was simpler and more convenient for Lin Kun to make the call.

    After all, he was a major shareholder of the Kunting Hotel chain!

    When Ge Dongxu''s car arrived at the Kunting Hotel, the person in charge, a seemingly steady middle-aged man, had already been waiting at the entrance.

    Being appointed as the person in charge of the directly-managed store in the capital also meant he was a key employee of the Kunting company; thus, Lin Kun hadn''t concealed Ge Dongxu''s identity when making the call earlier.

    Hearing that the real boss was coming, the person in charge naturally came out to greet him personally.

    Because he was in a hurry, Ge Dongxu drove his car directly to the front of the lobby. The hotel manager obviously recognized the license plate, his legs involuntarily trembled when he saw it, utterly surprised and confused.

    He couldn''t understand why such a car would appear at his business-focused hotel, as in his mind, such vehicles should belong at high-end clubs or luxury hotels in the capital.

    Before the manager could recover, the car had already stopped abruptly at the entrance. Before he could come forward to assist, the driver''s door was already opened, and a young man stepped out.

    "You must be Manager Li, right? I am Ge Dongxu, Lin Kun should have mentioned me," Ge Dongxu said directly after glancing at the badge on the manager''s shirt.

    "Ah, hello Mr. Ge, yes, that''s me, that''s me." Manager Li, who had just been astonished to see such a car at their hotel, was even more shocked to find out that the driver was their real boss. He was so startled that he almost had a heart attack as he hurried forward and shook Ge Dongxu''s hand eagerly, his face full of excitement.

    The biggest fear for those running hotels is the occasional inspections from various departments. One slight mishap in handling these departments could lead to mandatory changes and corrections. Now, with such an influential boss, facing some of the more demanding and troublesome individuals could be a bit easier.

    "Have someone park the car for me; I need to know a foreign lady''s room number," Ge Dongxu said as he handed over his car keys to Li.

    Li''s hands trembled as he took the keys, then he handed them to someone nearby, instructing carefully to handle the vehicle with care. Then he quickly accompanied Ge Dongxu into the hotel.

    Foreign guests were rare at Kunting Hotel chain, especially blonde single women like Nico. Since the hotel opened, she had been the only one, so the reception staff remembered her quite well. Ge Dongxu only had to ask briefly, and she immediately located Nico''s room number.

    "That will be all, you don''t need to do anything else now. Just leave the car keys at the front desk later," Ge Dongxu said with a smile to Li, having acquired the room number.

    "Sure, Mr. Ge, here''s my business card. Please call me anytime you need anything," Manager Li said respectfully, offering his card. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Okay," Ge Dongxu took the card, nodded, and then proceeded directly into the already open elevator.

    Nico''s room was on the fifth floor, number 503.

    Ge Dongxu knocked on the door, and when there was no response, he hesitated for a moment, then placed his hand on the lock and released a strand of True Qi, directly unlocking the door through the door panel.

    As soon as the door was pushed open, Ge Dongxu caught a strong smell of blood.

    His face immediately darkened, and his body swiftly moved past the front hall like a ghost, and in a blink, he appeared at the bathroom door.

    In the bathroom, Nico lay leaning against the tiled wall, the floor covered in blood, along with a blood-soaked dress and gauze.

    Nico''s stomach, devoid of any extra fat, and her long thighs both bore shocking wounds, resembling the claws of a fierce beast or perhaps knife cuts. The wound on her abdomen was still slowly bleeding, while the one on her thigh had already clotted.

    Ge Dongxu took a quick step forward and touched her repeatedly on the location of the bleeding, which soon stopped. He then grabbed her hand to check her pulse and finally heaved a quiet sigh of relief.

    She was unconscious due to excessive blood loss, and there was a slight rupture in her spleen.

    Of course, for other doctors, this condition would already be very severe, but for Ge Dongxu, it was hardly anything serious.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was about to relax after checking on her, Nico let out a groan, her long eyelashes trembling slightly as if she was about to wake up.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu hesitated, then lightly rubbed the hollows behind her neck, causing Nico''s struggles to open her eyes to stop, and her eyelids closed again.

    Seeing Nico fall back into unconsciousness, Ge Dongxu no longer hesitated and carefully divided a strand of water wood Spirit Qi from his True Qi. He channeled it into Nico''s body, carefully mending and nourishing her wounds.

    If someone could see through this, they would observe that the Spirit Qi was like stitches from a doctor, sewing the wounds together, with effects far surpassing those of surgical suturing.

    Almost as soon as it began, the wounds visibly started to heal at a speed discernible to the naked eye.

    These were the unique, miraculous medical techniques inherited from Ge Hong, not something that anyone with Cultivation could perform. It''s like everyone can use a knife or mend things, but not everyone can be a surgeon.

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    "Phew!" After finishing the process, Ge Dongxu greatly sighed in relief. Seeing Nico covered in blood, he then grabbed a towel and helped clean her up.

    This task was even more exhausting than mending the wounds inside Nico''s body.

    As he gradually washed off the blood, Nico''s body was slowly revealing its unique exotic charm right in front of Ge Dongxu.

    "Phew!" At last, after cleaning her up, Ge Dongxu heaved a long sigh of relief and then lifted Nico onto the bed.

    After completing these tasks, Ge Dongxu took out his phone and made a call to Director Fan Hong.

    An international girl experiencing such critical injuries in the capital city, opting not to go to a hospital but instead calling him for help, certainly couldn''t be simple.

    Although Ge Dongxu did not want to get involved, he still had to confirm whether this girl was a foreign spy. If she turned out to be a spy, wouldn''t he be aiding the enemy?

 Chapter 321 Seeing Fan Hong Again

    "Mr. Ge, this is Fan Hong. May I ask what is the matter?" The phone was quickly answered, and Fan Hong''s voice came through, respectful with a hint of excitement.

    "There''s something I might need your help with," Ge Dongxu explained the matter briefly.

    "Okay, I will head to the Kunting Hotel right away," Fan Hong said immediately after hearing the details.

    "Hmm, bring some white-back notoginseng, octagonal maple leaves, and kadsura leaves..." Ge Dongxu intended to hang up the phone, but as his gaze swept over the perfect body of the blonde woman on the bed and noticed her wounds, he hesitated and then listed a series of herbs.

    Although Ge Dongxu had already treated the wounds with his True Qi, there would probably still be some slight scars after healing.

    Though the scars would certainly be faint, looking at such a flawless body as if it were a masterpiece from heaven, Ge Dongxu felt that even a slight scar was regrettable, so he decided to do a good deed thoroughly.

    "Alright," Fan Hong noted the names of the herbs and then hung up the phone.

    After hanging up with Fan Hong, Ge Dongxu covered Nico with a blanket and then took a special look at her features.

    Seeing that there was no longer the dark shade on her forehead that he had noticed on the plane, and that the very obvious capillaries on her nose were now hidden under her fair skin, barely noticeable, Ge Dongxu roughly surmised that Nico''s crisis in the capital was now over.

    Knowing that Nico''s crisis had passed, Ge Dongxu began to carefully examine the blonde beauty on the bed.

    At that moment, Nico resembled a sleeping beauty from the legends, tranquil and beautiful, her golden hair reflecting a soft luster under the light, making it hard for anyone to associate her with the blood-soaked woman she had been earlier.

    But at this moment, Ge Dongxu knew that the woman before him was far more complex than she appeared on the surface. As for who she really was or her background, as long as she wasn''t here to harm Huaxia Country, he wasn''t concerned and didn''t wish to inquire further.

    It was merely a chance meeting, and he had initially helped her because he saw that she had a heart for helping others and had enjoyed their conversation. Beyond that, Ge Dongxu did not want to become involved further.

    Ge Dongxu quickly averted his gaze, then stood up and washed off the bloodstains on the floor and walls of the bathroom, also secretly feeling fortunate that he had come in time. Otherwise, Nico would certainly have died from splenic rupture and excessive blood loss, and this new branch of the Kunting Hotel in the capital might have encountered serious trouble, casting a shadow over it. Continue your story on My Virtual Library Empire S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fan Hong soon arrived at the hotel. By then, Ge Dongxu had cleaned the bathroom and disposed of some blood-stained clothes and bandages in the trash can, so when Fan Hong entered, he couldn''t see any signs of the incident, only Nico still sweetly asleep on the bed.

    "It''s this woman right here. Investigate her discreetly. If she''s not a spy or anything, just let her be, don''t manage her affairs or tell me about them. She and I are merely passing acquaintances, and I do not want to get involved in this matter," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Understood," Fan Hong nodded and replied, "These are the herbs you wanted. If there''s nothing else, I''ll go arrange for people to investigate."

    "How''s your cultivation going recently?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Very well, I should be able to break through in a few years." Fan Hong respectfully replied, his eyes showing reverence and gratitude.

    If it were not for Ge Dongxu, not only would he not be talking about breaking through, but continuing cultivation might have endangered his life.

    "Give me your hand, I''ll take a look," Ge Dongxu said upon hearing this.

    Fan Hong quickly extended his hand, and Ge Dongxu checked his pulse, saying gravely, "Not bad, but your True Qi is too mixed. If you continue at this pace, even if you do break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, you''ll probably be stuck at that level for the rest of your life."

    "Please enlighten me, Mr. Ge," Fan Hong said, his heart pounding fiercely as he hastily asked for guidance with respect.

    It''s the Dharma Ending Age now; breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer is already a significant achievement.

    For the former Fan Hong, reaching the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer was a mere wishful thinking; now having hope to break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, he was actually very satisfied and dared not hope for more.

    Because the path of cultivation is like climbing a mountain, the higher you go, the harder it becomes. Fan Hong was no longer young, and the chances of breaking through beyond the Fifth Layer were very slim, so he had already given up on such extravagant hopes.

    However, Fan Hong never expected Ge Dongxu to say these words, suddenly stirring the contentment in his heart, as if a calm lake had been hit by a sudden storm.

    "From now on, during your daily cultivation, do not merely focus on absorbing nature''s spiritual energy, but temper your internal True Qi and keep the essence while discarding the dross," Ge Dongxu instructed.

    "If that''s the case, when can I expect to reach the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer?" Fan Hong asked with a bitter smile upon hearing this.

    Human life is limited, and cultivation itself is a race against time.

    Nowadays, nature''s spiritual energy is scarce, so modern cultivators usually don''t care about the quality of spiritual energy, focusing only on quantity to advance their cultivation realms as quickly as possible before the end of their lives.

    It''s like when people are starving; they simply eat whatever fills the stomach first without caring about its nutritional value or taste.

    And now Ge Dongxu is telling him to temper the internal True Qi and keep the essence while discarding the dross. Doing this not only means Fan Hong''s cultivation would stall, but also that some of his previously acquired mana, because of this refinement process, might be depleted. It''s like having to pluck rotten leaves off a plant, inevitably discarding some good parts in the process to clean it thoroughly.

    In doing so, Fan Hong''s painstakingly cultivated mana might even regress.

    "As a leader, you should understand the principle that in war, the quality of troops is more important than quantity. The same applies to nature''s spiritual energy. If you don''t want to stop at the Fifth Layer, you must take this step. If your goal is only to reach the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, then pretend I never mentioned anything," Ge Dongxu said solemnly.

    "Thank you for your guidance! From today, I will temper my internal True Qi and keep the essence while discarding the dross," Fan Hong, being astute and decisive, immediately bowed solemnly upon hearing these words.

    "When you feel you have tempered it to its limit, come find me, and I will lend you a helping hand," Ge Dongxu said, noting Fan Hong''s resolute heart and lack of hesitation after his explanation, and he nodded approvingly.

    If Fan Hong had shown any hesitation, perhaps Ge Dongxu would not guide him anymore.

    Because his heart would have settled for reaching only the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer!

    "Thank you, sir, Fan Hong takes leave!" Fan Hong''s eyes flashed with excitement, he bowed again, and then left.

    After Fan Hong left, Ge Dongxu took out some herbs, forcing them with mana, and soon obtained a few drops of greenish liquid.

    Ge Dongxu applied it to Nico''s wounds, covered her back with a blanket, left her a note directing her not to look for him or call him, declaring that their affair was over, and then he drifted away.

 Chapter 322 The Train Heading to Linzhou

    The next day, Nico sat on the bed topless, lost in thought.

    If it were not for the lingering soreness in the area that had been injured yesterday, if it were not for the note on the bedside table, Nico would really wonder if everything that happened yesterday was just a dream.

    Because now, on the surface, she looked no different from a healthy person, even the horrifying wound from yesterday had faded to the point of being barely noticeable.

    "The miraculous Eastern Wizard, will we have the chance to meet again?" Nico murmured as she looked at the note written in English, her eyes reflecting a mix of loss, longing, and anticipation.

    When Nico held the note Ge Dongxu had given her, Fan Hong also had a document in his hand. On the document was a photo, unmistakably of Nico, along with a middle-aged woman with blonde hair, dressed in black, exuding a sense of nobility, sensuality, and a cool, professional demeanor.

    "It''s her daughter!" Fan Hong''s face showed a trace of surprise.

    "Director, do we need to continue the investigation and surveillance?" A man with a stern expression asked carefully, seeing Fan Hong silent for a long time as he studied the information in his hands.

    "No need, let her be," said Fan Hong, stroking his chin, then after a while waved his hand dismissively.

    ...

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    Haven''t received a call from Fan Hong and with Jiang Lili, a close female confidant by his side, made Ge Dongxu maintain a very good mood all day. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After all, he definitely did not hope that the woman he saved would turn out to be a spy from another country.

    It was ten o''clock at night when Ge Dongxu finally sent Jiang Lili back to her dormitory.

    The dormitory supervisor was surprised to see Ge Dongxu punctually returning Jiang Lili to the girls'' dormitory.

    Even though Aunt Flo had visited, the car owner was still so attentive to this girl¡ªcould it be true love?

    Isn''t that ridiculous? Nowadays, would people like them truly be sincere to a girl?

    After taking Jiang Lili back to her dormitory, Ge Dongxu did not return to the siheyuan but instead took a solitary trip to Fragrant Hills late into the night.

    That day, walking alone on Fragrant Hills, the familiar yet strange feeling that had stirred imaginations in his heart was the reason he intentionally took another solitary trip there in the peace of the late night.

    Walking alone in Fragrant Hills, he did enjoy the rare serenity in the bustling summer city, but that familiar yet strange feeling did not emerge again.

    It seems he was overthinking! Ge Dongxu smiled, shook his head, and headed back home.

    ...

    It was Linzhou City train station.

    It was as always bustling with people, a constant stream.

    But the observant ones would notice that the station''s security seemed to have been heightened several levels compared to before, and one could even see armed police officers, creating a distinctly tense atmosphere in the air.

    Outside the train station, there were also more traffic police than usual, conducting traffic control.

    The direct train from the capital to Linzhou slowly pulled into the station.

    Although it was a personal matter, Elder Feng had repeatedly insisted on keeping things simple before coming, he even refrained from taking a special train, opting only for a reserved private compartment. But, given Elder Feng''s extraordinary status, how could the local leaders take his words about simplicity at face value?

    The necessary level of security and the protocol for receiving an official of his stature could not be neglected.

    Inside the private compartment, Ge Dongxu watched the slowly arriving train, while armed security personnel had already taken their places on the platform.

    The provincial leaders, often seen on television and in newspapers, were now standing on the platform, waiting for the train to arrive.

    Sang Yunlong and Zheng Zijie, the Director of Provincial Public Security Department, were also conspicuously present.

    The train slowly came to a halt, and the door to the private carriage opened first, with Elder Feng alighting, accompanied by his personal bodyguards and Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu following Elder Feng off the train, the other leaders didn''t pay much attention to him, assuming he was just one of Elder Feng''s bodyguards. However, Sang Yunlong and Zheng Zijie were visibly taken aback¡ªthey had never expected to see Ge Dongxu with Elder Feng.

    This trip of Elder Feng''s was strictly for personal matters. He didn''t want to draw too much public attention or newspaper coverage, so as to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings. Therefore, upon alighting from the train, he only briefly shook hands with the welcoming provincial leaders. He didn''t say anything particular, nor did he formally introduce Ge Dongxu; instead, he simply said, "Let''s get on the car first."

    The province had already prepared a Coaster in advance.

    Who could ride in this car was, of course, unquestionable for those around Elder Feng¡ªthey had their own arrangements. But for those from Jiangnan Province, it was a different story.

    After all, there were limited seats, and it was not possible to pack the vehicle full to brimming.

    Despite all of those present on the platform to welcome Elder Feng being titans within Jiangnan Province, the only ones actually qualified to ride in the same car as Elder Feng were the top one or two provincial leaders, as well as the Provincial Party Committee''s Secretary-General, the steward in charge of coordinating activities along the way. As for the others, it was all up to Elder Feng''s preference.

    "Yunlong, you come up too," Elder Feng said before getting into the car, signaling out Sang Yunlong by name.

    "Yes, sir," Sang Yunlong replied, standing at attention.

    The people on the platform immediately cast envious glances towards Sang Yunlong, while their minds began to whirl with thoughts.

    Did Elder Feng specifically invite Sang Yunlong to accompany him in the car just because Sang Yunlong was his soldier back in the day, or was there a deeper meaning?

    This was worthy of consideration, for at Elder Feng''s level, every word and action could hold significant implications.

    Once inside the car, Ge Dongxu naturally took his seat beside Elder Feng, and it was only at that moment that the top leaders of Jiangnan Province and the Secretary-General realized the young man''s extraordinary status. Sang Yunlong had guessed from the moment he saw Ge Dongxu that he was not just Elder Feng''s bodyguard, though the exact nature of their relationship was still unknown to him.

    In the car, Elder Feng took the initiative to introduce each party, mentioning only Ge Dongxu''s name while not revealing his particular status as his disciple''s teacher.

    Even so, the gazes of the few leaders in the car shifted entirely when they looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Because Elder Feng had taken the time to introduce him, a young man who looked to be barely in his twenties!

    Even a fool could guess the significance of that!

    After shaking hands and exchanging greetings with the leaders including Sang Yunlong, Ge Dongxu had no further role to play; the conversation that followed was mostly between Elder Feng and them.

    Though it was a private matter, since he had come, engaging with these local leaders was rightfully expected.

    Yet, as a "commoner" who was out of his depth in national affairs, Ge Dongxu naturally could not get involved nor speak up. He casually listened while gazing out the car window.

    Outside the window, police cars led the way in front of them and served as escorts behind, with every intersection already controlled.

    Elder Feng was staying at the State Guesthouse by Mingyue Lake.

    After spending a night at the State Guesthouse, Elder Feng boarded the Coaster the next morning and headed to Changxi County.

    This time, accompanying him were only Sang Yunlong, the Executive Vice Governor, and Zheng Zijie.

    As the Director of Provincial Public Security Department, Zheng Zijie was responsible for coordinating the local security and escort work necessitated by Elder Feng''s visit.

    ps: I see that many readers are eagerly awaiting updates. I, too, wish I could write more, as this means more earnings, but at present, this is as much as I can produce. Once things go smoother and I have a stockpile, I''ll definitely try to update more frequently. Please vote for me, thank you.

 Chapter 323 Worship Ceremony

    "Yunlong, you were in poor health before, so I never dared to burden you. This time I wanted to take advantage of my trip to Jiangnan Province to introduce Dongxu to you and have him take a look at you, but it seems we had the same idea," with no outsiders present, Elder Feng spoke candidly to his former beloved subordinate, Sang Yunlong, on the way to Changxi County, smiling as he spoke.

    Ge Dongxu had already told Elder Feng about Sang Yunlong''s situation on the way there.

    "Thank you, Chief, for your concern!" Sang Yunlong''s eyes reddened slightly.

    "You need to be mentally prepared to take on heavy responsibilities," Elder Feng said with sincere gravity.

    "Yes!" Upon hearing this, Sang Yunlong immediately straightened up to stand at attention.

    "Sit down, sit down, this is a car you''re in!" Elder Feng laughed. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sang Yunlong then scratched his head and sat back down.

    The police car led the way, and soon their vehicle exited the highway at Ouzhou City.

    At the exit, Ouzhou City''s leaders were waiting, but Elder Feng, seeing them, not only showed no sign of happiness but rather frowned slightly and did not signal to stop the car.

    As a result, under the escort of the police car, they drove straight on.

    "Tell them not to bother coming to Changxi County. I won''t meet with them even if they do," Elder Feng told Sang Yunlong.

    Sang Yunlong knew Elder Feng''s temperament well and nodded. Then he personally made a phone call to the Ouzhou City Party Committee Secretary and conveyed Elder Feng''s message to him.

    ...

    Although Ge Dongxu always went to worship Ren Yao through the mountain road that passes Ge Family Village, in fact, taking the path from another village called Yunyang Village at the foot of Baiyun Mountain was closer and the road was better.

    Hence, Ge Dongxu chose the route through Yunyang Village.

    Of course, the main reason Ge Dongxu chose the route through Yunyang Village was that he didn''t want to cause a stir in Ge Family Village and disturb his parents'' peaceful and happy lives.

    Elder Feng''s route had been set before departure, so when he arrived at Yunyang Village, security measures were already well in place, and Changxi County''s two top leaders had been anxiously waiting there for some time.

    The news that Elder Feng had declined to meet with Ouzhou City leaders had already reached the ears of Changxi County''s top two officials, Secretary Jia Kai and Mayor Peng Jin.

    The provincial government''s stance was also clear: Elder Feng was truly on a private visit this time, and they should avoid disturbing him as much as possible.

    But the problem was, Changxi County was their jurisdiction after all, and how could local officials like Peng Jin and Jia Kai honestly ignore his presence and calmly work in their offices?

    In the end, with some trepidation, they still came up to Baiyun Mountain, deciding that other county leaders were not permitted to join.

    Elder Feng could understand the feelings of Peng Jin and Jia Kai. At the foot of the mountain, he still met them, shook their hands, offered a few words of encouragement, and then told them to return to their work and not to waste time there.

    The anxious hearts of Peng Jin and Jia Kai finally settled, but as they retreated, they saw Elder Feng walking up Baiyun Mountain, chatting leisurely with a young man. Sang Yunlong and Zheng Zijie were trailing behind, their minds filled with shock, unable to fathom the young man''s identity.

    If the young man was one of Elder Feng''s grandsons, in such a situation Sang Yunlong, as a local senior official and landlord, should have been the one accompanying Elder Feng, with the young man following at the side.

    But if he wasn''t Elder Feng''s grandson, then who was he? So young, yet able to walk alongside Elder Feng, casually talking with him?

    Peng Jin and Jia Kai couldn''t figure it out, and of course, someone of Elder Feng''s level was far too out of their league. Since they couldn''t make sense of it, they didn''t ponder further and certainly never thought of inquiring or investigating the young man''s identity.

    Joking aside, how could they even consider probing into the affairs of someone close to Elder Feng?

    Elder Feng''s true purpose this time, apart from those by his side, was probably only known to Ge Dongxu and Sang Yunlong in the entire Jiangnan Province, because Elder Feng and Ge Dongxu both harbored the same intention: not wanting anyone to disturb Ren Yao''s peace.

    As they neared the small Taoist temple and graveyard where Ren Yao once lived, everyone stopped in their tracks, and the security detail dispersed, leaving only Elder Feng and Ge Dongxu to continue forward.

    This was because Elder Feng''s head of security had seen Ge Dongxu''s capabilities during a reunion dinner last time and knew he was very skilled; otherwise, they definitely wouldn''t have allowed only Ge Dongxu to accompany Elder Feng forward.

    "Actually, with you here, there''s no need for all this trouble. Sometimes, being in a high position also means you have no control over your life! Your way of living is better," Elder Feng said, glancing back at the guards who were looking around vigilantly, and then spoke to Ge Dongxu.

    "No matter how capable I am, I''m just an individual, whereas you are involved with the state itself; that''s different," Ge Dongxu said.

    "If you said that to Yunlong and the others, they would certainly agree because they don''t understand you. But I know that sooner or later your abilities, even your wealth, will be sufficient to influence the state. It''s fortunate that you''re a simple and kind child, so your senior brother is very reassured," Elder Feng said.

    "That''s still limited, after all," Ge Dongxu said modestly.

    "Really?" Elder Feng looked at Ge Dongxu, his cloudy old eyes shining with penetrating insight and wisdom.

    Facing Elder Feng''s gaze, Ge Dongxu awkwardly smiled and didn''t answer.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t know how powerful a cultivator of the Dragon Tiger Realm was, but based on his current strength, he deduced that once he stepped into the Dragon Tiger Realm, it would probably take a powerful army to eliminate him.

    Yet, the Dragon Tiger Realm was legend for the current Qimen; no one believed that in this world, there were still cultivators existing in the Dragon Tiger Realm, nor that anyone in this Dharma Ending Age could step into it.

    But Ge Dongxu was certain that he would definitely be able to step into the Dragon Tiger Realm.

    This wasn''t blind confidence, but born from Ge Hong''s heritage, his re-understanding of natural sciences, his innate talent in cultivation, and his practice progress over these three years, all of which provided Ge Dongxu with immense confidence in reaching the Dragon Tiger Realm!

    The only uncertainty for Ge Dongxu was how long it would take to step into the Dragon Tiger Realm¡ªwhether it would be three to five years, more than a decade, or even longer.

    Once he stepped into the Dragon Tiger Realm, the next stage would be the Golden Core Stage.

    That was the legendary land immortal; once someone reached the Golden Core Stage, it might require nuclear weapons just to eliminate them.

    But the Golden Core Stage was still too far off for the current Ge Dongxu; however, it wasn''t intangible.

    So, even though Ge Dongxu had no hopes for the Golden Core Stage, what Elder Feng had said wasn''t wrong at all.

    In the not-too-distant future, he was destined to be a figure capable of influencing the safety and security of the state!

    Seeing Ge Dongxu not answering him, Elder Feng''s slightly hunched thin body shook a little, and after a long silence, he said, "You should have continued to firmly disagree."

    "I am a law-abiding good citizen! I am also a patriotic good citizen!" Ge Dongxu said, seemingly off-topic but with a candid look in his eyes. Discover exclusive content at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Regarding what was said just now, it''s enough that I, your senior brother, know it," Elder Feng said after looking at Ge Dongxu for a long time and then smiling.

    "I know," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Apart from himself, no one could truly know that he was close to and definitely able to step into the Dragon Tiger Realm, even Elder Feng could only guess that Ge Dongxu might grow into a very powerful figure in the future, but as to how powerful, it''s probable that even Elder Feng wouldn''t envisage it to be the Dragon Tiger Realm, and likely within these next few years.

    "Is this the place where the old man rests?" As soon as Ge Dongxu''s words fell, the scenery ahead suddenly changed; the path was gone, replaced by a small Taoist temple, and there was a grave. Elder Feng''s body shook violently, and he spoke with a trembling voice.

    PS: Three updates today; the next two chapters are likely coming in the evening.

 Chapter 324 Take a seat first

    "This is the place," Ge Dongxu nodded in response.

    "This location is quite nice, with beautiful mountains and clear waters, tranquil and with a broad view. The elder must have liked it here," Elder Feng remarked with a sigh, then took the Huadiao Wine Ge Dongxu handed to him, poured it in front of Ren Yao''s grave, and recounted to him the events of the past years.

    After paying respects to Ren Yao, Elder Feng took a walk around the Daoist temple. When he saw the portrait of Ren Yao enshrined in the temple, he couldn''t help but remember the past, tears streaming down his face.

    Having offered incense to Ren Yao''s portrait and personally cleaned the Daoist temple, Elder Feng finally left the temple.

    "Let''s head back; I''ll have to rely on you from now on. It''s inconvenient for me to move around due to my master''s identity," Elder Feng said, reluctantly taking one last look around before speaking to Ge Dongxu outside the temple.

    "It''s my duty. Don''t worry, big brother; I have some money now. I''ve already paid to lease this mountain and hired someone to clean and watch over it regularly. Each time I return home, I''ll come to visit master and chat with him," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Good. Where is your home?" Elder Feng nodded and then asked.

    Ge Dongxu pointed eastward and said, "Over there, not too far from here."

    "It''s a pity I can''t visit due to my identity, otherwise I should have met your parents," Elder Feng said.

    "Thank you, big brother. My parents are just ordinary folks. It''s quite fine this way; I don''t want too much change unless they have such thoughts themselves," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "That''s true. Circumstances dictate heroes. In these chaotic times, I had no choice but to follow this path. If the world were peaceful, with no wars and everyone living safely and happily, I would prefer to be an ordinary person," Elder Feng said, nodding with a sense of resignation.

    "Yes! How nice it would be if everyone could live and work in peace!" Ge Dongxu echoed with a sigh.

    "Difficult, where there are people, there are selfish desires, greed, and conflicts!" Elder Feng said, shaking his head with a sigh.

    After descending the mountain, Ge Dongxu accompanied Elder Feng into the car, and together they returned to the Provincial Capital.

    That evening, Elder Feng took the train directly from the Provincial Capital back to the capital, while Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t follow him to the capital but went to Qinglan Cosmetics Company instead.

    Although Ge Dongxu kept his identity as the major owner of Qinglan Cosmetics Company a secret, he occasionally visited Qinglan Cosmetics Company after the share acquisition incident, always with Liu Jiayao by his side. Therefore, no one stopped him when he entered the company. He went straight to the CEO''s office and then knocked on the door.

    "Come in!" Liu Jiayao''s voice came from the office, authoritative yet pleasant to the ear.

    Hearing the invitation, Ge Dongxu pushed the door and entered.

    "Have a seat for a moment!" Liu Jiayao said without looking up from the papers she was reviewing as she heard the door open.

    "Alright, Chairman," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile. Explore hidden tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Ah! Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao looked up suddenly upon hearing the familiar voice, her face lighting up with surprise.

    "You go ahead and keep busy, Chairman," Ge Dongxu said as he made himself comfortable on the genuine leather sofa.

    "Stop it! How can I concentrate on work when you''re here!" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a playful glare, then stood up and walked towards him.

    In the summer heat, Liu Jiayao dressed in a cool professional suit.

    A white blouse, a black pencil skirt exposing two slender legs, and as she walked towards Ge Dongxu in high heels, he couldn''t help but be dazzled by her appearance. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Liu Jiayao usually dressed casually when with him, so seeing her like this was quite rare.

    "It''s almost time to get off work anyway. Wait here for a moment, I''ll go change my clothes, and then we can go for dinner," she said.

    Soon, Liu Jiayao emerged from a side door of the office in casual attire and took Ge Dongxu''s arm, saying, "Let''s go, I''ll treat you to a big meal."

    "What big meal? Didn''t you say you wanted to try my cooking? Let''s go to the supermarket and buy some ingredients; I''ll cook you dinner tonight," Ge Dongxu suggested with a smile.

    "No, we have to go out to eat today; you can cook for me another time," Liu Jiayao replied with a laugh.

    "Oh? Is there some sort of good news?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile as he looked at Liu Jiayao.

    "Guess!" Liu Jiayao said playfully, tilting her head at Ge Dongxu.

    ps: Sorry for the delay, the next two chapters are now uploaded.

 Chapter 325 Preparing to Go to the Frontier

    "Could it be that the ''Flower Spirit'' series of products have been successfully developed?" Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao''s joyous expression, his heart stirred slightly as he asked.

    "The key technical issues have been resolved; the rest are minor problems. If things go smoothly, we should be able to launch by this time next year," Liu Jiayao nodded and said.

    "Since the key technology has been tackled, why do we still need to wait a year?" Ge Dongxu asked, puzzled.

    "How do you manage to be the boss of several companies without understanding this?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a look, then explained: "You see, not to mention that the production side still needs to continue refining¡ª even once that''s perfected, we need to send the products through various departments for approval. Plus, to guarantee that our products are pure and pollution-free, we must use raw materials produced from our own base. But we''ve just started investing in the production base by the Qian River, and the output in the short term is going to be an issue. Hence, launching next year at this time would be a reasonable schedule."

    "Hehe, I''m just a hands-off manager; if we''re talking about business management, I''m definitely not as good as you," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh after understanding.

    "You always know the right things to say!" Liu Jiayao chided sweetly.

    "Of course, otherwise I might have to sleep in the next room tonight," Ge Dongxu joked.

    "You big pervert!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but pinch Ge Dongxu when she heard that. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu just chuckled, then said, "Speaking of raw material output, the problem shouldn''t be too big. We are aiming for the high-end market, which inherently requires controlled production. Besides, once I buy the jade stones during my trip to Yunnan, I''ll take some time to set things up. If you increase the input of horticultural workers, our output should improve somewhat."

    Having made a breakthrough to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer not long ago, Ge Dongxu already had plans to visit Yunnan. Continue reading stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Are you going to Yunnan?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    "Yes, I''ll visit Professor Tang''s daughter tomorrow to get some information, and then I''ll make some preparations before setting off," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Are you heading towards the Myanmar border? I heard that there are frequent battles there; could it be dangerous for you¡­?" Liu Jiayao said, worried.

    "Don''t worry, there''s no need for me to go to Myanmar itself. Besides, those ragtag troops in Myanmar, no matter how many, I won''t even consider them a threat," Ge Dongxu reassured her, patting her hand confidently.

    "Don''t talk nonsense, even if the Myanmar military is subpar, they each have a gun. Don''t do anything rash, okay!" Liu Jiayao was afraid that Ge Dongxu was being overconfident and quickly warned him.

    "Relax! The troops there usually number in the dozens or hundreds, a thousand would mean larger warlord forces. With my current strength, their disorganized rabble, even with guns, wouldn''t stand a chance against me," Ge Dongxu said.

    In front of Elder Feng, he never promised too much, even leaving some things unsaid, but with Liu Jiayao, he had fewer reservations. Of course, being clear about things was also to ease her mind.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu speak so confidently, Liu Jiayao naturally understood it to be the truth, and her eyes widened in astonishment.

    Although she knew Ge Dongxu was powerful, she had never dared to imagine that a single person could contend against an entire fully armed troop.

    Yet now, the man beside her was telling her that he could sweep through even an entire troop. Even if it were the Myanmar border rebels, for Liu Jiayao, that was already completely beyond her imagination.

    Is that even human?

    "Then, what if you reached that Dragon Tiger Realm you mentioned?" After a while, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but ask out of curiosity.

    Since the Dragon Tiger Realm was related to when they could have a real marital relationship, Liu Jiayao always remembered it very clearly.

    "I can''t say for sure without reaching that realm. But one thing is sure¡ª even if all of Myanmar''s military forces combined, it would be pointless," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment and replied.

    "How is that possible?" Liu Jiayao was completely shocked by his words.

    To resist an entire country with the power of one person, and from the tone of Ge Dongxu, this is still a very conservative estimate. What if it''s not a conservative estimate?

    "Cultivation is itself an act against the heavens; once one achieves some success, it''s beyond what ordinary people can imagine. But that''s something you should know, the extent of my power is also unclear even to Elder Feng and the others," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Got it, you monster!" Liu Jiayao''s delicate body trembled for a moment before she snapped back to reality and hugged Ge Dongxu''s arm tightly.

    She didn''t care how powerful Ge Dongxu was; all she knew was that he was her man.

    Although she thought this way, in reality, which woman could maintain indifference after knowing her man was so formidable?

    At least, it was definitely impossible to remain indifferent in the short term, and Liu Jiayao was no exception.

    That night, in an apartment at Yadu Garden, thinking about how amazing the man currently teasing her was, and how much he loved her, Liu Jiayao''s body was exceptionally excited.

    Then, it didn''t take long for Liu Jiayao to be unable to handle it!

    "This..." Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao, who lay on the pink bed with a flushed face, limp and not wanting to move, and felt like crying without tears.

    Had it just begun?

    "I''m sorry, Dongxu! I really can''t do it today!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s look of wanting to cry without tears, Liu Jiayao felt the urge to find a hole to crawl into.

    She hadn''t expected to be so useless today.

    "No problem, I''ll go sleep in the next room!" Ge Dongxu, seeing the ashamed expression on Liu Jiayao''s face, could only smile and say. He kissed her forehead, then climbed down from the bed.

    There was no other choice, to continue staying in the room would only make it more uncomfortable.

    Watching Ge Dongxu leave her room with a pillow in his arms, Liu Jiayao picked up her own pillow to cover her face.

    It was just too embarrassing!

    ...

    The next day, in the guest room, Liu Jiayao lay on Ge Dongxu''s chest, with faint snoring sounds coming from her dainty nostrils.

    Ultimately, she still felt sorry for Ge Dongxu. Last night, after regaining some of her strength, she had run over to Ge Dongxu''s room. Of course, the result was that the sun was already shining on her bottom, and she was still sleeping soundly.

    Seeing how soundly Liu Jiayao was sleeping, Ge Dongxu didn''t dare to disturb her. He gently moved her off him and then got up to wash up. He also prepared breakfast in the kitchen, left a note, and then left Yadu Garden to go to Jiang Region Jewelry.

    "Are you really planning to go to the border to buy jade?" asked Tang Yahui in the office of the manager of Jiang Region Jewelry.

    "Yes, since you can''t provide a large amount of glass-type jade, I have to go find it myself," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Glass-type is the best among jadeite varieties; if it''s even slightly better in color, the price is astronomical. How could I afford to supply you with it in large quantities?" Tang Yahui said with a wry smile.

    "Yes, so I need to go check out the jade market at the border. Didn''t you say there would be a lot of rough stone markets there? Maybe with some luck, I can get hold of one or two big pieces of glass-type jade, and then I can process them into many Jade Tokens at once," Ge Dongxu nodded.

 Chapter 326 Flat Tire

    "What you''re talking about is jade gambling, and I''d advise you to drop the idea. At most, spend a little money to experience what jade gambling is, but you absolutely can''t put a large sum of money into it. If they say that gambling in casinos results in losses nine out of ten times, then jade gambling is basically all losses, no wins. An expert once told me that the chances of winning are slightly higher when gambling near jade mines, but if you gamble far from the mines, the tricks involved are very deep, and the probability of winning is only one in ten thousand. Don''t think that, just because I specialize in jewelry and have seen a lot of raw materials, I would dare to gamble on stone. This thing really depends largely on luck, and skill is only a small part. As for getting Glass Type Jadeite, you''d have to be extremely lucky," Tang Yahui said seriously when she heard that Ge Dongxu wanted to obtain Glass Type Jadeite through jade gambling.

    She knew Ge Dongxu was wealthy, but if he truly harbored such a gambling mentality, no amount of money could withstand such wear and tear. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Thank you for the warning, I''m aware of the risks, and I won''t engage in anything I''m not sure about," Ge Dongxu said, nodding as his smile faded.

    "That''s good to hear," Tang Yahui sighed in relief, thinking that Ge Dongxu had given up on jade gambling.

    "However, the market over there is still very complex. For those who are knowledgeable, because the material comes directly from Myanmar, there are fewer middlemen, and the prices are definitely cheaper than buying here in markets like ours. But for those who are inexperienced, the prices may not necessarily be cheaper than in stores, and there''s even a high chance of being swindled. Since you are looking to buy high-quality jadeite and are unfamiliar with the area, it''s really best to have someone who understands the local market go with you," Tang Yahui added.

    "They might not fool me, but since I''m unfamiliar with the place, and I''m buying high-quality goods, I would indeed be at a loss if I went there unprepared," Ge Dongxu said, nodding.

    "I do have a friend in my circle who frequently sources goods from there, who is also a local. You should know him; he''s Zhang Yaku, the boss who you first met when you came to my place and I didn''t have enough stock and took you to him to make up for it. Do you remember?" Tang Yahui said.

    "Yes, I remember," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "I''m not sure if he''s planning to go to the Yunnan border market soon, but if he is, you could possibly join him," Tang Yahui said.

    "Ask him, having someone familiar with the area would definitely make it much more convenient. If not, have him introduce a local friend who could guide us," Ge Dongxu nodded and suggested.

    Tang Yahui nodded, then picked up the phone and called Zhang Yaku.

    It was indeed a coincidence that Zhang Yaku was planning to visit Yunnan''s Ruili the day after tomorrow; he had already purchased his plane ticket.

    When Tang Yahui mentioned Ge Dongxu''s situation to Zhang Yaku, he clearly remembered Ge Dongxu, the young man proficient in selecting jade. Upon hearing his name, he thought of him and, out of respect for Tang Yahui, he agreed almost immediately.

    Your next read awaits at My Virtual Library Empire

    "It looks like it really is a coincidence," Ge Dongxu said with a smile after Tang Yahui hung up the phone.

    "Yes, having someone familiar makes things much easier," Tang Yahui replied.

    ...

    Zhang Yaku was a very talkative person. The journey from Linzhou to Ruili required a stopover in Kunming, then a switch to Mangshi, and from there, either taking a bus or driving oneself to Ruili.

    From the moment he boarded the plane, Zhang Yaku hardly stopped speaking.

    As a jade merchant, he primarily talked about jade and jadeite, with most of his conversation revolving around jade gambling.

    He talked about how "even an Immortal can''t predict a tiny piece of jade," and phrases like "one cut can lead to poverty or to wealth," even sharing several widely known stories from the border area about people who got rich or went broke overnight from jade gambling.

    Aside from jade gambling, Zhang Yaku talked extensively about the annual Jade Raw Material Public Sale held in Myanmar''s capital, Yangon.

    This was a measure enforced by the Myanmar government to prevent tax revenue loss, mandating that all mined jadeite must be transacted through the annual Public Sale before it could be exported, classifying all other transactions as smuggling.

    Needless to say, Zhang Yaku also discussed other matters related to the Myanmar border, such as casinos, Myanmar women, and the internal conflict within Myanmar.

    As a jade merchant sometimes dealing in tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, Zhang Yaku was indeed wealthy, so after arriving in Mangshi, he chose to rent a car, suggesting it was more convenient and freeing than taking a bus.

    Ge Dongxu naturally had no objections, so they rented a car.

    At that time, the car rental market had gradually started to develop in big cities, while it was just beginning in smaller second and third-tier cities, where it was definitely not possible to rent any good cars.

    The two of them had rented a Santana.

    Initially, Ge Dongxu was worried that Zhang Yakun would be too tired from the travel and wanted to drive himself, but it turned out that Zhang Yakun had just obtained his driving license six months ago and was still excited about driving. He insisted on driving as he was familiar with the roads in this area.

    Seeing that Zhang Yakun wanted to drive, Ge Dongxu naturally let him do so.

    Along the way, the road conditions were mediocre, but the scenery was quite beautiful, with continuous mountains and a crystal-clear blue sky, and the air was filled with a hint of freshness.

    As Ge Dongxu was enjoying the scenery along the way, the car suddenly began to bump.

    Zhang Yakun quickly pulled over. Upon inspecting the vehicle, they discovered that the front right tire had burst.

    "Damn, no spare tire, now we''re really in trouble," Zhang Yakun cursed as he opened the trunk and found it void of a spare tire.

    Ge Dongxu also frowned upon seeing this since it had already started to get dark. Back in ''99, calling for a tow truck and such wasn''t nearly as convenient as it is now.

    "No worries, we can just flag down a passing car later and buy a spare tire directly from the driver," Ge Dongxu said with a slight sigh of frustration but tried to console Zhang Yakun, who was still cursing the car rental company.

    "That''s the only option we have," Zhang Yakun said, feeling a bit embarrassed to be comforted by the younger man, Ge Dongxu, and muttered awkwardly.

    Cars were sporadic, and it was a struggle to see any pass by.

    One car saw two men by the roadside in a place neither near a village nor near a shop, and as the sky was darkening, the driver didn''t dare to stop, instead speeding past without a second thought.

    "Damn, I''m not a highway robber!" Zhang Yakun pointed at the fleeing car and cursed in frustration.

    After a few more cars passed by, one finally stopped, but, unfortunately, it did not have a spare tire.

    "I remember there''s a repair shop about ten miles from here. If worst comes to worst, I''ll hitch a ride there and bring back some help. You''ll be okay staying here alone, right?" Zhang Yakun said with a concerned frown as the sky was nearly completely dark.

    Ge Dongxu had no problem with that; in fact, with his connections, he could have just made a phone call, and the local security bureau would have immediately sent a vehicle, but Ge Dongxu preferred not to use his influence for personal matters.

    Ge Dongxu was just about to respond that it was no problem when three cars approached from a distance.

    The first and last were Audis, while the one in the middle was a big Mercedes.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu quickly waved his arms to signal.

    The first Audi completely ignored him and sped past.

    "Axiong, stop for a moment. Let''s see if he needs any help?" A man in his sixties with a composed and dignified demeanor, who was sitting in the back seat of the second car, the big Mercedes, said lightly upon seeing Ge Dongxu waving by the roadside next to the stopped car.

    Beside him, sat a younger woman exuding unmatched elegance and beauty.

    The lady held a three or four-year-old boy in her arms. The boy looked thin, his eyes closed, and his face bore a hint of paleness.

    ps: Because I updated late last night, it disrupted the schedule, and I still haven''t managed to finish the next two chapters, so the next two chapters will also be slightly delayed today. I''ll strive to get back on a normal schedule by tomorrow.

 Chapter 327 Newbie?

    "Okay, Master Gu," Ah Xiong responded and brought the Mercedes to a smooth stop.

    After the Mercedes stopped, the following Audi stopped as well, and the Audi that had originally zoomed past also came to a halt.

    Ah Xiong rolled down the window, glanced at the car, and then turned to Zhang Yakun to ask, "Did you have a tire burst?"

    Zhang Yakun, thirty-eight years old and a veteran on the business battlegrounds, radiated a certain steadiness. Seeing that Ge Dongxu was young, Ah Xiong naturally addressed Zhang Yakun.

    At that time, a big Benz was still quite an imposing sight, and the sight of the Audi cars escorting it from front and back undoubtedly indicated that someone wealthy or noble was inside, certainly not someone a smalltime jade merchant like Zhang Yakun could compare with. Thus, when the big Benz suddenly stopped, Zhang Yakun became somewhat restrained, forgetting to answer for a moment.

    "That''s right, we don''t have a spare tyre. Do you have one to spare? Could we buy it from you if you do?" Ge Dongxu said when he saw Zhang Yakun didn''t answer, taking over the conversation.

    Ah Xiong heard this but did not respond immediately; instead, he turned to look at Master Gu behind him.

    "Let Ah Yong give them the spare tyre from the car. We''ll go ahead and have Ah Yong catch up later," Master Gu said indifferently.

    "The car behind will give you the spare tyre," Ah Xiong told Ge Dongxu, then closed the window. After speaking to the car behind via the intercom, he pressed on the accelerator and drove off in the Mercedes.

    No sooner had the Mercedes left than a burly man got out of the following vehicle, opened the trunk, and with one hand pulled out the spare tyre and set it on the ground.

    "Thank you!" Ge Dongxu stepped forward, expressed his thanks, and then tried to offer money to the man, but the man already waved his hand dismissively, got into the car, and with that, the vehicle started and sped away.

    "Who would have thought that there are still such kind-hearted rich people these days!" Zhang Yakun watched the car drive away and could not help but feel moved.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and grabbed the spare tyre with one hand as he walked toward their car.

    "No way, I wouldn''t have guessed you were so strong," said Zhang Yakun, clearly surprised to see Ge Dongxu effortlessly holding the spare tyre with one hand.

    "I''ve practiced a little bit," Ge Dongxu casually replied, then squatted down to change the tyre.

    After all these delays, by the time Ge Dongxu and his company arrived in Ruili, it was already late at night.

    The two found a hotel, booked two rooms, had something to eat, and then each retired to their own room to rest.

    In the middle of the night, after several nuisance calls, Ge Dongxu simply unplugged the phone line.

    The next day, Zhang Yakun took Ge Dongxu around several jade markets in Ruili.

    When Ge Dongxu saw the variety of jade, both raw stones and finished products, and even cut open raw stones casually displayed on the stalls, much like items in a vegetable market, yet with prices that easily ran into the thousands or tens of thousands, he couldn''t help feeling deeply impressed¡ªit truly was like traveling ten thousand miles and reading ten thousand books.

    If this were at Jiang Region Jewelry, each bracelet or pendant here would be neatly displayed in the showcase, then lit up to look incredibly upscale. Who would''ve thought that here, they''d just be laid out so casually.

    "We''re actually one of the better ones. If you go to the jade market in Mandalay, Myanmar, you''ll understand. Over there, the jade is just casually laid out on the ground, much like our domestic vegetable markets. It''s a pity that the government troops and local armies have started fighting again; it''s somewhat dangerous. Otherwise, I would have taken you to Mandalay for a visit. It''s not that far from here." Seeing the look of surprise on Ge Dongxu''s face, Zhang Yaku said with a smile.

    "Heh, there will be other opportunities in the future," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "That''s true," Zhang Yaku nodded, and then began to look around.

    Zhang Yaku was clearly a regular here, and most of the stall owners recognized him, occasionally greeting him.

    Zhang Yaku strolled about, stopping here and there, with Ge Dongxu following behind. Dongxu noticed that Zhang Yaku''s focus was primarily on the raw stones that had already been cut open.

    "We call these cut-open raw stones ''windows''. Buying this type of material is called a ''half-gamble''; relatively speaking, the risk is much smaller. Of course, the probability of a price surge is also smaller. These stones with windows have usually passed through the hands of many experts, and their real value has been mostly assessed. If you really want to gamble, I could recommend this type of material to you. I can help you take a look. At least you won''t be cheated. But with raw stones, I wouldn''t dare to help you look. That thing, I have no confidence in it at all," Zhang Yaku explained to Ge Dongxu, picking up a stone with a window.

    Through the window, a hint of green was visible.

    "What, interested in this stone, Boss Zhang? It''s from Damakan. An old Burmese brought it in last night. Take it away for fifteen thousand," the stall owner said to Zhang Yaku with a smile.

    Upon hearing this, Zhang Yaku chuckled, examined the stone''s skin and patterning, and then took out a flashlight to closely inspect the window; the green hue rippled through, becoming more obvious, though the transparency was lacking and the color was a bit muddled.

    "Damn, Boss Wang, you trying to scam me? You want fifteen thousand for this?" Zhang Yaku put away the flashlight and laughed as he playfully scolded the stall owner.

    "Saying I''m scamming is a bit hurtful, isn''t it? How about you make an offer?" The stall owner wasn''t embarrassed in the slightest, responding with a chuckle.

    "Dongxu, take a look," said Zhang Yaku, ignoring the stall owner and handing the stone with the window to Ge Dongxu, along with the flashlight.

    Ge Dongxu took the stone and flashlight but didn''t use the flashlight. He just started to touch the stone with his hand at random, with no particular method.

    Seeing this, a look of disdain clearly crossed the stall owner''s face as he spoke to Zhang Yaku, "Newbie?"

    "Never gambled on stones, but when it comes to finished products, he''s definitely an expert," explained Zhang Yaku. He didn''t want the stall owner to look down on the person he had brought.

    And in fact, Zhang Yaku meant what he said. He had seen Ge Dongxu pick jade before, and it was always spot-on, impossible to fool.

    The stall owner laughed, dismissing the comment. He didn''t believe a young man in his twenties could be a jade expert¡ªit was just Zhang Yaku trying not to lose face, and pretending to add glory to his own. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu touched the stone for a while and found that through the window, he could easily judge the size and quality of the jade inside. However, where there was no window, the feel through the skin was slightly blurred. He needed to concentrate to probe further slowly. Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

    Indeed, as I had imagined, although ''mana'' lets me sense the jade inside the raw stone, it''s not an easy thing. This stone weighs only about two kilograms. For materials weighing tens or hundreds of kilograms, it would probably take even more energy to investigate. Fortunately, my ''cultivation power'' has increased a lot recently. Had this been a year or two ago, this method wouldn''t have been easy to use. After touching the stone for a while, Ge Dongxu became too lazy to pretend with the flashlight and handed both the stone and flashlight back to Zhang Yaku.

 Chapter 328 You Really Guessed Right

    "Aren''t you going to give it a look?" Zhang Yaku asked with a smile.

    "The quality isn''t good; there''s nothing worth looking at," Ge Dongxu responded offhandedly.

    "Not good quality? It''s already quite decent, it reaches the level of waxy ice type, and the color is nice too. If it''s well polished, it can still fetch a good price," the stall owner said with a smile, but there was a hint of ridicule in his eyes as he looked at Ge Dongxu. People like him were the ones whose money was easiest to swindle, especially those like Ge Dongxu who pretended to know what they were talking about while being complete amateurs. At the same time, he had little respect for such people.

    Always with talk of ice type, old pit glass type, and even some customers thinking they can strike it rich with jadeite of ice or glass type after buying a stone for merely tens or hundreds of yuan.

    Isn''t that nonsensical? Stones that make it here have already passed through many hands. Would such high-quality stones be priced at just tens or hundreds of yuan for your taking?

    And that''s not even the worst of it. Some people, having spent just a few hundred yuan on a bracelet, insist on inquiring whether it''s of glass type, as if glass type jade were something so easily obtainable.

    "This time, I''m looking for some glass type pieces," Ge Dongxu said to the stall owner with a smile, then casually started feeling the stones.

    Just as I thought! The stall owner thought to himself, already labeling Ge Dongxu as one of those that pretend to be savvy without having a clue.

    Seeing this, Zhang Yaku couldn''t help but give a wry smile, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

    Ge Dongxu felt all around the stone but didn''t find any good material and didn''t make a move, whereas Zhang Yaku took an interest in one piece.

    It was the very first one he had picked up.

    For Ge Dongxu, now that ice type jadeite naturally seemed to be of much lower quality, but for Zhang Yaku, it was already quite nice. After all, these days, those who can afford high-end goods are few and far between, whereas goods of this level were easier to sell.

    "That piece is average, this one''s better," Ge Dongxu said casually, picking up another piece of stone he had touched earlier and speaking to Zhang Yaku.

    From the part that was exposed, this piece also showed a hint of green, but the color was worse than the first piece.

    But Ge Dongxu knew that if this piece was opened, it would contain at least twice the material of the other one. Not only that, the other piece, although it looked quite pretty, had a crack inside, so its price would have to be discounted.

    That''s the thing with ''windows'' in the stone; oftentimes, sellers choose the best part to open for the buyers to see. Sometimes, it looks marvelous, but if you were to actually cut into it, there might be a crack, or it might just be a shallow layer of green, barely any material at all.

    In such cases, you could only chalk it up to bad luck.

    "Young man, Mr. Zhang is an expert. You, an amateur, shouldn''t be giving advice to a professional," the stall owner said, somewhat unable to stand the situation any longer.

    "Dongxu, let me have a look," Zhang Yaku said with a laugh, not wanting Ge Dongxu, a young man, to lose face.

    Ge Dongxu then passed the stone he was holding to Zhang Yaku.

    Zhang Yaku took it and looked it over carefully. He still felt the color was off and decided to buy the first piece instead. Of course, the price was much lower than initially¡ªit was only five thousand yuan.

    Seeing Zhang Yaku ignore his advice, Ge Dongxu couldn''t do anything about it.

    Next, the two continued to wander around the market.

    After an entire day, Ge Dongxu was greatly exhausted but did not pick out any suitable stones. Zhang Yakun, on the other hand, made more purchases, buying both finished products and stones that had been ''windowed''.

    Zhang Yakun, being in the business, still had a good eye for a finished product, which obviously didn''t require Ge Dongxu''s seal of approval. However, Ge Dongxu still discreetly helped him check the stones, to prevent him from suffering a significant loss. After all, the man had kindly shown him the way; it was only right that he returned the favor.

    Therefore, during this time, Ge Dongxu offered a reminder once again, but Zhang Yakun did not listen.

    Ge Dongxu would not insist, of course; it wasn''t a lot of money, after all. If push came to shove, he could simply pick out a better stone for him before they parted ways. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zhang Yakun had friends in Ruili who dealt in jade, and after dinner in the evening, he took Ge Dongxu to one of these friends'' places to get the stones cut.

    "No way, you were right!" After cutting a few stones open, Zhang Yakun saw that two of them were obvious losses, which coincidentally were the ones Ge Dongxu had pointed out. He couldn''t help but be dumbfounded.

    "I don''t think the stones here are up to par. Is there a market that sells larger, higher-grade raw stones?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile before changing the subject.

    He naturally couldn''t tell Zhang Yakun that he could sense the quality of jade using mana.

    And since the raw stones here were scattered and had already changed many hands, everything displayed outwardly was just ordinary goods. Ge Dongxu had picked through them all day and indeed had not found the stones he wanted.

    Because this method of selecting jade was incredibly energy-consuming, Ge Dongxu did not wish to waste his strength again tomorrow on a fruitless effort.

    "No wonder you didn''t make a purchase all day; you truly are an expert. It is puzzling though; if you''re an expert, how come you''re not familiar with this area? Typically, merchants would hide the better-looking material, and they won''t open it easily because even experts who have been in this business for decades can''t guarantee that it will increase in value once cut. Often, a piece of material that looks promising turns out to be disappointing once cut open¡ªa single crack can destroy half or even its entire value. Just like the stone you warned me about today¡ªit looked good, and I thought I could make a couple of bracelets out of it, but a crack ruined it. I definitely took a loss on this one. So from this perspective, many pieces of material are better off unopened. Unopened, they can still fetch a high price, but once they are, it''s too late. That''s why, in this trade, the good-quality materials keep circulating among jade merchants. By the time they reach the final buyer, the price naturally won''t be low. It''s difficult to stumble upon good material so casually. Hence, good material is very expensive, and it''s almost impossible to get the high-grade jadeite you want for just a few thousand or tens of thousands." Zhang Yakun looked at Ge Dongxu and said.

    "So that''s how it is; no wonder I didn''t find any good stones today." Ge Dongxu had an epiphany and then said smilingly, "Money is not the issue; the key is to find some reliable stones, or else it''s just a waste of time and effort."

    "It seems you are really set on gambling on stones, but I still have to warn you: the risks are tremendous. It really can make you poor or rich in a single cut. You need to think this through," Zhang Yakun said with a somewhat serious expression upon hearing this.

    "Don''t worry, Brother Zhang, I know what I''m doing," Ge Dongxu assured him with a nod.

    Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    "In that case, I''ll take you to my hometown, Yingjiang, tomorrow. It is the largest distribution center for raw materials in our country and a necessary passageway for importing jadeite raw materials. The goods change hands less frequently there. Most importantly, I am familiar with Yingjiang and have a few friends who specialize in this business. They are sitting on some good material. However, I only offer introductions; I won''t get involved. I want to make this clear. Otherwise, if you lose your bet and come after me, accusing me of leading you into a trap, even jumping into the Yellow River won''t wash away the blame," Zhang Yakun said thoughtfully after seeing that Ge Dongxu was determined.

    "Thank you, Brother Zhang; I trust your character," Ge Dongxu said.

    Zhang Yakun merely smiled noncommittally, then packed up the cut jadeite, thanked his friend, and returned to the hotel with Ge Dongxu.

    The next day, after breakfast, Zhang Yakun didn''t immediately drive to Yingjiang, but instead made another trip to the jade market.

    Once at the jade market, Zhang Yakun headed straight for Boss Wang''s stall.

    ps: I''m not very knowledgeable about jade, so writing this part is quite slow and strenuous for me. However, I''ll do my best to make it seem authentic. If there are mistakes, I ask professionals to kindly overlook them and thank you.

 Chapter 329 Expert

    "Boss Zhang, was that piece of stone solved yesterday? How did it go, did it increase in value?" Seeing Zhang Yakun approaching, the stall owner asked with a smile.

    "Increase? It plummeted. Look, this is what was opened yesterday, just this little bit of material, and there''s a crack. I''m lucky it was only five thousand. If I had bought it for fifteen thousand yesterday, that would have been a huge loss!" Zhang Yakun took out the jade from his bag and said grumpily.

    "Hehe, gambling on stones, ups and downs are normal, totally normal. How about you look again, I''ll definitely give you the cost price," the stall owner glanced at the jade in Zhang Yakun''s hand and said with an embarrassed smile.

    Gambling on stones was such a thing; once bought, it was no longer any concern of the seller, a rule that Zhang Yakun of course understood. Seeing the stall owner talk like this, he naturally wouldn''t mention the stone from last night again. Instead, he picked up the stone that Ge Dongxu had recommended yesterday and said, "This is what you said, give me a price for this one."

    "Isn''t this the very piece that the young man took a liking to last night?" The stall owner had a good memory and immediately recognized that Zhang Yakun was holding the stone that Ge Dongxu had recommended to him the previous day, and he couldn''t help but gulp, blurting out.

    "Exactly, the color at this open window isn''t as good as my piece from yesterday. You agree with my view. The one yesterday was five thousand; this one for three thousand should be fine, right?" Zhang Yakun said.

    The stall owner indeed didn''t think highly of this stone and certainly didn''t believe that Ge Dongxu really had that skill. Moreover, having said what he had before, he didn''t ask Zhang Yakun to raise the price and nodded, "Alright, since Boss Zhang has spoken, I have to give this face."

    Zhang Yakun paid the money and then said, "I''ll use your place to open this stone."

    Though the stall owner didn''t believe Ge Dongxu truly had such keen eyes for jade, he was curious. Of course, he also wanted Ge Dongxu to realize in person that the previous stone''s success was purely a fluke.

    So when Zhang Yakun said he wanted to open the stone there, the stall owner naturally couldn''t wait and nodded without a second thought, "No problem, I want to see too."

    So, Zhang Yakun and the stall owner came together, drew the lines, studied it for a while, and then started to solve the stone.

    As soon as the stone was opened, both of their eyes popped out.

    The jade inside this stone was more than double that of the previous one, and most importantly, except for the color being slightly inferior, there were no cracks at all. With this volume and appearance, it could easily fetch around ten thousand, no problem.

    That is to say, in just this short time, Zhang Yakun had made at least seven thousand yuan.

    Seven thousand yuan was not a small amount at the time!

    "No way, can it be this coincidental?" It took a while for the stall owner to come back to his senses, but he still found it hard to believe it was true, thinking it was more likely just a coincidence.

    But Zhang Yakun didn''t think so. Besides these two pieces, there was another one yesterday that Ge Dongxu had accurately predicted. As the saying goes, ''once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is a pattern.'' One or two might be coincidence, but all three being correct as Ge Dongxu said, how could it be explained by mere coincidence?

    Thus, once he came back to his senses, Zhang Yakun''s view of Ge Dongxu had completely changed, even showing a hint of reverence.

    This is a true expert!

    My own experience is only half as good compared to his!

    "Let''s go, Brother Zhang," Ge Dongxu didn''t bother to explain or prove anything specifically to the stall owner and said with a smile, then said to Zhang Yakun.

    "Hehe, Dongxu, hold on, I was undecided about a few stones yesterday, could you help me evaluate them?" Hearing this, Zhang Yakun''s face carried a flattering smile.

    "You don''t say, Boss Zhang. You really think this young man..." The stall owner said in surprise upon seeing this.

    "An expert, a true expert! Just yesterday, he reminded me about a piece, but I didn''t listen to him, and as a result, I took a bad fall," Zhang Yakun said.

    "My apologies, such an oversight!" Upon hearing this, the stall owner suddenly showed great respect, bowing to Ge Dongxu.

    "Brother Zhang, Mr. Wang is overpraising me, I just took a casual look," Ge Dongxu humbly said, and then continued walking forward with Zhang Yakun.

    After a stroll around the market, Ge Dongxu helped Zhang Yakun review the materials that he had hesitated to buy yesterday, gave some advice, and also recommended a few pieces that he thought were decent from his viewing the day before.

    As for himself, he never thought of making money from this.

    It''s always good to leave some room; he wasn''t short of money and preferred to leave opportunities for others rather than monopolizing all the advantages for himself.

    After Zhang Yakun bought the materials, they were all cut on the spot.

    Each cut increased in value, and after a few such instances, Zhang Yakun was utterly admiring of Ge Dongxu.

    "Little brother, take these three pieces of jade," Zhang Yakun said, handing over three pieces of jade that had just been cut as they sat in the car after leaving the market. Your journey continues at My Virtual Library Empire

    "What are you doing?" Ge Dongxu did not accept them.

    "I owe my recent earnings to your help, so you must take these three pieces of jade, otherwise, I''ll feel uneasy," Zhang Yakun said. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ha, to be honest, Brother Zhang, I''m not lacking these few pieces of jade, so you don''t need to be polite with me," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh and a wave of his hand.

    On hearing this, Zhang Yakun paused, then took back the jade and chuckled, "It seems you''re not only an expert but also a real wealthy person, so I won''t be polite then."

    "We''re all friends here, no need for formalities," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "By the way, Dongxu, if it''s not too much to ask, what business do you do? Of course, if it''s inconvenient to answer, then don''t worry about it. I''m just curious how someone as young as you can be so rich. And from the looks of it, it doesn''t seem like it''s from family wealth, but that you''re genuinely capable," Zhang Yakun asked curiously, taking back the jade and driving in the direction of Yingjiang.

    Ge Dongxu was too young, after all. The jade he had nonchalantly declined was worth tens of thousands, at least. How could Zhang Yakun not be curious?!

    "There''s nothing inconvenient about it," Ge Dongxu smiled and said, "You must know about Qinghe Herbal Tea, right? I''m one of the major shareholders, having founded it with Tang Yahui''s father and two other friends."

    "Qinghe Herbal Tea! You''re actually a major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea!" After hearing this, Zhang Yakun''s hand trembled on the steering wheel, almost hitting a pedestrian crossing the road in front of him.

    Zhang Yakun certainly knew about Qinghe Herbal Tea; it was the leading herbal tea beverage company in Huaxia Country. It was a staple drink at his home during the summer, and he had even had a can last night at dinner. He was sitting next to the company''s major shareholder! He knew Tang Yahui''s father was a shareholder due to his relationship with Tang Yahui.

    Good heavens, that means his worth must be over a billion!

    Oh my God, I''m actually sitting next to a millionaire!

    "It''s better if you keep this to yourself; I''m still young and don''t want too much attention," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    ps: I stayed up all night and finally rushed out the manuscript. Time has been readjusted, and today I''ll return to posting three updates. Please support by casting your votes. Additionally, while I will mention jade gambling briefly, I won''t go into detail, since such plots are too common and I''m not particularly skilled in that area. I''ll try to write more about Brother Xu showing off his style.

 Chapter 330 The Raw Material Tycoon

    "Of course, of course!" Zhang Yaku hurriedly nodded when he heard this.

    "Then thank you, Brother Zhang," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "No, no, don''t call me Brother Zhang. That makes me nervous. You can just call me by name, or call me Old Zhang. After all, you are a billionaire!" Zhang Yaku said hastily.

    "Haha! Is it really that big of a deal?" Ge Dongxu laughed and said.

    "Of course, it''s a big deal, a billionaire! How many are there in Huaxia Country now? Let alone someone as young as you. If I go back and tell my wife, she certainly won''t believe me! And another thing, Qinghe Herbal Tea is truly a great product. In summer, our family mostly drinks Qinghe Herbal Tea, and we rarely let the children drink other beverages," Zhang Yaku said earnestly.

    "Still, herbal tea is herbal tea, and it can''t replace water. So in the summer, when the kids are thirsty, they should still drink more water; that''s the healthiest way," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Boss Ge, aren''t you damaging your own brand there!" Zhang Yaku was slightly surprised upon hearing this, then laughed and said.

    "Don''t, don''t call me Boss Ge, that makes me nervous, too," Ge Dongxu said hastily.

    "Haha, then I''ll take the liberty of continuing to call you by your name," Zhang Yaku said.

    "That''s how it should be," Ge Dongxu laughed and said.

    They chatted and laughed all the way until the car reached Yingjiang.

    Zhang Yaku''s hometown was in Yingjiang, and his parents and several brothers were still there.

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    Before returning to Yingjiang, he had already called his eldest brother, who he was closest with, so upon arriving at Yingjiang, Zhang Yaku booked a hotel for Ge Dongxu, and then took him to his elder brother''s house.

    They had an authentic local home-cooked meal at his elder brother''s house at noon.

    After the meal, with Zhang Yaku''s introduction, Ge Dongxu visited a few of his close friends'' shops and took a look around. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They indeed had some good items on hand, and by the afternoon, Ge Dongxu had spent a total of one hundred thousand and managed to find a stone with Glass Type Jadeite inside it.

    Then, Ge Dongxu requested to open the stone in private. The jadeite extracted from the stone was not big, enough to make only three Jade Tokens.

    Even with Ice Type Jade, Ge Dongxu could now complete a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation in one breath, but the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation was much more difficult. Even using Glass Type Jadeite, Ge Dongxu was not sure he could successfully carve one out of ten pieces, so three was definitely not enough.

    According to Ge Dongxu''s thinking, he needed to gather at least a hundred pieces of jadeite at this level.

    Firstly, there was the issue of success rate; secondly, the trip was time-consuming; and thirdly, he needed to reserve some supply for the future.

    He couldn''t possibly run to the border every few days.

    Luckily, Ge Dongxu didn''t tell Zhang Yaku his plan, otherwise it would probably scare Zhang Yaku silly.

    A hundred pieces of Glass Type Jadeite, even if those Jade Tokens aren''t particular about shape or color, it''s still Glass Type!

    They really think it''s as common as mung bean jade, found everywhere on the streets!

    "Your friends have decent stock, but it''s too little. Do they know anyone who has more?" After half a day of looking around, Ge Dongxu said to Zhang Yaku.

    "You really are a big boss, dissolving a hundred-thousand-dollar stone so easily, and still not satisfied," Zhang Yaku said.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Zhang Yaku with a smile.

    "We do have a boss in the rough jade business here, who has at least this amount of goods on hand," Zhang Yaku said, making a gesture for the number eight.

    "Eight million?" Ge Dongxu''s eyes lit up slightly.

    "No, it''s eighty million!" Zhang Yaku shook his head, his eyes filled with longing.

    "Eighty million!" Ge Dongxu was also startled by the words.

    Eighty million, even for the current Ge Dongxu, was no small sum, and for the average person, it was a astronomical figure.

    "That''s right, eighty million. Many of the raw stones from the Myanmar public auctions pass through his hands. Not only that, but it''s said that many raw stones are directly transferred from the mines to him under the table. Every year, many jade businessmen go there to get goods, including those from the mainland as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan. However, they are basically all big bosses, because the stones there are very expensive," Zhang Yaku explained.

    "That''s great, take me there tomorrow to have a look," Ge Dongxu said, his eyes revealing a hint of anticipation.

    "His place isn''t open every day, it opens only once a quarter. You''re lucky in timing; the day after tomorrow they will open for business, just for one day. Tomorrow, I''ll take you around other places in Yingjiang first," Zhang Yaku said.

    "Okay, I''m free anyway, might as well take a look around," Ge Dongxu nodded his agreement.

    The next day, accompanied by Zhang Yaku, Ge Dongxu made another round of the Yingjiang rough jade market. He picked up a few pieces of nearly glass-type stones, which professionals call high ice type jadeite.

    For the raw material production base of Qinglan Cosmetics, Ge Dongxu needed to set up a formation that also required jade stones for stabilization.

    The jade stones for stabilizing the formation needed to be operative and present throughout the year, covering a large area. Not only did they need to be of good quality, but their overall volume also had to be large, unlike the small pieces of jade tokens used for the Spirit Gathering Array.

    So when Ge Dongxu found suitable ones, he naturally bought them. Of course, the price was not cheap; he spent one and a half to one and six million yuan on a few pieces, which made the nearby Zhang Yaku secretly impressed by the rich''s capriciousness.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu, not wishing to frighten Zhang Yaku, processed the stones alone, and directly bagged the jade that resulted. Otherwise, Zhang Yaku''s impression wouldn''t have been of a rich man''s capriciousness but that Ge Dongxu was not really buying rough stones but rather purchasing high-grade jadeite.

    ...

    The place Zhang Yaku spoke of was not in the county town but located in a village by the mountains and water.

    The site was in a large courtyard at the foot of the mountain, with a temporary warehouse constructed inside. A significant portion of the stones was placed inside the warehouse, and some were laid out in the yard.

    There weren''t many cars parked at the entrance of the courtyard, nor many people inside, incomparable to the bustling market of Yingjiang. But the cars that were there were all imports, and Zhang Yaku''s rented Santana seemed particularly shabby in comparison. Everyone in the yard, donned in designer clothes and wristwatches, was obviously wealthy.

    Zhang Yaku was clearly a bit nervous, and even his walk seemed uneasy as he entered the courtyard.

    It was evident that for a small jade businessman like him, the psychological pressure from rough stones worth tens or even hundreds of thousands of yuan was significant, undermining his usual confidence.

    As for Ge Dongxu, he looked relaxed and even comfortable.

    At this moment, Ge Dongxu indeed felt quite content, as he discovered that the village was a place with good Feng Shui, featuring clean mountains, beautiful waters, and air filled with more abundant spirit energy than other places.

    It was an ideal place for cultivation. Ge Dongxu mentally praised the location and looked up, casting a meaningful glance toward the mountainside behind the courtyard.

    There, half up the mountain, a quaint villa was hidden among the trees.

    In Ge Dongxu''s view, that was the best Feng Shui spot in the area and where the spirit energy was most concentrated.

 Chapter 331 Blood Curse

    Ge Dongxu glanced at the villa and then withdrew his gaze, following the slightly nervous Zhang Yaku into the courtyard.

    The atmosphere in the hillside villa was somewhat somber.

    A silver-haired old man sitting in a wheelchair was currently placing his hand on a little boy lying flat on the bed.

    The boy''s face was tinged with blue, his breathing barely perceptible, the very child that had been cradled in the arms of the beautiful young woman in the Mercedes.

    At this moment, that beautiful young woman and the dignified and authoritative man known as Master Gu were also present, both looking extremely anxious and nervous.

    The old man''s one hand was searching back and forth over the boy''s body, while the other held a jade token.

    The jade was so green that it was refreshing to the heart and pleasing to the nose, even tinting the old man''s fingers green as he held it.

    If there were someone knowledgeable about jade here, they would recognize that the old man''s jade token was not only genuine old-pit glass-type jade but also the extremely rare Imperial Green.

    They say it''s hard for a person to be perfect in every way, just as it''s hard for things to be completely flawless. The same can be said about describing jade.

    Glass-type is the best among jade types, but the irony of nature is that it often grants the crystal but not the color, or the color but not the crystal, never allowing perfection. In other words, glass-type jade is generally colorless, while types like bean green or glutinous are usually colored.

    However, once the glass-type is coupled with color, and it ripples through the clear material, it appears exceptionally vibrant, dazzling, and vividly spiritual.

    The jade token in the old man''s hand was precisely that kind of glass-based jade, a royal green, which together would be referred to as Imperial Green jade, the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me of jades, with a price that is incredibly difficult to estimate.

    The old man''s fingers gently rubbed the jade token, murmuring incantations.

    Threads of green qi rose from the boy''s body, taking the shape of various poisonous creatures in the air, including snakes, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, and toads, constantly shifting forms, looking fierce and emitting a slight foul scent.

    The boy''s eyebrows furrowed.

    Seeing this, the man and the beautiful woman''s eyes showed a glint of shock and nervousness, their fingers tightly interlocked.

    Green light drifted out from the jade token, falling onto the virulent creatures formed by the green qi floating above the boy and gradually causing those poisonous creatures to disappear.

    A look of joy appeared on the old man''s face as he searched more vigorously over the boy''s body, rubbing the jade token even faster.

    It seemed as if he was trying desperately to drive the bluish tinge from the boy''s face all at once. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just as the old man''s face showed joy and he attempted to make one big push, suddenly, what rose from the boy''s body was no longer just threads of blue qi, but also strands tinged with blood.

    The boy''s complexion turned pale and agonized, and his skin even seemed to wrinkle slightly, barely noticeable but still perceivable by the old man and the two adults.

    It felt as though years were slipping by on the child''s body.

    "Blood Curse! It''s the damned Blood Curse!" the old man''s face drastically changed, and like being bitten by a snake, he quickly withdrew his hand from the boy.

    "Master Yang!" Seeing this, Master Gu''s face also went pale, hastily letting go of the young woman''s hand and stepping forward to call out in a low voice.

    "I had thought that Yiran was only afflicted by the Five Poisons Descent, but the caster didn''t even hesitate to exhaust their Essence Blood, using it as a guide to cast the Spell with a Blood Curse," the silver-haired elder said with a solemn expression.

    "Is there any way to break it?" Master Gu''s face changed again upon hearing this, and he asked urgently.

    "The Spell of Blood Curse requires Essence Blood as a guide; it not only depletes the caster''s Elemental Force, but should it be broken, the caster, at the very least, would lose all their Cultivation Power, and at worst, their life. Therefore, unless there is deep-seated hatred and blood vendetta, a Magician would not cast such a spell. However, once cast, unless the opponent''s Cultivation Power is far superior, or they are individuals of unparalleled mastery in Spells, it is almost impossible to break. Even if it is forcefully broken, Yiran would lose his life. I''m afraid you will have to seek someone more capable," the silver-haired elder explained.

    Upon hearing this, Master Gu''s demeanor seemed to collapse.

    Others might not know how formidable the old man was, but Master Gu did know something; if even he was unable to help, then there would be very few in Qimen who could.

    Moreover, Qimen is so called because it is different from the mundane world; truly hermit-like, exceptional individuals are not people whom one can simply seek out at will.

    Master Gu knew of the silver-haired elder''s existence and sought his help because the elder had some past gang connections with his deceased father during turbulent times.

    "Master Yang, please, think of another way. If you really can''t do anything, then it would be useless for me to seek others," after a long while, Master Gu revived his spirits and, with reddened eyes, implored the elder.

    "Master Yang, you must save Yiran; he''s still just a child! You must save him. As long as you save him, no matter the cost..." No sooner had Master Gu spoken than the beautiful young woman seemed to suddenly come to her senses, rushing forward to kneel in front of the elder''s wheelchair, grasping his hand as tears fell like pearls.

    "It''s not about money!" the elder interrupted the beautiful young woman, but seeing her with tears streaming down her face like rain through pear blossoms, he ultimately let out a deep sigh and said, "I''ll try again, but the hope is slim."

    "Thank you, Master Yang, thank you, Master Yang!" Master Gu and the beautiful young woman quickly expressed their gratitude.

    The elder didn''t say much, just silently sighed again, then placed his hand on the child''s chest. This time, he didn''t search back and forth but just kept it steady, slowly closing his eyes as if sensing something.

    ...

    "The raw stones here are ultimately sold through an auction to the highest bidder. Each piece has a number, the morning is for viewing the stones, you note the ones that catch your eye, and the afternoon is for bidding. But you be careful, don''t just call out prices recklessly. Even if you have hundred millions in assets, casually throwing away tens and hundreds of millions can''t be sustained. After all, the risk in gambling on stone is still too great," Zhang Yaku, walking beside Ge Dongxu, watched him handle the stones and said in a low voice.

    "Thank you, Old Zhang, I understand," Ge Dongxu nodded, his face showing gratitude.

    Although Zhang Yaku''s reminder was completely unnecessary for him, Ge Dongxu still sincerely appreciated the sentiment.

    "Ha, well, you are an expert and wealthy too, you don''t need my reminders," seeing Ge Dongxu''s grateful expression, Zhang Yaku felt somewhat embarrassed.

    After all, the man before him, whether in terms of expertise or wealth, could leave him miles behind!

    "Still, a reminder is quite necessary. Young people tend to be arrogant," Ge Dongxu said.

    Hearing Ge Dongxu say this, Zhang Yaku laughed heartily and felt quite comfortable.

    Since many of the stones here were quite large, it was strenuous and slow for Ge Dongxu to explore them; sometimes it took a long time to feel just one stone.

    Zhang Yaku started by following Ge Dongxu, but gradually became impatient and walked away to look at other places on his own.

    After all, he was a Jade merchant himself, and being in this place, how could he idle away with his mind free of thoughts?

    PS: I recommend my own previous book, "The Record of a Cultivation Teacher''s Life." Personally, I believe it to be the most maturely and naturally written urban tale among my four "Life Records" series. The only drawback is that, due to some personal reasons, it ended a bit hastily. For those who haven''t read this old book, take a look; it shouldn''t disappoint you. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 332 Ouyang Murong

    As time passed, more and more people arrived, but it was still far less crowded compared to the Yingjiang Market.

    The newcomers were all well-dressed, some even accompanied by personal bodyguards, making those like Ge Dongxu and Zhang Yakun seem rather shabby in comparison.

    Their car was shabby, and so were their clothes.

    After touching around a dozen stones, Ge Dongxu realized that although the items here were expensive, there was a reason why so many big bosses eagerly came; the quality here was indeed much higher than that of the market''s, probably because the sellers had carefully selected them. All the rocks contained jade, the only differences being the quantity and quality of the jade. This tested the buyers'' eye for quality and luck.

    Unlike the general market, where many of the stones laid out by the sellers contained nothing at all, it was uncertain where they had even sourced these from. It was likely that most were just filler, meant to scam tourists or newcomers to the field.

    "Dongxu, my family called me, said there is an urgent matter and asked me to rush back, you can keep looking, I need to go back for a while. Anyway, the materials here are too expensive for me; it''s useless even if I look, and it''d be troublesome if I impulsively bought something," said Zhang Yakun, who rushed over to Ge Dongxu''s side and spoke in a low voice, about an hour and a half later while Ge Dongxu was examining a massive stone weighing at least three to four hundred kilograms.

    "Okay, you take care of your things, don''t worry about me. If anything comes up, just give me a call," Ge Dongxu, whose mind was mainly on the stone, replied without thinking much, slightly looked up to say this to Zhang Yakun, then bent down again to continue examining the stone.

    This stone was large and examining it was tiring; breaking off in the middle wasn''t something even someone as skilled as Ge Dongxu wanted to start over.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu was focused on the stone, Zhang Yakun didn''t dare to disturb him further. After saying they could contact by phone if needed, he quickly left the courtyard.

    After Zhang Yakun left, Ge Dongxu continued examining stones. Naturally, there were some experts who looked at him with disdain and mockery, but no one went out of their way to bother or mock him close up.

    Whether it was out of good upbringing or a self-assured identity that they disdained speaking with Ge Dongxu, only they knew.

    At noon, some people drove off to eat while others casually managed a meal within the village.

    Seeing that Zhang Yakun hadn''t come over, Ge Dongxu couldn''t be bothered to go out and find a place to eat, so he continued to stay in the courtyard and examine stones alone. After all, with his current cultivation level, although he hadn''t reached the mythical realm of not needing earthly food, he could go hungry for ten days or half a month without any trouble.

    Around one in the afternoon, a middle-aged man with a lean face and scholarly demeanor, looking around fifty years old, walked in accompanied by two young men with stern expressions.

    "Mr. Ouyang has arrived!"

    "Good day, Mr. Ouyang!"

    "¡­"

    As soon as this middle-aged man entered, everyone in the place came forward to greet him, and he, with a beaming smile, reciprocated with a bow to the crowd.

    At that moment, Ge Dongxu was in the warehouse, intently feeling the last piece of jade, which was also the largest one in the venue, paying no attention to that Mr. Ouyang.

    "Is he the owner of this sales venue, Ouyang Murong? He looks just like a schoolteacher, very amiable and approachable," a man said softly to his companion, eying Ouyang Murong, who was smiling and greeting others with cupped hands.

    The companion by his side was a man in his sixties who had gone completely pot-bellied, his facial muscles totally relaxed.

    "A schoolteacher? Amiable and approachable?" Hearing this, the companion''s face showed a smile mixed with disbelief, then quickly turned serious, saying, "If you really think that, then you''re greatly mistaken. With the tense situation of the civil war in Myanmar, aside from the annual Yangon public offering, jade traders have found it very difficult to get good raw stones from other channels, but here there are still so many raw stones, do you think an ordinary person can manage that?" S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Could the rumors be true, that even the kings of the Golden Triangle and Northern Myanmar, like Dare¹ûÍõ and the Mong Tai Army leaders, have to show him respect?" The curiosity in the man''s eyes turned into reverence upon hearing this.

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    "Whether it''s true or not is something that businessmen of our level can''t know. However, one thing you should clearly understand is that a man who can control so much merchandise in a border area is definitely not someone we can afford to provoke. Haven''t you noticed, the person representing Zhou Dafu of the Zheng Family from Hong Kong is utterly respectful towards Mr. Ouyang? Just this fact should tell you that the rumors, even if exaggerated, are certainly not groundless," the companion responded in a low voice.

    Upon hearing this, the man looked at Ouyang Murong and sure enough, a middle-aged man was talking to Ouyang, his demeanor very respectful, utterly lacking the pride and arrogance he had displayed in his earlier interactions with them.

    "Master Yang has been in good health recently, hasn''t he? The old gentleman asked me to send his regards," the man who represented Zhou Dafu said in a low voice to Ouyang Murong.

    "Please tell Brother Zheng, Master Yang is in good health, he still takes a daily stroll in the village, but today he had business and could not receive guests," Ouyang Murong replied.

    "That''s good to hear. The old man will certainly be pleased to hear this news," the man replied with a smile, secretly astonished as he knew Master Yang was not mobile in his legs. Typically, once an elderly man becomes immobile, his health deteriorates progressively. Considering that Master Yang was now over ninety years old, logically, he would be at the stage of clinging precariously to life, confined to his bed year-round; unexpectedly, he was still capable of daily walks in the village.

    Could the rumors be true, saying that Master Yang possessed strange arts, had been a renowned figure of Qing Gang in his earlier years, and withdrew from the underworld later?

    Of course, the man just thought about it, he certainly wouldn''t ask such a question.

    Soon, other people came over to greet Ouyang Murong, and the man simply smiled and continued examining the jade.

    At about half-past one, the auction officially began, and by then Ge Dongxu had also finished feeling the last piece of jade.

    Unfortunately, although the stone was large, there wasn''t much jade inside, and it was only of ice grade, which didn''t meet Ge Dongxu''s current requirements.

    The auctioneer was Ouyang Murong.

    When Ouyang Murong stepped onto the auction stage, Ge Dongxu casually chose a seat towards the back, and suddenly noticed that the burly man who had single-handedly moved a spare tire on the road for him and the driver who had asked if he needed help were also at the auction. However, they stood on the outer edge, seemingly just watching and not planning to participate in the bidding.

    Owing them a favor and seeing that they were there, Ge Dongxu naturally went to greet them.

    As Ge Dongxu walked towards them, the two men, known as Ayong and Axiong, also saw Ge Dongxu, their faces showing expressions of surprise.

 Chapter 333 Auction

    "How come you''re here too? You''re not here for the auction, are you?" AYong and AXiong approached him and asked curiously.

    Although they were there because Master Gu was at the mid-mountain villa and they had nothing to do, just idly there to watch the excitement, they were aware that each piece of material here was quite valuable.

    Ge Dongxu''s car was a beaten-up Santana, so naturally they didn''t think Ge Dongxu had the financial means to participate in the auction.

    "Yes, otherwise I wouldn''t be here," Ge Dongxu said with a smile and a nod, then added, "Thanks for the other day. If it hadn''t been for you guys, we might have had to spend the night on the road."

    "It was nothing, and if you''re going to thank anyone, it should be our Master Gu," AYong said, waving his hand dismissively.

    "Is Master Gu here today? I''d like to thank him in person later," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Master Gu isn''t interested in these matters. He''s busy with other things, so you don''t need to worry about it," AYong said, his expression showing a hint of disdain.

    A young guy like Ge Dongxu, how could he be qualified to see Master Gu!

    Of course, AYong wouldn''t say that out loud.

    "Look, young man, the prices for the raw materials here are pretty steep, and gambling on stones is even riskier than gambling itself. Are you sure you want to get involved? I think you better take it easy, don''t end up gambling away your family''s savings," AXiong interjected.

    Although AXiong''s words were a bit harsh, his intentions were good. Hearing this, Ge Dongxu just smiled at him and said, "Thanks, but I can afford to gamble on these stones."

    Hearing this, AYong and AXiong looked at Ge Dongxu with some disbelief.

    Driving a broken-down Santana, and yet claiming he could afford to gamble on these stones? That was a bit too boastful!

    But since Ge Dongxu had said so, they naturally would not urge him further.

    They were just acquaintances who had met by chance, so saying this much was already enough. Besides, Ouyang Murong had begun his opening remarks by then, and it wasn''t appropriate for them to continue speaking.

    Ouyang Murong said some words of welcome and also introduced the recent civil war situation in Myanmar, a clever hint from him that these rough stones were not easy to come by, naturally suggesting that their prices would be higher than in past years.

    But no one said anything.

    The Myanmar goods fair occurs in March every year, and it was already the end of June, well past the date of the fair. With the current situations in Myanmar, getting more good raw stones was only feasible here.

    "Alright, enough talk, let''s start with the first rough stone, number 001. The starting bid is one hundred thousand, highest bidder wins." Ouyang Murong spoke quite differently from how leaders usually do; he kept it brief and moved straight into the auction phase.

    Throughout the day, Ge Dongxu had touched and inspected every stone in the place and had already made a rough judgment on each. He knew that the first ten stones weren''t of good quality, so he wasn''t concerned about the auction for these stones at all.

    However, other people didn''t know this, and the bidding was somewhat fierce, with several stones selling for ten times their starting bid. One of them went for a million, which made Ge Dongxu, who knew the details of these stones, couldn''t help but inwardly remark. He truly understood now what was meant by "a cut poor, a cut rich."

    Like the merchant who had spent a million to buy a rough stone, according to Ge Dongxu''s estimate, it would be quite good if he could recover a hundred and fifty thousand in cost. Thus, while that man might not be bankrupt, he was likely severely diminished in terms of his ''Vital Energy''.

    After all, in this era, a million was a sizable amount. Even in the capital city, that was enough to buy a luxury home of more than two hundred square meters.

    "The auction for lot number 011, an uncut stone, starts at eighty thousand. Interested friends may start bidding now." Soon, it was the turn of the eleventh uncut stone.

    "I have examined the stone we are now auctioning, it''s quite good. Buying it for under three hundred thousand should yield a profit. If you two have some spare cash, consider bidding." Ge Dongxu, knowing that there was a significant piece of Ice Type Jadeite in this stone, thought for a moment and spoke to Ah Yong and Ah Xiong by his side.

    Ah Yong and Ah Xiong glanced at Ge Dongxu incredulously upon hearing this, then shook their heads and ignored him, clearly not believing Dongxi''s words.

    Seeing their reaction, Ge Dongxu touched his nose and a wry smile appeared on his lips.

    It seems that a young man''s words carry little weight!

    However, he merely intended to express his gratitude and remind them on a whim. If they did not believe him, he certainly wouldn''t go out of his way to explain.

    Cultivators value fate.

    Ah Yong and Ah Xiong gave him a spare tire on the way here. That was fate. The fact that they met here was fate as well.

    If Ah Yong and Ah Xiong had believed Ge Dongxu just now, that would have been a stroke of good fortune brought by fate. But since they didn''t believe him, it can only be said that they were fated not to in this matter.

    Fate comes and goes, and for Ge Dongxu, it''s not good to force things!

    Since it was Ice Type Jadeite, Ge Dongxu did not participate in the bidding. In the end, the stone was acquired for two hundred thirty thousand by that man who earlier said Ouyang Murong looked like a teacher.

    Seeing the stone sold for two hundred thirty thousand, while Ge Dongxu himself did not participate in the bidding at all, Ah Yong and Ah Xiong felt somewhat uneasy, viewing him with a somewhat hostile gaze. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He knew it was a good deal, profitable, yet he did not bid himself but encouraged them to. Wasn''t that blatantly setting them up? Wasn''t that repaying kindness with enmity?

    Ge Dongxu, however, had not realized this. At that moment, his attention was captured by the next block of stone.

    This stone was not esteemed by experts, and presumably not even the seller had high hopes for it, hence the low starting price of fifty thousand. There were few bidders, but Ge Dongxu knew that there was a piece of Glass Type Jadeite within, small but definitely worth more than this price.

    As a result, Ge Dongxu managed to acquire the stone for just a hundred thousand.

    Although Ge Dongxu got the stone for just a hundred thousand, which was considered a bargain here, his youth and new face still drew many sidelong glances from those present.

    Many people seeing a young person nodded skeptically, their eyes revealing a trace of scorn and mockery, clearly thinking that Ge Dongxu, the young man, lacked discernment.

    Ah Xiong and Ah Yong, seeing this, looked at Ge Dongxu with a bit friendlier gaze, thinking that perhaps they had misunderstood him earlier. This guy didn''t avoid bidding; he just didn''t have enough money in his pocket!

    Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire

    "One million five hundred thousand!" However, Ah Xiong and Ah Yong soon realized they were wrong about this thought, because when the bidding for the thirtieth stone climbed to one million four hundred thousand, that same young man they secretly thought lacked funds suddenly bid one million five hundred thousand.

    The scene fell briefly silent, all eyes, including those of Ah Xiong and Ah Yong, turned sharply towards Ge Dongxu.

    Clearly, no one expected a young man in his twenties to place a bid of one million five hundred thousand!

 Chapter 334 Who is your dad?

    ```

    "$1.55 million!" People quickly shifted their gaze away from Ge Dongxu and continued to bid.

    "$1.6 million!" Ge Dongxu followed with a bid.

    "$1.65 million!" The scene fell briefly silent again before someone hesitantly raised the bid.

    "$1.7 million." Ge Dongxu increased the bid without any hesitation.

    This rough stone was the second one that Ge Dongxu had his eyes on, and he was naturally determined to win it.

    "Damn, who is this guy? Raising the bid like it''s nothing!"

    "Exactly, whose kid is this? Does he even know what he''s doing, just throwing out prices willy-nilly." sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "He isn''t just spouting random numbers, is he?"

    "That seems unlikely, given that he looks about eighteen or nineteen, maybe in his twenties. Doesn''t he know you can''t just mess around in a place like this?"

    "That''s not necessarily the case. $1.7 million! Who has that kind of money these days, letting someone so young play around like this! This is gambling on stones we''re talking about!"

    "$1.72 million." Amidst the murmuring, someone gritted their teeth and placed a bid.

    "$1.8 million." Ge Dongxu continued to raise the bid without any hesitation.

    This time, the venue almost exploded, and Ouyang Murong on the stage also looked at Ge Dongxu with an intriguing gaze.

    However, he still followed the procedure to ask if there was a higher bid from the floor. Seeing none, he eventually sold it to Ge Dongxu.

    "Kid, you better not be causing trouble here! Otherwise, no one can save you!" This time, the looks that Ayong and Axiong gave Ge Dongxu were not merely unfriendly, but also carried a hint of threat and menace. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

    They were Master Gu''s men and naturally knew why Master Gu had come here. They also knew that even Master Gu had to show respect to the true master of this place as a junior.

    Yet, this guy who only drove a beat-up Santana dared to bid up to $1.8 million. If they hadn''t seen a lot in their time and experienced many things to maintain their composure, they probably would have already laid hands on Ge Dongxu.

    They believed it was not permissible for anyone to cause trouble here.

    Even so, they couldn''t help but issue a warning!

    Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback but didn''t get angry. He whispered, "I am of age, after all. I know what I can do and what I can''t."

    Ayong and Axiong were stunned upon hearing this, but their looks still carried a hint of threat towards Ge Dongxu.

    It was really hard to reconcile the idea of someone casually bidding $1.8 million with someone who drives a Santana.

    The auction continued, and Ge Dongxu fell silent again, not making a bid until the hundredth rough stone. This made some people uncomfortable, and they began to glance at him.

    However, at lots one hundred and one and one hundred and fifteen, Ge Dongxu made two more bids, but they were not high; both were only in the tens of thousands.

    After his $1.8 million bid earlier, these two bids didn''t seem strange to people.

    But when lot number one hundred and thirty came up, Ge Dongxu once again became the focus of the entire room.

    Because this rock was favored by many experts, the starting bid was already $3 million.

    Then the price climbed all the way to $5 million, and at this point, the bidding slowed down considerably. Every time the price went up, the bidders sweat on their foreheads, their voices a bit hoarse.

    ```

    There was no way around it, five million¡ªeven though the people who came here were wealthy, that was still a large sum. If the jade collapsed in value, they''d have made money for so many years for nothing, returning to square one overnight.

    "Five million five hundred thousand," Ge Dongxu saw the pace of the bidding slow and directly added five hundred thousand.

    The room suddenly went quiet, and Ouyang Murong''s face changed too.

    With a bid of five million five hundred thousand, adding to the previous four auctions, Ge Dongxu''s utilized funds had neared eight million.

    Such a large amount wasn''t something that most of the jade merchants present could produce, let alone Ouyang Murong himself. It wasn''t something he could just take out on a whim.

    "Young man, do you even have that much money? Don''t just blabber!" Finally, someone couldn''t hold back and directly called out to Ge Dongxu.

    An unfamiliar face, and so young it was almost unbelievable, the casualness of his bidding made everyone suspicious!

    Didn''t they see that even the representative of Zhou Dafu, when bidding four million five hundred thousand, was already wiping his sweat with a handkerchief from time to time?

    A youngster, casually bidding five million five hundred thousand, did he really think this was just a numbers game?

    This was gambling on jade, where one had to produce Real Gold and Silver, a single cut could ruin someone financially!

    "Exactly, who is your father? Name drop a little," someone jeered at Ge Dongxu.

    "Do you even know where you are?"

    However, Ouyang Murong, seeing Ge Dongxu''s composure in the face of public interrogation, was secretly shocked. He waved his hand to quiet the crowd, then walked down from the auction stage, approached Ge Dongxu, and said, "Sir, may I have a word with you in private?"

    Ge Dongxu understood the doubts others had about him, and also understood why Ouyang Murong was doing this. He nodded and followed him to a secluded area in the warehouse.

    Before Ouyang Murong could speak, Ge Dongxu had already opened his bag, taking out his acquisitions from the past few days, and said, "I know what Mr. Ouyang wants to ask, and I think this should be sufficient to prove my financial ability."

    In the past few days, Ge Dongxu had purchased several stones from Zhang Yaku''s friend, and from the market, spending nearly one million seven hundred thousand in total.

    With Ge Dongxu''s surefire judgment, the stones he bought for one million seven hundred thousand, once cut, naturally yielded jade worth more than that amount. If he were to sell them on the market, they''d be worth at least five or six million.

    Ouyang Murong, capable of running such a big event, was naturally an expert among experts. As soon as Ge Dongxu took out the contents of his bag, Ouyang''s eyes lit up.

    "I apologize, since this is our first interaction and the amount is substantial, that''s why I needed to confirm," Ouyang Murong quickly suppressed the surprise in his heart and expressed his regret to Ge Dongxu.

    "It''s okay, I understand," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Then the two returned to the auction scene.

    "The gentleman just now bid five million five hundred thousand, is there anyone else who would like to raise the bid?" Ouyang Murong returned to the auction stage and asked.

    Everyone was sharp and naturally understood that Ouyang Murong had confirmed Ge Dongxu''s qualifications!

    Suddenly, the whole room went deadly silent, and those who just couldn''t resist confronting Ge Dongxu sheepishly wiped the sweat from their foreheads.

    A youngster casually tossing out a bid of nearly eight million, just how formidable must his family background be!

    The looks Ah Xiong and Ah Yong gave Ge Dongxu had completely changed; their expressions were very uncomfortable.

    Because not long ago, they had threatened and warned Ge Dongxu!

 Chapter 335 The Listener Has Intent

    Ouyang Murong asked several times in a row, but no one else raised the price anymore, so the stone naturally went to Ge Dongxu.

    After that stone, Ge Dongxu rarely made a move, only placing a bid near the end, acquiring a piece of rough for two million.

    As a result, throughout the entire auction, Ge Dongxu alone spent nearly ten million.

    Thinking that a young man had managed to spend ten million without a change in his expression from start to finish, the people in the venue couldn''t help but have their hearts beat faster upon the realization.

    After the auction ended, many people came over to greet Ge Dongxu, trying to cozy up to him, especially those who had questioned him before¡ªthey even made a special trip to apologize to him.

    Business people, after all, value harmony, and goodwill brings wealth. If Ge Dongxu were just an ordinary young man, offending him would be no big deal, but he wasn''t even twenty and had casually thrown out ten million to gamble on stones. Anyone present who wasn''t foolish knew it would be best not to offend someone like him.

    Who knows which impressive family he comes from!

    Ge Dongxu wasn''t one to put on airs or be petty. He smiled and greeted the people present before settling the payment with the venue staff.

    The money, of course, wasn''t in cash, but rather Ge Dongxu made a call to Cheng Yazhou, asking him to arrange a transfer to the venue''s account.

    Qinghe Herbal Tea''s reputation was already assured, and with "Happy Girl Voice" becoming a hit throughout Huaxia Country, Qinghe Herbal Tea''s name also became widely known across the country. Last month, Qinghe Herbal Tea''s sales volume took another leap, breaking through a hundred million. So, Qinghe Herbal Tea had a very abundant cash flow at the moment.

    After transferring the money, Ge Dongxu asked Ouyang Murong to arrange a private place for him to cut the stone.

    Ge Dongxu had casually let go of ten million, and the transfer to the venue''s account had been swift. Even someone of Ouyang Murong''s stature wouldn''t dare to neglect such a young man, so he immediately arranged a separate place for Ge Dongxu to cut the stone on hearing his request.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu wanted to cut the stone in private, the people at the venue were quite disappointed.

    They still wanted to see whether today''s gambling king would win big or lose terribly. Of course, what they most wanted to see was the top bid of the day, which was the rough stone that Ge Dongxu had acquired for five and a half million, to find out what level of jadeite it could yield.

    Unfortunately, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to cut the stone in public.

    Ge Dongxu went into a private room to cut the stone, while in the venue, some people directly took the stones away, planning to resell them or to go back and ponder how to cut them. There were also those who cut the stones on the spot.

    The ones cut on the spot were the cheaper ones.

    The stone that Ge Dongxu had previously suggested that Axiong and Ayong pool their money to bid for was cut open on the spot, yielding a piece of ice-type jade with floating blue flowers. Someone immediately offered five hundred thousand to buy it, but the owner didn''t sell, intending to take it back and have it made into a finished product for sale.

    Though Axiong and Ayong followed Master Gu and were not of low status, making a quick profit of two hundred seventy thousand was still a substantial sum for them. They felt both regret and shock on the spot.

    They hadn''t expected Ge Dongxu''s prediction to actually come true.

    Was it just a coincidence, or did he really have a discerning eye for recognizing gems?

    If Ge Dongxu hadn''t so casually thrown out ten million, they would have definitely thought it was just chance, but now, they dared not think so.

    They, who had seen big scenes and important figures, knew that a person who could casually spend ten million wouldn''t condescend to randomly recommend rough stones to others.

    The only explanation for his recommendation was that he wanted to repay the favor from the day before yesterday.

    Thinking this, Axiong and Ayong exchanged glances and saw the astonishment in each other''s eyes.

    What did it mean if Ge Dongxu was so certain about this rough stone''s potential, and yet he ultimately didn''t bid on it?

    It means that this little amount of money, he doesn''t even care!

    Disregarding a profit of hundreds of thousands, just how awesome is this young man!

    Ge Dongxu naturally did not know about the outside affairs. He used mana to lock onto the position of the jadeite inside, and then quickly cut the stone; that speed, that technique, would certainly astound any expert present.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu had obtained several pieces of glass type jadeite, some colored, some colorless.

    One of them was a violet glass type jadeite. Its soft and translucent purplish-blue hue and luster made Ge Dongxu feel that turning it into a jade token would be an utter waste.

    "Perfect, I can use it to make a few amulet pendants as gifts for Sister Liu and the others," Ge Dongxu thought gleefully as he gazed at the piece of violet glass type jadeite.

    The rock that was acquired for a high price of five million five hundred thousand not only contained two relatively large pieces of glass type jadeite, but also other types of jadeite, although they were all of lower quality, so Ge Dongxu did not pay special attention to extracting them.

    Finishing up with all the stones took just over ten minutes, after which Ge Dongxu did not come out immediately. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He didn''t want to be seen as a monster.

    Nevertheless, even as such, the time he came out was still much faster than what people had anticipated.

    Therefore, when people saw him emerge, they all wore looks of surprise, unable to imagine how he had processed the stones so quickly.

    However, people were obviously more concerned about whether he won or lost in the gamble, so they quickly focused their attention on Ge Dongxu''s face, trying to find the answer there.

    But Ge Dongxu''s expression was still very calm, as if he had just been dealing with ordinary stones, not ones worth ten million.

    People simply couldn''t tell whether he had won or lost.

    Someone couldn''t hold back their curiosity and stepped forward to ask.

    Ge Dongxu naturally wouldn''t tell him that the jadeite from the ten million stone was worth at least thirty million, only lightly replying, not bad.

    Then he looked around and realized Zhang Yaku had not yet arrived, and couldn''t help feeling a bit puzzled. He casually walked out of the place while taking out his phone to give Zhang Yaku a call.

    Just as he was about to use his phone, Ge Dongxu heard Ayong''s voice from behind.

    "Xiong Ge, how is the young master doing?"

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    "Achang just called to say it''s the same as before. Master Gu''s face looks very bad, and the lady is crying like a tearful person. Ah, let''s not talk about this, let''s go quickly. Since there''s no hope, I guess Master Gu and his wife won''t stay here tonight," Axiong, the driver of the big Mercedes, said.

    "Ah! What a darling child the young master is, how could he have contracted such a strange illness," Ayong sighed.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s heart stirred slightly and he put his phone back in his pocket, stopping to wait for Ayong and Axiong, who were heading this way.

    Ayong and Axiong were clearly not in the mood to speak with Ge Dongxu. They just nodded their heads to him as a greeting and were prepared to walk past him.

    "Gentlemen, I couldn''t help overhearing you mention that the young master is sick, is this young master your boss''s son?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    ps: Yesterday was my son''s birthday; I threw a party, so I could only rush out one chapter. The other two chapters will likely be done by tonight, sorry for the wait.

 Chapter 336 Threat

    Ah Yong and Ah Xiong paused for a moment, then nodded with a wry smile.

    "I know a bit about medicine," Ge Dongxu said, seeing the situation. "Please tell your boss that I''d be very happy to take a look at his son."

    As the old saying goes, "A drop of water should be returned with a gushing spring."

    That may be somewhat of an exaggeration, but if Ge Dongxu had not known that the person''s son was ill, he would have just walked away today without going out of his way to express his gratitude, as after all, it was just a spare tire. To such great figures, it really wasn''t much. But now that he knew the person''s son was ill, and he just happened to be a highly skilled divine doctor, Ge Dongxu couldn''t just sit by and do nothing.

    "Thank you, but the young master''s illness is very strange. These past few days, the boss has already consulted the best doctors both domestically and abroad, all to no avail," Ah Xiong said, pausing before he added with a wry smile.

    The meaning couldn''t be clearer.

    "I have quite the expertise in treating complicated diseases. Just because other doctors haven''t been able to help your young master doesn''t mean I can''t. Besides, taking a look doesn''t cause any loss to your young master. On the contrary, it provides an additional chance," Ge Dongxu said.

    If someone else had said this, Ah Xiong and Ah Yong would have scoffed, thinking that the person was naive and bragging without knowledge, but having witnessed the jade stone auction incident just now, they didn''t dare underestimate Ge Dongxu.

    "How should we address you?" Ah Xiong and Ah Yong exchanged glances, then asked.

    "My name is Ge Dongxu," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "So, you''re Mr. Ge. My name is Ah Xiong and he''s Ah Yong. Please trouble yourself to come up with us," Ah Xiong said. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s no trouble at all," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then followed Ah Xiong and Ah Yong to the Audi parked outside of the venue.

    The car wound its way up from a junction at the foot of the mountain village, heading towards the villa halfway up the mountain.

    Watching the route, a reflective light flashed in Ge Dongxu''s eyes.

    The mountain was a small one, and in just three or four minutes, the car stopped in front of the villa halfway up the mountain.

    Viewed from afar, the villa nestled among the mountains and forests, exuding an ancient charm. As the car stopped in front of the villa, this feeling of antiquity grew even stronger, making it feel as if one had traveled through time.

    The villa''s yard was large, filled with an abundance of flowers, plants, trees, fruit trees, and it included ponds and rockeries, clearly belonging to a wealthy family.

    But Ge Dongxu saw not only this but also the Feng Shui layout of the place. He noticed wisps of spiritual energy drifting from all directions towards it.

    This indeed was an excellent place for cultivation, Ge Dongxu thought admiringly to himself.

    "Since this is the secluded residence of an old senior, we shouldn''t barge in. Please wait here for a moment, Mr. Ge, while I go inside and give notice," Ah Xiong said after parking the car.

    "Of course," Ge Dongxu nodded in agreement.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ge," Ah Xiong expressed his gratitude and then got out of the car to head into the yard, making his way to the villa.

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    In front of the villa stood two stern men.

    "Are Master Gu and the madam inside? Is it convenient to go in now?" Ah Xiong asked.

    "Master Yang has finished treating the young master and is now talking with Master Gu and the madam in the living room," one of the stern men replied.

    Ah Xiong nodded at the response, then raised his hand to knock on the door and gently pushed it open as he walked in.

    In the living room, Gu Yezeng, also known as Master Gu, was taking a call, his face looking terrible, while the madam was holding a little boy, tears falling like pearls.

    Master Yang, Yang Yinhou, said nothing, just sitting quietly in his wheelchair, watching Gu Yezeng on the phone.

    "Mr. Gu, there''s no point in holding onto false hopes, you''re only increasing your son''s suffering!" The voice on the phone belonged to a man, filled with smugness and malice.

    "So it''s Mr. Kolster, is it just about the paltry investment of fifteen million euros? Why bother going this far?" said Gu Yezeng.

    "Actually, I didn''t want it to come to this either. I had warned Mr. Gu, but it''s a pity you didn''t take my words seriously. I had no choice but to take this measure," Kolster replied.

    "Mr. Kolster should know that I still have some influence in the Chinese circles, whether in Spain or in the Philippines. So if you have your man withdraw his evil magic now, there''s still time. I promise not to pursue matters afterward, and I will let you have the project in the Philippines," Gu Yezeng said with a dark expression.

    "If Mr. Gu had spoken like this earlier, there wouldn''t have been any trouble. But now, I can only regretfully tell you that it''s definitely impossible to withdraw the witchcraft. After all, you''ve said yourself that you have some influence among the Chinese. So, I''m sorry, after you give up the project, I can only ensure that this Eastern witchcraft doesn''t act up, and your son can grow up healthy and lively like any normal child. Rest assured, as long as my man does not activate it, I guarantee your son will be just like any normal person and won''t be harmed at all," Kolster said with a voice feigning ''regret'' and ''sincerity''.

    "Kolster, are you sure you want to do this?" Gu Yezeng asked.

    "Don''t you Chinese have a saying, ''Once the arrow is off the bowstring, it cannot return''? I quite like this saying," Kolster responded.

    Upon hearing this, Gu Yezeng didn''t say anything more and hung up the phone.

    "Mr. Rivera, are you sure your witchcraft cannot be broken by anyone?" In a luxurious suite of a grand hotel in Manila, the capital of the Philippines, a blond man gently swirled his wine glass, looking at an old man embracing a blond woman on either side, his eyes showing a complex and conflicting mix of scorn and awe.

    The scorn stemmed from being a descendant of the Spaniards who had once ruled this land for over three hundred years, as Kolster felt a natural sense of superiority over the Filipinos. The awe was due to the fact that the elderly Filipino before him possessed a mystical yet eerie power.

    The old man, dark-skinned and short, was as ordinary as any other Filipino elder. However, when he lifted his head to look at Kolster in response to his question, a cold breath emanated from him, giving the impression of facing a poisonous snake that made one''s pores stand on end.

    "Mr. Kolster, rest assured, I wouldn''t joke about with my own life," Rivera replied.

    During the three hundred plus years of Spanish rule, the Spaniards, finding it inconvenient to manage the local populace due to difficult-to-pronounce names, required Filipinos to select a surname from a long list of Spanish surnames and stipulated that their descendants could not change it. Hence, although the elder was Filipino, he had a name that sounded very "Western" to the people of Huaxia Country.

    "In that case, I won''t disturb Mr. Rivera any longer." Kolster stood up and left the room.

    No sooner had Kolster risen to leave than the old man tore off the scant clothes of the two blond women like a wild beast, exposing their snow-white, voluptuous bodies...

 Chapter 337 Turns out to be a Person from Qimen as well

    ```

    "The descendants of thieves and habitual bandits will never talk to you about trust, this is just the beginning, you must make a decision soon!" In the villa, Yang Yinhou looked at the small boy in the arms of the beautiful young woman with a compassionate gaze, then turned to Gu Yezeng who had just hung up the phone, and said in a deep voice.

    Gu Yezeng''s body shook slightly, and he looked at the little boy in the young woman''s arms with an indescribable complexity in his eyes.

    He had once had a son and a wife, but they had perished early on due to gang conflicts.

    To put this behind him, he no longer meddled in gang affairs and devoted himself to business.

    In recent years, he had remarried and had a child late in life, but unexpectedly, due to business matters, someone cruelly targeted his son.

    "Master Gu." It was at this moment that Ah Xiong approached, calling out quietly.

    Gu Yezeng looked up at Ah Xiong.

    "A Mr. Ge Dongxu who attended the auction today, the young man we encountered on the way when his car had a flat tire, said he is versed in medical expertise, especially adept in treating complicated and rare diseases," Ah Xiong said cautiously.

    "Ah Xiong, you haven''t been with me only since yesterday, have you?" Gu Yezeng''s mood was extremely repressed at the moment, and upon hearing this, his face turned dour as he gave Ah Xiong a stern glance.

    "Yes, Master Gu, but today that man spent nearly ten million to buy several pieces of jade," Ah Xiong''s heart trembled, and he continued more carefully.

    "Are you saying that man actually spent ten million?" Although Gu Yezeng was a local magnate and counted as a wealthy tycoon among the Chinese community, he couldn''t help but show a hint of astonishment at this news.

    It was only Yang Yinhou, the old man sitting in the wheelchair, who remained unfazed.

    Although ten million was a substantial sum, with the jade market heating up over recent years, it wasn''t unheard of for someone to make such a large expenditure in one go, which he did not find particularly surprising.

    Of course, this was also because he had not met Ge Dongxu, and if he knew that the other party was a young man not yet twenty, and that he drove only a battered Santana, perhaps he would not have been so indifferent.

    "Yes, and that man must be quite skilled at gambling on stones, as he once recommended a stone for me and Ah Yong to buy, probably out of gratitude for us providing him with a spare tire. At the time, neither Ah Yong nor I believed him, so we didn''t bid. But when that stone was later cut open, it indeed increased in value," Ah Xiong continued to remind.

    However, by this point, Gu Yezeng had moved past his initial astonishment, and contrary to his response, he just looked deeply at the son in the young woman''s arms and then said with a bitter smile, "Based on what you''re saying, if he claims to be good at treating complicated diseases, there probably isn''t any falsehood. But Yiran''s condition isn''t an illness, so he won''t be able to treat it."

    Upon hearing this, Ah Xiong''s body jerked, and his gaze inadvertently drifted towards Yang Yinhou sitting in the wheelchair, showing a look of reverence.

    He had also vaguely heard the older generation speak of the old man before him and was vaguely aware that he was no ordinary individual, possessing some marvelous abilities.

    "Then I''ll go and reject his kind offer," Ah Xiong quickly composed himself and said with a slight bow.

    "Hmm." Gu Yezeng nodded. As Ah Xiong turned to leave, Gu Yezeng suddenly spoke up, "Regardless, he meant well, so I should personally go and speak to him."

    Soon enough, Ge Dongxu saw Gu Yezeng, and Gu Yezeng saw him.

    A clear surprise crossed Gu Yezeng''s face.

    That day, since it was already getting dark and Gu Yezeng had been sitting in the back seat, just glancing out the window, he had only vaguely recognized that one of the two men was young, without taking a closer look.

    Now, seeing him in person, he realized just how young the other was.

    "Master Gu, this is Mr. Ge Dongxu." Ah Xiong introduced.

    ```

    "Hello, Mr. Ge, my name is Gu Yezeng. Axiong has already told me about your kindness, but my child is not suffering from an illness, so there''s no need to trouble you," Gu Yezeng said, proactively extending his hand towards Ge Dongxu and shaking hands.

    "Mr. Gu, don''t be so quick to refuse. The day before yesterday, you helped me halfway through. Now that you are in trouble, let me at least show my concern," Ge Dongxu said, shaking Gu Yezeng''s hand in return.

    Gu Yezeng gave a bitter smile, just about to decline again, when Ge Dongxu immediately added, "The owner of this house is a venerable master." sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

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    What Ge Dongxu said seemed to have nothing to do with the child''s illness, but upon hearing this, Gu Yezeng trembled, and his gaze towards Ge Dongxu suddenly became incredibly sharp.

    As if trying to see through Ge Dongxu.

    "Could it be..." Gu Yezeng hesitated.

    "That''s right," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ge, but..." Upon seeing Ge Dongxu nod in acknowledgment, a glimmer of hope ignited in Gu Yezeng''s eyes, yet it quickly faded.

    Even a man like Yang Yinhou had no hope, how could Ge Dongxu, so young, make any difference even if he was from Qimen?

    It was the Blood Curse! According to Yang Yinhou, only someone with much higher Cultivation than the caster, or one who was extremely adept at Techniques, could possibly break it.

    And that despicable Kolster had also said that any additional efforts would only increase his son''s suffering. This was confirmed by the agonized expression on his son''s face when Yang Yinhou tried to break the Blood Curse.

    Disregarding the fact that it was impossible for a young man to have greater Cultivation than Yang Yinhou, even if he had comparable Cultivation, Gu Yezeng dared not let him make another move now.

    "Mr. Gu, rest assured, I won''t act recklessly. Everything has to be assessed first. Having one more person is always one more sliver of hope, don''t you agree?" Ge Dongxu interrupted Gu Yezeng before he could finish speaking.

    "Then, thank you, Mr. Ge, please follow me," Gu Yezeng hesitated for a moment, then managed a strained smile at Ge Dongxu before gesturing invitingly with his hand, politely speaking.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and then followed Gu Yezeng to the villa''s entrance.

    "I apologize for the wait, Mr. Ge, but as Master Yang is the owner of this place, please give me a moment to inform him. If he disagrees, I will have my wife bring out the child for you to take a look," Gu Yezeng stopped at the entrance and said.

    "It''s only proper," Ge Dongxu nodded in agreement.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s courtesy from beginning to end, Gu Yezeng couldn''t help but feel gratitude and admiration.

    Just this composure alone was far beyond what ordinary young people could offer.

    "Master Yang, that young man''s name is Ge Dongxu. He is also from Qimen. I have agreed to ask for his assistance. May I ask if it is convenient for you to meet with him?" After entering the villa, Gu Yezeng approached Yang Yinhou and respectfully asked for permission.

    "Oh, he is also a person from Qimen," Yang Yinhou said, his expression shifting from its initial unchanging calm to surprise.

    However, Yang Yinhou quickly discarded the notion with a shake of his head, saying, "A young man with no noteworthy reputation, what good would looking at him do? You are just grasping at straws out of desperation. Still, since he means well and has offered to help, let him come in. It has been some years since I have seen a junior from Qimen. Who knows, he might be a descendant of an old acquaintance."

    "Thank you, Master Yang, I''ll go invite him in right away," Gu Yezeng said respectfully, and then went to bring Ge Dongxu inside.

    Yang Yinhou certainly hadn''t expected Ge Dongxu to be so young, and his initial surprise was followed by a secret headshake.

    Even an average Blood Curse couldn''t be resolved by such a young junior!

 Chapter 338 Do You Know What a Blood Curse Is?

    As Yang Yinhou silently shook his head at Ge Dongxu, Ge Dongxu also regarded him, his calm exterior concealing a tumult of emotions.

    Because he sensed a familiar aura emanating from Yang Yinhou.

    "Master Yang, his surname is Yang! Could he still be alive?" Ge Dongxu wondered to himself, then bowed to Yang Yinhou, saying, "I have seen Elder Mr. Yang."

    He did not use the same honorific for Yang Yinhou as Gu Yezeng and the others.

    Because if this person was who he suspected in his mind, it would be improper for him to call him Master Yang.

    Otherwise, given Yang Yinhou''s age, it would have been quite normal for Ge Dongxu to address him as Master Yang.

    No one realized there was anything amiss with Ge Dongxu''s form of address.

    Yang Yinhou didn''t find it inappropriate either but simply nodded at Ge Dongxu and said, "For those in cultivation, it''s good to have such kindness. However, you are too young. It''s fine to observe, but do not meddle with the evil arts inside the child."

    "Thank you for the reminder, Elder Mr. Yang. I will just take a look and won''t mess around," Ge Dongxu replied humbly. Seeing that Yang Yinhou meant well with his advice, he naturally wouldn''t arrogantly contradict him.

    "Mm," Yang Yinhou nodded, then fell silent again.

    Ge Dongxu bowed again to Yang Yinhou, then turned his attention to the beautiful young wife.

    At this glance, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but be slightly startled because he recognized the beautiful young woman in front of him. She was a true leading actress within the Chinese community, having starred in several classic movies and TV dramas, reputable and understated, with hardly any scandals. Ge Dongxu had watched several of her movies in his youth and she was one of the rare actresses whose name he remembered well.

    Yu Xin!

    However, when Ge Dongxu was in high school, she had already faded from the entertainment industry. He didn''t expect to encounter her here, and even more unexpectedly, she was married to the Master Gu in front of him.

    Being no ordinary person, Ge Dongxu was only momentarily taken aback, then regarded the celebrity of the Chinese community with equanimity.

    "Could you please lay the child on the sofa," Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Thank you for your trouble," Yu Xin replied, wiping tears from the corner of her eyes, as she carefully placed the child on the sofa.

    "You''re welcome," Ge Dongxu said politely, then placed his hand on the child''s wrist.

    "Five Poisons Descent!" His fingers touched the child, and Ge Dongxu''s expression quickly turned cold, his eyes flashing with a chilly murderous intent, as the cold words burst from his teeth.

    "Not bad, young man, you''ve got quite an eye!" Upon hearing this, Yang Yinhou''s face showed a mix of surprise and approval.

    "And the Blood Curse!" Ge Dongxu continued coldly.

    At these words, Yang Yinhou''s body shook slightly, and his eyes now showed not surprise but shock.

    The Blood Curse, had he not been careless before and made presumptions, he could have detected it earlier, instead of finding it only after attempting to dispel the Five Poisons Descent in the boy, which triggered the Blood Curse. And yet Ge Dongxu was able to sense the Blood Curse from the beginning, clearly demonstrating that this young man''s cultivation was anything but simple.

    Of course, this did not mean that Ge Dongxu''s cultivation surpassed Yang Yinhou''s. Once the Blood Curse had been triggered, it would have been essentially exposed. Before the Blood Qi had completely recondensed, anyone who came after would find it easier to detect, but even so, in Yang Yinhou''s view, it was still very impressive.

    At least without the Qi Cultivation Third Layer cultivation, it would be very difficult to detect.

    In an era where Daoist practices had declined, the Qi Cultivation Third Layer was already barely considered a master. For example, the master of Li Bisheng from the Special Management Bureau, and that Director Lin, both were leading figures in the Bureau, and although they were of advanced age, they only had Qi Cultivation Third Layer and had not yet reached the Fourth Layer.

    And Ge Dongxu, who seemed to be at most twenty years old, already had Qi Cultivation Third Layer. How could that not shock Yang Yinhou?

    "You can actually discern the Five Poisons Descent and Blood Curse, truly a fearsome young talent!" Yang Yinhou took a while to calm his emotions before he praised.

    "Then, Mr. Ge, can you break the Five Poisons Descent and Blood Curse? Please, save my son!" Yu Xin, who had almost lost all hope, suddenly grasped at Ge Dongxu''s arm like a drowning person clutching at a straw, her eyes brimming with hope and pleading.

    "Yu Xin, don''t trouble this young man anymore. It''s impressive enough that he could identify the Five Poisons Descent and Blood Curse. If he really tried to treat it, it might instead harm your son," Yang Yinhou said with a bitter smile, seeing her reaction.

    "Is that true, Mr. Ge?" Yu Xin was unwilling to give up this last hope, looking at Ge Dongxu with tears streaming down her face.

    "It''s not true, don''t worry, I can break the Five Poisons Descent and Blood Curse," Ge Dongxu reassured.

    Having received the answer she was seeking, Yu Xin didn''t burst into ecstasy; instead, her complexion turned pale, and her eyes filled with the colors of pain. Enjoy more content from My Virtual Library Empire

    Could she trust Ge Dongxu?

    Could she allow her son to take this risk?

    "Young man, do you know what a Blood Curse is? Are these words to be said lightly? Do you know what the consequences of failure would be?" Yang Yinhou''s face turned cold in an instant, and his gaze towards Ge Dongxu became icy.

    "Master Yang, Mr. Ge is just trying to help," Gu Yezeng stepped forward and said cautiously.

    "It''s your son, make your own choice! Anyway, you have to make a choice sooner or later," Yang Yinhou sighed and spoke soberly. However, his gaze at Ge Dongxu remained cold and ruthless.

    Gu Yezeng''s choice was one thing, but for a cultivator to disregard the life of a little boy was another matter entirely.

    At this, Gu Yezeng''s face immediately showed an expression of pain.

    Choices, if he had the chance to choose, he would rather not have this choice at all!

    Feeling the icy and ruthless gaze from Yang Yinhou, Ge Dongxu not only wasn''t annoyed, but a trace of joy appeared on his face.

    Originally, even if he had suspicions in his heart, he had planned to investigate secretly before deciding whether to reveal his identity. But now, he had no more doubts.

    Because the old man''s attitude inadvertently showed his true feelings.

    "Elder Yang, not everything should be seen as absolute. Just because you can''t, doesn''t mean I can''t. If you don''t believe, we could have a little exchange," Ge Dongxu said calmly, looking at Yang Yinhou.

    "Mr. Ge!" Gu Yezeng, shocked by these words, exclaimed anxiously, repeatedly signaling Ge Dongxu with his eyes.

    Others might not know Yang Yinhou''s identity and abilities, but Gu Yezeng was very clear about them.

    Whether it was his identity or his cultivation, neither was something a young man should provoke!

    However, it seemed as if Ge Dongxu hadn''t heard Gu Yezeng calling out, nor did he see the signals he was making. Instead, he just looked at Yang Yinhou with an undisturbed expression.

    Seeing this, Gu Yezeng couldn''t help but become even more anxious. He wanted to speak again, but at that moment, Yang Yinhou gestured for him to stop.

    Gu Yezeng had no choice but to stamp his feet in frustration, then moved next to Yang Yinhou and whispered cautiously, "Master Yang, you see..." S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s okay. Sometimes it''s good for young people to suffer a little; otherwise, they might never learn how vast the world is," Yang Yinhou interrupted.

    On hearing this, Ge Dongxu was not upset, but simply smiled faintly.

    ps: It''s Monday, asking for a recommendation ticket, thank you.

 Chapter 339 You are my Junior Brother

    Yang Yinhou found it somewhat strange upon seeing this; by all accounts, according to Ge Dongxu''s previous behavior, he should be a proud and arrogant young talent. At this point, he should be showing a face full of noncompliance, but Dongxu''s demeanor remained calm, unlike the young people he had imagined.

    "Young man, having discerned the Five Poisons Descent and Blood Curse, I admit you are indeed among the outstanding of your generation. Even my disciple, with his age, cannot compare with you. However, the Blood Curse is no ordinary matter; it''s not something you can break. As for sparring with me, you''re still too young. Maybe it would be more suitable for your elder to come instead, otherwise, it would seem like I am bullying the younger by using my seniority." Yang Yinhou''s tone softened slightly as his opinion of Ge Dongxu changed.

    "There''s no first or last in learning; the proficient ones lead the way. Elder Yang, without having sparred with me, how could you know that I cannot break these Five Poisons Descent and Blood Curse?" Ge Dongxu responded, still with a calm and composed face.

    "The Five Poisons Descent is executed using the Blood Curse; even I am powerless against it. Currently in the Qimen, only a sparse few reclusive experts may have the ability to resolve it. Yet, you, a mere junior, dare to claim you could break it. Be that as it may, since you insist, I shall let you realise that there are heavens beyond this one, and there are people beyond oneself. This should prevent you from being too arrogant at a young age and hinder your future cultivation." Yang Yinhou said upon seeing Ge Dongxu''s insistence. When he spoke of the reclusive experts, his eyes betrayed a hint of sorrow. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If his master were still alive now, he would surely be one among them, but alas...

    "This place isn''t convenient; let''s go to your backyard," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, the backyard is spacious." Yang Yinhou nodded in agreement.

    Therefore, Yang Yinhou left the villa through the back door in a wheelchair. Gu Yezeng wanted to push him, but was waved off, and he was not allowed to follow either.

    After all, how could ordinary folks witness a Qimen Spell Battle?

    The backyard was flat with nearly a thousand square meters of grass.

    "Make your move!" Yang Yinhou, seated in his wheelchair and squeezing the Imperial Green Jadeite Jade Token in his hand, looked at Ge Dongxu, exuding the aura of a sage.

    "You are older, you first," said Ge Dongxu quietly.

    Yang Yinhou''s white eyebrows raised, and he laughed instead of becoming angry. "It''s been many years since I last heard these words. Very well, the young people nowadays rarely show such deference to the elderly. I shall oblige you then."

    Having said that, the elder flipped his hand over to his chest, forming a spell with one hand while using the other to activate the Jade Token. Wisps of the Power of Wood spirit qi began to gather silently from all directions with the old man manipulating the spell and activating the token.

    As if they were a host of spectres.

    "Power of Wood, bind!" the old man suddenly uttered the command.

    Suddenly, the grass on the lawn transformed into green snakes slithering towards Ge Dongxu, then wrapping around his feet.

    In the blink of an eye, Ge Dongxu was enshrouded in grass like a rice dumpling, a green figure was visible, but his figure was nowhere to be seen.

    Yang Yinhou saw this and a touch of nostalgia appeared in his eyes.

    Years ago, when he accompanied Huaxia Country''s expeditionary force into Myanmar, he killed countless Japanese soldiers in the jungle with this move, becoming an inescapable nightmare for the Japanese soldiers at that time.

    It has been many years since he used this move, and now, he was using it to teach a lesson to a junior.

    ```

    Just as Yang Yinhou''s eyes revealed a touch of nostalgia for the glorious days gone by, a sudden alarm went off in his heart. He was about to strengthen his mana and unleash it again when not only did the grass that had been entwined around Ge Dongxu''s body recede like the tide, but also the countless blades of grass that had stood up like green snakes on the ground, swaying in the air, ready to strike at any moment, suddenly retracted and returned to their original state.

    No matter how Yang Yinhou attempted to activate them, the grass on the ground remained completely still.

    Yang Yinhou couldn''t help but his face changed dramatically, his eyes revealing a look of terror.

    The ancient saying goes, "How can humans be heartless if they are not plants?" meaning that humans have feelings whereas plants do not. But that''s just the view of ordinary people. Yang Yinhou knew that plants do have feelings. Especially the plants in this courtyard that he had taken care of with such dedication, they had a profound affection for him. Once he used Wood System Techniques, they were much easier to command than the vegetation in other areas.

    But now, these blades of grass no longer obeyed his commands!

    What did that imply?

    "You really are Elder Brother Yang Yinhou!" Just as Yang Yinhou''s face changed dramatically and his eyes showed terror, the trembling voice of Ge Dongxu suddenly sounded beside his ear.

    Following that, Yang Yinhou saw the familiar face that had appeared before him at some point, its previously calm expression now filled with the most vivid emotion, his eyes reddened.

    Yang Yinhou shuddered, looking at Ge Dongxu incredulously, and asked with a trembling voice, "What, what did you just call me? You, can you say it again?"

    As he spoke, tears unknowingly began to roll down from his eyes.

    "Ge Dongxu pays respects to Elder Brother Yang Yinhou!" Ge Dongxu suddenly knelt in front of Yang Yinhou''s wheelchair, gently touching his emaciated knees, unable to stop his tears from flowing.

    Ren Yao, his master, had had a moment of clarity before his death and mentioned this elder brother, but he had said that he was no longer of this world, so Ge Dongxu never thought of him again. To his surprise, he was still alive.

    Elder Feng couldn''t be considered a true elder brother in the strictest sense; a senior brother would be more appropriate. Yet the man before him was his true elder brother, a disciple of the same lineage!

    When Yang Yinhou used that Wood System Technique, it was as if Ge Dongxu saw his own master.

    Their lineage, originating from Ge Hong, excelled in alchemy and medicinal practices. Hence, their lineage''s most proficient techniques, apart from Fire System Techniques, were the Wood System Techniques. Fire was for alchemy, and Wood was the substance of alchemy.

    When he was inattentive in his cultivation during his childhood, his master used to punish him with this technique, binding his entire body with green grass. But now, the thought of his master using this punishment on him was no longer possible.

    "Junior brother, you are my junior brother! So, our master, is he still well?" Only then did Yang Yinhou fully come to his senses, his hands shaking as he grasped Ge Dongxu''s shoulders.

    "Our master passed away five years ago!" Ge Dongxu wiped away his tears and said. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

    "The old man has passed?" Upon hearing this, Yang Yinhou became as still as a statue, tears streaming down his face

    After a long while, he looked at Ge Dongxu and heaved a long sigh, "Indeed, if our master was still alive today, he would be 125 years old. Passing away at the age of 120 is indeed a long life. It''s me who thought too much. But why couldn''t I have known earlier? That way I might have had the chance to see him one last time, to fulfill my filial duties."

    "Elder brother, please take solace. At least Heaven has looked after us, allowing us, brothers, to meet in this vast sea of people," Ge Dongxu consoled.

    ```

 Chapter 340 Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword

    "You''re right! It is indeed my lack of contentment as an elder brother." Yang Yinhou said as he helped Ge Dongxu up and looked at him with a smile, "Just now when you broke free from the wood force restraint of your elder brother, not even the green grass I personally sowed and cultivated could be stimulated anymore. My heart was still in shock, wondering when Qimen had produced someone so skilled at wood system techniques. It turns out it was you, younger brother, so it''s no wonder."

    "I was presumptuous just now towards elder brother!" Ge Dongxu said with an uncomfortable expression.

    "Haha, how could you be? If I had not deployed this unique technique, you probably would not dare to lightly acknowledge your brother," Yang Yinhou replied.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, just about to speak, when Yang Yinhou''s expression suddenly became stern, "Did Master pass on the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword to you?"

    At these words, Ge Dongxu''s expression also became solemn, and he nodded, then reached out to take the Peach Wood Sword pendant from around his neck.

    The moment Yang Yinhou saw Ge Dongxu take off the Peach Wood Sword pendant from his neck, his body visibly shook, and a look of reverence appeared in his eyes.

    He pressed down hard on the handles of the wheelchair, seemingly trying to rise from it.

    "Elder brother, what are you doing?" Ge Dongxu asked in a haste, pressing him back into the wheelchair.

    "To see the sword is like seeing the Sect Leader. Since you possess this sword, you are the Sect Leader of Pill Talisman Sect, and I rightfully should pay my respects," Yang Yinhou said with a solemn demeanor.

    "Elder brother, you''re not well; let''s dispense with this formality, especially since times are different now," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Rituals should not be abandoned! Besides, it is only my legs that cannot walk. I can still kneel," Yang Yinhou said, preparing to kneel again.

    "No, elder brother, please spare me. Look how young I am; how could I deserve such a gesture of respect from you?" Ge Dongxu quickly said.

    "Did you not just say that in learning, there is no order; the excelled one should come first? You are the Sect Leader; this has nothing to do with age. Furthermore, this is our first meeting, so this ritual is absolutely indispensable. You will allow me this time, and hereafter, we can be informal and not stick to formalities," Yang Yinhou said.

    Seeing Yang Yinhou''s insistence, Ge Dongxu, also aware of the traditions of disciple succession in Qimen, could only help Yang Yinhou up, allowing him to kneel on the grass and bow three times to him before helping him back into the wheelchair and returning the three bows, saying, "An elder brother is like a father. Since you are the eldest disciple brother, you should accept my gesture of respect."

    "Good, good! Master has taken a fine disciple indeed!" Yang Yinhou said, feeling gratified to see Ge Dongxu so open-minded without the slightest hint of young pride, and he nodded repeatedly with satisfaction.

    "It''s all thanks to Master''s excellent guidance," Ge Dongxu said modestly.

    Yang Yinhou chuckled, then his tone shifted and became serious, "The Five Poisons Descent is deployed with a Blood Curse, immensely formidable. In my judgment, the caster must be at least at the Third Layer, or even the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. If one attempts to break it without being at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, the child''s life will be at risk. I know you have received Master''s true teachings and have the Magical Treasure, the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword. Using your techniques, even I must admit inferiority, but when it comes to cultivation depth, I am ultimately not surpassed by you. You must not think just because you''ve broken my technique earlier that you are more formidable than your elder brother. It is because you have the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword. This sword governs life on one side, capable of stimulating flowers and trees, and death on the other, able to annihilate all beings. It''s indeed formidable, and I also did not go all out at the beginning. When you activated the sword, I was caught off guard and thus lost the initiative."

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s face revealed a look of astonishment, and then after a while, he said somewhat embarrassedly, "Elder brother, you''ve misunderstood. I did not use the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword just now."

    "What? You hadn''t used the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword just now?" Yang Yinhou said, his body shaking vehemently in disbelief as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes, my cultivation has reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation," Ge Dongxu nodded in response.

    He was reluctant to say that he was already at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, afraid of frightening this newly-met eldest disciple brother.

    Of course, saying he had reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation was also true.

    This could be considered a clever use of words on Ge Dongxu''s part.

    "What!" Yang Yinhou was shocked once again.

    Although his legs were injured, rendering it difficult for True Qi to flow to his lower limbs and consequently stalling his Cultivation, he had remained at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer until now.

    Even when he was chosen and taken in as a disciple by Ren Yao due to his exceptional talent, he only managed to break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer at the age of forty. Afterwards, if no accidents occurred, he should have been expected to reach the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation around the age of sixty or seventy. As for progressing beyond that, it was uncertain whether he would ever achieve it in his lifetime. Cultivation naturally becomes more challenging the further one progresses, especially in an era where Spirit Qi is sparse; the later stages of cultivation require higher levels of Spirit Qi.

    However, his Cultivation had permanently stalled at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer due to his leg injuries.

    But now, Ge Dongxu was telling him he had reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation!

    How could this not utterly astonish Yang Yinhou?

    "How old are you this year?" After a long while, Yang Yinhou managed to suppress the shock in his heart and couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    "Eighteen years old, almost nineteen in about three months," replied Ge Dongxu.

    Hearing this, Yang Yinhou stared blankly at Ge Dongxu for a long time before shaking his head and saying, "I used to think I was quite talented, but compared to you..." Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Elder brother should not speak like this. If it weren''t for the injury to your legs, your Cultivation would definitely not have stopped here," Ge Dongxu said with a hint of coldness in his eyes.

    As someone who he was, it was apparent to him that Yang Yinhou''s legs were not congenitally defective but had been injured by someone.

    "Heh, stop flattering me, junior brother. Even without this leg injury, I couldn''t hope to keep up with you. Besides, you are the Sect Leader¡ªif you weren''t skilled, wouldn''t that mean our teacher was lacking in judgment?" Yang Yinhou said with a cheerful smile.

    On one hand, Ge Dongxu comforting him warmed his heart, and on the other hand, he felt genuinely happy that his junior disciple brother was so outstanding.

    "What happened to your leg injury, elder brother?" Ge Dongxu asked, his eyes flashing with a colder light.

    Ren Yao had been like a mountain of grace to him, and now that Ren Yao had passed away, Yang Yinhou was his closest kin in the sect. If his legs were injured, as the Sect Leader and junior brother, how could Ge Dongxu simply let it go?

    "It''s an old story from before the liberation, let''s not bring it up again. Let''s talk about the matter of Gu Yezeng''s son instead," said Yang Yinhou, touching his legs with a sigh.

    "Alright, I have many things to ask you, elder brother; it cannot all be said in a moment or two." Since it was a matter from before the liberation, Ge Dongxu temporarily put the issue aside without hurry.

    "Mhm." Yang Yinhou nodded, then said, "Given that you have reached the Realm of the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and coupled with having the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword in hand, you should have no problem resolving the Five Poisons Descent enacted by the Blood Curse. My only worry is that the child is still very young, like a small sapling, so you have to be cautious and not be careless."

    "Elder brother, rest assured, I will be careful," Ge Dongxu nodded in response.

    In fact, he had attained the Realm of Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer. Had it not been for his concern about harming the child due to his youth, he could have easily dispelled the Blood Curse earlier.

    ps: I recommend my friend Jianghu Cat''s new book "Reborn as a Villaing Child in Fiction", an urban tale of swagger and slimness that needs caring. Please support it. Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 342 Master Ge?

    Master Yang did not wish to engage in fratricidal conflicts, so he stayed in Myanmar. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Latterly, as Kuomintang forces were defeated and retreated to Taiwan, Master Yang, a Warlord from Qimen with outstanding military achievements, had secretly been granted the rank of Major General by the Kuomintang. At that time, Chiang Kai-shek had sent someone to escort him to Taiwan, but for reasons unknown, he opted to continue remaining in Myanmar.

    During the Republic of China era, both the Qing Gang and the Hung Men significantly contributed to resisting the imperial powers, as well as the later Japanese invasion. Many aspiring individuals joined the Qing Gang and Hung Men at that time, including many Kuomintang generals who were former members of the Qing Gang.

    As a person from Qimen, who actively engaged in the patriotic movements against imperialists while moving through various circles, Master Yang was a primary recruiting target for both Qing Gang and Hung Men back then. However, owing to sectarian views, he did not join either Gang.

    Although Master Yang did not join the Qing Gang or Hung Men, his high level of Cultivation meant gang leaders from both factions were keen to befriend him, giving him an exceptional status within these groups. Especially later, when he enlisted to resist Japan, his interactions with the Qing Gang became more frequent, engaging as an equal with a gang leader of Du Yuesheng''s status, who was very respectful towards him, addressing him as "Brother Yang."

    This further elevated Master Yang''s extraordinary status within the Qing Gang.

    Thus, during the years Master Yang remained in Myanmar while the Kuomintang retreated to Taiwan, his status as a Major General and his exceptional position within the Qing Gang, coupled with his enigmatic abilities, afforded him an unparalleled influence over the Golden Triangle area. Even the commander of the Fifth Kuomintang Army, who had refused to retreat to Taiwan and stayed in Myanmar, regarded him as an elder brother.

    Gu Yezeng''s father had also been a significant figure in the Qing Gang before moving to Hong Kong and then joining the Hung Men to become a key figure there too.

    It was during this period that Gu Yezeng''s father developed a gang-related relationship with Master Yang. Even with Gu Yezeng''s status today, upon meeting Master Yang, he still had to address him as Master Yang.

    Indeed, with Master Yang''s identity, abilities, and influential power, he could have easily been the true king of Northern Myanmar and the Golden Triangle area if he had so chosen. However, Master Yang decisively opted to return to his country and then retire discreetly at the frontier, dealing in raw jade stones.

    Because of his former prestige and the fact that many current leaders in Northern Myanmar and the Golden Triangle are his juniors¡ªwhose fathers were once under his command, and even those who were not directly served under him knew of his reputation¡ªthey held him in high esteem. So, even though Master Yang now lived in obscurity at the frontier, the local warlords knew of him and maintained the respect he deserved.

    This was also why others could not access large quantities of raw stones like those available in Yangon, yet Master Yang could.

    This legendary old man, who still wielded considerable influence over the upper echelons of the warlord hierarchy in Northern Myanmar and the Golden Triangle, was astonishingly addressed as "senior brother" by Ge Dongxu, which took Gu Yezeng by surprise, even more than if Master Yang had admitted Ge Dongxu was more powerful than him.

    After all, Gu Yezeng did not thoroughly grasp the differences in levels of Cultivation among members of Qimen, but he was acutely aware of the old man''s legendary status.

    It could be said that nowadays, no one in the Qing Gang or Hung Men was qualified to address the old man as a brother, and even he had to call Master Yang, yet such a young man as Ge Dongxu dared to call him "senior brother!"

    "Indeed, Dongxu is my fellow disciple," affirmed Master Yang, nodding at Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin.

    Although they were aware that Ge Dongxu was not one to address others casually, hearing Master Yang, a nearly centenarian, confirm this left Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin once again utterly astounded.

    "Thank you, Master Ge!" Gu Yezeng respectfully bowed after a long while before addressing Ge Dongxu.

    "Master Ge?" Ge Dongxu was taken aback by the name Gu Yezeng had used, and hastily waved his hands, laughing and crying, "No, please, Mr. Gu, I''m only eighteen this year. How could I deserve being called ''Master Ge''?"

    "You are Master Gu''s junior, so naturally, you deserve this title," Gu Yezeng said.

    Left with no choice, Ge Dongxu helplessly turned to Yang Yinhou for aid.

    "If we really consider the levels within the gang, it''s not wrong for Gu to call you Master Ge. However, times have changed, and you are indeed young. Such a title can be used in private, but going public with it, given Gu''s status, might indeed frighten people. Let''s do this, Gu will continue to address you as Mr. Ge Dongxu, and you can call Gu Yezeng by his name or, just like me, call him Little Gu," Yang Yinhou said, smiling as he stroked his white beard.

    When Yang Yinhou mentioned Little Gu, Ge Dongxu almost broke out in goosebumps and quickly said, "Let''s go with Old Gu, that''s more appropriate."

    "Haha, as you wish, Little Gu was also part of the gang, your interactions are different from those with ordinary people. We can''t mix up seniority like that. So, it doesn''t matter what you call him, just don''t call him ''brother'' or ''uncle'' based on age, or things will really get messy," Yang Yinhou laughed. Enjoy exclusive chapters from My Virtual Library Empire

    "Then let it be Old Gu!" Ge Dongxu said, inwardly relieved upon hearing this.

    "That''s good, that''s good," Gu Yezeng nodded repeatedly.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and then shifted his gaze to the little boy lying on the couch, Gu Yiran.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s gaze turn to Gu Yiran, both Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin''s hearts immediately felt a rise, their eyes showing tension and anticipation.

    "Don''t worry, nothing bad will happen," Ge Dongxu turned his head and smiled at Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin as he took off the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword from his neck, placing one hand on the little boy''s chest and the other holding a small peach wood sword.

    Originally, Ge Dongxu''s current level of cultivation meant there was no need to use the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword, but as the victim was a little boy, he decided it was safer to utilize this magical treasure passed down from his master.

    Placing his hand on the chest, streams of True Qi, like probing tentacles, delved into the little boy''s body.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu, through the True Qi channeling into the boy''s body, identified toxins seated within the boy''s heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys: a snake, a scorpion, a centipede, a spider, and a toad.

    The toxins were surrounded by a faint blood light, emitting a chilly and bloody scent.

    Sensing Ge Dongxu''s immensely strong aura, the five toxins, originally dormant within the organs, began to panic and stir restlessly.

    "Ignorant of death!" Far away, in Manila, Philippines, an elderly man in the midst of deep sleep suddenly felt a premonition, cursed in Filipino, quite unwillingly got off the busty blonde he was with, and then patted her plump buttocks, saying, "You go next door first, do not disturb me!"

    The two blonde women were only too glad as they couldn''t stand the ugly old man and his "toothpick." They quickly got up from the bed and, swaying their plump buttocks, left the room.

 Chapter 343 Suppress

    As soon as the two blonde women had left, the old man crossed his legs and sat on the bed, the corners of his mouth curling up into a cold, disdainful sneer. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yang Yinhou''s judgment was correct; the old man was at the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation, and in the Philippines'' Qimen, he was absolutely considered a top-notch expert. Had he not considered the vastness and diversity of Huaxia Country, where dragons lie hidden and tigers crouch, and feared someone might break his Five Poisons Descent, combined with the high price offered by Kolster, he would never have resorted to using the Blood Curse.

    Now that he had employed the Blood Curse, unless someone was of the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, they would not dream of breaking his nefarious technique!

    And the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, in an age where Daoist arts had declined, was almost a thing of legend. The old man absolutely did not believe that Gu Yezeng could manage to find such legendary figures.

    The Blood Curse was deployed using Essence Blood. Despite being thousands of miles away, the old man could still feel the terror of the cursed being through that wisp of Essence Blood with great clarity.

    "Hmph! I used a Blood Curse for my Five Poisons Descent. Do you think you can break it?" Sensing the terror of the five poisoned creatures, a brutal and ferocious expression appeared on the old man''s face as he primed Techniques with his hands and chanted under his breath.

    With the old man initiating the spell, Ge Dongxu, thousands of miles away, saw wisps of blood qi emanating from the bodies of the five poisoned beings, the blood qi connecting to the boy''s tiny capillaries in all five organs.

    The Blood Curse on the five poisoned beings had somehow connected the boy''s own blood qi to the five poisoned beings, threading them together in a myriad of ways.

    To sever the five poisons was to sever the blood vessels in the boy''s body.

    Earlier, Yang Yinhou clearly had the power to slay the five poisons, but ultimately he did not dare to act because he could not unravel the complex and strange connection produced between the five poisons and the boy''s organs by the Blood Curse.

    "A mere trick, and you think to stump me?" Ge Dongxu sensed the Spellcaster activating the Blood Curse and his lips curled into a disdainful cold sneer. His True Qi surged in his hands and a vast aura spread across the boy''s body, like a giant palm pressing down upon the five poisons.

    In an instant, whether it was the restless five poisons or the emerging blood qi, all were suppressed and immobilized.

    Both the Five Poisons Descent and the Blood Curse were connected to the old man''s mind and spirit. Especially the latter, which was a spell he had cast using a wisp of his Lifebound Essence, was crucial to his life. If it were to be broken, the loss of that wisp of Lifebound Essence was a minor concern compared to the unimaginable consequences if the opponent were to strike back through this wisp of Essence Blood.

    This was an inexplicable and profound connection amongst Techniques, one that words could not convey.

    "This is bad!" As Ge Dongxu suddenly exerted his strength and a righteous aura enveloped the boy''s internal organs with True Qi, old Rivera in the room felt as though a Giant Mountain was bearing down on him, and he collapsed to the ground, blood dribbling from the corners of his mouth, unable to even catch his breath.

    Rivera''s eyes showed terror, and, despite the backlash of the spell, he tried to sever the connection with the oppressive force that came from thousands of miles away. Alas, it was already too late.

    Ge Dongxu''s Cultivation Technique was passed down from Ge Hong, and he had insisted on not using Elixirs to enhance his Cultivation Power. With the aid of Spirit Gathering Arrays, he had solidly cultivated step by step to the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    Therefore, not only was Ge Dongxu''s Mana incredibly thick and pure, but his quality of Qi Cultivation at the Seventh Layer was also stronger than that of ordinary Cultivators, comparable to the Eighth Layer.

    As for Rivera, who was only at the Third Layer and whose Cultivation Technique was incomplete, relying on many unorthodox methods barely reached the Third Layer. His True Qi was impure and varied, revealing a stark disparity to Ge Dongxu''s strength.

    Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire

    Had he decisively severed the connection with the Five Poisons Descent and the Blood Curse without regard for backlash when Ge Dongxu''s True Qi entered the boy''s body, perhaps he could have avoided Ge Dongxu''s suppression.

    But now that Ge Dongxu, such an exceptional expert, had unsheathed his sword, how could Rivera possibly escape?

    After Ge Dongxu suppressed the five poisons and Blood Curse with his True Qi mixed with the formidable presence of a Seventh Layer Cultivator, preventing them from moving, his fingers manipulated the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword, and from his lips popped a single chilling word, "Sever!"

    Suddenly, the Peach Wood Sword in his hand, which looked like a decorative pendant, emitted a series of fierce Sword Qi, causing the room''s temperature to plummet abruptly. Not only did Yu Xin and Gu Yezeng shiver from the cold and duck their heads, but even Yang Yinhou felt a chill, his eyes revealing a hint of horror.

    When Master used the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword that year, it didn''t seem to have such fierce Sword Qi!

    While Sword Qi surged outside, the True Qi suppressing the Five Poisons suddenly formed five invisible swords, identical to the Peach Wood Sword.

    The swords descended, each striking one of the five strands within the intricate web of Blood Qi.

    Once those five strands of Blood Qi were severed, the rest of the Blood Qi swiftly retracted back into the five viscera.

    These five strands of Blood Qi were the manifestation of the Blood Curse. If they could deceive Yang Yinhou, how could they deceive Ge Dongxu?

    Once the five strands of Blood Qi formed by the Blood Curse were severed, the Blood Curse was immediately broken. With Ge Dongxu''s True Qi exerting more force, the creatures of the Five Poisons transformed into strands of foul-smelling gas along with the Blood Curse clinging to them, emerging from the skin of the boy.

    The boy''s face gradually grew rosy, and then he opened his eyes.

    "Yiran!" Seeing this, Yu Xin rushed forward, embracing the boy with tears of joy, and Gu Yezeng, too, couldn''t help but shed tears, his lips trembling incessantly.

    "Ah!" Inside a hotel room in the Philippines, Rivera screamed miserably, blood pouring from his mouth, unstoppable, soon staining the entire floor red.

    In the villa, Ge Dongxu didn''t look at the touching scene of the mother and son embracing; instead, he gazed at the foul-smelling gas that had condensed out of the creatures of the Five Poisons in the air, and with a cold smile, he pointed the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword at the creatures of the Five Poisons.

    As strokes of Sword Qi swept by, the creatures of the Five Poisons immediately dissipated into nothingness, leaving only a faint strand of Blood Qi still lingering in the air.

    Ge Dongxu reached out and grabbed that strand of Blood Qi in his hand.

    When Ge Dongxu held the Blood Qi in his hand, he saw the ugly old man lying in a pool of blood, his body bare.

    The old man likewise saw Ge Dongxu.

    "Impossible!" The old man, seeing that unnaturally young face, showed disbelief in his eyes.

    "Old Gu, come here." Ge Dongxu''s gaze was icy and ruthless as he looked at the old man, but his mouth was speaking to Gu Yezeng.

    Gu Yezeng hurried to Ge Dongxu''s side.

    Ge Dongxu pulled a thread from the strand of Blood Qi, then pinched it between his fingers, wiped it across Gu Yezeng''s eyes, and in a low voice, he commanded, "Open!"

    As soon as Ge Dongxu finished speaking, Gu Yezeng saw Rivera lying in a pool of blood and couldn''t help but startle.

    "This man is the spellcaster. Do you know him?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "I don''t know him, but I have already figured out who is behind this," Gu Yezeng quickly calmed down and, understanding Ge Dongxu''s benevolence, replied with a look of gratitude.

 Chapter 344 Not yet come to pay respects to your martial uncle

    "Now that you already know who the mastermind is, there''s no need for that person to stay alive any longer," Ge Dongxu nodded. With a movement of his hand, he directed a sword technique at the strand of Blood Qi, pointing at it.

    Like the poisonous creatures before, the strand of Blood Qi dissipated into nothingness.

    Immediately after, Gu Yezeng could no longer see Rivera, who was lying in a pool of blood.

    In the hotel, Rivera let out an incredibly miserable scream, blood oozing from his seven orifices, and, disgustingly, poisonous creatures crawled out with the blood from those orifices...

    He was a Sorcerer who had often nurtured Insect Gu; now that Ge Dongxu had not only destroyed his strand of Essence Blood but also, through that Essence Blood, cast spells from thousands of miles away to sever his Lifebound Essence, he could no longer control the Insect Gu within his body.

    In the living room, the two blonde women heard Rivera''s extremely pitiful screeching, hurriedly pushed open the door, then followed with an ear-piercing scream; one of them even fainted from fright.

    "Mr. Ge, I need to make a phone call," said Gu Yezeng as Rivera suddenly disappeared from sight, his heart jolted, and he bowed slightly to Ge Dongxu.

    "Please, go ahead," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    Gu Yezeng left the living room in a hurry to make a call outside.

    The call was to a Chinese Gang leader in Manila, asking for his help in keeping an eye on Kolster.

    The warnings Gu Yezeng gave Kolster were not at all exaggerated. Although he had retired from the Chinese Gangs, he still held considerable influence within them, especially as his business had grown larger and his wealth had increased over the years ¨C his status within the Chinese Gangs had not diminished due to his lack of involvement in gang affairs, but had in fact risen!

    After making the phone call, Gu Yezeng quickly returned to the living room and, together with Yu Xin, bowed deeply to thank Ge Dongxu.

    "No need for thanks, if it weren''t for your kindness in providing me with a spare tire, I wouldn''t have thought to inquire about this matter and wouldn''t have encountered my senior brother. So in fact, I should be thanking you for your kindness that day," said Ge Dongxu with a smile.

    "Haha, that''s what they call good people getting good rewards. Little Gu, you''re making so much money, you should definitely do more good deeds in the future," laughed Yang Yinhou.

    "Thank you for your guidance, Master Yang. I will keep it firmly in mind," Gu Yezeng quickly responded with a modest face.

    No sooner had Gu Yezeng modestly accepted Yang Yinhou''s lecture, than Ouyang Murong pushed the door open and entered. Seeing Gu Yiran being held by his mother, his black eyes looking around curiously, and noting the presence of the young man who had spent lavishly at the auction, he was taken aback and confused.

    "Dongxu, this is Ouyang Murong, an orphan of Chinese descent whom I took in from the jungles of Myanmar; he is also my disciple. Unfortunately, his talents are limited, and he has a passion for mundane affairs, so he has only reached the Second Level of Qi Cultivation to date," Yang Yinhou said, pointing to him and explaining to Ge Dongxu upon seeing Ouyang Murong enter.

    After the explanation, Yang Yinhou urged Ouyang Murong, "Come and greet your Uncle-Master."

    "Uncle-Master?" Ouyang Murong''s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "He is the Closed-door Disciple my master took in his later years, and I only recognized him as my brother today," Yang Yinhou had to explain seeing Ouyang Murong''s incredulous expression.

    "But, wasn''t grandmaster already..." Ouyang Murong exclaimed in surprise.

    "The grandmaster passed away only five years ago; I haven''t had the time to ask your Uncle-Master about the specifics," Yang Yinhou clarified.

    Although Yang Yinhou had explained clearly, Ouyang Murong still hesitated when looking at Ge Dongxu.

    There was no helping it; Ge Dongxu was just too young, whereas he himself appeared to be only in his fifties, but was actually sixty-one years old. Find more chapters on My Virtual Library Empire

    The idea that Ge Dongxu was his grandmaster''s grand-disciple, Ouyang Murong could accept, but to say that Ge Dongxu was actually his grandmaster''s disciple, his Uncle-Master, was something he struggled to accept for the moment.

    Just as Ouyang Murong hesitated, an imposing aura emanated from Yang Yinhou, pressing toward him along with a stern gaze.

    Ouyang Murong was startled and then forced a wry smile. He stepped forward and bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu, saying, "I have seen...

    "Kneel!" But before Ouyang Murong could finish his sentence, a commanding voice suddenly rang out.

    Ouyang Murong''s body shook, while Ge Dongxu gave a wry smile and said, "Elder Brother, times have changed, they''ve changed. Besides, I''m young; you shouldn''t..."

    "Times indeed have changed, but some rituals can be abandoned, and some cannot," Yang Yinhou interrupted Ge Dongxu with a wave of his hand, then looked sternly at Ouyang Murong and said, "Your Uncle-Master Ge is the current Sect Leader of the Pill Talisman Sect. Even I would have to perform the ritual of prostration the first time I met him. Do you think you can put on airs because you are older? If that''s your attitude, then today, as your master, I will expel you from the sect."

    As soon as Yang Yinhou uttered these words, not to mention Ouyang Murong being so shocked that he immediately bowed three times to Ge Dongxu in proper fashion, even the couple Gu Yezeng and his wife, who knew Ge Dongxu was even more formidable than Yang Yinhou, were utterly astounded.

    They had never imagined that this young man, Ge Dongxu, not only had deeper cultivation than Yang Yinhou but was also his Sect Leader Junior Brother.

    That meant, given Yang Yinhou''s status, he had to obey Ge Dongxu''s commands! S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Gu Yezeng, who knew Yang Yinhou''s true status, felt his mind nearly grind to a halt on the spot.

    If this news got out, it would probably shake the entire upper echelon of warlords in the Golden Triangle and Northern Myanmar! The big shots in the Qing Gang and the Hung Men would be shaken as well!

    ...

    Each family has its laws, and every sect has its rules.

    The friendly relationship between Ge Dongxu and Elder Feng was that of friends despite the difference in age, not true sect brothers, so he addressed Feng Chenqing and the others by their names, without minding seniority.

    However, Ouyang Murong was a disciple of Yang Yinhou, thus a disciple of the Pill Talisman Sect; in this case, seniority mattered a great deal. Even if Ge Dongxu felt uncomfortable with a man in his sixties prostrating before him and calling him Uncle-Master, he had to accept it!

    "For our first meeting, let''s follow the formalities; afterwards, we can be more casual," said Ge Dongxu, after Ouyang Murong had performed his three bows. He stepped forward to help him up.

    After finishing, he still felt somewhat guilty.

    Indeed, it was awkward for someone so old and an influential figure in the area to bow down to him and call him Uncle-Master. He felt that if he didn''t show some gesture of goodwill in return, it would be quite unbecoming of an Uncle-Master Sect Leader.

    "Well, Murong, you see, since this is our first meeting and I don''t have anything better to give you, take this as a meeting gift," Ge Dongxu thought, reaching into his bag to pull out a piece of Ice Type Jadeite carved with the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation.

    Because he needed to continue his cultivation while traveling, Ge Dongxu usually carried around more than ten pieces of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade with him.

    When Ouyang Murong saw Ge Dongxu taking out a piece of Jadeite for him, clearly a gift from an elder to a younger upon meeting, his old face immediately turned red.

    It was quite normal for an elder to give a gift to a younger one at the first meeting, but the problem here was the absurd scene of an elder under twenty years of age formally presenting a piece of Jadeite to someone in his sixties. It just felt wrong.

    And it was a piece of Ice Type Jadeite at that!

    Come on, Ouyang Murong was known as the Jade King! What did a piece of Ice Type Jadeite amount to?

    The whole situation resembled a child from a family with high status giving New Year''s money to an older relative during the Lunar New Year''s Eve, pretending to be an adult.

    ps: I recommend my old book "Cultivation Graduate Student Life Record" which is one of the four life-record series I''ve written; it focuses more on cultivation and is quite spirited, and the protagonist''s character is also my favorite. If you can''t wait for this book, you might want to take a look at it.

 Chapter 345 The Elders Gift Cannot Be Refused

    Seeing Ouyang Murong''s face flushed red, Ge Dongxu also realized that it might be inappropriate for a young man to present a gift to a much older businessman, and he couldn''t help but feel his cheeks warming up in embarrassment.

    However, being a Sect Leader''s senior uncle, once the Jade Token had been taken out, there was no reason to take it back. Moreover, this was no ordinary Jade Token; if it weren''t for the fact that Ouyang Murong was a disciple under his sect, he would never have given it as a gift.

    Likewise, for the Director Fan Hong of the Special Management Bureau, who treated him with such reverence, adopting the manner of a junior, Ge Dongxu had also never given him such a Jade Token.

    Because this Jade Token was extraordinary!

    Ge Dongxu would absolutely not casually bestow it upon anyone who wasn''t a disciple of the sect.

    "Thank you for your generous gift, Senior Uncle," said Ouyang Murong, his face still flushed, but he quickly extended both hands respectfully to accept the ice-type Jade Token.

    Ouyang Murong, being a disciple of an ancient sect, understood the etiquette of not declining a gift from an elder.

    Since Ge Dongxu was a Sect Leader''s senior uncle, even if he handed over a bean-type Jade Token, Ouyang must accept it respectfully.

    Of course, to a jade tycoon like Ouyang Murong, such a piece that held no artistic craftsmanship and was also black in color, whether it was ice-type or bean-type, didn''t really make much difference.

    "Keep this jade safe, and when cultivating, input True Qi to activate this Talisman Jade. During cultivation, keep this jade close by your side. Without my approval, do not allow other fellows to view this Talisman Jade," Ge Dongxu said, seeing that Ouyang Murong had respectfully accepted the Jade Token, and gradually his embarrassment turned to seriousness.

    Ouyang Murong''s heart trembled slightly as he heard this, beginning to realize that this was no ordinary ice-type Jade Token, though he had yet to comprehend just how valuable this talisman was, a Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade that many in Qimen longed for in their dreams.

    Because Ge Dongxu was so young, Ouyang thought that even if he was a Sect Leader''s senior uncle, how powerful could he be? And how precious could the talismans he inscribed be?

    However, this statement had a completely different impact on Yang Yinhou; his expression immediately turned grave.

    He waved at Gu Yezeng and his wife, saying, "You two step aside for a moment."

    "Yes," Gu Yezeng and his wife responded, then bowed slightly to Yang Yinhou and Ge Dongxu, holding their child and temporarily leaving the living room.

    "Dongxu, what exactly does this talisman jade do, that it requires such solemnity from you?" Yang Yinhou asked gravely after Gu Yezeng and his wife had left.

    Ouyang Murong was still unaware of just how formidable his Sect Leader''s senior uncle was, but Yang Yinhou was very aware of how formidable his junior was. Especially since Ge Dongxu had just broken the Blood Curse with ease, which Yang Yinhou had thought would require a considerable struggle, he now regarded him even more highly, realizing that he had likely underestimated his junior Sect Leader''s strength.

    "This is a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, capable of gathering Moonlight Essence," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "What? It''s a Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade? This is too precious! Keep it for yourself, how could you possibly bestow it on Murong!" Yang Yinhou exclaimed, his whole body shaking, blurting out without thinking.

    Ouyang Murong had obviously heard of the great reputation of the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade before, and his hands trembled as he held the Jade Token.

    He finally realized that he had probably underestimated the strength of his Sect Leader''s senior uncle, and also realized how naive and ridiculous his earlier thoughts were as he had accepted the Jade Token with a flushed face.

    Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade were almost legendary. It was said that only a few truly great sects had passed them down, and they were extremely rare, not possessed by anyone other than sect Leaders or elder-level figures, and were reserved for use during critical breakthroughs.

    It''s no exaggeration to say that if people from the Qimen knew this was a Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, they would definitely pounce on it without caring about losing face.

    For the people of Qimen, this truly is an invaluable treasure.

    "Don''t worry, Senior Brother, I can engrave this Talisman Jade myself. Murong should also be close to breaking through to the Second Level of Qi Cultivation. With this Talisman Jade''s help, there shouldn''t be any problem," Ge Dongxu slightly paused and then smiled.

    "What? You can engrave Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans?" Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong exclaimed almost simultaneously, looking at Ge Dongxu as if he were a monster.

    The reason Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade is so precious is not only because it is extremely rare, just like antiques. Additionally, in the entire Qimen, those who can engrave Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, all of whom are masters who remain hidden from the world. Moreover, the amount of Jade wasted by these individuals to successfully engrave a piece of Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade is immense¡ªso much so that even the sects with profound heritage find it costly. Therefore, Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade is almost unseen in the Qimen circles now.

    Because even if those few hidden masters manage to engrave one, they use it for themselves; where would they have the heart to give it away to someone else?

    Your adventure continues at My Virtual Library Empire

    "This is just the most basic Spirit Gathering Formation," Ge Dongxu explained.

    Upon hearing this, Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong stared blankly at Ge Dongxu.

    For them, anything that is a Spirit Gathering Formation is considered high-end merchandise, and they would not bother to distinguish its level.

    "It seems Master rarely mentioned the affairs of Qimen to you. When I have time, I must talk to you about it so you won''t scare others with such statements in the future," Yang Yinhou said with a wry smile after a long while.

    "Master lost his memory in his later years, only recalling a bit of the past just before his death," Ge Dongxu''s expression darkened as he spoke.

    The smile on Yang Yinhou''s face stiffened instantly, and he heavily slapped his own leg, saying, "It''s my fault for not being a filial disciple!"

    The atmosphere became somewhat oppressive.

    After a long pause, Ge Dongxu said, "Old Gu and the others are still outside. Let''s talk about this later."

    "Mm," Yang Yinhou nodded, while Ouyang Murong, holding the Jade Token, exhibited a troubled expression and said, "Master, about this¡­"

    Previously, he was embarrassed to accept the Jade Token because he felt it was beneath his dignity. Now, his reluctance stemmed from the Jade being too precious.

    Deep down, he desperately wanted it. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He had been stuck at the Second Level of Qi Cultivation for many years now. With this legendary Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, he should be able to break through very soon.

    Seeing his disciple looking at him, Yang Yinhou glared at him and said irritably, "I saw you reluctantly accepting this Jade Token earlier. Why are you so attached now?"

    Ouyang Murong scratched his head, looking embarrassed.

    He indeed felt reluctant to part with it. Any person from Qimen would feel the same.

 Chapter 346 Who Did It After All?

    "Take it, I still have some more. If I run out, I can just carve another," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, though he didn''t mention that he could now easily carve such Talisman Jade.

    From Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong''s reactions, Ge Dongxu knew the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade must be far more precious than he had thought, and before his cultivation had broken through to the Dragon Tiger Realm, it was best to keep some secrets even from his fellow disciples.

    It wasn''t that Ge Dongxu didn''t trust Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong, but there are no secrets that don''t leak out in this world, and only those kept in one''s own heart are truly secret and won''t be divulged.

    Ouyang Murong still didn''t dare to accept it, thinking, how easy could it be to carve a Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade?

    "What are you looking at me for? Haven''t you thanked your Uncle Master yet?" Yang Yinhou saw his disciple usually handled things very capably and decisively, but now he was acting shy, which prompted him to glare again and reprimand.

    "Thank you, Sect Leader Uncle Master, for your generous gift!" Ouyang Murong, seeing his master''s permission, was overjoyed and hurried to give Ge Dongxu a respectful bow, truly grateful for the meeting gift this time.

    Ge Dongxu waved his hands, smiling, and then said to Yang Yinhou, "It''s alright since we are all family here, but Gu Yezeng and the others are still outside, don''t you think you should attend to them first?"

    Yang Yinhou nodded and then told Ouyang Murong, "Go invite Gu Yezeng and the others in."

    Ouyang Murong nodded, carefully pocketed the Jade Token, and then went out to call in Gu Yezeng and the others. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Given that Gu Yezeng had become a major figure among the Chinese gangs and later made a name for himself in the business world, he was naturally very shrewd. He knew that Ge Dongxu and Yang Yinhou, as brothers, would have many matters to discuss, and it was not his place as an outsider and mortal to interject. So, after exchanging pleasantries, he got ready to take his leave.

    "Yiran, we are leaving now. Before we go, show your gratitude to Master Yang and Master Ge for saving your life," Gu Yezeng said while patting his son''s head.

    Gu Yiran was indeed well-behaved and knelt down to kowtow three times to Yang Yinhou and Ge Dongxu, saying in a youthful voice, "Thank you, Grandpa Yang, thank you, Grandpa Ge."

    After saying this and standing up, he turned to Gu Yezeng out of curiosity and asked, "Why do I have to call him grandpa when he''s clearly a big brother?"

    "You child, how could you..." Gu Yezeng''s expression darkened upon hearing this.

    "What are you doing? Don''t scare the child," Ge Dongxu, who didn''t mind Gu Yiran''s innocent question, actually found it endearing. Seeing Gu Yezeng looking stern, he quickly pulled Gu Yiran to his side, glared at Gu Yezeng, and interrupted.

    Gu Yezeng, glared at by Ge Dongxu, immediately felt a shudder in his heart and started to stammer, not daring to speak.

    There was nothing to be done; even Yang Yinhou had to honor this Junior Brother greatly, so although Gu Yezeng himself was a big shot, how could he compare with him? Not to mention, Ge Dongxu''s spells were mighty, and he was his son''s savior!

    "Yiran is a good boy, you and your dad are not the same, and if you want to call me brother, then call me brother," Ge Dongxu said, holding Gu Yiran in his arms and playing with him for a bit. Then he thought for a moment and said to Ouyang Murong, "Do you have any uncarved jade tokens here? Ideally Ice Type Jadeite or above. Get me one, no, make that two."

    "There''s no ready-made jade tokens here, but I can polish two pieces right away," Ouyang Murong said.

    "Then go and polish two pieces now. I''ll carve Evil-Repelling Talismans for both Yiran and Yu Xin to avoid any villains'' schemes in the future. As for Old Gu, I won''t carve one for you. You not only carry Vast Righteous Qi but have also enjoyed tremendous fortune in recent years; common evil spirits couldn''t get close to you," Ge Dongxu said.

    Thank you, Mr. Ge, thank you, Mr. Ge!" Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin couldn''t help but express their joy, bowing gratefully to Ge Dongxu.

    After thanking Ge Dongxu, Gu Yezeng made a point to greet Yang Yinhou and Ge Dongxu before leaving the villa with Ouyang Murong.

    Not long after, Ouyang Murong and Gu Yezeng returned to the villa.

    Having returned to the villa, the way Ouyang Murong looked at Ge Dongxu had an additional layer of distinction, permeated with deep awe.

    Clearly, while accompanying him to select and polish jade, Gu Yezeng had told him about Ge Dongxu breaking the Blood Curse.

    As a wealthy businessman within the Chinese community, Gu Yezeng naturally chose the best jade stones from Ouyang Murong''s inventory for his son and woman.

    The two jade tokens were both of glass type, one was blue-green, and the other was violet.

    Now that Ge Dongxu could even engrave the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation on ice type jadeite in one go, carving an Evil-Repelling Talisman on glass type jade, of course, was a piece of cake. He picked up the jade tokens and started engraving with his will following his heart. In just a moment, he finished the Evil-Repelling Talisman and handed them over to Yu Xin, saying, "Just keep it close to your body. If you want to hang it around your neck, you can drill a hole in it, it won''t affect the talisman I carved."

    Yu Xin took the Evil-Repelling Talisman Jade, and naturally, there was no shortage of thanks to Gu Yezeng. Then, leaving a business card, she took her leave.

    After leaving the villa, Gu Yezeng didn''t ride in the same car with Yu Xin and his son, but got into an Audi.

    As soon as he sat in the car, Gu Yezeng''s face immediately turned cold, and a trace of icy chill could be seen in his eyes.

    "Has there been any news from Manila?" Gu Yezeng asked coldly.

    "Yes, Kolster is getting ready to leave Manila and return to Barcelona," A Yong replied.

    "Return to Barcelona? Hmph, does he not know that there are 60,000 Chinese in Barcelona? Does he think that by returning to Barcelona, I wouldn''t dare to touch him?" Gu Yezeng''s eyes flashed coldly.

    Having said that, Gu Yezeng took out his cell phone and made several calls. His voice was still cold as ice during the calls, easily letting one sense the anger in his heart and the strong killing intent in his words.

    A big shot and wealthy businessman in the circle of Chinese gangs, how could he be so easily offended?

    Before long, the well-known local businessman in Barcelona, Kolster, saw his industries faced with a crazy blockade, and concurrently, the local government suddenly received numerous allegations about Kolster''s tax evasion and illegal activities.

    Not much later, Kolster went bankrupt and clanged into prison, where one day, the guards found him dead in his cell. It was said that before his death, he likely suffered abuse.

    But all this happened later on.

    Meanwhile, as Gu Yezeng was calling with a cold face, Ge Dongxu placed his hands on Yang Yinhou''s knees, his expression also gradually turning icy.

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    "Who exactly did this? Your injury isn''t from ordinary external forces. It''s from someone in the realm of Qimen using a chilling technique, causing great damage to the meridians below your knees. This has resulted in not only an inability to circulate True Qi smoothly through your lower limbs but has also made it difficult for you to move," Ge Dongxu said coldly, as a flash of killing intent swept through his eyes again.

    Although he was naive and kind-hearted, it depended on whom he was dealing with!

    Yang Yinhou was his senior brother, and the person who had caused him to be in a wheelchair for decades - how could he let it go?

 Chapter 347 Ghost Soldiers

    "This is an injury I sustained when I accompanied the expeditionary force to Myanmar and fell into a trap laid by the Japanese during one of the operations. I was wounded by a ghost soldier raised by a Japanese Onmyoji," Yang Yinhou replied, a trace of resentment in his eyes.

    If it were not for the injury caused by the ghost soldier, his cultivation would have reached at least the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation by now.

    After all, his talent was exceptional, and the Pill Talisman Sect specialized in Alchemy. In this era of scarce spiritual energy, elixirs capable of enhancing cultivation power were extremely precious, and as an adept at Alchemy, he naturally had an innate advantage.

    Unfortunately, his legs were injured, and the True Qi could not circulate to his legs, rendering the elixirs he took useless.

    "Ghost soldiers?" Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback.

    "Yes, ghost soldiers! Our Qimen practitioners call them ghost soldiers, while the Japanese Onmyoji refer to them as Shikigami! That person was very powerful, controlling five ghost soldiers single-handedly, with one of them having the strength close to a Fifth Layer cultivator. Although I ultimately killed that ghost soldier, it entangled my legs with its dying breath, causing severe damage to the meridians in my legs, nearly breaking them completely. If I had received timely treatment for the injury back then, there might have been hope for recovery. Unfortunately, at that time, the situation was extremely dire, and the Onmyoji chased me through the jungle with his ghost soldiers. It was only when I jumped into the surging river that I managed to escape his pursuit. Later, although the other injuries I sustained gradually healed, these legs were completely crippled," Yang Yinhou said, with a hint of lingering fear in his eyes.

    The events of that year may sound simple when I recount them now, but the perilous chase through the jungle that lasted for days on end is beyond words.

    "What is the name of that Japanese Onmyoji? Is he still alive?" Ge Dongxu asked in a deep voice.

    "I inquired about him later, and his name should be Ito Daiju. Whether he is still alive, I have no idea. He was about the same age as me, so if he is still alive, he must be nearly a hundred years old by now, and his cultivation would be absolutely terrifying. Although your cultivation is superior to mine, if you were to confront him, your chances of winning would be slim. Besides, so many years have passed. It''s alright to have this intention, but don''t dwell on this matter," Yang Yinhou patted Ge Dongxu''s hand and said.

    Although he was caught off guard by Ito Daiju''s sneak attack with a ghost soldier, Ito Daiju''s ability to command ghost soldiers to attack him and pursue him for days afterward was sufficient to show that his actual strength back then was not much less than his own, if not on par. If Ito Daiju is still alive after so many years, Yang Yinhou does not believe that such a powerful individual would stagnate.

    Of course, Daoist arts have declined, and nature''s spiritual energy is scarce, so even if Ito Daiju could make breakthroughs, he couldn''t do so continuously and would quickly reach a bottleneck, just like Yang Yinhou. Even if his legs had not been injured, he was confident about reaching the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, but as for the Seventh Layer, he had no assurance within this lifetime.

    "Don''t worry, elder brother. If this man is still alive, one day, I will make him pay back what he owes, with interest," Ge Dongxu said solemnly, an air of strong confidence emanating from him.

    "Good! Good! With such confidence, you are truly worthy of being the Sect Leader of the Pill Talisman Sect. However, even if that man is still alive, he is close to a hundred years old and won''t have many years left. Let it be, let it be," Yang Yinhou said, looking at Ge Dongxu with relief.

    "It seems that elder brother still lacks confidence in me," Ge Dongxu said with a bitter smile, seeing that Yang Yinhou complimented him while emphasizing not to seek revenge again.

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    "It''s not that I lack confidence in you, but that person is indeed powerful. If you fight him now, his advantage lies in the many more years he has cultivated compared to you, and your chances of success are small. By the time you truly grow up, just like our master back in the day, although you would surely win against him, by then he might have already turned into a handful of yellow earth," Yang Yinhou explained.

    "Why wait so long? If he is still alive, in a year or two or three at most, I will make him pay back what he owes, with interest. But for now, let him be. First, let me treat your leg injury," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Treat my leg injury?" Yang Yinhou said with a bitter smile, shaking his head, "If our master were still alive, perhaps there would be a glimmer of hope, but you shouldn''t waste your effort on me for nothing."

    "Senior brother, healing your leg is indeed not very easy. I''m afraid it might take a year and a half, and we will need to ask someone to find some medicinal herbs. But there is definitely no problem with a cure," Ge Dongxu said with certainty upon hearing this.

    "You don''t have to comfort me. I also learned medicine from our master, and I''m well aware of my own condition. In my current state, first and foremost, I need to unblock the meridians in both of my legs. That ghoul soldier had nearly reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and before its death, all of its cold, ghostly qi invaded my legs. After so many years, my legs have become like eternal ice that never thaws. To unblock the meridians in my legs without a Cultivation Power of the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation is utterly unthinkable," Yang Yinhou said with a bitter smile.

    Ge Dongxu had initially wanted to be more reserved and conceal some of his cultivation, but seeing Yang Yinhou speaking like this, he realized he could no longer hide it. He had no choice but to say, "Senior brother misunderstood me in the backyard just now. Actually, my cultivation has already reached the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, so unblocking the meridians in your legs should not be a big problem. The main issue is still the repair."

    "Junior brother, you don''t have to comfort me. After so many years... What? Did you say your cultivation has reached the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer?" Yang Yinhou immediately patted Ge Dongxu''s hand, but halfway through his speech, he suddenly exclaimed, his eyes bulging at Ge Dongxu as if he had seen a ghost.

    Ouyang Murong said nothing, just opened his mouth wide, looking at Ge Dongxu with eyes full of shock and terror.

    Back then, their master was only at the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation, yet he single-handedly slaughtered two fully-armed Japanese squads in the jungle¡ªa total of 124 men.

    And now Ge Dongxu was saying that he had reached the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer!

    If he had been with them going to Myanmar with the troops back then, the Japanese army...

    Thinking of this, Ouyang Murong felt every hair on his body stand on end.

    "Yes, so the problem of unblocking these two leg meridians should not be too big. It''s just that your leg meridians were very severely damaged back then, and after so many years, they have atrophied to a very serious degree. Recovering from this is not something that can happen in a short time; I''m afraid..." Ge Dongxu nodded as he spoke.

    "Let''s not talk about my legs, not talk about my legs. Can you tell me again, are you truly at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer?" Yang Yinhou interrupted Ge Dongxu before he could finish speaking, eager to clarify.

    "Truly at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer," Ge Dongxu nodded again.

    "Good, good! No wonder you broke the Blood Curse so easily; it turns out you are already at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer. Haha! Good, good, if our master knew this down in the netherworld, he would definitely be extremely consoled," Yang Yinhou said upon seeing Ge Dongxu nod again, finally processing this shocking news and bursting into hearty laughter.

    Seeing Yang Yinhou mention their master, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel his eyes turn red.

    What he regretted most was that his master hadn''t lived to see the day when he became so powerful.

    ps: Today''s three updates are complete. Please cast a recommendation vote. Thank you.

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 Chapter 348 Past Events

    For quite a while, Yang Yinhou''s excitement gradually subsided.

    "About your Uncle-Master''s cultivation, you must not let word get out!" After calming down, Yang Yinhou said to Ouyang Murong with a serious face.

    Having lived nearly a hundred years and experienced much turmoil, how could Yang Yinhou not know what it meant for someone as young as Ge Dongxu to have such terrifying cultivation for those in power?

    And how could he not understand that Ge Dongxu had not told him his true cultivation before due to these concerns? Now, only because he needed to treat his leg injury did he have no choice but to reveal his true cultivation.

    "Disciple understands!" Ouyang Murong solemnly bowed in acknowledgement.

    As a member of the Qimen, Ouyang Murong was also very clear about what Ge Dongxu''s terrifying cultivation meant!

    "Elder Brother, let''s put aside other matters for now and I''ll open up your meridians first," Ge Dongxu said.

    "This leg injury of mine has been dragged on for more than fifty years already, it won''t make a difference in a day or two. You should first tell me about Master," said Yang Yinhou, patting his leg.

    In fact, Ge Dongxu also wanted to know about his Master''s past, so seeing Yang Yinhou had the same idea, he did not insist any further. Besides, even if he cleared Yang Yinhou''s meridians now, he would not be able to stand up immediately.

    "Alright, I also want to know about Master''s past." So Ge Dongxu nodded and began to talk about his childhood experiences of cultivating with his Master.

    This conversation lasted for two to three hours, and the sky had already turned completely dark.

    Inside the villa, Ouyang Murong had turned on the lights at some point.

    Under the light, Yang Yinhou''s face was covered in tears.

    "It''s all my unfilial behavior, Elder Brother. Back then, Master, due to his personality, chose to fight the war on his own during the national crisis, unwilling to join any organization. I believed individual strength was ultimately limited and chose to join others with the will to fight the invasion, even joining the KMT army later on. Although Master chose to act alone, he supported my decision, so Elder Brother and Master took different paths. As you know, communications at that time were far from as developed as now, and later Elder Brother joined the expedition to Myanmar and, due to serious injuries, was trapped in the deep mountains of Old Lin for over a year. I only gradually recovered and returned to the army, and then the Civil War broke out, severing contact with Master completely. If I hadn''t separated from Master back then, perhaps he wouldn''t have been injured in the head, and even if he had suffered memory loss due to a head injury, he wouldn''t have been left uncared for." S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "During the national crisis, everyone had a responsibility, and Elder Brother, you had no choice at that time. Don''t blame yourself. Moreover, in his later years, I accompanied Master for six years. During those six years, Master was in good spirits every day, always smiling, and he passed away very peacefully, so you shouldn''t feel sad or blame yourself," Ge Dongxu consoled.

    "Yes, Master. If your grandfather knew that back then you adamantly refused to go to Taiwan, and later made your way back to the mainland and secluded yourself here to be involved in the jade raw stone trade, just to look for news about your grandfather, he would understand your filial piety from the underworld," Ouyang Murong followed in consolation.

    "A son wishes to support his parents, but they are not around. Although I held this filial piety, I ultimately failed to fulfill my filial duties," Yang Yinhou said, patting his chest, heartbroken and blaming himself.

    "Elder Brother, you talk about Master''s past, as well as your own affairs," Ge Dongxu, seeing that Yang Yinhou was somewhat uncontrollable in emotion and that consoling was of no use, had no choice but to ask him questions.

    Sure enough, with Ge Dongxu''s inquiry, Yang Yinhou''s attention was diverted, and he began to recall his past with Ren Yao, then spoke of it one by one.

    "Our Pill Talisman Sect might not have had many members in each generation compared to the big sects, but because our Pill Talisman Sect excels in alchemy and creating talismans, every generation produces several powerful individuals. Thus, we still hold a significant status within the Qimen. During the Qing Dynasty, our Pill Talisman Sect suffered a great blow. By the end of the Qing and the Republic of China era, foreign powers invaded, internal wars abounded, and the elders of our Pill Talisman Sect successively sacrificed themselves in the chaos. At that time, Master was a genius of our Pill Talisman Sect, reaching the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer at a young age, escaping from several dangers and becoming the sole surviving disciple of our Pill Talisman Sect."

    "At that time, I was just one of the countless orphans of the war-torn era, fortunate enough to encounter Master, be saved and adopted by him. Later, I cultivated with Master, roamed the martial world with him, championed justice, and executed invaders. Cultivated by Master in many ways, when Elder Brother and Master parted ways, I was at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and Master was at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. Elder Brother and Master still had some intermittent contact for a while, but eventually joined the KMT, constantly on the move, and gradually lost contact with Master, and then went to Myanmar and completely lost contact."

    "After liberation, Elder Brother also inquired in many ways but got no news of Master. Later, as Elder Brother aged and thought about Master, who was much older, even if he had survived the wars, he was likely no longer in this world, I gradually gave up on that pursuit."

    With that, he spoke for several more hours.

    He mainly spoke about Ren Yao''s affairs and his own, especially about the period after the victory against Japan, other than looking for his Master, he hardly mentioned anything else. Several times when Ge Dongxu specifically inquired, he quickly changed the subject, obviously not wanting to recall that period.

    Seeing that he had asked several times and Yang Yinhou kept diverting the topic, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat puzzled and didn''t understand, but refrained from asking further.

    Ouyang Murong at the side, however, was very clear as to why his father didn''t want to mention that period.

    Because that period spent in the Golden Mountain and the jungles of Northern Myanmar was a particularly suffocating, helpless period filled with blood and heroism for Yang Yinhou. During that time, he had done some things against his conscience, so he did not want to bring up that history. His later choice to return to the country, rather than staying in Northern Myanmar or the Golden Triangle area, was not only to look for news about his Master, but also because he didn''t want to get involved in those conflicts and dirty business.

    Otherwise, if Yang Yinhou had continued to stay in that jungle, titles such as "King of Brave Deeds" would not have fallen to others. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

 Chapter 349 Healing Wounds

    "Master, it''s getting quite late, and I have already had dinner prepared. Should you and my martial uncle eat dinner first?" Ouyang Murong cautiously reminded them when the conversation between the two paused for a moment.

    "Look at me, so engrossed in our conversation that I''ve completely forgotten that we''ve missed the mealtime." Yang Yinhou, taken aback by the remark, then looked at Ge Dongxu with a smile.

    "Hehe, I''m not actually hungry. However, there will be plenty of time in the coming days. We should eat first; we can talk about these matters slowly afterwards," Ge Dongxu said, suppressing the emotions welling up in his heart with a chuckle.

    So the two went to the dining hall to have their meal together, which consisted of some local homestyle dishes. Each dish was very exquisite.

    After eating, the two of them briefly reminisced about the past, and then Ge Dongxu brought up the matter of reopening Yang Yinhou''s leg meridians.

    "Who would have thought that, on the brink of death, not only would I meet you, but I would also have the hope of standing up and walking again," Yang Yinhou said to Ge Dongxu, filled with emotion.

    "Master passed away at the age of one hundred and twenty; martial brother, you''ve yet to reach one hundred, there''s still a long way to go," Ge Dongxu said.

    "How can I compare myself to Master," Yang Yinhou replied.

    "Master had a head injury back then; it''s different for you," said Ge Dongxu, feeling a wave of regret.

    If only he had received Ge Hong''s inheritance earlier, perhaps his master would still be alive.

    "But the breath within my body is far inferior to that of Master, hehe, let''s not talk about this anymore. Life and death are destined, and wealth is in the hands of heaven. Being able to meet you before my life''s end and to have the hope of standing up again, I am already very content," Yang Yinhou said.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then lifted Yang Yinhou and gently placed him on the bed.

    "Stand guard outside the door, do not allow anyone to disturb us," Ge Dongxu instructed Ouyang Murong.

    Cultivators, unlike ordinary people, aren''t easily injured; but once they are, their injuries are much more difficult to heal.

    This is actually easy to understand; it''s easy to repair a breach in a small river, but fixing a breach in a great river is by no means as straightforward.

    Yang Yinhou''s situation was akin to the latter. Even with Ge Dongxu''s cultivation and medical skills, he dared not be the slightest bit negligent or allow any distractions.

    "Your disciple understands," Ouyang Murong replied solemnly, with a hint of excitement and anticipation in his eyes.

    He was an orphan adopted by Yang Yinhou, who had raised him from a young age. To him, Yang Yinhou was both a teacher and a father, and their bond was extremely deep.

    "Martial brother, it will be quite painful; try to endure it," Ge Dongxu said to Yang Yinhou after Ouyang Murong left.

    "Don''t worry, there''s no suffering I haven''t experienced," Yang Yinhou said with an unconcerned smile.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and then placed his hand on the sole of Yang Yinhou''s foot, beginning to slowly channel True Qi.

    The meridians running through both legs numbered six, specifically the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming, Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin, Foot Taiyang Bladder Meridian, Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, Gallbladder Meridian of Foot Shaoyang, and Liver Meridian of Foot Jueyin.

    Ge Dongxu started with the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming. As he cleared each meridian, he was drenched in sweat, and so was Yang Yinhou. However, Yang Yinhou didn''t make a single sound from the beginning to the end, which filled Ge Dongxu with immense respect.

    He was well aware of the pain, as sharp as knives and needles!

    After clearing three meridians, Ge Dongxu was completely drained of strength.

    "It seems my cultivation is still insufficient, I need to rest for a while, and take advantage of the Chinese Hour of the Rat to adjust my True Qi back before continuing," Ge Dongxu stopped clearing further and, wiping the sweat from his forehead, said to Yang Yinhou.

    At this moment, Yang Yinhou was so stunned by Ge Dongxu that he couldn''t find the words to speak.

    He had thought that if Ge Dongxu managed to clear one of his meridians tonight, it would be quite impressive, but Ge Dongxu had unexpectedly managed to clear three in one go and even planned to continue after a period of breath regulation, evidently preparing to clear all six meridians running through his legs in one night.

    But after depleting one''s True Qi, how could it be possible to recover so quickly?

    Furthermore, having the cultivation of the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, could it really be that much more formidable than the Fifth Layer?

    Yang Yinhou himself was also of the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer and, although his realm had not improved over the years, his True Qi had become more pure and concentrated through decades of refinement, incomparable to ordinary cultivators at his level. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But when Ge Dongxu''s True Qi entered Yang Yinhou''s body, it made him feel as though he was standing by the banks of a vast river, feeling very insignificant.

    The purity and concentration of that True Qi was beyond Yang Yinhou''s imagination; he couldn''t fathom how anyone could refine their mana to such a degree.

    What Yang Yinhou didn''t know was that Ge Dongxu practiced the complete Baopuzi Jiudan Xuan Gong, a high-level cultivation technique that naturally refined higher-quality True Qi. Plus, along his cultivation journey, although Ge Dongxu was aware of pill recipes that could enhance his cultivation power, he resisted taking shortcuts and persisted in daily meditation and cultivation, ensuring the purity and concentration of his True Qi.

    Of course, besides these two reasons, Ge Dongxu''s talent, the bloodline of Ge Hong flowing through his veins, among other factors, played a role.

    "Dongxu, do you really only have the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer?" After a long while, Yang Yinhou couldn''t help but ask.

    "That''s right," Ge Dongxu smiled and responded. Experience more content on My Virtual Library Empire

    "But why do I have this intuition that a true Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer shouldn''t be as powerful as you?" Yang Yinhou expressed the confusion in his heart.

    "There''s nothing surprising about that, as even within the same realm, there are different levels of strength," Ge Dongxu replied matter-of-factly.

    Upon hearing this, Yang Yinhou was stunned and after a while could only offer a wry smile, "Okay, that''s indeed the case."

    Seeing the look of resignation on Yang Yinhou''s face, Ge Dongxu smiled apologetically and then said, "It''s the Chinese Hour of the Rat, I will meditate and regulate my breath now."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu sat down cross-legged and then took out piece by piece of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, laying out nine in total around him.

    Watching this scene from the bed, Yang Yinhou''s eyes grew wider and wider.

    This was Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade!

    It was said that even the great sects did not have more than a few inherited pieces, yet here was his junior brother, casually pulling out nine pieces from his bag and laying them on the ground as if they were no more than ordinary market stall goods.

    After a long time, Yang Yinhou shook his head, finally realizing that he couldn''t measure his junior brother by any ordinary standard.

    An hour passed, and Ge Dongxu had recovered most of his mana; meanwhile, the nine pieces of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade had turned into fragments, which made Yang Yinhou wince with distress.

    This was Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, and just like that, they were expended!

    But Ge Dongxu didn''t seem distressed at all. Instead, he shook his head helplessly, thinking to himself how fortunate it was that he had purchased a good amount of glass-type jade, which would allow him to carve the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation. Otherwise, relying on Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation alone, when would he ever be able to cultivate up to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer?

 Chapter 350 Magic Artifact

    Next, Ge Dongxu continued to help unblock the remaining three meridians of Yang Yinhou.

    As the Mao Hour approached, Ge Dongxu finally unblocked the last three meridians of Yang Yinhou.

    The moment the last meridian was unblocked, a familiar feeling of True Qi flowing unimpeded within his body surged, shaking Yang Yinhou''s whole body, and tears quietly rolled down his cheeks.

    He grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hand and patted it firmly twice without saying a word.

    A full fifty-five years!

    How many fifty-five years does a life have?

    In a secluded valley in distant Japan, beneath a cedar tree, a very handsome man wearing a black court hat, dressed in a white hunting robe, and holding a bat fan, suddenly seemed to sense something. He looked towards Huaxia Country across the ocean, his gaze puzzled and cold, devoid of any human emotion.

    However, he soon shook his head and withdrew his gaze.

    It was an elusive premonition, and although his mana was powerful, he could not fathom its origin.

    Ge Dongxu could understand Yang Yinhou''s emotions. He reached back and firmly grasped his hand, and after a long while, he said, "Although the True Qi can now circulate between your legs, due to the meridians and severe atrophy in the muscular and vascular tissues of your legs, it will still take some time to recover. You''ll also need some medicinal adjustments, so elder brother, don''t be impatient."

    "I''m not in a rush, not in a rush. I''ve waited for fifty-five years, elder brother, I have plenty of patience." Yang Yinhou wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and smiled.

    "Mao hour has arrived, elder brother, take these Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades for now. After the Mao Hour, I will teach you how to engrave the Spirit Gathering Formation," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Such formations are secret techniques of our sect, which you might master yourself, there''s no need to teach me. In the future, too, unless you are preparing to appoint someone as the next Sect Leader," Yang Yinhou said sternly.

    Ge Dongxu was taken aback, he hadn''t thought that far, besides, to him the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation was only the most basic, hardly significant.

    "Actually, elder brother, this formation isn''t really anything special, it''s just¡­" Ge Dongxu quickly came to his senses and said with a smile to Yang Yinhou.

    "I know your intentions, but remember, any type of Spirit Gathering Formation in this era of scarce nature''s spiritual energy and declining Daoist techniques is immensely precious and should only be kept in the hands of the Sect Leader. Unless one day you reach the mythical Dragon Tiger Realm, perhaps then you will be able to comprehend your own Spirit Gathering Formation. When that day comes, you can selectively pass on this technique to the disciples," Yang Yinhou interrupted with a wave of his hand.

    Ge Dongxu looked at the stern and resolute face of Yang Yinhou and was at a loss for words for a long time, now beginning to understand why the Daoist techniques had been so severely lost.

    The path is not passed to the wrong person, the laws are not conveyed to the uninitiated. While this ensures the secrecy of our sect''s techniques, once a key figure in the sect encounters an accident, the techniques could also be lost.

    "Elder brother knows what you are thinking right now. However, cultivation itself is an action against nature''s course, only those who are fated may receive it, and it cannot be made as general as modern education. If it were so, the Heaven and Earth treasures and the already scarce nature''s spiritual energy would probably be exhausted before they could even accumulate. This world would hardly be peaceful, and human lives would be as worthless as grass. Thus, the path is only passed to those with destiny, the laws are not heard by others. Though our master lost his memory and sometimes his mind was unstable, after decades, he never took a single disciple except you, was that without reason?" Yang Yinhou continued seriously as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Initially, Ge Dongxu did not take it seriously, being inherently noble and unselfish, not a selfish person, but his expression gradually turned serious.

    The words of Yang Yinhou reminded him of many things, like the master-disciple duo Li Bisheng, like Rivera who had previously harmed Gu Yiran with a blood curse, and also reminded him of the large amount of Jadeite he needed for his cultivation and the various precious herbs required in the future¡­

    He had a bit of an epiphany; it wasn''t that his senior brother currently wasn''t qualified to learn the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation, nor would he ever divulge the formation technique. Instead, his senior brother didn''t want to break this rule.

    Since he understood Yang Yinhou''s painstaking intentions, Ge Dongxu then refrained from mentioning the teaching of the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation.

    At least not now!

    Perhaps, when he ascended to the Dragon Tiger Realm and could peek into a more mystical world, it would be possible to impart the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation to the disciples within the sect.

    A red sun rose from the east, and the Mao Hour of cultivation had ended.

    With both legs'' meridians unblocked and assisted by the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, Yang Yinhou felt his condition had never been better. His body brimmed with abundant True Qi stirring up a gale, making his wrinkled old face seem much more rosy and rejuvenated. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ouyang Murong also felt that his condition had never been better than today, thanks to this morning''s cultivation during the Mao Hour and the help of the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade.

    Made of Ice Type Jadeite, the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade provided immense benefits. Even if Ge Dongxu had to use up nine pieces at once, it seemed barely satisfactory for him. However, for Ouyang Murong, who was only at the Second Level of Qi Cultivation, activating this Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade engulfed him in a world of spiritual energy, an indescribably wonderful sensation.

    A single day of cultivation was worth ten days under normal circumstances.

    Now that they were fellow sect members, there was no need for Ge Dongxu and Ouyang Murong to stand on ceremony or hide anything from each other. So, after breakfast, Ge Dongxu handed over the jadeite he had deciphered yesterday, as well as other jadeites from different sources he had obtained in the previous days, asking him to help polish them into Jade Tokens. Apart from a chunk of Violet Glass Type Jadeite and a piece of Bluish-Green Water Glass Type Jadeite that he kept, he planned to carefully design and engrave Dharma Talismans on them, turning them into amulet-like accessories to give to his mother, Liu Jiayao, and the others.

    "Are all these the jadeites you deciphered yesterday from those raw stones at the auction?" Ouyang Murong said, astonished, as he saw Ge Dongxu taking out chunks of Glass Type Jadeite worth at least twenty to thirty million. Even as a major figure in the jade industry, he was impressed.

    "Pretty much, though a few were picked up from the market before," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Uncle Master truly has a discerning eye. If you were to attend the Myanmar public market, then good jade stones would practically never fall into anyone else''s hands," Ouyang Murong remarked, genuinely astounded.

    Ge Dongxu smiled at the statement and then said, "If the timing is suitable next year, I could go with you to Yangon to have a look since we''ll definitely need a large amount of fine jadeite in the future."

    "Haha, junior brother, if you''re going to the public market next year, it looks like the jadeite prices will soar then," Yang Yinhou chuckled.

    Ge Dongxu smiled sheepishly at his words.

    "I have some Glass Type Jadeite stored here that I was saving for making future Magic Artifacts. Since you need Glass Type Jadeite, junior brother, take them. I''m not short on Magic Artifacts right now, they are just for backup," Yang Yinhou said.

    Superior jade, because it''s a Heaven and Earth Treasure, can be used not only to make Talisman Jade but also Magic Artifacts.

    Like the Imperial Green Jadeite that Yang Yinhou held, which was his personal Magic Artifact. Through this artifact, he could manipulate nature''s spiritual energy, performing Techniques. Otherwise, with his current cultivation at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, he wouldn''t be able to directly manipulate nature''s spiritual energy to execute Techniques, unless he reached the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer where he could draw Talismans in the Void¡ªwith talismans following his heart''s wishes, his own body acting as the connector to nature''s spiritual energy. A mere fingertip drawing in the air could execute Techniques.

    Of course, for an anomaly like Ge Dongxu, being at the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation was almost enough to draw Talismans directly in the Void.

    ps: Three updates for today are complete, kindly vote. Thank you very much.

 Chapter 351 Depicting the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation

    "For now, these will suffice. Senior Brother, keep the glass-type jadeite you have on hand for now; I''ll ask for it later if needed. However, if you have any ice-type jadeite¡ªnot the ones with good color¡ªI could use some of those," Ge Dongxu reflected and then said.

    He only brought enough Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade for his cultivation in the next few days, and since he temporarily couldn''t pass the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation onto Yang Yinhou, he naturally needed to carve some to leave for Yang Yinhou before his departure.

    "That''s easy, just let Murong prepare as much as you need," Yang Yinhou said.

    "Get about forty or fifty pieces," Ge Dongxu stated.

    "Alright, I''ll go prepare them right now," Ouyang Murong took the glass-type jadeite given by Ge Dongxu and left the villa.

    After Ouyang Murong left, Ge Dongxu transmitted the complete cultivation technique of the Baopu Jiudan Xuan Gong up to the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation to Yang Yinhou and also prescribed a medicine for treating his leg injury.

    "Hundred-Year Wild Ginseng, Thousand-Year Wild Polygonum multiflorum, Rehmannia glutinosa, Dragon Hollyhock... These herbs are easy to find; they just cost some money. But this Jiuyang Chi Yan Fruit and this Ganlin Xuanyang Grass, brother hasn''t even heard of them, let alone seen them," Yang Yinhou, who had also learned medicine and elixir arts from Ren Yao in his early years and was an expert in this field, frowned upon looking at the prescription Ge Dongxu gave him.

    "Both the Jiuyang Chi Yan Fruit and the Ganlin Xuanyang Grass should grow in hot regions. Although I haven''t seen them, I know what they look like and can describe them. I will ask around for information on my part, and Senior Brother should also have someone inquire in various places. These two herbs are critical to the Jiuyang Return to Life Soup; if we can find and brew them, after you take it, your leg injury will fully heal. Otherwise, even if you can stand again, the injury in your meridians will likely take more than a decade to completely heal. If that happens, it will probably affect the progress of your cultivation," Ge Dongxu explained.

    If Yang Yinhou hadn''t received the complete cultivation technique of the Baopu Jiudan Xuan Gong up to the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation, or if he hadn''t had the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade given by Ge Dongxu, being able to stand and walk again would have been enough for him; as for cultivation, he wasn''t young and didn''t have many years left to live, nor was he vying for supremacy, so it wouldn''t matter much to him.

    It would be good if he could grow stronger, but he wouldn''t force it if he couldn''t.

    But now, with the complete cultivation technique and the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, Yang Yinhou fully understood why Ge Dongxu had previously told him that at his current age of under a hundred, he still had a long life ahead of him.

    Because cultivating was about contending for life with the heavens, the higher the level of cultivation, the longer the lifespan.

    Before, with Yang Yinhou''s condition, there was no way he could break through the fifth layer of Qi Cultivation in this lifetime, and his lifespan would also be limited to that level. A significant breakthrough was unlikely.

    But now, the situation was clearly different. With the complete cultivation technique and the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, it wasn''t just about breaking through the fifth layer¡ªbreaking through to the sixth or even the seventh layer was hopeful, which meant a potential breakthrough in his natural life span, at least a gain of seven or eight years over the original estimate.

    In such a case, how could Yang Yinhou simply "resign himself to fate"?

    So, after hearing this, Yang Yinhou immediately said, "Alright, if it''s in a hot region, this area is all hot region; it should be easy to ask around."

    Ge Dongxu nodded and detailed the shapes of the two herbs. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Afterward, the two of them chatted about their master''s past. Initially, Yang Yinhou couldn''t wait to visit his master''s grave as soon as he heard the news. But now that there was hope for his legs to stand again, he preferred to wait and visit the master''s grave once he could truly stand, so as not to make the master feel sad if he knew from the underworld that Yang Yinhou visited him in a wheelchair.

    People who cultivate still believe in such things beyond the mortal realm.

    As the two were chatting, Shangguan Ouyang arrived with the polished Jade Tokens.

    There were fifty ice-type Jade Tokens and exactly one hundred and thirty glass-type Jade Tokens, which was a lot more than Ge Dongxu had initially expected when he first came here.

    After storing the Jade Tokens, Ge Dongxu asked Yang Yinhou for a room, then went to carve the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation.

    Drawing the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation had become a piece of cake for Ge Dongxu.

    Alone in his room, Ge Dongxu had hardly taken any rest and had drawn fifty pieces of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade in one go without wasting a single Ice Type Jadeite.

    After he finished, Ge Dongxu felt his mana still abundantly flowing inside him, and after some thought, he took out a Glass-Type Jade Token and began to carve the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation onto it.

    Before this attempt, Ge Dongxu had carved the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation on Ice Type Jadeite many times, so now the process was like riding a bicycle, very familiar, though the True Qi inside him was depleting rapidly while he carved.

    Before he even finished one Formation, Ge Dongxu felt the consumption of his True Qi was almost equal to what had been consumed by carving the fifty pieces of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation earlier.

    "Crack, crack!" Just as the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation was about to be completed, the entire Formation suddenly collapsed, and cracks spread across the jade like a spider web. Subsequently, this piece of Glass Type Jadeite, which if well-crafted into a piece of jewelry, could be worth at least two to three hundred thousand, shattered into fragments.

    Watching hundreds of thousands vanish in an instant, Ge Dongxu didn''t feel a pinch of heartache, but instead, joy crept onto his brows.

    Carving the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation on Glass Type Jadeite was going smoother than he had anticipated. Although the jade had broken, he had seen a glimmer of successful hope.

    Indeed, you get what you pay for, he thought, the quality of Glass Type Jadeite was superior. The True Qi moved freely within it, making the carving much easier.

    Ge Dongxu mused to himself and then took out another piece to continue the carving.

    Continuing in this manner until the fourth piece, when the last character of the Talisman was carved, the transparent Glass-Type Jade Token suddenly lit up with seven flashes of brilliant light. Holding the Jade Token in his hand, Ge Dongxu felt the scene before him transform suddenly, as if he were in the vast cosmos, gazing at the endless pinpoints of stars.

    Among them, seven shone the brightest, resembling the form of an ancient wine scooping instrument.

    As Ge Dongxu looked towards those seven stars, it seemed as if specks of radiance were sprinkling down on him, and he felt as though he was bathing in warm sunlight, the sensation was indescribably comfortable.

    It truly was comfortable, Ge Dongxu thought to himself, his eyes once again drawn to those seven stars.

    This look, however, revealed seven enormous fireballs, where the terrifying heat seemed to engulf him instantly, as if he could be reduced to ashes in a moment.

    Ge Dongxu felt the pain of being scorched, and thinking trouble was coming, he hurriedly closed his eyes.

    Oddly enough, when Ge Dongxu thought he had closed his eyes, he found that they were still open. But instead of the vast sky and the seven enormous fireballs, he was back in his room once more.

    The Jade Token in his hand, which had the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation carved into it, had once again turned to pieces.

    But this time, it was not because the carving had failed, but like many other times, it had finally "passed away due to old age."

    Not only that, but Ge Dongxu also discovered that his entire body was drenched as if he had been fished out of water.

    "What''s going on here?" Ge Dongxu''s expression changed subtly, and he quickly cycled through his mental method to investigate the changes within his body.

 Chapter 352 Drawing Talismans in the Void

    This investigation almost made Ge Dongxu cry out in astonishment.

    Not only had the True Qi inside his body become much more substantial than before, but it had also become much more refined and concentrated. Ge Dongxu even had an intuition that, with his current state, it would probably take only a few more days for him to step into the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    But the problem was that he had just broken through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation not many days ago! How could he possibly be on the verge of another breakthrough so soon?

    That was secondary when Ge Dongxu''s Divine Sense dived into the Sea of Consciousness. He discovered that the originally vast, barely clear space in the Sea of Consciousness had now expanded by over tenfold.

    The Sea of Consciousness is the world of spiritual power.

    The larger the clear space, the stronger the spiritual power. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Regarding spiritual power, Ge Dongxu was not very knowledgeable at the moment. He only knew that each time of deep contemplation, each session of cultivation, each act of carving Gathering Talismans and Formations, his spiritual power would strengthen a bit, but the increase was quite limited. It was only after breakthroughs in his Realm that relatively larger changes would appear, yet compared to this time, they could only be seen as minor.

    Strange, why would such a change occur?

    Ge Dongxu pulled his Divine Sense back out, returning to reality, gazing at the fragment in his hand and wiping the heavy sweat from his forehead, utterly at a loss for explanations.

    In the heritage of Ge Hong, Ge Dongxu actually knew that many things were hidden inside his own brain, which likely contained many secrets that might explain the situation today. But as far as Ge Dongxu''s current knowledge from his heritage was concerned, there were no records of this aspect.

    Certainly, Ge Dongxu couldn''t possibly know about such matters from Ge Hong''s heritage so early on.

    For this was the Heavenly-Man Unity realm that cultivators might encounter but could not seek out, where both body and Divine Sense were merged with heaven and earth, indistinguishable from each other.

    Only when one''s cultivation had reached an extremely high realm was it possible to enter this profound and mysterious realm.

    Ge Dongxu, being only at the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation, had through carving the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation, mysteriously formed a profound connection with the Big Dipper through the Talisman Jade in his hand, thus touching upon that Heavenly-Man Unity realm. It could only be said that Ge Dongxu''s luck today was incredibly explosive.

    As for the benefits, the sudden increase in cultivation and the sudden growth in spiritual power were merely superficial. The real benefits far exceeded these, and as Ge Dongxu''s cultivation became higher, he would have an increasingly profound understanding of the latter''s benefits.

    Ge Dongxu was never someone who liked to dwell on issues excessively.

    Since he couldn''t figure it out, and this matter was clearly beyond his current comprehension, Ge Dongxu decided not to dwell on it anymore, but instead took out another piece of Glass Type Jadeite.

    His cultivation power had increased significantly, and he was brimming with energy.

    Silently he started up his cultivation technique, his fingers touching the Jadeite.

    The moment his fingers touched it, it almost startled Ge Dongxu.

    For he could clearly feel the spirit energy flowing within the Jadeite, and its patterns appeared in his mind like a vivid three-dimensional map.

    With thoughts aligned with his heart, his fingers moved over the Jadeite, incredibly smooth, like a fish swimming in water, because Ge Dongxu could clearly "see" the flow of the spirit energy and all its patterns within the Jadeite.

    Completed in one go!

    A piece of Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade was completed.

    This time, the earlier situation did not recur.

    However, Ge Dongxu just stared at the Talisman Jade in his hand and zoned out for a while. Although he knew his cultivation power had greatly increased, he hadn''t expected to complete the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Talisman Jade so effortlessly.

    Ge Dongxu, not believing in curses, carved another piece, and it was still completed in one go.

    His cultivation hadn''t reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, so such a significant improvement shouldn''t have been possible. Could it be because of the spiritual power?

    Yes, it must be because of the spiritual power. That''s why I can now clearly sense the condition inside the Jadeite, and my control over True Qi has also reached an unprecedented level of precision.

    Thinking this, Ge Dongxu was almost certain that it was because his spiritual power had surged suddenly.

    Since I can now carve out the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation in one go, could I possibly¡­

    Ge Dongxu''s heart skipped a beat, and he lifted his spell hand to draw in the void, softly chanting, "One!"

    An ancient Dharma Talisman condensed in the void, followed by a faint green light refracting from Ge Dongxu''s body.

    But in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, this wasn''t just a layer of faint green light, but a body armor made of condensed wood spirit energy.

    Robust and solid!

    Indeed! A wave of ecstasy surged in Ge Dongxu''s heart.

    This time, he found not only that the True Qi within his body was as easy to control as moving his own limbs, smooth and unobstructed, but also that when he cast spells, it seemed like his connection with the world suddenly grew much closer, to the extent that he could clearly sense the fluctuations of spiritual energy around him.

    Could this also be because of the spiritual power? Ge Dongxu pondered in secret.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t know that the sudden intimacy with the world, in addition to being partly due to spiritual power, was primarily because he had experienced Unity of Heaven and Man.

    Unity of Heaven and Man, in layman''s terms, means having had an intimate contact with the world.

    Think about it, once you''ve had intimate contact, could the relationship remain as estranged as before?

    After a surge of ecstasy, Ge Dongxu was just about to draw another Talisman in the Void when he saw his phone light up from inside his slightly open bag, flashing the word "Mom."

    Because he was busy carving the Talisman Jade, he had put his phone on silent.

    Seeing it was his mom calling, Ge Dongxu hurriedly took out his phone to answer.

    "You rascal, where have you been these past few days? Why haven''t you even called home?" As soon as he answered the call, he heard his mother''s complaining voice.

    "Ahem, because there wasn''t anything special, and since I was out of town, I didn''t call back. I''ll definitely remember to call next time." Ge Dongxu hurriedly answered, feeling somewhat puzzled inside. Since his family knew he was very capable, they had always been very assured of him and seldom specifically called to inquire about his affairs. Considering it hadn''t been many days since he left home, why did this call come chasing after him like a "summons"?

    "What do you mean nothing special? Other people''s children all already know whether they have been admitted to university. How come you still don''t have any news?" Xu Suya scolded right off the bat.

    "Ah, mom, I completely forgot to check." Hearing this, Ge Dongxu slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing the reason his mom had called.

    As far as university admission was concerned, Ge Dongxu hadn''t taken it to heart at all. So after checking his scores and filling out his preferences, he had completely stopped thinking about it, just waiting for school to start.

    However, it was different for Xu Suya and her husband. Their son''s university education was a big deal to them; they counted days on their fingers every day, eagerly awaiting the admissions notice. Just today, they had heard that a child from the neighboring village had been admitted to a certain university, which immediately prompted Xu Suya to urgently call Ge Dongxu.

 Chapter 353 Moms Demand

    "You brat, your parents have been waiting day and night, just looking forward to the university admission notice, and you, heartless as you are, have even forgotten about it. Call immediately to check!" Xu Suya scolded Ge Dongxu fiercely upon hearing the news.

    "Yes, yes, I''ll call to inquire right now." Ge Dongxu didn''t dare talk back when scolded by his mom and hurriedly agreed.

    "Call now, and call me back as soon as you get the results." Xu Suya softened her tone when she saw her son''s cooperative attitude.

    "Alright, alright, I''ll call now." Ge Dongxu agreed repeatedly and then hung up the phone.

    After hanging up, Ge Dongxu thought about calling to inquire but realized he had even forgotten his examination registration number and became anxious.

    He had no reason to worry about his college entrance exam scores; he was utterly confident. Not just Jiangnan University, even Yanjing or Huaqing University wouldn''t be a problem.

    Of course, could someone with his identity not get into Jiangnan University even if there were a mistake?

    So after the college entrance exam was over, Ge Dongxu simply cast the matter out of his mind.

    Like ordinary people, those who cultivate have a similar trait: if the brain doesn''t think about something, the memory of it gradually fades, especially for pure data like examination registration numbers. If it''s not recalled over time, even someone with a memory as excellent as Ge Dongxu, a cultivator, can''t remember it.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu didn''t need to inquire; he could have just told his mother he was admitted because there couldn''t be a mistake in that regard, but it still felt like a deception, like he was brushing off his mother.

    Having no choice, Ge Dongxu called his mother back and asked her to help look up the examination registration slip.

    Xu Suya, seeing her son call back, thought he had news, but it turned out he was asking her to look for the examination slip, which of course led to another round of nagging.

    Once he got the examination registration number, Ge Dongxu made a point to call Cheng Le Hao to get the inquiry phone number, then he called to check.

    Ge Dongxu had applied for Environmental Chemistry at the College of Environmental and Resource Sciences at Jiangnan University.

    Environmental Chemistry, as the name implies, studies the relationship between the environment and chemistry. What Ge Dongxu wanted to explore was the relationship between chemistry, nature, and the Heaven and Earth Great Dao, in the hope of gaining inspiration.

    So, in a way, this major exactly met Ge Dongxu''s requirements, which is why he chose it.

    The results of the telephone inquiry were precisely as Ge Dongxu expected: he was admitted to the College of Environmental and Resource Sciences at Jiangnan University.

    After receiving the results, Ge Dongxu immediately called his mother back and shared the good news with her.

    "Jiangnan University, good, good, good!" Xu Suya was so excited she said "good" several times upon hearing the news.

    "Now you and dad can rest assured, right?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Assured, very assured," Xu Suya replied happily.

    "Then, if there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up." Ge Dongxu said, his mind still on the matter of Drawing Talismans in the Void. Moreover, he was drenched in sweat and felt sticky and uncomfortable.

    "What do you mean to hang up, when are you coming home?" Xu Suya was in a good mood, but the moment her son mentioned hanging up, she immediately responded with annoyance.

    "Coming home? Is there something urgent? If not, I can come a few days later," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Nonsense, you got into Jiangnan University, so shouldn''t you visit your teacher''s house to express your gratitude? Also, the village is planning a dinner celebration, inviting relatives and friends. These past few days, many people in the village have been asking about you. Your grandfather and uncles have called several times to inquire about your exam results. Now that we know the outcome, of course, we should have a celebration feast; otherwise, people might think our family is stingy! Our son got into Jiangnan University, and we''re not even going to treat people to a meal," Xu Suya said.

    Ge Dongxu wholeheartedly agreed with visiting his teacher''s house to give thanks. But the idea of holding a banquet in the village to celebrate his university acceptance, inviting villagers, relatives, and friends, left Ge Dongxu dumbfounded.

    After all, he was now a billionaire, a deputy ministerial-level official, a sect leader, and now that he got into university, the thought of having to throw a celebration banquet made him feel uncomfortable all over.

    "Mom, it''s just getting into university, right? Do we have to make such a big deal out of it?" Ge Dongxu said cautiously.

    "What do you mean it''s not a big deal? You are the first student in our village to get into a key university, and it''s Jiangnan University no less. How could we not make a big deal out of it?" Xu Suya said.

    "Isn''t that a bit much? People will think we''re showing off!" Ge Dongxu said again, cautiously trying to dissuade his mother from the idea.

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    Truly, his covert identity was something remarkable, unknown to others, but he was well aware of it himself.

    "So what if we''re showing off? Was it easy for your parents to raise you all these years? Isn''t it all for this glorious day? I''m telling you, I might give in to you on other things, but we must have this banquet! I''ll send out the invites in the next couple of days. If you don''t have any urgent matters, you should come back home within these two days," Xu Suya said decisively. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Okay, then, I''ll come back home in the next couple of days," Ge Dongxu said. As a filial son, with his parents having this wish, what else could he say? He could only agree.

    "That''s more like it. I''m going to hang up now; I still need to share the good news with your grandparents," Xu Suya said cheerfully as she prepared to end the call, knowing Ge Dongxu had agreed to return soon.

    After hanging up his mother''s call, thinking of her likely sharing the good news with a smiling face, Ge Dongxu, despite still feeling a bit awkward, couldn''t help but feel inexplicably happy.

    If his parents were happy, why wouldn''t their child be happy too?

    Because he knew his parents were eagerly awaiting his return to bring pride to the family, Ge Dongxu lost interest in continuing his research on Drawing Talismans in the Void, as it wasn''t urgent.

    He put away the Jade Token and went downstairs.

    "Senior brother, keep these safe. Focus on cultivating for now, and let me know if you run out¡ªI need to go back home for a bit." After descending the stairs, Ge Dongxu handed the completed Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades to Yang Yinhou and said.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu give them a pile of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades, Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong were stunned, and it took them a while to come to their senses, watching Ge Dongxu looking as if he had just been fished out of a river, they couldn''t help but be moved again, thinking Ge Dongxu was exhausted from engraving so many talisman jades for them.

    "Dongxu, this is too much, keep some for yourself," Yang Yinhou patted Ge Dongxu''s hand and uttered after a long time, his lips trembling.

    "No problem, I can engrave more, it''s just a waste of some Jadeite. With your current Realm, you can place seven Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades simultaneously. You''ve already wasted a lot of time, so don''t economize when cultivating now," Ge Dongxu said.

    ps: That''s three updates for today, thank you.

 Chapter 354 Tang Yiyuans Call

    Yang Yinhou patted Ge Dongxu''s hand upon hearing his words and was at a loss for words for a long time.

    In other sects, each Spirit Gathering Array Talisman Jade is so precious that they are reluctant to bestow even one; yet his junior brother gave them away by the dozens, and he even made sure to remind him to use them without hesitation.

    Being able to meet such a junior brother in his old age, Yang Yinhou''s feelings were simply beyond description.

    "You brat, what are you standing there for? Haven''t you noticed your sweat-drenched uncle? Hurry up and find him some clean clothes," Yang Yinhou said, irked, when Ouyang Murong still stood there foolishly, staring blankly at the Spirit Gathering Array Talisman Jades on the table.

    "Ah, yes, yes, I''ll go buy a new set right away in the nearby town," Ouyang Murong said hastily.

    "No need, just prepare some bathing essentials and a bathrobe for me. I can wash and dry my clothes; it''s summer after all, so they''ll dry quickly," Ge Dongxu gestured dismissively.

    "Washing and drying takes time too. Why not just let Murong find a set of his clothes for you to change into? The town doesn''t have much to offer in terms of good clothes anyway," suggested Yang Yinhou, after seeing Ouyang Murong looking at him, and then thoughtfully added.

    "That works," nodded Ge Dongxu in agreement.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu nod, Ouyang Murong quickly went upstairs to get ready.

    ...

    "Murong, where is your family? I haven''t seen them these past days," asked Ge Dongxu as he put away his phone, riding in the car headed towards Yingjiang, to the driving Ouyang Murong.

    After lunch, with Ouyang Murong behind the wheel, personally driving Ge Dongxu to Yingjiang, Ge Dongxu had been trying several times to call Zhang Yakun to ask if he was also returning to Linzhou City, but he couldn''t get through.

    "To answer, uncle, my child went to study in Australia and stayed there after graduation. Later, he met a girl and got married, so it''s rare for them to return even once a year. Not long ago, my daughter-in-law had a son, and my spouse and I went to visit. My spouse couldn''t bear to leave our grandson, so we stayed there while I returned alone. That''s why you didn''t see them, uncle," Ouyang Murong responded.

    "It''s good that the child is doing well, just a bit too far away," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Yes. But the kids are all grown up, they have their own lives, and I can''t control them," Ouyang Murong said.

    "That''s true. In a year or so, once your leg is completely healed, brother, flying back and forth will be much easier," Ge Dongxu noted.

    He could tell that Ouyang Murong truly missed his family across the ocean, but because Yang Yinhou had mobility issues, even with servants to care for him, his disciple couldn''t fully set his mind at ease, which was why he returned alone first.

    "Hehe, that place is nice, but when you''re old, you still feel that your own home is best. But if master''s leg injury heals, with his cultivation, I would indeed be reassured. Right now, with his leg injury making things inconvenient, other people taking care of him isn''t as heartfelt as me doing it myself," said Ouyang Murong.

    "You''ve worked hard these years," Ge Dongxu acknowledged.

    "Master''s grace is as heavy as a mountain to me; without him, there would be no me today. It''s what I should do," Ouyang Murong said, revealing his genuine feelings.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and was just about to try calling Zhang Yakun again when his phone began to ring.

    Picking it up, Ge Dongxu saw it was a call from Tang Yiyuan and answered.

    "Professor Tang, hello, what can I do for you?" Ge Dongxu greeted with a smile.

    ```

    "About that, I''m calling to ask you, regarding the offer you mentioned last time about taking up a nominal professorship at our school, what are your thoughts now?" Tang Yiyuan asked haltingly, clearly not sure of Ge Dongxu''s intentions since he hadn''t called to confirm, which made this call nerve-wracking for him.

    "Oh, that matter, but I remember we were talking about an assistant professorship or something, not a full professor," Ge Dongxu said with a pause and then a laugh.

    Ge Dongxu certainly remembered the mention of this offer over tea at Longxi Mountain last time by several shareholders and Liu Jiayao, but it wasn''t urgent, so he didn''t give it much thought, merely planning to see how things would work out when he started university, not expecting Tang Yiyuan to be so anxious about it.

    "How could we afford to have you as an assistant professor!" Tang Yiyuan said with a wry smile.

    "Haha, I certainly don''t want to become the oddity of the Traditional Chinese Medicine University," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "As long as you''re willing to come, everything is negotiable. How about this, I''ll get all your credentials ready, and when you''re ready, you can choose to be a professor or an assistant professor, and we''ll do the same with your medical licensing," said Tang Yiyuan, overjoyed upon sensing from Ge Dongxu''s tone that he was indeed considering the offer, and he quickly added.

    "Won''t that be too much trouble? Also, won''t it be difficult for you to handle?" Ge Dongxu frowned slightly and asked. He wasn''t keen on the hassle, considering any title like professor or chief physician to be mere namesakes, which he seldom intended to use in general.

    "No, no, it will be easy," Tang Yiyuan hurriedly said.

    "Alright then, you handle it. When it''s time for me to start university, we can discuss how to arrange my involvement with the Traditional Chinese Medicine University based on my university course schedule," Ge Dongxu said, relenting as Tang Yiyuan insisted, seemingly worried about him declining the offer.

    "Great, then it''s settled," Tang Yiyuan said happily and then hung up the phone from Ge Dongxu.

    Jiangnan Province, Provincial Party Committee Compound, Sang Yunlong''s home, living room.

    "Professor Tang, what did Director Ge say?" Feng Yaping, the principal of Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine University and wife of Sang Yunlong, asked Tang Yiyuan nervously after he hung up.

    Sang Yunlong, the Executive Vice Governor, also looked at Tang Yiyuan with anticipation.

    It turned out that after Elder Feng paid his respects to Ren Yao and left, Sang Yunlong remembered Elder Feng''s parting words to be ready to shoulder a heavy burden, which left him feeling indebted to Tang Yiyuan.

    Without Tang Yiyuan, he wouldn''t have met Ge Dongxu, and not to mention the chance of taking up any significant responsibility, he would have likely lost his life in the hospital by now.

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    So a few days after Elder Feng left, Sang Yunlong invited Tang Yiyuan over to his house, and Feng Yaping, the president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine University, personally cooked a meal.

    After dinner, while sipping tea, the conversation naturally turned to Ge Dongxu. As they talked, Tang Yiyuan brought up inviting Ge Dongxu to teach and practice medicine at the Traditional Chinese Medicine University.

    The moment Tang Yiyuan mentioned this, President Feng immediately became excited.

    If they could persuade such an outstanding doctor to teach and pass on his medical skills at the Traditional Chinese Medicine University, it wouldn''t just be about making a lasting contribution; it would most certainly elevate the overall standard of the university significantly.

    That''s what led to Tang Yiyuan''s later phone call.

    "Director Ge has agreed. However, he does not have a medical license yet nor any other professional titles, so we might need to sort those out quickly," Tang Yiyuan explained.

    "That''s no problem at all, none of those are issues!" both Sang Yunlong and his wife interjected excitedly.

    ```

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 Chapter 355 Going to Myanmar

    In the car, Ge Dongxu hung up Tang Yiyuan''s call with a smile, and then, after some thought, he dialed Wu Longcai from the Jiangnan Province Entertainment Station, as well as Lin Kun. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Going to Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine University to register and handling official documents were trivial matters for Ge Dongxu. Once they were agreed upon, there was no need to dwell further on them. However, Tang Yiyuan''s call reminded Ge Dongxu that what seemed like a non-urgent minor matter to him could be a major concern that others were preoccupied with all day.

    Therefore, Ge Dongxu made separate calls to Wu Longcai and Lin Kun.

    Speaking of which, it had only been a few days since he promised Jiang Lili''s roommates and senior in Beijing. Initially, Ge Dongxu wanted to wait until he met Wu Longcai and Lin Kun in Linzhou City to mention it, but now he felt that they must be like Tang Yiyuan, waiting for a response. Considering this, he decided to call Wu Longcai and Lin Kun first, so Jin Yushan and the others wouldn''t be constantly worried about the matter.

    Upon receiving Ge Dongxu''s call and hearing that he had a favor to ask, Wu Longcai was almost flattered. He hurriedly said it was no problem, that he and a few friends had privately invested in a film and entertainment company, which was about to start shooting a TV drama, and they could cast Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie as the female lead and supporting lead.

    "No, no, they are still just students. I simply wanted to give them a chance to gain some on-screen experience. The leading and second-leading roles are vital to a play, and you shouldn''t change your casting decisions on my account. As long as there is a suitable supporting role for them to take on, that''s fine. You can see how they do later on and give them more opportunities if you think they''re good. I''m only making an introduction; the rest is up to their ability and effort," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "Alright, I''ll do as Brother Xu suggests. I''ll contact them first, it would be best to meet in person and then decide on the specific roles," Wu Longcai said.

    "Okay, thank you," Ge Dongxu said politely.

    "Brother Xu, you''re thanking me, isn''t that like looking down on me, Wu Longcai?" Wu Longcai quickly responded.

    "Haha, alright then, I won''t be too formal with you. Bye," Ge Dongxu laughed and hung up the phone.

    As for the following call with Lin Kun, it was even more casual; he inquired about his company''s situation, then spoke to him about Wang Hui''s matters, and of course, Lin Kun said there was no problem.

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    After these two calls, Ge Dongxu continued to try reaching Zhang Yaku, but still couldn''t get through, and deep down, he finally began to feel that something was amiss.

    Logically, given Zhang Yaku''s personality, even if Ge Dongxu hadn''t called him these past two days, Zhang Yaku should have called him. Not only had Zhang Yaku not called, but his own calls to Zhang Yaku were unanswerable.

    At this moment, the car had already arrived in Yingjiang County.

    "The calls keep failing? Could something have happened?" Ouyang Murong, noticing Ge Dongxu''s somewhat anxious expression, asked with concern.

    "Possibly, first take me to the hotel to get my things, and then to Zhang Yaku''s elder brother''s house to ask around," Ge Dongxu said.

    The first day he arrived in Yingjiang, he had lunch at Zhang Yaku''s brother''s place, and Ge Dongxu still remembered where his brother lived.

    Back at the hotel, Ge Dongxu collected his belongings, checked out, and then rode in Ouyang Murong''s car straight to Zhang Yaku''s brother''s house.

    The door was opened by Zhang Yaku''s sister-in-law, her eyes red and swollen. Seeing Ge Dongxu at the door, her expression visibly stiffened, and then she said, "You''re Ge Dongxu, here to see Yaku, right?"

    "Yes, sister-in-law, has something happened at home? Why is it that I can''t get through to Old Zhang''s phone at all?" Ge Dongxu, noticing Zhang Yaku''s sister-in-law with red and swollen eyes, felt a pang of concern and asked.

    "Yakun went with his elder brother to Myanmar, which is why you can''t get through to his phone," said Zhang Yakun''s sister-in-law.

    "Gone to Myanmar? What happened?" Ge Dongxu''s brows immediately furrowed. Before, Zhang Yakun had always emphasized to him that Myanmar was not very stable recently, with the Myanmar government forces occasionally going to war with the local armies in Northern Myanmar, so he had not recommended going to Myanmar to buy jade.

    At that moment, Zhang Yakun''s sister-in-law had a belly full of troubles with no one to tell, and upon being asked by Ge Dongxu, she started to spill everything with snot and tears.

    "This morning we already used our connections to find out, Kaixuan really left the border with Ma La, that Burmese woman, and went to Myanmar. That''s why my husband and his brother went to Myanmar to look for him. What kind of karma is this for me? If anything were to happen to them, what would I do?" As Zhang Yakun''s sister-in-law spoke, she began thumping her chest with grief when she thought about how unstable Myanmar was recently.

    After the journey together, Ge Dongxu had formed a friendship with Zhang Yakun and learned that Zhang Yakun and his elder brother had gone to Myanmar to find their nephew, he couldn''t help feeling worried.

    "Uncle Master, don''t worry, my master and I still have some connections in Myanmar," Ouyang Murong quickly said upon seeing a hint of worry on Ge Dongxu''s face.

    "That''s just right, I''ve been worried about not being familiar with Myanmar. Since I know now, I won''t be at ease unless I go there to check," Ge Dongxu said.

    Seeing that a man who looked to be in his fifties called Ge Dongxu "Uncle Master," Zhang Yakun''s sister-in-law forgot to sob. When she heard that Ge Dongxu actually intended to go to Myanmar specially for Zhang Yakun, she almost couldn''t believe her ears.

    Are there really such good people in the world?

    "Sister-in-law, do you have any photos of Zhang Yakun and his family?" asked Ouyang Murong. Seeing a person of such stature as his uncle master willing to rush to Myanmar for someone he had only known for a few days, he couldn''t help feeling awed. He nodded to Ge Dongxu and then turned to Zhang Yakun''s sister-in-law.

    "Thank you, thank you both, but it''s not very safe in Myanmar right now, I..." Zhang Yakun''s sister-in-law quivered at the words, repeatedly bowing to Ouyang Murong and Ge Dongxu.

    "Don''t worry, I used to run around Myanmar quite often, and I know many of the soldiers there. Nothing will happen," Ouyang Murong reassured.

    "Really? That''s such great news! Heaven is watching over us! Thank you, thank you. I''ll find the photos right away," Zhang Yakun''s sister-in-law said tearfully with joy, bowing again to Ouyang Murong and Ge Dongxu, then rushing to find the photos.

    "Wait, sister-in-law, please also see if you can find any hair from your child and his father on the pillows at home. If there is any, bring that to me as well," Ge Dongxu said.

    Zhang Yakun''s sister-in-law stiffened at hearing this but quickly nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes, I''ll find it now."

    Soon, Zhang Yakun''s sister-in-law had two photos and seven or eight strands of hair in her hands.

    One photo was a family portrait of the Zhang Family, with Zhang Yakun and his brother''s family all present, and the other was of a young man with a girl.

    "This is from the pillow where the child''s father slept, and these are Kaixuan''s," Zhang Yakun separated the hair strands and handed them to Ge Dongxu, looking at him with a trace of reverence.

    In the border region, which has historically been a backward area of mountain forests, legends about spirits, witchcraft, and wizards are plentiful, and many people believe in them. Just moments ago, Ouyang Murong referred to Ge Dongxu as Uncle Master, and now Ge Dongxu was asking for the hair of her husband and child¡ªZhang Yakun''s sister-in-law easily made the connection with the legendary wizards with divine skills.

 Chapter 356 Side Door Tricks

    ```

    "Okay," Ge Dongxu carefully saved the strands of hair, feeling somewhat relieved.

    With these few strands of hair, searching for the person should be much easier.

    "Sister-in-law, do you know where your husband and younger brother-in-law are going in Myanmar? They can''t possibly be planning to find your son aimlessly," Ouyang Murong said, noticing Ge Dongxu securing the hair strands, and began to inquire.

    "We heard that the Myanmar girl is from the area of Eastern Shan State, so we reckon Kaixuan might have gone to her home. That''s why his dad and uncle are preparing to go to Mangla to seek help and ask around. It''s the capital of the Fourth Special Region of Eastern Shan State, with a large Chinese population. It''s right next to our Huaxia Country, and we have people working in the casinos there. It''s relatively safe and easier to get information," Zhang Yaku''s sister-in-law explained after thinking for a moment.

    "Mangla, alright, I''ve got it. Do you have a phone number at home? Leave one for me, just in case I need to call and inform you about anything," Ouyang Murong said.

    "Yes, yes," Zhang Yaku''s sister-in-law hurriedly nodded, then wrote down her home number for Ouyang Murong.

    Ouyang Murong took the phone number and then left the Zhang Family with Ge Dongxu.

    "Mangla, or Little Mangla as we call it, is currently the capital of the Fourth Special Region of Eastern Shan State in Myanmar. It used to be a well-known drug base in the Golden Triangle. A few years ago, they started to eradicate the drugs, and now it''s focused on developing the gambling industry. It''s hard to say if this is a step forward," Ouyang Murong gave Ge Dongxu a brief overview of Mangla while they were on the road to Little Mangla.

    "Are you familiar with that area?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Yes, very familiar. My master and I used to be in Shan State, and since the Eastern part is where the majority of the Chinese are, we stayed there the most. However, back then it was chaotic, filled with drugs, gambling, and war. Fights with the government army, various ethnic armed forces, and even fratricidal strife. It''s a past I''d rather not recall. That''s why after returning to Huaxia Country, my master didn''t want to talk about those times anymore," Ouyang Murong said with a wealth of emotion.

    Ge Dongxu fell silent upon hearing this, not pressing for more details.

    Since Yang Yinhou didn''t wish to revisit those times, it was likely the same for Ouyang Murong.

    They entered through Dalu Port.

    It was evident that the Huaxia side of the port knew Yang Yinhou, as they treated him very courteously. After glancing at Ge Dongxu''s ID card, they quickly issued him a temporary pass and let their vehicle through.

    Just a few hundred meters past Huaxia Country''s port, they arrived at Myanmar''s side.

    Seeing the heavily armed soldiers guarding the Myanmar side, Ge Dongxu thought they would also need to stop and be checked. But to his surprise, the soldiers saluted respectfully upon seeing Yang Yinhou''s Audi, not even glancing at them before letting them pass.

    Upon entering the port, Ge Dongxu saw before him a small town that was no different from a small county in Huaxia Country, with Chinese characters on signs everywhere and many pedestrians who were also Chinese.

    "Uncle-Master, this here is the most famous casino in Little Mangla now, the Golden Triangle Casino, and it''s also considered the best hotel. However, I predict it won''t hold that title in a few years. Since it''s already dark, you should settle down here for the evening, and I''ll go find some friends in the area to ask around and see if Zhang Yaku and his group have been here," Ouyang Murong said as he parked the car in front of a twinkling Myanmar-Thai style building. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No need, they''re here," Ge Dongxu said and opened his palm. The hairs belonging to Zhang Yaku''s brother, Zhang Yaming, stood up one by one in his palm and then bent, pointing towards the casino.

    "Uncle-Master is truly a divine being!" Ouyang Murong exclaimed admiringly, his gaze towards Ge Dongxu filled with reverence and awe.

    "This is just a minor technique. It works for short distances, but not for long ones," Ge Dongxu casually explained.

    On the road, he had already applied the "Immortal''s Guiding Techniques" to the strands of hair.

    ```

    ```

    "That''s already quite mystical," said Ouyang Murong.

    "Alright, we''re all on the same side here, no need for flattery. I''ll go in first; park the car and follow me." Ge Dongxu said as he took a strand of hair from his hand and placed it in Ouyang Murong''s, then got out of the car.

    "Understood, Shishu." Ouyang Murong glanced curiously at the strand of hair in his hand. He had wanted to say that he didn''t need the hair to find someone here, but he nodded his head in the end.

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    Inside the casino, it was splendidly opulent, making it hard to believe that such a luxurious place could exist in such a small town.

    The staff inside were dressed impeccably, and their demeanor was also quite distinguished, clearly selected with great care.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t have time to take in these sights because he saw the figures of the Zhang Yaku brothers, currently being escorted upstairs by a young man in a white shirt and black vest.

    ...

    "Uncle Ming, the person I''m going to introduce you to is our manager. He''s the husband of Chairman Lin''s niece. If he''s willing to help inquire about Kaixuan''s whereabouts, there shouldn''t be a big problem. Of course, he won''t be helping you to inquire for free," said the young man in the white shirt and black vest to Zhang Yaming.

    "We understand that, but what do you think is an appropriate amount?" Zhang Yaming nodded repeatedly, then asked in a low voice.

    "For someone of his level, if you want him to make a move, at least this number," the young man spread open his hand.

    "Five thousand?" Zhang Yaming asked, looking at the young man''s open palm.

    Although Zhang Yaming''s family was fairly well off, they were far from wealthy, and five thousand yuan was already a considerable amount for him. Moreover, the economy in Myanmar was quite behind, and five thousand yuan could buy a life there.

    "Five thousand? Uncle Ming, you must be joking. He''s Chairman Lin''s niece''s husband. If not for my face, he wouldn''t even agree to see you!" the young man snorted.

    "You mean fifty thousand?" Zhang Yaming''s voice changed.

    Fifty thousand was enough to deplete the entire savings of a small family like theirs.

    "At least fifty thousand. If you think that price is high, Uncle Ming, then I definitely won''t introduce you, to avoid Manager Liu saying that I don''t understand the rules," the young man''s face showed a hint of impatience.

    "Fifty thousand it is, then. The person is what''s important," Zhang Yaku said decisively, taking over the conversation.

    Compared to his older brother, Zhang Yaku was quite wealthy; fifty thousand was a large sum, but not enough to drain all his resources.

    Seeing his younger brother agree to the amount, Zhang Yaming opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately closed it again.

    After all, it was his only son; no matter how much it cost, he had to find him.

    "I''ve heard Uncle Kun is making a fortune in Jiangnan now. It''s true what they say about someone who''s been through the thriving coastal areas and seen the world, it''s different. I heard our Manager Liu also came from Jiangnan. When you meet him, mention something about Jiangnan; perhaps he''ll be pleased and charge you a bit less. Of course, when you do meet him, you must show respect. It''s different here than back in Huaxia; make him mad, and he might just pull out a gun and shoot someone," the young man regained his smile seeing Zhang Yaming not responding, and said to Zhang Yaku.

    ps: Today''s three updates are complete. Thank you for the support.

    ```

 Chapter 357 How could I not recognize him!

    "Thank you, Kai Dong. Uncle understands; I won''t make things difficult for you," said Zhang Yakun.

    "That''s good to hear. I''m also worried about you guys getting shortchanged, especially since this is not our country," said the young man with a nod.

    As they talked, the three of them had reached the second floor and came to the door of a room.

    The door was ajar, not shut, but there were two men standing at the entrance with dark complexions, not very tall but with a stern expression on their faces.

    Through the half-open door, one could see a handsome man sitting behind a large desk, leaning back in his chair with his feet up on the desk, a cigarette dangling from his mouth as he leisurely puffed smoke, looking quite content and brash.

    When the stern-looking men at the door saw the young man leading Zhang Yakun and the others over, they reached out to stop them.

    "Let Kai Dong and the others in," a man''s voice came from the room at this moment.

    Upon hearing this, the men at the door silently stepped aside.

    "Kai Dong, are these the two fellow villagers you mentioned?" The man in the room asked in a languid tone, cigarette in hand, pointing at the two Zhang brothers.

    "Yes, Manager Liu, we''re all from the same village, and I should address them as uncles by seniority. This time, Uncle Ming''s son ran off to Myanmar with a Burmese woman. Myanmar is big in some ways, but absolutely not small in others, and it''s full of conflict everywhere. They''re strangers in a strange land here, and finding their son is very difficult, so they wanted to ask Manager Liu for help. You know Chairman Lin well, and if you could ask him to issue an order, finding someone should be easier," the young man, known as Kai Dong, said with a slight bow.

    "Chairman Lin? He is the administrative chief and military leader of our Fourth Special District. Do you think he''s that easy to see? Do you think you can disturb him for just any little thing?" Manager Liu glared at Kai Dong and said.

    "Yes, of course," Kai Dong nodded repeatedly and then gave the Zhang brothers a meaningful glance.

    "Manager Liu, I''ve heard from Kai Dong that you''re also from Jiangnan Province. I''ve been living in Jiangnan Province for over a decade now; it''s like my second home. I really had no choice but to seek help this way, and I would be grateful if Manager Liu could lend a hand for the sake of a fellow countryman and fellow villager. As for any necessary facilitation fees, we will definitely pay them, but we''re not wealthy people, so I can''t give much. I''ll transfer you 50,000 RMB; please be lenient, okay?" said Zhang Yakun, a businessman used to negotiating, who quickly realized Manager Liu was angling for a payment.

    "50,000?" Manager Liu''s eyes lit up slightly and he slowly took his feet off the desk, pointing to a seat in the office and said, "Take a seat. You''re right, I am from Jiangnan Province. Since we''re practically from the same place and both countrymen, I''ll definitely help where I can. But as you know, the situation in Shan State is very complicated, with warlords everywhere, mountains, constant conflict, and finding someone is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Even if Chairman Lin issues an order on my account, I can''t guarantee that we''ll find the person."

    "Ah, if we can''t find the person, can the money be returned to us?" blurted out Zhang Yaming upon hearing this.

    "Slap!" Manager Liu slapped the desk.

    "Manager!" The two guards at the door rushed in, looking fierce and intimidating, giving the Zhang brothers quite a scare.

    Manager Liu waved his hand at the two guards, signaling them to leave, then said with an ugly expression, "Do you think this is child''s play? Do you think meeting Chairman Lin is a joke? Do you know how many soldiers are under Chairman Lin''s command? Three thousand, each armed with a gun. If it weren''t for the fact that you''re fellow villagers and compatriots, do you think 50,000 RMB could really get me to approach Chairman Lin?"

    Zhang Yaming was at a loss for words after hearing this, wanting to say that if you don''t go to see Chairman Lin and later claim you didn''t find the person, we wouldn''t know anyway!

    However, Zhang Yaming didn''t dare to speak out in the end. Partly he was afraid of angering Manager Liu, as the guards by the door all seemed to be armed, and partly because what Manager Liu said was true. With the complicated situation in Shan State, with warlords everywhere, mountains, and constant conflict, being strangers in this land, finding someone was indeed more difficult than finding a needle in a haystack. Apart from Manager Liu, they didn''t know whom else they could turn to.

    Zhang Yakun obviously thought of this too, looked at Manager Liu''s handsome face, his eyes flickering, and eventually forced a smile and said, "Manager Liu, please don''t take offense, my brother has lived in the countryside and may not understand certain rules. I will transfer the 50,000 RMB to you in a moment, and please, make sure to ask around as much as possible."

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    "Stop right there, outsiders are not allowed to enter!"

    Manager Liu''s expression finally eased, a hint of smugness flashing in his eyes, just as he was about to speak, the bouncer''s voice rang out at the door.

    "I''m looking for my friend," Ge Dongxu said to the bouncer, speaking indifferently at the entrance.

    Since they were discussing business, the door was closed at this time.

    Neither Manager Liu nor Zhang Yaku could see Ge Dongxu; they could only hear his voice.

    But as soon as they heard Ge Dongxu''s voice, their faces all showed expressions as if they had seen a ghost.

    "Could it be Dongxu?" Zhang Yaku couldn''t help but exclaim in surprise.

    "Dongxu? Ge Dongxu? Is he your friend?" Manager Liu started, then his handsome face began to twist into a malevolent sneer.

    "Yes! How... how do you know his surname is Ge?" Zhang Yaku was still shocked that Ge Dongxu could unexpectedly appear here, and equally astonished that Manager Liu seemed to know Ge Dongxu, without noticing the odd look on Manager Liu''s face for the moment.

    "How could I not know him!" Manager Liu sneered coldly, then moved behind the large desk and flopped back into the armchair. He once again raised his legs onto the desk and arrogantly said, "Let him in."

    The door was pushed open, and Ge Dongxu, looking at Manager Liu seated behind the large desk, revealed a look of unexpected surprise and asked, "Liu Lihe?"

    This Manager Liu was none other than Yuan Li''s despicably shameless ex-husband, Liu Lihe.

    In the past, not only had Dongxu exposed Liu Lihe''s deception of his fellow villagers, but he also found and used the last bit of hidden money to settle debts. As a result, Lihe was not only penniless but also scorned and despised in the village, eventually unable to remain there any longer and forced to leave his hometown.

    During this time, Liu Lihe was extremely impoverished and down on his luck. At his wit''s end, he decided to take a risk with an old bad influence friend and traffic drugs at the border.

    Contrary to expectations, the drug trafficking did not succeed, but due to his handsome appearance and eloquent speech, he managed to hook up with a Burmese woman.

    While she was called a Burmese woman, she was actually a descendant of the Chinese.

    This woman happened to be a granddaughter among the myriad descendants of the Warlord of Kokang.

    It was rumored that almost every member of the Kokang Warlord''s family held a leadership position in the Shan State Special Region One, particularly a firm grip on military power in the hands of brothers and sons, with daughters controlling various casinos across the regions.

    The Chairman Lin previously mentioned by Liu Lihe and others was the son-in-law of the Kokang Warlord.

    It was because of this connection that Liu Lihe found himself in the casinos of the Golden Triangle, where he served as a betting intermediary. Of course, that description was too refined¡ªwhat he really did was lend money at exorbitant rates in the casino.

    All this aside, observing the surprised and astonished expression on Ge Dongxu''s face, Liu Lihe could not help but laugh triumphantly and arrogantly, "Haha, that''s right, it''s me! Bet you didn''t expect this, Ge Dongxu¡ªthat we''d meet here!"

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 Chapter 358 Ill Shoot You Right Now

    "I really didn''t expect that," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile, then found a seat and sat down on his own.

    "You''re still as arrogant as ever!" Liu Lihe saw that Ge Dongxu came to his territory and still acted cocky, which made the muscles on his face twitch, and he sneered.

    "Hehe, you''re overthinking it, I''m just handling things with an ordinary mindset," Ge Dongxu replied with a faint smile.

    "An ordinary mindset? What a great ''ordinary mindset''! Alright then." Liu Lihe forced a smile, took his feet off the desk, pointed at Zhang Yaku and his companions, and said, "I''ve got a grudge against this guy, and since you''re his friends, you''d better resign yourselves to misfortune. Not only am I not going to help you find your son, but, hehe..."

    The last ''hehe'' was a cold laugh, full of deep meaning and a touch of chilliness. Zhang Yaming and Zhang Yaku, the brothers, were so scared their body hair stood on end and their faces turned pale immediately.

    "No, no, Manager Liu. I don''t really have much to do with Ge Dongxu. I just met him a few days ago. Please, don''t... because of him..." Zhang Yaming begged in terror.

    "Sure, no problem, let him kowtow to me, and maybe I''ll be in such a good mood, I won''t only leave your son alone but even help you find him," Liu Lihe gestured with a wave of his hand and sneered as he looked at Ge Dongxu with a provocative and playful gaze.

    "You haven''t changed at all, a dog can''t stop eating shit!" Ge Dongxu slowly stood up and said coldly to Liu Lihe.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, Zhang Yaku''s brothers turned completely pale. Before they could speak, Liu Lihe had already slammed the table furiously.

    Outside the door, two bodyguards rushed in, pulled out their guns from their chests, and pointed them at Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing the bodyguards aiming guns at Ge Dongxu, Zhang Yaku''s brothers started shaking, and their eyes showed nothing but fear.

    They were ordinary people; where had they ever seen such scenes that only appeared in movies and TV shows? S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu, however, did not show any signs of panic, but remained calm as ever.

    In the past, if pointed at by two guns, Ge Dongxu would have been terrified, and he certainly wouldn''t have given the bodyguards a chance to draw their weapons.

    But now, with his cultivation, at such a close range, even if the bodyguards aimed at him, they definitely wouldn''t have a chance to fire.

    Unless they were hundreds of meters away from him, maybe they''d stand a chance.

    Of course, that would no longer be a handgun but a sniper rifle.

    And at such a distance, the bullet probably wouldn''t even get close, as Ge Dongxu could already have dodged it.

    So, as of today, especially after achieving the Unity of Heaven and Man and a huge increase in cultivation and spiritual power, unless an entire army was made up of special forces, the idea of these ragtag Myanmarese troops wanting to kill Ge Dongxu was truly a joke.

    "You really are stubborn! Do you think I don''t dare to order them to shoot you? But you must have forgotten this is Myanmar! Do you know who my woman is now? She''s the granddaughter of the King of Kokang, the niece of the wife of General Lin, who''s the top military chief here. Killing you would be like squashing an ant for me!" Seeing Ge Dongxu still unflinching, Liu Lihe suddenly stood up, pointing at Ge Dongxu and yelling.

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    "Believe it or not, I can blow you away with one shot right now, and after that, neither the King of Kokang nor General Lin would say a word," just then, a cold voice resounded at the door.

    Ouyang Murong appeared at the door with a cold expression.

    "Fuck, who are you, daring to act tough in my place..." Liu Lihe had only been here for less than two years and obviously did not recognize Ouyang Murong; seeing a middle-aged man being so arrogant, he immediately started cursing.

    ```

    But before Liu Lihe could finish his curse, he was suddenly interrupted by the dark barrels of two guns pointed at him, and they were held by the two bodyguards who had been standing guard at the door and had just pointed their guns at Ge Dongxu.

    "You, what are you doing? Have you lost your minds?" Liu Lihe shrieked when he saw this.

    "They haven''t lost their minds. They know exactly what they''re doing," a woman''s voice came from behind Ouyang Murong, followed by a woman in her forties dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, looking exceptionally dashing. Her face was as cold as winter frost.

    "Boss, boss!" Liu Lihe trembled all over when he saw the woman.

    This woman was the owner of the gambling den, one of the many daughters of the King of Kokang, and also the mother of the woman Liu Lihe had been involved with.

    "Uncle Murong, what do you think?" The woman didn''t look at Liu Lihe but spoke very politely and respectfully to Ouyang Murong in a low voice.

    "Uncle Master, are you all right?" Ignoring the female boss, Ouyang Murong walked over to Ge Dongxu, asking respectfully.

    Seeing Ouyang Murong address Ge Dongxu as "Uncle Master," the female boss visibly shivered. The two bodyguards who had previously pointed their guns at Ge Dongxu turned pale, with large beads of sweat rolling down their foreheads, and their hands holding the guns began to shake.

    They had all been soldiers. After the development of the gambling industry in Mengla, they had been carefully selected from the army to become bodyguards in Gambling City.

    Liu Lihe didn''t know who Ouyang Murong was, nor was he aware of his past reputation, but these old soldiers knew very well who Ouyang Murong was, and they knew his reputation. Even their Chairman Lin had to call him "Uncle Murong."

    Now that the young man they had pointed their guns at just moments ago turned out to be his uncle master, one could imagine what awaited them.

    At this moment, the two bodyguards truly wished they could shoot Liu Lihe dead with a single bullet!

    "I''m fine. They couldn''t hurt me," Ge Dongxu said indifferently, then looked towards the young woman, asking, "Is she the friend you have here?"

    "I have some connections with her father. He also followed my master in the past," replied Ouyang Murong.

    Upon hearing this, neither the two bodyguards nor Peng Xia showed any surprise. However, when Ouyang Murong mentioned his master, a look of awe appeared in their eyes. Meanwhile, Liu Lihe was so scared that he almost collapsed on the ground.

    Her father wasn''t that the King of Kokang? He was a true iron-blooded man, who knows how many lives he had claimed. And if he had followed the master of "Uncle Murong" here in the past, and this "Uncle Murong" was calling Ge Dongxu his uncle master, then...

    Liu Lihe felt his brain was going to explode, a sense of urgency building up in his bladder.

    Ge Dongxu''s eyes flashed with a hint of surprise as he finally realized that the influence his senior brother and nephew had in Myanmar far exceeded his expectations.

    But after the surprise passed, upon further thought, Ge Dongxu felt that it all made sense.

    Many soldiers here had originally been remnants of the Kuomintang left behind in the area.

    A few days ago, when he had come here, Zhang Yaku had told him a bit about the warlords in Shan State Myanmar on the plane, mentioning some of the big names that resonated in Myanmar, the Golden Triangle, and even the world. For instance, the King of Kokang and Luo Xinghan, whom the United States government called the "godfather of heroin," had all received military teaching and training from the officers of the Kuomintang remnants left in Myanmar.

    Since none of this history had ever appeared in textbooks, Ge Dongxu wasn''t familiar with it, and he had just considered it folklore, probably the same as Zhang Yaku. After all, it wasn''t something ordinary people could come into contact with.

    Now that Ouyang Murong had mentioned it, and with Ge Dongxu linking his senior brother Yang Yinhou''s identity together, he naturally understood that what Zhang Yaku said wasn''t necessarily the true history, but it also wasn''t entirely made up or hearsay.

    ```

 Chapter 359 You are Master Yangs Junior Brother

    "Uncle Rong, who is this?" Peng Xia asked cautiously.

    Although Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong had long since returned to the mainland, no longer developing their interests here, their influence still lingered, particularly that of Yang Yinhou¡ªa legendary figure of bygone eras in the minds of the old warlords of the Myanmar jungles.

    This land still harbored many of his loyal supporters, some of whom were warlord leaders on par with her father''s power.

    It could be said that if it weren''t for his desire to return to his roots, if it weren''t for his fatigue with the endless scheming and warfare of the jungle, as well as the filthy dealings he had to partake in despite knowing better, then others, including her father and some other warlord leaders, wouldn''t have their turn to reign supreme over this land.

    Of course, Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong were no ordinary men. As the daughter of the King of the Kokang, Peng Xia had never seen them with her own eyes, but she had heard her father mention them.

    Her father had once warned their children that unless Yang Yinhou was laid to rest, even if he lay on his deathbed with but a breath left in him, they should not provoke him lightly; for as long as he breathed, he could take lives undetected.

    Therefore, after so many years, even her father still showed Yang Yinhou the utmost respect as a junior, sending gifts on holidays on behalf of the old man.

    It was for this reason that Peng Xia maintained an attitude of utmost respect toward Ouyang Murong, the sole disciple of Yang Yinhou and a figure equal to her father in status.

    "He''s my martial uncle. You may call him Master Ge," Ouyang Murong said.

    Peng Xia''s otherwise handsome face blushed slightly. At her age, was she really expected to call a young greenhorn Master Ge?

    But more than embarrassment, Peng Xia felt an intense sense of respect as she hurriedly stepped forward and reverently called out "Master Ge" to Ge Dongxu.

    This time, Ge Dongxu did not bother with pleasantries with Peng Xia, merely nodding slightly to acknowledge her before his gaze landed on Liu Lihe.

    He knew that in such a place, there was no need for pleasantries with Peng Xia; otherwise, it might diminish his elder brother''s renown.

    Liu Lihe was well aware of what kind of person his "mother-in-law" was. Despite her still-attractive looks and firm bust, she could kill a man without blinking an eye.

    He had once witnessed her shoot a man who had made a mistake, then nonchalantly hand the gun back to someone at her side as if nothing had happened.

    Now, facing Ge Dongxu, his "mother-in-law"¡ªa woman who could rival a female demon in ferocity¡ªwas respectfully addressing him as Master Ge. And now, Master Ge''s gaze turned towards him.

    In an instant, Liu Lihe wet himself.

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    He really did wet himself!

    Drip by drip, the noxious smell began to permeate the air.

    "Master Ge, Master Ge, I was wrong, I was wrong. I won''t dare again..." But Liu Lihe didn''t seem to realize he had wet himself, and instead, he threw himself at Ge Dongxu''s feet, reaching to embrace them.

    Ge Dongxu frowned slightly, then turned and left the room.

    "Take him out and finish him," Peng Xia said with a frown and a hardened expression.

    "Let it go," Ge Dongxu said with a bitter smile as his steps faltered slightly.

    He could see that Liu Lihe''s actions were more out of intimidation than true daring. Besides, Liu Lihe, after all, was the man of the niece of the King of Kokang.

    But the main reason was that Ge Dongxu was not a man of cruelty and bloodlust; with a wretch like Liu Lihe, after this scare, it was likely he would learn to stay in line. There was no real need to kill him.

    Of course, if it were someone like Rivera who had cast a Blood Curse on Gu Yiran before, Ge Dongxu would never show mercy!

    "A finger! The two of you remove one of your own fingers," Ouyang Murong said coldly after giving Ge Dongxu a glance, and then turned to Liu Lihe and the two bodyguards.

    "Thank you, Master Murong, thank you, Master Murong!" The two bodyguards immediately felt as if they had been pardoned, bowing again and again to thank Ouyang Murong, while Liu Lihe was utterly petrified by now.

    At this moment, he finally realized that Ge Dongxu was, in fact, the most merciful.

    "To err is not to sin; let them off," Ge Dongxu said indifferently after turning his head to look at the two bodyguards.

    As for Liu Lihe, Ge Dongxu no longer said anything about the loss of a hand.

    This person''s wickedness remained unchanged. Letting him off so easily would actually be quite lenient. Ouyang Murong''s words were quite aligned with his own thoughts.

    "Thank you, Master Ge, thank you, Master Ge!" The two bodyguards had thought that pointing a gun at such an important figure would leave them half dead if not fully, but unexpectedly, in the end, they were able to keep all their fingers and it was that very important figure who had spoken up for them, which moved them to tears of gratitude.

    "Old Zhang, Brother Zhang, let''s find another place to talk," Ge Dongxu said, paying no mind to the gratitude from the bodyguards, instead turning to speak to the still dazed Zhang brothers.

    "Yes, yes, thank you, Master Ge, thank you, Master Ge." As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, the Zhang brothers finally snapped out of their daze, bowing over and over to him.

    "Master Ge?" Ge Dongxu chuckled inwardly and shook his head, but at that moment, he did not dismiss the title.

    Because this was not the right place, and even if he asked them to call him by his first name, they surely wouldn''t dare to in such an environment.

    There was no helping it, even the daughter of the Warlord of Kokang had to call him Master Ge!

    Peng Xia''s office was naturally much more luxurious and spacious compared to Liu Lihe''s office.

    After they had entered the office and were seated, Peng Xia finally said, "I apologize, Master Ge. My subordinates were blind and offended you."

    "Miss Peng, you are too kind. If anything, I am the one who has intruded," Ge Dongxu waved his hand respectively.

    "You''re Master Yang''s junior brother. If you say you''re intruding, that''s something I cannot afford to bear," Peng Xia hastily responded.

    Seeing that Peng Xia''s expression appeared genuine, Ge Dongxu did not continue with the pleasantries. Instead, he looked towards Ouyang Murong.

    Ouyang Murong was familiar with the place and knew Peng Xia. As for matters concerning Zhang Kaixuan, it would be more appropriate for him to speak.

    Noticing Ge Dongxu''s gaze, Ouyang Murong nodded at him, then pointed at the Zhang brothers, introducing them, "Peng Xia, this is Zhang Yaming, and this is Zhang Yakun. They are people from our Yingjiang. A few days ago, Zhang Yaming''s son ran away to Myanmar with a Burmese woman. They were worried, so they came here. Later, when my martial uncle heard about it, he was somewhat concerned for them and specially came here as well."

    "Master Ge!" The Zhang brothers finally realized why Ge Dongxu was in Myanmar, and they couldn''t help but feel touched.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and gestured to them not to worry.

    Peng Xia looked at Ge Dongxu incredulously. As a smart woman, she could naturally tell that the relationship between Zhang Yaming''s brothers and Ge Dongxu was actually ordinary, and that there was a clear difference in the layers of society they belonged to.

    Yet Ge Dongxu had actually come all the way to Myanmar for such two people, something she just couldn''t understand.

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 Chapter 360 Meeting Master Ge

    "Do you have their names and photos or something?" Peng Xia quickly put aside her doubts and looked at the Zhang brothers as she asked.

    "Yes, yes, my son''s name is Zhang Kaixuan, and that woman''s name is Ma La. Here are their photos." Zhang Yaming hurriedly said as he pulled out a photo.

    It showed his son and a woman from Myanmar.

    Peng Xia took the photo and glanced at it, then turned to Ge Dongxu and Ouyang Murong, saying, "With a photo, it''ll be easier to find them. I''ll fax this photo to my father and my brother-in-law, asking them to keep an eye out for these two. But for the others, I''m afraid Uncle Murong, you will have to make the calls yourself. I''ll send them the photo too."

    "Hmm." Ouyang Murong nodded, then picked up the phone from Peng Xia''s desk and dialed several numbers in succession.

    In Shan State, the many local forces often ruled independently, with none submitting to the others, leading to many disputes over territory and benefits. Not even Peng Xia, nor Chairman Lin or the Warlord of Kokang could necessarily command their respect.

    However, due to Yang Yinhou and the fact that they had stepped out of the circle with no real conflicts of interest with these parties, Ouyang Murong''s status appeared detached. His requests were given varying degrees of consideration by the other forces.

    This matter was his concern; a call from Peng Xia on behalf of him was sufficient for the Warlord of Kokang and Chairman Lin, but for the others, he needed to make the calls himself.

    After a series of calls, Peng Xia made two more and then faxed the photo to various forces in the area of Shan State.

    "Master Ge, Uncle Murong, and the two Mr. Zhangs, finding someone isn''t a matter of a short while, and since it''s already evening, I''m afraid at the earliest we might get news by the day after tomorrow. Have you booked your rooms yet? If not, I''ll have someone arrange that for you right away," said Peng Xia, after making the calls and sending the fax.

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    "Uncle Murong and I have just arrived." Ouyang Murong responded before looking at the Zhang brothers.

    "We''ve also just got here and haven''t had the chance to book a room yet. But we can make our own arrangements; there''s no need to trouble you," Zhang Yakun hurriedly said.

    "Since you''re friends of Master Ge and Uncle Murong, there''s no need to be polite with me. I''ll have someone arrange it for you," Peng Xia said with a smile. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zhang Yakun wanted to politely decline again, but Ouyang Murong gestured on Peng Xia''s behalf, saying, "Yakun, don''t be too polite. This is a small matter. The most important thing is to find the person."

    With his status, since he was in Peng Xia''s territory, what was a room arranged by her personally?

    After Peng Xia personally arranged rooms for the four of them and realized they hadn''t had dinner yet, she made sure to have someone prepare a meal and invited them to rest for a bit, saying she would come and invite them to dinner in an hour.

    In the room, Ge Dongxu looked out over the lit-up town of Mong La. Beneath the starry sky, a river ran through the entire small city, splitting it in half. One end of the river was Myanmar, while the other was Huaxia Country.

    Thinking about the people on this land where he was, connected to Huaxia Country like this river, with many bearing the blood of the Huaxia people, Ge Dongxu felt a unique sense of emotion. He could also understand why Yang Yinhou gave up ruling this land as king to return to Yingjiang as an ordinary civilian.

    "What is this river called?" Ge Dongxu, moved, asked.

    "Uncle, this river is called the Nanlan River," Ouyang Murong answered from behind him.

    "Nanlan River." Ge Dongxu muttered the name to himself, then turned his head and asked Ouyang Murong, "I don''t like owing people favors. Do you think we need to offer some gesture for this time''s issue?"

    "Such a small thing isn''t worth mentioning, Uncle. If we''re talking about favors, it''s only they who owe our master and me," Ouyang Murong replied.

    Many people here owed their careers to Yang Yinhou, and because of his extraordinary medical skills, he owed his life to some of them. Later, when Yang Yinhou left Myanmar, he left behind many territories, populations, and wealth for them...

    "That''s good," Ge Dongxu, not familiar with these matters, sighed with relief since Ouyang Murong put it that way.

    About an hour later, Peng Xia came to invite Ge Dongxu and his group to dine.

    This was a very large and luxurious private room. By the time Ge Dongxu and his group arrived, the private room was already filled with quite a few people. When they saw Ge Dongxu and Ouyang Murong come in, they all stood up, and some even saluted Ouyang Murong with a military gesture.

    Among them was a man dressed in traditional Tang attire, looking refined and somewhat younger than Ouyang Murong. Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but give him a second glance.

    "Uncle Murong, could this be..." After warmly shaking hands with Ouyang Murong, the man turned his gaze toward Ge Dongxu, revealing an uncontrollable look of astonishment¡ªclearly, he was surprised by Ge Dongxu''s youth.

    "Yes, my martial uncle, surnamed Ge," Ouyang Murong nodded, then introduced him to Ge Dongxu, "Martial Uncle, this is Chairman Lin of the fourth district."

    "Mr. Ge, it is an honor to welcome you. I apologize for not greeting you at a greater distance!" After getting the confirmation, Chairman Lin, still feeling somewhat incredulous, quickly stepped forward to shake hands with Ge Dongxu.

    However, as one of the rulers of Shan State and a warlord leader, Chairman Lin did not address Ge Dongxu as Master Ge, unlike Peng Xia.

    Of course, this was also related to Ge Dongxu''s young age.

    "Chairman Lin, you''re too polite; I appreciate your trouble this time," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he shook hands with Chairman Lin.

    "Mr. Ge, you overstate it. Master Yang took good care of me back in the day," said Chairman Lin.

    Ge Dongxu responded with a smile, then released the handshake.

    Following Chairman Lin, the others in the group also came forward to shake hands and greet Ge Dongxu. Almost all of them referred to him casually as Mr. Ge, and some even flashed a hint of contempt in the corner of their eyes. The difference in their demeanor compared to when they faced Ouyang Murong, who was treated with restraint and respect, was quite marked.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t sense anything amiss; the fact that these people followed Chairman Lin meant they were all high-ranking figures of the fourth district in Shan State, and almost all of them had an aura of blood and killings, indicating they had seen blood and killed people.

    How could such individuals take a young man like Ge Dongxu seriously? That they called him Mr. Ge politely and took the initiative to shake his hand was out of respect for Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong.

    However, Ouyang Murong''s face turned slightly sour.

    Although others were unaware of Ge Dongxu''s abilities and real identity, Ouyang Murong knew everything clearly. Not to mention them, even his own master had to hold Ge Dongxu in high esteem.

    Since these individuals were all behaving properly on the surface and Ouyang Murong was not their superior as of now, it wasn''t appropriate for him to say anything.

    "Zhang Junhui, here to see Master Ge!" As Ouyang Murong was silently fuming over the perfunctory attitude these people were showing towards Ge Dongxu, a man stepped forward, bowing slightly and stretching out his hand to shake hands with Ge Dongxu.

    Zhang Junhui was the last to greet Ge Dongxu and the only one who addressed him as Master Ge.

    Zhang Junhui had sharp features and bright, piercing eyes, exuding the air of a soldier. However, his handshake with Ge Dongxu felt weak and limp, yet it seemed like he was exerting all his strength.

 Chapter 361 Let Me Help You Look

    "What happened to your hand; it''s been injured?" Ge Dongxu asked with a slight frown, concern evident in his tone.

    "Yes, someone severed my tendons," Zhang Junhui replied respectfully.

    "I''ve studied some medical skills; let me take a look for you." Although everyone else addressed him as Mr. Ge, following Chairman Lin, only Zhang Junhui referred to him as Master Ge, a clear sign of someone who truly valued old relationships. Hence, without a second thought, Ge Dongxu offered help.

    "Thank you, Master Ge, but there''s no need. Master Yang has already seen it, and thanks to his help, it has recovered somewhat; otherwise, this hand would be completely useless by now," Zhang Junhui said, his face showing gratitude.

    "Ahui, since my uncle master has offered, this is your opportunity. Do not hesitate to thank Master Ge," Ouyang Murong quickly reprimanded Zhang Junhui with a glare when he saw the latter refusing Ge Dongxu''s kindness.

    After the experience with lifting the Blood Curse and treating his master''s legs, Ouyang Murong had fully realized that his uncle master''s skills, be it spells or medical skills, exceeded those of his master by far.

    To his master, Zhang Junhui''s severed wrist tendons might be irreparable, but that might not be the case for his uncle master.

    As soon as Ouyang Murong spoke, everyone was greatly shocked, and their view of Ge Dongxu completely changed.

    Even though Ouyang Murong had been calling Ge Dongxu "uncle master" before, the others hadn''t really paid much attention to Ge Dongxu; after all, he was too young. At most, they were surprised by his familial seniority and, for the sake of Ouyang Murong, were superficially polite to him, never truly believing that he possessed any remarkable abilities.

    And no wonder¡ªthey each held military power and had come up through gunfire and bullets. How could they possibly take a young man seriously?

    But clearly, there was more to Ouyang Murong''s words!

    Could it be that this young man''s medical skills were even superior to Master Yang''s?

    "It''s been so many years; there''s really no need..." Upon hearing this, Zhang Junhui was also shocked, but he quickly declined graciously.

    Hearing Zhang Junhui say this, Ouyang Murong also showed a hint of hesitation and dared not speak further.

    If the tendons were reconnected in time, most of their functionality could be restored, but after many years, once everything was set in place, what could be healed had healed already¡ªseeking further improvement was next to impossible.

    Ouyang Murong had studied medicine too, and he was clear on this point. Earlier, he had merely been full of admiration for his uncle master''s medical skills and had forgotten this factor.

    "It''s alright; let me have a look. If it can be cured, I''ll treat it; if not, then we''ll just have to let it be," Ge Dongxu said, noting both Zhang Junhui''s lack of confidence in him and his concern not to offend, which is why he had hastily declined. Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel an increased fondness for him.

    "Then I''ll trouble you, Master Ge," Zhang Junhui said, extending his hand reluctantly, while the others shook their heads discreetly, chuckling at themselves for their earlier overreactions. Their view of Ge Dongxu returned to normal, and some even harbored a hint of scorn.

    Ge Dongxu grabbed Zhang Junhui''s hand and conducted a thorough investigation. Although the tendons had been reconnected, they were only superficially joined together, not truly connected.

    It was like something broken that had been glued back together; although it might appear fixed, it hadn''t really become a unified whole.

    "It should still be treatable," Ge Dongxu said after examining it.

    "It''s been ten years already; can it really still be treated?" Even Chairman Lin was greatly moved by the remark and couldn''t help but ask.

    "As long as it''s a disease, there''s a way to treat it. Sometimes the doctor just hasn''t reached that capability yet," Ge Dongxu replied indifferently and then said to Zhang Junhui, "Brace yourself for some pain."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu unblocked the meridians and joint connections with his True Qi, and then used True Qi to moisturize and repair them, making the connections truly fuse into one.

    Ge Dongxu''s method of treatment, although not severing and rejoining completely, was somewhat similar in intention, so when Ge Dongxu exerted his power, Zhang Junhui immediately felt such intense pain that his whole body started to spasm, his forehead covered in sweat.

    However, Zhang Junhui was a tough man, resolutely not letting out a sound, which greatly impressed Ge Dongxu.

    Watching Ge Dongxu hold Zhang Junhui''s hand, continuously rubbing at different parts of his wrist, then seeing blood seeping out from Zhang Junhui''s wrist with a tinge of black in it, the people in the private room looked at Ge Dongxu with an unconscious hint of awe in their eyes.

    None of them could perform this feat themselves. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After about five minutes, Ge Dongxu finally released his hand, saying with a smile, "It''s been quite a while indeed, I estimate it can only recover about seventy to eighty percent of its strength."

    "Thank you, Master Ge, thank you, Master Ge. I can already feel it, this hand is much stronger now," Zhang Junhui repeatedly bowed to Ge Dongxu, his face filled with excitement and reverence.

    After expressing his gratitude, he even made a point of clenching his fist.

    The fist of someone with no strength is different from that of someone who has it.

    Especially Zhang Junhui, his fists used to be limp, which Chairman Lin and others were very familiar with; they were shocked to now feel the sense of power in his clenched fist and their whole bodies shuddered as they looked at Ge Dongxu with an indescribable awe, completely devoid of their previous casualness and disdain.

    That someone could recover strength in their hand after ten years of sequelae from a tendon injury within mere minutes¡ªif not witnessed with their own eyes, who would believe it?

    At this moment, those present finally understood why Ouyang Murong had been maintaining such a respectful attitude towards the young man Ge Dongxu from the beginning, and they also realized why Ouyang Murong had glared at Zhang Junhui earlier.

    "You should go wash your hand first, try not to exert too much force with this hand tonight, and it should be fine by tomorrow," Ge Dongxu said quickly as he saw Zhang Junhui clench his fist emphatically. Continue your journey with My Virtual Library Empire

    "Yes, yes," replied Zhang Junhui hastily, then after repeating his thanks a few times, he hurried off to wash his hands.

    Watching Zhang Junhui''s hasty retreat, people subconsciously looked at Ge Dongxu''s hand, and their hearts couldn''t help but shudder at the sight.

    Ge Dongxu''s hand appeared white and clean, with not a single stain, yet they had clearly seen him rubbing at various parts of Zhang Junhui''s wrist.

    "Mr. Ge, please take the seat of honor," Chairman Lin repressed the tumult in his heart, slightly bowed, and made a gesture for Ge Dongxu to sit, his attitude respectful and filled with a touch of awe.

    Ge Dongxu did not demur, nodded, and took the seat reserved for the guest of honor.

    Given Ouyang Murong''s status in Shan State, if his esteemed uncle had been modest, it would have caused Ouyang Murong to lose face.

    ...

    Ouyang Murong''s influence in the region of Shan State was significant. After a few phone calls the previous evening, they received news by the next noon.

    "For some reason, Zhang Kaixuan and Ma La were taken away from Ma La''s home by Gan Lei''s people," Ouyang Murong said, his expression somewhat grim.

    "Do you have a grudge with Gan Lei?" Ge Dongxu asked, seeing the dark look on Ouyang Murong''s face.

 Chapter 363 - 362: Going Personally

    "There was an incident, Gan Lei used to be a willful and unruly general in the Montai Army. Because of his brutal actions and multiple slaughters, my master couldn''t stand it and once intervened to chastise him. At that time, he feared my master''s formidable power, and although he was chastised by my master, he did not dare to turn against him. After my master and I returned to our country, although our influence still remains in this region, over time, it inevitably diminished, while Gan Lei later gathered some people and broke away from the Montai Army to establish his own faction."

    "Later, when the Myanmar government forces wanted to eliminate the Khun Sa Group, they not only signed a ceasefire agreement with the Wa State Army and allocated part of Shan State as the Wa Autonomous Region but also strongly supported some forces that had interests disputes and grievances against the Khun Sa Group. At that time, Gan Lei was one of the forces being supported."

    "After the Khun Sa Group was destroyed, Gan Lei''s force not only seized a portion of Khun Sa''s territory but also his people and wealth. Over the years, they have grown rapidly, and it is said that he now has nearly six thousand men under his command, with about eight hundred elite soldiers by his side at all times. He cultivates poppies extensively in the Golden Triangle and has become the new generation of drug lords. Although he is still incomparable to Khun Sa at the peak of his power, he has already become one of the notable armed forces in the Golden Triangle."

    "With the growth of Gan Lei''s power, rumors have surfaced in the past few years that Gan Lei holds a grudge against my master for the past lesson he was given and says that if my master ever steps into his territory, he definitely intends to avenge that finger-pointing humiliation," Ouyang Murong replied with a nod.

    "In that case, if Gan Lei knows it''s you who wants the person, he definitely won''t hand anyone over, will he?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Not only will he not hand over the person, but he will probably also deliberately torture Zhang Kaixuan and the others," Ouyang Murong said with a wry smile.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s expression suddenly turned cold, "In that case, let''s head to Gan Lei''s right now to demand the people."

    "Uncle-master, you mustn''t!" Ouyang Murong was taken aback upon hearing this and hastily protested.

    "Why not?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Gan Lei is a heartless and cruel man, he has a vendetta against master, and now he has many men and guns, how can you, such a distinguished person, risk yourself in danger? I should be the one to go. No matter what, I still have some influence in this area. As long as I show some humility and offer some benefits, I believe Gan Lei should still be willing to give face," Ouyang Murong said with a bitter smile.

    "If you go, wouldn''t that be putting yourself in danger as well? What if he doesn''t give you face? Moreover, this is originally my matter," Ge Dongxu said solemnly.

    "Uncle-master, please don''t say that. You are the Sect Leader, and if something happens to you, it''s only right for me, a disciple of our sect, to step forward," Ouyang Murong insisted seriously.

    "It''s true that you should handle this, but as you said, Gan Lei has many men and guns, and he is heartless and cruel, bearing a grudge against your master, so how can I rest assured letting you go alone?" Ge Dongxu continued, gesturing with his hand for Ouyang Murong not to interrupt and to listen to him finish, "Don''t worry, unless Gan Lei has all his six thousand men by his side, and they are all like our country''s regular army, there''s no way they could hurt me."

    Upon hearing these words, Ouyang Murong''s mouth fell open in astonishment, his gaze fixed on Ge Dongxu filled with shock.

    In the past, his master, hiding in the jungle and resorting to sneak attacks, striking unexpectedly, single-handedly annihilated two squads of Japanese soldiers, becoming a legend in the jungle. Even now, Ouyang Murong shuddered at the thought, unable to imagine how his master could wipe out two fully-armed Japanese squads single-handedly.

    But now, his Sect Leader uncle-master was saying that unless Gan Lei had all his six thousand men by his side, and they were all regular soldiers, they would not be able to harm him at all.

    To Ouyang Murong, this was as incredible as hearing something from a myth.

    One man against six thousand, and the six thousand fully armed!

    If this wasn''t something from a myth, then what was?

    But Ouyang Murong knew that since his martial uncle had said so, there definitely wouldn''t be any falsehoods!

    "Martial Uncle, is the strength disparity really so huge between the Seventh Layer and the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation?" After a long while, Ouyang Murong couldn''t contain the shock in his heart and cautiously asked.

    "Normally, it certainly wouldn''t be. However, I can''t explain it clearly myself. When you reach the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation realm one day, you will understand," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment before replying.

    Although he was currently at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, he could already draw Talismans in the Void, and with ease. From this point alone, he was at least comparable to someone at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.

    The difference between the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer and Seventh Layer spanned an entire two tiers, so how could their strength be spoken of in the same breath?

    "The disciple is dull and has not even reached the Third Layer up till now. I dare not hope for the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation. If I can reach the Fourth Layer within my lifetime, I would be more than satisfied," Ouyang Murong said with a bitter smile upon hearing this.

    "Back then, in the jungle, you were too entangled in worldly affairs and surely did many things you were reluctant to do. You have knots in your heart, so your cultivation progressed very slowly. It cannot be said that you are dull. Now that you have gotten away, you should let go and focus solely on cultivation. With the help of Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, you will definitely make rapid progress. When the time is right, I will refine some Elixirs for you. Reaching the Eighth Layer might not be hopeful, but it is still possible to achieve the Seventh Layer within your lifetime. Rest assured, in our Pill Talisman Sect, there are only the three of us now. Even if you don''t pursue a higher realm, I, as Sect Leader, wouldn''t agree!" Ge Dongxu patted Ouyang Murong''s shoulder as he spoke. Discover stories with My Virtual Library Empire

    If these words had come from someone else, Ouyang Murong would''ve surely scoffed at them. But coming from Ge Dongxu, Ouyang Murong was left with only excitement and endless aspiration.

    "Alright, let''s hurry to Gan Lei''s territory," Ge Dongxu interrupted Ouyang Murong''s reverie.

    "Yes, Martial Uncle, I''ll prepare right away," Ouyang Murong said.

    "Then quickly," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    Ouyang Murong acknowledged with a word and then hurried off to prepare.

    Before long, eight jeeps stopped at the casino entrance, each one seating fully armed soldiers, and some jeeps even had machine guns mounted on them. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Master Ge! General Ouyang!" Seeing Ge Dongxu and Ouyang Murong come out, two men stepped forward briskly, saluting them.

    One of them was Zhang Junhui, whose hand Ge Dongxu had healed, and the other was Jiang Baoming, one of Chairman Lin''s most trusted aides. Jiang Baoming had also met Ge Dongxu at dinner the previous night and was quite courteous towards him.

    Gan Lei''s territory bordered the Fourth Special Zone, and the two powers had both conflicts and mutual interests¡ªwith the latter tending to be greater.

    Since Ouyang Murong was staying on Chairman Lin''s grounds, it was only reasonable, both morally and in terms of relations, that he act as a mediator.

    However, Chairman Lin''s identity was, after all, extraordinary, and the situation in the jungle was exceedingly complex. It was possible that today''s friends could send gunmen against each other tomorrow, so Chairman Lin certainly couldn''t personally venture deep into Gan Lei''s territory. Just in case Gan Lei suddenly turned hostile and detained him, using him to command the princes, the Fourth Special Zone might very well change hands.

    Therefore, Chairman Lin specially dispatched his deputy, Jiang Baoming, to represent him and accompany Ouyang Murong.

 Chapter 364 - 363: 800 meters ahead

    "Chairman Lin asked me to convey his apologies to Master Ge and General Ouyang on his behalf," said Jiang Baoming, wearing an apologetic expression after exchanging greetings with Ge Dongxu and Ouyang Murong. "He is tied up with military and political affairs and cannot accompany you in person."

    "Chairman Lin is too polite, the matters at hand are important," replied Ge Dongxu with a courteous smile.

    After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they got into the cars.

    Zhang Yaku and his brother also boarded the vehicle. Ge Dongxu had initially not wanted them to come along, since they would be of no help in this situation anyway. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But the two brothers felt it was their responsibility, and now that they were troubling Ge Dongxu to personally go to Gan Lei''s territory to fetch someone, they felt remiss and insisted on joining.

    After yesterday''s Unity of Heaven and Man, Ge Dongxu''s cultivation power had greatly increased, and he wasn''t worried about being unable to look after the Zhang brothers. Seeing their insistence, he allowed them to come along.

    The roads connecting the Fourth Special District to Huaxia Country were uniformly paved with concrete and very smooth, but once they left Mengla, the roads began to deteriorate, becoming full of potholes.

    The car traveled farther and farther, gradually leaving the territory of the Fourth Special District.

    The roads became increasingly rough, forcing the car to wind its way through the forests.

    At this point, Ge Dongxu noticed that the military personnel on the jeep had become much more serious, their eyes filled with vigilance as they surveyed the surroundings of the mountain roads.

    Zhang Junhui was even more cautious, one hand on the frame of the open-top jeep and the other holding a gun.

    However, Ge Dongxu sat leisurely on the jeep as if he were unaffected, his body swaying gently with the bumps in the road, as though he were not traversing a forest teeming with danger but leisurely hiking and wading through the woods.

    This sight instilled a silent reverence in Zhang Junhui and Jiang Baoming, who thought to themselves that he truly was worthy of being Master Yang''s junior brother. This level of composure was something even battle-hardened veterans could not easily achieve.

    Yet only Ge Dongxu himself knew that his alertness was no less than that of others in the vehicle.

    His Divine Sense was now fully extended, capturing all signs of danger within a nearly one-thousand-meter radius, something that was impossible to detect before his attainment of Unity of Heaven and Man. Previously, if he were to extend his Divine Sense and specifically try to sense surroundings, reaching even a hundred meters would be his limit. But now, he could comfortably perceive within a radius of a kilometer.

    Suddenly, the usually composed Ge Dongxu slightly straightened up, a trace of chill flashing in his eyes.

    In that moment, Ouyang Murong, sitting beside Ge Dongxu, felt as if his hair was standing on end, and he almost jumped out of the vehicle.

    While Ouyang Murong felt an inexplicable fear, Ge Dongxu suddenly said, "About eight hundred meters ahead, there are one hundred people¡ªno, one hundred and eight people, all armed. And there are probably more further away."

    Upon hearing this, Ouyang Murong felt his hair stand on end again, and his heart involuntarily raced.

    This sensation was not due to the one hundred and eight armed individuals ahead of them; they had plenty of manpower on their side as well, and Ouyang Murong himself was skilled in spells and had emerged from a hail of bullets. Encountering over a hundred armed personnel in the jungle didn''t faze him.

    What made Ouyang Murong''s hair stand on end and his heart beat faster was the realization that his Sect Leader''s martial uncle could know the precise number of people ahead from such a distance.

    This was something he previously couldn''t have even imagined.

    As his heartbeat sped up, Ouyang Murong had already gestured to Jiang Baoming and Zhang Junhui.

    The convoy immediately stopped, and everyone held their guns, warily observing their surroundings.

    Because the jungle in this area is a buffer zone between the Fourth Special District and Gan Lei''s territory, commonly known as a no-man''s-land, it''s hard to say there wouldn''t be any groups that had roamed over hiding amongst the trees.

    "Are we nearing Gan Lei''s territory?" Ouyang Murong asked.

    "Yes, we just have to go another eight or nine hundred meters and we''ll be there; there''s a Garrison of Gan Lei''s positioned there," Jiang Baoming replied.

    "Has Gan Lei''s territory expanded so quickly? I remember a few years ago his territory was nowhere near here," Ouyang Murong said, stealing a glance at Ge Dongxu, then asked with a frown.

    At this moment, his heart was like a tumultuous sea because Jiang Baoming''s answer had undoubtedly confirmed Ge Dongxu''s earlier warning.

    "Gan Lei has developed very fast in recent years, absorbing many large and small forces around him and pushing all the way to here. Right now, we just want to properly develop Mengla and turn it into the Las Vegas of Southeast Asia. Besides, we truly are inferior in terms of men and guns compared to him, so Chairman Lin has been conceding," Jiang Baoming said with a wry smile, revealing a trace of unwillingness in his eyes.

    "For someone like Gan Lei, constant concession is not the solution," Ouyang Murong said, furrowing his brows.

    "We know that, but Mengla is in the midst of vigorously developing its economy. Once war breaks out, the current favorable situation would surely go down the drain. Fortunately, we''re right next to Huaxia Country, and Huaxia will not allow Gan Lei to create chaos in Mengla''s vicinity. Therefore, Gan Lei can only slowly nibble away at us for the moment and doesn''t dare to truly wage war against the Fourth Special District," Jiang Baoming replied.

    "That is true. No matter what, the path Chairman Lin has chosen is better than the one involving opium cultivation and drug development. Since it''s Gan Lei''s garrison, let''s keep moving," Ouyang Murong nodded and said.

    Upon hearing this, Jiang Baoming and Zhang Junhui nodded their heads, then ordered the convoy to proceed.

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    However, confusion flickered in their eyes. As Ge Dongxu''s words were directed only to Ouyang Murong, they hadn''t heard them and naturally did not understand why Ouyang Murong had suddenly commanded them to stop and asked those questions.

    After the vehicles bumped along the rough road for a short while, as expected, they saw watchtowers, a checkpoint ahead, and armed soldiers.

    However, these soldiers were dressed shabbily, were mostly short in stature, and lacked a proper military bearing. In comparison to the soldiers Chairman Lin had sent to escort Ge Dongxu, they were no match either in appearance or quality.

    From a distance, Jiang Baoming and Zhang Junhui waved their hands to stop the convoy, then signaled to the soldiers on the other side.

    The head of the soldiers on the other side was a company commander, who clearly recognized Jiang Baoming and Zhang Junhui and had received prior notifications. Seeing it was them, he waved them through.

    However, in the end, only three jeeps were actually allowed to enter the checkpoint.

    These three vehicles were occupied by Ge Dongxu and Ouyang Murong, the Zakun brothers, Jiang Baoming, and Zhang Junhui, as well as six burly soldiers, including the drivers.

    All other jeeps were required to stop outside the checkpoint and wait, not permitted to enter Gan Lei''s territory.

    Ouyang Murong and the others clearly knew this was the rule and showed no dissatisfaction.

    After driving into Gan Lei''s territory, the road remained bumpy and muddy. Moreover, it pretty much revolved around mountain forests.

    They were escorted by Gan Lei''s soldiers both in front and behind. Judging by their vigilant demeanor, it was clear that Gan Lei''s inner territory was not entirely peaceful, and Gan Lei was still worried that someone might suddenly attack Ouyang Murong and the others, thus implicating him.

 Chapter 365 - 364: Truly Young and Reckless

    The car wound through the mountain woods for nearly an hour and a half before finally arriving at Gan Lei''s stronghold.

    It was a valley, with a wire fence at the entrance and a watchtower every few meters, each manned with armed soldiers.

    In the valley, one could see military vehicles parked everywhere, even tanks, and of course, there were training troops and sentries.

    Such a scene was typically only seen in Hong Kong dramas where mafia bosses go to the Golden Triangle to negotiate drug deals with drug lords, something ordinary people could never witness, let alone personally drive into.

    Zhang Yakun and his brother saw soldiers armed to the teeth all around them, with guns and ammunition visible everywhere, and their legs trembled as they sat in the car.

    "Gan Lei is really putting on quite a show!" Ouyang Murong said to Ge Dongxu, his face darkening.

    Since their arrival, Gan Lei had not sent any important figure to welcome them. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Jiang Baoming and Zhang Junhui also looked quite displeased.

    The bigger the show Gan Lei put on, the more it indicated that the situation was troublesome.

    If Gan Lei had come in person to greet them or had sent an important person, it would show he still respected Chairman Lin, or that he was wary of Ouyang Murong.

    But now, the situation clearly did not look optimistic.

    "It''s not a problem how big his show is, the key issue is that Zhang Kaixuan is still alive," Ge Dongxu said nonchalantly, his palm opened, with Zhang Kaixuan''s hair standing on end just like that night, bending towards a certain direction.

    This indicated Zhang Kaixuan''s location, and also that he was still alive.

    This let Ge Dongxu secretly breathe a sigh of relief; otherwise, if Zhang Kaixuan had already perished at Gan Lei''s hands, even razing this place to the ground would be in vain.

    Seeing the hair on Ge Dongxu''s hand stand up like a person, Ouyang Murong felt a chill and stopped speaking.

    He had just wanted to remind Ge Dongxu that this matter could be quite tricky, but now, seeing his uncle''s demeanor, he really didn''t regard Gan Lei highly at all, even in his own stronghold surrounded by heavily-armed soldiers. Read latest stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    Since that was the case, there was nothing more he needed to remind him of.

    The car stopped in front of a villa with a huge courtyard, encircled by fences, lookout towers, and sentry posts.

    "Gentlemen, please cooperate and hand over your guns temporarily, we will return them later," a person resembling an officer stopped Ouyang Murong and the others, saying.

    Jiang Baoming and Zhang Junhui looked at each other and then silently took out their guns.

    Seeing this, the others followed suit and took out their guns.

    "Please come in, my Family General has been waiting for a long time," the officer-like person said after seeing Jiang Baoming and others cooperate by handing over their guns, and then he gestured for them to enter.

    What surprised the officer was that the person leading the way was not Ouyang Murong, nor Jiang Baoming or Zhang Junhui, but a young man.

    Upon stepping through the garden gate, Ge Dongxu instantly saw two wicker chairs placed under a towering palm tree, with a coffee table in between laden with various fruits.

    On the wicker chairs, one man was lying back; he was about fifty years old, large and corpulent, with dark skin, resembling a wild boar from the jungle, missing a pinky on his right hand. The other man was skinny and small, resembling a frail old man, but with a particularly cold air about him, especially his eyes, which, when they looked towards Ge Dongxu, made Zhang Yakun and others feel as if they were targeted by a poisonous snake, causing all the hairs on their body to stand on end.

    Two men each had a beauty sitting beside them, feeding them grapes by hand.

    Under the shade of trees, with a gentle breeze and beautiful women feeding them, the setting was quite pleasant.

    Around the courtyard, and about two steps behind these two, stood soldiers with stern expressions.

    The two men were indulging in the grapes that the beauties were popping into their mouths as if they were completely unaware of Ouyang Murong and the others'' arrival, until the military officer who had led Ge Dongxu in bent down and whispered something to the man who looked like a wild boar. Only then did he seem to realize someone had entered, sitting upright and looking towards Ge Dongxu and his companions.

    Then, as if he had just discovered a new continent, the man suddenly stood up and laughed heartily, "Isn''t this Brother Ouyang? Oh, and Brother Jiang, what brings you here?"

    When the man stood up, the gaunt man continued to enjoy his grapes as if he hadn''t heard anything.

    "Gan Lei, why bother pretending not to know?" said Ouyang Murong.

    "Brother Ouyang is still so blunt and direct," Gan Lei replied with a slight darkening of his face.

    "General Gan, General Ouyang is here regarding Zhang Kaixuan and Ma La. I ask you, in consideration of our prior comradeship, to show General Ouyang and Chairman Lin some respect by releasing Zhang Kaixuan and Ma La," Jiang Baoming chimed in, seeing the grim faces of the two upon meeting, and hurriedly stepped forward to mediate.

    "While I will honor Chairman Lin due to the regard we hold for him, what status does General Ouyang have? He''s a has-been and now belongs to Huaxia Country. How can he still claim to be a general?" the gaunt old man finally stood up and added.

    Earlier, this old man had been reclining in a deck chair and was too far away for anyone to get a clear look at his face, but now that he had stood up, everyone could see him clearly. Jiang Baoming and the others couldn''t help but gasp in shock and instinctively stepped backward, exclaiming, "Suo Meng!"

    "Indeed, it is I, old man!" the gaunt old man said sinisterly, his sharp, triangular eyes coldly fixed on Ouyang Murong.

    "Ouyang Murong, is Master Yang still alive? The old man really misses him!"

    "My master is fine, just didn''t expect you to still be alive," Ouyang Murong replied, his expression changing slightly.

    "Hehehe, didn''t expect that, did you? Go back and tell Master Yang, if he wants someone, he should come in person. You are not qualified enough," Suo Meng said coldly.

    "Murong, who is this old geezer?" Ge Dongxu asked, furrowing his brow when he saw the arrogant attitude of the old man and the apparent past animosity with his senior brother.

    "Master Ge!" Jiang Baoming and Zhang Junhui, seeing Ge Dongxu speak disrespectfully, were startled and hastily spoke out.

    "Master Ge! Tsk tsk, Jiang Baoming, you are the Vice Chairman of the Fourth Special District and you stoop so low as to call this young fellow ''Master''?" Suo Meng, with a disdainful glance at Ge Dongxu, spoke as if he were looking at an ant.

    "Whether it''s ''Master Ge'' or not is just a matter of address and not important. I am here for the people today. Hand them over now, along with the appropriate apologies and compensation, and perhaps we can settle this matter here. Anyway, I have no interest in meddling in your messy affairs," Ge Dongxu said coldly, his attitude even more arrogant than Suo Meng''s.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, everyone''s face but Ouyang Murong''s changed dramatically, and they internally groaned with dismay.

    Such youthful arrogance, not recognizing the gravity of the situation! Now there would be big trouble!

    Sure enough, just as Ge Dongxu''s voice fell, the surrounding area suddenly erupted with the unified sound of "click-clack! click-clack!" of gun bolts being pulled.

    Barrels of guns, cold and ominous, were all pointed at Ge Dongxu, emanating a chilling presence.

    Some faced him from within the yard, while others pointed down at him from high up in the watchtowers.

 Chapter 366 - 365: Master Ge Takes Action

    "Ouyang Brother, Jiang Brother, where did you find this clueless kid? Haven''t you taught him any manners?" Gan Lei, who resembled a wild boar, spoke coldly.

    "General Gan, General Gan, if you have something to say..." Jiang Baoming gave Ge Dongxu a look and said with a sweaty forehead.

    However, before Jiang Baoming could finish his sentence, he saw Ge Dongxu gesture him to stop, and then Ge Dongxu looked at Gan Lei and said, "So, you are Gan Lei? I know you have a lot of people and plenty of guns, but since I came, that means I''m not afraid of you! So, it''s best not to make me take action. Once I do, things will not be so simple."

    Upon hearing this, Jiang Baoming looked at Ge Dongxu and silently shook his head, choosing not to speak further. Zhang Junhui, on the other hand, was quite anxious, but he also found himself unable to speak at this moment. Only Ouyang Murong remained calm, simply gazing intently at Suo Meng.

    Although Ouyang Murong had never seen Ge Dongxu make a move, in the past, even his master single-handedly annihilated two small squads of Japanese soldiers, totaling one hundred and twenty-four men. There were at most thirty people standing in the courtyard now, so if they really posed a threat to him, the Sect Leader''s uncle, it would be laughable.

    The only one Ouyang Murong was truly wary of was the person before him, Suo Meng.

    Suo Meng was a Dark Sorcerer from Shan State who excelled in various Evil Techniques. For the sake of refining a nefarious Magical Treasure, he had once slaughtered many innocents. When his master learned of this, he had personally taken action in his wheelchair to kill him, only for Suo Meng to escape with serious injuries.

    For many years afterward, there was no trace or news of him, and many, including his master, thought he had died from his injuries. Yet unexpectedly, he appeared here again today.

    "Ouyang Brother, Jiang Brother, you''ve heard what the young man said," Gan Lei, unfazed, merely gave a cold smile and then waved his hand, uttering two words, "Kill them!"

    Zhang Yaku and the others did not expect Gan Lei to give the order to kill without a second thought, and all of their faces drastically changed.

    "Hmph!" Ge Dongxu just snorted coldly, having already secretly formed a spell with his hands.

    Suddenly, a strong wind arose out of nowhere. The branches of the trees in the courtyard extended abruptly like green tentacles and wrapped around the necks of the soldiers holding guns with lightning speed, lifting them all into the air and suspending them mid-flight.

    "No good!" The Dark Sorcerer Suo Meng felt a warning in his heart the moment the sudden gale began, exclaiming with alarm and turning to flee.

    But once Ge Dongxu had made his move, how could Suo Meng¡ªa former defeated underling of Yang Yinhou¡ªpossibly escape?

    Before Suo Meng could make his escape, the fronds of a towering palm tree behind him dropped down, similarly entwining their necks and hanging them straight up in the air.

    The initial shock made Gan Lei and the others jump and instinctively struggle, but as soon as they realized they were lifted off the ground and were hanging mid-air at a height of about four to five meters, with the crackling sound of branches possibly snapping above them, fear set in and they dared not move anymore. They could only desperately grab the branches around their necks; otherwise, they would be unable to breathe.

    All of this happened extremely fast, akin to a lightning strike. By the time Jiang Baoming and the others realized that Ge Dongxu had not been shot, Gan Lei and the others were already hanging in the air.

    Seeing Gan Lei and the others, including the once revered Suo Meng from Shan State, all suspended in the air, Jiang Baoming and the rest were so frightened their legs went weak, and the way they looked at Ge Dongxu was as if they had seen the Grim Reaper from Hell.

    All twenty-eight of them, in which twenty-six were armed with guns pointed at Ge Dongxu, including a well-known Dark Sorcerer from the region of Shan State, were hung in the air in the blink of an eye without even a chance to resist.

    Jiang Baoming and the others simply could not fathom what kind of terrifying spell this was!

    Nor could they imagine just how menacing a person Ge Dongxu was!

    In the past, they always felt that the old tales of Yang Yinhou single-handedly annihilating one hundred and twenty-four Japanese "devils" in the jungle might have been exaggerated. Now, they suddenly realized, compared to Ge Dongxu''s recent move, what Yang Yinhou achieved back then in the jungle by killing one hundred and twenty-four Japanese was nothing at all.

    And Ouyang Murong, who was versed in techniques, thought even more.

    He remembered what Ge Dongxu had said before¡ªthat even if Gan Lei had six thousand men, they could not hurt him!

    He remembered his master saying that trees have a strong vitality; controlling them with Wood System Techniques is at least a hundred times more difficult than controlling herbs, and it also requires the power of a formidable Magic Artifact.

    But just now, he clearly saw his Sect Uncle used nothing, merely forming a spell with his hands, and then all of this happened in an instant.

    If this were in the jungle?

    Ouyang Murong didn''t dare continue that line of thought, for he suddenly realized that if Ge Dongxu did not intend to kill but merely to protect himself, not to mention six thousand men, even if all of Myanmar''s troops were deployed, they wouldn''t be able to kill him in the jungle!

    Of course, Mana is also limited; it would be impossible for Ge Dongxu to use his Mana to wipe out the army of an entire nation like Myanmar.

    Suo Meng, suspended in mid air, evidently thought of these possibilities too. Cold sweat broke out from his wrinkled forehead, dripping down drop by drop.

    "Master Ge! Master Ge! Let''s talk this out," Suo Meng called out.

    "Master Ge, now I know how formidable you are, I can return the people to you. But this is my territory, and I have nearly two thousand soldiers stationed all around. If you kill me, you might be able to escape, but these people who came with you cannot dream of escaping," Gan Lei, still unaware of the full extent of the situation, hung in midair and threatened with an inner panic belying his harsh exterior. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, from the way he addressed Ge Dongxu as Master Ge, he was, in fact, already softening and conceding.

    However, for these warlords who killed without batting an eyelid, who aggressively expanded opium poppy cultivation, and who also held a grudge against his senior brother Yang Yinhou, once Ge Dongxu made a move, it was impossible for him to stop halfway.

    "The old man by your side is quite clever, not talking nonsense like you," Ge Dongxu said with a cold smile, and without any visible action, the palm leaves coiled around Gan Lei''s neck suddenly tightened, and his face instantly swelled up like a pig''s.

    "Yes, yes, Master Ge, I''ll listen to whatever you say, whatever you say. If you say east, I will not go west; if you say west, I will not go east," Suo Meng by his side, terrified once again, hastily called out.

    "Who exactly is this old man Murong? To kill or not to kill?" Ge Dongxu did not pay any attention to Suo Meng''s pleas, instead asking Ouyang Murong beside him.

    Ouyang Murong, in his shock, felt a shiver uncontrollably go through his body upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s voice. Then, looking at Ge Dongxu with a gaze filled with reverence, he respectfully replied, "Replying to Sect Uncle, this person is the most evil wizard in the Shan State area. His name is Suo Meng, and he likes to collect living souls and refine them into fierce ghosts, then he commands these ghosts to do his bidding. Unfortunately, he escaped back then and it is unknown how many more people he has harmed in these years."

 Chapter 367 - 366 Kill or Not to Kill

    "Since that''s the case, there''s no need to keep him alive!" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu''s words ended, the palm leaves entwining Suo Meng immediately tightened fiercely.

    "No... No..." Suo Meng''s face turned red as he cried out, but soon he was silenced.

    Following that, the palm leaves loosened, and with a "thump," Suo Meng crashed onto the ground from above. Fortunately, it was soft earth; his head did not burst open like a watermelon, but seeing him lying motionless, he was unmistakably dead.

    The courtyard was dead silent.

    Even though they clearly knew that Ge Dongxu was on their side, cold sweat uncontrollably broke out on the foreheads of Jiang Baoming and the others, pouring down like rain.

    A sense of urgency surged in their bladders.

    At that moment, Jiang Baoming, who had just begun to take Ge Dongxu lightly in secret the night before, realized how naive and ignorant he was.

    In front of such a person, though he was the Vice President of the Fourth Special District, if he wanted to kill him, it would be as easy as stepping on an ant! Ridiculous that they even fancied themselves as armed with guns, having soldiers, and having experienced gunfire and shrapnel, and did not take him seriously!

    Ge Dongxu gazed at Suo Meng lying rigidly on the ground, his eyes clearly blank for a moment.

    This wasn''t his first time killing a person, but it was his first time witnessing himself taking a life. To say he felt nothing would be false.

    However, strangely, though he seemed to have a mental block against killing someone like Liu Lihe, unable to do it, killing someone like Suo Meng was done decisively, with little reaction, and his eyes quickly regained calmness.

    Perhaps it was because his body carried the blood of ancient prodigious individuals, or maybe the cultivation at such a young age had given him a much tougher heart than the average person, or perhaps he understood that to eliminate evil was to do good. Especially in the case of people like Suo Meng, if left alive, who knew how many more lives they would harm. So, in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, a person like Suo Meng was perhaps more fittingly described as a beast than a human. Since he was a beast, not human, then killing should be swift and decisive!

    In any event, Ge Dongxu''s state of mind quickly returned to tranquility.

    The palm fronds stretched out again, and the other branches did the same, releasing everyone, including Gan Lei.

    To stimulate trees with techniques was, to a certain extent, a depletion of the trees'' life force. A brief use of this force was negligible compared to the plants'' far longer lifespans than humans¡ªa mere drop in the ocean¡ªbut if kept up persistently, it might harm the trees'' "Vital Energy."

    Standing firm on the ground again, everyone''s faces were pale, their legs weak, and even with their firearms lying at their feet, no one dared to bend down to pick them up. Everyone stood trembling, looking at Ge Dongxu, as if waiting for the King of Hell to pass judgment on them.

    Gan Lei was no exception.

    It''s said Gan Lei had killed countless people in his lifetime, endured many life-and-death experiences, once was so spirited and disdainful of others, but now, seeing the old man lying at his feet equally terrified and pale, trembling throughout, he lost all his earlier arrogance and grandeur.

    Because this old man was none other than Suo Meng, whose fearsome reputation and powerful mana were well-known in Shan State.

    Gan Lei''s expansion over the years was linked to Suo Meng''s covert assassinations of several enemy leaders, and he had personally witnessed his methods.

    But now, this wizard whom he had regarded as extremely powerful and honored as a national advisor was no different from an ant in front of this young man. He could be killed by him, without even a chance to fight back.

    "If I kill him, does Chairman Lin have the capability to control this region?" Ge Dongxu asked, seemingly indifferent to Gan Lei''s presence, turning to Ouyang Murong at his side. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No. If you kill Gan Lei and hand over this region to Chairman Lin, Gan Lei''s subordinates will surely rise up in rebellion. What follows will likely be a fragmented and chaotic struggle for territory, ultimately harming the local populace. Moreover, neither the other factions in Shan State nor the governmental forces will sit by while Chairman Lin suddenly grows more powerful," Ouyang Murong pondered for a while before replying with a serious expression.

    As a warlord, Gan Lei was certainly no fool. Hearing Ouyang Murong''s words, his eyes, which had been filled with despair and fear, suddenly brightened. He quickly bowed to Ge Dongxu and pleaded, "Master Ge, Master Ge, please be magnanimous and spare my life. I promise I won''t cause trouble or kill recklessly anymore. That Zhang Kaixuan and Ma La... it was not my intention to capture them. It was Suo Meng who took an interest in Ma La, saying she was born on an inauspicious day and if her resentment could be greatly provoked before killing her, a powerful vengeful ghost could be obtained. With proper cultivation, it could become a ghost soldier. I will have them both released immediately."

    "What use is your promise to me? You should be promising the people you''ve killed and those who died because of you!" Ge Dongxu glanced at Gan Lei with disgust and said coldly.

    "Yes, yes!" Gan Lei nodded repeatedly.

    Seeing Gan Lei nodding over and over, Ge Dongxu''s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

    He had certainly intended to kill Gan Lei, but he could not disregard Ouyang Murong''s words without careful consideration.

    Ultimately, Ge Dongxu snorted coldly and said, "I can spare your miserable life, but you''ll take a Blood Oath."

    "Yes, yes, I''ll take the Blood Oath," Gan Lei responded, visibly relieved and nodding repeatedly.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu smiled coldly, pointed at Gan Lei''s forehead, and shot a sharp burst of True Qi from his finger, causing blood to flow from Gan Lei''s forehead. Ge Dongxu then made a grabbing motion in the air above Gan Lei''s head, and the blood transformed into a hovering Blood Sphere in the air.

    "Swear the Blood Oath as I dictate," Ge Dongxu instructed.

    "Yes, yes, you say, you say," Gan Lei nodded repeatedly, not daring to wipe the blood from his forehead.

    Thus Ge Dongxu stipulated the oath, including provisions such as not killing innocents without cause and gradually eradicating drugs, among others. Of course, the punishment for breaking the oath was severe: not only would he suffer torture for seven days and nights, but his soul would also endure endless torment after death.

    Gan Lei, eager to save his life, had no choice but to take the oath.

    As soon as he completed the oath, the Blood Sphere in the air transformed into two ancient characters. One was taken by Ge Dongxu''s hand and vanished without a trace, its destination unknown, and the other landed on Gan Lei''s forehead, also disappearing into nothingness.

    "Even though you''ve taken the Blood Oath, for the crimes you''ve committed, you''ll still endure living punishment!" After securing Gan Lei''s Blood Oath, Ge Dongxu spoke coldly, suddenly forming a spell with his hand, with the ancient character faintly appearing on his palm.

    All at once, Gan Lei began writhing on the ground, his facial muscles contorted with pain, his mouth agape as if wanting to scream, yet he was unable to make a sound. His extreme agony was so unsettling that not only were Zhang Yaku and his brothers taken aback, but even Jiang Baoming, accustomed to witnessing torture, felt chills run down his spine.

    Ge Dongxu paid no attention to Gan Lei rolling on the floor and turned to the officer who had led them in, saying, "Bring Zhang Kaixuan and Ma La here."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu tapped the officer several times and continued, "If you don''t want to end up writhing on the ground and dying like Gan Lei, you might want to consider fleeing or trying some other trick."

    "I wouldn''t dare, I wouldn''t dare," the officer shivered all over and hurriedly replied.

    "Go," Ge Dongxu said coldly, without giving Gan Lei another look.

    If it hadn''t been to prevent this land from falling into war once again, Ge Dongxu would have killed Gan Lei on the spot. Now, although he had spared him, how could he possibly let him off so easily?

 Chapter 368 - 367: Rich People Are So Capricious

    Ma La and Zhang Kaixuan were brought over quickly.

    Ma La was in relatively good shape, but Zhang Kaixuan had been tortured to the point of losing his human semblance. It was obvious that Suo Meng wanted to use torture to provoke Ma La''s hatred.

    Seeing his father and uncle here, Zhang Kaixuan could hardly believe his eyes and collapsed at his father''s feet, crying loudly as he hugged his legs.

    Zhang Yaming, watching his son in this state, couldn''t help but shed tears, deeply regretting how he had treated his son in the past.

    After a while, when the emotions of the father and son duo had settled and they thanked Ge Dongxu for his help, Gan Lei was tormented to the point his eyes were bulging out, leaving him barely clinging to life.

    Ge Dongxu initially intended to torture Gan Lei for at least a few hours, but ultimately he was not a heartless person with a heart of stone. After glimpsing the pained and pitiable state of Gan Lei, he finally made a hand gesture and the ancient character slowly faded away.

    "Master Ge, spare my life, spare my life, please! I really won''t dare anymore, truly won''t dare!" Even though Gan Lei used to be a tough man, after such torment, he was now crying with snot and tears, kowtowing repeatedly to Ge Dongxu and looking at him with eyes full of fear, as if seeing a demon from the eighteenth level of Hell.

    He would rather die than experience that feeling again.

    "This time, let it be. But if in the future you break the oath you just made, it won''t just be for a short period. Instead, it will be for seven days and seven nights," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Hearing the words "seven days and seven nights," Jiang Baoming and others, recalling Gan Lei''s torment, felt chills run down their spines and they trembled in fear, not daring to imagine what such torture would be like. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ¡­

    Ge Dongxu and the others still took the same three jeeps on their return trip, but this time Gan Lei personally escorted them to the checkpoint at the border, leaving the border soldiers there nearly dropping their eyes in shock.

    It was already dark when they returned to Dalu Town.

    Concerned about the matter his mother had entrusted him with, Ge Dongxu did not stay the night in Dalu Town. After meeting with Chairman Lin and the others and thanking them for their help, he returned to Huaxia Country with Ouyang Murong.

    Chairman Lin, like Gan Lei, personally escorted Ge Dongxu and the others to the checkpoint. His attitude had become much more respectful compared to the previous night, even carrying a sense of walking on thin ice.

    Apparently, the events of the day at Gan Lei''s had been privately communicated to Chairman Lin by Jiang Baoming.

    Accompanying Ge Dongxu and Ouyang Murong back were Zhang Yaming and his son, Zhang Yaku, and Ma La.

    Having experienced this event, Zhang Yaming could see the deep bond between his son and Ma La. Moreover, on the way back, Ge Dongxu mentioned that they were a good match and that after surviving a great disaster, Ma La would be a wife that brought prosperity to her husband.

    Zhang Yaming had completely accepted Ma La as his daughter-in-law, and even because of Ge Dongxu''s latter remark, he suspected that if Zhang Kaixuan dared to treat Ma La poorly now, he might even become angry with his own son.

    After passing through Dalu Port, Zhang Yaming and his family stayed temporarily in Dalu Town, while Ge Dongxu was driven by Ouyang Murong to rush through the night to Xishuangbanna, and the next day took a flight from there to Kunming and returned to Linzhou City.

    Upon his return to Linzhou City, Ge Dongxu did not go to Yadu Garden, nor did he directly return to Changxi County. Instead, he first went to Jiang Region Jewelry.

    Ge Dongxu was now very familiar with Jiang Region Jewelry. He greeted the young and beautiful uniformed sales ladies behind the counter with a smile as he dragged his suitcase directly up to the second floor.

    "You''re back, how was the harvest?" Tang Yahui, upon seeing Ge Dongxu''s return to the office, was very happy.

    "Not bad," replied Ge Dongxu with a smile.

    "Let me see it," said Tang Yahui, who was in this industry and naturally interested in jadeite. She immediately asked to see it.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and casually opened the bag.

    In an instant, Tang Yahui''s mouth hung open, unable to close for quite some time.

    Because Ge Dongxu''s bag was nearly full of Glass Type Jadeite, and the worst in there was still high-quality Ice Type Jadeite.

    But that wasn''t the key point; the crucial fact was that Ge Dongxu had truly fashioned the Glass Type Jadeite into over a hundred simple Jade Tokens almost devoid of any artistic processing. If these were crafted into ornaments, how much money would that be worth?

    Thinking of money, Tang Yahui couldn''t help but feel her heart bleed; rich people are just so capricious!

    However, Tang Yahui quickly regained her composure, as she knew all along that Ge Dongxu purchased the Glass Type Jadeite specifically to make such Jade Tokens. She also knew he had more money than he knew what to do with. It was just that she had never seen so much Glass Type Jadeite before, nor had she seen anyone turn such upscale jade into so many Jade Tokens, which briefly stunned her.

    Once back to her senses, Tang Yahui asked for Ge Dongxu''s permission before carefully taking out each piece of unprocessed Jadeite from his bag.

    Sunlight streamed through the glass windows and fell upon the Jadeite in Tang Yahui''s hands, refracting an incredibly captivating luster. Tang Yahui was involuntarily intoxicated by the sight, wishing that all the Jadeite was hers.

    "What kind of jewelry do you like? Bracelets? Rings? Or pendants? And of these unprocessed Jadeites, which color do you prefer?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile, noticing Tang Yahui''s initial shock and then her careful admiration of each piece of Jadeite.

    "Why?" Tang Yahui unthinkingly asked, her eyes still unwilling to part from the Jadeite.

    "I''ll craft something for you," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Ah!" Tang Yahui looked up at Ge Dongxu, her eyes filled with surprise and disbelief.

    "Yes, you''ve helped me so much. If it weren''t for you, I wouldn''t have acquired so much Jadeite," Ge Dongxu nodded as he spoke.

    "No need, no need; this is all Glass Type Jadeite. Just crafting any piece of ornament would be worth at least a few hundred thousand," Tang Yahui quickly shook her head.

    "Tang, the manager, measuring our relationship in terms of money is too mundane, isn''t it?" Ge Dongxu said, hearing her words with a laugh.

    Upon hearing this, Tang Yahui was slightly taken aback before realizing that money meant nothing to the young man in front of her, and talking about such "petty cash" with him indeed seemed quite vulgar.

    "Alright then, I won''t be petty with you, the big boss. I like pendants; this violet one, specifically. Later, I''ll ask the master to cut a piece off for me, then seek a well-known master craftsman in the field to help carve and fashion it for me," Tang Yahui said with a smile.

    "What shape of pendant do you like? I''ll help you carve and fashion it," Ge Dongxu offered with a smile.

    True beauty is nature''s beauty, as cultivators have a closer connection with the natural world than ordinary people do, giving them a unique and keen sensitivity to its beauty.

    From this perspective, cultivators who take up art have an innate advantage over ordinary people and can more easily become outstanding artists, much like those born with extraordinary artistic talents.

    Especially for cultivation experts like Ge Dongxu, who had experiences of Unity of Heaven and Man, they possess an incomparably profound understanding of natural beauty. If he were willing to switch careers and pursue art, he would undoubtedly become a master artist.

    The jewelry that Ge Dongxu planned to polish this time wasn''t just mere ornaments; he also intended to engrave Formations within them. Thus, the requirements for polishing became quite demanding. Not only did the aesthetics matter, but it was also imperative not to interfere with the Formations he planned to arrange inside. This task was far more complex than simply cutting Jade Tokens; therefore, he had to take personal charge of it.

    Luckily, his recent journey to the Yunnan border had led to significant increases in both his Cultivation and spiritual power, along with the experience of Heaven-Man Unity, making it not so difficult to manage both aspects. Otherwise, if it were before, he would have found it hard to balance the two, as he couldn''t "see" the exact pathways of the patterns inside the Jadeite and the flow of spiritual energy.

    It is said that a true master jade carver can work the raw jade material, taking its overall shape, color, etc., into account, to craftily sculpt away impurities, cleverly utilize defects, avoid cracks, and maximize the jade''s potential, turning it into a creation that appears entirely natural without any flaws.

    For Ge Dongxu, however, achieving such natural perfection is only skin deep for a master jade carver. If he wishes to engrave Formations inside the Jadeite, he must achieve perfection both externally and internally, as he carves not just the surface but also the inside.

 Chapter 369 - 368 Lifebound Essence Blood

    These things Tang Yahui naturally did not know, she heard that Ge Dongxu was going to do the polishing and carving himself, her eyes immediately widened, shaking her head repeatedly and saying, "No, I don''t want to wear pendants that are like those Jade Tokens of yours."

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but let out a bitter laugh upon hearing this. If the Jade Tokens in his bag were engraved with the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation and then put up for sale, even if the price were one hundred million, he estimated there would still be people clamoring to buy them.

    To those who pursued the path of cultivation, Jade had value, but Jade Talismans with the Spirit Gathering Array were something money couldn''t buy even if you had a place to shop for them.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t say this to Tang Yahui but simply smiled and said, "Don''t worry, it''s not that kind of Jade Token. Just tell me roughly what kind of style you like, and I guarantee you will like it after I create it."

    "Really?" Tang Yahui still looked at Ge Dongxu with some disbelief.

    After all, carving Jade was an artistic endeavor, requiring not only talent but also years of immersion before one might hope to become a Jade Carving Master.

    "Yahui, I don''t readily create jadeite pieces for others. If you don''t believe me, then when I''m done, I''ll just cut a piece for you," Ge Dongxu said, shrugging his shoulders.

    "I believe you, I believe you," Tang Yahui''s pale face turned inexplicably red for a moment, then she hastily said.

    "Then tell me, what shape do you like?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "A teardrop shape, in violet Glass Type Jadeite, it would definitely be beautiful if made like that," Tang Yahui''s eyes showed a longing, but the thought of Ge Dongxu doing the polishing made her heart skip a beat for no reason.

    "All right, then. I''ll borrow your carving studio for a bit," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Do you need Master Wu''s help?" Tang Yahui asked.

    "No need, I can manage alone," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Okay then." Although Tang Yahui was still worried that Ge Dongxu might waste the good material, she reluctantly nodded her head.

    After all, even if it''s the worst Glass Type Jadeite, the waste could not possibly be worse than directly cutting it into rectangle shapes like the Jade Tokens.

    Once in the carving studio, this was ultimately Ge Dongxu''s first time carving Jade, and he was also somewhat uncertain. He thought for a moment and then said to Tang Yahui, "Get me a few pieces of lower-grade jadeite, let me practice on them first."

    Tang Yahui, who was following behind Ge Dongxu, nearly stumbled upon hearing this and nearly fell onto Ge Dongxu.

    "Have you learned carving before?" Tang Yahui steadied herself and asked with a wry smile.

    "This is my first time doing this kind of carving," Ge Dongxu said.

    The carving Ge Dongxu was referring to, of course, was the external one. As for internal carving, arranging the Spirit Gathering Array, especially the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation, was many times more difficult than creating a piece of jewelry.

    To think this guy was still learning as he went along! Tang Yahui, upon hearing this, felt like crying without the tears, truly wanting to snatch the Jade from his bag.

    Having money doesn''t mean you should waste it like this!

    Fortunately, Tang Yahui still knew that Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person, and besides, the Jade was his; he could do as he pleased, and it wasn''t her place to intervene.

    "Alright, I''ll get a few more pieces for you." Tang Yahui looked at Ge Dongxu for a good while before finally nodding her head helplessly, then took some unprocessed glutinous jadeite from the safe and handed them to Ge Dongxu.

    "That''s enough, you can go out now. Please also ask others not to come in and disturb me," Ge Dongxu said, taking the glutinous jadeite and nodding.

    ```

    "Okay," Tang Yahui looked meaningfully at Ge Dongxu before leaving the carving room.

    ```

    ```

    Even if Ge Dongxu hadn''t mentioned it, she was too embarrassed to let anyone else in to disturb his work.

    ```

    ```

    A novice daring to carve Glass Type Jadeite, just thinking about it made Tang Yahui''s heart ache sympathetically; should a Jade Carving Master see this, wouldn''t they rush over and fight Ge Dongxu on the spot?

    ```

    ```

    Because this was outright humiliation to any Jade Carving Master!

    ```

    ```

    After Tang Yahui left, Ge Dongxu tried polishing a sticky variety of jade and made a Jade Bracelet, a teardrop pendant as requested by Tang Yahui, a heart-shaped pendant, and a ring face.

    ```

    ```

    After a round of polishing, he found it much easier than he had anticipated and then began working with the Glass Type Jadeite to make the accessories he wanted.

    ```

    ```

    Ge Dongxu made three Jade Bracelets, two of which were blue-green Glass Type Jadeite Bracelets, and one was a violet Glass Type Jadeite Bracelet; two blue-green Glass Type Jadeite ring faces, as well as a teardrop pendant, and two heart-shaped pendants, all of the pendants were violet Glass Type Jadeite.

    ```

    ```

    After polishing was complete, Ge Dongxu began to calm his breath and focus, then started to set up and carve the Body Protection Formation on them.

    ```

    ```

    This was the most challenging part for Ge Dongxu because these pieces of jade were not shaped like Jade Tokens, but instead were circular, teardrop, heart-shaped, and ring faces, leaving him limited space for engraving.

    ```

    ```

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu''s Cultivation Power had increased significantly lately; the materials he used were also of high quality, and he was not engraving the complex Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation, but rather a relatively simple Body Protection Formation. As long as he was careful, Ge Dongxu was confident he could engrave them successfully in one go.

    ```

    ```

    Still, after continuous engraving of eight items, Ge Dongxu was really fatigued.

    ```

    ```

    After completing the engravings, Ge Dongxu pondered for a moment, then sat down solemnly on the ground, his hands moving quickly to cast spells, followed by two droplets of bright red blood, looking like flames burning, emerging from his brow.

    ```

    ```

    As soon as these two brightly burning drops of blood emerged from his brow, Ge Dongxu''s face, which was originally rosy, suddenly turned pale; he gasped for air as if he had rapidly aged.

    ```

    ```

    These two drops were Ge Dongxu''s Lifebound Essence Blood.

    ```

    ```

    If it hadn''t been for the recent significant increase in his Cultivation Power, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t dare to recklessly extract Essence Blood from his body, as it could cause irreparable damage to his foundations.

    ```

    ```

    Even with the recent increase in his Cultivation Power, two droplets of such Lifebound Essence Blood were already the limit he could handle.

    ```

    ```

    After all, Ge Dongxu only had a total of nine drops of Lifebound Essence, corresponding to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ```

    ```

    Going forward, if he wanted to extract more Lifebound Essence Blood without harming his foundations, he would probably have to wait until he reached the Dragon Tiger Realm.

    ```

    ```

    Looking at the eight pieces of jewelry in front of him, Ge Dongxu decided to infuse one bracelet and one ring face with the two drops of Lifebound Essence Blood.

    ```

    ```

    Strangely enough, as soon as the Essence Blood dropped onto them, it slowly seeped into the jade and then vanished without a trace. The only change was that the color of the jade seemed to come alive and became more pleasing as if imbued with a spirit.

    ```

    ```

    Once he had done this, Ge Dongxu took a short while to regulate his breath on the spot before getting up and carefully storing the eight pieces of jade jewelry he had crafted, and destroyed the earlier trial pieces.

    ```

    ```

    By the time Ge Dongxu left the carving room, the sky had completely darkened.

    ```

    ```

    However, Tang Yahui was still in her office, obviously waiting for him.

    ```

    ```

    Seeing Ge Dongxu return with a pale and haggard face, she forgot about her concern for the fine jade he might have wasted, and instead felt moved and sympathetic. She quickly poured him a glass of water and said, "You really should take it easy, crafting jewelry is very taxing on the mind and spirit. Couldn''t you have taken a break instead of pushing yourself like this until now?"

    ```

    ```

    Ge Dongxu just smiled, and from his bag, he took out the specially crafted teardrop-shaped pendant for her.

    ```

 Chapter 370 - 369: Truly Beautiful

    Under the light, the droplet-shaped pendant refracted a mesmerizing, lively, and translucent array of colors, like a genuine bead of morning dew, dreamlike in its violet hue,

    "This!" Tang Yahui looked at the pendant in Ge Dongxu''s hand, covered her mouth in surprise, and her eyes widened dramatically.

    She specialized in jewelry and was the manager of jewelry in the Jiang Region, naturally seeing no shortage of masterpieces.

    Yet, she could guarantee she had never seen any master finish a simple water droplet pendant with such a dreamlike and spirited polish.

    It was an indescribable feeling, truly as if naturally formed, as though the Jade itself was meant to be this way. Especially when Tang Yahui, with trembling hands, took the pendant, the feeling intensified.

    Other masters'' creations, at most, made her feel a perfect natural formation on the surface, but this piece gave Tang Yahui a deep, thorough sense of natural perfection, as if the droplet had a life of its own.

    It was a very subtle sensation.

    "It''s truly, truly too beautiful!" After a long while, Tang Yahui finally shifted her gaze away from the droplet pendant and then suddenly threw her arms around Ge Dongxu in a hug.

    "Thank you! This is the most beautiful, most precious gift I''ve ever received in my life!"

    Ge Dongxu''s body stiffened, as he was honestly a bit unaccustomed to Tang Yahui''s sudden embrace.

    However, the excited Tang Yahui did not realize this at all; she quickly pushed away from Ge Dongxu, then pulled out a platinum chain from a drawer, threaded it through the small hole on top of the pendant, and hurriedly said to Ge Dongxu, "Quick, quick, help me put it on and see."

    Seeing how much Tang Yahui cherished the jewelry he had crafted, Ge Dongxu naturally also felt a great sense of accomplishment and happiness, and promptly stepped forward to help her wear it.

    There was a small mirror on Tang Yahui''s large office desk. After Ge Dongxu helped her put on the Jade pendant, she leaned over slightly in front of the mirror to check the effect.

    The dreamlike droplet-shaped violet Jade pendant rested on her chest, radiating an uncommon beauty, which made Ge Dongxu somewhat embarrassed, prompting him to stand by the window looking out.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu standing by the window observing the night scene, Tang Yahui then realized he was a gentleman; her fair face blushed slightly, she straightened her posture hurriedly, then smoothed her hair and said again, "Dongxu, really, thank you! I take back what I said before, you are truly a master of Jade sculpting."

    "Jade sculpting master?" Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned, then laughed and shook his head, "Got a needle? Get a drop of blood on the Jade pendant."

    How could a mere Jade sculpting master compare with him?

    Jade sculpting masters only carved the surface after all.

    "Why?" Tang Yahui was suddenly taken aback.

    "This Jade pendant isn''t just for decoration, it has other effects as well, you''ll understand after you drip some blood on it," Ge Dongxu said.

    With that, Tang Yahui suddenly remembered Ge Dongxu''s extensive work on crafting Jade Tokens; her delicate body quivered slightly, then hastened to say, "Yes, yes."

    Speaking, she took a needle from a drawer, but Tang Yahui, the resolute manager, hesitated to prick her own finger, took quite a while before handing the needle to Ge Dongxu, saying, "You do it for me, I can''t bring myself to do it."

    "Really! To think you''re the manager overseeing dozens of people," Ge Dongxu joked, unable to hold back a laugh.

    "What, just because I''m a manager, I''m not human? Can''t I feel pain? And besides, I am a woman!" Tang Yahui said with a roll of her eyes at Ge Dongxu.

    "Alright." Ge Dongxu said as he reached for the needle and quickly pricked her fingertip. Tang Yahui, unaware, had closed her eyes and cautioned, "Be gentle!"

    "It''s already done," Ge Dongxu said, unable to hold back a laugh. Suddenly, he found it surprising that the usually professional and competent Tang Yahui also had such a feminine side.

    "It''s done? Why didn''t I feel anything?" Tang Yahui opened her eyes in disbelief, only to see blood indeed oozing from her index finger.

    "Drip it on the jade pendant," Ge Dongxu instructed.

    Tang Yahui did as told, squeezing a drop of blood onto the tear-shaped jade pendant, her eyes growing wider and her face filled with incredulity.

    Not only did she see the blood seep into the jade pendant, but she suddenly felt a strange connection with the jade pendant on her chest.

    This connection couldn''t be seen or touched, but she could feel it.

    Even in the height of summer, the jade pendant against her made her feel cool all over. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "This is amazing! Could this be the body protection jade amulet often mentioned in novels that can protect one from knives, guns, and ensure survival even in a car accident?" Tang Yahui exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Ge Dongxu.

    "You''ve read too many novels. This is a body protection jade amulet, alright, but it''s not that mystical. It''s mainly for warding off evil spirits and protecting the wearer from minor accidents, not bullets or car crashes," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    He was only at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer and had carved just a basic body protection formation; it couldn''t be that powerful. However, the two jade amulets that had been refined with his lifebound essence might have such strong protective abilities.

    After all, they had been refined with the sacrifice of his own lifebound essence, making their power incredibly strong.

    But they could only withstand damage once!

    Also, because the body protection jade amulets without essence blood had average effects, mainly warding off evil spirits, Ge Dongxu had only made eight such ornaments, planning to gift them to his parents and grandparents, as well as Liu Jiayao, Jiang Lili, and Yuan Li¡ªthree women with whom he had close relationships. Speaking of which, he had not yet bought them a proper gift until now.

    As for Tang Yahui, it was more like she benefited incidentally. After all, Ge Dongxu had bought a lot of jade from her before, and she had helped him contact Zhang Yakun for this trip to the border. Plus, she had arranged for her office''s carving room, so it would be impolite not to make one for her.

    "Oh!" Tang Yahui said with an embarrassed smile, then added, "But it''s still magical. I seem to be able to feel the jade pendant."

    "Naturally, you dripped your blood into it. Jade merchants often say jade nourishes a person, right? Even though that nourishment, if it exists, is minuscule and imperceptible. However, once this jade has absorbed your blood, it''ll constantly protect you, keeping unclean things away from you, which indeed can nourish you," Ge Dongxu explained with a smile.

    "You mean, this jade also has anti-aging and beautifying effects?" Tang Yahui asked excitedly.

    "Pretty much, it should at least slow down your aging process," Ge Dongxu smiled.

    Which woman doesn''t want to stay young forever? Especially since Tang Yahui was already over thirty¡ªthough she was radiant with a mature charm that could outshine younger girls, such an age is fleeting. A tiny lack of care could turn her into a middle-aged woman in just a few years.

    So hearing that the jade could slow down aging, Tang Yahui felt even more excited than she did about the amulet''s ability to ward off evil, repeatedly thanking Ge Dongxu, "Thank you so much, Dongxu. If I were just a few years younger, I would definitely cling to you!"

    "Ahem!" Caught by surprise, Ge Dongxu gave an awkward cough, which caused Tang Yahui, in a great mood, to giggle.

 Chapter 371 - 370: Rouge Gift for a Beautiful Lady

    Seeing Tang Yahui laughing uncontrollably, Ge Dongxu helplessly shook his head. After waiting for her to stop, he finally said, "I''ve also cut two other jade pendants and two ring settings. Help me find two suitable chains, and have someone craft two gold rings that match these settings."

    "Getting the necklaces is easy. I can bring those to you right now¡ªplatinum, gold, red thread, I''ll bring them all for you to mix and match. But the rings have to be crafted specifically for these settings, so it''ll probably be tomorrow before I can get them to you," Tang Yahui said as her eyes suddenly brightened when she saw the two heart-shaped jade pendants and two ring settings. It took her a while to regain her composure.

    "Then bring me the necklaces first. As for the rings, have someone make them tonight, and I''ll come fetch them tomorrow morning. Does that work for you?" Ge Dongxu nodded and then asked. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Can I say no? You''ve already given me such a precious jade pendant!" Tang Yahui pointed at the jade pendant hanging around her neck and laughed.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled.

    Soon, Tang Yahui brought several necklaces and some red thread to Ge Dongxu.

    "How about dinner together tonight?" Tang Yahui said after handing over the items to Ge Dongxu.

    "Thanks, but no," Ge Dongxu smiled and shook his head, already thinking about giving Liu Jiayao a surprise.

    "Got a date with a beauty?" Tang Yahui pointed at the necklaces in Ge Dongxu''s hand and asked with a laugh.

    Ge Dongxu smiled sheepishly and did not respond.

    "Since a beauty has invited you, then I, this old lady, won''t keep you any longer," said Tang Yahui mockingly.

    "If you talk like that, I might have to take back that jade pendant," Ge Dongxu joked.

    "Why? Who ever takes back something once given?" Tang Yahui hurriedly placed a hand over her chest, seemingly afraid that Ge Dongxu would actually take back the teardrop-shaped jade pendant.

    There was no helping it; Tang Yahui simply adored that jade pendant! Besides, the pendant also had skin-beautifying effects¡ªwhat woman would willingly part with it?

    "Precious swords for heroes, rouge for beauties. The jade pendants I carve are no different; they are gifted to beauties, not old ladies," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Ah!" Tang Yahui''s mouth fell open upon hearing this, and then she broke into gleeful laughter. It took her a while before she glared at Ge Dongxu and said, "I hadn''t realized, Mr. Ge, that you were so good at flattering women!"

    Ge Dongxu smiled sheepishly, then waved at her and said, "I''m off, keep an eye on those rings for me."

    "Got it. With ring settings like these, if put up for sale, each would be worth at least a million. How could I not keep an eye on them!" Tang Yahui exclaimed.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then, dragging his suitcase and carrying his bag, he left without specifically explaining that the ring settings, especially one made using a drop of his Lifebound Essence, were priceless¡ªnot for sale even for billions, let alone millions.

    For someone at his level of Qi Cultivation, a drop of Lifebound Essence could not be measured in money; it was only for those he cherished most in his life.

    After leaving Jiang Region Jewelry, Ge Dongxu took a taxi straight to Yadu Garden, hoping to surprise Liu Jiayao. However, he found no one there.

    "No way, she''s not here?" Ge Dongxu set down his suitcase, took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and then found a strand of Liu Jiayao''s hair on the pink bed.

    Afterwards, Ge Dongxu held the hair strand, silently murmured a spell, performed the hand seals for the ''Immortal Points the Way,'' and the hair strand slowly stood up, pointing towards Qinglan Cosmetics Company.

    Luckily, no fellow cultivators were present; otherwise, they would have scolded him for squandering his mana just to give his girlfriend a surprise.

    Of course, if they knew that Ge Dongxu''s strength now equated to the Primary Level of Qi Cultivation, that would be a different story altogether.

    Because at his level, this kind of primary-level Immortal just roughly pointing out the direction was nothing more than a casual gesture for him.

    "She''s indeed still at the office!" Ge Dongxu tucked away his hair, then took a heart-shaped jade pendant out of his bag, placed it in his pocket, and then left Yadu Garden.

    Qinglan Cosmetics Company''s office building, the lights in the chairman''s office were still on.

    "This silly sister!" Seeing that the lights in Jiayao''s office were still on, Ge Dongxu knew she was eager to launch "Flower Spirit" to the market a day earlier, to realize her childhood dreams, and he could not help but feel both annoyed and heartbroken.

    "Dongxu, why are you here?" Li Min was still downstairs in the driver''s office waiting for Jiayao. The office door was half-open to keep an eye on the outside activity, so as soon as Ge Dongxu pushed open the building''s door, she noticed and greeted him somewhat unexpectedly.

    "You''re waiting for Sister Liu, aren''t you?" Ge Dongxu asked back instead of answering.

    "Hmm." Li Min nodded her head.

    "Then you go ahead and leave, I''m here." Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Hehe, okay then, I''ll leave President Liu to your care, President Ge. Please tell her for me." Li Min smiled ambiguously at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu smiled awkwardly, nodded his head, and then went upstairs.

    At the door, Ge Dongxu took out the jade pendant necklace and hid it in his hand before he knocked on the door.

    "Come in." A pleasant voice from Jiayao came from inside.

    Ge Dongxu gently pushed open the door.

    "Dongxu! Weren''t you supposed to be in Yunnan? Didn''t you say you''d be back later?" Seeing it was Ge Dongxu, Jiayao stood up in surprise and gave him a warm hug.

    That day, Ge Dongxu had met his senior brother and was originally planning to stay there for a few days, so when Jiayao called to ask when he would return, he had said he would be a few days late. However, he hadn''t expected that a call from his mother the next day would hurry him back right after dealing with Zhang Kaixuan''s matter.

    "Could I not come back? If I hadn''t returned, I think you might have worked overtime until you forgot to eat!" Ge Dongxu said with a stern face.

    "Not at all! Even if you hadn''t come back, I was about to get off work." Liu Jiayao said.

    "Oh really? Is that why you seem justified? Just look outside, what does the sky look like?" Ge Dongxu continued with a stern face.

    "Okay, okay, I was wrong, isn''t that enough? It''s been several days since we''ve seen each other, and you start with criticism as soon as you''re back!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s stern face, Jiayao knew he was just putting it on for her, but she still felt incredibly sweet inside as she hugged his arm and gently shook it.

    "It''s good you know you were wrong. Don''t let it happen again!" Inside, Ge Dongxu felt only concern, not anger, and with Jiayao''s gentle shake, he couldn''t maintain his stern expression anymore.

    "Okay, okay! A few days out and someone''s temper seems to have soared." Jiayao rolled her eyes.

    "Hehe." Ge Dongxu chuckled proudly, then said, "Go get ready to leave, I haven''t had dinner yet."

    "Ah! Why didn''t you say so earlier!" It didn''t matter that Jiayao hadn''t eaten, but hearing that Ge Dongxu hadn''t eaten immediately made her feel concerned. She gave him a reproachful look and then hurried back to her desk to tidy up the papers.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu quietly walked over, then lifted the jade pendant necklace and draped it around Jiayao''s swan-like, elegantly white neck.

 Chapter 372 - 371: No Laughing Allowed

    "Ah!" Jiayao saw a heart-shaped jade pendant suddenly appear on her chest, the amethyst jade refracting an incredibly charming light under the lamp. She exclaimed in surprise and then quickly turned around, tightly hugging Dongxu''s waist.

    When she lifted her head, her eyes were already gleaming with tears, moved to tears, which made Dongxu hurry to help wipe them away.

    "Don''t cry, okay!"

    "Annoying, I''m not crying!" Jiayao wiped the tears from the corner of her eye, then suddenly tiptoed to give Dongxu a passionate kiss.

    Jiayao''s kiss made Dongxu involuntarily stir, and his hands started to wander.

    "You, can''t you keep your thoughts pure for once?" Jiayao quickly pushed him away, fiercely glaring at him.

    "Hehe!" Dongxu replied with a sheepish smile, though he didn''t continue.

    "You, you!" Jiayao poked Dongxu''s forehead with her finger, then happily ran into the room connected to the office, standing in front of the mirror to admire the jade pendant around her neck.

    Even after admiring it for a while, and feeling something was still missing, she intentionally unbuttoned one of the buttons on her shirt. The dreamlike glow of the amethyst jade pendant against her skin was indescribably beautiful.

    "Does it look beautiful?" Jiayao asked Dongxu.

    "Beautiful! Indescribably beautiful!" Dongxu said as he swallowed, which made Jiayao giggle.

    This laughter was even more overwhelming; it made Dongxu unable to take his eyes off Jiayao.

    "You big pervert, you can''t touch me now, only tonight," Jiayao said, realizing she was inviting temptation upon seeing Dongxu''s lustful look. She quickly buttoned up her shirt again and glared at Dongxu.

    With his thoughts exposed by Jiayao, Dongxu gave another sheepish smile, then pointed to the jade pendant and said, "I just polished this jade pendant this afternoon. Inside, I''ve carved an amulet formation. It can ward off evil spirits and even has some skin-nourishing effects. Drop some of your blood on it, then this amulet will belong only to you. If you had this amulet last time, Li Bisheng could not have harmed you even with your blood and your detailed personal information." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Hearing that Dongxu had personally polished it and even carved an amulet inside, Jiayao was again moved.

    Unlike Tang Yahui, Jiayao had no reservations with Dongxu disclosing such details. As she was moved, he suddenly took her hand, hastily cultivated, and shot a sharp True Qi from his fingertip onto her little finger, drawing a drop of blood which he then dropped on the jade pendant.

    Once the blood touched the jade pendant, Jiayao felt the same connection Tang Yahui did, her beautiful eyes brimming with colors. She couldn''t help but give Dongxu another heated kiss.

    This time, Dongxu didn''t make any moves.

    "This time you''ve behaved! So, when I change clothes, you can stay here; you don''t have to go out," Jiayao said to Dongxu after the kiss.

    "I''d better go out," Dongxu said, very self-aware.

    Seeing Dongxu give up such a good opportunity to admire her and walking somewhat awkwardly, Jiayao was initially taken aback but soon chuckled.

    The laughter was filled with pride and joy.

    Beauty to please! What woman doesn''t like her man feeling attracted to her body?

    Liu Jiayao had quickly changed her clothes, and the V-neck T-shirt, paired with the jade pendant necklace, exuded a charming allure under the light.

    "I''m ready, let''s go," Liu Jiayao said, coming forward and affectionately linking arms with Ge Dongxu.

    "Where to?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "How about going to the riverside for a barbecue again? No, it''s definitely too crowded at this hour, forget it. Let''s stick with the Mingyue Lake revolving restaurant. After eating, we can take a stroll around the lake. It''s quite pleasant to walk there on a summer night," Liu Jiayao suggested.

    "I''ll follow your lead, wherever you say we go," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "I knew you would say that," Liu Jiayao responded, resting her head on Ge Dongxu''s shoulder with a face full of happiness.

    ...

    "By the way, I called you a couple of days ago. Didn''t you say you met your senior and planned to stay with him for a few more days? Why did you suddenly come back early?" Liu Jiayao asked, sitting in the passenger seat and watching Ge Dongxu expertly maneuver the steering wheel.

    "My mom said I got into university, and she wants to throw a celebration feast in the village, so she insisted I come home as soon as possible," Ge Dongxu replied helplessly while driving.

    "So, you mean your mom is planning a big feast in the village, inviting neighbors and friends to celebrate your university acceptance?" Liu Jiayao asked, a smile already playing at the corners of her mouth.

    "Exactly," Ge Dongxu said with resignation, and then immediately added, "No laughing!"

    "Giggle! Hahaha!" However, the thought of Ge Dongxu, a multimillionaire and CEO of several companies, holding a glass and being lead by his parents to toast every uncle and auntie in the village to thank them for celebrating his university acceptance made Liu Jiayao burst into uncontrollable laughter.

    "I knew you would laugh!" Ge Dongxu said helplessly.

    "Actually, this is also quite nice. Otherwise, at such a young age, you''d be completely detached from the community, admired by everyone from a lofty position; that''s too boring! It''s like some children who should be innocent but mature too early, acting like adults. It''s not necessarily a good thing, as that would make them miss out on a lot of childhood fun," Liu Jiayao said, seeing Ge Dongxu''s helpless expression and then pausing to think seriously before speaking.

    "Knowing this, why did you still laugh?" Ge Dongxu said in annoyance.

    The reason he had always maintained such a low profile wasn''t this one of the main reasons?

    "Who made you so impressive, and just happened to let me find out," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Alright, my bad," Ge Dongxu said with a bitter smile.

    "Good that you know," Liu Jiayao said proudly, tilting her delicate chin up.

    While they talked, the car had unknowingly arrived at the Friendly Hotel.

    After parking the car, they held hands and entered the lobby, then took the elevator to the revolving restaurant on the twentieth floor.

    As the elevator doors opened and they stepped into the main hall, they saw a group of people, including foreigners, gathered at the other end of the revolving restaurant, apparently involved in some dispute.

    Ge Dongxu, naturally uninterested in spectating these events, frowned slightly. He was just about to find a window seat with Liu Jiayao when a familiar face caught his attention from the corner of his eye amid the crowd, causing him a moment of surprise, "Huh, what are they doing here?"

 Chapter 373 - 372: What Apology Should Not Be Made?

    "Director Ni, Mr. Bravo says that your Huaxia Country claims to be a land of ceremonies, doesn''t it? Is this what you call manners? Splashing juice on him and then accusing him? If you cannot handle this matter properly, he believes there is no need to continue his inspection. He will report to the headquarters tonight and will also share this unpleasant experience with the Spanish media, to ensure this incident is publicized and prevent more entrepreneurs, who are not familiar with Huaxia Country, especially Linzhou City, from investing here." A young woman dressed in a white shirt, a black pencil skirt, and wearing black-framed glasses, her lipstick a bright red, said to a middle-aged man with a round belly.

    As she spoke, the young woman glanced at Jin Yushan with eyes full of arrogance and contempt, as if she saw herself as superior.

    The middle-aged man, who was Director Ni, had his already dark expression flash with a hint of panic.

    "Director Wu, you have to believe me, if I had really accidentally spilled juice on Mr. Bravo, I would have apologized already. It was when I was getting some food, he was harassing me from behind, and then he even touched my, my buttocks, I was carrying juice, got startled and that''s how it accidentally got spilled on him," Jin Yushan said tearfully to Wu Longcai.

    "Director Wu, I can testify, Yushan is not lying, and why would we lie about such a thing?" Lin Sijie said.

    "You two shut your mouths," Director Ni, frowning, scolded Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, then turned to Wu Longcai, "Director Wu, you are a wise man, you should understand the importance of international issues irrespective of their size. No matter who is right or wrong, just have these two young ladies apologize. After all, an apology won''t cost them anything."

    "Director Wu, just let them apologize, there''s no need to be upset with the foreigner. If this gets blown up, a single call from the higher-ups to the station and you probably won''t escape a reprimand," a man with flowing long hair, who appeared to be in his forties, said with a frown, then quietly advised Wu Longcai.

    Seeing that both Director Ni and Wu Longcai''s friend sided with Bravo, a triumphant expression appeared on the young woman''s face, as if she were not a citizen of Huaxia but a Spaniard, and she even went on to translate in a low voice what Director Ni and Wu Longcai''s friend had said to Bravo in Spanish.

    Bravo was a man who appeared to be in his early forties but had the physique of a Weeble Wobble and was balding slightly. Upon hearing the words, he adjusted his waistband and looked at Wu Longcai, Jin Yushan, and the others with a gaze full of arrogance and disdain.

    "Director Ni, this isn''t about whether a piece of flesh is missing. It''s about who is right and who is wrong. I cannot have my friend be humiliated and then have her apologize to this foreigner; that''s not reasonable. However, since he is a foreigner, I respect the fact that a visitor from afar is to be treated as a guest, and since there''s no way to substantiate the incident, I propose we both take a step back. My friend won''t pursue Mr. Bravo''s offensive behavior, and Mr. Bravo should not dwell on the juice incident," Wu Longcai said, glaring at Bravo and his female assistant with their arrogant and smug expressions, feeling infuriated inside, but he also understood Huaxia''s current situation, desperately needing foreign investment in their economic development, and attracting business, particularly foreign investments, had become a top priority for governments at all levels. Moreover, Huaxia''s development required a favorable international climate, so he could appreciate Director Ni''s saying that no international matter was too small, and as a director of a provincial entertainment station, he would have to swallow his pride.

    Otherwise, if it had been someone else who dared to touch Jin Yushan''s buttocks and then required her to apologize, with Wu Longcai''s current status, position, and temperament, he might have thrown a punch already.

    "Director Wu, you are putting me in a difficult position!" Director Ni''s face dropped upon hearing this.

    By this time, the female assistant had already translated Wu Longcai''s words to Bravo.

    "This is a defamation against me, and I will protest to your city''s mayor right now. Yania, call Mayor Lu immediately," Bravo demanded upon hearing the translation.

    The Mayor Lu mentioned by Bravo is Linzhou City''s deputy mayor responsible for international affairs and business attraction. When Bravo initially arrived, Mayor Lu had personally received him. Afterwards, it was naturally not possible for the deputy mayor to accompany him the whole time, and it fell to others to accompany him.

    Since Bravo''s main point of inspection was the Jiuyuan Economic Development Zone, the zone''s Investment Promotion Bureau was responsible for the daily reception over these two days.

    Director Ni was the deputy director of Linzhou City''s Jiuyuan Economic Development Zone Investment Promotion Bureau. He was dining with Bravo at the Mingyue Lake revolving restaurant in the evening and never expected to encounter such an incident.

    Seeing Bravo about to call Mayor Lu to protest, Director Ni''s forehead began to sweat slightly; he hurriedly called after the Huaxia Country woman with a Spanish name, who was serving as an assistant.

    However, the female assistant was quite arrogant and ignored Director Ni. She just flicked her hair with a shrug, took out her cell phone, and made the call.

    "Director Wu, look, why bother with this?" Seeing that the female assistant had already called Mayor Lu, Director Ni could only look at Wu Longcai with a bitter smile.

    Wu Longcai watched as the female assistant made the call, his expression turning sour, while Jin Yushan''s face turned pale, regretting her earlier display of defiance.

    After the assistant got through, she briefly spoke, and then, with a look of triumph, handed the phone to Wu Longcai, saying, "Director Wu, Mayor Lu would like you to take a call."

    Wu Longcai, watching the assistant''s triumphant face as she passed the phone, changed his expression slightly before taking the call.

    Shortly after taking the call, Wu Longcai''s complexion grew ugly, while the female assistant whispered the translation of the recent conversation to Bravo, simultaneously watching Wu Longcai with schadenfreude.

    After listening to the assistant''s translation, Bravo hitched up his waistband again, his face full of arrogance and contempt. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Director Wu, should I apologize to him?" To Jin Yushan, a university student, a mayor of a provincial capital city¡ªwhether the official mayor or deputy mayor¡ªrepresented an unimaginably high-ranking official. Seeing the assistant''s smug expression and Wu Longcai''s frustrated demeanor, she gently tugged at Wu''s clothes and whispered.

    "Apologize if it''s necessary, but why apologize if it''s not?" It was then that a cold voice sounded behind Director Ni and the others.

    "Dongxu!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, hearing that familiar voice, looked up in surprise toward the source, their expressions turning from cold to adoration. Who else could it be but their admired Dongxu?

    "Dongxu!" Wu Longcai also saw Ge Dongxu at this moment, his eyes suddenly lighting up, and he let out an inward sigh of relief.

    With this influential figure here, the issue would be easier to address. Otherwise, Wu, as a "mere" director of a provincial entertainment station, truly wouldn''t be able to handle an incident involving foreign affairs.

 Chapter 374 - 373 Shut Your Mouths!

    ```

    "Explain the situation here to Mayor Lu over the phone, and if he insists on protecting the foreigners, then just let him be," Ge Dongxu said to Wu Longcai with a cold expression.

    "Okay," Wu Longcai replied, his heart skipping a beat. He then mustered his courage and tried to justify the incident to Mayor Lu over the phone, essentially saying that it was the foreign guests who had erred first and his friends would not apologize.

    After Wu Longcai had finished speaking, it infuriated Vice Mayor Lu on the other end of the line who hung up on him. Although Wu Longcai felt relieved to have spoken his mind, he was inwardly groaning knowing there would be consequences.

    Vice Mayor Lu was angry, especially considering the incident involved foreign affairs. As the "mere" director of the provincial entertainment station, Wu Longcai knew he would inevitably face censure. However, having Ge Dongxu, an impressive figure, there was somewhat comforting. Remembering how the Feng family''s second generation had personally driven to the airport to pick him up, Wu Longcai felt somewhat reassured.

    "We will not apologize for this matter," Wu Longcai said firmly as he handed the phone back to Bravo''s assistant.

    As he spoke these words, Wu Longcai felt as if his spine had straightened, finally releasing the pent-up frustration he had felt.

    "Very well, I will definitely report this matter and will continue to protest to your government," the assistant relayed Wu Longcai''s words to Bravo, whose face shifted from smugness to anger as he pointed and threatened Wu Longcai and the others.

    "Although this matter doesn''t concern Iten Electric, as a friend of Mr. Bravo, I too am outraged by what happened to him. If your city government really condones such behavior, we''ll consider moving out of your development zone," a Japanese man suddenly interjected in stiff Chinese.

    "I will also report this incident to our Korean company headquarters and ask them to seriously reconsider the issue of additional investment," a Korean man said, following suit in similarly laborious Chinese.

    The Friendship Hotel was already Linzhou City''s most important establishment for dealing with foreign guests, where many foreigners stayed and came upstairs for the buffet. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Today, besides Bravo the Spaniard, there were many other foreigners present.

    However, aside from the Japanese and Koreans, none of the other nationals spoke up, especially a British man who shook his head explicitly, apparently disapproving of Bravo quibbling over an incident with a beautiful lady without knowing the full story.

    Seeing the Japanese and Koreans joining in the protest, Director Ni was in a panic, with cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

    Though the incident had not started because of him, as an accompanying official, he had failed to manage the situation. If the matter escalated, he would be the one questioned by higher-ups, and punishment was inevitable.

    Often, it was precisely for this reason that when an incident involved foreigners, many officials who were usually authoritative would lose their imposing demeanor. Their first thought would be to appease foreigners, even if it meant that their fellow citizens would be disadvantaged. Over time, these foreigners, who would behave themselves in their own countries, developed a sense of superiority once in our country, feeling they were above everyone else.

    "Did all of you witness the entire incident just now?" asked Ge Dongxu, his expression turning cold as he caught the interjections from the Japanese and Koreans and stared them down interrogatively.

    "You, who are you? Do you know what sort of consequences your actions will cause?" Director Ni was already anxious enough with the Japanese and Koreans stirring the pot. He didn''t expect the young and unexpected Ge Dongxu to suddenly lash out at them and angrily pointed at him, questioning his actions.

    "What consequences? This is our country, not theirs. Are you saying that in our own country, we should tolerate others bossing us around and talking nonsense while I cower and live like a subjugate?" Ge Dongxu glared coldly at Director Ni in response.

    Director Ni''s lips quivered and his face turned green from Ge Dongxu''s retort. He was about to point his finger in accusation again when Wu Longcai had already pulled him aside and said, "Shut your mouth! Brother Xu doesn''t need you blabbering on the sidelines!"

    Director Ni was just a deputy director of the Development Zone''s Investment Promotion Bureau, lower in rank than Wu Longcai, the director of the provincial entertainment station, and certainly unable to compare in influence and connections. It was only because the incident involved foreign affairs that he had previously taken such a hard stance with Wu Longcai.

    But that did not mean he was unaware of Wu Longcai''s status and position!

    So when Wu Longcai pulled him aside and scolded him, recalling the assertive way Ge Dongxu had spoken on the phone earlier, Director Ni shivered and realized that this young man was definitely someone he couldn''t afford to offend.

    As for the potential escalation of the incident into a diplomatic event, whether the young man could withstand it or not was no longer Director Ni''s concern.

    Of course, in Director Ni''s view, the young man would definitely not be able to withstand it.

    He vividly remembered an incident where the local police conducted a surprise inspection at a certain entertainment venue, and by chance, a foreign businessman was found soliciting pleasure. Far from feeling ashamed when arrested, the foreigner had arrogantly berated the police officers. When the officers detained him, and the incident blew up, not only did the foreigner walk away without repercussion, but the police station chief and the district public security bureau director were forced to write self-criticisms for damaging a good investment environment and failing to make the foreign guest feel welcome.

    Imagine that: despite the clear illegality, in the end, it was the law enforcement officials who had to apologize. In Director Ni''s mind, no matter how formidable Ge Dongxu was, if it involved diplomatic issues, how could a young man like him withstand the pressure? Afterwards, he would undoubtedly be in for a dressing-down from his father.

    To Director Ni, it seemed clear that Ge Dongxu''s confidence came from relying on his family''s background.

    "Did all of you witness the entire incident just now?" With Director Ni silent, Ge Dongxu turned back to the Japanese and Koreans, who had expected to make him the butt of their jokes, and questioned them again.

    "This..." Faced with Ge Dongxu''s questioning and intense gaze, the Japanese and Korean men were at a loss for words. They, too, had arrived later for the meal and had seen the scene unfold. The surrounding people, including the foreigners dining there, knew this and were not in a position to lie on the spot.

    "If you didn''t see it, then shut your filthy mouths!" Ge Dongxu, seeing their hesitation, face sank even more as he unabashedly reprimanded them.

    "You, what kind of attitude is this?" The Japanese and Korean men, accustomed to a sense of self-importance, could not stand Ge Dongxu''s blunt rebuke and immediately pointed at him, demanding to know.

    ```

 Chapter 375 - 374: How Dare You Hit Me?

    "What attitude? I am being polite here! Don''t you understand that guests should have the self-awareness of a guest?" Ge Dongxu said coldly, his gaze suddenly becoming sharp and also exuding authority.

    Facing this sharpness and authority, the Japanese and Korean men surprisingly felt a nameless fear, their eyes showing a deep contradiction, as if they wanted to resist something, but in the end, they slowly lowered their heads and said, "We''re sorry, we were rude just now, we take back what we said before."

    In an instant, the revolving restaurant fell silent, everyone incredulously watching the Japanese and Korean men.

    Since when had the arrogant Japanese and Koreans bowed their heads and admitted their mistakes?

    Damn, it seems it''s really true that "the good are mounted, the humble are bullied", you have to be tougher with those who still dare to flaunt their might on foreign soil.

    As many people realized what was going on, they felt a pressure lifting from their chests, clenching their fists in resolution and muttered fiercely.

    Bravo and his female assistant clearly hadn''t expected the Japanese and Korean men, who they had just defended, to bow their heads and admit their mistake after being scolded by Ge Dongxu, leaving them dumbfounded. But soon, Bravo fiercely said, "Just you wait and see! This won''t end here!"

    Saying this, Bravo turned to leave.

    He had realized, with this strong-willed young man present today, getting Jin Yushan to apologize was impossible, which made him feel both annoyed and embarrassed.

    "Stop, the matter isn''t clear yet, where are you going?" But just as Bravo had turned to leave, Ge Dongxu had already reached out to stop him, saying coldly.

    Damn, no way! What does this young man want now?

    Seeing that Bravo was about to leave, and yet Ge Dongxu was still stopping him, Director Ni and the others couldn''t help but be stunned, especially Director Ni, whose heart could not help but shudder.

    He desperately wanted the matter to end here and deal with what followed later; after all, the primary responsibility wasn''t on him.

    But now, Director Ni realized that he had underestimated the situation. This young man was extraordinarily firm!

    "What do you want?" Bravo asked Ge Dongxu coldly when he was stopped. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Do you speak English?" Ge Dongxu asked coldly.

    "What do you want?" Bravo retorted in English, his face ashen.

    "What do I want? I just want you to make things clear. I do not want my friend to be misunderstood as someone without manners, who likes to slander others," Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "What''s there to talk about? She has no manners to begin with, and when she does something wrong ..." Bravo said.

    "Hope you think carefully before you speak!" Ge Dongxu interrupted coldly, his gaze suddenly turning incredibly sharp.

    Bravo, faced with Ge Dongxu''s piercing gaze, subconsciously shuddered, his lips quivering for a long time, finally changing his words, "I approached her because I found this lady very pretty and sexy, so I couldn''t resist harassing her. However, she ignored me, and I found her hips very sexy and couldn''t resist touching them. She got scared, and accidentally spilled her juice on me. I had just held a croissant, with some grease on my hands, there should still be some grease stains on the right side of this lady''s buttocks."

    When everyone saw Bravo suddenly change his statement, they were all stunned, and then their gazes unconsciously drifted toward Jin Yushan''s right buttock.

    Today, Jin Yushan was wearing a white bodycon dress, which nobody had paid much attention to before. But now, upon closer inspection, they could indeed vaguely see the stain.

    "There really is one! Damn it!" someone from Huaxia Country cursed.

    "Shit!" A few foreigners shook their heads, their eyes filled with disdain as they looked at Bravo.

    "Slap!" Just as people were cursing and the foreigners were shaking their heads in disdain, a loud slap rang out.

    "You, you hit me! You actually dared to hit me?" Bravo suddenly felt a pain on his cheek and instantly sobered up, clenching his fist and swinging it toward Ge Dongxu.

    "Slap!" Ge Dongxu quickly grabbed Bravo''s fist, and Bravo started wailing like a slaughtered pig, his entire body bending in pain.

    "Remember, this is Huaxia Country''s territory! We welcome your investments here, but if you come here to strut around and commit misdeeds, then get the hell out of here!" Ge Dongxu then released his hand.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu let go, Bravo quickly blew on his fist.

    "Good! Good! That''s how you should treat these kinds of people!" someone shouted.

    However, Ge Dongxu just gave that person a cold look.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t believe that in such a large buffet restaurant, no one would notice a beautiful and sexy woman like Jin Yushan, especially not see the foreigner touching her buttocks just moments ago. Especially since the person who cheered just now was exactly positioned toward the place where the juice was spilled; Ge Dongxu definitely didn''t believe that they saw nothing. Yet, just now, not a single person stood up for Jin Yushan. It was a good thing that Wu Longcai had some backbone, otherwise not only would Jin Yushan have been wronged, but the face of the Huaxia people would have been lost to their ancestors.

    Now, seeing the foreigner lose face, they finally cheered enthusiastically, but Ge Dongxu had no pleasant expressions to show them.

    "Good! Good! You hit people, I will call the police," Bravo stepped back and warned fiercely.

    "Fine!" Ge Dongxu grabbed Bravo by the collar and then turned to a British man who had shaken his head disdainfully and said in English, "I''m curious, in your country, if a man molests your friend, how would you deal with him?"

    "Although we British men are very gentlemanly, we definitely have to beat such scoundrels!" the British man replied, his gaze toward Ge Dongxu filled with a hint of respect.

    Being able to conduct business in Huaxia Country, this British man was naturally no fool and had certainly spent some time understanding Huaxia culture. He had been standing on the side just now, watching the changes in attitude of the Japanese and Koreans, Bravo''s change of statement, and the entire incident of Bravo''s fist being caught and his ensuing screams. If he didn''t recognize the mysterious aura around this young man of Huaxia, he might as well just pack up and go home.

    Moreover, what Bravo did was truly despicable. Not only did he wipe oil off that girl but also forced such a beautiful girl to apologize¡ªis that gentlemanly behavior? This was far more ruffian than British football hooligans are!

    Ge Dongxu then looked at the others; the Japanese and Koreans had already retracted their heads, wanting to sneak away. Their face was completely lost, and they also feared that Ge Dongxu would settle accounts with them.

    "If someone dares to lay a hand on my woman, I will shoot him dead!" an American declared.

 Chapter 376 - 375 Deservedly

    "Did you hear that, Mr. Bravo? I have been quite magnanimous, but your attitude has truly displeased me. Hence, I feel it necessary to slap you again and leave you with some lessons you wouldn''t have expected," Ge Dongxu said as he raised his hand and slapped Bravo again, then finally let go of his collar.

    When he let go, no one noticed the hair and a drop of blood he now held in his hand.

    "Well done!" Many people in the restaurant clapped and cheered.

    It was then that Bravo realized he had revealed the whole truth and had already incited public outrage. With the fierce demeanor of this young man before him, calling the police would only serve to humiliate himself further.

    "Mr. Bravo, don''t bother with this kind of person, let''s just leave," the assistant, seemingly stunned by Ge Dongxu''s aggressive actions, hastily urged Bravo. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What pitiable people, to be so ruined by Mr. Bravo and still think they are impressive, speaking on his behalf. What would your parents think if they knew? You''d better go to the hospital for a check-up," Ge Dongxu said, looking at the assistant with pity, shaking his head.

    "What do you mean by that?" At first, the assistant was embarrassed, but her body trembled slightly when she heard Ge Dongxu''s last sentence, and she asked.

    "Aren''t you aware of your own body? Can''t you smell the disgusting odor coming from that place? Hurry up and get checked out. Let''s hope Mr. Bravo hasn''t passed on any HIV, or else, not even God can save you," Ge Dongxu shook his head.

    "Ah!" The assistant''s face instantly paled; she had been feeling itchy down there with an increased discharge and a nauseating smell for a few days and thought it was due to poor hygiene. But now, Ge Dongxu''s words had pinpointed her concerns, igniting a profound unease and fear in her heart, especially when HIV was mentioned, which nearly made her legs give out, causing her to almost collapse on the spot.

    Others, not being part of the situation, hadn''t initially grasped the meaning of Ge Dongxu''s words, but as they saw the assistant''s ashen face and her distraught demeanor, they suddenly understood.

    "I spit, what a disgrace to our Huaxia women!"

    "I spit, serves you right!"

    "How did that young man know, do you think?"

    "Hmph, just look at that foreign girl, it''s not hard to guess. She must be involved with that foreigner! And then think about it, the foreigner is so lecherous, daring to grope that beauty''s butt in public. It would be strange if he didn''t carry disease!"

    "That''s true, this young guy is really something! Not only is he strong, with a real man''s spirit, but he''s also got brains. That slap was a good one; we should hit the faces of such deceitful foreign women hard like this. Even if there''s no illness, we should still scare them! I''m not against international love, but what I hate the most is some women shamelessly throwing themselves at foreigners and then acting all superior!"

    "..."

    While everyone was discussing, the female assistant had already covered her face and left, with Bravo calling after her seemingly unheard.

    After Bravo and the assistant left, everyone naturally dispersed, especially the Japanese and Korean guests who had originally come for dinner, but after losing face earlier, left without even eating.

    The Englishman gave Ge Dongxu a thumbs-up and said, "Sir, you are impressive!"

    Ge Dongxu smiled at him and said, "Thanks for speaking up earlier, I hope you enjoy your trip in Huaxia Country."

    The British gentleman, who was still very particular about his manners, exchanged a few polite words with Ge Dongxu before returning to his seat for the meal.

    After the British gentleman returned to his seat, Ge Dongxu looked at Director Ni and said with a slightly mocking tone, "Director Ni, why didn''t you go after Mr. Bravo?"

    "I''m sorry, sir. I was negligent just now. However, you have to understand, in foreign affairs, no matter is too minor, and it''s difficult for us to..." Director Ni said with a wry smile.

    "Those aren''t excuses! You should remember that no matter how you argue, this is still our land. When you serve these foreigners, remember, we are the true masters here! Just look at those foreigners¡ª if you caused trouble in their country, would they let you off just because you''re a foreigner? Alright, I know why you stayed here. If that Bravo really stirs up trouble, I''ll take responsibility," Ge Dongxu coldly interrupted, although he knew Director Ni had his difficulties, he still couldn''t accept his outward-leaning stance just now, so he had no good feelings toward him.

    "Thank you, sir, but..." Director Ni stammered.

    He did have that thought in mind when he stayed behind, but he didn''t even know Ge Dongxu''s name until now. How could he take responsibility?

    "Alright, Director Ni, since Dongxu has said so, you can rest assured and go back. If your bureau chief or district chief really starts asking questions, just refer them to me, and I''ll explain," Wu Longcai, who was also somewhat annoyed with Director Ni''s attitude, cut him off when he saw him hemming and hawing, fearing that the incident would affect him and wanting to come out clean.

    Indeed, did Dongxu need to spell out his relationship with the Feng Family for Ni to understand? What was Ni worth? Was he even qualified?

    Seeing Wu Longcai say this and fearing that he really angered Ge Dongxu, Director Ni finally left, looking rather unhappy.

    After Director Ni left, Ge Dongxu patted Wu Longcai on the shoulder and said, "Supervisor Wu, thank you for taking care of Yushan earlier."

    "Dongxu, you''re making me feel embarrassed. It was my fault for not taking good care of her, which caused her to be wronged," Wu Longcai hurriedly replied.

    "You don''t have to be modest, I''m well aware," Ge Dongxu said with a smile before turning to Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie: "How come you''re in Linzhou City? And why didn''t you call me when you arrived?"

    "Supervisor Wu arranged a role for us, of course, we had to come over for the audition! As for not calling, you''re an important person, no doubt very busy, how could we dare to bother you!" Jin Yushan replied, her eyes full of gratitude.

    "Come on, there''s no talk of important persons among friends. Here, let me introduce you¡ª this is Liu Jiayao, Sister Liu. Sister Liu, they are Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, they were my high school senior''s college roommates," Ge Dongxu said, waving his hand and then introducing them.

    when introducing them, Ge Dongxu felt a bit hesitant to look at Liu Jiayao. Although Liu Jiayao had made it clear that she wouldn''t mind in this regard, he still felt somewhat guilty.

    "Sister Liu, it''s a pleasure to meet you! You are so beautiful!" Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, both very versatile girls, saw Ge Dongxu holding Liu Jiayao''s hand and hadn''t introduced them as his girlfriend''s roommates¡ª how could they not know that Liu Jiayao was also Ge Dongxu''s lover. And judging by Liu Jiayao''s temperament and beauty, as well as Ge Dongxu''s attitude toward her, she was probably the main one. So they hurriedly stepped forward and greeted her sweetly.

    As for Jiang Lili, they felt neither sorry nor indignant for her.

    Being rather pragmatic women themselves and fully intent on making a name in the entertainment industry, they were not the type of girls with simple minds. They knew very well that for a man like Ge Dongxu, it would be strange if Jiang Lili was the only woman by his side!

 Chapter 377 - 376: There is no room for lies between you and me

    Liu Jiayao took over Qinglan Cosmetics at just twenty-three years old, a company of such scale, and her conversation, demeanor, social skills, and insight were naturally beyond what Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, those two girls, could compare with.

    She greeted Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie with a smile, giving Ge Dongxu a meaningful glance, but asked nothing.

    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Ge Dongxu took the initiative and said, "You''ll be discussing the script tonight, right? Sister Liu and I won''t bother you then. If there''s any issue with that foreigner earlier and if there''s any blame from above, just let me know."

    "Thank you, Brother Dongxu, I''m much more at ease with your words," Director Wu said with a smile.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, pointed at Director Wu, and after saying goodbye to Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, he pulled Liu Jiayao away to get some food. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As for the long-haired man¡ªthat is, the director of the drama¡ªGe Dongxu barely paid him any attention.

    Although he had spoken softly to Director Wu and was somewhat distant, given his hearing, if he had noticed Jin Yushan and the others, how could he possibly not have heard their conversation?

    "Why the rush to draw a line between me and Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie? Don''t tell me you have a guilty conscience?" After getting their food and sitting face to face by the window, Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu and asked with a smile.

    "Don''t guess wildly, I''m just ordinary friends with them," Ge Dongxu''s heart skipped a beat as he quickly explained.

    "Enough already, lying doesn''t suit us. I can tell by looking in your eyes that while you might just be ordinary friends with them, you''re definitely not with that high school senior sister," Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a white-eyed look, a tinge of sadness flickering deep within her beautiful eyes.

    No matter what Liu Jiayao had said before, as a woman, when the day actually arrived, there was still that bit of sadness in her heart.

    "I''m sorry, Sister Liu! Actually..." Ge Dongxu reached out and grabbed Liu Jiayao''s hand, his voice full of guilt.

    "You fool, why are you apologizing to me! Haven''t I told you before? As long as you feel close to me, that''s enough. Besides, with the way you are, I can''t handle you by myself anyway!" Seeing the guilt on Ge Dongxu''s face, Liu Jiayao''s heart ached. She gripped his hand tightly and gave him a playful roll of her eyes.

    Originally feeling guilty, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but be shaken by Liu Jiayao''s last remark, and he looked at her with a sheepish smile.

    "Smiling? You still smile! Do you think this makes it all right?" Seeing Ge Dongxu smiling at her, Liu Jiayao felt there was a trace of smugness and couldn''t help but glare at him irritably.

    "No, of course not!" Ge Dongxu quickly appeased her with a grin.

    Helpless, despite having a thousand reasons, it was always his fault that Liu Jiayao truly cared for him, yet he had other women in his life.

    "I don''t care! Even if it''s for that reason, you have your justifications, but you still have to restrain yourself for me. Don''t really bring me a whole group of ''sisters.'' Otherwise, don''t expect to ever enter my room again," Liu Jiayao warned him.

    After all, no matter how magnanimous she was, she had her limits.

    "It won''t happen, I promise!" Ge Dongxu assured her earnestly, a definite look on his face.

    "Alright, no need to promise anything! Don''t I know you well? Just a reminder for you since you''re so outstanding. I''m just afraid there will be too many women clinging to you; you have such a kind heart that you can''t bear to let one go nor leave another behind," Liu Jiayao said with a glance at Ge Dongxu.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but be stunned, realizing that Liu Jiayao indeed understood him well.

    Speaking of which, as for his feelings towards Jiang Lili, it was hard to tell whether he had truly fallen for her or simply couldn''t bear to hurt her. He probably started off fearing to cause her pain more than anything, and only later did it turn into a romance.

    "I will be careful and certainly not easily get entangled in affairs of the heart," Ge Dongxu nodded earnestly after a while.

    Since Liu Jiayao had hit the nail on the head regarding his personality, he really needed to pay attention!

    This was also a strength of Ge Dongxu; as long as someone was right, he was always willing to take their advice with an open mind.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s serious expression, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but chuckle. She glanced at him and said, "Come on, don''t make it so solemn; it''s as if I''m a jealous pot."

    "How could that be, Sister Liu is the kindest and most tolerant woman in the world," Ge Dongxu knew exactly what to say at that moment and replied at once.

    "You and your sweet talk!" Liu Jiayao was clearly pleased with Ge Dongxu''s words and poked his forehead with her finger.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu laughed proudly.

    Liu Jiayao was clearly a smart woman. Since she had decided to let go, she wouldn''t nitpick or dwell on it. She casually asked for the name of the high school senior and her current status, but didn''t probe any further.

    This made Ge Dongxu relax quite a bit; otherwise, had Liu Jiayao kept inquiring about Jiang Lili and his relationship, he would have certainly felt uneasy.

    "Director Wu, who exactly was that Brother Xu just now? Is he the son of some leader in our province? But it seems there''s no one called Brother Xu among the leaders'' sons. And why do I get the feeling he''s not just impressive but also a bit mysterious?" Elsewhere, the director asked Wu Longcai curiously, his voice lowered.

    "Who he is, you don''t need to ask. Just remember to be polite when you see him," Wu Longcai naturally wouldn''t tell the director that Ge Dongxu was someone even the second generation of the Feng Family had to personally greet. He replied upon hearing this.

    "Is it really that exaggerated? But considering what that Mr. Bravo said and the fact that Director Ni wasn''t wrong, when it comes to foreign affairs, there''s no small matter. And just now, you also didn''t give face to Vice Mayor Lu, who must be pretty angry now. Mr. Bravo was publicly humiliated today, plus he got slapped twice by that Brother Xu. He surely won''t let it go easily. If he goes back and misrepresents the situation like he did earlier, making a big fuss, and with Vice Mayor Lu already somewhat angry, if higher-ups speak out, can Brother Xu really cover for you in this matter?" The director expressed his surprise and was still somewhat worried and skeptical upon hearing this.

    "Don''t worry, the other party is just a foreign businessman, after all, and Spain is on the decline while our country is growing stronger every day. Could it be possible that they''ll arrest Brother Xu just because of him?" Wu Longcai said.

    "That''s not necessarily the case. When it comes to international incidents, issues can quickly escalate to the national level. Even if Brother Xu really is some provincial leader''s son, he could still be criticized," the director retorted skeptically.

    Wu Longcai just smiled and said nothing further.

    Although Huaxia Country has always been polite to foreign guests, there were certainly limits, and at the level of the Feng Family, how could they let a mere businessman from Spain bully them?

 Chapter 378 - 377: The Directors Call

    "Oh, who was that beauty with Brother Dongxu just now? She looks familiar," said the director, failing to pry information about Ge Dongxu from Wu Longcai, so he again turned the conversation to Liu Jiayao.

    The director, surnamed Zhao, was a local director from Jiangnan Province and often attended social events of the upper class. As Liu Jiayao also had to attend such high-society activities, he felt that she looked somewhat familiar. Wu Longcai didn''t find this strange, but Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie immediately pricked up their ears. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They were naturally curious about Liu Jiayao''s identity.

    "The CEO of Qinglan Cosmetics." Regarding Liu Jiayao''s identity, Wu Longcai didn''t see the need to hide it¡ªnor could he¡ªso he didn''t avoid the question.

    "So it''s her, no wonder I felt like I had seen her somewhere before," the director realized, while Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s eyes widened in shock.

    Qinglan Cosmetics were sold in major shopping malls across the country, and of course, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie had heard of them, even used them before. Only now did they realize that the woman they had just shaken hands with was her!

    "Does she have a lot of money?" Jin Yushan quickly blurted out instinctively.

    "Hehe, of course, Qinglan Cosmetics is nationally renowned," Wu Longcai replied with a smile.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie exchanged glances, seeing the wry smiles in each other''s eyes.

    Such a beautiful and elegant woman, and so wealthy, how could Jiang Lili compare with her?

    Fortunately, they knew that Ge Dongxu was a man who greatly valued relationships. Last time Jin Yushan had twisted her ankle, he had personally crouched down to tend to it. The opportunity to be on camera this time was also thanks to his connection, otherwise, they would have mourned for Jiang Lili.

    The matter regarding Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao was ultimately off-topic, and Wu Longcai also had his reservations, not wishing to delve into it. Thus, the conversation quickly shifted to the TV drama they were going to shoot.

    The director, Jin Yushan, and Lin Sijie mostly chatted amongst themselves, with Wu Longcai occasionally interjecting a few words.

    After some discussion, Director Zhao felt that both Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were quite perceptive. Plus, they were introduced by Wu Longcai, and it seemed they were also connected to that someone called Brother Dongxu, so the director naturally had no objections. He said that in a couple of days, they could join the crew for shooting. The roles were not the lead or the second lead, but they were supporting roles with a good amount of screen time, which made Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie so happy that they kept bowing in thanks.

    Once the roles and dates were settled, and the meal was nearly over, the four of them got up to leave.

    "Brother Dongxu, CEO Liu, we''re going ahead, please enjoy your meal," the four said, getting up from the table and seeing that Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao were still there, they approached to bid them farewell.

    "When we get to Linzhou, I''ll be the host. If you two need any help, just give me a call," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he nodded at Wu Longcai, then turned to Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie.

    "Thank you, Dongxu! Director Wu has been very kind to us, he has arranged everything, including our accommodation. We won''t bother you unless it''s something significant," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie said. Being astute women, they understood that a person of Ge Dongxu''s stature offering his concern and consideration was due to his amiable and approachable nature. They couldn''t afford to push their luck by bothering him with trivial matters all the time, as doing so could potentially sever their relationship. Moreover, they cleverly complimented Wu Longcai in their response.

    Sure enough, upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu smiled and nodded at Wu Longcai, "You''ve taken a lot of trouble, Director Wu."

    "It''s my duty! My pleasure!" Wu Longcai was plainly overjoyed and humbled by the words. He quickly nodded with a smile.

    "Anyway, thank you. I''ll treat you to a meal when I have some free time," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. I''m free anytime," Wu Longcai hurriedly replied.

    After exchanging a few more courtesies, Wu Longcai and his group finally left the revolving restaurant.

    "We should probably get going too. Let''s take a walk by Mingyue Lake," Liu Jiayao said, picking up a tissue to wipe the corner of her mouth, shortly after Wu Longcai and his party had left the revolving restaurant.

    ¡­

    "Wu Longcai, where are you now? What exactly happened? Not only did Vice Mayor Lu call me, but Deputy Director Yuan from the Provincial Foreign Affairs Office also called me, saying you treated the Spanish businessmen very rudely, and also mentioned that one of your friends hit him. This Spaniard, Bravo, has filed a police report. Just now, Director Qian from the City Public Security Bureau called me, asking me to inform you that you need to cooperate with this case and not cause any more trouble," Wu Longcai barely stepped out of the elevator when he received a call from Station Head Guo of the provincial television station himself.

    "Station Head Guo, let me explain. It was that Bravo who was acting like a hooligan. My friend couldn''t help but retaliate," Wu Longcai said, surprised that the issue had escalated to his station head so quickly and also that Bravo had even gone to the police. He felt extremely annoyed, but he had to explain to the station head.

    "There''s such a story? However, it''s still not right for your friend to hit someone. You know they''re foreign businessmen, our guests. The country is advocating for attracting investment every single day, emphasizing the creation of a favorable investment environment for foreigners. How could your friend hit someone? Isn''t that sullying our province''s investment attractiveness?" Station Head Guo responded in surprise, clearly having no clue about Bravo''s inappropriate behavior. But soon after, he gave a concerned and earnest reminder.

    "Station Head Guo, you weren''t there at the time. You, too, would have been driven to act if you had been. I was quite restrained, but my friend ..." Wu Longcai continued to explain with a wry smile.

    "Enough. Save it. I just have one requirement, handle this situation properly and don''t spark a diplomatic dispute, otherwise, even I won''t be able to protect you!" Station Head Guo interrupted before hanging up.

    Over the past six months, "Happy Female Voices" had been flourishing. Wu Longcai, who was just over thirty, was still young. Naturally, he was full of ambition and favored by fortune, surely speaking more confidently before his leaders than before. With the incident today, it wasn''t just anger from the leadership there was also an element of using the opportunity to check Wu Longcai and curb his arrogance a bit.

    "Motherfucking sons of bitches! These foreign devils really think they can do whatever they want in Huaxia Country, turning black into white? Damn it!" Seeing that his leader had hung up on him and expected him to resolve this matter, essentially asking him to bite the bullet, Wu Longcai almost threw his phone in anger.

 Chapter 379 - 378 Respect My Ass

    ```

    "What''s going on? Has the matter been reported to Station Head Guo?" Director Zhao, seeing Wu Longcai so angry that he wanted to throw his phone, couldn''t help feeling a bit of schadenfreude.

    ```

    ```

    Just now, Ge Dongxu ignored him due to some prejudice, which left Director Zhao, who usually had a rather good opinion of himself, somewhat displeased.

    ```

    ```

    "Hmph, not only has it been reported to Station Head Guo but that bastard also went to the police. Damn it, I never expected foreigners to be so shameless when they decide to lose face!" Wu Longcai said, fuming.

    ```

    ```

    "Damn, you''re kidding me. If that''s the case, given that guy''s nature, it''s very likely that it has already escalated to their Embassy in Huaxia!" Upon hearing this, Director Zhao was also caught by surprise, stunned for a moment, then spoke.

    ```

    ```

    This is just too fucking shameless; they really think we''re pushovers? At this moment, Director Zhao, who had initially taken pleasure in Wu Longcai''s misfortune, hoped that Ge Dongxu was actually badass enough to withstand the pressure.

    ```

    ```

    Upon hearing this, Wu Longcai''s expression darkened, and he furrowed his brows.

    ```

    ```

    Although he knew Ge Dongxu was definitely formidable, if the matter had indeed alerted the Spanish Embassy in Huaxia, it would certainly be more complicated to deal with. However, thinking about Bravo''s behavior just now, Wu Longcai really believed that guy would definitely run crying to his "mother''s home."

    ``` S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ```

    "Damn it, no wonder Station Head Guo mentioned that even Deputy Director Yuan from the provincial foreign affairs office had called him!" Wu Longcai said through gritted teeth.

    ```

    ```

    While Wu Longcai was grinding his teeth, several uniformed police officers entered the doorway, and the middle-aged officer who led them froze upon seeing Wu Longcai, then strode forward with a serious face and asked, "Are you Comrade Wu Longcai?"

    ```

    ```

    "Yes, that''s me." Seeing that the police had arrived, Wu Longcai looked even more upset and nodded in confirmation.

    ```

    ```

    "Hello, we are from the public security bureau of Mingyue Lake District. A Spanish citizen named Bravo has filed a report, saying that you and your friend slandered and humiliated him, and one of you even hit him. So please, you and your friend need to come with us to the station to assist with the investigation," the middle-aged officer stated, his demeanor still somewhat courteous upon confirming Wu Longcai''s identity.

    ```

    ```

    Wu Longcai, seeing it was indeed Bravo who had gone to the police, had a very somber expression and was thinking about whether to inform Ge Dongxu, when the elevator doors opened and Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao walked out.

    ```

    ```

    "What''s happening?" Seeing the police stopping Wu Longcai and the others, Ge Dongxu''s expression changed slightly, and he stepped forward to ask.

    ```

    ```

    "That Bravo reported the incident to the police, and just now our station head also called me, mentioning that leaders from the city and from the provincial foreign affairs office all called him. I guess that guy probably escalated the situation. These police comrades here are from Mingyue Lake District, preparing to take us back to the public security bureau to assist with the investigation," Wu Longcai said, clearly angry.

    ```

    ```

    "Why should we go to the public security bureau? Isn''t it obvious that it was the Spaniard who was the scoundrel first? You can simply go upstairs and ask anyone, ask the foreigners too, they can all testify," Ge Dongxu said, his brows knitting together and a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

    ```

    ```

    He had specifically taken one of Bravo''s hairs and a drop of blood precisely to guard against the man''s possible accusations; sure enough, the guy turned out to be incredibly shameless.

    ```

    ```

    "Who are you?" The officer, seeing Ge Dongxu''s assertive tone, asked with a slight hardening of his demeanor.

    ```

    ```

    It turned out that when Bravo and his companions reported the incident, they only knew of Supervisor Wu''s identity and were not aware of Ge Dongxu''s. So when filing the report, they specifically mentioned only Wu Longcai, referring to Ge Dongxu, the one who hit Bravo, merely as Wu Longcai''s friend. After all, finding Wu Longcai would lead them to him.

    ```

    ```

    Initially, the police had wanted to bring Bravo along for an identification, but since Bravo had already shared the truth at the revolving restaurant, where many had overheard, including other Caucasians like himself, he felt too embarrassed to show his face there again.

    ```

    ```

    "I''m also a party involved. That Bravo was harassing my friend, and he even turned around and falsely accused my friend, demanding an apology. I couldn''t stand it and slapped him twice," Ge Dongxu replied.

    ```

    ```

    "So you''re admitting that you were the one who hit him?" The officer''s expression became serious.

    ```

    ```

    "Officer, there''s a problem with how you''re putting it. You should say I stopped Bravo''s shameful actions. He harassed my friend and made false accusations. I just gave him a couple of slaps; that''s not excessive, is it? It''s not illegal, right?" Ge Dongxu stated.

    ```

    ```

    "Whether it''s excessive or illegal, let''s go to the public security bureau and discuss it there," the officer replied, frowning.

    ```

    ```

    If this incident didn''t involve a foreigner and the bureau leadership hadn''t specifically instructed them, public harassment followed by a slap would be a trivial matter. Of course, those who harassed others wouldn''t dare to report to the police.

    ```

    ```

    "Is that really necessary? This is our country, they were the harassers, I intervened, and now I need to go to the public security bureau? If you need evidence, you can take our testimonies right here; there are plenty of eyewitnesses upstairs," Ge Dongxu said impatiently.

    ```

    ```

    He could tell that the officers were somewhat wary of Bravo''s status as a foreign guest and hoped that he and Wu Longcai would cooperate to defuse Bravo''s anger, to turn a big issue into a small one and let the small one go away.

    ```

    ```

    This had always been the method for dealing with incidents involving foreign guests, but today''s involved party was Ge Dongxu, and naturally, he wasn''t someone to compromise or concede. Not only would he not, since Bravo dared to act so recklessly, Ge Dongxu would ensure he felt the consequences.

    ```

    ```

    "Comrade, as a fellow citizen, I can understand your feelings, but please understand our position too. After all, this involves a foreign guest, and we should give them full respect, making sure they don''t feel that our case handling is..." The officer, seeing Ge Dongxu''s lack of cooperation, said with a bitter smile.

    ```

    ```

    As a citizen of Huaxia Country, in general terms, since Ge Dongxu was in the right, the officer naturally sided with him. But when it came to matters involving foreign guests, nobody wanted to bear that burden. Everyone wanted to kick the ball away, hoping the involved parties would care for the bigger picture, opting for less hassle rather than more, and to compromise.

    ```

    ```

    However, in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, that wasn''t caring for the bigger picture; it was a lack of responsibility. It was disgraceful!

    ```

    ```

    "Sure, if others show us respect, we should indeed reciprocate, but they''ve already harassed us publicly, we don''t owe them any respect now. Alright, I see you have a tough job too, so here''s what we''ll do; I''ll make a phone call, and you won''t have to deal with this anymore," Ge Dongxu said bluntly, then took out his phone.

    ```

    ```

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s assertive manner and with the imposing figure of Wu Longcai, the director of the provincial entertainment station nearby, the officers didn''t dare to force Ge Dongxu to go with them but instead frowned and watched as he made the call.

    ```

    ```

    Ge Dongxu called Chief Zheng Zijie of the Provincial Public Security Department.

    ```

 Chapter 380 - 379: Its Better to Rely on Yourself than to Rely on Others

    At this moment, although Bravo''s case involved a foreign guest, it was far from a major incident such as murder or arson. The fact that the city bureau leadership was inquiring about the case already signified very high-standard treatment. Had it been an ordinary person, not to mention the city bureau leaders, even a local police station chief wouldn''t bother with such a trivial matter.

    Therefore, the case stopped at the city bureau and was not reported up to Zheng Zijie.

    Zheng Zijie had not yet gone to bed and was reading in his study when he saw the incoming call from Ge Dongxu, feeling both excited and quite surprised.

    A person like Ge Dongxu would certainly not call him unless there was an issue at hand.

    "Director Ge, what can I do for you?" Zheng Zijie, who came from a military background, was still characterized by a straightforward and no-nonsense style. He got straight to the point as soon as he answered the phone.

    "There is indeed something I need your help with," Ge Dongxu replied. Then he briefly described the incident that had taken place in the revolving restaurant, as well as the current situation where the police wanted to take them to the Public Security Bureau to handle the case.

    "Do they really think they can bully the people of Huaxia Country like this? These bastards are all spineless cowards. The state asks us to facilitate foreign businessmen as much as possible and create a good investment environment, but we haven''t been told to protect them unconditionally and without principle! Such scum among foreign businessmen should be slapped. And not just slapped¡ªI think they should be kicked out of our country and never allowed back in!" Upon hearing this, Zheng Zijie couldn''t help but erupt in anger and even let out a string of curses.

    At his level, as long as the matter didn''t pertain to major diplomatic issues, he was not afraid to stir things up, especially when it also involved Ge Dongxu.

    Who was Ge Dongxu? Not to mention his relationship with Elder Feng, you''re just a petty foreign businessman and you dare to act indecently in front of him? Not immediately arresting you for a few days is already polite, yet you have the audacity to falsely accuse him? Just his status as a special department director-level consultant is not something that any minor foreign businessman can slander! S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    If someone at Ge Dongxu''s level had to submit to such a trifle, it would be nothing less than a disgrace to the country.

    "Director Ge, please hand the phone to the police officer handling the case; I''d like to talk to them first. Then I''ll issue orders to the city bureau right away. If a foreigner dares to twist the truth like this and we don''t lock him up for a few days, he really will turn the sky upside down!" Zheng Zijie continued furiously.

    "Director Zheng, there''s no need to be so angry. After all, this person is just an exception. Moreover, in such cases, we can only collect a few eyewitness testimonies and don''t have concrete evidence to make public. If you really lock up Bravo for a few days, others might think we''re exploiting our position as the host, or even accuse me of using my power to bully others and distort facts to harm an international friend. You''re aware of how Western media, including media from countries like RB, tend to be biased towards the West. It will be difficult for you then. I''ll handle the rest of this matter; you don''t need to bother anymore," Ge Dongxu said, seeing Zheng Zijie lose his temper and tried to calm him down instead.

    "You have a point. After all, the incident happened in our country. If there are no photos or surveillance videos or the like, and they insist that we''re conspiring against him, and then international media outlets make unfounded reports, it''s indeed possible that we end up looking unreasonable despite being in the right. Unless foreign witnesses are also willing to testify in front of the media." As Ge Dongxu spoke, Zheng Zijie gradually calmed down and pondered for a moment before speaking.

    "It''s better to depend on ourselves rather than on others. Moreover, it would be disgraceful if we had to rely on foreigners to publicly testify in order to be believed when dealing with our own country''s matters. Don''t worry, if I don''t provoke others, they should count their blessings. If they dare to provoke me, it''s just their bad luck," Ge Dongxu stated indifferently, then added, "I''ll hand the phone to the officer by my side. You can instruct him, but since the police have been dispatched, let''s just take a few statements and forget about going to the Public Security Bureau. I''m not so idle that I''d make a special trip to the bureau for such a trivial matter."

    Although Zheng Zijie was full of curiosity about what kind of measures Ge Dongxu would use against Bravo, he remembered that Ge Dongxu was from the National Security department, which was responsible for the management of national security, the protection of national sovereignty and interests, as well as intelligence collection at home and abroad. They had various intelligence and reconnaissance bureaus, including the counter-espionage intelligence bureau. When it came to dealing with foreigners, their department was much more skilled than their Public Security one, which primarily focused on domestic matters. Conversely, a significant part of their work was international, like the CIA in the United States or MI6 in the United Kingdom. Even with his status, Zheng Zijie knew very little of the true secrets of their department.

    ```

    Since Ge Dongxu had spoken, there was naturally no need for them to worry anymore, and they just had to cooperate.

    So Zheng Zijie replied very decisively, "All right, hand the phone over to them."

    Ge Dongxu passed the mobile phone to the police officer leading the team and said, "Here, take a call."

    The police officer had grown nervous upon hearing Ge Dongxu address the caller as Director Zheng, and seeing how confidently Ge Dongxu spoke, he wondered if the call was from their Director of the Public Security Department.

    As soon as the police officer picked up the phone, he heard an authoritative voice say, "This is Zheng Zijie, which bureau are you from?"

    Once the police officer heard the imposing voice and realized it was indeed Director Zheng, he became so frightened that his face turned pale, and he immediately stood at attention, casting a surreptitious glance at Ge Dongxu filled with deep awe.

    It must be known that Ge Dongxu had been conversing with Director Zheng in a very regular tone the whole time, as if he was speaking to an ordinary person, not at all like the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department.

    "Reporting, Director, I am from the Ming YH District Public Security Sub-bureau..." The police officer stood at attention, stating his name, rank, and badge number.

    Zheng Zijie didn''t waste words with the officer but simply instructed him to record the statements in the revolving restaurant and there was no need to take the person back to the Public Security Bureau. As for how to deal with Bravo, Zheng Zijie would personally speak with their leaders, which didn''t need to be explained to the officer who answered the call. Find exclusive stories on My Virtual Library Empire

    "Yes, sir!" The police officer saluted and then returned the mobile phone to Ge Dongxu with both hands.

    Seeing the change in the police officer''s attitude before and after, and then recalling when the officer said "Reporting, Director," Jin Yushan and the others were still fine, as they were aware that Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person, but Director Zhao was nearly scared out of his wits.

    Wasn''t this the Director of the Jiangnan Province Public Security Department? So young, and casually calling the Director with complete equality in tone, this couldn''t possibly be some province leader''s son!

    In all of Jiangnan Province, there wasn''t a single son of any provincial leader who could speak to the Director of the Provincial Public Security Department with such authority.

    But what about a moment ago? Unless Director Zhao was blind, he would have noted that Ge Dongxu spoke to Zheng Zijie with equality, and Ge Dongxu''s tone when mentioning Bravo was enough to send chills down Director Zhao''s back¡ªit was clear he didn''t take Bravo seriously at all, as if dealing with him was like dealing with a stray cat or dog!

    ps: Today there will be two updates, with a burst for the rankings after twelve o''clock tonight.

    ```

 Chapter 381 - 380 I Understand Director Ge [1 Update]

    Ge Dongxu took the phone, exchanged a few more words with Chief Zheng, and then hung up.

    After hanging up the phone, Ge Dongxu looked at the police handling the case.

    Seeing this young man looking at him and remembering how he had casually called Chief Zheng just a moment ago, and how Chief Zheng had specifically instructed him to treat Ge Dongxu politely and not to offend him at all before hanging up, the police officer couldn''t help but feel a tingling sensation on his scalp.

    "You may ask us any questions; we''ll cooperate fully," Ge Dongxu said.

    Strangely, if Ge Dongxu had spoken like this before, the police would have thought he was arrogant and flamboyant. Yet now, from a different perspective, they suddenly found Ge Dongxu quite amiable and down-to-earth.

    "Thank you, thank you," the police officer said, thanking him repeatedly before taking out pen and paper to ask a few questions and then asking Ge Dongxu and the others to sign.

    "Where is this Bravo now? Is he still at the Public Security Bureau?" Ge Dongxu asked the police officer after giving his statement.

    "No, that guy reported the case and gave his statement, then left the Public Security Bureau and is waiting for our notification," the police officer replied.

    "Alright, thank you, I understand," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Thank you as well for your cooperation," said the police officer, saluting Ge Dongxu, before taking his team to the revolving restaurant. Naturally, Ge Dongxu and his group wouldn''t follow along. They said goodbye at the door and Wu Longcai and the others drove away, while Ge Dongxu strolled along Mingyue Lake holding Liu Jiayao''s hand after dinner.

    "According to Director Wu, not only did that Bravo report the incident, but it seems he has also informed their embassy. Is that really not a problem?" Liu Jiayao asked somewhat worriedly as they walked beside Mingyue Lake.

    "Heh, what could go wrong?" Ge Dongxu smiled easily and continued, "It''s just a bit more of a hassle, that''s all."

    With that, Ge Dongxu took out his phone and said, "I need to make a call."

    "Okay," Liu Jiayao nodded.

    Ge Dongxu then dialed Xu Lei, the person in charge of the Special Ability Management Bureau in Jiangnan Province.

    "Director Ge, good to hear from you. What directives do you have?" The call was quickly connected, and Xu Lei''s respectful voice came through.

    "I need your help with something. Look up the exact current location of a Spanish businessman named Bravo, then send someone with a video camera and a still camera to that location, and call me once they''re there. Right, this Bravo has been inspecting the Jiuyuan Economic Development Zone for the past couple of days, and the person in charge of the reception was a Director Ni. You can consult with Director Ni for specifics about him, or you can check with the Public Security Sub-bureau of Mingyue Lake District, since the guy just recently filed a report there," Ge Dongxu instructed Xu Lei where to get information about Bravo after giving his orders.

    Actually, Ge Dongxu didn''t really need to specifically inform him. With Xu Lei''s position, investigating a Spanish businessman was very straightforward.

    After all, they were under the National Security, and with a Spanish businessman visiting Linzhou City, the National Security would certainly pay attention.

    "Understood, Director Ge," Xu Lei said without hesitation, immediately accepting the task.

    "What are you up to, calling for someone with cameras and video cameras?" Liu Jiayao asked curiously after Ge Dongxu hung up the phone.

    "It''s nothing. Since that Bravo likes to be shameless and enjoys acting like a hooligan, I''ll let him be completely shameless and act out the part of a hooligan to the fullest," Ge Dongxu laughed.

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    "Why do I feel like you''re laughing with a bit of a sinister edge now? That Bravo, too, who did he have to provoke if not you!" Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu and suddenly realized that her worries were for naught. With someone as formidable as Ge Dongxu, a mere Spanish businessman was never going to trouble him.

    "You''re actually using ''sinister'' to describe me? Then I''ll be sinister this one time!" Ge Dongxu chuckled as he wrapped his arms around Liu Jiayao''s waist, and when no one was paying attention, he snuck a grab at her upturned and resilient buttocks.

    Then he immediately let go.

    "Ah! You big bad guy! You''ve learned to be so naughty!" Liu Jiayao hadn''t expected Ge Dongxu, who used to be so simple and honest, to dare to misbehave in broad daylight, and was taken aback for a moment before quickly raising her little fists and chasing after Ge Dongxu to give him a flurry of punches.

    "Alright, alright, I won''t dare next time, a lot of people are watching." Ge Dongxu hurriedly begged for mercy.

    Liu Jiayao originally wanted to continue, but hearing this, she glanced around and indeed, quite a few people were looking their way, causing her pretty face to instantly blush.

    After all, she was a female CEO and she had never flirted with a guy in front of a public crowd, let alone being the center of attention!

    "I''ll settle the score with you when we get back!" Liu Jiayao pretended to be nonchalant as she straightened her hair, then she hooked Ge Dongxu''s arm and secretly pinched him hard while gritting her teeth. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "As long as you don''t kick me out of the room, I''m happy to accept any way of settling the score," Ge Dongxu said with a mischievous smile.

    "In your dreams! I am going to kick you out of the room," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Ah, please no! I was wrong, truly wrong!" Ge Dongxu''s face suddenly showed an exaggerated look of dismay, followed by quickly begging for mercy.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s exaggerated expressions, even though Liu Jiayao clearly knew he was acting, she still felt an unspeakable sense of achievement and pride.

    "Too late!" Liu Jiayao tossed her hair back coolly.

    "Sister Liu, you wouldn''t really be so cruel, would you?" Ge Dongxu drooped his head, his face a picture of mournfulness.

    "Giggle!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s deflated look, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but laugh triumphantly.

    Her laughter sounded like silver bells under the night sky, making Ge Dongxu''s mood ripple along with it.

    Life is truly wonderful!

    "Enough, stop giving me that pitiful act! You think I don''t know that you were well aware I wouldn''t go that far!" After a while, Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a sharp look.

    "Hehe, I knew Sister Liu has the softest heart," Ge Dongxu took the opportunity to flatter her.

    "Weren''t you questioning how cruel I could be?" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes.

    "Did I?" Ge Dongxu feigned confusion.

    "You..." Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu deny it, couldn''t help but pinch him again.

    The two of them continued to chat, laugh, and tease each other along the way when Ge Dongxu''s phone rang.

    Ge Dongxu took it out and saw it was a call from Xu Lei, so he answered.

    "Director Ge, we have found that Bravo. He is currently dining at a Western restaurant on Lakefront Road," Xu Lei reported.

    "He''s still dining at a Western restaurant? Oh, I forgot he didn''t get the chance to eat earlier!" Ge Dongxu was slightly startled, then laughed.

    "Director Ge, what should we do now? Should we drag him out and give him a good thrashing?" Xu Lei asked.

    Given Xu Lei''s status, his investigation during that short period of time had not only cleared up everything about Bravo''s incident at the revolving restaurant but also nearly unravelled all that Bravo had done since arriving in Huaxia Country. Knowing that after being taught a lesson by Ge Dongxu, Bravo dared to call the police and report to their Embassy to pressure the Foreign Affairs Office, Xu Lei naturally wanted to drag Bravo out and beat him up.

    Of course, with his abilities, even if he beat up Bravo, Bravo would certainly have no idea what had happened afterwards.

 Chapter 382 - 381: This is What Happens When You Offend a Master [Second Update]

    ```

    "No need, I''ll treat you to a good show, and I think you''ll know what to do next," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile, then hung up the phone and led Liu Jiayao to a bench by the lake to sit down, saying with a laugh, "Let me deal with that Bravo issue first."

    Having said that, under the curious gaze of Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu took out the strand of hair from his pocket, along with the droplet of blood ensnared in his True Qi.

    Muttering words under his breath and forming a spell with his hands, the blood transformed into wisps of Blood Qi that wrapped around the strand of hair before finally seeping into it.

    However, under the night sky, Liu Jiayao couldn''t see these details. All she saw was the droplet of blood seemingly evaporating into thin air after Ge Dongxu chanted.

    After the Blood Qi was absorbed by the strand of hair, it seemed to come to life, dancing in Ge Dongxu''s palm as he worked the spell.

    At the same moment, in the Western restaurant, Xu Lei and his subordinate Ma Xiaoshuai watched in surprise as Bravo suddenly stood up from his seat and began a most indecent dance in the aisle of the restaurant.

    While Xu Lei and Ma Xiaoshuai were surprised, the other customers in the Western restaurant were shocked.

    They couldn''t imagine that someone who looked so decent like Bravo would dance such a lewd and shameful dance in this setting.

    Linzhou City is an international tourist city, and this Western restaurant is located near the world-famous Mingyue Lake, naturally attracting many foreign tourists dining inside.

    "Oh!MyGod!" sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Whatashit!"

    "@#£¤%"

    "Holy shit, what is this foreigner doing? So fucking indecent!"

    "..."

    Various exclamations and curses in different languages filled the restaurant.

    However, the gasps and curses in the restaurant seemed to stimulate Bravo even further; he ran up to a couple from the United States and made a vulgar gesture at his crotch, enraging the American man who stood up to throw a punch at him.

    Bravo seemed to know someone was about to hit him, so he quickly ran off.

    Seeing this, the restaurant manager hurried over to pull Bravo away. Being a French restaurant, the manager was a handsome Frenchman.

    Bravo, seeing him coming to pull him away, instead wrapped his arms around him and performed lewd gestures, disgusting the restaurant manager who shouted loudly.

    Then several people came over to drive Bravo away.

    Unexpectedly, Bravo stripped off his clothes and pants, ran naked into the street, waved his clothing at people and vehicles passing by, and sometimes even hugged a streetlight pole to dance like a pole dancer...

    "Click! Click!" Camera flashes kept lighting up the night; many people, including some foreigners, captured this ugly scene, especially the American who was harassed in person earlier. He kept snapping photos of Bravo. Given his professional camera and the angles at which he shot, Xu Lei suspected he was a reporter for an American newspaper.

    In fact, Xu Lei had guessed right. This guy was indeed a journalist for an American newspaper. He had taken his annual leave to travel to Huaxia Country with his wife, expecting to encounter friendliness everywhere in Huaxia. Yet, it was an outsider like himself from Europe or America that had disgusted him.

    The scene didn''t last long before police cars arrived and took Bravo away.

    "See that, Xiao Ma? This is what happens when you offend a master," Xu Lei watched as the police took Bravo away, put away his camera, and said to Ma Xiaoshuai beside him.

    ```

    Ma Xiaoshuai shivered at the words, saying, "Boss, I will definitely revere Director Ge like an ancestor from now on, damn, his methods are too fucking ruthless. But, that''s exactly how you should deal with such trash! I bet their embassy will be blindsided once this report goes out, for sure they won''t dare to stand up for such trash anymore! Otherwise, their nation''s reputation will be completely ruined."

    "Good that you understand, this is where Director Ge''s brilliance lies. Tsk tsk, I have no idea how Director Ge did it, such a miraculous technique, I''m sure I''ll never have the chance to learn it in my lifetime," Xu Lei looked at Ma Xiaoshuai and then expressed his admiration with a look of esteem.

    "Tsk tsk, if I learned such a technique, and then found a beautiful girl..." Ma Xiaoshuai started to let his imagination run wild.

    "Slap!" While Ma Xiaoshuai was drifting into his reveries, his head was sharply slapped by Xu Lei, "Ma Xiaoshuai, let me tell you, no matter how special the Cultivation Method of the Cherishing Flowers Sect is, if you dare to covet a decent girl, then you better be prepared to become a eunuch."

    "Boss, don''t worry, I won''t harm any good family''s daughter," Ma Xiaoshuai hastily cradled his head and said.

    Seeing Ma Xiaoshuai''s reaction, Xu Lei then eased his expression and said, "Let''s head back, this matter still needs to be dealt with once we return."

    As for Ge Dongxu, he didn''t make a call, since Ge Dongxu had already prepared the necessary materials for them, and Xu Lei naturally knew what to do next, where was there any need to ask Ge Dongxu for advice?

    By the shore of Mingyue Lake, Ge Dongxu stopped making spell motions, and a breeze blew by, carrying away the strand of hair that had just been in the palm of his hand, fluttering down to the surface of the lake.

    "That''s done," Ge Dongxu said with a light smile, taking Liu Jiayao''s hand.

    "Are you saying, just like that, you''ve already taken care of Bravo''s issue?" Liu Jiayao asked incredulously and curiously.

    "Of course! I''m a master of this era, dealing with trash like him is a piece of cake. Actually, me personally taking action is already beneath my status," Ge Dongxu said with a cocky smile.

    Ge Dongxu''s words were not an empty boast at all, he alone was now equivalent to an elite force entirely composed of special forces! Did such trash even need the deployment of an elite force?

    "But I didn''t see you do anything?" Liu Jiayao still couldn''t imagine how Ge Dongxu had already settled the score with Bravo.

    "Hehe, you should know by tomorrow," Ge Dongxu said teasingly.

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    "Don''t want to tell me? Fine! I don''t fancy knowing anyway!" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a disdainful glance.

    Ge Dongxu simply smiled, not continuing the conversation.

    It wasn''t that he didn''t want to talk about it, but such matters were rather disgusting, and he was somewhat embarrassed to mention them. Moreover, even if he did tell Liu Jiayao, she would surely still find it unbelievable. Better wait for her to see the related reports tomorrow.

    Ge Dongxu was very clear that if it were another foreigner in Huaxia Country who had caused such a scandal, the media in Huaxia Country would most likely not report it, as this would seem an improper way to treat a guest.

    However, in the case of this Bravo, the scandal would definitely hit the papers tomorrow evening, because one of the people involved was Ge Dongxu himself!

    In fact, after the incident at the revolving restaurant by Mingyue Lake, if Bravo had simply backed off, it would have been over, especially since Ge Dongxu had already slapped him twice. But Bravo had the audacity to reverse black and white and go to the police, even bringing the matter to their Embassy in Huaxia, so from the moment Ge Dongxu called Zheng Zijie, it was destined to be reported. Once reported, it''s needless to say that the provincial leaders would be furious, especially Sang Yunlong, who was about to take the position of provincial governor, would definitely not let it slide, and as for Director Fan Hong of the Special Ability Management Bureau receiving Xu Lei''s report, that goes without saying.

    Dammit, you foreigners come to our land, where we accommodate you at every turn, and even if you occasionally make some mistakes, we turn a blind eye, and in conflicts with the locals, we''re also lenient because you''re our guests. But now, you''ve gone too far, bullying a disciple of Elder Feng, even someone who''s a director-level consultant in our special departments.

    This is absolutely intolerable!

    A tiger that doesn''t show its might is mistaken for a sick cat!

    So with this matter, reporting it was a given, and Bravo, for violating the "Public Security Administration Punishments Law" related to acts such as deliberate nudity in public places, was very likely to be detained and punished.

 Chapter 383 - 382 Reporting [3rd Update]

    Liu Jiayao was not interested in Bravo''s affairs, and seeing Ge Dongxu smile without saying anything, she didn''t pursue the matter further.

    The couple, holding hands, grew tired of walking by Mingyue Lake, so Ge Dongxu carried her back to where the car was parked and drove back to Yadu Garden.

    Once back at Yadu Garden, the two naturally couldn''t avoid a bit of a struggle. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This struggle left Liu Jiayao as exhausted and limp as before.

    "Next time, go find your senior Lili!" Before closing her eyes to sleep, Liu Jiayao bit Ge Dongxu hard and said.

    Watching Liu Jiayao sweetly fall asleep in his arms, and hearing the words she said echoing in his ears, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but smile bitterly to himself; he hadn''t had his fill yet!

    Early the next morning, Ge Dongxu prepared breakfast for Liu Jiayao and left her a note before he left Yadu Garden for Jiang Region Jewelry.

    Maybe it was because of the teardrop-shaped jade pendant necklace, but Tang Yahui seemed more radiant today than usual.

    Having taken the ring from Tang Yahui, Ge Dongxu directly hired a car and headed home, without returning to Yadu Garden.

    Because a trip to Myanmar had delayed him by two days, he had to rush back home; Ge Dongxu could not guarantee that his mother wouldn''t blow up.

    If mother were to blow up, it was no laughing matter; despite all Ge Dongxu''s abilities, he would still end up being scolded.

    Sitting in the car, Ge Dongxu called Tang Yiyuan and Fan Hong one after another.

    To fully heal his teacher Yang Yinhou''s leg injury, he needed Jiuyang Lifesaving Soup. However, most of the herbs required for Jiuyang Lifesaving Soup were rare and not easily found; even Yang Yinhou had never heard of Jiuyang Chi Yan Fruit and Ganlin Xuanyang Grass. Relying solely on Yang Yinhou''s finances and connections might not suffice to gather them promptly. Luckily, Tang Yiyuan was an experienced traditional doctor knowledgeable about medicinal herbs and had extensive connections in the traditional medicine community. Even though Fan Hong was not a traditional doctor, he was the director of the Special Ability Management Bureau, wielded considerable authority, and many sect members and Qimen practitioners were registered under him. It was likely certain sects or individuals might have these rare herbs. If he were to spread the word, the efficiency would be much higher compared to Yang Yinhou''s effort.

    Although Tang Yiyuan and Fan Hong did not officially share a master-disciple relationship with Ge Dongxu, they practically did¡ªone in medicine and one in cultivation¡ªso when Ge Dongxu asked for their help, they naturally agreed without hesitation.

    Ge Dongxu was concerned that the two might not know about Jiuyang Chi Yan Fruit and Ganlin Xuanyang Grass, so he went out of his way to describe these two herbs to them.

    After making these two calls, Ge Dongxu then rested with his eyes closed in the car.

    ...

    "Damn, no way, that foreigner is too outrageous, isn''t he?"

    "Shit, such trash should be kicked out of our country, banned from ever setting foot here again!"

    "..."

    As Ge Dongxu was already on the car returning to his hometown, early morning headlines in the Linzhou Morning Post among other newspapers reported last night''s incident of Bravo causing havoc at a Western restaurant and by the lake, provoking widespread discussion among citizens.

    "Slam!" In the capital, in the office of the Spanish ambassador at the Spanish Embassy, the ambassador forcefully threw a stack of documents onto his desk.

    Given that there were not many Spanish citizens and businesses in Huaxia, and given that Bravo was from one of the more powerful Spanish corporations, the ambassador had taken his urgent night call seriously. He immediately liaised via phone with relevant staff in Huaxia Country, urging Huaxia''s judicial authorities to handle the matter seriously and ensure justice for Bravo.

    Yet, the next day, the ambassador received those unsightly photos, along with testimonies collected last night by the Linzhou Public Security Bureau, including statements from several foreigners.

    Moreover, immediately after the incident, journalists from Linzhou city had rushed to the scene for coverage. The French manager of the Western restaurant and the American couple both expressed their outrage during their interviews, which were also reported in the newspapers with their photos and comments.

    Thinking about how he had exerted pressure on Huaxia Country last night on behalf of such a disgrace, the Spanish ambassador in Huaxia suddenly felt a burning pain on his face.

    This time not only Bravo was completely disgraced, but even Spain''s dignity was entirely lost.

    After venting his fury in the office, the ambassador immediately asked someone to contact the relevant person in charge at the European Department of Foreign Affairs. He needed to communicate with them promptly to prevent the scandal from spreading further!

    If the entire Huaxia Country became aware, even walking out in public would be embarrassing for him as an ambassador.

    While the ambassador was negotiating with the officials from Huaxia Country, Liu Jiayao had already gone to work. In her office, she saw the news report and was stunned for quite some time before regaining her composure.

    No one knew better than her what Ge Dongxu had done last night.

    However, Liu Jiayao could never have imagined that with just a few casual gestures, Mr. Bravo could end up in such a miserable state.

    "This guy! Whoever offends him really has bad luck!" After regaining her composure, Liu Jiayao could not help shaking her head and laughing.

    Wu Longcai and others, including Director Zheng, knew about the news much earlier than Liu Jiayao. Upon hearing it, they were all shocked!

    Being insiders and somewhat aware that Ge Dongxu was a remarkable young man, they connected the dots about this incident and naturally concluded that it definitely had something to do with Ge Dongxu.

    Once they reached this conclusion, they were no longer just shocked, but terrified and their skin crawled with horror!

    They simply couldn''t imagine how Ge Dongxu managed to do this!

    "I am a Spanish citizen, you have no right to detain me! I will protest to your government!" Bravo roared angrily in the detention room at the Linzhou City Mingyue Lake District Public Security Bureau.

    "Mr. Bravo, you violated our country''s public security laws last night. We have the right to detain you for public security reasons, so your protest is useless," said the police officer in the detention center, calmly speaking and feeling as refreshed as drinking iced Qinghe Herbal Tea during the scorching summer.

    Damn, finally got to stand up to a foreigner!

    "You are slandering me!" Bravo continued to roar.

    "Slander? Take a good look at this, will you? You wouldn''t fail to recognize this person, right?" the police officer in the detention center said unhurriedly, pulling out a newspaper and pointing to a photo, speaking in somewhat unsmooth English.

    As soon as Bravo saw it, he recognized himself and broke out into a cold sweat immediately.

    But soon, he started to act shamelessly like last night, yelling, "Someone is framing me! Someone is framing me!"

    "Could you tell me who is framing you, and how?" the police officer in the detention center continued to ask in broken English, unruffled.

    "It''s... it''s..." Bravo stammered and couldn''t say it.

    He wanted to say it was Ge Dongxu who framed him, but even as shameless as he was, he knew he couldn''t just make such baseless claims.

    He also clearly understood that last night he had lost his mind on his own accord, without anyone forcing him! But how could this have happened?

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    "You better just stay here quietly!" Seeing that Bravo couldn''t speak, the police officer disdainfully curled his lip and then unceremoniously pushed him into the cell and locked it up.

    "My god, what kind of day is this, when foreigners are even squatting in jail with us?" Inside the detention cell, some criminals who had been arrested surveyed Bravo, who had just been crammed in, like he was an alien from another planet, making Bravo shake all over in fear.

    In Spain, he had often heard about people in prison being picked on for dropping the soap; who knew what kind of behavior the criminals in Huaxia Country''s prisons exhibited?

    His foreign identity had been very useful outside, but now that he was a prisoner, who would care about him!

 Chapter 384 - 383 Only Can Take Beating [4th Update]

    "The university student from our village is back!" Ge Dongxu got off at the entrance to Ge Family Village, and all the villagers he encountered along the way greeted him with smiling faces. The way they looked at him also seemed to carry a hint of awe, as if this kid who once ran wild around the village had suddenly become a notable figure.

    This made Ge Dongxu suddenly very uncomfortable, thinking it was a good thing that in the eyes of these familiar villagers, he was just a university student. If they knew about his other identity, he guessed they wouldn''t even dare to greet him on the road.

    Thinking about his own parents, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt that their low-key choices were very appropriate. They had spent half their lives in the village, familiar faces and good friends were all villagers. If suddenly, these relationships changed, were they supposed to adapt to a new environment and make new friends at their age?

    Even if they wanted to blend in, it would probably be difficult, especially for his father, who had been a farmer for half his life and wasn''t very educated. Some things were deeply ingrained in him, and thrusting him suddenly into upper-class society would just make things difficult for him.

    Moreover, the complicated interpersonal relationships and complex human hearts in the upper levels were definitely not suitable for his father.

    When Ge Dongxu arrived home, it was already three in the afternoon. Since guests and playing usually ran late, they had just sent off the last wave of guests. His dad was busy clearing the table.

    "Dad, I''m back," Ge Dongxu called out as he approached.

    "You finally decided to come back?" Ge Shengming, seeing it was his son, gave him a stern look.

    It wasn''t easy for the Ge Family to have a university student, and just like Xu Suya, Ge Shengming had also been eagerly waiting for the college entrance examination results. But his son not only disappeared without a trace, but had also tossed such an important matter aside, making them have to call him to inquire about it, naturally, Ge Shengming had his reservations!

    "Hehe! This is my home, of course, I had to come back." Ge Dongxu put down his things, went up and playfully hugged his dad''s shoulder.

    "Alright, alright, have you eaten?" Even if Ge Shengming had his reservations not long ago, they had actually already disappeared. Now, it was just an act for his son to see, lest he become too unruly in the future. Now that his son hugged his shoulder, Ge Shengming could no longer keep a straight face and asked him about his meal with concern.

    "Not yet, but I''m not hungry at all. By the way, where''s Mom?" Ge Dongxu responded with a smile, then looked around.

    "What time is it now, and you still haven''t eaten? What if you ruin your stomach? I''ll cook some dishes for you." Ge Shengming glared at his son and quickly put down the dishrag to help prepare a few dishes.

    "Really, Dad, I don''t need it. I can go days without food. Besides, it''s already past three o''clock, let''s just wait a bit and have dinner." Ge Dongxu quickly held back his dad.

    Ge Shengming, knowing his son''s capabilities, hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "That works too. Let''s eat dinner earlier when your mom gets back."

    "Mom went to Grandpa''s house?" Ge Dongxu asked again.

    "No, she went to learn driving," Ge Shengming replied.

    "Learn driving? Mom went to learn driving?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel surprised.

    "What''s the matter? You look down on your mom? If your dad can learn, why can''t I?" Ge Shengming''s words had just fallen when Xu Suya''s voice came from outside.

    "Mom!" Seeing it was his mom who returned, Ge Dongxu quickly went up and gave her a hug, additionally praising her, "Wow, Mom, you look younger and prettier!"

    "Tsk tsk, college students are really different; their words are so sweet, unlike your dad, who has lived with me for most of our lives and has never said such things to me," Xu Suya said with a smile, glancing at Ge Shengming as she spoke.

    "We''re an old couple now, wouldn''t it be cheesy to say those things!" Ge Shengming retorted nonchalantly.

    "Dad, that''s where you''re wrong. Look at those Westerners; they''re old and still traveling together as a couple! You guys are just how old now? The good life has just begun not long ago. You can''t have an old mindset. Besides, haven''t you noticed that mom really is getting more beautiful with each passing day?" Ge Dongxu said, laughing as he critiqued.

    In the past two or three years, he had often accompanied Liu Jiayao to Mingyue Lake''s revolving restaurant for meals. There, he indeed came across many foreign old men and women with white hair, traveling together, clinking glasses, and gazing affectionately at each other, never feeling old at all. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dongxu, don''t bother telling your dad these things. I believe he''ll never understand them in this lifetime," Xu Suya said, giving Ge Shengming another glance.

    "Don''t worry, mom, I''ll take on the job of educating dad," Ge Dongxu said, patting his chest. Stay updated via My Virtual Library Empire

    "Hey, son, this sounds a bit odd to me. Don''t tell me you''ve already found a daughter-in-law for me?" Xu Suya asked, scrutinizing Ge Dongxu with an interrogatory look.

    "Cough cough!" Ge Dongxu''s heart thumped wildly at his mom''s words, feeling utterly guilty.

    Although he strutted around impressively outside, in front of his mother he was still genuinely an eighteen-year-old boy, and eighteen was clearly too young to be finding a daughter-in-law.

    He indeed felt too embarrassed to tell his mom that he had not only found her a daughter-in-law outside but more than one.

    "Mom, it''s still early. It''s still early. Oh, didn''t you go to learn driving? How is it going?" Ge Dongxu finally felt too shy to mention Liu Jiayao and the others, cleverly changing the subject.

    Typically, beginners in driving are always interested in conversations about cars, and sure enough, as Ge Dongxu diverted the topic, Xu Suya''s attention immediately shifted.

    Of course, this was also because Xu Suya didn''t expect that her young son had already found her a daughter-in-law, otherwise nothing could have shifted her focus from that matter.

    "I''m learning well, the instructor said I have a good knack for it, much better than your dad," Xu Suya said excitedly and proudly.

    "That''s for sure, my mom is well-educated!" Ge Dongxu responded with a laugh.

    "You rascal, making fun of your dad again, right? What does driving have to do with education?" Ge Shengming complained as he swatted his son''s head lightly.

    "Dad, wasn''t I just trying to cheer mom up? Can''t you just be a bit more generous and play the supporting role?" Ge Dongxu said, touching his head and smiling wryly.

    Taken aback, Ge Shengming then lightly hit Ge Dongxu''s head again and said, "Why didn''t you say that earlier?"

    "I''m telling you, dad, you''re going to knock the smarts right out of me," Ge Dongxu said, touching his head and smiling bitterly, "Just think back on how formidable and awe-inspiring I was in the capital, in Linzhou, in Myanmar... but at home, I''m just the one who gets hit."

 Chapter 385 - 384: Town 3 Elementary School [5th Update]

    "Hey, Ge Shengming, if you hit my son''s head again, we''re not done!" Although Ge Dongxu was just complaining casually, his mother wouldn''t have any of it and immediately charged at Ge Shengming with hands on her hips and glaring eyes.

    "Suya, don''t listen to this kid''s nonsense. With his head, even if you hit it with a brick, the brick would crack but his head wouldn''t be affected at all," Ge Shengming hurriedly defended as he saw his wife flexing her authority.

    "So what you''re saying is, we should have used a brick just now?" Xu Suya glanced at Ge Shengming and asked softly.

    "Ah! That''s not what I meant. I''ll clear the table. You two have a good chat, a good chat," Ge Shengming, noticing Xu Suya suddenly becoming gentle, felt his hair stand on end and hurriedly began to clear the dishes toward the kitchen.

    "Dad, let me do it." Ge Dongxu quickly moved to grab the dishes from his father''s hands, laughing.

    "Good son, just spare your old man, alright? Didn''t you see your mom''s eyes almost shooting swords?" Ge Shengming whispered.

    "Pfft, look at you, so pathetic. Aren''t you embarrassed for your son to see you like this? Okay, stop arguing, give them to me!" Xu Suya couldn''t hold back her laughter anymore, stepped forward and took over without further ado.

    Seeing this, Ge Shengming and his son chuckled, then let Xu Suya take over, but they didn''t just stand by; they went on to tidy up the other tables.

    The three of them bustled about happily for a while before they finally had a chance to sit down.

    "Mom, why didn''t you tell me you were learning to drive? I could have found someone to arrange a coach for you," Ge Dongxu brought up the driving lesson issue again once they had sat down.

    "For such a small matter¡ªwhy involve you? Your dad contacted the coach who taught him last time; that coach is a very nice person," Xu Suya said.

    "Figures I can only handle small tasks," Ge Shengming muttered from the sidelines.

    "Look at you, competing with your son, do you have no shame?" Xu Suya gave Ge Shengming a cold look.

    "Heh heh." Ge Shengming smiled sheepishly.

    "That''s good then." Hearing it was the coach who taught his father before and recalling that it was Chief Zuo Le who introduced him to his dad, Ge Dongxu knew that despite Zuo Le having transferred away from Changxi County, the coach would likely still give them due respect; this reassured him, and he nodded in affirmation before curiously asking, "What suddenly made you want to learn driving, Mom?"

    "Your mom, she''s going to teach at the town now," Ge Shengming helped to answer.

    "Mom''s going to teach in town? What will happen to the elementary school in our village?" Ge Dongxu was taken aback.

    "Previously, the town''s finances were limited, and the transportation in our mountain areas was poor, so schools like ours in the village mostly operated locally with non-officially dispatched teachers, just a few educated individuals from within the village. Your mom was one of the better ones, having reached high school. In recent years, the economy has been doing well, and living conditions along with transportation have significantly improved, so the town started to plan centralized education. They built Baiyun Town Third Elementary School on Dongxing Street in Baiyun Town, and moved students from Ge Family Village and about seven or eight surrounding villages there to study," explained Xu Suya.

    "It''s more formal this way, and both teaching resources and other educational assets can be centralized, which is a good thing," said Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes, so I''ll need to go and teach in town when the new school year starts. Though the road is now open and it''s not far, and it''s convenient to ride a bike or take a bus, there can still be emergencies when I''m rushed for time and might need a car, so I figured I might as well learn to drive," Xu Suya continued.

    "I see, so does going to teach in town mean she''ll be an official teacher?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile, knowing his mother loved the education profession and teaching children. He had been taught by his mother in elementary school, so he was genuinely happy for her.

    "Not really, but if I teach for a year or so and perform well, I should be able to become an official teacher," Xu Suya replied with a smile, obviously in a good mood.

    "There won''t be any problem, will there?" Ge Dongxu asked somewhat worriedly.

    "What problem could there be? Your mom went to high school, and she even obtained a teaching certificate a few years ago, and she has been recognized as an outstanding rural teacher by the town for several years. Although over these years, she only managed to get one of her students into university, which was you, she''s still cultivated a few from vocational and normal schools. Among them, Ge Jiahui even graduated from the normal school last year and is teaching at County No. 3 Elementary School. Besides, your mom has devoted her best years to the cause of rural educational business. Back when Baiyun Mountain was poor and couldn''t even pay a salary of a few tens of yuan, your mom figured she''d teach you as well as a group of children for free, so she taught for quite some time without pay," Xu Suya said proudly.

    "Yes, in our poor mountain area, no one wanted to come and teach. In the village, not to mention high school graduates, we hardly had anyone who finished elementary school. If it weren''t for your mom, I doubt there would be many educated people from Ge Family Village now. Plus, the high school graduates back then weren''t inferior to your current university graduates. Your mom''s academic and teaching levels were evident, so you don''t need to worry about this," Ge Shengming remarked emotionally.

    "That''s right, Dongxu. Your mom is a people''s teacher who nurtures minds, she definitely needs to stand upright and also turn regular in an upright manner, so don''t you go talking to Director Zuo Le at the education department about this. If it happens that way, even if I become regular, it would be losing face!" Xu Suya suddenly remembered her son was no ordinary person and also dutiful; recalling when his father went to get his driver''s license and was afraid of being scolded by the instructor, he had even gone to speak with Director Zuo Le, so she hurriedly gave a preemptive warning.

    Xu Suya came from a good background, and she had had the chance to land a good job or marry into a well-to-do household, but she chose Ge Shengming. This choice clearly showed her noble and stubborn nature.

    Stay updated through My Virtual Library Empire sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As a teacher, she had always been diligent and excellent in her job, and her qualifications were indeed sufficient for regularization, so she would not allow reliance on her son or connections to achieve it.

    If regularization were to happen, it had to be done rightly!

    "Don''t worry, Mom, I understand. Dad was worried about the mixed quality of driving school instructors back then, who took bribes and scolded students, so he asked Director Zuo for help, fearing Dad would be disadvantaged. But this is about your job, and with your qualifications clear, why would I mess things up and lose face for you?" Ge Dongxu knew his mother''s intentions well and spoke seriously.

 Chapter 386 - 385: Already Broke 100,000,000 [6th Update, Please Vote]

    "That''s good. I''m just worried that now you have some skills, you''re going to get cocky and start messing around like some people," Xu Suya nodded and said.

    "Mom, that''s not underestimating me, it''s underestimating the results of your education over more than a decade!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "You little rascal! You''ve grown up and now you even know how to tease your mom with your roundabout ways!" Xu Suya laughed and gave Ge Dongxu a white look, obviously in a good mood.

    "Where would I dare to? What I mean to say is, your educational results are excellent, so you don''t need to worry. How bad could I possibly get? I''m just like Dad down to my bones, a thoroughly nice guy!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "That''s also true! If your dad weren''t such a nice guy, your mom wouldn''t have been tricked by him into moving to this backwater," Xu Suya said with a smile, and while saying so, she didn''t forget to glare at Ge Shengming.

    Ge Shengming, on the other hand, was laughing proudly and ended up receiving a covert kick from Xu Suya.

    Ge Dongxu pretended not to see and laughed, "Since mom you''re learning to drive, let''s pick out a car in the next few days. You definitely can''t keep using Dad''s little truck to go to school."

    "Your mom''s just a primary school teacher in a small town, and still a substitute for now. If you let your mom drive a sedan to school, people who don''t know any better might think she''s showing off her wealth!" Xu Suya said.

    "If you don''t drive a car, then what''s the point of learning to drive?" Ge Dongxu was dumbfounded.

    "Learning to drive is just for emergencies. Sometimes there might be something urgent, and then I''ll drive your dad''s car," Xu Suya said matter-of-factly.

    "Mom, your way of thinking is a bit outdated. In fact, our country''s economy has truly developed now, and the car ownership rate is getting higher and higher. You might as well buy a domestic brand like Geely¡ªit''s just tens of thousands of yuan. I don''t think anybody would say anything," Ge Dongxu said.

    "I know that, but let''s wait another year or two, until people around here start to get richer and your mom becomes a regular teacher. Then we''ll talk about buying a car. Otherwise, I always feel uncomfortable driving to school," Xu Suya said.

    "Well, okay, as you wish. Just let me know when you want to buy the car," Ge Dongxu said, nodding his head and suddenly feeling his temperament was probably more like his mother''s. Yesterday in the Provincial Capital, when Liu Jiayao asked him about buying a car, his thoughts were not much different from his mom''s.

    "Alright, your dad and I both know you have money! Now the guests at your dad''s restaurant mostly order Qinghe Herbal Tea when they want a drink," Xu Suya said happily.

    "Oh, Dongxu, just how much does Qinghe Herbal Tea sell in a month now?" Seeing his wife bring up Qinghe Herbal Tea, Ge Shengming couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    "It has already broken a hundred million," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "A... a hundred million!" Ge Shengming and his wife''s jaws dropped, and they were petrified right there and then.

    A hundred million in a month means¡­ The couple was too afraid to continue the thought.

    "Phew!" It took a long while for Ge Shengming and his wife to let out a long sigh and said, "Never mind, I won''t ask about these things in the future. If we really need a lot of money, we''ll just ask you for it."

    "My own son, of course, I wouldn''t ask for payment." Ge Dongxu laughed, not daring to go on about the other five companies he owned.

    Qinglan Cosmetics and Donglin Yue, needless to say, were both big companies making big money, especially the latter with its considerable profits. As for the Kundian Chain Hotels, they had recently become formalized, and it was estimated that by next year, they should start turning a profit. Yaxu Packaging Printing, thanks to the business from Qinghe Herbal Tea, was also making money, only a little less. As for that Yile Computer Company, he had only invested some money and didn''t inquire further.

    "That''s easy to say, but your mom and I don''t really need that much money. Money can''t be taken with us in life or death. If you have the ability, take some out to help the poor children in the mountainous regions. Consider it your way of showing filial piety to us," Xu Suya looked earnestly at her son as she spoke.

    "Mom, I will. And besides, for those of us running businesses, as long as we do well, create more job opportunities, and give more benefits to our employees, that in itself is also charitable," Ge Dongxu nodded in response.

    Since the establishment of Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory, Ge Dongxu, though largely hands-off in most matters, always paid attention to staff welfare. Thus to this point, the company culture had grown positively, and the employees were very united.

    He maintained the same attitude towards the other companies as well.

    At Qinglan Cosmetics, Liu Jiayao had been continuously supporting children from impoverished mountainous regions, so these days, he didn''t hesitate to allocate a portion of his profits from Qinglan Cosmetics Company to support her charitable endeavors.

    "My Dongxu has truly grown up. Your vision is already far beyond mine. I only thought about giving fish, while you have already thought about teaching how to fish," Xu Suya said with great pride and satisfaction as she nodded at her son.

    "What''s all this about giving fish and teaching to fish? Talking to you cultured folks is so tiring. Dongxu hasn''t had lunch yet, I''m going to prepare dinner early," Ge Shengming said as he stood up.

    Xu Suya and Ge Dongxu watched Ge Shengming shaking his head and couldn''t help but burst out laughing.

    "I''ll help you, dad. It''s been quite a while since I''ve been in the kitchen," Ge Dongxu said as he laughed heartily and stood up to follow. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You father and son go and cook, I''m waiting to eat. I''m dead tired from half a day''s driving lessons," Xu Suya said with a content smile as she watched the father and son head to the kitchen, arms around each other''s shoulders.

    Once in the kitchen, Ge Dongxu handed the jade ring, with a drop of Lifebound Essence Blood already dripped onto it, to Ge Shengming, saying, "Dad, this is for you. Take it and wear it later, then drop a bit of blood onto it."

    Ge Shengming was no connoisseur of jade, but he could tell the translucent, lustrous blue-green quality indicated fine jade. Plus, his son asking him to drop blood on it clearly indicated its value. He was stunned for a moment before he took the ring and, touching Ge Dongxu''s head, said, "Having a son like you makes me feel that my life hasn''t been wasted." Experience tales at My Virtual Library Empire

    "Dad, you''ve omitted someone. If mom heard that, you''d be in trouble," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "You little rascal, looking for a spanking eh!" Ge Shengming''s multitude of emotions were completely disrupted by his son''s remark. He almost raised his hand to smack the boy''s head but remembered the ring his son just gave him. He ended up just raising his hand without bringing it down.

    Even though Ge Shengming knew his son was no ordinary person, the connected feeling he had after wearing the ring and dropping blood onto it still left him utterly shocked. It took him a good while to recover.

    "This is what I prepared for mom. You give it to her later," Ge Dongxu said as he saw his father put on the ring and drop blood on it, then handed over the bracelet with Lifebound Essence Blood on it.

    ps: This is already the sixth update, I''ll keep working on the draft. Updates for the next four chapters will continue after 7 am tomorrow. It''s my birthday today, so please support the book and help push it up the sales charts. Thank you.

 Chapter 387 - 386: Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer [Seventh Release - Vote Request]

    "You bought it, you give it," Ge Shengming said.

    "I bought it on behalf of you. Don''t think Mom was just talking. Actually, she cares about this stuff a bit. You, you need to buy her flowers or gifts every now and then. We used to say we needed to save money, but now that you''ve got some money in your pocket and a car, isn''t it convenient to go out and pick up a small gift? My mom is only in her early forties this year. She''s followed you through tough times for over twenty years. Now that we have better days, you really should show your appreciation," Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "You cheeky kid, now you''re lecturing your dad, huh!" Ge Shengming glared at his son, but still reached out to take the bracelet and then added thoughtfully, "You''re right. Your mom''s quite an educated person. To follow me, from a poor family and a man without a romantic bone in his body, she has indeed endured much. I''ll pay more attention from now on."

    "Haha, don''t be so modest. It was quite the feat to get Mom to marry you back in the day," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "You brat, think you''re so smart, making fun of your old man?" Ge Shengming said with a laugh and a glare but soon wore a proud expression and added, "That''s for sure! When your dad brought your mom home, everyone in the village was dumbfounded. You''ve got to work hard, don''t let your dad down!"

    "Of course," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    ...

    "Suya, this is for you." Late at night, in the room, Ge Shengming took out the translucent and smooth jade bracelet.

    "Wow! It''s so beautiful, thank you, Shengming!" Seeing the jade bracelet gleaming with a soft, pleasing glow under the light, Xu Suya excitedly put it on her wrist and then gave Ge Shengming a kiss.

    "This, actually, Dongxu bought it," Ge Shengming said awkwardly, touching the spot on his face where he''d been kissed, feeling undeserving of the kiss. Explore stories at My Virtual Library Empire

    "I know, but you''re the one who gave it to me," Xu Suya said affectionately, leaning into Ge Shengming''s arms and happily looking at the bracelet on her wrist.

    "You''ve suffered through the years!" Ge Shengming''s heart shook suddenly with emotion.

    "With you and such a sensible son, even if life is hard, I''m happy," Xu Suya said.

    "Hmm!" Ge Shengming, hearing this, smiled happily and said, "Quickly drop a drop of blood on it, you''ll feel this bracelet is very different."

    "Ah, really? Then you help me, I can''t bring myself to do it."

    "..."

    ...

    Late at night, in the courtyard, Ge Dongxu took out several jade tokens and placed them according to the orientation of the Big Dipper, then sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his hands encircling his lower abdomen.

    The night sky was sprinkled with stars, among which the Big Dipper seemed especially bright tonight, twinkling away. At the same time, the seven Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Jade tokens arranged around Ge Dongxu flickered like fireflies in the darkness, echoing the Big Dipper in the sky.

    During cultivation, Ge Dongxu felt as if he were bathed in gentle starlight, his True Qi growing non-stop, soon becoming as vast and majestic as a surging river.

    When the True Qi reached a peak, Ge Dongxu''s mind moved, and he carefully guided the True Qi from the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian into his kidneys.

    The sensation of piercing pain spread throughout his body once again, but it was much shorter than before because the True Qi quickly formed a vortex of True Qi in each of his kidneys under the control of his strong spiritual power.

    ```

    True Qi vortexes formed in Ge Dongxu''s kidneys, and he saw his lifebound essence blood growing at a visible rate. Not only that, every rotation of the True Qi purified it further, expelling the Acquired filth from his body.

    If anyone were present, they would see Ge Dongxu''s skin covered in dark substances.

    This feeling was indescribably wonderful, and Ge Dongxu found it irresistible until a considerable time after midnight, when he slowly opened his eyes.

    His eyes sparkled with joy.

    Last time in Yingjiang, when he entered the mystical Unity of Heaven and Man Realm, his True Qi had nearly reached the threshold of breakthrough. After cultivating for these several days, today, everything fell into place naturally. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    What Ge Dongxu hadn''t expected was just how miraculous the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation was. Once entering it, not only was the lifebound essence blood he shed gradually replenished, but the effect of tempering the Acquired True Qi also became significantly stronger.

    No wonder the "Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture" states that the kidneys store the Innate essence, the core of the Yin Yang of the organs, receiving and storing the essence from the five viscera and six bowels. Also, within the kidneys are housed the elemental Yin and Yang; elemental Yin belongs to water, while elemental Yang belongs to fire, which is why they are also called the "organs of water and fire."

    It says that there are two critical passages in the realm of Dragon Tiger, one being the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, where a True Qi vortex formation occurs in the organs of water and fire, pondering day and night on what Yin Yang is. The second is the final step, identifying the True Dragon in the fire and recognizing the True Tiger in the water.

    Now that I have finally broken through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, I have truly achieved success in laying the foundation. I am no longer like a child, but grown up, able to really absorb the Elixirs I take, no longer acting rashly.

    Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Ge Dongxu''s thoughts were manifold until a mountain breeze stirred, carrying foul odors that jolted him into full wakefulness. He swiftly got up, went indoors, and took a cold shower to cleanse his body of all filth.

    After bathing, under the light, Ge Dongxu noticed his skin seemed to have lightened a shade, which made him chuckle to himself. He remembered how Jiang Lili and others used to tease him about his dark complexion in the past, didn''t they?

    However, Ge Dongxu didn''t dwell on these thoughts. He quickly dressed and returned to the yard.

    The Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade on the ground had shattered into fragments during his breakthrough; they could no longer be used.

    But Ge Dongxu didn''t feel much regret. He now had over a hundred Jade Tokens at his disposal, and now, especially since his spiritual power had increased greatly, inscribing a Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation was almost effortless. Therefore, he wasn''t worried about the consumption of Jade Tokens.

    Glancing at the jade shards on the ground, Ge Dongxu lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his foot, leaping into the air to suddenly reach a height of forty or fifty meters. Looking down, he could almost see the entire village beneath his feet, which gave him quite a startle.

    At the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation, his Qinggong height had been only about thirteen or fourteen meters. He had not expected that breaking through to the Eighth Layer would boost him to forty or fifty meters, and this was without even trying his hardest. If he put his full effort into it, Ge Dongxu estimated he could fly up to seventy or eighty meters.

    Even though he had broken through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation and expelled much of his Acquired impurities, having his True Qi refined and purified through his kidneys, his progress still shouldn''t have been this significant. It must be related to the tenfold increase in spiritual power.

    Ge Dongxu mulled over this as he naturally released True Qi outside his body, subtly forming a dome-shaped barrier of True Qi, allowing Ge Dongxu to actually fly through the air like a bird.

    This "flight" carried Ge Dongxu for nearly three hundred meters before he gently landed.

    Luckily, it was just past two in the morning; the village was silent, and everyone had fallen into deep sleep. Otherwise, if someone had seen a person "flying" in the sky, they would have been scared out of their wits, thinking they had seen a ghost.

    Indeed, it had a lot to do with the spiritual power. Previously, the spiritual power wasn''t sufficient to control the release of True Qi with precision. But now, he could control it with extreme delicacy and even clearly sense the changes in the air currents between heaven and earth, which certainly made his Qinggong much more impressive.

    Taking advantage of the night, Ge Dongxu excitedly stepped on treetops and flew all the way to the peak from the foot of the mountain. He finally confirmed that the great improvement in his Qinggong was not only related to the breakthrough in his Cultivation but also deeply connected with the tremendous increase in spiritual power.

    ```

 Chapter 388 - 387 Gratitude to the Teacher (8th Update)

    Over the next few days, Ge Dongxu stayed at home.

    Since it was summer vacation, it was the peak tourist season for Baiyun Mountain.

    At noon, there were many visitors coming in to eat, and the shop was too busy to manage. Ge Dongxu, the youngest billionaire and youngest deputy ministerial level advisor in Huaxia Country, naturally had to help out in his father''s shop, running in and out.

    Serving tea and water, delivering dishes, and settling accounts, he did every task.

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    Fortunately, no one knew Ge Dongxu''s true identity, otherwise a billionaire, a deputy ministerial level advisor moonlighting as a waiter would make this lunch too high-level, who would dare to eat at this restaurant!

    However, the shop would usually calm down around three o''clock in the afternoon, and at this time Ge Dongxu would take some time to carve Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade.

    After several days of cultivation, Ge Dongxu had found that as his cultivation power and formation advanced, even if the material used was glass type jadeite, the consumption was quite significant, so he took advantage of the recent free time to carve more Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formations.

    In addition to carving the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation, Ge Dongxu also specially went to the mountain to pick some herbs and brewed several jars of medicinal wine, preparing to visit his teachers in a couple of days to give them as gifts.

    Although the university admission notice had not yet arrived, the result was already known, and visiting the teachers had been scheduled by the parents.

    However, Ge Dongxu thought that giving red envelopes as a sign of gratitude to the teachers might not be accepted, so he planned to give some cigarettes, Maotai liquor, and his own brewed medicinal wine instead.

    What was truly valuable was the medicinal wine brewed by Ge Dongxu himself, but the teachers definitely wouldn''t know that. His parents were worried that the teachers would find their gifts modest, so they felt it was better to buy some high-quality cigarettes and liquor.

    Teachers work hard educating students through the year, and while giving expensive cigarettes and liquor during festivals isn''t the best tradition, getting into university was a milestone that definitely warranted a special acknowledgment, so Ge Dongxu made a point of buying Zhonghua cigarettes and Maotai liquor.

    Five days after he returned, Ge Dongxu felt that the medicinal wine was brewed to the right strength, so he waited for his father to finish with the shop, and then his father drove the small truck, carrying their family and the carefully prepared gifts, to Changxi County.

    Then they visited each teacher''s home.

    For a student like Ge Dongxu, the teachers were naturally fond of him, and they were all happy to see his family come up to express their gratitude. In front of Ge Dongxu, they praised him endlessly, delighting Ge Shengming and his wife so much that they couldn''t stop smiling, feeling an immense sense of pride.

    As for the gifts brought by Ge Dongxu, aside from a few teachers who accepted them without hesitation, most only kept the jar of medicinal wine Ge Dongxu had paired, finding the other cigarettes and liquor too lavish, and it took quite some persuasion before they were willing to accept them.

    Since Ge Dongxu had another villa in the county town, the family did not return to Ge Family Village that night, choosing instead to stay at the villa.

    After expressing gratitude to the teachers, what remained was waiting for the admission notice to arrive and then preparing a feast.

    After all, hosting a feast meant inviting friends and family as well as villagers, which definitely required waiting for the official notice.

    Ge Dongxu made a total of three jade bracelets, two in blue-green and one in violet. The violet glass type jadeite bracelet was polished for Yuan Li, as he remembered her birthday was the next day, so the following morning, Ge Dongxu did not return to Ge Family Village with his parents but stayed in Changxi County instead.

    Knowing that Ge Dongxu was now a big boss and had many things to handle, Ge Shengming and his wife didn''t think much of it. When they saw him saying he had matters to attend to in the county town, they thought he was going to deal with affairs at the Qinghe Herbal Tea factory in Wangzhou Mountain, not realizing that their son was planning to celebrate the birthday of a cherished female friend.

    After Ge Shengming and his wife left, Ge Dongxu did not rush to see Yuan Li but went to order a birthday cake from a cake shop, ran an errand to Yaxu Packaging Printing Factory, and visited Qinghe Herbal Tea Factory in Wangzhou Mountain.

    No matter what, he was a major shareholder of the company, and he occasionally had to pay attention to the company''s affairs.

    After inspecting two companies in the afternoon, Ge Dongxu personally went to the vegetable market to buy some groceries and then picked up a birthday cake from the bakery.

    Thinking that the time was about right, he got the dishes cooked and set up, and then he went to the Changxi County branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank.

    When he arrived at the Changxi County Industrial and Commercial Bank branch, Ge Dongxu didn''t go inside; he just called Yuan Li''s office from the outside.

    "This is the Changxi County Industrial and Commercial Bank, may I ask..." Since Ge Dongxu was calling from a landline, Yuan Li couldn''t see who it was. She picked up the phone and asked politely.

    "Sister Li, haven''t you left work yet?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile, interrupting her.

    "Ah! Dongxu! How did you think to call me?" Yuan Li immediately recognized Ge Dongxu''s voice and exclaimed with surprise.

    The reunion in Beijing did further their relationship, but it also made Yuan Li even more hesitant towards Ge Dongxu.

    Be it in terms of age, status, or wealth, the disparity between them was immense, especially since she was a divorced woman. So unless Ge Dongxu called her, Yuan Li wouldn''t dare to take the initiative to call him, no matter how strongly she yearned for the young man who made her heart flutter. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And because of Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu had a knot in his heart. So, if Yuan Li didn''t call him, he often intentionally or unintentionally avoided calling her or meeting her. Although she would occasionally cross his mind, and he thought about calling or meeting her, he quickly restrained himself.

    It wasn''t until a recent trip to the capital and meeting Jiang Lili, when they idly roamed Shichahai at night, that he understood that cultivation directly pointed to one''s true heart. If one''s heart was such, then so be it, and only then did he untangle his heart knot.

    So when making jewelry this time, he specifically made a bracelet for her.

    Therefore, since they returned from Beijing, besides the time Ge Dongxu helped Lin Jinnuo with loan guarantees, and they met once, they hadn''t seen each other for over half a year, and the only phone call was during the New Year.

    How could Yuan Li not be surprised by Ge Dongxu''s sudden call?

    "Sister Li, there''s something very wrong with your question. Isn''t it normal for me to call you?" Ge Dongxu could hear Yuan Li''s excitement and couldn''t help but feel a bit guilty.

    Considering the relationship they had, where they had hugged and kissed, it was truly wrong not to have met or contacted each other in over half a year.

    "Don''t give me that, you know that''s not what I mean." Yuan Li retorted a bit resentfully, but she quickly gathered her emotions and said, "Tell me, is there something you need, calling me like this?"

    In her life, having encountered such a man and even developing a relationship that went beyond friendship was already more than she could ask for. What more could she hope for?

    Did she really want to be with him? The thought alone made Yuan Li feel that it was absurd and laughable.

    On what grounds? What right or conditions did she have?

    "Get off work and come out, and I''ll tell you," Ge Dongxu said.

 Chapter 389 - 388: Is This Your House? [9th Update]

    Yuan Li was a brilliantly clever woman, and upon hearing the news, she exclaimed in surprise and quickly ran to the window to look down, indeed seeing Ge Dongxu standing across the street with his phone in hand.

    "You rascal! How come you didn''t come up? Are you afraid I''d eat you?" Yuan Li hurried back behind her large desk, picked up the phone and said, though the corners of her eyes had unknowingly moistened a bit.

    "Hehe," Ge Dongxu chuckled, then added, "It''s no fun, you saw me. I was planning to give you a scare downstairs."

    "Go on, you think I''m some naive girl? Wait for me, I''ll be right down." Yuan Li teased with a laugh, then cheerfully put down the phone, quickly organized the documents on her desk, and headed downstairs.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu standing right in front of her, Yuan Li felt a strong urge to throw herself into his arms, yet this was Changxi County, where many locals knew her. Besides, it had been over six months since their last embrace and kiss in Shichahai, and although she felt this impulse, she suddenly felt as though the distance between them had grown even wider.

    "Are you free tonight?" Ge Dongxu looked at Yuan Li, dressed in an office uniform with a black pencil skirt and flesh-colored stockings that perfectly accentuated her shapely legs and buttocks, making her appear elegant yet mature, and asked with a smile.

    "Single as I am, what could possibly be up?" Yuan Li smoothed her hair and responded.

    "Let''s not put it that way, being single, beautiful, and sexy, if I may say so, I bet there are gentlemen lining up to ask you out every day." Ge Dongxu said.

    "Not having seen each other for a while, your sweet-talking has really improved." Yuan Li rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and said.

    "Haha, I''m just telling the truth. Since Sister Li is not busy tonight, may I have the honor of asking you out?" Ge Dongxu inquired.

    Upon hearing this, Yuan Li clearly paused for a moment, then quickly rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and smilingly said, "Well, since you are the ''God of Wealth'' at our bank, and also young and handsome, of course I will oblige!"

    "Talking about money is too vulgar; being young and handsome is enough," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "You and your cheeky mouth! Enough of that, let''s get going," Yuan Li tapped on Ge Dongxu''s forehead with her finger, then urged him on.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, then walked alongside Yuan Li, though he dared not hold her hand.

    Because this was Changxi County, not the capital. In the capital, where they were strangers, holding hands was inconsequential, but here, if they were seen by any of Yuan Li''s colleagues or Ge Dongxu''s classmates, rumors would probably spread by tomorrow.

    "Where are we headed?" Seeing Ge Dongxu leading her toward the direction of the new city district, Yuan Li inquired.

    "You''ll find out once we get there," Ge Dongxu said teasingly. Just as he spoke, a tricycle taxi happened to pass by, and he quickly signaled for it.

    The tricycle taxi, similar to the old rickshaws, also had a canopy at the back, but instead of being pulled by people, it was now pedaled, having become popular in Changxi County in recent years.

    The new city district, formerly known as Jiang Family Village, was somewhat far from the bank. In the sweltering summer, Ge Dongxu naturally would not expect Yuan Li to walk all the way there.

    As they sat in the tricycle, their bodies pressed together, a unique sense of intimacy began to ripple between them, and for a while, neither spoke.

    "What university did you test into?" Yuan Li finally broke the silence after a while.

    "Jiangnan University," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "If it were someone else who got into Jiangnan University, I''d be genuinely impressed, but when you get admitted, why do I feel a bit uneasy?" Yuan Li looked at Ge Dongxu with a slightly puzzled expression.

    "Don''t say that, you make me seem like some kind of monster," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Giggle! You are quite the creature!" Yuan Li paused, then couldn''t help but smile with pursed lips.

    Ge Dongxu watched as Yuan Li laughed uncontrollably, her pale delicate chest heaving up and down. It stirred something inside him, and he dared not keep looking. Instead, he turned to look at the sides of the street and said, "Now that the New District has developed, isn''t your Commercial Bank branch planning to move there?"

    "That''s something the next branch manager should consider. I won''t worry about it myself," Yuan Li replied, smoothing her hair.

    "Could it be that Sister Li you''re getting a promotion?" Ge Dongxu asked, surprised and delighted.

    "I should be transferred to the city branch as Deputy Branch Manager in the second half of the year. I owe it all to you. Otherwise, I guess spending my life as the Changxi County branch manager wouldn''t be too bad," Yuan Li said, her gaze at Ge Dongxu filled with indescribable complex emotions. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In her lifetime, she had faced some ups and downs, but since meeting Ge Dongxu, her life had started to change dramatically. In just two or three years, she had moved from Deputy Branch Manager to Chief Branch Manager, and now she was about to be promoted to Deputy Branch Manager of the Industrial Bank in Ouzhou City.

    This promotion was partly because of an incident in the Capital that made the branch manager see her in a new light, and partly because the Qinghe Herbal Tea and Yaxu Printing & Packaging Factory had opened accounts at her branch.

    With such big clients on her list, last year''s performance assessment for the Changxi County branch was much higher than the other branches, even ranking among the top in the province.

    "You''re being modest. With your skills, Sister Li, a promotion was only a matter of time," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then pointed at a villa ahead and told the tricycle driver, "Just up ahead."

    The tricycle driver stopped, and Ge Dongxu took out a fifty-yuan note from his wallet and handed it to him, telling him to keep the change, which left the driver thanking him repeatedly.

    Under normal circumstances, the ride would have only cost three yuan.

    "Welcome to my house, please come in!" Ge Dongxu said, smiling and gesturing for Yuan Li, who stood hesitantly at the gate, to enter.

    "This is your house?" Yuan Li shuddered slightly, her feet even more reluctant to move.

    "Don''t worry, I live alone," Ge Dongxu said, noticing Yuan Li''s obvious fear. He quickly understood and hurried to explain.

    Yuan Li, realizing that Ge Dongxu had seen through her thoughts, blushed and gave him a reproachful look, saying, "I have nothing to worry about coming to your house!"

    "That''s right, that''s right," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "This garden is really beautiful, the designer did a great job." Women love beauty and dream of owning a villa with a garden, and Yuan Li was no exception. As she walked through the garden, she couldn''t help but take a deep breath and exclaimed in admiration.

    "Haha, of course, it''s beautiful. I designed it myself," Ge Dongxu said proudly.

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    "You designed it yourself?" Yuan Li looked at Ge Dongxu in surprise, but soon she shook her head and laughed, saying, "It seems no matter how strange the things are that happen to you, they eventually become natural. There''s nothing surprising about that."

    "Am I really that amazing?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Don''t you know yourself?" Yuan Li gave Ge Dongxu a playful glare.

    Embarrassed, Ge Dongxu chuckled and then said to Yuan Li, "Wait here at the door for a moment."

    Yuan Li gave Ge Dongxu a puzzled look but obediently stood by the door and waited.

    Ge Dongxu went into the house first, then opened up the dishes that had been kept warm, and lit the candles on the cake before coming back to open the door and inviting Yuan Li inside, saying, "Come in."

    "What''s all this secrecy? Are you hiding your concubine in a golden house?" Yuan Li gave Ge Dongxu a playful glare and then followed him into the house.

 Chapter 390 - 389: Happy Birthday [10th Update]

    "Ah!" As she entered the house, Yuan Li was so surprised that she covered her mouth with her hand, her beautiful eyes widened, and then, quickly, tears fell like pearls off a string.

    "Happy birthday!" Ge Dongxu whispered into Yuan Li''s ear.

    Unable to hold back any longer, Yuan Li threw herself into Ge Dongxu''s arms, and her rosy, luscious lips pressed against his.

    "Thank you! How did you know today was my birthday?" After their lips parted following a long kiss, Yuan Li''s hands were still hooked around Ge Dongxu''s neck, unwilling to let go, as she looked at him with deep affection, shimmering tears still hanging in her eyes.

    "Did you forget? The first time I went to your house, it happened to be your birthday. Right, and you talked about getting promoted. I didn''t expect that two years later, it''s both your birthday and a promotion again," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he gently wiped the tears from Yuan Li''s face.

    "I''ve been so busy with work lately, if it wasn''t for the cake on the table, I would have forgotten it was my birthday," Yuan Li said. Unable to resist, she leaned in and kissed Ge Dongxu again passionately.

    After a long time, they parted lips.

    "Make a wish and blow out the candles," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Mhm!" Yuan Li let go of him and walked to the cake, brought her hands together in prayer, and made a wish in a voice so soft that only she could hear. Stay updated with My Virtual Library Empire

    However, Ge Dongxu''s hearing was not like other people''s, and he still heard Yuan Li''s wish.

    As Yuan Li opened her eyes ready to blow out the candles, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but wrap his arms tightly around her slender waist from behind.

    Because Yuan Li''s wish was only one thing, for the heavens to bless Ge Dongxu with safety and health.

    "Why suddenly hug me like this? I still need to blow out the candles!" Yuan Li''s body stiffened slightly; then she quickly rolled her eyes in a pretend casual manner. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No reason, just wanted to hold you," Ge Dongxu said affectionately. He didn''t tell Yuan Li that he had heard her wish.

    Yuan Li suddenly felt the urge to cry but held back, then puffed up her cheeks and blew out the candles.

    "Happy birthday!" Ge Dongxu said again, offering his wishes. At the same time, he grabbed Yuan Li''s hand and slid the violet Jade Bracelet onto her wrist.

    "Ah!" Yuan Li looked at the violet Jade Bracelet that had suddenly appeared on her wrist, its dreamlike luster shimmering under the light. She exclaimed in surprise and stared at the bracelet for a long time, speechless.

    With too many words to say, and too many emotions surging within her, Yuan Li ended up saying nothing. Instead, she turned around sharply, her arms once again encircling Ge Dongxu''s neck, and her moist lips sealed his again.

    After a long time, a blushing Yuan Li finally pushed Ge Dongxu away.

    "Let''s eat first. If you really want to, we, well, we can do that later," Yuan Li said with a sidelong glance at Ge Dongxu, her voice low and her face flushed.

    Ge Dongxu heard the implication in Yuan Li''s words, and while his heart fluttered, he suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of frustration and disappointment.

    When will it finally be Dragon Tiger Realm!

    "Cough cough, thank you, Sister Li. You''ve seen what I''m capable of; you know I practice martial arts. Actually, because of my training, it''s not advisable for me to be close to a woman right now, so... cough cough!" Ge Dongxu said, looking quite embarrassed as thoughts of Dragon Tiger Realm crossed his mind.

    "Ah!" Yuan Li was taken aback upon hearing this and then remembered the subtext in her own words, her pretty face turning a deep shade of red.

    "Sister Li, let''s just eat first," seeing Yuan Li''s cheeks flush, Ge Dongxu quickly brought up having dinner.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu hurriedly change the subject, Yuan Li regained her composure, gifted him with a sweet smile, nodded, and took her seat at the table.

    "Today is your birthday, and it''s also a day for promotion, let''s have some wine. But we''ll only have two glasses, can''t drink too much," Ge Dongxu said as he poured a cup of Yellow Wine for Yuan Li after they sat at the table.

    "Don''t worry, I know my limits," Yuan Li couldn''t help but recall the first time she had drinks with Ge Dongxu at her place, her fair cheeks turning red again.

 Chapter 391 - 390: Cultivation Speed

    After having drinks and some food, and cutting and sharing cake, the two went upstairs and sat on the balcony, enjoying the night sky filled with stars.

    Changxi County is located by the sea, and the sky is much cleaner compared to big cities. On summer nights, one can see a sky full of stars. Not only that, but the nights also cool down, unlike in big cities where the heat cannot dissipate, and it still feels stuffy at night. Ge Dongxu''s villa, thanks to his arrangements, was even cooler during the summer nights.

    Ge Dongxu taught Yuan Li to drop a bit of blood on the bracelet. After the blood was dropped, the faint connection of minds surprised Yuan Li greatly. She also began to realize that Ge Dongxu''s restraint from breaking his virginity was different from the famed Virgin Boy Technique of Huaxia Country.

    But as for what exactly was different, Ge Dongxu didn''t say, and she didn''t ask, especially because she felt that even if Ge Dongxu explained it, she wouldn''t understand.

    That night, Yuan Li stayed over at Ge Dongxu''s villa, but they slept in separate rooms and nothing happened between them.

    It wasn''t that Yuan Li didn''t want to, but rather that she dared not.

    Ge Dongxu felt similarly hesitant, always feeling that Yuan Li had a particular attraction that easily triggered his desires, a kind of innate allure, so as long as he could hold back, he didn''t dare to mess around with her like he did with Liu Jiayao. Moreover, Ge Dongxu could tell that Yuan Li and Jiang Lili were probably of a similar disposition in his presence, guessing that they wouldn''t dare to kick him or threaten him if he lost control, unlike Liu Jiayao!

    ...

    The admission notice from Jiangnan University arrived three days after Yuan Li''s birthday.

    It created a sensation throughout Ge Family Village and even neighboring villages had heard that Ge Family Village had produced a student for the top university in Jiangnan Province.

    That day, the village chief and esteemed elders of Ge Family Village specially visited Ge Dongxu''s home to discuss the celebration of having a university student in the village.

    Since Ge Dongxu was the first university student from Ge Family Village, and at a nationally top-ranked institution no less, they felt it was akin to having a scholar in the village. Both the village chief and the elders believed that they needed to do more than just hold a banquet. They also wanted to parade him through the streets and visit the Ge Family ancestral hall to notify the ancestors of Ge Family Village.

    Seeing the village chief and the elders show such high regard for their son, Ge Shengming and his spouse were naturally overjoyed. Just as they were about to agree, Ge Dongxu interjected, "Holding a banquet is fine, and visiting the ancestral hall to notify the ancestors of Ge Family Village is proper, but I absolutely disagree with parading through the streets."

    It was a joke. With his status, even holding a banquet was grand enough to make him uncomfortable. If they also had an ancient-style celebratory parade with him riding a horse for people to admire, he would indeed cringe.

    "Jiangnan University is the top key university in our Jiangnan Province. Baiyun Mountain Town has barely seen a few of its own enter this university over many years. You getting into this university is a glory for the entire Ge Family Village. Riding a horse around the nearby villages is the right thing to do. Last year, Lin Family Village had a university student who even had lower scores than you and still came through our Ge Family Village," said Ge Guangtong, the respected elder of the village.

    "In any case, anything else is negotiable, but I''m absolutely not doing a street parade," Ge Dongxu stated firmly.

    He couldn''t possibly agree to such a thing.

    Ge Shengming and his spouse were actually quite tempted, but seeing their son''s firm stance, they had to tell Ge Guangtong, "Uncle Tong, since the child disagrees, let''s respect his wishes."

    Ge Guangtong and the village chief looked at Ge Shengming and his spouse, then at Ge Dongxu, and finally could only say helplessly, "Well, all right then. But notifying the ancestors is definitely necessary. I''ve already picked the day after tomorrow. What do you think?"

    "Fine, Uncle Tong says the day after tomorrow, then it''s the day after tomorrow. After notifying the ancestors, we''ll have a meal at my house," Ge Shengming nodded and said.

    And so, it was settled like this.

    That day, Ge Shengming and his wife started making phone calls to some relatives and friends, and the entire family also made a special trip to Ge Dongxu''s grandfather''s house.

    Aside from sharing the good news with the two elderly people and inviting them to come over the day after tomorrow for a celebratory feast, the visit was also because Ge Dongxu had specifically prepared jade jewelry for his grandparents and needed to deliver it to them.

    ...

    At dawn, on the eastern side of Baiyun Mountain, the sky was as red as a fire ribbon, the rising sun like a massive disk, the ocean transforming, spilling gold and radiating colors, immensely magnificent.

    At the summit, beneath an ancient pine, Ge Dongxu slowly opened his eyes, then stood up, admiring the immensely magnificent scene, his eyes filled with great joy and a hint of faint puzzlement.

    A week had passed since the Ge Family Village ancestors'' memorial and the celebratory feast.

    During these days, Ge Dongxu, besides spending time with his parents and helping with the store''s affairs, was cultivating.

    Cultivating during the Zi and Mao Hours daily was a must-do task, and the other times would depend on the situation.

    Originally, Ge Dongxu thought that cultivation was like climbing a high peak, becoming increasingly difficult the higher one went, with progress slowing accordingly. Thus, even though he had progressed rapidly in recent years, when he discussed with Liu Jiayao about breaking through to the Dragon Tiger Realm, he dared not speak rashly, only suggesting it may take as little as three to five years, or possibly even ten years or more. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But ever since that mystical experience, Ge Dongxu found that he seemed to have grown much closer to nature. While cultivating, not only could he clearly perceive the subtle changes in nature''s spiritual energy, but a significant difference from before was that previously, cultivating meant forcibly "plundering" the spiritual energy between heaven and earth. Now, the spiritual energy gathered by the formation willingly lingered around him, requiring him to expend much less effort to absorb it into his body.

    Thus, Ge Dongxu''s cultivation speed was now much faster than before. Originally, Ge Dongxu thought this phenomenon would be temporary and that cultivation would become more challenging when he progressed to the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation. However, over these days, he realized that his cultivation speed was still much faster than before and even the sense of closeness with nature, which grew with his increasing cultivation level, made his cultivation feel as natural as fish swimming in water.

    It was as if the challenges his master mentioned about cultivation becoming harder later on and even hitting a complete bottleneck, where progress halts, seemed non-existent for him.

    If previously he thought that advancing a level might take a year, now Ge Dongxu felt that with his current progress, he could breakthrough again in at most half a year.

    What exactly was that mystical experience in his spiritual path? Ge Dongxu knew it definitely had something to do with that experience, but the current knowledge passed down to him did not include records of this aspect.

    It seemed he would have to wait until he reached the Dragon Tiger Realm, where his realm would undergo a qualitative leap, and then he would be able to access more knowledge hidden within the Sea of Consciousness. Perhaps there would be records of this aspect there.

    Ge Dongxu soon set aside the doubts in his mind, as that experience had far surpassed what he could currently understand; thinking more about it would only add needless troubles.

    After all, Ge Dongxu knew it was a good thing, at least with his current progression, the Dragon Tiger Realm was "within reach." Moreover, while Ge Dongxu was initially planning to start refining elixirs for supplementation after reaching the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, he now decided to hold off a bit longer.

    Although taking elixirs at this time wouldn''t lead to the adverse effect of forced growth, he preferred not to supplement for now if he could cultivate normally. After all, the more one relied on supplements, the less effective they became in the later stages. Since his current rate of progress was so fast, Ge Dongxu planned to save the elixirs for critical moments in the future.

    Putting aside the doubts in his mind, Ge Dongxu lightly smiled and leaped into the air like a bird.

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    Only when he reached halfway down the mountain did he actually land properly and descended the mountain unhurriedly.

    Before he reached home, Ge Dongxu received a call from Director Fan Hong.

 Chapter 392 - 391 Qimen Exchange Meeting

    "Director Fan, hello, what can I do for you?" Ge Dongxu asked while walking towards his home.

    "Sir, I have information about Jiuyang Chi Yan Fruit and the Ganlin Xuanyang Grass. The owner is a senior from the Chinese Qimen community in Indonesia. I only know him by face and don''t have a close relationship. I''ve already phoned him, but he''s not willing to part with them," Fan Hong replied.

    "Then I''ll make a trip there myself," Ge Dongxu said, slightly startled by the news, and then he quickly decided without a second thought.

    These two medicinal ingredients were crucial for the recovery of his senior brother''s legs, so naturally, Ge Dongxu cared a lot about them.

    "The person''s cultivation is not much different from mine, and he has quite a reputation among the local Chinese. It would be best if you could go with me," said Fan Hong after hearing Ge Dongxu''s decision.

    "This is my personal matter. I''m already very grateful that you helped me inquire about it. Since he is not willing to part with them, it''s natural that I should make the trip myself," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Sir, you''re too kind. You are our bureau''s chief advisor and ought to receive this treatment. Besides, I owe you a great debt. I will have Xu Lei book your flight to the capital, and from there you will fly to Indonesia," Fan Hong said.

    "Alright, I''m currently at my old home in Changxi County. I will hurry to Linzhou, and we can talk in detail after I arrive in the capital," Ge Dongxu finished speaking and hung up the phone.

    By then, he had already reached home.

    His parents had already gotten up and prepared breakfast. Seeing Ge Dongxu return, happy smiles appeared on their faces.

    "I have some matters to attend to and will have to be away for a while," Ge Dongxu told his parents during breakfast.

    "Heh, I told you a while ago to go busy yourself with your own affairs, but you insisted on sticking around at home. Now you can''t stand it anymore, can you? Go on, just be safe," Ge Shengming laughed and said.

    "Dad, I am after all your son. How can you describe me as ''sticking around at home''?" Ge Dongxu said, unable to help but laugh and cry at the comment.

    His parents knew that Ge Dongxu was a big boss, someone who handled important affairs. So, after the banquet that day, seeing Ge Dongxu spend all day at home helping them with chores such as serving tea and water, handling plates, and settling accounts, they felt really bad. Several times they told Ge Dongxu that he didn''t have to stay with them and should go take care of his own business; a phone call now and then and visiting once in a while would be fine.

    However, Ge Dongxu always felt that after he went to the county city to study, the time he spent with his parents had decreased, and it would surely become even less once he moved to the provincial capital, so he wanted to spend more time at home during the summer vacation.

    "Exactly, who else behaves like this as a father? Your son stays at home every day just to accompany you out of filial piety. Otherwise, who do you think would enjoy staying with a run-down rural family vacation home like this?" Xu Suya said, glaring as she spoke.

    "Heh, I know, I was just joking!" Ge Shengming laughed.

    "Of course, I know you''re joking, but you can''t joke about that! It''s so rare for our son to be willing to keep us company like this!" Xu Suya said.

    "Alright, alright, I won''t make that kind of joke anymore," Ge Shengming said helplessly.

    "Remember that, it''s not good to speak ill of your son in front of my mother," Ge Dongxu said boastfully.

    "Off with you! Always trying to drive a wedge between your mother and me," Ge Shengming said, glaring.

    "Alright then, I won''t disturb the two of you in your little world. I''m off to pack my things and get going," Ge Dongxu said as he got up from his seat.

    Xu Suya also tried to get up and help pack when she saw this, but Ge Dongxu pushed her back into her seat, smiling as he said, "Mom, I''m all grown up now, I can pack by myself, and there isn''t much to pack anyway."

    "Alright, Suya, just sit down, he has a lot of stuff that''s all over the place, we wouldn''t know how to pack it anyway," Ge Shengming said.

    Thinking about it, Xu Suya realized it was true, her son was an extraordinary person, and aside from clothes and such, his suitcase was filled with all sorts of odd and peculiar things, so she really shouldn''t meddle with the packing and stopped insisting.

    Ge Dongxu quickly finished packing his luggage and then left Ge Family Village.

    Driving in the car, Ge Dongxu did not head to the provincial capital to look for Liu Jiayao, but went straight to the airport instead.

    When he arrived at the airport, Xu Lei was already waiting for him at the entrance; upon seeing him, he hurriedly stepped forward to help with the luggage.

    "No need to be polite, I can manage on my own," Ge Dongxu smiled and declined.

    Xu Lei knew Ge Dongxu was a leader without pretense and also an extraordinary master, so he did not insist.

    Accompanied by Xu Lei, a figure from the special department, Ge Dongxu entered the airplane through a special channel, avoiding a lot of hassle.

    "I''ve just received a call from Director Fan, saying that the passport and everything else have been prepared, though the flight is tomorrow, so we have to wait until tomorrow to depart. The plane will first fly to Singapore, then to Medan''s Kualanamu International Airport in Indonesia," Xu Lei explained to Ge Dongxu while sitting on the plane.

    "If you hadn''t mentioned it, I would have forgotten that you need a passport to travel abroad," Ge Dongxu said, slightly embarrassed.

    Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "We should have prepared all this for you in advance, but it was unexpected that you would need to travel abroad so soon, so we did not rush to arrange it for you beforehand," Xu Lei explained.

    "It seems there are quite a few benefits to joining this department after all, as it saves a lot of trouble," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Hearing this, Xu Lei''s expression revealed a hint of awkwardness; he was one of the parties involved from Xiao Yuan Mountain and knew that Ge Dongxu was not really keen on joining his department and had joined under pressure.

    "Don''t overthink it, I''m really just speaking from appreciation," Ge Dongxu said with a smile upon noticing Xu Lei''s slightly unnatural expression, then he asked, "By the way, did Director Fan give you any information about the owner?"

    "He mentioned a few things, but we are not very clear on the details since the other party is Chinese from Indonesia and also a person from Qimen. You know, people from Qimen tend to be quite low-key and do not like others to inquire about them, even if they have any businesses in the secular world, they usually have others manage them," Xu Lei replied.

    "I see, just give me a brief overview," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "This person''s name is Chen Jiateng, and he is the patriarch of the Medan''s influential Chen Family. The Chen Family was once affluent and prominent in Medan, but since the 1950s and 1960s, they have gradually kept a low profile. Chen Jiateng himself lives in seclusion on Samosir Island and basically stays out of the family business, so there is very little known about him personally. Director Fan has met him a few times at the Qimen communication meetings and has mentioned that this person''s strength should not be much different from his own," Xu Lei introduced.

    "What is the Qimen communication meeting all about?" Ge Dongxu, seeing that Xu Lei had limited information about the owner, did not press further, but he was curious when Xu Lei mentioned the Qimen communication meeting.

    "As the name suggests, the Qimen communication meeting is a grand assembly for exchanges among people of Qimen. The meetings are categorized by region, including ones specifically for Qimen from Huaxia Country, those for Southeast Asia, others for Asia or even at the world level, as well as those initiated by a certain local country or even a particular sect. There are also meetings based on the theme of the exchange, like gatherings of Feng Shui masters about Feng Shui, or those initiated by sorcerers about cursing magic, and so on. If you''re interested, I''ll notify you next time we have one of these meetings," Xu Lei explained.

    "Sure, let me know next time, and I''ll join in if I''m interested," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    As his cultivation grew higher and higher, Ge Dongxu didn''t mind meeting and learning about the people within the circle.

 Chapter 393 - 392 Indonesian Customs

    The plane arrived in the capital at seven o''clock in the evening.

    Since it was still early, Ge Dongxu made a special trip to the courtyard residence to meet Elder Feng.

    Elder Feng was not exactly a member of the Qimen, and he held a special status. Moreover, he was from a different faction than Yang Yinhou back in the day, so Ge Dongxu did not specifically bring up Yang Yinhou with Elder Feng.

    After meeting with Elder Feng, Ge Dongxu made a special trip to the School of Media.

    ¡­

    "Dongxu, how come you suddenly came to our school?" Walking along the lakeside path at the college, Jiang Lili leaned on Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, still somewhat in disbelief that this was real.

    Even after what had happened last time, Jiang Lili had not dared to hope that Ge Dongxu would take the initiative to come to the school to find her, and that too, after such a short interval.

    "I just happened to have some business in the capital this evening, and then I thought of coming to see you!" Ge Dongxu smiled, enjoying the quiet walk beside the campus lake with Jiang Lili.

    "Did you just arrive in the capital?" Jiang Lili almost couldn''t believe her ears when she heard this.

    "Yeah, I just got here not long ago." Ge Dongxu nodded and then pointed to a bench under a weeping willow by the lake, saying, "Let''s sit there for a bit, I have something to give you."

    "You have something else to give me?" Jiang Lili felt so overwhelmed with happiness she was almost fainting.

    "Silly girl, you''re my girlfriend now, isn''t it normal for me to give you gifts?" Ge Dongxu saw Jiang Lili widen her eyes in a cute way, and couldn''t help but gently tease her nose as he laughed.

    "I am not silly, I just¡­" Jiang Lili felt like there was something stuck in her throat, and her eyes uncontrollably began to moisten.

    "Okay, okay, you''re not silly. Come sit down." Seeing Jiang Lili moved to tears, Ge Dongxu pulled her to sit down and laughed.

    Jiang Lili wiped the corners of her eyes and sat down next to Ge Dongxu.

    "This is for you." Seeing Jiang Lili sit down, Ge Dongxu took out the heart-shaped jade pendant necklace and said softly as he looked at her.

    Jiang Lili dumbfoundedly looked at the heart-shaped jade pendant necklace in Ge Dongxu''s hands. Even though the nighttime lighting was poor, the pendant still emitted a dreamlike beauty.

    "Wuu!" Finally, Jiang Lili threw herself into Ge Dongxu''s arms and cried.

    "Why are you crying now? Don''t cry!" Ge Dongxu, caught off guard by Jiang Lili''s sudden action, was at a loss. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Pfft!" Seeing the distinguished Dongxu flustered by her sudden crying, Jiang Lili couldn''t help but burst into laughter through her tears.

    "So you''re crying and laughing now. What''s all this about?" Ge Dongxu looked at Jiang Lili wiping her tears while a happy smile appeared on her face, and he was at a loss whether to laugh or cry.

    "Of course, it''s because I''m happy!" Jiang Lili took the jade pendant necklace from Ge Dongxu''s hands and played with it lovingly.

    "It''s so pretty!" Jiang Lili murmured dreamily.

    "I''m glad you like it. Put it on then." Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "Help me put it on." Jiang Lili said as she turned around and half lay against Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and looped the necklace around Jiang Lili''s neck to put it on her.

    His gaze inadvertently drifted down her fair neck, and he couldn''t help but pause for a moment.

    "Is it beautiful?" Jiang Lili, seemingly unaware of Ge Dongxu''s distraction, turned around and proudly thrust out her chest as she asked.

    Of course, she was showing off the dreamlike jade pendant.

    But Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but recall how Jiang Lili used to proudly thrust out her chest every time she saw him in high school, and the scene he saw that night in the grand hotel in Changxi County; he became somewhat distracted and unconsciously replied, "Beautiful! Very beautiful!"

    "Dongxu, what are you looking at?" Jiang Lili, being a woman, quickly noticed that Ge Dongxu''s gaze wasn''t on the pendant and felt extremely embarrassed.

    "Ahem!" Called out by Jiang Lili, Ge Dongxu was jolted back to reality and started to cough somewhat awkwardly.

    The two of them walked around the campus a few more times, and seeing it was getting late, Ge Dongxu escorted Jiang Lili back to her dormitory building and then returned to the courtyard residence himself.

    The next morning, Ge Dongxu went to the airport with Fan Hong and Xu Lei.

    However, just before boarding, Fan Hong received a phone call, and his expression changed.

    "What happened?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "A senior from Dragon Tiger Mountain has passed away; I''m afraid I won''t be able to accompany you to Medan," Fan Hong replied.

    Dragon Tiger Mountain was a major sect in Qimen, and its Heavenly Masters not only possessed profound cultivation but also held great prestige within Qimen. With such an important figure passing away, Fan Hong, the director of the Special Ability Management Bureau, definitely had to attend personally.

    That reflected the government''s stance towards Dragon Tiger Mountain.

    "No worries, your matter is more urgent; I''ll be fine with Xu Lei accompanying me," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Fan Hong thanked Ge Dongxu for his understanding and specifically pulled Xu Lei aside to give him some last-minute instructions before saying goodbye.

    The flight connected through Singapore before landing at Kuala Namu International Airport in the city of Medan in the evening.

    Myanmar borders Huaxia Country, and last time with Ouyang Murong accompanying them, the soldiers at the customs even saluted them, so for Ge Dongxu, this trip to Indonesia was his first true experience traveling to a foreign country overseas.

    Although Xu Lei had already warned Ge Dongxu that Indonesia, despite having a large Chinese population, was quite anti-Chinese and the corruption at customs was very severe, since it was Ge Dongxu''s first real experience traveling overseas, he hadn''t faced it before and didn''t know exactly what it was like.

    It wasn''t until Ge Dongxu was queuing up to go through customs that he began to understand what was going on.

    If the passport was from Huaxia Country, unless there was money previously inserted in it, they would quickly stamp it with a smile and let you pass; otherwise, they would keep flipping through it and asking questions until they had no choice but to stamp it and let you pass.

    "You, from Huaxia Country? Remember to put some money in your passport next time to avoid delaying our time," said a man, who looked somewhat lecherous and Japanese, hugging a fair-skinned woman and speaking in stiff Chinese to Ge Dongxu, his eyes filled with disdain and pride.

 Chapter 395 - 394: Samosir Island [Second update for guaranteed monthly votes]

    "Mr. Ge, Mr. Xu, hello, I am Wang Zhuo. Welcome to Medan." As soon as Ge Dongxu and Xu Lei exited the airport terminal, a middle-aged man with dark skin and a very friendly smile approached them, looking every bit the businessman as he extended his hand in greeting.

    "Hello, Wang Zhuo, we''ll be in your care this time." Ge Dongxu and Xu Lei each shook Wang Zhuo''s hand with a smile.

    When shaking hands with Wang Zhuo, Ge Dongxu distinctly felt the calluses on his hands, which were also very strong, nothing like the hands of a businessman.

    In fact, Wang Zhuo was not strictly a businessman. He was a secret agent from Huaxia Country in Indonesia, though he outwardly held the identity of a shop owner.

    "It''s getting late, and it''s also raining. How about we stay in Medan tonight and head to Samosir Island tomorrow?" After helping the two with their luggage, Wang Zhuo suggested.

    "Director Ge, what do you think?" Xu Lei asked.

    "When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Let''s follow Wang Zhuo''s arrangements." Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Chen Jiateng handed over his family business to his two children forty years ago and has since lived in seclusion on Samosir Island, rarely making public appearances. His prestige may not be what it once was, but among the older generation of Chinese, he still commands tremendous respect. Many of Medan''s prominent families look up to him. There''s a rumor among the upper echelons of the Chinese community that Chen Jiateng is a sorcerer with magical spells, and that in his youth, he once single-handedly killed about a dozen Japanese soldiers." Once inside the car, Wang Zhuo explained.

    Wang Zhuo''s words made Ge Dongxu involuntarily think of his own senior brother, although Chen Jiateng was far less accomplished than him. His senior brother had killed two Japanese squads in the jungle by himself.

    However, Chen Jiateng was considerably younger than his senior brother. Given that Chen Jiateng had single-handedly killed about a dozen Japanese back in the day and had been cultivating ever since, his strength now should not be much inferior to that of Fan Hong.

    "We have found out that Chen Jiateng has been on Samosir Island these days and has not left. However, Chen Jiateng has not personally received compatriots from our country in many years," Wang Zhuo continued.

    "You have worked hard. All you need to do is take us to where Chen Jiateng is living in seclusion tomorrow. Don''t worry about the rest." Ge Dongxu said.

    "You''re too polite, Mr. Ge. This is what we should do," Wang Zhuo replied humbly.

    He was just the one carrying out tasks on the ground. By telling Ge Dongxu these things, he was merely giving a heads-up. As for what exactly Ge Dongxu and his company planned to do, or what they intended to do, someone of his level certainly had no right to inquire.

    Although Medan is the largest city on Sumatra Island and the third largest city in Indonesia, it''s quite run-down with low buildings everywhere. In terms of prosperity, it might not even compare to Changxi County, which is located in a developed coastal area¡ªit''s just much larger in size.

    The proportion of Chinese in Indonesia is about three to four percent, but in Medan, it reaches nearly twenty percent. Driving along the street, they occasionally saw shops with Chinese characters, and Ge Dongxu even spotted the two characters for ''herbal tea,'' which stirred his emotions slightly.

    That night, Ge Dongxu and Xu Lei stayed in Medan.

    ...

    Samosir Island is a lake island located within Doba Lake on Sumatra Island. The island spans over 500 square kilometers, only slightly smaller than Singapore, which is separated from Sumatra by the Strait of Malacca.

    Doba Lake is a large lake formed by volcanic activity, with no rivers connecting it to the sea, making it the largest freshwater stagnant lake in Southeast Asia. Samosir Island in the lake was formed by volcanic activity, hence it is mostly composed of hills and plateaus.

    Doba Lake is not far from Medan, and after having breakfast in the hotel, Ge Dongxu and Xu Lei were driven to Samosir Island by Wang Zhuo.

    Samosir Island was extremely tranquil and beautiful, its surrounding mountains and lake water isolated it from the rest of the world, away from the hubbub of the city. More than that, the mountain pass would occasionally emit wisps of light smoke, creating a misty and cloudy ambiance, as if it were a utopian retreat.

    The lake water was very clear, with the underwater grass and various fish clearly visible.

    On Samosir Island, there are traditional longhouses of the Batak people, with tall roofs that curve upwards at both ends, resembling bull horns. Wang Zhuo explained that the reason the houses are built this way is because the locals believe that buffalo horns can ward off evil spirits.

    This was Xu Lei''s first visit, and he was quickly captivated by the paradise-like scenic beauty, repeatedly exclaiming that it was an excellent place for seclusion.

    However, Ge Dongxu saw even more; he observed not only the scenic beauty but also the rich Fire Spiritual Energy and Water Spiritual Energy of the place.

    As the saying goes, fire and water are incompatible, but here, Ge Dongxu felt a harmonious synergy between the two elements and finally understood why there were such precious medicinal herbs as Nine Suns Red Flame Fruit and Sweet Dew Xuanyang Grass. Both of these herbs required hot environments abundant with Fire Spiritual Energy, and being plants, they also needed plentiful rainfall and Water Spiritual Energy to thrive. The Sweet Dew Xuanyang Grass especially, had even more exacting requirements for both elements.

    "Through fire, recognize the True Dragon, and through water, discern the True Tiger. Should I aspire to comprehend the Dragon Tiger Realm in the future, this place would be most fitting." As Ge Dongxu silently praised the beauty of the area, he also gleaned a subtle enlightenment from the harmonious coexistence of fire and water.

    The local inhabitants were very friendly. Seeing Ge Dongxu and others pass by in their car, they would sometimes take the initiative to greet them with friendly smiles.

    This made Ge Dongxu somewhat reflective; one really cannot judge an ethnicity or a nation by just looking at a subset of its people.

    The car traveled around the ring road of the island, and at an intersection flanked by dense trees leading up the mountain, Wang Zhuo turned the vehicle onto the path.

    Just a short way in, they saw a large iron gate guarded by two stone Qilins.

    Behind the iron gate was a spacious road lined with neatly trimmed flowers and trees.

    The road was not straight all the way to the end. After twenty or thirty meters, it wound its way through, making it impossible to see inside from the gate.

    Two burly security guards stood watch at the gate. As Ge Dongxu''s car approached, they pointed to the sign indicating a private residence on the gateplate and gestured for them to leave.

    Getting out of the car, Xu Lei said to the security guards, "Could you please announce our arrival, saying that Mr. Fan Hong from Huaxia Country, a friend of Ge Dongxu, has come to visit Elder Chen." sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "So it''s Mr. Ge." The security guard obviously had been notified earlier and showed a slight smile upon hearing their names, opening the gate, "Our master has already instructed that you can just follow this road straight up."

    Although Fan Hong did not come, he had already notified Chen Jiateng in advance. Although the two had only met a few times without deep interaction, Fan Hong was still considered a master in Qimen and a government official from Huaxia Country. Since he had made a special call, Chen Jiateng was bound to extend that courtesy.

 Chapter 396 - 395 Chen Family [Third Release for Monthly Pass Votes]

    The car drove through the gate, winding through the mountain roads for quite a distance before suddenly emerging into a clearing with a view of a house perched halfway up the hill, facing Doba Lake. The house carried an antique charm without lacking in luxury.

    Very much like the residence of a wealthy family in Huaxia Country from the past, there was a huge garden in front with a circular flower bed in the center, which included a rockery with flowing water.

    Before the car reached the entrance, Ge Dongxu could already see a middle-aged man in his forties to fifties, dressed in a white linen mandarin-collar short-sleeved shirt, standing there waiting, with two attendants behind him.

    Clearly, this person had been informed by the gatekeeper and had come out specially to wait.

    "The man at the entrance is Chen Jiateng''s second son, Chen Zhengbin. Currently, much of the Chen Family''s business is managed by him and his elder brother, Chen Zhengli. Chen Zhengbin is mainly responsible for Sumatra Island, while Chen Zhengli oversees the national and international ventures. It''s been rumored that the Chen Family recently discovered oil on some of their private land in South Sumatra, but who knows if it''s true. If it is, even in today''s economic downturn and with low oil prices, the Chen Family is definitely poised for another leap forward and could very well enter the top ten of Indonesia''s rich list," Wang Zhuo explained as they saw the middle-aged man at the entrance from a distance.

    "Is there a lot of oil in Indonesia? They even found oil on their own land?" Ge Dongxu asked with some surprise.

    "Indonesia has a very abundant reserve of oil and is the only OPEC member state in Asia, with Sumatra being Indonesia''s largest oil-producing province. Of course, another important factor is that the Chen Family owns a large stretch of private land in Sumatra, something unimaginable in Huaxia Country, which is why oil has been discovered on their own land. Like now, the mountain road we have been driving up¡ªlook, it''s all been sealed off by the Chen Family; this is all part of the Chen Family''s private territory," Wang Zhuo explained.

    "So that''s how it is. It''s truly ''Travel broadens the mind, and reading extensive books.'' I really didn''t know about these things before," said Ge Dongxu, not trying to conceal his shallow experience and limited knowledge.

    "Mr. Ge is too modest," Wang Zhuo hastened to say.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and said no more because, at that moment, the car had arrived at the entrance and stopped.

    The two attendants standing behind Chen Zhengbin immediately stepped forward to help open the door of the rear seat.

    Ge Dongxu and Xu Lei got out of the car from both sides.

    Seeing Xu Lei''s composed demeanor and knowing he was only slightly younger than himself, Chen Zhengbin mistakenly thought he was Ge Dongxu and stepped forward to greet him, extending his hand and saying, "Mr. Ge, welcome to my modest home. Forgive me for not meeting you farther. I am Chen Zhengbin, and Chen Jiateng is my father."

    Xu Lei saw Chen Zhengbin extend his hand toward him and his expression became slightly awkward as he hurriedly said, "Mr. Chen, there has been a misunderstanding. This gentleman is Mr. Ge Dongxu, and my name is Xu Lei. I have accompanied Mr. Ge on this visit."

    "My apologies, I did not expect Mr. Ge to be such a young and promising man," Chen Zhengbin said, frowning involuntarily as he extended his hand toward Ge Dongxu.

    As he spoke, a hint of contempt and annoyance flashed in his eyes.

    Being of Chinese descent, Chen Zhengbin had also visited Huaxia Country and was somewhat familiar with its national conditions. He knew that many young people there had little to no capabilities, yet leveraged their family''s power and wealth to act privileged and domineering.

    This time, when an important figure from the domestic circle reached out to his father, mentioning that a significant personage would visit and had matters to discuss with his father, Chen Zhengbin had assumed that the guest would be, if not of his father''s age, at least close to his own. He had not expected that, in the end, it would be such a young whippersnapper.

    How could this not fill Chen Zhengbin with disdain and annoyance?

    His Chen Family was a prominent household in Indonesia, commanding a voice within the entire Chinese circle in Indonesia, especially in the Sumatra region where they held a pivotal position¡ªnot to mention their wealth.

    That was all known publicly. Privately, his father was also a figure in Sumatra''s Qimen, having commanded respect on Sumatra Island for decades.

    How could such an important figure be accessible to just any young whippersnapper?

    Forgetting his father for a moment, even he himself, by virtue of what right should a young whippersnapper like this deserve his personal reception at the entrance?

    However, Fan Hong''s status was not to be taken lightly, and when he introduced someone, even if Chen Zhengbin felt somewhat annoyed, he didn''t find it appropriate to turn them away to their faces at the moment.

    "I dare not accept such praise!" Ge Dongxu smiled modestly in response.

    "Mr. Ge, Mr. Xu, please come inside," Chen Zhengbin exchanged a few pleasantries with Ge Dongxu at the door before inviting them in.

    This was a household courtyard with a very strong Jiangnan water town atmosphere, featuring cloisters, stone railings, waterside pavilions, and winding bridges... These layouts, which could only be seen in some antique historical buildings back in Huaxia, were all present here, and they possessed a sense of age, unlike the ones built in recent years back home.

    Although Ge Dongxu had by now seen quite a few impressive scenes, he still felt amazed when he entered.

    ...

    In the backyard of the Chen Family, a silver-haired elder was sitting cross-legged on a half-acre of garden land.

    Indonesia was located in the tropics, but at this moment, frost speckled the silver hair and eyebrows of the elder, whose lips were pale and body was slightly trembling, as if he were extremely cold.

    To the left of the elder grew a bright red tree, as coral-like in its color, with nine fruits hanging from it, each fruit a fiery red, like the sun itself.

    To the right of the elder was a small patch of grass, but this grass had red leaves, each leaf glistening with crystal-clear droplets of water. These droplets, reflecting off the red leaves in the sunlight, looked extraordinarily brilliant, as though there was a fire burning within them.

    Wisps of fiery energy rose from the tree and the patch of grass, encircling the elder.

    The frost on the elder''s hair and eyebrows gradually turned into mist and rose up. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Surrounded by mist, the elder seemed like an Immortal, as if he would ride the clouds and ascend at any moment.

    A servant came in and, seeing the elder like this, showed a look of deep reverence in his eyes.

    "Have the guests arrived?" the elder asked upon seeing the servant come in.

    When the elder spoke, the mist swirling around him suddenly entered his body and vanished without a trace.

    The persistent evil Qi, the elder''s face revealed a wry smile.

    The servant, not understanding the elder''s suffering from the cold evil Qi, saw this scene and his look of reverence deepened as he reverently replied, "Yes, Old Master, but it''s just a young man. Second Master said, if you don''t wish to see him, he can handle the greeting."

    "A young man?" the elder, naturally the patriarch of the Chen Family, Chen Jiateng, looked slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

    "Yes, he looks to be no older than twenty," the servant replied respectfully.

    "What is Fan Hong up to? To make a special call to me for a young chap not even twenty years old," Chen Jiateng''s eyebrows furrowed, his face showing a slight hint of displeasure, but he still stood up and walked towards the reception hall.

    Since Fan Hong was, after all, the head of Huaxia Country''s Special Ability Management Bureau, and also a master of Qimen, since he had made a special call, Chen Jiateng felt he should give him that much face. However, since it was only a junior, Chen Jiateng had already decided to deal with it perfunctorily and then send him on his way.

 Chapter 398 - 397 The good do not come, those who come are not good

    Chen Jiateng and his son''s expressions darkened in an instant upon hearing the words.

    "Just say I have important guests and ask them to come back another day..." Chen Jiateng''s face remained overcast for a moment before he said solemnly.

    "Father, that Matsukawa Nozomu, you may choose not to meet with him; after all, it''s not their turn for the Japanese to call the shots in Indonesia. But the Brahmo family has quite a few influential people in Indonesia''s military and political circles. Now that Alon is already at the door, it would be improper for you not to see him," Chen Zhengbin reminded, stepping forward with a wry smile upon hearing his father''s words.

    "Mr. Chen, my matter is not urgent; we can discuss it later. You go ahead with your business," Ge Dongxu said when he noticed the situation.

    Pondering for a moment after hearing this, Chen Jiateng nodded to Ge Dongxu and said, "That''s fine; I will meet with them first and then discuss our matters with you afterwards."

    "The scenery on Samosir Island is indeed tranquil and beautiful. With that, I''ll take my leave and take a walk around the area before I visit again later," Ge Dongxu said, rising to his feet and saluting with his hands.

    "Good idea; I''ll have Adin accompany you all around," Chen Jiateng and his son obviously did not want Ge Dongxu to interfere with their matters, and they rose to join the conversation.

    Adin was the one who had just gone into the back garden to report and was a close aide to Chen Jiateng.

    Wang Zhuo had not been in the drawing room just now; instead, he was waiting outside. Seeing Ge Dongxu and the others coming out so quickly, he was slightly surprised, but he approached them promptly.

    "Mr. Ge, Mr. Xu, shall we go now?" Wang Zhuo asked.

    "We haven''t finished talking yet; let''s have Mr. Adin here accompany us for a walk first," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Mr. Ge, just call me Adin, please," Adin quickly said.

    Ge Dongxu gave a noncommittal smile and then the four of them got into the car together, with Adin taking the passenger seat.

    The car slowly left the yard, going back down the same road they had come up on.

    On the way, they encountered six vehicles, including Japanese Hondas and German Mercedes-Benzes, all in uniform black, driving up in a stylish procession.

    Ge Dongxu guessed that these six cars were probably the ones belonging to Alon from the Brahmo family and the Japanese person named Matsukawa Nozomu, as reported by the servant earlier.

    Ge Dongxu naturally had no interest in the Indonesians or the Japanese, nor in their dealings with the Chen family. However, as the two groups'' cars passed each other, Ge Dongxu''s eyebrows furrowed slightly because he sensed a vague malevolent and sinister aura.

    But Ge Dongxu only furrowed his brow momentarily and did not take it to heart.

    Although cultivators were scarce these days, they still existed. It wouldn''t be surprising for the Brahmo family, a large Indonesian family, to have one or two cultivators around.

    On the back seat of the black Mercedes-Benz sat an elderly man dressed in a brightly colored Badi shirt printed with various exotic and strange patterns.

    The old man was of average build, with dark skin covered in wrinkles.

    He held a pitch-black wooden staff in his hand, its head carved with the gruesome figure of a poisonous snake.

    The poisonous snake''s eyes weren''t carved, but were inlaid with green jadeite, emitting a faint green glow that made them seem almost alive.

    "Is everything arranged properly, without any chance of mistakes?" the elderly man asked the middle-aged man in the passenger seat.

    "Teacher, rest assured, our people have been properly positioned. Should anything unexpected happen on our side, I guarantee not a single member of the Chen Family will leave Samosir Island. However, Teacher, with you personally taking action, and with the Japanese secretly assisting, I think you might be worrying too much," the middle-aged man replied.

    "Under a great reputation, one doesn''t find idleness! Do you think the Chen Family has been able to command such respect among the Chinese community in Sumatra Island all these years mainly because of wealth? In terms of wealth, he couldn''t compare to the richest man of that time, Zhang Yaoxuan, who was also a well-connected merchant. He not only received an official position from the Qing government but also had good relations with the Dutch, who relied heavily on him. However, when talking about prestige in the Chinese community on Sumatra Island during the heyday of Jiateng, even Yaoxuan at his peak couldn''t compare. The main reason he has been able to awe the Chinese community in Sumatra Island for so many years is because of his profound and unfathomable techniques. If it weren''t for Matsukawa Nozomu revealing that he had been injured in his early years and is now likely plagued with a venomous affliction, I wouldn''t want to take this risk," the old man said with a gloomy expression.

    ...

    "Father, this sudden joint appearance by Alon and Matsukawa Nozomu is definitely targeting the oil field we recently discovered," Chen Zhengbin stated with an ugly expression at the Chen Family''s large residence.

    "Good people do not come; those who come have ill intentions! The biggest problem we Chinese face in Indonesia is our keenness on doing business to make money while rarely making achievements in the political arena, and our Chen Family is no exception! Otherwise, Alon would not dare to covet our oil fields," Chen Jiateng said with a grim face.

    "It''s not that we don''t want to, but the Javanese and others have already firmly grasped power. It''s difficult for us to get involved now, so we''re not willing to put in the effort," Chen Zhengbin said.

    "It''s because all Chinese hold this same thought that even with our vast wealth, we are still at a disadvantage, unable to escape the fate of being carved up like fish on a chopping block," Chen Jiateng sighed.

    "Father, are you implying that we should prepare to..." Chen Zhengbin''s complexion changed drastically upon hearing this.

    The newly discovered oil field had vast reserves; once the Chen Family developed it, it would definitely take their wealth to a new level.

    "If Alon had come directly to negotiate with the Chen Family, I would share a piece of the cake with him in exchange for his political support. But the issue is that he is clearly worried about our Chen Family''s deep-rooted influence in Indonesia, that he won''t be able to control or dominate this matter, so he chose to side with the Japanese. With that being the case, do you think I would just sit back and let it happen? If I have to give it up, it most certainly won''t be to the Japanese!" Chen Jiateng said, his face turning cold and his eyes revealing deep-seated hatred.

    Many members of the Chen Family had died at the hands of the Japanese in those years!

    "But..." Chen Zhengbin''s face changed again.

    "There are no ''buts''. Our Chen Family is not malleable clay for anyone to shape. If Alon thinks he can force us to give up the oil fields we discovered first, he''ll have to see if he has the capability," Chen Jiateng said without letting his son finish, cutting him off with a cold tone. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Upon hearing this, Chen Zhengbin''s expression gradually turned solemn, and he silently followed Chen Jiateng out of the residence to the entrance of the courtyard.

    It wasn''t two minutes before they saw a line of black cars stop at the entrance of the courtyard.

    One by one, stern-looking men stepped out of the cars and then opened the doors.

    Alon and a somewhat portly Japanese man emerged from the cars, bending their waists and stepping down.

    "Brother Alon, what an honor to have you visit, my apologies for not meeting you farther away!" Chen Jiateng stepped forward and greeted with his hands clasped.

    As for the Japanese man next to Alon, he simply ignored him.

    "Chen Brother, long time no see. How have you been lately?" Alon clasped his hands in return and asked, while Matsukawa Nozomu by his side naturally looked sullen and displeased.

 Chapter 399 - 398 Threat

    "Thanks to Brother Alon, very good, very good indeed!" Chen Jiateng said, clasping his fists.

    "Brother Chen, let me introduce you, this gentleman is Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu, president of the Shinrei Group," Alon introduced.

    "Brother Alon, please come in." However, Chen Jiateng seemed not to have heard Alon''s introduction and simply gestured for him to enter.

    Matsukawa Nozomu''s face twitched slightly, his eyes reflecting a cold glint, but his self-control was excellent, and he did not erupt in anger.

    Alon gave a dry laugh and, without insisting on the introduction any further, also made a welcoming gesture before they both entered the Chen Family''s mansion together.

    When Alon and the others entered the Chen Family mansion, a strange glimmer flashed through the surrounding woods.

    In the reception room, after the guests and hosts took their seats, Chen Jiateng ordered tea to be served, only exchanging pleasantries with Alon and not bringing up the subject of the oil field at all.

    "The Chinese often say, ''No one visits a temple without a cause.'' Today, Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu and I have come here to discuss a matter with Brother Chen." Seeing that Chen Jiateng wasn''t taking the initiative to ask, Alon spoke up.

    "Oh, what matter would that be?" Chen Jiateng could no longer pretend to be confused and looked up at Alon when he heard the words.

    "There''s also a Chinese saying, ''Honest people don''t speak in riddles.'' I''ll get straight to the point. Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu and I are interested in investing to purchase your farm in Kobang¡ªhopefully, Brother Chen will be willing to part with it," Alon said bluntly.

    "Brother Alon, there''s another Chinese saying, ''Don''t speak falsely in front of the true master.'' Underneath that farm in Kobang, there is an oil field. If you''re really interested, as long as your price is right, our Chen Family would be happy to work with the Brahmo Family on its development. As for the Shinrei Group, perhaps not," Chen Jiateng replied bluntly, seeing that Alon had been straightforward.

    "Developing an oil field isn''t something that can be done at the drop of a hat; it requires advanced technology and a market to sell the oil. And Japan, not only does it have the most advanced technology in the world, but it also has a huge oil market. I would still prefer if Mr. Chen would agree to sell us the farm. In terms of price, we can offer one hundred million US dollars," Alon replied, his eyes flickering with hesitation before turning resolute as he looked at Chen Jiateng.

    These two reasons he mentioned were just superficial; the real reason, both he, Chen Jiateng, and Matsukawa Nozomu knew very well.

    "One hundred million US dollars? Are you joking..." Chen Zhengbin couldn''t help but change his expression and slammed the table as he stood up.

    "Sit down! You are not in a position to speak here!" Chen Jiateng said authoritatively, looking at Chen Zhengbin.

    "Father, they are simply..." Chen Zhengbin began, not satisfied, but eventually, under his father''s authoritative gaze, swallowed the rest of his words and sat back down, huffing with anger.

    "Brother Alon, if you bring out one hundred million US dollars, I might consider letting you invest, but to buy our farm? That joke has perhaps gone too far," Chen Jiateng replied, this time leisurely picking up his tea, crossing his legs, and speaking in an unhurried manner, as if not the slightest bit angered.

    But those who knew him understood that this was Chen Jiateng at his most furious.

    "One hundred million US dollars is already a lot. Without an oil field, that farm of yours would barely be worth a few million US dollars at most," Matsukawa Nozomu said, his face showing an expression of disdain.

    "Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu, I let you sit here because of Alon''s face¡ªnothing more. But that doesn''t mean you have the right to speak in my house!" said Chen Jiateng coldly.

    "Bastard!" The people behind Matsukawa Nozomu were already quite irritated by Chen Jiateng''s lack of respect, and now that Chen Jiateng said Matsukawa Nozomu didn''t even have the right to speak, they immediately stepped forward with faces full of anger.

    "What? Are you going to start a fight?" Chen Jiateng glanced at the two men coldly, then turned his gaze back to Alon.

    Alon gave Matsukawa Nozomu a look, and after Matsukawa Nozomu''s expression changed a few times, he eventually waved his hand at his men to stand down.

    "One hundred million US dollars is actually not a small amount, after all, we don''t know how much oil there is underground, and oil extraction requires significant costs and isn''t something that can be accomplished overnight. But since Brother Chen finds it too little, how about we add another fifty million US dollars?" Alon proposed.

    "I said it before, Brother Alon, you can buy shares if you want, but I will never agree to transfer them, especially to the Japanese," Chen Jiateng put his teacup down and laid his cards on the table.

    "Why must you be so, Brother Chen? As you know, I, Alon, would never make a move without guarantee of reward," Alon''s face gradually turned cold, his eyes fixed on Chen Jiateng, his words filled with a threatening tone.

    "Why must you insist on pressing others, Brother Alon? I know the Brahmo family has significant power in the military, police, and political spheres, but don''t forget that the Chen family is not to be trifled with either. If things really get out of hand, your Brahmo family will definitely have to pay a price," retorted Chen Jiateng sharply.

    Alon''s expression changed, and after a long silence, he once again smiled and said, "I really don''t want both sides to suffer, nor to ignite another bloodbath on this land of Indonesia. I presume you, Brother Chen, would not like to see such a scene unfold either?"

    Upon hearing this, Chen Jiateng''s face turned extremely grim, his fists clenched tightly, veins bulging.

    Historically, due to the wealth of Chinese people, jealousy and hatred from Indonesians were often sparked, and the colonial Dutch, fearing they couldn''t control the Chinese, would occasionally provoke fights between Indonesians and Chinese. Each time it resulted in a bloodbath and rivers of blood.

    To this day, although Indonesia has become independent, the rulers still fear the Chinese becoming too wealthy. They not only make it difficult for the Chinese to pursue political careers, but also occasionally oppress them.

    Given the Brahmo family''s influence in Indonesia, they certainly have the ability to incite another suppression or even a slaughter targeting the Chinese, and especially the Chen family. Of course, with the times having changed, such actions would definitely bring significant international pressure on Indonesia and could cause serious internal turmoil.

    If Indonesia cannot withstand the international pressure or settle the internal disturbances, then the Brahmo family, being the instigators, would inevitably be held accountable and bear the consequences.

    "No one wishes to be slaughtered at will. If it really comes to that, then we will have no choice but to fight back. Brother Alon, you may try if you wish," said Chen Jiateng after a long while, his face resolute, his voice tinged with sorrow and anger.

    "Why must it come to this? How about we settle it like this: since we both belong to Qimen, why don''t we resolve it the Qimen way?" Alon looked at Chen Jiateng, his expression changing before he spoke.

    Of course, Alon would not want to take that risk unless absolutely necessary. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although the Brahmo family currently holds significant power in the military, police, and political realms, to progress further and become one of Indonesia''s most prominent families, wealth is key.

    And what could be a faster way to accumulate wealth than exploiting oil mines? Hence, Alon considered the Chen family''s oil field a must-have.

 Chapter 400 - 399 Spell Battle

    "Fine, state your terms," Chen Jiateng''s face changed several times before he finally said in a deep voice.

    Chen Jiateng was well aware that if the Chen Family really came to blows with the Brahmo Family, the Chen Family would pay with rivers of blood, while the Brahmo Family''s price would be their downfall.

    With no life, there''s nothing left, but a family''s downfall is something you can rise from again as long as the people are still there.

    Weighing the two, Chen Jiateng ultimately had no choice but to accept this unfair proposal.

    "If we battle and I lose, I''ll turn around and leave. If you lose, you''ll sell that farm to me at the price of one hundred million US dollars," Alon said.

    "Fine, but it''s one hundred and fifty million US dollars," Chen Jiateng replied in a deep voice upon hearing this.

    At this moment, one could see the maturity and composure of Chen Jiateng. If it had been a young person in his place, overtaken by anger, they might not care about the sum at this point.

    "Father!" Chen Zhengbin''s face changed dramatically, his eyes filled with worry, upon hearing this.

    Others might not be aware of the insidious poison afflicting his father, but Chen Zhengbin was acutely aware.

    His father was at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, while Alon was at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. Under normal circumstances, even if Alon''s techniques were known for their sinister and bizarre nature, Chen Zhengbin wouldn''t have worried, considering the difference in their realms. But over the years, his father had been plagued by insidious poison, and he could, at most, exert only fifty to sixty percent of his power, making the outcome uncertain.

    Given that Alon, clearly aware that his father''s strength was greater, still proposed a battle, there was obviously more to it, which made Chen Zhengbin even more anxious.

    "You need not say more; my mind is made up!" Chen Jiateng dismissed him with a firm wave of his hand, his gaze unwaveringly fixed on Alon.

    Chen Jiateng knew this all too well, but he had no choice! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "They say you Chinese are adept at business, and it''s true. Even now, Brother Chen, you haven''t forgotten to haggle over the price! Fine, then one hundred and fifty million US dollars it is," Alon said, smiling in the face of Chen Jiateng''s resolute gaze.

    "This place isn''t suitable for a Spell Battle, let''s go outside," Chen Jiateng stood up and said.

    "Fine," Alon also stood up and replied.

    "Hold on, although I am not one of your Qimen, I am aware that a Spell Battle is extremely dangerous and can even lead to a fight to the death. If a life is truly at stake, without written testimony arranged in advance, things may become very complicated later on," Matsukawa Nozomu stood up and said, his face displaying a hint of malice and schadenfreude.

    "You Japanese always measure the heart of a nobleman with your petty standards!" Chen Jiateng said disdainfully.

    However, despite his words, he still gestured for someone to bring pen and paper.

    He himself would certainly not go back on his word, but he was worried that afterward, Alon and Matsukawa Nozomu might!

    After the written agreement was established, with Alon''s disciple and Chen Zhengbin serving as witnesses and affixing their signatures.

    Once the document was prepared and stored safely, they all exited the mansion together and came to the entrance courtyard of the Chen Family estate.

    "Let''s begin!" Upon reaching the courtyard, Chen Jiateng''s hand already held a piece of Hetian jade as red as a cock''s comb, also known as Red Jade, a rare treasure among such jades.

    Chen Jiateng gently rubbed the Red Jade, all the while keeping his gaze fixed on Alon.

    Alon nodded slightly, his hand lightly touching the head of his Wooden Staff.

    The Poisonous Snake engraved on the head of the staff suddenly seemed to come to life, its eyes turning green and flickering, even sticking out its tongue and making a hissing sound.

    Then, Alon raised the Wooden Staff, pointing it at Chen Jiateng from a distance.

    Suddenly, a series of chilling cold winds swept through the mountains with a hissing sound, as if countless poisonous snakes had emerged from their dens.

    Everyone around felt a chill run through their bodies, hairs standing on end, instinctively retreating backward.

    "After so many years, Brother Alon still hasn''t made much progress," Chen Jiateng said with a cold smile, his Red Jade in hand suddenly erupted in bright red light, as if the horizon itself had caught fire.

    The fire burned while the wind blew, and within the wind were poisonous snakes hissing.

    The fire burned more intensely, and the countless poisonous snakes in its path showed a hint of fear in their eyes, not daring to move forward even half a step, instead retreating backwards.

    This scene was visible only to those like Chen Zhengbin, who had Cultivation within them; ordinary people could only vaguely sense the presence of two forces¡ªone hot and the other cold¡ªat odds in the air.

    Sweat broke out on Alon''s wrinkled forehead as his footsteps moved reluctantly backward, whereas Chen Jiateng pressed forward step by step.

    Seeing this, Chen Zhengbin''s tight expression slightly relaxed.

    In the nearby mountain forest, several towering old pines with crisscrossing bark suddenly emitted a sinister aura.

    The sunlight shining on them cast a strange glow, with a shadow flashing past, as if someone clung to the tree trunk, holding a pitch-black gourd in their hand, from which that sinister aura was emanating.

    The hot weather of Samosir Island in the tropics slowly cooled, and the Fire Spiritual Energy meandering through the sky seemed to dislike the sinister air, scattering in all directions.

    Engrossed in Casting Spells, Chen Jiateng had yet to notice the subtle changes between heaven and earth''s spiritual energy; at the moment, he was intent on defeating Alon in one fell swoop. As he also needed to focus on suppressing the yin poison within his body, an extended battle would deplete his Mana too much, leaving him unable to suppress the poison, thus reversing the situation.

    Therefore, Chen Jiateng needed to fight quickly; he could not afford to waste time.

    It seemed Alon was aware of Chen Jiateng''s intention; although he retreated step by step, he was far from panicking, and the poisonous snake on his Wooden Staff seemed to sense the sinister aura drifting through the air, its green gleam growing deeper.

    ...

    Meanwhile, Ge Dongxu left the mountain gate in a car and, led by Adin, they visited the local Batak people''s traditional longhouse, a distinct cultural feature.

    "Mr. Ge, I have arranged a yacht for you. Would you like to continue touring the island now, or would you prefer to board the yacht first?" Adin asked politely after leaving the Batak longhouse.

    "We have already traveled part of the island just now. Since you have arranged the yacht, let''s board the yacht and enjoy the scenery from a different angle," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Good, let''s head to the dock then," Adin said with a nod.

    Adin led Ge Dongxu and the others to the Chen Family''s private dock.

    The Chen Family''s private dock was built on the lakeshore near their forest property, convenient for the family to board the yacht.

    Several yachts, large and small, were already moored at the dock.

    A medium-sized yacht was already waiting with people standing by.

    Ge Dongxu and his group got out of the car, and as soon as they did, Ge Dongxu felt a premonition of danger and turned to look toward the island''s mountain ranges across the road.

    The mountains were lush and picturesque, with a few scattered houses at the foothill, and almost no buildings could be seen further up, save for the partially hidden Chen Family mansion among the woods.

    But what Ge Dongxu saw was far more than this; he "saw" the turbulent fluctuations of nature''s spiritual energy at mid-slope.

    One cold, one hot, like a Dragon Tiger battle.

 Chapter 401 - 400 Change of Mind

    "Is someone engaging in a Spell Battle? Could it be Chen Jiateng and those people from earlier?" Ge Dongxu''s expression changed slightly as his brows furrowed, and his eyes revealed a hint of hesitation.

    As a fellow Chinese, Ge Dongxu naturally sided with Chen Jiateng. However, he had no personal relationship with Chen Jiateng, plus this was someone else''s feud, and intervening might not be appropriate.

    As he hesitated, Ge Dongxu suddenly became alert and turned to look across the lake.

    There was a bridge connecting the island to the mainland.

    Not far behind the bridge on both sides were jungles, hiding several military vehicles with armed soldiers inside.

    While the likes of Adin could not see this, Ge Dongxu could.

    "Adin, is there a military presence around Samosir Island?" Ge Dongxu furrowed his brows and asked, as a chill air faintly emanated from him. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was normal for Magicians to have grudges and engage in Spell Battles. Without understanding the details, Ge Dongxu truly did not want to interfere, especially in a foreign country.

    But an army lying in ambush on the opposite bank was absolutely not normal and was an insult to Magicians.

    Just like in the previous incident at Mt. Xiaoyuan, it was fine for Magicians to duel using spells, but resorting to guns was a humiliation. So even personnel from the Special Ability Management Bureau, unless absolutely necessary, would not use firearms.

    However, whether it was an insult wasn''t important at the moment. What mattered was that as a Chinese, Ge Dongxu, having stumbled upon this situation, would absolutely not allow that Alon to team up with the Japanese and take down the Chen Family in his presence.

    "No." Adin looked at Ge Dongxu with surprise, not understanding why he would ask such a question all of a sudden.

    As expected! The chill emanating from Ge Dongxu grew denser, to the point that Xu Lei felt a pang of fear and looked at Ge Dongxu with puzzled eyes, whispering, "Mr. Ge, is there a problem?"

    "Hmm, there''s an army lying in ambush on the other side, the Chen Family is likely in trouble," Ge Dongxu nodded and whispered back.

    Xu Lei knew that Ge Dongxu was incredibly powerful, but he was still terrified to learn that Ge Dongxu could sense an army lying in ambush from so far away.

    Of course, now wasn''t the time for Xu Lei to be shocked by the terrifying strength of Ge Dongxu. If an army was indeed lying in ambush on the other side, then he had to make a decision quickly.

    Of course, Xu Lei''s decision would certainly be either to leave immediately or to act like an ordinary tourist, pretending nothing had happened, and not like Ge Dongxu, who was preparing to lend a hand to the Chen Family.

    Because though Xu Lei was a Magician, he did not believe that a Magician, a Cultivator, could contend with an army, especially abroad! Moreover, Ge Dongxu''s status was extraordinary, so Xu Lei had to prioritize his safety.

    "If they haven''t made a move yet, we should be able to leave right now," Xu Lei quickly decided, whispering.

    "Leave?" Ge Dongxu looked startled for a moment, then understood Xu Lei''s concern and gave him a deep look, saying solemnly, "As sons and daughters of Huaxia, knowing what''s happening, how could we sit by and do nothing? I will not leave."

    "Director Ge, this is no joke. They are an army! And this is Indonesia, if we intervene, it would be meddling in their internal affairs, and things could escalate," Xu Lei said anxiously, pulling Ge Dongxu aside and whispering.

    "You need not say more, I can''t just walk away. If you want to leave, go ahead. I won''t force you, and I won''t blame you," Ge Dongxu said to Xu Lei, his expression calm but his tone filled with an unshakeable determination.

    "What kind of person do you take me for, Director Ge! How could I possibly leave you and go by myself! Since you''re determined to stay, then I''ll stay with you. Let''s see what these Indonesians are up to. If they really intend to slaughter the Chen Family, then we''ll take them on," Xu Lei said, seeing that Ge Dongxu had made up his mind, without even thinking.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Xu Lei and suddenly smiled, a very happy smile, leaving Xu Lei feeling baffled.

    "You''re very good!" Ge Dongxu patted Xu Lei''s shoulder, then turned to Alon, who was still waiting by the side for them to board the boat, and said, "Suddenly, I don''t feel like taking the yacht anymore. I''d like to take a walk around the Chen Family''s grand mansion and truly appreciate the beauty of these mountains and lakes from above."

    Upon hearing this, Alon''s face showed a hint of confusion, but soon he smiled and said, "Mr. Ge, you are a distinguished guest of the Chen Family; we will listen to whatever you wish. Whatever you think is best, that will be done."

    After speaking, Alon waved at the dock workers, signaling them to cancel the plans.

    So, the group returned to the cars and made their way back to the mountain road leading to the Chen Family''s grand mansion.

    This time, with Alon there, the gatekeepers at the mountain''s entrance naturally let them pass directly.

    The vehicle traveled between the roads lined with trees, Ge Dongxu''s Divine Sense stretching out like innumerable tentacles into the forest.

    Following that experience of Unity of Heaven and Man, his spiritual power had reached an incredibly strong state. Having now broken through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, he could easily investigate everything within thousands of meters without anything escaping his notice.

    ...

    Outside the main courtyard of the Chen Family''s grand mansion.

    Despite initially being forced back repeatedly, Alon gradually steadied his steps, while Chen Jiateng''s hand, which was rubbing the Red Jade, began to tremble slightly, and a faint mist of frost appeared on his eyebrows and hair.

    A drawn-out battle, coupled with the sudden decrease in Fire Spiritual Energy from the surrounding nature''s spiritual energy, which inexplicably made the atmosphere turn eerily cold.

    This chilly aura triggered the poison within his body, causing the poison to become restless and difficult to suppress.

    Seeing the change in Chen Jiateng, Alon''s mouth curled into a pleased and cruel cold smirk. Suddenly, instead of retreating, he advanced, raising his staff once more and pointing at Chen Jiateng while muttering a spell.

    Instantly, a chilly wind howled, carrying with it a slight stench.

    The shadow of a black giant snake, as thick as an arm, suddenly burst forth from the top of his staff. It opened its mouth wide, revealing sharp venomous fangs, and bit towards the hand holding the Red Jade.

    Chen Jiateng''s face turned pale upon witnessing this, not expecting Alon to still have reserves of strength and suddenly launch an attack.

    Mana fully circulating, Chen Jiateng fiercely pinched out a spell with one hand, while rubbing the Red Jade with the other.

    Flames "whooshed" into existence and surged upwards, like a Fire Dragon, confronting the Poisonous Snake.

    Just as the Fire Dragon was about to collide with the Poisonous Snake, Chen Jiateng''s body suddenly shuddered, and a layer of frost covered his skin and hair.

    The poison inside his body erupted like a volcano at last.

    Alon sneered wickedly, and the Poisonous Snake in mid-air sneered likewise, then it bit down on Chen Jiateng''s hand holding the Red Jade.

    Although it was merely the shadow of a snake, the bite left two holes in Chen Jiateng''s arm, with black blood flowing out.

    Not only that, but in an instant, the lower half of Chen Jiateng''s arm turned black.

    "Snap!" The Red Jade fell to the ground.

 Chapter 402 - 401 Mr. Ge Makes a Move

    "Father!" Chen Zhengbin rushed over to support Chen Jiateng, his face filled with sorrow and anger.

    "Haha, Brother Chen, you''ve lost!" Alon laughed loudly and triumphantly.

    "Haha, Mr. Chen, truly brave and remarkable, but your Huaxia spellcasting is ultimately inferior to that of the Javanese!" Matsukawa Nozomu''s face revealed a hideous, triumphant smile.

    Their followers did the same, looking at Chen Jiateng and his son with a mix of smugness and coldness.

    "You''ve got to accept the loss when you place a bet! Brother Chen, thanks for your generosity," said Alon, seeing that Chen Jiateng had pressed his arm several times but the black line continued to spread upward. Not only did he show no intention of bringing out an antidote, instead, he clasped his fists toward Chen Jiateng and said with a sneer.

    Seeing Alon and Matsukawa Nozomu so arrogantly triumphant, Chen Zhengbin was so angry that he clenched his fists and wanted to rush at them.

    Alon noticed this and raised his wooden staff towards Chen Zhengbin, wearing a disdainful cold smirk on his face.

    With Chen Zhengbin''s cultivation, acting presumptuously in front of him was simply seeking death.

    "Zhengbin, come back, Alon is right, you have to accept the loss of a bet!" Chen Jiateng stopped his son with his hand, speaking with difficulty.

    His face was not only frosted over but also tinged with black, clearly indicating that the snake venom was spreading through his body.

    "Accepting a loss is fine, but it has to be under fair conditions," just then, a cold voice suddenly rang out from outside the courtyard.

    A young man got out of the car, and upon seeing Chen Jiateng in such a state, Alon had already rushed over to support him and said with grief and anger, "Old Master, how are you?"

    "Who are you?" Alon turned sharply, his gaze as venomous as a snake as he looked towards Ge Dongxu. However, when he realized it was just a young man, his expression faltered slightly, then turned cold and cruel again.

    Alon had spoken in Chinese because that was the language Ge Dongxu had used.

    "A Huaxia man!" Ge Dongxu coldly replied, then looked at him and said calmly, "Bring out the antidote."

    His tone wasn''t suggestive, it was a command.

    His gaze wasn''t pleading but condescending, looking down upon him.

    "What are you, daring to be so presumptuous in front of me, this is courting death!" Hearing this, Alon''s expression turned even more cold and cruel. Yet, out of self-esteem, he didn''t personally attack the young man but instead said to his disciple, "Suhatu, cripple him!"

    "Yes, Master!" Suhatu, who had been in the car with him, nodded slightly, and at some point, his hands had come to hold a wooden carving. Carved on it was a serpent, which he now held with a malevolent smirk, ready to attack Ge Dongxu.

    "Damn you! What are you to dare raise your hand against Mr. Ge!" Xu Lei, seeing this, darkened in expression, flipped his palm, and in his hand appeared a jade token carved with a tiger.

    As soon as the jade token appeared, he pinched out a spell, and suddenly a cold wind rose up, carrying with it the Geng Metal''s evil Qi, not to mention that there seemed to be the sound of a tiger''s roar within the gale.

    In mid-air, a tiger''s phantom form roared as it fiercely pounced toward Suhatu. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Xu Lei was skilled in the metal series techniques of the Five Elements.

    Geng Metal commands killing!

    Suhatu''s complexion changed on the spot, he hastened to control his serpent carving while retreating, and Alon''s expression also slightly changed as he said coldly, "I didn''t expect you were also a person of the Qimen, and even at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. But even among those of the Third Layer, there are levels."

    Speaking, Alon raised the wooden staff in his hand toward Xu Lei, knowing full well that his own disciple was no match for Xu Lei.

    As soon as Alon raised his staff, a foul wind rose in the air, and a black, massive snake materialized in the sky.

    "Stop! Alon, this matter has nothing to do with Mr. Ge and Mr. Xu," Chen Jiateng suddenly stood up straight and shouted upon seeing Alon make his move.

    Ge Dongxu looked toward Chen Jiateng, a hint of admiration showing in his eyes.

    Despite knowing their identities, Chen Jiateng didn''t act like someone else might have under such circumstances¡ªeager to drag them down and muddle the waters.

    After all, they were backed by Huaxia Country, and they were official figures at that! If trouble arose here, even if Alon held status in Indonesia, it would not be an easy matter to smooth over.

    But Chen Jiateng didn''t act in such a way, which showed that this man was indeed quite responsible and valued loyalty highly.

    "Even if this has nothing to do with them, for their audacity, they still need to be taught a lesson," Alon said without any respect.

    "Indeed, it is you who needs to be taught a lesson, or else you''d really think we Chinese are to be trifled with!" Ge Dongxu replied with a cold smile. Without any noticeable movement, he simply stepped forward and suddenly seemed to appear right in front of Alon, reaching out and grasping the black snake''s phantom image in his hand.

    The moment the phantom of the black snake was caught in Ge Dongxu''s hand, it materialized into a real snake¡ªjust not as large as before, only about the size of a chopstick. It struggled continuously in Ge Dongxu''s hand, trying to break free.

    However, with Ge Dongxu''s level of cultivation, there was no way it could escape from his grasp.

    At that moment, Alon, who had just been arrogantly unassailable, now appeared like someone whose neck had been caught, his entire face turning purplish-red as he clutched his throat, his eyes wide with horror looking at Ge Dongxu.

    The black snake was a Snake Gu he had spent immeasurable effort raising, connected to his mind and crucial to his life.

    Although he was at the peak of the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, his real ability mainly lay in his snake, similar to an Onmyoji whose real strength resided in his Shikigami.

    One can imagine how formidable this snake was.

    But Alon had never expected the young man he had disdained to bother with would catch it with a mere stretch of his hand; such a turn of events filled him with boundless horror.

    In fact, inside the courtyard, except for Xu Lei, who showed little surprise, everyone else was utterly shocked, especially Chen Jiateng who couldn''t believe what he''d just witnessed.

    Having just duelled with Alon, Chen Jiateng was all too aware of the danger posed by the snake Gu, but he would never have expected the unreasonably young Mr. Ge to simply reach out and catch it firmly; how terrifyingly profound must his cultivation be?

    In that moment, Chen Jiateng truly understood why such an important figure as Fan Hong would personally call to give instructions on behalf of this "lesser" individual.

    Chen Jiateng actually didn''t know that Fan Hong had initially intended to accompany him himself.

    This time, Alon''s group had brought twelve bodyguards, all of whom had been specifically sent for training in special forces units. They were not only resolute but also had quick reflexes.

    Just a moment of shock passed before they instinctively reached for their handguns.

    But before their hands even touched the guns, the grass in the courtyard suddenly burst up like green snakes, shooting into their clothes.

    Following that, the handguns were twined and pulled out by the green grass, then held up mid-air by the upright blades, with the triggers hooked by the green stems and the dark muzzles pointing at the twelve bodyguards.

 Chapter 403 - 403: 402

    The scene looked incredibly eerie; in an instant, not only were the twelve bodyguards, who had guns pointed at them, scared pale and dared not move an inch, but even Chen Jiateng and his son, Xu Lei, and others all wore looks of horror.

    Such miraculous techniques existed only in legends, and even they had never witnessed them before.

    "You can try moving and see if these grasses will trigger the trigger," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    The twelve bodyguards, despite their harsh special forces training, were facing a scene that far surpassed their wildest imaginations in terms of eerie horror and had a feeling of being scared out of their wits. As for moving, who would dare!

    "Alon, right? Can you produce the antidote now?" Ge Dongxu asked Alon indifferently.

    As he spoke, he tossed something with his hand.

    The black snake in his hand shot towards a pine tree some sixty or seventy meters away from Chen Family''s mansion like a streak of black lightning.

    "Ah!" A sudden scream rang out.

    The bark of that old pine suddenly peeled off, revealing a man wearing a cloak.

    The pattern and color on the cloak resembled tree bark, and it was painted with strange and peculiar characters.

    As the man "fell" from the tree, a "rustling" noise suddenly arose around, and several more "barks" "fell" from some trees, each trying to flee into the depths of the jungle.

    These people moved quickly and nimbly, but Ge Dongxu just coldly smiled upon seeing this, his hand mysteriously already holding a few leaves, which he then gently tossed.

    The leaves instantly shot out, cutting through the air, and surprisingly made a "whoosh whoosh!" sound as they sliced through the air.

    "Ah! Ah!" Those leaves caught up in the blink of an eye to the cloaked men who turned to flee, with continuous screams echoing as the men all knelt to the ground, their blood spilling out from the backs of their knees.

    The scene was deathly silent!

    The wind blowing through Samosir Island, located in the tropics, felt ominously cold to the skin at this moment, chilling to the bone.

    Using flowers and leaves as weapons!

    Such means were not as eerie as the green grass earlier, but the idea of being struck down from such a distance, causing those clearly Japanese ninjas lying in ambush to kneel, bleeding, was enough to terrify anyone out of their wits.

    "Alon, you are shameless!" Chen Jiateng''s face turned an iron blue as he pointed at Alon and bellowed.

    An old hand like him instantly realized what those ninjas had been up to in the shadows.

    "Mr. Chen, let''s not talk about shamelessness for now; let''s get these people under control first," Ge Dongxu said lightly.

    "Alright!" Chen Jiateng responded, but before he could give the order, his son Chen Zhengbin had already summoned people to tie up all the ninjas and bodyguards thoroughly.

    The Chen Family was a prominent household; even though Chen Jiateng was living in seclusion here, he still had more than ten subordinates on hand.

    By the time Chen Zhengbin called people to restrain and tie up Alon and the subordinates of Matsukawa Nozomu, Alon had already obediently taken out the antidote for Chen Jiateng to take.

    After taking the medicine, the blackness on Chen Jiateng''s face and hands faded away, but the frost mist on his skin remained, leaving his entire face bluish from the cold.

    "No wonder Mr. Chen wouldn''t yield those two herbs," Ge Dongxu said upon seeing this. He placed his hand on Chen Jiateng''s back, and immediately, mist rose from Chen Jiateng''s body. Quickly, the frost mist on Chen Jiateng was entirely removed, and his complexion returned to a healthy rosy hue.

    The poison within Chen Jiateng was minor compared to his senior brother''s; with Ge Dongxu''s current cultivation, dispelling it was hardly a difficult task.

    "Later, I''ll write another prescription for you. After taking it a few times, you should fully recover. For now, let''s deal with this Alon and the Japanese man''s issue first," Ge Dongxu said as he swiftly withdrew his hand and spoke indifferently.

    "I will never forget the life-saving grace, Mr. Chen owes you!" Chen Jiateng turned around and bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu upon seeing him withdraw his hand. His heart was filled with gratitude and was also deeply shocked by the display of power.

    Chen Jiateng was well aware that the poison in his body could not be dispelled without a cultivation power above the sixth layer of Qi Cultivation.

    But with a simple gesture, Ge Dongxu had dispelled the poison. Such cultivation power was beyond Chen Jiateng''s imagination.

    "Mr. Chen, you are too kind," Ge Dongxu modestly replied as he supported Chen Jiateng to his feet, then turned his gaze towards Alon and Matsukawa Nozomu.

    "I admit defeat this time. Let''s call the oilfield matter off," Alon said, shivering uncontrollably as Ge Dongxu looked at him, trying to sound fierce but feeling apprehensive inside.

    "Sir, I acknowledge that you are a miraculous and formidable man, but I am Matsukawa Nozomu, the president of Japan''s Shinrei Group. If even the slightest harm befalls me here, it will bring you great trouble," Matsukawa Nozomu said, regaining some calm after the initial panic, his tone revealing a hint of the pride characteristic of a Japanese person. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Is that so? I don''t believe so," Ge Dongxu said lightly. He then walked forward and "slap! slap! slap!" slapped Matsukawa Nozomu several times in succession before pressing various points on his body and drawing a little blood. With that, he drew a talisman in the air.

    "What, what are you doing?" Matsukawa Nozomu clutched his face, feeling a chill run through his body at Ge Dongxu''s nonchalant demeanor and almost forgetting the pain.

    "Nothing much. I just want to see what kind of trouble it brings," Ge Dongxu said casually, then abruptly pointed in the air.

    "Ah!" Matsukawa Nozomu immediately screamed in agony, rolling on the grass, clawing at himself as if desperate to rip out his own heart.

    Seeing the miserable state of Matsukawa Nozomu, Alon''s forehead broke out in cold sweat as he said to Ge Dongxu, "You should know this is Indonesia, and over at the bridge we have..."

    "Are you talking about the troop of two hundred men at the bridge?" Ge Dongxu interrupted indifferently.

    "How, how did you know?" Alon was as terrified as if he had seen a ghost.

    "If I knew about those Japanese men hidden in the forest just now, how could I possibly be unaware of your men? But do you really think those two hundred trashy soldiers could do anything to me?" Ge Dongxu asked Alon.

    Hearing this, Alon trembled and his face turned ashen.

    Indeed, given the abilities Ge Dongxu had just demonstrated, the two hundred soldiers he had lying in ambush would pose no threat to him unless they were all special forces. As just ordinary soldiers, they were unlikely to be a match for this terrifying master.

    "So what do you want?" Alon asked, glancing at Matsukawa Nozomu still writhing on the ground, his voice trembling.

    "No rush, I need to inquire about the specifics of the situation before coming to a conclusion. But don''t delude yourself into thinking this will just blow over easily," Ge Dongxu responded calmly, then turned to Chen Jiateng and asked, "Mr. Chen, can you tell me exactly what happened here?"

    "Of course." Chen Jiateng quickly and respectfully responded, his gaze toward Alon filled with hatred and anger.

    It was only now that Chen Jiateng realized not only had the enemy planted Japanese ninjas to disrupt his spellcasting, but they had also deployed a military force across the island. Clearly, even if he won this battle, Alon wouldn''t have backed down!

 Chapter 404 - 404: 403

    But Chen Jiateng quickly withdrew his vengeful and furious gaze from Alon, and recounted the situation to Ge Dongxu.

    "This is the life and death duel agreement we just signed. However, if it weren''t for Mr. Ge''s timely arrival, even if I had won the duel, they would have still taken everything by force," said Chen Jiateng as he handed over the life and death duel agreement to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu did not look at the life and death duel agreement, but simply turned it into a ball of fire with a wave of his hand.

    No one knew how that fire came to be, nor did anyone see it¡ªnot Chen Jiateng, not Alon, nor Xu Lei. It made their hearts shudder uncontrollably again.

    Without chanting a spell or using a magic artifact, to simply burn the paper into a ball of fire like that was the stuff of true legends.

    "Very well! You are many times more shameless than I imagined! Since that''s the case, I also have to resort to cunning methods, otherwise, wouldn''t I be looked down upon by you?" Ge Dongxu looked at Alon with a smile that showed off two rows of snow-white teeth.

    But in Alon''s eyes, that smile had an indescribably ghastly quality.

    "What, what do you want to do?" Alon asked. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Let''s talk inside," replied Ge Dongxu, not answering Alon directly but instead reaching out and grabbing his neck. He carried Alon like a chicken or duck and walked inside.

    As for Matsukawa Nozomu, he naturally continued to roll and howl on the ground.

    Chen Jiateng and his son exchanged looks, then glanced at Xu Lei, and finally settled their eyes on Ge Dongxu''s retreating figure. But not a single one of them, Xu Lei included, dared to follow.

    "You have two choices, death or to make a Blood Oath. Don''t think that just because your Brahmo Family is numerous and powerful and has connections in the military and police, I wouldn''t dare to kill you. Killing you would be like squashing an ant for me. With my current power, even if you had the authority to mobilize the entire Indonesian military, it would be futile!" Ge Dongxu said indifferently, and in the midst of speaking, he levitated off the ground and hung in mid-air.

    Listening to Ge Dongxu, Alon initially had some thoughts of resistance, but when he saw Ge Dongxu actually levitating, his throat dried up, and his bulging eyes resembled those of a goldfish.

    His once sturdy body trembled incessantly, like chaff in the wind.

    "Flight... Flight with Control of Qi!" It took Alon a long time to tremble out these four words with great difficulty.

    Seeing this, the corner of Ge Dongxu''s mouth curled into a cold smile, and his suspended body slowly descended to the ground.

    He was not yet able to achieve the legendary Flight with Control of Qi and couldn''t hover in the air for long. It was simply to intimidate Alon.

    After all, although what Ge Dongxu said sounded lighthearted, if he truly had to kill Alon, not only would it not bring any benefit, but it would definitely cause significant trouble.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu didn''t like trouble, but if Alon refused to see reason, given the situation had reached this point today, he would definitely kill without hesitation.

    Not liking trouble didn''t mean Ge Dongxu feared it!

    Of course, if Alon were willing to submit and swear the Blood Oath, that would be best. After listening to Chen Jiateng, Ge Dongxu had already made a decision. He believed that to change the status of the Chinese in Indonesia, starting with Alon might be a good method.

    However, the Blood Oath needed to be sworn by the other party to take effect. If Alon stubbornly refused to swear, there was nothing Ge Dongxu could do.

    Watching Ge Dongxu slowly descend, Alon suddenly prostrated himself on the ground, bowing repeatedly towards him and said, "I am willing to swear the Blood Oath and become the Immortal''s slave."

    The terrifying strength Ge Dongxu had just displayed plunged Alon into utter despair, knowing that if Ge Dongxu wanted to kill him, it would be as easy as crushing an ant; he had no room to negotiate. Yet, in the wake of despair, another hope swiftly arose within Alon''s heart¡ªthat of following Ge Dongxu and pursuing a higher realm.

    Watching Alon suddenly prostrate himself and call him an "immortal," Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback, but soon the corners of his mouth lifted into a meaningful cold smile.

    "This ''Flight with Control of Qi'' is really quite useful!"

    "Fine, then take the Blood Oath. If you prove to be sufficiently loyal, I won''t mind offering you some benefits," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Thank you, Master," Alon said with great joy as he kowtowed, then got up and took the Blood Oath.

    After receiving his Blood Oath, Ge Dongxu looked at Alon and said, "If you perform well, I will surely reward you, but if you harbor the slightest disloyalty, you should know the consequences."

    "The old slave understands, the old slave understands," Alon replied hastily.

    Seeing Alon''s trembling manner before him, Ge Dongxu nodded in satisfaction and said, "When we go out later, you do not need to refer to yourself as ''old slave,'' nor call me ''master.'' Address me as Mr. Ge."

    "The old slave understands," Alon repeated in haste.

    "I don''t want today''s affairs to spread. I''ll take care of the Japanese; as for your people, I suppose you have a way, right?" Ge Dongxu spoke lightly.

    "Can the old slave use a Gu on them?" Alon''s heart skipped a beat at the suggestion, then he cautiously inquired.

    The best way to ensure these people didn''t spread the word was to turn them into dead men, but Alon had selected these loyal elites from his family. Alon was different from Ge Dongxu; being at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, a single bullet could claim his life, or a few skilled fighters could corner and kill him, so he still needed some loyal subordinates for protection and couldn''t bear to kill them.

    Of course, if Ge Dongxu insisted on killing those people, Alon would have no choice.

    "That would be for the best," Ge Dongxu said, nodding with satisfaction at the suggestion. He was not inherently bloodthirsty.

    "Thank you, Master," Alon, finding Ge Dongxu amenable, couldn''t help but breathe an inward sigh of relief.

    "Go bring Matsukawa Nozomu to me," Ge Dongxu ordered calmly.

    "Your slave obeys." Having been colonized by the Netherlands for a long time, Indonesia''s Alon, now having submitted to Ge Dongxu, found the address of ''old slave'' naturally rolling off his tongue, his every movement filled with the air of a servile underling.

    After saying he would obey, he even bowed slightly, retreating backward a few steps before finally turning and heading toward the exterior of the Chen Family''s mansion.

    Outside the Chen Family mansion, everyone was somewhat surprised to see Alon come out without Ge Dongxu.

    Although Alon had submitted to Ge Dongxu, he was, after all, a powerful figure in Indonesia. Upon coming out, he immediately regained some of his commanding presence, briefly acknowledging Chen Jiateng and Xu Lei with a slight bow, then he strode forward, grabbed Matsukawa Nozomu by the hair as he rolled on the grass, and dragged him inside, heedless of his screams of pain.

    Once inside the mansion, Alon threw Matsukawa Nozomu at Ge Dongxu''s feet and bent down, saying, "Master, Matsukawa Nozomu has been brought to you."

    Ge Dongxu acknowledged him with a nod, and then pinched a spell with his hand and kicked Matsukawa Nozomu a few times.

 Chapter 405 - 404 Everything According to Mr. Ges Arrangement

    "Huff! Huff!" Ge Dongxu''s kicks had acted as a great relief for Matsukawa Nozomu, who was now gasping for air, taking deep breaths.

    "Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu, I think we can now have a proper discussion about the big trouble," Ge Dongxu said to Matsukawa Nozomu in a gentle and amiable tone.

    But to Matsukawa Nozomu''s ears, that voice sounded like it was coming from a demon in Hell, scaring him so much that he immediately rolled and scrambled up from the ground, placed his hands on his thighs, and repeatedly bowed at ninety degrees to Ge Dongxu.

    "Spare my life, sir! Spare my life!"

    "Spare your life? Why should I spare you? You Japanese are deceitful and shameless. If I let you go, wouldn''t I just be creating trouble for myself? I don''t like to drag things out or leave loose ends when I do something," Ge Dongxu slowly asked, looking at Matsukawa Nozomu.

    "I''ll submit to you as my master just like Mr. Alon, please spare me!" Matsukawa Nozomu, lacking in spine as imagined, quickly said with high intelligence.

    "Submitting to me as your master isn''t something you just say with words. It requires a Blood Oath. Since you can even mobilize ninjas, I assume you have some understanding of Qimen. Of course, you can choose not to take the oath. I think Alon would be more than happy to help manufacture a car accident or something of the sort, so Mr. Matsukawa, you''d better think it over," said Ge Dongxu.

    Upon hearing this, Matsukawa Nozomu''s face fluctuated between shades of light and dark. He clearly understood what a Blood Oath meant, especially one made under an extremely formidable master like Ge Dongxu. For the rest of his life, he couldn''t even think about harboring the slightest bit of rebellion, or it would be a death wish.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t rush Matsukawa Nozomu, simply watching him quietly.

    Killing Matsukawa Nozomu would be much easier than killing Alon. After all, Alon was the local power here, and if he was killed there would be a lot of aftermath work needed. But Matsukawa Nozomu was different, with the help of Alon, the local power, staging any sort of accident would be relatively simple.

    Of course, "simple" is relative to Alon. Since Matsukawa Nozomu was the president of the Shinrei Group, killing him would certainly require a great deal of effort. Moreover, since Matsukawa Nozomu could mobilize ninjas, this indicated that the Matsukawa Family behind the Shinrei Group was certainly no ordinary force. If all these Japanese were wiped out in one go, the Matsukawa Family''s people would surely come to investigate, and they would not be so easily fooled then.

    But this was Indonesia, not Japan. With the Brahmo Family and the Chen Family, two powerful local forces united, even if the Matsukawa Family sent people over, they would inevitably return without success.

    The main reason Ge Dongxu didn''t kill Matsukawa Nozomu was that he saw some utilitarian value in the man.

    Better to use him than kill him!

    When the Japanese invaded Huaxia Country, they could use traitors to deal with their own people. Why couldn''t Ge Dongxu bury a pawn like Matsukawa Nozomu to deal with the Japanese he disliked?

    "I am willing to make a Blood Oath." Between life and the dignity of freedom, Matsukawa Nozomu ultimately chose the former.

    "Then make the Blood Oath," said Ge Dongxu indifferently.

    "Yes!" Matsukawa Nozomu bowed and then took the Blood Oath.

    After receiving the Blood Oath from Matsukawa Nozomu, Ge Dongxu looked at him and asked, "What about your subordinates?"

    "Kill all those ninjas. They were just assassins I hired through a special organization ¨C consider it as their mission failed. As for the other three, they are my loyal subordinates whom I have cultivated with great effort, it would be a pity to kill them. Please have them also take the Blood Oath, master," said Matsukawa Nozomu.

    "If all these ninjas are killed, won''t that organization come after the Chen Family for retaliation?" Ge Dongxu asked with a frown.

    "Rest assured, Master, he who kills will be killed. As an assassin organization, they understand this principle very well. They won''t seek revenge for this reason. Moreover, they kill for profit and won''t act without it. Especially for a great family like the Chen Family, with Chen Jiateng''s cultivation so high, without Mr. Alon''s cooperation, if they truly wanted to kill him, the price would be more than they can afford," Matsukawa Nozomu said.

    Ge Dongxu had always known that someone like Chen Jiateng wasn''t someone one could simply kill; furthermore, he had very high cultivation himself. Hearing this, he felt relieved and nodded, "Then go ahead and kill! As for your three subordinates, have Alon lay a Gu on them; they aren''t worthy of my personal effort to extract their Blood Oaths."

    "Yes!" Upon hearing this, Matsukawa Nozomu bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.

    After settling matters with the two powerful figures, Alon and Matsukawa Nozomu, Dongxu strolled out of the Chen Family estate. The two figures who had just been imperiously arrogant now followed loyally behind him, as though they were faithful servants, daring not to overstep by even half a step.

    Seeing the leader of the Brahmo Family, and the president of the Shinrei Group, carefully following Ge Dongxu with tentative steps, Chen Jiateng and the others were secretly shocked to their cores, their gaze towards Dongxu filled with increasing reverence.

    "Mr. Chen, let Alon and Matsukawa Nozomu handle these people. Shall we go inside and discuss the matter of the two medicinal ingredients?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile to Chen Jiateng after coming out.

    "We will follow Mr. Ge''s arrangements," Chen Jiateng said with a look of reverence and gratitude.

    If it weren''t for Dongxu today, not only would his life, Chen Jiateng''s, be in danger, but the Chen Family might well decline from here on out. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Mr. Chen is too kind," Dongxu said humbly.

    "No, Mr. Ge, you have a great favor over me and the Chen Family, it is only right," Chen Jiateng said solemnly.

    Seeing Chen Jiateng''s solemn expression, Dongxu found it inappropriate to say anything more. He just smiled and then made a welcoming gesture with his hand.

    With that, Ge Dongxu and his entourage re-entered the Chen Family estate.

    "There was some offense in my attitude earlier, please do not take it to heart, Mr. Ge!" Once inside the reception hall, Chen Jiateng deeply bowed to Ge Dongxu, a look of shame on his face.

    "You had your reasons, it was my request that was presumptuous, it''s not your fault. But now that Mr. Chen is rid of the yin poison, you should be able to part with the items, right?" Dongxu first reassured Chen Jiateng with a wave of his hand, then smiled as he looked at him and asked.

    "Of course! Of course!" Chen Jiateng''s old face turned slightly red as he hurriedly responded.

    Looking back, he realized just how blind he had been to not seek help from such a capable person who could actually cure his yin poison but instead placed his hopes in those two medicinal ingredients.

    "Then I must thank you, senior Mr. Chen. Here are the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade in exchange," Ge Dongxu said, taking out the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade he had prepared earlier from his pocket.

    Upon seeing Ge Dongxu produce the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, Chen Zhengbin and Xu Lei''s eyes lit up instantly, and their breathing became somewhat hurried, as they could hardly wait to snatch it away.

    For those of their realm, the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade was of tremendous help.

    "Mr. Ge, aren''t you making me, Chen Jiateng, feel ashamed? Please keep the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade; I absolutely couldn''t accept it," Chen Jiateng said, his eyes also sparking upon seeing the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade in Ge Dongxu''s hand, but he quickly shifted to a solemn and determined demeanor.

 Chapter 406 - 405 The World Really Is Small

    "Haha, since Elder Chen does not wish to exchange, consider this a token of my respect for the anti-Japanese hero of yesteryear, a gift for you." Seeing the situation, Ge Dongxu actually admired Chen Jiateng''s character and, smiling, stuffed the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade into his hand.

    Now, the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade wasn''t so precious to him. The reason he hadn''t wanted to bring up the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade earlier was to avoid attracting attention and the problems that "a man is not guilty, but he invites trouble if he has a jade" could bring. Later, out of necessity to obtain those two medicinal ingredients, he brought it up, feeling he had no need to hide it from the Chen Family anymore, and giving them one didn''t matter.

    Beyond that reason, Dongxu was insistent on giving it away because he did not want to mix up the matter of exchanging the medicinal ingredients with his earlier intervention. In his view, what he did just now was to draw his sword to help in the face of injustice, expecting nothing in return.

    Of course, Dongxu would only give away one piece.

    A favor for a bowl of rice turns into grudge for a speck of rice. Although Dongxu trusted Chen Jiateng''s character, once he knew that Dongxu could easily inscribe the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, it was hard to say if anything would change!

    After all, Chen Jiateng wasn''t his fellow senior sect disciple!

    "Chen truly doesn''t deserve such generosity!" Chen Jiateng clutched Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly, emotionally moved to the point of moistening eyes.

    On the side, Xu Lei couldn''t help but feel a pang of heartache at the sight.

    This was a Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, and it was just given away like that!

    However, Xu Lei also knew that Ge Dongxu had his principles when it came to doing things, and this act was not about expecting any reward. While his heart bled, he couldn''t help but respect Dongxu even more.

    "Elder Chen, you''re too kind. Please ensure that the matter of the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade is not revealed to others," Dongxu patted Chen Jiateng on the back of the hand and said.

    "I understand, Mister Ge can rest assured!" Chen Jiateng said seriously, and then he turned to Chen Zhengbin with a stern look, saying, "Did you hear Mister Ge''s words clearly? If you leak a single word, I will expel you from the Chen Family, and you will never be allowed to acknowledge your ancestors or return to your roots."

    "I understand!" Chen Zhengbin quickly stood up, his expression solemn.

    "Then, thank you, Elder Chen. Now, could you take me to see those two medicinal ingredients?" Dongxu asked.

    "Of course, Mister Ge, Mister Xu, please follow me," Chen Jiateng nodded.

    "We''re all friends now. I''m young, so Elder Chen needn''t call me ''Mister Ge'' all the time, just call me by my name," Dongxu said with a smile.

    "With your cultivation, you are more than worthy of the honorific ''Mister.'' However, since you''ve said so, I will respectfully comply and call you by your name. And don''t call me ''Elder Chen'' anymore; if you don''t mind, just call me ''Old Brother Chen,''" Chen Jiateng replied.

    Upon hearing this, Chen Zhengbin''s expression suddenly became rather lively.

    If Dongxu were to call his father "Old Brother," then he''d have to address him as ''Uncle.''

    Dongxu didn''t feel there was anything amiss, as he had two elder martial brothers who were older than Chen Jiateng, and since Chen Jiateng was a person from Qimen and Dongxu held the title of Sect Leader of the Pill Talisman Sect, it was actually quite generous of him to call Chen Jiateng "Old Brother."

    As for the shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, Cheng Yazhou, Dongxu addressed him as ''Uncle Cheng,'' which was a secular relationship, a different matter altogether, and should not be conflated.

    "Alright, I''ll call you Brother Chen, and you can call me Dongxu," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Chen Zhengbin saw that his father had struck up a friendship with Ge Dongxu in just a few words, and though he shook his head inwardly, he also knew that given the terrifying strength Ge Dongxu had just displayed, it was his father who was reaching up in their friendship.

    Chatting and laughing, the group arrived at the back garden.

    Once in the back garden, Dongxu''s gaze immediately fell on the Jiuyang Chi Yan Fruit and the Ganlin Xuanyang Grass. He couldn''t hide the excitement on his face as he said, "That''s right, that''s right, it''s the Jiuyang Chi Yan Fruit and the Ganlin Xuanyang Grass. Now my senior brother''s leg can be healed."

    "So you were searching for these two herbs to treat your senior brother''s leg!" Chen Jiateng said, looking at Dongxu with even more respect.

    "Yes, like you, my senior brother was also a hero in the war against Japan in his early years. His leg was affected by a Yin toxin. Only his condition is many times more severe than yours, and we need these herbs to refine a decoction medicine that can heal him," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Oh, so your senior brother must be quite old by now. May I know his name? Maybe I know him," Chen Jiateng inquired.

    "That''s possible, my senior brother''s name is Yang Yinhou. I don''t know if Chen..." Ge Dongxu nodded in response. As fellow Qimen, and now as friends despite the difference in age, there was no reason to conceal this matter.

    "Uncle Master Yang, your senior brother is Uncle Master Yang! He''s still alive, no wonder, no wonder you''re so formidable!" Before Dongxu finished speaking, Chen Jiateng suddenly became excited and even teary-eyed.

    Caught off guard, Dongxu stared at Chen Jiateng for a while before asking, "You actually knew my senior brother, but how do you call him ''Uncle Master''?"

    "How could I not know Uncle Master Yang? When the nation was in peril, we overseas Chinese were filled with the same patriotic fervor. Many people donated money, and many returned to the country to join the war effort. My father and I also went back to China, and that''s when we met Uncle Master Yang in Shanghai. Back then, Uncle Master Yang was a Guest Elder of the Qing Gang, and my father joined the Qing Gang too. They shared a deep friendship and thus addressed each other as peers. That''s why I refer to your senior brother as Uncle Master. Uncle Master Yang taught me a lot at the time, without his guidance, I certainly wouldn''t have accomplished what I have today. Later we went back to Indonesia and never saw him again. I heard that Uncle Master Yang fell in an ambush in the war in Myanmar and was believed to have been sacrificed. My father shed tears over it on several occasions. To think that Uncle Master Yang is still alive, my father would have been very comforted to know this down in the netherworld," said Chen Jiateng, his eyes filled with reminiscence.

    "So that''s how it is. The world really is small," Ge Dongxu mused, overwhelmed with emotion.

    "Since you are Uncle Master Yang''s junior brother, you can''t keep calling me Brother Chen from now on, or things will get mixed up," Chen Jiateng suddenly realized, looking at Ge Dongxu with a wry smile amidst his emotional state.

    He had been saying before that he was presuming too much, and now it seemed he really had!

    Upon hearing his father''s words, Chen Zhengbin''s heart trembled.

    Alright, now it wasn''t enough to call him ''Uncle''; he had to address him with an even higher level of respect.

    Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback when he heard this, then also looked at Chen Jiateng with a wry smile.

    In the world of Qimen, seniority is highly valued. If the relationship isn''t close, it might not matter much, but once there is a familial connection, it wouldn''t be appropriate to mess up the order of seniority.

    Given the relationship between the Chen Family and Yang Yinhou, it would definitely be inappropriate for Dongxu to continue calling Chen Jiateng ''Brother Chen''. Of course, Chen Jiateng wouldn''t presume to accept that either. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But for Chen Jiateng, an elderly man of notable age, to call him ''Uncle Master'', Ge Dongxu found it completely awkward.

 Chapter 407 - 406: The Idea of Cooperation

    ```

    "Let''s just address each other as ''Mister,''" Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "It''s okay for me to call you Mister, but I''m not deserving of the title if you call me Mister. Just call me by my name; otherwise, when we meet Uncle Yang, if you call me Mister, I''ll be too ashamed." Chen Jiateng said.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Chen Jiateng for a long time, and finally, remembering how Yang Yinhou had advised him, and also considering the deep relationship between Yang and his father, he agreed that it did indeed seem inappropriate to call him Mister. Besides, the two were not likely to meet often in the future, so he gave a non-committal nod and said, "Then I''ll take the liberty of calling you Old Chen, calling you by your first name still seems a bit improper."

    "That''s fine, as long as you don''t call me Mister," Chen Jiateng said with a laugh, then pointed to the Jiuyang Chi Yan Fruit and the Ganlin Xuanyang Grass and asked, "What do you plan to do with these two herbs, Mister Ge?"

    "I''ll make a phone call to get some clarity first, to see if the other ingredients are ready. If they are ready, I''ll take these herbs. Otherwise, we should wait a bit so that these herbs don''t lose their potency over time. I only need the fruit of the Jiuyang Chi Yan, and for the Ganlin Xuanyang Grass, I only need to pull up nine stalks," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Ah, why didn''t you say so earlier? If you had mentioned it earlier, it would have been negotiable," Chen Jiateng said.

    "Hehe, you were so eager to protect them that you didn''t give me a chance to explain in detail," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Chen Jiateng''s face turned red upon hearing this.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu smiled and then took out his phone to call Tang Yiyuan and Fan Hong to ask if they had found the other ingredients.

    Although the other ingredients Ge Dongxu needed were precious, they were not particularly difficult to find for Tang Yiyuan and Fan Hong, as long as they were willing to spend the money. So when Ge Dongxu asked, the two of them had already managed to gather all the other ingredients.

    Since they were all gathered, Ge Dongxu told them there was no need to continue searching for ingredients. He then called Yang Yinhou to inform him that there was no need to look further for ingredients, as he had found everything, and also told him about Chen Jiateng.

    Yang Yinhou was extremely surprised to hear that Ge Dongxu had not only found all the ingredients for him but had also unexpectedly run into Chen Jiateng.

    Although Yang Yinhou was quite close to Chen Jiateng''s father, at that time the Chen Family wasn''t considered a significant household in Indonesia. During the turbulent times of war, they had lost contact as everyone went their separate ways. Later on, Yang Yinhou had his own share of vicissitudes and injuries, which led to this friendship being tucked away in his heart without making the effort to ask someone to inquire overseas.

    After talking to Yang Yinhou, Ge Dongxu couldn''t avoid passing the phone to Chen Jiateng.

    Decades-old uncle and nephew couldn''t help but sigh and weep over the phone.

    After a long time, Chen Jiateng hung up the phone with Yang Yinhou and then said to Ge Dongxu, "Now that I know Uncle Yang is still alive, I want to go back with you to see him."

    "That''s fine. I''m returning to the country tomorrow, and I''ll take the herbs in the morning," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Mister Ge, it''s rare for you to come to Indonesia, so you should stay a few more days and let me show you some hospitality," Chen Jiateng said.

    "Hehe, I''m not short of money, and coming here is quite convenient, so I can disturb you some other time. Now that the ingredients are all gathered, it''s best to return one day sooner to treat my elder brother''s leg," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Knowing that Ge Dongxu cherished camaraderie and was concerned for his elder brother, Chen Jiateng could not insist anymore and nodded, "Since that''s the case, you should stay at my place tonight, I''ll have someone book the tickets, and we can return to the country together tomorrow."

    "That sounds good. Samosir Island is beautiful and abundant with spiritual energy, staying here is definitely better than staying in Medan," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    ```

    Seeing Ge Dongxu agree to stay, Chen Jiateng was very happy. He immediately ordered people to tidy up a room and prepare lunch, while he himself accompanied Ge Dongxu, ready to take a good stroll around the area.

    As for Ge Dongxu''s luggage and such, naturally someone would take care of it. There was no need for him to worry.

    Therefore, Ge Dongxu and Xu Lei left the Chen Family mansion under the personal accompaniment of Chen Jiateng.

    Outside the mansion, those people from earlier had already gone, leaving only Alon and Matsukawa Nozomu standing at the door. When they saw Ge Dongxu come out, they hurried over and respectfully greeted, "Mr. Ge."

    Ge Dongxu was not one to inquire about other people''s affairs. He gave them a faint glance and said, "Give me one of your contact details. I''ll contact you if there''s anything."

    Upon hearing this, the two hurriedly and respectfully handed over a piece of paper with their own private numbers, which they kept on twenty-four hours a day.

    Ge Dongxu glanced at it, took it, and then gave them his number as well, saying, "Alright, there''s nothing here for you anymore. Go about your business, but remember, I am from Huaxia Country."

    "We understand, understand. In the future, we will certainly show courtesy to the Chinese," the two said with a bow.

    Ge Dongxu nodded with satisfaction, then waved his hand for the two to leave.

    The two left as if pardoned.

    Watching the two hurry away, Chen Jiateng couldn''t help but express his admiration, "Mr. Ge is truly a remarkable person, able to subdue such individuals so completely."

    "If you need anything, you can find Alon. I''ll talk to him, and he''ll help you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That would be best. We Chinese must strive to expand our political influence here. It would be much easier with Alon''s assistance," Chen Jiateng said excitedly upon hearing this.

    "Good, I will talk to him. When the time comes, you can arrange to meet with him. Come to think of it, cooperating with you is beneficial for their Brahmo family as well," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Indeed, it''s a mutual benefit. An outright conflict would harm both sides. They simply cannot stand to see our wealth exceed theirs, which is why they brought in the Japanese and stirred up many troubles. Ultimately, it''s power and jealousy at play. But now with you, Mr. Ge, acting as a mediator, we won''t have this problem with the Brahmo family," Chen Jiateng said.

    During this conversation, the two got into a Mercedes.

    Chen Jiateng naturally rode in the same car as Ge Dongxu.

    "Speaking of cooperation, I noticed there are herbal tea shops around here when I was on my way. Do many people here drink herbal tea?" Ge Dongxu asked once they were in the car.

    "Yes, many. The Chinese here are mostly from the South of Huaxia Country, and quite a few have the habit of drinking herbal tea. Moreover, this place is situated in a tropical rainforest. Herbal tea helps to eliminate heat and dampness, so many people prefer it when they''re thirsty. It''s much better than those carbonated drinks," Chen Jiateng replied, his expression slightly puzzled as he wondered why a person of Ge Dongxu''s importance would suddenly take an interest in herbal tea shops.

    "Heh, even cultivation requires money! So, I''ve invested in some industries back home, including a herbal tea company. If herbal tea is popular here, we could set up a branch. That would also help the country earn some foreign exchange. We have no experience overseas, but with you here, there should be no problem. As long as it goes well here, we can gradually expand to the whole of Southeast Asia. After all, there are many Chinese in this region," Ge Dongxu explained with a smile.

 Chapter 408 - 407: Returning to the Country

    Ge Dongxu owed a great favor to the Chen family and had a profound connection with them. Moreover, his strength was immensely terrifying, so Chen Jiateng naturally could not wait to establish a business relationship with him. Upon hearing this, his eyes instantly lit up and he said, "So, you''ve also started a herbal tea company. Rest assured, as long as you set up a branch here, I will fully support and promote it."

    "Haha, with your words, I am relieved. Okay, when the time comes, I''ll have someone from our company who handles operations come over to conduct an on-site inspection and discuss the specifics of the collaboration with you," Ge Dongxu said happily upon hearing this.

    "Okay, I''ll personally handle the talks when they arrive. By the way, what is the name of your herbal tea?" Chen Jiateng asked, seeing that Ge Dongxu was not just talking, but planning to take action, which made him very happy as well.

    "Qinghe Herbal Tea. Have you heard of it?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Qinghe Herbal Tea! I''ve heard of it, I''ve heard of it! It''s incredibly popular in Huaxia Country lately. I''ve tried it myself; the flavor is authentic and genuine. No wonder it''s yours; that explains a lot," Chen Jiateng said excitedly, his admiration for Ge Dongxu growing even deeper.

    Many times, high cultivation does not necessarily mean strength in other areas.

    In ancient times, many cultivators often sought connections with the powerful, partly because they lacked the time to earn money themselves and needed these influential figures to help amass wealth and find Heaven and Earth Treasures. Another very important reason was that many cultivators did not possess the talent to make money. Thus, to obtain the materials needed for cultivation, they had no choice but to curry favor with the powerful and occasionally do some tasks for them.

    The fact that Qinghe Herbal Tea was doing so well clearly indicated that Ge Dongxu had a talent in this area.

    "Haha, I didn''t expect Qinghe Herbal Tea to have made a name for itself overseas. That makes me even more committed to expanding abroad," Ge Dongxu said happily upon hearing this.

    "Economic globalization is the trend of the future. You have very visionary ideas," Chen Jiateng said.

    Meanwhile, the car stopped at Chen Family''s private dock.

    Then, the group boarded a yacht and toured the beautiful lake and mountain scenery of Doba Lake.

    At noon, Chen Jiateng prepared a lavish banquet to entertain Ge Dongxu, and did the same in the evening. Even as night arrived, several children and grandchildren came one by one to meet Ge Dongxu, which made the young Ge Dongxu somewhat uncomfortable.

    After dinner, that night Ge Dongxu and Xu Lei stayed at the Chen Family''s mansion. As for Wang Zhuo, he had left during the day, as there was nothing left for him to handle here.

    Before going to his own room, Ge Dongxu stopped by Xu Lei''s room.

    "Here, take this, but don''t let anyone else know about it." Ge Dongxu placed a piece of Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade into Xu Lei''s hands.

    Xu Lei stiffened all over, disbelievingly staring at the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade in his hands.

    He had never imagined that Ge Dongxu would give him such a precious item.

    "Director Ge, this¡­" Xu Lei''s voice was somewhat choked and trembling.

    "Alright, focus on your cultivation. If there''s anything you don''t understand, you can also come and ask me," Ge Dongxu patted Xu Lei''s shoulder and said.

    From the moment Xu Lei chose to stay, Ge Dongxu had actually made up his mind, it was just that Chen Jiateng and the others were present at the time, so he had not been able to give it to him.

    At midnight, Ge Dongxu sat cross-legged in the small courtyard connected to his room, cultivating.

    The kidneys harbor both the primordial yin and the primordial yang, with the primordial yin belonging to water and the primordial yang to fire, also known as the "organs of water and fire."

    Ge Dongxu had just broken through to the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation, forming an air cyclone inside his kidneys. Due to the rapid breakthrough, his understanding of the truths of this layer was still superficial.

    Fortunately, Samosir Island was volcanic in nature and located in the middle of Lake Doba, a balance of fire and water, which subtly matched the organs associated with water and fire.

    At the stroke of midnight, when Ge Dongxu sat down to meditate, he sensed the harmonious interaction between the elements of water and fire around him, which inadvertently led to a moment of enlightenment.

    The air cyclones in his kidneys slowly rotated, becoming more smoothly rounded as time passed, and unknowingly, a trace of acquired impurities were expelled from his body, making the True Qi inside him purer.

    After midnight passed, Ge Dongxu did not open his eyes but continued to embrace the wondrous enlightenment until around 2 a.m., when he finally opened his eyes, revealing a delighted smile on his face.

    "I did not expect my cultivation to have improved by such a large margin. It seems this place is indeed favorable. When it''s time to comprehend the Dragon Tiger Realm, I really should come here," he thought.

    Thinking this, Ge Dongxu looked down at the seven pieces of Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade laid out on the ground, and noticed faint cracks on them.

    Ge Dongxu realized that his sudden enlightenment had required a substantial amount of spirit energy, causing these seven pieces of Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade to operate beyond their capacity.

    Packing up the Talisman Jade, Ge Dongxu returned to his room, took a shower, and also washed his clothes, then dried them with a spell.

    After lying in bed and sleeping for about two hours, Ge Dongxu got up and began his cultivation at Mao Hour. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The cultivation at Mao Hour did not bring the same enlightenment as at midnight, which was normal since enlightenment is fleeting and not something that occurs every day. Naturally, Ge Dongxu did not force it.

    That day, Ge Dongxu picked nine Jiuyang Chi Yan fruits and dug up nine Xuanyang Grass plants, then left Medan with Xu Lei, Chen Jiateng, and a few of his companions.

    Before leaving, while still in Medan, Ge Dongxu made a point of meeting with Alon, instructing him to cooperate well with the Chen Family and also didn''t forget to mention his plans to open a branch of Qinghe Herbal Tea there.

    Alon naturally agreed readily and then personally escorted them to the Medan airport.

    As a major figure in both the underworld and the mainstream society locally, Alon''s personal accompaniment meant that Ge Dongxu and his group could go directly through a special channel into the airplane, which spared Ge Dongxu the need to use spells to conceal the Jiuyang Chi Yan fruits and Xuanyang Grass.

    After all, customs do not allow fruits and plants.

    Upon transiting in Singapore, Ge Dongxu slightly employed a small spell at security check, and the personnel let him through.

    Once in Huaxia, after staying one night in the capital and meeting with Fan Hong to pick up the necessary herbs, he flew directly to Yunnan the next day.

    This time, only Chen Jiateng and his entourage accompanied him; Xu Lei did not continue with them but instead returned to Linzhou City.

    ...

    In the principal''s office of the newly built third town elementary school in Baiyun Mountain Town.

    "Principal Ding, wasn''t the decision already made? Why suddenly remove Xu Suya from the list from Ge Family Village? Isn''t that inappropriate? Also, this Hu Meilin is known in our district for being lazy and gluttonous. Speaking of which, she taught in Ge Family Village before but couldn''t stand the tough conditions and ran back here not long after. To bring her in and kick Xu Suya out, I''m afraid Xu Suya might make trouble!" a middle-aged woman said, frowning, to a middle-aged man sitting behind the desk.

 Chapter 409 - 408 Temporary Replacement

    "You think I don''t know that? But the problem is, Director Chen from the Changxi County Education Bureau''s Personnel Department suddenly made a last-minute call to add her to the list. What can we do?" Principal Ding said irritably.

    "But even so, that''s no reason to kick Xu Suya off the list. She has the qualifications and is a good teacher; she has even been named an outstanding rural teacher for several years. And just a few days ago when I met her in town, I even told her to prepare well for teaching at the new school. If we remove her from the list..." the middle-aged woman said with a troubled expression.

    "If we don''t remove her from the list, who would be appropriate to remove now? Damn it, back in the days when the mountain villages were short of teachers, not many people from the town were willing to go, even with a formal offer. But now, with the school built right in the town, even substitute teachers are in high demand," Principal Ding said, glaring.

    Upon hearing this, the middle-aged woman just looked at the list in her hand and said nothing.

    As the vice principal in charge of personnel, she was well aware that many people on the list had got there through connections; one of them was even through her own contacts. Those without connections usually had some background or network of support.

    Of course, she did have some principles about how she did things. The connection she had used was just doing someone a favor. The person was qualified already, and with a bit of network and gifting, things were solidified. But someone like Hu Meilin was a bit too much. The vice principal really didn''t want to remove Xu Suya from the list for her sake.

    But what Principal Ding said also made sense, if Xu Suya couldn''t be removed, who else could be?

    Looking through the list, it seemed that Xu Suya was the only one who hadn''t pulled any strings and had no significant background in the town.

    Since removing anyone else wouldn''t be appropriate, they naturally had to remove the "honest" Xu Suya.

    ...

    In the county seat of Changxi County, at a certain hotel, Director Chen from the Changxi County Education Bureau''s Personnel Department sat on the edge of the bed, with a fair-skinned woman with a hint of charm in her eyebrows sitting in his arms.

    His hand roamed naughtily over the woman''s body, and she twisted in mock protest, "You only know how to bully me; even getting me a regular teaching position is too much for you."

    "Your credentials aren''t sufficient, and you don''t have much teaching experience either. These things have to be taken slowly. Don''t worry, honey, as long as you teach well, in a year or so, I''ll definitely help you become a formal state teacher," Director Chen said, even as he eagerly lifted the woman''s clothes.

    The woman was none other than the lazy Hu Meilin from Baiyun Mountain Town.

    Hu Meilin was actually a married woman, but her husband was an honest-to-goodness man who ran a small shop in the town.

    A while back, Director Chen had come to inspect the newly built Third Elementary School of Baiyun Town. After having lunch and drinks, unable to withstand the liquor, the town had arranged a room for him to take a nap.

    After dozing off, he got up wanting to smoke and realized he had run out of cigarettes, so he left the room and went by himself to the small shop run by Hu Meilin''s family.

    By chance, Hu Meilin''s husband had stepped out for something, and Hu Meilin was taking care of the shop.

    In the summer, Hu Meilin wore rather light clothing. When she handed the cigarettes to Director Chen, her neckline was quite open, and Director Chen, who was no saint, couldn''t take his eyes off her.

    Seeing his reaction, Hu Meilin not only didn''t get angry but also gave him a flirtatious smile. This emboldened Director Chen, and as she handed him the cigarettes, he took the opportunity to touch her hand a few times. She simply blushed and withdrew her hand, but did not scold him for being a lecher.

    Section Chief Chen was an old hand in such matters and knew full well there was an opportunity, so after buying cigarettes, he didn''t leave but instead started to shoot the breeze with Hu Meilin.

    Of course, idle talk inevitably involved boasting about his own status, and once he bragged, Hu Meilin took the bait, and before long, they were an item.

    ...

    These days, Xu Suya had been busy preparing for her driving test and hadn''t paid much attention to the teacher roster at Baiyun Town''s Third Elementary School. She had always thought her position there was a done deal. After all, she had been a rural teacher for many years with devotion and a higher degree, and she had also won several ''Excellent Rural Teacher'' awards over the years. Now that the village school was being moved to town, shouldn''t she, a contracted rural teacher of more than a decade, at least be given a temporary teaching position, if not appointed directly to a permanent post?

    A few days ago, she had even run into the vice-principal of the Third Elementary School in town, who, all smiles, told her she would be teaching in town and advised her to get ready in advance. So, she had even less reason to worry about the teacher roster. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, things often weren''t as simple as they seemed.

    "Sister Xu, the final teacher roster for the Third Elementary School of the town is out, but your name isn''t on it," one day, on the road, Xu Suya was stopped by a colleague who was also a rural teacher from Ge Family Village.

    "The roster is out? Now, Ge Dongmei, don''t talk nonsense; how could my name possibly not be on the list?" Xu Suya replied with a start and a laugh.

    "Sister Xu, your name really isn''t there. I told you before; with all the village schools consolidating into the town, not only are all of us teachers watching closely, but some people in town are too. I told you that you should have greeted them in advance, but you wouldn''t listen. Do you remember that Hu Meilin?" Ge Dongmei said.

    "I remember her, yes. That year, Uncle Sun was getting on in age and his health was declining, so he couldn''t continue teaching. Our school was short-staffed, and there was no one suitable in the village, so we asked the town to help find someone, and that''s when Hu Meilin arrived. However, she wasn''t dedicated to teaching the children, and couldn''t stand commuting the long distance to the mountain village every day. She quit after a short time, and I heard she''s been staying at home ever since. Don''t tell me she''s been assigned to teach at the Third Elementary School in town now?" Xu Suya said.

    "You guessed it; she is indeed on the list. It seems she has connections at the county''s education bureau, and I even heard it was her connection that led to you being replaced at the last minute," Ge Dongmei said.

    In a world where walls have ears, Xu Suya was still in the dark, while the news had already spread among the teachers at the Third Elementary School.

    "What the hell is this mess? No, I have to go to the town to sort this out. If I''m really not on it, they must give me a clear explanation," Xu Suya said, visibly upset, and turned around to head to town without even thinking of going home.

    "Sister Xu, Sister Xu! What are you doing?" Ge Dongmei hurriedly caught up to Xu Suya.

    "Of course, I''m going to ask Principal Ding for a clear explanation!" Xu Suya said.

    "Sister Xu, at this point, don''t you understand? If you go to see Principal Ding now, you should bring some gifts; there might still be hope. But if you storm over in a rage like this, it''s definitely hopeless!" Ge Dongmei said with a wry smile.

    "I''m a people''s teacher, my job is to educate, why should I give gifts? Does that mean I should also teach my students to give gifts in the future?" Xu Suya angrily retorted, her face flushed with anger.

    "Sister Xu, I get what you''re saying. But, with the way society works now, if you don''t give gifts..." Ge Dongmei said with a wry smile.

    "Dongmei, I know what you''re saying. I don''t care about others, but I, Xu Suya, teach with my skills and conscience. And after toiling for over a decade, I''m not even asking for a formal position, just a substitute teacher role. That''s not too much to ask, right?" Xu Suya said before storming off, leaving Ge Dongmei to stand there helplessly, stamping her feet and shaking her head.

 Chapter 410 - 409: Seeking Justice

    Since Baiyun Mountain Town''s Third Primary School was a newly built school and with school starting in just another month or so, the matter of assigning teachers and students to classes, as well as the final touch-ups to some school facilities, all needed to be thoroughly finalized in these last few weeks. Consequently, these days the headmaster and deputy headmaster, as part of the administrative staff, were basically busy at school all the time.

    Some teachers also came to the new school from time to time to look around. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The town of Baiyun Mountain wasn''t very large, and the rural schools that were consolidated into the Third Primary School were basically all from the villages on the eastern side of the town. Many of the teachers mostly knew each other.

    As Xu Suya entered the school, she did bump into quite a number of familiar teachers from other villages along the way.

    In the past, these teachers would definitely have greeted her with a smile, but today, each of them looked at her with eyes filled with pity and regret. This made Xu Suya feel very uncomfortable.

    On her way to the headmaster''s office, Xu Suya saw Deputy Headmaster Liu from a distance.

    In the past, Deputy Headmaster Liu would have certainly exchanged pleasantries upon seeing her, but this time, as soon as he saw her, he immediately turned away. Xu Suya caught on right away to what Ge Dongmei had said was true, and immediately chased after him, calling out, "Deputy Headmaster Liu, Deputy Headmaster Liu."

    Deputy Headmaster Liu, seeing that Xu Suya was calling after him, had no choice but to stop in his tracks. Pretending to be confused, he said, "Ah, it''s Teacher Xu. What brings you here today?"

    "Deputy Headmaster Liu, I heard that the list of teachers has come out, but my name isn''t on it. Is that true?" Xu Suya cut straight to the chase.

    "Well, you see, Teacher Xu, let me explain. Our Baiyun Mountain Town is quite impoverished and backward, and some parents do not value their children''s education as much as city dwellers do, especially here where there''s a stronger preference for boys over girls. It was still alright when the elementary schools were in the villages¡ªgoing to school was convenient, education was compulsory, and only a nominal fee for books was required, so the parents allowed their children to attend. Now that the students are to be centralized here in the town, while it is beneficial for standardizing education and improving the educational level, it has also meant a greater distance for the children to travel. As a result, some parents who favor boys over girls simply choose to keep their daughters at home for now, saying they''ll let them attend school when they''re older and able to commute by themselves. Therefore, the actual number of students is not as high as expected, and since the county education bureau has kindly assigned some teachers who graduated from formal teacher training schools to help our town''s primary school, the demand for temporary teachers isn''t as high as anticipated. So please..." Deputy Headmaster Liu, seeing that Xu Suya was directly asking about the teacher list, knew he couldn''t avoid this question and reluctantly began to explain, showing difficulty on his face.

    "So, I''m not on the list, am I?" Xu Suya didn''t wait for Deputy Headmaster Liu to finish his sentence before she asked, her face showing anger and vexation.

    "That''s the case, indeed your name is not there. But rest assured, once the school is on track next year, and we have more students, there will definitely be arrangements..." Deputy Headmaster Liu nodded, then hurriedly added.

    "Deputy Headmaster Liu, don''t bother talking about next year. I just want to know why, out of so many people, I was the one left off the list. Don''t talk to me about the greater good¡ªI understand all that," Xu Suya demanded, her eyes welling up with anger and grievance.

    After so many years of hard and thankless labor teaching in a mountain village, even during times when the town couldn''t afford to pay her salary, she never uttered a word of complaint. But what was the outcome now?

    Not being given a formal position is one thing, but now, to deny her even the qualification of a substitute teacher without discussion¡ªthat would naturally bring grievances to Xu Suya''s heart.

    "Teacher Xu, I understand you are a good teacher, but please try to understand our difficulties," said Deputy Headmaster Liu, seeing the moisture in Xu Suya''s eyes. His expression was very awkward, and his gaze could not meet hers directly.

    "Then I only have one question. If what I heard was just rumors and not true, I can wait a year," Xu Suya said, taking a deep breath.

    "Okay, ask your question," Deputy Headmaster Liu didn''t expect Xu Suya to be so reasonable and was secretly relieved. He nodded and urged her on.

    "I heard that Hu Meilin made it onto the teacher''s list. Is that true?" Xu Suya took another deep breath, trying her best to remain calm.

    "That''s... well..." Deputy Headmaster Liu''s face changed, and he stumbled over his words.

    "Deputy Headmaster Liu, you mentioned that the county has distributed new teachers who graduated from formal teacher training programs, which is a good thing. If there''s really no need for additional substitute teachers, I accept that, since after all, I''m not a formally trained teacher. But can you tell me, considering many rural, privately-hired teachers made it onto the list, even Hu Meilin, why am I not included?" Xu Suya wiped the corners of her eyes and looked directly at Deputy Headmaster Liu.

    "Teacher Xu, I''m just the deputy headmaster responsible for personnel management, but I can''t single-handedly decide these specific personnel arrangements," Deputy Headmaster Liu naturally couldn''t answer Xu Suya''s question and could only respond with a bitter smile.

    "All right then, I''ll go to Headmaster Ding!" Seeing that Deputy Headmaster Liu had said this much, Xu Suya realized it was useless to question her and headed straight for the headmaster''s office.

    "This Xu Suya, this Xu Suya," Deputy Headmaster Liu wanted to chase after her to stop her, but in the end, he just shook his head and gave up.

    What good would chasing her do anyway? The situation was such a mess to begin with; he had no idea how to face Xu Suya, such a good teacher.

    "It''s Teacher Xu, please take a seat. What can I help you with?" Headmaster Ding, being the official headmaster, was far more confident. Despite knowing what the issue likely was as he saw Xu Suya come in with a displeased face, he still asked in a calm manner, unlike Deputy Headmaster Liu, who had turned and walked away upon seeing Xu Suya.

    "Headmaster Ding, I''ve come to inquire about the teacher list," Xu Suya said, her anger present but trying to stay levelheaded as she sat down in the office.

    Because she was a teacher of the people, not a shrew!

    "Teacher Xu, since you came to ask about this, you obviously know the specifics, so I won''t harp on the obvious. Here, I can only make you one promise: next year I will definitely arrange a substitute teacher position for you. However, this year''s list from the county education bureau is already set, and it can''t be changed," Headmaster Ding explained straightforwardly, as there simply was no way to sugarcoat such matters.

    Because the facts were clear as day!

    A high school graduate, who had been a rural teacher for over a decade and repeatedly recognized as an outstanding teacher, was now being compared to someone like Hu Meilin, who had only a junior high school education, had briefly been a rural teacher, and was known for being lazy¡ªHeadmaster Ding truly couldn''t bring himself to say such a thing was fair.

    No matter what, he was also a teacher of the people!

    Of course, he couldn''t tell Xu Suya that Hu Meilin was someone entrusted to him by Chen, the chief of the personnel office at the county education bureau.

    Headmaster Ding was a teacher of the people, indeed, but as a leader with a certain status, he understood the rules of the officialdom.

    ps: Sorry, I got caught up with something yesterday and only managed to produce one chapter. The remaining two chapters will likely be uploaded by this evening. My apologies.

 Chapter 411 - 410 Personality

    "I don''t need you to promise me anything about next year. I''m not sure about others, but I know Hu Meilin, so I just want you to give me an explanation. Why can Hu Meilin be a substitute teacher, and I can''t? If you can give me a reasonable explanation, I will leave immediately. As a teacher, I must set an example for my students, so I won''t make unreasonable demands." Xu Suya said, looking directly at Principal Ding.

    "Xu Suya, what kind of attitude is this? Does the school have to explain its arrangements to you?" Principal Ding''s face darkened when he saw Xu Suya challenging his authority.

    If playing the good cop didn''t work, naturally, only the bad cop was left.

    After all, Xu Suya was just a rural teacher, whereas Principal Ding was the head of the school.

    "You don''t need to explain. I''ll go to the county and ask the leaders of the Education Bureau myself." Xu Suya stood up and said calmly, though her heart was filled with extreme sorrow and anger.

    "You, Xu Suya, stop right there!" Seeing that Xu Suya was about to make trouble at the county Education Bureau, Principal Ding couldn''t help but change his expression and stood up to shout.

    "What is it, Principal Ding?" Xu Suya turned her head and asked.

    "I understand your feelings, Teacher Xu, but shouldn''t things be taken slowly? The matter of the substitute teacher will be resolved eventually. You''ve toiled in Ge Family Village for over ten years, and I''m aware of that, but you must give me some time, right?" Seeing Xu Suya turn to look at him, Principal Ding intended to take a tough stance once more but ultimately, he could only muster a bitter smile.

    He really had no grounds to be angry! Besides, given the temper Xu Suya had just displayed, if he pressed further, she would definitely cause a scene at the Education Bureau.

    This would inevitably lead the leaders at the Education Bureau to think he was incompetent.

    "Everything can be done slowly except for this matter. I can step back on anything, but not on this. Because this is an insult to the term ''people''s teacher''!" After speaking, Xu Suya turned and walked away.

    Upon seeing this, Principal Ding was so angry that he cursed under his breath.

    "Make a fuss if you want, it''s originally Chen Haoguan''s mess. Let it fall back on him, he can deal with it!" After cursing for a while, Principal Ding decided not to think about it anymore.

    All things considered, Principal Ding was also furious deep down.

    The list had already been finalized and submitted, but suddenly, Director Chen from the county Education Bureau added someone new last minute. It was manageable that someone got added, as higher officials had the final say, but it had to be Hu Meilin, which made Principal Ding feel as disgusted as if he had swallowed a fly, leaving him unable to be firm in front of Xu Suya.

    The reality was just too unfair!

    Xu Suya didn''t go to the county immediately that day; she went home first since it was getting late.

    "What''s wrong? You look so down. Did your driving instructor criticize you?" As soon as Xu Suya got home, Ge Shengming noticed her odd expression and asked with concern.

    "It''s nothing, it was okay." Xu Suya replied. She was somewhat reluctant to discuss the matter with her husband to avoid upsetting him too. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No, there''s definitely something wrong. We''ve been together for so many years; you can''t hide it from me." Ge Shengming said, looking at Xu Suya.

    Facing her husband''s gaze, Xu Suya couldn''t help but throw herself into his arms, tears flowing unstoppable.

    Seeing his usually strong wife suddenly cry, Ge Shengming was terrified and hurried to wipe away her tears, saying, "Suya, don''t cry. Did someone bully you? Tell me, and I''ll go beat them up right now!"

    "How old are you, still fighting at the drop of a hat?" Xu Suya, seeing her husband so anxious, felt a bit better and wiped the tears from her face, giving him a reproachful look.

    "Okay, okay, I won''t talk about fighting, but you have to tell me what''s really going on? I''m your husband, you have to talk to me about these things," Ge Shengming said, relieved that Xu Suya had stopped crying.

    "That last bit sounded more reasonable," Xu Suya gave Ge Shengming another look, then pondered a bit before continuing, "My name isn''t on the teacher list for Town Third Elementary School."

    "What? Damn it all! Why isn''t it? Why not? I''m going to see the principal about this right now!" Ge Shengming understood everything as soon as he heard it and was furious enough to stand up and head to town.

    Who else if not Ge Shengming would understand how much Xu Suya loved teaching and adored children?

    "You get back here!" Xu Suya quickly pulled Ge Shengming back when she saw him leaving.

    "Why are you pulling me back? I need to confront those people and ask them why. When they couldn''t pay your salary back then, how come they didn''t think about canceling your teaching credentials? And now that they''ve built a new school, they''re kicking you to the curb just like that, these sons of bitches! Damn, I need to¡­" Ge Shengming grew angrier the more he spoke.

    He could endure his own grievances, but he could never bear to see his wife suffer any injustice as a simple, honest man from the mountains.

    "Swearing every other word, what kind of behavior is that? I''m still a public school teacher!" Xu Suya scolded, pulling Ge Shengming, glaring at him.

    "Alright, alright, I won''t curse. I''ll go and speak sensibly with the principal," Ge Shengming said, knowing Xu Suya disliked his swearing and tried to speak calmly.

    "It''s done. I''ve already spoken all the reason there is to Principal Ding and the others; they know they are in the wrong; your going will be futile. I''ll go to the Education Bureau tomorrow and see what they have to say. At this point, whether I teach or not doesn''t matter, but they must give me an explanation," Xu Suya said.

    "Then fine, I''ll go with you tomorrow," Ge Shengming said.

    "Why are you going? To argue or fight with someone? I''m a public school teacher; if there''s an issue, I will speak to them reasonably by myself. You just stay at home and be good, and don''t even think about calling our son. If he gets Zuo Le to intervene, it changes the whole situation. Even if the county gives me a quota again, I''d still feel like there''s a thorn in my heart!" Xu Suya said sternly.

    "Ah, your temperament, your temperament, can''t you change it just a bit?" Ge Shengming saw his wife say this and realized she was determined to see it through, he couldn''t help but smile wryly.

    "If I changed my temperament, would I have married you in the first place? Would I still be me?" Xu Suya glared as she spoke.

    Ge Shengming then fell silent.

    He knew very well the pressure Xu Suya had faced when she married him, from her family, society, and even her close friends, but she married him anyway because she was sure she loved him and was convinced that he was a good, honest man.

    Her character hadn''t changed to this day. Back when Ren Yao had amnesia and looked disheveled, when the mischievous kids would chase and throw things at him, only young Ge Dongxu knew to protect him; all that was due to Xu Suya''s upbringing as he was too busy everyday struggling to make a living and was too coarse to know how to properly teach the child.

 Chapter 412 - 411 Refining Medicine

    "But as a rural teacher going to the county to reason with those people, will they even listen to you?" Ge Shengming said with a bitter smile after a long while.

    "What''s wrong with being a rural teacher? Can''t a rural teacher go and present facts and argue his case with the leadership of the education bureau?" Xu Suya said.

    "That''s not what I mean. I am saying... anyway, I can''t out-argue you. I''m worried you''ll be wronged! Besides, it''s not like we''re short on money now. How about you stop teaching, I''ll stop running this agritourism business, and we just travel the world instead? That way we can avoid this frustration." Ge Shengming tried to argue, but when he met his wife''s serious gaze, all his retorts seemed pale in comparison. In the end, he let out a long sigh and pulled her into his arms, saying softly.

    "Even if I stop teaching, we still need to get to the bottom of this matter," Xu Suya said.

    "Alright then, I''ll accompany you tomorrow. I won''t go inside the building; I''ll just wait for you downstairs. That should be fine, right?" Ge Shengming said.

    "No, I know your temper. If you go, and I''m being reasonable, your temper might flare up and it''ll turn out that I''m the one making trouble," Xu Suya shook her head and said.

    Looking at his wife, Ge Shengming sighed after a while and conceded with a bitter smile, "Fine, I just won''t go then. Is that okay?"

    He understood his wife''s personality, and he understood his own as well! sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    That night, deep into the night.

    Seeing his wife finally begin to snore after tossing and turning, unable to sleep, Ge Shengming quietly got up and left the courtyard.

    Of course, Ge Shengming got up quietly to call his son, Ge Dongxu.

    It was not a good idea to ask his son to find Zuo Le for help with this issue; it would only make things more complicated and make Xu Suya feel humiliated about her sacred profession. But what if his wife were to be taken advantage of when reasoning with the education bureau? Ge Shengming couldn''t let his wife suffer for nothing!

    After much contemplation in bed, Ge Shengming felt it was necessary to call his son and have him come back. His son''s words carried much more "authority" in front of Xu Suya than those of her husband.

    Of course, his son was also much more capable now! After all, he was just a small farmer; if Xu Suya really were to be mistreated, he, as an ordinary citizen, wouldn''t be able to do anything.

    ...

    Yingjiang, the secluded mountain village where Yang Yinhou had retired.

    Midway up the mountain, inside a solitary house, there were various clay pots for stewing medicine, and even a pure copper Bagua pill furnace modeled after those built by ancient Alchemists. A faint scent of herbs wafted through the house.

    Being a disciple of Ren Yao, Yang Yinhou had also made significant progress in the field of medicine and Alchemy. After his legs became disabled and his cultivation halted, he dedicated even more energy to the study of Elixirs.

    However, during the years of war, Yang Yinhou focused more on learning techniques for killing enemies and was not keen on studying medicine and Alchemy. Additionally, he parted ways with Ren Yao while still young, so his medical skills were only slightly better than those of a National Medical Master. As for Alchemy, he had devoted himself to intensive study for years and had made gradual progress, but to produce the legendary Elixirs was still far out of reach.

    That''s because the art of Alchemy had mostly been lost. Even though the sect they belonged to was called the Pill Talisman Sect, the knowledge passed down was very limited. Moreover, without the cultivation of the Eighth or Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, what was produced could only be termed as medicine, not Pills.

    A Pill encapsulates Yin and Yang, harbors the Five Elements, rotates, flows, and exists eternally. Even the legendary top-tier Immortal Pills, according to myths, are as sentient as humans. So even Ren Yao only glimpsed the secrets of Alchemy in his later years.

    Ge Dongxu, in terms of realm, had already reached the level of Ren Yao of those days. His actual strength even surpassed the Ren Yao of the past. Having inherited Ge Hong''s teachings, he might be able to refine some Primary Level Pills, but until now, Ge Dongxu had never attempted it.

    So, seeing a pill furnace in his senior brother''s medicine room, he couldn''t help expressing his surprise, "Eh, senior brother even built a pill furnace!"

    "Cough cough, I''m just messing around when I have nothing else to do, just messing around," Yang Yinhou felt a little embarrassed when Ge Dongxu asked about the pill furnace.

    After years of trial and error, not to mention failing to produce a single Pill, I haven''t even seen a speck of its residue, everything turned to ash or charcoal, wasting quite a lot of precious herbs in the process.

    "Once your leg has fully recovered, Brother, and your cultivation has broken through, you should be able to reap some rewards from Alchemy," Ge Dongxu said with a slight pause, noticing the awkward expression on Yang Yinhou''s face, before smiling and speaking.

    "Heh, as for the matter of Alchemy, I''ve stopped holding any hope for that," Yang Yinhou said with self-deprecating humor, waving his hand.

    "This place is nice, everything is complete, I will start brewing the Jiuyang Revival Soup now," Ge Dongxu smiled and changed the subject.

    "Okay, then we''ll leave you to it and step outside," Yang Yinhou said.

    Ge Dongxu wanted to say it was okay, but seeing Chen Jiateng was present, he swallowed the words he was about to say.

    Although this Jiuyang Revival Soup can only be called medicine and not a Pill, in this current Dharma Ending Age, it is very precious and not something to be casually revealed, especially since Yang Yinhou was a traditional senior. Therefore, in front of his senior brother, it was even less appropriate for Ge Dongxu to casually demonstrate the brewing method of this medicine soup to outsiders.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ge," Chen Jiateng respectfully gave Ge Dongxu a slight bow and then followed Yang Yinhou out of the medicine brewing room.

    Chen Jiateng had come along with Ge Dongxu, and having not seen his teacher''s nephew for several decades, it was inevitable that they would have a moment of sighs and reflection upon their reunion.

    However, after their musings, Chen Jiateng realized that his long-admired uncle, Yang Yinhou, held this much younger junior in high regard, subtly treating him with utmost respect. He couldn''t help but feel curious, and only after secretly asking Yang Yinhou did he learn that Ge Dongxu, despite his youth, was the Sect Leader of Yang Yinhou''s Sect, and this revelation only deepened his reverence for him.

    After Yang Yinhou, Ouyang Murong, and Chen Jiateng left, Ge Dongxu began placing herbs one by one into a clay pot for brewing and added five cups of water. Then he used firewood to bring the water to a boil.

    Once the water boiled, Ge Dongxu''s expression became more serious. With a pinch of a spell in his hand, the firewood''s flames gradually lessened, switching to a slow simmer.

    At this time, Ge Dongxu sat cross-legged in front of the clay pot, occasionally pinching out a Daoist Talisman with his hands. Each time a Rune flew out, a faint glow of fire would appear.

    This fire was different from the firewood''s. It was a fire condensed with Fire Spiritual Energy, and only this fire could truly extract the medicinal properties from the herbs in the pot.

    About an hour after this process, a faint layer of sweat was visible on Ge Dongxu''s forehead, while the room was filled with the light, pleasant fragrance of the herbs.

    This herbal scent was pleasant to smell, but when the breath of it entered one''s nostrils, there was a faint sensation of heat, as if two small Fire Dragons had burrowed into one''s nose, making one''s whole body feel warmed.

    "It''s done!" Ge Dongxu exhaled a long breath of relief, then extinguished the fire and opened the lid of the clay pot.

    As soon as the lid of the pot was lifted, there could be seen a jade-green colored soup inside, with nine Fire Snakes faintly moving within it.

    The jade-green soup emanated a strong vitality, while the nine Fire Snakes released a scorching aura.

    The two were perfectly blended within the soup, making it the genuine Jiuyang Revival Soup.

    The Jiuyang refers to the nine Fire Snakes, and the revival refers to the strong life force of the Wood Elemental Force.

    No wonder after refining a Pill once or twice, Master stopped doing Alchemy altogether, just refining this Jiuyang Revival Soup has made me feel a bit tired. If it were actual Pill refining, I''d probably be completely worn out. Ge Dongxu looked at the medicine in the pot, feeling both joy and reflective that his own Mana was still far from robust.

    Of course, if other Cultivators knew about the feelings in Ge Dongxu''s heart at this moment, they would probably die of envy!

 Chapter 413 - 412: Fathers Call

    Since the Jiuyang Revival Decoction Medicine had been successfully refined, Ge Dongxu carried the entire clay pot out of the refining room.

    The Jiuyang Revival Decoction Medicine, although containing the rich life-giving Wood Elemental Force to repair and neutralize the damage caused by the overwhelming Yang Fire to the body, was ultimately too domineering to be consumed all at once. It had to be taken in nine separate doses, one Fire Snake at a time. Therefore, it needed to be kept in the clay pot and scooped out in batches for consumption.

    When Ge Dongxu came out of the refining room, night had completely fallen, but Yang Yinhou and the others were all waiting outside. Seeing him emerge, their eyes suddenly brightened. Ouyang Murong, as Yang Yinhou''s disciple, couldn''t wait to step forward and ask, "Uncle Master, have you successfully refined it?"

    "You fool, your Uncle Master is holding a clay pot in his hands, naturally, he has successfully refined it." Yang Yinhou knocked on Ouyang Murong''s head and said, yet his eyes had unknowingly already moistened.

    For more than fifty years, his legs had tortured a once-unparalleled hero into an aged old man!

    Yet in his twilight years, Yang Yinhou saw a new hope reborn.

    "Yes, yes, look at my silly head." Ouyang Murong, having been hit on the head by his master, instead grinned widely.

    "Let''s go to the room. Elder Brother, try a small cup first to see the effect," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Mm, thank you for your hard work, Dongxu," Yang Yinhou nodded, expressing his gratitude.

    "Elder Brother, you''re making me feel like an outsider saying that," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Alright, alright, Elder Brother won''t say these outsider words anymore." Yang Yinhou wiped the corner of his eyes and laughed.

    The group returned to the villa, then Ge Dongxu scooped a cup of the decoction, the little Fire Snake swimming in it as if it were alive, making everyone marvel in amazement.

    "Elder Brother, drink it now," Ge Dongxu handed the cup in his hands to Yang Yinhou.

    Yang Yinhou took the cup and drank as told.

    At first, he was all smiles, but soon he began to sweat profusely, especially his legs which had been afflicted by the Yin Demonic influence for many years, from which black smoke even began to emanate.

    The black smoke carried a sinister and evil aura, with even a hint of a foul smell.

    Yang Yinhou''s whole body started to tremble, his face showing a pained expression, making Ouyang Murong and Chen Jiateng break out in a cold sweat for him, but they also knew that this was the effect of the medicinal power and dared not approach to disturb him.

    About an hour later, when Yang Yinhou''s clothes were soaked with sweat, the expression on his face shifted from pain to a smile, feeling an indescribable warm sensation in his legs that he had not felt in over fifty years.

    Yang Yinhou attempted to circulate his mental method, and True Qi followed down his legs. Though there were still some blockages and stagnations, it was many times better than before. Previously, the True Qi would encounter what seemed to be an eternal frost here, unable to advance even a fraction of an inch. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hoo!" Yang Yinhou circulated several Circulation Cycles until the warm sensation disappeared, knowing the effects of the medicine were almost over, and then he stopped and slowly opened his eyes.

    "How is Master feeling?"

    "How are you feeling, Uncle Master?"

    Seeing Yang Yinhou open his eyes, Ouyang Murong and Chen Jiateng eagerly stepped forward to ask.

    "Haha! Very good, extremely good!" Yang Yinhou laughed heartily, then leapt up, his legs agile and strong.

    Ouyang Murong and Chen Jiateng were so stunned that their eyes popped out.

    Although Yang Yinhou had been rid of his Yin Demonic Cold Poison by Ge Dongxu, his legs had been severely injured and for a long time, he could only walk slowly with the support of a cane; never could he move as he did now!

    Only Ge Dongxu, upon seeing this, felt joyful but not at all surprised.

    His senior apprentice brother was profoundly skilled. Previously, his meridians had been badly damaged, and even after Ge Dongxu expelled the Yin Demonic Cold Poison, he dared not recklessly circulate his True Qi to his legs. Now, having taken the Jiuyang Revival Decoction Medicine, his True Qi could freely flow through the meridians in his legs, making standing up naturally effortless.

    "Congratulations, senior brother." Ge Dongxu stepped forward, clasped his hands, and smiled.

    "Haha, all thanks to you, junior brother!" Yang Yinhou vigorously patted Ge Dongxu''s shoulder.

    "We also have to thank Old Chen for providing the herbs." Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "No, no, Mr. Ge, if you keep saying that, I''ll need to find a crack to crawl into," Chen Jiateng said hastily upon hearing this.

    "Haha! Let''s say no more, say no more. Tonight, we should celebrate properly," seeing this, Yang Yinhou laughed heartily.

    "Right, right, I''ll have someone start preparing now," Ouyang Murong said happily.

    The servants quickly prepared a table full of dishes, and everyone enjoyed a cheerful feast, crisscrossing their toasts, especially Yang Yinhou and his apprentice, who, recalling the trials of these past years and overwhelmed with happiness, unwittingly shed a few tears.

    They talked and chatted, and unbeknownst to them, it was already deep into the night.

    But everyone was still in high spirits, and Ge Dongxu learned many past anecdotes from the conversation of the three elders, listening with keen interest; just then, his cellphone rang.

    Ge Dongxu picked it up and saw that it was a call from his father, which made him quite surprised; he quickly stood up and excused himself from the table to answer the phone.

    "Dad, it''s so late, did something happen?" he asked as soon as he picked up the phone.

    "If there''s nothing urgent on your side, come home tomorrow," Ge Shengming said, without specifying what the matter was. He knew his son was dutiful, and if he detailed his mother''s situation and forbade him from seeking Zuo Le''s help, Dongxu would definitely become anxious and upset. It seemed better to wait until he returned home to discuss things.

    "What exactly is happening at home? There''s nothing particularly urgent here, but I''m not in Jiangnan right now, so I might not be able to make it home tomorrow," Ge Dongxu said, growing even more puzzled.

    "Just try to come back as soon as possible; I''ll tell you the specifics when you return," Ge Shengming said.

    "Alright, I''ll book a plane ticket and fly back tomorrow," Ge Dongxu thought it over and replied.

    The jade his parents wore, infused with his Lifebound Essence, would alert him immediately if any life-threatening issue arose. Since he sensed nothing unusual, it seemed everything was normal, and there was no need for worry.

    "Alright, just be careful on your way," Ge Shengming finished speaking and then quietly slipped back to his room.

    Seeing that his father had ended the call, Ge Dongxu held his phone, lost in thought for a moment, then returned to the dinner table.

    However, after sitting down and thinking about his father''s call in the middle of the night and his request for him to come home soon, he couldn''t shake off a feeling of unease.

    In the end, he decided to head back overnight. Since Yang Yinhou had no issues with the first dose of medicine and everything was expected to proceed smoothly, there wasn''t much cause for concern.

    "Murong, could you check for flight tickets for me? See if there''s a flight that can get me back to Jiangnan Province as soon as possible, and flying to Ouzhou City would be ideal," Ge Dongxu said.

 Chapter 414 - 413: Rushing Back Overnight

    "Do we need to travel overnight?" Ouyang Murong was slightly startled at the remark, then his expression quickly turned serious.

    He had thought it was something significant.

    "Travel overnight, and it''s okay to take a few more flights." Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, I''ll have someone check immediately," Ouyang Murong said.

    "What''s the matter?" Yang Yinhou saw that Ge Dongxu wanted to rush back overnight and his expression also became serious.

    This junior brother of his was no ordinary person; alone, he was worth an entire army. Any matter urgent enough to make him travel overnight must be of great importance.

    "It''s nothing much, just that Father called overnight and asked me to come home. I''m feeling somewhat uneasy, so I''ve decided to return immediately," Ge Dongxu said.

    "A father''s order is like a mountain! Since he''s called overnight, whatever the reason, it''s right for you to head back immediately," Yang Yinhou said, understandingly.

    For someone like his junior brother, besides an earth-shattering event, only family matters could probably make him rush back like this.

    "That was my thought, too. As for Senior Brother, just keep taking the same dose daily as today, and in nine days, you should be fully recovered; there''s no need for me to worry. It''s just that Mr. Chen is here, having returned to the country for a rare visit, and I won''t be able to accompany him," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Mr. Ge, you flatter me too much. I don''t deserve your personal company. Besides, it''s been decades since I''ve seen Uncle Yang, and these days are a good opportunity to spend time with him and catch up. You attend to your matters; don''t worry about me," Chen Jiateng said, flattered by the mention.

    "Alright then, I won''t stand on ceremony with you. We''ll catch up another time," Ge Dongxu, not one for pretense, said with a nod.

    During the conversation, Ouyang Murong quickly returned.

    "Uncle Master, there are flights available. If all goes well, you should arrive at Ouzhou City airport tomorrow morning. However, you''ll need to make several connections, and we must leave for Mang City airport right now," Ouyang Murong said.

    "Then let''s leave now. Arrange the car," Ge Dongxu said as he stood up.

    "Let Murong take you there. After nine days, when Senior Brother is fully recovered, he also plans to go to Ouzhou City to pay homage to Master," Yang Yinhou said.

    "No need. Murong has been drinking, and it''s not good for him to drive. Just arrange for someone else" Ge Dongxu said. Ouyang Murong''s current level of cultivation was far from able to display the Six Meridians Divine Sword, and driving after drinking was still dangerous.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu insist, Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong did not dare to say more and arranged for someone to drive Ge Dongxu to Mang City airport.

    At one o''clock in the morning, Ge Dongxu boarded a plane and, after several connections, finally arrived at Ouzhou City airport around eight o''clock in the morning.

    After leaving the airport, Ge Dongxu immediately chartered a car and headed straight for Ge Family Village near Baiyun Mountain Town.

    Around ten o''clock, Ge Dongxu arrived at Ge Family Village, where the agrotourism business had yet to see any guests.

    Usually at this time, Ge Shengming would surely be doing some preparatory work, but today he was pacing back and forth in the courtyard, looking visibly unsettled.

    "Dad, what''s so urgent that you called me back? Where''s Mom?" Ge Dongxu saw his father pacing back and forth in the courtyard with a restless look on his face and couldn''t help but feel a sudden pang of anxiety. He quickly approached and asked his father.

    "Ah, Dongxu, how did you get back so quickly? Didn''t you say you couldn''t make it back today?" Ge Shengming was startled by his son''s sudden appearance.

    "How could I be at ease when you call me in the dead of night? I had no choice but to rush back overnight. What''s the matter, really?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Good, good, having a son like you makes my life truly worthwhile," Ge Shengming said as he looked at his dust-covered son, feeling his nose twinge with emotion as he patted his son''s shoulder heavily.

    "Dad, don''t tell me you called me in the dead of night just to test your son," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "What nonsense is that! Do you think your dad would be that bored?" Ge Shengming glared at him, annoyed.

    "Then what is it? And where''s Mom? I didn''t see her. Is she off learning to drive again?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Your mother has no mind for learning to drive right now!" Seeing his son bring up his wife, Ge Shengming couldn''t help but sigh deeply.

    "What happened?" Ge Dongxu''s face clouded over with concern as he asked.

    "Do you remember me telling you last time that starting in September, your mom was going to teach at the town''s third elementary school?" Ge Shengming asked.

    "Of course I remember. How could I forget anything about my mom?" Ge Dongxu replied with a puzzled expression, not understanding why his father would suddenly mention it. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It wasn''t that Ge Dongxu was slow to react; rather, in his heart, his mother had always been a very outstanding rural teacher who had worked diligently and without complaint for over ten years. It would only be right for her to be given a formal teaching position immediately. And since his mother wasn''t demanding an immediate official placement, even if Ge Dongxu was quick-minded, he couldn''t have imagined that the town''s third elementary school wouldn''t even offer her a substitute teacher position.

    "Your mother''s name is not on the list of teachers," Ge Shengming said.

    "What? Those bastards!" Ge Dongxu''s hair stood on end as he heard the news, his face turning a shade of iron, and even a hint of violent aura began to emanate from him.

    No one knew better than he how his mother was as a woman, how passionately she loved her job, and how kind and simplehearted she was at her core. Yet, to his disbelief, someone had dealt her a heavy blow.

    Ge Dongxu could even imagine with his toes how heartbroken and devastated his mother would feel learning the news; to her, teaching was a sacred profession, and the school had always been a clean place, but now¡­

    The very thought made Ge Dongxu feel murderous.

    Given his current realm and status, there were few things that could genuinely enrage him, as he deemed it below him to be angered by those matters.

    But his mother was the greatest woman in his eyes, and he would give his life for her without so much as furrowing his brow. Now, someone had cruelly hurt her over the job she adored, a blow to her heart. Even if he used his connections to have the culprits dismissed, the psychological damage to his mother had already been done.

    "Dongxu, you need to stay calm, don''t do anything rash!" Seeing his son''s face become extremely grim and his eyes emit a terrifying glare, Ge Shengming felt his heart skip a beat and hurriedly pressed his hand on Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, advising him.

    Ge Dongxu took a deep breath, then let out a long exhale, attempting to suppress the violence within him, because he knew it wasn''t right, and he couldn''t let anger cloud his judgment.

 Chapter 415 - 414: Find the Director

    "Dad, I know." Ge Dongxu finally managed to suppress the anger in his heart, nodded at his father, and said calmly.

    "That''s good, just now you really scared me." Ge Shengming, seeing his son return to normal, heaved a sigh of relief.

    A moment ago, the way his son had behaved had even given him, a father, a feeling of trepidation.

    "Dad, I''m sorry for scaring you." Ge Dongxu, aware of his own strength, knew that once he got angry, his presence was indeed very frightening, and he couldn''t help but say with a sense of guilt.

    "Enough, you are my son, what is there to be sorry for? I know you are capable, I''m just worried about you doing something foolish. Your mom losing her job is not the end of the world, especially since our family isn''t lacking money now," Ge Shengming said. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "As long as I am here, mom''s job won''t be lost. What I am worried about now is that, even if the situation is resolved, the harm has already been done to mom, and I guess it will take a long time for her to feel happy again," Ge Dongxu said with a bitter smile.

    "You do understand your mom. She didn''t let me call you before, saying that as soon as I did, you would definitely ask Director Zuo to help speak on her behalf, and even if her issue was resolved afterward, she would still feel a thorn in her heart," Ge Shengming said, following with a bitter smile.

    "This situation was completely out of line, why should I ask Director Zuo to intervene if not to save face for them? The county education bureau must give an explanation, not just to me but to mom. If they can''t, then the director of the county education bureau and the like should all be dismissed. If they can''t even treat a teacher like mom properly, what are they doing in those positions?" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "Look, you see, didn''t you say you understood? Why are you being stubborn again, talking nonsense? Is the director of the county education bureau someone you can control?" Ge Shengming said, shaking his head continuously at Ge Dongxu.

    "Dad, don''t worry. As a high school student, I''ve created such a big enterprise; I have a clear understanding of these matters. Where is mom now? Did she go to the third elementary school in town, or has she gone to the county?" Ge Dongxu, grasping his father''s hand and patting it, said.

    At this, Ge Shengming was taken aback, looked at his son for a long time, then shook his head with a bitter smile: "I seem to have forgotten that you are now a big shot worth billions. You know better than dad in this matter, so I''ll stop worrying needlessly. Regarding the third elementary school in town, your mom went there yesterday, but it was no use, so this morning she took a stack of credentials and awards to the county education bureau. I wanted to go with her, but she refused, as you know your mom''s temperament."

    "Then I will go to the county education bureau right now. Those guys are shameless enough to do such things, and mom might face a lot of grievances this time!" Ge Dongxu said.

    "I''ll drive you there," Ge Shengming said urgently.

    "Okay," Ge Dongxu nodded, but before getting in the car, he grabbed the keys from his father''s hand and said, "I''ll drive."

    "Are you sure? I''m more familiar with this road," Ge Shengming said, a bit worried.

    "Don''t worry, Dad. If I were to race cars, other drivers would only be competing for second place," Ge Dongxu said.

    Ge Shengming initially wanted to say his son was exaggerating, but remembering that his son was no ordinary person, he swallowed his words.

    Once the car was on the winding mountain road, Ge Shengming immediately believed his son''s words.

    On the winding and somewhat bumpy mountain road, which always jolted him when he drove, the road seemed to turn into a smooth highway in his son''s hands, and he barely felt the bumps while sitting in the passenger seat.

    The car sped all the way, and what was usually an hour''s drive, Ge Dongxu managed to reach the county town in about half an hour.

    Upon arriving in the county town, Ge Dongxu, although unfamiliar with the location of the Changxi County Education Bureau building, did not need to ask for directions because the bracelet his mother carried, which contained a drop of his Lifebound Essence Blood, allowed him to sense her location easily. He then drove straight to her.

    ...

    At the entrance of the Changxi County Education Bureau building, Xu Suya took a deep breath and then strode into the building.

    The guard just happened to have stepped away temporarily, so no one stopped her.

    Unfamiliar with the ways of the bureaucracy and being her first time at the education bureau building, Xu Suya did not know whom to approach given her situation. Thinking it over, she decided that since the director handled everything, she might as well look for him directly.

    The Education Bureau was not as strict as the Public Security Bureau in its management of visitors, showing little vigilance. Not only did the guard not take guarding seriously, but the staff inside also did not make much of seeing a stranger milling about.

    Xu Suya, carrying her bag, searched each floor until she quickly found the director''s office on the third floor, and then she knocked on the door.

    "Come in!" a middle-aged man''s voice called from inside.

    Xu Suya opened the door and saw a man in his early fifties with a somewhat bald head and a slightly corpulent figure, who was sitting behind a large desk, drinking tea and reading a newspaper.

    Although it was Xu Suya''s first visit to the Education Bureau building, as a public school teacher she knew that the director''s last name was Cai, and having seen his photo before, she immediately greeted him softly, "Director Cai, hello."

    "Who are you?" Director Cai, naturally not recognizing Xu Suya and seeing a strange woman suddenly appear, furrowed his brows slightly and asked.

    "I am a teacher from the Ge Family Village Primary School in Baiyun Town; my name is Xu Suya. I am here because there are some matters I wish to discuss with Director Cai," Xu Suya said.

    Hearing this, Director Cai''s frown deepened, a hint of impatience flickering in his eyes, but he still barely asked, "Hmm, what is it?"

    "Here are my educational credentials, teacher''s certificate, and the awards and certificates recognizing me as an outstanding rural teacher over the past few years. I want to ask, despite being recognized as an outstanding rural teacher for many years by the bureau and the town, why is it that for the newly established Third Primary School in Baiyun Town, someone who has taught only a few days and only has a junior high school education gets a position as a substitute teacher, yet I don''t even get a position?" Xu Suya first laid out her documents on the large desk, then asked seriously.

    Upon seeing a rural teacher come to his office to question him, Director Cai''s expression grew stern, and he said, "I''m very busy, you should speak with Chief Chen from the personnel department about this matter."

    Xu Suya was stunned for a moment, her face showing a trace of anger, and she said, "You have time to drink tea and read the newspaper, but you don''t have time to deal with a teacher''s employment issue? Is handling a teacher''s employment lesser in importance than your tea and newspaper?"

    Although Director Cai was just the head of the Changxi County Education Bureau, merely a mid-level government official, he oversaw thousands of teachers, and in Changxi County, he was definitely considered a powerful figure.

    In Changxi County, which teacher would not be respectful and polite upon meeting him, the head of the Education Bureau? No one had ever dared to confront or rebuke him to his face, let alone a rural contracted teacher without an official position.

    Suddenly, Director Cai''s face changed, and he slammed the newspaper onto the table with a "smack," pointing at the office door and saying, "What is this attitude? Do you know where you are? Is this a place where you can shout? Get out at once!"

    "I''m not leaving unless the Education Bureau can give me a reason why I can''t even get a position as a substitute teacher," Xu Suya, stubborn by nature, replied, rather than becoming frightened and leaving hastily. Instead, she stiffened her neck and glared back at Director Cai.

 Chapter 416 - 415: Im Telling You, Theres No Door

    Director Cai was not just any principal of the third elementary school in the town; he was the head of a bureau overseeing thousands of teachers. Even the principals of middle and high schools had to behave themselves in front of him, let alone tolerate being cornered by a rural private school teacher. Hearing this, he directly picked up the phone on his desk and called the office director to have her take the person out.

    Soon, the office director arrived, a woman in her early thirties.

    "Director Jiang, what''s this about? Can just anyone run into my office like this?" Director Cai asked with a grim face as the office director approached.

    "I''m sorry, Director Cai, sorry, Director Cai, I''ll take her away now." Director Jiang hurriedly apologized repeatedly, then took Xu Suya by the hand and said, "Let''s talk in my office, Director Cai is very busy."

    Xu Suya knew that Director Jiang was expelling her. She wanted to explode but, after all, she was a people''s teacher and not prone to making a scene. Seeing Director Jiang pulling her, she held back her anger and said coldly, "Don''t pull me; rest assured, I won''t cause trouble, I''m here to reason."

    After she spoke, Xu Suya collected the documents she had placed on the desk, followed Director Jiang out the door, but before leaving, she turned back to look at Director Cai and said, "You don''t deserve to be a director!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You..." Director Cai was so infuriated upon hearing this that he almost picked up the newspaper on the desk to throw it.

    Seeing this, Director Jiang hurriedly pulled Xu Suya away, her face looking ugly as she scolded, "What are you doing? Even the director is not someone you can criticize."

    "Why can''t I criticize him? If he does a good job we praise him, and if not, of course we must speak up," Xu Suya retorted.

    "You... never mind, never mind, there''s no reasoning with someone like you, just go," Director Jiang said, looking at Xu Suya and was about to scold her but seeing her stern and righteous demeanor, she suddenly felt disheartened.

    "I''m not leaving until I have an explanation," Xu Suya shook her head and said.

    She had anger pent up inside, and she wouldn''t feel right until she clarified things.

    Director Jiang looked at Xu Suya for a while before saying, "Alright then, come to my office."

    Xu Suya then followed Director Jiang to her office.

    Xu Suya laid out the documents for Director Jiang to see and talked about the matter regarding the substitute teacher position at the third elementary school in the town.

    As the office director, Director Jiang was naturally a perceptive person. Once Xu Suya spoke, she sensed that there was an issue and felt some disdain for the person responsible while also feeling sympathetic towards Xu Suya for the injustice.

    "Ah, you should have come to me first; I may have spoken on your behalf, and at worst, we could have tried to add another slot since it''s just a substitute teacher. But with you causing a scene at the director''s, this matter has become difficult for me to handle," Director Jiang said with a troubled expression.

    "Thank you, Director Jiang, I just couldn''t hold it in. Tell me, we are teachers, role models for students, how can we engage in such messy affairs?" Xu Suya said, her mood slightly better upon hearing Director Jiang speak for her, and she was very polite to her.

    "How about this, come with me to the HR department, let me ask HR Chief Chen if we can add another slot," Director Jiang hesitated for a moment and then said.

    "There''s no need to trouble you, Director Jiang. I actually didn''t come here just to strive for this substitute teacher position. If it were just for the position, I wouldn''t have come. The salary of a substitute teacher is not important to me. My main purpose here is to seek fair treatment. We teachers are supposed to be role models, teaching children how to be decent people. How can we be otherwise in our actions?" Xu Suya gratefully looked at Director Jiang and said.

    Director Jiang only then noticed the jade bracelet Xu Suya was wearing.

    She didn''t know much about jade, but she could still tell that the bracelet was definitely valuable. Her heart skipped a beat, and her gaze towards Xu Suya gradually revealed a hint of respect.

    She knew that this was a truly dedicated teacher, one who genuinely took teaching and educating as her own duty.

    "You are a serious teacher, but you can''t go to the director again about this. If you really want to understand, go to the personnel department. For newly established mountain schools like Baiyun Town''s Third Elementary School, the staffing is basically decided by Chief Chen of the personnel department. The director might at most sign something and inquire about the principal candidates, but rarely intervenes in other specific matters," Director Jiang said.

    "Don''t worry, I won''t go to Director Cai anymore. Since it''s the personnel department that decided the allocation, then I will go to Chief Chen of the personnel department," Xu Suya said.

    Director Jiang hesitated, then stood up and personally took Xu Suya to the personnel department office.

    When Director Jiang knocked on the door of the personnel department chief''s office, Chief Chen was not in.

    "Director Jiang, please go ahead with your work, I''ll wait here a little while," Xu Suya said.

    As the head of the office, equivalent to the steward of the county education bureau, Director Jiang indeed had many responsibilities. Moreover, from her conversation with Xu Suya she could roughly guess that it must have been Chief Chen who, at the last moment, swapped Xu Suya out to cram Hu Meilin in. Just now, Xu Suya had also offended Director Cai, so rationally speaking, she shouldn''t interfere in this matter anymore, but emotionally she leaned towards Xu Suya and thus accompanied her this time. Seeing as Xu Suya has said this, she hesitated but then left.

    After all, if she really wanted to help Xu Suya, she wouldn''t just offend Chief Chen, but likely the director as well.

    Xu Suya waited at the doorway of the personnel department office for a while and then saw a man in his forties, with a beer belly looking upset, walking towards her.

    This man was naturally Chief Chen of the personnel department, who had just been summoned by Director Cai and reprimanded about Xu Suya''s situation, ordered to handle this matter properly and not to let Xu Suya cause more trouble. He also specifically instructed that people like Xu Suya, who are troublemakers, must not be conceded to just because they kick up a fuss, preventing them from entering the teaching profession.

    When Chief Chen saw Xu Suya standing at the doorway, his expression became even uglier, and he pointed at her pretending not to know and asked, "Who are you? What are you doing standing here?"

    "I am a teacher from Ge Family Village Elementary School in Baiyun Town, Xu Suya. I came here...," Xu Suya said.

    "So you are Xu Suya. I already know about your matter. You can go back now," Chief Chen interrupted her harshly before she could finish talking.

    "I will go back, but before I do, I hope Chief Chen can give me a reasonable explanation. How can a person like Hu Meilin become a substitute teacher when I cannot?" Xu Suya asked coldly, no longer bothering to beat around the bush or explain further.

    "You were not a formally registered teacher to begin with. Since the village school was merged into the Third Elementary School of the town, we obviously have the authority to decide whether to continue employing you or not," Chief Chen said with a dismissive and icy tone.

    Hearing these words, Xu Suya felt a surge of anger rush to her head, and she nearly charged forward to slap Chief Chen, but she ultimately restrained herself and said, "Is this how you wield your power? Do you not understand why we call teachers the engineers of the soul? Do you not realize what an unqualified teacher means to a young and naive elementary student?"

    "I don''t need you to teach me these things. I''ve seen many people like you. You just want to cause trouble and then force us into giving a spot, don''t you? I''m telling you, no way! Now, you can leave. If you don''t leave, I will call security to remove you!" Chief Chen looked down on Xu Suya from his high position, his face full of scorn and arrogance as he spoke.

    "Slap!" Just then, a young man strode forward and slapped Chief Chen across the face, saying coldly, "What are you, to talk to my mom like that!"

 Chapter 417 - 416 I was just looking for him too

    "Dongxu, why are you here? What are you doing?" Xu Suya, seeing her son suddenly come up and slap Chief Chen, couldn''t help but be startled and then hurriedly grabbed him.

    "You, you actually dare to hit me?" Chief Chen, with one hand covering his face and the other pointing at Ge Dongxu, cursed furiously.

    However, Chief Chen dared not rush forward; Ge Dongxu had grown to over 1.8 meters tall, young and strong, with a towering stature. Chief Chen wouldn''t dare to confront him in a fight.

    "It''s exactly for the likes of you, sitting in your position, doing inhumane things!" Ge Dongxu said coldly. But because his hand was grabbed by his mother, he ultimately didn''t slap again.

    "Somebody, help, there''s a fight!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s defiant attitude, Chief Chen couldn''t help but shout angrily.

    Soon, the people on this floor were all alerted and gathered around.

    "Teacher Xu, what''s going on?" Director Jiang, too, was alerted and, seeing Xu Suya holding back a young man with an angry face, couldn''t help but inwardly groan and hurriedly stepped forward to ask.

    "I''m sorry, Director Jiang, this matter involves my son..." Xu Suya, seeing that Director Jiang had come over, felt somewhat apologetic and quickly began to apologize.

    "Mom, why apologize! Dad already told me how hard you''ve worked, diligently teaching as a rural teacher for so many years, simply seeking justice. Yet this guy puts on airs like some high official, driving you away as if you were a beggar. Giving him a slap is letting him off easy; I''ll make sure he loses his chief title too!" Ge Dongxu interrupted.

    "Damn! What big talk! If you''re so capable, would your mom be struggling to even be a substitute teacher?" After being slapped, Chief Chen was also extremely angry. Seeing Ge Dongxu''s arrogance, he immediately blurted out a crude retort.

    "Slap!" Ge Dongxu, hearing Chief Chen say his mother couldn''t even make it as a substitute teacher, felt a surge of anger rush to his head and couldn''t help but raise his hand and slap him again, pointing at him and saying, "It''s people like you who are the ones struggling, my mom is a role model for teachers, seriously dedicated to educating!"

    "Damn!" Chief Chen covered his face, jumping with anger.

    However, no one on the side stepped forward to help; on one hand, Chief Chen was not well-liked in the office, and everyone was pleased to see him get his comeuppance. On the other hand, Ge Dongxu''s furious demeanor at the moment was truly intimidating, and no one had the courage to confront him.

    "Ge Dongxu, what are you doing!" Seeing her son slap Chief Chen again, Xu Suya, although feeling vindicated, was also very annoyed.

    She didn''t like it when her son resorted to hitting people at all!

    "Alright, I won''t hit him anymore." Ge Dongxu, seeing his mother angry, could only respond with a wry smile.

    "What''s going on? What''s with all this chaos?" Just then, a stern voice sounded from behind the crowd.

    "Director Cai!" Upon turning around and seeing it was Director Cai arriving, everyone stepped aside and respectfully called out.

    "Director Cai, this son of Xu Suya''s beat someone up!" Chief Chen, seeing Director Cai''s arrival, hastened to tattle.

    "Xu Suya, haven''t you caused enough trouble? You even incited your son to fight and create a scene, call the police right now!" Upon seeing Xu Suya, Director Cai couldn''t help but show his fury.

    "Fine, you call the police then. I was just hoping to have the police comrades come over to help me check something out: what exactly is the dirty trick in the teacher list of the town''s third elementary school? Why even a lazy woman who has hardly taught for a few days and only graduated from junior high school can be hired as a substitute teacher there? My mom has been teaching diligently for over ten years, repeatedly recognized as an outstanding rural teacher, yet even the qualification to be a substitute teacher has been stripped from her! If we really find any dirty tricks, I''m telling you, no matter if you''re the director or some damn section chief, you''re all going to pay for this!" Ge Dongxu said.

    On the way to the county city by car, his father had already told him everything. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dongxu!" Xu Suya naturally understood her son''s temperament and became a bit anxious seeing him so stubborn. Director Jiang was also anxious and kept saying, "You young people should talk less, will you apologize to Chief Chen already?"

    As he spoke, Director Jiang was also giving Ge Dongxu meaningful glances.

    "Apologize for what? Let the police come; I really want to see how they''re going to make it hard for us to get away," Director Cai said with a grim face.

    No sooner had Director Cai finished his sentence than his cell phone in his pocket rang.

    Director Cai took out his phone and upon seeing that it was a call from the secretary of the municipal committee''s Secretary Jia Kai, he no longer put on his official airs. He shot Ge Dongxu a glare and hastily went aside to answer the call.

    After speaking only a few words, Director Cai hung up the phone and then stepped forward to wave his hand, "Enough, enough, disperse, everyone disperse. You all get out of here too."

    "Director Cai, how can you let this matter go just like that?" Seeing that Director Cai was actually letting Ge Dongxu and the others leave, Chief Chen''s face turned pale.

    "Secretary Jia has decided to inspect our bureau on the spur of the moment. He''s already on his way," Director Cai whispered.

    Chief Chen''s face changed immediately.

    It certainly wouldn''t be good if Secretary Jia saw such a chaotic scene during his inspection. If Xu Suya starts making "irresponsible remarks," the matter could get much worse.

    After all, anyone with eyes could see that there was something fishy going on. It''s just that here at the county''s education bureau, Chief Chen, a trusted aide of Director Cai, controlled the personnel power, and even if others knew there was fishiness, they wouldn''t confront them over just a village teacher. But the Secretary of the municipal committee was a different story. If this matter happened to catch Secretary Jia''s eye, even if he wouldn''t dismiss them over a village teacher, their impression would certainly be tarnished.

    "Leave?" Ge Dongxu sneered coldly, "Isn''t Secretary Jia coming? I just so happen to want to meet him and see how he explains this situation."

    "Don''t push your luck, kid!" Chief Chen and Director Cai both changed their expressions upon hearing this.

    "Am I pushing my luck? You still have the face to say that? Think about what you''ve done; could anyone be more excessive than you two?" Ge Dongxu said with a cold, mocking tone.

    "Teacher Xu, please give me some face; let''s just leave it at this for today, okay?" Seeing that Ge Dongxu wouldn''t back down, Director Jiang moved forward to persuade Xu Suya.

    Xu Suya was indeed grateful to Director Jiang, and seeing the true colors of Chief Chen and Director Cai, she already had her answer. She felt quite disheartened, so when Director Jiang came up to persuade her, she silently sighed, took her son''s hand, and said, "Let''s leave it Dongxu. Director Jiang is a good leader, let''s not make things difficult for her. Let''s go back."

    "Let''s go then, son," Ge Shengming, who had just arrived on the third floor, urged upon seeing the situation.

    Just before, Ge Dongxu was afraid his mother would be at a disadvantage, so after getting out of the car, he threw the car keys to Ge Shengming and rushed to the third floor, causing his father to arrive quite a bit later.

 Chapter 418 - 417: Big Shot

    "Mom and Dad, don''t worry. I know Secretary Jia Kai. Since he''s here, let''s talk to him face-to-face. Regardless of whether you''re prepared to continue teaching, you certainly wouldn''t want such a person to remain in the education sector, harming the future of our country, right?" Ge Dongxu glanced at Director Jiang, nodded apologetically to her, then spoke to his parents.

    "Kid, are you ever going to stop? Why are you all just standing there? Since he won''t leave on his own, kick him out," Director Cai, naturally disbelieving that a rural teacher''s son could know the county party secretary, saw his arrogance, boiling with anger, and shouted sternly to the onlookers.

    "What''s going on here? It''s all so chaotic during work hours? What are you planning to do?" Just then, an authoritative voice sounded at the staircase entrance.

    Following that, a middle-aged man with an authoritative demeanor appeared at the staircase entrance, followed by two others.

    Upon hearing this, Director Cai and Director Chen, among others, looked up and their faces changed. They hurriedly made their way through the crowd to greet him, especially Director Cai, who was already beaming from afar, stretching out both hands and saying, "Welcome Secretary Jia to inspect the work at the Education Bureau."

    "Director Cai, you need to explain to me first¡ªwhat exactly is causing all this chaos during work hours?" Secretary Jia did not shake hands with Director Cai but asked with a slightly stern face.

    "It''s nothing, just a rural teacher who thinks we haven''t resolved her substitute teacher status issue, causing a scene with her family. We are handling it," said Director Cai.

    "Rural teachers have made great sacrifices and contributions to rural education; you need to handle this matter properly," Secretary Jia said as he approached the crowd.

    "Finally, someone speaks sense!" a young voice exclaimed from the crowd.

    "This is our county''s party secretary. How dare you speak like that?" Director Chen, worried that Secretary Jia would inquire into the matter, was surprised when Ge Dongxu, oblivious to his own audacity, stepped forward and made such a mocking remark. Director Chen immediately jumped out, fiercely reprimanding him.

    "Secretary Jai, did I say something wrong?" Ge Dongxu looked at Jia Kai and asked calmly.

    At this moment, Secretary Jai had walked closer and recognized Ge Dongxu''s face, causing him to shudder involuntarily, and cold sweat suddenly appeared on his forehead. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Wasn''t this the young man who had cheerfully accompanied Elder Feng when he suddenly visited Baiyun Mountain that day? Even then, Executive Vice Governor Sang Yunlong and Director Zheng Zijie of the Public Security Department had only been able to follow behind.

    At that time, Secretary Jai and Mayor Peng who had specially rushed to Baiyun Mountain were secretly shocked, not knowing the true stature of this young man who could walk side by side with Elder Feng. They never expected him to appear right before them today.

    But that was not all; what Director Cai had just mentioned about a rural teacher and her family clearly referred to him, and now someone was pointing at him with fierce words and scolding him.

    At that moment, Secretary Jai really felt as if everything was going dark before his eyes.

    This was someone whom even Vice Governor Sang and Director Zheng could only defer to!

    My goodness, pointing and scolding him¡ªwasn''t this putting me in jeopardy?

    "No, no, you are absolutely right, absolutely right!" Just as Director Chen was secretly pleased with his own quick reaction, thinking Ge Dongxu had dug his own grave, Secretary Jai had already regained his composure and hurried forward, nodding repeatedly with a sheepish grin.

    After all, facing such a prominent figure, not to mention him, even if the city''s party secretary were to come, he would have no choice but to smile and agree.

    Looking at Secretary Jia, who was clearly displaying the humility of an inferior meeting a superior, the entire corridor suddenly quieted down, and everyone stared fixedly at Ge Dongxu and Secretary Jia. Chief Chen and Director Cai''s eyes notably bulged out, and cold sweat involuntarily started to appear on their foreheads.

    Damn, this guy actually really knows Secretary Jia Kai!

    "This matter, even if you hadn''t come today, I would have sought you out. How exactly are you serving as the Party Secretary? How could you promote such a person?" Ge Dongxu pointed at Director Cai, reproaching Jia Kai without any politeness.

    Not to mention the relationship between Ge Dongxu and Elder Feng. Merely as a senior-level advisor himself, he had the authority to reproach Jia Kai, especially since this incident was their fault to begin with.

    "Yes, yes, you''re right to criticize. I introspect!" Jia Kai kept nodding his head in front of Ge Dongxu''s reproach, accepting it humbly.

    With his status and identity, his mind worked very quickly. He clearly understood that to notable figures like Ge Dongxu, let alone Director Cai, even if he, the Party Secretary, hadn''t done something to offend him, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t normally stoop to their level, let alone show up at the Education Bureau to cause a scene.

    This incident had alarmed him, and his words clearly indicated that he was truly angry.

    When such a major figure got angry, not only could Jia Kai not bear it, but even the top two leaders of Ouzhou City might not be able to handle it either.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu reproaching Changxi County''s top official without any politeness, and the top official of Changxi County not only showing no dissatisfaction or anger but instead expressing a desire to introspect, not just the people from the Education Bureau almost lost their eyes, even Ge Shengming and his wife couldn''t believe what they were seeing.

    Although they knew their son was incredible, they hadn''t expected him to be this powerful!

    As for Director Cai and Chief Chen, by this time, their legs had gone weak from fright.

    By now, they understood that their careers were over.

    Of course, that was the least of their concerns. If an investigation was initiated, they might even end up in prison. Over the years, both Chief Chen and Director Cai had accepted quite a bit of bribes under the convenience of their positions, and they even had improper relationships with some female teachers.

    If this were to be exposed, ending up in prison was certain.

    Thinking of this, Director Cai and Chief Chen were terrified and hurriedly walked up to Xu Suya, bowing over and over again: "Miss Xu, I''m sorry, I''m so sorry, I apologize to you, I''ll resolve your official teaching position immediately."

    "Shut your filthy mouths! Do you think my mother cares about that? If she really cared about these things, would she need you to arrange them for her?" Ge Dongxu scolded with great loathing.

    Director Cai and Chief Chen shuddered at these words, incessantly wiping the cold sweat from their foreheads.

    Indeed, given the attitude Secretary Jia Kai showed toward him, let alone an official teaching position, even his position as the head of the Education Bureau was not a problem.

    In fact, what she truly wanted was just a substitute teacher status!

    "Miss Xu, may I ask what exactly is going on?" Jia Kai, astute enough to hold the position of Party Secretary, already knew there was an issue concerning Xu Suya, and to appease Ge Dongxu''s anger, the key also lay with Xu Suya. Therefore, after giving Director Cai and Chief Chen a stern look, he asked Xu Suya carefully.

 Chapter 419 - 418: Do You Have a Guilty Conscience? [Happy Holidays]

    "Forget it, there''s nothing much to say." Xu Suya looked at Jia Kai, suddenly feeling utterly disheartened. This was not the outcome she had desired.

    Seeing his mother''s disheartened appearance, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but glare fiercely at Director Cai and Chief Chen, then wrapped his arms around his mother''s shoulders, saying, "Mom, you can''t lose heart just because of a few bad apples; it''s not worth it. After all, there are more good people in this world, and most officials are decent. Like Director Jiang, didn''t you just say he is a good leader? And Secretary Jia Kai here, he''s also not bad. Talk to him. Only by doing this can we kick the bad apples out of the educational team and allow good leaders like Director Jiang to rise. Plus, you need to clarify some things to make the party secretary understand, to let the present education bureau leaders understand, how hard it is for village teachers, and that they should receive more concern and support."

    Xu Suya wasn''t a person who couldn''t accept reason; it was just that the events of the past few days had been too much of a shock, and she was having a hard time accepting it. In what was supposed to be a beautiful career, such disgusting people could exist. Now that her son was patiently advising her, though she hadn''t fully recovered yet, her mood had somewhat improved. She patted her son''s hand on her shoulder and nodded, "Hmm, you make sense, so I will speak."

    As she spoke, Xu Suya laid out various certificates and awards one by one, recounting her years of teaching experience in the village, all the way up to her visit to Director Cai''s office, where Director Cai had time for tea and newspapers but wouldn''t attend to her matters. She spoke of Director Jiang''s kindness and ended with Chief Chen telling her to leave, saying she wasn''t a tenured teacher, and he had the authority to hire and fire her.

    When she reached the final words, Xu Suya couldn''t help but shed bitter tears, looking at Secretary Jia Kai and asking, "Secretary Jia, I want to ask, is it really like this? We village contract teachers work hard for most of our lives, only to receive such a response in the end?"

    Xu Suya''s choked questioning echoed down the corridor, striking at everyone''s heart, causing Director Jiang in the hallway and the staff of the Education Bureau to shamefully lower their heads.

    This matter truly left Chief Chen and Director Cai inextricably accountable, but weren''t the other workers of the Education Bureau also responsible?

    At this time, the faces of Chief Chen and Director Cai had turned completely pale, filled with natural regret.

    If they had known the situation would escalate to this, they would have given Xu Suya a position earlier. It was only about a substitute teacher''s position, after all.

    Of course, without Ge Dongxu''s forceful intervention and Secretary Jia Kai''s presence, Chen and Cai, accustomed to bureaucratic superiority, would never have acknowledged this and conceded to a mere village contract teacher. In their eyes, Xu Suya was nothing more than a troublemaker and a shrew.

    "No, Ms. Xu. The government repeatedly emphasizes that village contract teachers have made significant contributions to rural education and insists that local governments must ensure proper resettlement, not neglecting anyone. It''s my fault as county party secretary for not fulfilling my duties. I apologize to you and ask for your understanding! Please believe me, our county party committee and county government will truly take this matter seriously, and we won''t let any village contract teacher suffer any injustice." Jia Kai''s expression shifted between anger and shame until Xu Suya had finished speaking, then he bowed deeply to her with self-reproach.

    "Thank you." Seeing Secretary Jia Kai''s sincere attitude, Xu Suya felt much better and wiped the corners of her eyes.

    "You, all of you, think about it; do you still deserve to be this chief, this director?" Seeing Xu Suya''s mood alleviate, Jia Kai couldn''t help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief, then turned to glare at Chief Chen and Director Cai, rebuking them sternly, his face ashen.

    Jia Kai was still a decent county party secretary. Hearing Xu Suya''s account, he truly felt heartbroken and furious, never having expected that Director Cai, whom he had highly valued, would treat his work with such disregard.

    "Secretary Jia, I deeply reflect on this. I will surely investigate this matter thoroughly and handle it appropriately," Director Cai replied, shaken by Secretary Jia Kai''s rebuke, looking utterly frightened.

    Chief Chen felt the same way.

    "You investigate? You handle this? Do you still have the face, the qualifications to do so?" Ge Dongxu said coldly upon hearing this.

    Director Cai and Chief Chen''s faces changed upon hearing this; they then looked at Secretary Jia Kai with pleading eyes.

    Up to this point, they were still unclear about Ge Dongxu''s real identity and still believed that Secretary Jia Kai was the one who truly had the authority to make decisions.

    Seeing Director Cai and Chief Chen looking at him, Jia Kai felt both annoyed and bitter.

    Were they unaware of Ge Dongxu''s identity, and he wasn''t?

    Of course, Jia Kai was also confused about why, for someone as significant as Ge Dongxu, his mother was still just a rural teacher.

    However, confusion aside, the fact that Ge Dongxu was walking and laughing alongside Elder Feng was something that couldn''t be erased.

    "What do you think, sir?" Instead of paying attention to the pleading looks from Director Cai and Chief Chen, Jia Kai turned to Ge Dongxu.

    "If it''s just a matter of work attitude, I think removal from the position is sufficient, as such a person is not suitable for this role. However, I believe the issue isn''t that simple, so I hope the comrades from the Disciplinary Committee Office will investigate this matter," Ge Dongxu said without mincing words with Jia Kai. This matter involved his mother, so how could he possibly let these two off easily.

    Upon hearing this, the faces of Director Cai and Chief Chen drastically changed, and they said, "We haven''t done anything; why should there be an investigation on us?"

    "The innocent will clear themselves, and the guilty will reveal themselves. I am only asking the Disciplinary Committee comrades to investigate you, not to convict and imprison you. What are you yelling for? Do you have a guilty conscience?" Ge Dongxu asked coldly.

    "No, of course not," both men said, shaking their heads.

    "Is that so?" Ge Dongxu gave a cold smile, then said to Jia Kai, "Then let''s disperse the unrelated people. You take over from here."

    "Alright." Jia Kai was decisive and nodded at the words, then waved his hand to disperse the crowd and personally called the Disciplinary Committee Office to ask them to send someone immediately.

    "Mom, maybe Dad should accompany you back to the Jiang Family Village home first; I will stay here a bit longer and go back later," Ge Dongxu said to his parents as Jia Kai was making the call.

    The events that followed were no longer suitable for their involvement.

    At this time, Xu Suya also felt a bit drained, and noticing that her son''s influence was far greater than she had imagined, she realized she need not worry about him. She nodded at his words, and before leaving, she made a point to thank Director Jiang. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 420 - 419: Ironclad Zombie

    "Director Jiang, thank you. If it weren''t for you, my mother''s mood would have been even worse." After his parents had left, Ge Dongxu bowed sincerely and formally to Director Jiang to express his gratitude.

    Seeing a significant figure like Ge Dongxu bowing to Director Jiang, envy appeared in Jia Kai''s eyes, and he also gave Director Jiang a deep look, having made a decision in his heart.

    "You flatter me, you really do. I also bear some responsibility for this matter," Director Jiang hurriedly waved her hand, unaware that because she still maintained a sense of justice, she was very likely to be promoted to the head of the Education Bureau.

    "No, for me, there is nothing more important than my mother," Ge Dongxu said sternly, then turned his gaze to Section Chief Chen and Director Cai, and said coldly, "You two better hope you haven''t engaged in any bribery or misadministration, or else prepare yourself for a prison cell."

    Facing Ge Dongxu''s icy gaze, Section Chief Chen and Director Cai''s hearts trembled, revealing a hint of terror in their eyes, and they said in a threatening yet fearful tone, "Secretary Jia is also here, what are you trying to do? Do you realize that you are threatening and intimidating government officials?"

    "Threatening and intimidating you?" Ge Dongxu said with a cold laugh, "Do you even qualify?"

    Jia Kai couldn''t help but smile wryly to himself upon hearing this, indeed, not to mention these two, even he himself wasn''t qualified.

    "Sir, would it be better to move to the conference room?" Jia Kai asked with a wry smile inside.

    "That would be fine," Ge Dongxu nodded, then added, "My surname is Ge, from Ge Family Village. But after this matter, act as if nothing has happened and do not disrupt my family''s peaceful life. Both my father and mother are just ordinary people. Director Jiang, please also make sure to inform those staff members from earlier not to spread rumors."

    "So it is Mr. Ge, I understand," Jia Kai was momentarily stunned, then nodded solemnly.

    "Very well, Mr. Ge," Director Jiang also nodded and then said, "The conference room is on the fourth floor, Mr. Ge, Secretary Jia, please follow me."

    "Thank you," Ge Dongxu remained very polite toward Director Jiang, saying this as he followed her to the fourth floor, while Director Cai gave Section Chief Chen a fierce glare and could only helplessly follow along.

    Although Director Cai was also responsible, in his view, the instigator was naturally Section Chief Chen. If not for him, Xu Suya wouldn''t have cropped up.

    Of course, it was already too late to say these things at this time.

    The group headed to the conference room, where Director Jiang, acting as the steward of the Education Bureau, busied herself serving tea and water to Ge Dongxu and Jia Kai, and took a moment to instruct her office staff to tell those from earlier not to spread the news about the incident.

    While everyone was sitting in the conference room waiting, Ge Dongxu''s phone rang.

    Ge Dongxu pulled out his phone, and his expression slightly changed upon seeing it was from Fan Hong. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Fan Hong held a very special status, and he usually wouldn''t call him unless there was an emergency.

    "What''s the matter?" Ge Dongxu answered the call and walked over to the window of the conference room, looking out over the Education Bureau.

    Below was the outdoor basketball court of the Education Bureau.

    "Sir, are you currently in Jiangnan Province? A zombie was discovered on Zhan Yuan Mountain in Songnan City, Dongyue Province, now confirmed to be a Iron-Armored Zombie. It has already injured many people, and I''m afraid we need your help," came Fan Hong''s grave voice over the phone.

    Zombies are classified as White Zombies, Black Zombies, Iron-Armored Zombies, Bronze-Armored Zombies, Silver-Armored Zombies, Gold-Armored Zombies, Flying Yaksha, and Ba.

    A White Zombie is considered the lowest rank. It lacks spiritual intelligence and acts solely on instinct to consume fresh blood. They are also very slow but possess great strength and are largely immune to physical harm from blades and spears unless dismembered. Such zombies can usually be handled by several people armed with blades and spears.

    A Black Zombie is a level higher. Not only does it possess some spiritual intelligence, but its sensitivity, strength, and toughness are significantly enhanced. Ordinary people can no longer deal with them using blades and spears. Even high-ranked Black Zombies are nearly as powerful as a cultivator at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    The zombie that Li Bisheng''s master and others had destroyed last time was of this Black Zombie rank but only considered mid-rank.

    A high-ranked Black Zombie is already comparable to a cultivator at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. You can imagine how terrifying the strength of an Iron-Armored Zombie one rank higher than Black Zombie is. Without a cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, it is basically very difficult to suppress it¡ªand that''s just the lowest-ranked Iron-Armored Zombie. For a higher-ranked Iron-Armored Zombie, even the Fifth Layer is far from sufficient.

    Fortunately, it''s the Dharma Ending Age now, and even White Zombies are rare, let alone higher-ranked zombies like Iron-Armored Zombies, Bronze-Armored Zombies, Silver-Armored Zombies, and Gold-Armored Zombies. As for Flying Yakshas and Bas, they are legendary even in ancient times, transcending the zombie category and being regarded as immortals.

    Of course, the appearance of formidable zombies in the Dharma Ending Age is not absolute; an Iron-Armored Zombie has now appeared in Dongyue Province.

    If this Iron-Armored Zombie is just a low-ranked one, Fan Hong might be able to suppress it by inviting more manpower. But if it''s a middle or high-ranked Iron-Armored Zombie, then it''s definitely beyond what the people from the Special Ability Management Bureau can handle.

    Of course, the military could be deployed, but that would only be done as a last resort. After all, the Iron-Armored Zombie is hiding in the forest, and deploying the military might mean having to completely destroy a mountain to possibly eliminate the Iron-Armored Zombie, as ordinary bullets won''t do the job.

    If that happens, it might cause widespread sensationalism and panic. Thus, cases like these are usually handled by personnel from the Special Ability Management Bureau, with the military providing perimeter cooperation and support, and only in a last-resort situation would they employ highly lethal high-tech weaponry.

    "I am currently in the county city of Changxi County. How do I get there?" Ge Dongxu said, fully aware of the terrifying combat power of the Iron-Armored Zombie, his face also showed a hint of gravity."

    However, he was just a bit short of breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, and he had been able to perform talisman drawing typical of a cultivator at the Ninth Layer while he was still at the Seventh Layer. Thus, his actual strength should be considered one or two small levels higher than that of an ordinary Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer.

    This meant that Dongxu''s actual strength was probably equivalent to that of the Ninth Layer or even the Tenth Layer.

    In this situation, unless the Iron-Armored Zombie was unfortunately high-ranked, which might require Dongxu to exert more effort and engage in a fierce battle, he would still likely be able to eliminate it easily.

    "Where in the county city are you? I''ll have Xu Lei take a helicopter to pick you up immediately," Fan Hong asked directly upon hearing this.

    "County Education Bureau building, there''s a basketball court behind the building where a helicopter could land," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "Alright, Xu Lei will arrive within forty minutes. Please wait inside the County Education Bureau building," Fan Hong said firmly.

    "Alright, I''ll wait here," Ge Dongxu said before hanging up Fan Hong''s phone.

 Chapter 421 - 420: Helicopter Dispatched

    After hanging up Fan Hong''s call, Ge Dongxu remembered that his parents were still at the villa on the other side, and he knew he definitely couldn''t make it back now. So, he called his father and told him that he had some urgent matters to deal with and that he might not be able to return to the villa today, asking him to keep his mother company and try to console her.

    "Your mom''s mood has improved a lot, rest assured, just focus on your own things, and don''t worry about here. Your dad may not be well-educated, but he understands your mom very well," Ge Shengming said.

    "That''s good to hear," Ge Dongxu sighed in relief upon hearing this and asked his father to hand the phone to his mother. After talking to her for a few moments, he hung up.

    After ending the call, Ge Dongxu sat back at the conference table and continued to wait with Secretary Jia Kai and others for the people from the Disciplinary Committee Office to arrive.

    The people from the Disciplinary Committee Office arrived soon after.

    Upon seeing the people from the Disciplinary Committee Office arrive, Director Cai and Section Chief Chen both looked somewhat pale but were trying their best to remain calm.

    After the arrival of the people from the Disciplinary Committee Office, Director Jiang and Jia Kai''s secretary automatically left, although Ge Dongxu and Jia Kai did not, remaining in the meeting room.

    Seeing Jia Kai and then turning their surprised gaze towards the immobile Ge Dongxu sitting there, the Disciplinary Committee Office''s personnel didn''t say anything since Jia Kai hadn''t spoken.

    "Mr. Ge, would you like to explain the situation, or should I?" Jia Kai asked respectfully.

    Seeing Secretary Jia Kai addressing a young man as Mr. and treating him with such respect, as if a subordinate was asking a superior, the personnel from the Disciplinary Committee Office were even more astonished, looking at Ge Dongxu with a hint of reverence.

    "I''ll explain," replied Ge Dongxu, then he recounted the whole situation to the people from the Disciplinary Committee Office.

    The people from the Disciplinary Committee Office felt somewhat bemused after listening. With such a case, without solid evidence, they could hardly get anything out of it, as Section Chief Chen and Director Cai would certainly not confess voluntarily.

    However, since Secretary Jia Kai had personally called them over and treated this young man with such respect, the Disciplinary Committee Office personnel could only keep their thoughts to themselves and, sticking to protocol, they seriously began by interrogating Director Cai, followed by Section Chief Chen.

    Director Cai and Section Chief Chen naturally denied everything, admitting at most to an improper work attitude.

    Seeing that no issues were being resolved, the Disciplinary Committee Office personnel could only look towards Secretary Jia Kai for guidance. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just then, there was a knock on the door of the meeting room.

    The person who entered was Secretary Jia Kai''s secretary, who approached Jia Kai and whispered, "Secretary, the armed police squad has suddenly sealed off the basketball court at the back of the Education Department building. I asked Captain Yang, and he said it''s an order from the Provincial Military District. They mentioned that an armed helicopter would come later to pick up a Director surnamed Ge."

    As he spoke, the secretary stealthily glanced at Ge Dongxu, his eyes filled with reverence.

    Upon hearing this, Secretary Jia Kai''s heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly stood up and looked out of the window; sure enough, he saw a formation of armed police standing stiffly around the perimeter of the basketball court.

    The meeting room wasn''t large, and since it was also quiet, even though the secretary spoke in a low voice, everyone in the room had heard him, and they all stood up and looked outside.

    As they looked outside and remembered that there was only one person with the surname Ge in the room, everyone couldn''t help but shiver, especially Director Cai and Section Chief Chen who had been slightly pleased with themselves when the Disciplinary Committee Office couldn''t find any issues. They were now so frightened they nearly wet their pants.

    "Damn it, who the hell have I offended?"

    There''s the armed police and even military helicopters involved!

    By this time, the people from the Disciplinary Committee Office finally understood why Secretary Jia Kai treated that young man with such respect.

    Deploying the armed police to seal off the area, sending a military helicopter directly to the county education bureau building to pick someone up¡ªhow powerful must this person be!

    "Director Ge, what do you think?" Jia Kai quickly shifted his gaze from outside the window and carefully asked for guidance.

    This time, he no longer addressed Ge Dongxu as Mr. but rather as Director.

    "Director Cai, Chief Chen, if you had been willing to confess honestly earlier, perhaps I could have asked the county to be lenient with you. Unfortunately, you didn''t cherish that opportunity. Since you didn''t, you can''t blame me now," Ge Dongxu said coldly, looking at Director Cai and Chief Chen instead of answering Jia Kai.

    "You, what do you want to do?" Director Cai and Chief Chen stammered in fear, their legs trembling upon hearing him.

    Previously, although they knew Ge Dongxu must be someone influential, they could only infer as much from Secretary Jia Kai''s words and actions. But now? The provincial military district had issued a direct command to the county armed police squadron, and they even had a military helicopter fly in to pick up this young man, indicating just how mysterious and terrifying his identity must be.

    "What can I do? Of course, I just want to have a good talk with you guys," Ge Dongxu''s face, previously cold, suddenly revealed a sly and beguiling smile.

    Unknowingly, Director Cai and Chief Chen were captivated by Ge Dongxu''s beguiling smile, their frightened eyes gradually becoming blurry.

    "Bewitching Soul Technique!" Back in the day, Ge Dongxu had used this on the likes of Duan Qiaoxue, the bad guys in the police interrogation room to help Jiang Lili.

    At that time, he was only at Qi Cultivation Third Layer, and that effort had left him exhausted, with a splitting headache.

    But now, Ge Dongxu was already at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, just a step away from the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, his cultivation vastly stronger than before. Moreover, the crux of this technique was spiritual power, and Ge Dongxu''s spiritual power had reached comparable levels to the Dragon Tiger Realm after his Unity of Heaven and Man experience. Therefore, casting this technique again, especially when Director Cai and Chief Chen were already shaken by the appearance of the armed police, Ge Dongxu effortlessly bewildered them both.

    In fact, not just Director Cai and Chief Chen, even others in the conference room were somewhat dazzled, looking at Ge Dongxu with a hint of confusion, until Ge Dongxu spoke up, "I ask, you record."

    Only then did Secretary Jia Kai and the others snap out of it, suddenly awakening.

    After awakening, they quickly realized that whatever Ge Dongxu asked, Chief Chen and Director Cai responded.

    With their responses, Chief Chen and Director Cai revealed shocking details that infuriated and terrified Jia Kai.

    He was furious that the two had exploited their positions not only to embezzle a lot of money but also to keep mistresses, including female teachers, actions that were utterly scandalous. He was terrified by Ge Dongxu''s mysterious and eerie abilities, the thought of which made Jia Kai''s heart pound fiercely, and his skin crawl.

    "Smack!" Ge Dongxu had wanted to continue questioning, but he faintly heard the sound of an airplane''s propeller from afar and his expression darkened slightly. He abruptly stood up, slamming his hand on the table.

    With Ge Dongxu''s sudden action, Chief Chen and Director Cai snapped to full alertness, looking at him fearfully and tremblingly asking, "What, what did you just do to me?"

 Chapter 422 - 421 Circumstances

    "Hmph! Listen for yourselves!" Secretary Jia Kai, enraged, suddenly stood up and pressed the tape recorder.

    The voices of two men emanated from the tape recorder, causing Director Chen and Director Cai to collapse onto the floor in an instant; they knew that this time, they had lost not only their jobs but also faced the inevitable prison bars.

    "Thump thump thump thump!" At this moment, the sound of the helicopter rotor blades grew louder, causing the windows to tremble.

    An armed helicopter appeared in the sky above the Education Bureau building, slowly descending towards the basketball court.

    "Secretary Jia, I shall take my leave now, no need to see me out," said Ge Dongxu as he strode out of the meeting room, cupping his hands in salute towards Jia Kai and the others upon seeing the situation. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    By the time Ge Dongxu arrived at the basketball court, the helicopter had already landed steadily. Xu Lei and a military officer in uniform disembarked from the helicopter and, seeing Ge Dongxu standing there, hastily came forward to salute him.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, saying nothing more, and directly boarded the helicopter.

    After Ge Dongxu boarded the helicopter, Xu Lei and the military officer followed him aboard, and then the helicopter "thump thump thump thump thump!" gradually ascended, quickly shrinking to a black dot and finally disappearing without a trace.

    "Phew!" Watching the helicopter vanish into the horizon, Secretary Jia Kai let out a long sigh of relief, and many others in the Education Bureau building did the same, especially those who had just encountered Ge Dongxu; they felt a lingering fear as they touched their foreheads to find them covered in cold sweat.

    After Ge Dongxu left, Director Chen and Director Cai were taken away. Secretary Jia Kai temporarily appointed Director Jiang to handle the daily affairs of the County Education Bureau, and as for who would ultimately assume the position of the head of the Education Bureau, that was to be decided through discussions at the County Committee Standing Committee meeting.

    However, those who had witnessed the events on the third floor and had seen Ge Dongxu fly away in an armed helicopter knew that the position of head was very likely to fall on Director Jiang''s shoulders.

    After appointing Director Jiang to temporarily handle the daily affairs of the County Education Bureau, Secretary Jia Kai sternly instructed him to issue a gag order so that nothing about today''s events would be leaked; anyone who spread the word would be dealt with.

    People in Huaxia Country tend to enjoy spreading gossip, especially about events like today''s; if it weren''t for the appearance of the armed police forces and the military helicopter, despite Director Jiang''s warning, there would certainly be those who couldn''t help but gossip and chew the fat.

    But with the shocking scene they had just witnessed, no one dared to spread rumors anymore.

    Joking aside, with the armed police forces and the military helicopter deployed, who knows if someone who spreads rumors might be directly apprehended by some secret department?

    ¡­

    Songnan City is a mountainous area in Dongyue Province with relatively backward economics, bordering Ouzhou City of Jiangnan Province to the north.

    Songnan City is full of mountainous terrain and rolling hills. The Zhan Yuan Mountain that Fan Hong spoke of is a relatively pristine old forest in Songnan City.

    The mountain ridges tower high, covered by dense forests. Owing to the treacherous terrain, many areas are seldom visited by humans, and are home to snakes, insects, and fierce animals.

    The situation with the zombie was first discovered unintentionally by the mountain patrollers when they came across some animal corpses in the forest, which included even large wild beasts such as wild boars. All of these corpses had been drained of blood without exception.

    The mountain patrollers quickly reported the incident up the chain.

    However, initially, it did not attract the attention of the relevant departments until two hikers went missing in Zhan Yuan Mountain. It was only when the search and rescue team found more desiccated animal corpses deeper into the mountains and discovered the two hikers in a cave that the relevant departments took the matter seriously.

    When the rescue team found the hikers, they were in a state of great distress, their faces filled with terror. They both claimed they had seen a leaping, predatory zombie that didn''t eat flesh but drank blood.

    They were so frightened that they ran blindly and got lost in the forest.

    The Special Ability Management Bureau was no stranger to zombies, dealing with a few cases every year, so at first, they didn''t take it too seriously. They sent personnel from the Dongyue Province branch to search for the zombie in Zhan Yuan Mountain, hoping to eliminate it.

    The result was one death and three injuries.

    The personnel from the Dongyue Province branch took the matter very seriously after witnessing the zombie''s ferocity. They not only immediately notified their neighboring province''s Xu Lei for support but also invited several experts from various Qimen sects within Dongyue Province, preparing to eradicate the zombie once and for all.

    This time, although there were no fatalities, many people were injured, and it was only thanks to a Zhong Family elder from Xiangxi who happened to be visiting an old friend in Songnan City and participated in the operation. This elder specialized in suppressing zombies and was well versed in their habits, which prevented any deaths. Otherwise, there would have been many more casualties.

    Afterward, the Zhong Family elder determined that the creature was not a "black zombie" but a low-rank "armored zombie." The zombie had likely been buried in a location with some black material that stained its body, causing people to mistake it for a "black zombie" and let down their guard.

    A low-rank armored zombie was at least equivalent to a cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. The person in charge at the Dongyue Province Special Ability Management Department dared not take the situation lightly anymore, and urgently reported to the Special Ability Management Bureau in the capital, hoping the higher-ups would send more skilled masters.

    Hearing that an armored zombie had appeared in Songnan City, Fan Hong naturally did not take the situation lightly. Additionally, since the zombie had now moved its hunting ground from the remote forest to the outskirts, indiscriminately consuming the blood of animals, it would be a minor issue if it caused panic. But if it were to cause widespread casualties, that would be a significant concern.

    However, as Fan Hong was in the capital and even if they urgently dispatched the bureau''s top personnel, it would take time for them to arrive. This prompted him to make an emergency call to Ge Dongxu.

    "What''s the situation over there now?" On the plane, Ge Dongxu''s expression turned very grave and serious when Xu Lei told him that not only had many people been injured, but there had also been a fatality. It was then that Ge truly realized that, although many people from Qimen sects often disdain government management, they fail to realize that without it, such incidents could lead to countless civilian casualties.

    For the first time, Ge Dongxu felt a sacred responsibility weighing on his shoulders as a member of this organization.

    "The situation over there is very bad. Since the last operation, the armored zombie seems to have become more violent and has been rampaging, killing and sucking the blood of the mountain animals. The creatures in the mountains are sensing the danger and fleeing towards the outskirts. Elder Zhong believes that the armored zombie might be in the midst of evolving, which would be very bad if true," replied Xu Lei with a grave tone. When the topic of the zombie''s possible evolution came up, a look of horror involuntarily appeared in his eyes.

    Armored zombies are categorized into low, middle, and high rank. Generally, a low-rank armored zombie is equivalent to a cultivator with Qi Cultivation Fifth or Sixth Layer, a middle rank corresponds to the Seventh or Eighth Layer realm, and a high-rank armored zombie is equivalent to a cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.

    And as far as Xu Lei knew, aside from a few advisory directors with nominal roles who never leave their seclusion and the current Director Ge, the Special Ability Management Bureau did not have a single cultivator at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. If the armored zombie evolved to a middle-rank, it would be challenging to suppress without a realm above the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer. Thinking about this possibility, Xu Lei couldn''t help but feel waves of dread.

 Chapter 423 - 422 Arrival

    "If it has only evolved into a middle-rank ironclad zombie, that would still be manageable, but I''m afraid we might have made another miscalculation. If it has evolved into a high-rank ironclad zombie, then things will get tricky," Ge Dongxu said with an increasingly solemn expression upon hearing this.

    If it''s a high-rank ironclad zombie, even if it has just evolved into one, it would roughly have the cultivation of the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. Although Ge Dongxu believes his true strength should not be measured by the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, he is, after all, only at the Eighth Layer, and once an ironclad zombie evolves into a high-rank one, it truly attains the cultivation of the Ninth Layer.

    Without a real head-to-head confrontation, it''s hard to say who is stronger or weaker.

    Of course, ironclad zombies are ultimately not flying demons or drought monsters; their intelligence is still very low. As long as it hasn''t evolved into a silver-armored zombie, Ge Dongxu still has confidence in suppressing it. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just not one hundred percent confidence.

    "High-rank ironclad zombie!" Xu Lei gasped sharply upon hearing this, his face turning pale before he shook his head with a bitter smile after a long time, "This shouldn''t be. If it was a middle-rank ironclad zombie before, even with the help of Elder Zhong Yiteng from the Zhong family, I''m afraid many would still die. After all, according to the legends, middle-rank ironclad zombies are as powerful as those at the Seventh or Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Even if we discount their low intelligence, they still at least have the strength of the Sixth or Seventh Layer. The most formidable among us is the Divination Master from Dongyue Province, Lv Xinghai, but he is only at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and most of the others are at the Second or Third Layer. How could they stand a chance against those at the Sixth or Seventh Layer?"

    "Now that you mention it, it seems I was overthinking," Ge Dongxu nodded in agreement.

    The helicopter was fast, and since it didn''t need to take detours in the air, it quickly flew above the Zhan Yuan Mountain.

    The mountain ridge was undulating, and the forest was dense with towering trees, part of an area that still preserved some of its original forests.

    Such a vast expanse of original forest, with strands of pure wood spirit energy floating above, should have made Ge Dongxu feel especially refreshed, but he faintly sensed a trace of blood and an ominous atmosphere.

    Looking down from above, Ge Dongxu could see that all the entrances and exits to Zhan Yuan Mountain were guarded by armed soldiers.

    Each soldier had a stern expression and a vigilant gaze, carefully observing their surroundings.

    Besides the soldiers, Ge Dongxu also noticed two or three people who looked like ordinary citizens standing with the military at every entrance and exit.

    Ge Dongxu knew that those were likely to be Qimen practitioners.

    The armed helicopter landed on a flat area at the largest entrance into the mountain.

    Not only was there at least a platoon of soldiers on alert here, but there were also about twenty Qimen practitioners gathered.

    When the armed helicopter touched down, a tall, skinny man in his forties or fifties immediately approached with two younger men.

    However, when the man saw Ge Dongxu and Xu Lei descending from the aircraft, a look of shock clearly crossed his face.

    "Director Ge, this gentleman is Yang Xiangrong, the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau''s Dongyue Province division," Xu Lei introduced from the side.

    "Greetings, Director Ge!" Although Yang Xiangrong was shocked by Ge Dongxu''s youth and deeply skeptical about how someone so young could take the position of a director-level consultant at the Special Ability Management Bureau, he knew that once he had entered the "government office," he should adhere to the regulations based on official rank. Thus, Yang Xiangrong quickly composed himself and eagerly extended his hand.

    "Hello, Section Chief Yang," Ge Dongxu shook hands with Yang Xiangrong and asked, "What''s the situation now? Have you found any trace of the Silver-Armored Zombie?"

    The heads of the Special Ability Management Bureau carried the title of deputy director in various local National Security Bureaus, but as insiders, they were still accustomed to addressing each other according to the internal titles of the Special Ability Management Bureau.

    "Not yet, but just now, the patriarch of the Zhong Family from Western Hunan came in person with three family powerhouses specially to assist us. Currently, he is leading them, along with Elder Zhong Yiteng, who was already here, deep into the forest to investigate. The Zhong Family from Western Hunan has always been proficient in Corpse Techniques. Their patriarch, Zhong Yichao, was already a Fourth Layer Qi Cultivation strongman years ago. With him here, even if we cannot annihilate the Silver-Armored Zombie, with our cooperation, we should be able to trap it and prevent it from leaving the forest," replied Yang Xiangrong, his expression visibly more relaxed.

    "Zhong Yichao actually arrived so quickly? It looks like the Zhong Family has great ambitions," Xu Lei commented, not with a look of relief but with a slight frown.

    "Now is not the time to care about these things. The key is to suppress the zombie and prevent it from causing greater disasters," Yang Xiangrong said dismissively.

    Hearing this, Xu Lei said nothing more, only frowning slightly as a flash of worry crossed the depths of his eyes.

    "Are you worried about the Zhong Family?" Ge Dongxu, who was no longer the inexperienced youngster of years past, noticed this and asked Xu Lei in a lowered voice.

    After the incident with the Chen Family on Samosir Island, Ge Dongxu fully trusted Xu Lei''s character. So, he didn''t mind sharing his doubts with him.

    "The Zhong Family has a significant influence in Western Hunan, and in recent years there have been rumors that someone in their clan has been engaged in unsavory activities using Techniques. However, Zhong Yichao is a capricious and protective figure. With him blocking the way, the local management office''s staff can''t do anything about them. This time, Zhong Yichao has hurried over so urgently, obviously aiming for the Silver-Armored Zombie, wishing to subdue and refine it into a Silver-Armored Zombie guard. If successful, the Zhong Family''s strength will increase significantly, and our handling of matters in Western Hunan will probably become even more challenging," whispered Xu Lei.

    "You don''t need to worry, I will simply destroy that Silver-Armored Zombie later," Ge Dongxu replied coolly.

    "That would be best. I always feel that zombies and the like carry a sinister and evil aura. If they can be destroyed, then we should destroy them," Xu Lei nodded and said.

    As they spoke, the two followed Yang Xiangrong to the front of the crowd.

    "Fellow Daoists, let me introduce you. This is our Director Ge, Consultant Ge," Yang Xiangrong said as he introduced them to everyone.

    Those of Qimen, each capable of Strange Arts, naturally carried a sense of pride in their bones. Seeing a young man being brought over in a military helicopter, they already felt surprised and displeased. Now, hearing that this young man was actually a high-ranking official of the Special Ability Management Bureau, many displayed looks of disdain and dissatisfaction on their faces.

    What did this mean? Were they considered inferior to a youngster?

    Or was it that the Special Ability Management Bureau had also started to value connections? Could having someone in the family allow for any young person, still wet behind the ears, to be appointed as a high-ranking official at the Special Ability Management Bureau?

    There were even some individuals who thought that Ge Dongcheng''s visit was purely for show, considering that in the world of officials, one must account for seniority and achievements before being eligible for promotion.

    It was no wonder that these people had such thoughts. In the world of cultivation, there were no shortcuts, and with Ge Dongxu''s age, even if he had started cultivating from the womb, they didn''t believe he could be all that powerful.

 Chapter 424 - 423: Ignorant of the World

    Since prejudices were held against Ge Dongxu, the young man, many were reluctant to interact with him. Only a few, either by virtue of their amiable nature or their smooth way of handling things, came forward to greet Ge Dongxu with a cupped-hand salute, though their attitude was relatively cold.

    These characters belonged to the Qimen, who would have been beyond governmental control in past times. Simply put, now that Daoist practices were in decline and modern weaponry had advanced, they had no means to confront the government and were thus compelled to submit reluctantly. However, they harbored less awe for government officials compared to ordinary citizens.

    With an identity like Ge Dongxu''s, in the secular world, not only ordinary people but even some wealthy individuals would need to rush forward to greet and please him. However, these individuals dared to ignore him at their leisure.

    Ge Dongxu always maintained an indifferent attitude towards such behaviors. Seeing that some people ignored him, he didn''t get annoyed but merely smiled and returned the greetings of those who approached him. Xu Lei, on the other hand, was a bit angry, silently cursing these people for being blind and ignorant of their place.

    "Xu Lei, let''s go inside and take a look," Ge Dongxu said to Xu Lei after greeting the others.

    "Young friend Ge, it would be better for you to stay here and defend with us. That ironclad zombie not only possesses immense strength but its body is as hard as iron. Only Daoist like Zhong who specializes in Corpse Techniques can deeply investigate. Otherwise, without the Cultivation of at least Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, it is extremely dangerous to enter," an old man dressed in a gray Tang suit, emanating an otherworldly Daoist charm, advised earnestly upon hearing this.

    This elder was none other than Divination Master Lv Xinghai, previously mentioned by Xu Lei, and the highest in Cultivation among those defending outside.

    Lv Xinghai was among those who had greeted Ge Dongxu earlier.

    "Thank you for the reminder, Elder Lv. In that case, I will go in alone," Ge Dongxu smiled and saluted Lv Xinghai, then said after thinking it over.

    At these words, Lv Xinghai''s expression obviously froze, looking at Ge Dongxu, somewhat at a loss for words.

    Clearly, he had not expected Ge Dongxu to respond that way.

    The other people present, including Yang Xiangrong, were also stunned, with some even looking at Ge Dongxu as if he were a fool.

    Of course, they couldn''t believe that such a young man could possess the Cultivation of Qi Refinement Fifth Layer; if that were the case, then all their years of Cultivation would seem wasted.

    "He''s completely oblivious to the heights of the sky and the depths of the earth!" At that moment, five people emerged from the forest.

    The leader, a man in his sixties or seventies, was thin, very pale, and exuded a sinister aura.

    The five following him also carried the same eerie energy, one of whom was a young man only a few years older than Ge Dongxu, and it was this young man who spoke.

    "Insolence!" Xu Lei had already been somewhat angry seeing everyone belittle Ge Dongxu, and now he couldn''t hold back any longer. Seeing a junior of the Zhong Family daring to mock Ge Dongxu, Xu Lei''s face darkened abruptly as he shouted angrily.

    "Xu Lei, what are you shouting about? Zhong Yongxiu didn''t say anything wrong. A mere youngster dares to talk about entering the forest alone for investigation; isn''t that a lack of awareness?" The leader, who was the head of the Zhong Family, Zhong Yichao, looked at Xu Lei with a sinister glare and spoke disdainfully.

    "Daoist Zhong, please watch your words. This man is a Senior Consultant at the Special Ability Management Bureau!" Seeing that it was the head of the Zhong family who had spoken, Xu Lei, although still quite angry, had to restrain himself from berating any further.

    Zhong Yichao was taken aback upon hearing this, astonishment evident on his face, as he clearly had not expected Ge Dongxu to be a Senior Consultant at the Special Ability Management Bureau.

    "Even such a youngster can become a chief consultant, then shouldn''t I also be able to serve as a chief level consultant? No wonder the Special Ability Management Bureau has so few experts, even a single Ironclad Zombie needs our Zhong Family to come over from thousands of miles to help," Zhong Yongxiu continued disdainfully mocking.

    Zhong Yongxiu was extraordinarily talented, and having broken through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer at a young age, he was considered a rising star in his family. Among the young generation of Qimen, he was also regarded as a leading figure, so for this family action, Zhong Yichao had brought him along.

    "Elder Zhong!" Even Yang Xiangrong couldn''t bear it any longer since he too was from the Special Ability Management Bureau, and he called out to Zhong Yichao with a displeased expression on his face.

    However, Xu Lei was not so polite. With anger on his face and a flick of his hand, a piece of jade appeared, ready to teach this arrogant young member of the Zhong Family a lesson.

    Jokingly, even their director had to address Ge Dongxu as Mister, how could a mere junior from the Zhong Family dare to insult him?

    "Forget it, Xu Lei, can I really stoop to arguing with a junior?" But before Xu Lei could make a move, Ge Dongxu had already stopped him with a hand, speaking faintly.

    Since that Zhong Yongxiu was so arrogant, Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t mind being even more arrogant by directly calling him a junior.

    Zhong Yongxiu, with his exceptional talent and considerable cultivation, held a position in his family similar to that of the elders. He was even the undisputed future leader of the Zhong Family. Younger family members treated him with immense respect, as if seeing an elder, which over time fostered his arrogant and despotic character. Now, seeing Ge Dongxu, a younger man calling him a junior and showing a face of disdain, infuriated him greatly, causing him to almost burst with rage, with smoke seemingly billowing from his seven apertures. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Boy, you''re courting death!" Zhong Yongxiu''s eyes flashed fiercely, and in his hand appeared a bell without notice.

    "Ding-dang!" Zhong Yongxiu made a hand gesture, and shook the bell in his hand.

    "Meow!" Before the bell sound had ended, a horrifying caterwaul from a cat echoed from a large tree, and almost at the same time, a black shadow bolted lightning-fast toward Ge Dongxu from the tree.

    That black shadow was a black cat, its fur glossy like satin, its round eyes gleaming with a chilling deadness. Not only that, but the black cat also emitted an ominously chilling aura that penetrated to the bone.

    "Corpse Cat!" Seeing this, Divination Master''s face slightly changed, his palm flipped, and a tortoise shell appeared, covered in runes and faintly emitting a gleam.

    There''s a legend that cats have nine lives, which naturally seems unbelievable to ordinary folks, but in Qimen, some older individuals with high cultivation know that a rare few cats have a life pattern unlike ordinary creatures. Like undying cockroaches, though they can''t quite die nine times, they often miraculously recover when near death. Such a cat, if it dies and is buried in a place filled with yin energy, is likely to become a Corpse Cat.

    Corpse Cats inherit the cat''s agility from its previous life, walking with barely any sound and possessing a body impervious to physical harm like a zombie, only destructible by dismemberment. Moreover, their claws contain a potent corpse poison; anyone scratched by them faces certain death unless a cultivator knowledgeable in treating corpse poison intervenes.

    Understandably, a Corpse Cat is an extremely dangerous creature that even a Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation cultivator must carefully handle.

    "Yongxiu!" Seeing this, both the leader of the Zhong Family and the elders changed their expressions drastically, hastily calling out.

    Although they looked down on Ge Dongxu, they knew he was a high-ranking official of the Special Ability Management Bureau and that someone of Zhong Yongxiu''s standing absolutely should not act against him, let alone use a fierce creature like a Corpse Cat.

    "Looking for death!" Upon seeing this, Xu Lei didn''t think twice and immediately drew his gun.

    After pulling out the gun, Xu Lei did not aim at the Corpse Cat, but directly pointed it at Zhong Yongxiu, then pulled the trigger without hesitation.

 Chapter 425 - 424: A Tough Stance

    "Bang!" The sound of a gunshot echoed through the mountain woods.

    "Ah!" Zhong Yongxiu let out a scream of agony, dropped to his knees, with fresh blood ceaselessly flowing from his thigh.

    It was only due to Zhong Yongxiu''s quick reaction that the shot didn''t take his life.

    Everyone was stunned, no one expected Xu Lei to aim the gun at Zhong Yongxiu and open fire directly.

    Nor did they know that Ge Dongxu, the chief consultant was not just in name. Even Director Fan Hong had to address him as ''sir''. Under the circumstances of being actively challenged, Zhong Yongxiu dared to summon a zombie cat to attack Ge Dongxu, an act far more severe than attacking a police officer with a deadly weapon. It was equivalent to assassinating the head of their department, a serious challenge to the authority of the state agency, and Xu Lei had no reason to be polite to him.

    That he wasn''t killed by a single shot could be considered lucky.

    As for Ge Dongxu being far stronger than Zhong Yongxiu, not something Zhong Yongxiu could kill - that was not for Xu Lei to consider.

    What he needed to consider was the nature of Zhong Yongxiu''s actions just now!

    "Meow!" As Zhong Yongxiu was struck by the bullet and fell to the ground, the zombie cat lost control and suddenly turned around, returning to Zhong Yongxiu''s side.

    "You, you actually dared to shoot Zhong Yongxiu!" It took a while for Zhong Yichao to violently snap out of his shock, his face extremely sinister and ugly as he pointed at Xu Lei, a string of dark beads appearing in his hand unknowingly.

    The other Zhong Family descendants also took out their magic artifacts, clearly ready to fight to the death with Xu Lei.

    In ancient language, ''heroes use martial force to break laws''; these were not just empty words.

    Particularly for those from Qimen, who were a unique force in ancient times, barely controllable even by the government. In this era, although subduing themselves to governmental control, how could they, with their special abilities, truly submit and become law-abiding citizens?

    Like Zhong Yongxiu earlier, attacking Ge Dongxu without a word - although part of it was due to his personality, wasn''t it also a display of his indifference towards the national departments and the laws in his bones?

    If it were an ordinary citizen, who would dare to do this?

    "Zhong Yichao, what are you trying to do? Are you trying to revolt?" Xu Lei saw each member of the Zhong Family with fierce eyes and spoke in a cold voice. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Xu Lei, that''s a big accusation you''re making. Who gave you the authority to shoot? Do you want to challenge the entire Qimen?" Although Zhong Yichao was eccentric and arrogant, he wasn''t stupid and would not admit to such a serious crime. Not only did he not admit, but he also tried to provoke animosity towards the Special Ability Management Bureau among the other Qimen practitioners.

    "There are rules in the family, laws in the country. Living in this country, we should act according to the rules of the nation. If one, with some ability, can do whatever one wants, kill whomever one wants - then what difference do we have from the iron-armored zombie in the forest? Just now, I did not hold the younger generations of the Zhong Family accountable, but when he actually used a zombie cat to attack me, was Xu Lei, as an officer of the Special Ability Management Bureau, wrong to shoot him?" Ge Dongxu was actually somewhat surprised by Xu Lei''s ruthless actions, but he did not think Xu Lei was wrong. Being able to defend himself against the zombie cat was one thing, but the nature and principle of the incident were another. So he did not stop Xu Lei before, and now he spoke up with a cold face.

    "Director Ge, could you please say less? Aren''t you being too critical of this place¡­" Yang Xiangrong said with a bitter smile.

    "Shut up, we need to be tough when it''s called for! Zhong Yongxiu just now, without a word, released that zombie cat. It''s obvious how wild and brutal he usually acts, and just imagine how much the Zhong Family normally indulges their clan members! With families like the Zhong''s, if they aren''t restrained and controlled, can''t you see how dangerous they are to society?" Ge Dongxu sternly rebuked without any courtesy.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu scolding him, a flash of resentment crossed Yang Xiangrong''s face, but given the hierarchies of officialdom where rank trumps all, he ultimately held back.

    Just then, many birds in the forest were suddenly startled into flight, and numerous beasts ran out from the woods. Almost simultaneously, an overwhelmingly strong, fierce, and sinister presence attacked from the forest. A gust of wind brought with it a thick scent of blood and decay.

    "Such a powerful presence, even stronger than the last time!" Lv Xinghai''s face paled as he blurted out.

    "It seems that Elder Zhong Yiteng''s prediction was right, the iron-armored zombie really has evolved!" An old man said with his complexion changing drastically as well.

    Zhong Yichao''s face also turned pale, a look of panic flashing through his eyes.

    An iron-armored zombie that had just advanced to the middle rank was already equivalent to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer. Even if its intelligence was lower and discounting that, it still roughly had the strength of the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Under these circumstances, even though the Zhong Family had unique secret techniques to deal with zombies, Zhong Yichao had no confidence at all.

    After all, he was only at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, a gap in strength too great to overcome.

    "Yes, this is definitely the presence of a middle-rank iron-armored zombie. Haha, I really want to see how you from the Special Ability Management Bureau will handle this. Let''s go, move to the perimeter." However, Zhong Yichao soon laughed triumphantly as he looked up to the sky and, saying this, reached out to carry the injured Zhong Yongxiu and prepared to leave.

    "Brother Zhong, this matter concerns the life and death of the common people, you can''t just walk away out of spite¡­" Lv Xinghai said urgently.

    "Haha, Old Man Lv, what do the lives of the commoners have to do with me? That''s for these officials and soldiers to worry about. I think you all shouldn''t bother either, just get going fast." Zhong Yichao didn''t wait for Lv Xinghai to finish before interrupting him with laughter, filled with arrogance and disdain.

    "Initially, since your junior from the Zhong Family survived the great trouble, I didn''t plan to pursue it further, considering we all belong to the Qimen community. But your attitude has really made me question the usual conduct and character of the Zhong Family, so the earlier attack by Zhong Yongxiu on me must be investigated, and some actions the Zhong Family took in Xiangxi over the years must be settled afterward. Now, you can leave temporarily, but Zhong Yongxiu must stay." Ge Dongxu, seeing Zhong Yichao utter such words at such a critical juncture, finally revealed a trace of killing intent on his face, intent not directed at the middle-rank iron-armored zombie but at Zhong Yichao.

    "Haha, junior, do you really think just because you''re a director or consultant you can boss the Zhong Family around? You''re still too green. The affairs of the Qimen, are they something a greenhorn like you can handle as you please? Better start thinking about how to escape from the iron-armored zombie." Upon hearing this, Zhong Yichao''s face suddenly darkened, and then he burst into laughter again, his chuckle full of wild conceit and scorn.

    Laughing, Zhong Yichao continued to carry Zhong Yongxiu and strode towards the exit, followed by his clan members.

    "Clan Leader Zhong, could it be that you don''t understand what I''m saying?" Ge Dongxu called out coldly.

    "So what if I don''t understand? You don''t think Xu Lei and your men would dare to use guns against us, do you?" Zhong Yichao replied with a fierce and wild look, showing utter contempt for Ge Dongxu.

 Chapter 426 - 425 I Suppress You with Techniques

    Facing Zhong Chaoyi''s ferocious and wild interrogation, Xu Lei''s face was ashen.

    Zhong Chaoyi was the head of the Zhong Family, and unlike Zhong Yongxiu''s previous attack on Ge Dongxu, it wasn''t appropriate for Xu Lei to command someone to aim a gun at Zhong Chaoyi and the others in front of the magicians of Dongyue Province.

    Otherwise, if the incident were to spread, it could easily provoke resentment and protests against the Special Ability Management Bureau from the entire Qimen community.

    But without using guns, Xu Lei and those from the Dongyue Province Special Ability Bureau did not have the strength to stop Zhong Chaoyi.

    "Hmph! Since this is the case, then don''t blame me for being impolite," Ge Dongxu said coldly, his toe lightly traced on the ground before he stomped mightily.

    "Whoosh whoosh!" A whirlwind arose from the ground, and green branches extended from the surrounding woods in all directions, forming an enormous green net in the air, then suddenly descending onto the six members of the Zhong Family.

    This green net, with each grid line as thick as an arm and emitting a green luminescence, would be an overwhelming weight far beyond any ordinary net, especially since the branches radiated green light. Anyone with cultivation would understand that this signified the power of Wood System mana.

    Watching the tree branches, imbued with mana, quickly form into a net and fall, with Ge Dongxu not making any visible complex movements, not only did the six Zhong Family members who were directly in its path felt their scalps tingling with fear and eyes showing shock, but even the Divination Master and others felt a chill rush from their feet to their foreheads.

    Such Wood System techniques were far beyond their capabilities!

    "The Zhong Family is in trouble now!" the Divination Master blurted out.

    "It''s their own doing! Against such a formidable person, how could a junior of the Zhong Family afford to openly humiliate him?" one of the elders said solemnly.

    In the Qimen community, although there is a hierarchy based on seniority and respect for the virtuous and esteemed, in the world of the strong, strength ultimately speaks loudest.

    Since Ge Dongxu was the chief consultant of the Special Ability Management Bureau and possessed such terrifying strength, even if Zhong Yongxiu, a junior of the Zhong Family, not only insulted and mocked him twice to his face but also used a fierce creature to attack him, if he were slapped to death by Ge Dongxu, no one in the Qimen world would speak half a word for him.

    As the Divination Master and the elder exchanged words, Zhong Chaoyi and the others, already aware of Ge Dongxu''s prowess, hurriedly formed hand seals and chanted spells, trying to defend against Ge Dongxu''s attack.

    Unfortunately, Ge Dongxu had already reached the Realm of Drawing Talismans in the Void. His Talisman Technique was at his command, and his attacks were extremely swift. Zhong Chaoyi and the others were a step behind when they thought to form hand seals and chant spells¡ªthere was no way they were in time.

    "Boom!" With a loud sound, the net of branches smashed down solidly.

    "Ah! Ah! Ah!" The people of the Zhong Family were each pressed to the ground by the net, stuck like toads with their limbs flat on the ground, no matter how hard they struggled, they couldn''t move an inch.

    Silence fell all around.

    Everyone, including Xu Lei who had already witnessed Ge Dongxu''s terrifying strength, couldn''t help but sharply inhale.

    Zhong Chaoyi was the head of the Zhong Family, who had already broken through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation many years ago. Although his progress had stalled in recent years, he was certainly among the top existence within the Fourth Layer. As for the others, since they were brought by him to suppress the Ironclad Zombies, they naturally were all skilled members of the family, with even the weakest at the peak of the Second Level of Qi Cultivation.

    But what was the result? Ge Dongxu just stood in place without much movement, and as soon as his techniques were used, all six people were completely immobilized, suppressed without being able to move at all¡ªwhat terrifying strength that must be.

    "Zhong Yichao, I''ve suppressed you with my techniques, what else do you have to say?" Ge Dongxu spoke icily.

    Qimen has its own rules; disputes are resolved with techniques and spells, deciding victory or defeat to settle grudges.

    Even the people of the Special Ability Management Bureau wouldn''t casually use modern weapons to suppress a Qimen sorcerer, unless they had violated the law. Otherwise, it would be an abuse of power and would provoke the whole Qimen community''s outrage. That''s why Zhong Yichao dared to be so arrogant just now. Without it, given their flesh and blood bodies, they couldn''t possibly withstand bullets. With a platoon of soldiers stationed here, even if Zhong Yichao had ten times the courage, he wouldn''t dare to brazenly confront Xu Lei and the others.

    The Zhong Family initiated the provocation and violence; now, Ge Dongxu responding with the rules of Qimen put the Zhong Family in the wrong no matter the argument.

    "I don''t accept this! If you have the ability, fight me fair and square with a spell battle. What skill is there in a sneak attack?" Zhong Yongxiu yelled defiantly.

    His yelling echoed through the woods, leaving the Divination Master and others shaking their heads. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Such a dimwit with low emotional intelligence! Even at this point, he still spouts such foolish and arrogant words. It seems the rumors about the Xiangxi Zhong Family''s lax control over their clansmen are true; over the years, some of their younger members have been relying on their spells and acting recklessly, even breaking the law.

    "Shut your mouth!" Zhong Yichao, being the family head and quite worldly, knew at this juncture that Ge Dongxu''s cultivation was far beyond theirs. The Zhong Family was now in a dire situation, thanks to their cultivation prodigy, so seeing the culprit Zhong Yongxiu still daring to be so loud angered him to the point of turning blue in the face.

    "It seems the Zhong family head isn''t as foolish as this young one." Ge Dongxu gave a cold smile, lightly traced his toe on the ground, and then stomped forcefully.

    "Swish! Swish! Swish!" Branches retracted like tentacles of a monster, and in an instant, the woods returned to normal, and the Zhong Family members regained their freedom.

    But this time, Zhong Yichao didn''t dare to move even a step.

    "Thud! Thud! Thud!" As the branches retracted, heavy footsteps sounded from the forest, getting closer and louder.

    The ground seemed to shake with the vibrations, and the sounds hit everyone''s ears like something was pounding on their hearts, causing those magicians with lower cultivation to turn pale and nearly collapse. Even a formidable Qimen elder like the Divination Master had an awful expression on his face as he quietly circulated the True Qi within his body.

    A strong Evil Qi emanated from the forest, giving off the feeling of an impending apocalypse.

    The soldiers had already raised their guns, aiming at the forest with extremely grave and stern expressions.

    "Everyone, be ready. The Iron-Clad Zombie will emerge soon." The elders began to warn the sorcerers around them.

    "Zhong family head, I''m going into the forest now to eliminate that Iron-Clad Zombie. You''d better stay put, or suffer the consequences." Ge Dongxu spoke coldly to Zhong Yichao, then strode toward the forest.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s retreating figure as he walked towards the forest, a mix of hatred and anticipation flickered in Zhong Yichao''s eyes.

    Ge Dongxu''s strength was beyond his expectations, and now he could only pin his hopes on the evolved Middle Rank Iron-Clad Zombie.

    "Mr. Ge, please be careful." At that moment, the Divination Master and the others naturally wouldn''t ridicule Ge Dongxu for his ignorance; instead, they looked at his receding figure with respect in their eyes and called out loudly.

    Ge Dongxu turned his head and gave a salute to the Qimen sorcerers, then continued into the forest, rapidly disappearing from sight.

 Chapter 427 - 426: Heart of Black Jade

    "A Middle Rank Zombie is equivalent to the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation! If Director Ge cannot suppress it, I''m afraid a major incident will occur. Xu, do you think we should start making other preparations?" Yang Xiangrong looked at the vanishing figure of Ge Dongxu, a hint of worry flickering in his eyes.

    "Director Yang, we have offended you earlier, please allow us to make amends for our faults. I am willing to lead my clan into the forest to assist Director Ge. After all, this is a Middle Rank Zombie, its strength is extraordinary. The Zhong family has passed down Corpse Techniques for generations, and we have some insights on how to suppress it. With our assistance by his side, Director Ge will have no problem suppressing it," Zhong Yichao said, his attitude seemingly "sincere," a stark contrast to his earlier arrogance and chilliness.

    Upon hearing this, Yang Xiangrong''s face showed a moment of hesitation, while Xu Lei by his side already coldly said, "It seems to me that Clan Head Zhong wants to reap the benefits of a fisherman, trying to subdue the Zombie and refine it into a Zombie guard!"

    "Xu Lei, you should not judge others by your own measure of pettiness!" Zhong Yichao''s face changed dramatically.

    "Hmph, with the current strength of your Zhong family, you act so arrogantly and cruelly, not taking our Special Ability Management Bureau seriously. If you take advantage of Director Ge''s moment of weakness fighting the Zombie to subdue it and refine it into a Zombie guard with the power equivalent to the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation, then you will be even more lawless. I simply cannot afford not to be cautious. So, Clan Head Zhong and your clan members had better stay put and not make any moves, otherwise don''t blame me for ordering the use of firearms!" Xu Lei said coldly.

    "You..." Zhong Yichao was so angry that his face turned ashen, but in the end, he did not have the courage to ignore Xu Lei''s warning.

    ¡­

    In the forest, as Ge Dongxu moved out of everyone''s sight, he no longer concealed his movements, stepping lightly on the ground, and like a bird, he swiftly flew through the woods. In just a moment, he had followed the strong aura to a relatively open area.

    A Zombie, with a body like patches of rust and exuding a rotten smell, was now pinning down an adult wild boar weighing at least five hundred pounds to the ground, its fanged mouth biting onto the neck of the wild boar, with bright red blood spurting out like a fountain along the neck.

    "It really is a Zombie." Seeing the rusty patches on its body and the reflections of metallic luster under the sunlight piercing through the forest, Ge Dongxu''s pupils slightly constricted, and in his hand appeared a small Peach Wood Sword, which was none other than the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword.

    Despite its low intelligence, the Zombie had a natural instinct for danger. As soon as Ge Dongxu drew the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword, the Zombie immediately sensed the threat and swiftly climbed up from the wild boar, its eyes fixing on Ge Dongxu.

    Those eyes were a mix of ghastly green and blood-red, full of chilling and eerie light. If an ordinary person were caught by this gaze, they would probably be terrified on the spot. However, Ge Dongxu looked on with interest at the Zombie, then his gaze followed down from its ferocious and terrifying face, blood dripping from its fangs, to a piece of Jade hanging around its neck.

    With one look, Ge Dongxu''s eyes suddenly brightened, exuding a trace of intense heat.

    This was a piece of Jade that was the epitome of blackness, so black that it seemed to ripple with dark light, making the Zombie appear as if its whole body was painted in deep black.

    Black Jade Heart! The essence of Black Jade! This was a truly legendary existence within the black Hetian jade, and even the "Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture" had a special record of it.

    No wonder Zombies still appeared nowadays, no wonder Xu Lei and others had mistaken this Zombie for a "Black Zombie." It turned out this Zombie was adorned with a Black Jade Heart at the time of its death.

    "Ow ow ow!" The Zombie was oblivious to Ge Dongxu''s prowess, but instinct told it that the blood in Ge Dongxu''s body was filled with a powerful yang energy. If it could absorb his fresh blood, it would undoubtedly be able to break through again, so it quickly grew more bloodthirsty, emitting a low growl from its throat. Raising its long claws, it pounced towards Ge Dongxu.

    Its speed was akin to that of a cheetah!

    However, to Ge Dongxu, this speed was far from sufficient.

    "Middle Rank Zombie, you''re still far off!" Ge Dongxu laughed loudly upon seeing the Ironclad Zombie foolishly charging straight at him to feed, lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his foot, and his whole body instantly flew backward like a great bird.

    While retreating, Ge Dongxu formed a spell with one hand and wielded the sword with another, pointing at the Ironclad Zombie and coldly shouted, "Sword, go!"

    Immediately, a black and green phantom sword appeared out of thin air, swept across the sky like a rainbow, and then circled around the neck of the Ironclad Zombie.

    The neck of the Ironclad Zombie was neatly severed, its head falling to the ground with a "thud," then rolled under a tree with a rumble.

    However, even though its head had been cut off, the Ironclad Zombie continued charging towards Ge Dongxu with its claws raised.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu cast the sword technique again, and the flying sword once again whirled around cutting the Ironclad Zombie repeatedly.

    "Retrieve!" After consecutive slashes, Ge Dongxu once again shouted coldly, and the flying sword turned into two streaks of black and green aura, swiftly retracting back into the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword.

    As the flying sword turned into two streaks of black and green aura and returned to the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword, the headless Ironclad Zombie suddenly fell apart, like a collapsing building, thunderously crashing down.

    Upon this collapse, chunks of rusty flesh and limbs rapidly decayed at a visible rate, except for the part where the Black Jade Heart hung, which remained unchanged.

    Luckily, Divination Master Yang Xiangrong and the others were not around, or else they would certainly have pissed themselves with fear. Just like that, a Middle Rank Ironclad Zombie, legendary to be so formidable, was gone!

    But Ge Dongxu was not the least bit surprised. He was just a hair away from reaching Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, and his true strength was probably equivalent to about the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer. This Middle Rank Ironclad Zombie might be seen as having the strength of Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, quite formidable to others, but since Ge Dongxu was much stronger than it, its foolish charge, not even knowing how to dodge, made it seem even less than a Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer cultivator to him, making it naturally easy to kill.

    Ge Dongxu reached out into the air towards the Black Jade Heart, and it flew up from the spot, shrinking into a black dot and falling into Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    The Black Jade Heart felt indescribably smooth and warm in his hand, like the skin of a baby, with a kind of yin-cold yet exceptionally pure spirit energy flowing within it like water, seeping into Ge Dongxu''s skin bit by bit. It invigorated even a formidable person like him, clearing his mind of all distractions.

    Indeed worthy of its legend. I was worried that my rapid progress in cultivation would soon surpass the capacity of the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation. I had no idea that I would come across this Black Jade Heart by fate. With this Black Jade Heart, I can not only meditate and cultivate peacefully without interference from inner demons, but I can also use it in the future to set up a higher-grade Spirit Gathering Array." Ge Dongxu played lovingly with the Black Jade Heart in his hand, feeling elated.

    After a while, he turned his attention back to the rapidly decaying limbs and torso on the ground. Smiling, he said, "In light of this jade piece, I''ll give you a proper burial."

    He then pointed his fingers like a sword, and from a distance sliced towards a relatively soft patch of mountain soil.

    With this stroke, a stream of True Qi shot out from his fingertips, hitting the ground and cleanly slicing a deep trench like cutting through tofu.

    Ge Dongxu made four such strokes, neatly creating a rectangular grave-sized pit. Then he levitated forth the True Qi, dug out the rectangular block of soil and rock, and after that, Ge Dongxu gathered the bones of the Ironclad Zombie, placed them inside, and covered the ground with soil.

    "I''ll borrow a little finger of yours for now and return it later." Ge Dongxu bowed slightly to the grave, then straightened up and formed a hand symbol. A ball of fire suddenly ignited in his hand, within which was the tip of a little finger, taken from the Ironclad Zombie he had just defeated. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 428 - 427: Land of Yin Demonic

    The severed finger, wrapped in flames, remained unburnt. Instead, a wisp of blue smoke rose gently and drifted towards the west.

    "It seems that''s where the armored zombie was first buried." Ge Dongxu muttered to himself as he was already soaring through the air, heading westward, still holding the ball of flames in his hand.

    As Ge Dongxu leaped through the sky from time to time, the direction of the wisp of blue smoke changed occasionally. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    About ten minutes later, although the bright red sun still hung in the sky and sunlight patchily filtered through leaves to the ground, Ge Dongxu felt no heat from the summer sun. On the contrary, he felt a bone-chilling coldness creeping in.

    "It should be just ahead." Ge Dongxu''s pupils contracted slightly, and in an instant, he had covered more than ten meters and arrived in front of a cave.

    The cave wasn''t large, measuring only about two meters in height and one meter in width. The bone-chilling coldness was emanating from this cave.

    Upon seeing this, Ge Dongxu quietly stimulated the True Qi in his body and spread his Divine Sense as he entered the cave.

    Upon entering the cave, even Ge Dongxu felt a sensation of his hair standing on end due to the intense cold.

    Though the entrance was small, the interior was surprisingly spacious, spanning about ten square meters. Inside, there were stone-carved tables, stools, and a stone bed.

    When Ge Dongxu placed his hand on the stone bed, he immediately felt as if he was touching an eternal block of ice.

    This was indeed a place of Yin Demonic energy, and the eye of it must be beneath this stone bed. It seems that the armored zombie must have been a cultivator too, but practiced a cold Cultivation Technique, which is why he retreated here to reside, Ge Dongxu thought to himself, pulling his hand back as he speculated.

    While pondering, Ge Dongxu carefully examined the cave, but finding nothing of particular interest, he lost interest and casually left the cave.

    After exiting the cave, Ge Dongxu tapped his toe on the ground, and like a bird, he soared away. However, not long after leaving, he returned to the spot, looked around, found some large boulders, and moved them to block the cave entrance securely.

    Such a Yin Demonic cave, if entered by unknowing common tourists, could make them fall seriously ill upon returning, and those who are weak might even die from the illness. Of course, to someone practicing a cold Cultivation Technique like the Zhong Family, this cave would be a treasure land for Cultivation.

    Having just feuded with the Zhong Family of Xiangxi, Ge Dongxu naturally would not inform them about this cave.

    After securely sealing the entrance, Ge Dongxu covered it with some vines for camouflage before tapping his toe on the ground and leaving with peace of mind.

    "Xu Chief, Director Ge has been inside for such a long time, and we haven''t heard any noise from inside. Do you think something might have happened?" Yang Xiangrong asked with some uneasiness outside in the forest.

    "There should be no issue. Even if Director Ge can''t suppress the armored zombie, he can definitely hold it off. Once Director Fan and the others arrive with backup, we''ll be able to suppress and kill it together," Xu Lei replied.

    "That''s a relief," Yang Xiangrong sighed, but then followed it up with a new worry, giving a wry smile as he said to Xu Lei, "Xu Chief, I wasn''t very polite to Director Ge earlier. You''ll have to speak well on my behalf later."

    The past is the past, and Yang Xiangrong now knew all too well how exceptional Director Ge Dongxu''s status was in the bureau.

    "Don''t worry. Director Ge is not the kind of person to hold grudges," Xu Lei said.

    Yang Xiangrong gave a sheepish smile and didn''t continue; instead, he turned his gaze towards the mountain forest.

    "Tatatata!" The sound of the helicopter rotor blades came from the distant horizon. Soon another military helicopter landed on the flat ground outside the forest.

    The door of the helicopter opened, and six people stepped out one after another. Leading them was none other than Fan Hong from the Special Ability Management Bureau, followed by five others, each of them emanating an aura of self-restraint and extraordinary bearing, with even two women among them.

    As soon as Fan Hong and the others disembarked, not only Xu Lei and Yang Xiangrong from the Special Ability Management Bureau rushed forward to greet them, but Divination Master and his ilk also hastened to welcome them.

    Zhong Family head Zhong Yichao''s complexion shifted slightly, but in the end, he too followed suit.

    Not only did Fan Hong possess the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, but he was also the director of the Special Ability Management Bureau. Even if the Qimen Sorcerers were reluctant to be regulated by officials, the situation was stronger than the person, and outwardly, they had to comply with the control and leadership of this department.

    Therefore, since Fan Hong had arrived, the necessary respect and face must be given, especially since Fan Hong had brought five people with him, who were also well-known figures in Qimen and now held positions within this special government department.

    "Director Fan, fellow Daoists, good to see you all unharmed!" Divination Master and the others stepped forward to greet Fan Hong and his party.

    Fan Hong quickly returned the greeting and then asked Xu Lei, "How''s the situation? Where''s Director Ge?"

    "Director Ge has gone alone into the mountain forest," Xu Lei responded.

    Upon hearing this, Fan Hong''s expression darkened slightly, "Given that it''s very likely a Middle Rank Ironclad Corpse, how could we allow Director Ge to enter the mountain forest alone?"

    "Yes, I also felt it was inappropriate. I wanted to lead my family members into the forest to help, but unfortunately, Chief Xu disagreed," Zhong Yichao interjected before Xu Lei could respond.

    Fan Hong didn''t answer him, but his gaze swept over Zhong Yongxiu, who was still sitting on the ground with his pant legs stained red with blood, and then he looked at Xu Lei and asked, "What happened to him?"

    "This man is from the younger generation of the Zhong family; he has repeatedly humiliated Director Ge and ordered corpse cats to make a move against Director Ge, so I directly opened fire to stop him," replied Xu Lei.

    "Daring to publicly assault a public servant, this is lawlessness. Good shot!" Fan Hong said as he coldly glanced at Zhong Yichao and then nodded indifferently, not giving him any face.

    Although Fan Hong''s level of Cultivation was on par with that of Zhong Yichao, he was not Xu Lei; he was the director of the Special Ability Management Bureau and represented the state''s control over the entirety of Qimen, naturally possessing an authority and majesty that should not be affronted!

    Although Zhong Yichao, the clan head of the Zhong Family of Xiangxi, held some power locally, how could he compare with Director Fan?

    The only people who could truly make Fan Hong wary were the few leaders of the major sects, such as the Heavenly Master of Dragon Tiger Mountain; Zhong Yichao was far from them.

    Seeing that Fan Hong did not give him any face, Zhong Yichao''s expression fluctuated between dark and light for a moment, but he ultimately did not dare to erupt and instead said with repressed anger, "Zhong Yongxiu does not understand hierarchy, acting rashly and arrogantly. I will severely punish him upon our return, but now is not the time to worry about these things. Director Ge has been in the mountain forest for quite some time, and we don''t know the situation. I respectfully request permission from Director Fan to enter the forest for investigation. Should Director Ge be in danger, I may be of some assistance."

    As he said this, Zhong Yichao''s head was slightly lowered, and a fervent glint flickered deep within his eyes.

    If only my Zhong Family had a Middle Rank Ironclad Corpse guard, Fan Hong, you child, would you still dare to speak to me like this?

 Chapter 429 - 428: Do as Director Ge says

    "Since Zhong Yongxiu has broken the law, he shall naturally be dealt with according to national law! As for the safety of Director Ge, I will send people to investigate the situation myself, and when it''s truly time to call upon Daoist Zhong''s assistance, then I will ask for your help," said Fan Hong, who was not just a Qimen Sorcerer but also a political figure, his emotional intelligence was certainly not something that a Zhong family head, who was used to dealing with zombies every day, could match. As soon as Zhong Yichao opened his mouth, Fan Hong immediately knew what kind of calculations were behind his words, and as for Zhong Yongxiu, there was even less to say. Ge Dongxu had spoken to him as a master to an apprentice, and yet Zhong Yongxiu had dared to attempt violence against him. For both public and private reasons, it was impossible for him to simply let him return to the Zhong family.

    "Director Fan, since you don''t need my help, then I won''t intervene. But all of us are people of Qimen, and since Zhong Yongxiu has been shot, to still hold onto him¡ªisn''t that pushing things too far?" Zhong Yichao''s calculations fell through, and his face immediately darkened.

    "Director Wei, you will be in charge here temporarily. The people from the Zhong family are not allowed to leave for now," Fan Hong did not answer Zhong Yichao, but gave an order to a deputy director at his side, then pointed to several people, including Xu Lei, and said, "Follow me into the woods."

    Seeing that Fan Hong, the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau, was about to lead a team into the forest, not only did the faces of Zhong Yichao and the others from the Zhong family change dramatically, but so did those of Yang Xiangrong, Divination Master, and others.

    Fan Hong''s actions clearly showed how important Ge Dongxu was in his mind; even as a director, he did not hesitate to put himself in danger.

    "No need." Just then, a figure strolled out from the forest.

    "Director Ge!" Fan Hong, upon seeing that Ge Dongxu had come out safely, couldn''t help but be overjoyed, and hurriedly went to meet him, grasping his hand tightly.

    In front of everyone, it wasn''t appropriate for him to address Ge Dongxu as Master.

    "I''ve caused you some worry!" said Ge Dongxu, patting the back of Fan Hong''s hand. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s my duty," Fan Hong replied.

    Perhaps only Ge Dongxu could fully understand the profound meaning behind Fan Hong''s response. He smiled and then said, "The armored zombie has been eliminated by me. The alert can be lifted."

    Although seeing Ge Dongxu emerge unharmed had led Divination Master Lv Xinghai and others to guess the outcome, hearing it directly from Ge Dongxu''s mouth still made them involuntarily shudder, and they couldn''t help but look upon him with a deep sense of reverence.

    A Middle Rank armored zombie, even if discounted for its low intelligence, was at least equivalent to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation. However, it was annihilated by Ge Dongxu, and seeing his calm and collected demeanor, without a speck of blood on him, it was clearly a complete victory.

    With that being the case, doesn''t that mean he has at least reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, perhaps even the Seventh Layer?

    The Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation was already a terrifying existence in this Dharma Ending Age, and the Seventh Layer was almost the stuff of legends.

    Like the senior from Dragon Tiger Mountain, who had recently passed away¡ªthat was the reason Fan Hong had specially traveled to Dragon Tiger Mountain last time, as one such example.

    But that senior had been one hundred and nineteen years old.

    And how old was the Director Ge before him? Even if he were never to progress further in his lifetime, he was already capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with legendary figures in the world of Qimen.

    At this moment, Divination Master and the others still didn''t know that Ge Dongxu was actually just a step away from entering the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Not only that, he had already been capable of using the Void Travel Talisman at the Seventh Layer. Just now, it only took him a few casually drawn Sword techniques to deal with that Middle Rank armored zombie; he had hardly exerted any effort, let alone engaged in a life or death struggle, otherwise, the Divination Master and the others would have been scared to collapse on the spot.

    "Good, thank you, Director Ge, for removing a scourge for the people," Fan Hong was also deeply shaken, and then solemnly expressed his respect.

    "It''s my responsibility," Ge Dongxu said succinctly.

    "Yes!" Fan Hong nodded solemnly and then turned to order Yang Xiangrong, the person in charge of Dongyue Province, "Notify everyone that the alert is lifted."

    "Yes!" Yang Xiangrong stood at attention and accepted the order to leave.

    After Yang Xiangrong departed, Divination Master and others finally recovered, hurriedly stepping forward to thank Ge Dongxu.

    They were all native Qimen Sorcerers from Dongyue Province, and in essence, Ge Dongxu was helping rid their homeland of a threat.

    Ge Dongxu responded with a smiling and modest bow to each gesture of gratitude, not taking to heart the earlier disdain shown by some individuals, which caused the Qimen Sorcerers of Dongyue Province to feel quite ashamed.

    "Director Ge, I apologize for my previous attitude as well as for that of the Zhong Family''s younger members," said Zhong Yichao with a face that flushed red and then pale, eventually steeling himself to step forward and bow in apology to Ge Dongxu.

    Despite his unruly and arrogant nature, Zhong Yichao knew that a powerhouse capable of Suppression Killing a mid-rank iron-clad zombie was not someone their Zhong Family could afford to provoke, especially since he was an official.

    "Zhong Yongxiu will be dealt with by the Special Ability Management Bureau. Your Zhong Family will cooperate with the investigation conducted by the Xiangxi branch of the Bureau. Any lawbreaking will be punished by the law, without exception, and you must not shield him. Otherwise, I won''t hesitate to pay a personal visit to the Zhong Family in Xiangxi," Ge Dongxu said to Zhong Yichao after a moment of reflection, his voice cold.

    It was the Dharma Ending Age, and those with genuine cultivation inheritance were very few. As long as the Zhong Family restrained themselves and abided by the law in the future, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to sever their lineage.

    Of course, if Zhong Yichao failed to recognize the situation and insisted on confronting the Special Ability Management Bureau, Ge Dongxu would not be lenient.

    Zhong Yichao''s face underwent several changes, but ultimately, he lowered his head and said, "Fine, we''ll do as Director Ge instructs."

    Seeing that Zhong Yichao finally lowered his head, the members of the Zhong Family let out a silent sigh of relief, while that Zhong Yongxiu''s face turned deathly pale.

    He knew his fate was sealed!

    "Director Fan, there are some matters at home that I need to attend to, could you arrange a vehicle for me?" Ge Dongxu said to Fan Hong, now that Zhong Yichao had completely capitulated.

    "Songnan City is just past Ouzhou City but the roads here are mountainous. It would probably take at least four or five hours to drive back. I think it''s better to send you back by helicopter," Fan Hong suggested.

    "We only used the helicopter in an emergency earlier, there''s no need now. We can spare those hours," Ge Dongxu waved his hand and declined.

    If it wasn''t necessary, he preferred not to use his privileges lightly.

    Knowing Ge Dongxu''s character, Fan Hong didn''t insist upon hearing the refusal, and instead ordered a military vehicle to transport him back to Changxi County.

    Before Ge Dongxu departed, he specially made an effort to say goodbye to Divination Master and the rest, which made them respect him even more.

    By the time the vehicle reached Changxi County, it was already evening.

    Ge Dongxu arranged for the driver to stay in the Changxi Grand Hotel and to return the next day to report back, while he went back to his villa.

    However, his parents were not at the villa; they had returned to Ge Family Village. Ge Dongxu, still worried about his mother, saw that they had already returned to Ge Family Village and decided to make his way back to Ge Family Village through the night.

 Chapter 430 - 429: Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer

    ```

    "You this child, I told you already that mom is fine, why did you rush back in such a hurry?" Xu Suya, who was sitting in the yard enjoying the cool with her husband, saw her son returning in a flustered state and couldn''t help but fondly stroke his head, chiding him.

    "Are you really okay?" Ge Dongxu asked worriedly.

    "This afternoon, I don''t know how Director Jiang got hold of my phone number, but he went out of his way to call me, discussed the specifics of the incident with me, and sincerely apologized. He also invited me to teach at the town''s Third People''s Primary School, urging me to accept. I''m not so rigid. Just because of one or two bad apples, I wouldn''t abandon my cherished career. So, rest assured, my mood might be still somewhat affected, but once the new term starts and I see the innocent smiles of the children, everything will be all right," Xu Suya replied.

    "Heh, I knew mom is a paragon of teachers, always instructing others. Now when she has a problem herself, she wouldn''t be unable to get past it," Ge Dongxu said with a sigh of relief and a laugh.

    "That''s also because I have a good son like you, otherwise, not to mention getting past this, I wouldn''t even be able to keep on teaching," Xu Suya said with a long sigh, filled with myriad emotions.

    In the end, her mood was as she had said, needing to see the pure smiles of the children when school started again in order to fully recover.

    Knowing that his mother''s spirits wouldn''t completely recover in a moment, Ge Dongxu didn''t dwell on the matter any further and laughed, "Anyway, it has come to this, so mom, why not just go for a permanent position this time, to stop others from looking down on you?"

    "That wouldn''t be right, the other villages and even Ge Dongmei from our own village are still just substitute teachers. If I were to transfer, it would certainly cause unrest," Xu Suya shook her head.

    "What''s there to be uneasy about? You are an excellent teacher, and your qualifications are all laid out there," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Still, it''s not good. It''s better to follow the normal process, whatever will be, will be¡ªothers will have no objections then. Besides, isn''t having a capable son like you enough? Do I need to compete with them for a position?" Xu Suya said, her face revealing pride as she spoke.

    "That''s true," Ge Dongxu said unabashedly.

    "You mother and son, really are, really are..." Watching one praising her son and the other so full of himself, Ge Shengming couldn''t watch it anymore.

    "Really are what?" Xu Suya glared.

    "Ahem, really are good!" Seeing Xu Suya glaring, Ge Shengming quickly changed his words.

    "Haha!" Seeing his dad at a loss for words, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh heartily.

    "You scamp!" Seeing his son reveling in schadenfreude, Ge Shengming wanted to give his son a tap on the head, but facing his wife''s watchful eye, he ultimately didn''t dare to carry through with it.

    The family chatted and laughed in the yard, and Xu Suya''s mood improved a great deal.

    ...

    At the hour of Zi, the night sky was sprinkled with myriad stars.

    Ge Dongxu was seated in the yard, meditating with his eyes closed.

    Around him were placed seven Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade, and hanging around his neck, besides the Peach Wood Sword, there was now also that pitch-black jade core.

    ```

    ```

    Threads of essence from the Big Dipper streamed through the vast, distant cosmos, converging around Ge Dongxu, making him glow with speckles of starlight that made him seem exceptionally sacred and solemn in the darkness of the night.

    The Spirit Platform was exceptionally clear and refined tonight, like a spotless mirror, perfectly reflecting the circulation of the True Qi within his body and the changes in his organs.

    After his previous enlightenment on the Yin Yang energies at Samosir Island, Ge Dongxu''s cultivation had greatly improved, just a step away from reaching the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. These past few days of cultivation, with the aid of the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Talisman Jade, the True Qi inside his body had become even purer and more robust.

    Time stealthily passed in the night, but the True Qi within him grew stronger and stronger until, eventually, there was a sign of it brimming and overflowing.

    Seeing it "brim and overflow," Ge Dongxu felt hesitant.

    It was just that last month, he had entered a strange state, and soon after, he broke through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer. Now that he was about to break through again, such an abnormally rapid pace made Ge Dongxu involuntarily develop a bit of an uneasy sentiment, losing the resolute determination he usually had.

    No sooner had this sentiment arisen than distracting thoughts surged forth, and the robust True Qi abruptly began rampaging through his body like an uncontrolled wild horse.

    Ge Dongxu had never experienced such a situation before, and he was shocked and somewhat at a loss when a streak of coolness burst forth from his chest.

    Ge Dongxu immediately calmed down, regaining his usual decisiveness and perseverance, and gathered the rampaging True Qi to shoot straight toward his heart along the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian.

    Suddenly, Ge Dongxu felt as if countless needles were pricking his heart, causing his whole body to convulse with pain.

    Nevertheless, Ge Dongxu ignored everything, focusing solely on controlling the True Qi, which gradually returned to calm, and formed another Air Cyclone on the outer wall of his heart.

    The Air Cyclone moisturized the outer wall of the heart, making it gradually become tougher. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Phew!" Ge Dongxu felt the two Air Cyclones rotating, one inside and the other outside the heart, every fraction of a second making it stronger. He couldn''t help but let out a deep, long breath and then slowly opened his eyes.

    The Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian and the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian both flow through the heart and are responsible for it, which shows the importance of the heart to the body.

    Previously, Ge Dongxu had already formed an Air Cyclone inside the heart through the Hand Shaoyin Heart Meridian. Now, another Air Cyclone had formed on the outer wall of the heart through the Hand Jueyin Pericardium Meridian.

    At this moment, his heart truly became incredibly strong. By now, ordinary bullets probably couldn''t penetrate this formidable heart.

    Although he had once again broken through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer within less than a month¡ªa realm unimaginable to ordinary Qimen Sorcerers¡ªGe Dongxu did not feel much joy. Instead, his eyes revealed a look of lingering fear, and he gently touched the black Jade Token at his chest.

    If it weren''t for the calming and demon-repelling effects of this black Jade Token, allowing him to regain his composure in time, he might have very well succumbed to Deviation due to the sudden fear of gain and loss and hesitation.

    Ge Dongxu sat in the courtyard for a long while, and the look of lingering fear in his eyes eventually turned into joy and determination.

    Although this cultivation session nearly led to Deviation, it also tempered my willpower and made me understand that one must forge ahead in cultivation, aiming straight at one''s true heart. In this sense, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

    Having realized this, any fear in Ge Dongxu''s heart vanished. His thoughts became clear, and his Sea of Consciousness churned, revealing an even larger expanse of clear space, and his spiritual power had advanced much more than before.

    ```

 Chapter 431 - 430: The True Void Travel Talisman

    ```

    After the thought was clear, Ge Dongxu stopped pondering the danger he had faced before and, with a light tap of his foot, released his True Qi outward. Like a great bird, he truly took off and flew away from Ge Family Village in the blink of an eye.

    Under the night sky, Ge Dongxu felt the airflow between heaven and earth as the released True Qi flowed like water, continuously changing shape and perfectly enacting the dynamics of aerodynamics.

    The higher and faster Ge Dongxu flew, the closer the bright moon in the sky seemed within reach, and he couldn''t help but think of the "Ode to the Tune of Water Melody" written by Su Shi.

    When will the moon be clear and bright? I raise my cup and ask the blue sky. I do not know what year it is in the heavens above, What evening is it there this very night? I''d like to ride the wind and soar home, Yet fear the crystal and jade halls, so tall, Would be too cold up so high!

    Before, he could never truly appreciate this piece of ancient poetry, but now, all of a sudden, he really understood it.

    If one day he could really ascend, where would he go? Would it be a place filled with crystal halls? Would it really be too cold up in the high places?

    Thinking this, Ge Dongxu looked down and realized he had flown to the mountainside in one breath.

    Not until then did he feel the flow of his True Qi no longer as smooth as water, and he gently landed on the crown of a tree, slightly adjusted his breath, and then took off again.

    This time, Ge Dongxu reached the peak of Baiyun Mountain in one breath.

    Standing on the summit and looking down, every mountain peak in the dark night resembled silent monsters squatting down.

    Ge Dongxu''s heart stirred slightly, his hands formed a spell, and he uttered softly, "Fire, come!"

    "Whoosh whoosh!" Out of nowhere, gusts of scorching breath blew in from all directions, then condensed into a sea of fire in the air, flickering with tongues of flame.

    "Rain, come!" Ge Dongxu called out again, and in the blink of an eye, a small cluster of dark clouds formed at the summit, and rain poured down, extinguishing the sea of fire.

    No wonder the "Baopu Nine Pill Mysterious Scripture" records that one must reach the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer before one''s heart can follow one''s will and use the Void Travel Talisman.

    The heart here actually refers to the physical heart. Only a strong heart can supply enough energy to the brain the moment a thought arises. The reason why I was able to use the Void Travel Talisman at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer before was solely due to my spiritual power being extraordinarily strong, equivalent to having pre-stored enough mental energy to use the talisman, a situation that is not sustainable.

    Now, I am truly having ''the heart following the will'', truly using the Void Travel Talisman!

    Feeling the Void Travel Talisman operating more smoothly and feeling his heart beat powerfully following his thoughts, not only continuously supplying blood and energy to his brain but also sending streams of True Qi to nourish his spirit in the Sea of Consciousness, Ge Dongxu realized not only what the scriptures meant when they said one needs to reach the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer to use the Void Travel Talisman, but he also seemed to have touched on some profound secret. Yet when he tried to think about it, there was not the slightest clue. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But Ge Dongxu knew that he had definitely touched upon a profound secret of the universe; it was just that this secret was lacking a moment of epiphany - a very profound feeling.

    This was a bit like when we encounter someone on the road whom we feel we have met before, but we are sure this person is not a friend nor someone with whom we have had any interaction. It is not until one day when we meet another person that we suddenly realize the previous one was a friend of theirs, whom we had seen once at their house.

    Ge Dongxu''s current situation was somewhat similar; he felt as though he had touched on some secret, but upon careful reflection, he couldn''t understand anything.

    Ge Dongxu did not immerse himself in this sensation but quickly pulled himself out of it.

    Ge Dongxu was very clear that racking his brains and pondering in vain would not help. Some things must be let go when it''s time to let go; one cannot force it.

    Ge Dongxu stood on the summit until the Mao Hour, finished his Mao Hour cultivation, and then rose to descend from the mountain.

    ```

    Descending the mountain, Ge Dongxu made a detour to his master''s grave site to clean the cemetery and the Taoist temple before returning home.

    It was already late August by then, and school would start soon. In a few days'' time, his senior brother, fully recovered from his leg injury, would also come to pay respects to their master. Consequently, Ge Dongxu decided not to go to the Provincial Capital but instead planned to spend some quality time with his parents and consolidate his Cultivation.

    Even though cultivation should be pursued relentlessly, Ge Dongxu knew that his progress had been extraordinarily fast and that it still required time to settle and stabilize.

    In the following days, aside from helping his father, Ge Dongxu was engrossed in Meditation, refining his state of mind. He no longer set up a Spirit Gathering Formation during the Zi Hour and Mao Hour to absorb nature''s spiritual energy, but focused on tempering the True Qi within his body, making it purer and more condensed. Whenever he had spare time, Ge Dongxu would also practice Techniques and Qinggong.

    To call it Qinggong was actually no longer quite appropriate; perhaps Flight with Control of Qi was more fitting.

    Now if Ge Dongxu was willing to persist, he could fly straight to the Peak of Baiyun Mountain in one go. How could such a feat be achieved by mere qinggong?

    ...

    Tokyo, in the suburbs, a villa halfway up a mountain.

    A man dressed in kimono knelt behind a table, flanked by two voluptuous women with fair skin, also dressed in kimonos.

    In front of the table, a man in black knelt on one knee.

    "Do you suspect that Matsukawa Nozomu is related to the failure of the Medan mission?" the kimono-clad man asked coldly, his eyes revealing a sinister gleam.

    "Yes, leader. According to my investigation these past few days, there are numerous doubts about the failure of the Medan mission. The biggest doubt is, only our people died, with the Brahmo Family suffering no losses," the man in black replied.

    "Such actions would not benefit Matsukawa Nozomu in the slightest unless he..." the kimono-clad man mused upon hearing this, but stopped mid-sentence and waved his hand dismissively at the man in black, "You may step down. There is no need for you to investigate this matter further."

    "Yes, leader," the man in black acknowledged and withdrew.

    After the man in black had left, the kimono-clad man stroked his chin and muttered to himself, "It seems Chen Jiateng has backers. No matter the reason, the fact that Matsukawa Nozomu colluded with him to cover up this matter cannot be left unresolved."

    He then turned his head to look at the woman on his right and said, "Yamaguchi Haruko, find an opportunity to make contact with Matsukawa Nozomu and coax the truth out of him."

    "Hai! Leader," the woman bowed deeply to the kimono-clad man.

    ...

    Several days later, in Ginza, the busiest district of Tokyo.

    Inside a luxurious room of a tall skyscraper, Matsukawa Nozomu watched with fervent eyes as Yamaguchi Haruko slowly removed her clothes in front of him with extremely seductive movements.

    "Matsukawa-kun, look into my eyes, are my eyes beautiful?" Yamaguchi Haruko wrapped her arms around Matsukawa Nozomu''s neck, gazing at him with watery and seductive eyes, and asked in an enchanting voice.

    Matsukawa Nozomu, already enraptured by Yamaguchi Haruko, did as he was told and looked into her provocative eyes.

 Chapter 432 - 431 Anri Organization

    Matsukawa Nozomu, after all, was the president of an international-level group; his mental fortitude was not something an ordinary person could match, and Yamaguchi Haruko''s Bewitching Soul Technique was far inferior to that of experts like Ge Dongxu.

    When Matsukawa Nozomu glanced over and met those seductive, bewitching eyes, it was as if he heard a strange voice calling him, and he immediately realized something was amiss, reflexively trying to avert his gaze.

    "Matsukawa, look at me, touch me, and I will serve you very comfortably¡­" Yamaguchi Haruko, seeing this, drew Matsukawa Nozomu''s neck even closer, her lips emitting an incredibly seductive sound.

    At another time, a man like Matsukawa Nozomu would not be beguiled by the likes of Yamaguchi Haruko, but today, having already been mesmerized by her to the point of losing his soul earlier, he was completely unguarded. As Yamaguchi Haruko intensified her bewitching efforts, Matsukawa Nozomu''s eyes finally began to grow hazy.

    "Matsukawa, do you find me beautiful? Do you want to see me?" Yamaguchi Haruko dared not rashly inquire about the Chen Family, instead continuing her seduction, plunging him deep into a realm of passionate illusion.

    "Beautiful, I want to see," Matsukawa Nozomu murmured, staring blankly at Yamaguchi Haruko.

    Yamaguchi Haruko''s eyes continued to hold Matsukawa Nozomu''s gaze, not letting his eyes stray from hers.

    "Then you need to first answer some questions for me before I''ll undress for you." Seeing the moment was ripe, Yamaguchi Haruko then steered the conversation towards the questions she wanted to ask, by this time sweat had begun to form on her forehead and her complexion was turning pale.

    Bewitching Soul Technique, even when Ge Dongxu, with his Qi Cultivation Third Layer, had used it for the sake of Jiang Lili, it had been exceedingly draining, not to mention that Yamaguchi Haruko''s own cultivation was even less than Ge Dongxu''s, and her subject of beguilement was Matsukawa Nozomu.

    "Alright, ask," Matsukawa Nozomu replied unconsciously.

    "Who killed the ninja that assassinated Chen Jiateng in Samosir Island, Indonesia?" Yamaguchi Haruko asked in a very soft voice, as if whispering sweet nothings, rather than speaking of murder.

    "I ordered him killed," Matsukawa Nozomu replied.

    Upon hearing this, Yamaguchi Haruko almost showed a flaw, but as she had already suspected this, she managed to maintain her composure and continued to ask, "Why did you have them killed?"

    "It was because¡­" Matsukawa Nozomu began to respond, but suddenly swallowed his words.

    His answer would necessarily involve betraying Ge Dongxu, which was against the Blood Oath, a prohibition deep in his soul. When this prohibition was stirred, a warning sounded in the depths of his being, and he suddenly snapped awake.

    "Why was it?" Yamaguchi Haruko saw Matsukawa Nozomu stop just at that point and couldn''t help but push harder with the Bewitching Soul Technique, urgently pressing him.

    "Who are you?" Matsukawa Nozomu suddenly brought his foot up and fiercely kicked Yamaguchi Haruko in the stomach, his eyes no longer lost in their previous haze but turned fiercely ferocious.

    Caught off guard, Yamaguchi Haruko was immediately knocked to the ground by Matsukawa Nozomu''s kick.

    Matsukawa Nozomu didn''t wait for Yamaguchi Haruko to get up from the ground and had already rushed towards the door of the room, violently pulling it open. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The two bodyguards at the door reacted very quickly, seeing Matsukawa Nozomu''s distressed expression, they immediately burst through the door, drawing their guns and pointing them at Yamaguchi Haruko, who had just risen from the ground.

    As people whom Matsukawa Nozomu had hired as personal bodyguards, they were obviously not ordinary, and with their guns pointed directly at Yamaguchi Haruko, she immediately felt a chill run down her spine and dared not make any sudden moves.

    She didn''t believe her techniques, or her actions could be quicker than the guns in the hands of the two men before her.

    "Who sent you here?" Matsukawa Nozomu, seeing that the bodyguards had subdued Yamaguchi Haruko, then returned to the room and asked her with a grim expression.

    As he spoke, several more bodyguards rushed over.

    "Matsukawa, think about what you just said, don''t you understand? I advise you to just let me go quietly; otherwise, your end will be quite miserable," Yamaguchi Haruko said, showing no trace of fear but instead looked at Matsukawa Nozomu with icy eyes, her earlier allure completely gone.

    "Damn it, you are from the Anri Organization!" Matsukawa Nozomu''s face involuntarily took on a thoughtful expression, followed swiftly by a drastic change in color.

    "Exactly, so, Matsukawa, you should release me now, then offer sufficient sincerity, and tell our leader the truth. Perhaps our leader might then let this matter slide. After all, Matsukawa is a significant figure in Japan, and if it''s not necessary, we also don''t want to cause a stir in Japan by killing you, attracting unnecessary trouble. Of course, Matsukawa can choose to ignore my advice, but I think Matsukawa Jiro, your brother, would be very interested in your position, and your beautiful wife as well. If we kill you, I think he would be quite grateful to us," Yamaguchi Haruko said coldly.

    "Damn it, are you threatening me?" Matsukawa Nozomu''s face grew even darker upon hearing this.

    "No, I am considering the bright future for you, Matsukawa," Yamaguchi Haruko replied.

    "Lock her up first. Don''t let her escape," Matsukawa Nozomu naturally wouldn''t just let Yamaguchi Haruko go.

    Since the Anri Organization had suspected him and even sent someone to approach him, it indicated that the situation wasn''t as simple as he had initially thought. As the CEO of a multinational corporation, he obviously wasn''t willing to have a time bomb that could explode at any moment lying next to him.

    And most crucially, the matter involved Ge Dongxu, and he absolutely couldn''t betray his master.

    "Yes, sir!" The bodyguard commanded, took Yamaguchi Haruko away.

    Matsukawa Nozomu, however, paced back and forth in the room with an extremely ugly expression.

    The Anri Organization was a very mysterious and powerful entity. Matsukawa Nozomu, as a businessman, was able to contact this organization through certain channels, but he lacked the ability to eliminate it.

    Of course, being the CEO of the Shinrei Group and the primary heir of the Matsukawa Family, he not only wielded significant influence in Japan''s business and even political circles, but he was also protected by bodyguards around the clock. The Anri Organization would also be taking a great risk in trying to kill him.

    However, Yamaguchi Haruko''s mention of his brother, Matsukawa Jiro, another heir of the Matsukawa Family, significantly escalated his vigilance and sense of crisis.

    In a major family like theirs, the struggles between heirs were fierce.

    This time, he had resorted to hiring assassins to secure the oil field discovered by the Chen Family, aiming to use the development of this field to firmly put the other heirs, including his very own brother, far behind him.

    But now his plan to seize the Chen Family''s oil field had failed! This also meant there was still fierce competition between him and the other heirs, especially his own brother, Matsukawa Jiro.

    Of course, his father strictly forbade fratricide, and Matsukawa Jiro didn''t have the guts to kill him.

    But if the Anri Organization took the initiative to find him, if they sent someone like Yamaguchi Haruko to bewitch him day and night, then it was hard to say what could happen.

    And with the cooperation of his brother, the Anri Organization''s risk of killing him might significantly decrease.

    ¡­

    The summer nights at Baiyun Mountain were exceptionally cool.

    Ge Dongxu was chatting and laughing with his parents when he suddenly, as if sensing something, glanced toward Japan and then quietly stood up and walked out of the courtyard.

    Blood Oath, it was a remarkably magical covenant.

    In a mysterious and ethereal way, it linked Ge Dongxu with another person.

    Just now, when Matsukawa Nozomu was about to answer that question, it triggered the oath, and Ge Dongxu immediately felt the response.

    Leaving the courtyard, Ge Dongxu carefully recalled the sensation from just a moment ago, knowing that there must have been some issue on Matsukawa Nozomu''s end.

 Chapter 433 - 432 On the Plane

    After confirming that the problem had originated from Matsukawa Nozomu''s side, Ge Dongxu took out his phone and dialed Matsukawa Nozomu.

    While Ge Dongxu was calling, Matsukawa Nozomu was pacing back and forth in the room. Suddenly, upon hearing the ringtone, he picked up the phone. Seeing that it was a call from his master in Huaxia Country, he couldn''t help but jump in fright and hurriedly answered.

    "Master, hello, may I ask what orders you have for me?" Matsukawa Nozomu, who was usually very proud in front of others, asked cautiously in an extremely reverent and humble tone as soon as he picked up the phone.

    "Is there a problem on your side?" Ge Dongxu asked directly, without beating around the bush with Matsukawa Nozomu.

    Upon hearing this, Matsukawa Nozomu''s hand shook uncontrollably, almost failing to hold onto his phone.

    Matsukawa Nozomu could never have imagined that while he was in the Island Nation of Japan and Ge Dongxu in Huaxia Country, separated by who knows how many miles, a small incident on his side would immediately become known to Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes, yes," Matsukawa Nozomu replied tremulously.

    He was increasingly aware of his master''s fearsomeness.

    "What happened? Tell me," Ge Dongxu asked.

    Matsukawa Nozomu then explained in detail how the Anri Organization had become suspicious of the mission on Samosir Island and approached him.

    In the darkness of the night, Ge Dongxu''s expression turned grim, his eyes glittering with a murderous intent.

    The fact that the Anri Organization had approached Matsukawa Nozomu indicated that they had suspicions regarding the Samosir Island incident. It meant that if they continued their investigation, it would not only cause trouble for Matsukawa Nozomu but would eventually lead back to him as well.

    Naturally, Ge Dongxu was not afraid of the Anri Organization causing him trouble, for they were far from qualified to assassinate him.

    But, as a powerful figure from Huaxia Country, how could Ge Dongxu allow a Japanese assassination organization to investigate him from behind the scenes?

    Of course, since Ge Dongxu had taken in Matsukawa Nozomu as a servant and might use him in the future, he would certainly not allow the Anri Organization to target him or even threaten his life.

    Besides, one must always consider the master before striking a dog!

    Ge Dongxu calculated, guessing that his senior brother would probably arrive at Baiyun Mountain in about four days to pay respects to their master. He figured he would have enough time to handle the matter by making a trip to Tokyo, so he said coldly, "Alright, I understand. Keep an eye on that woman. I''ll be traveling to Tokyo, Japan, tomorrow." sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yes!" Hearing this, Matsukawa Nozomu couldn''t help but feel extremely excited, letting out a huge sigh of relief.

    Matsukawa Nozomu was still terrified when he thought of Ge Dongxu''s frightening power exhibited earlier. If Ge Dongxu himself took action, then matters would be much more manageable.

    ...

    Jiangnan Province is a coastal economic powerhouse, and its capital, Linzhou City, has direct flights to Tokyo, Japan.

    The next day, Ge Dongxu went directly to Linzhou City Airport.

    Xu Lei personally delivered Ge Dongxu''s passport, covered with a Japanese visa, to him at the airport.

    This time, Ge Dongxu was prepared to destroy an assassin organization, so he did not want Xu Lei to accompany him, and even the passport he used was fake. Moreover, his appearance had been altered to a certain extent.

    Of course, for someone like Ge Dongxu, who was nearly capable of flying with Controlling Qi, altering his appearance was a relatively easy task. He didn''t need to use any drugs or makeup tools; he could simply cast an Illusion Technique or use True Qi to change the muscles in some parts of his face.

    However, whether using an Illusion Technique or changing certain facial muscles with True Qi, both actions required consuming True Qi and also mastery of the Illusion Technique or precise control of True Qi circulating in the muscles.

    Those who had not reached at least the seventh or eighth layer of Qi Cultivation could barely accomplish this, and they wouldn''t be able to maintain it for a long time.

    In recent years, Huaxia Country greatly encouraged foreign investment and as a coastal economic power, Jiangnan Province saw a massive influx of foreign capital.

    Among these, many were Japanese enterprises.

    On a plane headed to Tokyo, Japan, aside from the Huaxian people, the business class was essentially occupied by Japanese, who indeed made up the majority.

    After all, in this era, there weren''t many Huaxian who could travel abroad, and even fewer could afford to travel in business class, whereas it was quite the opposite for the Japanese. Those who could be sent to Huaxia Country and travel back and forth between Huaxia and Japan were predominantly elite personnel from Japanese companies.

    Seated next to Ge Dongxu was a Japanese man, and in front of him were a Japanese man and a Huaxia woman.

    Ge Dongxu sat on the plane and began to meditate and refine his mental state.

    Since he was seated next to a Japanese man, he had no intention of initiating a conversation.

    "Mr. Muraki Taro, please show some respect." As Ge Dongxu was meditating with his eyes closed, he suddenly heard a deliberately lowered and angry female voice, which made him frown and open his eyes.

    In the seat in front of him, the Japanese man was reaching out to touch the thigh of the Huaxia woman seated next to him, who was clearly blocking his hand in anger.

    "Ye Xuan, I arranged for you to be trained at the Shinrei Group headquarters; shouldn''t you show some gratitude?" Muraki Taro did not give up, instead, he grabbed Ye Xuan''s hand and continued to caress the back of her smooth hand with a lecherous smile.

    "I earned this opportunity through my own abilities," Ye Xuan forcefully withdrew her hand.

    "You''re really breaking my heart by saying that, but don''t worry, I won''t let you down as long as you perform well," seeing Ye Xuan forcefully withdraw her hand, Muraki Taro''s face turned sour. However, he soon displayed the lecherous smile again and reached for Ye Xuan''s full, white thigh once more.

    "You are from Huaxia Country, aren''t you? Women from Huaxia Country are quite easy to deceive. Look, Muraki Taro will definitely succeed this time," said a man seated next to Ge Dongxu, probably in his thirties, short, and with a receding hairline, who had also noticed the commotion in front. He smirked and spoke to Ge Dongxu in Mandarin.

    Ge Dongxu coldly glanced at the man next to him, who inexplicably felt a chill rise from the depths of his heart and immediately shut his mouth.

    "Mr. Muraki Taro, please show some respect!" Ye Xuan, seeing Muraki Taro reach for her thigh again, couldn''t help but raise her voice.

    "Baka!" Faced with Ye Xuan''s loud rebuke, Muraki Taro felt utterly humiliated, became enraged, and raised his hand to slap her pretty face.

    However, before Muraki Taro''s hand could reach Ye Xuan''s face, it was suddenly caught by a strong hand. Then the whole person was lifted from his seat by Ge Dongxu.

    "Go stay in the economy class at the back!" After lifting Muraki Taro up, Ge Dongxu instantly tossed him onto the aisle''s floor and sternly said.

    "I am Japanese, how dare you treat me this way?" Muraki Taro got up from the floor, both shocked and furious.

 Chapter 434 - 433: Slapping Oneself in the Face

    "Mr. Muraki, are you all right?" The Japanese man seated next to Ge Dongxu was startled, then quickly got up from his seat and went forward to ask Muraki Taro with concern.

    Two more Japanese men also stood up and approached Muraki Taro, asking with equally concerned expressions.

    Clearly, these people were from the same company as Muraki Taro.

    "Damn it, these despicable Huaxia people, how dare they attack us Japanese!" There were also two Japanese men who didn''t know Muraki Taro, but seeing Ge Dongxu strike Muraki Taro, they stood up, pointing at Ge Dongxu and scolding him with anger.

    Of course, there were also some Japanese who disdained Muraki Taro''s behavior just now and didn''t voice their support upon seeing what happened; on the contrary, they showed a hint of shame.

    "I hit him, not because he is a Japanese, but because he was humiliating and harassing a lady! Any true gentleman, any man with a sense of justice, would''ve found it unbearable not to act upon seeing such a scene! Of course, if you insist on speaking up for him just because you''re Japanese, then come right ahead. I won''t mind kicking a few more people back to economy class," Ge Dongxu said calmly, looking at the two Japanese men who had stood up and berated him.

    "Well said!" A few people from Huaxia Country couldn''t help but shout in agreement.

    "Good!" The only couple from Europe and America in business class exclaimed in awkward Mandarin, clearly they too were infuriated by Muraki Taro''s reprehensible act of publicly humiliating and harassing a woman.

    "Sir, this is a plane, please don''t start a dispute and return to your seat," said the stewardess, who at first was a bit stunned by the conflict in business class, but quickly came to her senses and hurried up to Ge Dongxu, even giving him a meaningful look.

    There was no helping it; this was a plane bound for Tokyo, and the Japanese people who could afford business class seats were essentially elite members of Japanese society. If this matter were to escalate, the stewardess truly worried that Ge Dongxu would be at a disadvantage after arriving in Japan.

    "Damn it! He hit our Mr. Muraki, he must apologize immediately, and then get lost at once!" Before Ge Dongxu could even speak, several Japanese men associated with Kimura Dairo had already started to make a scene following the stewardess''s comment.

    "Not only does he need to apologize, but he also has to slap himself in the face, or else we''ll report him to the police immediately upon arrival in Tokyo!" Those two men who didn''t know Muraki Taro followed up with their clamor.

    "You see, Miss, I was going to let it go out of respect for you, but these people won''t let it rest. Since that''s the case, I have no choice, do I?" Ge Dongxu said apologetically to the stewardess after seeing those Japanese men yelling at him, and then he walked towards the few Japanese men under the stewardess''s astonished gaze. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu first came to the two Japanese men who didn''t know Muraki Taro and said with a smile, "You see, I tried to reason with you just now, but you wouldn''t listen and even threatened me, so I have no choice. Will you slap your own faces and apologize to me? Or should I slap them for you?"

    As he spoke, the smile on Ge Dongxu''s face vanished suddenly, and his eyes, which had been as gentle as a spring breeze, now became sharp as swords.

    In an instant, a strong spiritual power bore down on the two men directly through that sharp gaze.

    Spiritual power is a magical force; the cultivation and use of spiritual power in ancient times were non-mainstream, with few people adept at it. By today''s Dharma Ending Age, the cultivation and use of spiritual power were almost completely lost, leaving behind only some trivial remnants.

    Probing the external environment with spiritual power or bewitching others with the Bewitching Soul Technique are both very basic applications of spiritual power, and now Ge Dongxu was using spiritual pressure, which is equally a basic method.

    Of course, there are many kinds of spiritual pressure, and when applied skillfully it''s like a Magician''s Spell Battle. Ge Dongxu''s current use of spiritual pressure was far from that level of finesse, he only knew to press down on his opponent with an overwhelming spiritual power like a mountain.

    How intense was Ge Dongxu''s spiritual power at present? It was already comparable to the Dragon Tiger Realm. Now, with such a forceful and direct application of spiritual pressure, could those two Japanese men bear it, given they weren''t of unwavering will or ready to face death?

    The two previously arrogant and proud Japanese men, upon meeting Ge Dongxu''s gaze, instantly felt as if they were facing a ravenous beast pouncing towards them, pinned directly to the ground by massive claws, its gaping maw and sharp fangs threatening to swallow them whole at any moment.

    "I apologize! I apologize!" Under such terrifying intimidation, the two men immediately went weak at the knees, knelt on the ground, continuously begging for forgiveness while slapping themselves in the face and crying.

    The entirety of the Business Class cabin was stunned.

    Nobody had imagined that the Japanese, who just seconds ago had been so domineering, would succumb to Ge Dongxu so quickly, kneel so thoroughly!

    It took a while for the people in the Business Class cabin to come to their senses, and two older Japanese men, unable to bear the sight, stepped forward and slapped the two culprits on the head: "Baka! You''ve lost all face for Japanese people."

    When those two older Japanese men struck, the two culprits suddenly snapped out of their fear, and without fully regaining their senses, they reflexively stood up and threw punches back.

    "Ah!" One of the older Japanese men couldn''t dodge in time and was hit on the nose, blood immediately gushing out.

    The incident had escalated, with other Japanese passengers openly criticizing the two miscreants.

    The flight attendants and the hurriedly arriving chief purser could only watch, their eyes nearly popping out.

    What was even happening here? Why were the Japanese fighting with each other now?

    As for Ge Dongxu, he seemed utterly unaffected, completely ignoring the Japanese passengers who were bickering, and turned to look at Muraki Taro, smiling slightly, "Mr. Muraki Taro, right? I heard you mention earlier that you work for Shinrei Group in Huaxia Country?"

    "Yes, so what?" Seeing Ge Dongxu smile at him, Muraki Taro couldn''t explain why, but his heart inexplicably skipped a beat, feeling that something about this young man was oddly unsettling.

    "I''m sorry to tell you something unfortunate. I''m acquainted with your president, Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu, so it would be best if you now immediately apologize to the lady from earlier and then stay away from her. Otherwise, I guarantee not only will all of you lose your jobs, but you also won''t receive a dime of severance pay!" Ge Dongxu spoke indifferently.

    "Haha!" Muraki Taro let out a dry laugh before saying, "You claim to know our president? Even if you do, is it for you to decide what our president will do? You should think about apologizing to me instead. Maybe then, when the plane lands and the police arrive, I could ask them to be a bit gentler with you."

 Chapter 435 - 434: What a coward, I didnt even do anything

    "Look, I kindly and reasonably reminded you, yet you wouldn''t listen," Ge Dongxu shook his head at Kimura Dairo, resentment in his tone as if hating iron for not becoming steel, then looked at the others and asked, "Do you all share the same thoughts as Muraki Taro?"

    "Exactly, damned Huaxia man, you better now...," the short Japanese man who initially sat next to Ge Dongxu not only nodded along with the others but also spoke with a fierce expression and a contemptuous look in his eyes.

    "Slap! Slap!" However, before the short Japanese man could finish his sentence, his neck was already clasped by a cold, hard hand like iron tongs, and his face was harshly slapped twice.

    Seeing this, everyone else tried to rush over, but Ge Dongxu merely extended his other hand, casually seized each one as they came, and flung them into the aisle.

    "Because you said something you shouldn''t have, you will pay a higher price than the others." As he spoke, Ge Dongxu raised his hand and slapped him again. With this slap, a chilly breath penetrated into his body, then picked him up and flung him onto Muraki Taro like a sandbag, then his eyes fiercely flared as he shouted at them, "All of you, get out!"

    This time, Ge Dongxu unleashed a powerful spiritual power. Muraki Taro and the others initially struggled to stand up with faces full of shock and annoyance, but upon meeting Ge Dongxu''s gaze, they were all terrified and immediately fled to the economy class. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing that Muraki Taro and the others had quickly fled, a cold smirk curled on Ge Dongxu''s lips as he turned around, his gaze slowly sweeping over the Japanese in the business class with immense authority.

    Upon meeting Ge Dongxu''s authoritative gaze, all the Japanese in the business class trembled in their hearts, feeling an inexplicable fear, and everyone bowed their heads. When Ge Dongxu''s gaze fell once again on the two Japanese who were already on the floor slapping their own cheeks, they were so frightened that they wet themselves, crying out, "I was wrong, I was wrong," while scrambling to also flee the business class.

    "What cowards, I hardly did anything," Ge Dongxu said disdainfully with a shake of his head and a laugh, then returned to his seat.

    Watching Ge Dongxu, who had just scared away a group of Japanese passengers in the business class and casually reclined back in his seat as if nothing had happened, the chief steward and the flight attendants in the business class were too shocked to recover for quite a while. After a long time, it was the chief steward who managed to compose herself first, forced a smile as she walked up to Ge Dongxu, placed her hands on her abdomen, and bowed slightly, "Sir, seeing as they were business class passengers and have now moved to economy, is that improper?"

    "Oh, I forgot that economy might not have enough space," Ge Dongxu lightly tapped his forehead and said, "How about this: since they don''t want to stay in business class and ran to economy by themselves, why don''t you just upgrade some passengers for free? That way, space in economy class will be freed up, right?"

    The chief steward, speechless, just stared at Ge Dongxu for a long while.

    "Don''t worry, this is our country''s airplane, not a Japanese one. They started the trouble first, so how could it end up being blamed on you? If things really escalate, I will contact your superiors for you," Ge Dongxu said as he saw the chief steward hesitate, knowing what she was worried about, and reassured her.

    After all, the small players also have their dilemmas, and Ge Dongxu did not want to cause her any psychological burden because of this incident.

    The chief steward looked at Ge Dongxu for a long time, and finally just said, "Thank you."

    She wasn''t a fool, she could tell that the young man in front of her was somewhat different, but she couldn''t quite put her finger on what exactly that difference was.

    It seemed like the commotion had just passed by.

    The head steward and the flight attendant had gone to the economy class to arrange free upgrades for the passengers, and the Japanese people in the business class were all quiet, no one dared to accuse Ge Dongxu anymore.

    Part of it was due to Ge Dongxu''s ability to easily pick someone up and throw them into the aisle with his movements earlier, which was terrifyingly strong, causing the Japanese passengers in the business class not to dare act like punching bags. Additionally, it was because of the tremendous authority in Ge Dongxu''s gaze afterward.

    This authority planted a seed of fear for Ge Dongxu in their hearts, and they were still unable to emerge from that fear in a short time.

    "Thank you, can I sit here?" As Ge Dongxu calmly sat down, ready to close his eyes and meditate again to refine his disposition, a delicate fragrance wafted over, and a woman in a white business suit appeared next to him, precisely the one who had been molested and humiliated earlier, Ye Xuan.

    "No need to thank me, it''s what I should do, feel free." Ge Dongxu smiled at her and said.

    "Thank you." Upon hearing this, Ye Xuan thanked him again and then sat down. As she was wearing a one-piece dress, her thighs appeared particularly voluptuous and alluring as she seated herself.

    "You''re welcome." Ge Dongxu courteously replied with a smile.

    "My name is Ye Xuan, I work for Shinrei Electronics, a subsidiary of Shinrei Group in Huaxia Country. That man earlier was Muraki Taro, our Vice General Manager of HR, and the others are middle managers from the company in Japan. We were all on our way to headquarters for training when this incident occurred," explained Ye Xuan.

    "Are you worried about losing your job because of this incident?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Losing my job is certain; in fact, when Muraki Taro started touching me inappropriately earlier, I had already decided to buy a ticket back home right after getting off the plane. So, it doesn''t really matter whether I have a job or not. But, I worry this incident might affect you. After all, Shinrei Group is a major conglomerate in Japan with significant influence. You fought Muraki Taro and the others for me earlier, and even though they''ve temporarily subdued on this plane, they surely won''t let you off once we land on their turf," Ye Xuan said, her face showing both worry and apology.

    "Thanks for the warning, but don''t worry, I truly do know Matsukawa Nozomu, and they dare not do anything to me. Moreover, you don''t need to rush back home to resign. It''s not easy to find a good job these days, and having a chance to go abroad for training is even rarer. Even though I don''t quite like Japan as a country due to our past history, sometimes I have to admit that their technology and managerial concepts are much more advanced than ours. It''s essential to learn from them if we want to catch up," Ge Dongxu said, looking at Ye Xuan with a trace of admiration in his eyes.

    This was not just a beautiful and shapely white-collar beauty but also a woman who knew how to be thankful. Working in a foreign enterprise, this Ye Xuan, whom Ge Dongxu now met, was incomparably better than the woman he had seen at Mingyue Lake''s revolving restaurant the last time.

 Chapter 436 - 435: He really is sick, and its quite serious too!

    "Sir, it''s not that I don''t believe you, but the Shinrei Group is a transnational corporation with assets worth billions of US dollars, and I''ve also heard that Matsukawa Nozomu is a very opinionated and even arrogant person. I think even if you know Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu, things are probably far from being as simple as you imagine. Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu is not going to help you deal with his own countrymen just because he knows you," Ye Xuan said after staring at Ge Dongxu for a while before finally speaking up.

    No wonder Ye Xuan doubted Ge Dongxu''s words. After all, Ge Dongxu was too young. That aside, the wealthiest person on Huaxia Country''s rich list hadn''t even surpassed the ten billion US dollar mark yet, whereas Matsukawa Nozomu controlled a business empire with assets in the hundreds of billions of US dollars. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As one can imagine, if the assets of Huaxia Country''s richest person can''t even compare with the industry under Matsukawa Nozomu''s control, how could such a Japanese business magnate, a tycoon, possibly give face to a young man like Ge Dongxu?

    "Hehe, some things are not absolute. Just like how I was facing a bunch of Japanese people by myself just now, but in the end, I''m still sitting here, and they''ve all been rolled off to the economy class," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile.

    Ye Xuan was startled upon hearing this.

    Because she had indeed thought Ge Dongxu would be at a disadvantage, but the outcome had completely shattered her expectations.

    "So, relax. Even if Matsukawa Nozomu doesn''t give face to his Prime Minister, he wouldn''t dare to not give me face. Later you just need to follow me off the plane peacefully, and then go attend your training with ease," Ge Dongxu said, seeing Ye Xuan''s startled look and smiling confidently.

    "Really?" Ye Xuan of course didn''t believe that Ge Dongxu''s face could be bigger than the Japanese Prime Minister''s, but considering Ge Dongxu''s performance just now and giving it some thought, she was somewhat convinced.

    "I''ve given you the opportunity, if you don''t believe it, then so be it," said Ge Dongxu with a shrug. After reaching this point and having helped to this extent, he had done everything he could and couldn''t continue to persuade her with earnest pleading.

    "Fine, then I''ll follow you later, and you''ll be responsible if anything goes wrong!" Ye Xuan said after staring at Ge Dongxu for a long time, finally biting the bullet and speaking.

    After all, she couldn''t bear to give up this job opportunity, nor the chance to receive this training.

    "You mean to cling to me?" Ge Dongxu saw Ye Xuan looking like she had made a life-or-death decision, he couldn''t help but be a bit amused and made a teasing remark.

    "Hehe, right, who else would I cling to when you''re so capable? Besides, I''m still single, and you''re quite decent," said Ye Xuan, a woman who could both take it and let go. Since she had made up her mind, she relaxed and seeing Ge Dongxu tease her, she didn''t shy away. Instead, she laughed and gave Ge Dongxu a flirtatious wink, coquettishly saying.

    "Ahem! You really can''t talk nonsense like that," Ge Dongxu immediately felt embarrassed when Ye Xuan cast that flirtatious look.

    He was already riddled with romantic debts and truly didn''t want to get involved with any more romantic troubles.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s embarrassed face, even flushing a bit, Ye Xuan couldn''t believe what she was seeing; it was as surprising as discovering a new continent.

    Considering how domineering Ge Dongxu''s performance had been just a moment ago, he didn''t seem like the type to get shy.

    "What, you look down on me? There are lots of people chasing after me in the Provincial Capital," Ye Xuan said after accepting the reality, her spirits lifting. She gave Ge Dongxu a white look with her beguiling eyes and playfully scolded.

    "I already have a girlfriend," Ge Dongxu said, looking at Ye Xuan as if a hunter spotting his prey, choosing to be straightforward.

    Ye Xuan was indeed very pretty with a nice temperament, especially her particularly plump and round legs. Ge Dongxu was no Liuxia Hui, who could be impervious to a beautiful woman''s charm, so he dared not let her get too close.

    "A fine cabbage has already been claimed by someone else," Ye Xuan sighed.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Ye Xuan speechlessly, suddenly feeling quite emotional. Women were always hard to fathom. He never would have thought that a woman like Ye Xuan, who at first glance seemed to have the air of a white-collar worker, could be so uninhibited once she let loose.

    As they conversed, several passengers from Huaxia Country were led by the flight attendant into the business class cabin.

    They still wore expressions of disbelief, unable to fathom that the good fortune of a free upgrade could suddenly befall them.

    Of course, what they found even harder to believe was that those Japanese insisted on sitting in economy class and refused business class; they must be sick, seriously sick at that!

    Japan and Huaxia Country are separated by the East Sea, and the flight from Linzhou to Tokyo takes about three hours.

    With Ye Xuan by his side, Ge Dongxu naturally had no chance to close his eyes and meditate, to cleanse his mind.

    However, having a beautiful woman beside him made time pass quickly.

    Before they realized it, the plane had arrived at Tokyo Airport.

    "Bastards, once we get off the plane, I''m going to give that guy a good beating," Kimura Dairo and the others in economy class, each with a fierce glint in their eyes, cursed venomously.

    "Right, we must give him a good beating, call the police immediately after getting off the plane!" the short guy said bitterly.

    "Mr. Ge, are you really sure it''s okay?" Getting off the plane, Ye Xuan was visibly nervous, she couldn''t help but grab Ge Dongxu''s hand and asked in a low voice.

    Ge Dongxu''s passport had only the first name changed, not the surname.

    "Of course there''s a problem!" a sinister voice came from behind them.

    Muraki Taro and his group were staring at them with malevolent gazes, smirks of assured victory on their faces.

    Ye Xuan''s grasp on Ge Dongxu''s hand clearly trembled.

    Ge Dongxu turned around and gave Muraki Taro and the others a dismissive glance.

    Even though the plane had already landed and they were standing on their own country''s soil, for some reason, Muraki Taro and his group felt a trace of fear when they met Ge Dongxu''s eyes and hurriedly stepped back.

    "What are you going to do? I warn you, this is Japan, Tokyo!"

    "I''m well aware this is Japan, Tokyo. Don''t you know that?" Ge Dongxu taunted them, mocking.

    "I hope you can still be this arrogant later!" Muraki Taro and his group, realizing how pathetic they had just behaved, glared at Ge Dongxu with vexation and anger. However, they did not dare to come up and start a fight, but instead left a harsh word and quickly passed by Ge Dongxu, dragging their luggage.

    "I also hope that later you can continue to maintain the courage you have now!" Ge Dongxu said coldly, looking at the hurriedly departing figures of Muraki Taro and his group.

    At his words, Muraki Taro and his group stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

    What the hell, is this some kind of mistake? This is Japan! Japan! Since when do people from Huaxia dare to be so arrogant in Japan?

 Chapter 437 - 436: The President Comes to Pick Up

    "Mr. Ge!" Seeing that Muraki Taro and his group were clearly annoyed, yet dared not confront Ge Dongxu directly and hurriedly left, Ye Xuan couldn''t help but want to laugh yet also couldn''t help worrying.

    "At this point, worrying is useless, you might as well relax," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "I''m worried about you, and here you are, laughing without a care!" Ye Xuan couldn''t help but give Ge Dongxu a reproachful look.

    She hadn''t done anything drastic; at worst she could just buy a plane ticket and head back home, but Ge Dongxu had just hit someone. In Ye Xuan''s view, Muraki Taro and his group would definitely not let him off the hook.

    She guessed that as soon as Muraki Taro and his group cleared customs, they would go to the police.

    "Don''t worry about it," Ge Dongxu said with a carefree smile.

    Seeing this, Ye Xuan could only shake her head helplessly.

    She wasn''t sure if this guy really had a strong connection with Matsukawa Nozomu, or if he was just overconfident.

    But she felt that the latter was much more likely. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The two of them cleared customs smoothly.

    Since Ge Dongxu hadn''t planned on staying in Japan for long, he only carried a suitcase with him, while Ye Xuan, who was there for training, had naturally brought more, so she had checked luggage.

    After clearing customs, Ge Dongxu accompanied Ye Xuan to collect her checked luggage, then helped her push it toward the exit.

    In the airport terminal exit, there was a long line of people waiting for arrivals.

    Everyone was craning their necks to look towards the exit to see if the person they were waiting for had come out, and some people were even holding up signs with names on them.

    Among these people was a somewhat overweight man wearing large sunglasses, surrounded by six men dressed in black suits and also wearing sunglasses, all with very stern expressions.

    People seeing this scene unconsciously kept a little distance from them.

    This somewhat overweight man was none other than the CEO of Shinrei Group, Matsukawa Nozomu.

    As the host had personally come to Tokyo, it was natural for him, as a servant, to personally come to the airport to pick him up.

    Even someone with a high position and great wealth doesn''t act much different from ordinary people when faced with someone more prominent.

    This is like a village chief acting all high and mighty when meeting a town chief, but becomes significantly less imposing when facing a county chief.

    Right now, Matsukawa Nozomu was just like that; in front of others, he was incredibly dominant, managing tens of thousands of employees, but now, he was just like everyone else here waiting, and also occasionally craning his neck toward the exit, worried he might miss Ge Dongxu.

    Soon, Matsukawa Nozomu saw a familiar figure pulling a suitcase, laughing and talking with a woman as they walked out from inside.

    Matsukawa Nozomu was startled, just about to step forward to greet them, but then realized that while the familiar build and even the demeanor were somewhat similar, it was not the host he was waiting for, and he couldn''t help showing a trace of disappointment and confusion in his eyes.

    "That''s him! He''s the one who hit us on the plane!" Just as Matsukawa Nozomu realized he had mistaken someone else, feeling secretly disappointed and confused, Muraki Taro and his group pointed at Ge Dongxu from afar, shouting as they approached with a few policemen.

    When Muraki Taro and others really came with the police to arrest Ge Dongxu, Ye Xuan''s face turned pale instantly, and she couldn''t help but tighten her grip on Ge Dongxu, nervously asking, "Mr. Ge, it''s awful, what do we do now? You better call Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu right away."

    "No need to call, he''s already here," Ge Dongxu said, pointing at Matsukawa Nozomu wearing sunglasses.

    "At a time like this, you''re still in the mood for jokes!" Ye Xuan, seeing Ge Dongxu''s nonchalant demeanor even then, couldn''t help but stomp her feet in frustration, almost wanting to bite him.

    "I''m not joking with you, isn''t that your president over there? Don''t you recognize him?" Ge Dongxu said, unable to suppress a smile.

    Upon hearing this, Ye Xuan, who had almost fiercely pinched Ge Dongxu to make him come to his senses, looked up and her mouth gaped open instantly.

    Matsukawa Nozomu was the president of the company, and his photo was on the company''s webpage. Although it was Ye Xuan''s first time seeing him in person, she recognized him instantly because she saw his picture every time she visited the company''s website, and Ge Dongxu had just mentioned him, even though he wore sunglasses.

    Just as Ye Xuan recognized Matsukawa Nozomu, surprised with her mouth wide open, struggling to comprehend why such an important person would be here, Muraki Taro and others with the police had already approached Ge Dongxu.

    "Sir, someone reported that you assaulted someone on the plane, now please come with me to the police headquarters," the policeman said to Ge Dongxu in Japanese.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t understand Japanese, but Ye Xuan did and immediately helped explain, "Officer, you''ve misunderstood. It was him who harassed me on the plane, and this gentleman stood up to stop them."

    "Bakka! Ye Xuan, are you looking to die? Don''t forget this is Tokyo!" Muraki Taro, seeing Ye Xuan speaking up for Ge Dongxu, immediately spoke fiercely at her.

    Muraki Taro didn''t want the police to understand him, so he spoke in Chinese.

    "What about Tokyo?" Ge Dongxu asked calmly.

    "What about it? Kid, just wait and cry!" Muraki Taro now had the support of the police, no longer fearing Ge Dongxu and said with a smirk of triumph.

    "Hehe, kid, kneel down and beg now, and maybe we''ll be a bit gentler with you later," someone said with a cold laugh, looking confident in having Ge Dongxu cornered.

    Matsukawa Nozomu, upon seeing the conflict between Japanese and people from Huaxia Country, slightly furrowed his brow, thinking about stepping forward to ask for clarification since, although he was Japanese, his master was from Huaxia Country, and he knew Muraki Taro who was the deputy general manager of a subsidiary company of the group in Huaxia Country.

    He couldn''t just stand idly by!

    "Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu, are you just going to watch?" Just as Matsukawa Nozomu was frowning and about to step forward to ask, a familiar voice suddenly rang out, causing Matsukawa Nozomu''s heart to skip a beat when he saw that it was the young man who had given him a familiar feeling earlier.

    By Amaterasu Omikami! It''s, it''s the master!

    "Matsukawa Nozomu?" Kimura Dairo and others upon hearing him instinctively looked back, startled as well.

    Wasn''t the chubby man wearing sunglasses in the crowd of greeters Mr. Matsukawa Nozomu?

    "Bakka!" When Muraki Taro and others turned to look at Matsukawa Nozomu, he finally snapped back to reality, charged forward, and fiercely slapped Muraki Taro twice.

    "President!" Muraki Taro, covering his face, looked at Matsukawa Nozomu in disbelief, who was visibly furious.

    "Slap!" Still not calming down, Matsukawa Nozomu again couldn''t resist and slapped Muraki Taro.

    Damn it, to think he called the police to arrest his own master, that was audacious!

 Chapter 438 - 437: Hello, Mr. Ge

    Looking at Matsukawa Nozomu''s face seething with anger, everyone belonging to the Shinrei Group was petrified, while the two Japanese men who had forcefully intervened and the police officer were stupefied.

    What on earth is going on?

    "Sir, what are you doing?" However, the police officer quickly regained his composure and asked with a stern face.

    "Right, you can''t just hit people!" the two Japanese men also chimed in with their questions.

    "It''s alright, it''s alright," Muraki Taro and the others, seeing the police officer and the two Japanese men actually questioning their president, were almost in tears as they hurriedly stepped forward to explain.

    There was no choice, the cold wave of the Asian financial crisis hadn''t completely subsided, and Japan''s unemployment rate had been high for years. The Shinrei Group offered good benefits, and after struggling for many years to climb to such a high position, they certainly did not want to join the ranks of the job-seeking masses.

    And who is Matsukawa Nozomu? He is a real tycoon, an influential figure in both business and political circles. Opposing him was akin to seeking death, right?

    While Muraki Taro and the others were frantically explaining, Matsukawa Nozomu''s bodyguards had already stepped forward, blocking off the police officer and the two Japanese men.

    One of the bodyguards whispered something to an older police officer with the rank of Patrol Chief, and upon hearing the whisper, the Patrol Chief stole a glance at Matsukawa Nozomu, his expression changing completely as he immediately left with two patrollers.

    As for the other two Japanese men, they were cornered by two bodyguards, one on each side, and then proceeded to bow repeatedly and apologize to the bodyguards.

    With his bodyguards taking charge, a personage like Matsukawa Nozomu naturally wouldn''t bother with the two Japanese men and the police officer.

    In their country, money is the real boss.

    "Damn it!" After the police officer and the two Japanese men were fended off by the bodyguards, Matsukawa Nozomu once again cursed Muraki and the others with a cold expression before turning to Ge Dongxu.

    As he turned to Ge Dongxu, Matsukawa Nozomu''s chubby face immediately brightened like a blooming chrysanthemum, and he bent slightly at the waist, full of respect and humility.

    "Mr. Ge, welcome to Tokyo!" Matsukawa Nozomu bowed slightly and extended his hand.

    "Mr. Matsukawa, hello," Ge Dongxu shook hands with Matsukawa Nozomu mildly without much warmth, then gave Muraki Taro and the others a cold glance and said, "I hear these people are all from your Shinrei Group. I''m quite disappointed; it''s disgraceful for your corporation to have such scum within its ranks!"

    After speaking, Ge Dongxu walked ahead, dragging his suitcase, no longer paying any attention to Matsukawa Nozomu.

    Kidding, Matsukawa Nozomu was nothing more than one of his servants. If it weren''t for the fact that this was a public place, what right did Matsukawa Nozomu have even to shake hands with him?

    Seeing Ge Dongxu pay no mind to a big shot like Matsukawa Nozomu, to the point of outright ignoring him, Ye Xuan''s heart thumped with fright, unable to imagine just what kind of background Ge Dongxu had, how someone like Matsukawa Nozomu, who controlled a group with tens of thousands of employees, had to come personally to pick him up from the airport. Furthermore, from their demeanor, Ye Xuan actually felt like Ge Dongxu was the president of the Shinrei Group.

    But Ye Xuan was a smart woman. Although her heart was racing, her mind remained clear, knowing that at this time, she must stick close to Ge Dongxu''s side. So, seeing Ge Dongxu walking away with his suitcase, she did not think twice before abandoning the president of the Shinrei Group and hurrying after Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing his master clearly displeased, Matsukawa Nozomu felt both fear and anger, glared bitterly at Muraki Taro and the others, and scolded, "You worthless scum, I''ll settle the score with you later."

    Matsukawa Nozomu hurried after Ge Dongxu.

    "I''m sorry, Mr. Ge, rest assured, I will make them leave our company immediately, and I will also try to make other companies refuse to hire them," said Matsukawa Nozomu, as he caught up with Ge Dongxu, apologizing sincerely and fearfully, while reaching out to take the luggage from Ge Dongxu''s hands.

    Ye Xuan, who was nearby, couldn''t believe her eyes when she saw the president of Shinrei Group himself chasing after Ge Dongxu to apologize, and even offering to carry his luggage.

    Of course, what shocked Ye Xuan the most was that Matsukawa Nozomu was not only giving face to Ge Dongxu by having Muraki Taro and the others dismissed, but he was also planning to use his personal and company''s influence to prevent other companies from hiring them.

    This level of face really was far greater than even the Prime Minister''s!

    "Hmm," Ge Dongxu responded with a slightly softened expression and handed over his luggage to Matsukawa Nozomu without any pretense of politeness.

    Seeing this, Matsukawa Nozomu finally breathed a sigh of relief, while Kimura Dairo and his colleagues nearby, upon witnessing the scene, were so terrified that their legs went weak, and they nearly sat down on the spot, their faces turning pale.

    It was over; their jobs were definitely gone now!

    Clearly, Kimura Dairo and the others had underestimated the situation; Ge Dongxu was Matsukawa Nozomu''s master. How could it be that they only lost their jobs after offending Matsukawa Nozomu''s master?

    "Let me introduce you, this is Ye Xuan. She actually works for your company''s branch office in Linzhou City, Huaxia Country. She is here this time to attend headquarters'' training," said Ge Dongxu after giving his luggage to Matsukawa Nozomu.

    "Hi!" Matsukawa Nozomu greeted her with a handshake, handing over the luggage to a bodyguard behind him and then extending his hand to shake hands with Ye Xuan enthusiastically. "I will instruct the head of the human resources department that Miss Ye Xuan can directly contact him with any requests or needs she may have."

    "Thank you, Mr. Matsukawa!" exclaimed Ye Xuan, overjoyed, knowing that thanks to Ge Dongxu''s word, she was certain to be promoted and get a raise when she returned home.

    After leaving the airport terminal and arriving at the parking lot, someone was there to take Ye Xuan to the company to report, while Matsukawa Nozomu accompanied Ge Dongxu into an armored Mercedes-Benz.

    Sitting in the car and looking through the window, Ye Xuan watched as Matsukawa Nozomu personally opened and closed the car door for Ge Dongxu, then took his own seat in the front passenger side. The whole experience felt like a dream to her that she couldn''t help but pinch her own plump thigh. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As the black Mercedes-Benz drove out of the airport, the city lights were just beginning to illuminate the evening.

    Leaning back in the leather seat, Ge Dongxu looked out of the window at the brightly lit and bustling Tokyo night and said, "Take me to see that woman."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu reverted to his original appearance.

    Maintaining a disguised state wasn''t difficult for Ge Dongxu, but it was still somewhat uncomfortable.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu revert to his original appearance in the blink of an eye made Matsukawa Nozomu''s heart skip a beat, and he quickly nodded, saying, "Hi!"

    ...

    In Tokyo, in Ginza, within a room in a tall building, Yamaguchi Haruko was tied up both hands and feet to a chair, with stern-faced bodyguards watching over her inside and outside the room.

 Chapter 439 - 438: Showing Off Ones Proficiency with the Axe before Lu Ban

    "How long are you planning to keep me locked up?" Yamaguchi Haruko looked at the stern-faced bodyguards with a pitiful expression and asked.

    Initially, when she was confined, Yamaguchi Haruko thought that Matsukawa Nozomu would come to find her soon, but unexpectedly, a whole day and night passed, and it seemed like Matsukawa Nozomu had completely forgotten about her.

    In this case, Yamaguchi Haruko was completely unable to understand what Matsukawa Nozomu was actually trying to do.

    The two bodyguards ignored her, acting as if they hadn''t heard her at all.

    "Can''t you be less stern? It''s just a small issue. Don''t you think it''s cruel to keep a young woman locked up like this?" Yamaguchi Haruko said in a grievous tone as she continued, her voice becoming even more moving when she saw the bodyguards ignoring her.

    "It indeed is just a small issue. As long as you honestly answer this gentleman''s questions, I will answer your question," Yamaguchi Haruko had just finished speaking when, unnoticed, the door was pushed open, and Matsukawa Nozomu, accompanied by the freshly disguised Ge Dongxu, walked in.

    "Matsukawa Nozomu! Once our leader learns you have detained me, he definitely won''t let you off. You better release me quickly; there might still be a chance to turn things around," Yamaguchi Haruko''s face changed instantly upon seeing Matsukawa Nozomu, and she coldly threatened.

    "Mr. Ge, this is Yamaguchi Haruko." However, Matsukawa Nozomu ignored Yamaguchi Haruko, waved his hand to have others leave the room, then bowed slightly to Ge Dongxu and said.

    Seeing Matsukawa Nozomu bow to a young man and speaking in Chinese, Yamaguchi Haruko''s face showed a moment of confusion, but soon her expression drastically changed as she said, "Did the Chen Family''s mission fail because of you?"

    She spoke in Chinese, and her pronunciation was even more accurate than Matsukawa Nozomu''s.

    "You can speak Chinese?" Ge Dongxu asked, somewhat surprised, looking at Yamaguchi Haruko.

    "Of course. Being a top assassin requires proficiency in several languages," Yamaguchi Haruko replied coldly.

    "Ah, I had indeed forgotten that you are also an assassin," Ge Dongxu paused slightly, then said, coming to a realization.

    "I assume Matsukawa Nozomu must have told you about my real identity, so I advise you to release me immediately. Our Anri Organization is a powerful group, not something a single individual can contend with," Yamaguchi Haruko said.

    "The strength of Anri is not important; what is important is that it has provoked me. So, I kindly ask Miss Yamaguchi to answer my questions properly, or don''t blame me for being ruthless. Of course, if Miss Yamaguchi cooperates fully, I am willing to let you go," Ge Dongxu said as he casually untied the ropes binding Yamaguchi Haruko.

    "Alright, ask." Yamaguchi Haruko complied and remained sitting in the chair, her True Qi slowly circulating within her, easing the numbness in her limbs and accumulating energy for a burst.

    "Tell me how many people are in the Anri Organization, where is the headquarters, and where is the leader?" Ge Dongxu clearly knew that Yamaguchi Haruko was secretly circulating her True Qi, but he didn''t care at all and instead turned, sat on the sofa, and crossed his legs as he asked.

    Matsukawa Nozomu did not sit but stood behind the sofa like an attendant.

    Haruko Yamaguchi saw that Matsukawa Nozomu didn''t even have the guts to sit down in front of Ge Dongxu, she couldn''t help but feel secretly shocked, yet this did not deter her from circulating her True Qi.

    Haruko Yamaguchi was at the Second Level of Qi Cultivation, and she had also undergone intense close-combat training. Even if Ge Dongxu was also a member of Qimen, just like her, she did not believe that if she suddenly attacked, Ge Dongxu could react quickly enough to use Techniques to block her attack. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, she wouldn''t attack rashly. Once she did attack, it had to be a sure hit, otherwise, once the bodyguards rushed in from outside the door, pointing guns at her, she would lose the chance to resist, just like last time.

    "Only our leader knows exactly how many people are in the Anri Organization, as for the headquarters..." Haruko Yamaguchi purposefully dragged out her words. Then, just as Ge Dongxu was waiting for her to continue, she suddenly leapt up from her position like a cheetah, her fingers spread wide, and pounced toward Ge Dongxu.

    "With just that level of cultivation, you shouldn''t try to show off your skills in front of me!" Seeing Haruko Yamaguchi lunge toward him, Ge Dongxu gave a disdainful cold smirk and raised his hand to strike her from a distance.

    Immediately, Haruko Yamaguchi felt an overwhelming force coming toward her chest.

    With her momentum, Haruko Yamaguchi let out a cry, her body flying backward and then heavily falling to the ground, while Ge Dongxu appeared as if he had never physically touched her.

    Even though Matsukawa Nozomu had already witnessed Ge Dongxu''s prowess, seeing such miraculous and terrifying means from a close distance as a bystander still scared him enough to make his legs tremble, his eyes revealing deep awe and fear.

    "True Qi released! Strike across mountains!" Haruko Yamaguchi screamed in a high pitch, her face pale.

    People in Qimen all cultivate True Qi, but releasing True Qi outside of one''s body requires at least the cultivation of the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. To release True Qi and still possess the power to strike across mountains requires at least being at the Sixth or Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    For Haruko Yamaguchi, releasing True Qi was already quite impressive. As for striking across mountains, to her, it was almost a legendary realm.

    "It seems you do have some insights," Ge Dongxu coldly smiled and said, "Since you know that I can strike across mountains, I think you should understand that any trick in front of me is just a waste of effort."

    "Just kill me!" Haruko Yamaguchi slowly stood up from the ground and said, looking at Ge Dongxu.

    "Killing you is just a matter of lifting a finger for me. However, you should know that a person like me has many ways to kill someone. Even before I kill you, I can still get the information I want from you. But that requires more effort, and I do not want to tire myself. Of course, you are a very beautiful woman, and beautiful women can sometimes elicit a sense of compassion in men, so if I were you, knowing that sooner or later I would reveal my secrets, I might as well just speak up and avoid unnecessary suffering. Of course, I know you might still be hopeful, so I might as well let you see for yourself, in case you think I am bluffing!" said Ge Dongxu, as a powerful spiritual power was released from him, pressing down on Haruko Yamaguchi like a majestic mountain.

    Haruko Yamaguchi immediately felt an intense pain in her brain and a crushing weight on her heart, like the fear of doomsday.

    The already standing Haruko Yamaguchi suddenly slumped back to the ground, her eyes full of terror.

    She was proficient in the Bewitching Soul Technique, naturally making her much stronger in spiritual power than other magicians of the same realm, but under the oppressive might of Ge Dongxu''s powerful spiritual power, she felt as insignificant as a tiny insect under a giant mountain.

    She simply could not imagine how a person''s spiritual power could be so immense!

 Chapter 440 - 439: Take Me Now

    "I heard you once tried to bewitch Matsukawa Nozomu with the Bewitching Soul Technique, aiming to extract specifics about the Samosir Island mission from him. It seems you must be skilled at the Bewitching Soul Technique. Given that, you should understand that with your current strength, even if you''re on guard, as long as I apply the Bewitching Soul Technique for a prolonged period, your mental defenses will eventually collapse, and you will obediently spill all your secrets to me." Ge Dongxu quickly withdrew his spiritual power, looking at Yamaguchi Haruko with a knowing, slight smile.

    "If I voluntarily tell you, once the leader finds out, he will definitely kill me," said Yamaguchi Haruko, her face revealing a mixture of misery and helplessness as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "Matsukawa Nozomu is my man. From the moment your leader sent you to extract information from him, he was already walking the path of death. So, he will have no chance to kill you," Ge Dongxu said calmly.

    Upon hearing this, Yamaguchi Haruko''s delicate body trembled slightly, her eyes, previously as desolate as ash, lighting up with a flicker of intrigue.

    She was naturally intelligent, only dulled momentarily by the intense pressure of Ge Dongxu''s spiritual power.

    Now that Ge Dongxu had reminded her, she suddenly came to a realization.

    "Alright, I''ll tell you. But I have a condition," said Yamaguchi Haruko.

    "You''re not in a position to negotiate terms with me," Ge Dongxu stated flatly, a hint of murderous intent flickering in his eyes.

    Yamaguchi Haruko was just a Japanese assassin. Killing such a person would not weigh on Ge Dongxu''s conscience, even if she was attractive and sexy. It was merely that he didn''t want to bother or resort to torture on a woman, which is why he had spoken so much to her. But this did not mean Yamaguchi Haruko could negotiate terms with him.

    "Then may I request something of you?" Seeing the murderous intent in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, Yamaguchi Haruko''s face whitened a shade, and she quickly clasped her hands together in front of her and bowed deeply.

    As Yamaguchi Haruko bowed deeply, her neckline stretched open, revealing the white and ample flesh inside, which was quite eye-catching.

    No wonder a big shot like Matsukawa Nozomu had been enchanted by her; not only was she beautiful, but she also had a stunning figure.

    Facing Yamaguchi Haruko, Ge Dongxu inevitably saw the spring view beneath her neckline and could not help but inwardly praise an admiring word.

    Of course, that was all. Ge Dongxu could never have his heart moved by such a woman; he soon averted his gaze and said indifferently, "Although I suspect you are referring to the same thing, since you are asking, I can consider it. Speak." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yamaguchi Haruko earnestly requests that you would shelter this humble servant. I am willing to follow by your side, serve you without complaint or regret," Yamaguchi Haruko suddenly knelt with her hands and forehead touching the ground, pleading.

    Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned.

    He had not expected Yamaguchi Haruko to make such a request.

    But soon, Ge Dongxu realized, gave Yamaguchi Haruko a deep look, and said, "You indeed are a clever woman. However, I cannot trust a female assassin unless you take a Blood Oath."

    "Yes!" Yamaguchi Haruko, apparently already prepared mentally for this request, bowed again immediately and then made a lifelong vow to follow Ge Dongxu and never betray him.

    After receiving Yamaguchi Haruko''s Blood Oath, Ge Dongxu said, "Rise."

    "Yes!" Yamaguchi Haruko responded and then stood up.

    "Let''s talk about the Anri Organization," Ge Dongxu said as he saw Yamaguchi Haruko rise.

    "Yes," Yamaguchi Haruko responded respectfully with a bow, once again revealing a glimpse of fair, voluptuous skin below her neckline.

    Yamaguchi Haruko then explained about the Anri Organization. Being at the Second Level of Qi Cultivation and skilled in the Bewitching Soul Technique, she counted as one of the top assassins in the Anri Organization. Additionally, her beautiful appearance and sexy figure, skilled in the arts of the bedchamber, made her a confidante of the leader of the Anri Organization; thus, she did know quite a number of secrets.

    "Our organization''s core members, like myself, all practice Mysterious Arts. However, we are not many¡ªonly eighteen. Usually, we train and receive special training at a hidden headquarters in the suburbs of Tokyo and are only mobilized for special missions. The five ninjas, who were killed after a failed mission on Samosir Island, were among these eighteen core members. Precisely for this reason, our leader was extremely furious and ordered a thorough investigation. Aside from these eighteen members who practice Mysterious Arts, there are others who are peripheral assassins carrying out ordinary tasks. They do not come into contact with the leader, and they even do not know the location of the headquarters," Yamaguchi Haruko said.

    Upon hearing Yamaguchi Haruko''s words, Ge Dongxu and Matsukawa Nozomu finally came to realize why the Anri Organization had sent someone to probe Matsukawa Nozomu.

    To Ge Dongxu, these five ninjas were but mediocre magicians; he genuinely did not take them seriously at the time. Seeing Ge Dongxu dispose of those five ninjas with a casual flick of his hand, Matsukawa Nozomu subconsciously belittled them too, and afterwards, casually deciding to kill them without giving much thought to the fact that ninjas are extremely rare nowadays, possessing low cultivation notwithstanding¡ªthey were still unique individuals with Mysterious Arts, precious to the Anri Organization.

    "Our leader is named Maeda Ueji, whether that is his real name or not, we do not know. He is an Onmyoji who should possess the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Not only that, but he also keeps a Shikigami, equivalent to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Usually, he also trains in the headquarters and does not go out," Yamaguchi Haruko continued, revealing a hint of fear in her eyes as she spoke of the leader and his Shikigami.

    "That''s enough, lead me there now," Ge Dongxu said, rising. He naturally would not take an Onmyoji of the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation and a Shikigami of an equivalent level seriously.

    At his current Realm, there was basically nothing to fear anymore. The only reason he used a false passport and disguise was to avoid leaving any trace behind, in case someone tried to track him, which would take extra time and effort to handle. After all, he still had friends and family and he also wanted to live a normal life.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s nonchalant demeanor, Yamaguchi Haruko then remembered that her master''s strength was far more terrifying than Maeda Ueji''s, and the fear in her eyes gradually faded.

    "Yes!" Yamaguchi Haruko bowed to take her orders.

    "You don''t need to follow; just arrange for a car," Ge Dongxu told Matsukawa Nozomu.

    "Yes!" Matsukawa Nozomu bowed to take his orders.

    ...

    Under the night sky, at a somewhat secluded mountain ridge on the western outskirts of Tokyo.

    Yamaguchi Haruko witnessed a scene she would never be able to forget in her lifetime.

    Though it was her first time visiting the renowned secret headquarters of the Anri Organization, her master moved about the peril-laden site with ease, as if familiar with this secretive place. Without any noticeable actions, the hidden sentries concealed all around were all eradicated.

    In an instant, he arrived at the residence of the leader of the Anri Organization, and by then, the outside was still eerily silent¡ªmore precisely, utterly silent, for aside from the leader who was still alive, there were no other living souls outside.

    Ge Dongxu pushed open the door, as if entering his own home.

    Inside the room, Maeda Ueji was dressed in a white training suit, sitting cross-legged. Hearing the door open, he immediately opened his eyes, holding a Jade Token in his hand.

    "Damn it, who are you?" Seeing a strange young man, Maeda Ueji''s expression drastically changed, with a wisp of green smoke faintly emanating from the Jade Token in his hand.

 Chapter 441 - 440: Windfall

    "Yamaguchi Haruko, is he Maeda Ueji?" Ge Dongxu asked Yamaguchi Haruko behind him.

    "Go to hell!" Just as Maeda Ueji saw Yamaguchi Haruko, his expression changed again, and the killing intent in his eyes surged wildly.

    Suddenly, a burst of blue smoke rolled up a gloomy wind in the air and transformed into the phantom of a Japanese samurai with a sword in hand, striking down at Ge Dongxu''s head.

    It was the Shikigami raised by Maeda Ueji, also known as a ghost soldier.

    "Just playing ghost tricks," Ge Dongxu said with a cold laugh, pinching a spell in his hand, and suddenly a fuse appeared in the air.

    "Bind!" Ge Dongxu uttered in a low voice, and the fuse, like a snake, wound around the ghost soldier, entirely binding it up.

    "Ah! Ah!" The ghost soldier screamed miserably, as droplets of black liquid fell from the phantom, turning into an extremely sinister Evil Qi, causing the temperature in the entire room to drop suddenly.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu had just pinched a spell and the Shikigami that she could never have stopped on her own was captured, Yamaguchi Haruko''s eyes were full of shock and awe, while Maeda Ueji was already scared out of his wits and, without thinking, leaped up and flew backward, planning to break through the window and escape.

    However, just as Maeda Ueji had leaped up, he felt a pain at both knees, and his whole body fell back to the ground, sitting. When he looked down, he saw two pine needles stuck in his knees.

    "Master, spare my life!" Seeing that the two pine needles had actually penetrated his knees, Maeda Ueji became even more frightened and begged for mercy without a second thought. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You do have some insight. But since I''ve come here, it''s impossible for me to let you go. If you answer my questions honestly, I might consider giving you a quick death, otherwise, I will make you wish you were dead but unable to die, and even if your Physical Body dies, I can extract your Soul and subject you to endless torment. Being an Onmyoji, you should know the kind of pain a Soul endures when tortured day and night," Ge Dongxu said, looking at Maeda Ueji with an emotionless gaze.

    How could Ge Dongxu possibly have mercy on the leader of a Japanese assassin organization?

    "You''re a demon!" Maeda Ueji, upon hearing Ge Dongxu talk about extracting his Soul, couldn''t help trembling all over and looked at Ge Dongxu with terror in his eyes.

    "Don''t you think ''demon'' fits you better? I should be the enforcer of Heaven''s will. Alright, I won''t waste words with you, you only have ten seconds to make a choice," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "You ask, I''ll answer," Maeda Ueji said weakly as soon as Ge Dongxu''s words fell.

    As the leader of assassins, he had long been prepared for death, so the death of the Physical Body was not what Maeda Ueji feared, but the thought of having his Soul extracted terrified him to the core, daring not to say "no."

    "You are quite clever," Ge Dongxu nodded, and then asked him some questions, including whether there was anyone else behind him, whether all the core members were already here, and of course, some questions about money.

    Facing Ge Dongxu''s sharp gaze, which seemed to penetrate into one''s Spirit, Maeda Ueji didn''t dare to hide anything, much less deceive.

    The situation was simpler than Ge Dongxu had imagined; there was no one else behind Maeda Ueji, and the core members were the eighteen people Yamaguchi Haruko talked about, all of whom had already been killed by Ge Dongxu. As for who else was in the periphery, Ge Dongxu naturally couldn''t be bothered to inquire.

    After repeatedly asking some questions and having Yamaguchi Haruko supplement a few more, feeling there were no more omissions, Ge Dongxu gave Maeda Ueji a clean death.

    After killing Maeda Ueji, Ge Dongxu looked at the Shikigami still bound by the fuse in the air, gave it some thought, and said to Yamaguchi Haruko, "You take this Shikigami!"

    "Thank you, Master!" Yamaguchi Haruko was stunned for a moment, then bowed repeatedly to Ge Dongxu with ecstatic gratitude.

    Acquiring a Shikigami is no easy task, especially when someone like Yamaguchi Haruko is far less powerful than the Shikigami itself; taming it is nothing but a fool''s dream.

    Of course, it''s a different story with Ge Dongxu''s help.

    Communicating directly with the Shikigami through his Divine Sense, Ge Dongxu threatened to slowly refine it with a Fuse unless it agreed to sign a subordinate contract with Yamaguchi Haruko. At first, the Shikigami attempted to resist, but after Ge Dongxu slightly exerted his mana, it quickly submitted and signed the servant-master contract with Yamaguchi Haruko.

    After signing the servant-master contract with her Essence Blood, Ge Dongxu led her down to the basement once more.

    Beneath the basement, there was a hidden passage leading to a secret treasury.

    The money of assassin organizations cannot stand the light of day, so they usually don''t keep it in banks, and the Anri Organization is no exception.

    When Ge Dongxu opened this secret treasury, he was almost blinded by the neatly stacked piles of US Dollars.

    Although he was already rich, he had never seen so much cash.

    There was at least a hundred million in cash here.

    A hundred million US Dollars, with the current exchange rate being over eight, that equates to more than eight hundred million RMB, enough to land directly on the Huaxia Country''s rich list.

    And that''s just the cash. Next to it, there were some boxes which Ge Dongxu opened to find they contained high-quality diamonds, jade, antiques, and other valuable items.

    Having interacted quite a bit with Tang Yahui, Ge Dongxu knew a thing or two about the market and realized these gems and diamonds could easily be worth tens of millions of dollars once liquidated, though he didn''t know much about antiques.

    "I didn''t expect this trip to be more profitable than my two or three years running businesses!" Looking at a room filled with shimmering treasures and crisp green US bills, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel emotional.

    After his moment of reflection, Ge Dongxu had Yamaguchi Haruko find some large boxes, emptied the treasury, and then they left the secret headquarters of the Anri Organization.

    ...

    In a luxurious room of a skyscraper in Tokyo''s Ginza district, Matsukawa Nozomu was looking at several large boxes filled with US Dollars, jewelry, jade, and antiques. Even as the CEO of a multinational corporation, he was gobsmacked.

    "I won''t be able to take these items back to Huaxia Country, so please handle them for me," Ge Dongxu said.

    Matsukawa Nozomu, upon hearing this, snapped back to reality and quickly bowed deeply, saying, "Yes, sir!"

    However, in his heart, Matsukawa Nozomu couldn''t help but smile bitterly, knowing that laundering such a huge amount of money would require a lot of effort.

    "Yamaguchi Haruko mentioned that your failure in the Indonesia mission has had a significant impact on your standing within the Matsukawa Family. I assume establishing your position in the family will definitely cost money. I''m not in a hurry to use this money right now, so you can use it for the time being. I''ll also have Yamaguchi Haruko stay to assist you," Ge Dongxu said, giving Matsukawa Nozomu another look.

    "Thank you, Master!" Matsukawa Nozomu, who had just been smiling bitterly, couldn''t hide his elation and quickly bowed to Ge Dongxu.

 Chapter 442 - 441: I Was Wrong

    The next day, Ge Dongxu boarded the plane back to Linzhou.

    He was still in business class, and the flight attendant happened to be the same one from yesterday''s flight.

    The flight attendants in charge of business class and the chief stewardess had originally thought that Ge Dongxu would definitely be arrested as soon as he got off the plane yesterday for beating up so many Japanese people, and would at least be detained for a few days, even suffer a bit. However, they were both shocked and relieved to see Ge Dongxu the very next day, completely unharmed and looking incredibly relaxed.

    They had no idea what kind of powerhouse this young man was, to have beaten up so many Japanese people and still be able to fly back the next day without any issues on Japanese territory.

    Of course, these flight attendants and the chief stewardess only thought this to themselves; they knew better than to ask Ge Dongxu directly.

    Because of yesterday''s incident, and the fact that Ge Dongxu returned unharmed, the business class flight attendants were exceptionally warm towards him, frequently offering to bring him something to drink. Regardless of whether Ge Dongxu needed anything, they would find opportunities to chat with him, and one of them even offered him her phone number before he disembarked.

    The flight attendants in Huaxia Country are selected like beauty pageant contestants, each not only good-looking, but also with great figures and a good temperament, and those in charge of business class are especially the cream of the crop.

    Ge Dongxu received quite a few envious glares due to the flight attendants'' passionate attentions.

    The plane arrived in Linzhou in the evening.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu left the airport terminal, he reverted to his original appearance, then called Liu Jiayao.

    "Where are you? Didn''t work overtime, did you?" Ge Dongxu asked after getting through.

    "No way! You''ve already instructed me, how dare I!" Liu Jiayao replied.

    "Hehe, that''s more like it," Ge Dongxu laughed proudly, knowing that Liu Jiayao remembered the last time she worked overtime, and he got upset because she didn''t eat.

    "Look at how smug you are," Liu Jiayao said with a touch of annoyance, then asked, "Why did you call?"

    "Of course, because I missed you," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "I''ve missed you a bit too, but it''s a pity you have to accompany your parents," Liu Jiayao said.

    "I have to be with my parents, but I also have to be with my wife, so I''ve come to Linzhou," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Ah! You''re in Linzhou? Where are you now? I''ll come to pick you up," Liu Jiayao said with surprise and delight.

    Hearing the surprise in her voice over the phone, Ge Dongxu felt particularly happy as he got into a taxi and laughed, "No need, I''m already in a taxi and will be home soon."

    "Alright then, I''ll wait for you at home," Liu Jiayao said happily.

    Before the taxi even reached Yadu Garden complex, Ge Dongxu saw Liu Jiayao standing elegantly at the entrance, dressed in casual clothes and glancing towards the roadside from time to time.

    Ge Dongxu was deeply moved, thinking to himself how fortunate he was to have such powerful abilities and also to have met such a wonderful woman.

    "Dongxu!" As soon as Ge Dongxu got out of the taxi, Liu Jiayao rushed over and gave him an enthusiastic hug.

    This summer vacation, Ge Dongxu first went to the Yunnan border to buy jade. After returning from jade shopping, he had spent only one night with Liu Jiayao before he had to go home to give thanks to his master, host a banquet, then off to Indonesia, and as soon as he returned from Indonesia, he went straight to Yunnan to refine medicine and heal his senior brother. Just after dealing with his mother''s matters, he then helped exterminate zombies. Having just returned from Dongyue Province, he wanted to spend more days with his parents, but then an incident occurred in Japan, and he rushed there immediately. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    With one event after another during the summer vacation, Ge Dongxu had actually spent less time with Liu Jiayao than he did during his school days.

    "Have you had dinner?" Ge Dongxu held Liu Jiayao in his arms and asked softly.

    "I haven''t yet, just worrying about what to eat by myself tonight," Liu Jiayao shook her head and said.

    "Well, that''s perfect. There''s still plenty of time now. I''ll put my luggage down, and then we can go to the supermarket to buy some groceries. Tonight, you can taste my cooking," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That would be great," Liu Jiayao''s eyes lit up, and she said happily.

    "Then wait for me downstairs; I''ll go up and put my luggage away," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What for? Can''t I go up with you?" Liu Jiayao frowned, giving Ge Dongxu an unhappy glance.

    "Of course, I''d love that; I just didn''t want you to get tired from walking up and down," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "You can be so clever that it''s infuriating, but then so foolish that it''s a complete mess. How could a woman get tired when she''s with the man she likes?" Liu Jiayao poked Ge Dongxu in the forehead with her finger and said.

    "Hehe, really? Then tonight, we''ll do it twice!" Ge Dongxu said with a meaningful and naughty smile upon hearing this.

    Liu Jiayao paused slightly, and then fiercely pinched Ge Dongxu''s waist, glaring at him, "You, always twisting things! You''ll be sleeping in the next room tonight."

    "No way, sister, I was wrong, isn''t that enough for me to admit my mistake?" Ge Dongxu said, his eyes widening in alarm as he hurriedly begged for mercy.

    He hadn''t been with Liu Jiayao for a long time, and he had already been looking forward to spending a wild night with her on the way here. If he really had to sleep next door tonight, it would certainly be torture for him.

    "Hmph, too late!" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu''s pleading look and holding back her laughter, flipped her hair coolly and walked towards the apartment building where she lived.

    "Sister, I was wrong. Can we switch to a different kind of punishment? Like doing a hundred push-ups or something?" Ge Dongxu caught up and said, grinning.

    "Pfft, do you think I''m stupid? A hundred push-ups wouldn''t tire you out, I bet even a thousand wouldn''t," Liu Jiayao said, casting a sideways glance at Ge Dongxu.

    "Of course you''re not stupid; you''re the smartest woman in the world," Ge Dongxu continued to grin and flatter her.

    "Just the smartest in the world?" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu another sideways glance and said.

    "Of course not, you''re also the most beautiful, the kindest, with the best figure and the best temperament..." Ge Dongxu went on with a string of compliments.

    "Pfft!" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu''s "ingratiatingly pleasing" expression, finally couldn''t help laughing, and intimately wrapped her arm around his, rolling her eyes at him, "Okay, okay, do you want me to be covered in goosebumps?"

    "Hehe, then tonight..." Ge Dongxu asked.

    "That depends on your cooking skills," Liu Jiayao said.

    "You can count on it, my cooking is absolutely top-notch, sure to satisfy you," Ge Dongxu immediately claimed.

    "That''s what you said, if I''m not satisfied, hehe, you know what will happen," Liu Jiayao also said with a "naughty smile."

    While talking, the two had entered the elevator and then opened the door.

    Just a moment ago, Liu Jiayao was coolly threatening Ge Dongxu, but as soon as they entered the room and the door closed, she couldn''t resist throwing herself into Ge Dongxu''s arms again, and she took the initiative to give him a passionate kiss.

    Feeling the fiery and tender body in his arms, Ge Dongxu immediately became eager, his hands already becoming restless.

    "You! Not now!" Seeing Ge Dongxu wasn''t satisfied with over the clothes and was reaching underneath, Liu Jiayao hurriedly pushed him away with a flushed face.

 Chapter 443 - 442 You better cherish it!

    Ge Dongxu had no choice but to let out a sheepish laugh when Liu Jiayao pushed him away and stopped his hand.

    Seeing that triumphant smirk on Ge Dongxu''s face, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but pinch him hard until he raised his hand to surrender. Only then did she release him and take his arm as they headed out the door.

    Large chain supermarkets had only started becoming popular in recent years, but their growth was incredibly rapid.

    Especially among the younger generation, many preferred to choose supermarkets for grocery shopping.

    Ge Dongxu, intimately arm in arm with Liu Jiayao, a woman of elegant beauty, naturally drew envious and jealous glances from many young men.

    Due to her status, Liu Jiayao rarely visited supermarkets. Tonight was a rare occasion with Ge Dongxu accompanying her to experience the life of ordinary people, and her mood was exceptionally good.

    While shopping for groceries, she acted like a housewife, fussing over the selection, which amused and exasperated Ge Dongxu.

    "Greens aren''t necessarily better the greener they are, too vibrant typically means an overuse of nitrogen fertilizer. This asparagus, don''t think it''s tender just because it''s thin, you need to check if the root is tender. As for tomatoes, we''re planning to make soup, so it''s best to choose big red ones for a thick and tasty broth, while these pink types are good for eating raw. Also, it''s better to pick tomatoes that are indented at the top, not the ones that are pointed, as those are usually ripened artificially." As a meticulous chef, Ge Dongxu couldn''t stand it anymore seeing Liu Jiayao picking just the attractive ones and finally "could not bear it any longer." He took out each item from the cart, selecting ingredients he thought were better.

    "Hey, hey, do you even know what you''re doing? I picked them very carefully, you know!" Liu Jiayao complained when Ge Dongxu took out all of her carefully chosen items, just as she was feeling quite accomplished, pouting in protest.

    "My dear girl, you are so fortunate. It''s rare nowadays for young people to understand these things. It''s clear that he''s the cook in your home. Auntie isn''t as fortunate¡ªI have to serve the old man at home all day," a middle-aged woman, picking vegetables nearby, chimed in with a laugh when she saw Liu Jiayao pouting.

    Liu Jiayao instantly blushed deeply, while Ge Dongxu gave her a smug look before smiling at the woman and saying, "Auntie, actually, I''m the fortunate one. Look at me, being able to find such a beautiful and capable girlfriend; that must be the reward for my good deeds in my past life. Oh, I''d happily do anything, not just cook."

    As Liu Jiayao blushed deeply, she initially wanted to pinch Ge Dongxu discreetly, but his flattering words nearly melted her heart, and she just couldn''t bring herself to pinch him.

    "Young lady, this young man is really quite good, you better cherish him!" The woman grew even fonder of Ge Dongxu, and earnestly advised Liu Jiayao before she walked away. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Look at him, knows how to cook and treats his girlfriend well. And you? You can''t even shop for groceries without looking so reluctant!" Not far away, another young girl wasn''t having the same experience as Liu Jiayao, and gave a fierce pinch to her boyfriend''s waist.

    The man, while begging for mercy, gave Ge Dongxu a spiteful glance as if blaming him for his plight.

    Brother, can you not be so capable? You''re making my life miserable here.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu couldn''t hear the guy''s inner thoughts, but he gave him a sympathetic look and then whispered in Liu Jiayao''s ear, "Did you hear that? Auntie said you have to cherish me."

    "Look how smug you are!" Liu Jiayao shot Ge Dongxu a sideways glance, but her hand clung to his even tighter as she said, "Fine, since you''re so capable, I''ll stop caring. You pick everything."

    "That''s the spirit. Such tasks shouldn''t bother you at all, I can handle them," Ge Dongxu exaggeratedly proclaimed.

    "Pfft!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but burst into laughter at the sight, and the man again suffered an unwarranted disaster because of what Ge Dongxu had just said.

    "Next week I need to make a trip to Hong Kong, do you have time to come with me?" On the way home after grocery shopping, Liu Jiayao asked with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.

    "Next week should be fine, but this week would be impossible. An elder apprentice is visiting me these days," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Dongxu, it''s so good to have you by my side." At his words, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but rest her head on Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, her face radiating happiness.

    "By the way, what are you going to Hong Kong for?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Flower Spirit''s development has been smoother than expected, and if there is enough supply of raw materials, we might be able to launch it early next year. This time, Flower Spirit is targeted at the mid-to-high-end market, and I even hope to penetrate the luxury market with a few upcoming models. Therefore, choosing the right celebrity endorser is absolutely critical. Considering the temperament and international impact besides popularity, celebrities from Hong Kong and Taiwan are still superior to those from the mainland. After careful consideration, I''ve temporarily decided on the popular Hong Kong actress He Mengjie. She is beautiful and has a great demeanor, has starred in several popular films and TV dramas, won major awards, and currently, she has no makeup brand endorsements. However, I''ve never met her, so I want to see her in person, have a discussion, and see if she''s a good fit. The meeting time was just set today," Liu Jiayao replied.

    "The choice of a celebrity endorser is indeed very crucial, and it''s good to be cautious. As for the supply of raw materials, you don''t need to worry. I''ll prepare everything tomorrow and then arrange the flower garden to ensure the plants grow well. If the market reacts well, we can expand the cultivation area," said Ge Dongxu.

    "That''s great, as long as there''s no problem with the raw material supply, I''ll handle everything else," Liu Jiayao said happily.

    "I believe that, our Madam Liu is a powerhouse in the business world," Ge Dongxu flattered.

    "You just know how to make me happy!" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, grinning.

    "I''m just telling the truth," Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    While they were talking, the two arrived home, then Ge Dongxu started preparing dinner.

    Liu Jiayao wanted to help but was shooed away by Ge Dongxu, so she could only lean on the kitchen door and watch Ge Dongxu bustling about in the kitchen, her eyes full of happiness.

    However, Liu Jiayao''s eyes filled with happiness soon turned to sheer astonishment.

    Because she found that Ge Dongxu''s cooking was just like those exaggerated performances in the movies.

    He tossed the asparagus into the air, and with a few swishes of the kitchen knife, evenly cut asparagus pieces fell into the pot. Then, flipping the wok seemed like a juggling act, dazzling Liu Jiayao.

    As for the dishes he cooked, that goes without saying.

    They were perfect in color, aroma, taste, and presentation! Liu Jiayao was so tempted to eat, yet she somewhat hesitated to dig in, afraid she might ruin the perfect artworks.

 Chapter 444 - 443: Preparing the Flower Garden

    "Dongxu, with your cooking skills, if you ever decided to enter a chef competition, no one else would stand a chance," Liu Jiayao said while eating at the dining table, unable to stop herself from praising him.

    "Hehe, not bad, huh? My master is quite picky, and doesn''t like to be a bother in his old age, so when I was very young, besides cultivating, I was cooking all the time," Ge Dongxu said with pride, seeing Liu Jiayao''s continuous compliments.

    "Not just not bad, it''s absolutely delicious! Had I known how amazing your cooking was, I wouldn''t have bothered going to the restaurant at Mingyue Lake. From now on, you''ll have to cook for me once a week," Liu Jiayao said.

    "I could cook every day without a problem," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "That won''t do, if you cooked for me every day, I''d turn into a fatso for sure. Besides, if you stayed at home all day, how would I ever get any rest?" Liu Jiayao touched her slightly protruding belly and gave Ge Dongxu a pointed look.

    "With Sister Liu''s grace and beauty, even if you gained weight, you''d definitely be a beauty like Yang Guifei," Ge Dongxu said, cheerfully ignoring the latter part of Liu Jiayao''s complaint.

    "With the way you talk, by the time you go to college, who knows how many female classmates will be fooled by you," Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes, but felt quite pleased inside.

    "I would only say that to you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What about Sister Lili then?" Liu Jiayao asked deliberately.

    "Cough, cough!" Ge Dongxu suddenly choked on the question.

    "You, you''ve given yourself away!" Liu Jiayao saw this and jabbed Ge Dongxu''s forehead with her finger, reproachfully chiding him.

    "Hehe." Ge Dongxu rubbed his forehead and gave an embarrassed smile.

    There was no way he could defend his relationship with Jiang Lili.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s sheepish look, Liu Jiayao tapped his forehead again with her finger, then contentedly rubbed her belly saying, "I can''t eat anymore, or I''ll burst."

    Relieved that Liu Jiayao had not brought up Jiang Lili again, Ge Dongxu quickly stood up saying, "Let me clean up."

    "Leave it, I''ll do it," Liu Jiayao asserted, rising and snatching the utensils from Ge Dongxu''s hands.

    Ge Dongxu still wanted to insist, but Liu Jiayao glared with a threat, "Do you want to sleep in the guest room tonight?"

    Ge Dongxu had no choice but to let go, and while Liu Jiayao was washing dishes, he couldn''t help but hug her from behind and tenderly said, "What good deeds did I do in my last life to have met you in this life?" S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

    "You, how are you getting so good? No, you have to break through to the Dragon Tiger Realm soon because one day I''ll collapse from exhaustion. Otherwise, you''ll have to go find your Sister Li to help out," Liu Jiayao gasped late at night on the pink bed, feeling completely weak and flopped over Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, too exhausted to move.

    "It might be because we haven''t been together for a while, and it might also be related to a recent breakthrough in my cultivation," Ge Dongxu explained with a wry smile.

    Although he was progressing quickly, breaking through to the Dragon Tiger Realm was far from easy.

    Especially breaking through from the Qi Cultivation realm to the Dragon Tiger realm, this is a qualitative leap, not just about providing enough spiritual energy or elixirs. It also requires a higher understanding of the Heavenly Dao, which requires talent, opportunity, and time to settle.

    Therefore, Liu Jiayao''s urging was useless, and as for asking Jiang Lili for help, he had thought about it, but what if he couldn''t control himself?

    Jiang Lili and Liu Jiayao were not the same type of woman.

    "You guy, you really make one both love and fear!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but bite his shoulder as she spoke.

    Ge Dongxu, touching her smooth, fragrant back, sighed helplessly, "It seems that after school starts, I can only try to come here less often."

    Upon hearing Ge Dongxu say this, Liu Jiayao couldn''t bear it anymore. She hugged his neck and kissed him, saying, "You fool, I was just kidding. Once a week is still possible."

    Ge Dongxu, hearing this, hugged Liu Jiayao and tenderly kissed her forehead but did not respond.

    ...

    The next day, Ge Dongxu accompanied Liu Jiayao to her workplace.

    She went to work on the company''s affairs while Ge Dongxu stayed in the adjoining rest room, engraving the Talisman Jade for the flower gardens.

    The jade was what Ge Dongxu had purchased from the border last time. When he returned from the border to Linzhou City, except for the Jade Tokens used for setting up the Spirit Gathering Array, which he took with him, the jade meant for the flower gardens was left directly in Yadu Garden and not taken home.

    These jade stones, used for the flower gardens, were either Ice Type Jadeite or high Ice Type Jadeite, much larger in size compared to the Jade Tokens Ge Dongxu used for the Spirit Gathering Array. Each piece was as big as an adult''s fist, or even larger.

    The Rune Arrays engraved in these jade stones were naturally not as complex as the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation. However, because they were to be set up over a huge area of the flower garden, the number of Rune Arrays needed was quite large. For this reason, the jade stones needed to be relatively large in size.

    Since a huge number of Rune Arrays needed to be engraved, Ge Dongxu started in the morning and continued working until it was almost time to finish for the day.

    Next was to bury these jade stones in various corners of the flower garden according to their positions, and starting it up would mean the task was complete.

    After securing all nine jade stones, Ge Dongxu left the room, saw Liu Jiayao still busy, and waited until she finished work. Then they left the office together and drove straight to the eastern suburbs.

    In the eastern suburbs of Linzhou City, along the Qian River, there were still hills and wastelands with only a few scattered households, showing no signs of development.

    Since the east is associated with wood and water nurtures wood, when Ge Dongxu initially helped look for land to plant flowers, he saw that this area in the east suburbs along the river was undeveloped and on sale at a very low price. He immediately suggested that Liu Jiayao purchase nearly four hundred acres of land, including a small hill, from the government of Bindong District for twenty million yuan.

    Now, barely half a year later, that small hill and the land at its foot had already turned into a sea of flowers. Not only that, when Ge Dongxu arrived at this land, he also saw an unfinished villa on the hill.

    "Hmm, building a villa here is not a bad idea," Ge Dongxu said, his eyes slightly lighting up at the sight.

    "Yes, with the mountains and water, and surrounded by flowers if we were to live here, just thinking about it feels incredibly beautiful," Liu Jiayao said dreamily.

    "You saying that reminds me. Once I have laid out the Formation here with the jade, and further arrange it in the future, this place will become a Feng Shui treasure in Linzhou City. Living here, saying it would definitely make one wealthy and rich might be an exaggeration, but extending life is certainly possible. If we only use it to grow flowers, it would be somewhat wasteful. Not to mention my layout is priceless, just the jade stones I''ve used are worth millions," Ge Dongxu said, looking past the sea of flowers to the surroundings, pensively.

 Chapter 445 - 444: Summon the Wind and Call the Rain

    "You mean to buy up all the surrounding land?" Liu Jiayao asked, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

    "Why not? Others might not know that this is a Feng Shui treasure land, but we do. Besides, if we plant flowers all over the place in the future, it will become a super garden. With the mountains, the water, and the big garden, and the air being so fresh, what place could be more livable than this?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "But this is a suburban area, who knows when it will be developed. All of Qinglan Cosmetics Company''s liquid funds are currently being prepared for the Flower Spirit, and there is not a penny to spare for other investments," Liu Jiayao thought for a while and then shook her head.

    "Heh, the suburbs have their advantages too, which is that the land is cheap, and the district government is practically begging us to buy it. As for the money, don''t worry about it, it''s no problem for me to allocate one or two billion," Ge Dongxu said.

    "One or two billion is no problem?" Upon hearing this, Liu Jiayao''s eyes widened in astonishment. She of course knew that Ge Dongxu had several other companies under his control, but those companies were all in the midst of rapid expansion, with sizeable investments, and just half a year ago Ge Dongxu had drawn over sixty million to help acquire the shares of other Qinglan Cosmetics shareholders. Later on, due to the development of Flower Spirit, purchasing this piece of land, and so on, he had injected nearly thirty million more. Now Ge Dongxu could casually mention pulling out another billion or two, how could it not shock Liu Jiayao?

    "If you''re planning to take out a loan, there''s really no need. After all, this is the suburbs, who knows when it will be developed, and you will need money for other things too. If you do take out a loan and a large amount of capital is tied up here, causing cash flow difficulties that hinder the development of other industries, then it would be a loss indeed," but Liu Jiayao''s mind was also quick, and she soon realized that Ge Dongxu might be planning to finance the land purchase through a loan.

    "Relax, I recently came into a fortune, so I have some extra cash," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    On his recent trip to Japan, he earned more than eight hundred million in cash alone. If he were to liquidate assets like jewelry and stocks, he estimated that it would be at least over ten billion. Although it was temporarily lent to Matsukawa Nozomu for circulation, for him to allocate one or two billion and find a way to transfer it to Huaxia Country was not a problem.

    Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu in a daze for a while, then shook her head and said, "Well, there''s nothing that happens to you that should surprise me."

    Ge Dongxu chuckled, then pointed to the surrounding land and said, "After I get back from Hong Kong, let''s find a time to meet with the people from Bindong District government and buy up all this land around us. In addition to using it to continue to expand our flower cultivation, we can gradually develop it into a large-scale community that integrates ecological tourism and residential living."

    "Your ambitions are pretty grand. How much money would that take? And seriously, could this place really attract people?" Liu Jiayao said thoughtfully, clearly not very optimistic about Ge Dongxu''s idea.

    It is true that the land is currently a wasteland of woods, sporadically inhabited by a few farmers, and hardly populated at all. Even if it was to be developed, Liu Jiayao thought it would take at least ten to twenty years. With such a large sum of money, why invest it here instead of somewhere else?

    "Never mind, the money would just be sitting idle anyway, so let''s consider it a preparation for Linzhou City''s future, creating an earthly paradise and preserving a piece of green mountains and clear waters. Isn''t that nice?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    He was indeed serious about this idea. The land was lying fallow, and if he planted flowers, trees, and infused the Qi of money from the river with mana, and then arranged everything well, a fine ecological environment would form¡ªa real Feng Shui treasure land, also preserving a piece of green for Linzhou City. If he didn''t buy it now, it might end up being developed haphazardly, or even worse, turned into factories, which would truly be a waste of this land.

    Liu Jiayao was momentarily stunned by his words and then snuggled up against Ge Dongxu, whispering, "Whatever you say is best, then that''s what we''ll do."

    Ge Dongxu quietly embraced Liu Jiayao''s waist for a while, then kissed her forehead and said, "Let''s get to work."

    Saying this, Ge Dongxu slowly walked with Liu Jiayao around the flower beds.

    When they arrived at the spot he had chosen, he crouched down and directly pressed the Jade with mana into the ground.

    Watching the fist-sized Jade being gently pressed by Ge Dongxu into the soil and slowly sinking in, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but be astounded and asked with a bit of worry, "What if the gardeners dig it out when they''re tilling the soil?" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Don''t worry, the jade is buried very deep. We''re just planting flowers, not building foundations for a house; we won''t dig up the jade," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Can it really get buried very deep with just a light press like that?" Liu Jiayao couldn''t quite believe it.

    "Why don''t you grab a hoe and try digging to see?" Ge Dongxu teased.

    "Annoying! You know I don''t understand this stuff, and you''re still saying that!" Liu Jiayao pinched Ge Dongxu and rolled her eyes at him.

    "Haha!" Ge Dongxu laughed happily.

    Ge Dongxu then found nine other locations and buried all the jade stones he had into the soil.

    When all nine jade stones were buried, Ge Dongxu formed a spell with his hands and pointed towards the directions of the nine jade stones, casting nine Dharma Seals in succession. Faintly, nine invisible streams of energy soared up from the nine locations, then formed a Nine Palaces Bagua Map in the sky and gradually disappeared from sight.

    "That''s it," Ge Dongxu said, clapping his hands.

    "That''s it? I don''t feel any change." Liu Jiayao felt a bit disappointed.

    "The change is very subtle and will take years and years, it''s called ''nourishing silently.'' If there were big changes right after setting it up, it would attract the attention of those with ill intentions," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "I understand, it''s just a little disappointing not to see anything spectacular," Liu Jiayao nodded and said.

    "If you really want to see, it''s not hard." Ge Dongxu chuckled, then formed a spell with his hands, shouting in a low voice, "Rain, come!"

    Suddenly, dark clouds gathered over the Qian River and it began to pour, leaving Liu Jiayao staring in amazement. It took her a moment to stutter, "You, you can actually summon wind and rain. Does that, does that make you an immortal?"

    "What I did can hardly count as summoning wind and rain, it was just calling over a small cloud. In the legends, real summoning wind and rain involves causing a storm and pouring rain over thousands of miles with a wave of a hand. Now that is real immortality, and I am far from that," Ge Dongxu explained with a laugh.

    "That''s still very impressive. In the eyes of us ordinary people, it really doesn''t seem much different from immortality," Liu Jiayao said, taking a while to regain her composure, her eyes revealing a complex look as she gazed at Ge Dongxu.

    When she was very young, like all girls, Liu Jiayao dreamed of princes and princesses, but she never imagined that one day her man would be an "immortal."

    ...

    Two days later at noon, Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao were together in the airport lobby, waiting for Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong to emerge.

 Chapter 446 - 445: Sect Leaders Wife?

    "Your senior brother is nearly a hundred years old, is it appropriate for me to call him senior brother?" Outside the airport terminal, Liu Jiayao was visibly nervous.

    To the people of Qimen, a fellow sect brother is not much different from a real brother. So essentially, this was Liu Jiayao''s first time meeting Ge Dongxu''s family.

    "You''re my wife, if not ''senior brother,'' what else would you call him?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Stop it, who''s your wife?" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, her cheeks slightly flushed.

    "After all this, if you''re not my wife, then what are you?" Ge Dongxu chuckled.

    Liu Jiayao saw Ge Dongxu''s smug grin and was just about to pinch him stealthily when Ge Dongxu suddenly said, "Senior brother is coming out."

    Liu Jiayao looked up and sure enough, a silver-haired elderly man and a middle-aged man in his fifties appeared at the exit, her nerves suddenly tightened.

    "Don''t worry, senior brother is one of our own, he''s a good person, there''s nothing to be nervous about," Ge Dongxu patted Liu Jiayao''s hand, comforting her softly as he waved at Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong.

    This dummy, it''s exactly because he''s one of our own that I am nervous! Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu again, then tried to suppress her nervousness and also raised her hand to wave at Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong.

    "Master, uncle is over there," Ouyang Murong whispered to Yang Yinhou as he pulled his suitcase and strode towards Ge Dongxu.

    "Senior brother, you must be exhausted after the journey," Ge Dongxu greeted Yang Yinhou with a smile.

    "Senior brother, hello!" Liu Jiayao, after all, is the CEO of a company. At the crucial moment, she also calmed down, greeted with a smile, and slightly bowed to Yang Yinhou with natural grace.

    "So you are Liu Jiayao, whom Dongxu previously mentioned, truly remarkable," Yang Yinhou sized up Liu Jiayao and pulled out a fully green Glass Type Jadeite Bracelet from his pocket, saying with a smile, "Senior brother doesn''t have much in the way of gifts to give you, take this."

    Liu Jiayao, although not well-versed in jadeite, knew this green and translucent jadeite must be extremely valuable, probably worth at least several millions. She was startled, just thinking about declining when Ge Dongxu had already spoken, "Take what senior brother gives you."

    "Thank you, senior brother," Liu Jiayao changed the words at her lips, her cheeks blushing as she accepted the Jade Bracelet.

    "Hello auntie, hello uncle," seeing Liu Jiayao accept the Jade Bracelet, Ouyang Murong finally found an opportunity to speak and quickly stepped forward, slightly bowing as he greeted.

    "Oh, this isn''t right, just call me Jiayao," even though Liu Jiayao was the CEO of a company, being suddenly addressed by a very composed middle-aged man as aunt and uncle left her face flushed red, and she felt at a loss.

    "You are the Sect Leader''s wife, and proper respect is indispensable! You''ll gradually get used to it," Yang Yinhou said seriously.

    "Sect Leader''s wife?" Liu Jiayao was confused.

    "Jiayao didn''t know?" Yang Yinhou looked towards Ge Dongxu.

    "She hasn''t formally started her cultivation, so I didn''t tell her about this," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "I see," Yang Yinhou nodded, then looked at Liu Jiayao with a smile and said, "There are many rules in Qimen, some may evolve with time, but others are immutable. Murong is my apprentice, and I am actually a fellow sect brother with Dongxu, as close as real brothers. So even if Murong is now a hundred years old, he must address you as aunt and uncle, that can''t be changed."

    Liu Jiayao could only nod at this point, her cheeks already burning red.

    "Senior brother, there are a lot of people here, let''s talk more in the car," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright," Yang Yinhou nodded.

    The group got into the car, and Ge Dongxu first drove them to the revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake for lunch. He originally wanted to take Yang Yinhou for a walk around Mingyue Lake, but Yang Yinhou was eager to pay respects to Ren Yao, so Ge Dongxu had to abandon the plan.

    Liu Jiayao did not accompany him back to Changxi County. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the past, it didn''t matter that Ge Dongxu was alone;, this time, with his senior brother and Ouyang Murong around, he deliberately arranged for a car, of course not the one with a special license plate, but a company''s Audi.

    "Looking at the senior brother''s complexion, it seems he must have broken through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, sitting beside Yang Yinhou in the back seat.

    Ouyang Murong, of course, was driving.

    "Yes, thanks to you, not only are my legs completely healed, but my cultivation also naturally advanced to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation. A few years ago, I wouldn''t even dare to dream of this. Not just me, Murong has finally broken through to the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation, truly entering the room," Yang Yinhou said both happily and emotionally.

    "Senior brother is accumulating richly to deliver thinly; I think it won''t be long before you can break through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Haha, you seem to have more confidence in me than I do in myself," Yang Yinhou laughed.

    As they talked, evening had unknowingly fallen, and the car had entered the territory of Ouzhou City.

    Yang Yinhou gradually became silent, his expression solemn.

    Ge Dongxu knew he was thinking of his master, patted his thigh, and stopped talking.

    When the car reached Changxi County, it had already turned completely dark; Ge Dongxu suggested visiting their master the next day, but Yang Yinhou insisted on going right away.

    Ge Dongxu had no choice but to follow him. They drove all the way to the foot of Baiyun Mountain and then the three of them got out of the car, climbing up the mountain path toward the halfway point.

    Yang Yinhou''s steps were quick and heavy.

    "Ahead is the place where our master rests," Ge Dongxu said as they approached the spot.

    At these words, Yang Yinhou shuddered and tears began to flow unchecked; he hurried forward, taking two steps at a time.

    In the moonlight, Yang Yinhou saw the small Taoist temple and the tombstone of Ren Yao.

    "Master, your unworthy disciple has come to see you," Yang Yinhou said through tears, suddenly throwing himself in front of Ren Yao''s grave.

    Seeing this, Ouyang Murong followed suit by kneeling down and knocking his head on the ground three times. Meanwhile, Ge Dongxu silently helped by lighting a few sticks of incense and planting them on top, then took out the master''s favorite Huadiao Wine, called "beggar''s chicken," and other dishes, placing each one out carefully.

    Yang Yinhou shed tears for a long while before he was able to curb his deep sorrow, respectfully offering incense and sprinkling wine on the grave.

    After the memorial ceremony, the night had grown late.

    "Tonight, I would like to stay here and have a chat with my master;, you don''t have to stay with me," Yang Yinhou said.

    "I don''t have anything else to do, so I might as well stay here," Ge Dongxu said, his nose feeling a bit sour.

    "That''s also good," Yang Yinhou nodded.

    So that night, the three of them spent the night in front of Ren Yao''s grave. Yang Yinhou drank a considerable amount of yellow wine and spoke all night about his experiences over the years.

    Ouyang Murong was still alright, knowing about his master''s experiences over the years;, but it was Ge Dongxu who was moved to tears several times, growing more respectful of Yang Yinhou, his senior brother.

 Chapter 447 - 446 Missed Appointment

    The next day, Yang Yinhou stood halfway up the hillside, gazing at the clouds and mist swirling around the lush green Baiyun Mountain.

    After a long while, Yang Yinhou spoke, "Dongxu, this place has clear waters and verdant mountains, and there''s ample spiritual energy. Most importantly, my master is here, so I''ve decided to retire here. Can you make the arrangements?"

    "I have already purchased this stretch of forest. Since my senior brother has decided to retire here, I''ll make some more arrangements, then find someone to build a villa on this spot and add a car and hire a few servants for senior brother," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "I''m quite agile now, what do I need servants for? I don''t need a car either; at my age, there''s no real need. I''ll mostly be walking around the mountain, not using a car. You can decide on the other details," Yang Yinhou said, feeling no need to stand on ceremony with Ge Dongxu.

    "Alright, since my home is over there anyway, if there''s anything you need and I''m not around, just give my dad a call," Ge Dongxu said, pointing in the direction of Ge Family Village.

    "There''s no need to trouble Uncle Grandfather. If the master moves here, I''ll come over and take care of him. For any matters, I can run the errands," Ouyang Murong said.

    "You''ve already been inconvenienced by your teacher''s legs for many years. From now on, you should go do what you need to do. It would be good to visit Australia too; you can''t just abandon your family there. And you should take care of the jade business. You can''t just sit back and watch it dwindle away. Besides, your martial uncle will need a lot of jadeite for his cultivation in the future, so it''s not good to cut off that business," Yang Yinhou said, waving his hand.

    Ouyang Murong, who had also experienced life and death situations in the jungle, was not a sentimental person. Hearing this, he hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded and said, "I will heed Master''s advice."

    The three continued to talk on the hillside for a while, and then Yang Yinhou suggested that they go to pay a visit to Ge Shengming and his wife.

    Yang Yinhou''s status was different from that of Elder Feng. If Elder Feng visited Ge Shengming''s Family, it would be a significant event that would alarm everyone, so in the end, Elder Feng paid his respects to Ren Yao and returned to the capital without visiting Ge Shengming''s Family. Yang Yinhou, however, was different; he was Ren Yao''s direct disciple and was virtually unknown in the public. Since he was here, he was expected to pay a visit to Ge Shengming and his wife.

    So the three of them descended from the mountain, and during the descent, Ge Dongxu called his parents to forewarn them of his senior brother and martial nephew''s visit. This was to spare them any surprise at seeing a nearly hundred-year-old man performing the rites of a younger generation, which might shock them.

    School hadn''t started yet, Xu Suya was still at home helping her husband with his work. Hearing that Ge Dongxu''s senior brother was coming, they naturally got busy.

    However, even though they were mentally prepared, the couple still got quite a shock when they saw an old man with white hair and beard bow deeply to them upon meeting, calling them uncle and auntie, and Ouyang Murong was even more exaggerated, addressing them as Uncle Grandfather and Uncle Grandmother, prompting them to repeatedly wave their hands and say, "No, no, this won''t do, won''t do. Just call us by our names, that will do."

    "Dongxu is the Sect Leader of our Pill Talisman Sect, and this courtesy cannot be forsaken," Yang Yinhou insisted.

    "Suya and I are not members of your Qimen community, so let''s not follow your Qimen rules. Otherwise, we really can''t accept it," Ge Shengming adamantly refused to accept the form of address.

    Yang Yinhou, unable to persuade them, turned to look at Ge Dongxu.

    He could speak with a tone of instruction to Liu Jiayao, who was of the same generation due to his seniority, but it was different with Ge Shengming and his wife; they were the parents of the Sect Leader, and even Yang Yinhou dared not overstep.

    "Actually, senior brother, what my parents are saying makes sense. Moreover, you will be living here in retirement from now on, and it''s inevitable that there will be interactions. If others were to hear or see, it wouldn''t be appropriate. How about this: you and Murong can refer to my dad as Mr. Ge or Boss Ge, and it''s easy for my mom since she''s a teacher, just call her Teacher Xu. As for you two, senior brother, you are older, so my parents will call you Elder Yang, and Murong can just be called by his name, without much issue," Ge Dongxu suggested as a compromise.

    "That works, that works," Ge Shengming and his wife quickly said.

    Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong exchanged glances and eventually accepted Ge Dongxu''s suggestion.

    That morning, Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong had breakfast at Ge Shengming''s home.

    After breakfast, Yang Yinhou inevitably chatted with Ge Shengming and his wife about some past events concerning Ren Yao and himself. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Only through this conversation did Ge Shengming and his wife learn that Yang Yinhou was actually a major general who had gone on expedition to Myanmar, and they couldn''t help but treat him with great respect.

    While his parents were chatting with Yang Yinhou, Ge Dongxu called Lin Jinnuo, the owner of Changxi Grand Hotel, asking him to come to Ge Family Village.

    In Changxi County, Lin Jinnuo was not only a big boss but also a figure who had clout in both legitimate and illegitimate circles, with contacts in various industries. Ge Dongxu called him over to help find the right person to build a villa near his master''s small Taoist temple for Yang Yinhou.

    Building a villa in the mountains was simple in some ways and difficult in others, involving not just construction companies but also a variety of local figures, dealings with whom were not suitable for Ge Dongxu but were perfect for Lin Jinnuo.

    Ever since that incident in the capital, Lin Jinnuo had come to revere Ge Dongxu as if he were a divine figure, so naturally, he set aside his affairs immediately when Ge Dongxu gave him a call.

    When Lin Jinnuo arrived at Ge Family Village, Ge Dongxu introduced him to his senior brother.

    Seeing that Yang Yinhou had white hair and beard and looked like an immortal, and hearing that he was Ge Dongxu''s senior brother, nearly a century old, Lin Jinnuo almost knelt down in reverence, treating him with utmost respect.

    Ge Dongxu mentioned the villa construction in the mountains to Lin Jinnuo and took him to the small Taoist temple halfway up the mountain to explain the details; he left the specifics to Lin Jinnuo.

    Naturally, Lin Jinnuo was more than eager to take on the task, his face beaming with joy as if he had stumbled upon a treasure.

    The following day, since Ouyang Murong had matters to attend to at the jade mine, he went back to Yingjiang first. As for Yang Yinhou, Ge Dongxu initially wanted to arrange for him to stay at his own house or even at his villa in Changxi County, but Yang Yinhou insisted on temporarily living in the small Taoist temple. Dongxu couldn''t persuade the elder, so he just let him be.

    Fortunately, as Yang Yinhou possessed cultivation, and the Taoist temple had been renovated, the inside was in good condition, so there was no need to worry about the wind and rain.

    ...

    The Felix restaurant in the Peninsula Hotel in Hong Kong is located on the 28th floor. Dining there, one can enjoy the stunning views of Victoria Harbour, making it one of the most charming restaurants in Hong Kong.

    "Since He Mengjie had an urgent matter to attend to, it''s also nice to enjoy an evening just the two of us," said Ge Dongxu, comforting Liu Jiayao who was slightly disappointed, as they sat by the window.

    "That''s what you said, I want to go shopping later," said Liu Jiayao.

    "Alright, I''ll accompany you wherever you want to go. This time I''ve come specifically to be your escort," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Just as Ge Dongxu finished speaking, Liu Jiayao suddenly let out a "huh," her gaze moving past Ge Dongxu and landing behind him.

 Chapter 448 - 447: Once You Leave Huaxia Country, You Are Nothing

    Ge Dongxu turned his head to follow Liu Jiayao''s gaze and saw a waiter leading a group of three women and one man toward them.

    One of the women had an oval face and a graceful figure, with long hair and wearing sunglasses at night, occasionally chatting and laughing with a man beside her.

    Ge Dongxu''s eyes paused on the woman''s face for a moment, his brows slightly furrowed as a hint of displeasure crossed his face.

    Because this woman was none other than He Mengjie, the very reason Liu Jiayao had rushed to Hong Kong especially for her.

    Last week, they had agreed on a time to meet today, but when Liu Jiayao arrived in Hong Kong and settled in the hotel, upon calling her agent, she was told that an urgent matter had suddenly changed the meeting time.

    To ordinary people, such a last-minute change might not seem like a big deal. But for celebrities like He Mengjie and company executives like Liu Jiayao, their time is generally well-scheduled, and changes, if necessary, would normally be announced in advance. Such a sudden change was actually quite impolite.

    Of course, everyone can have sudden emergencies, and both Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu were not the type to hold grudges, so they hadn''t really blamed He Mengjie.

    But now that He Mengjie was here, apparently having scheduled a meal with other people, it inevitably made Ge Dongxu feel quite annoyed.

    "Do you know that man?" Seeing a touch of displeasure on Liu Jiayao''s face and her eyes pausing on the man''s face, Ge Dongxu felt curious and asked.

    "He''s Park Yu-ji, the president of the Hesi Cosmetics Company in Korea. He approached me a while ago, seeking to wholly acquire our Qinglan Cosmetics Company to use our channels to enter the Huaxia market, but I refused. I heard later they turned to another cosmetics company in our country, and their products have already been launched in the domestic market through that company''s channels," Liu Jiayao said with a slight frown, disgust evident in her eyes.

    Clearly, that interaction had not been a pleasant experience.

    "Let''s change the person. I don''t like people who are opportunistic and not trustworthy," Ge Dongxu said, his brows furrowing more deeply, feeling increasingly displeased.

    "In business, it''s quite normal for celebrities to be opportunistic. Finding someone else would be similar, and most importantly, I feel He Mengjie''s temperament is really suitable for Flower Spirit cosmetics. Finding a replacement wouldn''t be an easy task," said Liu Jiayao with a slight frown and a wry smile.

    Ge Dongxu stared at Liu Jiayao, then shook his head with a smile and said, "It seems I''m not cut out for business."

    "I like your clarity about likes and dislikes, but I''m a businessman, and sometimes personal feelings have to be set aside," Liu Jiayao said, looking affectionately at Ge Dongxu.

    "You decide then, but there''s no need to compromise yourself," Ge Dongxu said.

    "With you as my strong support, I naturally don''t need to compromise. If it''s really not suitable, we''ll just find someone else," Liu Jiayao said with a smile, looking at Ge Dongxu.

    As Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu were speaking, the waiter led the group of four to their table, and very coincidentally, their seats were right next to Ge Dongxu''s table.

    "Oh, Ms. Liu, what a coincidence, you''re also in Hong Kong." Park Yu-ji clearly recognized Liu Jiayao. He was just about to sit down when his eyes suddenly lit up, and he approached to greet her, using English.

    Mengjie was taken aback because she had never met Liu Jiayao in person and did not recognize her. Seeing Park Yu-ji meeting an acquaintance, she slightly startled and then smiled, "Mr. Park, you''ve met a friend?"

    "I should say a colleague. Let me introduce, this is Ms. Liu Jiayao, the chairman of Huaxia Country''s Qinglan Cosmetics, and this is...," Park Yu-ji said.

    "Thank you Mr. Park, no need for introductions, I know Miss He Mengjie. I came here specifically for Miss He Mengjie," Liu Jiayao said as she stood up.

    "So, you are Chairman Liu, my apologies. Since I already have an appointment with Mr. Park, I will have to reschedule with you for another time," He Mengjie said after a brief pause, displaying little embarrassment but offering a light smile and extending her hand to Liu Jiayao.

    Liu Jiayao felt slightly displeased upon hearing this, but being a kind-hearted person, she did not want to embarrass He Mengjie and also smiled as she shook her hand, "Another day is just as good."

    "Could it be that Ms. Liu also wants Miss He Mengjie to be an advertising spokesperson? If so, I''m afraid Ms. Liu might be disappointed. I had a talk with Miss He Mengjie on the way here and we nearly finalized things," Park Yu-ji boasted slightly, his face showing a hint of proud satisfaction.

    Last time, when he met Liu Jiayao to discuss a purchase, he was struck by her beauty and tried to please her in many ways, but unfortunately, he faced only rejection and carried a grudge about that. Now, he did not mind retaliating a little.

    "Since it''s not finalized yet, isn''t it a bit premature to say that, Mr. Park?" Liu Jiayao replied calmly.

    "Qinglan Cosmetics is just an ordinary mass market brand. For a big star like He Mengjie to endorse your products would be beneath her. Our He Si is an international brand, and by endorsing our products, not only would she receive a large sum for the endorsement deal, but it would also elevate her status. Even if our offer is lower than yours, I''m sure Miss He Mengjie would choose us, right Miss He?" Park Yu-ji said, his face wearing an openly arrogant and confident look.

    He Mengjie''s expression changed slightly at his words, but she quickly nodded her head, displaying a touch of pride as she said, "It''s true. As a big star like me, unless Qinglan Cosmetics can offer an irresistibly high price, I would not degrade myself to endorse them."

    "Miss He, what products you choose to endorse are your right, your freedom. But to snub us to curry favor with Koreans and to denigrate our Qinglan Cosmetics really annoys me," Ge Dongxu''s expression finally changed as he spoke coldly looking at He Mengjie.

    "Who are you? What right do you have to speak to me like this? Besides, what does your disliking me represent? There are plenty of brainless fans who like me, why don''t you make them dislike me too?" He Mengjie, as a popular Hong Kong star who naturally looked down on mainlanders, was shocked when this young man from the mainland rebuked her to her face, her pretty face turning frosty.

    "Well said Miss He. People from Huaxia Country¡ªsorry, I don''t mean Hong Kongers¡ªmany of them prefer our Korean products, thinking they are high-end. Sir, if you really have the capability, why don''t you sell Qinglan Cosmetics in Korea?" Park Yu-ji scoffed.

    "Rest assured, Mr. Park, that day will come," Ge Dongxu glanced coldly at Park Yu-ji, then turned to He Mengjie with deep disgust showing in his eyes.

    Park Yu-ji''s attitude was understandable to Ge Dongxu, as he was Korean, and Ge Dongxu had never expected him to speak well of them. But He Mengjie, being from Hong Kong and a big star, disgusts Ge Dongxu far more than Park Yu-ji, as if he had swallowed a fly.

    "Do you know why this Korean wants you to endorse his products? It''s because many people from Huaxia Country support you, they like you. Without our people''s support, do you think Koreans would ask you? You don''t know gratitude, and even insult your fans, despising your own country for the sake of Koreans. Let me tell you, without Huaxia Country, you are nothing!" Ge Dongxu said coldly. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What are you, just a mainlander! If you dare, have the mainland ban me!" He Mengjie pointed at Ge Dongxu, her face full of contempt.

 Chapter 449 - 448: Ban

    "How can you talk like that!" Liu Jiayao saw He Mengjie cursing Ge Dongxu, her pretty face suddenly changed, her eyes shooting fire.

    She did not care about herself, but she could not stand others cursing Ge Dongxu.

    "Sister Liu, there''s no need to argue with this kind of person and degrade your own status. Since she is asking to be banned, just ban her, and then she will know who is really providing for her!" Ge Dongxu, seeing the normally graceful and reserved Liu Jiayao suddenly turn into a tigress defending her cub, felt a warmth in his heart. He reached out, took her hand, and said.

    "I''m so scared!" He Mengjie exaggeratedly patted her voluptuous chest, her face full of mockery and contempt.

    Seeing this, Liu Jiayao could not help but feel a surge of anger rush to her head, but Ge Dongxu held her hand and smiled, "There''s no point in bothering with such people, let''s go, I''ll take you shopping."

    Liu Jiayao looked deeply at Ge Dongxu, and ultimately, somewhat unwillingly, followed him out of the restaurant.

    "President Park, I''m sorry you had to see that joke. That''s how mainland people are, talking big at first, but if you confront them, they immediately back down," He Mengjie said to Park Yu-ji with an apologetic smile, seemingly regaining her grace from the screen in an instant.

    "I can understand, I have been to the mainland," Park Yu-ji said with a face of mockery.

    "Mengjie, wasn''t that a bit too much just now? After all, Liu Jiayao is also the president of a company," the agent who came with He Mengjie said in a low voice after glancing at Park Yu-ji.

    "So what? She''s just the boss of a cosmetics company. That mainland boy is obviously her kept man; do you really think he has the power to get the mainland to ban me? That would be the joke of the century!" He Mengjie said with disdain.

    The agent thought about it and decided not to say any more.

    "Dongxu, I''m sorry, I didn''t expect my poor judgment of character to make you upset," Liu Jiayao said with self-reproach, clinging to Ge Dongxu in the elevator.

    "What are you talking about? How could someone like her be qualified to upset me? Besides, you''ve never had any contact with her before. Who would have thought that a star who seems so pure and pristine on screen would actually be such a person behind the scenes?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, reassuring her.

    "But still..." Liu Jiayao still felt somewhat uncomfortable.

    "There''s no ''but still.'' I''ll just make a phone call later to get her banned. If someone earns the money of our people but looks down on them, and panders to foreigners, then since she asked for it, let''s grant her wish. I hope that Korean guy signs a contract with her tonight, then the two of them should have a good time biting each other," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Pfft! You''re really wicked!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but laugh out loud when she heard this. She had been holding back her anger all evening and was happy to see He Mengjie banned from the mainland.

    "But He Mengjie is so popular, can you really get her banned? If it''s too difficult, just forget it. You said it yourself, there''s no need to take such people seriously," Liu Jiayao asked somewhat worriedly after her laugh.

    "Just an actress who panders to foreigners and forgets her ancestry. Since I''ve decided to ban her, of course it won''t be difficult!" Ge Dongxu responded with a heavy voice, his body exuding an air of dominance.

    In the past, Ge Dongxu would not have dared say this, nor did he have the qualifications to say it.

    He couldn''t simply use Elder Feng''s influence to settle personal grudges at will.

    But now Ge Dongxu had the qualifications to say it. He had the Cultivation of Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, he single-handedly eradicated the Iron-clad zombies, saving the living beings around Zhan Yuan Mountain in Songnan City, Dongyue Province from catastrophe, and he would undoubtedly do more such things for the country in the future.

    It was not an exaggeration to call Ge Dongxu a pillar of the nation, a hero of the country.

    And yet, a mere actress like He Mengjie had the audacity to humiliate him to his face, to utter words that idolized foreign cultures and betrayed her own heritage, and to insult the fans of her own country.

    What would be so difficult about someone with Ge Dongxu''s status requesting that such a disgraceful artist be banned?

    Having said this, Ge Dongxu pulled out his cell phone and called Elder Feng''s son-in-law, Fang Fei, who held a position at the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television.

    Seeing that the call was from Ge Dongxu, Fang Fei hastily answered and asked with a hint of restraint, "Director Ge, hello, may I ask what the matter is?"

    Being the son-in-law of Elder Feng, Fang Fei was naturally already aware of another aspect of Ge Dongxu''s identity. Not only did he know about Ge Dongxu''s director position, but he had also learned of the recent events in Dongyue Province from Elder Feng at a family dinner, so even though they were just talking on the phone, Fang Fei felt somewhat constrained because of his status.

    "Indeed, I do have a matter to discuss with you. You should know about the Hong Kong celebrity He Mengjie, right?" Ge Dongxu got straight to the point.

    "He Mengjie, yes, I know her," Fang Fei replied, his heart skipping a beat, thinking, he''s not taking an interest in He Mengjie, wanting me to arrange something, is he?

    It wasn''t strange for Fang Fei to think this. As the saying goes, a fair lady is a gentleman''s delight, and women like He Mengjie were pursued by many wealthy young bachelors from the mainland. Ge Dongxu was not even twenty, so it was normal for him to be interested in her.

    "Good, I met her tonight and took a great exception to her," Ge Dongxu continued and relayed He Mengjie''s comments in brief to Fang Fei.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t want Fang Fei to misunderstand that he was deliberately trying to suppress He Mengjie, so some explanation was necessary.

    "This is outrageous!" Fang Fei''s expression grew darker as he listened and finally burst out angrily after Ge Dongxu finished, "Director Ge, rest assured, we stand firm against such artists. However, due to the principle of ''One country, two systems,'' we shouldn''t interfere too much with Hong Kong, but you can be assured about the mainland."

    "That will do, the mainland market is the big market," said Ge Dongxu.

    "Alright, I understand," Fang Fei said in a grave tone.

    The two then exchanged a few pleasantries and hung up the phone. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Is that all it takes?" Liu Jiayao, standing beside Ge Dongxu, couldn''t help but feel like she was looking at an alien. Just one phone call, and a popular star could be banned. It seemed surreal.

    "He Mengjie had it coming. When she is doing well, she is a star, but when she dares to scorn the nation and ridicule her fans, then she is nothing more than a pitiful actress!" Ge Dongxu declared.

    "Sometimes, I just can''t figure you out," Liu Jiayao stared at Ge Dongxu for a long while and then expressed her feelings with a sigh.

    "What does it matter if you can see through me or not? All that matters is that you know you''re my family," Ge Dongxu said affectionately to Liu Jiayao.

    "Yeah! Why am I thinking so much? Let''s go, let''s go shopping. I wanted to go to Causeway Bay, but no, with you as my escort, this time I want to check out Temple Street''s night market," Liu Jiayao suddenly smiled at Ge Dongxu, took his hand, and said.

 Chapter 450 - 449: Visiting Temple Street

    Temple Street, located in Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, is the most famous open-air market in Hong Kong. Divided into north and south sections, it earns its name from a temple in the middle section.

    The night market stretches from Jordan Road to Yau Ma Tei''s Man Ming Lane, filled with stalls offering various specialty snacks. As night falls, even more unexpected stalls open, offering opera singing, fortune telling, divination, Qigong, medicine sales, and more, creating an ambiance akin to a public night club. Here, tourists can fully immerse themselves in Hong Kong culture and manners.

    However, such places are also a mix of dragons and snakes, and in early years, Temple Street was actually Hong Kong''s red-light district, with prostitutes soliciting customers under the buildings along the street.

    Liu Jiayao had visited Hong Kong several times before, but due to her status and being a young and beautiful woman, she always wanted to experience the local culture of Temple Street''s night market in the evening. However, she never did because of her concerns.

    This time, accompanied by Ge Dongxu, her boyfriend who was almost like an immortal, Liu Jiayao finally had no reservations and pulled Ge Dongxu to Temple Street''s night market.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao arrived at Temple Street, they were immediately enveloped by a strong aroma of old Hong Kong.

    Especially starting from Queen of Heaven Temple''s "Market Street", the scent of old Hong Kong grew even stronger. Here one could see Cantonese opera enthusiasts gathering for impromptu performances; singers presenting famous Cantonese opera plays, Guangdong pop songs, and even Western pop music; along with fortune tellers, medicine vendors, street performers, and professional chess players at various stalls.

    The scene was exactly like what Ge Dongxu had seen in Hong Kong films, but having grown up in the countryside and focusing on his studies and practices, he rarely watched Hong Kong films and didn''t have many special feelings about it. Jiayao was different, though. Since her parents died, she had spent a long time distracting herself by watching Hong Kong films. Now walking through the familiar scenes, she felt a wonderful illusion of being in a movie world. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Wandering around, stopping here and there, looking this way and that, they unknowingly stayed until past midnight.

    "Did you know? I heard that Queen of Heaven, a former top Hong Kong actress, grew up right here on Temple Street. Her breakthrough film was about Temple Street. She is the real Queen of Hong Kong cinema, an incredibly influential international superstar. Although He Mengjie is very famous now, she''s not in the same league. It''s a pity she has retired and doesn''t attend any commercial events, nor does she endorse any products. Otherwise, if we could get her to endorse Flower Spirit, the brand could be elevated instantly," Liu Jiayao, seeing vendors and performers starting to pack up, felt a bit wistful and reflective.

    "You think so highly of Yu Xin?" Ge Dongxu was slightly startled.

    Yu Xin, Ge Dongxu certainly knew her. Just over a month ago, he had helped her son who was afflicted by the Blood Curse.

    "Of course, if it weren''t for her dedication to her family and refusal to accept any commercial activities and endorsements, I would willingly pay two or three times the amount I''d offer to He Mengjie," Liu Jiayao said.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao, his heart stirred slightly, but then he dismissed the thought.

    He knew very well that if he asked, Yu Xin would definitely be willing to make a comeback, but Ge Dongxu did not want to do so.

    Since he did not want to do that, Ge Dongxu simply did not mention that he knew Yu Xin.

    "I''m a bit hungry, let''s have some late-night snacks here," just as Ge Dongxu dismissed the idea of asking Yu Xin to make a comeback, Liu Jiayao suddenly pointed to a nearby shop and said.

    "If you want to eat, of course it''s not a problem," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Mmm, I like hearing that. You''ve been doing very well today, there will be a reward when we get back to the hotel," Liu Jiayao said happily, tiptoed, and kissed Ge Dongxu on the cheek.

    "Hehe, really!" Ge Dongxu''s eyes immediately lit up.

    "You rascal!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s eyes light up all at once, Liu Jiayao blushed and gave him a white look.

    This was an old shop primarily specialising in beef brisket, small and shabby, but their beef brisket noodle soup was genuinely good. After Liu Jiayao had the beef brisket from the noodle soup, she still wasn''t satisfied and ordered a clear broth beef brisket, which left Ge Dongxu a bit astonished.

    "What are you looking at? Haven''t you seen a beauty eating before?" Liu Jiayao, eating her clear broth beef brisket, caught Ge Dongxu staring at her and couldn''t help but give him a cold look.

    "I''ve seen, but I''ve never seen a beauty who can eat so much late at night," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Is that a problem?" Liu Jiayao, with her pretty face blushing slightly, shot back a glare.

    "No problem at all. No matter how you eat, you''re still beautiful," Ge Dongxu replied with a laugh.

    "That''s more like it, or else, hmm!" Liu Jiayao proudly tilted her delicate chin up, but ultimately, she didn''t continue eating the bowl of clear broth beef brisket.

    Since Liu Jiayao decided not to eat anymore, Ge Dongxu paid the bill.

    Just as the two were preparing to leave, more than ten people walked in through the door, both men and women. The men either had tattoos or sported colorful dyed hair, while the women were dressed quite revealingly.

    These men and women, arm in arm and laughing loudly, were clearly the mixing type from the streets.

    The leader, a man in a black tank top with a thick gold chain around his neck, had a large black snake tattooed on his exposed shoulders and arms, its fierce fangs looking particularly menacing.

    The night stall owner''s face changed upon seeing these people, but he quickly went up to greet them and said, "Brother Snake, you''re here! What will you have tonight?"

    "The usual, each person starts with a bowl of beef brisket noodle soup and..." the man known as Brother Snake was saying when his eyes suddenly lit up. He pushed the stall owner aside, strode over to Liu Jiayao, sat down next to her, and leeringly asked, "Beauty, where are you from?"

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu''s face darkened slightly, and Liu Jiayao , her eyebrows slightly furrowed, grabbed his hand and said, "Let''s go."

    "Beauty, what''s with that attitude? Didn''t you see our Brother Snake talking to you?" Several thugs with multi-colored hair blocked Liu Jiayao''s way.

    "If you don''t want to crawl out of here, you''d better get out of my way now," Ge Dongxu said, his face finally completely darkened as the thugs blocked them.

    "Fuck! Pretty arrogant! You also don''t ask around about our Brother Snake¡­" a green-haired guy picked up an empty bottle from the table, pointing and shouting at Ge Dongxu.

    "Bang!" However, before the green-haired guy could finish, he was sent flying and then heavily slammed onto the ground.

    A brief silence fell over the scene.

    These gangsters, used to strutting around the area of Temple Street, clearly hadn''t expected Ge Dongxu to act so decisively and fiercely. Before they could make a move, he had already kicked into action.

    "Fuck!" After a while, everyone snapped back to reality, cursing as they grabbed wine bottles and swung chairs, charging forward to encircle Ge Dongxu.

 Chapter 451 - 450: Master Ge, are you alright?

    "Fuck, kid, which turf do you roam?" Snake Brother pointed at Ge Dongxu and yelled.

    "Where I roam is none of your damn business. Considering I''m in a pretty good mood today, you''d better get the hell away from me now, or else you''ll really end up crawling out later." Ge Dongxu said calmly. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn it! By your accent, you''re from the mainland. Since when did you mainlanders become so cocky? Daring to act so arrogant in Hong Kong? Do you have any idea..." Snake Brother, upon hearing this and pointing at Ge Dongxu, swore arrogantly.

    "Fuck, Ah She, what the hell are you stirring up now?" Before Snake Brother could finish speaking, a voice came from outside.

    Two burly men walked in, right-hand men to the Chinese tycoon Gu Yezeng, with whom Ge Dongxu had some interaction when he went to the border to buy jade¡ªAh Xiong and Ah Yong.

    "So it''s Brother Xiong, Brother Yong. Nothing much, just a mainlander shouting at me. I was about to teach him a lesson," seeing that it was Ah Xiong and Ah Yong who had come, Snake Brother hurried forward to reply.

    "Alright, leave the tourist alone... Fuck!" Ah Xiong glared at Snake Brother and said, but halfway through, he suddenly recognized the mainland guy''s face, and his whole body shivered, swiftly kicking towards Snake Brother''s stomach.

    "Bang!" Snake Brother, not expecting Ah Xiong to suddenly kick him, was unable to dodge in time and was kicked to the ground.

    The scene suddenly quieted down.

    The gangsters looked at Ah Xiong then at Snake Brother, with none daring to step forward.

    Are you kidding? Everyone knew that Gu Yezeng, Master Gu, was not only a real tycoon in Hong Kong but also a once major figure in the Hong Kong, and even in the entire Chinese Gangs. As a man of Master Gu, Ah Xiong, let alone a small-time thug like Snake Brother, even some of the heavier hitters in Hong Kong''s gangs had to show respect when they saw Ah Xiong.

    "Brother Xiong, what... what are you doing?" Snake Brother, also dumbfounded by the kick, struggled up from the ground and asked Ah Xiong, somewhat tremblingly.

    "Damn it, what am I doing? I want to ask what the fuck you''re up to?" Ah Xiong saw Snake Brother getting up and kicked over again.

    But this time, Snake Brother was ready and quickly dodged to the side. He avoided Ah Xiong''s kick but couldn''t dodge the one that Ah Yong, following up, sent flying his way.

    "Bang!" With a sound, Snake Brother was kicked to the ground again, clutching his stomach, unable to get up for a long time.

    "Master Ge, are you okay?" After kicking Snake Brother to the ground again, Ah Xiong and Ah Yong hurriedly came up to Ge Dongxu, bowing and asking with unease and respect.

    "Master Ge!" Snake Brother had just managed to struggle up, clutching his stomach, but he was so frightened by the title "Master Ge" that he fell back onto the ground. The gangsters holding bottles and wielding stools shook at the name "Master Ge" as well, hastily putting down their bottles and stools.

    Fuck! Someone even Brother Xiong and Brother Yong had to address respectfully¡ªhow could these street thugs ever dare to mess with him?

    "What could possibly happen to me? It''s you guys who would''ve been in trouble if you hadn''t shown up," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Don''t worry, Master Ge, we''ll definitely give them a proper beating later," Ah Xiong and Ah Yong said.

    "These people do need a good beating. I already told them, if they don''t scram, they''ll have to crawl out, but they didn''t listen to my advice," Ge Dongxu stated.

    To people like Snake Brother, Ge Dongxu naturally had no good feelings, nor any merciful heart.

    "Alright, Master Ge, we understand what to do now," Ah Xiong and Ah Yong bowed as they replied.

    "Mm," Ge Dongxu nodded and said, "Give my regards to Old Gu, we''re leaving first."

    "Alright, Master Ge, ma''am, have a safe trip," Ah Xiong and Ah Yong bowed again and said.

    Upon hearing herself addressed as ma''am by Ah Xiong and the others, Liu Jiayao''s face turned beet red instantaneously, while Brother Snake and the others were still in shock at Ge Dongxu''s reference to Gu Yezeng as Old Gu!

    Not long after Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu had left the night market, they heard screams emanating from behind them.

    Liu Jiayao couldn''t help her curiosity and looked back, trembling slightly at the sight; Ah Xiong and Ah Yong were each wielding an iron rod, striking the legs of the gang members one by one.

    Then those gang members really were crawling out of the night market one after another.

    "Remember, if I see any further disrespect towards Master Ge next time, you''ll be waiting to be thrown into the river to feed the fish," after making them crawl out of the night market, Ah Xiong, holding the iron rod and pointing at Brother Snake and the others, said with a menacing glint in his eyes.

    "Xiong Bro, we wouldn''t dare to do it again!" Brother Snake said with a mournful face, crawling up from the ground and hobbling over to Ah Xiong and Ah Yong.

    "That tone sounds like you feel quite wronged!" Ah Xiong sneered upon hearing this.

    "Not at all, how could we dare? But Xiong Bro, you''ve scolded and beaten us; can you at least give us a clue about who exactly Master Ge is?" Brother Snake said as he waved his hands repeatedly, then cautiously asked, a trace of unwillingness in his eyes.

    "Hmph, don''t play the fool, Brother Snake. I know what you''re thinking; you still feel aggrieved and resentful. But let me tell you the truth, it''s lucky that Master Gu didn''t come across this incident today. If Master Gu had been the one you encountered, you wouldn''t be standing and talking right now, but lying on the ground!" Ah Xiong said coolly.

    "Is it really that serious?" Brother Snake couldn''t help but inhale sharply upon hearing this.

    "Do you think just anyone is worthy of being called ''Master'' by me and Ah Yong? And a young person at that? Think about it, Brother Snake!" Ah Xiong patted Brother Snake''s cheek, said his piece, and left with Ah Yong.

    They naturally wouldn''t explain Ge Dongxu''s identity to Brother Snake. In fact, even they didn''t know Ge Dongxu''s real identity in mainland China. They only knew that the young master was somebody Master Ge had personally saved, and Master Ge addressed Master Yang as his sworn brother. If it came down to it, even their Master Gu would have to call Ge Dongxu ''Master Ge''.

    One could imagine then, these guys had the audacity to fancy Master Ge''s woman. If Master Gu found out about this matter and decided to handle it, it would definitely be even more ruthless than what they''d experienced.

    Watching the retreating figures of Ah Xiong and Ah Yong, the words Ah Xiong had said echoed in Brother Snake''s ears, and cold sweat could not help but roll down his forehead.

    Indeed, in all of Hong Kong, how many people could stand to be called ''Master'' by Ah Xiong? As for young people, there were absolutely none.

    ...

    "Since when did you become ''Master Ge''?" On the way back, Liu Jiayao once again looked at Ge Dongxu as if he were an alien.

    Liu Jiayao found that the longer she spent with the man beside her, the less she seemed to understand him.

 Chapter 452 - 451: The Old Gu you mentioned is Gu Yezeng!

    "You''ve also met my senior brother. Before the liberation, he was a prominent figure in the gangs, with a high status. That essentially lifted me up as well," Ge Dongxu explained with a laugh. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Upon hearing this, Liu Jiayao thought of Yang Yinhou''s age and remembered Ouyang Murong calling her "auntie." Her facial expression turned quite amused, and after a while, she said, "Well, it seems like following you, I''ll soon become a grandmotherly figure myself."

    "Haha!" Ge Dongxu was briefly startled upon hearing this, then burst into laughter.

    "Laugh, you still laugh, this is all your fault!" Seeing Ge Dongxu laughing happily, Liu Jiayao, thinking about being called "auntie" in the future, blushed and pinched Ge Dongxu''s waist hard several times.

    "Can we change the spot next time? Always pinching the same place can cause injury," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "Oh, stop it. With your skills, does a pinch like that even hurt?" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes and said.

    "So, because I have thick skin, I deserve to be pinched?" Ge Dongxu said glumly.

    "No choice. I, a great beauty, have been turned into a grandmotherly figure because of you. How could I not pinch you?" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes and retorted.

    Ge Dongxu, looking at Liu Jiayao, was at a loss for words.

    "All right, all right, looking at the aggrieved look on your face, I''ll pinch you less next time." Seeing Ge Dongxu looking at her "innocently," Liu Jiayao tiptoed and kissed Ge Dongxu on the cheek.

    "Still going to pinch me!" Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "What? Don''t like it?" Liu Jiayao asked, giving him a sideways glance.

    "Like it, of course I like it! Others would beg and still not get it!" Ge Dongxu quickly replied with a grin.

    "Giggle!" Seeing Ge Dongxu grinning, Liu Jiayao laughed happily and contentedly, then linked arms with him and whispered softly, "It''s really nice to have you by my side."

    "I feel the same," Ge Dongxu said, kissing Liu Jiayao on the forehead.

    "By the way, who did you mean by Old Gu earlier?" While leaning against Ge Dongxu and waiting for a taxi at the street corner, Liu Jiayao suddenly asked.

    "Gu Yezeng, have you heard of him?" Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Gu, Gu Yezeng! You mean Old Gu is Gu Yezeng!" Liu Jiayao exclaimed, her eyes widening in shock.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao''s astonished expression, Ge Dongxu knew he needn''t have asked.

    "It seems Gu Yezeng''s reputation is bigger than I thought," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Of course! Ordinary people think of Li Superman when they hear about Hong Kong because there''s a lot about him in the news, but for us business people, whether it''s influence or reputation, Gu Yezeng is in no way inferior to Li Superman, especially in terms of his influence in the overseas Chinese world. Gu Yezeng''s influence is unmatched by any Hong Kong tycoon," Liu Jiayao said, her eyes shining with admiration.

    "I really didn''t know all that," Ge Dongxu admitted, realizing for the first time how great Gu Yezeng''s influence in the Chinese world was, and was inwardly quite surprised.

    Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu for a while and then said half-jokingly and half-frustrated, "And here I thought you were close to Gu Yezeng. It turns out you hardly know anything about him, yet you still call him Old Gu?"

    "No choice, I have a higher status! Originally, he was also supposed to call me Master Ge, but I''m too young and insisted against it, so, reluctantly he calls me Mr. Ge, and I call him Old Gu. As for his specific status and influence, I never really asked," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    Liu Jiayao''s lips opened wide in shock, and it took her a while before she said, "That''s something only I would believe. If someone else heard you, they''d sure think you were making it all up."

    "I only tell you these things, I wouldn''t talk about it to anyone else," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "That makes sense," Liu Jiayao said, hugging Ge Dongxu''s arm, her face radiating happiness and pride.

    While they were talking, Liu Jiayao suddenly remembered something, a look of excitement crossed her face, "Oh, that''s right, Yu Xin retired from acting because of Gu Yezeng and is now content with staying at home looking after her husband and teaching her children."

    Ge Dongxu smiled upon hearing this, just as he was about to explain, a taxi pulled up in front of them.

    The two had just gotten into the car when Ge Dongxu''s phone began to ring.

    Ge Dongxu took it out and saw it was Gu Yezeng calling, which made him secretly wince.

    This trip to Hong Kong was meant to be without bothering Gu Yezeng since he didn''t like to trouble others, especially since he was here with Liu Jiayao this time.

    However, he hadn''t expected that their trip to Temple Street would accidentally involve Ah Xiong and Ah Yong, which eventually alerted Gu Yezeng.

    "Mr. Ge, hello, I just heard from Ah Xiong that you''ve come to Hong Kong," Gu Yezeng''s familiar voice came through as soon as the call connected.

    "Yes, I came with my girlfriend. I forgot to remind Ah Xiong and Ah Yong just now and ended up waking you up in the middle of the night," Ge Dongxu said, feeling somewhat apologetic.

    Because it was already past midnight, nearing one o''clock.

    "Mr. Ge, you shouldn''t say that. It''s already quite rude of me as the landlord not to receive you promptly," Gu Yezeng responded humbly when he heard him.

    "It''s really not that serious, and besides, I came with my girlfriend this time, and didn''t intend to disturb you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Mr. Ge, you''re being too formal. It''s our honor to have you and your girlfriend here. How could it be a disturbance? Please let me know where you are staying and when it''s convenient for you, I would like to come and meet you," Gu Yezeng said.

    Putting aside Ge Dongxu''s other identity, just the fact that he had saved his son''s life meant that Gu Yezeng had to pay him a visit now that he knew he was here.

    "Alright, let''s not be so formal with each other. How about this, if it''s convenient for you, arrange a car for me. It would make getting around easier. As for meeting, let''s see how it goes; we can arrange a time to have a meal at the Peninsula Hotel or at your place. Speaking of which, I''ve been missing Yiran," Ge Dongxu said, feeling a bit uncomfortable with all the politeness and knowing that any further politeness from him would only make Gu Yezeng even more so, chose to break the courtesy.

    "Haha, Mr. Ge is right, that''s true. Tomorrow morning I''ll have Ah Xiong drive to the Peninsula Hotel to wait for you, and he can show you around Hong Kong. Anything you need, just tell him. In a few days, when you''re free, come and visit my house. It''s quieter and the cook makes decent food. I won''t disturb your time alone for now," Gu Yezeng laughingly replied, delightfully.

    "That sounds good," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    The two then chatted for a few more moments before hanging up.

    "Was that Gu Yezeng?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    The driver, hearing the name Gu Yezeng, trembled slightly but quickly steadied himself, laughing, "Sir, your friend''s name is really something. It nearly gave me quite a fright."

    Both Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao were momentarily taken aback, then looked at each other and couldn''t help but burst into laughter.

    ps: It''s Monday, seeking a recommendation and monthly ticket, thank you very much.

 Chapter 453 - 452: Be Mindful of Your Identity

    After laughing for a while, Ge Dongxu nodded to Liu Jiayao and said, "That''s right, Ah Xiong informed him, so he called me right back. I couldn''t refuse his kindness, so I let him arrange a car. Once you''ve enjoyed Hong Kong enough, we''ll go to his house to meet and have a meal."

    "Ah, we''re going to their house? Doesn''t that mean I could see Yu¡ª" Liu Jiayao suddenly thought of Yu Xin, who had married Gu Yezeng, but then she remembered how they had just mentioned Gu Yezeng''s name. Now if she mentioned Yu Xin as well, the driver would think they were just putting on an act, so she quickly stopped herself.

    "Hehe, it looks like you really do like her," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh, deliberately not mentioning Yu Xin''s name.

    "Of course, even though I don''t chase after stars, if I really had to choose one to follow, it would definitely be her. When I was a student, I always dreamed of getting her autograph! It seems I need to prepare a notebook this time and ask her to sign a few extra names for me," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Cough cough, Comrade Jiayao, remember your identity, you''re my girlfriend now," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile after looking at Liu Jiayao for a long time.

    At Yang Yinhou''s house, if it were not for his insistence on declining, Yu Xin would have had to call him Master Ge just like Gu Yezeng. Now, however, his own girlfriend turned out to be her fan and even wanted to get her autograph. What was this all about?

    Upon hearing this, Liu Jiayao suddenly remembered Ge Dongxu''s identity, then stared at him for quite a while before she let out a laugh and gave Ge Dongxu a look, saying, "Alright, Master Ge! I got it."

    Seeing Liu Jiayao call him Master Ge in a funny tone, Ge Dongxu shook his head in wry amusement.

    ...

    "President Park, don''t you think it''s a bit rushed to sign the contract with Miss He Mengjie tomorrow morning? I always feel that something is off about that young man from China. What if they really ban her on the mainland of Huaxia Country?" In a luxurious sea-view suite at the Peninsula Hotel, while President Park was reviewing the contract document, the secretary who had joined him for dinner earlier softly voiced her concern.

    "Lin Zhenxian, don''t you find your worry ridiculous? A popular star in Hong Kong can''t just be banned at the drop of a hat¡ªit''s just a young man who can''t lose face speaking big words. As for me being in a hurry, that''s because for businessmen in Huaxia Country, face is a minor issue compared to interests, which are supreme. Don''t think that just because He Mengjie fell out with Liu Jiayao during dinner means they won''t have an opportunity to collaborate again. It''s very possible that after some time, if Liu Jiayao can''t find a suitable candidate, she''ll turn back to invite He Mengjie for a meal. So I must take advantage of their fallout, while He Mengjie temporarily lacks other collaboration options and has to lower her price, to sign her. Otherwise, once Liu Jiayao really offers a high price, do you think we can really convince He Mengjie to forgo a high endorsement fee based on our brand alone?" Park Yu-ji said.

    "So, President Park, were you intentionally stirring up trouble between He Mengjie and Liu Jiayao earlier?" The female secretary thought about it and realized that she had indeed worried too much. She couldn''t help but give Park Yu-ji a smile, her gaze filled with admiration.

    "That''s right, with their dispute, He Mengjie temporarily only has us, Hearst, to choose from, which is definitely advantageous for our price negotiations. However, actually, our Hearst''s best choice for breaking into the Huaxia mainland market would have been the former Hong Kong movie Queen Yu Xin, too bad she''s not even interested in meeting us," Park Yu-ji said.

    "Indeed, Yu Xin would really have been the best choice," the female secretary said with regret.

    ...

    "Mengjie, you shouldn''t have been so impulsive just now. With Liu Jiayao, the owner of Qinglan Cosmetics, in the competition, it would give you more leverage in negotiating the price, not the one you''re getting now," said He Mengjie''s agent with a hint of reproach, inside her luxurious house on Hong Kong Island''s Southern District.

    "What does it matter? It''s my choice! Besides, what''s a mainlander to act all high and mighty in front of me?" He Mengjie said with scorn.

    The agent looked at He Mengjie, opened her mouth to say something, but ultimately closed it again.

    ...

    "Dongxu, you really don''t need it? You said before that you wanted a reward," Liu Jiayao said, snuggling up to Ge Dongxu in the luxurious sea-view suite of the Peninsula Hotel, her breath as sweet as orchid at his ear.

    "Sister, if you tease me again, I really won''t be able to resist, and if you can''t get out of bed to go around Hong Kong tomorrow, don''t blame me," Ge Dongxu said, looking at Liu Jiayao.

    "If I can''t get out of bed, then I can''t get out of bed," Liu Jiayao whispered.

    Ge Dongxu''s heart trembled, and he hugged Liu Jiayao, his hand sliding down her fragrant back, but he suddenly stopped and stood up, saying, "I''m going to the study to meditate and cultivate."

    "You fool!" Liu Jiayao''s eyes immediately moistened as she tightly gripped his hand and said, "You''re not allowed to leave."

    "Alright, I won''t leave, but you can''t tease me anymore," Ge Dongxu laid back down.

    "Then I want to sleep in your arms," Liu Jiayao touched the tears at the corner of her eyes and said.

    She knew all too well that Ge Dongxu saw it was too late and was concerned about her.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao for a while and then gently embraced her in his arms¡­

    The next day, the two of them got up, ate breakfast in the room, and then left the place.

    When they reached the hotel lobby, they found that Ah Xiong was already waiting for them. The lobby manager of the hotel was talking to him with an extremely respectful attitude.

    "Master Ge, madam, good morning," Ah Xiong hurriedly dropped the lobby manager and came up to Ge Dongxu and his companion with respectful greetings, which made the lobby manager''s heart tremble fiercely.

    This was Master Gu''s confidant!

    "Haha, we''re troubling you today, Ah Xiong," Ge Dongxu took the initiative to shake hands with Ah Xiong, who hurriedly said with a surprised honor, "It''s my privilege to do something for Master Ge." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Haha, you''re too kind," Ge Dongxu patted Ah Xiong''s shoulder and then said, "Let''s go to Ocean Park first, Sister Liu wants to see the dolphin show there."

    "Alright, you and the madam, please wait here for a moment. I''ll go bring the car around," Ah Xiong said.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, and soon a silver Rolls-Royce stopped at the entrance of the lobby.

    Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao got into the car, beginning another day of their Hong Kong journey.

    While Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao were starting their journey in Hong Kong, back in Huaxia Country''s capital, the Broadcasting Authority suddenly issued a ban on He Mengjie without any forewarning, and it was a very strict and thorough ban. All advertisements related to her, her entertainment programs, her movies, her commercial performances, etc., were to be immediately halted from airing or holding.

    "A pleasure doing business!" While the Broadcasting Authority had suddenly issued the ban on He Mengjie, He Mengjie and Park Yu-ji were signing contracts with each other, smiling as they stood up to shake hands.

 Chapter 454 - 453: Issue a Banishment Order

    Park Yu-ji was the president of HeSi Cosmetics Company, busy with affairs, and after hastily signing the contract with He Mengjie, he hurriedly left Hong Kong.

    As for the subsequent specific operational matters, those were to be arranged by the responsible person in the company in contact with He Mengjie''s agent and did not require Park Yu-ji''s personal involvement.

    Not long after Park Yu-ji left, He Mengjie''s agent''s phone started ringing. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He Mengjie''s agent picked it up, but after a few words, her complexion drastically changed, and even her voice altered.

    "You, you''re saying the Mainland Broadcasting Authority has issued a ban on He Mengjie? Why? How is this possible!"

    "It''s a decision from the higher-ups, if you ask me, who do I ask? Anyway, the show we talked about last time is canceled," the person on the other end hung up quickly.

    The agent had just hung up the phone and before she had the chance to go speak with He Mengjie about the matter, her phone rang incessantly again.

    One call after another came to the agent, and when He Mengjie came inside and saw her drenched in sweat, with a somewhat pale face, she still had no idea what had happened and asked, "Liu Rong, what''s wrong with you? Are you not feeling well?"

    "It''s over! It''s all over! The Mainland Broadcasting Authority suddenly issued a ban on you, now all your commercial performances and shows you were going to attend are canceled, and every movie and TV drama role you were going to play¡­ all canceled¡­" Agent Liu Rong looked at He Mengjie, her voice trembling as she spoke.

    "Nonsense! I am a popular Hong Kong super star, and just recently I was dining with the chief director of this year''s CCTV Spring Festival Gala in the Mainland, and he even said they wanted to invite me to participate in this year''s gala. You should know the relationship between CCTV and the Broadcasting Authority, right? How could the Mainland Broadcasting Authority suddenly issue a ban on me? You must have made a mistake," He Mengjie retorted in disbelief.

    "My dear granny, just in the little while that you stepped away, I''ve already received no less than ten phone calls, how could there be a mistake?" The agent replied with a bitter smile.

    "This, how can this be? It makes no sense!" Upon hearing this, He Mengjie finally realized the ban was real, and she stood there stunned, her face turning visibly uglier.

    With the rapid development of the economy in the Mainland, it had gradually become the biggest market for Hong Kong stars, and the true place where they struck gold, and He Mengjie was no exception.

    Whether it was Liu Jiayao seeking her out or Park Yu-ji, both were because she had many fans and admirers in the Mainland; without the massive popularity from the Mainland, He Mengjie''s value would plummet.

    Despite looking down on the Mainland with contempt at the Peninsula Hotel restaurant yesterday, even mocking Ge Dongxu in a derogatory tone as a "Mainland boy," she was actually well aware that she could not do without the Mainland market.

    "Could it really be that young man?" Suddenly, the agent and He Mengjie almost simultaneously thought of the same person, and they looked at each other with shocked faces.

    "It''s impossible! Absolutely impossible! It must just be a coincidence." However, they quickly shook their heads in denial.

    They simply could not imagine that a young man''s energy could be so vast that, after He Mengjie deliberately mocked him last night, saying he had the ability to ban her, she was banned by the Mainland today.

    "How about we make a call to Liu, the head of Qinglan Cosmetics, to probe?" After shaking their heads, Liu Rong suggested.

    "Don''t you dare! What are they? I don''t believe they can actually ban me; there must be some other reason," He Mengjie immediately refused.

    Liu Rong hesitated for a moment but ultimately nodded and said, "No matter the reason, we must go to the mainland right away and visit the relevant people."

    "Do I have to go too?" He Mengjie asked with a frown.

    "My dear miss, now is not the time for you to put on airs. We need to get the SARFT to lift your ban as soon as possible; otherwise, the longer it lasts, your losses will be immeasurable," Liu Rong said.

    He Mengjie frowned again, but eventually nodded and said, "Alright then."

    Because she understood very clearly that the mainland market was extremely important to her.

    ...

    Two days later.

    On the plane from Beijing to Hong Kong, He Mengjie was wearing sunglasses, with a gloomy expression, completely lacking her usual radiance and drive.

    In these two days, she, along with her agent Liu Rong and the relevant persons in charge from her entertainment agency, Chao Huang, visited quite a few people in the circle. They also visited some leaders of the SARFT that they could access. Even He Mengjie, who used to take pride in her status and was quite haughty, personally made efforts to flatter and appease, but to no avail.

    Not only were they unable to get the SARFT to lift the ban on He Mengjie through their efforts, but they couldn''t even find out the root cause. Privately, Liu Rong and He Mengjie asked around for information about Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu, to see if this issue could be related to them. The results confirmed what they had already surmised: Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu had no significant background or connections.

    "Mengjie, Yu Xin always thought highly of you, and it was she who recommended you to the company. Why don''t you go find her when we get back and ask her to help us by requesting Master Gu to speak to the mainland for us. It is said that Master Gu has connections and is on good terms with the upper echelon on the mainland. As long as he is willing to speak on your behalf, the mainland should give us some face," Liu Rong said after some thought, looking at He Mengjie''s gloomy face.

    "Sister Yu Xin? Right, I almost forgot about her. I''ll go find her immediately when we get back," He Mengjie''s eyes brightened behind her sunglasses, and her previously gloomy face cleared.

    ...

    The Peak commonly known as Mount Austin, stands tall in the western part of Hong Kong Island at an elevation of 554 meters and is the highest mountain on the island. It''s the pinnacle of Hong Kong Island and also the prime location for viewing the scenery of Victoria Harbour, a symbol of Hong Kong. Known also as Victoria Peak or Flagstaff Mountain, it is home to the most expensive and status-indicating mansions in Hong Kong¡ªthe Peak mansions.

    Whether it is the business magnate Li Ka-Shing or the Casino King of Macau, they both own mansions on the Peak. Gu Yezeng, as a wealthy Chinese tycoon, also owns a mansion on the Peak.

    A silver Rolls-Royce car slowly ascended the winding road up The Peak, climbing higher and higher, until gradually through the window, one could look down upon Victoria Bay and the towering skyscrapers on both sides of the shore.

    "So beautiful," Liu Jiayao exclaimed.

    After playing in Hong Kong for two days and visiting all the places they wanted to go, they even took a private luxury yacht tour of Victoria arranged by Gu Yezeng, and also went to Lamma Island. The only place they hadn''t seen yet was The Peak.

    Because Ah Xiong told Ge Dongxu that, while Gu Yezeng''s family owned many properties in Hong Kong, they preferred the mansion on The Peak and usually stayed there. Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, planning to visit Gu Yezeng''s home sooner or later, decided to make The Peak their last stop.

 Chapter 455 - 454: Asking Master Gu to Step In

    "If you like it here, just buy a set and keep it here whenever you want to live here," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Forget it, the houses here are tens of millions or even hundreds of millions. I don''t come here often, so why buy one to leave it empty?" Liu Jiayao''s delicate body trembled slightly upon hearing this, and she turned her head to look at Ge Dongxu affectionately, smiling sweetly.

    "Money is not a problem. The main thing is whether you like it or not," Ge Dongxu said.

    Let alone the fact that he had over a billion funds lying around in Japan, just his monthly income in his own country was at least several tens of millions, and this amount was still rapidly increasing. Whether it be tens of millions or even hundreds of millions, as long as Liu Jiayao liked it, he wouldn''t even blink an eye.

    The driver, Axiong, listened and couldn''t help but secretly feel emotional. Being young and able to address Master Yang as a brother, it was indeed impressive. Houses worth tens or hundreds of millions, in his mouth, were like clothes costing just a few hundred or thousand dollars.

    "I just like it here, but I''m not interested in buying a house here," Liu Jiayao shook her head and said.

    Seeing that Liu Jiayao truly had no intention of buying a house here, Ge Dongxu just smiled and did not continue the topic.

    While enjoying the scenery outside the window and talking, sometimes Axiong would also chime in to add a few words. Before they knew it, the car had reached a fork in the road near the mountaintop.

    Axiong turned the car into the fork, which was lined with lush trees, and after driving about sixty to seventy meters, a luxurious villa appeared in front, hidden under densely foliaged, thick and tall trees.

    ...

    "Sister Yu Xin, you must help me. You know I have spent a lot of effort and faced many hardships over the years just to achieve what I have now. Just as I am finally seeing the fruits of my labors, if the mainland decides to blacklist me, all my years of effort will be in vain," He Mengjie beseeched tearfully in the living room of the mountaintop luxury villa, looking exceptionally pitiful and heartrending.

    "I can''t help with this matter. It depends on whether Yezeng finds it convenient to make a call," Yu Xin said hesitantly, moved by compassion upon seeing He Mengjie''s tearful face and recalling her own tough days in the entertainment industry.

    "If Master Gu is willing to speak on my behalf, given his influence in the Chinese community, the mainland will definitely show him respect; that''s for sure," He Mengjie said hastily.

    "Although Yezeng has some connections with the leaders on the mainland and can have a word, it''s still the leaders who show him respect; he must know his boundaries, or else it would be sheer arrogance. However, your issue should not be big. Alright, stop crying, and come with me to see Yezeng," Yu Xin said as she stood up.

    "Thank you, Sister Yu Xin, thank you," He Mengjie replied overjoyed, quickly standing up and wiping the tears from her face.

    Outside, in the villa''s garden, Gu Yezeng was enjoying some family time with his son on the lawn, occasionally glancing towards the gate.

    "Has Axiong called yet?" Yu Xin asked expectedly as she walked into the lawn with He Mengjie and picked up her son who was running towards her.

    "He called, and they should arrive in a few minutes," Gu Yezeng replied with a smile, appearing to be in a good mood.

    "Master Gu, hello," He Mengjie greeted respectfully with a bow.

    Gu Yezeng nodded then said "Huh," with a slight frown, "What happened to you, Ms. He? Your eyes are all red?"

    "I..." He Mengjie''s tears suddenly fell like pearls off a broken string.

    Gu Yezeng looked at Yu Xin with a puzzled look in his eyes.

    "Alas, Mengjie really hasn''t had it easy. Just when she was finally making a name for herself, she unexpectedly received a ban from the mainland. Yezeng, see if it''s convenient for you to speak to the mainland on her behalf?" Yu Xin, noticing Gu Yezeng looking her way, sighed and said.

    "Oh, with He''s current fame, the mainland wouldn''t issue a ban without a reason. Did she say something inappropriate in public? The mainland is quite sensitive about political stances," Gu Yezeng furrowed his brows and asked.

    "Master Gu, I didn''t, I still understand the importance of the situation," He Mengjie, touching the tears on her face, shook her head.

    "That makes things a bit easier, then. If it involved political stances, I wouldn''t have intervened. Since that''s not the issue, you must have offended someone in the mainland¡ªtell me, who did you offend?" Gu Yezeng nodded and then asked.

    Being the seasoned player he was, he naturally wouldn''t rush into helping without weighing the situation first. If help was needed, he still needed to ask for details first.

    "I didn''t offend anyone, I''m usually very careful over there," He Mengjie again shook her head.

    "That''s a bit strange then, but don''t panic. Considering your current status, you wouldn''t be in direct contact with true important figures, so the problem shouldn''t be too severe. However, the waters run deep in the mainland. Since Yu Xin has spoken for you, I can make inquiries on your behalf, but you''ll need to handle the specifics yourself. I have guests about to arrive, and it''s not convenient for me to handle this matter right now," Gu Yezeng said, his face showing a hint of bewilderment as he thought.

    With such unclear and ambiguous issues, especially those involving the mainland, Gu Yezeng was reluctant to get involved. However, since his beloved wife had spoken up, and considering He Mengjie''s status, even if she did offend someone, it would likely be manageable, he finally agreed to make inquiries on her behalf.

    "Thank you, Master Gu, thank you, Master Gu!" He Mengjie, overwhelmed with joy, continuously bowed in thanks to Gu Yezeng, but a hint of smugness flashed in her eyes as she lowered her head.

    Hmph, ban me, will they? Am I that easy to ban?

    "Alright, if you want to thank someone, thank Yu Xin," Gu Yezeng said with a faint smile. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Of course, I''m thankful to Sister Yu Xin," He Mengjie said, wiping away her tears and smiling through them.

    Saying this, He Mengjie turned to Gu Yiran and clapped her hands, "Yiran, give sister a hug."

    He Mengjie''s rise to fame wasn''t just because of her beauty and noticeable acting talent but also because she had a friendly charm.

    At her cheer, the pretty big sister clapping her hands, Gu Yiran freed himself from his mother''s grasp and leaped into He Mengjie''s arms, shouting, "Sister hug, sister hug!"

    He Mengjie happily lifted Gu Yiran and gently tickled him under his armpits, causing Gu Yiran to burst into giggles.

    Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin, as parents, felt happy seeing their son so joyful.

    "Why don''t we have Mengjie stay as well, young people generally like stars," Yu Xin whispered to Gu Yezeng.

    "Sure, this time Mr. Ge also brought his girlfriend over, having someone her age around should make for a better conversation," Gu Yezeng nodded and said.

 Chapter 456 - 455: Drive Her Away!

    ```

    "Mengjie, since you''re here, stay and have dinner with us later. I''ll introduce you to two friends from the mainland," said Yu Xin with a smile to He Mengjie, who was playing with her son.

    With He Mengjie''s intelligence, it wasn''t difficult to guess that the guests, whom both Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin personally entertained and even waited for in the yard, must be extraordinarily important figures.

    Just now, her deliberate engagement with Gu Yiran, aside from pleasing Gu Yezeng and his wife, was actually partly a ruse to see if there was an opportunity for her to stay.

    Now that Yu Xin had indeed asked her to stay, and even told her that the guests were from the mainland, a wave of ecstasy couldn''t help but surge in He Mengjie''s heart.

    The mainland guests who could merit such consideration from Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin must be prominent figures.

    If she were to befriend such influential people from the mainland, who would dare blacklist her so casually in the future?

    "Wouldn''t, wouldn''t that disrupt you all?" though He Mengjie was ecstatic inside, she nervously asked on the surface.

    "No problem, they are people we, Yezeng and I, greatly respect. Just be careful with your words later, don''t be disrespectful," Yu Xin replied with a smile.

    "Don''t worry, Sister Yu Xin, I understand," He Mengjie replied eagerly, so thrilled she was almost crazed inside.

    People even Master Gu had to respect¡ªwhat kind of status would that be?

    He Mengjie didn''t dare to imagine.

    "But Sister Yu Xin, who exactly is coming? Even someone of Master Gu''s status has to..." Though crazily thrilled, He Mengjie still couldn''t suppress her inner curiosity and couldn''t help but ask.

    "Mr. Ge and his party have arrived." Before He Mengjie could finish her question, Gu Yezeng''s expression suddenly turned solemn, and he even deliberately straightened his clothes before briskly walking to the front door.

    Seeing this, Yu Xin naturally didn''t have time to explain to He Mengjie. She picked up her son, Gu Yiran, and quickly followed.

    Witnessing this, He Mengjie felt her heart leap to her throat, and she tensed up completely.

    You should know, with a status like Gu Yezeng''s, even the Chief Executive of Hong Kong would be met with an attitude of total equality.

    But now, with Gu Yezeng behaving so solemnly and earnestly, He Mengjie simply couldn''t imagine how distinguished the guests must be!

    How could she not be nervous?

    However, as someone accustomed to grand scenes, He Mengjie soon forcibly calmed her nervous heart and quickly followed, already decisively planning to make a good impression on the people in the car no matter what.

    Upon reaching the entrance and seeing that the car pulling in was Gu Yezeng''s private sedan, He Mengjie couldn''t help but be slightly startled, showing a hint of confusion on her face.

    But it obviously wasn''t the time to ponder this issue. He Mengjie''s fingers nervously intertwined, her gaze fixated on the car, wondering who would emerge. Could it be significant figures frequently seen in domestic news?

    The car slowly came to a stop. Before the driver, Ah Xiong, had a chance to open the door, Gu Yezeng had already advanced to help pull it open, slightly bowing to Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao inside the car, "Welcome, Mr. Ge and Miss Liu, to our humble abode."

    Seeing someone of Gu Yezeng''s stature humbly advancing to open the door himself, and even standing by the car door with a respectful bend, He Mengjie felt her legs growing weak.

    ```

    If she hadn''t seen it with her own eyes, she would never have believed that a personage like Gu Yezeng could actually humbly open the car door for someone and bow slightly in greeting.

    The sight actually made Liu Jiayao''s legs go weak inside the car.

    In her eyes, Gu Yezeng had always been a legendary figure in the circle of Chinese tycoons. Even if her father were still alive, he would merely be a minor figure in the business world, a junior in the presence of someone like Gu Yezeng.

    But now, Gu Yezeng was actually opening the car door for her and Ge Dongxu.

    "Old Gu, you don''t need to make such a grand gesture for me," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he stepped out of the car, and then he purposefully reached out a hand to Liu Jiayao, helping her out of the car as well.

    Hearing the familiar voice, and then seeing that familiar figure emerge from the car, He Mengjie was so stunned that she covered her mouth, her face pale and her forehead breaking out in a cold sweat like raindrops.

    At this moment, her mind nearly stopped working.

    Only one voice kept echoing in her head.

    How could it be him? How could it be him?

    "Of course, having you and Miss Liu here truly graces my humble abode," Gu Yezeng said with a laugh.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu smiled and was about to exchange a few cordial words when his expression suddenly changed slightly, and he asked coldly, "Is this He Mengjie a friend of yours?"

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s sudden change of demeanor, Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin''s hearts involuntarily skipped a beat, and they vaguely realized something.

    "She''s not exactly a friend, just someone Yu Xin used to work with at the same entertainment company, so there''s been some interaction. Mr. Ge, have you had any unpleasant encounters with her? I''ll have her apologize to you right now," Gu Yezeng replied cautiously.

    After speaking, Gu Yezeng immediately turned to the pale-faced He Mengjie, his expression darkened as he said, "Mengjie, what''s going on? Aren''t you going to quickly apologize to..." S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No need! She doesn''t deserve my apology!" Ge Dongxu coldly interrupted.

    "Dongxu," Liu Jiayao said, feeling somewhat remorseful as Ge Dongxu did not give any face to Gu Yezeng or Yu Xin.

    After all, Gu Yezeng was a local magnate, and Yu Xin was considered a leading actress of her generation in Hong Kong.

    "Let her leave. I don''t want to see a woman who eats the food of her homeland yet speaks so disparagingly and mockingly of it," Ge Dongxu said as if he hadn''t heard Liu Jiayao, continuing to speak coldly to Gu Yezeng.

    "Ah, I''m sorry, Mr. Ge. It''s my fault for not recognizing a great man when I see one, for being blinded by my own ignorance. Please forgive me..." He Mengjie said, tears suddenly streaming down her face as she kept bowing and apologizing to Ge Dongxu.

    "Get her out! Tell Yang Shoucheng and the Xiang family brothers that this woman is not to appear in Hong Kong films anymore. Say it was my order; anyone who promotes this woman is disrespecting me, Gu Yezeng," Gu Yezeng ordered Ah Xiong directly after seeing He Mengjie repeatedly bowing to Ge Dongxu, looking pitiable with tears streaming down her cheeks. Instead of feeling any pity, his eyes were filled with disgust.

    Gu Yezeng''s father had once been a patriotic member of the Qing Gang, which is how he had come to know Yang Yinhou. Now that Gu Yezeng had learned from Ge Dongxu just what kind of person He Mengjie was, how could he harbor any good feelings toward her?

    Besides, who was Ge Dongxu? That was someone even Gu Yezeng himself had to address as Master Ge, the savior of his son, a true master of Qimen. If He Mengjie dared to offend him, wasn''t that offending Gu Yezeng himself and showing him disrespect?

 Chapter 457 - 456 Innocent Words

    As soon as Gu Yezeng made this remark, He Mengjie was so frightened that she almost lost her soul. She hurried to Yu Xin''s side, grabbing her hand, and cried with tears and snot, "Sister Yu Xin, it wasn''t on purpose. I beg you, please help me, help me!"

    The mainland had already banned her, and if Hong Kong were to ban her too, her career would be thoroughly ruined.

    "He Mengjie, you bitterly disappoint me!" Yu Xin had originally thought well of He Mengjie, but Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person. At his word, Yu Xin''s opinion of her completely changed; she looked at her with a face full of disappointment and said.

    Despite hearing this, He Mengjie did not give up. She still wanted to beg, but A Xiong had already come up and directly grabbed her delicate arm, pulling her towards the exit.

    Watching He Mengjie, once a high and mighty, popular star, being rudely dragged out by A Xiong by the arm, Ge Dongxu''s face did not betray any sign of sympathy or pity.

    To Ge Dongxu, actors like her, who had no sense of gratitude and didn''t even know their own roots, were even more detestable than Park Yu-ji.

    It was also for this reason that, afterwards, without any hesitation, Ge Dongxu made a call to Fang Fei, also showing no consideration for the Gu Yezeng couple''s feelings. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Mr. Ge, Miss Liu, please come inside," Gu Yezeng didn''t spare He Mengjie another glance; instead, he gestured an invitation. However, Yu Xin and her son, as well as Liu Jiayao, looked somewhat distressedly at He Mengjie, who was crying like a tearful figure. Especially Gu Yiran, who asked Yu Xin, puzzled, "Why doesn''t brother like beautiful Sister He? Why is he driving her away?"

    Though it''s said children speak without restraint, Gu Yiran''s question made the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Gu Yezeng thump heavily. Gu Yezeng even glared at his son, opening his mouth as if he wanted to reprimand him.

    After all, Ge Dongxu was not only an elder but also the boy''s lifesaver.

    Others might doubt Ge Dongxu''s ruthlessness, but this little guy simply couldn''t.

    However, Ge Dongxu didn''t seem to mind at all. He glanced at the angry Gu Yezeng, then picked up Gu Yiran with a smile and said, "Whether a woman is beautiful on the outside isn''t what''s important. What matters is whether her heart is beautiful. Sister He''s heart isn''t beautiful, so that''s why your brother doesn''t like her."

    "Oh, I see. I understand now. Like mom, like this sister¡ªthey must be beautiful on the outside and inside, which is why dad and brother like them," said Gu Yiran thoughtfully.

    "Exactly, Yiran is so smart," Ge Dongxu said, patting his head.

    "Then, I won''t like Sister He, either, because brother doesn''t like her," Gu Yiran declared.

    "Heh, you trust your brother that much?" asked Ge Dongxu with a faint start of surprise and then a smile.

    He first thought that Gu Yiran, this little adult, had understood what he meant, but in the end, it turned out he was just following his lead in disliking He Mengjie.

    "Of course, brother is a good person, and he is genuinely kind to Yiran," answered Gu Yiran earnestly.

    Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback, and then he burst out laughing heartily, with Mr. and Mrs. Gu Yezeng and the others joining in happily.

    "You little guy, you do have good judgment," said Ge Dongxu, laughing and stroking Gu Yiran''s little head.

    "Hey, can''t you be a little more subtle? Boasting like that in front of Mr. Gu and Sister Yu Xin?" Liu Jiayao playfully rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and said.

    "Hehe, Mr. Ge isn''t wrong. Children, in this respect, are the smartest. They know clearly in their hearts who''s good and who''s bad," Gu Yezeng said with a smile.

    "Yes, sister, I''m very smart," Gu Yiran joined in confidently.

    "Giggle!"

    "Haha!"

    Ge Dongxu and the others were momentarily taken aback by the comment, then they all burst into laughter.

    Amidst their laughter, the group entered the living room and then passed through to the terrace connected to it.

    On a summer evening, with a gentle mountain breeze, sitting on the terrace watching the lights of Victoria Harbour come on one by one was much more pleasant than sitting in the living room.

    The four of them sat around the table. Gu Yiran clung to Ge Dongxu, refusing to get down, which made Gu Yezeng and his wife feel somewhat embarrassed. Ge Dongxu, on the other hand, liked it and let him sit on his lap.

    But children are fickle at heart, and it wasn''t long before Gu Yiran got off Ge Dongxu''s lap and ran to play on the lawn.

    "Mr. Ge, Ms. Liu, I''m sorry. I didn''t know He Mengjie had offended you; otherwise, I definitely wouldn''t have let her through the door," Gu Yezeng specifically apologized for He Mengjie''s behavior after Gu Yiran had walked away. While apologizing, he felt a surge of relief¡ªthank goodness he hadn''t called the leaders in the capital; this would have been like slapping the faces of his elders and benefactors.

    By this time, Gu Yezeng naturally understood that the sudden ban of He Mengjie by the mainland''s State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television must be due to Ge Dongxu.

    With Ge Dongxu''s miraculous abilities, having some influence on the mainland wasn''t anything surprising.

    "Offending us isn''t a big deal; at worst, she''d get taught a lesson to help her remember, but as a public figure, her values really make one angry," Ge Dongxu replied, then roughly explained the situation.

    After all, He Mengjie knew Yu Xin, and because of the dislike earlier, had not given Yu Xin face. Now that everyone had sat down to chat and drink tea, it was necessary to explain things clearly.

    "That damn bitch! Mr. Ge, if you''d said something earlier, I would''ve slapped her a few times just now!" Gu Yezeng said angrily after hearing the explanation, even cursing out loud.

    "Getting angry over someone like that isn''t worth it, let''s drink tea," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "That''s true, better to have that kind of person stay far away and not embarrass themselves in public," Gu Yezeng nodded in agreement, then picked up his teacup.

    "I didn''t expect Ms. Liu to be not only beautiful but also so capable, running a cosmetics company is really admirable," Yu Xin put down her teacup and said with admiration as she looked at Liu Jiayao.

    "Yu Xin, don''t say that, you''re the truly impressive one. I''m actually a fan of yours; I used to dream of having an autographed photo of you," Liu Jiayao replied.

    "No, no, I can''t take such praise, and please don''t call me ''sister,'' I really can''t accept that," Yu Xin hurriedly responded.

    "Don''t mind him; I''m not a member of Qimen, and neither are you. We each have our own circles¡ªjust like Yiran, who even calls Dongxu ''brother,''" Liu Jiayao glanced at Ge Dongxu and said.

    Liu Jiayao might be able to speak so casually, but Yu Xin dared not agree so readily, looking helplessly at Ge Dongxu and Gu Yezeng for rescue.

    "It''s fine, neither of you are from Qimen or the martial world, you''re not like me and Old Gu, so whatever is comfortable is fine to use," Ge Dongxu said with laughter.

    "Then let''s just call each other by our names, that''s what foreigners do, and if you call me ''sister,'' I''d still feel a bit uneasy. It would be really awkward if Master Yang were around," Yu Xin, seeing Ge Dongxu nod, spoke reluctantly.

 Chapter 458 - 457 Free Endorsement

    "Alright, let''s just call each other by name," Liu Jiayao said happily.

    "Then I won''t stand on ceremony and will just call you Jiayao," Yu Xin said with a smile.

    "That''s how it should be," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Jiayao, didn''t Mr. Ge just mention that your company''s new product is looking for an advertising spokesperson? If you think I''m suitable, I''d be very happy to be the spokesperson for your company''s new product," Yu Xin said.

    "Really? You''re the most perfect candidate in my heart!" Liu Jiayao exclaimed with joy.

    "You''re flattering me so much that I''m feeling a bit embarrassed. Since you think I''m suitable, then I''ll be the advertising spokesperson for your new product," Yu Xin said.

    "Thank you, Yu Xin, but haven''t you already stopped taking commercial endorsements and such? If you make an exception because of us, then I''d rather you didn''t," Liu Jiayao said gratefully, remembering that Yu Xin had completely left the entertainment industry.

    "It''s not about making exceptions or not, it''s simply that I don''t want to hustle for money anymore. You and Mr. Ge are different; we are friends, and it''s only right to help out a friend," Yu Xin said.

    "But still..." Jiayao felt, despite her fond desire, that it was still a bit too much to ask.

    "Ms. Liu, don''t be reserved with Yu Xin. Actually, she still misses the screen life a bit, and letting her do a commercial and endorse something to satisfy that nostalgia is also good," Gu Yezeng said with a laugh, interrupting.

    He owed Ge Dongxu an enormous favor and naturally was eager for any opportunity to do something for him.

    Seeing Gu Yezeng speak that way, Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu with a questioning gaze.

    "Since Old Gu and Yu Xin have said so, Jiayao, you don''t need to be reserved with them," Ge Dongxu said to Liu Jiayao when he saw her looking at him, after some thought.

    After all, he and Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin really had no need for such formalities.

    "Then I won''t stand on ceremony with you, Yu Xin. I now formally invite you to endorse our new product, the Flower Spirit series cosmetics. As for the endorsement fee, what are your requirements?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    "Jiayao, it''s really too much if you talk about an endorsement fee with me," Yu Xin said.

    "Business is business, personal is personal. If you don''t state an endorsement fee, then I won''t feel confident asking you for future events," Jiayao said.

    "For events, just call me when you need me, and I''ll definitely be there. As for the endorsement fee, please don''t bring it up again," Yu Xin said.

    "Right, you don''t need to be reserved with her. Just call her when you need her to appear. As for the money, please don''t mention it at all," Gu Yezeng also chimed in.

    Liu Jiayao, seeing that Yu Xin wasn''t even asking for an endorsement fee, looked at Ge Dongxu once more.

    "Just listen to them. At worst, you can supply their family with free cosmetics every year," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Not to mention the life-saving favor Ge Dongxu owed to Gu Yezeng and his wife, the value of the two Body Protection Jade Amulets he had given to Yu Xin and Gu Yiran was also immeasurable.

    "How can I accept that!" Liu Jiayao said, her face showing her unease.

    Having Yu Xin as a spokesperson was something she couldn''t have imagined before, and now here she was, doing it for free.

    "Since we''re all friends, this is a small matter. You don''t need to take it to heart," Ge Dongxu reassured.

    "Right, right, we''re all friends. Miss Liu, please don''t feel any psychological burden. Besides, didn''t you provide us with free cosmetics?" Gu Yezeng laughed.

    "Speaking of cosmetics, you mentioned something called Flower Spirit earlier. Have you launched it in the market already? Can you send some for me to try?" Yu Xin asked.

    "It hasn''t hit the market yet, but we''ve already developed a few varieties. The formula was provided by Dongxu, so you can rest assured when using it. I brought some this time, but left them at the hotel. When Ah Xiong drives us back later, I''ll have him bring some to you," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Ah, the formula is actually provided by Mr. Ge, then the effect must be absolutely terrific. He Mengjie really didn''t know what she was missing. I dare say, if she had endorsed Flower Spirit cosmetics, her career would have reached an unimaginable height under its influence. What a pity, such a pity!" Yu Xin''s eyes lit up upon hearing that Ge Dongxu provided the formula.

    Gu Yezeng''s eyes lit up as well.

    They had personally witnessed Ge Dongxu''s miraculous abilities and naturally had extraordinary confidence in him.

    ¡­

    "Liu Rong, what do we do now? What do we do?" In a luxurious mansion in the southern district of Hong Kong, He Mengjie grasped Liu Rong''s hands, asking in panic.

    "Ah, there''s nothing we can do. Even Master Gu had to personally open the car door for that person, and you offended him. Just being blacklisted, when you think about it, he''s already been quite lenient. You should know, that''s someone even more powerful than Master Gu! Just live well with the money you''ve earned these past years," Liu Rong said.

    Hearing this, He Mengjie shuddered at the thought of those who had once been extremely popular in the entertainment circle and their miserable fate after offending someone they shouldn''t have, and fell silent.

    "Ah, such a pity! With that person''s status, if only this incident hadn''t happened, how good would that have been!" Liu Rong looked at He Mengjie, sighed, and shook her head.

    He Mengjie trembled upon hearing those words and, filled with regret, couldn''t help but frantically pull at her own hair.

    Regret! She truly regretted it!

    She could have connected with an extraordinary big shot, she could have had unrestrained power in the mainland, but now¡­

    ¡­

    "Dongxu, I always feel bad for letting Yu Xin make an exception, and then she declined payment too. Even with Brother Yang''s connection, isn''t this favor too great?" Back at the Peninsula Hotel, Liu Jiayao recalled Yu Xin agreeing to endorse Flower Spirit cosmetics advertisements for free and couldn''t shake off a feeling of unease.

    "Don''t worry about it. If we''re talking about favors, they owe us, not the other way around. I didn''t tell you I knew Yu Xin before because I didn''t want to mix friendship with favors," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "What favor do they owe you?" Liu Jiayao asked curiously. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Didn''t you notice how exceptionally close Gu Yiran was to me? That''s because I saved his life. Also, the Jade Tokens you see on Gu Yiran and Yu Xin''s necks, I gave those to them. They are not something you can necessarily buy with money."

    "No wonder. Even considering Brother Yang''s connection, it didn''t make sense for the Gu Yezeng couple to show you so much respect. Turns out you did a great service for their family. You could''ve said earlier, you made them feel so guilty just now," Liu Jiayao finally understood.

    "Hehe, such things, if you don''t ask, I naturally won''t bring them up on my own. Moreover, if we hadn''t run into He Mengjie at their house by chance, I wouldn''t have mentioned the cosmetics," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Well, that''s just your character. Okay, now I can finally relax. Come on, since we''re returning to Linzhou tomorrow, let''s create a fond memory in Hong Kong tonight." With that, Liu Jiayao suddenly flipped over and pressed down on Ge Dongxu, her eyes seductive as silk.

 Chapter 459 - 458: Awesome Major

    Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, not only had Ge Dongxu returned from Hong Kong, but the day to register for university had also quickly arrived.

    Since Ge Dongxu wanted to keep a low profile and live a normal college life, he naturally would not drive boastfully to school, but as usual, he took the train from his hometown Changxi County to the Provincial Capital.

    September was not only the registration day for new students but also the return day for existing students, so on this day, more than half of the train''s passengers were university students headed to school, accompanied by their parents.

    Because freshmen, having spent three years of high school in seclusion, had hardly traveled far, some even taking the train for the first time, many parents felt uneasy allowing their children to go to school alone.

    Ge Dongxu naturally did not need his parents to accompany him to university. He boarded the train alone amidst the flow of people at the Changxi County train station. Watching his fellow young travelers with their hands empty but their parents carrying large and small bags, he felt an indescribable sense of emotion. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A parents'' love is undoubtedly great, but excessive pampering, if comprehended by the child, is fine; if not, it might become accustomed, assuming it should be like that, which would be quite tragic.

    With these reflections, Ge Dongxu boarded the train and greeted a few classmates and alumni from Changxi County No. 1 High School before finding his seat according to the ticket number.

    The train heading to the Provincial Capital started not from Changxi County but from Sanshang City in Dongyue Province.

    When Ge Dongxu boarded, there were already quite a few passengers. The seat opposite him was taken by a young man with neatly groomed, shiny hair and meticulously clean clothing, who looked very ordinary but was about his age.

    Seeing a male student arrive, the young man flashed a look of disappointment, but quickly accepted the reality, sized up Ge Dongxu who had just seated himself after stowing his luggage, and asked, "Heading to the Provincial Capital for studies? Freshman or returning student?"

    "Freshman. What about you?" Ge Dongxu replied with a smile, feeling a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu with the young man before him.

    "I''m also a freshman, at Jiangnan University. How about you?" the young man responded and followed up with another question.

    "What a coincidence, I am also at Jiangnan University," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Wow, that really is a coincidence. What''s your major?" the young man''s gaze towards Ge Dongxu suddenly warmed up.

    "Environmental Chemistry. How about you?" Ge Dongxu inquired.

    "Environmental Chemistry, isn''t that a science and engineering subject? Probably a bunch of guys and hardly any girls, not fun. College is such a wonderful time, you should have chosen a major with plenty of girls, like me, English. I heard that under normal circumstances, there wouldn''t be more than four guys in a class, sometimes even only one. Imagine, being the only guy in a class, all the girls around you, just like an emperor, how cool that would feel! It would surely make the four years of college worthwhile," the young man said, his eyes shining, his face somewhat lecherous, which instantly reminded Ge Dongxu of his high school best friend, Cheng Le Hao.

    Cheng Le Hao and Du Yifan were off to college in the capital, had set off a couple of days earlier.

    "So you chose the English major just because of this reason?" Ge Dongxu looked at the young man sitting across from him speechless for a while before he could not help but ask with a mix of laughter and tears.

    "Of course not entirely. Studying English not only makes me stand out from the crowd, cough cough, this idiom might not be quite right, but you get the drift, and once I master it, I can also flirt with blonde foreigners and boost our national pride. I also need to choose a second foreign language for my major, and I''ve decided on Japanese. If it goes well, I plan to take up Korean as well. Imagine dating a Japanese girl, hearing her call me ''daddy'' every day, just thinking about it feels great. Oh, and Jiangnan University is a famous school in Huaxia Country, and I heard they have quite a few international students every year, especially from Korea and Japan, aside from our brothers from Africa," the young man said with a glowing face.

    "Younger brother, you had great ambitions back in high school, I truly admire that! Poor me, during my high school years, all I did was bury myself in my studies. I then earned the title of top student and got into an awesome program at Jiangnan University, the Physics Department. This department really kicks ass, seriously. Your Environmental Chemistry has it better; every class at least has a few girls, and occasionally some beauties, especially since Professor Wu from their college is famously beautiful. But our department? You can hardly find any girls. You know, people outside say that our faculty of science and engineering at Jiangnan University is all about couples or gays, but our physics department, it''s just bursting with bromance, a truly sad story. This younger brother, when you''re surrounded by beauties, don''t forget to introduce one to your senior here," a man across the aisle with thick glasses and appearing quite scholarly chimed in.

    "These years have been tough on you, senior. Don''t worry, meeting is fate, I''ll definitely introduce a few to you," the guy sitting opposite Ge Dongxu patted his chest and said.

    "No need for a few, just one is enough, enough," the senior from the Physics Department quickly replied.

    "How could that be enough? The Physics Department, that''s where the true national talents come from! Can''t let the future national talents sweat and cry! Yes, yes," the rascally fellow said with a righteous expression.

    "Cough cough, my name is Ge Dongxu, may I know how to address you gentlemen?" Unable to bear it any longer, Ge Dongxu interrupted them.

    "We''ve been chatting for so long and almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Lv Chongliang," the sleazy guy slapped his forehead and replied.

    "Lv Congliang?" Ge Dongxu and the guy across the aisle from the Physics Department were taken aback and then burst into laughter.

    Lv Congliang, also a good girl!?

    Who the hell named him that? People who don''t know might think his ancestors were involved in some sort of profession.

    "It''s not Cong, but Chong, as in adoration," seeing Ge Dongxu and the physics guy laughing, Lv Chongliang finally blushed slightly, making an effort to speak with a northern accent by curling his tongue.

    "Oh, it''s ''adoration'' Chong," Ge Dongxu and the physics guy suddenly realized, but they still couldn''t help wanting to laugh.

    Since both Dongyue Province and Jiangnan Province are in the South, most people there are used to speaking with a flat tongue, so the name Lv Chongliang will surely continue to be called Lv Congliang by them, even Lv Chongliang himself said "Congliang" just now.

    "Don''t laugh! It''s the name my elders chose; I can''t do anything about it," Lv Chongliang, seeing Ge Dongxu and the physics guy trying not to laugh, immediately glared and said.

    "Whether it''s Congliang or Chongliang, the name was chosen with a very positive and significant meaning," the physics guy adjusted his glasses, speaking in all seriousness.

 Chapter 460 - 459: The Long-legged Beauty

    "Still want to escape the agony of radiating too much ''bromance''?" Lv Chongliang glared and said again.

    "Day and night I wish for it. This is my last year of college. If I can''t find a girlfriend and have a passionate romance this year, it''ll be as if the past four years were for nothing," the physics guy eagerly said.

    Listening to the physics guy''s exaggerated words, Ge Dongxu had a "serious" look on his face and was at a loss for words.

    "Oh, right, my name is Luo Peng. If there''s anything you don''t understand after you get to school, just come to the Physics Department and look for me," the physics guy quickly added.

    "I have something I don''t understand right now! Senior Luo, why don''t you introduce me to some campus beauties or hot female teachers from Jiangnan University?" Lv Chongliang immediately said.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu looked at Lv Chongliang, speechless, as he realized that the guy in front of him really resembled Cheng Le Hao a lot.

    "You''re quite bold, lad, even daring to think about teachers!" Luo Peng''s eyes behind his thick glasses, however, lit up. Seeing the space next to Ge Dongxu empty for the moment, he moved over, pushed up his glasses, and revealed a lewd expression.

    "Heh heh, just asking, just getting to know," Lv Chongliang said with a sleazy smile.

    "Speaking of hot female teachers, one must not fail to mention our School of Environmental and Resources, which is the school you, young Ge, are in. Professor Wu Yili, she is truly gorgeous, not only in looks and figure but also because of her cultural accomplishment, she carries herself with grace and tranquility, giving off an air of intellectual beauty all around. Moreover, she''s still single. I''ve heard that the people aiming for her range from professors to students at Jiangnan University, but so far, no one seems to have succeeded," Luo Peng said, his eyes behind the thick lenses shining with fervor.

    "Intellectual beauty is my favorite kind of woman," Lv Chongliang said, his eyes gleaming with the same fervor.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s heart skipped a beat, and he couldn''t help but recall the short-haired woman with fair skin and a plump figure he met at Baiyun Mountain three years ago.

    He vaguely remembered her name was also Wu Yili. It wasn''t her, right?

    But remembering how Wu Yili blushed and insisted he call her "sister" instead of "auntie," Ge Dongxu quickly shook his head, dismissing the thought.

    A university professor shouldn''t say something like that.

    Yet, Ge Dongxu didn''t understand that a university professor isn''t a saint; she can be impulsive and act on her emotions too.

    That day, when Ge Dongxu appeared at Wu Yili''s most vulnerable moment and saved her life, seeing parts he shouldn''t have seen, and those sincere, clear eyes of his.

    All of that made the young man from back then a very special man in Wu Yili''s eyes.

    "Heh heh, me too. It''s a pity that I chose the wrong major. Even if not English, Environmental Chemistry would have been nice," Luo Peng said with a sigh.

    "No use lamenting, Senior. Even if you were an Environmental Chemistry major, you still wouldn''t stand a chance with Professor Wu. Let''s move on and talk about other pretty female teachers and campus beauties," Lv Chongliang urged.

    "That''s true," Luo Peng nodded, then continued, "Regarding pretty teachers, there''s another one I have to mention, and it just happens to be a teacher from your English Department."

    "Wow! It''s from our English Department? Don''t tell me it''s a foreign babe?" Lv Chongliang''s eyes lit up.

    "You''ve actually hit the nail on the head, it is a foreign lady. Seems she''s from the United States, with blonde hair. Not only is she young and beautiful, but she also has an amazing figure, a slender waist, and ample hips, and her chest area is magnificent! I must say, you really did choose the right major. Just sitting in class every day, watching her lecture, that''s absolutely¡­" Luo Peng said, pausing to swallow harshly.

    "Heh heh!" Lv Chongliang laughed sleazily and smugly, his eyes gleaming as if the Ge Dongxu sitting opposite him was that foreign lady, making him feel sick with goosebumps all over.

    "As for other teachers, there are indeed a few publicly recognized pretty ones, but basically, they''re all married, and some even have children already. Besides, due to the division of schools, it''s unlikely you''ll come in contact with them, so it''s pointless to mention them to you. Better to talk about the campus beauties," Luo Peng went on.

    Next, Luo Peng introduced the top ten beauties of Jiangnan University.

    All of the top ten beauties came from the colleges of foreign languages, humanities, economics, and medicine; none were from the colleges of science and engineering.

    As they spoke, the train arrived at the next stop, Ouzhou City''s south railway station.

    Seeing that the train had arrived at the station, Luo Peng stood up and went back to his own seat.

    Some people got off the train while others boarded it. However, there were fewer people leaving and more coming on, and they were mostly university students.

    As soon as the train doors opened, Lv Chongliang stopped talking to Ge Dongxu and the others and started watching the people boarding the train from the aisle.

    "Hey, Dongxu, quick, look at that long-legged beauty," Lv Chongliang suddenly kicked Ge Dongxu''s foot and whispered.

    Ge Dongxu ignored him. He already had enough beauties around him and was not interested in any long-legged beauties.

    "Hey, I''m not kidding you, she really is a long-legged beauty, and she''s walking this way!" Lv Chongliang thought Ge Dongxu didn''t believe him, so he kicked him again and said.

    Ge Dongxu, left with no choice, turned his head to look back.

    As he turned his head, Ge Dongxu''s eyes couldn''t help but brighten slightly. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the aisle, a young woman with luggage was walking toward them.

    This young woman, with her long black hair draping over her shoulders like a waterfall, had seductive eyes set in her oval face, lips that were enticingly luscious, skin as fair as jade, and a full chest that made her T-shirt look like it was about to burst.

    But none of these features were the most attractive part of her; what drew the most attention were her long legs, clad in tight jeans.

    They really were long legs, so long that although she seemed to be the same height as the woman behind her, she appeared half a head taller.

    "She really is a long-legged beauty," Ge Dongxu said with a light smile, then turned his head back.

    On the other side of the aisle, Luo Peng was already exclaiming in a low voice, "Wow, it''s the campus belle Xu Yanran!"

    "You''re saying this long-legged beauty is Xu Yanran from the Economics College''s Department of Finance?" Lv Chongliang whispered.

    "That''s right, it''s her," Luo Peng replied.

    "Wow, she''s really something. Now I''m truly looking forward to college life," Lv Chongliang said, his eyes gleaming.

    Watching Lv Chongliang''s eyes gleam, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but shake his head secretly. This guy was really going to university for the beauties.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was secretly shaking his head, a delicate fragrance wafted from behind, and then a slender girl appeared beside him¡ªit was Xu Yanran.

    "Let me help you, senior." Before Ge Dongxu could come to his senses, Lv Chongliang, who was sitting opposite him, had already stood up, grabbed Xu Yanran''s luggage, and swiftly stowed it in the overhead rack.

    "Thank you," Xu Yanran said to Lv Chongliang without showing much appreciation, just a light acknowledgment, and then sat down next to Ge Dongxu.

 Chapter 461 - 460: Known in the Martial World as Lv Semi-Immortal

    Seeing Xu Yanran sitting next to Ge Dongxu, envy was evident in Lv Chongliang''s eyes, but his face wore a smile he thought to be harmless and gentlemanly as he said to Xu Yanran, "No need to be polite, helping a senior is only natural."

    Xu Yanran just smiled ambiguously upon hearing this and didn''t even greet Ge Dongxu. She crossed her legs elegantly and took out a fashion magazine from her bag to read.

    Seeing Xu Yanran lower her head to read the magazine, Lv Chongliang began to openly size her up.

    "Don''t you know it''s very impolite to stare at someone like that?" Xu Yanran finally couldn''t tolerate it any longer, lifted her head, and looked at Lv Chongliang with a displeased expression.

    Faced with her reprimand, Lv Chongliang didn''t show any sign of embarrassment but instead said earnestly, "Senior, I didn''t mean to stare, but your facial features seemed a bit off, so I couldn''t help but take a few extra glances."

    "Are you suggesting you know how to read faces? And what, you''re going to read my palm next? Don''t you think this method of hitting on someone is a bit clich¨¦?" retorted Xu Yanran, her face full of mockery.

    Seeing Xu Yanran''s mocking expression, Luo Peng across the aisle both admired the courage of this freshman Lv Chongliang, who dared to hit on the college beauty on the train even before starting university, and somewhat pitied him for being ridiculed. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If it really were a way of flirting, it would indeed be quite clich¨¦d. But I, Lv Chongliang..." Lv Chongliang crossed his legs, displaying a serene and lofty demeanor.

    "Pfft! Lv Congliang! Giggles, you''re killing me." However, before Lv Chongliang could finish, Xu Yanran couldn''t help but burst into laughter.

    "Senior, please be serious. My name isn''t Lv Congliang, it''s Lv Chongliang, the revered ''Chong,'' known in the Jianghu as Lv Semi-Immortal," Lv Chongliang corrected seriously.

    "Lv Semi-Immortal too! Giggles!" Xu Yanran laughed even harder, her chest heaving dramatically, only to make Luo Peng frequently take off his thick glasses and vigorously wipe them with his clothing.

    Yet, Lv Chongliang still maintained his lofty demeanor, unfazed, which made Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but admire Lv Chongliang''s potential for both wooing beauties and acting like a charlatan.

    Thinking of charlatans, Ge Dongxu''s heart suddenly skipped a beat as he remembered his encounter with the magician, Divination Master Lv Haixing, in Dongyue Province when they were eradicating iron-clad zombies last time.

    This guy also had the surname Lv and even mentioned face reading; he might be a descendant of the Divination Master. No wonder he seemed so familiar.

    With that thought, Ge Dongxu fixed his gaze on Lv Chongliang once more, simultaneously releasing a faint trace of Divine Sense.

    Sure enough, he detected a very weak mana presence in Lv Chongliang, just at the first level of Qi Cultivation.

    Being at the first level of Qi Cultivation, calling him a magician would mean only that his body was slightly stronger than an ordinary person, he had greater strength, and wasn''t vulnerable to common malevolent spirits. Although he could barely cast spells, it took a long time and required strict conditions. Like last time Li Bisheng casted a spell to harm Liu Jiayao, all the various talismans on the paper figure were drawn by his master; Li Bisheng himself couldn''t make them. Even so, when Li Bisheng obtained Liu Jiayao''s date and time of birth, along with her blood, and performed that dark spell, it took him a great deal of energy just to barely activate the spells.

    Thinking that this Qi Cultivation level-one guy was probably a descendant of Divination Master Lv Haixing, and recalling Lv Haixing''s otherworldly and wise demeanor, Ge Dongxu suddenly found it both ironic and amusing, thinking that it''s no wonder Lv Haixing named his descendant Lv Chongliang.

    With this guy''s character, if not for the name Chongliang, he would probably be another Ximen Qing of this era.

    "All right, I don''t care if you''re Congliang or Chongliang, nor do I care about your Lv Semi-Immortal title. That act won''t work on me, and I''m not interested in boys like you," said Xu Yanran as she finally stopped laughing and mercilessly quipped.

    At this point, any other freshman might have admitted defeat, but Lv Chongliang merely smiled lightly and said, "Senior, you shouldn''t be too hasty to judge. If it weren''t for my seeing that senior is naturally beautiful and figuring out that you must also be from Jiangnan University, I would be too lazy to bother with these trifles."

    No woman dislikes being complimented, and even though Xu Yanran clearly knew Lv Chongliang was coveting her beauty, when he mentioned her natural grace, she still felt quite pleased. Upon hearing him correctly identify her as being from Jiangnan University, she finally showed some emotion, lifting her head to look at him and said, "Oh, how do you know I''m from Jiangnan University? Just a lucky guess?"

    "Sister, your Wealth Palace is round and firm, and the Heaven and Earth repositories are full and rounded. If I am not wrong, Sister''s family background must be quite wealthy, and your major should be related to finance," Lv Chongliang didn''t answer Xu Yanran''s query directly but continued in a tone characterizing a wise man.

    "Oh, who would have thought? You actually have some real talent in physiognomy! Then can you point out what''s amiss in my face?" Xu Yanran, unaware that Lv Chongliang had already acquired some information about her from Luo Peng, was quite surprised when he accurately mentioned her major using professional jargon, causing her to look at him differently.

    Seeing that Xu Yanran was beginning to inquire by herself after just a few exchanges, Luo Peng, standing across the aisle, was a bit dumbfounded.

    Holy crap, this works too!

    However, Ge Dongxu, standing beside, was somewhat amused and thought, if Divination Master Lv Xinghai knew his descendant was using physiognomy as a pretext to flirt with girls, what would his mood be?

    "Just by the face, I wouldn''t dare to conclude, Sister it''s better if I take a look at your palms as well," Lv Chongliang said.

    "You little rascal, if you dare to deceive me, see how I will deal with you!" Xu Yanran hesitated for a moment but eventually, with a cautionary tone, still extended her hand.

    Holy crap! Luo Peng was stunned seeing Xu Yanran actually extending her dainty hand, feeling as if hundreds of horses were stampeding through his heart.

    "Male left, female right! Right hand," Lv Chongliang said calmly without rushing.

    "You are clever, young man," Xu Yanran spoke and then switched hands.

    Holy crap! This kid is so cunning. If it were me, I''d have reached out immediately, totally giving myself away!

    Seeing this, Luo Peng felt as if another herd of horses was galloping through his heart!

    Ge Dongxu just smiled lightly, realizing that Lv Chongliang was not overly crafty; it was just his "professional necessity," and he didn''t realize Xu Yanran had intentionally extended the wrong hand before.

    When Xu Yanran switched hands, Lv Chongliang then casually extended his hand, grasping Xu Yanran''s small hand and began inspecting it with an expert look.

    "Sister, your destiny line is very intricate!" Lv Chongliang remarked while holding Xu Yanran''s hand.

    "What is a destiny line?" Xu Yanran asked with a puzzled look.

    "It''s commonly known as the love line. Sister, you must be quite conflicted in love," Lv Chongliang speculated.

    Xu Yanran nodded, her beautiful eyes revealing a touch of confusion.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu shook his head secretly, thinking that as a campus beauty like her, there must be many boys pursuing her at school, including no doubt some outstanding ones, so it would be strange if her love life weren''t complicated.

 Chapter 462 - 461: Dont tell me, youre born in the year of the Rooster?

    "Is this what you meant when you said the physiognomy was incorrect?" Xu Yanran quickly recovered her senses and asked.

    "Of course not, issues of the heart are always complicated; there''s no need for alarm," Lv Chongliang shook his head and said.

    "Then what is it?" Xu Yanran asked, seemingly forgetting that her hand was still being held by Lv Chongliang.

    "Just now, while observing your destiny palace¡ªalso commonly referred to as your hall of impression¡ªI noticed it appeared somewhat dark. I suspect you might face a mishap involving bloodshed soon, but I wasn''t certain until I saw your index finger showing signs of blood underneath the skin. I fear this mishap is very likely," Lv Chongliang said gravely.

    "How can''t I see any sign of blood underneath my index finger?" Xu Yanran leaned in closer, looking down at her own finger.

    "Naturally, you wouldn''t be able to see it. A true fortune teller does not merely look at the exterior but at the internal essence. When I mention that your hall of impression is dark, I mean there is an inner dullness and lack of brilliance, which those untrained in the art of physiognomy would not detect," Lv Chongliang replied.

    Ge Dongxu was taken aback momentarily by the mention of a bloodshed mishap before he instinctively glanced at Xu Yanran.

    Upon looking, he truly noticed that she might face a minor mishap involving bloodshed soon.

    "How should this be resolved?" Xu Yanran asked.

    "It''s simple; just find a man born in the year of the Rooster to spend some time with you. The rooster is heralded as a creature of ''Five Virtues'': it has a crest, representing scholarly virtue; its spurs signify martial virtue; it shows bravery in front of enemies, signifying courage; it calls its peers for feeding, showing benevolence; and it keeps watch at night, hailing the dawn¡ªthat''s faith virtue. Moreover, the rooster is an auspicious creature that wards off evil and can eliminate all sorts of poisonous insects, clearing harm for humans. If you spend some time with a man born in the year of the Rooster, you can naturally embrace good fortune and avoid this impending calamity," Lv Chongliang explained. Both Xu Yanran and even Luo Peng, who believed Lv Chongliang was exploiting inside information to deceive Xu Yanran, were stunned by his words.

    This fellow indeed has a knack for this! Such words would never come out from a man of science like him.

    "Don''t tell me you are born in the year of the Rooster?" Xu Yanran, being a university student, had always believed that fortune-telling was nothing but feudal superstition, sparked only by a moment of curiosity after seeing Lv Chongliang speak so earnestly. However, after hearing about needing to spend time with a man born in the year of the Rooster, she suddenly snapped out of it, withdrew her hand, and gave Lv Chongliang a somewhat mocking look.

    "I am, indeed, born in the year of the Rooster, but what I said is true," Lv Chongliang stated earnestly.

    "Do you think I would believe that? Did you think I wouldn''t know someone filled you in about my identity earlier? He looks a bit familiar; is he from Jiangnan University, perhaps?" Xu Yanran glanced at Luo Peng and then spoke to Lv Chongliang.

    Seeing Xu Yanran looking at Luo Peng, Lv Chongliang knew he had been found out and could only offer a sheepish smile in return.

    Realizing she had been right, Xu Yanran recalled that the presumptuous youth had touched her hand, glaring at him sharply before picking up the fashion magazine again.

    "Honestly, I think what Lv Chongliang said was correct, your hall of impression indeed looks a bit dark. If possible, you should try to avoid going to West City for a while; you should be fine. But, of course, believe it or not, that''s up to you," Ge Dongxu hesitated for a moment before kindly warning her as she picked up the magazine again.

    After all, an encounter is fate, and they were also schoolmates. Knowing she genuinely faced an impending blood mishap, Ge Dongxu felt uneasy not to mention it. Of course, once warned, whether she believed it or not was her own affair.

    Many things in life are destined, and trying to reveal or alter them is often seen as defying the heavens; frequently doing so could very well intertwine one into a mysterious cycle of karmic retribution. Those with profound cultivation might be lightly affected, but for those with moderate cultivation, frequent involvement could lead to trouble.

    This is like a person who always loves to be nosy; it doesn''t matter if you are capable, but if you''re just an ordinary citizen and still want to meddle in stuff, trouble is bound to follow you sooner or later. Therefore, the saying "Heaven''s secrets must not be revealed" holds profound significance for a true Fortune Teller; it''s not just something to say casually. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This is why true Fortune Tellers only give hints and leave the specifics for you to figure out on your own.

    Ge Dongxu not only pointed things out but also suggested a solution. In fact, he had already gone above and beyond; he couldn''t possibly prove anything else just to make Xu Yanran believe.

    Chongliang should understand this, but he didn''t realize how much more powerful Ge Dongxu was than him¡ªa half-baked Fortune Teller; he still thought Ge Dongxu was also trying to hit on the campus beauty.

    Luo Peng thought the same, so when they saw Ge Dongxu also start to act mysteriously, they couldn''t help but turn their heads, pretending not to know him.

    This trick has already been exposed; still repeating it? Such intelligence, such emotional intelligence is really worrying!

    "Have you heard the story of ''Dongshi, the ugly imitator''? This guy at least has some talent for pretense!" Xu Yanran obviously thought so too, turned her head to glance at Ge Dongxu, and said with a sneer.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled faintly, not saying anything more.

    The train continued to make its way, stopping at some stations along the way, with people getting on and off.

    Later, a seat next to Chongliang was taken by another college student, who was not from Jiangnan University.

    As time gradually reached late night, Xu Yanran started to find it hard to resist sleepiness, swaying in her seat until she eventually leaned against Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, making Chongliang and another male student from a different school stare wide-eyed, a look of envy and jealousy on their faces.

    Ge Dongxu felt a bit uncomfortable, lightly shifting towards the window, but he hadn''t expected Xu Yanran, once asleep, to sleep so deeply. She even followed him, and instinctively hugged Ge Dongxu''s arm because it was more comfortable that way.

    This time, not only did Chongliang and the others stare dumbfounded, but even Ge Dongxu was a bit shocked.

    Would he push her away, or just let her continue to "cling" to him?

    After thinking about it, Ge Dongxu decided to wake Xu Yanran up.

    This campus beauty was obviously a bit arrogant, looking down on newcomers like them. When she woke up, she might even think Ge Dongxu was trying to take advantage of her.

    Xu Yanran groggily opened her eyes and, seeing herself holding Ge Dongxu''s arm, suddenly woke up.

    Fortunately, she wasn''t without brains; she didn''t scold Ge Dongxu for being a pervert, but just gave him a meaningful look and then closed her eyes again.

    That meaningful look from Xu Yanran made Ge Dongxu feel uncomfortable, as if something was not quite right.

 Chapter 463 - 462 The Younger Brother Admits Defeat

    Xu Yanran soon fell asleep again, and then leaned against him once more, but this time she didn''t hug Ge Dongxu''s arm.

    Ge Dongxu smiled wryly and pushed her again, having no desire to take advantage of the campus belle. Besides, given his status, it wasn''t clear who would be taking advantage of whom.

    "Hmm, stop moving, let me lean on you for a bit, since you don''t like women anyway," Xu Yanran mumbled drowsily.

    At those words, Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned before finally realizing what Xu Yanran''s meaningful look earlier had implied.

    "Seriously!" Once he understood, Ge Dongxu was caught between laughter and tears.

    He was such a sunny and upright man, yet he had been misunderstood!

    However, it was no wonder Xu Yanran had the misunderstanding. She was so sexy and youthful, and she had initiated leaning against him and even unconsciously hugged his arm. If his orientation had been different, which man would have pushed her away willingly? They would have been delighted to sneak some joy!

    "What a move, playing hard to get, artfully eluding capture! I''m completely outclassed by your tactics and your scheming!" Lv Chongliang saw Ge Dongxu pushing Xu Yanran away, yet she still kept throwing herself at him without any guard up. He was dumbfounded and then gave Ge Dongxu a thumbs up, full of admiration.

    Luo Peng and the boy sitting next to Lv Chongliang didn''t catch on at first, but seeing Lv Chongliang''s thumbs up and his whispered praise, they suddenly realized what was going on and looked at Ge Dongxu with newfound respect, also giving him thumbs up.

    Ge Dongxu, seeing the two boys opposite and the senior diagonally across from him giving him thumbs up admiringly, was speechless.

    The train continued on through the night, and gradually Lv Chongliang and the others also fell asleep sitting up.

    Only Ge Dongxu remained very alert, watching the sparse lights flashing by outside the window and reflecting on the events of the past few days, pondering over university life. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In Indonesia, Cheng Yazhou and Professor Tang Yiyuan had specially flown there to inspect the market a few days ago. They called yesterday, both very optimistic about the market there and strongly advised setting up a branch in Medan, then using Indonesia as a center to spread out to Southeast Asia, firing the first overseas shot.

    Not only did they have Chen Jiateng''s help in Indonesia, but also the assistance of the extremely powerful local Brahmo family. Moreover, with low land and labor costs there, even establishing a branch wouldn''t require a massive investment. Since Cheng Yazhou and Tang Yiyuan were both very supportive, Ge Dongxu naturally had no objections.

    Apart from the investment in Indonesia, other business ventures were also in full swing. With Donglin Yue and Lin Kun''s hotel chain increasing in profitability, Yue Ting and Lin Kun stepped up direct purchases of shops and hotels, continually increasing the number of directly-operated stores.

    In Japan, Matsukawa Nozomu has started transferring some money over these past few days, so Liu Jiayao has already begun to negotiate with Bindong District about purchasing more land.

    The only one without much activity for the time being was Yile Computer Company.

    However, Ge Dongxu had only invested some money in Yile Computer Company to let Du Yifan and Cheng Le Hao test the waters, and he hadn''t been expecting definite returns, so he was in no hurry at all and had not interfered with them, to avoid giving them any pressure.

    Thinking of Du Yifan and Cheng Le Hao, Ge Dongxu''s thoughts once again turned to the upcoming university life.

    A few days ago, Tang Yiyuan had already given him some traditional Chinese medicine certificates, professional titles, and Jiangnan University of Chinese Medicine''s letter of appointment for Ge Dongxu, so his university life wouldn''t just be starting as a student at Jiangnan University, but also as a teaching assistant at Jiangnan University of Chinese Medicine.

    Just as he was contemplating, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt his arm being squeezed tight, with two fullnesses pressing down on his arm¡ªXu Yanran had fallen asleep and started subconsciously hugging his arm again.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Xu Yanran beside him. He intended to push her away, but in the end, he just shook his head in resignation and let her be.

    At dawn, Xu Yanran woke up.

    Seeing herself clutching Ge Dongxu''s arm, Xu Yanran immediately withdrew her hand as if bitten by a snake and only after a while did she say to him with a blush, "Thanks."

    "You''re welcome," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile, then closed his eyes and began his daily morning practice.

    Since it was not suitable to absorb nature''s spiritual energy on the train, he silently refined the True Qi within his body.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu act so indifferently and even closing his eyes without trying to chat her up, Xu Yanran''s eyes showed a subtle look once again.

    It seems this guy really does have a problem with his orientation!

    "Complete control! There really is a master among the common folk!" Across from them, Lv Chongliang watched and once again "paid his respects."

    The train arrived at the Provincial Capital on time at eight o''clock in the morning.

    Lv Chongliang once again helped Xu Yanran with her luggage very enthusiastically and gentlemanly. After getting off the train, he had intended to share a taxi with her, but Xu Yanran completely ignored him, and he had no choice but to give up in the end.

    "Buddy, I can''t see through you¡ªyou''re a hidden master. To think you spent the night snuggled up with the school belle. How did it feel? Was it big? Was the elasticity good?" Since he couldn''t succeed with Xu Yanran, Lv Chongliang caught up with Ge Dongxu, clapped him on the shoulder, and asked with a lecherous smile.

    Looking at Lv Chongliang''s lecherous expression, Ge Dongxu was rather speechless and after a while replied, "You''re supposed to be known as Lv Semi-Immortal, aren''t you? Go sit on a little stool at the bridge head or in a corner of the park. You could earn some money. Wouldn''t it be easy to hit on girls?"

    "It''s not the same. What skill is there in using money to hit on girls? Besides, I am Lv Semi-Immortal. I have status. Setting up a stall at the bridge head would be so beneath me! Forget it, you wouldn''t understand what I''m talking about," Lv Chongliang said disdainfully.

    Ge Dongxu just laughed. How could he not understand?

    While others'' fortune-telling might be fake, this man before him actually had some real ability, which is why he still carried himself with some pride.

    Of course, with his limited ability, he could make some small money, but big money was out of the question.

    Because the more wealth and higher the status one has, the greater the influence they exert on society and the public, meaning they are tied to more fates that can''t be predicted. With Lv Chongliang''s level of ability, he certainly wouldn''t be able to foresee any of it.

    Even for Ge Dongxu himself, if the Divination Master Lv Haixing came in person, he wouldn''t be able to divine even the slightest detail.

    This also meant that with Lv Chongliang''s level of skill, he could only make money from the minor characters, and how much could those minor characters really afford to pay him?

    Jiangnan University had specially arranged school buses to pick up new students from the train station these past few days.

    After leaving the train station, Ge Dongxu and Lv Chongliang saw the bus emblazoned with the words "Jiangnan University welcomes new students," and some older students were holding signs to greet the newcomers.

    Inside the bus there were already some new students seated, both male and female.

    Seeing this, Lv Chongliang''s eyes lit up instantly, and he hurried onto the bus with his luggage. His eyes quickly scanned the bus, and then he unabashedly took a seat next to a girl who looked fairly attractive.

    And then he started to show off his glib tongue.

 Chapter 464 - 463 Old Tricks Repeated

    These freshmen, who had buried their noses in books for three years of high school, oblivious to the world around them, were akin to birds let out of their cages upon entering university ¡ª Yet the atmosphere on the bus remained somewhat subdued before Lv Chongliang boarded, as most students were introverted due to their years of intensive study and unfamiliarity with one another.

    As soon as Lv Chongliang hopped on the bus, he started chatting, and the mood quickly livened up.

    These freshmen were all greenhorns, fresh and naive. How could they compare with Lv Chongliang, who was born into a family of fortune tellers and had been immersed in the ways of the three teachings and nine schools, and the street smarts of the jianghu since childhood?

    Before long, everyone was mesmerized by the little charlatan, looking at him with shining eyes.

    "This classmate, looking at your ''brother palace,'' you must be the youngest child at home, with an older brother or sister, I assume."

    "Wow, you can tell that?"

    Ge Dongxu, watching from the side, almost burst into laughter. Was that something that needed to be seen? Since the early ''80s, Jiangnan Province had heeded the national call and fully implemented family planning policies. By 1982, when family planning became a fundamental national policy, enforcement grew even stricter.

    The majority of these freshmen were born after 1980 or 1981. After their birth, unless their parents were those who favored sons over daughters and sought ways to evade the policy, most would follow the regulations and not have more children.

    Therefore, naturally, these students would be the youngest in their families.

    And as for having older siblings, before the implementation of family planning, people in Huaxia Country still held to the tradition that many children meant prosperity, and generally they would not stop at just one child. It was relatively rare for someone like Ge Dongxu to be an only child.

    Lv Chongliang had intentionally picked a male student to address, which made the guess even more certain.

    Of course, these freshmen, naive and inexperienced, wouldn''t think too much into it.

    "Of course, and that''s not all. I can also tell that your parents are both still alive and in good health," Lv Chongliang continued his bluff.

    During the conversation, he subtly looked around and noticed one male student''s expression darken at the mention of his parents. He immediately pointed at him and said, "One of your parents must have passed away, but don''t be sad. They would be very happy to know you''ve made it into Jiangnan University."

    The others looked towards the male student, who nodded in response to their glances.

    "Wow! That''s really something! To think you could figure that out!" The freshmen on the bus were totally blown away, and even the upperclassmen who were there to help were caught off guard by Lv Chongliang''s spiel.

    Some might not delve deep into his earlier predictions regarding being the youngest child or having living parents; freshmen might not see through it, but the upperclassmen could spot the trick.

    At this age, it''s expected that parents would be alive and well, still in their prime years, and generally in good health.

    But to accurately point out that a student''s parent had passed away, that truly carried an air of mystique, making it hard for others not to start believing that Lv Chongliang might possess some real skills in face reading and fortune telling.

    Seeing that he had everyone''s attention, Lv Chongliang''s eyes darted around and landed on a beautiful girl.

    He then approached and tapped on the shoulder of another girl sitting next to the beauty, saying, "May I take this seat?"

    The girl immediately got up and yielded her seat to Lv Chongliang. He sat down and began to stare intently at the beautiful girl beside him, making her feel quite uncomfortable.

    "I say, classmate, is there something wrong with me?"

    "There''s no problem per se, but there is a big problem indeed!"

    "Ah, what''s the problem?" the pretty girl was startled and asked hastily.

    "You''re going to experience a blood omen soon," Lv Chongliang said with a serious face.

    "Cough cough!" Ge Dongxu, who was just drinking water from his bottle, choked on his drink upon hearing this.

    Lv Chongliang heard the sound of Ge Dongxu choking and gave him a stealthy glare.

    "Ah, then what should I do?" the pretty girl''s face turned pale in fright.

    "Don''t worry, there''s no need to be nervous. Since I''ve foreseen it, naturally I have a way to resolve it," Lv Chongliang said, posing as a sage with everything under control, offering reassurance.

    "What''s the solution?" the pretty girl asked.

    "It''s simple, just find a man born at noon under the sign of the Rooster to keep you company for a while. The rooster is known as the ''bird of the five virtues.'' With a crest on its head, it represents the virtue of scholarship; with spurs on its feet for fighting, that''s martial virtue; it''s brave in the face of enemies, showing courage; it calls its kind to share food, embodying benevolence; and it keeps watch at night, calling at dawn, showing faithfulness. The rooster is also considered a symbol of auspiciousness, able to ward off evil, and can consume various poisonous insects, eliminating harm to humans. If you find a man born at noon in the year of the Rooster to accompany you, you can naturally embrace good fortune and avoid the blood omen," Lv Chongliang replied.

    However, since at least half of the male students on this trip probably belonged to the sign of the Rooster, he deliberately added the condition that the man had to be born at noon.

    The pretty girl, being naive, evidently didn''t have the alertness or cunning of Xu Yanran. Upon hearing his words, she said, "Oh dear, not a single guy from our class got into Jiangnan University, and even if there were some, it''s not likely they''d be born at noon in the year of the Rooster! What should I do now?"

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu almost wanted to take out his badge as a senior consultant from the Special Ability Management Bureau and throw it at Lv Chongliang.

    He just couldn''t stand it anymore!

    Is this what a Qimen Sorcerer is? It''s incredibly embarrassing!

    However, Lv Chongliang didn''t seem to find it embarrassing at all and shamelessly promoted himself. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Then, on the very first day of school admission, Lv Chongliang finally managed to hook up with the first pretty girl he encountered.

    Of course, he didn''t know that one of the freshmen who had followed him from the train and then onto the bus was actually a senior consultant from the Special Ability Management Bureau. Otherwise, even if he had all the courage in the world, he wouldn''t dare to show off and swindle in front of Ge Dongxu.

    The bus departed from the train station and headed towards Jiangnan University.

    Most of the new students were visiting Linzhou City for the first time, and they couldn''t help but look out the windows with curiosity, the pretty girl included.

    Lv Chongliang apparently had been to Linzhou City before and was pointing things out here and there, explaining to the pretty girl, who couldn''t help but look at him with eyes filled with involuntary admiration.

    "This guy!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but shake his head with a mix of laughter and tears upon seeing this.

    The bus quickly arrived at Jiangnan University, and as they got off, they could see banners welcoming the new students everywhere, as well as enthusiastic current students greeting the newcomers.

    This was when you could really see the importance of good looks.

    Usually, the beautiful girls and handsome guys had no shortage of people coming over to greet them. There was no need for them to poke their heads around in the crowd to find their college''s booth on their own.

 Chapter 465 - 464 Roommate

    Ge Dongxu was now over one meter eighty in height, with a well-proportioned figure. Due to his training and the experiences he had been through, even when he toned down his presence, he still exuded a relatively stable and mature air. Plus, he was quite good-looking, standing out among a crowd of freshmen. He didn''t even need to actively look for the Environmental and Resource Science department''s booth - several senior female students from other departments had already waved at him, asking, "Hey there, which major are you from?"

    "Environmental Chemistry," Ge Dongxu replied.

    At this answer, two senior girls from the Environmental and Resource Science department immediately stood up ¨C one with a round face and short hair, the other slightly overweight.

    "Over here, over here," they waved at Ge Dongxu, their eyes shining with a special glint that made him feel somewhat uncomfortable all over.

    At the Environmental and Resource Science department''s booth, he handed over his admission notice. After a few senior students checked it and registered him, the round-faced, short-haired senior girl offered to take Ge Dongxu to his dorm.

    As for the other many male students, naturally, they didn''t receive such treatment. It was basically the seniors pointing the way and explaining briefly, letting them find their own way there.

    "I''m Ye Tong, the deputy head of the college''s Literary Arts Department. You look pretty good. I wonder if you have any artistic specialties? Instruments, dance, singing - anything''s fine," Ye Tong asked proactively on the way.

    "Sorry, I don''t," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "No worries. You''ll have a lot more free time in university than in high school, so you can work on learning those things. After your military training, our Literary Arts Department will specifically hold a social dance training class for you freshmen, and you''re welcome to join then," said Ye Tong.

    "Thank you, senior," Ge Dongxu responded politely.

    Ye Tong was a rather talkative person and chatted quite a bit with Ge Dongxu on the way.

    Before they knew it, they had arrived at the male dormitory.

    The dorm conditions were good, with four people to a room and an independent bathroom.

    Registration had actually started yesterday, and this was Ge Dongxu''s second day of enrollment.

    When he pushed the door open, the other three roommates were already there. Seeing Ge Dongxu come in, all of their eyes lit up.

    "New guy, report your measurements!" one of the scholarly-looking guys with glasses said to Ge Dongxu with a grin.

    Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback, then replied with something unrelated, "Ge Dongxu, Jiangnan Province, Ouzhou City."

    "Damn, you''re quick on the uptake, kid!" The bespectacled guy pushed up his glasses and said, "Li Chenyu, Hedong Province, Fengzhou City."

    "He Guizhong, Hexi Province, Fengzhou City," said a guy who was slightly taller than Ge Dongxu, with a buzz cut, a burly build, and a face made bluish by shaving, with a tough look that made him seem like a gangster at first glance.

    "Lu Lei, Jiangnan Province, Jinzhou City," said a guy with flowing black hair who looked as pretty as a woman, coolly flipping his hair back as he spoke.

    Young people got along easily, and after sharing their names and hometowns, Ge Dongxu quickly became familiar with Li Chenyu and the other two.

    That afternoon, Ge Dongxu met the class head and counselor.

    The next day, the class head gathered all the students on the lawn in front of the gymnasium for introductions. They also temporarily appointed a few self-nominated class leaders to bridge the gap, and then proceeded to take the students on a tour of the campus.

    Ge Dongxu''s class had a total of thirty students, with a male to female ratio of two to one. Although it couldn''t compare with liberal arts majors like those at the Literature Department, it was still a lot better than other science and engineering classes.

    Next came the half-month of military training.

    Military training was a very tough and exhausting experience for many freshmen, especially with the weather in Jiangnan Province. Even in September, the scorching heat was like that of midsummer, which left the delicate Li Chenyu and the tender-skinned, feminine-looking Lu Lei completely worn out every day when they returned to the dormitory. Even the burly and strong He Guizhong found it hard to endure. Only Ge Dongxu seemed unfazed by it all, earning him astonished looks from the other three in the dorm room. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Military training, though tough, soon passed by.

    After that, it was time for regular classes to start.

    In the first and second years, the main focus was on basic courses, with fewer specialized courses. At this stage, the primary subjects were advanced mathematics, English, Deng''s theory, and some basic courses related to environmental chemistry, like inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, microbiology, etc.

    The university curriculum was also much easier than that of high school.

    "On Monday I only have two classes in the morning, and none in the afternoon. On Tuesday and Wednesday, it''s two classes each in the morning and afternoon, and Thursday is just two in the morning again, while Friday is only a half-day in the morning. No morning self-study, no evening self-study. Damn! Compared to high school, university life is simply paradise!" He Guizhong exclaimed excitedly after getting the class schedule, looking every bit like a gangster enforcer.

    Li Chenyu, who was delicate in appearance, and Lu Lei, who was as handsome as a girl, gave He Guizhong a disdainful look before shaking their heads.

    "Which elective courses are you planning to take?" Li Chenyu asked Lu Lei.

    "Flower arrangement, music appreciation," Lu Lei replied succinctly, hands in his pockets.

    "What? A big guy like you taking flower arrangement? For electives, you should obviously choose practical courses that will be useful in the future. I''m planning to take a second foreign language, German, and a computer science course. Computers are popular right now, and multidisciplinary talents are in demand," He Guizhong remarked.

    Li Chenyu glanced at He Guizhong but didn''t reply to his comment; instead, he said to Lu Lei, "Actually, hygiene isn''t bad either, but it''s a pity it clashes with the English open class on Wednesday."

    "Indeed," Lu Lei nodded.

    "What does it matter if you attend the English open class or not, since we already have mandatory English classes?" He Guizhong asked, puzzled.

    "Foreign babe!" Lu Lei replied succinctly.

    "C''mon, Lu Lei, can you stop being so cool? There aren''t even any girls here, don''t you get tired of posing like that? Will you die if you say a few more words?" He Guizhong''s eyes lit up when he heard the words "foreign babe."

    "Sexy, beautiful foreign babe!" Lu Lei, faced with He Guizhong''s dissatisfaction, begrudgingly added two adjectives.

    "Really? We have a sexy, beautiful foreign babe as a teacher at our school?" He Guizhong''s eyes shone even brighter.

    "Heh, what''s the use of looking all burly and buff? You''re making such a fuss over a schedule. Look at me and Lu Lei; we''ve already got all the info we needed," Li Chenyu said, pushing up his glasses with a smug look on his face.

    "So what did you guys find out? Tell me," He Guizhong urged.

    "Every Wednesday night, at 7 PM, in the big lecture hall, there''s a public English class given by a foreign babe teacher. Not only can you get a close-up view of the golden-haired foreign babe teacher in the classroom, but you also get to directly interact with her in English. I heard that this foreign babe is from the United States, young and beautiful, with a sexy figure, a slim waist, and a curvy behind," Li Chenyu explained leisurely, with a lecherous grin spreading across his face.

 Chapter 466 - 465 Heavy News

    "Damn it, you should''ve said that important piece of information earlier. The computer elective course is on Wednesday nights, I almost chose it," He Guizhong punched Li Chenyu in the chest, cursing.

    "Please, if you want to hit someone, go for Dongxu. I can''t take it with these skinny arms and legs," Li Chenyu quickly stepped back, glaring.

    "Hehe, speaking of hitting people, are you three interested in joining our Martial Arts Association?" He Guizhong struck one of Huang Feihong''s signature poses from the movies.

    He Guizhong had practiced martial arts for a few years back home and was immediately recruited by the university''s Martial Arts Association, even snagging a committee position right away.

    "Pfft, what''s so fun about the Martial Arts Association? There are no beauties!" Li Chenyu sneered.

    Lu Lei and Ge Dongxu didn''t respond.

    The former was all about looking cool, sparing with words, while the latter¡ªdid he even need to join the Martial Arts Association to practice martial arts?

    "No beauties, no problem. Master martial arts and you can play the hero to save the beauty, and then you''ll have your beauties, right?" He Guizhong said.

    "With these skinny arms and legs, starting to practice martial arts at this point, do you think I can play the hero saving the beauty?" Li Chenyu pushed up his glasses, asking.

    "Well..." He Guizhong looked up and down at Li Chenyu, who was slender and bookish, and shook his head.

    No way, the innate conditions were just too poor.

    "Do I need to play the hero saving a beauty?" Lu Lei touched his flowing "locks".

    He Guizhong cast an envious, jealous, and hateful glance at Lu Lei''s handsome face, then turned his gaze to Ge Dongxu.

    "I don''t need to join the Martial Arts Association to play the hero saving the beauty," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Remembering Ge Dongxu''s impressive performance during military training, He Guizhong finally shifted his attention back to Li Chenyu, saying, "So you mean, those flower arrangement and music appreciation classes are taught by beautiful teachers, and there are lots of beautiful girls?"

    "Duh!" Li Chenyu rolled his eyes.

    "So, do you think someone like me would be suitable for a flower arrangement class?" He Guizhong hemmed and hawed.

    The three roommates shuddered at the thought, a guy who looked like a gangster with a stubbled face, wanting to learn flower arrangement!

    In the end, all three of them, even Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but blurt out a single word.

    "Scram!"

    "Damn it, what kind of attitude is this? Don''t you know anything about combining strength and gentleness? For a man brimming with masculinity like me, learning something like flower arrangement would be just right, wouldn''t it?"

    "If you go to learn flower arrangement, we''re no longer friends!" Lu Lei rarely spoke such a long sentence.

    "Damn it!" He Guizhong cursed frustratedly, but ultimately, he gave up the idea of the skin-crawling thought of signing up for the flower arrangement class.

    "Talk about the other information you''ve gathered," He Guizhong said, having given up on the idea.

    "I heard the Music Association is not bad, and the Dance and Drama Associations are also good. The beauties there have high standards, and rumor has it even the campus belle makes appearances. Dongxu, if you''re thinking of joining an association, I recommend those three. As for the Martial Arts Association¡ªforget about it," Li Chenyu said.

    "Did you come to university just to chase girls?" Ge Dongxu said, half laughing and half crying.

    "No, we excel at both chasing girls and studying!" Li Chenyu said solemnly.

    "Don''t tell me you''re not interested in beauties?" Lu Lei''s handsome face shifted slightly.

    "Scram!" Ge Dongxu replied without any politeness.

    "That''s a relief," Lu Lei visibly relaxed.

    "Next up, I''ve got a bombshell to drop!" Li Chenyu announced with a mysterious air.

    "What bombshell?" He Guizhong immediately perked up with shining eyes and urged.

    Lu Lei''s eyes were filled with a look of longing, clearly already privy to the bombshell Li Chenyu was about to drop.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled faintly. With one look at Li Chenyu''s expression, he knew it must be news about some beauty.

    "This semester''s inorganic chemistry course is said to be personally taught by our school''s Professor Wu Yili," Li Chenyu said.

    "Cut the crap, that''s a bombshell?" He Guizhong said disappointingly, having thought it would be news about a campus beauty.

    "Cut it out, there''s no reasoning with a muscle-brain like you! Do you even know what Professor Wu Yili is known as?" Li Chenyu said with contempt.

    Lu Lei silently looked on with contempt as well.

    As for Ge Dongxu, he remained indifferent.

    Anyway, he had several confidantes now. Although he wouldn''t claim to be entirely dispassionate, he at least didn''t want to get involved with any beauties. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Known as what?" He Guizhong finally sensed the exceptionality of the news and his eyes lit up intensely.

    "Jiangnan University''s number one beauty!" Li Chenyu declared.

    "No way? A professor has taken the title of number one beauty? Shouldn''t that be the campus belle? Besides, aren''t professors usually pretty old?" He Guizhong was stupefied and then asked in a puzzled and confused manner.

    "That''s where you''re clueless. Professor Wu Yili from our school isn''t like the others. She''s returned from studying in Germany, appointed as a professor through special promotion. She''s older than us, but definitely not as old as you think, probably just in her early thirties. A female of that age, who is still unmarried, and well-maintained, would possess a mature charm and the intellectual beauty of a high-level scholar. Even the campus belle would pale in comparison to her," Li Chenyu analyzed with shining eyes.

    "Exactly!" Lu Lei nodded.

    "Wow, inorganic chemistry, huh? Let''s see, when is that class?" He Guizhong hurriedly picked up the schedule to check.

    "Tuesday afternoon, darn, why isn''t it on Monday?" He Guizhong said with disappointment after checking.

    "Ever heard of respecting teachers and valuing education? Shouldn''t we refrain from discussing Professor Wu in such a manner in private?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t bear listening any longer.

    "Come on, Ge Dongxu, don''t go overboard, will you? Everyone has a love for beauty, and we don''t have any improper thoughts about Professor Wu. Just thinking about having such a beautiful and sexy teacher for our classes, even just to look at her, is a pleasure," Li Chenyu retorted with a roll of his eyes.

    "Exactly!" He Guizhong and Lu Lei also rolled their eyes at Ge Dongxu, the self-appointed "moral guardian."

    Ge Dongxu could only smile wryly and shake his head, unable to argue with their logic.

    "Keep going, Chenyu, keep going. Got any more bombshells? Like something about the campus belle?" He Guizhong, clearly brimming with male hormones, pressed on.

    "Heh, campus belle, you can forget about that, kiddo. I think Lu Lei has some chance if he makes a move with that pretty boy face of his," Li Chenyu teased.

    Upon hearing this, Lu Lei casually ran his hand through his "silky hair."

    "That''s not necessarily true. Many girls also like a man like me who has muscles and a rugged charm," He Guizhong flexed his muscles and rubbed his stubbled chin.

    "You guys are ridiculous; I''m going out for a walk," Ge Dongxu said, finding it unbearable to listen any longer. He then left the dormitory.

    "Man, could that guy really not be interested in girls?" He Guizhong wondered, scratching his buzz cut as he watched Ge Dongxu leave the room.

    After that, He Guizhong turned to look at Lu Lei.

    "What?" Lu Lei glared back.

    "Heh, if that''s the case, I think you really should join the Martial Arts Association and learn a few moves for self-defense," He Guizhong suggested.

 Chapter 467 - 466 How do you know?

    Jiangnan University is the foremost higher education institution in Jiangnan Province, and it ranks among the top nationally.

    Located on the foothills of Dragon Hill, the entire campus is lush green, covering nearly five thousand acres. In the middle of the campus, there''s also a small lake, nearly a hundred acres in size, known as Mingyue Lake. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the lake lies a small island called Peace Island, which is adorned with pavilions and an ancient-style corridor that winds over the water, connecting to the shore. Weeping willows line the bank, ripples shimmer across the lake, and as the sun sets, several small wooden boats drift along, carrying with them the sound of silvery laughter, creating an incredibly picturesque campus scene.

    Ge Dongxu was very fond of the Jiangnan University campus. Walking here, he felt as though he had entered a secluded paradise, untouched by worldly strife, calming his mind and body completely.

    Today was Saturday, the first day after the end of military training.

    Normally, on weekends, Ge Dongxu would have gone to Yadu Garden to meet with Liu Jiayao. However, today she was away on a business trip to Hong Kong.

    The trip to Hong Kong was for detailed discussions with Yu Xin about advertising planning and shooting. Of course, besides that, it was also an opportunity for some shopping and sightseeing with Yu Xin.

    Liu Jiayao had been a fan of Yu Xin before they met in Hong Kong. Their meeting unfolded as if they were old friends, so after Liu Jiayao returned to Linzhou, they would call each other from time to time, and Yu Xin would occasionally invite Liu Jiayao to Hong Kong for a visit.

    Walking along the lake shore in the sunset''s glow, bench after bench under the shade of willow trees was rarely empty.

    Some were sitting in groups of threes or twos, chatting, but there were even more couples deeply in love.

    Whether it''s the friendships formed in university or the romances, these young men and women will realize, once they enter society, that these are some of the most unforgettable memories in their lives.

    On the long benches of the island in the middle of the lake, by the pavilions, sat more couples engrossed in love, which was why the students of Jiangnan University named it Love Island. Over time, its other name had been all but forgotten.

    Ge Dongxu only walked halfway around the lake before he felt too embarrassed to continue.

    As the sunset faded and darkness began to fall, the couples, emboldened, began to embrace without reservation, kissing and cuddling, making Ge Dongxu feel like he was intruding upon their private worlds as he walked by.

    Leaving the lakeside and glancing back at Mingyue Lake, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but think of a piece of doggerel he had heard from Li Chenyu in the past few days.

    "Lost in drunken stupor, I unwittingly wander deep into the lake, startling countless mandarin ducks, hastily pulling up my trousers, escaping in all directions!"

    Of course, the part about "hastily pulling up my trousers" in the doggerel was an exaggeration. Jiangnan University, as the top institution in Jiangnan Province, maintained a commendable campus atmosphere. And as for love and romance, that was nothing but normal for people their age.

    Having left the vicinity of Mingyue Lake, Ge Dongxu didn''t fancy returning to the dormitory to listen to his three lively roommates talk about women, nor did he want to go to the cafeteria. Instead, he followed the wooded path all the way to the south gate of the school, which was also the main entrance.

    The back gate to the school, also known as the north gate, faced Dragon Hill.

    It was said that a dragon once made its home on this hill, hence the name Dragon Hill.

    Dragon Hill was not high, with rolling peaks and lush greenery, and it was known for its beautiful scenery. It stretched from Motian Mountain, winding and undulating down to the Qiantang River, and from there flowed to the East Sea.

    Whether there ever were dragons dwelling in this mountain, or if dragons ever existed in this world at all, Ge Dongxu did not know. But what he did know was that Dragon Hill was indeed rich in spiritual energy. Hence, every day at the Mao Hour, taking advantage of his sleeping roommates, he would quietly exit through the window of the dormitory, leap over the north gate, and head to Dragon Hill to set up the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation and meditate.

    Every day at Mao Hour, Ge Dongxu would also go to Longxi Mountain to train. However, some diligent students had already gotten up for their morning studies by then, so there was no need for Ge Dongxu to sneak around.

    Strolling leisurely along the forest path, as he was about to reach the school gate, Ge Dongxu heard the sound of high heels hitting the ground behind him.

    A familiar, alluring scent wafted over, and Ge Dongxu instinctively turned to look.

    An oval face, waterfall-like black hair, lips as delicate and sensuous as dewy flowers, and those astonishingly long and straight legs¡ªit was Xu Yanran, the girl he had encountered on the train.

    Apart from Xu Yanran, there was another girl with her, also quite beautiful, just a bit shorter than Xu Yanran.

    "Eh, it''s you!" Xu Yanran obviously remembered Ge Dongxu, and recognized him the moment he turned his head. She stepped forward in surprise and said.

    "Are you headed to West City for fun, senior?" Ge Dongxu frowned slightly and asked.

    That day on the train, Xu Yanran had merely had a darkened brow area, showing traces of possible bloodshed. But now, Ge Dongxu noticed her brow was not only darker but also showed more ominous signs of bloodshed, and he surmised that it seemed likely to happen today.

    "How did you know?" Xu Yanran asked, astonished. Then she suddenly remembered what Ge Dongxu had said on the train and gave him a sideways glance, saying, "Don''t tell me you''re about to say it''s not advisable for me to go to West City today."

    "I do want to give you that piece of advice, but seeing as you are, you won''t listen anyway. Just take care for yourself," Ge Dongxu said with a hint of resignation, knowing that his words would be futile.

    "Eh, Yanran, who is he? You two seem quite familiar, talking in riddles. I can''t understand a thing," Xu Yanran''s companion surveyed Ge Dongxu curiously and asked.

    "He''s a freshman, we just happened to sit together on the train coming here," Xu Yanran replied.

    "You''re kidding, right? It doesn''t seem that simple between you two. Be careful or Pang brother might get jealous!" said the girl skeptically.

    "Lin Xiaojie, what nonsense are you spouting!" Xu Yanran glared at her companion and said.

    "Am I speaking nonsense? Then you tell me, how does a mere accidental acquaintance, a freshman, know you''re going to West City? And doesn''t your ''not advisable to go to West City'' indicate that he doesn''t want you to go?" Lin Xiaojie questioned.

    "Your imagination is quite rich!" Xu Yanran gave Lin Xiaojie a wry look and then simply explained the situation on the train.

    "No way, junior brother, just starting university and you''re already daring to pursue our Xu school beauty. I admire your courage; pity the method is so clich¨¦d and vulgar. Better learn a few more things in university before..." Lin Xiaojie disdainfully said.

    "Xiaojie, don''t misunderstand, he probably doesn''t mean that," Xu Yanran, knowing that Ge Dongxu wasn''t harboring that intention, interjected before Lin Xiaojie could finish.

    "He probably doesn''t mean that? Then what does he mean? Xu great beauty, when did you become so na?ve? When a man takes the initiative to talk to a beautiful woman, which one doesn''t mean that?" Lin Xiaojie retorted sarcastically.

    "He is probably similar to Jiang Likang." Xu Yanran whispered in Lin Xiaojie''s ear.

    "Really? How do you know?" Lin Xiaojie''s expression became animated upon hearing that, and her gaze at Ge Dongxu suddenly turned quite peculiar.

 Chapter 468 - 467: This Is Not a Precedent

    ```

    "Why are you asking so many questions? I just know, that''s all!" Seeing Lin Xiaojie asking her how she knew, Xu Yanran''s pretty face couldn''t help but slightly redden, as she gave her a white-eyed glance.

    Of course, she wouldn''t reveal that she had slept for several hours with her arm around Ge Dongxu.

    "Heehee! I got it." Lin Xiaojie, seeing Xu Yanran''s flushed face, started to giggle with a mischievous, suggestive smile.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t understand what kind of sign language the two were using, but he felt Lin Xiaojie''s gaze on him was a bit strange, as if tinged with a hint of pity.

    This made Ge Dongxu very uncomfortable, so he spoke up, "You both can take your time, I''ll head off first."

    Seeing this, Lin Xiaojie inwardly exclaimed in confirmation, but quickly caught up and grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hand, "What''s the rush? Since you and Yanran know each other, it''s perfect. Let''s go celebrate our senior''s birthday together tonight."

    Xu Yanran was slightly taken aback by this, but seemed to understand and her eyes unwittingly flashed with a hint of difficulty.

    At this moment, Lin Xiaojie nudged her with her foot and gave her a look.

    Xu Yanran was about to speak, but Ge Dongxu had already gently freed his hand from Lin Xiaojie, saying, "If you want to use me as a shield, just say it outright. This way it''s no fun."

    "You''re quite sharp. Yes, there''s someone coming tonight I don''t like, and he''ll definitely cling to me, so I was hoping you could help me out," Lin Xiaojie said, slightly taken aback and then pleading.

    Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t want to be anyone''s shield, and was about to refuse. But looking up, he saw bloodlight swirling on Xu Yanran''s forehead. Given the serendipity of their meeting again, he, the perennial good guy, ultimately couldn''t just look away. With a thought, he nodded and said, "Fine, but just this once. Don''t expect it to happen again."

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu spoken these words than he saw a halo of rosy light appearing around the bloodlight on Xu Yanran''s forehead. The halo wrapped around the bloodlight, and in the blink of an eye, dispersed it.

    That rosy light was naturally Ge Dongxu, the man of good fortune.

    By agreeing to help, he felt he was slapping his own face with his good deed. Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but deride himself inwardly.

    "Thank you so much, don''t worry, I''ll have your back at school from now on," Lin Xiaojie said, overjoyed.

    During their conversation, the three of them arrived at the school gate.

    Conveniently, a taxi was stopped at the entrance, so they all got in.

    "To Charm Ginza," Xu Yanran instructed the driver.

    "What''s Charm Ginza?" Ge Dongxu turned to ask the two behind him.

    "It''s a new KTV on Lakeshore Road that opened this year. As of now, it''s probably the most high-end KTV in Linzhou City," Lin Xiaojie explained.

    "KTV?" Ge Dongxu frowned upon hearing this.

    He didn''t like places like that.

    "Don''t tell me you''ve never sung karaoke?" Lin Xiaojie asked upon seeing his reaction.

    "I really haven''t," Ge Dongxu replied with a wry smile.

    "You''re quite the country bumpkin, aren''t you from the countryside?" Lin Xiaojie teased.

    ```

    "You hit the nail on the head, but you can still back out now. Otherwise, it''s not my fault if you end up embarrassed later," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Fine, just try to talk less later," Lin Xiaojie said, a bit sullenly.

    She had thought that since Ge Dongxu looked decent and seemed to have some presence, he could hold his own in any setting, but to her surprise, the guy didn''t even know how to do Karaoke.

    "Alright," Ge Dongxu nodded and said indifferently.

    "The birthday girl tonight is our former Economics College girls'' department head, Xu Yumo. She graduated this year. Her family runs a company and is quite wealthy, so after graduation, she didn''t look for a job and went straight to help out in her father''s company, a genuine ''baili fu mei'' (white, rich, and beautiful). Aside from me and Yanran, the others attending her birthday celebration are mostly her fellow Student Council officers from the same year or roommates working in Linzhou City. Among these people, the guys are basically admirers of Xu Yanran, hee hee, and there are some for me too. Sadly, they are all of poor quality, especially one who is exceptionally ugly but always clings to me, seriously making me want to pull my hair out," Lin Xiaojie chatted idly about the evening''s company while they were in the car.

    "Looks become less important the more you look at someone. Besides, for a man, it''s mainly about charisma; as long as his heart is in the right place and he really likes you, I think you should give him a chance," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Hey, are you asking for a beating?" Lin Xiaojie hit Ge Dongxu''s shoulder from behind, feeling aggravated.

    "So now you and Xu Yanran are high-level officers of the Economics College''s Student Council?" Ge Dongxu quickly changed the subject when he saw Lin Xiaojie getting upset.

    "Of course. Xu Yanran is the head of the Literature and Art Department. Her dancing is gorgeous, and I''m the Vice President of the Student Council. It''s just too bad for you, cough cough, otherwise we could have introduced you to some of the beauties from our Economics College," Lin Xiaojie said.

    ¡­

    Charm Ginza is located on Lakefront Road by Mingyue Lake.

    Under the cover of night, the brilliantly lit Charm Ginza could be seen from afar.

    Charm Ginza''s interior is lavishly decorated, with numerous tall female attendants in white professional dresses and exposed long legs standing around the hall.

    In one corner of the hall, on a sofa, sat a group of men. One of them had the hint of a tattoo peeking out from his neckline, looking like a wolf''s head.

    This man was none other than Brother Wolf, Liu Heng, whom Ge Dongxu had encountered when he went to a barbecue by the Qian River with Liu Jiayao.

    After getting drunk and causing trouble, Xu Lei and his companions had pointed a gun at his head. Afterwards, his boss, known as Bald Strong, or Wang Qiang, had had their entertainment city on Qian River Avenue heavily clamped down on.

    When Brother Wolf, Liu Heng, saw the two beautiful women, Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie, entering, his eyes initially lit up. However, when he saw Ge Dongxu accompanying them, he couldn''t help but shudder.

    He would never forget what happened that day by the Qian River.

    And because of that incident, not only was he locked up for several months, but after getting out, he was severely dealt with by his boss. Now here he was, assigned to keep watch over Charm Ginza.

    Xu Yumo had already reserved a private room. After Xu Yanran asked the receptionist, they were naturally led by an attendant to the room.

    "Which room did those three just go to?" Seeing Ge Dongxu and the others leave, Brother Wolf hurriedly got up and went to the front desk to ask.

    "Room 808," the receptionist replied. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Brother Wolf nodded and then called his boss, Bald Strong.

    For establishments like theirs, it was necessary to notify Bald Strong whenever important guests arrived. For some especially important guests, Bald Strong, a boss operating in the grey areas, would have to personally come out to greet, offer a toast, and avoid any slight.

    Brother Wolf still didn''t know exactly who this young man Ge Dongxu was, but one thing was clear to him: this guy had connections, otherwise, he wouldn''t have been locked up for several months.

 Chapter 469 - 468: I Just Saw That Person

    The call connected quickly.

    "Ah Wolf, what''s the matter?" Wang Qiang picked up the call and asked directly.

    "Boss..." Brother Wolf called out.

    "Damn it, how many times do I have to teach you? Call me Wang President, Wang President! If you forget again, I''ll kick you back to your hometown to farm." Wang Qiang cursed from the other end of the phone.

    As the era developed, the nation''s legal system became increasingly complete and its tolerance for underground forces ever lower. Consequently, those without a strong background either reined themselves in, keeping a low profile, or they washed their hands of their past and went legitimate.

    Wang Qiang was a figure in the gray area, usually bending the rules. On uneventful days, nothing would happen, but when there was trouble, with a few twists and turns, a crime could be pinned on him.

    Wang Qiang was a member of the Qimen, with a little knowledge of the techniques. Although he wasn''t powerful, only having reached the Second Level of Qi Cultivation and then hitting a plateau, he still had some sort of "superpower." Plus, he was a smart man who liked to delve into the intricacies. Most of his extensive business empire was built from scratch by his own hands, without any substantial background or connections.

    And because of that, as times changed and the state''s control grew stricter, he also became more cautious and careful in his dealings.

    In the past, he loved to talk about the underworld and liked his subordinates to call him Brother Qiang or Boss, but now, he wished nothing more than to rid himself of these titles, which carried a heavy gangland connotation.

    "Yes, yes, President Wang." Brother Wolf, who came from a poor mountainous region, shuddered at Wang Qiang''s words and hurriedly replied.

    "Speak, what''s the matter?" President Wang then asked with satisfcation, repeating his earlier question.

    "It''s like this, Boss... I mean, President Wang. I saw that person just now," Brother Wolf said.

    "Motherfucker, Ah Wolf, are you playing guessing games with me or what? That person, how would I know who that is?" Wang Qiang almost laughed from irritation when he heard this. If not for the phone call, he probably would have slapped Brother Wolf right across the forehead.

    "President Wang, it''s that person, that one who got me locked up for several months," Brother Wolf stammered in reply.

    Because up until now, he didn''t even know Ge Dongxu''s name.

    "Ah Wolf, has water gotten into your brain? Do you not often end up in jail? How the hell... Damn, are you talking about the guy from the barbecue stand incident on Qianjiang Avenue last time?" Wang Qiang was initially infuriated once again, not knowing which nameless, faceless person he was supposed to recognize, but he abruptly realized who Brother Wolf was referring to and his body involuntarily shivered.

    That was the remarkable person who even Xu Lei, the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau in Jiangnan Province, would take out a gun for himself!

    Considering Wang Qiang''s wealth, capabilities, and the network of relationships he had cultivated over many years, he wasn''t really scared of ordinary officials. Like the last time Brother Wolf wasn''t caught, and the sudden inspections of several places on Qianjiang Avenue, he had directly contacted the chief of the Qianjiang Avenue police station, even invoking the name of the district''s Public Security Bureau chief. It could be said that as long as it wasn''t a division-level cadre or higher, Wang Qiang still had the clout to sway things.

    But Wang Qiang was deeply afraid of Xu Lei.

    Because Xu Lei was specifically in charge of overseeing magicians like him in Jiangnan Province.

    His little tricks could deal with ordinary people but against Xu Lei, he didn''t stand a chance. Moreover, due to their special identities, once Xu Lei found a legitimate reason, he had the authority to make him disappear from the face of the earth.

    "Yes, that''s him. He''s come to our Charm Ginza, accompanied by two beauties who seem like they should be college students," Brother Wolf replied, a glint of lingering fear in his eyes.

    Even though a considerable time had passed, Brother Wolf still couldn''t forget the terrifying experience of an ice lance pointed at his head.

    "Do you know which private room?" Wang Qiang, upon hearing that the VIP whom he still couldn''t identify by name or position had visited his private room, couldn''t help but tense up as he asked in a deep voice.

    "Room 808. What should we do now, Boss Wang?" Brother Wolf replied.

    "For now, don''t alarm them, just make sure the service is attentive. Send two sharp-witted girls to wait outside the room and bring more fruit plates than usual. We''ll talk about the rest later. I''m heading to Charm Ginza right now," Wang Qiang thought for a moment and then instructed in a deep voice.

    "Understood, Boss Wang," Brother Wolf replied respectfully, then hung up the phone. He summoned the manager on duty, inquired about the situation with room 808, and passed along Wang Qiang''s instructions.

    "Brother Wolf, is that really necessary? That private room is mostly used by small business owners'' children; the most influential among them is the son of Pang Zhonghai, the Deputy District Chief from the less influential Bindong District. The room was booked by Pang Zhonghai''s son, and I''ve already arranged a special one for him. When they check out, for sure, a discount will be applied. I think this is already quite enough; after all, Bindong District has no jurisdiction over our Mingyue Lake District," the manager on duty said nonchalantly. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What do you know? This is Boss Wang''s order, and he''s also rushing back to Charm Ginza, so just do as I said. Tell the girls to stay sharp, and if anyone offends the VIP guest in room 808, they can pack their bags and leave," Brother Wolf said.

    Wang Qiang owned many entertainment venues and socialized extensively, with evenings being especially hectic. Hearing that the boss was personally returning for room 808, the manager on duty was shocked and dared not fuss any longer. He hurriedly followed Brother Wolf¡ªLiu Heng''s¡ªcommands.

    As Brother Wolf¡ªLiu Heng¡ªwas instructing the manager on duty to take special care of room 808, elsewhere, Wang Qiang was rushing to Charm Ginza in his Mercedes while calling Ma Xiaoshuai.

    "Boss Wang, what''s up? Didn''t we agree? Try not to call me in the evening; I''m very busy," the call was quickly answered, with Ma Xiaoshuai''s indifferent voice coming through, and the coy sounds of a woman could be faintly heard in the background.

    "You think I want to call you? It''s only because that person came to my Charm Ginza today, so I wanted to ask: how should I handle it? Should I play it cool as if I don''t know anything, or should I personally visit him with a drink and apologize to him in person for the incident last time?" Wang Qiang asked.

    "Damn, Boss Wang, are you playing guessing games with me? ''That person,'' how am I supposed to know who you''re talking about?" Ma Xiaoshuai replied irritably.

    "Who else could it be, if not the person who caused even your top brass to pull guns out at Qianjiang Barbecue last time?" Wang Qiang retorted.

    "Holy shit! Don''t tell me your people have been foolish enough to offend him again? If that''s the case, you don''t need to call me. You might as well just slit your own throat," Ma Xiaoshuai exclaimed, pushing the dolled-up woman beside him away as he spoke.

 Chapter 470 - 469 Dongxu, it seems you have to step up your game

    "How could that be? We''re open for business, customers are God! I''m just asking you how to handle it." Wang Qiang replied with a wry smile, feeling a chill in his heart, this person was indeed not someone to offend.

    "That''s good. Just keep a close eye on things and make sure no problems arise. As for paying a visit with a gift of wine or something, forget about it. You''re not unaware of our identity, and we shouldn''t expose ourselves unless it''s a special situation. And his identity is even more special, don''t try to be smart. If you really do that, just wait for our boss to come after you to settle the score," Ma Xiaoshuai said, clearly relieved, then paused and added.

    "Is it really that exaggerated?" Wang Qiang asked with a tight smile.

    "Hmph, you''re welcome to give it a try and see what happens," said Ma Xiaoshuai.

    "Heh, if Ma Leader speaks like this, how would I dare? But who exactly is this guy? Is he also one of our Qimen? Could you reveal just a little about him?" Wang Qiang joked, then asked curiously.

    "Haven''t you heard that curiosity killed the cat? Just save it. At most, offending our boss might get you scolded because we are all fellow practitioners. But if you dare offend him, then you just wait for our boss to personally take care of you," Ma Xiaoshuai replied.

    "Look Ma Xiaoshuai, I''m not stupid, I know who should be offended and who shouldn''t. But can''t you reveal just a little bit? At the very least, you can tell me his name, right? In case something happens later, I would at least know his name," Wang Qiang said.

    "Ge Dongxu. You''d better keep a close watch yourself and not stir up any trouble," Ma Xiaoshuai said after a moment of thought.

    The fact of Ge Dongxu''s name and his apparent university student identity was no secret and there was no need for secrecy.

    As for Ge Dongxu''s real identity behind the scenes, Ma Xiaoshuai dared not say more without permission from above, and in fact, he only knew part of it.

    "I understand, I''m heading to Charm Ginza right now," Wang Qiang replied.

    "That''s good. If there''s nothing else, I''m hanging up," Ma Xiaoshuai said.

    "Sure, when you''re free come to our Charm Ginza, I''ll introduce you to some beautiful princesses," Wang Qiang said.

    "Just don''t mess with me with inferior goods again, and definitely don''t get me a university student like last time, damn, that nearly screwed me over completely," Ma Xiaoshuai said.

    "That was just one mistake. But you know, Ma Xiaoshuai, you''re not so young anymore. If your cultivation really continues to hit a bottleneck, I think that''ll be about it for your life anyway. Might as well settle down and have kids like I did, instead of mulling over the idea of ''passing through a crowd of flowers, a leaf doesn''t touch the body.'' Like that university student from last time, if you really like her, then I think it''s better to marry her. Times have changed. Unless you''re a truly exceptional magician who can command respect and fear just by skill alone, and even the state has to try to appease you, the rest comes down to power and money. Just like me, I might be a magician, but what really allows me to live a decent life is my money!" Wang Qiang said.

    Hearing this, Ma Xiaoshuai was silent for a while, then suddenly burst out, "Damn it, are you doing this on purpose, knowing full well I have girls around me, yet you bring up such mood-killing talk."

    "Haha!" Wang Qiang laughed loudly and hung up the phone, but his face revealed an undeniable sense of loss. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As a Qimen Sorcerer, there was naturally a pride in him that common folks did not possess. But now that daoist practices have declined, even as a magician, he''s fallen back to the mundane world, hardly different from an ordinary businessman.

    He also had to hustle, had to ingratiate himself, had to flatter...

    And those people, who in the past would have been nothing more than commoners in the eyes of a Qimen Sorcerer like himself!

    And now, these Qimen Sorcerers were scarcely different from ordinary people.

    No one could summon the wind and rain, no one had the power to move mountains and overturn seas, and no one could perform Sword Flight to decapitate someone thousands of miles away...

    When he said those words just now, it seemed like he was persuading Ma Xiaoshuai, but wasn''t Wang Qiang also persuading himself to accept reality?

    ...

    When Ge Dongxu accompanied Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran to push open the private room door, there were already five people inside, three women and two men, with two of the women currently singing "Promise ''98" into the microphones.

    "Xiaojie, Yanran, you''re here." A tall and fashionable young woman, who could only be considered above average in looks but appeared quite capable, stood up and greeted them with a smile.

    "Happy birthday, Yumo sister," Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran said with a smile as they took out a beautifully wrapped gift from their bags and handed it over.

    "You''re still students, just being here is enough, why bring gifts?" Xu Yumo chided as she accepted the gift.

    "Hehe, it''s just a trinket, we couldn''t afford anything expensive," Xu Yanran said.

    "Thank you," Xu Yumo said with a smile as she put away the gift, then looked at Ge Dongxu with a hint of confusion on her face and asked, "And who might this be?"

    "Oh, he''s Ge Dongxu, also from Jiangnan University, Yanran''s fellow townsman from Ouzhou, and my friend," Lin Xiaojie said as she pulled Dongxu over and introduced him, "Dongxu, this is Xu Yumo, a prominent figure from our previous college of economics, Yumo sister."

    "Happy birthday, Yumo sister. I''m sorry, I only found out about your birthday last minute, and I came in a hurry without a gift," Ge Dongxu said with an apologetic smile, extending his hand.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu, although still a university student, already carried himself with the composure of a successful person, Xu Yumo''s eyes lit up slightly, and she smiled as she shook his hand, "You''re too polite, Dongxu. We''re just friends and classmates getting together for some fun, there''s no need for formalities, and after all, isn''t Xiaojie bringing a gift just the same?"

    "Yumo sister, you can''t just say things like that, we haven''t got anything settled yet!" Lin Xiaojie, naturally not a timid and shy girl as the deputy chair of the student council of the economics college, purposely glared at Ge Dongxu, teasing.

    "Giggle, it seems that you, Dongxu, need to make more of an effort," Xu Yumo said with a smirk.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled.

    If it weren''t for seeing that Xu Yanran had an omen of bloodshed and that, as a goody-two-shoes, he wanted to help her break the curse, he wouldn''t have been willing to be this shield. However, now that he had arrived, he felt he had to go with the flow and didn''t want to undermine Lin Xiaojie.

    "I''m saying, Dongxu right? Your face looks quite new, I don''t think I''ve seen you in the economics college before," a male with a neatly parted hairstyle, looking rather traitorous with slight buck teeth, walked up boastfully tugging at his shirt sleeve to reveal a Longines watch plated over by the cuff, his gaze unfriendly and provocative towards Ge Dongxu.

    "Oh, I''m from the College of Environmental and Resource Sciences," Ge Dongxu responded with a smile, already understanding this awkwardly-looking yet dapperly dressed man must be the one Lin Xiaojie mentioned who had been pestering her to no end.

 Chapter 471 - 470 These are Complimentary

    "So you''re an engineering guy, huh? What year are you?" the bucktoothed man asked with disdainful smirk, posing the question once more.

    "Freshman," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Holy crap, a freshman?" another man immediately exclaimed in surprise.

    "What about a freshman?" The two young ladies who had been singing were startled by the conversation and came forward to ask.

    "Him ¨C a freshman from the School of Environmental and Resource Sciences trying to woo the belle of our Economics School, who is also the current vice president of the Student Council!" the man explained.

    "No way!" The two young women immediately started sizing up Ge Dongxu like he was some kind of monster.

    Lin Xiaojie was also a very pretty woman, only slightly less radiant compared to Xu Yanran. Although she wasn''t in the running for the school''s belle, her name was still on the list of beauties for the Economics School. Not only that, but she was also the vice president of the Economics School''s Student Council.

    Jiangnan University, the top institution of higher learning in Jiangnan Province and among the leading universities nationwide. Aside from adult education students, which student at Jiangnan University wasn''t a top student in their prior high school? Lin Xiaojie''s admission to Jiangnan University alone was proof of her excellence, and her selection as vice president of the Economics School''s Student Council made her the cream of the crop among the elite.

    Women like her were sure to be highly sought after by many organizations once they stepped into society, the kind who would not have to worry about finding a job.

    Of course, women like her often had high standards. Take that bucktoothed guy for example, his family ran a small factory, and after graduating he landed a job at a bank. His parents immediately bought him a car and an apartment. Even if he was a bit unattractive, such a man was still a desirable marriage prospect for many women in society.

    The bucktoothed man thought highly of himself and had relentlessly pursued Lin Xiaojie, both while in school and after he started working at the bank. However, Lin Xiaojie had never given him the time of day.

    Apart from the bucktoothed man, there were plenty of excellent male students in the school who were interested in Lin Xiaojie. Even Pang Zihao, whom Lin Xiaojie had mentioned before, had a bit of a thing for her. But since one can''t have the best of both worlds, between Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran, he chose to pursue Xu Yanran.

    Yet, after two years and now a junior, Lin Xiaojie still hadn''t accepted any man''s advances. And now, here was a freshman from the School of Environmental and Resource Sciences, who had just started school not too long ago, pursuing her. Moreover, judging by the current situation, Lin Xiaojie seemed quite interested in him as well.

    How could this not surprise everyone in the private room?

    Of course, the bucktoothed man''s face couldn''t help but look a little unsightly.

    "Cut it out, Wang Fanchun, what''s with this ''wooing'' and ''school belle''? What nonsense are you talking about!" Lin Xiaojie glared at the other young man.

    "Hehe, I''m not talking nonsense." Wang Fanchun chuckled, then patted Ge Dongxu on the shoulder and said, "Dongxu, as a freshman from a different department daring to encroach on our Economics School turf, you''d better pray for good fortune."

    "What do you mean, Wang Fanchun? Are you saying that our school''s female students are your male students'' forbidden fruit?" Wang Fanchun''s words instantly angered the women in the private room, who all started glaring and putting their hands on their hips.

    These women were all from the Economics School.

    "Ah, I didn''t mean that, I didn''t mean that," Wang Fanchun hastily said with an ingratiating smile upon seeing the women''s indignation.

    While Wang Fanchun was still in the midst of apologizing, the door to the private room was gently pushed open, and a server came in carrying snacks like pistachios, as well as a fruit platter.

    "Did you deliver to the wrong room? We don''t seem to have ordered these snacks and fruit platter, right?" Xu Yumo asked with a slight frown, seeing this.

    "No mistake, these are complimentary," one of the waitresses said to Xu Yumo with a sweet smile. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Then thank you." Xu Yumo''s face revealed a hint of surprise upon hearing this.

    "You''re welcome. Xiaoye and I will be outside the private room in a bit, so if you need anything, just call us," the waitress said with another sweet smile, then left the room.

    "Seriously? Since when did Charm Ginza start giving such great service? Not only are they giving away free snacks and fruit platters, but they''ve also got someone waiting outside the room?" Bucktooth exclaimed in surprise after the waitress left.

    His family was well-off, and he had a good job; he hadn''t skimped on spending at Charm Ginza.

    "Yeah, look at these snacks. Not to mention these snacks are all on the pricier side, just looking at these fruit platters alone, besides watermelon, all the other fruits seem to be imported, right? And to think they gave it away for free today?" A short-haired woman pointed at the snacks and fruit platter on the coffee table, equally astonished.

    The others found it strange too.

    In the business of running a shop, they''d rather charge you a hefty price. It was already a rarity to get some cheap freebies to boost popularity, let alone choosing some of the better snacks and fruit platters to give away for free?

    And not to mention having two people standing by outside the door, the service was becoming a bit too posh!

    "Hey, ''Boss Xu'', you''re not friends with the owner of Charm Ginza, are you?" Bucktooth asked.

    "Pan Sheng''an, are you making fun of me or what? Calling me ''Boss Xu'' and saying I''m friends with the owner of Charm Ginza! You work at a bank, surely you know how much it costs to open a Charm Ginza, right? Would a recent college graduate like me possibly be friends with him?" Xu Yumo rolled her eyes at Bucktooth.

    Though her family also ran a company, it was just a small one, naturally far from comparing to the owner of Charm Ginza.

    Pan Sheng''an? Ge Dongxu''s lips twitched involuntarily when he heard the name.

    "This doesn''t make sense, though. I come here often, and I''ve never received such treatment," Pan Sheng''an said.

    "Yeah, we were here on the opening day of Charm Ginza as well, but we didn''t get treated like this either," a woman in the group chimed in.

    "I guess it must have something to do with Pang Zihao. His dad is the Deputy District Chief of Bindong District, and after graduation, he went to work at the Municipal Finance Bureau. He helped me book this private room," Xu Yumo pondered and then said.

    "That could be possible." Everybody considered this and reluctantly accepted that Pang Zihao might be the reason.

    "Damn, it''s awesome to be an official these days!" Once everyone attributed it to Pang Zihao, Pan Sheng''an couldn''t help but express jealousy.

    "Isn''t that obvious? Otherwise, why could Pang Zihao go straight to the Municipal Finance Bureau after graduating, while you and I can only work at a bank?" Wang Fanchun remarked.

    "The Finance Bureau, the bank? Are you talking about me again?" Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open.

    A man wearing gold-rimmed glasses and a hint of pride on his face walked in.

    Following him was another man and two women.

 Chapter 472 - 472: 471

    "Not at all! We''ve all been saying how awesome you are! I even get to bask in your glory on my birthday," Xu Yumo said with a laugh as she greeted him.

    "What do you mean by that?" Pang Zihao asked with a slight start and a smile.

    "Look, because you booked this private room, Charm Ginza has given us a bunch of free snacks and a fruit platter tonight," Xu Yumo explained.

    "That''s so true, Pang bro, you really have some clout!" The two women who had been singing "Promise ''98" earlier gazed at Pang Zihao with admiration and said.

    Back in school, everyone was a student, and even though they felt that Pang Zihao with his Deputy District Chief father was quite something, they didn''t have much of a personal sense of it.

    However, since they graduated and stepped into society, they''ve truly understood it deeply.

    Especially tonight''s treatment at Charm Ginza really deepened their impression in this regard.

    Upon hearing this, Pang Zihao felt a hint of puzzlement in his heart. In Bindong District, wherever he went for entertainment, those place owners would have to give him face just for being the son of the Bindong District Deputy District Chief.

    But Mingyue Lake District, home to Linzhou City''s municipal government and the true city center, is where businesses with solid connections and backgrounds are the only ones that can operate entertainment venues. A top-notch KTV entertainment spot in Linzhou City like Charm Ginza must have a boss with serious clout. If Pang Zihao were the son of the Mingyue Lake District Chief, he''d deserve such treatment, but he''s just the son of a relatively lower-ranked Deputy District Chief in Bindong District; it''s a bit different. The boss might not really feel the need to curry favor with him.

    Of course, the ways of the official circles are unpredictable. Maybe next year his father will be transferred to Mingyue Lake District. If the boss of Charm Ginza is adept at maneuvering and deliberately flatters him, it wouldn''t be a surprise.

    With this thought, a smug smile couldn''t help but spread across Pang Zihao''s face, but outwardly he pretended it was just a trivial matter and waved his hand, "Ha ha, it''s just some snacks and a fruit platter, nothing much, really nothing much."

    "It''s not just that, Pang bro, didn''t you see there''s someone specially waiting outside for us? This kind of treatment is definitely beyond the reach of us ordinary folks," Pan Shengnan said, a sycophantic smile on her face.

    "Oh!" Pang Zihao was briefly taken aback by her comment, but then he remembered a recent visit here with several wealthy friends, one of whom was the son of the Mingyue Lake District''s Executive Deputy District Chief. That time, for his sake, Charm Ginza also had someone specially waiting outside. He hadn''t expected the boss of Charm Ginza to be so courteous as to arrange someone to wait outside even for him.

    Thinking this, Pang Zihao''s face showed even more self-satisfaction, and he waved his hand with a chuckle, "We''re all classmates, don''t talk about being ordinary folks, that sounds so distant!"

    As he spoke, Pang Zihao''s eyes landed on Xu Yanran, blazing with passion as he smiled and said, "Yanran is here too."

    "Pang bro, you''re so biased. Even though Yanran and I came together, you only have eyes for Xu Yanran," Lin Xiaojie teased.

    "Xiaojie, don''t talk nonsense!" Xu Yanran glared at Lin Xiaojie, then turned to Pang Zihao with a slight smile and said, "Yes, just arrived."

    "How''s everything in school, is the Student Union work going smoothly?" Pang Zihao saw Xu Yanran scolding Lin Xiaojie and a flash of irritation appeared in his eyes but quickly turned back into concern and tenderness.

    "Thanks for your concern, Pang bro, all is well," Xu Yanran said, with a complex look flickering in her beautiful eyes. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Logically, Xu Yanran told herself that Pang Zihao was an excellent choice, but she didn''t feel much for him. Most importantly, she knew all too well that Pang Zihao just liked her looks, her long legs, not her as a person. She had no confidence that once she fell into his arms, his affection for her would last long.

    Of course, having wealth and influence, and with a relatively high emotional intelligence, Xu Yanran did not dare to flatly reject Pang Zihao.

    "That''s good," Pang Zihao nodded, then patted his head and said, "Look at me, I forgot to wish the birthday star a happy birthday!"

    As he spoke, Pang Zihao took out a gift box and handed it to Xu Yumo, smiling, "Happy birthday, Chairman Xu."

    "Don''t be like that, why are you calling me Chairman Xu too!" Xu Yumo rolled her eyes at Pang Zihao, then took the gift.

    "Happy birthday, Yumo." The one man and two women who accompanied Pang Zihao also took out gifts and gave them to Xu Yumo when they saw this.

    "Is everyone here now, Yumo?" After Pang Zihao and his group had all given their gifts, Pan Sheng''an asked.

    "Everyone''s here," Xu Yumo nodded.

    "Then Dongxu, go tell the service staff at the door to bring over the birthday cake," Pan Sheng''an instructed Ge Dongxu.

    "I''ll go," Lin Xiaojie knew Pan Sheng''an was doing this on purpose. She glared at him, then went straight out the door and instructed the staff to bring the birthday cake.

    "Eh, who is this student? Are you from our School of Economics?" At this moment, Pang Zihao seemed to notice Ge Dongxu for the first time and asked.

    "No, his name is Ge Dongxu. He''s a freshman from the School of Environmental and Resource Sciences. He''s a bit interested in Lin Xiaojie, so he followed her," Pan Sheng''an said.

    "Hey, Pan Sheng''an, watch your mouth!" Xu Yanran said somewhat unhappily upon hearing this.

    Speaking of which, it was actually because of her that Lin Xiaojie suddenly had to find Ge Dongxu to serve as a shield, so when Pan Sheng''an spoke like this, it was naturally a bit awkward for Xu Yanran.

    Pang Zihao actually also had some interest in Lin Xiaojie, but because of Xu Yanran, he restrained himself from playing both sides. So, hearing Pan Sheng''an talk about Ge Dongxu, a freshman from the School of Environmental and Resource Sciences being interested in Lin Xiaojie, he was already a bit displeased, and now seeing Xu Yanran''s unhappy expression and even scolding Pan Sheng''an because of Ge Dongxu, he felt even more disgruntled.

    However, Pang Zihao did have some discretion and wouldn''t petulantly show his displeasure to Ge Dongxu. He just smiled lightly and said, "It''s okay, we are all either classmates or alumni, and all of us are young. It''s normal to have a joke, don''t you think, Dongxu?"

    "Today, it''s all about Sister Yumo being happy. I''m fine with anything," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Well said, no wonder Lin Xiaojie brought you along. It seems that you, as a freshman, must have some skills," Pang Zihao said with a laugh.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled noncommittally.

    He didn''t just have a few skills¡ªhe was actually quite capable. Pang Zihao''s remarks about him weren''t something he felt he could be modest about; otherwise, even he would find it too hypocritical.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s reaction to Pang Zihao''s praise, not showing any surprise or saying any modest words, but just smiling noncommittally, everyone was slightly stunned. They shook their heads, thinking that a freshman was just a freshman, really thinking he had what it takes, not even considering who he was standing in front of.

 Chapter 473 - 472: Drink Less, Pretend to Be Drunk If Necessary

    ```

    Pang Zihao saw Ge Dongxu merely respond with an indifferent smile, a faint trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes, and immediately followed up with another question, "Dongxu, where is your hometown?"

    "Changxi County," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Changxi County, that''s under Ouzhou City, right? Then you and Yanran are kind of fellow townspeople, as she''s from the urban area of Ouzhou City," Pang Zihao said, a hint of scorn apparent in his eyes.

    Linzhou City is the provincial capital, and Pang Zihao is even the son of the Deputy District Chief of Bindong District in the provincial capital, and he himself works in the finance bureau of the city government. To someone like him, Changxi County is nothing more than a rural place.

    "That''s right," Ge Dongxu nodded. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What are you talking about?" During their conversation, Lin Xiaojie turned back and asked.

    "Haha, don''t worry, as a senior, I wouldn''t go so far as to bully a freshman. At most, I''ll just make him drink a few more glasses later," Pang Zihao laughed.

    "Wow, Pang bro, making him drink a few more glasses, isn''t that still bullying?" Lin Xiaojie exaggerated, a slight worry flashing in her eyes.

    She didn''t dare have high expectations for the alcohol tolerance of a freshman.

    "You, Lin Xiaojie, if you protect Ge Dongxu like this, then he must drink a few more glasses tonight!" Pang Zihao declared.

    "Dongxu, it looks like you have to drink more tonight. Otherwise, us guys will feel unbalanced. Back when we were in school, aside from Pang bro, everyone had either a secret or open crush on Lin Xiaojie, yet she never took much notice. Now, she''s all out protecting you. No, you must drink more later. Brothers, don''t you agree?" Pan Sheng''an immediately stoked the fire fearfully.

    "Lin Xiaojie, we can''t help you this time!" Xu Yumo and other girls said helplessly upon seeing the situation.

    "This, this¡­" Only Xu Yanran showed a hint of urgency, and her heart also held some silent blame towards Lin Xiaojie for bringing Ge Dongxu over.

    After all, her relationship with Ge Dongxu could only be described as a fleeting encounter, hardly any friendship to speak of. If he ended up drunk because of this, it would be quite awkward.

    But that was a secondary concern. What she really feared was that later on, Ge Dongxu, being too scholarly, would refuse to drink more, or even just up and leave, thus offending Pang Zihao. That would truly be throwing Ge Dongxu under the bus.

    After all, Pang Zihao''s father was a Deputy District Chief.

    Seeing Xu Yanran''s anxious expression, Pang Zihao felt even more displeased when he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu, on the other hand, felt a slight sense of relief. He had come to solve the impending disaster in Xu Yanran''s fortune, and if she were to act like Xu Yumo and the others, he really would have been putting himself out there for nothing.

    "No problem. Today is Yumo''s birthday, we should all be happy and naturally drink a bit more," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, cutting her off before Xu Yanran could say anything further.

    "Awesome! Freshmen are fierce!" Pang Zihao and the others cheered loudly, a gleam of schadenfreude in their eyes, while Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yumo were inwardly anxious. However, at this moment, it was not appropriate for them to say anything else.

    After all, they were still students, whereas Pang Zihao and the rest had already started working in society, with each having more or less some background, especially Pang Zihao who was indeed impressive. They might even need to ask for their help in securing a good job after graduation.

    Just as Pang Zihao and the others were cheering aloud, the waiter pushed in the cake and entered the private room.

    ```

    Seeing the cake arrive, Pang Zihao and the others temporarily shifted their attention. They started lighting the candles, singing the birthday song, Xu Yumo made a wish, blew out the candles, and then cut a piece of cake for everyone to share.

    After such a relatively formal ceremony, the rest of the event became very casual.

    Those who wanted to sing sang, those who wanted to drink drank.

    Of course, before drinking, they couldn''t avoid toasting to Xu Yumo, the birthday girl. However, after toasting to her, the guys started approaching Ge Dongxu on their own initiative.

    "Come on, Dongxu, you''ve barely started college and you''re already hitting on my campus belle. To put it mildly, you''re a force to be reckoned with! We''ve got to chug a bottle straight up," Pan Sheng''an, full of jealousy, was the first to launch an attack on Ge Dongxu with a small bottle of Budweiser beer in hand.

    "Hey, Pan Sheng''an, what are you doing? The party''s just gotten started, who drinks like that!" Lin Xiaojie interjected, somewhat frantically stepping in front of Ge Dongxu and standing tall with her chest out.

    It was then that Ge Dongxu noticed although Lin Xiaojie was shorter than Xu Yanran, her chest was somehow more substantial.

    "No way, Lin Xiaojie, we are from the same faculty after all, and we used to work together in the student union. We''ve known each other for several years. This freshman, who has only been at our school for a few days, you''re protecting him like this¡ªisn''t that a bit ungrateful?" Pan Sheng''an, seeing Lin Xiaojie so protective of Ge Dongxu, felt his jealousy flare up, his face turning shades.

    "Yeah, yeah, Lin Xiaojie, by doing this you really hurt us seniors'' feelings," Wang Fanchun and the others joined in, looking at Ge Dongxu with unfriendly eyes.

    As the saying goes, the good stuff shouldn''t be wasted on outsiders!

    If any of them had snagged Lin Xiaojie, they would have felt a bit of regret but not really anger. However, now that a freshman from the Environmental and Resource Sciences faculty had won her over, these guys naturally felt humiliated, as if they had been slapped in the face.

    Seeing Wang Fanchun and the others starting to make a buzz, Lin Xiaojie was both anxious and regretful. At this moment, it was not the right time to explain that she had brought Ge Dongxu as a last-minute shield. To speak out now would be to completely offend Pan Sheng''an and the others.

    "It''s okay, it''s okay, let''s all just have a good time, it''s just beer. If we have to chug a bottle, then we chug a bottle," Ge Dongxu didn''t want Lin Xiaojie to feel uncomfortable, so he stood up, smiling, and pulled her aside as he spoke.

    "Right, it''s just beer after all. Foreigners drink it like water," Pan Sheng''an and the others said.

    "Drink less, and if you can''t handle it, just pretend to be drunk!" Lin Xiaojie, seeing she couldn''t persuade them anymore, leaned in and whispered the advice into Ge Dongxu''s ear.

    As she spoke, Lin Xiaojie''s body pressed against Ge Dongxu, much to the fury of Pan Sheng''an and the others, almost spitting fire from their eyes.

    Damn it! This was just unbearable! They had to get this engineering guy drunk tonight!

    Ge Dongxu smiled at Lin Xiaojie and then clinked his bottle with Pan Sheng''an, saying, "Senior Pan, I''ll finish this in one go!"

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu picked up the bottle and emptied it with a few gulps, without taking a breath. On the other hand, Pan Sheng''an had to take a breath before he could finish his small bottle.

    "Eat something quick," Lin Xiaojie saw how diligently Ge Dongxu was playing his "shield" role and, feeling both distressed and guilty, she quickly skewered a piece of beef jerky with a toothpick and stuffed it into his mouth.

    This sight, just as Pan Sheng''an managed to chug down a bottle of beer, almost made him frustrated enough to pick up another bottle and start chugging again.

    This damn thing was just infuriating!

 Chapter 474 - 473: One Against Four

    "Thank you!" Ge Dongxu''s "old face" turned slightly red as Lin Xiaojie fed him beef jerky in front of everyone, and he whispered a word of thanks.

    "What are you thanking me for!" Lin Xiaojie glanced at Ge Dongxu with a roll of her eyes.

    Little did she know that Ge Dongxu wasn''t even gay, or else despite feeling gratitude and regret, she wouldn''t have made that intimate gesture just now.

    "I can''t stand this anymore, Lin Xiaojie, are you trying to provoke us on purpose? Come on, Dongxu, let''s do a whole bottle." Wang Fanchun said.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu had just finished a bottle and Wang Fanchun was already urging him to chug another, Lin Xiaojie''s complexion changed. Just as she was about to step in again, Ge Dongxu had already grabbed her, smiling as he picked up another beer, clinked with Wang Fanchun, then tipped back his head and downed it in one go without even taking a breath.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s impressive feat, Wang Fanchun naturally didn''t know what to say, so he could only follow suit and down a bottle himself.

    Another guy named Xie Jinmo saw that Ge Dongxu had chugged two bottles in a row and didn''t immediately join in. He waited a little while before raising his bottle to signal to Ge Dongxu, didn''t say much, and directly chugged a bottle.

    "I''ll drink for him." Lin Xiaojie, worried that Ge Dongxu couldn''t handle it, picked up a Budweiser from the table and said.

    "This is a matter among us boys, Xiaojie, don''t intervene. If you want to step in, then you''ll have to double up. Anyway, if he''s bold enough to woo our department''s beauty, he should have the guts to face the challenge of the boys from the Economics department. Otherwise, if he reaps all the benefits without showing any sign of struggle, how could that be right?" Pang Zihao spoke up when he saw this.

    Lin Xiaojie was worried when she heard this but didn''t know how to retort. Ge Dongxu just chuckled, took the Budweiser from Lin Xiaojie''s hand, and chugged it.

    "Generous! No wonder Lin Xiaojie takes a special interest in you as a freshman." Seeing this, Pang Zihao applauded and then followed by picking up a bottle on the table, raised it to Ge Dongxu with a hint of pride and said, "Dongxu, not to brag, but with my status, most of the time people offer me drinks, it''s rare that I return the gesture. Today, I''m toasting to you because we''re all students of Jiangnan University."

    After speaking, Pang Zihao downed it in one.

    "On account of your last sentence, I''ll finish this," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, and downed his drink too.

    After finishing the drink, Ge Dongxu knew that this group was definitely about to launch a second attack. He decisively didn''t wait for them to initiate another challenge and promptly opened eight bottles of Budweiser in succession.

    "Pang senior, for that sentence about us all being students of Jiangnan University, I toast to you." With that, Ge Dongxu picked up a Budweiser and finished it off.

    Next, Ge Dongxu didn''t wait for Pang Zihao to react and promptly picked up one after another toasting the remaining three guys.

    Watching Ge Dongxu effortlessly chug four more bottles in a row, Pang Zihao and the others were dumbfounded.

    Damn! Does this guy''s family own a brewery or what?

    The girls were also stunned.

    No way, this guy still had the strength to counter-attack after chugging four bottles, and it was a one against four, four bottles again!

    "Dongxu, are you okay?" Eventually, it was Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran who snapped out of it first and hurried forward, asking with concern.

    Seeing Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran both anxiously surrounding Ge Dongxu, Pang Zihao and the others felt very uncomfortable, yet they couldn''t come up with any derisive words to say.

    A freshman, all by himself, one against four, chugging eight bottles!

    What else could they say?

    After all, they had to save some face, didn''t they?

    "It''s nothing! It''s just beer. Seniors, I''ve already drunk mine. If you can''t down it all at once, feel free to eat something first," Ge Dongxu said, waving his hand dismissively at Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie, then turned to Pang Zihao and the others with a smile, offering them kind words.

    Damn it!

    Upon hearing this, Pang Zihao and the others nearly choked on their own blood, each one frustratedly downing their drinks in one go.

    Located on the southern coast, people from Jiangnan Province generally have a moderate tolerance to alcohol, not comparable to those from the north. Everyone, including Pang Zihao, was a true local from Jiangnan Province. Except for Wang Fanchun, who had a slightly better tolerance, the other three were average. Pan Sheng''an, for instance, barely met the average threshold; usually, after two 500 milliliter bottles of beer, he would reach his limit.

    Although they were drinking small bottles today, with only 330 milliliters each, with his tolerance, how could he withstand chugging two whole bottles in a row! sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Before the second bottle was even finished, he felt a storm raging in his belly, and something pushing up his throat. Pan Sheng''an quickly put down the bottle and covered his mouth as he ran outside, leaving the girls wide-eyed in shock, while Pang Zihao and the others looked completely befuddled.

    They were losing face on a massive scale!

    Four graduated seniors challenging a first-year newcomer, and they had barely begun before one of them was already running to the restroom!

    "Stop focusing on drinking, let''s sing, let''s sing!" Xu Yumo, afraid that Pang Zihao and others would lose face, snapped out of her daze and urged them on.

    "Yes, yes, let''s sing, what song do you want to sing, Brother Pang? I''ll queue it up for you," a girl chimed in.

    At this point, Pang Zihao did indeed need to sing to vent his frustration, so he chose the very popular recent song "The Rain Keeps Falling."

    "Wow, Dongxu, I didn''t see it coming; your alcohol tolerance is so good, it really worried some folks just now!" After Pang Zihao went up to sing, everyone sat on the sofa to enjoy it. Lin Xiaojie sat next to Ge Dongxu, leaned in close, and whispered in his ear.

    "Drinking is no big deal. It''s just that everyone sees me as a rival in love, which feels pretty awkward," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Pfft!" Lin Xiaojie was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter, giving Ge Dongxu a meaningful glance. "Actually, you''re not bad-looking, with a good figure, and your behavior has a manly charm to it. It''s a pity, really, or else I might actually consider it."

    "Don''t, please don''t consider it, I''m not right for you," Ge Dongxu said, startled by her words, quickly waving his hands to dismiss the idea.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s "panicked" appearance, Lin Xiaojie was more convinced of his questionable orientation, rolling her eyes at him and feeling a touch of regret inside.

    Such a good guy, how could he not like women!

    "Dongxu, is it okay that you drank so much just now?" Xu Yanran came over at some point and sat down next to Ge Dongxu, asking quietly.

    "Don''t worry, I wouldn''t have a problem even with eight bottles of white liquor," Ge Dongxu reassured her with a smile.

    "Yeah, you talk big, but don''t get ahead of yourself. Take it easy later; don''t keep drinking like this," Xu Yanran said, giving Ge Dongxu a disapproving look.

    Of course, she didn''t believe Ge Dongxu could actually drink eight bottles of 330 milliliter white liquor.

 Chapter 475 - 474 You Pervert!

    Pang Zihao, who was singing on stage, saw Xu Yanran sitting next to Ge Dongxu and sharing laughs with him, their comportment notably intimate. He felt waves of irritation swell within him. After finishing a song, he stepped down and sat next to Xu Yanran, and in the manner of a senior, began to make small talk, inquiring about her wellbeing from time to time.

    Xu Yanran seemed a bit constrained and unnatural. Whenever Pang Zihao asked a question, she simply responded without the casual closeness demonstrated in her earlier conversation with Ge Dongxu, which added to Pang Zihao''s irritation.

    However, Pang Zihao was quite astute, which was how he became an officer of the Student Council at the School of Economics back in the day. He managed to keep his irritation to himself. He did occasionally drop mentions of his connections, sharing tidbits about the city government and leaders, making it seem as though he was well-acquainted with the city officials.

    To someone like Ge Dongxu, a man of stature, Pang Zihao''s words sounded somewhat juvenile and amusing, but to the others in the private room, they appeared incredibly impressive. Everyone''s gaze towards him was involuntarily tinged with awe and admiration.

    Pang Zihao thoroughly enjoyed such gazes, a hint of smugness showing on his face.

    "Xu Yanran, Lin Xiaojie, if you need any corporate sponsorship for student council activities in the future, just come to me. I''ll introduce you, and those companies will certainly give me some face. I might not be able to pull in big sums, but getting some small funds should be no problem," Pang Zihao said, glancing at Ge Dongxu somewhat pointedly.

    "Yanran, Xiaojie, did you hear that? Aren''t you going to toast to Brother Pang? When I was the president of the student council, Brother Pang wasn''t nearly as proactive. It''s the charm of the campus belle, I guess," Xu Yumo said with a laugh.

    Pang Zihao did not deny it but looked at Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie with an insinuating gaze.

    Seeing this, Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie naturally picked up their drinks to toast Pang Zihao.

    Seeing both campus belles toasting him, Pang Zihao finally felt somewhat appeased, his face beaming with pride as he drank.

    Ge Dongxu, of course, didn''t care about these things, as he had never had any particular intentions towards Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie.

    "Dongxu, you might not sing, but don''t just sit and enjoy the show; you should toast to the alumnae present. Let me tell you, these ladies were all formidable figures in our School of Economics, and now each one of them is influential in society. No need to mention Director Xu, who runs her own business. Others, like Chen Man, works in Mingyue Lake District''s Finance Bureau, and Su Xiaofen is with the Industrial and Commercial Bank... When you graduate, you might need their help in finding a job," Pang Zihao declared.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, we''re Lin Xiaojie''s close friends. If you don''t keep us satisfied, be careful, we won''t let Lin Xiaojie be your friend," Xu Yumo and the others joked.

    Ge Dongxu merely smiled and, with great spirit, lifted his glass to toast everyone in turn.

    After a round of toasts, except for Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie, and four bottles down, Ge Dongxu seemed unfazed, but the female students'' faces started to redden slightly.

    Now the people in the private room became curious about Ge Dongxu''s capacity for alcohol, especially since women, once curious, couldn''t rest until they had their answers.

    Consequently, there was no need for Pang Zihao to stir up trouble, as several women took the initiative to drink with Ge Dongxu. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When the women invited Ge Dongxu for drinks, it wasn''t like with Pang Zihao and the others, who cared about saving face. They often drank half and found excuses to make Ge Dongxu drink up.

    Ge Dongxu was not one to argue over trifles with women, nor was it just about the alcohol, so he naturally didn''t bother to be nitpicky.

    With everyone rowdily urging each other to drink, and someone else taking turns to sing on stage, the atmosphere in the private room actually became quite lively.

    Unbeknownst to him, Ge Dongxu still acted as if nothing was amiss, and the girls in the private room, including Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran, had also drunk a bit too much.

    It wasn''t long before Xu Yumo, the birthday girl who had drunk the most, couldn''t hold out any longer. Pointing at Ge Dongxu, she cursed with a laugh, "You freak!"

    Then she hurriedly made her way outside, there was no helping it, with so much beer, her bladder was bursting.

    "You freak! Wait for me, I''m going too!"

    "You freak! Me too!"

    "..." Seeing Xu Yumo leading the way to the restroom, the other women also got up and followed her, each of them couldn''t help but curse Ge Dongxu with a laugh before they left, including Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie.

    Watching a group of girls admit defeat, men like Pang Zihao looked at one another before finally deciding not to provoke Ge Dongxu anymore.

    There was no way around it, the guy was truly a freak!

    "Hey Lin Xiaojie, your boyfriend''s family doesn''t own a distillery, do they? He''s just too freakish," Xu Yumo asked, clutching her stomach, on their way to the restroom.

    "Yumo sis, like I said, it''s not even set in stone yet! How could I know so much detail," Lin Xiaojie replied.

    "Come on, you''ve brought him to meet us all, and you say it''s not set in stone yet? Aren''t you deceiving us?" Chen Man retorted with a roll of her eyes.

    "Really, it''s not set in stone, what reason do I have to hide anything from you?" Lin Xiaojie said.

    "Ah, I get it now, you''re worried about Pan Sheng''an pestering you, so you deliberately brought someone with you," Su Xiaofen realized suddenly.

    "Is that so, Xiaojie? If that''s the case, it''s not too nice. Actually, apart from Pan Sheng''an''s slightly plain appearance, his other qualifications are quite good," Xu Yumo commented upon hearing this.

    "Anyway, I wouldn''t take a liking to him," Lin Xiaojie declared.

    Although Lin Xiaojie didn''t directly answer the question about using Dongxu as a shield, everyone could read between the lines and shook their heads, pointing at her, "Now you''ve really dug yourself into a hole. If we knew he was a fake, why would we have bothered competing with a college engineering guy!"

    Laughing and joking, Xu Yumo and the others entered the restroom.

    As they started to come out one by one, a woman dressed in a leopard-print bodycon dress, looking very coquettish and sexy, hurried towards the restroom door. She collided with Xu Yanran and even stepped on her foot, causing Xu Yanran to cry out in pain on the spot with a loud "Ah".

    What surprised and angered everyone, however, was that the woman did not apologize but instead pushed Xu Yanran away, pointing and scolding her, "Hey, watch where you''re going!"

    Xu Yanran was still a student, and seeing the other party dressed so demonically and clearly not an easy person to deal with, she didn''t respond and just wanted to bear it and let it go. But Xu Yumo and the others, who had started to mix in society and usually did quite well for themselves, plus a bit of alcohol in their system, couldn''t stand this kind of behavior. They immediately pointed at the woman saying, "It was clearly you who wasn''t watching where you were going and bumped into someone, and on top of that, you stepped on my friend''s foot. How dare you turn around and blame someone else?"

 Chapter 476 - 475: Coming to Visit

    "What are you talking about? What are you saying there, blocking the restroom door? You think you''re in the right?" the woman lashed out aggressively at Xu Yumo, immediately pointing and pressing her with questions once Yumo dared to talk back.

    "Who''s blocking the restroom door? Don''t we need to come out?" Xu Yumo retorted angrily.

    "When I say you''re blocking it, you''re blocking it!" The woman shoved Xu Yumo without hesitation.

    Xu Yumo, who was in high heels today, plus the fact that she didn''t expect the woman to be so aggressive, was caught off guard and pushed onto the floor, landing on her backside.

    This time, not only Chen Man and the others were angry, but even the college students Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie felt their blood boil. Xu Yanran was right there, fuming, and without a second thought, she pushed the woman back.

    The woman, also in high heels, lost her balance and, with a shriek, followed by sitting down hard on the ground.

    "Good job, Yanran!" cheered Chen Man and the rest, as they helped Xu Yumo to her feet and asked with concern, "Yumo, are you alright?"

    "I''m fine." Xu Yumo shook her head.

    "Fine? You think you can hit me and walk away without consequence? Dream on!" The woman got up from the ground, furiously pointing at Xu Yumo and her company.

    Upon hearing this, Xu Yumo and the others felt their anger rise once more. However, Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie were still students. Despite acting on impulse before, they were a bit worried after actually getting physical, and seeing this, they quickly said to Xu Yumo, "Let it go, Yumo!"

    In the end, Xu Yumo and the others were all distinguished graduates from Jiangnan University and possessed a certain level of refinement. Hearing this, they ultimately glared at the woman hatefully and then left.

    "Alright, I''ve got my eyes on you! You''ll see what''s coming!" The woman, seeing that Xu Yumo and her friends outnumbered her, didn''t pursue them. Instead, she stood at the restroom entrance, hatefully watching as Xu Yumo and the others entered VIP room 808 and muttered to herself before quickly going into the restroom.

    ...

    "What happened? You all look so angry." Pang Zihao asked in surprise when he saw the angry expressions on Xu Yumo and her friends as they walked in, looking upset.

    "We ran into an awful woman at the restroom entrance! She bumped into Yanran, cursed at us, and even pushed Yumo to the ground!" Chen Man replied. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn, how could something like that happen? Why didn''t you guys hit that bitch?" Pan Sheng''an blurted out.

    "Yanran and Xiaojie didn''t want any trouble, so they just pushed her down to the ground the same way and left it at that," Xu Yumo said.

    "With Brother Pang here, what''s there to be afraid of? Hit her back!" Pan Sheng''an dismissed the concerns.

    "Exactly, with Brother Pang here, what do we have to fear?" echoed Wang Fanchun and the others.

    "That''s not how you put it. Though we don''t provoke others, if someone comes at us first, there''s certainly no need to be afraid. After all, my dad is the Deputy District Chief!" Pang Zihao proclaimed, exuding a sense of pride as he spoke.

    Listening to their conversation, Ge Dongxu understood that the bloody disaster that was meant to strike Xu Yanran was already unfolding.

    Of course, with him present, the outcome was surely going to be different.

    "That''s well said, Brother Pang. What do they call it? Oh, right, ''If no one offends me, I offend no one; if someone offends me, I will offend them in turn!''" Wang Fanchun and the others declared.

    ...

    "What''s wrong with Xinyu?" Inside a luxurious VIP room, a young man dressed in Armani leisure wear, with a Jaeger-LeCoultre watch on his wrist, frowned and asked the curvy woman he was embracing around the waist.

    "Mr. Chen, I was bullied by several women when I went to the restroom just now!" Hu Xinyu said, her eyes brimming with tears.

    "Do you know which private room they were from?" The young man''s face turned abruptly cold upon hearing this.

    "Private room 808." Hu Xinyu replied.

    "Private room 808?" The young man curled his lips into a scornful sneer and then firmly grabbed Hu Xinyu''s plump and perky buttocks, which her leopard print skirt snugly enveloped, and said, "Alright, cut the waterworks. I''ll take you to get even now. Damn it, how dare they mess with my woman."

    "I knew you''d treat me well, Mr. Chen! I''ll make sure to reward you well tonight," Hu Xinyu said, her tears turning to laughter, as she gave Mr. Chen a kiss and then blew warm breath in his ear.

    "Hehe!" Mr. Chen wore a wicked grin and grabbed her once more with force.

    "You''re so naughty, Mr. Chen!" Hu Xinyu playfully hit him.

    "Haha!" Mr. Chen laughed triumphantly.

    "They''re just guests from the regular private rooms, why should you, Mr. Chen, have to take action yourself? I''ll go bring them here." A middle-aged man who had been embracing women on both sides stood up, pushed the women aside, and spoke.

    Charm Ginza had several lavishly decorated private rooms equipped with high-end international brand sound systems and personal service staff, which were basically reserved for those with real clout.

    The names of these few private rooms were all prestigious and powerful, such as the Supreme Hall, Emperor Hall, Crown Prince Hall, and so on, while ordinary private rooms were simply numbered.

    For instance, the private room where Mr. Chen was currently situated was the Crown Prince Hall. Though it wasn''t the most top-tier, it was definitely much higher grade than the rooms available to regular guests.

    "Since I''m bored anyway, let''s go stretch our legs," Mr. Chen said.

    The middle-aged man smiled and said no more.

    Mr. Chen, with his arm around Hu Xinyu''s waist, left the Crown Prince Hall followed closely by the middle-aged man, trailed by four men with stern faces and burly figures.

    "May I ask you..." The server at the door of the private room began to speak as she saw Mr. Chen and his group approaching.

    However, before the server could finish speaking, one of the stern-faced, burly men had already stepped forward, pushed her aside, and kicked the door of the private room open.

    As soon as the door was kicked open, the inside of the private room went silent, and everyone except for Ge Dongxu was a bit slow to react.

    After all, they were all high-achieving graduates from Jiangnan University and seldom encountered such situations.

    "Xinyu, which women here bullied you?" Mr. Chen walked in, arm still around Hu Xinyu, and scanned the people in the room with arrogant eyes. When his gaze swept over Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie, they lit up.

    "All of these women played a part, but the bitch who pushed me was this one!" Hu Xinyu pointed her finger, moving it from one person to the next, until it finally rested on Xu Yanran.

    "Since that''s the case, the few of you will self-punish with three bottles each, and you''re coming with me," Mr. Chen pointed at Xu Yanran and said.

    Seeing Mr. Chen''s imposing manner and arrogant tone, Pan Sheng''an and others who had been clamoring to beat up that woman when Xu Yanran and her friends returned, didn''t dare to make a peep and instead looked towards Pang Zihao for a cue.

    They weren''t fools; it was apparent to them that these new arrivals were people of some influence, and Pang Zihao was probably the only one among them capable of speaking up.

    "May I ask how this gentleman addresses himself? Aren''t you being a bit too presumptuous?" Pang Zihao stood up with a frown.

 Chapter 477 - 476 Dont Disturb Our Elegance

    "And who are you? Seems like you must have some clout!" Chen Sha squinted his eyes at Pang Zihao, his face smeared with undisguised mockery and disdain.

    "My name is Pang Zihao, my father is Deputy District Chief Pang Zhonghai of Bindong District. The incident just now must have been a misunderstanding, I think we should just let it go," Pang Zihao said, his tone not only lacking firmness but also carrying a hint of capitulation.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Pang Zihao and not only refrained from mockery, but he even began to show a bit of admiration.

    After all, Pang Zihao, the son of the Deputy District Chief, did have some perceptiveness. He wasn''t just interested in eating, drinking, and merry-making, always trying to compete and be the best.

    "Bindong District''s Pang Zhonghai? No wonder you dare to stand up, you do have some background," Chen Sha nodded and said.

    "I dare not claim to have background, but regardless of what happened just now, I think we should just let it rest," said Pang Zihao.

    "Let it rest? Do you think it''s up to you to decide? Who do you think you are? You really believe that because you''re Pang Zhonghai''s son, I would be afraid of you?" Chen Sha glanced at Pang Zihao, a look of disdain on his face.

    "Then what do you want?" Pang Zihao''s face changed slightly as he spoke. He hadn''t expected that even after bringing up his father''s name, the other party would remain so aggressively unyielding.

    "What do I want? Didn''t I just tell you? Are you deaf?" Chen Sha said disdainfully.

    "That''s right, even the son of a mere Deputy District Chief of Bindong District dares to talk big in front of Chen Sha. It would be more like it if your father came himself," Hu Xinyu said with a face full of scorn at the side.

    "Chen Sha?" Pang Zihao''s face changed again, and he blurted out, "You are from the Chen Family."

    "Worthy of being the son of a Deputy District Chief, you do have some insight. That''s right, my name is Chen Longyou, and I think you should know what to do now," Chen Sha said with an air of superiority.

    Although the social structures had changed in Huaxia Country since the liberation, and there were no longer any true hereditary aristocratic families, decades of development saw the gradual rise of some influential families in various localities. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Chen Family was one of the "renowned families" in Jiangnan Province.

    The highest-ranking official in the Chen Family was Chen Longyou''s grandfather, Chen Qizhong, who once served as a deputy provincial governor of Jiangnan Province, which wasn''t really all that remarkable. Each term had several deputy provincial governors, not to mention deputy provincial level officials. Over the fifty years since liberation, there had been at least hundreds of people who served as deputy provincial level officials in Jiangnan Province. Besides, Chen Longyou''s grandfather had long retired and had even passed away a couple of years ago.

    What really established the Chen Family as one of the "renowned families" in Jiangnan Province was that, in addition to Chen Longyou''s grandfather, several of his grand-uncles were also quite formidable, whether in business or politics, and they all achieved impressive results.

    This one family suddenly produced several powerful figures, branching out and flourishing in a remarkable way.

    After decades of development, Chen Qizhong''s family not only had deep-rooted relationships in the governmental circles of Jiangnan Province and disciples everywhere, but their family''s assets also reached the substantial sum of six to seven billion.

    Don''t underestimate these six to seven billion, because the richest person in Jiangnan Province''s assets are only about ten billion or so.

    For such a family, let alone a Deputy District Chief from Bindong District ranked towards the end, even if it were a District Chief, if they really wanted to compete with the Chen Family, they would only end up falling on their faces.

    Seeing that it was indeed that Chen Family, Pang Zihao''s face suddenly turned somewhat pale.

    He naturally knew the formidable nature of the Chen Family because one of the current Deputy Mayors of Linzhou City was a member of the Chen Family, not to mention others.

    "Drinking as an apology is fine, but she is an executive of the Jiangnan University Student Union, and Young Master Chen, you can''t take her away." After a while, Pang Zihao spoke up, specifically mentioning Xu Yanran''s position as an executive of the Jiangnan University Student Union. As the preeminent institution of higher learning in Jiangnan Province, a member of the Jiangnan University Student Union might have no power or authority in society, but their status is still somewhat special.

    "What about Jiangnan University? Is Jiangnan University that remarkable?" Hu Xinyu said disdainfully upon hearing this.

    However, upon hearing this, Young Master Chen initially frowned slightly, then scorned dismissively, "Am I, with my status, not allowed to ask a Jiangnan University student to join me in a private room for a few drinks and some songs?"

    Ge Dongxu had initially thought to avoid getting involved as much as possible, letting Pang Zihao, the son of the Deputy District Chief, handle it. But seeing how matters had escalated to this point, and realizing he couldn''t continue being just a freshman, he stood up and said, "That won''t do with me here. I don''t care whether you''re some Young Master Chen or Young Master Yang, all of you get lost and don''t disturb our enjoyment."

    With Ge Dongxu''s statement out in the open, it was shockingly brazen! It frightened Pang Zihao and the others so much that they nearly lost their souls.

    The situation was already complex enough, yet this freshman had blurted out such a reckless statement at this time.

    "Dongxu!" Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran hurriedly reached to pull Ge Dongxu''s arm to stop him from speaking recklessly.

    "Damn! Who the hell are you?" Young Master Chen cursed at Ge Dongxu.

    "Who I am is not something you''re qualified to know. I don''t want to implicate your Chen Family, so you''d better beat it before I lose my temper!" Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Damn! Beat him up for me, beat him hard. The hell with this, daring to act so arrogant in front of me." Seeing Ge Dongxu more arrogant than himself, Young Master Chen was furiously hopping mad.

    The four bodyguards heard the command and immediately showed their viciousness, preparing to rush at Ge Dongxu.

    "Damn! What are you trying to do? Revolt?" Just then, a middle-aged man with a shiny bald head rushed in with several others, cursing along the way, among them was someone Ge Dongxu recognized, it was Wolf Brother.

    Seeing that Wolf Brother, whom he had dealt with at a barbecue stall by the Qian River, had also arrived, Ge Dongxu''s mind shifted slightly, and then he slowly sat back down on the sofa.

    "What am I doing? I should be asking you that, Wang Qiang. What, have you made so much money in recent years that you''ve grown bold? Didn''t you see Young Master Chen here?" The reply to Wang Qiang came not from Young Master Chen, but from the middle-aged man standing next to him.

    When Bald Qiang saw that the speaker was Yang Hao, one of the big shots of Linzhou City''s underground forces, his heart couldn''t help but wail in distress.

    In their line of work, apart from fearing the police, their next fear was meddling with the underworld.

    If the police showed up to conduct raids every other day, their business surely couldn''t succeed. Similarly, if people from the underworld caused trouble frequently, their business couldn''t thrive either.

    Yang Hao was one of the big shots among Linzhou City''s underground forces.

    But when Bald Qiang''s gaze shifted back to Young Master Chen Longyou, his heart sank even further.

    Truth be told, in his actions and manner, this Chen Longyou was essentially a profligate scion¡ªa type not generally regarded highly within a family. Given Bald Qiang''s status, he wouldn''t normally have any trouble with such a person. But the problem was that this Chen Longyou, despite his dissolute ways, had an eye for investment. He had helped his family invest in several projects that turned out to be hugely profitable, thus his position in the family was quite special. Generally, the family would clean up after any trouble he caused. With this in mind, provoking him was almost the same as provoking the entire Chen Family.

 Chapter 478 - 477: Did I Say You Could Leave?

    If it were only Yang Hao, Wang Qiang, although apprehensive, would not feel troubled or conflicted.

    That was because behind Ge Dongxu stood Xu Lei from the National Security Bureau of Jiangnan Province, an official, whereas no matter how powerful Yang Hao was, he was still a criminal at the end of the day.

    A clash between a criminal and an official, especially with the National Security Bureau involved, was simply suicidal!

    But the Chen Family was different. They were the local tycoons of Jiangnan Province, possessing intricate and entrenched power and connections in both political and business circles. A mob boss like Yang Hao was nothing more than a spokesperson for the Chen Family''s underground influence. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Without the Chen Family, Yang Hao was just a thug.

    It''s no exaggeration to say that given the deeply entrenched power of the Chen Family in Jiangnan Province, despite the highest position held by their family in the government being only a deputy mayor, there were hardly a few in the whole province who had the authority to touch the Chen Family.

    Among these few, Xu Lei was naturally not included.

    With Xu Lei''s status, he was not yet at that level.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu''s status was definitely more significant than Xu Lei''s, something Wang Qiang was aware of.

    But exactly how influential, and whether he could contend with the Chen Family, he did not know. Especially since Ge Dongxu was so young, it made Wang Qiang even more uncertain.

    Of course, the Chen Family did not dispatch any heavyweight family members this time, just third-generation members.

    Being one of the major figures in the grey areas of Linzhou City, Wang Qiang, whose entertainment venues spanned the entire city, felt stressed facing the third generation of the Chen Family but was not intimidated.

    "So, it''s Young Master Chen and Boss Yang! We are all out here to have a good time; there''s no need to make things so stiff. We can just sit down and talk it over, right?" Within a short period, many thoughts passed through Wang Qiang''s head, and he decided to smooth things over and play the peacemaker.

    However, from his words, it was not hard to tell that he was still leaning towards Ge Dongxu.

    After all, he was facing third-generation members of the Chen Family, not the head of the Chen Family, and the young man behind him was someone for whom Xu Lei would go as far as to draw his gun.

    What Wang Qiang did not know at this moment was that when Xu Lei drew his gun that time, it was not a coincidence. He had been hiding in the dark, ready to intervene in case of any mishap; otherwise, Wang Qiang would not have had to consider anything.

    "Fine, for the sake of you, Boss Wang, I can sit down with this talent from Jiangnan University and have a proper discussion about life. I definitely won''t make things difficult for you. But this guy, I fucking can''t stand the sight of him; you better not obstruct me, or don''t blame me if I turn hostile," said Young Master Chen.

    Upon hearing this, Wang Qiang''s expression turned very ugly as he said gravely, "So, Young Master Chen, are you saying you won''t give me, Wang Qiang, any face?"

    Since Young Master Chen had targeted Ge Dongxu directly, Wang Qiang no longer had the possibility to meddle.

    Ultimately, Wang Qiang made a decisive choice to stand by Ge Dongxu''s side.

    "What do you mean by this, Wang Qiang? Do you still want your Charm Ginza to stay in business?" the faces of Young Master Chen and Yang Hao changed abruptly upon hearing this.

    They never dreamed that Wang Qiang would stand up for an unknown youngster.

    "Chen Longyou, I, Wang Qiang, started from scratch and built this empire while you were still in kindergarten. Saying such things might suit your father, but you''re not qualified," Wang Qiang said, his prior smile replaced with a proud expression.

    "Very well, Wang Qiang, we''ll see!" faced with Wang Qiang''s tough stance, Chen Longyou and Yang Hao''s expressions changed several times, but they eventually left with dark faces and a harsh parting shot, turning around to leave.

    Wang Qiang was one of the big shots of Linzhou City''s gray areas, with entertainment venues spread throughout the entire city. Though he didn''t have a very powerful backing, he had extensive connections and assets worth tens of millions. Once Wang Qiang adopted a tough stance, given Chen Longyou''s status as a third-generation member of the Chen family, he indeed was not qualified to claim he could easily topple him.

    "Did I say you could leave?" Just as Chen Longyou and Yang Hao reluctantly turned to leave, a calm voice rang out.

    Suddenly, the entire private room fell silent, everyone stared at Ge Dongxu as if he were insane.

    "Are you out of your mind, Dongxu!" Lin Xiaojie pulled hard on Ge Dongxu''s arm and glared at him.

    "Dongxu, shut your mouth. Who do you think you are? You don''t get a say here!" Pan Sheng''an, who already disliked Ge Dongxu, scolded him without any courtesy.

    In his eyes, surviving the night was purely because Wang Qiang stepped in on behalf of Pang Zihao; otherwise, Ge Dongxu would have been beaten unrecognizable by now.

    Unexpectedly, this kid didn''t realize he had just dodged a bullet and chose this moment to make such a cocky statement.

    "Mr. Wang, you''ve seen it yourself! This guy is asking for it. If you keep stopping us, you''re really opposing our Chen family! You should know, my dad cares a lot about saving face," Chen Longyou suddenly turned back, his expression not only grim but also fierce.

    Wang Qiang ignored Chen Longyou and Yang Hao, instead, he looked at Ge Dongxu with a mournful expression.

    Ge bigwig, must you play like this!

    Are you really forcing me to have a showdown with the Chen family?

    Ge Dongxu also ignored Lin Xiaojie and Pan Sheng''an and others. Instead, he continued to sit leisurely on the couch, and looked indifferently at Wang Qiang, saying, "Mr. Wang, the Chen family cares about their reputation, and we care about ours as well. Just now, Chen Longyou and his group kicked the door in, threatened each of the senior students here to drink three bottles each, and even wanted to take this young lady next to me to ''talk about life''. With all this, how can we let them leave with their heads held high, putting us down?"

    "That''s true, but¡­" Wang Qiang said, his face sorrowful.

    Seeing not only did Wang Qiang not scold Ge Dongxu but also talk with a sad face, Pang Zihao and the others were utterly shocked, as if they had seen a ghost.

    By this time, they finally understood that Ge Dongxu, this freshman, was not as simple as they had imagined, and they also realized that the high-standard treatment and Wang Qiang''s appearance were not because of Pang Zihao, but because of Ge Dongxu.

    "There is no ''but'' about it. What right do they have? They think they can kick doors, curse people, threaten others, and leave as they please. But Mr. Wang, you are the host here, I thank you for promptly dealing with this situation and I respect you. So, how about this¡ªthose two, and this instigator lady, apologize to the senior students present, penalize themselves with three bottles, and get out. I''m only giving this one chance. If they accept, we end this matter here today, otherwise¡­" Ge Dongxu interrupted lightly.

    "Haha! Damn it!" Chen Longyou, angered by the words, lifted his foot and kicked the coffee table in front of him.

    If that table were hit, it would definitely crash into Ge Dongxu''s legs.

 Chapter 479 - 478: Making a Phone Call to Summon Someone

    "Chen Longyou!" Wang Qiang''s face changed slightly as he saw what happened. He reached out gently with his hand and patted down on the back of Chen Longyou''s leg.

    "Slap!" With that sound, Chen Longyou''s foot was forcibly smacked down, landing squarely on the ground again.

    "Damn it, Wang Qiang! Are you fucking crazy?" Yang Hao and the others all changed expression.

    "He''s not crazy, you are the crazy ones!" Ge Dongxu finally spoke up again, "I said I''d give you this one chance, but you don''t want to accept it. Now you can leave."

    Ge Dongxu''s words left Wang Qiang and everyone else including Chen Longyou stunned.

    What does this mean?

    "Leave? Who the fuck do you think you are? Do you think you can just say we can leave?" But Chen Longyou couldn''t care less to ponder that, as things had reached this point, if he couldn''t reclaim his face, he wouldn''t be able to continue mixing in Linzhou City as the young master of the Chen Family.

    "Yang Brother, make a call and get people over here. Damn it, no one''s stopping me today. If anyone tries, I''ll beat the shit out of them!" Chen Longyou then ordered Yang Hao with a fierce look on his face.

    Seeing Yang Hao actually making the call as told, Wang Qiang''s face inevitably darkened, and he approached Ge Dongxu and whispered, "Mr. Ge, what should we do now?"

    At this point, things with Yang Hao and the Chen Family were definitely beyond repair. Now, Wang Qiang could only hope that Ge Dongxu would come through, otherwise, he surely wouldn''t be able to stand up to the Chen Family''s influence.

    "Who is this Yang Hao? Who is he calling?" Ge Dongxu asked instead of answering.

    "Yang Hao is ostensibly the owner of a hotel in West City, but in reality, he''s one of the underground power bosses. He has quite a few underlings and operates an underground bank and gambling den. He''s no stranger to nefarious deeds," Wang Qiang whispered back, revealing a hint of worry in his eyes.

    He thought Ge Dongxu was confident because he knew the other party''s background. Little did he expect that after all this time, Ge Dongxu didn''t even know what sort of influence they were dealing with.

    "In that case, why hasn''t the Public Security Department brought him to justice?" Ge Dongxu asked in a grave voice.

    Wang Qiang felt like crying when he heard how naive Ge Dongxu''s question seemed.

    What kind of person is this? Why does he ask questions like a student?

    However, given the circumstances, even if he found Ge Dongxu''s questions a bit naive, Wang Qiang''s only hope now lay with him, so he answered earnestly, "Yang Hao has the backing of the Chen Family, and their influence in Linzhou City in Jiangnan Province is vast and complicated. Plus, Yang Hao himself is cautious in his actions. If any trouble comes up, he has people to take the fall. Moreover, these matters are tangled with many people involved, and the relationships are complex. Without a major incident, who would dare to act? And if things go wrong, it might be Yang Hao who escapes unscathed while he himself gets brought down."

    "From the look of things, the root of the Chen Family must also be rotten by now," Ge Dongxu said, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes.

    It wasn''t Ge Dongxu''s duty to investigate or crack down on the Chen Family or black and evil forces; those were the affairs of the city''s judicial police. However, since he had encountered them today, and Chen Longyou and Yang Hao were not playing by the rules and acting so arrogant, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but contribute his effort to society.

    "The Chen Family used to be okay, but in recent years, they''ve grown too fast and have started to act unbridled. But the Chen Family does hold a lot of power in Linzhou of Jiangnan Province. If Yang Hao calls in people, it could get complicated. Mr. Ge, should we make a call to Director Xu? Maybe he can intervene," Wang Qiang suggested.

    "Director Xu? Are you talking about Xu Lei? It''s not quite appropriate to involve him in this, as it''s not within his purview," Ge Dongxu said, casting a meaningful glance at Wang Qiang.

    He could clearly see that Wang Qiang was also one of Qimen.

    Hearing this, Wang Qiang felt like crying again. Xu Lei was the only one he could think of. Who else from other departments could possibly stand up to the Chen Family?

    Unless it was the Municipal Public Security Bureau? That would definitely be of no use.

    "However, Director Xu''s special status would make handling this kind of situation more convenient, and the Chen Family would somewhat fear him," Wang Qiang said, suppressing his gloominess as he analyzed in a low voice.

    Ge Dongxu simply smiled indifferently at Wang Qiang''s words, took out his cell phone, and stood up. He walked to a corner and dialed a number, calling Zheng Zijie at the Jiangnan Province Public Security Department.

    This matter might get more complicated if Xu Lei intervened, given his status. Naturally, Zheng Zijie was more suitable, and this was within Zheng Zijie''s remit.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu also making a phone call, Yang Hao felt a slight sinking feeling in his heart.

    "Chen Young Master, this guy must be someone important; otherwise, Wang Qiang wouldn''t protect him like this. Say, calling in our people, are we being too rash?" whispered Yang Hao.

    "So you mean, according to Yang Brother, we should punish ourselves with three bottles, bow and apologize to him, and then clear off?" Chen Longyou said with a darkened face.

    "That''s not what I mean, but it''s never a bad idea to be cautious," Yang Hao said.

    "Yang Brother, these years of living in comfort, I think you''ve become more cowardly. Of all the prominent young masters in Jiangnan Province, whom do I not recognize? There is no such guy among them. What''s more, in the entire Jiangnan Province, apart from those few top figures, who else has our Chen Family ever feared?" Chen Longyou said arrogantly.

    After thinking it over, Yang Hao decided there was some truth to that.

    The young man in front of them obviously spoke with a Jiangnan Province accent. Since he wasn''t from one of those top families, they would deal with whatever ruckus he caused. They could just let the Chen Family handle it later. At this point, they had to stand up for the Chen Family''s reputation, or others might think the Chen Family was afraid and in decline.

    Of course, Yang Hao felt so bold partly because Wang Qiang seemed to lack confidence in his words and actions.

    This at least suggested that even if the young man in front of them did have some backing, it was limited. Otherwise, Wang Qiang would not be behaving like this.

    As for why Wang Qiang would side with Ge Dongxu, in Yang Hao''s view, it was most likely because Ge Dongxu came from the same powerful backing as Wang Qiang.

    Like his relationship with the Chen Family.

    In such relationships, sometimes they inevitably had to bite the bullet.

    Zheng Zijie was still going through his evening routine, reviewing documents or reading in his study before eleven o''clock as usual. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When his phone rang, and he saw "Director Ge" flashing on the screen, his heart skipped a beat.

 Chapter 480 - 479: I Think It Should Be Like This

    Last time, with just one phone call, Ge Dongxu had a Spanish investor thrown into detention, and he made it so that Spain didn''t dare to make a peep of protest.

    Of those most aware of the event, Xu Lei and Ma Xiaoshuai certainly were, and then probably Zheng Zijie. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Afterward, when Director Zheng thought about the brief duration between the events, how the Spanish businessman Bravo had harassed customers at a restaurant and even performed a striptease in the street, he could not help but shudder internally.

    This Director Ge''s methods were truly unpredictable!

    "Director Ge, hello, is there something you need?" Zheng Zijie picked up the phone.

    "I do need something from you, and it''s probably going to be quite involved," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Please say," Zheng Zijie said, his expression suddenly becoming grave.

    "You should know the Chen Family of Jiangnan Province, shouldn''t you?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    Upon hearing this, Zheng Zijie couldn''t help but inhale sharply.

    "I know, the current head of the family is Chen Jiaxiang, and his younger brother, Chen Jiayan, is the deputy mayor of Linzhou City. The Chen family owns numerous businesses, and their assets are nearly six or seven hundred million in plain view, making them one of the wealthy families of Jiangnan Province. Director Ge, is there an issue with the Chen Family?" Zheng Zijie briefly replied, then asked somewhat nervously.

    If it wasn''t necessary, he''d rather not move against the Chen Family, because the people and facts involved were just too many. Just the company properties owned by the Chen Family alone, if something truly went wrong with them, many people would likely lose their jobs.

    "It seems Director Zheng does know some things about the Chen Family," Ge Dongxu, who by now was far from a novice, had already picked up on Director Zheng''s gravity and nervousness over the phone.

    "I know some things, but in our investigations, we must talk about evidence, especially for a family as influential as the Chen Family. We must tread carefully. Any mishandling could lead to social instability," Director Zheng said after a pause, his voice grave.

    At these words, Ge Dongxu''s expression grew stern.

    Each profession has its specialization. Speaking of cultivation or techniques, Director Zheng was nothing compared to Ge Dongxu, but when it came to handling cases, issues of national economy and people''s livelihood, this young man, Ge Dongxu, definitely couldn''t compare with the experienced official, Zheng Zijie.

    "It seems I might have thought too simply about it, but I believe it''s wrong to neglect it just because we are apprehensive. The issue with the Chen Family is something your leaders need to consider holistically. I won''t interfere, but if you need my help, I am willing to lend a hand. But now there''s one matter you must manage," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment, then said gravely.

    Following that, Ge Dongxu briefly explained the situation that had occurred at Charm Ginza, and also mentioned how Yang Hao had called his men to disturb him at Charm Ginza.

    Hearing that Chen Longyou had burst into Ge Dongxu''s private room causing a scene, and even had Yang Hao call his men to take care of Ge Dongxu, Zheng Zijie broke out in a cold sweat.

    No wonder, Director Ge started by asking about the Chen Family. This Chen Family was simply too arrogant, too lawless! To think they dared to bully up to Director Ge''s head.

    Is Director Ge someone your Chen Family can bully?

    "This kind of evil force, had it been someone else today, did you ever think of the consequences, Director Zheng? Just because they have the backing of the Chen Family, should they be left unchecked?" Ge Dongxu asked coldly, recalling the predicted bloody disaster for Xu Yanran.

    Previously, he hadn''t really understood the bloody disaster he deduced on the train, which indicated that Xu Yanran wasn''t in mortal danger, but now, speaking on the phone with Zheng Zijie, and thinking of how Chen Longyou had just asked Xu Yanran to go with him, wanting to ''talk about life,'' he suddenly realized what Xu Yanran''s bloody disaster was!

    It was a defilement! It was being ***** "I''m sorry, Director Ge, I also didn''t expect these evil forces to have gone so wild. Rest assured, now that they''ve made their move, this is a good opportunity to arrest them and investigate thoroughly," Zheng Zijie said.

    "I think that''s the necessary course," Ge Dongxu said coldly, then hung up the phone.

    "Bang!" After hanging up the phone, Zheng Zijie slammed his hand on the desk and rose, his face full of anger. He then immediately made calls to mobilize personnel.

    After hanging up the phone, Zheng Zijie immediately left his study and personally rushed to the provincial office to preside over the operations.

    This involved Ge Dongxu, which Zheng Zijie could not take lightly.

    On the road, Zheng Zijie also made a point of calling Sang Yunlong.

    The matter involved the Chen Family, and once it was time to follow the clues to the end, the implicated range would undoubtedly be vast, so it was essential to report to Sang Yunlong in advance.

    Sang Yunlong, hearing that people from the Chen Family had actually instigated criminal forces to deal with Ge Dongxu, naturally became very angry and instructed Zheng Zijie without hesitation to thoroughly investigate the matter.

    ...

    After hanging up the phone, Ge Dongxu returned to his seat on the sofa, his face calm, as if nothing had happened.

    Pang Zihao and the others, looking at Ge Dongxu with that calm expression, felt emotions that were complicated and particularly uneasy.

    "Kid, I know you have some connections. But in Linzhou City, in front of me, you''d still have to coil up like a dragon and lie down like a tiger!" Chen Longyou, seeing Ge Dongxu''s calm expression, felt a surge of anger.

    "Chen Shao, I hope you can be this boastful when the police arrive," Ge Dongxu said blandly.

    "Haha, the police! Don''t tell me you just made that call to the police!" Chen Shao said, looking at Ge Dongxu as if he were a fool, bursting into laughter.

    "That''s right! Aren''t you the ones who called the gangsters over to take care of me? Of course, I had to call the police to catch the bad guys," Ge Dongxu continued blandly, as if he completely misunderstood the mockery in Chen Shao''s words.

 Chapter 481 - 480: Taboo [Congratulations to Alliance Hierarch Maple Leaf Morning Light]

    "Call the police to catch the bad guys? Interesting, interesting, haha!" Chen Longyou, upon hearing that Ge Dongxu had indeed made a call to the police, couldn''t help but burst out laughing.

    Yang Hao and the others also burst into uproarious laughter upon hearing this.

    They laughed unrestrainedly, their laughter wild and unchecked.

    Chen Longyou''s father ranked fifth on the list of the wealthiest individuals in Jiangnan Province, his uncle was the deputy mayor of Linzhou City, his grandfather had promoted many people during his tenure, one of whom was the current mayor of an Earth Level city. He even had a cousin who was the captain of the first squadron of the public order division at the city''s Public Security Department...

    And now Ge Dongxu was telling Chen Longyou to call the police to catch the bad guys, himself included, was it not laughable?

    Poor them, they had no idea that Ge Dongxu''s call to the police was directly to the head of the Provincial Public Security Department, one of the political giants of Jiangnan Province.

    They also didn''t know that the young man they were mocking held a position equivalent to that of Chen Longyou''s deceased grandfather.

    Otherwise, they wouldn''t be laughing now; they''d be crying!

    Of course, Chen Longyou and the others didn''t know this, and neither did Pang Zihao and his group.

    Pang Zihao, watching Chen Longyou and the others making unrestrained mockery, turned somewhat pale. He didn''t know how his father would reprimand him after learning that he had offended the Chen Family.

    Pan Sheng''an and his group looked even paler than Pang Zihao. While Ge Dongxu was on the call, Pan Sheng''an and others had quietly asked Pang Zihao about Chen Longyou''s background, and by now, they already knew just how powerful this young Mr. Chen was.

    "I have some business to take care of tonight, I''ll be taking my leave first," Pan Sheng''an eventually said with a trembling voice, then prepared to walk out of the private room.

    The best strategy is often retreat!

    "Did I say you could leave?" Chen Longyou said coldly.

    Hearing this, a bodyguard had already stepped forward and blocked Pan Sheng''an.

    "Young Mr. Chen, I''m sorry, this matter really has nothing to do with me. I just met this gentleman tonight, and it turns out we are rivals in love," said Pan Sheng''an, seeing the tall and burly bodyguard blocking him with a cold face. He was so scared that his legs shook, and his voice trembled as well.

    "Oh, how so?" Chen Longyou asked curiously and mockingly upon hearing this.

    Speaking of which, he still didn''t know about Ge Dongxu''s background. Although he was convinced that no matter how powerful Ge Dongxu was, he couldn''t surpass him, Chen Longyou was still somewhat curious.

    Pan Sheng''an hurriedly recounted everything about Ge Dongxu being a freshman at Jiangnan University, his hometown being in Changxi County, and his pursuit of Lin Xiaojie.

    Chen Longyou, Yang Hao, and Hu Xinyu, who was clinging to him, as well as those four bodyguards, were stunned for a good while upon hearing this, then suddenly burst into loud laughter.

    "Damn! Wang Qiang, your brain really is waterlogged! All this trouble over such a person; was it worth offending our Chen family? Could he be your trashy brother-in-law, or did you have something with his mom..." After the laughter, Chen Longyou pointed at Wang Qiang with a face full of mockery.

    "Slap! Slap!" Before Chen Longyou could finish his words about "leg," his neck suddenly tightened, and then his face was fiercely slapped back and forth.

    The private room suddenly quieted down.

    Nobody expected that the previously calm Ge Dongxu would suddenly burst out, nor did they expect that Ge Dongxu could move so fast. Before anyone could react, he had already grabbed Chen Longyou by the neck.

    "Damn! You dare to hit me! You''re dead, you''re dead, I''ll definitely make you pay!" Coming from a privileged background, Chen Longyou had never been hit like this before. After a moment of stunned silence, he immediately flew into a rage, screaming with a fierce look.

    "Let me tell you, Chen Longyou, my biggest taboo is someone insulting my family! You''ve crossed the line!" Ge Dongxu said, suddenly lifting Chen Longyou single-handedly and throwing him to the ground like a sandbag, then stepping on his head.

    "Let go of me, let go of me!" Chen Longyou yelled.

    Seeing Chen Longyou yelling, Ge Dongxu directly stomped on his stomach fiercely and then once again stepped on his head, pressing it firmly under his foot, and said coldly, "I have one taboo, and that is that no one but my father can call themselves ''old man'' in front of me¡ªyou''ve made that mistake too!"

    Pang Zihao and the others watched the scene before them, their faces turning deathly pale in an instant with a look of horror in their eyes.

    They had never dreamt that the engineering freshman, who was chatting and drinking with them without pulling any rank, could have such a violent and ruthless side.

    Especially Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie, remembering how they had used their status as senior students to pull him in as a shield, felt cold sweat breaking out all over their bodies.

    Is this really a freshman?

    "Damn it!" Yang Hao and four bodyguards finally snapped back to reality, clenched their fists, and charged forward.

    "Yang Ge, this is a matter between Mr. Ge and Chen Longyou, I advise you not to interfere!" But before Yang Hao and the four bodyguards could get close to Ge Dongxu, Wang Qiang suddenly stepped in, blocking them with Wolf and the others. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Throughout this time, Wang Qiang''s attention had never left Ge Dongxu.

    Throughout this time, Wang Qiang had never underestimated Ge Dongxu.

    Because this was someone who could make Xu Lei use a gun!

    Only Wang Qiang didn''t know Ge Dongxu''s background, nor did he know his real identity, so he was a bit uncertain before.

    However, when Ge Dongxu suddenly made his move, others didn''t realize how he had suddenly appeared in front of Chen Longyou, thinking it had gone unnoticed, but Wang Qiang, who had always been watching Ge Dongxu, saw everything clearly and his pupils suddenly constricted, revealing a trace of horror.

    In an instant, Wang Qiang understood¡ªthis was a true master of Qimen.

    A true master who could draw national attention and prompt pacifying measures.

    For Wang Qiang, offending such a person was definitely more terrifying than offending the Chen Family.

    Because he was a man of Qimen, he understood better than anyone present how terrifying a real master of Qimen could be when angered.

    Having understood all this, Wang Qiang no longer hesitated.

    "Wang Qiang, are you clear about this? Things are different now than they were just a moment ago," Yang Hao said, his face ashen as he saw Wang Qiang blocking him with his men.

    "Yang Hao, it''s not my first time out here, I know what I''m doing! I heard you''ve practiced the Eagle Claw Skill, I''ve wanted to learn from you for a long time," Wang Qiang said, not intimidated by the threat.

    Yang Hao, facing the assertive and proud Wang Qiang, glanced at the people beside him, his expression becoming very ugly.

    Five against nine¡ªthey were at a disadvantage in numbers.

    Most crucially, Yang Hao had heard a rumor on the streets of Linzhou City that Wang Qiang, when he had first stormed into Linzhou City, once fought eight hoodlums alone and won comprehensively.

    "Yang Ge!"

    "Yang Ge!"

    Just as Yang Hao hesitated with a troubled expression, a noisy commotion suddenly came from outside, followed by a group of men, each holding a steel pipe, wearing tight tank tops, showing off their chest muscles and tattoos, bursting in.

 Chapter 482 - 481: Detain Him! [Fifth Update]

    "Okay, Tiger, you guys arrived just in time, beat them up for me!" Seeing a group of people rush in, Yang Hao''s heart leapt with joy as he pointed at Wang Qiang and his group with a fierce look and shouted.

    Yang Hao was also furious today.

    After all, he was one of the big bosses of Linzhou City''s underground forces, usually so imposing. Who would have thought that today, a freshman from a rural place like Changxi County would step on the son of his backer right in front of him? For Yang Hao, this was an unprecedented humiliation.

    "Boss, what... what do we do now?" Brother Wolf and the others were a bit scared seeing so many armed thugs rush in, so they asked Wang Qiang in a low voice.

    Wang Qiang turned his head and glanced at Ge Dongxu, seeing his face was still calm, he immediately felt at ease. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What do you mean what do we do? What do I feed you guys for?" Wang Qiang roared with a ferocious expression.

    Seeing Wang Qiang''s fierce look, Brother Wolf and the others were a bit shaken, but they still picked up whatever they could, whether it was a wine bottle or a swivel stool; as long as it could be used as a weapon, they grabbed it without a second thought.

    "President Wang, what are you doing? Put everything down, put it all down. It''s illegal to fight," Ge Dongxu suddenly said when he saw them getting ready.

    Brother Wolf and the rest, holding their makeshift weapons, looked at each other, completely dumbfounded.

    They were ready to go all out for Ge Dongxu, and now he was telling them to put down their "weapons" and talking about the law against fighting!

    Damn, what does this mean? After acting all tough just now, he''s not getting cold feet at the last minute, is he?

    This is seriously screwing us over!

    "Haha, are you scared? Damn, let''s see you be arrogant now!" Chen Longyou obviously thought Ge Dongxu had chickened out and started taunting triumphantly.

    Ge Dongxu ignored Chen Longyou. Seeing Brother Wolf and the others still staring dumbly, he glared and said, "President Wang, didn''t you understand what I meant?"

    Wang Qiang looked at Ge Dongxu, and after a while, he could only smile wryly and wave his hand at Brother Wolf and the others, "Put it all down."

    "But they..." Brother Wolf and the others were almost crying at his words.

    The opponents were all armed with steel pipes!

    How could they fight with bare hands?

    "I said put it down, so put it down!" Wang Qiang glared.

    Begrudgingly, Brother Wolf and the others did as they were told and put down their weapons, and Ge Dongxu moved his foot away as well.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu move his foot away, Chen Longyou quickly scrambled up, rushed into the crowd, snatched a steel pipe from one of the lackeys, and pointed fiercely at Ge Dongxu and Wang Qiang''s group, "Damn it, do you think it''s okay to put down your weapons now? You think you can just hit my face and be done with it?"

    He paused there, then suddenly his face turned grim, and he yelled, "Beat them, beat them hard! Just don''t kill anyone."

    Hearing the order, the thugs all swung their steel pipes and charged at Wang Qiang and his group like a pack of wolves.

    Xu Yanran and the other girls screamed in horror as their faces turned pale, while Pang Zihao and the other boys were petrified, their legs almost unable to move.

    They were all scholars, and where had they ever seen such ferocious scenes?

    "Don''t move, everyone squat down and hold your hands on your heads!" Just as the thugs were about to bring down their steel pipes on Brother Wolf and his men, and Brother Wolf and his men''s faces were showing signs of panic, ready to dodge, a stern and authoritative shout suddenly came from outside the private room.

    Immediately after, the people inside the private room saw fully armed special police officers enter in single file through the door, and as soon as they entered the room, they either stood or squatted, pointing their black 95-type assault rifles at Yang Hao and the others.

    The black uniforms, those cold faces, the ruthless gazes, and the black, icy muzzles of the guns seemed to drop the temperature of the entire room to freezing point in an instant.

    "Clang clang clang!" It didn''t take a moment''s thought for the thugs to drop their steel pipes and squat down, putting their hands on their heads, including Yang Hao. Even Brother Wolf and his men crouched on the floor in conditioned reflex from fear.

    Are you kidding me? These weren''t just any public security police; these were fully armed special police who, in the face of violent incidents, could shoot to kill directly after a warning proved ineffective!

    Each of these thugs was holding a steel pipe. If they dared not to put them down, the special police might think they were threatening someone''s life. A shot fired in that event would mean they died for nothing.

    "Bang!" Chen Longyou, the young master of the Chen Family, had never encountered such a situation. Still clutching the steel pipe in his hand that he had snatched from a thug, he forgot to throw it away and also forgot to squat down. When a special police officer saw this, he stepped forward, grabbed the steel pipe from his hand, and delivered a fierce kick to his stomach.

    "Do you know who I am? I''m Chen Longyou, my uncle is Chen Jiayan, my father is Chen Jiaxiang!" Chen Longyou got up from the ground, clutching his stomach and shouted at the special police officer who had kicked him.

    "Take him away!" The squadron leader, wearing black leather boots, entered from outside the room and ordered directly to Chen Longyou.

    Two special police officers rushed forward, twisted Chen Longyou''s arms behind his back, pressed him to the ground, and handcuffed him.

    After issuing his command, the squadron leader didn''t look at Chen Longyou again but instead scanned the people in the room, his gaze eventually falling on Ge Dongxu, who stood indifferently. His expression showed a slight startle, and not quite certain, he asked, "Are you Director Ge?"

    Zheng Zijie had briefed him before coming, but he still found it hard to believe that Director Ge was so young.

    "I am!" Ge Dongxu replied indifferently.

    The squadron leader was momentarily taken aback upon hearing the answer, a flicker of surprise in his eyes, which was quickly replaced by respect and solemnity. He walked up to Ge Dongxu, stood at attention, and saluted, "Zou Qingrong, commander of the Special Police Squadron of Jiangnan Province, reporting to Director Ge!"

    Commander Zou''s sonorous and powerful voice echoed in the private room, as if a thunderclap had suddenly exploded beside everyone''s ears.

    The entire room was dead silent; even the sound of breathing was held back.

    The commander of the Special Police Squadron was actually saluting Ge Dongxu! He was actually reporting to Ge Dongxu!

    Wasn''t he from that small place in Changxi County? Wasn''t he a freshman at a Jiangnan Province university?

    Holy shit, is there such a badass country bumpkin? Is there such a badass freshman?

    And when Wang Qiang heard the words "Director Ge," his heart nearly leapt out of his chest!

    Others might not know what being Director Ge really meant, but as a member of Qimen, Wang Qiang knew a little.

    In Qimen, to be called a director! What level was that?!

    Wang Qiang didn''t dare to think further!

 Chapter 483 - 482: Take Them All Away

    Pressed to the ground with his hands cuffed behind his back, Chen Longyou, who had initially wanted to struggle and shout, suddenly stopped when he heard Ge Dongxu referred to as Director Ge, his face turning pale.

    Chen Longyou''s actions had always been indulgent because he had the capital to act recklessly in Jiangnan Province, but this did not mean he was brainless.

    In fact, he had an eye for investment, having helped his family successfully invest in several projects¡ªhow could he truly be a fool?

    He was well aware that all he could do now was to quietly surrender himself and wait for someone from his family to negotiate on his behalf. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Chen Longyou was still confident in the influence of the Chen Family.

    Of course, even with the Chen Family''s influence, Chen Longyou understood that this time his downfall was inevitable, and there was absolutely no possibility of confronting Ge Dongxu afterward, to the extent that he would even have to accompany his father to apologize to him in person.

    Compared to Chen Longyou, who could still retain some confidence because of his family background, Yang Hao, being pointed at with a gun, did not have that confidence.

    Yang Hao, to put it nicely, was one of the bigwigs of the underworld, but more crudely, he was just a gang leader.

    In the eyes of someone as formidable as Ge Dongxu, he could only be a gang leader!

    Cold sweat soaked through Yang Hao''s clothes, and he dared not move.

    Even the boss was in such a state¡ªmuch less the other lackeys, some of whom were so frightened that they even dripped a few drops of urine.

    As for Pang Zihao and others, although they did not wet themselves, each of them stared wide-eyed, their gazes towards Ge Dongxu filled with awe.

    It seemed Ge Dongxu himself did not realize how terrifying and formidable he appeared in everyone''s eyes at that moment, as he simply nodded to Zou, the squadron leader, and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

    While speaking, Ge Dongxu, somewhat amused, looked towards the Wolf Brothers and others who had been so scared that they crouched on the ground, holding their heads, and said impatiently, "What are you squatting for? You are the victims, the staff members that protect our customers."

    "Yes! Yes! Yes!" It was only then that the Wolf Brothers and others realized that they were on the same side as this dignitary and quickly stood up. Looking towards the lackeys still crouching on the ground, who had been very arrogant just a moment ago, each of them involuntarily started acting confidently.

    Damn, what jerks, dared to hit us with steel pipes, now you know how tough we are!

    "Squadron leader Zou, they are all working for Charm Ginza, and this person is General Wang from Charm Ginza. These two are university students from Jiangnan University, and all the others are alumni who graduated from Jiangnan University," Ge Dongxu briefly introduced the people in the private room to Zou Qingrong after the Wolf Brothers stood up.

    With this introduction, Zou Qingrong understood everything clearly.

    Following this, Chen Longyou and the lackeys were taken away by the police, while Pang Zihao and others remained in the private room to give their statements.

    After everything ended, the atmosphere in the private room became silent and awkward.

    Lin Xiaojie and others looked at Ge Dongxu with awe, none daring to speak first even with Pang Zihao, the son of the Deputy District Chief of Bindong District. As for Pan Sheng''an, who had consistently ridiculed Ge Dongxu and then fled when the situation turned bad, let alone speaking, his legs were trembling.

    "Director Ge, considering the mess here, how about we switch to another private room?" Eventually, it was Wang Qiang who, seeing the uncomfortable atmosphere, came forward and tentatively suggested.

    "That sounds good. Today is Yumo''s senior sister''s birthday, and we shouldn''t let this incident dampen the birthday spirit, right?" Ge Dongxu first nodded to Wang Qiang and then turned towards Xu Yumo and the others.

    "Okay, okay, we''ll do whatever Director Ge says," Pang Zihao and others quickly agreed.

    "Director Ge is just a name to strike fear into those who are defiant and lawless. Normally, I am just a student at Jiangnan University, so don''t go around calling me ''Director'' especially at school. Just call me by my name," Ge Dongxu explained with a wave of his hand.

    "We understand, we won''t casually discuss your identity outside," Pang Zihao was quick to grasp this, immediately asserting solemnly.

    "Right, don''t worry, we won''t spread word about your identity or tonight''s incident," Pang Zihao''s statement prompted Xu Yumo and others to also quickly catch on, nodding in agreement.

    "Wolf, you all remember too. If anyone dares spread gossip about tonight, I''ll break their legs!" Compared to Pang Zihao, Bald Qiang was even more aware of the special nature of Ge Dongxu''s identity, hence he sternly instructed the Wolf Brothers and others right away.

    "We understand, General Wang," the Wolf Brothers and others hastily replied.

    "Mr. Ge, shall we not move to a new private room now?" Wang Qiang asked respectfully, but he switched back to calling him Mr. Ge instead of Director.

    "Alright, enough with the moving or not moving talk. Stop being so formal. Just speak normally," Ge Dongxu patted Wang Qiang on the shoulder, instructing him.

    "Yes, yes. Then, Mr. Ge, let''s head there now," Wang Qiang''s shoulder felt quite flimsy after Ge Dongxu''s pat, almost making his legs go weak.

 Chapter 484 - 483 Emperor Hall

    "Mm," Ge Dongxu nodded, then turned and said with a smile to Lin Xiaojie and the others, "Everyone, please go ahead."

    Hearing this, Lin Xiaojie and her group followed with a bit of trepidation and restraint, no longer as casual as before.

    Pan Sheng''an, meanwhile, was pale with a face full of sweat, uncertain whether to follow or sneak away.

    Of course, if possible, at this moment he only wanted to sneak away. But the problem was that what he did earlier was quite underhanded, and if he left now, he was afraid that Ge Dongxu might come looking for him to settle accounts! S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Considering that we are all alumni of Jiangnan University, I won''t take it to heart. You can go," Ge Dongxu glanced at Pan Sheng''an and said indifferently.

    "Yes, yes, thank you, Mr. Ge, thank you, Mr. Ge," Pan Sheng''an said, feeling like he had been granted amnesty, and then he scrambled away as fast as he could.

    Watching Pan Sheng''an scramble away, Xu Yumo and the others showed a trace of disdain in their eyes.

    "Brother Xu, if I offended you earlier, please be forgiving," Pang Zihao said, watching Pan Sheng''an''s retreating figure. Hesitant for a moment, he quickly walked a few steps forward and said carefully to Ge Dongxu.

    Since it didn''t feel right to address Ge Dongxu as Director and seemed abrupt to call him Mr., and of course, Pang Zihao didn''t have the courage to call him by his name, after much thought, remembering that many classmates in school called him "Brother Pang" due to his status, he tried addressing Ge Dongxu as "Brother Xu" to show respect.

    Ge Dongxu glanced at Pang Zihao and said indifferently, "There''s no offense taken. Just be more modest in your conduct and open-minded in the future, that''s all."

    "I will remember Brother Xu''s advice," Pang Zihao replied, pleased that Ge Dongxu didn''t mind the address and seemed not the type to hold grudges, he nodded vigorously with a humble expression.

    "Brother Xu, sorry about before, we were being thoughtless, please don''t take it to heart!" The others, recalling their earlier attitude towards Ge Dongxu and feeling somewhat uneasy, saw that he was easygoing and approached one after another.

    "Haha, I didn''t come off worse in the earlier affair! If you still want to ply me with drinks later, I won''t mind joining you," Ge Dongxu laughed, knowing that they were referring to the drinking incident.

    "Brother Xu, you''re too bad, we won''t fall for that again!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s cheerful smile, Xu Yumo and the others revealed a woman''s innate ability to act coquettishly.

    "Exactly, we won''t be jumping into the pit again!" Chen Man chimed in as well.

    "Haha!" Ge Dongxu laughed heartily as he remembered how these women had been tricked into running to the restroom one after another.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu laughing openly, everyone finally relaxed and laughed along, except Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran whose smiles were a bit forced, clearly preoccupied.

    They had more than just a simple drink with Ge Dongxu ¡ª they had taken him for a comrade! And it was for this reason that they pulled him in as a shield.

    However, now they realized that Ge Dongxu treated them, two campus beauties, with a nonchalant heart, not like other young men, not because of a lack of interest in women, but because with his status, he never lacked for beautiful women around him.

    Looking back, the thought that they had mistaken such a powerful figure for a comrade, teasing him in words, and due to the misunderstanding, having unguarded close physical contact with him, made Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie''s hearts beat thumpingly, feeling almost floaty as they walked.

    The private room Wang Qiang had arranged for Ge Dongxu''s group was naturally the most top-tier one, the Emperor Hall.

    Upon entering the Emperor Hall and seeing the spacious area, luxurious decor, and top-notch sound system, everyone''s faces, save for Pang Zihao''s, couldn''t help but reveal astonishment.

    Such a special and top-tier private room was specifically reserved by Wang Qiang for important figures, for times of need, and it wasn''t something that could be enjoyed just by having money.

    Even when Chen Longyou, the Chen Family''s young master, arrived earlier, Wang Qiang didn''t vacate it for him.

    Because Chen Longyou wasn''t qualified enough!

    Of course, Ge Dongxu was definitely qualified.

    "Wow, this is just too luxurious! Too cool! Too... too damn, I don''t even know how to describe it!" Soon, the shock on everyone''s faces turned into excitement.

    Seeing that everyone was obviously very satisfied with the private room, Wang Qiang''s face revealed a trace of pride. He instructed the waiter for a moment and then approached Ge Dongxu respectfully, saying, "Mr. Ge, and everyone, I won''t disturb you any longer. If there''s anything you need, just order the waiter around, and don''t be shy about anything you want to order. Everything is free tonight."

    When Wang Qiang mentioned that tonight''s expenses were all free, everyone naturally burst into cheers, while Xu Yumo quietly heaved a sigh of relief.

    Such a high-class private room, even if Xu Yumo was now starting a business with her father and considered a "white, rich, and beautiful," she still felt a bit uneasy.

    "Thanks, Manager Wang, go on with your work," Ge Dongxu said to Manager Wang without any courtesies. With his current status and wealth, being polite over this bit of money to Wang Qiang would be like looking down on him.

    And from Wang Qiang''s perspective, Ge Dongxu not standing on ceremony with him, giving him the chance to provide free service, was the greatest honor, and it made him so excited that his head shone with a gleaming brightness.

    After all, they were all young people, and when Ge Dongxu wasn''t displaying his authority, he actually appeared very simple and approachable, so after Wang Qiang left, Xu Yumo and the others soon regained their previous liveliness.

    The ones who wanted to sing sang, the ones who wanted to drink drank, but this time, when they toasted Ge Dongxu, they dared not provoke him like before, they just drank up themselves and asked Ge Dongxu to do as he pleased.

    Ge Dongxu had no airs about him, urging them to take it easy with the drinking, but he still kept up with them, drinking to the finish.

    Sitting next to Ge Dongxu were still Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie, however, this time, whether it was Wang Fanchun or Pang Zihao, neither dared to harbor the slightest bit of jealousy. Instead, after toasting, they tried to stay as far away from the three as possible, leaving more private space for them.

    "Xu... Dongxu, about what we did earlier..." Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie stammered after everyone had toasted Ge Dongxu and moved away.

    "I am not a tiger, why are you stammering and hesitating so much? Just speak plainly if you have something to say," Ge Dongxu said, looking annoyed at the two of them stuttering.

    "So, you''re really not mad at us?" Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie cautiously asked upon hearing this.

    "Oh, you''re talking about the matter where you used me as a shield?" Ge Dongxu asked with a slight start.

    The two shook their heads.

    "If it''s not that, then what is it?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "It''s about... about the stuff we said regarding your orientation," the two replied timidly.

 Chapter 486 - 485: Keep a Low Profile

    Because Ge Dongxu, Xu Yanran, and Lin Xiaojie were still students, it wasn''t good for them to return to the school too late, so around ten o''clock, the three left Charm Ginza.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu was leaving, Wang Qiang personally escorted him to the door and also presented him with a Charm Ginza VIP card. With this VIP card, Ge Dongxu could enjoy the best services for free at all entertainment venues owned by Wang Qiang.

    Xu Yanran and the others also received a card, but it was only a gold card, which allowed them to enjoy a 50% discount throughout the venue.

    However, Xu Yanran and the others were already very happy.

    Wang Qiang had originally intended to personally drive Ge Dongxu back to the university, but Ge Dongxu tactfully declined and, just like on the way there, took a taxi.

    In the taxi, Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie gave Ge Dongxu their dormitory building, room number, and dormitory phone number. Since Ge Dongxu had received the girls'' dormitory room numbers and phone numbers, it would not be good to be stingy. He also shared his dormitory building number, room number, as well as the dormitory and his mobile phone numbers with them.

    Upon returning to the university, as the girls'' and boys'' dormitories were in different locations, the three of them split up.

    Back in the dormitory, waiting for his roommates to fall asleep, Ge Dongxu quietly left the dormitory through the window, crossed the campus, climbed over the north gate, and entered Longxi Mountain.

    At midnight, Longxi Mountain was utterly silent.

    Like usual, using the cover of darkness, Ge Dongxu quickly shuttled through the forest and soon arrived at the highest peak directly facing Jiangnan University. Then he set up the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation and sat cross-legged under an ancient pine to practice during the Mao Hour.

    Sitting cross-legged, Ge Dongxu quickly entered meditation, devoid of desires, his mind calm as still water.

    In contrast to Ge Dongxu''s tranquil mind, at this moment, the Chen family''s key figure, Chen Jiaxiang, and several other important figures were all heavily burdened with concerns, their expressions grave.

    Because just that evening, the Provincial Government unexpectedly conducted a surprise inspection of the hotels under Yang Hao''s name, along with other businesses related to the Chen family. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Not only that, but that very night, Chen Longyou, Yang Hao, and his gang were all arrested and detained for brawling in groups.

    All of these events were secondary; with the Chen family''s influence, these issues could be slowly resolved through connections. However, what caused utmost shock and anxiety among the key figures of the Chen family was that this operation came without any warning and was ordered from the provincial level.

    Only a moment ago, they had finally found out that Sang Yunlong had made pronouncements concerning the action targeted at the Chen family that evening, and furthermore, Zheng Zijie was personally present at the Public Security Department.

    Either of these individuals was a heavyweight in the province, especially Sang Yunlong as the lead of the Provincial Government. With him personally making pronouncements, even though the Chen family held great influence in Jiangnan Province, at that moment, Chen Jiaxiang and the others all felt a tingling sensation on their scalps and a chill down their spines.

    "I heard that this whole mess was caused by Chen Longyou," stated a middle-aged man with a commanding presence somberly in a luxurious villa by the Qian River.

    This middle-aged man was none other than the second-in-command of the Chen family, also the current Deputy Mayor of Linzhou City, Chen Jiayan.

    Being involved in politics, he was relatively well-informed. After inquiring from multiple sources, he had already vaguely heard some information.

    However, because this matter involved Ge Dongxu and was an order directly issued by Zheng Zijie, who also told Brigade Commander Zou Qingrong to keep it confidential, even Chen Jiayan couldn''t find out the specifics.

    "Humph, I always said that Longyou''s temperament would cause trouble sooner or later. Look what has happened now! I think he should be taught a harsh lesson," a middle-aged man with a hawk-like nose said coldly.

    "Fourth Brother, Longyou is definitely in for a tough time this time. But the main problem isn''t here, the key issue is that Sang Yunlong has spoken, and Zheng Zijie has taken action. This is a very serious and terrifying signal, if not handled properly, the many years of foundation of our Chen family might very well be destroyed overnight," said Chen Jiaxiang, whose hair had already begun to whiten, with a grave expression.

    "Big Brother is right, Longyou is a minor matter, the crucial thing is the signal that this incident sends," Chen Jiayan said solemnly.

    After Chen Jiayan spoke, the vast living room fell silent, the atmosphere grew oppressive.

    "Fortunately, our people have never directly intervened in Yang Hao''s affairs, this time he can only fend for himself. Longyou is ultimately my son, I must find a way to get him out as soon as possible," Chen Jiaxiang broke the silence after a long while.

    "As long as Longyou hasn''t committed any other offense, just a mere affair of gathering crowds to fight, he won''t be closed up for many days, let him suffer a bit, it''s not bad. I''m afraid that the boy has gotten used to being domineering over these years and might still have other issues. At this juncture, trying to get him out might not be so simple, and it might even provoke Sang Yunlong and the rest more," said Chen Jiaxiang''s fourth brother, the man with the hooked nose.

    Upon hearing this, a hint of anger flashed across Chen Jiaxiang''s face as he swept an imperious gaze over those present.

    Everyone present avoided his gaze, evidently agreeing with the fourth brother''s view.

    "Fourth Brother is also not wrong, it''s best if Longyou is fine. If there really is another issue, now is indeed not the time to whip up more problems. Better to keep our tails tight and behave," Chen Jiayan, who was also the vice mayor, finally spoke up after a long while.

    Poor Chen Longyou, still waiting in the detention center, hoping his family would come to bail him out.

    But he had no idea that the Charm Ginza incident had alarmed the two bigwigs of the province, and even his family, upon whom he had always relied, dared not make any rash moves at this moment.

    Of course, at this time, Chen Jiaxiang and few other key members did not realize that the person Longyou had offended was someone even more terrifying than Sang Yunlong, otherwise, they wouldn''t be wondering whether or not to bail Chen Longyou out, but whether they should rush into the detention center and break his legs.

    ...

    The actions taken by the provincial authorities against the Chen family, as well as the response of the Chen family, all of this was no longer important to Ge Dongxu, and he wouldn''t intervene.

    Ge Dongxu clearly understood the principle of managing a country, which is not about directly overpowering the disobedient with martial power, nor is it resolved by simply throwing a punch to obliterate the issue.

    If it really came to fighting, with Ge Dongxu''s current strength, ten Chen families would not be enough for him to wipe out.

    But handling this matter properly, avoiding societal unrest, not causing a negative impact on the lives of the people from Linzhou City, not wrongfully accusing the innocents, required the wisdom of the rulers.

    This kind of wisdom, Ge Dongxu, a young freshman, certainly did not possess.

    True Qi flowed through his meridians like water, Ge Dongxu opened his eyes after a long while, gathered the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade from the ground, leapt up, and silently descended the mountain to return to his dormitory.

    The next day was Sunday, Ge Dongxu returned from his practice at Mao Hour, his three roommates were still huddled in bed.

    Two were reading martial arts novels, one was still snug under the covers dreaming of spring and autumn.

    "The early bird gets the worm, I say Dongxu, going out so early, couldn''t be you were hoping to have an encounter with the campus belle by the little Mingyue Lake?" Seeing Ge Dongxu return, Li Chenyu put down his martial arts novel and asked with a sleazy expression.

 Chapter 487 - 486 Youre Eating Here Too

    "Do I even need to ask? After toiling through three years of tough studying, I''ve finally emerged and can relax a bit. Would Dongxu go for an early morning read by the lake if it weren''t for the chance of encountering the campus beauty?" said He Guizhong.

    "A waste of effort!" Lu Lei, who had been buried under the covers, popped his head out and said succinctly.

    "Exactly, to have a chance encounter with the campus beauty, there first has to be a campus beauty. Nowadays, which campus beauty would be reading by little Mingyue Lake in the early morning? So Dongxu, just give up on this fruitless endeavor," Li Chenyu nodded and said.

    "I''m really fed up with you guys, always going on about the campus beauty. Can''t you think about something healthier?" Ge Dongxu said, clearly annoyed.

    "Please, constantly talking about the campus beauty just shows how healthy we are. On the other hand, you, not even interested in the campus beauty, don''t have some issues, do you?" Li Chenyu said.

    Lu Lei pulled the covers around him a little tighter.

    "Healthy my foot, you''re all pale and scrawny. Without more exercise, even if the campus beauty threw herself into your arms, you could only watch helplessly," Ge Dongxu retorted with a laugh.

    "Damn! You''ve been silent all this time, I didn''t expect you to be so vicious when you roast someone," Li Chenyu sat up in bed abruptly.

    "I''m serious, a healthy body is the capital of revolution. I''ve studied some traditional Chinese medicine, and your constitution is really weak. In the morning, it''s best if you get up early and do some exercise," Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    "Pfft! Exercise for what? This is just the result of three years of intensive study in high school and chronic lack of sleep. If I can just make up for the sleep during the four years of university, I''ll definitely become as strong as He Guizhong," Li Chenyu dismissed the advice.

    Seeing that Li Chenyu wasn''t taking his words to heart, Ge Dongxu just shook his head and didn''t insist, instead asking, "I''m about to go have breakfast, do you want me to bring something back for you, or will you get up and eat yourselves?"

    "Bring me a portion, please. These days of military training have been grueling like a dog''s work; today, I''ve got to indulge in lying in bed for a bit longer," Li Chenyu quickly said.

    "Me!" Lu Lei uttered a single word.

    "I don''t need it. We martial artists adhere to continuous practice. I need to get up and go to the lake to practice my punches afterward," He Guizhong stated.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, took note of what Li Chenyu and Lu Lei wanted for breakfast, and then left the dorm room.

    Jiangnan University has as many as twenty-two canteens, big and small. The dormitory where Ge Dongxu and the others stayed was the closest to the largest canteen, Canteen One, so he headed straight there after going downstairs.

    Because it was Sunday, and many students, like Li Chenyu and the others, preferred to sleep in, Canteen One was rather empty compared to the long queues at each serving window during regular class times.

    With fewer people around, Ge Dongxu was in no rush to buy breakfast for Li Chenyu and Lu Lei; he first got a bowl of porridge and some pickled radish for himself.

    As his cultivation grew deeper, Ge Dongxu''s diet tended towards lighter fare, and sometimes eating was purely out of habit.

    Now, as long as Ge Dongxu maintained his cultivation at midnight and at Mao Hour, he could go three or four days without feeling hungry.

    The server was a middle-aged auntie who, seeing a big guy like Ge Dongxu only wanting a bowl of porridge and pickled radish, showed a touch of pity in her eyes. After Ge Dongxu paid with his meal card, she hesitated, then added a white bun to his plate.

    "Auntie, I didn''t order the bun," Ge Dongxu quickly said upon noticing.

    "You''re growing, how can you eat so little! Consider it a gift from me," the middle-aged auntie said. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The students at the other serving windows and those standing behind Ge Dongxu showed various expressions, some reflecting a touch of pity, others a hint of contempt.

    Ge Dongxu was slightly startled, and then he realized why he had been given so little food¡ªthat the woman serving it must think he was a poor student. However, the kind-heartedness of the serving lady did warm his heart once he understood her intentions, and as for the students who might think less of him because of it, Ge Dongxu didn''t care in the slightest.

    At his level, why would he care about those looks?

    "Thank you, auntie," Ge Dongxu said with a smile to the lady at the window before carrying his tray over to an empty table to sit down.

    The overall quality of the students at Jiangnan University was still quite good, but there were inevitably some with poorer characters, as well as some who were quite snobbish. Therefore, the good intentions of the serving lady inadvertently subjected Ge Dongxu to some discriminatory stares.

    As Ge Dongxu sat down to dine, quite a few people looked his way, and there were even whispers about him from some.

    Right at that moment, three girls entered through the door.

    All three girls were very attractive, but one in particular stood out with her long, straight legs that involuntarily drew people''s gaze.

    "Look, look, there''s a beauty over there!"

    "Wow, isn''t that Xu Yanran, the long-legged beauty from the School of Economics?"

    "It really is her. The two with her aren''t bad either. They seem like the belles of the School of Economics too, and the one with the particularly spectacular chest is called Lin Xiaojie, the vice-president of their student council."

    "..."

    As soon as the three girls walked in, the eyes of all the boys in the cafeteria brightened, and the buzz of conversation started up.

    "Yanran, Xiaojie, are you two sick today or something? Not only did you not sleep in, but you also made a long trek to the first cafeteria for breakfast." A girl with short hair, who in both figure and look was slightly less stunning than the other two, complained with dissatisfaction, seemingly unaware of the many eyes on them.

    "I say, Dandan, would you just stop complaining? We didn''t ask you to follow us here," Lin Xiaojie retorted with a roll of her eyes, looking around the cafeteria as though searching for someone.

    The boys in the cafeteria, upon catching Lin Xiaojie''s glance, either shyly bowed their heads with their hearts thumping or, if they were bold and thought themselves handsome, puffed out their chests and met her gaze.

    Unfortunately, Lin Xiaojie''s eyes skipped right past their returned stares.

    "Exactly, it''s just breakfast. What''s with all the fuss?" Xu Yanran chimed in, also looking around like Lin Xiaojie.

    Suddenly, the eyes of both Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran lit up, and they quickly made their way toward a corner of the cafeteria.

    In that corner, a male student was eating his spartan breakfast all alone.

    "Xu... Dongxu! What a coincidence, you''re here for breakfast too?" Lin Xiaojie approached with a face full of "surprise."

    "Yeah, what a coincidence!" Xu Yanran followed with a face of "surprise" as well, though her expression was even more unnatural than Lin Xiaojie''s, her pretty face flushed with a hint of red.

    "Yes, quite a coincidence. You''re here for breakfast too?" Ge Dongxu looked up at the two of them, smiling as he spoke.

    Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran''s faces turned even redder.

    This was naturally no coincidence at all!

 Chapter 488 - 487: I Just Picked Up the Car Yesterday

    The boys in the cafeteria who were just looking down on Ge Dongxu and even privately discussing him suddenly felt like fools.

    No way, both a campus beauty and a faculty beauty approached this poor kid?

    Ren Dandan''s almond-shaped eyes immediately widened, "No way, don''t tell me you guys insisted on coming to the first cafeteria for breakfast just for¡­"

    "Ah, ah, let''s go get our food! Dongxu, you eat first!" Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran, seeing that Ren Dandan was speaking without a filter, felt their faces getting as hot as fire and quickly pulled Ren Dandan away.

    Ge Dongxu watched as Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran, with flushed faces, dragged Ren Dandan away, and then he belatedly realized their appearance here was no coincidence. He couldn''t help but smile bitterly to himself, thinking, Liu Jiayao was right after all: with his situation, it would be hard to not attract girls once he got to university!

    No way, am I being too vain? Suddenly, Ge Dongxu felt he might be a bit too conceited for having such a thought.

    While he was lost in thought, Lin Xiaojie and the others had already gotten their food and came over.

    The tables were rectangular and could seat six people, three on each side.

    Lin Xiaojie sat next to Ge Dongxu, while Xu Yanran sat across from him, her gaze somewhat evasive, and Ren Dandan was sizing Ge Dongxu up and down as if he were an alien.

    "There''s nothing special about him." After looking for a while, Ren Dandan said, puzzlingly.

    "What are you talking about, Ren Dandan? Eat your food." Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran, seeing Ren Dandan speaking without any restraint again, felt worried and embarrassed.

    They were worried that a big-shot like Ge Dongxu might dislike what they were doing, and embarrassed because, after all, they were girls, and Ren Dandan''s words made it sound like they were scheming to chase after Ge Dongxu. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hey, fellow student, which faculty are you from, which grade, and what do your parents do? You''ve got some nerve, hitting on our two faculty beauties?" Curiosity piqued, Ren Dandan asked Ge Dongxu, looking at him while Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran were feeling both anxious and embarrassed.

    "Ren Dandan, if you keep this up, we really won''t talk to you anymore!" Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran, seeing Ren Dandan interrogating Ge Dongxu, were so scared that their beauty was almost compromised, and they sent her a fierce glare before hurriedly saying to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu¡­ Dongxu, don''t mind her, she always talks like this."

    It was then that Ren Dandan finally realized something was amiss, and her gaze towards Ge Dongxu became even more questioning.

    She considered herself close friends with Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran and understood their characters well. While they might not be considered aloof, they usually gave the cold shoulder to male students who harbored inappropriate thoughts about them.

    Yet today, they obviously went out of their way to the first cafeteria for the sake of the guy in front of them, and they even seemed somewhat afraid of upsetting him. For Ren Dandan, who has known them for two years, this was an unprecedented event.

    "Haha, it''s no big deal, we''re all classmates, and it''s normal to ask." Ge Dongxu smiled indifferently, then looked at Ren Dandan and said, "Ge Dongxu, from Faculty of Environmental and Resource Sciences, majoring in Environmental Chemistry, a first-year student, and I''m from the same hometown as Xu Yanran."

    "No way, a first-year student? And a science and engineering guy?" On hearing this, surprise and disbelief crossed Ren Dandan''s face.

    ```

    "What, a freshman can''t cut it? Do I look that old?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "It''s not about being old, you''re just impressive, hooking up with the two top beauties of our Economics department as a freshman. You''d better watch out for their admirers who might come after you to settle the score, freshman!" Ren Dandan replied.

    "That''s an exaggeration. We''re just sitting together for breakfast," Ge Dongxu shrugged.

    "Who''s he? Is he also from our Economics department? I don''t think I''ve ever seen him." No sooner had Ge Dongxu finished speaking than two fairly good-looking guys walked over with stainless steel trays and sat down next to Ge Dongxu and Xu Yanran.

    The speaker was a guy wearing a Rado watch, dressed in POLO casual wear, glasses on his nose, looking every bit the successful young dandy.

    When Ren Dandan saw this guy, her eyes visibly lit up, showing a look of admiration.

    However, this guy clearly didn''t have Ren Dandan on his mind, his gaze briefly lingered on Lin Xiaojie before falling on Ge Dongxu, with a hint of arrogance.

    "His name is Ge Dongxu, majoring in Environmental Chemistry at the School of Environment and Resources. He''s a freshman and hails from the same hometown as Xu Yanran," Ren Dandan rushed to answer.

    "Oh, a freshman from the School of Environment and Resources? No wonder I''ve never seen him." The guy smirked and then turned to Lin Xiaojie who was sitting next to Ge Dongxu, "Xiaojie, the weather''s nice today. How about we all go for a walk by Mingyue Lake after breakfast? I just picked up my car yesterday."

    "Wow, Lin Jianfeng, you actually got a car! That''s so cool!" Ren Dandan immediately exclaimed exaggeratedly, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at Lin Jianfeng.

    Although Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran did not exclaim as exaggeratedly as Ren Dandan upon hearing Lin Jianfeng had bought a car, they couldn''t help but be visibly moved.

    These days, cars were a luxury for the average person, let alone for students!

    "It''s nothing, just bought a Santana 2000 for over a hundred thousand to play with for now," Lin Jianfeng, seeing Ren Dandan''s exaggerated and admiring look, along with Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran''s surprise, was clearly smug inside, but feigned an air of nonchalance on his face.

    "Damn, Lin Jianfeng, this is blatant showing off! Just over a hundred thousand¡ªyou know how much my monthly allowance is? Just two or three hundred!" Another guy said resentfully.

    "Oh, Shi Tianhang, stop your complaining! If you had the skills, you could show off too!" Ren Dandan rolled her eyes and replied.

    "What do you think? Shall we go for a drive later, then stroll around Mingyue Lake, and after that, I''ll treat you to the buffet at the Mingyue Lake revolving restaurant," Lin Jianfeng said, a smug look of triumph on his face.

    "Wow, really? The Mingyue Lake revolving restaurant, that''s a legendary buffet spot in Linzhou City. I''ve heard you can enjoy exquisite meals there while having a 365-degree panoramic view of Mingyue Lake, and it costs several hundred per person! That''s almost my entire month''s allowance," Ren Dandan immediately said excitedly and wistfully.

    "Of course," Lin Jianfeng replied casually, then looked at Ge Dongxu with a smug, show-offy air and said, "Everybody who sees this is invited. Dongxu, you''re welcome to join as well, but the car can only fit five people, so you''ll have to take the bus or ride a bike there."

    Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran were just students after all. Hearing that Lin Jianfeng was going to take them for a drive and treat them at the Mingyue Lake revolving restaurant did shake their hearts. However, Lin Jianfeng''s sudden include of Ge Dongxu, with an obvious intention of flaunting and condescension, took them both aback and they suddenly found Lin Jianfeng, this prominent figure of the Economics department, to be quite crude and childish.

    ```

 Chapter 489 - 488: Dont Tell Me You Actually Like That Guy?

    "Thanks, but I''ll pass. You guys have fun," Ge Dongxu said without waiting for Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran to speak, already giving them a look, then smiling at Lin Jianfeng, seemingly not caring about his showing off at all.

    "It''s alright, if you want to go, just go. One person more won''t make a difference," Lin Jianfeng said.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, it''s the revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake, the top buffet in Linzhou City. Students like us normally can''t afford to go there. Today, since Lin Jianfeng is treating us, we should definitely take advantage and experience it," Ren Dandan said, her gaze full of admiration when she looked at Lin Jianfeng.

    Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran felt a bit awkward looking at Ge Dongxu upon hearing this.

    With his status, couldn''t he afford to go to the revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake and still need to bask in Lin Jianfeng''s glory?

    However, remembering what Ge Dongxu had told them last night, they could only keep these thoughts to themselves.

    "Haha, thanks though. You guys are having a classmates gathering. I, as a freshman, won''t join in the fun. I''ve finished eating. Take your time," Ge Dongxu said politely once again, then stood up carrying his stainless-steel tray.

    "Dongxu!" When they saw Ge Dongxu standing up, Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran instinctively called out, their faces showing a hint of regret.

    Initially, they just wanted to see if they could run into Ge Dongxu at the first canteen and have breakfast with him. They hadn''t expected Lin Jianfeng to suddenly appear, causing him to be looked down upon.

    "Have fun, I''m going to buy breakfast for my roommates. Those guys are incredibly lazy," Ge Dongxu said with a nod and a smile to Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu wasn''t affected at all, Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran secretly let out a sigh of relief. They also felt touched to see someone as influential as him still personally buying breakfast for his roommates without putting on airs.

    You really can''t compare people with each other.

    In the past, they thought Lin Jianfeng was quite a character. He was still a college student, but using some funds from his father, he had pulled together some students to do business as campus "hustlers." Last year, he even set up a small company; besides a few full-time employees, all others were part-timers recruited from various schools focused on doing business in Linzhou, such as selling IC phone cards, graduate exam materials, tutoring services, etc., reportedly making a decent amount of money in the past two years.

    However, after making money, Lin Jianfeng''s entire demeanor seemed to have become somewhat lofty. Coupled with a decent family background, he often showed off both in public and private. Before, Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran didn''t think much of it, feeling he had the right to boast. But now, by comparing him with Ge Dongxu, they suddenly felt a stark difference.

    Lin Jianfeng obviously didn''t realize his boasting didn''t make Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran think any better of him; instead, it made him seem lower in their eyes. Seeing that Ge Dongxu wasn''t taking the bait, he casually sneered, "Xu Yanran, your fellow townsman seems kind of pretentious, huh!"

    "Hey, don''t just say anything, Lin Jianfeng. He just doesn''t want to go. What''s all this about being pretentious or not?" Xu Yanran said, immediately looking somewhat unhappy.

    "Exactly! Does it mean that just because you''re treating, everyone must go?" Lin Xiaojie also expressed her displeasure.

    Although they hadn''t known Ge Dongxu for long, his kind nature and his humble, sincere attitude had already made Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran consider him a true friend in their hearts.

    Only this friend''s status was so exceptional that it made them feel an involuntary sense of admiration and awe towards him.

    Now, with Lin Jianfeng speaking about Ge Dongxu like this in front of them, they were naturally unhappy.

    Lin Jianfeng, unaware of all this, was a bit stunned to see his casual remark upset the two beauties, and he felt somewhat annoyed internally.

    It''s just a freshman, right? Can he even compare with me?

    "Hey, Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran, what''s up with you two today? You don''t have a thing for Ge Dongxu, do you?" Ren Dandan said with a frown as she recalled previous events.

    "Hey, Ren Dandan, what are you talking about!" Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran were startled by Ren''s words and glared at her. Then they sneakily glanced at Ge Dongxu, who was at the window buying breakfast for his roommate. Seeing that he hadn''t reacted to their conversation, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

    Hearing Ren Dandan say this, Lin Jianfeng felt even more annoyed and said, "Exactly, Ren Dandan, don''t talk nonsense. He''s just a freshman, why would Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran be interested in him?"

    "Yeah, how could that freshman compare to us, who started businesses at a young age, own houses and cars, and not to mention are as handsome as President Lin Lin Jianfeng!" Shi Tianhang brown-nosed.

    The houses Shi Tianhang mentioned weren''t actually bought by Lin Jianfeng himself, but were bought by his father for business purposes. Even the car was partially sponsored by his father.

    Of course, Lin Jianfeng would never reveal those details.

    Upon hearing this, Lin Jianfeng''s face brightened as if he truly owned a house and car on his own merits.

    "I mean, Shi Tianhang, if you''re going to praise Lin Jianfeng, then praise him. Why bring Ge Dongxu into it?" Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran said, again looking displeased.

    Shi Tianhang, just like Lin Jianfeng earlier, was baffled by their reaction.

    What exactly was going on? Why were these usually high and mighty beauties protecting that freshman engineering student like a mother hen? Could they actually be interested in that guy?

    It didn''t seem right, though. Sure, he was somewhat handsome, but he ate a simple breakfast of porridge with some salty radishes and a plain steamed bun, not even sparing money for an egg. Could he really compare to Lin Jianfeng, who was rich, capable, and also somewhat handsome?

    Seeing Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran once again protecting Ge Dongxu, Lin Jianfeng, who was quite full of himself, couldn''t help but look visibly upset. Ren Dandan, seeing this, quickly said, "Alright, alright, I don''t know what got into you two today. He''s just a freshman. Let''s eat quickly and then take a ride in President Lin''s car."

    "Forget it, you go ahead, I don''t want to go anymore," Lin Xiaojie said, shaking her head.

    "I don''t want to go either," Xu Yanran added.

    Before this, they had actually been interested; after all, they were college students, and a classmate was offering a car ride and a buffet at the revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake¡ªthere was absolutely no reason to refuse.

    But now, with Lin Jianfeng showing off in front of Ge Dongxu like that, they suddenly found it dull.

    "Hey, what do you two mean by this? Lin Jianfeng finally buys a new car and invites us to celebrate, and you just decide not to go? Isn''t that just spoiling everyone''s fun?" Ren Dandan said, her eyes widening in disbelief. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Exactly!" Shi Tianhang chimed in.

    Lin Jianfeng had always had a crush on Lin Xiaojie, but she had always been lukewarm towards him. This time, Lin Jianfeng had splurged on a Santana 2000, thinking he could use the car to impress Lin Xiaojie. But having his plan falter on the first day, he was hardly willing to back down. Quickly pulling himself together and putting on a forced smile, he said, "Come on, it''s Sunday, and the weather is nice too. It will be boring without you."

    Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran looked at Lin Jianfeng''s contrived smile and saw Ren Dandan staring at them. It seemed as if saying "no" would result in a fallout. Thinking that they were all classmates after all, they finally nodded and said, "Alright then. But Lin Jianfeng, are you sure your driving skills are up to par?"

    "What kind of joke is that, I got my license when I was a freshman, seasoned driver!" Lin Jianfeng said, visibly elated as the two agreed.

 Chapter 490 - 489 Deviation

    While Lin Jianfeng and others were dining and chatting, Ge Dongxu had already bought breakfast for Lu Lei and Li Chenyu, and had left the cafeteria.

    Back at the dorm, He Guizhong was nowhere to be seen; he must have gone to practice boxing, while Li Chenyu and Lu Lei were still lounging in bed.

    Ge Dongxu placed the breakfast on the desk and immediately left the dormitory for the library built near Mingyue Lake.

    The reason Ge Dongxu chose to go to university was not only because he believed he needed this fulfilling college life to add color to his own, but also because he wanted to find inspiration for cultivation from science.

    The impact of the quantity and quality of Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade on gathering spirit energy, changing the shape of the emission of True Qi to be able to move along walls and over roofs... these were inspirations that natural science had given to Ge Dongxu.

    At that time, Ge Dongxu was still a high school student, and the science he learned was just the tip of the iceberg; thus, when he went to university, Ge Dongxu was indeed intent on studying and researching seriously, and not just to experience college life.

    Sitting in a spot by the library window, Ge Dongxu was earnestly flipping through chemistry-related books.

    The university library, the night self-study classrooms, and some shaded, quiet places were always popular spots for couples to date.

    Sitting opposite Ge Dongxu was a clearly love-struck male and female student, with a Sony CD Walkman on the table, huddled together looking at a book, each with an earpiece in their ears listening.

    At that time, the Sony CD Walkman was still a rather luxurious electronic product, and the male student seemed to show off a bit, fiddling with it from time to time and glancing at Ge Dongxu when he did¡ªwhile the female student clearly also felt a glow of pride, occasionally deliberately moving closer to the male student, which Ge Dongxu found quite amusing.

    However, he did not feel offended. Students of this age had not yet gone through the trials and tribulations of society, the sediment of life, so such behavior and a bit of vanity were quite normal.

    Engrossed in his book, Ge Dongxu felt his mobile phone vibrating in his pocket. Pulling it out, he saw it was a call from Xu Lei, and Ge Dongxu didn''t dare to delay, promptly heading for the stairway of the emergency exit.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s retreating back as he walked away with his phone, the faces of the love-struck couple turned a shade of red.

    "What''s up, Xu Lei?" Once in the stairwell, Ge Dongxu answered the phone and asked directly.

    "Ma Xiaoshuai has encountered a problem with his cultivation, I don''t know if Director Ge, you have..." Xu Lei''s voice came through the phone, cautious and tentative.

    "Where is he now?" Ge Dongxu interrupted, his face showing a hint of solemnity.

    To many, magicians are seen as mysterious and powerful beings, but behind this, magicians engage in daily monotonous cultivation, spend a great deal of money for cultivation, and even face dangers during their practice...

    Many people are not aware of, nor can they appreciate, these aspects, but magicians who are in the midst of it all experience it deeply.

    Ge Dongxu could be considered a lucky one among magicians, but his journey thus far had not been easy.

    He began his cultivation under Ren Yao at the age of eight, practicing for two hours at midnight and two hours at Mao Hour every day without fail, while also training his physical strength and meditating in silence at other times.

    Imagine this, an eight-year-old child wakes up at eleven o''clock every night and has to get up again at five in the morning, no matter the biting cold of winter or the scorching heat of summer, to persist day after day, year after year. How could it be an easy thing? Not to mention that he also had to balance his school studies.

    Later, in order to advance further in his cultivation, Ge Dongxu, who was barely sixteen, began racking his brains to find ways to make money, and started poring over thick books related to economic investment. It''s easy to talk about, but in reality, just settling down to read those books was already quite a challenge for a sixteen-year-old boy, let alone thinking about them and actually applying the concepts in practice!

    In fact, these challenges are still not the hardest part for a Magician. The greatest difficulty lays in encountering problems during cultivation, or even emergencies.

    Once an emergency occurred, if handled improperly, the light consequence would be the destruction of decades of cultivation in an instant, and the severe outcome could even mean the loss of life. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In this respect, Ge Dongxu was fortunate. When he was young, Ren Yao, a renowned mentor, personally taught and supervised him. After the death of Ren Yao, he accidentally received the inheritance of Ge Hong, which left his cultivation techniques complete. Recently, when he annihilated the armored zombie, he also obtained a Black Jade Heart that could help him maintain a calm mind during cultivation, avoiding disturbances from inner demons.

    Otherwise, despite his young age and rapid progress, even with an exceptional talent, a simple nature, and the inheritance from Ge Hong leaving no flaws in his cultivation techniques, carelessness could still easily lead to problems.

    Once problems occurred, with his abilities, it was feared that no one in Qimen could help him!

    But these are digressions. Let''s return to the fact that Xu Lei, upon hearing Ge Dongxu directly asking where they were, heaved a huge sigh of relief and hurriedly said, "We are at the Dongming Mountain base."

    "Alright, I know. I''m on my way now," Ge Dongxu replied, then hung up the phone. He swiftly returned the books to their place in the reading room and left the library, sprinting out of the campus.

    Upon reaching the school gate, Ge Dongxu hailed a taxi and headed straight for the Dongming Mountain base.

    The taxi driver, after leaving the city area and following Ge Dongxu''s directions through several turns, arrived at the Special Ability Management Bureau Jiangnan Province base.

    When the car stopped at the base entrance, the taxi driver was startled to see armed police guarding the gate and an imposing middle-aged man waiting there. His gaze towards Ge Dongxu changed.

    Ge Dongxu handed the driver a hundred yuan without asking for change, got out of the car, and then strode toward the gate.

    The armed police at the door naturally recognized Ge Dongxu. They immediately stood at attention and saluted, startling the taxi driver who was turning around to leave. He couldn''t understand what kind of background this university student had to command such respect.

    "What''s the situation now?" Ge Dongxu gave a slight nod to the armed police as a sign of acknowledgment, then he asked Xu Lei.

    "The situation is not good. True Qi is rampaging through the meridians. If it''s not suppressed and sorted out promptly, we can only resort to discarding his cultivation forcefully, otherwise, once the meridians burst completely, his life will be in danger. My cultivation is not enough, I can only suppress it temporarily but am incapable of helping him sort it out," Xu Lei replied with a grave expression.

    "How could this happen?" Ge Dongxu frowned as he asked and continued to stride through the gate.

    Although smaller in scale than the capital''s, the Special Ability Management Bureau Jiangnan Province base has mountains and water, not only offering tranquility but also presenting beautiful scenery.

    Building No. 1 by the lake is Ge Dongxu''s exclusive villa, and his car is also parked in the villa''s garage. However, whether it is the villa or the car, Ge Dongxu hardly ever uses them.

 Chapter 491 - 890: Intervening to Save

    "I am not clear on the details, but Ma Xiaoshuai''s mental method of cultivation has always been quite unique. His sect is named Cherishing Flowers Sect, which emphasizes passing through a sea of flowers without a single leaf sticking to the body. I suspect that the boy might have developed feelings, formed a mental knot, and therefore encountered issues while practicing his cultivation technique," Xu Lei replied.

    "To pass through a sea of flowers without a leaf sticking to the body, one must be not only heartless but also possess great willpower. I''ve met Ma Xiaoshuai before, and he isn''t a heartless person," Ge Dongxu frowned upon hearing this.

    In this age of declining law, the young Ge Dongxu could absolutely be considered a grandmaster-level figure. Hearing Xu Lei''s response, he immediately pointed out the critical aspect of this mental method.

    "Director Ge is right," Xu Lei said, his eyes showing a trace of reverence.

    "Whether that''s the case or not, we won''t know until we talk to Ma Xiaoshuai in detail. For now, let''s first help him straighten out his True Qi," Ge Dongxu said.

    As they spoke, the two had arrived in front of a villa.

    On the villa''s lawn, Ma Xiaoshuai was curled up there, trembling all over, sweating profusely, and looking extremely pained.

    Around him stood six people, each looking anxious but not daring to touch him.

    These six were members of the Special Ability Management Bureau''s Jiangnan office.

    Ge Dongxu had visited the base before, and they all recognized him. Seeing him, they quickly stood at attention and respectfully called out, "Director Ge."

    Ge Dongxu nodded in greeting, then walked over and crouched beside Ma Xiaoshuai, extending his hand to feel his wrist.

    "It really is a bit chaotic. No wonder even Xu Lei''s cultivation wasn''t enough to suppress and sort it out," thought Ge Dongxu, who was of such a high level of cultivation that as soon as he grasped the wrist, he immediately understood the situation inside Ma Xiaoshuai''s body.

    "Director Ge, how is Ma Xiaoshuai?" a man who had always been on good terms with Ma Xiaoshuai stepped forward and asked with concern.

    "No problem, I''ll sort it out for him," Ge Dongxu replied, and then placed his hand on Ma Xiaoshuai''s Baihui acupoint.

    Apart from Xu Lei, everyone else first showed relief, but then couldn''t help showing slight worry.

    None of them had seen Ge Dongxu''s skills; they only knew that he was a director-level advisor. As for how formidable he truly was, they were all clueless, and now that even Xu Lei was helpless in Ma Xiaoshuai''s situation, they naturally had doubts about Ge Dongxu''s words given his youth and confident manner.

    Ge Dongxu placed his hand on Ma Xiaoshuai''s Baihui acupoint and started channeling his True Qi from the top of his head. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu was at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, and his spiritual power was comparable to the Dragon Tiger Realm, which made him an exceedingly powerful existence.

    The disordered True Qi in Ma Xiaoshuai, before the robust and mighty True Qi of Ge Dongxu, appeared as weak as a baby, incapable of making any significant impact.

    The moment Ge Dongxu''s True Qi was in motion and poured down, it swept through like a force unstoppable, quickly soothing the True Qi that churned wildly within Ma Xiaoshuai.

    In total, it took less than a minute.

    "Thank you, Director Ge!" Ma Xiaoshuai climbed up from the ground, bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu with a face full of awe.

    Previously, he had only deduced a slight sense of Ge Dongxu''s formidability from the incident with the Spanish merchant, Bravo, but this time, as Ge Dongxu''s True Qi poured down, grand like the heavens, it involuntarily spawned in him a sense of insignificance, like an ant. It was then that Ma Xiaoshuai truly comprehended the terrifying extent of Ge Dongxu''s power.

    Looking at Ma Xiaoshuai, even their leader seemed helpless. With a press of Ge Dongxu''s hand, not a minute had passed before Ma Xiaoshuai was restored to his original state. Aside from Xu Lei, everyone else wore a face of astonishment. If they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes, they would have never believed that this Director Ge, who was even younger than them, could be so powerful.

    "We are all part of Qimen, and colleagues at that, there is no need for formalities," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "That may be the case, but if it weren''t for Director Ge lending a hand this time, I might have lost half of my life," Ma Xiaoshuai said gratefully.

    "Alright, it''s all good now, disperse, I have some matters to discuss with Ma Xiaoshuai," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then gestured with his hand.

    "Yes, sir!" The crowd snapped to attention and saluted. This time, everyone''s gaze towards Ge Dongxu was filled with reverence, a stark contrast to before.

    Previously, although they respected Director Ge Dongxu, it was mainly because his official rank was higher than theirs. In their hearts, they did not truly believe Ge Dongxu was much more formidable than them. They always suspected that he had achieved his high position so young because he had connections within the government, but the scene they had just witnessed had completely dispelled this notion from their minds.

    This Director Ge was much more formidable than they had imagined, and most likely, not even Director Fan Hong would be his match.

    "When Director Ge asks you questions, answer truthfully without hiding anything," Xu Lei solemnly cautioned Ma Xiaoshuai as he walked up to him.

    He had guessed what Ge Dongxu would ask about and was worried that Ma Xiaoshuai, harboring sect biases, would not divulge information freely, wasting this tremendous opportunity.

    In the entire Special Ability Management Bureau, aside from Fan Hong, probably only Xu Lei knew just how terrifying Ge Dongxu was!

    At Ge Dongxu''s level, he wouldn''t have any interest in their jealously guarded Cultivation Methods.

    "Boss, I understand," Ma Xiaoshuai nodded in response.

    Seeing Ma Xiaoshuai''s understanding, Xu Lei then left the villa to wait outside.

    "Previously, Xu Lei mentioned to me that the mental method your sect practices for cultivation is very peculiar. He said that it might have been a mental block that led to your deviation. However, when I examined the True Qi in your body just now, the situation seems to be not that simple. Your True Qi is quite strong, already at the later stage of the Second Level of Qi Cultivation, but it is very tumultuous and impure. Even if you didn''t have a mental block and by chance managed to break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, with the strengthening of your True Qi, due to its impurity, you would still inevitably face deviation if you continued to cultivate. Therefore, it''s best for you to stop here," Xu Lei and the others left, and Ge Dongxu said with a serious look.

    Upon hearing these words, Ma Xiaoshuai couldn''t help but recall what Wang Qiang had said to him the night before, advising him to get married and have children like him, and not be obsessed with living a life untouched by the mud of a thousand flowers. His eyes dimmed at the notion.

    After so many years of cultivation, should it really end here?

    Thinking this, Ma Xiaoshuai looked up at Ge Dongxu, and a sudden epiphany sparked within him. He knelt on one knee and said, "Director Ge, please guide me out of this impasse!"

    "Whether I can give guidance, I can''t guarantee. But before we proceed, you''ll likely need your sect''s permission, as certain issues will definitely involve the secret Cultivation Techniques of the Cherishing Flowers Sect," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Ge Dongxu did have a favorable impression of Ma Xiaoshuai and was not averse to giving some pointers.

    "To be frank with Director Ge, now the Cherishing Flowers Sect consists only of myself. I am effectively the Sect Leader, so there is no need to seek permission from the sect," Ma Xiaoshuai replied with a wry smile.

 Chapter 492 - 491: The Leading Ladys Phone Call

    "How could this be? Could it be that your Cherishing Flowers Sect transmits its teachings only through a single line?" Ge Dongxu asked, somewhat surprised by the revelation.

    "This matter is actually a disgrace of our sect, which I have never discussed with anyone else, not even our leader," Ma Xiaoshuai said with a self-deprecating laugh. "Actually, our sect originally had quite a number of members, but due to the peculiar nature of our Cultivation Method, many from our sect who ran brothels were executed during the early liberation period. Later, in the crackdown of the ''80s, some sect members who couldn''t control themselves committed crimes despite the risks and were executed. In recent years, we had one granduncle and a few fellow sect brothers who sadly passed away from AIDS."

    After hearing this, Ge Dongxu was stunned for a long time, and after a while, he could not help but say with mixed emotions, "So the so-called ''passing through a crowd of flowers without a leaf sticking'' in your sect refers to harvesting yin to replenish yang!"

    "It''s not just that. ''Passing through a crowd of flowers without a leaf sticking'' refers not only to harvesting yin to replenish yang but also to tempering one''s mental state. It means one should not develop real feelings for the women involved. The reason I suffered from deviation recently is not only because, as Director Ge mentioned, my True Qi was extremely impure, but also because I mistook a college student, who was compelled by family circumstances to sell herself, for a common prostitute. This left a deep mental scar, and during cultivation, various inner demons emerged, causing me to lose control over my True Qi and leading to my deviation," Ma Xiaoshuai explained.

    After hearing this, Ge Dongxu looked at Ma Xiaoshuai intently, then fell into deep thought for a long time before finally gaining some insight, "The phrase ''passing through a crowd of flowers without a leaf sticking'' implies harvesting yin to replenish yang, and such a method of cultivation inevitably leads to impure True Qi. Hence, it is accompanied by ''not a leaf sticks'' to continuously temper your mental state, enabling you to control the impure True Qi. Otherwise, any women you''ve been involved with during cultivation could trigger a deviation."

    "Exactly, that''s how my master taught me," Ma Xiaoshuai said with a bitter smile.

    "If that''s the case, I really can''t offer you any guidance," Ge Dongxu said as he looked at Ma Xiaoshuai and smiled bitterly.

    Ma Xiaoshuai''s method of cultivation, to put it frankly, was already considered heretical.

    Fortunately, Ma Xiaoshuai had a good temperament and did not become a notorious womanizer. Instead, he frequented entertainment places and engaged in dual cultivation with women of the lower class, and even inadvertently developed an attachment after an encounter with a woman of good family, instead of causing harm, which Ge Dongxu would have had to intervene to prevent.

    "It is a pity that the thousand-year legacy of Cherishing Flowers Sect is going to end with me," Ma Xiaoshuai said sadly, seeing that Ge Dongxu was also at a loss to help.

    If Cultivation was to stop here, spreading such a method would be no different from harming others, and with a despairing heart, Ma Xiaoshuai no longer planned to continue the Cherishing Flowers Sect''s legacy.

    "Thousands of years of legacy? Your Cherishing Flowers Sect has had a legacy for thousands of years?" Ge Dongxu asked, slightly stunned.

    "Yes, it is said that Peng Zu was the founder of our sect, though I don''t know if that''s true or not. Regrettably, the loss of our sect''s transmission has been severe. Before our Grandmaster Ancestor, there were a few who had reached the Qi Cultivation Sixth and Seventh Layer, but ever since him, each generation has been progressively worse. Now here I am, the sole remaining member, and unable to even reach the Qi Cultivation Third Layer in this lifetime," Ma Xiaoshuai said with a bitter smile.

    In Huaxia Country, Peng Zu is also considered a legendary immortal figure who, according to legend, lived over eight hundred years and had over a hundred wives, being a progenitor of sexual practices in historical legends. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Given your method of cultivation, unless one is exceptionally gifted, aspiring to reach the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer or higher is practically foolish dreaming. Unless ''Passing through a crowd of flowers without a leaf sticking'' has some other meanings," Ge Dongxu said.

    "There probably isn''t any other explanation. My master taught me just that. Although much of the Cherishing Flowers Sect''s transmission has been severely lost, the phrase ''Passing through a crowd of flowers without a leaf sticking'' has been consistently handed down," Ma Xiaoshuai replied.

    "What level did your master achieve in his cultivation?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "The same as mine, the Second Layer," Ma Xiaoshuai began to respond but then stopped halfway.

    If even his master had only reached the Qi Cultivation Second Level, how could he possibly know if there was a problem with the mental method?

    "Alright, don''t disturb me. Let me think it through carefully; the issue should lie within this phrase," Ge Dongxu gestured with his hand.

    Ma Xiaoshuai quickly closed his mouth and didn''t even dare to breathe heavily, nervously watching Ge Dongxu.

    This not only concerned his future cultivation, but also the inheritance of the Cherishing Flowers Sect.

    The "hundred flowers" definitely referred to various types of women, and "a leaf that doesn''t touch the body" meant not to harbor feelings for these women. That seemed correct too, but where exactly was the problem?

    Although Ge Dongxu was convinced that the problem lay in the phrase "passing through the myriad flowers, a leaf doesn''t touch the body," a saying passed down by the Cherishing Flowers Sect, he still couldn''t figure it out even after sitting cross-legged on the grass for a while.

    Just when he was without a clue, Ge Dongxu''s phone vibrated again.

    Ge Dongxu took it out and saw it was Wu Shiyi, who had become the leading hostess due to "Happy Girl Voice" on the provincial entertainment channel. He couldn''t help but feel a bit surprised.

    Wu Shiyi was a smart woman. Since returning from the capital, she had only sent him a message during holidays to greet him and never called to bother him.

    "I say, big host, what kind of wind blew today for you to call me?" Remembering everything that had happened on the plane and in the capital with Wu Shiyi, Ge Dongxu quickly replaced his surprised expression with a smile and answered the phone teasingly.

    "What''s up, Dongxu, you just love to tease me! In front of you, what kind of big host am I! Even if I am, that''s because you supported me, that''s how I got to where I am today!" A coquettish voice came from the phone.

    "Haha, I didn''t support you, you''re good at hosting on your own. Okay, tell me, what''s the reason for your call?" Ge Dongxu laughed and asked.

    "It''s not me looking for you, it''s Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie who want to find you. I just haven''t talked to you for a long time and took the opportunity to say hello," Wu Shiyi said.

    "Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie? Are they still in Linzhou City?" Ge Dongxu was slightly startled, then a pang of guilt surged in his heart.

    Since the last time he met Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie at the revolving restaurant at Mingyue Lake, Ge Dongxu had been busy with various things, including military training at university, and had forgotten about their filming in Linzhou.

    Although Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were just minor figures and he didn''t have much friendship with them, the problem was they were roommates and close friends of Jiang Lili.

    And Ge Dongxu, as Jiang Lili''s boyfriend, had ignored them completely, failing to extend the hospitality due a landlord, which was clearly a neglect of them, at least that''s what Ge Dongxu now believed.

    As for Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, they wouldn''t think so. For a big shot like Ge Dongxu to think of them and specifically contact Wu Longcai, a major director, to arrange important supporting roles for them, they were actually overwhelmed with gratitude. If it weren''t for the fact that their filming was finished and they were returning to the capital to continue their studies today, they wouldn''t have dared use Wu Shiyi''s phone to make this intrusive call.

    "Yes, I''ll let them speak to you," Wu Shiyi replied, then handed the phone to Jin Yushan.

    "Dongxu, it''s me, Jin Yushan," Jin Yushan took the phone, slightly excited and nervous as she spoke.

    "Hello Yushan, I''m sorry, you and Sijie came to Linzhou and I haven''t been a good host," Ge Dongxu said, feeling very guilty.

 Chapter 493 - 492: Is my car still in the garage?

    "Dongxu, saying that makes Sijie and me feel embarrassed! Without your help, we wouldn''t have had such a great opportunity. Besides, Director Wu, as well as sisters Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman, have taken good care of us these days. There''s no need to trouble you!" Jin Yushan said gratefully.

    "Hehe, they are them, I am me, it''s not the same. By the way, when do you finish shooting this drama? Once it''s done and you have the time, I''ll treat you and Sijie to a meal. Otherwise, when you go back and Lili asks why I neglected her best friends, I won''t be able to bear the responsibility," Ge Dongxu joked.

    "Giggle, Dongxu is just joking. You''ve already been too good to us. If it weren''t for the fact that you''re surrounded by beauties, Sijie and I would almost be willing to devote ourselves to you!" Jin Yushan said coyly.

    "Cough cough, let''s be serious, let''s be serious. When do you finish? I really will treat you and Sijie to a meal," Ge Dongxu said, shivering at Jin Yushan''s delicate voice, quickly changing the subject.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. We actually finished yesterday and we''re taking the evening train today. Next time you come to the capital, we should treat you," Jin Yushan replied.

    "Ah, you''re going back to the capital today! Why didn''t you tell me earlier? It''s almost lunchtime now, so I''ll treat you to lunch and then drive you to the train station," Ge Dongxu said, surprised by her reply.

    "You really don''t have to be so polite, Dongxu. You''re an important person, you have lots of things to take care of. I just called to greet you," Jin Yushan said from the other end of the phone, knowing that Ge Dongxu''s courtesy was mainly because of Jiang Lili. Yet, she couldn''t help trembling slightly and her eyes were full of moved emotions. Her heart was even more envious that Jiang Lili could find such a good boyfriend.

    "What, you won''t even give me the chance to fulfill my duties as a host?" Ge Dongxu feigned dissatisfaction.

    "Not at all, we''d love to! We''re just afraid of delaying your time, Dongxu," Jin Yushan hurriedly said.

    "Haha, spending time with future stars, how could that be a delay? I''m just worried that when you become big stars, you won''t have time even when I invite you," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Dongxu, what are you talking about? No matter what Sijie and I become in the future, with just one word from you, we''ll definitely arrive as soon as possible. As for dining, we''d love for you to invite us every day!" Jin Yushan protested sweetly.

    "Haha, as a science student, I can''t compete with big stars like you in acting when it comes to eloquence. The way you put it, I feel like I''m floating on air," Ge Dongxu said, not a vain person, but still feeling an indescribable joy from the words of a beautiful woman.

    "Stop teasing us, Dongxu!" Jin Yushan chided coquettishly.

    "Alright, back to business, where do you want to eat?" Ge Dongxu stopped laughing and asked.

    "Can we go to the revolving restaurant by Mingyue Lake? The scenery is beautiful there, and the environment is quiet," Jin Yushan asked.

    "Of course, no problem. Then it''s decided, the rotating restaurant by Mingyue Lake," Ge Dongxu said without hesitation.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. Then I''ll call and reserve a table right now," Jin Yushan said.

    "Let me do it," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Hehe, Dongxu, just remember to pay the bill, reserving a table is a small matter that we should take care of," Jin Yushan laughed sweetly.

    "Alright then, I won''t argue with you. Where are you now? I''ll drive over to pick you up," Ge Dongxu asked.

    "No need, we stayed by Mingyue Lake last night, it''s just a few steps from the Good Friendship Hotel," Jin Yushan replied.

    "Okay, I''ll be there around twelve o''clock," Ge Dongxu said, checking his watch.

    "Alright, then I''ll han... Ah, wait, Wu Shiyi wants to talk to you," Jin Yushan said as she handed the phone to Wu Shiyi who was next to her.

    "What''s up?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "This, this, Brother Dongxu, can Manman and I join you together?" a cautious voice came over the phone from Wu Shiyi.

    "Liu Manman is there too? Do you even need to ask? Of course, you can both come if you''re free," Ge Dongxu said, both crying and laughing.

    "Wow, thank you, Brother Dongxu, then Manman and I will be there," Wu Shiyi said happily.

    "Come on, come on, as long as you don''t bring the paparazzi with you," Ge Dongxu joked.

    "No way, this isn''t Hong Kong, and Manman and I aren''t any huge celebrities. Who would have paparazzi following and snapping pictures of us? Besides, the Mingyue Lake Revolving Restaurant is a high-end place, and there are international guests there, so you can''t just take pictures randomly," Wu Shiyi hurriedly said.

    "Haha, I''m just kidding. With me around, even if there were any paparazzi, they would have nowhere to hide," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    With Ge Dongxu''s powerful spiritual power, cameras certainly had no place to hide.

    But Wu Shiyi obviously misunderstood Ge Dongxu''s meaning and couldn''t help but remember the incident in the capital, feeling a chill in her heart, and said, "That''s right, without your permission, Brother Dongxu, which newspaper would dare to publish your photo!"

    Ge Dongxu was momentarily stunned when he heard this, but then he smiled, hung up the phone, and didn''t bother to explain.

    After this phone call, Ge Dongxu temporarily lost the mood to ponder the real meaning of "passing through a sea of flowers without a leaf sticking," thought for a moment, and said to Ma Xiaoshuai, "Put your cultivation on hold for the next few days. I will think about the mystery behind it for you, and if I really can''t figure it out, you''ll either have to give up on cultivating and stop at the Second Level of Qi Cultivation, or you might run into trouble again later on. I won''t always be able to arrive in time. Otherwise, you will have to switch to another Sect and learn a different Cultivation Technique to see if there''s still hope to advance further."

    "I appreciate your efforts, Director Ge," Ma Xiaoshuai said with mixed feelings as he bowed deeply again.

    "Cultivation itself is an act against nature, and it''s not always smooth sailing, so don''t lose heart," Ge Dongxu patted Ma Xiaoshuai''s shoulder and encouraged him.

    "Yes!" Ma Xiaoshuai said gratefully.

    Ge Dongxu nodded to Ma Xiaoshuai and then left the villa. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Outside the villa, Xu Lei was waiting. Seeing Ge Dongxu come out, he hurriedly greeted him and said gratefully, "Thank you, Director Ge."

    "Let''s not be so formal between us. I see you''ve been making rapid progress recently. You should be close to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, right?" Ge Dongxu looked at Xu Lei and nodded in affirmation.

    "Yes, I should be able to break through soon," Xu Lei said with a face full of joy.

    Ever since Ge Dongxu gave him a Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade, his cultivation had progressed rapidly, and he finally saw the hope of reaching the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    "You should maintain an even state of mind, and you can ask me if there is anything you don''t understand," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Yes, thank you, Director Ge," Xu Lei said with a moved expression on his face.

    "I''ve already said no need to be polite, and here you go again. Oh, and is my car still in the garage? I''m going to take it today because I need it for some things this afternoon. I''ll just drive it there directly to avoid the hassle of arranging it later. I''ll park this car at Yadu Garden from now on. It''ll be more convenient if I need it at a moment''s notice," Ge Dongxu said.

 Chapter 494 - 493 Can You Please Help Me Get an Autograph?

    "I''m here. If you didn''t bring the keys, I can go get the spare set for you," Xu Lei replied.

    "I decided to use the car on a whim and really didn''t bring the keys. You go get them for me," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Yes, I''ll get them right now. Please wait a moment," Xu Lei replied.

    "Hmm, I''ll be waiting for you at villa number one," Ge Dongxu nodded and then strolled leisurely along the lakeside path to villa number one.

    Villa number one was the largest on the property and was also the most exquisitely decorated with an antique flair. Just the courtyard itself spanned nearly two thousand square meters, with flowers, grass, and trees all neatly pruned.

    A black Grand Cherokee with a red "Beijing V" license plate sat quietly in the garage, its body reflecting the cold metallic sheen, spotless. Clearly, Xu Lei took great care in maintaining the car, keeping it ready for Ge Dongxu''s use at any time.

    Looking at that red Beijing V license plate, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but remember the events that had unfolded in the capital. He shook his head with a smile; he wasn''t too fond of such an ostentatious plate, but there was no need to deliberately avoid using it on the rare occasions that he did, though he definitely couldn''t drive it to school.

    Soon, Xu Lei arrived with the keys.

    Taking the keys, Ge Dongxu opened the car door and seeing the spotless interior, smiled at Xu Lei, "You''re too considerate. You really don''t have to do this; I''m not that particular."

    "I should," Xu Lei replied respectfully.

    Ge Dongxu laughed upon seeing Xu Lei''s reverence and, without further ado, patted Xu Lei on the shoulder, "I''m off then. Call me if there''s anything you need, no need to be hesitant about it."

    "I understand," Xu Lei replied with even greater respect.

    The longer he interacted with Ge Dongxu, the more respect he felt for this young man whose cultivation had reached unfathomable depths.

    Seeing Xu Lei''s increasing respect, Ge Dongxu could only smile, got into the car, started it, and drove away from the base, heading towards the Friendly Hotel by Mingyue Lake.

    On the way to the Friendly Hotel, Ge Dongxu received a call from Liu Jiayao.

    "My flight this afternoon will get me home tonight," Liu Jiayao said as soon as the call connected.

    "Didn''t you say before you left that you wouldn''t be back until tomorrow? Why are you coming back early? Did something unpleasant happen?" Ge Dongxu asked, slightly surprised.

    "No, I just missed you a bit, so I decided to come back earlier," Liu Jiayao replied.

    Although Ge Dongxu had come to Linzhou for university, after the start of the semester, he had been in military training for two consecutive weeks without any holiday or rest period. So in those two weeks, Ge Dongxu had been on campus the whole time. In fact, he hadn''t seen Liu Jiayao during this time, let alone stayed over at Yadu Garden.

    "Then I''ll pick you up from the airport tonight," Ge Dongxu''s heart warmed at her words.

    "Okay, I''ll let Li Min know so she doesn''t have to come get me. That''s all for now, I still have something to do with Yu Xin," Liu Jiayao said before hanging up.

    After hanging up, thinking of seeing Liu Jiayao that evening, thinking of that pink bed, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help feeling a surge of warmth inside.

    ¡­

    "I feel a bit nervous, you know! I''ve never been to such a high-end place before!" In front of the Friendly Hotel, Ren Dandan clutched Lin Xiaojie''s hand, looking up at the towering buildings.

    "Isn''t that a bit of an exaggeration?" Lin Xiaojie said.

    "Of course not! Just think about it, it''s one hundred ninety-eight per person!" Ren Dandan replied.

    "Hehe, it''s nothing. Just take it easy, I''ve been here quite a few times," Lin Jianfeng said with a proud look on his face after noticing Ren Dandan''s somewhat rustic demeanor.

    While speaking, he held the car keys in his hand, coolly flipping them around, as if afraid that others wouldn''t know he owned a car.

    "That''s good! Otherwise, I''d really feel like a country bumpkin coming to the city, completely out of my element," Ren Dandan chuckled, patting her chest.

    Lin Jianfeng smiled and took the lead, ushering Ren Dandan and the others into the Youhao Hotel.

    Upon entering the lobby, they saw the elevator doors were still open, so Lin Jianfeng and his group hurriedly strode towards them.

    As soon as they entered the elevator, the heartbeats of Lin Jianfeng and Shi Tianhang, the two young men, immediately sped up.

    Because at that moment, there were four young women standing in the elevator.

    Each was incredibly beautiful and curvaceous, dressed in fashionable and sexy outfits. In particular, one of the women, wearing large sunglasses and a tight-fitting dress that hugged her figure, had exaggerated, eye-catching curves that caused Lin Jianfeng and Shi Tianhang''s hearts to swell uncontrollably.

    "You, you''re Liu Manman! Wu Shiyi!" Just as Lin Jianfeng and Shi Tianhang''s blood pumped faster and their heartbeats accelerated, Lin Xiaojie suddenly gasped in disbelief, staring at the two women wearing sunglasses.

    "Oh my God! You''re really Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi, the hosts of ''Happy Female Voices''! I can''t believe I''m seeing you in person!" Ren Dandan followed up, her face alight with excitement as she exclaimed.

    Once Lin Xiaojie and Ren Dandan had called them out, Xu Yanran, Lin Jianfeng, and Shi Tianhang also recognized the two fashionable women in sunglasses as the most popular hosts in their province.

    Naturally, this discovery excited Xu Yanran as well, while Lin Jianfeng and Shi Tianhang felt their hearts beating even faster.

    For them, it was typically very hard to have a chance at close contact with popular stars from the screen.

    "Hello!" Seeing that they were recognized, Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi could only respond with a slight smile towards Lin Xiaojie and the others.

    "Hello, this, uh, Liu Manman, Wu Shiyi, I''m a big fan of your ''Happy Female Voices'' show, could I get your autographs please?" Ren Dandan became even more excited when she saw Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi didn''t deny their identity, fumbling in her bag for a pen and a small notebook.

    "No problem! I''ll sign for you as soon as we get out of the elevator," Liu Manman smiled.

    Being a veteran in the hosting business, she was quite adept at handling her fans.

    The elevator quickly reached the twentieth floor, and when they got out, Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi signed their names in Ren Dandan''s notebook.

    "I never imagined I''d run into Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi here; I''m so lucky," Ren Dandan said excitedly, putting away the signed notebook.

    "It''s not a big deal. In places like this, if you have the chance to come often, you can occasionally run into some stars," Lin Jianfeng said. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "This place is so expensive, only a boss like you, Lin, could afford to come here often. I, a poor student, would go broke with just one visit, let alone come frequently!" Ren Dandan responded.

    "It''s not that exaggerated, it''s just one hundred and ninety-eight," Lin Jianfeng said nonchalantly.

    "Just one hundred and ninety-eight! Lin, boss, your words are giving me chills," Ren Dandan responded with a glare at Lin Jianfeng.

    "Hehe!" Lin Jianfeng said, his face revealing a smug expression.

    The group of five found a place to sit, then went their separate ways to pick out food. The women were more selective, while the men were relatively less picky. Lin Jianfeng and Shi Tianhang quickly grabbed a full plate each and returned to their seats. They had just sat down when they saw Ge Dongxu appear at the entrance to the restaurant.

 Chapter 495 - 494: It Doesnt Matter if Youre One Less

    "What the heck, wasn''t this kid supposed to not come? How did he still rush over here?" Shi Tianhang, sitting in a spot directly facing the restaurant entrance, saw Ge Dongxu and couldn''t help expressing his surprise.

    "Damn! He really came!" Lin Jianfeng turned his head and looked back upon hearing this, and couldn''t help but reveal a look of disdain.

    "Who are you talking about?" Right as Lin Jianfeng finished speaking, Ren Dandan came over with a plate and asked.

    "There, that freshman who said he wouldn''t come, now he has eagerly shown up after all, and Boss Lin is going to have to fork out again," Shi Tianhang said, nodding towards Ge Dongxu''s direction with a mix of mockery and contempt in his voice.

    "No way, he was invited before and refused to come, putting on a show of saving face; now he''s showing up voluntarily. What''s this all about?" Ren Dandan, seeing that it was Ge Dongxu, was also taken aback, then her expression quickly turned to one of mockery and scorn.

    "Don''t forget, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance! After this village, there''s no such shop. This guy must have thought about it afterward¡ªtaking such an advantage and not being a fool, he''s come back," Shi Tianhang commented.

    "For crying out loud, is that the mentality you adopted to come here, that not seizing a good deal makes you a fool?" Lin Jianfeng laughed and cursed, then turned and waved Ge Dongxu over as he approached them.

    By this time, Ge Dongxu had already noticed Lin Jianfeng and others, and remembered they had said they were going to eat at the Mingyue Lake revolving restaurant for lunch, prompting him to let out a wry smile.

    He wanted to avoid them, but since Lin Jianfeng was waving to him, and considering they were schoolmates and there was also the connection with Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie, Ge Dongxu didn''t feel it was right to just turn around and leave.

    "What a coincidence, you guys are here too!" Ge Dongxu approached, greeting them with a smile.

    "I mean, Dongxu, can you not put on such an act? If you''re here to eat, just eat. After all, our Boss Lin isn''t short of your participation," Ren Dandan said, rolling her eyes and speaking bluntly when she saw Ge Dongxu was still being so pretentious at this point.

    "Yeah, Dongxu, since you''re here, you''re here. We''re all from Jiangnan University, and besides, you and Xu Yanran are from the same place. It''s really not a big deal. Go get a plate and pick whatever you like," Lin Jianfeng said, seemingly magnanimous as he gestured and laughed.

    Ge Dongxu was a bit taken aback by these words, looking at Ren Dandan and Shi Tianhang with their disdainful faces, and then at Lin Jianfeng, who was pretending to be generous but with a sense of superiority, and couldn''t help but respond with a mixture of laughter and helplessness, "You''ve misunderstood; I have an appointment with other friends."

    After saying this, Ge Dongxu left.

    Of course, he couldn''t be bothered to continue entangling with the self-righteous Lin Jianfeng and the others.

    "Damn it! Talk about suffering for the sake of saving face! If he came, why put on airs?" Shi Tianhang saw Ge Dongxu leaving and couldn''t help but mutter with a look of contempt.

    "Exactly, I really don''t understand the world of engineering guys!" Ren Dandan followed up with a sarcastic remark.

    "Hehe, it''s better this way; I save a hundred ninety-eight!" Lin Jianfeng''s mouth curled slightly, as he sneered dismissively.

    "What are you guys talking about?" At this point, Lin Xiaojie and Xu Yanran came over with their plates and asked.

    "Nothing much. Xu Yanran''s fellow townsman came over just now. I invited him to join us, but he said he had an appointment with other friends," Lin Jianfeng replied with an evident sneer on his face.

    "My fellow townsman? Which one are you talking about?" Xu Yanran asked, looking confused.

    "Who else could it be but that freshman! He said he wouldn''t come and then showed up. When he did, Boss Lin kindly invited him to join us for a meal, and yet he put on airs, saying he had other plans. I''ve never seen such a pretentious guy before," Ren Dandan said.

    "Hey, Ren Dandan, what gives you the right to talk about Dongxu like that? Can''t he have actually made plans to eat here?" Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie, now realizing Ge Dongxu had been there, immediately glared at Ren Dandan with displeasure, then looked around.

    However, Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman, being popular hosts, were approached for autographs or greetings while dining, which disturbed Ge Dongxu''s mood. They had booked a small private room in the revolving restaurant, so by now Ge Dongxu had already turned the corner of the buffet table in the middle and was out of sight of others.

    "Alright, since he''s already gone, there''s no point in talking about it anymore," Lin Jianfeng said, clearly annoyed but not showing it on his face. He just smiled and waved his hand dismissively.

    Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie felt it inappropriate to explain Ge Dongxu''s identity to Lin Jianfeng and his group and, seeing the situation, they didn''t press the matter further, simply nodding and taking their seats.

    On the other side, Ge Dongxu knocked on the private room that Wu Shiyi and the others had booked.

    "Ah, Dongxu!" As Ge Dongxu pushed the door open, the four women inside the private room stood up with faces full of surprise and joy, quickly gathering around him.

    Surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women of various shapes and sizes, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help feeling dazzled.

    Especially because Wu Shiyi still favored tight, sexy bodycon dresses just like before, which not only emphasized her wild sexuality but, after over a year of hosting experience, added a mature and intellectual charm that gave Ge Dongxu a different feeling at first sight.

    As for Liu Manman, there was no need to mention her. Though lacking Wu Shiyi''s untamed fierceness, every smile and frown exuded a charm that inadvertently revealed the innate sexiness and allure from her bones. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, after several months of filming, also showed some changes, seeming more mature and dressing the part as well.

    "Is that not a bit over the top? Please, take your seats," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh, careful not to let his gaze wander.

    There was no helping it; the four women were standing too close, their continuous peaks and curves putting a lot of pressure on Ge Dongxu.

    "Of course, you should be the first to be seated, Dongxu," Liu Manman said, naturally taking Ge Dongxu''s arm and leading him to the seat facing the entrance of the private room, while Wu Shiyi had already pulled out the chair for him.

    Ge Dongxu could only laugh and shake his head as he sat down, joking, "I''m not a guest of honor, isn''t this a bit much?"

    "Guests of honor don''t get this treatment! Only Dongxu does," Wu Shiyi immediately said.

    "Don''t put me on a pedestal! It''s still hot outside; I can''t handle it," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "I''ll ask the waiter to turn up the air conditioning," Liu Manman said sweetly.

    "Well... okay, I forgot you''re popular hosts. Trying to out-talk you is like trying to show off in front of experts," Ge Dongxu said, caught off guard, then added self-deprecatingly.

    The women in the private room all laughed.

    "Naughty! Dongxu, you''re always teasing us!" Liu Manman leaned in and gave Ge Dongxu a playful pinch, sending him a coy look filled with feminine charm, playfully scolding him.

    Feeling a shiver down his spine, Ge Dongxu quickly said, "Liu Manman, be serious! They are all close friends of my girlfriend."

    "Hehe, it''s okay! We didn''t see anything," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie immediately said.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu was dumbfounded, suddenly realizing that all the women in this private room were from the entertainment industry, each articulate and knowing how to please a man. Here he was, outnumbered and walking into a private room that was essentially a lion''s den, like Monk Tang stumbling into the spider''s lair!

 Chapter 496 - 495: Could it be that this matter is related to you?

    "You guys..." After a long while, Ge Dongxu pointed at Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie with a helpless smile on his face.

    "Hee hee! Dongxu, you are just too nice! If other guys saw us like this, they would already be pouncing on us like hungry wolves, but you, always so polite, make us want to take advantage of you." Wu Shiyi said with a giggle.

    Strangely enough, having not seen Ge Dongxu for over a year, talking to him on the phone would inevitably produce a feeling of awe. But, in person, seeing Ge Dongxu''s amiable smile and slightly shy expression, Wu Shiyi felt herself relax completely, as if she were back on the plane sitting next to Ge Dongxu.

    "Lol, Dongxu, look, Wu Shiyi is lovesick because of you. I''m telling you, there are many wealthy guys and rich businessmen chasing her in our province, yet she hasn''t been moved!" Liu Manman said with a pursed mouth and a light laugh.

    "Cough cough! It''s about time, should we order food here, or go out and get it ourselves?" Ge Dongxu coughed twice with his hand over his mouth and said. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His skin wasn''t as thick as these hosts''. He could make such nonsense remarks in private with Liu Jiayao, but under the watchful eyes of the public, he couldn''t speak of being lovesick.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu''s face seemed to be turning red, a burning passion flashed in Liu Manman''s charming eyes.

    This big shot, so young and a bit handsome, and even gets embarrassed and blushes¡ªjust thinking about it made Liu Manman feel an inexplicable restlessness surging through her.

    But she knew this man was different from other men, destined to stir her heart but not to provoke any real action. The occasional verbal tease and occasional physical contact were already the limit. Any further action might actually upset the seemingly shy young man in front of her.

    Liu Manman, with her rich life experience, understood this restraint well.

    "Let''s go out and get it then. Dongxu, what do you want to eat? We''ll get it for you," Liu Manman replied, sitting up straight just in time.

    "That would be good. If I were to go out and get food with you four beauties, I would definitely get beaten up," Ge Dongxu nodded and said with a laugh.

    "Lol! That would be great; then we could see Dongxu fighting tigers on the Southern Mountain and kicking Flood Dragons in the North Sea," the four women laughed and clapped their hands.

    "You guys, always wanting to see me make a fool of myself. Alright, go out and get the food," Ge Dongxu said with a shake of his head and a smile.

    "Not at all! How could we bear to see Dongxu make a fool of himself? Lol!" Jin Yushan and the rest cast a flirtatious glance at Ge Dongxu and then left the private room chattering like swallows.

    Watching the graceful figures of the four depart, each with shapely, perky backsides and long, voluptuous legs, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help shaking his head, thinking, thankfully I now have Liu Jiayao and the others, my heart is taken; otherwise, I really couldn''t hold back.

    It wasn''t long before the four returned with the food.

    Throughout the meal, the four women naturally didn''t stop sending flirty glances at Ge Dongxu and their words were also filled with teasing, which made Ge Dongxu quite uncomfortable. Of course, as a man, being teased and flattered by beauties wouldn''t be something he''d dislike.

    "There''s still time before the train, how about we go sing some songs?" After eating, chatting for a while in the private room, and having some tea, Wu Shiyi looked at her watch and suggested.

    As soon as he heard about singing, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but remember the time in the capital with Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi when they went to sing karaoke, both having had a bit to drink. They dragged him to dance with them, hugging and kissing, and the scariest part was, in the end, he had to carry both of the drunk beauties back to the hotel.

    The thought alone made Ge Dongxu''s heart skip a beat.

    He definitely didn''t want to experience that again!

    "Sure, sure!" However, before Ge Dongxu could even speak up, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie had already clapped their hands in agreement.

    Today Ge Dongxu had specifically invited Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie as a gesture of hospitality as the host. Since the two women had already given the go-ahead, it would be impolite for him to decline, so he looked towards Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi and said, "Singing is fine, but no drinking!"

    When Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi heard this, they were reminded of what happened last year at the karaoke place in the capital, and their pretty faces couldn''t help but flush with a bit of red. They gave Ge Dongxu a glare and said coquettishly, "We know, Dongxu brother!"

    "Then let''s go. Where shall we sing?" asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Where else but the Charm Ginza on Lakefront Road? It''s close and upscale!" Jin Yushan said.

    "Oh, I wouldn''t have guessed, you''ve already gotten to know Linzhou City so well," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he looked at Jin Yushan.

    "Hehe, of course. We were singing there just last night. Some incident even happened, with the SWAT team showing up and a lot of people getting arrested. I have no idea what it was about," Jin Yushan said.

    At her words, Ge Dongxu''s expression instantly turned interesting.

    Wasn''t she talking about him?

    Seeing the sudden change in Ge Dongxu''s expression, Jin Yushan and the others had yet to notice anything, but Liu Manman, with her extensive social connections and senior status as a leading actress, immediately thought of the news she had heard from several friends early that morning. She shivered slightly and said, "Dongxu brother, I heard that last night, not only was the boss of the underworld arrested, but even the second son of the Chen family, Chen Longyou, was taken away. There are rumors that the provincial leaders are unhappy with the Chen family''s domineering presence and might take action against them. Could this have something to do with you?"

    "Haha, that''s a matter for the provincial government, and the leaders will have their arrangements. Let''s go sing instead," Ge Dongxu said with a slight start, but then he laughed it off.

    While Ge Dongxu neither confirmed nor denied the connection, Liu Manman felt a sudden thrill inside, her gaze towards him growing even more fervent. At the same time, she silently rejoiced that she had always been approachable. Not only had she refrained from giving Ge Dongxu lecherous glances on the plane, but she also made good connections with him through Wu Shiyi afterwards.

    It''s just a shame he''s not like those lecherous men; otherwise, she''d use all her wiles to please him in bed! Tsk tsk, what are you thinking, Liu Manman? If he were that kind of person, would he be dining here with you? Would he be chatting and laughing with you like this? Would you still think well of him? Wouldn''t you just wish to be ravaged by him?

    "What are you thinking about, Manman sister? Come on, let''s hurry up!" Deep in her wild thoughts, Liu Manman felt an elbow nudge, and that''s when she realized that Ge Dongxu had already left the private room with Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie. Her face flushed slightly, and she quickly said, "I wasn''t thinking about anything, let''s go."

    "Hehe, you were definitely thinking about something, and it was definitely about Dongxu brother, right?" Wu Shiyi whispered into Liu Manman''s ear.

    "What if I was? It''s like trying to catch the moon in the water!" Liu Manman didn''t have anything to hide from Wu Shiyi, so she let out a wistful sigh and then taking her hand, said, "Let''s go. Guys like him, they''re out of our league."

 Chapter 497 - 496: You Dont Know Until You Compare

    Having left the private room, Ge Dongxu did not see Xu Yanran and the others; apparently, they had left first.

    After paying, the group took the elevator down.

    "Oh my God, that looks like Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi! They are even prettier in person than on TV!"

    "Holy shit, who is that guy? A total beast! One guy with four girls, can he even handle that?"

    "If he can''t handle it, can''t he just enjoy the view? You don''t have the life of a big shot, so don''t worry your little head about their affairs! The world of officials and the wealthy is something a receptionist like you wouldn''t understand."

    As Ge Dongxu left the hotel lobby with Jin Yushan and the three others crowding around him, a chorus of gasps and murmurs followed behind them.

    "I should go ahead and bring the car around. You all wait here, don''t follow me. I''m actually a bit worried someone won''t be able to control themselves and come up to punch me!" Having left the lobby and noticing pedestrians at the hotel entrance staring at him, Ge Dongxu felt uncomfortable all over and quickly said this to the four beauties clinging to him, nearly glued to his side.

    "Pfft!" The four women stifled their laughs and then sent a coquettish wink to Ge Dongxu, but they didn''t follow him. Instead, they found a shady spot to wait.

    The coquettish winks from the four women left Ge Dongxu burnt on the outside and tender on the inside, and he hurriedly strode away, somewhat fleeing in panic, which once again caused Jin Yushan and the others to stifle their chuckles.

    "You know, if there was a chance to develop a romance with a guy like Dongxu, that would make life truly worthwhile!" After laughing, Jin Yushan couldn''t help but sigh.

    "Psh, I don''t dream of a romance. Just a one-night stand would make me feel it''s worthwhile," Lin Sijie said. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "One shouldn''t covet a friend''s wife, though. That is your close friend''s boyfriend," Wu Shiyi chided.

    "Give it a rest, Shiyi. In today''s society, which decent-looking man doesn''t have a woman on the side? For a man like Dongxu, if he really only had one woman, it would simply be a waste! Since that''s the case, it''s better to benefit us than some other woman," Jin Yushan said.

    "That''s right. Lili knows this very well. It''s just a pity that Dongxu is just not into us. I even tried to seduce him back in Beijing," Lin Sijie nodded and agreed.

    "Indeed, it''s like the new waves of the Yangtze River pushing the old ones. You are even bolder than I was back in my university days!" Liu Manman commented, looking at Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, feeling somewhat nostalgic.

    "Manman, don''t get any wild ideas. We''re not just any women! It''s only because it''s Dongxu that we even have such thoughts. If it were any other man, even if he were tall, rich, and handsome, begging on his knees, I''d still weigh my options carefully," Jin Yushan said.

    "What''s there to weigh? Ever since I met Dongxu, when I see those self-important tall, rich, and handsome guys acting like they''re so great, as if all women should revolve around them, I just feel disgusted and want to vomit," Lin Sijie added.

    "That''s indeed true," Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman nodded in agreement.

    Ever since the show "Happy Girls" became a hit, Wu Shiyi, the newcomer, had become the brightest star on the entertainment channel. Naturally, she attracted some wealthy scions, major bosses, and people from the political world who wanted to keep her. However, as soon as she saw those people acting all high and mighty just because they had some money or a little power, Wu Shiyi couldn''t help but think of the approachable Dongxu, who had no airs about him, a warm heart, and no inappropriate thoughts towards them.

    Whenever she thought of Dongxu, Wu Shiyi felt even more disdain for those vulgar men and wanted nothing to do with them.

    As for Liu Manman, who was already beautiful and popular, hosting "Happy Girl" has made her even more sought after. Previously, with a powerful backer in the province, no one dared to mess with her easily. However, since her backer fell from grace, those with designs on her have been on the rise. Now that she''s even more popular than before, naturally, there are even more of them.

    But with her ups and downs in the past, Liu Manman had already learned to take things in stride. Now, the only person she would willingly throw herself at and try to please by all means was Ge Dongxu.

    It was just a pity that Ge Dongxu was not that kind of man!

    "You don''t realize until you compare. And once I did, oh my, I suddenly feel like I''ve given up hope on all other men!" Jin Yushan nodded and lamented in agreement.

    "Don''t say that, Yushan, you are still young." Hearing this, Liu Manman couldn''t help but be startled and quickly retorted.

    "I know, Sister Manman. If it really comes down to it, I''ll just have to choose the best from the worst. I''ll take it one step at a time and not rush into a relationship. For now, I just need to focus on acting. With Brother Xu covering me, no one would dare to mess with me." Jin Yushan said.

    "That''s true. You are luckier than me, having known Brother Xu early on and being able to bypass many detours. Unlike me, who had to struggle to get to where I am now, I''ve had my share of hardship and humiliation in the early years." Liu Manman nodded, feeling somewhat emotional.

    "Indeed!" Jin Yushan and the others, being in the entertainment industry, naturally heard many stories from within the circle, and they all felt very moved by this.

    While the four were chatting, a Grand Cherokee with a special license plate approached.

    Upon seeing the red "Beijing V" at the beginning of the plate, Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s eyes lit up immediately, while Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi were still unaware that it was Ge Dongxu''s car. It wasn''t until the Grand Cherokee stopped next to them and Ge Dongxu rolled down the window that the two realized, exclaiming, "Eh, Brother Xu, why are you driving a car from the capital?"

    "Get in," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, without answering.

    Only then did they realize that Ge Dongxu was not an ordinary person and could not be measured by common standards. They wisely shut their mouths and got into the car with Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie.

    Liu Manman, being the eldest among the four, naturally took the front passenger seat as Wu Shiyi and the others gave it up to her without hesitation.

    "Wow, this car is so cool; it gives me a sense of power and gravity that doesn''t seem like a normal SUV," Wu Shiyi exclaimed as they got in the car.

    "Sister Shiyi, this is a military vehicle, and it belongs to the Military Commission. When it''s on the roads of the capital, even the traffic police have to salute," Jin Yushan explained.

    Even though Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman already knew that Ge Dongxu was formidable, they couldn''t help but tremble slightly upon hearing this, and their gaze towards Ge Dongxu changed.

    "Heh, I don''t usually drive this car. It just so happened that today I said I would give Yushan and Sijie a lift, so I drove it here," Ge Dongxu casually explained.

    In the midst of conversation, the car took a turn onto Lakeside Road.

    ...

    "Damn it, get the hell out, do you even know how to drive?" On Lakeside Road, a young man hurriedly got out of a white BMW 740i, first inspected the badly damaged rear end of his car, and then angrily walked towards the Santana 2000 that hit his car, kicking the driver''s side door hard.

 Chapter 498 - 497 Tailgating

    Behind the wheel, Lin Jianfeng had already been scared stiff.

    A BMW 740i, that costs at least a million for the luxury car, huh!

    In front of Ren Dandan and the others, his Santana 2000, which cost a hundred thousand or so, could still boast a little, pretending to be a luxury car; but in reality, that BMW 740i was the true luxury car.

    "Aren''t you getting the hell out!" The young man kicked the car door again.

    Only then did Lin Jianfeng snap back to reality, quickly pushing the car door open.

    As Lin Jianfeng got out of the car, three more cars arrived consecutively behind him, a BMW 528, a Buick Boulevard, and an Audi A6 with a provincial military district license plate.

    The three cars that arrived later, although not as extravagant as the BMW 740i that was hit, were definitely in the luxury tier at that moment. If you weren''t very rich or a fairly big boss, even with money, you definitely wouldn''t be willing to buy such good cars.

    No sooner had the cars stopped than a bunch of young men and women got out.

    "What happened, Siyu?" the youngsters crowded around and asked.

    "Damn it, ran into an idiot. There was a red light upfront, and this moron still rear-ended me!" Gao Siyu cursed in annoyance.

    He had just gotten that BMW 740i today, was out for a joyride, and hadn''t expected someone to crash into the back of his car.

    "It was you who suddenly overtook, and then you hit the brakes hard, that''s why I crashed into you." Lin Jianfeng, also a well-known figure in the Economics College at Jiangnan University, was extremely frustrated to hear the BMW owner call him an idiot repeatedly and couldn''t help but retort.

    "Damn, you think you''re in the right here? There was a red light. Shouldn''t I have braked?" Gao Siyu, seeing Lin Jianfeng refute and blame him, immediately pointed at Lin Jianfeng''s nose and cursed.

    "Hey, what are you doing? If you hadn''t braked so hard, would I have rear-ended you?" Lin Jianfeng, who was also proud and arrogant, although seeing that the other party was driving a BMW, knew that the other party must have some background. However, being pointed at and cursed, he couldn''t contain his anger, swatted Gao Siyu''s hand away heavily, and pointed back at him. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Damn! Acting so arrogant driving an old Santana!" Gao Siyu, seeing Lin Jianfeng slap his hand away forcefully, and even pointing his finger back at him, instantly felt his anger flare up and kicked towards Lin Jianfeng''s stomach.

    Lin Jianfeng hadn''t expected the other person to be so aggressive and to resort to hitting him without a word, and he couldn''t dodge in time. He was kicked hard, stumbled back several steps, and bumped into the car door behind him.

    "Hey, why are you hitting someone?" Seeing Gao Siyu hit someone, Shi Tianhang and the others quickly got out of the car, and Lin Xiaojie, with a red face, accused angrily.

    "Hitting someone? He damaged my new car and was still so arrogant. If I don''t hit him, who should I hit?" Gao Siyu, seeing a beautiful woman, was taken aback for a moment, and his tone softened a bit.

    "Just now, it was because you overtook and then braked suddenly that we ended up crashing into you," Lin Xiaojie countered.

    "Considering you''re a woman, I won''t argue with you," Gao Siyu glared at Lin Xiaojie and then walked up to Lin Jianfeng, whose complexion had turned somewhat pale, grabbed him by the collar, and said, "Kid, you''ve damaged my car like this, tell me, what are we going to do now?"

    Seeing this, Shi Tianhang wanted to step forward, but noticing how aggressive Gao Siyu was, and seeing several other young folks standing behind him, all driving luxury cars, he lost his nerve and didn''t dare to move forward to help. As for Ren Dandan, she had already been scared white, trembling slightly.

    She was just a student; how could she have seen such a display before!

    "If there''s an issue, just talk it out. What do you think you''re doing, grabbing my classmate by the collar?" Xu Yanran, however, seeing this, was scared but still mustered the courage to accuse him.

    "Classmate? Damn, it''s a student!" Gao Siyu cursed disdainfully.

    "Haha!" The people behind him all laughed, their laughter filled with a sense of superiority and naked contempt.

    Eventually, a young man with short hair and distinct facial features spoke up, saying, "Forget it, Siyu, what''s the point in squabbling with a few university students? Let him pay thirty or fifty thousand and be done with it."

    At that time in Huaxia Country, there were no mandatory insurance regulations yet. Lin Jianfeng hurried to show off his new car and hadn''t gotten insurance in time. Besides, even if he had insurance, in such a car accident scenario, insurance companies generally calculated the compensation based on repairs, usually settling for just a few thousand yuan.

    Now that the short-haired man was asking for thirty or fifty thousand yuan, for Lin Jianfeng, that was absolutely a huge amount. So, upon hearing this, Lin Jianfeng immediately turned pale and blurted out, "What? Thirty or fifty thousand, why don''t you just rob me! It''s only a few thousand at most!"

    "Fuck! Do you know how much I bought this car for? One point three million! I just got the car today, and now you''ve crashed it like this. Do you think it can be fixed with just a few thousand yuan? Are you planning to just patch up and spray paint my new car? Damn, if it weren''t for Nan Ge speaking up, you''d think you can settle for thirty or fifty thousand, you''re dreaming!" When Gao Siyu heard this, he directly pushed Lin Jianfeng up against the car, furiously.

    "Exactly, Nan Ge spoke up and that''s him giving face, and this motherfucker doesn''t appreciate it!" The others chimed in one after another.

    The short-haired man called Nan Ge glanced at Lin Jianfeng, shook his head, and said no more.

    And hearing about the one point three million yuan, Shi Tianhang and the others felt as if their hearts were about to leap out of their throats.

    One point three million! In those days, a university graduate''s starting salary was just a few hundred yuan¡ªa person would have to save for over a hundred years without eating or drinking to accumulate one point three million.

    "Even if I rear-ended you, it, it''s still your fault, why should I have to pay?" Upon hearing one point three million, Lin Jianfeng''s heart also clenched, and he began to stutter.

    Although he had some money, that was only in comparison to ordinary people. A luxury car costing one point three million was way out of his league, not to mention buying one would be a huge stretch even for his father.

    "If it isn''t your fault, could it be my fault?" Gao Siyu pointed at Lin Jianfeng''s nose.

    "Who''s at fault will be determined by the traffic police," Lin Jianfeng said, trying to keep his composure.

    "Right, right, let the traffic police decide," Xu Yanran and the others suddenly came to their senses and nodded in agreement.

    "Let the traffic police decide?" Gao Siyu and the others looked at Lin Jianfeng and his group as if they were idiots.

    "Fine, the traffic police just arrived, let''s see how they judge. Fuck, my car was in front of you, and you hit me from behind, I want to see which traffic cop dares say it''s Gao Siyu''s responsibility." Gao Siyu let go of Lin Jianfeng''s collar, looking disdainful.

    No sooner had Gao Siyu finished speaking than two traffic police motorcycles arrived.

    A traffic cop got off his bike and went to the side of the road to direct the traffic that had become somewhat congested and chaotic due to the accident, while the other traffic cop walked towards Gao Siyu and his group.

 Chapter 499 - 498: Ill Go See Whats Going On

    As the traffic police officer approached Gao Siyu and his group, his gaze swept over the cars parked on the roadside, noticing they were all luxury vehicles, which caused his expression to change subtly. When his eyes fell upon the Audi A6 bearing the license plate of the provincial military region, his face changed even more drastically before swiftly turning serious.

    "Brother Cai, it''s you! You arrived just in time. This guy was driving behind me, suddenly overtook me, and then braked sharply, causing me to hit the rear end of his car." Lin Jianfeng, upon seeing the policeman approaching and realizing it was his father''s friend''s son, couldn''t help but feel overjoyed, quickly stepping forward to explain. As he spoke, his pale face finally revealed a smug expression.

    In this day and age, having a friend who is a traffic cop is quite impressive. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing that Lin Jianfeng knew the traffic cop, Xu Yanran and the others secretly breathed a sigh of relief. In the eyes of these university students, who had not yet stepped into society, a traffic cop held considerable authority.

    Gao Siyu and the others, on the other hand, wore a sneer of disdain at the sight of this.

    Those among them who could afford to drive luxury cars, which family background wasn''t complicated? To say that they were either wealthy or noble was no exaggeration, so why would they feel honored because of a traffic cop?

    To them, an ordinary traffic cop was just another common person!

    Officer Cai, upon hearing Lin Jianfeng call him Brother Cai, his face changed as he inwardly cursed Lin Jianfeng for being a fool. In this situation, it was already difficult to explicitly take his side, at most, he could have acted indifferently and muddled the waters, making a big issue small and a small issue disappear. But now Lin Jianfeng had directly called him Brother Cai, as if afraid that others wouldn''t know they were acquainted, which made it impossible for him to help even if he wanted to.

    Are you kidding? Not to mention that all these cars are luxury vehicles, and each of their families certainly has connections, just the Audi A6 with the license plate number of the provincial military region alone represented a person he, a mere traffic cop, could not afford to offend¡ªunless he wanted to be directly dismissed from his job.

    "What Brother Cai or not Brother Cai, we are currently handling an accident, show some respect." Officer Cai straightened his face and spoke with a stern voice.

    Lin Jianfeng was taken aback, then quickly nodded and said, "Yes, yes, Brother Cai, so what do you think about this traffic accident...?"

    "Am I the traffic cop or are you the traffic cop?" Officer Cai glared at Lin Jianfeng and then walked towards the collided vehicles, examining them closely with an air of strictly conducting official business.

    Gao Siyu and the others either crossed their arms or put their hands in their pockets, their faces wearing an indifferent expression that suggested they were just there to watch the excitement.

    "The BMW was in front, and the Santana rear-ended it. This was caused by the main thoroughfare''s vehicle failing to give way properly; the owner of the Santana is fully liable." After observing for a while, Officer Cai came over and said seriously to Lin Jianfeng.

    "See, I told you, even if a traffic cop makes the call, the responsibility would definitely be on you, kid. I said you can''t drive worth a damn, and you still didn''t believe it!" Gao Siyu sneered when he heard this, while the others showed expressions that suggested they had anticipated this outcome from the start.

    Lin Jianfeng and his group were dumbfounded, especially Lin Jianfeng himself, who had thought that knowing Officer Cai would mean the latter would be somewhat biased towards him. He didn''t expect that after just a quick look, Officer Cai would determine him to be fully at fault; let alone not being biased towards him, he was plainly supporting the other party.

    "But he suddenly changed lanes and braked sharply, that''s why I hit him, and besides, he also has the responsibility for improper lane changing, why should I bear full responsibility?" After being stunned, Lin Jianfeng could not help but panic, pointing at Gao Siyu as he spoke.

    This would really be judged as his full responsibility. By the other party''s earlier demands, he would have to pay up to thirty or fifty thousand yuan in compensation. That''s not a small figure at all.

    "Fuck! Just because a tiger doesn''t show his might, do you really think I''m a sick cat or something? You crashed into my car, and now even the traffic police have determined you''re fully responsible, and you''re still here claiming unfairness! Are you fucking expecting me to take the fall for this?" Gao Siyu saw that the officer had made the determination and Lin Jianfeng still pointed at him stubbornly, claiming he was at fault. Gao''s temper flared again. He charged forward and grabbed Lin Jianfeng by the collar once more, pinning him against the car while cursing at him.

    "Let''s talk this out, let''s talk this out!" Officer Cai did recognize Lin Jianfeng after all and had no choice but to gather his courage to step forward and try to mediate.

    "Talk this out, my ass! Just now for the sake of Brother Nan, I already talked nicely to this little punk, told him to cough up thirty to fifty thousand to settle this. But this brat is not playing ball, saying my car only needs a few thousand to fix. I know you know this punk. You tell me, my car got smashed up like this, would a few thousand be enough to restore it? Fuck, he really thinks I''m easy to mess with!" Gao Siyu became increasingly angry as he spoke and suddenly kneed Lin Jianfeng in the stomach.

    Lin Jianfeng immediately broke out in a cold sweat from the pain.

    As a traffic officer, Officer Cai naturally had some knowledge of various cars. He knew that a luxury vehicle worth over a million yuan, and moreover a new one, can''t have its depreciation simply measured by the cost of repairs after a collision. Gao Siyu''s asking for thirty to fifty thousand seemed high on the surface, but upon closer consideration, it wasn''t unreasonable. In addition to considering the other party''s identity, letting Lin Jianfeng off with just tens of thousands in compensation, all things considered, was being quite reasonable. Otherwise, if it were some more flamboyant rich kids, having their new car hit as soon as they drove it off the lot, they wouldn''t negotiate at all but start by beating the other person up first.

    Therefore, after hearing this, Officer Cai started to see Lin Jianfeng in a different light. He used to think that getting into Jiangnan University and doing a little business in school was impressive, but now he realized this kid wasn''t necessarily that clever.

    The old saying goes, "A wise man does not fight when the odds are against him." You, as the son of a small business owner, driving a Santana, even if someone rear-ends you, you should still speak softly and kindly. Instead, you went and hit someone else''s BMW, and now you''re here squawking, isn''t this just asking for trouble?

    "This gentleman here is right. With the car being damaged like this¡ªthe bumper, the headlights¡ªthey all need to be dismantled and replaced with new ones. When all is said and done, it will cost thirty to fifty thousand. That''s right, thirty to fifty thousand!" Officer Cai chimed in with words of agreement, and while speaking, he even gave Lin Jianfeng a meaningful look.

    "But, but... even if compensation is needed, that''s no reason to hit someone!" Xu Yanran mustered her courage to speak up, still having the air of a scholar as a student.

    "Long-legged beauty, feeling heartache, huh! That''s because your classmate isn''t being reasonable!" Gao Siyu scrutinized Xu Yanran''s long, shapely legs with undisguised lechery as he spoke.

    "That, that..." Faced with Gao Siyu''s unabashed gaze, Xu Yanran''s face flushed red then pale, too scared and angry to speak.

    While Xu Yanran and the others were embroiled in this argument that seemed to have no end, a Jeep Grand Cherokee was also driving down Lakeside Road.

    "Looks like there''s been an accident up ahead?" Liu Manman noticed the slow-moving traffic and frowned slightly.

    Ge Dongxu rolled down the window, leaned out to look towards the scene of the accident, and saw several familiar figures. His eyebrows knitted lightly, then he said to Liu Manman and the others, "Looks like we''re going to be delayed a bit. Those are some of my fellow alumni. I''ll go see what''s going on."

    Having said that, Ge Dongxu drove his vehicle to the scene of the accident and stopped beside the people involved.

 Chapter 500 - 499: Think youre amazing just because you drive a Grand Cherokee?

    ```

    "What''s going on?" After parking the car, Ge Dongxu pushed open the door and stepped out from the driver''s seat.

    "Dongxu!" Seeing Ge Dongxu getting out of the driver''s seat of a Grand Cherokee, Ren Dandan, Shi Tianhang, and Lin Jianfeng, whose collar was being grabbed by Gao Siyu, all had their eyes widen in shock.

    Even if Lin Jianfeng, who recognized the Grand Cherokee, knew that it was much more expensive than his Santana, not to mention Ren Dandan and Shi Tianhang who weren''t very knowledgeable about cars, they could still tell just from the fierce look of the Grand Cherokee that it was definitely more upscale than Lin Jianfeng''s Santana 2000.

    But the problem was, how could that freshman, that engineering nerd they had always looked down upon, possibly be driving such a luxury car?

    On the other hand, Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie were not too surprised by the Grand Cherokee, and were just happily looking at Ge Dongxu.

    The man known as Brother Nan, with his short hair, saw a young man approaching and merely curled his lip, not taking much notice.

    However, when his gaze moved past Ge Dongxu and fell upon the Grand Cherokee behind him, and particularly on the red "Jing V" license plate it bore, his body suddenly shook and he quickly walked towards the vehicle.

    When he got closer, Brother Nan''s hairs stood on end.

    Being the son of the Deputy Commander of the Jiangnan Province Military Region, he naturally understood that this Grand Cherokee was different from the regular ones. It wasn''t something an ordinary officer could be issued with, and at least someone of his father''s level or above had the right to use it. Moreover, that special license number was even more exaggerated in its significance than what the V8 engine and full bulletproof Grand Cherokee represented.

    This kind of vehicle, let alone in local regions, even in the capital, it had unhindered access.

    And his father, although a big shot in Jiangnan Province, would need to tread carefully if he went to the capital.

    The relative weight of these two statuses was self-evident.

    "This person overtook us and then suddenly braked hard, causing Lin Jianfeng to rear-end him. He says it was Lin Jianfeng''s fault and is demanding thirty to fifty thousand in compensation. Lin Jianfeng disagreed, so they started arguing," Xu Yanran quickly and briefly explained the cause of the incident while Ren Dandan and the others were still shocked at seeing Ge Dongxu get out of a luxury car.

    "I say, sir, this is just a traffic accident, naturally to be resolved by the traffic police. What do you mean by seizing Lin Jianfeng by his collar? You should let him go first," Ge Dongxu frowned upon hearing this and said to Gao Siyu.

    Although he didn''t particularly like Lin Jianfeng, he was after all an alumnus, and considering Xu Yanran''s and Lin Xiaojie''s relationship, now that he was here, he naturally couldn''t ignore the situation. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Fuck, who do you think you are, some big shot ''cause you drive a Grand Cherokee? You think you can talk to me like...," Gao Siyu, seeing the questioning and even commanding tone in Ge Dongxu''s words, felt extremely irritated and immediately began to curse disdainfully.

    Completely shocked by the Grand Cherokee with the "Jing V" license plate, Brother Nan felt a shiver run through his body. Despite his young age, he nearly had a heart attack from fright. With a swift turn, he rushed forward and kicked Gao Siyu in the behind, then pointed at him and scolded, "Siyu, what nonsense are you spouting? Release this gentleman at once!"

    "Brother Nan!" Gao Siyu and the others were instantly dumbfounded. What had gotten into him?

    Lin Jianfeng and the others were equally astonished, while only Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie seemed to have realized something, a thoughtful expression flashing in their eyes.

    "Nan what? Didn''t you hear me tell you to let go?" Brother Nan glared and said.

    ```

    Gao Siyu was obviously still somewhat intimidated by Brother Nan. Seeing him glare, he could only mutter: "Fine, I''ll let go!"

    Upon Gao Siyu loosening his grip, Brother Nan finally let out a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and walked up to Ge Dongxu with a smile, "Sir, my name is Luo Tiannan, my father is with the military district of Jiangnan Province. It''s just a little bump on the car''s rear, nothing serious, just a minor issue."

    Seeing Brother Nan''s clearly humble smile and hearing his obviously conciliatory tone, expressions of disbelief spread across the faces of Gao Siyu and the others.

    What was this turn of events? Brother Nan was actually seeking peace?

    Although Gao Siyu and the others were somewhat rash and impulsive due to their youth, they were quick-witted. Despite their shock and confusion, none of them voiced any objections. Their gazes toward Ge Dongxu changed as they all pondered his background.

    Meanwhile, Lin Jianfeng and the rest were completely flabbergasted.

    Damn! This freshman just said a word, and Brother Nan caved just like that? Luxury cars really do have their own presence!

    With this in mind, both Ren Dandan and Shi Tianhang''s views of Ge Dongxu had completely changed, especially Ren Dandan whose eyes shone with excitement, while Lin Jianfeng''s gaze became much more complicated.

    They were all students, and could only think of these superficial matters for the moment.

    Seeing Brother Nan''s good attitude, and considering Lin Jianfeng was definitely partly to blame for the rear-end collision, Ge Dongxu''s frown relaxed and he nodded back at Brother Nan with a smile, "Thank you, Luo Tiannan. Nobody wants traffic accidents to happen, but since it has, let''s leave it to the traffic police to handle it. Whoever is responsible should compensate accordingly. It''s best to discuss these things calmly. Fighting and causing a ruckus isn''t right, don''t you agree?"

    "You''re right. It''s really just a scratch on the rear of the car, nothing serious. We can just take it to the repair shop," said Brother Nan, relieved to see Ge Dongxu''s amiable demeanor and that he wasn''t arrogantly abusing his power.

    "But, but asking for compensation of thirty to fifty thousand is way too much," Lin Jianfeng piped up tentatively.

    "Thirty to fifty thousand is not much at all. My car is a brand-new imported BMW 740i. Being hit is like getting a scar, even if it can be repaired, it will never be the same¡­" Gao Siyu was actually quite irritated inside, his new car having been hit. Now, seeing Lin Jianfeng still unconvinced, he couldn''t help but speak up again.

    "Enough, Gao Siyu. It''s just thirty to fifty thousand, aren''t you short of that little money? Besides, you were the one who overtook and then suddenly slammed on the brakes, so you''re not completely without fault. Let both sides make concessions and let it go," Brother Nan interrupted Gao Siyu without waiting for him to finish, gesturing with his hand to stop him.

    Gao Siyu opened his mouth at this, but upon receiving a stern look from Brother Nan, he obediently fell silent. Lin Jianfeng and the others were utterly dumbfounded, their mouths agape, unable to close them for a long while.

    They were actually forgoing the compensation? Was the prestige of a luxury car really that overwhelming?

    Thinking this, Lin Jianfeng and the others couldn''t help but direct their gazes towards the Grand Cherokee parked behind Ge Dongxu. However, with their limited knowledge, they failed to recognize it was an armored vehicle, nor did they understand the significance of its license plate.

    As they stood there feeling shocked and perplexed, their gazes drifted through the front windshield and landed on Liu Manman sitting in the passenger seat.

    That familiar face was one they often saw on television, and they had just recently seen up close and personal in an elevator. How could Lin Jianfeng and the others not recognize her? Instantly, with shocked expressions, they pointed at Liu Manman and exclaimed, "Liu Manman!"

 Chapter 501 - 500 Brother Nan, who is this guy?

    "Liu Manman!" Gao Siyu and others also noticed Liu Manman in the passenger seat at this time, their faces revealing a hint of shock as well.

    It turned out that Gao Siyu and the others had seen Brother Nan clearly trying to curry favor with Ge Dongxu, but since they did not recognize him, they unintentionally looked towards the Cherokee behind Ge Dongxu, just like Lin Jianfeng and others did.

    However, they were not professionals nor were they from the capital, and could not tell anything special about Ge Dongxu''s Cherokee. They only knew that this type of V8 Cherokee was a good vehicle, worth at least five hundred thousand, but to them, who were either rich or noble, it wasn''t something exceptional. For instance, Gao Siyu''s BMW 740 had cost him one million three hundred thousand, which was far more impressive than this V8 Cherokee. As for the license plate starting with the capital''s ''Jing V,'' they just thought it was a license plate from the capital and didn''t realize that the ordinary capital''s ''Jing V'' was in black font, and that red font represented something more special.

    Although they didn''t notice anything special about the Cherokee, they did notice Liu Manman.

    Liu Manman was naturally known to Gao Siyu and others who had met and chatted with her at some banquets, and they somewhat coveted her. However, previously, Liu Manman had backing, so they didn''t dare to make a move. Now that they wanted to, Liu Manman always seemed to be smiling on the surface, but her demeanor kept people at a distance, making them itch with desire but unable to lay a hand on her.

    To think that such a woman was now sitting in Ge Dongxu''s car, the implications behind this were significant.

    Could it be that this young man really had a significant background?

    Or was it because of Liu Manman that Brother Nan was giving this guy face? That didn''t seem right; it seemed like Brother Nan also had some interest in Liu Manman. Shouldn''t he be jealous if this young man was stealing his love interest?

    Or was Brother Nan trying to maintain a gentlemanly demeanor in front of Liu Manman to make the beauty fall for him?

    In an instant, many thoughts passed through the minds of Gao Siyu and the others. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Brother Nan, Young Master Gao, Young Master Wang... hello!" Seeing that everyone had noticed her, Liu Manman had no choice but to roll down the car window, lean over, and wave cheerfully to Brother Nan and the others.

    "Brother Nan, hello." Seeing Liu Manman greeting Brother Nan and others, Wu Shiyi, who was sitting in the back seat, also rolled down the window, revealing her stunning face, and waved to Brother Nan and the others.

    "Wu Shiyi!" Gao Siyu and the others were shocked again to see that the homegrown top actress of the provincial entertainment channel, Wu Shiyi, and two other beauties were also in the back.

    Damn, what was this young man''s background, daring to drive a Cherokee and take out four beauties, two of whom were the channel''s leading actresses? I drive a BMW and haven''t had this many beauties in my car!

    And Lin Jianfeng and others were utterly dumbfounded, their jaws almost hitting the ground.

    These three in the back seat were exactly the ones they had encountered in the elevator earlier. Could it be that the appointment Ge Dongxu had mentioned in the Mingyue Lake revolving restaurant was with these four women?

    Thinking of this, Lin Jianfeng, Ren Dandan, and Shi Tianhang recalled the mocking words they had said about Ge Dongxu in the revolving restaurant. Instantly, their cheeks burned like fire, and they wished they could find a hole to crawl into!

    They felt extremely embarrassed! The level of people he was dealing with! He was making appointments with great celebrities, beautiful women, and not just one but four, and they had mocked him about not being able to afford a meal at the revolving restaurant? They even said they wouldn''t miss him!

    "So Manman and Shiyi, you''re here too! Haha, it''s really like the flood has washed over the Dragon King Temple!" Seeing Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi in the car, Nange was also a bit surprised, but he quickly got over it and said with a laugh.

    What does it matter if the person driving this kind of car is accompanied by a few popular actresses from the provincial station?

    Even before, Nange had wondered why the provincial station still supported Liu Manman even though she obviously lost her backer and why Wu Shiyi, a newcomer without any background or support, suddenly got entrusted with a big responsibility and rose to the position. Now, Nange finally realized that their backer was the seemingly inconspicuous but definitely very capable young man in front of him.

    "Hehe, since that''s the case, I won''t stand on ceremony with you," said Ge Dongxu, seeing that Nange was a perceptive and tactful person, no longer said much, smiled and nodded at Nange, then turned to Lin Jianfeng, "Since Nange and his people are willing to give face, let''s just leave the matter at that, and be more careful when driving in the future."

    "Yes, I understand, thank you Ge Dongxu," Lin Jianfeng responded to Ge Dongxu''s lecture, this time without his previous excitement and sense of superiority, and quickly nodded.

    "No need for thanks," Ge Dongxu nodded, then turned to Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie and said, "I have to leave now due to other matters."

    After finishing, Ge Dongxu turned again to Nange, gave him a nod with a smile, and said, "Thank you for this time, I have to go now."

    "Don''t mention it, we were also a bit too hot-headed," Nange hurriedly said modestly.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, didn''t continue the formalities with him, turned around, got into the car, then started the Cherokee and drove away.

    Watching the Cherokee speeding away, Nange breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, luckily this guy is easygoing; otherwise, if things had gotten stiff, he''d have definitely been scolded by his family elders.

    "Nange, who is this guy? Acting all mighty just because he drives a beat-up Cherokee?" Once Ge Dongxu drove off, Gao Siyu and others finally began to speak up, looking unconvinced.

    Indeed, their status might not be as high as Chen Longyou, the Chen family''s son who got arrested last night, but it was fairly close; usually in Linzhou City, though not walking around arrogantly, definitely no one dared to provoke them easily¡ªall being prideful young masters. When have they ever experienced like today, being chased down, and just with a few light words from a young guy, everything was settled?

    "A beat-up Cherokee? You know nothing! Even my own father isn''t qualified to drive this car!" Nange couldn''t help but scold loudly as this group dared to call Ge Dongxu''s car a beat-up Cherokee.

    "Hiss!" Hearing this, Gao Siyu and the others couldn''t help but all take a sharp breath of cold air.

    Others might not know Nange''s background or what his father''s status was, but did they not know?

    If even his family''s old man wasn''t qualified to drive this car, how capable must that young man be?

    "Nange, isn''t that a bit of an exaggeration? That guy looks at most in his early twenties! How could he possibly compare with your dad? Besides, I also don''t see anything special about that car, it just has a license plate from the capital," after a long while, Gao Siyu steadied his nerves and said with disbelief.

    "Exactly, the Cherokee is only worth five or six hundred thousand after all!" the other young people also chimed in.

 Chapter 502 - 501: Is There Something Special About This Car?

    "It''s just a license plate from the capital, and it''s only worth five or six hundred thousand? You talk about it like it''s nothing! Do you even know what that plate represents? Do you think it''s just a regular Grand Cherokee?" Nan Ge felt like a cat that had its tail stepped on and was about to jump up.

    "Could there be something special about this car?" Gao Siyu and the others, seeing Nan Ge''s strong reaction, asked with faces full of incomprehension.

    "Special? Even if you riddled it with an AK-47 or threw a couple of DM51 hand grenades under it, it would still leave unscathed. If you think you can buy a Grand Cherokee like that for just five or six hundred thousand, then go ahead and try!" Nan Ge said irritably.

    "Tssk! Damn, a bulletproof car! That''s so exaggerated!" Gao Siyu and the rest gasped again upon hearing this.

    Those who hadn''t left, including Lin Jianfeng, felt the same!

    When Nan Ge just mentioned that even his own father wasn''t qualified to drive such a car, Lin Jianfeng and the others didn''t feel much, because they didn''t know who Nan Ge''s father was.

    But a bulletproof car, how could they not know about that?

    Those were special vehicles equipped for national VIPs or top-tier tycoons!

    "Exaggerated! And do you know what that license plate stands for?" Nan Ge''s expression became stern as he asked.

    "What?" Gao Siyu and the others asked curiously.

    "A top-level department directly under the Military Commission! And those numbers at the back belong to the more impressive kind," Nan Ge said with increasing seriousness, and his voice was deliberately lowered.

    Gao Siyu and the others, coming from wealthy backgrounds, naturally understood the implications of Nan Ge''s words. They were so scared that their whole bodies trembled, especially Gao Siyu, who recalled how he had just sworn at such an important person and had nearly referred to himself as ''daddy,'' causing his face to turn a bit pale.

    "I was scared to death! Luckily, Nan Ge, you recognized the car. Otherwise, I''d have been in big trouble today," Gao Siyu said, unable to help feeling a wave of relief.

    "So, let''s keep it low-key from now on! Fortunately, that person was easy to talk with," Nan Ge nodded and then said: "You also saw Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi just now. Try to stay away from them in the future."

    "Nan Ge, stop kidding. Even if those two stood naked in front of me right now, I... ahem..." Gao Siyu said with a bitter smile, halting midway when he suddenly realized Lin Jianfeng and the others were still standing nearby. If these words got back to Ge Dongxu, it would be incredibly disrespectful. He quickly swallowed the rest of his sentence and turned to Lin Jianfeng, "Fellow student, since you know the gentleman from earlier, let''s just leave it at that, let''s leave it at that."

    Still shocked by Nan Ge''s previous words, Lin Jianfeng snapped back to reality and hurriedly said, "Thank you, thank you." Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If you want to thank someone, go thank that gentleman," Gao Siyu replied, then turned to Nan Ge and the others and said, "You guys go have fun, I''ll take my car to the shop. With its rear end smashed like this, I can''t bear to drive it out."

    "Haha! That''s what you get for showing off; now you''ve lost face!" Nan Ge and the others laughed maliciously at the sight of Gao Siyu''s dejected expression.

    "Fuck off!" Gao Siyu made a vulgar gesture at Nan Ge and the others, then got into the car and drove off in a cloud of dust.

    "Let''s get going too, fellow students, goodbye," Nan Ge and his group said cheerfully to Lin Jianfeng and the others as they watched Gao Siyu''s car disappear in a cloud of dust, then got into their cars and left.

    Lin Jianfeng and the others watched as one luxurious car after another sped away, each still feeling a bit like they were in a dream.

    The compensation of thirty to fifty thousand was just casually brushed off!

    And all because of a few light words from that freshman they had looked down upon before!

    "I''ll take you guys back to school first, then go get the car fixed," Lin Jianfeng said after a while, sounding as deflated as a punctured ball.

    He once strode with pride, thinking he was someone remarkable in the academy, but now he realized, compared to that freshman, he was nothing!

    Everyone nodded silently and then got into the car.

    The atmosphere in the car was somewhat oppressive, and no one spoke.

    Ren Dandan bit her lip, her face full of regret, and Shi Tianhang was also filled with remorse.

    By the time they were juniors, they were no longer the naive and clueless freshmen they had been when they first entered college. They had some exposure and understanding of society and had already started planning for their future graduation and employment.

    Ren Dandan and Shi Tianhang were both well aware that if they could make the acquaintance of a major figure like Ge Dongxu at this stage, even if he gave them just a little boost in the future, they could avoid many hardships and struggle for fewer years.

    Unfortunately, they had actually looked down on him and mocked him before!

    Xu Yanran and Lin Xiaojie were staring out the window, lost in thought.

    The events of the previous night had made them realize the vast gap between them and Ge Dongxu, but as the pampered darlings of the academy, their youthful hearts were always somewhat confident and hopeful. That was why they had gone to the First Cafeteria for breakfast that morning.

    However, the scene just now had completely made them understand the disparity between them and when they saw people like Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi beside Ge Dongxu, they couldn''t help but feel an uncontrollable sense of shamefulness.

    They were so beautiful, possessing a maturity, charm, and allure that they lacked.

    They were still the shining stars, the center of everyone''s attention!

    And what were they? Merely two college students!

    ...

    Charm Ginza''s business mainly boomed at night, and there were not many customers during the day.

    Brother Wolf was sitting in the corner as usual. With no customers coming and going, he was listlessly leaning on the sofa, half-closed his eyes dozing.

    "Whoa, Brother Wolf has got pretty ladies, so hot! That figure, those breasts, tsk tsk." Just then, one of the guys sitting with Brother Wolf caught sight of four beauties and a young man walking through the door. His eyes immediately lit up, and he nudged the dozing Brother Wolf with his elbow.

    Upon hearing this, Brother Wolf instantly opened his eyes and looked toward the door. With that glance, he couldn''t help but shudder through his whole body and slapped the fool beside him on the head.

    "Damn it, Aki, are you trying to get me killed?!" Brother Wolf cursed and promptly stood up, ready to greet them, but after just two steps, he stopped short.

    Because he suddenly remembered that this influential figure in front of him didn''t seem to want people to know his other impressive identity if it wasn''t necessary. It would be terrible if his attempt to suck up backfired.

    As Brother Wolf hesitated, he suddenly saw Ge Dongxu wave at him. In that instant, Brother Wolf felt his heart might leap out of his throat, and he scurried over.

    This time, the friends accompanying Ge Dongxu all knew a bit about his background, so there was no need for him to hide or pretend to be low-key.

    "Mr. Ge! What can I do for you?" As soon as Brother Wolf approached, he bowed respectfully to Ge Dongxu, his legs going somewhat weak.

    He had been scared and apprehensive just thinking about the events of the previous night, and his reverence for Ge Dongxu had penetrated deep into his bones.

    There was no helping it, he was just too awesome!

 Chapter 503 - 502: Are You Ge Dongxu?

    "My friends and I want to sing; please arrange a private room for us," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Certainly, Mr. Ge. One moment," Brother Wolf respectfully replied. He then called the front desk manager to inquire about the availability of rooms, and upon learning that the Emperor Hall was free, he promptly arranged for Ge Dongxu and the others to use it.

    ...

    Charm Ginza, Chairman''s Office.

    Bald Qiang looked at Chen Jiaxiang, whose hair had started to grey, showing signs of aging, but who still emitted a dignified aura befitting a superior. He said with a troubled expression, "President Chen, I really know very little about that Mr. Ge."

    "Wang Qiang, after all, we''re both part of Qimen. You wouldn''t deny me this favor, would you?" A man in his fifties or sixties with a goatee beside Chen Jiaxiang spoke unhappily, a powerful presence emanating from him.

    When one''s wealth and power reach a certain level, the desire naturally arises to associate with extraordinary individuals for the purpose of extending one''s life and preserving prosperity.

    The Chen Family was no exception. Over the years, they had spent wealth generously and made inquiries widely, managing to connect with some such individuals. Although most were just seeking fame, a few genuinely had remarkable abilities.

    This time, one such truly capable magician had come with Chen Jiaxiang.

    Although Bald Qiang''s status could not compare to Chen Jiaxiang''s, he still had some influence in Linzhou, and given the current sensitive period, it was not appropriate for Chen Jiaxiang to pressure Bald Qiang too forcefully. Thus, he had brought the magician, thinking that if Bald Qiang refused to disclose insider information, the magician could apply some pressure to make him comply.

    However, what Chen Jiaxiang had not anticipated was that Bald Qiang was also a member of Qimen, and the person he had brought recognized Bald Qiang.

    "Sun Yunyang, it''s not that I don''t want to help you, but I truly have limited knowledge. If you really want to know, you should ask Xu Lei," Wang Qiang said, irritation flickering in his eyes as he faced the formidable aura of the goateed man, Sun Yunyang, but his expression eventually turned into a bitter smile.

    In terms of cultivation, he was one small realm below Sun Yunyang, and in terms of techniques, Sun Yunyang was much more skilled than him.

    Because Sun Yunyang was a member of the Golden Mountain Sect, which, although not as prominent as Dragon Tiger Mountain or the Kunlun Sect in Huaxia Country, is still a sect with considerable strength and its own transmitted techniques. Wang Qiang, being a loose cultivator with familial traditions, couldn''t compare in background or inheritance.

    "Which Xu Lei are you referring to?" Sun Yunyang frowned upon hearing this.

    "Which other Xu Lei in Jiangnan Province could have connections with both of us?" Wang Qiang replied with a bitter smile.

    "You mean Xu Lei! Is he also a member of Qimen?" Sun Yunyang''s expression shifted slightly.

    "That''s all I can say. You should understand that my knowledge as an outsider definitely has limits when it involves that department," Wang Qiang said, glancing sideways at Chen Jiaxiang, then addressing Sun Yunyang.

    "Given it involves that department, your knowledge would indeed be limited," Sun Yunyang nodded, his aura unconsciously subduing.

    "Master Sun, what department are you referring to?" Chen Jiaxiang asked, frowning slightly.

    "For people like us, the state has a specific department to oversee and regulate us. The Xu Lei we just mentioned is the official head of this department in Jiangnan Province. It seems that the person Chen Longyou offended last night must also belong to this department, which explains why the special police were involved. Since this department relates to national security, it does possess certain privileges. As for the province''s later response, it was probably just seizing the opportunity to admonish your Chen Family," Sun Yunyang replied.

    "If that''s the case, it''s easy to handle." Chen Jiaxiang nodded upon hearing this, his expression visibly relaxed.

    After the incident last night, the Chen family held an emergency meeting immediately and used many connections, also expressing their stance indirectly. But as the day went on, the situation seemed to escalate, prompting Chen Jiaxiang to seek out Bald Strong. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Nine times out of ten, it should be this way, otherwise, I''ll go directly to Jiangnan University this afternoon and ask that Ge Dongxu to clarify and confirm it. We all belong to the Qimen, and our Golden Mountain Sect still holds some influence," Sun Yunyang said, his face showing a trace of pride.

    With the influence of the Chen family, the overt identity of Ge Dongxu¡ªthey could inquire into it, as it was no secret.

    But regarding Ge Dongxu''s other identity, including roles like chief consultant, and the behind-the-scenes owner of Qinghe Herbal Tea and other companies, even the influence of the Chen family wasn''t enough to dig these out.

    The reason Chen Jiaxiang came to Bald Strong instead of going directly to Ge Dongxu was that he was worried about Ge Dongxu''s additional identity, lest they mess things up.

    Looking at it now, it seems he was overconcerned. Although Ge Dongxu''s identity is a bit special, for the Chen family''s influence, there''s nothing to be afraid of.

    "That''s good! It''s better to resolve grievances than to let them fester. Since this person is also from your Qimen, it''s better to let this grudge pass and also show our stance to the province," Chen Jiaxiang nodded and said.

    As he spoke, Chen Jiaxiang stood up and cupped his hands toward Wang Qiang, "Mr. Wang, I''ve caused you trouble. I''ll treat you to tea another day."

    "Mr. Chen, you''re too polite. I''ll see you out," Wang Qiang hurriedly got up and said.

    The three of them left the director''s office together and as they passed the lobby, they happened to meet Ge Dongxu and his group, who were about to go to Emperor Hall.

    Seeing it was Ge Dongxu, Wang Qiang''s body shook involuntarily, wondering whether it was appropriate to greet him at this time, when Ge Dongxu had already smiled and extended his hand, "Mr. Wang, hello."

    "Hello, Mr. Ge!" Wang Qiang quickly stepped forward and shook hands with Ge Dongxu.

    "Could you be Ge Dongxu?" Sun Yunyang asked, his face carrying a hint of pride.

    In the world of Qimen, the main principle followed is that of respecting the strong. Putting aside Xu Lei''s official capacity, in Qimen, Sun Yunyang''s status was in no way inferior to Xu Lei''s. In fact, because of his age and sect, he was even more established than Xu Lei. It is just that Xu Lei was a "government" person and also the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau in a province, which made people treat him with deference, even though they were just polite on the surface.

    However, Ge Dongxu, being only in his twenties, seemed to Sun Yunyang just a junior, even if he had joined the Special Ability Management Bureau. As a predecessor of Qi Cultivation Third Layer and a disciple of the Golden Mountain Sect, he naturally couldn''t lower his status just because Ge Dongxu was a "government" person.

    "Correct." Ge Dongxu nodded, then turned to Liu Manman and the others and said, "You go ahead, I''ll be there shortly."

    "Alright." Liu Manman and the others nodded obediently. Before leaving, Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi both gave Chen Jiaxiang a surprised look.

    As the leading actresses at the provincial entertainment station, they often attended high society banquets and naturally recognized Chen Jiaxiang, the billionaire.

    However, Chen Jiaxiang''s attention was all on Ge Dongxu at the moment, and since Liu Manman and the other were wearing sunglasses, he didn''t recognize them immediately.

 Chapter 504 - 503: Young Man, Being Too Rigid Makes You Easy to Break

    "I am Sun Yunyang from the Golden Mountain Sect. I don''t know which sect you''re from or who your master is?" Sun Yunyang asked, his demeanor haughty, possessing a hint of a senior questioning a junior.

    "I am from the Pill Talisman Sect. What can I do for you, Mr. Sun?" Ge Dongxu inquired.

    "The Pill Talisman Sect?" Sun Yunyang furrowed his brows slightly, thinking but failing to recall such a sect among Qimen.

    Although the Pill Talisman Sect had produced several strong cultivators in each generation and once held a notable position within Qimen, due to the scarcity of disciples, the sect suffered greatly during the Qing Dynasty, leaving few disciples behind. By the end of the Qing Dynasty and into the Republic of China era, as foreign powers invaded, the disciples of the Pill Talisman Sect sacrificed themselves one after another during the wars, leaving only Ren Yao and his disciple Yang Yinhou.

    Ren Yao was naturally detached and solitary, seldom known in that era of underdeveloped communication. On the other hand, Yang Yinhou, in order to resist the foreign powers and Japan, gained Ren Yao''s approval to temporarily set aside sectarian differences and extensively mingle with patriots. He joined the Qing Gang as a guest elder, becoming essentially half a member of the Qing Gang, and later took a position in the Nationalist Army, becoming well-known.

    However, the sect had its rules, and for the greater good of the country, although Ren Yao supported Yang Yinhou joining other sectarian organizations, he joined under his own name without involving the Pill Talisman Sect. Thus, while Yang Yinhou himself became well-known, few knew of his affiliation with the Pill Talisman Sect.

    As time passed, since the Qing Dynasty, the already declining fame of the Pill Talisman Sect completely faded from public view, except for a very few reclusive Qimen elders, virtually no one knew of the Pill Talisman Sect anymore.

    "I know you are from the Special Ability Management Bureau and you have some power, but as cultivators, we value detachment from fame and profit, and seek no conflict. You made too much out of yesterday''s issue. However, Mr. Chen Jiaxiang, the chairman of Yuan Sheng Corporation doesn''t hold it against you and is willing to let bygones be bygones regarding this grudge, proposing to let the matter of last night rest. Let it go and don''t involve yourself further," Sun Yunyang, not recalling the Pill Talisman Sect, inevitably looked down on Ge Dongxu even more, admonishing him in the tone of a senior lecturing a junior.

    "About last night, you weren''t there to see it firsthand, you have no right to be overly verbose about it here. As for my grudge with the Chen Family, I had already let it go after last night, and whatever follows no longer concerns me; the provincial leaders will naturally investigate. The innocent will clear themselves, and the guilty will reveal themselves. I take my leave." Although young, Ge Dongxu, now having declared his affiliation with the Pill Talisman Sect, held the status of a sect leader and was not to be easily lectured by Sun Yunyang. Hearing this, his face slightly darkened, and he sharply retorted before turning to leave.

    "What sort of attitude is this? Didn''t your sect elders teach you to respect the seniors within Qimen? I''m telling you, even Xu Lei has to be courteous when he meets me," Sun Yunyang remarked, feeling slighted before Chen Jiaxiang and upset that Ge Dongxu was not giving him face. He took a large step forward, blocking Ge Dongxu''s path, his face showing anger.

    "Xu Lei is Xu Lei, I am me, please step aside," Ge Dongxu glanced at Sun Yunyang, his face already displaying displeasure.

    He didn''t want to argue with Sun Yunyang anymore, yet Sun Yunyang continued to parade his authority before him.

    "Young man, too much rigidity leads to breakage. Don''t think you can be arrogant just because you have some ability; the road ahead is long!" Seeing this, Chen Jiaxiang, a man of importance, finally looked displeased and spoke sternly.

    "You should say that to yourself, to your own children, otherwise your road might well end here," Ge Dongxu glanced at Chen Jiaxiang and responded coldly.

    "Impudent boy! It seems I must teach you a lesson on behalf of your masters and Xu Lei, you who know not the heights of the sky and the depths of the earth!" Sun Yunyang, upon hearing this, his face dramatically darkened, his eyes blazing as he flipped his hand, his fingers splayed like a dragon claw, reaching for Ge Dongxu''s neck.

    "Sun Yunyang, no!" Wang Qiang, seeing this, couldn''t help but pale, lifting his foot, ready to intervene.

    "Hmph! You think you''re worthy?" However, as Wang Qiang''s foot barely lifted, a tremendous aura suddenly radiated from Ge Dongxu, and a chill wind unexpectedly sprang up around him.

    This cold wind twisted into an invisible whip, striking towards Sun Yunyang''s arm.

    But both Sun Yunyang and Wang Qiang were magicians, able to faintly sense the flow of energy through their spiritual power.

    A chilling wind arose, and the two faintly "saw" an energy whip, twisted from the forces of heaven and earth, lash towards Sun Yunyang''s arm.

    "True Qi unleashed, Qi shaped into form!" Wang Qiang''s face drastically changed as he cried out in shock.

    Sun Yunyang''s eyes had already shown a look of horror as his reaching hand jerked back as if bitten by a poisonous snake.

    But it was already too late. Once Ge Dongxu had made his move, how could someone at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer possibly dodge it?

    With a "snap," the sound of the whip striking the arm echoed abruptly through the air.

    "Ah!" Sun Yunyang screamed in agony, clutching his arm, his face turning pale with cold sweat, and a distinct lash mark now visible on his arm.

    "This..." Chen Jiaxiang''s eyes suddenly bulged out, staring at the reddened lash mark on Sun Yunyang''s arm, his face filled with shock as if he had seen a ghost.

    Because from the beginning to the end, he did not see any whip actually strike Sun Yunyang''s arm, yet strangely, the crisp sound of a whip echoed through the air, and the next moment, there was a whip injury on Sun Yunyang''s arm.

    This kind of miraculous skill, even if Chen Jiaxiang had been through numerous storms, now made his whole body grow hair, feeling a sinister chill all around, and his gaze at Ge Dongxu carried involuntary fear and awe.

    "Had it not been for the fact that you are a fellow practitioner, just based on your earlier action, this arm of yours would have been destroyed!" Ge Dongxu coldly dropped these words and strode away.

    "True Qi unleashed, Qi shaped into form! How is this possible! How is this possible!" Watching Ge Dongxu''s departing figure, Sun Yunyang''s eyes were filled with terror and disbelief.

    "Master Sun, what is True Qi unleashed, Qi shaped into form? Is it very powerful?" Chen Jiaxiang''s body shook as he asked, a very ominous feeling rising in his heart.

    "More than powerful! It''s terrifying. I really stumbled big this time. I thought he was just a soldier under Xu Lei, but it turns out he is even above Xu Lei. No wonder, no wonder!" Sun Yunyang said with a bitter smile. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To unleash True Qi and shape it into form demands at least the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, while shaping Qi into form requires at least the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, in the Dharma Ending Age, absolutely counts as a master among masters, typically those who choose to remain hidden from the world.

    Back then, Yang Yinhou was at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer and in the Northern Myanmar Forest alone, he ambushed and killed two fully armed Japanese squads, a total of one hundred and twenty-four people.

    One can imagine how formidable the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer is!

    Even the Sect Leader of Golden Mountain Sect, who is also Sun Yunyang''s master, is only at the Fourth Layer.

 Chapter 505 - 504 I Know What to Do Now

    ```

    "You mean his status is even higher than the head of that special department in charge of you all in Jiangnan Province?" Chen Jiaxiang had no concept of the cultivation level hierarchy within Qimen, but he had a rough idea of the rank of a special department head in Jiangnan Province. Upon hearing this, his face underwent a drastic change again.

    "Mr. Chen, to be frank, someone who can release True Qi externally and condense it into form is absolutely a top figure within our Qimen. Even the head of that special department would want to win him over, so how could he possibly be under Xu Lei''s command? This matter, it seems, is not simple. You must consider it carefully," Sun Yunyang said gravely.

    "That damn Chen Longyou, he''s really screwed me over this time!" Chen Jiaxiang''s face darkened as if water was about to drip from it. If it weren''t for the fact that his second son was still detained, he would have had a hard time stopping himself from breaking his legs with a stick.

    "Director Wang, you''re familiar with Mr. Ge, can you think of any way to resolve this grudge? Just say the word, even if it''s a billion, I am willing to pay," said Chen Jiaxiang with an ugly expression, cursing to himself before suddenly looking up at Wang Qiang with a serious face.

    It was also the first time that Wang Qiang truly witnessed Ge Dongxu''s methods. Still immersed in the terrifying power Ge Dongxu had casually revealed, he was jolted awake when Chen Jiaxiang bluntly offered a billion. His heart rate couldn''t help but quicken.

    A billion, ah, he, Wang Qiang, had struggled for most of his life and hadn''t earned that much money! Yet Chen Jiaxiang was willing to spend a billion to settle this grudge. If it were Wang Qiang in his shoes, he would surely have agreed without a second thought.

    Unfortunately, he was not Ge Dongxu. So, soon enough, Wang Qiang replied with a bitter smile, "Mr. Chen, I''m just a small business owner. To tell the truth, I''m not very close to Mr. Ge. He calls me ''Director Wang'' and comes to my place for fun, that''s him giving me face. Other than that, where can I have a say in his matters?"

    Hearing this, Chen Jiaxiang stared at Wang Qiang for a long time until Wang Qiang, having no other option, gave a bitter smile again and said, "From my limited interactions with him, he seems to be quite approachable and not unreasonable, provided that you don''t offend him. To be honest, I asked the waitstaff in the private room afterward. It was truly because your son was too arrogant. Starting off in the wrong, and then sending a crew to kick in the door to cause trouble, not only demanding that his friends drink in apology but also trying to take away the woman by his side. Tell me, even an ordinary person would find it hard to swallow such arrogance, let alone a big shot like Mr. Ge. With the power he displayed just now, if he were not a man of principle, a simple trick could have had your son bedridden and unmovable, with others unable to find the cause."

    "Director Wang is right; with the power that Ge Dongxu just showed, if he really sought private revenge, indeed it would be very difficult for someone to find the cause," confirmed Sun Yunyang with a nod, only then truly understanding the full extent of what had happened. He couldn''t help but secretly feel fortunate that Ge Dongxu was relatively easy to speak with.

    Otherwise, for such a major figure, his son had the audacity to kick in his door and force his friends to apologize, as well as trying to drag away his female companion for company, and he himself had the nerve to stand up for his son. Even if he wound up with a broken arm for real, people in Qimen would only say he had it coming.

    "Alright, thank you, Director Wang. I know what I need to do now. Could you kindly tell me which private room Mr. Ge is in?" After giving it some thought, Chen Jiaxiang, indeed a big shot in the business world, quickly understood the implication of Wang Qiang''s words, nodding his head as inside he truly wished he could seize his useless son and break both his legs right then and there.

    "Emperor Hall, but it''s best if you don''t go in and disturb them, otherwise it''ll be awkward for me," Wang Qiang answered.

    "I understand," Chen Jiaxiang nodded and then said to Sun Yunyang, "Master Sun, I''ve involved you in this mess; once this storm blows over, I will definitely show my gratitude."

    "You''re too polite, Mr. Chen," responded Sun Yunyang. He had been feeling annoyed for unintentionally offending such a formidable person, but he began to feel better seeing Chen Jiaxiang''s words.

    Wealth is an essential companion to the Tao; without wealth, the Tao cannot be nurtured. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The practitioners of Golden Mountain Sect, lacking members skilled in the art of making money, had no choice but to take the road of "acquiring cultural and martial skills to serve the emperor and amass wealth."

    ```

    Sun Yunyang was friends with Chen Jiaxiang, desires for the latter''s wealth.

    Having suffered a loss this time, Chen Jiaxiang was willing to compensate financially, and Sun Yunyang no longer felt at a disadvantage.

    "Then Master Sun, please do as you wish. This time, I, Chen, inevitably have to shed my dignity for the sake of that rebellious son in my family," Chen Jiaxiang said with a bitter smile as he saw Sun Yunyang''s expression change from gloom to joy.

    "Alright, I''ll be taking my leave first," Sun Yunyang said as he prepared to depart. Trying to assert dominance as an elder in front of Ge Dongxu had backfired when he was effortlessly "whipped" in response and naturally had no face to stay any longer. Hearing this, he bid farewell and left.

    After Sun Yunyang left, Chen Jiaxiang sighed deeply and seemed to have aged considerably. Then he headed to Emperor Hall accompanied by Wang Qiang.

    Once at Emperor Hall, Chen Jiaxiang did not push the door open but stood waiting at the entrance.

    It takes the person who tied the bell to untie it!

    After what had just happened, with Chen Jiaxiang''s political acumen, he knew that the key to resolving this issue lay with Ge Dongxu.

    If Ge Dongxu was unrelenting, then even if the Chen Family pulled numerous strings and did a great deal of work, the matter would remain unresolved.

    Of course, the crux was that the foundations of the Chen Family could not withstand a thorough investigation.

    Another crucial reason the head of a household, a billionaire like Chen Jiaxiang, was willing to bow and submit was the ability Ge Dongxu had just displayed; it was far beyond Chen Jiaxiang''s imagination.

    With Chen Jiaxiang''s intelligence, it was not difficult to understand that offending such a fearsome figure with superpowers, unless he could find someone capable of eliminating Ge Dongxu, being at enmity with him was like living with a bomb that could explode at any time; he simply would not know when Ge Dongxu might strike at the Chen Family in secret.

    And obviously, eliminating such a dreadful figure was unrealistic!

    Inside Emperor Hall, Ge Dongxu had been leisurely listening to the singing of Jin Yushan on stage with his legs crossed. Suddenly, he furrowed his brow slightly, greeted Liu Manman, Wu Shiyi, and Lin Sijie who were sitting next to him, and then got up and left Emperor Hall.

    "Mr. Ge!" Chen Jiaxiang had not expected that he would only wait for a few minutes at the door before Ge Dongxu, as if knowing he was there, opened the door and came out, startling him and causing him to reflexively take a step back, his expression unnaturally mixed with a tinge of fear.

    Chen Jiaxiang was still profoundly unsettled when he thought about how Ge Dongxu had "whipped" Sun Yunyang without doing anything else.

 Chapter 506 - 505: A Glimmer of Enlightenment

    "What are you doing standing here?" Ge Dongxu frowned and asked.

    He naturally did not like the fact that while he was inside having a gathering with friends, an irrelevant person like Chen Jiaxiang was standing outside.

    "Mr. Ge, my son caused great offense last night, and I am here to offer a formal apology on his behalf. If Mr. Ge would be so kind as to let this go, my Chen Family is willing to offer a hundred million yuan as a gesture of compensation," Chen Jiaxiang managed to regain his composure swiftly, deeply bowing to Ge Dongxu as he spoke, despite his heart bleeding inwardly.

    A hundred million! The Chen Family had accumulated its wealth over many years, yet their assets hadn''t even broken through ten billion. And now, they were about to lose a whole billion.

    However, Chen Jiaxiang knew that the worth of a person like Ge Dongxu couldn''t truly be measured by money, and if a hundred million could make up their relationship, then it would be very much worth it.

    "A hundred million, you indeed have the courage of your convictions, but I am not in need of money," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    At these words, Chen Jiaxiang''s expression froze instantly.

    Over the years, having made connections with many remarkable individuals, he knew that these people were not like the legendary immortals, aloof from worldly possessions. Instead, they were often in more urgent need of money than the average person, like Sun Yunyang. In Chen Jiaxiang''s view, even if Ge Dongxu had great abilities, he couldn''t be above worldly desires, so he made a bold offer of a hundred million, thinking at the very least Ge Dongxu would be tempted. But he didn''t even bat an eyelid, casually refusing the offer.

    Suddenly, Chen Jiaxiang found himself at a loss for what more he could do.

    Aside from money, he really didn''t know what else he could offer to sway a person like Ge Dongxu.

    "Alright, you can leave now. I know what you''re worried about, but the pure remain pure and the foul remain foul. Your Chen Family''s affairs are not my business, and naturally, I won''t concern myself with or ask about them. It''s all up to the provincial authorities to decide. I just want to offer one piece of advice¡ªif your Chen Family manages to escape disaster this time, I hope you will learn your lesson," seeing Chen Jiaxiang frozen with that expression, Ge Dongxu waved his hand and turned to go back to the private room.

    Watching the door of the private room close again, Chen Jiaxiang stood there for quite some time, eventually letting out a long, shameful sigh before turning to leave.

    Returning to the private room, Ge Dongxu thoroughly enjoyed both the auditory and visual feast of the beautiful women taking turns to sing.

    Especially Wu Shiyi, who dressed seductively and danced even more so.

    Several times, Ge Dongxu found it hard to look directly at her, as her twisting body, wrapped in a tight-fitting dress, presented curves that rose and fell so dramatically that any man would feel his blood racing.

    As for Liu Manman, perhaps due to her age, she was relatively more reserved, but her every move and smile were like a ripe peach, exuding charming allure, unconsciously hooking away one''s soul.

    "Xu, why don''t you sing one for us, just one!" After the four beauties had sung and danced for a while without eliciting any response from Ge Dongxu, they swarmed over to him, chirping and coaxing.

    "I really can''t sing. You all continue, and I''ll be responsible for listening and applauding," Ge Dongxu declined to go up.

    "If you won''t sing, then dance with us," Seeing Ge Dongxu wouldn''t sing, the four women playfully insisted for a bit before relenting, not wanting to push him too hard, and then suggested dancing instead.

    "No, I''m even worse at dancing," Ge Dongxu was so alarmed at the mention of dancing that he almost considered getting up and leaving.

    Last time in the capital, dancing close with Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi, Ge Dongxu still felt "haunted" when he thought about it.

    "Don''t worry, Xu, this time we''ll do ballroom dancing. You have to learn ballroom dancing; you''ll need it when accompanying your girlfriend to any functions. There''s always dancing involved," seeing Ge Dongxu clearly "haunted" by the memory, Liu Manman recalled how she and Wu Shiyi had taken the initiative to seduce him that night, her face turned slightly red as she flirted with Ge Dongxu, coaxing him.

    "Yeah, that''s right. Xu, let me tell you, Lili actually loves dancing, but she hasn''t been able to find a male partner because of you, and keeps having to drag me along to dance the men''s steps," Jin Yushan immediately chimed in. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu thought back to the first day of orientation when the vice president of the cultural department in charge of welcoming him, Ye Tong, had told him about the ballroom dance classes that were going to be organized for freshmen after military training. Considering the wolfish nature of his three roommates, they would definitely sign up and drag him along as well.

    Remembering that there were more men than women in the School of Environmental and Resource Sciences, and that he might have to pair up with another man for dance practice, Ge Dongxu felt his skin crawl at the thought. Without further hesitation, he nodded and said, "Alright, then I''ll learn a bit."

    As long as I learn it now, there will be a natural reason not to join the social dance training class later.

    "Wow, Dongxu, you''re so nice, letting Manman teach you first." Wu Shiyi and the others immediately clapped and cheered, leaving Ge Dongxu crying and laughing.

    "Dongxu, hold my waist and follow the rhythm. Let''s start with the simple slow waltz," Liu Manman stepped forward, took Ge Dongxu''s hand, and placed it on her slender, soft waist as she spoke softly.

    Once again holding Liu Manman''s soft waist and smelling the familiar seductive fragrance, a ripple stirred in Ge Dongxu''s heart.

    The music started at that moment.

    Liu Manman then led Ge Dongxu onto the dance floor.

    Social dance might be a bit difficult for the average person at first and inevitably, one might step on their female partner''s feet, but for someone like Ge Dongxu who could even "fly with the control of qi" and was almost an immortal, it was truly just a piece of cake. Even the quickstep, which many saw as the most difficult and used to gauge one''s ability in social dance, Manman only had to lead him through once before Ge Dongxu turned into a dance maestro.

    "You''re so bad, Dongxu, claiming you can''t dance and deceiving us, weren''t you?" Once the song ended, Liu Manman couldn''t help but raise her small fist and lightly punched Ge Dongxu, chastising him.

    "I just learned it just now," Ge Dongxu said with a helpless wry smile.

    "I don''t believe you! Shiyi is our stage''s recognized dance master, it''s your turn now," Liu Manman raised her small fist again and lightly hit Ge Dongxu, then turned to Wu Shiyi with a smile.

    "Still dancing!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help blurting out.

    "Of course, Dongxu, you can''t show partiality!" Wu Shiyi said, a sly glint in her beautiful eyes.

    Having been around Ge Dongxu for so long, she had quite understood his kind nature.

    Sure enough, once Wu Shiyi said this, Ge Dongxu found it hard to refuse again, so he had no choice but to hold Wu Shiyi''s serpentine waist, encased in a tight-fitting dress, and drift into the dance floor with the music.

    At some point, the lights dimmed.

    And at some point, Wu Shiyi almost completely pressed against Ge Dongxu''s body, her hot, sexy figure causing a subtle change in Ge Dongxu''s body, and he inwardly lamented.

    If this continued, sooner or later Shiyi would notice, and that would be embarrassing.

    If it really turned embarrassing, the relationship between them would probably become more ambiguous.

    Thinking this, Ge Dongxu suddenly remembered the time he promised Liu Jiayao he wouldn''t bring her many sisters, and Jiayao had said she didn''t need his promise. Her only worry was that he was too outstanding, fearing that too many women would cling to him later. He had a kind heart; he couldn''t bear to let one go or leave another behind, ending up having no control over the situation.

    Strangely enough, as soon as Ge Dongxu remembered Liu Jiayao''s reminder, the stirring in his heart gradually calmed down.

    It was as if having Wu Shiyi cling to him wasn''t a big deal.

    After one song, it was Jin Yushan''s turn to dance with him, followed by Lin Sijie.

    When Ge Dongxu had danced a song with each person and sat back down on the sofa, he watched the four sexy and graceful beauties continue dancing and singing. Because he suddenly remembered Jiayao''s reminder, he now faced the four beauties with a mind as calm as still water.

    If Liu Manman and the others were a garden of flowers and I remained unmoved at this moment, I should surely count as having "passed untouched by a single leaf amid a forest of blooms," but what does that have to do with my cultivation? After all, I didn''t engage in any dual cultivation with them just now.

    Ge Dongxu felt as if he faintly grasped the true meaning hidden within the phrase "passed untouched by a single leaf amid a forest of blooms," yet he also felt as if he hadn''t grasped anything at all.

 Chapter 507 - 506 Your Dad Is Actually Quite a Character

    Because Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie had to catch a train, in the evening, Ge Dongxu and the others left Charm Ginza.

    Wang Qiang naturally refused to accept Ge Dongxu''s money, which made him feel somewhat guilty; however, he wasn''t accustomed to insisting, so he just went along with Wang Qiang''s wishes.

    After leaving Charm Ginza, Ge Dongxu first went to the hotel where Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie were staying.

    The cars of Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi were parked in the hotel, and the luggage of Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie was still there as well.

    After dropping off Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi, he personally helped carry Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie''s luggage into the trunk of the car and drove them to the train station in the Grand Cherokee.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. I really hate to leave you behind," Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie each gave Ge Dongxu a hug before entering the ticket gate, and they even kissed him on the cheek, turning the male passengers in the waiting hall green with envy.

    "Go ahead, once this play of yours is performed, I guess I won''t have the chance to sent you off like this anymore," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, feeling a touch of emotion and reluctance in his heart.

    He could feel that their reluctance to part with him was genuine, and not just for show.

    ...

    "Miss Liu, have you arranged for someone to pick you up? If not, why not take my car back?" At the airport terminal exit, a man with a steady demeanor and handsome looks, who appeared to be in his thirties, said to Liu Jiayao.

    Two stern-faced bodyguards in black suits were following behind the man.

    "Thank you, President Chen, but there''s no need. I have a friend coming to pick me up," Liu Jiayao said with a smile as she brushed back her hair, politely declining.

    Watching Liu Jiayao''s graceful gesture of combing back her hair, the man couldn''t help but show a hoot of heat in his eyes.

    This woman was not only stunning in looks and temperament but also boasted an excellent figure, and was the chairman of Qinglan Cosmetics; capturing her affection would mean wealth and esteem in the Chen family for me, Chen Longtian, making my position unshakeable. Even my brother, who has a talent for investment and has made the family a fortune through several successful projects, would have no choice but to work for me.

    "Oh, Miss Liu''s friend must also be a stunning beauty. This would be a good opportunity to get to know her," Chen Longtian said offhandedly, taking the chance to flatter Liu Jiayao.

    "President Chen misunderstands; my friend is not some stunning beauty but rather my boyfriend," Liu Jiayao replied, a subtle look of disgust flashing in her eyes.

    Chen Longtian, the director and deputy general manager of Yuansheng Group, was also the eldest son of the chairman, Chen Jiaxiang. They had happened to meet on the plane, and Chen Longtian seized the opportunity to cling to her. Now, even after disembarking from the plane, he was sticking to her like a shadow.

    However, in business, the emphasis is on harmony for the sake of profit. Yuansheng Group was powerful and wealthy in Jiangnan Province, and Chen Longtian, being not only the director and deputy general manager but also the chairman''s eldest son, made it difficult for Liu Jiayao to openly confront him; she had to maintain a somewhat indifferent demeanor instead.

    Intentionally specifying it was her boyfriend was also an attempt to get Chen Longtian to back off and stop pestering her.

    "Oh, is that so? Then I''m even more eager to make his acquaintance. Who could it be that was so capable to win Miss Liu''s heart first?" Chen Longtian said, with a flash of jealousy in his eyes. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao smiled faintly, just about to respond when her beautiful eyes lit up. Clicking her heels, she quickly walked towards Ge Dongxu with a swaying waist and casually took his arm.

    "Was it tough on the way here?" Ge Dongxu asked softly.

    "The moment I saw you, I stopped feeling tired!" Liu Jiayao said, gripping his arm even tighter as she felt his concern.

    Ge Dongxu''s heart warmed at her words, and he was just about to speak when a man appeared in front of him. The man seemed to be smiling, but his eyes held a touch of jealousy and pride as he said, "I am Chen Longtian, a director at Yuansheng Group. My father is Chen Jiaxiang; you must have heard of him. I''m not sure how to address this young man; you seem unfamiliar!"

    "Ge Dongxu." Ge Dongxu responded indifferently, thinking to himself that it was quite a coincidence. He had just had a conflict with Chen Longyou last night, and he had just met Chen Jiaxiang today. Unexpectedly, he had now run into another one of his sons here.

    "Ge Dongxu? That name is unfamiliar; I haven''t heard of it. What line of business are you in, Mr. Ge?" Chen Longtian''s face showed even more pride upon hearing this.

    "I''m sorry, Mr. Chen, but since we are strangers, I don''t want to answer that question. Excuse us." Ge Dongxu cast a glance at Liu Jiayao by his side, sensing something, and his brows knitted slightly.

    "Oh, could it be that Mr. Ge''s profession needs to be kept secret? Or is it that your line of work can''t withstand the light of day?" Upon hearing this, Chen Longtian seemed to think of something. His gaze towards Ge Dongxu not only grew more arrogant and contemptuous but also carried a hint of interrogation.

    As he spoke, Chen Longtian turned towards Liu Jiayao, whose face had suddenly turned cold, and he said sternly, "President Liu, these days some young men specifically try to please wealthy women. You should be careful not to¡­"

    Upon hearing this, Liu Jiayao knew exactly what Chen Longtian meant. Her pretty face instantly turned as cold as ice, and just as she was about to scold him, Ge Dongxu patted her hand, signaling her not to get angry, while the look he gave Chen Longtian turned from indifferent to ice-cold.

    "Your father may be somewhat of a figure, but it''s a pity that neither of his sons amount to much!" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "Who do you think you are? You, a freeloader, dare to¡­" Chen Longtian saw Ge Dongxu, an unknown youngster, daring to speak to him in such a tone and his face immediately darkened.

    "Chen Longtian! Shut your filthy mouth!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but speak out.

    Chen Longtian''s face turned pale. He hadn''t expected that, given his status, Liu Jiayao would dare speak to him in such a way.

    Nevertheless, Chen Longtian still had designs on Liu Jiayao. His expression changed several times, but in the end, he managed a pained smile and said with a look of grievance, "President Liu, I meant well. This guy¡­"

    Before Chen Longtian could finish, Liu Jiayao could barely hold back from reprimanding him again, but Ge Dongxu patted her hand once more and said calmly, "What''s the point in getting angry with a youngster? It''s not worth it; later, I''ll have his father discipline him properly."

    "Pfft!" Liu Jiayao, who was still upset, couldn''t help but laugh upon seeing Ge Dongxu take on an elder''s proud demeanor.

    Watching Ge Dongxu display the haughty posture of an elder, especially as Liu Jiayao couldn''t help laughing, nearly caused Chen Longtian''s lungs to explode with rage.

    "Fuck! What are you standing there for? Are you deaf?" Chen Longtian roared at the two bodyguards behind him, completely forgetting that they were at the airport exit, surrounded by quite a number of people.

 Chapter 508 - 507 I am very angry about what just happened

    The two bodyguards, upon being yelled at by Chen Longtian like that, immediately stepped forward with gleaming menace in their eyes, blocking Ge Dongxu''s way on both sides.

    However, a look of confusion quickly appeared on the faces of the two bodyguards, which then turned into horror as they watched Ge Dongxu, accompanied by Liu Jiayao, pulling the luggage cart and simply walking away.

    "You two idiots! What are you doing? Just watching him insult me and then letting him leave?" Chen Longtian saw the two bodyguards standing there dumbfounded as Ge Dongxu walked away arm in arm with Liu Jiayao and couldn''t help but jump with rage.

    "Remember my name is Ge Dongxu. Go back and tell Chen Jiaxiang that I am very angry about what just happened." Just as Chen Longtian was cursing the two bodyguards, Ge Dongxu''s voice suddenly floated over.

    Chen Longtian was initially stunned at hearing Ge Dongxu''s arrogantly reckless words, following which he almost couldn''t resist the urge to chase after him and punch Ge Dongxu a few times.

    Luckily, Chen Longtian took his own status into consideration, and seeing Ge Dongxu''s height of at least one meter eighty, he dared not take the risk, and thus he held back his impulsiveness.

    However, while Chen Longtian did not impulsively charge at Ge Dongxu himself, he was not so courteous with the two bodyguards, directly kicking at them and cursing, "What are you standing around for?"

    "Boss Chen, that man is not simple, we surely can''t beat him." The two bodyguards, having been kicked, finally came to their senses, and said with a look of lingering fear on their faces.

    They had initially wanted to rush up and hit Ge Dongxu, but before they even got close, they felt an oppressive force bearing down on them, not only making it impossible for them to move forward, but also filling them with an unprecedented fear.

    The two could be personal bodyguards for someone like Chen Tianlong, and naturally had some knowledge and skills, not the sort that ordinary security guards could compare with, waking up to the reality at this point, they naturally weren''t foolish enough to rush forward.

    "Bullshit! You haven''t even fought yet, how do you know you''re not his match! I''ve been wasting so much money on you for nothing." Chen Longtian felt his lungs about to explode with anger upon hearing this.

    "Boss Chen, this is the truth. We''ve been with you for several years now, you should know what kind of courage we have. That man really isn''t simple. We were originally going to beat him up for you, but before we even got close, we felt a terrifying pressure that stopped us in our tracks, and we suspect he''s an expert in internal martial arts!" The bodyguards replied with a wry smile, seeing Chen Longtian''s uncontrollable anger.

    "What''s this you''re talking about?" Chen Longtian was not a fool, after all, only momentarily getting hot-headed with anger, losing the calm he should have had, and he immediately became serious upon hearing the explanation.

    "Boss Chen must have heard that martial arts are distinguished between the external and internal schools. We practice external martial arts, focusing on developing muscles, bones, and skin, winning with speed and strength, while the internal martial art is about cultivating Qi, guiding the Qi with intent, channeling Qi to lead the limbs and the entire body. Once this Qi bursts forth in the body, the momentum is extremely frightening." The bodyguard replied, eyes showing a trace of lingering fear.

    "Really? Is it that miraculous?" Chen Longtian frowned upon hearing this.

    "Boss Chen, we wouldn''t dare joke about such matters." The bodyguard replied with a bitter smile.

    "So it seems I underestimated that guy." A serious expression finally appeared on Chen Longtian''s face, especially recalling the words Ge Dongxu had said before leaving. Although he felt that Ge Dongxu was probably bluffing, he couldn''t shake off a nagging feeling of unease for some reason.

    "To hell with it! He''s just a young man in his twenties, what am I worried about!" Chen Longtian quickly felt ashamed for the unease in his heart.

    The car was parked in the airport parking lot.

    With that in mind, Chen Longtian and the three bodyguards headed to the airport parking lot.

    Just as they were about to retrieve their car, they saw a Grand Cherokee drive past them.

    Ge Dongxu was sitting in the driver''s seat of the Grand Cherokee.

    "It''s actually a Beijing license plate!" Chen Longtian''s face slightly changed, as the unease he had pushed to the back of his mind resurfaced.

    However, Chen Longtian was neither a soldier nor a Beijinger, and like Gao Siyu who had driven the BMW 740 before, he couldn''t see the special significance of the license plate.

    ...

    "Hey Dongxu, were you just trying to scare that Chen Longtian, or do you actually know Chen Jiaxiang?" In the Grand Cherokee, Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu with a smile that was not quite a smile and asked.

    "Do I look that bored? To scare a young master?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "No way, you really know Chen Jiaxiang? And it sounded like you had quite the attitude just now! Could it be that because of what you said, Chen Jiaxiang will teach Chen Longtian a lesson? Chen Longtian is Chen Jiaxiang''s eldest son, and it''s said that he does have some abilities." Liu Jiayao looked at Ge Dongxu with great interest.

    "Of course, who do you think your husband is! That Chen Longtian dared to have designs on you and said I was living off a woman, if Chen Jiaxiang dares not to discipline him, I''ll make sure he regrets it." Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu put on a very cocky demeanor.

    "Pfft!" Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but laugh out loud when she saw the posture Ge Dongxu had deliberately adopted, saying, "I didn''t know you were such a jealous type. Looks like a lot of people in Linzhou City are going to be unlucky."

    "No way, are there a lot of people chasing you in the provincial capital?" Ge Dongxu asked on purpose.

    "Nonsense! I''m a genuine ''fair, rich, and beautiful,'' naturally, there''s no shortage of pursuers. I don''t know what happened in our past lives for me to fall for a greenhorn like you and give away my body, I had no choice but to settle down with you." Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a sidelong glance as she spoke.

    "Heh heh, sis, by then I was sixteen years old and had my ID card!" Ge Dongxu said with a proud chuckle.

    "Look at you all proud!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s proud look, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but remember the events of the past. Thinking back, he wasn''t very tall at the time, just over 1.6 meters, and he was dark and lanky, dressed very plainly, and yet she had hopelessly fallen for him. Her eyes unwittingly revealed a deep affection.

    "Heh heh!" Ge Dongxu chuckled again with pride.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu laugh so proudly, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but reach out and pinch him. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu then stopped laughing and changed the subject, asking, "How was the trip to Hong Kong? Is the final plan for the advertisement settled?"

    "Almost, we expect to start shooting before the end of the year. With Yu Xin endorsing and your unique formula, our Flower Spirit is sure to become an international brand," Liu Jiayao replied with a look of yearning on her face.

    "Not forgetting the business management of our beautiful Ms. Liu!" Ge Dongxu added with a laugh.

    "Giggle!" Liu Jiayao laughed happily upon hearing this.

    ...

    At the Chen Family residence, Chen Jiaxiang sat on a living room couch, his head leaning against the backrest, while his wife stood behind him, gently massaging his temples.

    Since last night, a tension had lingered in Chen Jiaxiang''s mind, not letting up until a moment ago. He finally breathed a sigh of relief when news came that, after efforts and gestures of goodwill, the provincial authorities had softened their stance. He was also secretly thankful for his humble demeanor that afternoon.

    Otherwise, even if the provincial attitude had relaxed but the true source had not been found, considering the mysterious and terrifying power of Ge Dongxu, whose background was equally mysterious and formidable, Chen Jiaxiang believed that the Chen Family would probably still not have been able to escape this disaster.

 Chapter 509 - 508: Is It Really That Serious?

    Just as Chen Jiaxiang was slightly closing his eyes and enjoying the massage from his wife, feeling somewhat relieved, his eldest son, Chen Longtian, walked in.

    Seeing his father''s weary face, giving him the impression that he had aged considerably, Chen Longtian couldn''t help but feel a shock run through him, as he stepped forward and asked, "Dad, are you alright?"

    "Hmm! You''re back," Chen Jiaxiang, hearing his eldest son''s greeting, slowly opened his eyes and, seeing the concerned expression on his son''s face, felt a bit better.

    "Yes, I came straight here after getting off the plane," Chen Longtian replied.

    "How are things in Hong Kong?" Chen Jiaxiang closed his eyes again and asked.

    "I visited several companies; their terms are quite harsh," Chen Longtian replied.

    "That''s normal. Whether it''s in corporate management or production technology, they are ahead in many aspects, and they also have the advantage in terms of funding. Negotiations definitely wouldn''t be easy. However, our mainland has huge market potential, cheap labor, and favorable policies, all of which Hong Kong doesn''t have, so don''t worry, don''t lower our terms too soon. Of course, if those big families and companies in Hong Kong are willing to cooperate with our Chen Family, any terms can be discussed. With their influence, once our Chen Family collaborates with them, not to mention in Jiangnan Province, even in the whole Huaxia Country, our status would change immediately," Chen Jiaxiang once again slowly opened his eyes, revealing a hint of longing.

    At that time, the economic level of Hong Kong was still far ahead of the mainland, and Hong Kong''s few big families were among the top echelons in the entire Chinese circle. Cooperating with them could instantly elevate the status of the Chen Family, a symbol of extraordinary significance.

    Even with this level of cooperation, the incident caused by Chen Longyou wouldn''t have left the Chen Family so powerless.

    "Although our Chen Family has some financial and political influence in Jiangnan Province, we are still much inferior in the eyes of those families. When I visited, they merely sent someone perfunctory to meet me. It''s difficult to talk about cooperation!" Chen Longtian, thinking of those prestigious Hong Kong families and feeling especially frustrated at being regarded as nothing more than a rural financier in their eyes.

    Upon hearing this, Chen Jiaxiang let out a quiet sigh and then closed his eyes, waving his hand and saying, "Go rest. We''ll talk about the specifics tomorrow."

    "Alright," Chen Longtian nodded, just as he was about to turn away and leave, he suddenly remembered the words Ge Dongxu had left behind before he left, and the Beijing license plate on his Jeep Grand Cherokee. Although he convinced himself he was overthinking, he hesitated and finally asked, "Dad, do you know a young man named Ge Dongxu?"

    "Ge Dongxu!" Upon hearing this name, Chen Jiaxiang, who had his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and abruptly sat upright.

    Seeing such a strong reaction from his father, Chen Longtian''s heart skipped a beat, a very uneasy feeling surging to his heart.

    However, it didn''t take long for Chen Longtian to suppress the unease in his heart, scoffing internally, and thinking, even if my dad knows him, what about it? He''s just a young man; can our Chen Family really be afraid of him?

    "Why did you suddenly ask about him? Has someone already mentioned something about your brother? I was planning to tell you tomorrow. Since you''ve already asked, let''s discuss it in detail then," Chen Jiaxiang, startled by his own reaction but soon scoffing at himself, thought he was being overly sensitive. He had just met Ge Dongxu that afternoon, and his eldest son had just returned from Hong Kong. How could the two possibly be involved in any issue?

    "Ah, Dad, you really know him! So, he wasn''t bragging then. What happened to Longyou this time?" At hearing this, Chen Longtian''s suppressed anxiety surged back up instantly.

    "What bragging? You met him? Nothing happened, right?" Chen Jiaxiang was initially startled upon hearing this, and then he sprang up from his seat like a cat that had its tail stepped on, his complexion changing entirely. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No, just a little misunderstanding. I said a few words to him, and then he¡­" Chen Longtian''s anxiety grew thicker, yet he still hadn''t realized the seriousness of the situation, and he tried to reply in a downplayed tone.

    "Just a little misunderstanding? And you scolded him too?" Upon hearing this, Chen Jiaxiang covered his head, his body began to sway, and he almost couldn''t stay standing.

    He must have raised two utterly hopeless sons. Just yesterday, his younger son had recklessly offended Ge Dongxu and was arrested, and now his other son, who had just returned from Hong Kong, had also offended Ge Dongxu!

    "Dad, what''s wrong?" Seeing his father covering his head and shaking, breathing heavily, Chen Longtian panicked and hurriedly went forward to support him.

    "Slap!" But Chen Longtian had just approached when Chen Jiaxiang had already raised his hand and harshly slapped him.

    "Dad! Why, why did you hit me?" Chen Longtian covered his face, looking at Chen Jiaxiang incredulously and innocently.

    At this moment, Chen Longtian obviously didn''t know that his father, because of his brother''s issue, despite being advanced in age, had humbly waited at the entrance of a KTV private room. After much difficulty, he heard Ge Dongxu say he wouldn''t interfere, finally seeing a turning point, only for him to anger Ge Dongxu again!

    "To hit you, I damn well want to kill you! How did I raise such troublesome sons who only cause me problems! I, I''ll beat you to death!" Seeing his son still looking innocent, Chen Jiaxiang grew angrier and turned around looking for a stick to hit him with.

    This time, Chen Longtian was utterly stunned; he had seen his father angry before, but never to this extent.

    Fortunately, Chen Longtian''s mother was also in the living room. Seeing that something was wrong, she hurriedly stepped forward, wrapped her arms around Chen Jiaxiang''s waist, and said, "Old Chen, take a breath, now''s not the time to be angry."

    In his rage, Chen Jiaxiang was soothed by his wife''s embrace and persuasion, and he slowly suppressed his anger, knowing that the priority was not to beat his son but to understand the severity of the situation first.

    "Alright, alright, I''m not angry," Chen Jiaxiang gasped for breath, fiercely patted his chest, then flopped back onto the couch, pointing at the pale-faced Chen Longtian, he angrily said, "Ungrateful son, you tell me exactly what happened, don''t leave anything out, or else I will break your legs today!"

    "Dad, who exactly is Ge Dongxu? He looks to be just in his twenties. Even if I offended him, is it really that serious?" Chen Longtian was still somewhat disbelieving and slightly defiant.

    After all, their Chen family was one of the notable families in Jiangnan Province, wealthy and influential. How significant could a young man, barely in his twenties, really be? Could he possibly shake the foundation of the Chen family?

 Chapter 510 - 509 What to do now?

    Seeing his son still somewhat defiant, Chen Jiaxiang barely suppressed his anger that was about to erupt again, but thankfully his wife gently soothed his chest just in time, allowing him to forcefully contain the burst of fury, his expression extremely ugly as he said, "It''s serious, do you know that just because your brother offended him recklessly, he has now been detained, and Yang Hao''s gang has been completely uprooted. If it weren''t for the fact that our Chen Family kept a certain distance from Yang Hao and didn''t really touch their money, you wouldn''t be seeing me at home right now!"

    "Hiss!" Chen Longtian couldn''t help but gasp sharply and exclaimed, "What? Can''t my Second Uncle and Uncle Ye speak on his behalf, help him out?"

    Chen Longtian''s ''Second Uncle'' naturally referred to his Vice Mayor Uncle, and as for ''Uncle Ye'', he was an official promoted by his grandfather, serving as the mayor of an Earth Level city.

    In Jiangnan Province, such a position already counted as quite significant.

    "Sang Yunlong personally intervened, Zheng Zijie personally oversaw the case, in the entire Jiangnan Province, how many people could have a say! Help out!" Chen Jiaxiang said with a steely face.

    At these words, Chen Longtian shuddered all over, his face turning pale and cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

    It was only at this moment that he truly felt afraid.

    Sang Yunlong, Zheng Zijie, those were both titans of Jiangnan Province, the mere thought of whom made Chen Longtian''s scalp tingle.

    After a long while, Chen Longtian forced himself to calm down and said, "Dad, with such big matters, Ge Dongxu should not yet have the capacity to manipulate, at most he could just be the fuse."

    "If it were just the fuse, would I need to be so angry and tense? I met this person this afternoon, he is no ordinary man, and he definitely holds a position in some government department. Although I don''t know what position, but it is certainly not a simple one. So when you say he doesn''t have the capacity to mediate this matter, you''re right, after all Sang Yunlong and Zheng Zijie are provincial leaders, they have their own principles, not just because he says something that everything happens, but he definitely has influential power!" Seeing his son still able to analyze calmly, Chen Jiaxiang''s expression slightly eased, he said in a deep voice.

    "According to what you say, Dad, this person must be extremely significant! But why haven''t we ever heard his name? Right, his license plate is from the capital city, could it be he is from there? But that''s not right, his accent is clearly from our Jiangnan Province." Chen Longtian, seeing his father''s expression slightly eased, calmed down a bit, but despite his father''s words, he was definitely terrified.

    "A license plate from the capital city? Did you see his car? What was the plate number?" Chen Jiaxiang said, taken aback.

    "It starts with ''Jing V'', I forgot the specific number though," Chen Longtian replied.

    "Jing V at the beginning! What color were those characters? Were they red?" Chen Jiaxiang''s face suddenly changed.

    "It seems so, yes, they were red. I even found it odd at the time! Why were the colors different in the front and back? Dad, does this plate number have some significance?" Chen Longtian replied after thinking back.

    Hearing this, Chen Jiaxiang''s face turned pale, and after a long while, he looked at his son and sighed, "That''s a Military Commission plate, do you think it has significance?"

    At this remark, Chen Longtian''s face also immediately turned pale.

    Being thirty years old and from a wealthy family, Chen Longtian clearly understood what this meant!

    "Let''s talk about what exactly happened between you and Ge Dongxu today?" Seeing his son''s pale face, Chen Jiaxiang couldn''t be bothered to continue explaining about the license plate.

    Chen Longtian looked at his father, then, trembling with fear, recounted his encounter with Liu Jiayao on the return flight, meeting Ge Dongxu after getting off the plane, and because of his covetousness towards Liu Jiayao and not taking young Ge Dongxu seriously, insulting him as a freeloader, and even ordering his bodyguards to hit him, as well as the words Ge Dongxu left before leaving.

    "Bang!" After listening, Chen Jiaxiang finally completely exploded, he stood up and kicked his son in the leg.

    "Wealth doesn''t last more than three generations, this saying is indeed true! From your grandfather to me, the Chen Family has always been diligent and apprehensive, but to think that in your generation, things have reached such an arrogant and domineering extent! Do you know you are insulting a man who wouldn''t blink at a billion, a great hermit who hides from the public! You, you, you covet his girlfriend right in front of him, and even insult him as a freeloader, ordering bodyguards to hit him! Who gave you the audacity? Tell me!" Chen Jiaxiang grew angrier as he spoke, unable to restrain himself, he kicked Chen Longtian again.

    "Dad, I know I was wrong, now, what should we do now?" Chen Longtian, having been kicked twice, didn''t dare show any defiance this time, clutching his stomach, he asked with a trembling face.

    "What to do? What do you think we should do? I just recently apologized to him for your brother''s matter, and now you''ve gone and tried to steal his girlfriend right in front of him, tell me, what should I do?" Chen Jiaxiang said furiously.

    Facing his father''s rage, Chen Longtian trembled, not daring to utter another word.

    "Starting today, you are relieved of all duties within the company. If you''re capable, start your own business; I won''t provide you any more support. Also, first thing tomorrow morning, come with me to Qinglan Cosmetics Company to apologize to Liu Jiayao in person." Ultimately, he was his own son, Chen Jiaxiang, watching his trembling son, managed to suppress the urge to kick him a few more times, paced back and forth in the hall a few times, and said in a deep voice.

    Considering that Ge Dongxu, such a major figure, had chosen to study at Jiangnan University and had also always kept a low profile, it was clear he did not wish to expose his identity publicly. It wouldn''t be appropriate for Chen Jiaxiang, with his status, to approach him directly.

    Moreover, directly approaching him, Chen Jiaxiang also didn''t know how to face Ge Dongxu.

    After considering all options, he finally decided to take the "Madame" approach!

    ¡­

    Ge Dongxu naturally was unaware of the incidents occurring between Chen Jiaxiang and his son.

    At this time, he was in the kitchen preparing dinner for Liu Jiayao, while Liu Jiayao leaned against the kitchen doorway, gazing affectionately but intently at the man busy cooking for her.

    "The deal for that piece of land in Bindong District is almost closed, there are three thousand acres priced at one and a half billion. Do you want to check it out again?" Liu Jiayao asked.

    "I''m just pointing the way, don''t worry about the money, you just decide," Ge Dongxu said as he continued to stir-fry in the pan.

    sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 511 - 510: In Cao Caos Camp, But with Loyalty to Han

    "Today, I truly understood what it means to be indifferent to wealth," Liu Jiayao said, watching Ge Dongxu face the colossal sum of 1.5 billion without even turning his head, just focusing on stirring the wok. She couldn''t help but sigh.

    "Please, I''m cooking here!" Ge Dongxu replied with a smile, turning back.

    Liu Jiayao was momentarily stunned and then realized what Ge Dongxu was referring to. She blushed slightly, stepped forward, and raised her fist to lightly punch him a few times, pouting, "You''ve only been to university for a few days, and you''ve already learned to talk back!"

    "Hehe! To think you''d accuse me of talking back, let me show you what talking back really is!" Ge Dongxu suddenly turned around, encircling Liu Jiayao''s soft and slender waist, pulling her close against himself, and leaned in for a kiss.

    "Hey! What are you doing, you bad boy? The dish is still cooking!" Liu Jiayao pushed away Ge Dongxu''s approaching mouth as she was wrapped in his arms and immediately felt the change in his body, unwittingly raising her voice in protest.

    "That''s easy!" Ge Dongxu said with a mischievous smile, using a trace of his consciousness to control the True Qi to stir the wok.

    "Can it really be done like this?" Seeing Ge Dongxu obviously turned away from the stove, yet the wok behind him being stirred as if by magic, Liu Jiayao''s eyes widened in shock.

    "What''s wrong with that, your husband I..." Ge Dongxu was saying when he suddenly shivered, and it was as if a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind.

    "What''s the matter?" Seeing Ge Dongxu suddenly freeze up, Liu Jiayao asked with a look of confusion, pushing him slightly.

    "Haha, it''s nothing, nothing, I just suddenly remembered something," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Humph, holding my waist and still thinking about other things, you say it''s nothing? This is a serious issue of your body being in Cao''s camp but your heart being in Han!" Liu Jiayao exaggeratedly pursed her sexy little lips.

    "With my body in Cao''s camp but my heart in Han! Haha, what a phrase! You''re quite something! Come here for a kiss." Ge Dongxu was taken aback by her words, then burst into laughter and leaned in again, pressing his lips against her tantalizing ones.

    "Hey, you naughty boy, did you take the wrong medicine today, spouting all this nonsense. Come on and cook properly, don''t get distracted, or see how I will punish you if the food doesn''t meet the standard later!" Liu Jiayao was turned into a puddle by Ge Dongxu''s antics and finally managed to push him away.

    "Hehe, your words just now reminded me of a confusion I encountered in the cultivation method recently," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, releasing her.

    "Really?" Liu Jiayao''s eyes widened in disbelief.

    "Of course, it''s true. To reward you, hehe, I''ll stay here tonight instead of going back to the university," Ge Dongxu said with a wicked grin, seeing Liu Jiayao''s incredulous expression.

    "Ah!" Liu Jiayao was startled at first, then quickly burst into giggles, pinching Ge Dongxu several times while she laughed, "You naughty boy! I was really fooled by you before, thinking you were such a simple person!"

    "Hehe! The dish is ready!" Ge Dongxu said proudly, serving up the food.

    After dinner, the two took a stroll along the Jinglin River before returning to the apartment.

    Back at the apartment, after taking their showers, naturally they got tangled up in a flurry of activity on the pink bed.

    After the flurry, Liu Jiayao immediately fell into a deep sleep, while Ge Dongxu lay back, hands behind his head, gazing at the ceiling, thinking about the sudden enlightenment he had in the kitchen earlier.

    Passing through a field of flowers without a single leaf sticking, the term ''flowers'' must not refer to women, and ''without a single leaf sticking'' is not about being unfeeling towards women, but about not indulging in desire during Yin Yang Union. One should carefully experience the mysteries of the Yin Yang Harmonization. If one can fully immerse oneself in the mysteries of the Yin Yang Harmonization, that must be what is meant by ''without a single leaf sticking''.

    Within Cao Cao''s camp, yet my heart lies with Han! Such a clever saying indeed!

    If that''s the case, then the mental method of the Cherishing Flowers Sect wouldn''t be an evil path at all, but rather a superior mental method that directly points to the mysteries of the universe. This enlightenment should greatly benefit my future understanding of the Dragon Tiger Realm.

    ...

    "Professor Wu, why the long face? Don''t tell me you''ve been lovelorn," Tang Yahui said as she pulled out a chair and sat down in Emerald Residence, a well-decorated, stylish restaurant on Lakefront Road. She noticed Wu Yili''s furrowed brows and asked.

    "I wish it were love troubles!" Wu Yili glanced at Tang Yahui before she looked away, but then her eyes landed on the teardrop-shaped, lavender jade pendant on Tang Yahui''s neck, and her beautiful eyes widened in admiration.

    "Wow, how beautiful!" Wu Yili exclaimed.

    "Isn''t it lovely?" Seeing Wu Yili''s gaze fixed on the teardrop-shaped pendant, Tang Yahui couldn''t hide the proud smile on her face.

    "Quick, take it off and let me see." Wu Yili urged.

    Tang Yahui, seeing Wu Yili''s eagerness, chuckled and took off the pendant to hand it over to Wu Yili.

    "It''s so beautiful, like something out of a dream!" Wu Yili held the pendant in her hands, looking at it from every angle, unable to put it down.

    "Alright now, give it back to me," Tang Yahui said with a laugh as she saw Wu Yili''s reluctance to let go.

    "How much is this pendant? I''ll buy it from you, I just love it too much," Wu Yili said, pressing the pendant to her chest without returning it.

    "Not for sale!" Tang Yahui replied without a second thought.

    "Don''t be so stingy. After all, we''ve been best friends for years. And you''re in the jewelry business. You could just give this one to me and get yourself another," Wu Yili argued.

    "You think this is a regular jade pendant? Let me tell you, even money can''t buy this." Tang Yahui said with pride.

    "Even money can''t buy it? Does that mean you''ve found your other half, and this was a token of engagement? No wonder I haven''t seen you all summer; your skin has become so smooth and fair," Wu Yili obviously misunderstood, her eyes lighting up with curiosity as she gave Tang Yahui a mischievous, gossipy look. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Really?" Tang Yahui touched her fair cheek and asked.

    "It''s true, it seems that being nourished by love is indeed different," Wu Yili scrutinized Tang Yahui, nodding and laughing.

    "Oh, please, what nourishment by love? If I really had found my other half, I would''ve told you by now," Tang Yahui said, her face blushing at the comment.

    "Then you say it''s not for sale even with money. What else can''t be bought with money these days, other than sentimental things with special significance?" Wu Yili rolled her eyes.

    "This is a real master''s work, not something that can be measured by money," Tang Yahui explained.

    "If you''re telling me I can''t afford it then say I can''t afford it, why beat around the bush? What can''t be measured by money? Isn''t a master''s work also for sale? It''s just more expensive, that''s all," Wu Yili rolled her eyes again.

 Chapter 512 - 511: Poor Professor Wu Da

    "This master isn''t short of money, and he doesn''t sell his work. I only got him to polish this piece for me because we have some connections," Tang Yahui explained.

    "No way, is it really that exaggerated? A master who doesn''t sell his work?" Wu Yili exclaimed in surprise.

    "Of course, there are. You just haven''t seen one. Now, please give me back the pendant," Tang Yahui urged, unable to hide her impatience as Wu Yili still hadn''t returned the pendant after talking for so long.

    The jade nurtured the wearer, imparting a calming and tranquil effect that made one feel completely relaxed. Having grown accustomed to the jade''s constant presence for two months, Tang Yahui suddenly felt a sensation of loss when it wasn''t on her.

    "Come on, Manager Tang, aren''t you being a bit stingy? Can''t I look at it a bit longer?" Wu Yili rolled her eyes at Tang Yahui, then continued to admire the pendant under the light for a long while before reluctantly handing it back to Tang Yahui.

    "It''s absolutely natural and stunningly beautiful, like a drop of violet-colored water endowed with spirit!" Once Tang Yahui put the pendant back on, the violet jade against her fair skin made her look even more glamorous, prompting Wu Yili to praise endlessly.

    "Alright, Professor Wu, stop admiring it and let''s order some food!" Tang Yahui said.

    "I originally invited you out to eat to clear my mind, but now my heart feels even more congested," Wu Yili said after ordering, handing the menu back to the waiter and rolling her eyes at Tang Yahui.

    "Is it really that exaggerated!" Tang Yahui said, laughing and crying at the same time.

    "It''s exactly that exaggerated. I used to have no interest in things like jade or diamonds, but after seeing your jade pendant today, I suddenly really want one too. You know, when a woman can''t get what she wants, doesn''t that clog up her heart?" Wu Yili said.

    "I can''t help you there. If it were any other jade carving master, with my connections in the circle, I could introduce you and possibly get you some discount. But with him, I really can''t do anything," Tang Yahui said helplessly.

    The longer Tang Yahui wore the jade pendant, the more she realized its priceless value¡ªit simply wasn''t something money could buy.

    "Forget it, forget it. What''s meant to be will be, and what''s not shouldn''t be forced. Let''s not talk about jade anymore; it just adds to the frustration," Wu Yili said.

    "What exactly is bothering you so much, Professor Wu? It couldn''t be because too many people are pursuing you, could it?" Tang Yahui, glad they shifted away from the topic of jade, couldn''t help but tease with a laugh.

    "You actually guessed right. Not only that, but because of my age, the school leaders and some old classmates keep introducing me to these so-called elite and successful individuals. It seems to be getting worse lately. What I fear most is occasionally encountering some unbearable people who just won''t leave me alone. It gives me such a headache," Wu Yili said gloomily.

    "Giggle! Poor Professor Wu!" Tang Yahui was slightly taken aback that she guessed correctly, then pursed her lips and giggled.

    "Hey, what kind of attitude is that? Are you still my best friend, rejoicing in my misfortune?" Wu Yili said with a roll of her eyes, seeing that Tang Yahui was not comforting her but instead laughing continuously.

    "Having suitors is better than having none at all. Just pick one that seems decent enough," Tang Yahui said, trying to suppress her laughter.

    "Easy for you to say. I''d rather devote my life to scientific research than just settle for someone to end my single status," Wu Yili said.

    "Don''t say that. With that attitude, you''ll end up walking in my shoes. Look at me, now. How pitiful I am, not a single compassionate man by my side," Tang Yahui urgently advised.

    "Oh please, Manager Tang, if you were willing to lower your standards, would you not have a compassionate man by your side?" Wu Yili said.

    Tang Yahui was at a loss for words upon hearing this and only after a long while did she heave a long sigh, "Hasn''t the reality already proved that my decision back then was wrong? Look, I dragged it on and on until now, and I''m at this awkward age."

    "I don''t see anything wrong with it, worst comes to worst, I''ll just stay single for life," Wu Yili said nonchalantly.

    "Alright then, keep dragging it on. If you do end up single for life, when we''re old, we sisters can travel the world together," Tang Yahui said with a laugh, though her laughter held a tinge of bitterness.

    "Sure. But that''s something for later. The urgent matter is to figure out how to quickly get rid of those people meddling in my personal life, it''s even affecting my research and teaching." Wu Yili said frustratedly.

    "That''s easy. Just find a fake boyfriend. Once they know you''re already ''taken,'' those people will naturally back off," Tang Yahui suggested.

    "What kind of idea is that? With my personality, if I could accept a man as my fake boyfriend and act all lovey-dovey with him, he might as well be my real boyfriend. Besides, even putting my personality aside, even if I could accept having a fake boyfriend, what if it leads to inviting trouble I can''t get rid of? That would be trapping myself," Wu Yili complained irritably.

    "That''s true. There''s no man who doesn''t like a beautiful woman. With our Professor Wu being so beautiful, charming, and talented, unless the guy is gay, it would be no surprise if he got addicted to pretending and then wants to make it real," Tang Yahui remarked.

    "Forget it, let''s not talk about this anymore, let''s talk about something else," Wu Yili said, starting to feel somewhat annoyed.

    ...

    It was Monday morning and Ge Dongxu had classes, so he headed back to his dorm early.

    In the dorm, all three of his roommates had already gotten up and were taking turns primping in front of the mirror.

    He Guizhong was using an electric razor, repeatedly shaving his stubble in front of the mirror, while Lu Lei was flamboyantly styling his flowing "locks" in front of the mirror. As for Li Chenyu, having neither stubble to shave nor flowing locks to style, he neatly combed his hair until it was sleek and shiny.

    "Dongxu! Who could''ve guessed, really, who could''ve guessed! Always so quiet and honest-looking, and you turned out to be the first one to spend the night out!" Upon seeing Ge Dongxu return, all three stopped their "primping," sized him up from head to toe, and then pointed at him in unison with a look of indignant disbelief as they spoke.

    "Class is about to start, aren''t you guys leaving yet?" Ge Dongxu ignored them and took a higher mathematics textbook, along with pens and notebooks, from the shelf, then asked.

    "Hehe, don''t change the subject. Spill the beans, where did you spend the night yesterday?" The three of them surrounded Ge Dongxu, asking with sleazy grins.

    "At a friend''s place," Ge Dongxu looked at the three, clearly aware they wouldn''t let him go without a full confession, so he reluctantly replied.

    "A girl or a boy?" The three immediately pressed.

    "A girl," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Is she pretty?" they quickly followed up.

    "Very pretty," Ge Dongxu replied. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Pfft! Keep dreaming!" Upon hearing this, the three instantly felt relieved and gave Ge Dongxu a contemptuous gesture.

 Chapter 513 - 512 Lesson 1

    "Haha, I''m serious," Ge Dongxu laughed, knowing that saying this wouldn''t make the three guys believe him.

    "Yeah right, you? Give it a rest! If you could spend a night at your girlfriend''s, then I''m the number one master in the Martial World!" He Guizhong scoffed. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I''m Mr. World Bodybuilder!" Li Chenyu boasted, showing off his skinny arms and ribs.

    "I''ve already swept the top ten beauties of our school into my arms!" Lu Lei flipped his flowing hair, declaring.

    "Get lost!" Lu Lei''s declaration evidently sparked outrage, as almost simultaneously Li Chenyu and He Guizhong lifted their feet, pretending to kick him.

    "It''s just a metaphor, just a metaphor," Lu Lei swiftly dodged, saying.

    "It''s not about the metaphor; it''s that you clearly favor beauties over buddies, not even thinking of saving one for us!" Li Chenyu pushed up his glasses, seriously speaking.

    "Exactly! The top ten beauties, and you didn''t think to save one for your brother?" He Guizhong waved his Iron Fist.

    "OK! I''ve swept the seven top beauties into my arms!" Lu Lei corrected himself with a serious face.

    "Damn it, what about sharing both the good times and the tough ones! You alone get seven, and we get one each?" He Guizhong and Li Chenyu again lifted their feet, pretending to kick Lu Lei.

    "Haha, let''s go. Today''s advanced math is in the auditorium, and there might be students from other majors. There might be beauties, and if we''re late, we won''t get good seats," Ge Dongxu said, watching the playful scene. Though it seemed somewhat childish to him now, he found it especially heartwarming and enjoyed the atmosphere.

    "Next time someone says Ge Dongxu is gay, I won''t be polite. With that reaction, he''s definitely a veteran of this path!" Li Chenyu commented while grabbing books from the shelf.

    "Agreed!"

    "Agreed!"

    He Guizhong and Lu Lei nodded as they too hurriedly grabbed books from the shelf.

    After grabbing their books, notebooks, and pens, the three guys took off running, leaving Ge Dongxu trailing behind.

    Ge Dongxu watched the three guys hurrying ahead and couldn''t help but shake his head, smiling through his tears.

    Youth is wonderful!

    Feeling reflective, Ge Dongxu quickly caught up, for he too was in the prime of his youth!

    The advanced math class included students from environmental chemistry and two classes from food science and engineering, as well as biochemical engineering.

    The other two majors were also in the sciences, and the gender ratio was similar to environmental chemistry, but there were two particularly attractive female students, which made many males cast their "hunting" glance their way, pondering whether to embark on their first college romance pursuit.

    Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t contemplate this issue but focused on his first lecture of college.

    The college advanced math class began with topics involving functions, limits, and continuity.

    These topics seemed unrelated to immortal cultivation, but as Ge Dongxu listened attentively, he found they were very instructive for his cultivation.

    For example, functions discussed the relationships between different variables. If heaven, earth, people, and objects were considered variables, they too should have certain functional relationships.

    Then limits, cultivation was essentially the pursuit of human limits...

    These discoveries reinforced Ge Dongxu''s belief that choosing to attend college was very right.

    Ordinary people couldn''t perform Techniques or flying and escaping through earth... Seemingly worlds apart from cultivators who often regard them with disdain. But unbeknownst to them, through countless years, the accumulated wisdom of ordinary people, bit by bit, had crystallized into something boundless, something no cultivator could compare to.

    They could not utilize Techniques to kill people, but they had created weapons comparable to Techniques. They could not fly or escape through the earth, but they had built airplanes that could carry them into the sky...

    These endless crystallizations of wisdom were all results of exploring the mysteries and rules of the universe.

    Monday had only two higher mathematics classes, and then there were no more classes.

    "No more classes after this, how about playing basketball?" He Guizhong, as strong as an ox, suggested after the class ended.

    "Sure!" Lu Lei blurted out a word.

    "Yeah, why not, I have nothing else to do. I''ll watch you guys play," Li Chenyu said.

    "I''m not interested in basketball, and I have some things to do, so I''m not going," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Damn, what a waste of your height, six feet tall and not playing basketball!" He Guizhong scoffed.

    In Jiangnan Province, located along the southern coast, Ge Dongxu''s height was considered outstanding in the class.

    "Exactly, don''t tell me you''re going to meet a girlfriend again?" Li Chenyu said.

    "Not this time," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Pfft! As if you had a girlfriend before!" The three of them gave Ge Dongxu a disdainful look and then turned to find other people to form teams.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, shook his head, took his books back to the dorm, put them away, and then strolled out of the campus.

    As he passed the basketball court, he saw youthful figures running on the court, desperately grabbing and shooting the ball, and Ge Dongxu inexplicably felt some envy towards them.

    Regrettably, this sport, the most beloved and common among male students in the university, seemed like child''s play to him now, devoid of any challenge. Thus, he could only watch his peers sweat it out on the court.

    "Hey, buddy, help me pick up the ball." Just as Ge Dongxu was shaking his head in contemplation, a ball flew out of the court and rolled to his feet. A student waved at him and called out.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, picked up the ball, and then tossed it toward the basketball hoop.

    A perfect parabola traced through the air, and with a "swoosh," the basketball smoothly went through the net.

    "Damn! No way! That went in." Everyone on the court was a bit shocked, because Ge Dongxu was outside the court. Even though the court was near the roadside, that distance was considerable. It wasn''t something that someone without significant strength could achieve, even with all their might.

    "Hey, buddy, do it again." Still in disbelief, a guy picked up the basketball and threw it back to Ge Dongxu.

    "Just luck!" Ge Dongxu was startled, then smiled, picked up the basketball, and casually threw it back to the guy without daring to show off his remarkable shooting skills again.

    Outside the school gate, not far on the roadside, a Cherokee was parked.

    But the Cherokee only had the license plate of the provincial military region.

    As Ge Dongxu approached, the doors of the passenger and driver''s side opened, and Xu Lei and Ma Xiaoshuai got out.

    "Director Ge." Xu Lei and Ma Xiaoshuai respectfully called out, then Ma Xiaoshuai quickly went to open the back door of the vehicle.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and then quickly got into the car.

    This was a school, and it was better not to let anyone see this scene.

    Once in the car, it started swiftly towards the direction of Dongming Mountain Base.

 Chapter 514 - 513 Preparing to be a teacher

    "Director Ge, in November, Dongyue Province''s Mount Santai will host an exchange meeting between Qimen practitioners from both Dongyue and Jiangnan Provinces. I was wondering if you would be interested in attending?" While driving, Xu Lei turned to ask.

    Last time they went to Indonesia, Xu Lei had mentioned the Qimen exchange meeting, and Ge Dongxu had inquired with keen interest, so Xu Lei remembered.

    "Oh, if it''s on the weekend, I might be interested in joining in the fun," Ge Dongxu said, his eyes showing a hint of enthusiasm upon hearing the news.

    "It''s on Saturday and Sunday. Since you''re interested, Director Ge, I''ll accompany you there when the time comes," suggested Xu Lei upon hearing this.

    "Alright, you arrange it then, but don''t go out of your way to mention me to the others. Just keep it casual," Ge Dongxu nodded, not standing on ceremony with Xu Lei.

    "I understand. However, with the incident of the armored zombie at Zhanyuan Mountain where some magicians from Dongyue Province took part, even though Director Fan later instructed not to spread the word and especially not to bring up your involvement, to avoid attracting the attention of meddlesome people from the Qimen community, it''s unlikely that you could remain entirely under the radar once you''re on the spot, especially with Divination Master Lv Xinghai and others likely to be present," Xu Lei explained.

    "That can''t be helped. Being a practitioner of Qimen, I can''t always avoid interacting with people from these circles; just don''t make a big fuss about my attendance, and that should suffice," Ge Dongxu responded with a resigned nod.

    "As long as I don''t specifically bring up your identity and the incident at Zhanyuan Mountain, we shouldn''t draw any undue attention," Xu Lei nodded in agreement.

    "That will do," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    During their conversation, the car entered the base.

    The vehicle stopped in front of Ma Xiaoshuai''s villa, where Ge Dongxu and Ma Xiaoshuai entered the villa, while Xu Lei stayed outside.

    Inside the villa, Ge Dongxu shared his understanding of the mystery behind the phrase "to pass through a grove of a hundred flowers untouched by a single leaf" with Ma Xiaoshuai.

    Ma Xiaoshuai, upon hearing this, almost jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, exclaiming, "To pass through a grove of a hundred flowers untouched by a single leaf, so that''s what it means. It seems that from my Grandmaster Ancestor onwards, we''ve been misunderstanding this phrase. No wonder, no wonder! Since the time of my Grandmaster Ancestor, my Cherishing Flowers Sect has been in decline every generation, the more I cultivate, the more impure and mixed my True Qi becomes, and some even contracted sexually transmitted diseases and died. In my generation, it was almost the end of our heritage. If I take your interpretation, Director Ge, this problem would not occur."

    "This is just my interpretation, and it may not necessarily be correct. However, it''s probably very close. Most likely, your Sect''s ancestors deviated from the righteous path due to the pursuit of quick success or from indulgence in desires, or perhaps because they couldn''t find suitable partners for dual cultivation. Added to this, a few periods of turmoil later, it became the mental method passed down generation after generation in your Sect, and no one has raised any doubts," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Within the Sect''s teachings, with my limited Cultivation, how would I dare to doubt? Only an unparalleled master like you, Director Ge, could have such insight," Ma Xiaoshuai said with a look of admiration and gratitude.

    "Heh, let''s save these discussions for later. For now, you should focus on finding a suitable partner for Dual Cultivation. If you want to continue practicing this Cultivation Technique for a long time, the higher your Cultivation, the greater the requirements for a Dual Cultivation partner will be. Your Sect''s predecessors later strayed from the path, and I suspect this had something to do with it as well," Ge Dongxu advised.

    Upon hearing this, Ma Xiaoshuai let out a sigh, and then his face immediately soured.

    These days, which of the women with significant Cultivation achievements were not prideful and lofty? If Ma Xiaoshuai had been "pure as ice and jade," with his Cultivation and looks, it would not be difficult to find a desired Dual Cultivation partner. The problem was that Ma Xiaoshuai had a history of frequenting nightclubs, indulging in revelries nightly, and was quite notorious within the Qimen community, particularly among the younger generation in Jiangnan Province''s Qimen Realm. Which unmarried Qimen woman would be willing to commit herself to this playboy from the Qimen community?

    "Do you have any other questions?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    Ma Xiaoshuai stammered as he relayed his current situation to Ge Dongxu once again.

    After listening, Ge Dongxu looked at Ma Xiaoshuai, caught between laughter and tears, and shook his head only after a while, saying, "I can''t help you with this. But where there''s a will, there''s a way, so keep trying."

    "Yes!" Ma Xiaoshuai knew that Ge Dongxu indeed couldn''t help him with this matter, he replied solemnly, then took a step back and respectfully kowtowed three times to him.

    Ge Dongxu having deciphered the saying passed down from the Cherishing Flowers Sect was a great kindness to both Ma Xiaoshuai and the Cherishing Flowers Sect.

    Understanding why Ma Xiaoshuai suddenly knelt and kowtowed to him, Ge Dongxu silently accepted the gesture and then said, "I have some things to discuss with Xu Lei, you can take me to the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine later."

    "Yes!" Ma Xiaoshuai stood up and respectfully responded.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, left the villa, and saw Xu Lei waiting at the door; he then walked around the lake with him.

    During this time, Xu Lei asked some questions about his cultivation practice, and Ge Dongxu provided the answers.

    After making a round and returning to Ma Xiaoshuai''s villa, Ma Xiaoshuai was already there waiting. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''re the leader; there''s no need to be polite with me unless there''s a special circumstance. Just take care of the things you need to tend to," Ge Dongxu said as he got into the car and saw Xu Lei ready to personally see him off, smiling and waving his hand.

    Understanding Ge Dongxu''s character and seeing that he did not want to be accompanied, Xu Lei did not insist but watched them leave and then went back to his own villa to contemplate the advice Ge Dongxu had given him.

    While Xu Lei''s cultivation technique was nowhere near as profound as Ge Dongxu''s "Nine Dan Xuan Gong," and was incomplete, with the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jade Ge Dongxu had given him, his cultivation had progressed rapidly, and he was now on the threshold of the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    Ge Dongxu got off the car at the entrance of Jiangnan Province University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and immediately saw Professor Tang Yiyuan already waiting for him.

    "Dongxu!" Seeing Ge Dongxu get out of the car and come over, Tang Yiyuan''s face revealed an excited expression as he stepped forward to tightly grasp his hand.

    "Professor Tang, what is this about?" The two were business partners, and in the realm of traditional Chinese medicine, they had a relationship akin to both teacher and friend¡ªthough the teacher was Ge Dongxu and not the elder Tang Yiyuan. They had spoken on the phone and met in person frequently and were already very familiar with each other. Thus, Tang Yiyuan''s sudden exhibition of such excitement and warmth took Ge Dongxu by surprise.

    "You have no idea, I''ve been looking forward to your visit to the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine for a long time! And this day is destined to be one recorded in the history of traditional Chinese medicine; I''m thrilled," Tang Yiyuan said with a trembling voice.

    "Professor Tang, please don''t say it like that; such words make me feel very uneasy. And from now on, no more formalities, it''s time to change the way you address me," Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "Okay, okay, I''ll listen to everything you¡­your wishes. Let''s go, to President Feng''s office. She was actually going to come out to welcome you herself, but she worried it might draw too much attention and you would be uncomfortable," Professor Tang knew Ge Dongxu''s character and hurriedly nodded his head, then changed the topic, fearing he might scare him off.

    President Feng naturally referred to Sang Yunlong''s wife, Feng Yaping.

 Chapter 515 - 514: Breaking the Surface with a Point

    Ge Dongxu, accompanied by Tang Yiyuan, walked across the campus to the administrative building.

    Along the way, many greeted Tang Yiyuan and looked at Ge Dongxu with curious eyes.

    Upon reaching the president''s office, Feng Yaping had already been waiting and was quite excited to see Ge Dongxu, holding his hand tightly for a long time before letting go. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Director Ge, I am truly thrilled and honored that you could join our school as a teacher. On behalf of Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine University, I thank you." After releasing his hand, Feng Yaping bowed solemnly to Ge Dongxu.

    "Please, President Feng, if you do that, I won''t dare to come." Ge Dongxu hurriedly said.

    "It is necessary. Given your stature, our school should have held a formal appointment ceremony in the auditorium and hosted a banquet in your honor. However, you don''t like such fanfare, so I can only show my sentiment in this way. It won''t happen again in the future," Feng Yaping said earnestly.

    "You are too polite, President Feng. Actually, I should thank you for giving me this opportunity. Let''s sit and talk about the teaching matters now," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Of course, Director Ge, please take a seat," Feng Yaping replied.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and sat down on the sofa.

    Feng Yaping personally brought tea for Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan, and then sat down with them.

    "Director Ge, Professor Tang and I have discussed your teaching at our school again. We feel that it would be underutilizing your medical skills to teach undergraduate students who lack a basic medical foundation. Additionally, given your preference for keeping a low profile, even if we assigned you an assistant professor title, your public lectures to undergraduates might still cause a sensation. We also worry that those students, lacking a strong foundation, might not fully grasp your teachings. Due to your youth and the title of assistant professor, they might even misunderstand your medical proficiency, which would be unfortunate," Feng Yaping carefully explained after sitting down.

    "I hadn''t fully considered that at the time. What do you and Professor Tang suggest?" Ge Dongxu reflected on the idea of standing on the lecture podium facing students who were either around his age or even older, and he too felt it might be inappropriate.

    "Our suggestion is that you could perhaps still appear as a professor and chief physician, but in a limited scope, exclusively within the department of internal medicine managed by Professor Tang at Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. The doctors in this department are all involved in the university''s research and teaching as well. If you pass your medical skills to them, and they then disseminate them further, not only would it have a ripple effect, but your medical skills would remain largely confined to the internal medicine department, so there wouldn''t be too much exposure," Feng Yaping responded.

    Ge Dongxu had initially considered the uproar his young age and titles like professor or chief physician might cause within the university and possibly even spread to other schools, which is why he had suggested a position like an assistant professor. He hadn''t thought much beyond that.

    Now, hearing President Feng''s words, he felt that if he were to impart his medical skills on a small scale, there would be no issue of sensation, and even if there was, it would be contained within a small range. Under such circumstances, the title was unimportant.

    "You have considered this more thoroughly than I have. Let''s proceed as you suggested. I''m free on Monday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons this semester, and I will spend at least one half-day during these times in the outpatient clinic at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. I won''t consult individually. There''s no need to publicize my name. I will just observe and occasionally participate in consultations, during which I will pass on what I know about medicine," Ge Dongxu pondered for a moment before saying.

    "That''s exactly what I had in mind. I will adjust my clinic hours to Monday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons to match yours," Tang Yiyuan nodded.

    "Let''s do that then. I will start next week. For now, don''t inform the staff in the department. Just treat me as if I''m an assistant you''ve recently brought in or a student, until I get to know the staff and the environment. Once I''ve removed anyone who doesn''t fit, you can announce my role," Ge Dongxu thoughtfully added.

    A doctor must have a kind heart, and naturally, he did not wish to pass on his medical skills to someone who only knew how to make money without possessing compassion. Therefore, before doing so, he needed to appear under a less conspicuous identity to better observe people''s true nature.

    After discussing the teaching arrangements, it was already noon.

    President Feng insisted on treating Ge Dongxu to lunch, and he did not feel it polite to refuse her kindness, so they took Tang Yiyuan''s car to Wanghu Hotel together.

    The Wanghu Hotel is another high-end hotel by the side of Mingyue Lake, offering a dining experience with a picturesque view of the lake and mountains.

    ...

    "Director Wu, are you really not giving me even a little chance?" At a private window seat in Wanghu Hotel, a beautifully figured and attractive woman asked Wu Longcai.

    "Xiao Shanshan, it''s not that I''m unwilling to give you a chance, but the show ''Happy Girl Voice'' has just begun to gain popularity, and both Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi have done very well as hosts. It wouldn''t be right to change hosts in the second season abruptly," Wu Longcai replied.

    "Whether a host is good or not ultimately depends on whether the leaders give them opportunities. You were able to boost Wu Shiyi as a newcomer; why not me?" Xiao Shanshan asked, her tone now containing a hint of accusation.

    "It''s not like that. Wu Shiyi worked very hard and was also quite talented, which is why she became popular. If she hadn''t put in the effort and lacked talent, giving her opportunities would have been futile," Wu Longcai answered.

    "So what you mean is that I lack the talent for this?" Xiao Shanshan''s beautiful face finally showed a trace of anger upon hearing this.

    "Don''t misunderstand, I didn''t mean that. It''s just that both Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi did well last time, and I have no reason to replace them in this second season," Wu Longcai replied with a wry smile.

    "Director Wu, your words are too insincere. Whether it''s reasonable or not is up to you to decide. Does it really need to be Station Head Guo who has to say something?" Xiao Shanshan''s expression turned completely as she dropped the pretense of pleading and adopted a haughty tone.

    It seemed that just mentioning Station Head Guo elevated her status entirely.

    "Even if Station Head Guo spoke up, my stand would remain the same. I won''t change the hosts for the second season without a good reason," Wu Longcai said, his expression changing slightly, but he quickly firmed his stance.

    "You... okay, okay, Wu Longcai, you win! You win!" Xiao Shanshan had not expected her words to have no effect on Wu Longcai, and shook with rage. Abruptly standing up, she turned and left.

 Chapter 516 - 515 Im Really in Trouble

    "Xiao Shanshan, listen to me!" Wu Longcai hesitated when he saw Xiao Shanshan storm off in anger, but ultimately he got up with a bitter smile and chased after her.

    "What''s there to talk about, Wu Longcai? Now that you''ve become so popular and important, you don''t even have to give face to Station Head Guo!" Xiao Shanshan walked away angrily, her high heels clacking and her movements exaggerated due to her irritation, drawing sidelong glances from many onlookers.

    "You already have your own show, Xiao Shanshan, so why are you joining in the excitement here and making things difficult for me?" Wu Longcai said with a wry smile.

    "Difficult? What''s so difficult about it? Is it Liu Manman or Wu Shiyi who''s causing you difficulty? I think it''s just that Station Head Guo doesn''t carry enough weight." Xiao Shanshan said disdainfully.

    Xiao Shanshan was also from the provincial station, but her hosted program had never taken off, which is why she wanted to take advantage of "Happy Girls'' Voice" to rise to the top. She was naturally very clear about the backgrounds of Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi.

    Liu Manman had some backing in the past, but now her support had fallen from power. As for Wu Shiyi, she came from a small place and was a newcomer; she couldn''t have much of a background.

    Had there truly been a strong backing, with the popularity that Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi were enjoying now, even with Station Head Guo''s connections, Xiao Shanshan wouldn''t dare to lay a finger on them. Therefore, in Xiao Shanshan''s view, Wu Longcai was just being arrogant and making excuses.

    "You''re going too far with that, Xiao Shanshan. Is there anyone in the provincial station who carries more weight than Station Head Guo? I really am in a tough spot," Wu Longcai said with a pained expression.

    Wu Longcai had vaguely heard about Xiao Shanshan''s relationship with the station head and would have given her face on other matters. However, "Happy Girls'' Voice" was his passion project, and with Ge Dongxu involved, how could he dare to just replace Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi?

    "Fine, I get it," Xiao Shanshan said coldly, nodding, as she rapidly clicked away in her high heels, swaying her hips as she left hurriedly.

    Wu Longcai initially wanted to chase after her to say a few more words but his eyes suddenly lit up as he quickly went to greet Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan, who were approaching the entrance.

    Feng Yaping was driving another car and hadn''t arrived yet.

    "Brother Xu, Professor Tang, hello," Wu Longcai said, already beaming with a smile before he even reached them.

    Qinghe Herbal Tea was the exclusive title sponsor for the first episode of "Happy Girls'' Voice," and Tang Yiyuan was one of its shareholders. Wu Longcai, as the director of this program, had met him once or twice.

    "The beauty is mad and walking away; you should go chase after her," Ge Dongxu shook hands with Wu Longcai, then turned back to glance at the sulking Xiao Shanshan, who was walking away with her voluptuous behind swaying, and said with a smile.

    "Let her be, it''s nothing," Wu Longcai tried to appear casual and didn''t detail the specific issue.

    Wu Longcai was a man of responsibility. He knew very well that a big shot like Ge Dongxu should only be called upon in the most crucial moments. It was better not to disturb him with trivial matters, as doing so too often would diminish his importance in Ge Dongxu''s eyes and could even become a nuisance. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was easy to understand. It''s like a subordinate who needs to consult the leader for every little thing and requests the leader''s personal involvement to resolve every issue. Such a subordinate would probably be dismissed by the leader very quickly.

    As a leader, someone who is higher up, he prefers subordinates who are not only loyal but also capable of relieving him of his worries and standing on their own.

    While Wu Longcai was not a subordinate of Ge Dongxu, the principle was the same.

    Seeing Wu Longcai saying it was nothing, Ge Dongxu naturally wouldn''t inquire further into these personal matters, exchanged a few pleasantries, waved goodbye, and entered the lobby with Tang Yiyuan.

    Feng Yaping arrived at the Wanghu Hotel in less than two minutes and, seeing Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan already in the lobby, said with an apologetic expression, "It seems that I, the host, am actually the last to arrive."

    "That''s the traffic bureau to blame, not you, President Feng," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "It seems that Director Ge has some complaints about Linzhou City''s traffic. When Governor Sang arrives later, I''ll have to give him a good earful," Feng Yaping joked in response.

    "Governor Sang is coming as well?" Ge Dongxu asked while walking towards the elevator with Feng Yaping and Tang Yiyuan.

    "Of course he''s coming. After all, you saved his life back then. We haven''t had a proper chance to formally thank you yet," Feng Yaping said.

    "It was nothing but a lift of my hand," Ge Dongxu humbly replied.

    "Only you could say that. If it were any other doctor, with a severe heart condition like Governor Sang''s, they would have been simply treating a dead horse as if it were alive," said Feng Yaping, her gaze on Ge Dongxu filled with a touch of reverence.

    Back then, Ge Dongxu''s casual intervention had brought her husband back from the brink, and even now, Feng Yaping''s heart throbbed at the memory, unable to fathom that such miraculous medical skills could exist in this world.

    Ge Dongxu smiled sheepishly at these words, but didn''t downplay his actions further.

    Not long after the three arrived at the private room, Sang Yunlong also arrived, accompanied by his secretary, Fang Ting.

    However, this time Fang Ting''s attitude upon seeing Ge Dongxu was completely different compared to the first time they met at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University¡ªnow it was a mix of reverence and gratitude.

    As Sang Yunlong''s secretary, Fang Ting''s career prospects were closely tied to Sang Yunlong. By saving Sang Yunlong, Ge Dongxu had effectively safeguarded his own professional future.

    After lunch ended, Fang Ting found a suitable opportunity to give Ge Dongxu a business card, saying respectfully, "Director Ge, if there''s anything you need in the future, don''t hesitate to call me."

    "Thank you, Director Fang," Ge Dongxu responded with a smile, nodding as he accepted the card.

    As Sang Yunlong''s secretary, who also held the position of deputy director of the Provincial Government''s Office in Jiangnan Province, Fang Ting was well-placed to handle many matters that were inconvenient for Sang Yunlong due to his status.

    Having had more dealings with officials, Ge Dongxu was gradually gaining an understanding of their ways. Thus, he realized that the seemingly simple act of handing over a business card by Fang Ting was actually filled with deeper implications.

    The group left the private room, chatting and laughing as they made their way to the elevator.

    At a window seat, Gao Yusi was having coffee with a very sexily dressed woman, breaking into a mischievous grin from time to time while the woman occasionally cast coquettish glances at him.

    Suddenly, Gao Yusi''s eyes widened drastically, his face even turning a bit pale.

    "What''s wrong, Young Master Gao? Seen another beauty?" The woman glanced at him then turned her head to follow his gaze, only to see a few people standing in front of the elevator. Her brows furrowed slightly, her face showing a hint of confusion.

    "Damn! Good thing Brother Nan had the foresight yesterday. That was a close call," Gao Yusi murmured to himself as he watched Ge Dongxu and his party enter the elevator, still feeling shaken.

 Chapter 517 - 516 Roommate Being Bullied

    "Gao Yusi, what''s the matter? Is there a problem with those few people?" the woman asked.

    "Problem? Do you even know who those people were just now?" Gao Yusi glared as he spoke.

    "Who were they? You can''t tell from their backsides, can you? Are they even richer than you, Gao Yusi?" the woman said, unconvinced.

    "Rich? Being rich is nothing! Did you see that young man just now? If you had the skills to hook up with him, you wouldn''t have to worry for the rest of your life," Gao Yusi said.

    "Gao Yusi, you''re so naughty! I''m only devoted to you!" The woman raised her fist and gently tapped Gao Yusi, pouting adorably as she spoke.

    "Come on, if you knew the identity of the person who was laughing and talking with that young man just now, you wouldn''t say that," Gao Yusi replied, indifferent.

    "Are you talking about that middle-aged man who, from the backside, looks pretty tall? Who is he? I always feel like he looks kind of familiar," the woman asked with a puzzled look on her face. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Sang Yunlong, Governor Sang!" Gao Yusi whispered.

    "Oh my God! That, that young man was actually laughing and talking with him!" The woman covered her mouth in surprise upon hearing that and couldn''t help but look back towards the elevator with a fiery gaze. Unfortunately, the elevator entrance was empty, and the young man''s figure was long gone.

    "Now you should realize how awesome that young man is!" Gao Yusi said, without a trace of jealousy in his eyes, only an indescribable sense of emotion and a touch of relief.

    He didn''t dare imagine what would have happened if yesterday Brother Jiangnan hadn''t recognized the car and he had continued to act like a spoiled young master in front of that young man¡ªGod only knows what the outcome would have been.

    "If I hadn''t seen it with my own eyes, I could never believe it. That''s the governor!" the woman said, her face a picture of shock.

    "Alright, next time you see that young man, you''d better keep your eyes peeled," Gao Yusi said and then picked up the phone to call Brother Jiangnan.

    When Brother Jiangnan on the other end of the line heard that the young man they had encountered yesterday was laughing and talking with Sang Yunlong, he was prepared, yet he still couldn''t help but jump in fright.

    After all, a license plate is just a license plate, and a person is just a person. It''s only when the person''s identity truly matches the license plate that you can say someone is really incredible.

    Ge Dongxu being able to laugh and talk with Sang Yunlong clearly showed that the car was genuinely assigned to him, and he wasn''t some young master trying to impress others by driving his parents'' car.

    In fact, even if it was just his parents'' car, in Brother Jiangnan''s view, Ge Dongxu was still not someone he could afford to mess with.

    ¡­

    Ge Dongxu naturally wouldn''t bother with these unexpected encounters.

    After leaving the Wanghu Hotel, he took a cab back to Jiangnan University on his own, without asking Tang Yiyuan to give him a lift.

    Upon returning to the male dormitory building number three and pushing open the door of his room, Ge Dongxu sensed that something was off. When he looked up, he discovered Lu Lei with a look of such beauty that it could make women jealous, sporting a plaster on his nose, while He Guizhong, although not patched up, had a distinct bruise on his cheekbone. Only Li Chenyu was uninjured, but he had an ugly expression on his face.

    "What''s going on here? Did you guys go to play basketball this morning or to fight? Did it have to be this violent?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Damn it, it''s all your fault, kid. You disappeared to who knows where this morning. If you had gone with them, with your height, Lu Lei and He Guizhong wouldn''t have ended up being bullied by Sun Wenjun and his group like this!" Li Chenyu said angrily, glaring at him.

    "Sun Wenjun and his group did the bullying?" Ge Dongxu frowned upon hearing this.

    The Environmental and Chemical Engineering major of the ''99 class had two sections, Ge Dongxu was in the first, while the Sun Wenjun mentioned by Li Chenyu was the class representative of the second section. Sun Wenjun was tall and looked rather arrogant in demeanor.

    However, as everyone was from the same faculty and major, and would essentially attend the same classes, living in the same building - simply on different floors, they would run into each other frequently. So, even though Sun Wenjun was somewhat arrogant, since they were all classmates, Ge Dongxu didn''t take it to heart. He would nod and greet Sun Wenjun when they met, but he never expected that Sun Wenjun would start bullying his roommates.

    "Yeah, it was Sun Wenjun who started it," Li Chenyu said bitterly.

    "Why? You''re all classmates, isn''t it just a game of basketball? Could it have been an accidental collision that got everyone''s temper flaring?" Seeing Li Chenyu and the others looking like they harbored deep grievances, Ge Dongxu furrowed his brow even more.

    "Accidental my ass. Sun Wenjun intentionally bumped into Lu Lei. I couldn''t stand by and watch, intending to retaliate for Lu Lei, but those guys in the second section are all big and strong. I couldn''t handle them, but it might have been different if you had been there," He Guizhong said resentfully.

    "Why would Sun Wenjun intentionally bump into you? Did you guys have a grudge from before?" Ge Dongxu saw He Guizhong''s reaction and knew the situation must not be so simple. He sat down and turned to ask Lu Lei.

    It was a rare opportunity for everyone to come together as classmates, and even if they weren''t in the same section, Ge Dongxu didn''t wish for relationships to become strained.

    "Mm," Lu Lei nodded, his expression somewhat somber.

    "What grudge? Is it okay to talk about it?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "There''s nothing inconvenient about it. Both he and I are from Jinzhou City, Golden Mountain County. My dad and his dad used to work for the county government. My dad was the director of the county government office, and his dad was the deputy director. Back then, he felt inferior to me because of his dad''s position, and he would avoid me whenever possible. Later, for reasons unknown, my dad got transferred to the Archives Bureau as the director, and his dad was promoted to be the director of the county government office. Since then, he started bullying me. When I was in the first year of high school, he began picking on me even more because a girl he liked had a crush on me. Of course, I didn''t put up with it and privately fought with him a few times. But by then, his dad had become the deputy county head. To settle our fights, my dad beat me and also went to apologize to their family. Later, in the second year of high school, his dad was transferred to the city government of Jinzhou City as the Executive Deputy Secretary-General and is said to be the Secretary-General by now. However, all this is irrelevant to me. I haven''t seen him since high school until we met again at the university and ended up in the same major! Earlier in basketball, he was using his height advantage to aggressively go for the rebounds. I didn''t like it and challenged him, and that''s when he deliberately elbowed me in the nose! He Guizhong stepped in, not putting up with it, and ended up getting hurt in the scuffle," Lu Lei, who was usually taciturn, unexpectedly opened up and narrated the whole story.

    "Damn, I hadn''t realized that Sun Wenjun had a father who''s an official. No wonder he''s so arrogant!" He Guizhong and Li Chenyu were stunned for quite a while before they finally cursed.

    After the beginning of the semester, there was military training, and both He Guizhong and Li Chenyu had had little to do with Sun Wenjun and didn''t know much about him.

    "Sorry, Guizhong, for dragging you into this. Let''s just let it be, and we won''t play basketball with them anymore," Lu Lei said dejectedly.

 Chapter 518 - 517: Another Match

    "Damn, we''re all brothers, what do you mean by saying that? Besides, we''re not scared of him. His dad isn''t a leader at the school, nor a city official in Linzhou, so how could he control us here? Next time, I''ll bring some senior brothers from the Martial Arts Association, and I bet we can take him down!" He Guizhong exclaimed, glaring.

    "Exactly! If you can''t outplay us in the game, resorting to hitting? What kind of skill is that? So what if his dad''s an official? It''s just a Secretary-General. Is that supposed to be impressive?" Li Chenyu said disdainfully, pushing up his glasses.

    "That''s actually pretty impressive," Lu Lei said with a wry smile.

    "Seriously, impressive?" Li Chenyu asked, slightly taken aback.

    "In terms of rank, it''s the same as a county head. You tell me, isn''t that impressive?" Lu Lei responded.

    Li Chenyu and He Guizhong gaped.

    They were still students, techy guys at that, not really up to speed about the bureaucratic ladder, but they did understand what a county head''s rank meant.

    "We''re students, not civil servants. What does it have to do with us whether someone is an official or not? We should act as we normally would! We''re all classmates after all, so we tolerate when we can for now. Let''s leave it at that for the moment. But if there''s a next time, I don''t see why we need to be polite ¡ª we should report to the teachers if we need to and dominate thoroughly on the court if it comes to that." Ge Dongxu said, his face showing a rare solemnity.

    Lu Lei and the others looked at Ge Dongxu with a bit of surprise upon hearing this.

    "Look at that, Dongxu, you''ve got a bit of a leader''s grace in you. Next time we play basketball, you better not bail on us. Damn, I don''t know who sorted the classes, how all the tall guys ended up in their class, and in our class, aside from the three of us with decent height, the rest are no better than Li Chenyu." After a moment, He Guizhong patted Ge Dongxu heavily on the shoulder.

    "Hey, He Guizhong, what do you mean by that? Are you discriminating or what?" Li Chenyu immediately protested.

    "I''m not discriminating or singling you out, just stating facts. Look at our class, then look at Class 2. If Ge Dongxu here doesn''t step in, and they start using brute force on the court, we really wouldn''t stand a chance against them," He Guizhong explained.

    "Alright, no need to exaggerate that much. Even without me, there''s still Xu Tongjie and Ren Lu, right? After all is said and done, you''re just annoyed that I didn''t play basketball with you this morning," Ge Dongxu replied, sounding a bit annoyed.

    "Good that you know. There''s an old saying, ''fighting tigers is for brothers, going into battle should be like father and son.'' We''re dormitory brothers, and with you around, Lu Lei and I can feel at ease! Xu Tongjie and Ren Lu, at most they''d just help break up a fight," He Guizhong said.

    "It''s not that I don''t want to play basketball, it''s just that my skills are too good. If I played, it wouldn''t be fun for you guys. But if Sun Wenjun keeps it up, I wouldn''t mind giving him a taste of being dominated on the court," Ge Dongxu explained, knowing He Guizhong was still brooding over the morning''s events.

    "Yeah, right!" Instead of mollifying them, Ge Dongxu''s explanation led He Guizhong and the others to give him a dismissive hand gesture in unison.

    "Hey, I''m serious," Ge Dongxu insisted.

    "Get lost!" the three said bluntly.

    ¡­

    During the midnight and dawn hours, Ge Dongxu still got up punctually and quietly went to the top of Dragon Rest Mountain to meditate and cultivate. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, ever since Ge Dongxu''s cultivation had entered Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, the speed of his cultivation had obviously slowed down somewhat, and it was no longer likely that he would make another breakthrough in a short period of time.

    But Ge Dongxu was not in a hurry. During his three years in high school, the speed of his cultivation had been too fast, especially after he accidentally entered the Unity of Heaven and Man realm during the summer vacation. His realm had soared consecutively, and he now greatly needed some time to consolidate his gains.

    Tuesday morning was time for two periods of college English, and of course, the person teaching English was not the blonde woman Li Chenyu and others had been dreaming of, but a very ordinary middle-aged female teacher.

    During class, Ge Dongxu noticed that there was a clear tension between Sun Wenjun and Lu Lei.

    In their exchanges of glances, Sun Wenjun''s eyes carried an obvious arrogance, disdain, and a provocative flavor, while Lu Lei seemed quite annoyed.

    "What? Can''t accept it? If you dare, let''s have another match sometime!" After class, Sun Wenjun walked past Lu Lei accompanied by two boys who were both over 175 cm tall, and seeing Lu Lei looking at him, he disdainfully curled his lips and said.

    "Don''t get cocky, Sun Wenjun. We can have another match! But Lu Lei''s nose is injured; we''ll have to wait a couple of days!" He Guizhong said.

    "Alright, let''s set it for Thursday afternoon then, we don''t have classes anyway! But this time, let''s make it clear, if we accidentally hit your nose during the game, don''t play the victim and start crying, otherwise it won''t be fun," Sun Wenjun said.

    "You!" He Guizhong and the others were instantly enraged upon hearing this, but Ge Dongxu stayed very calm, stopping them and looking at Sun Wenjun, he said indifferently, "That''s fine, accidents do happen in basketball. But I have a condition, if you lose, you must apologize for hitting Lu Lei''s nose yesterday."

    "No problem, as long as you have the ability to beat us. But what if you lose?" Sun Wenjun asked.

    "If we lose, I''ll treat you guys to a meal at Crystal Hall, and you can choose the dishes," Ge Dongxu said.

    Crystal Hall was a restaurant within Jiangnan University. Although its prices were reasonable compared to external restaurants, it was definitely a high-expenditure place compared to the student cafeteria, a luxurious spot frequented by wealthy students or teachers. Ordinary students seldom ventured there.

    Lu Lei, He Guizhong, and Li Chenyu did not come from wealthy families. Hearing Ge Dongxu say he''d treat them to a meal at Crystal Hall if they lost, and that Sun Wenjun and others could pick the dishes, they were all shocked and their expressions changed.

    They were not at all confident about winning!

    When the male students of Class 2 heard about this bet, their eyes lit up, and they crowded around, asking Ge Dongxu, "Hey Ge Dongxu, are you serious about this?"

    "I''m not a three-year-old child, would I be joking?" Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Haha, no problem, since you''re inviting, let''s make it official, play a full game, and I''ll invite seniors from the team to referee, so you don''t accuse us of playing dirty later," Sun Wenjun laughed, and many of the boys from Class 2 laughed along.

    Lu Lei and the others looked somewhat dismayed upon hearing this, while Ge Dongxu just smiled and said, "That''s fine too. But don''t forget, if you lose the day after tomorrow, you''ll have to apologize for what happened yesterday."

    "Haha, no problem, but you guys have to win first," Sun Wenjun laughed confidently as he walked away.

    "Haha, Ge Dongxu, just get ready to treat us, back in high school I was on the school team. My target was actually the seniors on the college team, I generally wouldn''t bother with your level, but since you''re inviting us, I''ll definitely participate the day after tomorrow," a guy who was 185 cm tall clapped Ge Dongxu on the shoulder and then walked away laughing.

 Chapter 519 - 519: 518

    "Damn, this is trouble now, Zheng Yun is a reserve member of the college team, always playing basketball with those college team guys. How can we even compete with class two if he participates!" a guy about five feet nine, quite solidly built, said with a pained expression as he watched Zheng Yun leaving.

    "Yeah, Zheng Yun didn''t play yesterday, and we barely hung on. If Zheng Yun plays the day after tomorrow, then what''s the point? We might as well have Ge Dongxu treat us all instead," another fellow of about the same height said, looking quite frustrated.

    These two guys were Xu Tongjie and Ren Lu, whom Dongxu had mentioned earlier, both tall and well-built enough to hold their own in a fight.

    They had also played in the basketball game yesterday.

    "What kind of attitude is that? You act like you''ve lost before the battle has even started. So what if Zheng Yun is playing? Didn''t I also not participate yesterday?" Ge Dongxu said irritably. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Are you saying you''re a pro? Were you in the school team back in high school?" Xu Tongjie and the others suddenly perked up at his words.

    After all, Dongxu''s height was still there.

    "Not really," Ge Dongxu admitted.

    "Pfft! Then stop talking. You think playing basketball is all about height? It requires technique too, get it?" Xu Tongjie and the others rolled their eyes.

    "Why all the pointless talk? The challenge has been thrown down, and if you''re a man, just go and fight. Worst comes to worst, we''ll treat everyone if we lose. Ge Dongxu, we support you, and we girls will definitely come cheer for you the day after tomorrow!" a short-haired, apple-faced girl rolled her eyes at Xu Tongjie and the others, then made a cheering gesture to Ge Dongxu.

    This girl was Guo Meiqiong, who had boldly volunteered to be the class leader when the head teacher had initially appointed class officers at the beginning of school, a relatively fiery character.

    "Exactly, even Lu Lei got beaten up like that, are we, the boys of class one, lacking even the courage to have another match with the boys of class two?" the other girls also chimed in.

    The events of yesterday were already well known to them, and seeing Sun Wenjun''s arrogance today only made the girls naturally support their own class boys even more.

    Plus, since Lu Lei was so good-looking, the sight of him with a plaster on his nose naturally made the girls feel sorry for him.

    Girls will be girls, although not one of them could be considered a beauty, their encouragement now sent the male hormones in He Guizhong and the others surging.

    "Alright! The day after tomorrow, we''ll take on class two!" Xu Tongjie and the others, previously dejected, now shot fierce glares and puffed themselves up like determined warriors.

    "Giggle! That''s more like it!" The girls clapped and laughed seeing their reaction.

    ...

    "I hate Sun Wenjun! This afternoon is supposed to be the class with Professor Wu, the most beautiful teacher at Jiangnan University!" At noon, standing in front of the mirror and looking at the plaster on his nose, Lu Lei couldn''t help but grind his teeth.

    "I hate Sun Wenjun too! My face! My manly face!" He Guizhong stared back and forth at the bruise on his cheekbone in the mirror.

    "Come on, Guizhong, with your face, there''s hardly any difference whether you''re injured or not," Li Chenyu couldn''t stand listening to He Guizhong''s self-pity and narcissism any longer and sarcastically retorted.

    "Damn it, Chenyu, I''m warning you, don''t provoke me. Just thinking about Professor Wu''s class coming up, I can feel myself lose control," He Guizhong threatened Li Chenyu, waving his fist.

    "Come on! Is it really that serious?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t listen any more.

    "I''m not exaggerating at all! This is my first time meeting Professor Wu!" He Guizhong said earnestly.

    "Alright, Dongxu, never mind them, let''s go secure our spots early." Li Chenyu couldn''t bear it anymore, so he said to Ge Dongxu.

    "Damn, you''re right! I almost forgot that we need to grab seats in the front row today!" Upon hearing this, He Guizhong and Lu Lei no longer cared about looking at themselves in the mirror and immediately dashed to the bookshelf.

    Watching his three roommates frantically grabbing books from the shelf and glancing at the time, which clearly showed they still had half an hour before class, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and cry, saying, "Guys, is it really that necessary? We still have half an hour, and it only takes five to six minutes to get to the teaching building."

    "Don''t talk about necessity. This is your book, hold onto it, we''re leaving right now." As soon as Ge Dongxu finished speaking, Li Chenyu had already taken the book off the shelf and stuffed it into his hands, he said.

    Although Ge Dongxu felt it was a bit of an exaggeration to leave this early, it was hard to decline his roommates'' enthusiastic invitation. After all, he didn''t want to be the odd one out, so he followed them to the classroom with a resigned smile, also quietly curious about how beautiful Wu Yili really was. She was a university professor who topped the beauty list at Jiangnan University.

    However, when Ge Dongxu and his roommates left the dorm, they realized that the doors of the other male dorms were all tightly closed.

    "Damn, they couldn''t have left before us, right? There''s still half an hour before class starts. Don''t they have any humanity?" When Li Chenyu saw the other dorms'' doors were all closed, he even went to knock on them, only to find that no one opened the door, which changed his expression.

    "Absolutely no humanity. That''s our beloved professor they are rushing to see, what are they trying to do?" He Guizhong said indignantly.

    "Beasts!" Lu Lei was still sparing with his words.

    Ge Dongxu looked at his three roommates and was completely speechless.

    The four of them hurried to the teaching building and then pushed open the classroom door.

    Then, their faces changed.

    They saw that the first several rows were neatly occupied by thirty-seven male students. Sixteen from class one, twenty from class two, and one who wasn''t from the Environmental and Chemical Engineering department.

    There were forty male students total in the Environmental and Chemical Engineering classes of the ''99 year group. It could be said that except for them arriving a step later, all the other male students had already assembled, not only assembling in full but with one extra.

    "Damn, isn''t this too early? Is this reasonable? Is this good?" Li Chenyu pushed up his glasses and said disdainfully.

    "If you have the ability, come on time!" Xu Tongjie and others gave Li Chenyu a contemptuous look.

    Ge Dongxu ignored the mutual mocking between Li Chenyu and Xu Tongjie and others and walked up to the guy with neatly groomed, shiny hair, dressed neatly but of very average appearance.

    He was Lv Chongliang, the English major Ge Dongxu had met on the train on his first day of enrollment.

    "Hey, didn''t you go into the wrong classroom?" Ge Dongxu patted Lv Chongliang''s shoulder and asked with a laugh and a cry.

    "Oh, it''s you, kid! Then, I definitely didn''t go into the wrong classroom." Lv Chongliang saw it was Ge Dongxu and immediately called out.

    "Please, you''re an English major, this is an inorganic chemistry class, what are you doing here?" Ge Dongxu said, not amused.

    "Nowadays, society values interdisciplinary talents more and more, learning some inorganic chemistry will benefit my future!" Lv Chongliang replied with conviction, leaving Ge Dongxu speechless and thinking that it was a waste of talent not to become a fortune teller.

    He could say such unbelievable things so convincingly!

 Chapter 520 - 519: Introduce one to me as well.

    "Wow, an English major coming to learn inorganic chemistry, tell me, dude, you''re not kidding, right?" Zheng Yun walked over and patted Lv Chongliang on the shoulder, glaring at him.

    "Exactly! Why are you English majors coming to join the fuss?" Other male students also glared at Lv Chongliang.

    Everybody was a new student, and compared to the older students, they still appeared somewhat reserved and timid. They saw Lv Chongliang sitting there before but didn''t know much about him, so they didn''t feel it right to ask him to leave. Now, hearing Ge Dongxu say this, they realized this guy was actually an English major, obviously up to something, and naturally, they were no longer polite.

    "Come on, brothers, I really want to learn some inorganic chemistry. If it really doesn''t work, I''ll go sit in the corner, I''ll go to the corner." Seeing the crowd was about to chase him away, Lv Chongliang hastily got up and sat down in a corner.

    Seeing Lv Chongliang, the English major, scuttle to a corner to sit down, everyone was speechless.

    However, the spot he vacated was the best seat, in the middle of the first row, directly facing the platform. It was clear that this guy had arrived earlier than everybody else.

    Li Chenyu, who had a sharp eye, saw the prime spot become available and immediately rushed to claim it.

    However, just as Li Chenyu was about to sit down, a strong hand pushed him away.

    "Damn it, Sun Wenjun, what do you think you''re doing? Don''t you know what ''first come, first served'' means!" Li Chenyu was pushed away and saw Sun Wenjun plop down into the seat, anger showing on his face.

    "I know, yeah, I was actually here before you," Sun Wenjun retorted with a smirk.

    Upon hearing this, Li Chenyu got even more infuriated, about to slam the table, but Ge Dongxu held him back.

    "Enough, stop being so childish! What''s the point of fighting over a seat? If you''re really capable, do well in inorganic chemistry. Professor Wu will naturally look at you differently," Ge Dongxu said.

    Li Chenyu looked at Sun Wenjun, then back at Ge Dongxu, and finally, still seething, followed Ge Dongxu to sit at the back.

    He naturally understood that fighting over a seat was pointless; it had just been a sudden burst of anger. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing this, Sun Wenjun couldn''t help but smile smugly and then turned to his classmates and said, "Fighting over a seat really doesn''t mean much to me, it was all just for fun. Actually, I''ve met Professor Wu before and even had a meal with him."

    "Wow! No way, you actually had a meal with Professor Wu? How is that possible?" The male students from both classes were immediately full of surprise and envy upon hearing this.

    "Heh, what''s so impossible about it. My dad is Jinzhou City Government Secretary-General. This summer vacation, there was a major environmental protection project in the city. My dad was one of the leaders of the group, and they invited Professor Wu on board. Because I''m studying Environmental and Chemical Engineering, my dad specifically took me to meet Professor Wu and we had a meal together," Sun Wenjun said with pride.

    "Whoa! So your dad is the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City Government? That''s awesome!" Many classmates from the first class were unaware of Sun Wenjun''s background, and upon hearing this, they couldn''t help but exclaim. Some, not knowing the significance of this position, asked around, and upon learning it was equivalent to the rank of a county head, looked at Sun Wenjun differently.

    Sun Wenjun''s face showed a look of triumph, obviously enjoying the attention. And by dropping such a bombshell at this moment, he was clearly aiming for this effect.

    Of course, there were also quite a few students who disapproved of Sun Wenjun''s behavior, their eyes showing a touch of disdain.

    But since everyone was classmates and, to some extent, wary of Sun Wenjun''s background, nobody spoke up to mock him.

    "That guy is quite full of himself, acting as if he''s the Secretary-General of the Jinzhou City government! However, what you did just now was right; otherwise, if things got out of hand, the one next to you would definitely suffer," said Lv Chongliang as he quietly slipped next to Ge Dongxu while everyone else wasn''t paying attention, and with a disdainful curl of his lip, he spoke to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled noncommittally and then, lowering his voice, glanced at Lv Chongliang and said, "I say, Lv Semi-Immortal, aren''t there enough beauties in your English major for you to wreak havoc upon? What are you doing here, stirring things up?"

    "Man, you actually remember my nickname, huh. It''s true that we have a lot of beauties in our class, but how can they compare to the mature and intellectual beauty like Professor Wu? Besides, I came here purely out of appreciation. Calling it havoc is just too crude and low level," Lv Chongliang said, patting Ge Dongxu''s shoulder.

    "Good, if you dare harbor those sleazy thoughts, I''ll definitely kick you out," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Heh heh, not to brag, but given that I''m known as Lv Semi-Immortal, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve. You may be tall and strapping, but in a real fight, two of you wouldn''t be my match," Lv Chongliang said with a face full of pride.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a mix of laughter and tears, thinking about what his grandfather, a fortune-teller with a golden tongue, might feel if he heard his grandson boasting so shamelessly in front of him.

    "So if anyone bullies you, just come to me. Oh, and if you want to start a passionate romance with a pretty girl, you can also come to me. Our class may lack other things, but there''s no shortage of beauties. I''ll introduce you to one. I understand physiognomy, and you look like a reliable person, worth making friends with. I''m not worried about inviting a wolf into the house and bringing disaster upon our class girls," Lv Chongliang continued to boast when he saw Ge Dongxu remain silent.

    "Wow, really? Bro, take a look at me, how about introducing one to me too?" Li Chenyu, who had been sulking over the recent incident, immediately lit up upon hearing Lv Chongliang''s offer, shifting his attention from the boasting Sun Wenjun to Lv Chongliang.

    "Introduce one to me too!" He Guizhong also hastily chimed in, with a sleazy look on his face.

    "Tsk! Lacking ambition!" Lu Lei said, with a dismissive curl of his lip.

    "Scram! You think everyone is like you, showing off a pretty-boy face that''s good for nothing but mooching off women! Our standards aren''t that high," He Guizhong and Li Chenyu immediately shot Lu Lei a glance and then flattered Lv Chongliang, saying, "Bro, don''t bother with him, this guy aims for nothing less than the campus belle."

    "Tsk, you think that''s impressive? My goal as Lv Semi-Immortal is to charm all the beauties in the world! Lolis, milfs, blondes, movie stars, supermodels¡ªI want to sweep them all in one go, but I''ve got to start one step at a time. There''s a saying, what was it again? Oh right, ''How can you sweep the world if you haven''t swept your own house?'' If you can''t even handle the girls in your class, how can you even talk about campus belles or school belles?" Lv Chongliang said with a sneer, and then he gave a solemn sermon.

    "Master! You really are a master! No wonder an English major like you is still studying inorganic chemistry!" He Guizhong and Li Chenyu were stunned, looking at Lv Chongliang with completely changed expressions.

    "Impressive!" Even Lu Lei gave Lv Chongliang a thumbs-up, his previous disdain nowhere to be seen.

    Only Ge Dongxu, unable to stop smiling wryly, retorted, "Impressive my ass, what did you all come to university for? To pick up girls?"

    "No, juggling dating and studying without missing a beat!" the four of them corrected solemnly in unison.

    Ge Dongxu looked at his three shameless roommates who had already completely hit it off with the despicable Lv Chongliang and was left speechless.

    ps: I recommend my friend Jianghu Cat''s urban novel "Rebirth of a Novel Villain Brother", where the protagonist is reborn into his own novel as a villain and topples the hero. It''s a really interesting concept.

 Chapter 521 - 521: 520

    In the classroom, on one side, Sun Wenjun was shining a light on his own face by boasting and spreading knowledge of officialdom, while on the other side, Li Chenyu and the others listened intently with gleaming eyes as Lv Chongliang quietly enlightened them about the campus beauties of Jiangnan University.

    Li Chenyu and his companions were, of course, aware of the ranking of campus beauties at Jiangnan University, but their knowledge was nothing compared to Lv Chongliang''s. Merely knowing the names of the top ten beauties and their respective departments paled in comparison.

    What they knew was simply the names of the top ten campus beauties, and the faculties they belonged to, whereas Lv Chongliang knew far more than just that. He could not only detail the height and measurements of the top ten, but also their hobbies, love lives, and so on, crystal clear. Beyond the top ten, he also had a clear grasp of those girls who had all the right attributes to be considered campus beauties but didn''t make the list.

    "Do you know Lin Xiaojie? She''s also from the Economics Department, and she''s the vice-chair of the student council. From my personal taste, if I were to choose, I''d put her in the top ten campus beauties because she has breasts and buttocks, and that figure is definitely curvy, with a pronounced front and back. However, everyone is still students, and too young, so they often only look at the face and overlook the importance of a figure. They''ll realize how important it is once they are adults. Take Su Yuxuan from our Foreign Languages Department, for example. Other than a pretty face, there''s really not much else there, no breast, no buttocks; if I were ranking, I definitely wouldn''t put her on the list¡­" Lv Chongliang flowed like a river of words, resembling a master in his element.

    "I agree, I like them big," He Guizhong nodded with a look of admiration and agreement.

    "It''s not that bigger is always better; they have to be proportionate," Lv Chongliang corrected with a serious face.

    "Cough cough, have you talked enough? Girls are coming in, be mindful!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t bear to listen anymore, and seeing as girls were entering the door, he couldn''t resist reminding them.

    "We were discussing a very serious issue!" Lv Chongliang shot a glance at Ge Dongxu, dismissive.

    "Exactly, talking to someone as unromantic as you is pointless," He Guizhong and the others also glanced dismissively at Ge Dongxu and then urged Lv Chongliang, "Bro, don''t mind him, continue, continue."

    "Continue what? Haven''t you seen the girls coming in? Be mindful of your image!" Yet, Lv Chongliang suddenly sat upright with earnestness, speaking out.

    "Oh my!" He Guizhong and the others couldn''t help but be stunned upon hearing this, and then gave Lv Chongliang a thumbs up in admiration while Ge Dongxu could only shake his head and wryly smile.

    What kind of people were these? They were supposed to be the brightest students from the top higher education institution in Jiangnan Province!

    While Lv Chongliang ceased discussing the girls and sat with decorum, on the other side, Sun Wenjun, seeing the girls enter, not only didn''t stop talking about officialdom matters but even grew more enthusiastic.

    But after all, everyone was still a student, and the mindset of women in science and engineering was relatively simple, so there weren''t many who saw Sun Wenjun in a different light because of his words. Of course, this was just for now. As they grew older, and as they encountered more and more complex people and things in the university compared to high school, perhaps more of them would begin to see Sun Wenjun in a different light.

    Water flows downhill, and people strive upward. This is a harsh reality, and a natural law, not to be measured in mere right and wrong.

    "Professor Wu is here!" No one knew who yelled out, but the classroom suddenly fell silent. Even Ge Dongxu could feel the few boys around him, including Lv Chongliang, even holding their breath, their eyes glued to the classroom door.

    Although Ge Dongxu had no thoughts about the attractive professor, seeing everyone else so nervous and expectant made him curiously look towards the door as well.

    Footsteps drew nearer from a distance, and then a woman appeared at the doorway, dressed in a white suit dress, evenly proportioned with abundant curves, long legs that were neither too thin nor too plump, very fair skin, short hair cut to her ears, and a flawless face.

    It was as if time suddenly stopped, not just for the boys, but even the girls couldn''t help but show envy on their faces.

    That figure, that face, that temperament, the maturity filled with intellectual charm, certainly not something these slightly green university girls could possess.

    Ge Dongxu suddenly froze. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Because he realized that this Professor Wu was none other than the woman who was bitten by a snake on her buttocks three years ago, whom he had saved on a mountain path, and who had insisted he call her "Lily Sister."

    "Hello everyone, my name is Wu Yili, and this semester I''ll be responsible for teaching you inorganic chemistry." Wu Yili walked into the classroom with her white mid-heel leather shoes clacking, then stood behind the podium, scanned the room with a smile, and spoke.

    "Hello Professor Wu!" the classmates in the classroom finally snapped back to reality, calling out one after another, and Lv Chongliang, the English major, also energetically shouted along, his eyes shining with excitement.

    "Professor Wu, do you remember me? I''m Sun Wenjun, my father is Sun Yunfan, the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City government." Sun Wenjun purposely stood up to greet her.

    Wu Yili was slightly taken aback, then smiled and nodded to Sun Wenjun, "I remember, I remember, we meet again. You''ll have to study hard, or I''ll have a hard time explaining to your father next time we see him."

    "Thank you, Professor Wu, I will definitely study hard," Sun Wenjun nodded with a face full of pride, then sat back down, deliberately looking around, his demeanor quite radiant, causing Li Chenyu and others to feel a sour taste in their hearts, murmuring under their breath, "Psh, so what if he knows Professor Wu? What''s so great about that! I know her now too!"

    "Hey, Dongxu, how about that? You were just pretending to be above it all, and now you''re stunned, aren''t you? These days, it''s easy to find a beauty, but it''s difficult to find a beauty with intellectual charm like Professor Wu!" Lv Chongliang was very observant, having noticed Ge Dongxu''s earlier reaction, and while Li Chenyu was muttering, he subtly elbowed Ge Dongxu, whispering.

    Ge Dongxu gave Lv Chongliang a look and couldn''t help but inwardly grimace with a bitter smile.

    Of course, he was stunned, because this teacher, viewed as a goddess by all the male teachers and students on campus, was the woman he had once saved. He had seen, and even "kissed," her buttocks wrapped in a step skirt.

    On several subsequent nights, he even dreamt of her, of that snow-white...

    Perhaps it was a woman''s sixth sense, or maybe it was the murmurs of Li Chenyu and Lv Chongliang, but Wu Yili''s beautiful eyes suddenly glanced in the direction of Ge Dongxu.

    Li Chenyu, Lv Chongliang, and the others immediately straightened up, eyes fixed forward and noses pointing down, as well-behaved as could be, while Ge Dongxu felt a sudden thump in his heart, secretly wondering if she still remembered that mountain youth wearing ragged clothes, carrying a bamboo basket, with skin not so bright.

 Chapter 522 - 521: Come Take a Walk with Me

    Wu Yili''s gaze landed on Ge Dongxu for an instant, and she visibly froze, the smile on her face clearly stiffening.

    In that moment, the image of the mountain boy''s naive and sincere smile, along with his dark and clear eyes, surfaced in her mind, gradually overlapping with the boy sitting not far away, smiling at her. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ge Dongxu!" Wu Yili almost exclaimed in surprise, but ultimately restrained her excitement, nodding subtly at Ge Dongxu before picking up the roll call list.

    Because they hadn''t seen each other in three years, Ge Dongxu had changed quite a bit, making her feel a sense of unfamiliarity, and that incident from back then was too embarrassing to mention. She feared if she spoke up and Ge Dongxu didn''t have a sense of propriety, or if he still naively called her "Sister Yili", it would be incredibly awkward.

    "As this is the first class, and since I''m not yet familiar with everyone, I''ll take roll call to get to know you. I won''t be taking attendance in the future because you are all adults now and should know what to do and what not to do. I hope that unless there are special circumstances, you will attend every class and learn inorganic chemistry well. Let''s start with roll call." Next, Wu Yili began calling roll, and her voice noticeably changed slightly when she called Ge Dongxu''s name.

    After roll call, Wu Yili began the formal lesson.

    It wasn''t the first time Wu Yili had taught inorganic chemistry to students, which usually felt very natural, but this time, as she turned to write formulas on the blackboard with chalk, she distinctly felt a bit uncomfortable, as if the beauty of her skirt-wrapped hips was somehow peculiar.

    It seemed as though there were clairvoyant eyes watching her hips from behind.

    There were two inorganic chemistry classes in the afternoon, with about ten minutes'' break in between.

    The break naturally wasn''t as serious as the class time; Sun Wenjun, already acquainted with Wu Yili, took advantage of this to approach her with a question about the material.

    Although Wu Yili was dying to acknowledge Ge Dongxu, the timing wasn''t right, so she kept her composure, answering Sun Wenjun''s question with a smile and even chatted with him for a bit, which made Sun Wenjun feel particularly honored.

    When Sun Wenjun stepped away, he specifically glanced at Ge Dongxu, Lu Lei, and the others, his look brimming with a boastful and provocative air.

    After Sun Wenjun stepped away, Wu Yili needed to use the restroom, so she left the classroom.

    Once Wu Yili left, the male students in the classroom erupted into discussion.

    "Class rep, you''re amazing, being able to chat with Professor Wu."

    "I get so nervous just seeing her! Wouldn''t have the courage to go up and talk to her, but Sun Wenjun''s got guts!"

    "What''s the big deal! After we get more used to the classes, I even plan to ask her out for dinner!" Sun Wenjun said with a self-satisfied expression.

    "Pfft! What''s so impressive about that! If it weren''t for the fact that I''m an English major and it''s not convenient for me to approach Professor Wu, it wouldn''t be his turn." Lv Chongliang saw Sun Wenjun''s smug look and couldn''t help but mutter disdainfully.

    "Exactly, just a casual chat, right? Let''s see if Professor Wu takes the initiative to talk to him! Now that would truly be something," Li Chenyu and the others joined in.

    In the midst of the conversation, Wu Yili returned to the classroom.

    As she entered, Wu Yili subconsciously glanced toward Ge Dongxu before heading to the lectern.

    "Have you noticed, Professor Wu always seems to look our way. Could she have noticed me? Is it possible I really stand out that much, a crane among chickens, enough to draw attention at a glance?" Lv Chongliang whispered.

    "It''s probably not that. Lv, you might be good with women, but to be honest, you''re quite average looking. I bet it''s because of Lu Lei, this handsome face of his with a ''plaster'' stuck on it¡ªit''d be hard not to draw attention," Li Chenyu whispered back.

    "Damn, can''t you be a bit more tactful? What do you mean ''quite average''? With your looks, you''ll never get a girl in your life!" Lv Chongliang shot Li Chenyu a disdainful look.

    "Alright, class is starting," Ge Dongxu nudged Lv Chongliang with his elbow, amused and resigned.

    He knew best, after all!

    With a beautiful teacher, the class time always seemed to fly by. Soon, the second class also ended.

    Everyone began to pack up their books, ready to leave after Professor Wu departed. Just at that moment, Wu Yili suddenly turned toward Ge Dongxu and spoke, "Ge Dongxu, come out with me for a walk. I have something to tell you."

    The classroom instantly quieted down, and everyone''s gaze shifted toward Ge Dongxu as if they had seen a ghost.

    What was going on here? Professor Wu had actually singled out Ge Dongxu!

    Yet, Ge Dongxu seemed quite calm, as if he had anticipated this. He stood up, nodded, and said okay, then took his books and followed Wu Yili out of the classroom.

    Watching Ge Dongxu and Professor Wu leave one after the other, and even quickly becoming side by side, their graceful figures gradually disappearing from everyone''s view, was something to behold.

    The previously quiet classroom suddenly erupted.

    "Holy shit!"

    "Oh my God!"

    "That''s fucking awesome, man! Singled out by Professor Wu on the first day of class to go for a walk! Is this like a date or what?"

    "Damn, can someone tell me what the hell is going on?"

    "This is Professor Wu initiating contact with Ge Dongxu. Sun Wenjun is nothing compared to him!"

    "..."

    The classroom was in chaos, Sun Wenjun''s face going from white to red, his earlier pride vanishing without a trace, even feeling somewhat clownish.

    "No wonder, earlier Professor Wu kept glancing over here. It turns out she was looking at Ge Dongxu!"

    "Damn, this guy is really good at keeping a low profile!"

    "Master! A true master!"

    "What exactly is his relationship with Professor Wu? No way, I absolutely must interrogate him thoroughly when he comes back in the afternoon!"

    Li Chenyu and his group were slower to react than the others, taking a while to seem as if they had just come back to their senses, their faces full of shock and gossip, and of course, a sense of pride by association.

    "There are too many prying eyes here, let''s leave campus and walk by Mingyue Lake," Wu Yili suggested in a low voice outside the classroom, feeling inexplicably nervous as many teachers and students looked at her and Ge Dongxu all along the way.

    After speaking, Wu Yili felt her cheeks getting hot, and she was somewhat overwhelmed.

    Wasn''t it normal for a teacher to talk to a student? What was all this about there being too many prying eyes or not?

    However, having already spoken, Wu Yili naturally couldn''t take her words back, or it would seem even more like she was feeling guilty.

    "Okay, Teacher Wu," Ge Dongxu nodded. He didn''t like receiving so much attention from teachers and students, and he hadn''t thought too much about it.

    The two left the campus and then hailed a taxi.

    Ge Dongxu initially wanted to sit in the passenger seat, but Wu Yili suddenly reached out and pulled him slightly, whispering, "Sit with me, I have quite a few questions I want to ask you."

    Wu Yili''s hand was very soft, and Ge Dongxu''s heart inexplicably skipped a beat, then he followed her into the back seat of the car.

 Chapter 523 - 522: Why are you acting rich with a teacher around?

    When they sat down, the car seat noticeably sank, their thighs inadvertently brushing against each other, the enticing fragrance occasionally wafting into his nostrils. That sealed memory suddenly flooded his mind, causing Ge Dongxu to lose himself in fanciful thoughts.

    It was the same for Wu Yili.

    In a moment of urgency, that life-saving gesture was something she could never forget, never treat as just another memory.

    Especially when she remembered him using his mouth to suck out the poison...

    She had thought that incident would forever remain buried deep in her heart and that they might never cross paths again.

    Because they were two people from utterly different worlds: one a poor boy from the mountains, the other a sea-turtled professor.

    But as fate would have it, that poor boy from the mountains actually got admitted to Jiangnan University, and not just anywhere, but to her Faculty of Environmental and Resource Sciences, even becoming her student.

    Yes, he is a student, and I am a teacher, I must not let my thoughts wander, absolutely not!

    With this in mind, Wu Yili suddenly sat upright, doing her best to suppress the restlessness in her heart and the frivolous thoughts in her head, then turned to look at Ge Dongxu.

    "I really didn''t expect to see you turn into a fine young man after three years, nor did I expect you to end up at Jiangnan University. Back then, I thought you had stopped studying altogether," Wu Yili said, her smile carrying a "compassionate" tinge suitable for a teacher as she mused.

    "Yes, I never dreamt I would see you again at the university," Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but reflect as well.

    "How have you been these years? With the development of Baiyun Mountain, life at home must be better than before, right?" Wu Yili asked, the image of Ge Dongxu wearing tattered clothes, his skin tanned and carrying a bamboo basket emerging in her mind, her eyes inadvertently showing a hint of affection.

    "Very good! The lives of the people around Baiyun Mountain have improved a lot compared to before, although it''s a pity that the forests have suffered quite a bit of damage," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "To gain, you must be willing to give. Life is such, you can''t expect perfection in everything, you can only strive toward it. It''s the same with developing Baiyun Mountain, with the hope of preserving as much of its trees and flowers as possible. I still remember these words you said, and it''s just something that can''t be helped," Wu Yili said, her gaze turning nostalgic.

    "Yes, gain comes from sacrifice!" Ge Dongxu nodded profoundly, reflecting on his choice to pursue the path of cultivation¡ªa path of both gain and loss, unbeknownst to others.

    "Pfft! Three years apart, and you still haven''t lost that precociously solemn disposition, just like an old man weathered by many storms!" Wu Yili stared at Ge Dongxu''s profound expression, paused, then suddenly couldn''t help but chuckle, even casting him a playful look.

    That look, coming from the usually dignified and intellectually beautiful Wu Yili, was indescribably alluring. It was a different kind of charm from that of a worldly woman, natural and unforced, emanating the innate sensuality of a woman, versus the vulgar and affected display.

    Ge Dongxu''s heart skipped a beat when Wu Yili gave him that look, and his face showed a trace of shyness.

    "Giggle! That''s more like it! You''re only eighteen or nineteen years old. Being so somber doesn''t suit you¡ªit makes me uncomfortable," Wu Yili laughed when she saw his reaction.

    With her laughter, the three years of unfamiliarity between them vanished without a trace, as if they were close friends who''d known each other for years.

    As they spoke, the car stopped by Mingyue Lake.

    Ge Dongxu was about to pay, but as he took out his wallet, Wu Yili gently tapped the back of his hand.

    "With the teacher here, why are you acting all generous? Put your wallet away," Wu Yili glared at him, chidingly.

    "Didn''t you say to call you ''Sister Yili''?" Ge Dongxu murmured as he put his wallet away.

    "Looking for a spanking, are you?" Wu Yili recalled the words she had said three years prior, and her pretty face couldn''t help but blush as she glared at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu quickly got out of the car, not daring to talk back anymore. His comment about acting generous had slipped out subconsciously, and upon saying it, he realized it was not appropriate given their current relationship as teacher and student.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu hastily exiting the car, with a sheepish look that dared not retort, Wu Yili remembered how confident and calm he had been when he saved her life. She couldn''t help but find it somewhat amusing and even felt a slight sense of pride.

    Now, she was a teacher, and he was her student!

    "Teacher Wu, where to now?" After Wu Yili paid and got out of the car, Ge Dongxu asked obediently.

    "Let''s just walk around," Wu Yili said.

    "Okay," Ge Dongxu nodded and then followed her at a respectful distance.

    "What are you doing? Do I look like a tiger to you?" Wu Yili turned around and glared at him when she noticed him following behind, looking very womanly with her glare, even speaking with a hint of coquettishness, a far cry from the composed dignity of a teacher.

    Wu Yili herself had also noticed that ever since she got into the car with Ge Dongxu, her behavior had unconsciously strayed from the composed dignity of a teacher, often inadvertently revealing a womanly charm, forgetting their respective roles.

    One is the teacher, and the other is the student.

    "Of course not, how could Teacher Wu be a tiger!" Ge Dongxu quickly stepped forward, chuckling as an appeasement. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He actually wouldn''t mind walking beside Wu Yili, but being so close meant the inviting fragrance from her would keep distracting him.

    However, now that she was his teacher and he her student, Ge Dongxu felt that such distractions were inappropriate, so he intentionally lagged a step or two behind to keep a little distance between them.

 Chapter 524 - 523: You Stop Right There

    "If it''s not a tiger, then why are you hiding so far away?" Wu Yili asked with a roll of her eyes.

    Ge Dongxu smiled awkwardly, not answering.

    That question was impossible to answer!

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s awkward laughter, a woman''s intuition suddenly made Wu Yili realize what was going on. She was stunned for a moment, and a faint blush crept over her fair cheeks.

    "Teacher Wu, if there''s nothing else, I should head back to school now." Seeing Wu Yili staring at him in a daze, her face flushed, Ge Dongxu felt an itching all over his body and finally decided the best plan was to make a strategic retreat.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s back, now taller than her, move farther away, Wu Yili''s gaze grew complicated.

    Three years had passed, and the na?ve boy from the mountains in her memories had grown into a young man taller than she was.

    Three years later, reunited, she thought she could dilute those memories, calmly face him as a teacher and a student, take a walk by Mingyue Lake, talk, and make up for the rushed farewell last time.

    But now she realized she had been too naive. Not only had she not been able to forget that bone-deep experience, but it seemed that the na?ve mountain boy from her memories was also unable to forget it.

    Yes, how could they possibly forget?

    For both him and herself, that experience was a first in their lives.

    If they had never met again, it would have been fine; both could have kept it in their hearts. But now that they had met again, who could stop themselves from recalling that experience?

    And once recalling that experience, how could it not lead Ge Dongxu, a young man in his prime, to fanciful thoughts?

    To avoid these disrespectful thoughts, these awkward situation, Ge Dongxu''s current approach was evidently the best.

    To leave, to distance themselves from each other.

    "Ge Dongxu, you stop right there!" Just as Ge Dongxu''s figure was getting farther away, almost reaching the road, Wu Yili didn''t know why she felt suddenly angry and called out.

    Ge Dongxu''s body tensed, and he had no choice but to stand still.

    "Clack, clack, clack!" Wu Yili, her pretty face tinged with some annoyance, walked briskly towards Ge Dongxu in her mid-heel shoes.

    "Do you think by walking away, you can act as if nothing has happened?" Wu Yili asked, staring intently at Ge Dongxu.

    "I didn''t mean that, Teacher. You are the teacher, I am the student, it''s inevitable that we would meet in the classroom. Where could I go? I''m just not yet emotionally prepared, but maybe after some time when I have adjusted, I could face you frankly. Right now it''s really not appropriate," Ge Dongxu looked at Wu Yili, who had a hint of anger on her face, and spoke honestly.

    Facing Ge Dongxu''s dark and clear eyes, Wu Yili seemed to return to that small mountain path on Baiyun Mountain, her gaze briefly lost in reverie.

    "What''s there to adjust? Some things you have to face. I know you didn''t mean to think about it, and I''m not blaming you. Why are you running away? Last time, you left in a hurry, and I didn''t even have the chance to properly thank you. I''ve always felt a bit remorseful. This time we finally meet again, you should at least give me a chance to express my gratitude," Wu Yili took a deep breath and spoke earnestly.

    "It''s nothing really, just a small matter. There''s nothing to thank," Ge Dongxu, seeing that Wu Yili was not blaming him, silently heaved a sigh of relief. At the same time, he felt more self-reproachful, silently warning himself not to entertain any more wayward thoughts.

    "To you it''s a trifle, but for me it''s a matter of life and death," Wu Yili said sternly.

    "It''s not that serious," Ge Dongxu said, seeing Wu Yili''s serious expression, and he embarrassedly touched his nose.

    "All right, let''s go. Tell Teacher about Baiyun Mountain and your own matters. Teacher really wants to know," Wu Yili urged, purposely emphasizing the word "Teacher."

    Ge Dongxu naturally caught the emphasis Wu Yili put on "Teacher" and couldn''t help but smile wryly to himself. He nodded and replied, "Okay, Teacher, let''s start with Baiyun Mountain."

    ...

    "That''s the situation with Baiyun Mountain. As for myself, there''s not much to say. I went to high school in the county high, where my grades were pretty good, and then I got into Jiangnan University," Ge Dongxu said succinctly after describing the developments over the past three years at Baiyun Mountain.

    "Do you still go to the mountains to dig herbs?" Wu Yili asked after listening.

    "I haven''t for a while," Ge Dongxu hesitated a bit, then replied.

    "Studying at university is different from before; it''s all self-financed now and the expenses are not small. If you encounter any difficulties, tell Teacher," Wu Yili hesitated before saying, her eyes showing deep tenderness and care.

    She could never forget the sight of Ge Dongxu three years ago, wearing tattered clothes and shoes, carrying a bamboo basket. She also knew that for people around Baiyun Mountain, supporting a university student was not easy.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu was genuinely stunned. Although he was not the richest man in Huaxia Country, including his assets in Japan, he was indeed the richest in Jiangnan Province.

    "Teacher knows you are a strong student. Even in your first year of high school, you were alone in the mountains digging for herbs to make a living. However, Teacher hopes that in these four years of university, you can focus on your studies without having to toil and hustle for life, so as not to hinder your studies. Don''t feel embarrassed; you saved Teacher''s life. Now that we have met again, if there''s a need, let Teacher help you. Besides, it''s only for a few years. After you graduate, Teacher believes you will definitely become a very outstanding man, by which time Teacher might even need to ask for your help," seeing Ge Dongxu staring at her, Wu Yili thought she had hurt his pride and quickly tried to reassure him.

    Watching the sincere care and nervousness in Wu Yili''s expression, Ge Dongxu felt an indescribable sense of warmth and movement.

    With his status and identity now, he increasingly understood what it meant to feel loneliness at the height of success! S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Whether it was Liu Manman, Jin Yushan, or Fan Hong from the Special Ability Management Bureau, Ge Dongxu knew clearly that their sincerity and respect were mingled with much utilitarianism.

    But that was indeed the reality, and he could only turn a blind eye and look on the bright side.

    In fact, deep inside, he still felt a loneliness unique to him and the coldness from the lofty heights.

    But in Wu Yili''s eyes, all he saw was her heartfelt care.

    This was very precious for the present Ge Dongxu.

    "Thank you, Teacher. My family is quite well-off now, and studying is not a problem," Ge Dongxu expressed his gratitude.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Yili looked deeply at Ge Dongxu, a trace of affection flashing in the depths of her eyes, then she smiled and said, "That''s good. Are you hungry? How about we go for a meal? Teacher will treat you to a big feast."

    Ge Dongxu read the affection in the depths of Wu Yili''s eyes and really wanted to tell her that he genuinely was wealthy, and it wasn''t out of pride or wanting to save face by saying his family had money. However, in the end, Ge Dongxu still suppressed that thought.

 Chapter 525 - 525: 524

    Wu Yili took Ge Dongxu to the Emerald Residence, which she had just visited with Tang Yahui a couple of days ago.

    This was a restaurant Wu Yili frequented and felt comfortable and familiar with, and it was conveniently located on the lakeside road beside Mingyue Lake.

    The Emerald Residence was delicately decorated, with soft lighting and candles lit on the tables, creating a somewhat petty-bourgeois romantic atmosphere. The clientele was mostly urban white-collar workers or young couples.

    Initially, Wu Yili didn''t realize this, but as she led Ge Dongxu into the restaurant and saw that many of the private booths were occupied by couples, her pretty face unconsciously reddened, and she glanced at Ge Dongxu with a guilty look in her eyes.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu didn''t seem to notice, which secretly relieved Wu Yili.

    "Please take a seat, here''s the menu," said the waiter in a white shirt and black vest, leading them to a candlelit table and speaking softly. When handing the menu to Ge Dongxu, he gave him a look of envy.

    "Do you have any particular dishes you''d like to try? Don''t be polite with me," Wu Yili said, picking up the menu.

    "Ladies first. I''m not picky about food, just order what you like," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "I didn''t see that coming, quite gentlemanly of you. Then I won''t be polite with you," Wu Yili was briefly stunned, but she quickly smiled, her eyes showing a trace of fondness and admiration.

    "We shouldn''t be polite with each other in the first place," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Yili''s face turned slightly red without reason, and then she flipped through the menu and said, "The pine nut mandarin fish here is quite good. Shall we order one?"

    "Sure," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "The spicy pepper beef tenderloin is also nice. Shall we get one of those too?" Wu Yili asked again.

    "Yeah, sure," Ge Dongxu nodded again.

    "The braised prawns here are also pretty good. Should we also¡­" Wu Yili continued.

    "Teacher, don''t just order for me. Let''s also pick a few dishes you like," Ge Dongxu didn''t nod this time but interrupted with a smile.

    Having ordered three meat dishes ¨C fish, shrimp, and beef ¨C Ge Dongxu knew Wu Yili was specifically choosing for him.

    "No, I like these dishes too," Wu Yili replied.

    "You might like them, but you''re a lady. I think two meat dishes are enough. Let''s order some of your favorite vegetarian dishes, something lighter. I like light foods too," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Wu Yili was stunned at his words, her beautiful eyes looking at Ge Dongxu in amazement.

    Three years ago, when Ge Dongxu had appeared, she had asked him to call for an adult to help, but to her surprise, the sixteen-year-old saved her life and even ensured her buttocks didn''t sustain any scars.

    Three years later, upon their reunion, she had expected that, as a country boy and a freshman in college, he would be quite reserved in such a setting. Yet, he was able to suggest "ladies first" with gentlemanly grace, and now he had spoken those considerate words. With his observation and meticulous care, if Wu Yili hadn''t known him from three years prior and seen his impoverished state, she might have mistaken him for someone born into a wealthy family with an excellent education, accustomed to frequenting such places. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I honestly didn''t expect you to be so adept at taking care of a girl," Wu Yili finally exclaimed in amazement.

    "Teacher, you misspoke, it''s ''teacher.''" Ge Dongxu saw Wu Yili''s astonished look and couldn''t help but feel amused, teasingly said.

    "You''re such a smooth talker!" Wu Yili slightly startled upon hearing this, then gave Ge Dongxu a white-eyed look and chided him, her pretty face unconsciously blushing a bit, looking exceptionally attractive under the candlelight.

    In the past three years, Ge Dongxu was not short of beautiful women around him, and could even be considered well-experienced, but at this moment, he still found himself momentarily dazed.

    Noticing Ge Dongxu''s obviously dazed gaze, Wu Yili realized that her own action wasn''t very teacher-like, she quickly straightened herself up, then cleared her throat and said, "Let''s not order the oily braised shrimp, get a mushroom with greens and stir-fried broccoli instead."

    "Sure, that''s plenty for the two of us," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "What would you like to drink?" Wu Yili asked.

    "With such nice dishes, can we drink a little alcohol?" Ge Dongxu tentatively asked.

    The unexpected encounter with Wu Yili, although initially made him feel slightly uncomfortable, was mostly a happy surprise. Above all, the natural care Wu Yili showed touched him deeply. At this moment, Ge Dongxu really felt like having a drink with her as a celebration of their reunion.

    "You want to drink alcohol?" Wu Yili looked at Ge Dongxu in surprise.

    "If it''s not okay, then forget it," Ge Dongxu said somewhat sheepishly, as his current status was that of a student.

    "You''re already of age, of course, it''s not a problem. Actually, I too feel like having a drink with you now that we have met again. But do you really drink well? You immediately brought up drinking alcohol," Wu Yili said.

    "Of course I do, I even make my own medicinal wine. Next time I go home, I''ll bring you a jar. It''s good for beauty and skincare," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Wu Yili''s eyes widened at his words, somewhat incredulous as if listening to a fantasy, but then she quickly remembered how Ge Dongxu, even as a young boy, had picked herbs in the mountains and had even saved her. It then seemed nothing for him to be curious about.

    "I had forgotten that you know about herbs. But is home-brewed medicinal wine really good for beauty and skincare? Doesn''t it have any side effects? You should be careful, after all, medicinal wine is different from ordinary alcohol," said Wu Yili, who was a university professor specializing in environmental chemistry and tended to be more rigorous than ordinary people when it came to specifics.

    "Don''t worry, Teacher. All my recipes are tried and true; I learned them from my master. As long as it''s not consumed excessively, there won''t be side effects," Ge Dongxu reassured with a smile.

    "You have a master?" Wu Yili exclaimed in surprise.

    "Of course. My master was very skilled. Unfortunately, he has passed away. The way I treated your snakebite was learned from my master," Ge Dongxu replied.

    There were some things he couldn''t reveal to Wu Yili just yet, but regarding the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine, he felt it was okay to share a bit, especially since Wu Yili already knew he understood herbs, and he was going to work at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. It was likely they''d cross paths in the future, so revealing a bit now would make explanations easier if needed later.

    "No wonder you were so good at treating snakebites," Wu Yili said, understandingly, her face inadvertently flushed with a touch of crimson.

    "So, in the future, if you catch a cold or feel sick, just come to me," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You, Ge Dongxu," Wu Yili rolled her eyes. "Why are you talking about getting sick out of the blue? Do you want me to fall ill?" Though from the tone of her voice, it was clear that she didn''t take Ge Dongxu''s words to heart. More accurately, although she knew he was skilled at treating snakebites, she really didn''t have any expectations regarding his medical skills.

    Indeed, a young man in his late teens knowing a little about treating snake venom and some herbs was impressive enough, but as for treating diseases, in Wu Yili''s opinion, it was naturally not comparable to a real doctor.

 Chapter 526 - 525: Made Several Cameo Appearances, Experienced

    "No, no," Ge Dongxu hurriedly waved his hands but didn''t continue to explain.

    He just wanted to set the stage earlier, not necessarily needing Wu Yili to believe in his medical skills.

    "You wouldn''t dare!" Wu Yili glanced at Ge Dongxu with satisfaction, but after glancing at him, she felt somewhat embarrassed and annoyed because she realized that she hadn''t upheld the demeanor of a mentor.

    "Teacher, what wine shall we drink?" Ge Dongxu changed the topic.

    "Today''s your call; you can drink whatever wine you want," Wu Yili replied.

    "Then let''s have red wine!" Ge Dongxu said.

    Wu Yili looked at Ge Dongxu with a trace of joy, then called over the waiter to order the wine and dishes.

    Being a highly educated returnee and a lady, she naturally preferred the bourgeoise charm and beauty-enhancing properties of red wine.

    Ge Dongxu chose red wine instead of beer, which, in Wu Yili''s view, was naturally considerate of her.

    The wine and dishes were quickly served.

    Candlelight! Red wine! A handsome man and a beautiful woman! Occasionally under the candlelight, a blush would fly across the beautiful woman''s face, revealing a coquettish femininity, making anyone who saw Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili think they were a couple deeply in love.

    Even though Wu Yili appeared a bit older than Ge Dongxu, it did not prevent others from misunderstanding.

    Because these days, relationships with younger men are also quite popular!

    Even Wu Yili herself occasionally had the illusion that sitting together with Ge Dongxu, eating and drinking like this, seemed quite like a couple.

    Because she had never dined and drunk wine alone with a man before, especially in such a charming restaurant.

    So, every time she felt a bit awkward, she had to remind herself that she was a teacher, and it''s quite normal for teachers to eat with students.

    "Professor Wu, good evening, I didn''t expect to see you dining here too," said a man who looked like a successful individual, probably in his early thirties, as Wu Yili and Ge Dongxu gently clinked glasses again and sipped the wine.

    "It turns out to be Director Chang, good evening." Wu Yili''s eyebrows unconsciously frowned slightly, and she managed to squeeze out an unnatural smile.

    "This is..." Director Chang looked towards Ge Dongxu, his expression slightly darkening.

    "He is my..." Wu Yili paused halfway through her sentence then continued: "friend, Ge Dongxu."

    "Friend?" Director Chang glanced at the candle on the table and the two wine glasses, his expression changing.

    "Hello, Director Chang!" Ge Dongxu was slightly startled, but having played the role of a scapegoat several times before, his reaction was quick. He immediately stood up, reaching out his hand with gentlemanly poise.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s composed and polite demeanor, a glimmer of admiration flashed in Wu Yili''s eyes.

    "Hello, Mr. Ge. I had asked Professor Wu for a meeting the day before yesterday, and she said she didn''t have time. Apparently, she had an arrangement with you. Enjoy your meal; I won''t disturb you further," Director Chang shook Ge Dongxu''s hand, then turned and left, his face turning very unsightly as he did so.

    "I didn''t realize you could react so quickly." Wu Yili spoke softly, watching Director Chang''s retreating figure.

    "Not bad, I''ve played this role several times before, so I have some experience," Ge Dongxu replied honestly.

    Wu Yili looked at Ge Dongxu as if she was meeting him for the first time, staring at him for a while before suddenly bursting into laughter, rolling her eyes at him again, and playfully scolding, "You brag about how impressive you are, and you really puff yourself up! Have you forgotten you are just a freshman? Who would believe that?"

    "I heard that many people in our school are chasing after you, including teachers. The Director Chang from earlier isn''t one of our school''s leaders, is he?" Ge Dongxu said, laughing without disputing her.

    "You''re quite nosy!" Wu Yili rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, then continued, "Of course he isn''t one of our school''s leaders. If he were, would I dare use you as a shield? You are my student, after all. He works at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and is a deputy director. I met his father, the vice president of the hospital, by chance. He''s been asking me out frequently, and I''ve grown incredibly annoyed, so I spontaneously said you were my friend today. It looks like he misunderstood."

    "It must have been a misunderstanding. I noticed he looked at me with quite a bit of hostility," Ge Dongxu commented. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I hope he can give up on me from now on," Wu Yili said.

    "If he doesn''t give up, I''ll come to your rescue next time," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You are my student; it''s okay to intervene once in a while, but we can''t keep doing this," Wu Yili said, rolling her eyes at Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and said no more.

    ...

    Ge Dongxu returned to his dormitory around eight-thirty in the evening.

    As soon as he entered, Ge Dongxu felt the atmosphere was unusual.

    Li Chenyu, He Guizhong, and Lu Lei were all in the dorm.

    As Ge Dongxu entered, Li Chenyu sat down grandly in front of the desk facing the door, while He Guizhong and Lu Lei stood on either side, watching him intently.

    "Mighty...Impressive!" He Guizhong and Lu Lei exclaimed.

    "Criminal Ge Dongxu, do you admit your guilt?" Li Chenyu slammed a book on the desk and demanded.

    "Isn''t this a bit too exaggerated?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and cry at the scene.

    "How dare you act frivolously in the grand hall? Come on, give this official..." Li Chenyu slammed the desk again.

    "Alright, cut the act. Just ask if you have questions; I''ll confess," Ge Dongxu hurriedly interrupted, as Li Chenyu banged and shouted, and He Guizhong and Lu Lei began rolling up their sleeves and loosening their necks.

    He really couldn''t stand this bunch of friends making such a parody.

    "You should have said that earlier! You really are a true bro," Li Chenyu and the others immediately put on sleazy smiles, some dragging over chairs for Ge Dongxu to sit, some pouring water, and He Guizhong even pretending to massage Ge Dongxu''s shoulders, which startled him so much that his skin crawled. He quickly turned and glared at He Guizhong, saying, "Stop! Otherwise, I won''t say anything."

    "Exactly, He Guizhong, don''t gross us out with your antics with our Ge. With your looks, you''re like a real-life Hua, if anyone should take the lead, it should be Lu Lei. At least he looks like a stunning enchantress when he stands," Li Chenyu immediately shot him a glare.

    "Get lost!" As soon as Li Chenyu''s words fell, Lu Lei and He Guizhong both pretended to aim kicks at him.

    Li Chenyu hurriedly dodged.

    Watching the three friends messing around, Ge Dongxu started to laugh.

    Although he now possessed nearly immortal abilities, he still preferred this kind of life for living.

    "Okay, okay, I misspoke, let''s focus on the important matters," Li Chenyu said after dodging, seeing that Lu Lei and He Guizhong still looked unforgiving, and he quickly added.

 Chapter 527 - 526: Just Wait and Treat

    Li Chenyu''s words finally made He Guizhong and Lu Lei stop, and they turned their gaze back to Ge Dongxu, a sleazy smile reappearing on their faces. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ge Dongxu, who would have guessed, huh? Always so quiet, but it turns out you''re a hidden master! Even Professor Wu recognizes you," He Guizhong said.

    "Exactly, Sun Wenjun thought he was all that just because he had a meal with Professor Wu, but our Master Ge had already made the first move, and his relationship with Professor Wu is way closer than his. You have no idea how green Sun Wenjun''s face turned when he saw you go out with Professor Wu. That was a satisfying slap in the face!" Li Chenyu nodded.

    "Satisfying!" Lu Lei slapped Ge Dongxu''s shoulder hard, his face beaming with delight.

    Seeing Sun Wenjun get slapped in the face made Lu Lei feel vindictively pleased.

    "So, tell us, how did you and Professor Wu meet?" He Guizhong asked.

    Upon hearing this, Li Chenyu and Lu Lei immediately stared intently at Ge Dongxu, their ears perking up.

    "Meet, my foot! That''s a teacher!" Ge Dongxu glared at He Guizhong and said.

    "Alright then, how did you get to know Professor Wu?" He Guizhong corrected himself.

    "You guys know I''m from Changxi County, and there''s a mountain called Baiyun Mountain in Changxi County. Three years ago, they wanted to develop tourism there, and Professor Wu was invited to conduct an environmental assessment on Baiyun Mountain. My family lives at the foot of the mountain, and I guided her, and that''s how we got acquainted," replied Ge Dongxu.

    This was the story he and Professor Wu had agreed upon during their meal.

    "That''s it? Just like that?" The three of them, He Guizhong, sounded somewhat disappointed.

    "What else do you guys want?" Ge Dongxu replied irritably.

    "Well, that''s true," He Guizhong and Li Chenyu thought about it, then nodded in agreement.

    "Wait a minute! You''ve been drinking!" However, Lu Lei suddenly leaned towards Ge Dongxu, sniffed, and his eyes immediately lit up.

    "Holy shit, you really have been drinking. Oh my God, does that mean you''ve been with Professor Wu since this afternoon, and you even had dinner and drinks with her?" He Guizhong and Li Chenyu also leaned in to smell, and upon doing so, the previously disappointed duo suddenly became as excited as if they had discovered a new continent, exclaiming in disbelief.

    "Is there a problem with that?" Ge Dongxu asked with a mix of laughter and tears.

    "A problem? A man and a woman dining and drinking together, and that woman is none other than Professor Wu, who''s always been free of any scandal. Tell me, there''s no problem?" He Guizhong and Li Chenyu pointed their fingers at Ge Dongxu, looking righteously indignant as if he had committed some unspeakable atrocity.

    "There''s even a scent of perfume!" Lu Lei wrinkled his nose again, blurting out his discovery.

    "My God! There really is a scent of perfume! It has to be Professor Wu''s, subtle and very pleasant. I smelled it during class today, exactly the same. You, you, you beast, what exactly did you do to Professor Wu?" He Guizhong and Li Chenyu turned green with envy.

    "It might be because we shared a car ride together, you know how the backseat is¡­," Ge Dongxu also smelled a faint whiff of perfume at this point, secretly expressing a wry smile, but trying to keep his composure as he explained.

    "Ride together in a car? And sit in the backseat? God, are you saying you left the campus with Professor Wu? Where to?" Ge Dongxu didn''t realize it until he mentioned it, but once he did, the envy in He Guizhong and the others'' eyes turned even greener.

    Only then did Ge Dongxu realize he had spoken too freely, but it was already too late to backtrack, so he frankly confessed, "Mingyue Lake!"

    "Mingyue Lake! Mingyue Lake, wow, what a romantic place! Ge Dongxu, no, no, Big Brother Ge, from now on you are the boss of our dorm! Anyone who disobeys..." The three of them were stunned for a good while before He Guizhong suddenly exclaimed.

    In terms of actual age, He Guizhong was the oldest in the dorm, Ge Dongxu was the third, and Lu Lei was the youngest.

    "Out of the way, Dongxu bro, help yourself to some water, and please take care of us in the future!" Li Chenyu pushed He Guizhong aside and picked up the cup of water on the table, fawning with a bootlicker''s grin.

    "Dongxu bro, I''ve realized I''m totally outclassed by you! I''m convinced!" Always confident in his handsome looks, Lu Lei, upon hearing that Ge Dongxu had actually strolled around Mingyue Lake with Professor Wu, immediately expressed his admiration both in heart and words.

    Ge Dongxu looked at the three of them with their faces full of "admiration" and found himself at a loss for words.

    Wednesday was just like Tuesday, with classes in both the morning and afternoon.

    Because of yesterday''s incident with Professor Wu naming Ge Dongxu, students from the two environmental chemistry freshman classes looked at him somewhat differently, especially Sun Wenjun, whose gaze held a trace of resentment, as if Ge Dongxu had intentionally caused him to lose face.

    "Ge Dongxu, I''ve already invited Zhou Pujun, the senior, to be the referee. Tomorrow afternoon at one o''clock, on the basketball court, don''t be a no-show!" Sun Wenjun specially called out to Ge Dongxu after class.

    "Ge Dongxu, you better be ready to treat!" Zheng Yun and others laughed.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled ambiguously, while He Guizhong and the others were naturally a bit miffed, saying, "Cut it out, don''t be too confident. You might be the ones apologizing!"

    But when they said this, it was clear they lacked confidence.

    "Haha, maybe? Seems like you don''t have much confidence! How about we forget the match and you treat us right now? In view of your proactive forfeit, we''ll definitely be a bit gentler when ordering," Sun Wenjun said with a smug smile on his face.

    "I can still afford a meal at Crystal Hall, but that''s only if you have the skills!" Ge Dongxu, seeing Sun Wenjun''s smug laughter, tossed out a casual remark, and then walked away with He Guizhong and the others.

    "Damn it! Just a guy from a small county, what''s there to be arrogant about? Let''s see what he does after he loses tomorrow!" Watching Ge Dongxu act so cool and seeing their receding figures, Sun Wenjun''s face darkened considerably.

    ...

    "Station Head Guo, isn''t the budget for this second season of ''Happy Girls'' a bit too tight?" In the office of the Jiangnan Province TV Station head, Wu Longcai tried to suppress the dissatisfaction in his heart, looking at Station Head Guo seated behind the large desk, he said with a smile.

    "Little Wu, the budget is already quite substantial. Your entertainment channel''s ''Happy Girls'' has the highest budget among all the programs across our channels. I also have to take care of other channels and programs, right?" Station Head Guo leaned back in his large chair, rubbing his protruding belly, speaking deliberately and unhurriedly, his eyes behind the gold-framed glasses scanning Wu Longcai with a faint hint of disdain.

    Hmph, achieving a bit of success and getting too big for his boots, not even giving me face. Who does he think he is, Wu Longcai?

    "Station Head Guo, I understand that. But our ''Happy Girls'' has already made a name for itself nationwide. This season, just the advertising title right alone has reached 20 million, and with other assorted ads, the revenue will definitely exceed 30 million. With such substantial advertising revenue, we surely need to increase our investment to make ''Happy Girls'' even more successful and sensational. You know, entertainment shows catch on quickly. If we don''t make the second season more successful, once others catch up, the advantage we''ve worked so hard to build will be gone," Wu Longcai, clearly aware of why Station Head Guo was tight with the budget, had no choice but to endure and continue with a composed analysis while maintaining a smile.

 Chapter 528 - 528: 527

    "Speaking of the 20 million advertisement naming rights, Xiao Wu, I really have to criticize you. Do you know that recently several state-owned enterprise chiefs personally called me, willing to sponsor our Happy Girl with 30 million, but what happened? Just because you insisted on signing the deal with Qinghe Herbal Tea last year, now even if a company offers 30 million, we can only continue to contract with Qinghe Herbal Tea for 20 million."

    "Ten million! Xiao Wu, if it weren''t for this mistake of yours, why couldn''t we increase the budget now? How about this, you are quite familiar with President Cheng from Qinghe Herbal Tea, aren''t you? Go talk to them again, explain the current situation, and if they are willing to pay more, no matter how much extra they offer, I won''t keep a cent; it will all go into your program''s budget." Station Head Guo suddenly stopped rubbing his belly, his expression darkened as he looked at Wu Longcai and spoke.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Longcai was nearly exploding with anger.

    Back then, the station was not optimistic about his program and he couldn''t pull together enough funding. If it hadn''t been for Ge Dongxu ''Great Hand'' directly offering 10 million to buy their naming rights, not only would Happy Girl not get popular, it might have been dead in the water. Moreover, when Wu Longcai informed Station Head Guo that Qinghe Herbal Tea was willing to buy the naming rights of the program for 10 million, Station Head Guo was over the moon with joy. He praised Wu Longcai lavishly, and when it came to the next year''s right of first refusal for up to 20 million, Station Head Guo didn''t even frown before agreeing, and even urged Wu Longcai to draft the contract quickly, lest they lose Qinghe Herbal Tea.

    Now the tables have turned; the program has become a hit, and Station Head Guo is criticizing Wu Longcai, making it seem as if Qinghe Herbal Tea got a bargain. He didn''t consider that without Qinghe Herbal Tea, there would be no Happy Girl today!

    This is nothing short of burning bridges after crossing!

    "Station Head Guo, the contract was agreed upon last year. Besides, without the substantial support from Qinghe Herbal Tea, our program wouldn''t have taken off. It''s definitely not appropriate to talk to them about raising the price now!" Although Wu Longcai knew that Station Head Guo was deliberately finding faults to criticize him and was burning bridges, he still had to endure his anger and said with a troubled expression.

    There was no choice; a higher-ranking official could crush you to death!

    "Then I have no solution either. As the Station Head, I have to be fair; I can''t just look out for Happy Girl. Otherwise, other channels and other programs will have grievances against me. Besides, this time the investment is even 500,000 more than the first season, which is quite good already. Alright, you may leave; I still have documents to handle." Station Head Guo continued to stroke his round belly, leaned back, half-closed his eyes, and spoke unhurriedly.

    Wu Longcai, looking at Station Head Guo''s indifferent attitude, really wanted to throw the budget sheet in his face and question him¡ªjust the naming rights alone increased by 10 million, an additional investment of only 500,000 is considered good?

    But in the end, Wu Longcai still suppressed his anger, nodded, and turned to leave the Station Head''s office.

    Wu Longcai is called the Director-General of the entertainment channel, which sounds like he oversees an entire channel, but that''s just the customary way to address him. In reality, Wu Longcai is just the Director of one channel, and there are fourteen channels under the provincial TV station. Compared to Station Head Guo, his ranking is significantly lower.

    Truly angering Station Head Guo might lead to Wu Longcai being transferred from the entertainment channel without any consideration.

    Of course, the entertainment channel was now a major source of advertising revenue for the provincial station. Wu Longcai had considerable influence there and was indeed talented. Unless there was no other choice, Station Head Guo wouldn''t take such action.

    Otherwise, Station Head Guo wouldn''t have gone through the trouble of using the budget to pressure Wu Longcai!

    "Damn it!" Wu Longcai returned to his Director-General office at the entertainment channel, so angry that he slammed the budget report onto the table.

    "Damn it! I don''t give Xiao Shanshan a chance, and you fucking cut my budget, you''re ruthless!" Wu Longcai, like a caged beast, paced back and forth in the office. His fury was so frightening that several subordinates who came in after knocking on the door quickly scurried away.

    "Director Wu, did Station Head Guo reject your application?" Just as Wu Longcai was fuming in his office, Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi pushed the door and walked in.

    "That''s right! Just because I won''t make arrangements for Xiao Shanshan, he comes up with this act. 5 million, is he paying off a beggar?!" Wu Longcai, upon seeing Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi enter, said with a livid face.

    "Although the first season of Happy Girl was very successful, the audience can easily become aesthetic fatigued. This time, we must increase our investment and upgrade every aspect of the details, including the stage, to captivate the audience as before. Especially now, with the rising costs of commodities and labor, 5 million might sound like a lot and it is 500,000 more than the last season, but in reality, it''s not even as good as the last one," Wu Shiyi said.

    "That''s secondary, the key point is Qinghe Herbal Tea has invested 20 million this time, and Donglinyue Apparel will definitely increase their investments too. Just think about it, Dongxu invested so much, if our show''s quality declines because of the station''s budget cuts, won''t that be biting the hand that feeds us, betraying Dongxu?" Liu Manman said with a wry smile. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yeah, that''s the crux! Otherwise, if I get pissed off and ruin the program, so be it. After all, if it really goes down the drain, wouldn''t Station Head Guo suffer too?" Wu Longcai said.

    "Then what should we do? Should we talk to Dongxu?" Wu Shiyi furrowed her brows and suggested.

    "This time is different from when you were threatened to sleep with someone in Beijing. That involved your personal safety. This is our job. Furthermore, Dongxu has already helped us a lot with this program. Even one could say, without him, there would be no Happy Girl today. Now, because of some conflicts and disputes at the station, to bother him, someone outside our organization, to pull strings and resolve this issue, that would not only trouble him but would also indicate that we cannot handle our own jobs. Do you think that''s appropriate?" Liu Manman said, smiling bitterly.

    "Manman is right. Dongxu has helped us a lot already, and this is part of our job. It''s really not good to trouble Dongxu with such matters," Wu Longcai said, nodding solemnly.

    Wu Shiyi had matured a lot over the year. Upon hearing this, she quickly understood the intricacies and, after thinking for a moment, bit her coral lips and said, "Then if it really comes to that, I''ll step down from Happy Girl and let Xiao Shanshan take over."

    "No way! You were personally chosen by Dongxu. If you leave Happy Girl, what should I say when Dongxu asks? Plus, you are doing a great job hosting now," Wu Longcai rejected without hesitation.

 Chapter 529 - 528 My Name is Nico

    "I should drop out, since I''m already well-known. Shiyi''s career is just starting to pick up, it''s the time to strike while the iron is hot. If she fades away now, all the effort she''s put in this year would be in vain. Plus, it''s clear that Dongxu really cares about her," Liu Manman said, her heart filled with bitterness.

    As a host, no one does not dream of hosting popular shows, and Liu Manman genuinely liked the show "Happy Girl Voice."

    However, to help Wu Shiyi and to ensure the continued success of the program, she had no choice but to step down.

    "Think about it again. If it doesn''t work out, we could just add one more, and have three people hosting," Wu Longcai said to Liu Manman after hesitating for a moment.

    "Forget it, Director. Three women hosting? Do you think that''s appropriate? If we were to add someone, it should be another male host. In fact, two hosts are actually enough. At most, we could bring in one or two more for the final contest to liven up the atmosphere. You all actually know my situation very well. To have come this far, I''m already very satisfied. Let it go to Xiao Shanshan. That way Station Head Guo won''t fuss over your budget. And after all, Head Guo is the station head; you standing up to him like this isn''t good for you, for me, or for Wu Shiyi," Liu Manman said.

    "What are you talking about, Sister Manman? You have the experience. If anyone should step back, it should be me!" Wu Shiyi objected.

    "Don''t be silly, Wu Shiyi! Over the years, Sister Manman has actually seen through a lot. Just being able to know a silly girl like you, I''m already very happy. Besides, if I step down, with my credentials, I can easily start another program without anyone saying anything. It''d be harder for you," Liu Manman said as she hugged Wu Shiyi by her slim waist, looking sincerely into her eyes.

    "We''ll just inconvenience you for now, Manman. But don''t worry, if Xiao Shanshan hosts poorly and it obviously affects the viewership, I will definitely go to Station Head Guo again. By then, he''ll have nothing to say," Wu Longcai said looking at the popular "sister flowers" in front of him, hesitated for a long time, and finally made up his mind.

    "Sister Manman!" Wu Shiyi''s eyes instantly moistened.

    "Silly girl!" Liu Manman gently hugged Wu Shiyi, patted her shoulders, and her eyes revealed a touch of sorrow.

    ¡­

    "Dongxu, that''s a blonde! Are you really sure you don''t want to go to the English public class?" In Room 203 of Dormitory 3, Li Chenyu and the others turned back to look at Ge Dongxu, who was still sitting at his desk reading, and asked.

    "No! No!" Ge Dongxu waved his hands, both crying and laughing.

    Blonde women, he had seen them before. When he was in the capital, he had even helped a blonde clean her body with a towel.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t believe that this blonde at the English public class every Wednesday night could be prettier or sexier than Nico he met on the plane before.

    "Forget it, forget it, Dongxu''s heart now only has Professor Wu! Any blonde is just a skeleton dusted in rouge, not worth mentioning at all!" He Guizhong said.

    "Get lost!" Ge Dongxu went up, immediately closing the dormitory door.

    "Do you guys think, Ge Dongxu might really have true feelings for Professor Wu, and from now on, no other girl could catch his eye? If that''s the case, it''s troubling!" Li Chenyu said.

    "That''s really hard to say! Think about it, if it were you who had strolled around Mingyue Lake and had meals and drinks with a beauty like Professor Wu, would you be fantasizing? Could you still be interested in other girls?" He Guizhong analyzed with a face full of worry, acting like an expert in this area.

    "The campus beauties are exceptions!" Lu Lei said.

    "Yeah, say that after you''ve managed to date a campus beauty!" Li Chenyu and He Guizhong both rolled their eyes.

    "Wait!" Lu Lei said.

    "Wait my ass! If we wait any longer, there won''t be any seats left in the lecture hall!" Li Chenyu and He Guizhong both lifted their feet to kick the cool-posing Lu Lei''s butt.

    Seeing this, Lu Lei took off running.

    Li Chenyu and He Guizhong laughed and chased after him.

    Although the three of them nearly sprinted to the lecture hall in building 101, by the time they arrived, the auditorium, which could accommodate around five hundred people, was almost fully occupied, with three-quarters of the seats filled with male students.

    "No way!" Li Chenyu and the others were dumbfounded at the sight; they hadn''t expected such a large classroom to be almost full before class even started.

    "Lv Semi-Immortal sure moves fast. Look, he''s sitting right in the middle of the front row again." It took a while before the three reluctantly found their places in the second-to-last row at the back, looking down from above, and they couldn''t help but admire the sight of a head with hair so shiny from the oil.

    After they settled down, more students gradually arrived, and soon the entire stepped classroom was filled.

    The students who arrived later, some seeing there were no seats, left disappointed, while others simply stood in the aisles.

    "This is so exaggerated. I hope it doesn''t disappoint me!" Seeing that it was almost time for class and many students were still arriving, Li Chenyu and his friends were both amazed and a bit anxious.

    Just as they were feeling apprehensive, the once bustling classroom suddenly quieted down.

    "Clack clack clack!" The sound of high heels on the floor clearly rang out, echoing in the classroom. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Right after that, Li Chenyu and others saw a blonde walking through the middle aisle of the stepped classroom.

    Black high heels, blue tight jeans, and a white V-neck T-shirt.

    It might seem like ordinary attire, but on this blonde, it vividly showcased a devilish figure.

    Not only that, the blonde also had a flawless face, especially those deep blue eyes which were full of exotic charm, captivating anyone who glanced at her, almost as if their soul was being hooked.

    Li Chenyu and his friends watched the blonde walk in heels towards the lectern; her demon-like waist twisting and swaying with each step, their eyes almost popping out.

    "Ge Dongxu really missed out this time! This blonde is every bit as impressive as Professor Wu, especially that figure. It''s explosive, just like the American female stars we see on TV," Li Chenyu whispered in awe.

    He Guizhong and Lu Lei nodded without hesitation.

    "Hello everyone, some of you might be attending my lecture for the first time, so please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Nico, and I''m from the United States!" As Li Chenyu whispered in awe, Nico walked up to the lectern, scanned the students in the classroom with her eyes, and with a charming smile, her red lips parted slightly as she introduced herself in English.

 Chapter 530 - 529: Ge Dongxu Turns Out to Be a Master!

    Jiangnan University, the premier institution of higher education in Jiangnan Province.

    There are many outdoor basketball courts within the campus.

    Not only are these courts the favorite spots for male students, but they also attract numerous female onlookers.

    Because here, the girls can witness the boys sweating it out, displaying their handsome and masculine figures.

    Even in some inter-departmental games, many girls would voluntarily come to act as cheerleaders to support the basketball teams of their respective departments.

    Today at the outdoor basketball courts, many people were playing basketball, with some playing half-court and others full-court games.

    Near one basketball court close to the sports field, a sizeable crowd had gathered, including both male and female students, and among them was a male student standing at one meter ninety tall, with a whistle hanging around his neck.

    These people were the students from the two freshman classes of Environmental Chemistry, and the one-meter-ninety-tall male student was Zhou Pujun, the deputy captain of the College of Environmental and Resources basketball team and the head of the sports department of the college student union; he was also the referee invited by Sun Wenjun for this occasion.

    "Ge Dongxu, Lu Lei, you guys might as well prepare to treat us," Sun Wenjun said disdainfully to Ge Dongxu.

    "Zheng Yun, you''re really something, playing with that skill level of yours. Aren''t you just dragging their class down?" Zhou Pujun clearly didn''t have much confidence in Ge Dongxu and his team and teased Zheng Yun with a laugh.

    Zheng Yun, who was now a reserve player for the college team, often played basketball with Zhou Pujun and others, so Zhou was well aware of his skill level.

    "Captain Zhou, this has nothing to do with me. It was their class that couldn''t accept defeat and started it," Zheng Yun said with a cheeky grin.

    "That''s right, Captain Zhou. They were the ones who said if they lost, they''d treat us at the Crystal Hall and let us order the dishes. Could we possibly back down?" Sun Wenjun said with a smile.

    "It was clearly you who deliberately bumped Lu Lei''s nose during the game and then provocatively picked a fight after class the next day, forcing us to challenge you to another game," Li Chenyu, upon hearing Sun Wenjun''s distortion of the facts, couldn''t help but say angrily.

    "That''s right! That''s right!" Guo Meiqiong and other girls from the first class chimed in.

    "What, are you starting to make excuses now? Do you not want to play anymore? Thinking of reneging?" Sun Wenjun said with a sneer.

    "Enough, I don''t care about your petty issues! Are you going to play or not? If so, let''s start," Zhou Pujun interjected, frowning impatiently.

    "Of course, we''re going to play. It''s up to them now," Sun Wenjun retorted, looking defiantly at Ge Dongxu and Lu Lei.

    "Of course, we''ll play! How else would we make you apologize to Lu Lei and the others for what happened that day? I certainly can''t just beat you up," Ge Dongxu replied with a faint smile.

    "Eh, what''s your name? Quite proud, aren''t you?" Zhou Pujun looked at Ge Dongxu in surprise and asked.

    "Ge Dongxu!" Ge Dongxu responded.

    "Hmm, not bad! We are all classmates here, and fighting definitely isn''t right; deciding the outcome through a game is the best way," Zhou Pujun nodded as he spoke.

    "That''s exactly what I think, Captain Zhou. Let''s begin," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, you all know the rules, I won''t say much more. Send someone out to vie for the ball," Zhou Pujun said concisely, while walking with the basketball in one hand to the center of the court.

    "Let''s go with what we agreed on before: me as the power forward, Ge Dongxu as the center, Lu Lei as the shooting guard, Ren Lu as the point guard, and Xu Tongjie as the small forward," He Guizhong quickly reminded everyone, then led them confidently to the center of the court.

    But it was Ge Dongxu, not He Guizhong, who went for the jump ball.

    The one vying for the ball from the second class was Zheng Yun, who was one meter eighty-five tall.

    "Heh, Ge Dongxu, get ready to treat everyone," Zheng Yun chuckled while looking at Ge Dongxu.

    "I think you guys still have time to apologize now. Otherwise, don''t blame me for not showing mercy when you lose too badly later!" Ge Dongxu replied coolly, having already sealed his True Qi within his body.

    With his Cultivation, competing against Zheng Yun and the others, he scorned using True Qi and planned to rely purely on his Physical Body''s stamina instead.

    However, even so, as Zhou Pujun blew his whistle and tossed the basketball into the air, Zheng Yun hadn''t reacted before Ge Dongxu had already leapt high, stretched out his long arms, and effortlessly snatched the ball with one hand, then casually passed it to Lu Lei.

    Lu Lei grabbed the ball and took a few steps before attempting a one-handed, over-the-shoulder shot.

    "Bang!" The basketball hit the hoop and was harshly bounced out.

    "Mine!" Zheng Yun, who had just lost the ball to Ge Dongxu, was feeling frustrated. Seeing the basketball bounce off the hoop, he immediately roared and leapt into the air.

    Zheng Yun had a strong vertical leap, and coupled with his height advantage, his arms extended as he jumped. Just as his hand was about to touch the basketball, another arm suddenly soared over his, hooked the ball lightly, and Zheng Yun''s attempt came to nothing.

    "Well done, Ge Dongxu!"

    "Keep it up, Ge Dongxu!"

    Cheers from the spectating boys and girls by the court erupted instantly, and Zhou Pujun''s eyes also gleamed.

    Intercepting the ball earlier could be chalked up to luck, but now, Ge Dongxu once again snatched it right in front of Zheng Yun, which was quite interesting.

    "Keep shooting, Lu Lei!" Ge Dongxu, remaining unmoved by the cheers, took the ball, scanned his options, and continued to pass it to Lu Lei.

    Lu Lei caught the ball, but perhaps influenced by the previous miss, hesitated and didn''t dare to shoot.

    "Smack!" Just then, Sun Wenjun burst out, intercepted the ball from Lu Lei, and started dribbling towards his own half of the court.

    "Go, class leader, all the way! Make a layup with three steps!" Seeing Sun Wenjun make the interception and head towards his half with no one behind him, Class Two''s students immediately erupted with excitement.

    Sun Wenjun, upon hearing his classmates'' cheers, couldn''t help but show a smug grin, and sped up towards his half of the court.

    However, Sun Wenjun had only just crossed the mid-court line when a figure suddenly appeared before him, and "smack!" someone snatched the ball right in front of him.

    "Damn it! Not Ge Dongxu again!" Class Two was in an uproar upon seeing Ge Dongxu steal from Sun Wenjun.

    "Well done, Ge Dongxu!"

    "Keep it up, Ge Dongxu!" The students from Class One immediately boiled over with excitement.

    "Lu Lei, shoot again, don''t hesitate!" Despite the cheers, Ge Dongxu remained focused, stole the ball, and again passed it to Lu Lei.

    Lu Lei caught the ball and, gritting his teeth, shot it.

    "Bang!" It hit the backboard and missed again.

    The people from Class Two leaped wildly in an attempt to grab the ball.

    "Mine!" Zheng Yun was in the best position; he roared again as his fingertips already touched the basketball.

    "Spoke too soon!" But in that moment, Ge Dongxu''s arm stretched out, seizing the ball in one swift motion and tossing it straight to Lu Lei, coolly saying, "Lu Lei, I''ve got your back, just keep shooting!"

    "Holy crap!"

    "F*ck me!"

    "Oh my god, Ge Dongxu is actually a master!"

    "Ge Dongxu is hell-bent on feeding Lu Lei the ball!" sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "This is outright humiliation!"

    "This is outright face-slapping!"

    Not only were the spectating students of both classes dumbfounded, but they also realized that Ge Dongxu was deliberately helping Lu Lei get even and slap Sun Wenjun in the face.

 Chapter 531 - 531: 530 Dongxu, you pervert

    "Tss! That kid''s vertical leap is insanely strong!" The referee Zhou Pujun, standing on the side, gasped sharply, his eyes shining brightly.

    Lu Lei received the ball, calmed himself down, and went for another one-handed, over-the-shoulder shot.

    "Swish!" The basketball went straight through the net!

    "Wow! He scored!"

    "Way to go, Lu Lei!"

    "Way to go, Ge Dongxu!"

    Seeing this, the students from Class One immediately burst into excited cheers, with Li Chenyu eagerly jotting down the score on the small blackboard.

    "Don''t get too happy too soon! The real show is yet to come!" Sun Wenjun and the others had grim looks on their faces as they took the basketball and walked past Ge Dongxu and his teammates.

    All five of them were tall and strong, superior in height and strength compared to Class One. They hadn''t expected to get the ball stolen repeatedly by Ge Dongxu right at the start of the game, which was naturally frustrating.

    "That''s right, the real show is yet to come," Ge Dongxu responded coolly.

    The game continued.

    The ball was passed from a Class Two student to Sun Wenjun, who dribbled a few steps, then found a gap and passed it to Zheng Yun.

    Zheng Yun, seeing the ball arc towards him through the air, showed a hint of joy and longing in his eyes, ready to catch it, when suddenly a hand appeared in front of him, and he watched, wide-eyed, as Ge Dongxu intercepted the pass.

    "Wow, it''s Ge Dongxu again!"

    "Way to go, Ge Dongxu!"

    Class One''s crowd erupted once more.

    "Damn it!"

    "Crap, it''s Ge Dongxu again!"

    Class Two began to curse.

    Seeing his pass intercepted, Sun Wenjun charged forward in a fury, blocking Ge Dongxu''s path, his eyes fixed on him.

    "You think you can stop me? You''re not even close," Ge Dongxu, seeing Sun Wenjun trying to block him, smirked contemptuously and swiftly dribbled past him.

    "Stop him!" Sun Wenjun, who hadn''t even reacted before Ge Dongxu had blown by him, couldn''t help yelling out in frustration.

    Class Two''s players had already rushed forward to block Ge Dongxu without Wenjun''s command.

    But they were nowhere near capable of stopping Ge Dongxu, who used a few feints to quickly get to the basket, while Zheng Yun and the others were still away from it.

    "Shoot! Shoot!" Class One shouted in unison.

    "It''s over!" Class Two, seeing no one at the basket to stop Ge Dongxu, had looks of despair in their eyes.

    Just when everyone thought Ge Dongxu would surely go for the shot, he unexpectedly threw the ball to Lu Lei on the outside.

    "Lu Lei, keep going!" Ge Dongxu''s voice rang out again.

    Lu Lei caught the ball, momentarily stunned; he hadn''t expected Ge Dongxu to pass up such a great chance to shoot and instead passed the ball to him.

    Once he snapped out of it, Lu Lei shot, his face full of excitement.

    "Bang!" It missed; the ball bounced away.

    "Mine!" Zheng Yun roared again, only to have a hand appear before his eyes once more, and then the ball was gone.

    "Lu Lei, one more time!" Ge Dongxu snagged the rebound and casually tossed it to Lu Lei again.

    "Crap, this... this is outright contempt for our Class Two!"

    "Crap, this is simply humiliation by Ge Dongxu!" Class Two''s players were each deeply agitated upon witnessing this.

    "Haha! Well done, boss! That''s how you do it!" Li Chenyu, seeing this, danced around excitedly, as if he was in the throes of mania.

    He could never have dreamed that Ge Dongxu would be so awesome¡ªto the point where slapping down the opposition felt overwhelmingly satisfying.

    Zhou Pujun was genuinely taken aback this time.

    Although he was the vice-captain of the college team and had strong skills, he didn''t believe he could be as awesome as Ge Dongxu, who could steal and rebound at will, especially with Zheng Yun on the field.

    "Ge Dongxu!" Sun Wenjun and the others glared furiously, wishing they could tear Ge Dongxu to pieces.

    "Clang!" Under the mixed emotions of the crowd, Lu Lei took another shot. The basketball hit the backboard then bounced off and dropped into the hoop.

    "Haha! Four to zero!" Li Chenyu laughed loudly as he picked up the chalk to change the score.

    "This won''t do! Sun Wenjun, Jia Bokai, you two encircle Ge Dongxu, keep a tight watch on him and don''t give him any chance!" While Li Chenyu was keeping the score, Zheng Yun, with a grim expression, instructed Sun Wenjun and Jia Bokai.

    "Alright!" Sun Wenjun and Jia Bokai nodded with grim expressions.

    The game had barely been on a few minutes, and they were already feeling the burning pain on their cheeks, suffocated and humiliated.

    The match continued, with the ball in Class 2''s possession.

    Zheng Yun passed the ball, but Sun Wenjun and Jia Bokai didn''t bother to go for it; they just focused on blocking Ge Dongxu, eliciting a chorus of boos from the Class 1 students.

    "That''s so shameless, two against one!"

    Sun Wenjun and the others remained silent, just tightly marking Ge Dongxu.

    However, with Ge Dongxu''s skills, not to mention Sun Wenjun and Jia Bokai''s mediocre levels, even top NBA stars would achieve nothing trying to stop him.

    Watching as Ge Dongxu seemed to be blocked by Sun Wenjun and Jia Bokai, the ball was gradually brought into the restricted zone, also known as the key. And at that moment, the ball was passed to Zheng Yun.

    Zheng Yun, true to his status as a reserve player for the university team, took the ball and, after a couple of maneuvers, managed to bring it right under the hoop.

    A hint of glee flashed in Zheng Yun''s eyes as he leaped for a one-handed layup.

    Seeing this, everyone thought Class 2 was finally going to score, and the Class 2 students had already started cheering.

    But the next moment, the cheers stopped abruptly, because, out of nowhere, Ge Dongxu had shaken off Sun Wenjun and Jia Bokai. Like an unrelenting ghost, he appeared under the basket, leaped up with an extended arm, and made a hook shot. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zheng Yun''s basketball had disappeared.

    "Damn! How''s that even possible!"

    "Shit! That''s freaking awesome!"

    "How can we even play against that!"

    The people from Class 2 were all dumbfounded!

    "Haha! Lu Lei, get ready! Ge Dongxu is going to pass the ball to you!" After a moment of stunned silence, the students from Class 1 started shouting gleefully.

    Lu Lei was caught off guard for a moment, then decisively started running straight to their own basket, not even bothering to look at the ball.

    Seeing Lu Lei run back, Zheng Yun and the others paused, then hurried to block Ge Dongxu.

    This time, Ge Dongxu didn''t try to get past them; instead, once Lu Lei reached under the basket, he just hurled the ball with great force.

    "Lu Lei, shoot!"

    The ball traced a parabola through the air, then landed steadily in Lu Lei''s hands.

    Stationed under the hoop, it was now Lu Lei''s turn for a one-handed layup.

    "Clang!" The ball echoed as it went through the hoop.

    "Haha, six to zero!" Li Chenyu immediately laughed as he picked up the chalk to update the score.

    Gazing at the glaring chalk digits on the scoreboard under the sun, Zheng Yun, defiantly stated, "Damn it, I refuse to believe this! Jia Bokai, you join me in blocking him."

    The game went on, and Ge Dongxu just kept intercepting passes, grabbing rebounds, and passing the ball to Lu Lei, quickly raising the score to ten to zero.

    "Damn, Ge Dongxu, you''ve got to pass me the ball a couple of times for a bit of fun!"

    "For real, you aren''t falling for Lu Lei''s pretty face, are you!"

    He Guizhong and the others began to jest and tease, utterly unpressured, as if the ball was born in Ge Dongxu''s hands.

    "Sure thing! Get ready, He Guizhong," Ge Dongxu replied with a slight smile.

    After that, Ge Dongxu really began feeding the ball to He Guizhong, while Zheng Yun and his teammates didn''t even get a chance to shoot.

    "No more playing! No more playing! Ge Dongxu you freak!" Finally, when the score became fourteen to zero, Zheng Yun and his teammates, having been thoroughly outplayed by Ge Dongxu and utterly convinced of their defeat, slapped the basketball hard on the ground. Pointing at Ge Dongxu, they laughed and cursed, while Sun Wenjun looked on with an expression of bitterness and frustration.

 Chapter 532 - 531 Join Our College Basketball Team

    "Damn, boss, you''re too awesome! Now I believe what you said, it''s not that you don''t want to play ball, but rather your skills are so great that once you''re on the court, the game just isn''t interesting anymore!" Seeing that the game hadn''t even finished the first half and Zheng Yun and the others had thrown in the towel, He Guizhong approached and wrapped an arm around Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, admiringly saying.

    "Thank you!" Lu Lei also came forward to hug Ge Dongxu''s shoulder, his eyes slightly moist as he spoke.

    "Thank me? What do you mean by that?" Ge Dongxu pretended to glower.

    "Exactly, there''s no need for thanks among brothers," He Guizhong laughed.

    "Sun Wenjun, haven''t you forgotten something?" While Ge Dongxu was talking to He Guizhong and others, Li Chenyu suddenly called out.

    Following the sound, Ge Dongxu and others then noticed that Sun Wenjun, seeing how badly he was losing, was actually planning to sneak off and leave.

    "That''s right, Sun Wenjun, a man should keep his word. We all heard crystal clear what you said in the classroom on Tuesday. If you lost, you were to apologize to Lu Lei," the class monitor Guo Meiqiong said.

    "Yes! Exactly!" The girls from class one echoed in agreement.

    No one from class two said anything, silently watching Sun Wenjun.

    These were his own classmates, and not a single person stood up to speak for Sun Wenjun, their class president, showing that even the people from class two did not approve of Sun Wenjun''s actions.

    Seeing no one speak up for him, Sun Wenjun''s face went from red to white, and he eventually gritted his teeth and walked up to Lu Lei saying, "Sorry Lu Lei, that day I was... "

    "Forget it! We''re all classmates," Lu Lei interrupted without letting Sun Wenjun finish his sentence, gesturing with his hands.

    The resentment he felt during the basketball game had long been vented out.

    Sun Wenjun was taken aback and gave Lu Lei a surprised look, then turned with a grim face and walked away.

    A few students from class two who were closer to Sun Wenjun hurried after him upon seeing this. Zheng Yun hesitated but did not follow; instead, he looked at Ge Dongxu with great interest.

    He really liked basketball, and Ge Dongxu played so well that Zheng Yun was very curious about how he did it.

    Apart from Zheng Yun, Zhou Pujun also looked at Ge Dongxu with interest.

    "Ge Dongxu, I never would have guessed you''re a basketball expert. Join our college basketball team; you can play any position you want," Zhou Pujun said.

    "Sorry, Captain Zhou, I''m not interested," Ge Dongxu replied.

    With his level of skill, even playing in the NBA would be bullying, so what''s the point of playing with Zhou Pujun and others? If it wasn''t for Sun Wenjun bullying too much, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t have played this time either.

    "Come on, Ge Dongxu, are you serious? Do you know I want to join the college team, and I still don''t qualify. Now you can pick any position you like!" Zheng Yun said in surprise as Ge Dongxu actually declined.

    "Join us, Ge Dongxu. In November, our school will host the ''Jiangnan Cup'' all-school basketball competition, where thirty-two colleges will play in group and knockout stages. Our College of Environmental and Resource Sciences is a big college, but it has not made it to the top eight for several years now, which is quite embarrassing. The college leaders take this seriously and hope our cohort can make it to the top eight this year. We''re confident about reaching the top eight this year, but with you on board, we''d be even more confident," Zhou Pujun said, patting Ge Dongxu''s shoulder.

    "Thanks, Captain Zhou, for valuing me so much, but I''m really not that interested in basketball competitions. I only joined in this time because they from class two were bullying too much," Ge Dongxu declined again without much consideration.

    "Hey, Ge Dongxu, don''t you have any sense of team honor? Captain Zhou is inviting you to join the college team; that''s an honor. Don''t get too big for your britches!" Zheng Yun, seeing that he had no chance to join the college team while Ge Dongxu did but was not interested, couldn''t help but get anxious.

    "Yeah, Ge Dongxu, as a student of our college, you should have a sense of collective honor," Zhou Pujun persisted in persuading.

    "Come on, Dongxu, participate! You''re so good at basketball. If you join, our college definitely has a chance to make it to the quarterfinals, or even the finals. If that really happens, our classmates will also bask in the glory!" The class monitor, Guo Meiqiong, followed up with persuasion.

    "Right, right, Dongxu, please join," other classmates chimed in, egging him on.

    However, Li Chenyu, He Guizhong, and Lu Lei all remained silent, just looking at Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing that everyone was urging him, and each of them had a look of anticipation, Dongxu''s face couldn''t help but show a tinge of difficulty, but he finally shook his head and said, "Sorry, Captain Zhou."

    "Alright, college is ultimately about studying, which is the main pursuit. Since you''re adamant about not participating, I can''t force you," Zhou Pujun said, nodding regretfully, as Dongxu firmly disagreed.

    "Ah! Really, why won''t he join! Being a freshman and joining the college team is so awesome!" the classmates all expressed their disappointment.

    Ge Dongxu smiled apologetically at everyone and said, "I''m going to head back first, you guys keep playing if you want."

    So, some stayed to continue playing, while others left for home.

    He Guizhong and the other two didn''t stay; they followed Ge Dongxu back to the dorm. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I mean, boss, aren''t you a bit too cocky? Even passing on the college team," Li Chenyu said on the way back. Although he hadn''t spoken up before, he had been quite hopeful Dongxu would join.

    "Yeah, boss, if it were me, I definitely would have joined," He Guizhong agreed.

    It should be mentioned that He Guizhong was actually the oldest in the dorm, but calling Dongxu ''boss'' had increasingly rolled off his tongue quite smoothly.

    "It''s lonely at the top! My basketball skills are so formidable, if I were to compete, there wouldn''t even be any suspense about winning the championship. What''s the fun in that!" Ge Dongxu remarked.

    This wasn''t pretentious; Dongxu genuinely felt a bit tempted to join, to fight for collective honor. It was just that, with his abilities, if he really participated, others might not realize, but he would know that it would''ve been a case of bullying the weak by being strong!

    "Come on!" It took a moment for He Guizhong and the others to process before they couldn''t help but give him a disdainful gesture.

    Their skills as freshmen naturally couldn''t compare to the basketball elites of the various colleges.

    "I''m serious!" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Get real! Who do you think you are, Jordan?" He Guizhong and the others couldn''t stand Dongxu''s arrogance and once again collectively flashed him the disdainful hand signal.

    ...

    Ge Dongxu didn''t spend the night at Yadu Garden this weekend. On one hand, he was worried that too frequent visits might tire Liu Jiayao out, and on the other hand, he was also concerned about not returning to the dorm for two consecutive weekends, which might lead to an inquisition by the three mischief-makers in his dorm. During the day, however, he still made a special effort to accompany Liu Jiayao for a stroll around Mingyue Lake and the mall, and for tea and meals.

    In the blink of an eye, it was Monday.

    After having lunch in the cafeteria and spending some time in the library, Dongxu slung his shoulder bag over his shoulder and rode his specially bought bicycle at a leisurely pace toward Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

 Chapter 533 - 532 What are you doing here?

    Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, also known as the First Clinical Medical College of Jiangnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, is both a hospital and a college of the university; it integrates medical treatment, scientific research, teaching, healthcare, and rehabilitation. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, now the vast majority of traditional Chinese medicine hospitals are no longer purely traditional. Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital is no exception.

    Though named a traditional Chinese medicine hospital, it is actually an integrated hospital combining both Chinese and Western medicine, classified as a top-tier, Grade-III hospital. It''s simply that the emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine is greater, and being affiliated with the university of traditional Chinese medicine, it''s referred to as such.

    The people who come to the hospital for treatment, in fact, many of them do not necessarily come for traditional Chinese medicine; many also come for Western medicine. Of course, compared to other hospitals, the proportion of those seeking traditional Chinese medicine is definitely much higher.

    Last week, Ge Dongxu and Tang Yiyuan had a detailed discussion and ultimately decided that Ge Dongxu would temporarily intern at the department of internal traditional Chinese medicine as an intern without revealing his true identity. At first, because of his status as an intern, he couldn''t have much freedom with his time; Ge Dongxu would come to the hospital on Monday, Thursday, and Friday afternoons. Once his real identity was revealed, he would then decide, based on his own schedule, when to come during these three afternoons.

    Since Tang Yiyuan was concerned about the special attention his own identity might draw, which could interfere with Ge Dongxu observing the medical ethics and behavior of the department of internal traditional Chinese medicine members, last week he finalized the doctor who would be responsible for Ge Dongxu''s internship.

    This doctor''s name was Xie Jinmo, who had once been Tang Yiyuan''s student. After completing his doctorate, he stayed at Jiangnan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and now holds the title of associate professor at the university, and also the title of associate chief physician in his medical practice.

    As one of Jiangnan Province''s leading figures in traditional Chinese medicine, Tang Yiyuan had mentored many outstanding students over the years. Among them, only Dr. Huang Wenjie, who initially accompanied Tang Yiyuan to Qinghe Herbal Tea to help, truly knew of Ge Dongxu. Dr. Huang Wenjie had already graduated and had been hired by Qinghe Herbal Tea with a high salary to be responsible for the technical and research aspects of the herbal tea. The other students, for the most part, did not know of the existence of Ge Dongxu, who was akin to their grandmaster. Xie Jinmo was also unaware.

    All he knew was that Professor Tang had told him that a trainee would be coming to intern in the department of internal traditional Chinese medicine every Monday, Thursday, and Friday afternoon, and asked him to provide some guidance, without going into further detail.

    As the best traditional Chinese medicine hospital in the entire Jiangnan Province, every year many students from the hospital''s own and other schools intern at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital; even many provincial traditional Chinese medicine practitioners are sent to the hospital for further training. Therefore, as the head of the department of internal traditional Chinese medicine, when Professor Tang asked Xie Jinmo to guide an intern, he did not think much of it, but certainly took it to heart.

    After all, Ge Dongxu was someone Professor Tang had personally entrusted.

    However, since Professor Tang did not provide any special instructions, Xie Jinmo felt no need to offer special care. As long as he was slightly more attentive and fulfilled his responsibilities as a teacher, that would suffice.

    But let''s not dwell on these matters. Let''s talk about how Ge Dongxu rode his bicycle at an unhurried pace to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, parked his bike in the shed, and following the directory on the lobby floor, made his way to the fourth floor.

    The department of internal traditional Chinese medicine is located on the fourth floor of the outpatient building.

    In theory, traditional Chinese medicine does not distinguish between internal and external medicine, as it views the human body as a unified whole, interconnected through a dialectical relationship. In the past, in a small clinic, a physician could observe, listen, inquire, and palpate the patients within the pharmacy itself, prescribing medicine for a variety of ailments. Back then, they were known as resident physicians; today, they would be called general practitioners. However, like Western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine is now divided into more specific departments, such as dermatology, gastroenterology, proctology, and so on.

    The department of internal traditional Chinese medicine encompasses a broad range of areas, covering almost everything except surgery. It is practically the general practice of traditional Chinese medicine and maintains the holistic principles and the essence of differentiated treatment of traditional Chinese medicine to the greatest extent. It is also the strongest department in the entire Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    Tang Yiyuan is the head of the department of internal traditional Chinese medicine.

    Ge Dongxu arrived on the fourth floor, asked the nurse at the service desk where Xie Jinmo''s office was, and then headed straight for the office.

    Since it was still the noon break, the outpatient department hadn''t started yet. When Ge Dongxu knocked on the office door, nearly half of the deputy chief physicians from the department of internal medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine were there. Some were resting, some were reading newspapers, and others were chatting.

    The Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital was located in the city center of the provincial capital, and office space was quite tight. Apart from the professors and chief physicians, who each had their own office, the other doctors all shared one office.

    "Ge Dongxu? What are you doing here?" Ge Dongxu had just knocked and was about to ask who Xie Jinmo was when a man in a white coat looked at him with some surprise and frowned, asking.

    "It turns out Director Ren is also here. I''m here to find Director Xie." Ge Dongxu''s face also showed a slight hint of surprise, but he quickly regained his composure.

    "You must be Ge Dongxu! Professor Tang has already mentioned you to me. You''ll be interning with me for this period," said a tall and thin middle-aged man as he stood up, smiling at Ge Dongxu.

    "Interning?" Director Ren was momentarily startled upon hearing this and then quickly showed a hint of disdain on his face as he looked at Ge Dongxu, "You''re here to intern?"

    "Yes, is there a problem, Director Ren?" Ge Dongxu nodded and then asked in return.

    "What kind of way is that to speak, am I asking you or are you asking me?" Director Ren''s face darkened slightly upon hearing this and he scolded.

    The people in the office, seeing that Director Ren obviously had an issue with this new intern, couldn''t help but look at Director Ren and Ge Dongxu in surprise, and Xie Jinmo slightly furrowed his brows, saying to Ge Dongxu, "Xiao Ge, you go and get a white coat from Nurse Jinling, then find a spot in office 409. I''ll be in clinic 403 today. After 1:30, come to the clinic and intern with me."

    "Okay, Director Xie." Ge Dongxu nodded, then left the office.

    "Director Ren, do you know Ge Dongxu?" After Ge Dongxu left, Xie Jinmo asked.

    "I''ve seen him, don''t really like the young man. Did he come from our school, or did he come from another school or hospital?" Director Ren first nodded and then asked.

    "Not sure, it was last week when Professor Tang told me to supervise him for a while. He said he''d only be coming on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. He didn''t specify his background," Xie Jinmo replied.

    Tang Yiyuan was not only the head of the department of internal medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine in Jiangnan Province, a leading figure in Jiangnan Province''s Traditional Chinese Medicine community, a member of the Jiangnan Province Expert Medical Group, but it was also said that he was a shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, with an estimated net worth of at least tens of millions. It wasn''t just Director Ren¡ªwho was under Tang Yiyuan''s supervision and did not want to offend him¡ªeven Director Ren''s father, who had the title of vice-president of the hospital, could not compete with Tang Yiyuan in terms of seniority and influence.

    So when Director Ren first heard that Ge Dongxu was someone Tang Yiyuan had sent, his heart skipped a beat and a look of wariness flashed in his eyes. However, as soon as he learned that Professor Tang hadn''t even given Xie Jinmo any details about Ge Dongxu''s situation, he couldn''t help but breathe a sigh of relief and a cold look appeared on his face. It was quite clear that Professor Tang hadn''t taken this intern Ge Dongxu seriously; it was nothing more than the head of a department or a physician having approached him, and he had casually made the arrangements. Otherwise, if Ge Dongxu had been someone important, he would have certainly given Xie Jinmo special instructions.

 Chapter 534 - 534: 533

    "So, I remember that Director Xie, you have recently been supervising two interns? Why not let Ge Dongxu stay with me for a few days as I haven''t been mentoring any students lately and could use an extra hand," Director Chang said, a sinister sneer flashing across his eyes.

    An intern dares to compete with me over a woman? He really doesn''t know his place!

    What''s gotten into Wu Yili, falling for him? Just because he''s young?

    "This..." Xie Jinmo hesitated, his face showing difficulty. Director Chang had clearly expressed his disliking for Ge Dongxu before, and it was evident he had ulterior motives in asking for him now.

    "Stop beating around the bush. He''s just an intern after all. I don''t mean anything else by it, just thought to give him a bit of a hard time," Director Chang said straightforwardly when he saw Xie Jinmo''s discomfort, knowing he understood his intentions.

    When Xie Jinmo saw that Director Chang made his intentions clear, he felt even more troubled. However, considering their collegial relationship and thinking of his father, who was the deputy dean at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and whose help he would need in the future for job promotions, and considering that Ge Dongxu was just an intern, seeming insignificant to Professor Tang, he decided it wasn''t worth falling out with Director Chang over him and nodded, "Okay, I will have him come to you later."

    "Thank you, Director Xie. I''ll treat you to a meal when I am free," Director Chang said gratefully before standing up and leaving the office.

    "Xie Jinmo, how could you agree to Chang Yufeng? You know what he''s like, always bearing grudges. Since you knew he had issues with that intern, you should have refused!" said a nearly fifty-year-old man, his hair graying and his stature small.

    "At most he will just scold him a bit, it''s nothing," Xie Jinmo said nonchalantly.

    Seeing Xie Jinmo speak so indifferently, the man shook his head and chose not to say more.

    Room 409 was a large office where many desks were set up for the temporary use of graduate students and interns. It also served as an occasional classroom for various professors and senior physicians from the internal medicine department.

    Ge Dongxu, having received his white coat from Nurse Jin, pushed open the door to Office 409. There were already several people inside, some studying and others whispering among themselves. They were mostly around twenty-four or twenty-five and older.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu enter, they naturally began to curiously ask him some questions. Ge Dongxu casually responded before taking out a book to read.

    Noticing that Dongxu was not much of a talker, everyone soon stopped paying him much attention.

    Around half past one, Ge Dongxu headed to Clinic 403.

    "You go to 402 for now, you''ll be interning with Deputy Director Chang Yufeng for the next few days," Xie Jinmo said upon seeing Ge Dongxu come in.

    "Chang Yufeng, are you referring to Director Chang?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Yes, that''s him," Xie Jinmo nodded in response.

    "Didn''t you say I would be following you? Why did it change to Director Chang?" Ge Dongxu asked, his brow furrowing slightly upon confirmation.

    "Just go, why so many questions!" Xie Jinmo said with a look of displeasure upon hearing the question.

    When Ge Dongxu saw the dissatisfied expression on Xie Jinmo''s face and a flash of anger in his eyes, he initially wanted to kick him off the list. However, considering Xie Jinmo had once been Tang Yiyuan''s student, he hesitated for a moment before speaking again, "Director Xie, may I not go? Director Chang has some opinions about me, and interning with him might not be appropriate. If you really don''t have time to guide me, could you possibly arrange another teacher for me?"

    "You go where you''re told. Where are all these excuses coming from? Besides, you''re here to intern, and Director Chang is a teacher. Even if he has opinions about you, that''s your issue. You should be reflecting on yourself! Now, go over there."

    Ge Dongxu gave Xie Jinmo a meaningful look upon hearing this, then nodded, turned, and left the 403 clinic quietly. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After leaving the 403 clinic, Ge Dongxu knocked on the door of the neighboring 402 clinic.

    Inside the clinic, Chang Yufeng was already seated behind the desk, with his legs crossed. Seeing Ge Dongxu enter, he glanced at his watch and then told him, "There aren''t any patients now, go get a cloth and wipe down the desk and the windowsills."

    Seeing Chang Yufeng''s commanding tone, Ge Dongxu turned and walked away.

    In Ge Dongxu''s view, Chang Yufeng was no longer worth considering.

    "Hey, Ge Dongxu, stop right there! What kind of attitude is that?" Chang Yufeng saw that Ge Dongxu didn''t even give him a proper look before turning to leave, and he couldn''t help but slam his desk and scold loudly.

    "Director Chang, I know what you''re trying to do. Isn''t it just personal vendetta? Frankly speaking, this kind of conduct doesn''t suit a doctor," Ge Dongxu stopped and turned to look at Chang Yufeng, stating flatly.

    "You, what kind of attitude is this? Don''t forget that you''re here to intern! Do you still want to receive a passing internship report?" Chang Yufeng couldn''t believe that an intern like Ge Dongxu would dare to defy and mock him, his face turning ashen.

    "That''s not for you to decide," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Ridiculous! If you weren''t interning at our hospital, naturally, I couldn''t decide. But since you chose to come here, and I am the Associate Chief Physician and my father is the hospital''s Vice Director, you think I can''t decide on an intern''s report?" Chang Yufeng scoffed disdainfully.

    "You really can''t decide," Ge Dongxu flatly replied, then turned and walked away again.

    Chang Yufeng thought that Ge Dongxu would show a panicky expression upon hearing this, but instead, he turned and left again, leaving Chang stunned.

    Damn, this guy is so arrogant. Could he really have some connection to Tang Yiyuan? Chang Yufeng watched Ge Dongxu leave the office, his face changing expressions for a while before he stood up and went to Xie Jinmo''s clinic.

    "Director Xie, didn''t Ge Dongxu come to you?" Chang Yufeng, seeing only Xie Jinmo and two other students in the clinic, couldn''t help but frown.

    "I sent him to you, didn''t he go?" Xie Jinmo said in surprise.

    "He did come, but after I asked him to do some work, he just dumped everything and left. I thought he might come to you, but he''s not here," Chang replied.

    "This Ge Dongxu! He''s quite temperamental! Director Chang, don''t get angry. I''ll have a good talk with him later," Xie Jinmo said, frowning.

    "This Ge Dongxu is very arrogant. Did Professor Tang really not give any special instructions about him?" Chang Yufeng nodded, was about to leave, but ultimately asked worriedly.

 Chapter 535 - 534: You arrange another person.

    "There''s really nothing special to instruct. Besides, he''s just a youngster; even if there were some special instructions, it wouldn''t matter. He''s here to intern; aren''t we allowed to criticize him a bit?" Xie Jinmo replied nonchalantly.

    Chang Yufeng thought about it and agreed. With his status, even if he and Tang Yiyuan actually had some deep connections, it wouldn''t be a big deal to put him through some trials. Furthermore, in this day and age, how many young people with real clout would come to study traditional Chinese medicine? With his status, he didn''t need to be so cautious.

    Thinking this, Chang Yufeng couldn''t help but laugh at himself, feeling a bit paranoid.

    "That''s true. If he comes to you, give him a good talking-to. If that doesn''t work, just talk to Professor Tang. For an intern like him, I think it''s better just to kick him out, so he doesn''t spoil everything for everyone else," Chang Yufeng said.

    "Alright, I''ll talk to him. If it really doesn''t work, I''ll go talk to Professor Tang and have him dismissed," Xie Jinmo replied.

    "Yes, that would be best." Chang Yufeng nodded, then turned to leave. As he turned, a schadenfreude-laden cold smirk spread across his face.

    Tang Yiyuan''s office was in 428. After leaving clinic room 402, Ge Dongxu went straight to Tang Yiyuan''s office.

    As for the conversation between Chang Yufeng and Xie Jinmo that followed, Ge Dongxu naturally did not know, nor did he need to know.

    He had come to the Internal Medicine Department as an intern, intending only to get a slight understanding and to reassign those he deemed unethical to other departments.

    He only imparted his medical knowledge to those he felt were worthy of learning.

    He had originally chosen to teach Tang Yiyuan because he valued the compassion for patients Tang Yiyuan had demonstrated on the train.

    The same was true now.

    Based on the behavior of Chang Yufeng and Xie Jinmo today, although Ge Dongxu could not be sure of their true nature, he definitely would not take them on as students.

    "Mr. Ge, weren''t you supposed to be interning with Xie Jinmo?" Tang Yiyuan asked, surprised to see Ge Dongxu searching him out.

    Following the old traditions of Chinese medicine which greatly respect teachers, Tang Yiyuan privately continued to address Ge Dongxu as ''Mr.'' to show respect.

    "Xie Jinmo had me intern with Chang Yufeng, and Chang Yufeng had a small misunderstanding with me recently. Now, he''s taking the opportunity to get back at me; naturally, I won''t take his nonsense, so it seems you''ll need to arrange another mentor for me," Ge Dongxu said.

    "This Xie Jinmo!" Tang Yiyuan was a smart man, and as soon as Ge Dongxu explained, he understood the gist of the situation and couldn''t help but feel very annoyed; his face also showed his displeasure.

    "There''s no need for you to be upset either. No one is perfect, and some behaviors, as they say, are only human nature; it''s just that I don''t like them," Ge Dongxu said softly.

    "I understand. In a few days, once everything about you is settled, I will ask Director Feng to have HR arrange for their transfer to other departments," Tang Yiyuan nodded.

    Ge Dongxu would naturally not stand on ceremony with Tang Yiyuan, he nodded at the words and then said, "Arrange someone else for now."

    "Why not start with He Ruiduan for now? I''ll call him right away, and you can go directly to clinic 405," said Tang Yiyuan.

    "Sure, you arrange as you see fit. Anyway, I''m rotated through the teaching staff, spending some time with each," Ge Dongxu nodded, stood up, and left Tang Yiyuan''s office.

    After Ge Dongxu left, Tang Yiyuan called Dr. He Ruiduan.

    This Dr. He Ruiduan was the same doctor who had blamed Xie Jinmo for agreeing to Chang Yufeng''s request, the one who was thin and small.

    At this moment, He Ruiduan was unaware that Ge Dongxu had had a falling out with Xie Jinmo and Chang Yufeng, and he was surprised to hear from Tang Yiyuan that Ge Dongxu would be interning with him this week, but since Tang Yiyuan had instructed him, he naturally did not protest.

    Just after He Ruiduan hung up with Tang Yiyuan, Ge Dongxu knocked on the door and entered.

    "Little Ge, you''re here. Professor Tang just called to inform me about this, so you sit with Song Yongnan here, observe and listen carefully at first. If there''s anything you don''t understand or are confused about, feel free to ask right away or later," He Ruiduan was currently seeing a patient, so it was not a good time to question Ge Dongxu about other matters. He nodded at him as he entered and gave him these instructions.

    "Yes, Director He," Ge Dongxu nodded, then nodded at the young doctor sitting behind He Ruiduan, moved a chair over, and sat down beside the doctor who was referred to as ''young Song''." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At the moment, the patient was a woman about sixty years old who came from a county under Jinzhou City in Jiangnan Province.

    This patient had long suffered from stomach bloating, she had undergone various examinations such as gastroscope, abdominal ultrasound, color Doppler ultrasound, and even CT scans. Other than chronic gastritis, no other conditions were diagnosed, and she had taken both Chinese and Western medications for many years without noticeable improvement.

    Recently, her stomach condition flared up again, making her uncomfortable. Just as she was about to visit her daughter, who had found a job and settled down in the Provincial Capital, she decided to take a trip to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to see if there was a cure for her chronic condition.

    He Ruiduan took her pulse and asked her many detailed questions, all with an amiable attitude and a constant smile on his face, which led Ge Dongxu to nod to himself repeatedly as he watched.

    No matter what about He Ruiduan''s medical skills, his attitude alone was praiseworthy.

    "Young Song, Little Ge, you heard the questions I just asked. Now, both of you come and take the pulse of this patient. You may ask questions if needed, and then prescribe a formula," after diagnosing the patient, He Ruiduan asked Song Yongnan and Ge Dongxu to come forward to see the patient.

    Song Yongnan, whose full name was Song Yongnan, was a master''s degree student mentored by He Ruiduan. Since He Ruiduan had already asked everything necessary, Song Yongnan simply took the patient''s pulse and checked her tongue, and then it was Ge Dongxu''s turn.

    Ge Dongxu, the person he was, had already been clear about the patient''s condition while He Ruiduan was examining her. However, his almost magical diagnostic skill was not something ordinary people could learn. He aimed to teach medical skills that ordinary people could learn, and considering he was still an intern, he, like Song Yongnan, followed the routine by checking the tongue and taking the pulse. During the pulse examination, he asked the patient if she showed any signs of being cold, and after receiving an affirmative answer, he concluded his diagnosis.

    While Song Yongnan and Ge Dongxu were diagnosing the patient, He Ruiduan had already written the prescription. After their diagnoses, He Ruiduan, with a smile, handed the prescription to the patient, saying, "Big sister, your condition is a common stomach disease. According to our Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is due to the spleen not transporting properly, insufficient stomach yang, and a deficiency and coldness in the spleen and stomach. I have prescribed a formula to augment the qi and warm the stomach. Take this to the cashier, pay for it, and then head to the pharmacy to get the medicine. You can ask the pharmacy to concoct it, or you can brew it yourself. Take one dose daily, try it for a few days, and if there''s no improvement, come back and see me."

    Hearing He Ruiduan describe the patient''s condition as the spleen not transporting properly and insufficient yang in the stomach and spleen, Song Yongnan''s expression clearly became somewhat guilty and unnatural, while Ge Dongxu showed no change.

 Chapter 536 - 535: Is This Guy Really an Intern?

    "Okay, thank you, doctor." The patient, seeing He Ruiduan''s amiable attitude and clear explanations, happily thanked him and left.

    Few people seek out traditional Chinese medicine in the first place, and since He Ruiduan was only running a general clinic and it was the afternoon, there were temporarily no patients after that one left.

    He Ruiduan took the opportunity to pick up the prescriptions Song Yongnan and Ge Dongxu had just written.

    He first looked at Song Yongnan''s prescription, since he was his student and naturally he cared more about him.

    Seeing He Ruiduan pick up his prescription, Song Yongnan''s face turned red, and he lowered his head, somewhat afraid to look at He Ruiduan.

    This was because his diagnosis had been that the patient was suffering from central burner constraint-heat, with pathogenic heat affecting the stomach. In layman''s terms, it meant the stomach was inflamed. Therefore, he prescribed a formula to clear heat and cool the stomach, whereas He Ruiduan''s diagnosis had been weak spleen movement, insufficient stomach yang, and spleen and stomach cold-deficiency¡ªthe exact opposite.

    "Scutellaria, forsythia, coptis, dandelion..." He Ruiduan glanced at the prescription and frowned slightly, then looked at Song Yongnan and asked, "You prescribed a heat-clearing, stomach-soothing decoction, so you think the patient has constraining heat in the middle burner and pathogenic heat in the stomach?"

    "Yes, I saw that the patient had large, dry stools and a dry mouth, a thin white tongue coating, and his pulse..." Song Yongnan replied somewhat hesitantly.

    "Why are you stammering? If you don''t have confidence in yourself, how can you treat patients?" He Ruiduan eyed Song Yongnan with some dissatisfaction and then picked up Ge Dongxu''s prescription. His brows furrowed immediately.

    "Aconite, processed ginger, roasted licorice, red ginseng, amomum..." He Ruiduan examined Ge Dongxu''s prescription with a frown and thought for a while, then looked up at Ge Dongxu with a serious expression, "Although aconite can aid the fire and help yang, dispel cold and resist dampness, too much of it can cause poisoning. You used 30 grams¡ªa large amount that could easily lead to a medical incident. And you also used a large dose of amomum. Tell me, what was your reasoning with this prescription?"

    "It''s true that a large amount of aconite can be problematic, but if processed and decocted properly, and prescribed precisely for the symptoms, it won''t cause poisoning. That''s why I specifically indicated in the prescription how the aconite should be processed and decocted. This needs to be clearly instructed to the pharmacy; the patient must not decoct it at home and even the doctor should oversee it personally," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Hmm, indeed you did specify that in your prescription¡ªcontinue." Seeing Ge Dongxu''s calm and confident response, He Ruiduan''s stern expression relaxed slightly.

    "As for using a large dose of amomum, as well as including processed ginger and red ginseng, these were all based on the patient''s specific symptoms. Just now you also mentioned the patient was suffering from weakened spleen movement, insufficient stomach yang, and cold-deficiency of the spleen and stomach. But why is the patient experiencing weakened spleen movement, insufficient stomach yang, and cold-deficiency of the spleen and stomach? According to my diagnosis, ultimately it is due to the patient''s increasing age, chronic overexertion, and a decline in vital energy, leading to kidney essence deficiency and insufficient yang. Earlier, I saw that the patient was short of breath and reluctant to speak, fatigued, and had a weak pulse. I also noticed her hands were very cold, and she mentioned she usually feels cold, which clearly shows severe kidney essence deficiency and yang deficiency. This has led to yang deficiency of the spleen and stomach, and the impairment of ascending and descending functions, causing prolonged discomfort and fullness in the central burner," Ge Dongxu concluded.

    "Hmm, that makes sense! This is indeed how to treat a patient, but I think your prescription is still too strong, and you''re a bit too bold," He Ruiduan said, his serious expression gradually turning to one of admiration, while Song Yongnan seemed almost baffled by it all.

    He hadn''t expected this young-looking fellow, who spoke with such an old-fashioned earnestness, to sound just like an old-time doctor.

    "I don''t think so. For minor issues, certainly, the principle of moderation and gentleness should not be rushed, but for chronic, ingrained diseases, one still needs to be bold yet meticulous, otherwise these diseases can''t be treated effectively," Ge Dongxu firmly retorted.

    Song Yongnan saw Ge Dongxu openly contradicting Director He, and he couldn''t help but widen his eyes. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He Ruiduan was obviously somewhat surprised as well, but he didn''t get angry. Instead, he looked at Ge Dongxu and said, "So according to you, the prescription I made is problematic, not as good as yours?"

    "That''s right." Seeing that He Ruiduan was not angry, Ge Dongxu didn''t bother to be diplomatic and wanted to see just how broad-minded he could be.

    Song Yongnan heard Ge Dongxu say that Director He''s prescription was inferior to his, and he was utterly astonished.

    "Fine, speak. Whether you are right or wrong, I won''t take it to heart. Compared to those who stutter and have no confidence at all, I prefer my students to be bold and frank, provided, of course, they are as careful and bold as you say, not recklessly bold without any foundation¡ªthat would be asking for trouble," said He Ruiduan when he heard Ge Dongxu say this. Although his face initially showed anger, he quickly suppressed the anger in his heart and looked at Ge Dongxu earnestly.

    "Ice does not form because of a one-day cold. If the patient had come to Director He at the onset of the illness, the ''Qi-boosting and stomach-warming prescription'' would have been very appropriate. But the problem is that this patient has been suffering from the disease for many years now, has seen many doctors, and has taken many medications. Using the same prescription now is unlikely to be effective. That''s why I started by warming and supplementing the kidney yang to aid the gate of vitality fire. With sufficient gate of vitality fire, the kidney qi will thrive, aiding the yang of the spleen and stomach. Moreover, by emphasizing the use of Amomum villosum, it can regulate the qi mechanism of the middle energizer and also accumulate qi to return to the kidney, achieving two objectives in one move. With the yang restored and the gate of vitality fire thriving, the gate of life gains vitality, why worry about the swollen stomach not healing?" Ge Dongxu discussed with confidence, his voice not loud but resonant.

    As Ge Dongxu''s words ended, Song Yongnan was completely dumbfounded.

    Is this guy really just an intern?

    Meanwhile, He Ruiduan furrowed his brows and fell into deep thought.

    While He Ruiduan was deep in thought, a patient knocked on the door and entered. He Ruiduan stopped pondering and glanced at Ge Dongxu, whispering, "Although what you said makes sense, I still think the medication is a bit too strong. We''ll discuss this matter later."

    This time, He Ruiduan''s tone wasn''t that of a teacher instructing a student but had shades of an equal conversation. This scene once again left Song Yongnan stunned for a long time before he regained his senses, looking at Ge Dongxu with involuntary admiration and envy.

    The patient this time was a middle-aged woman, simply suffering from a common cold. He Ruiduan prescribed a prescription for her and also let Song Yongnan and Ge Dongxu do the same.

    Song Yongnan, after all, was a master''s graduate and this time didn''t make any mistakes.

    Seeing that both did not misdiagnose, He Ruiduan picked up the prescription Ge Dongxu had just debated and began to consider it anew.

    While he was considering it, the patient with the stomach ailment returned to the clinic, holding a large bag of medications in his hand.

 Chapter 537 - 536: This Ge Dongxu Disrespects His Elders

    The patient''s expression was somewhat timid, looking at He Ruiduan with an unsure look as if not knowing what to say.

    "Sister, is there a problem?" He Ruiduan asked gently upon noticing her demeanor.

    "This... um, Doctor He, can I return the medicine?" Upon seeing the gentle expression on He Ruiduan''s face, the patient felt uneasy about meeting his gaze.

    "Why would you want to return it? Do you feel that the medicine we sell at the hospital is expensive, and you want to buy it outside? If that''s the case, it is possible, but sometimes the quality of the medicine outside is hard to guarantee," He Ruiduan asked without showing any anger, still maintaining a gentle demeanor.

    "It''s not that, mainly... I just looked and found that the medicine I was given is similar to what I''ve taken before!" the patient stammered.

    The prescription He Ruiduan had given her before was written in a cursive script that she couldn''t understand. However, having taken traditional Chinese medicine for many years, as soon as the pharmacy filled her prescription, she quickly noticed that the medicine was similar to what she had taken previously.

    Upon her statement, even though He Ruiduan was elderly, he couldn''t help blushing, and Song Yongnan instinctively glanced at Ge Dongxu.

    He recalled what Ge Dongxu had said earlier, that the patient had been suffering from this illness for many years, had seen many doctors, and had taken many medicines, and he estimated that He Ruiduan''s prescription would probably not be effective. At the time, Song Yongnan had thought Ge Dongxu to be arrogantly boastful, but now he realized that Ge Dongxu''s words meant that other traditional Chinese medicine practitioners had likely prescribed similar medications.

    "Do you have prescriptions from other doctors that you could show me? If you have, let me see them," He Ruiduan, having some years behind him, quickly reverted to normal and asked.

    "Yes, I have." The patient said and hurriedly took out several prescriptions from her bag.

    He Ruiduan looked at them and noticed that two of the prescriptions were quite similar to his, and another treated the patient''s false heat as stomach heat, prescribing herbs to clear heat from the stomach.

    He Ruiduan glanced at the prescriptions and returned them to the patient, then said to her, "Let me take a closer look at it and I will rewrite the prescription for you."

    "Doctor, you are truly wonderful. I''m really sorry for the trouble, and I''m grateful," the patient said with an apologetic and appreciative expression.

    "Sister, your words really make me feel embarrassed," the patient''s words made He Ruiduan''s old face blush again, and then he carefully diagnosed the patient again.

    The conclusion was the same as his initial one, according to his usual approach he would definitely continue with a prescription geared toward beneficial Qi and warming the stomach; perhaps some alterations in the dosage could be made, but he knew such changes would not significantly improve the effectiveness.

    The more he thought about it, the more he felt that although Ge Dongxu''s prescription was simple and bold, it directly targeted the root cause and made more sense.

    "This way, sister, I will write you a new prescription. But this prescription requires some attention when decocting; I''ll ask one of my students to go with you to the pharmacy and personally decoct it for you. You should not do it by yourself. I''ll also prescribe just a small quantity at first. Take two doses to see if there are any effects, and if it works, we will continue. This will prevent a waste of money," He Ruiduan was not utterly inflexible, having clearly recognized his previous prescription was ineffective, he decided to adopt Ge Dongxu''s prescription.

    However, he was still somewhat uncertain about Ge Dongxu''s prescription and made some reductions in the amount of aconite, though the dosage was still more than what he usually prescribed; he specifically instructed not to let the patient prepare it on her own.

    The patient was naturally grateful for He Ruiduan''s attentive care and bowed repeatedly, thanking him.

    He Ruiduan smiled politely, made a note on the previous billing receipt, and handed the receipt and the newly prescribed prescription to Song Yongnan, saying, "Song, accompany this aunt and return the previously prescribed medicine, then go together to get the new prescription filled. When preparing the medicine, remember that the aconite must be boiled in water for over two hours until there''s no numb taste before adding it to the rest of the ingredients. You know what, Dongxu, you should also go with him as you might be clearer about the preparation of aconite than Song is."

    "Yes, teacher," Song Yongnan took the prescription, seeing that his mentor had used the previous prescription written by Ge Dongxu with only minor changes. He was nearly shocked into widening his eyes, but luckily, Ge Dongxu lightly touched him, bringing him back to reality, and he quickly responded.

    Thus, Ge Dongxu and Song Yongnan left clinic 405 with the patient.

    As they left the clinic and headed towards the stairs, they had to pass the clinics of Xie Jinmo and Chang Yufeng.

    The clinics of both were open, and as Ge Dongxu and Song Yongnan just passed clinic 403, Xie Jinmo spotted them.

    "Dongxu, come here a minute," Xie Jinmo called with a stern face upon seeing Ge Dongxu in the corridor.

    "I''m sorry, Director Xie, I have something to do," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "You didn''t do what Director Chang asked of you, and I haven''t assigned you any other tasks; what could you possibly be busy with?" Xie Jinmo, hearing this, got angry and approached the door with a frown.

    "Director Xie, it just so happens, I mean to speak with you too. This Ge Dongxu disregards his elders; you should really have a serious talk with him," Chang Yufeng, hearing the conversation, immediately came out of his clinic and spoke to Xie Jinmo.

    Song Yongnan looked at Xie Jinmo and then at Chang Yufeng, feeling completely confused and thought to himself, isn''t Ge Dongxu just a new intern? How did he manage to offend Director Chang, and it seems, Director Xie is quite dissatisfied with him as well. This time, Ge Dongxu is in trouble! Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just as Song Yongnan thought Ge Dongxu would be in deep trouble, Ge Dongxu responded calmly, "I''m sorry, Director Xie, Director Chang, I''m currently interning with Director He Duanrui. If there''s any issue, please discuss it with him. Director He has instructed me to accompany this patient to the pharmacy, so I''ll leave you now."

    After speaking, Ge Dongxu smiled at the patient and said, "Aunt, let''s go."

    Watching Ge Dongxu nonchalantly walk away with the patient, accompanied by He Ruiduan''s research student Song Yongnan, both Chang Yufeng''s and Xie Jinmo''s expressions darkened.

    "What is going on? Why is Ge Dongxu now a student of He Duanrui?" Xie Jinmo asked with a grave face.

    "Do we even need to ask? Clearly, the guy must have gone to complain to Professor Tang, and then Tang arranged something for him. This cannot stand¡ªstudents who won''t follow orders and act like thorns cannot be tolerated. Director Xie, I think we both should go and have a word with Professor Tang about this. If we don''t address this, it will set a bad precedent and corrupt other interns in the future," Chang Yufeng said, his face darkening and a hint of loathing in his eyes.

    Initially, Ge Dongxu had obediently taken a scolding from him, which had allowed him to vent his spleen and perhaps the matter might have ended there. However, Ge Dongxu, being a proud intern, didn''t give him a chance to vent, which triggered Chang Yufeng''s vengeful nature. He was now determined to take Ge Dongxu down.

 Chapter 538 - 537 Professor Tang Gets Angry

    ```

    "Forget it, just let Director He know and tell him to give the guy a good lesson," Xie Jinmo''s face couldn''t help but change when he saw Chang Yufeng about to look for Tang Yiyuan.

    The evaluation from the internship unit is extremely important for interns. When Xie Jinmo had said that if Ge Dongxu really couldn''t cut it, he would have to go, he was just talking tough, partly to gain favor with Chang Yufeng. In reality, actually doing so would be tantamount to ruining Dongxu''s future, which would be too cruel.

    "This brat is a troublemaker. He doesn''t listen to either of us, what makes you think he''ll listen to He Duanrui? Besides, Professor Tang didn''t even notify you before transferring Ge Dongxu to He Duanrui. Clearly, this kid must have spoken ill of us to Professor Tang; otherwise, why would he easily consent to him changing mentors? We must discuss this matter with Professor Tang," said Chang Yufeng grimly.

    Upon hearing this, Xie Jinmo''s face changed again, and without any more hesitation, he nodded and said, "You''re right. Such a troublemaker should definitely be discussed with Professor Tang, lest Professor Tang is also kept in the dark."

    "Then we should go now, as there are no patients coming in at the moment anyway," Chang Yufeng, seeing that he had convinced Xie Jinmo, couldn''t help but show a trace of satisfaction on his face and quickly said.

    "Hmm," Xie Jinmo nodded somberly.

    And so, the two of them together knocked on the door of Tang Yiyuan''s office.

    Seeing it was Xie Jinmo and Chang Yufeng coming in, Professor Tang''s brows furrowed slightly as he asked, "Aren''t you two supposed to be in the clinic today? Why have you left your posts to come here?"

    "Professor Tang, I have come to report a matter to you," Xie Jinmo said.

    "I have too," Chang Yufeng followed.

    "Is it about Ge Dongxu?" Tang Yiyuan inquired. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yes, it''s about Ge Dongxu!" replied Xie Jinmo.

    "Hmm, he told me that he requested to change mentors, and I was just about to ask what exactly is going on with you two," Professor Tang nodded slightly and asked. His face showed neither pleasure nor anger, but in truth, he had already discerned their motives from their expressions and was seething with anger. If it were not for the fact that Dongxu''s identity should not yet be revealed, he would have slammed the table and lashed out already. Now he was curious to see what his student would say about the matter.

    "Here''s the thing, Professor Tang. Originally, you assigned me to supervise Dongxu, but since Doctor Chang had nobody with him these past few days, I thought that one-on-one guidance would be more beneficial for Dongxu, so I kindly let him follow Doctor Chang for a while. Unexpectedly, he''s rather arrogant. When Doctor Chang asked him to do something, Dongxu just dropped everything and refused to work without even telling me. Just now, as soon as I saw him, I stopped him to get some clarity, but he told me you had already allowed him to follow Doctor He Duanrui, and he just walked away. I don''t know what he told you, but from what I see, Dongxu has a problematic personality!" Xie Jinmo elaborated.

    "Yes, Professor Tang, this Ge Dongxu is too disrespectful towards his seniors and is too loose and undisciplined. I think such a person..." Chang Yufeng immediately chimed in.

    Seeing Xie Jinmo and Chang Yufeng singing the same tune, especially since Xie Jinmo was once his student, Professor Tang was so infuriated he was on the brink of exploding.

    You must understand that, speaking of which, Ge Dongxu was Xie Jinmo''s ancestor in terms of apprenticeship, and he had specially arranged for Xie Jinmo to mentor Dongxu first, which had a special purpose. To think that in the end, this student not only failed to appreciate his painstaking efforts but had also severely slapped his own face!

    ```

    "Xie Jinmo, Ge Dongxu said he knew Chang Yufeng before. Did you know about this?" Professor Tang Yiyuan didn''t wait for Chang Yufeng to finish speaking and directly waved his hand to interrupt him.

    Because he really couldn''t bear to listen any longer.

    "This... I knew, but that''s not a big deal, right? Dr. Chang just happened to need help, and it was out of..." Xie Jinmo, after all, wasn''t a habitual liar, and considering Professor Tang Yiyuan still held great authority in his heart, replied with an involuntary tinge of guilt.

    Although he had already guessed what was going on, seeing Xie Jinmo stammer made Professor Tang Yiyuan feel an indescribable disappointment, so profound that he was no longer angry.

    Perhaps this was what they meant by a grief so deep that the heart felt dead!

    Because Professor Tang Yiyuan had held onto a sliver of hope for Xie Jinmo, hoping that Ge Dongxu had misunderstood and that Xie Jinmo hadn''t intended any harm. But now, it seemed that Xie Jinmo was well aware of what he was doing.

    More importantly, Professor Tang Yiyuan was disappointed that even though Xie Jinmo clearly knew the truth of the matter, he still went along with Chang Yufeng in accusing Ge Dongxu; this was now a matter of character.

    Because if Professor Tang Yiyuan hadn''t known Ge Dongxu better than anyone at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and if Ge Dongxu had truly been just a regular intern, then Xie Jinmo''s actions would have effectively ruined a young man''s future, and he, as the director, would have unwittingly become an accomplice.

    "I understand now. You can go," Professor Tang Yiyuan said, not waiting for Xie Jinmo to finish, then waved his hand to cut him off.

    After all, Xie Jinmo had been a student of Professor Tang Yiyuan and knew his temperament quite well. Seeing that he was being dismissed, Xie Jinmo realized Professor Tang Yiyuan must have believed what Ge Dongxu had said to him and was now displeased with himself. His heart skipped a beat, and he regretted accompanying Chang Yufeng here.

    However, Chang Yufeng didn''t understand Professor Tang Yiyuan''s character, and despite having some background himself, he was dissatisfied with Professor Tang Yiyuan''s lack of intention to deal with Ge Dongxu, saying, "Professor Tang, what do you mean by this? With Ge Dongxu acting like that, are you saying you..."

    "Smack!" Professor Tang Yiyuan, unable to suppress his anger any longer, slammed the table and pointed towards the door, saying, "Didn''t you understand what I meant?"

    Seeing the usually amiable Professor Tang suddenly burst into anger, Xie Jinmo''s heart trembled, and Chang Yufeng, too, was startled. Stammering, he tried to explain, but seeing Professor Tang Yiyuan glare at him, he ultimately lacked the courage to confront the professor and left the office with Xie Jinmo in an embarrassed state.

    "Damn it, this Ge Dongxu really is something else, must have spoken badly about us to Professor Tang. I don''t know what''s gotten into the professor to just take his word for it." As soon as they were out of Professor Tang Yiyuan''s office, Chang Yufeng''s face was menacingly dark.

    "Right now, I''m not concerned about that. I''m worried about Professor Tang''s apparent significant displeasure with me because of this incident," Xie Jinmo said with a face full of regret.

    "Relax, it''s just an intern. For an intern, even if Professor Tang has an opinion, how much can it really affect us?" Chang Yufeng said nonchalantly.

    "You don''t understand. I am Professor Tang''s student, I know him well. He can''t tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes, and he rarely gets angry. Once he does, it''s serious. You might not care with a deputy director father, but it''s not the same for me. I need to be promoted to professor, to director, and I will surely still need Professor Tang''s prestige and support. If he holds a grudge against me, getting a promotion won''t be so easy," Xie Jinmo sighed.

 Chapter 539 - 538: Inquire Privately

    "Don''t worry, when the time comes, I''ll have my dad help you out more," Chang Yufeng said reassuringly, though there was a hint of schadenfreude in his eyes.

    "Thanks," Xie Jinmo nodded and replied.

    "This whole mess boils down to Ge Dongxu''s issue! Two deputy chief physicians got played by an intern¡ªthis can''t just be let go, no matter what!" Chang Yufeng glanced at Xie Jinmo, his face darkened as he spoke.

    "Just let it go; didn''t you see Professor Tang got angry? What more can you do to him?" It was irritating to Xie Jinmo that a deputy chief physician couldn''t discipline an intern, and that it even drew Professor Tang''s ire. Still, he was ultimately worried that continuing to target Ge Dongxu might provoke even greater dissatisfaction from Professor Tang.

    "One thing at a time. He managed to get the jump on us, and Professor Tang believed him. Do you mean to say it will stay this way? Are we, two deputy chief physicians, really unable to handle one intern?" Chang Yufeng said with a grim face.

    "We''ll see," Xie Jinmo murmured after a moment, speaking ambiguously, clearly unable to suppress his frustration.

    "Then just wait and see, Director Xie. I refuse to believe we can''t deal with that kid," Chang Yufeng said with a cold smile upon hearing this.

    He knew Xie Jinmo''s thoughts; Xie definitely wouldn''t go after Ge Dongxu openly anymore, but if an opportunity arose, he''d certainly make the most of it to kick him while he was down.

    "Hmm." Xie Jinmo nodded and went back to his own clinic.

    ...

    "I say, Ge Dongxu, how did you manage to offend Director Chang? He''s quite narrow-minded, and his dad is the vice president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. You better hurry and apologize. And Director Xie too, his PhD supervisor was Director Tang, a significant figure in the Department of Internal Medicine," Song Yongnan said to Ge Dongxu in the decoction room.

    "Heh, it wasn''t really offending him, just a minor issue," Ge Dongxu replied nonchalantly.

    "Really? That''s a minor issue? It seemed like Director Chang was about to beat you just now!" Song Yongnan said. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Heh," Ge Dongxu laughed indifferently.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s unconcerned demeanor, Song Yongnan could only give a wry smile and shake his head, "It''s good your advisor is Dr. He. Dr. He is quite upright and straightforward. When he evaluates you, he definitely won''t be influenced by Director Chang. If it were another teacher, they might deliberately give you a poor evaluation just to appease Director Chang. But Dr. He won''t make things difficult for you on purpose. However, it''s tough to say the same about the hospital, since Director Chang''s father is the vice president, and your internship report still needs the hospital''s approval."

    "Yes, Dr. He is really nice. Oh, by the way, I''m new here, and I don''t know much about the physicians in our Department of Internal Medicine. Tell me about them, so I don''t end up offending someone again," Ge Dongxu said, his interest piqued.

    Tang Yiyuan is a leader, and much of what he sees and hears is intentionally shown or told to him by the physicians in the department. It''s often difficult to get the real story. However, these students, when faced with department physicians who have fewer reservations around them, reveal their true natures, often resulting in the students knowing the actual situation. Besides, students also discuss and exchange information about the physicians they are familiar with amongst themselves without much scheming or concealment.

    "Sure, there''s nothing else going on anyway." Song Yongnan looked around, saw that everyone in the decoction room was busy with their tasks, and then lowered his voice to start telling Ge Dongxu about some of the physicians in the department.

    Because brewing just the Fuzi alone required more than two hours, Song Yongnan took the opportunity to discuss the key figures in the department of internal medicine.

    For instance, there was a director, Lin, who was rather lecherous. In public, he carried himself with an air of morality, like an upright traditional Chinese medicine doctor, but privately, he harassed female students and interns incessantly. There was also a vice-director with the last name Jia who was very greedy; he wouldn''t let students graduate smoothly unless they brought him gifts.

    Of course, most of the doctors had good moral conduct, especially Tang Yiyuan. Song Yongnan''s face involuntarily showed admiration whenever he mentioned him.

    After hearing this talk, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel secretly fortunate that he had first entered the hospital as an intern to covertly investigate; otherwise, if he had actually taught his medical skills to the likes of the lecherous doctors Song Yongnan spoke of, those who intentionally obstructed students, and vindictive doctors like Chang Yufeng, it wouldn''t exactly have been aiding tyranny. Although medical skills were still meant to save lives, it definitely would have been an instance of poor judgment in choosing disciples, inadvertently rewarding those with bad conduct.

    That afternoon, Ge Dongxu and Song Yongnan chatted while they brewed the medicine. By the time they were handing over the finished product to the patients, it was almost time to finish work.

    The two returned to the outpatient room, and He Ruiduan, seeing that it was about time to finish work, gave a few brief instructions and let them go (tag) their separate ways.

    ...

    On Tuesday, there were classes both in the morning and afternoon. The afternoon class was Wu Yili''s inorganic chemistry course.

    Today, Wu Yili was dressed in a white blouse and black pencil pants, looking particularly sleek and competent.

    As they had a lengthy conversation the previous week, Wu Yili appeared much more natural today.

    Even though when she turned to write on the board, she faintly felt as though a pair of eyes could see through the black pencil pants encasing her shapely posterior, the discomfort was far less than last time.

    After the class, Wu Yili did not ask Ge Dongxu to go for a walk, but she still flashed him a smiling nod, like friends acknowledging each other before she left.

    This scene made the male students in the class enviously bitter, especially Sun Wenjun who became even more convinced that Ge Dongxu had stolen his limelight and intentionally flaunted this in front of him, his gaze often carrying a hint of resentment.

    After the inorganic chemistry class, Ge Dongxu went straight to the library, while most of the other students either went to play basketball, strolled around, returned to their dorms to read novels, gathered to play cards, or went to internet cafes near the school to play games.

    After three years of strict supervision by teachers and parents in high school and the intense pressure of studies, now in college, suddenly without such direct control, everything mainly relied on self-discipline. Many students initially struggled to adapt to this change, feeling like birds suddenly freed from a cage, with very few managing to study conscientiously like Ge Dongxu.

    While Ge Dongxu was in the library looking for books, suddenly a familiar fragrance wafted by. Turning his head, he saw Wu Yili looking at him with a smile, her eyes filled with admiration and a faint, hard-to-detect tenderness.

    "You worked so hard for those three years in high school, why not relax a bit now that you''re in college?" Wu Yili walked up to Ge Dongxu, stood shoulder to shoulder with him, and whispered.

 Chapter 540 - 539: Liu Manman and I are Friends

    "Isn''t this already very relaxing? I have such a good environment, and so many books to choose from as I please," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    Wu Yili paused slightly upon hearing this, and she couldn''t help but recall Ge Dongxu''s childhood when he would wander alone in the mountains, carrying a basket to collect herbs. Compared to those hardships, reading in the library was indeed far more relaxed. And for him, studying hard was clearly the only way to escape poverty and not let his parents down.

    Thinking of this, the look of tenderness in Wu Yili''s eyes deepened.

    "Was it very tough before?" Wu Yili asked with a heart full of pity.

    "Before?" Ge Dongxu was slightly startled as he recalled his childhood and adolescent years spent training with his master, a wistful look passing through his eyes. It had indeed been very tough back then.

    "Yes, it was tough, but also very happy."

    "Haha, I didn''t expect you to still be such an optimistic child. That''s wonderful," Wu Yili said as she turned her head to dab the corners of her eyes.

    She didn''t know why, but hearing Ge Dongxu say this, and seeing his diligence at present, made her feel a special kind of heartache, and she found her eyes unexpectedly moistening without her realizing it.

    "Teacher Wu, I am already nineteen years old," Ge Dongxu said with a bitter smile.

    "You''re a student, and I''m a teacher, so what''s wrong if I call you a child?" Wu Yili retorted with a glance at Ge Dongxu.

    "If you were a gray-haired old professor, it would be no problem to say that. But you look so young and beautiful, calling me a child makes me quite uncomfortable," Ge Dongxu countered.

    "Oh, you, Ge Dongxu, even daring to tease your teacher!" Wu Yili''s lovely face fell slightly as she glared at him, though in her heart, she really liked that Ge Dongxu mentioned she was young and beautiful, albeit she had to maintain a stern demeanor as a teacher.

    "If telling the truth is teasing, then I''m helpless," Ge Dongxu shrugged, clearly unafraid of Wu Yili.

    Wu Yili hadn''t expected such a reply to her stern expression, her eyes widening a bit. Although she intended to keep a stern face to maintain her authority, she ended up snorting and uncontrollably broke into a wry smile.

    "You, Ge Dongxu! Of all the students, only you dare talk to me like this. Alright, go back to your books. If you need any help, just ask me," Wu Yili pointed at Ge Dongxu before turning and gracefully walking away.

    Her black pencil pants, though not tight, subtly outlined her long, beautiful legs and perky posterior, causing Ge Dongxu, who was watching her leave, to momentarily lose his focus.

    Due to his training, Ge Dongxu had grown increasingly indifferent to eating, hardly noticing if he missed a meal or two.

    Engrossed in reading at the library, Ge Dongxu didn''t even have dinner until the library was about to close and then, he left and returned to his dormitory.

    "Damn! What the hell is the provincial entertainment channel thinking? Liu Manman was doing such a great job hosting Happy Girls; why replace her with Xiao Shanshan?" Li Chenyu exclaimed in frustration as soon as Ge Dongxu opened the door.

    "Exactly, Liu Manman was so good! Her looks, figure, and demeanor are all top-notch, and her hosting style is natural, unlike Xiao Shanshan who, though decent-looking, is so forced and fake on screen it''s unbearable!" He Guizhong nodded in agreement.

    "I also like Liu Manman!" Lu Lei, as always, was sparing with his words.

    "What are you talking about? Isn''t the second season of Happy Girls not even started yet? How do you know they''ve changed hosts?" Ge Dongxu asked with a furrowed brow.

    "The second season of ''Happy Girl Voice'' hasn''t started yet, but it has already entered the preparation phase, and the host list was announced today. Why, are you interested in this kind of entertainment gossip news too?" Li Chenyu initially responded before suddenly realizing that the questioner was Ge Dongxu, who wouldn''t even bother to glance at a blonde, and asked with a sense of surprise.

    "That''s not it. But I consider Liu Manman a friend, just caring about a friend," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Damn, I''m now realizing that you, Boss, can play dumb even better than Lu Lei, you cross-dresser!" Li Chenyu and He Guizhong couldn''t help but roll their eyes as they spoke. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Usually, Li Chenyu and He Guizhong would call Lu Lei a cross-dresser, and he would definitely fight back, but this time, Lu Lei maintained his silence.

    "I''m serious," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Get lost!" the three of them said in unison.

    "Believe it or not, don''t blame me for not introducing her to you guys later." Ge Dongxu chuckled, then took his towel and toothbrush to go wash up.

    By the time he returned to the dorm, the lights were off, and the three guys were lying in bed discussing Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi''s measurements, debating whose figure was better.

    "If you ask me, Wu Shiyi is definitely sexier. She''s got a perkier butt than Liu Manman, and bigger boobs too," He Guizhong said.

    "There''s no way to communicate with you, dude. As long as it''s big, you like it," Li Chenyu said disdainfully.

    He preferred Liu Manman, thinking she had more class and more feminine charm.

    "Both are good!" Lu Lei said, sparing his words.

    "Haha, Lu Lei''s right, both are good, but sadly, we can only see one of them in the second season! Enough, enough, let''s go to sleep. It depresses me to talk about this, them replacing my favorite Liu Manman," Li Chenyu said.

    Following Li Chenyu''s conclusive remark, Dorm Room 203 quieted down.

    In the darkness, Ge Dongxu lay looking at the ceiling, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, his eyes revealing a contemplative expression.

    His relationship with Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi, although not very deep, was still somewhat intimate, making them friends.

    Originally, when he decided to invest in ''Happy Girl Voice,'' he hadn''t specified the hosts, but the astute Wu Longcai caught his hint and had Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi host ''Happy Girl Voice,'' and they did not let him down.

    One could say that the popularity of ''Happy Girl Voice,'' aside from the successful planning of the show itself, had a lot to do with the excellent hosting by Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi.

    Given his connection and their great performance, with Wu Longcai''s intelligence, unless there was a special reason, why would he consider changing the hosts?

    Forget it, there''s no clue about this, thinking won''t produce any results, might as well invite them out for a meal, ask them directly. After all, since Wu Longcai had helped Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie last time, I still owe him a meal.

    Ge Dongxu lay in bed thinking for a while, couldn''t figure anything out, so he simply stopped thinking and closed his eyes in meditation, waiting for the midnight hour.

    Wu Longcai and others didn''t want to trouble Ge Dongxu, but how were they to know, with Ge Dongxu''s personality, not knowing might have been better, but once he knew, he definitely would look into it.

 Chapter 541 - 540 Others Can Only Dream of Going

    Ge Dongxu made the call to Wu Longcai at noon the next day.

    He didn''t ask Wu Longcai about the host replacement issue, but simply inquired if he was free that evening, proposing that he, along with Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi, dine together.

    Of course, Wu Longcai had no idea that a big shot like Brother Xu would be interested in entertainment gossip. When Dongxu suggested dining out, Wu eagerly agreed without hesitation.

    What Wu didn''t realize was that though Brother Xu himself wasn''t concerned with entertainment gossip, all three of his roommates were fans of Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi. They paid close attention to such news, so the announcement had barely been made when it reached Ge Dongxu''s ears.

    "Let''s go to Wanghu Hotel, the ambiance there is quite nice. How about 6:30 PM?" Ge Dongxu said.

    Last week, Sang Yunlong and his wife had hosted Ge Dongxu at the Wanghu Hotel. Dongxu had enjoyed his visit and found the place quite to his liking.

    "Alright, Brother Xu, I''ll make the reservation for the private room, I''m familiar with it," said Wu Longcai.

    "Sure, you can make the reservation, but remember, I have to pay the bill," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Of course, with a wealthy man like you, Brother Xu, I''d never dare to pretend to be a big spender in front of you!" Wu Longcai replied.

    "Haha! You, Director Wu!" Ge Dongxu said, chuckling as he hung up the phone.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu hung up the phone on his end than Wu Longcai swiftly called Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi to tell them about Brother Xu''s dinner invitation for that evening.

    Both were naturally thrilled to hear that Brother Xu wanted to treat them to dinner.

    "Manman, since Brother Xu has taken the initiative to invite us to dinner, maybe we should bring up the host issue tonight?" Wu Shiyi said hesitantly after hanging up with Wu Longcai.

    "Yeah, well, if we really wanted to talk about it, we would''ve done so earlier. It would''ve been easier for Brother Xu to handle, and there would''ve been no need to wait until the announcement was already made," Liu Manman said with a wry smile.

    "But, these last few days, seeing that vixen Xiao Shanshan show off and boss around in front of you, I just can''t stand it. Who does she think she is? Manman, you were famous before she even graduated! Now she''s replaced you, and not only is she ungrateful, but she also acts so smug!" Wu Shiyi said indignantly.

    "Heh, there''s no use being upset. I''ve been through so much like this over the years; I''ve come to terms with it. Besides, even if I''ve been replaced, I know Brother Xu. At the very least, no one can force me to do things I really don''t want to do in the future. When I think about it, I''m truly satisfied," Liu Manman said.

    "Anyway, it just makes me angry on your behalf," Wu Shiyi declared.

    Liu Manman smiled and was about to speak when Xiao Shanshan, swaying her hips, walked in.

    "Oh, Liu Manman, you''re here too. I have something to discuss with Wu Shiyi," Xiao Shanshan said, glancing at Liu Manman.

    In the past few years, not only was Liu Manman popular, but she also had powerful backing. She was quite a figure at the provincial station; even Xiao Shanshan would address her with added deference, as "Sister Manman", though in reality, she was seething with jealousy and could hardly wait to knock her down a peg. Now, seeing Wu Longcai prefer to protect Wu Shiyi rather than Liu Manman, Xiao Shanshan naturally assumed that Liu had become disposable, and dropped her previous humble act, behaving with an air of superiority.

    "It''s all just a matter of the show, isn''t there anything that can''t be discussed in front of Sister Manman? Sister Manman, don''t go, I still have things to say to you." Wu Shiyi, who always felt indignant on behalf of Liu Manman, perceived Xiao Shanshan''s dictatorial attitude and deliberately held back Liu Manman, who was about to leave.

    "Actually, it''s nothing much. Station Head Guo informed me that today there will be leaders from the National Radio and Television Administration visiting our province to inspect our work. There will be a banquet tonight at Wanghu Hotel in their honor. Station Head Guo''s idea was to have me find someone to accompany him to dinner. Since we are partners now, I thought I''d give this opportunity to you." Xiao Shanshan, seeing Wu Shiyi purposefully keeping Liu Manman there, first flashed an irritated look, but quickly spoke with a sense of pride, as if giving Wu Shiyi this opportunity was her personal favor and something to be thankful for, even though it was actually Station Head Guo who had named her.

    "Ah, tonight! I already have plans and really can''t make it!" Wu Shiyi said, frowning upon hearing the news.

    In her heart, no appointment could rival one with Dongxu. Besides, she particularly disliked these dinner accompaniments; while people like Xiao Shanshan were eager for them, Wu Shiyi felt the opposite.

    Not only did it require toasting and fawning over others, but if you encountered someone lecherous, you could even end up getting harassed. Like that time in Beijing, if it hadn''t been for Ge Dongxu, she would have nearly lost her virtue.

    Xiao Shanshan had thought that upon hearing her offer, Wu Shiyi would surely be grateful and fawn over her, since it was an opportunity to make an impression in front of the leaders from the National Radio and Television Administration. If Wu Shiyi managed to please the leaders, she could walk sideways in this industry.

    But to her utter surprise, Wu Shiyi refused. Xiao Shanshan was stunned for a moment, and then her face darkened, "Wu Shiyi, what do you mean by this? I am offering you this opportunity out of goodwill. Others would dream of it but can''t even attend."

    "I''m really sorry, Shanshan, I truly can''t make it. You should find someone else," Wu Shiyi responded.

    "Fine, Wu Shiyi, so you''ve gained a little fame and start to put on airs! I advise you to tread carefully, or you might end up like ''someone''," Xiao Shanshan said coldly, dropping a hint before turning and storming off.

    She had intended to use this opportunity to replace Liu Manman and become the queen bee of the entertainment station. Hence, she had deliberately tried to curry favor with Wu Shiyi, but to no avail, which greatly infuriated Xiao Shanshan.

    "Shiyi, why bother?" Liu Manman said with a bitter smile, watching Xiao Shanshan leave in a huff, her eyes filled with concern. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I just can''t stand her arrogance, strutting around like she''s all that. Besides, it''s not every day Dongxu treats us; how could I possibly stand him up?" Wu Shiyi answered nonchalantly.

    "That may well be true. Dongxu is easygoing and kind-hearted, whereas Xiao Shanshan and Station Head Guo are another story; who knows what trouble they might stir up," Liu Manman said.

    "Don''t worry, Dongxu just replaced you; unless Station Head Guo doesn''t care about his own achievements and reputation, they can''t just replace me too this term," Wu Shiyi reassured her.

    "And what about next term? Don''t you need to worry about that?" Liu Manman said with annoyance, seeing Wu Shiyi''s indifferent demeanor.

    "Next term, we''ll deal with that when it comes. If worse comes to worst, let Supervisor Wu come up with another show, and the two of us sisters can fight side by side in the industry again," Wu Shiyi replied carefreely.

    "You silly girl, do you think becoming popular with a show is easy?" Liu Manman gave Wu Shiyi a disapproving look, yet her heart was filled with affection.

 Chapter 542 - 541: How Are You Even a Director?

    "Station Head Guo, Wu Shiyi says she''s busy tonight and can''t make it! I think she''s doing it on purpose, hmph, thinking that just because Liu Manman is out of the picture, you wouldn''t touch her!" When Liu Manman blamed Wu Shiyi for refusing Xiao Shanshan''s request, Xiao Shanshan had already sashayed into Station Head Guo''s office, fuming as she tattled on her.

    Station Head Guo leaned back in his big chair, resting his hand on his protruding beer belly, squinting his eyes, not saying a word, leaving others guessing what he was thinking.

    "Station Head Guo, won''t you say something? If it really doesn''t work out, I think we should replace her too. That way I don''t have to see her and get annoyed," Xiao Shanshan said, sticking closer to him as he remained silent, her voluptuous curves rubbing against his arm.

    "Alright! If Wu Shiyi is busy, just find someone else. How about Dong Qiantong?" Station Head Guo suggested, giving Xiao Shanshan''s pert and round backside a pat.

    Xiao Shanshan, seeing that Station Head Guo was reluctant to make a move on Wu Shiyi, dared not say more. She hummed in agreement, then got up and left his office, swaying her serpentine waist as she went.

    As soon as Xiao Shanshan left, Station Head Guo''s face turned stormy and unpleasing to look at.

    As the head of the station, he felt insulted by Wu Shiyi''s refusal to accompany him to the dinner. It was a slap in the face, a challenge to his authority.

    However, the "Happy Girl Voice" program was a major highlight for the provincial station, even making Jiangnan Province a leader in entertainment programs nationwide, not to mention the advertising revenue it brought in ¨C a veritable cash cow. Therefore, even though he was quite annoyed, Station Head Guo couldn''t afford to make a move on Wu Shiyi after having taken down Liu Manman.

    Otherwise, if he were to mess up the program, it would surely have a significant impact on his political achievements and reputation.

    It was precisely because of this that Wu Longcai had the leverage to negotiate with him before. Otherwise, as the station head, a single order would have been enough to replace Liu Manman with Xiao Shanshan ¨C what would be the need to go around and cut his budget?

    ¡­

    "We need to leave an hour earlier this time!" In dorm room 203, He Guizhong was shaving his beard in front of the mirror as he spoke.

    "Alright, alright, you''re going to shave your chin raw if you keep going," Li Chenyu pushed He Guizhong away, deliberately styling his hair in the mirror, while Lu Lei stood behind Li Chenyu, coolly tossing his flowing "mane" in front of the mirror.

    "Come on, let''s go. If we don''t leave now, we''ll only have the back seats left," He Guizhong put down his electric razor and hurried the two who were preening in the mirror.

    "Wow, time really flies, huh? Let''s go then," Li Chenyu checked the time, realized it was indeed late, and immediately stopped fixing his hair, then headed out the door.

    "Hey, boss, what are you still sitting there for? Let''s go, or we''ll end up sitting in the back again." The three of them were about to leave when they noticed that Ge Dongxu was still sitting in the dorm room, indifferent, so they paused to call him again.

    "You guys go ahead, I''ve got something on tonight and won''t be joining," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No way, boss, you''re skipping the foreign lady''s class again. I''m telling you, she''s really pretty, really sexy. Just listening to her speak English is a treat!" Li Chenyu and the others, seeing Ge Dongxu wasn''t moving, turned back to persuade him.

    "I really have something on, you guys go ahead," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright! It seems like you''ve truly lost hope in Professor Wu and are unwavering in your commitment!" Li Chenyu said.

    "Scram!" Ge Dongxu glared and snapped in annoyance.

    "Haha! Got nervous, did you?" The three of them laughed loudly as they ran out of the dorm, leaving Ge Dongxu behind shaking his head.

    Having made plans with Wu Longcai and the others, it wasn''t long after Li Chenyu and his friends left that Ge Dongxu also left the dorm.

    Upon reaching the school gates, he hailed a taxi and headed straight for Wanghu Hotel.

    Wanghu Hotel, the lobby''s caf¨¦ and leisure bar.

    Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman, wearing tea-colored sunglasses, were having coffee with Wu Longcai and occasionally glancing at the lobby entrance.

    As Brother Xu was treating them to a meal, they naturally arrived a bit early.

    It''s just that Brother Xu didn''t like to be ostentatious, and since their identities were somewhat sensitive, they otherwise wouldn''t be sitting in the caf¨¦ and leisure bar waiting, but standing at the entrance.

    While Wu Longcai and the others were waiting for Ge Dongxu in the caf¨¦ and leisure bar, Station Head Guo, sporting a beer belly, walked into the lobby accompanied by Xiao Shanshan and Dong Qiantong, along with a few of the station''s leaders.

    Xiao Shanshan, with her sharp eyes, immediately spotted Wu Shiyi and the others and deliberately sauntered over, then in a coquettish voice greeted them, "Oh my, if it isn''t Director Wu, Wu Shiyi, Liu Manman, what a coincidence to see you here too."

    Seeing that the station''s leaders were also present, Wu Longcai and his company couldn''t very well ignore them, so they got up to greet Xiao Shanshan and then specifically left the caf¨¦ to greet Station Head Guo and the other leaders at the lobby entrance.

    "Wu Shiyi, what is the meaning of this? Xiao Shanshan told me you had something on tonight and couldn''t come. Is this the thing? Do you mean to say that you only need to listen to Director Wu? This is just sheer lack of organization and discipline!" Station Head Guo didn''t pay any attention to Wu Longcai; instead, he sternly reprimanded Wu Shiyi with a dark face.

    Station Head Guo had already been a bit angry during the day and had reassured himself privately that perhaps Wu Shiyi really had an urgent matter and couldn''t get away. However, catching Wu Shiyi dining with Wu Longcai and Liu Manman, and doing so quite by chance, the anger Guo felt was no longer containable.

    This was an outright challenge and contempt for his authority!

    No sooner had Station Head Guo spoken than the atmosphere in the lobby suddenly became tense.

    For someone in Station Head Guo''s position to say such things in front of several leaders of the station, it definitely counted as an utterly damning indictment, a matter of great severity.

    "Station Head Guo, you''ve misunderstood. It wasn''t like that..." Seeing Station Head Guo utter such grave words, Director Wu couldn''t help but feel a bit panicked, and he hurriedly explained.

    "Misunderstood? What did I misunderstand? Wu Longcai, how are you fulfilling your role as a director? Don''t think that just because you have some accomplishments, you can start putting on airs. Our provincial station won''t tolerate this sort of behavior! Return immediately, and both of you write a self-criticism report!" Station Head Guo''s expression grew even more unsightly as he interrupted Wu Longcai, refusing to hear any explanations.

    "Station Head Guo, I haven''t been putting on airs. When Xiao Shanshan told me there was a dinner tonight, I already had plans with a friend, and moreover, this matter doesn''t involve Director Wu''s responsibilities!" Seeing that Station Head Guo was demanding not just her but also Wu Longcai to write a self-criticism report, Wu Shiyi felt she had implicated Wu Longcai involuntarily and so spoke up boldly in defense.

    However, Wu Shiyi''s explanation only added fuel to the fire for Station Head Guo; his real annoyance was not with Wu Shiyi, but with Wu Longcai.

    Because within the station, he, Station Head Guo, was the true leader, yet now, it was clear that in Wu Shiyi''s eyes, Director Wu occupied a higher position than him, Station Head Guo. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This was something Station Head Guo would never allow to happen!

 Chapter 543 - 542: Young man, do you know who you are talking to?

    "Very well, you had a prior engagement with friends? Can you tell me which friends are more important than the leaders of the Broadcasting and Television Bureau? Do you realize that even the Director Hao from the Provincial Party Committee''s Propaganda Department and Director Qiu from the Provincial Broadcasting and Television Bureau have cleared their schedules, and they will also rush over tonight? Is your little host''s appointment more important than the affairs of Director Hao and Director Qiu?" Station Head Guo said with an ashen face.

    "But¡­" Wu Shiyi was still young, and as Station Head Guo publicly berated her like this, tears were welling up in her eyes, rolling around but not falling.

    "Alright, Wu Shiyi, stop talking. You''d better quickly apologize to Station Head Guo, and then hurry back and write a self-criticism," Xiao Shanshan said with schadenfreude in her heart, but she hurried out to play peacemaker on the surface.

    "Station Head Guo, we will write the self-criticism when we go back. However, we truly did have a prior engagement this evening, and it would be somewhat inappropriate to cancel it at the last minute," Wu Longcai said, holding back Wu Shiyi who still wanted to speak, and he addressed Station Head Guo with a sincere attitude.

    One level higher in office can crush a person!

    Wu Longcai knew that if the situation escalated to this point and he continued to clash with Station Head Guo, if Station Head Guo decided to act without consideration for the consequences, not to mention a host like Wu Shiyi, even he as the director might be kicked out of the Entertainment Channel.

    Although Wu Longcai''s attitude was sincere, his words still seemed to Station Head Guo like he was wrestling with him, and his expression grew even uglier as he said, "It seems that my words as head of the station are useless!"

    "Alright, Wu Longcai, you and your group had better head back first. Isn''t it just a dinner? Just cancel with your friend for now and reschedule for another day," another deputy head of the station said, glaring at Wu Longcai when he tried to speak.

    "What''s going on here?" Just at that moment, Ge Dongxu walked in with a frown.

    "Who are you? What business is it of yours what we''re discussing here?" Xiao Shanshan, who was secretly enjoying the spectacle, saw a young man interfering and looked at Ge Dongxu disdainfully, saying.

    "Of course, it''s my business. I am the friend that Director Wu and the others had an appointment with. And who are you? If we have a dinner appointment, are you saying that even that is under your control?" Ge Dongxu said, glancing at Xiao Shanshan with a frown.

    Station Head Guo''s face turned an even deeper shade of iron blue when he heard that this plainly dressed, unknown young man was the friend Wu Longcai and the others had arranged to meet, while the other station leaders who were originally trying to persuade them to calm down changed their expressions too, looking at Wu Longcai and shaking their heads in private.

    If it had been a truly important person, perhaps even just the boss of a company, this matter might have been smoothed over more easily. But seeing such a plainly dressed young man, it seemed as if Wu Longcai was deliberately disregarding Station Head Guo''s authority.

    As various expressions crossed the faces of Station Head Guo and others, Liu Manman had already come forward and quietly introduced Ge Dongxu to the identities of Station Head Guo and the others, also giving a brief explanation of the situation. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Wu Longcai, I don''t think you need to write any self-criticism. The Public New Village Channel is in urgent need of a deputy director and could use someone with your talents. You will go to the Public New Village Channel tomorrow," Station Head Guo said, calming down in his extreme anger, and spoke to Wu Longcai with a calm face.

    The Public New Village Channel was a newly launched channel by the provincial station. It couldn''t compare to other channels like Film and Entertainment, Economic Life, Children''s channels, etc., in terms of coverage, programming, or the funds invested by the provincial station. Station Head Guo''s move to transfer Wu Longcai to the Public New Village Channel was essentially casting him into oblivion, and the position of deputy director was actually a direct demotion.

    This transfer was as much of a demotion as possible, showing that Station Head Guo was resolute in dealing with Wu Longcai.

    When the other leaders from the provincial station heard this, their expressions changed, and they opened their mouths as if to intervene, but seeing Station Head Guo''s calm expression, they all shut their mouths again.

    In the official arena, once the leader at the helm is determined to do something, unless other leaders want to thoroughly fall out with him and insist on an issue, it is absolutely unwise to stick one''s head out against it at such a time.

    Station Head Guo made this statement publicly, the anger clearly had not fully subsided, then he turned to Wu Shiyi and said, "Wu Shiyi, you should follow Director Wu as well. Nowadays, there''s no show that can''t go on without someone."

    Wu Shiyi''s face paled for a moment, but she bit her lip without speaking, looking somewhat stubborn.

    "Station Head Guo, are you done? If you''re done, can I say a few words?" Ge Dongxu said calmly.

    Seeing this unknown young man, Ge Dongxu, speak up again at such a moment, and with such a calm demeanor, everyone present felt a bit surprised. Of course, there was more disdain and mockery for they thought Ge Dongxu was utterly ignorant of his own limitations.

    However, Ge Dongxu ignored them and continued, "First, I indeed arranged to meet with Wu Shiyi and the others today. Second, time after work belongs to personal time, and you, even as the station head, don''t have the right to interfere with their personal lives. Third, I think you''re making a mountain out of a molehill with this matter. If you insist on dealing with my two friends this way, I think the person who will lose more is you."

    "Who do you think you are to talk back..." Xiao Shanshan pointed at Ge Dongxu and began to scold him when she saw him daring to speak to Station Head Guo like that.

    "I''m speaking to Station Head Guo, you have no right to butt in!" Ge Dongxu turned his head and looked at Xiao Shanshan with disdain.

    By this time, he had recognized Xiao Shanshan and knew from Li Chenyu and the others that it was this woman who took Liu Manman''s place.

    "Young man, do you know who you are talking to? Who gave you the courage to say such things?" Station Head Guo said with a stern face.

    "It seems that I''m talking to no avail. In that case, I have nothing more to say." Ge Dongxu glanced at Station Head Guo, then said to Wu Longcai and the other two, "Let''s go have dinner, I said it''s my treat. As for tomorrow''s matters, let''s discuss them tomorrow. For today, let''s just take care of filling our bellies."

    Now that things had come to this point, what else could Wu Longcai and the other two do? Besides, Wu Longcai was also a proud person. If Station Head Guo actually demoted him to a deputy director at the Public New Rural Channel, he would definitely not swallow his pride.

    "Haha, exactly! Exactly! If there''s wine today, then today we shall get drunk, to hell with tomorrow!" Wu Longcai laughed out loud.

    At this point, he was putting everything on the line!

    After all, if he left the provincial station, he could do his own thing! Besides, wasn''t he still with Ge Dongxu? Perhaps things wouldn''t come to such a head.

    "Hee hee, if there''s wine today, then today we shall get drunk. Director Wu, those are your words, so if we get you drunk later, don''t blame us okay?" Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi chuckled as they caught up with Ge Dongxu and Wu Longcai, and said.

    Clearly, they had chosen to stand with Wu Longcai!

    "Look at this, look at this, what kind of attitude is this? What kind of attitude is this?" Station Head Guo, seeing Wu Longcai and the two women actually following Ge Dongxu and leaving him behind, disregarding him as the station head, couldn''t help shaking with rage.

 Chapter 544 - 543 Director Fang Good Evening

    "Station Head Guo, don''t be angry. Young people can sometimes be impulsive. We will definitely handle them properly, no indulgence allowed!" The other station leaders, watching Wu Longcai and his two companions actually walk away, were somewhat dumbfounded. It was not until Station Head Guo shook with rage that they came back to their senses, each offering a bitter smile while trying to console him. They had already silently cursed Wu Longcai for being foolish. Was this the time to act on impulse? It was simply self-destructive.

    Given the situation had escalated to this extent, even though they appreciated Wu Longcai''s talent and the hosting abilities of Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman, it was no longer appropriate for them to speak in their defense.

    "Disregard for leadership! Arrogance due to talent! Lack of organization and discipline¡ªsuch people must be dealt with seriously!" Seeing that the other station leaders stood by his side, Station Head Guo''s anger subsided somewhat.

    "However, with this development, the Happy Female Voice..." The deputy station head in charge of entertainment hesitated, unable to bear seeing Happy Female Voice fail, as Station Head Guo''s expression eased a bit.

    "With so many talents at our provincial station, are we really incapable of producing an entertainment show without Wu Longcai? As for the hosts, that''s even simpler¡ªXiao Shanshan, Dong Qiantong, Zhou Xiaoping, and others, aren''t they just as good as Wu Shiyi and the rest?" Station Head Guo said with a stern face.

    "That''s true, that''s true." Seeing Station Head Guo speaking like this, the deputy station head could only nod in agreement with a bitter smile. However, internally, he couldn''t help but blame Station Head Guo. If it weren''t for Station Head Guo''s insistence on promoting Xiao Shanshan and even using the funds to control Happy Female Voice, perhaps Wu Longcai and the others wouldn''t have been dissatisfied and rebelled, and this evening''s incident wouldn''t have occurred.

    After all, from the very beginning of planning the show and even securing the sponsorship advertising, it was Wu Longcai who had brought these aspects together. One could say that Happy Female Voice managed to become successful and also brought so much revenue and fame to the station primarily thanks to Wu Longcai. But now, in only its second season, Station Head Guo wanted to make cuts from his people, showing no respect for his opinions. It was simply outrageous, and the deputy station head had always held this view. But since Station Head Guo held the official authority and he was merely his deputy, there was nothing he could do.

    Now that matters had escalated to this stage, it was too late to say anything. As for the issue with Xiao Shanshan, even though everyone was well aware of it, it was absolutely not something to be discussed openly.

    "Minister Hao, Director Fang''s cars have arrived." Just as the deputy station head was inwardly criticising, another deputy station head spoke up. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The crowd immediately moved towards the entrance.

    They saw three Audi cars parked at the entrance of the lobby.

    By this time, Station Head Guo, who had lost the gloom and anger on his face, was now all smiles as he quickly stepped forward to open the door of the first car.

    "Leader Hao, Director Fang, good evening!" After opening the door, Station Head Guo''s smile grew even brighter, and his beer belly shrank back as he bent down.

    Following Station Head Guo opening the car door personally, the first person to step out from the back seat was a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses, whose demeanor was both scholarly and composed, subtly exuding a hint of authority.

    This person was none other than Leader Hao from the Jiangnan Province Provincial Party Committee Propaganda Department.

    The next person to step out was a clean-shaven middle-aged man with a similarly scholarly aura. This middle-aged man was none other than Elder Feng''s son-in-law who held a director position at the Broadcasting and Television Bureau under Elder Feng''s influence, and he was also the leader sent by the Broadcasting and Television Bureau to inspect operations, as mentioned by Station Head Guo.

    In Huaxia Country, all state-owned media are generally managed by propaganda departments at various levels. Jiangnan Province TV Station and its superior department, the Broadcasting and Television Bureau, were no exceptions.

    He had come especially tonight to attend a welcome banquet, not only because Director Fang was a director at the Broadcasting and Television Bureau but also because he was Elder Feng''s son-in-law. His dual identity made his presence extraordinary; even Minister Hao, notwithstanding his high rank as a provincial leader in charge of the Broadcasting and Television Bureau, had made it a point to come.

    For Station Head Guo, while he was a leader in front of people like Wu Longcai, capable of determining their career paths, he was considerably junior in front of Minister Hao, seeing that he was merely equivalent to the level of a deputy director at the provincial station.

    Minister Hao merely gave Station Head Guo a light handshake with an indifferent expression, then turned with a smile to Director Fang at his side and said, "Director Fang, you should know everyone from Station Head Guo''s team. Let''s not introduce one by one; we will talk more inside."

    "Okay, I''ll follow Minister Hao''s arrangement," Director Fang replied.

    Minister Hao smiled, and at this moment, people from the other two cars also stepped out, including Director Qiu from the Jiangnan Province Broadcasting and Television Bureau and others from the Broadcasting and Television Bureau, among them a young woman who was Director Fang''s daughter, Fang Wanyue.

    Fang Wanyue and Jiang Lili were schoolmates, both having studied at Yanjing Media College. However, Jiang Lili was a junior this year, while she was in her final year of college.

    Originally, Director Fang had wanted to arrange for Fang Wanyue to intern at CCTV or the Capital TV Station, but Fang Wanyue, known for her quirky and somewhat rebellious personality among the younger members of the Feng Family, refused to follow Director Fang''s plan. She insisted on interning at a local station, believing it would prevent others from thinking she was relying on her parents'' connections.

    Director Fang had only one daughter and couldn''t resist her wishes, so he let her have her way. This trip to Jiangnan Province was also an opportunity to bring her along to see if she liked Jiangnan and wanted to stay for an internship at the Jiangnan Province TV Station.

    One reason Director Fang chose Jiangnan Province was because of Sang Yunlong''s presence there; Sang Yunlong was an old subordinate of Elder Feng, personally promoted by him, and was considered part of the Feng faction. If there were any problems, he would have support; secondly, Ge Dongxu was also in Jiangnan Province. If Fang Wanyue interned in Jiangnan Province, she could potentially build a good relationship with him.

    Others might not be aware of how formidable Ge Dongxu was, but Director Fang, as Elder Feng''s son-in-law, was privy to some insider information. Even just the current position and status of Ge Dongxu were something even Director Fang had to look up to, and considering that Ge Dongxu was not yet twenty, his future achievements were bound to be extraordinary. Therefore, from the bottom of his heart, whether it was because of his relationship with Elder Feng or the individual capabilities of Ge Dongxu, Director Fang hoped that Fang Wanyue could have more interactions with such an exceptionally distinguished individual like Ge Dongxu and build good relationships.

    The group entered the lobby and, led by the General Manager of Wanghu Hotel himself, arrived at a scenic luxury private room.

    Inside the private room, a large dining table set for twenty people was arranged.

    Minister Hao took the seat of honor, Director Fang took the seat for the distinguished guest, and the rest of the attendees took their seats in an orderly manner according to their official ranks.

    Since Director Fang had brought his daughter, Station Head Guo thought it inappropriate for Xiao Shanshan and the others to sit next to Director Fang and Minister Hao. Instead, he arranged for them to sit at the lower end of the table with Fang Wanyue.

 Chapter 545 - 544: Im Going Out to Make a Call to Dongxu

    All guests were seated when Minister Hao raised his glass on behalf of the Jiangnan Provincial Propaganda Department and the Broadcasting and Television Bureau to welcome Director Fang to the inspection, and offered a toast, marking the beginning of the banquet.

    After the banquet started, everyone followed the order of their official ranks, starting with Director Qiu, successively toasting to Director Fang. Other than initially clinking glasses with Minister Hao, Director Fang merely took small sips in response to everyone else''s toasts, while Director Qiu, Station Head Guo, and others gulped down their glasses.

    "Station Head Guo, the television station of your province has shown strong growth momentum over these past two years, especially the entertainment sector, which is leading nationwide. I heard that even before the second season of Happy Girl Voices was aired, advertisers were already seeking you out, and I even heard a company offered a sponsorship fee of thirty million. That price is astronomical, even the CCTV shows are surpassed by yours." After a round of drinks, the conversation opened up. Since Fang Fei''s daughter might intern at the provincial station, he was deliberately ingratiating himself with Station Head Guo, and even specifically praised Happy Girl Voices.

    If it were another time, Station Head Guo would probably be overjoyed by such praise from the administration''s leaders. However, his mood today was complicated. Just a short while ago, he not only scolded Wu Longcai, but also mentioned demoting him to the Public New Rural Channel. Yet now, the administration''s leaders had specifically mentioned Happy Girl Voices. Since the leaders had specified, the station naturally needed to invest a lot of effort into the program. But without Wu Longcai, without Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman, could the program still be successful?

    Station Head Guo naturally felt unsure! Yet with so many people present, the words had already been spoken, and as the head of the station, he certainly couldn''t lower his status to invite Wu Longcai and the others back.

    The other provincial station leaders had also thought of this issue and, after hearing Fang Fei''s remarks, they all turned to look at Station Head Guo with very telling glances, filled with either sympathy or schadenfreude...

    "How could our local station compare with CCTV! It''s only because of the administration and provincial leaders'' attention that our station''s made this rapid development." Regardless of his complex feelings, Station Head Guo had to appear cheerful, and he swiftly responded with a modest compliment.

    "Speaking of Happy Girl Voices, may I ask a question?" No sooner had Station Head Guo finished speaking than Fang Wanyue suddenly spoke.

    "Of course you may." Seeing Director Fang''s daughter asking, Station Head Guo quickly nodded with a smile.

    "I think Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi hosted Happy Girl Voices very well, why was Liu Manman suddenly replaced?" Fang Wanyue asked, her tone carrying a hint of indignation on behalf of Liu Manman.

    Happy Girl Voices, unique among entertainment programs, attracted particular attention, especially since its sponsor was Qinghe Herbal Tea, not to mention that even Fang Fei was especially focused on it.

    Because they both knew that the behind-the-scenes boss of Qinghe Herbal Tea was Ge Dongxu.

    When Fang Wanyue asked this, it was not just Xiao Shanshan who had replaced Liu Manman whose face instantly changed, even Station Head Guo''s expression became slightly embarrassed.

    "You child, these are decisions made by Station Head Guo and his team, what does an outsider like you asking so many questions do?" Seeing his daughter''s question putting Station Head Guo in a difficult position, Fang Fei immediately glared at her, saying.

    "No problem, no problem, Miss Fang is just showing her concern for our Happy Girl Voices!" Seeing Fang Fei reprimand his daughter, Station Head Guo hurriedly tried to smooth things over, his mood growing even more complex.

    He didn''t just replace Liu Manman, just now, he also pulled Wu Shiyi and the program director Wu Longcai off their positions, of course.

    "Heehee, exactly!" Fang Wanyue made a face at Fang Fei.

    "Exactly what? You''re almost graduating and you still don''t follow any rules," Fang Fei scolded as his daughter made a face at him, glaring at her displeased.

    "Just asking a question, is that also being unruly? Forget it, I''ll go out and call Dongxu, see where he is, and tell him I''ve arrived at his place." Fang Wanyue, never fond of formal occasions, decisively stood up to step out for some air upon seeing Fang Fei chastising her for being disorderly.

    "This child, always spoiled by her mother!" Fang Fei shook his head as Fang Wanyue left the table to make her call.

    Upon hearing Fang Fei mention Fang Wanyue''s mother, some people in the room who knew Fang Fei''s background trembled slightly.

    "Haha, they''re all the same. Mine gives me even more headaches," Minister Hao joked in an attempt to ease the mood.

    ... Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Wanghu Hotel, a small lakeside private room.

    "I incidentally heard that the second season''s Happy Girl, Liu Manman, was replaced by Xiao Shanshan; I wanted to ask about this when I invited you out to eat today. I didn''t expect another incident to happen in the lobby¡ªthings seem even more complicated now. Tell me, what exactly happened?" Ge Dongxu asked the three after they had a few drinks.

    "It was all because Xiao Shanshan climbed up to Station Head Guo, and then he wanted to boost her into position, insisting on getting her onto Happy Girl. Director Wu was opposed vehemently, but Station Head Guo leveraged funding against him, only giving fifty thousand more than last year. That amount of money, how could it possibly make the second season of Happy Girl successful! Moreover, Station Head Guo blamed Director Wu for signing a two-year contract with Qinghe Herbal Tea, saying that if it weren''t for Director Wu, they could have secured sponsorship of thirty million this year. In the end, with no alternative and to secure sufficient funding for the program, Manman stepped down to let Xiao Shanshan take over," Wu Shiyi, always direct and currently holding back frustration, blurted out as soon as Ge Dongxu asked.

    "This is too much, without Director Wu''s efforts, without your brilliant hosting, without our substantial investment in Qinghe Herbal Tea last year, could Happy Girl have become popular? Now that it''s only the second season, is Station Head Guo ready to ''kill the donkey after it finished grinding the grain'', ''dismantle the bridge after crossing the river''? Besides, this second season, we at Qinghe Herbal Tea also invested twenty million in sponsorship, a full ten million more than last year; does he really think the money in our business falls from the sky? He said to cut the funds and just cut the funds? Doesn''t he need to consider our company''s investment?" Ge Dongxu''s expression turned cold after listening to Wu Shiyi.

    "Sorry, Ge, it''s my fault for not handling this properly, leading to ¡­" Director Wu, seeing Ge Dongxu getting angry, couldn''t help but feel very guilty.

    "This isn''t your fault at all; this is purely Station Head Guo''s doing! In human interactions and conduct, there should always be some bottom line and principles; just because he''s the station head, can he really mess around this way? Can he really do whatever he pleases?" Ge Dongxu interrupted, waving his hand.

    "He is the station head, and many times, what he says goes. Now that things have become like this, Ge, seriously, if it doesn''t work out, I think Qinghe Herbal Tea should relinquish its priority rights and not sponsor the program anymore. I refuse to believe that without me, without Wu Shiyi, without Liu Manman, any company would be willing to invest tens of millions in sponsoring this program. If someone really spends big money to sponsor it and then the show''s ratings flop, I''d like to see where Station Head Guo and his crew can put their faces, how they would explain it to the sponsors," Wu Longcai said.

 Chapter 546 - 545 Ill Be Right There

    "I don''t mind giving up my priority rights, it''s just a matter of money. But what about you? Are you willing to let others reap the benefits of the program you''ve planned and operated with so much effort? Are you willing to let it fall into someone else''s hands just like that?" Ge Dongxu asked with a cold face.

    "Definitely not willing!" Wu Longcai said with a bitter smile.

    Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman also shook their heads.

    "Then that''s settled. If Station Head Guo is unkind, I won''t be polite with him either," Ge Dongxu said, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

    Putting aside his friendship with Wu Longcai and the others, was Ge Dongxu''s money something anyone could just squander at will?

    That was a priority rights contract worth twenty million that Ge Dongxu was supposed to reap from the millions he invested last year!

    "Brother Xu, I know you value loyalty, but Station Head Guo is the head of the provincial station. Not only does he hold a high position, his connections in Jiangnan Province are also extensive, which is completely different from those young masters in the capital. If things blow up, it will be tough for you to have peace of mind. Maybe you should reconsider..." Seeing that Ge Dongxu was ready to stand up for them, Wu Longcai and the others were moved yet couldn''t help but worry at the same time.

    They thought that Ge Dongxu, after all, was still so young, and on the political scene, there was often the saying that a local authority was more influential than a distant one. Even if there was a connection to the Feng Family, that was a case of "the mountains are high and the emperor is far away." Dealing with a few young masters in the capital was convenient, since those young masters only had a bit of family influence but no real power or authority, and they happened to be in the capital. But when it came to figures with real local power, matters were complicated and delicate, not something you could handle as you wished.

    Before Wu Longcai finished speaking, Ge Dongxu''s phone rang.

    Ge Dongxu patted Wu Longcai''s shoulder and said, "Don''t worry, I have a plan."

    Saying this, Ge Dongxu gestured towards the phone and stepped out of the private room.

    How could Wu Longcai and the others know that Ge Dongxu''s real strength lay in himself, not in relying on the Feng Family!

    If he made up his mind to deal with someone, not even Station Head Guo''s influence would be of any use, no matter how powerful.

    Of course, the call was from Fang Wanyue.

    "Fang Wanyue, why would you, Missy, call me today?" Ge Dongxu asked in surprise after stepping out of the private room and answering the call.

    "No, please don''t call me Missy, I can''t afford that title!" Fang Wanyue hurriedly said upon hearing his words.

    "All right, there''s no need to pretend in front of me with your fearless character," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Though I''m still afraid of my grandfather!" Fang Wanyue said, sticking out her tongue. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "By the way, how''s your grandfather?" Ge Dongxu asked, remembering Elder Feng when Fang Wanyue mentioned him.

    "He''s doing very well now. If it weren''t for his status, I guess he would have been traveling all over the place by now. I don''t know what kind of Spirit Pill you gave him, but it''s really amazing!" Fang Wanyue said, her lively eyes involuntarily revealing a hint of awe.

    Although she was usually quirky and sometimes disrespectful towards Ge Dongxu, showing an informal attitude, deep down she was aware that Ge Dongxu was a formidable person with remarkable abilities, and she held him in awe.

    "Hehe, that''s good. I''ll visit him when I have time," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Really? Grandfather would be so happy. Every time he sees me, he nags about you," Fang Wanyue said.

    "Haha! You must be fed up with his nagging by now. Alright, let''s not drag this out. Why did you call me? Is there another charity banquet that you want me to donate to? Donating is no problem, but I won''t attend the banquet. I''m not used to those occasions," Ge Dongxu laughed and asked curiously.

    "Hehe, don''t worry. After the last banquet, my mom found out and scolded me. I wouldn''t dare to drag you, an important person, to such nonsense again! I''m calling to ask you to guess where I am now," Fang Wanyue laughed and said.

    "Guess where you are now? Could it be that you''ve come to Jiangnan Province?" Ge Dongxu said in slight astonishment.

    "Boring, you guessed it in one go. Yes, I''m in Linzhou City. Where are you? At Jiangnan University?" Fang Wanyue said, slightly annoyed.

    "You really came to Linzhou. Where are you now? I''m currently dining with a few friends at Wanghu Hotel. If you''re free, why don''t you come and join us? After all, being in Jiangnan Province, I''m somewhat of a landlord here, and I should show you some hospitality!" Ge Dongxu said, genuinely pleased to hear that Fang Wanyue actually came to Linzhou City.

    He had a close relationship with Elder Feng and naturally loved the house and its crow.

    "Oh, that''s a coincidence. I''m at Wanghu Hotel too. Which private room are you in? I''ll come over now," Fang Wanyue exclaimed with surprise.

    When Ge Dongxu heard that Fang Wanyue was also at Wanghu Hotel, he too was somewhat surprised and quickly told her his private room number.

    After learning the private room number, Fang Wanyue didn''t go back to the large private room but instead headed straight to the one where Ge Dongxu was, walking briskly.

    Knowing that Fang Wanyue would arrive soon, Ge Dongxu didn''t go back inside the private room either and instead waited for her at the door.

    It didn''t take long before he saw Fang Wanyue coming towards him.

    Having not seen her for a while, Fang Wanyue seemed to have become even more vivacious and pretty. However, as she was Elder Feng''s granddaughter, Ge Dongxu naturally didn''t harbor any thoughts about her.

    "How come you suddenly came to Linzhou?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile as he greeted her.

    "I came to see you," Fang Wanyue playfully replied.

    "Be serious!" Ge Dongxu said with a stern face.

    "Alright, I came with my dad. I took the opportunity to see if I wanted to intern at the provincial station." Although Ge Dongxu was younger than Fang Wanyue, their private relationship was after all senior, and seeing him "the old man" get serious, Fang Wanyue didn''t dare to continue acting playfully and immediately replied obediently.

    "Your dad came too? Is the leader from the State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television who came to inspect the work your dad?" Ge Dongxu asked with some surprise.

    "What leader, it''s so boring. There are twenty people at one big table; even eating a dish requires it to be passed around a big circle, and then there''s all the toasting and the exchange of polite words. If I had known, I wouldn''t have come with him. I would''ve come by myself," Fang Wanyue complained with a pout.

    "Haha! That''s true. Alright, you can hang out with me. We''ve got a small private room here, just three or four people, not so formal," Ge Dongxu said, pushing the door to the private room open.

    "Wow! You''re Liu Manman, and you''re Wu Shiyi!" As soon as the private room was opened, Fang Wanyue immediately noticed Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi and couldn''t help exclaiming in surprise.

    "Alright, don''t make such a fuss. Are you a starstruck fan?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Who says I can''t be a fan? Can''t I just like the shows hosted by Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi?" Fang Wanyue retorted, pouting at Ge Dongxu.

    Knowing Fang Wanyue''s personality, Ge Dongxu shook his head with a smile, and then introduced her, "This is Fang Wanyue, her cousins Feng Chenqing and Feng Chenming, whom you''ve all met in Heavenly Capital."

    "Ah, that Secretary Fang..." Upon hearing this, Wu Longcai and the others were startled, having already stood up.

    "My dad! But my dad is my dad, don''t lump me together with him," Fang Wanyue said.

    "You''ve already met Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi, so I won''t introduce them. This is Wu Longcai, the supervisor behind the program ''Happy Female Voices,''" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "So you''re Supervisor Wu Longcai. The planning for ''Happy Female Voices'' is really impressive!" Fang Wanyue''s eyes lit up as she sized up Wu Longcai, making him feel a bit uncomfortable.

    "No matter how impressive, it requires a connoisseur to recognize it. If it weren''t for Brother Dongxu''s discerning eye back then, directly investing ten million to buy the naming rights for ''Happy Female Voices,'' this program might still be sitting on my hands," Wu Longcai said.

    "No wonder your business is doing so big!" Fang Wanyue had never heard this story before; upon hearing it, she couldn''t help but look at Ge Dongxu with both astonishment and admiration.

    "Enough, you two. One is boasting, and the other is praising. Sit down," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Oh, I forgot to tell my dad. If he can''t find me after a long time, he''ll definitely scold me later for not understanding the rules," Fang Wanyue exclaimed, realizing she had run over here without telling her father, and then hurriedly took out her phone to give him a call.

    As Fang Wanyue was calling Fang Fei, and he had been annoyed not seeing her return to the private room for quite a while and was wondering whether to send his secretary to check on her, the phone he was carrying rang. Seeing it was his daughter''s call, he got up and walked to a corner of the private room to answer it.

    "What''s going on? The banquet has only just started, why have you been gone for so long without coming back?" Fang Fei asked with some dissatisfaction as he took the call.

    "Hehe, I ran into Dongxu and went to eat in his private room. So I''m not going back to yours. There''s a whole table full of people speaking nothing but official jargon, not interesting at all," Fang Wanyue replied, and with Ge Dongxu, her grandfather''s junior brother, present, she answered with justified confidence.

 Chapter 547 - 546: Station Head Guo Should Know His

    "Ge Dongxu is also having dinner at Wanghu Hotel tonight?" Sure enough, as soon as Fang Fei heard that Ge Dongxu was also there, he didn''t bother to scold his daughter anymore.

    "Yes! I''m with him right now," Fang Wanyue said proudly.

    "I see, could you ask him if it would be convenient for me to offer him a toast?" After getting a definite answer, Fang Fei hesitated before asking.

    Although Ge Dongxu is young, due to his age and status, Fang Fei usually addresses him by his name in public. However, privately, Fang Fei understands that Ge Dongxu is actually a director-level consultant in a special department, with a rank higher than his own. Of course, that''s secondary; what''s most important is that Ge Dongxu is also his father-in-law''s junior brother. If one were to be serious about it, Ge Dongxu would be considered his elder.

    Therefore, knowing that Ge Dongxu was at Wanghu Hotel, Fang Fei felt it was proper, both emotionally and rationally, to offer him a toast. However, due to Ge Dongxu''s special status, he still needed to ask him in advance.

    "Okay, I''ll ask him," Fang Wanyue replied. Then she held up her phone to Ge Dongxu and said, "My dad says he wants to come over and offer you a toast, would that be convenient?"

    Although Wu Longcai, Liu Manman, and Wu Shiyi had long known that Ge Dongxu was influential, hearing that even Fang Wanyue''s father wanted to come over personally to offer a toast after learning Ge Dongxu was here still made them shiver all over. They then immediately looked excited and expectant, with even a hint of schadenfreude showing.

    Because local officials are no match for current ones!

    Fang Wanyue''s father just happens to be the leader of the Broadcasting and Television Bureau, which oversees Wu Longcai''s department!

    For this reason, even Station Head Guo, with his status, had to wait eagerly with several leaders from his station at the entrance of the Wanghu Hotel lobby to welcome his arrival. Even the head of the Provincial Party Committee''s Propaganda Department and the head of the Provincial Broadcasting and Television Bureau had to come in person to the reception banquet.

    Now, Fang Wanyue''s father was coming personally to offer Ge Dongxu a toast, and Wu Longcai and the others naturally understood what this meant!

    It was at this moment that Wu Longcai and the others truly understood just how extensive Ge Dongxu''s influence was!

    "Give me the phone, I''ll talk to your dad," Ge Dongxu didn''t answer but reached out his hand to Fang Wanyue.

    "Dad, Dongxu wants to speak with you," Fang Wanyue said into the microphone, and then she handed the phone to Ge Dongxu.

    "Hehe, hello Fang Fei!" Ge Dongxu took the phone and greeted him proactively.

    "Hello, Dongxu, my daughter didn''t interrupt you by running over there, did she?" Since he was calling from inside the private room, Fang Fei addressed Ge Dongxu by his name directly.

    "Haha, not at all! We''re all family, and I''m more than happy to have you guys here. It''s good that Wanyue called me; otherwise, I wouldn''t have known you were here," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Hehe, you''re not like us; I didn''t want to disturb you," Fang Fei felt even more cordial as Ge Dongxu referred to them as family and chuckled in response.

    "Hehe, it''s different when you come; there''s no question of disturbing or not," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Since that''s the case, I''ll come over and offer you a toast in a while and have a brief encounter," Fang Fei said. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No, why don''t I come and offer you a toast instead? After all, you are the guest of honor today, and it would definitely be inconvenient for you to leave," Ge Dongxu replied politely.

    "How can that be?" Fang Fei exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this.

    Although he addressed Ge Dongxu by name, the latter''s status was still there!

    "Hehe, there''s no need to be so formal. Besides, I happen to need to speak with Station Head Guo of the provincial station," Ge Dongxu said.

    With Ge Dongxu''s capabilities, dealing with Station Head Guo would not require him to make use of the Feng Family''s power. But since Fang Fei happened to be there that night, it suited Ge Dongxu just fine, saving him the trouble.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu had to speak with Station Head Guo at the provincial station, Fang Fei didn''t insist any further, though he couldn''t help feeling a bit puzzled inside.

    Seeing Fang Fei hang up the phone and return to his seat, Minister Hao and the others all showed a look of surprise on their faces.

    Because earlier, Fang Fei had been making a phone call in the private room, everyone was discreetly paying attention to him. Seeing that he was very polite on the phone, and even seemed to be speaking with a leader, and that he mentioned he was going to offer a toast, it naturally surprised everyone.

    One must know that Fang Fei is a leader from the Broadcasting and Television Bureau, and moreover, he is Elder Feng''s son-in-law. With such a status, it could be said that in Jiangnan Province, apart from some retired senior leaders, probably only the top one or two leaders in the province would necessitate such politeness from him.

    "I''m sorry, Minister Hao, Director Qiu, I just took a call," Fang Fei returned to his seat and with an apologetic smile, he addressed Minister Hao and Director Qiu. As for Station Head Guo, his rank was lower than Fang Fei''s, and since Fang Fei was from the central leadership, there was naturally no need to be overly polite with him.

    "Hehe, Director Fang, you''re too polite," Minister Hao responded courteously.

    "By the way, I have a friend coming over later," Fang Fei added.

    As Fang Fei spoke, Minister Hao''s secretary, who was seated at the end, received a phone call, and hurriedly sneaked out of the private room.

    "Oh, the one you were talking to just now? May I ask who that is?" Minister Hao inquired.

    "Ge Dongxu." Since Ge Dongxu was coming over, Fang Fei naturally had no need to hide his name.

    "Ge Dongxu?" Minister Hao furrowed his brows slightly, his mind racing, but he couldn''t seem to recall such a person.

    Director Qiu and the others felt the same.

    "Station Head Guo should know him," Fang Fei recalled that Ge Dongxu had mentioned coming to speak with Station Head Guo and added with a smile.

    "Ah!" Station Head Guo was instantly stupefied.

    Where did he know any Ge Dongxu!

    "Eh, Station Head Guo doesn''t know him either? That''s strange, he said he was looking for you to talk," Fang Fei said, somewhat surprised by Station Head Guo''s expression.

    Hearing this, Station Head Guo became even more astonished.

    If even Fang Fei had to be so polite to this person, then he must be a very important figure. If Guo had met him, he couldn''t have missed the chance to curry favor, so how could he have no memory of him?

    While Station Head Guo was bewildered and trying to make sense of it all, Minister Hao''s secretary had finished the call and whispered to Minister Hao, "Minister Hao, Director Fang just called to say that Governor Sang will be stopping by later."

    Director Fang is Sang Yunlong''s secretary, Fang Ting.

    "Hmm!" Minister Hao''s expression momentarily stiffened upon hearing this, then, recalling the relationship between Sang Yunlong and Elder Feng, he reassured himself, nodded, and indicated that he understood.

    "Director Fang, Governor Sang says he will also come over to meet with you later," Minister Hao said to Fang Fei after the secretary stepped back.

    "Governor Sang is being too kind!" Fang Fei was also slightly taken aback by the news, then he said, his face beaming with pride.

    Upon hearing that Governor Sang would also be making a special trip to see them, those present felt a shiver in their hearts, and their gazes towards Fang Fei changed.

    "Hehe, who told you to be a leader from the capital," Minister Hao joked for a rare time.

    "Minister Hao, you''re making me blush. Your presence alone is an honor for me, and with Governor Sang making a special trip, it really makes me anxious," Fang Fei replied modestly.

    As they were speaking, there was a knock at the door of the private room, and then Ge Dongxu entered, accompanied by Fang Wanyue, followed by Wu Longcai, Liu Manman, and Wu Shiyi.

 Chapter 548 - 547 What are you doing here?

    "What are you doing here?" As soon as he saw Ge Dongxu and Wu Longcai entering, Station Head Guo''s expression darkened reflexively. He thought that, unhappy with their earlier altercation in the lobby and seeing that there were leaders present, they were seizing the opportunity to deliberately cause trouble or file a complaint. He failed to realize that Fang Wanyue had entered with them.

    "Wu Longcai, do you not understand the rules? Take your people and leave immediately!" Vice Director Qian and the others also hadn''t expected Wu Longcai to barge in at such a moment and couldn''t help but change their expressions. Vice Director Qian even stood up, ready to pull Wu Longcai and his group away.

    He was the leader in charge of the entertainment channel. If Wu Longcai truly started causing a scene in front of Minister Hao, Director Fang, and Director Qiu, he would definitely be held responsible afterwards.

    "What are you all doing?" When Fang Fei saw Ge Dongxu come in to offer a toast and observed Station Head Guo and the others trying to kick them out, his face suddenly changed, and he couldn''t help slamming the table as he stood up.

    Seeing the leaders from the Broadcasting and Television Bureau smack the table, Station Head Guo and the others became more anxious and hurriedly said, "Director Fang, sorry, it''s our subordinates who don''t understand the rules, they entered without permission... "

    "Guo Wenxue, shut up!" However, before Station Head Guo and the others could finish speaking, even Minister Hao stood up and smacked the table, directly calling out Station Head Guo''s name.

    Last time Elder Feng took a train to Jiangnan Province to pay respects to Ren Yao, Minister Hao, as a member of the Provincial Party Committee, had also specifically gone to the train platform to welcome him.

    Ge Dongxu was accompanying Elder Feng at the time. Initially, Minister Hao thought Ge Dongxu was just Elder Feng''s bodyguard until Elder Feng boarded a Coaster that even he had no privilege to board. Looking through the window to see Ge Dongxu sitting right next to Elder Feng, he realized that this young man''s identity was no ordinary one, far beyond just a simple bodyguard.

    When Ge Dongxu appeared in the private room, Minister Hao initially thought his face looked familiar but couldn''t remember where he had seen him. It wasn''t until Fang Fei suddenly lost composure and stood up pounding the table that Minister Hao was taken aback and remembered who this young man was.

    The moment he recalled Ge Dongxu''s background, even with Minister Hao''s status, seeing Station Head Guo trying to kick him out for not understanding the rules also made him break out in a cold sweat. He immediately followed by pounding the table urgently.

    "Minister Hao!" Station Head Guo saw Minister Hao charge at him with a furious face and scold him, which made him shudder and he looked at Minister Hao with a face full of grievance and confusion.

    He truly didn''t understand!

    Even if his actions had been somewhat inappropriate just now, there was no need for Minister Hao to bang the table and angrily tell him to shut up!

    Poor Station Head Guo hadn''t realized at that time that Fang Fei was also slamming the table at him.

    But Minister Hao only glared at Station Head Guo fiercely and then left the table, striding towards Ge Dongxu with Fang Fei.

    "Just now Director Fang told me a friend was coming, and I was wondering who it could be, but I didn''t expect it to be you! It''s been over a year, I wonder if Mr. Ge still remembers me?" Minister Hao said with a smile, stretching out his hands when he was still about two meters away from Ge Dongxu.

    "I have an impression, but I don''t know what to call you." Ge Dongxu, having a better memory than most, recognized Minister Hao as one of the provincial leaders who had also come to the train platform to welcome them. However, at that time, he was only with Elder Feng and did not know Minister Hao''s exact title and name.

    "Dongxu, he is your province''s Minister of Publicity Department, Minister Hao," Fang Fei introduced from the side.

    "It turns out to be Minister Hao. My apologies," Ge Dongxu greeted Minister Hao warmly with a handshake, then also shook hands with Fang Fei and said, "If Wanyue hadn''t informed me, I wouldn''t have known you were here. You really did so sneakily, I''ll have to penalize you with a drink later."

    "Haha, it''s my fault, I accept the punishment!" Fang Fei said with a laugh.

    In the private room, besides Fang Wanyue, even Wu Longcai, Wu Shiyi, and Liu Manman were utterly astonished seeing Ge Dongxu chatting and laughing with Minister Hao and Director Fang, even Minister Hao leaving his seat to shake hands with him enthusiastically. Director Fang, because of a joke from Ge Dongxu, hurriedly admitted his mistake and accepted punishment, their eyes bulging and their hearts almost stopped beating from the tension.

    As for Station Head Guo and others at the large round table, particularly Station Head Guo, who was so frightened that his legs were shaking and cold sweat was trickling down his shiny forehead, sparkling under the light.

    The incidents that had occurred in the lobby replayed in Station Head Guo''s mind, creating a strong mental shock when compared to the scene before him.

    Xiao Shanshan, who thought she was impressive by associating with Station Head Guo, had already lost her color, her bright red lips turning white and trembling.

    Although Director Qiu did not know exactly what had happened between Station Head Guo and Ge Dongxu, he already understood that it was nothing good, and glared fiercely at Station Head Guo before quickly getting up to greet Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing this, Station Head Guo and others naturally hurried to their feet as well. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dongxu, let me introduce you, this is Director Qiu from your province''s Broadcasting and Television Bureau," Fang Fei said with a smile as Director Qiu approached.

    "Mr. Ge, how do you do!" Seeing even Minister Hao shaking hands with Ge Dongxu, Director Qiu did not dare to put on airs and also extended both hands, even bending slightly at the waist, and said with a smile on his face.

    "Director Qiu, how do you do. Sorry to disturb you," Ge Dongxu shook hands with Director Qiu and said.

    "Not at all, we couldn''t welcome you enough," Director Qiu replied politely and hastily.

    "Mr. Ge, about earlier..." Seeing Director Qiu shaking hands with Ge Dongxu, Station Head Guo, sweating profusely and showing a smile uglier than a cry, stepped forward with a slight bow and extended both hands.

    Ge Dongxu, however, ignored Station Head Guo and instead, smiling, said to Minister Hao, Fang Fei, and Director Qiu, "Minister Hao, I came here to toast to our guest from afar, Fang Fei. How can I do that with everyone standing? Please, take your seats."

    Station Head Guo''s extended hand froze mid-air, the awkwardness palpable, yet he dared not make a scene.

    Vice Station Head Qian and others felt a pang of embarrassment for Station Head Guo, seeing Ge Dongxu disregard him completely, and were at a loss for words over their feelings.

    "Even though Station Head Guo might have said something offensive before, now he has already come forward to greet you. Is it necessary..." Xiao Shanshan was obviously still naive and hadn''t realized the severity of the situation. She thought, considering Station Head Guo''s position, now that he had already extended his hand and made the first move to apologize, Ge Dongxu directly ignoring him and leaving him hanging there seemed excessive, and she couldn''t help but say this resentfully.

    As soon as Xiao Shanshan spoke, the entire private room fell deathly silent, and Station Head Guo was so frustrated he almost raised his hand to slap her.

    Minister Hao glanced at Xiao Shanshan, then at Station Head Guo, and as if nothing had happened, smiled and invited Fang Fei and others, saying, "Mr. Ge is right, everyone, please take your seats, no need to stand."

 Chapter 549 - 548: I must toast to him first with this first cup.

    When Minister Hao began to speak, everyone cast complex glances at Station Head Guo and Xiao Shanshan before taking their seats.

    The looks contained mockery, schadenfreude, and pity.

    Anyone with a bit of sense could see that Xiao Shanshan, who just had a chance at promotion, was definitely finished now. As for Station Head Guo, he was certainly going to be affected by this incident.

    As for how much impact it would have, that would depend on how influential this young man in front of them really was, whether he could totally subdue Station Head Guo, and just how severe their conflict was.

    Because up until now, let alone Director Qiu and Deputy Station Head Qian, even Minister Hao did not know Ge Dongxu''s true identity.

    It was precisely because of this that Xiao Shanshan dared to speak up just now.

    Of course, Station Head Guo is the head of the provincial station, a deputy department-level official, and is quite a figure in Jiangnan Province. And no matter how impressive Ge Dongxu may be, after all, he is still a young man. To many, it seemed that Station Head Guo would indeed be affected, but stepping down was definitely out of the question; however, it was certain that he had been slapped in the face metaphorically.

    Station Head Guo himself also harbored this thought. Seeing everyone take their seats, his face shifted between dark and light for a moment before he finally gritted his teeth and sat down as well.

    Upon seeing Station Head Guo sit down, Xiao Shanshan also followed to take her seat.

    "Xiao Shanshan, you go out first!" However, before Xiao Shanshan could sit down, Director Qiu glanced at her and spoke indifferently.

    Hearing this, Xiao Shanshan''s face immediately turned pale, and she looked pleadingly at Station Head Guo, but it was as if he didn''t see her.

    Seeing that Station Head Guo ignored her, Xiao Shanshan became even paler, bit her lip, and left the private room with tears in her eyes.

    After observing Xiao Shanshan''s departure, everyone''s gaze turned to Ge Dongxu.

    Director Qiu certainly didn''t aim without basis; this was seen as Jiangnan Province Broadcasting and Television Bureau taking a stance.

    As for Station Head Guo, not only is he the head of the provincial station, but he also concurrently holds the position of Deputy Director of the Jiangnan Province Broadcasting and Television Bureau. Ge Dongxu had just openly insulted him in front of everyone, and in the eyes of Director Qiu, that was almost enough.

    After all, at Station Head Guo''s level, sometimes face actually represents a lot.

    Ge Dongxu''s expression showed little change; he simply led Wu Longcai and the other two to first toast Minister Hao. After all, he was the host tonight and the one holding the highest position.

    Minister Hao had just clinked glasses with Fang Fei, and even with toasts from Director Qiu, had only sipped his drink. However, when Ge Dongxu toasted him, he downed the drink boldly in one gulp.

    Seeing Minister Hao''s hearty drinking, everyone inwardly shivered, unable to fathom Ge Dongxu''s true identity, wondering why Minister Hao gave him so much face.

    After toasting Minister Hao, Ge Dongxu was set to toast Fang Fei.

    "I''ll punish myself with a drink first." Seeing Ge Dongxu coming to toast him, Fang Fei quickly stood up, picked up a full glass, said the words, and tipped the drink back in one go.

    Seeing Fang Fei actually punishing himself with a drink, everyone except Fang Wanyue who did not show any surprise, revealed shocked expressions; even Minister Hao''s eyelids twitched slightly.

    What is Fang Fei''s status? He is a Capital Official, and also Elder Feng''s son-in-law. With these two identities combined, even though his level is only at the department head, Minister Hao, a local official one level higher than him, engaged with him on equal footing.

    Yet now, Fang Fei actually punished himself with a drink because of a casual remark made by Ge Dongxu, what did that imply?

    All those present were essentially "veterans" of the bureaucracy, how could they fail to understand?

    "It was just a joke, you actually took it seriously!" Ge Dongxu, seeing Fang Fei actually punishing himself with a drink, felt somewhat remorseful.

    "Hehe, since you''ve spoken, I naturally have to treat it seriously," Fang Fei said, laughing.

    Ge Dongxu heard the words and chuckled, no longer bothering with the pleasantries with Fang Fei, filled up his cup and toasted him, saying, "Welcome to Jiangnan Province!"

    The two drank a round, and then Ge Dongxu made a special toast to Director Qiu.

    "I''ll toast everyone present another round, but I''ll spare Station Head Guo, as I simply can''t stand any grit in my eyes," Ge Dongxu said after he toasted Director Qiu, then filled his glass again and toasted the rest of the people in the room.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu was about to toast the crowd, Station Head Guo had already picked up his glass, but upon hearing the latter part of the statement, his hand holding the glass froze, uncertain whether to drink or not.

    In the end, he clenched his teeth, drank the liquor, and then poured himself another cup before leaving his seat and walking over to Ge Dongxu, "Mr. Ge, about the previous matter..."

    Just at that moment, a knock on the private room door sounded, and Governor Sang Yunlong walked in, accompanied by his secretary Fang Ting.

    Governor Sang Yunlong glanced around, just about to greet Minister Hao and Fang Fei, when his eyes suddenly fell on Ge Dongxu, and he couldn''t help but show a slight look of surprise before striding towards him, smiling, "Dongxu, you''re here too."

    Station Head Guo and the others changed their expressions slightly upon seeing that Governor Sang also knew Ge Dongxu.

    "I suppose I''m also from Jiangnan Province, and since Fang Fei has arrived, I had to come over and share a drink," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "By saying that, I feel even more neglectful for only arriving now," Governor Sang Yunlong responded. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s different for you; I''m rather free, while you''re the governor, busy with a myriad of issues; you can''t just come over whenever you feel like it," Ge Dongxu chuckled.

    "Right, right, I already feel quite apologetic for bothering Governor Sang to come all this way," Fang Fei took over the conversation.

    "That''s being too modest," Governor Sang Yunlong waved his hand, then turned to his secretary Fang Ting, "Fill the cups, now that Dongxu is here, I have to toast him first."

    Once Governor Sang Yunlong said this, the room grew so quiet you could almost hear a pin drop.

    Not to mention Station Head Guo and the others, whose faces suddenly changed, even Minister Hao''s expression altered.

    Who was Governor Sang Yunlong? He was the second in command in Jiangnan! Even Minister Hao, who was of a lower level, didn''t have the privilege of Governor Sang Yunlong taking the initiative to toast him first, let alone full cup!

    And yet now? Governor Sang Yunlong was actively suggesting to fill the cups and toast to Ge Dongxu first, indicating the high status Ge Dongxu held in his heart!

    "Governor Sang is too polite," Ge Dongxu also filled his cup to the brim and responded courteously.

    "It''s nothing," Sang Yunlong said, clinking glasses with Ge Dongxu, then tilted his head back and emptied his in one gulp.

    Ge Dongxu followed suit and downed his glass as well.

    The others, upon seeing that Governor Sang indeed emptied his glass, couldn''t help but change their expressions again.

    For someone of Governor Sang''s position, even if a person of Minister Hao''s level toasted him, he only needed to sip. Moreover, Governor Sang previously avoided drinking much due to health reasons, something both Minister Hao and Director Qiu present were aware of. But today, he had finished his drink without even a frown.

    Station Head Guo watched this scene, his hand holding the glass uncontrollably trembling.

    He now understood he had greatly underestimated Ge Dongxu, as well as the gravity of that incident in the lobby.

    If a leader of Governor Sang''s caliber needed to toast to Ge Dongxu and even finish his drink in one gulp, how could he, merely the head of the provincial television station, afford to reprimand or offend Ge Dongxu so lightly?

    PS: Recommending a book by a friend, "The Grandmaster''s Return," the tale of a true martial artist dominating the city. Readers who enjoy this genre might want to check it out.

 Chapter 550 - 549: I Want You to Answer These Questions for Me

    Governor Sang raised his glass to Ge Dongxu after their toast, and then deliberately offered a separate toast to the visiting Fang Fei. However, this time, he merely sipped, being more casual.

    After all, given his age and status, his health wasn''t suited for consecutive toasts.

    Then, Sang Yunlong raised his glass towards the crowd to signal a toast, including Minister Hao in the gesture without offering a separate one, and, again, he merely sipped. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As the governor, the second in command of Jiangnan Province, Sang Yunlong naturally had his own authority!

    In the private room, except for Ge Dongxu, Fang Fei and the others from the capital, even Minister Hao was considered his subordinate.

    After offering the toast to everyone, the smile on Sang Yunlong''s face slowly faded, his gaze swept over the crowd, paused briefly with a hint of sternness on Station Head Guo''s face, and then finally settled on Ge Dongxu, as he said seriously, "Dongxu, did something happen before I arrived?"

    With Sang Yunlong''s insight, how could he not have noticed the subtle relationship between Ge Dongxu and Station Head Guo as soon as he entered the room? He simply had not wanted to ruin the atmosphere before the toast.

    Now that the toasts were done, it was naturally time to address the matters at hand.

    "Indeed there were," Ge Dongxu nodded and then looked at Station Head Guo, his voice cold, "Station Head Guo, before Governor Sang''s arrival, you wanted to offer me a toast as an apology. That''s fine, as long as you can answer my questions and provide satisfactory responses, we''ll consider this matter closed."

    As soon as Ge Dongxu finished speaking, the private room fell deathly quiet, filled only with the soft rise and fall of breathing. Station Head Guo was sweating profusely, his hand trembling more violently as he held his glass.

    However, Ge Dongxu had now made his terms clear, and at this point, Station Head Guo had no choice but to respond, especially under the watchful eyes of Governor Sang, Minister Hao, Director Fang, and Chief Qiu¡ªhe dared not utter a word of refusal.

    "Speak," Station Head Guo bit back, his voice slightly trembling.

    "Firstly, I ask you, the first season of ''Super Girl'' was extremely successful, and Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi''s outstanding hosting skills were there for all to see. Can you explain why, despite the opposition of the program director, you insisted on replacing Liu Manman with Xiao Shanshan?" asked Ge Dongxu.

    "This, this... I feel that Xiao Shanshan is more suitable. Moreover, Liu Manman has been active on the front lines of entertainment programming for years; sometimes it''s good to step back and give newcomers a chance," Station Head Guo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and replied.

    In such a situation, even if everyone knew what was really going on, he had to stick to his answer.

    "Very well! You are the station head, you have the power to disregard the program director''s opinion and also the authority to make personnel arrangements. Now I''ll ask you the second question: under Wu Longcai''s disagreement, you sent back his budget funds, providing an amount almost equal to the first season. How do you justify that? You, as the station head, should know that the sponsorship fee for the second season was double that of the first, reaching twenty million, and other advertising at least doubled as well. With these figures, did you ever consider the interests of the sponsors? Did you consider that if Qinghe Herbal Tea hadn''t had the foresight and courage to invest ten million in the show when there wasn''t a single sign it would be a hit, would ''Super Girl'' exist today? Now, just in its second season, you''re ready to burn bridges, completely disregarding the interests of Qinghe Herbal Tea. Tell me, is this the way you conduct yourself?" Ge Dongxu did not dwell on the first issue but continued to interrogate.

    "I''ve overlooked this in my considerations, I added more later on," Station Head Guo replied.

    "If Wu Longcai doesn''t agree to bring Xiao Shanshan in as a replacement, will you step in?" Ge Dongxu asked with a cold smile, "However, I''ve already inquired about this issue before. Now for my third question, Wu Shiyi had a prior engagement with me, so she didn''t attend the banquet welcoming Fang Fei tonight. On what grounds did you, because of this matter, kick out Wu Longcai along with Wu Shiyi from the entertainment channel? Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you are the station head? Is this how you treat those who have contributed?"

    "No way, the ''Super Girl Voice'' was created single-handedly by Director Wu, and both Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman hosted it brilliantly. Talents like them should be handsomely rewarded by the station, right? How come they have all been removed instead? This is too much!" Fang Wanyue also only learned at this moment that it wasn''t just Liu Manman who was replaced from ''Super Girl Voice,'' but Wu Shiyi and Wu Longcai had also been taken off the show. She couldn''t help but exclaim in disbelief.

    "Comrade Guo Wenxue, what exactly is going on? Just now, Director Fang even praised ''Super Girl Voice'' for being well-organized and expressed his hope that our Jiangnan channel will continue to lead the country in entertainment shows. Yet you just removed the three of them, including Wu Longcai? You must give the bureau an explanation!" Director Qiu asked with a sullen face.

    He was the direct superior of the provincial station; with the situation escalating to this point, he must make a stand.

    However, Director Qiu''s statement seemed to be rebuking Station Head Guo, but in reality, he was still protecting him, giving him a chance to buffer and handle the matter.

    Guo Xuewen was a smart man. He could no longer care about saving face and immediately said upon hearing this, "This matter was due to my losing control over my emotions, acting impulsively. I will definitely give..."

    "About this matter, I believe the Propaganda Department and the Broadcasting and Television Bureau need to come up with a handling opinion as soon as possible. It''s my personal opinion that Comrade Guo Wenxue is no longer suitable to continue in his position as station head." Before Guo Xuewen could finish his sentence, Governor Sang had already interrupted with a stern face.

    With Governor Sang making this statement, not to mention the change in Station Head Guo''s complexion, even Minister Hao and Director Qiu were unable to hide their inner shock.

    Because Governor Sang''s words could not be any clearer¡ªhe intended to remove Guo Xuewen from his position!

    When the governor of the province made such a statement, even if it wasn''t set in stone, it at least set the tone for the situation. Unless Minister Hao and Director Qiu decided to openly defy Governor Sang, Station Head Guo''s position was essentially untenable.

    For Station Head Guo, whether it was Director Wu or Wu Shiyi, they were both merely subordinates to him. Likewise, for Governor Sang, Station Head Guo was nothing more than a "Director Wu."

    Of course, Governor Sang was a principled person in his actions. Had Station Head Guo performed well, he would have been willing to mediate and wouldn''t have made the statement he just did. However, after the exchange of words just now, how could Governor Sang¡ªwith his insight¡ªfail to see what was amiss?

    Not to mention Ge Dongxu''s extraordinary identity, even if he was just an ordinary individual, should Governor Sang become aware of this matter, he would not have tolerated it!

    Yet, when the other officials like Director Qiu heard Governor Sang''s decision, they would not simply consider the matter at face value. Instead, their gazes towards Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but reveal a touch of awe and respect.

    They believed that Governor Sang''s decision was primarily due to Ge Dongxu''s involvement.

    The thought that Station Head Guo had to step down because of Ge Dongxu caused them to look at Ge Dongxu with even more reverence.

 Chapter 551 - 550: Then Ill Make You Admire

    "Governor Sang, I admit I was a bit reckless in personnel arrangements, but that was also related to the arrogant attitudes of Wu Longcai and others, which made me lose control of my emotions and make such an angry decision. However, if you remove me from my position because of this, I''m not convinced," Station Head Guo said, his face having turned pale for a long time, his eyes revealing a struggle before finally showing a trace of determination as he gritted his teeth and spoke.

    Station Head Guo was not willing, not willing to lose great power just like that! So, no matter what, he was prepared to resist to the bitter end, making a last desperate struggle.

    After all, things couldn''t get any worse than this!

    As Station Head Guo''s words fell, the private room became quiet once again.

    Governor Sang''s face looked somewhat unsightly, his gaze sternly watching Station Head Guo.

    Minister Hao, Director Qiu, Vice Director Qian, Wu Longcai, and others all had their hearts in their throats. They all knew very well that Station Head Guo was defiantly banking on ruin, pressing Governor Sang into a corner!

    Fang Fei, who knew Ge Dongxu''s identity and power the best, looked at Station Head Guo with a pitiful gaze.

    In Fang Fei''s view, the best outcome for Station Head Guo now would be to step down while retaining his level, moving to a secondary position, and getting an easy job.

    Because of Ge Dongxu''s character, generally speaking, he was kind-hearted and soft-handed, quite persuasive, and not one to relentlessly pursue matters.

    But Station Head Guo clearly didn''t know how formidable Ge Dongxu was. He was unwilling to step down in such a manner, insisting on resisting forcefully, even pressing Governor Sang''s palace, so once Ge Dongxu truly lost his temper, even Fang Fei dared not imagine what fate awaited Station Head Guo.

    "Fine, you''re not convinced, are you? Then I''ll make you convinced!" Indeed, it wasn''t Governor Sang who spoke, but Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu speak, Fang Fei''s eyelids twitched, and so did Governor Sang. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Even though Fang Fei had only heard of Ge Dongxu''s formidable power and had only seen his recovery in Elder Feng''s body afterward and had only really witnessed his "Six Meridians Divine Sword," Governor Sang had personally experienced Ge Dongxu''s miraculous power to bring people back from the brink of death.

    Such a person, once he said this, how could it be a joke?

    "Yes, I''m not convinced! I don''t know what identity you hold, but if it''s because I offended you, and dealt with your friend, and you remove me from my position because of that, I''m not convinced!" Station Head Guo said through gritted teeth, veins bulging on his forehead.

    He was going all out!

    Of course, he really wasn''t willing! He was a real power holder as a provincial station head, while Ge Dongxu was merely a young man!

    The atmosphere in the private room became even more tense and oppressive.

    Minister Hao and Director Qiu wanted to speak up, seeing Governor Sang silent, but finally, they just shut their mouths, though they silently shook their heads inside.

    They all understood very clearly that even if Station Head Guo managed to endure this time and escaped this catastrophe, his career would end here, with no chance of further promotion.

    "Fine, I''ll make you utterly convinced!" Ge Dongxu said sternly, then turned to Minister Hao and others, asking, "Which one of you here is in charge of discipline inspection?"

    Minister Hao and Director Qiu looked at each other, both seeing confusion in the other''s eyes, but still, they nodded towards a similarly confused member of the party committee and deputy director in charge of discipline inspection.

    "Mr. Ge, that would be me," the deputy director came forward and replied.

    "Good," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Mr. Ge, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to investigate me? I think you don''t have the right!" Station Head Guo looked at Ge Dongxu, his face dark with anger.

    "I don''t have the right. I just want to continue asking you a few questions, I wonder if Station Head Guo dares to answer me? As long as your answers have no issues, I can help you request Governor Sang to withdraw his previous decision," Ge Dongxu said calmly.

    "Why wouldn''t I dare, I, Guo Xuewen, have done nothing wrong and have nothing to hide!" Station Head Guo said with a deep voice, a sneer of disdain curling at the corner of his mouth. At this point, he naturally couldn''t back down.

    Of course, he didn''t believe that Ge Dongxu, just a young whippersnapper, could pry anything out of him!

    "Then good, please look at me, Station Head Guo. I''m starting to ask," Ge Dongxu said, his deep dark eyes subtly shifting.

    Station Head Guo naturally didn''t know that he was facing someone nearly as powerful as an Immortal, who could directly face an army. Hearing this, he couldn''t help but sneer and raised his eyes to look at Ge Dongxu.

    As he looked, Station Head Guo''s eyes went wide, as if he had fallen into an abyss, a voice echoed in his mind.

    "Guo Xuewen, what is your relationship with Xiao Shanshan?"

    "We are lovers."

    "Besides Xiao Shanshan, do you have other lovers?"

    "Yes, there are also ¡­"

    The entire private room was deathly still, only the sound of Station Head Guo''s voice echoed, leaving everyone terrified until Ge Dongxu spoke, "Thank you, Station Head Guo!"

    As Ge Dongxu spoke, Station Head Guo suddenly snapped out of it, the whole person shuddering, then looking at Ge Dongxu with a puzzled face.

    But soon, he seemed to remember something, his entire face turned pale instantly, pointing at Ge Dongxu, his lips trembling, "You, what did you just do to me?"

    "Nothing much, I just wanted you to be utterly convinced!" Ge Dongxu said calmly.

    "No, it''s impossible! I wouldn''t be so foolish!" Station Head Guo still couldn''t accept the events he had just recalled, murmuring to himself, his gaze seeking help around the room.

    However, what he saw were the iron faces of Minister Hao and Director Qiu, the pitiful looks of Vice Director Qian and others, as if looking at a dead man, and that deputy director, his hands filled with pages of recorded notes.

 Chapter 552 - 551 This is my ID

    "You, you are a devil! You are a devil!" Station Head Guo finally collapsed onto the ground, pointing at Ge Dongxu with a face filled with terror, shouting hysterically.

    When Minister Hao and the others heard the word "devil," their hearts couldn''t help but throb violently, and their gazes towards Ge Dongxu were filled with indescribable reverence.

    Only Sang Yunlong and Fang Fei managed to remain somewhat calm, as they knew already that Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person.

    "Dongxu, you''ve really given me a tough problem," Sang Yunlong said with a bitter smile as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    The confession Station Head Guo had just made implicated not one or two people, and to really investigate all of it would inevitably cause an earthquake.

    "I had no choice, you were already kind enough to give him a chance, but he wouldn''t accept it," Ge Dongxu shrugged.

    Hearing this from Ge Dongxu, Station Head Guo truly felt like crying without tears. Damn it, if I had known you were so awesome and twisted, not to mention just removing me from my position, even if you completely dragged me down, I would have accepted it!

    The others shivered involuntarily upon hearing this; they all felt sorry for Station Head Guo. Why provoke such a twisted guy? Wasn''t that just seeking death?

    At the same time, Director Qiu and others secretly resolved never to provoke this twisted individual in the future! Otherwise, if he looked at them and then they spilled everything just like that, wouldn''t that be a terrible death!

    "Regardless, I still have to thank you!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s helpless expression, Sang Yunlong smiled, then said earnestly.

    "You''re being too polite. Actually, I did this for myself and my friends. Otherwise, I wouldn''t bother with this matter," Ge Dongxu said.

    Ge Dongxu''s words once again made Station Head Guo want to cry, while Wu Longcai and the other two were naturally touched, even the emotionally rich Wu Shiyi''s eyes moistened slightly, and Liu Manman, who had experienced many ups and downs in life, although not as overwhelmed as Wu Shiyi, looked at Ge Dongxu with such deep affection and gratitude, as if she wanted to melt him.

    With Ge Dongxu''s financial power now, along with the terrifying abilities he demonstrated tonight, the two popular actresses were merely small figures!

    Yet even for such small figures, any minor change in their positions would concern and involve Ge Dongxu, which seemed ordinary to him, but for those accustomed to the utilitarian reality of the entertainment circle like Wu Longcai and his colleagues, it really was precious beyond measure.

    "I understand," Sang Yunlong nodded. He had not had much contact with Ge Dongxu, but he understood Ge Dongxu''s character.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then turned to Fang Fei with an apologetic look and said, "I''m sorry, Fang Fei, this incident has messed up your welcoming party."

    "You talk as if you''re an outsider! Besides, as a leader of the Central Bureau, I also bear responsibility for this incident, and I should be the one apologizing to you," Fang Fei said.

    Ge Dongxu patted Fang Fei on the shoulder, refrained from more polite words, and instead glanced around at everyone and said, "I see you all still have many matters to handle, so I won''t disturb you further. As for tonight''s events, I ask everyone to keep them undisclosed, to avoid unnecessary trouble. Oh, and here is my identification! I believe I have the authority to ask you to keep this confidential for me!"

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu took out his National Security Department credential.

    Seeing the words "National Security" and the emblem on the cover of the credential, and recalling the terrifying abilities Ge Dongxu had just demonstrated, far more impressive than hypnosis, almost like the Soul-Enchanting Technique from the novels, everyone including Minister Hao felt a chill, their expressions turning grave.

    National Security, from the name alone it''s clear that this involves a department concerning national security. And who would dare to neglect or violate matters related to national security? sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Director Ge''s words, you all should have heard by now. Apart from the issue involving Guo Xuewen, let everything else stay within this room. Once you leave this room, forget about it all," Sang Yunlong said, sternly supplementing after seeing Ge Dongxu pull out his credentials.

    Those who qualified to attend tonight''s welcome banquet, besides Xiao Shanshan and Dong Qiantong, were either leaders'' secretaries or at the very least deputy station head level leaders. Being somewhat experienced individuals, they all skipped a heartbeat upon seeing Ge Dongxu''s National Security Department credentials and hearing Sang Yunlong address him as director, finally understanding why people like Fang Fei and Sang Yunlong had to drink to the last drop when toasting with Ge Dongxu.

    Not to mention his terrifying ability, even his position was probably higher than Fang Fei''s!

    Station Head Guo naturally understood the significance behind the title of director; his own position as station head seemed as insignificant as Wu Longcai''s in comparison, and realizing this made Station Head Guo feel utterly devastated.

    It was truly a trap; had he known the young man before him held a higher rank, would he have dared to be so arrogant? Would he have dared to deceive his friend?

    Poor Station Head Guo still didn''t know that Ge Dongxu was actually the big boss behind Qinghe Herbal Tea!

    "Director Ge, Governor Sang, you can rest assured, we understand the importance," Minister Hao led in responding.

    "Thank you all then, I won''t disturb you any longer," Ge Dongxu replied with a slight smile to everyone, then turned to Fang Wanyue and said, "Why not continue to join us for the meal and chat in the private room?"

    "Is that okay?" Even though Fang Wanyue was a fearless woman, after experiencing that scene, she looked at Ge Dongxu with a timid gaze, lacking her usual mischievous boldness.

    "You speaking like this doesn''t sound at all like the style of the Fang family''s young miss, does it?" Ge Dongxu teased Fang Wanyue, watching her.

    "Who asked you to be so terrifying just now!" Fang Wanyue, seeing Ge Dongxu''s teasing expression, immediately lost her timid and nervous mood, sticking out her little tongue at Ge Dongxu and rolling her eyes.

    "Haha! Did I?" Ge Dongxu laughed, waved at everyone, and specifically greeted Sang Yunlong, Fang Fei, and Minister Hao, then strode toward the exit of the private room.

    Before Ge Dongxu reached the door, Deputy Station Head Qian had already briskly walked to the entrance, opening the door of the private room for him.

    "Thank you," Ge Dongxu smiled at Deputy Station Head Qian and then left the private room with Wu Longcai and the others.

    After Ge Dongxu left the private room.

    The room suddenly grew quiet, everyone looking at each other, seeing the fear and relief in each other''s eyes.

    Especially the several leaders from the Jiangnan Province TV station, who found their backs drenched with cold sweat without knowing when it had happened, feeling incessant relief in their hearts.

    Luckily! Back in the lobby, they had only watched and not openly reprimanded Ge Dongxu; otherwise, they too might have faced trouble tonight!

    It was also fortunate that Ge Dongxu had not let Station Head Guo continue speaking; otherwise, who knows if it would have implicated them!

 Chapter 553 - 552: Then Just Use the Strong One

    "Dongxu, do you know any spells? How did Station Head Guo end up spilling everything just by making eye contact with you?" In a small private room, Fang Wanyue finally couldn''t resist her curiosity and asked. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu smiled but gave no response.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu smiled but did not respond, Fang Wanyue rested her chin on her hand and thought for a bit before suddenly adding, "You''re in university now. If you used this move on a girl, wouldn''t that be..."

    "If you keep spouting nonsense, believe it or not, I''ll give you ''the look,'' too, and make you spill all your embarrassing moments?" Ge Dongxu, seeing that Fang Wanyue was going off-topic, glared at her irritably.

    "Cool, cool, try casting a spell on me, it will definitely be interesting!" Fang Wanyue, far from being scared off, exclaimed excitedly instead, her beautiful eyes blinking eagerly at Ge Dongxu, full of anticipation.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Fang Wanyue''s excited, anticipatory expression and was speechless for a while before finally managing a wry smile and saying, "Alright, you win. I''m scared of you now. You better go back to your dad."

    "Don''t be like that, just give me a quick spell, nothing too private, just something random. I really want to experience it, is it like hypnosis?" Fang Wanyue said as she shook Ge Dongxu''s arm.

    Watching the daughter of the Director, and Elder Feng''s granddaughter, shaking Ge Dongxu''s arm, Wu Longcai and the other two couldn''t help but feel their hearts shake in fear, too.

    No one would believe this if they weren''t seeing it with their own eyes!

    "Enough, let''s sit down and eat!" Ge Dongxu, of course, would not stoop to casting the Bewitching Soul Technique on Fang Wanyue. Seeing her shake his hand non-stop, he finally pulled a stern face and said in a deep voice.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu put on a stern face, Fang Wanyue dared not act spoiled anymore and reluctantly pouted as she sat back down and said, "I just wanted to experience it, if you don''t want to, forget it."

    Seeing Fang Wanyue''s chagrined expression, Ge Dongxu felt a bit guilty, though he didn''t relent, otherwise, if he gave in now, who knows what she might ask for next.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu truly was unwilling, Fang Wanyue naturally did not dare to force him.

    The five of them ate and drank while making idle chat, mainly Fang Wanyue and Wu Longcai and the others talking, while Ge Dongxu listened.

    "By the way, Dongxu, earlier Governor Sang called you ''Director Ge,'' so is your position higher than my dad''s or what?" Mid-conversation, Fang Wanyue suddenly asked curiously.

    "In terms of level, I rank higher than your dad, but it''s just a title, like a consultant, not very hands-on. But you know, just keep that between us, don''t go around telling everyone," Ge Dongxu reluctantly answered Fang Wanyue''s question this time not having the heart to refuse again.

    "Wow!" Even though they had some idea, hearing Ge Dongxu admit it, Wu Longcai and the others couldn''t help but show shocked expressions on their faces.

    The Director is a senior official at the main department level, if Ge Dongxu ranks even higher, then he must be at least on the same level as Minister Hao! And Ge Dongxu is only how old?

    Moreover, beyond the position, Wu Longcai and the others were well aware of companies like Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue Apparel, of which Ge Dongxu was the real big boss.

    "Brother Xu, compared to you, I feel like I''ve been living a dog''s life all these years," Wu Longcai finally couldn''t help but say, full of emotion.

    "Everyone has their own life, it''s not good to compare. Some people have neither money nor power, but they live a very fulfilling, satisfied, and happy life. Some have both money and power, but are unhappy all day, living in constant fear. So, who''s better off? Of course, this is just a metaphor. I''m just saying, there are people who envy you, and those you envy. Don''t compare yourself to others, just look at yourself. If you''re happy, that''s enough," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Ge Dongxu said it best. I''m actually quite content, especially for having had the chance to meet you," Wu Longcai replied earnestly upon hearing this.

    "Yes, indeed! Meeting Dongxu, this lifetime is truly worthwhile," Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman chimed in.

    "Haha, it''s not that exaggerated. Speaking of which, you two are big directors, big stars. Oh, the three roommates in my dorm are fans of both of you. One guy really likes Wu Shiyi, and another really likes Liu Manman. During our late-night talks, they constantly talk about you. They argue over who is sexier and more beautiful. I told them I know you both, but they didn''t believe me. You must absolutely help me show off and scare them one of these days," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Haha!"

    "Pfft!"

    Wu Longcai and the others couldn''t help but burst into laughter upon hearing this.

    "Hehe, no problem at all! One of these days, Dongxu, you should come hug us from both sides and take us to your dorm," Wu Shiyi said, batting her flirtatious eyes at Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes, yes! It would be a sensational scene! Why not go right now? I''ll come along too!" Fang Wanyue said, clapping her hands in encouragement.

    "I would love that!" Liu Manman, too, set aside her usual elegance and poise, throwing Ge Dongxu a seductive look full of allure.

    Ge Dongxu looked at the voluptuous Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman flirting from either side. With Fang Wanyue egging them on, he smiled wryly and quickly raised his hands in surrender, "Please spare me! Jiangnan University is the one pure sanctuary in my life. If I bring you all there, by tomorrow, I''ll instantly become the campus sensation, and everything will be thrown into chaos!"

    "Giggle!" Everyone saw Ge Dongxu''s wry smile and surrender gesture, completely different from his previous imposing demeanor, and couldn''t help but burst out laughing, trembling with mirth, especially Wu Shiyi, whose laughter made Dongxu''s vision blur.

    The dinner, filled with laughter and chatter, wrapped up around nine o''clock.

    After they descended the stairs and left the restaurant, watching Ge Dongxu wave goodbye and disappear into the night, Wu Longcai and the others felt a surreal sensation, thinking about everything that had happened.

    "I really don''t know which girl will be lucky enough to become Dongxu''s partner in the future!" Wu Shiyi said wistfully.

    "Indeed!" Liu Manman sighed along.

    "Hehe, if you both have a spring in your step, then go chase Dongxu. With your looks and figures, you definitely stand a good chance. Besides, don''t they say it''s ''mountains divide men from women, but a veil divides women from men''?" Fang Wanyue teased.

    "You think we don''t want to? But Dongxu is just too upright!" Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman, both bold women, had nothing to hide from friends and responded with a roll of their eyes at Fang Wanyue, expressing their helplessness.

    "Then just be forceful about it!" Fang Wanyue suggested.

    "Are you really the daughter of Director Fang?" Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman responded, their eyes widening, while Wu Longcai had already taken the opportunity to slip away, as these were not conversations meant for him to hear. After all, who could guarantee that, in the future, these three women wouldn''t develop a more intimate relationship with Dongxu?

    "Hehe, it''s not like I''m the one doing it," Fang Wanyue shrugged, her face indifferent.

    "Giggle, Fang Wanyue, you''re truly too wicked," Wu Shiyi and Liu Manman were taken aback, then both burst into laughter.

 Chapter 554 - 553 Dr. He, You Really Are a Good Doctor!

    When Ge Dongxu returned to the dormitory, Li Chenyu and his two friends hadn''t gone to bed yet and were lying on their beds, excitedly discussing Nico.

    "Boss, do you know we got front-row seats today? Sitting there during class was a real treat! It''s a shame you missed out," they said with a look of pity as Ge Dongxu came back.

    "Haha, as long as you guys enjoyed it, that''s fine. I''ll pass on that hustle," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Speaking of which, boss, where did you go tonight? Don''t tell me you went to the library again?" Li Chenyu asked.

    "Nah, I had dinner with your goddess Liu Manman and Wu Shiyi tonight," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Please! Keep dreaming!" Li Chenyu and the others said disdainfully.

    "Haha, don''t believe me? Suit yourself!" Ge Dongxu laughed, then took his toothbrush and towel to the bathroom to wash up.

    ...

    The next day was Thursday and there were no afternoon classes.

    Ge Dongxu cycled to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital as previously arranged.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was about to cycle into the hospital, a Passat came up from behind.

    Ge Dongxu was riding along the edge as usual, but the Passat also insisted on staying to the edge, then honked behind him.

    "Beep!" The abrupt, piercing sound made Ge Dongxu frown slightly and a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes.

    As Ge Dongxu frowned, the Passat caught up from behind and pulled up alongside him.

    "How are you riding your bike? Can''t you stick a bit closer to the side?" The car window came down and Chang Yufeng''s head popped out, looking disdainfully at the bicycle, then scolded Ge Dongxu with a stern face.

    "Think having a car is so great? A blown tire and you''re worse off than a bicycle!" Ge Dongxu glanced at Chang Yufeng, then pedaled away without giving him another thought.

    Chang Yufeng, angered by Ge Dongxu''s mockery, stepped on the gas to catch up, when suddenly there was a gentle pop, and the tire instantly deflated.

    Blown tire!

    "You''ve got to be kidding me! Damn it!" Chang Yufeng couldn''t believe his bad luck, especially after Ge Dongxu''s prediction came true, and, frustrated, got out to kick the completely deflated rear tire several times. After that, Chang Yufeng could only call over a security guard and reluctantly removed the tire, while passing drivers, affected by his car, couldn''t help but glance at him annoyedly, making Chang Yufeng even more irritated.

    Today, Ge Dongxu continued his internship with He Duanrui.

    Ge Dongxu arrived a little early, so he went to room 409.

    "You''re here, Ge Dongxu." Song Yongnan, He Duanrui''s master''s degree student, was already in room 409, and greeted Ge Dongxu when he pushed the door open.

    The students and interns in the office probably had heard some of the unpleasantness between Ge Dongxu, Chang Yufeng, and Xie Jinmo, and when he came in, many of them deliberately distanced themselves a bit.

    After all, Chang Yufeng was the deputy director''s son, and Xie Jinmo had once been Professor Tang Yiyuan''s student. Moreover, both of them were now associate chief physicians and associate professors¡ªthey didn''t want to risk misunderstanding with Chang Yufeng and Xie Jinmo.

    Ge Dongxu, of course, didn''t care and just sat down with Song Yongnan for a quiet chat. Seeing that it was about time, he got up and went together with him to room 405 for the clinic.

    The two cleared the table in the consultation room slightly, and Deputy Chief Physician He Duanrui pushed the door open and came in.

    Seeing that both were present, He Duanrui nodded, then said to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, just like on Monday, you and Xiao Song will listen in. If you don''t understand something, ask."

    "Certainly," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    No sooner had He Duanrui sat down than patients began to come in. Several were only common illnesses. After making his diagnoses, He Duanrui would have Ge Dongxu and Xiao Song make their diagnoses and write prescriptions.

    Song Yongnan, being just a student, would occasionally misdiagnose even these common illnesses, and his prescriptions were mediocre, nothing outstanding.

    On any other day, He Duanrui would not have found this troubling, as Song Yongnan was his student, and he knew his level well. Moreover, Traditional Chinese Medicine is an experiential science, requiring the accumulation of long-term experiences; haste would not speed up the process.

    However, every time Dongxu''s diagnoses were very precise and his prescriptions exceptionally fitting, leaving He Duanrui without criticism. Considering that Dongxu was even younger than Song Yongnan, He Duanrui couldn''t help but feel somewhat dissatisfied with his own student.

    "Xiao Song, you need to work harder. Look at Dongxu, he is younger than you, yet his medical skills are so proficient." Finally, after a patient had left, He Duanrui couldn''t resist speaking earnestly to Song Yongnan.

    "I will do my best, Teacher He," Song Yongnan responded, feeling particularly disheartened and frustrated.

    Seeing Song Yongnan''s expression, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat guilty. After all, he was a divine doctor even more formidable than Tang Yiyuan! Naturally, He Duanrui''s comparing Song Yongnan to him was unfair.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was feeling bad about it, two people knocked on the door and came in.

    One was the elderly woman who had come in Monday with gastritis and abdominal distension, and the other was a woman of similar age.

    "Oh, Dr. He, you are such a good doctor! Not only are you kind-hearted, but your medical skills are even better. After taking the medicine you prescribed for my gastritis and abdominal distension, I''ve felt much more comfortable these past two days. I need you to prescribe me a few more doses to completely cure it," the elderly woman said, excited and grateful as she addressed He Duanrui upon entering.

    "Is it really much better?" He Duanrui glanced at Ge Dongxu, then asked somewhat incredulously.

    "Much better. Not only does my stomach feel better, but I also feel more energetic overall, I''m not as cold anymore, and my constipation has improved. Speaking of constipation, this Ms. Liu is my daughter''s next-door neighbor. She''s been suffering from constipation for many years, and these last few days have been particularly tough. Knowing that you are kind-hearted and highly skilled, I recommended that she come to you," said the elderly woman.

    He Duanrui''s face turned slightly red when he heard this, as the cure wasn''t his work at all¡ªit was all Dongxu''s merit.

    As for Song Yongnan, he was already astonished! He also knew clearly whose prescription had cured the elderly woman''s gastritis and abdominal distension.

    "Ms. Liu, please wait a moment. I''ll examine you first," He Duanrui, ever the experienced Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, quickly recovered his composure and said to the elderly woman with a smile.

    "Thank you, Dr. He," the elderly woman replied and sat down obediently.

    After taking her pulse and examining her tongue coating and finding a significant improvement, He Duanrui was completely reassured. He smiled and said, "Your condition is indeed better than before. I''ll prescribe you five more doses of the previous medicine. However, we''ll prepare the medicine for you. You just need to take it home."

    "Thank you, Dr. He, thank you so much!" the elderly woman expressed her thanks profusely.

    After writing a prescription for the elderly woman based on the previous formula, He Duanrui then turned his attention to Ms. Liu''s condition.

    Ms. Liu was sixty-one years old and had been suffering from chronic constipation for decades; she relied on laxatives for a long time, but the effects were diminishing. Recently, as her fire-heat symptoms became pronounced, she took Longdan Xiegan Pills for a period, which far from aiding bowel movements, only made her feel weaker and fatigue increased; bowel movements were more difficult to pass and brought great discomfort. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After taking Ms. Liu''s pulse, examining her tongue coating, and asking about her symptoms¡ªsuch as irritability with a sense of heat in the heart and palms, redness at the tip and sides of the tongue, and short and dark urination¡ªHe Duanrui believed she was suffering from fire-heat symptoms. But since her constipation had worsened after taking the Longdan Xiegan Pills, he was somewhat puzzled and found himself uncertain.

 Chapter 555 - 554: Appreciation

    He Duanrui, caught in a moment of indecision, glimpsed Ge Dongxu, who looked entirely composed, and couldn''t help but remember how an old woman''s stomach inflammation and bloating had been cured by his prescription. He felt a stir in his heart and said, "Ge, Song, come over and help examine this patient and prescribe something."

    "Sister Liu, these two young doctors are students of Doctor He. They were the ones who prepared my medicine last time, very responsibly," the old woman, having been treated for her chronic illness, held Doctor He in high esteem, which extended to Ge Dongxu and Song Yongnan. Seeing this, she especially helped to explain.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu and Song Yongnan smiled at the old woman and Sister Liu. Song Yongnan then went first to take Sister Liu''s pulse, looked at her tongue, and asked some questions before stepping back to ponder with furrowed brows.

    After Song Yongnan stepped down, Ge Dongxu followed, taking the pulse expertly, inspecting the tongue, and asking questions. In fact, he had already had a good idea of the diagnosis while He Duanrui was examining Sister Liu.

    "Ge, what is your diagnosis?" This time, He Duanrui didn''t immediately write a prescription but waited for Ge Dongxu to finish his diagnosis before asking him directly. As for Song Yongnan, being his student, he knew his foundation; under these circumstances, there was no need to ask him.

    "It should be a case of Yin Yang deficiency," Ge Dongxu replied.

    Upon hearing this, He Duanrui pondered for a moment, then took the patient''s pulse again, looked at her tongue, thoroughly examined her previous medical records, and some prescriptions, his eyes gradually lighting up.

    "Why do you determine the patient has Yin Yang deficiency?" He Duanrui re-examined the patient and then asked Ge Dongxu.

    "Auntie Liu often suffers from a sensation of heat in the heart, which shows a tendency to ''fire up.'' However, having taken laxatives for many years, especially after recently taking ''Longdan Xiegan'' pills, her constipation has worsened. She feels cold, is short of breath and lazy in speech, cannot tolerate labor, is easily fatigued and lethargic, and her sleep is disturbed. It is evident that Auntie Liu''s condition is no longer just ''firing up'' but has deteriorated significantly due to long-term medication, leading to a Yin Yang deficiency," Ge Dongxu replied.

    As He Duanrui''s own medical skills were also competent, having been reminded by Ge Dongxu, he had already subtly confirmed the diagnosis of Yin Yang deficiency during his re-examination. Now, asking Ge Dongxu again served to test Dongxu''s ability to see if his diagnosis was accurate or merely coincidental, and to verify his own thoughts as well.

    Now that Ge Dongxu had spoken, confirming what he had thought during his second diagnosis, He Duanrui nodded repeatedly, his face showing surprise and admiration as he said, "Hmm, not bad, not bad. Since it has been confirmed as Yin Yang deficiency, what prescription do you intend to write?" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Since the diagnosis is Yin Yang deficiency, it''s natural to use a method that evenly supplements Yin and Yang and moistens to relieve constipation. The prescription can include: 30 grams of Angelica, 60 grams of Cistanche, 60 grams of unprocessed Scutellaria, 30 grams of honey-fried licorice¡­" Ge Dongxu replied smoothly and methodically.

    Last time, when Ge Dongxu prescribed medicine for the old woman, his doses, particularly of aconite, were startlingly strong, even causing He Duanrui to be alarmed. Eventually, even with the use of Ge Dongxu''s prescription, the dosage of aconite had to be slightly reduced. Thus, although the old woman''s gastritis and bloating were cured by Ge Dongxu, leaving He Duanrui both surprised and admiring, he also felt somewhat apprehensive, always sensing that Ge Dongxu had a nature of being ''bold and reckless''.

    However, this time He Duanrui had thought that, given Ge Dongxu''s bold nature, he would probably continue to choose ingredients like ginger, cinnamon, and aconite to support Yang. Unexpectedly, Ge Dongxu chose cistanche and raw scutellaria to nourish and lift Yang. Not only that, Ge Dongxu seemed to anticipate He Duanrui''s confusion. After explaining his prescription, he specifically clarified, "Though ingredients like ginger, cinnamon, and aconite can support Yang, they are too harsh and easily harm Yin. Aunt Liu suffers from deficiency in both Yin and Yang, so these should not be used."

    Upon hearing this, even someone with He Duanrui''s medical expertise was greatly shocked. He then realized that Ge Dongxu''s grasp on prescribing medications was precise, adaptable, and far from reliant on just strong doses.

    "Excellent! Excellent!" He Duanrui mulled over Ge Dongxu''s prescription carefully, increasingly finding it both ingenious and stable. He couldn''t help but repeatedly express his admiration, then unchangeably wrote down the prescription as Ge Dongxu had dictated.

    Watching his mentor write down the prescription exactly as Ge Dongxu had instructed, Song Yongnan was once again utterly dumbfounded.

    "Song, you''ll still be the one to prepare the medication, but Aunt Liu''s medicine isn''t that particular. If she prefers to have it brewed here, help her with that too. Ge Dongxu doesn''t need to go this time, he''ll continue to stay here," He Duanrui instructed after prescribing the medication, offering further instructions before addressing Song Yongnan.

    With an admiring and envious glance at Ge Dongxu, Song Yongnan took the two patients and left the clinic.

    After Song Yongnan left, a few more patients came.

    He Duanrui let Ge Dongxu join him in examining all of them, and naturally, Ge Dongxu''s diagnoses were all accurate.

    "Dongxu, to be honest, with your level of medical skill, you won''t learn anything by my side. If it''s just for an internship certificate, that''s fine. You can spend time here, and I''ll certainly give you an excellent review. However, since you''re here, it''s better to learn something than to waste time. How about I talk to Professor Tang, and ask him to take you under his wing starting next week, or maybe arrange for another well-known traditional doctor in the department to mentor you? If you want to work at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, I can also help recommend you." During a quiet moment at 4:30 in the afternoon, when there were few patients, He Duanrui thought for a while and solemnly spoke to Ge Dongxu.

    "Thank you, Director He, you are a good doctor. Since you think so, there''s no need to bother you; I''ll speak to Professor Tang myself. To be truthful, I''m quite familiar with him. I had actually prepared to stay here this time, simply getting accustomed to the environment and considering my options privately before committing. But please, let''s keep this between us for now," Ge Dongxu replied with a sincere expression, not wanting to conceal too much from He Duanrui, thus revealing some information to him.

    "So that''s it. No wonder Professor Tang took special care to make arrangements for an intern like you. I won''t interfere then; you discuss it with Professor Tang. You are so young yet already possess such high proficiency in traditional medicine¡ªI personally hope very much that you can stay with us at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital," He Duanrui said, initially stunned, then quickly smiled understandingly.

    However, all He Duanrui could think of was that Ge Dongxu, being so young with such a high level of expertise in traditional medicine, would have more opportunities to choose where to work than others. As for the rest, even if He Duanrui could think creatively, he would never imagine that Tang Yiyuan was essentially a semi-student of Ge Dongxu''s. Once he stayed, he would become the behind-the-scenes mentor for the entire department of internal medicine!

 Chapter 556 - 555: Do You Remember Teacher Nico?

    "Thank you, Director He. Next week, I''ll ask Professor Tang to arrange another doctor for me, so I can get familiar with each clinic and the doctors," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Okay, you should head back early then. Tomorrow is the National Day, and combined with the weekend, it makes up a three-day holiday," He Duanrui nodded as he spoke.

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu didn''t insist on formalities with He Duanrui and, after agreeing, he left the clinic and went to Tang Yiyuan''s office to inform him about He Duanrui''s arrangement, asking him to rearrange a doctor for him the following Monday.

    After taking care of that, Ge Dongxu left the clinic building, rode his bicycle, and returned to the school.

    "I say, boss, where did you run off to? We searched the entire school and couldn''t find you!" As soon as Ge Dongxu returned to his dormitory, Li Chenyu and the other two expressed their dissatisfaction.

    "I went out for a bit this afternoon¡ªwhy, did you need me for something?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Isn''t that obvious?" the three rolled their eyes.

    "What''s up?" Ge Dongxu asked, curious.

    "Isn''t tomorrow the National Day holiday? Do you have any plans?" Li Chenyu asked.

    "Not at the moment," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "That''s good. Let''s all go to Golden Mountain tomorrow," Li Chenyu suggested.

    "Why the sudden idea to go to Golden Mountain?" Ge Dongxu asked, somewhat surprised.

    "Golden Mountain is a famous mountain in Jiangnan Province, and both Guizhong and I had actually been wanting to visit. After classes ended this morning, we started feeling a bit bored. Thinking about the three-day break coming up for the National Day, we decided to find a place to go, and that''s when we thought of Lu Lei''s hometown, Golden Mountain! Lu Lei said everything including food, accommodation, and entertainment is on him; it''d be rude not to accept his kindness," Li Chenyu explained.

    Although Ge Dongxu initially wanted to spend some time with Liu Jiayao, they were both in Linzhou City now and could meet anytime, so he didn''t mind missing a day or two. Since all his roommates were geared up for Golden Mountain, not going would make him seem antisocial. Upon hearing their enthusiasm, he smiled and said, "Since Lu Lei is so enthusiastic, we definitely should go!"

    ...

    Golden Mountain is located in Golden Mountain County, Jinzhou City, about one hundred thirty kilometers from Linzhou City.

    The mountain is bathed in splendor during the sunrise or sunset, with mists around the waist of the mountain and skyline illuminated by the sunset, creating a dazzling golden radiance, which is why it''s called Golden Mountain, a 4A rated tourist destination in Jiangnan Province.

    Golden Mountain County is famous throughout Jiangnan Province and the rest of the country because of Golden Mountain.

    There is a train from Linzhou City to Golden Mountain County every morning at seven o''clock. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu and his friends arrived at the train station early in the morning.

    Although Lu Lei was as handsome as a woman and not very talkative, he was deeply loyal and enthusiastic, considering Golden Mountain as his territory. He even tried to insist on buying everyone''s train tickets, but Ge Dongxu and the others unanimously opposed this, and each bought their own.

    After purchasing their tickets, the four headed to the waiting hall to check in.

    Just as they entered the waiting hall, Ge Dongxu and his friends spotted Lv Chongliang, whose hair was slick and shiny.

    "Hey, Lv Semi-Immortal! What are you doing here?" Li Chenyu and the others, already familiar with Lv Chongliang, greeted him with surprise and delight upon seeing him there.

    "I''m planning to go to Golden Mountain for some fun, what about you guys? Why are you here too?" Lv Chongliang also looked surprised.

    "What a coincidence, we''re also going to Golden Mountain for fun! Perfect for us to go together," Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "Really? That''s quite the coincidence! Good to have some company on the journey," Lv Chongliang said happily.

    "Speaking of company on the road? I heard you English majors have a lot of girls? How come you''re going to Golden Mountain alone, shouldn''t you bring some beautiful girls along?" Li Chenyu teased.

    "Cut it out, what do you know? Encounters on a journey are the best, how can I have encounters if I bring girls with me?" Lv Chongliang retorted.

    "Cut it out, please! You''re planning on having a beautiful encounter on this trip?" Li Chenyu and others scoffed.

    "Of course, don''t you believe me? Ask Dongxu, last time I was on the same train with him, I almost hooked up with the long-legged campus beauty Xu Yanran," Lv Chongliang boasted.

    "Really?" The three of them expressed disbelief.

    "Didn''t you hear this guy say ''almost''!" Ge Dongxu teased.

    "Cut it!" The three men cast Lv Chongliang a disdainful look.

    "Even if it was ''almost'', didn''t I still almost hook up? And if it were with class beauties, I definitely wouldn''t even have the chance to try," Lv Chongliang declared shamelessly.

    "That''s true, women hate fickle men the most!" Upon hearing this, Li Chenyu and the others thought about it and all nodded profoundly, acting as if they were quite experienced in this matter, which only made Ge Dongxu shake his head.

    Seeing them nod earnestly, Lv Chongliang''s face displayed a teachable expression as he nodded and said, "Exactly, that''s the principle; and this time, I''m not just hoping for a random encounter on the train but am planning to meticulously create a stunningly beautiful, exotic romance."

    Towards the end, Lv Chongliang spoke proudly, but his eyes genuinely showed his longing and anticipation.

    "Dude, cut the mystic talk, would you? ''Meticulously creating,'' ''beautiful romance,'' even ''exotic flair?'' This is Huaxia Country, and though Golden Mountain is a 4A scenic area, it''s just a mountainous region. How many foreigners visit in a year, let alone blonde beauties! You think it''s Jiangnan University?" Li Chenyu and He Guizhong couldn''t help but sneer as Lv Chongliang exaggerated.

    "Only dyed-hair beauties!" Lu Lei briefly commented.

    "Cut it, what do you guys know! I, Lv Semi-Immortal, am a divine strategist, just divine it and this trip to Golden Mountain will definitely have blonde beauties; and hey hey..." Lv Chongliang''s face revealed a lewd and mysterious hue.

    "From what I know, fortune-tellers predict for others not themselves, you wouldn''t be able to predict encounters related to yourself," Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but expose him as soon as he saw Lv Chongliang''s sleazy expression.

    "Damn! You sure know some stuff!" Lv Chongliang glared at Ge Dongxu, then lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "If it weren''t for the fact that you guys are good friends of mine, Lv Chongliang, I wouldn''t tell you the secret."

    "What secret?" Li Chenyu and others were intrigued and urged him to reveal more.

    "Remember Teacher Nico?" Lv Chongliang asked.

    "Nonsense, even if I forget the top ten campus beauties, how could I forget Teacher Nico! Man, her looks, her figure, that¡­ Oh, come on, you better not tell me Teacher Nico is also taking the train soon!" As they spoke, Li Chenyu and He Guizhong''s eyes suddenly lit up, their faces filled with excitement.

    "Cut it, Teacher Nico has her own car!" Lv Chongliang rolled his eyes.

    "Then why bring up Teacher Nico, getting us excited for nothing," Li Chenyu and the others suddenly looked disappointed.

 Chapter 557 - 556 Damn, theres a foreigner too!

    "Hehe, I just said that Nico wouldn''t come by train because she has her own car, not that she wouldn''t drive herself to Golden Mountain." Lv Chongliang, seeing their reactions, wore a smug expression on his face.

    "Damn! Really?"

    "Lv Semi-Immortal, you''re not playing us, are you?"

    "How would you know that?"

    Li Chenyu and the other two immediately became excited again.

    "Don''t forget, Nico is an English teacher at our Foreign Languages College. This news was hard for me to come by. It''s said that today Nico and a few other foreign lady teachers will drive themselves to Golden Mountain for a trip. Think about it, I''m a student at the Foreign Languages College, what if I accidentally run into them there..." Lv Chongliang said proudly.

    "And then you''ll volunteer to be their guide, and next thing you know, you can legitimately hang out with a few foreign lady teachers at Golden Mountain. Damn, that really is a beautiful, romantic, and international encounter! Lv Semi-Immortal, I really admire you this time." Li Chenyu and the others listened with widening eyes, growing more impressed by the minute, and finally couldn''t help but cut in, giving Lv Chongliang a thumbs up.

    "Hehe! Now you know why they say the name Lv Semi-Immortal isn''t for nothing! So, if you have any girls you want to hit on in the future, let me know beforehand, and I''ll come up with a plan for you!" Lv Chongliang, seeing the look of admiration on everyone''s face, couldn''t help but feel a bit floaty.

    "No need for any ''in the future,'' let''s do it together now. Hehe, remember Lu Lei is a native of Golden Mountain!" Li Chenyu said with a flattering smile. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That''s right, I''m very familiar with Golden Mountain. My dad even used to be the village chief at the Gold Sand River village at the foot of Golden Mountain. You could say I grew up there!" Lu Lei, with a charming smile, talked at length, not sparing any words.

    "Alright, since we''re all friends here, let''s go together. But Lu Lei, you''re so handsome, don''t steal my thunder, okay? And He Guizhong, you''re so well-built, I heard foreign ladies love tough guys, so just hang back a bit. Li Chenyu, well, you''re alright, just stay near me for contrast. And Ge Dongxu, you..." Lv Chongliang nodded and then reviewed each one in turn.

    "Me, don''t worry, I''m not interested in foreign teachers, I''ll just hang back and keep quiet," Ge Dongxu said, unable to suppress a chuckle, when Lv Chongliang pointed to him.

    "I forgot, you already have Professor Wu!" Lv Chongliang paused, then nodded enviously.

    "Stop kidding around," Ge Dongxu glared in response.

    "Hehe, okay! Anyway, just stand aside with He Guizhong, who made you both tall and somewhat handsome!" Lv Chongliang said.

    "Eh, why are Sun Wenjun and his group here too? Damn, they even brought foreigners!" The five young university students, while laughing and talking, suddenly saw Sun Wenjun, Zheng Yun, Li Wenxuan, and four foreigners walking in.

    Among the four foreigners, there were one man and one woman with Eastern faces, who appeared to be Koreans based on their manner of speaking. Of the other two foreigners, one was a blonde woman. However, if it weren''t for her blonde hair and white skin, she probably wouldn''t attract much attention walking around in Huaxia Country. The other was a black woman with an explosion of hair.

    Setting aside the aesthetic preferences of Huaxia people regarding skin color, the black woman with her explosive hairstyle still looked prettier than the blonde woman.

    Regardless, at this time, it was quite rare to see foreigners in public places in Huaxia Country, so when Sun Wenjun and the three were seen with the four foreigners in the waiting hall, it immediately caught people''s attention. Most of those who came to take the train could hardly string together a few words in English and had never interacted with foreigners in their lives, so while glancing over and seeing Sun Wenjun and others chatting and laughing with the blonde and the black woman in English mixed with Chinese, admiration and envy inevitably showed on their faces. They thought Sun Wenjun and his group were pretty awesome for being able to befriend foreigners.

    Sun Wenjun and his group clearly felt people''s attention and their admiring glances, with everyone appearing more radiant and standing straighter than usual, occasionally scanning around as if standing out from the crowd, full of charm.

    "Hey, Ge Dongxu, He Guizhong, what are you guys doing here?" In the course of their scanning, Sun Wenjun''s group quickly noticed Ge Dongxu and others and brightened up, immediately heading over with the four foreigners.

    "Let me introduce them. These four are all from our school''s International Education College. They are Park Jung-yong and Kim Jin-sook from Korea, this is Agripa from Romania, and this is Abiba from Nigeria. We all belong to the Taekwondo Association, and Park Jung-yong is also an official of the Taekwondo Association." Sun Wenjun walked over to Ge Dongxu and others, boasting proudly as he introduced them, then he introduced Ge Dongxu''s group to Park Jung-yong and the others.

    "He Guizhong, we meet again. When it comes to real fights, our Taekwondo is superior. Have you considered joining our Taekwondo Association?" Sun Wenjun, having introduced both groups, had Park Jung-yong say arrogantly to He Guizhong.

    He Guizhong had joined the Martial Arts Association from the start and, due to his foundation in martial arts, had quickly secured a position as an officer of the Martial Arts Association.

    At Jiangnan University, the Martial Arts Association, the Taekwondo Association, and the Karate Association had always been competitors and occasionally held matches.

    Recently, there had been a conflict between the Martial Arts Association and the Taekwondo Association, and they decided to settle it with matches. They had seven bouts and the Martial Arts Association lost six, which left its members quite embarrassed; many even quit the Martial Arts Association to learn Taekwondo instead, causing much chagrin and dejection to He Guizhong.

    "Let me tell you, Park Jung-yong, don''t be so proud. If it weren''t for our previous president graduating and leading to a decline in our association''s strength, your Taekwondo Association wouldn''t stand a chance!" He Guizhong said with a displeased expression.

    "Ha, don''t people often say that a true man doesn''t dwell on his past glories? You lost, and that''s that. What''s the point of bringing up old stories?" Park Jung-yong retorted disdainfully.

    His Chinese was quite good.

    "Exactly, He Guizhong, although you studied a few years of Kung Fu, it was mostly flashy with no substance. Give me another year and a half to practice Taekwondo, and you won''t even be a match for me," Sun Wenjun chimed in tauntingly.

    While speaking, Sun Wenjun also purposely glanced at Ge Dongxu with a smug and challenging look.

    Last week, they had lost a basketball game to Ge Dongxu and his group. Although Sun Wenjun had apologized reluctantly at the time, he had been brooding over it. Today, having bumped into them at the train station and being accompanied by a group of foreigners, he naturally took the opportunity to show off and get a little payback.

 Chapter 558 - 558: 557

    "Pssh, fancy moves but no substance? Don''t confuse ignorance for superiority! Martial arts are profound and have a long history. In Huaxia Country, Taekwondo is merely a branch of martial arts." Lv Chongliang, from a Qimen family, might act all goofy and sleazy, but he''s actually quite proud. So when he heard Sun Wenjun and the Koreans belittling Huaxia''s martial arts, he couldn''t help but jump out and scoff.

    "Oh come on, what''s all this about profoundness and ancient origins? What''s the point in talking? You often say, ''If it''s a donkey or a horse, pull it out for a stroll,'' right? If you''re capable, then let''s just compete!" Park Jung-yong said disdainfully.

    Lv Chongliang, coming from a Qimen family, mainly excels in divination and fortune-telling, and tends to be a bit lazy. Over the years, he hasn''t exactly been practicing intensely through harsh winters and summers, but he has continued to practice his internal energy and learned a few sets of fist techniques.

    With his cultivation, he can''t compare to a real combat master, but he can surely handle two or three ordinary men. Park Jung-yong had only practiced Taekwondo for a period and knew a bit of flashy moves, so Lv Chongliang was certainly not afraid of him.

    "Fine, let''s compete when Golden Mountain comes back," Lv Chongliang immediately replied.

    "Alright, just don''t make excuses to avoid the fight then." Park Jung-yong was slightly taken aback, then immediately expressed excitement and disdain, as if he had already secured victory over Lv Chongliang.

    Although Sun Wenjun and the others didn''t exaggerate like Park Jung-yong, they equally revealed their disdain for Lv Chongliang, evidently thinking that Lv couldn''t possibly win.

    "Initially, I thought I''d just give you a little lesson since you''ve come from afar, but with what you just said, it seems I need to teach you a lesson to show you the strength of Huaxia''s martial arts," Lv Chongliang said coldly.

    "With that physique of yours? Haha, better cut down on the bragging," Park Jung-yong said contemptuously as he glanced at Lv Chongliang.

    Apart from his shiny, greasy hair, Lv Chongliang''s appearance and physical stature were quite ordinary, whereas Park Jung-yong was somewhat tall.

    Seeing this, He Guizhong and others couldn''t hide a hint of worry in their eyes.

    Just from the physical aspect, they found it hard to be confident in Lv Chongliang; furthermore, his goofy demeanor didn''t seem like that of a true martial arts master¡ªmore like a master of talking!

    Only Ge Dongxu had a smirk on his face which suggested he was looking forward to the drama.

    After all, Lv Chongliang was the grandson of the revered fortune-teller Lv Xinghai; handling a show-off Korean should be no problem. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In the midst of the conversation, the ticket check began.

    Everyone stopped arguing and queued up for ticket checking.

    Interestingly, the seating of Ge Dongxu and his three companions was right next to where Lv Chongliang was sitting, while Sun Wenjun and his group were far apart.

    "Lv Chongliang, can you really fight? That Park Jung-yong might not be a master from the Taekwondo Association, but he''s somewhat formidable. I''m not sure I could even handle him," He Guizhong asked with some concern after everyone found their seats.

    "Pssh, Taekwondo primarily focuses on leg techniques, so a strong base is essential. Look at the way he walks¡ªlight and breezy. How powerful could he be with just flashy moves? I''m not bragging, but taking on two or three like him would be no issue," Lv Chongliang boasted confidently.

    "No way, you''ve actually trained?" He Guizhong asked, his eyes lighting up instantly.

    "Nonsense, do I look like the kind of fool who would just walk up and get slapped in the face?" Lv Chongliang replied with an annoyed roll of his eyes.

    "That''s true! You even dared to trick Teacher Nico, how could you be a fool!" He Guizhong and the others recalled Lv Chongliang''s various deeds, and their worries significantly subsided.

    "But you know we''re not real martial arts masters. A lot of the time, it''s about who''s stronger or has more brute force. Park Jung-yong is over six feet tall, and he''s also physically fit¡ªcan you really handle it?" However, He Guizhong soon started to worry again as he looked at Lv Chongliang.

    "Pssh, don''t judge by my size¡ªI''m stronger than you for sure," Lv Chongliang said confidently.

    "Oh please!" He Guizhong naturally appeared skeptical.

    "Don''t believe it, huh? How about we compare our hand strength then?" Lv Chongliang said.

    "Let''s do it." He Guizhong immediately responded.

    So, the two put their elbows on the countertop between rows of seats and clasped hands.

    Li Chenyu and Lu Lei instantly focused excitedly on the gripping hands, while Ge Dongxu just shook his head and laughed, knowing without looking that He Guizhong would definitely be the one to lose.

    And just as expected, no sooner had He Guizhong exerted strength than he was overpowered by Lv Chongliang with a slam, his hand pinned down on the countertop.

    "Damn it, that doesn''t count, I wasn''t ready yet!" He Guizhong, taken aback, immediately protested.

    So they started over, but the result was the same.

    "Damn, who would have thought, Lv Chongliang, you with your skinny arms and legs, to have such strength? Now I''m truly reassured." After losing several rounds of arm wrestling to Lv Chongliang, He Guizhong finally admitted defeat, while Li Chenyu and Lu Lei were already dumbstruck, only Ge Dongxu remained smiling silently.

    "Cut it out, did you forget my nickname is Lv Semi-Immortal? Would I dare to use that nickname without some skills? Right, Ge Dongxu?" Lv Chongliang said, looking towards Ge Dongxu with a hint of doubt in his eyes.

    Being good at reading people and predicting fortunes, Lv Chongliang had naturally noticed Ge Dongxu''s reactions.

    "Of course, you being as cunning as you are, how could you agree to a challenge without being sure of yourself?" Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Damn, I may be cunning, but I''m not as cunning as you! Even the school belle fell into your trap without realizing, because of your deceitful facade." Lv Chongliang retorted disdainfully.

    "What school belle, what trap? What''s this all about?" He Guizhong and the others immediately asked curiously.

    "Of course, it''s the long-legged school belle, Xu Yanran. At the start of school, Xu Yanran, Ge Dongxu, and I were sitting together..." Lv Chongliang, somewhat unwillingly, recounted the incident of Xu Yanran sleeping on Ge Dongxu''s shoulder overnight on the train.

    "Damn, beast!"

    "My long-legged school belle!"

    "Boss, I''m convinced!"

    "..."

    "Can you trust what Lv Semi-Immortal says?" Ge Dongxu, seeing everyone eyeing him with envy, couldn''t help but laugh and cry.

    "If it were someone else, I wouldn''t believe it, but since it''s you, I do. Tell us, boss, how did it feel to have the school belle leaning on you?"

    "Did you touch that spot? Was it nice and full?"

    "Did you take the chance to cop a feel while she was asleep?"

    "Nonsense, do you even need to ask? With the school belle snuggling up to you in her sleep, could you resist taking the opportunity to cop a feel?"

    "Does that mean the long-legged school belle of my dreams has been tainted by our boss?"

    "..."

 Chapter 559 - 559: 558

    The train arrived at Golden Mountain County train station at 8:50.

    When they got off, Ge Dongxu and his group ran into Sun Wenjun and others again.

    The group exited the train station and headed straight for the exit.

    Because of the Golden Mountain scenic area, tourism had become a major economic pillar in Golden Mountain County, with shuttle buses to Golden Mountain readily available outside the station.

    "Li Chenyu, how are you going to Golden Mountain?" Sun Wenjun asked knowingly as they exited the ticket checkpoint.

    "Of course, we''re taking the shuttle bus. Lu Lei said there''s one at the station," Li Chenyu responded.

    "Shuttle bus? It''s pretty dirty and messy. I had two cars arranged for me before coming here. There''s still a spot available. Do you want to ride with me?" Sun Wenjun said disdainfully, then boasted with a smug look on his face.

    "Young Master Sun!" As soon as Sun Wenjun finished speaking, a chubby young man around 27 or 28 years old approached respectfully, calling out and sneaking a glance at the four foreigners beside Sun Wenjun.

    Seeing the young, chubby man address him as Young Master Sun, Sun Wenjun''s face lit up with delight, and the way his classmates Zheng Yun and Li Wenxuan looked at him visibly changed, showing a mix of awe and admiration.

    Previously, when Sun Wenjun said his father was the Secretary-General of the Jinzhou City Government, Zheng Yun and the others didn''t feel much. But now they understood just how incredible it was!

    Although the four foreigners didn''t react as exaggeratedly, they were clearly surprised and envious as well.

    Feeling the burning admiration from his classmates, Sun Wenjun looked at Li Chenyu and the others with a proud air and casually asked, "Master Liu, you''re here; where''s the car?"

    "Right there! But we underestimated the need and only arranged for two cars. Today is National Day, and many people and cars already had arrangements, so it might be difficult to organize another car on short notice. How about I talk to the shuttle bus driver, ask him to take fewer passengers, and let your classmates get on first?" Master Liu pointed to the roadway about ten meters away, looking troubled.

    On the roadway more than ten meters away, two Santana 2000s with Golden Mountain County Government plates were parked.

    "Sorry, Ge Dongxu, Lu Lei, He Guizhong, and this English major student, I didn''t expect you all to come to Golden Mountain too. If I had known earlier, I would have asked my dad to speak with the leaders of Golden Mountain County and arrange another car. It''s just too bothersome to arrange on short notice now. I can only take Li Chenyu at most. You''ll have to settle for the shuttle bus. But don''t worry, Master Liu will talk to them, and the shuttle bus driver will certainly prioritize seating for you," Sun Wenjun had actually seen the two cars earlier, he was showing off and followed Master Liu''s pointing finger, looked again and then put on a sorry look, speaking to Ge Dongxu and the others.

    "Sun Wenjun, is this amusing to you?" Lu Lei, who was the host today, felt embarrassed by Sun Wenjun''s actions, and finally couldn''t hold back his glare.

    "Lu Lei, what do you mean by that? We are all classmates, and I mean well, don''t I?" Sun Wenjun said, his face darkening. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yes, Lu Lei. Young Master Sun means well, don''t speak recklessly!" Lu Lei''s father had previously been the director of the Golden Mountain County Government Office, and Master Liu clearly recognized Lu Lei. Seeing the situation, he also frowned and spoke up.

    "Very well, Master Liu!" Lu Lei remembered how deferential Master Liu had been towards him when his father used to be the director of the office at Golden Mountain County government. Now that his father had moved to the Archives Bureau, even a driver dared to give him dirty looks, which made him so angry that his face turned slightly green.

    The relatively na?ve Lu Lei did not realize that the drivers in the county government, who usually drove small cars, were typically personal drivers for the county leaders. Lu Lei''s father had once been one of these leaders, but now he was relegated to the Archives Bureau. Technically, his position hadn''t changed¡ªhe was still at the rank of director. However, he had effectively been exiled to the cold palace, far from the center of power in Golden Mountain County.

    Master Liu, a self-serving man who was close to the leaders, naturally did not show any good face to Lu Lei to curry favor with Sun Wenjun.

    "What good, Lu Lei? Times have changed. You''re a university student now, you should see the situation clearly," Master Liu scoffed, seeing Lu Lei''s displeasure.

    "You..." Lu Lei was extremely infuriated upon seeing this.

    "Forget it!" Ge Dongxu, seeing Lu Lei looking terribly upset, stepped forward, pulled him back a bit, and then, with a stern face, told Sun Wenjun, "Enough, Sun Wenjun. We''re all classmates here. Just ride in your own car. This back and forth really isn''t sensible, and it makes you look crude and childish."

    "Exactly, using a public vehicle for personal needs is already against the rules. You flaunt it and even show off in front of foreign students. Aren''t you ashamed? I certainly am!" Lv Chongliang sneered.

    "Exactly, as if calling a sedan is something to be proud of! I don''t care for it, I won''t ride in it!" Li Chenyu added, echoing the sentiment.

    "You..." Sun Wenjun''s face alternated between green and red from what Ge Dongxu and others had said.

    "What way is this to talk?" Master Liu saw this and his face darkened, as he stepped forward and shouted.

    "What, you want to hit someone? Go ahead! We are students of Jiangnan University, they''re from the same college and major as Sun Wenjun. If you dare to have someone hit us, then wait for Sun Wenjun to be expelled. You might be afraid of Sun Wenjun''s father, but our teachers at Jiangnan University certainly aren''t," Lv Chongliang said disdainfully, glancing at Master Liu who seemed ready to burst.

    Master Liu indeed thought about teaching Lv Chongliang and the others a lesson, but Lv Chongliang was the grandson of the Divination Master Lv Xinghai, hailing from a family of fortune tellers and diviners whose ancestors were seasoned in roaming the martial world. With that comment, Master Liu instantly blushed and hesitated to make a move.

    "Hmph, let''s go!" Sun Wenjun, evidently aware of this too, fluctuated in his expressions for a while before he finally left with a sullen face, taking Zheng Yun and others with him.

    "What''s so great about that! Earning your own money to buy a sedan, now that''s real skill," Lv Chongliang sneered, watching as Sun Wenjun and his group got into the Santana 2000 and drove away.

    "Exactly! But speaking of which, how much does a Santana 2000 cost anyway?" Li Chenyu seconded him and then asked.

    "Depends on the configuration, but generally it''s around 170,000 to 180,000," Lv Chongliang replied.

    "Damn, 170,000 to 180,000!" Li Chenyu and He Guizhong changed their expressions upon hearing that.

    Both of them came from ordinary families, and the total assets of their households were likely nowhere near 170,000 to 180,000.

 Chapter 560 - 559 Theyre Right Ahead

    "Oh right, Lu Lei, isn''t your dad also a bureau chief? What kind of car does he drive?" After a while, Li Chenyu suddenly remembered that Lu Lei''s father also held an official position and asked out of curiosity.

    "My dad? He''s just the chief of the Archives Bureau! The bureau does have a Xiali car, but it''s really beat up, I heard it was handed down from the Land and Resources Bureau. Besides, my dad wouldn''t dispatch a car just for me, he''s very clear about keeping work and private life separate," Lu Lei replied, with a complicated expression on his face that seemed to be a mix of self-mockery, sadness, and even a hint of resentment.

    "I don''t know about other things, but the fact that your dad keeps his public and private life distinct is something I really admire," Ge Dongxu patted Lu Lei''s shoulder and said with a serious expression.

    "Really? A lot of people say my dad is too old-fashioned," Lu Lei''s body jolted as he spoke.

    "Of course it''s true! If you had to choose, would you prefer having such an old-fashioned father or one who does not distinguish between public and private and can get a government car for you with just a phone call?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "The truth?" Lu Lei asked.

    "Nonsense! When did you become such a chatterbox?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "I would definitely like a father who could get a car with just a phone call, but the premise is that the car would have to be his own, so if I really had to choose, I''d only choose my old-fashioned dad," Lu Lei replied with a self-deprecating face, but his expression was clearly devoid of the earlier sadness and resentment.

    "So there''s nothing to sigh about! Sun Wenjun thinks he''s so great, but that''s just what he thinks. In reality, most people look down on him," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Right, I particularly dislike people like Sun Wenjun, it''s not their own ability, relying on their dads counts for nothing. Like me, Lv Semi-Immortal, not to brag, but if I really used my connections in Dongyue Province, a Santana 2000 is nothing! But what''s the point? It''s not my own face I''m showing off," Lv Chongliang nodded and said. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Lv Semi-Immortal, keep it low-key, low-key!" Li Chenyu, seeing Lv Chongliang getting ahead of himself, quickly pulled him aside with a "serious" face.

    "Yeah, you''re right, we really need to keep it low-key! Low-key!" Lv Chongliang was briefly stunned, then hastily nodded with a serious look on his face.

    "Haha!" The crowd watched Lv Chongliang''s earnest expression, were stunned for a moment, and then suddenly burst into laughter, Ge Dongxu included.

    "What''s so funny? I''m being serious," Lv Chongliang said, not pleased with everyone laughing at him.

    "We know, we know, we are serious too," Li Chenyu and the others laughed.

    "Forget it, forget it, you wouldn''t understand the talks of such an important person like me. Wait until the day you guys visit Dongyue Province, you''ll see that this Sun Wenjun is nothing compared to Lv Semi-Immortal, he''s just weak," Lv Chongliang, seeing Li Chenyu and the others laughing nonstop, showed an expression of helpless disdain and shook his head.

    "Haha! You''re the one who said that, Dongyue Province is just next door. Next year when we go to Dongyue Province, you, Lv Semi-Immortal, will take care of all our food, drinks, and fun," Li Chenyu and the others laughed.

    "Of course," Lv Chongliang boasted confidently.

    Apart from Ge Dongxu, no one else believed him, everyone gave Lv Chongliang a look of disdain, infuriating Lv Chongliang into a rant.

    Amidst the jokes and laughter, the five of them boarded the minibus bound for Golden Mountain.

    The county town''s minibuses certainly couldn''t compare with those in the Provincial Capital; not only were they old and worn, but they were also packed with people, emitting all sorts of odors. This scene was somewhat familiar and comforting to Ge Dongxu.

    It was unclear whether Sun Wenjun and the others had deliberately driven around the county town first or if their car had broken down halfway. They were supposed to arrive well before Ge Dongxu and his group, but instead, they got off the bus one after another.

    Because of the previous conflict, when the two groups saw each other again, they couldn''t even be bothered to greet each other. Furthermore, when Ge Dongxu and his group were queuing to buy tickets, Sun Wenjun shot them a disdainful and triumphant glance, then proceeded into the scenic area under the guidance of the staff, looking exceedingly proud of himself.

    Sun Wenjun was also accompanied by foreign classmates. Naturally, when they passed through the entrance of the scenic area, they attracted quite a bit of attention from other tourists. Some even whispered in amazement, "Look, a foreigner!"

    This scene made Sun Wenjun even more smug, his walk becoming somewhat floaty.

    "Psh! What''s so great about that!" Li Chenyu and He Guizhong watched as Sun Wenjun and his group were led straight into the entrance by the scenic area staff without even needing to buy tickets, and that they were accompanied by foreigners, drawing many sidelong glances. They felt both disdain and a tinge of jealousy.

    After buying the tickets, Ge Dongxu''s group of five also forgot about the unpleasantness from before. They entered the mountain gate, chatting and laughing, and ascended the steps.

    The mountain scenery was beautiful, with lush forests and unique rock formations, and streams crisscrossing everywhere. It was Ge Dongxu''s first time visiting Golden Mountain. He appreciated natural scenery as well, so the journey was an eye-opening delight, serene and refreshing, while Li Chenyu and the others were too distracted to enjoy the scenery, constantly looking around.

    "Say, Lv Semi-Immortal, is your information reliable or not?" After looking around for a while without spotting the sexy figure of their blonde teacher, Li Chenyu and the others finally couldn''t help asking.

    "What''s the rush? Golden Mountain is huge, and we all arrived at different times, it''s not like we can just bump into them!" Lv Chongliang replied irritably.

    "That''s true. It looks like we''ll have to split up into groups to expand the search area!" Li Chenyu and the others nodded and said.

    "What did you guys actually come to Golden Mountain for?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but chuckle wryly at their conversation.

    "A chance encounter!" Li Chenyu and the other three replied almost in unison.

    "Damn!" Even Ge Dongxu, a civilized person, couldn''t help but smack his forehead and curse at their response.

    "How about this, Lv Semi-Immortal and He Guizhong, you both have good stamina, so you take the lead and move faster. If Nico and her group entered the mountain before us, you might be able to catch up with them sooner. Lu Lei and I will go slower, and if Nico enters the mountain later than us, we can just wait for them," Li Chenyu decided, ignoring Ge Dongxu''s coarse outburst.

    Just as Lv Chongliang and the others were about to nod in agreement, they suddenly pointed at a pavilion about a hundred meters away, excitedly saying, "No need to split up, they''re right ahead! But it seems like Sun Wenjun and his group are also there, damn, let''s hurry, we can''t let him get there first."

    With that, the three of them started running towards the pavilion.

    Li Chenyu was slightly stunned before he hurriedly followed after them, calling out, "Crap, wait for me!"

    Ge Dongxu watched the four guys run up the mountain like rabbits and couldn''t help but shake his head, amused yet unhurried as he climbed the steps, all the while not forgetting to enjoy the surrounding scenery. As for blonde bombshells or foreign teachers, he wasn''t particularly interested.

 Chapter 561 - 560 Reunion

    "Teacher Nico, you might not recognize us, but we have all attended your open English class and really enjoy it. My name is Sun Wenjun, I grew up in Golden Mountain County, I''m very familiar with this area, and I even brought a guide. It would be my honor to serve as a guide for you and the other three teachers," Sun Wenjun said to the blonde Nico in the pavilion, believing himself to be very suave and proper.

    However, no matter how composed Sun Wenjun tried to appear, the fervor in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.

    Park Jung-yong, Zheng Yun, and the other boys were no exception.

    "Nico, as expected, you are the most popular!" said another blonde, both in figure and appearance slightly less striking than Nico, looking at her with a teasing smile.

    "Having a guide should make the tour more fun," remarked a blonde with particularly long legs, eyeing Sun Wenjun and the others with evident interest.

    Of course, they could tell that these boys respected them as foreign teachers on the surface, but actually harbored different thoughts. However, setting aside the teacher-student relationship, everyone was an adult and the open-minded foreign teachers didn''t really mind.

    Seeing that the four foreign teachers were obviously tempted, Sun Wenjun and his companions could not help but become visibly elated, and were about to seal the deal, when Lv Chongliang and his three companions finally arrived.

    When they reached the pavilion, He Guizhong and the other two were somewhat out of breath, but Lv Chongliang was still breathing fairly steadily. He smoothed his gleaming hair and then, as if he had just noticed Nico and the others, expressed his surprise, "Wow, Teacher Nico, Teacher Eva, Teacher Justina, Teacher Lilia, what a coincidence that you are also touring Golden Mountain!"

    The four foreign teachers, except for Nico, were unknown to Sun Wenjun and his group. Now that Lv Chongliang had smoothly called out all four of the foreign teachers'' names, Sun Wenjun and the other boys couldn''t help but look dismayed, inwardly cursing their luck. Meanwhile, He Guizhong and the other two were visibly delighted, secretly admiring Lv Chongliang''s competency; school had not been in session for long, and yet he had already managed to learn the names of these young and beautiful foreign teachers.

    "So, it''s you, Mr. Wizard from the East!" As expected, upon seeing Lv Chongliang, all four teachers showed knowing smiles.

    Obviously, as students of the Foreign Languages College''s English department, Lv Chongliang''s targets were not only students from his own major but also these youthful and beautiful foreign teachers from various countries.

    "You four teachers really break my heart by saying that, I am a true wizard from the East," Lv Chongliang claimed with a hurt look on his face.

    "Giggle! Save that act for the little girls!" the four teachers laughed heartily upon hearing this, but as she laughed, Nico''s eyes clearly showed a hint of reminiscence.

    It''s been over a year, Eastern Wizard, where are you? Will we ever meet again?

    "Ladies, would you need a guide? My friend here is a bona fide Golden Mountain native!" Lv Chongliang, pretending not to hear the four teachers'' teasing, pulled Lu Lei into the conversation, and introduced him with a smile.

    Nico and her colleagues saw Lu Lei''s absurdly handsome face, their eyes sparkling briefly. Moreover, since Lv Chongliang was also a student from their college and they were acquainted, they were somewhat moved. However, Sun Wenjun had already extended an invitation and Lilia had already responded, so changing their minds now seemed a bit impolite.

    "Ladies, this Mr. Zhang is a professional guide, he knows many of Golden Mountain''s histories and anecdotes, and we really do hope to have the chance to explore Golden Mountain with you four," Sun Wenjun said urgently, seeing that the four teachers were clearly swayed.

    "So many histories and stories!" The teachers were visibly moved upon hearing this. They were working at Jiangnan University not only because the school offered them a handsome salary but also because they were fond of Huaxia Country''s culture and history.

    Seeing this, Lv Chongliang inwardly cursed his bad luck and his mind raced.

    With Sun Wenjun already having the advantage and the trump card of a professional guide, even with Lv Chongliang''s smooth talking, he couldn''t think of a fitting retort on the spot.

    As the four foreign teachers appeared clearly interested, and Lv Chongliang and his companions looked desperate and helpless, Sun Wenjun and the others couldn''t help but show a hint of triumph in their eyes.

    But just then, Nico''s deep blue, exotic, and enchanting eyes suddenly brightened, her face frozen in disbelief as she looked at Ge Dongxu, who was calmly and steadily ascending the steps toward the pavilion.

    "My God! My God!" Without realizing it, Nico''s eyes had become somewhat moist, and then she suddenly, throwing caution to the wind, sprinted towards Ge Dongxu.

    Watching Nico suddenly run towards Ge Dongxu, everyone at the gazebo was taken aback, wondering what Nico was up to.

    And by this time, Ge Dongxu, of course, also saw Nico running towards him and was equally stunned.

    He''d never dreamed that he would encounter Nico here, the blonde who had serendipitously met him on the plane, and who also owed him a debt of gratitude for saving her life!

    While Ge Dongxu was still dumbfounded, Nico had already dashed up to him, and, without a second thought, opened her arms wide, and then, under the watchful eyes of all, embraced Ge Dongxu with enthusiasm.

    Sun Wenjun and the others stood in the gazebo, with a clear, unobstructed view from above, and were completely dumbstruck! S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "My God!"

    "Damn!"

    "Crap!"

    "No mistake, right?"

    "How is that possible?"

    "That''s Teacher Nico!"

    "My goddess!"

    "You beast!"

    "@#£¤£¤%%"

    "Wizard of the East, I thought I''d never..." Nico, holding Ge Dongxu, was unwilling to let go for a long time.

    "Stop, call me Ge, my classmates are still over there," Ge Dongxu said with a depressed face, now of course realizing that this Nico in front of him was the sexy foreign teacher his roommates had raved about to the sky.

    "Your classmates? You''re a student at Jiangnan University?" Nico, obviously a smart foreign lady, immediately caught on.

    "That''s right! So please don''t reveal my true identity," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "So that means I can see you every day from now on," Nico said with a face full of excitement and agitation upon hearing this.

    "No, please try not to come looking for me in the future," Ge Dongxu immediately said, not daring to easily provoke such a fiery temptress.

    "If that''s the case, I might find it quite difficult to keep my mouth shut," Nico responded with a slight start, and then quickly retorted, a hint of slyness shining in her deep blue eyes.

 Chapter 562 - 561: Is He Your Boyfriend?

    "Is this how you repay your benefactor?" Ge Dongxu asked, speechless.

    "Isn''t there a very famous saying in Huaxia Country, ''A drop of water should be reciprocated with a spring''? And I, a humble girl, have nothing to offer but to pledge myself to you!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s speechless expression, Nico whispered into his ear with her rosy lips.

    "Nico, your Chinese has improved a lot," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "Of course, Wizard of the East," Nico continued, still whispering in his ear.

    "You can come to see me later, just not too often. Also, let''s forget about pledging yourself, that''s not really a thing anymore," Ge Dongxu said, knowing she playfully called him the Wizard of the East and hinting at her underlying meaning, he could only respond helplessly.

    "But you''ve seen my body, and even touched it," Nico added, seeing the helpless look on Ge Dongxu''s face and unable to describe her feeling, she couldn''t help but say more.

    "I was performing surgery on you! At that time, I was a doctor," Ge Dongxu replied, his mind involuntarily flashing back to the stunning scene he had seen over a year ago.

    "Nico, can you let go of me now? A lot of people are watching."

    "No problem, but you haven''t told me yet, what should we say if they ask us later?" Nico asked.

    "Just say we met by chance on a ride before," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Do you think with me hugging you like this, they will believe that?" Nico asked, her deep blue eyes clearly twinkling with schadenfreude.

    "Then say you were approached by two drunken lechers trying to take advantage of you, and I stepped in to help," Ge Dongxu thought that might indeed be inappropriate and could only offer a wry smile.

    "We''ll have to go with that then. Actually, I''d rather tell them that you are a real Eastern Wizard; they would definitely be very surprised," Nico said, finally letting go and whispering softly. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I think they would be surprised too, especially seeing you lying bloodied in a hotel bathroom," Ge Dongxu saw that Nico still didn''t forget to "threaten" him, so he playfully "threatened" her back in a less than gentleman-like manner.

    "Thank you!" However, upon hearing his words, Nico did not feel ashamed but trembled slightly, her eyes filled with endless gratitude. She gazed deeply at Ge Dongxu and whispered.

    Although foreign countries do not have the saying "A drop of water should be reciprocated with a spring," it does not mean that foreigners do not understand gratitude!

    That time, Nico and Ge Dongxu had met by chance, but not only had he warned her beforehand, but he also rushed to save her life without hesitation upon receiving her call, and he did not ask for anything in return. The intelligent Nico would surely understand that she had met a true hero, a truly good man!

    "No need to thank me, just don''t come..." Ge Dongxu said with a strained smile.

    "That''s a different matter!" Nico interrupted, her eyes gleaming playfully as she winked at him.

    "Alright then." Ge Dongxu, seeing Nico''s proud and playful demeanor, found it hard to be angry and could only nod helplessly again.

    "Nico! What''s going on here? Is he your boyfriend? But you''ve never told us about having a boyfriend from Huaxia Country," Nico''s three friends immediately surrounded her when she returned to the pavilion and asked with surprised faces.

    "Boss, what''s going on here? How do you know Teacher Nico?" As soon as Ge Dongxu returned to the pavilion, he too was pulled aside by his three roommates and Lv Chongliang for an interrogation.

    With no one paying them any attention, Sun Wenjun and the others felt extremely awkward, their cheeks burning with pain, feeling as though they had been heavily slapped across the face.

    Indeed, he was the son of the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City''s government, and he went to great lengths to invite Nico and her friends to join them in exploring Golden Mountain, but what happened? Before Ge Dongxu even reached the pavilion, Nico had already sprinted into his arms.

    In comparison, Sun Wenjun became a complete loser, and even looking back on his previous experiences, he felt like a clown.

    "Once, when Nico was being harassed by two sleazebags, I stepped in to help, and that''s how we got to know each other," Ge Dongxu explained nonchalantly.

    "Damn, a hero saving the damsel!" Lv Chongliang exclaimed with a face full of envy and resentment.

    "Why don''t these things ever happen to me?" Li Chenyu asked with the same envious and resentful expression.

    "If it were you, with that puny body of yours, it would probably end up with Nico having to rescue you," He Guizhong immediately scoffed disdainfully.

    "Exactly, opportunities are for those who are prepared," Lu Lei said, no longer sparing his words.

    "Don''t look down on me, I''ll start working out when I get back to school," Li Chenyu said, greatly stung by the comment.

    "My God, that means that handsome guy is your hero!" Elsewhere, Eva, Justina, and Lilia, after hearing Nico''s explanation, all said admiringly.

    Women are naturally imbued with a longing for romance, and Western women are no exception.

    A romantic incident like a hero saving a beauty, especially occurring in a foreign land, and where the hero is a somewhat handsome guy, obviously qualifies as a romantic event.

    "Yes, not only is he my hero, but he is also a student at our school, named Ge Dongxu," Nico replied.

    "Really? He''s a student at Jiangnan University? That''s so interesting!" Upon hearing this, Eva and the others immediately brightened up, their faces showing an excited grin, then they waved to Ge Dongxu, saying, "Hey, Ge, come over, come over."

    Seeing the three Western women calling him over, and their eyes, full of exotic interest, examining him, Ge Dongxu felt quite uncomfortable.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu was a big shot, and although somewhat discomposed, he was not intimidated by the situation.

    "Hello, teachers, my name is Ge Dongxu, and it''s a pleasure to meet you." After stepping forward, Ge Dongxu took the initiative to extend his hand toward Eva and her companions.

    He was poised and very gentlemanly.

    "Damn, the boss is really the boss, facing three Western female teachers and still maintaining such calm and gentlemanly composure!" Li Chenyu and the others watched as Ge Dongxu faced the three Western teachers without flinching, even taking the initiative to extend his hand, almost dropping their jaws to the floor.

    Lv Chongliang''s face also showed a surprised look, feeling somewhat inferior. Although he considered himself a ladies'' man and dared to flaunt his little fortune-telling skills in front of these Western teachers, he had never dared to extend his hand to them on equal terms.

    As for Sun Wenjun and others, they naturally watched in both astonishment and envy.

    Eva and the others had been in Huaxia Country for several years now, and the young men or male teachers they met always inevitably exhibited some Eastern-style modesty, or even restrainment, during their first encounters. Not to mention extending a hand, sometimes they would even blush and stumble over their words when speaking. Like the previous performance of Sun Wenjun, which was already quite good, but clearly not bold enough to take the initiative to extend his hand.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu reach out with a smile, they were initially a bit stunned, and then they reacted, each smiling as they shook hands with Ge Dongxu. Lilia, being relatively lively and enthusiastic, even gave Ge Dongxu an intimate greeting, making Lv Chongliang and the others almost bug out their eyes.

 Chapter 563 - 562: Cool and Stylish

    "It''s a rare coincidence to meet like this, let''s do it together." After the final cheek-to-cheek greeting with Lilia, Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Ge Dongxu''s words were very casual, just like chatting among friends, without the deliberate intent that Sun Wenjun and Lv Chongliang had shown before.

    "Sure!" Lilia and the others agreed without hesitation.

    "The four teachers..." Seeing that Nico and the others were originally going to join them for the tour but changed their minds immediately upon Ge Dongxu''s arrival, Sun Wenjun felt extremely frustrated, and he was a bit unwilling to give up.

    "Thank you for the invitation, student, but we have decided to join Ge and the others for a tour of Golden Mountain," Nico interrupted before Sun Wenjun could finish his sentence.

    "Yes, thank you," Lilia and the others chimed in.

    As women who had the courage to seek a livelihood in a foreign land, and who were foreign language teachers at a university no less, Nico and her colleagues were obviously intelligent. They could easily see that Lv Chongliang and his group were not on the same page as Ge Dongxu and his friends, so they did not invite Sun Wenjun and his group to join them.

    "Hehe, you''re welcome, I hope you all have a good time!" Sun Wenjun tried to appear as gentlemanly as possible, forcing a smile that was barely better looking than a cry.

    "I also hope you enjoy yourselves!" said Nico, and then she added with an eager tone, "Let''s get going!"

    So, the original group of five became a party of nine, including four vibrant and sexy blonde beauties in the prime of their youth.

    As they moved along, they caught the eyes of countless people, they didn''t know how cool they looked, and they had no idea how many Huaxia men secretly gave Ge Dongxu and his group the thumbs up.

    "Youth is to be envied! At my age, I don''t even know where to find a girlfriend, and here they are, already starting to woo foreign beauties!"

    Of course, the most impressive of all was Ge Dongxu; Nico, the prettiest among them, was almost always revolving around him. Sometimes, she even pulled him over, looped her arm around his neck, and struck poses for photos.

    Lilia and the others also developed a fondness for him because of Nico, and sometimes when the four took group photos, they would pull Ge Dongxu in. This scene nearly made some tourists'' eyes pop out of their heads.

    "He really brings pride to the men of Huaxia. One man courting four foreign beauties!"

    Besides Ge Dongxu, the next in line for the limelight was Lu Lei. Being the tour guide, he did the commentary along the way and received relatively special treatment from Nico and her friends.

    This caused Lu Lei to deviate from his usually reserved demeanor, almost turning into a chatterbox.

    As for Sun Wenjun, he had initially felt quite prestigious bringing a few foreigners to tour around, but because of the sensation Ge Dongxu and the others had caused, they were naturally overlooked. There were even some locals from Golden Mountain County who, upon passing by, said to each other in dialect, "The foreign beauties he brought are so subpar! The ones from earlier were the real deal, with their faces and figures, absolutely top-notch!"

    Sun Wenjun was from Golden Mountain and naturally understood what they were saying. At the moment, he almost spouted blood in anger, his gaze inadvertently filled with resentment as he watched Ge Dongxu and the others walking away.

    During their hike, Ge Dongxu and the others not only learned the names of the four teachers but also the countries they came from.

    Nico was from the United States and taught English, Eva was from Germany and taught German, Justina was from France, and Lilia was from Russia.

    As for their ages, although it wasn''t appropriate to ask, given that they only taught their mother tongue, there weren''t very high requirements for their qualifications, so all of them were likely under thirty years old. Unlike other professions, if one wanted to teach at Jiangnan University, even the least accomplished lecturer needed a master''s degree, so they were generally over thirty. As for professors, it was common to think that without reaching at least thirty-five or thirty-six years old, one shouldn''t even consider it, unless they were exceptionally talented and received a promotion like Wu Yili.

    The food prices in the scenic area were high, and everyone was worried that eating might delay their schedule, especially since they had come from Linzhou City. It was going to be tight to tour Golden Mountain in one day, so at noon, they just casually had some instant noodles and biscuits.

    "After we descend the mountain and return to the county town, I''ll treat you to our very own authentic Golden Mountain cuisine," Lu Lei said after they had made do with their lunch.

    "That''s great! I love the cuisine of Huaxia Country the most. We planned to hike during the day and eat some local specialties in the county town at night, then have a good night''s sleep. The next day we planned to visit your Immortal Ancient Town before heading back to the school in the afternoon. We were worried about being in an unfamiliar place and not getting to taste authentic Golden Mountain food, but with you as our local guide, there should be no problem," said Lilia, the Russian beauty who spoke Chinese the best, immediately praising the idea.

    "Absolutely no problem!" Lu Lei immediately slapped his chest in assurance.

    After the dinner plans were set, the group of nine continued their tour of Golden Mountain.

    It wasn''t until the sun was about to set that the nine of them descended the mountain. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    On the way down, Lu Lei borrowed Nico''s phone to call his father.

    Of course, Lu Lei had no idea that Ge Dongxu had a mobile phone.

    The conversation Lu Lei had with his father was in the Golden Mountain dialect; not only could Nico and the others not understand it, but even Ge Dongxu and his group could barely make heads or tails of it.

    "What? You''re bringing four foreign teachers with you as well? Didn''t you say yesterday it was just the three classmates from your dorm? So, your mom and I went to the market early in the morning to buy groceries, planning to cook and eat at home tonight. It looks like that won''t be appropriate now," said Lu Ming, inside a room on the third floor of the Golden Mountain County government dormitory building, realizing that his son, who had become increasingly introverted and reticent since second year of junior high, was bringing home four foreign teachers. He felt both proud and happy that his son was truly growing up and mixing with foreign teachers, but also worried about the appropriateness and expense of dining out at a fancy place.

    Lu Ming, a man of integrity in his official capacity, worked at the Archives Bureau, an institution known for its modest salaries. His monthly earnings were mostly a fixed salary. Although not poor, after all a civil servant and head of a bureau, he was not rich either since he relied solely on his salary.

    For someone like Lu Ming, who was not quite as well-off as some but still better off than many, living a modest life was quite comfortable. However, this year his son Lu Lei went to university in the provincial capital, which significantly increased the family''s expenses. Moreover, a significant amount of money was spent last year on surgery for an elderly family member. As a result, the life of Director Lu was not as comfortable as people might imagine; in fact, it was somewhat strained.

    With the economic development of the country, prices were also rising. Inviting eight people, including his family of three, a total of eleven, to dine at an upscale restaurant in the county town would cost at least three to five hundred yuan. If the foreign teachers ordered any imported wine or such, the expense could climb even higher.

 Chapter 564 - 563: You are the Son of Lu Townships Chief

    "That''s definitely not suitable! Moreover, all the teachers are foreigners, and they want to try our Golden Mountain County''s special cuisine." Lu Lei immediately said.

    "Alright, after you come down the mountain, head straight to Golden Embroidery Restaurant. I''ll book a private room right now. Tonight, let them rest at Golden Mountain Hotel next to Golden Embroidery Restaurant," Lu Ming said, gritting his teeth. He certainly didn''t want to lose face in front of his son.

    "Thanks, Dad!" Lu Lei hesitated for a moment before saying.

    "You silly boy! What are you thanking your dad for!" Lu Ming''s nose felt sour upon hearing this, and he took a deep breath before speaking.

    It was just a simple sentence, but Lu Ming could truly feel that his son had grown up.

    Lu Lei let out a "Hmm!" and then hung up the phone.

    "My dad said that tonight we will go to the Golden Embroidery Restaurant, the most distinctive and arguably the best restaurant in Golden Mountain County. As for accommodation, we''ll stay at the Golden Mountain Hotel nearby," Lu Lei said beamingly after hanging up his father''s call.

    At Lu Lei''s age, it was the time when saving face was most important.

    Ever since they left the train station, Sun Wenjun had been overshadowing him, which had always bothered Lu Lei, who considered himself the landlord. Now that his father had "got his back," Lu Lei finally felt like he had reclaimed some face.

    "Isn''t that too extravagant? Just find a place with some character for dinner; for the accommodation, it''s fine to arrange for the teachers like Nico to stay at the Golden Mountain Hotel. We can squeeze in at your place for the night!" Li Chenyu and He Guizhong, who were not born into wealthy families, immediately spoke up upon hearing about restaurants and hotels.

    "How can that be okay? Since you''ve come to Golden Mountain County, you must eat well and stay in a decent place, especially since the teachers like Nico are with us," Lu Lei insisted with wide eyes.

    "Actually, in our country, we usually go Dutch. But if we really did that, I think your father would be upset. So we won''t stand on ceremony with your father over the meal, but we should definitely pay for our own accommodation," said Nico and her colleagues as they exchanged glances with each other before speaking up.

    "How can that be? It''s not often that the four teachers come to our..." Lu Lei immediately objected.

    "Come on, Lu Lei, it''s already troublesome enough that we''re visiting Golden Mountain. Besides, even though Nico and the others are teachers, we''ve all become friends after traveling together. There''s no need for such formalities. Let''s do as Nico suggested; it''s nice that way. The four of us won''t need to cram into your house, we can just get our own room in the hotel too. When we split the cost, it shouldn''t be too much," Ge Dongxu said, patting Lu Lei''s shoulder with a smile as he saw him objecting.

    From the start of the semester till now, whether it was the one-on-one meeting with Wu Yili or the basketball game, and now with Teacher Nico, Lu Lei and the others had already sincerely come to view Ge Dongxu as their leader.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu had spoken, Lu Lei had no choice but to say, "It''s arranged by my dad. We''ll see what he says when the time comes; what I say doesn''t matter."

    While talking, the group had reached the foot of the mountain.

    At the foot of the mountain, shuttle buses were available for travel between the city and the countryside. There were also some Wuling minitrucks conducting business, which could carry both people and goods, and were inexpensive to buy.

    Some quick-witted people with a little capital at home bought these trucks, carrying goods when necessary and passengers when not.

    "Teacher Nico and the others came here in their own cars. It''s not suitable for us to take a shuttle bus; let''s charter a minitruck instead. This way, we can have Teacher Nico and her colleagues follow us," suggested Lv Chongliang.

    "I was thinking the same thing," Lu Lei nodded, then proceeded to look for a suitable vehicle to negotiate the price.

    No sooner had Lu Lei finished speaking than several minitruck drivers surrounded them, asking, "Do you need to charter a ride to Golden Mountain County town?"

    "How much?" Lu Lei inquired.

    The drivers glanced at each other, preparing to give their rates, when suddenly another driver walked over and said to Lu Lei, "You, you are the son of Lu the village chief, Lu Lei!"

    "You, you''re Uncle Liu!" Lu Lei also recognized the driver and couldn''t help but express his surprise.

    "Haha, it is you! I haven''t seen you for six or seven years. You''ve turned into a young man; I almost didn''t dare to recognize you," the man known as Uncle Liu said with a big smile.

    "Hehe!" Lu Lei scratched his head, a bit embarrassed.

    "Are you going to the county town by car?" Uncle Liu asked.

    "Yes," Lu Lei nodded in response.

    "Then, take my truck," Uncle Liu said with a laugh.

    "Sure, but how much do you charge?" Lu Lei nodded and then habitually asked.

    "Charge what charge! If it hadn''t been for your dad helping me back in the day, I, Liu Qinghui, would probably still be drowning in debt right now, with no chance of driving this minitruck! Your dad is a good village chief... it''s a pity, I heard that now... anyway, let''s not talk about that. Come on, all your friends can take my truck to town," Liu Qinghui first glared at Lu Lei, then spoke with a face full of emotion.

    "Thanks, Uncle Liu. Alright, I''ll go talk to Teacher Nico and the others," Lu Lei said.

    "Teacher Nico? You''re saying those foreign ladies are with you?" Uncle Liu instantly became nervous.

    "Yeah, they are all our university teachers," Lu Lei replied.

    "You educated folks are impressive, able to bring foreigners out to have fun. When we meet foreigners, we don''t even know what to say," Liu Qinghui said with admiration.

    "We''re not that amazing. It''s mainly because people like Uncle Liu haven''t had much interaction with foreigners, so they seem mysterious. Actually, Teacher Nico and the others can speak some Chinese," said Lu Lei, modest on the surface but inevitably somewhat proud inside.

    "Really? They can even speak Chinese!" Liu Qinghui was very surprised.

    Lu Lei nodded and then said, "Uncle Liu, we''re heading to Golden Embroidery Restaurant. Teacher Nico and the others drove here by themselves. Later, I''ll have them follow your truck."

    "Sure, no problem," Liu Qinghui replied.

    "Boss, Teacher Nico''s car can fit one more person. You know her well, so you can ride with her. We''ll go with Uncle Liu," Lu Lei said to Ge Dongxu after finalizing with Uncle Liu.

    "You go with Nico and the others. You''re familiar with the place here. In case they get lost, they won''t be totally clueless," Ge Dongxu said.

    Lu Lei was about to insist when Ge Dongxu patted his shoulder and said, "Alright, no need to be so polite about this kind of thing."

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 Chapter 565 - 564: Good Village Chief

    Under the setting sun, a Wuling minitruck drove leisurely toward the town of Golden Mountain County, followed by a white Jetta sedan.

    "Uncle Liu, you mentioned earlier that Lu Lei''s father helped you. What was that about? Since we''re not doing anything else, tell us about it," asked Ge Dongxu from the passenger seat.

    "Speaking of Lu Lei''s father, he really was a good official. He used to be the village head of our Golden Sand River Village. I had contracted a fruit orchard in the village, but due to lack of expertise and management, the entire orchard experienced pests and diseases. Since I had invested a considerable sum initially, I was counting on harvesting the fruits to recoup some of the costs. As a result, I ended up losing all my initial investment. Not to mention, I didn''t have the money to continue investing in the orchard and had also accumulated some debt. After village head Lu learned about my situation, he specifically called over people from the agricultural station to help, and he also helped me secure a loan from the rural credit cooperatives. Thanks to village head Lu''s assistance, the orchard was very fruitful the following year. These past few years, the income from the orchard has been quite good. I even bought this truck in the past two years to facilitate transporting goods and sometimes take on some passengers when I''m free," Liu Qinghui explained.

    "Lu Lei''s father really does seem like a good official who genuinely cares about the common people," remarked Ge Dongxu.

    "Of course, he later got transferred to the county government to serve as the office director, which I heard is better than being a village head in our mountain regions. I was really happy for him. But it wasn''t long before he was transferred to head the Archives Bureau. Even though I''m just a farmer, I know that''s a rather uneventful office. Sigh, I really don''t know what the county leaders were thinking," Liu Qinghui sighed.

    "Do you know why Lu Lei''s father was suddenly transferred to head the Archives Bureau while he was doing well?" Lv Chongliang, who was listening from behind, grew curious and, feeling sorry for Lu Lei''s father, couldn''t help asking.

    "I''m not sure about the details. I only heard it from people at the agricultural station. Apparently, the county governor Lin and the secretary had a serious fallout, and Governor Lin was transferred out. Shortly after, village head Lu was moved to the Archives Bureau," Liu Qinghui replied.

    "That explains it, then. The office director of the county government is like the head housekeeper of the county office, closest to the governor. If the governor was transferred out, it''s normal for Lu Lei''s father to be transferred to the Archives Bureau," Lv Chongliang said, understanding now.

    Clearly, Lv Chongliang had some understanding of the workings of the officialdom.

    "Yes, yes, that''s what the people from the agricultural station also told me privately. You educated folks really are impressive; you know all this. I didn''t understand any of it at the time," Liu Qinghui said admiringly.

    "Though it''s said to be normal, it''s also not normal. If Lu Lei''s father didn''t do anything wrong, why should he suffer merely because the governor was transferred out?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Dongxu, your thinking is still too naive. Some things are not as simple as you imagine," Lv Chongliang said.

    Ge Dongxu naturally knew this, but he didn''t respond, merely nodding his head with a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

    ...

    Golden Embroidery Restaurant, a century-old establishment in Golden Mountain County.

    Although it had been modernized with a number of new facilities in recent years, it still exuded an antiquated charm from inside to out.

    Because Golden Mountain County is a small place, there usually aren''t many people dining at the Golden Embroidery Restaurant, but today, during the October 1st National Day holiday, the restaurant seemed quite crowded.

    When Ge Dongxu and his group arrived at the restaurant, Lu Ming and his wife were already waiting at the entrance.

    Seeing their son getting out of the Jetta sedan accompanied by four blonde women, their eyes couldn''t help but sparkle with a mix of shock and pride.

    "Village head Lu!" Just as Lu Ming and his wife were feeling shocked and proud of their son, Liu Qinghui walked up to them, exclaiming with a look of joy.

    "You, you are Liu Qinghui from Liu Family Village." Lu Ming was startled for a moment before he recognized Liu Qinghui and hurriedly extended his hand to shake hands with him.

    "That''s right, it''s me, Chief Lu." Liu Qinghui, holding Lu Ming''s hand, said excitedly.

    "Hehe, I''m no longer the chief now." Lu Ming''s mouth revealed a bitter smile.

    Years ago, he had been transferred from being the head of a township to the office director at the county government. Although it was a lateral transfer, it was considered a promotion. Later, he was transferred again to the head of the Archives Bureau. Although it was another lateral transfer, it was actually less significant than being the chief of Golden Sand River Township. At least in Golden Sand River Township, he governed thousands of villagers and could fulfill his ambitions, but at the Archives Bureau, managing just over a dozen people, it was essentially like taking an early retirement.

    And he, Lu Ming, was only in his early forties this year.

    "In my heart, you will always be Chief Lu!" Liu Qinghui said fervently.

    "Thank you, thank you for still remembering me!" Lu Ming, upon hearing this, couldn''t help but feel moved and patted the back of Liu Qinghui''s hand.

    "Uncle Lu, Auntie, hello!" As Liu Qinghui and Lu Ming released their hands, Ge Dongxu and the others came forward and bowed slightly.

    "You all must be Lu Lei''s classmates, hello, hello, welcome to Golden Mountain County." Lu Ming and his wife, Cai Xiaofen, greeted Ge Dongxu and the others with smiles on their faces.

    "Dad, Mom." Just after Lu Ming and his wife had greeted Ge Dongxu and the others, Lu Lei also came up with Nico and three others who had gotten off the bus behind them.

    Lu Ming, after all a leader, though surprised by their youth and beauty, wasn''t as shy as Liu Qinghui to look at them directly, but instead first nodded slightly to his son and then with a smile, said to Nico and the others in heavily accented English, "WelcometoJinshan!"

    Lu Lei''s mom seemed a bit constrained and followed with, "Welcome! Welcome!"

    Lu Lei''s mom''s pronunciation was even less accurate, after all, at their age, even if they had learned some English before, they had essentially given it all back to the teacher.

    "Mom and Dad, you don''t need to show off your English in front of Miss Nico and her friends. They all speak Chinese, and their Chinese is far better than your English." Lu Lei, seeing his parents speaking in full Golden Mountain County accent, couldn''t help but feel his cheeks heat up and hurriedly said.

    "Really?" Lu Ming and his wife both blushed slightly.

    "Mrs. Lu, Mr. Lu, good evening, thank you for your hospitality, sorry for the trouble," Nico and her group said with a smile, bowing slightly.

    "Wow, your Chinese is really very good!" Cai Xiaofen exclaimed in surprise, suddenly feeling much closer to Nico and her group, no longer feeling so constrained.

    "Thank you for the compliment!" Nico and the others said with a smile.

    "I really breathed a huge sigh of relief. Lu Ming had told me that foreign teachers were coming, and both he and his mom were so nervous, not knowing how we would communicate with you. But now that it''s great, your Chinese is so good, there''s absolutely no problem," Lu Ming joked.

    Everyone laughed upon hearing this.

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 Chapter 566 - 565: Didnt you just say there was some?

    Amidst the laughter, Lu Ming invited everyone inside, but Liu Qinghui adamantly refused to go in with the group.

    Helpless, Lu Ming and his wife had no choice but to follow his wishes.

    Just as Lu Ming was leading the group into the restaurant, a somewhat portly middle-aged man hurried over to greet them. As he approached, his gaze landed on the four blonde women following Lu Ming, and he looked momentarily shocked. However, he quickly averted his eyes and apologized to Lu Ming, "Director Lu, I''m terribly sorry, but we no longer have any private rooms available."

    "What do you mean, Boss Lin? Didn''t you just say there was one available?" Lu Ming frowned slightly upon hearing this.

    Boss Lin glanced at Ge Dongxu and others, then pulled Lu Ming aside and said in a hushed, apologetic tone, "I''m really sorry, Director Lu. There''s nothing I can do. The director from the county government office, Mr. Li, just called, and the other rooms are already occupied. You know I''m in a difficult position with these things."

    "Didn''t you tell him that the room had already been reserved?" Lu Ming said, somewhat irritated.

    "I did, but he told me to discuss it with you, and if it really won''t work, he''ll call you himself," Boss Lin said with a wry smile.

    Upon hearing this, Lu Ming grew even more irritated, but thinking of his current situation and not wanting to spoil the mood for his son and the others, nor to make a spectacle in front of their foreign guests, he ultimately swallowed his anger and sighed helplessly, "Alright, just arrange a table for me in the main hall."

    "Thank you, Director Lu. Your meal will be on the house tonight," Boss Lin said with a sigh of relief, his eyes expressing a hint of pity as he looked at Lu Ming.

    In the past, when Lu Ming was the director of the county government office, he''d frequently arranged meals at the Golden Embroidery Restaurant. Back then, while he may not have been exuberantly spirited, no one in Golden Mountain County would have dared to ask him to give up a private room.

    As for Mr. Li mentioned by Boss Lin earlier, he used to work under Lu Ming, and every time he accompanied Lu Ming, he had been extremely solicitous, calling him "Director Lu" with great respect. However, after a few years of significant personnel changes in Golden Mountain County, the former director of the government office had been transferred to the Archives Bureau, and his subordinate had ridden the tides and ended up taking over as the director of the government office.

    "Thank you, Boss Lin. I understand your predicament. There''s no need to waive the charge, just give me a discount," Lu Ming said with a bitter smile.

    "Thank you for your understanding, Director Lu. You''re a good leader. It''s just a pity¡­" Boss Lin lamented upon hearing this.

    "Haha, let''s not talk about that. Please hurry up and arrange something. We can''t keep our guests waiting," Lu Ming replied, his heart filled with bitterness.

    "Alright, how about the corner spot by the window? It''s relatively quiet there," Boss Lin suggested.

    "That will do," Lu Ming nodded in acceptance.

    Afterwards, Lu Ming turned back and apologetically said to Ge Dongxu and the others, "I''m sorry, due to the busy National Day, there are a lot of diners here today, and we couldn''t get a private room. We will have to sit in the main hall."

    "Old Lu, what''s this about? Didn''t you just say they had one?" Cai Xiaofen said, clearly displeased.

    Her son had just started college and brought back foreign teachers to his hometown, so naturally, she didn''t want him to lose face.

    "Yeah, Dad, didn''t you say there was one available just now?" Lu Lei also chimed in.

    Cai Xiaofen and her son posed the question, Lu Ming''s expression became somewhat awkward, and his heart felt even more frustration and bitterness.

    Their son, always introverted, had seldom brought both classmates and teachers home, let alone a foreign teacher. How could Lu Ming not want to give his son a boost of pride? S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But today''s incident was difficult to explain!

    "I think the lobby is better, lively, spacious, and not stuffy, let''s just settle in the lobby," said Ge Dongxu, observing Lu Ming''s awkwardness, quickly interjected, his heart also secretly annoyed.

    The previous conversation between Lu Ming and Boss Lin, although deliberately hushed, was discernible even at that short distance. If He Guizhong and others couldn''t catch it clearly, how could Ge Dongxu not hear it all?

    However, Ge Dongxu could not reveal his identity, nor could he embarrass the host, Lu Ming, today. Even though he was irritated, he did not want to create a scene.

    Yet in his heart, he resolved to find an appropriate opportunity to secretly give Lu Ming a hand.

    "Right, right, I also like the lobby, it''s spacious and well ventilated," agreed Lv Chongliang. Although he hadn''t heard the conversation between Lu Ming and Boss Lin, he was skilled at reading the room. Seeing Ge Dongxu''s recommendation, he immediately chimed in supportively.

    "I enjoy the atmosphere of the lobby too; it''s more characteristic of Huaxia Country," said Nico, always looking up to Ge Dongxu for direction. Seeing this, she also nodded along with a smile.

    To Cai Xiaofen, her inquiry had been a reflex. When she saw Lu Ming''s expression change, she had already suspected she had touched upon a sensitive topic. Lu Lei''s concern was mainly about face. Now that everyone seemed in agreement with Ge Dongxu, they naturally refrained from probing further, allowing Lu Ming to quietly breathe a sigh of relief. He looked at Ge Dongxu with surprised appreciation, thinking that the young man certainly knew how to handle matters.

    Son Wenjun and others walked in as Boss Lin was about to lead them to the arranged place. Accompanying them, alongside the driver Ge Dongxu had seen at the train station, was a middle-aged man around forty years old but already showing signs of balding.

    "Old Lu, you''re dining here too!" The middle-aged man approached Lu Ming, nodding with an air of authority.

    While speaking, the middle-aged man''s gaze deliberately glanced over Nico and the others, his eyes betraying a flash of amazement.

    "Yes, Director Li," Lu Ming responded. His former subordinate had claimed his reserved private room and was acting high and mighty in front of him. Though irritated, he had to bear it, considering how circumstances had changed. The two might still be at the same official rank, but the extent of power they wielded was vastly different, and Lu Ming could only endure.

    "Uncle Lu, do you still recognize me?" said Sun Wenjun, feeling a sense of satisfaction as he saw Director Li overpowering Lu Ming. He glanced at Ge Dongxu and the others with a smug and boastful look before speaking to Lu Ming.

    "Oh, Wenjun, you''ve come to Golden Mountain to visit? How is Secretary-General Sun doing these days?" Lu Ming certainly recognized Sun Wenjun; his father had once been his subordinate. Now one was the Chief of the Golden Mountain County Archives Bureau, while the other was the Jinzhou City Government Secretary-General.

    "My dad''s doing well, just very busy with work. By the way, Uncle Lu, which private room are you in? I''ll come to pay my respects in a bit," Sun Wenjun asked deliberately, a disdainful sneer flashing in his eyes.

    He had come in just in time to hear Lv Chongliang and others express their preference for the lobby.

    "We''ll be eating in the lobby, Wenjun, no need for formalities, please send my regards to your dad!" Lu Ming replied politely, though he felt a twinge of discomfort. After all, Sun Wenjun was the son of the city government''s Secretary-General, and Lu Ming, despite his irritation, could not afford to be disrespectful at this moment.

 Chapter 567 - 566: Tearing Off the Mask

    "Why haven''t you arranged a private room? This lobby is so noisy, and Teacher Nico and her colleagues have come from afar. It''s hardly appropriate to have them sit in the lobby! Why not arrange for Teacher Nico and her colleagues to go to our private room, lest we neglect them?" Sun Wenjun feigned surprise, then pretended to speak kindly.

    "Wenjun, you don''t need to worry about that!" Even Lu Ming, who was usually easy-going, got angry at this and replied with an ugly expression, then ignored him and turned to Ge Dongxu and others, saying, "Let''s go over."

    "Exactly, why fuss about nothing? Teacher Nico and her colleagues have no complaints, so why are you making such a fuss? Are you trying to show off how capable you are, Sun Wenjun?" Lu Lei saw his father''s displeased face and, coupled with Sun Wenjun''s continuous boasting since they had met at the train station, could not help but speak out sarcastically.

    "Lu Lei, what is that attitude? Wenjun is also well-meaning; you should apologize to him right now!" Director Li''s face darkened immediately upon hearing this, and he scolded Lu Lei.

    "Well-meaning? Director Li, do you think we are all fools here? Does his behavior look well-meaning to you? Isn''t it just to show off and prove how great he is? If he is great, let him be great on his own; why involve us?" At that moment, Lu Lei, already angered, saw Director Li scolding him and, far from being intimidated, stiffened his neck and unabashedly exposed the truth.

    "You..." Director Li did not expect Lu Lei to dare stand up to him and stared at him furiously, then turned to Lu Ming with an ugly face and coldly questioned, "Director Lu, is this how you teach your son? Won''t you discipline him?"

    "How I teach my son is none of your business, Li Zhengbei! Besides, don''t you know what the deal is with the private room?" Lu Ming replied coldly.

    Although Lu Ming had been demoted to the head of the Archives Bureau and should be keeping a low profile, he still had his dignity and bottom line!

    "So, Lu Ming, it seems you don''t want to keep your position as the head of the Archives Bureau any longer!" Director Li thought he had Lu Ming under control but was infuriated and embarrassed when Lu Ming publicly challenged him.

    "Since when did you, Director Li, have the authority to manage even the position of the head of the Archives Bureau?" Lu Ming said with a sarcastic expression, not caring anymore since their relationship had already deteriorated.

    "Director Li might not be able to manage it, but my dad can!" Sun Wenjun said proudly.

    "Li Zhengbei, as your former superior, I give you this piece of advice¡ªbe careful with your words and actions when holding an office, especially in your position as office director," Lu Ming said solemnly to Li Zhengbei, completely ignoring Sun Wenjun, then turned to Teacher Nico and others, smiling, "Ladies and gentlemen, my apologies for the scene. Please."

    "Mr. Lu is too polite. We actually also dislike such people!" Nico replied with a smile, her eyes filled with exotic disdain as she briefly glanced at Li Zhengbei and Sun Wenjun.

    Lu Ming''s disregard for Sun Wenjun and his words to Li Zhengbei had already infuriated Li Zhengbei and Sun Wenjun. When the striking foreign teacher added her comment, both Li Zhengbei and Sun Wenjun''s faces flushed alternately with green and red, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

    Zheng Yun and Li Wenxuan also felt uneasy, their cheeks somewhat flushed.

    After all, they were environmental chemistry majors just like Lu Lei, and Sun Wenjun''s actions made them feel that he had gone too far.

    "Nico, you spoke well," Ge Dongxu nodded in agreement, his gaze sweeping over Li Zhengbei and the others with disgust.

    No matter how much Sun Wenjun had caused trouble previously, Ge Dongxu had always overlooked it for the sake of being classmates, but since Lu Ming was Sun Wenjun''s elder and Sun Wenjun had just arrogantly claimed his father could manage things, Ge Dongxu was finally provoked and could not help but echo the sentiment.

    "Very well, Lu Ming, we''ll see about that!" Li Zhengbei said, his face ashen, as he watched Lu Ming walk away with Ge Dongxu and the others, before he and his group headed to the private room.

    "Old Lu, it won''t be a problem, right?" After they sat down in the lobby, Cai Xiaofen asked in a worried whisper.

    "Dad, did I cause you trouble just now?" Seeing his mother''s worried expression, Lu Lei''s heart trembled slightly, and he looked at Lu Ming with a guilty expression.

    "Having you say that, I''m very relieved. As for the trouble, what trouble could there be? I''ve been transferred from the director of the county government office to the Archives Bureau, what more can they do to me? Alright, let''s not talk about this; everyone came to Golden Mountain County to have a good time, so let''s not let this affect our mood," Lu Ming said with a smile.

    Upon hearing this, Cai Xiaofen hesitated, but finally managed a slight smile and said, "Right, right, let''s not worry about that stuff."

    Following that, Lu Ming ordered some local specialty dishes.

    Lu Ming was quite knowledgeable about the culture and history of Golden Mountain County. He could relate an anecdote for every dish that was served, which intrigued Nico and the others, making the meal even more enjoyable.

    The dinner went by with laughter and chit-chat, and soon it was nine o''clock.

    Fearing that Nico and the others might be exhausted from climbing the mountains all day, Lu Ming saw it was time to end the dinner and led everyone to the Golden Mountain Hotel, not far from where they were staying.

    The Golden Mountain Hotel is the best hotel in Golden Mountain County, comparable to Changxi Grand Hotel.

    Lu Ming arranged for everyone''s accommodation. Initially, he told the front desk that he would pay the bill, but Nico and the others firmly refused, so Lu Ming had to go along with their decision.

    "Lu Lei, you should stay here with your classmates and teachers tonight, and if anything happens, call dad immediately," Lu Ming instructed his son, then smiled, wished Nico and the others good night, and left the Golden Mountain Hotel with his wife.

    "Damn, just thinking about Sun Wenjun''s face makes me want to slap him. We''re all classmates; what was that all about!" He Guizhong couldn''t help but curse as soon as he got back to the room.

    "Exactly, and that Li Zhengbei too. Listening to Uncle Lu, he was under him before, and now that he''s climbed up, he acts so high and mighty, the jerk," Li Chenyu joined in the rant.

    "It''s a pity we''re not in Dongyue Province; if we were, I''d definitely find someone to take care of them!" Lv Chongliang added.

    "People like that will never make it big, no point in getting angry with them. Who knows, maybe in a little while Uncle Lu will get promoted, and then they''ll be the ones looking foolish," Ge Dongxu said noncommittally.

    "Promoted? Haha, with the current situation, what chances does my dad have of getting promoted!" Lu Lei said with a bitter smile.

    "Who can say for sure in the world of politics? Just like Sun Wenjun''s father, wasn''t he under your dad before, and now hasn''t he become the Secretary-General of the city government?" Ge Dongxu said. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 568 - 567 Im Looking for Ge Dongxu

    "Dongxu, you don''t understand the officialdom. As the head of the Archives Bureau, far from the center of power, and nearly without any notable achievements, it''s almost impossible for the leaders to notice Uncle Lu. For him to make a comeback, that''s tough!" Lv Chongliang shook his head.

    "It''s tough, but not impossible," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you, boss, I appreciate your kindness. Actually, it''s quite nice for my dad to be like this now. At least he has more time to spend with my mom, not like before when he didn''t even have time to come home for meals," Lu Lei patted Ge Dongxu on the shoulder, gratefully.

    He thought Ge Dongxu was trying to comfort him.

    "It''s good that you can think like that," Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "Damn! It looks like I showed off to the wrong crowd!" Lv Chongliang scratched his head as he looked at Lu Lei and Ge Dongxu.

    "Nonsense!" He Guizhong and Li Chenyu gave Lv Chongliang a disdainful look and then patted Lu Lei on the shoulder, "Don''t mind Lv Semi-Immortal; this guy doesn''t have much up his sleeves, just a bit of a slick talker."

    "Yes, yes, I''m just babbling. Things in officialdom are indeed unpredictable," Lv Semi-Immortal nodded repeatedly.

    "Haha, alright! What''s all this about? It''s not like I''m in trouble. Anyway, my dad is also an official, isn''t he?" Lu Lei laughed.

    "Damn, that''s right, and my dad is still a worker. You guys should be comforting me instead," Li Chenyu suddenly slapped his head upon hearing this.

    "Haha!" As the words fell, the five of them looked at each other and suddenly burst into laughter.

    ...

    "Wenjun, have you heard your dad mention anything about Deputy Governor Ren taking early retirement due to illness?" At the Golden Mountain Hotel, in a hotel room, Director Li handed Sun Wenjun a cigarette, lit it for him, then asked.

    Sun Wenjun took a deep puff of smoke, then blew a smoke ring; he very much enjoyed the feeling of being flattered like this.

    "Uncle Li, are you asking about the candidate my dad has in mind?" Sun Wenjun asked, trying to appear profound, after blowing a smoke ring.

    "Hehe, Wenjun, now that you''re at the university, you''re indeed different from before. As soon as I mention it, you understand everything," Director Li''s eyes lit up slightly, and he complimented with a smile.

    Recently, a Deputy Governor Ren from Golden Mountain County suddenly fell ill and could not work normally, so he took early retirement due to illness.

    With Deputy Governor Ren''s retirement, naturally a position opened up in the county government. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In theory, all division-level officials in Golden Mountain County had a chance for the vacant deputy governor position.

    Of course, that was in theory. For someone like Lu Ming, head of the County Archives Bureau and also a division-level official, it was virtually impossible to be considered for this position.

    But it was different for Director Li. As the head of the county government office, also a division-level official, he worked closely with the governor, was the supervisor of the county office, and held significant power. Therefore, the likelihood of him being promoted to this position was relatively high, which is why Director Li was quite eager for this spot and had been networking these days.

    An important figure in this networking was Sun Wenjun''s father, the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City''s government.

    Because the position of deputy governor was under the jurisdiction of the city, even though Golden Mountain County''s opinion was important, the real decision power lied with the city. Sun Yuncheng, hailing from Golden Mountain County and a close associate of the mayor, would surely be consulted by the mayor of Jinzhou City if he wanted to push his own candidate from the local officials in Golden Mountain County. At that moment, Sun Yuncheng''s opinion would be very important.

    "After going to university, one does slowly start to understand more and more. I don''t know the specifics of this matter yet, but whenever my dad mentions Golden Mountain County at home, he always talks about you," Sun Wenjun said.

    "Haha, that''s good, that''s good. Thanks, Wenjun. I won''t disturb your rest any longer. Let me know if you need anything," Director Li said, feeling very pleased upon hearing this and politely made his exit from the room.

    When Director Li left Sun Wenjun''s room, Nico also stepped out of hers, the ends of her golden hair still carrying a few crystalline droplets of water. Her snow-white skin glowed with a tender pink hue after bathing, and her body exuded the enticing fragrance of a fresh bath.

    She was wearing a Huaxia-style floral blouse paired with denim jeans.

    The floral blouse actually looked quite rustic, and if worn by a girl from Huaxia, it would likely appear provincial; yet on Nico, it took on an alluring charm of exotic temptations, compelling one to take several more glances.

    Having left her room, Nico approached Ge Dongxu''s room door, took a deep breath, and then knocked.

    It was Li Chenyu who answered the door.

    Beholding Nico standing dignified at the door, her high peaks stretching the floral blouse taut, as if ready to burst through the fabric, several water droplets from her hair falling onto the blouse and moistening a small area, making the light fabric cling to her body in an indescribably enchanting and seductive manner, Li Chenyu''s eyes practically popped out of their sockets, almost feeling like he was about to pass out.

    "Ms. Nico, is, is there something you need?" Li Chenyu found his throat very dry.

    "I''m looking for Ge Dongxu, is he here?" Nico flashed a slight smile at Li Chenyu.

    Li Chenyu felt his heart racing, as if about to leap out of his chest.

    "Oh, oh, Ge Dongxu!" As Li Chenyu said this, he scurried back into his room.

    Indeed, as a greenhorn, he had never spoken face-to-face this closely with a beautiful woman fresh from a bath, let alone a blonde beauty like Miss Nico, and he simply did not know how to continue facing her.

    "It''s over! Completely messed up! I just couldn''t speak properly in front of Ms. Nico!" As soon as Li Chenyu returned to his room, he held his head in his hands and moaned in dismay.

    "You really chickened out, huh?" He Guizhong and the others teased.

    "I chickened out? Then why don''t you go? Let''s see if you can still speak in front of Ms. Nico!" Li Chenyu retorted defensively.

    "Fine, let''s go. You lead the way, leader; Ms. Nico called for you!" He Guizhong and the others said, and then pushed Ge Dongxu forward.

    Although Ge Dongxu did not wish to face Nico, with her knocking at the door and a group of classmates pushing him from behind, he had no choice but to steel himself and step out of the bedroom to the door, followed by He Guizhong and the others.

    The moment he stepped out of the bedroom, not only did He Guizhong and the others gawk, but even Ge Dongxu, who was used to seeing beautiful women, had his eyes light up with a stunning impression.

    "Dongxu!" Seeing Ge Dongxu come out, Nico exclaimed with delight.

    "What is it?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "I feel like going out for a walk, would you accompany me?" Nico moved a bit closer and asked Ge Dongxu with her beautiful eyes on him.

    As soon as Nico uttered these words, He Guizhong and the others were so shocked their jaws almost hit the floor.

    "It''s getting late, better to rest early. We can go out for a walk in the morning," Ge Dongxu said, feeling slightly tempted but still declined courteously without hesitation.

    Hearing Ge Dongxu actually refusing Ms. Nico''s invitation, everyone nearly raised their feet to kick him fiercely in the rear.

    Damn it, this is Ms. Nico! This is the Nico who''s driving countless students and faculty at Jiangnan University mad! And this guy just rejected her invitation! This is simply an affront to the heavens and the earth!

 Chapter 569 - 568: How are you here?

    "But I can''t sleep now, so just walk with me," Nico said, her voice filled with a touch of pitiful charm. As she spoke, her beautiful eyes, framed by long lashes, seductively fluttered twice at Ge Dongxu.

    Those two flutters nearly drove He Guizhong and the others mad with envy!

    It''s just not fair! Really, it''s not fair at all!

    However, to Ge Dongxu, those two flutters meant something completely different¡ªthey were nothing less than a blatant "threat."

    "Since that''s the case, alright then," Ge Dongxu said, nodding reluctantly.

    "Great!" Nico exclaimed joyfully, flashing Ge Dongxu a sweet smile. Then she reached for his hand and said, "Let''s go quickly!"

    While speaking, she didn''t forget to wave at Li Chenyu and the others, "Good night, go to sleep early, guys!"

    Damn it! Watching Nico walk away, hand in hand with Ge Dongxu, her sexy hips swaying seductively, and hearing her words as she left, Li Chenyu and the rest felt an indescribable sense of defeat!

    "Today I realized that even though I, Lv Chongliang, consider myself a master at flirting, compared to Ge Dongxu, I''m just no match at all!" After a while, Lv Chongliang sighed deeply.

    "If you think that way, then compared to our boss, I''m just trash!" said Li Chenyu and others as they too sighed deeply.

    ...

    "Nico, you''re a teacher now, and I''m a student. It''s really inappropriate for you to come looking for me like this," Ge Dongxu said to Nico once they were inside the elevator.

    "If you think it''s inappropriate, then I can just quit my job and stop being a teacher!" Nico replied, her beautiful eyes gazing at Ge Dongxu, her face showing a mesmerizing smile.

    "You..." Ge Dongxu looked at Nico, who seemed certain of ensnaring him, feeling a relentless nagging sensation.

    "What about me? Pretty, right?" Nico lifted her chin and blinked her beautiful eyes playfully.

    "Yes, you''re beautiful, but..." Ge Dongxu, faced with her nearly flawless visage and exotic charm, found himself unable to speak the words of denial and could only reply helplessly.

    "Really?" Nico said, suddenly ecstatic, reaching up to hook her arm around Ge Dongxu''s neck.

    The elevator doors slowly opened.

    The people standing at the elevator entrance saw a stunningly sexy blonde with her arms hooked around a young man''s neck, their gazes instantly fixated on them!

    This scene held a shocking visual impact for a small place like Golden Mountain County!

    As the crowd stared at her and Ge Dongxu, Nico didn''t feel the slightest bit embarrassed or awkward. Instead, she simply let go of Ge Dongxu''s neck, took his arm, and confidently exited the elevator.

    "Nico, there are distinctions between men and women, isn''t this a bit inappropriate?" Once outside the hotel, Ge Dongxu said as he looked at his arm tightly embraced by Nico, feeling the "pressure" from her towering breasts, and managed a bitter smile.

    "I know, but I like you!" Nico replied.

    "Nico, liking someone isn''t as simple as just saying it," Ge Dongxu responded solemnly.

    "I know exactly what I''m saying!" Nico replied earnestly.

    "But even with this trip to Golden Mountain County, we''ve only met twice," Ge Dongxu pointed out.

    "Yet, in my dreams, I''ve seen you countless times!" Nico gazed at Ge Dongxu with deep affection and said.

    Ge Dongxu was taken aback by the words.

    "You don''t believe it? Actually, I can hardly believe it myself. Although on the plane, I developed a liking for you, I never thought I would like you, let alone dream about you. But the fact is, ever since I returned from the capital, I have been dreaming about you, time and time again!" Nico said.

    "This must be because I saved you, so you keep dreaming about me. That''s different from liking someone," Ge Dongxu analyzed.

    "No, it''s the same thing. Don''t people from Huaxia Country often talk about cause and effect? You saved me, then I fell in love with you. That''s cause and effect; there''s no contradiction," Nico retorted.

    Ge Dongxu did not expect Nico to speak such philosophical words, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words as he looked at her.

    "But I haven''t fallen in love with you," Ge Dongxu eventually said, hardening his heart.

    "I will make you fall in love with me," Nico replied confidently.

    "But I already have a girlfriend," Ge Dongxu finally played his trump card.

    "What does that matter? You are a true Eastern Wizard, a real strong man. Could a real strong man still be bound by these mundane conventions? I don''t mind that you have a girlfriend," Nico said matter-of-factly.

    Ge Dongxu wanted to say his girlfriend would mind, but in the end, he couldn''t bring himself to be that cruel and heartless. Looking at Nico for a long time, he could only muster a bitter smile, "Anyway, could you let go of my arm first?"

    "Don''t you like it when I hold you like this?" Nico asked.

    "No," Ge Dongxu instinctively replied.

    "Then you must like it!" Nico said, looking at Ge Dongxu, a face full of joy.

    "Fine, have it your way!" Ge Dongxu said, looking at Nico''s joyful face with a sense of helplessness.

    Nico, seeing the helpless look on Ge Dongxu''s face, a gleam of triumphant cunning flashed in her beautiful eyes.

    The daytime in Golden Mountain County was somewhat hot, as if it were still midsummer, but at night, a cool breeze blew, truly giving a feel of autumn.

    Although it was already 9:30 PM, the streets of Golden Mountain County still had many tourists.

    Large red lanterns were hung along the most characteristic riverside antique streets of Golden Mountain County. Under the night sky, they emitted a soft red light, adding a touch of antiquity and romance to Golden Mountain.

    Ge Dongxu, with Nico affectionately holding onto his arm, attracted the envy of many onlookers.

    However, Ge Dongxu felt a tormenting sensation. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was really because Nico''s body was too sensual, especially her full and bouncy chest. Holding and pressing against her intimately as they walked made even Ge Dongxu, with his strong willpower, feel overwhelmed.

    Just as Ge Dongxu felt he could no longer endure it, he suddenly saw Sang Yunlong''s secretary, the deputy director of the Provincial Government Office, Fang Ting, coming towards them.

    "Director Fang!" Ge Dongxu showed a look of surprise.

    "Director Ge! What are you doing here?" Fang Ting also saw Ge Dongxu and approached quickly with a surprised face.

    "You''re asking me? I should be asking you. What are you doing here?" Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "I was born and raised in Golden Mountain County. Since Governor Sang gave me two days off for the National Day, I specially came back to visit my parents. Used to going to bed late, I couldn''t sleep, so I came out for a walk to recollect some old memories," Fang Ting replied.

 Chapter 570 - 569: Do you know this person Lu Ming?

    "So you''re from Golden Mountain County; no wonder then. I''m here in Golden Mountain County because I have a classmate from here, and I came to visit," Ge Dongxu explained, then immediately pointed at Nico with a smile and said, "Oh, right, let me introduce her, this is Nico. Nico, this is Fang Ting."

    Anyone else seeing Ge Dongxu with such a stunning and sexy foreign girl by his side would certainly be shocked, but Fang Ting knew that Ge Dongxu was no ordinary person, so he wasn''t that surprised. Hearing this, he smiled and gently shook hands with Nico.

    After Nico and Fang Ting had greeted each other, Ge Dongxu remembered Lu Ming''s matters and pointed to a nearby night stall, saying, "If you''re not in a hurry, I''d like to invite you to that night stall up ahead to have some late-night snacks and a beer; I have some questions to ask you."

    "If Director Ge is treating, even urgent matters can wait!" Fang Ting replied with a laugh, filled with excitement and happiness.

    Of course, Fang Ting was eager to get on good terms with someone as extraordinary as Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and then the three of them headed to the night stall together.

    Once they reached the night stall, Fang Ting stepped forward first, grabbed some napkins from the table, and quickly wiped down the chairs and table, before inviting Ge Dongxu and Nico to sit down.

    Luckily, the patrons of the night stall were mostly ordinary folks who didn''t recognize Fang Ting. Otherwise, if people knew that the secretary to the Governor was wiping tables and chairs at a night stall with two young people, they would surely be stunned speechless.

    "It''s a small place with limited conditions, Miss Nico, Director Ge can only make do with this," Fang Ting said politely as he saw Ge Dongxu and Nico take their seats.

    "Heh, I was born in a poor mountain area, so considering my past, these conditions are already pretty good," Ge Dongxu laughed, then turned to Nico and continued, "It''s Nico who''s from the United States and might not be used to our small place''s night market culture. But women love beauty and usually don''t eat at night, so it shouldn''t matter, right?"

    "Who says that? When I was in Linzhou, my favorite thing was to visit Gao Yin snack street at night." Nico pouted.

    "Is that so?" Ge Dongxu looked at Nico with some surprise.

    "Of course!" Nico replied proudly.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu smiled and then turned to Fang Ting, saying, "You''re a local; you do the ordering."

    Fang Ting went ahead and ordered a few dishes as accompaniments for drinking, got two bottles of beer, and a Qinghe Herbal Tea for Nico.

    "Director Fang, you''re from Golden Mountain County; you must be quite familiar with the officials there, right?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "I''m fairly familiar with a few of the main leaders, but not the others," Fang Ting replied.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t find this surprising.

    Fang Ting was Secretary to Governor Sang and the deputy director of the Provincial Government Office. He himself was at the rank of deputy department head. Furthermore, being Secretary to Governor Sang, his role was very influential, and often, his words were taken as representing Governor Sang himself. Therefore, with such a deputy department-level official in the local area, even the first or second leaders of Earth Level cities had to be courteous, and even some of the deputy provincial leaders tried to get on good terms with him.

    Because Fang Ting had Governor Sang backing him!

    It goes without saying that in Golden Mountain County, probably no one except for members of the county leadership could qualify to dine with Fang Ting.

    "Do you know who Lu Ming is?" Ge Dongxu inquired.

    "I have some impression of him. Now I remember, he seemed to be the director of the county government office in Golden Mountain County a few years back. Once when I went back to my hometown, some leaders from the county found out I was back and insisted on treating me to a meal, and it was Lu Ming who was bustling about making the arrangements. That was when Governor Sang was still the Party Secretary in Jinzhou City. But I think he didn''t serve very long in that position because the next year when I went back home, I didn''t see him anymore. Director Ge, you suddenly asking about him, could it be that this person has some issues?" Fang Ting pondered for a moment before speaking.

    "Don''t ask any questions just yet, just tell me honestly, is your impression of him good or bad based on your memory?" Ge Dongxu said.

    Unsure of what Ge Dongxu meant, Fang Ting thought for a moment and could only reply truthfully, "From what I remember, he seems like a pretty decent person."

    "He''s the father of my college classmate. I had dinner with him tonight, and he really is a great person. I heard he was reassigned to the Archives Bureau as the director because he was implicated by a county chief with the surname Lin at the time. If it''s convenient, could you do some more thorough inquiry? If there''s no other issue with his reassignment to the Archives Bureau, I think the current arrangement is very unfair to him," Ge Dongxu said.

    "I''m aware that the top two officials in Golden Mountain County had conflicts at that time. From what you''ve said, it''s very likely that Comrade Lu Ming was caught up in it. Rest assured, I''ll get to the bottom of this and won''t let Comrade Lu Ming be wronged," Fang Ting''s expression immediately turned solemn upon hearing this, while inside, he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking, luckily, my impression of Lu Ming is still a good one.

    "Alright, I can''t get involved in this matter directly, so I can only trouble you with this," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "You''re too kind, Director Ge," Fang Ting hurriedly said.

    After discussing Lu Ming''s situation, Ge Dongxu also wanted to mention Director Li and Sun Wenjun''s father, but after thinking it over, he decided against it.

    It''s not one''s place to make decisions beyond their authority! Helping Lu Ming out secretly once in a while was one thing, but saying more would constitute interference, which would be inappropriate.

    So, Ge Dongxu simply drank with Fang Ting and chatted about the local customs and culture of Golden Mountain County.

    Since it was already late, after each having a bottle of beer and some snacks, they settled the bill and left.

    ...

    Fang Ting had come back for the National Day holiday intending only to visit his parents, then quietly return to the Provincial Capital, not wanting to alert the leaders of Golden Mountain County.

    However, because of Ge Dongxu''s words, Fang Ting changed his mind.

    The next day, Fang Ting called the top two officials in Golden Mountain County and invited them out for a casual dinner that evening.

    Not only was Fang Ting a deputy director-level official, but he was also Governor Sang''s secretary, which made his status rather special.

    His call prompted not only the complete leader group of Golden Mountain County to attend that night, but Sun Yuncheng, the office director of the Jinzhou City government, who got the message, also rushed over from the city.

    Sun Yuncheng had climbed from deputy director of the Golden Mountain County government office to the office director of the Jinzhou City government in just a few short years, a testament to his swift rise.

    But the path to official promotion was always like climbing a mountain, the higher you go, the more difficult it gets. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Sun Yuncheng had been smoothly helped along the way from deputy section chief to full section chief earlier in his career. But after reaching the full section chief level, climbing higher became extremely challenging. Without the mentorship of influential figures or truly standout achievements, he would likely be stuck there for life, with no further prospects for promotion.

    As Secretary to Governor Sang, Fang Ting was seen as an influential figure by Sun Yuncheng, especially with the powerful backers behind him, making him someone not to be overlooked. Sun Yuncheng, always adept at networking, didn''t miss any opportunity to curry favor.

    Therefore, taking advantage of his connection as a fellow townsperson from Golden Mountain County, whenever Sun Yuncheng went to the Provincial Capital on business, he would make a point to visit Fang Ting and bring some local specialties. Not only that, but during holidays, Sun Yuncheng would also make special trips back to Golden Mountain County to visit Fang Ting''s parents.

    As they say, everyone has a heart; Sun Yuncheng''s long-term efforts inevitably led to Fang Ting having a favorable impression of him, so it''s no lie to say that Fang Ting had helped speak a few good words for Sun Yuncheng''s relatively rapid promotion over the years.

    This time, Fang Ting hadn''t called Sun Yuncheng, but Li Zhengbei, the head of the county government office, had learned of the news and told Sun Yuncheng, who then made a point to come back.

 Chapter 571 - 570: You Have to Prepare to Treat Guests

    At the dining table, the leaders of Golden Mountain County, as well as Sun Yuncheng who had specially come from the city area, alternately attended to Fang Ting with great zeal, offering toasts and compliments, while secretly trying to guess the intention behind Fang Ting''s sudden invitation to dine loudly with them.

    Since Fang Ting knew his role was special, he had always kept a low profile when returning to his hometown, let alone initiating a call to arrange a dinner, as he mostly declined any social engagements he could.

    But today, Fang Ting behaved out of character, causing the leaders of Golden Mountain County and Sun Yuncheng to inevitably overthink.

    "Economic development is the top priority among all our developmental endeavors in Golden Mountain County. Comrade Ren Yongming, who is in charge of the economics of Golden Mountain, must not let his retirement due to illness affect our county''s economic affairs. Therefore, you should recommend a suitable candidate to the city as early as possible," Fang Ting suddenly said after the third round of drinks.

    The leaders of Golden Mountain County and Sun Yuncheng were slightly shaken by these words and finally understood the purpose of Fang Ting''s dinner invitation today, their hearts immediately racing.

    The Deputy County Mayor in charge of the economy ranks only after the Executive Deputy County Mayor, and in many places, the Deputy County Mayor handling the economy is also a Standing Committee member.

    With such an important position now vacant, the leaders of Golden Mountain County naturally each had their preferred candidates, even the city leaders had their own preferences.

    But now that Fang Ting had suddenly brought it up, they naturally had to consider Fang Ting''s opinion.

    "Director Fang is right; we will definitely recommend a suitable candidate promptly," said the top leader of Golden Mountain County formally.

    "The city leadership is also discussing this matter. Just the other day, Mayor Ye had specifically asked me about it," Sun Yuncheng said, his gaze expectantly on Fang Ting.

    As an official, having supporters below you is necessary for wielding power and authority. Without support, without followers to obey orders, one is merely a figurehead.

    Sun Yuncheng, who was well-versed in this tactic, had not hesitated over the years to promote those close to him within Golden Mountain County, although he had not managed to elevate anyone to the deputy county level until now.

    With a Deputy County Mayor position now vacant in Golden Mountain County, he naturally also wanted to place a supporter, thus securing a substantial backing within the county.

    So, before Fang Ting could throw in his candidate, Sun Yuncheng intentionally left his statement incomplete, to see Fang Ting''s reaction.

    Fang Ting looked meaningfully at Sun Yuncheng and instead of asking how Sun Yuncheng had answered Mayor Ye, he directly said, "I think Comrade Lu Ming from the Archives Bureau is quite good. He previously served as the mayor of Golden Sand River Township, familiar with local government affairs, and later as the director of the county government office, familiar with the operations of the county government."

    Upon Fang Ting''s statement, the room was shocked! Especially Sun Yuncheng, who visibly turned pale.

    Nobody expected, not even Sun Yuncheng, that Fang Ting would recommend Lu Ming, the head of the Archives Bureau, who had long been forgotten by everyone present. Moreover, he specifically mentioned Lu Ming''s past roles as township mayor and director of the county government office. Although the comment seemed ordinary, coming from Fang Ting, it held a completely different significance.

    It indicated that Fang Ting highly valued Lu Ming and was sincerely endorsing him.

    "Comrade Lu Ming indeed has the ability to work, but he is somewhat proud and tends to be autocratic in his decisions," Sun Yuncheng quickly spoke up with clenched teeth.

    Sun Yuncheng had previously served as the deputy director of the county government office, effectively Lu Ming''s subordinate, but later Lu Ming was transferred to lead the Archives Bureau, while he rose up the ranks.

    At heart, Sun Yuncheng was a very opportunistic and scheming person, a quality somewhat evident in his son. So later, despite having once been led by Lu Ming, instead of respecting him, he, just like Li Zhengbei, perceived that Lu Ming had no chance of a political resurgence and reversed his previously respectful attitude, occasionally making things difficult for him. Even later, when Lu Lei, Lu Ming''s son, had a fight with his own son in senior high school, Lu Ming had to apologize personally to him, yet Sun Yuncheng showed him no fraction of respect.

    So Fang Ting could recommend anyone, and Sun Yuncheng would not oppose, but for Lu Ming, he absolutely did not want to see him make a comeback.

    Therefore, even though he knew that speaking out at this moment might upset Fang Ting, he still had to bring it up, at the very least to tarnish Lu Ming''s image in Fang Ting''s mind.

    Fang Ting was a perceptive man; as soon as Sun Yuncheng spoke, he immediately understood that there was a grudge between Sun Yuncheng and Lu Ming, and he felt a sudden chill.

    Lu Ming was someone that Ge Dongxu considered worth promoting; if Sun Yuncheng harbored an animosity towards him, it compelled Fang Ting to reassess his opinion of Sun Yuncheng.

    "Really? I''ve interacted with Comrade Lu Ming, and he always seemed quite stable and approachable to me!" Fang Ting said, casting a somewhat cold glance at Sun Yuncheng.

    "Comrade Lu Ming is indeed excellent. When he was the mayor of Golden Sand River Township, his achievements were remarkable, which is why he was later transferred to lead the county government office. Such a comrade should indeed be promoted," said the top official of Golden Mountain County decisively, seeing that Fang Ting had already shown signs of dissatisfaction with Sun Yuncheng.

    As for the fact that Lu Ming was later transferred to lead the Archives Bureau, that sort of information he naturally would not bring up.

    With the top official of Golden Mountain County also setting the tone, and seeing that Fang Ting''s attitude towards Sun Yuncheng had visibly changed, even if some other leaders had discrepancies with Lu Ming, at this moment, none dared to speak out, all nodding in agreement on Lu Ming''s capabilities.

    ...

    Rumors about Lu Ming being promoted and reused soon spread within a limited circle. Li Zhengbei, as the director of the county government office, naturally also heard this news, and his expression turned very sour immediately.

    Interestingly, Lu Ming himself was completely unaware, and on Monday, as usual, he rode his bicycle to the Archives Bureau for work.

    Upon entering his office and sitting down, it wasn''t long before he received a call from the county government office.

    "Director, you''ll have to prepare to treat!" Lu Ming had just picked up the phone when a slightly excited male voice came through.

    Listening to the familiar voice on the other end, as well as the familiar title, a warmth surged in his heart.

    Although he had left his role as the director of the county government office years ago, and although there were quite a few people like Li Zhengbei who were opportunistically dismissive of him, each person has their own sense of justice, and most of the former county government office staff still maintained a good relationship with him. Even after several years, one or two secretaries from the county government office still habitually referred to him as "Director."

    "Treating is no problem, but how many times have I told you, Zhao Jie, not to call me ''Director''? You should be careful of the implications. It wouldn''t be good for others to overhear," Lu Ming said with a laugh, chiding him.

    "Right, right, I can''t call you ''Director'' anymore. I should address you as County Mayor Lu from now on!" laughed Zhao Jie on the other end of the line. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 572 - 571 Hard to Believe

    ```

    "Zhao Jie, you''re getting more and more absurd in what you say. As a clerical secretary for the county government, you must be careful in your speech and behavior!" Seeing Zhao Jie address him as the county governor, Lu Ming''s face finally turned serious, and he spoke with heavy emphasis.

    "Director, what I''m saying isn''t absurd at all. Several leaders were having a meeting in the conference room just now. Do you know what they were discussing?" Zhao Jie said, laughing as if he hadn''t taken Lu Ming''s words to heart at all.

    "Discussing what? Could it possibly be concerning the Archives Bureau? Alright, you little rascal, giving me a call first thing in the morning, you''re not just doing this to test me, are you?" Lu Ming replied, his eyes revealing a trace of disappointment.

    He used to be the director of the county government office, always either attending leaders'' meetings, listening at the side, or staying busy nearby; he was privy to everything that happened in the county, right away. But now, as the director of the Archives Bureau, he had long become a marginal figure.

    "It''s not about the Archives Bureau; it''s about the director of the Archives Bureau." Zhao Jie said.

    "You little rascal, are you looking for a spanking? Enough, I''m going to hang up. You''re thirty years old and still can''t speak or act with any sense of measure," Lu Ming said as he prepared to hang up the phone.

    "Director, I''m being serious. Just now, when I went in to pour tea for the leaders, I heard them discussing you. They are planning to recommend you as deputy governor," Zhao Jie said hastily, seeing that Lu Ming was about to hang up.

    "That''s impossible! Don''t joke about such things," Lu Ming said, even though he thought Zhao Jie was definitely spouting nonsense, his heart couldn''t help but skip a beat.

    He was a man of ambition, how could he be content with fading away in a ''retirement department'' in his early forties.

    "Director, I, Zhao Jie, may not know my place sometimes, but I wouldn''t dare joke about this, especially not with you!" Zhao Jie said.

    "But it doesn''t make any sense!" Lu Ming said, completely perplexed.

    Of course, he wanted to be deputy governor, but he was very aware that it was nothing but a daydream. The position of deputy governor couldn''t possibly go to him, Lu Ming.

    But the problem was the tone of Zhao Jie''s voice; he was being serious, and Zhao Jie really wouldn''t dare make a joke about such a matter.

    "Director, you still don''t believe me! At first, I thought I had heard wrong too, but they were indeed discussing you. It''s too bad, I left afterwards and didn''t hear anything more specific. However, no matter what, the leaders have included you on the list," Zhao Jie said.

    "Regardless of what exactly is going on, Zhao Jie, I still want to thank you for calling me. If there''s nothing else, I''ll hang up now," Lu Ming said, taking a deep breath.

    After hanging up Zhao Jie''s call, Lu Ming sat in his office, his mood fluctuating wildly, unable to settle down no matter what.

    Concerning the deputy governor position, Lu Ming still didn''t dare to hope for it. There were simply too many people ahead of him in the county. However, since the leaders had begun discussing him, it indicated that he, who had been marginalized, was now re-entering the leaders'' field of vision, and this information alone was great news for Lu Ming who had been quiet for too long.

    Time passed, second by second. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    About half an hour later, Lu Ming''s office phone suddenly began to get busy.

    Many bureau directors, township heads, and town mayors from various units under Golden Mountain County''s government, who hadn''t been in touch for a long time, started calling. They inquired about his wellbeing with evident concern, as if they had always maintained a close and friendly relationship.

    One or two calls were fine, but as they kept coming one after the other, Lu Ming quickly realized something was amiss, and his heart started to beat faster unconsciously.

    He knew that the county leadership must have discussed him at this morning''s meeting.

    ```

    Lu Ming didn''t dare to hope for the position of deputy head of Golden Mountain County; without desires, one is invincible. Now, however, he started to feel anxious about gain and loss, especially after the secretary of Golden Mountain''s top leader called him to visit the office of the County Party Secretary. Lu Ming''s heart was pounding nonstop.

    Finally, he began to look forward to the position of deputy head of the county.

    Walking through the hallway of the county government building, Lu Ming encountered Li Zhengbei.

    When Li Zhengbei saw Lu Ming coming towards him, his expression changed several times. However, recalling what Sun Yuncheng had confided to him the day before¡ªthat Lu Ming might be connected to Governor Sang''s secretary¡ªand considering the candidate decision passed by the standing committee that morning, he ultimately forced out an uglier smile than crying and took the initiative to greet him, "Good morning, Director Lu."

    Under normal circumstances, Lu Ming would feel warmth and cordiality from Li Zhengbei''s initiative to greet him, but today, seeing Li Zhengbei''s smile that was uglier than crying, and remembering everything that happened the previous night, Lu Ming felt deeply ironic and, giving Li Zhengbei a cold glance, he walked past him without a word.

    This scene in the corridor was witnessed by many, Li Zhengbei''s hand left hanging in mid-air as his face turned from red to green. Eager to erupt but conscious of the shifting times, he could only grimly lower his hand.

    Knocking on Secretary Li Haibin''s office door and seeing the Secretary sitting behind his big desk, Lu Ming suddenly felt nervous.

    He knew that today''s conversation would influence the rest of his career.

    "Comrade Lu Ming has arrived, sit down, please!" Secretary Li seemed to have just noticed Lu Ming upon his secretary''s reminder, suddenly looking up then revealing a kind and friendly smile on his face.

    The smile on Secretary Li''s face felt unfamiliar to Lu Ming because, in his memory, the Secretary had always been very serious.

    "Director Lu, please have some tea." The secretary went out of his way to pour a cup of tea for Lu Ming, speaking softly and with great respect.

    The secretary''s attitude made Lu Ming''s heart skip a beat.

    Could it be that I am really the one chosen for deputy head?

    "Comrade Lu Ming, you need to be prepared to take on a heavy responsibility..." While Lu Ming was still harboring mixed feelings of worry and disbelief, the following words from Secretary Li completely stunned him.

    Because Secretary Li explicitly told him that the County Standing Committee had decided to recommend him as the deputy head to the Municipal Party Committee.

    And generally, for a position like deputy head, the city leaders would tend to respect the opinions of the Golden Mountain County leadership.

    That is to say, once Golden Mountain County had made the decision, Lu Ming''s appointment was almost certain.

    After encouraging Lu Ming for a while, the morning conversation essentially concluded.

    Lu Ming appropriately rose to take his leave.

    "Work hard, Comrade Lu Ming, and when you have time, try to contact Director Fang more. He''s a leader who has come out from our Golden Mountain County and is also the secretary of Governor Sang. When we go to the Provincial Government to push for projects and seek provincial aid, running our legs off is not as effective as a few words from Director Fang," Li Haibin stood and shook hands with Lu Ming, saying with deep meaning.

    "Director Fang Ting?" Lu Ming felt his entire head spinning in confusion.

    Naturally, he knew who Fang Ting was¡ªthe secretary to the Governor and the deputy director of the Provincial Government Office, a major figure and high-ranking leader for someone at the departmental level like Lu Ming. But why would someone like Fang Ting, such a high-ranking figure, remember who he was or even speak on his behalf? Yet, according to what Secretary Li Haibin said, it seemed clear that Director Fang Ting had indeed spoken for him.

 Chapter 573 - 572: Could It Be a Mistake?

    "Comrade Lu Ming, you''re still pretending to be confused, huh? Alright, off you go." Li Haibin naturally did not think Lu Ming was unaware of the matter, and seeing his baffled expression, couldn''t help but laugh as he pointed at him.

    Lu Ming smiled awkwardly and then left Secretary Li Haibin''s office.

    At that moment, he obviously wouldn''t be foolish enough to deny it.

    After leaving Li Haibin''s office, along the way, many people politely greeted him, and even a few deputy county heads deliberately pulled him aside to chat in their offices.

    During the conversations, they inevitably made oblique references to his relationship with Director Fang Ting.

    But the problem was that Lu Ming himself did not know what relationship he had with Director Fang Ting. If there was any at all, it was only from several years ago when he had met him once as the director of the county government office and had exchanged a few words.

    But to say that based on that single meeting, Director Fang Ting would speak for him¡ªLu Ming would never believe it.

    Of course, if Lu Ming claimed he had no relationship with Fang Ting, those county leaders wouldn''t believe it either.

    Just like that, Lu Ming left the county government building in a daze and returned to his Archives Bureau office.

    Sitting in the Archives Bureau for quite a while, he felt extremely uncomfortable keeping this matter to himself and yet could not find the right person to talk to, so he finally couldn''t help but call his wife, Cai Xiaofen, at her office.

    Cai Xiaofen was an ordinary staff member at the county''s Landscape Bureau.

    Cai Xiaofen was well aware of her own family''s situation and had the same perplexed feeling after hearing from Lu Ming.

    "Xiaofen, what should I do now? I had already given up on this promotion, but now that Director Fang Ting suddenly emerged, I feel hopeful again. But everything about this seems so odd to me, and I can''t settle my mind, always worried that it''s all a pipe dream and I''m just getting my hopes up for nothing," Lu Ming said with a bitter smile.

    It was no wonder Lu Ming had these worries, especially since he really couldn''t claim any significant relationship or interaction with Director Fang Ting!

    "Regardless, even if Director Fang Ting made a blunder, mistaking things, it''s still a good turn of events. Isn''t Director Fang Ting also from Golden Mountain County? Aren''t his parents still residing there? Regardless, since he helped you, you ought to visit his elderly parents to express your thanks¡ªit''s only proper," Cai Xiaofen advised.

    "Right! It''s clear now why they say the observer sees more of the game! I''ll visit Director Fang Ting''s parents at their home this noon," Lu Ming said, smacking his forehead.

    "Now you realize how clever your wife is! But are you sure about going at noon?" Cai Xiaofen said proudly, then asked.

    Her husband had always appeared the same to her over the years, always smiling at her, but she knew that internally, he had always felt very troubled. Now that this opportunity had arisen, she genuinely felt happy.

    "There''s nothing wrong with that, and besides, I won''t be at ease until I clear this matter up," Lu Ming replied.

    Fang Ting''s childhood home was in the nearby suburbs, a two-story house surrounded by a yard full of fruits and vegetables, truly a pastoral charm.

    When Lu Ming arrived at Fang Ting''s home carrying health supplements and two bottles of Maotai intended for the elderly, Fang Ting was about to head back to the Provincial Capital. Seeing Lu Ming approaching with items, he slightly furrowed his brow and asked in a deep voice, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

    It was just a fleeting encounter a few years ago, and Fang Ting had long forgotten what Lu Ming looked like, assuming he was someone trying to leverage his parents for backdoor favors.

    Fang Ting had already forgotten what Lu Ming looked like, but Lu Ming recognized Fang Ting immediately. Seeing Fang Ting questioning him with a clearly displeased expression, Lu Ming''s heart couldn''t help but sink to the bottom.

    It seems a definite mix-up has occurred! If Director Fang doesn''t even recognize me anymore, how could he possibly help me?

    "Director Fang, I am the director of the Archives Bureau of Golden Mountain County, Lu Ming. I heard..." Although he had already concluded that Fang Ting must have made a mistake, since he had come, Lu Ming still didn''t give up and spoke with some restraint.

    "Ah, you are Director Lu! Haha, I''m sorry, I''m really sorry, I haven''t seen you in years and couldn''t recognize you." Fang Ting was taken aback upon realizing this person was Lu Ming, then quickly smiled and reached out his hand.

    Lu Ming is the father of one of Ge Dongxu''s classmates, and since Ge Dongxu had given specific instructions, Fang Ting naturally couldn''t assume a bureaucratic attitude in front of Lu Ming.

    Seeing that Fang Ting''s attitude changed drastically as soon as he heard his own name, Lu Ming couldn''t help but be stunned and took a while to react before quickly shaking hands with Fang Ting, completely relieving his hanging heart.

    He knew that Fang Ting definitely hadn''t made a blunder in this matter, but inside, Lu Ming was increasingly confused.

    "Director Fang, thank you for recommending me." Once inside the house, Lu Ming momentarily pushed aside his confusion and expressed his gratitude.

    "Director Lu, you are too polite. I recommended you because your achievements speak for themselves, Golden Mountain County needs leaders like you," Fang Ting said with a smile.

    "Director Fang flatters me, I''m just doing my job," Lu Ming replied.

    "Actually, if everyone could just do their jobs well, that would be great. Most of the time, many people can''t even do their own jobs well," Fang Ting commented with feeling.

    "You are right," Lu Ming said earnestly.

    Lu Ming is not an official who favors empty talk, so he felt a true resonance with Fang Ting''s words.

    Fang Ting gave a faint smile and then engaged with interest in chatting about some affairs of Golden Mountain County with Lu Ming. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although he had later investigated some information about Lu Ming, he had never truly gotten to know him, and he was actually very curious about Lu Ming, who had specifically been mentioned by Ge Dongxu.

    Considering that people like Ge Dongxu, a person of stature, rarely take notice of others, even given their mutual classmates, Lu Ming would not have been specially instructed to Fang Ting if he wasn''t truly worthy of promotion.

    Fang Ting was well aware of this.

    After their conversation, Fang Ting found that Lu Ming was indeed a very capable person, who was clear on many issues of Golden Mountain County and had many ideas.

    "Very good! Director Lu, no wonder... ahem, it''s getting late. Director Lu, you have some matters at the Provincial Capital today, and I must quickly head over there. Let''s chat another day. If you have any problems in your work, you can also call me. As long as it''s in accordance with policy, I will try my best to help, after all, I was also raised by the soil and water of Golden Mountain County," Fang Ting said, breaking into a sweat internally as he almost slipped up just now.

    "Thank you, Director Fang, then I won''t disturb you and the two elders anymore," Lu Ming said, quickly standing up.

    "Haha, Director Lu, you make it sound too formal. I am very welcoming when you visit. But next time, please don''t bring anything, otherwise I will be upset," Fang Ting said with a laugh.

    "Yes, yes," Lu Ming promptly nodded, then followed Fang Ting out the door. At the doorway, the genuinely inquisitive Lu Ming finally couldn''t suppress his curiosity and hesitantly asked, "Director Fang, may I ask you a question?"

 Chapter 574 - 573: Professor Wus Importance

    "I know what you want to ask, and you''ll find out later, but I can''t reveal it right now. Also, I can definitely tell you, the reason that person asked me to speak on his behalf is not only because he has feelings for you, but most importantly, it''s because you are truly a good person. Otherwise, he would not easily make this request. So, just focus on doing your job well. As long as you do that, it will be the best way to repay him. Moreover, as long as you work hard, no matter what obstacles you encounter, even situations like what happened to you before, just call me. If I can''t solve it, Governor Sang will help you." With the insight of Governor Sang''s secretary, Fang Ting knew what Lu Ming wanted to ask. After thinking for a moment, he spoke seriously.

    "Thank you, Director Fang. I understand. Please also convey my message to that person¡ªI will definitely be a good official and will not let him down," said Lu Ming, with a surge of vast righteous Qi.

    "That''s good. Well, goodbye then, call me if you need anything," said Fang Ting, extending his hand to Lu Ming.

    On the way back, Lu Ming was filled with fiery enthusiasm.

    Especially when he thought about how, if Fang Ting couldn''t solve a problem, Governor Sang would intervene, it felt like a dream to Lu Ming.

    As someone in the government, Lu Ming knew all too well how significant this promise was!

    But while his blood was boiling with excitement, Lu Ming''s mind became increasingly puzzled; he simply couldn''t recall knowing anyone so powerful!

    However, eventually, Lu Ming stopped dwelling on the issue because it was a question with no clues to follow.

    ...

    On Monday afternoon, Ge Dongxu went to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for his "internship" as usual, but this time with a different mentor.

    When an intern changes mentors, those department heads and deputy heads naturally wouldn''t pay special attention. However, Chang Yufeng and Xie Jinmo, due to their grudge with Ge Dongxu, couldn''t help but take notice. Seeing that Ge Dongxu changed mentors just a week after starting with He Duanrui, they were secretly pleased, thinking that Ge Dongxu had offended He Duanrui or that He Duanrui was ultimately wary of Chang Yufeng''s deputy director father and unwilling to continue mentoring Ge Dongxu.

    "Director Xie, let''s go eat at Grandma''s after work; I''ll treat, and I''ve invited Director Zhang too," Chang Yufeng said to Xie Jinmo before the end of the workday, deliberately stopping by his clinic.

    "Director Zhang, Zhang Zikai? Isn''t Ge Dongxu interning with him today?" Xie Jinmo mused aloud.

    "Exactly! Since Professor Tang has criticized us, it wouldn''t be right for us to trouble Ge Dongxu again. But I''d like to have a chat with Director Zhang, talk about some matters; that shouldn''t be a problem, right? What do you think Professor Tang will think if Director Zhang also doesn''t want to mentor Ge Dongxu anymore?" Chang Yufeng said, a smug and scheming look in his eyes.

    "This... wouldn''t it be a bit inappropriate?" Xie Jinmo immediately understood Chang Yufeng''s malicious intent and hesitated.

    "What''s wrong with that? You, Vice Director Xie Jinmo, have been made a fool by an intern. Are you really prepared to let it go at that? Anyway, we''re not doing anything, just having a meal," Chang Yufeng insisted.

    "Alright, let''s have dinner together after work," Xie Jinmo, already irked, quickly agreed after Chang Yufeng''s persuasion.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu was unaware of all this. After work, he rode his bike straight back to Jiangnan University.

    Having had dinner in the university canteen and spent time in the library until it closed, Ge Dongxu finally returned to his dorm room.

    "You know, boss, why do you always have to be so elusive? After class this morning, where did you vanish to all of a sudden? Not a trace of you to be found," complained He Guizhong as soon as Ge Dongxu entered the dorm room.

    "What''s the matter? I''m not a campus beauty, why are you so fixated on me?" joked Ge Dongxu.

    "Boss, you haven''t forgotten about our fight arrangement with that Korean student, Park Jung-yong, at the train station, have you?" He Guizhong asked, slapping his forehead.

    "Are we really going to fight?" Ge Dongxu asked, raising his eyebrow.

    "Isn''t that obvious? They''ve been putting down our Huaxia Country''s martial arts, so naturally we have to compete with them. The time is already set, tomorrow afternoon at four-thirty. Make sure you don''t just disappear in a puff of smoke after class!" He Guizhong said.

    "Alright, after school tomorrow, I''ll go and cheer on Lv Semi-Immortal." Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "That''s more like it." He Guizhong nodded with satisfaction.

    ...

    Tuesday afternoon was Wu Yili''s class.

    Wu Yili wore a white blouse and black pencil pants today.

    The tailor-fitted pencil pants perfectly outlined her long, beautiful legs and round buttocks, causing Ge Dongxu to get occasionally distracted when Wu Yili turned to write on the blackboard.

    Wu Yili was beautiful and a good lecturer; the two inorganic chemistry classes ended before they knew it.

    "Ge Dongxu, come here for a moment." After class, just as Ge Dongxu had packed up his books and was ready to head to the Taekwondo Association dojo with He Guizhong and others, Wu Yili waved at him.

    Seeing Professor Wu call Ge Dongxu over after class again, many of the male students were green with envy, especially Sun Wenjun, whose eyes were filled with jealousy.

    "Boss, don''t forget about the match!" He Guizhong said to Ge Dongxu in a low voice.

    "He Guizhong, are you out of your mind? That''s Professor Wu for heaven''s sake!" Li Chenyu rolled his eyes at He Guizhong, then said to Ge Dongxu, "Boss, you go ahead, forget about the match, Professor Wu is more important."

    "Professor Wu is important!" After coming back from Golden Mountain County, Lu Lei had returned to his cool, man-of-few-words demeanor.

    Ge Dongxu gave Li Chenyu and the others an amused look and said, "Carry my textbooks back for me."

    With that, Ge Dongxu quickly left the classroom.

    Outside the classroom, Wu Yili was already waiting for him, a happy smile on her face as she saw Ge Dongxu approaching.

    "Don''t go to the cafeteria for dinner tonight, let the teacher take you out for a meal," Wu Yili said in a low voice to Ge Dongxu, her beautiful eyes showing a hint of tenderness as she looked at him.

    Ge Dongxu''s heart trembled slightly upon hearing this, feeling an indescribable warmth flowing through his heart.

    Although Wu Yili did not specify why she wanted to dine out, Ge Dongxu knew very well that Wu Yili was concerned about his family''s financial difficulties and the frugality of his life at school, so she wanted to treat him to a special meal once in a while.

    "Thank you, Teacher, but I''ve got something to do later," Ge Dongxu hesitated before saying.

    Although he had confidence in Lv Semi-Immortal, he was still somewhat worried that something unexpected might happen. Besides, with such good camaraderie among them and since he was present at the beginning, it seemed not quite right to not show up today and cheer them on. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Something to do? You''re not going to spend your time in the library again, are you? You need to balance work and leisure. Look at you, you''ve become so thin your chin is pointed," Wu Yili said, looking at Ge Dongxu with concern and chiding him.

 Chapter 575 - 574 Ill Go with You

    "Teacher, I''m just right as I am!" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh and a cry.

    He practiced every day, so naturally, there wasn''t an ounce of excess fat from top to bottom, so how could his chin possibly be round and chubby?

    "What, are you trying to argue with your teacher now?" Wu Yili said with a stern face.

    "No, no, I have lost weight, I''ll definitely pay attention to balancing work and rest from now on. But today, I''m not going to the library to study, I''m going to cheer on He Guizhong and the others in a match against the Taekwondo Association members," Ge Dongxu said apologetically, even though he knew Wu Yili was just pretending to be stern.

    "A match? That sounds interesting, I''ll go with you," Wu Yili responded with a slight start, then spoke with interest.

    "You''re going too?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but be dumbfounded.

    "Of course. My students are having a match, wouldn''t it be inappropriate for me as their teacher not to go cheer them on?" Wu Yili asked.

    "Yes, of course! I''m just worried that with Teacher Wu there, those guys won''t be able to concentrate on the match," Ge Dongxu blurted out.

    At his words, Wu Yili looked startled for a moment, then her fair cheeks quickly turned red, and she glared at Ge Dongxu before speaking in a lowered voice, "You''ve only been at the university for a few days and you''ve already learned how to sweet-talk!"

    "Is speaking the truth also considered sweet-talking?" Ge Dongxu replied impulsively.

    "You..." At his words, Wu Yili reflexively raised her hand to poke Ge Dongxu''s forehead but then suddenly remembered they were in the academic building. Surrounded by students and teachers passing by, she quickly lowered her hand and glared at him again, asking, "When is the match starting?"

    "Four-thirty," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "It''s four o''clock now, so isn''t it starting soon?" Wu Yili said, checking her watch.

    "Yes," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Then what are we dawdling for, take your teacher there already!" Wu Yili said, seeing Ge Dongxu only nodding but not moving, she couldn''t help but glare at him again.

    Wu Yili couldn''t quite explain it, but whenever she was with Ge Dongxu, her demeanor lost the gravity expected of a teacher, and it was more like the exchange between friends.

    "I also don''t know the location, we should wait for He Guizhong and the others," Ge Dongxu said as he looked toward the classroom door, just in time to see He Guizhong and his friends come out laughing. They were surprised to find Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili still standing in the hallway.

    "Boss, is there something up?" He Guizhong quickly stepped forward upon seeing that Ge Dongxu was obviously waiting for them, giving him meaningful glances while asking. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    His gestures couldn''t be clearer, telling Ge Dongxu to go ahead and not worry about them.

    "Teacher Wu is also coming to cheer us on!" Ge Dongxu said.

    "What! Really?" Upon hearing this, He Guizhong and the others almost popped their eyes out in surprise.

    "What, not welcome?" Seeing the shocked expressions on He Guizhong and the others, Wu Yili couldn''t help but find it funny.

    "No, no, of course, you''re welcome. With Teacher Wu there, our spirits will be greatly boosted, for sure we''ll beat the Taekwondo Association''s people until they''re down and out!" He Guizhong waved his hands quickly, speaking excitedly.

    "He Guizhong, don''t forget that last time it was your Martial Arts Association that got beaten down and out by our Taekwondo Association!" As soon as He Guizhong finished speaking, Sun Wenjun said disdainfully.

    "Huh, the air is thick with the smell of gunpowder! So, you are with the Martial Arts Association, and Sun Wenjun, your group is with the Taekwondo Association?" asked Wu Yili, pointing first at He Guizhong and his companions, then at Sun Wenjun and his group, a look of surprise on her face.

    "That''s right, Teacher Wu. We are from the Taekwondo Association. We sincerely invite you to cheer for us. Don''t worry, we certainly won''t let you down. We''ll be sure to defeat the Martial Arts Association utterly," said Sun Wenjun, his eyes filled with hope as he looked at Wu Yili.

    "Hey, Sun Wenjun, what do you mean by that? Teacher Wu already said she''s going to cheer for us," retorted He Guizhong and the others immediately.

    "Teacher Wu is your teacher, but she is also our teacher!" Sun Wenjun retorted, curling his lip.

    "Exactly, Teacher Wu is our teacher too," Zheng Yun chimed in supportively.

    This put Wu Yili in a bit of a bind.

    From a personal standpoint, she definitely favored Ge Dongxu; her interest in watching the competition was purely because Ge Dongxu was going to attend. Otherwise, she really wouldn''t have been interested in "fighting and killing."

    But as a teacher, she clearly had to be impartial.

    "Since you are a spectator, there should be no distinction of teacher or not; it''s mainly about personal preference. It''s like watching football; even presidents have their favorite teams. Surely being the president doesn''t mean you have to like all teams equally, right? You don''t have to feel conflicted, Teacher Wu. If you like our country''s martial arts and hope in your heart for us to win, then cheer us on. If you prefer Taekwondo more, then go cheer for Sun Wenjun and his group. It''s okay," said Ge Dongxu. He didn''t want Wu Yili to feel awkward, so after hesitating, he spoke up.

    "Then, of course, I much prefer our country''s martial arts!" Upon hearing Ge Dongxu say this, Wu Yili immediately smiled and replied without hesitation.

    "Yay!" He Guizhong and the others immediately cheered, while Sun Wenjun and Zheng Yun''s group felt naturally disheartened. Zheng Yun and others even began considering switching to the Martial Arts Association after Wu Yili''s remark.

    Now that Wu Yili had made her choice, He Guizhong and the others, ecstatic with their victory, surrounded her like stars around the moon and headed towards the Taekwondo Association''s dojo.

    Jiangnan University originally had a school-run factory at the foot of Longxi Mountain, which had been shut down, but the factory buildings had been left behind.

    The Martial Arts Association, Taekwondo Association, and Karate Association, among others, had repurposed these factory buildings into their respective club venues.

    "Boss, you''re really awesome. Even Teacher Wu gives you face!" On their way to the factory buildings at the foot of the mountain, with everyone accompanying Wu Yili, Li Chenyu gave Ge Dongxu a thumbs-up and admired him quietly.

    "Awesome!" Lu Lei also gave Ge Dongxu a thumbs-up.

    "Stop talking nonsense!" Ge Dongxu gave Li Chenyu and the others an annoyed glare.

    "Ge Dongxu!" While they were talking, Ge Dongxu heard someone calling his name from behind.

    Ge Dongxu turned around and couldn''t help but be dumbfounded.

    Not far behind him, he saw Lv Semi-Immortal wearing white cloth shoes and a traditional white Huaxia Country practice outfit.

    With a lotus leaf collar and crossed lapels fastened with buttons, the garment was made of linen that fluttered in the breeze as he walked. Since the young man was born into a family of fortune-tellers and was well-versed in making an impression, the way he approached from afar carried a hint of an immortal master''s poise and transcendence.

    But what truly dumbfounded Ge Dongxu was the sight of a flock of girls following behind this fellow, among which were a few with blue eyes and blonde hair ¨C Nico and her friends.

    The scene was spectacular and quite flashy, but no matter how Ge Dongxu looked at it, it just felt awkward, especially with Lv Semi-Immortal''s ostentatious demeanor that seemed to be begging for a punch.

 Chapter 576 - 575: Your Opponent is Park Jung-yong

    Ge Dongxu was dumbfounded, and so was Lv Semi-Immortal, actually.

    Because he saw Wu Yili.

    "Professor Wu, you came to cheer me on?" Lv Semi-Immortal quickly strode over, excitedly said.

    "You''re the one competing?" Wu Yili saw Lv Semi-Immortal approaching with brisk steps, dressed like a Martial Artist, and couldn''t help but be astonished.

    Lv Semi-Immortal attended one of Wu Yili''s classes, satisfied his curiosity, and hadn''t attended any more of her classes since. Wu Yili found it strange that he hadn''t come to her class. Later, she asked Ge Dongxu privately and only then did she find out that the guy was actually from the Department of English, which left her feeling both amused and bewildered for quite a while.

    She hadn''t expected to see Lv Semi-Immortal again! And it seemed that he was actually going to compete, naturally leaving Wu Yili very astonished.

    "Yes, I want everyone, especially those Koreans who think Taekwondo is superior to our Huaxia Country''s Martial Arts, to understand that it''s not that their Taekwondo is powerful, but that they haven''t witnessed my real Huaxia Country Martial Arts!" Lv Semi-Immortal said solemnly.

    If Wu Yili hadn''t known that Lv Semi-Immortal was from the Department of English, she might indeed have been impressed by his attire and his current solemn expression. But remembering that this guy was obviously an English student who ran to attend her class made Wu Yili feel an urge to smack his well-polished head.

    As for what Lv Semi-Immortal said about the real Martial Arts of Huaxia Country, Wu Yili didn''t believe a word, and she was even beginning to regret coming to watch the competition.

    Because knowing that Lv Semi-Immortal was the competitor, Wu Yili had lost all confidence in Huaxia Country''s Martial Arts triumphing over Taekwondo. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Teacher Wu, Lv Chongliang does have some real skill. He should be able to win this match," Ge Dongxu saw Wu Yili clearly distrusted Lv Chongliang and, worried the young man would be discouraged, spoke up with a smile to defend him.

    "Yeah, Teacher Wu, you may not realize it with Lv Semi-Immortal''s skinny arms and legs, but he''s even stronger than I am. Victory is certain this time!" He Guizhong also eagerly supported the claim, not because he was worried about Lv Semi-Immortal being discouraged, but because he feared that Teacher Wu would support the Taekwondo Association after knowing that Lv Semi-Immortal was competing.

    "Of course!" Lv Semi-Immortal confidently assured.

    However, no matter how Wu Yili looked at it, she always felt this guy was unreliable. But since she was here, she naturally couldn''t turn back, nor was it possible to change sides.

    After all, Lv Semi-Immortal was in the same camp as Ge Dongxu.

    "Ge Dongxu, we meet again!" No sooner had Lv Semi-Immortal finished speaking than Nico and the others came over, greeted Ge Dongxu with a smile, especially Nico who fluttered her eyelashes at Ge Dongxu.

    "Teacher Wu, they are teachers from the School of Foreign Languages. This is Nico, and this is Lilia¡­" Ge Dongxu briefly introduced the two groups to each other.

    After exchanging greetings, the two groups merged into one.

    The ones who had come over with Lv Semi-Immortal, apart from the teachers of the School of Foreign Studies, were mostly girls from the Department of English and only two boys. Ge Dongxu and his group consisted mainly of boys.

    So when the two groups came together, Li Chenyu and the other boys'' eyes lit up, feeling envious of the English Department boys.

    As the large group chatted and laughed, they saw from a distance the North Gate that led to Dragon Rest Mountain, where the school''s factory buildings were located to the left of the gate.

    While it''s called a factory building, it would be more appropriate to describe it as a warehouse; the interior was very spacious and divided into several areas.

    When Ge Dongxu entered, not only were Park Jung-yong and others from the Taekwondo Association already waiting there, but also many members of the Martial Arts Association were present.

    Upon seeing Ge Dongxu and his group coming in, accompanied by quite a few female students, and even foreign language teachers like Wu Yili and Nico, there was a wave of surprise among those present. Wu Yili and Nico, in particular, became a breath-taking scene just by standing there, and the crowd reacted as if injected with an adrenaline rush.

    The members of the Taekwondo Association, originally dressed in white training outfits, either standing or sitting, began to perform flashy kick techniques.

    Front kick, push kick, roundhouse kick, side kick... Park Jung-yong even performed a 360-degree aerial reverse hook kick, which brought loud cheers from the entire Taekwondo Association.

    Seeing the high spirits of the Taekwondo Association, the members of the Martial Arts Association couldn''t help feeling somewhat intimidated.

    The truth was that since the Martial Arts Association''s former president had graduated, they lacked a powerful figurehead. On the other hand, the Taekwondo Association had been thriving over the past two years with a continuous emergence of strong practitioners, making the Martial Arts Association seem increasingly inferior.

    "Anyone can perform these flowery moves, but the key is being able to overcome and dominate your opponent!" Lv Semi-Immortal commented dispassionately, watching the Taekwondo Association''s cheering, all the while maintaining the demeanor of a martial arts master.

    "Are you Lv Chongliang?" a well-built man with solid muscles, short hair, and a sharply defined face stepped forward and stared intently at Lv Chongliang. His tone was deep as he asked the question.

    This man was the president of the Taekwondo Association, named Cui Zhengxuan, a Korean student from the international college, a fourth-degree black belt with exceptional combat skills, and unmatched by anyone in the Martial Arts Association.

    "Correct, it''s me! So, President Cui, are you planning to fight personally?" Lv Chongliang glanced at Cui Zhengxuan, who exuded a fierce aura, and asked, feeling a slight chill in his heart.

    Because on Cui Zhengxuan''s person, he sensed a hint of danger.

    "Even the president of the Martial Arts Association is no match for our president. Don''t flatter yourself, Lv Chongliang! Your opponent will be Park Jung-yong." Sun Wenjun ridiculed.

    Sun Wenjun''s words caused many from the Martial Arts Association to show a mix of shame and anger on their faces, but they were unable to retort since their president truly was outclassed by Cui Zhengxuan.

    "That''s right, Lv Chongliang, you should think about how to get past me first!" Park Jung-yong stepped forward with a look of arrogance.

    Around his waist, he wore a red belt.

    Taekwondo has ten levels and nine degrees, ordered from low to high by color: white belt, white-yellow belt, yellow belt, yellow-green belt, green belt, green-blue belt, blue belt, blue-red belt, red belt, red-black belt, and black belt.

    The black belts are further divided from one to nine degrees, from low to high.

    A red belt symbolizes danger, indicating the wearer has acquired considerable power. Ordinarily, it takes one to two years of dedicated and uninterrupted hard practice for a person without any foundation to achieve a red belt.

    With his red belt, Park Jung-yong was already considered quite formidable among the students. Besides, he was naturally taller and bigger than Lv Chongliang.

    Thus, seeing Park Jung-yong, who was visibly taller and stronger, with a red belt around his waist standing before Lv Chongliang, and recalling the dazzling 360-degree aerial reverse hook kick he had just performed, the female English students who had come to support him all showed a hint of worry on their faces. Even those like Li Chenyu, who knew Lv Chongliang was much stronger than he appeared to be, couldn''t help feeling a bit concerned.

 Chapter 577 - 576: Could You Possibly Be a Martial World Expert?

    "Dongxu, can Lv Chongliang beat that Korean guy?" Nico leaned closer to Ge Dongxu, her shoulder brushing his as she asked in a low voice.

    "Beating that President Cui might be tough, but Park Jung-yong should be no problem," Ge Dongxu replied quietly.

    "Then I''m relieved!"

    "How can you be so sure? Are you a martial master too?" Wu Yili glanced at Nico''s shoulder pressing against Ge Dongxu, her brows subconsciously furrowing slightly, feeling an inexplicable sourness in her heart.

    "I''ve practiced with my master before, so I guess I could be considered a martial master," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "So you really think of yourself as a martial master, huh? Then why don''t you go up there?" Wu Yili rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and said in a low voice.

    "If I went up there, wouldn''t that just be openly bullying them Koreans?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Wu Yili paused, then couldn''t help but nudge Ge Dongxu with her elbow, lowering her voice, "I thought you were honest. I didn''t expect you to be such a bragger."

    "I''m just telling the truth!" Ge Dongxu shrugged.

    "You rascal!" Wu Yili couldn''t help but roll her eyes.

    Inside the dojo, most of the boys were watching Wu Yili and Nico. Seeing Ge Dongxu sandwiched between the two girls, whispering and laughing with them, they were almost blinded by jealousy.

    Especially the classmates from the environmental chemistry class, they could hardly believe their eyes.

    How did this guy become so awesome, chatting and laughing with Teacher Wu, and even being so intimate with that blonde foreign teacher!

    That''s a teacher from the foreign language college! That''s Nico!

    "Hehe, Teacher Wu, they''re about to start the match," Ge Dongxu chuckled and then pointed to the sparring mats, saying.

    Upon hearing this, Wu Yili looked up to see Lv Chongliang and Park Jung-yong already facing each other in the middle of the sparring ground.

    Park Jung-yong bowed to Lv Chongliang, who responded with a fist salute.

    Next, Park Jung-yong clenched his fists, spread his legs apart in a staggered stance, assuming a side-facing combat posture, eyes sharp and focused on Lv Chongliang, ready to strike at any moment. Lv Chongliang, on the other hand, ostentatiously spread his arms wide, striking a signature pose of Huang Feihong.

    "Come on!" Lv Chongliang curled his finger, beckoning Park Jung-yong.

    "Ha ha!"

    "Giggle!"

    People from the English department, including Li Chenyu and others, couldn''t help laughing at Lv Chongliang''s flamboyant posture, while He Guizhong and the members of the Martial Arts Association frowned slightly.

    They didn''t think Lv Chongliang''s cool pose served any purpose in a real fight.

    Sun Wenjun and the others from the Taekwondo Association curled their lips in a disdainful sneer.

    "Dongxu, is this what you meant by ''a bit talented''?" Wu Yili asked, shaking her head when she saw Lv Chongliang posing like something out of a movie.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and said nothing.

    "You''re just embarrassing yourself!" Park Jung-yong sneered, then suddenly let out a loud "Hey!" as he bent his right knee and swung his lower leg swiftly in a horizontal kick towards Lv Chongliang.

    Lv Chongliang moved his body to the side, dodging Park Jung-yong''s horizontal kick.

    When Park Jung-yong saw his first kick miss, he retracted his leg and resumed the side-facing combat stance. However, he quickly launched a tight offensive of leg techniques.

    Front kicks, push kicks, roundhouse kicks, sidekicks, and even a 360-degree aerial backspin kick from Park Jung-yong. His movements were fast and forceful, creating a fierce impression that made the girls from the English department scream from time to time.

    However, Lv Chongliang dodged and weaved, Park Jung-yong couldn''t land a kick on him no matter how he tried.

    After all, Park Jung-yong was just a red belt, and after a series of missed attacks, his stamina quickly decreased, and his breathing began to grow heavy.

    Seeing that Park Jung-yong''s seemingly fierce and sharp kicks never hit Lv Chongliang, the girls gradually stopped screaming in panic and began to cheer for Lv Chongliang, shouting for him to beat him!

    Faces of the Martial Arts Association members already bore smiles, while Cui Zhengxuan and the others'' faces gradually darkened.

    "Wow, this Lv Chongliang really has some skills, huh? Park Jung-yong looks aggressive, but every time, Lv Chongliang manages to evade. I bet Park Jung-yong will be too exhausted to continue before Lv Chongliang even needs to fight back," said Wu Yili with a surprised look after watching for a while.

    "Teacher Wu has a sharp eye, you must be a martial arts expert!" Ge Dongxu said teasingly upon hearing this.

    "Getting bolder, huh? Now you dare to tease even your teacher?" Wu Yili recalled what Ge Dongxu had said before, her pretty face blushing slightly as she glared at him.

    "No offense, no offense!" Ge Dongxu quickly ducked his head in response.

    "That''s more like it." Seeing Ge Dongxu showing a scared expression, Wu Yili couldn''t help but smile triumphantly before she continued to watch the fight.

    "Last time at the train station, you said our Huaxia Country''s martial arts were all show and no substance. Yet, I see Taekwondo is not much different, is it? I let you strike first, you''ve kicked so much, but you can''t hit me! How disappointing," Lv Chongliang said, dodging another round of Park Jung-yong''s attacks, then with a disdainful shake of his head, he scraped his nose with his thumb.

    "Ha ha!" He Guizhong and the others burst into laughter.

    "If you''re capable, then fight me head-on, stop dodging!" Park Jung-yong shouted angrily.

    "Poor kid, he''s kicked himself silly! Who fights by standing still and not dodging, allowing others to kick him?" Lv Chongliang shook his head.

    "You..." Park Jung-yong was so angry he lifted his foot to kick at Lv Chongliang once again.

    "Still kicking? If the tiger doesn''t show his power, you really think I''m a sick cat!" Seeing this, Lv Chongliang''s face suddenly turned stern. He sidestepped Park Jung-yong''s front kick, and before Park Jung-yong could change his move, Lv Chongliang suddenly closed in and slammed his shoulder against the lower part of his raised right leg.

    Park Jung-yong was standing on one leg at that moment and could not withstand Lv Chongliang''s sudden bump, causing his entire body to tilt backward.

    "Bang!" He fell backward onto the ground.

    Luckily, there was a soft mat on the ground, otherwise, Park Jung-yong might have had a lump on his head from such a fall. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Well done!"

    "So amazing!"

    "He won with a single move!"

    "..."

    Instantly, He Guizhong and the others all boiled over with excitement, shouting their praise.

    "Again!" Park Jung-yong scrambled up from the ground and roared.

    "That''s enough, Park Jung-yong. You are not his match," Cui Zhengxuan said.

    "President!" Park Jung-yong protested unwillingly.

    "Step down." Cui Zhengxuan''s expression darkened as he commanded.

    Park Jung-yong clearly feared Cui Zhengxuan, and with that command, he reluctantly backed down with his head drooping.

    "We lost this round. It seems that student Lv is a true practitioner. I wonder if student Lv is interested in having a match with me. Of course, you can rest first, or we can have a match another day," Cui Zhengxuan said, after dismissing Park Jung-yong, as he looked at Lv Chongliang with a serious voice.

 Chapter 578 - 577: How About We Have a Match?

    As soon as Cui Zhengxuan spoke, the entire dojang fell silent.

    Taekwondo is divided into ten levels and nine degrees, with the black belt being the highest level!

    Black belts are further divided into nine degrees. First to third degrees are for beginners among black belts, while fourth to sixth degrees are considered high-level, known as "instructors," who are eligible to apply for international instructor and referee positions.

    The World Taekwondo Federation is divided into the WTF and ITF systems. The former focuses on competitive sports, like the Olympics, while the latter emphasizes combat skills and real-life application.

    Cui Zhengxuan belongs to ITF and is also a fourth-degree black belt, which means he is extremely formidable in actual combat, not just for show. In fact, even the current president of the Martial Arts Association could not withstand many moves against him before being taken down.

    For this reason, the Martial Arts Association had been pressured by the Taekwondo Association for the past couple of years.

    Now that Cui Zhengxuan said he would take action personally, how could it not shock the people from both the Martial Arts Association and the Taekwondo Association?

    "No need for a break. With Park Jung-yong''s level, I hardly expended any energy," Lv Chongliang said, his words light but his expression growing solemn.

    "Lv Semi-Immortal, don''t compete against him! Cui Zhengxuan has been practicing Taekwondo since he was young, has participated in professional competitions domestically, and is a fourth-degree black belt. He''s very formidable!" He Guizhong exclaimed as he suddenly stepped forward to stop Lv Chongliang upon hearing him accept the challenge.

    "He Guizhong is right, Lv Chongliang. You''ve already won one match; there''s no need to compete against President Cui," Gao Zhenyuan, president of the Martial Arts Association, hesitated before stepping forward to add.

    Although Lv Chongliang''s performance had astonished him, he did not believe that Lv Chongliang was a match for Cui Zhengxuan.

    Because he had sparred with Cui Zhengxuan and knew how fearsome he was, especially his legs, which were like whips¡ªunpredictably swift and fierce. Gao Zhenyuan, despite his years of martial arts practice, couldn''t withstand many kicks.

    "It''s more interesting to compete against someone as strong as President Cui. Otherwise, defeating someone like Park Jung-yong doesn''t feel satisfying at all," Lv Chongliang waved off the persuasion from Gao Zhenyuan and others.

    Ge Dongxu frowned slightly as he saw Lv Chongliang determined to fight, but he did not speak out to dissuade him.

    Lv Chongliang was somewhat impetuous by nature, and tasting defeat sometimes wasn''t necessarily a bad thing.

    "I think so too. I hope you won''t disappoint me," Cui Zhengxuan glanced at Gao Zhenyuan, then looked at Lv Chongliang and said proudly.

    The meaning was clearer than clear. In his eyes, the president of the Martial Arts Association was no better than Park Jung-yong.

    Gao Zhenyuan''s face turned pale with anger when Cui Zhengxuan deliberately glanced at him.

    It was naked contempt and humiliation!

    "Rest assured! I won''t disappoint you; I''ll make you despair," Lv Chongliang strode into the sparring arena, then greeted Cui Zhengxuan with a clasped fist and said, "Please!"

    "Please!" Cui Zhengxuan brought his legs together to bow, then clenched his fists and assumed a fighting stance.

    This time, Lv Chongliang did not adopt the cool Huang Feihong gesture but instead slightly arched his back, his hands shaped like claws and his eyes electric, his whole demeanor becoming exceptionally fierce, no longer the jocular attitude from before.

    Seeing this, Cui Zhengxuan''s eyes lit up, he shouted "Good!" and then suddenly lifted his leg and kicked horizontally toward Lv Chongliang, his kick as fast as lightning and even generating a fierce wind. Even spectators standing over ten meters away felt a brutal aura and held their breath instinctively.

    Seeing Cui Zhengxuan''s kick as fast and fierce as lightning, Lv Chongliang''s pupils shrank sharply, he dodged to the side and reached out with his hand shaped like an eagle''s claw toward Cui Zhengxuan''s calf.

    "Bang!" Lv Chongliang''s eagle claw latched onto Cui Zhengxuan''s calf, but the force was so strong that he couldn''t hold on, and was even pulled sideways a couple of steps by the force of the kick.

    "Eagle Claw Skill? Indeed, it''s somewhat skillful, but unfortunately, your force is too weak," Cui Zhengxuan withdrew his foot, looking at Lv Chongliang with a cat-toying-with-a-mouse glint in his eyes. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The strength is a bit weak, but it''s enough to beat you," Lv Chongliang said, not showing weakness in his words, yet he inwardly groaned.

    Having just fought Park Jung-yong, Lv Chongliang thought that Taekwondo was nothing special, but now, facing Cui Zhengxuan''s kick, he realized that a real Taekwondo expert was indeed formidable.

    But since he had already engaged in battle, he had no choice but to tough it out and continue fighting.

    "Really? I didn''t even use my full strength just now!" Cui Zhengxuan scoffed, and then he lifted his leg again.

    This time, as soon as Cui Zhengxuan kicked, it was like a storm without a break.

    Front kick, round kick, side kick, downward chop, spinning back kick... one kick followed another.

    "Bang, bang, bang!" Lv Chongliang''s reaction was fast enough, constantly teleporting and reaching out with his claws towards Cui Zhengxuan''s legs.

    However, Cui Zhengxuan''s kicks were too fast and powerful, and Lv Chongliang, whose expertise lay mainly in physiognomy, feng shui, and such, largely neglected physical cultivation and martial arts combat skills, amounting to little more than superficial knowledge. He might handle a poser like Park Jung-yong effortlessly, but facing a real combat expert, Lv Chongliang was significantly outclassed.

    His Eagle Claw couldn''t catch Cui Zhengxuan''s legs, serving only to block.

    Seeing that Lv Chongliang could only dodge and block without counterattacking, members of the Taekwondo Association displayed smug smiles, shouting repeatedly, "Beat him! Knock the kid down!"

    People from the Martial Arts Association, the English department students, and people like Li Chenyu who had come to cheer him on, all looked anxious. However, Wu Yili, remembering what Ge Dongxu had said earlier, had a subtle expression on her face.

    As people from the Taekwondo Association shouted to knock Lv Chongliang down and Li Chenyu and others looked anxious, Lv Chongliang couldn''t take it anymore. He backed away, calling out, "I stop fighting, I give up!"

    Even though Lv Chongliang had given up, Cui Zhengxuan showed no signs of stopping and suddenly did a side spinning kick, creating a fierce draft of wind.

    "Bang!" The kick landed solidly on Lv Chongliang''s chest.

    Lv Chongliang staggered back, finally losing his balance and falling on his backside on the mat, clutching his chest.

    "Hey, what kind of person are you? Lv Chongliang already gave up, why are you still kicking him?" Seeing Lv Chongliang sitting on the ground, rubbing his chest with a pained expression, female students from the English department and others, including Li Chenyu, protested vehemently.

    "Are you okay?" Ge Dongxu didn''t blame Cui Zhengxuan but went forward to help Lv Chongliang up, asking with concern.

    "I''m fine. Damn it, to think I lost to a Korean. Looks like I need to train harder," Lv Chongliang said, taking Ge Dongxu''s hand to stand up, his face full of annoyance.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but smile with relief.

    With his ability, if he had intervened, Lv Chongliang naturally wouldn''t have suffered this setback, but if he had intervened, perhaps Lv Chongliang wouldn''t have had such a profound realization.

    "Sorry, I couldn''t control my kick. Are you okay?" Cui Zhengxuan came forward with a clearly insincere tone.

    "What do you mean you couldn''t control it? You did that on purpose!" He Guizhong retorted angrily.

    "He Guizhong, what do you mean by that? Aren''t you a martial artist? Haven''t you heard that ''martial arts are blind''? When it comes to fighting, it''s not always possible to stop a move," Sun Wenjun argued.

    "Exactly! Just because Lv Chongliang knocked down one of ours, does that mean our chairman can''t knock him down? If you can''t handle losing, then don''t compete!" Park Jung-yong added scornfully.

    "There''s no shame in losing this match. How about this, Chairman Cui, you take a break, and we''ll have a match, what do you say?" As Park Jung-yong''s voice faded, Ge Dongxu''s voice suddenly filled the dojo.

 Chapter 579 - 578: There Has Never Been Such a Thing in History!

    The entire dojo suddenly fell silent.

    Except for Nico, whose beautiful eyes shone brightly, the look she gave Ge Dongxu radiated an intense fervor, while everyone else''s faces showed disbelief.

    They had never imagined that Ge Dongxu would step forward to challenge Cui Zhengxuan!

    Was he blind or what? Hadn''t he seen how fast and fierce Cui Zhengxuan''s legwork was? Hadn''t he seen even a tough guy like Lv Chongliang played like a monkey before being kicked to the ground?

    "Boss, have you lost your mind?" It took a while, but He Guizhong and the rest came to their senses and hurriedly stepped forward to tug at Ge Dongxu, whispering urgently.

    "Ge Dongxu, Cui Zhengxuan is genuinely skilled! You might be taller and have practiced martial arts for a few years, but let it go," Lv Chongliang advised. Although he hoped Ge Dongxu would help him get his revenge, he didn''t think it was realistic.

    "Dongxu, don''t be reckless. I was only joking earlier," even Wu Yili got the fright of her life, and without caring about her status as a teacher, she took hold of Ge Dongxu''s hand in front of everyone, her beautiful eyes conveying urgency and pleading.

    Her relationship with Ge Dongxu was quite complicated¡ªsubconsciously, she couldn''t bear to see him get hurt.

    "Tsk tsk, who would have thought, Ge Dongxu, that you are also a martial artist? Why don''t you practice with a few executives from the Taekwondo Association first, so you don''t end up kicked to the ground like Lv Chongliang, and then blame our club president for not holding back?" Seeing Professor Wu also holding Ge Dongxu''s hand, her face full of concern, Sun Wenjun was burning with jealousy and couldn''t help mocking sarcastically.

    "Sun Wenjun, have you had enough? Martial arts is for strengthening the body, not for showing off how strong you are and belittling your classmates," Wu Yili, already worried for Ge Dongxu, lashed out at Sun Wenjun''s instigation and mockery with a cold face.

    "Teacher Wu, I..." Sun Wenjun didn''t expect Professor Wu to scold him for Ge Dongxu''s sake and was completely dumbfounded.

    Everyone around was dumbfounded too!

    In their eyes, Professor Wu had always been dignified and gentle, exuding an intelligent beauty, but today, she was furious for Ge Dongxu!

    Only Nico looked on with interest at Professor Wu in her fury and then at Ge Dongxu, her lips slowly curling into a meaningful smile.

    "Since Professor Wu has spoken, let''s pretend you never challenged me, and that''s the end of it for today," Cui Zhengxuan apparently knew Wu Yili, and despite his jealousy, and even though he wanted to give Ge Dongxu a good beating, he didn''t dare to offend Wu Yili, glancing disdainfully at Ge Dongxu and said dismissively.

    Wu Yili found Cui Zhengxuan''s words very grating and gave him an annoyed glare, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said without any room for debate, "Alright, let''s go back."

    Seeing Wu Yili protective like a mother hen, afraid he might be slighted, it warmed Ge Dongxu''s heart, yet he couldn''t help but find it funny.

    Did he really look that weak?

    "Don''t worry, Teacher Wu, it''s just a black belt fourth dan. I could easily knock him down even with my hands tied," Ge Dongxu said, not agreeing with Wu Yili. Instead, he gently patted the back of her hand and spoke with full confidence.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s hand resting on Wu Yili''s snow-white, delicate, jade-like hand, He Guizhong and the others even overlooked Ge Dongxu''s brash words, their eyes fixated on the two hands stacked on top of each other.

    Beasts, that''s Professor Wu''s hand!

    My little heart, this Ge Dongxu is utterly lawless!

    My goddess!

    Big brother, you even dared to lay a hand on Professor Wu? That''s, that''s just fucking awesome!

    ...

    Wu Yili, out of concern for Ge Dongxu and because of their already close relationship, seemingly didn''t realize the inappropriateness of him patting her hand. Instead, she looked at him with a shocked expression.

    "Don''t worry, Teacher Wu, you should know that I am an honest person," Ge Dongxu said, looking at Wu Yili again.

    My God, holding on to Teacher Wu''s words and calling himself an honest person, how shameless must he be!

    Listening to Ge Dongxu''s words and seeing that his hand was still pressing on Teacher Wu''s hand, everyone felt a sudden urge to rush over and beat him up, but at the same time, they couldn''t help but feel profound admiration.

    "Really?" Wu Yili''s delicate body trembled slightly upon hearing this, her mind racing back to the events that had occurred on Baiyun Mountain years ago. The young man in front of her sure seemed different from ordinary people. She was somewhat relieved, but couldn''t shake off her worries.

    "Rest assured, even if they came at me together, I could tie my hands behind my back and bring them all down," said Ge Dongxu confidently.

    "Stop bragging and be careful!" Wu Yili, now aware that her students were watching, hurriedly withdrew her hand and rebuked Ge Dongxu with a blush on her pretty face, speaking in a low voice.

    Teacher Wu, with her blushing face revealing a touch of shyness, almost made hearts like He Guizhong''s stop beating with the sheer beauty and womanly charm she exuded.

    Meanwhile, Cui Zhengxuan and others were already green with jealousy, nearly exploding with rage!

    "Professor Wu, it''s not that I don''t respect you! But this student is so arrogant and insulting to us, I have to teach him a lesson no matter what," Cui Zhengxuan said with a stern face.

    "It''s not me who''s being competitive and slanderous, it''s Ge Dongxu." Sun Wenjun, unable to contain his jealousy, also spoke up, seeing that Professor Wu seemed very fond of Ge Dongxu.

    "Ge Dongxu stood up because just now Lv student admitted defeat, and Cui student refused to stop; can that be compared to the so-called being competitive and slandering classmates? This is about helping the weak in the face of injustice, understand?" Seeing Sun Wenjun speaking out at this time, and even implicating her, even the good-tempered Professor Wu couldn''t help but get angry and scolded with a stern face.

    Sun Wenjun felt like he was going crazy, seeing that his support for Taekwondo had been twisted into being competitive and slandering classmates, while Ge Dongxu was hailed for helping others in the face of injustice.

    "Exactly! Dongxu is different from you! What he did was an act of bravery!" Nico chimed in, supporting him out loud.

    Fuck! Seeing the sexy and stunning foreign teacher also speaking up for Ge Dongxu, Sun Wenjun was so angry he almost fainted. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Members of the Taekwondo Association were all so frustrated they felt like beating their chests and stamping their feet in despair!

    No way, how could it be that in the mouths of the two beautiful teachers, they from the Taekwondo Association seemed to have become villains worthy of universal condemnation?

    "Exactly, Ge Dongxu''s action was bravery, it was stepping in to help when seeing an injustice, a sense of justice off the charts, courage commendable!" In contrast to Sun Wenjun and others'' anger and frustration, He Guizhong and his group were as excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood, shouting out loud and looking at Ge Dongxu with eyes full of worship and frenzy.

    That''s so fucking incredible, two gorgeous teachers, one Chinese and one foreign, all backing him up. Is there any student in all of Jiangnan University as badass as this?

    There''s never been one in history!

 Chapter 580 - 579 Just Once

    "Cut the crap and let''s see the real deal!" Cui Zhengxuan, seeing He Guizhong and others cheering and hollering, felt so frustrated he could vomit blood. He strode towards the center of the sparring area with a gloomy face.

    "Fine!" Ge Dongxu responded, and then he too walked toward the middle of the sparring area, his hands crossed behind his back. His gaze swept over the crowd before finally settling on Cui Zhengxuan. "I''ll let you use both of your hands; you all can come at me together. Just one of you really isn''t enough to make it a fight."

    "You!" Cui Zhengxuan''s eyes turned bloodshot with anger. "Momentarily, I''ll make sure you learn the price of your arrogance."

    "That''s right, arrogance comes with a price! My friend just conceded defeat, and you deliberately kicked him again. Out of respect for the fact that you''ve traveled long distances to study at Jiangnan University, I won''t go too far ¡ª I''ll just knock you down twice! And don''t feed me any nonsense about accidents in sparring; not being able to hold back your kicks. Even if you were a Taekwondo master from Korea, you wouldn''t be able to fool my eyes," Ge Dongxu said indifferently, his hands still behind his back.

    "Damn! You''re laying it on thick! President Cui, kick him hard, kick him so he can''t take care of himself!" members of the Taekwondo Association cried out, unable to contain themselves at Ge Dongxu''s brazenness.

    Seeing someone actually wishing Ge Dongxu to be kicked until he was unable to fend for himself, Wu Yili and Nico glared fiercely, intimidating the shouters into hastily ducking their heads.

    It was a joke; these were two beauty teachers with numerous fans in the school, while they were just students. Who would dare to brush them the wrong way?

    "Hey, Boss, isn''t this a bit too much? What if you can''t beat Cui Zhengxuan? Wouldn''t that be a huge embarrassment?" Li Chenyu grimaced as he whispered to He Guizhong and others nearby.

    "Yeah, I didn''t expect the Boss to show off like this. This is getting out of hand!" He Guizhong also grimaced as he spoke softly.

    Having seen Cui Zhengxuan''s formidable performance, it was really difficult for them to feel confident about Ge Dongxu, not to mention that Ge Dongxu was arrogantly keeping his hands behind his back.

    "Come on, President Cui, no need for bowing as a salute. Given your conduct just now, you''ve shamed the spirit of Taekwondo etiquette. Since that''s the case, why bother with such a pretense?" Ge Dongxu, seeing that Cui Zhengxuan was obviously furious, hating not being able to kick him over, yet still bringing his feet together in preparation to bow, interrupted him derisively.

    "Alright!" Cui Zhengxuan could no longer contain his rage. As soon as Ge Dongxu finished speaking, he charged toward Ge Dongxu, and when he got close, he leapt into the air, swinging a roundhouse kick from the side. His right leg, with the momentum and the twist of his waist, fiercely aimed for Ge Dongxu''s face.

    This kick, creating a sharp whooshing sound, was incredibly fast and powerful.

    The president of the Martial Arts Association saw this and his expression suddenly changed, he couldn''t help but grind his teeth and say, "Damn! He''s really going for the kill!"

    He Guizhong and the others also turned pale.

    The girls screamed in alarm at the sight, and Wu Yili''s face suddenly turned somewhat pale as she clenched her fists in apprehension.

    "Fancy footwork!" Ge Dongxu sneered as he twisted his body like a willow in the air, strangely avoiding Cui Zhengxuan''s lethal kick.

    By the time Cui Zhengxuan realized his foot had missed and it dawned on him that Ge Dongxu was not to be underestimated, it was already too late. Ge Dongxu, with his hands still behind his back, had somehow already appeared in his open front and suddenly rammed his shoulder into Cui Zhengxuan''s abdomen.

    "Ah!" Cui Zhengxuan screamed, flew up high in the air, and then fell to the ground with a "thud."

    The entire Taekwondo gym fell dead silent!

    Time and space seemed to freeze in that moment.

    Aside from Nico, who looked excited and her eyes were shining, everyone else looked as if they had seen a ghost, with their faces frozen in shock and disbelief.

    Just one hit, and with his hands still behind his back, no less!

    A fourth-degree black belt, the so impressive Cui Zhengxuan, was sent flying high and then crashing down hard!

    If it hadn''t been seen with their own eyes, who would dare to believe it!

    "Again! One more time!" Just as everyone stood petrified and shocked, Ge Dongxu''s voice rose in the gym, unhurried and steady.

    Upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s voice, everyone shivered and came back to their senses.

    "Wow, boss, I adore you!" He Guizhong and the others shouted as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

    "Wow, that''s so cool!" The girls'' eyes shone, and a bold English major even yelled, "Ge Dongxu, I like you! I''m going to chase you!"

    "My God, is this the martial arts of Huaxia Country? It''s too amazing!" Lilia and the others couldn''t help but exclaim.

    Wu Yili didn''t speak, but her expression was indescribably splendid. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It must be a fluke! It has to be a fluke!" Cui Zhengxuan crawled up from the ground, fiercely wiping the corner of his mouth, his eyes fixed on Ge Dongxu, telling himself over and over again in his mind.

    "Do you want to come up together this time?" Ge Dongxu saw Cui Zhengxuan getting up from the ground and spoke indifferently.

    "Ah!" Cui Zhengxuan roared and then, with a clenched fist, took a side combat stance. But this time, he didn''t kick; instead, his eyes were sharp and wary as he circled Ge Dongxu slowly, looking for an opportunity to attack.

    "Since you won''t kick, I shall do the kicking then!" Seeing this, Ge Dongxu let out a cold laugh, still with his hands behind his back. He then lifted his right foot and kicked messily right at Cui Zhengxuan''s stomach.

    Or more precisely, he booted it.

    "What the hell, that''s considered a kick?" The people from the Martial Arts Association were dumbfounded.

    "Damn, this is courting death!" The members of the Taekwondo Association became excited, believing that Ge Dongxu''s kicking style was full of openings, and with Cui Zhengxuan''s skills, he would surely seize the chance to punish Ge Dongxu severely.

    Cui Zhengxuan thought so too. He looked delighted at the sight, misstepped and tightened his fist, ready to punch Ge Dongxu''s calf, and his foot also secretly mustered strength, preparing to follow up with a kick to Ge Dongxu.

    But no matter how well Cui Zhengxuan had calculated, facing Ge Dongxu was just a joke.

    His fist had barely moved when Ge Dongxu''s big foot had silently appeared in front of his belly and then forcefully thrust at close range.

    "Ah!" Cui Zhengxuan screamed again as his body arched and he was kicked flying, then "bang," he landed heavily on the ground again.

    This time, Cui Zhengxuan was clearly more miserable than before, clutching his stomach and lying on the ground for quite a while without being able to recover, his stomach in both pain and turmoil, nearly vomiting out his lunch.

    The entire gym fell silent once more.

    Then, right after, there erupted shouts from the English department girls and He Guizhong and the others; even the foreign teachers like Lilia couldn''t help but join in the shouting.

    "Sun Wenjun, and that Park Jung-yong, didn''t you say that the martial arts of Huaxia Country are all show and no substance? I wonder if you''re interested in coming up and giving it a try with me? Don''t worry, I kick very lightly," Ge Dongxu said, paying no attention to the cheers from the crowd, instead looking at Sun Wenjun and Park Jung-yong with a smile.

    Originally, everyone was a student of Jiangnan University, and Ge Dongxu also wanted to quit while he was ahead. However, he found these two so repulsive that he couldn''t help but mock them a little.

 Chapter 581 - 580: Join Our Martial Arts Association

    Hearing Ge Dongxu say his kick would be gentle, and then turning their heads to see Chairman Cui struggling to get up from the ground, clutching his stomach in pain, Sun Wenjun and Park Jung-yong both felt a pang in their hearts. They reflexively stepped back repeatedly, waving their hands as if they were terrified that Ge Dongxu would suddenly lift his foot and kick them in the stomach just like he had done before.

    "Haha!" Seeing the frightened looks on Sun Wenjun and Park Jung-yong, He Guizhong and the others burst into loud laughter.

    Ge Dongxu shook his head at this sight, and then, looking at Chairman Cui, who had managed to stand up, he said in a serious tone, "Teacher Wu is right. Martial arts are for strengthening the body and not for being aggressive and belittling classmates. Let''s leave today''s incident behind us. From now on, I don''t want to hear anyone from the Taekwondo Association deliberately putting down our country''s martial arts, nor will I allow any of you Taekwondo practitioners to bully classmates by flaunting your skills. Otherwise, it won''t end as simply as today."

    Chairman Cui''s face turned from pale to red under Ge Dongxu''s reprimand, but he was acutely aware that his strength was far inferior to that of Ge Dongxu and that they were not on the same level. Ultimately, he could only bow his head in bitter resignation.

    Seeing that Chairman Cui had no spirit to retaliate against Ge Dongxu''s scolding, the members of the Taekwondo Association also lowered their heads one by one.

    Even their black belt fourth dan chairman, when facing Ge Dongxu, had only been dealt with arbitrarily so of course they dared not speak out!

    "All right, disperse," Ge Dongxu said, seeing the Taekwondo Association members lowering their heads. He then turned away from the field and, with a smile, waved his hand at everyone.

    "Ge classmate, I am Gao Zhenyuan, the president of the Martial Arts Association, and I now formally invite you to join our association. If you are willing to join, I will immediately resign my presidency and let you take the position," Gao Zhenyuan approached with a solemn expression, his gaze towards Ge Dongxu filled with a touch of awe and admiration.

    As the president of the Martial Arts Association, Gao Zhenyuan did have some insight. Although Ge Dongxu had only used his shoulder to bump Cui Zhengxuan, and later simply gave a forceful kick with no particular style, Gao Zhenyuan admitted that the subtle changes and speed were beyond what he felt he could ever achieve, despite his many years of martial arts training.

    "Ge Dongxu, join our Martial Arts Association and be our coach, we will all take you as our master," He Guizhong also said eagerly.

    "Yes, yes, we will all take you as our master!" the members of the Martial Arts Association shouted in unison.

    "We want to join the Martial Arts Association too, to learn martial arts from Ge Dongxu," the female students from the English department said as they gathered around.

    "We also want to join the Martial Arts Association and learn Huaxia martial arts," even teachers like Lilia, with their exotic charm, crowded around, their eyes filled with longing as they stared intensively at Ge Dongxu.

    The Martial Arts Association had always been predominantly male with female members barely making up the numbers to count on one hand. The situation became even more depressing in the recent years, as the Taekwondo Association consistently outshone them, leading many male members to transfer to either Taekwondo or Karate Associations. This caused great frustration and anxiety for those in the Martial Arts Association who were passionate about martial arts, like Gao Zhenyuan and other key members.

    Now, seeing a large group of female students and even foreign women teachers eager to join the Martial Arts Association, their eyes lit up, their breathing grew heavier, and their blood boiled with excitement. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Martial Arts Association was going to thrive! It was truly going to thrive!

    So many female students! So many foreign women teachers!

    "Um, can we join the Martial Arts Association too?" Several from the Taekwondo Association saw the impressive momentum on the Martial Arts Association''s side, especially with foreign women teachers wanting to join. Recalling how Ge Dongxu easily threw Chairman Cui to the ground with just a couple of light moves, they too were tempted. Hesitantly, they stepped forward and asked with flushed faces, among them was Zheng Yun from Environmental Chemistry class two.

    "Hey, Zheng Yun, Big Fatty, how could you guys do this?" Sun Wenjun and his friends'' faces turned green at the sight.

    "Why not? Didn''t you guys also tell us to try to recruit people from the Martial Arts Association before? Besides, our country''s martial arts are so powerful, of course we would choose the Martial Arts Association." Zheng Yun and his friends said.

    "Exactly!" There weren''t a few people in the Taekwondo Association who were tempted like Zheng Yun and others, it was just that they couldn''t swallow their pride to change allegiances. But now, hearing what Zheng Yun said, they felt that joining the Martial Arts Association was like turning from darkness to light. Almost instantly, the majority of the students also rushed to Ge Dongxu''s side, saying they wanted to join the Martial Arts Association.

    Watching his once thriving Taekwondo Association lose most of its members in the blink of an eye, leaving only the old members who had practiced Taekwondo for several years or Korean international students, President Choi''s face was so gloomy it was nearly dripping water, his cheeks burning as if he had been slapped countless times.

    It was even worse for Sun Wenjun, who had always felt great about himself and was full of vigor. Now he stood there, isolated, looking extremely miserable as if everyone had turned their backs on him.

    "Ge Dongxu! You''ll see!" Sun Wenjun looked at Ge Dongxuu, surrounded by people, and gritted his teeth with deep-seated hatred in his eyes as if Ge Dongxu was his sworn enemy.

    "Thank you for the invitation, President Gao, but I''m not interested in the position of president, nor do I plan to join the Martial Arts Association," Ge Dongxu said, seeing everyone crowding around him, wanting to take him as their master, learn martial arts from him, including foreign female teachers like Lilia. He waved his hand apologetically, overwhelmed by the situation.

    Joking, right? He was a Sect Leader, a director-level advisor for the Special Ability Management Bureau, not someone who took on disciples and taught lessons casually!

    "What? Why?" Ge Dongxu''s words were like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone, chilling them to the bone.

    Especially for people like Gao Zhenyuan, the president and core members of the Martial Arts Association, a cold sweat broke out on their foreheads.

    So many beautiful junior sisters, so many attractive foreign female teachers, and so many Taekwondo Association members who were turning to the light... this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If the Martial Arts Association missed this chance to rise, who knows when they would get another one.

    "Boss, are you still my buddy or not? I''m an officer of the Martial Arts Association, you know. For my sake, you''ve got to join our Martial Arts Association!" He Guizhong was also in a hurry.

    How could he not be? He was an officer of the Martial Arts Society. If the president of the Martial Arts Association became his roommate again, he''d definitely ride his coattails to greater heights¡ªthen there were so many girls, so many foreign female teachers...

    Just thinking about it, He Guizhong was all fired up with excitement, but now Ge Dongxu was actually telling him he wouldn''t join the Martial Arts Association. How could this be acceptable?

    When He Guizhong mentioned "buddy," Ge Dongxu felt troubled.

    In such a short time, he indeed had formed a deep friendship with He Guizhong and others. This friendship was pure and untainted by any worldly benefits, and had nothing to do with his covert, superior identity.

    It was simply pure friendship!

 Chapter 582 - 582: 581

    "It''s all because of you, boss. Look at me, skinny arms and legs, I''m even ready to join the Martial Arts Association now, starting to diligently improve myself. How can you, a martial arts expert, justifiably not join the Martial Arts Association?" Li Chenyu saw Ge Dongxu''s reluctant expression, stepped forward, and added fuel to the fire.

    With so many girls around, including a foreign teacher, Li Chenyu was naturally tempted. But the problem was that these people were obviously here for Ge Dongxu. If he backed out now, all these girls, including the foreign teacher, would surely change their minds. Then what would he, Li Chenyu, be left to learn in terms of martial arts! S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When he heard Li Chenyu talk about being "diligent and aspiring," Ge Dongxu felt like knocking on his head. He knew all too well what Li Chenyu was really thinking.

    "I''ll join too, boss!" Lu Lei continued to add fuel to the fire.

    "And me, from now on I''ll also call you boss," Lv Chongliang said, looking at Ge Dongxu with indescribably complex emotions in his eyes.

    Truth be told, he was from the Qimen, seemingly frivolous on the surface, but deep down he possessed a rooted arrogance and pride. However, witnessing Ge Dongxu intervening on his behalf just now, and easily defeating the black belt fourth dan Cui Zhengxuan, he couldn''t help but be deeply shocked, feeling an inexplicable sense of emotion.

    Seeing Li Chenyu and others united in pressuring him, even Lv Chongliang jumping out, Ge Dongxu opened his mouth and finally said helplessly, "My main task is to study. I don''t have the time to teach you martial arts or manage an association. How about this, I''ll take on the title of Honorary President. If I have time, I''ll come over to the Martial Arts Association to take a look and maybe give some advice. What do you think? If that''s not acceptable, then there''s really nothing I can do."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu shrugged and spread his hands.

    Everyone looked at each other, and though somewhat disappointed, they thought about Ge Dongxu''s amazing skills. Merely a light takedown was enough for him to defeat a black belt fourth dan. Having someone of his caliber give advice to them, who had no foundation, would seriously be overkill, a waste indeed. If he was willing to take on the title of Honorary President and occasionally give some pointers, that would already be very generous.

    So even though there was some disappointment, everyone quickly accepted Ge Dongxu''s suggestion, especially Gao Zhenyuan, the president of the association, who felt somewhat relieved internally.

    After all, Gao Zhenyuan had put a lot of effort into the Martial Arts Association. He really didn''t want to give up the president''s position. Having Ge Dongxu take on an honorary title would attract popularity, ensure a master would oversee the association, and not interfere with his management of the Martial Arts Association¡ªit was the perfect solution.

    "Alright, those who want to join the Martial Arts Association should head over to our dojo. Let''s not gather here and disturb the Taekwondo Association," Gao Zhenyuan said spiritedly, waving his arm, after the matter of Ge Dongxu becoming Honorary President was settled.

    "Right, let''s not disturb the Taekwondo Association," He Guizhong and others chimed in with hearty laughs.

    Then the group left the Taekwondo Association''s dojo in high spirits and headed to the Martial Arts Association''s dojo on the Eastern Side of the factory.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t really want to go, but seeing everyone so excited and enthusiastic, he didn''t want to dampen their spirits and thus went along with them.

    Wu Yili had many questions for Ge Dongxu in her mind and naturally followed along.

    The dojo was decorated with a touch of antiquity; Chinese landscape paintings hung all around, and the arena was set with weapon racks displaying all eighteen types of weapons.

    "Teacher Wu, distinguished teachers, President Ge, please take your seats." Upon entering the dojo, Gao Zhenyuan hurriedly instructed the staff to bring chairs.

    Ge Dongxu had intended to sit down, but seeing Wu Yili giving him a meaningful look, he could only gesture towards Gao Zhenyuan and say, "No need to be so polite, President Gao. Many people are joining today, and you must have a lot to do. Today I''ll just have a look around and familiarize myself with the place. I''ll come back when I have time."

    Gao Zhenyuan had also noticed Wu Yili making eyes at Ge Dongxu and admired him even more. He quickly said, "Then that''s settled. I''ll have to invite President Ge over to give us more pointers another day."

    "No problem. Since I''ve taken on the title, I''ll definitely come by a few times each month," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile and a nod.

    After concluding, Ge Dongxu made a special point to greet He Guizhong and the others, as well as Teacher Nico, before leaving the martial arts hall with Wu Yili.

    Watching Ge Dongxu and Professor Wu''s graceful and voluptuous figures walking shoulder to shoulder, growing distant, Gao Zhenyuan and the others felt admiration for Ge Dongxu like the endless waters of the Yangtze River, their hearts filled with nothing but envy.

    Nico''s beautiful eyes shimmered with a thoughtful look, and no one knew what she was thinking.

    ...

    While people like Gao Zhenyuan envied Ge Dongxu, he felt there was nothing to be envious of at all.

    Ever since leaving the martial arts hall, Wu Yili wore a serious face and didn''t speak a word, just walking toward the campus entrance.

    No wonder Wu Yili felt that way. After all, she was a renowned university professor and the dream woman of many teachers and students at Jiangnan University. Just now, she had erupted in anger for Ge Dongxu''s sake and was on tenterhooks, but what was the result?

    In the end, that guy was so awesome that he simply knocked down the fourth-degree black belt Cui Zhengxuan with a single move.

    At first, when Wu Yili saw Ge Dongxu take down Cui Zhengxuan, she was ecstatic, but slowly she began to feel something was off.

    It felt somewhat like being deceived!

    However, with so many teachers and students around just now, even if she felt displeased, it wasn''t good to show it. But now, with just her and Ge Dongxu together, her slight moodiness naturally revealed itself.

    "Uhm, Teacher Wu, are you angry? Actually, I did tell you before¡­" Ge Dongxu, who could almost be considered an immortal now, didn''t know why, but seeing Wu Yili with a serious face, he somehow felt inexplicably guilty and asked tentatively.

    "Hmph! You''ve become quite something, haven''t you? Already a master of the martial world! So many girls admire you, want you as their teacher, even a foreign female teacher wants to learn martial arts from you. Do you feel very proud, very elated, President Ge?" Wu Yili continued with her pretty face stern, stressing the words "President Ge" with a deliberate emphasis and even adding a drawn-out nasal tone.

    "Teacher Wu, please don''t talk to me like that, okay? I''m really faint-hearted!" Ge Dongxu said with a mournful expression.

    "Don''t they say great skill gives great courage? I really can''t see that you''re faint-hearted at all," Wu Yili said, giving Ge Dongxu a sideways glance.

    "Teacher Wu, I was wrong, I really was. I should''ve told you sooner that I know martial arts, so you wouldn''t have to worry so much, I should -" Seeing Wu Yili''s strange tone, Ge Dongxu could only admit his fault with a mournful face.

    "Pfft!" Wu Yili couldn''t really be angry with Ge Dongxu. She just felt a bit aggrieved thinking about the earlier incident, but now seeing Ge Dongxu so timid and apologetically making that face, she couldn''t help but laugh out loud.

 Chapter 583 - 582 Its All Your Fault

    Seeing Wu Yili finally turn her scowl into a smile, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but let out a sigh of relief and asked, "Teacher Wu, where to now?"

    "Off to eat, of course! Do you think that just because you''re a martial arts master you don''t need to partake in the pleasures of the mortal world?" Wu Yili said, giving Ge Dongxu a sidelong glance.

    "Of course not, so where shall we eat?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "How did you find the meal last time we went to Emerald Residence?" Wu Yili asked instead of answering.

    "It was quite good," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then shall we continue with the Emerald... wait, wait, how about we go to the riverbank for a barbecue?" Wu Yili, halfway through her sentence, suddenly brightened up at the thought and changed her suggestion.

    "You''re a university professor, is it really appropriate for you to go to the riverbank for a barbecue?" Ge Dongxu was taken aback at her suggestion.

    Last time Liu Jiayao had the sudden idea to go to the riverbank for a barbecue, and Ge Dongxu hadn''t expected Wu Yili to come up with the same idea now.

    "It''s a bit chaotic there with all sorts of people, and it''s not quite appropriate for me to go alone, but with you, a martial arts master, as my escort, there will be no problem. In fact, I really miss the feeling of sitting by the riverbank, eating barbecued meat, sipping on chilled drinks, amidst the noisy surroundings. After I returned to the country to teach, I wanted to relive that experience, but after an unpleasant incident occurred during one visit, I didn''t dare go again. Now with you around, even if something unexpected happens, it won''t be a problem," Wu Yili replied.

    "Then let''s go to the riverbank for barbecue. It''s an honor to be the flower-protecting emissary for a teacher," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Who said you could call yourself a flower-protecting emissary?" Wu Yili couldn''t help but blush slightly and poked Ge Dongxu''s forehead with her finger, tsking.

    "Clang!" A guy riding towards them collided head-on with a metasequoia tree by the roadside.

    Wu Yili, noticing the lecturer from their college who had just crashed into the tree, was taken aback, then suddenly realized why and her face turned red.

    The lecturer frantically picked up his bike, then quickly rode off. After covering some distance, he couldn''t resist glancing back at the curvaceous and sexy figure, his eyes filled with disbelief and an indescribable sense of loss.

    "It''s all your fault!" Recalling how the lecturer hadn''t stopped stealing glances at them even in his flustered state, Wu Yili''s cheeks heated up, and she couldn''t help but glare at Ge Dongxu.

    "Uh!" Ge Dongxu was utterly bewildered.

    He really had no clue why Wu Yili had suddenly made such an inexplicable remark out of nowhere.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s bewildered face, apparently unaware of what was off about the incident, Wu Yili''s cheeks grew even hotter.

    No, I''m the teacher! I''m his teacher!

    However, Wu Yili quickly realized that her emotions were not quite right and lifted her hand to smooth her hair, using the gesture to mask her embarrassment and to regain composure.

    By the time Wu Yili lowered her hand, she had regained her composed and solemn demeanor, but because she was a bit too forceful, she seemed a little too serious and stern, which made Ge Dongxu feel somewhat guilty. He carefully asked, "Teacher, are you angry?"

    Wu Yili had wanted to continue with a stern visage, but seeing Ge Dongxu''s careful demeanor, she couldn''t maintain her stern expression and shot him an annoyed look, saying, "Why should I be angry for no reason?"

    After being given a look by Wu Yili, Ge Dongxu sheepishly rubbed his nose. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As they were talking, they reached the school gate and then took a taxi.

    It had just passed National Day, and for Linzhou City, the evenings this season were the most cool and comfortable.

    They were still at the same riverside scenic platform''s A Fang Barbecue Shop where Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao had gone last time.

    However, because it wasn''t a weekend, there were a few empty spots.

    The two sat down and ordered some chicken wings, lamb skewers, and other things.

    "Let me do it, Teacher. You''re such an elegant person, having you grill chicken wings and lamb skewers would make the people around me want to hit me." As the food arrived, Ge Dongxu saw Wu Yili reaching to grab some of the barbecue and quickly snatched them away, saying.

    "Elegant? We''re all the same here!" Wu Yili gave Ge Dongxu a sideways glance with her pretty eyes, but inside she was pleased that Ge Dongxu described her with the words "elegant".

    "Haven''t you heard the phrase ''a crane standing among chickens''? Wherever you go, you''re different," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Nonsense! Focus on grilling your chicken wings and lamb skewers. If you burn them, see how I deal with you!" Wu Yili lifted her hand and lightly tapped Ge Dongxu''s head, chiding him.

    "Don''t worry, I guarantee that after you taste them, you''ll want me to come here and barbecue again," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Could it be that you''re also a barbecue expert?" Wu Yili said incredulously.

    Ge Dongxu just chuckled, not bothering to justify, and began to place things on the barbecue grill, skillfully flipping...

    Watching Ge Dongxu skillfully flip the meat and expertly sprinkle various seasonings, just like a professional street vendor selling lamb skewers, Wu Yili felt more distressed than surprised.

    Because she remembered the times when a young Ge Dongxu wore tattered clothes and dug for herbs in the mountains.

    "Did you start doing these chores when you were very young?" Wu Yili asked, feeling heartbroken.

    "Yes, I started following my master when I was eight. Since Master liked gourmet food, I began learning to make all kinds of delicacies back then," Ge Dongxu, while flipping the chicken wings, replied.

    "Is it the same master you mentioned last time who taught you the medicinal wine formula and the herbs for treating snake bites? Did you also learn martial arts from him?" Wu Yili asked.

    "Yes, I have only that one master," Ge Dongxu nodded and replied.

    "Then you must have suffered a lot when you were a child," Wu Yili said with even more sympathy.

    "Of course. But as they say, ''only through hardship can one become a person above others.'' Besides, meeting my master was the biggest opportunity of my life. Even though my childhood was tough, I am still grateful," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Even though my childhood was tough, I am still grateful!" Wu Yili''s ears echoed with Ge Dongxu''s last words; suddenly, it was as if she had returned to Baiyun Mountain. Visions of that sincere and simple smile, those black and clear eyes, filled her mind. In that moment, the Ge Dongxu in front of her finally overlapped completely with the memory of that youth from three years ago, and she couldn''t help but become a bit entranced.

    "The chicken wings are ready. Teacher, try them and see how they taste." As Wu Yili was lost in thought, a chicken wing appeared before her, engulfed in a fragrant aroma. Wu Yili instantly snapped back to reality, took the chicken wing, and looked down. She saw the chicken wing was plump and golden, with no trace of being burnt¡ªit was indeed visually tempting and smelled delicious.

    Wu Yili couldn''t help but feel her appetite surge. Her lips parted slightly, revealing two rows of neat snow-white teeth, and then she gently took a bite.

    With that one bite, Wu Yili was immediately stunned, almost biting her tongue in amazement.

 Chapter 584 - 583: Self-righteous Appearance

    Time flew by, and before we knew it, another three weeks had passed, bringing us to late October.

    During these three weeks, Ge Dongxu practiced, attended classes, spent time in the library, visited the hospital, and occasionally went to the Martial Arts Association to offer some guidance. He reserved one day each weekend to spend with Liu Jiayao. His life was tranquil yet fulfilling.

    At the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Ge Dongxu occasionally changed his mentoring doctors.

    Some of these changes were initiated by physicians from the Department of Internal Traditional Chinese Medicine at the instigation of Chang Yufeng, while others were requests made by Ge Dongxu to Tang Yiyuan.

    "Wang Haibo, Ge Dongxu, and Lin Xiaoxiao, you guys go back first. Lv Qi, come with me to my office," Director Lin Wenhong said to a group of graduate students and intern doctors as they were leaving for the weekend on Friday afternoon.

    This Lin Wenhong was the very director that Song Yongnan had privately mentioned to Ge Dongxu, the one who presented himself as an upright traditional Chinese doctor with impeccable conduct in public, but had harassed multiple female students and interns in private. He was also a professor at the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

    Lv Qi was a young female practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine sent from a county hospital for advanced training at the provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. She was not particularly beautiful, only above average, but she had a good figure, with a full chest and curved hips.

    Lin Wenhong, as a professor at the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a well-known doctor in Jiangnan Province, would normally have interns overjoyed at the opportunity to be asked to stay behind by someone of his stature. However, at his summons, Lv Qi''s body clearly tensed slightly, and her normally rosy cheeks immediately paled a bit.

    "Professor Lin, I''m sorry, but I have something to do today," Lv Qi said, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes.

    "I just want to talk to you about your internship work. It won''t take more than a few minutes," Lin Wenhong said.

    Lv Qi hadn''t expected Lin Wenhong to insist on keeping her there even after she had made an excuse, and her mouth fell open, unsure of how to decline further.

    "Since it will only take a few minutes, then Dr. Lv, you go ahead. I''ll wait for you outside Professor Lin''s office," Ge Dongxu said, noticing Lv Qi''s dilemma and stepping in.

    Surprise crossed Lv Qi''s face as she looked at Ge Dongxu in astonishment.

    Ge Dongxu gave her a quick wink, and Lv Qi suddenly realized what he was doing and hurriedly said, "Alright, then you wait for me outside Professor Lin''s office for a few minutes."

    The changes in Lv Qi''s expression did not escape Lin Wenhong''s notice and he could not help but frown slightly, his gaze towards Ge Dongxu laced with annoyance.

    "Forget it. Since you have other matters, we can talk about this tomorrow. Oh, and Ge Dongxu, you don''t need to come to me next week," Lin Wenhong said dismissively, waving his hand.

    "Ah! What''s this about, Professor Lin? Isn''t Ge Dongxu doing well with his internship?" Lv Qi exclaimed in surprise, her face turning ashen.

    "I understand that, but I have too many people here, and I can''t teach them all. Alright, this matter is settled," Lin Wenhong said firmly, leaving no room for argument as he stood up and left the consultation room.

    As he walked out of the consultation room, a cold smirk crept onto the corner of Lin Wenhong''s lips. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Watching Lin Wenhong stand and exit the consultation room, Lv Qi''s complexion went through several changes, and finally, she clenched her teeth and stepped forward to follow him.

    "Dr. Lv, where do you think you''re going?" Ge Dongxu asked, stopping her in her tracks.

    "It''s nothing, Professor Lin wants to talk to me about internship work, right? I''ll go and talk to him," Lv Qi said, a fierce determination shining in her eyes.

    "You should know that Professor Lin has other intentions in asking to meet with you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "I know. Before you came to confront Professor Lin a few days ago, he had already kept me behind once. I was actually quite happy at the time, but then he took the opportunity to teach me medical skills to make moves on me. This time it''s certainly the same plan," Lv Qi said.

    "And you''re still going?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Didn''t you hear what Professor Lin just said? I can''t drag you down with me. Besides, this internship opportunity is very important to me. If Professor Lin gives me a bad evaluation, or even makes a call to the leaders of our hospital, I might lose my job. At worst, I''ll just endure being groped a few times," Lv Qi said with a look of helplessness.

    "This Lin Wenhong really is a hypocritical lecher. I guessed you might have suffered from him when I saw your expression just now. People like Lin Wenhong, the more afraid and weak you show yourself to be, the more he will push the boundaries. It won''t just stop at him taking liberties with you. Are you saying you would just put up with it if it really came to that?" Ge Dongxu said, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

    He had heard about Lin Wenhong from Song Yongnan before, but it was after all hearsay, and he couldn''t just take it for granted that Lin Wenhong was a hypocritical lecher. Now that he had confirmed Lin Wenhong was indeed such a person, he naturally felt a surge of anger.

    "He is a professor and a famous practitioner of traditional medicine in Jiangnan Province. He couldn''t possibly be so shameless, could he?" Lv Qi said.

    "Once a person loses their moral compass, they often have no bottom line. If you were a student of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, he probably wouldn''t dare to do this, considering his reputation. But you''re just an advanced study doctor from a county hospital; if he really does something, what can you do to him?" Ge Dongxu said.

    Hearing this, Lv Qi thought for a moment and her face turned quite pale as she despairingly said, "Then, what should I do?"

    "Don''t worry, I have a good relationship with Professor Tang. I''ll ask him to change your supervisor," Ge Dongxu said.

    "With the situation as it is, you still have the mood to joke about this?" Lv Qi stared at Ge Dongxu in surprise, then gave him a look and said with a bitter smile.

    "I''m serious. Didn''t you see Lin Wenhong kick me out? If something was really going on, would I still have the mood to talk about these things with you?" Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    "But even if you have a good relationship with Professor Tang, how could he possibly listen to you? You''re so young, just an intern, and Professor Tang is a master of traditional Chinese medicine," Lv Qi said, seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t look like he was joking, but still finding it hard to believe.

    "Anyway, now that things have come to this, the worst that can happen is you wait a few more days and see how it goes," Ge Dongxu said, knowing that Lv Qi found it difficult to believe in him, suggesting a step back as a way forward.

    Although Lv Qi didn''t hold out much hope for Ge Dongxu, she thought what he said made sense, so she nodded and replied, "Okay, then I''ll wait and see. But thank you for today, I''m sorry for dragging you into this."

    "Hehe, don''t mention it. What''s this about dragging me into it? I never intended to continue with Lin Wenhong anyway," Ge Dongxu said, waving his hand dismissively.

    "Still, I want to thank you. Are you free tonight? I''d like to treat you to dinner," Lv Qi said, feeling even more remorseful and grateful as Ge Dongxu kept dismissing it.

    "Not tonight, I''ve already made plans with my girlfriend," Ge Dongxu said, looking apologetic.

    Today was the weekend, and he had already made arrangements with Liu Jiayao.

 Chapter 585 - 584 Preparing for the Official Debut

    "Ah, you already have a girlfriend, so it looks like I can''t ask you out to eat alone anymore, otherwise it might cause your girlfriend to misunderstand and that would be troublesome," Lv Qi said with a smile.

    "Haha, no, my girlfriend is really nice," Ge Dongxu replied, laughing, and then the two of them talked as they left the consultation room.

    Not far away, Lin Wenhong stood in front of his office, pretending to push the door open, but his gaze stealthily glanced towards his consultation room.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu and Lv Qi chatting and striding away, Lin Wenhong''s expression darkened.

    He had thought that the remark he dropped earlier would serve as a warning to Lv Qi, and then she would obediently come over alone, but unexpectedly, the two of them seemed to leave as if nothing had happened.

    "Good one, Ge Dongxu, I don''t mess with you, yet you spoil my chances!" Lin Wenhong''s face suddenly changed, revealing a flash of fury mixed with embarrassment.

    Cursing inwardly, Lin Wenhong pushed the door and entered his office, then called Chang Yufeng.

    Over these three or four weeks, Chang Yufeng had been badmouthing Ge Dongxu in front of the teachers, so now nearly all the teachers in the internal medicine department knew Chang Yufeng''s eagerness to get rid of Ge Dongxu quickly.

    Lin Wenhong, after all, was a professor and a renowned practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, proud of his status, and he did not really want to engage in these petty squabbles; after all, in his opinion, Ge Dongxu was just an intern, and it seemed pointless to bother with him.

    But Lin Wenhong had not expected that he would kindly spare Ge Dongxu from trouble, not bothering him, and yet Ge Dongxu seemed to intentionally sabotage his opportunity. The more Lin Wenhong thought about it, the more he felt that just not letting him intern with him was far from enough; he had to get this fellow fired.

    When Lin Wenhong called Chang Yufeng, Chang was actually considering going over to speak ill of Ge Dongxu. He hadn''t expected Lin to take the initiative to call him, which made Chang quite delighted.

    "I now understand why you dislike Ge Dongxu so much. This Ge Dongxu is really lax and undisciplined, arrogant, and disrespectful to his elders. I think at the monthly meeting on Monday noon, Dr. Chang should definitely bring this up to Professor Tang. Such a corrupting influence must be kicked out of our Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and his employer must also be notified," Lin Wenhong said.

    "Yes, I had actually spoken to Professor Tang in private last time, but I don''t know what kind of spell Ge Dongxu has cast on him; he just wouldn''t believe what I said, repeatedly making allowances for Ge Dongxu. This time, I think it''s useless for me to say anything; Professor Tang might even think I''m intentionally opposing him," Chang Yufeng said, feeling overjoyed that Lin Wenhong was taking a stand against Ge Dongxu, but his voice carried a feigned concern. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "As medical practitioners, we must be realistic and honest. Since Ge Dongxu is truly inadequate, then it must be pointed out; a single rotten apple should not be allowed to spoil the whole barrel. You just bring it up, and at that time, I will also step forward and speak," Lin Wenhong said with a frown upon hearing Chang''s words.

    "Right, right, Professor Lin is absolutely correct; this is exactly what I was thinking. Okay then, I will definitely bring it up at the monthly meeting on Monday," Chang Yufeng had been waiting for Lin Wenhong''s words, and immediately affirmed his stance upon hearing them.

    After expressing his stance, Chang Yufeng exchanged a few more pleasantries with Lin Wenhong on the phone, then hung up, completely satisfied.

    "Ge Dongxu, opposing me, this time I won''t just make you leave, I''ll make sure you can''t even be a doctor!" After hanging up with Lin Wenhong, Chang Yufeng''s face expressed relish and schadenfreude.

    Lin Wenhong was a renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in Jiangnan Province and a professor at Jiangnan Province University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Once he spoke up, his words naturally carried more weight than those of Chang Yufeng, the deputy chief physician.

    ...

    Ge Dongxu parted ways with Lv Qi at the entrance of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and then cycled toward Yadu Garden.

    On the way, Ge Dongxu called Tang Yiyuan.

    Tang Yiyuan quickly answered the phone.

    "I''ve observed everyone about enough, so let''s end the internship today. Arrange a time next week for everyone to meet, I should officially introduce myself to everyone," Ge Dongxu said straightforwardly as soon as the call connected.

    Actually, there were still a few doctors in the internal medicine department that Ge Dongxu hadn''t worked with. However, over these few weeks, he had had some contact with them, and combined with his observations in the big office and the private discussions of the students and intern doctors, Ge Dongxu could make some preliminary judgments through facial analysis.

    Taking all the information into account, Ge Dongxu felt there was no need to continue the internship. If there were any misjudgments, he could simply remove those individuals later on.

    "Okay, we have a monthly meeting for our department on Monday noon. Since you feel ready to meet everyone officially, I will schedule the meeting for after work in the afternoon," Tang Yiyuan said.

    "That''s not necessary. Just hold the meeting at the usual time. Don''t wait for me, get the department meeting out of the way first. After I have lunch at the school, I''ll come over. When I arrive, we can discuss my matters at the end. This way, it won''t delay the work in the afternoon," Ge Dongxu considered and then said.

    "Alright, we''ll do as you''ve said. Our meetings usually start at twelve and typically finish within an hour," Tang Yiyuan replied.

    "That works, I''ll arrive around twelve-thirty," Ge Dongxu said before hanging up the phone.

    Riding his bicycle, before he had even reached Yadu Garden, Ge Dongxu spotted Liu Jiayao standing at the entrance of the community, looking in his direction from afar.

    A white T-shirt, blue jeans, her black hair casually tied into a ponytail.

    At this moment, even though Liu Jiayao''s clothing and styling were very ordinary, on her, this simplicity exuded an incredibly stunning and comforting impression.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu cycling toward her from a distance, Liu Jiayao immediately raised her arm and waved at him, her face adorned with a happy and contented smile.

    Looking at Liu Jiayao under the glow of the setting sun, waving cheerfully at him, a warm and indescribable feeling surged from the bottom of his heart and spread throughout his entire being.

    Ge Dongxu pedaled faster and soon outpaced many other bicycles, then stopped in front of Liu Jiayao.

    "Have you been waiting long?" Ge Dongxu asked softly as he dismounted.

    "Not really, I just got here myself," Liu Jiayao naturally took Ge Dongxu''s hand, attracting envious glances from many passers-by.

    "That''s good, shall we eat at home again today?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Of course! You''ve already become so impoverished that you have to bike to our date, how could I dare to ask you to splurge on dinner at the Mingyue Lake revolving restaurant? Let''s go buy groceries instead," Liu Jiayao said, tilting her delicate chin and teasing Ge Dongxu.

    "Haha! It seems I have found a wife who knows how to manage a household well," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Wrong, I''ve found a stingy husband like Ge Langtai!" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a white glance and then couldn''t help but cover her mouth and giggle.

 Chapter 586 - 585 Routine Meeting

    "Dare to call me stingy? Come on, hubby will take you to..." Ge Dongxu, seeing Liu Jiayao giggling nonstop, wrapped an arm around her sexy waist, feeling indignant, and declared, "the supermarket!"

    "Giggle! You bad guy!" Liu Jiayao, as Ge Dongxu indignantly spat out the words "supermarket," first froze for a moment and then promptly began to beat him with her small fists while laughing so hard that her limbs shook. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In their playful scuffle, Ge Dongxu parked the bicycle and then the pair, holding hands, walked to the supermarket together.

    Fortunately, Liu Jiayao was always low-key, never appearing on any shows or in newspapers, and there was even less need to mention Ge Dongxu. Otherwise, if people knew that this couple, walking to the supermarket, and then pushing a cart in the vegetable and meat section picking out food¡ªa stunning beauty and a handsome guy, one the boss of a cosmetics company, the other the largest shareholder of several major companies¡ªit would have immediately caused a huge commotion.

    They bought some groceries, snacks, and daily necessities at the supermarket, then hand in hand, they went home.

    Once home, Ge Dongxu naturally took care of the kitchen, while Liu Jiayao periodically fed him some fruit and snacks at his side.

    After enjoying their dinner, the two strolled along the Jinglin River for a while before returning to their apartment, and then enticing moans and gasps sounded in the bedroom...

    Late at night, during the Chinese Hour of the Rat, Ge Dongxu gently kissed the sleeping Liu Jiayao, who was exhausted at his side, got dressed quietly, and left the main bedroom. He then went to the terrace, arranged the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade all around, and closed his eyes to cultivate.

    Yatu Apartments were built along the Jinglin River, surrounded by lush green trees and flowing water, a rare oasis of cleaner air amidst the bustling city.

    Under the moonlight, the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Talismans Jade flickered faintly, corresponding distantly to the Big Dipper embedded in the night sky.

    Bits of stellar essence fell from the starry heavens, gathered by the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation and swirling around Ge Dongxu.

    Under the night sky, if someone approached Ge Dongxu, they would find his body shimmering with radiant light, exuding an especially solemn and majestic aura that unconsciously commanded respect and worship.

    True Qi circulated endlessly through the Twelve Regular Meridians.

    With each circulation, the True Qi grew stronger, nourishing the Meridians and organs, finally converging in the Dantian.

    "Thump! Thump! Thump!" His heart, already forming an Air Cyclone both inside and out, beat with more force than ever before, as if a great drum was being struck inside him.

    A Chinese Hour passed in the blink of an eye, and Ge Dongxu slowly opened his eyes.

    Today''s cultivation, like the recent period, had no significant breakthrough, nor did it have the successive breakthroughs like after experiencing Unity of Heaven and Man before. Instead, it was a steady progress, showing no sign of hitting a bottleneck.

    This made Ge Dongxu feel very fortunate.

    Because in this era of the Dharma''s decline, steady daily progress in cultivation was a luxury for the vast majority of Cultivators, let alone for someone like him who continued to advance steadily after reaching his current Realm.

    If this could continue, perhaps by next year, I would reach the Tenth Layer of Qi Cultivation. By then, I wonder if these Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Talismans Jade will still support such steady progress. If not, I fear I''ll have to search for Spiritual Medicine and start Alchemy.

    With these thoughts in mind, Ge Dongxu stood up and silently returned to the bedroom.

    ...

    Since many doctors at Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospitals need to see patients or have research, teaching, and other duties, in order not to delay patient care and normal work, the department of internal medicine holds its monthly meetings on the last Monday at noon each month.

    And October was no exception.

    On Monday at noon, the doctors of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine finished their shifts, hurriedly had their meals, and then went to the conference room.

    Today was the monthly routine meeting for the Department, not only was Cai Bomming, the president of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, present, but even Feng Yaping, the president of the Jiangnan Province University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, had also arrived.

    Such high-level attendance, particularly the personal presence of President Feng Yaping, left everyone in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine feeling an indescribable surprise and shock.

    Could it be that there was an important personnel announcement about to be made?

    Many were quietly speculating, but felt it unlikely as there had not been any hints beforehand. Moreover, to prompt President Feng Yaping to come personally, any significant personnel change would likely involve a change in the department head position.

    And the head of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine was Tang Yiyuan.

    Tang Yiyuan was originally highly skilled in medicine, and his medical skills had become increasingly formidable over the years, so much so that even the senior professors and traditional Chinese medicine doctors had quietly conceded their inferiority, offering deep respect.

    Unless he was planning to leave of his own accord, the school and the hospital would be eager to retain him, and it would be impossible to ease him out of his position without good reason.

    And for those in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine who interacted with him every day, if Tang Yiyuan had any change in his position, it was impossible that there wouldn''t be a hint of information leaked.

    The attendees couldn''t figure it out.

    Even Chang Yufeng, who had a father as vice-president, couldn''t understand it either, since his father had never mentioned any major personnel changes in the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine.

    Though he couldn''t make sense of it, the presence of President Feng and President Cai made Chang Yufeng secretly pleased.

    He had been worried that if he brought up Ge Dongxu''s issue during the monthly routine meeting, and if Tang Yiyuan insisted on covering for Ge Dongxu, even with the presence of Lin Wenhong and others, it would likely be hard to shake Tang Yiyuan''s authority.

    But with President Feng and President Cai present, the situation was naturally entirely different, especially President Feng. As the head of the entire school, even President Cai was a subordinate to her, and her husband was the governor of Jiangnan Province¡ªher authority at Jiangnan Province University of Traditional Chinese Medicine was absolutely unmatchable.

    Once he brought the matter to light, with professors and associate professors like Lin Wenhong speaking against Ge Dongxu, even Tang Yiyuan would find it difficult to outright protect Ge Dongxu in front of President Feng and President Cai.

    The meeting began as soon as everyone had arrived.

    To everyone''s great surprise, the meeting started without Tang Yiyuan asking President Feng and President Cai to speak, instead following the procedure of a regular meeting.

    First, Tang Yiyuan gave an overview of the Department''s operations over the past month, briefly commented on some doctors'' work, and then let the doctors report their situations or put forward suggestions or ideas.

    After Tang Yiyuan finished speaking, the doctors all looked at each other, feeling something was amiss.

    Could it be that President Feng and President Cai were so idle? They had specifically come to sit in and listen to the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine''s monthly routine meeting?

    After a brief awkward silence, people began to stand up and report on their work. Chang Yufeng, though eager to bring up Ge Dongxu''s issue at once, also knew that if he rushed, it could make Tang Yiyuan and others feel that he had ulterior motives, so he temporarily refrained and listened to other doctors'' reports.

    After about three or four individuals had spoken, Chang Yufeng could not hold back any longer and raised his hand.

    "I have a suggestion," Chang Yufeng said after Tang Yiyuan nodded to signal. "I believe our Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Internal Medicine should strengthen guidance and management of intern doctors. For those who lack discipline and dedication, who are arrogant in their actions and disobey their mentors'' commands, we must decisively discipline them. Otherwise, it is very easy to corrupt the ethos of our Department."

 Chapter 587 - 586: Reprimand

    "I hadn''t noticed that issue. Let''s hear it, who are you referring to by ''certain individuals''?" Tang Yiyuan''s face darkened as he spoke, his gaze turning icy as he looked at Tang Yiyuan.

    President Feng and Dean Cai, however, were unaware of whom Chang Yufeng was talking about. Their expressions remained unchanged, just watching Chang Yufeng.

    Seeing Professor Tang Yiyuan''s expression turn somewhat abnormal, Chang Yufeng felt a jolt within, but considering President Feng and Dean Cai were present, and Professor Lin Wenhong had already made clear his intention to deal with Ge Dongxu, along with several others he had secretly incited, he quickly regained his composure.

    "The ''certain individual'' I was referring to is Ge Dongxu, this young intern. He lacks discipline and organization, acts recklessly, and disrespects his mentors. I believe such a person must be dealt with seriously," Chang Yufeng said sternly.

    Upon hearing Chang Yufeng mention Ge Dongxu, the faces of President Feng and Dean Cai changed instantly. However, both being leaders, managed to keep their composure and did not speak. Instead, they just looked deeply at Chang Yufeng and then surveyed the other people in the meeting room to see their reactions.

    "Is this just the opinion of Chang Yufeng, or do all the present members share this view?" Tang Yiyuan did not bang on the desk and lose his temper as before, but merely gave Chang Yufeng a cold look before slowly sweeping his gaze over everyone else in the room.

    "I share the same view. I supervised him last week, and Ge Dongxu indeed lacks discipline and organization, doesn''t follow instructions, and disrespects mentors. He must be seriously dealt with," Lin Wenhong spoke up.

    "Yes, Ge Dongxu really is like that," a noticeably plump doctor added.

    This doctor, Dr. Jia, was the very associate head, associate professor Song Yongnan had secretly mentioned to Ge Dongxu, known for being greedy and not letting students graduate smoothly unless they offered him gifts.

    Because Chang Yufeng''s father was the vice dean, Dr. Jia had always had a good relationship with Chang Yufeng. Thus when Ge Dongxu was with him, he had intentionally made things difficult for Ge Dongxu. However, Ge Dongxu had ignored him and switched mentors the very next day. Naturally, Dr. Jia held a grudge over this incident.

    "I also supervised Ge Dongxu, and on the contrary, I think he is quite exceptional, and his medical skills are very impressive," He Ruiduan, who had always had a deep and favorable impression of Ge Dongxu, couldn''t help but speak out on his behalf as Chang Yufeng and others openly criticized him. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dr. He, your statement clearly seems to be excusing Ge Dongxu. How could he, a mere intern in his early twenties, be highly skilled in medicine? Is that even possible?" Lin Wenhong said with displeasure.

    "Exactly, if his medical skills are really that impressive, would he need to intern here?" Chang Yufeng added, giving He Ruiduan a menacing look.

    "I''m not sure whether Ge Dongxu''s medical skills are impressive, but regarding being undisciplined, reckless, and disrespectful to mentors, I haven''t noticed that," said another doctor, adopting an attitude of sticking to the facts, seeing that Lin Wenhong and others were evidently targeting Ge Dongxu.

    The meeting room then erupted into a hubbub of mixed opinions.

    There were those who were opportunistic or biased, seeing that Lin Wenhong and others clearly intended to target Ge Dongxu, thought it was just an intern anyway, and went along with their views. Some spoke impartially, not partaking in kicking someone when they were down, but the only one truly standing up for Ge Dongxu was He Duanrui.

    Even so, by the end, even Xie Jinmo, under Chang Yufeng''s intimidating gaze, gritted his teeth and also voiced criticisms against Ge Dongxu.

    Tang Yiyuan, who had been suppressing his anger and observing coldly, finally couldn''t bear it when his former student spoke against Ge Dongxu once again. He slammed the table and shouted, "Enough!"

    The meeting room suddenly fell silent, except for Chang Yufeng and Xie Jinmo who felt a pang of shock, the others exchanged glances, not knowing why Tang Yiyuan was so angry when everyone was just discussing matters.

    "They say a doctor should have a heart of compassion, but he is just an intern; do you really need to scheme against him like this?" Tang Yiyuan said angrily, his gaze coldly sweeping over those who had just been speaking ill of Ge Dongxu.

    As soon as Tang Yiyuan had spoken, people like Deputy Director Jia were alright, not daring to easily speak up in defense under Tang Yiyuan''s icy stare. However, senior university professors like Lin Wenhong, a well-known traditional Chinese medicine expert, immediately changed their expression and said, "Professor Tang, what do you mean by that? You need to clarify this to us! You can''t just slander us because you are a skilled doctor and the head of the internal medicine department!"

    "Director Lin has a point! Then may I ask you, when I interned under you, did I ever act undisciplined, flamboyant, and disobey orders? You are the chief physician, a university professor, do you think you can just slander people at will? Or is it because I thwarted your plans, so you bear a grudge and insist on taking revenge against me? If that is so, I''m not mincing words here, Director Lin, you don''t deserve to be a doctor, a teacher, or even a person!" As soon as Lin Wenhong finished speaking, the door of the meeting room was pushed open.

    Ge Dongxu stood there proudly, his gaze coldly fixed on Lin Wenhong.

    "President Feng, Dean Cai, and all teachers, look at this, what kind of attitude is this? This person must be dealt with seriously," Lin Wenhong said, enraged and embarrassed as Ge Dongxu publicly exposed his devious intentions.

    "Ge Dongxu, what is your status? Is this a place you can just barge into? Get out of here immediately!" Chang Yufeng, seeing Ge Dongxu, an intern, barge in and brazenly speak up, was actually overjoyed and immediately shouted at him harshly.

    That scolding, as it left his mouth, gave Chang Yufeng an intense thrill of satisfaction!

    He had been waiting for this day for a long time! Today, he could finally scold him openly and rightfully.

    "I think the one who should leave is you, but you may stay a bit longer. Even if I tell you to leave, I''ll make sure you understand why," Ge Dongxu said disdainfully and disgustedly as he glanced at Chang Yufeng and spoke coldly.

    Ge Dongxu was really disgusted by Chang Yufeng''s jealousy and his vindictiveness.

    Actually, in reality, there was no grievance between him and Chang Yufeng beyond him briefly pretending to be Wu Yili''s boyfriend; yet, Chang Yufeng had persistently targeted him, suppressed him, and even malevolently tried to strip him of his medical career.

    "President Feng, Dean Cai, Professor Tang, you all see, if this person is¡­" Chang Yufeng, Lin Wenhao and others all said with ugly looks on their faces, their eyes on Ge Dongxu were like looking at a dead man.

    The other people in the meeting room also shook their heads, even He Duanrui helplessly sighed, looking at Ge Dongxu as if he was a disappointment.

    At the end of the day, Ge Dongxu was just an intern!

    An intern, dramatically scolding chief physicians and deputy directors in a routine meeting¡ªno matter how much He Ruiduan favored Ge Dongxu, at this point, he was helpless to defend him.

    As for the others, not standing up to criticize Ge Dongxu at this time was already a mercy; how could they possibly speak up for him!

 Chapter 588 - 587 Announcing an Important Matter

    "Chang Yufeng and Lin Wenhong, all of you shut your mouths!" Just as Chang Yufeng, Lin Wenhong, and the others started to scold Ge Dongxu, thinking this time he was definitely finished, Feng Yaping abruptly stood up, her face as cold as frost, and barked at them. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The meeting room instantly became quiet.

    Everyone''s eyes widened, unbelieving as they looked at President Feng.

    "Director Ge, I''m sorry to have embarrassed you. I will deal with these people severely." While everyone was still in shock, staring at President Feng in disbelief, President Feng had already left her seat and walked over to Ge Dongxu, extending her hand to him with an apologetic expression.

    "Director Ge!" Seeing President Feng''s hand tightly clasping Ge Dongxu''s, and hearing her address him as "Director," the previously unbelieving crowd now had their mouths wide open, their jaws nearly hitting the floor, completely dumbfounded.

    What is going on here?

    How does Ge Dongxu know President Feng? And why would President Feng address a young man as "Director"?

    "Indeed, they must be dealt with severely!" Ge Dongxu nodded, then let go of President Feng''s hand and walked to the center of the meeting room, to the seat representing the leadership position.

    By this time, Tang Yiyuan had already stood up, pulled out a chair, and said with a look of guilt, "Sir, please have a seat."

    Ge Dongxu had come to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital''s internal medicine department to serve as a mentor to everyone, including Tang Yiyuan.

    Since he was here to be a mentor, a role model for teachers, to be held in high regard, Ge Dongxu naturally would no longer be modest or unassuming. He nodded at Tang Yiyuan and then unapologetically took the seat that represented the leader.

    "This¡­" As they saw Tang Yiyuan, a prestigious figure in Jiangnan Province''s Traditional Chinese Medicine community, personally pull out a chair for Ge Dongxu and respectfully address him as "Sir," everyone in the meeting room inhaled sharply. As for Chang Yufeng, Xie Jingmo, Lin Wenhong, and the others, their expressions changed drastically, and their breathing became heavy.

    By now, Chang Yufeng and the others had realized who President Feng and Dean Cai were here for.

    But still, they couldn''t understand why!

    Sure enough, after Ge Dongxu sat down, President Feng took a seat next to him. At his signal, she slowly scanned all the people in the room, cleared her throat, and spoke in a solemn tone, "This is Ge Dongxu, Director Ge. I believe you have all met and recognize him. Today, Dean Cai and I have come here personally to announce an important matter."

    "Starting today, Mr. Ge Dongxu is our university''s distinguished professor and a visiting physician of our internal medicine department. His job is not to treat patients, but to be a dedicated mentor that we have specially invited for our internal medicine department."

    As President Feng finished speaking, except for Tang Yiyuan, who looked excited, even Dean Cai, who had already been notified, could only manage a wry smile. As for the others, it needs no mention¡ªthey were all thunderstruck, then, all at once, the room erupted into chaos.

    "What? President Feng, are you serious? This young man, not even fully grown, is supposed to be our mentor?" Chang Yufeng asked with a dark expression.

    If things were really like this, it would be nothing short of a slap in the face and a humiliation for him!

    "President Feng, I strongly object, even if you are the president, you can''t make such arbitrary arrangements! What does he count for? Just a youngster, by what right is he specially appointed as a professor at our school, by what right does he get to instruct us in our medical skills? Among us here, who isn''t a veteran in medicine with years of immersion, what qualifications does he have to instruct us? Isn''t this a huge joke?" Lin Wenhong stood up abruptly, his face livid with rage.

    "I object too! He has no right to teach us!" Vice Director Jia echoed.

    "I object, he simply isn''t qualified." Some of those who had previously attacked and slandered Ge Dongxu also started voicing their ugly opposition in protest.

    President Feng, seeing the effort she had made to persuade Ge Dongxu to become a mentor, enabling Jiangnan Province''s Traditional Chinese Medicine University and Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to achieve a leap forward and truly promote the prestige of traditional medicine, was taken aback to find that, instead of appreciating her painstaking effort, these people started standing up and reproaching in protest, making her feel as if she couldn''t hold her face up, and felt even more that she had let Ge Dongxu down, fearing that he might storm off in a fit of anger, her face turning iron blue as she was about to slam the table and curse.

    However, before President Feng could burst out, Ge Dongxu held out his hand to stop her, his gaze slowly sweeping over Lin Wenhong and others, he spoke indifferently, "Rest assured, even if you wanted to invite me to teach, I would absolutely not instruct you in medical skills."

    At this point, Ge Dongxu paused, his gaze continued to sweep over those who had not spoken up, including He Duanrui, and continued, "You all heard what President Feng just said, and the words of Director Chang, Director Lin, among others. I am indeed here to serve as a mentor and to teach medical skills, but I am certainly not going to forcibly be your teacher and insist on imparting my medical skills to you, which I believe are not so cheap. As President Feng has already mentioned, aside from Chang Yufeng and others who do not have the opportunity to choose, the rest of you have the right to choose. You all should decide now, the opportunity comes only once, so I hope you think it over carefully. As for me, I think you should now understand why I wanted to be an intern here previously."

    Ge Dongxu''s words echoed in the meeting room, and suddenly, it went quiet, only interrupted by the overlapping heavy breathing.

    Many of those attending the meeting were associate professors, professors with high rank; each one, if not exceptionally smart, had at least above-average intelligence.

    At the beginning, when Professor Feng announced the hiring of Ge Dongxu as a visiting physician for the internal medicine department, responsible for instructing the doctors in their medical skills, everyone had felt it absurd and ridiculous.

    However, after the successive questioning and protesting, when Ge Dongxu''s gaze swept over the crowd, urging them to choose carefully, when they calmed down and remembered the respectful and reverent attitude President Feng had exhibited towards Ge Dongxu, when they remembered that even a highly skilled doctor like Tang Yiyuan had personally moved a chair for Ge Dongxu to sit down and addressed him as "Mister"¡­

    Could it be that both President Feng and Tang Yiyuan had lost their minds?

    Remembering the rapid progress in Tang Yiyuan''s medical skills over the years¡­

    The deeper they thought, the heavier and more chaotic the breathing in the meeting room became.

    Many among them were associate professors, professors of a high rank, well-known traditional Chinese doctors in Jiangnan Province; for them to listen to the instructions of a youngster, which to some extent was tantamount to acknowledging him as their master, seemed utterly absurd and laughable.

    But the problem was, even Tang Yiyuan referred to him as "Mister," and if his medical skills were indeed sublime, the opportunity would only be given to those destined to seize it. If they missed this one chance, perhaps they would have missed an opportunity for medical advancement, to save lives and gain fame across the world.

    But he was so young, could his medical skills truly have reached a transcendent level? That seemed utterly impossible.

 Chapter 589 - 588: Is This Ability Enough?

    "I welcome Director Ge to our Department of Internal Medicine to guide us in our medical skills." After a long silence, a voice broke the quiet, it was He Duanrui.

    "He Duanrui, have you lost your mind? A young man in his twenties, even if his medical skills are indeed good, do you mean to say that the decades of medical practice you''ve completed are for naught, that you still need his guidance?" Lin Wenhong was already in a difficult position, and upon seeing He Duanrui break the deadlock, he immediately retorted with a sinister face.

    Tang Yiyuan and Feng Yaping both looked displeased at Lin Wenhong''s words, but under Ge Dongxu''s signaling, they didn''t speak up. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "During my internship, Director Ge truly offered guidance on my medical practice; I was shocked at the time, but I had never considered him as our mentor. I only thought of him as being more skilled in medicine. Now, President Feng''s words have enlightened me. The capable should lead, the able should teach. I had my own age prejudice then, so I didn''t think it through further or seek his advice." He Duanrui spoke earnestly.

    As a deputy chief physician, He Duanrui was naturally quite skilled, and although his statement couldn''t confirm the extent of Ge Dongxu''s medical prowess, it at least suggested that it was superior to his own.

    Just this point alone shocked many doctors, and their gaze towards Ge Dongxu became increasingly complex.

    After all, Ge Dongxu appeared to be only about twenty years old.

    After the initial shock, gradually, some of the older teachers began voicing their support.

    However, most of these supporting teachers were attending physicians or deputy chief physicians; the chief physicians, equivalent to university professors, had not yet spoken up.

    After all, the latter were Traditional Chinese Medicine experts, renowned practitioners in Jiangnan Province, and some, like Tang Yiyuan, were even postgraduate supervisors.

    It wasn''t easy for such high-level individuals to accept a young man to come and guide them in the Department of Internal Medicine!

    Time ticked away, second by second.

    Ultimately, among the eight chief physicians in the Department of Internal Medicine, including Lin Wenhong, five had chosen not to support, and three, including Tang Yiyuan himself, were supportive.

    Among the doctors below chief physician rank, aside from Chang Yufeng and others who initially expressed opposition, the majority were supportive.

    After all, the status of President Feng and Tang Yiyuan was evident, and He Duanrui had already clarified; to them, as long as Ge Dongxu''s medical skills were superior, seeking his advice occasionally was only beneficial.

    Aside from Lin Wenhong, the four chief physicians who were not supportive, although they did not support the appointment of Ge Dongxu as professor at the Jiangnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, nor his appointment as a visiting physician in the Department of Internal Medicine, they simply had a bias against his age and were too proud to consider Ge Dongxu skilled enough to guide them, explicitly stating that they did not require his guidance.

    Seeing that more than half of the chief physicians did not support Ge Dongxu, President Feng and Tang Yiyuan''s gazes towards them couldn''t help but reveal a sense of regret.

    However, they both understood that Ge Dongxu was an extraordinary person.

    Extraordinary people often act on fate when it comes to many matters.

    It''s not possible to casually take on apprentices and then pass on unique skills.

    In fact, traditional Chinese medicine masters were very strict about choosing disciples.

    You couldn''t just become an apprentice because you wanted to; at the very least, you had to serve at the master''s side for a few years, proving your suitability through your words and actions before the master would formally accept you as a disciple.

    And once accepted, it was a very solemn affair. One had to perform the apprenticeship ceremony, and after that, the relationship was akin to ''once a teacher, forever a father.'' Only then would the master hand down the true medical skills to the disciple.

    Tang Yiyuan, a veteran of traditional Chinese medicine, was influenced by these old traditions, so even if he hadn''t formally taken Ge Dongxu as a master, because Ge Dongxu had indeed taught him a lot about medicine, he had long respected him as his master in his heart.

    For Ge Dongxu to willingly take on students today, in the eyes of President Feng and Tang Yiyuan, was already very rare. He had already lowered his stature greatly; to ask him to forcibly take students was definitely impossible.

    Now that the opportunity had been given, Tang Yiyuan and President Feng had set an example; if those chief physicians were unwilling to believe and lower their pride to seize this chance, it could only be said that they did not have the good fortune or the fate. They had no one to blame, certainly not Ge Dongxu.

    Other than Tang Yiyuan and President Feng, no one there could possibly understand this.

    Even Lin Wenhong, who bore ill will, became somewhat vainglorious when he saw that four chief physicians also expressed their lack of support. Pointing at Ge Dongxu, he said, "Ge Dongxu, I don''t mean to be rude, but who here isn''t older than you, who doesn''t have more experience than you? Even if the leaders support you, even if some doctors follow suit, you still have to show your real skills."

    "That''s right. When it comes to practicing medicine, there''s no room for half-measures. If you truly have the skill, then show us some of your medical expertise, or let Professor Lin test you. If you''re really as good as they say, I will apologize to you right here and now; otherwise, please have some self-awareness and resign on your own accord," Chang Yufeng added, emboldened by the majority of chief physicians not supporting Ge Dongxu.

    After all, the school and hospital are different from other government institutions. Although President Feng and Professor Tang Yiyuan have great power, the chief physicians and expert professors have significant influence in the schools, hospitals, and even the Traditional Chinese Medicine community of Jiangnan Province. If they band together, even President Feng and Tang Yiyuan couldn''t simply deal with them as they wished.

    "Do you think you are even worthy to test my medical skills?" Ge Dongxu slowly stood up and said coldly.

    "Feeling guilty, are you? If you don''t have the skill, you don''t have it, no point pretending!" Lin Wenhong and Chang Yufeng said with disdainful sneers.

    "Guilty? Skill? Who do you think you are! One is no more than a sanctimonious lecher, the other is nothing but a spiteful scoundrel! To talk to me about skill!" Ge Dongxu gave a cold laugh, and with a gesture of his hand in the air, he reached towards the two men.

    Suddenly, they felt an invisible Great Hand grasping their throats, and the next moment, they found themselves lifted off the ground by that invisible hand, almost hitting the ceiling with their heads.

    "Ah!" Their faces turned pale with fear, their bodies trembling, as terror-filled eyes to the utmost degree met in a gaze.

    "Hiss!" Everyone in the conference room, without exception, watched in astonishment as Lin Wenhong and Chang Yufeng were hoisted into the air by an unseen force, even President Feng and Tang Yiyuan were no exception.

    "Does this skill suffice?" Ge Dongxu asked, looking coldly at the two men.

    "Enough! Enough! Enough!" The two men trembled all over, lips quivering as they replied.

 Chapter 590 - 589: Do You Believe It Now?

    "Bang, bang!" As they answered, their bodies fell from mid-air, landing squarely on the ground with a thud.

    The sound of their landing, like a sudden thunderclap next to everyone''s ears, made everyone shudder violently, their faces turning pale.

    They had never imagined that one day, the scene of telekinetic object manipulation, only seen in novels and films, would actually unfold before their eyes.

    Even President Feng and Tang Yiyuan, who already knew Ge Dongxu was extraordinary, were shocked.

    What they knew was only limited to his medical skills, but today they realized that Ge Dongxu''s abilities were far more formidable than they had imagined.

    As for Chang Yufeng and Lin Wenhong, they were already so frightened that they sat on the ground trembling uncontrollably, their legs too weak to stand.

    "If I hadn''t wanted to promote Traditional Chinese Medicine and help more people receive treatment, if President Feng and Professor Tang hadn''t sincerely invited me, do you think I would have come to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital? Do you think I care about the salary? Ask Professor Tang, see why he still works at the University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Is it for the money? He is a shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea and his net worth is now worth tens of millions, if not hundreds of millions. As for me, I can tell you that I am the major shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea!"

    Everyone''s eyes widened upon hearing this.

    They naturally knew Professor Tang was wealthy, but he was just a minor shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, and if this young man was the major shareholder, wouldn''t his net worth be at least several hundred million?

    Setting aside the terrifying supernatural ability just displayed, merely the fortune of several hundred million had everyone in the conference room looking up in awe!

    "Medical skills? Do you really think that being a university professor, a famous Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor, is so great, and think that I am taking advantage of you by teaching you? You study Traditional Chinese Medicine; you should know how difficult and stringent the requirements are to apprentice in traditional medicine! If I hadn''t sincerely wanted to promote Traditional Chinese Medicine and help more people receive treatment, even if you begged me, I wouldn''t take disciples."

    "Some of you might still feel unconvinced, right? Well, since we''ve already opened the skylight to speak frankly today, I don''t mind showing you what it means to ''revive the dying and heal the wounded''!"

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu walked over to a professor who had just openly expressed his opposition, and said, "Professor Wang, is your shoulder periarthritis acting up again?" S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "How, how did you know?" Professor Wang exclaimed in surprise.

    "I interned with you, and you''re a decent person, but since you''ve already refused, I won''t pass on my medical skills to you. However, considering you''re a good doctor, let me treat this chronic issue for you." Saying this, Ge Dongxu placed his hands on the back shoulders of Professor Wang, kneading and rubbing for a few moments before withdrawing his hands.

    "It''s not, not hurting! It''s actually not hurting anymore!" Professor Wang moved his arms and shoulders, finding them incredibly comfortable, and was so shocked that he started stammering.

    "Doctor Jiang, your tinnitus has worsened these past few days, hasn''t it? Let me treat it for you too." Ge Dongxu said as he reached out and rubbed the earlobe of a middle-aged female doctor, then pressed a few points on her Tinghui and Hegu acupoints.

    The middle-aged female doctor initially blushed, but as soon as Ge Dongxu removed his hands, she quickly exclaimed in surprise and disbelief.

    "My ears aren''t ringing anymore! Not anymore! It feels so good! Thank you, Director Ge, thank you, Director Ge."

    Everyone gets sick, even doctors are no exception.

    In the conference room, each doctor had minor ailments, and Ge Dongxu pointed them all out. He treated those who had supported him and even those whom he had deemed decent during his internship days, despite their lack of support.

    However, for those who aligned with Chang Yufeng and Lin Wenhong, as well as those he felt had poor character during his internship, Ge Dongxu naturally did not offer treatment.

    Watching Ge Dongxu diagnosing accurately one after another, treating illness seemed as simple as drinking water, the expressions of the doctors in the conference room shifted from initial shock to increasingly complex.

    Especially those who had previously attacked and belittled him, their expressions were particularly complex.

    Every time Ge Dongxu spoke, every time he intervened, it was like a slap in the face to them, not only causing their cheeks to hurt but also filling them with immense regret.

    As doctors, none of them didn''t dream of becoming truly skilled and renowned one day.

    This wasn''t just for fame or profit, but also for that sense of achievement and idealism in their hearts.

    They had the opportunity to gain both fame and fortune, they could have proudly told their friends and families, told the world, that they were skilled doctors, but when the chance was before them, they had refused it!

    "Doctor Jia, have you been coughing occasionally lately, accompanied by chest tightness and shortness of breath? Unfortunately, I have to tell you, this isn''t just a common cough, and taking herbal medicine to clear heat and reduce fire won''t help, this is lung cancer, probably in the middle stage. There''s still hope if you have surgery now," Ge Dongxu said.

    The Doctor Jia mentioned by Ge Dongxu was the deputy head doctor who was particularly greedy, not letting students graduate smoothly without gifts.

    If it had been at the beginning and Ge Dongxu had said this to Doctor Jia, he certainly wouldn''t have believed it, but having witnessed Ge Dongxu diagnosing accurately from afar and treating illnesses as simply as drinking water with immediate effects, how could Doctor Jia dare to dismiss his words as nonsense? His face turned pale with fright, almost losing his soul, and instinctively, he grabbed Ge Dongxu''s hand and pleaded with tears, "Director Ge, it''s all my fault, it''s all because Chang Yufeng provoked me into badmouthing you. Please save me, I beg you to save me!"

    "Didn''t you disbelieve Professor Tang and President Feng''s words, saying that I wasn''t qualified to advise on your medical skills? Do you believe it now?" Ge Dongxu asked with a hint of mocking cold smile.

    "It''s all my fault, I believe now, please save me, I beg you to save me," Doctor Jia sobbed.

    "Think about your previous attitude, think about how you treated your students! It''s already quite good that I pointed out your lung cancer early, giving you a chance to have surgery. If you want me to treat your other diseases, I''m sorry, though I can treat them, I won''t," Ge Dongxu gently wiped away Doctor Jia''s hand and continued to look at the next doctor.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu wouldn''t intervene, Doctor Jia wiped his tears and hurriedly left the conference room, heading straight to the radiology department.

 Chapter 591 - 590: Is it Lung Cancer?

    Although Dr. Jia thought Ge Dongxu''s diagnosis was very likely true, deep down, he still harbored some hope for luck and doubt.

    After all, lung cancer, being invisible and intangible, couldn''t necessarily be diagnosed definitively even with modern instruments. So, for Dr. Jia to fully believe just based on what Ge Dongxu said was impossible.

    Even though Ge Dongxu had just promised to treat him, Dr. Jia would have definitely gone for an X-ray afterwards.

    Now that Ge Dongxu refused to treat him, his urgency to seek confirmation grew even stronger.

    Dr. Jia was the deputy chief physician at the Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and had good connections there. Although it was still the lunch break, at Dr. Jia''s request, the radiology department immediately arranged for someone and equipment to administer a chest CT scan for him.

    Ordinary patients needed to schedule an appointment and queue for a CT scan, and usually, they would wait half a day or even a full day for results. But Dr. Jia, being the deputy chief of the hospital, naturally didn''t need to wait that long.

    "How does it look, Dr. Zhao?" After the CT scan, Dr. Jia didn''t leave but went directly to ask the radiologist who was in charge of the test. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Well¡­" Dr. Zhao''s expression was somewhat hesitant and troubled, his gaze toward Dr. Jia carrying a hint of pity.

    "Well what? Is there a problem? Is it lung cancer?" Seeing Dr. Zhao''s hesitating expression, Dr. Jia''s heart involuntarily began to beat faster, and his face instantly turned pale.

    "At the moment, we can''t be certain. From the CT, your left lower lobe bronchus is narrowed, and there is a soft tissue mass nearby. The main pulmonary artery window and the lymph nodes beside the trachea are enlarged¡­ There''s a certain chance it''s left central lung cancer, but we still need a pulmonary specialist to take a look and see if further tests are necessary for a definite diagnosis," Dr. Zhao hesitated but then spoke the truth after seeing Dr. Jia mention lung cancer.

    "That must be it! It definitely is!" Dr. Jia snatched the films from Dr. Zhao''s hands, muttering to himself.

    "We can''t say that for sure. I can only say there is a possibility from the CT. It''s still necessary to have a pulmonary specialist take a look and perform further tests. Dr. Jia, you''re a doctor¡ªplease don''t lose your composure," Dr. Zhao said, seeing that Dr. Jia was clearly not in his normal state and quickly tried to console him.

    "You don''t understand, you don''t understand! This is lung cancer, it is lung cancer!" Dr. Jia shook his head and then walked away, appearing utterly distraught.

    Dr. Zhao watched Dr. Jia''s distraught figure and couldn''t help but shake his head, feeling very emotional.

    As a doctor, having seen countless patients'' separations from life and death, one becomes gradually numb, but how many can remain indifferent when it comes to themselves?

    Dr. Jia did not go to seek a pulmonary specialist but instead returned to the internal medicine conference room.

    Dr. Zhao thought Dr. Jia was just not able to handle the shock when he muttered that it definitely was lung cancer, but Dr. Jia himself knew all too well that coincidences like this don''t exist in the world.

    In the conference room, Ge Dongxu was already sitting back in the leadership seat.

    His eyes swept over the expressions of the gathered doctors.

    At this moment, many doctors lacked even the courage to meet Ge Dongxu''s gaze and lowered their heads under his scrutiny, filled with regret, including those head doctors who initially did not support Ge Dongxu.

    Only doctors like He Duanrui and those who supported Ge Dongxu had faces filled with anticipation and excitement.

    No matter what Dr. Jia''s examination results were, everything Ge Dongxu had demonstrated was enough to prove that he was a true miracle doctor, a real marvel!

    To have the opportunity to learn medicine from him in this lifetime was definitely a tremendous fortune.

    "I have spoken my bold words, and I have already shown what I can do. I think it''s time to conclude this," Ge Dongxu''s gaze swept over everyone, finally resting on Chang Yufeng and Lin Wenhong.

    Facing Ge Dongxu''s fierce gaze and recalling the terrifying experience of the invisible force grabbing their necks and lifting them into the air, Lin Wenhong and Chang Yufeng felt ice-cold in their limbs, pale-faced, lips trembling, they stammered, "What, what do you want to do?"

    "Chang Yufeng, let''s first discuss our issues. Just because you were pursuing Professor Wu, and I had a meal with Professor Wu, you had to be against me, deliberately targeting me. Do you realize, if I were just a regular intern, because of your actions, my life could very likely have been destroyed by you?" Ge Dongxu''s face became stern as he spoke.

    "I''m sorry! I, I¡­" Chang Yufeng was trembling, sweating profusely.

    "You, Chang Yufeng, you are utterly disgraceful!" At this moment, people like Professor Wang finally understood why Chang Yufeng had been targeting Ge Dongxu in every possible way, thus they pointed at him, shaking their heads repeatedly.

    "Now let''s talk about what you did to Lin Wenhong. Last Friday, why did you insist on keeping the intern, Lv Qi, behind? Can you tell me honestly what it was for?" Ge Dongxu, ignoring people like Professor Wang and Chang Yufeng, turned towards Lin Wenhong, his face scornful as he spoke.

    "I... I was planning to assign some intern duties to Lv Qi," Lin Wenhong wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, stammering as he spoke.

    "Since that''s the case, can you tell everyone why, just because I said I would wait at the door to walk with Lv Qi, you turned against me, saying you were no longer prepared to supervise this intern?" Ge Dongxu sneered.

    "I... I¡­" Lin Wenhong stammered for a long time, unable to speak.

    If it were someone else, he could have easily explained away, but facing Ge Dongxu, he was already scared witless, how could he dare to make up lies with his eyes open?

    Seeing Lin Wenhong in this state and recalling some rumors about Lin Wenhong''s improper conduct at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, as well as his previous actions with Chang Yufeng to attack and slander Ge Dongxu, how could the people in the conference room not understand what was happening!

    Everyone looked at him with contempt, especially those doctors who had been influenced by them to jeer along; thinking about the great opportunity they had missed, some even wanted to rush up and kick him hard.

    President Feng and Professor Tang''s faces were ashen.

    Neither President Feng nor Professor Tang knew the detailed reasons behind these incidents. They had previously thought it was just their prejudice, but now they realized what was actually happening, and you can imagine how furious they felt.

    "Good, very good! One acts out of petty jealousy and a grudge, another becomes furiously embarrassed when his shady dealings are thwarted. With such character, do you even deserve to be doctors? Can you wholeheartedly treat your patients?" President Feng, his face ashen, pointed at the two and demanded.

    "And you all? What about you? Did Director Ge offend you? Did he disrespect you in any way that you needed to attack and slander him even before I announced him as the visiting physician of the internal medicine department of traditional medicine? Tell me!" President Feng slammed the table fiercely, and shouted angrily.

 Chapter 592 - 591 I Regret It So Much!

    The doctors who had previously attacked and denigrated Ge Dongxu all hung their heads low, filled with both regret and intense hatred toward Chang Yufeng.

    When it came to it, they had no personal grudges against Ge Dongxu and were merely instigated by Chang Yufeng to deliberately oppose Ge Dongxu.

    Especially Xie Jinmo, who regretted so much that he might as well have turned green, and hated Chang Yufeng the most.

    He now certainly understood that Professor Tang had deliberately chosen him to be Ge Dongxu''s first mentor, which was a thoughtful consideration for him. He had the advantage of being close to the water and was likely to get the moon first; as long as he was proper and compliant, it wasn''t hard to imagine that because of Professor Tang''s connection, the miraculous Ge Dongxu would surely regard him differently and would carefully teach him medicine.

    With such a divine doctor carefully imparting medical skills, Xie Jinmo knew all too well that in the near future, he was bound to become a famous and wealthy doctor.

    But what was the outcome?

    He not only failed to appreciate Professor Tang''s kindness, but also joined forces with Chang Yufeng to go against Ge Dongxu, squandering the great future that had come knocking at his door!

    How could Xie Jinmo not regret, how could he not hate?

    "Bang!" Just as everyone was being scolded by President Feng, heads bowed, filled with irreparable remorse, the door of the conference room was suddenly slammed open.

    Deputy Director Jia rushed in from outside, utterly ignoring everyone in the conference room and heading straight for Ge Dongxu. Once in front of him,

    "Thump!" Deputy Director Jia actually knelt on both knees before Ge Dongxu, his voice breaking amidst sobs and tears, "Director Ge, I was blind, please save me. Whatever you need, just say it¡ªmoney, I have money, and I''m willing to spend all I have if you''re willing to save me."

    Watching Deputy Director Jia kneel before Ge Dongxu, tears and snot streaming down his face, holding the diagnostic films and records in his hand, the result was self-evident.

    The thought that Deputy Director Jia had truly been diagnosed with lung cancer sent shivers through everyone in the conference room, feeling a chill spread through them.

    Although Ge Dongxu had just cured Professor Wang''s shoulder periarthritis and Dr. Jiang''s tinnitus, it wasn''t as terrifyingly shocking as this current scene.

    Without the aid of any modern instruments, not even taking the pulse, yet able to diagnose someone with lung cancer with just a word¡ªsuch miraculous medical skills were on par with the legendary skills of the mythic physician Bian Que who had seen Duke Huan of Cai four times.

    At this moment, not only did Xie Jinmo and the others feel even more regret and hatred toward Chang Yufeng, but even experts like Professor Wang and other famous doctors from Jiangnan Province, who had not chosen to support Ge Dongxu before, were filled with irreparable remorse.

    Who among those who spent their entire lives studying traditional medicine didn''t want to stand at the peak of the field?

    But now, that opportunity had slipped through their fingers.

    "Money? Don''t you cherish wealth as much as life? Aren''t you even willing to exploit students? Do you still think that money can save you? That''s enough, no need to kneel anymore. I have more than enough money to buy the entire Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital if I wish to, and as for fame, and position, if I desire them, I could effortlessly secure them; so you truly have nothing to offer me that I want. So stop begging, the survival rate of lung cancer cases that are discovered early is quite high. I gave you an advance warning, which is as much as I could do. Otherwise, given the rapid progression of lung cancer, by the time you noticed, it would probably already be in the late stages," Ge Dongxu said.

    The Deputy Director Jia looked at Ge Dongxu, slowly stood up, his eyes filled with regret and despair.

    After a long while, Deputy Director Jia suddenly pointed at Ge Dongxu and laughed loudly, "I understand now, you can''t treat lung cancer, you simply can''t treat lung cancer! What ''miracle doctor,'' these are all lies, all lies!"

    "You really don''t know how to be grateful. Do you think by saying this, I''ll treat you? Considering you''re a patient, I won''t hold it against you. Leave now, and remember, what happened in the conference room stays in the conference room, or I assure you, you''ll regret it bitterly," Ge Dongxu said with icy coldness, a sharp gaze suddenly shooting from his eyes.

    Facing the sharp gaze from Ge Dongxu, Deputy Director Jia couldn''t help but shiver, and it took a long time before he managed a bitter smile and said, "I apologize, Director Ge. You''re right, no matter what, you''ve actually managed to buy me time for surgery. I should be grateful for that. You can rest assured, I won''t speak of what happened here. Now I truly want to know, can traditional Chinese medicine really cure cancer?"

    "As long as it''s a disease, there''s nothing that can''t be treated, it mostly depends on whether the medical skill has reached that realm," Ge Dongxu replied seriously, seeing that Deputy Director Jia had experienced an epiphany.

    "I understand now, thank you, Director Ge! I have so many regrets!" Deputy Director Jia gave Ge Dongxu a deep bow, then let out a long sigh to the heavens and turned to leave the conference room.

    After Deputy Director Jia left, the conference room suddenly became quiet.

    Some people looked at Ge Dongxu with eyes filled with fervent respect, while others lowered their heads, their faces pale, hardly daring to look at Ge Dongxu.

    Everything that happened today had completely surpassed their common sense.

    To them, the young Ge Dongxu had become an awe-inspiring and fearsome figure.

    "It''s about time to start work. Dr. He, I''ll come to your outpatient clinic today, just like last time. Just consider me your intern. You go ahead and treat the patients as usual, and I''ll point out anything improper. Let''s continue this way in the future. I won''t hold special outpatient sessions but will join you in seeing patients. I''m going to announce my name now, and the doctors who report their names can come and observe if they are free from outpatient and teaching duties, and they can also come to me with questions." Ge Dongxu paused at this point.

    With this pause from Ge Dongxu, everyone in the conference room felt their hearts leap.

    "Tang Yiyuan, He Duanrui, Jiang Yuquan, Zhao Zihan, Zhang Xiuwen..." Ge Dongxu''s gaze swept over everyone, and then one name after another popped out of his mouth, ten in total. These included head physicians, deputy head physicians, and attending physicians.

    Those who had not supported him before naturally couldn''t be chosen, and even those who stood by his side before because of President Feng and Professor Tang but had questionable character in Ge Dongxu''s view were also not selected.

    Those who were called out were each very excited; they knew that this would be a turning point for the rest of their lives. And those who were not selected, naturally, felt indescribable disappointment and regret.

    "Thank you, teacher, we will not let down your teachings," declared the ten called upon, quickly suppressing their excitement and standing up solemnly to bow to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu calmly accepted the bows from the ten and then spoke, "In public, just call me Doctor Ge."

    "Yes," the ten replied respectfully. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 593 - 592: Let him be a eunuch for life!

    "I hope today''s matter stays within this meeting room. Please keep it confidential for me. As for other personnel arrangements, President Feng, Professor Tang, please handle them," Ge Dongxu said as he stood up, shook hands with President Feng and Dean Cai, and then walked toward the conference room door.

    Seeing this, He Duanrui hurriedly followed him, along with three other doctors who had no afternoon clinic or teaching duties.

    "Oh Director Lin, I almost forgot to tell you, starting today, you will probably have to abstain for two years," Ge Dongxu said suddenly as he patted Lin Wenhong on the shoulder when he passed by.

    "What, what have you done to me?" Lin Wenhong''s whole body went cold, and he jumped up. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    For at the moment Ge Dongxu patted his shoulder, he suddenly felt a chill in his lower abdomen, as if a block of ice had fallen into his crotch.

    "What have I done? I haven''t done anything. I just suddenly discovered a slight disease in your ''****,'' and according to my diagnosis, if within two years no rumors about you are harming female comrades reach my ears, it will heal by itself, but if even a whisper reaches me, then I''m afraid you''ll have to live as a eunuch for the rest of your life," Ge Dongxu said.

    "How dare you..." Lin Wenhong, overwhelmed with anger and shock, pointed at Ge Dongxu and roared.

    "Slap!" Before Lin Wenhong could finish his words, his cheek was severely slapped, followed by a hand gripping his neck like a vise, directly lifted him off the ground by his neck.

    "If it weren''t for the fact that your case also involves the reputation of other female comrades, I wouldn''t want to make a big scene; otherwise, you''d already be in prison now. Don''t think that just because only you and those female comrades know what you did, others are unaware and the police can''t do anything to you. I''m telling you, I can make you confess everything, nothing shady can be hidden! Don''t believe me? Well, look at me!" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    Upon hearing this, Lin Wenhong subconsciously looked at Ge Dongxu, and as he did, his eyes began to glaze over.

    "Which female comrade have you targeted recently?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Lv Qi." Lin Wenhong responded without thinking.

    "Why did you choose her?" Ge Dongxu asked again.

    "Because she has a nice figure, and she''s timid. Also, coming from a small county town''s Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, she wouldn''t dare to speak out even if I really made advances," Lin Wenhong replied.

    "Have you ever thought about your wife while doing this?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "What''s there to think about? My wife is already faded; I find no interest in her whatsoever..." Lin Wenhong replied.

    Seeing how Lin Wenhong answered whatever Ge Dongxu asked, the doctors in the conference room instantly felt a chill, their hairs standing on end, especially Chang Yufeng and those who had done some guilty deeds.

    "A disgrace to scholars! A wretch! He must be severely punished!" But after the initial shock, many looked at Lin Wenhong with disdain and hatred, especially President Feng, Tang Yiyuan, and a few other renowned veteran traditional Chinese medicine practitioners who were furious.

    A female professor, unable to contain her anger, stood up, rushed forward, and fiercely slapped Lin Wenhong''s face again "slap! slap!" twice more.

    After those two slaps, Lin Wenhong finally came to his senses, still not fully understanding what had happened.

    "Professor, this kind of scum, this kind of scum, I think don''t even wait two years. Just let him be a eunuch for life!" The female professor named Su Jin was one of the three professors supporting Ge Dongxu.

    "Yes, just let him be a eunuch for life!" Several people pointed at Lin Wenhong and declared forcefully.

    As Lin Wenhong was accused by everyone, he had by now recalled the recent events and his face turned as pale as clay, filled with immense regret.

    People often say, ''A fall into the pit, a gain in your wit.'' Ge Dongxu had clearly demonstrated such terrifying capabilities, and he had personally experienced them. Why didn''t he learn his lesson? Two years was just two years; he could have endured it, but why couldn''t he control his emotions just now? Now, if he had to spend the rest of his life as a eunuch, what was the point of living anymore?

    The more Lin Wenhong thought about it, the more frightened he became, and just like Doctor Jia before him, he began to bow repeatedly to Ge Dongxu, tears and snot running down his face, "Director Ge, I promise, I promise I will never do anything bad again, please have mercy, don''t make me live as a eunuch for the rest of my life!"

    Watching Lin Wenhong bowing continuously to Ge Dongxu, weeping and sniffling, Chang Yufeng''s face turned white, and he was sweating profusely.

    Among these people, the one who had offended Ge Dongxu the most wasn''t Lin Wenhong, it was actually him!

    Now, if Lin Wenhong might have to live the rest of his life as a eunuch, what about him?

    Every time he thought about this, Chang Yufeng''s heart trembled.

    "Director Lin, why bother? Given that you just showed lack of self-awareness, I have changed my mind, five years then! If during these five years, you do more good deeds, I might change my mind again, but if I hear something I do not want to hear, then I might change my mind once again. Take care!" Ge Dongxu patted Lin Wenhong on the shoulder again, saying indifferently.

    At this pat from Ge Dongxu, Lin Wenhong''s tears could not help but fall.

    If only he had known this day would come!

    However, no one pitied Lin Wenhong, only feeling satisfied, and even the female doctors thought Ge Dongxu was being too lenient.

    After giving Lin Wenhong his punishment, Ge Dongxu walked away with He Duanrui and others, not striking at Chang Yufeng again.

    This greatly relieved Chang Yufeng, making him feel like he had survived a catastrophe.

    Although Ge Dongxu had not acted against Chang Yufeng, since Ge Dongxu''s arrival at the internal medicine department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chang had been instigating others against him; President Feng, Tang Yiyuan and others would surely not let him off.

    That very day, Jiangnan Province''s Traditional Chinese Medicine University, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital dismissed Chang Yufeng, despite his father''s pleas which were of no help.

    Lin Wenhong was also dismissed.

    The other internal medicine doctors who had slandered and attacked Ge Dongxu were transferred to other departments. Those who were honest, even if they had not supported Ge Dongxu later on, were not affected and remained in the internal medicine department.

    However, they were not qualified to work outpatient alongside Ge Dongxu, nor were they eligible to consult him or attend his lectures.

    Xie Jinmo, who had once studied for a PhD with Tang Yiyuan, not only was transferred to another department, but Tang even warned him not to mention ever having studied medicine with him in front of others, essentially severing their teacher-student relationship.

    Xie Jinmo naturally felt bitter and regretful, but he also knew it was all his own doing. From a certain perspective, Ge Dongxu was Tang Yiyuan''s mentor, and his actions these days could be considered as betraying and destroying his lineage in the past.

    The personnel changes in the internal medicine department naturally caused a huge sensation at Jiangnan Province''s Traditional Chinese Medicine University, Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    But those who knew about it kept their mouths shut, not mentioning what had happened in the meeting room, Chang Yufeng included.

    No way around it, the techniques Ge Dongxu displayed in the meeting room were simply too terrifying, even a glance from him could make someone reveal their deepest secrets.

    These kinds of unfounded incidents were hard for others to verify who had said what, but if Ge Dongxu wanted, he could definitely find out.

    Therefore, even Chang Yufeng had to endure this decision of dismissal, and except for his own father, no one dared to bring it up.

 Chapter 594 - 593: The Mastermind Teacher

    The matters regarding the dismissal of Lin Wenhong and Chang Yufeng, as well as the personnel arrangements of Xie Jinmo and others, all unfolded within the next couple of days.

    That afternoon, Ge Dongxu, accompanied by four doctors including He Duanrui, went to He Duanrui''s clinic.

    As the door opened, He Duanrui''s graduate student, Song Yongnan, who was already waiting inside, was startled to see so many people entering all at once.

    "Xiao Song, go find someone to help you bring over a table and three chairs," He Duanrui scanned the clinic and instructed Song Yongnan.

    "Okay, Teacher," Song Yongnan nodded, then naturally said to Ge Dongxu, "Dongxu, come with me to help."

    The moment those words came out, the faces of He Duanrui and the others nearly turned green.

    Ge Dongxu was now someone whom even they had to address as Teacher!

    However, Ge Dongxu himself didn''t mind and was far from angry. He smiled at He Duanrui and the others, saying, "Don''t look so wide-eyed and aggrieved, Song Yongnan doesn''t know what''s going on."

    "Yes, yes," He Duanrui and the others hurriedly nodded upon hearing this. They had just been through the harrowing scene in the meeting room, and their minds hadn''t fully returned to normal. They had indeed forgotten that in Song Yongnan''s eyes, Ge Dongxu was still an intern.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu speak to He Duanrui and the others in a tone tinged with reproach, and the fact that they weren''t annoyed but instead nodded hurriedly, Song Yongnan''s eyes widened, completely unaware of what was happening.

    "My real identity is not an intern but the chief physician of internal medicine. Calling me by name might be something your teachers would disagree with, so better call me Teacher Ge or Dr. Ge. This matter is confidential to our internal medicine department. I''ll let Dr. He tell you the details later. Now, go get Lv Qi to help you," said Ge Dongxu, smiling at He Duanrui and the others as they nodded repeatedly, then turning to address Song Yongnan.

    "You''re a chief physician?" Song Yongnan almost dropped his eyeballs to the floor, pointing at Ge Dongxu as if seeing a ghost.

    A chief physician was at the level of a professor and expert, and the youngest chief physician in internal medicine was over forty years old. There had never been anyone as young as Ge Dongxu before!

    Even as a senior physician, someone like Ge Dongxu would be considered too young.

    "Xiao Song, what kind of attitude is that? Didn''t you hear what Teacher Ge said? Why haven''t you gone to ask Lv Qi for help yet? And remember this, once you step outside this door, you absolutely cannot go around spreading rumors, or I will have you expelled," seeing Song Yongnan pointing at Ge Dongxu and looking utterly shocked, He Duanrui darkened his face and scolded sternly.

    He Duanrui''s words undoubtedly confirmed what Ge Dongxu had said. Listening to this, Song Yongnan''s heart pounded uncontrollably, and he nodded subconsciously, then left the clinic somewhat dispiritedly.

    "Dr. He, from now on, you will be guiding Lv Qi," said Ge Dongxu to He Duanrui after Song Yongnan had left.

    Although Lv Qi tended to be somewhat timid, she was indeed a good person. That day, due to the incident involving Ge Dongxu, she even planned to go back to find Lin Wenhong, so he was still concerned about her.

    "Of course, Teacher," He Duanrui responded.

    After sorting out this matter, Ge Dongxu turned to share some knowledge about traditional Chinese medicine with He Duanrui and the others.

    The moment Ge Dongxu began to speak, He Duanrui and the others listened intently with earnest expressions.

    Having witnessed the events in the meeting room, He Duanrui and the rest were well aware that the young man before them was a truly miraculous doctor. Listening to him was indeed better than ten years of study.

    Ge Dongxu hadn''t spoken much when Lv Qi and Song Yongnan came in carrying a table.

    Seeing several teachers there, Lv Qi couldn''t help feeling a little constrained. After greeting everyone, she then turned to Ge Dongxu with surprise and said, "Ge Dongxu, you''re here too."

    When Lv Qi called Ge Dongxu by his name, Song Yongnan''s heart skipped a beat reflexively.

    "Yes," Ge Dongxu nodded and then pointed to He Duanrui, saying, "From now on, you will intern with Dr. He. If you do well, and you want to, you could stay at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital."

    "Ge Dongxu, all the teachers are here, what nonsensical things are you spouting?" Lv Qi couldn''t help but say anxiously.

    Just last week, Dongxu had offended Lin Wenhong because of her, and her heart was still in her throat about it.

    "Of course, Teacher Ge is not talking nonsense. You''ll be interning under me from now on, and if you do well in your internship and are willing to stay at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, I will recommend you to the hospital leadership," He Duanrui said with a serious face.

    Lv Qi was dumbfounded upon hearing this.

    She stared at Ge Dongxu and then at He Duanrui and the others, utterly confused.

    Ge Dongxu might blurt out whatever he wanted without filter, but He Duanrui was a deputy chief physician, an associate professor. And it wasn''t just him in the clinic, there were three other doctors at that level, so naturally, he wouldn''t say such things without cause.

    Seeing Lv Qi''s dumbfounded look, Song Yongnan couldn''t help but remember his own reaction was the same not long before, and he silently shook his head, quickly leaving the outpatient clinic to fetch chairs. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing this, Dongxu had no choice but to explain everything once again. And of course, He Duanrui didn''t miss the opportunity to admonish her not to spread words carelessly outside.

    "But, if I''m following Teacher He, what about Lin, Director Lin?" After hearing the explanation, Lv Qi was still struggling to wrap her mind around the situation.

    How had she been transferred to intern under Doctor He Duanrui without any notice from the department? And since when was there talk of being able to stay at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital after the internship? Of course, what gave Lv Qi the most surreal feeling was the fact that Ge Dongxu, an intern younger than her, turned out to be a chief physician!

    "The hospital will deal with Director Lin. You''ll find out later," Ge Dongxu replied.

    However, Lv Qi still found it hard to fully trust Dongxu''s words right away but looked towards He Duanrui and the others for confirmation. Only when they all nodded did she respond with a confused "Oh."

    While they spoke, Song Yongnan had finished moving three chairs, and the time for the outpatient clinic to open had arrived.

    He Duanrui sat at the main consulting position, while the other doctors and people including Ge Dongxu either sat beside or behind to observe.

    The clinic began, and for each patient that came in, He Duanrui did the pulse diagnosis and consultation as usual, and then wrote the prescription.

    The other doctors also participated in the consultations. Of course, He Duanrui had already asked the necessary questions, so they focused on taking the pulse and then collaborating on the prescriptions.

    After the prescriptions were written, He Duanrui would deliberately examine Ge Dongxu''s prescriptions. If they were similar, naturally there was no issue, but if there were discrepancies, He Duanrui would intentionally question Ge Dongxu, as if testing a student, to prevent arousing the patients'' suspicions.

    Dongxu, of course, answered systematically and convincingly.

    During the lull when no patients were around, Dongxu also made a point of taking out some medical cases to explain.

    This scene was something Song Yongnan had seen once or twice before, but for Lv Qi, it was completely astonishing.

    She simply couldn''t fathom how a young man younger than herself could speak of Traditional Chinese Medicine with such ease, more expertly than experts themselves, and even looking at the admiring expressions of He Duanrui and others, their occasional nodding, it was clear they were asking for advice, even calling Ge Dongxu not "Doctor Ge" but "Teacher."

    It seemed at that moment, He Duanrui and the others became interns just like herself.

    This guess led Lv Qi to believe for a moment that either she was dreaming or she had lost her mind.

    It wasn''t until the next day when the news that Professor Lin Wenhong and Associate Professor Chang Yufeng were expelled by the school was announced that the clever Lv Qi was greatly shaken and finally confirmed she wasn''t dreaming, nor had she lost her mind.

    She realized that the expulsion of these two must be related to Ge Dongxu.

 Chapter 595 - 594: Lu Mings Visit

    ```

    Walking along the tree-lined paths of Jiangnan University, the thought of seeing his son soon brought a joyful smile to Lu Ming''s face. He recalled how those who once ignored and ridiculed him had been coming to visit, all with smiles plastered on their faces. His position as Deputy County Magistrate had finally settled, and now he had been sent to the Provincial Party Committee School for further training. After the training, he would officially take up his post. The smile on his face couldn''t help but spread wider.

    His son had been admitted to the best institution of higher learning in Jiangnan Province, and he himself was being promoted. It seemed Lu Ming''s luck was indeed soaring this year!

    Seeing the No. 3 dormitory building from afar, Lu Ming''s smile grew even stronger.

    However, when a black Hongqi sedan, bearing the license plate of the Jinzhou City Government, drove past him and stopped in front of the No. 3 dormitory building, Lu Ming''s smile gradually faded.

    He was familiar with this car ¨C it belonged to Sun Yuncheng, his former subordinate who had steadily risen through the ranks to become the Secretary-General of the city government.

    Sun Yuncheng was a man skilled in ingratiating himself, a very practical and self-serving person.

    When Lu Ming had been the director of the County Government Office, Sun Yuncheng was the deputy director. Back then, Sun Yuncheng had always been very respectful in front of him, addressing him as "Director" earnestly. However, after Lu Ming was demoted to the Archives Bureau, and Sun Yuncheng had become the director of the County Government Office, he completely changed his tune.

    Living in the same government dormitory building, it was inevitable that they would bump into each other daily, and Sun Yuncheng always held his head high.

    Lu Ming didn''t take this to heart though, understanding that times had changed. Now that Sun Yuncheng had become a leader, if he wished to exude an air of authority, that was Sun Yuncheng''s prerogative. It was not uncommon for officials to be surpassed by others; as an official who had been overtaken, adopting the right mindset and acknowledging the current circumstances was also a way of conducting oneself in office.

    It was impossible to think that just because you had once been someone''s superior, you would always be their boss!

    What truly led Lu Ming to hold a grudge against Sun Yuncheng was actually because of a fight between their sons, with Sun Wenjun being the instigator.

    That time, Sun Wenjun picked the fight, but Sun Yuncheng, who was then the Deputy County Magistrate, unleashed his fury on the principal of Golden Mountain County No. 1 Middle School because his son got beaten up. With no other choice, the principal had to approach Lu Ming, suggesting that Lu Lei should be disciplined.

    To save his son from punishment, Lu Ming, who never hit his child, ended up giving Lu Lei a beating and even took him personally to Sun Yuncheng''s house to apologize to him and Sun Wenjun.

    The incident left a deep impression on Lu Lei, so much so that when he mentioned his grievance with Sun Wenjun to Ge Dongxu and others, he made a point of talking about the beating from his father. However, Lu Ming never mentioned to Lu Lei that behind the scenes, Sun Yuncheng had vented his anger on the principal of the school, seeking to have Lu Lei disciplined; so, to this day, Lu Lei remained unaware that his father had endured much more pain and humiliation than he did.

    It was from that time on that Lu Ming became somewhat silent and reserved, which caused a rift between him and Lu Ming.

    The car stopped in front of the No. 3 dormitory building, and Sun Yuncheng got out. S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, Sun Yuncheng didn''t notice Lu Ming behind him and went straight into the dormitory building. After telling the dormitory supervisor a few words, the supervisor, seeing that Sun Yuncheng had arrived in a car with a government license plate, allowed him to go up without signing in.

    But when Lu Ming entered, the dormitory supervisor stopped him to ask for his son''s dorm room number and only let him go up after calling the dorm to confirm. This left Lu Ming with an indescribable feeling.

    It wasn''t that the dormitory supervisor''s actions were wrong; after all, given Sun Yuncheng''s status, letting him up posed no potential risks, whereas with Lu Ming walking up, he naturally had to be more cautious.

    But as the person involved and with so many unresolved issues with Sun Yuncheng, Lu Ming couldn''t help but feel some emotions stir within him.

    Today was a Tuesday. Because Lu Ming had called Lu Lei''s dormitory the day before his visit, Ge Dongxu didn''t go to the library after Professor Wu Yili''s Inorganic Chemistry class that afternoon. Instead, he intentionally returned to the dormitory with Lu Lei and waited for Lu Ming there.

    ```

    "Hey, Lu Lei, why did your dad suddenly come to the Provincial Capital?" In the dormitory, He Guizhong asked.

    "I don''t know!" Lu Lei replied.

    "Your dad is really pitiable, raising such a taciturn son like you. You don''t even ask what he''s coming to the Provincial Capital for!" He Guizhong shook his head.

    "Alright, Uncle Lu is already here, isn''t he? Let''s go out and welcome him," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, throwing He Guizhong a look.

    "Right, right, our boss is the wise one. When an elder comes over, how can we just wait in the dormitory?" He Guizhong hastened to agree with a fawning smile.

    "Guizhong, give me a break, can''t you talk in a normal tone? You, you, you''re not even from the north, don''t you find it tiring?" Ge Dongxu felt his head grow big as soon as he saw He Guizhong''s fawning face.

    Ever since Ge Dongxu showed his skills at the Taekwondo Association, He Guizhong had been lavishing flattery on him to an extreme, driving Ge Dongxu to the point of going grey.

    "Boss, what do you mean by that? You are the hero, the idol in my eyes! If you talk like this, my heart will be hurt," He Guizhong said with a look of hurt.

    "I''ve had enough! Lu Ming, Li Chenyu, you guys are my witnesses. If this kid dares to ''you, you'' me again, I''ll resign from the position of Honorary President of the Martial Arts Association," Ge Dongxu said firmly as he pointed at He Guizhong, who put on an aggrieved expression, making Dongxu''s skin crawl.

    "Shit! Boss, you can''t be serious! I dare not, I truly dare not!" He Guizhong got a fright when Ge Dongxu blew up, and immediately returned to normal.

    "Haha! Boss, I''ve discovered a secret. To deal with a tough guy like He Guizhong, you''ve got to be even tougher!" Li Chenyu laughed heartily.

    Ge Dongxu was about to nod in agreement, but somehow felt something was off with Li Chenyu''s words, giving him an irate glare before striding towards the staircase.

    Chatting and joking, the four hadn''t reached the staircase when they saw Lu Ming appear at the top.

    "Dad!"

    "Uncle Lu!"

    The four quickly went up to greet him.

    "University students indeed show a difference; you all know to come out and welcome me! Come on, take me to your dorm to have a look," Lu Ming said with a smile and a nod towards Ge Dongxu and the others, patting Lu Lei on the shoulder.

    "Not bad, not bad, the dorm is kept very tidy. It''s not because I''m visiting today that you''ve specially cleaned it, is it?" Lu Ming followed the four into the dorm, seeing the neatly folded quilts on the beds and the desks wiped clean, and he nodded with satisfaction.

    "How could that be? With our boss supervising us, who dares to mess up the dorm?" He Guizhong replied.

    It turned out Ge Dongxu was particularly fond of cleanliness and tidiness, but these three guys weren''t so particular. Helpless, Ge Dongxu had to do more himself.

    However, ever since Ge Dongxu became a martial arts expert, they no longer needed his reminders. The three guys were more diligent than ever, so now, whenever the college sanitation staff or dormitory managers came for inspections, Room 203 always scored high marks.

 Chapter 596 - 595: Like Father, Like Son

    "Boss? Aren''t you the oldest in your dorm?" Lu Ming asked with a slight start, looking puzzled.

    In dormitory 203, He Guizhong, with a full face of stubble, looked the most weather-beaten, clearly the oldest, and indeed he was.

    "Hehe, I am the oldest, but the boss is not me, it''s Ge Dongxu," He Guizhong scratched his head and replied.

    "Oh, why is that?" Lu Ming asked, his interest evidently piqued.

    When he had first met his son''s classmates in Golden Mountain County a while ago, Lu Ming had felt that Ge Dongxu seemed much more mature and composed than the others.

    "Ge Dongxu is a study maniac, basketball ace, and a martial arts expert. We all really respect him, so we made him the boss," Lu Lei replied.

    Saying that someone is a study maniac and a basketball ace didn''t impress Lu Ming much; after all, Jiangnan University itself is a gathering place for academic prodigies, and it''s common for some students to study intensely. As for being a basketball ace, almost every male student at the university played basketball, and since Ge Dongxu was also tall, it was no surprise to Lu Ming to hear his son call him a basketball ace.

    But to say he was a martial arts expert, that surprised Lu Ming greatly, and he couldn''t help asking, "Ge Dongxu knows martial arts too?"

    "Of course! The boss is really awesome. He is the president of our school''s Taekwondo Association. The black belt four dan members are no match for him in a single move. Now he is the honorary president of our school''s Martial Arts Association," He Guizhong said excitedly when Lu Ming asked about Ge Dongxu''s martial arts skills.

    "Tss!" Even though Lu Ming was about to be a deputy director, he couldn''t help but suck in a breath sharply and patted Ge Dongxu heavily on the shoulder, saying, "Good lad, impressive!" S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Uncle Lu is too kind. The dorm room is small. Since it''s rare for you to visit, why don''t you let Lu Lei show you around the campus? We won''t disturb you and your son any longer," Ge Dongxu modestly suggested.

    "This Ge Dongxu, no wonder they call you the boss, you indeed know how to handle situations. What do you mean by disturbance? Lu Lei and I don''t have any secrets to discuss. If you guys aren''t busy, why don''t you join us for a walk around the campus, and later, I''ll treat you all to a meal," Lu Ming pointed at Ge Dongxu, saying with a smile.

    Ge Dongxu originally wanted to say that since Lu Ming had come from far, they should treat him to a meal, but after Lu Ming spoke, he found it difficult to voice his thoughts, especially since Lu Ming was an elder and he was still a student.

    Thus, the four of them left the dormitory with Lu Ming, walked along the corridor, and when they reached the staircase on the second floor, they happened to run into Sun Wenjun accompanying his father, Sun Yuncheng, from the third floor to the second. The two parties came face to face.

    Seeing Lu Ming there as well, Sun Yuncheng visibly paused, instinctively raised his head, and wore a hint of pride on his face, while Sun Wenjun, remembering the last incident at the Golden Embroider Restaurant where Lu Ming hadn''t given him face, glanced at them sideways, also bearing a hint of pride.

    Lu Ming hadn''t expected such a coincidence, running into Sun Yuncheng and his son at the staircase. His expression slightly complicated, he hesitated, but still called out, "Secretary-General Sun, hello."

    No matter what, Sun Yuncheng was the chief steward of Jinzhou City government, a close associate of Mayor Ye, and he was also at the proper cadre level. Even if he became the deputy county head, he still was under the city''s jurisdiction. Some matters couldn''t circumvent Sun Yuncheng, so unless necessary, Lu Ming preferred not to confront Sun Yuncheng head-on.

    Of course, it just so happened they met, and after a brief greeting, if Lu Ming had to actively seek Sun Yuncheng''s approval with insincerity and flattery after his many experiences, he definitely wouldn''t do it.

    "Ah, it''s Comrade Lu Ming! You''re here at the Provincial Party Committee''s Party School for further training and taking the opportunity to visit your son, right?" In the past, if Lu Ming faced Sun Yuncheng, Sun Yuncheng would mostly ignore him, but this time, remembering Lu Ming''s connection to Fang Ting, Sun Yuncheng finally nodded, his face showing a trace of feigned smile.

    "Yes," Lu Ming nodded.

    "Yes, this shows the importance the city and county leaders place on you. You should study hard," Sun Yuncheng said earnestly.

    Seeing Sun Yuncheng asserting his authority in front of his son and his son''s classmates, a flash of irritation crossed Lu Ming''s eyes, while Sun Wenjun, seeing his father pressing down on Lu Ming, couldn''t help but show a smug look as he turned towards Ge Dongxu.

    "The Secretary-General is right, I will definitely not let down the expectations of the county and city leaders," Lu Ming said, his heart full of irritation but still suppressing it, and nodded.

    "Yes." Sun Yuncheng, seeing this, nodded quite "satisfied" and then turned to Lu Lei, saying, "This must be Lu Lei, he has grown into a young man in the blink of an eye. He used to be classmates with Wenjun. Now they are classmates again¡ªthat''s good. But I heard from Wenjun that he is still unfriendly to him like before. You should talk to him when you have time, to avoid them reverting to their old ways."

    Upon hearing this, Lu Ming finally couldn''t hold back and a flash of anger appeared on his face. He could clearly hear that Sun Yuncheng was using his son''s matter to get at him, to remind him not to overlook this Secretary-General just because he knew Fang Ting.

    "I say Secretary-General Sun, will you ever let it go? Spend more time disciplining your own son¡ª with his behavior, how many can get along with him properly?" At this moment, Ge Dongxu also became angry. After all, Lu Ming was an elder, and even if Sun Yuncheng really needed to say those things, he could have done it privately; what was the point of doing it now? Was he trying to see if Lu Ming would completely submit?

    "You, what''s your name, how can you speak like that?" Sun Yuncheng, not expecting Lu Ming to remain silent while a student spoke out first, pointing at him and openly chastising him, became furious.

    "How do I speak? I''d like to ask you the same! Aren''t you just a city government Secretary-General? If you want to show off, go do it elsewhere, don''t drag Uncle Lu into it. Look at Uncle Lu, how down-to-earth he is, do you act like that? No wonder your son loves to show off so much, it clearly runs in the family," Ge Dongxu, not afraid of Sun Yuncheng, saw his anger and disdainfully snorted, continuing his criticism.

    Are you joking? No matter what, today Lu Ming was his classmate''s father who had come specially to visit and treat them to a meal; how could he let him be humiliated?

    "Ge Dongxu, when adults are talking, a student should not butt in," Lu Ming saw Ge Dongxu mocking Sun Yuncheng while also taking the chance to praise him. Although it was pleasant to hear, it made him anxious, and he quickly tugged at Ge Dongxu, saying sternly.

    "Ge Dongxu, right? Very well, I will speak with your teacher about this, to find out if a student should disrespect his elders like this. Just wait for your punishment," Sun Yuncheng said, so angry he was almost exploding.

    Having been a leader for so many years, he had never been pointed at and ridiculed by a student before.

 Chapter 597 - 596: Father and Son Reconcile

    "Secretary-General Sun, don''t be angry, don''t be angry," Lu Ming said, seeing Sun Yuncheng on his way to speak with a teacher. He couldn''t help but recall the time his son had fought with Sun Wenjun, and his face immediately changed color. He cast aside any grudges with Sun Yuncheng and hurriedly stepped forward to stop him, saying. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After finishing, Lu Ming quickly turned to Ge Dongxu with a stern face and said, "Ge Dongxu, what kind of way is that to speak? Apologize to Secretary-General Sun right now."

    "Enough, Lu Ming, stop the act. A grown man like you should know what should and shouldn''t be said," Sun Yuncheng said angrily as he brushed Lu Ming aside.

    Upon hearing this, Lu Ming''s face changed color once more. He wanted to step forward and plead, but Ge Dongxu had already reached out and pulled him back, saying, "Let him go, Uncle Lu. This is Jiangnan University, not Jinzhou City, let alone Golden Mountain County. Even if he is the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City Government, so what? I haven''t hit anyone, I haven''t cursed at anyone. I was simply kindly telling the truth. Could a teacher at the school really punish me for that?"

    "What a sharp-tongued college student, eh? So insulting your classmate becomes kindness in your words," Sun Yuncheng said, his face turning an iron blue with anger.

    "Your son plays basketball with the intent to knock people over, demands a bus to pick him up during a trip to Golden Mountain County, and learns martial arts just to stir up trouble. He''s still young. I''m reminding you now¡ªit''s not too late to discipline him. If you don''t, pardon my blunt words, but you''re harming him. Of course, this requires you to lead by example. That''s all I have to say. If you want to complain to the teachers, then go ahead," Ge Dongxu coldly said with a stern face.

    "You, you..." Sun Yuncheng, unable to argue with Ge Dongxu, was so furious that he grabbed his son and stormed down the stairs.

    "You, you just had to be the clever one, didn''t you?" Lu Ming, seeing Sun Yuncheng angrily descending the stairs with his son, pointed at Ge Dongxu, stamping his feet in frustration.

    "Dad, Ge Dongxu is sticking up for me! Why are you criticizing him? Do you know what happened? When I was playing basketball, Sun Wenjun deliberately bumped into me. Afterward, he came to provoke me. It was Ge Dongxu who helped me compete against him, beat him, and forced him to apologize to me. Do you know that? During the trip to Golden Mountain, he was boasting and provoking me all the way from the train station. It was also Ge Dongxu who helped me stand up to him. Do you know that? Ge Dongxu''s competition with the Taekwondo Association president was also largely related to Sun Wenjun. Before, you hit me because of your official position. I didn''t blame you because I know it''s not easy for you, and you are my dad. But today, are you still going to bow and scrape to Sun Yuncheng because of your position, even scold Ge Dongxu?" Lu Lei said more and more aggrievedly as tears began to well up in his eyes.

    "Is that so? Sun Wenjun often troubles Lu Lei at the university?" Lu Ming''s face turned even uglier upon hearing this.

    "Yes, but not anymore," He Guizhong and others nodded in agreement.

    Recalling the words Sun Yuncheng had used to criticize Lu Lei, the veins on Lu Ming''s forehead bulged with anger.

    "You know nothing but how to fawn and criticize us! I''m sorry, boss, let''s go! This affair is entirely the fault of that screw-up, Sun Yuncheng, and his son. So what if he''s a secretary? Does that mean he can bully people as he pleases?" Lu Lei wiped away his tears and said.

    Ge Dongxu certainly wasn''t going to let Lu Lei leave. He reached out and grabbed him, looking at him, and said, "Lu Lei, you''ve misunderstood your dad. He''s just worried that I might be disciplined by the school, that''s why he''s so anxious."

    "Really? When I fought with Sun Wenjun, it was clearly I who was in the right. I even got the worse of the fight, but without asking anything, he just hit me and then dragged me to Sun Wenjun''s house to apologize. Isn''t it because Sun Yuncheng''s rank is higher than his and he doesn''t dare to offend him! He..." Lu Lei said, his voice growing strained as tears once again started to flow.

    "Lu Lei, your dad isn''t that kind of person. If he really were, he wouldn''t have been transferred to the Archives Bureau and stayed there for so many years. He must have had his hardships when he hit you, and saying such things will hurt your dad''s feelings," Ge Dongxu interrupted.

    "Really, Dad? Was there really a reason you hit me back then?" Lu Lei asked, his eyes brimming with tears as he looked at Lu Ming.

    "I''m sorry, son, I wasn''t concerned enough about you! You''ve suffered so many grievances. Back then, I was worried that the school would punish you, so I forced you to apologize to Sun Wenjun. Little did I know, he would still bully you at university," Lu Ming said, filled with self-reproach and guilt as he faced his son''s tearful gaze. It was only today that he learned his son had harbored that incident in his heart for so many years.

    Lu Lei was no fool; as soon as Lu Ming explained, he immediately understood that his father might have been feeling even worse than he had. His body trembled slightly, and with quivering lips, he said, "Dad, I''m sorry."

    "Silly boy, it''s Dad who lacks the ability and let you down," Lu Ming embraced his son and patted him, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Thank you, Dongxu. If it weren''t for you, I still wouldn''t know about the incident that Lu Lei kept hidden in his heart. And thank you for taking such good care of Lu Lei. I, his father, haven''t been able to take care of him properly, and he has instead been wronged."

    "There''s no need for thanks, Uncle Lu. Lu Lei and I are classmates; it''s all my duty," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Don''t worry, I''ll talk to your homeroom teacher and clear this up, they definitely won''t let..." Lu Ming began to say.

    "Uncle Lu doesn''t need to worry about this. I haven''t done anything wrong. If Sun Yuncheng, a secretary-general of Jinzhou City''s government, really goes to a teacher over such a trivial matter, it won''t be me but him who loses face. If you actively seek out my homeroom teacher about this, it would just be giving the game away. Besides, I have a good relationship with Professor Wu from our college. She knows my character. If there''s really an issue, she''ll speak up for me," Ge Dongxu cut him off.

    "That''s right, Uncle Lu, our Big Brother has a great relationship with Professor Wu," He Guizhong and Li Chenyu nodded in agreement.

    "You make a good point. Okay then, remember to call me if anything happens," Lu Ming pondered that Jiangnan University after all wasn''t the same as Golden Mountain County No. 1 Middle School, and this incident was just a verbal conflict. It was absolutely impossible for Sun Yuncheng, even as the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City''s government, to have his way at Jiangnan University.

    "Alright, it''s settled then, let''s go for a stroll by Little Mingyue Lake," Ge Dongxu smiled, and as he spoke, he walked ahead with He Guizhong and Li Chenyu, leaving Lu Lei and his father Lu Ming behind.

    "Are you still mad at Dad?" Lu Ming asked as he walked shoulder to shoulder with Lu Lei.

    Lu Lei shook his head and then hesitated before saying, "Dad, I''m sorry, I shouldn''t have spoken to you that way just now."

    "Silly boy, what you said just now wasn''t wrong! Even if I had been concerned and anxious for Ge Dongxu, I should have asked for details before criticizing," said Lu Ming, his body jolting at his son''s words. Then, patting Lu Lei''s shoulder, he spoke reassuringly.

 Chapter 598 - 597: Youre Not an Expert in This Area Too, Are You?

    ```

    "By the way, Dad, that Sun Yuncheng said you came to the Provincial Capital for further study? What are you still studying at your age?" Lu Lei suddenly asked as they neared the small Mingyue Lake.

    "You cheeky kid, do you think your dad is very old?" Lu Ming replied with slight annoyance, lightly tapping Lu Lei''s head.

    "Heh heh, not old, not old, just over forty." Lu Lei said with a laugh, rubbing his head.

    "What''s wrong with being over forty? That''s the prime of life, the perfect time to pursue great ambitions. That''s why your dad came to the Provincial Party Committee School for further study, to become a deputy county head after I get back. Let''s see if I can aim to be a county head before I retire, so that Sun Wenjun won''t keep showing off in front of you." Lu Ming said.

    "Ah! Dad, are you going to be a deputy county head?" Lu Lei exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this.

    "Wow, Uncle Lu is going to be a deputy county head, that''s really awesome!" He Guizhong and Li Chenyu also said with faces full of surprise, while Ge Dongxu, who had already figured it out, just smiled and said to Lu Ming: "Congratulations, Uncle. You''re definitely treating us today."

    "Yeah, I have to treat, I really do!" Seeing his son''s excited face, Lu Ming also felt very pleased and nodded in agreement.

    Perhaps it was the breaking down of barriers between father and son, or the knowledge that his father was going to be a deputy county head, or maybe both, but Lu Lei started talking much more than before.

    Dinner was at the school''s "high-end venue," the Crystal Hall.

    Although the Crystal Hall is a school restaurant, its decor and layout are actually no different from outside hotels, with both a main hall and private rooms.

    Lu Ming wasn''t particularly wealthy, and there were no foreign teachers like Nico around this time, so there was no need for the particular extravagance of booking a private room like they did in Golden Mountain County. So everyone simply found a table in the main hall.

    When they went to the restaurant, He Guizhong took the initiative to invite Lv Semi-Immortal as well.

    "Wow, Uncle Lu, your forehead is clear and shiny, ruddy and full, that''s the rhythm of a promotion!" Lv Semi-Immortal arrived at the Crystal Hall and, after greeting Lu Ming, stared straight at his forehead, then suddenly exclaimed with joy.

    "Before, Lu Lei told me you like to play at being a mystic, and I didn''t believe it, but now I do. However, such things are only good for a laugh, don''t get seriously lost in it," Lu Ming said, a bit stunned, then smilingly pointed at Lv Semi-Immortal.

    "Damn, no way. Lv Semi-Immortal, are you just guessing blindly, saying only the nice things, or did you actually see something?" He Guizhong, however, seemed not to have heard Lu Ming''s words and looked at Lv Semi-Immortal in surprise, as if seeing him for the first time.

    "Didn''t you mention my situation when you went to call Lv Chongliang?" Lu Ming couldn''t help being surprised when he heard this. He had thought He Guizhong had told Lv Chongliang about his promotion when he invited him, so the kid was taking the opportunity to play to the crowd. Now it seemed that wasn''t the case, which was quite surprising to him.

    "I didn''t." He Guizhong shook his head.

    "Damn, no way, Lv Semi-Immortal, you actually have some real skill." Li Chenyu and Lu Lei, seeing He Guizhong shake his head, also couldn''t help expressing their astonishment, only Ge Dongxu wore a smile, not showing much surprise.

    ```

    After all, Lv Chongliang was the grandson of the Divination Master, and when compared to those fortune tellers at the bridgehead, he did have some genuine skill.

    It was clear that Lu Ming was destined to encounter a noble person and was already bound for a promotion. Although he wasn''t exuding an overwhelming aura of nobility during this period, that aura had already begun to emanate. Even if Lv Chongliang couldn''t be certain, he could still make out some clues.

    Since he could discern some clues, and since a promotion was a good thing that everyone loved to hear about, it was only natural for Lv Semi-Immortal to speak right up.

    If he wasn''t accurate, Lu Ming certainly wouldn''t be upset about it. If he was, it would prove that Lv Semi-Immortal did have real talent.

    Of course, he did have a bit of real skill and had indeed noticed some clues, unlike last time on the train when he said the school beauty Xu Yanran would encounter a bloody disaster; that was purely for the sake of flirting.

    "Of course, do you see who I am? I''m known in the jianghu as Lv Semi-Immortal. Do you think anyone can just call themselves Semi-Immortal?" Lv Chongliang boasted upon hearing the comment.

    "You, Lv Chongliang, puff up at the slightest praise. Alright, sit down, let''s order and eat." Seeing Lv Chongliang puff up with pride, Lu Ming couldn''t help but laugh.

    Although he was somewhat surprised just now, it was just a brief moment of surprise. Naturally, Lu Ming didn''t think that Lv Chongliang had truly discerned his promotion from his facial features. It was just seeing his happy face and saying something auspicious.

    "Uncle Lu, I do understand a bit about face reading, but it''s just the basics. My grandfather is truly formidable. Many officials and dignitaries in Dongyue Province want to have my grandfather divine for them. But due to the complex karma involved with these officials and dignitaries, my grandfather dares not do it lightly, lest it shorten his lifespan. However, Uncle Lu, as Lu Lei''s father, I will still try to have my grandfather divine for you sometime in the future. This should make your political career a bit smoother," Lv Semi-Immortal said in all seriousness as he took his seat.

    "It seems someone in your family really does read fortunes, but I don''t believe in it. Regardless, thank you for the thought," said Lu Ming, who was genuinely surprised and gave Lv Semi-Immortal a few discerning looks before responding earnestly. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Fortune-telling merely predicts trends; there are still a lot of variables in reality. Sometimes, even knowing isn''t necessarily a good thing. The key lies in a person''s conduct and their own efforts. Just like the Minnan song says, ''Only by striving can one succeed; fate is determined at thirty percent, but seventy percent depends on fighting it out.'' Even the most skilled fortune teller can only divine that thirty percent, while the true destiny is still decided by the major seventy percent, which means it''s determined by oneself. I do believe Lv Semi-Immortal has some real skill, but in my opinion, unless it''s absolutely necessary, it makes no difference whether one divines or not," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Upon hearing this, Lu Ming turned to look at Ge Dongxu with brightened eyes, nodding repeatedly and said, "No wonder they all call you boss. Your insight is good, really good!"

    Lv Semi-Immortal''s face showed admiration as he looked at Ge Dongxu, giving him a thumbs-up and exclaiming, "Wow, boss, are you also an expert in this area? What you''ve just said sounds just like my grandfather!"

    "I''ve never discussed this with your grandfather, so I''m not really sure," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Haha!" Hearing this, Lu Lei and the others laughed, and Lv Semi-Immortal joined in as well.

    They naturally assumed Ge Dongxu was making a joke, unaware that Ge Dongxu knew Lv Semi-Immortal''s grandfather. In terms of other skills, Lv Semi-Immortal''s grandfather couldn''t hold a candle to Ge Dongxu, but when it came to fortune-telling, since it wasn''t Ge Dongxu''s specialty, he wouldn''t claim to be stronger than Lv Semi-Immortal''s grandfather in that regard, even though Ge Dongxu''s cultivation far surpassed the old man''s.

    Amid the laughter, Lu Ming called a server over and ordered some home-style dishes, as well as some drinks.

    While Lu Ming and the others were dining in the main hall, in a small private room of the Crystal Hall, Sun Yuncheng and his son were also having a meal with Wu Yili, along with the headteachers of classes one and two of Environmental Chemistry.

 Chapter 599 - 598: Protecting the Calf

    In universities, class advisers are often newly joined teachers, such as some senior associate professors and professors, who generally do not take on the role due to their heavy research projects.

    The class advisers for Environmental Chemistry Class One and Two were no exception, both being young teachers who had started working not long after.

    However, Jiangnan University is the premier higher educational institution in Jiangnan Province and is among the top key universities nationwide. Particularly in the science and engineering fields, a doctoral degree is usually required for admission.

    Therefore, although the two class advisers had only been working for a couple of years and were considered young, they were actually both just over thirty years old.

    Both of them were still lecturers, not having been promoted to associate professors yet, whereas Wu Yili was a national talent recruited from overseas who had taken charge of two major national natural science projects upon returning to the country. The year before last, she was selected as a leading young scholar in Jiangnan Province, and last year she even won a National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars¡­ Presently, she was the leader in the field of Environmental Chemistry at Jiangnan University''s School of Environmental and Resource Sciences.

    So although all three were considered young teachers, the two class advisers were slightly reserved when sitting with Wu Yili, and their looks towards her occasionally revealed a hint of admiration.

    During the meal, the two class advisers took the opportunity to frequently toast to Wu Yili.

    They hoped to foster a good relationship with Wu Yili so that she could assist them in the future with their evaluations for associate professor positions, as well as with research applications and paper publications, given her status as an influential young professor in the faculty.

    "Last time with the improvement of water quality and ecological restoration at Jinyang Lake, we were very honored to have Professor Wu''s assistance. The water quality of our Jinyang Lake has greatly improved, and for this, I would like to express the gratitude of the people of Jinzhou City on their behalf," Sun Yuncheng raised his glass and said.

    "Secretary-General Sun is too kind. I was only doing my duty," Wu Yili lightly clinked glasses with Sun Yuncheng, taking a ceremonial sip before continuing with a serious expression, "However, our work is only a temporary solution, not a cure for the root cause. It''s essential to control the source, especially those chemical and paper plants along the lake. Merely halting production during the cleanup period is useless."

    "Professor Wu is correct, I will make sure to convey this to the relevant officials," Sun Yuncheng nodded gravely.

    Seeing that Sun Yuncheng nodded with a serious face, yet spoke official clich¨¦s that lacked substance, Wu Yili knew he wasn''t truly taking it to heart; otherwise, his response wouldn''t be a mere deference. She felt inwardly displeased.

    As a meticulous scientist, Wu Yili preferred the German style of precision, where one''s word is one''s bond, over this style of paying lip service without taking any real action.

    "By the way, Teacher Lin, there''s a student in your Environmental Chemistry Class One named Ge Dongxu. That young man requires some serious criticism and discipline. He doesn''t understand how to unite with his classmates or respect his elders," Sun Yuncheng said gravely to the class adviser of Environmental Chemistry Class One, after having exchanged some niceties with Wu Yili.

    Seeing his father finally mention Ge Dongxu, Sun Wenjun couldn''t help but show a look of schadenfreude.

    "Ge Dongxu?" Teacher Lin was slightly taken aback before asking, "What happened? Did he confront Secretary-General Sun? I''ll be sure to talk to him about it."

    "It''s more than confrontation, his attitude was utterly reprehensible! With a student like him, I believe a stern criticism, even a severe warning, is necessary. Otherwise, allowing him to continue this way would be irresponsible," Sun Yuncheng said earnestly.

    Sun Yuncheng, after all, was the Secretary-General of the Earth Level City government, and his words carried a certain authority; Lin, the teacher, found it hard to shrug off, her expression inevitably showing difficulty.

    There are many kinds of disciplinary actions for students who have transgressed, and for a freshman, a severe warning was already considered a heavy penalty.

    "Secretary-General Sun, could you explain how Ge Dongxu''s attitude was extremely bad? As far as I know, this student is quite outstanding¡ªnot only is he diligent in his studies, but he is also stable, kind-hearted, and unites his classmates. How did he become someone who doesn''t know how to unite his classmates or respect his elders in your words, to the extent that he deserves a severe warning?" Just as Lin was feeling troubled, Wu Yili had already lost her patience, pulled a strict face, and questioned him.

    If Sun Yuncheng had spoken about any other student, Wu Yili might not have had a clear idea, as she had not interacted with them thoroughly. But how could she be unclear about Ge Dongxu?

    Even if Sun Yuncheng talked till the ends of the earth, she would not believe Ge Dongxu was that kind of student.

    Because Sun Wenjun was a student in the Environmental Chemistry Class 2, and also the class monitor, and since his father was the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City government, the homeroom teacher of Environmental Chemistry Class 2 initially sided with Sun Yuncheng. Just as he was about to speak up, he didn''t expect Professor Wu to take a stand, and from the looks of it, she clearly had a very good impression of Ge Dongxu. The homeroom teacher of Environmental Chemistry Class 2 immediately swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

    What a joke, Professor Wu was a heavyweight in the College of Environmental and Resource Sciences. If she was protecting a student, how dare a lecturer like him make careless comments!

    Sun Yuncheng obviously did not expect Professor Wu''s response to be so intense; his face changed colors several times, and, in the end, unable to save face, he said sternly, "Professor Wu, what do you mean by that? Are you suggesting that I, the respected Secretary-General of Jinzhou City government, would slander a university student?"

    "I''m not saying you slandered Ge Dongxu, but Secretary-General Sun, have you really looked into Ge Dongxu? What is your basis for saying this? Is it because you''ve heard your son''s version of the story? I know your son and Ge Dongxu seem to have some problems with each other," Wu Yili said, her gaze filled with disdain as she looked at Sun Wenjun.

    Because just now, Sun Wenjun''s face obviously showed a schadenfreude expression.

    Sun Yuncheng did not expect Professor Wu to be so protective of Ge Dongxu, and clearly, as a result, she developed a negative opinion of his own son. He couldn''t help but feel both annoyed and regretful; had he known that Professor Wu had such a good relationship with Ge Dongxu, he would definitely not have brought up the matter.

    However, having mounted the tiger, Sun Yuncheng naturally could not simply give up now, otherwise, it indeed would seem like he was targeting Ge Dongxu due to his son''s influence.

    "Of course not, it was just now in the dormitory building when I encountered Ge Dongxu, and he had a very bad attitude towards me, face to face. Could there be any falsehood in that?" Sun Yuncheng said, his face looking ugly. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Sun Yuncheng say this, the homeroom teacher of Environmental Chemistry Class 1 became a bit restless.

    After all, Sun Yuncheng was the respected Secretary-General of Jinzhou City government, and since he said so, Lin, the teacher, still believed that there could be no falsehood in it.

    "This Ge Dongxu, how could he act like this?" Lin couldn''t help but complain.

 Chapter 600 - 599: Falling Out

    "Teacher Lin, don''t speak too soon. Just because someone has a bad attitude, it doesn''t necessarily mean it''s Ge Dongxu''s fault. What if Secretary-General Sun was in the wrong first? Do we not allow Ge Dongxu to protest then?" Wu Yili, seeing that Teacher Lin was clearly biased because of Sun Yuncheng''s position, couldn''t help but glare at him with displeasure and said.

    Teacher Lin was immediately at a loss for words.

    No way, Secretary-General Sun had said as much, wasn''t Professor Wu''s statement tantamount to openly doubting his character and slapping him in the face?

    "Professor Wu, what do you mean by that? Please clarify, I am a parent, the Secretary-General of the Jinzhou City government, do you think I would bully a college student for no reason?" Sun Yuncheng was also angered upon hearing this, and his face turned the color of iron as he spoke.

    "There is no rule stating that the Secretary-General of the city government can never make mistakes. Since you said it was Ge Dongxu who confronted you with a bad attitude, may I ask for the specifics of the situation? If it truly is Ge Dongxu''s fault, I will definitely call him over to apologize to you in person. But if it is due to your prejudice, or even because you were swayed by what your son said, leading to this conflict, then I am sorry, as a teacher, I will not allow anyone to slander my students." Wu Yili''s pretty face turned frosty as she confronted him directly.

    That simple smile, those deep and clear black eyes, Wu Yili would never forget them in her lifetime.

    How could Wu Yili possibly choose to believe Sun Yuncheng over Ge Dongxu based on Sun''s baseless words?

    Even if Sun Yuncheng was the Secretary-General of the Jinzhou City government, it was useless! Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You, Professor Wu, if you''re going to protect your student like this, I have nothing more to say!" Sun Yuncheng didn''t expect that even after speaking to this point, Wu Yili would still stand her ground against him, which left him feeling both angry and anxious.

    However, if he truly explained the matter, not only could he not prove Ge Dongxu had a bad attitude, but it would also make him, Sun Yuncheng, appear petty, complaining to a teacher over a trivial matter and trying to rectify Ge Dongxu.

    Of course, Sun Yuncheng could also fabricate things, but the problem was that this matter wasn''t solely between him and Ge Dongxu¡ªothers like Lu Ming were also present, and with Wu Yili''s attitude, calling them all in for verification later would only embarrass him, Sun Yuncheng!

    "Secretary-General Sun, as a teacher if I don''t protect my students, who will? If this incident happened to Sun Wenjun, I would protect him just the same. Of course, that''s provided he truly is a good student," Wu Yili said coldly, her face growing even more icy.

    As sharp as Wu Yili was, Sun Yuncheng''s statement of having nothing more to say already said everything, which infuriated her greatly.

    Ge Dongxu was just a student from a mountainous area¡ªif she didn''t know him well, she couldn''t imagine what consequences would await Ge Dongxu because of Sun Yuncheng''s words today.

    "Secretary-General Sun, Professor Wu, I think a severe warning is unnecessary here, but Ge Dongxu''s disrespect to his elders is still wrong. I''ll speak to Ge Dongxu later and tell him to be mindful next time," Teacher Lin, as the homeroom teacher, felt compelled to mediate between Secretary-General Sun and Professor Wu as they argued.

    "Being a person is just like conducting scientific research, what is true is true, what is not is not. If it is Ge Dongxu''s fault, as his teacher, I have the responsibility to correct him and make him apologize. But if he''s not at fault, why should we blame him? That''s unfair to him and will have a very negative impact on our students'' education," Wu Yili directly refuted Teacher Lin''s peacemaking approach.

    Sun Yuncheng had been hoping to climb down using Teacher Lin''s ladder, but Wu Yili gave him absolutely no face, turning his cheeks from green to red with anger until he felt like his lungs were going to explode.

    It just so happened that Wu Yili was a university professor, and what''s more, she was his son''s university professor. He had no authority over her and, because of his son, was, in some ways, in need of her favor. This left him with no outlet for his rage, even though he felt like exploding.

    Seeing Sun Yuncheng''s face turn from green to red, unable to utter a word, it wasn''t just Wu Yili who had already confirmed her suspicions¡ªboth head teachers of Environmental Chemistry Classes 1 and 2 had also come to understand the situation and couldn''t help but privately disdain Sun Yuncheng''s character.

    However, they were all young teachers with no background or much experience, and even if they wanted to take on some local projects in the future, they wouldn''t do without the help of Sun Yuncheng, the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City''s government. So, although they disdained him internally, they didn''t show it on the surface, let alone speak of it.

    But Wu Yili was different. Ge Dongxu was her life-saving benefactor and now her student, and there was Sun Yuncheng, blatantly slandering him. How could she tolerate that? Seeing that Sun Yuncheng wouldn''t speak, she stood up directly and said, "Thank you for the meal, Secretary-General Sun, but I must leave now due to prior engagements."

    Without heeding the head teachers'' attempts to keep her there, Wu Yili walked away.

    "Secretary-General Sun, please don''t mind. Professor Wu''s temper is just like that, once she''s set on something, she wouldn''t even give face to the dean." Seeing Wu Yili leave in anger, the two head teachers felt uncomfortable all over and worried that Sun Yuncheng wouldn''t be able to save face, so they quickly tried to smooth things over.

    "It''s normal for someone who''s returned from overseas, and is a professor, to have a bit of temperament, perfectly normal," Sun Yuncheng said with a bitter smile, taking the opportunity to step down.

    "What ''normal''? Teacher Wu is just especially good to Ge Dongxu." Sun Wenjun had already been burning with jealousy seeing Wu Yili defend Ge Dongxu again and again, but he hadn''t dared to speak up before. Now that she had left, he couldn''t help but complain resentfully.

    "Sun Wenjun, you can''t talk nonsense like that!" As soon as Sun Wenjun blurted that out, the head teachers of Environmental Chemistry Class 1 and 2 immediately changed their expressions and scolded him severely.

    "I wasn''t talking nonsense..." Sun Wenjun, relying on his father being there, retorted unwillingly upon hearing this.

    "Shut your mouth!" Sun Yuncheng, as the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City''s government, could still discern the gravity of the situation and seeing his son still stubbornly back-talking, he glared at him fiercely and scolded.

    At the same time, he inwardly blamed his son for not having informed him earlier about this matter. If he had known earlier about the close relationship between Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili, he certainly wouldn''t have brought up the topic of dealing with Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing his father angry, Sun Wenjun could only lower his head and dared not speak out of turn anymore.

    ...

    "Eh, isn''t that Teacher Wu?" Inside the hall, as Ge Dongxu and the others were dining, Li Chenyu, who was facing the private room area, spotted Wu Yili coming out, his eyes lighting up instantly, and he said with surprise and delight.

    While Ge Dongxu and the rest were eating, the sight of Wu Yili emerging from the private room area caused their faces to light up with happiness.

    "Teacher Wu? Where?" Lv Semi-Immortal immediately turned his head with shining eyes towards the private room area. Spotting Wu Yili indeed coming out from there, he stood up immediately and waved toward her, calling out, "Teacher Wu, Teacher Wu!"

 Chapter 601 - 600 I Understand Dongxu

    "Why do I feel like this guy is more like one of our Environmental Chemistry students? Teacher Wu is our Inorganic Chemistry teacher, and yet this English major is so enthusiastic - what''s he doing?" Li Chenyu grumbled discontentedly, as he also stood up and waved towards Wu Yili.

    "Yeah, boss, give him a few tosses some day to stop him from always stealing our thunder," He Guizhong chimed in.

    Of course, while chiming in, he didn''t forget to wave at Wu Yili as well.

    With Lv Semi-Immortal''s call, Wu Yili naturally noticed Ge Dongxu and the others; her originally icy face immediately softened as she walked towards them.

    Seeing Wu Yili approaching, Lu Ming, prompted by his son, had already stood up to greet her, feeling somewhat nervous in his heart.

    This was because Wu Yili, the university professor, was not only young but also very pretty and had great poise!

    Upon meeting her for the first time, even Lu Ming, a thoroughly honorable man, couldn''t help but feel his heart beat faster.

    "You are?" Wu Yili, seeing Lu Ming get up to greet her, couldn''t help but feel a bit startled.

    "Teacher Wu, this is my father, Lu Ming. Dad, this is the youngest Professor Wu from our college, who came back from Germany and is now teaching us Inorganic Chemistry," Lu Lei promptly introduced on the side.

    "Oh, Mister Lu, hello, hello," Wu Yili shook hands with Lu Ming in a straightforward manner.

    "Professor Wu is so young! If we were to run into you on the street, who would believe you are a university professor?" While shaking hands, Lu Ming casually offered flattery to Professor Wu.

    "Thank you for the compliments, Mister Lu," Wu Yili smiled and said.

    "A chance encounter is better than a scheduled meeting, would Professor Wu care to sit down and have a drink with us?" Lu Ming politely spoke.

    "Sure, as it happens, I have something to ask Ge Dongxu," Wu Yili replied without any pretense and nodded her head in agreement.

    Lu Ming was thrilled to see Professor Wu agree, and the same goes for He Guizhong and the others, needless to say.

    They always arrived early for Professor Wu''s classes, but no matter how early they were or how they sat in the front row, it couldn''t compare to sitting at the same table to dine and drink together.

    Without needing Lu Ming''s instructions, the usually quiet Lu Lei had already taken the initiative to hurry over to call someone to add a chair, bowl, and cup for Professor Wu.

    After Wu Yili took her seat, Lu Ming naturally did not neglect to offer her a drink, nor did he neglect to engage in some small talk, chatting about trivial matters and asking about the school performance of Lu Lei and others.

    This was the kind of conversation expected between a parent and teacher during their meeting.

    After chatting amiably with Lu Ming, Wu Yili then turned to Ge Dongxu and asked, "Dongxu, did you have some misunderstanding with Sun Wenjun''s father?"

    Upon hearing Wu Yili''s question, Ge Dongxu''s face couldn''t help but darken slightly, and a hint of anger flashed in the depths of his eyes as he asked, "What, did Sun Wenjun''s father really go to the teacher to complain about me?"

    "Yes, I was just having dinner in a private room with Sun Wenjun and his father, along with your class teacher and others. Sun Wenjun''s father specifically mentioned you. What''s happening here, can you explain to the teacher?" Wu Yili inquired.

    "Professor Wu, I know the situation well, and it really isn''t Dongxu''s fault. Please don''t just listen to Sun Yuncheng''s side of the story," Lu Ming hastily said, his heart filled with both shock and anger.

    He really hadn''t expected that over such a trivial matter, Sun Yuncheng would actually go and complain to the teacher. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You know about it too?" Wu Yili couldn''t help but be very surprised.

    "Not only does Uncle Lu know, we all do. Sun Wenjun''s dad is really disgusting, reporting stuff like this." Li Chenyu said, his face full of contempt.

    "Exactly, I might have tattled once or twice in elementary school, but I never did it again after that." He Guizhong spoke.

    "Alright, let''s not judge what kind of person Sun Wenjun''s father is. Instead, tell me what actually happened," Wu Yili said with an annoyed glance at Li Chenyu and He Guizhong.

    As a teacher, she could stand up to Sun Yuncheng, but she still didn''t want her students discussing a classmate''s parent.

    "Let me explain," Lu Ming said.

    "Then please, go ahead," Wu Yili nodded.

    "What trouble? It should be me who''s in trouble. After all, I involved Ge Dongxu and then troubled you, Professor Wu," Lu Ming said with a self-deprecating smile.

    Lu Ming briefly mentioned his relationship with Sun Yuncheng, then described what happened at the stairwell.

    "So, Professor Wu, it''s really just a minor issue, and it''s not fair to blame Ge Dongxu. If anyone''s to blame, it''s us adults for not leading by example and setting a good model for the kids. Please don''t criticize Ge Dongxu because of this," Lu Ming said.

    "Why would I criticize Dongxu? I know Dongxu, he''s a good student, so I never believed Sun Yuncheng''s claims. Now that I''ve encountered you by chance, I just wanted to clear things up, not to interrogate or criticize," Wu Yili said.

    "That''s right, that''s right, Ge Dongxu is really a great guy, really great." Lu Ming nodded in agreement continuously, secretly surprised, thinking that Ge Dongxu''s relationship with Wu Yili was really solid¡ªhis worries had been for nothing.

    Although Ge Dongxu had anticipated this outcome, hearing Wu Yili say it outright still warmed his heart.

    Since the matter involved a student''s parent, and having cleared it up, Wu Yili didn''t want to discuss it further in front of the students and deftly changed the topic to the Martial Arts Association.

    Wu Yili was still quite shocked by how Ge Dongxu effortlessly took down a fourth-degree black belt with a simple gesture, so she couldn''t help being a bit curious about what Ge Dongxu had been up to since becoming the Honorary President of the Martial Arts Association.

    "Teacher Wu, you have no idea, our Chairman Ge is amazing. Ever since he became our Honorary President, our members'' martial skills have improved by leaps and bounds," He Guizhong said admiringly.

    "Leaps and bounds? Martial arts isn''t something that improves overnight. Just from listening to you, I can tell you''re exaggerating," Wu Yili said with a smile, pointing at He Guizhong.

    "Hehe, I might have exaggerated a bit, but our progress has indeed been rapid. If I were to compete with a Taekwondo Association officer now, I''m confident I could beat him," He Guizhong said, scratching his head sheepishly at first, then with confidence.

    "That''s more like it. It looks like Dongxu is really something as an Honorary President in teaching martial arts," Wu Yili said with a happy smile, her gaze towards Ge Dongxu filled with affection.

    "Hehe, they are diligent too; otherwise, it wouldn''t matter," Ge Dongxu modestly replied.

    As they were eating and talking, Sun Yuncheng and his group, having had an unpleasant experience, finished their meal early and walked out of the private dining area.

    When passing through the hall, they saw Ge Dongxu and others, as well as Wu Yili sitting with them.

    Sun Yuncheng''s face turned green on the spot.

 Chapter 603 - 602 Its My Responsibility if Theres a Problem

    "Yes, he indeed is a remarkable doctor. Some time ago, Feng Yaping invited him to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and now he''s there. I''ve already called him, and he said there''s no problem," Sang Yunlong responded gravely.

    "Ah, so Director Ge is at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital right now? Since he said there''s no problem, then we should send the injured to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital immediately, without going to the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University," Zheng Zijie, who was second only to Sang Yunlong in knowing how impressive Ge Dongxu was, heard this and immediately said.

    "I don''t doubt Director Ge''s capabilities, but this was a traffic accident with many casualties and is very urgent. Every second counts. Can Director Ge handle it?" Minister Hao of the Propaganda Department hesitated before asking upon hearing this.

    Minister Hao had met Ge Dongxu for the second time when Elder Feng''s son-in-law, Director Fang, came over. He also witnessed Ge Dongxu using the "Bewitching Spirit Technique" to interrogate Station Head Guo from Jiangnan Province''s TV station. Therefore, he had a very deep impression of Ge Dongxu and knew he was an extraordinary person.

    Yet even so, Minister Hao had no confidence whatsoever in Ge Dongxu''s ability to treat severely injured patients, especially given the large number of them. Even if Ge Dongxu really had some skills in treating severe injuries, he''d still be hard-pressed to handle them all.

    After all, none of those injured could afford any delay. S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Absolutely right, human life is of paramount importance! Comrade Yunlong, Comrade Zijie, even though you both have great confidence in that Director Ge, we can''t take this risk!" Secretary Chen said somberly.

    "Secretary Chen, sending them to the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University would be the real risk! How about this: send all those with severe injuries to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and those with lighter injuries, not life-threatening, to the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University," Sang Yunlong urged, seeing that Secretary Chen disagreed.

    "It''s precisely because their lives are in danger that we can''t afford to take this risk," Secretary Chen said with a wry smile.

    "Indeed! This is a matter of life and death, and Director Ge, after all, is still young." The other committee members also recalled who Ge Dongxu was and chimed in upon hearing this.

    Seeing that everyone, except Zheng Zijie, was against him, Sang Yunlong felt both anxious and frustrated, yet he couldn''t blame them since the decision of Secretary Chen and the other committee members was reasonable.

    "How about this, Secretary Chen, why don''t you call Elder Feng and explain the situation to him? Ge Dongxu has a special relationship with him, and he''s definitely very knowledgeable about his medical skills. Moreover, Elder Feng wouldn''t take risks lightly in such matters," Sang Yunlong said, coming up with an emergency solution in his moment of urgency.

    Sang Yunlong was, after all, the second-in-command, and he had used his own heart condition as an example earlier, so Secretary Chen understood that Sang Yunlong wouldn''t act recklessly in such matters. However, it was a serious issue, and if Ge Dongxu really had the ability to treat dozens of people all at once, it would be too shocking to believe. Even if there was a sliver of belief in Secretary Chen''s mind, he was not willing to take the risk and preferred to play it safe with conventional measures.

    Now that Sang Yunlong had stepped back and mentioned Elder Feng, it was not easy for Secretary Chen to object. Besides, he wasn''t completely disbelieving; he simply didn''t dare to take the risk. So, upon hearing this, he immediately nodded and said, "Okay, I''ll call Elder Feng right now."

    With that, Secretary Chen made the call to Elder Feng.

    While Secretary Chen was calling Elder Feng, Zheng Zijie, the vice governor and head of the Public Security Department, also received a phone call.

    "What, my dad was also on the bus?" Zheng Zijie''s face changed drastically as soon as he picked up the call. "How is he now?"

    "The situation is quite severe, his brain has been struck and it''s currently impossible to assess the extent of the injury. But his spine is seriously injured and he has already lost sensation in his lower limbs, I''m afraid..." the voice on the other end of the phone was heavy.

    "What? That, that..." Zheng Zijie was completely stunned.

    He knew that his father had gone on a trip these past few days, but he never imagined he would be on this very bus.

    "Elder Zheng has already been transported by ambulance, and I have also notified the head of neurosurgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University to immediately..." the person on the other end of the call said.

    "Liu Qiyue, you listen to me, order someone to send my father to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital immediately, not to whatever Jiangnan University First Affiliated Hospital! I will call the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital right away," Zheng Zijie interrupted in a commanding and indubitable tone.

    Zheng Zijie''s father was already seventy-five and had suffered such severe injuries that it wasn''t just a matter of whether the First Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University might not be able to save him; even if they could, he would spend the rest of his days bedridden.

    For an elderly person over seventy, once they become bedridden, they generally don''t have many days left.

    In this situation, only Ge Dongxu brought hope for a complete recovery to Zheng Zijie''s father!

    The Deputy Mayor Liu on the other end of the phone was momentarily stunned.

    "Governor Zheng, although the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital is the closest provincial hospital to here, with Elder Zheng''s severe injuries, taking him to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital..." But Deputy Mayor Liu swiftly regained his composure and immediately spoke.

    "He''s my father, and I say take him to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, so do it immediately!" Zheng Zijie, seeing the Deputy Mayor still babbling, roared.

    "Yes! Yes!" Deputy Mayor Liu, having been shouted at by Zheng Zijie, could only hurriedly agree and then hung up the phone.

    "Mayor Zhang, Governor Zheng has requested to have his father sent to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, what should we do now?" After hanging up the phone, Deputy Mayor Liu looked at Mayor Zhang with a forced smile.

    "How could this be? Didn''t you tell him how serious Elder Zheng''s injuries are?" Mayor Zhang said in disbelief upon hearing this.

    "I did, but he insisted on it, why don''t you give him a call," replied Deputy Mayor Liu with a wry smile.

    "Alright, I''ll call him again," Mayor Zhang nodded and said.

    In the Provincial Party Committee conference room, Secretary Chen had already gotten in touch with Elder Feng.

    Because the matter was urgent, Secretary Chen dispensed with pleasantries, asking only one question before explaining the reason for the call.

    "Have you contacted Ge Dongxu?" Elder Feng didn''t wait for Secretary Chen to finish speaking and directly interrupted with a question.

    "Comrade Yunlong has made contact," Secretary Chen replied.

    "What did he say?" Elder Feng asked.

    "Ge Dongxu said to bring the person to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, he''s at the hospital now," Secretary Chen replied.

    "Then what''s the hesitation? If he says it''s possible, then it''s possible. Command to send the injured there immediately, I''ll take responsibility if anything goes wrong," Elder Feng said decisively upon hearing this.

    Upon hearing this, Secretary Chen couldn''t help but be taken aback.

    Secretary Chen couldn''t imagine how deep Elder Feng''s trust in Ge Dongxu was, to the extent that, with his status, the mere word from Ge Dongxu immediately won his unquestioning trust and support; he even declared his readiness to take responsibility should there be any issue.

 Chapter 604 - 603 Director Ge, this time we need to trouble you!

    After hanging up with Elder Feng, Secretary Chen took a deep breath, suppressed his fluctuating emotions, and said to the Secretary-General with a grave expression, "Call Comrade Zhang Zhaosheng, I need to speak with him."

    Zhang Zhaosheng was the mayor of Linzhou City.

    When the Secretary-General got through to the mayor''s phone, Mayor Zhang had just finished another call with Zheng Zijie and was now looking both confused and depressed.

    It was easy enough to send them to the Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital; it would just take his order. But who would be responsible if something went wrong after they were admitted?

    "Mayor Zhang, Secretary Chen wants to talk to you," the Secretary-General said before passing the phone to Secretary Chen.

    Seeing that it was Secretary Chen wanting to speak with him, Mayor Zhang immediately straightened up and said, "Hello, Secretary Chen."

    "What''s the situation?" Secretary Chen asked.

    "The situation is very grim. Most people in the car are severely injured, and the follow-up rescue efforts are going to be very challenging," replied Mayor Zhang with a heavy heart.

    He was on the scene, witnessing the bloody scene firsthand. Even as a layman, he could tell that the prospects were bleak for those being carried into ambulances. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    People in Huaxia Country tend to share good news and not the bad. When Mayor Zhang shared such somber news, Secretary Chen''s heart sank involuntarily. Remembering his recent conversation with Elder Feng, he gritted his teeth and commanded, "Now I order you to send all the injured to the Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital."

    Mayor Zhang almost thought he had heard wrong and blurted out, "The Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital?"

    "Yes, the Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, that''s the decision from the province. The best doctors have already been arranged to wait there. I and Governor Sang will take responsibility if anything happens!" Secretary Chen said with a heavy voice.

    "Yes!" Hearing that the top two officials of the Provincial Party Committee had made such a decision, and remembering Zheng Zijie''s shouting, Mayor Zhang, no matter how many doubts he had, had no choice but to grit his teeth and accept the order at that moment.

    So the injured were loaded onto ambulances and sent to the Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    As it happened, the Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital was actually the closest hospital to the scene of the accident¡ª at least half as close as Jiangnan University''s First Affiliated Hospital and the Provincial People''s Hospital.

    "Let''s put the Standing Committee meeting on hold for today. I''m going to the Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital myself," Secretary Chen said in a heavy tone after hanging up the phone with Mayor Zhang.

    Even with the guarantees from Sang Yunlong and even Elder Feng, Secretary Chen still felt uneasy about the situation without seeing it for himself.

    With Secretary Chen going, Governor Sang Yunlong, as the governor, naturally had to go as well. Other members of the Standing Committee had specifically made time for the meeting; since there was no meeting now, they were free and followed along.

    As for Zheng Zijie, there was no need to mention him. He directly greeted Secretary Chen and Governor Sang before hurrying off ahead of them.

    On the way, Zheng Zijie called Ge Dongxu.

    When Zheng Zijie called Ge Dongxu, Ge Dongxu had already stopped his session of accompanying the clinic and had contacted Feng Yaping. Then, with some doctors from the internal medicine department, including Tang Yiyuan and He Duanrui, he rushed to the emergency room.

    "Director Ge, Director Ge, you must save my dad at all costs," Zheng Zijie pleaded with a sobbing voice as soon as the call connected.

    "Minister Zheng, don''t panic, take it slow, what''s the matter?" Ge Dongxu was startled to hear such an important figure pleading with him in a crying voice.

    "The car accident on Qianjiang Avenue. My dad was involved and his injuries are very severe. He has a head injury and his spine is also seriously damaged; he has completely lost sensation in his lower limbs now," said Zheng Zijie, taking a deep breath and speaking rapidly.

    "Rest assured, as long as your father is still breathing, I will definitely save him. I''m already waiting in the emergency room," Ge Dongxu said upon realizing that Zheng Zijie''s father was also involved in the accident. He quickly reassured him, and his expression grew even more serious.

    Injuries to the head and spine¡ªif it were another practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, they wouldn''t even think about referring to Western surgical methods. Even Ge Dongxu, although he had great confidence in his own medical skills, felt heavy-hearted at this moment.

    Especially since there were dozens of people injured this time, Ge Dongxu felt increasingly weighed down.

    He walked swiftly towards the emergency room.

    The emergency room had already received prior notification from President Feng, and by the time Ge Dongxu arrived, they had prepared everything necessary.

    The person in charge of the emergency room was also extremely anxious and tense.

    This was a major traffic accident! He couldn''t understand why the Provincial Party Committee had decided to send the injured to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. What perplexed him even more was the call from President Feng earlier, instructing him to follow all orders from the director of internal medicine in traditional Chinese medicine, Ge, when he arrived, even if he didn''t understand why.

    Internal medicine in traditional Chinese medicine¡ªthat''s purely traditional. And their emergency room practiced Western medicine.

    Could someone practicing pure traditional Chinese medicine even work in an emergency room? And to think they were letting a director from internal medicine, someone he had never even heard of named Ge, take charge... If it had not been President Feng calling, the person in charge of the emergency room would have already been cursing out loud.

    This was a matter of life and death!

    It wasn''t long before the emergency room in charge saw a group of doctors from the department of internal medicine escorting a young man striding towards them, among whom was the renowned Professor Tang from internal medicine.

    "Professor Tang!" The emergency room in charge hurriedly went up to greet him.

    "Hello, Dr. He. This is Dr. Ge from our department of internal medicine. I believe President Feng has already briefed you on the phone, hasn''t he?" Professor Tang introduced.

    "He''s Dr. Ge?" The emergency room in charge was flabbergasted the moment he set eyes on Ge Dongxu.

    He could never have dreamt that the person coming to lead such a crucial rescue effort would be such a young doctor!

    Knowing that the situation was urgent, and seeing Dr. He''s astonished expression, Ge Dongxu knew it would take too long to explain things, so he didn''t bother. Instead, he spoke with a stern expression, "You will be responsible for following me, taking commands. As for the staff, we don''t need that many. Keep eight people who are quick with their hands and feet and who can keep their mouths shut."

    "Ah!" Dr. He''s mouth hung open.

    For this emergency, he had urgently called in quite a few people.

    "Didn''t you hear what Director Ge said? Carry it out immediately." As Dr. He opened his mouth to speak, the director, Dr. Cai, arrived in a sweat, not bothering with niceties as he barked orders at Dr. He.

    After the incident in the last meeting, Director Cai had come to greatly admire Ge Dongxu''s medical skills.

    Other practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine might be helpless in this kind of emergency, but Ge Dongxu was different¡ªDirector Cai knew that he needed to be considered separately.

    When Director Cai stepped in, Dr. He had no choice but to arrange the personnel as Ge Dongxu had instructed.

    While Dr. He was arranging the team, President Feng also arrived in a hurry.

    "Director Ge, we''re relying heavily on you this time!" President Feng came over and firmly shook Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "Saving lives is a doctor''s duty; there''s nothing troublesome about that. However, you must remember to explain the tail situation to Governor Sang later. I don''t want to become Linzhou City''s most talked-about person after the rescue is over," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Rest assured, both Old Sang and I are aware of the situation," President Feng nodded, silently impressed. Most people were afraid they weren''t famous enough, yet here was a young man who was afraid of becoming too well-known.

 Chapter 605 - 604 Begin the Rescue Operation

    The wounded were quickly brought to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital one after another.

    As soon as they arrived at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, they were immediately taken by the medical staff into the emergency room.

    The first to be brought in wasn''t Zheng Zijie''s father, rather it was a young man.

    The young man''s femoral artery had been cut by Glass, and although a tourniquet had been applied to his thigh by the medical personnel on the way, the sight of his wound and the blood all over his body was still shockingly gruesome. Moreover, the young man''s arm was severely fractured and completely twisted, and he had also sustained a violent impact to his chest, which was visibly caved in, making it unclear how many ribs were broken.

    When the young man was brought in, he was unconscious, it wasn''t known whether it was due to excessive blood loss, severe pain, or perhaps both.

    He Yuxuan, upon seeing this scene, was so nervous that his palms were sweating.

    With such severe injuries, if it had been in the past, he would have to immediately organize a surgery, but now in the emergency room, besides him, there were only a few agile doctors; the rest were uniformly practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine.

    With such serious injuries, He Yuxuan couldn''t imagine what these TCM doctors, who followed Ge Dongxu, could possibly do.

    "Watch closely!" While He Yuxuan''s palms were sweating from anxiety, Ge Dongxu spoke to Tang Yiyuan and others, his hands somehow already holding seven or eight Silver Needles, stabbing them into some acupoints on the patient''s thigh¡ªpoints Tang Yiyuan and the others rarely paid attention to¡ªthen Ge Dongxu immediately cut off the tourniquet near the heart side of the thigh.

    "Don''t!" He Yuxuan was so startled that he cried out upon seeing this.

    This was the femoral artery bleeding, and the tourniquet was the only thing pressing on it to stop the blood. If he cut it off before treating the wound, the blood would gush out like a fountain¡ªno surprise there.

    "Don''t what? Who tied this tourniquet? If it continues like this, the thigh will suffer ischemic necrosis." Ge Dongxu looked displeasedly at He Yuxuan, but He Yuxuan had already frozen in shock because he didn''t see blood gush out like a fountain.

    "Bring Sanqi over here." After speaking to He Yuxuan, Ge Dongxu didn''t pay him any further attention but turned to He Duanrui instead.

    He Duanrui immediately brought over slices of Sanqi in a tray.

    These medicinal herbs were urgently requested from the pharmacy by Ge Dongxu for the internal medicine doctors before the wounded even arrived at the emergency room.

    Sanqi is a kind of Chinese medicinal herb that has very good hemostatic effects; however, for this kind of arterial bleeding, surgery is usually performed directly since Sanqi would not be enough to stop it.

    But now Ge Dongxu was asking He Duanrui to bring Sanqi over, and this scene made Doctor He Yuxuan''s eyes bulge once again. However, this time he learned his lesson and didn''t yell anymore.

    With the tray of Sanqi slices held by He Duanrui, Ge Dongxu hovered his hand over it and twisted a spell. A strand of green Spirit Qi, invisible to the naked eye, slowly rose from the pieces of Sanqi like a thread, then Ge Dongxu grabbed it with his other hand and slowly pulled it out, as if drawing silk from a cocoon.

    After extracting the "thread," Ge Dongxu manipulated True Qi to directly pass through the arterial incision, sewing up the cut as one would mend clothes.

    Sanqi itself had hemostatic properties, and now Ge Dongxu had extracted the Spirit Qi from it to stitch the wound. As soon as he finished sewing up the injury, the wound began to close at a visibly rapid pace. Not only was He Yuxuan, the surgeon in the emergency room, utterly dumbfounded; even Tang Yiyuan and the others were stupefied and couldn''t believe their eyes.

    Because time was of the essence, and there would be a continuous flow of wounded arriving, and also because extracting the Spirit Qi from the plant like peeling silk from a cocoon was energy-consuming, Ge Dongxu didn''t proceed to further treat the external wound after dealing with the artery. Instead, he shouted at He Yuxuan, who was still dazed on the side, "What are you dazing about for? Stitch up the wound!"

    That''s when He Yuxuan finally snapped back to reality and hurriedly ordered the wound on the thigh to be stitched up.

    While He Yuxuan was ordering the wound to be sutured, Ge Dongxu had already grabbed the twisted arm, realigned the bones with several swift motions, and then said, "Fix it in place."

    This time He Yuxuan''s response was obviously much faster. As Ge Dongxu was setting the bone, He had already had someone bring over a splint to prepare for fixation.

    After treating the arm, Ge Dongxu also utilized True Qi to set the patient''s ribs back in place from a distance.

    "All set, take him to the intensive care unit. Remove the Silver Needles after half an hour, don''t touch them now." Once the patient''s ribs were set, the patient had already opened his eyes, with steady breathing. With He Yuxuan''s experience, it was clear the patient was completely out of danger; what followed would simply be a matter of rest and recovery.

    And all in all, treating such a severely injured patient didn''t even take more than five minutes, with the time Ge Dongxu actually spent amounting to just two or three minutes.

    To the medical staff in the emergency room who were completely astounded by this scene, even Tang Yiyuan, who already knew about Ge Dongxu''s amazing skills, felt an incredibly strong impact upon witnessing such a direct display.

    "Yes!" He Yuxuan quickly replied with a respectful demeanor and then ordered the patient to be wheeled out of the emergency room.

    The treated patient was wheeled out of the emergency room, and naturally, there were people ready to take over outside, which meant there was no need for the emergency room staff to worry. Of course, the doctor who wheeled the patient out didn''t forget to remind the medical staff outside about the Silver Needle instructions for half an hour later.

    No sooner had the first patient been wheeled out of the emergency room for a minute than four more patients were rushed in urgently in a row.

    Each one was covered in blood, young and old alike.

    One of the patients, just wheeled in, was spewing mouthfuls of blood foam, and the monitor connected to him emitted a continuous, piercing beeping alarm.

    "Quick, Dr. Ge, this patient is not going to make it!" A doctor exclaimed with a pale face, glancing at the monitor.

    Just as this doctor had cried out, an alarm sounded from another direction, signaling that another patient was on the brink of life and death. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Not only that, but a third patient soon fell into critical condition.

    The doctors in the emergency room instantly began to sweat profusely from their foreheads.

    Three people in immediate life-threatening danger at once; even if Director Ge''s medical skills were extraordinary, he still faced a dilemma!

    While Tang Yiyuan and the others seemed slightly more composed, they too began to sweat from their foreheads and palms.

    But just as everyone was terrified and extremely anxious, Ge Dongxu became completely calm instead.

    With a flick of his hand holding Silver Needles, they shot out like lightning toward the three critically ill patients.

    The Silver Needles fell one after another, piercing precisely into crucial acupoints like the patients'' heads and hearts.

    "Ginseng!" Ge Dongxu called out in a deep voice as the Silver Needles descended.

    Tang Yiyuan had already placed the ginseng on a tray.

    Ge Dongxu pinched the spell from a distance, and strands of life-infused Spirit energy emerged from the ginseng, drifting towards the patients and entering through their nostrils.

    And in just that short moment, the ginsengs all turned into charcoal.

 Chapter 606 - 605: Whats the situation now?

    ```

    The stimulation of acupuncture, coupled with the life-sustaining aura of ginseng.

    In an instant, the three victims in crisis regained comparatively strong signs of life.

    Ge Dongxu also let out a sigh of relief in secret, even though he had seemed carefree and effortless in his actions, as if moving a cloud or flowing water, in reality, he had been extremely nervous.

    After all, these were not minor illnesses, but injuries where lives were hanging by a thread.

    The doctors in the emergency room and those from the department of internal medicine had already been completely amazed by Ge Dongxu''s miraculous medical skills, and the looks they gave him were filled with irrepressible reverence and awe.

    After stabilizing the victims'' conditions, Ge Dongxu began to rapidly administer treatment just as he had done before.

    Setting bones, drawing "lines" to suture wounds¡ªthese were relatively simple for these victims. What was truly challenging were the severe internal injuries and bleeding, with one of the victims even having suffered a brain injury with bleeding.

    Despite having witnessed Ge Dongxu''s miraculous methods, doctors like He Yuxuan couldn''t help but gasp and break out in cold sweats upon seeing the victims'' injuries.

    Such injuries, especially a brain injury with bleeding, would take at least three or four hours for even the most outstanding neurosurgeon to operate on, and with an extremely high level of risk involved.

    Moreover, the victim with the head injury was not only suffering from cranial damage but also injuries to the limbs and chest.

    Under such circumstances, other than being brought to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, even if they were sent to the best hospital affiliated with Jiangnan University, doctors would probably have outright declared the victim''s case hopeless. If they attempted a rescue, it would have been nothing more than going through the motions.

    Yet, such a victim, who had already been written off as a lost cause by the doctors, was brought back from the brink by Ge Dongxu in less than ten minutes.

    Not only that, but as Ge Dongxu was providing treatment, more and more victims were brought in, with some in critical condition. He had to instantly divide his attention and temporarily sustain their lives with the Silver Needle and the aura of ginseng.

    In the blink of an eye, Ge Dongxu had already treated seven victims with severe injuries and two with lighter ones. Even though Ge Dongxu''s medical skills were extraordinary and his Mana profound, and his spiritual power comparable to warriors of the Dragon Tiger Realm, he was showing signs of paleness after just about twenty minutes, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

    At that point, all the doctors in the emergency room had come to view Ge Dongxu as an Immortal, looking at him with awe that touched the depths of their souls.

    A pretty nurse, following He Yuxuan''s directions, stayed close to Ge Dongxu''s side, with a heart filled with a pilgrim''s devotion, and occasionally used a towel to wipe the sweat from Ge Dongxu''s brow.

    Outside the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, ambulance after ambulance continued to arrive with their sirens wailing.

    As soon as each ambulance stopped, medical staff swiftly carried the patients out and sent them to the emergency room, making the atmosphere in the entire Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital extremely tense.

    Soon, vehicles from the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government also drove into the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    One by one, powerful figures whose mere foot-stamping could cause tremors in the political scene of Jiangnan Province got out of the cars.

    President Feng had already received notification and was waiting at the entrance of the building.

    Seeing Secretary Chen and others approaching, he hurriedly stepped forward to greet them.

    "What''s the situation now?" Secretary Chen and others did not bother with polite greetings with President Feng, but walked inside while asking gravely.

    "So far, fifteen victims have been admitted, nine have completely escaped life-threatening danger and have been sent to the intensive care unit, and six are currently being treated in the emergency room," President Feng replied. As he spoke, he felt an indescribable shock in his heart.

    ```

    In a short period of time, one after another, bloodied patients were rushed into the emergency room. To be honest, at the beginning, President Feng was so nervous that her palms were sweating and her heart was pounding.

    Even though she had witnessed Ge Dongxu''s medical skills before, she still couldn''t imagine how this young man could handle one casualty after another all by himself.

    But what was the result? Casualties, unconscious and bloody, were wheeled in, and within minutes, they were wheeled out with stable breathing, their vital signs stable, having passed the critical phase.

    What kind of medical skill was this? President Feng simply couldn''t imagine; if she hadn''t had contact with Ge Dongxu, knowing he was a young man with a simple smile, no different from ordinary young people, flesh and blood, she would really have suspected that the person rescuing patients inside was an all-powerful immortal.

    "What?" Secretary Chen and the others gasped in shock upon hearing this, their faces showing a look of immense astonishment.

    As they walked with President Feng toward the emergency room, medical staff hurried past them, pushing the wounded who were covered in blood. Even though Secretary Chen and the others had seen many big storms, they were shocked at the sight, believing that it would be a miracle if these people could be saved; in their minds, they were already thinking that if the injuries were so severe, the number of deaths was bound to skyrocket soon.

    In such a scenario, President Feng mentioned that there had already been three or four deaths, which wouldn''t have surprised Secretary Chen and the others in the least.

    But what was the outcome? President Feng said that out of the fifteen people brought in, nine had already completely escaped the threat of death.

    Secretary Chen and the others naturally understood what it meant to completely escape from mortal danger! S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "All, all of them were saved by Director Ge?" It took a while for even someone as important as Secretary Chen to speak without his voice trembling.

    "Yes, the others were just assisting with auxiliary work on the side," President Feng nodded and said.

    Upon hearing this, Secretary Chen and the others couldn''t help but take a sharp breath once more. They couldn''t imagine¡ªit had only been a few minutes since the car accident, and in that time, Ge Dongxu had saved so many people all by himself.

    All of these were critically injured, hanging by a thread. Even the First Hospital affiliated with Jiangnan University would be overwhelmed by such a sudden influx, unable to provide enough hands or operating tables for resuscitation. That''s why Secretary Chen had also expressly mentioned the Provincial People''s Hospital earlier, suggesting that this hospital should share the burden of this emergency rescue task.

    But now, in just twenty or thirty minutes, the young Director Ge had rescued nine casualties. Who would believe this if they hadn''t seen it with their own eyes?

    "President Feng, my dad? Has my dad been brought in yet?" As Secretary Chen and the others took another sharp breath, Zheng Zijie asked anxiously.

    "Not yet," President Feng replied.

    No sooner had the words left President Feng''s mouth than a medical staff member rushed over with a stretcher, saying, "Hurry, this patient is in critical condition!"

    "Dad!" Zheng Zijie turned his head and saw that it was indeed his father on the stretcher.

    At this moment, his father was completely unconscious, and not only that, he was vomiting filth from his mouth, with a swelling on his head that was growing bigger and bigger.

    "Make way, make way!" Seeing his father in such a state, Zheng Zijie''s eyes reddened, and he rushed to push the stretcher toward the emergency room, shouting, "Dad, you have to hang on, Director Ge will definitely save you."

    Secretary Chen and the others, witnessing this scene, expressed a hint of pity and sorrow in their eyes.

    In their view, with Zheng''s condition that way, it no longer seemed possible to rescue him.

    It was no wonder Secretary Chen and the others thought so; a man over seventy years old with obviously severe cranial trauma plus, they had learned on the way to the hospital that the old man had also suffered serious spinal damage, and his lower body was already numb.

    In such a case, not even Hua Tuo himself could be of help if he were still alive.

 Chapter 607 - 606 Shock

    "Ah! Comrade Zijie''s mother passed away early, and it was always Old Zheng who raised him from a small child to adulthood, he has particularly deep feelings for him. Now with Old Zheng like this, the blow to Comrade Zijie is very big!" Secretary Chen said with a heavy heart.

    "It won''t be like that, since Old Zheng still has breath in him, then Director Ge will definitely be able to save him," President Feng said.

    "President Feng, although I also hope for that, sometimes human ability is ultimately limited," Secretary Chen shook his head and sighed.

    "No, Secretary Chen, this is not just my wishful thinking, but it is very likely that Director Ge can really save Old Zheng. Just now there were three injured people whose conditions were almost as serious as Old Zheng''s, but they were out of danger after not too long. However, those three were younger, and I am still somewhat worried, since Old Zheng is older," President Feng said solemnly.

    "What?" Even as a high-ranking official responsible for a large province with a population of forty million, Secretary Chen couldn''t help but exclaim upon hearing this.

    He actually had come to believe that Ge Dongxu was very capable, but he hadn''t expected him to be capable to this extent!

    Such serious injuries, yet to be saved within such a short time.

    "Director Ge! Director Ge! Please save my dad!" As Secretary Chen exclaimed, Zheng Zijie had already followed the medical staff and pushed Old Zheng into the emergency room, calling out with eyes turning red.

    At that moment, Ge Dongxu was busily treating the injured, and Zijie''s call gave him such a start that he almost made a mistake, his face immediately darkening. He didn''t care that Zijie was a deputy provincial governor and the head of the Public Security Department, and directly called out with a stern face, "Get out!"

    At Ge Dongxu''s shout, Zheng Zijie suddenly realized the emergency room was filled with many patients covered in blood, with Ge Dongxu frantically administering emergency treatment. Ge Dongxu, who was usually so sunny and had a healthy complexion, was now pale with sweat pouring down his face, and a nurse was constantly wiping it off.

    This scene shocked Zijie and filled him with guilt, while also making him even more anxious.

    With so many critically injured people, how could Ge Dongxu save them all by himself?

    Moreover, with his father in such a condition, not even a minute or a second could be wasted.

    Just as Zijie was becoming increasingly anxious, suddenly a little bit of silver light flashed through the air, followed by seeing a number of Silver Needles flying from Ge Dongxu''s hand, plunging into his father''s head and around the heart''s Acupoints.

    Almost at the same time, someone had brought a tray with ginseng already in place in front of Ge Dongxu, who, while administering emergency treatment to another patient, pinched the spell with one hand, extracting the ginseng''s essence and spiritual energy, guiding it to float towards Old Zheng and enter through his nostrils.

    In the blink of an eye, Old Zheng stopped spitting dirt from his mouth, and dark blood began to flow slowly out of his head along the Silver Needles, the swelling in his head gradually subsiding. Not only that, but within a short period of time, he had relatively strong breathing, clearly in a much improved condition than before.

    Seeing this scene, Zijie was shocked and, at the same time, the heart he had been holding finally settled down. He silently and deeply bowed to Ge Dongxu, who was still intensely treating others, and then quickly left the emergency room.

    As for Zijie''s departure, Ge Dongxu didn''t take any notice.

    He was already finding it hard to be distracted anymore.

    The victims were not only numerous, but their injuries were also very severe. Had it not been for his attainment of the Unity of Heaven and Man Realm, with spiritual power already comparable to that of a Dragon Tiger Realm powerhouse, and the ability to barely multitask, he would have been overwhelmed by such high-intensity rescue work, as his physical strength might have held up, but his brain would have been long since exhausted.

    Because Zheng Lao''s situation was critical, after dealing with the patients at hand, Ge Dongxu immediately turned all his efforts to rescuing Zheng Lao.

    After all, Zheng Lao was of an advanced age and had suffered extremely serious injuries. Both the brain and spine are the most important neural parts of the human body, and these two areas were relatively lacking for the current Ge Dongxu. Unlike the heart, liver, kidneys, and other organs with which Ge Dongxu was very familiar, having already formed an Air Cyclone within them, dealing with injuries to these organs was exceptionally smooth for him.

    Therefore, for those victims brought in with injuries to the heart, lungs, liver, and other organs¡ªwounds considered by other doctors as life-threatening¡ªin the eyes of Ge Dongxu, they were not much more difficult than some common external injuries and could be managed in no time. But when it came to the brain and spine, the difficulty for Ge Dongxu increased geometrically.

    After a full-force effort to save him, Zheng Lao not only made it through the critical period, but his spine was also regenerated by Ge Dongxu, and his lower limbs regained sensation.

    When Zheng Lao was wheeled out of the emergency room, he was conscious, his eyes were open, and his breathing was stable. However, considering his advanced age and the severity of his injuries, even though Ge Dongxu, out of regard for Zheng Zijie, did not hesitate to impart some of his True Yuan to him, it was still impossible for Zheng Lao to get out of bed and move around freely right away.

    Outside the emergency room, Secretary Chen and others waited, with Zheng Zijie''s eyes tensely fixed on the door.

    When Zheng Lao was wheeled out, seeing that his consciousness was clear, his eyes open, and his breathing steady, Zheng Zijie became so moved that tears filled his eyes instantly, while Secretary Chen and the others were completely petrified.

    Nothing was more shocking than witnessing an old man, who had been doomed to die, pushed into the room and then, just a few minutes later, wheeled out with a clear mind and steady breath.

    It took a long while for Secretary Chen and the others to come to their senses. Seeing Zheng Lao''s legs seem to move slightly, everyone''s hearts involuntarily skipped a beat. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dad, do you feel your legs?" Zheng Zijie also saw it and couldn''t help but ask excitedly.

    "Yes! Truly a divine doctor!" Zheng Lao replied. He still couldn''t quite believe it because of that young doctor, he had merely taken a brief walk to the gates of hell and managed to return safely.

    Secretary Chen and the others were so shaken by these words that their ears buzzed. It wasn''t until the medical staff wheeled Zheng Lao away that Secretary Chen reached out and firmly grasped Sang Yunlong''s hand, looking sheepish as he said, "Comrade Yunlong, I almost caused the delay of so many lives!"

    "Secretary Chen, you opposed just now out of responsibility for the lives of the people. Besides, who would believe something like this if they hadn''t experienced it firsthand?" Sang Yunlong patted Secretary Chen''s hand in return, with an emotional tone.

    "Yes, it''s unbelievable," Secretary Chen echoed with emotion.

    "However, Secretary Chen, with Director Ge present, it turned out to be a close shave with no danger. But about the aftermath, I need to take the liberty to say a word here, otherwise Director Ge might blame me, and it wouldn''t be good to explain, since I was the one who decided to involve him in this," Sang Yunlong suddenly turned serious and spoke with gravity.

    "You have my attention," said Secretary Chen.

    "Director Ge is a man who does not care much for fame and fortune, so concerning this matter, not only should we, who are present here, refrain from discussing it with others once we leave the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, but we must also forbid all news media from reporting on this unique rescue operation. In the accident report, this incident must not be mentioned," Sang Yunlong said solemnly.

 Chapter 608 - 607: Rescue Ends

    If Secretary Chen and others had not been at the scene, hearing Sang Yunlong speak like this, they would have thought he was making a big deal out of nothing. After all, they were the top-level officials managing a province with a population of tens of millions. A doctor, after all, how could he be worth so much trouble for them to hide and protect? But having seen the scene firsthand, seeing so many seriously injured people, especially Zheng Zijie''s father with such severe injuries being taken in and then pushed out minutes later fully conscious, even feeling his legs, not a single person among them thought Sang Yunlong was overreacting.

    For someone like Ge Dongxu, he was already beyond the realm of ordinary people''s understanding.

    For such a person, no issue was too small.

    Moreover, as long as you are human, you can hardly avoid getting sick at some point. Who among those present could guarantee they would never fall ill for the rest of their life? Who could ensure their family members would always be free from illness?

    And a divine doctor like this, if one could be on good terms with him, would undoubtedly be a safeguard for life.

    "Yunlong comrade, rest assured, since Director Ge is someone indifferent to fame and fortune and dislikes showing off, we naturally will not publicize today''s event," Secretary Chen said, nodding.

    "The media will definitely report on this car accident, but Governor Sang, rest assured, there definitely won''t be any mention of Director Ge in the news," said Minister Hao of the Propaganda Department.

    While Sang Yunlong was speaking with Secretary Chen and the others outside the emergency room, Ge Dongxu continued with the urgent rescues inside the room.

    In this car accident, there were forty people on the bus. With two dead on the spot, the remaining thirty-eight were all injured, and among these, twenty-eight were seriously injured.

    As time ticked by, only the last severely injured person remained.

    By this time Ge Dongxu''s face was as pale as paper, and his clothes were completely soaked with sweat.

    He seemed about to collapse as he walked, with his head throbbing painfully.

    "There''s only one left, hold on!" Ge Dongxu silently told himself. Then he slowly raised his hand, pinched the spell, and drew a strand of Panax notoginseng essence Spirit Qi from thin air. Using Divine Sense, he carefully guided it into the last patient''s body to tenderly mend and repair the injured left lung.

    The lungs were the first organs where Ge Dongxu successfully created an Air Cyclone, and he was as familiar with every part of the lungs as with his own treasures. Normally repairing the lungs was not a difficult task for him, but at this point, he was nearly at the end of his strength, both physically and in terms of spiritual power.

    This act of guiding and mending had Ge Dongxu trembling all over, with his head feeling as if it were being pricked by needles, a sign that his spiritual power was exhausted to its limit.

    The staff in the emergency room, seeing Ge Dongxu''s pale face, his body trembling, drenched in a cold sweat, still clenching his teeth and persisting, couldn''t help but get teary-eyed.

    Those outside only saw one patient after another being wheeled out, all of them in awe of Ge Dongxu''s miraculous medical skills, but they did not see the immense hardship he was facing.

    But the people inside the emergency room saw it.

    If at the beginning they were shocked by Ge Dongxu''s medical skills, now they were moved by his spirit and could gradually understand why he wished to keep a low profile.

    For a divine doctor like him, once known to the world, how many would come seeking his help, and what would he do then, to treat or not to treat?

    To rescue, like what happened today, would not only mean no peace in the future but also a short lifespan due to such intensity; to not rescue, however, would leave a doctor''s benevolent heart uneasy, as people in need would surely come knocking, and he would naturally feel uncomfortable if he refused.

    Given that, it was better to stay low-key and hide in the background.

    By doing so, he could exert his strength secretly and heal the sick as fate allowed.

    "Phew!" The last patient finally made it through the critical period, Ge Dongxu let out a long sigh of relief and then collapsed on the ground, his head tilting to the side as he fell into a deep sleep. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Director Ge!" Seeing Ge Dongxu sprawled on the ground, falling into a deep sleep, Tang Yiyuan and the others had tears in their eyes.

    At that moment, the door to the emergency room was pushed open, and President Feng, along with Secretary Chen and others, walked in.

    Having seen the last patient being wheeled out, President Feng knew that the rescue operation had concluded, so he took the initiative to bring Secretary Chen and others into the room, hoping to thank Ge Dongxu in person.

    However, when they entered, they saw Ge Dongxu lying on the floor, snoring, a clear sign that he was utterly exhausted, and everyone was deeply moved.

    Tang Yiyuan signaled to President Feng and the others with a hushing gesture, then whispered instructions to a nurse who had been closely following Ge Dongxu and wiping his sweat. She fetched a blanket to cover Ge Dongxu with, and he also ordered He Duanrui to personally stay by his side before turning and gesturing for Secretary Chen and the others to leave the room.

    In a situation where a doctor faced the provincial leadership, along with other standing committee members, and without saying a word, only gesturing for them to leave with an undeniable attitude, this would have been unimaginable in any other context.

    But today, Secretary Chen and the others felt it was nothing but normal, nodding at Tang Yiyuan and then silently followed him out of the emergency room.

    "Director Ge rescued everyone by himself, and his physical and mental energy has reached its limits. After saving the last patient, he just collapsed on the floor and fell asleep, so we shouldn''t disturb him now. Let him rest well," Tang Yiyuan said once they were outside the emergency room.

    "Of course, we really owe a lot to Director Ge this time! Professor Tang, you must take good care of Director Ge. We''ll come back in a few days to thank him in person. As for the specific time, Comrade Yunlong, you''re familiar with Director Ge, so you can arrange it. We won''t disturb him now," Secretary Chen nodded and said.

    "I will convey the message to Director Ge. As for what happened today, please request the province to avoid publicizing it," Tang Yiyuan nodded, then said sternly.

    "Governor Sang has already spoken about this matter; we all understand. You tell Director Ge that no one will disturb him because of this," Secretary Chen said gravely.

    "Thank you, Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and all the leaders. I will pass on your words to Director Ge," Tang Yiyuan nodded in response.

    "It''s also been hard on you all this time. We are very grateful for your hard work," Secretary Chen nodded, then made a point of expressing his gratitude to Tang Yiyuan and others, and even made a point of shaking hands with the medical staff who had participated in the rescue efforts from the cardiology department and the emergency room.

    If it had been another time, the medical staff would surely have felt excited and proud to receive personal thanks from the provincial leaders and to shake hands with them, but this time, they all seemed very calm.

    Compared to Ge Dongxu, they knew that what they had done was trivial.

 Chapter 609 - 608 Kunting Grand Hotel

    Ge Dongxu slept from about four in the afternoon and did not wake up until ten at night.

    When he finally woke up, his head was still a bit groggy and painful.

    Thinking back on everything that had happened before, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but smile bitterly to himself with a sigh.

    Saving a person is so much harder than killing one!

    With his current abilities, if he really wanted to kill someone, he could easily crush a whole army in front of him, but to save people, just twenty or thirty individuals had exhausted him.

    "Professor, you''re awake," He Duanrui quickly approached with caution and respect upon seeing that Ge Dongxu had awakened.

    "You''ve been keeping watch here just for me?" Ge Dongxu sat up and said to He Duanrui.

    "Not just me, Professor Tang and the others have also been waiting outside," He Duanrui replied.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu quickly got up and then left the emergency room to find that indeed, the medical staff who had participated in the rescue with him were all there, and even President Feng and Director Cai were present.

    "I''m fine after just a sleep; was there really a need to make such a big fuss?" Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile as he looked at President Feng, Tang Yiyuan, and the others waiting outside, but he was truly touched in his heart.

    "This is the simplest and most understated way I could think of to express gratitude and respect to a hero, to a great doctor," President Feng said solemnly.

    What he meant was, if it weren''t for Ge Dongxu''s dislike of fanfare, there would definitely be more than just these people waiting outside.

    "No, President Feng, you know me, saying things like that really makes me blush," Ge Dongxu said, feeling unnatural all over at President Feng''s seriousness, and quickly waved his hand.

    "Haha, you, Dongxu! If the people here hadn''t witnessed that miraculous rescue with their own eyes, who would''ve thought that such a young man could be a miraculous doctor?" President Feng saw Ge Dongxu''s embarrassed and uncomfortable expression and his solemn face immediately crumbled as he couldn''t help pointing at him and laughing.

    Ge Dongxu smiled awkwardly and was about to say something when suddenly he heard a "gurgle" sound coming from the stomach of a pretty nurse.

    This pretty nurse was the one who had been following Ge Dongxu earlier, helping him wipe his sweat.

    Ge Dongxu immediately looked at her, and her face turned red in an instant.

    "You all haven''t eaten yet, have you?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Our big hero of the emergency room today hasn''t eaten yet, and we didn''t feel it would be right to eat before you," President Feng said with a smile.

    "This..." Ge Dongxu was genuinely touched when he heard this, and he looked at everyone for a long time, unable to speak. After a while, he finally said, "Since nobody has eaten yet, let''s go together; it''s my treat."

    "Right, we''ve been waiting for you to say that. But as the president, I should be the one treating," President Feng said with a laugh.

    "Are you richer than me? Trying to outdo me in treating," Ge Dongxu joked with President Feng.

    Upon hearing this, President Feng was slightly startled and then pointed at Ge Dongxu with a laugh, "You, Ge Dongxu, I almost forgot that you''re a billionaire. Alright, then we''ll dine lavishly today."

    "Is Director Ge still a billionaire?" Dr. He Yuxuan, the person in charge of the emergency room, asked He Duanrui curiously in a low voice.

    "Teacher Ge is the mastermind behind Qinghe Herbal Tea," He Duanrui replied softly.

    He Duanrui knew about Ge Dongxu being the mastermind behind Qinghe Herbal Tea from a meeting that took place at the end of the previous October, where Ge Dongxu had mentioned it.

    Upon hearing this, Dr. He Yuxuan and some of the other emergency room doctors and nurses suddenly gaped in surprise.

    It took a while before they regained their composure, their faces lighting up with realization as they said, "No wonder Qinghe Herbal Tea is so effective. It''s Director Ge''s formula; that explains everything."

    "It''s getting late now, and the restaurants in the hotel are mostly closed or about to close. It''s not convenient to disturb them now, so I won''t invite you to have dinner at the big hotel by Mingyue Lake. Let''s go directly to Kunting Grand Hotel instead. Although it lacks scenery, it''s our own business, so it''s convenient to arrange, and it''s just not far from here," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    The Kunting Grand Hotel Ge Dongxu mentioned was located on Yongqing Road, one of the most bustling commercial streets in the Provincial Capital.

    Its predecessor was an unfinished seventeen-story building. At the beginning of this solar year, Lin Kun and Yue Ting had taken Ge Dongxu to inspect it specifically because they wanted to buy the unfinished building and convert it into the headquarters and direct sales store of Kunting chain hotels.

    After seeing the building, Ge Dongxu liked its location and the reasonable price, so he gave the green light for Lin Kun and Yue Ting to purchase it.

    Once the building was acquired, due to sufficient funds, Lin Kun and Yue Ting invested heavily in its renovation and refurbishment, and it finally opened for business before the National Day.

    Since the Kunting Grand Hotel represented the image and strength of the Kunting chain hotels, and with the continuous income from Donglinyue Apparel and Kunting chain hotels, they had ample liquid funds, so they invested a lot of money in both its exterior and interior.

    Thus, a luxurious grand hotel was born.

    It was also this grand hotel that made some people in the Provincial Capital truly pay attention to the Kunting chain hotels.

    Otherwise, with so many hotels in the Provincial Capital and Kunting chain hotels following the route of economical business chain hotels, few local people would take notice.

    Because the Kunting Grand Hotel is located on the busiest commercial street in the Provincial Capital and is so luxuriously decorated, people passing by Yongqing Road can''t help but take a few more glances at it. Once they paid attention, they realized that in some areas of the Provincial Capital, many Kunting chain hotels had opened unnoticed at some point.

    "Owned by you? Do you mean to say that Kunting chain hotels are also owned by you?" Everyone present knew about Kunting Grand Hotel since it was not far from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, President Feng included. He couldn''t help but be slightly taken aback upon hearing this and looked at Ge Dongxu in surprise. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yes, is there a problem?" Ge Dongxu asked President Feng with a smile.

    President Feng was momentarily stunned and then laughed, "No problem, of course no problem. It''s just that I hadn''t realized you were also a business prodigy! Qinghe Herbal Tea is yours, Kunting chain hotels are yours, don''t tell me Donglinyue Apparel is also yours?"

    The reason President Feng mentioned Donglinyue Apparel was purely out of a subconscious reaction.

    Qinghe Herbal Tea, Kunting chain hotels, and Donglinyue Apparel were all rising stars in the business community of Jiangnan Province in recent years, especially Qinghe Herbal Tea and Donglinyue Apparel, which had completely entered the homes of ordinary people across Huaxia Country, almost known to everyone now.

    "President Feng seems to have quite a talent for reading fortunes! Yes, I am also the major shareholder of Donglinyue Apparel," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he looked at President Feng.

    After all, everyone present had already witnessed his miraculous abilities, so by comparison, something like Donglinyue Apparel was a minor matter. Since President Feng brought it up, there was no need for Ge Dongxu to be secretive or deny it explicitly.

    Ge Dongxu''s response was light and casual, but it left everyone listening with their mouths wide open, unable to close them for a long time, especially the young female nurses whose eyes were filled with stars.

    So young, not only mastering medicine to an incredible degree but also building such a vast business empire¡ªit seemed unbelievable unless the man himself was standing right in front of them. Who would have believed it otherwise?

    And for many young women, a young man like Ge Dongxu was undoubtedly the super Prince Charming of their dreams!

 Chapter 610 - 609: Something Came Up

    "It seems you are truly the richest man in Jiangnan Province! No, looking at the current momentum of these three companies, within two years, you will be the richest man in Huaxia Country," President Feng said to Ge Dongxu with a face full of admiration.

    "Haha, what does being the richest matter? Once money reaches a certain amount, it''s just a number. The important thing is to be happy. Come on, let''s go to Kunting Grand Hotel. Everyone has worked hard today; order whatever you want to eat later," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Don''t worry, teacher, with all your wealth, we won''t be shy!" Vice Director Jiang Yuquan laughed.

    "Haha!" Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this.

    Ge Dongxu smiled.

    The group then left the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital together.

    In the group, Director Cai, Professor Tang, and President Feng naturally had cars, and among the rest, two department heads and the head of the emergency department, Dr. He Yuxuan, also had private cars.

    With just over twenty people in total, six cars were naturally enough.

    Before getting into the car, Ge Dongxu called Lin Kun to make arrangements.

    Currently, Lin Kun was mainly in charge of the Kunting Hotel chain, while Yue Ting primarily managed Donglinyue Apparel. Nowadays, the Kunting Grand Hotel is the headquarters of the Kunting Hotel chain and recently opened, Lin Kun had been practically living at the Kunting Grand Hotel these days.

    Upon receiving Ge Dongxu''s call, Lin Kun naturally hurried to arrange a private room and even kept the chefs who were ready to go home.

    When the group arrived at the hotel, Lin Kun was already waiting at the entrance.

    After handing over Professor Tang and others to Lin Kun''s care, Ge Dongxu went straight to the hotel room to take a shower and changed into clothes prepared by Lin Kun.

    Today, while rescuing patients, not only had Ge Dongxu sweated profusely, but his clothes had also gotten stains of blood on them, naturally making it inappropriate to dine like that.

    After washing up, Ge Dongxu felt much lighter.

    When he returned to the private room, the dishes were already on the table, but no one had started eating as they were all waiting for Ge Dongxu.

    "Sorry to keep you waiting for dinner; I as the host made you wait," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he greeted everyone and then sat down at the head of the table.

    It was only after Ge Dongxu sat down that this meal, which had already turned into a supper, officially began.

    At first, the people from the emergency room were somewhat reserved, but gradually they found that Ge Dongxu was indeed very easy-going, just like the boy next door, without any airs of a miraculous doctor or a multimillionaire, and soon everyone completely relaxed.

    Everyone enjoyed this meal immensely, but amidst the joy, there was always a sense of amazement that there was someone like Ge Dongxu in the world.

    By the time they finished eating, it was almost midnight.

    For those who were single, Ge Dongxu had Lin Kun arrange rooms for them to stay for free, while for those with families, he had the hotel provide transportation to take them home.

    At the end of the meal, Lin Kun also specially distributed a diamond VIP card to everyone present.

    With this card, not only could they enjoy the best services of the hotel, but everything would also be free of charge.

    Such a card might not mean much to high-profile individuals like President Feng or wealthy professors like Tang Yiyuan, but for other doctors, even for heads like Director Cai and Zhang Xiuwen, it was a great gift, especially for the nurses in the emergency room who were so surprised by the card that they almost jumped up in excitement.

    Because Ge Dongxu was so nice, and since they were all young, the nurses deep down had a lot of respect for him but their communication had become quite casual.

    "Director Ge, does this mean with this card, we can often come here to enjoy free meals?" asked the pretty nurse who had been wiping Ge Dongxu''s sweat, pressing the diamond VIP card against her chest, both excited and thrilled.

    "Haha, come here every day for free food and accommodation if you want!" Ge Dongxu laughed in reply.

    "You are Dongxu''s friends, so no matter which city you go to, Kunting Hotel will be your home," Lin Kun added from the side.

    "Thank you, that''s wonderful! If I want to upgrade my food or change my environment, I''ll come here," replied the nurses, all very happily.

    Since it was late, Ge Dongxu didn''t go back to school that night, and stayed directly at the Kunting Grand Hotel.

    The next day was Tuesday, and Lin Kun drove Ge Dongxu to Jiangnan University early in the morning, but he dropped him off near the school.

    There was no helping it; although Lin Kun had turned to the righteous path due to Ge Dongxu, he couldn''t change his nature as a wealthy flamboyant playboy, driving a BMW 740 worth more than a million.

    Such a car, if driven into Jiangnan University, would definitely attract attention.

    Since Ge Dongxu generally didn''t return home every weekend, after a month or two like this, his three roommates had gotten used to his occasional all-nighters and didn''t bother to ask further questions.

    Of course, a few taunts were inevitable. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Tuesday afternoon was Professor Wu Yili''s inorganic chemistry class.

    However, to the students'' surprise, it wasn''t Professor Wu Yili who came to teach, but one of her female doctoral students.

    "Professor Wu had some urgent matters and couldn''t come to class, so I''m substituting today," said the female doctoral student.

    An old joke goes around the campus: female college students are Zhao Min, undergraduates are Huang Rong, master''s students are Li Mochou, doctoral students are like the nefarious Miejue master, and post-doctorates even worse, like the unbeatable Dongfang Bubai.

    Of course, such a saying unfairly dismisses everyone. Someone as beautiful as Professor Wu, even now a university professor, wouldn''t be compared to Miejue or Dongfang Bubai.

    But this female doctoral student before them, with her ordinary looks, black-rimmed glasses, and a no-nonsense demeanor, really did resemble Miejue a bit.

    Having the elegant and beautiful Professor Wu replaced by a Miejue-like figure teaching them, students like He Guizhong felt inevitably disappointed, but didn''t think much of it since everyone can have emergencies.

    Ge Dongxu similarly didn''t think much of it.

    After the afternoon''s inorganic chemistry class, Ge Dongxu, as usual, handed his books to Li Chenyu and his friends to take back to the dormitory, and he himself headed to the library.

    On his way to the library, Ge Dongxu received a call from Governor Sang himself.

    "Director Ge, you really worked hard yesterday," Sang Yunlong said gratefully once the call connected.

    "I just did a little bit," Ge Dongxu humbly replied, then asked, "Governor Sang, is there something you needed to talk about?"

    "Yesterday, our Provincial Party Committee''s standing committee, including Secretary Chen, went to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, intending to thank you in person, but you looked too tired yesterday and we didn''t dare to disturb you. So, we thought of having a meal with you soon to express our gratitude and also to properly get to know you since they''ve all met you when you came with the old chief before, but didn''t really interact," Governor Sang explained.

 Chapter 611 - 610: Lets Set It at the Kunting Grand Hotel

    ```

    "Since I''ve come across this matter, I should contribute my modest effort. There''s no need for such formality," Ge Dongxu said modestly after a slight pause.

    "It''s only right," Governor Sang said.

    Seeing Governor Sang insist, Ge Dongxu decided it wouldn''t be appropriate to be overly polite. After all, Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and others were managing a vast province, and it wasn''t an overstatement to say they were incredibly busy every day. Under such circumstances, them taking the time to invite him to dinner was indeed rare. Besides, Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and the others were, in a way, his superior officials in office, so he had to give them due respect.

    "Well then, I won''t be polite with you guys. I have plans this weekend and won''t be in the Provincial Capital, but any other time is fine," Ge Dongxu said.

    Last time, Xu Lei had informed Ge Dongxu that a Qimen exchange meeting between Dongyue Province and Jiangnan Province would take place at Mount Santai in Dongyue Province this weekend.

    "Then how about this Thursday at six in the evening at the Kunting Grand Hotel?" Governor Sang suggested.

    "Kunting Grand Hotel?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but pause slightly.

    "Yes, the Kunting Grand Hotel. I just heard about it this morning from Yaping; that you are the major owner of the Kunting chain. So, we decided on the Kunting Grand Hotel. After all, we should keep our resources within our own circle. Of course, don''t give us any freebies!" Governor Sang was clearly in a good mood, joking for once.

    "Haha, it seems more appropriate for me to say that. You are the governor and should treat all hotels under your jurisdiction equally. Your comment might sound a bit biased!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Of course, in his heart, he understood this was Governor Sang showing care towards his Kunting hotel chain. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just think about it, if the Provincial Party Committee''s standing committee members were to dine collectively at the Kunting Grand Hotel, who in Jiangnan Province would dare to trouble the Kunting chain thereafter?

    Alternatively, this arrangement by Governor Sang could also serve as a warning to some people to avoid future troubles with the Kunting hotel chain.

    Keep in mind that Ge Dongxu was the man behind the Kunting hotel chain, and if he were offended, even Governor Sang would have a headache.

    "Haha, it''s not exactly like that. If there were other hotels with a superb owner like you who also paid so much tax every year, I as the governor would happily show my support and willingly play the supporting role," Governor Sang said with a smile.

    "Paying taxes is the duty of citizens and enterprises. You can rest assured of that, Governor Sang. Of course, you also need to provide corresponding services to the taxpayers," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "You pay taxes, and we, the government, provide services. That''s well said," Governor Sang remarked.

    Obviously, this simple statement was actually a troubling and thorny issue for Governor Sang at the moment.

    "Haha, it''s easier said than done. Governor Sang, let''s settle on that then, Thursday evening at six at the Kunting Grand Hotel," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Alright, see you Thursday night," Governor Sang said before hanging up the phone.

    After the call, Sang Yunlong had Fang Ting call the office of the Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General Wu Bojun, and then he personally spoke with Secretary-General Wu, asking him to be in charge of arranging the dinner for Thursday evening.

    The Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General, being both a member of the standing committee and the steward of the Provincial Party Committee, had the responsibility to arrange the collective dinner for Ge Dongxu. Sang Yunlong would only manage the contact with Ge Dongxu himself, while all the other arrangements, including notifying the other standing committee members, naturally fell to the Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General.

    ...

    "Comrade Xue Liang, as you know the situation in our Jinzhou City. Among the ten Earth Level cities in the province, our Jinzhou City''s economy is at the bottom, and our financial situation is quite troubling. Every county is struggling and reaching out for financial aid, and even though I was born in Golden Mountain County and should indeed give more support to the local education, as the City Government Secretary-General, I also have to consider the situation of the entire city. I think it''s already quite commendable that Director Li of the City Education Bureau is willing to reallocate three hundred thousand to help Golden Mountain County. If I go and intercede on your behalf, it will only make things difficult for him," Sun Yuncheng said as he sat behind his large desk in the office of the City Government Secretary-General, sipping some fine Longjing tea, expressing his difficulty to the middle-aged man sitting on the sofa across from him.

    The middle-aged man was Xue Liang, the Deputy County Governor in charge of education in Golden Mountain County.

    Due to the rapid development of urbanization in recent years, many people from rural areas and the surrounding suburbs have moved into the county town, leading to a significant increase in the number of students, especially in primary schools. The education facilities could no longer keep up with the growth in student numbers.

    Seeing that Sun Yuncheng was clearly trying to evade helping and unwilling to intervene, Deputy County Governor Xue Liang took a deep drag from his cigarette and after a long time, said with a pained expression, "Secretary-General Sun, you''ve served as the deputy county governor in charge of education in our county before taking your position in the city government. You should know the condition of education in our county. Let me tell you, the situation now is even worse than before. Currently, in the three primary schools in the county town, each classroom has at least sixty students, and some are even seated with seventy or eighty students. The teachers look down from the podium to a sea of dark little heads. The air is hot, stuffy, and murky. It''s not just the kids who can''t bear it ¡ª even we adults feel suffocated and lightheaded after sitting through just one class. If we don''t urgently build a new primary school, things are only going to get worse."

    "But Golden Mountain is a mountainous area, and the county''s finances are really tight. That''s why I thought of asking for some financial support from the city. However, to build a standard primary school, even if the county directly provides the land and everything, it would still cost at least two to three million. Three hundred thousand is simply a drop in the bucket. Secretary-General Sun, you have great influence. Please help us¡­"

    "Comrade Xue Liang, I came from Golden Mountain County, so how can I not know the situation there? But the city''s situation is also tough. Right, why don''t you try reaching out to the province? Two to three million is a large sum for the City Education Bureau, but for the Provincial Education Department, it''s just a matter of a word or two from the leadership. You could go to the province and see. If you need me to accompany you for a drink or something, I will certainly be present," Sun Yuncheng said, interrupting Xue Liang without letting him finish, seeing that he wasn''t giving up.

    "The province? There are even more people asking for money from the province, and I doubt anyone would bother with me even if I went," Xue Liang said self-deprecatingly.

    "Isn''t there Director Fang Ting? He''s from Golden Mountain County and has always cared about its development. You can try reaching out through his connections and then ask him to help arrange a meeting with the leaders of the Education Department!" Sun Yuncheng suggested.

    Xue Liang''s eyes lit up at the mention, but he hesitated and said, "Director Fang is the secretary to the governor and extremely busy. Is it appropriate to trouble him with this matter?"

    "There''s nothing inappropriate about it. I''m familiar with Director Fang, and he''s always been very concerned about the development of Golden Mountain County. But since this is a matter concerning Golden Mountain County, the leaders from the county should be the ones to make contact. I can certainly come and accompany you when the time comes," Sun Yuncheng said.

    ```

 Chapter 612 - 611 Help Out

    "Alright, I''ll go back and discuss this further with Secretary Li and County Chief Liu," Xue Liang said respectfully, seeing that Sun Yuncheng was insistent on passing the buck to the provincial authorities. Although he felt somewhat resentful that Sun had forgotten his roots, he maintained a courteous demeanor.

    "Sure, I have a lot of other matters to attend to, so I won''t keep you any longer," said Sun Yuncheng as he stood up to see Xue Liang out of his office.

    After leaving the municipal government building, Xue Liang took a car back to Golden Mountain County, where he reported the situation to the leading county officials.

    "Director Fang still cares a lot about his hometown. I think it''s not a bad idea to ask for his help in the province. Maybe the problem can be solved in one go. Lu Ming, our comrade, happens to be studying at the Provincial Party Committee School right now, and he has a pretty good relationship with Director Fang. Call him over," Secretary Li Haibin suggested thoughtfully after stroking his chin upon hearing Xue Liang''s report.

    "What about Secretary-General Sun?" Xue Liang asked, his eyes flashing with a hint of contempt.

    Previously, when he had asked Sun Yuncheng to invite the city''s Director of Education to a dinner, Sun had been unwilling. But as soon as the suggestion of inviting Director Fang came up, Sun was enthusiastic, saying he would definitely attend if needed.

    Xue Liang, having worked his way up from the grassroots to become a deputy county chief, surely understood Sun Yuncheng''s thoughts. Sun was using Golden Mountain County''s issue to strengthen his relationship with Director Fang, laying the foundation for his future career advancement.

    As for the Director of the City Education Bureau, he was merely at the same level as the Secretary-General, and in some ways, as the housekeeper of the city government and a close aide to the mayor, the Director would normally be the one flattering Sun; naturally, Sun had no interest in indebting himself to the Director over a trifling matter from Golden Mountain County.

    "Since Secretary-General Sun has already brought it up, if you do manage to schedule a meeting with Director Fang, you must still give him a heads-up in advance. Whether he can attend or not is his business. Besides, Secretary-General Sun does have a good relationship with Director Fang, and his attendance would also symbolize the city''s support, which could benefit our application for educational funding," Li Haibin, the secretary, understood this well and so did Xue Liang, but Sun Yuncheng was still one of the city''s leaders. Golden Mountain County was under the city''s jurisdiction, so it wouldn''t be wise to offend him, which is why Secretary Li gave a definitive instruction.

    County Chief Liu of Golden Mountain agreed with Secretary Li.

    Therefore, the next day, Xue Liang set out again for the Provincial Capital.

    Upon arriving in the Provincial Capital, Xue Liang first visited Lu Ming, who was undergoing training at the Party School, and together they went to visit Director Fang at the provincial government.

    Director Fang Ting was quite easy-going and familial, warmly receiving the two of them in his office.

    First, Fang Ting inquired about Lu Ming''s study at the Party School and encouraged him. Then, he asked Xue Liang about the purpose of his trip to the Provincial Capital.

    Xue Liang naturally didn''t spare any details in explaining the difficulties faced by the county''s education system to Fang Ting.

    Fang Ting had left Golden Mountain County a long time ago and only returned during the holidays. Occasionally, he would meet with county leaders, who usually only shared good news and not the bad, so he had no idea the education situation in Golden Mountain County had become so dire. Upon hearing this, his brows immediately furrowed, and he said angrily, "Children are the future of our country; education is the foundation of state governance and a cornerstone of the nation. Although our Golden Mountain County is a mountainous region and economically less developed, we must not let our children suffer or neglect education! I should have been approached about this sooner, regardless of reason, I''m also from Golden Mountain County. I can''t be of much help with major issues¡ªafter all, the province has to consider all aspects and can''t just look after our county alone, I''m not that capable. But when it comes to a modest investment in hometown education, I must contribute with all my heart, no matter what."

    It''s often hard to see the gap without comparison. Both men hail from Golden Mountain County, and although Fang Ting held a position even closer to the governor and ranked higher than Sun Yuncheng, their attitudes towards their fellow townspeople and home affairs made Xue Liang deeply reflective.

    One would put on airs at the drop of a hat, while the other was warm and cordial. One was indifferent to the educational plight of the children in his hometown, and yet another was upset and anxious about it.

    "Director Fang is right, we were also worried that you were too busy, Director Fang, so..." Xue Liang nodded repeatedly.

    "No matter how busy I am, I can always make time for this. So, please sit here for a while, I will ask Governor Sang for instructions to see if there is anything tonight. If not, I will invite Deputy Director Yu of the education department, who is in charge of planning and finance, to have dinner together," Fang Ting interrupted.

    "Thank you, Director Fang, thank you," said Xue Liang, moved by the fact that Fang Ting was not just talking but was ready to take immediate action. He stood up and expressed his gratitude repeatedly.

    "No need to thank me, this is what I should do," Fang Ting gestured dismissively and then got up to go to Sang Yunlong''s office.

    As Secretary to Sang Yunlong, Fang Ting naturally knew Sang Yunlong''s schedule and was aware that Sang Yunlong had arranged to have dinner with a group of Standing Committee members and Ge Dongxu that night.

    For a dinner of this level, he, Fang Ting, was not qualified to participate. In principle, there should be nothing for him tonight, but he still needed to ask for permission just in case.

    Sure enough, Sang Yunlong said there was nothing concerning Fang Ting tonight and told him to go ahead and arrange his own affairs.

    So Fang Ting returned to his office and phoned Deputy Director Yu, who oversees planning and finance at the education department.

    Fang Ting himself was the Deputy Director of the Office of the Provincial Government of Jiangnan Province and a deputy director-level official. Coupled with the identity of the Governor''s secretary, he carried considerable weight. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When he called Deputy Director Yu, who oversees planning and finance at the education department, to ask if he had time to have dinner together, Deputy Director Yu immediately said he did.

    Therefore, Fang Ting made arrangements to have dinner with Deputy Director Yu at the Kunting Grand Hotel that evening.

    It seemed that Fang Ting casually mentioned the Kunting Grand Hotel and did not choose the upscale hotels by the picturesque Mingyue Lake, but in reality, he had thought it through carefully.

    The Kunting Grand Hotel had just opened recently. Its furnishings and equipment were all brand new and luxurious, giving it an appearance of high class, yet because it was newly opened, the prices were relatively cheap.

    After all, having dinner with Deputy Director Yu required an appropriate level of prestige; too low would not be suitable. However, a high status with an exorbitant price would also be inappropriate, given that Golden Mountain County was there to plead poverty and ask for funding. Dining at the lakeside Wanghu Hotel or the Friendly Hotel would cost at least a thousand yuan for a meal, which would seem sarcastically extravagant.

    By coincidence, Fang Ting knew that a group of the most influential members of the Provincial Party Committee had invited Ge Dongxu to the Kunting Grand Hotel for dinner. Although Fang Ting was not yet aware that the hidden owner behind the Kunting Grand Hotel was Ge Dongxu himself, the fact that a newly opened hotel could attract such a distinguished group from Jiangnan Province made it clear to Fang Ting, even without much thought, that the hotel had very powerful backing.

    Knowing that the hotel had powerful backing and that it offered good value for money, Fang Ting naturally had no objections to pushing the boat along with the current and supporting the venue.

 Chapter 613 - 612: Brother Xu, something big has happened

    "Director Fang, where is the Kunting Grand Hotel? Is it also by Mingyue Lake? Is it high-class?" Xue Liang rarely visited the Provincial Capital and since the Kunting Grand Hotel was a recent establishment, he naturally was not aware of it. He had assumed that Fang Ting would arrange a hotel by Mingyue Lake and was unexpectedly directed to an unheard-of hotel, which made Xue Liang somewhat worried.

    After all, he was there to ask for a favor, and Xue Liang was willing to tighten his belt and spend a bit more to make Director Yu happy and satisfied.

    "It''s not by Mingyue Lake, it''s a newly opened hotel in our Provincial Capital, beautifully decorated. It''s not only upscale but also affordable, quite suitable for our kind of gathering," Fang Ting replied.

    Although Xue Liang still felt that having dinner at a grand hotel by Mingyue Lake would have been more pleasing and suitable for Director Yu''s body and mind, since Fang Ting had said it was quite appropriate, he naturally didn''t dare to object further, and with a smile, he said, "If Director Fang says it''s suitable, then it must be."

    "Alright, I''ve already helped you arrange the people. Make sure you book the private room at the hotel, I''ll be there on time in the evening," Fang Ting said.

    Knowing that Fang Ting, as the Governor''s secretary and the deputy director of the Provincial Government''s Office, had to oversee everything and was extremely busy, Xue Liang and Lu Ming didn''t dare to take up more of his time. They quickly got up, saying, "Thank you, Director Fang. I''ll be busy then, and I shall await your presence tonight at the Kunting Grand Hotel."

    After they left the Provincial Government building, they made a special trip to the Kunting Grand Hotel.

    Upon seeing that the Kunting Grand Hotel, although lacking a lake view, was indeed grand and luxurious, and also reasonably priced, they booked a private room on the spot.

    After booking the private room, Lu Ming had to go back to the Party School for classes, while Xue Liang took advantage of the remaining time to take a walk by Mingyue Lake and enjoy the scenery. By the lakeside, Xue Liang very reluctantly called Sun Yuncheng to inform him about the dinner that evening. Sun Yuncheng promised to come without hesitation.

    Thinking back on Sun Yuncheng''s previous evasions and comparing them to his now straightforward manner, Xue Liang felt particularly disgusted. However, on the surface, he courteously thanked him for his support of Golden Mountain County''s work before hanging up the phone.

    Let''s set aside Xue Liang''s running around for Golden Mountain County''s educational matters and the fact that he had booked a private room at the Kunting Grand Hotel.

    Turning now to Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General Wu Bojun, who received a call from Governor Sang and went personally to notify Secretary Chen and the other standing committee members. Afterwards, he specially assigned a secretary to inspect and reserve a private room at the Kunting Grand Hotel.

    The manager of the Kunting Grand Hotel''s catering department was stunned when informed that Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and other standing committee members would dine at their hotel.

    It took a while for the manager to grasp the situation, feeling both excited and nervous!

    Soon enough, Lin Kun was alerted and, rushing over, he personally took the secretary from the Provincial Party Committee Secretariat to inspect several of the best private rooms before deciding on one.

    After personally seeing off the secretary, Lin Kun couldn''t contain his excitement and called Ge Dongxu.

    "Dongxu, Dongxu, this is big, something huge has happened! Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Chen, Governor Sang, and several other standing committee members are coming for dinner at our hotel on Thursday night! What should I do now? What preparations should I make? I''m so nervous!" After connecting with Ge Dongxu, Lin Kun could not suppress the excitement in his voice, speaking breathlessly. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Nowadays, Lin Kun is certainly a big boss himself, and he naturally understands what it means for the big bosses of Jiangnan Province to come to the Kunting Grand Hotel to dine.

    Of course, no matter how much money Lin Kun has now, he''s ultimately someone who came from a small place, with shallow roots and a young age. The highest-level official he has ever been in contact with is of vice-departmental level. But now that the number one and number two figures in Jiangnan Province''s political scene, along with the highly-ranked standing committee members, are all coming, how could Lin Kun''s little heart remain steady?

    "What are you nervous about? When it''s time for the chef to cook, just put in a little more effort, prioritizing Secretary Chen''s private room; everything else can stay as usual," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Please, Dongxu Brother, can you not talk about it so lightly? That''s the biggest official in our Jiangnan Province! They are all coming to our Kunting Grand Hotel on Thursday. Can I really keep things as usual?" Lin Kun said with a bitter smile.

    "So what do you want to do?" Ge Dongxu asked upon hearing this.

    "I''m thinking, since the provincial leaders are coming, we definitely need to leave a good impression on them. The hotel surely can''t be too noisy, giving them a chaotic feeling. But if there are too few customers, and it''s too quiet, that certainly won''t do either. So I''m thinking whether we should accept fewer reservations on Thursday evening and specifically invite some higher-quality individuals to come and be customers for the day. This way, it won''t look like there are too few customers, and everything will appear more orderly," Lin Kun replied after thinking it over.

    "You, Lin Kun, I''m warning you now, don''t ever pull this kind of fake stunt on me again, or I''ll kick you back to Changxi County," Ge Dongxu said, amused yet frustrated.

    "Dongxu Brother, I really don''t want to, but our Kunting Grand Hotel has just started, and we must seize this rare opportunity!" Lin Kun lamented.

    "Alright, enough with the what-ifs. I''m having dinner with Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and the others on Thursday evening. They invited me! Are you trying to fool your boss with all these pretentious actions?" Ge Dongxu said grumpily.

    "Ah!" Lin Kun was so shocked that he almost dropped his jaw to the floor.

    "Ah, what ''ah''! We run a hotel; we just need to do our own business well, don''t worry about the rest," Ge Dongxu said.

    "I was wondering, how come Secretary Chen and these big shots suddenly thought of coming to our hotel to dine¡ªit''s all because of you, Dongxu Brother! I truly admire you so much. Now I''m relieved. Damn it, with Dongxu Brother in charge, what''s there to be nervous about?" Lin Kun, now clearly understanding the situation, couldn''t help but show an expression full of admiration, even over the phone.

    "Stop buttering me up. I''m warning you, in business, you have to follow the rules and regulations. You must pay the taxes you owe, maintain the necessary hygiene, and all that, without thinking you can mess around because of me," Ge Dongxu said seriously.

    "Rest assured Dongxu Brother, I definitely won''t let you down," Lin Kun said, a shiver running through him as he hurriedly replied.

    Having known Ge Dongxu for over three years now, and doing business with him, Lin Kun naturally understood Ge Dongxu''s personality.

    Ge Dongxu also knew that Lin Kun was now reformed. After giving such a warning and hearing his response, he did not belabor the point. He gave a grunt of acknowledgment, casually asked about a few things regarding the hotel and Donglinyue Apparel, and then hung up the phone.

 Chapter 614 - 614: 613

    Ge Dongxu had no classes on Thursday afternoon, but he still went to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    Last Monday afternoon, so many ambulances had brought severely injured victims, and later even the top officials of Jiangnan Province, including other members of the Provincial Party Committee, personally arrived at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. Even though the hospital staff hadn''t witnessed it themselves, they had basically heard about the incident afterward. Everyone couldn''t help but be filled with shock and doubt, wondering when their hospital had become so incredible as to take on such a significant task of rescuing accident victims.

    However, since those involved in the rescue were tight-lipped, the specific details were unknown to them. Moreover, even if some rumors had slipped through, they would just shake their heads and smile, not taking them seriously.

    After all, such medical skills were as unbelievable as mythological legends. Without firsthand experience, it was impossible to believe.

    Therefore, even if news of Ge Dongxu''s "ridiculous" feat of single-handedly rescuing twenty-eight severely injured patients leaked out a bit, it merely caused some ripples in the calm lake of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, which quickly returned to tranquility, as if nothing had happened.

    But for those doctors who were kicked out of the internal medicine department or who remained there without the qualification to learn medicine from Ge Dongxu, the situation was complicated after they saw the big fuss that day and heard some whispers.

    Others, upon hearing such rumors, might dismiss them with a laugh, considering reports of a divine doctor at the hospital mere hearsay. They would think themselves wise, hence stopping rumors with their wisdom, unwilling to spread such talk lest others think them foolish.

    Yet those who came from the internal medicine department and who stayed without the qualification to learn from Ge Dongxu knew it was true!

    Especially those who were still in the internal medicine department but not qualified to learn from Ge Dongxu, their emotions were indescribable when they saw how people like Zhang Xiuwen and He Duanrui became even more respectfully submissive to Ge Dongxu on Thursday afternoon.

    The hospital closed at five o''clock.

    Normally Ge Dongxu would head straight back to Jiangnan University after work. However, since he had a dinner appointment at Kunting Grand Hotel with Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and others that evening, he wasn''t in a hurry to return to Jiangnan University. He gave He Duanrui and the others some pointers on medical knowledge before leisurely cycling to Kunting Grand Hotel, just two streets away from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    Even so, Ge Dongxu still arrived at the intersection where Kunting Grand Hotel was located a full twenty minutes before the agreed time of six o''clock.

    As Ge Dongxu was about to dismount and find a place to park his bicycle by the roadside, a black Hongqi sedan with Jinzhou City Government plates honked at him from behind.

    In those days, having a car was quite a big deal, and people were accustomed to honking their horns at the slightest provocation, as if not doing so would fail to demonstrate the prestige of owning a car. This was similar to how, in an even earlier era, owning a bicycle was incredibly impressive. If a pedestrian was in front, the cyclist would immediately ring their bell to alert the pedestrian of the approaching bicycle, with no realization that the vehicle should yield to the pedestrian.

    Ge Dongxu frowned slightly; he disliked this rude and show-off manner of alerting others. However, by nature, he didn''t like to quarrel, so after frowning, he promptly pushed his bicycle to the side.

    The black Hongqi sedan slowly drove past Ge Dongxu. The rear window was rolled down, revealing Sun Yuncheng''s face, clearly adorned with a look of disdain and arrogance.

    Especially the way his eyes, behind those gold-rimmed glasses, deliberately glanced at Ge Dongxu''s bicycle.

    Ge Dongxu frowned slightly again, a look of disgust flashing through his eyes.

    He could naturally tell that Sun Yuncheng''s intention in deliberately rolling down his car window was merely to let him know the gap between them.

    The black Red Flag car slowly drove past Ge Dongxu and then entered the hotel plaza, while Ge Dongxu naturally got off his bicycle and parked it properly.

    As for a person like Sun Yuncheng, regardless of whether he was involved in corruption or bribery, judging solely by how he had the Golden Mountain County government''s director personally arrange an official vehicle for his son''s trip, and his series of behaviors at Jiangnan University, it wasn''t hard to tell that his character was truly lacking.

    Such a person, if allowed to be promoted and put in important positions continuously, was obviously not a good thing. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Therefore, while parking, Ge Dongxu finally decided to look for an opportunity to mention this person to Sang Yunlong.

    At this moment, Sun Yuncheng naturally did not know that, because of his and his son''s repeated ostentatious displays and provocative behavior, Ge Dongxu had finally decided to take action.

    The driver parked the car in front of the hotel lobby, and Sun Yuncheng got out.

    At that moment, he saw Xue Liang and Lu Ming waiting in the lobby, and Sun Yuncheng''s brows couldn''t help but furrow.

    "Secretary-General Sun, hello, I am truly grateful that you took time out of your busy schedule to come here," Xue Liang hurried forward with both hands outstretched, saying with a face full of "gratitude" upon seeing Sun Yuncheng getting out of his car.

    "Golden Mountain County is also my hometown, supporting the hometown''s educational cause is only natural," Sun Yuncheng shook hands with Xue Liang, speaking in officialdom jargon.

    "Secretary-General Sun really cares about his hometown!" Although Xue Liang felt nauseated inside, he still complimented him with his words.

    "A man must never forget his roots. Golden Mountain County is my hometown, no matter where I go, I cannot forget that," Sun Yuncheng bragged shamelessly, not feeling embarrassed in the least as he said these words.

    "Well said, well said," Xue Liang kept nodding his head with a smile, while repeatedly giving Lu Ming a look, signaling him to come over and greet Sun Yuncheng.

    Just last week, Lu Ming had a fallout with Sun Yuncheng, particularly because Sun Yuncheng actually went to the teacher afterwards to tattle, an action that Lu Ming found absolutely disgraceful. Therefore, even though he clearly knew that with his status he should take the initiative to greet Sun Yuncheng and shake hands, his pride got the better of him, and he didn''t want to acknowledge him.

    However, ultimately recalling that the hosts for the evening were Director Fang and Deputy Director Yu from the Education Department, and that the issues to be discussed were related to the educational affairs of Golden Mountain County, and after seeing Xue Liang''s repeated signals, Lu Ming still suppressed his personal feelings and forced a smile towards Sun Yuncheng, taking the initiative to extend his hand, "Good evening, Secretary-General Sun."

    Sun Yuncheng, however, acted as if he didn''t see Lu Ming''s extended hand, raised his hand to check his watch, and then knowingly asked Xue Liang, "The meeting was set for a quarter past five, right? Haven''t Director Fang and Deputy Director Yu arrived yet?"

 Chapter 615 - 614 Who Are You Fooling?

    Lu Ming''s hand stiffened in mid-air, and his usually refined and fair face suddenly reddened with anger.

    Xue Liang clearly had not expected Lu Ming and Sun Yuncheng''s relationship to be this discordant. He anxiously nudged Lu Ming with his foot, reminding him not to lose his temper, and with a forced smile, he replied, "They haven''t arrived yet, but they should be here soon."

    Lu Ming was indeed about to lose his temper, but Xue Liang''s kick reminded him of the importance of tonight''s dinner. It was tied to the educational projects in Golden Mountain County. Enduring slight indignation was a minor issue, but starting a conflict with Sun Yuncheng and leaving a bad impression on Director Fang and Deputy Minister Yu could jeopardize the funding for Golden Mountain County''s education project, which was far more critical.

    Finally, Lu Ming took a deep breath, retracted his hand, while Sun Yuncheng, seeing this, curled his lips into a smug, cold smirk.

    After the incident at Jiangnan University, Sun Yuncheng believed there was no possibility of reconciling with Lu Ming.

    Therefore, even in front of Xue Liang tonight, he did not give Lu Ming any face at all, intending to convey a clear message to the leadership of Golden Mountain County: Sun Yuncheng had issues with Lu Ming and was quite dissatisfied.

    As the saying goes, a local official is more influential than a higher one far away. Although Director Fang held a higher position than Sun Yuncheng, he was after all in the Provincial Capital, while Sun Yuncheng was right in Jinzhou City. Many matters in Golden Mountain County were inevitably tied to him, so Sun Yuncheng''s attitude was definitely a factor for the county leadership to consider.

    Moreover, there are rules in the bureaucracy. Director Fang had already given Lu Ming a covert push; what followed would depend on Lu Ming''s own abilities. If he performed well and lived up to Director Fang''s expectations, Director Fang would naturally find opportunities to support him further in the future. However, if Lu Ming failed, he would likely not advance further. S§×ar?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After all, the resources at Director Fang''s disposal were very limited, and having gone this far, it was now time for Lu Ming to prove his capabilities.

    Recognizing this, Sun Yuncheng felt no need to show any courtesy to Lu Ming anymore, hence not giving him face after their relationship had completely deteriorated.

    You disagree with me, Sun Yuncheng? You want to challenge me? Fine, climb up if you can, reach above me. Otherwise, you''ll remain just a deputy county head, and I, Sun Yuncheng, will firmly keep you under my thumb.

    You must accept your position, even if you don''t want to!

    Just as Sun Yuncheng was smirking to himself, Ge Dongxu approached.

    Seeing Lu Ming standing at the hotel entrance, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly to himself, thinking how small the world was, and that avoidance was no longer an option.

    At the same time, Ge Dongxu''s gaze towards Sun Yuncheng grew colder.

    Because as he had approached, he saw Lu Ming extend his hand and then freeze halfway.

    "Dongxu, what brings you here?" As Lu Ming felt frustrated about the standoff, seeing Ge Dongxu took him by surprise.

    "What else can a college student be doing here? Obviously, he comes from a poor family and is working part-time at the hotel. He certainly can''t afford to eat here," Sun Yuncheng said disdainfully.

    Whenever Sun Yuncheng thought about how this young man, Ge Dongxu, had made him lose face in front of Wu Yili, he couldn''t help but harbor extraordinary resentment. Thus, given his position, when Lu Ming inquired about Ge Dongxu, he couldn''t help but speak out in mockery.

    Seeing Sun Yuncheng, a city government Secretary-General, utter such unbecoming words, Xue Liang was somewhat dumbfounded.

    "Uncle Lu is asking me a question. Secretary-General Sun, why are you chattering on the side?" Sun Yuncheng spoke contemptuously, but Ge Dongxu was even more disdainful, glancing at him and scolding without any courtesy.

    "Well played, Ge Dongxu. With that attitude, do you believe that if I simply greet the manager here, you''ll immediately have to pack up and leave?" Scolded so disdainfully by Ge Dongxu, and in a fit of rage, Sun Yuncheng uttered even more disgraceful words.

    "Just you, always bullying others under the guise of power, always ready to tattle, how did you even become the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City''s government?" Ge Dongxu almost choked on these words when Sun Yuncheng threatened to have him pack up and leave.

    After all, he was the big boss of the Kunting Grand Hotel!

    Seeing Ge Dongxu mock Sun Yuncheng again, Xue Liang finally came to his senses, glanced at his watch, saw it was almost 5:45, and started to get anxious. He hurriedly said to Sun Yuncheng, "Secretary-General Sun, Director Fang and Minister Yu should be arriving soon. Please don''t bother arguing with such a youngster."

    "Director Lu, who is this young man? Quickly get him out of here. What will it look like if Director Fang and Minister Yu see this?" Xue Liang then turned to Lu Ming, speaking with a stern face.

    At this moment, Lu Ming had not yet officially taken up his post as deputy county head, so Xue Liang still addressed him as director.

    Lu Ming, ultimately concerned about the educational funding project, also grew anxious as the time approached. As soon as Xue Liang finished speaking, he had already pulled Ge Dongxu aside and said sternly, "Dongxu, Uncle has important leaders coming over tonight to discuss some important matters. Don''t sulk here, go do whatever you need to do."

    However, Sun Yuncheng clearly could not swallow his anger and directly waved over the lobby manager, pointing at Ge Dongxu and said, "I am the Secretary-General of the Jinzhou City Government. Is this young man one of your hotel''s workers? His attitude towards customers is very poor, and I am very dissatisfied. I hope you won''t employ such people at your hotel anymore, as it damages your hotel''s image."

    The lobby manager on duty tonight didn''t recognize Ge Dongxu, but he knew the Secretary-General of the Jinzhou City Government was a significant official. Seeing him complain about Ge Dongxu, his expression slightly darkened as he turned to Ge Dongxu and asked, "Are you an employee of our hotel?"

    Seeing Sun Yuncheng complain about Ge Dongxu again, Lu Ming couldn''t help but feel indignant. If it weren''t for the fact that Director Fang and Minister Yu were about to arrive, he''d definitely want to step forward and scold him. However, he could only restrain himself and quickly explained to the lobby manager, "Manager, Ge Dongxu is a student at Jiangnan University, he is very..."

    When Ge Dongxu saw Lu Ming speaking up for him, afraid that he would lose this "part-time job," he knew he couldn''t hide today''s incident, so he pulled on Lu Ming and interrupted, "Uncle Lu, I''m not an employee here. I came here to eat today."

    Upon hearing this, Lu Ming swallowed his next words, surprised by Ge Dongxu.

    Although the Kunting Grand Hotel was not expensive, that was only relative to the high-end hotels around Mingyue Lake. After all, located on the busiest commercial street, and being so lavishly furnished, the Kunting Grand Hotel was still considered a high-consumption place for the average person.

    Such a high-consumption venue was clearly not a place for a college student to dine.

    "Eating here, a student from a poor mountain area coming here to dine? Who are you kidding?" Sun Yuncheng, already aware of Ge Dongxu''s background from his son, thought Ge Dongxu was finally scared and trying to bluster his way through, and couldn''t help but sneer.

 Chapter 616 - 615 Shut Up

    Ge Dongxu ignored Sun Yuncheng and, with a stern face, said to the lobby manager, "Where is Lin Kun? Have him come here."

    Sun Yuncheng and the rest naturally did not know who Lin Kun was. Seeing Ge Dongxu suddenly ask for Lin Kun, they all looked puzzled and did not understand what play Ge Dongxu was performing, while the lobby manager got startled at the mention.

    Wasn''t Lin Kun the shareholder and general manager of their Kunting Hotel?

    "You know our Mr. Lin?" The lobby manager immediately changed his attitude and politely asked.

    "Mr. Lin? What Mr. Lin?" Sun Yuncheng asked with a puzzled face.

    "He''s the general manager of our hotel, and also a shareholder," the lobby manager replied hastily, not daring to neglect Sun Yuncheng as he was a government official.

    "Haha, I say, manager, he''s just a university student, do you think..." Sun Yuncheng burst into a disdainful laugh upon hearing this.

    "Director Fang and Deputy Director Yu have arrived." Sun Yuncheng hadn''t finished his sentence when Xue Liang suddenly interrupted, then quickly walked towards the lobby entrance.

    Sure enough, a black Audi stopped at the lobby entrance, and Fang Ting and Deputy Director Yu got out of the car one after another.

    Seeing that Fang Ting and Deputy Director Yu had arrived, Sun Yuncheng naturally could not continue to hassle Ge Dongxu, but he gave him an annoyed glare and then also briskly walked to the lobby entrance, getting ahead of Xue Liang, and greeted Fang Ting and Deputy Director Yu with a smile as he shook hands with them.

    "You better get lost quickly, so you don''t get more trouble from that Sun Yuncheng," Lu Ming whispered to Ge Dongxu. He did not bother to talk more as he hurriedly also took a few quick steps to the lobby entrance.

    By now, it was naturally impossible for Ge Dongxu to leave.

    Moreover, he had arrived early at the Kunting Grand Hotel, partly to wait for Secretary Chen and the others.

    After all, he was the owner of the Kunting Grand Hotel, which made him the host, and Secretary Chen and others were the parental officials of Jiangnan Province, all older than him, Ge Dongxu. They had already invited him to dinner, and Ge Dongxu couldn''t really put on airs just because of his abilities; he had to be somewhat humble.

    The appointment was for six o''clock, and it was now almost five fifty. Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and the others could arrive at any minute, so it was not appropriate for Ge Dongxu to leave at this point.

    Fang Ting shook hands with Sun Yuncheng, then with Xue Liang and Lu Ming.

    However, when shaking hands with Xue Liang and Lu Ming, Fang Ting was obviously distracted because he saw Ge Dongxu standing in the lobby, which made him very unsure whether to go up and greet him or pretend he hadn''t seen him.

    A while ago, Ge Dongxu had told him not to tell Lu Ming that he was helping him secretly.

    Seeing Fang Ting smiling while shaking his hand, and somewhat distracted when shaking hands with Xue Liang and Lu Ming, Sun Yuncheng felt quite smug, thinking that he was after all the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City Government and had quite a relationship with Fang Ting, imagining that he weighed much more in Fang Ting''s mind than Lu Ming did.

    While Sun Yuncheng was feeling smug about himself, Ge Dongxu stepped forward.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu not leaving but approaching instead, Lu Ming''s face turned somewhat pale on the spot, and Sun Yuncheng immediately frowned, scolding Ge Dongxu, "Do you really want to be fired, or what? Get lost!"

    Sun Yuncheng''s meaning couldn''t be clearer with his words today; he didn''t have time to deal with Ge Dongxu, and Ge Dongxu should feel lucky and hurry away.

    As soon as Sun Yuncheng said this, Deputy Director Yu just looked at Ge Dongxu with a puzzled face, while Fang Ting''s face turned pale all at once, and, not caring if it might reveal Ge Dongxu''s identity, he immediately scolded Sun Yuncheng fiercely, "Sun Yuncheng, shut your mouth! How are you speaking?"

    It was a joke. This was a national special talent and cadre who had just made significant achievements. Even the top two leaders of the province and other standing committee members of the Provincial Party Committee were going to host him tonight. If Sun Yuncheng continued to scold him, what would happen?

    Sun Yuncheng was stunned, and so were the others.

    They did not understand what Fang Ting meant. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After all, Sun Yuncheng was the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City Government, a Senior Level official. Even if Fang Ting held a higher rank, the difference was marginal. Furthermore, he wasn''t Sun Yuncheng''s direct supervisor. In terms of hierarchy, Fang Ting really had no authority over Sun Yuncheng. Fang Ting''s outburst was definitely excessive and did not adhere to the protocols of the officialdom.

    "Director Fang, what are you doing? I was simply frustrated with this young man..." But soon, Sun Yuncheng had regained his composure, explaining with a look of grievance.

    Of course, considering Fang Ting''s position, even if Sun Yuncheng felt extremely upset, he wouldn''t dare lash out at Fang Ting.

    "What is it, Secretary-General Sun, planning to make a little report about me in front of Director Fang as well? You say you will make a report about me, but will Director Fang believe you or me?" Sun Yuncheng had not finished speaking when Ge Dongxu interrupted him.

    "Ge Dongxu, don''t talk nonsense!" Lu Ming, seeing Ge Dongxu daring to speak like this even in front of Director Fang, was taken aback and quickly tried to pull Ge Dongxu back, while Sun Yuncheng''s heart was already blooming with joy upon witnessing this.

    In his view, this was what they call ''you won''t die if you don''t seek death!'' Ge Dongxu was purely courting disaster!

    "Director Fang, Director Yu, as you can see, this young man is extremely arrogant. He must be..." While his heart bloomed with joy, Sun Yuncheng did not forget to add fuel to the fire.

    "Sun Yuncheng, shut your mouth! It''s not your place to discuss Mr. Ge''s matters!" Fang Ting saw Sun Yuncheng still attempting to make trouble and almost kicked him straight over.

    "Mr. Ge!" Sun Yuncheng''s mouth hung open, unable to utter another word as cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

    It was then that he finally understood why Fang Ting had abruptly told him to shut up earlier.

    Turns out he knew Ge Dongxu!

    But how could that be possible? He was just a freshman at Jiangnan University! And how could he deserve Director Fang addressing him as "Mister"?

    Xue Liang, Deputy Director Yu, and Lu Ming stood with their mouths slightly open, faces full of surprise.

    Especially Lu Ming, who was so shocked that his eyes bulged out.

    Others might not be aware of Ge Dongxu''s identity, but wasn''t he?

    But how could it be that suddenly even Director Fang addressed him as "Mister"?

    Lu Ming''s mind was a mess, then suddenly, like a bolt of lightning flashed through his chaotic mind, he remembered that it was right after he had dinner with Ge Dongxu during National Day when Director Fang inexplicably recommended him in front of county leaders.

    Could it be because of Ge Dongxu?

    Lu Ming couldn''t help but associate it with this young man before his eyes.

    Impossible, it absolutely couldn''t be! It must be a coincidence! Ge Dongxu was only so young, and he was just a freshman!

    Lu Ming quickly dismissed his own fantastical speculation.

 Chapter 617 - 616 The Same Whistle-Blowing

    "Director Fang, who is this Mr. Ge?" Deputy Director Yu quickly regained his composure and asked Fang Ting curiously.

    As Deputy Director Yu spoke, Sun Yuncheng, Xue Liang, and Lu Ming all pricked up their ears, their emotions a complex mix of anxiety and intrigue. Of course, the most agitated was none other than Sun Yuncheng.

    Upon hearing this, Fang Ting glanced at Ge Dongxu, his eyes conveying a plea for guidance.

    Since Ge Dongxu''s identity was rather special, it was really not appropriate for him to disclose it.

    "Brother Xu!"

    "Director Ge!"

    Just at that moment, two voices called out from behind Ge Dongxu and his companions.

    Deputy Director Yu and the others unconsciously turned their heads toward the source of the sounds.

    They saw five people emerging from the elevator. Leading them was a young man under thirty years of age, and a middle-aged man with a rather refined demeanor. Following them were three others: a woman dressed in professional attire looking very capable and pretty, clearly a hotel staff member, and two men with sharp facial features and piercing eyes, exuding an air of sternness.

    The two in front were naturally Lin Kun and the middle-aged man beside him, Wu Bojun, the Provincial Party Committee Secretary General. The three following them included the hotel''s catering manager and two security officers from the Provincial Security Bureau.

    In ancient times, the top two leaders of a provincial committee were considered significant high-ranking officials, let alone at a dinner where, in addition to them, almost all other standing committee members were present. Naturally, there were security measures and checks to carry out.

    Wu Bojun, the Provincial Party Committee Secretary General, is in charge of the overall management for the committee, so he was sure to arrive early to make arrangements and to greet others. And since the Secretary General was coming, Lin Kun naturally had to personally lead the way and accompany him.

    The security officers from the Provincial Security Bureau had already inspected the private room, and the Secretary General himself had overseen the arrangements there. Seeing that it was about time, they came down to prepare to welcome the arrival of the provincial committee leaders.

    No sooner had they exited the elevator than they saw Ge Dongxu and promptly greeted him.

    Of course, Deputy Director Yu and the others were unaware of this and did not know Lin Kun and the rest. However, they recognized Secretary General Wu coming out of the elevator. Not just Sun Yuncheng or Lu Ming, but even Deputy Director Yu nearly jumped out of his skin, his heart racing with nervousness.

    It was important to note that the Provincial Party Committee Secretary General was a member of the standing committee and a deputy ministerial-level official. He ranked two levels higher than Deputy Director Yu and was one of the true titans of Jiangnan Province''s political scene.

    At that moment, they still hadn''t realized that the "Brother Xu" and "Director Ge" addressed by Wu Bojun and Lin Kun were the same person¡ªGe Dongxu.

    After the initial shock, Deputy Director Yu immediately plastered a broad smile on his face and slightly bowed in greeting to the Secretary General approaching them: "Good evening, Secretary General!"

    Sun Yuncheng and the others hurriedly followed behind Deputy Director Yu, their faces also adorned with modest smiles as they slightly bowed, saying, "Good evening, Secretary General."

    Wu Bojun simply nodded in acknowledgment to Deputy Director Yu and the others. Then, with a warm smile, he walked up to Ge Dongxu, extended his hands, and said, "Director Ge, please forgive me, I didn''t realize you had already arrived."

    "There''s no need for formality, Secretary General. Even though it''s you who are treating, I''m the landlord. I should have arrived even earlier," replied Ge Dongxu, smiling as he shook Wu Bojun''s hand.

    Watching the Provincial Party Committee Secretary General smiling broadly while holding Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly, everyone apart from Fang Ting was utterly shocked. Xue Liang, Lu Ming, and Deputy Director Yu were stunned, whereas Sun Yuncheng, in addition to being shocked, felt his legs go weak with cold sweat breaking out all over him.

    This was the Provincial Party Committee Secretary General himself!

    One of the true heavyweights of Jiangnan Province''s political landscape, someone whom even the Mayor of Jinzhou City would only have the chance to follow behind and make conversation with¡ªlet alone Sun Yuncheng, who was simply not on the same level to engage him in direct dialogue.

    Because the difference in their levels was simply too great.

    But now, Secretary-General Wu, one of the real heavyweights of Jiangnan Province''s political arena, was holding Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly with both hands, and upon opening his mouth, he immediately offered an apology. He even suggested that, in his capacity as the Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General, he should have welcomed Dongxu in the lobby.

    Such words, even if they were just pleasantries, were enough to scare someone into having a heart attack.

    "Haha, Director Ge, you are the guest of honor tonight¡ªhaving you wait for us is something we can hardly bear," Wu Bojun said with a smile.

    Ge Dongxu just chuckled, and at that moment, Lin Kun finally found a gap to respectfully address him, "Brother Xu!"

    His gaze toward Ge Dongxu was filled with a fervent admiration.

    Lin Kun, formerly just the son of a small-town hotel owner, might have been somebody in Changxi County, but what was he in Jiangnan Province?

    But now? Not only was he co-owner of two companies with Ge Dongxu and Yue Ting, but today he had even conversed with the Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General who had proactively given him a business card¡ªa thought inconceivable in the past.

    And all this was because of the Brother Xu right in front of him!

    Seeing Lin Kun respectfully calling Ge Dongxu "Brother Xu," the lobby manager, recalling how he had, misled by Sun Yuncheng, sternly asked Ge Dongxu if he was an employee here, shivered all over and inwardly cursed Sun Yuncheng to high heavens.

    Damn it, have you ever seen such a badass errand boy?

    The Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General was eager to shake his hand, and our general manager and shareholder bowed and called him "brother" with utmost respect!

    "Mr. Manager, you see, I told you I wasn''t an employee at the Kunting Grand Hotel. I wasn''t lying to you, right?" Ge Dongxu nodded slightly to Lin Kun, and then turned his indifferent gaze to the lobby manager.

    "Yes, yes, it was my confusion. How could you possibly be..." the lobby manager began to sweat profusely from his forehead.

    "Manager Yu, what is going on here?" Lin Kun''s face suddenly darkened as he glared at the lobby manager and demanded.

    "Mr. Lin, this isn''t my fault. It was this gentleman. He claimed to be the secretary-general of the Jinzhou City government, then insisted that Director Ge was some kind of odd-job worker here and treated him very badly. He was extremely displeased and demanded our hotel take serious action. That''s why I asked Mr. Ge if he was our..." the lobby manager explained hurriedly, sweating bullets.

    Due to Ge Dongxu''s management philosophy, his company ensured that employee wages were higher than those of similar companies, thus the Kunting Grand Hotel staff were no exception. Naturally, as the lobby manager who bore the title, his salary was even higher, so he was very afraid of losing his job.

    Upon hearing the lobby manager''s explanation, Secretary-General Wu''s expression immediately turned dark, as did Fang Ting''s.

    This was a big shot, a great hero, whom the permanent committee of the Provincial Party Committee was entertaining tonight! And you, a secretary-general from Jinzhou City government, dared to wildly declare he was some errand boy and that his attitude was very bad, expressing your dissatisfaction and demanding serious action from the hotel. Weren''t you slapping the face of the standing committee of the Provincial Party Committee?

    Lin Kun''s face turned dark as well.

    Damn it! Brother Xu is a major owner of the Kunting Hotel, and who the hell are you to even dare demand the hotel deal with him seriously?

    Watching the faces of Secretary-General Wu and Fang Ting grow increasingly grim, Sun Yuncheng''s legs couldn''t help but shake.

    He finally understood that, when comparing whistleblowing, his report was nothing next to Ge Dongxu''s. Dongxu''s report went straight to the Provincial Party Committee Secretary-General. Moreover, Dongxu didn''t even need to detail the issue, merely hinting at it was enough to put Sun Yuncheng in a position where he couldn''t escape the consequences.

    S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 618 - 617: A Shocking Scene

    "Secretary-General, hear me out, it''s all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. I apologize to Ge Dongxu, no, to Director Ge, I sincerely apologize," Sun Yuncheng trembled in his legs, sweating profusely as he kept apologizing.

    As Sun Yuncheng kept apologizing while sweating profusely, a line of black Audis pulled up at the hotel lobby entrance.

    The security personnel were already standing by the door, blocking any irrelevant individuals.

    Following that, one after another, major figures dressed in suits, all poised and composed, disembarked from the vehicles.

    First came Secretary Chen, followed by Sang Yunlong, Zheng Zijie, and others.

    Watching major figures step out of the cars and stride into the lobby entrance, other than Fang Ting, who had a clear understanding of the situation, not to mention Xue Liang or Lu Ming, even Vice Minister Yu trembled violently, quickly retreating to the side.

    What a joke, with so many luminaries arriving, where was his place as a vice minister of education to go forward and greet them?

    As for Xue Liang and Lu Ming, that goes without saying; they also hurriedly retreated to the side.

    While Sun Yuncheng watched the major figures disembark from their vehicles, he had already clammed up, a dreadful premonition surging in his heart. Although he thought it totally impossible, a mere fantasy, this terrible premonition could not be suppressed, darkly overshadowing his mind.

    "The Secretary-General of Jinzhou City''s government, right? You''re really something!" Secretary-General Wu glared fiercely at Sun Yuncheng, then no longer concerned himself with him as he went to greet Secretary Chen and the others.

    Secretary Chen and Sang Yunlong, upon seeing Secretary-General Wu approaching, just nodded slightly at him and then, smiling, advanced toward Ge Dongxu.

    "Director Ge, sorry to keep you waiting while we came to dine. It seems, being our guest, you had to wait for us!" Secretary Chen briskly stepped forward, shaking hands firmly with Ge Dongxu.

    "You are the official; it''s only appropriate for me to wait," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Laughing, Ge Dongxu released Secretary Chen''s hand and tightly shook hands with Sang Yunlong.

    "Director Ge, I won''t say much about my gratitude!" Sang Yunlong said appreciatively.

    "Haha, we really don''t need to be so formal with each other," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Then he shook hands with other people...

    Watching Ge Dongxu shake hands with Secretary Chen and Sang Yunlong, going through the lineup, and the warm smiles and firm handshakes exchanged, Sun Yuncheng''s vision darkened, and he almost collapsed right there.

    O heavens, are you playing with me?

    Sun Yuncheng sensed only darkness ahead, without a single ray of light, not even a tiny speck!

    "What was the matter with this person just now?" Secretary Chen, noticing Sun Yuncheng as he exchanged handshakes, his brows slightly furrowed, turned to ask Secretary-General Wu.

    Clearly, he had seen Sun Yuncheng sweatily explaining and bowing to Secretary-General Wu and Ge Dongxu when he got off his vehicle.

    "He''s the Secretary-General of Jinzhou City''s government; there was a slight conflict with Director Ge earlier," Secretary-General Wu replied.

    "Hmm, later arrange for someone to thoroughly find out what exactly happened," Secretary Chen nodded slightly, giving a casual instruction before shifting his gaze away from Sun Yuncheng.

    Sun Yuncheng, hearing this casual remark from Secretary Chen, was almost frightened out of his wits.

    What kind of "bad luck" had befallen him, Sun Yuncheng, to actually attract the attention of Secretary Chen?

    "Director Ge, we owe you big time this round!" Zheng Zijie gripped Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly, full of gratitude.

    "You flatter me, Minister Zheng, I only did what I should," Ge Dongxu patted the back of Zheng Zijie''s hand, saying.

    After Ge Dongxu had shaken hands with everyone, Secretary Chen and Sang Yunlong smilingly said to Ge Dongxu, "Director Ge, please."

    "Alright, just a moment," Ge Dongxu nodded, said a word, then called over Lin Kun, leading him towards Lu Ming.

    Times change. Before, Lu Ming looked at Ge Dongxu much like one regards a younger relative, without any burden on his mind, but now seeing Ge Dongxu leaving Secretary Chen and others behind, coming towards him with Lin Kun, his heart started uncontrollably pounding, as if he was on the verge of a heart attack.

    "Lin Kun, this is Uncle Lu Ming, my classmate''s father. Please make sure the staff don''t neglect him and his friends," Ge Dongxu instructed Lin Kun as they reached Lu Ming.

    "Brother Xu, rest assured, I will definitely have someone take good care of your classmate''s father," Lin Kun hurriedly said.

    "Uncle Lu, sorry for the inconvenience. I can''t cater to you tonight, but I will definitely explain and apologize properly another day," Ge Dongxu said apologetically to Lu Ming.

    "Director Ge, you''re being too serious, too serious. Busy yourself, don''t worry about me!" Lu Ming, seeing such an important figure as Ge Dongxu still remembering a small fry like him, felt both nervous and touched, his voice trembling as he spoke.

    "Uncle Lu, Lu Lei and I are good brothers; calling me Director makes me unhappy," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "This, this..." Overwhelmed by Ge Dongxu''s words, Lu Ming suddenly felt somewhat at a loss.

    The scene was just too shocking!

    Lu Ming couldn''t imagine what kind of influential person could command such respect!

    As Lu Ming stood at sixes and sevens, seeing that Ge Dongxu held Lu Ming in high regard, Secretary Chen and the others also came forward to greet him, shaking his hand. S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Watching Secretary Chen and the others shake hands with Lu Ming, Sun Yuncheng couldn''t express how complicated his feelings were.

    Speaking of which, his son was also Ge Dongxu''s classmate!

    If his son had gotten along well with Ge Dongxu, he too would have had this opportunity!

    But instead, Lu Ming''s son became good friends, good brothers, with Ge Dongxu, while his own son ended up as Ge Dongxu''s rival and even implicated him, his father.

    After Secretary Chen and the others, out of respect for Ge Dongxu, had briefly greeted Lu Ming, the group soon left the lobby.

    From the moment Secretary Chen arrived to the moment he entered the elevator, Ge Dongxu never glanced at Sun Yuncheng again.

    Yet, Sun Yuncheng kept eagerly watching Ge Dongxu, hoping desperately that Ge Dongxu would suddenly change his mind and, out of magnanimity, spare him.

    But Ge Dongxu never looked at him again.

 Chapter 619 - 618: Seeking Help

    Watching Ge Dongxu walking alongside Secretary Chen and Governor Sang as they all entered the elevator together, Sun Yuncheng truly understood, at this moment, that in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, he was nothing but a buffoon, utterly beneath notice. It was ridiculous how he had repeatedly belittled and mocked Ge Dongxu, feeling good about himself, even deliberately glancing at Ge''s bicycle below him through the car window just moments ago.

    After Ge Dongxu and the others left, the lobby was completely quiet.

    After a while, Deputy Director Yu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and looked towards Fang Ting with a shaken expression, asking, "Director Fang, that person just now..." Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Deputy Director Yu, some things are better seen than discussed. Asking too much might not be good. Let''s go to the private room to talk about the education funding difficulties in Golden Mountain County," Fang Ting said.

    Being such a high official, Deputy Director Yu was naturally sharp-witted and immediately understood that Ge Dongxu was not someone he should be discussing, promptly nodding repeatedly, "Director Fang is right, is right. Let''s go to the private room to talk about the education matters in Golden Mountain County."

    Hearing this, Xue Liang finally snapped out of it, hurriedly called Lu Ming, and then spoke to Fang Ting and Deputy Director Yu, "Director Fang, Deputy Director Yu, please, this way to the upper floor."

    As for Sun Yuncheng, Xue Liang wasn''t about to bother with him at this time.

    Fang Ting and Deputy Director Yu nodded, and then specifically addressed Lu Ming, "Director Lu, please join us."

    If it had been before, Xue Liang would have found Fang Ting''s and Deputy Director Yu''s treatment of Lu Ming unbelievable, but now it seemed perfectly normal.

    Thus, the four of them headed towards the elevator together, not mentioning Sun Yuncheng at all, as if they had completely forgotten him.

    Sun Yuncheng stood alone in the lobby, feeling an urge to burst into tears.

    Once, he had been so splendid, so full of zest.

    Especially returning to Golden Mountain County, that was like a triumphant homecoming, celebrated with personal banquet invitations and toasts from the county leaders.

    But now, even the Deputy County Mayor of Golden Mountain, Xue Liang, dared to ignore his presence outright.

    Sun Yuncheng stood alone in the lobby for a while, watching Lu Ming and the others approaching the elevator door, when suddenly he clenched his teeth and hurried after them.

    Seeing Sun Yuncheng catching up, Xue Liang and Deputy Director Yu both frowned slightly, their eyes clearly showing disdain.

    As for Lu Ming and Fang Ting, their expressions were more complex.

    "Director Fang," Sun Yuncheng caught up and pleaded with Fang Ting, "you must help me, you must."

    "I warned you just now, but you didn''t listen. Now you want my help. You saw what just happened. Tell me, how can I help you? Moreover, it''s not that I want to criticize you, Sun Yuncheng, but I''ve met Director Ge a few times. I know what kind of person he is. The fact that you could even have a conflict with him really makes me question how you handle things?" Fang Ting looked at Sun Yuncheng, recalling how all these years he had visited his parents during the holidays, and even visited him in the Provincial Capital, which left him with mixed feelings.

    "It''s my fault, my bad! I shouldn''t have listened to my son''s words, leading me to misunderstand Director Ge and get into a conflict with him. I will surely educate my son well when I return. Director Fang, you must help me," Sun Yuncheng pleaded repeatedly.

    Seeing Sun Yuncheng''s pitiful appearance, Lu Ming initially felt a slight pity, despite the pleasure. However, hearing Sun Yuncheng''s words now, that slight pity completely vanished.

    Even now, trying to use his son as an excuse, without truly confronting his own mistakes, Lu Ming had completely lost all respect for Sun Yuncheng''s character.

    "Is this really just about your son?" Fang Ting asked.

    Sun Yuncheng stammered in response.

    "You''ll have to figure it out yourself!" Fang Ting, serving as the secretary beside the governor, naturally possessed unmatched skills in observing and understanding people. Seeing Sun Yuncheng''s demeanor, his face immediately darkened as he spoke.

    What a joke, to think that Sun Yuncheng still dared to harbor any hope at this point. Did he really think Director Ge was easy to deal with? Did he really think that Fang Ting, as the governor''s secretary, could sway Director Ge?

    Having said this, Fang Ting and his companions entered the elevator, and the elevator doors slowly closed, leaving Sun Yuncheng outside.

    "This Sun Yuncheng!" Fang Ting shook his head and sighed inside the elevator.

    Seeing Fang Ting shake his head and sigh, the others could not help but sigh as well.

    In the midst of their sighs, the elevator reached the third-floor restaurant.

    The four of them exited the elevator and were led by a waiter to a private room.

    "Director Lu, you should be aware of what exactly is going on between Sun Yuncheng and Director Ge, right? Can you talk about it?" Once seated in the private room, Fang Ting still had some lingering thoughts of past favors with Sun Yuncheng, prompting him to ask.

    "Speaking of which, the conflict between Sun Yuncheng and Director Ge has a lot to do with me and my son..." Lu Ming hesitated for a moment and then roughly recounted what he knew, including the incident where Sun Yuncheng had complained to a teacher at school.

    Given the state of their relationship today, Lu Ming naturally could not conceal or speak well of Sun Yuncheng anymore.

    "This Sun Yuncheng! I never expected him to be so upright and humble before me, only to act so arrogant and vengeful behind my back," Fang Ting said, clearly annoyed upon hearing this.

    "Just before Director Fang and Director Yu arrived, Director Lu took the initiative to greet Sun Yuncheng in the lobby, but he blatantly ignored him!" Xue Liang added, noticing Fang Ting''s annoyance with Sun Yuncheng and recalling how the latter had shown no consideration for his hometown connections.

    Hearing this, Fang Ting''s expression naturally soured further.

    "It''s all in the past, there''s no use bringing it up again," Lu Ming waved his hand and said.

    "Right, right, let''s not talk about Sun Yuncheng. Director Fang, let me toast to you, thank you..." As Lu Ming spoke, Xue Liang realized that tonight''s focus should not be on Sun Yuncheng but on the funding issue for the education in Golden Mountain County, and quickly raised his glass.

    "Comrade Xue Liang, I have to criticize you. The guest of honor tonight is Director Yu. Like you, I am from Golden Mountain and we are both working hard for the education issues in Golden Mountain County. You should be toasting Director Yu first," Fang Ting said with a smile.

    Xue Liang was momentarily stunned, then quickly responded with a smile, "Right, right, Director Fang is also our host tonight; my mistake. I''ll impose a penalty drink on myself."

    As he spoke, Xue Liang indeed imposed a penalty drink on himself.

    "Director Fang, you''re not being fair in the way you handle things. You''re indirectly saying that the leadership at the Education Department hasn''t done their job well enough that even the governor''s secretary has to personally intervene. Tell us, what exactly is the situation with Golden Mountain County, and how much funding do we in the department need to contribute to help?" Director Yu observed Xue Liang imposing a penalty drink on himself and then toasting, smiling wryly as he spoke.

    With Director Yu''s involvement tonight, not to mention Lu Ming''s, he would undoubtedly take the education issues of Golden Mountain County seriously no matter what.

 Chapter 620 - 619: Why Did You Hit Me?

    The discussion about the educational support project led by Xue Liang went smoothly, and Ge Dongxu''s dinner with Secretary Chen and others was a delightful affair where genuine connections were made. This dinner allowed them to get to know each other beyond the brief meeting at the train station where they hardly exchanged a word. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, the real discomfort tonight was borne by Sun Yuncheng.

    At that moment, he sat on the sofa in the lobby, enduring the sharp and disdainful gaze of the lobby manager, which cut through him like a knife. Sun Yuncheng really wanted to get up and leave.

    But Sun Yuncheng didn''t have the courage.

    The lobby''s leather sofa was comfortable to sit on, yet Sun Yuncheng felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, struggling through each moment.

    After all, Secretary Chen was a busy official. Hosting Ge Dongxu was simply a way to express goodwill and to foster a real acquaintance. Eating was secondary, so the dinner concluded quickly.

    After the meal, Ge Dongxu, the major owner of Kunting Grand Hotel, instantly switched roles from guest to host, and he shook hands with Secretary Chen and others before saying goodbye.

    After Secretary Chen and the others left in their official car, Ge Dongxu stayed behind.

    As soon as Secretary Chen and others had left, Sun Yuncheng immediately forced a smile uglier than tears, approached cautiously with a slight bow, and carefully said, "Director Ge, hello, earlier it was all my fault..."

    Ge Dongxu ignored Sun Yuncheng and called Lin Kun over to ask, "Is Uncle Lu still in our hotel?"

    "He''s still here," Lin Kun replied.

    "Then take me to their private room, I need to pay my respects," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Sure, Brother Xu," Lin Kun respectfully answered. He greatly respected Ge Dongxu for not being arrogant or disdainful of others due to his wealth, power, and remarkable abilities; instead, he was loyal, humble, and approachable.

    Of course, people like Sun Yuncheng were an exception; he brought it on himself.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and followed Lin Kun toward the elevator.

    "Director Ge, it''s all my fault, I will definitely change, and I will certainly teach Wenjun a lesson, please, I beg you..." Sun Yuncheng naturally did not give up and followed Ge Dongxu, pleading.

    "Why are you begging me, Sun Yuncheng? Do you expect me to speak well of you to Secretary-General Wu and others?" Ge Dongxu stopped, looked at Sun Yuncheng with disgust, and asked.

    "Of course not, I just want to ask for your forgiveness, please don''t pursue it anymore..." Sun Yuncheng hesitated, then said with a gloomy face.

    "Pursue? Sun Yuncheng, you think too highly of yourself. I''ve already spoken what needed to be said in the lobby when I saw Secretary-General Wu and others. I''m not so petty as to go after you specifically. If I really wanted to pursue this, do you think you''d still be standing here talking to me?" Ge Dongxu curled his lips into a scornful, cold smirk, dropped a remark, and then followed Lin Kun into the elevator.

    Sun Yuncheng stood foolishly by the elevator, uncertain whether to feel relieved or resent the disregard Ge Dongxu showed him.

    His relief stemmed from the fact that as long as Ge Dongxu did not hold a grudge, he still had a chance to remedy the situation with his connections. If Ge Dongxu had insisted, given the shocking scene he had witnessed in the lobby, even if Sun Yuncheng were the mayor of Jinzhou City, he might have been in serious trouble, let alone being just the Secretary-General of the Jinzhou City Government.

    His resentment stemmed from the fact that he, Sun Yuncheng, was the Secretary-General of the Jinzhou City Government. When had he ever been so blatantly disregarded and disdained?

    But no matter what, this was the best outcome Sun Yuncheng had wished for.

    So whether he felt relieved or hateful, Sun Yuncheng could only silently accept it, because Ge Dongxu, once not even worth his consideration, was now far beyond someone Sun Yuncheng could afford to offend.

    Standing foolishly by the elevator doors for quite a while, Sun Yuncheng finally turned around and left the lobby of the Kunting Grand Hotel.

    Once buoyant with ambition, he now stooped, seemingly aged considerably in an instant.

    After leaving the Kunting Grand Hotel, Sun Yuncheng did not directly rush back to Jinzhou City, but instead checked into a hotel in the Provincial Capital.

    He had overheard the instructions Secretary Chen gave to Secretary-General Wu earlier in the lobby, and knowing that Ge Dongxu would not pursue further, it now hinged on Secretary-General Wu''s attitude, so he needed to proactively provide an explanation to Secretary-General Wu, though of course, tonight was not the right time.

    After checking into a hotel, Sun Yuncheng immediately had his driver go to Jiangnan University to bring his son to see him, while he hurriedly contacted some government officials in the Provincial Capital with whom he was acquainted.

    Wenjun was quickly brought by the driver to the hotel room.

    "Dad!" Seeing his father, Wenjun, unaware of the looming disaster, called out happily.

    "Xiao Wang, you leave first," Sun Yuncheng waved at the driver.

    The driver, already aware of Secretary Sun''s poor mood tonight, quietly left the room upon hearing the words.

    After Driver Xiao Wang left the room, Wenjun also noticed the grim expression on his father''s face, especially the look in his eyes which was filled with an unprecedented estrangement. A sudden bad premonition surged in Wenjun''s heart, making him involuntarily step back and cautiously ask, "Dad, what did you call me here for?"

    "Slap!" But as soon as Wenjun finished speaking, Sun Yuncheng had already stepped forward, grabbed the collar of his clothes, and slapped him across the face.

    "What matter? The great deed you''ve done!" Sun Yuncheng said harshly.

    "Dad, why are you hitting me?" Wenjun was completely stunned, covering his face and looking at Sun Yuncheng in disbelief.

    "I''m not only going to hit you, I''m going to kick you!" Wenjun''s question, rather than helping, caused all the fear, frustration, and anger that Sun Yuncheng had been suppressing all evening to burst forth, and he kicked towards Wenjun''s stomach.

    He then, without another word, charged up and started beating Wenjun relentlessly.

    "Dad, Dad, stop hitting! Please stop! I''m begging you, stop!" Although Wenjun acted high and mighty in front of his classmates, facing his father''s sudden outburst of rage, he could only cower in a corner of the room, covering his head and begging for mercy repeatedly.

    After all, Wenjun was his own son; although Sun Yuncheng lost control in his emotions, his ultimate goal was to make an impression on his son and show his stance to Ge Dongxu. Thus, seeing his son curled up in the corner of the room with his face swollen and bruised, Sun Yuncheng couldn''t bring himself to hit him anymore.

    Breathing heavily, he sat down on the sofa and waved at his son, saying, "Come here."

    Seeing that his father''s gaze was no longer as fierce as before, Wenjun knew the storm had passed, so he slowly got up from the ground. Still wary, he cautiously approached his father and cried, "Dad, what happened to you?"

 Chapter 621 - 620: What a Painful Realization

    "It''s none of your business what''s wrong with me! Now, you take every single word I say and carve it into your heart, or I''ll break your legs." As for the matter in the hotel lobby and the shocking revelation about Ge Dongxu''s identity, Sun Yuncheng naturally would not tell Sun Wenjun but said harshly instead.

    Sun Yuncheng still knew what was important.

    "Dad, you speak, I''ll remember," Sun Wenjun said fearfully, shrinking his head.

    "With Ge Dongxu, if you see him, you must treat him with utmost respect. Even if he hits you or curses at you, you have to bear it and never offend him again," Sun Yuncheng said with a stern face.

    "Why? He''s just someone from a mountain area..." Sun Wenjun hated Ge Dongxu, and he immediately asked with dissatisfaction upon hearing this.

    "Just because he''s from a mountain area, you think you can bully him? Look down upon him?" In the past, Sun Yuncheng might not have thought much of his son speaking like this, but today, hearing it felt particularly ironic and painful, and he couldn''t help but stand up and rebuke his son loudly.

    "Even so, we don''t need to be so respectful to him, and I have to tolerate it even if he hits me or curses at me!" Seeing his father''s gaze suddenly turn fierce again, Sun Wenjun stepped back several paces in fear and stammered.

    "Do you know why I hit you today?" Seeing his son retreating in fear, Sun Yuncheng sighed deeply and asked.

    "Is it because of Ge Dongxu?" Sun Wenjun was not stupid; he actually started to understand by now. Asked by his father, he blurted out.

    "Yes, because of Ge Dongxu. You don''t need to ask why. In short, you must be more respectful to Ge Dongxu whenever you see him, and never offend him again. And also be polite to Lu Lei. Maybe soon his father will climb above your father and me," Sun Yuncheng said, feeling particularly bitter when he said the last sentence.

    It''s really been a case of ''thirty years in the east and thirty years in the west.'' He had thought that Lu Ming, relegated to the Golden Mountain County Archives Bureau, would spend the rest of his life there, so Sun Yuncheng, who was always opportunistic, not only did not give face to his former leader, but sometimes even suppressed him because it gave him a great sense of achievement.

    But now? His career path was utter darkness while Lu Ming''s was bright.

    But at this moment, Sun Yuncheng could not blame anyone but himself for being too proud, too opportunistic and high-profile, too ungrateful.

    "How, how is that possible?" Sun Wenjun was dumbfounded by his father''s words.

    "Nothing is impossible! Anyway, for your own good, and considering my career, you should keep a low profile at school. If you can befriend Ge Dongxu and his group again, that''s the best. If you can''t, then just steer clear of them," Sun Yuncheng sighed.

    "Dad, is Ge Dongxu really that powerful? Did Lu Ming manage to get into the Party School for training because of him too?" Sun Wenjun asked, looking up at his father dejectedly after a long silence.

    Though Sun Wenjun was wayward and arrogant, he was, in the end, smart enough to gain admission to Jiangnan University. From his father''s beating tonight, to the conversation now, and Ge Dongxu''s near supernatural performance in basketball and martial arts, he was gradually starting to understand, but it was still hard to believe that a mere student like Ge Dongxu could be that influential.

    "You''re growing up! Yes, Ge Dongxu is a big shot, so big that even now, I get scared thinking about him. That''s all you need to know. Don''t talk about it with your classmates," Sun Yuncheng patted his son''s shoulder and sighed.

    Although Sun Wenjun had some guesses, he didn''t expect Ge Dongxu''s influence to be so significant that his father would say such things. He was shocked, mouth agape, and it took him a while to lower his head in fear, murmuring, "I understand, Dad."

    "Ah!" Sun Yuncheng sighed deeply as he saw his son lower his head and gently touched his head, saying, "One only learns by being burnt. Wenjun, from now on you must stay low-key, whether at school or in society, you should unite with classmates, friends, and colleagues. Never become haughty and blindly arrogant with just a little power and achievement."

    Such painful enlightenment! As Sun Yuncheng spoke these words, he thought of his own uncertain future career and felt an indescribable regret in his heart.

    ...

    "Uncle Lu, Director Fang, and the two gentlemen, I apologize for not being able to get away earlier, and for only being able to come now to greet you all," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he, accompanied by Lin Kun, knocked on the door of a private room in the Kunting Grand Hotel and spoke to Lu Ming and others.

    "You''re too modest, Director Ge, too modest," said Deputy Director Yu and the others. They clearly hadn''t expected such an important person as Ge Dongxu to come by after finishing his meal elsewhere. They were first stunned, then all promptly stood up, while Lu Ming was so moved he was almost at a loss for words.

    Having worked many years in the Archives Bureau, he had grown accustomed to the fickleness of human relationships. He thought he had seen through much, but today he realized there were still many things beyond his understanding. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Like the young man before him.

    Clearly, he was someone Lu Ming could only look up to, yet he was always considerate of someone insignificant like Lu Ming.

    "It''s the least I could do," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then asked a waiter to help arrange a seat next to Lu Ming, while saying to Lin Kun, "Lin Kun, go deal with your matters; I''ll stay here and keep them company."

    "Excuse me, everyone, here''s my business card. Please take care of our Kunting Hotel in the future," said Lin Kun as he handed out his business card to Fang Ting and the others before leaving, and they gave him their own cards in return.

    After Lin Kun left, Fang Ting helped to introduce Deputy Director Yu and Xue Liang to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu shook hands with both men, which made Deputy Director Yu and Xue Liang feel honored and slightly overwhelmed.

    "Uncle Lu, is the food to your liking?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile after he took his seat.

    "Very much so, very much so," Lu Ming nodded repeatedly.

    "That''s good. If it''s not, please tell me," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Dongxu, thank you! Recently, I couldn''t figure out why someone of my standing would be specially remembered by a leader, and it turned out to be you. Here, let me toast to you." Lu Ming filled his glass and raised it with heartfelt gratitude.

    "Uncle Lu, you flatter me. You are a good official and should be used importantly," Ge Dongxu replied, clinking glasses with Lu Ming, then said apologetically, "Because of the need for secrecy due to my identity, I could only ask Director Fang to help me at that time without letting you know. Don''t hold it against me, okay?"

    "How could I! Don''t worry, I won''t tell Lu Lei either," said Lu Ming earnestly.

    "Thank you, Uncle Lu. For now, I also don''t want Lu Lei to know my identity. That way, people can interact with me without feeling burdened. I enjoy the simple life I have at the university," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

 Chapter 622 - 621 Reconciliation

    The next day was Friday.

    "Damn, did Sun Wenjun get beaten up or what? Why is his face all bruised and swollen?" Sitting in the classroom, when they saw Sun Wenjun walking in with his head down and face bruised, Li Chenyu and the others couldn''t help but be stunned.

    "That can''t be right, if he got beaten up, with his personality, he would''ve made a huge fuss by now," He Guizhong said.

    "That''s true," Lu Lei nodded in agreement.

    Only Ge Dongxu knew exactly what had happened to Sun Wenjun and realized that Sun Yuncheng could be quite ruthless, to have beaten his son to such a state.

    However, Ge Dongxu didn''t think it was too much, as someone like Sun Wenjun indeed deserved a good beating, to understand a lesson and to be more restrained in his actions in the future.

    "Boss, you''re a martial arts expert, what do you think? Does Sun Wenjun look like he was beaten up?" Seeing that Ge Dongxu remained silent, He Guizhong asked quietly.

    "Enough already, is gossip like this interesting?" Ge Dongxu glanced at He Guizhong with a frown.

    "Hehe!" He Guizhong scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Yeah! Your realm is just different, boss."

    Seeing He Guizhong just casually throwing a flatter his way, Ge Dongxu could only shake his head speechlessly.

    While He Guizhong and the others were talking, other classmates had already gone up to ask Sun Wenjun what had happened. Sun Wenjun answered vaguely that he fell off his bike.

    Apart from Ge Dongxu, nobody else thought too much about it, and the matter passed.

    However, during the break time, since there were no classes in the afternoon, Sun Wenjun especially came over to invite Lu Lei and He Guizhong to play basketball, even with a smile on his face. This surprised many people and caused Lu Lei and He Guizhong to look at Sun Wenjun with weird gazes, as if they suddenly didn''t recognize him.

    "You two like playing basketball, right? Since Sun is sincerely inviting you guys to play, why don''t you go? You have no classes in the afternoon anyway." Since everyone was classmates, and even if there were some resentments, it wasn''t to the extent of a life-and-death feud. Seeing Sun Wenjun taking the initiative in reconciliation, and considering the bruised face that seemed to show he had learned from last night''s lesson, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to pursue the matter further and potentially ruin the class''s unity, so he spoke to the astonished Lu Lei and He Guizhong.

    As for what would happen to Sun Wenjun''s father''s career, that was a different matter, and Ge Dongxu was definitely not going to say anything good on his behalf.

    "Yes, I really am sincere. This time I definitely won''t deliberately crash into people," Sun Wenjun said hurriedly, nodding as soon as Ge Dongxu spoke.

    "Hehe, Lu Lei and I are now martial artists, if you dare to crash into us this time, you will surely be the one at a loss," He Guizhong coolly displayed the ''White Crane Spreads Its Wings''.

    "Yes, yes," Sun Wenjun nodded again and again, then turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Ge Dongxu, do you want to come and play as well?"

    "If I go play, would it still be fun for you guys?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    Sun Wenjun''s expression froze for a moment before he suddenly remembered Ge Dongxu''s terrifying soccer skills, and couldn''t help but laugh sheepishly, saying, "Indeed, that''s the case."

    "Alright, you guys go have fun. I still have some things to take care of these next two days. I have to leave this afternoon and probably won''t be back for a couple of days," said Ge Dongxu with a smile. Then he picked up his books and went back to his dormitory to pack some clothes for changing. Shouldering his bag, he left the dormitory and went straight to the school gate, where he hailed a taxi and headed to the airport.

    When Ge Dongxu arrived at the airport, Xu Lei and Ma Xiaoshuai were already waiting for him. As soon as they saw him, they hurriedly came up to meet him.

    "Director Ge." As they approached, the two greeted him respectfully and quietly.

    Ge Dongxu nodded with a smile, his gaze falling on Xu Lei, his face showing a hint of delight as he said, "Not bad, to have broken through so quickly."

    "This is all thanks to Director''s grace," said Xu Lei respectfully.

    "Next, you need to consolidate your foundation much more. A skyscraper starts from the ground. Only with a solid foundation can you achieve greater heights later on," intoned Ge Dongxu, forgoing modesty.

    Xu Lei''s achievements today were indeed greatly related to Ge Dongxu''s Taiyin Spirit Gathering Jade Talisman and some guidance on cultivation; otherwise, with Xu Lei''s potential, it would likely take him until his sixties or seventies to break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    "Yes, I will definitely remember the Director''s teachings," declared Xu Lei solemnly.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, and then his gaze shifted to Ma Xiaoshuai.

    In the past, Ma Xiaoshuai had an unkempt appearance with flamboyantly dyed hair and was somewhat famous in Jiangnan Province''s Qimen Realm as a playboy. But since receiving Ge Dongxu''s guidance and understanding the true essence of "passing through a field of flowers without a single leaf sticking," Ma Xiaoshuai no longer frequented places of colorful nightlife. He managed his personal appearance neatly from head to toe, resembling a promising young talent.

    However, this was only Ma Xiaoshuai''s surface change; his real transformation was on the inside. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After grasping the true meaning of the Cherishing Flowers Sect''s mental method, Ma Xiaoshuai no longer sought to "harvest yin to supplement yang." His cultivation power ceased to grow, and even shrank day by day because he followed Ge Dongxu''s teachings to temper his True Qi persistently. Standing there, however, Ma Xiaoshuai gave Ge Dongxu the impression of being even more powerful than before.

    "Before you seemed but a step away from reaching the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation, within reach. That was only a matter of quantity being sufficient, but qualitatively, there was a lot lacking¡ªyou were only an inflated figure. Even if you were lucky and truly broke through to the Third Layer last time, you would have peaked at that point in your life. But now it''s different. Your True Qi is condensed and refined. Once you find a true partner, with your Cherishing Flowers Sect''s cultivation technique, you should be able to break through to the Third Layer quickly," revealed Ge Dongxu.

    "Thank you for your guidance, Director!" Ma Xiaoshuai said with a grave face.

    "I''ve brought Xiaoshuai along this time to give him a chance to mingle with the Qimen youth of Jiangnan and Dongyue provinces, to see if there''s a possibility of finding a suitable Dual Cultivation partner," explained Xu Lei.

    "Heh heh!" Ma Xiaoshuai scratched his head with embarrassment.

    "Are there many unmarried young women in the Qimen Realm?" Ge Dongxu curiously asked as they walked.

    "There are quite a few young women. But as you know, even though the Qimen is now in decline, those people still possess special abilities and there''s a sense of pride and aloofness in their bones. And with their special abilities, people in the Qimen generally fare better in secular life than ordinary folks. Given this, you can imagine that besides having special abilities, most of these women come from rich or noble families. Ideally, with Ma Xiaoshuai''s skills and looks, it''s not to say that he wouldn''t be a good match for them. But the problem is that this chap used to frequent places of nightlife and is quite well-known in the Qimen circles of several provinces in the South. So, finding someone who looks upon him favorably is going to be tough," said Xu Lei, shaking his head.

 Chapter 623 - 622 You Actually Broke Through

    As for matters of romantic feelings between men and women, Ge Dongxu, being young, naturally had no precious advice to offer, and upon hearing the words, could only look at Ma Xiaoshuai helplessly.

    Since it was just an ordinary trip and Xu Lei was aware that Ge Dongxu did not favor privileges or ostentation, he did not make use of the special privileges available to employees of the special department. Instead, like any common passenger, they collected their boarding passes, went through security checks together, and entered the waiting hall.

    "Isn''t this a Qimen exchange meeting between Jiangnan and Dongyue provinces? Why aren''t there other like-minded people from the Daoist community in the airport?" After sitting in the waiting hall for a while, not seeing another person of cultivation, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but ask Xu Lei quietly out of curiosity.

    "The official dates for this exchange meeting are Saturday and Sunday, but in reality, for such conferences, many people will arrive two to three days early, to visit old friends, catch up with them, and even inquire privately who has what treasures at hand to trade in advance. By the time Saturday and Sunday come, whatever is presented for exchange has usually already formed some sort of tacit understanding or consensus. There''s no helping it, as the various sects, families, and loose cultivators of Qimen have always been secretive with their knowledge since ancient times. Even though Daoist arts have declined today and actually not many powerful items are left in everyone''s possession, they still treasure what they have and don''t easily share with others. As for the treasures exchanged at the meeting, it is even more so. Now that rare and unique treasures are becoming increasingly scarce, many transactions are completed privately and don''t wait for the official dates," Xu Lei explained.

    "I see, so you were specifically waiting for me, which is why you postponed until today," Ge Dongxu said with realization.

    "Waiting for the Director is proper, plus, we are the official delegates. Actually, many people in Qimen have subtle feelings towards us. Going early would give them the impression that we''re there to monitor them, so it''s more appropriate to go today," Xu Lei explained.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu nodded, feeling a complex mix of emotions. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When Fan Hong had wanted to recruit him into the Special Ability Management Bureau, he had had a feeling of resistance, but as of today, especially after the incident with killing the iron-armored zombie and the affairs of the Zhong Family, any feelings of resistance in Ge Dongxu''s heart had completely vanished.

    The Special Ability Management Bureau had privileges that caused discomfort among the people of Qimen, but the Bureau also had its duties!

    Without their presence, Ge Dongxu believed that there would certainly be more evildoers within Qimen in today''s society, and incidents like that of the iron-armored zombie would definitely not have been resolved in a timely manner...

    Mount Santai is located in the southern suburbs of Santai City in Dongyue Province, covering over two thousand square kilometers. It is a famous scenic tourist area and summer resort in Huaxia Country, as well as Dongyue''s most renowned mountain.

    Mount Santai is rich in greenery, and in ancient times, a spirit vein flowed through. It has always been a place for spiritual practice. Even though today the spirit vein has dried up and Daoist arts have waned, there are still many loose cultivators, families, and sects practicing on Mount Santai.

    The most famous and powerful among them is undoubtedly the Santai Sect.

    The Santai Sect is the organizer of this exchange meeting between the two provinces.

    Santai City is not an economically powerful city in Dongyue Province, but because of possessing Dongyue''s top mountain, it attracts many tourists every year, which is why an airport was built there in 1996.

    Jiangnan and Dongyue provinces are adjacent, and it takes a little over an hour to reach Santai City by plane.

    Ge Dongxu is a Director-level consultant for the Special Ability Management Bureau, and even though he had previously told Xu Lei not to disturb the organizers, Xu Lei still had to notify the Dongyue Provincial Office of the Bureau.

    So as soon as Ge Dongxu disembarked from the plane, he saw Yang Xiangrong waiting at the exit.

    Yang Xiangrong is the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau''s Dongyue Provincial Office, and Ge Dongxu had met him once before during the killing of the iron-armored zombie.

    Initially, Yang Xiangrong had not been entirely convinced about Ge Dongxu, but today, as soon as he saw him, he immediately approached, bowing slightly and respectfully extending his hand, "Director Ge, hello, welcome to Santai City."

    "Hello, Director Yang, I appreciate your efforts this time," Ge Dongxu said as he shook hands with Yang Xiangrong.

    "Director Ge, you are too polite, this is what I should do," said Yang Xiangrong, hastily expressing his modesty.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled and didn''t insist on the pleasantries any further.

    After greeting and shaking hands with Ge Dongxu, Yang Xiangrong then extended his hand to Xu Lei and said, "Director Xu, we meet again."

    Xu Lei smiled and reached out to shake hands with Yang Xiangrong.

    Since both were in charge of the Special Ability Management Bureau in their respective provinces, and being neighbors, it was inevitable for them to compete covertly from time to time. Therefore, as they shook hands, Yang Xiangrong quietly circulated his True Qi within his palm to test the recent progress of Xu Lei''s cultivation power.

    This sort of thing was not uncommon between the two of them in the past.

    Seeing Yang Xiangrong playing this old trick, Xu Lei let out a faint smile, his gaze was playful as he looked at his former rival. His True Qi was also already quietly circulating through his palm.

    Xu Lei had now reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, which was a small realm higher than Yang Xiangrong. As soon as the True Qi was activated, his entire presence changed abruptly, and the force in his hand suddenly intensified.

    Yang Xiangrong felt a numbness in his palm, and at the same time a surge of True Qi, purer and more robust than his own, swept in like a tidal wave, against which his own True Qi could not stand.

    "You, you''ve actually made a breakthrough!" Yang Xiangrong''s body shook violently, his eyes turned towards Xu Lei, surprised and complex, with an indescribable mix of emotions in his heart.

    Because reaching the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation meant that Xu Lei would henceforth join the upper echelons of the Special Ability Management Bureau, and next time he saw Xu Lei, he would probably have to address him as Director rather than Director Xu.

    "I made the breakthrough not long ago," replied Xu Lei, nodding as he observed Yang Xiangrong''s surprised and complex expression, his own feelings equally complex.

    If it weren''t for Ge Dongxu, he would never have been able to make such a swift breakthrough to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation!

    "That''s truly deserving of congratulations, and who knows when I''ll make my own breakthrough," Yang Xiangrong said with congratulations and then sighed.

    As he sighed, his gaze subconsciously turned towards Ge Dongxu.

    Yang Xiangrong had been dealing with Xu Lei for over a decade, and he knew Xu Lei''s strength all too well. It was completely possible for Xu Lei to make a breakthrough to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation before him, but Yang Xiangrong would never believe it if Xu Lei had made such an early breakthrough without some fortuitous opportunity.

    And Xu Lei''s opportunity was clearly with Ge Dongxu.

    Xu Lei said his thanks with a smile, but added nothing else.

    Ge Dongxu just gave a faint smile and did not speak.

    "The Dao does not pass to the uninitiated, and the Law does not pass to the unintended," although Ge Dongxu was not one to selfishly hoard his knowledge, pursuing the Dao was an act against nature, and thus came with its practices that should be adhered to. He couldn''t simply pass on Daoist teachings or bestow Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade to anyone at will.

    It was only because Xu Lei faced danger on Samosir Island in Indonesia and bravely stood with Ge Dongxu that he earned Ge Dongxu''s high regard, which led to the bestowing of the Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade and special guidance in cultivation.

 Chapter 624 - 623: The Boss?

    The airport was very close to Mount Santai, and the car took about half an hour to reach the foot of the mountain.

    From a distance, Ge Dongxu could see a hotel built against the mountain.

    In the hotel, there was a cluster of villas hidden among the trees, a rolling green golf course, and a large artificial lake. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Willow trees shaded the area around the artificial lake, and a cobblestone path meandered mysteriously through it.

    "Director Ge, ahead is the best resort hotel on Mount Santai, the Santai Mountain Golf Hotel. It covers more than two thousand acres and was built by the Santai Sect with a huge investment two years ago. The two provinces'' Qimen exchange conference will be held here," Yang Xiangrong explained.

    "This place is nice, a good spot for cultivation," Ge Dongxu nodded and thought to himself that Xu Lei was right, most people in Qimen were indeed wealthy.

    This Santai Mountain Golf Hotel, even if the land was cheap, in Ge Dongxu''s opinion, couldn''t be built without an investment of two hundred million.

    And two hundred million was definitely a huge amount in today''s era.

    "Exactly, it indeed is a good spot for cultivation. Nowadays, with worldly splendor thriving and Daoist practices declining, very few people can retreat to the deep mountains to practice like before. Even for a deep-rooted old Sect like the Santai Sect in Dongyue Province, it''s the same. Very few disciples remain at Santai Peak and Santai Daoist Temple to practice, apart from a few elders and most senior elders, and some disciples who reluctantly stay on the mountain to serve and manage the Daoist temple. Other Sect disciples have long lost the intention to stay on the mountain to live a secluded and austere life, which is why there''s the Santai Mountain Golf Hotel," Yang Xiangrong explained.

    "I see, engaging with the world while cultivating is not a bad approach," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Indeed, now the Santai Daoist Temple on the isolated peak is cold and empty with few disciples, while this hotel has gathered many disciples of the Santai Sect. The Sect leader even personally holds the title of chairman and practices and works here all year round, making this hotel seem more like the main base of the Santai Sect," Yang Xiangrong shook his head, somewhat emotional.

    As they spoke, the car entered the hotel''s outer gate.

    Clearly, the hotel management had already arranged rooms specifically for the Special Ability Management Bureau. Yang Xiangrong did not take Ge Dongxu to the lobby. After entering the gate, they directly followed a forest path and after several turns through lush greenery, they arrived at a villa built along the lake.

    "Director Ge, this is your villa. The villas of Xu and myself are on your left and right side. You must be tired from the trip, so please rest for a bit. Would you like me to take you to meet some fellow practitioners later, or would you prefer to walk around and enjoy the scenery of Mount Santai?" Yang Xiangrong helped carry Ge Dongxu''s bag into the villa, briefly introduced the layout of the villa and some of the call service features, then respectfully asked for instructions.

    "You are the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau in Dongyue Province, so you''re effectively a host here, and must be busy with many things. Just attend to your duties, and Xu Lei, you do the same. I''ll just wander around by myself. If there''s anything, I''ll give you a call," Ge Dongxu, not accustomed to being attended to like a leader, smiled and waved his hand.

    Yang Xiangrong, not knowing Ge Dongxu''s character, dared not say more and looked towards Xu Lei.

    Xu Lei, understanding Ge Dongxu''s casual and unpretentious nature, nodded slightly and said, "Then, we won''t disturb you. Call us if you need anything. I won''t notify the Santai Sect for now to prevent disturbing your peace. However, tomorrow, when seniors like Lv Xinghai are present, they will definitely want to meet you, and I won''t be able to help then."

    "Haha, let''s worry about tomorrow when it comes. Today, let me move freely on my own," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Since he had come to attend the two provinces exchange conference, Ge Dongxu naturally had some preparations in mind.

    "All right, then we''ll take our leave." Xu Lei said with a smile and a nod, then led Yang Xiangrong and the others away from Ge Dongxu''s villa.

    After Xu Lei and the others had left, Ge Dongxu had no reason to rest. He put away his things, washed his face briefly, and then strolled out of the villa alone, walking around the man-made lake.

    When he had driven in earlier, he had not seen many people on the road, but by the lakeside, under the shade of willow trees, Ge Dongxu encountered several groups of people along the way.

    Almost all of these people were dressed in either black or white practice outfits, chatting in pairs or small groups, sometimes gesturing, which in this idyllic environment gave a serene ancient vibe, making one feel as if they had traveled through time.

    This was Ge Dongxu''s first time attending such a gathering, and seeing so many fellow practitioners naturally made him quite curious, and he couldn''t help but observe them secretly.

    However, what greatly disappointed Ge Dongxu was that the several groups he encountered, although appearing quite celestial and detached, with seemingly proper poses, had cultivation that was pitifully low, many even lower than Lv Chongliang''s, despite being much older than him.

    After encountering several such pretentious groups, Ge Dongxu lost interest in further investigation.

    The man-made lake was not very large, about a hundred acres, and it didn''t take long for Ge Dongxu to walk around it. Then, he gradually walked away from the lake along a shaded path.

    Since it was his first visit here, Ge Dongxu wasn''t particular about where he went and wandered aimlessly. Before he knew it, he had come to a golf course.

    As for golf, Ge Dongxu naturally had little interest; with his cultivation level, this type of elegant sport, seen as a pastime for the wealthy in the eyes of the world, was nothing but child''s play to him. He could play blindly hitting wherever he wished.

    So, seeing that it was a golf course, Ge Dongxu turned around, ready to leave.

    Just as Ge Dongxu turned to leave, eight young people suddenly walked out from the golf course, dressed in POLO sportswear and wearing white hats.

    These eight young people, both males and females, were all quite handsome and well-built, except for one who was not only plain but also of average height and build ¨C it was none other than Lv Chongliang, Lv Semi-Immortal.

    As Lv Chongliang was laughing and walking out with the young people, he suddenly widened his eyes in disbelief and stared at the familiar figure turning to leave not far away.

    "Boss?" Lv Chongliang exclaimed.

    "Damn, Lv Semi-Immortal, are you feverish today? It''s one thing to be bad at golf, but now you''re randomly calling someone boss?" one of the youths teased, pointing at Lv Chongliang.

    "Exactly!" The others joined in the jeering.

    As everyone was jeering, Ge Dongxu heard Lv Semi-Immortal''s shout and turned around.

 Chapter 625 - 624: Come on, little brother, lets spar a couple of moves!

    "Holy shit, it really is you, Boss!" Lv Semi-Immortal exclaimed in surprise upon confirming it was indeed Ge Dongxu, paying no mind to the others'' jeers as he rushed over to embrace Ge Dongxu.

    Clearly, this fellow was extremely surprised and delighted to encounter Ge Dongxu here, so much so that he seemed somewhat beside himself.

    Ge Dongxu, on the other hand, wasn''t particularly surprised to encounter Lv Semi-Immortal here; he had long known that Lv Semi-Immortal''s grandfather was the Divination Master, Lv Xinghai. However, the sincere emotion displayed by Lv Semi-Immortal upon suddenly seeing him did catch Ge Dongxu off guard, and he could not help but feel a warm touch in his heart. After a brief pause, he too hugged Lv back and then let go, smiling at Lv Semi-Immortal as he teased, "What, I can''t come here just because Lv Semi-Immortal is here?"

    "No, that''s not what I meant. It''s just that the hotel isn''t open to the public these days unless you are..." Lv Semi-Immortal blurted out before stopping midway, his mouth agape as he pointed at Ge Dongxu, unable to finish his sentence.

    Ge Dongxu looked at the stunned Lv Semi-Immortal and smiled without a word.

    He found Lv Semi-Immortal''s expression at this moment rather amusing.

    "Damn, Boss, you''re also from the world of Qimen! No wonder you''re so skilled!" Seeing Ge Dongxu smile without speaking, Lv Semi-Immortal finally realized that Ge Dongxu was indeed part of the world of Qimen.

    "Haha, aren''t you the one who claims to be a half-immortal? You can foresee five hundred years into the future and know the past five hundred years, reach up to the heavens to capture the moon, dive into the five oceans to catch turtles, divine fortunes and misfortunes, read palms and faces to tell life''s good and bad luck, find Feng Shui treasures to set future Qiankun, and capture ghosts to exorcise evil spirits, right? How come you didn''t notice that I''m also from the world of Qimen?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh and tease as he saw Lv Semi-Immortal finally grasp that they were birds of the same feather. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Of course, I already figured it out! Otherwise, why would I call you Boss? Do you think just anyone can be Lv Semi-Immortal''s boss? Of course, it has to be someone with much higher cultivation than mine, someone who earns my genuine respect and acknowledgment!" Initially, Lv Semi-Immortal was somewhat tongue-tied and embarrassed by Ge Dongxu''s questioning, but quickly, his eyes rolled, he puffed out his chest, and proclaimed confidently as if he had always been aware.

    "I''m done!" Ge Dongxu didn''t expect the kid to be able to swing back so boastfully, pointing at him speechlessly.

    "Hey, who''s this Lv Semi-Immortal dude? Is he from our Dongyue Province circle? Why does he look so unfamiliar?" At this point, the youths who had been with Lv Semi-Immortal earlier were starting to approach, eyeing Ge Dongxu curiously, and asked.

    "Ge Dongxu, my Boss, is from Jiangnan Province, and we both went to Jiangnan University," Lv Semi-Immortal replied.

    "From Jiangnan Province, no wonder he''s a bit unfamiliar," the crowd murmured in understanding, nodding their heads before curiously asking, "By the way, Semi-Immortal, you just said his cultivation is much higher than yours. Is that for real?"

    "Isn''t that obvious? Have you ever seen me, Lv Semi-Immortal, call anyone else Boss?" Lv Semi-Immortal shot back with a disdainful glance at the crowd.

    "Wow, awesome! Come on, little brother, let''s spar a bit!" The moment Lv Semi-Immortal finished speaking, a young woman in a white T-shirt and pink sports skirt, showing off her long beautiful legs, immediately lit up and beckoned Ge Dongxu with her finger excitedly.

    "My fellow Daoist, please call me Ge Dongxu, and as for sparring, let''s forget about it," Ge Dongxu replied, faced with a young woman beckoning him and calling him little brother, expressing a mix of amusement and resignation.

    However, this young woman''s cultivation was quite impressive, already in the late stage of the Second Level of Qi Cultivation, the most formidable among the eight young people present, especially compared to Lv Semi-Immortal, whose main expertise was in Physiognomy, much more so.

    But of course, no matter how formidable this young woman was, she was still no match for Ge Dongxu, who was not the least interested in sparring with her.

    "Psh, chicken!" the young woman muttered dismissively.

    "Don''t talk nonsense, Liu Hong. My boss isn''t a coward; it''s just that he''s skilled in martial combat, which is different from your style," Lv Chongliang retorted immediately upon hearing Liu Hong imply that Ge Dongxu was gutless.

    Among the Qimen practitioners, some excel at using True Qi to perform techniques, thus calling that energy Mana, while others channel the cultivated True Qi into their fists and feet, known as Inner Strength. In truth, both are the same, transforming the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into their own breath within.

    Because Ge Dongxu had once defeated a fourth-degree black belt master, Cui Zhengxuan, at the Taekwondo Association, Lv Chongliang thought that he was adept in the martial aspects, hence his statement.

    "Martial combat? Good, I love that." A rather robust man immediately declared his eagerness to try.

    "Cut it out, Chi Longwu. Could you knock down a fourth-degree black belt with one move?" Lv Chongliang asked with a dismissive sneer.

    "For real? Knock down a fourth-degree black belt with one move? That black belt wasn''t just for show, was he?" Chi Longwu responded with surprise, looking at Ge Dongxu.

    He, who enjoyed utilizing True Qi in his fists and kicks, was barely considered a proficient practitioner of internal martial arts. Having privately competed with some Taekwondo experts from Dongyue Province, he recognized that a fourth-degree black belt was quite formidable. Although he could beat a fourth-degree black belt, knocking one down in a single move was beyond him, unless that black belt was, as he mentioned, all for show with no real combat ability.

    "Damn it, Chi Longwu, you think you''re better than me? Although I, Lv Semi-Immortal, am not skilled in combat, as a Qimen practitioner, do you think I can''t beat a mere showy black belt?" Lv Chongliang said with a displeased face upon hearing this.

    "You''ve fought with that black belt?" Chi Longwu genuinely surprised this time.

    "That''s right, not only did that black belt defeat me, but he also deliberately humiliated me. Ge Dongxu stepped in for me, and that''s when I truly accepted him as my boss. What do you think? Can just anyone be my boss?" said Lv Chongliang with a roll of his eyes.

    "Holy crap, that''s amazing. Then I''d better not compete," Chi Longwu quickly conceded upon hearing this.

    "Lame!" Disappointed at not being able to compete with Ge Dongxu, and with Chi Longwu backing down, Liu Hong couldn''t help but express her frustration.

    "How about sparring with me for a couple of moves? I guarantee you''ll be full of energy right away!" Just then, a frivolous voice sounded.

    Five young people in their twenties approached, led by a man with flowing hair and a decent appearance, if a bit arrogant and frivolous in demeanor.

    The man who had just spoken was indeed this very person.

    "Yan Chengzhi, stop calling yourself ''brother''. You''re not worthy," Liu Hong immediately shot back with furrowed brows.

    "And what would make me worthy? By beating you? How about we have a match, and if you lose, call me ''Darling Brother''?" Yan Chengzhi said with a smirk.

    "And if you lose? You''ll hop around like a toad!" Liu Hong responded disdainfully.

 Chapter 626 - 625: Black Viper Dharma Talisman

    "Sure, no problem," Yan Chengzhi replied without hesitation.

    Seeing Yan Chengzhi''s decisive manner, Liu Hong became somewhat hesitant.

    Ge Dongxu glanced at Yan Chengzhi twice, his brows slightly furrowed, and he quietly asked Lv Chongliang, "What''s the relationship between them?"

    "Both their families are from Zhangyuan City. That Yan Chengzhi has a thing for Liu Hong and has been chasing her for a while. But Liu Hong doesn''t like him, and after back and forth, this kid has started to resent her," Lv Chongliang replied.

    "That''s a bit too much," Ge Dongxu said. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Exactly. But Liu Hong''s cultivation is high, and this kid always ends up suffering when he competes against her. We just need to sit back and enjoy the show," Lv Chongliang said.

    "What''s the matter, Liu Hong, getting cold feet?" Yan Chengzhi sneered sarcastically as Ge Dongxu was whispering with Lv Chongliang.

    "Let''s compete then, what''s there to be afraid of!" Liu Hong, provoked by Yan Chengzhi''s taunt, straightened up and said.

    "Haha, Liu Hong, you said it yourself, may the best man win!" Yan Chengzhi laughed triumphantly as Liu Hong agreed, flipping his hand to reveal a black jade token.

    The token was engraved with a black snake.

    Although the snake was carved on the token, it seemed alive to the viewer''s eyes, hissing on the token under the bright afternoon sun, giving off a chilling sensation.

    "A Black Viper Dharma Talisman! Your grandfather actually gave you the Black Viper Dharma Talisman!" Liu Hong exclaimed in shock, her face changing color, and other youths close to Liu Hong also looked wary at the sight of the talisman.

    "Haha, scared now? If you''re scared, we don''t have to compete. Just call me ''Darling Brother'' directly," Yan Chengzhi said smugly.

    "Haha!" The young people with Yan Chengzhi all laughed.

    "Yan Chengzhi, you are shameless!" Liu Hong was so angry that her pretty face turned red.

    "Me, shameless? How am I shameless? It''s not just us competing; even the elders in Qimen rely on Dharma Talismans during their duels, rather than drawing talismans in the void to wield techniques. If you''re capable, bring out your Liu Family''s Chi Yan Talisman!" Yan Chengzhi retorted with a sneer.

    "Exactly, are we competing or not? If not, just call Yan Brother ''Darling Brother'' right now!" the people on Yan Chengzhi''s side jeered and mocked.

    "Since everyone here is from the same path and we''re here for an exchange meeting, it would be better for us to sit down and share insights on cultivation rather than engaging in these humiliating and spiteful contests," Ge Dongxu said, hesitating for a moment before stepping in to mediate. He was a consultant at a high level in the Special Ability Management Bureau behind the scenes and felt somewhat obliged to maintain harmony in Qimen and prevent disputes. Moreover, since Liu Hong was clearly with Lv Chongliang, he didn''t want her to be at a disadvantage.

    "And who are you? What does the duel between me and Liu Hong have to do with you?" Yan Chengzhi, also a capable figure among the young generation of Dongyue Province''s Qimen, saw a stranger suddenly trying to intervene and immediately pointed at Ge Dongxu with disdain, asking the question.

    "Damn, Yan Chengzhi, watch your words; this is my boss! When my boss speaks, he''s giving you face. Don''t throw it away!" Lv Semi-Immortal saw Yan Chengzhi''s arrogant attitude towards Ge Dongxu and immediately stood up, pointing at him and cursing without any courtesy.

    Seeing Lv Semi-Immortal step in, fear clearly appeared in Yan Chengzhi''s eyes. He hesitated for a moment and then said, "Lv Semi-Immortal, I didn''t mean that. But this is a matter between Liu Hong and me, and I hope no one interferes."

    "Alright, Ge Dongxu, thanks for your kindness. It''s just a Chiyan Talisman, right? With his mediocre skills, I can still beat him into a toad," Liu Hong said gratefully after glancing at Ge Dongxu, then turned to Yan Chengzhi and taunted.

    Seeing one not willing to give up and another accepting the challenge, Ge Dongxu naturally couldn''t say anything more, so he just shook his head secretly and let them be.

    "Don''t worry, boss, Liu Hong is the strongest among us. Even if Yan Chengzhi has the Chiyan Talisman, it''s not necessarily going to work out well for him," Lv Chongliang said in a low voice, pulling Ge Dongxu aside as the two prepared for a spell battle.

    Everyone else also stepped back, giving space for Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi.

    "You''ve got quite some clout; I saw how you reprimanded Yan Chengzhi just now, and he didn''t dare to lose his temper at you," Ge Dongxu whispered to Lv Chongliang after they moved aside.

    "Of course, I might not be as good as them in spell battles, but when it comes to divination and fortune-telling, they can''t hold a candle to me in this circle. I still hold some prestige," Lv Chongliang immediately boasted proudly upon hearing this.

    "You might be a master in divination compared to them, I believe that, but as for having great prestige, I think it must be your grandfather, not you," Ge Dongxu said, seeing Lv Chongliang''s smug face, and couldn''t help but burst his bubble.

    "Hehe, my grandfather is very prestigious, and I''m his grandson, so naturally, it''s only right that I have some prestige too! It seems, boss, although it''s your first time attending this kind of meet, you''ve heard of my grandfather''s fame!" Lv Chongliang said unabashedly.

    "Of course, I''ve heard of the great name Divination Master Lv Xinghai. I''ve even met him and dealt with him," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Damn boss, for a junior like you, knowing my grandfather''s great name is reasonable, but to say you''ve met and dealt with him sounds rather pompous!" Lv Chongliang sneered, clearly incredulous.

    Although Lv Semi-Immortal was just a semi-skilled practitioner, his grandfather Lv Xinghai was a real famous Qimen expert of Dongyue Province, an old senior. And in these days, when Daoist techniques have declined and firearms advanced, the minor spells of Qimen couldn''t stir up much trouble and were no longer popular. After all, no matter how powerful you are, you can''t beat a gun and a bullet.

    But Lv Xinghai was different. He specialized in face reading, fortune-telling, Feng Shui, which are thriving nowadays. Lv Xinghai, being truly skilled in this field, naturally attracted many officials and dignitaries seeking his help in predicting their careers and fortunes, choosing auspicious days, arranging Feng Shui, and more. Thus, his connections in Dongyue Province were extensive, and many officials and dignitaries had to respectfully address him as Master Lv when they saw him.

    This was also why, despite Yan Chengzhi''s arrogance, he dared not easily offend Lv Semi-Immortal.

    Now, Ge Dongxu, a young man, was telling Lv Chongliang that he not only met his grandfather but also had dealings with him, which Lv Chongliang naturally doubted.

    "Haha, if you don''t believe it, never mind." Ge Dongxu laughed, thinking that once he met his grandfather, this guy''s expression would definitely be interesting.

    "Psh, I knew you were just boasting. Look, Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi are about to start their spell battle," Lv Chongliang, thinking Ge Dongxu was just joking and boasting, rolled his eyes at him, then elbowed Ge Dongxu and excitedly pointed at Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi standing five meters apart, ready to confront each other.

 Chapter 627 - 626: Spell Battle

    Ge Dongxu smiled and did not continue speaking; instead, he looked toward Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi.

    Both of them had serious expressions at this time.

    In his hand, Yan Chengzhi held a Black Viper Dharma Talisman, forming spell signs with one hand while muttering incantations; his steps also tapped out a slow rhythm in accordance with a certain cadence.

    Liu Hong held a piece of red jade in her hand, on which was etched a Dharma Talisman resembling the ancient character for fire. Similarly, she formed spell signs and muttered incantations, her long legs stepping rhythmically.

    "The Yan Family is proficient in Water System Techniques, while the Liu Family excels in Fire System Techniques. The Liu Family''s most powerful Dharma Talisman is the Chiyan Talisman, which senior members of the family created with great effort using high-quality Red Jade. The Rune can manifest into a ball of fire, unlike the Talisman Liu Hong currently holds, which still only shows the Rune," Lv Chongliang explained on the side.

    As Lv Chongliang was explaining, Yan Chengzhi suddenly stomped on the Kan water position, and the Black Viper Dharma Talisman in his hand suddenly radiated a black light, bringing a chilly breeze from the North.

    The cold wind swirled around Yan Chengzhi and, as he continued his muttering, gradually formed into a translucent little black snake before him.

    The little black snake flicked its tongue in and out, looking particularly ferocious.

    "Go!" Yan Chengzhi shouted in a low voice, and the little black snake shot out towards Liu Hong.

    As soon as the little black snake shot out, Yan Chengzhi gasped for air like he had just finished a long run, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

    Clearly, with his mana, casting out such a black snake was very draining.

    Seeing the little black snake flying towards Liu Hong, who continued to desperately stimulate the Talisman with a faint red light emitting from her red jade but without yet condensing into a ball of fire, Lv Chongliang and the others couldn''t help but change their expressions.

    "Damn it! With the Black Viper Talisman''s help, that guy makes his move a lot faster!"

    Ge Dongxu had already foreseen this outcome as the two were casting spells and was not surprised at all, merely shaking his head dismissively.

    Spells of this level only appear somewhat eerie, or could be useful for surreptitiously casting on others, but in a straightforward confrontation, it would probably be too late to form spells before being directly charged at and overwhelmed.

    Therefore, with the decline of Daoist magic and the advanced development of technological weaponry, it has become difficult for those of the Qimen to rise again and cause upheaval. Of course, the Qimen still has a special existence, and the actions they take in secret continue to greatly bother ordinary people, requiring a dedicated department to oversee them. There are some supernatural events that ordinary people are helpless against and thus require the intervention of those within the Qimen.

    As Ge Dongxu shook his head in contemplation, the little black snake was already baring its fangs and closing in on Liu Hong.

    "Fire come!" Just at that moment, Liu Hong finally stamped her foot on the South Separation Fire position with a surge of scorching breath converging from the South, forming a flickering flame before her.

    The flame appeared, emitting a searing breath, and then met the little black snake head-on.

    "Phew!" Seeing Liu Hong finally casting a spell successfully relieved Lv Chongliang and the others.

    Otherwise, if the little black snake bit Liu Hong, the invasion of her body by the Yin Demonic Qi would have meant her defeat.

    Soon the ball of fire and the little black snake collided in mid-air.

    The little black snake consumed the fire, causing the flame to gradually shrink, and the flames burned the little black snake, causing black smoke to rise from its body and its size to similarly diminish.

    Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi both had solemn expressions on their faces, their five fingers ceaselessly forming spell gestures, sweat pouring from their foreheads like rain.

    As they formed the gestures, using the Dharma Talismans in their hands as a medium, they were channeling tiny strands of Fire and Water Elemental Forces from heaven and earth, gathering them, constantly replenishing the mutual annihilation between the flames and the little black snake.

    However, Yan Chengzhi, obviously because his Black Viper Talisman was more powerful, channeled the Water Elemental Force from heaven and earth with more ease and speed than Liu Hong, allowing the little black snake to continuously advance while the flames were relentlessly pushed back.

    If it weren''t for Liu Hong having a higher level of cultivation than Yan Chengzhi, she would have likely been defeated already.

    But looking at the current situation, Liu Hong''s defeat seemed inevitable, and now she was merely struggling desperately.

    "This doesn''t look good!" Seeing Liu Hong losing ground, Lv Chongliang and the others became somewhat anxious.

    However, there were rules to a spell battle, and it was inappropriate for others to interfere; Lv Chongliang''s group, despite having more people, could only watch anxiously at this time.

    Time ticked away, and the ball of flame in mid-air quickly shrunk to the size of a little finger, flickering like a candle in the wind, about to be extinguished at any moment.

    "Haha! Liu Hong, just obediently call me ''Darling Brother Yan''!" Seeing his little black snake about to swallow the flame, Yan Chengzhi finally let out a sigh of relief and laughed with wild triumph.

    "Dream on if you think your granny will call you ''Darling Brother Yan.'' Die with that hope, you toad!" Liu Hong, seeing her defeat was certain, suddenly revealed a madly resolute look on her face and viciously bit the tip of her tongue.

    "Pfft!" A fine spray of blood jetted from the tip of her tongue, landing on the Jade she held in her hand.

    Suddenly, the Jade emitted a bright red glow, and the flame, which had been like a candle in the wind, burst forth explosively, flaring up as if fuel had been added, blazing fiercely once more.

    "Damn it! Have you gone crazy, Liu Hong?!" Yan Chengzhi, seeing Liu Hong actually spitting out a mouthful of essence blood, cried out as if his tail had been stepped on.

    "None of your business whether I''ve gone mad or not! If you''ve got the guts, spit out some essence blood too! Your granny is ready to outlast you today," Liu Hong said, her face pale but her eyes fiercely determined.

    "Damn, you think I''m scared of you?" Yan Chengzhi, also young and impulsive, pushed by Liu Hong in front of so many people, gritted his teeth and retorted.

    With those words, he too spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the Black Viper Talisman.

    "Crap, this has really escalated!" Seeing both of them truly riled up, willing to spill their essence blood, Lv Chongliang and others couldn''t help but have their expressions change drastically. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At this stage of the spell battle, even if they wanted to intervene, they didn''t dare to act rashly.

    Because under these circumstances, it could be said that both parties were fighting desperately, and if anything went amiss, not to mention that their intervention might result in being attacked and ending up severely injured, the two competitors could also be very likely to fall into a state of Deviation, with True Qi running amok dangerously within them.

    "Quick, make a call and ask the elders to come over," someone shouted.

    "Hmph, this is truly disgraceful. This meeting was for you to exchange knowledge, not for you to fight to the death with such hostility!" Seeing the situation escalate to this point, Ge Dongxu could no longer sit back and do nothing; with a stern expression, he scolded them and walked towards the two people in the midst of the battle.

    "No, don''t!" As everyone was frantically trying to make a call, they suddenly saw Ge Dongxu walking towards the two combatants and all of them cried out with a change of expression.

    "Boss! Have you lost your mind? It''s dangerous!" Lv Chongliang was also on the phone at the time, and seeing this, he was so frightened he almost leaped out of his skin, urgently yelling out.

 Chapter 628 - 627 How to talk to Director Ge?

    However, as if Ge Dongxu hadn''t heard a thing, he walked unimpeded to the middle of the two and directly reached out to grab the flame and tiny black snake that were entangled in combat.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu actually reach out to grab the flame and tiny black snake, many were completely petrified.

    The flame contained intense Fire Elemental Force and was extremely hot, while the tiny black snake harbored dense Water Elemental Force, exceedingly cold and sinister.

    Only someone completely ignorant of magical combat would dare to extend their hand so carefreely to grab that flame and tiny black snake!

    This was a matter of life and death!

    "Don''t do it!" Lv Chongliang''s face had turned pale with fright, and his voice even carried a sob.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu suddenly come over and reach out to grab the flame and tiny black snake, Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi clearly couldn''t believe their eyes.

    But they had just spouted a mouthful of Essence Blood onto them and were at the height of exerting their power; even if they wanted to stop, it was now impossible!

    From a distance, two people were sprinting over at high speed. Seeing this scene, they also immediately cried out in alarm, "Stop!"

    However, as if Ge Dongxu heard nothing, his hand continued to reach down.

    As Ge Dongxu''s hand eventually continued to reach down, some young women couldn''t bear to watch and closed their eyes.

    Lv Chongliang was no longer shouting, his heart had stopped beating.

    Between ice and fire, such extremes!

    Moreover, the power was induced by Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi with their Essence Blood, so you can imagine how great it was.

    This flesh and blood hand reaching down would surely be torn asunder, immediately reduced to a bloodied mess!

    But then, everyone''s eyes widened as if they had seen a ghost in broad daylight, staring incredulously at Ge Dongxu''s palm.

    Ge Dongxu, as if nothing was amiss, was holding the flame and tiny black snake, then suddenly twisted and rubbed them in his palm.

    The flame turned into specks of sparks, flying out from his palm, and the tiny black snake turned into bits of ice that fell to the ground, then melted into a puddle of water that seeped into the earth.

    All was silent in the world. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    There was none of the chaos one would expect when Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi''s True Qi would be disrupted, no Deviation, and certainly no flesh flying about.

    What Ge Dongxu did seemed as simple as could be, his movements natural and effortless.

    "Boss! How did you do that? You, you''re amazing!" Lv Chongliang was the first to snap back to his senses, rushing to Ge Dongxu with a face full of disbelief and excitement, grabbing his arm, speaking incoherently.

    Before Lv Chongliang had finished speaking, an old man dressed in a gray Tang suit with a small tuft of goatee beard and an air of immortal charm raised his hand and gave Lv Chongliang a slap on the head, scolding, "You rascal, have you no respect? How do you speak to Director Ge?"

    That old man was the Divination Master Lv Xinghai.

    "Grandfather, what are you doing? What''s all this about disrespect, Director Ge? He''s my college classmate, my boss!" Lv Chongliang, touching his head, stared at his grandfather in confusion.

    "You still talk back! Believe it or not, your grandfather will confine you!" Upon hearing this, Lv Xinghai immediately raised his hand again ready to slap his grandson on the head, his heart in complete turmoil.

    Last summer vacation, there were armored zombies causing chaos in Zhanyuan Mountain, and Ge Dongxu came by helicopter. The Zhong Family from Xiangxi didn''t know what was good for them, and repeatedly mocked and provoked Ge Dongxu. As a result, with a wave of his hand, including the Zhong Family patriarch, the elders, and the most powerful person of the Zhong Family''s third generation, were all directly suppressed. Not to mention the armored zombie that followed.

    Although several months have passed since this incident, Lv Xinghai still vividly remembers it, and he gets chills down his spine at the very thought.

    Ge Dongxu''s spells were just too powerful!

    Now that his own grandson was being so disrespectful, how could Lv Xinghai not feel nervous and guilty!

    "What are you doing, Daoist Lv? Chongliang and I are indeed schoolmates, good friends. Don''t tell me you oppose us being friends?" Ge Dongxu, seeing Lv Xinghai about to slap Lv Semi-Immortal on the head again, could only look at Lv Xinghai with a wry smile.

    The hand Lv Xinghai had raised in mid-air immediately froze, and it took a good while before he lowered it, pointing incredulously at his grandson. He said, "This brat of mine, is, is really schoolmates with Director Ge?"

    "We are all people from Qimen, and we have come here especially for the exchange between Jiangnan and Dongyue provinces, so please don''t keep calling me ''Director''!" Ge Dongxu said with a slight frown.

    "What Daoist Ge said is true, is true," Lv Xinghai nodded repeatedly.

    "No way, Big Bro, you really know my grandfather and have even interacted with him before?" As Lv Xinghai was nodding away, Lv Semi-Immortal finally snapped back to reality and exclaimed in shock.

    He knew his grandfather''s character all too well. At any moment, even in front of his peers, he always maintained the image of a sage-like immortal with an air of profound mystery.

    But just now, upon seeing Ge Dongxu, his grandfather acted as if a mouse had seen a cat. How could this not astonish Lv Semi-Immortal immensely?

    While Lv Semi-Immortal was deeply shocked, so were the others.

    They naturally also recognized Lv Xinghai and knew of his status in the Qimen of Dongyue Province, but they hadn''t expected him to show so much respect towards the young Ge Dongxu.

    Especially Liu Hong and Chi Longwu, who had just been clamoring to challenge Ge Dongxu, were almost scared enough to plop down on the spot.

    My goodness, even Divination Master Lv, whom they revered, respected this person so much, and they had just thought about challenging him!

    As for Yan Chengzhi, who had previously pointed at Ge Dongxu and scolded him for meddling in others'' affairs, he was no exception and was trembling a little at the moment.

    Seeing his grandson shouting in front of Ge Dongxu, Lv Xinghai almost couldn''t help but raise his hand to slap him on the head again. Fortunately, he finally remembered that this boy now seemed to be quite favored by Ge Dongxu and didn''t dare to hit him.

    "Haha, now you know I wasn''t boasting." Ge Dongxu looked at Lv Semi-Immortal''s shocked face and couldn''t help but burst out laughing.

    "Of course not, of course not!" This time, Lv Semi-Immortal didn''t dare to boast and brazenly uphold what he''d said before; instead, he nodded earnestly in agreement.

    "Brother Lv, who is this Daoist friend?" An elderly man who had come with Lv Xinghai, also with an air of immortality, looked at Ge Dongxu with a puzzled and curious expression.

    The old man, named Zhu Dongyu, had been friends with Lv Xinghai for several decades. He was well aware of Lv Xinghai''s personality and status in Qimen, and he had never seen him be so nervous and polite to a young person before.

    "Hello, my name is Ge Dongxu, from the Pill Talisman Sect!" Before Lv Xinghai could answer, Ge Dongxu introduced himself.

    As this was a Qimen exchange meeting between two provinces, Ge Dongxu didn''t want to flaunt his official identity.

    "Pill Talisman Sect?" Lv Xinghai wore a puzzled look; it was the first time he had heard of such a sect.

    Zhu Dongyu, on the other hand, seemed to recall something upon hearing this and suddenly shook with excitement, saying, "Pill Talisman Sect, then, then do you know a senior named Yang Yinhou?"

 Chapter 629 - 628 Thank You, Senior Ge, for Intervening Just Now

    "That''s my senior brother, you know him?" Ge Dongxu replied, his mood somewhat excited.

    In recent centuries, the Pill Talisman Sect had become sparse in population, and now, only he and Yang Yinhou remained; they had gradually faded from the Qi Men circle, and few people knew of the Pill Talisman Sect. When Ge Dongxu had disclosed his sect, he hadn''t expected the other to be aware of the Pill Talisman Sect, yet to his surprise, not only had the other heard of it, but he also knew his senior brother''s name.

    "Senior Yang is your senior brother?" Zhu Dongyu''s eyes went wide with surprise.

    One must know that if Yang Yinhou were alive today, he would be nearly a hundred years old. Even though Zhu Dongyu was now seventy-six, he still had to address Yang Yinhou as a senior.

    "Of course that''s right; my senior brother is indeed still alive," Ge Dongxu could understand why Zhu Dongyu was so astonished and gently smiled as he spoke.

    "Senior Yang, Senior Yang is still alive? Really? Wasn''t it said that he, he had perished in Myanmar? Are you sure you''re talking about the same person as me?" Zhu Dongyu became excited and anxious upon hearing this, fearing they were not talking about the same person.

    "Back then, my senior brother was ambushed by the Japanese in Myanmar and indeed nearly lost his life, but fortunately, he was rescued by the locals and discovered only after more than a year had passed, so many people thought he had perished. It seems that this fellow Daoist really does know my senior brother. May I ask how you are addressed?" Seeing Zhu Dongyu aware of the incident of his senior brother''s "sacrifice" in Myanmar, Ge Dongxu knew this was someone who truly had a connection with his senior brother, and his gaze towards him became much warmer.

    "That''s right, absolutely right! Divine blessings upon Senior Yang!" Zhu Dongyu was so moved by the news that he was brought to tears.

    It took a while for Zhu Dongyu to calm his emotions, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes. He then bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu, saying respectfully, "Replying to Senior Ge, my name is Zhu Dongyu, born into the Lin medical family lineage. I once accompanied my father to Shanghai to seek our fortune. We, father and son, relying on some skills in techniques and medicine, offended a local gang leader due to our ignorance of our own importance; fortunately, Senior Yang intervened and saved us. Since we were both part of the Qi Men circle and because Senior Yang also had extraordinary medical skills, my father and Senior Yang became good friends. Afterwards, in both cultivation and medicine, my father and I received much guidance from Senior Yang. My achievements today can be said to be inseparable from Senior Yang''s guidance back then."

    Zhu Dongyu''s words sent a chill down the spines of Lv Chongliang, Chi Longwu, Liu Hong, and the group of young people listening, making them break out in cold sweat.

    Goodness, what a revelation! Even Senior Zhu Dongyu had to address Ge Dongxu as a senior! How high does that place him in seniority!

    "Is Daoist Zhu''s father still alive?" Ge Dongxu, upon hearing this, then knew of the deep connection between his senior brother and Zhu Dongyu and asked somewhat excitedly.

    Ge Dongxu was certain that, were his senior brother to hear news of an old friend, he would be overjoyed.

    "He passed away during the war against Japan," Zhu Dongyu sighed, but his face soon brightened, "However, if my father has knowledge from beyond this life, knowing that Senior Yang is still alive, he would surely be very happy."

    Hearing this, Ge Dongxu also let out a sigh, yet as the departed are gone, there was nothing he could do.

    "By the way, where is Senior Yang now for his seclusion? May I have the honor of visiting him?" Zhu Dongyu quickly asked with a look of anticipation.

    "My senior brother is currently living in seclusion on Baiyun Mountain in Changxi County, Jiangnan Province. I will give him a call right now; if he knows you are here, he might be interested in joining the Qi Men exchanges between the two provinces," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Great, great, that would be a real favor, Senior Ge," Zhu Dongyu said excitedly.

    "The age gap is too big, let''s continue to address each other as fellow Daoists," Ge Dongxu, feeling uncomfortable with Zhu Dongyu repeatedly calling him senior, finally couldn''t help but make this suggestion.

    "If you are Junior Brother of Elder Yang, then you are an elder too, and this address cannot be taken lightly." Zhu Dongyu was clearly an old fogey, and upon hearing this, he immediately shook his head.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu could only give a bitter smile inwardly, thinking it would be better to let his Senior Brother speak for him when the time came, otherwise these old folks with their old ways of thinking wouldn''t take it well coming from someone as young as he.

    As he thought this, Ge Dongxu took out his cellphone and dialed Yang Yinhou''s number.

    Everyone watched Ge Dongxu dial on his phone, each with a different expression.

    Zhu Dongyu was excited, the younger people like Lv Chongliang were filled with admiration, and Divination Master Lv Xinghai was full of nostalgia. He had long known about Ge Dongxu''s prowess, but he hadn''t expected him to have a Senior Brother who even his own old friend had to address as ''Elder''.

    The call connected quickly.

    "Dongxu, weren''t you going to Mount Santai for the Qi Men exchange meeting? What made you think of calling me?" After the phone connected, the receiver carried Yang Yinhou''s voice, weathered but full of vigor.

    Ge Dongxu had mentioned the Qi Men exchange meeting between two provinces to Yang Yinhou before. However, approaching a hundred years old, having weathered many years, with his cultivation already at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Yang Yinhou had long become indifferent to worldly affairs, focusing solely on secluded cultivation, so he had little interest in the exchange meeting.

    "I''ve encountered an old friend of yours here, named Zhu Dongyu, so I specifically called to tell you," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Zhu Dongyu! The son of Zhu Yucheng? Is he also on Mount Santai? What about Zhu Yucheng?" Yang Yinhou''s voice clearly became agitated upon hearing this.

    "He passed away during the Japanese invasion!" Ge Dongxu replied.

    There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, and after a while, Yang Yinhou finally spoke, "I wasn''t much interested in the Qi Men exchange meeting, but since Zhu Dongyu is there, I''ll make my way over tomorrow morning."

    "Then I will arrange a car to pick you up tomorrow," Ge Dongxu said immediately upon realizing his Senior Brother indeed intended to come.

    "That would be good," Yang Yinhou replied.

    After settling this, Ge Dongxu handed the phone to Zhu Dongyu, allowing him to have a conversation with Yang Yinhou.

    During the call, Zhu Dongyu naturally went through a period of reminiscing and emotion.

    It was only after a while that Zhu Dongyu returned the phone to Ge Dongxu, who then called Wu Qianjin, Chen Lehao''s uncle, and another shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea. He asked him to arrange a car to pick up his Senior Brother from Baiyun Mountain tomorrow.

    "What''s this all about? A sparring match is one thing, but why did it escalate to life-threatening combat? Today, if it weren''t for Elder Ge intervening and resolving the situation, I''m afraid both of you would have ended up gravely injured! Get over here and thank Elder Ge at once." Once Ge Dongxu finished his call, Zhu Dongyu scolded Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi with a stern face. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi had already been shocked by how casually Ge Dongxu had resolved their techniques. Furthermore, seeing Zhu Dongyu addressing Ge Dongxu as ''Elder Ge,'' they swallowed their pride, even if they were reluctant to call a younger man ''Elder,'' and under Zhu Dongyu''s scolding, they respectfully approached Ge Dongxu and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Elder Ge, for your intervention just now!"

 Chapter 630 - 629: If Youre Capable, Then Take the Challenge

    "Our cultivation is not about competing or fighting fiercely, but about living better lives and exploring the secrets of immortality. You must not behave like this in the future." Remembering that they had ignored his advice, and considering the situation could have been perilous without his presence, Ge Dongxu rarely pulled rank and spoke with a serious expression.

    Although Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi felt awkward hearing this, under the stern gazes of Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai, they wouldn''t dare disagree and respectfully bowed in response, "The elder is right in his teachings; we will remember."

    Seeing that they understood their mistake, Ge Dongxu nodded, then turned to Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai, "Fellow Daoists, since they realize their error, let us leave it at that."

    Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai nodded in agreement.

    "Elder Ge, we have arranged a meeting with a few Daoist friends at the lakeside pavilion to exchange insights on cultivation. It would be great if you could join us," Zhu Dongyu respectfully said.

    "Yes, Daoist Ge, please come with us. These youngsters are disrespectful and tactless. With your status, it''s really inappropriate to be with them," Lv Xinghai added.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu was of similar age, and even among the younger ones, yet he was being invited by Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai to join the elders, everyone couldn''t help but feel both envious and admiring.

    "Given my age, it''s also inappropriate for me to be with you all as well. Just mind your own affairs; don''t worry about me, I''ll be fine," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Lv Xinghai and Zhu Dongyu, hearing this and seeing Ge Dongxu''s youthful face, were momentarily stunned.

    After a while, Lv Xinghai managed a bitter smile, "Since Daoist Ge still prefers to be with the younger crowd, I won''t insist."

    Having said that, Lv Xinghai turned to Liu Hong and others, finally fixing his gaze on Lv Semi-Immortal, and said sternly, "Chongliang, remember to take good care of Daoist Ge and show him proper respect."

    "Got it, Grandpa; Ge Dongxu is my boss, I naturally..." Lv Semi-Immortal replied.

    "Is Ge Dongxu what you should call him? Call him ''elder'' from now on!" Lv Xinghai interjected.

    "Ah! Do I also have to call him ''elder''?" Lv Semi-Immortal opened his mouth wide in surprise.

    "Nonsense! Haven''t you seen your Elder Zhu addressing Daoist Ge as ''elder''?" Lv Xinghai chastised.

    "Daoist Lv need not be so formal; Lv Chongliang and I were university classmates, and calling each other by name is fine," Ge Dongxu said, unable to help laughing at this.

    "That won''t do. It''s fine to call each other by names in the secular world, but not here. Everything must follow the rules of the Qimen here," Lv Xinghai insisted.

    "Indeed, Elder Ge, usually in the secular world, our way of addressing each other is informal. But in a Qimen conference, it essentially separates us from the secular, becoming an independent Qimen circle, wherein everything must adhere to the Qimen rules," Zhu Dongyu agreed, nodding. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing the two elders so insistent, Ge Dongxu found it hard to persist, and could only helplessly shrug at a dejected Lv Semi-Immortal.

    After giving instructions to Lv Semi-Immortal, Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai specially reminded the others, then bid farewell to Ge Dongxu and left.

    After Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai departed, Lv Semi-Immortal, Liu Hong, and the others looked at each other, finding the atmosphere somewhat awkward, while Yan Chengzhi and a few other young people had long since run off.

    They certainly did not want to call Ge Dongxu an elder.

    "Senior Ge, how did you manage to do that just now? You directly snuffed out Liu Hong''s flames and Yan Chengzhi''s little black snake! Could it be that your techniques are also very powerful?" After a long while, Lv Semi-Immortal broke the silence.

    He had thought Ge Dongxu was only formidable in combat!

    "What do you think?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Hehe, I think it must be very impressive. Both Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi are at the Second Level of Qi Cultivation, and they were so desperate at that moment that they even spat out a mouthful of essence blood. I''m afraid only an expert of my grandfather''s level could easily resolve it, right? My grandfather is a master at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Could it be that you have reached the Fourth Layer as well?" Lv Semi-Immortal analyzed, startling even himself as he spoke, his eyes widening as he stared at Ge Dongxu.

    It''s worth noting that Lv Semi-Immortal was still only at the First Layer of Qi Cultivation. In fact, among the eight people in their group, only Liu Hong and Chi Longwu were at the Second Layer, while the rest were only at the First Layer.

    As for the Fourth Layer, in their imagination, only individuals of their grandfather''s generation could possibly achieve it, let alone dare to consider achieving it themselves.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and remained silent, neither confirming nor denying.

    The truth was that his cultivation was far beyond the Fourth Layer, which made it somewhat difficult to respond.

    "Damn! The Fourth Layer, that''s freaking awesome!" Seeing Ge Dongxu smile without a word, Lv Semi-Immortal and the others immediately became fired up.

    "The Fourth Layer? Who''s at the Fourth Layer?" At this moment, a disdainful voice came through.

    The five people who had fled in a dash, led by Yan Chengzhi, returned with a young man who had a blade of grass in his mouth.

    "Su Jieliang!" Upon seeing the young man, everyone including Liu Hong changed their expression, a deep wariness evident in their eyes.

    "So you are Senior Ge? I just heard from Yan Chengzhi that you are quite formidable! Would you be interested in exchanging a few moves? Just a friendly exchange, I won''t go hard," the young man said, his body exuding a strong aura.

    "Old, cough, Senior, his name is Su Jieliang, the son of the Sect Leader of the Santai Sect, a cultivation genius. It''s said that he has nearly reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Moreover, as the Santai Sect practices the Geng Metal Technique, which primarily channels destructive power, Su Jieliang''s techniques are highly offensive. Even old masters at the Fourth Layer of cultivation might not necessarily be his match," Lv Semi-Immortal hurriedly whispered to Ge Dongxu, anxious that he might underestimate the opponent.

    Ge Dongxu nodded towards Lv Chongliang, indicating that he was informed, then looked at Su Jieliang and said gravely, "Daoist Su, if you truly wish for an exchange to learn from each other, I can consider it. However, it''s clear that you are challenging me because you heard Yan Chengzhi praising my abilities and you feel challenged. Therefore, I will not spar with you. Please leave."

    "Afraid, then? Dressing it up so grandly, you really think you''re a senior?" Su Jieliang scoffed.

    "If you truly called me senior, I would hardly dare accept it, as I wouldn''t want a junior like you who has a bit of skill yet doesn''t know the depth of heaven and earth and doesn''t understand how to respect others," Ge Dongxu said calmly, then said to Lv Semi-Immortal and the others, "Let''s go."

    "What''s the point in just talking? If you''re capable, face the challenge!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s aloof demeanor, Su Jieliang was filled with fury, his hand flashing green, as he produced a Sword-shaped Jade Talisman.

    After that, Su Jieliang stepped on the west position of Dui Jin and pinched a spell.

    Suddenly, the originally verdant Sword-shaped Jade Talisman lit up not with green light but with white light.

    The white light carried a sharp and cold aura, like a sword.

    At the same time, a chilling wind blade suddenly formed around Su Jieliang. With a fierce pinch of the spell, it howled towards Ge Dongxu''s back as he turned to leave.

 Chapter 631 - 630: Senior, You Are Truly Amazing!

    All this only formed within a few seconds after Su Jieliang finished speaking, many times faster than the spellcasting speed of Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi just now, and the entire process was as smooth as flowing clouds and water without a hint of stagnation.

    This showed that Su Jieliang''s cultivation was indeed much stronger than that of Liu Hong and Yan Chengzhi, and his spellcasting was also very proficient, far beyond what the two of them could compare with.

    Standing together with Su Jieliang, Yan Chengzhi and others all showed admiration and worship in their eyes upon seeing this, whereas Lv Semi-Immortal and his group all changed their expressions, both shocked and angry.

    "Su Jieliang, what are you trying to do?"

    "Elder Ge, be careful!"

    "¡­"

    Voices of shock and anger rose and fell in succession.

    "It seems I really need to teach you a lesson on behalf of your elders, otherwise you really won''t understand how vast the heavens and earth are, and you won''t know how to respect your elders." Ge Dongxu felt the wind blade coming at his back, his face finally turned stern, and he turned around, stomping on the ground.

    Suddenly countless green lights burst from the lush grass, forming a green cord in the air, and before the wind blade even touched Ge Dongxu, it had already wrapped around Su Jieliang, binding him tightly like wrapping a zongzi.

    With this single wrap and bind, Su Jieliang immediately felt a tightness throughout his body, and the True Qi circulating within him could no longer be mustered, scattering instantly, causing even the sword-shaped Jade Talisman in his hand to slip out of his grasp and fall onto the grass.

    The "grass rope" formed by wood system mana bound Su Jieliang, and the wind blade, having lost its force, dissipated in an instant.

    All this was completed by Ge Dongxu as he turned around.

    No one saw how he cast the spell!

    Nor did anyone see him use the Jade Talisman or Dharma Talisman.

    Suddenly, there was dead silence.

    Time seemed to have stopped moving.

    Yan Chengzhi and others looked at Ge Dongxu with eyes wide in terror, foreheads drenched in sweat.

    It was the same for Su Jieliang, his eyes full of panic.

    He prided himself on profound cultivation and was a leading figure among the younger generation, skilled in offensive techniques. Because he was somewhat acquainted with Yan Chengzhi, encountering him looking disheveled mid-journey, and after hearing about the situation, felt quite displeased that Ge Dongxu, this youngster, had overshadowed him, the Young Sect Master, on his own turf, and thus rushed over to confront him. He wanted to make him aware that, even with elders covering for him, in front of Su Jieliang, he was still just a minor character.

    But what Su Jieliang had not anticipated was that, with his skilled cultivation, he was restrained as soon as he made a move, without even a chance for resistance.

    "Wow! Elder... you are truly awesome! You actually suppressed Su Jieliang with just one move!" After a while, Lv Chongliang came to his senses from the shock, shouting excitedly.

    "Elder, you are truly formidable! I really didn''t recognize Mount Tai just now!" Proud as Liu Hong was, she also made a point of walking up to Ge Dongxu, genuinely lowered her arrogant head, looking at Ge Dongxu with awe and admiration in her eyes.

    Liu Hong was skilled in techniques, and she understood Su Jieliang''s terrifying combat ability well. Even if some old predecessors at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation wanted to suppress him, it would take considerable effort and mana.

    Yet, Ge Dongxu did it just by turning around, this terrifying strength made Liu Hong''s heart tremble at the thought.

    Recalling how she had even thought to challenge him earlier, Liu Hong truly felt an urge to find a crack in the ground to hide in.

    "Ge, Ge Senior, it wasn''t my fault, it was, was Uncle Su, he, he heard about you and insisted on coming here to test you." Yan Chengzhi said, trembling, stammering out his words. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Su Jieliang was the son obtained in the later years of Santai Sect Sect Master, whom people like Lv Xinghai referred to as peers. So, technically, Yan Chengzhi and others should call Su Jieliang Uncle Su.

    Of course, there are differences in intimacy between sects, families, and loose cultivators.

    The close connections can''t mess up the seniority in Qimen. Usually, elders won''t mind unless the relationship is distant. As for Ge Dongxu, the need to address him respectfully as Senior stems from his exceptionally high status, since even Zhu Dongyu has to address him as such. Additionally, knowing that he is a director-level consultant at the Special Ability Management Bureau with immense mana, Lv Chongliang and others had been specifically instructed to address him respectfully without transgressing the norms.

    This is actually quite normal; consider the Sect Master of Santai Sect. Even if his relationship with people like Lv Xinghai is ordinary, due to his status, people such as Lv Semi-Immortal definitely ought not to transgress the proprieties.

    There some ancestral connections between the Yan Family and Santai Sect, so Yan Chengzhi, being of similar age to Su Jieliang, still had to call him Uncle Su.

    "When you mentioned me to him, did you not embellish the story?" Since Ge Dongxu had already shown his might, he was no longer hiding his talents, displaying a break from his typically low-profile and gentle style. His eyes suddenly emitted a sharp light, staring at Yan Chengzhi with a strong and majestic aura emanating from his body, pressing down on Yan Chengzhi like the might of heaven.

    "I, I..." Yan Chengzhi''s face turned white, his head covered in cold sweat.

    "Hmph! Since you can''t speak up, you might as well stand here with this Su Jieliang!" Seeing this, Ge Dongxu sneered and stomped on the ground again.

    The green grass swayed, specks of green light emanated, and in the blink of an eye, they formed a green "rope" that wrapped around Yan Chengzhi as well.

    "Ge, Ge Dongxu, what are you doing? My father is the Sect Master of the Santai Sect, and we own this hotel! Won''t you let us go?" Su Jieliang said, seeing Ge Dongxu casting spells again to seize also Yan Chengzhi, and seeing his forbidding expression, he couldn''t help feeling truly panicky, shouting in fear and fury.

    "Then let your father come to me for your release!" Ge Dongxu said coldly, his hand forming a spell, the green "rope" suddenly tightening continuously, then slowly began to seep into the skin of both men, vanishing without a trace.

    "What, what have you done to me? Why can''t I feel my True Qi, and why can''t I even move?" Su Jieliang shouted in fright.

    Yan Chengzhi also shouted in fright.

    "Hmph, just teaching you a lesson! Stand here quietly until dawn tomorrow, and nobody is allowed to move them, or the punishment will be doubled!" Ge Dongxu coldly dropped these words, then said to Lv Chongliang and others, "Let''s go."

    "Ge Dongxu, you, how can you be so arrogant? I am the Young Sect Master of Santai Sect, my grandfather is the Grand Elder of Santai Sect, an old predecessor at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, what you''ve done to me, you will definitely regret!" Su Jieliang, upon hearing this, cried out in shock and anger.

    But this time, Yan Chengzhi had learned his lesson and kept his mouth shut, daring not to speak.

    Santai Sect is an old sect in Dongyue Province known for its profound heritage and powerful strength, Su Jieliang could afford to rant like this, but Yan Chengzhi surely didn''t have the standing to make threatening remarks.

 Chapter 632 - 631: Who Dares to be so Reckless and Bold

    "Why am I being so brazen? And why are you being so brazen? Did I agree to a spell battle with you? You actually attacked me! As for your grandfather, if he came to speak to me with respect, I would respect him as an elder and would indeed give him some leeway. But if he doesn''t show me respect, I will not show any either! Remember, you attacked me without any reason first, so your punishment is to stand here until tomorrow morning. You better not let anyone move you, or else the punishment will be doubled, and your grandfather''s arrival will be of no use!" Ge Dongxu slowly turned his head, looking at Su Jieliang and spoke coldly.

    As the leader of a sect and a senior consultant for the Special Ability Management Bureau, Ge Dongxu naturally had his authority.

    If he didn''t strike, it was one thing, but once he did, was it a child''s play?

    Having said that, Ge Dongxu turned around and walked away with Lv Chongliang and the others in tow.

    "Damn it, Ge Dongxu, you just wait!" Su Jieliang saw that Ge Dongxu didn''t care at all about his threats, which left his eyes red with rage.

    "Brother Su, what should we do now?" Yan Chengzhi asked with a mournful face.

    Su Jieliang didn''t answer Yan Chengzhi; instead, he glared at several people beside him and shouted angrily, "What are you still standing there for? Go call someone to bring a ferry cart here. Do you really want me and Yan Chengzhi to keep standing here?"

    "But, but, just now Senior Ge said, to¡­" The four people stammered in response, glared at by him.

    They all had seen Ge Dongxu''s method just now. They were terrified.

    "Senior Ge, Senior Ge! Damn it! Are you trying to kill me with anger? What place is this? This is Dongyue Province, the Santai Sect! Do you think he can be bolder than my Santai Sect?" Hearing this, Su Jieliang''s eyes breathed fire in rage. If he hadn''t been immobilized, he would have rushed up and kicked these guys himself.

    After Su Jieliang''s shout, the four men were indeed jolted into action. They hurriedly called for a ferry cart, loaded Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi onto it, and then drove towards the villa where Su Jieliang lived.

    "Jieliang, what happened to you?" Just as they were moving Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi into the villa, a woman in her forties, dressed in glamorous clothes, rushed up, her face full of nervous concern.

    "Mom, I''ve been immobilized by techniques that prohibited my meridians; I can''t move." Su Jieliang replied resentfully.

    "Who? Who dared to lay hands on you?" The woman, clearly aware of her son''s capabilities, was first shocked, but then, her eyes flashed coldly and she shrieked.

    "A young man named Ge Dongxu, apparently from the Pill Talisman Sect." Su Jieliang replied.

    "Ge Dongxu? Pill Talisman Sect? Who are they, and what sect is that? I''ve never heard of them!" The woman frowned in thought but had no impression of them whatsoever.

    "No matter who he is or what sect he belongs to, daring to lay hands on you at Mount Santai means he is asking for trouble with us, the Santai Sect. He''s courting death!" But soon the woman spoke again, her face turning cold.

    "Exactly, mom, this person simply doesn''t consider our Santai Sect worth worrying about. He prohibited the meridians in my body, saying that only standing on the grass until dawn would release me, and if anyone dared to move me, the punishment would be doubled. He even said that it would be useless even if father and grandfather went there." Seeing his mother getting angry, Su Jieliang''s eyes gleamed with a hint of glee, and then he added hatefully.

    "What? What kind of person is so brazen and bold! Jieliang, don''t worry, I''m going to call your father right now. Isn''t he the leader of the Santai Sect? Isn''t he supposed to have substantial influence in Dongyue Province? Seeing his son being beaten like this, I''ll see if he will do anything or not." Su Jieliang''s mother''s face grew increasingly displeased, as she pulled out her phone to call Su Boli, the leader of the Santai Sect.

    Su Boli was sixty-five years old this year, about ten years younger than Lv Xinghai and others. He had Su Jieliang, his son, at around the age of forty, which definitely counted as having a child later in life in his generation. He doted on Su Jieliang greatly; moreover, since Su Jieliang possessed a talent for cultivation, Su Boli was naturally even more affectionate towards him.

    Su Jieliang had such a temperament largely because, aside from his arrogance due to his talents, he was doted on excessively by his parents, Su Boli and his wife, since childhood.

    When Su Boli received his wife''s call, he was in deep discussion with several peers about spiritual practices. Hearing that his son''s meridians had been sealed with prohibitions, rendering him immobile, he was shocked and immediately rushed to the villa.

    Upon arriving at the villa, Su Boli encountered an elderly man, hurrying over, his hair already somewhat grey.

    "Sect Leader Su," the elderly man said as he saw Su Boli and slowed his hurried pace, greeting him with a clasped hand gesture.

    "Brother Yan!" Su Boli also stopped and returned the greeting, clasping his hands towards the elderly man.

    This elderly man was none other than Yan Chengzhi''s grandfather, Yan Ziyi. Yan Ziyi had two sons and a daughter, none of whom took much interest in cultivation, all being half-hearted without continuing his legacy. In contrast, his eldest grandson, Yan Chengzhi, had shown a love and talent for cultivation from a young age and had already reached the Second Level of Qi Cultivation at a young age. Hence, he was extremely doted on by Yan Ziyi, who had even bestowed upon him the revered Black Viper Dharma Talisman from the family collection this year.

    Just before, Yan Ziyi had received a call stating that his grandson''s meridians had been sealed and he couldn''t move, much like Su Boli, he was startled and hurried over.

    After exchanging greetings, the two entered the villa one after another.

    As they entered the villa, they immediately saw Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi lying straight on the long sofa in the living room.

    The two men quickly stepped forward and approached Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi respectively, then placed their hands on their wrists. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Placing his fingers on the wrist, Su Boli immediately mobilized the True Qi within his body, flowing along the meridians to probe the situation and attempting to break the prohibitions.

    After all, Su Boli was a renowned master of the Santai Sect in Dongyue Province, with his cultivation reaching the peak of the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Even if he wasn''t considered the top expert in the Qimen, he was definitely regarded as a master.

    He was confident about breaking the prohibitions.

    But just as his True Qi began to probe into his son''s body, he was instantly stunned by the sight that "appeared" before him.

    His son''s internal meridians seemed as if they had grown numerous weeds.

    The roots of these weeds were entrenched deep within his son''s meridians, densely tangled, completely blocking and clogging them.

    Speaking of Metal Geng Qi, but upon seeing the dense green grass before him, Su Boli''s scalp tingled, and it took him a long while to take a deep breath. A flash of golden light flickered in his eyes as a sword-like strand of True Qi released from his fingertips into Su Jieliang''s meridians.

    The Metal Geng Qi transformed into a sharp blade within Su Jieliang''s meridians, cutting through the grass as if splitting bamboo.

    In an instant, the green grass within the Lung Meridian of Taiyin was cut away by a small half.

 Chapter 633 - 633: 632

    Su Boli could not contain his joy upon seeing the situation, and immediately intensified his efforts, preparing to completely eradicate the green grass in his son''s Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian in one go when he was horrified to discover that the areas he had cleared were suddenly sprouting new green grass again.

    Not only that, but the growth of the green grass seemed to require energy, and it was continuously absorbing the True Qi from Su Jieliang''s body.

    "Dad, don''t do it!" Su Jieliang felt the True Qi in his body spilling out like untamed wild horses, turning increasingly weak, which terrified him enough to turn his face deathly pale as he cried out.

    "Without removing the roots, the spring breeze brings them back to life! Who set up such vicious Prohibitions?" Su Boli reeled as if struck by lightning, swiftly retracting his hand, his expression extremely solemn as he looked at his son''s pale face.

    Two seconds after Su Boli withdrew his hand, Yan Ziyi also retracted his hand as if struck by lightning, his face turning equally solemn and ugly.

    "Chengzhi, who on earth have you offended?" Yan Ziyi asked with a heavy countenance.

    "A young man named Ge Dongxu," Yan Chengzhi replied.

    "What? A young man!" Both Su Boli and Yan Ziyi''s faces changed drastically upon hearing this.

    They had only received the notification and hurried over without having the chance to understand the situation in detail.

    Given that Su Jieliang was considered to have high Cultivation among the younger generation, already at the Late Stage of the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, and since the other person was capable of setting Prohibitions, it was clear that his Cultivation was not simple, most likely at least the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Thus, they initially assumed that the other party must be an elder within the same path.

    The answer from Yan Chengzhi was shockingly a young man, how could they not be amazed!

    "Yes, he should be younger than me. I heard he''s from something called the Pill Talisman Sect," Su Jieliang replied with a pale face, a complicated look flashing in his eyes.

    There was both hatred and an uncontrollable fear.

    At this point, Su Jieliang naturally realized that this Prohibition was no small matter, and Ge Dongxu was even more formidable than he had imagined!

    "Pill Talisman Sect? Never heard of it. But how did you come into conflict with him? Why did he set up Prohibitions on you?" Su Boli thought for a moment and then asked in a deep voice.

    "My son has been messed up like this, our Santai Sect''s face has been completely lost, what''s the point in asking so many questions? Just command someone to call that Ge Dongxu over and give him a good lesson!" Su Boli''s wife said with an ugly expression on her face.

    "What do you know? Someone who can set up such a formidable Prohibition is already not an ordinary magician and should not be treated with common sense. Even if I took action, I might not be his match," Su Boli snapped, his mood already somewhat irritated. Seeing his wife making a fuss, he couldn''t help but frown and glare at her.

    "If you can''t do it, then call Dad over. Are we, the Santai Sect, really going to be slapped in the face by a youngster on our own turf?" Su Boli''s wife said coldly.

    Those who practice martial arts value their reputation, and this is even more so among the people of Qimen.

    If their son had been disciplined by an elder, Su Boli might have tolerated it, but now that a young man had placed a Prohibition on him, and he, the Sect Master of the Santai Sect, was powerless to deal with it, this indeed made him feel utterly ashamed.

    So, when his wife mentioned being slapped in the face, Su Boli''s countenance darkened, and he did not say a word, just pacing back and forth in the hall.

    The matter could be considered minor, as it probably would be resolved by him personally stepping forward to politely ask Ge Dongxu for help in lifting the Prohibition, but it could also be considered huge, because if he personally sought to plea, it would mean the face of the Santai Sect would be greatly lost.

    After all, they were only dealing with a Prohibition set by someone, and yet no one in his grand Santai Sect could solve it!

    "Dad, that Ge Dongxu also said to let me stand outside until dawn. If anyone moves me before dawn, the punishment will be doubled." Seeing his father pacing back and forth in the hall, Su Jieliang added fuel to the fire.

    "Hmph, quite the arrogance, such a rampant young man!" Su Boli stopped in his tracks, his body exuding a chilly aura.

    "Sect Master Su, whether this young man is rampant, as well as the reasons for Jieliang and Chengzhi''s conflict with him¡ªall of these are no longer important. What''s important is the Prohibitions on their bodies. We must find a way to remove these Prohibitions, or else, if we can''t even solve them, how are we going to hold him to account? Won''t we still be the butt of jokes? I think, we really need to ask your father to take action," Yan Ziyi said in a grave voice.

    ```

    "But my father has been in seclusion at Santai Peak''s Santai Temple for many years, unconcerned with worldly affairs, so much so that he didn''t even plan to attend the two-province exchange meeting this time. Because of this issue..." Su Boli said with a troubled look upon hearing this.

    "Even if dad is devoted to cultivation and doesn''t care about worldly matters, how can he also ignore his grandson''s situation?" Su Boli''s wife interrupted.

    "Well, okay, I''ll give him a call and ask." Su Boli thought about it ¡ª the prohibitions couldn''t be lifted, his son was suffering, and the face of the Santai Sect couldn''t be saved either. Eventually, he nodded and picked up the phone to call Santai Temple.

    There were dedicated disciples at Santai Temple who managed and served several revered elders and elders. It wasn''t long before a disciple answered Su Boli''s call.

    Su Boli told the disciple to let the revered elder take the phone.

    "Replying to the Sect Master, the revered elder recently had an epiphany in his cultivation and decided to enter closed-door cultivation for three days. He won''t emerge until tomorrow morning; it''s not appropriate for disciples to disturb him at this time," the disciple on the phone replied.

    After hearing that his father was in closed-door cultivation and wouldn''t emerge until the next morning, Su Boli ultimately didn''t dare to ask someone to forcefully knock on the door. He could only instruct the disciple on the phone to immediately call him once his father emerged from seclusion.

    "My father is in closed-door cultivation and won''t come out until tomorrow morning," Su Boli said after hanging up the phone.

    The hall fell silent.

    Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi looked even more dejected and despondent.

    Now the situation was clear: neither Su Boli nor Yan Ziyi would be able to lift the prohibitions.

    And if they couldn''t lift them, it meant they would have to lie there like the living dead for an entire night.

    "Alright, now you can tell me what exactly happened?" After a long while, Su Boli looked at his son and Yan Chengzhi and asked.

    Yan Chengzhi and Su Jieliang roughly explained the situation, though the story changed coming from their mouths.

    Ge Dongxu became a character who, with a bit of mana and an older senior brother, liked to show off and act arrogantly, resorting to violence at the slightest disagreement.

    "It looks like this matter has gotten quite serious! You brat, knowing that even Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai are very polite to him, why couldn''t you just swallow your pride?" After hearing the two of them, knowing that both Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai had connections with Ge Dongxu, and even one of them, because of Ge Dongxu''s senior brother, addressed him as a senior, Yan Ziyi was annoyed by Ge Dongxu''s arrogance but was more worried.

    Because both Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai, one a medical expert and the other a master of physiognomy and Feng Shui, were not only equally cultivated as Yan Ziyi, but more importantly, they both had extensive social networks in Dongyue Province. If both of them had to address Ge Dongxu either as a peer or call him a senior, it meant the young Ge Dongxu was truly not someone to provoke lightly, at least not someone Yan Ziyi''s grandson could afford to provoke.

    Although Su Boli didn''t speak, his expression was equally serious and ominous.

    Clearly, he too hadn''t expected the young Ge Dongxu to not only have profound cultivation but also quite a social network, to the point that even Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai had some relationship with him. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And it''s the latter that truly made Su Boli wary.

    After all, it''s modern society now; cultivation doesn''t represent much and can''t stir up any waves in this society. Unless someone''s cultivation is so strong that they can withstand bullets, withstand armies. But obviously, such people have almost become extinct now; even if they exist, they remain in closed-door cultivation, having lost interest in mundane affairs long ago.

    What truly inspires awe and caution in today''s society is money and power!

    Just like Su Boli himself, what made him a guest of honor among high officials and dignitaries, commanding everyone''s respect, was not his status as the Sect Master of Santai Sect or his cultivation but because he was the chairman of the Santai Mountain Golf Resort, a tycoon who owned billions.

    Although Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai were not tycoons or high officials, they never lacked friends who were tycoons and dignitaries.

    As for a mere young man, no matter how high his cultivation, with Su Boli''s influence in Dongyue Province, it would be easy to make him submit, but if it involved Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai, then the matter wasn''t so simple anymore.

    Everything would probably have to be settled honestly according to the rules of Qimen; only in this way, including Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai, could no one raise any objections.

    ```

 Chapter 634 - 633 Advice

    "Uncle Master Su originally just wanted to suppress his arrogance, who would have thought he was so powerful! If we had known earlier, we wouldn''t have provoked him at all." Yan Chengzhi said with a mournful face, filled with utter regret in his heart.

    "You, you!" Yan Ziyi pointed at his grandson, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke to Su Boli, whose face was dark and ugly, "Since Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai both know that Ge Dongxu, why not ask them to come over and inquire about the situation? What do you think, Sect Leader Su?" S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "If we do that, wouldn''t it just give them a chance to laugh at us?" Su Boli immediately shook his head and rejected the idea without a second thought.

    The Santai Sect was one of the top Qimen sects in Dongyue Province, and the fact that the Young Sect Master of the Santai Sect had been placed under a prohibition by a young man was already embarrassing enough. Now that he, as the Sect Leader, could not remove the prohibition, Su Boli really had no face to ask Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai to come and inquire about the situation.

    "Exactly, even if we are to call them, it should only be after Grandfather comes tomorrow to help me remove the prohibition. Then we can call them over along with that Ge Dongxu and properly teach him a lesson in front of everyone!" Su Jieliang said through gritted teeth.

    Seeing that both Su Boli and his son disagreed, Yan Ziyi had no choice but to nod and say, "Since that''s the case, let''s wait for Senior Su to come before discussing further. It''s just that the two of you might have to endure some hardship tonight."

    "It doesn''t matter, isn''t it just being unable to move?" Su Jieliang said nonchalantly, yet a hint of hatred shone in his eyes.

    Yan Chengzhi certainly didn''t have Su Jieliang''s laissez-faire attitude and was instead full of dejection, deeply regretting why he had foolishly agreed to join Su Jieliang in teaching Ge Dongxu a lesson, even though he knew well enough how formidable Ge Dongxu was. Now, rather than teaching the man a lesson, he had turned himself into a living corpse.

    ¡­

    "This, Senior, are you really planning to leave those two guys standing outside for the entire night?" Along a mountain path on Mount Santai, Lv Chongliang and others were touring the scenery with Ge Dongxu and cautiously asked.

    "He attacked me, and I''m punishing them by having them stand for a night. That''s fair, isn''t it? What''s wrong with that?" Ge Dongxu said as if it were a matter of course.

    "It was they who provoked and attacked first, so of course, there''s nothing unfair. On the contrary, Senior, you''re letting them off easy by not beating them until they spit blood. It''s just that, Su Jieliang is after all the Young Sect Master of the Santai Sect, and his grandfather is a true hermit and a powerful figure in Dongyue Province. My grandfather told me his mana is incredibly strong; once he uses his techniques, he can condense a tangible Flying Sword out of Geng Metal energy that can decapitate a person within ten zhang. It''s truly frightening." Lv Chongliang replied, revealing a look of reverence and yearning when speaking about Su Jieliang''s grandfather.

    "Able to decapitate within ten zhang, that is somewhat impressive." Ge Dongxu nodded after hearing this.

    "Please, Senior, that''s not ''somewhat impressive'', it''s very impressive, okay? Think about it, with a flick of the finger, a Flying Sword shoots out, and a person''s head falls to the ground!" Lv Chongliang said, widening his eyes.

    "Yes, exactly, just thinking about such ability makes one''s hair stand on end." Liu Hong and others also nodded vigorously in agreement.

    "Alright, it may sound a bit terrifying to think about. But really, it''s just that, not like he can send a sword flying out to take a person''s head from a hundred miles away as easily as reaching into a bag¡ªthat would be truly terrifying. Just ten zhang is all, how far is ten zhang? Just keep your distance and you won''t have any troubles, right?" Ge Dongxu said with a dismissive laugh.

    In fact, that was indeed the case.

    Such abilities may seem mystical, but if one were to use them to kill unexpectedly, they could indeed be terrifying. However, with the advancement of firearms nowadays, such abilities still cannot contend with bullets and armies. At most, they are like what his senior brother did back then, ambushing in the forest and managing to kill more enemies than usual.

    Nonetheless, Ge Dongxu''s senior brother, Yang Yinhou, was adept in Wood System Techniques, which made him as comfortable as a fish in water in the forest. That''s why, with his Qi Cultivation at the Fifth Layer, he was able to ambush and single-handedly kill two fully organized Japanese squads, totaling one hundred and twenty-four people, in one brilliant feat. If it were Su Jieliang''s grandfather, he probably wouldn''t have been able to do it.

    Of course, if it had been the era of cold weapons, the same Qi Cultivation at the Fifth Layer might mean Su Jieliang''s grandfather would kill even more than Yang Yinhou.

    "Senior, our Qimen Combat Spells are not a military shooting competition, who would stand so far away from each other during a battle?" Lv Chongliang said with a wry smile.

    "So what?" Ge Dongxu countered.

    "Senior, how can you not understand? Su Jieliang is the precious son that the Sect Leader of Santai Sect had in his later years and is a cultivation genius. Su Jieliang''s grandfather is extremely fond of his grandson. If he knew you made his grandson stand outside for most of the afternoon and a whole night, he would certainly come to settle accounts with you!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu did not grasp the subtext of his words, Lv Chongliang had to spell it out directly.

    "Yes, yes, senior. The old ginger is spicier after all. Even though you are formidable, senior, Su Jieliang''s grandfather is basically an old monster of the Qimen. It''s not worth the trouble to go against him head-on. How about we let Su Jieliang off the hook? As for Yan Chengzhi, if you still feel upset about it, make him stand for the whole night. With your strength and having Elder Zhu and Elder Lv on your side, I bet Yan Chengzhi''s grandfather wouldn''t dare to do much," Liu Hong advised alongside.

    "Thank you for your kind intentions, but if I really did as you say, wouldn''t that make me a person who bullies the weak and fears the strong? Besides, since I''ve already said that they must stand for the night, then stand they must! Even if Su Jieliang''s grandfather came, it would be the same. Others may fear him, but I certainly do not!" Ge Dongxu understood the kind intentions of Lv Chongliang and the others, but he, as the honorable Sect Leader and a senior consultant for the Special Ability Management Bureau, could hardly swallow his pride and take an attack from the Young Sect Master of Santai Sect lying down.

    Liu Hong and the others exchanged glances, and after a long while, they looked at each other and helplessly shook their heads behind Ge Dongxu''s back.

    Since Ge Dongxu was a senior and was adamant despite their advice, Liu Hong and the others naturally had no way to sway him.

    Moreover, in their hearts, they too wanted to teach the arrogant Su Jieliang a harsh lesson!

    Mount Santai truly deserved its reputation as the foremost mountain in Dongyue Province.

    The mountains undulated, with strange peaks protruding prominently. There were many famous ancient trees in the mountains, lush and verdant, with the occasional sight of mountain springs and waterfalls cascading down, forming streams and brooks at the foot of the mountain. Climbing halfway up the mountain, one is wrapped in mist, unsure whether they were amongst clouds or mountains.

    "There lies Santai Peak, where the gates of Santai Sect are located," Lv Chongliang said, pointing at a peak that stood tall in the distance as they reached halfway up the mountain.

    That peak joined the one Ge Dongxu was currently on, its cliff rising steeply, regally towering over the other surrounding peaks. Atop that peak, on the edge of a precipice, there was a Taoist temple built half on the mountain and half suspended in the air, an extremely dangerous and magnificent sight.

    As the sun set in the west, casting golden light upon the temple, with mists swirling around, the half-suspended Taoist temple seemed to acquire an additional measure of sanctity and solemnity, resembling an Immortal Palace in an Immortal Realm.

 Chapter 635 - 634 Critical Illness of the Elderly

    ```

    "Indeed, such a long-standing sect really has some style!" Ge Dongxu exclaimed, unable to hide his amazement upon seeing the scene.

    "Yes, but it''s getting late now. If you would like a closer look, we can make a trip early another day to go mountain climbing," Lv Chongliang said, looking up at the sky.

    Ge Dongxu also looked up at the sky. By now, flying two or three hundred meters was no problem for him at all. If it weren''t for the presence of Lv Chongliang and others, such a distance would take him only a moment to cover.

    However, as Lv Chongliang and others were present, he still needed to restrain himself and dared not reveal all of his true abilities.

    The more experiences Ge Dongxu had and the more people he met, the more cautious and careful he became, always leaving some margin in everything he did.

    "That''s fine, it''s getting late; let''s head back, otherwise it will be dark by the time we get to the foot of the mountain," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    So, the group made their way back the way they had come.

    All of them had cultivation, and although none of them was as formidable as Ge Dongxu, climbing the mountain path was still much easier for them than for ordinary people.

    The group chatted and laughed without taking any breaks, and made it down the mountain in one go.

    At the foot of Mount Santai lay an ancient town which had now become a tourist attraction. At night, it was adorned with lights and decorations, and the buzz of vendors and food stalls made it lively.

    After descending the mountain, the group didn''t return to their hotel. Instead, they found a local restaurant in the old town and went in. They ordered food and drinks and enjoyed a lively and comfortable gathering.

    Even after drinking too much, they became bolder unconsciously, not calling Ge Dongxu "senior" anymore, but following Lv Semi-Immortal and calling him "Boss" or "Dongxu Brother."

    Ge Dongxu himself didn''t mind these formalities, and since they weren''t at a hotel, their way of addressing him actually made him feel more at ease.

    ...

    In the suburbs of Santai City,

    there was a detached villa with surrounding gardens.

    Inside, an emaciated old woman lay in bed, her nostrils fitted with oxygen tubes, an IV drip in her hand, and monitoring equipment placed by the bedside.

    The old woman''s eyes were blank and listless, and she appeared extremely weak, like a candle in the wind that could be extinguished at any moment.

    In the room, several people were gathered around the sickbed, and among them was a woman holding the old woman''s withered hand in hers, her eyes red and swollen, her expression wan, but she was so beautiful that she evoked pity in those who saw her¡ªnone other than Wu Yili, a professor from Jiangnan University.

    On the other side of the bed, an old man with an air of immortality about him was taking the old woman''s pulse.

    ```

    After feeling the pulse, the elderly man stood up to examine the old woman''s eyes and tongue and gently pressed on different parts of her body. After a while, he shook his head.

    The old woman, seeing the elderly man shaking his head, couldn''t speak, but her cloudy eyes turned to Wu Yili with a hint of reluctance.

    "Grandma!" Wu Yili couldn''t help but feel the sorrow overwhelming her as tears began to fall uncontrollably when she saw the old woman looking at her.

    In Huaxia Country, most elderly people generally doted on their grandsons the most, but this old woman cherished Wu Yili, her granddaughter, the most. Wu Yili also spent most of her childhood by her grandmother''s side and was especially close to her.

    "Master Zhu, how is my mother''s condition?" As the old woman looked at Wu Yili with reluctance, a man in his fifties asked the elderly man.

    The elderly man was none other than Zhu Dongyu, a towering figure in traditional Chinese medicine in Dongyue Province and a National Medical Master.

    Wu Yili''s grandmother''s family was considered scholarly in Santai City, and her grandmother was a high-level intellectual in the past. Wu Yili''s achievement in becoming a university professor today was largely due to growing up with her grandmother.

    Because her grandmother''s family had some renown in Santai City, when they heard that National Medical Master Zhu Dongyu was in town, they invited him to their home, hoping to do everything possible.

    "The old lady isn''t suffering from a specific illness, but all her internal organs are weak, and her vital energy is fading. She''s reached the age when her life is drawing to a close. I''m powerless to help," Zhu Dongyu said as he shook his head.

    "But my grandma is only seventy-three years old this year! With such good living conditions nowadays, how can she be nearing the end of her lifespan without any illnesses? It must have been triggered by the cold she caught some days ago!" Wu Yili, wiping the tears at the corner of her eyes, said unwillingly.

    "The cold she caught a few days ago is only a superficial cause. The real reason is that your grandmother endured many hardships when she was young, especially after giving birth when she wasn''t able to rest and replenish her vital energy properly. Therefore, even though she''s only seventy-three, her internal organs are all weak, and her vital energy is fading. Now, even if I could use precious medicines like wild ginseng to replenish a bit of her vital energy, it would only add a few more days at most, and it would be a waste of money. It''s better to ask the old lady if she has any last wishes and take care of them as soon as possible. I honestly cannot help," Zhu Dongyu said, seeing Wu Yili so pretty yet with swollen red eyes, full of tears, he felt very sorry for her and didn''t blame her for her skepticism, replying in detail.

    "Master Zhu, you are a national medical master. Since my mother isn''t ill, you must have a way to save her. We don''t dare to ask for much, only for you to find a way to let her live for a few more months or half a year, so that we, her children, can accompany her and fulfill our filial duties!" pleaded the man in his fifties.

    This man was Wu Yili''s uncle.

    The old woman''s condition had already been examined by the best Western medical hospital in the province, and indeed, the hospital was unable to detect any issues, merely stating that her organs were failing. Hence, the family of Wu Yili''s grandmother, knowing she disliked staying in the hospital, brought her back home.

    "Principal Zhang, since I''m here, I would have saved her if I could. But birth, aging, sickness, and death are the natural order of things, and I am powerless to change that," Zhu Dongyu sighed. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Wu Yili''s uncle was the principal of Santai City No. 1 High School.

    "Master Zhu, I beg you, please think again. I know that traditional Chinese medicine is profound. Western medicine might be hopeless in my mother''s case, but perhaps traditional Chinese medicine still has a way," Principal Zhang, clearly a filial son, didn''t give up hope.

    "What you said is true; traditional Chinese medicine is profound. I am unable to help, but perhaps someone else can. Tomorrow, there will be a venerable elder from the traditional Chinese medicine community visiting our Santai City. As it happens, he once guided my medical skills many years ago. He''s almost a hundred years old and truly a reclusive master. I''ll ask him on your behalf tomorrow. However, he''s a real hermit, and I haven''t seen him for decades, so I''m not sure if he''ll be willing to help, but I''ll do my best. If he agrees to intervene, maybe your mother could live for a few more months," Zhu Dongyu suggested, evidently moved by the conversation.

    "That would be wonderful, thank you, thank you!" People from the Zhang Family excitedly thanked Zhu Dongyu. Wu Yili couldn''t hide her excitement, and reminded by Zhu Dongyu''s suggestion, suddenly remembered her close friend, Tang Yahui, whose father Tang Yiyuan was not as famous as National Medical Master Zhu Dongyu, but was still a doctoral supervisor and a prominent figure in traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province. Perhaps he might also be able to help; consulting several renowned doctors could only increase hope.

 Chapter 636 - 635: Asking for Help

    "You don''t need to be so polite. Mrs. Liu is a talented lady from my Dongyue Province and has made great contributions to the education industry here. I will help whenever I can. I''ll head back to the hotel now, and if Elder Yang is willing to help tomorrow, I''ll call you," Zhu Dongyu said, gesturing with his hands as he stood up.

    The members of the Zhang Family naturally kept saying it was all good, and one of Wu Yili''s uncles even personally drove Zhu Dongyu back to the hotel.

    After Zhu Dongyu had left, Wu Yili immediately called Tang Yahui.

    "Professor Wu, what made you think of calling me today? Don''t tell me you''re planning on inviting me for dinner tonight!" Tang Yahui joked as soon as the call connected.

    No one knew Wu Yili had returned to Santai City; she''d just taken a leave from the college and had one of her PhD students cover her classes, so Tang Yahui didn''t know that Wu Yili was not in the Provincial Capital now.

    "Yahui, I''m in Santai City right now, and my grandmother is sick, very sick," Wu Yili replied, clearly not in the mood for jokes, as her voice choked up.

    "Ah! How could this happen! Don''t panic, don''t panic. I''ll talk to my dad and have him come over to check on her. His medical skills are very strong," Tang Yahui exclaimed in surprise and hurriedly added.

    "Thank you, Yahui. That''s exactly what I was hoping for," Wu Yili felt a warm sensation in her heart upon hearing this.

    "Okay, I''ll talk to my dad right now and have him arrange it. Don''t worry, there are many ailments that Western medicine can''t handle, but Chinese medicine can. If my dad can''t handle it, I will... but that shouldn''t happen, my dad will definitely be able to help," Tang Yahui initially wanted to bring up Ge Dongxu, but swallowed her words midway and changed what she was going to say.

    Tang Yahui''s understanding of Ge Dongxu had drastically changed from when she first met him.

    Knowing that he was a truly remarkable and almost immortal-like person, she knew he should not be disturbed unless absolutely necessary.

    Wu Yili did not think too much about it and thanked Tang Yahui again before hanging up the phone. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After hanging up, Tang Yahui went straight upstairs and knocked on her father''s study.

    Tang Yiyuan was a professor and doctoral supervisor at the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and had a standalone villa on the campus grounds. Since Tang Yahui was not married yet, although her unit had also allocated a house to her, she usually went home on the weekends to be with her parents.

    "Eh, why aren''t you watching your TV series? What brings you here? This can''t be good news," Tang Yiyuan, who was reading some books on traditional Chinese medicine, was somewhat surprised to see his daughter suddenly knocking on his study door.

    His daughter was grown now, and it was rare for her to seek him out for a chat without a serious reason.

    "Wu Yili''s grandmother is ill, very seriously ill, and I was wondering if you could help take a look," Tang Yahui said straightforwardly to her father.

    Tang Yiyuan certainly knew of Wu Yili, and on hearing this, he couldn''t help but express his surprise, "Is that so? Where does her grandmother live?"

    "In Santai City, Dongyue Province," Tang Yahui replied.

    "Santai City, and it''s already half-past eight in the evening. It won''t be possible to leave now. Check the flights, and we''ll try to leave early tomorrow morning," Tang Yiyuan said, looking at his watch.

    At Tang Yiyuan''s level, patients usually came to the hospital for treatment. Even trying to book an appointment with him required queuing up early in the morning, and it wasn''t guaranteed. Only important leaders from the province, or from Beijing, or some special national talents would possibly request Tang Yiyuan to make a house call.

    But this time, it was his daughter''s good friend''s grandmother who was ill. Since his daughter asked, even if it was in another province, Tang Yiyuan, the expert in traditional Chinese medicine, would personally make the trip to provide home service.

    "Thank you, Dad," Tang Yahui said, hugging her father''s neck from behind the chair.

    "Silly girl, I''m your father; there''s no need for thanks!" Tang Yiyuan patted his daughter''s hand, smiling contentedly.

    His daughter had grown up, and it had been a long time since she had been so affectionate with him.

    "You are now both a master of traditional Chinese medicine and a wealthy tycoon! Only a daughter like me could boast such great prestige, and, of course, I have you to thank," said Tang Yahui, releasing her hand.

    Tang Yiyuan smiled and shook his head.

    ...

    At midnight, the moonlight was like water.

    Sitting on the balcony of the lakeside villa, Ge Dongxu faced the lake.

    Seven pieces of Spirit Gathering Formation Talismans Jade were placed around him according to the positions of the Big Dipper.

    Bits of starry essence and nature''s spiritual energy were drawn by the Spirit Gathering Array, swirling around Ge Dongxu.

    Mount Santai, being the number one famous mountain in Dongyue Province, had always been a place where cultivators secluded themselves for spiritual practice, and there were even legends of a spirit vein passing through it.

    Thus, the spiritual energy here was comparatively richer than other places.

    After practicing through the midnight hour, Ge Dongxu opened his eyes, a trace of contemplation flickering within them.

    The spiritual energy here indeed surpassed that of other places; continuous cultivation here would certainly hasten his practice''s progress.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu merely felt contemplative; the secluded life suited his senior brother, who had already experienced the vicissitudes of the human world, the ups and downs of life and death, but it was not suitable for him.

    He was still young, needing the experience of a more enriched life to mature his temperament. Moreover, his cultivation pace was already swift; increasing it further bore the risk of hastening only to fail.

    While Ge Dongxu quietly reflected, Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi could not move at all, lying on their beds, their emotions were more than just contemplative.

    The two stared at the ceiling, finding the long night to be an excruciating ordeal.

    Especially Su Jieliang, who by now wished fervently for dawn to break so his grandfather could come to release the prohibitions and then summon Ge Dongxu to severely punish him.

    However, dawn did arrive later, but Su Jieliang''s grandfather did not follow the sunlight into the room.

    His grandfather began a seclusion three days ago, stating he would exit today but not specifying the time; it could be early morning, or perhaps noon, or even the afternoon, or evening.

    Seeing the sun had risen but with no word from Santai Temple, Su Jieliang grew increasingly resentful towards Ge Dongxu, feeling an impulse to tear him limb from limb.

    Although the exchange meeting between the Qimen of the two provinces was jointly held by several major sects from Dongyue Province, the venue ultimately belonged to a hotel owned by the Santai Sect, making Su Boli, the Sect Leader of Santai Sect, the most legitimate host. Thus, seeing no calls coming from Santai Temple, Su Boli had no choice but to temporarily leave the villa and attend to the Qimen from both provinces.

    The official exchange meeting lasted for two days, with the first day featuring some heavyweight figures from the Qimen of both provinces taking the stage to share insights on cultivation and demonstrate techniques, the second morning saw the Qimen youth engage in spell battles, with outstanding participants awarded prizes, followed by a trade meeting in the afternoon before the closing ceremony.

    As the host and the Sect Leader of Santai Sect, Su Boli was scheduled to be the first to take the stage this morning to share cultivation insights and demonstrate techniques. Lv Xinghai, as a master of physiognomy and Feng Shui, was also set to share his expertise, and Zhu Dongyu, a national medical master among the Qimen, was to talk about his experiences in medicine refining. Besides these three, seven more Qimen elders were going to share insights, making a total of ten presenters.

    This had all been decided before the meeting commenced.

    However, if any revered seniors made an unexpected appearance, the meeting would generally invite them on stage to talk about their cultivation insights out of respect.

 Chapter 637 - 636: Strong Self-Confidence

    Huaxia Country is vast with a large population, even today as Daoist arts decline and the powerful are rare, the Qi Men circle is still very significant.

    This is just like martial arts today, although it is gradually fading and real masters are few and far between, there are still many who practice martial arts.

    Ge Dongxu, aside from having a registration at the Special Ability Management Bureau and some interactions with people like Fan Hong from the Bureau, and a brief appearance in Zhan Yuan Mountain because of the iron-clad zombie incident, this counted as his first time really showing his face in the Qi Men circle. Therefore, in such a large circle like Qi Men, Ge Dongxu could only be considered an obscure figure with hardly any fame.

    Thus his arrival did not cause a sensation, and the organizer of the conference did not greet him grandly or invite him to participate in exchanges on stage.

    However, both Lv Xinghai and Zhu Dongyu, one because he had witnessed his terrifying power and knew of his status as a director-level consultant at the Special Ability Management Bureau, and the other because Ge Dongxu was a junior brother of Yang Yinhou, a respected predecessor in Qi Men, had made a special effort to visit him early in the morning to inquire whether he had any intention of sharing his insights on stage. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu just wanted to see the event and naturally had no intention of going on stage to share, so he declined with a smile and also told them that he was still young and liked to stick with people like Lv Chongliang, asking them not to go out of their way to introduce and take care of him, so as to avoid the discomfort of having to sit up front.

    Lv Xinghai, because of the Zhan Yuan Mountain incident, had been given strict orders by Fan Hong and knew that Ge Dongxu did not wish to make a name for himself and have a high-profile appearance in Qi Men, so seeing that he declined, he did not dare to insist. Zhu Dongyu, although out of respect for Yang Yinhou, recognized Ge Dongxu as a predecessor, still ultimately found him too young and was somewhat doubtful of his ability, so naturally, he did not press the matter when Ge Dongxu declined.

    "By the way, when will Elder Yang arrive? I would also like to go and welcome him," Zhu Dongyu shifted the topic at the right moment.

    "My senior brother set off by car early in the morning and should be able to arrive around ten in the morning. He has grown accustomed to a quiet life, and there''s no need for a big fuss," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "I understand, Elder Yang is a hermit of the world, and everything will be decided by him personally when we meet him," Zhu Dongyu said seriously.

    In the Qi Men world, revered elders like Yang Yinhou, the Grand Elder of Santai Sect, are true hermits, and they rarely concern themselves with worldly affairs anymore. For instance, the Grand Elder of the host Santai Sect did not appear in this provincial exchange meeting, so Yang Yinhou did not intend to attend it initially. A great reason for his visit this time was because of Ge Dongxu, so before Yang Yinhou gave specific instructions, Zhu Dongyu naturally did not dare to take initiative.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and smiled, and after a brief exchange of pleasantries, Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai took their leave.

    Not long after Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai left, people like Lv Semi-Immortal came looking for him.

    "A true elder indeed, living alone in a stand-alone villa by the lake! Enviable!"

    Seeing Ge Dongxu living alone in a stand-alone lakeside villa made people like Lv Semi-Immortal quite envious and sentimental.

    Many from the Qi Men came to attend the exchange meeting, and though some might not have higher cultivation than these young people, they held positions of some status in society, and naturally, the hosts wouldn''t dare neglect them in their accommodations. As such, in an expansive hotel, stand-alone lakeside villas were in extremely high demand and there was no way these younger ones could get one, let alone occupy a villa all by themselves.

    "Heh, look at how envious you all are, don''t tell me you haven''t stayed in a stand-alone villa before!" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Of course, we''ve stayed in them, but having a lakeside stand-alone villa at this kind of event is a symbol of status. It''s different from when we just spend money to stay in one," Lv Semi-Immortal said.

    "For me, it''s pretty much the same," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "That''s because you can afford it!" Lv Semi-Immortal shot Ge Dongxu a glance and retorted.

    "Haha!" Seeing Lv Semi-Immortal''s sour expression, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but burst into laughter.

    Lv Semi-Immortal also intentionally put on a sour look, but in fact, he was truly happy that his boss was so awesome. He felt honored and proud, so seeing Ge Dongxu laugh heartily, he joined in with laughter.

    The rest were no exception.

    "By the way, Senior. After we came back last night, we specifically went to check out the golf course area and found that both Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi were gone. Could it be that your prohibitions failed after some time, or have they already broken free?" After laughing for a while, Liu Hong asked.

    Everyone perked up their ears immediately upon hearing this.

    They were all very concerned about this matter.

    "They couldn''t have broken my prohibitions; they went against my instructions and had someone move them back," Ge Dongxu said indifferently, his gaze turning somewhat cold.

    "Are you sure? Could it be that Su Jieliang''s father took matters into his own hands?" Lv Semi-Immortal said.

    "Yeah, Sect Master Su is still very formidable," Liu Hong and the others chimed in with nods.

    "That would be in vain," Ge Dongxu stated, his voice filled with immense confidence.

    He was a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer expert¡ªhow could his prohibitions be broken by a mere Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation magician?

    Lv Semi-Immortal and the others looked at Ge Dongxu for a long time before saying, "We will find out at the exchange meeting later. If Su Jieliang and the others have had their prohibitions lifted, they will definitely attend."

    Ge Dongxu gave a noncommittal and faint smile.

    "Senior, if Su Jieliang''s prohibitions haven''t been lifted yet, what do you plan to do next?" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s noncommittal expression, which clearly showed overwhelming confidence, Chi Longwu felt a twinge of apprehension and cautiously asked.

    "What do you think?" Ge Dongxu asked back lightly.

    "No way, Senior, are you really planning to double the punishment? Su Jieliang is the Young Sect Master of Santai Sect, isn''t he?" Lv Semi-Immortal and the others couldn''t help but be stunned.

    "So what you''re saying is just because Su Jieliang is the Young Sect Master of Santai Sect, he should be allowed to attack me at will? I have my own status too!" Ge Dongxu said.

    Hearing this, Lv Semi-Immortal and the rest had a feeling of being torn between laughter and tears.

    Although they all unanimously acknowledged that Ge Dongxu was very powerful and out of respect for their elders referred to him as a senior, since he was about the same age as them and they had got along quite casually and harmoniously, they were still in the habit of seeing him as someone similar to themselves, at most just a bit more awesome.

    But now, this last statement from Ge Dongxu was clearly not to be taken lightly! He was seriously considering himself to be a big shot, a senior!

    "Alright, stop looking at me like that, let''s go eat. The meeting is going to officially start soon," Ge Dongxu said, understanding the thoughts of Lv Semi-Immortal and the others, but he didn''t specifically explain, choosing instead to say it with a smile.

    Everyone was well aware that Ge Dongxu had some real skills, and with the presence of the two seniors, Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai, even if something really happened, it wouldn''t be too serious. They nodded and left the villa while chatting and laughing on their way to the restaurant to eat.

 Chapter 638 - 637: Senior Brother Arrives

    After dinner, the exchange meeting officially began at eight o''clock.

    The front rows were occupied by the Qimen elders from the provinces of Dongyue and Jiangnan. Although Yang Xiangrong and Xu Lei were not Qimen elders, as the officials in charge of these two provinces, they were also invited to sit in the front rows.

    The host was an elder from the Santai Sect.

    Qimen and some other folk organizations are somewhat different; there were no leadership speeches at the beginning, not even Yang Xiangrong and Xu Lei, though they were the officials in charge of the two provinces, were invited to the stage to deliver a speech. Only Su Boli, representing the host, went on stage to give a welcoming speech. Then the exchange meeting officially started.

    Everything was very direct and simple. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The first to share his cultivation insights was Su Boli.

    Su Boli had some achievements in the Geng Metal Technique. After his explanation, most of the younger participants were baffled, and only those with some cultivation level could grasp some understanding.

    Of course, this was also related to Su Boli deliberately mixing a lot of mysterious elements into his cultivation insights.

    After all, most of those sitting below were outsiders. Naturally, Su Boli could not possibly teach them the true insights of his school. He shared just a small portion, seemingly meaningful, and whether the audience could understand depended on their fate. It was neither Su Boli''s duty nor was it possible for him to continue to clarify in detail.

    Regarding this point, everyone present was well aware, so no one would secretly accuse Su Boli of being obscure and insincere.

    Xu Lei was also skilled in the Geng Metal Technique. In the past, even if Su Boli was being obscure, it would have been somewhat enlightening for him. However, today, Xu Lei found that he had not learned anything; in fact, he even felt that Su Boli''s explanations were too superficial to be mentioned.

    Because all the key points talked about by Su Boli had not only already been explained to him by Ge Dongxu, but they were also much more profound and sophisticated.

    Thinking of this, Xu Lei turned and glanced at Ge Dongxu, who was sitting in the back corner with Lv Semi-Immortal and others, his eyes involuntarily revealing a look of gratitude.

    Without Ge Dongxu, where would Xu Lei be today?

    After Su Boli finished speaking, he took the opportunity to demonstrate the Geng Metal Technique, using a Magic Talisman to gather the Geng Metal energy and conjuring a Flying Sword in front of him that emitted a chilling aura, barely visible.

    Seeing this scene, Lv Semi-Immortal and others could hardly contain their excitement, their eyes blazing with fervor.

    To them, it was like the legendary Sword Immortal.

    However, in Ge Dongxu''s view, it hardly counted for anything. With Su Boli''s mana, conjuring a tangible Flying Sword using Geng Metal energy was nearly at his limit. Not only was the power of the Flying Sword minimal, but it could also only fly out four or five meters before collapsing.

    Sure enough, Su Boli struggled to maintain the Flying Sword, which only circled around him twice before he hastily retracted it.

    Nevertheless, the audience below still erupted in thunderous applause.

    It was probably because Zhu Dongyu, considering that Yang Yinhou would be coming later, arranged for the adjustment of his speaking order. After Su Boli, it was Zhu Dongyu''s turn to take the stage and share insights on medicinal refining and health cultivation.

    Zhu Dongyu, compared to Su Boli, was evidently more generous, sharing quite a few practical insights.

    However, there were too few people who understood the path of medicinal cultivation; even though Zhu Dongyu threw out quite a few valuable insights, most of the people were still confused and clueless.

    After Zhu Dongyu stepped down, a master skilled in the Earth System Technique took the stage to share his insights.

    After listening for a while, Ge Dongxu completely lost interest.

    Since it was all too basic for him and his senior brother was about to arrive, he sneakily greeted Lv Semi-Immortal and others and slipped out of the conference.

    After slipping out of the venue, Ge Dongxu strolled around the hotel for a few laps before he received a call from Wu Qianjin, saying they were almost at the hotel.

    Ge Dongxu then walked towards the hotel entrance and saw Zhu Dongyu already standing there before he even reached the entrance.

    "Senior Ge, it''s almost ten o''clock, is Senior Yang about to arrive?" Zhu Dongyu asked with a face full of excited anticipation as he saw Ge Dongxu approaching.

    "Yes, he is about to arrive," Ge Dongxu nodded and replied.

    Indeed, not long after Ge Dongxu finished speaking, a black Mercedes slowly drove towards the hotel.

    The car stopped in front of Ge Dongxu and Zhu Dongyu, and a middle-aged man quickly got out of the passenger seat¡ªit was Cheng Le Hao''s uncle, one of the shareholders of Qinghe Herbal Tea, Wu Qianjin.

    After getting out of the car, Wu Qianjin did not bother to greet Ge Dongxu but respectfully opened the rear door of the car first.

    "Mr. Yang, please watch your step." Wu Qianjin raised his hand overhead, seemingly afraid that Yang Yinhou would bump his head on the car frame.

    Seeing an old man with white hair and beard but hardly any wrinkles or age spots on his face walk out of the car, Zhu Dongyu couldn''t help but tremble all over. He quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply to Yang Yinhou, "Uncle Yang!"

    "You''re Dongyu! In the blink of an eye, you''ve become an old man," Yang Yinhou said excitedly as he tightly grasped Zhu Dongyu''s hand.

    "Yes, Uncle Yang, you, on the other hand, seem to be growing stronger with age!" Zhu Dongyu said with a face full of envy and admiration.

    "Me?" Yang Yinhou laughed and said, "If you had seen me a few months earlier, you definitely wouldn''t have said that."

    After finishing, Yang Yinhou looked towards Ge Dongxu and asked, "Dongxu, how did you find the conference?

    "Hehe, it was so-so. Mainly, I''ve never attended before and came to see what it was like and join in the crowd," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Haha, that''s for sure. I guess you won''t be much interested after this time," Yang Yinhou laughed as he spoke.

    No one knew Ge Dongxu''s abilities and temperament better than he did.

    The current Qimen exchange conference was, on one hand, for the exchange of Cultivation Techniques and, on the other hand, actually also for networking within the Qi Men circle.

    Now, people in the Qimen have more or less made some achievements in various industries, and everyone is from the same circle. If they get to know and interact with each other, having connections in the mundane world in the future will make things definitely smoother and more convenient.

    At Ge Dongxu''s current level of cultivation, the exchange of cultivation techniques at this level was like an interaction among elementary school students to him, and as for networking, given Ge Dongxu''s current covert identity and wealth, it wasn''t actually necessary, and his temperament wasn''t one to broadly make friends all over the world.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and then said, "Senior brother, first go to my place to rest, and then catch up properly with Daoist Zhu."

    "Why not come to my place? I haven''t seen Uncle Yang for several decades, and we have a lot to talk about. This way, it won''t affect your activities either," Zhu Dongyu suggested.

    "Dongyu is right, I indeed have a lot to talk about with him. You rarely attend such conferences, so don''t mind me, go on with your own activities," Yang Yinhou said with a smile.

 Chapter 639 - 638: This Junior Brother of Yours is Very Impressive!

    """"""Being with one''s own fellow disciple, there is no need for excessive politeness. Seeing that Yang Yinhou shared the same sentiment, Ge Dongxu smiled, nodded, and said, "Alright then, let Zhu Daoist take you to his place to rest first. I''ll take Uncle Wu and the driver to my own place to rest for a while, and I''ll come to find you later."

    Wu Qianjin and the driver were ordinary people, and driving for several hours to get here, they were surely a bit tired.

    "Dongxu, you needn''t be so formal with us. If Old Yang still needs us to take him back, we can stay here. If not, then our task is considered complete. There are still some matters at the factory, so I''ll be heading back to Changxi County right now," Wu Qianjin said.

    "Since the factory is busy, you could have just sent someone to escort my fellow disciple here; there was no need for you to personally accompany us," Ge Dongxu replied upon hearing this.

    "Yeah, I told Xiao Wu the same, but he insisted on coming over with us," said Yang Yinhou.

    "Heh, having the opportunity to accompany the Immortal is my good fortune," Wu Qianjin laughed.

    "This little Wu," Yang Yinhou pointed at Wu Qianjin, laughing and shaking his head.

    Ge Dongxu also laughed and then extended his hand to Wu Qianjin, saying, "In that case, I won''t keep you any longer. We''ll catch up next time when I return to Changxi County."

    "Okay, we''ll talk when you get back to Changxi County," Wu Qianjin said as he shook hands with Ge Dongxu. During the handshake, Wu Qianjin faintly felt a refreshing current flowing from Ge Dongxu''s hand into his palm, and his entire person suddenly felt energized.

    Wu Qianjin was inwardly startled, and his gaze towards Ge Dongxu suddenly filled with respect.

    Then Ge Dongxu shook hands with the driver, similarly passing a thread of True Qi to him covertly.

    The driver also felt something unusual but, unlike Wu Qianjin, he did not know that Ge Dongxu was an extraordinary person, so he just felt it was strange without thinking too much about it.

    Wu Qianjin and the driver drove off in the Mercedes back to the factory, while Ge Dongxu and Zhu Dongyu accompanied Yang Yinhou to the lakeside villa where Zhu Dongyu was staying.

    At the villa, Zhu Dongyu personally served tea to Yang Yinhou and Ge Dongxu, and then the two men started to reminisce, with Ge Dongxu listening on the side.

    When it came to the death of Zhu Dongyu''s father under Japanese artillery during the war against Japan, Yang Yinhou couldn''t help feeling a wave of sadness.

    As for his own experiences, Yang Yinhou shared very little.

    That period was a tragic one, with countless Huaxia sons and daughters forever remaining in the jungles of Myanmar. Those who survived, later on, due to the civil war and fratricidal fighting, and many eventually engaged in the drug trade as a means of survival.

    Therefore, Yang Yinhou didn''t want to bring up those years filled with tragic helplessness again, preferring instead to listen and inquire about the well-being of Zhu Dongyu and his son.

    The time spent on this reunion went by very quickly.

    Soon, it was time for lunch. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Lv Xinghai, knowing that a respected elder was visiting today, specifically came to the villa around lunchtime, paid his respects to Yang Yinhou, and then invited him for a meal.

    "Brother, I won''t be joining you guys!" Ge Dongxu said to Yang Yinhou as they left the villa.""""""

    "Haha, indeed it would be awkward for you, a young man, to join a table full of old men like us. Go ahead, Dongxu. I already have Dongyu and Dao Friend Lv to keep me company," Yang Yinhou said with a laugh.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and went straight to the main hall to join Lv Semi-Immortal and the others for a meal, while Yang Yinhou went to a luxurious private room accompanied by Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai.

    In the private room, there was a large round table for twenty people, surrounded by elders from the Qimen community of Dongyue and Jiangnan provinces, as well as officials Yang Xiangrong and Xu Lei.

    The crowd was quite surprised to see a youthful-faced, white-haired elder accompanied by Zhu Dongyu and Lv Xinghai, as they did not recognize him.

    Although the Cultivation of Lv Xinghai and Zhu Dongyu was not considered truly formidable among those present, the duo had extensive connections in the secular world, and they were given a lot of respect. Seeing them accompany Yang Yinhou, everyone rose and greeted them with cupped hands.

    "Brother Zhu, this Dao Friend has a very unfamiliar face. May I ask who this honored person is?" one of the Qimen elders inquired.

    "This is Senior Yang Yinhou, a good friend of my late father. We haven''t seen him in decades and just learned yesterday that he is still alive. So, we invited him over to meet and catch up on old times," Zhu Dongyu introduced.

    "Ah, it is Senior Yang! Fortunate to meet you, fortunate indeed," they said. Upon hearing that Yang Yinhou was a friend of Zhu Dongyu''s father, the crowd wasn''t surprised that he had come with Lv Xinghai. They greeted him politely with clasped fists, then sat down, not showing excessive reverence or enthusiasm. Nor did anyone recognize Yang Yinhou as the once-famous figure of the Qing Gang on the Shanghai Bund.

    Since Yang Yinhou became famous when most of those in the room were teenagers or, for the younger ones, even children, and he had later gone off to Myanmar with the army¡ªalthough his military exploits were fierce, he was soon targeted by the Japanese, leading to an ambush that almost completely removed him from public view¡ªthough he was once very prominent, his fame was fleeting. Today, after so many years, people like Lv Xinghai and his generation were unaware of such a hero and great figure within the Qimen community.

    Since no one knew of Yang Yinhou''s once illustrious and glorious past, naturally, they just considered him another old senior, one not to be overly concerned about or respected.

    Yang Yinhou, now indifferent to fame and wealth, did not care about their attitudes. He returned the greetings with a smile and then took his seat.

    After a short while, when everyone had arrived, the lunch began.

    Since Yang Yinhou was of the older generation, even if not famous, everyone still raised their glasses to him out of consideration for Zhu Dongyu''s presence. Though their attitudes weren''t extremely respectful, they were courteous.

    However, Su Boli, as the host, behaved quite casually, simply lifting his glass to Yang Yinhou across the table, barely touching the liquor with his lips before setting the glass down.

    The crowd was somewhat taken aback, and Zhu Dongyu''s expression turned rather unpleasant.

    Yang Yinhou, unconcerned, also took a light sip and placed his glass down with a smile.

    "I''ve heard that Senior Yang has a young junior brother named Ge Dongxu," Su Boli said after putting down his glass.

    Upon Su Boli''s statement, most people at the table were confused, but Yang Xiangrong and Xu Lei both shuddered and their gazes towards Yang Yinhou changed dramatically.

    Others might not have been aware of how formidable Ge Dongxu was, or what his standing was, but how could they not? Especially Xu Lei, who had received much kindness from Ge Dongxu, now knowing that Yang Yinhou was Ge Dongxu''s senior brother, immediately regarded him with profound respect.

    "Indeed," Yang Yinhou said, his smile fading as he nodded.

    Nearing a hundred years old and having faced countless dangers in the jungles of Myanmar, the moment Su Boli spoke, Yang Yinhou understood that Su Boli had some issues with his junior brother.

    Sure enough, Su Boli continued, "Your junior brother is quite formidable!"

 Chapter 640 - 639: My Junior Brother Makes Decisions on His Own Accord

    "My junior brother is indeed very formidable," Yang Yinhou replied calmly.

    Su Boli didn''t expect such a blatantly boastful reply from Yang Yinhou. The corners of his mouth twitched involuntarily. He wanted to say something more but then remembered he was the host and his son''s Prohibitions had not yet been lifted. If he were to cause a scene at this time, not only would he offend Zhu Dongyu, but if it became known that he couldn''t lift the Prohibitions on his own son, he would lose great face. Therefore, in the end, Su Boli swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

    Because of Su Boli''s remark, the atmosphere during the meal became subtly tense.

    Some, wary of the Santai Sect''s power or having good relations and ties with it, became notably indifferent toward Yang Yinhou.

    The others, though their change in attitude was not so obvious, also became somewhat awkward. Yang Xiangrong and Xu Lei, especially Xu Lei, on the other hand, showed particular respect toward Yang Yinhou and were noticeably colder towards Su Boli, confusing and puzzling many.

    Yang Yinhou was advanced in years and had many life-and-death experiences, with high Cultivation. Aside from matters he truly cared about, ordinary things could hardly affect his mood.

    Therefore, the change in the atmosphere during the meal seemed to have nothing to do with him; he remained composed throughout. He ate what he should, drank what he should, raising his glass in return when others toasted him, and smiling and replying a word or two when others spoke to him.

    Those who secretly thought Yang Yinhou was just a nobody might believe he was pretending to be a noble sage because of his connection with Zhu Dongyu, while people like Xu Lei and Lv Xinghai were deeply impressed by the old man''s sage-like demeanor.

    In the afternoon, the exchange continued, and with the atmosphere being somewhat off, the seniors in the luxurious private room concluded their meal early and left in small groups.

    Since Su Boli obviously had issues with Yang Yinhou''s junior, and since Yang Yinhou wasn''t very well-known, none of the exchange event organizers took the initiative to invite him to the stage to share his Cultivation Insight until the meal was over.

    Normally, seniors of Yang Yinhou''s standing who arrived unexpectedly would usually be invited by the event organizers to the stage, out of respect for their seniority.

    Zhu Dongyu did, of course, have his opinions about this behavior from the event organizers, but since Yang Yinhou had no intention of such, Zhu Dongyu acted as if he was unaware.

    Since Zhu Dongyu didn''t say anything, Xu Lei naturally couldn''t either, though he wasn''t showing any good face to the people in charge of the event.

    Disrespecting Yang Yinhou meant disrespecting Xu Lei, the person in charge of the Special Ability Management Bureau in Jiangnan Province.

    Of course, the event organizers weren''t aware of this, and upon seeing Xu Lei''s gloomy expression, they internally flinched, suspecting someone might have said something they shouldn''t have, perhaps overheard by the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau in Jiangnan Province. They thought it prudent to remind some people privately to refrain from speaking about politics or national affairs.

    There was no choice; despite Xu Lei being the youngest and least experienced among them in Qimen, he was a representative of the official authority, an official from the government body that supervised and regulated Qimen''s special forces. Should he take issue with their conduct and deem it necessary to increase supervision and control, their actions would no longer be so free and easy.

    "Uncle Yang, please don''t take it to heart. Some people are naturally arrogant because they think they have some skills and forget that there are powers beyond their own," Zhu Dongyu said apologetically once they returned to the villa.

    Yang Yinhou chuckled lightly, "You don''t need to dwell on it. Uncle Yang has lived a long life, seen all manner of storms and events. If I were to take such trivial matters to heart, this whole life and my cultivation would have been in vain."

    "I don''t know when I will ever achieve the breadth of heart that you have, Uncle Yang," Zhu Dongyu said, secretly relieved.

    "If you had my experiences, you naturally would," Yang Yinhou said lightly, his tone tinged with an indescribable sense of age and sorrow.

    Zhu Dongyu looked at Yang Yinhou, his heart gave a jolt, and it took him a while to say, "Seeing Su Boli''s demeanor, it seems there has been some misunderstanding with Uncle Yang''s disciple. Do you think I need to have a talk with Su Boli to clear up the misunderstanding?"

    "My disciple handles matters on his own, you needn''t trouble yourself," Yang Yinhou said.

    Upon hearing this, Zhu Dongyu''s heart shook again, but he was still somewhat anxious. After hesitating, he added, "But he''s still young, and the Santai Sect does have considerable influence, I''m worried..."

    "You needn''t worry, on this point, I believe Dongxu understands it better than you or I," Yang Yinhou said, waving his hand dismissively, leaving no room for doubt.

    Seeing this, Zhu Dongyu, although still somewhat unconvinced, saw Yang Yinhou''s trust in Ge Dongxu and knew it wasn''t his place to say more. He decided to set the matter aside for now and brought up the matter of Wu Yili''s grandmother.

    "Uncle Yang, there''s something I''m not sure if I should speak of?" Zhu Dongyu said.

    "We are uncle and nephew, there''s nothing you can''t say to me," Yang Yinhou said with a smile.

    "It''s like this, there''s an elderly lady in Santai City, considered a hero of our province, but now she''s stricken with age and severe illness, and I''m at a loss. Since Uncle Yang is here, and with your exceptional medical skills, could I ask you to help take a look?" Zhu Dongyu said.

    "Since she''s a hero, let''s go and take a look." Yang Yinhou was naturally kind-hearted, and now that Zhu Dongyu had made the request, he saw no reason to refuse aid, and immediately nodded without a second thought.

    "That''s great, I''ll call their family right away." Zhu Dongyu said happily, then picked up the phone and called Wu Yili''s uncle, Principal Zhang.

    "The elder''s five organs are all weak, and her vitality is fading, her days are not much longer. You should prepare yourselves," in the Zhang Family, Tang Yiyuan took Principal Zhang and Wu Yili aside, shaking his head as he spoke.

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan''s diagnosis was exactly the same as Zhu Dongyu''s, Principal Zhang and Wu Yili felt their hearts sink to the bottom.

    "Uncle Tang, is there really no way at all?" Wu Yili said with tears in her eyes. She was very attached to her grandmother and couldn''t bear the thought that just as life was finally getting better, her grandmother might pass away without being able to enjoy more good fortune.

    "A way?" Tang Yiyuan looked towards his daughter, Tang Yahui, who had come with him, and seeing the plea and sorrow in her eyes, he couldn''t help but feel hesitant.

    There was certainly nothing Tang Yiyuan could do about Wu Yili''s grandmother''s illness, and if anyone in the world could, he thought it might only be Ge Dongxu. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But the old lady''s natural life was nearly at its end, a law of nature, and Tang Yiyuan wasn''t sure if Ge Dongxu could change her destiny. Even if Ge Dongxu had the ability, if he made the call, would it put Ge Dongxu in a difficult position? Would it be inappropriate?''

    After all, playing the Ge Dongxu card was not something to be done lightly. Otherwise, if internal medicine doctors like He Duanrui, who knew of Ge Dongxu''s skills, followed suit, then all manner of distant relatives and patients with roundabout connections would be disturbing Ge Dongxu, wouldn''t that run him ragged?

    Tang Yahui was clearly aware of this too, so she didn''t dare to speak rashly, but instead looked at her father with pleading eyes.

    "Yili, Professor Tang made a special trip from Linzhou this morning just to see us, this kindness is deep enough already. Since grandma''s condition is indeed as such, don''t make things difficult for Professor Tang anymore. Now we just have to see whether that reclusive expert mentioned by Master Zhu is willing to come. If he comes and draws the same conclusion, then we should prepare for grandma''s passing sooner rather than later," Principal Zhang patted Wu Yili''s shoulder and said mournfully.

    He, too, was no longer holding out much hope for the reclusive expert Zhu Dongyu had mentioned.

 Chapter 641 - 640: Just One Month

    "Master Zhu? Are you referring to Professor Zhu Dongyu from Dongyue Province?" Tang Yiyuan asked, his interest piqued.

    "Exactly, it''s him," Principal Zhang replied.

    "Professor Zhu is a true National Medical Master. His medical skills surpass mine. If even he refers to someone as an Immortal-like figure, then there might still be hope for your mother," Tang Yiyuan stated solemnly, realizing it was Zhu Dongyu.

    Zhu Dongyu was more than a decade older than Tang Yiyuan and had both a great reputation and more experience in the traditional medicine community. Tang Yiyuan had met him a few times and had exchanged ideas with him, knowing him to be a genuine master of Chinese medicine, and he respected him greatly.

    Just as Tang Yiyuan finished speaking, Principal Zhang''s cellphone rang.

    He took it out and saw it was Zhu Dongyu calling, so he quickly answered, "Master Zhu, hello."

    "The senior I mentioned to you last night has accepted my invitation, and we are now on our way to your place," Zhu Dongyu stated straightforwardly.

    "Thank you, Master Zhu, thank you so much. I''ll drive over to pick you up right away," an overwhelmed Principal Zhang replied.

    "No need, we''ll make our own way there," Zhu Dongyu said, and after hanging up, he made a call to have the hotel arrange a car.

    "Is the Immortal-like figure Master Zhu mentioned coming over?" Wu Yili asked her uncle excitedly after he hung up.

    "Yes, they will be here soon," Principal Zhang affirmed, hardly able to hide his excitement.

    "Principal Zhang, I have some acquaintance with Professor Zhu, and since he has invited this Immortal-like figure, I would like to stay and observe if possible. What do you think?" Tang Yiyuan asked. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Of course, of course," Principal Zhang nodded vigorously. Yet, almost immediately, he seemed to remember something and hesitantly added, "But could there be any rules concerning the Immortal-like figure?"

    "It''s hard to say. Let''s wait for Professor Zhu to arrive, and I''ll ask for his opinion. If he agrees that I can stay, I''ll stay; if not, I will choose to leave," Tang Yiyuan responded, pausing slightly before nodding.

    "I''m sorry, Professor Tang, for making you come all this way, and yet here I am..." Principal Zhang stated, sounding genuinely apologetic.

    "No worries at all. Yili is Yahui''s good friend, and I should be here," Tang Yiyuan said, waving his hand dismissively.

    As the Mount Santai Golf Hotel was not far from the Zhang Family''s home, Principal Zhang exchanged a few more pleasantries with Tang Yiyuan before heading to the entrance to greet Zhu Dongyu and the Immortal-like figure.

    "Dad, if the Immortal-like figure can''t help, do you think we could call Ge Dongxu?" Tang Yahui quietly asked her father, lagging a few steps behind.

    "Yili''s grandmother indeed isn''t sick but is running out of vital energy. I''m afraid that even calling Mr. Ge would be troubling him! Plus, Mr. Ge is kind-hearted and values relationships; he''s not calculating. If we call him, he will surely come, but precisely because of this, we need to be cautious. Especially since it''s not an illness but the natural waning of vital energy, making that call isn''t something we should do lightly," Tang Yiyuan whispered back.

    "But, I can''t bear to see Wu Yili so heartbroken. I know how much she cares for her grandmother; she always goes to visit her during vacations and often mentions her whenever we are together. You know she is my best friend," Tang Yahui said.

    "Well, if the Immortal-like figure also can''t help later, try calling Mr. Ge. Since it''s your relationship, it would be more appropriate for you to make the call," Tang Yiyuan, a man also driven by deep emotions, seeing his daughter cherishing this relationship, couldn''t bring himself to say no and finally nodded.

    "Thank you, Dad." Tang Yahui said.

    "Why thank me? You should rather thank Mr. Ge when the time comes," Tang Yiyuan said, glaring at his daughter irritably.

    From Tang Yiyuan''s words, it was not hard to discern that he actually had little confidence in that reclusive expert.

    "I will definitely thank Dongxu, but unfortunately, he lacks nothing," Tang Yahui said with a bitter smile.

    As they spoke, the group reached the entrance of the courtyard.

    Not long after the group reached the entrance of the courtyard, a black Audi car approached and slowly stopped at the entrance.

    Zhu Dongyu and Yang Yinhou alighted from the car.

    Yang Yinhou, with his youthful face and white hair, exuded an air of an immortal sage, making Principal Zhang and the others brighten up with strong hope surging in their hearts.

    Zhu Dongyu appeared somewhat surprised as he looked at Tang Yiyuan, who was extending his hand towards him.

    "Professor Zhu, my daughter is good friends with Professor Wu Yili, so when I heard her grandmother was ill, I specifically came to see her. But since Professor Zhu has already seen her, my presence is redundant," Tang Yiyuan explained proactively.

    "So that''s the case. I was wondering why you were here, but your last remark was unnecessary," Zhu Dongyu said, finally understanding, and smilingly shook hands with Tang Yiyuan. He then introduced, "This is a good friend of my late father, Senior Yang Yinhou."

    "Senior Yang, it''s an honor to meet you," Tang Yiyuan, who had never met Yang Yinhou and was unaware that this elder was Ge Dongxu''s senior brother, quickly stepped forward and extended his hands.

    "Uncle Yang, this is Professor Tang from Jiangnan Province, he has high expertise in traditional medicine," Zhu Dongyu introduced from the side.

    Yang Yinhou, having long lost interest in worldly affairs, rarely discussed such matters with Ge Dongxu, so he was also unaware that this Professor Tang was a shareholder in Qinghe Herbal Tea. Upon hearing this, he shook hands with Tang Yiyuan with a smile.

    After everyone had exchanged greetings at the entrance of the courtyard, Yang Yinhou said, "Let''s not bother with pleasantries any further; we should first see the patient."

    Thus, the group, surrounding Yang Yinhou, entered the villa.

    Being a cultivator sensitive to life force, especially one of Yang Yinhou''s level of cultivation, he sensed the situation as soon as he entered the house. He merely glanced at the elderly woman on the bed, slightly furrowed his brow, and knew that she was at the stage where her life was nearly spent.

    However, since he had come, Yang Yinhou still approached the bedside, took the old woman''s pulse, inspected her carefully, and then said, "The lady is not diseased, but her five organs are all weak, and her vital energy is fading. I can use acupuncture along with a prescription to sustain her life for a month, but just for a month; beyond that, even I am powerless."

    With Yang Yinhou''s declaration, Wu Yili and the others felt their hearts sink to the bottom, their last hope thoroughly dashed. However, Zhu Dongyu and Tang Yiyuan, upon hearing this, were both visibly shaken, their gazes towards Yang Yinhou involuntarily filled with deep respect.

    A month''s time might seem short to laypeople, but for Zhu Dongyu and Tang Yiyuan, it was already quite impressive; it was definitely something beyond their own medical skills.

    "Thank you, Master, please help her," Principal Zhang said, now understanding that this was the best possible outcome. Holding back his sorrow, he bowed deeply to Yang Yinhou.

 Chapter 642 - 641: Is the Remarkable Person Youre Talking About Ge Dongxu?

    "Alright, I''m about to perform the acupuncture; everyone, please leave the room. Dongxu, you stay, and if Professor Tang is interested, he can stay and watch," Yang Yinhou said.

    "Thank you, senior. I couldn''t ask for more," Tang Yiyuan quickly responded, bowing.

    Yang Yinhou smiled and nodded at Tang Yiyuan, while Wu Yili and the others left the room.

    Once outside, seeing Wu Yili''s sorrowful expression, Tang Yahui sighed softly, hugged her shoulders, and whispered, "Don''t be sad, Yili. My dad and I know a hermit, a real master. Even my dad consults him about medicine. I''ll call him right now to see if he can help. If he agrees, I''m sure there''s hope for your grandma."

    "Thank you, Yahui, but there''s no need to trouble him. I am a university professor, and I understand better than anyone that natural laws are just that¡ªunalterable by anyone. Master Yang just said he could prolong my grandma''s life for a month; that''s already miraculous. I just want her to live well for one more month without asking for anything more," Wu Yili said as she wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes.

    "Yili, you don''t understand. He is a true master! I''ll make the call right now, and you''ll see if he comes," Tang Yahui said more anxiously, seeing Wu Yili''s disbelief, and stood up to take out her cellphone and stepped outside.

    Wu Yili watched Tang Yahui get up and leave, opened her mouth, then closed it again, knowing full well it might be futile, yet she still couldn''t help but hope for a miracle.

    "Damn, an entire morning, and I haven''t even seen Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi at all, not even for a meal. The prohibitions on them haven''t really remained unresolved until now, have they?" In a corner of the hall, Chi Longwu looked around and whispered quietly.

    "They must still be in place; otherwise, with Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi''s temperaments, if the prohibitions were lifted, they wouldn''t let it go; they''d surely come back for revenge," Liu Hong said, her gaze towards Ge Dongxu unable to hide a hint of awe.

    "Damn, senior, your skills in setting prohibitions are seriously badass," said another person at the table with a look of admiration.

    "Senior, isn''t this escalating things too much? Should I give my grandfather a heads-up beforehand?" Lv Semi-Immortal asked, admiring yet concerned.

    "I can handle my own business; there''s no need to bring it up with your grandfather or Zhu Daoist friend," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Hearing this, Lv Semi-Immortal was about to say something but stopped himself. Seeing Ge Dongxu''s calm and composed face and recalling his formidable skills, he ultimately nodded and said, "Alright then, but if anything comes up, just let me know. My granddad does have some influence in Dongyue Province."

    "Thank you, I understand," Ge Dongxu nodded and replied seriously.

    "Count me in! This matter involves me as well," Liu Hong spoke up.

    "As if it doesn''t involve me. The person I hate the most is that Su Jieliang. Damn it, every time we meet, he has to mock me. Senior, you did well placing the prohibition; he deserved a lesson," Chi Longwu grumbled.

    "Haha!" Everyone laughed upon hearing this; they probably all knew about the embarrassing incidents Chi Longwu had with Su Jieliang before.

    As the group of young people were eating, drinking, and joking around, Ge Dongxu''s cellphone rang.

    Ge Dongxu took out his phone and saw that it was Tang Yahui calling. He was quite surprised and excused himself from the table to answer.

    "Manager Tang, what''s the matter?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Tsk tsk, you, a billionaire and big boss, calling me manager Tang¡ªwhat do you mean by that?" Although Tang Yahui clearly knew Ge Dongxu was an extraordinary person and should have been more in awe of him, his casual way of speaking immediately made her feel a warm and friendly connection. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Cough, I just wanted to give you a compliment," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "If you really want to compliment me, you should say ''Tang, the great beauty,'' or ''Tang, the great manager.'' That immediately sounds like a strong woman who can''t get married," Tang Yahui said.

    "Cough cough!" This time Ge Dongxu really didn''t know how to respond.

    "Alright, let''s get serious. I have a very good girlfriend whose grandmother is sick, very seriously ill. My dad said she''s suffering from the failure of all five organs and her vitality is fading away. It''s almost the end of her natural lifespan, and she can''t hold on for much longer. Normally, I wouldn''t have called you, but I really can''t bear to see my friend so sad, so I wanted to call and ask if you could possibly help and take a look?" Tang Yahui said.

    "If it''s the failure of all five organs and her vitality is fading away, then it is indeed close to the end of her natural lifespan. But the specific situation needs a detailed analysis. Where is she?" Ge Dongxu pondered for a moment before asking.

    "She''s in Santai City, which is a bit far. Um, would you be able to come over?" Tang Yahui asked somewhat apologetically.

    "Santai City?" Ge Dongxu was slightly startled.

    "Yes, in Santai City. If you really think her natural lifespan is almost exhausted and it would be pointless to come all this way, then, then let''s forget it," Tang Yahui hesitated, then said.

    "You misunderstood, that''s not what I meant. It''s because I''m actually in Santai City right now," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Ah, really? That''s wonderful! Where are you? I''ll come and pick you up right now," Tang Yahui exclaimed excitedly after a moment of surprise.

    "It would be too much trouble to go back and forth. Just tell me where you are and I''ll come to you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright, I''m currently in the Matou District of Santai City..." Tang Yahui rattled off an address.

    Ge Dongxu took note of it, then excused himself to Lv Semi-Immortal and the others, saying he had something to attend to and would be leaving first. Then he called Yang Xiangrong to arrange a vehicle.

    The vehicle was from the Dongyue Province Special Abilities Management Office; it had a GPS navigation system, which was convenient. Ge Dongxu didn''t want to delay their attendance at the conference, so he didn''t ask Yang Xiangrong to arrange someone to drive him; instead, he entered the address and drove there himself.

    This level of conference didn''t offer much learning value for Ge Dongxu, but it was still of educational significance for the people from the Dongyue Province Special Abilities Management Office.

    The Santai Mountain Golf Hotel wasn''t far from Wu Yili''s grandmother''s house. Ge Dongxu drove for a while and soon saw the villa in the distance, and then he saw Tang Yahui standing at the gate, along with Wu Yili.

    Ge Dongxu, gripping the steering wheel, was immediately dumbfounded, thinking to himself, could it be such a coincidence that the very close girlfriend Tang Yahui was talking about is Teacher Wu?

    With these thoughts in mind, the car had already arrived at the villa''s gate and came to a stop.

    Ge Dongxu got out of the car somewhat awkwardly and stepped out of the driver''s seat.

    "Ge Dongxu!" When Wu Yili saw Ge Dongxu getting out of the car, her swollen eyes went wide, and she pointed at him with a look of shock.

    "You know Ge Dongxu?" When Tang Yahui saw Wu Yili''s reaction to Ge Dongxu, her own eyes went wide in surprise.

    "Your girlfriend is Teacher Wu?" Ge Dongxu looked at Wu Yili, then at Tang Yahui, and asked.

    "The extraordinary person you spoke of, is it Ge Dongxu?" Almost simultaneously, Wu Yili also asked.

 Chapter 643 - 642 My Master is Very Awesome

    Tang Yahui looked at Wu Yili with wide eyes, then at Ge Dongxu, unable to respond for a long time. It was only after a while that she suddenly slapped her forehead and said, "I almost forgot, you are now a student at Jiangnan University, and you are a teacher at Jiangnan University. You guys aren''t, by any chance, in a teacher-student relationship, are you?"

    Ge Dongxu looked at the belated realization on Tang Yahui''s face and was speechless for a while before saying, "You beat around the bush for so long, and it turned out you were talking about Teacher Wu. If you had mentioned Teacher Wu''s name earlier, I would have rushed here immediately."

    "How would I have known that Wu Yili was your teacher!" Tang Yahui rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu and said joyfully.

    She had initially felt somewhat guilty for calling Ge Dongxu over for the sake of her friend''s grandmother. Now, she felt no need to feel guilty.

    "Yahui, I know that Dongxu knows a bit of medicine, but even your dad and others couldn''t do anything. You calling Dongxu to help, is it really..." At this point, Wu Yili had also realized that Ge Dongxu was the remarkable person Tang Yahui had called for help, and she looked at Ge Dongxu and then at Tang Yahui, feeling indescribably odd.

    "Dongxu, since Wu Yili is your teacher, I won''t say much more. You explain it to her," Tang Yahui said, seeing that Wu Yili clearly didn''t believe in Ge Dongxu''s medical skills and was too lazy to explain, she directly passed the buck to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Wu Yili''s swollen eyes, feeling a pang of pain in his heart. He couldn''t blame her for her distrust and instead said softly, "Teacher Wu, Tang Yahui is Professor Tang''s daughter. She should be very aware of who has superior medical skills between her father and me."

    As a university professor in science and engineering, Wu Yili''s logical thinking was originally very meticulous and strong, but because her emotions were involved, and because the situation was too sudden, her mind was momentarily in chaos and she lost her usual clear thinking.

    Now that Ge Dongxu had reminded her, Wu Yili''s body trembled, and she immediately came to her senses.

    However, looking at her familiar student, Wu Yili understood logically that what he said should be true, but she still couldn''t help but ask, "Is your medical skill really that impressive?"

    "Of course, do you remember what I told you? My master is very impressive," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "I remember, it''s just that at that time..." Wu Yili nodded, then hesitated. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Clearly, she still remembered reuniting with Ge Dongxu and inviting him to have a meal at the Emerald Residence by Mingyue Lake when Ge Dongxu mentioned wanting to drink and brought up medicinal wine, leading to a discussion about his master. However, due to Ge Dongxu''s status, even though he said his master was impressive, she initially dismissed his master as a barefoot doctor from the village and couldn''t connect his description of "impressive" with a National Medical Master.

    Now she understood that when Ge Dongxu said "impressive," he meant truly impressive. Even considering Tang Yahui''s regard for Ge Dongxu, he was possibly even more skilled than her father.

    "Teacher Wu, let''s not stand here anymore. Let''s go in and see your grandmother first," Ge Dongxu said when he saw Wu Yili''s expression looking somewhat unnatural and interrupted.

    "Yes, no matter what, thank you, Dongxu!" Wu Yili nodded and then led Ge Dongxu into the villa.

    In the living room, Wu Yili''s uncle and others were present.

    They were tense about Yang Yinhou''s treatment of the elderly and stayed in the living room, not having joined Wu Yili to greet Ge Dongxu.

    "Yili, Miss Tang, didn''t you say there was a master coming over?" Seeing Wu Yili and Tang Yahui enter with Ge Dongxu, Wu Yili''s uncle Principal Zhang asked curiously.

    Both prominent experts of Traditional Chinese Medicine had already issued the same diagnosis, and later, Zhu Dongyu even specially invited an elder over. This elder, almost a hundred years old and exuding an air of saintliness, also gave the same diagnosis.

    In such a situation, Principal Zhang had actually lost all hope for his mother''s condition and did not think it necessary to seek out any extraordinary person.

    Because even if such a person were to come, it would be a wasted effort, and moreover, Zhu Dongyu was a National Medical Master. He not only came himself but also kindly invited an elder. Under these circumstances, it was clearly disrespectful and distrustful for the Zhang Family to suddenly invite another extraordinary person.

    However, Tang Yahui did it with good intentions and had even informed Principal Zhang after making a phone call, so although he disagreed, he didn''t express it, hoping only that this extraordinary person would be like Tang Yiyuan, who knew Zhu Dongyu and understood social graces, thus preventing any awkwardness for the Zhang Family.

    But now, seeing Wu Yili and Tang Yahui accompany a young man, Principal Zhang was puzzled as he did not see any eminent person.

    "Uncle, this is the eminent person Tang Yahui has invited, Ge Dongxu." Wu Yili introduced with a strained expression.

    Although logically, Ge Dongxu''s medical skills must be excellent, looking at his familiar and young face, Wu Yili always found it hard to associate him with an eminent person of great medical expertise.

    "Him?" Principal Zhang also opened his mouth wide in surprise.

    "Is this a joke? He is just a youngster; could his medical skills be better than those of Master Zhu and the others?" A middle-aged woman couldn''t help blurting out.

    This middle-aged woman was Wu Yili''s aunt.

    "Of course, he even advised my father," Tang Yahui responded, somewhat displeased upon hearing Wu Yili''s aunt speak without restraint.

    If it were not for Wu Yili''s sake, she would not have bothered to ask Ge Dongxu to come. Now that he had just arrived and was being joked about, naturally, it was quite unpleasant for Tang Yahui to hear.

    "How is that possible?" Wu Yili''s aunt instinctively pointed at Ge Dongxu, a look of disbelief on her face.

    "That''s enough, hold your tongue," Wu Yili''s uncle, being a principal and having received a good family education from young, saw that his wife''s tone was inappropriate and quickly glared at her. Then, turning to Ge Dongxu with an apologetic expression, he said, "Dr. Ge, thank you for coming. However, we have already sought the help of a National Medical Master and his elder. They all say my mother has no hope. Professor Tang also gave the same diagnosis, saying that my mother''s organs are all weak, her vital spirit is fading, and her vital energy is nearly depleted. This diagnosis must be correct. Right now, the high-ranking person is performing acupuncture on my mother and says that with a prescribed medicinal formula, she could possibly linger for another month. We no longer dare to hope for more, so we won''t trouble you anymore. I hope you can understand."

    Saying this, Principal Zhang deep bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu.

    "Principal Zhang, what are you doing, Ge Dongxu really¡­" Tang Yahui couldn''t help but feel both anxious and aggrieved upon seeing this.

    She had made quite a determination to call Ge Dongxu.

    "Uncle, Dongxu was my student at the university, so his presence means he is confident. Regardless of the outcome, let''s have him take a look later," Wu Yili hesitated, then spoke.

 Chapter 644 - 643: Arent You Going Out of Your Way?

    "Is he still your student?" Principal Zhang and the others were initially startled upon hearing this, then all shook their heads.

    How could a college student possibly match a National Medical Master? Even with Tang Yahui''s, the daughter of a National Medical Master, recommendation, they still found it hard to believe.

    "Environmental chemistry is the specialty I wanted to pursue, which is why I went to college, but actually, I have been studying medicine since I was young." Since it was his teacher''s grandmother, Ge Dongxu didn''t pride himself on his status. Seeing that they didn''t believe him, he didn''t just turn around and leave. Instead, he took the time to explain.

    "Your medical skills are good, I believe that, otherwise Tang Yahui wouldn''t have recommended you. However, we have already invited Master Zhu, and Master Zhu has invited his elder here. You are Yili''s student, one of our own, so I''ll be frank with you. At this moment, if I ask you to help treat my mother, with your age, it definitely would embarrass Master Zhu and the others. If you don''t mind, why not wait until we have sent Master Zhu and the others off, then you can help us out?" Hearing Ge Dongxu say this, Principal Zhang found it hard to outright refuse, given that it was well-intentioned, and after thinking for a moment, he said. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Treatment for Teacher Wu''s grandmother is important; I don''t care about the empty titles." Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Thank you, Dongxu!" Although Wu Yili didn''t hold much hope for Ge Dongxu, hearing his words moved her deeply, and she couldn''t help but grasp Ge Dongxu''s hand, her eyes brimming with tears.

    "You''re my teacher, it would be remiss to say such things," Ge Dongxu said softly, looking at Wu Yili''s swollen eyes.

    While everyone was talking, Tang Yiyuan and Zhu Dongyu, accompanied by Yang Yinhou, came down from upstairs.

    "Mr. Ge, how did you get here?" Tang Yiyuan was the first to see Ge Dongxu and couldn''t help exclaiming in surprise.

    As he spoke, Tang Yiyuan had already hurried down the stairs.

    Logically analyzing, Wu Yili had surmised that Tang Yiyuan must have held Ge Dongxu in high esteem, otherwise Tang Yahui, as Tang Yiyuan''s daughter, wouldn''t have specifically called him, nor mentioned that he had advised her father.

    Yet, seeing Tang Yiyuan rush down the stairs and address Ge Dongxu as ''Mr.'', Wu Yili still couldn''t help but widen her eyes in disbelief.

    Principal Zhang and the others felt the same way.

    After all, Tang Yiyuan was a leading authority on traditional Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province, while Ge Dongxu was just a young man.

    However, Principal Zhang and the others quickly thought of their own mother and, without pondering further about Ge Dongxu, they hurried toward Yang Yinhou and Zhu Dongyu.

    "Master Yang, how is my mother?" Principal Zhang asked anxiously.

    Although a month was short, it was still much better than a few days! As a son, even if his mother could live one more day, Principal Zhang cared a great deal.

    "You ask me, I can only say that it can be delayed for a month, no more. But since my disciple has come, let''s have my disciple take a look first, then we can make a definitive conclusion," Yang Yinhou replied.

    "Your disciple? Where?" Principal Zhang and the others were taken aback, unsure of what Yang Yinhou meant by that.

    Since Yang Yinhou was nearly a hundred years old, they reflexively thought that Yang Yinhou''s disciple, if not in his eighties or nineties, would at least be around Zhu Dongyu''s age, and they never associated Yang Yinhou''s disciple with Ge Dongxu.

    Yang Yinhou smiled, didn''t answer, and instead, moving past Principal Zhang and the others, he walked down the stairs towards Ge Dongxu and asked, "Dongxu, how did you get here?"

    "He, he is Master Yang''s junior brother?" Seeing Yang Yinhou talking to Ge Dongxu, Principal Zhang and others finally realized it, all of them visibly shaking, with faces full of stunned shock.

    Tang Yiyuan was also caught off guard, looking at Yang Yinhou he asked, "You are Ge''s senior brother?"

    "What, do you know my junior brother?" Yang Yinhou also seemed surprised upon hearing this.

    "Of course I know him; my medical skills have greatly benefited from Mr. Ge''s guidance," Tang Yiyuan replied.

    "It seems like family doesn''t recognize its own," Yang Yinhou said after hearing that Tang Yiyuan had been instructed by Ge Dongxu. He immediately felt a kinship and started smiling.

    "Indeed. Before I was wondering, I had never heard of such a reclusive expert in the world of traditional medicine. Now that I know you are Mr. Ge''s senior brother, that explains it," complimented Tang Yiyuan.

    Tang Yiyuan simply smiled noncommittally, then turning back to Ge Dongxu, he revisited his previous question, "Why did you come? Was it also for Ms. Liu?"

    "This is Wu Yili, my university teacher; her grandmother is the patient," Ge Dongxu pulled over the already somewhat astonished Wu Yili and explained.

    "So the patient''s granddaughter is your teacher!" Yang Yinhou made a point to smile and nod at Wu Yili, then said to Principal Zhang, "My junior brother''s medical skills are far superior to mine. Since your niece is my junior''s teacher, aren''t you seeking help far from home and ignoring the true expert, asking instead for this old man?"

    Yang Yinhou, nearly a hundred years old, was a master of his generation, and he naturally didn''t feel the need to be modest in front of his own junior brother!

    Since his words were not out of modesty, the implication was quite clear!

    So when Yang Yinhou spoke these words, aside from Tang Yiyuan and his daughter, who weren''t too surprised, everyone else, including Zhu Dongyu, was left in shock.

    The family members of Wu Yili''s grandmother, especially, were struck with embarrassment after their initial shock.

    Just moments before, they had doubted Ge Dongxu''s medical skills, and it was only out of face and his goodwill that Principal Zhang had mentioned they might ask Ge Dongxu to help look after Yang Yinhou and others had left.

    But what turned out? Ge Dongxu was Yang Yinhou''s junior brother, and Yang Yinhou, a man even Zhu Dongyu had to address respectfully, had publicly stated that Ge Dongxu''s medical skills were far superior to his own!

    How could this not make the family members of Wu Yili''s grandmother exceedingly embarrassed?

    "This, Master Ge, I was very offensive just now, please, you mustn''t take it to heart," Principal Zhang quickly came back to his senses, hurrying to speak apologetically and cautiously.

    "Principal Zhang, you are being too formal. Your niece is my teacher and has taken good care of me; it''s only right for me to help check on the elderly lady," Ge Dongxu said humbly.

    "This, thank you, thank you," Principal Zhang hurriedly said, and while talking, he didn''t forget to give a significant look to the still slightly dazed Wu Yili.

    It was no wonder Wu Yili was surprised. She had known Ge Dongxu three years ago when he was a boy in tattered clothes and shoes, carrying a medicine basket, a lonesome child from the dark mountains, in her mind, Ge Dongxu had always been a student from a poor mountainous region with a difficult family background. Thus, she had often felt the need to invite him to a hearty meal, fearing he might be struggling financially. But now, this student she was so familiar with had suddenly turned around and become not only a doctor but also a mentor in medical skills to Tang Yiyuan and even the junior brother of Zhu Dongyu''s elder. How could her mind bend around that so quickly?

 Chapter 645 - 644 Are You Yilis Boyfriend?

    Under several meaningful glances from her uncle, Wu Yili finally snapped out of her daze, her gaze towards Ge Dongxu filled with complexity.

    She didn''t utter any words of apology, only whispered softly, "Dongxu, sorry to trouble you."

    Ge Dongxu smiled at Wu Yili, revealing a row of white, even teeth, his eyes as dark and clear as ever.

    Suddenly, Wu Yili felt dazed, as if she had fallen into those deep black eyes, seemingly transported back to the narrow mountain path on Baiyun Mountain three years ago.

    Back then, she was as helpless as she was now, though the danger then was to herself, whereas now it was her grandmother who was in danger.

    And then Ge Dongxu had appeared, and now he had appeared again.

    Without any warning.

    If one were to speak of fateful ties from past lives, Wu Yili even wondered if this was one.

    Otherwise, why would it be such a coincidence? First herself, and then her dearest kin.

    However, Wu Yili quickly snapped out of her reverie, returning to reality from the wild thoughts in her mind.

    What am I thinking? I''m a teacher, and he''s my student, Wu Yili scoffed inwardly.

    But is he really just a student? One that even noted traditional medicine experts must address respectfully as Mr. Ge? Yet after self-mocking, Wu Yili became perplexed again.

    Their relationship, and Ge Dongxu''s identity, truly made Wu Yili, a university professor known for her meticulous and strong logical thinking, feel confused. Should she continue to see him as a student, or should she regard him as a great benefactor, a National Medical Master?

    "What are you daydreaming about? Let''s go," Tang Yahui nudged her with her elbow while Wu Yili was caught in her thoughts.

    Only then did Wu Yili realize that Ge Dongxu had already started ascending the stairs with her uncle and others.

    Wu Yili''s pretty face turned slightly red, and she couldn''t quite explain her feelings. She should be more concerned about her grandmother, yet here she was, lost in thought.

    "Um!" With her face still flushed, Wu Yili hurriedly followed Tang Yahui up the stairs.

    "Didn''t you really like that water-droplet-shaped jade pendant? Now I can tell you who the master is," Tang Yahui whispered to Wu Yili as they walked up the stairs.

    "Don''t tell me, you''re talking about the jade carving master Ge Dongxu?" Wu Yili suddenly widened her eyes.

    "You''re indeed a university professor; your thinking is so sharp!" Tang Yahui teased as she looked at Wu Yili.

    "Ah!" Although Wu Yili had already guessed it, seeing Tang Yahui confirm it still made her involuntarily cry out in surprise.

    That water-droplet-shaped jade pendant, when Tang Yahui had shown it to her, had instantly enchanted her. Holding the pendant had felt so exquisitely lifelike, a feeling still vivid in her memory, and she also deeply regretted not possessing such a fine piece of jewelry herself.

    But Wu Yili never expected that the master Tang Yahui was reluctant to reveal would turn out to be her own student, Ge Dongxu.

    At this moment, Wu Yili suddenly realized that even though she thought she understood Ge Dongxu very well, in reality, she knew nothing about him. His expertise in martial arts, his medical skills, and now his mastery in jade carving, all remained a revelation.

    "Don''t be so surprised; if you truly want it, with your status, he will surely not refuse to craft one for you," Tang Yahui said.

    However, when Tang Yahui''s words fell on Wu Yili''s ears, for some reason, she inexplicably felt a sour feeling.

    Hmph, I am his teacher; there''s no way I would ever initiate asking him for the jade pendant!

    As the two best friends whispered, they reached the upstairs.

    Upon reaching upstairs, upon seeing that the door to her grandmother''s room was open, Wu Yili''s thoughts immediately returned to her grandmother. She hurried a few steps and entered the room.

    At that moment, Ge Dongxu was seated beside the sickbed, his fingers placed on the elderly''s pulse points, his face serious.

    Because the elderly lady was nearing the end of her natural lifespan, she had been alternately lapsing into unconsciousness and awakening these past days. Even when awake, her eyes often appeared vacant and devoid of spirit.

    While Ge Dongxu was taking the old lady''s pulse, she suddenly opened her eyes and awoke.

    Because she had just undergone Yang Yinhou''s acupuncture, when the elderly woke up, her muddied eyes seemed to carry a bit of vitality, and she looked considerably more spirited than before.

    Seeing a young man taking her pulse, she showed a puzzled look in her eyes, but the puzzled look quickly turned into affection and a smile. She raised her other hand and placed it on Ge Dongxu''s, saying, "Young man, are you Yili''s boyfriend? What''s your name?"

    Ge Dongxu did not expect the old lady to ask him this question, and even as a master, he was stupefied.

    "Grandma, no, his name is Ge Dongxu, and he''s the doctor we''ve asked here for you." As Ge Dongxu was lost for words, Wu Yili had already rushed to the bedside, holding her grandmother''s hand and explaining,

    But as she explained, Wu Yili, unbeknownst to herself, had tears streaming down her face; she knew her grandmother had always been thinking about her, worrying about her continuously.

    "So it''s the doctor, eh! I''m sorry, Dr. Ge. My grandma is concerned about me, her granddaughter. She hopes that, after her time, there will be a man to protect and care for me; hence the misunderstanding," the old lady said, her eyes dimming as she spoke.

    "Grandma, you are still in good health. You will surely see Teacher Wu walk into the marriage hall with your own eyes," Ge Dongxu said, hearing the disappointment in the old lady''s voice, suddenly reminded of his own grandparents, feeling a pang in his heart as he tightly grasped the old hand and spoke.

    "You are a good young man! But it''s no use; grandma knows her own body well, and I probably just have these few days left," the old lady sighed.

    "No, Grandma, Ge Dongxu is a very skilled doctor. Even Professor Tang seeks advice on medicine from him. What''s more, his senior brother has even said that his medical skills are better than his. He will definitely find a way to prolong your life by a few more years," Wu Yili tearfully said, "Right, Dongxu?"

    "Ah, Yili, don''t make it hard for Master Ge," Principal Zhang said, placing his hand on Wu Yili''s shoulder.

    "Yes, Professor Wu, some things simply cannot be forced," Zhu Dongyu also followed up with words of comfort.

    If Ge Dongxu had said he could delay the elderly''s life by two or three months, or even half a year, Principal Zhang and Zhu Dongyu might still be half doubtful, especially since Yang Yinhou had praised him before; it still seemed possible.

    However, now that Ge Dongxu said the elderly would definitely live to see Wu Yili walk down the aisle, to them, these were clearly words of comfort, of good fortune.

    How could a person nearing the end of their natural life possibly hold on for several more years?

    Wu Yili clearly thought the same, hence why she couldn''t stop the tears from continuously falling, asking Ge Dongxu in a crying voice.

    Seeing Wu Yili crying like a fountain of tears, Ge Dongxu''s nose turned sour, and looking at her, he nodded and said, "Most definitely." S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You are a kind-hearted child. If Yili can find a young man like you in the future, grandma will rest easy in the underworld," the old lady gripped Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly and sighed.

    "Ah!" Apart from Yang Yinhou and Tang Yiyuan, everyone in the room broke down in tears.

 Chapter 646 - 645 How is this possible? [Vote for monthly pass]

    "Grandma, I''m serious. Although all your organs are weakened, and your life energy is fading, fortunately, your kidneys are in a relatively better condition, and your brain is still clear and your thoughts coherent. Otherwise, if your mind were muddled and your kidneys were also aged and failing, then I would truly have no solution," Ge Dongxu said solemnly, seeing the elderly lady speak of what lies beyond this life and the others shedding tears around her.

    All her organs being weakened signifies organ aging, and the waning life energy indicates that the breath of life within the elderly is gradually weakening. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The aging of either one of these aspects is a natural law, which for other doctors is an irreversible change; they can only try to find ways to delay its progression.

    This is different from being sick or injured. Whether sick or injured, the essence of the organs is still young, and the very breath of life is still brimming with vitality.

    It''s like how children can quickly recover from fractures and can even heal without future issues. But if a middle-aged or old person breaks a bone, not only is their recovery slow, but it''s also unlikely they''ll recover completely because their organs and the breath of life within them are no longer young.

    Wu Yili''s grandmother is in this very situation¡ªit''s not illness, but genuine aging. Even with Yang Yinhou''s medical skills, at most he could only extend her life by a month, which was both the limit of Yang Yinhou''s abilities and, in his view, the ultimate potential of Wu Yili''s grandmother''s life.

    Had Ge Dongxu not advanced to the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation before this, even with his medical skills, the outcome would probably only be slightly better than Yang Yinhou''s, at most just another month or half a month longer.

    But Ge Dongxu had not only already cultivated to the Eighth Layer but had also recently made a breakthrough to the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    As such, the result was entirely different.

    At the Eighth Layer, by practicing the Cultivation Technique of Embracing Simplicity and the Nine Pills, one could form a vortex of True Qi in the kidneys.

    The kidneys store innate essence, the fundamental Yin and Yang, which are the core of the Yin and Yang of the organs. They contain the essence of the five organs and six bowels and are the repository where the true vitality is sealed.

    When resuscitating patients in the hospital, especially when the heart suddenly stops or during shock, adrenaline injections are used; essentially, this amounts to stimulating and overdrafting the patient''s life energy.

    That''s why when doctors carelessly prescribe steroids, especially to children, they are actually squandering and overdrawing their life energy. In the beginning, because the kidneys contain abundant inherent source and vitality, one might not notice any problems and might think that using steroids reduces fever and joint pain effectively, making them happy. Little do they know, they are spending their life energy.

    Wu Yili''s grandmother mainly aged prematurely due to the early loss of her husband and the hardships of raising her children, resulting in overwork. However, her kidneys had not overdrafted her vitality excessively.

    This aspect was something that Zhu Dongyu, Tang Yiyuan, and even Yang Yinhou had not been able to observe with their medical skills; and even if they could observe it, it would only be superficially.

    But Ge Dongxu was different. His True Qi had already entered the kidneys forming a vortex, granting him a thorough understanding of the kidney''s condition. Hence, when he took the elderly woman''s pulse, his True Qi could carefully investigate the true state of her kidneys. Even during treatment, he could stimulate and nurture the elderly woman''s kidneys and the life energy within them with his True Qi.

    And this was something Yang Yinhou was currently far from capable of achieving.

    Of course, if the elderly woman''s brain had also declined to confusion, Ge Dongxu might be powerful, but his current knowledge of the brain was limited. He could treat brain injuries, but if the brain was aged and confused, he would be at a loss.

    Ge Dongxu''s voice echoed in the room, his expression earnest. Now everyone realized that what Ge Dongxu had just said wasn''t just consoling or auspicious talk but serious words, and they were all astounded.

    "Is it true? Dongxu, is this really true? Can my grandma live several more years?" After a while, Wu Yili finally snapped to attention, seizing Ge Dongxu''s hand with an excited face, her smooth, delicate cheeks still wet with glistening tears.

    "Of course, it wouldn''t be a joke to speak of such matters. Given my teacher''s grandmother''s current condition, I certainly can''t promise a life of a hundred years, but another eight to ten years? Definitely possible," Ge Dongxu nodded and replied.

    "Eight to ten years!" Ge Dongxu''s words exploded like a thunderclap in everyone''s ears. If it hadn''t been for the praises from Yang Yinhou and Tang Yiyuan earlier, everyone would probably have rushed up to denounce him for spouting nonsense and making empty promises.

    "You, you can really extend Madam Liu''s life by another eight to ten years? How, how is that possible?" After a long while, Zhu Dongyu asked with a trembling voice.

    As a National Medical Master, he understood all too well the elderly''s physical condition and what an extra eight to ten years meant for medicine?

    It was nothing short of a miracle!

    Moreover, if it were true, it would mean that Ge Dongxu''s medical skills were not just on another level compared to Yang Yinhou!

    But how could that be possible?

    One was merely around twenty years old, and the other was a nearly hundred-year-old veteran in traditional Chinese medicine!

    One was a junior brother, and the other was a senior brother!

    Principal Zhang and the others also stared intently at Ge Dongxu. Although they believed in Dongxu because of the prior endorsements from Yang Yinhou and Tang Yiyuan, the figure of eight to ten years was just too shocking for them to take in.

    "Since Dongxu has said so, Madam Liu''s lifespan will only be longer, not shorter," Yang Yinhou said, glancing at Zhu Dongyu with dissatisfaction for doubting his junior brother, and then spoke out.

    The weight of Yang Yinhou''s words was naturally different from the young Ge Dongxu. As soon as he spoke, the entire room fell so silent that the sound of a pin dropping on the floor would have been heard, while Zhu Dongyu shockingly gazed at Ge Dongxu with trembling lips, unable to utter a word for a long time.

    "Dongxu, could it be that you can clearly investigate Madam Liu''s kidney condition?" Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, Yang Yinhou asked Ge Dongxu somewhat excitedly.

    Others might not know what Ge Dongxu''s mention of the elderly''s kidneys meant, but Yang Yinhou was very clear about its significance.

    "Yes, senior brother. Otherwise, I wouldn''t dare say that I could extend the life of the elder by another eight to ten years," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Good, good!" Although Yang Yinhou had guessed that Ge Dongxu must have broken through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, he couldn''t help but shudder at the confirmation. His white beard quivered nonstop from excitement.

    The others present didn''t understand the significance of the exchange between the two, nor did Zhu Dongyu, as his cultivation hadn''t reached that layer.

    "Senior brother, I am going to start regulating grandmother''s body now. Please, everyone, step outside. The adjustment will take some time. I won''t be opening the door, so please do not come in and disturb me," Ge Dongxu gave Yang Yinhou a nod, and then his expression became more solemn.

    Even though Ge Dongxu spoke confidently, the elder was after all in a condition where all five organs were weak and her vital energy was fading, nearing the end of her natural lifespan. To extend her life was almost an act of changing her fate against the heavens. Even if Dongxu''s cultivation were to be higher than his senior brother had estimated, the treatment was still no easy task and could not afford the slightest error or distraction.

 Chapter 647 - 646: Come Out

    Yang Yinhou nodded and ordered everyone to leave, following them out himself before closing the door. He then sat cross-legged on the ground and personally stood guard for Ge Dongxu.

    "Uncle Yang, let me do it," Zhu Dongyu said, surprised to see that Yang Yinhou, nearly a hundred years old, would personally guard the door for Ge Dongxu. He hastened to speak.

    "There''s no need, just take people to the living room downstairs and wait. Without my order, no one is allowed to make any sound," said Yang Yinhou with a serious expression, emitting a powerful and authoritative aura that brooked no resistance.

    Everyone felt a chill in their hearts, Zhu Dongyu included.

    At this moment, they truly realized that this elder, who previously seemed to embody the grace and elegance of an immortal, also possessed such a tyrannical and majestic side.

    Knowing this was no laughing matter, everyone bowed slightly and then silently descended the stairs.

    Time passed, second by minute.

    Ge Dongxu removed all the needles from the old man''s body, as well as the oxygen tubes and the apparatus connectors. He then faced the foot of the bed and pressed his fingers on the Yongquan acupoints on the old man''s feet. A wisp of True Qi flowed from his fingers, passing slowly through acupoints like Dazhong, Taixi, Yingu, and others along the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian, continually warming and nourishing it, before carefully entering the old man''s kidneys.

    After the True Qi entered the old man''s kidneys, it became even more careful, as silently and gently as the spring rain moistens the earth, quietly nourishing the old man''s already aged kidneys.

    The kidneys are the source where the essence of Vital Energy is stored. Even though the other organs were aged and the Vital Energy was depleting, the kidneys, being the source, still retained some essence of Vital Energy.

    However, this essence of Vital Energy was sealed within the kidneys, and the old man himself was unable to activate it. This is like a person''s potential which is usually not stimulated; it is only when dug up or triggered by external stimuli that it gets activated.

    As Ge Dongxu used True Qi to warm and nourish the old man''s kidneys, the sealed and nearly depleted source of Vital Energy, like parched land suddenly receiving moisture, gradually began to exude vitality.

    The moment this source of Vital Energy began to exude vitality, it was like the roots of a tree suddenly absorbing a lot of nutrients, and then delivering them to the trunk and branches, spreading to every organ and limb of the body.

    The old man''s heartbeat gradually grew stronger, and his breathing became more powerful. It was no longer weak like before, as if it would stop beating at any moment, and the same was true for his breathing.

    Seeing the old man''s health improve, Ge Dongxu felt joyful inside but became even more cautious.

    The old man at this moment was like a pile of kindling with little more than a small flame left. Fanning the small flame to reignite the whole pile required great care, as too much haste could snuff out the little flame entirely.

    Wisp after wisp of True Qi continued to moisten the old man''s kidneys like the gentle spring rain.

    This extremely delicate control was as treacherous as walking on a tightrope. Fortunately, Ge Dongxu had reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, had thorough knowledge of the kidneys, and had experienced the Unity of Heaven and Man Realm, his spiritual power could be compared to the Dragon Tiger Realm, which made such control thrilling yet safe.

    Even so, Ge Dongxu''s face gradually turned pale and cold sweat began to bead on his forehead.

    After a long while, the old man''s kidneys finally fully recovered their vitality.

    Ge Dongxu heaved a sigh of relief internally. The restoration of vitality to the kidneys was the most critical and difficult step. Once this step was taken, it was as though the dry well had once again received rain.

    After sighing in relief internally, Ge Dongxu did not stop there.

    The old man''s five viscera were weak and his life force was diminishing. Aside from the kidneys, the other organs needed nourishment and warming as well.

    If the kidneys are the foundation, then the other organs are the framework. With a stable foundation, the framework must be reinforced.

    Ge Dongxu''s True Qi flowed gently like a stream of water, slowly coursing through the old man''s parched body. The old man felt as though he were basking in the sunlight, his whole body warm and extremely comfortable. It was unlike before, when he would feel ice-cold in his limbs even before winter arrived, and covering himself with blankets didn''t make him feel warm.

    Not only that, but the old man also felt himself becoming stronger, and his cloudy old eyes slowly regained their luster.

    The old man looked at Ge Dongxu carefully, noticing the sweat on his forehead and his pale complexion. He wanted to get up and wipe the sweat off Dongxu but was afraid of disturbing him.

    The old man had heard everything that Ge Dongxu had said clearly.

    Time ticked by second by second, minute by minute, and the midday sun gradually slanted toward the west.

    Sitting cross-legged at the doorway, Yang Yinhou, who had long since reached the state of utter tranquility, began to show a hint of unease on his face.

    For someone at Ge Dongxu''s realm to spend such a long time treating someone, that definitely was not normal.

    Defying fate was not an easy feat to begin with, and Yang Yinhou reproached himself for not having stopped him earlier. After a long time without seeing Ge Dongxu come out, Yang Yinhou couldn''t help but feel a sense of self-reproach.

    As Sect Leader of the Pill Talisman Sect and the hope of the Sect, Yang Yinhou would sacrifice his own life rather than allow Ge Dongxu to encounter any mishap.

    While Yang Yinhou was in the midst of blaming himself, the door was gently pushed open.

    Yang Yinhou stood up abruptly, about to speak, but realized that the person coming out of the room wasn''t Ge Dongxu, but Wu Yili''s grandmother.

    Wu Yili''s grandmother made a shushing gesture to Yang Yinhou, then pointed downstairs.

    Through the half-open door, Yang Yinhou saw Ge Dongxu sitting motionless on the floor. His face was pale, his clothes soaked with sweat, and he appeared as if he had just been pulled out of a river.

    While Yang Yinhou silently heaved a sigh of relief, his expression darkened, and he blamed himself even more.

    Wu Yili''s grandmother carefully closed the door and was about to go downstairs when Yang Yinhou stopped her, speaking in a low voice, "I''ll go down first to inform them, so they don''t startle you with their shouting when they see you coming down."

    Wu Yili''s grandmother nodded repeatedly to his words.

    Yang Yinhou went downstairs with a stern face. When the people downstairs saw him coming down, they all stood up, about to speak, but a powerful and sharp aura emanated from Yang Yinhou, sweeping across the entire hall.

    Everyone in the hall was startled, swallowing back the words on the tip of their tongues, and looked at Yang Yinhou with eyes filled with awe and respect.

    Seeing that he had quieted the crowd, Yang Yinhou then said in a somber voice, "Now, listen carefully. Ms. Liu is already fine, but Ge Dongxu has exhausted too much this time and is currently resting. So when Ms. Liu comes down later, I want you all to remember not to make any loud noises."

    When the crowd heard that the old lady was not only fine but was going to come downstairs, their eyes widened in shock and disbelief.

    Before this, let alone getting out of bed, the old lady was fluctuating between consciousness and coma while lying in bed, with an oxygen tube inserted into her nose.

    But now, Yang Yinhou was telling them that the old lady was going to come downstairs soon!

    "Ah!" Principal Zhang''s wife, because of the sudden shock, couldn''t control herself and let out an exclamation. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    PS: June is here, asking for a monthly ticket, thank you.

 Chapter 648 - 647: You Have White Hair Now [Third Release, Request for Monthly Votes]

    The voice of Principal Zhang''s wife was particularly grating in the quiet living room, and Yang Yinhou''s face instantly turned cold. His gaze, sharp as a sword, shot towards Principal Zhang''s wife.

    Once a National Army Major General who had claimed countless enemy lives in the jungles of Myanmar, Yang Yinhou''s cultivation had now reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and he wasn''t far from the Seventh Layer. When he became angry, Principal Zhang''s wife was so frightened by his piercing gaze that she almost fell to the ground on her behind.

    She clamped her hand over her mouth, not allowing it to emit even the slightest sound.

    Seeing this, Yang Yinhou withdrew his gaze and walked to the staircase to gesture Wu Yili''s grandmother to come down.

    Although everyone had already learned from Yang Yinhou that the old lady was capable of coming downstairs on her own, they were still shocked and rendered speechless for a long time when they saw her descend from the stairs with agile legs and a vibrant spirit.

    Zhu Dongyu, the National Medical Master, was especially so.

    As a National Medical Master, he knew the old lady''s condition better than Principal Zhang and the others.

    In his view, it would have been a miracle if Yang Yinhou could have helped the old lady hang on for one more month in bed. He never expected that she would now be able to walk down the stairs with such vitality.

    Zhu Dongyu simply couldn''t imagine to what extent Ge Dongxu''s medical skills had reached!

    After a while, everyone regained their senses, and excitedly welcomed the elderly lady down from the stairway entrance.

    "We must thank Master Ge properly!" the old lady said in a low voice, holding on tightly to Wu Yili''s hand.

    In the room, Ge Dongxu''s persistence and the effort he put into treating her body were things only the old lady herself knew well. Moreover, she was fully aware that all of this was for the sake of her granddaughter.

    Otherwise, how could Ge Dongxu, a man like an immortal, possibly sweat and toil so much for an elderly person whose life was nearly at its end?

    "Yes, I know, Grandma," Wu Yili nodded vigorously, then walked over to Yang Yinhou and asked in a low voice, "Master, will Dongxu have any problems?"

    "Ah, I neglected your teacher Dongxu''s identity for a moment, and his personality as well!" Yang Yinhou looked deeply at Wu Yili, full of self-reproach, "I should have realized that defying the heavens to change fate is an act against nature! But because it was Madame Liu, your grandmother, he couldn''t just stand by and do nothing after learning about it. Ridiculously, I thought that my junior brother''s strength was much greater than mine. Seeing how confident he was, I blindly assumed that this was not too difficult for him."

    "Do you mean, because of saving my grandmother, Ge Dongxu might have to sacrifice his own lifespan?" Upon hearing this, Wu Yili recalled certain legends, and her body trembled violently as tears uncontrollably fell down her cheeks.

    "It''s hard to say!" Yang Yinhou said, full of self-reproach. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What should we do? It''s all my fault, all my fault. At my age, it wouldn''t have mattered if I had gone, but to drag down a young man..." The elderly lady began to beat her chest with guilt upon hearing these words.

    While the old lady was beating her chest in self-reproach, Tang Yiyuan gave Tang Yahui a fierce stare. Naturally, he felt very self-reproachful at the moment. At the same time, he silently warned himself that he should never trouble Ge Dongxu with similar situations in the future.

    Tang Yahui also felt quite guilty at that moment. Seeing her father glaring at her, her eyes reddened, and she lowered her head.

    "Grandma, it''s not as serious as all that, it''s not that much of an exaggeration. It was just a bit strenuous," Ge Dongxu said with a somewhat pale face as he appeared at the top of the stairs while the old lady''s self-reproach echoed through the hall and the atmosphere was gloomy and oppressive.

    Ge Dongxu, who had been in meditation to recuperate, was awakened by the shrill scream of Principal Zhang''s wife. Then, hearing the conversation downstairs, he could no longer settle down to rest and got up to leave the room.

    If the last rescue could be described as a grueling labor that taxed his physical and mental strength to the point of exhaustion, then this time, the amount of True Qi Ge Dongxu actually expended was not significant. It was his heart and mind that were truly fatigued, to the extent that even now he felt his head throbbing with pain.

    "Dongxu!"

    "Master Ge!"

    "Senior Ge!"

    "Mr. Ge!"

    "..."

    When everyone saw Ge Dongxu appear at the stairwell, their faces lit up with surprise, and Wu Yili and Tang Yahui hurried up the stairs.

    "Are you all right?" Standing in front of Ge Dongxu and seeing his pale face, Wu Yili wanted to reach out and cradle his face, but she ultimately suppressed the impulse and asked with concern.

    "I''m fine, just a bit tired," Ge Dongxu said casually.

    "You, you have white hairs!" Suddenly, Tang Yahui pointed at Ge Dongxu''s head.

    No sooner had Tang Yahui finished speaking than Yang Yinhou flashed by her side, leaping up the stairs to stand beside Ge Dongxu, his gaze sharp as he stared at a few white hairs on the left side of Ge Dongxu''s head, which were not easy to notice without looking closely.

    "Disciple has failed in his duties, please punish me, Sect Leader!" Seeing the white hairs on Ge Dongxu''s head, Yang Yinhou felt as if his heart was being cut with a knife and knelt on one knee before Ge Dongxu.

    Everyone was shocked, especially Zhu Dongyu, whose heart seemed to stop beating, and he even forgot to breathe.

    In his heart, Yang Yinhou was a true reclusive expert. Back in Shanghai, even the big shots of the Qing Gang would have to treat him with the utmost respect.

    Later, when he went to the jungles of Myanmar to resist the Japanese and was given the rank of Major General, Zhu Dongyu knew about it too, until he heard that Yang Yinhou was ambushed by the Japanese army and sacrificed in the jungles of Myanmar. Zhu Dongyu didn''t know what happened afterwards.

    But now, here was Yang Yinhou, addressing Ge Dongxu as Sect Leader and asking for punishment, a sight Zhu Dongyu found hard to believe.

    "Senior Brother, what are you doing? What is this?" Ge Dongxu was also taken aback by Yang Yinhou''s actions and hurriedly helped him up.

    "As the late-disciple of our Master and the one he passed the position of Sect Leader to, the future of the Pill Talisman Sect rests on you. As a disciple of the Pill Talisman Sect, it is my duty to advise the Sect Leader against taking risks. I blame myself for not advising you earlier, which led to the excessive depletion of your energy," Yang Yinhou said with self-reproach.

    Having experienced countless lifetimes of worldly vicissitudes, Yang Yinhou had long ceased to desire worldly fame and fortune. The only exception was this junior brother, whom Yang Yinhou now cherished as his own life, allowing no room for error.

    Because Ge Dongxu was not only the late-disciple of his Master and the appointed Sect Leader, but he also had helped his Master through his final days, been with him through the last journey of life, and gave Yang Yinhou the chance to stand again, passing down the complete Cultivation Method, allowing his cultivation to surpass his previous height...

    "Senior Brother, don''t say that, it''s nothing serious, just some fatigue," Ge Dongxu held Yang Yinhou''s hand, patting the back of it.

    "Hair is the surplus of blood, and with your cultivation, you would not have white hair due to the overexpenditure of vitality, even at my age," Yang Yinhou stated solemnly.

 Chapter 649 - 648: Be Careful in the Future [Fourth Update]

    "Senior Brother, it''s not as serious as you say. I was probably just overexerted from participating in a rescue mission on Monday, and I haven''t fully adjusted yet. Now that I''ve overexerted myself again, it has led to this situation. If I take some good rest for a while, my hair will turn back to black," Ge Dongxu reassured.

    In fact, that was indeed the case.

    During Monday''s rescue, Ge Dongxu was so exhausted he fell asleep directly afterward. It''s only been three to four days since then, and he has overexerted his mind again, which has led to a slight damage to his vital energy.

    However, if one were to dig deeper into the cause, it also had a lot to do with the last time Ge Dongxu drew two drops of his lifebound essence to make body protection jade amulets for his parents.

    If it weren''t for extracting those two drops of lifebound essence during the summer vacation, the two incidents of overexertion would not have caused white hairs to appear, given Ge Dongxu''s current level of cultivation.

    Of course, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t mention this.

    Fortunately, Ge Dongxu already had the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation, and a true qi vortex had formed in his kidneys. Unlike others whose intrinsic vital energy would decrease with each use, he could slowly replenish it through cultivation, including his lifebound essence blood.

    So when Ge Dongxu said that he would recover well with some quiet rest and his hair would turn black again, it wasn''t just something he said to comfort Yang Yinhou.

    "Is that really true, Dongxu?" Wu Yili asked with eyes reddened.

    "Of course, it''s true," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he nodded.

    "Even if it''s true, you are the Sect Leader. For your own sake, and for the sake of our Pill Talisman Sect, you must cherish yourself. You are human, not an immortal; human abilities are limited. No matter how capable you are, how skilled you are in medicine, you cannot save everyone. You have a character that is too kind and soft-hearted; you must be more cautious in the future," Yang Yinhou said with a serious face.

    Seeing Yang Yinhou''s serious expression, and that he had said these words in front of everyone, Ge Dongxu understood his painstaking effort. It was a warning to Tang Yiyuan, Zhu Dongyu, Principal Zhang, and others to avoid seeking him out for every issue they encountered in the future since he was known for his emotional tenderness and was likely to not refuse.

    In a sense, Yang Yinhou was intentionally playing the bad guy.

    "Senior Brother, I understand that one''s strength is ultimately limited. That''s why I''ve already taken up a visiting professorship at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to pass on some medical knowledge," said Ge Dongxu, acknowledging his senior brother''s good intentions and nodding earnestly.

    "That''s very good," Yang Yinhou said, his face finally softening a bit as he nodded, then added with concern, "Your complexion doesn''t look good. You should go back to the hotel for some breath regulation and recovery. The environment is better there."

    Ge Dongxu had been interrupted just before and then came downstairs after hearing everyone''s discussions. At that moment, he hadn''t fully recovered in body or mind and needed to continue meditating in quiet rest, so he nodded in response, "I''ll listen to you, Senior Brother."

    Then Ge Dongxu turned to Wu Yili and said, "Teacher Wu, the old lady''s condition is somewhat better than I had expected. Now I will prescribe another formula to bolster her vital energy. Let her take it for a month, and while I can''t guarantee 100 years, it should be possible for her to be healthy up to 90."

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu had previously only mentioned eight to ten more years but was now suggesting that the old lady could live healthily up to 90 years old, indicating another seventeen to eighteen years of life, Wu Yili was surprised and moved, with tears rolling in her eyes.

    She knew that Ge Dongxu must have expended a lot of his energy for her sake, especially considering that Ge Dongxu might have shortened his own lifespan because of her grandmother, which filled her with an urge to hold him tight and cry bitterly.

    ```html

    "Thank you, Dongxu!" In the end, Wu Yili just looked at Ge Dongxu deeply and then hurriedly found some paper and a pen to give to him.

    Ge Dongxu wrote out a prescription on the paper, then handed it back to Wu Yili and said, "Teacher Wu, I need to go back to the hotel to rest now. After resting for a night, I''ll recover. I''ll contact you tomorrow."

    "Go on, rest well," Wu Yili nodded firmly, her eyes brimming with tears.

    Ge Dongxu smiled at Wu Yili, said goodbye to her grandmother, Principal Zhang, Tang Yiyuan, and others, and then got into the Cherokee arranged for him by the Dongyue Province Special Ability Management Office, accompanied by Yang Yinhou and Zhu Dongyu.

    Originally, Ge Dongxu had planned to drive himself, but now that Zhu Dongyu knew Ge Dongxu''s status was even more esteemed than Yang Yinhou''s, and his medical skills were almost immortal-like, National Medical Master Zhu Dongyu would not have the heart to let him drive, sitting in the back himself. As someone over seventy years old and a National Medical Master, Zhu Dongyu insisted on driving and wouldn''t allow Principal Zhang or anyone else to take turns.

    Ge Dongxu couldn''t persuade him otherwise, and with Yang Yinhou''s grand gesture saying, "Dongxu, you don''t have to be polite with Dongyu, he is considered half a student of mine anyway," Ge Dongxu just went along with Zhu Dongyu.

    Driving the Cherokee and gripping the steering wheel, Zhu Dongyu would occasionally glance at the rear-view mirror. Seeing that Ge Dongxu and Yang Yinhou were not resting with their eyes closed, he mustered the courage and cautiously asked, "Elder Ge, you are holding the title of visiting professor at the Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and imparting medical skills, can I also come to listen?"

    At Zhu Dongyu''s level, he had basically everything he needed; he no longer practiced medicine for money but rather out of a healer''s benevolence and the pursuit of medical knowledge.

    Until now, Zhu Dongyu had not found anyone who could still teach him something, and he had thought that his medical skills had reached their peak in this lifetime. However, he had not expected to reunite with Yang Yinhou and then discovered that Ge Dongxu''s medical skills had reached a realm where they could defy fate itself. Suddenly, Zhu Dongyu''s heart, which had been as still as a pond, began to surge with passion.

    Had it not been for the crowd just now, and the stern look on Yang Yinhou''s face, Zhu Dongyu would probably have already asked for guidance.

    "Of course, you can. My original intention was to use one point to radiate to many, to genuinely promote and glorify traditional Chinese medicine. However, there are already plenty of people there, and I don''t have enough time and energy to guide everyone. So, you can come, but don''t bring anyone else," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you, elder. I understand, I understand," Zhu Dongyu, seeing Ge Dongxu agree, nodded his head excitedly in succession.

    Having discussed this matter, Zhu Dongyu did not dare to disturb Ge Dongxu any further and drove quietly all the way, although his emotions were tumultuous.

    The car soon arrived at the Mount Santai Golf Hotel.

    The afternoon conference had not yet ended, and Zhu Dongyu, not wanting to disturb Ge Dongxu and being a major figure in the conference himself, took his leave and left after dropping Ge Dongxu off.

    Yang Yinhou had little interest in the conference and, with the conference''s organizer not inviting him, he naturally couldn''t be bothered to attend. Thus, he stayed in the villa where Ge Dongxu was, ensuring no one would disturb him.

    The day''s conference ended in the evening, followed naturally by a dinner gathering. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Zhu Dongyu specially went to the villa where Ge Dongxu was to invite Yang Yinhou and Ge Dongxu to dine.

    ```

 Chapter 650 - 649: The Supreme Elder Gets Angry [5th Update, Requesting Monthly Votes]

    Zhu Dongyu arrived at the villa and saw Yang Yinhou sitting cross-legged on the grass of the villa courtyard, with the villa''s door behind him firmly closed. Zhu Dongyu then knew Ge Dongxu was still recuperating.

    Zhu Dongyu carefully approached Yang Yinhou and whispered, "Uncle Yang, why don''t you go have your meal first? I can keep watch here."

    "No need, you go ahead. Although I haven''t reached the realm where I can live without food, going without it for a few days is not a problem," Yang Yinhou whispered back.

    Zhu Dongyu didn''t dare to insist and silently withdrew.

    ...

    By the lakeside, in the living room of the villa where Su Jieliang was.

    An elderly man in a Daoist robe stood in front of a long sofa, looking down at Su Jieliang, who lay motionless and pale-faced on the sofa, his expression as cold as ice.

    The old man had a gaunt face and eyes sharp as swords, with half-white hair and beard. Despite appearing quite aged, he stood in the living room with the presence of an unsheathed sword, displaying a chilling sharpness that could make anyone''s heart skip a beat and fill them with dread.

    "Grandfather, you must stand up for me! That boy was too arrogant. He said that if anyone tried to move me, the punishment would be doubled. Now, I haven''t moved at all since yesterday afternoon, and it''s already been over a full day and night. If the punishment is doubled again, how much more must I suffer?" Seeing the cold look on his grandfather''s face and the terrifying evil Qi radiating from his body, Su Jieliang was surprised that his grandfather couldn''t undo the prohibitions on him but he was more schadenfreude and delighted.

    Because he could see that his grandfather, who had not been involved in worldly matters for many years and had always been indifferent to fame and fortune, was now enraged with embarrassment.

    The old man was indeed the Grand Elder of the Santai Sect, Su Bojian.

    He had left his meditative retreat only at dusk, and upon hearing of his grandson''s plight, he immediately rushed down the mountain.

    At first glance at the prohibitions within his grandson''s body, he was taken aback, but he didn''t truly take it to heart.

    Because his cultivation had reached the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation. In this era of declining Daoist arts, that was already considered quite formidable, and what''s more, he was a descendant of a line of Sword Immortals.

    A single sword strike could shatter all other techniques!

    The prohibitions were complex, but he intended to shatter them with one strike.

    Su Bojian indeed was much more powerful than his son Su Boli.

    With a single strike, he instantly cut through thousands of "green grass," directly unblocking Su Jieliang''s Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian completely, leaving not a single blade of grass.

    Seeing this, Su Bojian felt an immense sense of pride, as if with a sword in hand, he could cut through everything. He quickly prepared to channel the energy of Geng Metal into another sword strike, aiming to clear another of Su Jieliang''s meridians.

    However, before Su Bojian could make his move, Su Jieliang had already begun to scream in agony, his face turning even paler in an instant.

    One could see that the previously cleared Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, empty and devoid of grass, suddenly sprouted green blades of grass anew, as if emerging from the earth after rain. Not only did they re-block the Lung Meridian, but the energy needed for the growth of every single blade of grass was drawn from Su Jieliang himself.

    With every blade of green grass that broke through the soil and every inch that it grew, Su Jieliang felt the True Qi within his body slip away bit by bit, leaving him increasingly weak.

    As a prestigious elder of the Santai Sect and at the Qi Refinement Fifth Layer, Su Bojian wasn''t just prominent in the Qi Men circle of Dongyue Province but also a notable figure nationwide. Now, having failed to break the Prohibitions with a single strike, and instead causing his grandson to suffer, it was easy to imagine how infuriated Su Bojian must have been.

    Following closely, Su Jieliang added insult to injury by repeating the story, naturally stoking Su Bojian''s anger even further.

    "So young and yet so arrogant, thinking you have some talent! Do you really think the Santai Sect has no one else? Do you really think you can run wild within the Santai Sect just because you have some abilities?" Su Bojian said coldly, as a surge of Evil Qi emanated from him, seemingly causing the temperature in the living room to drop.

    "Exactly! This brat dared to attack me in the Santai Sect and even placed Prohibitions on me. That''s a blatant provocation against our Sect! We can''t let him off easily," Su Jieliang said bitterly. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Su Bojian had always been fond of this grandson, remembering his immobility since yesterday afternoon and how he had become even weaker due to his own recklessness, his complexion pale. Su Bojian''s heart ached and he blamed himself, so he didn''t find Su Jieliang''s words inappropriate in any way.

    "Call Boli and tell him to bring over that young man, Ge Dongxu. If Lv Xinghai and Zhu Dongyu have any objections, let them come to see me!" Su Bojian commanded coldly to someone next to him.

    "Yes, Master!" The person accompanying Su Bojian down the mountain was one of the Santai Sect elders and also his disciple.

    After receiving the order, the elder immediately dialed Su Boli''s number.

    Just as the elder was making the call to Su Boli, the latter had just finished a meal, and everyone was laughing and leaving the restaurant. They were preparing to take a stroll around the lake when Su Boli and Yan Ziyi were about to hurry home to check on Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi''s conditions.

    Upon receiving the call and hearing that even his father had been unable to resolve the Prohibitions, Su Boli''s face turned grim. After a few words, he hung up the phone and then said to a Santai Sect elder with him, "Fifth elder brother, find out which room a young man named Ge Dongxu is staying in?"

    As Sect Leader, Su Boli''s main task was to preside over the assembly. He did not take charge of the specific arrangements for the staff''s meals and accommodations.

    Previously, fearing that the incident involving Su Jieliang would become widely known and cause him to lose face, he also did not mention to the Santai Sect elder in charge of the assembly''s specific matters. He had thought to wait until after his father came down the mountain and removed Su Jieliang''s Prohibitions before discussing it. Thus, he had not even asked about Ge Dongxu''s specific situation until now.

    Now that the Prohibitions couldn''t be lifted, regardless of his father''s orders, he had to go find Ge Dongxu and settle the matter.

    "Ge Dongxu?" Xu Xingran frowned slightly upon hearing this, and then he seemed to remember something, saying, "I have some impression of this person; he seems to be someone arranged by Director Yang. He''s from the Special Ability Management Bureau, and this time he''s arranged to stay in the four lakeside villas from numbers 15 to 18."

    "He''s from the Special Ability Management Bureau!" Su Boli frowned.

    But recalling that his son had been immobilized for a day and a night, Su Boli''s eyes quickly revealed a ruthless glint. "Fifth elder brother, call some people to go with me and Elder Yan," he said.

    With the influence of the Santai Sect, it was impossible to directly oppose the Special Ability Management Bureau, but not just anyone from the Bureau could bully them. Even Fan Hong, the director, would have to show respect to his father and be polite.

    Xu Xingran understood Su Boli very well, and seeing the ruthlessness in his eyes, he couldn''t help but be taken aback. He hurriedly made a call to gather some people, then asked in a low voice, "Elder brother, what happened?"

    "Jieliang and Elder Yan''s grandson have been inflicted with Prohibitions by a young man named Ge Dongxu, and both my father and I are unable to lift them," Su Boli said in a lowered voice, his tone full of hatred; however, he did not make a scene.

    Because such a matter was highly embarrassing and a loss of face for the Santai Sect!

 Chapter 653 - 652: Dont forget this is the Santai Sect

    "Then you''ll need to first ask what your late father''s friend''s junior brother has done to my son and Elder Yang''s grandson," Su Boli said angrily with a cold face, returning the question to Zhu Dongyu who, with a steely expression, had challenged him without offering any face-saving courtesy.

    "Elder Yang''s junior brother, are you referring to Elder Ge?" Upon hearing this, Zhu Dongyu''s expression changed dramatically, and his heart skipped a beat.

    Before, although he addressed Ge Dongxu as an elder out of respect for Yang Yinhou, he still regarded Ge Dongxu as an ordinary young man in his heart, distinguished only by a higher generation. However, after witnessing the events at the Zhang Family that afternoon, and seeing his defiance of fate''s decree and Yang Yinhou kneeling on one knee to apologize before him, Ge Dongxu''s status had undergone a complete reversal in his mind. Even Zhu Dongyu himself was eagerly looking forward to becoming his disciple to learn medicine.

    Now that Su Boli''s accusations were pointing directly at Ge Dongxu, Zhu Dongyu felt the situation was even more serious than if they were directed at Yang Yinhou.

    Because if it were just Yang Yinhou, Zhu Dongyu might still have been able to play peacemaker to some extent, but involving Ge Dongxu, Zhu Dongyu knew the matter would be extremely tricky. Given his understanding of Yang Yinhou, there was absolutely no chance he would back down.

    "Elder Ge? Yes, your so-called Elder Ge! Do you know that he placed a unique prohibition on my son and Elder Yan''s grandson? They have been unable to move since," Su Boli said with a sneer. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Has the Sect Master Su ever asked what your precious son and Elder Yan''s grandson did?" This time, it wasn''t Zhu Dongyu who spoke, but Xu Lei with a chilling face.

    "No matter what my son and Yan Chengzhi did, it doesn''t justify Ge Dongxu, a young upstart, being so presumptuous and laying hands on them on the turf of Santai Sect, let alone imposing prohibitions to punish them!" Seeing Xu Lei, an official, speaking up, Su Boli''s complexion changed slightly, but this was within his expectations and he did not back down, instead replying sharply and defiantly.

    "It wasn''t Elder Ge who attacked Su Jieliang first but rather Su Jieliang himself who suddenly provoked Elder Ge, challenging him to a duel. Elder Ge was reluctant to duel and when Su Jieliang launched an attack, Elder Ge then retaliated!" The moment Su Boli''s words fell, Lv Chongliang and a group of young people had arrived and, summoning their courage, contradicted him.

    As they spoke, Lv Chongliang and the others felt very nervous and worried.

    After all, in their hearts, Ge Dongxu was just like them, a young man but of a higher generation, not someone of great significance. Yet now, the Sect Master, elders, and Yan Ziyi of Santai Sect had personally come to their door to demand accountability. To Lv Chongliang and the others, it felt as if they were children who had gotten into a fight at school and had their parents and teachers come looking for them.

    Right or wrong, they were going to be punished!

    "I''ll give you a choice: leave now or else prepare to end up lying immobile like your sons and grandsons!" Yang Yinhou, upon hearing that it was Ge Dongxu who didn''t want to duel with Su Jieliang and that Su Jieliang had brazenly attacked him, finally exploded with fury. His gaze was as cold as a sword as he scanned over Su Boli and the others, his voice icy.

    An intense evil Qi radiated from him, and he suddenly became like a sharp and bared sword, moreover a bloodied sword.

    At this moment, no one doubted that if any of them dared to utter another word of defiance, what awaited them would definitely be Yang Yinhou''s thunderous wrath and fierce response.

    Su Boli and the others reflexively took several steps back.

    Xu Lei, Yang Xiangrong, and others from the Special Ability Management Bureau''s pupils sharply contracted, looking at Yang Yinhou with deep wariness.

    They were from the Special Ability Management Bureau; sometimes they had to covertly enforce the law, eliminating magicians within Qimen who brought disaster upon the people, and occasionally carrying out special tasks for the country akin to those of spies. Consequently, they had seen blood and taken lives. The evil Qi emanating from Yang Yinhou brought them a scent of blood and a profound sense of crisis.

    Zhu Dongyu''s face suddenly changed.

    Among those present, no one knew better than he the origin of Yang Yinhou, and no one understood the terror of Yang Yinhou better than he did!

    He was a true war general who had crawled out from a pile of dead on the battlefield; once he truly became angry, killing others was something not dared by many, but he would definitely dare!

    "Su Boli, Yan Ziyi, Xu Xingran, won''t you retreat for now? All matters can be resolved after Elder Ge finishes his seclusion and comes out," Zhu Dongyu decisively ordered Su Boli and the others coldly, no longer caring to take issue with their disrespectful behavior just now, nor caring to hear them speak of matters relating to prohibitions and battles.

    Because Zhu Dongyu was very clear that once Yang Yinhou truly became angry, the situation would really escalate. Even if Su Boli indeed held the status of a sect leader, he would truly be subjected to prohibitions.

    Unfortunately, Su Boli did not appreciate Zhu Dongyu''s good intentions, and the commotion here had also drawn the attention of others, some of whom were already walking this way. How could Su Boli leave with his face all ashen at this point!

    "Zhu Dongyu, don''t forget this is the Santai Sect!" Su Boli said with an iron-blue face and a sharp voice.

    "What of the Santai Sect? Since you all are unreasonable and insist on causing trouble, then stay here!" Seeing that Su Boli and others refused to leave and he had also heard the villa door opening behind him, indicating that the commotion once again had awoken Ge Dongxu, Yang Yinhou, filled with rage, once again made the jade talisman flash with green light in his hand.

    Following that, the green trees and grass around swayed with the wind, and wisps of green light emerged from the grass and forest, condensing into a green vine in mid-air, lashing out at Su Boli and the others.

    "Sword out!"

    "Sword kill!"

    "Spirit snake emerges from the hole!"

    Having retreated over ten meters, Su Boli and the other two were vigilant, watching for Yang Yinhou''s next move, thus they had been holding the jade talisman in hand, their mana ready and brimming with potential.

    Now, seeing Yang Yinhou make a move with the lashing vine producing whooshing sounds and bringing a burst of piercingly cold wind, the three of them tensed up, and the techniques they had been ready to unleash were immediately released.

    In the blink of an eye, two barely visible flying swords, formed from the essence of Geng Metal, flashed in the air, striking down the lashing green vine from two or three meters away from Su Boli and Xu Xingran, while Yan Ziyi''s serpent made from water energy writhed in the night sky, opened its mouth showing its fangs, trying to dodge the green vine and bite towards Yang Yinhou.

    "Flying Sword!" Seeing two flying swords emerge in the air and strike at the green vine, Lv Semi-Immortal and the other youngsters all cried out in shock.

    The people from the Special Ability Management Bureau, such as Yang Xiangrong, also had a fierce gleam in their eyes.

    Sword Immortals were legendary in the Qimen world. Even though the flying swords summoned by Su Boli and Xu Xingran couldn''t even compare to the mere surface of those legendary sword immortals, having an attack range of only two or three meters, it still made everyone''s eyes light up, involuntarily giving rise to a hint of fear in their hearts.

 Chapter 654 - 653: You are Master Yang! [Requesting Monthly Votes]

    "With such little skills you dare to act recklessly in front of me!" While others feared, how could Yang Yinhou be afraid? Seeing this, he coldly shouted and lashed out, the Flying Sword splits towards him, but rather than dodge, the Green Vine''s momentum increased even more.

    As for Yan Ziyi''s Kui Water Spirit Snake, twisting and dodging in mid-air, Yang Yinhou ignored it completely, letting it rush towards him through the night, mouth agape.

    Jin Kemu''s Flying Sword is unbearably sharp, capable of breaking through anything.

    Su Boli and Xu Xingran, seeing that the Green Vine did not dodge their Flying Swords, and instead met them head-on, revealed looks of surprise and continuously spurred their Mana, causing the glow of the Jade Talisman in their hands to intensify, solidifying the initially faint Flying Swords in the air as if they were tangible.

    Yan Ziyi, seeing that the Green Vine didn''t block his Kui Water Spirit Snake, also showed a look of delight, similarly driving his Mana continuously, speeding up the Spirit Snake even further.

    "Break for me!" Su Boli and Xu Xingran saw their Flying Swords striking the Green Vine, shouted fiercely, and suddenly exerted more force.

    "Clang! Clang!"

    The Flying Swords struck the Green Vine, not making the sound of a blade chopping wood as imagined, but rather the sound of metal clashing, and moreover, sparks flew everywhere.

    The Green Vine was unexpectedly as hard as metal!

    Almost at the same time, Su Boli and Xu Xingran felt a mighty force from the clash of their Mana, like a behemoth striking at their hearts, causing them intense heart pain, a taste of blood surged to their throats, and not only did they continuously step backward, but fresh blood also flowed from the corners of their mouths.

    The Flying Swords, as they retreated again and again, had already dissipated into traces of Geng Metal essence in the air, while the Green Vine seemed unchanged and continued to lash out at the two who were retreating relentlessly.

    Their Mana was vastly inferior, a whole two small realms apart, in front of absolute Mana, Jin Kemu was just a joke!

    Almost simultaneously, the Kui Water Spirit Snake, with its fangs bared, was closing in on Yang Yinhou, but Yang Yinhou simply reached out and grabbed the Spirit Snake, squeezing fiercely, and the Spirit Snake turned into a wisp of vapor and disappeared without a trace, leaving Yan Ziyi feeling as if his heart was suddenly grasped by a Great Hand and then fiercely squeezed, causing him intense pain, making him double over, with fresh blood also flowing from the corners of his mouth.

    Upon seeing this, Su Boli and Xu Xingran showed horrified expressions, their souls nearly flying out in fright, and screamed as they turned and ran swiftly.

    But at this moment, Yang Yinhou had already unleashed his True Fire and was far from willing to let them go; the Green Vine, fast as lightning, would not let them escape no matter how fast they ran.

    "Smack! Smack!" Two sounds rang out as the Green Vine struck the backs of the two men, immediately causing them to fall face down to the ground, and before they could pick themselves up, the Green Vine wrapped around them and tied them up.

    As for Yan Ziyi, by that time he had already forgotten to run.

    Everything was dead silent.

    Apart from the sound of the wind, there were only heavy breaths.

    Even Zhu Dongyu, who knew full well how formidable Yang Yinhou was, was shocked and dumbfounded to see him suppress three Magicians who were at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation with just a wave of his hand.

    As for Yang Xiangrong, Lv Xinghai, and other Magicians who had just arrived, needless to say.

    Among the arriving Magicians, some had lunch with Yang Yinhou at noon, among them a few, due to Su Boli''s influence, later showed some disrespect towards Yang Yinhou.

    Now witnessing this scene, each of them broke out in a cold sweat, filled with profound regret. S§×ar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At this moment, they finally realized that although Yang Yinhou was not famous and seemingly did not deserve the honorific of "elder," his strength absolutely justified such a title.

    "Senior Brother." Just as everyone was feeling terrified, a young voice rang out, and Ge Dongxu walked over from the villa entrance.

    "I''ve disturbed you again, haven''t I!" Yang Yinhou said, his face showing a hint of shame.

    "It''s fine, Senior Brother, it''s much better now," Ge Dongxu waved his hand and said. After speaking, he looked towards Su Boli and Xu Xingran, who were subdued on the ground, and Yan Ziyi, who stood beside them with a dazed expression.

    "Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi brought shame upon themselves. As elders, you came here with such a commotion without clarifying things first. Do you really think just because your Santai Sect is strong, you can act recklessly?" Ge Dongxu asked coldly.

    "What do you mean by bringing shame upon themselves? You dare to make a move in my Santai Sect''s territory; that''s truly seeking disgrace!" An icy voice came from afar, carrying with it an oppressive aura.

    A thin old man in a Taoist robe approached from a distance.

    Clearly, his attire and flowing beard should have given him an immortal aura, but at that moment, people felt terrified upon seeing him, as if a drawn sword was pointing at them.

    "It''s Su Bojian, the Supreme Elder of Santai Sect, Elder Su! He''s actually shown himself!" By now, many people had gathered in front of Villa 16. As they saw Su Bojian approaching with a daunting aura, everyone cried out in shock, showing awe in their eyes.

    Su Bojian, with his Qi Cultivation at the Fifth Layer and mastering Sword Immortal level techniques, could gather a flying sword to kill within a ten-meter radius. He was a genuinely reclusive senior figure within Dongyue Province''s Qi Men circle.

    Santai Sect''s influence and power in Dongyue Province stemmed not only from their considerable worldly wealth and influence but also significantly because of Su Bojian''s presence.

    Yang Xiangrong and the others'' expressions also turned stern and serious.

    Su Bojian had tremendous influence and power in the Qi Men circle of Dongyue Province. A conflict with Ge Dongxu would undoubtedly affect the stability of the Qi Men community.

    "Father!"

    "Master!"

    Su Boli and Xu Xingran saw Su Bojian approaching and their faces showed colors of humiliation and sorrow.

    One as the sect leader and the other as an elder, both were prominent figures in the Qi Men circle of Dongyue Province, yet now they were subdued on the ground, requiring the Supreme Elder to intervene personally¡ªan utter disgrace to them.

    "When did you, Su Bojian, become so aggressive and overbearing?" Amid the shocked cries, Su Boli and Xu Xingran felt deeply humiliated and aggrieved, and while Yang Xiangrong and others looked tense, Yang Yinhou looked towards the advancing Su Bojian and proudly said.

    Hearing that aged voice, which seemed familiar, Su Bojian''s heart shook violently, and he abruptly looked towards Yang Yinhou.

    At that glance, Su Bojian''s body trembled uncontrollably, staring in disbelief at the proudly standing Yang Yinhou.

    "You, you are Master Yang!" After a long while, Su Bojian managed to say, his voice trembling and his eyes filled with reverence.

    "I currently have no fame, to the extent that your son dares to attack with techniques; I don''t deserve this honorific of ''Master Yang'' from you," Yang Yinhou said coldly.

    "This, this, Master Yang, when you were renowned in Shanghai, Su Boli was still crawling on the ground. He couldn''t have known about your fame. Those who are ignorant are not guilty. If you really are angry, you can hit him a few times, scold him a few times; I will absolutely not object," Su Bojian said with a forced smile.

 Chapter 655 - 654: Nice to Meet You, Fellow Daoist Su [Third Release, Seeking Monthly Votes]

    Master Yang, seeing Su Bojian''s humble demeanor, slightly relaxed his expression and pulled Ge Dongxu closer, saying, "This is my junior brother, Ge Dongxu. According to the old rules of the Shanghai gangs, you should call him Uncle Master Ge. But times have changed, and the Shanghai gangs are a thing of the past. You are also of considerable age now, becoming a senior in Qimen. I won''t make it difficult for you. You may address each other as Daoist."

    Looking at Ge Dongxu''s youthful face, remembering that this was the man his grandson had vehemently spoken of teaching a harsh lesson to, Su Bojian felt an urge to cry.

    If he had known beforehand that the man who set prohibitions on his grandson was the junior brother of the once famous Master Yang of the Shanghai gangs, he certainly wouldn''t have been so reckless, nor would he have just listened to his grandson''s side of the story. To put it precisely, he should have not listened to his grandson''s explanations at all, but rather should have personally visited Ge Dongxu to beg for his mercy.

    It was inevitable, thinking back then, Shanghai was the financial center of Huaxia Country and even the world. Not only foreign powers poured in, but Huaxia''s distinguished individuals and aspiring figures also converged in Shanghai, struggling against the invading empires. This included people from Qimen. But the older generation had their sect biases and needed to guard and continue their sect''s legacy, usually not joining gangs, while their younger generation, for the sake of national righteousness, joined the local gang organizations resisting the imperial invasions and even joined the army, driven by their fervor.

    Dongyue Province is a coastal province not far from Shanghai. At that time, Su Bojian, brimming with youthful vigor and skilled, also surged into Shanghai. At that time, Yang Yinhou was already a major figure in the Qing Gang of Shanghai, his cultivation had reached Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, equivalent to what Su Bojian has now. However, back then, Su Bojian was merely at Qi Cultivation Third Layer and was twelve years younger than Yang Yinhou.

    According to the rules at the time, in any gang, the older generation should be addressed as master or grandfather/uncle. Su Bojian, who practiced the fiercely offensive Sword Immortal style, emerged in the Shanghai gang scene and was taken as a disciple by a big-shot of the same generation as Yang Yinhou. According to the rules, Su Bojian should address Yang Yinhou as Master Yang or Grandfather Yang.

    Yang Yinhou greatly admired Su Bojian and occasionally gave him a bit of guidance, so Su Bojian did not call him Master Yang but addressed him as Master Yang.

    Latter, Yang Yinhou joined the national army and went far to the jungles of Myanmar to fight against the Japanese, and was appointed as a Brigadier General. With his own strength, he killed one hundred and twenty-four fully armed Japanese soldiers. Su Bojian also heard about this from that master in the gang. At that time, Su Bojian felt both a surge of courage and a chilling thrill.

    Although he was quite self-confident, killing a few fully armed Japanese soldiers still seemed feasible to him, but the idea of one hundred and twenty-four fully armed Japanese soldiers made Su Bojian''s pores tremble with fear, unable to even imagine it.

    Even today, now that Su Bojian''s cultivation had reached Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, thinking about it, he still didn''t believe he had the capability to annihilate one hundred and twenty-four fully armed Japanese soldiers.

    Because he was flesh and blood, and even though his Flying Sword was fast and sharp, it only had a range of about thirty feet. If discovered by the Japanese and surrounded and shot at, he would have only one way out ¨C death.

    So many years later, not to mention the former fame of Yang Yinhou and his relationship with Su Bojian, just recalling Yang Yinhou''s tactics in the jungles of Myanmar, and that Yang Yinhou''s junior brother had disciplined his grandson, could he really dare to seek revenge?

    As Su Bojian looked at Ge Dongxu, feeling an urge to cry because of his age, everyone around, except for Zhu Dongyu who, knowing of Yang Yinhou''s past reputation in the Shanghai gangs, was surprised but quickly came to terms with it, everyone else was utterly dumbfounded, their minds a complete mess, unable to think straight.

    Especially Su Boli and Xu Xingran, seeing their own father and teacher having to call Yang Yinhou Master Yang, and hearing that Yang Yinhou was a force to be reckoned with in Shanghai when Su Boli was still crawling, felt their minds were about to explode, feeling utterly disgraced.

    As for Lv Semi-Immortal and others, who initially were very anxious, seeing the legendary "Sword Immortal" figure appear, and witnessing Ge Dongxu''s senior brother having to be called Master Yang, if talking about seniority, Ge Dongxu was even higher in status, were first stunned to a complete mess, then felt their blood boiling with fervor, looking at Ge Dongxu with wild admiration.

    Holy cow! This is too freaking awesome! No wonder the boss is so composed! Even Su Bojian has to call him Senior Brother Master Yang, behaving like a mouse in front of a cat, what does Su Jieliang amount to then!

    "Daoist Ge, it is a pleasure to meet you." As everyone was shocked to confusion, Su Bojian greeted Ge Dongxu with a complex expression and an impressive bow.

    "Daoist Su, it is a pleasure to meet you as well." Ge Dongxu responded with a bow, his expression calm, treating Su Bojian as if he were an ordinary person.

    Watching his father and Ge Dongxu exchange bows, Su Boli almost rolled his eyes and fainted right there.

    Fuck, God, can you even play with someone like this? S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Junior brother, what do you think?" After Ge Dongxu and Su Bojian had greeted each other, Yang Yinhou turned to Ge Dongxu with a very respectful attitude, almost as if asking for permission.

    Though Ge Dongxu was nominally the junior brother, he was the reverence of the sect. Privately, the hierarchical differences between brothers might not matter, but in public, particularly in matters involving Ge Dongxu himself, Yang Yinhou naturally showed full respect to his Sect Leader junior brother and did not presume to take liberties or make decisions on his own.

    To the younger generation, Yang Yinhou''s question might seem casual, but the elder ones who saw him asking Ge Dongxu for his opinion were all shocked, displaying astonishment in their eyes.

    Respect for elders and seniors is a traditional custom of Huaxia Country since ancient times. Treating an elder brother as a father is not just lip service.

    In those times, the word of an elder was an order, was law! Unlike now when children might talk back or argue even if their parents just enforce a bit more authority or speak a bit more firmly.

    If this had happened in the past, it surely would have resulted in a slap!

    Yang Yinhou, nearly a hundred years old and a senior brother, even Su Bojian has to address him as Master Yang. Now he was actually asking Ge Dongxu for his opinion before making a decision. For their older generation, how could this be seen as a trivial action?

    Especially for Su Bojian, with his age and temperament, his pupils sharply constricted in shock.

    He understood all too well the prestige and status Yang Yinhou had back in his day!

    "Uninvolved people may disperse. As for Sect Leader Su and the other two, the ignorant are blameless. Let''s leave it at that, considering Daoist Su''s face. What do you think, senior brother?" Ge Dongxu said with a light smile.

    "Since you say so, naturally, I''ll follow your suggestion," Yang Yinhou nodded and then put away the jade talisman he held.

    Once Yang Yinhou put away his jade talisman, the green vines that were binding Su Boli and Xu Xingran blew away with the wind, vanishing without a trace.

 Chapter 656 - 655: The Supreme of a Faction

    "Let''s all disperse," said Yang Yinhou as he put away the Jade Talisman, Su Bojian secretly sighed in relief and waved to the gathering crowd.

    No matter what, Su Boli was the current Sect Leader of Santai Sect. Being reprimanded by Yang Yinhou was not a face-saving matter for Su Bojian.

    Although everyone was dying of curiosity, they all understood that today''s events had caused Santai Sect to lose face. It was not appropriate for them to continue watching, so upon Su Bojian''s signal, they all clasped their hands in a farewell gesture and left.

    Before leaving, many of them also made a point of clasping hands towards Yang Yinhou and Ge Dongxu.

    Lv Semi-Immortal and others, under Lv Xinghai''s stern gaze, reluctantly looked back three steps at a time as they left, their eyes filled with fervent adoration for Ge Dongxu.

    It wasn''t hard to imagine that after tonight, Ge Dongxu would undoubtedly become the most prominent figure amongst the youngsters in the Qimen circle of Dongyue and Jiangnan Provinces.

    After the crowd had dispersed, those who remained included the main parties involved, Su Bojian and his son, Xu Xingran, Yan Ziyi, and officials like Xu Lei and Yang Xiangrong as representatives.

    "Brother, Daoist Su, let''s not stand outside any longer. Let''s go inside," Ge Dongxu said to Yang Yinhou and Su Bojian as the crowd departed.

    "Okay," nodded Yang Yinhou.

    "Thank you, Daoist Ge," Su Bojian said politely. The expressions of Su Boli, Xu Xingran, and Yan Ziyi were subtly bitter, and they silently followed Su Bojian and the others through the courtyard and towards the villa.

    As they approached the steps of the villa, Yang Yinhou, who had been walking side by side with Ge Dongxu, suddenly paused, allowing Ge Dongxu to go ahead.

    Instinctively pausing as well, Su Bojian watched Ge Dongxu ascend the steps with Yang Yinhou half a step behind, feeling greatly shaken at heart.

    If Yang Yinhou''s earlier consultation with Ge Dongxu could have been out of affection for his junior brother, reflecting his modest disposition, then Yang Yinhou intentionally staying a half step behind now carried a rather profound implication.

    It signified a deference to Ge Dongxu.

    Su Boli and the others were equally shaken. They could clearly see that between the two fellow sect brothers, Yang Yinhou and Ge Dongxu, it was the younger Ge Dongxu who was being honored.

    "Brother, Daoist Su, please take a seat," Ge Dongxu said as they entered the house.

    As for the others, Ge Dongxu didn''t extend a special invitation.

    Yang Yinhou nodded, but instead of sitting on the central long sofa that Ge Dongxu had gestured towards, he took a seat on a sofa to the left. Su Bojian, observing this, couldn''t help but feel another jolt in his heart. He respectfully clasped his hands towards Ge Dongxu and then sat down on a sofa opposite Yang Yinhou.

    "Brother, what are you doing?" Ge Dongxu saw Yang Yinhou and Su Bojian sitting to his left and right, one almost a hundred years old and one almost ninety, with the central long sofa left vacant, and felt somewhat embarrassed.

    "You are the Sect Leader, you should naturally take the central seat," Yang Yinhou said seriously to Ge Dongxu.

    At these words, Su Bojian and the others were deeply moved. Now they truly understood why Yang Yinhou, with his status, age, and cultivation, showed such respect for Ge Dongxu, who was his junior brother yet held the honor of sect leadership.

    Su Boli, Xu Xingran, and Yan Ziyi felt a bitter taste in their mouths. They now fully understood why Yang Yinhou had been so firm in his attitude at the entrance of the courtyard earlier.

    They incessantly demanded the Sect Leader of his own sect, wanting an explanation, how could Yang Yinhou not be firm?

    While everyone was shocked by the revelation, only Xu Lei was not overly surprised. The head of the Special Ability Management Bureau of Jiangnan Province had already quietly begun to take on the role of a waiter, pouring tea and water.

    "Director Ge, Elder Yang, Elder Su, please have some tea," Xu Lei presented the tea to the three men, his attitude reverent.

    "Director Ge?" Su Bojian''s brows lifted slightly, and a look of surprise appeared on his face.

    Su Boli and the others were even more surprised, feeling an increasingly ominous premonition.

    Indeed, upon hearing this, Xu Lei couldn''t help but smile slightly and said to Su Bojian with a slight bow, "Senior Su may not be aware, but Sect Leader Ge is also a director-level consultant for the Special Ability Management Bureau."

    Su Bojian was startled upon hearing this, then looked at Ge Dongxu with a very bitter feeling in his heart.

    His grandson really knew how to provoke the wrong people! First was Yang Yinhou''s Sect Leader junior brother, followed by a director-level consultant of the national Special Ability Management Bureau! Either identity was enough to terrify and give one goosebumps.

    As for Su Boli, Xu Xingran, and Yan Ziyi, their faces had already turned pale, overwhelmed by waves of fear.

    A director-level consultant, that''s equivalent to a vice-ministerial level. Even if it was an honorary position without actual power, they were still not someone they could afford to provoke, let alone that they had previously intended to capture him and teach him a harsh lesson!

    If it really came to that, waiting for them might very well be the Special Ability Management Bureau exercising the power granted by the state to suppress the Santai Sect!

    "Director Ge, I''m sorry, and it is my lack of discipline that led my son to offend you. I ask for your leniency, Director Ge, and beg you to spare him," after a long while, Su Boli gritted his teeth and bowed to Ge Dongxu, making a gesture of respect with his hands. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Director Ge, I''m sorry." Yan Ziyi also quickly followed by bowing and making the gesture.

    "I know you say this, but in your hearts, there''s still some reluctance and dissatisfaction," Ge Dongxu said as he looked at Su Boli and Yan Ziyi bowing and gesturing with their hands, their eyes clearly showing a hint of humiliation, and he couldn''t help but sneer coldly.

    True, Ge Dongxu was but a young man, and if not for the support of his senior brother Yang Yinhou, if not for bearing the title of a director-level consultant for the Special Ability Management Bureau, why would they, with their status and their secular power and wealth, bow and yield to him?

    Being personalities themselves, Su Boli and Yan Ziyi could not deny their true feelings and thoughts exposed by Ge Dongxu. Yet, faced with the current situation, it wasn''t appropriate for them to admit it either, so both of them remained silent.

    Seeing this, Yang Yinhou secretly sneered, and Xu Lei also sneered inwardly.

    No one understood better than these two the formidable nature of Ge Dongxu!

    Let alone Su Boli and Yan Ziyi''s capabilities, even an entire army would be nothing in front of Ge Dongxu right now.

    In the face of such a person, what are Su Boli and Yan Ziyi''s secular power and wealth really worth?

    They must submit, whether they are willing or not!

    "My master taught me not to deceive others with techniques, not to engage in conflicts with others at will! I dare not forget this even for a day!" Ge Dongxu seemed not to notice the silence of Su Boli and Yan Ziyi, and continued to speak as if to himself.

    "But this does not mean that I should endure when others provoke me, or accept insults when others disrespect me! Your son, just because he couldn''t accept Lv Chongliang and others addressing me as senior, took the initiative to provoke me. I let him go, but he turned around and suddenly attacked me with techniques! If it were in times of war, his actions alone would justify me killing him! Now, I''ve only imposed a minor punishment and set a prohibition. What right do you have to be dissatisfied or unwilling?"

    "And your grandson, in a spell battle with Liu Hong, when they were evenly matched, actually used his essence blood to drive his techniques, risking his own life. If I had not intervened to prevent both from being injured, would your grandson still have his elemental force abundant? He might have lost half his life already! Yet afterwards, instead of being grateful, upon seeing Su Jieliang, he maliciously stirred up trouble speaking ill of others! Such ingratitude, I merely imposed a light punishment and set a prohibition, what right do you have to be dissatisfied or unwilling?"

    As Ge Dongxu spoke, his tone became more severe, and anger flickered in his eyes.

    "You wanted to settle accounts with me, didn''t you? Not satisfied, not willing, right? Here is a tea leaf, you use your full power to attack with techniques, and if you can cause even a slight damage to this tea leaf, I will immediately lift the prohibitions on both of them. Otherwise, they will continue standing where they were originally standing! The time when they are moved, that''s when the time will begin to double!"

    As Ge Dongxu spoke, he picked up a teacup, blew a breath of air towards it, and a tea leaf floated up, hovering in the air in front of Su Boli and the others.

    The emerald-green tea leaf still had droplets of water clinging to it.

 Chapter 657 - 656: A Leaf of Tea

    "What are you still standing there for? Haven''t you apologized to Elder Ge yet?" Su Bojian''s face changed greatly upon seeing the situation, hurriedly rising to scold the three Su Boli.

    Just this show of skill alone was enough for Su Bojian to realize that Ge Dongxu''s cultivation might not be much less formidable than his own.

    As for letting Su Boli''s trio attack the tea leaves with all their might using techniques without damaging them, Su Bojian absolutely didn''t believe it possible. Such feats belonged only in legends.

    Of course, having said this much and having already shown his hand, it was enough for Ge Dongxu to prove he had the strength of Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, sufficiently startling Su Bojian to the point where he didn''t dare offend him any further. He hastily helped Ge Dongxu step down gracefully, unable to allow Su Boli and the others to truly use their techniques to attack the tea leaves.

    Keep in mind, Ge Dongxu was only in his twenties this year! Already at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, one could only imagine how frightening a figure he would be in the future, not to mention his terrifying status and background. Now was indeed the time to sincerely soften up and do it quickly!

    "Sit down! I said let them attack, so let them attack. I will not go back on my word!" Ge Dongxu said with a cold face and a dismissive wave of his hand, sitting firmly on the sofa, a powerful and domineering aura bursting forth, sweeping across the entire living room.

    If Su Boli and the others had sincerely apologized earlier, perhaps Ge Dongxu would have become calm and even-tempered. But since Su Boli''s trio clearly felt humiliated and unwilling, it provoked Ge Dongxu''s true fire.

    What needed to be said had already been said by Lv Semi-Immortal and others outside the courtyard! The situation couldn''t be clearer.

    He was Yang Yinhou''s junior brother, a director-level consultant at the Special Ability Management Bureau, a Sect Leader of a faction. Was he not entitled to a slight retribution after being attacked by their sons and instigated by their grandsons in a betrayal of kindness?

    What humiliation do they feel? Unwilling about what? Was it simply because they saw him as young, or thought he had people backing him?

    Just for that, should Su Jieliang be able to attack him at will? Should Yan Chengzhi betray kindness and incite discord?

    In Ge Dongxu''s eyes, none of these were excuses. Right is right, wrong is wrong!

    "This, this, Master Yang, what do you think¡­" Su Bojian said with a wry smile, looking towards Yang Yinhou.

    "This is the Sect Leader''s decision!" Yang Yinhou said coldly.

    Yang Yinhou naturally had anger in his heart as well. If it hadn''t been for Ge Dongxu pleading on behalf of Su Boli''s trio earlier, with his temperament, they would certainly have had to suffer.

    Now, if the three were resentful and unwilling, well then, let them come to know what''s meant by biting off more than they can chew!

    Seeing that Yang Yinhou had no intention of stopping the situation, the wry smile on Su Bojian''s face instantly stiffened, his heart filled with extreme shock.

    Could it be that this piece of tea leaf could really withstand the attack of three Magicians at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation without the slightest damage?

    Su Bojian couldn''t begin to imagine, if this were true, just how formidable Ge Dongxu would be?

    Su Boli and the other two had clearly thought of this as well, their faces full of shock, their hearts finally beginning to feel regret and fear.

    If Ge Dongxu was truly so powerful, then not to mention Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi, even in front of him, they were nothing more than toddlers just learning to walk.

    Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi had actually taken the initiative to provoke and attack him, which was practically tantamount to provoking the supreme, courting disaster.

    Ge Dongxu had merely set Prohibitions, making them stand outside for one night. That was absolutely an act of great tolerance and extreme kindness.

    "Come on!" Ge Dongxu, looking at the three, spoke coldly.

    The three exchanged a glance, and, finally gritting their teeth, flipped their palms to reveal a jade talisman in their hands.

    Then, they pinched the talisman and performed a spell.

    Two flying swords, condensed from Geng Metal energy, quickly appeared in front of Su Boli and Xu Xingran, and Yan Ziyi also conjured a Kui Water Spirit Snake using his techniques.

    "The sword is out! Kill!"

    "The Spirit Snake emerges from its cave!"

    The three fiercely gritted their teeth and drove the flying swords and the Kui Water Spirit Snake forward.

    At this point, they could only fight with all they had, if they shrank back now, it would only make Ge Dongxu look down on them.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu''s lips curled into a cold smirk. He seemed to ignore the three''s use of techniques and attack on the tea leaf. Instead, he leisurely picked up the teacup from the table, blew on it, and gently took a sip.

    Just as the tea reached Ge Dongxu''s lips, the two flying swords struck at the suspended tea leaf, one after the other, fast as lightning.

    Both men were clearly putting their full power behind their attack, and as the flying swords chopped down, the hall echoed with a tearing sound and the air stirred with slight ripples, exuding strands of chill.

    Just as the flying swords were about to strike, the green tea leaf hanging with droplets of water suddenly shone brightly with green light, emitting rings of green radiance.

    When the flying swords hit it, not only did they fail to break through, but they were repelled, with Su Boli and Xu Xingran being hit by a powerful rebound force that made them stumble backwards several steps.

    Almost at the same time, the Kui Water Spirit Snake bit down on the ring of light, and then, its sharp fangs immediately shattered. The Kui Water Spirit Snake flickered in the air, turning into a cloud of water vapor that scattered away, and Yan Ziyi, like Su Boli and Xu Xingran, stumbled several steps backwards, clutching his chest with a look of extreme fear on his face.

    Seeing this, Su Bojian abruptly stood up, and, despite his high level of cultivation, sweat poured down like rain and a chill ran down his back. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "How is this possible?" Su Bojian murmured to himself as if completely dumbfounded.

    He was, of course, aware of his son''s and disciple''s strength!

    If he hadn''t seen it with his own eyes, he would not have believed that a man could sit there so leisurely and ward off Su Boli and the other two''s combined attack with a single tea leaf. Not only that, but the tea leaf remained undamaged, while Su Boli and the others were forced to retreat several steps.

    "Do you still want to continue?" Ge Dongxu asked coldly.

    "Please forgive me, Director Ge. I will immediately capture that arrogant son of mine and have him properly stand in punishment!" Su Boli exclaimed in shock and quickly bowed, sweating profusely with a pale face.

    "Director Ge, please forgive my earlier ignorance. Please rest assured, I will surely discipline Yan Chengzhi properly so that he behaves with humility in the future!" Yan Ziyi, too, was startled and promptly bowed despite his age.

    After speaking, the three of them bowed to Yang Yinhou as well, then turned and left.

    Firstly, they simply couldn''t bear the shame of staying any longer; secondly, they were truly frightened by Ge Dongxu''s methods and didn''t dare face him again; thirdly, they needed to make a clear stand through their actions¡ªand quickly!

    Otherwise, if Ge Dongxu grew angry again, it wasn''t just their sons and grandsons who wouldn''t dream of being rid of the prohibitions in this lifetime, they themselves wouldn''t get off lightly either.

    "Director Ge, it is all my worthless grandson''s fault. Please do not take it to heart," Su Bojian said with a bitter smile, bowing apologetically to Ge Dongxu after the three had left.

 Chapter 658 - 657: Dad, what are you doing? [Pleading for monthly passes]

    "I never took it to heart, it was you who insisted on making a big deal out of it!" Ge Dongxu replied indifferently.

    Su Bojian couldn''t help but blush at these words.

    Indeed, the man had already made it clear, as long as his grandson and Yan Chengzhi obediently stood outside for one night, he would let them go. Yet, the Su Family and Yan Ziyi had to make a fuss and aggressively sought him out.

    "Brother, I''ll go upstairs." Su Bojian, after all, was of considerable age and an old acquaintance of Yang Yinhou. Seeing this, Dongxu found it unsuitable to show further displeasure, so he glanced at Su Bojian indifferently then stood up and spoke to Yang Yinhou.

    Although he had managed to send Su Boli and the others away just now with a mere tea leaf, he had also expended some Mana and spiritual power in the process. Usually, it would be no big deal, but today it felt like adding frost to snow, and his head was subtly starting to ache.

    "You should go upstairs and rest well." Yang Yinhou obviously understood Ge Dongxu''s current situation and quickly urged him.

    Ge Dongxu hummed in agreement, then nodded to Su Bojian, Xu Lei, and Yang Xiangrong, before heading upstairs alone.

    "Look at the fine mess you Santai Sect people have made!" Seeing Dongxu go upstairs and remembering how his rest had once again been disturbed, not to mention how he had impulsively used Mana in anger, Yang Yinhou stared at Su Bojian with an ugly expression.

    Su Bojian''s heart skipped a beat under Yang Yinhou''s stare and cautiously asked, "Master Yang, what''s with Director Ge?"

    "Hmph, my junior brother just exhausted his Vital Energy this afternoon saving someone. He was resting well in his villa, but some blind fools just had to come knocking, disturbing his meditation." Yang Yinhou said with a cold face.

    "This, this, Master Yang, don''t be angry, it''s our fault, I will surely give Su Boli that brat a good lesson when we return!" Su Bojian said carefully upon hearing this.

    "Alright, all of you go out for now, lest our conversation here disturbs Dongxu again." Seeing Su Bojian of considerable age speaking so cautiously and remembering their past friendship, Yang Yinhou''s expression softened as he waved them away.

    "Yes, Master Yang," Su Bojian replied respectfully, then followed Yang Yinhou out of the villa. The two sat down on the grass outside and spoke softly of past events, while Xu Lei and Yang Xiangrong sat solemnly at the gate of the courtyard, their expressions stern and their gazes sharp.

    This time, they were definitely not going to allow anyone to disturb Ge Dongxu.

    Passersby occasionally walking past the villa would see Xu Lei and Yang Xiangrong with their stern faces sitting at the courtyard gate. They felt their hearts pound in fear, not daring to take another look, and hastily went on their way.

    ...

    "Boli, where''s dad? I just heard that Ge Dongxu''s senior brother is very powerful, even you guys were no match for them. Dad rushed over after receiving the call, how''s the situation now?" Since Su Boli had hastily returned to his own home without even sitting down in Villa 16, his wife hadn''t yet heard the news from there. Seeing Su Boli and the others returning, she immediately went up to ask.

    "What can it be? Grandfather must have beaten Ge Dongxu''s senior brother and Ge Dongxu themselves into a humbling defeat, just like dogs!" Su Jieliang said with schadenfreude and a sense of relief.

    No sooner had Su Jieliang stopped talking than Su Boli strode forward and raised his hand to slap his son, who was lying on the sofa.

    "Slap!" A crisp slap sounded in the hall.

    "Dad, what are you doing?" Su Jieliang was instantly dumbfounded and cried out.

    "Slap!" Another resounding slap was the answer to Su Jieliang.

    "You, why did you hit my son?" Su Boli''s wife finally came back to her senses upon seeing this, rushed over to pull Su Boli back, and questioned him furiously.

    "Get lost! If it weren''t for your spoiling him, would your son be so lawless, so arrogant and overbearing?" Su Boli usually adored his wife, who was nearly ten years his junior, but now being in the heat of his anger, he pushed her away.

    "Slap!" After pushing his wife aside, Su Boli gave his son another slap, then shouted furiously, "Speak, what exactly is going on between you and Ge Dongxu? Tell the truth, and if there''s half a lie, I''ll throw you into Santai Temple for a wall-facing punishment for five years without a step down the mountain!"

    "Don''t, don''t, I''ll talk, Dad¡ªI''ll talk." Su Jieliang, scared out of his wits at the prospect of being sent to Santai Temple for a five-year punishment, quickly recounted the events from beginning to end without daring to omit a single detail.

    Although Su Boli had already roughly learned the cause from Ge Dongxu''s mouth, listening to his son recount it in detail again, especially the part about Zhu Dongyu personally calling Ge Dongxu "Senior" and instructing the youngsters like Lv Chongliang to address Ge Dongxu as "Senior" as well, only for his own son to still provoke and attack him, made Su Boli so angry he felt like his lungs were about to explode.

    "Slap, slap!" He gave his son several more slaps in a row.

    Yan Ziyi was not idle either; he asked Yan Chengzhi about the details of the incident and similarly slapped his grandson several times in anger.

    "Someone come! Take this unfilial son out to stand by the golf course, let him stand there; no one is to touch him until Monday, let him be exposed to the wind and sun just like that," Su Boli ordered coldly.

    "Ah! Dad, please don''t!" Su Jieliang could not help but be dumbfounded and cried out in horror.

    "Boli, have you gone mad?" Su Boli''s wife, upon hearing this, rushed forward regardless of everything else, standing in front of her son and glaring furiously at Su Boli. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I''ve gone mad! Do you know who he has offended? If it weren''t for Director Ge''s merciful heart, even if your son were beaten into a cripple, no one would dare to speak up for him! Even as his father, I could only watch helplessly! Now, it''s just doubling the punishment according to Director Ge''s words, which is already the best outcome," Su Boli shouted angrily, truly feeling a chill in retrospect.

    If Ge Dongxu hadn''t been reasonable and merciful, his son wouldn''t just be temporarily immobilized, but rather permanently so!

    "Sister-in-law, just listen to the Sect Leader brother," Xu Xingran said with a wry smile, intervening to try to diffuse the stand-off between his brother and his wife, "There''s no room for negotiation in this matter. Director Ge not only has a big background, but his strength is also terrifyingly formidable; he''s almost like those legendary figures. If he truly made a move, to put it in no exaggerated terms, killing Su Jieliang would be as easy as crushing an ant for him, same as for me and your husband."

    "How is that possible? No matter how powerful he is, he can''t be that amazing, right?" Su Jieliang exclaimed in shock.

    "Slap!" Su Boli raised his hand and gave his son another slap, saying coldly, "Impossible, do you know that Director Ge''s senior brother is someone even your grandfather has to respectfully address as ''Master Yang''! Do you know that Director Ge, with just a single tea leaf, remained unshaken as he defeated your father, your Uncle Yan, and Uncle Xu! Do you know that at his young age, he is a director-level consultant for the Special Ability Management Bureau, equivalent to a vice-ministerial level official. You go challenge him to a duel, you go attack him proactively, tell me, are you not courting death?"

 Chapter 659 - 658 They obediently came back again

    Su Boli''s words echoed in the hall like thunder, rumbling in the ears of Su Jieliang and others, failing to disperse for a long time.

    Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi were completely frightened out of their wits!

    In their wildest dreams, they had not imagined that the Ge Dongxu they had provoked and attacked could be so outrageously powerful.

    "But, but Jieliang has already been unable to move for a whole day and night, if he has to stand at the golf course for another two days and two nights, how can he bear it?" After a long silence, Su Boli''s wife asked softly.

    "Even if he can''t bear it, he''ll have to endure!" Su Boli said coldly and mercilessly, as if Su Jieliang was not his son at all.

    Su Boli''s wife glanced at Su Boli and dared not make a sound anymore.

    "What are you standing around for? Carry them out!" Su Boli saw that the people in the hall were still dumbfounded and shouted coldly.

    So everyone hurriedly stepped forward to lift Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi and started to walk out.

    Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi''s complexions were pale, but they didn''t dare beg for mercy anymore.

    No matter how arrogant or lawless they were, they understood that someone like Ge Dongxu was simply not someone they could afford to offend. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Soon, Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi were standing upright again at the entrance to the golf course on a patch of grass.

    The two looked at each other, faces filled with misery.

    That very evening, people discovered the Young Sect Master of the Santai Sect and the young master of the Yan Family from Zhangyuan City standing upright outside the golf course on the grass.

    Afterwards, the news spread that very night.

    Many people ran to watch, and those in the know like Lv Semi-Immortal heard the news and went there on purpose. Seeing Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi standing there, everyone was blood-boiling with excitement, their admiration for Ge Dongxu indescribable.

    "Holy shit! They obediently came back, Senior Ge is just too awesome!" exclaimed Chi Longwu, his face filled with astonishment.

    "I think it''s not just about obediently coming back, according to the rules Senior Ge mentioned before, the punishment for these two has to be doubled!" Liu Hong said.

    The next morning, even more people saw Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi foolishly standing outside the golf course, their hair and clothes covered with dew, and even a blob of bird poop on Su Jieliang''s clothes.

    But not a single Santai Sect disciple dared to wipe it off for them.

    Because the day before, the Sect Leader of the Santai Sect had already given the order that no one was allowed to help Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi, or they would be expelled from the Santai Sect directly.

    Many people began to ask the reason out of curiosity.

    The real insiders were only the youngsters like Lv Chongliang, as well as Yang Yinhou and some elders of the Santai Sect.

    The youngsters, already sternly warned by Lv Xinghai and others, pressed down their excited feelings and dared not to speak too much.

    Those who knew a little about the insider information were the Qimen folks who were fortunate enough to witness Yang Yinhou''s intervention in front of the 16th Lakeside Villa the night before.

    These people did not know the full story, only speculating that it must have been Su Jieliang and others who had offended Ge Dongxu, and that Ge Dongxu''s senior brother was a very powerful and high-ranking Qimen elder. And then Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi suffered.

    Of course, this incident was a loss of face for the Santai Sect, so those in the know only spoke of it privately and did not dare to spread it around. Otherwise, if the Santai Sect and the Yan Family of Zhangyuan City were to find out, it would create enmity.

    Ge Dongxu naturally wouldn''t pay any more attention to all that.

    Yesterday, Ge Dongxu had been resting and recuperating until the end of Zishi when he finally fell into a deep, natural sleep, allowing his brain to enter a deep sleep.

    The next day, at Mao Hour, Ge Dongxu got up on time as usual and then went to the balcony to meditate in a seated position.

    As soon as he started his seated meditation, Ge Dongxu noticed that the True Qi within his body was much more refined than before, and the space in his Sea of Consciousness was a bit larger, indicating that his spiritual power had also increased.

    With just a thought, Ge Dongxu extended his Divine Sense, and in an instant, it spread out like a huge net enveloping the Mount Santai golf hotel.

    He "saw" Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi standing outside the golf course, he "saw" the excited expressions on the faces of Lv Chongliang and others, and he even "saw" the busy little bees in the flowers by the lake and the ants crawling on the tree trunks...

    As his Divine Sense continued to spread, Ge Dongxu also "saw" Wu Yili pacing outside the golf hotel.

    Her face was filled with worry and hesitation, holding a mobile phone in her hand, wanting to pick it up to make a call several times but then putting it down again.

    Ge Dongxu''s heart quivered, and he opened his eyes, the real world coming into view.

    The willows swaying in the wind, the artificial lake rippling with green waves... Everything was just as he had seen with his Divine Sense, yet somewhat different.

    Divine Sense seemed to have a more ephemeral and abstract quality, whereas the eyes saw reality with more vividness and brighter colors.

    Pushing oneself to the limit is one way to achieve a rapid breakthrough, but it should only be done occasionally; otherwise, doing it often could cause irreversible damage to the body, he thought to himself as he rose from his seat and went to the washroom to hastily freshen up. Then, looking at himself in the mirror, he noticed a few white hairs on the left side of his head, causing Ge Dongxu''s mouth to curve into a wry smile as he inwardly sighed a reminder to himself.

    After tidying up his hair a bit and attempting to conceal those few white strands, Ge Dongxu then left his room.

    No sooner had he left his room and descended the stairs than Ge Dongxu saw his senior fellow disciple sitting cross-legged in the living room, feeling a warm rush in his heart.

    "Senior brother," Ge Dongxu called out.

    "How are you feeling now?" Yang Yinhou asked with concern.

    "I''m fine, and my cultivation has even made some subtle breakthroughs," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Only the way of nature is the enduring and reliable path!" Yang Yinhou said gravely.

    "Don''t worry, senior brother, I know. I''ll definitely be careful in the future," Ge Dongxu quickly said with a smile upon seeing Yang Yinhou''s stern face.

    "It''s good to be loyal and faithful, but you must act according to your capabilities. Some things go against natural laws, and you must let go when you need to," Yang Yinhou said, seeing the placating smile on Ge Dongxu''s face and finding he couldn''t stay stern. He looked at Ge Dongxu and said with a bitter smile.

    "I understand, senior brother. I''ll definitely be careful in the future," Ge Dongxu continued, smiling.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu was repeating that he would be careful in the future instead of saying he wouldn''t do it again, Yang Yinhou knew that his words could only serve as a warning. If a similar situation arose, Ge Dongxu would likely dive headfirst into it, albeit with more thorough and careful consideration beforehand.

    But wasn''t this precisely why Yang Yinhou had a special fondness and respect for this Sect Leader junior brother of his?

    So when Yang Yinhou looked at Ge Dongxu''s face still bearing that obliging smile, he could only point at him, shake his head helplessly, and changed the subject, "Now that you''re fine, and since I''ve also seen Zhu Dongyu, I''ll head back to Baiyun Mountain in the morning."

    "Going back so soon? After coming from so far, don''t you want to visit Mount Santai?" Ge Dongxu said, rather surprised.

    "I have been to Mount Santai several times before; it was much more beautiful back then than it is now," Yang Yinhou said wistfully, a trace of reminiscence flickering in his eyes.

 Chapter 660 - 659: Your white hair is still there!

    Upon hearing the words, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but recall the vigorously developed Baiyun Mountain in recent years, and he said with some emotion, "Baiyun Mountain used to be even more beautiful in my eyes, but few had the chance to appreciate it."

    "Haha! That''s true! Mount Santai didn''t have so many visitors in the past either," Yang Yinhou was slightly startled before he chuckled.

    "Since elder brother is going back to Baiyun Mountain this morning, I''ll have Xu Lei arrange a car to take you back. I won''t be returning to Baiyun Mountain for the time being," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No need for that. Last night, Su Bojian wanted to invite me to stay at Santai Temple for a few days. I told him I was leaving this morning, so he has already arranged for the car. It''s waiting outside now. I was just waiting to come down to tell you before I leave," Yang Yinhou responded.

    There was no need for formalities with his elder brother, so Ge Dongxu nodded and said, "Alright. I''ll come to Baiyun Mountain to find you when I go home in a while. I''m going out now, as Teacher Wu is waiting at the hotel entrance. She was worried about disturbing me, so she didn''t dare to come in."

    "How do you know that?" Yang Yinhou asked in surprise.

    "I saw her when I extended my Divine Sense outward," Ge Dongxu replied matter-of-factly.

    Upon hearing this, Yang Yinhou''s mouth hung open in shock, and it took him a while before he finally said, "Forget it, I won''t ask you such questions anymore. Elder brother prides himself on having some talent for cultivation. I made a name for myself in Shanghai at a young age, but compared to you, I fall far behind."

    "Elder brother, don''t speak like that. I just had good fortune, that''s all," Ge Dongxu reassured him.

    "Fortune is one thing, but you truly are a cultivation genius. It''s the combination of the two that has allowed you to reach such an astonishing realm that even I can only look up to," Yang Yinhou remarked.

    At these words, Ge Dongxu smiled and scratched his head, embarrassed.

    Seeing such a near-immortal figure as Ge Dongxu showing the shyness of a big boy, Yang Yinhou couldn''t help but laugh, feeling an increased sense of affection in his heart.

    "Since Teacher Wu is outside waiting, let''s not keep her waiting any longer. Let''s go out," Yang Yinhou said with a smile.

    "Yes," Ge Dongxu nodded, and then he and Yang Yinhou left the villa together.

    Outside the villa, a black Mercedes and its driver were waiting, along with Su Bojian.

    As Su Bojian saw Yang Yinhou and Ge Dongxu come out together, he hastily greeted them, his eyes revealing a trace of reverence deep within as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    Last night, after Su Bojian returned, his mind was filled with the scene of Ge Dongxu effortlessly defeating Su Boli and his two companions with just a single tea leaf. The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became.

    If he spoke of his own strength, though impressive, it still fell within the realm of mortals. If a few more people or even several special forces soldiers and snipers were to lie in ambush to shoot him without his awareness, he surely wouldn''t be able to evade.

    But Ge Dongxu''s strength gave him the impression it was beyond the scope of mortals, akin to that of an immortal. Such a person would not likely be taken down merely by numbers or even special forces soldiers and snipers. Indeed, it might be that even a small country''s military forces would not guarantee his elimination.

    "Master Yang, Director Ge, good morning," Su Bojian said, bowing respectfully to the two men.

    Although the Mercedes driver was mentally prepared, seeing even the Supreme Elder of the Santai Sect bow with such respect still made his heart lurch with fear.

    "Hmm." Yang Yinhou nodded to acknowledge, his age and seniority obviating the need for false humility.

    "Good morning to you, Su Daoist friend," Ge Dongxu, being younger, courteously returned the greeting with a bow.

    The three made small talk at the gate of the yard for a while before Su Bojian insisted on personally escorting Yang Yinhou back, taking the opportunity to familiarize himself with the route. Yang Yinhou, unable to out-argue him, had no choice but to go along.

    The Mercedes-Benz slowly left the villa and quickly vanished from sight.

    Ge Dongxu took out his phone and called Xu Lei and Lv Chongliang to inform them that he had something to do today and would not be attending the exchange meeting.

    After making the calls, Ge Dongxu leisurely walked toward the hotel''s main entrance alone.

    As he approached the entrance, he saw from a distance Wu Yili lingering outside with a mobile phone in her hand.

    In Santai City, situated in a subtropical region, November in the solar calendar was still a time of crisp autumn air.

    Especially in recent days, the weather seemed a bit abnormal; aside from cooler evenings, the daytime temperatures usually rose above twenty degrees.

    Wu Yili wore a white base shirt and an ethnic print chiffon sun protection over her clothes, white capri pants, black medium heel shoes, and a khaki shoulder bag, standing under a ginkgo tree with already yellowing leaves opposite the hotel entrance, exuding an indescribable air of elegance and leisure.

    The white capri pants highlighted her long, rounded legs and pert buttocks just so, giving the elegant and leisurely Wu Yili a hint of alluring mature charm.

    Seeing Wu Yili holding her phone, occasionally biting her red lips with an indecisive expression, Ge Dongxu was moved and found her especially captivating at this moment. Suddenly on impulse, perhaps guided by some sentiment, Ge Dongxu lightly tapped his toes, took to the wind, and silently landed under the ginkgo tree behind Wu Yili. Then, leaning against the tree trunk, he asked, "Teacher Wu, are you waiting for someone?"

    Wu Yili, lost in thought, was startled by Ge Dongxu''s voice suddenly coming from behind her, causing her hand to tremble and the phone to drop to the ground. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu, only intending to tease Wu Yili, was taken aback when he accidentally scared her into dropping her phone. He hastily stepped forward to bend down and help her pick it up.

    As Wu Yili stared blankly at Ge Dongxu, who had suddenly appeared and was bending over to pick up her phone, it took her a moment to express with surprise, "You''re okay now?"

    "What could possibly happen to me?" Ge Dongxu felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this and then smiled as he handed her the phone.

    But Wu Yili did not take the phone, instead fixed her gaze on the left side of Ge Dongxu''s head.

    "Your white hair is still there!" After a while, Wu Yili suddenly reached out and gently touched the hair on the left side of Ge Dongxu''s head, saying with a pained look, "It''s just a few strands of white hair, they''ll return to black in a few days," Ge Dongxu wanted to rest his hand on Wu Yili''s, but considering their respective positions, he restrained the impulse and feigned nonchalance with a smile.

    "Although I don''t understand cultivation or medicine, I am, after all, an environmental expert. Once the environment''s tolerance is exceeded and it''s damaged, restoring it is not so easy. I think the same principles apply to all things. You don''t have to comfort me, I understand in my heart. Thank you for saving me before, and now for saving the most important person in my life!" Wu Yili, watching Ge Dongxu pretend nonchalance, couldn''t help but well up with tears, and finally, her hand slid from his hair down to his cheek, tenderly caressing it.

 Chapter 661 - 660: Touring the Mountains Together [Request for Monthly Votes]

    "Teacher Wu, it''s really not as serious as you think. Reaching such heights at my young age already defies the natural order, so your logic doesn''t really apply to me," Ge Dongxu said, wanting to alleviate Wu Yili''s concerns as he explained himself again.

    However, the more Ge Dongxu explained, the more moved Wu Yili felt inside, but she didn''t continue to show this emotion and instead kept it deep within her heart.

    Wu Yili raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes and burst into laughter, "I''ve seen people who brag shamelessly, but I''ve never seen anyone brag quite like you!"

    "Heh heh! I''m just telling the truth," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    As Ge Dongxu mentioned that he was telling the truth, Wu Yili couldn''t help but remember how she had once completely misunderstood him as a poor mountain kid, even inviting him out to eat in order to sneak him some extra nourishment. Her face blushed, and she couldn''t help but give him a displeased stare, leaving Ge Dongxu baffled.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s baffled look, Wu Yili wasn''t sure if he was genuinely clueless or pretending, and couldn''t help but glare at him again before saying, "I just asked the hotel doorman, the hotel is currently holding an important meeting and is not open to the public or allowing outsiders in. Are you here for the meeting too?"

    "I was purely curious and came to check out the commotion. Now that I''ve seen it, it''s rather uninteresting. But since I''m here, I''m not in a rush to go back. I''m planning to hike at Mount Santai today," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "That would be great. I''ll be your tour guide; it''s been quite a while since I last climbed Mount Santai," Wu Yili said, her eyes lighting up.

    "That''d be truly great! If my classmates knew I have our esteemed Professor Wu as my guide, they''d surely be green with envy," Ge Dongxu happily said.

    "Your words remind me, you''re now a professor too, and even more esteemed than I am, teaching Ph.D. students and all," Wu Yili said, giving Ge Dongxu a playful stare.

    "Heh heh!" Ge Dongxu chuckled sheepishly and changed the subject, "Let''s go hiking."

    Seeing Ge Dongxu divert the topic, Wu Yili didn''t press on about the professor thing and nodded, "Sounds good, let''s get in the car. It''s the perfect time to start the hike, and we should reach Santai Peak before noon."

    Wu Yili had driven over in her uncle''s Santana.

    "Let me drive," Ge Dongxu said.

    Wu Yili paused for a moment before realizing that Ge Dongxu, though just a freshman, knew how to drive.

    After passing him the car keys, Ge Dongxu opened the passenger door for Wu Yili.

    "You''re quite the gentleman," Wu Yili said to Ge Dongxu, flashing him a charming smile.

    "Of course," Ge Dongxu boasted unabashedly.

    The entrance to Mount Santai''s scenic area was actually just a short distance from the hotel, only an seven or eight minute walk.

    Driving the car, Ge Dongxu quickly reached the parking lot of Mount Santai''s scenic area in no time at all.

    The car was parked, and the two of them got out.

    "Teacher, are those shoes suitable for hiking?" As they got out of the car, Ge Dongxu suddenly realized Wu Yili was wearing mid-heeled shoes, hearing the sound of her heels clicking on the pavement.

    "They''re not high heels, so it''s not a big problem. Besides, I used to hike Mount Santai every day, I know the route well," Wu Yili responded.

    Seeing that Wu Yili said it was no problem, Ge Dongxu did not press the issue further.

    Together, they walked side by side to the entrance of the scenic area, bought tickets, and were just about to line up for the ticket check when a group of people approached from behind.

    The group was impressive, not only were the people in front dressed brightly, but several stern-faced bodyguards in black suits followed behind them.

    In the middle of the crowd was a cleanly-dressed, fairly handsome young man who looked to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

    However, although the handsome young man wore a faint smile, a look of superiority was evident in his eyes when he glanced at people flattering him by his side.

    "Everyone, please step aside to let the leaders and foreign guests go first," the staff at the scenic area, seeing the group approaching, immediately waved their hands to direct those ready for ticket checking to stand aside.

    Wu Yili''s eyes flashed a hint of disgust, but she still moved aside obediently. She even worried that Ge Dongxu might be upset, so she pulled him aside and explained in a low voice, "Our country indeed needs to continuously introduce foreign capital and technology, so sometimes government officials really have to treat foreign guests well."

    "Don''t worry, Teacher, I''m not a radical¡ªyoung nationalist. I understand," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile in a low voice.

    At his words, Wu Yili blushed slightly, suddenly realizing that Ge Dongxu, this young man, wasn''t simply any ordinary freshman, these matters were hardly something she needed to point out to him.

    While Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili were quietly talking, the young man, who was encircled by people like stars orbiting the moon, looked over towards them.

    When his gaze fell on Wu Yili, his eyes visibly brightened for a moment before reluctantly shifting his gaze away, and then he entered the scenic area amidst the crowd''s company. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

    "Do you see that large rock halfway up the mountain and the many smaller rocks beside it? That''s called Eight Immortals Rock. Legend has it that one day, Tieguai Li, Lv Dongbin, He Xiangu, and other immortals from the higher realms came to Mount Santai on clouds. Looking down and seeing the blooming camellias, they found them beautiful and decided to descend to roam. Tieguai Li, lagging behind, thought climbing the mountain was pointless and better to enjoy some good old wine. Thus, he suggested ending the mountaineering for a resting spot. Lv Dongbin, being clever, knew Tieguai Li wanted to drink and said he would fetch some wine and food so they could enjoy the scenery. As soon as Lv Dongbin finished speaking, in the blink of an eye, a table of wine and food appeared. The immortals set up stone tables and benches, eating and enjoying the scenery, which was incredibly joyous. At that moment, ''boom, boom, boom,'' a drum sound came from the sky; it was the Jade Emperor summoning the Eight Immortals to heaven. Not daring to defy the Jade Emperor''s decree, the Eight Immortals had to end their feast. Tieguai Li, angry that his fun was interrupted, kicked the stone table, stone benches, and dishes high up from the mountaintop. Fearing the falling items might crush the houses at the mountain''s base, Lv Dongbin quickly pointed his finger and yelled, ''Stop!'' The stone table, stone benches, and dishes halted mid-mountain and still rest there to this day, hence named the Eight Immortals Rock," Wu Yili explained, pointing at the rocks halting their climb up the mountain.

    "Clap! Clap! Clap!" Just as Wu Yili finished narrating this folk tale, sudden applause broke out.

    "This lady speaks wonderfully, truly captivating! I wonder if we might invite you to be our guide and explore Mount Santai together?" Came a voice with a heavy accent amidst the clapping.

 Chapter 662 - 661: Refusal [1st Update, Request for Monthly Votes]

    Ge Dongxu frowned slightly as he looked at the man who was smiling at Wu Yili.

    This was the same man who had previously been surrounded by a group of people, the handsome young man.

    "I''m sorry, I''m not a tour guide, and I''m not interested in being one for you," Wu Yili said, taking Ge Dongxu''s hand and adding, "Let''s go."

    "This lady seems so familiar with the scenic tales of Mount Santai, she must be from Santai City. I am Lin Qingyue, the director of our city''s Economic and Technology Development Zone Management Committee. This is Mr. Park Yuyuan, the grandson of the chairman of Korea''s Xianxing Group, who has come to our Santai City for an investment inspection. In the interest of our hometown''s economic development, could we trouble you to play the part of a tour guide for a moment? As for the compensation, rest assured, we will not treat you unfairly," a somewhat portly middle-aged man, clearly a local official, blocked Wu Yili''s path and said.

    Xianxing Group is a large multinational corporation from Korea, ranked among the top 500 enterprises worldwide, and is very well-known. Wu Yili knew about it as well and was surprised to hear that the young man in front of her was the grandson of Xianxing Group''s chairman. Combined with Director Lin''s assertion about contributing to hometown economic development, it made it somewhat difficult for Wu Yili to refuse on the spot.

    Seeing Wu Yili''s expression turn one of mild astonishment, Park Yuyuan revealed a hint of smugness and disdain, thinking she was overwhelmed by his prestige. His gaze began to appraise Wu Yili with increasing presumptuousness.

    As a third-generation direct descendent of a large Korean family, whether in Korea or in Huaxia Country, he had seen many women who initially refused him but quickly threw themselves at him upon learning of his identity.

    In Park Yuyuan''s view, Wu Yili would be no exception.

    "It''s indeed our duty to help out as tour guides for the sake of hometown economic development. However, if it''s at the cost of personal dignity, I think it''s completely unnecessary. Director Lin, have you considered that even though there are official tour guides available here, the grandson of Xianxing''s chairman still specifically invites Teacher Wu to be his guide? Do you really expect me to believe you don''t understand the implications? Attracting foreign investment is good, but if it means losing our dignity in the process, then we would rather not have that investment," Ge Dongxu said with a look of disgust at Park Yuyuan, pulling a grim face and unapologetically chastising Director Lin, before taking Wu Yili''s hand and adding, "Teacher Wu, don''t bother with them!"

    Halfway through Ge Dongxu''s words, Wu Yili had already come to her senses and looked at Director Lin and Park Yuyuan with evident displeasure, allowing Ge Dongxu to pull her away.

    The director of the Economic and Technology Development Zone Management Committee of Santai City was a senior official of considerable ranking within the city.

    Seeing that he had been so cordial to Wu Yili only to be sternly rebuked by a youngster, Lin Qingyue''s face turned red with anger, and he prepared to step forward to block their path and give them a piece of his mind.

    Just at that moment, a person who looked like a secretary held back Lin Qingyue, whispering, "Director Lin, that lady seems to be the talented Wu Yili from our Santai City, a professor at Jiangnan University."

    Upon hearing this, Lin Qingyue''s face changed subtly. If she was just an ordinary citizen of Santai City, then he as the director could certainly put on a show of authority and teach these two "difficult citizens" a lesson. But if it was a professor from Jiangnan University, then Director Lin certainly had no right to assert such authority.

    "Are you sure?" Lin Qingyue asked.

    "There shouldn''t be a mistake. Two years ago, when our city''s No. 1 Middle School celebrated its anniversary, Professor Wu attended as an alumnus. I''ve seen her. Moreover, the young man called her ''Teacher Wu,'' so it must be correct," the secretary stated, nodding with increasing certainty as he watched the retreating figures of Wu Yili and Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing the secretary''s confident expression, Lin Qingyue''s face went through several changes before he said to Park Yuyuan, "I''m sorry, Mr. Park, if the lady is unwilling, we can''t force her."

    "If you can''t even manage this small matter, I really doubt the sincerity and capability of your Santai City Economic and Technology Development Zone!" Park Yuyuan''s corner of the mouth curled up with a mocking smile.

    Lin Qingyue''s face changed several times upon hearing these words, and a hint of annoyance flickered deep in his eyes. But remembering that Xianxing Group was a Fortune 500 company and that their investment in the economic and technological development zone would be of a different magnitude, greatly elevating its status, he realized it would add considerable weight to his achievements report. Moreover, the municipal leaders attached great importance to this inspection.

    Eventually, Lin Qingyue managed to squeeze out a smile and earnestly said, "Mr. Park, our Santai City is absolutely sincere in our approach. Mayor Yang has also proposed to end his trip ahead of schedule because of your visit and will rush back to Santai City to meet with you personally in the afternoon."

    Park Yuyuan, however, remained unimpressed by Lin Qingyue''s sincere attitude, merely gave a cold laugh, and then strode forward, his gaze intensely fixed on the graceful, retreating figure of Wu Yili.

    Wu Yili''s rejection only intensified Park Yuyuan''s interest in her.

    Seeing Park Yuyuan marching confidently up the steps, everyone hurriedly followed after him.

    Perhaps it was the sound of footsteps behind her, or maybe her mind had been disturbed by the recent event, but Wu Yili was clearly distracted and hadn''t gone far when she misjudged a step due to the uneven surface, her heel landing on top of a protrusion.

    "Ouch!" Wu Yili exclaimed, then found herself sitting on the stairs, clutching her ankle in pain and her face turning somewhat pale.

    "Did you sprain your ankle?" Ge Dongxu quickly asked with concern.

    "Yes, I did, but I think it will be fine after resting for a while," Wu Yili said as she let go of her hand.

    She was wearing capri pants, and her ankles were exposed. After releasing her grip, it was apparent that her ankle had begun to swell and turn red. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "The sprain looks quite serious, and you probably won''t be able to walk the mountain roads. I have a family''s traditional ''blood-pushing'' technique for healing, let me massage it for you. I guarantee that your symptoms will be alleviated, and perhaps you can even continue the hike," Ge Dongxu was about to offer when Park Yuyuan, who had walked up at some point, looked at Wu Yili''s ankle with an expression of "concern."

    "Thank you, but there''s no need. I am also familiar with the ''blood-pushing'' technique," Ge Dongxu said indifferently, then squatted down, gently cradling Wu Yili''s foot, and said, "It''s going to be a bit painful, just bear with it for a while."

    "Hmm!" Seeing Ge Dongxu cradling her foot with such care, Wu Yili''s pretty face couldn''t help but blush slightly, and her eyes showed a brief moment of disorientation.

    Ge Dongxu''s fingers first touched the Jie Xi acupoint, lightly massaged it twice, and then moved to the Yang Ling Quan acupoint.

    Park Yuyuan, seeing Ge Dongxu seizing the opportunity he wished for himself, had a flash of irritation in his eyes. As he was about to revel in Ge Dongxu''s embarrassment, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a piece of black jade hanging from Ge Dongxu''s chest.

    That black jade was the Black Jade Heart, the essence of the black jade Dongxu had obtained from the armored zombie. Dongxu usually wore it together with the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword, given to him by Ren Yao, hidden and close to his heart, invisible to others. Now, as he was crouching down, his collar had partially opened, and Park Yuyuan, looking down from his height, caught sight of that piece of black jade.

    The jade was not only crystal clear and as dark as ink, but it also emitted a faint black radiance that seemed to absorb all the surround light, making the space around it dark, as if the black jade were a black hole, drawing in all light.

    Park Yuyuan was clearly someone who knew the value of fine objects. The sight of that piece of black jade made his eyes sparkle with excitement and burn with eagerness, as if the black jade were a stunningly beautiful woman stripped of her clothes.

 Chapter 663 - 662: Not for Sale [Second Release for Monthly Votes]

    Since there were outsiders present, Ge Dongxu did not want to seem too astonishingly unconventional, so he methodically moved from pressing on the Jie Xi acupoint to the Yang Ling acupoint, and finally to the Kunlun acupoint.

    The redness and swelling on Wu Yili''s ankle gradually subsided. She no longer felt any pain; instead, there was an indescribable warmth and comfort, to the point where Wu Yili did not want Ge Dongxu to stop.

    Especially seeing Ge Dongxu squatting in front of her, with such carefulness and seriousness, Wu Yili felt an indescribable sweetness in her heart and wished that this moment could last a little longer.

    However, Wu Yili was ultimately concerned that Ge Dongxu might be tired from yesterday''s events and, seeing as her leg no longer hurt, having a grown man squatting before her to massage her leg, though sweet, also made her heart ache.

    "It''s okay now, it doesn''t hurt anymore," Wu Yili said.

    "Hmm, then stand up and walk around to see," Ge Dongxu said, knowing that Wu Yili was no longer in pain. Since so many people were watching, he did not want to end it too early and startle them. But since Wu Yili spoke up, he let go and suggested.

    "Wow, it''s really not swollen anymore." When Ge Dongxu released his hand, Lin Qingyue and other officials could clearly see Wu Yili''s ankle, which appeared pale and tender without a trace of swelling, and they couldn''t help but feel surprised.

    At this moment, Park Yuyuan''s attention was not on Wu Yili at all, but as Ge Dongxu stood up, Park Yuyuan''s gaze followed upwards, settling on Ge Dongxu''s chest through his clothes.

    Ge Dongxu slightly furrowed his brow, a hint of cold light flashing in the depths of his eyes.

    How could Park Yuyuan''s burning, greedy gaze escape his perception just now?

    "It doesn''t hurt at all, not even a bit," Wu Yili initially tread lightly on the ground, but feeling no pain at all, she soon deliberately pressed down harder a couple of times, and then looked at Ge Dongxu with admiration and gratitude, saying.

    "Since it doesn''t hurt, let''s continue walking," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Okay," Wu Yili nodded, then lifted her foot to continue climbing the steps with Ge Dongxu.

    "Please wait a moment." When Park Yuyuan saw the two were about to leave, he quickly stepped in front of them, blocking their way.

    "What do you want?" Wu Yili thought Park Yuyuan was going to persist in bothering her, so she couldn''t help but frown and snapped.

    Lin Qingyue and other accompanying local officials also thought that Park Yuyuan was going to continue bothering Wu Yili, their expressions changing drastically, they were both annoyed and anxious, wondering what they should do if Park Yuyuan insisted on pestering Wu Yili.

    "Sir, I really like the Black Jade you are wearing around your neck. Could you consider parting with it for me? The price is negotiable," Park Yuyuan said.

    Everyone was taken aback by Park Yuyuan''s words, even his own bodyguards were stunned.

    This was quite unexpected. Park Yuyuan was stopping them not for the beauty but for a piece of Black Jade on the young man''s neck.

    However, Lin Qingyue and the others quickly breathed a sigh of relief.

    Since it was just jade, that was manageable. After all, Park Yuyuan was the grandson of the Chairman of Xianxing Group and had plenty of money. They figured as long as they offered a good price, the young man would surely part with even the finest jade he possessed.

    "Not for sale!" Ge Dongxu replied coldly and then continued up the steps.

    "One hundred thousand RMB!" Seeing that Ge Dongxu was ignoring him, Park Yuyuan called out with pride. He was well aware that in Huaxia Country, one hundred thousand RMB was definitely a large sum these days. Ge Dongxu was dressed plainly and was just a youngster; Park Yuyuan believed one hundred thousand would surely be enough to overwhelm him.

    Indeed, as soon as Park Yuyuan offered one hundred thousand, not only did Lin Qingyue and the others feel their hearts skip a beat, but even Wu Yili''s face showed a touch of surprise.

    However, Ge Dongxu, upon hearing this, did not even turn his head, continuing to walk up the stairs with Wu Yili''s hand in his.

    "One million!" Park Yuyuan saw that Ge Dongxu was not responding to him, and at first felt a bit surprised and annoyed, but then he thought of the Black Jade which might very well be the essence of the black jade recorded by his family''s ancestors that could calm a cultivator''s mind during training, prevent inner demons from disturbing, and when made into a Jade Talisman, could greatly increase the power of Techniques. Suppressing the irritation in his heart, he spoke up again.

    "One million!" Lin Qingyue and the others were all stunned upon hearing this.

    Ge Dongxu continued to ignore them.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu still did not respond, Park Yuyuan''s expression finally darkened, and he took a firm step forward, blocking Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili''s path, and said, "Then how much will it take for you to part with it? Name your price."

    "Isn''t your Chinese quite good? Can''t you understand the words ''not for sale''?" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "Young man, one million is a lot of money, a sum most people can''t earn in their lifetime. Mr. Park is willing to offer that much, which shows he''s very sincere and generous. Why won''t you..." Lin Qingyue wanted the Xianxing Group to invest in Santai City, and seeing Ge Dongxu''s cold attitude and his outright refusal, naturally spoke in favor of Park Yuyuan.

    "Some things can''t be measured by money." Ge Dongxu glanced at Lin Qingyue and interrupted.

    "What about ten million then!" Park Yuyuan looked at Ge Dongxu with a proud expression.

    "Ten million!" This time, not only were Lin Qingyue and other local officials stunned, but even Wu Yili was somewhat stupefied.

    According to last year''s published list of the wealthiest people in Huaxia Country, the threshold to be on the list was fifty million; one could imagine what a colossal sum ten million was for Lin Qingyue and the others.

    With ten million, one could certainly be called a wealthy person in Santai City.

    But now, Park Yuyuan was actually offering ten million to buy the piece of Black Jade worn around Ge Dongxu''s neck! This meant that if Ge Dongxu, the young man, simply nodded in agreement, he would immediately become a young millionaire.

    Even though this was not happening to them, just the thought of it made Lin Qingyue and the other local officials feel a rush of excitement.

    You have to understand that their annual salary, with everything added up, was only about twenty or thirty thousand at most.

    Park Yuyuan had apparently also considered this point, so after stating the amount, he was certain that Ge Dongxu would sell.

    "It seems Mr. Park really needs to go and study the Chinese language properly!" Ge Dongxu said scornfully, looking at Park Yuyuan.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu made this comment, everyone''s expressions changed drastically, and Lin Qingyue and others could not help but feel pity and anger for Ge Dongxu. sea??h th§× N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ten million! What kind of money is that easy to earn? How many people can afford it? Only someone like Park Yuyuan, a direct descendant of a family that controls a Fortune Global 500 company, could afford such a price.

    Once this opportunity is missed, where else would they find such a deal!

    If it were them, they would have sold it long ago! No matter how good the jade is, ten million is already a sky-high price.

    Park Yuyuan evidently did not expect that even with an offer of ten million, Ge Dongxu would still refuse. His face finally showed drastic change, and he became extremely annoyed. He then gave a signal with his eyes to several muscular bodyguards behind him.

 Chapter 664 - 663 Li Flying Knife [Third Update for Monthly Pass]

    A few bodyguards immediately understood Park Yuyuan''s intention. They moved and flanked Ge Dongxu''s path from both front and back, emitting a fierce aura.

    "Since this gentleman is temporarily reluctant to part with it, I can''t insist. But I''m really interested in that piece of Black Jade you have, wouldn''t it be okay just to let me have a look at it?" Park Yuyuan said.

    "What a joke, who are you to demand that I let you see it?" Ge Dongxu sneered coldly, turned around, and took Wu Yili''s hand, saying, "Teacher Wu, let''s go. There''s no point in talking to this kind of Korean who thinks he''s all that just because he has some money."

    "Humph, today I really do want to have a look at it!" Seeing Ge Dongxu pulling Wu Yili about to leave, Park Yuyuan''s face suddenly darkened. He spread his fingers wide and reached for Ge Dongxu''s chest.

    Almost at the same time, the bodyguards he brought immediately stepped forward, their eyes full of fierce light.

    "Do you really think I can''t hit you because you''re Korean?" Seeing Park Yuyuan reach out and try to forcefully take it, Ge Dongxu''s eyes finally flared coldly. He grabbed Park Yuyuan''s outstretched hand and flung it directly.

    "Bang!" With that, Park Yuyuan, who was nearly one meter eighty and weighed at least one hundred thirty to forty kilograms, was flung to the ground by Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu stepped forward, placing his foot on Park Yuyuan''s chest. His gaze swept coldly over the bodyguards who were ready to pounce and he said indifferently, "You can all try coming at me. Just see if I dare crush his chest with my foot!"

    "This, this gentleman, please don''t act rashly. This is the grandson of the chairman of the Korea Xianxing Group. If you injure him, the problem could be serious," Lin Qingyue and the others were frightened into pallor by the sudden turn of events.

    "What''s so serious about it? He''s a Korean trying to take my belongings by force in my Huaxia Country, am I not allowed to defend myself?" Ge Dongxu said, sneering coldly.

    With his current level of cultivation, not to mention that Park Yuyuan was just the grandson of the chairman of the Xianxing Group, even if the chairman himself came, if he dared to provoke him, Ge Dongxu would dare to step on him.

    "This, this..." Lin Qingyue and the others were sweating bullets.

    Now they were itching to curse at Ge Dongxu, yet they were too scared to provoke him.

    "What are you still standing there for? He wouldn''t dare do anything to me! I''m here to invest, and their government is supposed to protect my safety!" Park Yuyuan shouted at the bodyguards in Korean.

    "Do you really think I wouldn''t dare do anything to you?" Although Ge Dongxu couldn''t understand Korean, he could guess what Park Yuyuan was shouting about from his expression and the reaction of the bodyguards. He sneered coldly, moved his foot from Park''s chest to his clean-cut face, and ground it hard, saying, "Come on, it''s not the chest this time, it''s the head!"

    The bodyguards, experienced as they were, could see that Ge Dongxu was a tough character and that his words were not just empty threats, so none dared to step forward.

    "Humph, to think you dared come to my Huaxia Country and strut around with so little to show! Remember, this is Huaxia Country. If you are here to invest sincerely, we welcome you. But if you think that having money means you can do whatever you want, think you are above the law, then you are mistaken!" Ge Dongxu said as he moved his foot back to Park Yuyuan''s chest and then stomped down, saying, "Get lost!"

    With that stomp, a frigid breath quietly seeped from Ge Dongxu''s toe into Park Yuyuan''s heart.

    Park Yuyuan felt a pang in his heart, initially thinking it was just because Ge Dongxu had stepped on him. He didn''t give it much thought, and once he moved his foot, Park immediately rolled backwards to reach Lin Qingyue and the others, then pointed at Ge Dongxu, "Catch him, catch him now."

    Actually, Park Yuyuan didn''t even need to speak, as several bodyguards had already pounced towards Ge Dongxu.

    Indeed! Using a sneaky trick on this kind of person is justified! S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu moved his foot away, Park Yuyuan immediately started pointing and shouting at him, completely forgetting the pain he had just endured. A ruthless cold smile hooked on Ge''s lips, his footsteps shifted and his body flashed, his hand transformed into a knife shape and then he chopped down towards the nape of each bodyguard.

    "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" As Ge Dongxu''s hand-knife fell, the bodyguards one by one collapsed to the ground, unable to rise for a while.

    Seeing this, Park Yuyuan couldn''t help but be shocked and then realized that Ge Dongxu''s skills were formidable, and it wasn''t just due to his own negligence that he had suffered. He quickly retreated, while a Jade Talisman had already appeared in his palm.

    Park Yuyuan pinched the Jade Talisman, muttering under his breath. Suddenly, a chilly wind blew out of nowhere, causing Lin Qingyue and the others to inexplicably feel a chill rise from the back of their heads.

    Lin Qingyue and the others were ordinary people. They hadn''t realized that Park Yuyuan was casting spells. However, Ge Dongxu, who had noticed Park Yuyuan fumbling with the talisman from several meters away, knew Park was also a practitioner of Qimen. Seeing him back away and cast a technique, a cold smile formed on his lips. He reached into his pocket, pinched a coin, and then flicked it towards Park Yuyuan.

    A streak of cold light flashed across the air and then struck Park Yuyuan''s forehead.

    Park Yuyuan fell backward with a "thud," a coin sticking to his forehead, while the Jade Talisman he was holding rolled into the grass by the roadside.

    "Xiao Li Flying Knife! A Martial World expert!" When Lin Qingyue and others saw Park Yuyuan fall with a coin on his forehead, they finally understood what that streak of cold light had been and shivered uncontrollably, exclaiming in horror.

    "Xiao Li Flying Knife?" Hearing this, Ge Dongxu''s lips curled into a meaningful cold smile. Qimen techniques should not be displayed in front of ordinary people, which is why he used the coin to disrupt Park Yuyuan''s spell. He had not expected it would remind people of Xiao Li Flying Knife.

    With a cold laugh, Ge Dongxu stepped forward, grabbed Park Yuyuan by the neck, and lifted him off the ground.

    "What are you doing? I am the grandson of the chairman of Xianxing Group! I am here to invest in Huaxia Country!" Park Yuyuan said with panic in his voice, trying to project strength from a position of fear.

    Looking at the bodyguards scattered on the ground, and how Ge Dongxu had just nonchalantly struck him between the eyebrows with a coin, Park Yuyuan was genuinely beginning to panic.

    "Sir, let''s talk this over, please don''t do anything rash, really, don''t be rash!" Lin Qingyue was also feeling jittery about Ge Dongxu''s methods, fearing he might impulsively break Park Yuyuan''s neck and quickly tried to talk him down.

    "Slap! Slap!" Ge Dongxu raised his hand and slapped Park Yuyuan twice, saying, "My patience has limits, this is your last warning. If there is another time, I promise you will be carried down the mountain. If you think I wouldn''t dare, you can try me again."

    Having said that, Ge Dongxu finally let go of his hand, then turned to Wu Yili, who was already stunned by the scene, smiled, and said, "Teacher, let''s go."

 Chapter 665 - 664: Give the Phone to the President [4th Update for Monthly Ticket]

    Wu Yili mechanically nodded her head and turned to follow Ge Dongxu.

    After taking several steps, Wu Yili suddenly came to as if waking from a dream, continually turning her head to look at Ge Dongxu walking beside her, a different kind of sparkle flashing in her beautiful eyes.

    Previously, in Wu Yili''s eyes, Ge Dongxu had always been a sunny, kind-hearted, and simple young man. Now, she had realized that Ge Dongxu also possessed a fierce and ruthless side.

    "Teacher, why are you looking at me like that?" Ge Dongxu, feeling somewhat uncomfortable being sized up, asked with a sheepish smile.

    "It''s nothing," answered Wu Yili, her pretty face blushing slightly when Ge Dongxu had asked her, feeling somewhat flustered.

    Not far away, Park Yuyuan, touching his fair face that had just been stepped on and slapped by Ge Dongxu, stared at the retreating figures of Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili, his eyes filled with deep resentment. His facial muscles twitched incessantly, making his expression particularly sinister.

    However, in the end, Park Yuyuan did not have the courage to chase after them again, nor did he have the courage to pick up the Jade Talisman on the ground and cast spells again.

    He had only just broken through to the Second Level of Qi Cultivation and, catching people off guard, he could handle a few ordinary individuals. But against a martial arts expert like Ge Dongxu, if he tried to make a move, it would definitely be asking for trouble.

    Just like a moment ago, he had barely begun to gather his mana, far from being able to cast any techniques, when Ge Dongxu had interrupted his spell-casting process with just a coin.

    After a long while, Park Yuyuan abruptly turned to Lin Qingyue, his expression ferocious as he pointed at them and said, "Is this the sincerity and attitude you show toward a foreign investor? You can''t even guarantee the basic safety of our lives. How am I supposed to convince my grandfather to invest in building an electronics plant here? You must understand, this isn''t a small amount of investment; it involves an initial investment of twenty million US dollars!"

    This was the first time Park Yuyuan had disclosed the amount and the project of the investment. Previously, Park Yuyuan had only observed without speaking, and Lin Qingyue could not figure out his intentions.

    Upon hearing twenty million US dollars, Lin Qingyue''s heart started to pound fiercely, and his mouth became dry and his tongue parched.

    Santai City was not an economically strong city in Dongyue Province, and Santai City''s Economic and Technological Development Zone was even less prominent among the city-level development zones in the province.

    An initial investment of merely twenty million US dollars in a foreign capital project, especially in a high-tech electronic equipment project, could definitely propel Santai City''s Economic and Technological Development Zone to become a star development zone among the city-level zones in the province. And as the director of the development zone management committee, Lin Qingyue would undoubtedly be able to greatly enhance his political achievements through this investment attraction.

    Seeing Lin Qingyue getting so excited and tense by just mentioning a number, Park Yuyuan inwardly felt disdain and sneered, his gloomy mood slightly improving.

    "Rest assured, this was just an accident. I will report this immediately to our city leaders and ask them to take this matter seriously," said Lin Qingyue after a while, taking a deep breath and speaking earnestly.

    "I want your police to immediately arrest that young man! I want to sue him; I want him to go to jail!" Seeing Lin Qingyue stunned by the twenty million dollar investment, a smug look appeared on Park Yuyuan''s face as he said this through clenched teeth, his demeanor arrogant.

    Lin Qingyue understood that Park Yuyuan was pressuring him, negotiating terms. If he failed to meet his demands and didn''t make the arrest, then the twenty million dollar investment, the electronic equipment factory¡ªall would definitely be off the table.

    If it had been just an ordinary citizen, actually, Lin Qingyue would have ordered the person''s arrest without Park Yuyuan needing to exert any pressure, especially since Ge Dongxu had dared to lay hands on a foreign guest. But whether it was Ge Dongxu''s refusal of ten million or the martial arts prowess he later demonstrated, they both clearly marked him as no ordinary young man.

    Even the Professor Wu Yili by his side was not merely an ordinary citizen.

    But these were not the most important factors. The fierce and ruthless demeanor that Ge Dongxu had displayed was what truly frightened Lin Qingyue every time he thought about it.

    To go after such a person, did Lin Qingyue really dare not easily make a decision?

    Ultimately, thinking about how a successful negotiation of a twenty million US Dollar investment would brighten his career path, Lin Qingyue gritted his teeth, took out his mobile phone and called Vice Mayor Yao, who was in charge of attracting business and investment. He reported the situation to him and asked for advice on what to do next.

    "First, do everything in your power to keep the foreign guest and soothe his emotions. As for the young man, tell the foreign guest that we will definitely handle it and will give him a satisfactory response," Vice Mayor Yao instructed.

    "But Mr. Park insists on having the young man arrested. What should I do about this?" Lin Qingyue inquired further upon hearing this.

    "First tell him that making an arrest requires a procedure, and it needs to be done step by step, but we will definitely give him a satisfactory explanation. Just stabilize the situation with the foreign guest for now," Vice Mayor Yao replied with a slightly furrowed brow.

    Seeing Vice Mayor Yao speak to this extent, Lin Qingyue understood that he also did not dare to order an arrest lightly and guessed he would conduct an investigation first before making a decision.

    While Lin Qingyue was on the phone with Vice Mayor Yao, Park Yuyuan also stepped aside to call his grandfather.

    If Ge Dongxu had not refused ten million, or if Ge Dongxu hadn''t later displayed such terrifying skills, Park Yuyuan might not have been completely certain that the jade he had seen was the Black Jade Heart mentioned in his family records, but now he was absolutely sure.

    Since he was absolutely sure, he was determined to obtain that Black Jade Heart.

    Moreover, he knew very well that once he relayed this information to his grandfather, it would significantly enhance his standing and importance in his grandfather''s eyes.

    The call connected quickly.

    Chairman Piao was the leader of a Fortune 500 company and held substantial stature not just in Korea but in the global business community as well. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Usually, during work hours, one had to call his secretary first; even members of the Piao family were no exception.

    The secretary informed Park Yuyuan that his grandfather was in a meeting.

    "Give the phone to the chairman. I have something very urgent to discuss with him," Park Yuyuan knew that his grandfather disapproved of interruptions during meetings, but the matter concerning the Black Jade Heart was too urgent to delay.

    After hesitating for a moment, the secretary ultimately knocked on the door of the conference room, approached a robust elderly man, and whispered into his ear.

    This robust elderly man was Chairman of the Xianxing Group, Piao Tianchang, Park Yuyuan''s grandfather.

    Piao Tianchang furrowed his brows and took the phone with a touch of displeasure.

    "What is it?" Piao Tianchang asked in Korean, his voice authoritative.

    "Grandfather, I''m currently in Santai City, and I have discovered a Black Jade Heart on a young man," Park Yuyuan replied.

    Upon hearing this, Piao Tianchang''s body jolted, and his eyes flashed intensely.

 Chapter 666 - 665: Ill Make a Decision When I Get There

    ```

    Piao Tianchang was seventy-seven years old this year, and his cultivation had reached the late stage of the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, but he simply could not make any further progress.

    A major reason disrupting his cultivation advancement was the many shameful deeds he had committed in his bid for the family leadership and control over Xianxing Group, including fratricide, to the extent that now when he sat down to cultivate, heart demons swarmed him, preventing him from cultivating in peace.

    Black Jade Heart was a treasured relic recorded in the Piao family archives for calming the mind and expelling heart demons. Should he acquire it, there was a high chance for his cultivation to advance further.

    If he could step into the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer before he turned eighty, not only would Piao Tianchang''s commercial status in Korea remain unshakable, but his standing within Qimen would be just as stable. His lifespan might even extend slightly due to the breakthrough in his cultivation.

    Thinking that he might break through to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, Piao Tianchang could hardly contain his excitement, no longer in the mood to continue the meeting, and he waved the attendees out of the conference room.

    "Are you sure?" After sending everyone out of the conference room, only then did Piao Tianchang gradually calm down and asked in a deep voice.

    "I''m sure. The jade was black as ink, as if it could absorb all the light around it. Moreover, I bid up to ten million RMB, but the young man wouldn''t part with it. I initially intended to forcibly take it and talk later, but that person is quite skilled, and I am far from being his match," replied Park Yuyuan.

    "Then there can be no mistake! As for being skilled, that''s nothing. In today''s society, martial power can no longer sustain you; what truly decides everything is power and wealth!" Piao Tianchang declared proudly.

    As the helmsman of a Fortune 500 company, Piao Tianchang had the credentials to be so confident and proud.

    In Korea, there were others who were very skilled in martial arts, more so than he was in the past, but under the financial and political power of Xianxing Group, they still had to submit to him.

    Because those who are skilled in martial arts might not know how to earn money, nor necessarily understand how to manage and wield power!

    Piao Tianchang was the helmsman of a Fortune 500 company, not only controlling assets worth tens of billions of US dollars but also possessing significant political influence in Korea.

    The financial and human resources he could mobilize in today''s society were definitely not something that could be countered by individual martial power alone.

    At least, that''s how Piao Tianchang saw it.

    "So Grandfather, what should I do now?" Park Yuyuan asked for instructions.

    "You''ve already done very well. Now you don''t need to do anything, just ask the local government officials to help you investigate that person''s background. We will make a decision after I get there," Piao Tianchang ordered sternly.

    "Grandfather is coming over?" Park Yuyuan said in surprise and delight.

    Although he knew this information was very important to his grandfather, he did not expect it to be so critical that his grandfather would personally make the trip.

    "Correct. I will take a private jet today and head to Santai City in Dongyue Province to meet with you," Piao Tianchang replied.

    Park Yuyuan''s mood became even more excited upon hearing this, and he was filled with anticipation, his lips curling into a smirk of schadenfreude and cruelty.

    Hmph, you just wait, kid! If you dare to be arrogant again, if you don''t die, you''ll at least be stripped of a layer of skin!

    ```

    After chatting with his grandfather for a few more words, Park Yuyuan hung up the phone.

    By this time, Lin Qingyue had also finished his call with Vice Mayor Yao. Seeing that Park Yuyuan had ended his call, Lin approached and said politely, "Mr. Park, I have reported to the leader in charge. Rest assured, we will definitely provide you with a satisfactory explanation. However, I would ask for your patience regarding time, as things need to go through proper procedures. I hope you can understand this."

    Having spoken with his grandfather, Park Yuyuan already believed he had Ge Dongxu in the bag, and considering his grandfather''s increasing attention, which could help him compete for status among his direct brothers and sisters, his mood was quite good. Surprisingly, he did not give Lin Qingyue a hard time but nodded understandingly and said, "I get it! However, before giving the attacker the legal punishment he deserves, I would like you to help investigate that young man''s identity."

    The identity of Ge Dongxu was exactly what Lin Qingyue wanted to know. Seeing that Park Yuyuan did not threaten immediate arrest but instead asked for their help in investigating Ge''s identity, Lin eagerly agreed, saying, "That''s easy to handle. Although we are not clear about the identity of that young man, the woman is a talented lady from our Santai City. As long as we find her family, we should be able to trace and find out the young man''s identity."

    Park Yuyuan nodded at this and said, "Okay, let''s head back. There''s nothing interesting about Mount Santai anyway, it''s far inferior to our Hallasan."

    Although Lin Qingyue and the others were well aware that Park Yuyuan was just looking for an excuse to leave, seeing him belittle Mount Santai still made their expressions inevitably turn a bit unnatural, with a hint of annoyance flashing in the depth of their eyes. However, considering Park''s identity and the initial investment of 20 million US dollars, Lin and the others could only swallow their pride and force a smile, saying, "Since Mr. Park is not interested in the scenery of Mount Santai, let''s head back."

    Park Yuyuan nodded and a disdainful and contemptuous sneer curled at the corner of his mouth.

    ...

    "Dongxu, Xianxing Group is a Fortune 500 company with industries involving electronics, finance, chemistry, machinery, and more. It has branches, factories, and offices all over the world, with great influence not only in Korea but also globally. The way you beat up the grandson of their chairman, if he refuses to let it go and blows things up, it could very likely cause a diplomatic dispute. There are no small matters in diplomacy; if it leads to a dispute, I''m worried you might be in trouble." After the incident with Park Yuyuan, Wu Yili was increasingly distracted while hanging out with Ge Dongxu. Her beautiful eyes occasionally revealed a tinge of worry. After several times of hesitating to speak, she finally pulled Ge Dongxu to sit down on a stone bench by the roadside and voiced her concerns.

    "Don''t worry, Teacher. Since I dared to deal with him, I''m also not afraid of his stirring. If he dares to cause trouble afterward, I will use it as a perfect opportunity to deal with him uprightly. He dares to target my Teacher Wu without even seeing what he is capable of himself; he''s simply a toad lusting after swan''s flesh!" Ge Dongxu said reassuringly with a smile.

    "Pfft!" Wu Yili was quite worried, but when Dongxu compared himself to a swan and Park Yuyuan to a toad, she couldn''t help but burst out laughing. After a while, she rolled her eyes at him unimpressed and said, "I was trying to be serious with you, and here you are, talking nonsense about toads and swan flesh!"

    "Teacher, I''m also being serious with you. You really don''t need to worry. The more you concede to such people, the more they think they are something special! As for any diplomatic dispute, you need to worry even less. Although our country''s economy may not be as developed as Korea''s, we are still a big country. If we really choose to ignore him, what could he do about it? Besides, what was east of the river for thirty years will be west of the river for the next thirty. Our Huaxia is vast with abundant resources and a hardworking population. Once we start developing, it will be formidable. By that time, even Korea''s economy could only look up to ours, just like in ancient times. Their current pride is only temporary," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "I understand all these principles you''re talking about. Actually, I came back from Germany also hoping to contribute to the country''s development and to ensure environmental protection is considered alongside economic growth, so we don''t follow the old path of the developed Western countries. But the state has its considerations at the national level. No matter how capable you are, your individual influence is ultimately limited. If things blow up, I''m worried..." Wu Yili said with concern.

    "Thank you, Teacher. You believe in me, and I know what I should and should not do. I won''t be rash," Ge Dongxu said earnestly.

    Wu Yili''s delicate body trembled slightly upon hearing this, and she looked into Ge Dongxu''s eyes for a long time before smoothing her hair and giving him a charming smile, "Alright, every time I''ve doubted you, in the end, it proved I was wrong, so this time I choose to believe in you! Regardless of the outcome, I''ll stand by you."

    "Teacher, you still don''t believe me!" Ge Dongxu said with a touch of a bitter smile on his face after hearing her last sentence.

    "You guy! Sometimes you''re smart, and sometimes you''re so dumb!" Seeing the bitter smile on Ge Dongxu''s face, Wu Yili couldn''t help but feel annoyed and jabbed his head hard with her jade finger.

    Ge Dongxu rubbed his head and gave a sheepish smile; he still hadn''t understood that for a woman to choose to stand by him regardless of the outcome is the greatest trust a woman can place in a man!

    "Get up, let''s continue hiking, or we won''t reach Santai Temple by noon," Wu Yili said, seeing the puzzled look in Dongxu''s eyes, giving him an irritated glare before pulling him up from the stone bench and spoke.

    As for Park Yuyuan''s matter, since Ge Dongxu put it this way, she would not think about it anymore. Besides, she was just a university professor; even if she did think about it, it was of no use.

    sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 667 - 666 Santai Temple

    At noon, Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili finally climbed to Santai Peak and arrived at Santai Temple.

    Santai Temple had an ancient simplicity, exuding a sense of historical vicissitudes, and not only that, Dongxu felt a stronger spiritual energy fluctuation here than at the golf hotel at the foot of the mountain.

    The front courtyard of Santai Temple was open to the public, while the back courtyard was not, being the actual location of the Santai Sect''s mountain gate.

    The Santai Sect was financially robust, so the temple didn''t place much emphasis on incense money.

    Being desireless strengthens one''s resolve, so the temple staff were quite indifferent to the arrival of Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili, showing a somewhat uninterested attitude.

    Wu Yili, seemingly used to this behavior, even whispered to Ge Dongxu, "Santai Temple is quite famous around here, and the Taoists here are relatively proud as well."

    "They don''t lack money, so naturally, they don''t need to ingratiate themselves with us," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "How do you know that?" Wu Yili asked, surprised.

    "I certainly know because the Santai Mountain Golf Hotel where I''m staying is run by Santai Temple," Ge Dongxu replied softly.

    "Really? No way!" Wu Yili exclaimed, almost popping her eyes out.

    She truly hadn''t expected this temple to own such a luxurious hotel.

    "Of course it''s true," Ge Dongxu said with a slight smile.

    Just as Ge Dongxu''s words fell, Xu Xingran, an elder of the Santai Sect who had had an encounter with Yang Yinhou last night, hurried into the temple from outside.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili standing in front of the statues of the Three Pure Ones and observing the indifferently lounging Taoists, his face turned pale with fright. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    My goodness, why is this gentleman here!

    Mentally wailing, Xu Xingran had already stepped forward and scolded the two smiling Taoists coming toward him, "What are you two doing? When Elder Ge and his friend come, how can you not attend to them properly?"

    "Elder Ge?" The two Taoists were scolded into confusion by Elder Xu.

    Although there were a few people visiting the temple, they were all young or middle-aged. It was exhausting for elderly people to climb up here, and none seemed fitting enough to be addressed as an elder by Elder Xu.

    While the two Taoists were confused, Xu Xingran had already put on an apologetic smile and bowed to Ge Dongxu, "Elder Ge, it''s an honor to have you here. I apologize for not welcoming you from afar. I will inform the Temple Master to attend to your needs immediately."

    "It''s Xu, my friend, you are too kind. There''s no need for such trouble, I''m just here to look around," said Ge Dongxu, returning the greeting with a smile. Since last night''s incident had already been glossed over, Dongxu showed no airs upon seeing Xu Xingran.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s amiable attitude, Xu Xingran quietly breathed a sigh of relief and said, "How could that be? Your presence brightens Santai Temple immensely!"

    Xu Xingran''s flattery was so forceful that the two temple guards nearly fainted.

    Was this the same Xu Xingran, the famous, awe-inspiring elder of the Santai Sect? He was a complete sycophant.

    Although Wu Yili had already seen the respect Tang Yiyuan and others showed towards Ge Dongxu yesterday at her grandmother''s house, and had met Yang Yinhou, Ge Dongxu''s senior brother who was nearly a hundred years old, the sight of Santai Temple and the way someone approached Ge Dongxu, calling him a senior and mentioning that they would inform the Temple Master to personally accompany them, still made her widen her eyes in surprise.

    Ge Dongxu wanted to be modest with a few words, but Xu Xingran had already gone into the backyard to specifically invite the Temple Master.

    The Temple Master of Santai Temple, dressed in Taoist robes and holding a Floating Dust, sporting a white beard, indeed had the aura of an Immortal.

    However, the Temple Master''s reaction upon seeing Ge Dongxu was similar to Xu Xingran''s, with a face full of apologetic smiles.

    There was no helping it, the events of last night were already known to all the upper echelons of the Santai Sect. The person before them, Senior Ge, was truly an impressive figure, almost like an Immortal, and even their most revered elder would feel anxious and apprehensive upon meeting him, so who among them dare not show reverence?

    Having the Temple Master personally accompany them truly made a difference, as Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili not only toured the front courtyard of Santai Temple, but also the normally closed-off backyard.

    When Ge Dongxu visited the backyard, it was somewhat akin to visiting the temple gate. Although Ge Dongxu did not formally present a card to ask for permission to visit, the Santai Sect still treated it with great importance, and all the reclusive elders of Santai Temple came out to meet him, which actually made Ge Dongxu somewhat embarrassed. He specifically offered incense to pay respects to the ancestors of the Santai Sect.

    This made the people of Santai Sect feel very good, thinking that although Ge Dongxu was highly skilled in cultivation and was young, he was amiable and humble, without the impetuousness of youth.

    At noon, Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili stayed and enjoyed a meal of authentic Taoist cuisine at Santai Temple.

    The dietary culture of Taoism aims for longevity and health, with two branches: vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism. The Santai Sect did not eschew meat but the dishes served at noon were still predominantly vegetarian, all made from mountain ingredients, including bamboo shoots, various mushrooms, wild mountain vegetables, and handmade noodles.

    Ge Dongxu''s diet had naturally become gradually lighter, and Wu Yili, being a lady, preferred vegetables, so this Taoist meal was thoroughly enjoyable for both Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili.

    After eating, as it was about time, Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili descended the mountain together.

    The saying goes, "He who accepts your favor becomes beholden to you." After treating Wu Yili to such a delightful meal at Santai Temple, Ge Dongxu felt it inappropriate to let Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi continue suffering under the sun. Thinking that the lesson he intended to impart had been given, he planned to graciously let them off the hook once they descended.

    Due to not climbing mountains for a long time, and also wearing mid-heeled shoes, Wu Yili felt a bit tired while climbing but on the descent she felt her legs souring and weakening, making her steps slightly tremble and unstable.

    Thus, along the way, Wu Yili clung tightly to Ge Dongxu''s hand, fearing that a misstep would send her knee to the ground.

    "Teacher, why don''t you sit on the stone bench up ahead, and I''ll massage your legs for a bit? That should give your legs some strength," Ge Dongxu, seeing Wu Yili''s awkward walking, hesitated then suggested.

    "Would that really help?" Wu Yili blurted out.

    "Teacher, are you doubting my skill in promoting circulation and relieving blood stasis?" Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "Look at my head, I always forget you''re a celebrated contemporary healer," Wu Yili smacked her head and then took a seat on a roadside stone bench as told.

    Ge Dongxu shook his head with a smile, then sat down by Wu Yili.

    "Just rest your legs on mine," Ge Dongxu casually said.

    Hearing this, Wu Yili''s face flushed a touch of crimson but she still lifted both legs and placed them on Ge Dongxu''s thighs.

 Chapter 668 - 667: Killing Intent [Seeking Monthly Pass]

    Wu Yili''s legs weren''t especially long, but they were very well-proportioned.

    Initially, Ge Dongxu thought that massaging Wu Yili''s legs to help restore her strength would be a simple task, especially since they had shared even more intimate contact before, so massaging her legs wasn''t really a big deal compared to what happened three years ago.

    However, the moment Wu Yili rested her legs on his thigh, Ge Dongxu realized he had underestimated the situation.

    Skin to skin, soft yet resilient, his heartbeat unexpectedly quickened. He dared not look directly at the beautiful legs that lay on his own thigh, yet his hands were already applying pressure skillfully and with appropriate force.

    Because of his distractions, Ge Dongxu didn''t dare to be too gentle or slow, instead applying more pressure, wishing to finish quickly to avoid wandering thoughts.

    Even though Ge Dongxu was a bit rougher than he intended, to Wu Yili, his massaging hands were like a godsend. Her previously sore and weak legs felt warm and incredibly comfortable. She looked at Ge Dongxu with even more tenderness in her eyes.

    "Look how sweet he is to his girlfriend! My legs are sore too, could you massage mine?" Just as Ge Dongxu was considering ending the massage, a woman''s coquettish voice came from not far away, causing his hands to freeze for a moment.

    "Well, that''s about it, thank you, Dongxu." Wu Yili''s legs tensed noticeably, and then she thanked Ge Dongxu with a flushed face.

    "Alright, let''s go then." Ge Dongxu nodded, loosened his grip, and let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

    After that little interlude, the atmosphere between the two of them became considerably more awkward as they continued along the mountain path. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Neither of them spoke, simply walking side by side down the mountain in silence.

    Since neither of them was talking, it wasn''t long before they both felt a bit uncomfortable, as if there was a need to say something. Almost as if they had a telepathic connection, they turned their heads to look at each other at the same time and said, "You..."

    They both paused, staring at each other for a long while, and then suddenly broke into knowing smiles.

    "You go first," Wu Yili said with a smile.

    "How do you feel now?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "The question you asked is exactly what I wanted to say, you''re really amazing. My legs feel even stronger standing on the ground now than they did when climbing the mountain!" Although it wasn''t the first time Wu Yili had witnessed Ge Dongxu''s remarkable abilities, she couldn''t help but express her disbelief.

    "That''s good, otherwise I would have had to carry you down the mountain," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Had I known a certain gentleman planned to carry me down the mountain, I wouldn''t have let him massage my legs just now," Wu Yili joked.

    "Ha ha, if you really want to enjoy the experience of being carried down the mountain, I''m more than happy to oblige," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    Wu Yili''s face turned a slight shade of red, and she gave Ge Dongxu a disdainful look, "Keep dreaming!"

    Ge Dongxu scratched his head awkwardly at her words.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s embarrassed face, Wu Yili giggled happily. Seeing her so cheerful, Ge Dongxu''s embarrassment faded, and he laughed along with her.

    In the midst of laughter, the two descended the mountain, bathed in the sunset. By the time they reached the foot of the mountain, the sun had completely sunk behind the peaks, and darkness began to creep in.

    "I''ll drive this time; I''ll take you back to the hotel first." Arriving at the parking lot, Wu Yili took out her car keys and said.

    Ge Dongxu had just nodded and said okay when Wu Yili''s phone started ringing.

    Wu Yili signaled to Ge Dongxu and then took out her phone. Seeing that it was a call from her uncle, who was a school principal, she answered it.

    "Uncle, I''ll be home soon. Is there something you need?" Wu Yili asked.

    "Were you with Ge Dongxu on Mount Santai today?" Principal Zhang inquired.

    "Yes, we have just come down from the mountain. After I drop Ge Dongxu off at the hotel, I was preparing to head home," Wu Yili replied.

    "No need to head home, just come directly to Santai City Grand Hotel. Your grandmother, aunt, and I are not at home; we are at the Santai City Grand Hotel now. The city''s leaders and Chairman Piao from Korea''s Xianxing Group would like to invite both you and Ge Dongxu over for dinner. Is it convenient for Ge Dongxu?" Principal Zhang spoke with an audible disquiet in his voice, as if he had something to say but was finding it somewhat inconvenient to express.

    "The city leaders and Chairman Piao want to invite us and Ge Dongxu to dinner together?" Wu Yili''s complexion changed upon hearing this.

    "Yes, can Ge Dongxu make it?" Principal Zhang asked.

    "Tell your uncle we''ll be right over," Ge Dongxu said indifferently to Wu Yili, who looked quite upset. A cold glint flickered in his dark eyes, even flashing a hint of murderous intent.

    The city''s leaders, Principal Zhang, and others surely couldn''t grasp the deeper implications of Chairman Piao''s move, and even Wu Yili was likely unaware of its deeper significance, perhaps thinking that Chairman Piao simply wanted to discuss the matter of his grandson and the jade piece with Ge Dongxu.

    But Ge Dongxu had already sensed a whiff of a deep-seated warning and threat.

    Because if Chairman Piao could invite Wu Yili''s relatives this time, he surely had ways to "invite" Ge Dongxu''s family members next time.

    And that was absolutely a line you do not cross with Ge Dongxu. It didn''t matter who it was; if someone touched that line, even if it was the Emperor himself, Ge Dongxu would not be polite.

    At this moment, Chairman Piao didn''t realize he was playing with fire, walking on the razor''s edge. After seeing Principal Zhang hang up, he was told that Wu Yili and Ge Dongxu would probably arrive at the Santai City Grand Hotel in about twenty minutes. A confident smile spread across his face as he nodded and "politely" said, "Thank you, Principal Zhang."

    Chairman Piao spoke very fluent and standard Mandarin.

    "Not at all," replied Principal Zhang, somewhat awkwardly.

    It wasn''t just the fact that the elderly man before him was at the helm of a Fortune Global 500 company that made him cautious, but also because the city''s top two leaders, Vice Mayor Yao in charge of economics, Vice Mayor Wang in charge of education, and Director Lin Qingyue of the Management Committee were all in the private room.

    All these leaders, except for Director Lin Qingyue, would have been difficult for Principal Zhang just to meet in the past, let alone invite him to dinner, but now they were all together.

    "It''s only right. I''m a complete stranger to Mr. Ge, and since he is your niece''s student, I might have to trouble you to speak a few good words on our behalf later. That jade piece is actually not worth much money, but since it is passed down from our Piao family''s ancestors, it holds extraordinary significance for us. So long as the price is not too outrageous, we will accept it," said Piao Tianchang with a smile, his demeanor gentle and refined, making one feel at ease.

    "There definitely won''t be any problem, we Huaxia Country people have always liked to do favors for others. Plus, Chairman Piao has traveled all this way to Santai City to meet with him personally, showing great sincerity. The price won''t mistreat him and I think Mr. Ge has no reason to refuse," replied not Principal Zhang but Secretary Lu, Santai City''s top official.

 Chapter 671 - 670 Director Ge will handle it [6th update, seeking monthly pass]

    "Young man, what kind of attitude is this? Do you realize who you''re talking to..." Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang were startled and almost simultaneously rebuked Ge Dongxu. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    They simply couldn''t imagine that a young man like Ge Dongxu could be so domineering and arrogant, completely disregarding the presence of these city leaders, and even more outrageously proclaiming that he would teach the head of a Fortune 500 company, President Park, a lesson in manners?

    However, no sooner had Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang finished speaking than Xu Lei and Yang Xiangrong had already walked up to them, shown their credentials, and said coldly, "Secretary Lu, Mayor Yang, please cooperate."

    Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang recognized the credentials of the National Security Bureau, and they knew what it meant when the National Security Bureau got involved.

    This was a very special department. Once it intervened, the nature of the matter was no longer ordinary but related to national security.

    In fact, from a certain perspective, Park Tianchang''s attempt to forcefully seize Ge Dongxu''s Magical Treasure was a matter of national security.

    Given Ge Dongxu''s identity, his level of Cultivation, and his Magical Treasure, how could they be ordinary? If taken by the Koreans and used against Huaxia Country, in the eyes of Xu Lei and others, it amounted to a national security issue.

    Of course, Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang were not ordinary people and would not be easily frightened by a mere credential, but when they realized that Xu Lei and Yang Xiangrong were deputy directors of the National Security Bureaus of Jiangnan Province and Dongyue Province, respectively, they were genuinely shocked. They also realized that the issue between Park Tianchang and Ge Dongxu was far from as simple as they had imagined.

    "This gentleman is Mr. Park Tianchang, the president of Xianxing Group, who came especially from Korea by private jet..." Although already shocked, Secretary Lu still reminded them gravely, conscious of the extraordinary nature of Park Tianchang''s identity and the worldwide uproar and significant diplomatic disputes between Huaxia Country and Korea that would ensue should anything go awry, even though he was already aware of Xu Lei and Yang Xiangrong''s identities.

    "We are aware of all this; Director Ge will handle it," replied Xu Lei coldly.

    Hearing the title "Director Ge," Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang''s hearts skipped a beat.

    Because this title was coming from the mouth of Deputy Director Xu Lei of the National Security Bureau of Jiangnan Province, they knew exactly what that implied ¡ª as bureau-level officials, Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang naturally understood.

    It was at this moment that Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang truly realized that this matter was much more complicated and serious than they had initially thought, and it suddenly dawned on them that the arrival of Park Tianchang ¡ª such an important figure from Korea by private jet to Santai City ¡ª was far from being as simple as he had claimed!

    Having understood this, Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang did not dare to hesitate any longer. They apologized to Park Tianchang and Park Yuyuan before rising from their seats and excusing themselves.

    This matter was now beyond their capacity to intervene, given their levels of authority.

    With Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang leaving their seats, it went without saying for the others, especially since Lin Qingyue, the head of the development zone administrative committee, was completely stunned.

    He had only now realized how impressive the young man he had encountered on Mount Santai today truly was!

    Park Tianchang, the old fox, also realized at this point that something was amiss ¡ª the situation was much trickier than he had anticipated.

    But after all, he was the helmsman of one of the world''s top 500 enterprises, and his cultivation had already reached the late stage of the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, so he still had confidence deep inside. Thus, even though his expression changed abruptly and a serious look flashed through his eyes, he remained firmly seated in his position.

    Even when his grandson wanted to stand up and burst out in anger, he was held back by a wave of his hand.

    "You should know who I am, Piao Tianchang! In Korea, even if it''s our president, I can see him whenever I want! Our Xianxing Group has branch offices and agencies all over the world, including in your Huaxia Country. I came here with sincerity, yet you treat me this way. I think all of this will appear in newspapers around the world tomorrow! Just wait for the world''s condemnation, wait for all foreign capital to flee! All of this, I think none of you here can afford the consequences of that," Piao Tianchang finally darkened his face and spoke coldly, when the door to the private room was completely opened and he saw through the door that all their bodyguards had been subdued.

    Upon hearing these words, Secretary Lu, Mayor Yang, and others clearly paused in their steps, cold sweat breaking out on their foreheads, especially when they saw that Piao Tianchang''s people were all handcuffed, their hearts couldn''t help but thump wildly.

    This was shaping up to be a major incident, a huge mess!

    Not to mention that they couldn''t bear it, even the provincial leaders of Dongyue Province probably couldn''t handle it!

    Even Yang Xiangrong''s heart was beating violently.

    There was nothing to be done. The helmsman of one of the world''s top 500 enterprises was here, and their tough stance today, if not handled properly, would truly cause a worldwide sensation!

    He, as the head of the Special Ability Management Bureau in Dongyue Province, was just a deputy bureau-level cadre, and although he had special privileges and abilities beyond ordinary people, if things were to escalate, how could he bear the responsibility?

    But thinking of Ge Dongxu''s terrifying cultivation, and recalling that Piao Tianchang was the one who first targeted Ge Dongxu, Yang Xiangrong still forcibly suppressed the unease in his heart, a fierce look flashing in his eyes.

    Damn it, you, a Korean, actually dare to covet our director''s property, to try to steal his things and threaten him on our turf, and we''re not supposed to treat you harshly? If I bear this, what the hell use is all my cultivation!

    Just as Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang, among others, were feeling their hearts thumping chaotically due to Piao Tianchang''s words, and the scene they saw in the corridor, they suddenly noticed Ge Dongxu casually picking up a red wine bottle from the table and smashing it right onto Piao Tianchang''s head with a "bang".

    Bright red blood instantly flowed down Piao Tianchang''s head, staining his beard and white clothes red.

    "Ah!" Secretary Lu and the others nearly collapsed at the knees at the sight, and even Yang Xiangrong, who had secretly steeled himself and decided to go all out, was frightened into another vigorous heartbeat. Only Xu Lei remained unfazed, his eyes revealing a hint of delight and schadenfreude.

    Remember how Alon, the clan chief from Indonesia''s Bulamo, and Matsukawa Nozomu, the president of Japan''s Shinrei Group, also considered themselves very mighty? In the end, daring to provoke Director Ge, weren''t they beaten like dogs, and in the end, had to kowtow to him!

    And what of the Chairman of Xianxing Group? Daring to come to Huaxia Country to steal Director Ge''s Magical Treasure, you should be thankful that you weren''t directly pinched to death with one finger!

    "You¡­" Park Yuyuan immediately jumped up, pointing at Ge Dongxu with a face full of disbelief.

    He never dreamed that there was someone in the world who would dare to smash a wine bottle directly onto his grandfather''s head!

 Chapter 672 - 671: Strong Attitude [7th Update, Monthly Pass Subscription Requested]

    "Bang!" Before Park Yuyuan could finish his sentence, Ge Dongxu had already hurled the wine bottle in his hand at his head. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Instantly, Park Yuyuan''s head was bleeding profusely, the bright red blood making his handsome face grotesquely disfigured.

    "Director Yang, Director Xu, this, this..." Secretary Lu was so frightened by Ge Dongxu''s action of causing blood to flow from the heads of both Park Tianchang and his grandson that he began to stammer.

    This was a top figure who helmed a Fortune 500 company! This was a VIP who could meet even the president at a moment''s notice!

    Yet there he was, a young man who just shattered someone''s head with a wine bottle¡ªit was definitely going to lead to serious trouble!

    Moreover, since Park Tianchang was already of a certain age, if Ge Dongxu, driven by sheer madness, were to hit him with a couple more bottles, he might just kill him on the spot.

    Thinking that the leader of a Fortune 500 company might die in Santai City, Secretary Lu''s heart nearly stopped beating.

    Yang Xiangrong also felt his mouth dry and his tongue parched.

    He had already guessed that Director Ge would handle this incident with great firmness, but he hadn''t expected Ge Dongxu to be so ruthless that he would smash Park Tianchang''s head with a wine bottle upon meeting, just like a street thug.

    It should have been done more subtly! This man was a leader of a Fortune 500 company!

    However, from this, Yang Xiangrong also perceived that Director Ge was extremely furious, hence he vented in such a common man''s way.

    "Everyone out, Director Ge will handle this!" On the other hand, Xu Lei appeared very experienced, calmly saying so without allowing any rebuttals from Secretary Lu and others, and then pushed them out and shut the door of the private room.

    "Director Yang, Director Xu, it''s not okay, this can lead to chaos, I must report this incident to the provincial leaders." Once out of the private room, no longer able to see inside, Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang''s hearts became even more uneasy and agitated, their faces pale as they spoke to Yang Xiangrong and Xu Lei.

    "You don''t need to report this matter yet, I will report to our head first. He will negotiate with the provincial leaders and instruct you." Xu Lei said sternly.

    Hearing that their own superiors were not yet aware of the incident, Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang were furious, pointing at Xu Lei and shouting, "Do you, do you know who that man inside is? That''s Park Tianchang, the president of the Xianxing Group! And now you''re telling me your head doesn''t even know about this! Who''s responsible if there''s a problem? You? No, there''s already a problem!"

    "So what about Park Tianchang? He is Park Tianchang, but does that mean his grandson can just come to our Huaxia Country and snatch things? Can he come to our Huaxia Country and use official power to pressure Director Ge? Can he invite Professor Wu and their families? Do you know what it means for Professor Wu''s family to be here? Don''t forget, you are a citizen of Huaxia Country! This is Huaxia Country!" Xu Lei sharply rebuked.

    Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang''s faces turned alternately pale and red. Naturally, they were already aware that Park Yuyuan was the first to strike at Mount Santai during the day. As for the appearance of Professor Wu''s family, they hadn''t considered it at first, but once they understood Ge Dongxu''s identity and realized that the jade wasn''t as simple as Park Tianchang had claimed, they had also vaguely guessed the deeper significance of why Park Tianchang invited Professor Wu''s family to dine together.

    "But, but that''s the chairman of Xianxing Group, Director Xu, you should understand our country''s current situation. We are striving to develop, and sometimes we have no choice but to make concessions! If anything happens to Piao Tianchang, it will really lead to chaos! Neither you nor we can afford that responsibility." After a long time, Secretary Lu forcefully suppressed the complex emotions in his heart and spoke solemnly to Xu Lei.

    "Don''t forget my identity, I understand this matter better than you do. So wait for me to make a call first, then report, lest the provincial leaders aren''t prepared mentally, leading them to misjudge our actions," Xu Lei said.

    "Fine, five minutes, five minutes at most!" Secretary Lu gritted his teeth.

    Xu Lei nodded, took out his mobile phone immediately, and dialed Director Fan Hong, briefly reporting the situation here.

    After hearing the report, Fan Hong''s expression was very solemn, yet his eyes flashed with killing intent.

    As the director of the Special Ability Management Bureau, he knew many more secrets than Xu Lei, and was well aware that the chairman of Xianxing Group, Park Yuyuan, was a member of the Qi Men circle. Knowing that Park Yuyuan had personally flown to Santai City to pressure the local government to forcibly seize the Jade on Ge Dongxu''s body, even if Fan Hong used his toes to think, he knew it must be a precious Jade Magical Treasure!

    A Korean from the Qi Men chasing Magical Treasures in Huaxia Country, and the target being Ge Dongxu, was absolutely an invasion of Huaxia''s Qi Men! If not for Park Tianchang also having another globally renowned identity, the chairman of Xianxing Group, with too great of an influence, and the matter of Qi Men fighting over Magical Treasures ultimately not being discussed openly, if it were someone else, Director Fan Hong would have directly mobilized forces and ordered the assassination.

    But even so, since Ge Dongxu had taken action against Park Tianchang, as long as Ge Dongxu didn''t kill him, Fan Hong would support him to the end.

    In a way, this matter involved not only national security but also national dignity.

    Albeit these were all matters behind the scenes, not to be brought into the open!

    But what of it, handling these covert matters was precisely Fan Hong''s responsibility!

    And from Xu Lei''s report just now, Fan Hong already knew that Ge Dongxu was not going to kill Park Tianchang; otherwise, he wouldn''t have appeared at the hotel with such a forceful demeanor.

    Fan Hong clearly understood Ge Dongxu''s thinking; since he wasn''t going to kill him, then he would harshly slap his face, brutally trample him!

    Who is Ge Dongxu? Even if he does not kill him, how could he possibly suppress his anger?

    Since Ge Dongxu wasn''t going to kill Park Tianchang, and it was Park Tianchang who plotted first, although Fan Hong felt a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, being the director of the Special Ability Management Bureau, when others bullied their way in, he too had a claim to make.

    "Alright, I understand! In this affair, just listen to Director Ge''s orders! If there''s a problem, I''ll take responsibility. I''ll also communicate with the leaders of Dongyue Province by phone," Fan Hong quickly said in a cold voice.

    "Yes!" Xu Lei''s spirits lifted upon hearing this. Although he believed that Fan Hong''s approach would definitely be tough, the other party was, after all, the chairman of Xianxing Group, and Xu Lei was somewhat worried that Fan Hong might not be able to withstand the pressure. But evidently, his worries were needless.

    Fan Hong knew as much about Ge Dongxu as he did, and had received no fewer favors than him. Moreover, as the head of this special department, when it came to matters concerning national dignity and security, how could he possibly show weakness?

 Chapter 674 - 673: Drawing Talismans in the Void! [1st Update, Seeking Monthly Votes]

    True Qi could indeed be released outward by a Magician in the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, but it was only ever barely released from the body.

    Upon physical contact, one could forcefully exert it. However, the idea of projecting it through the air to form a Finger Sword sharp enough to rival a real sword existed only in legends.

    Watching Ge Dongxu calmly seated, tapping his fingers gently on the table, Piao Tianchang nearly forgot the pain in his palm.

    It was that very tapping finger which, with a light flick, had sent a stream of True Qi piercing through his hand.

    "I am not a cruel person, and given your age, I really shouldn''t have tormented you like that. But you made a big mistake. How dare you use my friend to warn and threaten me? Are you trying to tell me that if I don''t hand over the Black Jade Heart today, you''ll go after my family?" Ge Dongxu said, rising abruptly, and suddenly lashed out with a kick at Piao Tianchang.

    Piao Tianchang was sent flying, and then he crashed heavily to the ground in front of Park Yuyuan''s feet.

    "Grandfather!" Park Yuyuan cried out in alarm, but didn''t dare to move an inch.

    Ge Dongxu slowly advanced, stepping on Piao Tianchang''s head.

    "In this world, no one can harbor the thought of harming my family! Who do you think you are, daring to entertain such an idea!" Ge Dongxu''s voice was stern, a chilling Evil Qi radiating from him, dropping the temperature in the private room drastically.

    Park Yuyuan couldn''t help but tremble, his eyes filled with fear as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    At this moment, Piao Tianchang was filled with both regret and fear. Had he known of Ge Dongxu''s prowess, he would have never considered the thought. But it was obviously too late for regrets now.

    "So what? If you''ve got the guts, kill me!" The intertwining of regret and fear in his heart made Piao Tianchang''s voice hoarse, his expression crazed and fierce.

    "Do you really think I don''t dare kill you?" Ge Dongxu asked coldly.

    "Haha, that''s a joke! I''m the chairman of Xianxing Group, how would you kill me? If I die here, it wouldn''t just be you in trouble. Your family, even your whole country would face problems," Piao Tianchang said.

    "Of course, I won''t kill you here!" Ge Dongxu stated indifferently.

    "If you don''t kill me here, then you''ll never get another chance to kill me! The moment I step out of this private room in my current state, I guarantee that by tomorrow, you will be the headline of news all over the world, and everyone will be watching you!" Piao Tianchang declared.

    "What else?" Ge Dongxu asked with a dismissive cold smirk.

    "And do you think the hundreds of billions of US Dollars that I hold sway over is for show?" Piao Tianchang said fiercely, his eyes flashing with deep-seated hatred and madness.

    "Look at that, you''re threatening me and my family again!" Ge Dongxu remarked as he squatted down and slapped Piao Tianchang''s face seven or eight times, causing fresh blood to seep from the corner of his mouth. Then his fingers traced over Piao Tianchang''s chest, mana weaving through the air with his finger movements.

    "What are you going to do?" Piao Tianchang suddenly felt an appalling chill.

    "Nothing much, I told you, I''m not a cruel person. I don''t want to torment an old man like you, but since you keep threatening me, I have no choice," Ge Dongxu said with a cold smile, his fingertip suddenly drawing in the air, forming an ancient rune on Piao Tianchang''s chest. It emanated an eerie glow and exuded an intensely Yin Demonic aura, then slowly sunk into Piao Tianchang''s chest.

    "Drawing Talismans in the Void! You, you are Drawing Talismans in the Void!" Seeing Ge Dongxu perform the act without using any Jade Talisman or Magical Treasure, Piao Tianchang shouted shrilly, his fright even greater than when he had witnessed Ge Dongxu Turning Qi into Sword.

    "You do have some insight," said Ge Dongxu with disdainful laughter, "but it''s already too late. The talisman has been drawn; its name is Myriad Ghosts Devouring Heart. Enjoy it."

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu reached out and touched the back of Piao Tianchang''s forehead, then he slowly stood up and moved his foot away.

    The moment Ge Dongxu stepped away, Piao Tianchang immediately started rolling on the ground, his eyes bulging out, frantically scratching at his heart as if he wanted to dig it out, yet he could make no sound.

    Sweat mixed with tears, snot, and the blood from his forehead, while the blood from his palms soaked his whole body. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing his grandfather in such a terrible state, Park Yuyuan was so frightened he felt as if his soul were flying away, and he couldn''t help but wet his pants, the urine flowing down his trouser leg.

    "You can tell me to do anything, please spare me, I won''t dare again, I won''t dare again," Park Yuyuan cried out.

    Ge Dongxu glanced at the puddle under Park Yuyuan''s feet and his wet pants, frowned, stepped back a few paces, and shook his head disdainfully, "The elder one gets, the wiser one becomes! Look at your grandfather; he''s still holding on despite this state, and here you are, wetting your pants already."

    But just as Ge Dongxu finished speaking, Piao Tianchang was already kowtowing to him through tears and snots, knocked a couple of times, then, because the pain was too unbearable, he rolled around on the ground, scratching all over his body, then forced himself to kowtow to Ge Dongxu again. After a couple more knocks, he began rolling on the ground once more.

    The process repeated itself.

    Finally, Ge Dongxu shook his head, "What''s the point of this? You dare to threaten me with so little skill and backbone? Is having hundreds of billions of US dollars so remarkable? If I weren''t averse to needless killing, I could fly to your Korea and wipe out the entire Piao family. What good would your billions be then?"

    As Ge Dongxu spoke, his body slowly rose from the ground, standing in the air inside the private room.

    Watching Ge Dongxu standing in the air like a Heavenly God, Park Yuyuan was thoroughly dumbfounded, and even Piao Tianchang seemed to forget the agony of Myriad Ghosts Devouring Heart, staring blankly at Ge Dongxu with true regret bubbling inside him to the extreme.

    In this era, with Daoist magic in decline and technology advanced, with increasingly powerful weapons emerging rapidly, an individual''s power simply couldn''t stand against an army or a state.

    That''s precisely why, even though Piao Tianchang knew well that Ge Dongxu was more powerful than him, even though he had already felt Ge Dongxu''s ruthlessness and ferocity, he still dared to challenge him.

    Because he didn''t believe Ge Dongxu would dare to kill him!

    Because once Ge Dongxu killed him, it would mean facing relentless pursuit from a major corporation and a state, hell-bent on revenge.

    But now, Piao Tianchang believed.

    A man capable of Drawing Talismans in the Void, a man capable of standing in the air, was truly a Magician that existed only in legends.

    He was indeed qualified to contend with an army and even a state!

    To kill him would be as easy as crushing an ant, and to annihilate his entire Piao family would be just a matter of lifting a finger.

    Once the entire Piao family perished, their collapse would mean that the hundreds of billions of US dollars would merely serve as a bridal gown for someone else. Seeking revenge against Ge Dongxu, using money to touch his family, was nothing but a joke.

    "I am willing to submit! I am willing to swear a Blood Oath!" Thinking of the entire family being wiped out, thinking of the painstakingly built business empire of the Piao family turning to dust, Piao Tianchang finally started knocking his head on the ground as he raspily uttered an exceedingly bitter sentence.

 Chapter 675 - 674: Very Miserable and Disheveled

    "You should really be thankful for your status as the chairman of the Xianxing Group. Otherwise, although I am not cruel enough to annihilate your entire Piao Family, you dared to threaten me using my friends and family, and you were bound to die regardless," Ge Dongxu said as he watched Piao Tianchang kowtowing in submission, his murderous intent gradually receding.

    With a gesture of a spell, he dispelled the Myriad Ghosts Devouring Heart Technique. It was only then that Piao Tianchang felt as if he had been granted amnesty, and he kowtowed to Ge Dongxu, saying, "Yes, thank you, Master, for sparing my life."

    "Make a Blood Oath!" Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Piao Tianchang''s body shuddered slightly, an indescribable bitterness in his heart, but he had no choice.

    Piao Tianchang made the Blood Oath, and Ge Dongxu unapologetically took it from him.

    As for Park Yuyuan, Ge Dongxu naturally had no intention of taking his Blood Oath. With Piao Tianchang there to press him and after having experienced today''s events, Park Yuyuan was already terrified.

    After taking Piao Tianchang''s Blood Oath, Ge Dongxu noticed the holes in his palms were still bleeding, and Park Yuyuan''s arm was also impaled with a chopstick, bleeding as well. This made Ge Dongxu frown slightly.

    "Going out like this seems a bit frightening, well, extend your hand," Ge Dongxu pondered, then said to Piao Tianchang.

    Piao Tianchang, not understanding why, extended his hands.

    Ge Dongxu pinched a spell, his thoughts shifting suddenly, an aura of mana undulating in the private room. Then, Piao Tianchang saw a faint, thread-like green spirit energy, the energy of the wood spirit.

    Guided by Ge Dongxu''s fingers, this faint thread-like wood spirit energy passed through the holes in Piao Tianchang''s palms, much like a surgeon stitching up wounds.

    As the holes were "stitched," the wounds healed at a visible rate.

    Piao Tianchang almost stared his eyes out, his fear towards his master Ge Dongxu growing, witnessing a level of medical skill that was unheard of and unseen!

    Of course, there was also his terrifying casting ability. The world''s spirit energy seemed to be at his command, easily manipulating spells, which if it were him, would undoubtedly require a Jade Talisman and time.

    Just like his earlier attempt to attack Ge Dongxu with a spell, which was disrupted by a flick of a chopstick from Ge Dongxu before he could even launch it.

    The gap in their power was needless to say.

    Piao Tianchang''s palms were quickly "repaired," though of course, Ge Dongxu did not go out of his way to fully "repair" them. Nevertheless, the holes in Piao Tianchang''s palms had now become nearly invisible, only some scars remained, no longer shockingly conspicuous.

    Seeing his grandfather''s hands seemingly nearly restored through Ge Dongxu''s miraculous medical skill, Park Yuyuan could not help but gaze longingly at Ge Dongxu, hoping he would also "repair" his arm that was pierced by the chopstick.

    However, Ge Dongxu merely frowned and said to Piao Tianchang, "You take care of him."

    Park Yuyuan almost wanted to cry on the spot; his grandfather was not a doctor, and had no idea how to treat a wound!

    But there was no helping it. Once Ge Dongxu had spoken, even if Park Yuyuan had a huge amount of courage, he did not dare to babble any further, and neither did Piao Tianchang dare.

    He stepped forward, directly pulled out the chopstick still embedded in Park Yuyuan''s arm, and blood immediately started to spurt out.

    "Ah!" Park Yuyuan screamed instantly. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Idiot! The Master is here, why the hell are you screaming?" Piao Tianchang gave Park Yuyuan''s head a hefty slap.

    Although it must be said, he was beaten so miserably today, even losing his personal freedom, Ge Dongxu couldn''t really blame Park Yuyuan. It was mainly his own greed and bad luck. But at this moment, Piao Tianchang, full of frustration with nowhere to vent, had no choice but to take it out on his already pitiful grandson.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu frowned and pointed several times at Park Yuyuan''s arm through the air.

    Park Yuyuan''s arm stopped bleeding.

    "Won''t you thank Master?" Piao Tianchang, seeing Park Yuyuan staring blankly at his no-longer-bleeding arm, slapped him hard again.

    "Thank you, Master!" Park Yuyuan could only bow deeply to Ge Dongxu with a tearful face.

    "Alright, just bandage it up casually," Ge Dongxu said impatiently, waving his hand.

    There were still many people waiting outside; if things here dragged on too long, it would also be a great psychological burden for Teacher Wu, Xu Lei, and others.

    Hearing this, Piao Tianchang hurriedly tore a strip of cloth from Park Yuyuan''s already blood-stained white shirt and casually bandaged the hole in his arm.

    After Piao Tianchang had bandaged Park Yuyuan, Ge Dongxu asked for his contact information, gave him his own phone number, said a few more words, then went over to open the door of the private room and beckoned to Xu Lei, Secretary Lu, Wu Yili, and others waiting outside: "Alright, everything is handled; you can come in now."

    Everyone''s hearts were in turmoil, but seeing the door to the private room open and Ge Dongxu smiling, they all breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that the situation wasn''t as serious as they had imagined and that it must have been resolved satisfactorily.

    The people entered the private room and then saw Piao Tianchang and his grandson covered in blood. Due to being hit by a wine bottle, their foreheads were swollen with a lump and a cut that was still oozing blood.

    Not only that, Park Yuyuan''s arm was bandaged with a white strip, his pants were wet, and there was even a foul smell of urine; they looked as miserable and wretched as could be.

    Piao Tianchang seemed slightly better off, but his forehead was swollen, covered in blood, and due to the severe pain earlier, he had rolled on the floor and scratched wildly, leaving his clothes tattered and his skin scratched. He looked more wretched and destitute than a beggar on the street, making it impossible for anyone to associate this old man with the leader of a top 500 company in the world.

    "This..." Everyone''s eyes were wide open as they gasped sharply in shock, and even Xu Lei secretly took a sharp breath.

    After taking a sharp breath, Secretary Lu, Mayor Yang, and others couldn''t help but sweat profusely.

    They couldn''t imagine what Ge Dongxu had done to the chairman of Xianxing Group and his grandson in the private room just now?

    They couldn''t even begin to think about how Piao Tianchang would explode in rage and what kind of retaliation he would take next?

    But one thing Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang were very sure of.

    They in Santai City were definitely going to make headlines around the world because the boss of a world top 500 company and his grandson were beaten up as miserably as dogs in a private room of a big hotel in their Santai City!

    Earlier, they had hoped that Piao Tianchang, the God of Wealth, might be impressed by their sincerity and invest some money in Santai City, but now they didn''t even dare to think about it!

    With what had happened now, that was simply a pipe dream!

    Yang Xiangrong was also sweating profusely; he didn''t know how to clean up this mess!

    Killing or detaining these two was clearly not feasible, but letting them go as if nothing had happened would make even a fool realize that Piao Tianchang would not let this slide!

 Chapter 676 - 675: A Pleasant Conversation?

    "Just now, I had a very friendly discussion with Chairman Park, who holds deep affections for our Huaxia Country. He mentioned that Korea and Huaxia Country have had a profound historical connection since ancient times, and he has a very good impression of Santai City as well," said Ge Dongxu in a calm manner, just as Secretary Lu and the others were breaking out in a cold sweat.

    "Ah!" Even though Secretary Lu and the others were department-level officials, managing a prefecture-level city with millions of inhabitants, and were accustomed to dealing with major incidents and grand scenes, they couldn''t help but gasp and exclaim in shock at Ge Dongxu''s words.

    With a bruised nose and swollen face, a lump on his head, tattered clothes, and covered in bloodstains¡ªthis was friendly?

    Who talks nonsense like this?

    "What is this expression, this attitude? Chairman Park is planning to invest in a factory in your Santai City. Aren''t you welcoming him, Secretary Lu, Mayor Yang?" Ge Dongxu rolled his eyes and said.

    The response to Ge Dongxu was another "Ah!", and this time Secretary Lu and the others gaped even wider, their jaws nearly hitting the floor.

    "Yes, indeed, I enjoyed my talk with Mr. Ge very much. Mr. Ge is a true gentleman. It gives me great pleasure to have had the opportunity to meet and converse with him during my visit to Huaxia Country," Chairman Park quickly nodded and agreed, seeing Ge Dongxu roll his eyes.

    This time, Secretary Lu and the others forgot to utter their "Ah!" and just stared dumbfounded at Chairman Park, with his bruised and swollen face, tattered clothes, and blood all over.

    He had been beaten up like this, and they still talked warmly? Still a true gentleman?

    "After a friendly negotiation with Mr. Ge, I have decided to invest twenty million US dollars in the first phase in Santai City to build an electronics equipment factory," Chairman Park quickly added.

    After Chairman Park made this announcement, the whole private room fell completely silent.

    After a while, Secretary Lu finally reacted, looked at Ge Dongxu, then turned to the woeful and disheveled Chairman Park and asked cautiously, "Is that true?"

    Looking at Secretary Lu''s cautious manner, Mayor Yang, Director Lin, and others felt it very strange.

    Because, in theory, upon hearing such news, not only Secretary Lu but also others should have been very excited; yet, what about now?

    Secretary Lu spoke as softly as a shy girl.

    "A gentleman''s word, whip the swift horse. We can sit down tonight to discuss the specifics of the contract. If there are no issues, we can sign the contract officially tomorrow," declared Chairman Park with a serious face.

    Upon hearing this, Secretary Lu and Mayor Yang couldn''t help but utter another "Ah!"

    "Come on, Secretary Lu, Mayor Yang, don''t make such a fuss, exclaiming so loudly. If Chairman Park says he will invest, then he will invest. Don''t be too courteous with him, and offer whatever terms need to be offered," Ge Dongxu scolded, giving Secretary Lu and the others a stern look.

    "Is this really okay?" Secretary Lu and the others, feeling unsure, couldn''t help but ask cautiously.

    "What do you mean if it''s okay? If I say it''s okay, then it''s okay! Isn''t that right, old Park?" Ge Dongxu saw that Secretary Lu and the others were still anxious and cautious, so he decided to drop the pretense altogether, patted Piao Tianchang''s shoulder very dominantly, and said.

    "Yes, whatever Mr. Ge says naturally stands," Chairman Park''s heart trembled a little as Ge Dongxu patted his shoulder, and he immediately shrank in stature, hurriedly responding.

    Secretary Lu and the others watched this scene, completely dumbfounded, while Xu Lei nearly burst into laughter upon hearing the words "old piao."

    "Alright, Xu Lei, you take care of the matter here! Explain to Secretary Lu and the others what needs explaining," Ge Dongxu said, noticing that Secretary Lu and the others were staring dumbfounded, clearly finding the situation too unbelievable. They probably couldn''t digest the news right away, and their anxiety was certainly not going to ease anytime soon. Thus, he didn''t bother explaining any further and simply instructed Xu Lei, then said to Wu Yili''s grandmother and the others, "Granny Liu, Teacher Wu, Principal Zhang, this place is a mess, not suitable for dining. Let''s change to another private room."

    Although Wu Yili''s family was also shocked by the dramatic turn of events, they knew that Ge Dongxu was an extraordinary person and accepted the situation easier than Secretary Lu and his company. Moreover, as common folk, there wasn''t much for them to do in such matters, so upon hearing his suggestion, they all nodded in agreement. Principal Zhang immediately said, "I''ll go and arrange another private room right away."

    After speaking, Principal Zhang hurriedly left the private room first.

    Seeing Principal Zhang leave, Ge Dongxu briefly greeted Yang Xiangrong, Secretary Lu, and the others, then led Wu Yili and the rest out of the private room. As for Chairman Park and his grandson, naturally, Ge Dongxu didn''t bother saying goodbye to them.

    They were nothing but his slaves, after all!

    Chairman Park, seeing Ge Dongxu leave, finally sat back down with a whoosh, as if all the strength had left his body.

    He had been terrified and tortured by Ge Dongxu, his nerves stretched to the limit.

    Park Yuyuan was in an even worse state, collapsing onto the floor, breathing heavily.

    That twisted, terrifying demon had finally left!

    Watching the sorry state of Piao Tianchang and his grandson, Secretary Lu and the others exchanged glances, unsure of what to say, while Yang Xiangrong asked Xu Lei in a low, concerned voice, "Director, having dealt with them so harshly, they''ve submitted now, but could there be trouble once they return to Korea?"

    "Don''t worry, the Director is much smarter than you or me. If you''ve thought of this, don''t you think he has too?" Xu Lei said with a smile.

    Xu Lei was thrilled to see Piao Tianchang and his grandson brought to heel by Director Ge.

    "That''s true, that''s true. It''s just that Director Ge is so young, I''m a bit worried about him¡­" Yang Xiangrong nodded repeatedly, his words tinged with concern.

    High cultivation doesn''t necessarily equate to high emotional intelligence, especially since Ge Dongxu is still so young!

    "Don''t worry. Previously, a rich Japanese tycoon who knew nothing about what he was getting into challenged the Director and ended up being treated like a dog, groveling and nodding in front of the Director just like a lapdog," Xu Lei said.

    Yang Xiangrong was inwardly shaken by these words, finally feeling reassured. He didn''t inquire further into the details.

    While the two whispered, Piao Tianchang and his grandson had finally started to recover a little.

    "Mr. Xu, seeing us in this state, it''s not appropriate for us to dine or discuss the contract. Could you allow us to return to our room to tidy up and then continue to discuss the specifics?" Piao Tianchang stood up and politely requested Xu Lei''s permission.

    Being an old fox, he could tell that Xu Lei had a particular close relationship with Ge Dongxu, much more so than Yang Xiangrong and the others. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No problem. Those bodyguards outside, please give them your instructions; otherwise, my men will have to keep detaining them," Xu Lei nodded and replied.

    "Of course!" Piao Tianchang quickly nodded.

    ps: I recommend a book from QiDian Chinese Network author Sima Baishan called "The Era of the Big Cities," a fairly realistic take on life and bureaucracy. Readers who enjoy this genre might want to check it out. Also, there are two more updates today which I haven''t finished writing, so I probably won''t update until tonight. Please excuse me.

 Chapter 677 - 676: Just Call Me Dongxu

    "I''ll trouble Mr. Xu to take them away from here for a while and detain them for some time," Piao Tianchang paused just as he was about to reach the door of the private room, then said to Xu Lei with a somewhat unnatural expression.

    "Certainly," Xu Lei replied. He glanced at the disheveled and embarrassed Piao Tianchang, with a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He nodded, then left the private room first. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was not long before Xu Lei returned to the private room and gestured to Piao Tianchang, "President Park, you may leave now."

    Park''s face involuntarily flushed red. Today, he had utterly lost face.

    The hotel where Piao Tianchang was staying was the Santai City Hotel.

    The grandfather and grandson duo entered the elevator in disarray and went up to the luxurious suite on the twenty-first floor.

    It was only after Piao Tianchang and his grandson had gone to their suite that Xu Lei seriously explained and gave instructions to Secretary Lu and the others.

    Secretary Lu and the others were intelligent people. Although Xu Lei''s explanations and instructions were still quite brief, after some time to digest the situation, they had slowly come to accept this seemingly fantastical reality. They knew that this was not an issue they, as officials of their level, could delve into or worry about.

    Thus, although Secretary Lu and the others still felt some unease and worry, they were no longer panicking as they had before. They had started to contemplate how to discuss investment cooperation with Piao Tianchang later on.

    It was not too long before Piao Tianchang and his grandson had tidied themselves up and come downstairs.

    Piao Tianchang had regained his composure and neatness, with each gesture exuding extraordinary poise and confidence. The only flaw that marred his image was the swollen redness on his forehead.

    Park Yuyuan also regained his previously graceful and delicate appearance. However, his arm still had a bandage wrapped around it, and as soon as he saw Secretary Lu and the others, he requested that they arrange for someone to take him to the hospital.

    Secretary Lu immediately arranged for the secretary to accompany Park Yuyuan to the hospital.

    At the hospital, when the doctor unwrapped the bandage, the secretary broke into a cold sweat upon seeing the shocking wound on Park Yuyuan''s arm.

    This was the grandson of President Park of the Xianxing Group! In Santai City, someone had pierced a hole in his arm with some weapon¡ªwho knows what? Wasn''t that serious?

    The secretary had not had the privilege of accompanying them in the private room and was unaware that not only had Park Yuyuan been injured, but President Park himself had been treated like a dog by Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing the severity of Park Yuyuan''s injuries, the secretary immediately slipped out of the emergency room and called Secretary Lu to report on Park Yuyuan''s condition.

    When Secretary Lu heard that Park Yuyuan''s arm had been pierced through, even though he was mentally prepared, he was still startled. He could hardly imagine what kind of person Ge Dongxu was to have the audacity to do such a thing.

    However, remembering that even President Park had been beaten like a dog, and recalling Xu Lei''s earlier explanations and instructions, Secretary Lu managed to suppress the shock in his heart and calmly instructed the secretary to ensure that the hospital''s doctors provided Park Yuyuan with the best medical treatment, leaving the rest of the matters unattended.

    Seeing Secretary Lu say this, the secretary naturally didn''t dare ask any more questions.

    After hanging up the phone with the secretary, Secretary Lu continued discussing the matter of investment cooperation with Piao Tianchang over dinner at the dining table.

    With Ge Dongxu''s "Precious Sword" hanging over Piao Tianchang''s head, the negotiation went much smoother than Secretary Lu had imagined, and the terms were also much more favorable than he had expected.

    Usually, the terms for foreign investment were very harsh! And the local governments of Huaxia Country had no choice but to grit their teeth and agree in order to attract foreign investment, leading to numerous complaints from domestic enterprises that they, the actual children, were far less favored than the newcomers.

    The contract was signed the next day, and Piao Tianchang returned to Korea on a chartered flight that very day, leaving behind his grandson Park Yuyuan to follow up on the project.

    After Piao Tianchang returned to Korea, Secretary Lu and the others were holding their hearts in suspense, constantly checking international news. But after a few days, there was no commotion from the Korean side; it seemed as though Piao Tianchang had completely forgotten the painful experience of being disciplined by Ge Dongxu in the private room like a dog. Not only that, but the funds for the investment project arrived just a couple of days after Piao Tianchang''s return, and the project was officially launched much faster than any other foreign investment in the past.

    It was only then that Secretary Lu and the others truly relaxed, and at the same time, they held an immense respect and awe for Ge Dongxu, the mysterious young man who had defeated Piao Tianchang and his grandson like dogs.

    Fan Hong, head of the Special Ability Management Bureau, also secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Piao Tianchang, upon returning to Korea, only announced his intention to invest and build a factory in Santai City and did not say anything else.

    The incident with Ge Dongxu shutting the door and beating up Piao Tianchang brought with it considerable political risk and pressure for Fan Hong.

    Of course, all of this happened later on.

    Going back to the night when Ge Dongxu dealt with Piao Tianchang and his grandson, he then rearranged another private room to dine with Wu Yili and her maternal grandmother''s family, after which Wu Yili insisted on driving Ge Dongxu back to the golf hotel, and Ge Dongxu could only go along with her.

    While it was said that Wu Yili was driving Ge Dongxu back, in the end, it was Ge Dongxu who did the driving.

    "Should I address you as Director Ge, Professor Ge, or Doctor Ge?" Wu Yili, sitting in the passenger seat, turned her head to look at Ge Dongxu and asked.

    "Teacher Wu, you''re just making fun of me. Let''s keep things separate; at Jiangnan University, you''re the teacher, and I''m the student. Just call me Dongxu. Otherwise, if you call me ''Director Ge'' or ''Professor Ge'', I''m going to get goosebumps," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Pfft!" Wu Yili couldn''t help but smile and roll her eyes at him, saying, "Is it really that exaggerated? I saw ''Director Ge'' being quite imposing back at the Santai City Grand Hotel!"

    "Stop, stop, Teacher Wu, please spare me!" Ge Dongxu said urgently.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s helpless, pleading expression, Wu Yili couldn''t help but giggle.

    "You, oh you, if I hadn''t experienced so much first-hand, how could I believe that you are such a miraculous and amazing person?" It took a while for Wu Yili to stop laughing, and then, giving Ge Dongxu a sideward glance, she couldn''t help but sigh.

    "Heh heh!" laughed Ge Dongxu.

    "Alright, let''s talk business now," Wu Yili said, giving Ge Dongxu a serious look suddenly.

    "Go ahead," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "You say you are both a miraculous healer and a professor of traditional Chinese medicine, and also some kind of director, and judging by the situation in the private room just now, it seems your position might even be higher than that of our Santai City Secretary or Mayor. With all these credentials, why are you still coming to Jiangnan University to study? What are you after?" Wu Yili asked, voicing the puzzlement that had been on her mind for a while.

 Chapter 678 - 677: Scientific Research Assistant

    "Whether I''m hailed as a ''miracle doctor,'' a professor at a Traditional Chinese Medicine university, or even some kind of director, at the end of the day, I''m only nineteen years old this year. Tell me, if I start living high and mighty from now on, do you think such a life would be interesting for me? You met me three years ago, and what you saw then must have been the real me. Deep down, I''m just an ordinary guy from the mountains. I don''t like to loftily look down on the world, dislike having the power to do whatever I want. I aim to be true to myself, and going to university is undoubtedly a way for me to return to me," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "This way, I can still call you Dongxu with ease!" Wu Yili said, silent for a long time before suddenly speaking earnestly.

    "Are you saying that just because I''m a director or something, Teacher Wu wouldn''t feel comfortable calling me Dongxu? In my heart, you''re not that kind of person," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile.

    "It''s not that I can''t be at ease, which would mean I''m snobbish, but rather that one often does not have control over their life when in society. This is the reality, and no one can avoid it. Just like in the United States, no matter how much they boast about human rights, freedom, democracy, and equality, the President is still the President, and an ordinary person just can''t talk to him about being equals," Wu Yili replied seriously.

    "A teacher is indeed a teacher, looking at things so clearly!" Ge Dongxu was silent for a while upon hearing this, and then suddenly laughed while flattering her.

    "Cut it out! You can''t possibly fail to understand these things, can you? If you truly didn''t, you wouldn''t hide away in university, keeping such a low profile!" Wu Yili shot Ge Dongxu a glance with her charming eyes and said. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Now, her relationship with Ge Dongxu was quite complicated. On the surface, they were teacher and student but, on the other hand, Ge Dongxu also held the titles of professor and director, several layers above her, not to mention the added dimension of indebtedness.

    So, in the past, Wu Yili used to carry herself with a certain teacher''s dignity around Ge Dongxu and would occasionally have to remind herself in secret that she was a teacher and needed to set an example with her words and actions. However, nowadays, she had completely let go. Her behavior in private was now totally egalitarian, and even her voice and expressions had inadvertently taken on a feminine charm, due to their past close interactions and her now more relaxed demeanor.

    "Hehe!" Ge Dongxu chuckled noncommittally, then said, "Actually, by studying at university and choosing Environmental Chemistry as my major, I indeed have a plan to delve deeply into this field, not just to experience university life."

    "Really?" Wu Yili asked, looking at Ge Dongxu with surprise.

    In Wu Yili''s view, Ge Dongxu''s medical skills were already so formidable that studying anything related to the environment was likely just a cover.

    "Yes, really. The environment is nature itself. Nature''s mysteries are infinite, and modern science''s study of nature has been very enlightening for me. Haven''t you seen how I''ve been spending all my time in the library these days? Actually, I''m trying to speed up my learning in this area," Ge Dongxu responded earnestly.

    "Theory needs practice, and if that''s the case, I suggest you consider joining a lab during your undergraduate studies to do some research," Wu Yili suggested after a long silence.

    "I have been thinking along those lines," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Then I formally invite you to be my research assistant!" Wu Yili''s eyes sparkled as she extended her hand to Ge Dongxu without hesitation.

    "I couldn''t ask for more!" Ge Dongxu reached out one hand to shake hands with Wu Yili, smiling.

    "So when do you plan to come over?" Wu Yili asked happily.

    "Next semester, perhaps. My theoretical foundation is still too weak at the moment, and even if I went to the lab, I wouldn''t be able to do much," Ge Dongxu thought for a moment before replying.

    "Mm, scientific research indeed requires a solid theoretical foundation. Next semester is fine. But let''s be clear, once you become my research assistant, no backing out!" Wu Yili nodded and then added a special reminder.

    "How could that be? I''m not stupid, why would I pass up a chance to follow a well-educated, overseas-educated beauty like you, to follow some white-bearded old professor instead! I''m just a bit worried, if my classmates find out I''ve become your research assistant, will it cause public outrage?" Ge Dongxu said.

    Wu Yili saw that Ge Dongxu was beating around the bush to compliment her and couldn''t help but laugh joyfully, although she tapped his forehead with her finger and said, "You, your mouth is starting to learn bad habits uh! Don''t forget, I''m your teacher!"

    "Cough cough, yes yes, I''ll definitely pay attention next time." Ge Dongxu quickly pretended to be sincere, making Wu Yili unable to resist another round of joyful laughter.

    Amid the laughter, the car arrived at the golf resort.

    Because it was already late, and Wu Yili wanted to spend more time with her grandmother, she did not enter the hotel gates. After Ge Dongxu got out, she drove straight back.

    Watching the car disappear into the night, Ge Dongxu then turned and entered the hotel gates.

    Thinking of Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi, Ge Dongxu walked unhurriedly towards the golf course.

    As he neared the golf course, Ge Dongxu saw Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi standing on the grass at the entrance like two statues, foolishly still.

    Occasionally, when someone passed by, they just looked at them from a distance and quickly left.

    After all, this was Santai Sect''s territory. At first, it was fine to watch and discuss them out of ignorance, but now that everyone attending knew that Santai Sect had been humiliated, they naturally did not feel it was right to spectate anymore, in case Santai Temple, out of embarrassed rage, held a grudge against them, which would not be fun at all.

    While Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi stood in the grass almost in tears, they suddenly saw a familiar figure entering their field of vision, swiftly approaching, and the figure''s face under the streetlight revealed a young man''s countenance.

    With a smile on his face, that face looked a bit delicate and somewhat handsome, seemingly harmless to humans and animals, but to Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi, it was as terrifying as a demon emerging from Hell, so frightening that their faces went pale without a trace of blood, and cold sweat broke out on their foreheads, their eyes filled with extreme horror.

    If their bodies were able to move, they might have collapsed on the ground, weak at the knees.

    "What, what do you want to do?" Su Jieliang asked Ge Dongxu with a trembling voice.

    "In the future, don''t be so arrogant anymore, or else the outcome won''t be the same as today," Ge Dongxu said lightly as he walked up to them and patted them once on each of their bodies.

    The two shuddered, and then the prohibition on their bodies was lifted, and they could move freely once again.

    "We wouldn''t dare, we wouldn''t dare, thank you, Senior Ge, thank you, Senior Ge!" Only then did the two of them realize that Ge Dongxu had come early to lift the prohibition for them and couldn''t help but bow gratefully, tears streaming down their faces.

    At this moment, they genuinely felt only gratitude, without a hint of resentment or desire for revenge.

    The discrepancy between them was simply too vast; even their grandfathers had to humble themselves before Ge Dongxu. For Ge Dongxu to let them off early was indeed very merciful.

 Chapter 679 - 678: Return to School

    Ge Dongxu saw that the two sincerely admitted their mistakes, so naturally he would not trouble them further. He nodded to them and drifted away.

    He had just reached the entrance of the lakeside villa when he saw Lv Semi-Immortal and others pacing at the door. Upon seeing Ge Dongxu return, they immediately approached to greet him but stopped three to four meters away, looking at him with admiration and awe, completely lacking their usual joviality and casualness¡ªnot even Lv Semi-Immortal was an exception.

    "What''s with those looks? You can''t tell me you don''t recognize me after just a day, can you?" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu smiling and approachable, just as he had always been, Lv Semi-Immortal and the others finally relaxed a bit.

    "Senior, it''s not that we don''t recognize you, it''s just that you''re too awesome, making us feel really inferior!" Lv Semi-Immortal approached with a smile.

    "Inferior my foot! When you, Lv Semi-Immortal, are flirting with pretty girls at school, I haven''t seen you feeling inferior!" Ge Dongxu gave Lv Semi-Immortal a disdainful glance and said.

    Being thus spoken to and glanced at by Ge Dongxu, Lv Semi-Immortal relaxed even more and said with a chuckle, "How can pretty girls compare with you, Senior! Just a word from you, and Su Jieliang and the rest would have to stand if you told them to, and even the Supreme Elder of the Santai Sect would be of no use!"

    "Yes, yes, when we saw Su Jieliang and Yan Chengzhi being carried back to the grass in front of the golf course last night, you have no idea, everyone at the exchange meeting was blown away!" Chi Longwu looked at Ge Dongxu with an admiring fervor and said.

    "Alright, we are all fellow practitioners. Now that they have received their lessons, let''s spare them some dignity. I''ve also lifted their Prohibitions just now, so don''t bring up this matter the next time you see them," Ge Dongxu said with a wave of his hand.

    "This is what I call true virtue and high prestige, not like some who, relying on a bit of power and skill, act haughtily. They can''t even hold a candle to you, Senior, let alone be qualified to carry your shoes," Liu Hong said with admiration.

    "Haha, what brings you here tonight? Did you come specially to flatter me?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Of course not, we admire you, Senior, and knowing we each need to go home tomorrow, we specifically came to bid you farewell," Chi Longwu and others said.

    "You are thoughtful. Come inside and sit down. It''s rare for us to meet and get along so well. If you don''t mind, later on, if you have any cultivation questions, you can also ask me. I will be happy to answer whatever I know," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he pushed open the gate of the courtyard for Chi Longwu and the others.

    It is said that birds of a feather flock together, and this saying certainly holds true.

    Although Lv Semi-Immortal had a slick mouth, he was fundamentally decent, and as such, the young people he hung out with were also quite nice. Ge Dongxu didn''t mind giving them some pointers and making some good connections.

    Chi Longwu and the others were naturally eager to take advantage of the opportunity and nodded continuously, their faces showing excitement.

    The group then accompanied Ge Dongxu into the villa.

    Chi Longwu and the others cherished this chance; once inside the villa, they all behaved very properly, not frolicking, and took turns consulting Ge Dongxu about their cultivation issues.

    Ge Dongxu''s understanding and insight into cultivation were naturally far beyond what the elders of Chi Longwu and others could compare to, so after some explanation and direction, they all benefited immensely.

    It was eleven o''clock at night, which was the start of the zi hour.

    Only when they knew Ge Dongxu was going to cultivate did they, still reluctant to leave, stand up to go. Before leaving, everyone bowed respectfully to Ge Dongxu, and even Lv Semi-Immortal was no exception.

    Although these individuals have more progressive thoughts than the older generation, they ultimately belong to the Qimen community. From a young age, they are immersed in its teachings, which instills in them a great respect for the traditional principle of revering teachers and valuing education, far more so than the young people in society.

    Ge Dongxu''s guidance was considered a favor of imparting wisdom and resolving doubts, a rarity within the Qimen, which is why, after the session ended, everyone courteously bowed to Ge Dongxu to show their gratitude.

    Ge Dongxu graciously accepted their bows.

    After everyone had left, Ge Dongxu went to the terrace to practice his cultivation during the hour of Zi. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The next day, just after the Mao Hour had passed, the elders, including Liu Hong''s, all made their way to Ge Dongxu''s door to express their thanks, leaving their business cards so that he could contact them if he ever needed help with anything.

    What they didn''t realize was that the confusion they experienced in their cultivation was often the same confusion that plagued their families or Sects for many years. Thus, when Liu Hong and the others returned home and mentioned this, their elders were both excited and shocked. Only then did they understand that Santai Sect''s willingness to be humbled was not only because Ge Dongxu had a very powerful senior brother; Ge Dongxu himself was an impressive figure. Owing to their offspring, they felt indebted to Ge Dongxu for a great favor.

    Since they owed him a great favor, it was only natural for the elders, including those of Liu Hong and others, to personally come and offer their gratitude.

    Ge Dongxu collected the business cards one by one, noticing that the titles on them were either President or Chairman, and there were even government officials on some cards; nearly all of them were influential and powerful individuals of Dongyue Province.

    This realization made Ge Dongxu reflect quietly, thinking to himself that despite the decline of Daoist practices, the elite remained elite. People from the Qimen circle were indeed a unique group, no wonder the state had to establish a special supervisory department to oversee them.

    That same morning, Ge Dongxu took a flight back to Linzhou City.

    ...

    Back at school, Ge Dongxu''s life returned to its previous calm and fulfilling routine.

    Studying, cultivating, imparting medical knowledge, and occasionally visiting the Martial Arts Association and the base to provide guidance...

    Days passed by, one after another.

    In late November, the school hosted a three-day sports event, and along with it, the "Jiangnan Cup" basketball tournament began.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t feel it was appropriate to participate in any sports event or the "Jiangnan Cup" basketball tournament. So no matter how much the sports department or his class''s sports representative tried to rally him, the tall and sturdy guy steadfastly shook his head and declined.

    During this period, Zhu Dongyu arrived at the internal medicine department of Jiangnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to begin learning medical arts from Ge Dongxu.

    Zhu Dongyu was an elder National Medical Master with much more renown in Huaxia Country than Tang Yiyuan, and his disciples were spread all over the country. In fact, one of the chief doctors in the internal department who had previously opposed Ge Dongxu was one of his students.

    Zhu Dongyu''s arrival naturally caused a sensation in the internal department and even within the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, leading to Principal Feng Yaping and Dean Cai Bomming personally arranging a welcome dinner for him.

    However, within the internal department, Zhu Dongyu maintained the posture of a disciple towards Ge Dongxu constantly, insisting on accompanying him for outpatient services whenever Ge Dongxu was present.

    This was unknown to outsiders, but those doctors who remained in the internal department and were not qualified to learn from Ge Dongxu watched with complex feelings in their hearts.

 Chapter 680 - 679: Spring Born, Summer Growth, Autumn Harvest, Winter Storage!

    One autumn rain brings the chill.

    Now it is already December by the solar calendar, and Jiangnan Province has entered the true sense of winter.

    The cold in the South is different from the North; due to the humid weather, the cold is piercing to the bone, as if the wintry wind can penetrate through clothing and into the marrow.

    Therefore, some people who have never been to the South, upon seeing the weather forecasts with temperatures above zero, think the South is warmer, and they come underdressed, only to find, upon disembarking from the train or plane, that they are sorely mistaken.

    It turns out that temperatures above zero in the South have a completely different concept from those in the North.

    By evening, this would usually be the liveliest time around Mingyue Lake, with the sounds of reading aloud and young couples by the lakeside, engrossed in their love unbothered by others.

    But today, because of a recent light rain, the wind blowing over Mingyue Lake brought bursts of bone-chilling cold, and Mingyue Lake was unusually peaceful, with scarcely anyone strolling by the lake, and those few who were there quickly left with their necks hunched over.

    Only a tall figure walked leisurely around Mingyue Lake at an unhurried pace.

    The lakeside willows were bare, not a single green leaf to be seen, while yellow ginkgo leaves littered the ground, all things seeming especially bleak as if the usual vitality had vanished in an instant.

    Spring comes, summer grows, autumn harvests, winter stores!

    Plants and animals, all things in the world are part of nature. If plants do so, should animals also follow suit? Humans? Nature''s spiritual energy? S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Observing everything before him and sensing the vitality that seemed to have disappeared yet was actually being deeply retracted, and thinking of the transition from the warmth of spring to the scorching heat of summer, then to the coolness of autumn, and now to the harsh winter, Ge Dongxu felt a faint sense of enlightenment rising in his heart.

    The changes in nature, appearing as the same cycle year after year, commonplace yet within this banality lies the mystery of the laws between heaven and earth.

    As understanding slowly dawned on him, Ge Dongxu, who had once attained the state of Unity of Heaven and Man, let his entire being immerse into nature.

    He felt the Yin and Yang energies between heaven and earth were being stored and concealed, no longer growing like in spring, nor flourishing like in summer, nor transitioning from abundant to reserved like in autumn.

    Similarly walking slowly around Mingyue Lake, at this moment, if anyone saw Ge Dongxu, they would find him as if merged with Mingyue Lake, as if he were inherently part of it, just like one of the lakeside willows or ginkgo trees, carrying the desolation and decline of winter.

    Ge Dongxu just walked slowly by Mingyue Lake, the True Qi within his meridians, even the vitality of his body, were all gradually being restrained.

    At this moment, Ge Dongxu appeared particularly world-weary, as if he had experienced many ups and downs in life, his usual brightness nowhere to be seen.

    "Boss? What''s wrong with you? Why do you look so listless? You haven''t suffered a heartbreak, have you?" As Ge Dongxu was still immersed in his recent realization and walked into the dormitory carrying the desolation of winter, Li Chenyu and the other two immediately asked with concern.

    Ge Dongxu was momentarily taken aback, roused from his enlightenment, and upon seeing their concerned expressions, felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Still, he glared at them irritably and said, "Heartbreak? Do I look like someone who would get heartbroken?"

    "Well, that''s true. Who are you, Boss? A cool guy who''s irresistible, even to foreign beauties and teachers, how could you get heartbroken?" Li Chenyu and the others hastily corrected themselves.

    "That''s more like it," Ge Dongxu nodded in satisfaction, then picked up his toiletries to wash up.

    "There''s something off about the boss today! He usually exudes sunshine and vitality, and just seeing him could uplift anyone''s spirit. But today, why does he seem so melancholic?" As soon as Ge Dongxu left, Li Chenyu and the two others huddled together, voicing their worries.

    "Yeah, did he really have a heartbreak? Otherwise, I really can''t think of any other reason!" He Guizhong said.

    "But you need to have a girlfriend to have a heartbreak, right? Does anyone know who the boss''s girlfriend is?" Lu Lei asked.

    "Who said one must have a girlfriend to be heartbroken? One can have a crush on someone and then that someone ends up running off with someone else," Li Chenyu said.

    "Well, that''s hard to tell. The boss spends all day in the library, who knows who he''s got a crush on," He Guizhong said.

    "It''s not important who he has a crush on. What''s important is we need to give the boss some guidance. With his exceptional qualities and confidence, a blow to him would be much more damaging than to any of us," Li Chenyu said.

    "That''s true. I''ve been rejected several times myself, and I didn''t feel much of anything," He Guizhong said.

    "Isn''t that obvious? With your uncle-like appearance, and targeting those English-major beauties from the Martial Arts Association, your chances of success are as good as winning the lottery. There''s nothing to be sad or disappointed about if you don''t win," Li Chenyu bluntly teased him.

    "Screw you!" He Guizhong raised his foot, pretending to kick him.

    Li Chenyu quickly dodged behind Lu Lei, shouting, "I was just kindly reminding you to consider matching social statuses next time you look for someone!"

    "Matching social statuses my foot! Although I can''t compare to Lu Lei and the boss in looks, I still have a rugged charm, you know?" He Guizhong glared and said.

    "I haven''t seen any rugged charm, but I have seen the beauty of a wild beast!" Li Chenyu replied.

    "Haha!" Lu Lei burst into laughter at those words.

    "Haven''t you heard of Beauty and the Beast? Some beauties like a wild beast!" He Guizhong declared unabashedly.

    Upon hearing this, Li Chenyu and Lu Lei were stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter.

    Amidst their laughter, Ge Dongxu walked in, and He Guizhong and Lu Lei gave Li Chenyu a meaningful look.

    Of the three, Li Chenyu had the sharpest tongue.

    "Boss, you''re done freshening up, huh? Hand me the towel and the tooth mug, and I''ll put them away for you, I''ll put them away," Li Chenyu was already on his way over, eagerly taking the tooth mug and towel from Ge Dongxu''s hands as He Guizhong and Lu Lei made faces.

    "I''m fine, I don''t have any issues." Ge Dongxu, now with much higher emotional intelligence than before, could see right through Li Chenyu''s eagerness and couldn''t help but laugh bitterly and say.

    "I know, I know. Back when I was in high school I also had a crush on a girl. What happened then? That girl liked a guy in our class who had good grades. My heart felt as if it had been stabbed with a knife. So I worked hard and studied, determined to let her see that if I got serious, I''d be much more impressive than the guy she liked, and as a result, I ended up at Jiangnan University. So heartbreak is nothing to fear. We must learn to turn sadness into strength," said Li Chenyu as he casually placed the tooth mug and towel properly.

    "Yeah, yeah, I also had a crush on the class belle in high school, but alas..." He Guizhong eagerly chimed in.

    "I''ve been there too!" Lu Lei said.

    "Are you guys ever going to stop? How about I bring a few school beauties over someday to meet you?" Ge Dongxu, seeing the three recounting their sad past, slapped his forehead and glared at them, annoyed.

    "Looks like the boss is really fine, really fine, then that''s good!" Seeing Ge Dongxu starting to get a bit annoyed, Li Chenyu actually felt relieved and said with a cheerfully grinning demeanor.

    "Nonsense! What could be wrong with me?" Ge Dongxu retorted irritably.

    "Hehe, since there''s nothing wrong, boss, you can forget about the school beauties. It seems like our faculty doesn''t even have one. Actually, we''re not that cruel-hearted. If the boss is really interested, why not help us set up a date with a few beauties from the Foreign Languages faculty someday? You know, they all admire your martial arts skills. If you, our honorary president of the Martial Arts Association, were to invite them, they''d surely agree," He Guizhong and the others said with a sycophantic smile now that they knew Ge Dongxu was fine.

    "In your dreams!" Ge Dongxu left them with that response and climbed onto his bed.

    "Damn! Boss, you''re too merciless!" All three of them complained, then helplessly went to turn off the light.

 Chapter 681 - 680: The Changes in Winter Storage

    When the hour of the rat arrived, Ge Dongxu didn''t sneak out of the dormitory to visit Dragon Rest Mountain. Instead, he lay in bed, silently revolving his True Qi, bit by bit concealing and sealing it so that not even the slightest trace was emitted.

    If someone had paid attention to Ge Dongxu at that time, they would have found him as if hibernating, his breathing barely perceptible and his body temperature almost nonexistent, even his skin gradually losing its luster.

    Hibernation!

    At this moment, Ge Dongxu was stowing away the True Qi he had cultivated over the years, trying to breathe and transform in harmony with the natural world, awaiting the coming year''s spring growth, summer flourishing, and autumn harvest!

    If Ge Hong were still alive at this time, seeing Dongxu understanding the concept of hibernation at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation would surely have shocked him to the point of bulging his eyes out.

    Qi Cultivation, Dragon Tiger, Golden Core, Celestial Infant...

    Even Ge Hong had only gradually comprehended this mystery after reaching the Dragon Tiger Realm, from observing the growth of plants in accordance with the change of seasons.

    All things grow; they cannot always move forward without rest. They need to experience the growth of spring, the vigor of summer, the harvest of autumn, and then the consolidation and concealment of winter to welcome a new cycle of growth the following year...

    Humans and animals are actually the same, growing from youth to the peak of adulthood and then gradually aging until death.

    People who do not understand cultivation are like annual plants, their life cycle completes within a year. Their seeds, their children, are a continuation of their life in another form.

    Those who understand cultivation are more like biennial or perennial plants, living somewhat longer than ordinary people.

    But now Ge Dongxu had begun to attempt the cycle of life within his own body, and he could be said to have touched upon the mystery of undying life.

    If practitioners like Lv Xinghai and Fan Hong, members of the Qimen, could barely be considered as biennial or perennial plants, then Dongxu at this moment was already comparable to a sapling.

    Trees, having experienced the changes of seasons, grow rings each year after the cycle of spring growth, summer flourish, autumn harvest, and winter concealment.

    Come the next year, the tree will grow even stouter and taller.

    As the hour of the rat passed, Ge Dongxu slowly opened his eyes while lying on the bed.

    His once deep and clear black eyes now seemed somewhat dimmed, the flow of True Qi in his meridians had become slighter, and Dongxu even felt a sense of fatigue and weakness.

    This would have been unimaginable before, since he was a cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    But now he felt tired and weak.

    However, instead of being disappointed by this, Dongxu''s eyes actually revealed a glint of unexpected joy.

    Because he felt that the breath in his meridians was becoming more refined, his inner vitality seemed even more exuberant, in stark contrast to the fatigue and weakness he felt.

    The next day, Li Chenyu and the others unexpectedly discovered that it was seven o''clock and Ge Dongxu had just gotten up, whereas in the past, Dongxu would usually have been returning from outside by this time.

    Not only that, but Li Chenyu and the others found that Dongxu seemed a bit less spirited than usual.

    This time, the three exchanged glances, all seeing the hint of worry in each other''s eyes.

    Others might not notice Ge Dongxu''s changes, but the three of them who spent every day with Ge Dongxu were all too familiar with him.

    Ge Dongxu''s abnormal behavior today and the changes in his mental state were all within their observation, inevitably causing them to worry.

    But all that needed to be said had already been said yesterday, and seeing that Ge Dongxu obviously did not want to bring up the matter, they dared not ask him about it today. Their treatment of Ge Dongxu, however, became clearly more attentive.

    Ge Dongxu, being the party involved, hadn''t realized how abnormal it was for him not to get up early in the morning, nor did he notice that his spirit had changed in various ways. He still thought that these three were misunderstanding him, which naturally led to some glaring.

    But these three stubbornly believed that Ge Dongxu must be either heartbroken or hiding some sorrow within, and regardless of whether Ge Dongxu glared or scolded them with a smile, they continued to accompany him with smiles, leaving Ge Dongxu without a trace of anger.

    Time passed by day after day.

    In the blink of an eye, it was already mid-December.

    Recently, Ge Dongxu had been contemplating the mysteries of winter''s dormancy and rarely absorbed the energy of heaven and earth from the outside.

    Not only did he rarely absorb the external energy of heaven and earth, but he also internalized the energy within, inscribing the natural changes of time into his life, undergoing the innate cycle of life.

    As the days went by, Ge Dongxu grew slender, his skin turned a bit yellow and lost much of its luster. The few inconspicuous white hairs on the left side of his head had now grown to over a dozen and begun to stand out.

    One could say that Ge Dongxu these days resembled the lush woods in summer that, come autumn and winter, began to yellow and lose their leaves.

    Yet inside, having been tempered through the "harsh winter," his vitality grew ever stronger, and his breath became increasingly refined.

    Ge Dongxu''s heart filled with excitement and joy; he knew that if he could survive this winter, come next spring, he might be able to break through to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer.

    Originally, he had not been sure when he would break through to the Dragon Tiger Realm, and even when talking to Liu Jiayao, he had only suggested it might take three to five years, or even longer. Only now did he truly feel confident.

    At least before reaching the Dragon Tiger Realm, with this enlightenment, his cultivation would not be stuck in a bottleneck.

    Because of the excitement in his heart, Ge Dongxu immersed himself deeper into the understanding of winter dormancy and failed to notice that as he appeared to age day by day, especially with the increase in white hair, Wu Yili''s gaze during class bore an unspeakable touch of emotion and sorrow.

    It wasn''t just Wu Yili; Zhu Dongyu from the Department of Internal Medicine and Tang Yiyuan were also somewhat worried, with Tang Yiyuan feeling an additional sense of guilt. In fact, because of this matter, on one occasion when his daughter Tang Yahui came home, he scolded her severely.

    They all thought that the aftereffects of that life-changing experience had manifested, and although Ge Dongxu had spoken casually about it, his lifespan had indeed suffered a great loss.

    "Dongxu, are you free this afternoon?" On a Tuesday afternoon, after the inorganic chemistry class ended, Wu Yili finally couldn''t help calling out to Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing Wu Yili stopping Ge Dongxu, the boys from the two classes of environmental chemistry couldn''t help but show their envy. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Nothing in particular," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Well, I have a bit of a matter here, could you help me with it?" Wu Yili asked, not able to speak openly in front of the students.

    "Of course, I can," Ge Dongxu nodded and then followed Wu Yili out of the classroom.

    "The sun is nice today, and there isn''t much wind. Join me for a walk by Mingyue Lake," Wu Yili said softly once they were out of the students'' sight, her eyes inadvertently glancing at the glaring white hairs on the left side of Ge Dongxu''s head in the sunlight, full of sorrow.

 Chapter 682 - 681: Never Tricked You

    Ge Dongxu didn''t think much about it, but he briefly looked at Wu Yili in surprise before nodding his head.

    Previously, Wu Yili would occasionally ask him out for a meal to improve his diet, but ever since returning from Santai City, she hadn''t invited him to a meal again.

    The reason she hadn''t invited him was naturally because Wu Yili knew that Ge Dongxu was not any impoverished student.

    ...

    In winter, Mingyue Lake was much more desolate than usual, and there were far fewer pedestrians and tourists.

    "There''s a bench ahead; let''s go sit down for a bit." Not long after they started walking, Wu Yili saw a wooden bench under a willow tree by the lake and pointed to it.

    "Sure!" Ge Dongxu nodded and walked with Wu Yili to sit on the wooden bench.

    After the two of them sat down, Wu Yili turned her head and stared continuously at Ge Dongxu, her eyes gradually reddening.

    "What''s the matter, Teacher Wu? Is something troubling you, or has someone been bullying you?" Seeing Wu Yili staring at him and her eyes getting misty, Ge Dongxu was startled and flustered.

    "Your hair has gotten whiter! Your skin isn''t as radiant as before either, almost like you''re sick. You don''t need to make such big sacrifices for my sake." Wu Yili didn''t respond to Ge Dongxu. Instead, she touched his head affectionately, then his face, her tears flowing uncontrollably.

    Then, Wu Yili suddenly hugged Ge Dongxu''s head, pulling him into her arms.

    The fullness and firmness, the fragrance that rushed to his nose¡ªeven though Ge Dongxu was a distinguished man, he was caught off-guard in that moment.

    "Teacher..." Ge Dongxu wanted to push Wu Yili away to explain that, although the softness was enticing and her concern melted his heart, things weren''t as they seemed, and he couldn''t just go along with it, deceiving Wu Yili''s feelings.

    "You don''t need to say anything, no need to explain, I know it all! Why do you have to be so foolish? It was like this back on Baiyun Mountain, and it''s the same now!" Wu Yili held Ge Dongxu''s head even tighter.

    "Teacher, it''s really not what you think. The reason my hair has gotten whiter and my skin looks worse is because of the cultivation," Ge Dongxu said, feeling the overwhelming temptation making it harder to allow Wu Yili to keep holding him, finally mustering his resolve to push her away "heartlessly."

    "You still want to deceive me? Even though I don''t understand cultivation, I am, after all, an environmental science expert. I know some basic common sense and logic. You look lifeless now, nothing like your vibrant and energetic self from before! You still say there''s nothing wrong, still blaming it on cultivation? If cultivation can make someone turn out like this, then it''s better not to cultivate at all!" The more Ge Dongxu said this, the more heartbroken Wu Yili felt.

    "How can I explain this to you?" Seeing tears welling up in Wu Yili''s eyes again, she seemed desperate to pull him into her arms again to comfort him. Ge Dongxu''s head ached at the thought; he scratched his head, genuinely at a loss for words.

    These past days, he had been immersed in the mysteries of winter''s concealment and hadn''t noticed such a significant change in his appearance, nor had he thought deeply about the misunderstandings it could cause others.

    "Explain? How else do you want to explain?" Wu Yili, seeing that Ge Dongxu still didn''t want her to worry or feel guilty even at this point, wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes, glaring at him angrily.

    "Teacher, it''s not what you think. Look at this willow branch now¡ªit has no green leaves and looks quite desolate, right? But can you say that it is sick?" Ge Dongxu saw Wu Yili staring at him angrily, thought for a moment, casually plucked a bare willow branch, and pointed to it as he spoke to Wu Yili.

    "Of course not, it''s just that winter has come," Wu Yili replied, her face showing a hint of confusion.

    "Exactly, winter has come. My current situation is just like the winter phase of cultivation. After this phase, I will be like this willow tree, not only sprouting new buds but also growing thicker and stronger. This might sound mystical and incredible to you, but that''s actually the case," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "Can it really be that miraculous?" Wu Yili began to somewhat believe Ge Dongxu''s words, as she knew he was a miraculous young man who could change his destiny against the odds.

    "Of course! I don''t think I have ever lied to you up till now," Ge Dongxu said.

    Wu Yili was silent upon hearing this, as scenes of her past with Ge Dongxu flashed through her mind.

    At Baiyun Mountain, when she first saw the dark-complexioned young Ge Dongxu, she didn''t believe he could save her, yet he did.

    At the school''s Taekwondo Association, Ge Dongxu told her he knew martial arts, which she doubted, yet Ge Dongxu defeated the black belt fourth dan president of the Taekwondo Association with ease.

    When they were dining at Emerald Residence, Ge Dongxu told her he was wealthy and that his master was very skilled, so he knew medical skills too, which Wu Yili didn''t believe. Yet, he ended up changing her grandmother''s fate against all odds.

    When they were climbing Mount Santai, he fought the grandson of a CEO from a Fortune 500 company. She thought this would cause big trouble, yet Ge Dongxu even fiercely beat up CEO Park, and nothing bad happened.

    All these experiences were overturning her understanding of Ge Dongxu. All of these also indicated that up till now, Ge Dongxu really had never lied to her.

    Thinking that Ge Dongxu had never lied to her, and if everything was really as Ge Dongxu said, then she had just misunderstood him...

    At that thought, Wu Yili''s face gradually turned red.

    "Think about it, have I ever lied to you up till now?" Ge Dongxu, although clever, still lacked experience in emotional matters and understanding of women. Seeing that Wu Yili hadn''t replied for a long time, he thought she was still doubting his words and even added another line.

    Wu Yili saw Ge Dongxu staring intently at her, and he even specifically added another line. Even though she was a university professor, she blushed deeply, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into. At last, seeing Ge Dongxu still staring and waiting for her affirmative answer, she finally snapped in embarrassment, stretched out a finger and pinched Ge Dongxu''s thigh fiercely, saying angrily, "You''d die if you lied to me even once!"

    Having said that, Wu Yili stood up, clacking her mid-heel shoes, and walked away as though fleeing.

    "Ah!" Ge Dongxu watched Wu Yili''s graceful retreating figure running away. Her words echoed in his ears, and he was stunned.

    After a while, Ge Dongxu finally realized where the problem lay and hurriedly got up to chase after her.

    "This, this, Teacher, that misunderstanding is also understandable, actually, it''s not that much..." Ge Dongxu chased after her, seeing Wu Yili just walking with her head down and began stammering an explanation while walking beside her. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 683 - 682: Im Really a Bit Cold

    "Tongue-tied and bumbling! I have no idea how you ever mastered any skills!" Seeing Ge Dongxu following her all the way, hesitating and stuttering, Wu Yili felt both embarrassed and amused. In the end, she couldn''t help but turn her head and glare at him before suddenly reaching out to take his arm, speaking irritably.

    His arm was suddenly taken by Wu Yili, and when his arm touched her plump side, Ge Dongxu''s body stiffened for a moment.

    To say that he had no feelings for Wu Yili would definitely be nonsense.

    To speak of it, his close contact with Wu Yili had occurred even before Liu Jiayao.

    After that time, the young him had also had several dreams.

    "It''s a bit cold," Wu Yili seemed to realize that her gesture was a bit too intimate and hurriedly explained.

    "Yes, the wind has picked up. It''s indeed a bit chilly. It''s getting late; shall we go to Emerald Residence for dinner?" Ge Dongxu purposefully ducked his head as he spoke.

    "Pfft!" Seeing Ge Dongxu, who was actually a master and theoretically shouldn''t be cold, making such an exaggerated motion to cater to her, Wu Yili couldn''t help but burst out laughing.

    Wu Yili was already very beautiful, with a good temperament, and a well-proportioned and plump figure. Her skin was as white as fresh snow, and now with the shy blush still on her face, under the sunset, her laughter was like flowers blooming, making even the desolate Mingyue Lake instantly more spring-like and bright.

    "Teacher, you''re really beautiful!" Ge Dongxu gazed at Wu Yili under the sunset, unable to restrain his praise.

    "Really?" Wu Yili''s heart trembled slightly upon hearing this, as she looked at Ge Dongxu and asked.

    "Of course, it''s true! I''m not lying," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Now you''ve become eloquent!" Wu Yili playfully scolded him with a joyful arch of her eyebrows, incomparably feminine under the sunset.

    If any teachers or graduate students familiar with Wu Yili were there, their eyes would definitely pop out.

    Because in their eyes, Wu Yili was a person who behaved with grace and composure, dealt with things meticulously, and was always orderly. When had she ever taken a man''s hand and spoken with such a feminine vibe?

    Looking at Wu Yili under the sunset, so incredibly gorgeous and charming, filled with the allure of a mature and intellectual woman, Ge Dongxu''s heart stirred uncontrollably.

    "Ahem, Teacher, shall we go to Emerald Residence for dinner after all?" Ge Dongxu quickly changed the subject. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''re a university professor and even a chairman, after all. In private, you shouldn''t call me teacher anymore. Just like three years ago, call me Yili," Wu Yili said.

    More ripples stirred in Ge Dongxu''s heart, but he nodded his head.

    "I am really a bit cold, but I also want to walk around Mingyue Lake for a bit. I haven''t visited Mingyue Lake in a long time. Is it okay if I hold onto you like this?" Seeing Ge Dongxu looking noticeably unnatural, Wu Yili also felt somewhat uneasy and explained again.

    The truth that Wu Yili spoke was genuine. But truth be told, if it were any other man, aside from family members, she would probably rather freeze than make such an intimate gesture of holding hands.

    "You''re my sister, of course, it''s no problem," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Actually, I''ve had this idea for a long time. Sometime, holding my boyfriend''s hand under the sunset, walking quietly by Mingyue Lake, it would be such happiness. Unfortunately, I''ve never met the right man. You are the first man with whom I''ve held hands, but what a pity, you are too young. For now, I''m just using you to keep warm. Don''t get any wild ideas!" Holding Ge Dongxu''s hand and facing the sunset, walking quietly along the lakeside of Mingyue Lake, Wu Yili felt an indescribable sense of relaxation and peace, even sharing this conversation that was suitable only with close friends with Ge Dongxu.

    "Mm," Ge Dongxu nodded with a slight blush. The way Wu Yili had intimately linked her arm with his made it impossible for him not to wander into a whirlwind of thoughts¡ªhow could it not, when he was not gay?

    "You cheeky fellow!" Seeing Ge Dongxu blush and respond in such a faint voice, Wu Yili instantly realized that her last remark had been in vain. She couldn''t help but blush herself and gave him a reproachful look.

    However, Wu Yili did not let go of his hand.

    As they walked around Mingyue Lake, Wu Yili shared many things with Ge Dongxu, including her experiences in Germany, her many thoughts upon returning, and her ambitions.

    Ge Dongxu listened quietly, and gradually, his mind stopped wandering. It seemed very natural and harmonious for the two of them to be walking hand in hand this way.

    Even as he listened, he found himself unconsciously developing a deep sense of affection and tenderness toward Wu Yili.

    From her words, he sensed her striving efforts, her grand ideals, her occasional mental exhaustion and weariness, and also her inner loneliness.

    "If you ever feel tired from work, or are troubled, and can''t find someone to lean on, come find me," Ge Dongxu said softly as the street lamps along the edge of Mingyue Lake lit up one by one.

    "You said it, you are not allowed to complain about me nagging or clinging to you later," Wu Yili''s delicate body trembled slightly, and her beautiful eyes sparkled under the light.

    A young and beautiful university professor like her could indeed be quite lonely at times.

    Just like the campus saying goes: female college students are Zhao Min, undergrads are Huang Rong, master''s students are Li Mochou, doctoral students are Master Miejue, and post-docs are Invincible East.

    Now Wu Yili was a university professor, a PhD supervisor¡ªby any measure, at least on the level of Invincible East.

    Of course, even if she were Invincible East, she would at least be on the level of Lin Qingxia.

    "How could that be? You are a great beauty! Others would beg for your attention," Ge Dongxu laughed. After they started addressing each other as brother and sister, Ge Dongxu found himself less hesitant when speaking.

    "You''re the only one who dares to tease me to my face like this. The faculty members at the college are all very serious around me," Wu Yili said, giving Ge Dongxu a playful glare as he complimented her.

    "They''re just pretending to be proper. I''m sure they all sneak glances at you when they can," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Enough of that, you''re no better! Let''s go eat, I''m hungry," Wu Yili shot Ge Dongxu a look but did not refute his point.

    The two of them ended up eating at the Emerald Residence again.

    Ironically, during their meal, they once again ran into Chang Yufeng, the former deputy chief physician of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    However, this time, upon seeing Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili, Chang Yufeng''s face turned pale, and he kept his head down, pretending not to see them.

    "Hey, doesn''t that Chief Chang seem a bit scared of you? You haven''t taught him a lesson at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, have you?" Wu Yili asked in a low voice, curious.

    Ge Dongxu roughly explained the incident at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to Wu Yili. After listening, Wu Yili took a while to recover, then smiled wryly, "I didn''t expect such a thing to happen; thankfully you''re capable, otherwise wouldn''t I have inadvertently harmed you?"

    "That''s why you should only come to me when you need a shield!" Ge Dongxu joked.

 Chapter 684 - 683: Looking Forward to It

    As the cold wind from Siberia moved southward, the weather in Jiangnan became increasingly cold.

    However, Ge Dongxu''s hibernation cultivation had now entered a stable phase, and no more white hairs appeared, and his skin maintained its original slightly ill-looking yellow shade, like a deciduous tree that had shed all its leaves, with none left to lose.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu had not continued to "weaken," Wu Yili and the others finally felt somewhat relieved.

    "Are you really okay?" On the bay window of Liu Jiayao''s apartment in Yadu Garden, Liu Jiayao snuggled against Ge Dongxu, her hand gently combing through a few strands of white hair on his head, asking with a mixture of distress and concern. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although both were in Linzhou City, they had seldom met over the past month.

    On one hand, they were each busy, especially Liu Jiayao, who, in order to get the "Flower Spirit" on the market by early next year, was working non-stop these days, sometimes having to work overtime on weekends. On the other hand, they both tacitly avoided meeting too frequently because they were both healthy in body and mind and at the prime of their youth. When a single man and woman were alone together, it was like dry tinder near an open flame. It was possible to restrain themselves once, twice, or even several times at critical moments, but both had already felt their self-control weakening and didn''t dare to guarantee they could stay clear-headed in moments of passion.

    So it was only today that Liu Jiayao suddenly noticed Ge Dongxu''s white hairs and the deterioration of his skin, which made him seem older and sickly.

    "Of course, I''m fine. Isn''t it wintertime? I am trying to follow the laws of nature, and that''s why I look like this, just like the plants and trees in winter," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "That''s good to hear. I was really startled when I first saw you looking like that. But the practice of cultivation is truly miraculous; I''m really looking forward to the day when you enter the Dragon Tiger Realm so I can begin real cultivation as well. Currently, following the method you taught me, I sit in meditation and practice Breath Control every day. Though I feel much more energetic than before and don''t get as tired from work, the breath is so subtle it''s almost imperceptible; I haven''t felt any real changes," Liu Jiayao knew Ge Dongxu much better than Wu Yili did, so with his explanation, she was completely reassured.

    "That''s for sure. Cultivation is like learning a language, unless one has special talent, one needs to start from childhood to achieve success. But don''t be anxious. Having grasped the changes in nature this time, I am confident that I can break through to the Qi Cultivation Twelfth Layer in the next two to three years and start my seclusion to comprehend the Dragon Tiger Realm before I graduate from college," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Really? That means I only have to wait at most another three and a half years," Liu Jiayao exclaimed with delight.

    "Mhm, I''m eighty to ninety percent confident!" Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "I''m so looking forward to it!" Liu Jiayao said, snuggling against Ge Dongxu with a face full of longing.

    "Hehe, looking forward to what?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but slide his hand, which was around Liu Jiayao''s slender waist, up to those two towering jade peaks.

    "Don''t move! I''m officially notifying you now that you''re not allowed to touch me again until you graduate from college!" Liu Jiayao slapped Ge Dongxu''s unruly hand and said.

    "Come on, that''s still three and a half years!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but make a bitter face.

    "You''re already quite certain that you can break through to the Dragon Tiger Realm before graduating from college. If we can''t resist, do you want to fail at the last moment and be left with regrets?" Liu Jiayao said seriously.

    Ge Dongxu was at the age where cravings were strong, and it had already been difficult for him to hold back for so long before seeing Liu Jiayao. Now with her dousing his hopes with cold water, how could he be happy?

    So, even though Ge Dongxu understood that Liu Jiayao was right, he still couldn''t help but wear a look of disappointment, as his hands reluctantly let go of that fullness.

    "Good boy! Once you reach the Dragon Tiger Realm, you can do whatever you want! But for these three and a half years, try your best to hold back," Liu Jiayao saw the disappointed look on Ge Dongxu''s face, felt a twinge of heartache and reluctance, and nearly relented, but in the end, she gritted her teeth, kissed his forehead, and said.

    "Hehe, you said it, once I reach the Dragon Tiger Realm, I can do whatever I want!" Ge Dongxu knew that he had to make a firm decision at this point, otherwise, if the two of them continued to play with fire, they would eventually succumb to the forbidden fruit, and by then it would be too late. So he let go of that thought completely, set aside his dejected mood, and said with a mischievous smirk.

    "You naughty guy! Alright, when the time comes you can do whatever you like," Liu Jiayao said with a blushing face.

    "I can hardly wait!" As Ge Dongxu looked at Liu Jiayao''s blushing, alluring face, he thought about the various seductive poses his lover would have in front of him once he reached the Dragon Tiger Realm, and his heart was set ablaze.

    "Stop right there! Don''t you dare keep having those wild thoughts!" Liu Jiayao, sensing a distinct change in the man behind her, couldn''t help but blush and immediately pinched Ge Dongxu, glaring at him.

    "Okay, okay, I''ll stop having wild thoughts, really. By the way, let''s talk about Flower Spirit, how is it going now? These days, I keep hearing about you flying all over the country, and constantly to Hong Kong too, how''s the advertising shoot going?" Ge Dongxu knew he couldn''t keep fantasizing and quickly changed the subject.

    "You, the big boss, finally thinking about business! I thought you''d decided to be a completely hands-off manager," Liu Jiayao replied with a snort and a white-eyed glance at Ge Dongxu. Then she got up from the bay window, her devilishly sexy waist twisting as she entered the master bedroom. Shortly afterward, she returned with a newspaper in her hand.

    This was a copy of the Southern Metropolitan Daily, one of the top-circulating newspapers in Huaxia Country, distributed across regions in Hong Kong, Macau, and the coastal cities of the southern provinces.

    On the newspaper, a photo of Yu Xin, who had already retired in Hong Kong, caught Ge Dongxu''s eye.

    Yu Xin stood amidst a sea of flowers, beautiful, elegant, noble...

    Next to the photo was a paragraph that basically said that Yu Xin, who had married into a wealthy family and retired from the entertainment industry for many years, would make an exception to endorse a cosmetics brand.

    The newspaper did not reveal the specific name of the cosmetics brand but displayed a large question mark image, leaving readers with endless speculation and curiosity.

    "The advertisement has already been filmed, and the effect is very good. This is part of the early buildup. When people''s curiosity is sufficiently piqued, we''ll start placing ads on various TV stations early next year, and the products will also debut in some high-end stores during this time," Liu Jiayao said.

    "That was quick, the advertisement has already been shot?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help being surprised.

    "Of course, Yu Xin is my close girlfriend, and she always takes my matters to heart, ready at a moment''s notice. For this advertisement, she has put in a lot of thought and effort," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Naturally, President Liu has considerable influence. Do you have the ad here? If so, play it for me," Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he gave Liu Jiayao a flattering pat, then asked.

 Chapter 685 - 684: This time I must take down Qinglan Cosmetics!

    "I just got it in the last couple of days, feels really great, and was actually planning to show it to you these days," Liu Jiayao replied.

    "Then let''s take a look," Ge Dongxu said as he descended from the bay window.

    Seeing this, Liu Jiayao smiled, went to grab the commercial, and put it into the DVD player. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In a sea of flowers, Yu Xin danced like a Flower Spirit.

    The scene was beautiful, and so was Yu Xin.

    But no matter how Ge Dongxu looked, he always felt something was missing.

    "How is it? It''s great, isn''t it? Yu Xin looks beautiful, doesn''t she!" Liu Jiayao said with a hint of pride as she watched the commercial.

    "Yeah, she''s beautiful. But don''t you feel like something''s missing?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Missing something? No way!" Liu Jiayao said.

    "No, it''s missing spirit! That ethereal quality, as if not of this world," Ge Dongxu declared.

    "That''s already pretty good, considering it was shot by mortals. Surely you don''t expect it to capture the feel of the Immortal Realm..." Liu Jiayao started to retort unconvinced, but she stopped mid-sentence and suddenly froze, staring blankly at Ge Dongxu.

    "You..."

    "I can try, see if I can make the background more like the Immortal Realm, and help Yu Xin fly more naturally, with a bit more spirit," Ge Dongxu said after some thought.

    "Really?" Liu Jiayao exclaimed in surprise.

    "Of course, don''t you trust your husband''s abilities?" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh as he playfully slapped Liu Jiayao''s perky behind.

    "Trust, of course I trust!" Liu Jiayao didn''t dodge but instead leaned in to kiss Ge Dongxu''s cheek and said joyfully, "Then I''ll call Yu Xin right now to get her ready again."

    "Hold on, if I''m going to be involved in the shoot, we can''t use the same team. I don''t know them, and there are certain abilities I can''t show off. Instead, I''ll contact a senior named Wang Hui who used to study with Jiang Lili. He''s not very famous, but he has done some small ads for Donglin Yue and Kunting and he''s not bad. Aside from him, I''ll get Wu Longcai, the director of the entertainment channel, to assist us; that should be fine. As for the location, we don''t need to go to Hong Kong. Let''s just pick the flower garden by our Qianjiang River," Ge Dongxu said, stopping Liu Jiayao who was ready to make the call.

    "Will the flower garden do? It''s winter now, and although the flowers in the garden are blooming sporadically thanks to the formation you laid, making it feel less like winter and more like early spring, it''s still not quite enough for shooting a commercial," Liu Jiayao questioned.

    "Don''t worry. I might not be able to make the whole garden burst into spring bloom, but I can manage a small area. Check if Yu Xin is available in a week''s time. If she is, set the shoot for next Saturday, and I''ll also check the schedules of Wu Longcai and Wang Hui," Ge Dongxu assured.

    Liu Jiayao naturally believed in Ge Dongxu''s words and immediately called Yu Xin.

    When Yu Xin heard that Ge Dongxu was personally getting involved in the commercial''s shoot, she wasn''t just prompt in agreeing but was also full of excitement and anticipation.

    After confirming there were no issues with Yu Xin, Ge Dongxu dialed calls to Wu Longcai and Wang Hui.

    With Dongxu''s personal invitation, Wu Longcai and the chubby Wang Hui had no problem at all, especially the latter, who was so flattered that his body shuddered with excitement, hardly able to speak coherently.

    ...

    "You''re telling me that the product Yu Xin is going to endorse this time is Qinglan Cosmetics Company''s new product that is set to launch next year!" In the office of the president of Korea''s Hera Cosmetics Company, Park Yu-ji slammed down the South China Metropolis Daily from Huaxia Country, his face suddenly changing.

    That flung copy of the South China Metropolis Daily prominently featured Yu Xin''s photograph.

    "It should be correct. People from Linzhou have found out through various channels just now," said the secretary.

    "It seems Liu Jiayao does have some skills, to be able to persuade Yu Xin!" Park Yu-ji stroked his chin, his face darkening.

    Since Hera was also planning a major offensive into the Huaxia Country market next year with new products and widespread advertising, if Yu Xin suddenly emerged at this time, Hera''s advertising would surely be overshadowed, and the new product''s luster would definitely be outshone by Qinglan Cosmetics Company''s new product.

    "Do you think that the sudden ban on He Mengjie last time could really have been due to Liu Jiayao and that young man?" Seeing Park Yu-ji''s darkened face, the secretary asked cautiously.

    At these words, Park Yu-ji''s complexion grew even more somber.

    It had only been a few months since the last incident, and Park Yu-ji''s memory was still fresh. He even took pride in stealing the endorsement deal with He Mengjie right in front of Liu Jiayao and Ge Dongxu at that time.

    Little did he expect things to take a sad turn, with He Mengjie being banned by the broadcasting authorities soon after, forcing Park Yu-ji to look for someone else. Though it wasn''t a big deal¡ªsince He Mengjie was no Yu Xin, and there were others who could replace her¡ª

    Park Yu-ji hadn''t anticipated that, despite having thwarted Liu Jiayao''s plans, she would turn around and persuade Yu Xin. This was not only bad news for Park Yu-ji but also felt like a slap in the face.

    "That''s impossible! If Liu Jiayao had that much capability, she wouldn''t have gone after He Mengjie instead of Yu Xin initially; she clearly had no confidence at the start. Besides, you don''t understand Huaxia Country. Huaxia''s businessmen don''t have the same influence as we Korean businessmen do. Influential stars like He Mengjie can''t be banned just because a businessman says so; it requires someone high up in the Huaxia governmental circles to give the order. Most likely, He Mengjie offended some high-ranking official in the mainland in her years of development there," Park Yu-ji said dismissively, waving off the secretary''s speculation with a stern face.

    Regarding the matter of He Mengjie''s ban, Park Yu-ji had inquired about it when they terminated their contract. However, because He Mengjie believed her ban was because of Park Yu-ji''s meddling, she held resentment and didn''t disclose the real reason for her ban¡ªespecially since Park Yu-ji, after her ban, acted cold and ruthless, quickly ending their partnership without offering any compensation or comfort.

    She looked forward to the day Park Yu-ji would once again encounter Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao!

    And then watch them fight each other to mutual destruction!

    Because of this, Park Yu-ji was still unaware that Ge Dongxu was the true mastermind behind He Mengjie''s ban.

    The secretary, who knew what had transpired, brought up Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao simply to fulfill her duties. In truth, she didn''t believe they had that much influence either.

    "So what do we do now? Once Qinglan Cosmetics launches the new product endorsed by Yu Xin, it will definitely have a significant impact and put our new products planned for a comprehensive launch in Huaxia next year at a great disadvantage, especially since they are similar products. Even our advertisements may end up being ignored," the secretary said, her expression filled with concern.

    "Now go and book me a plane ticket. I''m flying to Linzhou today. This time I must secure Qinglan Cosmetics! No matter the conditions, no matter the methods!" After a long silence, Park Yu-ji''s face hardened suddenly.

 Chapter 686 - 685: Seeking a Visit [First Update, Request for Votes]

    Baiyun Mountain, halfway up the slopes, a Taoist temple devoted to Ren Yao now boasts an ancient-style villa.

    In the villa''s grassy courtyard, Yang Yinhou sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, the mountain breeze ruffling his white beard and hair, making him seem like an old immortal.

    "I can feel the desolation of winter, but I can''t comprehend the intrinsic principle of conservation and encapsulation you''re talking about," Yang Yinhou said, opening his eyes after a long while.

    "Why is that? I just hadn''t thought about it before, but once I did, I just needed to calm my mind to easily sense that principle, and then change the True Qi and Qi-Blood in my body accordingly," Ge Dongxu said, puzzled.

    Confident that he had grasped the threshold of winter''s conservation, Ge Dongxu had specially rushed back to share this with Yang Yinhou, hoping to further advance his cultivation, but it now seemed that things were not as simple as he had imagined.

    "There''s nothing strange about that. Everyone has a different affinity with nature''s spiritual energy and the principles of the world. Moreover, your cultivation is much higher than your brother''s, so you can sense the subtle changes that directly touch the essence of nature. I''m not that sensitive. However, with the insight you''ve shared, I just need to dedicate time every day to feel it, and eventually, I will grasp that essential principle," Yang Yinhou said with a smile, stroking his beard, showing no disappointment. Instead, his gaze towards Ge Dongxu was full of delight.

    "It''s a pity! You must take some time to sense it in the future. I can feel that, although my body looks weaker than before, the life force within is more vigorous. So, if you can comprehend the mysteries of spring''s birth, summer''s growth, autumn''s harvest, and winter''s preservation, your lifespan will surely increase," Ge Dongxu said regretfully.

    At the same time, Ge Dongxu understood that his ability to sense the principle that directly touches the nature of the world so easily was probably not just due to his talent and higher cultivation compared to Yang Yinhou, but more importantly, his chance occurrence of Unity of Heaven and Man, which had granted him a much closer connection to the world than most people.

    "Haha, don''t worry, I value this life even more than you do!" Yang Yinhou laughed.

    Ge Dongxu scratched his head with a laugh, then said, "Since that''s the case, I''ll head home to see my parents first. I have to rush back to the Provincial Capital tonight."

    "Go ahead. I see your parents often enough, I won''t join in on the family reunion this time," Yang Yinhou said with a laugh.

    "I''ll have to ask you to take some time to look after and guide my parents," Ge Dongxu said, bowing slightly to Yang Yinhou before floating down the mountain.

    Ge Dongxu originally had modest hopes for his parents embarking on the path of cultivation; he just wished they could live a happy and peaceful life to a ripe old age. But as Ge Dongxu''s own cultivation steadily surpassed that of his master, and even the legendary Dragon Tiger Realm seemed within reach, reaching that level would not only allow him to use Dual Cultivation to improve the constitutions of his loved ones like Liu Jiayao, but also, if he could find some legendary Heaven and Earth Treasures, he might be able to refine elixirs that could change one''s constitution. Thus, even though Ge Dongxu''s parents were getting on in years, the possibility of them embarking on the path of cultivation wasn''t out of reach.

    For this reason, after Ge Dongxu broke through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, he began insisting his parents adhere to simple cultivation practices, with the task of guidance naturally falling to Yang Yinhou.

    After visiting his parents and dining with them, Ge Dongxu drove through the night to return to the Provincial Capital because the next day, besides attending his own classes, he also needed to guide the medical practitioners in the Department of Internal Medicine.

    Aside from that, he also needed to squeeze in time to visit the flower base near Qian River, choose a location with the most beautiful scenery, and then cast the spell of "Gathering Clouds and Falling Rain", pulling together the water''s spirit energy of the Qian River and the surrounding wood''s spirit energy to descend onto the piece of land he had selected.

    Days passed, one by one.

    Every day, when darkness fell, Ge Dongxu would go to the flower base by the Qian River to cast spells.

    Gradually, the flower garden began to grow lush and verdant, not only sprouting tender green leaves but also buds that had unknowingly emerged from the branches, waiting to bloom.

    After classes on Friday morning, Ge Dongxu did not go to the department of internal medicine but instead went to Qinglan Cosmetics Company.

    Because today, Gu Yezeng, a bigwig in the Chinese circle, and his family were coming.

    Although Ge Dongxu''s seniority was higher than Gu Yezeng''s, as the saying goes, a distant guest is a god, and Yu Xin had especially come to shoot the Flower Spirit. Therefore, as the owner and landlord, it was only right and proper that Ge Dongxu would accompany Liu Jiayao to pick them up from the airport.

    ¡­

    "Ms. Liu, I am truly sincere about cooperating with you. Look, for this cooperation, I''ve specially invited two of my good friends from Lincheng. This one is the son of Deputy Director Yang of the Provincial Health Department, who oversees the coordination and supervision of cosmetics, Yang Zhonghui. And this is Mr. Zheng Qingli, Zheng Zijie''s uncle. You might not know Zheng Qingli, but you should know his uncle; he''s the Deputy Governor of Jiangnan Province and the head of the Public Security Department, Mr. Zheng Zijie. What do you say, Ms. Liu, can you give me some face? Let''s have lunch together at noon and talk over the cooperation," Park Yu-ji said to Liu Jiayao with a smile in his office at Qinglan Cosmetics Company.

    "Yes, Ms. Liu, Chairman Park is really earnest about wanting to cooperate with Qinglan Cosmetics. Hesi Cosmetics Company is a subsidiary of Xianxing Group, which is among the top five hundred companies in the world. They have not only strong capital but are also leaders in scientific research management technology, far ahead of the existing cosmetics companies in our country. If your Qinglan Cosmetics Company cooperates with Hesi Cosmetics Company, you will not only transform into a Sino-foreign joint venture and enjoy many policy advantages, but you will also be better able to absorb foreign investment and their advanced technology and management philosophy. So, Ms. Liu, I think cooperating with Chairman Park is all gain and no harm," Yang Zhonghui followed, nodding his head persuasively.

    Liu Jiayao''s brows furrowed upon hearing this, and anger began to rise in her heart. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having weathered many years in the business world, she could clearly see that Park Yu-ji''s bringing the son of the Deputy Director and the nephew of the Deputy Governor was a show of force and intimidation!

    And Yang Zhonghui''s words, which seemed to consider Qinglan Cosmetics'' interests at every turn, were obviously influenced by some benefit he had received from Park Yu-ji, leveraging his father''s position to pressure her into cooperating with Hesi Cosmetics Company.

    "Mr. Yang, thank you for your kindness. However, Qinglan Cosmetics currently does not lack funds, and we have achieved a new breakthrough in terms of technology recently, so there is no need for cooperation with other companies." However, Yang Zhonghui was after all the son of the Deputy Director of the Provincial Health Department who was responsible for cosmetics, and even if Liu Jiayao was annoyed, she did not want to burn bridges completely, so she ultimately suppressed her anger and replied with dignity and composure.

 Chapter 687 - 686: Apply Pressure [2nd Update]

    Yang Zhonghui saw that Liu Jiayao had rejected his proposal without a second thought, and his face couldn''t help but darken, a flash of anger visible in his eyes.

    "President Liu, why must you reject people from a thousand miles away? You can set your terms. Matters of money and shares are both negotiable. We from Hesi are very sincere," Park Yu-ji said with a forced smile, seeing that Yang Zhonghui''s words had been ineffective.

    "This isn''t a matter of sincerity but of whether I am willing or not. It''s not as if, just because you are sincere, I must agree," Liu Jiayao said, her pretty face finally growing colder as she noticed Park Yu-ji''s insincere grin.

    These past few days, Park Yu-ji had been pestering her, which she already found very distasteful, and now he was even using connections to pressure her, making her even more repulsed and quite angry.

    "So, President Liu, are you saying you won''t give face to my friend?" Zheng Qingli finally spoke up, his tone arrogant and brash.

    "This is business, not about giving face! I have other matters to attend to at noon, please excuse yourselves," she said. In the past, the nephew of the deputy provincial governor and the director of the Public Security Department, and the son of the deputy director of the Health Department, would have put great pressure on Liu Jiayao, making her afraid to offend them. But times have changed, and now that Ge Dongxu was the real owner of Qinglan Cosmetics, Liu Jiayao naturally wasn''t afraid of them anymore. Hearing this, her pretty face turned completely cold, and she swept the three men with a cold glance, speaking in a cold voice.

    "It seems that President Liu really isn''t giving any face to Young Master Yang and President Zheng," Park Yu-ji said with a sneer upon seeing this.

    Yang Zhonghui and Zheng Qingli, hearing Park Yu-ji''s words, both felt humiliated and their expressions became quite difficult.

    Hesi Cosmetics'' first step into the Huaxia market was to acquire a cosmetics company in Linzhou City, and it could be said that Linzhou City would be the headquarters of Hesi Cosmetics in Huaxia. Therefore, Park Yu-ji, who was very familiar with Huaxia, made a point of befriending some officials'' children upon arriving in Linzhou.

    Park Yu-ji, being the CEO of a Korean company and his grandfather the leader of the global top 500 enterprise Xianxing Group, was quite a figure wherever he went. He intentionally befriended people like Yang Zhonghui, who naturally felt honored, and Park Yu-ji, being very generous, even frequently invited them to Korea.

    Once in Korea, with Park Yu-ji''s status among the younger generation in Korea, it wasn''t an exaggeration to say he could summon the wind and call the rain. After Yang Zhonghui and Zheng Qingli arrived in Korea, Park Yu-ji naturally did not hesitate to show off to them and arranged plenty of entertainment for them.

    The urban prosperity and richness of entertainment life in Huaxia in the late 1990s still couldn''t compare with Korea.

    Yang Zhonghui and Zheng Qingli naturally felt as if their eyes were opened and began to hold Park Yu-ji in even higher regard, considering him a good friend.

    This time, when Park Yu-ji flew to Linzhou City and repeatedly sought Liu Jiayao out for partnership discussions, Liu Jiayao had directly refused, prompting Park Yu-ji to start leveraging his network of connections established over the past couple of years.

    Although Qinglan Cosmetics had some fame and market share in Huaxia, it hadn''t yet launched the "Flower Spirit" and still relied on low-end products, inevitably leading Yang Zhonghui and Zheng Qingli to look down on it somewhat. And since Hesi Cosmetics was an international brand, when Park Yu-ji approached them, they thought that with just their intervention, Liu Jiayao would immediately nod in agreement, and so they confidently assured him of success.

    But now, Liu Jiayao showed no intention of even sitting down to discuss, and Park Yu-ji deliberately added fuel to the fire with his sarcastic remarks, naturally making the young men, Yang Zhonghui and Zheng Qingli, feel greatly snubbed by Liu Jiayao.

    "Face or no face is secondary, fire safety is extremely important, wouldn''t you agree, President Liu?" Zheng Qingli said with a grim face, a mobile phone appearing in his hand at some point.

    "Not only safety, but the quality of the product must also be top-notch!" Yang Zhonghui added quickly, also holding a mobile phone in his hand.

    "What do you mean by this? Are you threatening me?" Liu Jiayao''s pretty face suddenly turned cold as frost.

    "President Liu, how could that be? We are just fulfilling our civic duty and preparing to report to the relevant departments, asking them to come and conduct a thorough inspection," Zheng Qingli replied.

    Seeing Yang Zhonghui and Zheng Qingli infuriated and ready to use their family backgrounds, Park Yu-ji''s lips curled into a cold, smug smile. He didn''t hurry to leave, but instead sat down leisurely on the sofa facing the large desk, legs crossed, exuding a confident air of having Liu Jiayao in his grip.

    Yang Zhonghui''s call was naturally not to his own father but to a minor leader responsible for the coordination and supervision of cosmetics under the Health Bureau.

    Similarly, Zheng Qingli''s call wasn''t to his uncle but directly to a captain under the Provincial Fire Brigade, also known as the branch of the Fire Department under the Public Security Department.

    One was the son of the deputy director of the Health Bureau, and the other was the nephew of the vice governor and the director of the Public Security Department. Their calls naturally demanded attention from the subordinate leaders, who quickly responded that they would conduct a surprise inspection at Qinglan Cosmetics Company.

    After receiving the reply, Yang Zhonghui and Zheng Qingli hung up the phones, then looked at Liu Jiayao and said softly, "President Liu, we are actually acting in good faith. You might want to reconsider." Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Reconsider what?" At that moment, the door to the director''s office was pushed open, and Ge Dongxu walked in from outside.

    "Dongxu, you''re here." Liu Jiayao''s eyes brightened as she saw Ge Dongxu come in and greeted him.

    "Who are you?" Yang Zhonghui and Zheng Qingli frowned. Park Yu-ji also furrowed his brow but remained seated with his legs crossed on the sofa, looking arrogantly at Ge Dongxu and said lightly, "Young man, we meet again!"

    "What''s going on?" Ge Dongxu asked Liu Jiayao, ignoring Park Yu-ji, a faint glint of chill visible in his eyes.

    "President Park, having been rejected in his attempt to fully acquire Qinglan Cosmetics Company, did not give up. He recently came to discuss a joint venture with me. I''ve refused several times, but he''s persistent. Today, he specifically invited the son of the vice director of the Health Bureau and the nephew of Vice Governor Zheng to persuade me. I just refused again, and then they made calls, informing that people from the Health Bureau and the Provincial Fire Brigade would soon come for a surprise inspection," Liu Jiayao replied.

    "Oh, no wonder I heard them asking you to reconsider just now! Leave it to me," Ge Dongxu said as he patted Liu Jiayao''s shoulder, giving her a comforting smile. He then turned to Park Yu-ji, his smile fading from his face as he turned, replaced by an expressionless calm.

    "President Park, in fact, I''ve been very displeased with you since our last encounter in Hong Kong! However, I let it go; do you know why?" Ge Dongxu asked calmly, staring at Park Yu-ji.

 Chapter 688 - 687: This is Huaxia Country! [3rd Update, Vote Requested]

    "Kid, who do you think you are, speaking so arrogantly?" Zheng Qingli''s uncle is the director of the Public Security Department of the province, and he can''t stand anyone being arrogant in front of him, so he immediately pointed at Ge Dongxu and scolded him.

    "It''s not your turn to speak yet; you better shut up first," Ge Dongxu said, casting a cold glance at Zheng Qingli.

    Zheng Qingli, not used to being spoken to like that, immediately scowled and was about to explode.

    But Park Yu-ji waved his hand to stop him and said, "Young Master Zheng, no need to rush; let me talk to him first!"

    After speaking, Park Yu-ji turned to Ge Dongxu, looking down on him with interest and said lightly, "This is the first time I''ve heard someone speak to me with such brazenness! I am actually curious why you spared me last time?"

    "That''s because it was just business. If you managed to take He Mengjie away from us right in front of our faces, that''s your skill. I still have principles, not stooping so low as to settle scores over such a petty issue. But this time you came looking for trouble, really thinking you''re some great Korean figure and that I wouldn''t dare to handle you?" Ge Dongxu said, stretching out his arm suddenly. Before Park Yu-ji could react, his neck was already grasped by Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "Smack! Smack! Smack! Smack!" Then Ge Dongxu raised his hand and gave Park Yu-ji seven or eight slaps, turning his previously handsome face into one that resembled a pig''s head.

    "You, you''re fucking insane! How dare you ....." Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui were dumbfounded when they saw it and it took them a while to come to their senses, they immediately shouted and rushed over.

    "Disgraceful fools! Get lost!" Ge Dongxu saw the two charging at him, and immediately kicked their stomachs.

    The two were kicked over by Ge Dongxu''s foot and held their stomachs, unable to get up for a long while.

    "You, you dare to hit us, you, just wait..." Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui had never been kicked like this before, holding their stomachs while both angry and anxious.

    "Tell that to your uncle and your fathers!" Ge Dongxu said as he directly lifted Park Yu-ji, who was in his hand, threw him to the ground in front of his feet, stepped on his head, then took out a mobile phone from his pocket, and called Zheng Zijie right away.

    Zheng Zijie was in his office working when he saw it was Ge Dongxu calling; he quickly picked up, politely saying, "Director Ge, hello, what can I do for you?"

    "One of your nephews is currently threatening me on behalf of a Korean, and also called the fire department to conduct a surprise inspection at Qinglan Cosmetics Company. Together with him is the son of Vice Minister Yang of the Health Department, who has also made calls for the Health Department''s staff to come over. Please handle it," Ge Dongxu said a few words indifferently then immediately hung up.

    Hearing the call disconnect, despite being one of the political heavyweights of Jiangnan Province, Zheng Zijie was sweating and his face turned livid, almost smashing the phone in his hand.

    What identity Ge Dongxu holds and what capabilities he has, Zheng Zijie is the clearest among all the committee members, except for Sang Yunlong. Not only that, just a month ago, Ge Dongxu had saved Zheng Zijie''s father!

    If it weren''t for Ge Dongxu''s intervention, his father definitely would not have survived that car accident.

    Now, his own nephew, using his name in collusion with a Korean, dared to bully Ge Dongxu, and moreover, misused his name to abuse power, this made Zheng Zijie feel both shocked and angry!

    Amidst shock and anger, Zheng Zijie quickly called Zheng Qingli.

    Zheng Zijie and his two brothers all had no sons of their own, making Zheng Qingli the only male descendant in the third generation of the Zheng Family and the eldest grandson. He was always greatly favored by the senior members of the Zheng Family, especially by Zheng Zijie''s father, who adored his only grandson. This had led Zheng Qingli to behave in a rather spoiled and arrogant manner.

    Since Zheng Qingli was his nephew, Zheng Zijie didn''t discipline him much and knew relatively little about his activities under the guise of his own name. Occasionally, he saw his nephew acting out of line but simply thought it was youthful impetuosity. Only now did he realize that his nephew had become utterly lawless to such an extent that he was bullying Ge Dongxu.

    When Zheng Qingli saw Ge Dongxu making a phone call, saying things that seemed to involve him, he felt a bad premonition just as his phone started ringing.

    Picking up his phone, Zheng Qingli saw it was a call from his second uncle, and he was so scared that he almost dropped the phone.

    Although Zheng Qingli dared to act under the name of his second uncle, among the Zheng family elders, it was this uncle whom he feared the most.

    "Se, Second Uncle, you, you''re calling me..." Zheng Qingli answered the phone with shaking hands and trembling voice.

    "You scoundrel! Where are you right now?" Zheng Zijie roared into the phone. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I, I''m in the chairman''s office at Qinglan Cosmetics Company!" Hearing his uncle''s roaring, Zheng Qingli knew that Ge Dongxu''s call had gone directly to his uncle. By then, he was so scared that he almost wanted to cry, with cold sweat dripping from his forehead.

    Damn it! Who is this guy? He can actually talk directly to my uncle, and even speak in such a bold tone!

    Hearing that his nephew was in the chairman''s office at Qinglan Cosmetics Company, Zheng Zijie became even more furious and said, "You worthless fool, listen to me, apologize to Director Ge right now, I''m on my way there!"

    Hearing that his second uncle was rushing over immediately because of this incident, Zheng Qingli nearly passed out.

    "Ge, Director Ge, I''m so..." With trembling hands, he hung up his uncle''s call and, enduring the pain in his belly, stood up to bow and apologize to Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing Zheng Qingli bowing in apology, Yang Zhonghui was completely terrified.

    Although Zheng Qingli was only Zheng Zijie''s nephew, while he himself was the son of Deputy Director Yang, the problem was that his uncle was a Deputy Provincial Governor, whereas his father was just a Deputy Director, which made Zheng Qingli''s status substantially more influential than his as a Deputy Director''s son.

    But now, even Zheng Qingli was trembling as he apologized to Ge Dongxu. Yang Zhonghui could tell that he had seriously misstepped, and the situation was very bad indeed.

    Startled, Yang Zhonghui also hurriedly stood up to bow and apologize to Ge Dongxu.

    No matter how influential Park Yu-ji might be in Korea, he was still a Korean. He might have some clout in Huaxia''s business realm, but when it came to governmental matters, it wasn''t his place to intervene. However, judging by Ge Dongxu''s stance, it was now a different story.

    "You don''t need to apologize to me; think about how you''re going to explain this to your uncles and your fathers later!" Ge Dongxu abruptly said in a cold voice, then ground his foot on Park Yu-ji''s cheek, saying, "Do you know where you are? This is Huaxia Country!"

 Chapter 689 - 688: Scared? [Fourth update request for votes]

    "So what? I am Korean! My grandfather is Piao Tianchang, the chairman of Xianxing Group! You better release me now and apologize, or I swear you won''t be able to walk away from this!" Park Yu-ji''s face might have been under Ge Dongxu''s foot, but his confidence remained unshaken, he gritted his teeth and spat out his words with hatred. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing Park Yu-ji mentioning his grandfather, Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui''s eyes lit up sharply, a sliver of hope rising in their hearts.

    Indeed, no diplomatic affair is too trivial!

    This is the grandson of the helmsman of a Fortune 500 company. No matter how powerful this guy is, daring to slap Park Yu-ji and step on him, this matter is bound to blow up.

    Once the incident escalates and causes a diplomatic dispute, no matter how impressive a young man you are, you''re going to face punishment! And when that time comes, what will your arrogance amount to?

    Ge Dongxu saw that Park Yu-ji was not only shouting but also threatening him, demanding an apology, his expression turning even colder. However, upon hearing this, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but start to worry.

    After all, the grandson of a Fortune 500 company''s helmsman being beaten in Huaxia Country was no small matter!

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao called out softly.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao''s obvious worry, Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui felt all the more hopeful.

    Because only if Ge Dongxu had also made a major mistake, would they have a chance to turn the tables!

    Park Yu-ji naturally became even more arrogant.

    "Come on! If you''re so tough, keep hitting me! I know you have connections, you have family backing you, but so what? I am the grandson of the Xianxing Group chairman, I am the president of the Korean Xianxing Cosmetics Company! If you dare to hit me, I dare to hold a press conference to expose you! Doesn''t your country talk about the rule of law? Let''s see if your family can protect you when this gets blown up," Park Yu-ji boasted at Ge Dongxu.

    Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui''s eyes revealed a look of schadenfreude and anticipation for the drama.

    Damn, the grandson of a Fortune 500 company''s helmsman is really powerful! Having a foreigner''s identity is so handy! What''s the use of your strength now? After it''s reported by the whole world, let''s see how you deal with this!

    Ge Dongxu paid no attention to Park Yu-ji and said to Liu Jiayao, "Jiayao, you go out first."

    "Dongxu!" Liu Jiayao, who understood Ge Dongxu all too well, couldn''t help but express her concern.

    "It''s fine, I know what I''m doing," Ge Dongxu replied with a slight smile to Liu Jiayao.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu saying it was fine, Liu Jiayao also let go of her concerns, nodded, and walked towards the office door.

    "What''s the matter? Can''t face apologizing in front of a beautiful woman?" Park Yu-ji said scornfully as Liu Jiayao reached the door.

    Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui''s lips also curled up into a smirk.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t say anything, but moved his foot away from Park Yu-ji''s head.

    "Haha! I thought you were really brave! So you got scared after being impulsive?" Park Yu-ji climbed up from the ground, touched his face, then flicked off the dust from his clothes, boasting with a ferocious sneer.

    Although Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui thought the same, they didn''t dare to chime in.

    They had enough sense to know that this was something Park Yu-ji could say, but they could not.

    "Afraid?" Ge Dongxu smiled faintly, then suddenly lifted his foot and viciously kicked towards Park Yu-ji''s left leg.

    With a "crack!" the sound of bone breaking emanated instantly from Park Yu-ji''s left leg, and he rolled onto the ground, clutching his left leg and screaming in agony.

    "Ah, my leg, my leg is broken, it''s broken!"

    Just as Liu Jiayao was reaching the doorway, she heard Park Yu-ji''s agonized screams, her heart trembled for a moment, and she quickly closed the door to the office, her pretty face involuntarily revealing a bitter smile.

    Among Ge Dongxu''s close female friends, she understood him the most. From the moment Ge Dongxu asked her to leave, she had already guessed that he was going to be ruthless, and indeed, he had started to be merciless!

    Even the grandson of the helmsman of a Fortune 500 company was no exception!

    If he was going to be ruthless, then let him be ruthless. Sometimes, even Liu Jiayao didn''t know what to say about her man. When he smiled, he was like the sunny and simple boy next door, the most caring man in the world, but once he became angry with an enemy, that kind of vicious coldness could even make Liu Jiayao feel afraid.

    Inside the office, there was a deathly silence. Cold sweat rolled down from the foreheads of Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui, their eyes filled with terror, chests heaving violently, gasping for breath.

    In their wildest dreams, they had not imagined that Ge Dongxu would not only not show restraint, but instead directly break Park Yu-ji''s left leg with a kick.

    "Don''t mention you, even if your grandfather were here, he would have to bow in front of me! You dare to bring people to threaten me, to forcibly acquire my company? Do you really think that sparing you once in Hong Kong was because I was afraid of you?" Ge Dongxu looked at Park Yu-ji, who was rolling on the ground, clutching his left leg, and with a cold smile and a glint of chilling light flickering deep in his dark eyes, he spoke coldly. Then he suddenly stepped forward again, lifting his foot and stomping down on Park Yu-ji''s right leg.

    "Crack!"

    "Ah, my right leg, my right leg is also broken! Broken!" Park Yu-ji''s cries became even more miserable.

    Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui felt their legs weaken, incessantly wiping the cold sweat from their foreheads, with a chill creeping up their spines.

    They had seen some ruthless people, but they had never seen anyone as ruthless as Ge Dongxu, who dared to break both legs of the president of a Korean company with market value in the billions, the grandson of the chairman of Xianxing Group, without even blinking an eye!

    "I''ve said before that I''m a man of principle; I won''t actively seek out trouble with anyone, but if you seek trouble with me, then you''d better think carefully about the price you must pay!" Ge Dongxu, as if he hadn''t seen Park Yu-ji''s pathetic state, uttered indifferently, then sat back down on the long sofa, crossed his legs at the ankle, and took out his cellphone.

    "You can try saying another threatening word, see if I dare to crush your third leg, and those two hands as well," Ge Dongxu said indifferently while flipping through his contact list.

    Upon hearing this, Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui subconsciously covered their groins, feeling an urgent need to urinate filling their bladders.

    If these words had been spoken by Ge Dongxu at the beginning, they definitely would not have believed he dared to be so audaciously outrageous, but now they believed one hundred percent that Ge Dongxu, this psychopath, would dare to do such a thing.

    So not only did Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui clench their legs together, covering their groins, even Park Yu-ji, still screaming in pain, clenched his lips tightly, daring not to make another sound or to threaten Ge Dongxu again, only his eyes were fiercely fixed on Ge Dongxu, filled with deep-seated hatred.

    A wise man does not eat a loss in front of him! If the third leg and both hands were also broken, then it would be too late to say anything!

    ...

    At the entrance of Qinglan Cosmetics Company, several enforcement vehicles suddenly appeared; there were Health Bureau cars, Fire Brigade vans.

    The vehicles drove directly into the company''s gates, and a group of people got out of the cars, every one of them with stern faces.

    The Office Director, after receiving the notification from the communications room staff, hurriedly came down from the building, greeted them with a smile on his face, very courteously welcomed them.

 Chapter 690 - 689 Ive Kindly Warned You Just Now [Fifth Update, Request for Votes]

    The leaders of both teams came prepared to brown-nose the senior leader''s children, hence they arrived with a purpose and naturally did not have any pleasant expressions to offer to the office director of Qinglan Cosmetics Company who came out to receive them.

    "Team leader Xing, didn''t we just have a fire safety inspection recently?" the office director said, seeing everyone wearing stern faces and sensing an unfriendly atmosphere which made him feel anxious, although he still kept a smile on his face. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That was a routine check, this one is a surprise inspection!" Team leader Xing said with a stern face.

    "It''s the same from our side at the Health Department." said a middle-aged man wearing glasses, looking quite scholarly, as he pushed his glasses up, his expression cold.

    Right after the words of the man with glasses fell, an Audi car hurriedly drove into the company''s gate, and from the car stepped out a commanding man.

    "Same my ass!" Zheng Zijie, rushing over, was already holding back his anger. Just as his car arrived at Qinglan Cosmetics, seeing the posture of the people from the Fire Department and Health Department, his temper flared up explosively, along with a burst of coarse words.

    Zheng Zijie, being the Deputy Governor and the Head of the Public Security Department, who often appeared in newspapers and on television, and since the Fire Department was managed by the Public Security Department, both the Fire Department''s Team leader Xing and the middle-aged man from the Health Department, who were also leaders in their own right, naturally recognized Zheng Zijie. Seeing him arriving furiously, they uncontrollably quivered.

    "Zheng, Governor Zheng!" the two men said, tremblingly greeted him.

    "Very good! All of you, very good! Now get back and wait to be investigated!" Zheng Zijie glanced at the two men, his face ashen, then turned to the office director and asked, "Where is the chairman''s office? Take me there at once."

    "Yes, Governor Zheng, please," the office director replied, feeling as refreshed as though he had drunk chilled bayberry juice on a hot June day.

    With the office director leading the way and Zheng Zijie following him with a still furious expression.

    Seeing this, the two junior leaders from the Health Department and Fire Department attempted to catch up to explain themselves but were already blocked by Zheng Zijie''s secretary.

    "Didn''t you hear what Governor Zheng said? Now get back all of you!" the secretary said coldly.

    "But¡­" the two junior leaders thought to themselves, crying inside, this time they really had made a blunder.

    "There is no but." the secretary interrupted emotionlessly.

    The two junior leaders who had an air of authority just a moment ago lost all their spirit in front of the secretary, their faces crestfallen as they waved to their subordinates and all got into their cars, then sped away from the Qinglan Cosmetics company compound.

    Inside the car, Team leader Xing and the middle-aged man from the Health Department hurriedly made calls to Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui.

    At this moment, they naturally pinned their hopes on these two individuals.

    In the chairman''s office, both Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui, upon hearing their cell phones ring in the quiet office which seemed especially piercing, almost had their hearts leap out of their throats in fear of angering Ge Dongxu.

    The two, with trembling hands, took out their phones and seeing it was the people they had contacted before, didn''t even think before hanging up immediately.

    At that time, they were like clay Buddha crossing the river, unable to save even themselves, let alone care about the life and death of others.

    In the car, Captain Xing and the bespectacled junior leader saw Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui disconnect their phones and were so frustrated they almost smashed their devices.

    Damn it!

    As Captain Xing and the bespectacled junior leader were about to smash their phones in frustration, Zheng Zijie knocked on the Chairman''s office door.

    As the door opened, Zheng Zijie saw his sweaty nephew and Yang Zhonghui standing to one side, and Park Yu-ji lying on the ground, clutching his knees, biting his lips, and drenched in cold sweat.

    However, Zheng Zijie''s gaze merely swept over them briefly before settling on Ge Dongxu, his expression turning serious all of a sudden.

    "Director Zheng, hello," Ge Dongxu said as he got up to greet Zheng Zijie who had entered.

    He still addressed Zheng Zijie by his former title.

    "Director Ge, hello." Zheng Zijie stepped forward and shook hands with Ge Dongxu tightly, then pointed to Park Yu-ji on the floor and asked with a puzzled look, "This is¡­?"

    "Uncle, this is Park Yu-ji, the president of Korea''s Hexi Cosmetics, whose grandfather is Piao Tianchang, the chairman of Xianxing Group. Hexi Cosmetics is also a subsidiary of Xianxing Group." When his uncle arrived, Zheng Qingli, although terrified, managed to regain some courage and explained when his uncle inquired.

    Even though Zheng Zijie had already figured out that the man on the floor was Korean and likely someone significant, he hadn''t expected him to have such a notable background, and was quite startled.

    "Correct, Governor Zheng, I must lodge a serious protest and report against you. This man just abused and beat me, breaking both my legs! Is this how your government in Jiangnan Province treats foreign guests? We are here to invest! I demand that you arrest him immediately! I will definitely report this to our embassy and hold a press conference to publicize Jiangnan Province''s mistreatment of investors," Park Yu-ji exclaimed, spotting Zheng Qingli''s uncle like he had found a patron and savior, momentarily forgetting the pain and even Ge Dongxu''s prior warning, he pointed at Ge Dongxu vociferously.

    Park Yu-ji was well aware of the weight of the Vice Governor and Director of the Public Security Department in Jiangnan Province, and he was sure that with Zheng Zijie present, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t dare make a move on him!

    Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui thought the same, and seeing Park Yu-ji vociferously complaining, they looked at Zheng Zijie with anticipation, imagining Zheng Zijie''s sudden outrage and subsequent fury towards Ge Dongxu.

    However, the result disappointed them all. Zheng Zijie did not explode in anger, nor did he blame Ge Dongxu. Instead, he cast a disdainful glance at Park Yu-ji, and Ge Dongxu, under the frightened gazes of Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui, simply smiled faintly, showing his neat and white teeth, and then approached Park Yu-ji.

    "What, what are you doing?" Park Yu-ji shrieked in horror as he saw Ge Dongxu approaching him.

    "I just realized you, your grandfather, and your brother are all the same¡ªyou won''t shed a tear without seeing a coffin, won''t turn back until you hit the wall! I had already kindly warned you not to shout or speak recklessly, yet you didn''t listen. What a pity," Ge Dongxu shook his head, lifted his foot, and stepped down on Park Yu-ji''s left hand.

    "Crack!" a sound, the left hand broke.

    "Ah, my hand, my hand, it''s broken, broken!" Park Yu-ji screamed in agony, while Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui, seeing Ge Dongxu''s action in front of Director Zheng, their legs went weak, and they almost fell to the ground.

 Chapter 691 - 690: Let His Grandfather Handle It!

    "Director Ge, what should we do about this?" Seeing that Ge Dongxu really did take harsh measures, Zheng Zijie felt a surge of satisfaction as a fellow countryman, but at the same time, he felt a headache coming on and asked with a wry smile in private.

    This was the grandson of a helmsman of a Fortune 500 company, also the president of a cosmetics company, and he had investments in Jiangnan Province as well. Now that Ge Dongxu had beaten him to this state, even though Zheng Zijie held a high position and great power, he felt it was extremely troublesome.

    Because this was no longer a matter of provincial government affairs, but had escalated to a diplomatic incident.

    "Simple, let his grandfather handle it!" Ge Dongxu said lightly, and then he finally dialed out with the mobile phone he had been holding in his hand.

    Korea, Xianxing Group headquarters, chairman''s office.

    Piao Tianchang was reviewing the company''s documents when suddenly his personal cellphone rang.

    Piao Tianchang''s expression darkened slightly, and then he took out his phone.

    However, when he saw the number displayed on the screen, he literally jumped up as if his butt were on fire, and said respectfully, "Master, may I ask what orders you have for me?"

    "I tell you, old Piao, why does every member of the Piao family behave like this! Just a little while ago I disciplined one of your grandsons, and now another one has popped up, called Park Yu-ji. This one is even worse, he actually tried to forcibly buy my company through despicable means! He also went to my friend''s office to show off his power and threaten her," Ge Dongxu spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of chilling indifference.

    Cold sweat immediately broke out on Piao Tianchang''s forehead on the other end of the phone, and inside, he wished he could seize Park Yu-ji and give him a good thrashing.

    Of all people to offend, he had to offend this fearsome deity!

    Now, even his life was in this man''s hands!

    If he were to become enraged, he could literally erase their Piao family from the Earth with just a stretch of his hand!

    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, master. Rest assured, I will teach him a lesson, I will make him regret his actions," Piao Tianchang said while wiping the sweat from his forehead, trembling with fear.

    "No need, I''ve already disciplined him for you. You''d better send someone to take him back now. Make sure he watches his mouth in the future, and I don''t want to see him in Huaxia Country again!" Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Yes, yes, I''ll send someone to take him back to the country immediately," Piao Tianchang said.

    "Good, I will have my men detain him temporarily, and Mr. Xu Lei will contact you later! Now, talk to your worthless grandson. I think he needs to understand just how foolish and presumptuous he has been," Ge Dongxu said indifferently, then tossed the phone from his hand. The "heavy" device floated through the air like a falling leaf before landing in the still intact right hand of Park Yu-ji.

    When Park Yu-ji heard Ge Dongxu mention ''old Piao'' and his grandson earlier, he already had a bad feeling, but it was hard to believe that Ge Dongxu really knew his grandfather and could speak to him in such a condescending tone.

    But when he saw the phone floating towards him like a leaf and saw the number on the screen, his whole body couldn''t help but shudder.

    Grandfather! It really was his grandfather, whom he saw as immensely dignified and supremely authoritative, wielding absolute power within the Piao family!

    "Grand... Grandfather!" Park Yu-ji called out with immense difficulty and bitterness, in Korean.

    But Zheng Qingli, Yang Zhonghui, and Zheng Zijie all knew at that moment that Park Yu-ji was calling his grandfather.

    Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui finally became so frightened that their legs went weak and they sat down on the ground.

    At that point, they were truly scared. Even the helmsman of a Fortune 500 company, Ge Dongxu, could reprimand his subordinates just like one of them, so what were they worth? They had actually dared to threaten his woman together with a Korean; this was simply ignorance of the highest order!

    Although Zheng Zijie seemed relatively composed, deep inside he was also immensely shocked.

    He had never doubted Ge Dongxu''s capabilities, nor did he think Ge Dongxu would act rashly, so when Ge Dongxu had made his move, he did not stop him.

    But Zheng Zijie could never have imagined that Ge Dongxu not only knew the chairman of Xianxing Group, but also spoke to him with the tone of addressing a subordinate!

    That must be incredibly bossy; Zheng Zijie hardly dared to delve deep into that thought.

    While Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui were scared out of their wits and Zheng Zijie was in shock, Park Yu-ji had already rattled on in a conversation with Piao Tianchang over the phone.

    After that, Park Yu-ji hung up the call, supported himself on the ground with the one hand he could still use, and dragged his nearly crippled body to Ge Dongxu''s feet before raising the cell phone above his head with great effort, sweating profusely.

    "I''m sorry, Mr. Ge, your phone!" Park Yu-ji was almost crying as he spoke.

    Although Park Yu-ji was speaking to his grandfather over the phone, he could feel his grandfather''s fury and even suspected that if he weren''t his grandfather''s own grandson, he might have been dealt with immediately upon returning to Korea.

    He was very aware that his grandfather was a person from Qimen and was also ruthlessly decisive!

    Ge Dongxu took the phone without giving Park Yu-ji a glance and said to Zheng Zijie, "Director Zheng, I''ll have the National Security Bureau take custody of this man for now, so there''s no need to trouble you. Piao Tianchang will send someone today to take him back to Korea."

    "Thank you, Director Ge, it''s best to handle it this way," said Zheng Zijie hastily, while Zheng Qingli and Yang Zhonghui, hearing the three words "National Security Bureau," felt their hearts beating even more wildly.

    Seeing Zheng Zijie nodding in agreement, Ge Dongxu promptly called Xu Lei and gave him instructions. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Xu Lei felt a strange sensation upon hearing that another grandson of Piao Tianchang had come knocking; he did not know whether to be angry at these Koreans for their excessive bullying and arrogance even on Huaxia soil or to feel sympathy for Piao Tianchang and his grandson.

    Why pick on Director Ge of all people!

    "Director Ge, on behalf of my older brother and the Zheng Family, I sincerely apologize to you! I am truly sorry, our Zheng Family has produced such a disgraceful scoundrel!" As Ge Dongxu hung up the phone, Zheng Zijie walked up to him and bowed solemnly.

    "You really need a proper education! Luckily, it happened to be me today, but what if it had been someone else? It truly would have been distressing for the loved ones and joyful for the enemies! Not only would it have harmed our own people, it would have benefitted those Koreans and made them laugh at our expense!" Ge Dongxu looked at Zheng Zijie, his expression growing increasingly stern.

    Despite having rebuked Park Yu-ji rather satisfyingly just before, his mood was actually quite heavy and not at all light!

 Chapter 692 - 691: I Really Dont Dare Anymore

    "I understand!" Zheng Zijie nodded heavily, his mood somber, then turned and walked step by step toward Zheng Qingli, his face ashen.

    "Second Uncle, what, what are you going to do?" Seeing his uncle approach with a face grim as iron and veins bulging on his forehead, Zheng Qingli shook uncontrollably with fear.

    "What am I going to do? Do you even know what your grandfather used to do? Do you know what your great-grandfather did? They were both staunch revolutionaries! And now you, you side with the Koreans to bully our own people! Do you realize what this behavior is? This is damn treachery! Do you understand? You''ve lost all the honor of our family!" The more Zheng Zijie spoke, the angrier he became, clenching his fist and swinging a hard punch at Zheng Qingli''s cheek.

    Zheng Zijie was no ordinary man, having been a criminal police officer in his earlier years. Although he had ascended to high office and grown older, he still retained his strong foundation, and now his punch was fueled by rage.

    With that punch, Zheng Qingli staggered, nearly falling to the ground. His cheek swelled up, and fresh red blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

    Yet Zheng Zijie seemed far from appeased, delivering another punch to the other cheek.

    "Uncle, I was wrong! I won''t do it again! Please, stop hitting me!" Zheng Qingli, seeing Zheng Zijie''s furious expression and preparing for another strike, knelt before him in terror, clutching at his legs, sobbing and begging.

    By now, Yang Zhonghui was utterly dumbfounded.

    This was the Deputy Governor and Head of the Public Security Department! Driven by this matter, he was beating his own nephew so severely. If his father knew to what extent Zheng Zijie had enraged, would he dare to go easy on his precious son?

    "Get lost!" Zheng Zijie violently kicked Zheng Qingli away, pointing at him and shouting, "I don''t have a nephew like you! Do you even know that Director Ge once saved your grandfather''s life! If not for him, your grandfather wouldn''t be alive today! And you, you would collude with a Korean to harm him! I, I will break your dog legs, you worthless thing!"

    After knocking down Zheng Qingli, Zheng Zijie grew even more furious, tears of anger streaming down his face.

    Zheng Zijie was a man of integrity, always grateful and violently opposed to evil. Having been a criminal policeman, he had arrested countless criminals. He never expected his own nephew to commit such deeds, making him feel angry, heartbroken, and utterly disgraced.

    "I won''t dare again, Second Uncle, I really won''t dare!" Only now did Zheng Qingli realize that Ge Dongxu had saved his grandfather''s life. Seeing his uncle searching for something to smash his legs with, he scrambled up and clung to Zheng Zijie''s legs, no matter how much he kicked, refusing to let go.

    "Enough, Director Zheng, crippling him won''t amend anything but will only add a burden to your family. I think it''s better to send him to a poverty-stricken mountain area to help with the development of the local people there, to experience life and purify his soul," Ge Dongxu said calmly.

    Zheng Qingli, hearing Ge Dongxu speak, initially breathed a sigh of relief, but upon hearing the latter part, he started weeping uncontrollably!

    Accustomed to the bustling city life filled with endless music and neon lights, the idea of living in a poverty-stricken mountain area was akin to a death sentence for Zheng Qingli.

    "Director Ge''s suggestion is good. Tomorrow I will order someone to send him to a poverty-stricken mountain area. If he doesn''t reform and contribute to the local people, I won''t allow him back home," Zheng Zijie said, his eyes lighting up as he spoke sternly.

    "No, please!" Zheng Qingli cried out miserably.

    "You don''t want to? Then you continue, Director Zheng," Ge Dongxu said, his face slightly darkening.

    "I''ll go, I''ll go!" As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, Zheng Qingli felt as if his soul were about to fly away, truly scared of Ge Dongxu to his very bones now.

    "This guy too, please mention it to his father!" Ge Dongxu didn''t look at Zheng Qingli but pointed at Yang Zhonghui and said.

    "Rest assured, Director Ge, I will definitely speak with Comrade Yang Yihai about this," Zheng Zijie said earnestly.

    Upon hearing this, Yang Zhonghui was filled with tears!

    Would his father dare to disobey once the governor spoke?

    Even if his father did dare, he himself would not dare to disobey! Park Yu-ji, the president of a Korean cosmetics company managing assets worth several hundred million and the grandson of Piao Tianchang, a world-renowned business magnate, still lay on the ground with his arms and legs broken! Now that the bizarre Director Ge had spoken, did Yang Zhonghui have enough legs and arms to dare to disobey?

    Soon, the Deputy Director of Linzhou City Health Department arrived at the chairman''s office. Since cosmetics fall under the Health Department''s jurisdiction, the department was familiar with President Park, who had come to Linzhou to acquire a cosmetics company, and knew his grandfather was the world-famous business tycoon Piao Tianchang. So, seeing Park Yu-ji broken and lying on the ground, he went pale with fright.

    Later, when Xu Lei and others arrived, saluted Ge Dongxu, and without another word took the crippled Park Yu-ji away along with the drivers and bodyguards waiting downstairs, the Deputy Director was so scared that he broke out in a cold sweat, immediately beating his son until he resembled a battered mess and repeatedly assuring Ge Dongxu that he would definitely send his son to a poverty-stricken mountain area for proper education and reform.

    Ge Dongxu gave the Deputy Director no pleasant looks.

    Although Zheng Qingli was only Zheng Zijie''s nephew, not his son, it was still excusable for there to be some lapses in upbringing, but Yang Zhonghui was the Deputy Director''s own son. How could the father be blameless with his son in such a state?

    However, Ge Dongxu was only an adviser to the Special Ability Management Bureau, and he wouldn''t easily interfere with these personnel and job-related matters.

    After this incident, although Zheng Zijie and the Deputy Director had intended to apologize by inviting Ge Dongxu to lunch, given that Ge Dongxu still had to pick someone up at the airport and the disturbances had hardly put him in a good mood, he declined.

    When the time was about right, he drove Liu Jiayao''s Audi directly to the airport with her.

    Gu Yezeng, a former major figure of the Chinese Gangs and now a wealthy magnate, was very influential among the overseas Chinese community. Usually, his visits to the mainland were closely watched, and arrangements were made for his reception and meetings with relevant leaders. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    However, this time Gu Yezeng was visiting for personal reasons, so he had communicated this in advance, and the mainland side didn''t make any special arrangements.

    Of course, Gu Yezeng was no ordinary person, especially since he had also brought his wife and son this time. His wife, being a former megastar known as the Queen of Heaven, naturally would not travel on commercial flights but rather on her private plane.

 Chapter 693 - 692: What are You Doing Here?

    Private jets go through the VIP channel, which can bypass ordinary passengers.

    By the time Ge Dongxu arrived, Gu Yezeng''s personal bodyguards, Ah Xiong and Ah Yong, had already been waiting at the exit with several other bodyguards. Besides them, Governor Sang Yunlong''s secretary, Fang Ting, was also remarkably present.

    Ge Dongxu was not surprised that Ah Xiong and Ah Yong were waiting at the exit.

    Gu Yezeng was a major figure, a Chinese tycoon with investments all over the globe and a fortune worth several billion US dollars. His comings and goings were not as casual as Ge Dongxu''s, requiring a certain level of display and quality of travel, and also some prior security measures. Especially since he had a gang-related background in his earlier years and had many enemies, his security was even more meticulous than that of the usual wealthy individuals.

    His son''s accident last time was caused by negligence in security.

    Therefore, even before Gu Yezeng arrived in Linzhou City, Ah Xiong and others had already arrived two to three days earlier to make prior arrangements.

    Actually, Ge Dongxu didn''t need to come; Ah Xiong and the others could have received Gu Yezeng''s family. Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao had specifically come just to express their sentiments.

    "Mr. Ge! Director Liu! Hello," Fang Ting, accompanied by the relevant airport ground leaders, stood a bit on the outskirts and was the first to see Ge Dongxu as he and Liu Jiayao approached. Surprised, he hurriedly went up to greet them.

    Since there were outsiders present, Fang Ting did not address Ge Dongxu as Director.

    "Director Fang, what are you doing here? You''re not here to pick up Gu Yezeng, are you?" Ge Dongxu also felt quite surprised.

    "Yes! Mr. Gu doesn''t want to make a fuss this time, so the provincial government has also decided to keep everything simple. I am here on behalf of Governor Sang to express our welcome to Mr. Gu," replied Fang Ting.

    "I was wondering why you suddenly came here. So, that''s the reason," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu finished speaking than Ah Xiong and Ah Yong came over and respectfully bowed to Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, saying, "Master Ge, Director Liu, hello."

    "Master Ge!" Seeing Ah Xiong and Ah Yong addressing this young man as Master Ge, Fang Ting''s body slightly shook, his eyes first showing a hint of shock, then seeming to recall something, turned into surprise.

    As for the few purely cooperative ground staff leaders, they had already been completely dumbfounded.

    Those who could enter through the VIP channel were definitely either wealthy or influential. Naturally, those working here were used to seeing such people; however, they had never seen someone so impressive. They could not recall when such a young and impressive figure had emerged in Linzhou City, someone whom not only the governor''s secretary treated with great respect, but even the people around the Chinese tycoon Gu Yezeng addressed respectfully as ''Master''.

    And he was only so many years old!

    "Has he not arrived yet?" Ge Dongxu nodded towards Ah Xiong and Ah Yong and asked with a smile.

    "He should arrive in about seven or eight minutes," Ah Xiong and Ah Yong respectfully replied.

    Ge Dongxu nodded again and asked, "Are you settling in well at the hotel?"

    "The hotel arranged by Master Ge is naturally top-notch," replied Ah Xiong and Ah Yong.

    "Top-notch is definitely not available, the main reason is that Master Gu and others have special identities, and it''s convenient for me to arrange accommodations at Kunting Hotel," Ge Dongxu waved his hand and smiled.

    "Master Ge, we are not exaggerating¡ªthe hardware and software of the hotel, especially the service attitude, are absolutely first-class," A Xiong and A Yong said earnestly.

    "If you both say so, then I am reassured," Ge Dongxu smiled.

    Speaking of which, Ge Dongxu turned to Fang Ting, who seemed a bit hesitant to speak and smiled, "Director Fang, do you have something to tell me?"

    "Yes." Fang Ting nodded, a trace of embarrassment appearing on his face.

    Seeing that Fang Ting had something to discuss with Ge Dongxu, A Xiong and A Yong tactfully retreated to the side.

    Only after A Xiong and A Yong stepped aside did Fang Ting say to Ge Dongxu, "Not to conceal from Mr. Ge, this time, in addition to representing Governor Sang in welcoming Mr. Gu''s arrival, actually, Governor Sang also assigned me a task to ask Mr. Gu if he could arrange a time for both parties to meet and talk. As you know, Mr. Gu has significant influence among the Chinese, and his taking the lead in investing in our Jiangnan Province would be extraordinarily meaningful!"

    "So that''s what it was. Don''t worry about this. I will mention it to Mr. Gu and ask him to arrange a meeting with Governor Sang as soon as possible," Ge Dongxu finally understood why Fang Ting had been hesitant to speak, and said with a smile.

    "This won''t cause any trouble for you, will it?" Fang Ting said somewhat embarrassedly.

    "There''s nothing troublesome about it, I have a pretty good relationship with Gu Yezeng. Besides, Jiangnan Province is also my hometown. Could it be that only you and Governor Sang are allowed to worry and work for the homeland, and I''m not allowed to share some of the burden?" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "I really thank you so much, Mr. Ge. I was worried that Mr. Gu was coming for personal matters this time, and bringing up the meeting with Governor Sang might seem abrupt. With your help, it is much better," Fang Ting said, visibly relieved and delighted upon hearing this.

    "Is attracting foreign investment a difficult job?" Ge Dongxu saw Fang Ting looking happy and thought to ask.

    "There are definitely difficulties at this stage, but with the economic development of our country, especially since our Jiangnan Province is located along the coast where the market economy foundation is quite solid, the situation has improved a lot compared to before. However, there is competition among different provinces, and often if the conditions are not favorable enough, or if someone else takes the initiative, they might not come to us. Mr. Gu has investments in Mainland China as well, mainly in Guangdong and some in the capital, but almost none in other places, so Governor Sang is giving great importance to Mr. Gu''s visit to Jiangnan Province this time. However, Mr. Gu had already notified in advance that his visit to Jiangnan Province this time is for personal matters, which is why it''s a bit inconvenient for Governor Sang to come forward directly," Fang Ting explained in detail to Ge Dongxu.

    "I see, arranging a meeting with Mr. Gu won''t be a problem, but as for the investment, that is Mr. Gu''s personal matter, and it wouldn''t be appropriate for me to interfere," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Having the meeting arranged is great, the rest depends on the sincerity of both parties," Fang Ting hurriedly said.

    Ge Dongxu smiled. He was just being modest with his statement; if he made the request, given his relationship with Gu Yezeng, Gu Yezeng would inevitably invest some money in Jiangnan Province.

    Of course, Fang Ting did not know this for the time being, and Ge Dongxu would not openly say it.

    In the midst of their conversation, the Gu family, accompanied by their stern-faced bodyguards, had already arrived at the VIP channel.

    "Big brother!" Gu Yiran, the son of Gu Yezeng, saw Ge Dongxu from afar and sprinted towards him, jumping into his embrace. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "This is so unfair. When I was in Hong Kong, I used to frequently play with him and buy him things, but you''ve only met him twice, and yet the moment he comes out, he didn''t even look at me and ran straight to you," Liu Jiayao saw Gu Yiran run directly into Ge Dongxu''s arms and couldn''t help but laugh.

 Chapter 694 - 693: Follow Mr. Ges Arrangements

    "Haha! Are you jealous?" Ge Dongxu broke into uproarious laughter upon hearing those words.

    "Mr. Ge, why would you come to pick us up yourself? How could we possibly deserve such honor?" Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin quickly walked up to Ge Dongxu, respectfully saying.

    "You''ve come from far away as guests, and you''re here for my sake, so as the host, of course, I should extend the hospitality of a landlord," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Yiran, you child, don''t be so disrespectful. Come down here at once," Gu Yezeng scolded Gu Yiran with a stern look after greeting Ge Dongxu.

    "It''s fine, it''s fine, I actually like this kid," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "See, even Master Ge said so, and you still scowl at me!" Gu Yiran felt emboldened by Ge Dongxu''s words and deliberately emphasized the title "Master Ge."

    Clearly, although Gu Yiran addressed Ge Dongxu as an older brother verbally, he was well aware of his status and position.

    "Fine, you have Master Ge protecting you now, I can''t do anything about it. Let''s see what happens when we get home," Gu Yezeng said with a smile.

    "Big Brother, my dad is threatening me!" Gu Yiran looked pitifully at Ge Dongxu.

    "Old Gu, what''s this all about? I just gave Yiran a hug, and you''re not giving me face at all!" Seeing Gu Yiran''s mischievousness, Ge Dongxu took a liking to him and, playing along, stiffened his face and said to Gu Yezeng.

    "Master Ge, I was wrong in this matter. Isn''t it enough for me to admit my mistake?" Seeing this, Gu Yezeng had no choice but to play along and bow in apology.

    "Alright, aside from this incident, your dad won''t be able to threaten you anymore, but for everything else, you must listen to him," Ge Dongxu said, smiling and ruffling Gu Yiran''s hair.

    "Of course! My dad is very impressive, and I admire him a lot," Gu Yiran first cheekily made a face at his dad and then quickly buttered him up.

    "Haha, Old Gu, your son will definitely surpass you when he grows up! Look at him, so young and already knowing how to give a slap and then a candy," Ge Dongxu was briefly taken aback by this before he could no longer hold back his laughter and burst out laughing.

    Gu Yezeng, Yu Xin, and Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but laugh as well upon seeing this.

    Meanwhile, Fang Ting, who had been silently observing from the side, was astonished.

    It was only then that Fang Ting realized the private matter Gu Yezeng had spoken of was specifically to meet Ge Dongxu by private jet. Moreover, from Gu Yezeng''s demeanor, it was clear he held Ge Dongxu in very high regard, even showing signs of deference meant for a junior.

    Yet the question remained: Gu Yezeng was a tycoon in the Chinese community, a billionaire with a fortune of several billion US dollars!

    After that, Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin went on to greet Liu Jiayao. Liu Jiayao, having frequently flown to Hong Kong, was quite familiar with them, especially Yu Xin, with whom she had become as close as best friends, so their greetings were somewhat casual, unlike the formal respect Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin showed Ge Dongxu, no matter how approachable he appeared.

    "Old Gu, Yu Xin, let me introduce you, this is Director Fang Ting, the secretary of Governor Sang Yunlong of Jiangnan Province. He''s here specifically to welcome you on behalf of Governor Sang," After the greetings were exchanged, Ge Dongxu made a point of introducing Fang Ting to Gu Yezeng.

    Gu Yezeng, being who he was, immediately sensed from Ge Dongxu''s manner that his relationship with Fang Ting and Governor Sang was extraordinary, and promptly shook Fang Ting''s hand with enthusiasm.

    And the words Ge Dongxu said next confirmed Gu Yezeng''s speculation.

    "Governor Sang is a dedicated public servant who cares deeply about the people," Ge Dongxu said after Gu Yezeng shook hands with Fang Ting. "He heard that the ''God of Wealth'' himself was coming over and would very much like to meet with you to see if there is any potential for investment in our Jiangnan Province."

    "Jiangnan Province is indeed a great place, and I''ve always been interested in investing there. Now that I''m here, it''s a good opportunity to arrange a meeting with Governor Sang and discuss the specifics of a potential partnership," Ge Dongxu said. With his status, as soon as he mentioned his intentions in this regard, Gu Yezeng would not put on any airs of being the ''God of Wealth'' and immediately smiled in response.

    Fang Ting had been anxious before coming, unsure if he''d be able to arrange a meeting with Gu Yezeng. He didn''t expect that not only was the meeting now definite, but from what Gu Yezeng had said, the investment was also a done deal. After meeting with Governor Sang, the only things left to discuss would be the specific investment projects and terms. Fang Ting was thrilled and all the more amazed by Ge Dongxu''s influence.

    With just a sentence hinting at the possibility, Gu Yezeng, a tycoon in the Chinese circle, readily committed to the investment without a second thought¡ªone could imagine how much respect Gu Yezeng had for Ge Dongxu.

    "This is wonderful, thank you, Mr. Gu! I will report back to Governor Sang right away and then we can arrange a time for a meeting between both parties," Fang Ting said, gripping Gu Yezeng''s hand tightly.

    "Good, I''m flexible with my schedule, so everything will be arranged according to Mr. Ge''s plans," Gu Yezeng nodded.

    Having received Gu Yezeng''s word, Fang Ting considered his mission accomplished and naturally wouldn''t impose any further. After exiting the corridor together, he took his leave.

    Ah Xiong and Ah Yong had already arranged for a big Mercedes in advance.

    After Fang Ting left, Gu Yezeng and the others got into the car. Gu Yiran didn''t join his mother''s car but instead clung to Ge Dongxu and got into the Audi.

    Since they went through the VIP corridor and it was winter, Yu Xin, who was wrapped up tightly in a hat and sunglasses, managed to avoid being recognized by the fans.

    The group then drove straight to the Kunting Grand Hotel on Yongqing Road.

    Kunting Grand Hotel, with Ge Dongxu as the behind-the-scenes major shareholder, naturally made all arrangements smoothly.

    When the car arrived, Lin Kun had everything set and ready.

    Upon arrival at the hotel, the car was directly escorted through a special passage and a dedicated elevator to the top floor''s ultra-luxurious suite.

    This super-luxury suite was designed and decorated to the standards of five-star Presidential Suites, occupying almost an entire floor, not only offering nearly a thousand square meters of space, opulent in d¨¦cor, but also boasting an oversized terrace.

    At that time in Linzhou City, this suite was undoubtedly top-tier among hotel accommodations.

    The suite, supremely extravagant, was originally prepared and reserved by Lin Kun and Yue Ting specifically for Ge Dongxu. It wasn''t typically available for public booking.

    Ge Dongxu learned of this arrangement later and scolded them both, albeit not too harshly.

    However, what was done was done, and since Ge Dongxu knew it stemmed from their respect for him, he only rebuked them that once, and the matter was put to rest.

    This time, as Gu Yezeng and the others were visiting, Ge Dongxu just happened to arrange their accommodation in this Presidential Suite.

    "Let me introduce you, Old Gu, Yu Xin, let me introduce you to Lin Kun, the CEO of Kunting Chain Hotels, and Yue Ting, the CEO of Donglinyue Apparel. Yu Xin, she''s one of your fans. She came specifically because she heard that you would be visiting. Both of them are my friends and business partners. As for Mr. Gu and Yu Xin, I suppose there''s no need for me to formally introduce them," Ge Dongxu said with a smile after entering the Presidential Suite.

 Chapter 695 - 694: Good Place

    "No need, no need, Mr. Gu and Ms. Yu Xin''s great names are well known to us," Lin Kun and Yue Ting said excitedly.

    Although following Ge Dongxu they had also become quite successful, with fortunes in the hundreds of millions, compared to a business magnate like Gu Yezeng, they were still far behind and could only be considered juniors, not qualified to mingle with great figures like him.

    "Haha, you flatter us. What great names are known to all? Since you''re friends with Mr. Ge, from now on, we are friends too," Gu Yezeng said with a laugh, his demeanor very easygoing, displaying no airs at all.

    "Really? That''s truly an honor for us," Lin Kun and Yue Ting said, visibly overwhelmed, much to Ge Dongxu''s bemusement.

    But what amused Ge Dongxu even more was that soon after, Yue Ting actually pulled out a notebook and asked Yu Xin for an autograph, and after getting it, she was as delighted as a young girl.

    "Yue Ting, if you had told me earlier you were also a fan of Yu Xin, I would have taken you to meet her in Hong Kong long ago," Liu Jiayao said with a laugh upon seeing this.

    Back when Li Bisheng attempted a hostile takeover of Qinglan Cosmetics at the shareholders'' meeting, Lin Kun and Yue Ting had come specifically to help, so Liu Jiayao and Yue Ting had known each other for quite some time, occasionally meeting up for coffee or tea.

    "Giggles, now that you know, you have to let me know next time you fly to Hong Kong," Yue Ting said cheerfully.

    As the saying goes, three women make a play. This holds true even for women of power.

    Soon, Liu Jiayao, Yu Xin, and Yue Ting hit it off, discussing fashion, cosmetics, and gossip¡ªall topics of feminine interest. Ge Dongxu, Gu Yezeng, and Lin Kun naturally took the hint and grouped themselves separately to chat.

    "Governor Sang isn''t making things difficult for you, is he?" Ge Dongxu asked Gu Yezeng.

    "How could he? Us older overseas Chinese all share a wish, which is to return to our roots. Even if you hadn''t brought up this matter, I would have still increased my investments in the mainland over the years. The question is merely where. Jiangnan Province is your homeland, a coastal and developed province with a high degree of openness and well-established infrastructure¡ªso it''s definitely my first choice," Gu Yezeng said.

    "Regardless, I still have to thank you," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Mr. Ge, you''re too kind!" Gu Yezeng hastily responded with humility.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and, not wanting to continue the formalities with Gu Yezeng, said, "It''s already time for lunch. If you aren''t tired, we could eat first."

    "Coming from Hong Kong is just over two hours by our own plane, so it''s not tiring. Just look at how energetic this little guy is," Gu Yezeng said, laughing and gesturing to Gu Yiran, who was playing alone in the living room.

    "In that case, Lin Kun, please arrange lunch. Call General Manager Wu and Wang Hui too. Ask them to come for a meal, and it''ll give them a chance to meet Yu Xin in advance and discuss tomorrow''s ad shoot," Ge Dongxu nodded, then said to Lin Kun.

    Lin Kun nodded and then got up to arrange the lunch.

    Not long after Lin Kun left, Ge Dongxu received a call from Sang Yunlong.

    Sang Yunlong had called mainly to thank Ge Dongxu for his help and also to inquire about the time of his meeting with Gu Yezeng.

    Ge Dongxu figured that after tomorrow''s shoot, there probably wouldn''t be much else for Gu Yezeng to handle, but he still deliberately called Gu Yezeng over to speak with Sang Yunlong, letting them discuss things themselves.

    After Gu Yezeng finished speaking with Governor Sang, it wasn''t long before Wu Longcai and Wang Hui arrived.

    Wu Longcai, being the director of the entertainment channel in Jiangnan Province, had seen quite a bit of the world. Yet he couldn''t help but feel excited when meeting Gu Yezeng and Yu Xin. As for Wang Hui, that was even more to be expected.

    When Wang Hui entered the Presidential Suite, seeing the Chinese tycoon Gu Yezeng and the Queen of Heaven Yu Xin, whom he had only seen on screens and in newspapers, caused his legs to go weak. It felt like stepping on cotton, uneven with every step.

    For Wang Hui, who was still in his senior year of university and hadn''t even graduated, these figures were simply unattainable, the kind of important people he wouldn''t dare to dream about.

    After the introduction and handshakes, Wang Hui gradually began to recover.

    Lunch was held in the restaurant of the Presidential Suite.

    Seeing Gu Yezeng always toast Ge Dongxu first at the dining table and always finishing his drink in one gulp, Wang Hui realized that though Gu Yezeng was a top-level figure, he still couldn''t compare to Brother Dongxu. In his heart, Wang Hui''s reverence and admiration for Ge Dongxu grew even more.

    After lunch, everybody rested briefly before heading to the gardens by the Qian River to do some preliminary scouting and preparation for the shoot.

    The area around the eastern suburbs of Linzhou City near the Qian River hadn''t changed much since Ge Dongxu''s last visit to bury the Jade Talisman and set up the Formation. It was still a stretch of small hills and wasteland with few households in sight. The road along the banks of the Qian River was also uneven, with hardly any cars visible.

    Driving along the riverside, aside from the rolling, majestic waters of the Qian River that somewhat shocked Gu Yezeng and the others, the area felt like a desolate countryside, which disappointed them internally, making them feel it wasn''t a suitable location for shooting an advertisement.

    However, as the car left the city area and entered more of a suburban area, suddenly, the scenery in front lit up dramatically.

    Not far away, patches of gardens on the hills, although it was already winter, still had many flowers in bloom. Moreover, the hillside land was almost without bare soil, mostly covered with plants or greenery and trees.

    The patches were neatly trimmed and well-placed.

    Through the car window, looking at the radiant flowers and shaded trees under the sunlight, it felt as if it were the splendid season of spring.

    On the hill, the villa that Ge Dongxu had seen under construction during his last visit was now completed, its wood old-fashioned, blending seamlessly with the landscape, resembling a heavenly retreat.

    A small driveway led to the villa, and the car drove along this path until it stopped in front of the villa. sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After disembarking, the winds that should have been bitterly cold this season, felt surprisingly gentle in the sunshine, almost like a spring breeze.

    Standing on the hill, looking downward at the whole hillside covered with flowers and trees merging into the rushing river waters created yet another beautiful and magnificent view.

    "What a wonderful place! If this were in Hong Kong, it would cost a fortune, and only the wealthy could afford such a location," Gu Yezeng exclaimed as he looked around.

    "I haven''t been here in a couple of years. I used to think this place was desolate with few homes around. Although it was incorporated into the Bindong District, it still felt rural, and I thought that even in another decade, it wouldn''t change much. But Brother Dongxu, you''ve transformed it into a garden haven, making this place feel like a paradise on earth right away! If it weren''t for the commuting and work, I''d consider buying a piece of land here and building a house," Wu Longcai said breathlessly, admiring the beautiful and spectacular scenery while inhaling the fresh air.

 Chapter 696 - 695: Investment Vision

    "Buying a plot of land here to build a house? That really is a good idea! The economy in Huaxia Country is growing so rapidly, and Linzhou City, being the capital of Jiangnan Province, is definitely set for major development. With its beautiful scenery, mountains, and waters, and with Mr. Ge developing such a large garden here, once the city expands to this area and the transportation infrastructure catches up, this place will truly be Linzhou''s unparalleled back garden," Gu Yezeng said, his eyes sparkling with thought.

    "Could it be that Mr. Gu is thinking of investing here?" Liu Jiayao asked, giving Ge Dongxu a meaningful glance before speaking.

    "Of course, with such a great piece of land, why not invest now rather than wait for its value to increase? Doing business requires foresight. In addition to other projects, I also need to discuss this land with Governor Sang during our meeting," Gu Yezeng asserted confidently, gesturing around the large expanse of land, his confidence and boldness drawing admiring glances from Wu Longcai, Wang Hui, and others.

    Chinese tycoons truly have a grand presence!

    Such a plot of land, seeing its commercial prospects at a glance and making a decision on the spot to purchase it.

    Seeing that Gu Yezeng indeed had such plans, Liu Jiayao''s expression turned noticeably more animated. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What''s the matter, President Liu?" Gu Yezeng quickly noticed the change in Liu Jiayao''s expression and asked curiously.

    "The plots you just pointed out, Dongxu had already instructed me to buy them half a year ago, and just recently, we signed the contract formally with the Bindong District government. So if Mr. Gu truly plans to invest here, I''m afraid you''ll have to look a bit further to find a suitable plot," Liu Jiayao replied.

    Upon hearing this, Gu Yezeng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly turned to Ge Dongxu and bowed with a smile, "Look at my poor memory. With such a master like Mr. Ge here, how could there be a chance for me?"

    "When it comes to doing business, I''m hardly a master compared to you, a major boss. My initial proposal to Jiayao to purchase this land was mainly to preserve a sanctuary for the future rapid development of this city. Although I also considered commercial gains to some extent, it was nowhere near your certainty," Ge Dongxu said, smiling modestly.

    "Mr. Ge, you are being too modest! When I was your age, I was still relying on my father''s position in the gang to brawl and bully on the streets, living a life full of revelry and irresponsibility. But you, I''ve only recently found out, are the owner of Qinghe Herbal Tea. Now when we people in Hong Kong mention herbal tea, Qinghe Herbal Tea is the top choice! Just this company alone, not to mention the future, is already remarkable. And the Kunting Business Hotel Chain¡ªthat idea is definitely ahead in the mainland''s catering and hotel industry. The future development is bound to be unstoppable. And Donglinyue Apparel, and Qinglan Cosmetics. Mr. Ge, if you''re not a business guru, then no one is," Gu Yezeng said with a look of admiration.

    Until Gu Yezeng mentioned it, people hadn''t really thought much about it.

    Once Gu Yezeng said this, Wu Longcai, Wang Hui, and others started pondering and calculating internally, deeply impressed.

    My goodness, these four companies, each one is nationally renowned! Especially Qinghe Herbal Tea, which is explosively popular. I fear that by next summer, not only will it dominate the herbal tea industry, but it may very well dominate the entire beverage industry in Huaxia.

    Ge Dongxu himself hadn''t thought much of it until Gu Yezeng pointed it out, and he suddenly realized that he had inadvertently made quite a name in the business world, and couldn''t help but laugh, "Now that you analyze it this way, I realize I really have become a significant figure in the business world!"

    "Absolutely, any of these companies, Brother Xu, could crush a multitude of others!" Wu Longcai said, looking impressed.

    "Director Wu, with Mr. Gu, a great boss here, let''s keep our words somewhat humble and subtle," Ge Dongxu jokingly replied.

    The group was momentarily stunned, then all burst into laughter.

    The laughter echoed through the woods and lasted for quite a while before it stopped.

    Ge Dongxu pointed to a large area on the mid-slope that he had specially "irrigated" with spiritual energy these past few days and said, "Director Wu and Director Wang, that''s where we are going to shoot the commercial. You can go take a look and get familiar with the environment, and also think about the angles for shooting."

    Wu Longcai and Wang Hui followed the direction pointed by Dongxu and saw that the area was exceptionally lush and verdant. The flowers there were also covered with buds, though most of them had not yet bloomed.

    Wu Longcai and Wang Hui then specifically ran around the area, walking a full circle, and Yu Xin also went over to take a look.

    "This, Dongxu, the place is good, and each flower looks vibrant, but most of them are still buds. If we really start shooting, I guess the effect might not be sufficient!" Back at the villa, Wang Hui cautiously voiced his thoughts.

    "What if those flowers open tomorrow? What do you think?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "That would be absolutely fantastic!" Wang Hui immediately said, but then he grimaced and added, "However, with this weather, expecting all these flowers to bloom by tomorrow is probably¡­"

    "You don''t need to worry about that, I will naturally have a way by tomorrow," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "As long as these flowers bloom tomorrow, the background will definitely be no problem. The remaining issue is Ms. Yu''s flying action among the flowers. For that, should we prepare some specialized equipment in advance?" Wang Hui asked tentatively again.

    "You don''t need to worry about that either. Tomorrow, your main task with Director Wu is to focus on shooting the commercial well. As for how the flowers will bloom and how Ms. Yu will fly, I will personally prepare these special effects," Ge Dongxu responded.

    "Then there''s no problem," Wang Hui was smart and considerate, although he still had many questions, he nodded immediately since Dongxu had already spoken.

    After all, it was winter and near the river, so the wind was somewhat strong.

    Having settled the scene issue, everyone took a brief stroll in the flower garden and then got into the car and drove down the mountain.

    ...

    The next day, early in the morning, the group went to the flower garden again.

    When the team arrived at the garden, the sun was still hiding behind the eastern mountains, and the clouds on the horizon were tinged with a pale red glow.

    Wang Hui and Wu Longcai had already prepared for the shoot at what they considered the best angle, looking forward with anticipation, as if waiting for a miracle to happen.

    At the end of the flower bushes, Yu Xin was dressed like a beautiful spirit not of this world, and she too was full of anticipation.

    During the wait, a fiery orb surged from behind the clouds on the mountain, and golden sunlight spilled down, causing the dew on the leaves and flowers to sparkle in the sunlight like pearls.

 Chapter 697 - 696 This is Actually a Kind of Fate

    In anticipation, Yu Xin felt a gentle force lift her up, and then she rose slowlly into the air above the flowers, surrounded by a rosy glow, just like a fairy.

    As she danced in the air above the flowerbeds, the flower buds below her, still dew-laden and ready to bloom, opened slowly under the golden sunlight, creating wave after wave of floral waves. The beauty and astonishment of it was beyond description.

    Wu Longcai and Wang Hui watched this scene, which was like a scenery from the Immortal Realm. They were so stunned and excited that they trembled all over, and it took a while before they could compose themselves and capture the scene on film.

    During the filming, they didn''t need to shout "cut," nor did they have to keep changing the camera angles.

    They simply chose the right angles based on their expertise, then filmed it just like a documentary.

    Because what they were filming was the true essence of the Flower Spirit and her world.

    All they had to do was to "record" everything before them and present the reality to the viewers.

    There was no need for excessive embellishment or any alterations.

    Yu Xin had traveled back and forth to Hong Kong many times to get this advertisement right, but it only took one attempt here. When Wang Hui released the footage, everyone was enchanted, thinking there could be no more perfect an advertisement, except for Ge Dongxu, who thought it had minor flaws.

    Since Ge Dongxu was not a nitpicker and saw that everyone was satisfied, he didn''t fuss further.

    Thus, the advertisement was completed like that.

    On the journey back, people couldn''t help but look at Ge Dongxu with awe, even influential figures like Gu Yezeng could not hide their admiration for him.

    This ability to let someone dance in the air like a fairy, to make thousands of flowers bloom instantly, it was nothing less than the legendary powers of an Immortal. If one had not seen it with their own eyes, who would believe it?

    And at that moment, the person who had wielded such an Immortal technique was among them.

    After the commercial was filmed, Ge Dongxu''s job was done.

    Following a word from Ge Dongxu, Gu Yezeng, who came along, started to formally inspect investment projects in Linzhou City.

    Only after the inspection and meeting with Governor Sang could he discuss specific projects with a clear aim.

    Yu Xin and her son naturally had Liu Jiayao and Yue Ting accompanying them to tour the scenic spots of Linzhou City.

    Meanwhile, Wu Longcai and Wang Hui discussed matters related to cutting the advertisement.

    On Tuesday, Jiangnan Province reported on the meeting between Governor Sang and Gu Yezeng, including a number of investment projects that were agreed upon.

    Aside from that news, another explosive story was that the Queen of Heaven, Yu Xin, had arrived in Linzhou City and was staying at the Kunting Grand Hotel.

    This news garnered far more attention among the general public than the meeting between Governor Sang and the Chinese magnate, Gu Yezeng.

    Once the news was released, nearly everyone in Linzhou City''s streets and alleys was talking about it. Consequently, Kunting Grand Hotel not only became famous, but also saw an influx of guests coming to stay and dine, with many fans of the Queen of Heaven gathering at the entrance.

    Ge Dongxu usually didn''t pay attention to such news, and he heard about it from Li Chenyu and the others.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu heard the news, he knew this news report must have been approved by Yu Xin and Gu Yezeng, and it was even highly likely they had proposed it themselves, with the intent of giving Kunting Grand Hotel free advertisement.

    Because the man behind Kunting Grand Hotel was none other than Ge Dongxu himself.

    ...

    "Boss, don''t run off to the library after class today, and you two, stop wandering around aimlessly. Let''s all four of us go grab a meal at Crystal Hall; my treat." On Wednesday at noon, before class, Lu Lei said with a beaming face.

    "What''s the occasion today that you''re treating us at Crystal Hall? Don''t tell me you got a girlfriend and plan to bring her over for us to meet?" Li Chenyu and He Guizhong immediately brightened up, asking curiously.

    "Get lost, can''t you guys think of anything else besides chasing girls?" Lu Lei glared at them and said.

    "What else could be good enough for you, handsome Lu, to treat us? We do nothing but study at school," Li Chenyu said.

    "Exactly! We really can''t think of any other good news," He Guizhong agreed.

    "How tacky! Couldn''t I have some good news from home?" Lu Lei said irritably. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "From home? Could it be that your dad got promoted? Didn''t you say last time that he went to study at the Provincial Party Committee''s school!" Li Chenyu exclaimed with a delighted face.

    "Seems you do know a bit about how the officialdom works. Yes, my dad became the deputy county head, and he''s in charge of economic affairs. He might even join the county party standing committee next year," Lu Lei said excitedly.

    "Damn! He really got promoted. Does that mean I now have a buddy who''s a second-generation official?" Li Chenyu immediately shouted.

    "So, should I start calling you Young Master Lu? Young Master Lu, you''ll have to look out for me in the future!" He Guizhong said in an exaggerated tone.

    "Cut it out! What second-generation official, what Young Master Lu! If you keep this up, beware I might cut ties with you guys," Lu Lei glared and warned.

    "Boss, look at this, he''s just become a second-generation official and he is already talking about cutting ties with us! It''s true what they say, ''Appearances are deceiving. Time reveals a person''s heart''!" He Guizhong and Li Chenyu immediately pointed at Lu Lei and complained.

    "You guys... damn it!" Lu Lei, not particularly articulate, could only express his frustration.

    "Alright, a little jest is enough. Can''t you see Lu Lei is getting upset?" Ge Dongxu aimed a kick at He Guizhong and Li Chenyu.

    The two immediately scampered away with a chuckle, then quickly wrapped an arm around Lu Lei''s neck, saying, "Haha, just kidding! Brothers for life, even if you become a high official in the future, you''ll still be our roommate in room 203, and that''s something you can''t change."

    "Exactly! Among millions, the four of us ending up in the same dorm is fate, something not measurable by mundane wealth or power. We all should cherish it," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "There''s our leader, speaking words of wisdom as always," He Guizhong immediately flattered.

    "Cut the flattery, or I might stop instructing you in martial arts!" Ge Dongxu glared.

    "No, don''t do that, Boss!" He Guizhong immediately howled.

    Because of the benefits of being close to the source, He Guizhong''s martial arts skills had improved by leaps and bounds, like rocketing upwards. He had become a true expert in the Martial Arts Association, and some members, notably the ladies, had started asking him for martial arts lessons, which delighted him no end, unlike before when he was just a nominal officer, truly minding only official matters.

 Chapter 698 - 697: 30 Years in Hedong, 30 Years in Hexi

    "Heh heh, Boss, I really think we shouldn''t teach him martial arts in the future. Otherwise, he''ll strut around us all day, bragging about how great his skills are, and how some girls come to him for lessons again today!" Li Chenyu and Lu Lei witnessed He Guizhong getting deflated and immediately clapped their hands in schadenfreude.

    "Ge, Ge Dongxu, do you have some time? I want to talk to you about something privately." Just as Li Chenyu and Lu Lei were delighting in disaster, clapping their hands, the slightly ajar dorm door was pushed open, and Sun Wenjun''s head popped in.

    Looking at Ge Dongxu, Sun Wenjun''s eyes clearly showed a trace of timidity and awe, and he spoke with great caution.

    "Damn, what''s the mystery about?" He Guizhong said.

    After all, they were all majoring in environmental chemistry, and most of their classes were taken together. So, since Sun Wenjun was sternly reprimanded by his father last time and took the initiative to seek peace, He Guizhong and the others would sometimes play basketball with Sun Wenjun. Their relationship wasn''t as stiff as before. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Alright! Bring my textbook later." Ge Dongxu patted He Guizhong on the shoulder, then nodded to Sun Wenjun, "Sure, let''s take a walk to Mingyue Lake."

    Sun Wenjun squeezed out a smile more pained than crying at He Guizhong and the others, then followed Ge Dongxu downstairs.

    "This, this Ge Dongxu, everything was my fault in the past, it truly has nothing to do with my dad. Please, help my dad," Sun Wenjun begged with a sobbing voice by the shore of Mingyue Lake.

    "What do you mean by that?" Ge Dongxu asked with a slight frown.

    "Last week, my dad was relieved of his position as Secretary-General of the city government and was transferred to the deputy director of the city''s Party History Research Office. As you know, the Party History Research Office is actually a place for retirement, and being a deputy there... Even though he retains his position as a regular division head, this is a demotion that can''t get any worse. It''s an even bigger drop than when Uncle Lu was transferred to the county Archives Bureau!" Sun Wenjun explained.

    "So what you''re implying is, it was appropriate for Uncle Lu to be transferred to the county Archives Bureau back then, but it''s not okay that your dad was transferred to the Party History Research Office? He''s being wronged? Think about your own actions and your father''s over the years. Being transferred to the Party History Research Office to be a deputy and study the Party''s history is already quite decent! As for helping? Sun Wenjun, the fact I don''t trouble you is already good enough. Don''t expect more from me. I''m not so overflowing with compassion, and you better work hard and live a good life. This incident, for both your father and you, isn''t necessarily a bad thing. Otherwise, if this continues, I''m afraid your father wouldn''t just be transferred to the Party History Research Office, but rather, end up staying in prison. Think about it!" Ge Dongxu now understood why Sun Wenjun was looking for him. Observing his pitiful, pleading demeanor, Ge Dongxu felt not the slightest sympathy, only leaving him with some harsh words before turning away, indifferent to whatever reaction Sun Wenjun might have.

    Watching Ge Dongxu''s retreating figure, remembering the news he had heard at the doorway of dormitory 203, and recalling the indifference and mercilessness in Ge Dongxu''s words, Sun Wenjun felt an indescribable humiliation and regret. His face turned pale, tears welled up in his eyes, and he almost wished he could slap himself hard.

    Once, his father had been the Director of the Office of Golden Mountain County Government, then the Vice County Head, then the Deputy Secretary-General of Jinzhou City Government, and subsequently the Secretary-General. And what about Lu Lei''s father? He was demoted directly from the Director of the Office of Golden Mountain County Government to the Director of the Golden Mountain County Archives Bureau, awaiting retirement.

    Back then, Sun Wenjun was so full of vim and vigor, so arrogant!

    Every time he saw Lu Lei, he would act superior, looking down at him with condescension.

    But now? Time brings great changes to the world; fortunes rise and fall. Suddenly, his father was demoted to the deputy director of the Jinzhou City Party History Research Office, while Lu Lei''s father, on the other hand, leaped to become the Vice County Head in charge of Golden Mountain County''s economy.

    And all this might not have happened if he hadn''t been so arrogant, so reckless.

    But now, everything was clearly too late!

    In the future, Sun Wenjun would have to spend his four years of university in the shadow of Lu Lei''s brilliance!

    After Ge Dongxu turned and left, he didn''t immediately head to the classroom; instead, he circled around the small Mingyue Lake twice. When he saw the time was about right, only then did he head to the teaching building.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu entered the teachers'' room than an excited looking Li Chenyu and He Guizhong dragged him to one side, then, with a sense of mystery, said, "Boss, do you know what happened?"

    "Nonsense, I''m not an Immortal. How would I know what happened with you guys coming at me with this nonsense all of a sudden?" Ge Dongxu rolled his eyes irritably.

    "Let me tell you some gratifying news that we just heard from Zheng Yun of Class Two. He said that Sun Wenjun''s dad had been transferred to be the deputy director at the city Party History Research Office. How the tables have turned¡ªthirty years along the east bank, thirty years along the west. Let''s see how Sun Wenjun can continue to be so arrogant now!" Li Chenyu said in a lowered voice.

    "So it''s about that. Alright, we''re all classmates. As long as Sun Wenjun behaves properly from now on, don''t bring this matter up again," Ge Dongxu said with a nod after hearing this, finally understanding why the two were so excited.

    "We know that, otherwise, we wouldn''t be talking to you about it so quietly and privately," Li Chenyu said.

    "Speaking of which, I have to thank Sun Wenjun. He taught me quite a few lessons," Lu Lei suddenly joined in, sighing with emotion.

    ...

    Before they knew it, it was already mid-December, and the weather had turned uncharacteristically warm.

    By the side of Mingyue Lake, two white European men were walking along the lake, drawing the attention of quite a few tourists.

    One of the men was a tall, blonde, young man whose eyes were not on the scenery of Mingyue Lake, but rather on the man beside him, betraying a hint of worry.

    The other man appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with both his hair and beard white, looking lean and a bit haggard.

    However, he seemed rather interested in the scenery of Mingyue Lake at the moment.

    "Mr. Johnson, today is the thirteenth, and in just over ten days it will be Christmas. Shouldn''t we be heading back to our country?" the blonde man said.

    "Karl, are you worried I won''t make it to Christmas? Don''t worry, I''m a doctor, and I understand my own physical condition. However, it is indeed time to head back," Johnson replied.

    No sooner had Johnson finished speaking than he saw, not far away, an old man suddenly clutch at his chest and then lie down on the ground.

    "There seems to be some trouble over there!" Johnson''s expression changed slightly, and then he quickly walked towards the old man.

    By this time, a few people had already gathered around the old man, all looking anxiously concerned. Some had even run to the phone booth to call for an ambulance at 120, but no one knew how to help.

 Chapter 699 - 698: Rescue

    "Excuse me, please let me through, I''m a doctor!" Johnson hurried over and then spoke loudly.

    Johnson actually spoke in Chinese; although his pronunciation was not standard, he was still quite fluent.

    Seeing that he was a white foreigner and hearing him declare himself a doctor in Chinese, the crowd parted ways with expressions of surprise.

    Johnson walked up to the elderly man, crouched down, first flipped his eyelids, then felt his carotid artery with his hand, and his complexion instantly turned very solemn.

    "Mr. Johnson, how is the old man doing?" Seeing Johnson''s grave expression, Karl asked.

    "His breathing and heartbeat have both stopped; it seems like a sudden heart attack. I need to start CPR immediately," Johnson hurriedly replied, then, to the amazement of the onlookers, suddenly knelt down, lifting the old man''s lower jaw with one hand to open his mouth; with the other hand pinching his nostrils, Johnson took a deep breath and blew air forcefully into the old man''s mouth. After the man''s chest expanded, Johnson stopped blowing and relaxed the hand pinching the nose. Then, Johnson placed the heel of his right hand at the end of the man''s sternum, the left hand on top of the right, arms straight, and pressed down with his body weight, pushing until the sternum was depressed three to four centimeters, then relaxed his hands to allow the chest to rise back up.

    After four compressions, Johnson resumed artificial respiration for the old man. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Despite it being winter, the repetitive process caused Johnson to sweat profusely on his forehead and gasp for breath from time to time; he even coughed violently a few times, deeply moving the surrounding crowd, while Karl watched with a worried expression, almost speaking several times but then stopping himself.

    About two to three minutes later, the old man gradually began to breathe on his own and then slowly opened his eyes.

    "He''s awake! That''s amazing!" As soon as they saw this, everyone burst into exclamatory applause.

    "Dad! Dad, what''s wrong?" At that moment, a woman came running over, seeing the old man lying on the ground, she immediately rushed to him, anxiously trying to help him up.

    "Ma''am, please do not move the patient yet, let him lay flat for a while. His heart may have a serious condition, and it''s important to take him to the hospital for a thorough examination," Johnson said quickly, stopping the woman as she tried to lift the old man.

    No sooner had he finished speaking, Johnson began coughing violently again.

    The woman, unaware of what had just happened, looked puzzled. People around them had already started explaining the situation to her in detail.

    Only then did the woman realize the white foreigner in front of her had saved her father and immediately bowed to thank him.

    "No need to thank me, I am a doctor!" Johnson said, waving his hand, his eyes showing a hint of melancholy as he looked at the old man.

    What good is being a doctor if I can save others but not myself!

    As Johnson was lost in a dejected mood, an ambulance arrived, and several paramedics led by a doctor hurried toward the crowd with a stretcher.

    "I am Doctor Johnson from Caroline Royal Medical College in Reel Country. The patient had a sudden cessation of both respiration and heartbeat, and he may have a serious heart condition," Johnson said, stepping forward to speak to the leading doctor as they approached. (Reel Country is a fictional European nation)

    The lead doctor, already surprised by the presence of two white foreigners, became even more respectful upon hearing that Johnson was from Caroline Royal Medical College¡ªone of the world''s most prestigious medical colleges.

    "Thank you, Doctor Johnson; we will conduct a detailed examination of the patient''s heart," the doctor said with respect.

    "No need to thank me; you arrived very quickly!" Johnson complimented the doctor.

    Upon hearing this, the doctor''s cheeks turned slightly red; since it was winter and not a holiday, the ambulance''s rapid response was an exception and wouldn''t normally be possible so quickly at another time.

    ```

    ...

    Since catching a glimpse of the mysteries of winter hibernation, Ge Dongxu had made it a habit to take a solitary stroll around Mingyue Lake during his noon commute to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    Mingyue Lake was surrounded by mountains and water, rich with vegetation, and blessed with a beautiful environment.

    In winter, there were fewer visitors, allowing him to walk leisurely by the lake alone.

    The few remaining withered yellow leaves on the plane trees, the bare willows hanging low, the dried lotus stems in the water, the surface of the lake rippling under the sunlight, and Money Mountain cradling Moon Lake...

    All of this composed a somewhat withered but hauntingly beautiful winter scene.

    Fleeting moments of Enlightenment brushed past Ge Dongxu''s mind, making his inner self more restrained, yet his vitality more exuberant.

    Just like the snow lotus on the mountain peaks that had not yet bloomed, reserved and introverted¡ªonce it bloomed, it seemed as if the entire cold world would be filled with life and wonder.

    Nobody knew what kind of transformation Ge Dongxu was undergoing, not even Ge Dongxu himself.

    All he knew was that he must be much stronger now than before, not in terms of Mana, but in the essence of life itself.

    Ge Dongxu enjoyed these barely perceptible flashes of Enlightenment as he walked; suddenly, the sound of an ambulance siren startled him.

    He saw an ambulance stop in the distance, and several medical personnel hurried out.

    Ge Dongxu quickened his pace upon seeing this, but it was too far, and by the time he got close, the medics had already rushed a patient into the ambulance.

    From a distance, Ge Dongxu saw that the patient on the stretcher was an elderly man, with eyes open, clearly not in any life-threatening danger, and so he withdrew his gaze.

    The ambulance roared away in an instant, and the onlookers gradually dispersed.

    "That foreign doctor just now was really good. When he saw the old man stop breathing, he didn''t care about the dirt and immediately knelt to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and cardiac massage. Without his timely rescue, even if the ambulance had arrived, the old man probably wouldn''t have been saved," a tourist said to his companion as he walked towards Ge Dongxu.

    "Yeah, there are still more good people in this world," his companion remarked with emotion.

    Hearing the discussions of the people who brushed past him, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but thoughtfully watch the two foreigners walking away into the distance.

    Following his usual routine, Ge Dongxu walked a little further along Mingyue Lake, and seeing that it was about time to go to work, he went to the parking lot to get his bicycle and rode towards the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    As Ge Dongxu cycled towards the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, beneath a willow tree by Mingyue Lake, Johnson was leaning on a tree with a hand over his mouth, coughing violently.

    Karl stood behind him, gently patting his back.

    "Mr. Johnson, we can''t go on like this; we must return to Reel immediately," Karl said with a look of concern.

    "It seems we really must go back, cough cough!" Johnson nodded, managed to say a word, then resumed coughing violently.

    "Mr. Johnson, you are coughing very badly, are you sick?" Just as Johnson was coughing severely, a voice filled with timidity and concern came from behind him.

    ```

 Chapter 700 - 699: Do You Want to Register for Dr. He Duanruis Appointment?

    Johnson reluctantly turned to look at the person who had spoken.

    The person asking was a woman around sixty years old.

    If Ge Dongxu had been present, he would definitely have recognized this woman.

    This woman was none other than Sister Liu, who had suffered from chronic constipation for decades and had been taking laxatives for a long time before someone introduced her to He Duanrui for treatment.

    The one who had recommended her to see He Duanrui was the patient who had stomach inflammation and abdominal distension, and later, thanks to He Duanrui using a prescription provided by Ge Dongxu, she was completely cured with a formula containing a large dose of Aconite.

    After taking the prescription provided by He Duanrui, Sister Liu''s constipation was completely cured.

    Of course, the real person who wrote the prescription was Ge Dongxu, but at that time Ge Dongxu was acting as an intern for He Duanrui, and Sister Liu did not know that it was Ge Dongxu who had written her prescription; she thought He Duanrui had cured her, so she later referred any relatives or friends who were sick to him.

    Since Ge Dongxu highly valued He Duanrui''s character, after revealing his identity formally, he naturally gave He Duanrui more guidance, so He Duanrui''s medical skills had improved dramatically.

    The patients referred by Sister Liu were generally not suffering from severe diseases, and with He Duanrui''s greatly improved medical skills, he naturally cured the diseases effectively, which made Sister Liu praise He Duanrui even more and regard him as a true expert in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

    "Yes," Johnson nodded and replied, then covered his mouth and coughed again.

    "Mr. Johnson, you shouldn''t delay treatment if your cough is this severe, you need to see a doctor immediately," Sister Liu said with concern.

    When Johnson was performing CPR on an elderly person just now, Sister Liu was also present, which is why she had a good impression of this foreign doctor from Reel Country.

    "Thank you for your concern, but my illness can''t be cured," Johnson finally managed to catch his breath and waved his hand.

    "There''s no such thing as an incurable disease, you''re coughing so badly, is it asthma? Asthma is hard to treat, but I know a doctor at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital named He Duanrui who is very skilled. I suffered from chronic constipation for decades due to long-term use of laxatives, which was so uncomfortable and painful, but then I saw Dr. He, who prescribed some Chinese herbal medicines, and I was completely cured after taking them. Oh, I forgot, being a foreigner, you believe only in Western medicine and not in Chinese medicine, but our Chinese medicine really has some magical aspects. Look, my chronic constipation, not cured by Western medicine, was cured by Chinese medicine. I also have a friend who had gastritis and abdominal distension, seen by both Western and Chinese doctors for many years and never cured, but later Dr. He cured her. So, your asthma, though hard to treat, might be something Dr. He can handle," Sister Liu said in a rapid-fire manner upon hearing Johnson say his disease was incurable.

    "I know Chinese medicine is miraculous, especially acupuncture, which I have also studied and researched. It works well for treating pain, insomnia, severe pregnancy reactions, etc. However, my disease is something that Chinese medicine can''t cure," Johnson replied with a smile.

    "Mr. Johnson, you are a good person, I wouldn''t deceive you. You really should give it a try, even if Dr. He can''t cure your disease, he can surely alleviate some of your symptoms," Sister Liu suggested.

    "Thank you for your kindness, but I am a doctor and have already brought my own medication, which will alleviate the symptoms once I take it," Johnson replied with a smile.

    He didn''t have asthma, but small cell lung cancer, the most malignant form of lung cancer. No matter how much Sister Liu praised He Duanrui and Chinese medicine, as a professor of surgical oncology from one of the world''s top medical schools, Johnson wouldn''t believe it.

    However, he didn''t want to share the news of his terminal illness with Sister Liu, to avoid affecting her mood, so he didn''t correct her assumption about asthma.

    "Oh, I see! Well, if you really are uncomfortable, I still recommend that you see a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as they have unique ways of diagnosing and treating complex cases. Remember, visit Dr. He Duanrui at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Jiangnan Province! Other practitioners are not as skilled," said Sister Liu, seeing Johnson''s skepticism about Chinese medicine, reluctantly gave up but still specifically advised him before leaving.

    After Sister Liu left, just as Johnson had barely caught his breath, he started coughing violently again, obviously stirred by the previous rescue effort.

    Finding the cough unbearable, Johnson took out some pain-relieving cough medicine to take.

    After taking the medicine, Johnson felt somewhat better.

    "Mr. Johnson, we must head back to the hotel now, we can''t stay out in the wind any longer," said Karl, seeing Johnson''s condition improve but feeling more worried rather than relieved.

    Because he knew the medicine Johnson took was not ordinary cough medicine, but a central nervous system suppressant.

    Such medicine shouldn''t be taken excessively.

    "Okay," Johnson nodded.

    Shortly after returning to the Friendly Hotel by the lake, Johnson started coughing again, even coughing up some blood.

    Seeing this, Johnson reluctantly prepared to take his medicine again.

    "Johnson, you''ve just taken that medicine. You shouldn''t take more now!" Karl said worriedly.

    "If I don''t take the medicine, I won''t be able to handle flying," Johnson said with a bitter smile.

    "How about visiting the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital? Though I don''t believe in Chinese medicine and those black, murky concoctions, their acupuncture is quite effective. Oh, and their ointments are somewhat miraculous too. You know my background, sometimes I have to engage in fights and get injured, or sometimes I get hurt during training. I go to the Chinese acupuncture clinics for their services, and the results are quite good. Maybe you should skip the medicine for now and visit the hospital that the lady mentioned earlier. Perhaps their acupuncture could help alleviate your symptoms, but of course you mustn''t drink their brewed medicine," Karl hesitated and then suggested. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That''s a good suggestion, cough cough, the acupuncture in Huaxia Country does have some unexpectedly effective results, cough cough, let''s go to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and find Doctor He," Johnson said, thinking it over and nodding.

    Being a doctor himself, he was well aware of the consequences of taking too much medicine, and he knew there was a chance he might not make it back to his own country if he overdosed while still in Huaxia Country.

    "Do you need to see Dr. He Duanrui? However, Dr. He isn''t seeing patients today!" The receptionist at the registration window said, looking surprised at Karl.

    It was the first time she had encountered a foreigner registering for an appointment with a Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner, and specifically by name at that.

    Karl was hired from his home country to accompany and guard Johnson during his travels in Huaxia Country; hence, Karl was also fluent in Chinese, making communication with the receptionist seamless.

    "What should we do? Mr. Johnson''s cough is very severe, and we heard from a lady that Dr. He Duanrui is highly skilled, so we came here specifically because of his reputation," Karl said, getting a bit anxious.

 Chapter 701 - 700: Let me take a look at this patient

    ```

    "Actually, we have quite a few highly skilled doctors in our internal medicine department; perhaps I could recommend one to you." Seeing that Karl was a foreigner who spoke good Chinese and noticing Johnson coughing persistently, the staff member suggested warmly.

    "Thank you, but I still hope to have Dr. He take a look. Could you help me make an appointment with him? If it''s not possible now, then that''s fine," Karl replied.

    Karl and Johnson were from Reel Country, and the only aspect of Traditional Chinese Medicine they acknowledged was acupuncture; they were basically skeptical about everything else. This time, they decided to try Traditional Chinese Medicine because they had just met Sister Liu who passionately recommended Dr. He to them, and also because Johnson''s cough was very severe and could no longer be suppressed by even larger-than-normal doses of medication.

    They were essentially grasping at straws, having little faith in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Under such circumstances, it was only Dr. He whom they harbored a bit of hope for; they would not consider any other Chinese doctors.

    As they were international friends and had come specifically seeking Dr. He Duanrui by name, and the fact that they had spoken highly of him, the registration desk staff saw this as an honor for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. So, after hesitating for a moment, she said, "In that case, you and your patient friend can wait here for a bit. I''ll make a call to the internal medicine receptionist and ask her to inquire if Dr. He can arrange to see your friend."

    "That would be wonderful, thank you so much for your help," Karl expressed his gratitude to the registration staff for their enthusiastic assistance, thanked them, and then went with Johnson to wait to the side.

    The registration desk staff then made a call to the internal medicine receptionist.

    The receptionist was quite surprised and taken aback upon hearing that an elderly European gentleman had specifically asked for Dr. He Duanrui. Even though she knew Dr. He was not on duty that day, she agreed to go and inquire about his willingness.

    In room 406, the specialist outpatient clinic, the attending doctor for the day was Chief Physician Zhang Xiuwen.

    However, in the specialist outpatient room, apart from Chief Physician Zhang Xiuwen, several other doctors were also sitting in, including He Duanrui, Jiang Yuquan, Zhao Zihan, Tang Yiyuan, and Ge Dongxu.

    He Duanrui and the others just happened not to have outpatient or teaching duties that afternoon, so they could join and learn on the sidelines.

    Zhu Dongyu was not present that day. After all, as a National Medical Master, he was very busy and couldn''t be at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital every day.

    After the receptionist saw a patient leave the room and had asked the patients waiting outside to wait for a moment, she pushed open the door of the outpatient room and went in.

    Because it was prestigious for a European to seek medical care due to the excellent reputation, and the department head Tang Yiyuan was also present, the receptionist did not discuss the matter privately with Dr. He upon entering but announced it openly.

    "Hehe, Dr. He, you''ve really made a name for yourself now; even foreigners are coming to our Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital specifically to see you," Tang Yiyuan first expressed surprise and then said with a chuckle.

    In an era when Traditional Chinese Medicine was in decline, Tang Yiyuan, as the department head, felt quite honored to have a foreigner seeking out Dr. He Duanrui, and his mood was exceptionally good.

    "Professor Tang, please don''t tease me; compared to you and Professor Zhang, I''m not famous at all! I guess the foreigner must have heard about me from some hearsay. Teacher Ge, should I go out and meet him now?" He Duanrui''s face turned a bit red as he spoke.

    The words at the beginning were directed at Tang Yiyuan and the others, but the latter part, seeking permission, was addressed to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu''s identity was not widely known outside the internal medicine department, but since people within the department moved about daily, it was certainly difficult to keep a secret. The receptionist, who was aware of Ge Dongxu''s special status, did not show any sign of surprise when she heard He Duanrui asking for his guidance.

    "You don''t need to go out and see him specifically; just have the registration desk add a number for him under Dr. Zhang''s name, and when the foreign patient arrives, you can be the main consultant," Ge Dongxu said.

    ```

    "It couldn''t be better. My expertise in traditional Chinese medicine is still lacking, and honestly, I was a bit worried about embarrassing our field. With Teacher Ge present, we have nothing to worry about. This will also show the foreigners who don''t acknowledge Chinese medicine the miraculous nature of our practice," He Duanrui said, his eyes lighting up at the news.

    "Dr. He, you''re being too modest. These foreigners have come specifically because of your reputation," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Teacher Ge, such compliments really make me blush," He Duanrui said with a wry smile.

    Everyone chuckled upon hearing this, while the reception nurse had already discreetly gone out to inform the registration desk.

    As the level of medical skills in the Department of Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine continued to improve, the number of patients visiting the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Jiangnan Province had noticeably increased these days.

    After Johnson had taken his number, he waited quite a while before it was finally his turn.

    When Johnson and Karl entered, they were momentarily taken aback to see so many doctors seated in the consultation room.

    Ge Dongxu was also slightly taken aback when he saw Johnson and Karl come in, a look of surprise crossing his face.

    He hadn''t expected to encounter the kind-hearted foreign doctor he''d heard about from the tourists at Mingyue Lake that noon.

    "I am Johnson from Reel Country. May I ask which one of you is Dr. He Duanrui? *cough cough cough*!" Johnson said after a moment of hesitation.

    "Hello, Mr. Johnson. I am Dr. He Duanrui. You have a severe cough. Please take a seat, and I''ll have a look at you," He Duanrui said as he got up, while Professor Zhang Xiuwen also stood up, ready to give up his seat for He Duanrui. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "So you are Dr. He, that''s wonderful. Do you think you could use acupuncture to temporarily suppress Mr. Johnson''s cough?" Karl stepped forward to ask to help as Johnson continued to cough.

    He Duanrui was taken aback upon hearing this.

    Having been a doctor for many years, it was the first time he heard a patient suggest a treatment method before even being diagnosed.

    "Dr. He, let me take care of this patient," Ge Dongxu said as he got up and walked over to the seat originally occupied by Professor Zhang Xiuwen and sat down while He Duanrui was still in a daze.

    "You..." Karl was stunned to see a young man who looked like an intern suddenly stand up and offer to treat Johnson. Not to mention Karl, even Johnson seemed to forget to cough, overwhelmed by the surprise.

    "You have lung cancer. In our traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis, it is called ''labor cough,'' ''hoarseness,'' ''inability to project voice'' or ''shortness of breath.'' This signifies the decline of the lung organ, and it is a sure sign of death!" Ge Dongxu said with a grave face.

    "How do you know I have lung cancer?" Johnson was so shocked by the statement that he completely forgot to cough, looking incredulously at Ge Dongxu.

    "Since you''ve come to see our Chinese doctors, you must have surely heard that Chinese medicine relies on the four diagnostic methods: inspection, auscultation and olfaction, inquiry, and palpation. When you came in, I observed your spirit and the color and luster of your facial features, listened to the changes in your voice, and smelled the breath you released when you coughed. In the words of Chinese medicine, ''to know through observation'' means to see the five colors to understand the illness; ''to know through listening'' means to hear the five sounds to distinguish the illness," Ge Dongxu explained.

 Chapter 702 - 701 Its easy to stop your cough

    "Could it be that Chinese medicine is really so miraculous that it can diagnose a person''s illness without modern scientific instruments? Can it even directly diagnose lung cancer?" Johnson said, utterly astonished, while a glimmer of hope also rose in his heart. But that flicker of hope was soon extinguished.

    Cancer, this is a disease recognized worldwide as incurable, and moreover his cancer cells had already begun to spread. Even the most skilled surgeons couldn''t save him.

    "Chinese medicine is indeed miraculous. However, the Four Diagnostic Methods are extremely sophisticated and profound. For a doctor to master them is a thousand times more difficult than learning to operate a medical examination analyzer. A practitioner who is not adept or not careful may make a misdiagnosis, so in this sense, diagnostic methods using instruments have more universal significance. Of course, if it''s a highly skilled Chinese medicine practitioner, the diseases they diagnose are holistically dynamic, and even the same disease may yield different diagnoses and thus different treatments in different people. This is something that instruments and their cold numbers cannot achieve. Hence, Chinese medicine treatment is holistic, and the prescription of a formula is very particular, sometimes even requiring a mix of more than ten different herbs, and for the same disease, different people may receive different prescriptions. Western medicine, on the other hand, generally treats the head when it aches and the foot when it hurts, giving the same medicine for the same diseases," Ge Dongxu replied.

    After listening, Johnson was silent for a long time before he spoke, "I remember there is a Chinese saying about a frog in a well. After hearing your words, I feel like that frog in the well. I used to not believe in Chinese medicine with so many herbs mixed together, unclear of their components, how could they be fit for human consumption. Now I know that there are many mysteries hidden within, unknowable to those who haven''t studied Chinese medicine."

    "Please take a seat, sir. Now, I will take a proper pulse for you to check your current condition," Ge Dongxu said with a light smile.

    "To be honest, I have small cell lung cancer, and the cancer cells have begun to spread. Despite your excellent medical skills, taking my pulse makes little difference now. All I want is for you to help me stop coughing so I can peacefully return to my homeland. After I get back, I''ll quietly wait for death''s arrival," Johnson said as he sat down, speaking with composed serenity.

    After he finished speaking, Johnson suddenly started coughing violently.

    "To stop your coughing is very simple," Ge Dongxu said indifferently. He then got up and gently rubbed acupoints like Neiguan, in the chest area, Fengmen, Feishu, Dingchuan, and Baihui on Johnson. S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As Ge Dongxu rubbed the acupoints, the previously violently coughing Johnson not only stopped coughing very quickly but his face also showed a mix of comfort and astonishment.

    "This... is truly miraculous. I feel so much more comfortable now; I even doubt if the detestable small cell lung cancer has left me!" When Ge Dongxu stopped his hand, Johnson exclaimed in utter disbelief, that hope which had been extinguished in his heart rekindled.

    "If your only wish is to return to your homeland without coughing, I think there''s no problem now," Ge Dongxu said as he returned to his seat.

    After a series of events, especially after the gentle rubbing just now, Johnson not only thoroughly believed in the miraculous aspect of Chinese medicine but also completely trusted that the young man in front of him was a very skilled doctor.

    Therefore, when Ge Dongxu spoke, even though Johnson had already prepared for death, he couldn''t help but look at Ge Dongxu and ask in a trembling voice, "This, this... could it be, can you really treat small cell lung cancer?"

    "There''s a saying in Huaxia Country that good people will receive good karma. Mr. Johnson, in fact, I saw you from afar by the side of Mingyue Lake at noon and heard about your saving an elderly person. Therefore, I will try my best to treat you. Perhaps your condition is worse than I thought, and I may not be able to cure it completely, but I believe allowing you to live a few more years is definitely possible," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Is it, is it several more years of high-quality life? Not just lying on a hospital bed?" Johnson''s voice trembled even more.

    "Of course!" Ge Dongxu nodded.

    If it hadn''t been for Ge Dongxu''s categorical assertion that he had lung cancer and the few gentle presses and kneads afterward, Johnson, one of the world''s top oncological surgeons, would surely have thought Ge Dongxu was spouting nonsense. But now, he couldn''t help but develop a strong confidence in Ge Dongxu.

    "Then what method will you use to treat me?" Johnson asked, unable to hide his excitement.

    "Firstly, I need to diagnose which organs your cancer cells have metastasized to, then decide on the method. If it''s only minor metastasis, perhaps we''ll only need traditional acupuncture plus Chinese medicine to completely cure it. If the metastasis is severe, I''m afraid I''ll have to employ special means, which Dr. He and others can''t use. Regardless, Mr. Johnson, you''re a good man, and I''ll do my best to help you. I hope you''ll continue to treat those who need your help in the same way after this," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "That''s a given, I''m a doctor!" Johnson replied, and, at Ge Dongxu''s signal, he extended his hand.

    Ge Dongxu placed his fingers on his pulse at the ''Cun'', ''Guan'', and ''Chi'' positions, his eyes slightly closed, and a strand of True Qi slowly explored into Johnson''s body.

    It was a while before Ge Dongxu opened his eyes and looked at Johnson, who had an anxious and expectant expression. He smiled and said, "Mr. Johnson, you''re lucky. Your cancer cells have not yet metastasized to the brain. If that part were affected, with my current medical skills, I''m afraid I could only extend your life by a few years."

    Having said this, Ge Dongxu stood up and spoke to Tang Yiyuan, "Professor Tang, please arrange a special medical room. Treating Mr. Johnson''s disease will require some effort and time."

    Then Ge Dongxu spoke to Zhang Xiuwen and others, "Professor Zhang, you continue with the following outpatient clinic, and the others can come with me to watch. Although lung cancer is difficult to treat, something you can''t handle presently, especially a lung cancer like Mr. Johnson''s that has already spread, even I find it challenging. But whatever the disease, there''s always a cure. You all watch carefully later on, thoroughly understand and research, because in the future, a combination of Chinese and Western methods might just be able to cure some cancers."

    Upon hearing this, Professor Zhang''s face showed a hint of dejection and helplessness, while He Duanrui and the others looked on with anticipation and excitement.

    Cancer has been an incurable disease since ancient times and remains so even with today''s medical advancements. If it could truly be cured, witnessing it would be an incredible honor for them, not to mention that according to Ge Dongxu, although they can''t use his methods now, learning and combining them with some Western medical techniques might allow them to cure some cancers in the future.

    However, Tang Yiyuan was somewhat worried and cautiously reminded, "Teacher, Mr. Johnson''s cancer cells have metastasized. Will treating him like last time harm your health?"

 Chapter 703 - 702: Treating Incurable Diseases

    "Rest assured, this time is different from the last. Last time, Grandma Liu''s five organs were deficient, and her spirit was fading; she was nearing the end of her natural lifespan. Trying to extend her life was an act against nature, and indeed, one misstep could have caused me harm. Johnson is only in his forties or fifties, with plenty of vital energy, but he has fallen ill. As long as it''s an illness, appropriate treatment can cure it. The only incurable diseases are those for which our medical skills have not yet reached the required level. For Johnson''s lung cancer, as long as I find the right way to eradicate his cancer cells, he will naturally recover. However, reaching the end of one''s natural lifespan is a true law of nature, which is very difficult for humanity to reverse, and any change we can effect is extremely limited and minor. It''s like the changes in nature that humans can bring about, such as artificial rain, or using air conditioning and greenhouses to create small environments that are different from the larger one, but all these changes are very limited," Ge Dongxu explained in detail, knowing that Tang Yiyuan was worried about him.

    "If that''s the case, then I''m relieved. I''ll arrange for a special medical room," Tang Yiyuan let out a big sigh of relief, contentedly.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, while Zhang Xiuwen and the others seemed to realize something from the conversation between the two, their eyes involuntarily drifted towards a few white hairs mixed in with the hair on the left side of Ge Dongxu''s head, revealing deep awe in their eyes.

    Defying nature and changing fate! No wonder the teacher had looked so much older and haggard these days!

    Johnson and Karl were somewhat baffled by what they heard, but they still sensed the change in the looks and demeanor of everyone in the clinic, and they also had a vague inkling of what was going on, looking at Ge Dongxu with involuntary awe in their eyes.

    Tang Yiyuan went out of the clinic first and had the medical room arranged.

    "Before you treat me, do I need to sign any agreement or contract?" Johnson asked upon entering the medical room.

    "Mr. Johnson, are you worried about my medical skills?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "With any treatment, there''s always a chance of success. My illness is terminal, and that a top doctor like you is willing to treat me, whether successful or not, fills me with gratitude. But to tell you the truth, I am the Chief Oncologist at Caroline Royal Medical College in Reel Country. In case something unexpected happens during the treatment, I''m worried it might cause you unnecessary trouble. Therefore, I hope to sign a disclaimer of liability before you treat me," Johnson said earnestly.

    "Rest assured, Mr. Johnson, even if I can''t cure your disease, there won''t be any danger. I am one hundred percent sure of that. Of course, if you insist, I can have someone bring you a piece of paper, and you can just write a brief sentence on it; there''s no need for anything detailed," Ge Dongxu replied.

    After some thought, Johnson still asked for a pen and paper, wrote a very simple disclaimer on it, then signed it, and Ge Dongxu followed by signing as well.

    "There is another issue, the matter of remuneration," Johnson asked after signing.

    "Mr. Johnson, you already paid your remuneration by the side of Mingyue Lake," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "Thank you, Dr. Ge, whether or not I get better, I will definitely commit to changing the medical community''s prejudices against Chinese medicine when I return," Johnson replied.

    "It seems, Mr. Johnson still lacks confidence in me," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Please forgive me, cancer that has already spread is, to me, a terminal illness. As a top oncology expert, I still can''t fully believe that you can eradicate my cancer cells," Johnson replied sincerely.

    "Although I do not like others doubting my medical skills, I appreciate your honesty!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then continued, "Now we can begin treatment. Please take off your clothes and pants, you can just keep your shorts on, and then lie down on the bed."

    Johnson did as he was told, took off his clothes and pants, then lay down on the bed.

    "When I examined Mr. Johnson just now, I found that part of his cancer cells have already metastasized to the bones and kidneys. This situation, for me, is not very complicated to eradicate. I can use a special method to precisely remove the cancer cells, but it''s something you are not capable of. However, in the future, you might try combining Western surgical removal with Chinese acupuncture and herbal medicine. Use surgery to remove most of the cancer cells, Chinese acupuncture to cut off the blood Qi supply to the remaining cells, and then Chinese herbal medicine to thoroughly kill the residual cancer cells," Ge Dongxu explained while skillfully inserting needles into Johnson''s meridian acupoints.

    "Each of the Twelve Regular Meridians governs an organ in the human body, with the blood Qi circulating through the twelve meridians according to the twelve Chinese Hours. Therefore, if an organ has a problem, the True Qi flow in the corresponding meridian to certain acupoints of the organ will become impaired. When we perform acupuncture, we often stimulate to clear these blockages. But likewise, since cancer cells are not good cells, if we want to kill them, we can also block part of the meridians for certain organs. Still, this is a method of killing a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of our own, so if surgery is used to remove most of the cancer cells and then this method is used to kill the surviving cells, followed by Chinese medicine, the damage to oneself will not be too great," Ge Dongxu continued to explain his approach in detail. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Look, the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian governs the lungs. Even if I want to precisely remove the cancer cells in the lungs, I need to go through this meridian. In the future, when you treat lung cancer, you can do more research on these positions of this meridian," said Ge Dongxu, while pointing to several locations on the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian where he inserted needles.

    Tang Yiyuan and others watched and listened to Ge Dongxu''s explanations, feeling an epiphany, their eyes shining bright with contemplation.

    As for Karl and Johnson who were foreigners and did not understand Chinese medicine, even Johnson, the chief oncology expert at the Caroline Royal Medical College, had very limited knowledge of Chinese medicine. Therefore, they could not understand what Ge Dongxu was saying. However, when Ge Dongxu mentioned the combination of Western and Chinese medicine, Johnson listened thoughtfully.

    After explaining and analyzing while performing acupuncture for a while, Ge Dongxu then closed his mouth, a look of gravity spread across his face.

    Upon seeing this, Tang Yiyuan and the others all had a solemn look on their faces, and even their breathing became careful, as if the medical room had become a sacred place.

    Indeed, in the hearts of Tang Yiyuan and the others, it was a sacred place at this moment.

    Because here, cancer, known to mankind as an incurable disease, was about to be healed, and they were all witnesses.

    Ge Dongxu''s fingers began to move across the needles, strands of True Qi flowed from his fingers along the needles into Johnson''s body, then precisely targeted Johnson''s cancer cells.

 Chapter 704 - 703 I Have a Request

    One by one, the cancer cells were being destroyed, and Johnson''s complexion became paler and paler, but his gaze grew brighter and brighter.

    He felt the "clash of blades and swords" within his body, aware that a silent war was taking place, where every "enemy" was being precisely eliminated.

    This elimination completely differed from surgical procedures.

    No matter how skilled the surgery, it''s impossible to remove cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue, and to be safe, even more healthy tissue and organs might have to be removed. Yet, despite this, cancer cells can often remain and continue to multiply.

    In cases like his, where the cancer has spread, the cells have woven through his body like a spider web, making complete removal impossible, even for the world''s best surgical practitioners.

    But now, Johnson clearly felt that the places in his body that usually caused pain and discomfort were being pricked like needles, followed by an indescribable relief, as if something that had been tightly suppressed suddenly found release.

    Especially in his lungs, after Ge Dongxu applied just a few gentle pressures, Johnson''s coughing stopped. But it wasn''t the cough that had been cured¡ªrather, it was a feeling of being suppressed, much like the effect of taking medication, only that the former caused no harm to the body, whereas the latter could be severely damaging.

    But now, Johnson could clearly feel his lungs were comfortable, a comfort that came from sweating profusely, a release that could not be precisely conveyed without experiencing it firsthand.

    Cancer, particularly small-cell lung cancer that has spread, with cancer cells everywhere, requires precision to eliminate each one without harming good cells or leaving any behind. Even for Ge Dongxu to treat such a case, he needed to be exceedingly careful, taking far more time and effort than treating a severely wounded patient.

    After a full half-hour, Ge Dongxu finally let out a long breath, stood up, and gently scratched the air above Johnson''s body.

    The fine needles stuck in Johnson''s body immediately began to pull out on their own, whizzing like drizzle and falling neatly into Ge Dongxu''s hands.

    When Ge Dongxu was treating Johnson, Karl couldn''t understand what was happening or feel the changes within Johnson''s body. But seeing how Ge Dongxu could just make a grabbing motion in the air and have the needles fly into his palm, Karl''s eyes bulged, as if he had seen a ghost.

    As for Johnson, although he was surprised, he wasn''t too shocked.

    Compared to this skill, curing a terminal illness was what truly astonished Johnson.

    "All right, Mr. Johnson, I have killed your cancer cells. I will now prescribe you a formula that will help regulate your body. If you take it for half a month, your body should be able to recover," said Ge Dongxu.

    "Are you saying that Mr. Johnson''s cancer cells have been completely eliminated just like that?" Karl asked with a face full of astonishment.

    Although Karl was shocked by the skill Ge Dongxu had just demonstrated, the idea that just one session of acupuncture could eradicate the cancer, as Ge Dongxu claimed, was far more bewildering for Karl and hard to believe.

    Of course, after experiencing so much, Karl found it hard to believe, but deep down, there was still some belief.

    "If the teacher said it killed them all, then it killed them all!" Tang Yiyuan''s face fell as he saw Karl questioning Ge Dongxu''s words, and he said unhappily.

    "Professor Tang, please don''t be angry. It''s very hard for one to believe in such miraculous medical skills without experiencing them firsthand. Karl is not doubting Dr. Ge''s medical skills; it''s just that this is too incredible for him, and he needs time to digest it," Johnson hurriedly explained upon seeing the unhappy expressions on the faces of Tang Yiyuan and others.

    "I understand that, but the teacher is the person I respect most in my heart. His medical skills are unparalleled in the world, and I find it hard to accept someone questioning his medical skills in front of me." Tang Yiyuan said in a deep voice.

    By this time, Karl naturally also understood that for someone as extraordinary as Ge Dongxu, once he took action, people had to show him ample respect and trust. Questioning him was an insult, just like with Dr. Johnson¡ªif a top tycoon or politician fell ill, once he took over, even their families were not allowed to make unwarranted comments.

    Because in the field of oncology, he was the world''s top expert, the authority in that area, and if one were to question his treatment methods, it would be to doubt his academic level.

    "I''m sorry, Professor Tang, and I apologize, Dr. Ge. The reason I was so amazed is that the treatment was far beyond my normal understanding, and it was not to question your medical skills," Karl, now understanding, hastily apologized.

    "To be unaware is not a sin, Mr. Karl. However, regarding my affairs, please refrain from promoting them when you return to your country," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dr. Ge, you worry too much. If I were to tell people in my country about you, they would surely think I''m crazy and have me admitted to a mental hospital!" Karl replied upon hearing this.

    "Haha!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but laugh out loud when he heard Karl''s exaggerated words.

    He had only said it casually, but he was actually well aware that, given Westerners'' prejudice against traditional Chinese medicine, people would not believe Karl even if he talked it up. In contrast, Johnson, being a world-renowned oncologist, might be believed by some if he shared his own experience.

    Of course, with that remark from Ge Dongxu just now, the clever Johnson would definitely not go out of his way to promote his story back home.

    "Dr. Ge, thank you for saving me." As Ge Dongxu laughed heartily, Johnson had already dressed and came up to Ge Dongxu, bowing deeply to him with gratitude.

    "Mr. Johnson, you don''t need to thank me; you saved yourself," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Johnson knew that Ge Dongxu was referring to what happened by Mingyue Lake, and his heart filled with a mixture of emotions and relief.

    "Alright, this is your prescription. Chinese medicine tastes bitter, and it becomes a black mush after boiling, which you Westerners are certainly not accustomed to. But in Huaxia Country, there is a saying, ''Good medicine tastes bitter but is beneficial to the illness,'' so you''d best continue to take it for half a month," Ge Dongxu said with a light smile, taking a pen and paper, writing a prescription and handing it to Johnson.

    "Thank you, Dr. Ge, and I apologize for my previous prejudice against Chinese medicine," Johnson said as he took the prescription with both hands and bowed apologetically to Ge Dongxu with a solemn face.

    The prejudice of the West against Chinese medicine is due to their issues and our own; I hope that in the future, traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine can learn from each other and jointly advance medical progress," Ge Dongxu admirably nodded upon seeing such a top expert as Johnson willing to admit his mistake and spoke earnestly.

    "Dr. Ge, I have a request, and I wonder if it would be too abrupt?" Johnson seemed to recall something, his eyes suddenly lighting up, then he cautiously asked.

 Chapter 705 - 704: Meeting the Master

    "Go ahead," Ge Dongxu nodded as he spoke.

    "Could I also call you Teacher? I would like to learn medicine from you," Johnson asked again, carefully and filled with both anticipation and nervousness. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Although you are the Chief Oncologist at the Caroline Royal Medical College of Reel Country and a top-tier expert in oncology worldwide, with undoubtedly unquestionable medical expertise, there''s still a significant difference between Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. For you to start learning traditional Chinese medicine from scratch with me now is not very realistic. Besides, my main occupation is not being a doctor, I only come here two or three afternoons a week to offer some guidance. All of them are traditional Chinese medicine experts from Jiangnan Province, and Professor Tang is now a National Medical Master of Huaxia, which means he is a national expert just like you. They all have a solid foundation in traditional Chinese medicine, so my guidance does not start with the basics," Ge Dongxu considered the words and then gently refused.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s refusal, Johnson was disappointed but still a bit hopeful. He hesitated, then asked again carefully, "It''s true that starting from scratch in traditional Chinese medicine with you is not appropriate; that would be a waste of your valuable time. Like now, I mainly supervise researchers in the field of oncology, and I seldom personally teach undergraduates. Basic knowledge can be taught by ordinary teachers. But from the treatment process you just provided to me, I can infer that you have a very thorough understanding of the human body''s structure and other aspects, far beyond what we currently know. In surgery and other Western medical treatments, you could totally be my teacher. Despite the differences between traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine, they both study the life of the human body, and in this regard, you are far ahead of us. Moreover, what you mentioned at the beginning, about the integration of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in the treatment of cancer, also gave me great inspiration. I hope to utilize my knowledge in Western medicine and then collaborate with Professor Tang and others to research this difficult problem of tumors. Professor Tang and others can teach me the basics of traditional Chinese medicine, and I can also teach them Western medical knowledge."

    Listening to Johnson''s words, Tang Yiyuan, He Duanrui, and others'' eyes lit up with increasing brightness, and they couldn''t help but reveal an expression of excitement on their faces.

    Traditional Chinese medicine has been declining for many years in modern times, let alone being biased against abroad, except for acupuncture, it''s basically not recognized by Western countries. Even in its own country, it has been on a downward slope these years.

    Western medicine is hastening its steps to corner traditional Chinese medicine.

    The Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital has been finding it increasingly difficult to enroll excellent students over the years because talented individuals opt for other professions, and even those who aspire to devote themselves to the medical field tend to choose the more lucrative Western medicine.

    Even at the Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, despite bearing the name of traditional Chinese medicine, many patients still choose Western medicine departments, and it''s the Western medicine departments that actually make money.

    If a top-tier expert from the world''s leading medical colleges like Johnson chose to collaborate with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Jiangnan Province, it would not only afford Tang Yiyuan and others the opportunity to learn the most advanced knowledge of Western medicine in oncology and to collaborate with the top experts in Western medicine, but the significance of the collaboration was even more important.

    Because according to the approach previously suggested by Ge Dongxu, if Tang Yiyuan and others could make a breakthrough in cancer research with Johnson, even if it was only to cure early-stage cancers, once the news was released, the sensation it would cause and the positive impact it would have for the declining traditional Chinese medicine would be immeasurable.

    "Mr. Johnson, not only are you a top-tier medical expert, but you''re also an exceptional lobbyist. I agree to accept you; you can be my student from now on, and you may ask me about anything you don''t understand in medicine. I hope you and Professor Tang can work well together in your research and conquer the difficult problem of cancer at an early date, for the benefit of humanity," Professor Tang and others could think of that naturally Ge Dongxu could as well, and although he himself could cure cancer, his medical skills were not something that could be taught to ordinary people, so after listening to Johnson''s words, he pondered for a moment and finally nodded to Johnson with a smile.

    "Greetings, Master!" Seeing Ge Dongxu nod in agreement, Johnson, despite being a world-class medical expert, couldn''t help but be overjoyed. He suddenly stepped back two steps and then knelt on the ground to kowtow to Ge Dongxu.

    Watching Johnson kowtow to him three times with a "thud, thud, thud," Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but be stunned for a while before laughing, "That''s quite an overstatement for a greeting, isn''t it?"

    "You Huaxia have a saying, ''When in Rome, do as the Romans do,'' right? Since you''ve accepted me as your student, I naturally need to follow the Huaxia custom of paying respect to my teacher," Johnson said reverently.

    "You seem to know quite a bit about the culture of my Huaxia. However, times have changed, and such formalities are not that important anymore. Besides, I can''t really be considered your true teacher, nor can you be considered my true disciples. My real disciples are those who can execute the methods I just demonstrated, but so far, I haven''t found the right person. So, there''s no need to be so formal in the future. Just call me teacher, like Professor Tang and the others," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, growing fonder of this foreign doctor.

    He liked the doctor not only for his compassionate heart but also for his understanding of Huaxia culture. It was clear that he cherished Huaxia''s traditional culture.

    "Teacher, since you''ve taken Johnson as your student today, shouldn''t we have a dinner to celebrate after work, and also to deepen our mutual understanding and discuss the research collaboration?" Tang Yiyuan suggested with a smiling face.

    As an old practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, Tang Yiyuan naturally hoped that one day traditional Chinese medicine would flourish and spread across the world. Now that they had the opportunity to become students of Ge Dongxu alongside a Chief Oncologist from the world''s top medical institution, and collaborate in researching treatment methods for cancer, he could barely contain his excitement and seemed eager to start right away.

    "Professor Tang, Mr. Johnson is still very weak. Wouldn''t it be better to postpone to another day?" Karl, who was a responsible caregiver, immediately objected.

    "Ah, I got too excited and totally forgot that Mr. Johnson is still in a weak state. I apologize, Mr. Johnson," Tang Yiyuan said, slapping his forehead.

    "No problem, Professor Tang. Actually, I''ve never felt as good as I do today. I am totally okay for dinner tonight; it primarily depends on what the teacher thinks," Johnson said, his eyes revealing a hint of anticipation.

    As the Chief Oncologist at the Caroline Royal Medical College, he was more eager than anyone to solve the world''s medical challenge of oncology and cancer and now saw a glimmer of hope with the emergence of Ge Dongxu. He was naturally impatient to learn more about Ge Dongxu and eager to discuss the potential collaboration as soon as possible.

 Chapter 706 - 705: Is Dr. Ge Very Rich?

    "Mr. Johnson, you need to rest..." Karl couldn''t help but become somewhat anxious upon hearing this.

    "Karl, be at ease, and don''t forget that I am a doctor too. I am very clear about the current state of my body," Johnson interrupted, waving his hand.

    Seeing that Johnson was not heeding his advice, Karl opened his mouth again to argue, but Ge Dongxu had already started speaking with a smile, "Alright, Mr. Karl, now that Johnson has become my student, he can naturally receive some special care."

    As he spoke, under Karl''s puzzled gaze, Ge Dongxu reached out and gently patted Johnson''s chest, back, and waist a few times, passing over several strands of True Qi.

    The True Qi of Ge Dongxu was extremely pure and carried a thick and gentle Wood Attribute. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He didn''t hesitate to expend several strands of True Qi he had cultivated, and although it was just a very weak amount, within moments, Johnson''s originally pale face became rosy, and he appeared exceptionally spirited and lively.

    "This..." Karl, seeing Johnson utterly transformed, couldn''t help but widen his eyes in astonishment.

    As for Johnson, although he had long known that Ge Dongxu''s abilities couldn''t be measured by common standards, feeling the abundant physical strength and vigorous energy within him, as though he had turned many years younger, he was still so shocked that he was at a loss for words. After a while, Johnson looked at Ge Dongxu with eyes full of reverence and gratitude and asked, "Teacher, what did you just do to me? I feel so full of life now, and I even think I could defeat a tiger right now."

    "Haha, you just kowtowed to me three times and called me ''teacher.'' As a teacher, I couldn''t just watch you be so weak. What I just did was a welcome gift for you. However, even though your body is now recovered, you still need to continue your medication. The treatment can now be shortened to a week," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Thank you, teacher. Your medical skills are truly miraculous, like the Immortal arts of your Huaxia Country, which we truly cannot learn." Johnson bowed and thanked.

    "That is why I say that the key to overcoming the challenge of tumors and cancer primarily needs your collaborative research. What I did doesn''t really count for much," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "No, teacher, I believe what is most needed is your guidance!" Johnson corrected firmly and seriously.

    Ge Dongxu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and gestured with his hand, "Alright, I see it''s almost time to clock out. Professor Tang, please inform everyone else. As for the hotel, I will arrange it. Let''s have it at the Kun Court."

    Thus, Tang Yiyuan informed the doctors who were studying under Ge Dongxu in Internal Medicine, while Ge Dongxu called Lin Kun to arrange the private rooms and specially reminded to choose dishes with a bit more sweet and sour flavors due to the presence of foreigners.

    Foreigners liked to eat sweet and sour flavored Huaxia dishes, which Ge Dongxu had discovered while dining with foreign teachers like Nico.

    ...

    By evening, the doctors who weren''t at the hospital in the afternoon were both surprised and proud to see that Ge Dongxu had acquired a foreign student, and that this student was the lead oncology expert from the Caroline Royal Medical College in Reel Country. However, when they learned that Johnson was originally a patient with metastasized small-cell lung cancer and had now been cured by Ge Dongxu, what remained was only shock and a deep-seated reverence for Ge Dongxu''s profound abilities.

    In total, there were ten doctors from Internal Medicine studying under Ge Dongxu, and now including Johnson, there were eleven.

    Eleven doctors from both Eastern and Western medicine along with Ge Dongxu and Karl gathered together.

    Ge Dongxu was naturally arranged to sit in the main seat, with Tang Yiyuan and Johnson sitting to his left and right, respectively.

    Johnson finally got to taste the long-missed red wine; for health reasons, he had been forbidden from drinking alcohol.

    Taste buds encountering the familiar flavor, the corners of Johnson''s eyes couldn''t help but moisten.

    Having witnessed countless lifetimes on the operating table, it seemed as though life and death were commonplace to him, but when it came to his own life, how many could truly let go? Moreover, Johnson was only forty-five this year, in the prime of his life!

    "Thank you, teacher! You have not only given me my life back, but you have also shown me hope in conquering cancer!" Spurred by the alcohol, Johnson tightly grasped Ge Dongxu''s hand.

    "Hope is something we must all work together to achieve," said Ge Dongxu with a smile, patting Johnson''s hand.

    Only then did Johnson steady his emotions and nodded emphatically, "When I return home, I''ll arrange the collaboration, but the specifics of how it will unfold need to be discussed in detail with Professor Tang and the others."

    "Mm, you can handle those discussions. I''m only responsible for giving guidance when necessary," Ge Dongxu replied with a nod.

    "Teacher, I think perhaps we can establish a specialized research institution combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine for tumor research!" Professor Tang suggested.

    "That''s a good idea. Since the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital is crowded with many onlookers, so far moving within only the internal medicine department is manageable without drawing much attention. But if we collaborate with the Caroline Royal Medical College in the future, more people will pay attention to the internal medicine department. With so many people coming and going through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, it will become inconvenient for me. Plus, this is a significant research project; it indeed should operate independently. I think we should establish a specialized hospital for tumor research that combines traditional Chinese and Western medicine. There will be no issue with facilities, equipment, or the investment in scientific research funds. I can personally take on the expense," Ge Dongxu said, his eyes lighting up at the suggestion.

    "Medical research funding involves a huge investment; does Dr. Ge have a lot of money?" Karl asked in surprise.

    "Mr. Karl, what do you think of this hotel?" He Duanrui, sitting beside Karl, asked with a smile.

    "Very nice!" Karl replied with a nod.

    "This hotel''s major shareholder is our Teacher Ge, and this is only a portion of his assets," He Duanrui stated.

    "Oh, my God, it turns out Dr. Ge is also a business tycoon," Karl exclaimed in amazement.

    "Teacher, your personal contribution is naturally no problem, but I think President Feng won''t be happy when he finds out. As for the Caroline Royal Medical College, I''m not sure. That depends on how they view this research project," Tang Yiyuan said.

    "The key to this research hospital lies with the teacher, so I believe it shouldn''t be subject to too much external interference. It certainly cannot be subject to their meddling or even control. Therefore, no matter how much the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital or our Caroline Royal Medical College is willing to contribute, the control must remain in the teacher''s hands," Johnson said seriously.

    "Actually, as long as I don''t want others to interfere, no one can. However, to prevent future trivial disputes and hassle, I do think it''s necessary to adopt your suggestion, Johnson. The research hospital''s management rights must be in our hands, and the funding will be mainly provided by me," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

 Chapter 707 - 706 Physical Examination Report

    During dinner that evening, Tang Yiyuan and Johnson, among others, put forward a more detailed conception and suggestion for establishing an independent hospital for tumor research integrating both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western medicine.

    However, Ge Dongxu basically just listened, without offering any more opinions.

    That''s because in this area, Tang Yiyuan and Johnson and others were the real professionals, and they knew better.

    The next day was Tuesday, and Ge Dongxu continued with his studies, while with arrangements made by Tang Yiyuan, Johnson personally met with Principal Feng Yaping to discuss the idea of collaborating with Tang Yiyuan and others on tumor research and establishing a specialized research hospital.

    Although at this point Johnson only represented himself and not the Caroline Royal Medical College, being the chief expert in oncology at the Caroline Royal Medical College and a top expert with great influence in the global medical community, even Johnson''s personal representation held extraordinary significance for Traditional Chinese Medicine, which had always strived to gain international recognition.

    Therefore, after her meeting with Johnson, Feng Yaping immediately had a detailed discussion with Tang Yiyuan and others about the matter, and formally reported to the leaders of the Jiangnan Province Health Department. Upon receiving the report, the leaders of the Health Department naturally understood it as a significant opportunity for the world to recognize Traditional Chinese Medicine, to bring it beyond the borders of Huaxia Country, and to spread it worldwide, so they quickly relayed the matter to the provincial leaders and the Ministry of Health.

    The leaders of Jiangnan Province and the Ministry of Health soon issued instructions to the Provincial Health Department and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to make every effort to facilitate this collaboration.

    By the time the instructions from the Ministry of Health came down, Johnson had already returned to the Caroline Royal Medical College in Gorm, the capital of Reel Country, accompanied by Karl.

    Upon returning to the Caroline Royal Medical College, Johnson arranged a thorough medical examination for himself.

    Johnson hurried to arrange a check-up for himself not because he didn''t trust Ge Dongxu''s medical skills. He was very aware of the condition of his body over the last few days, which was not that of a terminal cancer patient.

    But as a traditional and rigorous practitioner of Western medicine, cold, hard numbers had long been ingrained in his psyche; hence, even though his physical condition had already told him the true result, out of habit, he still needed to see those cold, hard, machine-produced numbers.

    Of course, Johnson also needed those numbers to convince William, the dean of the Caroline Royal Medical College, to collaborate with Jiangnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital on researching cancer, a world-class problem.

    Western medicine in the West had always carried deep-rooted prejudices against Traditional Chinese Medicine, so convincing the dean of the Caroline Royal Medical College to decide to collaborate with Chinese medicine was by no means easy.

    The results of the examination came out quickly.

    Although Johnson had expected the results, when he saw that every index was normal, and some even showed his health was better than before he was sick, Johnson couldn''t help but be deeply shaken inside.

    The incurable disease had truly been completely cured!

    This was a miracle!

    This was a miracle created by Traditional Chinese Medicine, which had always been looked down upon and discriminated against by Western medicine!

    It took a long time for Johnson to calm the shock in his heart before he took the medical report to Dean William''s office.

    "Oh, my God! Dear Johnson, you haven''t eaten the legendary Immortal Pill in Huaxia Country, have you? You look in very good shape now!" Although Johnson''s terminal illness had not been made public and had always been a secret, William, as the dean of the medical college and Johnson''s good friend, knew this sad news. Therefore, when he saw Johnson looking rosy and spirited in the office, he couldn''t help but exclaim in surprise.

    "If I told you that I really have eaten the legendary Immortal Pill from Huaxia Country, would you believe me?" Johnson asked seriously.

    "Johnson, although I''d love for the legendary Immortal Pill to exist, that joke isn''t funny; we need to face reality!" William replied upon hearing this.

    "This is my latest medical report, take a look and you''ll know I''m not joking with you." Johnson handed the report to William.

    William took the report with a skeptical look, then lowered his head to read it.

    Upon reading, William was like a cat that had its tail stepped on; he almost jumped up from his seat.

    "Is this, your medical report? Are you sure there''s been no mistake?" The dean of one of the world''s top medical schools began to stammer as he spoke.

    "If there''s a mistake with this, then it means there''s a serious problem with our college''s management, and you, the dean, might as well resign!" Johnson said sternly, watching the always steady William stammering.

    "But that''s impossible; you clearly had small cell lung cancer, by now the cancer cells should have started to spread throughout your body!" William still said incredulously.

    "But the examination results are not wrong, and my current health is very good; you can see that with your own eyes, this is the fact!" Johnson said. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Upon hearing this, William looked up at Johnson, his breathing gradually becoming heavier.

    "Does Huaxia Country really have a medicine that can cure cancer? Don''t tell me about any Immortal Pills - I''m serious!" After a long while, William asked seriously, trying to keep himself calm, yet his voice still trembled slightly.

    "No, but there is a doctor who can cure cancer, a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine!" Johnson replied, his eyes showing a hint of reverence.

    If Johnson had said this to William before, William would have laughed it off as a huge joke, but now, William was completely stunned, like a statue.

    "Traditional Chinese Medicine? A practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine can actually cure cancer! Johnson, why do I feel like this is a great irony?" After a long while, a self-mocking smile appeared on William''s face, and he said bitterly.

    "Yes, had I not experienced it myself, I wouldn''t have been able to believe that traditional Chinese medicine truly has miraculous aspects beyond our Western medicine''s imagination. Therefore, William, we can no longer have the bias we used to have against traditional Chinese medicine. We should recognize its value, and we should strengthen cooperation and research in it. Only this way can our Caroline Royal Medical College continue to maintain a leading position in the world." Johnson said gravely.

    "It seems, Johnson, my good friend, that you came here not just to show me this medical report! But Johnson, you have to understand, if our college cooperates with traditional Chinese medicine, it will cause a sensation around the world and will be laughed at by all Western medical institutions!" Looking at Johnson for a long while, William said with a bitter smile.

    "What does others'' laughter matter in the face of genuine medical research! Besides, those who laugh will eventually find out that they are the ones who should be laughed at!" Johnson said decisively.

 Chapter 708 - 707: Refusal

    "But dear Johnson, many prejudices run deep. You are my good friend, and I am aware of your situation, your character, your academic level, so I trust you. But do you think others will believe you? I can agree to your proposal, but what about those old stubborn ones in the academy? Do you think they would agree? And what about King Gustadin? He would absolutely not allow the prestigious Royal Medical Academy to have any connection with Traditional Chinese Medicine, unrecognized by the West!" William looked at Johnson and said after a long silence.

    "It''s just a collaborative research in the field of tumor medicine. I, the chief expert, agree, and you, the dean, agree; let the others oppose if they must," Johnson said.

    "But if King Gustadin disagrees, our agreement will be useless," William said.

    "If King Gustadin disagrees, then I will cooperate with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Jiangnan Province in my personal capacity. I believe my team and my students will surely join me," Johnson said firmly.

    "It seems, Johnson, you had already made up your mind!" William said with a bitter smile, looking at Johnson.

    "Yes! I have taken the Chinese doctor who cured my cancer as my master. His miraculous medical skills are something we cannot learn, but he can guide us in conquering this global challenge of cancer. He will be the mentor for this research team. William, believe me, this is an opportunity for our Royal Medical Academy. If you oppose it, you will deny the Royal Medical Academy the chance to witness humanity conquering cancer alongside the Chinese," Johnson replied.

    "Johnson, I trust you, and I support you, but only if you gain the support of King Gustadin. Otherwise, you really can only cooperate with the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Jiangnan Province in your personal capacity. And your team, and your students, will also have to choose between following you and staying at the Royal Medical Academy," William said after pondering for a long time.

    "William!" Johnson''s facial expression changed slightly upon hearing this.

    "Dear Johnson, please forgive me. I am not only your good friend, I am also the dean of this academy. You are the chief expert, and I cannot constrain you, but I definitely must constrain others. So, good luck!" William said with a look of helplessness.

    "Alright!" Johnson stood up and then took his medical report with him.

    After leaving the dean''s office, Johnson immediately had his secretary contact King Gustadin''s secretary, expressing his wish to meet with the King.

    Johnson was a world-leading expert in oncology, which carried considerable influence. After hearing from his secretary, King Gustadin quickly received Johnson in the royal palace''s reception hall located in the city center.

    After meeting, they greeted and exchanged pleasantries. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Johnson quickly explained his purpose, even pulling out his own medical report in an attempt to convince King Gustadin.

    "No, no, Professor Johnson, I absolutely will not allow my medical academy to be associated with Chinese medicine! This would make my medical academy the laughing stock of other academies and would embarrass me and the Royal Family," King Gustadin immediately waved dismissively after hearing Johnson''s words.

    "Your Majesty, conquering cancer would benefit all of mankind. What are ridicule and embarrassment in comparison to that?" Johnson said.

    "No, no, Professor Johnson, it''s not just about ridicule and embarrassment, it''s that I do not believe Chinese medicine can contribute anything to the research in defeating cancer. If that is the case, why don''t we earnestly devote ourselves to research instead of seeking their cooperation, only to invite mockery?" Gustadin waved dismissively.

    "So Your Majesty does not believe what I said before?" Johnson pointed to his own medical report, his face showing displeasure.

    "No, no, Professor Johnson, I certainly believe you. But there are exceptions in everything, and phenomena that occur suddenly and cannot be explained, just like genetic mutations. Perhaps your trip to ancient Huaxia Country allowed you a complete relaxation of mind and body, and then your body miraculously recovered, not because of the Traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, or perhaps the Chinese medicine gave you miraculous psychological comfort, which then unleashed your body''s potential, and your cancer cells vanished, who knows, everything is possible," Gustadin said.

    Johnson saw that Gustadin''s prejudice against Traditional Chinese medicine was as deeply rooted as his had been before. Even when he laid the report in front of him, King Gustadin would rather believe it was an accident than believe Traditional Chinese medicine had cured his cancer. It was even quite possible that King Gustadin truly thought Johnson was deceiving him, merely keeping up appearances, hence not saying it outright.

    "Since Your Majesty thinks so, I will take my leave," Johnson sighed resignedly in his heart, stood up, bowed to Gustadin, then turned and left.

    He did not blame Gustadin as such an event was indeed too unbelievable; if he had not experienced it himself, he would certainly have doubted and disbelieved it too.

    Just a while after Johnson had left the Royal Palace, King Gustadin''s medical officer, his personal doctor, walked in with a grave expression.

    "What is wrong, Doctor Jeffrey? You look worried," Gustadin gently rubbed his abdomen as he asked.

    "Your Majesty, I regret to inform you that your abdominal pain is not a stomach issue, but a problem with your pancreas," Doctor Jeffrey said somberly.

    "How could it be a pancreatic issue, is it serious?" Gustadin felt a sudden chill in his heart, a foreboding feeling quietly emerging.

    "It''s quite serious, requiring further examination for a definitive diagnosis," Doctor Jeffrey replied.

    "Could it be pancreatic cancer?" Gustadin''s face turned pale, his voice trembling as he asked.

    "I''m sorry, Your Majesty, I am not yet able to provide a definite answer," Doctor Jeffrey replied.

    "If it is pancreatic cancer, what would be the outcome?" Gustadin looked at Jeffrey, already understanding he might indeed have pancreatic cancer, his voice increasingly trembling as he inquired.

    "Pancreatic cancer is one of the malignancies with the poorest prognosis, with a five-year survival rate of less than one percent, a high mortality rate during surgery, and a very low chance of cure. Of course, if Mr. Johnson were conducting the surgery, the situation should be much better, as he is one of the world''s foremost cancer specialists. He has previously¡­" Jeffrey began his response from a professional perspective, but realizing Gustadin''s worsening expression, he suddenly realized he should not speak so, and hastily mentioned Johnson.

    "You don''t need to explain, I understand. It seems that there''s a high chance I have pancreatic cancer," Gustadin, a wise King, was sure about his possible diagnosis of pancreatic cancer when Jeffrey suddenly shifted his tone mid-sentence.

    "Yes, Your Majesty, I recommend immediate further examinations for a definitive diagnosis," Jeffrey looked at King Gustadin and nodded in conclusion.

 Chapter 709 - 709: 708

    "Teacher, Johnson said he couldn''t persuade King Gustadin, so he can only participate in our integrated traditional and western medicine tumor research institute in his personal capacity," Tang Yiyuan told Ge Dongxu on Thursday afternoon when the workday was over.

    "I know, tell Johnson not to worry about it, as long as he comes. Since Caroline Royal Medical College has refused our invitation, they will no longer have the opportunity to take part in this great medical research project," Ge Dongxu said indifferently upon hearing this.

    What Huaxia Country truly lacks is world-class top western oncologists, so for this research, as long as Johnson comes onboard as the chief scientist for the western medicine side, we can find suitable people from our side to participate in the study. Johnson is from Caroline Royal Medical College, and since he will serve as the chief scientist for the western medicine side, it would be unscrupulous to leave Caroline Royal Medical College out of the equation, and Johnson has always wanted his medical college to be involved in this great study, which is why Ge Dongxu had never objected before.

    Now that Caroline Royal Medical College is unwilling to take part, Ge Dongxu, being who he is, naturally wouldn''t demean himself by begging them to join.

    "Okay, Teacher, what about the western medicine side?" Tang Yiyuan nodded and then asked.

    "After Johnson arrives, he will select the appropriate personnel from our country''s oncologists to form a team, with priority consideration for Jiangnan University Medical College. I think, given his influence in the western medical community, many doctors in our country will be eager to participate in this research project," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Absolutely! I''ve specifically looked into Johnson''s background these past few days, and it''s quite impressive. Not only is he a member of the world''s top medical salon academic organizations, but he''s also a favorite guest among many world-class wealthy politicians¡ªbecause a number of these politicians or their family members have been under his scalpel and managed to receive treatment. Johnson even made it onto the cover of the United States'' ''Time'' magazine. Once we release this news, I''m afraid that the threshold of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital will be worn down by many domestic cancer specialists," Tang Yiyuan said.

    "Really? Well, if Johnson runs over to our side, Caroline Royal Medical College''s loss will be substantial," Ge Dongxu commented with a smile, feeling slightly surprised inside, as he really didn''t know Johnson had such renown.

    "I think the biggest loss for Caroline Royal Medical College is not taking part in this research project," Tang Yiyuan said proudly upon hearing this.

    "Haha, I do enjoy hearing that," Ge Dongxu laughed, responding to Tang''s words.

    "I also enjoy saying it!" Tang Yiyuan stated, looking at Ge Dongxu with an unmistakable admiration in his eyes.

    It was precisely because of him that, as a practitioner of Chinese medicine, one could afford to be so "arrogant" in the face of rejection from a world-class medical college.

    "Alright, let''s not boast anymore. Mention this to President Feng, and just tell him it''s my wish, so that those people on top don''t go knocking on Caroline Royal Medical College''s door begging for cooperation after they declined to participate. We only offer the opportunity once; saying more is pointless," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Got it, I understand," Tang Yiyuan replied.

    "Then I''m heading back first," Ge Dongxu nodded to Tang Yiyuan and then left the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    The cold wind whistled, and people hurried by, but only Ge Dongxu rode his bicycle steadily, as if he quite enjoyed the brisk chill.

    Feeling the desolation of winter along the way, Ge Dongxu arrived at Jiangnan University. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Upon returning to Jiangnan University, Ge Dongxu didn''t go to the cafeteria but headed straight for the library instead.

    Today, although his cultivation had not yet reached the realm where he could abstain from earthly food and drink, going without food and water for several days had little effect on him.

    Many times, Ge Dongxu ate merely out of a habit formed since birth; it seemed strange not to have something for meals, but it wasn''t necessary.

    Ever since he had gotten a glimpse into the mystery of hibernation, he had been contemplating and feeling the desolation of winter each day, and his desire for food had diminished quite a lot, to the point where if he had work in the afternoon, he was too lazy to go to the cafeteria upon returning to campus.

    Before reaching the library, Ge Dongxu saw Nico looking around at the entrance.

    Nico was wearing black flats, blue jeans, an orange leather jacket, and underneath, a knitted sweater.

    The blue jeans perfectly outlined her round, pert buttocks and her long, full legs. Her ample bosom made the sweater stretch taut, and even in winter, there was not a hint of bulkiness on Nico, only the curves of her sensual figure, like a fire in winter, which made one feel a warmth all over upon seeing her.

    Last time in Golden Mountain County, although Nico was quite clingy to Ge Dongxu, she could even be considered a bit unrestrained in private.

    But after returning to school, Nico had become much more reserved, rarely disturbing Ge Dongxu.

    Clearly, Nico was very smart and understood Ge Dongxu''s personality well.

    Therefore, Ge Dongxu hadn''t seen Nico for quite some time.

    Suddenly seeing her at the library, he couldn''t help but have his eyes light up, feeling a sense of amazement.

    Nico quickly spotted Ge Dongxu as well. Her beautiful eyes lit up, and after waving at him, she immediately walked briskly towards him.

    "You''re not really here just waiting for me, are you?" Ge Dongxu joked as he looked at Nico''s cheeks, which were reddened from the cold wind.

    "You guessed it, I went to your dormitory and didn''t find you. Li Chenyu told me that you go to the library every day, so after I didn''t find you inside, I just waited here. I''ve been waiting for a whole hour now; I''m nearly frozen to death!" As Nico spoke, she shoved her hands into Ge Dongxu''s pockets, drawing astonished looks from some passing students.

    "No way, don''t you have my cellphone number? If you really needed me, couldn''t you have just called?" Ge Dongxu casually joked, not expecting it to be true, and now looked at Nico in surprise.

    "Last time in the Capital, didn''t you leave a note saying I''m not allowed to call you?" Nico said.

    "Please, don''t be so silly! That was before, when I didn''t want you to come looking for me again. Now that you''re at the same school as me, why would you still hold on to the message from that note?" said Ge Dongxu, both amused and exasperated.

    "I''m pretending to be silly on purpose, so you''ll feel sorry, you''ll feel pity, and then you''ll agree to my request. I know you''re a very kind-hearted man!" Nico blinked her deep blue eyes.

    "What is it you want?" Ge Dongxu asked, looking at Nico''s eyes filled with exotic charm, and couldn''t help but feel a headache coming on.

 Chapter 710 - 709 Ge Dongxus Refusal

    "Next Friday is Christmas Eve, and some foreign teachers at our school along with other people are holding a Christmas party. I want to invite you to come with me," Nico said, and it was hard to tell if it was because of the cold, but she was almost clinging to Ge Dongxu.

    "It doesn''t seem appropriate for me to go to a party thrown by foreigners," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "No, not at all, there will be many people bringing friends from Huaxia Country. Please go, I''m begging you! Who knows when we''ll be able to see each other again after this year," Nico said, her charming eyes pleading as she gazed at Ge Dongxu.

    "Are you going back to your country?" Ge Dongxu asked, slightly taken aback.

    "Maybe," Nico replied, a trace of confusion in her eyes. S§×arch* The N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Seeing the confusion in Nico''s eyes, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but think of the time he saw her bloody, lying in the bathroom in the capital city, and he sighed inwardly, knowing she had a story.

    But everyone has their own secrets, and Ge Dongxu naturally wouldn''t ask unless she chose to tell them.

    "Alright, thank you for the invitation." True to Nico''s words, Ge Dongxu couldn''t refuse an invitation from a woman who had been waiting for him in the cold wind for an hour.

    Of course, back then, Western holidays had not yet become popular in Huaxia Country, so Liu Jiayao and Jiang Lili would not ask him to spend the holiday with them, otherwise, Ge Dongxu would definitely prioritize Liu Jiayao and the others.

    "Thank you, I knew you wouldn''t refuse!" Seeing Ge Dongxu agree, Nico flashed him a charming and alluring smile, then suddenly kissed him on the cheek and, with her seductive red lips close to Ge Dongxu''s ear, whispered, "Darling, you go ahead to the library to study; I won''t cause you any more trouble."

    After saying that, Nico turned and walked away quickly, her light steps carrying her off into the twilight, her swaying hips indescribably sexy.

    At that moment, Ge Dongxu naturally noticed that many of the male students passing by the library were looking at him with a mix of envy, jealousy, and resentment.

    Ge Dongxu shook his head with a wry smile and then entered the library, diving into the ocean of books.

    ...

    In Gorme, at the palace.

    It had been only four or five days since Johnson last requested an audience with Gustadin. Back then, Gustadin seemed to be in fair spirits, but now he had suddenly become gaunt, his hand occasionally rubbing his abdomen.

    Such is human nature; before knowing of a terminal illness, everything may seem normal, one might endure the pain, but once aware of the diagnosis, a person''s condition can suddenly deteriorate sharply.

    The King was no exception.

    Before, he thought his abdominal pain was just a gastrointestinal issue, so he would just take some medicine and bear it, but since he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week, his spirit had almost collapsed, and it took him more than half a day to gradually accept this harsh reality.

    But his spirits could never return to their original nobility, elegance, and confidence. Like many cancer patients, his eyes would occasionally reveal sadness and despair.

    "Professor Johnson, if you perform surgery on me, how confident are you?" Gustadin looked at Johnson with hopeful eyes and asked.

    "Pancreatic cancer is difficult to diagnose in its early stages, so Your Majesty''s situation is not very optimistic. Even if I perform surgery on you, a one- or two-year survival rate should not be a problem, but the five-year survival rate would be very low. Of course, there are risks associated with the surgery. There could be unexpected complications during the procedure, or your internal condition could be worse than we''ve detected. These are things I cannot guarantee," Johnson replied gravely, not sugarcoating his words just because Gustadin was the King.

    "One or two years?" Gustadin''s face showed a sorrowful expression, saying, "Professor Johnson, I am only forty-six years old this year."

    Johnson remained silent upon hearing this, offering no response.

    He could understand Gustadin''s feelings at that moment because he was around the same age as Gustadin, and not long ago, he too was a cancer patient facing the approach of death.

    "Professor Johnson, the Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner you mentioned last time, is he really that miraculous? Can he truly cure someone''s cancer?" After a while, Gustadin spoke up again, his expression somewhat embarrassed.

    Just a few days prior, he had a deep-rooted bias against Traditional Chinese Medicine. But now, under the threat of death, he suddenly remembered the living example of Johnson, and the ancient and mysterious Traditional Chinese Medicine suddenly became his hope for survival.

    "Your Majesty, are you questioning my integrity?" Johnson said with a slight sternness in his tone.

    "No, no, Professor Johnson, I didn''t mean that at all. It''s just that such a thing is too incredible to believe, so that''s why I refused earlier. But now I want to give it a try. I wonder if you could arrange a meeting for me with that Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner? If he can really cure my illness, I will certainly support the collaboration between Caroline Royal Medical College and Jiangnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital for cancer research," Gustadin said.

    "Your Majesty, although I respect you greatly, I regret to inform you that my teacher does not need to seek collaboration with our Caroline Royal Medical College. It was because of me that our college was given the opportunity to collaborate. Now that you have rejected that opportunity, Huaxia Country called me two days ago. Due to your refusal, our Caroline Royal Medical College has lost that opportunity. Therefore, the condition you are proposing is nothing but a joke," Johnson replied with a bitter smile.

    "Regardless, please give him a call for me and tell him I would like to ask for his help in treating me," Gustadin said after a pause, speaking up again.

    "You are the King, and as a citizen of Reel Country, I would be happy to serve you, but whether my teacher is willing to help is not up to me," Johnson said.

    "Thank you, Professor Johnson," Gustadin nodded with gratitude.

    Johnson exchanged pleasantries, then stood up and dialed Ge Dongxu''s number in front of Gustadin.

    The call was quickly connected.

    Johnson conveyed King Gustadin''s request to Ge Dongxu.

    "Johnson, please remember in the future. I exerted my energy to save you because of your boundless heart of benevolence, because I happened to see your kindness by the shores of Mingyue Lake, and because you happened to come to our internal medicine department of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This was fate. But from the moment your King refused your invitation, there was no longer any fate between him and me, so I will not save him. You can imagine, with my medical skills, if I saved everyone who asked, would I have a life of my own? Being a doctor is not my profession, so unless it''s someone close to you, please do not make such a request of me again," Ge Dongxu replied without hesitation, refusing outright.

 Chapter 711 - 710 Summoning the Ambassador

    "Yes, I understand, I''m sorry for disturbing you, teacher," Johnson replied with solemn respect upon hearing the words.

    Ge Dongxu''s words seemed almost merciless, but Johnson knew that with Ge Dongxu''s medical skills, he had to learn to refuse; he couldn''t possibly treat everyone who came knocking.

    Just like himself, as a top world expert on tumors, he knew not how many people from around the world wanted him to operate each year, but the ones who actually made it onto his operating table were always just a small portion, with the majority being turned away.

    Because he simply didn''t have that much energy!

    Of course, Johnson could never turn away the wealthy or political figures.

    This is the reality of the world; no one can ignore the influence that money and power have, Johnson included.

    Just like now, when King Gustadin fell ill and made a request for treatment, probably the whole world''s doctors except for Ge Dongxu could ignore his status and refuse without hesitation.

    Because not a single doctor could ignore the money and power that Gustadin represented!

    This was precisely why Johnson held Ge Dongxu in such high esteem.

    Because Ge Dongxu could completely disregard the money and power that Gustadin represented, and Johnson could clearly hear from Ge Dongxu''s words that, in his heart, King Gustadin was no different from any ordinary person.

    "Johnson, you don''t have to apologize. You are from Reel Country, and it''s only right for you to make this call for your country''s King," Ge Dongxu sought to reassure Johnson without burdening him, and then he hung up the phone.

    "Professor Johnson, what did Dr. Ge say? When will he come to Gorme?" King Gustadin asked right after Johnson had hung up the phone.

    In his view, inviting any doctor to treat himself, the King of a nation, was an honor for the other party! Of course, the compensation he offered was definitely very generous; no doctor could refuse it.

    Dr. Ge, whom Johnson had mentioned, was naturally no exception.

    "No, Your Majesty, my teacher refused to treat you. He said that from the moment you turned down the invitation from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, there was no fate between you," Johnson replied with a wry smile.

    "He actually refused? Does he not know that I am the King? As long as he can treat me, I am willing to not only agree to a cooperation between Caroline Royal Medical College and their Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital but also to grant him a title and pay him a substantial sum," King Gustadin said, incredulous and even feeling somewhat humiliated upon hearing this.

    Reel Country, also a constitutional monarchy, might not match up to the United Kingdom, but it''s certainly one of the more powerful nations in Europe. Gustadin was the head of Reel Country and the Commander of the armed forces, enjoying high influence and status worldwide.

    As for wealth, it was as high as several billion US Dollars.

    "Your Majesty, I think he is aware, but he does not care about those things," Johnson replied.

    "No, no, Professor Johnson, you must not have made it clear to him just now. Call him again now, tell him that as long as he can cure my disease, I can pay him ten million Riel, no, even a billion Riel or more," Gustadin gestured dismissively.

    "I''m sorry, Your Majesty, but I cannot make that call. If I make that call, it would be an insult to him! I am his student, and although you are my King, I cannot insult my teacher because of you," Johnson refused firmly.

    KIng Gustadin was clearly taken aback by Johnson''s refusal; he stared at him for a while before saying, "Since that''s the case, I won''t force you, Professor Johnson. I believe the Ambassador from Huaxia Country would be more than willing to do me this favor." Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I hope Your Majesty would better not do that, since he has already refused. Asking their country''s ambassador to help would be disrespecting him," Johnson said with a frown.

    "I have no other better solution," said Gustadin.

    Johnson showed a look of helplessness on his face, stood up, took his leave, and left.

    After Johnson left, Gustadin immediately ordered someone to arrange a meeting with the Huaxia Country''s ambassador to Reel Country.

    The ambassador from Huaxia Country to Reel Country had the family name Liu.

    Upon hearing that His Majesty King Gustadin had urgently requested to see him, Liu couldn''t help feeling a bit apprehensive, worrying that some major diplomatic incident had occurred, so he hurriedly rushed to the palace.

    When Ambassador Liu arrived at the palace, King Gustadin immediately received him. After they exchanged greetings, King Gustadin informed Ambassador Liu about his desire to have a traditional Chinese medicine doctor from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Jiangnan Province treat his illness.

    Ambassador Liu was initially very surprised and taken aback by this request, but he quickly became excited.

    The King asking for a Chinese medicine doctor to treat him was a great affair indeed!

    Of course, in Ambassador Liu''s view, not only was this a splendid matter, it was also a minor task that could be easily accomplished.

    It was not just about a doctor from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Jiangnan Province, even if it were a National Medical Master, as long as he conveyed King Gustadin''s wishes back to the country, the authorities there would immediately arrange for the doctor to come over.

    After all, this was a political task involving the relations between two countries!

    Of course, for a traditional Chinese medicine doctor to go abroad and even treat the King of Reel Country was a matter of great honor, and if it weren''t for King Gustadin having already specified his choice, it might have required competition for the opportunity.

    "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will report this matter to our national leaders today and have them immediately arrange for Dr. Ge to come to Gorme." Ambassador Liu confidently replied.

    "Also, please tell Dr. Ge that as long as he is willing to come, I will pay him one million Riel for his trouble, and if he can cure my illness, I am willing to pay one hundred million Riel," said King Gustadin.

    Even as an ambassador dealing with the foreign affairs of a nation, Ambassador Liu almost lost his composure and exclaimed out loud upon hearing the figure quoted by King Gustadin.

    Because the exchange rate between the Riel Currency and the RMB is about one to five, one million Riel would be five million RMB, while one hundred million would naturally be five hundred million RMB.

    For Ambassador Liu, not to mention five hundred million RMB, even five million was a very large sum for an individual.

    And five million was merely the appearance fee!

    Seeing the undeniable shock on Ambassador Liu''s face, King Gustadin felt a hint of pride inside.

    He simply did not believe there was anyone in the world who didn''t like money!

    He did not believe that in the not-so-affluent Huaxia Country, there was any doctor who could refuse an appearance fee of one million Riel, of course, one hundred million would depend on skill to earn.

    "Your Majesty, I think Dr. Ge would definitely be very willing to serve you," said Ambassador Liu, after overcoming his shock, immediately.

    Now he even began to envy that Dr. Ge!

    As for the possibility of Dr. Ge''s refusal, Ambassador Liu didn''t even consider it.

    A matter involving diplomatic relations between two nations, could a traditional Chinese medicine doctor afford to decline?

    Moreover, there was so much money to be earned!

 Chapter 712 - 711 This is Dr. Ge

    "I''ve heard that Dr. Ge is a very skilled doctor from your Huaxia Country, a very proud man," Gustadin said.

    "I don''t know where His Majesty the King heard about Dr. Ge. In fact, we have many skilled traditional Chinese medicine practitioners in Huaxia Country whose reputations far exceed Dr. Ge''s. They are also involved in the health care of our national leaders. If His Majesty is willing, I can recommend to you the experts in Chinese medicine I know of. Of course, if His Majesty insists on having Dr. Ge, there will be absolutely no problem. No matter how proud he is, he would not refuse an invitation from His Majesty the King; you needn''t worry about that at all," said Ambassador Liu after hearing Gustadin''s words, naturally feeling puzzled and hesitant as he spoke.

    "No, no, I just have some confidence in Dr. Ge''s medical skills; there''s no need for anyone else," Gustadin replied, without revealing any other information.

    The physical condition of a king is naturally not something to be disclosed carelessly, especially in the case of terminal illnesses. Without adequate preparation and arrangements, the disclosure of such information would cause a huge uproar.

    Therefore, in his conversation with Ambassador Liu, Gustadin only mentioned that he was feeling a bit unwell and wanted a Chinese doctor to help him recuperate, yet he did not breathe a word about his specific condition, nor did he even bring up Johnson''s name.

    Since Johnson was the top oncologist in Reel Country, mentioning him would easily lead Ambassador Liu to think of tumors and cancer.

    While Ambassador Liu found it incredible and rather dismissive that Gustadin insisted on inviting an obscure Chinese doctor for treatment, since King Gustadin was insistent, he naturally wouldn''t foolishly oppose the idea, much less probe about Gustadin''s specific condition without due respect.

    "Since His Majesty the King has confidence in Dr. Ge, I will make the arrangements immediately," said Ambassador Liu.

    "Good, please do it as soon as possible," Gustadin said.

    Ambassador Liu, not knowing Gustadin was suffering from pancreatic cancer, which couldn''t afford any delay, sensed the urgency when he said as quickly as possible; despite his curiosity, he did not dare to neglect the matter and immediately stood up to take his leave.

    Upon returning to the Huaxia Embassy in Reel Country, Ambassador Liu immediately reported to the Director of the European Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs about the invitation from the King of Reel Country for Dr. Ge Dongxu from Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to treat him.

    A request from a head of state to invite a doctor from Huaxia Country to provide medical care is naturally good news and an honor for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and of course, it is a very important diplomatic event.

    Thus, upon receiving the news, the Director of the European Department promptly reported it to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

    Given that it concerned a head of state, and especially one from one of the most developed countries in Europe, Reel Country, even the Minister of Foreign Affairs did not dare to neglect the matter and immediately reported it to his superiors.

    Once the Minister of Foreign Affairs reported upward, it reached a very high level of importance.

    Soon, the leadership of the Ministry of Health received instructions from the higher-ups to issue an order to the Jiangnan Province Health Department demanding that Ge Dongxu immediately come to the capital. Accompanied by relevant personnel from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, he would prepare to depart for Reel Country.

    The Director of the Health Department, upon receiving this order, certainly did not dare to delay matters and immediately called President Feng to convey that he would personally visit Jiangnan Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to meet Ge Dongxu and discuss the matter of going to Reel Country to treat the King.

    Previously, a deputy director had been involved in dealing with the incident where Jiayao was threatened by Koreans at Qinglan Cosmetics, but this time, it was the Director himself who was alarmed.

    The Director, surnamed Wang, did not know Ge Dongxu.

    Although President Feng was aware that Ge Dongxu''s identity was no ordinary one, after all, a king is still a king. Feeling excited after receiving the call from Director Wang, she did not dare to delay and immediately rushed from the school to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    When President Feng arrived at the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Director Wang had also just arrived at the hospital.

    "President Feng, good to see you!" As Feng Yaping hurried over, Official Wang quickly stepped forward to shake her hand, his attitude extremely humble and enthusiastic.

    Because aside from being the president of the Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine University, Feng Yaping was also the wife of Governor Sang, whose status was much more significant to Official Wang than her academic position.

    "Hello, Official Wang. Doctor Ge is in the internal medicine department today. Let''s go meet him now and discuss this matter," Feng Yaping said as she shook hands with Official Wang.

    "That''s exactly what I was thinking," Official Wang nodded, then walked shoulder to shoulder with Feng Yaping toward the stairs.

    "President Feng, this Dr. Ge Dongxu, I seem to have never heard of him before," asked Official Wang as they walked.

    In Official Wang''s view, a practitioner of Chinese medicine that could catch the attention of the king of Reel Country must certainly be very famous, yet he found it strange that he had no recollection of this particular doctor.

    "Doctor Ge belongs to the lineage of mentoring physicians. He keeps a low profile and takes an unorthodox approach, so it''s normal that you haven''t heard of him," Feng Yaping replied. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I see," said Official Wang, nodding in understanding and then asking with some concern, "So, his medical skills must be very impressive, right?"

    "You don''t need to worry about his medical skills. Even Professor Tang Yiyuan now addresses him as ''teacher.'' So it would be best if you were quite humble and polite when you meet him," Feng Yaping responded.

    "To think that we have a practitioner of Chinese medicine in Jiangnan Province whom even Professor Tang calls ''teacher''! No wonder even foreigners have heard of him. It seems I have been remiss in my duties as an official," said Official Wang, his face showing a look of astonishment.

    "The king of Reel Country heard about Doctor Ge for another reason, not because Doctor Ge is widely known. He really isn''t famous and doesn''t like to be promoted," Feng Yaping explained with a smile.

    An incredulous expression appeared on Official Wang''s face upon hearing this.

    In the midst of their conversation, they arrived at the internal medicine department.

    They went straight to the director''s office upon reaching the internal medicine department.

    In the director''s office, Tang Yiyuan was already waiting for them. He stood up to shake hands and greet them as they entered, then said, "Please wait a moment. I will go call Teacher Ge."

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan personally go to call Ge Dongxu, Feng Yaping did not show any sign of surprise, but Official Wang, despite his mental preparation, couldn''t help but show a look of shock.

    It wasn''t long before Tang Yiyuan returned to the director''s office, accompanied by Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing Tang Yiyuan come in with a young man, Official Wang had his head out, looking beyond him, and asked, "Professor Tang, where is Doctor Ge?"

    "Official Wang, this gentleman here is Doctor Ge," said Feng Yaping, rising to introduce him with a smile.

    "He, he is Doctor Ge?" Even with Official Wang''s experience in grand settings, upon realizing that this young man was the one whom even Tang Yiyuan addressed as ''teacher,'' and who had been famously invited by the king of Reel Country, he suddenly widened his eyes and seemed almost tongue-tied.

 Chapter 713 - 712: Should We Force Director Ge to Go?

    Feng Yaping saw the shocked expression on Director Wang''s face, smiled knowingly, and thought to herself, if he knew that the young man before him was also Elder Feng''s junior fellow and held a deputy-ministerial title, she wondered what his expression would be.

    Since Sang Yunlong knew that Ge Dongxu was Elder Feng''s junior fellow, Feng Yaping naturally knew as well.

    "Director Ge, this is Director Wang from our provincial health department." Thinking this, Feng Yaping had already stood up to greet Ge Dongxu, and then helped with the introductions.

    "Hello, Director Wang," Ge Dongxu said, smiling as he extended his hand to Director Wang.

    "Oh, hello Director Ge," Director Wang, realizing Ge Dongxu was extending his hand to him, suddenly snapped back to reality, hastily shook hands with him, and didn''t dare act haughty as a director.

    "I wonder what business Director Wang and President Feng have with me?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile after shaking hands with Director Wang.

    Upon hearing this, Director Wang looked towards President Feng, who then slightly smiled and said, "Director Wang, since you are the head of healthcare, you take the lead."

    Then, with a smile, Director Wang said to Ge Dongxu, "The thing is, Director Ge, the King of Reel Country, Gustadin, has been feeling unwell recently. He summoned our Embassy''s ambassador in Reel Country, wishing to invite you to Goosemoor to check on him and adjust his health. Here I want to congratulate you, Director Ge, on being chosen by King Gustadin¡­"

    "Is that all? Please tell the ambassador in the Reel Country that I refuse to make the visit!" Ge Dongxu interrupted Director Wang before he could finish, his face darkened undoubtedly, and he waved his hand decisively.

    King Gustadin of Reel Country had approached Huaxia Country''s ambassador in Reel Country, how could Ge Dongxu not understand his intentions?

    It was an attempt to pressure him through official channels!

    And that was precisely what Ge Dongxu disliked the most!

    "Ah, refuse? But Director Ge, that is the King of Reel Country, and he mentioned that the moment you agree to go to Goosemoor, he will immediately pay you one million Riel Currency, which is five million RMB. Moreover, if you manage to improve his health, he said he would pay you one hundred million Riel Currency afterwards, one hundred million¡ªjust think about¡­" Director Wang never imagined that Ge Dongxu would refuse such a lucrative and honor-benefiting offer; he was stiff with shock for a while before speaking almost frantically.

    "I''m not interested in these offers. Whoever is interested can go; I certainly won''t." Ge Dongxu interrupted again.

    "You, what kind of attitude is this? This is an order from above, you have to go, even if you don''t want to, it''s a mission, it''s an order!" Director Wang, seeing Ge Dongxu interrupt him once more with a firm attitude, finally completely lost his temper, forgetting what Feng Yaping had previously advised.

    "Is that so? So you say I don''t even have the right to choose?" Ge Dongxu''s face suddenly turned grim.

    "No¡­" Director Wang blurted out.

    "Director Wang!" But before Director Wang could finish saying the word "wrong", Feng Yaping interjected in a timely manner.

    "Director Ge, Director Wang didn''t mean that. Since this matter involves diplomacy between the two countries, so¡­" Feng Yaping stopped Director Wang and then gave a bitter smile as she spoke to Ge Dongxu.

    "I had already informed King Gustadin through Johnson that I would not make a house call. So, his next steps could be either to find someone more capable or to come to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital himself and queue up like an ordinary person to register for my student''s clinic, where I might or might not personally intervene, as I am not a clinic doctor. All of this would depend on his luck, for there is no difference between a king and common folk in my eyes! Now, he is sending an invitation through the Embassy ¨C does President Feng not understand what this means? Do you really think just because he is a king, I should treat him? Excuse me, I still need to supervise my students in consulting patients, goodbye."

    Ge Dongxu waved his hand to interrupt Feng Yaping and, having said that, turned and left the director''s office immediately.

    "This, this Ge Dongxu, is really, really too arrogant, too, too..." Director Wang said, seeing Ge Dongxu''s defiant attitude to this extent, not even sparing a glance for the king or their leadership; watching Ge Dongxu turn and walk away, his face turned ashen with anger and he cursed loudly.

    "Director Wang, please leave my office! My office does not welcome people like you!" Tang Yiyuan, seeing Director Wang insulting his mentor right in front of him, immediately frowned, pointed at the door, and coldly said without the slightest politeness.

    After all, Ge Dongxu was his current teacher; how could Tang Yiyuan remain indifferent while Director Wang berated his teacher?

    "Tang Yiyuan, what kind of attitude is this! Don''t think that just because you''ve been recognized as a National Medical Master and you think you''re a shareholder of Qinghe Herbal Tea, you can..." Director Wang was somewhat beside himself with anger when he saw Tang Yiyuan asking him to leave, growing even more livid.

    "Director Wang, hold your tongue! Haven''t I told you to be more polite to Director Ge?" Feng Yaping quickly interjected as Director Wang started berating Tang Yiyuan.

    "But President Feng, look at his attitude! Can a king and a commoner be the same? Moreover, this is an order from the State Council! Is he, a mere doctor of traditional medicine, in a position to refuse it?" Director Wang, having been addressed by Feng Yaping, naturally did not dare to lash out at her, but instead spoke with a pained expression. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Director Wang, you don''t understand Director Ge; in his eyes, a king and a commoner are indeed the same. I wasn''t aware that Director Ge had already refused King Gustadin; had I known this earlier, I wouldn''t have come with you to see him," Feng Yaping said with a bitter smile.

    "But..." Director Wang was startled by these words and hesitated before speaking again.

    "Enough, Director Wang, you needn''t concern yourself with this matter anymore. I will inform Governor Sang and ask him to communicate with the State Council on this," Feng Yaping said, gesturing with her hand to cut him off.

    Upon hearing this, Director Wang''s mouth fell open, and he was unable to regain his composure for a long time. He was utterly shocked beyond words.

    He had never expected Ge Dongxu to refuse an invitation from a king of a developed European country, and instead of being as annoyed as he was, Feng Yaping was actually planning to report this to Governor Sang. Furthermore, from President Feng''s intentions, it seemed she was even preparing to have Governor Sang intervene with the capital to dismiss this matter.

    "You mean to refuse King Gustadin''s invitation?" After a long time, Director Wang asked in a somewhat dazed tone.

    This matter was simply too bewildering. Even though he clearly understood her intentions from President Feng''s words, Director Wang still couldn''t believe it.

    "What else can we do if not refuse? Are we supposed to force Director Ge to go?" Feng Yaping looked at Director Wang with annoyance.

    She too was frustrated!

    Director Wang might not be aware of Ge Dongxu''s status and medical skills, but she was well aware of them.

    If he wanted to refuse, not just her, but even Governor Sang would have absolutely no way to force him.

 Chapter 714 - 713 The Kings Reaction

    Director Wang''s lips twitched upon hearing this, but in the end, he obediently closed them again.

    By this time, if he didn''t realize that Ge Dongxu was an extraordinary figure in Chinese medicine, someone he, as the head of Jiangnan Province''s Health Department, could not influence, he might as well retire and enjoy his old age.

    "Professor Tang, there''s no need for you to keep a stern face. Director Wang is not guilty for what he didn''t know." Feng Yaping gave Director Wang a stern glance before bitterly smiling and saying to Tang Yiyuan, who was still wearing a stern face.

    Tang Yiyuan nodded noncommittally while Director Wang, seeing this, felt rather embarrassed, yet he didn''t dare to lose his temper again.

    Feng Yaping noticed the atmosphere was somewhat awkward. Considering the urgency to explain the situation to Sang Yunlong, she said a few words to smooth things over and left some instructions for Tang Yiyuan. Then, she hurriedly left the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital with Director Wang, heading straight for the Provincial Government.

    ...

    "Dongxu, the commotion you''re causing is getting bigger and bigger!" Ge Dongxu received this phone call from Elder Feng just before the end of the workday.

    "Did the matter reach you so quickly? Will it cause you any difficulties, Senior Brother? If it really puts you in a tough spot, I''ll go to Reel Country myself," Ge Dongxu said with a slight frown.

    "With such a significant incident, Sang Yunlong definitely won''t be able to keep it under wraps. As your senior, I have no choice but to step in. It''s not really a matter of difficulty. After all, you are my junior, and you''re not at the beck and call of people from other countries, not even their king! But what do you mean by that last sentence? If things get difficult here, would you actually capitulate and go treat him? That doesn''t sound like your previous attitude toward Piao Tianchang!" Elder Feng said.

    "Senior Brother, you''re overthinking it. I''m just worried that if it puts you in a difficult position, I''ll go and give a reminder to that king, give him a little knock on the head!" Ge Dongxu laughed, his body, which had become as withered and quiet as the plants and trees in winter, subtly emitted an aura of dominating the world.

    "Haha, you truly are my junior, Ge Dongxu! One should have the proper attitude when asking for medical treatment. I support you because Gustadin''s attitude is all wrong. However, our country is still developing and needs to maintain good relationships with other countries. If Gustadin truly lowers his stance and comes asking, for the sake of the country, you should help him out when it''s appropriate, as a favor to your senior brother," Elder Feng said.

    "I understand, Senior Brother. Let''s see how smart Gustadin is," Ge Dongxu said, feeling greater respect for Elder Feng in his heart.

    He knew that his senior brother was truly an old man who cared for the country and its people.

    "You''re the only one who dares to speak like that. It seems your cultivation has become even more formidable!" Elder Feng said.

    "No matter how formidable, I am still a person of Huaxia Country," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Haha! That''s right!" Elder Feng fell silent for a moment before suddenly laughing heartily. "When you have time, come to the capital more often. As your senior, I get nostalgic sometimes. Seeing you reminds me of our master," he said.

    "Alright, senior brother, I''ll visit the capital soon," Ge Dongxu responded, feeling very warm inside.

    "Haha, good, good, I''ll be waiting for you," Elder Feng said, laughing happily at the response.

    After chatting a bit more, they hung up the phone.

    As Elder Feng was speaking to Ge Dongxu on the phone, Ambassador Liu from the Embassy in Reel Country received the news from home and was completely dumbfounded, barely able to believe what he was hearing.

    That Dr. Ge had actually refused! He had turned down the invitation from the King of Reel Country!

    What''s more, the leaders back home actually agreed with his refusal!

    "But such a refusal will definitely infuriate King Gustadin, and it will surely affect the diplomatic relations between our country and Reel Country!" After a while, Ambassador Liu reminded, his face full of concern.

    "Do you think I don''t know that? But that''s the decision that''s been made. You can tell King Gustadin that we can send another Chinese medicine practitioner," the Director of the European Affairs Division said impatiently, clearly very frustrated and confused.

    But that was the decision from above, and there was nothing he could do about it.

    "Actually, I had thought about recommending other National Medical Masters to King Gustadin before, but he was fixated on Doctor Ge, and I estimated it would be very difficult to change his mind," Ambassador Liu said with a wry smile.

    "Do your best," the Director-General for Europe said.

    There was a seven-hour time difference between Reel Country and the domestic, so by the time Ge Dongxu had finished his work and returned to the university, it had not yet reached noon in Gorm.

    After talking with the Director-General for Europe, Ambassador Liu had no choice but to bite the bullet and inform Gustadin''s secretary, requesting an audience with the King.

    Gustadin, consumed with thoughts of pancreatic cancer, immediately summoned the ambassador upon hearing of his request.

    "I''m sorry, Your Majesty, but Doctor Ge can''t make it. Do you have any other candidates, or can we recommend¡­" After a few obligatory pleasantries with King Gustadin, Ambassador Liu braced himself and stated his purpose.

    "It''s not that he can''t come, but that he is refusing to come!" King Gustadin''s face changed several times upon hearing this.

    Ambassador Liu laughed dryly, clearly embarrassed. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Before, he had made very confident assurances, but now what?

    To Ambassador Liu''s surprise though, other than initially looking a bit displeased, King Gustadin seemed to regain his composure and didn''t fly into a rage afterward.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ambassador, for informing me of this news. I have other arrangements today and apologize for having to take my leave," King Gustadin said, his expression calm.

    "Your Majesty, actually, in Huaxia Country there are many highly skilled practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine. Should you require it, we can arrange someone for you at any time," Ambassador Liu said as he rose.

    "Thank you, Mr. Ambassador, there''s no need," King Gustadin responded without hesitation.

    Seeing that King Gustadin was adamant about Ge Dongxu, Ambassador Liu, although puzzled, had no choice but to depart resignedly.

    After Ambassador Liu left, King Gustadin returned to his study alone, sat down in an antique armchair, and was silent for a long time, his eyes flickering with contemplation and difficult choices.

    Gustadin was not a mediocre monarch; on the contrary, he was quite sagacious.

    With Ge Dongxu''s first refusal, King Gustadin was surprised and more annoyed than anything, and did not think too deeply about it. Therefore, he directly summoned Ambassador Liu, attempting to use diplomatic channels and the official power of Huaxia Country to force Ge Dongxu to come, to see if this practitioner of Chinese medicine indeed had the capability to cure cancer, as Johnson had claimed.

    At that time, he was merely adopting a ''wait and see'' attitude, after all, he was the King, with plenty of money and power.

    Deep down, he didn''t believe that Ge Dongxu possessed such remarkable medical skills.

    But with Ge Dongxu''s second refusal, King Gustadin immediately sensed something unusual.

    He was well aware of Huaxia Country''s current foreign policy, as well as the differences between the government of Huaxia Country and that of Reel Country.

    Despite such a generous offer and the use of Huaxia Country''s official influence, Ge Dongxu not only persisted in his refusal, but the government of Huaxia Country had even allowed this refusal.

    This was very unusual indeed!

    Could it be that what Johnson said was true, that this man indeed possessed miraculous medical skills capable of curing cancer?

    With this thought, King Gustadin could no longer keep calm and quickly called his secretary, asking him to invite Mr. Johnson to the palace.

 Chapter 715 - 714 You can give it a try

    "Professor Johnson, Doctor Ge has once again rejected my invitation. I should have heeded your advice before. I think he must now have a very bad impression of me," said King Gustadin as soon as he saw Johnson, not beating around the bush.

    "Your Majesty, I am powerless in this matter," Johnson replied.

    "Last time you briefly mentioned that Doctor Ge treated you, and now I really want to know why he would treat you. Obviously, he is someone who does not care about fame or profit, and you didn''t know him," King Gustadin, unsurprised by Johnson''s answer, looked at him and asked.

    Johnson then recounted in brief how he had saved an old man by the shores of Mingyue Lake and how Ge Dongxu had treated him without charge.

    "So there are indeed such remarkable people in this world!" King Gustadin, after listening, was transfixed for a long time, before finally letting out a long sigh.

    "Yes! Teacher is a very special person," Johnson nodded with a look of admiration in his eyes.

    "Professor Johnson, now that things have come to this, what do you think I should do to change his perception of me and then agree to treat me?" King Gustadin asked after a long while.

    "I don''t know. Teacher told me that he believes in fate when it comes to treating and saving people. I don''t understand what exactly the ''fate'' he refers to is. However, had you supported the cooperation between Caroline Royal Medical College and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital previously, I think Teacher would likely have agreed to treat you, but you refused, thereby losing the fate with him," Johnson pondered, then replied.

    "Do you think if I now personally fly to Huaxia Country to see him, he would agree to treat me out of respect for my status as a king?" King Gustadin asked.

    "No!" Johnson immediately shook his head without hesitation, "Although I have had very little contact with Teacher, I''m quite sure that your status makes no difference to him compared to an ordinary person."

    "Perhaps I should do something else, like signing a more amicable diplomatic agreement with Huaxia Country, leading a business delegation to invest there, or even donating to their charitable organizations! Do you think any of that would make him change his mind?" King Gustadin, unsurprised by Johnson''s response, thought for a bit and then asked again.

    "I''m sorry, Your Majesty, but I can''t provide you with an answer, as I do not know either. You could try," Johnson answered.

    "Thank you for your honest response, Professor Johnson! Please tell Dean William that I am now fully supportive of the cooperation between Caroline Royal Medical College and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Jiangnan Province, although it''s too late and the opportunity has been lost. But I still wanted to tell you my decision. As for other matters, I''ll think about them. If it really won''t work, I hope you can be the one to operate on me when the time comes," King Gustadin said.

    "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty. I sincerely hope that the day will never come when I have to operate on you," Johnson said as he stood up, bowed, and then took his leave.

    After Johnson left, it was already evening.

    King Gustadin sat silently in his chair, deep in thought.

    Seeing the King sitting silently, the butler approached him quietly, hesitating several times before speaking.

    "What is it, Henry?" King Gustadin looked up at the butler and asked.

    "Your Majesty, following tradition, the Queen Consort is hosting the Christmas charity banquet tonight at Kemburg Castle. She called earlier to ask if you could attend," Henry replied respectfully.

    "The Christmas charity banquet? If you hadn''t mentioned it, I would have completely forgotten Christmas is approaching," King Gustadin said, taken aback, then sighed.

    His illness was still a secret, and even his wife did not know about it. She only knew that his health had not been good recently.

    "Yes, Your Majesty, Christmas is just three days away," Henry reminded him.

    "In just three days, how time flies!" King Gustadin again sighed deeply upon hearing this.

    "Your Majesty, your health hasn''t been good recently. If you don''t wish to attend, I can reply to the Queen Consort right away," Henry cautiously suggested, noticing that King Gustadin''s expression was rather poor and he obviously wasn''t in a good mood.

    "Let''s still make an appearance, there''s bound to be a large turnout tonight," Gustadin said as he stood up.

    "Yes, tonight''s guests include not only some of the wealthy and political elite from our own country but also many from other nations. Chinese tycoon Mr. Gu Yezeng and his wife Yu Xin are here as well. As you know, before Her Royal Highness married you, she and Ms. Yu Xin starred in a movie together and became good friends," Henry replied.

    "Oh, Mr. Gu has come as well?" Gustadin''s interest seemed piqued upon hearing this, and his eyes sparkled with recognition.

    "Indeed, Your Majesty. You must be aware, not only is Mr. Gu a Chinese tycoon, but he also commands great respect within the overseas Chinese community. I heard that there was some dispute among the Chinese in the Netherlands recently, and he was invited to mediate. Consequently, he took this opportunity to fly over with his wife to attend the annual Christmas charity dinner hosted by Her Royal Highness," Henry explained. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I see, that does mean I need to pay a visit. Arrange it, please," Gustadin nodded.

    ...

    Kemburg Castle is an architectural marvel with intense Renaissance beauty, located on the outskirts of Gorme.

    Atop the building, the symbol of the Gustadin royal house¡ªa fire-breathing divine beast with the head of a lion, the body of a goat, and the tail of a dragon.

    In front of the castle, there is a rectangular plaza lit up by numerous lights, with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the center.

    From time to time, luxury cars passed through the central path of the plaza and stopped in front of the castle''s main building door, from which elaborately dressed individuals alighted.

    Winter in Reel Country is bleak and chillier than Jiangnan Province by a good measure.

    No sooner had the guests exited their vehicles than they hurried into the house.

    Upon entering, they were immediately greeted by a flood of warm air and a room that radiated with light, surrounding every guest with comforting warmth.

    The vast rectangular hall, with a long table laden with food down the center, the tall ceiling hung with massive crystal chandeliers illuminating the whole space. The walls were adorned with luxurious tapestries rich in Western religious and mythological themes, and the top with exquisite medieval frescoes.

    One wall of the hall featured a medieval fireplace, which now blazed with roaring firewood.

    People stood in small groups, holding drinks and chatting, while servers with trays weaved through the crowd.

    Yu Xin, in an aqua-blue evening gown, stood with Princess Kelly, her cup in hand, laughing and chatting with several high society ladies. Her demeanor, exuding an elegance unique to Eastern women, bore no inferiority to that of the Queen Consort.

    Elsewhere, Gu Yezeng, in a well-tailored suit, held his drink and spoke with a few Caucasians.

    It was at this moment someone called out, "The King has arrived."

    All conversation halted as the people turned their attention to the entrance.

    PS: I recommend the new book "The Throne of Blades" by my friend Chang Feng from Qidian, which tells the tale of a humble military mechanic who, through blood-soaked battlefields, rises to become a legendary king. Readers who enjoy military novels might want to give it a look.

 Chapter 716 - 715 Mr. Ge is my elder

    As everyone looked toward the entrance, Gustadin entered accompanied by his guards.

    The King is a symbol of a nation, the head of state, and even though their actual power has greatly diminished since the feudal era, they are still adored and worshipped by the thousands of their countrymen. During formal and solemn occasions, certain rituals in their presence are indispensable.

    For instance, during the knighthood ceremony, the knight-to-be must kneel on one knee before the King.

    Of course, today was merely a private charity dinner attended by the elite from Reel Country and other nations of the world, so it was not possible to behave as if it were a formal and solemn occasion.

    However, everyone still ceased their conversations and placed their hands on their abdomen, silently bowing to Gustadin. Some of the local ladies even stepped forward to curtsy and kiss the King''s hand, showing their respect and adoration.

    The atmosphere seemed somewhat solemn and dignified.

    Afterward, the King delivered a brief speech, and only then did the venue return to its original atmosphere.

    Conversations resumed as people, in groups of twos and threes, held their glasses and chatted. From time to time, someone would approach Gustadin to greet the King.

    Gu Yezeng also made a special effort to take Yu Xin to greet King Gustadin.

    "Miss Yu Xin, you remain as youthful and charming as before," Gustadin said to Yu Xin with a smile.

    "Thank you for your compliment, Your Majesty," Yu Xin responded to King Gustadin with an elegant and enchanting smile.

    "Mr. Gu, it has been several years since we last met," King Gustadin then said to Gu Yezeng.

    "Indeed, it has been four or five years since we last met. I hope all is well with Your Majesty?" said Gu Yezeng with a smile.

    Hearing this, Gustadin looked around the room and then said to Yu Xin, "Miss Yu Xin, would you mind if I have a private word with your husband?"

    "Of course, I don''t mind," Yu Xin replied with a smile, then curtsied slightly to King Gustadin and gracefully drifted away with her glass in hand.

    "Mr. Gu, it''s crowded here, may I have a word with you in private?" Gustadin said.

    "Certainly, Your Majesty," Gu Yezeng replied, his face betraying none of his inner confusion. He was still as polite and gentlemanly as ever.

    Gustadin nodded slightly, and naturally, a butler led the two men out of the hall and then to a private drawing room in the castle, much smaller than the previous hall, with its walls adorned with tapestries and paintings.

    There was a fireplace in the drawing room, already ablaze with firewood, with antique European-style chairs placed on either side of it.

    Gustadin and Gu Yezeng took seats in the chairs on both sides of the fireplace.

    ```

    After sitting down, Gustadin exchanged a few pleasantries with Gu Yezeng, then said, "Mr. Gu, being Chinese, you should be quite familiar with many of the practices, and mentalities of the Chinese people, right?"

    "That''s certain, our Chinese people have a long cultural history, and over time, we have naturally developed some ways of doing things and ways of thinking that are distinct from those in the West. However, in some respects, Huaxia Country is just like Reel Country, we both love peace and dislike war, only hoping to live a prosperous life of peace and contentment. So, our country''s leaders are now leading the people of Huaxia to devote themselves to economic development, all for the sake of everyone living a happy and fulfilled life. Our Huaxia Country and the people of Reel Country are alike in being warm and friendly, just as honest and hardworking," Gu Yezeng replied, already guessing in his mind that King Gustadin might be preparing to visit Huaxia and increase investment in Huaxia Country, but due to different political systems, Gustadin had some concerns, which is why he approached him to test the waters.

    "I agree with what you said, but when it comes to hard work, we in Reel Country can''t compare to you Chinese. The rapid economic development of Huaxia Country in recent years is inseparable from the hard work and efforts of your nation''s people," Gustadin said.

    Gu Yezeng heard this and smiled without speaking, completely agreeing with Gustadin''s statement in his heart, but since the first part of the statement made a comparison, it was obviously not appropriate for him to nod in agreement.

    Gustadin''s true intention was not here, and naturally, he would not continue to delve into this issue. Seeing Gu Yezeng smile without speaking and hesitating for a moment he said, "Actually, I invited Mr. Gu here because I have a very private matter I''d like to consult you about."

    "Your Majesty is too kind; it''s my honor. Please ask," Gu Yezeng humbly said.

    "I know Mr. Gu has a wide network within the Chinese community. I wonder if you know a doctor named Ge Dongxu?" Gustadin asked.

    Even though Gu Yezeng was normally calm and composed, having weathered many storms, the sudden mention of Ge Dongxu still caused his complexion to change slightly.

    "It seems Mr. Gu does know Dr. Ge," Gustadin observed, his eyes lighting up while he felt increasingly shocked inside.

    It''s important to note that Gu Yezeng is not only worth billions in US dollars, not inferior to Gustadin, but also has great prestige and influence among overseas Chinese.

    If even he knows Ge Dongxu, then this person must truly be something special.

    "May I ask why Your Majesty is suddenly inquiring about Dr. Ge? If it''s about his private affairs, please forgive me for being unable to answer," Gu Yezeng quickly regained his composure and said in a deep voice.

    "I wanted him to treat me, but he refused before. Since Mr. Gu also knows him, perhaps you could help me connect with him and say a few good words on my behalf," Gustadin said, with a hint of hope in his eyes.

    "Your Majesty, to be frank, in a certain respect, Dr. Ge is my elder, and I hold him in great esteem. In his presence, I must maintain a humble attitude. Therefore, since he has already refused you, it''s absolutely impossible for me to connect you with him. I have neither the ability nor the qualification to do so!" Gu Yezeng said with a solemn face.

    At these words, Gustadin could not help but tremble slightly, looking at the serious Gu Yezeng, he felt an indescribable shock.

    And it was at this moment that Gustadin truly realized how naive, ignorant, and ridiculous his previous thoughts and actions had been.

    Even a Chinese tycoon like Gu Yezeng, a figure on the Forbes world list of billionaires, had to hold Dr. Ge in such high regard. Was it really conceivable that such a person would come to treat him at his beck and call? Not to mention throwing money at him or coercing him with official power, which was not only an insult to him but an absolute joke!

    "Perhaps, you could give me some good advice. I really need Dr. Ge to treat me now, please do not refuse the request of a man diagnosed with a terminal illness," after a while, King Gustadin said to Gu Yezeng, with an extremely sincere attitude, a trace of sadness in his eyes.

    If before, Gustadin had some doubt about Ge Dongxu''s medical skills, and whether he was determined to secure Ge Dongxu''s treatment at any cost, then at this moment, because of Gu Yezeng''s words, he was completely convinced by what Johnson had said. He had decided he would spare no expense to have Ge Dongxu treat him.

    Compared to one''s life, what else really matters? S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ```

 Chapter 717 - 716: Even If There is Only a Glimmer of Hope

    "Your Majesty, what is this?" Gu Yezeng could not help but be greatly shocked upon hearing the words, hardly daring to believe what he was seeing in the King Gustadin, who was still in the prime of his life.

    "Yes, I have cancer, pancreatic cancer! You should have heard that the survival rate after surgery for this kind of cancer is very low," said King Gustadin, his eyes brimming with sadness.

    This was the first time he had revealed his condition to someone outside the medical profession.

    "I''m sorry to hear that, Your Majesty. I''m very sorry to hear this news," Gu Yezeng said with a sympathetic expression.

    "So, perhaps Doctor Ge is the only one in the world who can save me now," continued King Gustadin. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Indeed, if there is anyone in the world who can truly cure you, it would likely be Mr. Ge," Gu Yezeng nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with reverence.

    Although he had already made up his mind, King Gustadin couldn''t help but shudder when he heard Gu Yezeng agree with him, regretting his initial refusal to cooperate and his subsequent request for the ambassador to intervene.

    Of course, regretting those things is useless now. King Gustadin quickly put away those complex emotions and said earnestly, "So, Mr. Gu, I really need your help now. It sounds like you are quite familiar with Doctor Ge."

    "But he has already refused you, and I can''t help you either," Gu Yezeng said helplessly.

    "No, no, you know Doctor Ge better than I do. You could give me advice. Even if there''s only a glimmer of hope, I''m not willing to give up," King Gustadin insisted.

    "In that case, Your Majesty, could you tell me how you came to know of Mr. Ge and what you did to seek his help and how he refused you?" Gu Yezeng, upon hearing King Gustadin go to such lengths, felt it would be inappropriate to refuse any further and so asked for details.

    King Gustadin naturally did not conceal the truth and recounted everything from the beginning.

    "Your Majesty, it''s a pity. If you had accepted Professor Johnson''s advice at that time, I am sure that if you had approached Mr. Ge, he would not only not have refused, but he would have also flown to Gorme personally. But now, not only did you reject Mr. Ge''s olive branch, you''ve also made mistake after mistake afterwards. The chance to make amends now seems very slim," Gu Yezeng said, shaking his head after listening to the story.

    "As long as there''s a chance, I will not give up," King Gustadin replied firmly.

    After watching King Gustadin''s determined face for a long time, Gu Yezeng finally said, "I can''t give you specific advice, but I can tell you that Mr. Ge is a person who values loyalty very much, and he''s also very easy-going and approachable. He treats even the most ordinary of people with a smile. In fact, he himself is a very ordinary person. If you have the chance to meet him in the future, you will understand what I mean."

    King Gustadin listened carefully, and after finishing, he fell into deep thought. A long time later, he stood up and extended his hand toward Gu Yezeng, saying, "Thank you, Mr. Gu. You''ve given me the best advice. I think I know what I must do now."

    "Best of luck to you, Your Majesty!" Gu Yezeng stood up and shook hands with King Gustadin.

    ...

    The next day, Ambassador Liu received another summons from King Gustadin.

    Ambassador Liu was shocked by the summons from King Gustadin.

    He thought that after the refusal that occurred yesterday, King Gustadin would be unhappy, and from then on, the policy towards Huaxia would change, and he as the ambassador would nature become a persona non grata with the royal family.

    But what Ambassador Liu hadn''t expected was that King Gustadin summoned him again the next day.

    Not only did he summon him, but King Gustadin also expressed a desire to visit Huaxia Country on a state visit after New Year''s Day.

    A visit by a European king to Huaxia Country is, of course, a very significant event. Moreover, the fact that King Gustadin himself initiated the request, and chose to visit Huaxia at the beginning of the new millennium, imbues the visit with even more intriguing and extraordinary significance.

    That day, as Ambassador Liu left the palace, he walked with a bit of a spring in his step, and as soon as he returned to the embassy, he immediately called home to make a report.

    The fact that King Gustadin chose Huaxia Country as the first country to visit at the beginning of the new millennium surely meant that the Embassy in Reel Country had played an undeniable role in this political achievement.

    Soon, the news that King Gustadin would visit Huaxia Country at the start of the century was reported on the official websites and newspapers of both Reel Country and Huaxia Country, and it caused quite a sensation, particularly among the developed Western countries like Europe and the United States.

    They were all surprised by the sudden show of goodwill and closeness King Gustadin extended to Huaxia Country!

    In fact, not only were Western developed countries like Europe and the United States surprised, but so were the Prime Minister of Reel Country, government officials, and even felt it was incredible.

    However, after all, Gustadin was a reigning monarch, and even if a large part of his role was symbolic and the real power lay with the cabinet, if the king really got angry and stood firm against opposition, the cabinet could only agree reluctantly.

    Only a few people in the world, such as Johnson and Gu Yezeng, knew why King Gustadin suddenly decided to visit Huaxia Country.

    As for Ge Dongxu, the "instigator" behind King Gustadin''s decision to visit Huaxia Country at the beginning of the century, he was still unaware that King Gustadin was coming to Huaxia Country. At the moment, he was cozily linking arms with Nico, entering a bar by Moon Lake.

    The bar was playing Christmas songs, the staff were all wearing red Santa hats, and the bar was decked out with Christmas decorations everywhere.

    In a word, the entire bar was filled with the Christmas spirit.

    This was the venue for the Christmas Eve party.

    Nico and some foreigners working in Linzhou City had specially booked the bar for the evening to celebrate what was one of the most festive and grand holidays in their countries.

    "Oh, my dear Nico, long time no see, you''ve become even more beautiful and charming, I''m so envious!" As Ge Dongxu and Nico entered the bar, a stunningly beautiful and sexy blonde in a low-cut evening gown with a wasp waist and curvy hips came up to greet and warmly hugged Nico.

    "Dongxu, this is Betty from San Francisco in the United States. Oh, by the way, she''s a doctor who''s fascinated by Acupuncture in Huaxia Country, so she specifically came to study Acupuncture at the Traditional Chinese Medicine University in Jiangnan Province. Betty, this is..." Nico hugged Betty and began to introduce.

    "Oh, my God, who is this handsome man? I saw you two holding hands when you came in; please don''t tell me you''ve got yourself a boyfriend from Huaxia Country. Jack will be heartbroken when he hears this!" Betty interrupted without waiting for Nico to finish, widening her eyes as she looked at Ge Dongxu and said in an exaggerated tone.

    "Don''t talk nonsense, Jack being heartbroken is none of my business!" Nico said with a roll of her eyes.

    "Oh, Nico, don''t tell me you didn''t know Jack has a crush on you?" Betty exclaimed in surprise.

    "That''s his problem, not mine. I don''t like him," Nico replied.

 Chapter 718 - 717 Well then, Ill grant your wish

    "Nico, it really breaks my heart to hear you say that. I deeply care about you!" a man with blond hair and a tall, burly figure approached.

    Seeing Jack say such things in front of Ge Dongxu, Nico''s pretty face flushed with annoyance and she said, "Jack, don''t talk nonsense."

    "Nico, I''m not talking nonsense. You know how I feel about you." Jack retorted and then looked at Ge Dongxu, saying, "Kid, you''re not good enough for Nico. Stay away from her, or else I won''t be nice to you!"

    As he spoke, Jack clenched his huge fists, showing off his strong and powerful arm muscles to Ge Dongxu.

    "Giggle, Jack, give it a rest. You don''t need to show off your muscles in front of Dongxu¡ªhe''s a Kung Fu master!" While Jack was flexing, a giggle sounded behind him, and Eva and Justina, who both taught at Jiangnan University''s Foreign Languages School, one German and the other French, approached.

    They had met Ge Dongxu while visiting Golden Mountain, and later, when Lv Semi-Immortal went to compete at the Taekwondo Association, they accompanied Nico and Lilia, the Russian language teacher, to support him. Thus, they all knew that Ge Dongxu was highly skilled in martial arts.

    "Kung Fu! Wow, I love Bruce Lee! Come on, kid, if you can beat me, then I''ll admit that you have the right to compete with me for Nico." Jack''s eyes lit up at the mention, and he extended a finger to beckon Ge Dongxu, saying.

    "Jack, you''re quite boring," Ge Dongxu looked at Jack and commented calmly and then turned to Nico and the others, "Let''s find a place to sit."

    "Our table is over there, by the window. Join us," Eva pointed to a table by the window, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

    She was quite eager to witness Ge Dongxu''s Kung Fu from Huaxia Country again.

    "Sure, I still prefer sitting with beautiful teachers I know," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Having said that, he took Nico''s hand and walked toward the spot Eva had pointed to.

    "I''m sorry, Dongxu. Jack is just that kind of person," Nico whispered apologetically into Ge Dongxu''s ear.

    "In our Huaxia Country, there''s a saying ''beauty is a trouble'', meaning a beautiful woman is the source of all troubles and commotion. So, I was already aware something like this might happen when I agreed to accompany you to the Christmas party," Ge Dongxu replied with a slight smile.

    "Dear, are you complimenting me?" Nico''s eyes sparkled as she looked tenderly at Ge Dongxu and asked softly.

    "I still prefer you call me Ge or Dongxu!" Ge Dongxu, watching Nico look at him with affection and tighten her grip on his arm, couldn''t help feeling a bit of a headache and thought, it seems I must not easily compliment a Western girl in the future, otherwise, it''s like playing with fire!

    "But I prefer calling you dear in private," Nico gave Ge Dongxu a coquettish look.

    Ge Dongxu felt an even bigger headache upon seeing Nico''s naturally sultry demeanor.

    "Kid, doesn''t it make you even more boring to walk away like this? Stay and have a couple of rounds with me, just for fun, to liven up the party!" Just as Ge Dongxu was feeling a stronger headache, Jack, who had been ignored and seen Ge Dongxu getting affectionate with Nico, couldn''t hold back any longer. He stepped forward with large strides and reached out to grab Ge Dongxu''s shoulder.

    "Here we go!" Betty cheered mischievously, clapping her hands, setting off a dramatic wave across her ample chest.

    "Dongxu, be careful!" Eva and Justina also called out, but despite their words of caution, their faces were clearly excited, showing no sign of worry for Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu took a slight step to the side, moving with Nico to dodge, and Jack''s large hand grasped at thin air.

    "Wow, looks like you''ve got some moves!" Jack exclaimed as Ge Dongxu dodged his attack without even looking back, his eyes shining with excitement and surprise.

    "You''re really quite boring!" Ge Dongxu turned and said to Jack.

    "I am boring, and you''ll have to beat me if you want to spend some cozy time with Nico tonight!" Jack imitated Bruce Lee, stroking his nose with his thumb, and then gestured towards Ge Dongxu with a come-hither motion, all while shuffling his legs rapidly.

    "If you''re a man, then fight!" Betty egged on from the side.

    "Yeah, hit him! Fight him!" By this time, the commotion had already drawn attention, with people of all colors¡ªyellow, white, black¡ªsurrounding the scene, each of them egging on the potential chaos.

    Even the DJ replaced the soft Christmas songs with explosive tracks, heightening the chaotic mood.

    With that, everyone seemed to be on a frenzy, shouting at the top of their lungs.

    "Young man from Huaxia Country, do you want to be the sick man of East Asia?" A few Japanese individuals shouted amidst the crowd, seeing that Ge Dongxu was hesitant to make a move.

    Seeing the fiery atmosphere, Jack felt even more energized and kept posing and shouting intermittently.

    "Fine! Since you''re so eager to be hit, I''ll oblige you," Ge Dongxu said reluctantly, watching Jack hop around like a gorilla.

    Everyone at the party was young and became incredibly excited when Ge Dongxu accepted the challenge¡ªwith shouts and whistles filling the air, the DJ cranked up the volume, and Jack got into a boxer''s stance, footwork shifting continuously.

    As the crowd was shouting and whistling, eagerly awaiting a spectacular fight, and Jack was moving his feet and swinging his fists, they then saw Ge Dongxu casually walk up to Jack and lift his foot, delivering a kick straight to the hopping Jack''s stomach.

    Then there was a scream of "Ah!" as Jack''s tall and burly frame flew into the air and then "bam," he slammed hard onto the floor.

    The bar suddenly quieted down, with only the thumping music echoing through the space.

    Everyone''s eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Jack lying on the floor, clutching his stomach, unable to get up.

    Was it over just like that, with such a brute force kick?

    What happened to the Kung Fu from Huaxia?

    Wasn''t it said that Jack was a fitness coach at a wealthy club with impressive combat skills?

    How did he get knocked down by such a simple kick?

    "That doesn''t count, let''s go again!" Jack himself couldn''t believe that he was taken down by such a simple and brute force kick. Struggling to his feet, enduring the pain in his stomach, he stroked his nose with his thumb, roared, and charged at Ge Dongxu with his fists swinging once more.

 Chapter 719 - 718: All four of you, come at once.

    Ge Dongxu shook his head helplessly and then, seeing Jack rushing towards him, he lifted his foot again and brutally kicked Jack''s stomach.

    "Ah!"

    "Bang!"

    Jack was once again sent flying by the kick and then heavily fell to the ground.

    "FUCK!"

    "Poor Jack!"

    "Oh, my God, another kick!"

    "Damn!"

    The crowd saw the same scene recur and everyone''s eyes bulged as they couldn''t help but swear loudly!

    This time, Jack lay on the ground even longer¡ªhe couldn''t help it, his stomach hurt so much and churned as if a storm raged inside, and Jack feared that the beer he had just drunk would immediately spurt out should he try to get up.

    "You want more?" Ge Dongxu looked down at Jack, who was lying on the ground clutching his stomach, and asked faintly.

    "No, no more, you freak!" Americans can sometimes be quite honest and wouldn''t suffer for the sake of face. Hearing this, Jack immediately waved his hands at Ge Dongxu while clutching his stomach.

    Seeing Jack concede, everyone burst into laughter, and Eva and Justina reveled in his misfortune, saying, "Dear Jack, I told you earlier that Dongxu knows Kung Fu from Huaxia Country, and he''s very good at it!"

    Jack just rolled his eyes, and so did the crowd.

    Is that even Kung Fu from Huaxia Country? I could do that too!

    Ge Dongxu, of course, did not roll his eyes. Instead, his gaze swept over the crowd and finally fell on the Japanese who had just been yelling about the "sick man of East Asia." He then hooked his finger at them, revealing a row of neat, white teeth, and smiled, "I''ve heard that Judo from Japan is quite impressive, oh, and something about the samurai spirit too. Come on, it''s rare that we have a Christmas party, let''s have some fun. Jack looked big, but unfortunately, he couldn''t take much. Everyone isn''t having as much fun. Why don''t all four of you come at once? That might make things more exciting."

    As soon as Ge Dongxu spoke, the four Japanese faces turned a bit pale.

    The kick from Ge Dongxu looked brutal and simple, nothing like the incredibly flashy Kung Fu people imagined, but the problem was that kick had left Jack unable to get up for a long while!

    Anyone present who wasn''t a fool could see that kick was no simple matter!

    The four Japanese certainly did not want to be on the receiving end of that kick!

    But the young people who came to the party that evening didn''t care about that. Hearing that Ge Dongxu was about to take on four by himself, they got excited again, screaming and whistling. Even Jack seemed to forget the pain in his stomach, scrambled to his feet, and called out gleefully to the four Japanese, "Abe Daxiong, Ito Yexia, and the other two, come on! Four against one, what are you afraid of!"

    "Exactly, four against one, what are you scared of? Are all Japanese cowards?"

    The others joined in the heckling.

    Seeing everyone heckling, the faces of Abe Daxiong and the other three alternated between green and red, and they regretted their earlier careless talk.

    Now they were in trouble. If they didn''t dare to fight four against one, they would be laughed at all night.

    Eventually, the four gritted their teeth and came out, surrounding Ge Dongxu from four different directions.

    They were also a bit incredulous, as four burly men, they still couldn''t beat just one person.

    "Everyone watch closely, I''m going to use the ''Mighty Kung Fu Kick!''" Ge Dongxu saw the four men position themselves on all sides, ready to attack, and a disdainful smile curled at the corner of his mouth. He then nonchalantly raised his leg as before and kicked toward Abe Daxiong, who was right in front of him.

    "FUCK, not this move again!"

    "No way, there are four of them! With such a kick, wouldn''t the other three seize the chance to rush up?"

    "I think he''s being careless!"

    The crowd was quite surprised; they thought they were about to see an exciting one-against-four fight, but Ge Dongxu still casually lifted his leg and kicked Abe Daxiong, completely ignoring the other three men to his sides and back.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu lifting his leg towards him, Abe Daxiong first showed a hint of fear in his eyes, but then clenched his teeth and put on a tragic and brave expression, screaming as he tried to grab Ge Dongxu''s kicking foot.

    Seeing this, the delighted expressions were evident in Ito Yexia and the others'' eyes, and they immediately started kicking and punching from the left, right, and behind.

    The onlookers'' hearts leapt, filled with anticipation and excitement.

    Ge Dongxu''s previous two kicks had been too simple, leaving them unsatisfied; now, they felt a good show was about to unfold.

    "Ah!"

    "Bang!"

    Just then, Ge Dongxu landed a hard kick into Abe Daxiong''s stomach, sending him flying like Jack before, and then crashing heavily to the ground. As he flew, his hands, which had intended to cling to Ge Dongxu''s thigh, were still stretched out, looking comically funny.

    As Ge Dongxu kicked Abe Daxiong to the ground, a kick from Ito Yexia from behind finally connected, about to land on Ge Dongxu''s back. Not only that, but the other two also landed their punches from the sides.

    "Be careful!" Even though Nico knew Ge Dongxu was beyond the reach of the three, she couldn''t help but shout.

    Ge Dongxu, seeing Nico''s worried expression out of the corner of his eye, felt a slight warmth in his heart, but his body had already flashed behind Ito Yexia like a specter before the crowd could react.

    Ito Yexia, having kicked out and suddenly finding no one in front of him, felt a chill and just as he sensed something wrong, a faint voice came from behind: "Go ahead!"

    Then, Ito Yexia felt a pain in his back, a great force coming from behind propelling him into the air, and he plunged towards Abe Daxiong lying on the ground.

    Abe Daxiong, just as he was about to rise, then saw, to his astonishment, Ito Yexia toppling onto him, and what''s more, Ito Yexia''s mouth landed right on his.

    "Hmm!" Ito Yexia''s mouth pressed against Abe Daxiong''s, and both widened their eyes in shock as if they had seen a ghost.

    Then, the two seemed to suddenly realize what had happened, and Abe Daxiong quickly tried to push Ito Yexia off, while Ito Yexia also hurriedly tried to lift himself up.

    Meanwhile, the other two Japanese, unable to pull their punches in time, also experienced an embarrassing collision of fists in mid-air, both grimacing in pain. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As the two grimaced in pain, they suddenly felt a painful hit on their backs, a huge force striking them.

    Subsequently, the two were sent flying through the air.

    Just as Ito Yexia was almost off Abe Daxiong, he suddenly felt an inexplicable chill and a tingle on his scalp, then caught sight of two shadows, one behind the other, hurtling towards him with claws bared.

 Chapter 720 - 719: I Have a Girlfriend

    "No!" Abe Daxiong and Ito Yexia cried out in their hearts, then their lips met once again "intimately."

    Looking at the four RB people piled up on the ground, with the two at the bottom eye to eye, and lip to lip, the bar fell into dead silence.

    Everyone was dumbstruck, some even subconsciously covered their mouths.

    This outcome was obviously something they had never dreamed of.

    It was still the Vajra Powerful Kick, only this time the number of kicks had increased by two, and then the result turned out like this.

    Jack looked at how close Abe Daxiong and Ito Yexia were, and at the two people pressing on them, and suddenly felt relieved that he had fought one-on-one with Ge Dongxu just now.

    Otherwise, if it were like the current scenario, it would definitely become a lingering nightmare for a long time.

    "Pfft!" Suddenly, Nico burst out laughing.

    "Giggle!"

    "Haha!"

    Then Betty and the others also came back to their senses and all burst out laughing.

    Although the outcome was shocking, wondering how Ge Dongxu had managed it with just a few simple and brutal Vajra Powerful Kicks, it was more full of a comedic sense. Once the first person laughed, no one could hold it in anymore.

    Amidst everyone''s laughter, Abe Daxiong and his party finally scrambled up from the ground in a flustered and disheveled way.

    "You, you... I am going to call the police! I''ll sue you..." After getting up from the ground, Abe Daxiong scornfully pointed at Ge Dongxu and shouted.

    FUCK! What did you just say, Abe Daxiong? You want to call the police? Are you even a man? If you can''t bear losing, you shouldn''t have spouted off about the ''Sick Man of East Asia'' earlier!"

    "Exactly! Exactly!"

    Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately started shouting, also looking at Abe Daxiong with a hint of contempt.

    "Go on, call the police then. Anyway, so many people are here, all saw it with their own eyes, you four came up and attacked me, and I had no choice but to give each of you a kick, then you got tangled up together," Ge Dongxu said with a shrug of his shoulders, looking helplessly at the furious Abe Daxiong and his companions.

    "Haha!" Upon hearing this, everyone burst out laughing uproariously.

    Seeing that everyone was laughing at them, Abe Daxiong and his companions'' faces turned from green to red, and they finally glared fiercely at Ge Dongxu and left the bar in an embarrassed state.

    "Handsome! Your moves were so manly just now! No wonder Nico fell for you! Let''s officially meet, I''m Betty." After Abe Daxiong and his party left, Betty smiled and extended her hand to Ge Dongxu.

    "My name is Ge Dongxu, nice to meet you," Ge Dongxu said as he shook hands with Betty.

    "I''m Jack, your Kung Fu is really amazing, but I''m curious, do you only know that one kick?" Jack also reached out his hand to Ge Dongxu, without the hostility and pride he had earlier.

    "Isn''t one kick enough? Or did you want me to use my fists? Don''t you want to rely on your good looks anymore?" Ge Dongxu teased.

    "Haha! Dear Ge, you''re so funny, I really like you!" Betty burst out laughing upon hearing this.

    Jack touched his face and said with a wry smile, "Using the feet is safer."

    The crowd who were watching all laughed at this, then they all came forward to greet Ge Dongxu.

    In the Western world, many people still admire individual heroism.

    Ge Dongxu had effortlessly taken down Jack and four RB guys with just a few kicks, making the young foreigners who were attending the party develop a bit of admiration for him. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After greeting everyone, Ge Dongxu and Nico and a few other foreign language teachers they knew settled down by the window.

    The Christmas party was quite casual and not as formal or grand as some of the New Year''s galas in Huaxia Country, which not only had dedicated hosts but also specially rehearsed programs.

    Their Christmas party was just a gathering of young foreigners in Huaxia Country and some of their friends to have fun together.

    Those with artistic talent would voluntarily go up and perform to boost everyone''s spirit.

    Betty, a quite outgoing and lively blonde, specifically went up and sang a song, dancing energetically as she sang, drawing continuous whistles from many people.

    Although Ge Dongxu didn''t whistle and wasn''t a lecherous type, after all, he was a normal man and inevitably couldn''t help but take a few extra glances.

    Besides Betty, quite a few people took the initiative to go up and perform their talents.

    Jack, who had been kicked twice by Ge Dongxu, performed a street dance that also drew a lot of cheers and screams.

    "Hey! Ge Dongxu, show us some Huaxia Kung Fu!" Jack, after finishing his street dance, grabbed the microphone and called out to Ge Dongxu''s table.

    "Huaxia Kung Fu! Huaxia Kung Fu!" people in the bar immediately chanted along.

    "Real Kung Fu isn''t for show, but for overcoming and defeating opponents. So, if you really want to see, someone needs to cooperate with me. How about it, Jack, would you help me out?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile as he stood up.

    "Ah, I suddenly feel extremely tired after dancing!" Upon hearing this, Jack''s face changed, and he feigned an exhausted look, panting as if out of breath, and quickly scurried back to his seat.

    "Any other gentlemen willing to cooperate?" Ge Dongxu grinned and looked around at the others.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu smiling and looking over, the young foreigners felt chills down their spines and pretended not to see.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu shrugged his shoulders and sat back down.

    Although he didn''t want to dampen everyone''s spirits, he really couldn''t bring himself to perform mere showy and fancy moves.

    After Ge Dongxu sat down, more people took turns performing on stage until no one else went up, and the lights gradually dimmed to a soft glow.

    Dance music began to play in the bar.

    "Dear, may I invite you for a dance?" Nico whispered into Ge Dongxu''s ear.

    Ge Dongxu was there to accompany Nico that evening, naturally, he couldn''t refuse her invitation, and he stood up with a smile, "Of course."

    As soon as they stepped into the dance floor, Nico was almost completely clinging to Ge Dongxu, making him immediately feel quite uncomfortable.

    "Dear, you really are an interesting man!" Feeling Ge Dongxu''s discomfort, Nico directly hooked her arms around his neck instead.

    "Nico, that''s enough, I have a girlfriend," Ge Dongxu, seeing that Nico was clearly teasing him, could only warn her.

    "But you aren''t married! And besides, you''re a Wizard; laws are only meant to constrain ordinary people," Nico argued.

    "Nico!" Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "Don''t you want to leave each other with some beautiful memories before I leave Huaxia Country?" Nico pressed her face against Ge Dongxu''s shoulder and spoke softly.

 Chapter 721 - 721: 720

    "I don''t want to!" Ge Dongxu heard Nico''s words and immediately felt a surge of fire rise from the pit of his stomach, but he still forcefully suppressed it and firmly refused.

    "But your body doesn''t seem to think so," Nico suddenly twisted her hips and whispered hotly in Ge Dongxu''s ear.

    "We should get back, Nico!" Ge Dongxu suddenly felt uncomfortably swollen and quickly let go of Nico''s waist, saying.

    Nico''s expression dimmed instantly, she also let go of her hands, and silently nodded.

    Late at night, Ge Dongxu dropped Nico off at her single apartment building.

    "Don''t you want to come up for a coffee before you leave?" Nico asked, looking at Ge Dongxu.

    "No, thank you, good night!" Ge Dongxu said and turned to leave. S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He dared not look into Nico''s eyes.

    However, Ge Dongxu hadn''t walked far when Nico suddenly ran up to him and threw herself into his arms, then her plump, sexy lips heavily kissed Ge Dongxu''s lips.

    "Thank you for spending a wonderful Christmas Eve with me. This is my Christmas gift to you. I wanted to give you something more precious, but you seemed not to like it," Nico said, after giving Ge Dongxu a sudden passionate kiss, seemingly reluctant to leave his embrace.

    Watching Nico''s graceful, sexy back gradually disappear into the night, Ge Dongxu touched his lips, as if they still bore the taste she had left, and he couldn''t help but smile bitterly and shake his head.

    He of course understood what the more precious gift was, but could he accept it?

    Back in his dorm, Ge Dongxu lay on his bed and thought of Nico''s reluctance when she turned to leave, her lingering grievance, and her sudden passionate kiss, and he found it somewhat difficult to fall asleep.

    "Sigh," Ge Dongxu sighed quietly and took a piece of jade from under the mattress, gently carving it with his fingertips in the darkness, and immediately fine fragments of jade fell from the edges.

    Soon, a leaf-shaped piece of jade appeared in his hand.

    Previously, when carving jade, Ge Dongxu needed special tools, because back then he could barely manage Turning Qi into Sword. Now his Cultivation had reached Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, Turning Qi into Sword had become as he wished. Carving jade naturally became easy, with no need for special tools.

    After polishing the leaf-shaped jade, Ge Dongxu carved some rune arrays on it.

    In the darkness, after all this was done, Wu Yili''s image inexplicably flashed through Ge Dongxu''s mind, suddenly making his mood complex, and his hand reached under the mattress again to get another piece of jade.

    Turning Qi into Sword, it wasn''t long before Ge Dongxu had in his hand another pendant, shaped like a heart.

    Looking at the heart-shaped pendant in his hand, Ge Dongxu suddenly froze.

    Just now, he almost unconsciously chose the heart shape!

    Only after polishing it did he realize that giving Wu Yili a heart-shaped pendant might be inappropriate.

    Forget it, cultivation should indeed follow the heart. Since he had polished a heart shape, let it be a heart shape, Ge Dongxu soon collected his complex emotions, arranged a rune array in the heart-shaped pendant as well, and then stored them away. Only then did he feel as if he had resolved something important and peacefully fell asleep.

    The next day was Saturday and also Christmas.

    When Nico woke up, she saw a note left on the bedside table, under which there was a leaf-shaped jade pendant.

    "Drop a drop of blood on the jade pendant, and it will become your Christmas gift!" the note read.

    ...

    Christmas had passed, and New Year''s Day was just a few days away.

    This year''s New Year''s Day was a very special day because it marked the millennium.

    So, right after Christmas, the teachers and students on campus were already discussing how to welcome the arrival of the millennium.

    Even Liu Jiayao had called Ge Dongxu early on, suggesting they go to Mingyue Lake''s Hidden Mountain Temple to hear the first bell of 2000.

    The implication was that on this special day, she wanted to be with him.

    Ge Dongxu naturally agreed.

    Li Chenyu and the others were also discussing how to spend Millennium Night.

    Some said they would play cards all night, others said they would play games all night, and some mentioned going to Jiangnan Square to join everyone in counting down to the ringing of the new century''s bell.

    Li Chenyu and the others naturally asked Ge Dongxu about his plans; when Ge Dongxu said it was a secret, they teased him for a while.

    Tuesday afternoon still featured the inorganic chemistry class.

    After class, instead of heading to the library as usual, Ge Dongxu caught up with Wu Yili, who was about to return to the college building.

    "Is there anything you need? It wouldn''t be that today you''ve decided to treat me and improve my diet, would it?" Wu Yili asked with surprise and delight upon seeing Ge Dongxu catching up.

    "No, I just wanted to ask Teacher Wu, it''s been a long time since you treated me to a meal. Where has that initial kindness gone?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Still trying to advantage of me!" Wu Yili''s face slightly reddened, and she rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu, saying, "No way, I have to eat this grudge away, you must treat today."

    "I didn''t expect Teacher Wu to still be such a stickler! Fine then, if I must treat, I will," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu teasing her, Wu Yili could only grit her teeth, but she couldn''t really do anything to him. This was a campus and she, a university professor, couldn''t cross the line.

    The two then left the campus together and caught a taxi.

    Ge Dongxu had intended to sit in the front passenger seat, but Wu Yili pushed him into the back seat instead, and then she squeezed in next to him, told the taxi driver to head towards Emerald Residence by Mingyue Lake, and then started pinching Ge Dongxu fiercely.

    "Getting bold, aren''t you? Daring to publicly tease me on campus!" Wu Yili said through clenched teeth while pinching.

    Wu Yili was just in her early thirties and quite beautiful, with especially fair and delicate skin. Because she was a professor, her demeanor was generally more composed and dignified, so students and colleagues usually didn''t peg her as being in her twenties. However, those who didn''t know her in society would almost certainly mistake her for a woman in her mid-twenties if they saw her on the street.

    Now, losing the air of a professor and both pinching and chiding Ge Dongxu, the two looked very much like a couple teasing each other in a May-December romance. This prompted the driver to give Ge Dongxu a thumbs up on the sly.

    "Teacher Wu, mind your image. The driver is sneakily watching us!" Ge Dongxu whispered to her, enduring the "pain" from Wu Yili''s pinching.

    At his words, Wu Yili looked up and indeed noticed the driver''s eyes darting to the rearview mirror. Her face instantly blushed like a fiery cloud, wishing she could find a hole to crawl into.

    She was, after all, a respected university professor!

 Chapter 722 - 721: What Does It Matter Being Just Two or Three Years Older Than This Gentleman

    Perhaps because it was the dead of winter, not many people were out dining at the Emerald Residence tonight.

    However, precisely for this reason, a few candlelights, a few pairs of young people whispering softly, made the Emerald Residence appear all the more quaint and romantic tonight.

    Ge Dongxu and Wu Yili chose a corner table by the window, ordered several delicate dishes and a bottle of red wine.

    Maybe it was because of the incident in the taxi earlier, or perhaps it was the ambiance of the Emerald Residence, under the candlelight, Wu Yili''s fair face sported a captivating blush, and she seemed hesitant to meet Ge Dongxu''s gaze, often looking outside the window, as if there was some beautiful scenery out there.

    This Wu Yili held an enchanting allure that was different from the past.

    Ge Dongxu was unconsciously drawn to Wu Yili at this moment.

    "Why are you staring at me like that? Do I have flowers growing on my face?" Wu Yili finally couldn''t stand Ge Dongxu''s gaze any longer, and, with a blush, shot him a glare after taking her eyes off the window. Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You are indeed a flower!" Ge Dongxu sincerely admired.

    "Getting bolder by the minute, teasing me again!" Wu Yili said, and then kicked Ge Dongxu under the table twice.

    "Teacher Wu, why don''t you ever believe me when I tell the truth?" Ge Dongxu said with a look of grievance.

    "You rascal! Have your lips been sweetened now? I''m already in my thirties, still a flower? Flower my foot!" Wu Yili said, kicking him again under the table, her emotions, however, indescribably complex.

    As a woman, Wu Yili certainly liked being praised by Ge Dongxu for her beauty, but her age was indeed what it was, which made her feelings all the more inexplicably complex.

    "You see, you still don''t believe me!" Ge Dongxu feigned anger and pulled a face, then called over a waitress who was passing by them.

    "Excuse me, can I ask you a question?" Ge Dongxu smiled as he spoke to the waitress.

    "Of course," replied the waitress, a very pretty young woman.

    "How old do you think my friend here is?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Ah!" The young woman was momentarily stunned, then quickly replied, "This beautiful lady, barely twenty-four or twenty-five, I guess!"

    "There, see? I wasn''t lying! Twenty-something, truly a blooming age," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Ge Dongxu, what silly nonsense is this?" Wu Yili''s face turned red, and she glared at him.

    "Actually, an older woman, younger man relationship is quite common nowadays, and besides, you''re so beautiful, have a great figure and nice skin, being just a couple of years older than this gentleman means nothing," the waitress, skilled in her hospitality speech, immediately said with a smile upon seeing Wu Yili''s embarrassed and annoyed look.

    After saying this, the waitress walked away with a cheerful smile, while Ge Dongxu was suddenly taken aback.

    He just wanted to prove that Wu Yili was still young, but didn''t expect the waitress''s rich imagination to turn it into a talk about them having a May-December romance, which was rather making things worse.

    Wu Yili hadn''t expected the waitress to say that either, her cheeks heating up for no reason, her heartbeat inexplicably quickening.

    A faint air of romantic ambiguity began to ripple between the two.

    "Just a couple years older, do I look that old? I''m not even twenty yet!" Finally, after a while, Ge Dongxu pretended to be confused and said dejectedly.

    "Pfft!" Wu Yili couldn''t restrain her laughter seeing Ge Dongxu with such a dejected face.

    "This is all your own doing! We''ll see if you dare to act recklessly next time!" Wu Yili said, pursing her lips while giving Ge Dongxu a look.

    With that disturbance, the atmosphere between the two returned to normal.

    Soon, the waiter brought over the wine and dishes.

    After pouring red wine, they raised their glasses and gently clinked them.

    Wu Yili sipped elegantly and then asked, "Didn''t you say last time you would prepare a jar of Medicinal Wine for me? It''s been almost half a year, and you still haven''t brought it to me."

    "You were worried about side effects last time," Ge Dongxu said.

    "That was then, this is now! Anyway, after the new year when classes begin, you must give me a jar of Medicinal Wine," Wu Yili, remembering her previous doubts about Ge Dongxu''s Medicinal Wine, blushed slightly as she spoke.

    "Professor Wu, you''re openly soliciting bribes from a student!" Ge Dongxu joked.

    "Oh, Ge Dongxu, you''re getting bold now, aren''t you?" Wu Yili glared at him.

    "I wouldn''t dare, it''s a gift for you!" Ge Dongxu replied with a slight smile, his hand suddenly holding a heart-shaped jade pendant that seemed dripping with green.

    Wu Yili''s expression froze, and tears unknowingly filled her eyes.

    Initially, when she saw the water drop jade pendant around Tang Yahui''s neck, she had wanted one too. Later, when she found out Ge Dongxu had given it to Tang Yahui, her feelings were indescribable and she thought about asking Ge Dongxu to carve one for her, but ultimately she couldn''t bring herself to say it.

    Yet unexpectedly, she didn''t have to say anything, as Ge Dongxu had already specially carved one for her.

    "Why would you give me such a precious gift? Why be so good to me?" Remembering the past events, thinking of the whitening hair on Ge Dongxu''s head, and now this heart-shaped jade pendant, Wu Yili''s tears finally began to fall.

    "No special reason, I just thought that with the new year coming, I should give you a gift, so I carved this jade pendant!" Ge Dongxu watched the crystal-clear tears falling from Wu Yili''s eyes, echoes of her questions ringing in his ears, and feeling complex as he thought about how he had instinctively carved the heart-shaped pendant the night before.

    "It seems you already have plans for the Millennium Night, so you decided to give me a New Year''s gift in advance!" Women are always more sensitive in certain aspects, Wu Yili''s heart fluttered as she spoke.

    Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Now that you have a girlfriend, next time it wouldn''t be appropriate to casually give someone else a heart-shaped jade pendant. Otherwise, your girlfriend might get jealous!" Wu Yili said as she brushed her hair.

    "If you don''t like the shape, I can carve a new one for you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Who said I don''t like it! Help me put it on," Wu Yili glanced at Ge Dongxu with mixed emotions.

    Ge Dongxu silently stood up, walked behind Wu Yili, and then placed the heart-shaped jade pendant around her swan-like graceful neck.

    "Drop a drop of blood on the jade pendant when you get home, you''ll find it undergoes a marvelous change," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Mm," Wu Yili nodded and did not inquire further.

    Dinner was soon over.

    Afterwards, they drove back to school.

    Back home, Wu Yili immediately pricked her finger with a needle, then squeezed a drop of blood onto the heart-shaped jade pendant.

    As her blood seeped into the jade pendant and disappeared, Wu Yili incredulously watched. She then felt a mysterious connection being established between herself and the jade pendant, as if they were linked by flesh and blood.

    That night, Wu Yili clutched the jade pendant tightly to her chest, and was unable to sleep.

 Chapter 723 - 722: Generals Tomb

    Millennium Night arrived in the blink of an eye.

    Atop a rock on a mountain peak beside Mingyue Lake,

    a couple sat close to each other. The melodious sound of temple bells echoed from halfway up the mountain and reverberated over the surface of Mingyue Lake.

    These were the midnight bells, the chimes that marked the entrance into the new century. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Below the mountain, the entire city was brightly lit, and the streets were bustling with people and vehicles.

    The same scene was unfolding in major cities across the world.

    Tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.

    "If one day you truly become an immortal and a thousand years have passed, will you still remember this place, remember me?" Liu Jiayao asked softly, nestled in Ge Dongxu''s embrace as she gazed at the brightly lit city.

    "You are already etched into my life!" Ge Dongxu tightened his embrace around Liu Jiayao, their temples rubbing together.

    ...

    In Tokyo, Japan, beside the Mitsui Building at 1-1-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda Ward, just across the Edo Castle Moat from the Imperial Palace, lies the "Great Tokyo Vacuum Zone." Surrounded by multinational corporate office towers, it alone is quiet and shaded by greenery. This "vacuum zone" is none other than the famously notorious "General''s Tomb."

    Taira no Masakado was the only person in the history of Japan, from ancient times to the present, who openly rebelled against the Imperial Court in Kyoto and proclaimed himself emperor. A natural-born military general, he was ultimately killed, and his severed head and dismembered body were scattered.

    After Taira no Masakado''s death, it was said that his severed head did not decay for several months; his eyes were wide open as if he were still alive. At night, cries would echo: "My dismembered body, where are you all? Hurry to this place, let us rejoin and fight another battle!"

    The General''s Tomb is purportedly the burial place of Taira no Masakado''s head.

    Many rumors about the General''s Tomb have circulated, some very ancient and others from the 20th century. In 1923, the Japanese Ministry of Finance razed it to construct a temporary government office. Soon after, the Minister of Finance died suddenly, followed by the deaths of 14 important officials; in June 1940, the government office was struck by lightning and burned to ruins.

    In 1945, defeated Japan was under the control of the U.S. military. When the U.S. military leveled the land to build a parking lot, the bulldozer unexpectedly tipped over at the site resembling a grave mound, resulting in the operator''s untimely death.

    Since then, people have been convinced: those who desecrate the General''s Tomb will be punished by heaven.

    Nowadays, skyscrapers surround the General''s Tomb, but it remains a tranquil spot, shaded by lush greenery.

    On Millennium Night, many people came here to pray and pay their respects in silence.

    As the night grew colder and the wind howled louder, people gradually left, and the General''s Tomb returned to its silent tranquility.

    Only one man, wearing a black eboshi cap, donned in a white hunting garb, with a bat fan in hand and a face of exceptional beauty, still stood quietly in front of Taira no Masakado''s gravestone.

    In the chilling night breeze, this place, this man in such attire, made the surroundings exceptionally eerie.

    If Yang Yinhou were here at this time, he would be astonished that the man before him was still alive and had not aged a bit.

    For this man was none other than Ito Daiju, the Japanese Onmyoji who had ambushed him in the jungles of Myanmar.

    "We, the Ito Family, have waited for this moment for a full thousand years! Taira no Masakado, you must have been very much looking forward to it as well," Ito Daiju murmured to himself in the darkness.

    Then, a strange and eerie cold smile slowly appeared on his face, and the bat fan in his hand fell onto the stone monument in front of him, drawing slowly.

    As Ito Daiju''s bat fan touched down, a voice seemed to come from a distant place underneath the stone monument.

    With the sound rising faintly from beneath the ground, a sudden wind arose at the Armor Shrine, Inari Shrine, Hachiman Shrine, Kanda Shrine, Helmet Shrine, Torikoe Shrine, and General''s Tomb where Ito Daiju currently was, all located in Tokyo.

    This wind was unlike the cold wind of winter; it was laden with an indescribable eeriness, making everyone in Tokyo feel a strange chill even while inside their warm homes.

    "What''s happening? Go check out! Quickly investigate! Which fool has ruined the Big Dipper Soul-Calming Formation set up by our predecessors? This is about the General''s spirit! If his millennium-old wrathful apparition breaks out, how much blood qi will it have to consume before resting?!" In a secret base hidden in the woods somewhere in Tokyo, a man with white in his beard roared at a group of people.

    "The pieces of my hacked body, where are you all? Come quickly to this place, hurry and reunite with my head, and let us battle once more!"

    The voice from beneath the ground became louder and closer, even causing the ground where Ito Daiju stood to begin trembling slightly.

    Ito Daiju''s handsome face turned pale, his hand holding the bat fan trembled slightly, each stroke heavy as if it weighed a thousand pounds, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, rolling down.

    Wraiths filled with resentment converged from all directions, lunging towards Ito Daiju with bared teeth and claws, gnashing and roaring...

    Ito Daiju wavered unsteadily.

    "I have waited a thousand years for this moment, and I won''t give up! I will become the greatest Onmyoji of the Ito family, I will stand at the peak of this era where Daoist arts have declined!" Suddenly, Ito Daiju bit the tip of his tongue fiercely, and a stream of essence blood shot out like an arrow.

    Drops of fresh blood fell onto the stone monument and then slowly seeped into it.

    In the darkness, a shadowy figure churned within the stone monument, a military general wearing ancient armor with a fierce and fiendish face, holding a long katana in his hand.

    Suddenly, the general raised his katana high and violently slashed it towards the ground.

    The ground in front of the stone monument seemed to crack open, revealing a dark crevice.

    "The pieces of my hacked body, where are you all? Come quickly to this place, hurry and reunite with my head, and let us battle once more!"

    A savage and bloodthirsty voice emerged from the dark crevice, and the howling yin wind above Tokyo seemed to have found an outlet, swirling into the crevice.

    "Haha!" Seeing this, Ito Daiju let out a wild laugh, his body flickering in the night, and then, enveloped by the gusts of yin wind, he too plunged into the dark crevice.

    The yin wind gradually subsided, and the crevice slowly disappeared.

    As if nothing had ever happened.

    "What, all normal! No unusual deaths! The Armor Shrine, Inari Shrine, Hachiman Shrine, and the others are all fine. But clearly last night..." At dawn at a secret base in Tokyo, the white-bearded man listened to reports from his subordinates, feeling both shocked and relieved.

    Underneath the General''s Tomb, lay a dark passageway.

    Ito Daiju was wielding his bat fan, and wraiths cleansed by millennia were swept into the bat fan.

    The luster of the bat fan became more pitch-black and cold, and Ito Daiju''s face, initially pale, gradually flushed with color, but the ominous aura around him became even thicker.

    "What a nourishing feast! Had I come here a thousand years ago with my level of cultivation, these spirits would''ve devoured me without leaving any residue. But now, after a thousand years of sealing, even the fiercest of ghost soldiers have nothing but the purest original yin qi left! Just along this path, my cultivation has nearly broken through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer. Once I absorb all the pure origin yin qi here and subdue the General''s spirit, who will be my match in this age when Daoist arts have declined?" Ito Daiju''s eyes shone with arrogance.

 Chapter 724 - 723: You Have a Bigger Ego than Your Senior Brother

    On Millennium Night, across the sea in Japan, events unfolded of which Ge Dongxu remained entirely unaware¡ªthat even after New Year''s Day, King Gustadin of Reel Country had flown in on a private jet, accompanied by his wife, royal family members, private secretary, press secretary, chief steward, valets, medical officers, treasurer, servants, bodyguards, and the executives of companies owned by the royal family, along with the heads of well-known businesses from Reel Country forming a high-ranking delegation visiting Huaxia. Absorbed in cultivation, natural sciences, and his duties as a medical professor, Ge Dongxu was oblivious to such a significant event.

    It wasn''t until Elder Feng phoned him that Ge Dongxu learned of King Gustadin''s arrival in Huaxia Country.

    "What should I say about you?" Seeing that Ge Dongxu was actually unaware of King Gustadin''s grand visit to Huaxia with his large entourage, Elder Feng, despite having experienced countless events in his life, felt somewhat embarrassed and at a loss for words for the initiator of it all.

    "Ahem, senior brother, as you know, I''ve never paid much attention to these matters," Ge Dongxu replied with an awkward smile.

    "You..." Elder Feng said with a speechless smile, and then added, "This visit of King Gustadin to Huaxia is a splendid start to our country''s foreign relations in the new century and will inevitably influence the attitude of other European nations towards Huaxia. Of course, the most tangible benefit is that King Gustadin has brought a large business delegation. Although many partnerships are still under negotiation, the enterprises under the royal family have basically confirmed investments in Huaxia Country, some of which involve advanced high-tech industries, which are very important for our country. You should know that he came for you, so in this event, the greatest merit is yours. However, since you seek neither fame nor profit, I''ve turned away the goodwill intended for you on your behalf."

    "Thank you, senior brother, you truly understand me," Ge Dongxu smiled.

    "Stop flattering me! Now that King Gustadin has come all this way to our country with sincere intentions, what do you plan to do?" Elder Feng asked somewhat irritably after Ge Dongxu thanked him for deflecting the accolades and benefits.

    "Senior brother, life is priceless! Especially for Gustadin, once life ends, the royal family''s assets and power would turn to dust in the blink of an eye. So, his current demeanor shows he is at least wise and sensible, but if he thinks I will treat his illness out of gratitude, that''s definitely not happening. Because right now, he is the one seeking help from me, not the other way around! Besides, I actually offered him an olive branch before this," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "You, my friend, are even haughtier than your senior brother!" Elder Feng laughed and chided.

    "Senior brother, I couldn''t possibly accept that! My attitude depends on who I''m dealing with," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Haha! A fine sentiment, ''my attitude depends on who I''m dealing with!'' In my old age, having such a disciple like you, my spine feels straighter than ever before! Well then, it''s up to you to handle this matter, I won''t interfere," Elder Feng said with a laugh, his voice hearty and robust.

    ...

    Several days later, King Gustadin visited Linzhou City in Jiangnan Province, causing a sensation throughout the city.

    The news of the King''s visit spread through every street and alley.

    However, aside from Ge Dongxu and a few others, no one knew that King Gustadin''s real intention was to visit a young traditional Chinese medicine practitioner at the Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital.

    It was the third day of King Gustadin''s visit to Linzhou City.

    Linzhou City was graced with the first snowfall of the winter, flurries swirling down.

    A middle-aged foreigner, wrapped in a thick down jacket and wearing a knit hat that covered his ears, with a pair of large sunglasses on his nose, entered the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital accompanied by several tall and stern-looking foreigners and a man who seemed to exude the air of an English butler.

    Once inside the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the man with the demeanor of an English butler went to register.

    The appointment was with Professor Tang Yiyuan. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After making the appointment, the middle-aged foreigner came to the internal medicine department accompanied by his entourage, and then waited in line outside with his number in hand.

    As the middle-aged foreigner waited outside in line with his number, even the man with the air of an English butler showed a hint of anger on his face, as if he had suffered a great humiliation. On the contrary, the middle-aged foreigner had an expression of anticipation.

    "Your Majesty, is this really necessary?" the butler finally couldn''t help asking softly.

    "In the presence of a doctor, I am just a patient," the middle-aged foreigner replied. And this middle-aged foreigner was none other than King Gustadin of Reel Country.

    In the specialist clinic, Tang Yiyuan was treating a patient, while Ge Dongxu, He Duanrui, and others were observing from the side.

    Suddenly, a faint smile appeared on Ge Dongxu''s lips. He patted He Duanrui''s shoulder and said in a low voice, "Dr. He, arrange for a medical room, Gustadin has come. He''s quite sensible, honestly getting a ticket and waiting in line respectfully."

    Although He Duanrui was one of the few who knew that King Gustadin had come to Linzhou City specifically to see Ge Dongxu, the sudden mention of Gustadin''s arrival still caused him to shake involuntarily, his eyes showing a trace of shock.

    He was astonished both by how Ge Dongxu knew Gustadin had come and that King Gustadin was actually queuing like an ordinary citizen.

    Seeing the astonishment on He Duanrui''s face, Ge Dongxu smiled faintly and patted his shoulder again, "Go ahead."

    He Duanrui then came back to his senses and quickly left the clinic.

    Not long after He Duanrui had left, he returned to inform Ge Dongxu that the medical room was ready.

    Only then did Ge Dongxu also get up and leave the clinic, followed by Zhang Xiuwen and others. Only Tang Yiyuan stayed behind due to his duties in the clinic.

    "Go invite Gustadin over," Ge Dongxu said to He Duanrui after they left the clinic.

    "Your Majesty, welcome to Linzhou City. I am Dr. He Duanrui, and Dr. Ge is my teacher. He already knows you have arrived and has specifically instructed me to invite you over." Although Gustadin was wearing a hat and sunglasses, He Duanrui recognized him immediately upon entering the waiting area due to the news he had received and because Gustadin had been appearing on the news broadcast these past few days.

    He Duanrui spoke to King Gustadin in English. Most of the people in the waiting area who were there for treatment were elderly and didn''t understand what was said.

    As for Gustadin''s butler and bodyguards, they naturally understood and saw that although the King himself had come to register and wait in line, Ge Dongxu had merely sent a student to invite him, and they all looked at He Duanrui somewhat coldly.

    "Thank you, Dr. He," Gustadin said, standing up with a look of surprise and reaching out to shake hands with He Duanrui.

    "You''re welcome, Your Majesty. Please follow me," He Duanrui replied.

 Chapter 725 - 724 My Most Hated Thing is Firearms

    He Duanrui led King Gustadin and others to the door of the medical room and then knocked on the door.

    "Teacher, King Gustadin has arrived." Having knocked, He Duanrui respectfully said to Ge Dongxu.

    "Please let him in," Ge Dongxu nodded and stood up from his desk.

    As Ge Dongxu stood up, King Gustadin and others followed He Duanrui into the room.

    "Your Majesty, hello and welcome to Huaxia. I am Ge Dongxu," Ge Dongxu said as he approached Gustadin and extended his hand in greeting.

    Although Gustadin had already heard from Johnson that Ge Dongxu was a very young doctor, he was still very shocked by Ge Dongxu''s youth upon seeing him in person. He paused before hurriedly removing his sunglasses and woolen hat and reached out to shake Ge Dongxu''s hand forcefully, saying, "Thank you, Doctor Ge!"

    At the same time, a weight in his heart was finally lifted.

    He was under the care of Tang Yiyuan, but now Ge Dongxu had appeared. Clearly, Providence does not disappoint the diligent; Ge Dongxu was still moved by his sincerity, willing to treat him.

    "No need to be polite, Your Majesty. I''ll start treating you now. Those unrelated to the matter can leave," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile.

    "No, as the Chief Guard of His Majesty, I must ensure the King''s personal safety!" a man with a cold expression, a fierce aura, and short white hair stepped forward and said.

    "If I wanted to harm your King, do you really think a few pistols hidden at your waists would ensure His Majesty''s safety?" Ge Dongxu said with a cold laugh after hearing this. With a thought, his palm brushed against his clothes and he formed a spell with his hand.

    Suddenly, there was a slight ripple in the space of the medical room, and five palms that Gustadin and the others couldn''t see passed through the space.

    Then, the Chief Guard and the others suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of danger, their bodies went on full alert instinctively reaching for their guns at their waists. However, as soon as they moved their hands, pistols inexplicably drew themselves, pointing at their own heads.

    The faces of the Chief Guard and the others turned deathly pale, drenched in cold sweat.

    As for the King and his butler, and even He Duanrui who already knew of Ge Dongxu''s capabilities, they couldn''t help but feel a chill rise from their spines. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What I hate the most are firearms. The King is here for treatment, and yet you brought guns into my medical room and talk to me about protecting the King? What a joke. If I didn''t step in, your King would be heading to heaven in less than three months!" Ge Dongxu said with a cold smile. With a gesture, the guns pressing against the guards'' heads flew into the air and landed in his hands.

    Ge Dongxu held the guns in his hands and then gave a gentle twist, turning the tough Beretta 92F pistols into tangled messes.

    "Now, I believe you can take your guns and leave my medical room. If you bring guns into my medical room again next time, I hope your heads are as hard as your pistols," Ge Dongxu said indifferently after twisting the pistols into messes.

    "Yes! Yes!" The Chief Guard and the others received the guns that had flown and already been twisted into messes, their faces pale and heads covered in sweat as they nodded repeatedly. Then they gave King Gustadin, who was completely shocked, a slight bow and hurried out of the medical room, almost as if escaping.

    After leaving the medical room, the chief guards and the butler were all gasping for breath, huge puffs of it. In the dead of winter, they had broken out in a cold sweat that clung chillingly to their skin.

    "No wonder His Majesty the King also followed the rules and queued up to register! This, this doctor... he''s not human at all! Is he... is he an eastern immortal?" The chief guard wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, his face filled with terror.

    As the King''s chief guard, although he had experienced many stormy times and seen some miraculous and terrifying things, and his own strength was formidable¡ªnot only was his marksmanship infallible, but in hand-to-hand combat, over a dozen strong young men could not even get close to him¡ªstanding in front of Ge Dongxu just now, he felt like a tiny ant.

    He had no chance of resistance at all. If he was told to live, he would live; if he was told to die, he would have to die.

    "Yes, I''ve only just realized why His Majesty suddenly decided to visit Huaxia, and why he came as an ordinary patient to see a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine," Butler Henry said with a wry smile.

    He was the King''s butler, a confidant close to the King. When the King decided to visit Huaxia Country and made arrangements to see a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner in private, the severity of the King''s illness had made it impossible to keep it from him, so while the guards might not understand why Gustadin had suddenly decided to visit Huaxia, Henry knew.

    But all this time, Henry had privately thought that it was the King''s fear of death that had led him to fantasize about traditional Chinese medicine, which was always surrounded by mysterious legends.

    Only now did Henry truly understand that if there really was a doctor in the world who could cure the King''s ailment, then it would likely be that young and terrifying doctor they had just met.

    "Your Highness, now I can take good care of you. Please, have a seat," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile in the medical room after watching the guards and the butler flee as if running for their lives, and then addressed Gustadin.

    "Mr. Ge, you can just call me Gusta. That''s what my classmates called me when I was still a student," Gustadin said, still in shock, as he heard Ge Dongxu beckoning. He jolted upright, then bowed slightly and humbly to him.

    "Alright, Gusta, you can call me Dongxu. That''s what my foreign friends call me," Ge Dongxu nodded and said with a smile.

    "Thank you, Dongxu. It is an honor," Gustadin replied, feeling surprisingly flattered despite being a sovereign.

    "Haha, Gusta, now that we know each other, there''s no need for such modesty. Please, take a seat," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh, patting Gustadin''s shoulder.

    Watching Ge Dongxu slap Gustadin''s shoulder with such nonchalance, He Duanrui and the others were nearly bug-eyed, thinking to themselves that in this day and age, probably only Teacher Ge could pat King Gustadin''s shoulder like that.

    "Haha, yes, yes," laughed Gustadin, and he took a seat as told.

    "Give me your hand, I will take your pulse first," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Alright," Gustadin nodded and was about to stretch out his hand when he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his upper right abdomen. His face paled instantly, and the hand he had extended was withdrawn, pressing tightly against his upper stomach.

    "Dongxu, I''m afraid I''ll need to ask my butler to get me a painkiller to take first," said Gustadin, his forehead beading with sweat, speaking with difficulty.

 Chapter 726 - 725: Choosing the Future

    "It seems like you''re in a bit of a bad way, just like Johnson!" Ge Dongxu said, frowning slightly as he reached out and rubbed Gustadin''s abdomen a few times.

    With just that simple action, Gustadin, who had been in pain, immediately felt a warm stream of energy flow through his abdomen, and then the pain vanished instantly.

    "It''s incredible! I don''t feel any pain at all!" Gustadin pressed hard on his abdomen in disbelief, exclaiming, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down completely.

    Now he had no more doubts that Ge Dongxu could cure his cancer.

    "This is a minor thing for me and not worth mentioning. The key thing is that your pancreatic cancer does not spread to your brain. Otherwise, I wouldn''t be able to cure your cancer, at most I could only extend your life by a few years," Ge Dongxu said.

    Upon hearing this, Gustadin''s heart skipped a beat. He knew that pancreatic cancer was hard to detect and progressed quickly, which was why he had been in such a rush to come to Huaxia Country.

    "It shouldn''t spread that quickly; I haven''t felt anything unusual in my head," Gustadin said, extending his hand.

    Ge Dongxu placed his fingers on Gustadin''s wrist and then closed his eyes slightly to begin his investigation of the internal condition.

    "Congratulations, Gusta, the cancer indeed hasn''t spread to the head yet, it is only in the duodenum and stomach for now," Ge Dongxu said.

    Upon hearing this, Gustadin breathed a huge sigh of relief, but after relaxing, he suddenly felt indescribably weird.

    Because normally, if someone learns they have cancer, they would likely be scared half to death, and if it spreads, it virtually means a death sentence. S~ea??h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But now, this young practitioner of traditional Huaxia medicine was even offering congratulations, and the strangest part was, Gustadin himself actually felt a great sense of relief after hearing it.

    If it had been before, Gustadin would have thought he was going crazy, but now he knew his reaction couldn''t be more normal.

    "What should I do now?" Gustadin asked.

    "You just need to take off your clothes, leaving only your underwear on and lie down on the hospital bed. I''ll use the Silver Needle in a special way to remove the cancer cells from your body, then prescribe you some traditional Huaxia medicine for conditioning," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you, Ge," Gustadin said gratefully, then did as he was told, stripping down to his underwear and lying on the hospital bed.

    As Gustadin lay on the hospital bed, Ge Dongxu treated him the same way he had treated Johnson before, using Acupuncture to precisely destroy cancer cells with True Qi.

    After about half an hour had passed, Ge Dongxu finally retracted the Silver Needle, and at this point, although Gustadin''s complexion was pale, his spirits were visibly much improved compared to before.

    "Alright, Gusta, I''ll write you a prescription now. If you brew and take the medicine according to the prescription for half a month, your body will completely recover," Ge Dongxu said to Gustadin after retracting the needle.

    "Thank you, Ge," Gustadin rose from the bed, dressed himself, and then gave Ge Dongxu a deep bow.

    He felt just like Johnson did at that time; although he couldn''t see the changes in the cancer cells in his body, his physical sensations told him that a revolutionary change had occurred within him, and those terrifying cancer cells had left him.

    "You don''t need to thank me. I''ve accepted the sincerity of your visit to Huaxia. However, believe me, by choosing to cooperate with Huaxia Country, your country has chosen the future," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you, Ge, for giving us the opportunity to choose the future first! Now I am truly glad that both Professor Johnson and I contracted cancer," Gustadin said with utter solemnity upon hearing this.

    "This is what we Huaxia people often refer to as fate!" Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Yes, Professor Johnson once explained fate to me, and I only half-understood it. Now I fully understand it. I would like to formally apologize for my previous prejudice against traditional Chinese medicine and for refusing your invitation," Gustadin bowed deeply again.

    "Let bygones be bygones," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, waving his hand dismissively.

    "No, dear Ge, I sincerely beg you to give Caroline Royal Medical College another chance, just like you''ve given me one now," Gustadin pleaded earnestly.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Gustadin''s sincere face, thinking about how Western medicine was indeed ahead of the rest of the world, and even more advanced than Huaxia Country. Cooperating with them could spare many detours in tumor and cancer research, which would be good for both Huaxia Country and the entire world.

    With this thought, Ge Dongxu eventually nodded and said, "Gusta, I accept your request. However, Caroline Royal Medical College will only have participation rights, not decision-making rights. Of course, Johnson is now my student, and for Western medicine, he will be the lead scientist."

    "Thank you so much, Ge. It is our greatest honor to have Caroline Royal Medical College participate. All the decisions will naturally be made by you. The benefits gained in the future will also be yours; I only hope that as a partner, citizens of Reel Country can use the developed techniques and formulas for free in the future, without having to pay additional patent fees," Gustadin said joyfully.

    "That is absolutely no problem; it''s what you deserve," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Thank you very much, Ge. You are not only a great person, but also a good person. Knowing you is my greatest honor," Gustadin said.

    "Thank you for your compliment, Gusta. That''s because you are now my friend. I am never a ''good person'' when it comes to my enemies," Ge Dongxu said.

    Upon hearing this, Gustadin suddenly recalled the magical yet terrifying way Ge Dongxu dealt with the Chief Guard and others. His heart skipped a few beats, and his face turned slightly pale as he said, "Dear Ge, I believe we will always be friends, and I will warn the cabinet not to meddle in Huaxia''s affairs like some Western countries do!"

    "Haha, Gusta, you truly are a very wise king!" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh, patting Gustadin on the shoulder.

    Upon receiving such praise from Ge Dongxu, Gustadin''s pale face flushed with a touch of color, and he said, "Thank you for your compliment, Ge. May I invite you to dinner tonight? I''d like to introduce you to my wife and the person in charge of managing the royal family''s business."

    "Gusta, there is a saying in Huaxia Country, ''a distant visitor is a guest,'' and since you have come to my place, I should naturally be the one to host you," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "That would indeed be an honor for me, but wouldn''t it trouble you? You know, being a king, once I give the order, Henry and the others will arrange everything perfectly," Gustadin said, both joyfully and humbly.

 Chapter 727 - 726: Your Majesty, how do you feel now?

    "Of course not, Gusta. In fact, I have many identities. I own several hotels in Linzhou City. One of them is newly built. Although it''s not by the side of Mingyue Lake, from there you can take in the splendid nighttime view of Linzhou City, a city that is rapidly developing," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "So, Ge, you''re also a businessman! In that case, I''ll go with the flow. Just tell me the name of the hotel, and I''ll have Henry contact them to arrange the related matters. Jiangnan Province is your homeland, and I would like to learn more about it, so I will stay here for two more days. If it''s convenient, I hope to stay at one of your hotels during the next two days," Gustadin said.

    "Gusta, you''re the best advertisement spokesman!" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh, patting Gustadin''s shoulder again. He fully understood Gustadin''s intention.

    "It''s my honor to advertise for your hotel, Ge!" Gustadin replied with a smile.

    "Ha ha, no matter what, I still have to thank you for this gesture," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    After talking for a bit longer, because Ge Dongxu had to continue his clinic hours in collaboration with Tang Yiyuan, and Gustadin needed to rest, Ge Dongxu asked He Duanrui to see Gustadin off on his behalf. He Duanrui also personally went to the pharmacy to take care of the traditional medicine matters.

    Regarding the hotel arrangements, Ge Dongxu specifically called Lin Kun to have him contact Secretary-General Fang Ting and Henry to arrange the reception for King Gustadin and his entourage.

    The dinner was a private one, and Ge Dongxu instructed Lin Kun to hold it directly in the Presidential Suite.

    Upon hearing he was to serve the King and Queen Consort, Lin Kun was so excited that he started to stutter while speaking, which elicited a few teasing scolds from Ge Dongxu for his lack of composure.

    ...

    Mingyue Lake State Guesthouse.

    "Your Majesty, are you sure you want to take this black, murky medicine with unknown ingredients?" Jeffrey, Gustadin''s personal physician who accompanied him, frowned as he looked at the traditional Chinese medicine brought by the butler Henry, his eyes filled with deep skepticism and concern.

    Gustadin simply glanced at Jeffrey, then, without hesitation, tilted back his head and gulped down the dark, murky traditional medicine.

    "Phew! I must say, the taste really leaves something to be desired!" Gustadin said with a grimace after downing the medicine in one go.

    "Your Majesty, Dr. He mentioned that you might not be used to this taste, so you can have a piece of rock candy afterward," the butler said, watching Gustadin swallow the medicine without a hint of worry, and smiling, he offered a piece of rock candy.

    "Your Majesty, how are you feeling now?" Jeffrey was very concerned and quickly asked.

    "What can I feel? Of course, I feel absolutely great," Gustadin replied with a smile.

    "Dr. Jeffrey, don''t worry. Haven''t you noticed how well the King has been since he came back from the hospital? There''s been no pain. Before this, he had not taken any painkillers!" Henry said.

    Dr. Jeffrey opened his mouth to respond but was at a loss for words.

    Gustadin chuckled, then asked Henry, "Is everything for the dinner arranged with the hotel?"

    "Back to Your Majesty, everything has been arranged, and it''s a very nice hotel," Henry replied with a bow.

    Evening, Yadu Garden Apartment.

    The pink bed was adorned with several beautiful evening gowns.

    "Dongxu, which one do you think I should wear?" Liu Jiayao asked, looking at the clothes on the bed and frowning slightly.

    "Jiayao, you look good in any outfit. Why not just pick one at random? It''s just the King and Queen Consort after all. Besides, you''re still my wife!" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh and a cry.

    He never imagined that just by telling Liu Jiayao that he would take her to dine with the King and Queen Consort of Reel Country that evening, she would start fussing incessantly.

    "It''s a complex, okay? It''s like how every girl has a princess dream, and tonight, I''ll be having dinner with the Queen Consort. Of course, I want to present myself in the best light! Besides, this is also for your face, isn''t it? You''re an ''Eastern Immortal'' after all. Your wife can''t be outshined by the Queen Consort, right?" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu playfully.

    "Haha, I don''t understand the first part, but I love hearing the last part!" Ge Dongxu wrapped his arms around Liu Jiayao''s slender waist from behind and laugh happily.

    "You and your wandering hands, stop it already and help me pick out a dress," Liu Jiayao said, batting Ge Dongxu''s hand that was attempting to ascend the "jade peaks" as he embraced her waist.

    "How about this pink mermaid evening gown? I think it''ll bring out your graceful figure even more," Ge Dongxu suggested, pointing at one of the dresses when Liu Jiayao couldn''t make up her mind.

    "Then it''s this one! I''ll listen to you," Liu Jiayao said, picking up the pink mermaid gown from the bed and preparing to change in the walk-in closet.

    "Why not change right here? What are you hiding from me?" Ge Dongxu said.

    "Hehe, your eyes are practically shining right now. I think I''ll change in the walk-in closet to be safe," Liu Jiayao said as she twisted her waist and headed for the closet.

    Watching Liu Jiayao''s swaying waist, Ge Dongxu could only smile wryly and remain speechless.

    Just now, he really struggled to hold himself back when Liu Jiayao was changing in front of him.

    Soon, Liu Jiayao emerged in the pink mermaid gown, and the perfectly tailored dress accentuated her graceful figure, making Ge Dongxu''s eyes light up, especially with those heart-stopping curves at her waist and hips. He couldn''t help but go over and wrap his arms around Liu Jiayao''s waist, his hand following those exaggerated curves to rest on her perky behind.

    "Hey, let go now, otherwise you''ll wrinkle the dress," Liu Jiayao blushed and protested.

    "No way, I''ve changed my mind. You can''t wear this dress; it''s too sexy, and I''ll get jealous," Ge Dongxu said, firmly caressing Liu Jiayao''s behind.

    "Pfft! You old-fashioned, old-minded man!" Liu Jiayao laughed at the sight of Ge Dongxu''s jealous and unwilling expression.

    "But I''ll listen to you! Hehe!" Liu Jiayao whispered in Ge Dongxu''s ear, then rather than being dissatisfied, she picked up a more traditional white evening gown from the bed, feeling utterly sweet and blessed.

    "Cough cough, isn''t this a bit too conservative?" Ge Dongxu, seeing Liu Jiayao changing her decision because of his words, felt somewhat embarrassed.

    "Oh, stop it, you''re so fake!" Liu Jiayao gave Ge Dongxu a sharp look and turned to leave. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Hehe, I can''t take the blame for it, who told you to be so beautiful and sexy!" Ge Dongxu said with a smug "look who''s talking" grin.

    It didn''t take long for Liu Jiayao to return in another evening gown, which had a looser skirt. Although it no longer outlined her perfect waist-hip curves, it added an air of dignified elegance to her.

    "Jiayao, you just look stunning in en evening gown!" Ge Dongxu sincerely complimented.

    "Quit it, are you afraid I''ll change my mind again?" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu.

    "Cough cough!" Ge Dongxu showed a tinge of embarrassment.

    "Giggle!" Seeing this, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help but laugh happily. She stepped forward, took his hand, and shot him a look, "You big goof!"

 Chapter 728 - 727: It Is Right to Make a Contribution to Ones Hometown

    "Hehe, are you really going to wear this one?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Doesn''t it look good?" Liu Jiayao twirled in front of Ge Dongxu, holding the hem of her dress.

    "It looks great, of course it looks great, anyone who says otherwise must be blind," Ge Dongxu exaggerated, nodding his head repeatedly.

    "Giggle!" Liu Jiayao laughed happily and once again latched onto Ge Dongxu''s arm, saying, "Then let''s go now."

    "Yeah, it''s about that time," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    So, Liu Jiayao put on her coat and intimately hooked Ge Dongxu''s arm as they went downstairs.

    Today Ge Dongxu wasn''t driving Liu Jiayao''s Audi, but his special Cherokee official car with a military license plate.

    Under the setting sun, the Cherokee made its way through Linzhou City''s downtown area, unobstructed all the way.

    Whenever there was traffic, police officers would salute upon seeing this special official car, then direct the traffic to let it pass first.

    "Why do I always feel like you''re ''the fox exploiting the tiger''s might'' when I see your young face?" It was Liu Jiayao''s first time riding in this official car, and seeing how it moved unimpeded, even having traffic police come forward to salute and direct traffic, she looked at Ge Dongxu with a very subtle expression.

    "Please, I am quite the big shot in the special department, you know? Plus, today we are hosting the King of Reel Country and his entourage! I''m even driving myself, what more do you expect? If it were the provincial leaders, a banquet of this level would surely need a police car clearing the way, right?" Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Giggle! Yes, yes, you''re right, Leader Ge!" Liu Jiayao smiled, pursing her lips upon hearing this.

    "Alright, alright, but actually, since Gustadin is the King after all, there''s bound to be traffic management near Kunting Grand Hotel where he''s going to dine today. Since I am the landlord here, there''s no way I''m going to be stopped and questioned, right? That would be too embarrassing for our own people! So, I had no choice but to take out this flashy car," Ge Dongxu said, scratching his head helplessly as Liu Jiayao teased him.

    "Silly, you think I don''t know that? I am the boss of a company, after all; I still have that common sense," Liu Jiayao scolded playfully, tapping Ge Dongxu''s head with her delicate finger.

    As they spoke, Ge Dongxu''s car approached Yongqing Road where the Kunting Grand Hotel was located.

    As expected, several intersections on Yongqing Road were staffed with several times more traffic police than usual, each of them holding walkie-talkies, ready to receive instructions at any moment.

    Traffic control hadn''t officially started yet, meaning King Gustadin''s convoy was either still on the way, some distance from Yongchun Road, or hadn''t left the Mingyue Lake State Guesthouse yet.

    However, even though traffic control hadn''t officially begun, the road conditions had improved a lot due to the presence of several times more traffic police on duty.

    These police officers all stood to attention and saluted as they saw the Cherokee with the special military plate drive past, watching it go.

    The car sped along Yongqing Road and quickly approached the Kunting Grand Hotel.

    "A King is a King, indeed." Ge Dongxu had just arrived at the Kunting Grand Hotel and already noticed the security personnel arranged in visible and hidden places, and couldn''t help but laugh and shake his head.

    Actually, with him there, if any assassin were lying in ambush with plans to kill the King, he would be able to detect even the slightest hint of murderous intent immediately¡ªso there was no need for such high levels of precaution.

    But Ge Dongxu could understand; this time the King was making a high-profile appearance, accompanied by important figures from Reel Country. Jiangnan Province would never dare to be negligent in any way.

    The hotel was still open for business as usual, but the inspection of people and vehicles entering and leaving was very strict, and the number was tightly controlled.

    When the Grand Cherokee drove into the hotel entrance, the tactical police recognized this special military vehicle, immediately snapped to attention, saluted, and allowed it through without delay.

    Once inside the hotel, Ge Dongxu drove the car directly to the Presidential Suite''s dedicated parking area and then got out with Liu Jiayao.

    The Presidential Suite has its own private passageway and elevator, so there is no need to go through the main lobby entrance.

    However, the security for the private passage and elevator was completely different tonight, fully managed by the security bureau of Jiangnan Province and the security personnel of the King.

    The security bureau''s chief in charge knew Ge Dongxu because last time Ge Dongxu had dined with Secretary Chen and others, he was there as well; and before undertaking this assignment, Director Zheng had already briefed them. So, upon seeing Ge Dongxu arriving with Liu Jiayao, the bureau''s staff immediately saluted and allowed them through, whereas the Reel Country security personnel assisting tonight included two who had met Ge Dongxu in the medical room that afternoon.

    When they saw Ge Dongxu accompanying Liu Jiayao, their hearts couldn''t help but skip a beat. They hurriedly stopped others who were about to step forward for questioning, stood straight, and saluted, which left the other security personnel secretly astounded.

    The elevator went straight to the Presidential Suite.

    Outside the Presidential Suite, just as many security staff were on duty.

    "Dongxu! Sister Liu!" Lin Kun, the manager of the hotel, had already arrived at the Presidential Suite. Upon seeing Ge Dongxu arriving with Liu Jiayao, he hurried forward respectfully and called out.

    "How are all the preparations?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Everything is ready," Lin Kun replied.

    "The security staff here should move to the lower floors. With such a rigid atmosphere, how can there be any mood for dinner?" Ge Dongxu said. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s easier to communicate with Director Zheng''s side, but the Reel Country side..." Upon hearing this, Lin Kun''s expression turned troubled.

    "Call Henry and tell him it''s on my orders. Let him handle it," Ge Dongxu instructed.

    "Yes!" Lin Kun responded, first calling Zheng Zijie, then Henry.

    To Lin Kun''s surprise, Henry didn''t utter a second word upon hearing that it was an order from Ge Dongxu, agreeing immediately without showing any airs of a royal steward.

    Shortly, all the security personnel outside the Presidential Suite had been withdrawn, and only then did Ge Dongxu nod in satisfaction.

    Not long after the security staff had left, Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and Director Zheng arrived at the Presidential Suite with their wives.

    As it was a private dinner and the venue was limited, on the government''s side, Ge Dongxu had only invited the top two officials and Director Zheng, with whom he had a good relationship.

    Ge Dongxu greeted each of Secretary Chen''s group, then casually chatted with them.

    Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu talking and laughing with the provincial leaders she once could only look up to, felt both sentimental and proud.

    "Director Ge, last time you introduced Mr. Gu to us, and this time you introduced the King of Reel Country. We really owe you our thanks!" In the midst of talking, Secretary Chen suddenly became emotional and held Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly.

    "Haha, Secretary Chen, you are too kind. Don''t forget, I''m also a person from Jiangnan Province. It''s only right to contribute to my hometown," Ge Dongxu laughed and said.

 Chapter 729 - 728: I Feel Like I Can Hold My Head High and Sigh!

    "This is not just a small contribution, it''s a significant one! Let''s put aside the enormous investments made by Mr. Gu and the exemplary effect he has had among the overseas Chinese community for now. Let''s talk about Reel Country. Although Reel Country is only a medium-sized nation in Europe with a population of eight or nine million, its economic level is among the top in the world. Its technology industry is particularly impressive. They have their own aviation, nuclear, automobile manufacturing, advanced military industries, and world-leading telecommunications and medical research capabilities. In the fields of software development, microelectronics, remote communication, and photonics, Reel Country is also at the forefront of the world."

    "If we can reach cooperation agreements with them in any of these areas, it would greatly promote the development of our province''s tech industry and even our country''s tech industry. You should know that Western countries have always adopted a policy of technology blockade towards our country." Secretary Chen continued, clutching Ge Dongxu''s hand tightly, patting the back of it with his other hand, an excited look on his face.

    "Secretary Chen, rest assured, if it''s something King Gustadin can decide on, he will definitely be very willing to cooperate with us. Regarding the tech industries you just mentioned, I can tell you one thing in advance: Caroline Royal Medical College will collaborate with us, combining both Western and traditional Chinese medicine to research cancer treatments. This research institute will be set up in our Jiangnan Province, and I will fund it. All the decision-making power will be in my hands, and they will only have the right to participate. If in the future we truly develop technology and medication to treat cancer, the patent for that technology and medication will also belong to us. They will only be exempt from paying additional patent fees when the technology is used to treat their own citizens," Ge Dongxu said with a smile. S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Is that true?" Although Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and Director Zheng already knew about Ge Dongxu''s extraordinary medical skills and that collaborating with Caroline Royal Medical College was to their advantage, upon hearing that all decision-making power would remain on the Huaxia side and even future scientific research achievements would belong to Huaxia¡ªwith Reel Country only able to use it freely on their own citizens¡ªthey still couldn''t help but exclaim in surprise.

    "Of course, it''s true. Initially, I didn''t want to give Caroline Royal Medical College this opportunity, but King Gustadin was sincere. Moreover, their expertise in Western medical research really is advanced, which can save us from taking detours, which is why I agreed," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and Director Zheng''s eyes widened as if they were hearing something unbelievable.

    Since the end of the Qing Dynasty, Huaxia Country has faced numerous disasters, causing it to fall far behind the Western world in terms of economy and technology. This also led to Huaxia Country being at a complete disadvantage in negotiations in these fields, essentially at the mercy of Western terms.

    What choice did they have when they were lagging behind and needed help from others?

    But now? The tables had completely turned. Not only were the conditions set by Ge Dongxu as stringent as a tyrant''s demands, but it was King Gustadin and Caroline Royal Medical College who were seeking Ge Dongxu''s favor. Had this news not come directly from Ge Dongxu, and had they not known of Ge Dongxu''s divine medical skills, they would have thought Ge Dongxu was spouting nonsense.

    But now they knew, coming from Ge Dongxu, it must be true.

    Understanding that the matter was indeed true, their surprise was such that their eyes nearly popped out of their heads.

    "Director Ge, being with you, I feel a sense of pride and relief!" After a long while, Secretary Chen exclaimed emotionally.

    Despite being the top official of Jiangnan Province, overseeing tens of millions of people, a position that would have been of high esteem in the past, and very impressive, as people need to eat and the economy needs to develop, when dealing with foreign dignitaries, even a leader like him couldn''t escape feeling aggrieved.

    Now, having heard Ge Dongxu''s words, his emotions were truly turbulent and incredibly gratified.

    "Our people are hardworking and kind; it''s just that we started with a thin foundation and our level of education is also somewhat lacking. Just give us a couple of decades, and Secretary Chen, you''ll find it hard not to feel proud and relieved!" Ge Dongxu said confidently.

    "Well said! With time on our side, we will surely feel proud and relieved. I hope I live to see that day," Secretary Chen said.

    Secretary Chen was already sixty-six this year. According to regulations, someone of his level should retire at sixty-five, but since his term had not yet expired, he could remain in office until the end of his term. Given his age, this was why Secretary Chen had those sentiments.

    "With Director Ge, the divine doctor here, Secretary Chen, do you really worry you won''t live to see that day?" laughed Sang Yunlong.

    "Haha, Secretary Chen, you''re in great health, you''re certain to have a long life," laughed Ge Dongxu.

    "Haha, Director Ge, that''s what you said, Comrades Yunlong and Zijie can be my witnesses," Secretary Chen''s eyes lit up upon hearing this, and he laughed heartily.

    "Secretary Chen, you''re pinning this on me!" laughed Ge Dongxu.

    "Haha, who else should I rely on if not the divine doctor? To live a long life, if I don''t rely on you, who else can I rely on?" Secretary Chen wasn''t the least bit angry or dissatisfied with the young Ge Dongxu saying he was relying on him; instead, he burst into laughter.

    "Alright, alright, who else can I rely on if not the parent official!" Ge Dongxu shrugged helplessly.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s helpless expression, Secretary Chen and the others all laughed heartily.

    At another side of the room, Liu Jiayao and several other ladies saw Secretary Chen and the others laughing heartily and turned their heads to look.

    "It''s been a while since I''ve seen Old Chen laugh so relaxed and happy. These years, ever since he became the secretary, his face has always been so grave, as if he''s carrying a heavy burden on his shoulders," Mrs. Chen remarked.

    "That''s for sure, managing tens of millions of people is no easy task," Feng Yaping nodded in agreement.

    "It''s all thanks to Director Ge''s capabilities," Mrs. Zheng sighed.

    "Certainly, have you ever seen a young man who could invite a king to dinner? I heard that when the Chinese tycoon Gu Yezeng came to Jiangnan Province for investment a while ago, it was also facilitated by him. I think whether Reel Country will invest in Jiangnan Province this time, nine times out of ten, it also depends on Director Ge," Mrs. Chen nodded in admiration.

    Seeing several provincial leaders'' wives praising Ge Dongxu, Liu Jiayao felt extremely proud and sneaked glances at Ge Dongxu, filled with love and happiness.

    Amidst the laughter, Lin Kun came in to announce that King Gustadin''s motorcade was already on Yongqing Road and would arrive in a few minutes.

    Hearing that King Gustadin had arrived, Secretary Chen and the others went downstairs to welcome him, but Ge Dongxu did not go down.

    Today''s visit of King Gustadin to the Kunting Grand Hotel was entirely different from sneaking into the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital; there were many domestic and foreign journalists outside with cameras at the ready, so naturally, it was not convenient for Ge Dongxu to show up.

    Even for this banquet, the official statement to the public was that Secretary Chen and the others were the hosts, not Ge Dongxu.

 Chapter 730 - 729: Women and Perfume

    Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao waited together at the entrance to the Presidential Suite.

    Before long, King Gustadin and Queen Consort Kelly emerged from the elevator, accompanied by Secretary Chen, Governor Sang, and others.

    "Gusta, Your Highness the Queen Consort, welcome to your arrival," Ge Dongxu stepped forward, shaking hands with Gusta, and then he intended to shake hands with the Queen Consort as well, but she opened her arms and gave him an intimate cheek-to-cheek greeting instead.

    "Ge, Gusta has already told me everything, thank you for saving my husband and the father of my child," Kelly said emotionally while greeting Ge Dongxu with the cheek-to-cheek gesture.

    "Your Highness, please don''t mention it, it was my destiny with Gusta," Ge Dongxu said with a slight smile.

    "Ge, I would prefer it if you called me ''Kelly,'' just as you refer to my husband as Gusta," Kelly said with a smile.

    "Actually, I''m also not used to calling you ''Your Highness the Queen Consort,''" Ge Dongxu said with a smile, then he pulled Liu Jiayao over and introduced her, "Let me introduce you, this is my girlfriend Liu Jiayao."

    "Oh, my God, Ge, your girlfriend is so beautiful!" Kelly exclaimed dramatically, then opened her arms again and gave Liu Jiayao a cheek-to-cheek greeting. "It''s a pleasure to meet you, Liu."

    "I am also very pleased to meet you, Your Highness," Liu Jiayao said with a smile.

    "You should call me ''Kelly,'' just like Ge does," Kelly corrected her. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Liu Jiayao said with a slight smile, "I shall follow your wishes."

    Afterward, Liu Jiayao greeted King Gustadin.

    Once the introductions were made, everyone entered the Presidential Suite.

    The Presidential Suite had a huge balcony facing the street. The balcony was divided in two, half of it enclosed by glass as a sunroom, and the other half as an open terrace.

    The banquet was arranged in the sunroom.

    At the moment, the sunroom was lit with both lights and candles, shining against the starry sky and the bustling city lights below.

    The banquet was set up in a buffet style, following Western customs, giving everyone a more relaxed atmosphere without being confined to a table.

    Thus, in the middle of the sunroom, there was a long table covered with a snow-white tablecloth, and various styles of Chinese dishes were placed upon it.

    "Standing by the banks of Mingyue Lake, I saw the ancient historical culture and beautiful scenery of Linzhou City. Here, I see the modern civilization and prosperous view of Linzhou City. Who could have imagined, without coming to Huaxia Country personally, that in just a few decades, Huaxia Country would develop from the post-war poverty to this extent?" Holding a glass of red wine and standing in front of the large glass windows, Gustadin pointed to the bustling Linzhou City below, filled with the flow of traffic and myriad lights, remarking with a sense of wonder.

    "Gusta, come back to Linzhou City in ten years, and I guarantee you will see an even more civilized and booming modern city," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Ge, I wouldn''t have believed it before, but now I do," Gustadin raised his glass and toasted with Ge Dongxu.

    "Kelly, do you by any chance know Yu Xin?" On the other hand, Liu Jiayao leaned against the window with a glass of red wine in her hand and asked with a hint of puzzlement.

    "Yu Xin? Of course, I know her; she''s my good friend! Don''t tell me you know Yu Xin too?" Kelly said surprised.

    "Absolutely, she is a good friend of mine too," Liu Jiayao replied with a smile of relief on her face.

    "Oh, my God, this is such a coincidence! How did you know I know Yu Xin?" Kelly asked, first taken aback and then very puzzled.

    "It''s because you carry a fragrance I''m very familiar with. This perfume was derived from our company''s upcoming Flower Spirit series, and so far, only my three best friends in the world own and use this perfume. It seems I have to add you to that list now," Liu Jiayao smiled back.

    "Oh, my God, so the perfume is produced by your company. That''s fantastic! I was worrying that Yu Xin gave me too little, and just a few days ago I asked her where I could buy it. She said this particular scent was not available on the market yet and that I would have to wait at least until next year, which disappointed me! I didn''t expect it to be developed by your company; the scent is truly enchanting. Many prestigious ladies in Gorm''s high society are also fascinated by the perfume I wear; many have inquired privately about the brand, unfortunately, I knew not," Kelly said excitedly.

    "In a few days, we will introduce a series of Flower Spirit products, including perfumes, but the one you''re using now probably won''t be available until the end of the year because we can only produce it in very small quantities right now. However, Kelly, don''t worry, I will supply it to you for free," Liu Jiayao laughed.

    "Thank you! Dear Liu, this perfume seems to have a kind of magic power. I can guarantee that if you launch this scent on the market, it will definitely cause a frenzy among women. Since you can''t mass-produce it, why not auction it? Keep it shrouded in mystery that way. Not only could you make a huge profit from this perfume, but you could also enhance the prestige of your cosmetics brand. I wouldn''t mind if you use me for advertising during the auction to enjoy such magical perfume for free!" Kelly suggested.

    "Kelly, your suggestion is excellent! To tell you the truth, I''m struggling with how to launch this perfume. If we price it too high, no one will be interested, but if we set it too low, we simply can''t mass-produce it under the current production conditions, definitely not enough to meet the market demand for the next few years. Of course, this marketing strategy would need your help, and without you, we couldn''t make a commotion," Liu Jiayao said, her eyes lighting up.

    "I''d be delighted to help you, because the perfume is just too wonderful. Liu, I have an audacious request. Could you introduce me to the creator of this perfume? I''m really curious as to what kind of person could create such an exquisite fragrance," Kelly asked.

    "Of course, no problem. In fact, he is here tonight. Follow me, and I''ll introduce you," Liu Jiayao said, her face curling into a sly smile.

    "That''s wonderful!" Kelly said, following Liu Jiayao with her glass in hand.

    "Dongxu, Princess Kelly wants to meet you again," Liu Jiayao led Kelly over to where Ge Dongxu and Gustadin were and smiled.

    "Oh, my God, Ge is the creator of the perfume? That''s incredible!" Kelly said, her eyes widening in disbelief upon hearing this.

    "Giggle!" Seeing the incredulous look on Princess Kelly''s face, Liu Jiayao pursed her lips and laughed happily.

    "My dear, what are you talking about?" King Gustadin was a bit stunned.

 Chapter 731 - 730: Seriously Injured

    "My dear, didn''t you say that the perfume I''ve been using recently has magic power? This perfume was developed by Ge," Kelly replied, her face still wearing an expression of disbelief.

    "Really? Ge, you truly are a remarkable person!" Gustadin couldn''t help but be startled upon hearing this, but he quickly came to terms with it.

    Magically extracting a gun hidden in someone''s waistband, gently twisting it, and turning the gun into a clump of hemp; and in just half an hour, curing cancer¡­

    When so many miraculous events happen to one person, the arrival of one more, though surprising, becomes much easier to accept once known.

    "Thank you for your compliment, Gusta," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, accepting the praise without any false modesty.

    During the conversation, some managers of the royal industrial enterprises also arrived in batches by elevator in the banquet hall arranged in the sunroom.

    Gustadin took the time to introduce them to Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao.

    These individuals, unlike government officials on the cabinet side, were truly loyal to the royal family, somewhat akin to the retainers of the past.

    Although similar to Gustadin''s "retainers," many of them enjoyed a certain fame in the business world of Reel Country and even the world at large.

    Their every move could influence many industries and the work of many people.

    However, that evening, when Gustadin was introducing them to Ge Dongxu and Liu Jiayao, they all behaved with great respect and courtesy, not daring to put on any airs, clearly they had been instructed and briefed by Gustadin before their arrival.

    That night, host and guests enjoyed themselves to the fullest.

    The next day, King Gustadin moved into the Kunting Grand Hotel.

    The lingering heat from the news of Queen of Heaven Yu Xin staying at the Kunting Grand Hotel hadn''t yet faded when it was reported that King Gustadin of Reel Country, along with the Queen Consort and his entourage, were staying at the Kunting Grand Hotel.

    Suddenly, not just the entire Linzhou City was abuzz, but many people across Huaxia Country were talking about it.

    With two waves of major news in quick succession, the Kunting hotel chain, the first-ever in Huaxia Country, was firmly imprinted in the minds of many.

    Furthermore, because the headquarters of the Kunting chain had hosted Queen of Heaven Yu Xin and the King of Reel Country, many business people felt that staying at such a hotel chain not only maintained their status but also added prestige.

    After all, the brand''s headquarters was a hotel where even the Queen of Heaven Yu Xin and the King of Reel Country had stayed!

    And such a "high-end" hotel, while prestigious, was also very affordable and could be found in almost every major city.

    As a result, many people traveling for business or leisure thought of the Kunting chain as their first option.

    Seemingly overnight, the Kunting hotel chain became famous across the country and business boomed, with many hotels calling to inquire about franchising with the Kunting chain.

    The success of the Kunting chain got Lin Kun so excited that he couldn''t contain himself and made a special call to Ge Dongxu to report the news.

    However, Ge Dongxu threw cold water on his excitement, sternly warning him that the franchise review had to be extremely strict, better to miss out than to settle for less, and not to expand blindly. They must strive to make Kunting a truly strong brand; one that people would think of first when it comes to business hotel chains.

    Lin Kun, being young and triumphant at the time, naturally bloated with self-esteem, ambitious to make a big splash. If it were anyone else warning him, he surely wouldn''t have listened.

    However, the moment Ge Dongxu issued his warning, Lin Kun immediately took heed as if he had received a decree. Not only did he raise the franchising requirements, but the scrutiny for prospective franchises was also extremely strict. Consequently, though it seemed that the Kunting chain missed a good opportunity for immediate expansion, it later won excellent word of mouth, solidifying and expanding its customer base.

    Despite the emergence of other chain hotels in the late stage, no brand could rival the Kunting Grand Hotel! When people from Huaxia Country thought of chain hotels, the first name that came to mind was Kunting¡ªit was as if Kunting was synonymous with chain hotels.

    Of course, that was later.

    But when the Kunting Grand Hotel chain became completely popular because it hosted the King, the students of Jiangnan University entered a tense period of revision and exams for the end of the term.

    After the exams came the winter vacation.

    This year, the Chinese New Year''s Eve would be in early February, so Jiangnan University officially started the holiday on January 18th.

    The students began to pack their bags, getting ready to go home.

    Ge Dongxu was no exception.

    He packed his luggage and stayed for a day at Liu Jiayao''s house, planning to take the car home the next day to spend the New Year with his parents and his senior brother, Yang Yinhou.

    ...

    Australia, Melbourne.

    Outside the Alfred Hospital.

    Several police cars were parked, with the officers inside vigilantly watching the hospital.

    Apart from the police, there were also various types of people loitering outside the hospital, their gazes also fixed on the premises.

    From time to time, cars stopped at the entrance of the hospital and Chinese-looking individuals got out.

    "Damn it, Lin Tian is here too. That''s the tenth Chinese gang leader in Australia! Nearly all of Melbourne''s, no, Sydney''s Chinese gang leaders have rushed over! What are they planning to do? And who the hell is this seriously injured Chinese guy, Ouyang Murong?" grumbled a fat police officer while munching on a hamburger inside a police car. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I heard he''s from Mainland Huaxia. His son is a jade businessman, and so is he. He came to Melbourne to visit family this time," said another tall and skinny young white police officer.

    "A jade businessman? Have you ever seen a jade businessman get so many gang leaders to visit him when he is injured?" The fat police officer took another bite of his hamburger, looking disdainful.

    "Let''s hope this guy is lucky and doesn''t end up like Kohl. Otherwise, there''s bound to be a major conflict between the Chinese gangs and the Rebels from Hell," said the tall and skinny young white police officer, glancing at the people lingering near the hospital as he spoke.

    Outside the Intensive Care Unit of the hospital.

    A middle-aged woman was holding her head in her hands, sobbing softly as she sat on a chair, while a young woman wrapped an arm around her shoulders, comforting her continuously.

    A young man whose features closely resembled those of Ouyang Murong clenched his fist tightly.

    This young man was none other than Ouyang Zesheng, Ouyang Murong''s son who had come to study in Australia and had stayed in Australia.

    "Zesheng, don''t worry. We definitely won''t let the matter regarding your dad just end like this!" said a very authoritative man as he patted Ouyang Zesheng on the shoulder, trying to console him.

    "Thank you, Uncle Song. Let''s wait until my dad wakes up before we discuss further. I don''t want to complicate things more, nor do I want to drag more people into this," Ouyang Zesheng nodded and replied, his gaze at the authoritative man also holding a hint of resentment.

    "Zesheng, I''m sorry. Uncle Song knows that your father has not been involved in gang affairs for many years, and this incident was purely accidental," the man surnamed Song explained with a bitter smile when he saw the hint of resentment in Ouyang Zesheng''s gaze.

 Chapter 732 - 731: Call Your Great-Uncle

    "I know that, Uncle Song. Talking about it now is meaningless. Let''s just wait until my dad gets through the critical period," Ouyang Zesheng said.

    "Song Bro, how''s Mr. Ouyang doing now?" As soon as Ouyang Zesheng finished speaking, a man hurried over and asked.

    This man was the one who had been referred to as Lin Tian by the white police officer.

    "He''s still unconscious," the man known as Song Bro replied gravely.

    "Damn that bitch Daisy! It wasn''t our guys who killed Kohl, so why is she coming after us? Even if she had to find us, what does this have to do with Mr. Ouyang?" Lin Tian cursed upon hearing this.

    "Exactly, damn it, do they really think we''re scared of them just because they have more people?" Seeing Lin Tian cursing, others also began to swear angrily.

    "This is a hospital, please keep your voices down," a nurse came out of the ICU and glared at Lin Tian and the others, speaking in English.

    "Damn it, I''m not in the mood..." A man with a face full of flesh and a gold chain around his neck started swearing back at the nurse, who dared to glare and scold him.

    "If you truly respect my father, please keep quiet," Ouyang Zesheng frowned and said.

    When Ouyang Zesheng spoke, remembering his father was still lying in the ICU, the brawny fellow immediately shut his mouth sheepishly.

    "You must be the patient''s son. Your father just woke up, and he''s insisting on seeing you right away. He might have something important to tell you, so please go immediately, as the patient could lapse back into unconsciousness at any moment," the nurse said, glancing again at the brawny man before addressing Ouyang Zesheng.

    "Alright!" Ouyang Zesheng couldn''t help but show a touch of excitement and hurriedly followed the nurse towards the ICU. The others wanted to follow, but the nurse stopped them right away.

    As Ouyang Zesheng entered the ICU, he saw his father with various tubes inserted in him, looking at him with eyes flickering, and his lips trembling. Ouyang Zesheng''s nose tingled with emotion, and he quickly stepped forward, pressing his ear against his father''s mouth and said, "Dad, whatever it is, tell me, I''m listening."

    "Call... call your grandmaster uncle," Ouyang Murong spoke weakly and in broken phrases, "I... I have his number in my phone." S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ouyang Zesheng understood his father''s words since he was familiar with his voice, but his brows furrowed.

    Ouyang Zesheng naturally knew a bit about the Qimen. However, because his father Ouyang Murong had lived dangerously under the gun and didn''t want to involve his son, he had sent him to study in Australia early on. So, although Ouyang Zesheng had heard some things about Qimen and his grandmaster uncle Yang Yinhou, he didn''t take it seriously since he had never seen it with his own eyes.

    After receiving a Western education, he even began to doubt whether his father''s previous tales were exaggerated.

    During Ouyang Murong''s visit to see his family, he had mentioned that Yang Yinhou''s leg was treated by his grandmaster uncle Ge Dongxu, and Ouyang Zesheng was merely surprised but didn''t consider that such medical skills were almost miraculous.

    Since his son was living an ordinary life and they were people of the Qimen, Ouyang Murong, seeing that his son did not take his words to heart, naturally did not go into details about Ge Dongxu.

    So when Ouyang Zesheng heard his father asking him to call his grandmaster uncle, whom he had never met before, at a time like this, his first thought was not that Ge could heal his father or be of any help, but that things were already a mess here. Wouldn''t calling some grandmaster uncle just add to the chaos?

    "Dad, this is Australia. What''s the use of calling the grandmaster uncle here? We''ll still need to make arrangements to..." Frowning, Ouyang Zesheng said.

    However, mid-sentence, he realized that his father had once again lost consciousness.

    Seeing his father in a comatose state, Ouyang Zesheng felt a wave of sorrow and left the intensive care unit at the nurse''s urging.

    "What did your dad say to you?" Ouyang Zesheng''s mother saw her son come out and, putting aside her tears for the moment, hurriedly asked.

    "He asked me to call that Uncle-Master. What good will calling him do? Can he really be of any help? This is Australia!" Ouyang Zesheng said with a bitter smile.

    "Your father has always been prudent, and he asked you to call his Uncle-Master as soon as he woke up. There must be a reason. You should still give him a call and see what he has to say," Ouyang Zesheng''s mother, who had been through many hardships with Ouyang Murong, replied immediately, knowing more about Yang Yinhou''s abilities than her son.

    "That makes sense, I''ll make a call and ask," Ouyang Zesheng nodded, took out his father''s cellphone, found the entry marked ''Uncle-Master,'' retrieved the number from the directory, and then dialed it from his own phone.

    As Ouyang Zesheng was calling Ge Dongxu, Ge Dongxu was getting ready to take a train back to Changxi County.

    Ge Dongxu picked up the phone, a flicker of surprise crossing his face at the sight of the unfamiliar number, and then answered it.

    "Is this Ge Dongxu speaking?" As soon as Ge Dongxu picked up the call, a young voice immediately came through.

    "It is. Who am I speaking with?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Uncle-Master, it''s Ouyang Zesheng. Ouyang Murong is my father," Ouyang Zesheng replied.

    "Has something happened to your father?" Ge Dongxu, feeling a bad premonition upon receiving a sudden call from Ouyang Murong''s son, immediately asked.

    "Yes, my father was shot three times in Melbourne. The situation is very grim; he hasn''t passed the critical period yet. The doctor said it all depends on these next two days. If he can pull through, then he''ll be okay, but if he can''t, he might..." Ouyang Zesheng''s voice began to choke up as he spoke.

    "You haven''t mentioned this to your Sect Leader, have you?" Ge Dongxu asked, a sudden chill emanating from him, making the people around him inexplicably tense up and feel a cold draft on their backs, causing them to keep their distance from Ge Dongxu.

    "No, my father just woke up briefly, and he told me to call you," Ouyang Zesheng replied.

    "Alright, you don''t need to bring this up with your Sect Leader. I''m on my way to Melbourne now. Which hospital is your father in?" Ge Dongxu asked, his voice grave, with a fierce murderous intent flickering in his dark eyes.

    In the Pill Talisman Sect, there were only three sect members left.

    One was the Sect Leader himself, one was his senior brother, and the other was Ouyang Murong, his uncle''s disciple.

    Now that the only younger member of his sect had been shot three times overseas and was in critical condition, how could he, the Sect Leader Uncle, not be filled with a desire for vengeance?

    "My father is at Alfred Hospital, but Uncle-Master, your coming won''t make a difference. I''ll inform you as soon as there is news..." Ouyang Zesheng replied.

 Chapter 733 - 732 Heading to Australia

    "No, I''m on my way over now!" Ge Dongxu said and immediately hung up Ouyang Zesheng''s call.

    After hanging up Ouyang Zesheng''s call, Ge Dongxu immediately phoned Xu Lei and asked him to arrange the trip to Melbourne.

    Having called Xu Lei, Ge Dongxu swiftly hailed a taxi to return to Yatu Apartments.

    Sitting in the cab, Ge Dongxu first made a call home to tell his parents he had a temporary matter and wouldn''t make it back in the next few days. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Knowing their son was incredibly capable, Ge Shengming and his wife didn''t ask further questions, only advising him to be cautious before hanging up.

    Just after hanging up with his parents, Ge Dongxu received a call back from Xu Lei, who said that there was a direct flight to Melbourne leaving Shanghai at eight o''clock tonight. Although it was a rush, instructions had been given, and they would wait for his arrival.

    "Good!" Ge Dongxu replied in a deep voice.

    "Do you need us to arrange someone to accompany you?" Xu Lei asked cautiously, his voice betraying the hint of urgency he sensed from Ge Dongxu today even through the phone.

    "No need! If necessary, I will contact Director Fan when I get there," Ge Dongxu answered.

    This time his martial nephew had been shot thrice, and his life hung by a thread. He definitely wouldn''t show mercy on this trip. Bringing more people would attract attention, which would be counterproductive.

    "Alright, we have already arranged for reception at Shanghai Airport. They will arrange for your boarding as soon as possible," Xu Lei said.

    "Good! I will drive my official car there. They should recognize my vehicle," Ge Dongxu said before ending the call.

    The railway station wasn''t far from Yatu Apartments, and it wasn''t rush hour, so by the time Ge Dongxu made his calls, the car had already reached Yatu Apartments.

    Ge Dongxu got into his Jeep Grand Cherokee, which boasted special military plates, and for the first time activated the alarm system, speeding away with a siren blaring.

    The traffic police at the intersections, hearing the alarm and seeing the special military plates, immediately implemented temporary traffic control to let Ge Dongxu''s vehicle through first.

    The car sped unhindered out of the city, passed directly through the toll station, and raced along the expressway heading to Shanghai.

    This time, Ge Dongxu truly floored the accelerator.

    Vehicles on the expressway only heard a whoosh as a car sped past them, and by the time they realized what had happened, all they could see was the back of a car vanishing into the distance.

    The Grand Cherokee''s furious speeding naturally attracted the highway patrol''s attention, but once they noticed the plates on the car, a chill went through them. They immediately informed the toll stations along the route to be ready to let him pass without delay.

    The car raced desperately, and Ge Dongxu finally arrived at the airport just before a quarter to eight.

    The National Security Bureau''s personnel were already waiting for him at the airport.

    Upon seeing Ge Dongxu arrive, they immediately led him through a special passage directly into the airplane''s first-class cabin without any obstacles.

    "Hey, Ge, what are you doing here?" As Ge Dongxu entered the first-class cabin, a voice of surprise rang out, followed by Ge Dongxu seeing a blonde woman standing up and waving at him.

    It was Betty, the very cheerful American girl who had come to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to study acupuncture, whom Ge Dongxu had met at the Christmas party.

    "I have a friend in Melbourne who had an accident, so I went to see them. What about you? Aren''t you from San Francisco in the United States? Why aren''t you heading to the States for the winter break instead of going to Australia?" Ge Dongxu''s seat just happened to be next to Betty''s, so as he sat down, he casually said.

    "That''s right, I''m from San Francisco and I grew up there. But my mother is from Melbourne, she has a house there, so we generally go to Melbourne for the winter because it''s summer there," Betty replied.

    "Oh, I see," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "How long will you be staying in Melbourne? Maybe I can take you out for a stroll. I''m quite familiar with Melbourne," Betty said enthusiastically.

    "Thank you, I''m not sure yet," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "No problem, I''ll give you my phone number. If you get bored in Melbourne, just give me a call." Saying this, Betty gave Ge Dongxu her phone number.

    Although Ge Dongxu wasn''t in the mood at the moment, seeing Betty''s enthusiasm, he couldn''t very well put on an aloof demeanor, so he reluctantly gave her his number as well.

    The plane took off soon after.

    Once the plane was soaring stable through the blue sky, the outgoing Betty chattered away, striking up a conversation with Ge Dongxu.

    "Ge, you know I went to the Jiangnan Province Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital to learn acupuncture. Although acupuncture is difficult to learn, involving ''meridians'' and ''acupoints'', which give me such a headache to memorize, it''s truly magical. For some surgeries, acupuncture can even replace anesthesia. But I have always had a question, since acupoints and meridians do exist, does ''acupoint sealing'' from Huaxia martial arts really exist? Your martial arts skills are so good, do you know about acupoint sealing?" Betty asked.

    "I''m sorry, Betty, I feel a bit tired," Ge Dongxu didn''t answer but instead shrugged apologetically at Betty and then slowly closed his eyes.

    At this moment, Ge Dongxu was preoccupied with the safety of his martial nephew Ouyang Murong, and had no interest in discussing these topics with Betty.

    Besides, ''acupoint sealing'' belongs to the legendary martial arts of Huaxia, and even if he knew how to do it, how could he casually reveal it to Betty.

    If he replied honestly, given Betty''s character, she wouldn''t stop pestering him to demonstrate, and then she would surely go around boasting about it.

    Betty, who was a stunning blonde with a fiery figure, generally didn''t pay much attention to the numerous male students who hovered around her at the Traditional Chinese Medicine College. Unexpectedly, she was being so actively enthusiastic in chatting with Ge Dongxu today, and yet Ge Dongxu excused himself, claiming to be tired, closed his eyes to rest. This couldn''t help but wound Betty, and she pouted in frustration.

    However, since Ge Dongxu ignored her, Betty couldn''t do anything about it and simply picked up a magazine to read.

    The flight from Shanghai to Melbourne took about eleven hours, with a two-hour time difference between the two cities. By the time the plane arrived in Melbourne, it was around nine in the morning.

    Since Ge Dongxu had been aloof the entire night, and continued to be so in the morning, Betty''s enthusiasm had cooled, and upon disembarking the plane, they merely greeted each other and went their separate ways.

    After passing through customs and exiting the airport, Ge Dongxu, with no time to appreciate this unfamiliar city, directly hailed a taxi and headed straight to Alfred Hospital.

    Near Alfred Hospital today, there were even more police than yesterday.

    That was because the previous evening, Chinese gangs and local Australian gangs had clashed in some bars. And these outbreaks of violence were apparently very much related to the Jade merchant lying in the intensive care unit of Alfred Hospital.

    If his condition were to deteriorate, or even if he were to die, a large-scale conflict would likely erupt, which is why the police had to keep a constant watch over the area.

 Chapter 734 - 733: What Kind of Attitude Is This?

    A car, jointly owned by Australian and American enterprises, labeled Ford Taxi, stopped at the entrance of the hospital, and a young man stepped out.

    Nobody paid attention to the young man who alighted from the taxi, and nobody knew what his arrival meant for the situation or for Melbourne.

    Because he was just a young man who came by taxi, people like him arrived at Alfred Hospital in large numbers every day.

    Ge Dongxu got out of the car, looked up at the Alfred Hospital in front of him, and his Divine Sense had already spread out like a giant net, instantly locking onto the life force of Ouyang Murong.

    The life force was extremely weak but still stable; there shouldn''t be any life-threatening danger in the short term.

    Ge Dongxu silently sighed in relief. As long as Ouyang Murong was still alive, there was always a way to save him.

    However, as he sighed in relief, the murderous intent deep in Ge Dongxu''s eyes grew even more intense.

    Because from the weak life force just now, Ge Dongxu could tell that Ouyang Murong had sustained very serious injuries, and without his intervention, even if he could survive this critical period, he would likely have to spend the rest of his life in bed.

    Ge Dongxu''s gaze then moved away from the hospital in front of him, and he stepped into the hospital.

    Upon entering the hospital, Ge Dongxu did not ask the service desk, and quickly went straight to the intensive care unit.

    Outside the intensive care unit, besides Ouyang Murong''s family who were still waiting, some of the leaders of the Chinese gangs in Australia had also come early to visit again.

    Ge Dongxu immediately recognized Ouyang Murong''s son, Ouyang Zesheng.

    "You are Ouyang Zesheng, right? I am Ge Dongxu," Ge Dongxu approached Ouyang Zesheng, who was sitting in a chair in a daze, and asked.

    "You, you are Ge, Ge, no, no, you are my father''s uncle by martial lineage?" Ouyang Zesheng, seeing the young man suddenly appearing before him, became completely dumbfounded.

    Although Ouyang Murong had mentioned Ge Dongxu to him, mentioning that he was quite young, Ouyang Zesheng never imagined that his uncle by martial lineage would be younger than him.

    "Yes, I am your father''s uncle by martial lineage. You are not a disciple of our sect, so you can call me by my name. But now is not the time to discuss this, take me to see your father first," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "But, my father is in the intensive care unit, and we can''t just go in there." Ouyang Zesheng had been outside all of last night, had hardly rested, and today, suddenly facing such a young uncle by martial lineage, his mind couldn''t clear, and upon hearing that Ge Dongxu wanted to see his father right away, he couldn''t help but give a bitter smile, his mind growing more chaotic.

    "I am a doctor, I can heal your father," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You are a doctor? Do you even know what state Mr. Ouyang is in now? He was shot three times, and we had brought in the best surgeons just to barely keep him alive. How could someone as young as you heal him? What makes you qualified?" At this point, several leaders of Chinese gangs standing outside the intensive care unit, upon hearing what Ge Dongxu said, all came up surrounding him, displaying a hint of dissatisfaction.

    "I am Uncle Master to Ouyang Murong," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "You are Mr. Ouyang''s Uncle Master? Young man, jokes like these should not be made lightly! How old is Mr. Ouyang this year, and how old are you? When Mr. Ouyang was navigating through the rain of bullets in the jungles of Northern Myanmar, you weren''t even born yet!" The senior figure from the Song family, who had consoled Ouyang Zesheng the day before, was also present, and his face darkened immediately as he glared at Ge Dongxu, speaking sharply.

    "Exactly, young man, do you know who you''re speaking to, and do you know who lies inside?" Lin Tian also scowled.

    Previously, they had been whispering among themselves nearby, discussing matters, and hadn''t heard the exchange between Ge Dongxu and Ouyang Zesheng. It was only later, when Ge Dongxu expressed his intention to go in and treat Ouyang Murong, that they noticed him.

    "This, this, uncles, he really is my father''s Uncle Master," Ouyang Zesheng said, seeing the ruthless looks on the faces of several gang leaders blaming Ge Dongxu and feeling a bout of headache, he helplessly stepped forward to explain. S§×arch* The nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although Ouyang Zesheng was shocked by Ge Dongxu''s youth, he still believed his identity, because he had spoken with him on the phone, and the name Ge Dongxu was probably only known to a few people in Australia, including him and his father.

    "No way?" The gang leaders, including the senior Song, were stunned upon hearing this.

    If this young man indeed was Ouyang Murong''s Uncle Master, by the rules of the gang, that would make him their elder too.

    "Zesheng, can you arrange for me to see your father now? If not, I will have to force my way in," Ge Dongxu said, completely ignoring the Song family leader and others, addressing Ouyang Zesheng directly.

    "Are you joking? Even if you are Mr. Ouyang''s Uncle Master, this is a hospital, a matter of life and death, you can''t just act recklessly!" The leaders, including Mr. Song, upon seeing Ge Dongxu''s disregard for their presence and his audacious remarks, immediately dismissed any deference to his "elder" status and scolded him with darkened faces once again.

    "Zesheng, who are they?" Ge Dongxu asked, his expression slightly darkening upon hearing this.

    His nephew was still lying in the hospital bed, and Ge Dongxu was in no good mood.

    "This gentleman is Mr. Song Wenhong, the chairman of Bowen Real Estate Company in Melbourne; this is Lin Tian, the owner of Ruma Hotel; this gentleman is Wei Hao, the CEO of Jialiren Entertainment Company... They had some business dealings with Northern Myanmar and the Golden Triangle in the early years, so they know my father," Ouyang Zesheng introduced them one by one, adding an extra explanation at the end.

    "Did your father get hurt because of them?" Ge Dongxu''s expression turned distinctly cold as he heard the last part of the introduction and asked.

    Gangs, often portrayed as loyal, righteous, and heroic in many TV shows and movies, cannot deny the fact that many activities they engage in are illegal and clandestine.

    Drug trafficking, extortion, prostitution, kidnapping, organizing illegal immigration, various counterfeiting and frauds, pirated recordings, usury, and gambling are often the doings of the gangs.

    Ge Dongxu might admire a character within the gangs, but he had no fondness for the gangs themselves, especially those involved in drug trafficking, kidnapping, usury, and gambling¡ªtoward whom he had only disgust.

    So, upon hearing the last sentence of Ouyang Zesheng''s introduction, Ge Dongxu already understood the real identities behind the respectable facades of these men and immediately surmised that Ouyang Murong had been troubled by them.

    "Young man, Mr. Ouyang''s injury is indeed related to us, but what is this attitude?" Mr. Song Wenhong and others are well-esteemed in the Chinese community in Melbourne; seeing Ge Dongxu making faces at them, and evidently blaming them, especially when the man was just a youth, each of their faces also darkened.

 Chapter 735 - 734 What are you doing?

    ```

    "Hmph, what now? Am I not even allowed to say a word when my nephew is implicated? I''ll tell you, even if Gu Yezeng himself were here, if he implicated my nephew, I''d say the same thing to him and he wouldn''t dare utter a word of dissent!" Ge Dongxu said coldly, his presence unmistakably exuding an air of dominance.

    With his nephew seriously injured, he had come here this time to surely reclaim his honor.

    Given the circumstances, why would he keep a low profile in front of these people?

    Upon hearing Ge Dongxu mention Gu Yezeng, a mogul and tycoon revered in the entire Chinese community, Song Wenhong and others, though sceptical that this young man could really be so impressive, were genuinely shaken by his words, especially by the oppressive aura that he radiated, which created an indescribable pressure on them.

    At this moment, a few doctors approached.

    The one leading was a middle-aged man.

    Seeing the middle-aged man, Ouyang Zesheng hurriedly greeted him, saying politely, "Good morning, Dr. Joseph."

    "Good morning, Mr. Ouyang, I''ve come to check on your father''s condition," Dr. Joseph nodded and said.

    "Thank you, Dr. Joseph," Ouyang Zesheng responded.

    "You''re welcome, it''s my responsibility. However, you need to be prepared; your father''s condition is still quite grim," Dr. Joseph said.

    "I understand that," Ouyang Zesheng replied.

    "Hello, Dr. Joseph, I''m a doctor from Huaxia Country, and the patient in the ICU is a friend of mine. From now on, I hope to take personal responsibility for my friend''s treatment," seeing that Ouyang Zesheng hadn''t mentioned his existence to Dr. Joseph, Ge Dongxu stepped forward to introduce himself.

    "Young man, I admire your confidence and bravery! But do you understand your friend''s condition? No one can save him now; only his own strong will to survive can. Also, may I know which medical college you graduated from?" Dr. Joseph looked at Ge Dongxu with a very surprised and incredulous expression.

    "I learned medicine from my teacher; I am a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Traditional Chinese Medicine?" Dr. Joseph was taken aback for a moment, then his expression darkened as he said, "Nonsense! This is a matter of life and death. This is Alfred Hospital. Do you think you can come here and fool around, pretending to be some sort of magician?"

    "Mr. Ouyang, I don''t want to see this ''Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor'' here again! Otherwise, please find someone else to treat your father''s condition," said Dr. Joseph, reprimanding and mocking Ge Dongxu, before continuing sternly to Ouyang Zesheng.

    "This, this¡­" Ouyang Zesheng felt as though his head might explode upon hearing this.

    He had not expected that the teacher his father had asked him to call would not only be such a young person but also someone so arrogant and inappropriate.

    First, claiming that Gu Yezeng wouldn''t dare to utter a word of dissent in his presence, and now directly telling his father''s chief surgeon, the chief surgeon of Alfred Hospital, that he wanted to take personal charge of his father''s treatment!

    If this wasn''t someone his father had specifically asked for when he regained consciousness, if he didn''t know his father genuinely had some ability, Ouyang Zesheng would have thought Ge Dongxu was a madman.

    But even without doubting Ge Dongxu''s sanity, at this moment, Ouyang Zesheng had already pegged Ge Dongxu as an arrogant young man from the mainland, someone who hadn''t seen much of the world.

    This was the chief surgeon of Alfred Hospital after all; was he someone a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine could speak to in such a manner?

    ```

    Just as Ouyang Zesheng felt his scalp was about to explode, all of a sudden, Ge Dongxu''s expression drastically changed, and he turned and dashed toward the intensive care unit.

    "What is he doing?" Everyone was frightened when Ge Dongxu, without a word, suddenly ran toward the intensive care unit. They all started shouting, and even Ouyang Zesheng''s face turned pitch black in an instant.

    While everyone was shouting, the alarm in the intensive care unit abruptly rang out shrilly. Then, the door to the intensive care unit was suddenly pushed open, and the nurse who had been on a 24-hour watch over the patient rushed out in panic.

    The moment she saw Joseph, her eyes lit up, and she urgently said, "Doctor Joseph, it''s not good, the patient''s blood pressure has suddenly plummeted, and the heartbeat has also suddenly..."

    In truth, the nurse didn''t need to report anything, since Joseph had already heard the alarm from the equipment by that time and his face had already turned pale. While hurriedly walking toward the intensive care unit, he ordered the people around him, "It must be massive hemorrhaging from the patient''s wound, get the operating room ready immediately!"

    In the midst of speaking, Joseph had already entered the intensive care unit with a group of people, and Ouyang Zesheng and others, out of urgency, also followed along inside. S~ea??h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What are you doing?" Just as Joseph and the others entered the intensive care unit, they saw Ge Dongxu taking out Silver Needles from his bag, inserting them into Ouyang Murong''s body, and simultaneously yanking out all the machines connected to him. They were all horrified and shouted angrily at him.

    Ouyang Murong had suddenly had an emergency, and Ge Dongxu was frantic with worry. He had no intention of explaining himself. Seeing that Joseph and the others were not only shouting at him but also rushing up to pull him away, his face suddenly darkened and, without turning his head, he snapped at the people behind him, "Shut up!"

    As he barked the command, one hand flipped over and spread open its fingers toward them.

    All at once, a mighty force, as if an invisible Great Hand was enveloping the intensive care unit, grabbed them all and hoisted them into mid-air.

    Joseph and the others had never experienced anything like this and were so scared they almost lost control of their bladders. Their eyes bulged as they looked with terror at the hand that remotely grabbed them and at the young figure rapidly inserting Silver Needles without looking back.

    Is this even human?

    As the Silver Needles fell one by one, suddenly, Ouyang Murong, who had been in extreme danger, opened his eyes, and then he took a long breath with a "hu!"

    Although this gasp was actually very faint, at that moment, it sounded like thunder in the ears of everyone present in the intensive care unit.

    Everyone could scarcely believe it. With the fall of the Silver Needles, in just a few seconds, Ouyang Murong, who had been in a coma, had woken up.

    Especially Joseph, as Alfred''s chief surgeon, knew Ouyang Murong''s condition better than anyone, especially since there were obvious signs of massive internal bleeding. In his view, Ouyang Murong was basically on a path to certain death.

    But now? He had woken up in the blink of an eye, and even took a deep breath.

    If he hadn''t witnessed it with his own eyes, Joseph wouldn''t have believed that there existed such miraculous medical skills in the world.

    "Hu!" Another long sigh sounded, this time it was from Ge Dongxu.

    The recent emergency had certainly given Ge Dongxu a substantial fright. Had he not already been outside the intensive care unit, his only prot¨¦g¨¦ might now be gone.

    Therefore, seeing Ouyang Murong awaken, Ge Dongxu felt a wave of relief wash over him, and he took a long breath.

 Chapter 736 - 735: I think you should understand now [Requesting one guaranteed monthly ticket]

    "Sect Uncle!" Ouyang Murong''s eyes brightened when he saw Ge Dongxu and struggled to get up to bow down to him despite his weakness, calling out "Sect Uncle" in a low voice.

    "Lie down and close your eyes. Your condition isn''t optimistic right now; we can talk about other matters later," Ge Dongxu said, with a flash of cold light in his deep eyes.

    His only Sect Nephew had almost lost his life. This was a debt that Ge Dongxu was determined not to let go of, no matter who was involved!

    Looking at the young Sect Uncle before him, Ouyang Murong was touched and completely reassured, so he replied with a "Yes" and slowly closed his eyes.

    Seeing Ouyang Murong close his eyes, and with the severe bleeding in his abdomen already sealed by silver needles, and the damage in the other areas stabilized with silver needles, Ge Dongxu finally retracted his hand that had been reaching out towards Joseph and others from afar.

    As Ge Dongxu''s hand slowly retracted, Joseph and the others felt a lightness in their bodies and their feet finally touched solid ground.

    Once their feet touched the ground, Joseph and the others felt their souls snapping back into place and shuddered all over, then looked at Ge Dongxu with awe as he slowly turned his head toward them.

    "Dr. Joseph, I believe you now understand that I am fully qualified to take charge of this medical treatment," Ge Dongxu said lightly to Joseph.

    "Yes, yes!" Joseph''s heart raced as he heard Ge Dongxu speak to him, nodding his head like a pecking chicken as if afraid that a slower nod would have him hanging in midair once again.

    "My apologies for the offense earlier, but I hope you understand the urgency of the situation!" Ge Dongxu said to Ouyang Zesheng and the others as he saw Joseph nodding.

    "We understand, we really do," Song Wenhong and the other bigwigs also nodded like pecking chickens, now starting to believe the words Ge Dongxu had mentioned earlier.

    It was a joke; even the characters in Jin Yong''s novels didn''t have such magical powers. What did it matter if Gu Yezeng was a Chinese circle big shot?

    "Great Sect Uncle, I''m sorry! Just now I..." Ouyang Zesheng was filled with shame.

    "All right, everyone leave. I don''t want today''s incident to get out, though you all have the right to spread the word," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    As Ge Dongxu spoke, he quietly formed a spell with his hand.

    Suddenly, a ball of flame appeared out of nowhere in the ICU and circled around everyone''s necks like a small Fire Dragon.

    This small Fire Dragon, emitting a terrifyingly hot breath and baring its fangs and claws, made everyone''s hair stand on end, their eyes bulging as they watched, daring not to move an inch.

    Instinct told them that any close contact with this small Fire Dragon would reduce them to ashes in the next moment.

    Of course, the most terrifying thing was the implication of this small Fire Dragon''s appearance.

    Ouyang Zesheng, his wife, and his mother were the only ones not visited by the small Fire Dragon.

    They were family, so naturally, Ge Dongxu did not need to intimidate them.

    After circling everyone''s necks once, the small Fire Dragon turned into tiny sparks and disappeared in the ICU.

    "We won''t, we absolutely won''t!" Seeing the small Fire Dragon disappear as suddenly as it had appeared, everyone nodded vigorously, their bodies soaked in cold sweat.

    "Hmm, I believe you are all smart people," Ge Dongxu nodded and then said to Joseph, "Mr. Joseph, I need peace and quiet to treat my friend, so I hope there will be no disturbances."

    "Rest assured, sir, no one will come to disturb you! However, I need to remind you that there are cameras in the intensive care unit; I''m worried..." Joseph replied with a mix of reverence and trepidation.

    "Thank you for the reminder, Joseph, but I believe these cameras might be in need of some repairs," Ge Dongxu interrupted.

    Upon hearing this, Joseph subconsciously looked up at the camera, only to realize it had already been damaged at some point.

    "Thank you for your reminder. I will inform the equipment department afterwards," Joseph''s heart skipped a beat before he hastily added.

    Ge Dongxu nodded his head.

    Only then did Joseph and the others hastily leave the intensive care unit.

    When they exited the room and attempted to close the door, it had already closed automatically.

    Seeing this, everyone''s heart couldn''t help but skip a beat once again.

    Standing outside the intensive care unit, they couldn''t calm the unease from their experiences inside.

    Inside the intensive care unit, Ge Dongxu''s expression was grave.

    Ouyang Murong had sustained severe injuries, with one bullet in his thigh, another in his stomach, and one near his left lung.

    If it weren''t for the fact that Ouyang Murong possessed cultivation and had received his guidance over the past six months¡ªand with the aid of the Taiyin Spirit Gathering Jade Talisman, his cultivation breaking through to Qi Cultivation Third Layer, making his physique much stronger than the average person¡ªthe bullet in his thigh wouldn''t have been life-threatening. But a slight delay in treating the other two would have been fatal.

    Even though the bullets were successfully removed through surgery, the operation caused Ouyang Murong to suffer numerous incisions in his body. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu had to repair each of these wounds.

    And because Ouyang Murong was a cultivator, healing his injuries was far more difficult than healing those of an ordinary person.

    This isn''t too hard to understand. If a cardboard box breaks, it can be fixed with tougher cardboard, but if a metal pot breaks, cardboard obviously won''t suffice; it would need metal patches.

    Ouyang Murong was like a pot full of holes, so for Ge Dongxu, the difficulty and cost of repairing him was decidedly different from the car accident last time.

    However severe the injuries may be, as his Sect Leader and uncle in the way of cultivation, Ge Dongxu was definitely willing to spare no expense in treating him.

    So, after Ge Dongxu thoroughly investigated Ouyang Murong''s internal injuries, he almost instinctively did not hesitate to transform his own True Qi into strands of "thread" to "sew" the wounds closed.

    Not only did he "sew" the wounds, but Ge Dongxu also deliberately left his hard-earned Pure True Qi directly inside Ouyang Murong''s body, without taking it back.

    Having glimpsed the mysteries of spring''s birth, summer''s growth, autumn''s harvest, and winter''s storage, Ge Dongxu''s understanding of life had deepened considerably. Thus, his True Qi now contained even more of life''s essence than before.

    The True Qi remaining in Ouyang Murong''s body not only rapidly nourished and healed his internal injuries but also gradually merged with his Meridians.

    "What are you waiting for? Start circulating your True Qi and properly understand and absorb it," Ge Dongxu said sternly when he saw Ouyang Murong making no move.

    Upon hearing this, Ouyang Murong dared not delay and immediately began to practice his Sect''s Cultivation Technique.

 Chapter 737 - 736: The Unfilial Disciple

    The cultivation techniques of the two men were inherited from the same lineage, and once Ouyang Murong started circulating his technique, he immediately discovered streams of exceptionally pure True Qi flowing into his meridians.

    What was originally a trickle of True Qi swelled with the influx of these pure streams, quickly becoming like a small river.

    Moreover, this True Qi carried a strong vitality that, as Ouyang Murong circulated his cultivation technique, continuously nourished the meridians within his body, making them even more resilient and expansive.

    The True Qi began from the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and also ended there, cycling over and over again.

    When the True Qi once more passed from the Lung Meridian of Taiyin through the Hand Yangming Large Intestine Meridian, and the Stomach Meridian of Foot Yangming to reach the Spleen Meridian of Foot Taiyin, Ouyang Murong felt hesitant.

    "What''s there to hesitate about? Focus your mind and direct the True Qi into the spleen!" Just as Ouyang Murong felt uncertain, a voice rang in his ear, and at almost the same time, he felt a piece of jade added to his chest.

    As soon as the jade touched his chest, he felt his entire head clear significantly, and many distracting thoughts seemed to disappear in an instant.

    Ouyang Murong naturally knew that the Sect Leader Uncle was not only helping him heal his injuries but also took the opportunity to assist him in breaking through from Qi Cultivation Third Layer to the Fourth Layer, and his heart was filled with deep gratitude.

    Such a forceful transfer of True Qi to assist someone in breaking through their cultivation technique was not only a hazardous act in Qimen but also cost the helper the True Qi that they had painstakingly cultivated.

    The loss of True Qi in this instance was different from the consumption during spellcasting; it belonged to one''s Original True Qi.

    Ordinary spellcasting was like a person exercising, expelling energy, which could be recovered after rest as long as there was no overexertion.

    But transferring True Qi to someone else involved Original True Qi, which had been accumulated with great difficulty, somewhat akin to drawing blood, and was very harmful to the body.

    Except for one''s closest kin, no one would be willing to undertake such a risky and draining act involving their Original True Qi.

    "Stop letting your mind wander!" Amidst his emotional turmoil, Ouyang Murong once again heard Ge Dongxu''s stern voice by his ear.

    Ouyang Murong''s heart jolted, suppressing his emotions, he focused on the Spirit Platform, concentrating on circulating his True Qi.

    Strand by strand, the True Qi penetrated the spleen, bringing waves of intense pain.

    Ouyang Murong''s entire body almost went into spasms, but knowing that Sect Leader Uncle was helping him at the expense of his Original True Qi, he clenched his teeth firmly, vigilantly guarded his Spirit Platform, and dared not relax in the slightest.

    Gradually, the sharp pain receded, replaced by an indescribable strength and comfort.

    An Air Cyclone had formed in the spleen without his knowing, slowly rotating and continuously nourishing the spleen with True Qi.

    "Phew!" Seeing Ouyang Murong break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Ge Dongxu sighed with relief and retracted the Black Jade Heart from around his neck.

    Although Ge Dongxu had already broken through to the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, his cultivation far exceeded that of Ouyang Murong, and he had been probing into the profound secret of "spring births, summer grows, autumn harvests, winter conceals" in nature recently. Helping Ouyang Murong break through the Fourth Layer should not be dangerous, but the risk was still slightly present, and the loss of Original True Qi was substantial.

    Now that everything had gone smoothly, even though waves of exhaustion hit him and a few more white hairs adorned the left side of his head, seeing Ouyang Murong not only escape danger but also advance his cultivation level, he felt a great relief wash over him, eyes brimming with joy.

    As Ge Dongxu''s eyes shone with joy, Ouyang Murong opened his eyes.

    What met his gaze was not the once vibrant and youthful face, but a pallid and lusterless visage, with strands of stark white amidst the black hair that seemed to have lost much of its former sheen.

    At this moment, Ge Dongxu did not appear to Ouyang Murong as the young powerhouse full of vigor and strength he had been, but rather like an old man who had weathered many years of hardship, akin to withered and fading flora in the dead of winter.

    Tears immediately surged from the eyes of this ironclad man who had braved countless bullets and bloodshed in the jungles of Northern Myanmar.

    "Sect Leader Uncle, your unworthy disciple has caused you such trouble!" Ouyang Murong knelt before Ge Dongxu, repeatedly kowtowing, a face full of self-reproach and tears streaming down his aged face.

    "What are you doing? It''s not as dramatic as you imagine. My current condition is related to my contemplation of a certain mystery; it''s not entirely because of you." Ge Dongxu was slightly stunned to see such a reaction from Ouyang Murong, but quickly understood what was happening and smiled, extending his hand to help him up.

    "Please promise me, Sect Leader Uncle, not to do such a thing for me again. My talent is dull, and my achievements in this lifetime are destined to be limited. I do not deserve such profound favor from you!" Ge Dongxu''s explanation only made Ouyang Murong''s heart surge with more emotion. Kneeling, he scooted back a step, dodging Ge Dongxu''s attempt to help him up, and spoke with a solemn expression.

    "No matter how dull your talent is, you are still a disciple of the Pill Talisman Sect! I, myself, have the discretion over this matter; it is not for you to decide. You just need to diligently practice cultivation. Do not slack off or give up on your own. Even if you don''t become a peerless master in the future, you will not be someone others can bully or shoot at will!" Ge Dongxu said with a deep voice, radiating an aura of dignified might.

    "Sect Leader Uncle!" Ouyang Murong, hearing these words, could not help but have his eyes brim with tears again.

    "Get up! Go home and take a shower. Next, we need to talk about your injury and settle the score with them properly. No matter who they are, they must pay a heavy price!" Ge Dongxu stepped forward to pull Ouyang Murong up, speaking indifferently.

    A fierce killing intent flashed in his eyes.

    "Yes!" Ouyang Murong got up, responding respectfully, his eyes reflecting awe and intense pride.

    In a foreign land, especially a developed Western country, probably only his Sect Leader Uncle dared to come alone and make such a bold statement to the entire world.

    "Let''s go out now," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Yes!" Ouyang Murong once again replied respectfully, and then hastened a few steps ahead to open the door of the intensive care unit.

    Seeing the door to the intensive care unit open, even though those outside had anticipated that with a miraculous and fearsome person like Ge Dongxu intervening, Ouyang Murong would surely survive the critical period, that was all they expected.

    But the result was that it was Ouyang Murong who opened the door, and his spirits seemed even better than those of a healthy person; everyone''s mouth dropped open in shock, their eyes nearly popping out.

    This was especially true for Doctor Joseph, who had performed the surgery on Ouyang Murong. Seeing Ouyang Murong open the door and respectfully waiting for Ge Dongxu to come out, he was completely stunned.

    Just yesterday, yes, just yesterday, he personally operated on Ouyang Murong. He still vividly remembered just how severe the injuries were when this man was brought in. He also distinctly recalled how many surgeries he performed, how many stitches he sewed on this man. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In Joseph''s view, it would have been a miracle for Ouyang Murong to survive the surgery. To have him live through the critical period was a miracle upon a miracle. As for the rest, such as post-operative recovery, Joseph hadn''t even considered it yet.

    But what about now?

    The young Chinese medicine practitioner from Huaxia Country had only been inside for how long, half an hour? Or forty minutes? And now, the man who had almost been pronounced dead before surgery, who was still deemed by him unlikely to survive the critical period after surgery, was actually out of bed and opening the door, looking healthier than a healthy person.

    If this had not been seen with his own eyes, Joseph would have doubted he was dreaming!

    "Ouyang, Mr. Ouyang, are you really completely fine? May, may I touch you?" After a while, Joseph suddenly came to his senses, running up like he had discovered a whole new continent, with a face of disbelief, stretching out his hand to Ouyang Murong. He was eager to personally feel the bullet wounds and the incisions he had made.

 Chapter 738 - 737: Clear Grievances and Grudges [Seeking Guaranteed Monthly Votes]

    After suffering a gunshot wound, Ouyang Murong had been in a coma, only briefly regaining consciousness once, so naturally, he did not recognize Joseph, and he did not understand English either. Seeing a foreign doctor rushing up to him, jabbering away energetically and looking eager to touch him as if he were some unparalleled beauty, Murong could not help but feel his skin crawl.

    "What are you doing?" Ouyang Murong barked, a powerful aura emitting from him.

    Ouyang Murong, now at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, was considered a master in Qimen, except for some elderly predecessors who rarely showed themselves.

    This aura, combined with his years of bloody battle in the jungles of Northern Myanmar, instantly scared Joseph, causing him to step back repeatedly while waving his hands, "Sir, you misunderstand, you misunderstand. I was your attending doctor before; I just wanted to check and feel the wounds on your body."

    "Dad, this is Doctor Joseph, who performed your surgery when you were injured. He now says he wants to check and feel the wounds on your body." Seeing his father''s frightening demeanor, Ouyang Zesheng was both delighted and alarmed, hurriedly stepping forward to help explain.

    "So that''s it." Ouyang Murong said, finally understanding; his imposing aura immediately dissipated.

    With his fierce and steely aura withdrawn, everyone outside the intensive care room breathed a huge sigh of relief, including gang leaders like Song Wenhong.

    After retracting his aura, Ouyang Murong did not immediately respond but turned to look at Ge Dongxu, who was stepping out of the intensive care room, his eyes seeking guidance.

    "Speaking of which, if it weren''t for Doctor Joseph''s timely rescue, you might not have waited until I arrived. Although you paid him, and it was his duty to save you, he did help you. Just let him look." Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu''s approval, Ouyang Murong then lifted the part of his body where the surgery had been performed to show Joseph.

    "Oh! My God! How is this possible? How is this possible?" Seeing the once horrifying wounds now vanished, leaving behind only very faint scars that were almost invisible unless looked at closely, Joseph exclaimed as if he had seen a ghost.

    After all, those were incisions he had made himself! In such a short time, they had disappeared, which defied all the medical knowledge he had learned!

    "Doctor Joseph, what is impossible for you, is possible for me. Now, you have seen what you needed to see; I think we can proceed with the discharge procedures," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    At this statement, Joseph shuddered, then looked at Ge Dongxu with immense reverence and approached him, bowing deeply, "Honorable Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor, I offer my sincere apologies for my previous reckless behavior and insulting words."

    "If someone else had said this, I might have punished them, but you did help my friend after all, so let''s leave it at that. Moreover, I am clear about debts of gratitude and grievances; I don''t like owing favors to anyone. Although Ouyang Murong needed to pay a hefty surgery fee, I still acknowledge owing you this favor. Therefore, Mr. Joseph, I will cure your tinnitus," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You, how do you know I have tinnitus?" Joseph exclaimed in surprise.

    Tinnitus is a condition with complex causes and unclear mechanisms; even with the advancements in Western medicine today, it remains incurable.

    Joseph had been suffering from tinnitus for twenty years, and over the years, it had worsened, causing him distress both day and night, and his mental health began to deteriorate.

    "Doctor Joseph, is that so strange?" Ge Dongxu asked with a mild smile, stepping forward to rub the acupoints around his ear, the Tinggong, and Tinghui, then gently patted the area around his kidneys on his lower back.

    The ear is dominated by the kidney and connected to other organs, thus imbalances in the Qi-Blood of the Five Viscera and the Twelve Meridians can lead to tinnitus.

    However, Joseph''s problem mainly lay in his kidneys.

    "My ears have stopped ringing! My ears have stopped ringing! Thank you, thank you! You have no idea how this damn tinnitus has been tormenting me for twenty years, making it impossible for me to eat or sleep well! Sometimes, the noise was so bad I felt like cutting off my ears!" Joseph suddenly cried out in surprise when Ge Dongxu patted his waist twice and then withdrew his hand. Joseph then quickly bowed repeatedly to Ge Dongxu, even his eyes brimming with tears because of the excitement.

    Those who have never experienced tinnitus cannot understand how painful it is!

    "If you don''t want to be troubled by tinnitus again, Joseph, you had better reduce your bedroom activities," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Joseph, not expecting Ge Dongxu to say this, was momentarily stunned and then, blushing, said, "Thank you for your advice, I will restrain myself."

    "Alright, that''s settled then. Zesheng, please proceed with your father''s discharge procedures, as we should be going," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Yes, Great-Uncle Master!" Ouyang Zesheng bowed slightly, very obediently and respectfully this time, not daring to underestimate his junior Great-Uncle Master any longer, nor daring to address him by name directly.

    "Sir, this is my business card. If you need anything in Melbourne, I am more than happy to assist you," Joseph respectfully handed Ge Dongxu his business card.

    "Thank you." Ge Dongxu took the business card Joseph handed over, thanked him, but made no further gesture.

    Seeing this, Joseph felt secretly disappointed, but this was also expected.

    Because Ge Dongxu had already made things clear when he was treating the tinnitus!

    ... sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Melbourne, Chinatown.

    This is a street about nine hundred meters long and six meters wide, crossing five major streets perpendicular to it, not only Australia''s earliest Chinatown but also one of the oldest in the world.

    This is a bustling area full of Chinese restaurants and shops, with people coming and going daily, always lively.

    Today was no exception.

    However, today at a certain Chinese community hall, a line of cars was parked outside, and occasionally, people wearing sunglasses emerged from the cars and entered the hall.

    These people were always accompanied by bodyguards.

    Inside the hall, a young man sat at the head of a long table, with Ouyang Murong standing solemnly behind him, like the most loyal subordinate.

    On both sides of the long table sat prominent Chinese figures in Melbourne.

    There were wealthy businessmen as well as gang leaders. Among them were some Ge Dongxu had met in the hospital, such as Song Wenhong, chairman of Bowen Real Estate Company, Lin Tian, owner of the Mao Hotel, Wei Hao, boss of Jialiren Entertainment Company, and a few others Ge Dongxu did not recognize, as well as others who were still arriving.

 Chapter 739 - 739: 737. - Dont Talk Nonsense

    Those who did not know him were not disrespectful or dissatisfied because they saw Ge Dongxu for the first time or because he was sitting in the main seat at such a young age. Instead, everyone''s gaze towards him was filled with a trace of shock and awe.

    The reason was that they saw Ouyang Murong standing behind him like a subordinate.

    The younger generation might not recognize Ouyang Murong, but the older ones had heard of some of his exploits in the jungles of Northern Myanmar, and some even had previous business dealings with him.

    The news of Ouyang Murong being accidentally shot in the past few days had spread far and wide within this circle, and many had even gone to visit him, knowing he was severely injured.

    Yet now, not only was Ouyang Murong standing unharmed behind the young man, he also had a solemn expression. Any slightly sensible person would not readily express dissatisfaction or disrespect towards Ge Dongxu at this point.

    Privately, everyone was secretly guessing who this young man was to have someone like Ouyang Murong willingly standing by his side.

    "Mr. Song, has everyone arrived?" Ge Dongxu asked with a faint look at Song Wenhong after some time had passed without anyone else arriving.

    Ge Dongxu had already privately inquired about Ouyang Murong being shot three times. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    He knew that the incident stemmed from the largest gang in Melbourne, a local force called the Hell Rebels, whose second-in-command, Kohl, had been looking for fun on Song Wenhong''s turf and was suddenly killed by gunfire.

    With the second-in-command of Hell Rebels being shot and killed on Chinese turf, the Hell Rebels naturally would not let it go.

    Hence, utilizing their numerical superiority and their status as locals, the Hell Rebels quickly retaliated against the Chinese gangs.

    Many industries under the Chinese gangs, especially entertainment venues, suffered impacts and damage.

    Though overseas Chinese were no strangers to internal strife, they were very united when other forces infringed on their circle''s interests, knowing that only by standing together could they secure a foothold abroad. Therefore, the retaliation by Hell Rebels soon provoked the collective wrath of Chinese gangs, and the conflict between the two sides intensified.

    However, at this time, everyone was still restrained; no lives had been lost, just some business disruptions and property damages, along with injuries.

    At this moment, while drinking morning tea with Song Wenhong, Ouyang Murong suddenly became a target of gunfire.

    Ouyang Murong and Song Wenhong were somewhat similar in build and appearance, probably leading the assassin to misidentify his target and repeatedly shoot at Ouyang Murong.

    Fortunately, Ouyang Murong, possessing cultivation and experience, avoided several critical shots, thus saving his life. Had it been Song Wenhong, he likely would have been killed.

    Ge Dongxu had summoned these Chinese businessmen and gang leaders to ascertain whether it was indeed someone from their side who had killed Kohl!

    If it was, Ge Dongxu would certainly not let the perpetrator go because not only did they endanger the Chinese in Melbourne, but they also nearly killed his nephew.

    As for the Hell Rebels, they naturally would not let it go either.

    This was a matter of sequence.

    "Mr. Ge, there''s still one person, Ye Biao, who hasn''t arrived," Song Wenhong stood up and replied, his expression slightly unnatural.

    "Hmph, Ye Biao''s airs are getting bigger and bigger! All of us uncles are here, and yet he, a junior, is still dilly-dallying," a man around sixty years old complained with dissatisfaction.

    "Say less, Acan, you know as well as I do that Ye Biao''s business has been growing, and so has the number of his underlings. It''s normal for him to put on airs," another boss next to him said, nudging the man who had spoken with his elbow, trying to pacify him.

    "Hmph, times have changed now, and growing the business big might not necessarily be a good thing. It not only ruins our Chinese reputation but also, who knows, one day it could lead to a downfall, even costing lives!" Acan, the man referred to, clearly had issues with Ye Biao and muttered another sentence after hearing this.

    "Mr. Ge, Ye Biao''s business has grown a lot in the past few years, and he is very bold. He''s not only dealing in drugs but also in arms. Unlike us, who are mostly transitioning to legitimate industries and maintaining our gang mainly for self-protection against bullying. After all, being foreigners in a strange land, sometimes money alone is not enough, we also need force," Song Wenhong explained quietly.

    "Sometimes being bold is not necessarily a good thing, since Ye Biao hasn''t arrived yet, let''s wait a bit more," Ge Dongxu said indifferently, a trace of cold light flashing in his eyes.

    "No need to wait, I''m here," just as Ge Dongxu''s words fell, a man about thirty years old, cigar in his mouth, swaggered in with four bodyguards following him.

    The bodyguards had bulging waists, clearly armed.

    Seeing the man swagger in with four bodyguards, Song Wenhong''s face changed immediately, and he hurriedly stood up and said, "A Biao, what are you doing? Everyone is waiting for you to start the meeting, tell your men to step outside."

    "I was about to ask what you all are doing? Speaking of which, even though you guys have gone legitimate, many of you were big shots on the streets. Damn, when did it become the turn for a greenhorn to sit as the boss? If anyone should sit, it should be me!" Ye Biao removed the cigar from his mouth with his thumb and forefinger, blowing out smoke, and then disdainfully pointed at Ge Dongxu sitting in the main seat, cursing.

    "A Biao! Don''t speak rashly, and pay your respects to..." Song Wenhong and others who had seen Ge Dongxu''s methods changed their complexion when they heard Ye Biao speak recklessly and quickly shouted.

    But their cries were already too late, Ouyang Murong''s expression had darkened, a cold light flashed in his eyes, his foot stomped on the ground, and like a cheetah, he had already sprung out.

    Before Ye Biao and his bodyguards could react, Ouyang Murong had reached them, leaped up, and delivered a Whirlwind Kick, thump, thump, thump, thump, four bodyguards were laid out in the blink of an eye.

    Following that, Ouyang Murong''s fingers spread like a vise, suddenly grasping Ye Biao''s neck, while his left knee sharply struck Ye Biao''s stomach.

    "Ah!" Ye Biao was immediately doubled over by the knee strike, pain evident on his face.

    The entire hall suddenly quieted down, everyone staring at Ouyang Murong with shocked eyes.

    Some of them knew of Ouyang Murong''s fierceness and his good fighting skills, but they had not expected him to be this formidable.

    Especially Song Wenhong, Lin Tian, and others, their faces were filled with terror.

    Just this morning, Ouyang Murong was still lying in the ICU, not yet past the critical period!

    But now?

 Chapter 740 - 739: Master Ge, what are you doing here?

    Song Wenhong and the others naturally didn''t know that Ouyang Murong, due to his mediocre talent for cultivation, had devoted much of his energy to training his physical strength and combat skills, which were already formidable. Now, with his cultivation surpassing that of the past, especially after receiving help from Ge Dongxu this morning and making a breakthrough to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds.

    With robust True Qi combined with his physical power and combat techniques, once he erupted in full force, how could Ye Biao and the few bodyguards stand a chance?

    "Damn it, do you know how many brothers I have, how many guns? Dare to hit me? If you''ve got the guts, kill me!" Ye Biao also had some backbone, and even though Ouyang Murong had just kneed him, causing him excruciating pain, he still shouted fiercely.

    "You think I don''t dare? Let me tell you, I''ve killed more people in Northern Myanmar than your lackeys!" Ouyang Murong said coldly, emitting a ferocious aura, with the veins on the hand grabbing Ye Biao bulging out.

    Ye Biao, a grown man, was slowly lifted off the ground by Ouyang Murong, his feet no longer touching the floor.

    Ye Biao''s face instantly turned red, the veins on his forehead bulging, his hands desperately trying to pry off Ouyang Murong''s grip, and he continued to shout, "Fine, a brave man doesn''t boast about his past! Ouyang Murong, that was many years ago, you, you now in the jungles of Northern Myanmar without troops or guns mean squat! Only these oldies still remember your past glory. Also, this is Australia, not Northern Myanmar! Don''t use Northern Myanmar to scare me!"

    "Does a drug trafficker and arms smuggler deserve to yell in here?" Ge Dongxu smirked coldly, curled his index finger, and then flicked towards Ye Biao''s legs from a distance.

    Turning Qi into Sword!

    Two invisible Finger Swords shot out.

    "Pfft! Pfft!" Two muffled sounds were heard, followed by two finger-sized holes appearing just above Ye Biao''s knees.

    Blood spurted out like arrows.

    Seeing Sect Leader''s uncle making a move, Ouyang Murong let go. Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ah! Ah! My legs! My legs!" As soon as Ouyang Murong released his grip, Ye Biao collapsed helplessly to the ground, hands clutching his thighs from which blood was spurting out, screaming over and over, his eyes filled with extreme panic.

    Everyone in the meeting room looked at Ge Dongxu with eyes full of terror.

    Apart from Song Wenhong, Lin Tian, and others, many people actually didn''t recognize Ge Dongxu, and were still shocked and curious about him taking the main seat, with Ouyang Murong standing behind him like a subordinate.

    It was only now that they understood.

    This seemingly harmless young man was actually terrifyingly cold-blooded!

    Just as everyone''s faces showed fear, someone came in and whispered something into Song Wenhong''s ear.

    Upon hearing it, Song Wenhong''s face changed drastically, and he abruptly stood up, saying, "What? Master Gu is here!"

    "Song brother, why so agitated?" asked Lin Tian upon hearing this.

    "Gu Yezeng, Master Gu is here!" Song Wenhong replied.

    "What, he''s here too?" Upon hearing this, everyone exclaimed in surprise, temporarily forgetting Ge Dongxu''s frightening and ruthless methods.

    "Haha, Master Gu is here? Damn it, that''s great! If you have the guts, try those dirty moves on me again in front of Master Gu!" Amidst the fear, Ye Biao was overjoyed to hear that Gu Yezeng had arrived, and he began to shout wildly in excitement.

    Seeing Ye Biao''s arrogant ranting, the expressions of Song Wenhong and the others turned slightly complex.

    Ouyang Murong hooked the corner of his mouth into a cold smile as he looked at Ye Biao as if he were looking at a dead man.

    Thinking Gu Yezeng would stand up for him and administer justice was truly a farce!

    Dared Gu Yezeng do that?

    "Mr. Ge, Master Gu is the son of a former leading figure in our Chinese gang community. Although he later turned to business and no longer involves himself in gang affairs, he still enjoys great prestige within our Chinese gangs, and his wealth is second to none amongst us. This Ye Biao''s father had previously worked with Master Gu; they share a bit of a connection, and Master Gu has always valued brotherhood. So, this matter..." Song Wenhong spoke in a low voice with a pained expression, explaining to Ge Dongxu.

    "So what?" Ge Dongxu asked indifferently.

    "This..." Song Wenhong''s face showed difficulty.

    In his view, Ge Dongxu''s prowess lay in his terrifying martial techniques and his medical skills, but Gu Yezeng was a heavyweight in the Chinese community, with a fortune worth tens of billions of US dollars. If he decided to swing his arm for action or mobilize his funds to target someone, that power would be absolutely terrifying.

    Even without exaggeration, it would be normal for a figure at Gu Yezeng''s level to directly support a small African nation.

    If the two were to clash, in Song Wenhong''s eyes, it would be a fight between two tigers, and one would get hurt!

    And naturally, that was not what Song Wenhong wanted to see; however, this was not something that Song Wenhong could openly articulate.

    "Brother Song, Master Gu has arrived; we should go greet him first," said others with complex looks towards Ge Dongxu, then spoke to Song Wenhong.

    Song Wenhong held prestige both in Melbourne''s Chinese business circle and the gang community, and as the convenor of today''s meeting, it was his responsibility to lead the welcoming.

    "You go ahead, Mr. Song," said Ge Dongxu to Song Wenhong.

    Upon hearing this, Song Wenhong nodded and felt compelled to lead the rest out to meet Gu Yezeng.

    Ye Biao, daring enough to engage in drug and arms trading, was certainly tough. Seeing everyone going out to welcome Gu Yezeng, he yelled at his men who had already gotten up, looking at Ge Dongxu with a hint of fear in their eyes, unsure of what to do: "What are you staring at? Haven''t you bandaged my wound properly yet? Carry me to meet Master Gu!"

    His men stole glances at Ge Dongxu, noticing he had no reaction, so they nervously went up, bandaged Ye Biao''s wound with a cloth as a makeshift solution, and then carried him out.

    The subordinates fumbled so much; by the time they finished and carried Ye Biao just a few steps away, reaching the meeting hall''s entrance, Gu Yezeng had already entered, accompanied by Song Wenhong and others.

    "Master Gu! Master Gu!" Seeing Gu Yezeng come in, Ye Biao immediately called out.

    "Eh, Biao, what happened to your leg?" Gu Yezeng''s face darkened immediately upon seeing his condition.

    "It was that man, he attacked me. He''s a bit evil, I don''t even know what kind of hidden weapon he used!" Ye Biao immediately turned, his expression fierce, pointing at Ge Dongxu and said.

    Following the direction of Ye Biao''s pointing finger, Gu Yezeng looked towards Ge Dongxu, his body shaking slightly with shock. He walked swiftly toward Ge Dongxu and, upon reaching him, bowed respectfully and greeted, "Master Ge, what brings you here?"

    This was a gathering of the heads of the Melbourne Chinese gangs overseas, and all present were people from the gang community. In this context, with Ge Dongxu sitting in the place of honor, it was natural for Gu Yezeng to address Ge Dongxu according to the rules of the gang circle.

 Chapter 741 - 740: Then You Handle It!

    "Master Ge!" Hearing Gu Yezeng actually respectfully called Ge Dongxu "Master Ge," all the big shots of the Melbourne Chinese Gangs, including Song Wenhong, were utterly shocked, their eyes reflecting extreme astonishment. Sear?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    And as for Ye Biao, it goes without saying, he almost passed out, eyes rolling back.

    What was Gu Yezeng''s identity? He was once a true top figure among the overseas Chinese Gangs! Now, he was even a billionaire, listed on the world Forbes billionaire rankings.

    A person like him, nowadays among the overseas Chinese gangs except for those old predecessors, who were already in their seventies or eighties, close to being in the grave, no one could be worthy of the honorific title "Master."

    And those old predecessors who could be called "Master" by Gu Yezeng, before liberation, during the Republic of China Era, were all influential figures either in Qing Gang or Hung Men.

    But now, Gu Yezeng was respectfully addressing a young man as "Master" in front of so many people.

    What did this mean? It meant that this young man held an extremely revered status within the gang hierarchy! Even Gu Yezeng had to respectfully call him "Master."

    "I heard that this Ah Biao or something is somewhat related to you?" Ge Dongxu nodded towards Gu Yezeng and asked.

    Ouyang Murong almost lost his life, Ge Dongxu felt angry, already reversing his previous humble demeanor. Now, since Gu Yezeng had publicly addressed him as "Master," Ge Dongxu accepted it!

    By rank and status, he deserved it!

    "Yes, his father was once a quite capable subordinate under me. Did Ah Biao offend Master Ge by not seeing clearly?" Gu Yezeng respectfully replied.

    "Good, since he''s related to you, you handle it then!" Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Yes!" Gu Yezeng respectfully bowed and then turned to look at Ah Biao.

    As he turned around, his expression suddenly became icy and fierce, his aura exuding a superior''s authority and dominance.

    "Master Gu, it was my ignorance, I didn''t realize..." Despite Ah Biao''s previous arrogance, the moment he faced Gu Yezeng''s icy and fierce gaze, his whole body softened and he spoke in a terrified voice.

    Because he was all too aware of Gu Yezeng''s prestige and power!

    If Gu Yezeng said the word, there would no longer be a place for him, Ye Biao, in the Chinese underworld.

    Over the years, Ye Biao had been arrogant and had offended many; without a place in the Chinese Gangs, he would likely have to flee for his life!

    "Shut up, Song Wenhong you speak, what exactly happened?" Gu Yezeng interrupted coldly.

    "Yes, Master Gu." Song Wenhong respectfully responded and then repeated exactly what Ye Biao had disrespectfully said about Ge Dongxu.

    "Ah Biao, lately, I''ve often heard that not only is your business growing larger, but you''ve also become more and more overbearing and arrogant, disregarding the elders in the gang. I was thinking of advising you this trip, but you even dared to shout and insult Master Ge? Do you know who Master Ge is? Even if Du Yuesheng and the others were still alive, they would have to call him brother. What are you, to dare to shout at Master Ge! Ah Yong, break one of his hands, to teach him a lesson!" Gu Yezeng said with an iron face after hearing the report.

    "Please no, Master Gu, it was my ignorance, I apologize to Master Ge, I apologize!" Hearing that one of his hands was to be broken, Ye Biao''s face turned pale and he began to repeatedly beg.

    Ge Dongxu looked at Ye Biao''s incessant pleas, his expression as calm as water, not showing even a trace of pity.

    Drugs! Arms!

    People who deal in such businesses that ruin families and lives, how could they deserve any sympathy!

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu had not shown any reaction, without further hesitation, Ayong raised his knife and chopped off Ye Biao''s left hand at the wrist.

    Ye Biao fainted from the pain on the spot.

    "Ayong, wake him up and ask him if the number two rebel in Hell, Kohl, was killed by his men," Ge Dongxu said emotionlessly seeing Ye Biao faint.

    Upon hearing this, Ayong respectfully responded and then splashed a cup of water on Ye Biao''s face.

    Ye Biao gradually regained consciousness, his eyes wide with terror as he looked at Ge Dongxu.

    At that moment, he fully realized how terrifying the young man before him was.

    Not only was his prowess terrifying, but so was his identity!

    "Master Ge is asking you if the number two rebel in Hell, Kohl, was killed by your people," Ayong said in a stern voice as Ye Biao woke up.

    "It wasn''t my people who killed him," Ye Biao replied, shaking his head.

    "Since it wasn''t his men who did it, let him go," Ge Dongxu said indifferently upon hearing this.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu letting him go, Ye Biao couldn''t help but be stunned.

    "Aren''t you going to thank Master Ge!" Gu Yezeng shouted coldly.

    Only then did Ye Biao snap out of it, hastily saying, "Thank you, Master Ge, thank you, Master Ge, I won''t dare do it again next time!"

    "You think there will be a next time?" Ge Dongxu said with a cold smile.

    "Yes, yes!" Ye Biao nodded repeatedly, then hastily left the hall with the support of his men.

    Once he left the hall, his men immediately took the severed hand and rushed him to the hospital.

    With advanced medical technology and timely treatment, there was still hope of reattaching the hand, though of course, it would never be the same as before.

    "Old Gu, have a seat, what brings you here?" After Ye Biao left, Ge Dongxu''s expression finally softened. He gestured to the seat Song Wenhong had vacated and spoke to Gu Yezeng.

    "Master Ge, I was originally here in Sydney for a project. I just heard that there has been severe conflict between the Chinese and local gangs in Melbourne, so I decided to come and see, not expecting that both you and Ouyang were here," Gu Yezeng replied respectfully.

    "Master Gu is truly loyal!" Song Wenhong and the others showed a hint of admiration.

    "We are all Chinese, who had shared hardships abroad before to survive. Although I no longer handle gang affairs, if something happens to you guys, I still need to know about it and help if I can," Gu Yezeng said modestly, gesturing with his hand.

    "Old Gu, you are right. However, with people like Ye Biao, you should avoid talking about gang loyalty in the future. Drugs, arms, what kind of business are these? You must understand," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Master Ge is right! I will be mindful in the future!" Gu Yezeng had a solemn look, urgently responding.

    He had considered this issue before, but as a man of the underworld valuing face and loyalty, it was hard to sever these relationships. Now that Ge Dongxu had spoken, he had to take this matter seriously.

    "Hmm." Ge Dongxu nodded, then pointed at Ouyang Murong, "This time, the conflict between the Chinese gangs and the local gangs in Melbourne nearly cost Murong his life. Thankfully, he regained consciousness once in the midst and managed to have his son call me. I hurried over, and that was how I saved his life!"

 Chapter 742 - 741: Does she think that Chinese people are easy to bully?

    "So that''s what happened. I only heard that someone in the Melbourne Chinese community was severely injured, but I never expected it to be Brother Ouyang! I''m glad Brother Ouyang is okay now, otherwise, I wouldn''t be able to face you or Master Yang in the future." Upon hearing this, Gu Yezeng''s face changed dramatically, a sense of dread filling him.

    Others might not know how formidable Ge Dongxu is, but he was well aware.

    This was a truly Immortal-like figure. If his only disciple had been killed in Melbourne, then the local gangs would inevitably have blood flow into rivers, and the Chinese Gangs would likely bear the brunt of his wrath.

    "Although Murong is safe now, this score must still be settled," Ge Dongxu said softly, a chill emanating from him, making everyone in the council hall inexplicably feel a cold draft down their spines.

    "Of course, Master Ge, just give the order. Although I''ve been out of gang affairs for many years, with the Rebel from Hell targeting Brother Ouyang, I might have to make a return to the underworld once again!" Gu Yezeng declared solemnly, his whole being exuding a murderous aura.

    "Murong is my sect''s member, no need to trouble yourself," Ge Dongxu said softly.

    As he spoke, his gaze swept over those below.

    His gaze was electric and sharp as a sword; when it swept over everyone, their hearts suddenly tightened, and their hairs stood on end, as everyone felt as if they were stripped naked, with all their innermost secrets laid bare.

    Everyone bowed their heads one by one, no one daring to meet Ge Dongxu''s gaze.

    "I''ve gathered you all here today to ask just one question: Was Kohl assassinated by someone amongst you? I hope you can answer honestly. If you answer truthfully today, considering we are all Chinese, I can be lenient. But if I find out later that anyone of you has lied to me, then don''t blame me for being ruthless!" Ge Dongxu sternly asked.

    "Master Ge, it wasn''t me who ordered Kohl''s assassination!" Song Wenhong was the first to stand up and respectfully replied.

    "Master Ge, it wasn''t me who ordered Kohl''s assassination!" Following Song Wenhong, the others also stood up one by one, each respectfully responding.

    Ge Dongxu, being who he was, looked sharply at them as they answered, peering into their hearts, instantly discerning whether they were feeling guilty or lying to him.

    "Good, since Kohl wasn''t assassinated by any of your orders. Then, the damage and losses caused by the Rebel from Hell in recent days must be doubly compensated, and the shooters, the chief culprits, must die!" Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "Master Ge, the leader of the Rebel from Hell is named Daisy, a woman beautiful as a flower but with a heart like a venomous scorpion, extremely ruthless and vicious. Her power has grown rapidly over the years, nearly unifying the entire underground forces in Australia. It''s said that in Australia alone she has over seventy branches and four to five thousand underlings, with Rebel''s presence in nearly every city. Not only that, but Daisy has also extended her reach out of Australia, expanding to New Zealand, the United States, and major cities in Europe. In the underworld of Australia, she is known as the Godmother."

    "Daisy also once tried to unify us, the Chinese Gangs in Australia, including the Hung Men and Qing Gang. Although our overseas influence appears dispersed, as soon as there''s a threat, all branches unite, and not even well-known forces like the Italian Mafia or Japan''s Yamaguchi-gumi can compete with us. We''ve confronted and negotiated with her several times, made some concessions, and she no longer targeted us. Instead, she began dealing with another major force in Melbourne, the vicious and ruthless Vietnamese 5X Gang. Several severe clashes have occurred between them, and I suspect Kohl''s murder is closely linked to the Vietnamese 5X Gang. These Vietnamese are trying to frame us, the Chinese Gangs, hoping to incite conflict between us and the Rebel from Hell, thus reaping the benefits," Song Wenhong explained, noticing the murderous look in Ge Dongxu''s eyes, and hence carefully reminding him.

    "If you can think of it, Daisy should be capable of seeing this point as well," Ge Dongxu said gravely upon hearing this.

    "Even if Daisy could think of such a good excuse among the Chinese gangs in Melbourne, how could she let it go? Even if she was certain it was the Vietnamese who did it, she would just play dumb, blame it on us by mistake, and use this opportunity to suppress and encroach on our territory!" Song Wenhong said with a bitter smile.

    "Hmph! Although I dislike gang conflicts, since this matter has come to my head, does she think Chinese are easy to bully?" Ge Dongxu said coldly, his eyes filled with even more murderous intent.

    "Master Ge, I know you are exceptionally strong, but it is hard for one to fend off many. Daisy is ruthless and has thousands of underlings, especially under her motorcycle gang department, all of whom are extraordinarily fierce. Once a fight breaks out, a stream of high-powered motorcycles could mean hundreds of people! In Melbourne, everyone fears them. We should consider this long-term and if we can ask for strong support from the Hung Men headquarters, it would be foolproof," Song Wenhong carefully reminded him.

    Hung Men has a history of over four hundred years, with more than nine hundred thousand members worldwide and branches all over the world.

    Several years ago, the boss of Hung Men, Lin Shen, died in Honolulu, the United States. Over ninety thousand people attended his memorial service, including Hung Men hall masters from around the world and leaders of major global societies. At that time, the United States government deployed more than two hundred thousand riot police in Honolulu alone to prevent riots.

    One can imagine how terrifying the foundation of Hung Men is, and how terrifying the hidden power at its headquarters must be!

    Of course, this power at the headquarters is kept secret! It is only mobilized for truly significant incidents or when the safety of Hung Men is involved.

    For a minor dispute in Melbourne, Australia, it is unlikely that the Hung Men headquarters would send strong warriors.

    Song Wenhong had never expected Hung Men headquarters to send strong warriors to help in the fight, but since this incident involved Yezeng, a heavyweight in Hung Men who even addressed Ge Dongxu respectfully, it would be normal for the headquarters to send someone if he asked.

    "The issues of my sect, why would I need the power of Hung Men! Just notify that Daisy that I want to meet her tonight to settle the accounts, and let her choose the place!" Ge Dongxu waved his hand proudly.

    "This..." Song Wenhong looked worried and turned his eyes to Gu Yezeng.

    "Master Ge knows what he''s doing, just do as he says!" Gu Yezeng, seeing Song Wenhong''s troubled look, said sternly.

    "Yes!" Being that Gu Yezeng did not oppose, Song Wenhong then bowed and complied. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

    "Big Brother, according to reliable information, the jade merchant from Huaxia Country has already been discharged from the hospital. Tonight, Song Wenhong and the others have arranged a negotiation with Daisy, at the motorbike club hotel in Dandenong District," in a bar owned by a Vietnamese in Richmond, a dark-skinned man with a green fanged tattoo on his arm respectfully reported to a man sitting in a dark corner.

    The man in the dark corner, thin and hawk-nosed with a solid body tattooed with a black dragon, was hugging a heavily made-up, scantily clad Vietnamese girl on either side.

 Chapter 743 - 742 Daisy

    "Wasn''t the guy with Song Wenhong shot three times? How did he get discharged from the hospital?" the man with the black dragon tattoo pushed aside the Vietnamese girl beside him and frowned.

    "I''m sorry, boss, we haven''t been able to investigate this matter yet. As you know, the hospital is not an ordinary place, especially a hospital like Alfred''s. The local government absolutely does not allow our people to mess around," the man with the green snake tattoo replied respectfully.

    "That means we still have to work hard! Only when our people can move freely in upper society like the Mafia on Sicily Island, participate in senatorial elections, and dine with the Prime Minister, can we truly say that we have become a force, an organization, not just street ruffians!" the man with the black dragon tattoo said sternly.

    "What you say is true! Under your leadership, that day will come soon," the man with the green snake tattoo complimented.

    "For that day to come, we must first kill off the Chinese Gangs and the Hell rebels! With them around, our 5X gang will never have a day in the sun," the man with the black dragon tattoo said coldly, his eyes revealing a brutal and chilly murderous intent.

    "What you say is true. However, now that the Jade merchant has been discharged, and Song Wenhong has made another appointment with Daisy today, I suspect they intend to reconcile. Once they reconcile, we won''t be able to sit back and let them fight each other," the man with the green snake tattoo said, disappointment evident in his eyes.

    "Daisy is an ambitious woman by nature. We''re giving her such a good opportunity, she definitely does not want to reconcile. But if the Chinese Gangs sincerely want to make peace, and offer enough sincerity, Daisy might step down. Otherwise, if they force them too much, it may provoke the Hung Men and Qing Gang behind Melbourne''s Chinese Gangs, even the Hell rebels won''t be able to handle it! Originally, if the Jade merchant had died in the hospital, the attitude of the Chinese Gangs would probably have hardened, but now that the Jade merchant has been discharged, it''s really hard to say," the man with the black dragon tattoo furrowed his brow, his face extremely gloomy, his eyes flickering with deceitful glints.

    "Brother, forge ahead amidst dangers!" the man with the green snake tattoo said with a sinister cold chuckle escaping the corner of his mouth.

    "Exactly, forge ahead amidst dangers! Kohl can die on the Chinese turf, so Song Wenhong can die on the Hell rebels'' turf!" the man with the black dragon tattoo let out a similarly icy cold laugh, then waved towards a shadowy spot in the bar.

    With a wave, a gaunt Vietnamese man, unremarkable on the street but like a ghost in the dark, emerged from the shadows.

    "Boss!" the gaunt man called out, his voice cold, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.

    "Dandenong District Hell Riders Motor Club Hostel, kill Song Wenhong! Caucasians can''t tell our Asian faces apart; I trust you won''t make a mistake," the man with the black dragon tattoo said coldly.

    "Sure!" the gaunt man replied coldly, then vanished from the bar.

    "Damn, brother, this guy''s temper is as stony as a rock in a toilet. If it weren''t for his terrifying skills and marksmanship, coming and going like a ghost, unpredictable, I''d have just shot him," the man with the green snake tattoo grumbled, irritated that the gaunt man hadn''t even glanced at him before turning away.

    "I think if you tried to shoot him, you''d definitely be the first to lie on the ground! He wouldn''t give you a chance," the man with the black dragon tattoo said coldly.

    Hearing this, the man with the green snake tattoo shivered and looked fearfully towards the direction in which the gaunt man had disappeared.

    Dandenong District, an area in Melbourne overrun with African-Americans, Vietnamese, Mexicans, and street riffraff.

    In this area, it is generally not advisable to be out at night.

    Because under the cover of darkness, many dirty deals and activities take place here.

    This area was also where the Hell''s Rebels Motorcycle Club roamed.

    Every evening, dozens or even hundreds of high-powered motorcycles would thunderously roar through the streets and alleys.

    They would shout and swing their clubs, terrifying passersby into screams and dodges, but they didn''t kill or set fires, claiming they were just motorcycle enthusiasts. Thus, even the local police were helpless against them, letting them rampage through the area.

    The Hell''s Rebels Motorcycle Club hostel, located in a desolate part of the Dandenong District,

    was surrounded by a vast expanse of neglected land and dilapidated repair shops.

    After a night of wild rampaging, those who claimed to be mere motorcycle enthusiasts would park their bikes on this neglected land, and then on this same neglected land, in the dilapidated repair shops, and the club hostel lit by lights and blaring heavy metal, they would indulge in drinking, drug use, fighting, and promiscuity. Except for murder, every imaginable vice took place here.

    This was their hedonistic lifestyle!

    Tonight, the sky was cloudy and it was still early, but the night was already very dark.

    Usually at this time, the club hostel would still be quiet because it was far from the peak of activity.

    But today, the neglected land in front of the hostel was neatly filled with hundreds of high-powered motorcycles.

    On the motorcycles, there sat people of various skin colors, all without exception wearing a necklace with a skull pendant.

    Behind the multitude of motorcycles, on a balcony jutting out from the first floor of the hostel, a blonde woman with the appearance of an angel and a figure like a devil was holding a glass of red wine, gazing into the distance.

    The blonde woman appeared young, probably around thirty.

    Dressed in a sapphire blue strapless evening gown, holding a glass of red wine, leaning against the balcony railing, she exuded an air of exceptional elegance and sexiness, like a distinguished lady.

    An elegant and sexy woman like this, in such a place at this moment, would normally attract the "onslaught" of a group of crazed men.

    But oddly, all the men around didn''t dare to face her directly. Even the four men standing behind her, dressed in black suits, bulky in build, with stern faces, looked at her with eyes filled with reverence. Only occasionally, in their reverent gaze, a flash of frenzy and greed would pass when they looked at her seductive silhouette.

    This woman was none other than Daisy, referred to earlier by Song Wenhong as the Australia underground power''s godmother! S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    A woman with an angelic face and a devilish figure!

    A ruthless and powerful woman who dominated Australia''s underground forces!

 Chapter 744 - 743: Making a Move

    A black Mercedes Benz approached slowly through the darkness of the night.

    Daisy looked at the black Mercedes Benz with a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

    However, she soon curved her lips into a cold smile, lightly shook the glass in her hand, and took a sip.

    Suddenly, hundreds of high-powered motorcycles roared to life, filling the air with the thunderous sound of their engines.

    The very earth seemed to tremble at that moment.

    The glass windows of the club motel were trembling slightly.

    The headlights of hundreds of motorcycles all turned on, shining toward the slowly approaching Mercedes Benz.

    With a howl, hundreds of motorcycles charged toward the Mercedes Benz and then surrounded it, circling round and round.

    The riders were yelling, flipping off the people inside the car, and even some women were taking off their bras, waving them at the Mercedes Benz.

    In the passenger seat, Song Wenhong looked at this crazy scene, his face turning somewhat pale.

    Although he too was a figure in the Chinese gangs of Melbourne and was considered brave, it all depended on the situation.

    Like today, him, Ge Dongxu and Ouyang Murong, only the three of them, had driven into the territory of the Hell''s Rebels, and then to be surrounded by hundreds of high-powered motorcycles like a steel tidal wave, even with great courage, at this moment his heart was pounding fiercely, and his palms were sweating.

    But Ge Dongxu, who was sitting in the back, was still nonchalantly crossing his legs, looking completely at ease.

    Ouyang Murong, at the wheel, held the steering wheel steady, his expression calm as still water, no matter how many motorcycles whooshed by in front of the car, he just kept pressing the accelerator, driving forward steadily as if he didn''t see the motorcycles in front at all.

    The car finally stopped about ten meters away from the club motel.

    Because the motorcycles had returned to the front of the motel, blocking the road to the establishment.

    When the car stopped, Ouyang Murong got out from the driver''s seat, went to the back of the car, and opened the door.

    Ge Dongxu got out of the car leisurely and with ease.

    Daisy, holding a glass of wine and leaning on the railing of the balcony, looked at the unfamiliar young man descending from the car and once again a look of surprise crossed her eyes.

    "This is getting more and more interesting! It turns out to be a young man, and Song is merely accompanying him," Daisy murmured to herself after taking a sip of red wine.

    "Master Ge, that woman on the balcony is Daisy!" Song Wenhong approached Ge Dongxu and whispered.

    Although Ge Dongxu had already heard about Daisy from Song Wenhong, he was still a bit taken aback by the sight of Daisy under the balcony lights.

    Indeed, she was an uncommon beauty, and with such an elegant demeanor, it was hard to associate her with the godmother of Australia''s underground forces had he not been briefed by Song Wenhong.

    Thinking to himself, Ge Dongxu''s eyes shifted from surprise to a cold gleam.

    "I''m sorry Song, but our boss said you can''t bring weapons over, so please raise your hands. We''ll need to search you and your companions for weapons!" Two tall black men standing at the staircase approached Song Wenhong and said.

    A flash of anger crossed Song Wenhong''s eyes, but since they were on someone else''s turf, he had to comply with their wishes, so he slightly moved his hands, ready to raise them for the search.

    "Scram!" But before Song Wenhong could raise his hand, Ouyang Murong''s eyes had already flashed with cold light, and he clenched his fists to strike at the shoulders of the two men with the speed of lightning.

    Instantly, the sound of cracking bones rose in the night, and the two tall black men clutched their shoulders, kneeling on the ground and screaming in pain.

    However, Ouyang Murong, as if he had not seen this, lifted his foot and kicked the two black men.

    The two tall men, each weighing well over 200 kilograms, were suddenly kicked through the air, crashing heavily to the ground, their bones shattered in an unknowable number.

    In a moment, there was silence in heaven and earth.

    Other than Daisy, who managed to maintain a calm expression, everyone else was practically staring wide-eyed.

    It wasn''t just because of the terrifying strength Ouyang Murong had displayed; it was also because they hadn''t expected that, surrounded by hundreds of their own people, Ouyang Murong would dare to strike!

    Song Wenhong''s face turned deathly pale, and he silently bemoaned his misfortune.

    Although Ouyang Murong was skilled, Song Wenhong didn''t believe he could fight against hundreds alone, let alone against the few hundred high-powered motorcycles.

    The mere thought of hundreds of people riding motorcycles charging at him made Song Wenhong''s pores stand on end.

    Indeed, just as Song Wenhong groaned inwardly, dozens of men mounted their motorcycles, wielding baseball bats as they charged toward Ouyang Murong.

    Seeing this, Song Wenhong opened his mouth intending to call out to Daisy, to explain to her, when Ge Dongxu''s light voice rang by his ear, "Don''t worry, I''m here!"

    Song Wenhong looked at the composed Ge Dongxu, his mouth moved but eventually closed again, his face revealing an expression of resignation.

    Since Master Ge had spoken so, he, as his junior, naturally had to brace himself to accompany him in this.

    No sooner had Song Wenhong closed his mouth than an overweight middle-aged white man charged at them on his motorcycle, swinging a baseball bat down toward Ouyang Murong''s head.

    However, as soon as the bat swung down, it was caught by Ouyang Murong''s hand, and with a fierce tug, the overweight middle-aged white man and his motorcycle tumbled to the ground.

    Almost simultaneously, Ouyang Murong swung the baseball bat, leapt into the air, and struck at the shoulder of the person charging toward him from behind.

    The sound of breaking bones was heard again with a "crack".

    The person riding the motorcycle screamed, falling down with the bike.

    The vehicles behind swerved sharply to avoid the fall, but Ouyang Murong''s baseball bat swung horizontally at their stomachs. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Ah!" The person on the motorcycle was directly knocked off by the bat, and the motorcycle, uncontrolled, charged forward, crashing heavily onto the previously fallen motorcycle and rider.

    Ouyang Murong, whose cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds through countless life-and-death battles in the jungles of Northern Myanmar, was like a tiger descending the mountain, a flood dragon entering the sea, and with only a baseball bat, he had, within minutes, left the motorcycle gang members sprawling, with over twenty people and bikes lying defeated.

    This scene made Song Wenhong''s eyes almost pop out, and while it instilled fear and apprehension in the gang members, it also incited their indignant fury, as if insulted for life, with even more of them revving up their bikes and charging forward with shouts of anger.

    Ultimately, with only the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Ouyang Murong began breathing rapidly after taking down more than twenty people and bikes, and beads of sweat started to appear on his forehead.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu slightly frowned, and just as he was about to step in, his expression suddenly changed, and his gaze turned toward a deserted building hundreds of meters away.

 Chapter 745 - 744: Murong, You Step Back

    Several hundred meters away in an abandoned building, a gaunt Vietnamese man was hiding behind a crumbling wall, ghost-like.

    A British rifle rested on the broken wall, its black muzzle aimed directly at Song Wenhong.

    Just as Li Baoyan was about to pull the trigger, he suddenly felt an immense danger, causing the pores all over his body to burst open in an instant.

    Almost reflexively, Li Baoyan immediately pulled the trigger. A bullet whistled through the night toward Song Wenhong while he, without a second thought, grabbed the sniper rifle and fled, not daring to stay to see the result of his shot.

    As a veteran who had survived the battlefields of Vietnam and as someone who had practiced the basic techniques of the Qimen from a young age, Li Baoyan had a sense of danger sharper than that of animals.

    Song Wenhong suddenly felt an icy chill. He saw a light shooting toward him through the darkness.

    "Bullet!" Song Wenhong''s scalp exploded in a moment, his eyes showing fear and despair.

    Just as Song Wenhong was engulfed in terror and despair, thinking he was undoubtedly going to die, suddenly two fingers appeared before his eyes.

    Unbeknownst to him, the two fingers were pinching a bullet!

    Song Wenhong''s eyes instantly bulged out.

    "Since you have the courage to assassinate me, then stay here!" From behind the distant crumbling wall, as Li Baoyan was grabbing his sniper rifle to leave, a cold voice rang out in his ears. Almost simultaneously, he saw a young man pointing at him under the light of a motorcycle.

    In the dark, a faint green light flashed momentarily from the young man''s neck.

    Then, Li Baoyan saw a Flying Sword with a faint green glow speeding toward him through the dark.

    Its speed was even faster than that of a bullet.

    "Flying Sword! Sword Immortal!" Li Baoyan, seeing the spectral Flying Sword speeding toward him, was scared out of his wits, his soul almost fleeing his body, his eyes filled with terror to the extreme.

    In his fright, the Flying Sword swept through the night like a rainbow, reaching him in an instant, then wrapping around Li Baoyan''s legs.

    Li Baoyan''s legs were severed cleanly at the knees like tofu.

    "Ah!" Li Baoyan let out a ghastly scream, echoing through the night like an owl, even overpowering the roar of the motorcycles.

    The bikers were slightly startled, and Daisy frowned, looking puzzled toward the abandoned building hundreds of meters away.

    The entire event had occurred in the blink of an eye, and her attention had primarily been on Ouyang Murong, who was extremely fierce and powerful. She hadn''t noticed Ge Dongxu''s move, only faintly sensing that something was amiss.

    However, after the bikers were briefly stunned, they shouted again and charged toward Ouyang Murong, while Daisy''s gaze also returned to Ouyang Murong, her eyes revealing a mix of shock and admiration.

    She had seen many skilled fighters, and she herself was very capable, but she had never seen anyone as proficient as Ouyang Murong.

    His moves were vicious and decisive; with each strike, a person or a motorcycle fell.

    Just as Daisy''s gaze returned to Ouyang Murong, Ge Dongxu bent down and, as if picking up a small chicken or duck, easily lifted a motorcycle weighing four to five hundred pounds that had fallen in front of him.

    "Murong, step back," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Ouyang Murong leapt behind Ge Dongxu and stood up straight, his expression stern, but his chest was slightly heaving, and he was breathing heavily.

    This battle had been particularly demanding because their opponents were all on motorcycles. Not only did his strikes need to be powerful, but they also had to be fast. After a few minutes of fighting, he had used up most of his strength. If Ge Dongxu hadn''t called him back, he would have soon been overwhelmed by the encircling bikers.

    Once Ouyang Murong had retreated to Ge Dongxu''s side, everyone''s attention shifted to Ge Dongxu.

    "Zzz!"

    "Tss!"

    Everyone, seeing that the young man who didn''t look very burly was casually holding a motorcycle weighing about four or five hundred kilograms, couldn''t help but sharply inhale in shock.

    Daisy, leaning against the terrace railing, saw her beautiful blue eyes suddenly brighten with an expression of disbelief and strong interest.

    "Things are getting more and more interesting!" Daisy shook the wine glass in her hand, took another delicate sip, and said to herself.

    As Daisy was talking to herself, Ge Dongxu had already smiled faintly and casually discarded the motorcycle in his hand as if it were a sandbag.

    The steel-made giant "whooshed" through the night sky, making the bikers'' scalp explode instantly, their eyes widened in terror, hearts almost splitting, not even thinking as they fiercely started their motorcycles and scattered in all directions.

    Joking aside, who would dare to come into close contact with this behemoth!

    But as fast as they dodged, the behemoth was faster.

    Like a rampaging bull, it charged toward the bikers with the momentum Ge Dongxu had imparted to it.

    "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

    "Ah! Ah! Ah!"

    A series of deafening collision sounds, and a series of screams erupted in the night.

    In just an instant, the ground was littered with motorcycles and the horribly mutilated bodies of the bikers.

    However, Ge Dongxu, as if he saw nothing, bent down again, casually picked up another motorcycle, and gently tossed it away.

    "Bang! Bang! Bang!"

    "Ah! Ah! Ah!"

    Another series of deafening collision sounds, and a series of screams erupted in the night.

    The ground was once again strewn with motorcycles and the mutilated bodies of the bikers.

    In a blink of an eye, the area around Ge Dongxu for dozens of meters, aside from the motorcycles lying on the ground and the injured people, was devoid of anything else.

    Further away, each of the bikers showed terrified eyes, continuously retreating, with no one daring to step forward.

    Daisy on the terrace railing was even more radiant, shining with delight, and it took her a long while to set her wine glass back on the railing.

    "Clap! Clap! Clap!" Daisy clapped her small hands, her face adorned with a charming smile.

    "Impressive skills! But I wonder, is your hand faster, or our guns?" Daisy''s voice rang out under the night sky, as pleasing as an orchid in a secluded valley.

    Yet, at this sound, Song Wenhong''s pores bristled, and his heart almost stopped beating in an instant.

    Indeed, as Daisy''s voice fell, several guns were drawn, all aimed at Ge Dongxu.

    Facing the metallic gloss of the gun barrels under the light, Song Wenhong turned pale, his legs weakening.

    So many guns, if they started shooting, they would probably turn into a hornet''s nest immediately.

    "I forgot to mention one thing, I hate guns the most! Especially being pointed at with one!" Ge Dongxu said flatly, his face as calm as still water.

    sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 746 - 746: 745

    "I''m just the opposite of you, I love guns the most! Why use brute force when things can be simply solved? You men always like to show off your savage strength, but in reality, many things can be resolved with just a bullet, don''t you think so, young sir?" Daisy picked up her glass again, swirling it lightly, her azure eyes looking down at Ge Dongxu like a queen from her high throne. S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Let me say it again, I hate guns, so I''d advise you to have your men put their guns away, or I can''t guarantee what sorts of cruel things I might do," Ge Dongxu''s face remained as still as water, he spoke indifferently.

    "You men can be so presumptuous at times! Can you tell me, facing so many guns, what kind of cruel things can you still do?" Daisy''s face showed an enchanting smile.

    "I don''t like women who are too full of themselves, especially women like you!" Ge Dongxu''s mouth curved into a cold smirk, his mind moved, and he began to cast his spell.

    Suddenly, the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword hanging around Ge Dongxu''s neck emitted a faint green glow again.

    Immediately after, an invisible Flying Sword shot out.

    The Flying Sword was like lightning.

    Those holding guns felt an inexplicable chill, their hairs standing on end, instinctively trying to pull the trigger.

    Before they could even pull the trigger,

    the invisible Flying Sword had already slashed over their gun-holding hands.

    In an instant, their wrists were severed cleanly like tofu by the Flying Sword.

    "Ah! My hand! My hand!" Almost instantly, hand after hand still clutching guns fell to the ground, and from the neat cuts at their wrists, blood spurted out; those who had been holding the guns now clutched their severed wrists, screaming in horror.

    "Bang!" Daisy, who had maintained a poised posture, watched as one after another, hands were eerily severed at the wrist, falling to the ground along with the guns, and she could no longer contain her inner terror. Her face drained of color and the wine glass in her hand fell to the ground due to her fright, shattering into pieces.

    Terror spread across this desolate land, through the motorcycle gang''s clubhouse.

    Those who previously hadn''t drawn their guns were instinctively backing away, looking at Ge Dongxu as if he were a demon from Hell.

    At that moment, none of them could muster even the slightest courage to attack.

    Those clutching their severed wrists were still wailing miserably, the fear in their eyes deepening.

    Song Wenhong was completely petrified.

    He knew that Ge Dongxu was skilled and exuded a sense of mystery, but never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that Ge Dongxu''s abilities were so terrifyingly strange.

    Not to mention using his fingers to catch a bullet, but now he stood, and in an instant, had severed the wrists of fifty to sixty people!

    Song Wenhong had neither seen nor heard of such a feat before.

    Ge Dongxu ignored everyone''s terror and Song Wenhong''s stupor, and after silently commanding the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword to sever the wrists of the crowd, he walked nonchalantly toward the clubhouse.

    People in front quickly moved aside, no one daring to attempt to stop him.

    How to stop him? They saw nothing, yet in an instant, dozens of people had their wrists severed. If they further angered him and he suddenly decided to cut at their necks, it would mean dozens of heads rolling on the ground. Just the thought of that made the normally brash motorcyclists feel as if their souls were about to fly away.

    Daisy saw Ge Dongxu approaching her, terror flashing in her beautiful eyes as she stumbled backward again and again.

    At this moment, the once cold and ruthless godmother, who shook the underground forces of Australia, had lost her former composure, ruthlessness, and the elegance she had just displayed.

    "Bang!" Ge Dongxu stepped onto the terrace, lifted his foot, and kicked right at Daisy''s attractive, flat belly.

    Daisy bent over like a bow, involuntarily dropping to her knees.

    The two full mounds on her chest hung down, particularly dazzling under the light.

    But at this moment, not a single person paid attention to the tempting and fair fullness that could make one''s blood surge.

    Everyone held their breath, their gazes full of horror as they looked at the young man whose expression remained calm as water.

    "Slap!" Ge Dongxu slapped Daisy across the face as she knelt before him.

    "You think you have the right to search me? You think you can put on airs in front of me and have someone point a gun at me?" Ge Dongxu backhandedly slapped Daisy again, his voice cold.

    Although the woman was beautiful and sexy enough to drive many men wild, Ge Dongxu was indifferent to her beauty and allure, unaffected as if he saw none of it.

    Because she was a seductive viper! She was the woman who had almost cost his nephew his life!

    "I apologize, respected sir. Please forgive my ignorance and offense! I am willing to offer everything, including myself, just for your forgiveness!" After being harshly kicked by Ge Dongxu and casually slapped twice, Daisy not only didn''t show any hateful glares but instead looked at Ge Dongxu with fervent eyes.

    Ge Dongxu thought that a female overlord like Daisy would at least put up some resistance verbally, but she immediately cowered, thoroughly so, especially with eyes fervent like a fanatic''s, which made Ge Dongxu''s skin crawl.

    "Murong, go to that abandoned building and bring over the person who tried to shoot Mr. Song secretly," commanded Ge Dongxu, turning to Ouyang Murong without paying any further attention to Daisy.

    "Yes, Uncle Master!" Ouyang Murong bowed in obedience, his eyes showing reverence.

    Ge Dongxu spoke in Chinese, which Daisy didn''t understand. Watching Ouyang Murong leave, she looked puzzled. But seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t continue to slap her, she inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Bearing the pain in her abdomen and cheeks, she got up from the ground, fetched a chair attentively, and placed it behind Ge Dongxu, saying respectfully, "Honored sir, please take a seat."

    Ge Dongxu glanced at Daisy and felt a silent sigh within; the woman was indeed intelligent and perceptive, knowing when to be tough and when to completely lower her stance.

    However, what really gave Ge Dongxu a headache now was the fervent way she looked at him.

    This fervor couldn''t possibly be feigned; if it were, Ge Dongxu''s piercing eyes that could see through anything would have noticed immediately.

    Ge Dongxu actually wished that Daisy''s fervor was feigned so that he could take the opportunity to finish her off completely.

    But now, Ge Dongxu found it difficult to bring himself to act ruthlessly.

    His thoughts whirled a thousand times in his mind, and in the end, Ge Dongxu sat down with an expressionless face.

    "Honored sir, would you like something to drink?" Seeing Ge Dongxu seated, Daisy behaved like the most diligent maid, placing her hands in front of her abdomen and asking with the sweetest, most tender voice as she deeply bowed.

    Whether it was intentional or not, she bowed deeply, her blouse gaping open, showcasing her ample bosom with little to no concealment right under Ge Dongxu''s eyes.

 Chapter 747 - 746: You Misunderstood

    "Bring a glass of red wine," Ge Dongxu said indifferently, his glance fleeting over Daisy''s generously open neckline.

    "Yes, distinguished sir," a hint of glee flashed in Daisy''s eyes as she bowed and took two steps back before standing straight, turning around, and twisting her attractive waist as she entered the hotel.

    Someone in the hotel had already heard their conversation and brought over a bottle of 1990 Roman¨¦e-Conti that Daisy herself had stored there.

    Daisy personally carried the tray, once again twisting her enticing waist, and approached Ge Dongxu.

    "Distinguished sir, this is a dry red wine from the Roman¨¦e-Conti vineyard in Burgundy, France, produced in 1990. I hope you will like it," Daisy said softly.

    Ge Dongxu reached for the wine, gently swirled it, and then sniffed it below his nose, his eyes briefly brightening at the fragrant aroma.

    "Quite a good wine," Ge Dongxu sipped and commented lightly.

    Receiving Ge Dongxu''s affirmative response, Daisy''s eyes sparkled brilliantly, a hint of joy on her face.

    However, Daisy''s expression quickly changed.

    For she saw Ouyang Murong approaching quickly from a few hundred meters away, in an abandoned building, carrying a sniper rifle in one hand and a Vietnamese man whose legs had been cut off at the knees in the other.

    "It''s a sniper, a Vietnamese!" Ouyang Murong dropped the Vietnamese man on the patio, then walked up to Ge Dongxu and bowed slightly.

    "Damn Vietnamese, what was he trying to do?" Daisy''s face changed again, her eyes emanating a cold glare.

    "Just now, when your man fought with Murong, he ambushed from a distance and shot at Mr. Song. Unfortunately, I was standing next to Mr. Song at that time, so his attempt was doomed to disappointment. I think you''re smart enough to guess what the Vietnamese intended to do," Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Although everyone present, including Daisy, had already witnessed Ge Dongxu''s eerie and terrifying abilities, they couldn''t help but shudder at his words.

    That was from several hundred meters away! And not only that, from behind an abandoned building, and yet, the young man before them had quietly severed the man''s legs at the knees.

    Just thinking about it sent chills down everyone''s spine as they looked at Ge Dongxu as if he were a devil from Hell.

    "He wanted to frame us, to make us clash with the Chinese Gangs! Such a vicious plot!" Daisy managed to suppress her fear of Ge Dongxu and her uncontrollable admiration for him, looking at Li Baoyan with a cold expression.

    "Isn''t that exactly what you wanted to do? They were merely adding fuel to your fire," Ge Dongxu said coldly.

    "No no no, distinguished sir, you misunderstood. I never intended to clash with the Chinese Gangs," Daisy said, scared pale, repeatedly bowing.

    "Is that so? Then how do you explain the three shots fired at my nephew by your man earlier? Don''t tell me the Vietnamese did that too? I suppose Vietnamese assassins aren''t stupid enough to not know who Mr. Song is and who my nephew is," Ge Dongxu said as he crossed his legs, lightly swirled his wine glass, sipped, and spoke unhurriedly.

    "That wasn''t done by the Vietnamese; it was one of Kohl''s men. However, I didn''t know about it beforehand, or else I definitely wouldn''t have allowed it. Because I only wanted to suppress the Chinese Gangs, to gain more benefits from them, not to clash with them," Daisy said, her face turning even paler, her voice trembling in response.

    "I believe you," Ge Dongxu sipped his red wine again and said softly.

    "Thank you for your trust," Daisy breathed a huge sigh of relief at his words.

    "Trust? Ms. Daisy, do you think you deserve that word in my presence?" Ge Dongxu''s lips curved into a scornful sneer.

    "Right now, I don''t deserve it, but I will strive to!" said Daisy, her face changing slightly, biting her lips after a while.

    Ge Dongxu''s face briefly showed a trace of astonishment when he heard the answer, obviously he had not expected that response.

    "I think you can bring in that subordinate of Kohl now," Ge Dongxu said to Daisy in a calm tone.

    He had no desire to continue discussing whether she was deserving or diligent.

    At his words, Daisy turned pale, biting her red lips tightly and bowing her head, saying nothing.

    "It seems you''re not entirely useless after all; you still understand loyalty, no wonder you can become the mother of the underground forces. It seems there''s more to you than just being ruthless and harsh!" Ge Dongxu said, noting Daisy''s silence. Far from being angry, he actually showed a hint of admiration. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "However, you should know that murder must be paid for with life, especially when it''s my people involved! If it weren''t for me, my nephew would have died in the hospital by now. Therefore, the guy who wants to avenge Kohl must die. But before he dies, I can let him personally fulfill his desire to avenge his boss," Ge Dongxu said lightly.

    "Do you mean this person killed Kohl?" Daisy finally looked up.

    "Do you think like that subordinate of Kohl, that we the Chinese killed Kohl?" Ge Dongxu''s mouth curved into a cold sneer.

    Daisy''s face turned pale again!

    She knew her intentions couldn''t escape Ge Dongxu''s discerning eyes.

    "Hmph, let all these people get lost, take all the hands that need to be taken, and then bring that subordinate of Kohl here. I don''t care where he is, I''m only giving you one hour! Of course, let your people watch their mouths, or next time it won''t be their hands but their heads!" Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Yes!" Daisy lowered her beautiful head.

    She was well aware that since Kohl''s subordinate had made a move on Ge Dongxu''s nephew with a gun, even if the prime minister of their country tried to intervene, he couldn''t save him, let alone her.

    Soon, the motorbike gang vanished from the deserted square in a flash.

    The injured were quickly carried away, and severed hands were picked up without a single one being left behind.

    If time allowed, there might still be a chance to reattach them.

    The only ones left were the motel operators, servants, and Daisy''s bodyguards.

    With the motorbike gang gone, the night seemed extraordinarily quiet.

    The night breeze blew, carrying neither the mugginess of the major cities'' summer nights in Huaxia Country nor the refreshing coolness tinged with the scent of earth.

    This was because the area was merely an outlying countryside without tall buildings and concrete.

    Soon, the person who had once ambushed and shot at Ouyang Murong was brought to the club motel.

    He was a Caucasian man, soft-spoken and fair-skinned.

    This Caucasian man was taken aback when he first saw Ouyang Murong and Song Wenhong, but soon his eyes filled with deep hatred, and pointing at them, he exclaimed, "You killed my beloved Kohl! I must kill you! Definitely!"

    Seeing the hysterical state of the soft-spoken, fair-skinned Caucasian in front of them, the expressions of Ge Dongxu and the others suddenly became very subtle.

 Chapter 748 - 747: What does Master Ge mean?

    "Love and hatred always seem to lower people''s IQs, Murong, you really took a bum rap for those three shots," Ge Dongxu said after a while as he looked toward Ouyang Murong with a sigh.

    "Fortunately, Master, you arrived in time, otherwise, I would have been truly wronged," Ouyang Murong said with a bitter smile.

    The white man couldn''t understand Chinese and, seeing that Ge Dongxu and Ouyang Murong were completely ignoring his existence, his eyes filled with even deeper hatred. Suddenly, he grabbed a chair from behind and charged at them.

    "Damn it, Mike, what are you doing?" Daisy''s face turned pale at the sight, and without a second thought, she stepped forward to block him, lifting her long, beautiful legs and kicking Mike squarely.

    The seemingly sexy and glamorous Daisy''s kick sent Mike flying. The man clutched his stomach and kneeled on the ground, unable to stand up for a long time.

    "You fool, wake up, the one who killed Kohl is this Vietnamese guy! It''s him! It''s the Vietnamese trying to frame the Chinese, making us clash with the Chinese gangs!" After kicking Mike away, Daisy stepped forward, grabbed a bottle of water, and poured it over his head.

    "No, no, Kohl died in the Chinese''s territory, it must have been the Chinese who killed him!" Mike, blinded by love and hatred, refused to listen to Daisy''s words.

    Ge Dongxu, seeing that Mike was not taking in anything Daisy was saying, curled the corners of his lips into a disdainful sneer. With a gesture of his hand, he cast a spell, and strands of wood spirit energy emerged from the trees and grass around them, converging into invisible Great Hands that lifted Mike into the air.

    "So what if it was us who killed Kohl? In my eyes, you are nothing but an ant. If I want to kill, I kill, why would I need to explain to you? The only thing is we don''t want to be scapegoats for others, especially not for the Vietnamese!" Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Witnessing this scene, Daisy and the rest couldn''t help but show a look of terror in their eyes once again, and Mike, who was not a fool at heart.

    Realizing Ge Dongxu''s ability, the one suspended in mid-air finally snapped out of his panic.

    He also finally realized that from the moment he arrived here, a proud and imposing woman like Daisy had been displaying nothing but the utmost respect and subservience in front of Ge Dongxu, like a maid.

    For such a person, why would he need to explain before killing?

    "Hmph! You finally show a bit more intelligence than a pig," Ge Dongxu said with a sneer as he saw the look of realization in Mike''s eyes, then with a thought, the wood spirit energy that formed the Great Hands dissipated.

    "Boom!" With a loud crash, Mike plummeted heavily to the ground.

    The fall was so severe that it felt like all his organs might burst, and his left arm broke instantly, leaving him screaming and unable to climb up for a long time.

    Seeing this, Daisy looked at Ge Dongxu with a glimmer of surprise and gratitude in her eyes.

    The intelligent woman knew that for a person like Ge Dongxu to treat Mike so harshly meant that he was planning to spare his life.

    "Daisy, I believe you understand what to do next," Ge Dongxu said lightly after dropping Mike heavily from mid-air, shaking the wine glass in his hand, finishing the drink in one gulp, and then slowly standing up.

    "I understand!" At those words, Daisy quickly bowed, and the stone in her heart finally completely fell.

    "Murong, let''s go. Mr. Song probably has some matters to discuss with Daisy, so there''s no need to see me off," Ge Dongxu said indifferently while stepping down from the terrace and heading towards the Mercedes.

    "Thank you, Master Ge!" Song Wenhong immediately bent over in gratitude, then rushed forward to open the car door for Ge Dongxu.

    "Master Ge! This is my personal contact information. If you need anything, just give me a call, and I will arrive as soon as possible," Daisy followed quickly, bowing and extending both hands with a piece of paper, also addressing Ge Dongxu as Master Ge like Song Wenhong did.

    Just moments before, Ge Dongxu had thrown a motorcycle to smash dozens of people, used his Flying Sword to slash off the wrists of dozens more, and then kicked Daisy forcefully, slapping her twice. Moreover, since Daisy was not the true mastermind behind this incident, by now, the murderous rage in his heart had gradually dissipated. Seeing Daisy so respectful, even copying Song Wenhong''s manner of addressing him as Master Ge, his tranquil expression finally eased slightly as he simply said, "No need!"

    With that, Ge Dongxu bent down and got into the back of the car.

    Daisy''s hand hung frozen in midair.

    The car slowly pulled away, disappearing into the night.

    "Miss Daisy, there''s no use looking. A man like Master Ge is beyond your reach," Song Wenhong said with a sigh as he saw Daisy continue to gaze in the direction where the car had disappeared, unwilling to retract her gaze for a long time.

    "Song, I remember a saying you have in Huaxia Country that ''perseverance will be rewarded.'' Master Ge is a true man, and only such a man is worthy of my Daisy''s submission. I will definitely become his most trustworthy and loyal maid!" Daisy slowly withdrew her gaze, declaring her intent.

    Song Wenhong''s expression became very complex upon hearing this.

    He had thought Daisy had taken a fancy to Ge Dongxu and wanted to be his woman, but it turned out she had the heart to worship the strong and be enslaved by them, desiring earnestly to become his maid!

    Watching Daisy turn and walk towards the hotel, her round and perky backside swaying tantalizingly under the skirt, quickening the heartbeat and pumping the blood of onlookers¡ªremembering her identity as the Queen of the underworld and her determination to become Ge Dongxu''s maid¡ªSong Wenhong couldn''t help but look back in the direction where the car had vanished, filled with contemplation and envy.

    "Song, what does Master Ge mean? Is it his name or a title of respect?" Daisy seemed completely unaware that her decision was stirring Song Wenhong''s emotions. She turned her head and asked Song Wenhong, who was following behind her. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s not his name. Ge is his surname, and Ye is a term of respect, indicating his high status and seniority. You must have heard of Mr. Gu Yezeng''s great reputation, right?" Song Wenhong replied.

    "Hmm, I''ve heard of the great Gu, a legendary figure who is now even on Forbes''s list of richest people," Daisy responded.

    "Although Master Ge is not part of the gangs, if we consider some ancestral relationships, his seniority is very high, even Mr. Gu has to address him as Master Ge. Of course, seniority is nothing but a show these days; it''s all about competence. However, I think whether it''s competence or seniority, Master Ge truly deserves the title," Song Wenhong said, his eyes revealing an uncontrollable hint of awe.

    Having witnessed the events that had just transpired, Song Wenhong fully understood why even someone with Gu Yezeng''s standing had to be utterly respectful and dare not show the slightest impropriety before Ge Dongxu.

    "I think, one day, he will also become my Master Ge," Daisy said, her eyes burning with increased fervor.

    "Good luck to you, Miss Daisy. But now we should sit down and talk about the recent conflicts between our Chinese gangs and your Hell Rebels, as well as the matter with the Vietnamese," Song Wenhong said, looking at Daisy''s fervent expression, filled with indescribable sentiment and envy, before he finally added in a deep voice.

 Chapter 749 - 749: 748

    "Since you''ve come to Melbourne, why not stay for a few more days? I''ll show you around," Murong said from inside the Mercedes.

    "That sounds good. Coming here takes more than ten hours by flight, so I will extend my stay for a couple of days and use the time to refine some Taiyin Spirit Gathering Formation Talisman Jades for you. Now that you''ve reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation, you definitely need more of these talismans. I''ll also make a magic artifact for you to defend yourself, just in case any accidents happen again," Ge Dongxu thought about how there were still more than ten days until the New Year, and seeing that Murong was keen on having him stay, he nodded and agreed.

    "Thank you, uncle teacher. In these two days, you should relax and enjoy yourself here. You can prepare the Jade Talisman and magic artifact some other day¡ªafter all, I plan to return and reunite with my master for the New Year," Murong said, deeply moved.

    "It won''t take me much time. Of course, you know what needs to be kept confidential. As for the New Year, this year your master has me and the family to keep him company, so you don''t need to rush back here. Stay here and enjoy some quality family time with your family and grandson," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Thank you, uncle teacher, I understand." Murong said earnestly, his heart full of gratitude.

    As they talked, the car arrived at a high-end community surrounded by a beautiful environment.

    The car then slowly drove along the tree-lined avenue of the community and finally stopped in front of a luxurious villa with a massive yard, a swimming pool, and three separate buildings.

    This was the home of Murong''s son, Ouyang Zesheng, in Melbourne. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Murong, having roamed the jungles of Northern Myanmar, had already accumulated quite a fortune, and later, leveraging his influence in the jungle, he went into the jade business and gathered even more wealth. Therefore, Zesheng could truly be called a bona fide second-generation rich, and with his own efforts, he owned such an enviable mansion in Melbourne.

    This mansion had three buildings: one where the owner lived, one for guests, and another for the servants.

    After leaving the hospital, Murong first went home and briefed Ge Dongxu on what had happened.

    Afterward, Ge Dongxu, liking the quiet and beautiful environment, was too lazy to go to a hotel and had Murong arrange a guest room here instead.

    "Granduncle teacher, Dad, you''re back. Did everything go smoothly?" Although it was quite late at night, Zesheng hadn''t gone to bed but was waiting in the yard for Ge Dongxu and Murong. Upon their arrival, he hurriedly came forward to greet them and asked with concern.

    "With your granduncle teacher here, everything naturally went smoothly," Murong replied matter-of-factly.

    "That''s good. I was worried that the Hell Rebels, being numerous and powerful, might have put you at a disadvantage," Zesheng said, breathing a sigh of relief and looking at Ge Dongxu with a gaze full of reverence.

    "Us, at a disadvantage? What are you thinking? With your granduncle teacher here, not to mention just the rabble of Hell Rebels, even an entire army would be neatly dealt with by him," Murong scolded his son with a glare.

    "What? An entire army?" Zesheng couldn''t help but shudder and widen his eyes upon hearing this.

    "You must have been stunned, when I urged you to persist in your cultivation, you were half-hearted. If you had started cultivating from a young age and had your grand-uncle''s guidance, you might have achieved something by now. But it''s too late!" Seeing his son''s astonished expression, Ouyang Murong said irritably.

    "Enough, Murong, everyone has their own life, and it can''t be forced. Zesheng''s lifestyle might not be so bad after all, and besides, even if he doesn''t achieve much in cultivation, he still might live to a ripe old age. Plus, you still have a grandson, don''t you? Bring him to me tomorrow, if his roots are good, I will help him clear and sort his meridians, laying a good foundation from a young age. With a solid foundation from childhood, he won''t be so bored by cultivation that he becomes indecisive and ultimately achieves nothing." Seeing Ouyang Murong reproaching his son, Ge Dongxu understood his thoughts and smiled, interrupting him.

    When Ge Dongxu talked about living to a ripe old age, it naturally meant something different from when others said it, and as for sorting a child''s meridians, that was nothing short of extraordinary. Hearing this, Ouyang Murong couldn''t help but burst into tears of joy, hurriedly kneeling down and kowtowing three times to Ge Dongxu, saying, "Disciple thanks the grand-uncle greatly for his kindness!"

    Although Ouyang Zesheng had been exposed to Western education from a young age and was unaccustomed to kowtowing, he knew the significance of these words coming from Ge Dongxu. Seeing his father kneeling and kowtowing, he also quickly knelt down and bowed three times to Ge Dongxu.

    "Alright, we''re all family here; let''s not make this so formal and distant," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, helping Ouyang Murong to his feet.

    "Yes, yes," Ouyang Murong said, beaming with joy that he could hardly close his mouth.

    "Alright, everyone go and rest. Bring the child over tomorrow morning, and also bring a few pieces of jade. I need one piece to be of the glass type, the rest should be of the glutinous ice type or better," Ge Dongxu instructed.

    "Yes, grand-uncle," Ouyang Murong said respectfully with a bow, then he opened the door to the guest room for Ge Dongxu before he and his son returned to the main building of their mansion.

    "Dad, now I start to believe the stories you used to tell me about Grandmaster''s exploits in the forests of Northern Myanmar. I never imagined a person''s abilities could reach such terrifying levels," Ouyang Zesheng said, deeply moved, as they returned to the living room of the main building.

    "You rascal, do you think I am the type who boasts and exaggerates?" Ouyang Murong raised his hand and slapped his son on the head.

    "Dad, you can''t blame me! A single person annihilating two squads of fully armed Japanese soldiers in the jungle sounds like a tall tale! I was young then and as I grew up, naturally, I took it as an embellished lone hero story. But now I understand!" Ouyang Zesheng said, rubbing the spot where he had been hit.

    "There are many who think like you, and thus the deeds of your grandmaster are remembered by very few," Ouyang Murong said, giving his son a deep look, reflectively.

    "Dad, who is more formidable, the grandmaster or the grand-uncle?" Ouyang Zesheng asked curiously.

    "Your grand-uncle is more formidable, and not by just a little. Our Pill Talisman Sect also holds your grand-uncle in the highest regard, since he is the Sect Leader," Ouyang Murong said with a look of reverence.

    "Ah!" Ouyang Zesheng exclaimed in shock, his eyes revealing extreme astonishment, saying, "The grandmaster alone annihilated one hundred and twenty-four fully armed Japanese soldiers; if the grand-uncle is much more formidable than the grandmaster, then he must be..."

    Ouyang Zesheng was too afraid to continue.

    This was far beyond what he could have imagined.

 Chapter 750 - 749: Big Brother, Somethings Wrong

    That evening, Ge Dongxu stayed at Ouyang Zesheng''s luxurious villa.

    Late at night, many people began to enter into dreams.

    In the areas where Vietnamese were concentrated and the activities of the Vietnamese 5X gang were active, hundreds of motorcycles suddenly emerged from the West without any warning, and several vans roared through the streets and alleys.

    Then, they stopped at the bars, casinos, and entertainment venues opened or controlled by the 5X gang...

    As soon as the vans stopped, one by one, big men jumped out, some with black skin, some with white, and others with brown...

    Each of these men was either holding iron rods and steel pipes, long machetes, or even some had firearms in hand.

    As soon as they got out of the vans, without saying a word, they swung their weapons around and charged forward, striking anyone they saw and smashing any items in their path.

    The motorcyclists were even more exaggerated; some drove their motorcycles straight into the bars.

    The scene turned chaotic, many screamed, and many lay in pools of blood.

    However, most of those lying in pools of blood were Vietnamese.

    In the Richmond area, that bar, the upstairs private room.

    "Ah! Damn it!" a Vietnamese man with a Black Dragon tattoo cursed in pain, lifting his foot and kicking the woman underneath him.

    The woman was kicked over immediately and then quickly scrambled up, saying fearfully, "Sorry, Brother Ren, I''m sorry, Brother Ren, I didn''t mean to."

    The man known as Brother Ren knew it wasn''t the woman''s fault, but he still stood up, shook his somewhat painful third leg, and kicked her down again, stepping over her as he walked up to the intruding Vietnamese.

    "Damn it, Green Snake, you''re growing bolder!" Brother Ren raised his foot to kick again.

    "Big brother, it''s bad, it''s bad!" Seeing Brother Ren about to kick him, the man tattooed with a Green Snake panicked and shouted.

    "What''s so bad? Speak! If you don''t have a satisfactory reason, I will chop off your third leg!" Brother Ren, feeling a throbbing pain underneath him, grimaced, his eyes blazing with anger.

    "Rebels from Hell suddenly went crazy, storming our territory. They''re attacking people and smashing things on sight," Green Snake said in a panic.

    "What? Has Daisy gone mad?" Brother Ren''s face changed dramatically upon hearing this.

    The Rebels from Hell are the number one underground force in Australia. Since they are a local force, they have extensive connections in all levels of Australian society, even within the upper echelons. Unlike the 5X gang whose ferocity, including Vietnam War veterans seasoned in combat and killing, made them fearsome, their numbers, stature, and influence still fell far short of the Rebels from Hell. S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    This disparity was not something that could be changed overnight; it was an inherent deficiency of the Vietnamese 5X gang.

    However, the 5X gang also had its advantages; the barefoot are not afraid of the shoed. Normally, the Rebels from Hell would not easily provoke them, to avoid more trouble than the gains were worth.

    Ruan was an ambitious boss who didn''t want to remain powerless forever, so he thought to incite conflict between the Rebel of Hell and the Chinese Gangs to reap the benefits and elevate his 5X gang to a new level.

    Everything had been progressing step by step according to his plan. Once the conflict between the Rebel of Hell and the Chinese Gangs intensified, the 5X gang would be able to take advantage of their struggle. Suddenly, the Rebel of Hell shifted their target and attacked the territory of the 5X gang with full force, causing Ruan''s face to change drastically.

    "I am not crazy, it''s you, Vietnamese Ruan!" Just as Ruan''s words ended, suddenly, several men in black suits, both Black and Caucasian, burst in.

    Each of them held a gun, all pointing towards them, and one cold-faced fellow boldly stepped forward, pressing his gun right against Ruan''s forehead.

    Meanwhile, Daisy, dressed in a sapphire-blue body-hugging gown, gracefully walked in from behind the crowd, her beautiful face cold as frost.

    "The esteemed Miss Daisy, what is this? Guns can easily misfire. Let''s put down the guns and sit down to talk," Ruan said, his face turning pale instantly, beads of cold sweat emerging on his forehead, yet he tried to maintain a calm tone as he spoke to Daisy.

    While saying this, Ruan couldn''t help but glance at the men in black suits¡ªBlack and Caucasian¡ªwith a flicker of jealousy in his eyes.

    This is the difference in class!

    Although both were involved with gangs, his men always looked like low-level street thugs, while Daisy''s men were of several grades higher.

    Today''s entrance was like that of a Mafia godfather from an Italian film!

    It had an aura of grandeur.

    Ruan''s dream was to one day transform the 5X gang into such a distinguished gang.

    "Talk to Mike if you want to talk, I''m sure he''d be more than happy to discuss the matter of Kohl with you," Daisy said.

    "Miss Daisy, what do you mean by that?" Ruan asked, his face changing drastically upon hearing this.

    "It means nothing special, sadly I have to inform you that Mr. Li Baoyan has told us everything," Daisy shrugged slightly, her expression apologetic.

    "Miss Daisy, let''s talk this over, let''s talk this over. You know I had only the best intentions. Let''s do this, from now on, the 5X gang will follow your lead, and my territory will also be handed over to you," Ruan said, noting Daisy''s mention of Li Baoyan and realizing his plans had been completely exposed, his face changed once again. Looking at the cruel cold smirk on Mike''s delicate white face advancing towards him, he finally cried out in panic.

    "Vietnamese Ruan, if you had said this before, I might have been moved, but it''s too late now. From now on, 5X gang will be history, and your territory will be handed over to the Chinese as compensation," Daisy said.

    "Why? Why is this happening? Miss Daisy, are you afraid of the Chinese Gangs?" Ruan cried out in horror.

    He couldn''t believe what he was hearing! The Rebel of Hell had launched a massive attack on the 5X gang, all to pave the way for the Chinese Gangs!

    "Mike, it''s all yours now!" Daisy didn''t respond but simply said this to Mike before turning and leaving.

    "Don''t worry, boss. I''ll make Vietnamese Ruan regret ever coming into this world," Mike said fiercely, his eyes revealing a deep and crazy hatred.

    "No! No!" Seeing the deep and crazy hatred in Mike''s eyes, Ruan was completely engulfed by panic.

 Chapter 751 - 750: Then We Really Do Have Some Fate

    The next day, early at Mao Hour.

    Ge Dongxu got up as usual.

    However, he neither practiced his cultivation like usual, nor did he try to comprehend the essence of winter storage.

    Because it was summer in Melbourne. Spring emerges, summer grows, autumn harvests, winter stores¡ªthe current transformation of life energy in nature was exactly the opposite of the mysteries of winter storage he had recently glimpsed.

    Thus, it was not suitable for him to cultivate or comprehend winter storage here at this time. He had to continue suppressing the vitality trying to emerge from within him and wait for the arrival of spring.

    After getting up and cleaning up, Ge Dongxu stepped outside and saw Ouyang Murong already waiting at the door, feeling a touch of warmth in his heart, and smiled, "Don''t you need to practice your cultivation? Waiting here so early."

    "It won''t be a problem for these two days. Uncle Master rarely comes over; it''s only right for the disciple to be available at all times," Ouyang Murong replied respectfully.

    "In the future, you don''t have to do this. Society is different now. However, since you are already here today, let''s take a walk together and discuss your cultivation matters," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "As Uncle Master wishes," Ouyang Murong responded, then accompanied Ge Dongxu out of the courtyard and strolled along the community''s forest paths.

    There was a lake near the community, with lush grass by the lake and a pathway along it, flanked by shady green trees.

    Ouyang Murong and Ge Dongxu walked and soon reached the lake.

    The two of them walked along the lakeside path while discussing matters of cultivation.

    Mostly, it was Ge Dongxu explaining to Ouyang Murong, who found the teachings enormously insightful, feeling as if a talk lasting a day was better than reading books for ten years.

    After a long morning walk, they returned to the residence where Ouyang Murong''s wife had already prepared an authentic Chinese breakfast.

    After breakfast, Ge Dongxu asked Ouyang Zesheng to bring his child for him. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu saw the little guy, chubby and beaming. He smiled broadly upon seeing him, warming Ge''s heart.

    Holding the little one, Ge Dongxu felt his roots and found the nature of the qi he brought from his mother''s womb to be very pure. It didn''t repel the True Qi that he infused into him but rather had a natural affinity for it.

    This affinity was actually an affinity for nature''s spiritual energy and was an important measure of whether a person was suitable for cultivation.

    "Very good, very good!" Ge Dongxu smiled, his hands roaming over the little one, gently infusing bits of gentle True Qi into his body, helping to cleanse his marrow and expel as much acquired impurities as possible.

    Ge Dongxu''s True Qi was gentle yet full of vitality, making the little guy as comfortable as if he were soaking in a warm bath. Unknowingly, he fell asleep with a smile on his face.

    "That''s fine, let him sleep well. After he wakes up, it''ll be good to bathe him," Ge Dongxu said, withdrawing his hand as he saw the little one had fallen asleep, then smiling.

    "Thank you, Grand Uncle Master!" Although Ouyang Zesheng did not understand how touching the child a few times could bring such great benefits to his future, his instinct told him that these few touches would likely benefit his child for a lifetime, and he quickly took the child and expressed his thanks.

    "We''re family, no need for such formalities," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Grand Uncle Master, here is the Jadeite you instructed me to procure last night." After handing his child over to his wife to put to sleep, Ouyang Zesheng brought out a bundle of Jadeite.

    All were unprocessed ice-type or higher grade Jadeite.

    After Ge Dongxu received the Jadeite, he returned to his room and spent one or two hours engraving ten Taiyin Spirit Gathering Jade Talismans. The only piece of Glass Type Jadeite was fashioned by him into a defensive Magic Artifact.

    Having completed these tasks, Ge Dongxu handed everything over to Ouyang Murong.

    There were only three members in the Pill Talisman Sect, among whom only Ouyang Murong''s cultivation was relatively low and, being far away in Australia, he frequently had to fly back to Yunnan to manage the Jade business. Originally, this was no issue, but the events that had occurred recently left Ge Dongxu feeling quite uneasy. Thus, he had first helped him break through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation by expending his Original True Qi and now, he had bestowed upon him many treasures that could make anyone from Qimen go insane with envy.

    Following these events, Ouyang Murong and his son accompanied Ge Dongxu sightseeing around Melbourne.

    Today, however, the atmosphere in Melbourne was noticeably different from usual, as police could be seen everywhere on the streets.

    "Grand Uncle Master, Dad, the news this morning reported that last night a gang shootout occurred in Melbourne. Many bars and shops run by Vietnamese people were severely damaged, and it''s said that the leader of the 5X gang, Ruan Wenba, was also killed yesterday. The person who killed him is supposedly a man named Mike, who turned himself in to the police, claiming he was the one who planned last night''s shootout, which is why there are so many police on the streets today," explained Ouyang Zesheng while driving the car.

    Upon hearing this, neither Ge Dongxu nor Ouyang Murong showed much surprise on their faces.

    That the 5X gang would be attacked was something they had anticipated; however, what surprised them was the swift action taken by Daisy and Mike''s willingness to take responsibility¡ªclearly, his profound attachment to Kohl, whose death had left him disillusioned with life, had driven him to this decision.

    Ouyang Murong and his son continued to accompany Ge Dongxu on a tour of Melbourne''s famous attractions such as the Royal Botanic Gardens, the Exhibition Building, and the Old Parliament House, until they returned to their villa in the evening.

    The night passed without incident, and the next day Ge Dongxu rose at Mao Hour just as he had the day before.

    Since he had instructed him the previous morning, and again made a specific remark last night, today Ouyang Murong did not wait at the door as usual but sat cross-legged under a big tree in the villa''s backyard for his Mao Hour cultivation as he would on any other day.

    Ge Dongxu left the courtyard alone and, like the day before, walked along the community''s Lin ** road to the nearby small lake, and then walked around it.

    "Betty!" While walking alone, Ge Dongxu saw a blonde woman, wearing a tank top and sports shorts, running towards him¡ªit was Betty, whom he had met on the plane, and he couldn''t help feeling surprised and amused at how small the world seemed.

    "Hi, Ge, you''re here too?" Betty, also surprised to see Ge Dongxu, stopped and asked excitedly, seemingly having completely forgotten about Ge Dongxu''s indifferent demeanor on the plane the day before.

    Seeing Betty''s surprised face, and remembering his own indifferent attitude due to being in a bad mood yesterday, Ge Dongxu felt somewhat guilty and managed to smile warmly as he replied, "A friend of mine lives here."

    "No way, what a coincidence, my mother''s house is here too," said Betty, quite astonished.

    "Is that so? It seems we really are fated," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Though it seems you don''t really like the idea of us having any ''fate'' between us!" Betty teased as she looked at Ge Dongxu.

    "Betty, I''m sorry. I was preoccupied that day, so I was rather downcast," Ge Dongxu said apologetically.

    "How about today? How are you feeling?" Betty asked with a smile.

    "Today is great!" Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

 Chapter 752 - 751: I rarely joke

    "Really?" Betty asked, tilting her head and gazing seriously at Ge Dongxu.

    "Of course it''s true," Ge Dongxu said, unable to help but laugh and cry at Betty''s mischievously exaggerated expression.

    "So, do you have any plans or dates today?" Betty asked.

    "Not at the moment," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then come out to sea with me. My cousin Cindy and her boyfriend Tom invited me and another couple. Everyone is paired up, and I''m the only single one, which is a bit awkward, so come and make up the numbers. By the way, show off some Huaxia Kung Fu, and let them get a taste," Betty said, her eyes sparkling.

    "My English isn''t very good, and since all of you are foreigners, it might not be appropriate for me, a Chinese, to join. Maybe we should forget it," Ge Dongxu said with a troubled look.

    "It''s okay, you have me, don''t you? Going out to sea is really fun. Cindy''s boyfriend Tom just bought a second-hand yacht recently, and it''s supposed to be quite nice," Betty said enthusiastically.

    Ge Dongxu still hesitated, finding it difficult when Betty grew unhappy and said, "Ge, refusing an invitation from a beautiful lady is very ungentlemanly."

    Ge Dongxu wanted to say that he didn''t want to be a gentleman, but remembering that it was truly rare for two people to reunite twice in a foreign land, and considering his impoliteness on the plane the day before yesterday due to his mood, he finally smiled and said, "For the beautiful lady, I will be a gentleman this time."

    "Great, where are you staying? I''ll drive over to pick you up around eight o''clock," Betty said, her face lighting up with a happy smile.

    "I''m staying nearby. Are you still running? If you''re not running, let''s walk there together, and I''ll show you," Ge Dongxu said.

    "I''m about done, but it''s still early. Let''s walk around the lake a couple of times, and then stroll back slowly," Betty said.

    "Okay, as the beautiful lady wishes," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Ge, you''re very gentlemanly now," Betty complimented, then pursed her lips and laughed.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled.

    "Ge, I heard from Nico that you are still a student at Jiangnan University. You didn''t come to Melbourne with plans to study abroad, did you? If you really want to study abroad, I''d recommend the United States," Betty asked while they walked.

    She was really curious about how Ge Dongxu, a university student, ended up in Melbourne alone.

    "You''re thinking too much. I came to Melbourne purely because a friend had an accident, and I rushed over. Actually, I hold many roles, not just a student. To tell you the truth, I am also a teacher at Jiangnan Province University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, so you should address me as ''teacher,''" Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    Betty was taken aback at his words then suddenly laughed out loud. After a while, she glanced at Ge Dongxu and said, "Professor Ge, you really love to joke!"

    "I rarely joke," Ge Dongxu said.

    Seeing the serious look on Ge Dongxu''s face, Betty laughed even more joyfully.

    Ge Dongxu, seeing this, just shook his head, too lazy to explain further.

    Thus, early in the morning, Ge Dongxu strolled with a blonde woman in a foreign land.

    Betty was a very cheerful and enthusiastic girl, and although her looks and figure were somewhat inferior to Nico''s, Ge Dongxu found her company pleasant and relaxed because of her personality; there was never a need to worry about silences or awkward moments.

    After walking around the lake twice, the two walked along the path back to the residential area.

    "This is my friend''s house," Ge Dongxu said, pointing when they arrived at the entrance of Ouyang Zesheng''s mansion.

    "This is one of the mansions in this residential area. I''ve passed by here several times, always wondering who the owner could be, never imagining it was your friend," Betty said in surprise.

    "Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Thank you for your invitation, but I''m all sweaty, I need to go back and take a shower, so I won''t come in," Betty politely declined.

    "Okay, next time." Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "See you in a bit." Betty waved at Ge Dongxu, then jogged back.

    The buttocks wrapped in sport shorts looked youthful and sexy.

    Ge Dongxu smiled and turned to enter the yard.

    "You don''t need to accompany me today; I''ve run into a friend here. I''ll be going out to sea with her and a few other friends," Ge Dongxu said to Ouyang Murong and his son during breakfast.

    "I was also planning to accompany Master Uncle out to the sea today, but since Master Uncle already has plans, I won''t disturb you. Is a yacht suitable? I had arranged a catamaran here; if you need it, you can use mine," Ouyang Zesheng said.

    "No need to trouble yourself, theirs will do," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    He wasn''t fussy about these things.

    "Alright, I''ll prepare swimming trunks, a beach towel, and other things for your outing," Ouyang Zesheng said.

    Ge Dongxu nodded.

    He had arrived in a hurry this time and hadn''t planned on going out to sea, so he hadn''t brought these items. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    After breakfast, Ouyang Zesheng went to prepare the sea outing items for Ge Dongxu, while Ouyang Murong kept Ge Dongxu company under the shade of a tree in the yard, sipping morning tea and chatting.

    Although it was summer, the community''s low housing density and abundant green vegetation made the breeze feel cool and refreshing, without a hint of mugginess.

    While they were chatting, Ouyang Murong received a phone call.

    The call was from Song Wenhong. After a brief conversation, Ouyang Murong covered the mouthpiece and respectfully asked Ge Dongxu, "Master Uncle, Song Wenhong and Lin Tian are here on behalf of the Melbourne Chinese Gangs to pay their respects. They have already arrived at the complex. Would you like to meet with them?"

    "Since they are already here in the complex, we can''t just avoid seeing them," Ge Dongxu frowned slightly, then nodded.

    He was a farmer''s son, now a student, a doctor, a university lecturer, and a consultant for a special government department, and he could say he had no interest in gangs whatsoever.

    The only reason he was in contact with Song Wenhong and others this time was because of Ouyang Murong.

    However, Ge Dongxu was always easy-going. Although he wasn''t keen on further deepening his dealings with these people, since they had come, he wouldn''t put on airs and reject them outright.

    Upon receiving Ge Dongxu''s directions, Ouyang Murong conveyed the message to Song Wenhong and then hung up the phone.

    Soon, several big Mercedes appeared at the entrance of the yard, from which several bodyguards and Song Wenhong and Lin Tian got out.

    Ouyang Murong represented Ge Dongxu to welcome the two at the gate.

    After shaking hands and greeting Ouyang Murong, the two followed him into the gate, leaving the bodyguards outside naturally.

    The moment he stepped into the yard and saw Ge Dongxu sitting leisurely under a large tree cooling off with tea, Song Wenhong immediately became nervous and restrained, his gaze filled with reverence and admiration.

    The events of the previous evening, when recalled by Song Wenhong, still filled him with both trepidation and excitement.

 Chapter 753 - 753: 752

    "Master Ge, good morning!" Under Ouyang Murong''s guidance, Song Wenhong and Lin Tian approached Ge Dongxu and bowed respectfully.

    Just as Song Wenhong and Lin Tian had respectfully bowed to Ge Dongxu, Ouyang Zesheng came out carrying a bag prepared for Ge. Seeing the two renowned wealthy men of Melbourne bowing respectfully in front of Ge Dongxu, and even despite their age addressing him as Master Ge, he couldn''t help but be secretly astonished.

    "Great Uncle Master, your things are ready," Ouyang Zesheng said as he walked up, respectfully.

    "Hmm, put it aside for now, my friend will come to pick me up in a bit," Ge Dongxu nodded, then pointed to the chairs next to them and said to Song Wenhong and Lin Tian, "Please, have a seat."

    "We juniors don''t deserve to sit in the presence of Master Ge, standing is fine, standing is fine." Lin Tian had just about to sit as instructed when Song Wenhong pulled him back, his face full of trembling respect as he humbly said.

    "Mr. Song, Mr. Lin, there''s no need for such formalities, please sit down," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile.

    "There''s no need for you to keep calling us ''Mr.'' We can''t bear such honor, just call me Ahong and him Atian," Song Wenhong quickly said.

    He was truly terrified by the horrific strength that Ge Dongxu had displayed the previous night, and besides, Dongxu had saved his life that night, making Dongxu his life-saving benefactor.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled noncommittally and then asked, "What brings you two here so early this morning?"

    "This is a small token of appreciation from our Chinese Gangs. Please, Master Ge, accept it," Song Wenhong saw that Ge Dongxu had asked a question and didn''t dare to beat around the bush, taking out an envelope and handing it to Ge Dongxu with both hands respectfully.

    Ge Dongxu received it and then opened it to find that the envelope contained some property transfer documents and a cash check for properties in Melbourne.

    Although Ge Dongxu was not sure of the value of those properties, just seeing a cash check for five million Australian Dollars, he reckoned the value of the properties couldn''t be low.

    "What is this all about?" Ge Dongxu frowned.

    "This is what you rightfully deserve, Master Ge. You not only resolved the conflict with the Hell Rebels for us, but because of you, the Vietnamese 5X gang''s territory will now be completely taken over by our Chinese Gangs. We can''t keep benefiting without compensating Ouyang for his suffering, and we can''t let you come all the way here without recompense, so you must accept this. Even with this, we still have the larger advantage," Song Wenhong explained.

    "Hmm, if that''s the case, then I shouldn''t be too courteous with you," Ge Dongxu thought about it and nodded. He then casually handed the envelope to Ouyang Murong and said, "I can''t conveniently take these with me, so I''ll transfer everything to your name. You manage it."

    "Yes!" Ouyang Murong received the envelope and respectfully answered, while at that moment Ouyang Zesheng was almost dumbfounded.

    Only then did he truly understand that the gang clashes from the previous night were because of his Great Uncle Master.

    Of course, that wasn''t the only shock. What truly astounded Ouyang Zesheng was that after all the fighting, just because of his Great Uncle Master, the benefits all went to the Chinese Gangs.

    He must be incredibly impressive!

    Of course, the amount on the checks in the envelope and the value of those property transfer documents also secretly stunned Ouyang Zesheng.

    Song Wenhong and Lin Tian watched in astonishment as Ge Dongxu casually handed over a check and property worth at least ten million Australian dollars to Ouyang Murong. Their hearts were filled with a myriad of emotions.

    This is what a true hermit from the mundane world looks like!

    "Is there anything else?" Ge Dongxu asked after nonchalantly passing the document envelope to Ouyang Murong.

    "Nothing else! Should you need anything from us in the future, Master Ge, please do not hesitate to ask. We won''t disturb you any longer," said Song Wenhong and Lin Tian, both astute men. Upon hearing this, they respectfully placed their business cards on the table and then took their leave.

    Ge Dongxu did not try to keep them around; instead, he let Ouyang Murong see them out.

    Not long after Song Wenhong and Lin Tian had left, Betty drove up in a Ford sedan and stopped in front of the mansion.

    Because she was in a hurry, Betty merely greeted Ouyang Murong and his company briefly before pulling Ge Dongxu into the car, leaving Ouyang Murong and his son with their eyes wide open in disbelief.

    "Dad, could that woman be the cultivator''s girlfriend?" Ouyang Zesheng curiously asked after watching the car drive away.

    "Should you be gossiping about such things?" Ouyang Murong scolded, slapping his son on the head while he too secretly speculated about Betty''s identity.

    Logically speaking, he should not be suspicious, for Ge Dongxu had once brought Liu Jiayao to meet his master at the airport, clearly stating that she was his woman.

    But the issue was that his Sect Leader uncle was almost an immortal figure, so having a few more girlfriends wouldn''t raise any concerns for Ouyang Murong.

    Conversely, if a nearly immortal figure like his Sect Leader uncle only had one woman by his side, Ouyang Murong would actually find that more troubling.

    Of course, these thoughts were only meant for Ouyang Murong to ponder privately. If Ge Dongxu didn''t speak of it, he was absolutely not to gossip.

    "Dad, I was just asking you in private!" Ouyang Zesheng said with a wry smile, rubbing his head.

    "Even so, it''s not allowed!" Ouyang Murong said with a serious face.

    "Alright then, let''s not talk about that. Let''s talk about that document envelope you''re holding," seeing his father''s serious expression, Ouyang Zesheng quickly changed the subject.

    "Right, I''m still not very familiar with Melbourne, so I do need your help with this. Assess the value of these properties and see if there''s any potential for appreciation, so I can decide what to do with them. And also this money, you have to help me think about where it would be best to invest," Ouyang Murong nodded in response. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although the Sect Leader uncle did not care much for the money, Ouyang Murong was definitely going to take this task seriously since it was entrusted to him.

    "Dad, is the cultivator uncle really indifferent to money like a hermit, or is it because he''s actually very wealthy and doesn''t care about this amount, just tossing it to you so casually? The check plus the properties, I roughly estimate it to be worth at least fifteen million Australian dollars!" Ouyang Zesheng curiously asked as he began to examine the contents of the document envelope.

    "Cultivation is very expensive, and from a certain perspective, cultivators crave money even more. Hence there''s an old saying: ''Achieve literary and martial skills, to serve in the homes of emperors and kings.'' It refers to scholars and military generals, but isn''t it also about the people of Qimen? So you see, throughout history, how many extraordinary people have been esteemed guests in the homes of high officials and nobles, like Dongfang Shuo of the Han Dynasty, Zhuge Liang of the Three Kingdoms, and Liu Bowen of the Ming Dynasty, and so on. Your uncle the cultivator certainly needs money. It''s just that at his level, money is useful to him, but he''s not bound by it. Of course, your uncle himself is also a business prodigy. If we''re talking about making money, you''re not even qualified to carry his bags," Ouyang Murong replied.

 Chapter 754 - 753: Ge, you have to work harder!

    "Is our uncle really a business prodigy?" Ouyang Zesheng said, looking amazed.

    "Your uncle started doing business when he was in his first year of high school, and now he has several companies under his control. Although these companies have only been developing for two or three years, they have already become well-known throughout Huaxia Country. By the way, the Qinghe Herbal Tea sold in Chinatown is produced by your uncle''s company," Ouyang Murong said, a proud smile spreading across his face as he saw the astonished look on his son''s face.

    "Qinghe Herbal Tea is actually produced by my uncle''s company? That''s really impressive. I''ve heard people say that almost everyone in Huaxia Country drinks Qinghe Herbal Tea. Imagine how many people there are in Huaxia Country. If everyone drinks Qinghe Herbal Tea, think about the annual output!" Ouyang Zesheng exclaimed in surprise.

    "And this has only taken two or three years. Just you watch, it won''t be many years before your uncle might just become the richest man in Huaxia Country," Ouyang Murong said with a laugh.

    "If you were talking about someone else, I wouldn''t believe a young man in his twenties could become the richest man in Huaxia Country in just a few years, but since it''s Uncle, I really have faith in him," Ouyang Zesheng said seriously, nodding his head.

    "Alright, let''s focus on discussing these properties and checks," Ouyang Murong said with a smile.

    ...

    The traffic conditions in Melbourne were excellent.

    Ge Dongxu and Betty quickly arrived at the pier and saw four young people waiting there, all in their twenties.

    The four young people were noticeably surprised when they saw Ge Dongxu''s Chinese face.

    "Haha! Surprised, aren''t you? The friend I brought is from Huaxia Country!" Seeing their surprised expressions, Betty couldn''t help but laugh proudly.

    "Oh my dear cousin, this Chinese guy isn''t your boyfriend, is he?" a young woman, who looked somewhat similar to Betty but was slightly less attractive, exclaimed exaggeratedly.

    "If Ge were to pursue me, I would seriously consider it," Betty replied and threw a flirtatious wink at Ge Dongxu.

    "Wow! Ge, you''ve got to step it up! My cousin is one of the great beauties of the Smith Family!" Cindy exclaimed as soon as she heard this.

    When Cindy spoke, the jealousy was evident in the eyes of the young man who had his arm around her, but he smiled and extended his hand to Betty, saying, "Welcome back, Betty. You''re looking more beautiful than ever!"

    "Thank you, Tom. Cindy told me you got a promotion, congratulations!" Betty said, smiling as she shook hands with Tom.

    "Haha, thank you. It''s nothing big, just a monthly raise of about four or five thousand dollars," Tom said with a laugh.

    "Oh! My dear Tom, your words truly hurt me. My monthly income isn''t even increasing as much as yours," another somewhat chubby man said, exaggerating a shrug as he spoke.

    Then he also laughed and shook hands with Betty and Ge Dongxu, saying, "Adams, and this is my girlfriend Irina. Nice to meet you guys."

    "Ge Dongxu. You can just call me Ge, it''s easier to remember. I''m also very happy to meet you," Ge Dongxu said, smiling as he shook hands with Adams and Irina.

    "I get it, your Chinese names are really hard to remember!" Adams laughed.

    The six young people introduced themselves on the shore and then boarded Tom''s private yacht.

    It was a small to medium-sized second-hand private yacht, which could accommodate six people. It had a bedroom, a very small bathroom and kitchen, and a few chairs and a small deck.

    Second-hand private yachts are relatively cheap in Australia, like Tom''s which cost him about forty to fifty thousand Australian dollars, typically intended for private family leisure use.

    Of course, for many Australians who live paycheck to paycheck, especially those who are only twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, being able to afford a private yacht is very impressive and enviable among their peers.

    At least when the group boarded the yacht, Adams and Irina were incessantly amazed, and although Betty wasn''t as exaggerated, her face also showed a hint of delighted envy, all of which made Tom feel very good, and a trace of pride was inevitably present on his face.

    Tom had a yacht license, so he was the captain.

    He carefully steered the yacht away from the dock and then accelerated toward the vast open sea.

    "Woohoo!" Seeing the yacht speeding towards the boundless sea, Adams exclaimed excitedly.

    His girlfriend Irina even imitated the heroine Rose from Titanic by standing at the bow to face the wind with her arms spread wide.

    Adams then obligingly embraced her waist from behind.

    "You jump! I jump too!" The couple said affectionately, then they started kissing passionately, somewhat embarrassing Ge Dongxu.

    "I really envy them. Ge, shall we strike a pose too?" Betty, seemingly used to such scenes, turned her head towards Ge Dongxu next to her and said, her eyes filled with expectation and passion.

    "Betty, I think it''s better this way," Ge Dongxu said, startled by her suggestion.

    "Am I that much worse than Nico?" Betty asked.

    "Of course not," Ge Dongxu replied with a headache.

    "Then why can you pretend to be Nico''s boyfriend at the Christmas party but not act out a movie scene with me? Don''t tell me you really are Nico''s boyfriend, we women have sharp eyes," Betty said.

    "Hey, Ge, Betty, do you want to try this? It feels absolutely amazing!" Adams and Irina suddenly called back to Ge Dongxu and Betty, who were sitting on the deck behind, giving Ge Dongxu a playful and encouraging look that made him both laugh and cry. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Sure!" Just as Ge Dongxu was about to say no, Betty had already stood up happily and extended her hand to Ge Dongxu, who was still sitting on the deck.

    "Howl!" Seeing this, Adams imitated a wolf''s howl into the sky, then said enviously to Ge Dongxu, "Ge, you are a lucky Chinese man. I''m starting to get jealous of you!"

    "You flirty cad, what are you jealous of?" Irina hit Adams and glared at him.

    Seeing Betty extending her hand and Adams and his girlfriend egging them on, Ge Dongxu could only inwardly sigh and still reached out to take Betty''s hand.

    At this point, if he said no, it would be a big embarrassment for Betty.

    Fortunately, Westerners are quite open-minded, and everyone having a blast and fooling around wasn''t a big deal.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu taking her hand, Betty''s face visibly blushed, and a special sparkle danced in her blue eyes.

    "Wooh!" Standing at the bow, Betty spread her arms and called out into the wind.

    Ge Dongxu hesitated, but still smiled ruefully and gently embraced her waist from behind.

    "Ge, at this moment, you shouldn''t act so gentlemanly," Betty whispered into Ge Dongxu''s ear as she turned her head.

    "Betty, I think this is better," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Though he held such a wildly attractive blonde, Ge Dongxu''s mind remained clear on what to do and what not to do.

 Chapter 755 - 755: 754

    ```

    "You make me feel quite frustrated, but I still admire you! You are a true gentleman," Betty murmured, turning around.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu took the opportunity to let go of his hand.

    "Hey! Ge, are all you people from Huaxia so traditional and conservative? You just wasted such a perfect opportunity, you should have taken the chance to kiss Betty!" Adams, reclining on the deck, casually handed an iced beer to Ge Dongxu as he spoke.

    "It''s not about being traditional or conservative, but rather about the difference in cultural perspectives," Ge Dongxu replied, taking the beer.

    "Actually, I quite like this cultural perspective, unlike this guy beside me, who is always fickle-hearted!" Irina said, also casually passing a beer to Betty.

    "Oh, my dear Irina, but my feelings for you are sincere!" Adams reached over and wrapped his arm around Irina''s shoulders, speaking in a cheesy tone.

    "Hey, what are you guys talking about?" Just then, Tom and Cindy walked up.

    The yacht had already reached open waters, so Captain Tom was now free, allowing the yacht to drift on the sea.

    "Oh, we were discussing the differences in cultural perspectives between the East and West," Adams replied.

    "Oh, why suddenly such a serious and layered topic? That''s not like you, Adams!" Tom said, surprised.

    Upon hearing this, Adams roughly recounted what had just happened.

    "Wow, Ge, you really missed out on a great opportunity. I''m pretty sure that Betty isn''t open enough to let a guy hug her from behind yet!" Cindy exclaimed in surprise upon hearing the story.

    And Tom looked at Ge Dongxu with a clearly jealous gaze.

    "That''s exactly why I need to be cautious," Ge Dongxu replied with a smile.

    "No no, Ge, this is when you should have hugged her and kissed her fiercely," Adams shouted.

    "Adams, believe it or not, I''ll kick you into the sea right now!" Irina said.

    "Haha! Adams, you shouldn''t say that kind of thing in front of Irina," Cindy and the others laughed upon hearing this.

    "Ge, how do you find the feeling of being out at sea?" Tom asked Ge Dongxu, lifting his beer.

    "Not bad," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Ge, I''ve heard that your country, Huaxia, is still relatively poor, and yachts are only for the very richest, top-notch wealthy people. Ordinary folks don''t get the chance to enjoy them, not even seeing a yacht. Here, as long as you have a little money, practically every household has a yacht, and families go out to sea on weekends," Tom said, his face showing a smug expression.

    "Tom!" Cindy''s face changed slightly, and she nudged Tom with her elbow as a reminder.

    ```

    "I''m just stating the facts, no other meaning. Wouldn''t you agree, Ge?" Tom said unconcernedly.

    "What you''re saying is indeed a fact! Just as we mentioned earlier, the cultural concepts of the West are different from those of Huaxia Country, and Australia also has a very different national background. Australia is only a bit smaller than our Huaxia Country, but look at how few people this land nourishes compared to our population. And let''s not mention the invasions and civil strife we endured in the past. We''re rapidly developing, and I think in a few years, you''ll find that the situation will be entirely different," Ge Dongxu replied calmly, his expression serene, apparently undisturbed by the conversation.

    "Tom, Ge is right. If you had a chance to visit Huaxia Country, you''d understand the incredible changes it''s undergone in recent years. I believe it won''t be long before even the United States might be caught up by Huaxia Country. And that''s just the surface. As an ancient civilization, Huaxia possesses a long history and a profound cultural heritage that we can''t compare with," Betty said. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Betty, are you talking about Traditional Chinese Medicine? I know you''re studying it, but I think you''ve watched too much TV and movies, so you feel it''s very magical and mysterious when in fact..." Tom began.

    "No, Tom, you''re prejudiced. Traditional Chinese Medicine truly has its unique and miraculous aspects. Like Acupuncture that I''m now studying, it has genuinely amazing effects," Betty retorted.

    "Acupuncture does have some effects, I believe that, but I think it''s more about human beings shrouding it in a mystical aura, hence people find it magical. It''s like Huaxia martial arts, are they really that great? It seems like every Chinese person is purported to know Kung Fu, but in reality, it''s more often exaggerated," Tom said dismissively.

    "Ha, speaking of Huaxia martial arts, Tom, Ge is an expert!" Betty''s eyes lit up as she mentioned Kung Fu, prompting her to speak.

    "Really? Ge! I love Bruce Lee the most, he''s just so cool! Could you show us some moves?" Adams called out excitedly upon hearing this.

    "Adams, you''re almost thirty, how can you still believe in these things like a child? It''s only a movie!" Tom said derisively.

    "No, Tom, Bruce Lee really was amazing," Adams countered, then looked at Ge Dongxu with anticipation, "Ge, let''s see some moves."

    "Sorry, Adams, my Kung Fu isn''t for show but for overcoming enemies," Ge Dongxu replied lightly.

    "Ge, I happen to have the opposite understanding," Tom said.

    "Tom!" Cindy called out somewhat angrily. In her view, Ge Dongxu was her cousin''s friend, and Tom''s repeated direct criticism of Huaxia was not only very rude and humiliating, but also embarrassing for her cousin.

    "Sorry, Ge, I''m just a straightforward person; I don''t like to mince words," Tom said, glancing at Cindy and then shrugging innocently at Ge Dongxu.

    "Actually, in addition to Traditional Chinese Medicine and martial arts, there are many other magical things in Huaxia, such as fortune telling and face reading, similar to what you Westerners refer to as astrology and Tarot. I know a bit about these areas. Please forgive my honesty, but someone like you is actually the most insincere and mercenary," Ge Dongxu said calmly.

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu slowly stood up, ignoring Tom''s displeased face, and pointed to the large luxury yacht that had appeared at some point on the horizon, floating on the ocean just like them, "Betty, Cindy, Adams, Irina, would you be interested in joining me on that yacht for some fun?"

    It was a nearly fifty-meter-long yacht with an incredibly sleek exterior.

    The sun deck alone was about sixty square meters, with three additional deck spaces, including an upper deck dining area and living spaces on the main aft deck and foredeck.

    Such a yacht drifting on the ocean was like the morning sun rising from the sea''s surface, dazzling and brilliant, stirring people''s desires.

    At that moment, on the yacht''s sun deck, Daisy, donned in a bikini, lay on a beach chair, enjoying a massage from two equally scantily clad women.

 Chapter 756 - 755: Its Really the Daisy!

    "Miss Daisy, you wouldn''t mind if my friend and I stop by your yacht for a bit, would you?" The voice of a man suddenly rang out next to Daisy, who was enjoying a sunbath and being massaged by beautiful women.

    This was a young voice she would never forget in her lifetime.

    "Of course not!" Daisy replied reflexively, then turned over and sat up with a look of surprise on her face.

    But all she saw were two bikini-clad women.

    Daisy looked around incredulously and with shock.

    "What''s wrong, boss?" the two women asked carefully, a look of confusion on their faces.

    "Didn''t you hear a man talking just now?" Daisy asked, still puzzled.

    "No!" the two bikini-clad beauties responded, looking blank.

    "That can''t be right, am I hallucinating?" As the two women in bikinis looked on blankly, Daisy grew even more puzzled and continued to look around, unwilling to give up. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No need to look anymore, Daisy, I''m on the small yacht right in front of you. I''ve had a bit of an unpleasantness with the owner of this yacht, so I was thinking of sheltering at your place for a while. If you don''t mind welcoming this unexpected guest, then bring your yacht over. If you do mind, then never mind, I won''t blame you, it''s your freedom," Ge Dongxu''s familiar voice echoed in Daisy''s ears as she continued to look around.

    Daisy''s delicate body shivered, and she quickly stood up; then, looking into the distance, she indeed saw a small yacht and exclaimed with joy, "I don''t mind, of course I don''t mind! I''ll get someone to bring the yacht over right away."

    With that, Daisy ran toward the cockpit, barefoot and under the astonished and perplexed gazes of the two bikini-clad women.

    "My God, Rose, what''s gotten into the boss?" One of the bikini-clad women finally snapped out of her daze and exclaimed in disbelief.

    "She, she kind of looked like she was possessed by an evil spirit," stuttered Rose.

    "Are you crazy!" the other bikini-clad woman hurriedly covered Rose''s mouth, though she shared the same suspicion.

    Otherwise, she simply couldn''t understand the boss''s series of bizarre actions.

    When Ge Dongxu used his True Qi to concentrate his voice into a thread and projected it to Daisy using the Thousand Mile Sound Transmission secret technique, on the small yacht, Irina looked in the direction Dongxu was pointing and suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "My God, what do I see? That''s the Daisy yacht! That''s the Daisy yacht!"

    "It''s really the Daisy! It''s really the Daisy!" Cindy also started shouting excitedly.

    Even in their excitement, they completely overlooked what Ge Dongxu had just pointed out about the yacht.

    "The Daisy yacht? Are you talking about Melbourne''s richest, most powerful, and sexiest legendary woman, Daisy?" Betty''s eyes lit up when she saw the super-luxury yacht drifting on the sea, and she asked with a look of surprise.

    "Yes, the yacht belongs to her! Unfortunately, women like that are out of our league to even catch a glimpse of," Adams said with a gleam in his eye, excited yet regretful.

    After finishing his sentence, Adams suddenly remembered something and turned to Tom, excitedly saying, "Hey, Tom, where''s the telescope? Your yacht definitely has one, right? Hurry up and bring it here."

    "Hey, buddy, don''t be like that. You mocked Ge just now, and it''s only fair he gets a hit back. Now, just go get that telescope," Adams said to a visibly upset and indifferent Tom, patting his shoulder in an attempt to defuse the situation.

    "Are you joking, Adams? What''s his status, and what''s mine? Is he even fit to clash with me? Is he worthy of saying I''m a hypocrite?" Tom, however, swatted away Adams'' hand from his shoulder and spoke disdainfully, his face a mixture of embarrassment and contempt.

    "Hey, Tom, all Ge did was try to read your fortune from your face, which is a common thing in Huaxia Country. You don''t believe it anyway. What did you mean by mentioning status? You''re belittling him! I demand you apologize to him right now," Betty said angrily upon hearing Tom''s words.

    "Me, apologize to him? Please, Betty, let''s get things straight¡ªwhere are we? This is my yacht. I''m already being polite by not asking him to jump overboard right now! Oh, and didn''t he ask if you wanted to go play on that other yacht up ahead? Just let him go," Tom said, his jealousy flaring up as Betty challenged him for Ge Dongxu''s sake, his voice dripping with scornful laughter.

    "Tom, you''re being too much! I demand you apologize to Cousin Betty and Ge right now, or I''m going to have to say goodbye to you," Cindy retorted angrily after hearing Tom''s excessive remarks out in the middle of the sea.

    "Thank you, Cindy, but I don''t need Tom''s apology," Ge Dongxu said indifferently. He went below deck to fetch his luggage and then took out two thousand Australian Dollars from his bag, placing them under the wine bottle, and said, "I don''t like owing people favors. Since this is your yacht, I suppose two thousand Australian Dollars should cover this sea trip."

    "Didn''t realize you were so flush with cash! But don''t overextend yourself; be careful not to burn through your travel money and be unable to return to Huaxia Country, then end up overstaying illegally in Australia," Tom said, a flash of surprise passing through his eyes as he saw Ge Dongxu put the money down, but he quickly sneered.

    "Tom, the moment I step off your yacht, I will have nothing more to do with you, and I won''t owe you anything. So, you''d better hope your Cindy will keep loving you and grow old with you. Perhaps, for Cindy''s sake, I''ll overlook your pettiness. Otherwise, you''re on your own," Ge Dongxu said, giving Tom a nonchalant gaze as if looking at a clown, then dismissively dropped these words. He picked up his bag and walked towards the railing.

    Betty and the others were somewhat stunned by Ge Dongxu''s words, not understanding what he was about to do until they saw him step towards the railing without any sign of stopping, which was when they realized his intentions.

    "Hey, Ge, what are you doing? Have you lost your mind? This is the ocean!" Betty hurriedly went down to the deck to pull Ge Dongxu back.

    "Betty, let the guy go. I''d love to see how he swims back! Maybe Huaxia has some amazing water martial arts that''ll get him safely to land," Tom also froze for a second before scoffing disdainfully.

    "Hey, buddy, aren''t you going a bit too far?" Adams and Irina couldn''t stand it anymore and spoke up, looking displeased.

    "There''s nothing too far or not far enough. He brought this embarrassment on himself by overestimating his abilities!" Tom said, looking scornful as everyone condemned him, his expression ugly.

    "Tom, when you don''t respect others, you''ll find that it''s actually you who is truly overestimating your abilities and bringing humiliation upon yourself!" Ge Dongxu glanced at Tom with contempt, then lifted his foot and stepped into the open air over the ocean.

 Chapter 757 - 756 Is He Poseidon?

    "No!" Betty cried out upon seeing this, filled with immense regret for why she had invited Ge Dongxu to come aboard Tom''s yacht. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Tom, you bastard!" Cindy shouted at Tom, but as soon as the words left her mouth, her eyes bulged.

    Betty''s scream also got stuck in her throat.

    Adams and Irina''s eyes were wide as saucers, as if they had seen a ghost.

    To their astonishment, Ge Dongxu stepped off the yacht without a "plop" sound, nor did he cause any splash.

    He was actually standing on the water and then walked on the waves towards the Daisy.

    As Ge Dongxu walked over the waves to the Daisy, the luxury yacht was cutting through the waves towards them.

    "Oh, my God! He''s walking on the sea! He''s walking on the sea! And why is the Daisy coming towards us?" Back on the yacht, Cindy and the others finally regained their wits, pointing at Ge Dongxu and exclaiming repeatedly, while Tom had long turned pale with fright, slumping back onto the deck, his legs shaking uncontrollably.

    "Oh my God, what am I seeing? Is he Poseidon?" Inside the super-luxury yacht, a bikini-clad beauty screamed in a high pitch.

    "No, no, he''s an Eastern Immortal! Didn''t you see that he has the face of an Easterner? Didn''t you see that he came over on foot, without a Trident or a Golden War Chariot in hand?" Another bikini-clad beauty screamed back.

    Only Daisy said nothing, simply standing on the bow of the deck, looking at the man coming over the waves with adoring, fervent eyes.

    In the blink of an eye, Ge Dongxu arrived on the crest of the waves and then lightly tapped his foot on the peak, his whole body leaping up and floating down in front of Daisy.

    "Respected Master Ge, I''m willing to be your most faithful woman for life, no, your maid, please accept me!" Overwhelmed by a strong impulse upon seeing Ge Dongxu land before her like a Heavenly God, Daisy could no longer contain herself, prostrating before Ge Dongxu with a devout and expectant expression, pleading.

    Ge Dongxu would never have guessed that, hidden within Daisy''s sexy body, was such a heart that enjoyed being enslaved by a powerful person, nearly to the point of perversion. Watching Daisy in her bikini lying prostrate before him, begging to be his servant, he nearly stumbled and couldn''t stand steady.

    "This Daisy..." Ge Dongxu''s head throbbed with pain.

    "Respected Master Ge, I''m willing to do anything for you, even go to Hell, just as long as you take me in!" Daisy declared resolutely.

    "You''re sick, Daisy!" Seeing Daisy say such things just to be his maid, Ge Dongxu had no choice but to point it out helplessly.

    "No, Master Ge, it''s not a sickness, it''s a kind of alternative affection. Just like the love between a man and a woman, they do crazy things for each other, even sacrifice their lives. Can you call that a sickness? You are the king I''ve been searching for in my life, my master. Becoming your maid will make me truly happy," Daisy argued back, her eyes revealing an increasing frenzy.

    Looking at Daisy, Ge Dongxu found he couldn''t refute her.

    "But Daisy, this is just worship of a strong person, what if someone stronger appeared?" Ge Dongxu finally said after a long while.

    "No, Master Ge, such a soul-shaking submission happens only once, just like one can only truly be in love once. No one else can replace that," Daisy replied with a sacred look on her face.

    Looking at Daisy, Ge Dongxu again found he couldn''t refute her.

    "Well, alright then, have it your way," Ge Dongxu finally said with resignation.

    "That''s great, thank you, Master Ge!" Daisy was so happy upon hearing this, almost like a little girl receiving her favorite gift, she almost jumped for joy.

    "However, you need to understand that I am a righteous person. I won''t associate myself with the deeds of your gang, so I won''t take care of your matters. If you get caught for breaking the law, or if someone kills you because you''ve harmed others, I won''t get involved," Ge Dongxu said as he watched Daisy''s happy expression. Although it was hard for him to be so cold-hearted, he still made it a point to clarify this in advance considering her identity.

    "Of course, it is only right for a slave to serve her master, how can a master be expected to serve the slave?" Daisy said matter-of-factly.

    It seemed that this foreign beauty only wished to give without asking for anything in return!

    Looking at Daisy''s matter-of-fact demeanor, Ge Dongxu felt a bit guilty and said in a serious tone, "That''s not necessarily true. As long as it''s reasonable, if you really have a difficulty, since you''ve followed me, I will certainly help you! If someone bullies you for no reason, I will stand up for you!"

    "Like how you stood up for Mr. Ouyang?" Daisy''s eyes suddenly brightened as she asked.

    "Mm," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Thank you, Master Ge!" Daisy''s eyes were filled with gratitude.

    On the small yacht, Adams and the others couldn''t hear the conversation between Ge Dongxu and Daisy, but they did see Melbourne''s richest, most powerful, and most beautiful and sexy legendary woman prostrating at Ge Dongxu''s feet like the most devout believer.

    Everyone was dumbfounded, their emotions stirred for a long time, unable to settle. As for Tom, he wasn''t just shaken; he was so scared that he felt like his soul was about to fly away, not to mention his regret.

    Tom, a man who could stand out in his career, young enough to buy a private yacht, certainly wasn''t a fool. He was very clear about what offending such a fearsome person meant for an ordinary man, a mere mortal like him.

    "No, no, this can''t be real, it must be an illusion, definitely an illusion!" Tom cried out in horror, his gaze vacant. He was so frightened that he didn''t even realize he had wet his board shorts.

    Tom''s terrified cries snapped Adams and the others out of their shock.

    Looking at Tom, Adams and the others had no sympathy in their eyes, only disgust and ridicule.

    Tom was smart, and so were Adams and the others.

    They were very clear that someone like Ge Dongxu, who possessed such miraculous abilities, had not retaliated against Tom for his taunts and attacks earlier, even going so far as to give him two thousand Australian dollars to settle matters, all out of respect for them.

    This was genuine respect, not because he possessed magical abilities, not because even Melbourne''s legendary woman Daisy was prostrating before him, he didn''t act superior or directly crush Tom.

    Otherwise, it wouldn''t have been difficult for him to sort out or crush Tom, right?

    Laughably, Tom, simply because he had some money, simply because he was Australian, had acted superior and failed to respect his friends!

    Now, Tom''s fear was his self-inflicted humiliation!

    Amongst Tom''s cries of horror, the two yachts drew closer and closer.

    Betty and the others could clearly see Ge Dongxu''s Asian face, still smiling kindly at them, without any air of superiority.

    If not for the devilishly figuered, angelically faced sexy woman standing by his side, if not for the fact that he was on board a luxury yacht worth at least tens of millions of Australian dollars, they wouldn''t have associated him with such a prominent figure.

 Chapter 758 - 757 Its Too Difficult for Me to Play the Prince

    "Hey, friends, are you interested in coming aboard the Daisy for some fun?" Ge Dongxu stood at the bow and smiled at Betty and the others.

    "Of course, of course!" Everyone was stunned for a moment, then they all immediately started shouting with excitement.

    Only Tom was still trembling uncontrollably because he saw the icy gaze cast by the woman next to Ge Dongxu and the cruel, cold smile on her angelic face.

    "Then go get your luggage and come over," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Awoo!" Adams howled and dashed off the deck.

    Upon seeing this, Betty and Irina also followed down from the deck, not even glancing at Tom.

    Such a person who doesn''t know how to respect friends is not worth their pity, nor is he worth continuing a relationship with.

    Only Cindy looked at Tom, hesitated for a while, but ultimately gritted her teeth and said, "Tom, I just realized, you''ve never truly respected me, nor have you ever truly loved me, so, I''m sorry, goodbye!"

    Having said that, Cindy also turned around to go down the deck.

    "No, no! Cindy, you can''t go. If you leave, he will kill me! He will definitely kill me! Please stay, I will definitely love you. Don''t you want to marry me? Once we get back, we''ll get married right away!" Watching Cindy turn to leave, Tom suddenly remembered what Ge Dongxu had said when stepping toward the sea; he jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, rushed up, and hugged Cindy from behind, begging with a look of terror on his face.

    "Tom, what do you take me for? Ge is right; you really are very hypocritical, and your actions now are making me feel disgusted and nauseated!" Cindy looked at Tom''s terrified expression and listened to his words, suddenly feeling like she had been blind to have ever liked such a man, struggling hard to break free from his embrace.

    But at this moment, Tom, driven by fear, clung to Cindy as if she were a lifeline, and she was unable to break free despite several attempts.

    "Tom, I told you that you''d better hope Cindy always loves you, that you can grow old together, or else you''d be left to your own fate. Unfortunately, Cindy no longer loves you, this hypocritical man!" Seeing Tom clinging to Cindy and refusing to let go, Ge Dongxu''s eyes flashed coldly, and the corner of his mouth curled up with a scornful cold smile as he quietly used the spell.

    Suddenly, a wave rose in the sea, and a blue whip, emitting a cold chill, emerged.

    The whip created a floral pattern in the air and then "crack!" struck Tom heavily on the back.

    "Ah!" Tom screamed, not only because of the immense pain in his back but also from the piercing cold that seeped into his body, causing him to freeze up instantly.

    Cindy took the opportunity to break free from Tom''s embrace and then started to run down.

    However, her foot had just lifted, yet she still turned her head to look back at Tom.

    Tom was trembling all over; on this hot summer day, a thin layer of frost even covered his body, with vapor rising in the sunlight.

    "Ge..." Watching Tom like this, Cindy''s eyes revealed a hint of pity, and she turned to look at Ge Dongxu, pleading.

    "Don''t worry, Cindy; he was once a friend, so I''ll spare him a glance. But now, in my eyes, he''s just a pitiful bug. I whipped him to make him let go of you. As for the future, why would I bother with a pitiful bug?" Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Thank you, Ge!" Cindy bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu, then she too went down from the deck, not looking back at Tom again.

    When Cindy descended from the deck, Daisy, standing beside Ge Dongxu, cast a cold and merciless glance at Tom, a sneer forming at the corner of her mouth.

    "Master Ge''s status naturally puts him above squabbling with a wretch like you, but since you have offended Master Ge, how could I, as his slave, let this go?"

    Soon, Adams and the others were carrying their luggage out of the cabin and then boarded the Daisy yacht.

    Upon boarding the Daisy yacht, all four were somewhat restrained.

    Not only because they had never been on such a luxurious private yacht before, and everything they saw was breathtaking, but more so because of the two people standing before them now.

    These two, one was a legendary woman of Melbourne, and the other was a young man endowed with magical powers, before whom even the legendary woman of Melbourne had to bow in worship. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "What? Don''t recognize me anymore?" Seeing the four acting a bit restrained, Ge Dongxu stepped forward, clapped Adams on the shoulder with a smile, and said, "Hey, mate, this isn''t like your style!"

    "Cough cough, Ge, I didn''t know you were so powerful before, so I spoke out of turn, don''t take it to heart, please!" Adams still couldn''t relax.

    "Come on, Adams, I actually like the way you talked before, that''s how friends should talk to each other!" Ge Dongxu clapped Adams''s shoulder again, then turned to Cindy with an apologetic expression, "I''m sorry Cindy, for causing you and Tom to break up because of me."

    "No, Ge, I should thank you, it''s you who let me see the true Tom!" Cindy said, a touch of melancholy flashing in her eyes.

    After all, letting go of a relationship is never easy, even when you know it''s the right thing to do.

    "Don''t feel sad, Cindy, you''re such a nice girl, you will definitely find a man who truly loves you, and is even better," Ge Dongxu consoled.

    "Thank you, Ge, I''m doing well now!" Cindy forced a smile.

    Knowing that such matters couldn''t be easily forgotten, Ge Dongxu just smiled, then turned to Betty, noticing her expression was clearly restrained and complex, and joked, "Betty, I think performing Rose and Jack on this kind of yacht would make it easier to get into the feel!"

    At his words, Betty was slightly startled, then looked at Ge Dongxu and said, "I feel like it would be more appropriate for you and me to play the story of the prince and Cinderella now."

    Ge Dongxu was taken aback for a moment, then laughed heartily, "Betty, my father is an honest and simple farmer, playing a prince would be too difficult for me."

    "Haha, Ge, you''re always such a joker!" Betty laughed along, her gaze towards Ge Dongxu was complex, filled with loss and regret but even more so with respect.

    A person with such miraculous and powerful abilities, who could make a legendary woman like Daisy submit, yet could treat them with equality, in Betty''s view, that was even more respectable than his abilities.

    It was just a pity that he wouldn''t fall for her, this Cinderella.

    "Do I?" Ge Dongxu laughed, then turned to Daisy, "Daisy, would you mind showing us around your yacht?"

    "Of course, Master Ge, it would be my honor!" Daisy replied respectfully.

    And so Daisy, the legendary Australian woman, for the first time, became a tour guide, showing Ge Dongxu and the others around her yacht.

 Chapter 759 - 758: Hearing You Say That Puts Me at Ease

    This was a truly opulent yacht.

    The interior design was the epitome of luxury, every detail striking to the heart.

    The expansive top deck was adorned with languid lounge chairs, a large retractable canopy that shielded passengers from the wind and rain, a cozy outdoor pool, and a vast bathtub that merged the top deck with the foredeck seamlessly.

    The yacht drifted on the azure sea, under the blue sky and white clouds, and bathing here felt utterly surreal. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The yacht featured four cabins and their impressive spaces unfolded one after the other; the master suite, a private study, and an elegant bar full of distinguished charm... all showcasing a unique sense of fashion and comfort, akin to a floating palace on the sea.

    Even Ge Dongxu, who had been on Gu Yezeng''s private yacht, was astonished by this ultraluxury yacht and couldn''t help but exclaim that Daisy knew how to enjoy life, not to mention Betty and the others.

    Adams and his companions were constantly amazed as they toured, only then truly understanding what it meant to be wealthy and the esteemed status of Ge Dongxu that could make a woman like Daisy submit.

    After showing Adams and his group around the yacht, Daisy smiled and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, please, feel free to enjoy this yacht now!"

    "Are you serious, Miss Daisy? Can we swim here, sunbathe here, and even order drinks at the bar as we please?" Adams asked, somewhat incredulously.

    Just being fortunate enough to board and tour such a yacht was impressive, let alone freely enjoying it.

    Adams had glanced at the bar''s liquor earlier by accident and noticed that all the wines were from world-renowned cellars, each bottle worth thousands or even hundreds of thousands of Australian dollars.

    One bottle of such wine could outright buy several of Tom''s proudly owned, second-hand private yachts.

    "Of course! You are friends of Master Ge, and therefore my friends as well. Please enjoy yourselves as if you were at home!" Daisy said with a smile.

    "Wow, that''s so cool! Fantastic! Thank you, honorable Miss Daisy, thank you Ge!" Adams and Irina immediately cheered upon hearing this.

    Even Cindy seemed to forget the sadness of her recent breakup with Tom and joined in the cheering, only Betty appeared slightly uncomfortable.

    No wonder, as Betty had always treated Ge Dongxu as an ordinary person, even dragging him onto Tom''s yacht, only to realize that for a super luxury yacht like this, Daisy would probably offer it immediately at his request.

    "Hey, come on Betty, that''s not like you! The Betty I know is very warm, vivacious, and cheerful!" Ge Dongxu said, noticing Betty''s hesitation, and approached to embrace her shoulders with a laugh.

    "Ge, you aren''t mocking me, are you?" Betty stiffened slightly as Ge Dongxu embraced her shoulder and asked.

    "Of course not! Mocking such a beautiful lady would be very ungentlemanly," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Thank you Ge!" Betty''s face broke into a happy smile, then suddenly she freed herself from Ge Dongxu''s grasp and exclaimed, "Wow! I can''t wait to enjoy all this! Ge, I''m going to take off my clothes now!"

    Saying this, Betty quickly stripped off her clothes and pants right on the deck, revealing a sexy bikini underneath.

    Wearing her bikini, Betty even exaggeratedly twerked her voluptuous behind at Ge Dongxu!

    "Oh!" Irina and Cindy clapped and screamed as they stripped off their outerwear, revealing the bikinis they were already wearing underneath.

    Watching the three blondes strip off their clothes and even Betty dramatically swinging her voluptuous hips at him, Ge Dongxu maintained a slight smile on the surface, appearing quite composed, but internally, he was falling apart.

    Western girls are indeed open-minded! I am definitely traditional and conservative!

    Dressed in their bikinis, Irina and the others jumped into the swimming pool. After jumping in, Betty, completely reverting to her cheerful and unrestrained self, did not forget to wave at Ge Dongxu, shouting, "Ge, come on in!"

    "Master Ge, let me take you to change," Daisy respectfully suggested upon seeing this.

    Watching the three bikini-clad Western girls in the pool, although Ge Dongxu felt a bit unnerved, he thought that since he was already on the yacht, he could not remain fully dressed, for that would really make him seem not like a gentleman but rather outdated.

    "Okay," Ge Dongxu eventually agreed, albeit reluctantly.

    Thus, Daisy led Ge Dongxu to the changing room, while Adams, who had come wearing beach shorts, simply stripped off his vest and was ready to swim.

    Although Ge Dongxu was over six feet tall, he did not look bulky. There was still a faint scholarly air about him, making it hard to associate him with strength and vigor.

    But when he stripped off his clothes and appeared only in a pair of beach shorts, the incredibly proportionate lines of his body and his strong but not exaggerated muscles gave off a sense of masculinity and power.

    This feeling was restrained, filled with a charisma that was indescribable in words.

    Unlike bodybuilders, whose bulky figures and exaggerated muscles also emit a sense of masculinity and strength, the feeling Ge Dongxu gave was not of the same class.

    The former seemed like nouveau rich, while the latter was akin to an aristocratic family passed down through long years of tradition and refinement.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu step out, Daisy''s beautiful eyes immediately sparkled, showing an enchanted gaze.

    "Master Ge, you have a great physique!" Daisy couldn''t help but exclaim.

    Ge Dongxu''s face uncontrollably blushed slightly, revealing a shy smile. This was the first time a woman had complimented his physique in front of him, and she was wearing a bikini at that.

    "Seeing Ge, I now truly understand what fitness is!" When Ge Dongxu returned to the deck pool dressed in his beach shorts, Cindy and the others also kept exclaiming and admiring.

    "Adams, from tomorrow, if you don''t take me to the gym every day, I''ll kick you out!" Irina even issued a stern warning to Adams, who had some belly fat.

    Ge Dongxu, flattered by the compliments from the three women in the pool, opted not to get in the pool and instead plunged headfirst into the sea from the deck.

    "Going to the gym is fine, but don''t ask me to jump into the ocean like Ge did. This is deep sea, and sharks will eat me!" Seeing Ge Dongxu jumping directly into the sea, Adams immediately turned pale and told Irina.

    "Of course, dear. You can work out to build muscles, but the skills Ge has, you''ll definitely never acquire," Irina said.

    "Dear Irina, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease!" Adams sighed with relief.

 Chapter 760 - 759: I Know a Great Bar

    Daisy naturally wouldn''t pay attention to Adams and the others in the pool. Seeing Ge Dongxu leaping into the ocean, she hurried to the railing and watched as he lay back in the ocean, her eyes revealing a mix of bewilderment and fervor.

    Alone, floating in the ocean, Ge Dongxu''s heart was extremely calm. His Divine Sense spread aimlessly, gradually feeling as though it was merging with the entire ocean.

    He felt the ocean''s calmness and beauty, as well as its surges and fury. He also "saw" many different schools of fish.

    The Divine Sense continued to spread, but it was confined to the upper layer of the ocean. He couldn''t reach the deeper layers with his Divine Sense.

    "I wonder what the world at the bottom of the ocean is like? Although I am fairly strong now, I''m still minuscule compared to nature. Perhaps one day when I enter the Dragon Tiger Realm, I might explore the ocean depths, but it seems too early for now," Ge Dongxu thought to himself, continuing to lie quietly on the ocean surface.

    After floating quietly on the ocean for about an hour, Ge Dongxu jumped up and returned to the deck.

    By then, Adams and the others had run off somewhere; only Daisy and the two bikini-clad beauties who had been serving her remained.

    Daisy hurriedly handed Ge Dongxu a towel as he climbed up.

    Ge Dongxu took it and casually wiped himself, then walked under a shower to rinse off.

    After seeing that Ge Dongxu had finished showering, Daisy handed him a fresh towel. Ge Dongxu dried off and found a shaded lounge chair to lie down on.

    "Master Ge, would you like something to drink?" Daisy asked softly as she knelt beside him, gently massaging him as he lay down.

    "Daisy, just go and enjoy yourself, no need to worry about me!" Ge Dongxu said hesitantly, feeling somewhat uneasy as he saw Daisy kneeling beside him in her bikini, massaging him gently, despite enjoying it.

    "Master Ge, I like doing this," Daisy replied softly.

    Ge Dongxu was slightly taken aback, recalling her somewhat twisted mentality, and sighed inwardly, but let her be, saying, "Well, then, just get someone to bring me a glass of ice water."

    So Daisy instructed the bikini-clad beauties behind her, and then continued massaging Ge Dongxu.

    Daisy was stunningly beautiful with a figure like a demon. Initially, Ge Dongxu felt awkward and uncomfortable being served by a bikini-clad Westerner. Gradually, he felt as if a fire was quietly kindling within him.

    Especially since Daisy wore a bikini and boldly moved in front of him, her gestures deliberately or unintentionally teasing Ge Dongxu, making the young man, full of vigor, feel increasingly overwhelmed. Eventually, he simply closed his eyes, deciding what he couldn''t see couldn''t bother him.

    Betty and others had some drinks at the yacht''s bar and then circled back to the deck, only to see Ge Dongxu with his eyes slightly closed, lying on the sun lounger, while Daisy was kneeling on the ground, gently massaging him. They were all so shocked their eyes nearly popped out.

    Nothing could have shocked them more than seeing this scene up close!

    This was Melbourne''s, even Australia''s, legendary woman!

    Yet here she was, kneeling on the ground, massaging Ge Dongxu!

    But after the initial shock, when they remembered that they had become friends with Ge Dongxu, a sense of indescribable pride and fervor surged through them, along with a deep respect for Ge Dongxu.

    Only someone like him could disregard others'' status, not viewing people through the eyes of opportunism!

    The group stayed on the yacht from sunrise to sunset, watching the sun go down, yet not feeling satisfied. They enjoyed a lavish dinner on the yacht before finally heading back.

    And this was only because Ge Dongxu said he wanted to go back, otherwise Adams and the others would definitely have been happy to spend a different kind of night on the yacht.

    Of course, Daisy was also more than willing to spend a different night on the yacht with her master, but sadly, her master currently had no desire to possess her body, which had driven countless men crazy.

    The yacht docked, and Ge Dongxu and his group disembarked.

    Daisy originally wanted to see Ge Dongxu off, but he declined.

    He had come with Betty, and their accommodations were close by, so there was no need to bother Daisy.

    Of course, for Daisy, it wasn''t a bother at all, but rather an enjoyable thing to do.

    Since Cindy had broken up with Tom, she also rode back in Betty''s car.

    Betty drove to drop Cindy home first, but just as they were about to reach Cindy''s place, Cindy suddenly said, "I feel like it''s still early. Why don''t we go to a bar for a bit more fun?"

    "Good idea, I also feel like I haven''t had enough fun today!" Betty immediately agreed. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It''s not early anymore," Ge Dongxu said when he saw the two girls wanting to continue bar hopping. He couldn''t help but feel a headache coming on because he didn''t like noisy, flashy places.

    "No, no, Ge, the nightlife in Melbourne is just starting! Come on, Ge, let''s find a bar and have a few drinks. Since you''re in Melbourne, you should really experience the bars here. I promise you''ll fall in love with the atmosphere," Betty said.

    "Ge, I know a really nice bar near the Crown Casino. Tom and I used to go there a lot," Cindy said.

    "Let''s go then, since I''ll just be sleeping if I go back anyway." Hearing Cindy mention Tom, Ge Dongxu inwardly gave a bitter smile, knowing that although Cindy appeared indifferent on the surface, her heart was still not truly let go and she needed a thorough venting.

    "Oh yeah!" Cindy and Betty cheered when Ge Dongxu agreed to join them in bar hopping.

    ...

    This was an open rooftop bar, with a bar and restaurant inside and a ring of space outside.

    The bar was bustling with business and the atmosphere was electric.

    Ge Dongxu had never been fond of bars, especially the oppressive, murky air trapped in the dim, noisy space, which made nature-loving Ge Dongxu particularly dislike it.

    However, when Betty and Cindy took him to this open rooftop bar, Ge Dongxu felt a twinkle in his eyes and a liking for it.

    Although it was still noisy and flashy, here one could breathe freely under the night sky, gaze up at the vast expanse of stars, admire the meticulously aligned, brightly lit modern buildings, and also look down at the stream of cars and crowd below.

    The congestion, noise, and flashy lights of the bar, combined with the expansive, quiet night sky dotted with stars, created a surprisingly harmonious contrast.

    Sitting in such a bar, ordering a cocktail, and looking through the colorful drink at the neon lights and the enchanting night view, Ge Dongxu felt a moment of daze, subtly sensing a similarity between all this and his current life that could only be understood and not described.

    Amidst the hustle and bustle, yet far from it!

 Chapter 761 - 760: So its you

    "Hmm, this place is really nice," Ge Dongxu said, shaking the cocktail in his hand.

    "Ge, I told you, didn''t I? You''d love the atmosphere here," Betty said with a delighted laugh.

    "You weren''t wrong, Betty," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, lifting his glass to Betty.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu raised his glass than four young people approached him face to face.

    Two men and two women. Both women were beautiful and had sexy figures. The men were just average, but as they say, clothes make the man and saddles make the horse. Both were wearing clothes from luxurious global brands and sporting expensive watches on their wrists which subtly added to their charisma. Each man had an arm around the slim waist of the woman beside him, so it didn''t come across as flowers stuck in cow dung.

    As the four young people approached, talking and laughing, one of them suddenly saw Ge Dongxu and his expression visibly stiffened.

    "What''s the matter, Yusi? Fancied that foreign girl? She''s quite a looker!" Spotting the change in his companion''s expression, another young man nudged Gao Yusi with his elbow and winked at him.

    "Song, you''re so bad! Gao wouldn''t dream of being the kind who looks at another pot while eating from one, the heartbreaker!" The woman whose waist Gao Yusi was holding rolled her eyes at Song Zhixuan, then snuggled up to Gao Yusi like a bird seeking refuge, cooing, "Right, Gao?"

    "Haha, Lan Xue, don''t be fooled by your Gao''s exterior; these last few days he hasn''t stopped eying foreign girls. He surely wants to experience the duo of Chinese and Western charm. Just indulge him," Song Zhixuan laughed.

    "Song, don''t lead our Gao astray!" Lan Xue raised her small fist and gave Song Zhixuan a soft punch.

    "Men don''t need to be led astray in these matters; isn''t that right, Yusi? That woman really is quite something. Even I''m tempted. If you don''t make a move soon, I might go over and start flirting!" Song Zhixuan winked at Gao Yusi again with a cheeky smile.

    Song Zhixuan''s words hadn''t even finished echoing when Gao Yusi saw Ge Dongxu looking over at them.

    This glance startled Gao Yusi, and he hastily nudged Song Zhixuan with his elbow, lowering his voice to say, "Zhixuan, cut it out. I know the young man with the foreign girl; he''s a very influential person."

    With that, Gao Yusi quickly let go of Lan Xue''s waist and, with a modest smile on his face, took a couple of quick steps to the tall table where Ge Dongxu was, and greeted, "Mr. Ge, what a coincidence! You''re in Melbourne too."

    Ge Dongxu, who had been watching Gao Yusi, also felt a sense of familiarity, and upon Yusi making a point to come over and greet him, suddenly remembered; he was the driver of the BMW 740i who had overtaken quickly on the lakefront road and then had to brake sharply, which led to Lin Jianfeng, a classmate of the long-legged school beauty Xu Yanran, rear-ending him. At the time, he''d demanded Lin Jianfeng pay him fifty to sixty thousand yuan but let it go after a friend from a military family called Nan recognized Ge Dongxu''s Jeep, which hinted at his influential background.

    "So it''s you, what a small world indeed," Ge Dongxu said with a slight jolt of surprise.

    "Damn, so after all that, it turns out you know Yusi''s friend!" As soon as Ge Dongxu finished speaking, Song Zhixuan strolled over, slapped Gao Yusi on the shoulder, and then leaned in to whisper in Ge Dongxu''s ear, "Buddy, good taste! Is the foreign girl across from you a friend, or someone new you''ve just picked up?"

    "Enough, Zhixuan, watch what you say!" Although Song Zhixuan spoke quietly, Gao Yusi, standing right beside him, heard everything clearly and got the implication. He quickly pulled Song Zhixuan back, then with an apologetic face, he smiled at Ge Dongxu, saying, "I''m sorry, Mr. Ge. My friend grew up in Melbourne, he''s quite open-minded. Don''t take it to heart, just enjoy your time."

    Without further ado, Gao Yusi dragged Song Zhixuan away.

    Ge Dongxu just smiled at that.

    "Ge, are they your Chinese friends?" Cindy, who didn''t understand Mandarin, asked curiously.

    "Not really, just happened to know each other." Ge Dongxu replied.

    "I see," Cindy nodded.

    "What are you doing, Yusi? It''s just a joke, does it need to make you this nervous?" Song Zhixuan said with some dissatisfaction after Gao Yusi pulled him away and they found a place to sit down.

    "Please, Zhixuan, didn''t I tell you? That guy has some serious backing." Gao Yusi replied with a wry smile.

    "What sort of backing can a youngster have? You, Yusi, are a rich second-generation yourself, do you need to be like this?" Song Zhixuan said dismissively.

    "I''m not sure what his backing is, but the car he drives is very special, and once I saw him at the hotel with the Governor of our Jiangnan Province. Think about it, the Governor!" Gao Yusi responded, a clear look of awe in his eyes when he mentioned the Governor.

    "Ah, Young Master Gao, now that you mention it, I remember! Last time at Wanghu Hotel, when you and I were having coffee in the private area, a young man walked out with Governor Sang. I didn''t recognize Governor Sang at the time, but after you told me, only then did I know," Lan Xue exclaimed, shuddering at the recollection and, saying thus, turned her head to look towards Ge Dongxu with a fervent and regretful gaze in her beautiful eyes.

    If only she had known earlier that the young man was the same one Gao Yusi had pointed out last time, she would have definitely gone up to greet him and get acquainted.

    "So, he''s an official''s son!" Song Zhixuan said with a hint of disdain, "What''s so great about that? In Melbourne, it''s the rich who are the real bosses, they are the badass ones. Officials are just employees of the government. We, the taxpayers, the wealthy, if we''re not satisfied, they have to step down!"

    "Zhixuan, you''re talking about Melbourne! You can afford not to care as a wealthy Melbourne scion, but my dad''s still doing business back home, I''m better off playing it safe," Gao Yusi said. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Pfft, boring. Let''s drink, drink, and hit the dance floor afterwards. Let''s see if there are any hot foreign chicks. Damn it, if it weren''t for your sake, Yusi, I definitely would have hit on that foreign chick just now!" Song Zhixuan raised a bottle of beer and said.

    "Master Song, you''re so naughty!" Lan Xue and another woman raised their little fists to hit him upon hearing this, while Gao Yusi''s eyes lit up slightly, and he hugged Lan Xue, groping her thigh hard, and said with a wicked smile, "It''s said that women love bad boys!"

    "Young Master Gao, even you''re learning to be bad!" Taking advantage of the moment, Lan Xue fell into Gao Yusi''s arms and cooed with feigned annoyance.

    ...

    Explosive music began.

    "Come on, let your body move freely!" The DJ''s teasing voice echoed under the night sky.

    "Ge, let''s hit the dance floor," Betty and Cindy said.

 Chapter 762 - 761: Fighting

    "I''ll pass, you guys go dance," Ge Dongxu glanced at the crowd of young people huddled together, gyrating their hips on the terrace, and without a second thought, shook his head to refuse.

    "Come on, it will make you feel really relaxed!" Betty and Cindy persisted, trying to convince him.

    "I really don''t, I''m not used to it." Ge Dongxu waved his hand.

    "Alright then." Seeing that Ge Dongxu truly wasn''t interested, Betty and Cindy gave up, stood up themselves, and swayed their hips into the crowd, joining in the "wild dance".

    When Betty and Cindy entered the dance floor and began gyrating their hips, Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi also led two beauties into the dance floor.

    The music was pumping, and so were the people on the dance floor.

    Some were dancing wildly with bottles in hand, others were shaking their heads like tambourines, and there were even Western girls deliberately pulling down their tops, shaking their two large breasts at the men.

    Watching this scene, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but smile and shake his head.

    He didn''t appreciate this way of venting.

    However, he could understand these people in the dance floor, like Cindy, who could probably forget the heartache Tom caused her through this drunken frenzy, and some were pressured by life and needed this brief release.

    Of course, there were also many purely hunting for flirtation and seeking thrills.

    Just like now, in the dance floor, several tattooed young Caucasians had set their sights on the two beauties who came with Gao Yusi and were consciously edging closer to them.

    However, at this point, Gao Yusi and the others were too caught up in the alcohol, music, and atmosphere to notice any of this.

    "Whew, that was so exhilarating! Ge, come on, join us!" After twirling wildly in the dance floor, Betty approached, panting and with her chest heaving, reaching out to pull Ge Dongxu, who was seated on a high stool.

    "Betty, you don''t need to worry about me, just dance. I''m fine just watching," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Ahh!" Just after Ge Dongxu spoke, a woman''s high-pitched scream suddenly rang out.

    "FUCK!" Along with the woman''s scream, there was an angry roar, followed by a "thud" sound as Song Zhixuan lifted his foot and fiercely kicked a green-haired Caucasian to the ground.

    "Lan Xue, are you alright?" After kicking the Caucasian down, Song Zhixuan turned his head to ask Lan Xue, who was already frightened and pale.

    "I''m fine, I''m fine, let''s just go, Young Master Song," said Lan Xue, clutching her top, her face white as a sheet.

    Just now, that Caucasian squeezed up behind her and was dancing against her.

    Since it was already crowded, at first, she hadn''t thought much of it, but when she realized the guy was getting closer and even reached out to touch her buttocks, Lan Xue quickly felt something was wrong, hurriedly trying to get away. Unexpectedly, the man suddenly reached from behind directly into her neckline, prompting Lan Xue to scream.

    Seeing Lan Xue''s clothes had lost several buttons and she couldn''t cover up the snow-white fullness inside even with her hands, Song Zhixuan''s face turned ashen. He cursed "FUCK" again and rushed forward, raising his foot and preparing to kick the molester, now scrambling to get up from the ground. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    At this moment, several burly tattooed Caucasians rushed over.

    Some were holding bottles, others had chairs.

    The scene suddenly became somewhat chaotic, but even more people were hooting in their drunkenness, spurred on by alcohol.

    "Zhixuan, let''s get out of here," Gao Siyu, sensing the large number of foreigners, grabbed Song Zhixuan, his face also slightly pale.

    "Get out of here my ass! Only if we beat the crap out of these sons of bitches will they know that us Chinese are not to be messed with!" Song Zhixuan shrugged off Gao Yusi''s hand, then made a thumbs-down gesture at the white men rushing towards him, and said in English, "You sons of whores, if you want to play with women, go home and play!"

    "FUCK!" Each of those white men got furious upon hearing this, grabbing bottles and chairs without hesitation and started smashing them towards Song Zhixuan.

    Ge Dongxu''s expression changed slightly at the sight, a glint of cold light flashed in his eyes, and he silently curled his fingers in the darkness.

    However, to Ge Dongxu''s surprise, that Song Zhixuan turned out to be a practiced fighter. The moment a man raised a chair to smash it at him, he quickly reached out with a wide-spread hand and fiercely grabbed the coming chair, at the same time his right foot flew up and kicked fiercely.

    The man''s stomach hurt, and he immediately let go of the chair. Song Zhixuan seized the opportunity to take the chair, without even looking, he sidestepped, dodging the bottle smashing towards the back of his head.

    The guy who tried to smash the bottle missed and couldn''t recover, stumbling a step forward, landing just at the side and slightly in front of Song Zhixuan; Song Zhixuan swung the chair and smashed it into his back.

    "Ah!" the guy screamed, directly knocked down to the ground.

    "Oh! Good job!"

    "So cool!"

    The people in the bar started cheering as they saw Song Zhixuan knock down two or three white men one after another.

    Amidst the cheering of the crowd, Song Zhixuan fought more and more fiercely, especially with a chair in hand, his blows were heavy. In no time, all five white men had been knocked to the ground, taking a good while before they managed to get up, and pointed at Song Zhixuan with trepidation, "Kid, you just wait and see!"

    Seeing this, Song Zhixuan raised the chair he was holding as if ready to smash it again.

    Seeing this, a look of fear flashed in the eyes of the five white men, and they scrammed out of there.

    "Woah! Woah!" The people in the bar screamed, even a few foreign women took the initiative to come up and hit on Song Zhixuan.

    However, Gao Yusi and the two beauties clearly looked quite pale.

    "Zhixuan, we really should go," Gao Yusi said to Song Zhixuan.

    "Hmm, these guys all have the same scorpion tattoo on their arms; they''re probably all from the Scorpion Society. Although this gang is only a minor one in Melbourne, it would still be troublesome if they really call more people over," Song Zhixuan nodded and said.

    "Crap, how unlucky can we get, running into the local mafia. If I had known, I wouldn''t have come to the bar," Gao Yusi said, becoming even paler.

    "Damn, what''s there to be afraid of? It''s just a small gang," Song Zhixuan snorted.

    "I wouldn''t be afraid back home in China. If a few punks dared to mess with me, I''d make them regret being born! But this is Australia," Gao Yusi said with a bitter smile.

    "And what about Australia? You have me, don''t you? Don''t worry, us Chinese also have some power in Melbourne. If it weren''t for my dad, who currently won''t let me fight and has strictly forbidden me from involving myself with any gang activities, I would''ve called a bunch of brothers to wait here right now and see if these bastards would dare to come back and cause trouble!" Song Zhixuan said.

    "If it really came to that, we''d probably have to spend the night at the police station," Gao Yusi said with a bitter smile.

    "That''s true, let''s just go then," Song Zhixuan said dejectedly, then took out a few paper money bills, tossed them to the bar, and left with Gao Yusi and the others.

 Chapter 763 - 762: Seeking Revenge on the Way

    Betty and Cindy, after all, were women; the commotion in the bar had left many buzzing with excitement, eagerly discussing the courage of the young man from Huaxia Country, but Betty and Cindy had suddenly lost the desire to continue at the bar. Moreover, since Ge Dongxu was Chinese, they also worried that if those guys later called for backup, and couldn''t find Song Zhixuan and his group, they might take out their anger on Ge Dongxu instead.

    They weren''t concerned about whether Ge Dongxu could beat them, rather they didn''t want to bring trouble to him simply because they had invited him to hang out at the bar.

    So, not long after Gao Yusi and his group had left, Betty and Cindy also decided to head back.

    Naturally, Ge Dongxu had no objections.

    Thus, the four of them left the bar.

    In fact, by the time they left the bar, it was already quite late, past midnight.

    In the early hours of Melbourne, besides the occasional vehicles speeding past, there were only a few vagrants and drunkards wandering the streets, which appeared desolate.

    Betty was driving quickly along the deserted roads, planning to drop Cindy off at home first.

    Not long after they started driving, they saw from a distance, in the car, over thirty young thugs¡ªboth white and black¡ªarmed with steel pipes, smashing a sedan and attacking two young men from Huaxia Country.

    The glass of the sedan was completely shattered, and the doors were dented. Next to the car, two young and beautiful women crouched, emitting piercing screams into the night.

    Someone in a building by the street opened a window, glanced down, and then hastily closed it again.

    The two young men were none other than Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi.

    Song Zhixuan, at some point, had managed to grab a steel pipe. Like a fierce beast trapped in a desperate situation, he fought back fiercely. However, outnumbered, he would occasionally take down one or two, only to get hit by several more blows himself.

    His left arm was severely swollen, trembling even as he gripped the steel pipe.

    Gao Yusi, on the other hand, was in an even worse state, frequently curled up and being punched and kicked as he covered his head. Occasionally, like a cornered desperado running out of options, he would stand up with reddened eyes, trying to break free, only to be knocked back down by a flurry of blows, huddling to protect his head from injury.

    "Help! Help!"

    "Stop hitting us! Please, stop hitting us!"

    The two women cried and shouted, but their screams only incited the thugs'' adrenal glands further. They laughed wildly as they beat more ferociously, and two of the thugs even stepped in front of them, unzipped their trousers, and pulled out their privates, laughing maniacally, "Come on, sluts! Make us feel good, and we''ll let them go!"

    "FUCK, you sons of bitches! I am the son of Song Wenhong from Chinatown; you''ll be sorry for doing this¡ªyou''re all dead for sure!" Song Zhixuan screamed, his eyes bloodshot with anger.

    "Chinese Song! FUCK! He''s being screwed over by the Hell''s Rebels right now, just like a little bitch, and you''re telling me about Chinese Song? Oh, I''m so scared!" A long-haired thug initially paused when he heard this, then immediately sneered and swung his steel pipe down on Song Zhixuan.

    The recent reconciliation between the Hell''s Rebels and the Chinese Gangs had happened only within the past day or two and was not the sort of news to be broadcast. Therefore, the various underground forces in Melbourne were still unaware. They only knew that a few days prior, there had been serious strife between the Chinese Gangs and the Hell''s Rebels, with the Chinese side nearly suffering casualties.

    "Hit them! Just make sure they don''t die!" the long-haired thug shouted after a chaotic round of strikes.

    "Stay in the car, don''t come out!" Ge Dongxu yelled from afar, having stopped the car, and then instructed Betty and Cindy.

    "Ge, be careful." Although they had witnessed Ge Dongxu''s miraculous ability to walk on waves at sea, fighting was another matter entirely, especially since there were several dozen adversaries, each wielding a weapon. Both Betty and Cindy couldn''t help but worry.

    "Rest assured, these people are nothing but ants in my eyes," Ge Dongxu replied with a slight smile, then got out of the car.

    In the dark of night, Ge Dongxu stepped out of the car and with what seemed to be just two steps, he had already reached the scene of the fight.

    "Betty, are my eyes deceiving me? Ge walked just like us, but how did he get so far away in the blink of an eye?" Cindy exclaimed in surprise.

    "Cindy, you''re not seeing things. I''m really starting to suspect that Ge is an Immortal from the ancient legends of Huaxia Country," responded Betty, her eyes filled with shock.

    At a distance, Ge Dongxu reached the scene of the brawl. Without saying a word, he walked up to the two thugs who had drawn weapons and were lecherously reaching to grab the hair of two women. He casually picked up the steel pipe they had dropped on the ground.

    After picking up the steel pipe, Ge Dongxu slammed it down onto the shoulder of one of the thugs.

    "Crack!" The thug''s shoulder bone was shattered on the spot.

    "Ahh!" A scream suddenly erupted as the thug instantly fell to his knees, clutching his shoulder, his face pale with pain.

    The other thug beside him snapped out of his daze, no longer concerned with tucking away his "third leg," much less picking up the steel pipe he''d thrown to the ground. He cursed "FUCK" and aimed a fierce kick at Ge Dongxu.

    Seeing this, a cold smile appeared on the corner of Ge Dongxu''s mouth. He swung the steel pipe in his hand and struck the kicking leg.

    "Crack!" The sound of bone breaking once again pierced the night.

    The thug''s leg drooped lifelessly, and in an instant, he tumbled to the ground, rolling and screaming in agony while clutching his limb.

    Ge Dongxu''s sudden intrusion and mercilessly breaking the bones of two people caused continuous screams, quickly drawing everyone''s attention.

    The crowd involuntarily ceased fighting, and the two women, who had been curled up beside a car tire, also lifted their heads. Their tear-filled eyes watched Ge Dongxu with disbelief.

    "Mr. Ge!" they both cried out.

    "Mr. Ge!" Gao Yusi also exclaimed in incredulous disbelief.

    He had never dreamed that someone like Ge Dongxu would show up wielding a steel pipe to help them in a fight.

    However, it seemed that Gao Yusi quickly remembered something and immediately shouted, "Mr. Ge, you have to leave! You have to leave! These thugs are desperate outlaws!"

    "Yes, yes, Mr. Ge, you need to go, call the police right now!" Song Zhixuan also came to his senses after the initial shock and urgently demanded.

    With so many adversaries, each armed with a weapon, having Dongxu was just adding another victim.

    "Thinking of leaving? It''s too late!" The thugs, although not understanding what Gao Yusi and the others were shouting, could roughly guess. They laughed viciously, their eyes radiating cruelty as they closed in.

    "Boss, brothers, let''s kill him! Beat his fucking brains in with a steel pipe!" The thug whose shoulder had been broken endured his pain. His expression was ferocious, his eyes crazy with frenzy, as he howled hysterically. sea??h th§× N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 764 - 763: You Seem to Have Forgotten Your Own Status!

    "You''re right!" Ge Dongxu said, his mouth curving into a cold smirk as he suddenly jabbed the steel pipe onto the ground, right between the legs of the thug, hitting the unsightly part still exposed.

    "Ah! It''s broken! My God, it''s broken! Ah! Ah!" The thug screamed in agony, tears and snot flying everywhere. At this point, he couldn''t care less about hating Ge Dongxu; instead, he regretted his loose tongue.

    He knew very well that this guy was brutal and merciless, so why did he still say those things to provoke him? Now, he had become a eunuch; he would never be able to pleasure women again!

    Song Zhixuan, Gao Yusi, and two beauties including Lan Xue were all dumbfounded.

    They hadn''t seen Ge Dongxu make his move just a moment ago and only noticed him after hearing the two guys'' screams.

    Only now did they realize that this young man, whom they thought was a second-generation official, was so ruthless in his attack that he didn''t hesitate to swing his rod and disable the foreigner''s third leg.

    However, Song Zhixuan and the others'' faces quickly turned pale, and they broke out in a cold sweat.

    Despite their aggressive fighting just a moment ago, they had somewhat held back, certainly not daring to smash someone''s head. They mainly targeted arms, legs, and stomach areas, where injuries would only temporarily immobilize someone, and recovery was possible after treatment.

    But with such a fragile third leg, a jab like that, nine times out of ten, there was no coming back.

    One could only imagine how this gang would seek revenge on Ge Dongxu and them!

    Just the thought left them shivering and their pores on edge.

    "Shit! We''re in trouble now!" Song Zhixuan quickly moved next to Gao Yusi while everyone was still in shock.

    "What do we do now?" Gao Yusi started to cry.

    Just a moment ago, she was moved that someone of Ge Dongxu''s status would come forward to fight with them, but now she wished he had never shown up.

    They might not have been able to beat the thugs, and at worst, they would have taken a beating before the anger faded, and the thugs would probably have left. But now, there was no way they would let them go that easily.

    At the very least, they would repay the favor and waste their third legs too!

    "What can we do? We can only hold out until the police arrive! I''ll protect you as much as I can; you watch your head and crotch." Song Zhixuan gritted his teeth and a fierce look flashed in his eyes.

    "What about Mr. Ge?" Gao Yusi asked.

    "Damn it! Do you really think you have time to worry about that now?" Song Zhixuan snapped.

    "I don''t want to! But if something happens to him, I''m definitely implicated!" Gao Yusi cried.

    "There''s nothing we can do about that, and looking at that guy, he seems to have some training, much stronger than you. You better start praying for yourself," Song Zhixuan said.

    "FUCK! Let''s get him!" As Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi whispered, the gang of thugs finally snapped out of it, their expressions fierce, and they crazily fixed their gaze on Ge Dongxu. Then, with a shout, they swung their steel pipes and charged at Ge Dongxu, completely ignoring Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi and rushing straight past them.

    "Holy shit!" Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi braced for a storm, but to their surprise, the thugs - bloodshot and enraged - went straight for Ge Dongxu, leaving them dumbfounded once again.

    "That''s good, find a way to get Lan Xue out first; I''ll rush over to help!" But very soon Song Zhixuan snapped back to reality, hastily gave his instructions to Gao Yusi, clenched the steel pipe, and was about to charge forward.

    Just as Song Zhixuan was about to rush forward, his eyes bulged with surprise, and his steps involuntarily halted.

    He saw that beside the smashed car, Ge Dongxu walked leisurely toward the oncoming thugs with a steel pipe in one hand, swinging it wildly left and right without any technique.

    Yet it was precisely that unstructured swinging that produced a sound of breaking bones followed by screams almost in unison every time the steel pipe came down, and subsequently, someone rolling on the ground clutching their thigh, shouting, "My leg, it''s broken, it''s broken!"

    In the blink of an eye, twelve people lay on the ground where Ge Dongxu had passed, six on each side.

    Each person''s leg was broken without exception; those on the right had their right legs broken, while those on the left had their left legs broken. Six lay on each side, perfectly creating a pathway in the middle.

    Ge Dongxu, holding a steel pipe in each hand and a faint cold smile on his lips, continued forward unhurriedly, while the thugs instinctively backed away, eyes filled with panic and fear.

    "Shit!" Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi''s jaws dropped, almost hitting the floor.

    They could never have dreamed that this "second-generation official" was not only cold and ruthless but also so badass!

    "So cool!" Next to the car, Lan Xue and another watched with their mouths agape, eyes shimmering with admiration.

    "So cool!" Betty and Cindy in the car in the distance did the same, eyes sparkling with the same admiring light.

    Beauty admiring the hero has always been the same through any era!

    "What, what do you want to do? You''re finished! The police will be here any minute!" As Ge Dongxu stepped forward and the thugs retreated, the one closest to Ge Dongxu stammered out a warning.

    "Hey, buddy, you seem to have forgotten your own status!" Ge Dongxu''s lips curled into a sneer upon hearing this. Without any hesitation, he swung the steel pipe in his hand and struck down.

    "Crack!" The sound of a bone breaking echoed through the night. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    To everyone''s ears at that moment, that sound was particularly piercing, making everyone''s heart skip a beat while they looked at Ge Dongxu with terror in their eyes.

    Breaking someone''s bones was not something these people had never done, but to do it with the casual and indifferent expression of Ge Dongxu, as if it were just a trivial task, that was something they honestly couldn''t manage.

    "You, don''t, don''t come any closer, I called the police!" The thug sitting next to the one whose leg had just been broken saw Ge Dongxu continuing to approach and, trembling with fear, ended up sitting on the ground.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu merely let out a faint sneer, and once more raised the steel pipe.

    As a citizen of Huaxia Country, witnessing a group of thugs bullying and oppressing his compatriots, how could Ge Dongxu let them go just because they were frightened?

    Just as Ge Dongxu had raised the steel pipe, suddenly the rumbling sound of engines filled the air, the ground seemed to tremble, and blinding lights approached from the distance.

    "Hell''s Rebel motorcycle gang!" When Song Zhixuan saw the long convoy approaching with thunderous noise, his complexion instantly changed.

    The thug sitting on the ground then shouted with mad joy, "Haha, the motorcycle gang is here! You definitely didn''t know our Scorpions have dealings with the motorcycle gang, did you? Now you are dead meat! You all are..."

 Chapter 765 - 764: Just in Time to Clean Up This Mess

    "Crack!" Ge Dongxu let out a cold laugh as the steel pipe came crashing down.

    "Ah! My leg, my leg is broken! You son of a bitch, you broke my..." the thug on the ground screamed in agony.

    "Crack!" The steel pipe came down again, breaking the other leg of the thug on the ground.

    Then the thug just clutched his legs tightly and bit down on his teeth, not daring to make another sound.

    "Mr. Ge, we better hurry! The motor gang from Hell''s Rebels isn''t on the same level as these guys, not only do they outnumber us, but they all ride motorcycles. Fighting them, even with Mr. Ge''s skills, will surely be a disadvantage," Song Zhixuan saw Ge Dongxu break the thug''s other leg with such straightforward brutality, and while he admired him, he grew even more anxious, pulling Gao Yusi to Ge Dongxu''s side, urging him to move.

    "It''s fine, just the motor gang from Hell''s Rebels? It''s good that they''re coming, we''ll just clean up this mess," Ge Dongxu said nonchalantly, casually discarding the steel pipe in his hand.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu not only showed no sign of leaving but even threw away his steel pipe, Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi turned pale, nearly in tears.

    Big brother, we know you''re awesome, but we don''t play like this! S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The thugs from the Scorpion Society, upon seeing that Ge Dongxu had thrown away his steel pipe, all quietly breathed a sigh of relief, but remembering his fierce and ruthless demeanor, no one dared to charge at him.

    Although nobody came at them, the group already began waving steel pipes and shouting at the motor gang members who had turned towards a nearby intersection.

    The motor gang, seeing a dozen or so people lying helter-skelter on the ground, and the Scorpion Society''s thugs waving steel pipes and shouting at them, didn''t continue toward the intersection but headed straight for them instead.

    The motor gang procession was grand, with no less than a hundred motorcycles. Their bikes roared past, making the ground tremble.

    "We''re doomed! We''re doomed!" Song Zhixuan''s face went pale, sweat beading on his forehead.

    Gao Yusi was so frightened that her legs went weak, and she nearly sat down on the ground.

    As for the two beauties, they were so scared that they curled up again, shivering.

    "Damn, how could so many people come all at once!" Betty and Cindy, watching from a distance in the car, also turned pale, their eyes showing worry.

    "Shit! George, you ball-less wonders, how did you get beaten to such a state!" The cars roared in, then came to a uniform stop, and a burly man with arms as thick as Lan Xue''s thighs joked with a long-haired man who was part of the group.

    "Haha!" Everyone else burst into laughter.

    "Edmund, my brothers, don''t laugh at us. We met a tough nut, please help us out! Just knock down these yellow-skinned monkeys and I''ll treat you to good drinks and hot girls!" said the long-haired man known as George, pointing at Ge Dongxu and the others.

    Hearing George''s words, Gao Yusi''s legs trembled violently.

    A hundred and more people, each riding high-powered motorcycles. This fight was hopeless; if these guys simply drove over, they would be finished!

    Although Song Zhixuan was calmer than Gao Yusi, he wasn''t faring much better.

    He had courage, ready to fight and risk it all, but that depended on the balance of power between both sides.

    The stark imbalance in power between the two sides certainly filled him with dread!

    "Chinese?" Edmund glanced at Gao Yusi and Song Zhixuan, who were facing him, and frowned as he asked.

    As for Ge Dongxu, since he was with his back towards them and it was night, plus his attention was mostly on the badly beaten Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi, he didn''t recognize him at first.

    "That''s right, the Chinese!" George said through gritted teeth.

    "Then I''m sorry, George, but I can''t help you!" Edmund shrugged his shoulders, then with a big wave of his hand, he said, "Brothers, let''s go."

    Upon seeing this, Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi heaved a big sigh of relief, but they were also secretly astonished.

    What kind of play is this? Since when did the Chinese become so powerful in Melbourne that even the Hell Rebels'' most brazen motorcycle gang would turn tail and run upon hearing ''Chinese,'' daring not to get involved? Wasn''t it said that the Chinese gangs and the Hell Rebels were recently at each other''s throats?

    "Hey, hey, Edmund! Don''t leave, just name your price!" George, seeing Edmund about to leave, was somewhat stunned, but quickly started shouting again, thinking that Edmund wanted more benefits.

    "It''s not about benefits, I just don''t want to get involved in your affairs with the Chinese!" Edmund replied, then started his engine, revving it up, ready to leave.

    "Since you''re here, don''t go, Edmund!" Just as Edmund was about to leave, a young voice suddenly rang out.

    Song Zhixuan, Gao Yusi, and the others had just let out a big sigh of relief when they heard the motorcycle gang about to leave, only to be startled by Ge Dongxu suddenly speaking up and telling them not to go, their legs trembling, nearly making them drop to the ground.

    Big Brother, you can''t be playing us like this!

    Meanwhile, George and his people all showed looks of surprised delight; they were worried about Edmund leaving, but here was a Chinese actually looking for trouble, stopping Edmund himself.

    However, the members of Edmund''s motorcycle gang, upon hearing Ge Dongxu''s young voice echoing in the night, couldn''t help but shiver, their faces turning pale in an instant.

    All of them turned their heads in unison toward the direction of the voice.

    The owner of the voice slowly turned around, revealing an Oriental face that they had been waking up from nightmares about.

    When Edmund and the others saw it was indeed the one who seemed to come from Hell, they couldn''t help but shiver again.

    Just two nights before, their gang had mobilized over three hundred people, even resorting to firearms.

    And the result? Now there were over a hundred people lying in the hospital. Some of them were injured by motorcycles, who were relatively lucky with mainly broken bones, but others had their gun-holding hands cleanly severed at the wrist. Although they were rushed to the hospital that night, those hands were basically useless.

    These past two days, whenever they closed their eyes, the horrific scene from that night would appear before them, to the point that some of them dared not sleep.

    The sight of dozens of palms being severed at the wrist, bloodied and without warning, belonged to the brothers they drank and chased women with. How could they forget such a terrifying scene?

    They had been out for late-night walks these past few nights to vent the fear in their hearts, to find the remnants of the 5X gang, and take out their fear on them.

    But now, to their surprise, they had encountered this terrifying figure on the streets, scarcely different from a demon from Hell.

 Chapter 766 - 765 Congratulations Edmund

    "Master Ge!" Edmund and the others thought, their hearts trembling, and they quickly got out of the car, stood with their hands at their sides, and bowed uniformly toward Ge Dongxu.

    The scene was spectacular, just like something out of a movie.

    When Song Zhixuan, Gao Yusi, and others saw this, their mouths hung open wide, and their eyes bulged out.

    The impact of this scene on them was many times stronger than when they had seen Ge Dongxu effortlessly knock down over a dozen people with just two steel pipes.

    This was the headquarters of the Rebel motorcycle club in Hell, and this was Australia!

    Apart from the godmother of the Australian underworld, Daisy, who could make these untamed bikers line up as obediently as elementary school students?

    But now? A young man from Huaxia Country merely spoke, turned around, and hundreds of bikers obediently dismounted their motorcycles, lined up, and bowed in salute to him. How formidable a figure he must be!

    Even the head of Hung Men couldn''t possibly receive such high-level treatment!

    Because no matter how influential you are as the head of the Hung Men in the underworld, you only oversee Hung Men, only the Chinese Gangs, you don''t have control over Australia''s largest native underground force.

    But now, this young man, suspected by Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi and others to be a second-generation official from Huaxia Country, had achieved it!

    The members of the Poison Scorpion, who were still ecstatic that Ge Dongxu had the audacity to speak so disrespectfully, saw this scene and their faces turned as white as a sheet. A cold sweat broke out on their foreheads, and several even lost their grip on the steel pipes in their hands, which clattered to the ground.

    My God! What''s going on? This can''t be real, it must be an illusion, it must be an illusion! How could a Chinese make this group of wild, lawless bikers get off their bikes and bow in salute?

    It seems not even the godmother Daisy has such prestige, right?

    "Congratulations, Edmund, and all you gentlemen and ladies! I am very pleased with your performance!" Ge Dongxu said, his gaze sweeping over Edmund and the others as he spoke indifferently.

    Ge Dongxu''s voice was very calm, floating in the night sky as if he were genuinely congratulating and praising them, but to Edmund and the others, that calm voice thundered in their ears, causing their hearts to tremble and their spines to chill with fear.

    They were lucky! Lucky that they hadn''t gotten involved in this matter, or else they and over a hundred of their people would probably have been visiting the hospital along with another group of their brothers.

    Feeling relieved, Edmund and the others once again bowed uniformly and said, "Thank you for the praise, Master Ge!"

    "Alright, you guys clean up this mess. As for these people, I don''t want to see anyone of them able to stand and walk tonight. And about my compatriots'' bikes, as well as their medical and emotional distress damages, Edmund, you should have a good talk with them," Ge Dongxu nodded before speaking lightly again.

    "Yes, Master Ge!" Edmund and the others bowed uniformly again.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and then turned to Song Zhixuan and the others, a faint smile appearing on his face as he said, "Well, the performance was not bad, you didn''t disgrace the Chinese. However, Mr. Song, in the future, you had better not talk behind other people''s friends. It''s very impolite!"

    After speaking, Ge Dongxu waved to Song Zhixuan and others before walking toward Betty and the others'' sedan parked down the road.

    In a blink of an eye, Ge Dongxu reached the car and then got in.

    "Let''s go!" Ge Dongxu said to a stunned Betty.

    "Yes... yes," Betty stuttered in response, and then, due to her nerves, she inadvertently slammed on the gas, making the car shoot out suddenly and giving Ge Dongxu quite a scare. He teased, "Betty, I''m not in a rush."

    After being teased by Ge Dongxu, Betty finally relaxed a bit and, with a wry smile, turned to Ge Dongxu and said, "Ge, when I''m with you, I never know what kind of amazing things will happen next."

    Ge Dongxu just smiled at her words and said nothing more.

    Seeing that Ge Dongxu didn''t continue the conversation, Betty and Cindy, despite being normally cheerful, had just seen Ge Dongxu''s ruthless and imperious demeanor, and now they didn''t dare to speak casually.

    In the distance, Edmund and the rest of the motorcycle gang members breathed a collective sigh of relief as they saw the car carrying Ge Dongxu disappear into the night.

    "Damn it! That twisted demon is finally gone!" Scorpio''s leader, long-haired George, also took a deep breath, spitting fiercely on the ground as if it was the only way to calm his terrified nerves.

    "Boss, what do we do now?" a henchman with multicolored hair timidly asked.

    "What to do? Of course, we count ourselves unlucky! Take the brothers to the hospital!" George raised his hand and slapped the henchman on the head, cursing. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    As for Song Zhixuan and the others, even with all the guts in the world, they wouldn''t dare to provoke them now.

    "George, have you forgotten something?" Edmund tapped his palm with a baseball bat, but his gaze fell on George''s right leg.

    "Oh, dear Edmund, he''s gone now. You''re not really going to break our legs, are you?" George, noticing Edmund''s gaze on his right leg, shivered and his face changed color.

    He had thought that with Ge Dongxu gone, considering his rapport with Edmund and the others, they would let bygones be bygones.

    Besides, Ge Dongxu was Chinese, and both he and Edmund were white, true Melburnians.

    "Sorry, George, we wouldn''t dare disobey Master Ge''s words! Unless we don''t want to walk on our feet tomorrow," Edmund shrugged, speaking as if he was powerless to help.

    "No, no! Edmund, you can''t do this to me! I''m going to protest to your boss, you can''t treat us like this just for a Chinese! You''re losing face for the Hell''s Rebels!" George said, paling as he stepped back, reminding Edmund in a last-ditch attempt at resistance.

    "Dear George, tonight I''ll only break one of your legs, but if our boss finds out you''ve offended Master Ge, I think she''d order us to break both of your legs," Edmund said coldly, stepping forward and swinging the baseball bat at George''s right leg.

    With a "crack," George''s right leg was broken.

    George held his right leg and screamed miserably on the ground.

    Seeing their leader with a broken leg, everyone''s faces turned pale with horror, and their eyes showed sheer despair.

    They didn''t think they could escape being surrounded by over a hundred motorcycles.

    "It''s your choice¡ªdo we do it, or do you take care of it yourselves? I think you''re all smart enough to make the right decision," Edmund said, as if nothing had happened, continuing to tap his palm with the baseball bat, speaking coldly.

 Chapter 767 - 766 This Matter Has Nothing to Do with Us

    The scorpion''s thugs looked at each other, finally gritting their teeth and saying, "We''ll do it ourselves."

    When their own people took action, they certainly were more measured and made sure to avoid vital spots, much better than Edmund''s reckless beating.

    "You guys are smart, but remember not to play any tricks, or it won''t just be a leg." Edmund said coldly.

    "We understand." The thugs nodded and then each found someone they were close with to strike each other.

    In a moment, the ground was littered with bodies.

    "Dear George, you''ve seen it all, this had nothing to do with us, your own people fought each other! I think when the cops come, you''ll know how to answer, right?" Seeing the thugs all lying on the ground clutching their legs, Edmund walked over to George, placed the baseball bat on his head, and said with a smile.

    "You... don''t worry, Edmund. I know what to say." George gritted his teeth, enduring the pain as he replied.

    "Very good." Edmund nodded, then turned to leave. As he was about to get into his car, he suddenly turned back, pointed at Song Zhixuan and others, and told George, "Oh, and don''t forget to compensate these Chinese guys for their losses. Make sure they are satisfied or I can''t guarantee what horrible things might happen. Don''t hope for any luck, and definitely don''t think our boss will stand up for you. If she knew you had offended Master Ge, she would be even more ruthless than us."

    When Edmund mentioned Daisy again, George and the others all shuddered, their eyes filled with a shade of panic, and Song Zhixuan''s expression changed again, finally realizing that Edmund mentioning Daisy wasn''t just talk; Ge Dongxu really knew Daisy, and he even suspected that if Daisy were here, she, like Edmund, might step out of the car to bow and salute.

    Thinking this, Song Zhixuan dared not think any further.

    Gao Siyu and the others did not know who Edmund''s boss was, nor did they know how terrifying a woman Daisy was, but Song Zhixuan, who had grown up in Melbourne and whose father had gang ties, did know a bit.

    "I understand, Edmund." George replied with a mournful face.

    Now, he truly regretted it so much that his guts turned green.

    Had he known that cleaning up a few Chinese tonight would not only cost him a leg but also financial compensation, he would never have come to fight over this trivial matter! S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Very good." Upon hearing this, Edmund finally mounted his motorcycle, waved at Song Zhixuan and others, then started the engine, and roared off with the motorcycle, followed by a hundred more powerful motorcycles, disappearing like a raging torrent of steel.

    The motorcycle gang had not yet disappeared from the street when the sound of police sirens approached from afar.

    "Dear George, we will settle our scores later. Good luck!" Song Zhixuan saw the police finally arriving, his expression changing slightly as he smiled at George, then limped into the completely deformed and battered sedan.

    He certainly didn''t want to go to the police station in this condition!

    Watching as Song Zhixuan drove off in his wrecked car, disappearing from the street, the red police lights appeared just then, and there they were, none of them even able to walk, George and the others wanting to cry but having no tears.

    "Yusi, is that Mr. Ge really some kind of official''s son?" Driving the wrecked car, his body aching unbearably, but Song Zhixuan''s mind was still occupied with the image of Ge Dongxu, he couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    "Originally, I thought so too, but now I''m not so sure," Gao Yusi said, still visibly shaken.

    "I don''t think so either! This is Melbourne, Australia! Are there really such powerful second-generation officials these days? Ones that even the local underground forces in Australia have to bow down to?" Song Zhixuan nodded, his face filled with disbelief.

    "Right, Zhixuan, I heard you mention something earlier about the Hell Rebels Motorcycle Club, and their boss being very powerful? When Edmund mentioned their boss, I saw the Scorpions turn pale," Gao Yusi continued.

    "The Hell Rebels are the largest underground force in Australia, and their members have even spread to New Zealand, Europe, and the United States. You tell me, are they powerful? As for their boss, she''s a woman of legendary status in Australia. Ordinary people, especially women, idolize her because she''s a woman who embodies beauty, sexiness, wisdom, and wealth. She owns many businesses, including real estate companies, newspapers, and entertainment companies... Her circle comprises the elite of Australian society. But those in the know call her the Godmother, similar to how we describe the godfathers of the Mafia," Song Zhixuan replied, his eyes showing a hint of reverence.

    Although Song Zhixuan was a proud man, he knew that he could only look up to a woman like Daisy.

    "Wow, that''s badass! Then, Mr. Ge..." upon hearing this, Gao Yusi and the others gasped in astonishment.

    "That''s why I said Mr. Ge couldn''t just be some official''s son!" Song Zhixuan said with a wry smile.

    In the midst of their conversation, the car pulled up in front of a mansion.

    "Damn it, Zhixuan, are you crazy, driving the car back home? What if your dad sees us like this, what then?" Seeing the car stop in front of a mansion instead of a hotel, and realizing it was Song Zhixuan''s house, Gao Yusi was shocked.

    Although Song Wenhong himself hadn''t completely left the underworld and still had intricate connections with the gangs, he was very strict with his children''s upbringing, forbidding Song Zhixuan from participating in any gang activities and from being violent outside.

    Gao Yusi''s father was somewhat acquainted and had business dealings with Song Wenhong, so he was aware of these things.

    "You think I wanted to? But with Mr. Ge''s arrival, this is a big deal, and I have to inform my dad right away," Song Zhixuan said with a grimace.

    "That makes sense," Gao Yusi was not a fool, and he quickly understood the situation.

    If Song Wenhong was a local bigwig, then Ge Dongxu, this suddenly emerging badass character, was definitely a ferocious dragon crossing the river.

    The appearance of such a ferocious dragon in Melbourne meant that local bigwigs had to be informed immediately.

    Moreover, having heard from George and the others that the Chinese Gangs were currently in serious conflict with the Hell Rebels, the arrival of Ge Dongxu, this dragon crossing the river, took on an even greater significance.

    The mansion''s gate quickly opened.

    A half-gray-haired man resembling a butler, upon seeing the wrecked car and Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi''s bruised and battered appearance, with their clothes in tatters, was startled and exclaimed, "Zhixuan, what happened to you? Who did this to you?"

    "Uncle Hua, it was just a minor scuffle with some riff-raff. No big deal," Song Zhixuan replied.

    "Zhixuan, don''t try to fool me. Uncle Hua may have been out of the gang scene for many years, but I know that with your skills, some riff-raff couldn''t have done this to you. Did you cross paths with some organized gang or society?" Uncle Hua said sternly.

 Chapter 768 - 767: Youre talking about Master Ge!

    "Uncle Hua, you really have a keen eye, nothing gets past you. It was indeed the Scorpios who did it, but it''s okay now. Where''s dad?" Song Zhixuan had no choice but to tell the truth.

    "God damn it! Those Scorpio bastards dare to lay a hand on you; rest assured, I will order someone to smash up their place tomorrow." Uncle Hua said immediately, his eyes flashed menacingly upon hearing the news.

    Clearly, Uncle Hua had been a fierce member of a gang in his youth.

    "Ah Hua, you''re old enough now. Zhixuan might be immature, but shouldn''t you know better?" Uncle Hua had barely finished speaking when the villa''s door opened, seemingly by itself, and Song Wenhong walked out, his expression grim.

    "Young Master! It''s just that those damn bastards were too vicious! Besides, what are the Scorpios anyway? They are not worthy of laying a finger on Xu''er." Uncle Hua saw Song Wenhong coming out, and the ferocity in his eyes quickly disappeared, replaced by a smile.

    Uncle Hua was an orphan who had been adopted by Song Wenhong''s father, so he addressed Song Wenhong as Young Master. Even now, regardless of Song Wenhong''s age, he never changed his manner of address.

    "Enough, Ah Hua. Times have changed. Do you really want our descendants to follow the same old path we did? Have you forgotten how many good brothers we''ve lost along the way, separated from us by life and death?" Song Wenhong gave Uncle Hua a stern look and then turned to Song Zhixuan, speaking in a deep voice, "What happened?"

    "Dad, this time it really wasn''t my fault. We were at a bar when Scorpio''s men started harassing these two friends of mine, so I stepped in to teach them a lesson. I didn''t expect them to call in reinforcements and ambush us on the road," Song Zhixuan stammered, his heart skipping a beat as he hurriedly explained, seeing his father''s stern gaze.

    Song Wenhong glanced at Lan Xue and her friends, his eyebrows knit together slightly, a flash of displeasure crossing his face.

    Not only was his son belligerent by nature, but also quite promiscuous; he had gone through girlfriend after girlfriend, which gave Song Wenhong, as a father, quite a headache.

    "Yusi, are you okay?" Song Wenhong''s gaze swept over the faces of the two girls and then settled on Gao Yusi with a concerned tone.

    "I''m fine, fine, just some superficial skin wounds," Gao Yusi quickly replied.

    "Hmph, obviously you can''t just let it go if someone harasses you, but you have to act with method and strategy. You dared to fight them even though you had two girls with you and Yusi, who has no fighting experience whatsoever. Moreover, you had no means of escape after the fight; do you understand what reckless bravery is? It''s a good thing Yusi and the others weren''t hurt, otherwise how could I explain it to your Uncle Gao!" Song Wenhong glared at Song Zhixuan after hearing this and scolded him.

    "Yes, yes, you''re right, Dad. I really was impulsive and careless, almost causing a major incident. Fortunately, a noble person came to our aid," Song Zhixuan said, his voice chilling as he realized his elders did not want him to be simply passive, but also did not approve of reckless bravery.

    "A noble person?" Song Wenhong''s face showed a hint of confusion.

    "That''s right, a noble person, a young man with the surname Ge. He''s very skilled. Gao Yusi had a previous encounter with him back in Linzhou City. We were in a pretty bad spot this time, but thankfully he just happened to pass by, and then¡­" Song Zhixuan replied.

    "Surname Ge, a young man, are you talking about Master Ge!" Song Zhixuan''s face paled as he interrupted.

    "Master Ge!" Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi, among others, were immediately stunned.

    Song Zhixuan was a prominent figure in Melbourne''s Chinese community; he not only knew the young Mr. Ge but also referred to him as Master Ge!

    Gao Yusi and others perhaps did not understand the deeper implications behind the words "Master Ge" coming from Song Wenhong''s mouth. Song Zhixuan, having grown up in a family with gang affiliations, had heard of such things and felt even more shocked.

    "Alright, it''s getting late. Ah Hua, ask the servants to prepare the guest rooms and arrange for these two ladies to rest for the night. Zhixuan, Yusi, come with me to my study, I will apply some herbal oil for you," Song Wenhong noticed his son and Gao Yusi''s shocked expressions, hesitated, then said in a deep voice.

    "Yes, young master," Uncle Hua bowed slightly, then said to Lan Xue and the other lady with a smile, "Ladies, please follow me."

    Lan Xue and her companion were intelligent people. Knowing that Song Wenhong had matters to discuss with Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi, they obediently bid him goodnight and followed Uncle Hua.

    Meanwhile, Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi followed Song Wenhong into his study.

    "Dad, do you know that Mr. Ge? Why did you call him Master Ge? I heard from Yusi that he''s probably a second-generation official from the mainland," as soon as they entered Song Wenhong''s study, Song Zhixuan couldn''t wait to ask.

    "A second-generation official?" Song Zhixuan was slightly startled by the comment, then turned to Gao Yusi and asked, "Yusi, why would you think that?"

    Gao Yusi briefly described the car driven by Ge Dongxu and the incident at the Lakeview Hotel, when she accidentally saw Ge Dongxu with Governor Sang Yunlong.

    "I see," Song Wenhong nodded upon hearing this, then looked at Zhixuan and said, "Zhixuan, now you tell us about what happened tonight."

    Seeing his father''s counter-questioning, Song Zhixuan had no choice but to recount their unintentional meeting with Ge Dongxu at the bar, of course omitting the disrespectful comments made privately about Ge Dongxu and Betty.

    He was no fool; he could clearly see his father''s respect for Ge Dongxu. If he spoke out about those disrespectful remarks, he was certain a beating would inevitably follow.

    It was fortunate that Song Zhixuan was observant enough not to mention his private criticism of Ge Dongxu and Betty. Otherwise, not only would have been beaten, but Song Wenhong himself would probably have had to personally apologize to Ge Dongxu.

    Though Ge Dongxu was not one to fuss over small matters or take such things to heart,

    for Song Wenhong, it was a matter of great significance. Because not only was Ge Dongxu his elder and savior, but his abilities were also fearsome to an extreme extent.

    "Not bad, you even received a compliment from Master Ge before he left! As for this incident, I won''t punish you. Regarding the compensation, just ask the Scorpions for a hefty amount, and if they refuse to pay, let me know. I''ll make sure they''re eradicated from Melbourne," Song Wenhong said after listening, his eyes shining with pleasure as he nodded and spoke with an overwhelming aura of authority. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Dad, is that really okay? Although the Scorpions aren''t very powerful, they are after all a local force. If things escalate, won''t we be in trouble, too? Besides, aren''t we currently at odds with the Hell Rebels?" Song Zhixuan stared at his father in shock.

    He very well knew his father''s unobtrusive style over the years, who would almost never provoke others under normal circumstances. In cases such as the Scorpions incident, now that they had already had their legs broken and paid a heavy price, his father would normally let bygones be bygones according to his past behavior.

    But now? Not only was not letting it go, but he was also demanding a large compensation from them, which was completely unexpected for Song Zhixuan.

 Chapter 769 - 768: Warmth in the Cold Winter

    "Trouble? Since Master Ge has already spoken, there''s no trouble to mention! As for our disputes with the rebels from Hell, Master Ge has already intervened, and Daisy has formally apologized to us, the matter is settled," Song Wenhong said with a light smile, a hint of awe flickering in his eyes.

    "What? Daisy apologized to us!" Song Zhixuan''s eyes widened in surprise.

    "Of course, they were at fault, and Master Ge intervened. Daisy is a smart person. If she didn''t apologize, would she be waiting to be expelled?" Song Wenhong stated matter-of-factly.

    Upon hearing "Would she be waiting to be expelled?" even the audacious young Song Zhixuan shivered slightly.

    His father was now talking about Daisy, the godmother of the Australian underworld!

    To expel her! What kind of formidable person could accomplish that? But from his tone, it seemed like just a flick of the wrist for Master Ge.

    "Dad, who exactly is this Master Ge? What''s his background?" Song Zhixuan couldn''t help but ask curiously.

    "Didn''t you think he was some official''s son? Well, treat him as if he''s the son of an official. But whenever you meet him, you must treat him with the utmost respect, as you would an elder," Song Wenhong hesitated slightly, then said solemnly.

    In fact, he didn''t know Ge Dongxu''s true identity either!

    "Yes, Dad."

    "Yes, Uncle Song."

    Song Zhixuan and Gao Yusi both tensed up, not daring to ask any further.

    ...

    "Uncle, I calculated yesterday that the properties and cash checks given to us by the Chinese gangs are worth about seventeen million Australian dollars. I suggest keeping most of the properties due to the rapid rise in real estate in Melbourne and Sydney as the influx of immigrants continues to grow, converting the unsuitable entertainment venues into cash and investing financially with the cash checks. What do you think?" Ouyang Zesheng reported and asked for guidance respectfully during breakfast at his luxurious home.

    Ouyang Murong listened to his son''s report, feeling deeply moved.

    He had made a considerable fortune trading in jade, accumulating around fifty to sixty million RMB. Although he had the means to obtain jade from the jungles of Northern Myanmar without going through the annual public sales, he still had to pay a substantial amount and give benefits to the Myanmar jungle warlords. The profit he actually made was limited.

    Unlike his Sect Leader Uncle, who casually made a move and people would obediently pay nearly a hundred million RMB in gratuity.

    "You understand the situation in Australia, so you can decide on this sum. Don''t worry about profit or loss; you don''t need to feel burdened," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Thank you for your trust, Uncle," Ouyang Zesheng hurriedly replied, feeling moved just like his father.

    "Have you bought the plane ticket?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Yes, the flight is at eleven in the morning," Ouyang Zesheng replied respectfully.

    "Mm, good. When the kid gets a bit older, find time to visit home too," Ge Dongxu nodded, finishing the breakfast conversation.

    ...

    Ge Dongxu probably arrived at Shanghai Airport around eight in the evening.

    After customs, Ge Dongxu went straight to the underground parking garage to get his car, and drove back to Linzhou that same night.

    After a furious drive, they finally arrived at Linzhou City late at night.

    Before the car reached Yadu Garden, Ge Dongxu spotted Liu Jiayao under the streetlight at the entrance of the residential complex, wrapped up in a down coat.

    She stomped her feet while looking towards the entrance.

    As the year neared its end, the weather turned increasingly colder, especially in the south''s winter. The cold at midnight was truly bone-chilling, and no matter how much you wore, you could always feel the cold wind sneaking into your collar.

    Seeing Liu Jiayao actually ran down in the freezing night just to wait for him made Ge Dongxu''s nose tingle with emotion. His foot pressed the accelerator, he sped to the entrance of the complex, braked abruptly, then quickly got out of the car and swept Liu Jiayao into his arms.

    "You silly girl, why are you out here in such cold weather? Couldn''t you just have waited for me at home?" Ge Dongxu said, both distressed and annoyed.

    "Feeling sorry for me now? I just wanted you to feel sorry!" Seeing Ge Dongxu both distressed and annoyed, Liu Jiayao smiled proudly and happily.

    Looking at Liu Jiayao''s happy and proud smile, Ge Dongxu couldn''t feel angry anymore, only more distressed.

    "You! If you tell anyone you are a formidable female CEO, a strong woman, who would believe it!" Ge Dongxu gently flicked Liu Jiayao''s nose, then lifted her in his arms.

    "That''s for others to think, but with you, I''m not some CEO or strong woman, just a little woman." Liu Jiayao naturally draped her arms around Ge Dongxu''s neck and smiled.

    At her words, Ge Dongxu''s heart fluttered slightly. He opened the car door, gently placed Liu Jiayao in her seat, then drove into the complex and parked the car in the garage.

    After parking the car, the two went upstairs together.

    No sooner had they entered the room than Ge Dongxu enveloped Liu Jiayao in a fervent kiss, kissing her almost breathless.

    "Stop!" Seeing Ge Dongxu''s movements becoming friskier as he kissed, Liu Jiayao quickly grasped his hand already reaching under her clothes.

    Caught by Liu Jiayao, Ge Dongxu smiled and said, "Didn''t you say you were a ''little woman''? Is this how a little woman treats her great husband?"

    "Is this how a great husband treats his little woman?" Liu Jiayao retorted.

    "Heh heh!" Ge Dongxu laughed sheepishly and withdrew his wandering hand.

    "You rascal!" Seeing Ge Dongxu sheepishly retract his hand, Liu Jiayao couldn''t help feeling a bit sympathetic, tapped his forehead with her finger, and said, "Go take a shower." sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You mean?" Ge Dongxu''s eyes lit up.

    "Don''t think too much!" Liu Jiayao rolled her eyes at Ge Dongxu.

    "Okay then!" Ge Dongxu nodded, seemingly disappointed, then went to the bathroom to wash and shower.

    He clearly understood Liu Jiayao did not want him to leave things half done.

    Watching Ge Dongxu enter the bathroom with a look of disappointment, a mischievously triumphant smile flashed in Liu Jiayao''s eyes. She then cranked up the heating, quickly stripped off her outerwear, slipped into sexy lingerie, and dove under the covers.

    After washing and showering, Ge Dongxu wrapped in a towel, stepped out of the bathroom only to see Liu Jiayao''s intentionally exposed snowy thighs and delicate shoulders outside the comforter. His eyes instantly lit up. He laughed heartily and, like a hungry tiger, pounced onto the pink bed''s tantalizing figure.

    "Be careful, stay a bit sober!" Liu Jiayao, seeing Ge Dongxu pounce towards her, bit his shoulder hard and reminded him.

 Chapter 770 - 769: Going Home

    The winter sun filtered through the gauze curtains, casting a mottled pattern on the pink bed.

    Holding his beloved beside him, looking at her sweetly sleeping face, and recalling last night''s craziness, as well as the nearly uncontrollable step towards a true "Yin Yang Union," Ge Dongxu felt a shiver of fear.

    It seemed that such behavior must really be forbidden in the future. Otherwise, sooner or later, he might fail completely. With fear lingering in his heart, a firm resolve appeared in Ge Dongxu''s eyes.

    "What''s wrong?" Liu Jiayao, sensing the change in Ge Dongxu''s mood, suddenly woke up and asked with concern.

    "Nothing, I just suddenly feel like I lack willpower," Ge Dongxu said.

    "You fool! At your age, being able to resist as much as you have, I''m beginning to doubt my charm. And you say you lack willpower!" Liu Jiayao knew what Ge Dongxu was referring to, and she couldn''t help but kiss his forehead tenderly, saying.

    "Haha, that''s true. In the end, it''s not a matter of my willpower but rather the problem of your charm being too overwhelming," Ge Dongxu said after a slight start, and then he laughed heartily.

    Having made up his mind, Ge Dongxu naturally let go of his worries.

    "So you''re blaming me, then?" Liu Jiayao said with a roll of her eyes upon hearing his words.

    "Ah!" Ge Dongxu was startled, then quickly smiled and said, "It''s all my fault, all my fault."

    "Giggle!" Liu Jiayao laughed delightedly while embracing Ge Dongxu, but after a while, she abruptly stopped laughing and looked at him deeply and reluctantly, "I really hate to see you go."

    "Why don''t you come with me to celebrate the New Year at home this year? The ugly wife has to meet her in-laws sooner or later!" Ge Dongxu''s heart skipped a beat as he blurted out.

    "Are you calling me ugly? See how I deal with you!" Liu Jiayao''s delicate body quivered slightly, but she quickly flipped over and straddled Ge Dongxu, playfully hitting and pinching his firm chest.

    "I''m wrong, I''m wrong. Stop hitting, stop hitting, I''m serious," Ge Dongxu quickly surrendered.

    "Have you ever seen a college freshman bring his girlfriend home for New Year''s?" Seeing how serious Ge Dongxu was, Liu Jiayao stopped and gently lay on his chest, saying.

    "I''m still a university professor though!" Ge Dongxu said.

    "But I haven''t prepared myself mentally yet, and a couple of days ago, my uncle called me, hoping I would spend the New Year with them," Liu Jiayao said.

    "Didn''t you say you had a very ordinary relationship with your uncle''s family?" Ge Dongxu was surprised.

    To outsiders, Liu Jiayao appeared glamorous, with a charming appearance, graceful demeanor, and envy-inducing wealth. But Ge Dongxu knew she was actually someone to be pitied.

    She lost her parents at a young age, and since her father was an orphan, she was left only with relatives on her grandmother''s side when her parents passed away.

    Because her grandmother''s family had strongly objected to her mother marrying her father, an orphan, to the point of cutting off relations, it was only after her father found success that the two families restored some contact, but it was faint.

    After her maternal grandparents passed away, Liu Jiayao''s mother hardly went back to her hometown in Dongyue Province.

    Due to this history, after her parents died, Liu Jiayao, remembering they were not welcomed by her grandmother''s side and had to suffer a lot, rarely initiated contact with her uncles, and for many years, she spent New Year''s alone.

    "Ordinary or not, they are still family, and some things need to be let go when it''s time. Otherwise, in the future, when I marry you, I wouldn''t even have any family on my mother''s side," Liu Jiayao sighed softly.

    "People need family, and if you can let go of your grudges, that''s the best." Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but hug Liu Jiayao tightly with a pang of heartache.

    "Mhm, having met you in this lifetime, what grudges could I possibly hold onto?" Liu Jiayao pressed her cheek against Ge Dongxu''s chest and said.

    ...

    At eight in the morning, the train arrived at the platform of Changxi County train station.

    "Big Brother!" As soon as Ge Dongxu left the station, he saw his high school friends, Cheng Le Hao and Du Yifan, waiting at the exit.

    "Wow, I haven''t seen you in half a year, Cheng Fatty, and you''ve actually slimmed down!" Ge Dongxu gave Cheng Le Hao a bear hug, then punched him in the chest, his face filled with disbelief as he exclaimed in surprise.

    "For our Yile company, I study during the day and work at night, how could I possibly get fat? Big Brother, you''ve got to reward me well!" Cheng Le Hao said with a face full of accomplishment.

    "Yifan, did this guy really lose weight from studying and working, or was it because of chasing girls?" Not paying attention to Cheng Le Hao, Ge Dongxu gave Du Yifan a bear hug, then asked with a laugh.

    "Haha, Big Brother is wise! This guy has recently fallen for a girl and is trying hard to lose weight!" Du Yifan laughed heartily.

    "Hey, Yifan, those are two different things, okay? I work hard at learning and working too. If it weren''t for me managing everything inside and out, could you lead a group of technicians to focus entirely on tech development?" Cheng Le Hao retorted.

    "You''re right, those are two different things. Just like when we were preparing for the college entrance exams, as hard as that was, you still kept putting on weight, so it has nothing to do with the hardship of studying and working," Du Yifan nodded and said.

    "Damn it! That''s the one thing I don''t like about you science students, you always have to make the logical connections crystal clear. Is that really necessary?" Cheng Le Hao rolled his eyes and said.

    "Haha!" Seeing this, Ge Dongxu laughed out loud, throwing an arm over each of their shoulders.

    Reaching his current status and achievements, it had become very hard for him to enjoy such casual and genuine brotherly affection.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu laugh heartily, Cheng Le Hao and Du Yifan also started laughing along.

    On the way back, Ge Dongxu asked about how they were doing with their developments in the capital.

    In business matters, Ge Dongxu usually only made decisions on major issues, and at other times, he was a hands-off manager.

    Whether it was Qinghe Herbal Tea, Asiaxu Printing & Packaging Co., Donglinyue Apparel, or Kunting Chain Hotels, besides making the initial investment decisions, Ge Dongxu hardly ever inquired into the affairs afterward. S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was the same with Yile Computer Company.

    Since the three of them decided to establish the company, Ge Dongxu had allocated eight million as startup capital, and he hadn''t asked about it in the past six months.

    On one hand, he truly wanted to train the two of them, to let them stand on their own, and on the other hand, it was because Ge Dongxu didn''t know much about computers. However, Cheng Le Hao had been fond of games for a long time, and Du Yifan had been studying computer programming from an early age. In the field of computers, they knew and understood much more than he did.

    As Du Yifan was more of a scientific and technical person and not much of a talker, naturally, Cheng Le Hao would answer this question.

    Cheng Le Hao didn''t say a word, and Ge Dongxu was none the wiser, but once he did, he was actually quite startled.

 Chapter 771 - 770 Leisurely Viewing the Southern Mountain

    In just over half a year, using eight million as their startup capital, they purchased an office in the capital that was nearly three hundred square meters in size to serve as their company''s headquarters, acquired some computers and servers, and recruited over fifty administrative, sales, and technical personnel.

    More than half of these employees, like them, were students and were part-time employees found by Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao from their respective schools.

    None of this came as much of a surprise to Ge Dongxu; it had been part of their original agreement.

    What did surprise Ge Dongxu was that last month, Yile Company actually started turning a profit.

    While the profit was modest, just twenty thousand yuan, the fact that Yile Company had started making money just half a year after its establishment was both surprising and unexpected for Ge Dongxu.

    He had been prepared to burn through money for the upcoming years, even informing Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan beforehand that the upper limit would be one hundred million yuan.

    In other words, Ge Dongxu was ready to let them burn through one hundred million yuan.

    And now, with an investment of only eight million, they had already started making a profit.

    Although the amount was small, Ge Dongxu, already a seasoned figure in the business community, understood very well that the development of computers and the internet was rapid; as long as they could sustain themselves in the coming years, the future potential was boundless.

    This was precisely why Ge Dongxu had been prepared to invest such a staggering one hundred million yuan.

    This level of investment was something newly established computer companies wouldn''t even dare to dream of.

    But the development of Yile Computer Company had clearly exceeded his expectations.

    "Yile Company''s current revenue and profit mainly come from a game we developed three months ago. The game is still in the early stages of its sales life cycle; not many are playing it yet, but that''s bound to change. It will gather momentum like a snowball, attracting more and more players. When that happens, our profits won''t be just twenty thousand a month, but two hundred thousand or even two million," said Cheng Lehao.

    "Hmm, it seems you''ve really put in a lot of hard work these past six months. The outcome has exceeded my expectations, but I gather that gaming isn''t Yifan''s ultimate goal, right?" Ge Dongxu nodded and looked at Du Yifan, who had attempted to speak several times but stopped.

    "Yes, the game is just the first step to maintain our livelihood. Actually, what I really want to do is develop a search engine. The United States has already taken the lead; we need to accelerate our pace. Therefore, even if the game''s revenue increases next year, it will likely be insufficient to fund this venture," Du Yifan said.

    "Hmm," Ge Dongxu nodded, indicating his understanding, then added, "After the new year, the Yile Company''s account will have one hundred million yuan in liquid funds."

    "Boss!" Du Yifan and Cheng Lehao were dumbfounded upon hearing this.

    "Don''t be like that. Your performance over the past six months has already proven your capabilities! Therefore, I have complete faith that you can manage this one hundred million yuan effectively," Ge Dongxu said with a smile while patting their shoulders as they looked shocked.

    "But, but, but Boss, that''s one hundred million yuan!" Cheng Lehao, usually carefree and jolly, stuttered while speaking.

    "Is one hundred million yuan that much?" Ge Dongxu chuckled and said, "Relax, in six months, you''ve managed to turn a computer company from loss-making to profitable; many things have happened on my end as well. One hundred million yuan doesn''t mean much to me now. As long as you believe it''s right, just go ahead and invest boldly. If you''re unsure, give me a call. Anyway, I''m bullish on the computer industry; it''s the future trend. Since that''s the case, it''s better to invest heavily earlier rather than later."

    Dumbstruck, Cheng Lehao and Du Yifan listened as their shock gradually turned into indescribable admiration and reverence.

    Having not seen his parents for a while, Ge Dongxu missed them terribly and did not linger long in the town, taking the car back to Ge Family Village around ten in the morning.

    Ge Shengming and Xu Suya were both home and were delighted to see Ge Dongxu''s return.

    "Mom and Dad, you''re getting younger and younger! Now when we go out, I bet if we said we were siblings, people would believe it." Ge Dongxu was also very happy to see his parents again and couldn''t help but tease them when he noticed they were not getting any older but instead appeared increasingly youthful.

    "You had to bring that up, didn''t you? It''s all your fault. Now the female teachers at school keep asking me about my skincare routine, and I don''t even know how to answer them!" Xu Suya said with a smile, casting a playful glance at her son, her hand gently touching the bracelet on her wrist.

    She was well aware that the changes she''d undergone in the past six months were related to the bracelet her son had specially made for her.

    In the past, she drank medicinal wine every day, which kept her well preserved, but not to the extent of these past six months, where it seemed like she was aging in reverse.

    "Haha, just tell them you''ve got a great son," Ge Dongxu said, laughing proudly.

    The bracelet on his mother''s wrist and the jade ring on his father''s finger both contained a drop of his Lifebound Essence Blood, which not only protected them but could also gradually improve their constitution.

    "You, this kid, went to university and now you''ve got skin as thick as your dad''s," Xu Suya commented.

    Ge Shengming felt no shame and instead acted exaggeratedly flattered by her remark. "It''s rare for your mom to say you''re like me. She usually says you take after her."

    "Got a problem with that?" Xu Suya asked Ge Shengming.

    "Not at all, do I look like I have a problem?" Ge Shengming quickly replied. sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I thought you didn''t have the guts," Xu Suya said, triumphantly.

    Spying his old man getting picked on, Ge Dongxu winked at his dad, Ge Shengming, who glared back at him fiercely.

    Seeing the playful exchange between father and son, Xu Suya couldn''t help but smirk and lightly scolded them both, "What are you standing around for? Let''s go eat!"

    After dinner, and having chatted with his parents for a while, Ge Dongxu went to his senior fellow disciple, Yang Yinhou.

    Despite the deep winter, Yang Yinhou''s dwelling was a secluded haven with lush greenery, verdant bamboo, blooming mountain flowers, and an air of eternal spring, filled with Spirit Qi.

    When Ge Dongxu arrived, Yang Yinhou was busy turning over the soil in the courtyard to plant vegetables.

    "I never understood the sentiment of ''picking chrysanthemums beneath the eastern hedge, gazing leisurely at the southern hills,'' but now when I see you, brother, I suddenly get it," Ge Dongxu said, walking into the courtyard with a smile.

    "Haha, you may understand the sentiment now, but you can''t truly enjoy it," Yang Yinhou laughed, straightening his back and casually setting aside his hoe.

    "Indeed, brother, you''ve lived life and can truly savor this sentiment. I''m still young, and if I were to retreat to the mountains now, it probably wouldn''t suit my state of mind and could even hinder my cultivation," Ge Dongxu said, nodding with a smile.

    "When it comes to cultivation, that''s something I really can''t advise you on," Yang Yinhou said with a laugh as he went inside to bring out a pot of wild mountain tea that was already brewed and poured a cup for Ge Dongxu right there in the courtyard.

    "Great tea!" Ge Dongxu took a sip, the taste lingering in his mouth, and couldn''t help but exclaim.

    "It''s from the wild mountain tea produced on Baiyun Mountain," Yang Yinhou said with a smile.

 Chapter 772 - 771: Do You Need Me to Give You a Ride?

    "A few days ago, I went to Australia," Ge Dongxu brought up the matter of Australia.

    "Did anything happen to Murong there?" Yang Yinhou asked with a raised eyebrow, concerned.

    "There was a bit of trouble, but now it''s all settled," Ge Dongxu replied, and briefly mentioned the matter.

    Although Ge Dongxu spoke lightly, Yang Yinhou broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing it. After listening, he heavily patted the back of Ge Dongxu''s hand and said, "Thank goodness you were there! Otherwise, the blow to your senior brother would have been great."

    Knowing that Yang Yinhou and Ouyang Murong had a father-son-like relationship, Ge Dongxu naturally understood his feelings. He smiled and placed his hand on top of Yinhou''s, reassuring him, "Don''t worry, senior brother. It was previously my lack of foresight. Now, Murong has already reached the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation. I''ve also refined a protective magic artifact for him, so I think there shouldn''t be any problems in the future."

    "That''s good to hear, thank you for your hard work, Dongxu," Yang Yinhou nodded and said gratefully.

    "It''s only right, don''t forget I am Murong''s Sect Leader Uncle," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Haha, that''s true," Yang Yinhou laughed upon hearing this.

    "How have you been, senior brother?" Ge Dongxu smiled and then asked Yang Yinhou with concern.

    "In the early years, our master always said that I had talent, but my state of mind was not suitable, as I couldn''t meditate quietly and was easily disturbed by emotions and the secular world. However, after being ambushed in the jungles of Myanmar, these decades of experience have refined the dust in my heart and greatly benefited my cultivation. Now I am making progress every day. However, the stagnation of the past decades has ultimately caused my body to age. Breaking through to the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation should not be a problem, but beyond the Seventh Layer, I have no confidence, even with your Spirit Gathering Jade Talisman. But I am already very satisfied," Yang Yinhou replied.

    "If that is the case, we might need the power of medicine. Our Pill Talisman Sect, inheriting from our ancestor Ge Hong, is truly proficient in the Alchemy Technique," Ge Dongxu pondered upon hearing this.

    "Do you have such a pill recipe for this?" Yang Yinhou''s eyes suddenly brightened upon hearing this.

    "Yes. However, it requires a Spiritual Medicine as the main herb," Ge Dongxu affirmed.

    "Spiritual Medicine?" The brightness in Yang Yinhou''s eyes gradually diminished.

    Spiritual Medicines among plants are like jadeite among stones, being able to store and accumulate spirit energy.

    However, their conditions of formation are far more stringent than those of jadeite, and they are extremely rare.

    Wild ginseng and Lingzhi mushrooms, renowned among herbs, have a much higher chance of producing Spiritual Plants. However, even these prestigious herbs require long years and harsh growing conditions before they have a chance to evolve into Spiritual Medicines.

    It goes without saying how rare and precious Spiritual Medicines are.

    In his early years, when Yang Yinhou could not walk, he had thought of finding Spiritual Medicines for treatment. After decades, he spent countless manpower and resources, but he did not obtain even a single valuable clue or lead.

    "Spiritual Medicines are indeed elusive!" After a long while, Yang Yinhou sighed deeply.

    "With even wild mountain ginseng increasingly rare on land and hard to find, it is indeed true that Spiritual Medicines are elusive. However, there is still the vast undersea world. Maybe in a few years, if I can enter that realm, there is still hope to find a Spiritual Medicine. Moreover, senior brother, you are not entirely without hope of reaching the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation. Once you reach the Eighth Layer, you can open an Air Cyclone in your kidneys. The kidneys harbor the innate essence and are the basis of the innate. The Air Cyclone within the kidneys circulates endlessly, nourishing ceaselessly, gradually shifting from acquired to innate, transcending the mundane, which could make up for the previously delayed aging body," Ge Dongxu explained.

    "The undersea world is not only difficult for humans to enter at the present, but even if one could enter, it certainly hides countless dangers. Your intention alone moves me deeply, and there is no need to mention the matter of Spiritual Plants anymore," Yang Yinhou said sternly.

    "Haha, I won''t mention it then. I believe that you can reach the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation through your own strength, senior brother," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, not wanting Yang Yinhou to worry.

    The two brothers then exchanged their cultivation experiences until the sunset.

    As the sun set in the west, Ge Dongxu stood up to take his leave.

    Before departing, Ge Dongxu left some Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation Jade Talismans for Yang Yinhou.

    With Yang Yinhou''s current cultivation, he could already use the Seven Stars Spirit Gathering Formation Jade Talismans.

    ...

    Changxi County train station platform.

    A train slowly came to a stop.

    A woman with fluffy long curly hair, wearing a red long wool coat over black leggings and a wool sweater, looking very fashionable and sexy, pulled her suitcase off the train.

    When Jiang Lili alighted from the train, she attracted a lot of attention.

    The ladies envied her figure and were amazed by her fashion sense, while the men naturally gazed at her with shining eyes.

    Jiang Lili''s figure was not the tall and slender type seen in models; it was more voluptuous. The body-hugging wool coat perfectly outlined her lofty peaks and perky buttocks, exuding a youthful and healthy beauty.

    After getting off the train and seeing the familiar scene in front of her, Jiang Lili felt a mixture of emotions.

    Although her relationship with Ge Dongxu had been confirmed, deep down she was still very cautious.

    She was afraid that a careless act might displease Ge Dongxu and shatter this hard-won love like a beautiful soap bubble.

    So, when the winter break came, Ge Dongxu didn''t call her, and she didn''t dare to act like a girl in love, calling him to ask whether he was coming home, let alone asking him to come to fetch her.

    Right now, being able to see Ge Dongxu occasionally and knowing she had a place in his heart was enough to satisfy Jiang Lili.

    From a certain perspective, Jiang Lili''s mindset was somewhat similar to Daisy''s.

    Standing in line at the exit, she watched as one by one, people in front of her were picked up by their families. Some were obviously couples; the woman handing her luggage to the man, then holding his hand with a blissful expression, made Jiang Lili feel a moment of envy and longing.

    If one day, Brother Xu was also waiting for me at the exit...

    No, no, no, Jiang Lili, you mustn''t overstep, you mustn''t be greedy, you already have enough...

    Reminding herself within, Jiang Lili, with her head bowed, dragged her suitcase out of the exit.

    "Hey, beauty, where are you headed? Do you need a ride?" Just as Jiang Lili was walking out with her head down, a familiar voice suddenly rang in her ear.

    At the sound of this voice, Jiang Lili''s delicate body trembled; she abruptly raised her head, then saw that familiar face smiling at her.

    Seeing the face that haunted her dreams suddenly appear at the most unexpected time, Jiang Lili stared at Ge Dongxu foolishly. Tears started flowing uncontrollably, then she suddenly screamed "Ah!" and threw herself into Ge Dongxu''s arms, holding him tightly, and pressing her flushed lips crazily against his.

    S§×ar?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 773 - 772: I Can Tell By Pinching My Fingers

    "Dongxu, how did you know I was coming back today?" Sitting in the passenger seat, Jiang Lili''s happy face still wore an expression of disbelief.

    It all felt like a dream.

    "I just counted on my fingers and knew it," Ge Dongxu replied steadily as he drove.

    The car was an Audi, one that Ge Dongxu had bought to keep at his villa in the county town.

    Sometimes he drove it himself when he came back, and his parents could use it when they came to the town. After all, the county town wasn''t Ge Family Village¡ªnobody knew each other, so it wouldn''t cause a sensation.

    Unlike in Ge Family Village, if Ge Dongxu were to drive an Audi back to his hometown now, it would certainly create a stir in the entire village.

    "Really? Dongxu, you''re amazing!" Jiang Lili said with admiration.

    "Haha, you really believe that? I''m not that great. I asked Jin Yushan and the others in advance and knew you were coming today," Ge Dongxu said with a laugh.

    "Dongxu, you''re so good to me!" Upon hearing this, Jiang Lili couldn''t help but tear up again.

    She had never imagined that Ge Dongxu could have such a considerate and romantic side.

    "Isn''t that what I should do?" Ge Dongxu said as he reached out to gently wipe away the tears on Jiang Lili''s cheeks.

    "Mhm," Jiang Lili nodded, then said, "Dongxu, let''s go to your house on Mingxi Street first."

    The house on Mingxi Street Jiang Lili mentioned was the villa Ge Dongxu had built by the river near the Jiang Family village years ago.

    Now, Jiang Family Village had truly developed and become the new district of Changxi County. The streets were orderly, and a lot of thought went into naming them¡ªwhere Ge Dongxu''s villa was located was now known as Mingxi Street.

    Of course, the land price on Mingxi Street had risen sharply. In those days, Ge Dongxu''s villa had been constructed by integrating four farmers'' houses and included front and back yards and a vegetable garden, covering an area of roughly three hundred square meters. Now it faced the river, was surrounded by walls on three sides, and had holly trees forming a green wall behind the walls, giving the impression of a deep courtyard and a grand mansion.

    Passersby would often take a second glance. Ordinary people looked up to it with admiration, while some hoodlums and thieves showed involuntary awe in their eyes, hurrying past the entrance.

    Because the word had come down from both the underworld and the legitimate world in Changxi County that no one was allowed to touch this villa.

    With both the underworld and legal authorities having spoken, which thug or habitual thief would dare to even think about disturbing the villa, fearing even passing by the entrance could lead to misunderstandings, they hurried on their way.

    "Aren''t you going home first? Won''t your parents worry about you?" Ge Dongxu asked with a slight startle.

    "I''ll just call and tell them, it''s okay. I really want to spend some time alone with you right now," Jiang Lili replied.

    Only then did Ge Dongxu realize how much Jiang Lili didn''t want to be apart from him. His heart warmed, and he reached over to gently pat her thigh, saying with a smile, "I''ll be in Changxi County for the next few days, aren''t you afraid you won''t see me? Alright, as you wish, we''ll go to the villa first. You call your family to keep them from worrying."

    "Okay!" Jiang Lili nodded happily, then took out the mobile phone Ge Dongxu had specially bought for her and called home.

    With her current financial situation, she couldn''t afford a mobile phone.

    The call was answered by Jiang Lili''s mother. Jiang Lili just told her she had run into a classmate and would sit at the classmate''s home before coming back later, careful not to mention Ge Dongxu.

    Jiang Lili hung up the phone, and Ge Dongxu''s car had already arrived at the villa.

    Although it was winter, thanks to Ge Dongxu''s special arrangements, the villa was bursting with flowers and lush green grass like a scene of spring. Jiang Lili''s beautiful eyes widened in surprise, and she exclaimed, "How can this be?"

    Ge Dongxu smiled, closed the yard gate, and then took out the keys to unlock the villa''s door.

    The villa was spotless, which suggested that his parents must have come to check in and clean from time to time when he was away.

    As soon as Ge Dongxu opened the villa''s door and stepped inside, he felt a softness in his arms, for Jiang Lili had already uncontrollably thrown herself into his embrace and delivered another passionate kiss.

    Jiang Lili''s body remained voluptuous, and her initiative almost made Ge Dongxu lose control and carry her upstairs. Fortunately, he managed to retain a shred of clarity, and with a heavy heart, he gently pushed away the bewildered Jiang Lili, saying with a wry smile, "Lili, now is not the time. You really shouldn''t get so intimate with me."

    Upon hearing Ge Dongxu speak, Jiang Lili remembered the words he had told her before, and her consciousness suddenly cleared, she said with some fear, "I''m sorry, Dongxu, I didn''t mean to, I just¡­ when I see you, I can''t help but¡­"

    "I understand; and trust me, the feeling is mutual!" Ge Dongxu said softly as he drew Jiang Lili close and comforted her.

    "Really?" Jiang Lili looked up at Ge Dongxu with a mixture of delight and surprise.

    "Of course! You''re so sexy and beautiful that every time I''m with you, I need to keep my spirit alert. Otherwise, before I know it, you''ll have seduced it away," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Then, once you''ve gotten through this special period, I''ll put on my sexiest clothes for you," Jiang Lili said, her eyes becoming involuntarily enchanted as she nibbled on Ge Dongxu''s ear and breathed warmly into it.

    At her words, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but recall the scene from that day at the Changxi Grand Hotel.

    That day, Jiang Lili had desperately torn away the blanket that had covered her body right in front of him.

    And just like that, Ge Dongxu found himself getting somewhat restless again. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "You''re teasing me again!" Ge Dongxu said with a bitter smile.

    "Am I?" Jiang Lili playfully batted her eyelashes at Ge Dongxu, but her rosy lips dared not linger near his ear any longer.

    "Are you tired? Do you want to go upstairs to rest for a while?" Ge Dongxu asked gently as he affectionately flicked Jiang Lili''s delicate nose.

    "Not tired, but I do want to lie down next to you. I promise I won''t fidget!" Jiang Lili said, her beautiful eyes filled with a trace of pleading and anticipation.

    Ge Dongxu''s heart softened at her words, and he nodded, leading her to his bedroom.

    So the two lay quietly on the big bed in the bedroom, Jiang Lili''s small head resting on Ge Dongxu''s arm, her contentment evident in her cozy, cuddled-up pose. Before she realized it, she had fallen asleep.

    Even in her sleep, there was a sweet and blissful smile on her lips.

    As he looked at the woman beside him, reminiscing about their past interactions¡ªhow she used to tease him, proudly thrusting out her chest in front of him¡ªGe Dongxu thought about the unexpected turn of events that had made her his woman. Meanwhile, Dong Yuxin, whom he used to have a mild interest in, was now unreachable. Sometimes, he pondered how life was full of dramatic twists.

    "Ah, how did I fall asleep? Dongxu, I didn''t make your arm go numb, did I?" Jiang Lili suddenly woke up with a start just as Ge Dongxu''s mind was a whirl of thoughts and sentiments.

 Chapter 774 - 773: Spring is Born

    "Haha, how could it be numb, with a beauty in my arms, I''m delighted!" Ge Dongxu burst into laughter when he saw Jiang Lili sit up abruptly, her face filled with worried self-reproach.

    Jiang Lili, feeling embarrassed by Ge Dongxu''s laughter, burrowed into his embrace.

    This time, truly having a beauty in his arms, Ge Dongxu felt stirrings of desire and quickly said, "It''s getting late, shouldn''t you head home? To avoid your family worrying!"

    "Ah, what time is it now?" Jiang Lili suddenly remembered she needed to go home.

    "Half past ten!" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Then I should go home." Jiang Lili spoke with a mix of reluctance and resignation.

    "You, you, always hard to keep at home!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help teasing her upon seeing this.

    "What of it? I just like being with you." Jiang Lili retorted.

    "Then I''ll try to come to town and stay with you for the next couple of days," Ge Dongxu said, laughing.

    "Really?" Jiang Lili exclaimed in surprise.

    "Of course," Ge Dongxu said with a nod and a smile.

    "Dongxu, you''re so kind! Now, I''ll go home!" Jiang Lili finally let go of her reluctance and happily got out of bed.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu smiled, got out of bed as well, and then drove Jiang Lili home.

    Jiang Lili''s family was well-off until over two years ago when her father, Jiang Yidong, was trapped by "friends" into gambling and had to mortgage and sell their house, nearly leading to a tragic downfall of his family. Fortunately, Ge Dongxu appeared and managed to retrieve a portion of the swindled money.

    They managed to buy another house on Wangbei Street, although it was an old house and the location was quite remote, far inferior to their original one.

    Nevertheless, it was a stroke of luck amidst their misfortune. From afar, as she approached her "new home," thinking back to those darkest days, Jiang Lili couldn''t help but turn her head towards Ge Dongxu, her eyes brimming with deep affection and gratitude.

    If not for this man by her side, leave alone college, she might likely be standing in a dimly lit alley at this moment.

    The car stopped at Jiang Lili''s house, and after she got out, Ge Dongxu drove away without going inside.

    Because their relationship was no longer the simple senior-junior college relationship, entering Jiang Lili''s home would indeed make Ge Dongxu unsure how to face her parents.

    In the following days, Ge Dongxu did indeed spend his time either in Ge Family Village or discussing cultivation with his senior brother and accompanying Jiang Lili in town.

    This made Jiang Lili feel so happy she thought she might just float away. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    ...

    In the blink of an eye, it was the twenty-ninth of the lunar month, New Year''s Eve.

    This year there was no thirtieth day.

    Start of Spring coincided with the twenty-ninth of the lunar month this year.

    Though it was the Start of Spring, no one could feel the warmth of spring. In fact, this year''s New Year''s Eve seemed colder than previous years.

    In the evening, snowflakes even began to drift down from the sky.

    The weather grew increasingly cold, as if the real winter in the South had just begun.

    However, Ge Dongxu faintly felt the earth awakening, a hint of faint vitality emanating within the mountains, surrounded by frozen ice and howling cold winds.

    Not just that, the vitality sealed within his body also began to stir, like a small grass about to break through the soil, a vigorous vitality spreading throughout his body.

    "Spring has arrived!" Ge Dongxu, watching the snowflakes drifting down from the sky, smiled slightly.

    "You, just standing there lost in sentiment instead of helping! True spring won''t arrive till March or April! Come on, it''s getting late, go fetch your senior brother," Ge Shengming, who was busy preparing the New Year''s Eve feast in the kitchen, said to his son, who had been staring out the window without offering any help, then playfully smacked his head.

    "Haha, Dad, you just don''t understand," Ge Dongxu chuckled, then picked up some of the offerings prepared for his master, and left the house.

    "This boy actually says I don''t understand? I''m a farmer; how could I not understand these things?" Ge Shengming said indignantly to Xu Suya beside him.

    "Isn''t that obvious? If you understood what your son is talking about, you''d be just as powerful as he is!" Xu Suya gave Ge Shengming a sidelong glance, then mused aloud.

    "Heh, if my son is impressive, doesn''t that mean I am too?" Ge Shengming paused for a moment at her words, then boasted with a laugh.

    "Well, that''s true, your thick skin is definitely more impressive than your son''s! Giggles!" Xu Suya glanced at her husband, then couldn''t help but giggle.

    The snow grew heavier, quickly draping Baiyun Mountain in a faint white shroud.

    At this time, no one would venture into the mountains.

    But a young figure was moving through the snow.

    To say he was moving through the snow wasn''t quite right; it was more accurate to say he was flying.

    The figure was as graceful as the snowflakes, dancing with the wind.

    Almost without stopping, Ge Dongxu "flew" to his senior brother''s secluded spot halfway up the mountain.

    "Junior brother, you..." When Yang Yinhou saw Ge Dongxu, his whole body shook violently, and his eyes shone intensely.

    "What''s wrong, senior brother? Is something amiss?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Amiss? The last time you came here, I felt the chill of a harsh winter, but now, just two days later, when I see you again, I feel a spring breeze. And your white hair is gone, your skin even seems to have become rosier," Yang Yinhou remarked emotionally.

 Chapter 775 - 773: Spring Birth_2

    "Spring has arrived!" Ge Dongxu finally understood why Yang Yinhou was shocked, gathered his somewhat long hair, and said with a smile.

    "Has spring arrived?" Yang Yinhou, looking at the snowflakes drifting outside, revealed a touch of confusion in his eyes, then a contemplative look, while ripples of mana emanated from him.

    Ge Dongxu smiled as he watched Yang Yinhou, not disturbing him.

    "I truly fall far short of you, brother. I can''t feel the slightest hint of spring! Well, one can''t force such things. Let''s first go to offer respects at our master''s grave, accompany him with a couple of drinks, and then descend the mountain," Yang Yinhou said after a good while, his face showing a hint of loss and helplessness.

    He was well aware that if he could comprehend the idea of "spring''s arrival, summer''s growth, autumn''s harvest, winter''s conservation" as Ge Dongxu had mentioned, it would greatly improve his increasingly aging body.

    It would be like an old tree greeting the spring!

    Ge Dongxu nodded, then carried the offerings with Yang Yinhou to their master''s nearby grave and Taoist temple.

    The two brothers bowed to their master, placed the offerings and drinks, said a few words, drank a few cups, and then trod down the snowy mountain.

    "Brother, do you know qinggong?" Ge Dongxu suddenly asked while descending the mountain.

    "Qinggong? Years ago, I met a Qimen practitioner in Cangzhou who excelled at the Vertical Lifting Technique. He was known as ''Swallow Li San'' amongst the people of the Martial World. You might have heard some rumors about him. I asked him for instruction, and after all is said and done, it''s really just about techniques combining the force from one''s legs and breath control," Yang Yinhou said, bending his legs slightly and then forcefully springing up like a cheetah or a cat. His whole body suddenly and effortlessly leaped five or six meters away, nearly three meters high, swift as a hawk, covering dozens of meters in the blink of an eye.

    Not only that, but riding on the high-to-low terrain, with a few bounds, Yang Yinhou leaped and stood atop an approximately seven or eight-meter-tall snow cedar.

    Yang Yinhou, with his silvery hair and white beard, standing on the treetop amidst the swirling snowflakes, truly resembled a great master of the Martial World.

    "How about that? Junior brother!" Seeing Ge Dongxu approaching, Yang Yinhou lightly tapped the treetop with his toe, and like a falling leaf, he drifted down in front of Ge Dongxu, his face revealing a rare hint of pride.

    Seeing the rare look of pride on his senior brother''s face, Ge Dongxu found it somewhat difficult to shatter his complacence.

    However, his senior brother had reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation and was even on the verge of stepping into the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer. He could barely control the shape of the True Qi he projected outwardly and could initially practice the lightness skill that Ge Dongxu had comprehended.

    In truth, this could no longer be called qinggong but rather Flight with Control of Qi.

    Ge Dongxu had his epiphany when he broke through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation and was studying physics. He understood how to control the shape of the projected True Qi and thus initially achieved Flight with Control of Qi.

    Of course, back then, Ge Dongxu''s cultivation power was limited, nowhere near enough to be called Flight with Control of Qi. It could only be referred to as qinggong, but now he had made some modest progress.

    "The technique you just used, brother, although it involves some skill, relies more on brute force than on true qinggong," Ge Dongxu ultimately decided to be frank.

    "Could it be, junior brother, that you know the true technique of qinggong?" Only then did Yang Yinhou realize that when Ge Dongxu asked him about qinggong, it was not to seek instruction but to share it with him. His old face turned slightly red, a bit embarrassed, but more than that, he was astonished and surprised. S§×arch* The Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "I stumbled upon it unintentionally, please watch, brother," Ge Dongxu said with a slight smile. He tapped the ground with the tip of his shoe, and the next moment, he soared like a true great bird, swiftly rising into the mid-air and spiraling without descending.

    After a long while, Ge Dongxu gently floated down.

    With snowflakes dancing in the air, Ge Dongxu glided down, seemingly like an Immortal arriving amidst clusters of snowflakes.

    "This... you, is this the legendary Flight with Control of Qi?" Watching Ge Dongxu descend like a real Immortal, even Yang Yinhou, who had seen his share of life''s ups and downs, was wide-eyed and speechless. It took him a while to stammer out his words.

    Flight was, for the current practitioners of Qimen, truly an Immortal-like technique, something they dared not hope for or even imagine.

    "I can hardly call it true Flight with Control of Qi. With my current strength, I can only fly three or four hundred meters," Ge Dongxu modestly said.

    "So you can only fly three or four hundred meters?" Yang Yinhou looked at Ge Dongxu''s modest expression, thought of how he was somewhat complacent after jumping just a few meters, and as his shock settled, his old face couldn''t help but redden again. With a wry smile, he said, "Dongxu, those words of yours really make your elder brother here feel ashamed!"

    Only then did Ge Dongxu suddenly realize, and he scratched his head in embarrassment.

    Luckily they were all from the same sect and brothers, plus Ge Dongxu was the Sect Leader''s junior, so Yang Yinhou didn''t really feel humiliated. Seeing Ge Dongxu scratching his head embarrassedly, he immediately burst into laughter.

    "Junior brother, you must teach your elder brother this Technique of Controlling Qi right away." After laughing heartily, even Yang Yinhou, with his composure, couldn''t help but eagerly rub his hands together and urge.

    Flying through the sky and soaring through the clouds was a dream for all people throughout the ages, and Yang Yinhou was no exception.

    Now, he had the chance to learn this technique and just the thought of it made Yang Yinhou feel his blood boiling with passion, as if he had returned to his younger days.

    "Actually, once you really think about it, it''s quite simple." Ge Dongxu said with a slight smile, then he imparted to Yang Yinhou the Flight with Control of Qi technique he had comprehended through combining Bernoulli''s Theorem and the circulation of True Qi unique to their sect.

    The Flight with Control of Qi had become much more refined throughout Ge Dongxu''s years of exploration, with many more skill-based maneuvers, unlike the initial crude beginnings.

    Yang Yinhou, being intelligent and talented, listened to Ge Dongxu''s teachings and after pondering for a moment, gave Ge Dongxu a slight bow, then with a tap of his toes on the ground, he too soared into the air like a large bird.

    He flew out fourteen or fifteen meters and reached a height of five or six meters.

    "Elder brother is truly amazing, my first flight was far worse than yours," Ge Dongxu sincerely admired, seeing Yang Yinhou''s first attempt at Qinggong reach fourteen or fifteen meters high and five or six meters in distance, slightly better than his own first attempt when he was at the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

    "We can''t really compare that. At most, I have some talent for learning, but for you to create such a Technique of Controlling Qi in the Qi Cultivation Realm, you can already be called a Grandmaster of our generation," Yang Yinhou said, waving his hand dismissively.

    "It was just luck," Ge Dongxu said modestly.

    "Throughout history, how many in the Qimen wanted a glimpse into the secrets of this technique, but ended up not even grasping the basics? For you to understand it at such a young age, can that be explained by mere luck? Even if you did use luck as an explanation, how would you explain ''Spring grows, summer thrives, autumn harvests, winter stores''? You have clearly taught me, yet I still can''t even find the threshold!" Yang Yinhou said with a stern expression.

    Ge Dongxu, feeling somewhat embarrassed by Yang Yinhou''s praise, changed the subject, scratching his head, "Elder brother, it''s getting late; we should head down the mountain, otherwise my parents are probably going to be worried."

    "Haha, I was just thinking of continuing to ponder your Technique of Controlling Qi." Yang Yinhou laughed, and before he finished speaking, he had already launched himself into the air like a large bird, unable to resist the temptation.

    With a leap like a hawk taking off, he soon turned into just a black dot in the distance.

    Seeing this, Ge Dongxu chuckled and followed suit, soaring into the sky after him.

    Yang Yinhou grew more excited the more he "flew," even eventually taking to stepping on treetops and going from one tree to another, tireless in his enjoyment.

    Fortunately, it was a snowy day and also New Year''s Eve, so there was no one moving around on Baiyun Mountain and visibility was poor, otherwise if anyone had seen an old man with white hair and a white beard hopping through the trees, they might have thought an Immortal was among them!

    "Exhilarating! Exhilarating! To have a junior brother like you makes me want to live for many more years, just to see how many more miraculous surprises you can bring me," Yang Yinhou said, nearing the bottom of the mountain after a series of leaps, he landed on the ground and faced the following Ge Dongxu with a face full of satisfaction as he smiled.

    "Haha, elder brother, that''s definitely not a problem," Ge Dongxu laughed.

    "Haha!" Upon hearing this, Yang Yinhou laughed heartily and patted Ge Dongxu''s shoulder vigorously, then the two of them entered Ge Family Village side by side.

    PS: Today''s two chapters are combined into one; with that, the update is complete. Updates will still be in the evening tomorrow.

 Chapter 776 - 774 New Years Eve

    This year''s New Year''s Eve had the addition of Yang Yinhou, making the Ge Family''s celebration a bit livelier than usual.

    Ge Dongxu''s mobile phone was also much busier than in previous years. After dinner, while his parents watched the Spring Festival Gala with Yang Yinhou, he found a moment to call Elder Feng.

    Normally, such a call would seem more meaningful after the stroke of midnight, but he was worried that Elder Feng was quite old and led a very regular life, so calling at midnight would obviously disturb the old man''s rest, which is why he chose to call early.

    Elder Feng was delighted to receive Ge Dongxu''s call. They chatted for a while and exchanged New Year''s greetings before hanging up.

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu ended the call than a slew of calls seemed to come in, one after another.

    There were calls from the doctors at the Internal Medicine Department of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, his roommates like Lu Lei, Wu Longcai from the provincial radio station, Wu Shiyi and others, Jiang Lili''s roommates Jin Yushan and Lin Sijie, several people from the Qimen community he had met at the exchange meeting in Jiangnan and Dongyue Provinces, people from the Special Ability Management Bureau like Fan Hong and Xu Lei, and friends and business partners like Cheng Lehao and Lin Kun... Even later on, leaders from the Provincial Party Committee of Jiangnan Province, King Gustadin of Reel Country, Chinese tycoon Gu Yezeng, and intlernational figures such as Matsukawa Nozomu from Japan, Piao Tianchang from Korea, and Betty from Australia also called Ge Dongxu to extend their New Year''s wishes.

    After receiving all these calls, Ge Dongxu suddenly realized that in the three and a half short years since he left Baiyun Mountain, he had unwittingly gotten to know so many people. He couldn''t help but feel deeply moved.

    After reflecting outside for a while, he then considered whether he should make calls to people like Wu Yili, but recalling that his senior brother was still at his house, and that it would be rude to just focus on making calls, he returned to the living room.

    "Kid, your senior brother has come to our house for New Year''s, and look at you, busy on the phone," Ge Shengming remarked with a stern look upon seeing Ge Dongxu finally put his phone away and join them.

    "Haha, we''re all family here, no need for formalities. Besides, my junior brother is truly a big shot now. It''d be strange if he didn''t have a lot of calls during the New Year!" laughed Yang Yinhou.

    "Could he possibly be a bigger shot than you?" Ge Shengming said.

    Having interacted with Yang Yinhou often, Ge Shengming naturally knew how important a figure this elder had once been.

    "Of course, Dongxu is the Sect Leader! His abilities outshine mine by far," Yang Yinhou replied seriously, his eyes reflecting a hint of awe.

    Seeing Yang Yinhou''s solemn expression, Ge Shengming opened his mouth in shock and pride.

    "Still, Dongxu is young. Mr. Yang, when you have time, you should still remind and discipline him to prevent any youthful recklessness and prevent him from going astray," Xu Suya said.

    "Had it been someone else, youthful impetuousness would be inevitable, but Dongxu is inherently simple and kind, there is no need to worry he will go astray. My concern is that he might be too compassionate," Yang Yinhou said.

    "Too much compassion is better than being ruthless and heartless!" Xu Suya responded, looking at her son with a touch of joy and pride.

    "Haha, indeed!" Yang Yinhou laughed.

    While they were laughing, Yang Yinhou''s phone, which seldom rang, began to ring.

    "It must be Murong calling," Yang Yinhou said with a smile.

    "Not necessarily, it could also be Gu Yezeng, Chen Jiateng, or even Su Bojian, and Zhu Dongyu for that matter," Ge Dongxu added with a laugh.

    "Haha, I actually forgot, ever since these legs of mine recovered, my social circle seems to have expanded." Yang Yinhou was taken aback for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter.

    Indeed, as soon as Yang Yinhou checked his phone, it was not Ouyang Murong calling, but an incoming call from Chen Jiateng, the head of the Chen Family in Indonesia.

    He exchanged pleasantries with Chen Jiateng and offered New Year''s greetings.

    Yang Yinhou''s phone kept ringing, with calls from the people Ge Dongxu had mentioned before, including Ouyang Murong.

    Yang Yinhou stayed at the Ge Family''s place until around ten o''clock before he got up to leave.

    Ge Shengming and his wife were worried about him and insisted that Ge Dongxu personally escort him back, but Yang Yinhou just waved his hand with a smile, and then, with a leap, he was more than ten meters away in the blink of an eye, leaving Ge Shengming and his wife rubbing their eyes vigorously, before they eventually exclaimed, "Dongxu, your senior fellow apprentice is truly an extraordinary person, just like the martial arts experts on TV. With just a light tap of the toe, he vanished out of sight in an instant."

    "Of course." Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Oh, right, that move your senior fellow apprentice just used, do you know it too?" When they returned to the house, Ge Shengming suddenly remembered something and looked at his son with burning eyes, asking.

    "What are you fantasizing about? How old is your son? And how old is Mr. Yang? How could he suddenly leap so far out? Not even the martial arts experts on TV with their qinggong are that impressive!" Xu Suya gave Ge Shengming a sideways glance and said.

    "Mom, you mustn''t forget that your son is the Sect Leader." Ge Dongxu had never shown his qinggong in front of his parents, and seeing her say that, combined with the fact that he had drunk a bit of alcohol this evening, inevitably stirred an impulse to show off a little in front of his closest kin, and he chuckled softly.

    "Does that mean you can also fly out more than ten meters in an instant, just like your senior fellow apprentice?" Both Ge Shengming and Xu Suya''s eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement as they spoke.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t answer but looked around to see that there weren''t many people moving around their home, only some children further away playing with firecrackers. Then he smiled mysteriously at his parents, grasped someone''s arm, and whispered, "I''m going to take you up the hillside for a bit of fun to celebrate the New Year, but you mustn''t scream, okay?"

    Before his parents could react to their confusion, Ge Dongxu had already lightly tapped his toe on the ground, grabbing one parent with each hand, and suddenly leaped into the air, flying right over the roof of his house.

    The height of the leap was several meters higher than that of Yang Yinhou just earlier.

    "Ah..." Feeling herself suddenly soaring into the air and the whooshing of cold wind by her ears, Xu Suya instinctively let out a cry but, fortunately, she reacted quickly and immediately covered her mouth with her other free hand, her eyes bulging wide.

    With his parents in tow, Ge Dongxu naturally couldn''t fly several hundred meters with his ability to control qi as he did before, nor could he hover in the air as before.

    However, his qinggong was still much more impressive than that of Yang Yinhou.

    Each leap spanned forty to fifty meters, and at a height of over ten meters, it took just a few moments to reach the hillside behind the house by stepping on tree after tree, then they returned to their yard from the hillside.

    "How was that?" As the three of them landed, Ge Dongxu looked at his parents with a grin, his face showing a trace of pride.

    "It''s unbelievable! Absolutely unbelievable! Dongxu, if it were just you by yourself, could you actually fly?" Ge Shengming and his wife said with faces full of shock and excitement. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 777 - 775 Accumulate Thickly to Discharge Thinly

    Ge Dongxu nodded, then lightly pointed his toes on the ground and¡ªalong with the snowflakes¡ªascended into the air. In a blink, he was but a speck in the sky which, had not Ge Shengming and his wife been constantly looking up, sending him off into the ascent, they would not have been able to spot him at all.

    In just a moment, Ge Dongxu descended as softly as a snowflake and looked at his parents, who were utterly dumbstruck, with a smile.

    "Good lord! I, Ge Shengming, have borne an immortal son!" It took a long time for Ge Shengming to conceal his inner shock and excitement, and he even swore in front of his son and wife.

    As a teacher, Xu Suya didn''t chastise her husband for his foul language this time but just stared at her son. It took her a while before she reached out to touch his cheek, murmuring in disbelief, "It feels like I''m dreaming¡ªis this really my son?"

    "Could it be fake? Do you want me to take you for another ride?" Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "No need, standing on top of a tree, my legs are already going soft!" Ge Shengming shivered and waved his hands continuously upon hearing this.

    "That sounds great! It was really interesting just now!" Xu Suya, on the other hand, said with a face full of excitement and anticipation.

    "Oh my!" Seeing his father backpedaling while his mother''s face was filled with excited anticipation, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help smacking his forehead, completely taken aback.

    His mother was quite a bit lighter than his father, and since he was only carrying her this time, the leap and flight were much easier for Ge Dongxu.

    Each leap shot them out over a hundred meters, dozens of meters high, which thrilled Xu Suya endlessly, leaving Ge Dongxu speechless.

    He had always thought of his mother as a kind-hearted people''s teacher, amiable and composed. Only now did he realize that she had an even greater adventurous spirit in her bones than his father.

    But after thinking it over, Ge Dongxu felt relieved. His mother''s family circumstances back then, as well as her educational level, had led her to stubbornly marry a poor, uneducated country farmer like his father, which must be related to her inherent temperament.

    After nearly covering the whole Baiyun Mountain with his mother, who by then had had her fill of excitement, they returned home. She pulled her husband away from watching the Spring Festival Gala and excitedly talked non-stop.

    Upon hearing that his son had taken his wife almost all around Baiyun Mountain, with each flight covering hundreds of meters, and tens of meters high, Ge Shengming felt a mix of longing and weak in the knees. It took him a while to smile wryly and say, "At our age, to be so wild!"

    "If I weren''t wild, would I have married you, an honest and simple guy, back then?" Xu Suya rolled her eyes at Ge Shengming and said.

    "If you hadn''t married me, an honest and simple guy, would you have such an immortal-like son?" Ge Shengming rebutted with his legs crossed and a proud look on his face.

    Taken aback by his words, Xu Suya suddenly burst into a cheerful laugh, and gently tapped Ge Shengming''s forehead, saying, "You''re right! Marrying you was the best decision I''ve made in my life." S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu watched his parents, who looked so happily in love, and felt very happy. Just as he was about to chime in, his cellphone suddenly rang.

    Picking it up, Ge Dongxu saw it was a call from Jiang Lili and looked at his parents with a guilty expression. He quickly grabbed the phone and stepped out of the living room, then answered the call.

    "Eh, could that be a call from a girlfriend?" No one knows a child better than a mother. Seeing her son holding the phone with an obviously troubled expression, Xu Suya felt a slight stirring in her heart and spoke up.

    "A girlfriend? He''s only a freshman; surely he hasn''t got one so quickly?" Ge Shengming said upon hearing this.

    "Are you daft? Can you measure your son by the same standards as normal college students? Besides, weren''t you older than him when you and I started dating?" Xu Suya pinched Ge Shengming and cast a sidelong glance at him.

    "That''s also true. Come to think of it, we were about his age when we started dating, and now that he''s so impressive, and just as handsome as his dad back in the day, he must be..." Ge Shengming nodded and said.

    "Stop! What did you just say?" Xu Suya interrupted.

    "I was saying that the age we were dating was..." Ge Shengming replied.

    "Halt! I was referring to the other sentence," Xu Suya said.

    "Which sentence are you talking about? I don''t understand. But never mind, let''s continue talking about our son," Ge Shengming said, his old face blushing.

    Of course, he knew exactly which sentence his wife was asking about.

    "Haha!" Xu Suya burst into laughter upon seeing this and it took a while before she said, "Actually, you don''t need to feel embarrassed. In my heart, you were quite handsome back in the day."

    "Hehe!" Ge Shengming scratched his head, grinning with a mix of pride and embarrassment.

    "What kind of girlfriend do you think a son like ours will find?" Xu Suya asked, glancing sideways at her husband.

    "Of course, he''ll find a girlfriend who''s like his mom¡ªbeautiful, virtuous, and kind-hearted," Ge Shengming replied immediately.

    "Pfft!" Xu Suya was taken aback by his words, then couldn''t help but laugh out loud.

    "Be serious!" Only after a little while did Xu Suya say, staring at him.

    "I am serious," Ge Shengming responded with a solemn face.

    "Actually, I don''t really mind whether she''s pretty or not. The most important thing is that she has a kind heart," Xu Suya said softly as she leaned against Ge Shengming.

    Outside the house, after Ge Dongxu finished his call with Jiang Lili, he discovered several missed calls on his phone.

    They were from Liu Jiayao, Wu Yili, Nico, and Yuan Li, whom he hadn''t seen for a long time.

    Ge Dongxu hurriedly called each of them back.

    Fortunately, the couple Ge Shengming and Xu Suya inside the house were unaware that their son had been talking on the phone with several close female friends during his outing; otherwise, there''s no telling what their reactions might have been.

    ¡­

    Before dawn.

    After the ringing of the midnight bell and the intense fireworks, the village had returned to its usual silence.

    The only sounds that echoed through the night sky were the snowflakes rustling as they landed on the ground and perched on the treetops.

    Ge Dongxu sat quietly in the yard, motionless. Snowflakes settled on him, covering his entire body and turning him into a snowman, seemingly unnoticed by him.

    Inside his body, a trace of warmth and vitality was gradually flourishing, in stark contrast to the cold outside.

    The vitality that had been sealed throughout the winter was now bubbling up like spring water from the Dantian, from the marrow, blood, and muscles, slowly emerging and converging in the Meridians, harboring the essence of spring and the continuously growing strength.

    Thick accumulation leads to a sudden release!

    A winter''s worth of sealing seemed to explode at this moment.

    The purest strand of vitality that had just arisen between heaven and earth seemed to sense the change within Ge Dongxu''s body. Feeling his awakening, much like the awakening of the earth, it gathered towards him along with the spiritual energy of the surroundings, getting absorbed into his body.

    The True Qi in the Meridians gathered more and more, with the vitality growing increasingly dense.

    The True Qi flowed from the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian to the Hand Shaoyang Triple Burner Meridian.

 Chapter 778 - 776: Qi Cultivation Level 10

    ```

    Triple Burner, one of the six fu organs.

    Located in the cavity between the body and the internal organs, encompassing the thoracic and abdominal cavities, it contains all other organs, hence, the Triple Burner encompasses all internal organs and is unmatched in size among the fu organs.

    In plain terms, the Triple Burner is like the sea, like a lake, with the various organs being the land and islands within, all nourished by it.

    Thus, the body''s Vital Energy reaches the five zang-organs and the six fu-organs, as well as every part of the body, through the Triple Burner.

    From this, one can see the importance of the Triple Burner, and the energy required to form an Air Cyclone in the Triple Burner, which covers the largest volume among the five zang-organs and six fu-organs, is also the greatest.

    The sealed True Qi, nourished by pure vitality, grew continuously, and eventually, it rushed through the Meridians like rolling river water, pouring into the Triple Burner.

    Ge Dongxu guarded his Spirit Platform, undisturbed and unexcited, focusing solely on experiencing and comprehending that purest surge of vitality when nature awakened.

    This vitality, like the Innate Qi that humans receive from their mother''s womb, is the purest and points directly to the source of life.

    Ordinary people, even ones close to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer like Yang Yinhou, cannot perceive this thread of vitality; only those who have endured the sealing cold of winter and its desolate stillness can strongly sense it.

    Just as those who have experienced darkness will have an especially intense feeling towards the faintest light.

    Vitality is actually energy, a pure energy that points directly to the origin.

    Thread by thread, this vitality may seem very weak, but it is incredibly pure.

    As Ge Dongxu felt it, touched it, a resonance formed between him and it, as they infiltrated his body one by one, akin to seeds that had waited through a harsh winter to break through the soil, like willow trees waiting to sprout anew, endowing them with new life.

    With every strand of vitality penetrating Ge Dongxu''s Meridians and then into the Triple Burner,

    A vast Air Cyclone gradually began to form within the interconnected Triple Burner. This Air Cyclone, filled with vitality, nourished the organs "growing" within it with every rotation, taking away the Acquired substances they metabolized.

    An enlightenment arose in Ge Dongxu''s mind.

    The Triple Burner, mastering all Qi, oversees the Qi of the five zang-organs and six fu-organs, defensive Qi, Meridians, interior and exterior, left and right, top and bottom. Once the Triple Burner Air Cyclone is formed, it permeates all vessels.

    At this moment, the Twelve Meridians, the five zang-organs and six fu-organs, and the limbs and body¡ªall unified with the formation of this Air Cyclone¡ªbecame a true whole.

    Although it was also a whole before, that wholeness is not the same concept as the current one.

    Now with just a thought, Ge Dongxu can quickly concentrate his strength in one place through the Triple Burner.

    It''s unclear how much time passed before Ge Dongxu finally opened his eyes, his face brimming with immense joy.

    Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer!

    Without reaching this Layer, he could not truly understand and feel the wonder of this level¡ªjust as he couldn''t comprehend how creating an Air Cyclone in his kidneys was a vast breakthrough before he reached the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer. Only after breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer did he understand the nature of Innate and of Yin Yang.

    Also, from that moment, he truly saw the hope of reaching the Dragon Tiger Realm.

    Now, at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer with the Triple Burner Air Cyclone formed, Ge Dongxu felt his strength reach a new height. It was not just that his True Qi had become more powerful, but his control over the True Qi throughout his body and over all his internal organs had also soared to a new level.

    ```

    However, the look of joy on Ge Dongxu''s face quickly turned to astonishment. sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Because he saw that his parents and Yang Yinhou were all in the courtyard, and upon seeing him open his eyes, they all showed a look of surprise and delight.

    "Dad, Mom, Senior Brother, why are you all here?" Ge Dongxu got up and asked.

    "What are you talking about? You''ve been sitting here from New Year''s Eve straight through to the second day of the new month, almost worrying your mother sick. Thankfully, your Senior Brother said it was nothing to be alarmed about, and that''s the only reason we could be at ease," Ge Shengming said.

    "I''ve been sitting here for two days?" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but show a surprised expression.

    Over the years, he had always cultivated at regular intervals and would awake from meditation on time. Even if he had an occasional epiphany, he would only sit for an additional two or three hours, but never like this time, where the moment he entered meditation, two whole days had passed.

    "Yes, not only did you enter meditation for two days this time, but have you also noticed the surroundings?" Yang Yinhou nodded in reply, with a hint of awe and envy in his eyes.

    Upon hearing this, Ge Dongxu looked around his family''s courtyard and was instantly dumbfounded.

    He saw that the peach and plum trees planted by his father were all blossoming with red flowers, creating a stunning contrast with the un-melted snow in the shaded parts of the roof.

    "I understand now." Ge Dongxu walked forward, placed his hand on a peach tree, and felt the vigorous life energy emanating from the tree. His face revealed a smile of relief.

    This time, his epiphany had gathered a great deal of life energy from heaven and earth, benefiting these peach and plum trees as well.

    "Is this the power of spring''s vitality?" Yang Yinhou stepped forward, softly touched the tree bark, and asked.

    "Yes, the power of spring''s vitality. Only after the withering of a harsh winter can one truly understand the sprouting of life. Senior Brother, if you cannot perceive it from the changes in the energy between heaven and earth, why not feel it from these plants? After all, our Pill Talisman Sect specializes in the art of flora," Ge Dongxu nodded thoughtfully and said.

    "Thank you for the instruction, Sect Leader! Your disciple has taken it to heart!" Yang Yinhou said, his body shaking with revelation, his eyes shining brightly. After a while, his expression turned solemn, and he bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu.

    "You are too polite, Senior Brother," Ge Dongxu said, smiling as he helped Yang Yinhou to his feet.

    "Whatever you''re talking about, we don''t understand a bit of it. But Dongxu, you''re alright, aren''t you?" Xu Suya stepped forward and asked with concern.

    "Mom, I''m fine, I feel very good now. I''m sorry to have worried you," Ge Dongxu gently embraced his mother''s shoulder and said with a smile.

    "It''s alright as long as you''re okay. But if your meditation is going to take this long next time, you have to let us know in advance so we can be prepared," Xu Suya breathed a sigh of relief and said.

    "Your mother is right. Such meditation is prone to disturbance, and proper preparations are indeed needed in advance," Yang Yinhou said seriously.

    "I understand. I lacked experience this time and didn''t expect it. Next time I will definitely make the necessary preparations," Ge Dongxu nodded in agreement.

    "Alright, since you''re fine, go take a shower fast, you smell terrible," Xu Suya said.

    Only then did Ge Dongxu notice a light layer of grime covering his skin, scratched his head in embarrassment, and then went inside to take a shower.

    When Ge Dongxu came out, not only did Yang Yinhou''s eyes light up, but even Ge Shengming and his wife, who had watched their son grow up, couldn''t help but be impressed.

    Because at that moment, Ge Dongxu''s skin was not only fair and glowy, his hair was black and lustrous, and there was an indescribable charisma about him that gave people an inexplicable feeling of being refreshed by a spring breeze just by seeing him.

 Chapter 779 - 777: Attracting Bees and Butterflies

    "Why are you all staring at me like that? I know my skin has gotten a bit whiter, but there''s nothing I can do about it," Ge Dongxu said as he noticed the three of them staring, scratching his head in embarrassment.

    "It''s not that, but there is a scent of spring about you now, which makes people feel like they''re basking in the spring breeze, a sense of closeness. I suspect, little brother, if you go to school like this now, for sure you will attract many junior and senior school girls," Yang Yinhou said with a smile, even wearing a schadenfreude expression when he got to the last sentence.

    "Attracting bees and butterflies!" Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but feel a start in his heart as he saw the schadenfreude smile on Yang Yinhou''s face, and the words popped up in his mind unconsciously.

    "Haha, isn''t spring the season for attracting bees and butterflies?" Upon hearing this, Yang Yinhou laughed heartily, his face filled with an even stronger schadenfreude expression.

    And the expressions of Mr. and Mrs. Ge Shengming were quite something.

    Logically speaking, parents should be proud and happy if their son is popular with girls, but the problem is, if it really reaches the level of "attracting bees and butterflies", they would not be so happy about it.

    "I''m doomed!" Ge Dongxu howled in distress, saying, "No, I must seclude myself for the next couple of days and must tone down this charisma."

    "No way. Tomorrow is the third day of the New Year, and you have to go with us to your grandfather''s house to pay a New Year''s visit, that''s the old custom," Xu Suya said.

    "Mom, but with the way I am now, it''s inconvenient, isn''t it?" Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "What''s inconvenient about it? It''s all family, you can''t possibly hook up with your own cousin, can you!" Xu Suya said.

    "Haha! Little brother, your senior brother''s cultivation is limited, I can''t help you with this. Since you''re alright, I''ll be taking my leave first," Yang Yinhou said with a laugh and waved goodbye as he left the Ge Family home.

    Watching Yang Yinhou laugh and take his leave, Ge Dongxu clenched his teeth in ''hatred'' and then turned to look at his mother, resigning himself to say, "Alright then, if it''s paying a New Year''s visit tomorrow, so be it. I need to go meditate in my room now. Don''t disturb me, and call me tomorrow morning."

    "Ah, you''re going to meditate again?" Xu Suya exclaimed in surprise upon hearing this.

    "Don''t worry, Mom. I just want to try changing my aura a bit," Ge Dongxu said with a wry smile.

    "What did you say, am I very old?" Xu Suya finally relaxed but immediately frowned disapprovingly.

    "Not old, of course not old, my mom is the youngest and most beautiful in the world," Ge Dongxu quickly corrected himself upon seeing her reaction.

    "That''s more like it," Xu Suya finally turned from anger to joy and said, "You haven''t eaten for the past two days, don''t you need to eat something before you meditate in your room?"

    "Mom, I''m not hungry at all right now; you guys just prepare your own meal, don''t worry about me," Ge Dongxu said.

    Knowing that their son was now almost like an immortal, Xu Suya and Ge Shengming took his word for it and let it be.

    Ge Dongxu returned to his bedroom, sat cross-legged on the bed, and pondered how to suppress the scent of spring that was constantly emanating from him.

    The next morning, Ge Dongxu came out of his room.

    "Huh!" Xu Suya, who was preparing breakfast, saw Ge Dongxu come out and her face showed a hint of surprise.

    "How is it, Mom?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "Well, it''s a bit different from yesterday. But actually, Mom still likes you the way you were yesterday, you were so charming," Xu Suya said.

    "It''s better to keep it plain," Ge Dongxu felt a shiver in his heart at her words and quickly said.

    He already owed enough emotional debt and didn''t want to attract any more bees and butterflies.

    Even for this, he had to re-tap into his sealed power last night.

    However, since the essence of spring arises naturally, he had to constantly comprehend this spring vitality and thus find a balance between sealing and rejuvenating.

    After a night, he finally managed to find a balance.

    Now, he no longer appeared to be "brimming with the essence of spring," but had an added touch of restraint and steadiness that came with weathering life''s storms.

    Xu Suya just smiled and said no more.

    The family of three had breakfast and then got ready to visit the grandparents'' house to celebrate the New Year.

    The three of them left the house.

    "What about these trees? If others see them, they''ll surely start asking all kinds of questions!" Standing in the yard, Ge Shengming gestured to the blooming peach and plum trees, looking somewhat troubled.

    "Just say you don''t know. It''s not uncommon for some trees to bloom out of season," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Dongxu is right, they didn''t see the peach and plum trees bud and bloom within two days, so it''s easily explainable. Besides, didn''t we agree to go on a trip this January? We''ll just lock the yard door when we leave¡ªwho knows, maybe the weather will warm up in a few days, and the early blooming won''t seem so strange," Xu Suya said.

    "You''re planning a trip for the New Year? How come I didn''t know about this?" Ge Dongxu asked, quite surprised.

    "It''s something your father and I discussed in the last couple of days, we haven''t had the chance to tell you yet," Xu Suya replied. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Traveling sounds great, especially since it''s the New Year and the middle of winter. Dad''s farm stay business won''t be bustling, and mom, you''re on winter break. It''s the perfect opportunity for us to go out and enjoy the beautiful mountains and waters," Ge Dongxu nodded and smiled.

    "Hehe, the main reason is that we have a capable son. Your dad and I don''t have to worry about money anymore. Otherwise, even with all the holidays, traveling wouldn''t have been an option," Xu Suya said.

    "Yes, luckily we have you as our son. Without you, your mom would have suffered following me," Ge Shengming said with emotion.

    "Dad, don''t say that. Having me as your son, isn''t that a testament to your abilities?" Ge Dongxu hugged his father''s shoulder and laughed.

    "Haha, that''s also true," Ge Shengming laughed.

    "Giggles, you two really have thick skins!" Xu Suya couldn''t help but laugh cheerfully.

    "Do we?" Ge Shengming and Ge Dongxu asked in return.

    "Haha!" Xu Suya laughed out loud.

    "Oh, by the way, mom and dad, where do you plan to travel? It''s quite cold here right now. I think you could go to Hainan, where the weather is nice, or I could accompany you abroad, Thailand or Indonesia are both good choices, having the best weather right now, or even Australia, since it''s summer there," Ge Dongxu asked.

    "We don''t need you to accompany us, your mom and I want some time alone together," Ge Shengming said.

    "Oh-ho, time alone together? That must be mom''s idea, right? You can''t be the one with such romantic thoughts," Ge Dongxu shrieked, wrapping his arm around Ge Shengming''s shoulder and asking.

    "What? You looking down on your dad? I may not be educated, but now I''m a boss too, and I even have a private car. As my lifestyle has improved, naturally, so has my way of thinking," Ge Shengming said, pointing at the Wuling minitruck parked at the entrance with pride.

    PS: Today''s update is complete. The update tomorrow will also be in the evening.

 Chapter 780 - 778: Pay a New Year Visit

    Watching dad point at the Wuling mini truck with a hint of pride on his face, Ge Dongxu was completely speechless.

    However, Xu Suya looked at her husband with eyes full of tenderness and nodded, "Don''t mention it, Dongxu, your dad is actually quite imaginative. It''s just that we were poor back then, which forced him to drop out of school early. Otherwise, who knows, he might have been a high-achieving student by now. Your dad''s thinking as a farmer is quite advanced, and he doesn''t fall behind city folks. The idea for this trip was his."

    "How about that, son? If your dad didn''t have some real skills, do you think your mom would have fallen for me back then?" Seeing his wife speaking up for him, Ge Shengming''s prideful expression grew even stronger.

    "Haha! Dad, of course I know you have real skills. If you didn''t, how could your son possibly have achieved what he has now?" Ge Dongxu laughed as he put his arm around his father''s shoulder.

    "That''s right, you just inherited my excellent genes!" Ge Shengming said, growing more proud.

    "Alright, a few compliments and you''re already flying high. Now open the car door, let''s go pay a New Year''s visit to your parents," Xu Suya said with a roll of her eyes, as she watched the father and son praise each other.

    "Hehe." Ge Shengming gave a sheepish laugh and opened the car door.

    The Wuling mini truck, though not worth much money and often used for hauling goods, was kept very clean inside.

    "Dad, let me drive," Ge Dongxu said.

    "What, you don''t trust your dad''s driving? I often drive on these mountain roads; I know them well. Just sit back and relax," Ge Shengming stated as he took the driver''s seat.

    "You just praised him, and now you''re acting so silly. My son doesn''t mistrust you; he just doesn''t want you to overexert yourself," Xu Suya said, rolling her eyes again.

    "Hehe, I know, but I like driving," Ge Shengming laughed.

    "Dongxu, don''t mind your dad, he''s just a hard worker," Xu Suya said, half laughing, half crying.

    Ge Dongxu shook his head with a smile and got into the car.

    "Have you guys planned where you want to go? I can help you arrange it," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Let''s skip going abroad. The furthest your dad has been is Ouzhou City, and he hasn''t even fully explored his own area yet. Why go so far? So, your mom and I planned to start from Changxi County, drive all the way to see some famous spots in Ouzhou City, then drive to the Provincial Capital," Ge Shengming explained.

    "A road trip!" Ge Dongxu was a bit surprised, paused, then smiled, "Dad, you really do have some great ideas. Not many people have this concept in our country right now."

    "Of course," Ge Shengming boasted.

    "Then I''ll arrange for you a better-performing SUV," Ge Dongxu suggested.

    "No need, this Wuling mini truck is just fine," Ge Shengming patted the steering wheel and said.

    "Really, dad, you plan to use this truck for a road trip with mom?" Ge Dongxu was speechless.

    "What? You look down on my Wuling mini truck, don''t you?" Ge Shengming, touching the steering wheel, asked somewhat discontentedly.

    "Dad, that''s not what I mean. I just think we could definitely afford a better car," Ge Dongxu said.

    "No need, I think the Wuling mini truck is good enough," Ge Shengming said. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Haha, Dongxu, there''s no point in persuading your dad. Ever since he bought this car, he''s been cleaning it and driving it every day. Over time, he''s grown attached to it and finds it drives smoothly. Besides, your mom is just a primary school teacher, and your dad is just a farmer and a small agritainment business owner. It''s already quite impressive that they''re driving a Wuling mini truck for self-driving tours. There''s no need to insist on driving a luxury car; being happy is what matters most," Xu Suya said, smiling and interjecting when she saw her son still wanted to persuade them.

    "Yes, I''ve grown attached to it!" Ge Shengming said, patting the steering wheel sentimentally, then after thinking for a bit added, "Plus, I''ve been poor for most of my life, and it''s only been in the past few years that our living conditions have started to improve. It''s better to take it easy and make changes gradually."

    "Since that''s how you feel, I won''t make a fuss. As long as you''re happy, that''s good," Ge Dongxu said, nodding and going along with his parents'' wishes.

    This year''s New Year''s greetings and the family gathering were held as usual at the small restaurant opened by Uncle Xu Zhewei in Xi Garden Town.

    When Ge Dongxu and his family arrived at the restaurant, his maternal grandparents and the families of all three uncles were already there. However, Big Aunt Xu Suying''s family, just like every year, was the last to arrive.

    The status-conscious Big Auntie Liang Zhen still couldn''t change her opportunistic ways. As soon as she saw Ge Dongxu and his family arrive, she immediately went up to greet them with overt enthusiasm, unlike the other two aunties, who acted as they usually did.

    Although Ge Dongxu still didn''t quite like his Big Auntie''s social-climbing behavior, he was ultimately happy to see her warm attitude toward his parents.

    "Happy New Year, Grandpa and Grandma, I''ve come to give my New Year''s greetings!" Ge Dongxu, just like every year, first ran over to wish his grandparents a happy new year.

    Although his grandparents were quite old, having Ge Dongxu as a grandson naturally kept them in very good health, making them look at least ten years younger than their peers.

    "Alright, alright, come here, take the red envelope," his grandparents said, breaking into smiles as soon as they saw Ge Dongxu, and handing him a red packet.

    Today, Ge Dongxu was quietly considered the richest man in Jiangnan Province, but he still happily accepted the red envelope from his grandparents.

    Soon, Big Aunt Xu Suying and her family also arrived.

    "The second child, driving a sedan back home this year! It seems you made quite a bit last year!" As soon as Xu Suying entered, she laughed and said to Xu Zhebo.

    "Not just good, Zhebo''s business has even expanded to Thailand," Liang Zhen added, her eyes full of envy.

    Their family did quite well too, all being civil servants, but since they earned fixed salaries, they definitely didn''t have as much money as Xu Zhebo, who did business abroad year-round.

    "Really? Zhebo, you''ve kept such a tight lid on it. You never mentioned it before the New Year!" Xu Suying exclaimed in surprise.

    "It''s just started not long ago, and I''m not sure how things will turn out, so I didn''t mention it," Xu Zhebo replied.

    "You''re being modest, Zhebo! You''ve already bought a car; that''s way beyond us office workers. Who knows when we''ll be able to afford a car," Jin Yimin, who worked as a clerk in the town government of Xi Garden Town, said.

    "Haha, it''s different. You civil servants have status and job security, unlike us. Look, I''ve made some money now, but who knows when I might lose it," Xu Zhebo said.

    "Zhebo is right. I''m not worried about you all. Zhebo''s situation is different, as he runs a small restaurant just around here at home. I can see him every day and don''t have to worry, but I do worry about Zhebo, who is doing business out there," Ge Dongxu''s grandfather Xu Guozhong said.

 Chapter 781 - 719 Master Ge Might Be Interested

    "Dad, there''s actually nothing much for you to worry about, Zhebo. International trade usually involves very clear transactions of money and goods, unlike here in Ouzhou City where most of them occur on credit, eventually turning into bad debts and triangular debts. Now that Zhebo has begun to engage in international trade, things can only get better from here on out," said Xu Suying.

    She worked in the supply and marketing cooperative and was relatively knowledgeable about these matters; of course, she said this also to comfort her father. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "That''s right, Dad. As long as the business in Thailand gets going, as long as I am not too aggressive and proceed with caution, it''s bound to be profitable without loss," Xu Zhebo joined in to reassure him.

    "That''s good, that''s good. Seeing that each of you has a successful career, not to mention how prosperous Shengming''s family is these days, and Dongxu is even more promising, your mother and I can''t express how happy we are," Xu Guozhong said, nodding again and again.

    In the meantime, the kitchen had prepared the meal.

    Therefore, the Xu Family, spanning three generations, all sat down at the table, and the lively and inevitable clinking of cups and glasses followed.

    ...

    On the sixth day of the first lunar month, Ge Shengming and his wife drove their Wuling minitruck away from Ge Family Village.

    On the same day, in the jungle of Northern Myanmar, located in the infamous Golden Triangle region,

    a small village completely guarded by fully armed soldiers surrounded the perimeter, and a little further away, flames reached for the sky with intermittent sounds of gunfire and explosions.

    Under a tall palm tree, a man in his fifties¡ªtall and obese with dark skin, resembling a wild boar from the jungle¡ªwas pacing back and forth in his military uniform with a face as dark as iron.

    This man was none other than General Gan Lei, one of the warlords in the jungle of Northern Myanmar.

    Previously, General Gan Lei had been suppressed and subdued by Ge Dongxu after kidnapping the nephew of a jade dealer who had accompanied Ge Dongxu to Yunnan to buy jade, along with the nephew''s girlfriend.

    "General, we''ve suffered too many casualties, we should retreat for now!" A middle-aged man in a military uniform hurriedly ran over and panted as he spoke to Gan Lei.

    "Idiots, all of you, just a bunch of good-for-nothing fools. A thousand men can''t even hold a valley!" Gan Lei, furious upon hearing the words, kicked the approaching middle-aged man to the ground in anger.

    "General, it''s not really our fault. The main issue is that we didn''t expect Suowen to betray you early on and become a lapdog for the Japanese. This area has always been under his control; his people know it well, and their weapons, provided by the Japanese, are more advanced than ours. If it were just Suowen, it would be one thing, but that damn Thai, Bacha, had to meddle as well," the middle-aged man said indignantly.

    "Fool, it''s precisely because the Japanese and Thai have gotten involved, it shows that valley is where the Japanese buried their gold during World War II! We''re talking about dozens or even hundreds of tons of gold. No matter the casualties, we absolutely cannot retreat. Continue to increase our forces! Here in this place, only I, Gan Lei, have the final say. Neither the Japanese nor Bacha nor Suowen have the right to dig for treasure on my turf," Gan Lei said with a ferocious look upon hearing the words.

    "Yes, General!" The middle-aged man had already anticipated some of this, and seeing Gan Lei so certain, a look of greed flashed in his eyes as he saluted and turned to leave.

    The war continued.

    "Damn it! That Gan Lei is really infuriating, continuing to send in reinforcements!" In another village in the jungle, a Japanese man with a hooked nose slammed his palm down on a wooden table with a vicious expression.

    "Bang!" With that hit, the wooden table shattered into pieces.

    Although the wooden table was already old and decrepit, temporarily requisitioned from within the village, the fact that a single palm strike could shatter it into pieces still startled Suowen, his eyes betraying a trace of awe.

    "Elder, to capture the thieves, first capture the king! Why don''t we send someone to stealthily... get rid of Gan Lei..." a thin-faced, cold-eyed middle-aged man said in a sinister tone, his hand mimicking the gesture of slitting a throat.

    The man addressed as ''Elder'', with a hooked nose, turned to look at Suowen on the other side.

    "Mr. Tanaka, it''s not that I don''t trust the capabilities of your people, but Gan Lei has been targeted for assassination before, so he always keeps close bodyguards by his side. Furthermore, given the current situation, the guard around him must be even stricter. Infiltrating his camp to assassinate him would be very difficult and dangerous," Suowen contemplated after Tanaka Motoyoshi looked his way.

    "You make a good point, General Suowen. However, this war must be brought to an end as soon as possible, or it will definitely attract the attention and suspicion of the outside world. You should be well aware that Huaxia Country wields considerable influence in the jungles of Northern Myanmar, and the northern armies of Thailand are also always keeping an eye on the Golden Triangle. Once we draw their attention and suspicion, the situation will become very tricky," Tanaka Motoyoshi said gravely.

    "But Mr. Tanaka, assassination is a very risky move, and if it fails, it will surely provoke a frenzied retaliation from Gan Lei. I have worked with Gan Lei before; I know him all too well. Once he goes mad, he becomes a real lunatic! If things reach that point, it would be difficult not to draw the outside world''s attention and suspicion," Suowen cautioned.

    "Your advice is sound, General Suowen. That''s why I have no intention of sending anyone to assassinate Gan Lei. I''ve decided to negotiate with him and also with Bacha. The three parties can join forces to send people to explore the valley and that newly appeared Sky Pit," Tanaka Motoyoshi said, a cruel and cunning smile tugging at his lips.

    Upon hearing this, Suowen glanced at the shattered wooden table on the floor and shivered slightly. His face soon mirrored the same cruelty and cunning, "That would indeed be best, Mr. Tanaka. To be honest, my troop strength is somewhat inferior to Gan Lei''s, and if the skirmish continues, the losses will be substantial."

    "You won''t have to worry about your troop strength for long, General Suowen," Tanaka Motoyoshi said with a sinister smile.

    "At that time, I will likely need much assistance from you, Mr. Tanaka," Suowen said excitedly.

    "Of course," Tanaka Motoyoshi said with a smile.

    "Negotiate? Explore the valley and that newly appeared Sky Pit together?" Gan Lei sneered upon hearing this, "It seems they are quite confident!"

    "General, what do we do now?" Gan Lei''s confidant asked.

    "I think perhaps Master Ge might also be interested in that valley and the newly appeared Sky Pit," Gan Lei said with a cold laugh.

    Gan Lei''s confidant shuddered at the mention of "Master Ge."

    As one of Gan Lei''s confidants, he was naturally present more than half a year ago when Gan Lei was tied up with branches and suspended midair. He was not just present; he was also one of those left hanging.

    Of course, he was luckier than Gan Lei as he did not endure the excruciating pain of ants eating his flesh.

    At the same moment, in another power faction in the Golden Triangle.

    A middle-aged man with a sharp-featured face stood with his hands bound beside an old man clad in a white robe.

    The old man held a cane in his hand, the head of which was carved with a two-headed serpent.

    ps: Today''s update is complete. The updates will continue tomorrow evening.

 Chapter 782 - 780: Rushing Over

    "Teacher, Suowen has proposed a ceasefire, and all three parties will send people to investigate the valley and that Sky Pit," the middle-aged man respectfully said to the elder in the white robe.

    "It seems they have realized that continuing the fight benefits no one," the elder spoke, his voice carrying a hint of time-worn wisdom.

    "Indeed. Wars in the Golden Triangle are not uncommon, but sustained large-scale conflicts are rare. Once we attract international attention and suspicion, our combined forces may prove insufficient. However¡­" the middle-aged man nodded.

    "You''re worried about the Japanese?" the elder in the white robe slowly turned around, looking at the middle-aged man. His old eyes, which should have been cloudy, not only showed a sharp gaze but also the shadow of a snake slithering within his pupil.

    "Yes. Suowen was able to break away from Gan Lei and stand against him precisely because of Japanese support. The discovery of the valley and the Sky Pit this time is also due to the Japanese. It''s just unfortunate that this area is located at the border between us and Gan Lei, and our patrols noticed the Japanese activities. However, our patrol squad lost fifteen in a clash with the Japanese, with only three survivors. They said that besides a few who died from bullets, the rest died silently," the middle-aged man replied, his face showing a grave seriousness.

    "Japan does retain some ancient techniques, but in these jungles, in the dark caves and Sky Pits, it''s the Japanese themselves we should worry about more," the elder in the white robe declared, a chilling aura emanating from him.

    "Hiss! Hiss!" The Wooden Staff in the hands of the white-robed elder had a two-headed snake that seemed to have come to life, flicking its tongue.

    "Disciple will select the ten most elite men to accompany Teacher to the valley," the middle-aged man said, watching the two-headed snake wrapped around itself, its bright red tongue flicking out, eyes filled with deep reverence as he bowed slightly.

    "Go," the white-robed elder nodded, then touched the top of the staff, and the two-headed snake turned back into a carving.

    ...

    "You''re saying that the valley might be hiding gold looted by the Japanese during World War II?" In Changxi County, at the villa on Mingxi Street, Ge Dongxu held a phone in his hand and asked, his eyes flashing coldly, not with greed.

    "Yes, Master Ge, it''s very possible that the gold is buried there. Moreover, during our conflict, a huge Sky Pit appeared in the valley. Some of my subordinates said they saw a five-colored light shooting up from the Sky Pit, although it quickly vanished," Gan Lei replied tremulously over the phone.

    Even over the phone, the thought of his cruel and terrifying master made Gan Lei''s heart, the heart of a warlord stained with the blood of countless people, beat faster.

    "I will leave today. Make sure to guard that valley. Before I arrive, guard it at any cost, and forbid anyone from entering. Everything else will wait until I am there to take action," Ge Dongxu ordered resolutely, his eyes shining intensely upon hearing about the Sky Pit and the five-colored light.

    "Yes, Master Ge!" Gan Lei immediately responded, standing at attention.

    "Dongxu!" Just as Ge Dongxu hung up the phone, Jiang Lili walked out of the house and hugged Ge Dongxu''s waist from behind.

    The day his parents went on a road trip, Ge Dongxu had returned to his villa in the county town.

    As school had not yet started for Jiang Lili, she naturally came over to spend the whole day with Ge Dongxu.

    Feeling the attractive and full resilience behind him, Ge Dongxu turned around, wrapped his arms around her waist, and his hands inadvertently fell upon her especially well-rounded buttocks. He said, "I have to leave for a while, and I can''t say for sure how long I''ll be gone. You don''t have to stay in Changxi County because of me. I''ll surely be going to the capital soon anyway, and I''ll come find you then."

    "Okay, Dongxu, just take care of your business. I can be there anytime you call," Jiang Lili replied, though her heart ached at his departure, she did so without any hesitation.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and then released his hands.

    That day, Ge Dongxu hardly packed anything before he drove straight to Ouzhou City, and from the airport there, he took a flight with two transfers, arriving at Xishuangbanna early the next morning.

    After arriving at Xishuangbanna Airport, Ge Dongxu didn''t stop for a moment and took a car directly to the border.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t go through customs but instead took advantage of the quiet morning to leap directly into the jungles of Northern Myanmar on the other side of the border line.

    In the jungles of Northern Myanmar, where mountains overlapped, the forest was as vast as the sea, swamps stretched endlessly, and snakes, insects, and fierce beasts roamed freely.

    In this jungle, only the areas that were truly cleared saw human activity. In many places, even the most skilled hunters dared not venture in recklessly.

    Pitted and uneven, the rugged mountain roads wound through the forest and connected a series of impoverished cities and villages.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t take a car or walk the pitted mountain roads; instead, he plunged headfirst into the rarely trodden primitive jungle.

    Quick as a rabbit, silent as a hawk, Ge Dongxu moved through the jungle like a ghost, swiftly weaving between trees.

    His specialty was Wood System Techniques, and he had a natural affinity with trees and plants, which served as his best sentinels during the rapid journey, allowing him to easily avoid venomous snakes and scorpions.

    Of course, even if he encountered these venomous creatures or fierce beasts, Ge Dongxu needn''t fear, yet he considered dealing with them bothersome.

    The sun rose in the east, casting dappled shadows throughout the jungle.

    Ge Dongxu continued to move through the forest like a specter, and as he sped along, he sensed the Blood Oath on Gan Lei more and more clearly.

    This not only proved that Gan Lei was alive but also that he was getting closer and closer to Gan Lei.

    At the Golden Triangle, in the Suowen military camp.

    "Mr. Tanaka, Bacha has already agreed to our proposal, but Gan Lei has yet to respond," Suowen said respectfully to Tanaka Motoyoshi.

    "It seems that Gan Lei isn''t foolish and is aware of some rumors," Tanaka Motoyoshi said gravely.

    "Yes, Mr. Tanaka. Our area has always been rife with tales of sorcerers and wizards; I suspect Gan Lei has guessed something," Suowen replied.

    "Rumors are just rumors, and without witnessing them firsthand, how many people would believe them? Moreover, I think modern people tend to trust the guns in their hands more. I believe Gan Lei is no exception, so don''t be impatient. Gan Lei will make his choice sooner or later. Let''s wait," Tanaka Motoyoshi stated.

    "Yes, Mr. Tanaka," Suowen replied, bowing. S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    In Gan Lei''s military camp, Gan Lei¡ªwho looked like a wild boar¡ªsaw a blur before a young face appeared before him.

    "Master Ge!" When Gan Lei saw the owner of this face appear before him like a specter in broad daylight, he shivered uncontrollably and quickly knelt on one knee.

 Chapter 783 - 781: His Agreement is Useless

    "Mm, you can stand up to speak," Ge Dongxu said lightly.

    "Thank you, Master Ge." Gan Lei rose to his feet as instructed and then stood respectfully in front of Ge Dongxu with his hands clasped.

    "What''s the situation?" Ge Dongxu asked.

    "For now, the three sides have stopped fighting, but I have yet to give a definite reply to Suowen," Gan Lei replied respectfully.

    "Suowen is the warlord who collaborates with the Japanese?" Ge Dongxu asked, a hint of murderous intent flashing through his eyes.

    "Yes. Suowen was originally one of my brigade commanders. Later, behind my back, he got involved with the Japanese, helping them search for treasures buried in the jungle during World War II. I would still be in the dark if it weren''t for a subordinate who, dissatisfied with his betrayal, secretly informed me," Gan Lei replied, his eyes revealing a flicker of hateful intent.

    Suowen''s betrayal had directly taken away nearly one-third of his force, striking a significant blow to Gan Lei''s strength.

    Naturally, for a warlord like Gan Lei, his brigade¡ªwhether in equipment or in manpower¡ªcould not compare to a regular army.

    His mention of a brigade consisted roughly of two thousand men, and they were of mixed quality.

    Ge Dongxu naturally wouldn''t dwell on warlords like Gan Lei from the jungles of Northern Myanmar, who had once been a drug lord with several brigade commanders under him. Instead, he curled his lips into a cold smile, "So you mean to say that Suowen''s soldiers were once yours too? If you kill Suowen and a few other main officers, you should be able to take control of this troop again?"

    "Yes, Master Ge!" Gan Lei replied respectfully, his face unable to hide his inner euphoria.

    No one knew the terror of Ge Dongxu better than him!

    "However, from what my men have reported, the Japanese at Suowen''s side may not be so simple," Gan Lei quickly suppressed the euphoria in his heart and reminded him with a grave expression.

    "I remember you had someone quite formidable by your side half a year ago too, whose name also contained the character ''Suo,''" Ge Dongxu said indifferently, a powerful aura subtly emanating from him.

    He was now at the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer Realm! His strength had improved several realms since he had first come to the jungle more than half a year ago; it wasn''t just the rabble in front of him¡ªwhether it was capturing or killing someone from a real elite military force, it would be a matter of ease for him.

    It was really true¡ªhe could grab the enemy commander''s head from amid ten thousand soldiers as if reaching into a bag to pull something out.

    And the Japanese behind Suowen, who even Gan Lei couldn''t handle, what threat could they pose to him?

    Upon Ge Dongxu mentioning that skilled and brutal Suo Meng, Gan Lei unconsciously broke out in cold sweat, trembling as he said, "Returning to Master Ge, that man''s name is Suo Meng."

    "What about the Thai force?" Ge Dongxu nodded and asked.

    "Bacha''s influence in the Golden Triangle is similar to mine, and it''s said that he might have the backing of the Thai military. His territory ends just at this valley, so he''s also aware of this matter and has joined in. He''s already agreed to Suowen''s proposal to negotiate and enter the valley for investigation together," Gan Lei replied. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "His agreement is useless because I have not agreed," Ge Dongxu replied indifferently, his aura becoming even more powerful and dominating.

    "Yes, Master Ge!" Gan Lei replied respectfully, unconsciously straightening up.

    "You, arrange things here and then bring a few people to go with me to Suowen''s place first. I would like to see what emboldens the Japanese to stretch their hands here after all these years since World War II," Ge Dongxu said, his presence exuding an icy, deadly force.

    "Yes!" Hearing this, Gan Lei''s heart thumped hard, but he immediately stood at attention to accept the command.

    Soon, Gan Lei called over five people.

    All five of them had witnessed Ge Dongxu''s capabilities years ago. As soon as they saw him, they shivered and immediately knelt on one knee, respectfully saying, "We greet Master Ge!"

    "Let''s go." Ge Dongxu, seeing that everyone had arrived, nodded.

    "Yes." Gan Lei respectfully responded and then led Ge Dongxu out of the village.

    The village was located halfway up the hillside, below was a valley, and opposite were two smaller mountains.

    Each mountain had troops stationed on it, emitting a fierce and malevolent aura.

    The three mountains perfectly guarded the valley. Anyone wishing to enter the valley would be exposed to the sight of the other side.

    A huge pit, at least thirty meters in diameter, was conspicuously present in the middle of the valley. Looking down from the hillside, it was pitch black, and the bottom was not visible at first glance.

    "Master Ge, that is the Sky Pit that appeared suddenly," Gan Lei pointed to the pit below that appeared like a small pond from above and said.

    "Hmm." Ge Dongxu nodded noncommittally, his Divine Sense had already stretched out like a tentacle, probing into the Sky Pit.

    But the Sky Pit was as impenetrable as it seemed from above. Just as Ge Dongxu''s Divine Sense entered, it vanished without a trace as if swallowed by the sea in the blink of an eye.

    Ge Dongxu experienced a slight dizziness in his brain and was startled. He dared not continue using his Divine Sense for investigation.

    Withdrawing his Divine Sense, Ge Dongxu''s eyes revealed a trace of solemnity and surprise.

    The solemnity was because the Sky Pit indeed had anomalies, and even with his current strength, entering it might not be safe.

    The surprise was that although his Divine Sense had disappeared like it had never existed, he still faintly felt a familiar, intimate aura.

    What exactly was in this Sky Pit? Why was there a thread of familiarity and intimacy?

    Ge Dongxu stared intently at the Sky Pit, his hand subconsciously reaching for the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword hanging around his neck.

    "Master Ge, please get in the car." While Ge Dongxu was pondering, Gan Lei cautiously reminded him.

    "Hmm." Ge Dongxu snapped out of his thoughts, nodded, and climbed into the military jeep.

    A winding and uneven mountain road connected the village nestled within the mountains.

    "What? The outpost report says Gan Lei is actually driving towards us? Just two vehicles and seven people?" In the temporarily requisitioned military camp in the mountain village, Suowen could hardly believe his own ears.

    "Yes, General!" The reporting officer was also clearly puzzled.

    "What is Gan Lei thinking? Does he think he can still issue orders to me? Or does he believe that just by beckoning, my soldiers will switch their allegiance back to him?" After receiving confirmation, Suowen couldn''t help talking to himself.

    "Why bother yourself, General? Wouldn''t meeting Gan Lei clarify everything? Are you telling me your over a thousand guns are scared of Gan Lei''s seven men?" Tanaka Motoyoshi''s lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes gleaming with murderous intent.

    PS: Today''s update is complete, continuing tomorrow evening.

 Chapter 784 - 782 Who Gave You the Courage?

    "Mr. Tanaka is right," Suowen nodded, a cruel smile gradually spreading across his face. "Let them come in directly, no need to stop them."

    Two military jeeps had an unobstructed passage through Suowen''s checkpoints.

    As Gan Lei watched the soldiers on each lookout tower point their guns at him and his people from a distance, sweat couldn''t help but break out on his palms.

    Though he had been through numerous battles, he had never so blatantly charged into the heart of an enemy camp, letting the soldiers'' guns aim down at him from above.

    The vehicles quickly entered the center of the village.

    In front of a stilt house that seemed to belong to a wealthy person, Suowen and Tanaka Motoyoshi sat leisurely in rattan chairs.

    Behind them stood rows of heavily armed soldiers and officers, along with eight Japanese men.

    The soldiers and officers appeared fierce and fit, their gazes sharp, radiating a faint scent of bloodshed¡ªclearly, they were the elite of Suowen''s forces.

    The eight Japanese men didn''t seem very strong or burly, and they weren''t holding guns, but they exuded a sinister and frightening aura that made Gan Lei and his people feel that these Japanese were even more dangerous.

    Ge Dongxu sat in the back seat with his legs crossed, eyeing these people, especially the eight Japanese and Tanaka Motoyoshi, with a flash of murderous intent deep in his eyes.

    "Click, click!" As the vehicles approached the stilt house, every soldier clicked off their safety and raised their guns towards the two jeeps.

    The jeeps came to a stop.

    Gan Lei and his five trusted subordinates all jumped out of the vehicles, while Ge Dongxu got out of the car unhurriedly.

    "Clap! Clap! Clap!" Suowen clapped his hands as he crossed his legs.

    "Clap! Clap! Clap!" Tanaka Motoyoshi followed suit, applauding.

    "General Gan Lei, as brave as ever! But don''t you think what you''re doing is foolish? You should know I have always wanted to get rid of you, Suowen," said with a look of mockery after the applause.

    Suowen spoke in Chinese, as many people in the Golden Triangle spoke Chinese.

    Tanaka Motoyoshi didn''t speak Burmese or the local dialects, but he spoke Chinese, so Suowen deliberately used Chinese.

    It wasn''t Gan Lei who replied to Suowen, but Ge Dongxu. "If it were me, I wouldn''t consider a general who can gather thousands of men in the jungle to be foolish, nor would I mock my former leader as foolish, for that would make you seem even more stupid."

    "Who are you? Who gave you the guts to call me stupid here?" Suowen''s face changed drastically, and he slowly picked up the pistol from the teak table beside the rattan chair, lifting it to aim at Ge Dongxu.

    "Are you from Huaxia?" Tanaka Motoyoshi''s face also changed drastically as he slowly stood up. "No wonder General Gan dares to venture into the dragon''s den with so few men; you''ve found Huaxia Country as your ally. But it seems you''ve forgotten this is the Golden Triangle, where even the Huaxia Country''s military can''t come in openly."

    "If our Huaxia Country''s military cannot come in openly, then you Japanese don''t even have the right to sneak in. Don''t forget, in earlier times, this place was once the territory of Huaxia Country. And you, what do you count for to point a gun at me?" Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    Before Ge Dongxu could finish speaking, suddenly a shadowy flying sword of black and green appeared out of nowhere and had silently circled around Suowen''s neck.

    With a "thud," Suowen''s head dropped from his neck.

    As the head fell, his body was still seated in the rattan chair, gun in hand, but blood gushed from his neck as the head rolled to the floor in front of his feet.

    A supremely eerie and terrifying atmosphere swept through the space of the stilted building in an instant.

    Not to mention the few dozen of Suowen''s elite men holding guns who were so scared their legs went weak and their bodies broke out in cold sweat, even those like Gan Lei, who had witnessed Ge Dongxu''s prowess, were terrified, their hearts pounding and faces pale.

    "Shoot now! Shoot!" Tanaka Motoyoshi''s screams of terror shattered the short-lived silence.

    With that shout from Tanaka Motoyoshi, Suowen''s elite guards finally snapped out of their shock, trembling as they prepared to pull the trigger.

    But what they all failed to notice was that, in the moments when they were petrified with fear, the surrounding trees had already lowered their branches, hanging like jungle pythons, flicking their tongues, and the grass on the ground had already slithered to their feet like green snakes.

    Just as they were about to squeeze the trigger, the hanging branches overhead, like the tree demon granny from "A Chinese Ghost Story," suddenly enveloped them with a swoosh, then retracted swiftly, hoisting them into the air.

    Others were entangled by the grass that had suddenly sprung from the ground, leaving them bound and immobile on the earth.

    All of this happened in a flash, and before Tanaka Motoyoshi and the others could react, the few dozen armed elite soldiers and officers had already lost their ability to act.

    Drenched in cold sweat, Tanaka Motoyoshi turned pale and pointed at Ge Dongxu with terror in his eyes, exclaiming, "Huaxia magician! You, you''re a Huaxia magician!"

    As for his eight subordinates, while not screaming out loud, they too had looks of sheer terror in their eyes.

    "Is that so strange? Aren''t you a magician as well?" Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Although I am a magician, I am nowhere near your level," Tanaka Motoyoshi tried hard to suppress the panic inside him. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "It seems you do have some insight," Ge Dongxu revealed a row of bright white teeth and smiled.

    Seeing the smile on Ge Dongxu''s face, Tanaka Motoyoshi truly wanted to grab a machine gun and sweep it across Ge Dongxu mercilessly.

    Without any sign of action, the head had fallen, and dozens of people were captured. Even if Tanaka Motoyoshi was a fool, he knew that such refined techniques were far beyond his capability to contend with.

    "Thank you for the compliment. Since you''re interested in this treasure hunt, the Tanaka Family will withdraw from this operation," Tanaka Motoyoshi cursed inwardly but bowed respectfully.

    "Withdraw? Who gave you the audacity to make such an excessive demand?" Ge Dongxu responded with a hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth.

    "What would you have us do then?" Tanaka Motoyoshi''s face went through several changes of color, but eventually, he bowed again and inquired.

    "You see, you know this General Gan Lei, and you should be aware that Suowen was originally his man. But what happened? You''ve encouraged Suowen to betray General Gan Lei, and unfortunately, General Gan Lei is my man. So you should understand, you''re inciting Suowen to betray me, you are treasure hunting on my turf. As a Japanese, what right do you have to meddle with my people, what right do you have to treasure hunt on my turf?" Ge Dongxu started off with a smile but his expression gradually became cold, and in the end, he simply raised his palm and slapped it towards Tanaka Motoyoshi across the air.

 Chapter 785 - 785: 783

    ```

    "Slap!" Tanaka Motoyoshi was suddenly slapped so hard that he fell to the ground, several teeth knocked out, his mouth bleeding profusely and swollen.

    "Elder!" The sight shocked the other eight people, who all changed expressions and called out, wanting to rush forward to help him.

    However, as soon as one person moved, a flash of Sword Light decapitated the Japanese man, his head rolling on the ground like Suowen''s.

    The others immediately dared not move, their eyes filled with terror.

    Unlike Suowen, they all possessed cultivation and were skilled at stealth and assassination. Even if bullets were fired at them, they would reflexively dodge, but just then, their companion had his head silently severed without any chance to react. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    It was not hard to imagine that if Ge Dongxu truly wanted to kill them, it would be like cutting grass¡ªuseless even with their cultivation.

    "It seems that you have no intention of letting us go," Tanaka Motoyoshi wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and got up from the ground, his heart already filled with towering waves of shock.

    Previously, he had only witnessed Ge Dongxu''s prowess, but now he had experienced it firsthand.

    He was an Onmyoji of the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, and although his real strength lay not in his cultivation but his Shikigami, a slap through the air from Ge Dongxu had sent him flying to the ground. The power was beyond his imagination.

    "Finally, some sense in your head," Ge Dongxu said with an "appreciative" expression, then continued, "Now, you only have the choice of how to die. Of course, that''s provided you answer my questions; otherwise, I think your Shikigami would be very willing to slowly devour your souls."

    No sooner had Ge Dongxu''s words ended than a puff of white smoke erupted in front of the other seven people, with shadows twisting within it.

    "It seems your subordinates are even more foolish than you!" Ge Dongxu showed no signs of stopping them from using their Ninjutsu to escape; instead, he shook his head and said to Tanaka Motoyoshi.

    But as Ge Dongxu''s voice faded, the white smoke gradually dissipated, and the seven people were now suspended in mid-air.

    "What do you want to know?" Tanaka Motoyoshi wilted at the sight, despair filling his eyes.

    About the treasure, and about your family''s affairs," Ge Dongxu replied indifferently.

    "I can tell you about the treasure, but I have nothing to say regarding my family''s affairs," Tanaka Motoyoshi responded.

    "You''re not in a position to negotiate with me." As Ge Dongxu spoke, he made a grabbing motion through the air, and Tanaka Motoyoshi uncontrollably rose and fell into Ge Dongxu''s palm.

    Ge Dongxu patted Tanaka Motoyoshi a few times and said, "When you can tell me these things, that''s when your pain will end."

    With the chanting of a spell, Tanaka Motoyoshi instantly felt as if millions of ants were crawling over his body, gnawing at his flesh, and his heart.

    Tanaka Motoyoshi immediately rolled on the ground, scratching and tearing at himself uncontrollably.

    Seeing this scene, Gan Lei couldn''t help but break out in a cold sweat on his forehead.

    He knew all too well the pain being experienced.

    ```

    "Gan Lei, take a look and decide for yourself which of these people should stay and which should be killed. I think you should be able to control this region by now," Ge Dongxu said, turning to Gan Lei instead of Tanaka Motoyoshi.

    "Yes, Master Ge," Gan Lei replied respectfully.

    Ge Dongxu nodded and turned his gaze to the other seven Japanese.

    "Master Ge, I''ll talk, I''ll talk," one of the leaner Japanese men blurted out in alarm as soon as Ge Dongxu''s gaze swept over him.

    "Good," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile, and released the Japanese man from the grip of the branches.

    "Sir, I, I am willing to talk too," Tanaka Motoyoshi, after all, was not truly a tough guy, especially since his subordinates were already ready to speak up, and his own stubbornness was useless.

    "Why bother with this, you could have spoken earlier and avoided all this unnecessary suffering," Ge Dongxu said as he cast a spell, and Tanaka Motoyoshi stopped rolling on the ground and began to gasp for air, looking at Ge Dongxu as if he were a demon from Hell.

    Soon, Ge Dongxu learned from Tanaka Motoyoshi that after Japan''s defeat in the war, a large amount of gold, jade, and other valuable items looted from Southeast Asia were buried in the jungles of Northern Myanmar. An elder from the Tanaka Family was involved in the burial back then. But that elder had died early and only vaguely described the terrain around the site of the treasure. The exact location was unknown, and given the complexity of the jungle terrain in Northern Myanmar, even if he went in person, it would be difficult to find, let alone for Tanaka Motoyoshi and the others who only had his descriptions to go on.

    However, the treasure was enormously valuable at that time, with fifty tons of gold alone, and many other jewels and jades. Therefore, the Tanaka Family never gave up searching for the treasure and had people active in the jungles of Northern Myanmar year-round.

    Some time ago, they had finally confirmed that the valley ahead was the location where the Tanaka Family elder had buried the treasure.

    As for the Tanaka Family, with the decline of Daoist arts and the rise of modern firearms, most young people were no longer willing to tirelessly cultivate Ninjutsu and Onmyodo. So among the Tanaka Family, there were very few people nowadays with true cultivation and knowledge of techniques.

    Besides Tanaka Motoyoshi, the elder, only the head of the family possessed the cultivation of Qi Cultivation Third Layer, and most of those were brought here by him.

    Beyond this, Ge Dongxu naturally also inquired in detail about the situation of the Tanaka Family.

    He knew that the family still held some wealth and power in Japan, but they were somewhat inferior to the Matsukawa Family currently controlled by Matsukawa Nozomu. More nuanced details did not interest Ge Dongxu. He simply arranged for a landline phone to be brought, and made a call to Matsukawa Nozomu, briefly explained a few things to him, and then let him talk to Tanaka Motoyoshi.

    With the wisdom Matsukawa Nozomu possessed in the business world, his wealth, and the cruel and venomous nature of Yamaguchi Haruko from the Anri Organization, specifically arranged by Ge Dongxu, they would know how to make the Tanaka Family decline and even perish, now that they had the most core information from Tanaka Motoyoshi.

    While Ge Dongxu was interrogating Tanaka Motoyoshi and others, Gan Lei was not idle on his end.

    He personally took the lives of seven or eight of Suowen''s most loyal subordinates, then released the others.

    The main elites of Suowen''s force, who were originally Gan Lei''s men, had now witnessed Ge Dongxu''s terrifying and bizarre techniques to an extreme point, and dared not harbor any second thoughts. Without the need for Gan Lei to say anything, each one of them reaffirmed their loyalty to him.

    Having these men, Gan Lei naturally regained control of the region.

    "Kill these Japanese people, and then let''s take another trip to see Bacha," Ge Dongxu said, pointing at Tanaka Motoyoshi and the others, now that all the necessary questions had been asked, and Gan Lei, through his former subordinates, had regained control of the troops taken by Suowen.

    PS: Today''s update is complete; the next one will be in the evening tomorrow.

 Chapter 786 - 784: Young man, are you speaking too arrogantly?

    "Yes!" Gan Lei replied respectfully without any hesitation before executing Tanaka Motoyoshi and his companions with a gun, one by one.

    In the past, Gan Lei certainly wouldn''t dare to shoot an important member of an influential family from both the political and business sectors of Japan so easily.

    After dealing with Tanaka Motoyoshi and the others, Ge Dongxu got back into the jeep and drove towards another mountaintop along the winding, pitted mountain road.

    Bacha was equally surprised by the arrival of Gan Lei and his men.

    However, he had not considered killing Gan Lei because doing so would bring no benefits to him. On the contrary, killing Gan Lei would not only provoke a vengeful frenzy among Gan Lei''s men but would also give Suowen the opportunity to grow even stronger.

    Therefore, as soon as he received his subordinates'' report, Bacha immediately took some men to meet Gan Lei and his group. sea??h th§× novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    But what shocked Bacha was that, after getting out of their vehicles, Gan Lei and his men didn''t immediately walk towards him; they stood and waited for a young man to leisurely disembark before following him over.

    "General Gan Lei, who is this¡­?" Bacha asked in Chinese.

    "This is Master Ge. Master Ge, this is General Bacha," Gan Lei replied before bowing slightly to introduce Ge Dongxu.

    "Master Ge?" Bacha''s face couldn''t help but change slightly, revealing a hint of shock in his eyes.

    He knew all too well Gan Lei''s arrogance and pride; even when Khun Sa dominated the Golden Triangle, Gan Lei had dared to oppose him.

    Of course, with many guns and men, and a large territory under his control, Gan Lei had the right to be arrogant.

    But now, someone like Gan Lei was actually calling a young man Master and behaving so respectfully¡ªthis naturally shocked Bacha significantly.

    "Hello, Mr. Ge, welcome, welcome," Bacha, however, was quite a character and quickly subdued his inner shock, smiling and reaching out for a handshake.

    "Hello General Bacha, you seem much smarter than Suowen," Ge Dongxu responded with a smile, shaking hands with Bacha.

    "You''ve already been to see Suowen? Then Suowen..." Upon hearing this, Bacha''s heart skipped a beat, and he had an instinctive premonition that things had probably gone very wrong for Suowen.

    "He''s already dead. Because he not only betrayed Gan Lei but also colluded with the Japanese." Ge Dongxu stated indifferently.

    "What?" Even with Bacha''s composure, his face couldn''t help but change dramatically at these words.

    Suowen had many men and his weapons were very advanced; his strength was not much less than Gan Lei''s. But since the ceasefire among the three parties, this area had rarely heard the sounds of gunfire and artillery.

    How could Suowen possibly be killed?

    Suowen was indeed about to be killed, but before that, there would surely be a brutal battle between two armies.

    Even if Suowen was assassinated, his followers would definitely seek revenge, so how could things be as peaceful as they are now?

    "I heard from Gan Lei that General Bacha''s territory originally only reached this mountain peak, but now he wants to extend his reach into the valley below and has had quite a conflict with Gan Lei, causing casualties among his soldiers. Therefore, I believe General Bacha is in the wrong here, and I am not pleased because Gan Lei is my man," Ge Dongxu said, ignoring Bacha''s shock and continuing to speak calmly.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu claim Gan Lei as his man, Bacha couldn''t help but feel shocked once again.

    However, being a figure of some stature, with many guns and men under his command and on his own turf, Bacha was not going to be completely frightened by a few words from Ge Dongxu; he quickly suppressed his shock and asked Ge Dongxu with a deep voice, "What do you mean by that, Mr. Ge?"

    "If you do something wrong, there''s always a price to pay, so my meaning is that General Bacha''s men should withdraw from this mountain peak, which will belong to Gan Lei from now on," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "It seems like Mr. Ge is determined to claim the treasure in the valley, not allowing anyone else to touch it," Bacha said, his expression changing drastically as a fierce light, sharp as a sword, flashed in his eyes.

    "Correct," Ge Dongxu replied directly.

    "Young man, aren''t you being a bit too presumptuous? I know you must have the support of the military from Huaxia behind you, but don''t forget this is the Golden Triangle, not a place where the Huaxia military gets to call the shots," said the white-robed elder, who had been standing quietly behind the scene, watching Ge Dongxu and his party, not speaking until now.

    "No, you are mistaken, this matter has nothing to do with the military. It is my decision, and it is for me to decide!" Ge Dongxu said indifferently.

    "Oh, it seems then you must possess some extraordinary skills. It''s good for a young man to be skilled, but if that leads to overconfidence and arrogance, that may not be so good," the white-robed elder said, his gaze piercing as he looked at Ge Dongxu, as if trying to see through him. Moreover, he was exuding a strong and chilling aura.

    "Indeed, Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer! It seems you are quite a big figure in Thailand''s Qimen," Ge Dongxu said, his expression unchanged, taking an interested look at the white-robed elder.

    The white-robed elder, seeing that Ge Dongxu not only remained calm in the face of his powerful aura but also pinpointed his Realm, couldn''t help but take a sharp breath in surprise, though his face still maintained its calmness as he said, "You do have some insight and skill, indeed. My name is Sexin, and perhaps your elders have mentioned this name to you."

    Ge Dongxu didn''t respond but instead turned to look at Gan Lei, whose face had changed color upon hearing the name.

    "Master Ge, Sexin is Thailand''s most famous master of black magic sorcery who even commands respect from the royal family. He has four disciples, all prominent figures in the political, business, and military circles of Thailand. I didn''t expect him to be here too. Oh, right, I''ve heard he also has some Chinese blood in him," Gan Lei whispered to Ge Dongxu.

    "I think Master Sexin has more than four disciples. If I''m not mistaken, this General Bacha here is also one of Master Sexin''s disciples," Ge Dongxu said, looking at Sexin with a hint of admiration after hearing Gan Lei.

    In this day and age, it''s no easy feat to cultivate to the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer and even moreso to train four disciples who are big figures in the political, business, and military spheres.

    And of course, there''s the disciple right before us, planted in the Golden Triangle.

    "Who exactly are you?" Sexin, seeing that Ge Dongxu had exposed Bacha''s identity in one sentence, could no longer keep his composure and stared at Ge Dongxu with a chilling gaze as he asked.

    "Even if I told you, you wouldn''t know, as I am not that well-known. However, this does not change the fact that Gan Lei is my man. So, you should understand that your disciple coveted Gan Lei''s territory and even hurt his people, and for that, a price must be paid. That''s all I have to say; now you can make your decision," Ge Dongxu replied.

 Chapter 787 - 787: 785

    Bacha, being a regional overlord in the Golden Triangle area, couldn''t tolerate Ge Dongxu''s arrogant attitude towards his master. His face suddenly darkened, and his eyes burst with a fierce light. His hand moved slightly, as he was about to order his men to show Ge Dongxu a lesson.

    However, before Bacha could raise his hand, Sexin had already raised his to stop him.

    "Victors are kings, losers are bandits. Since Mr. Ge is a member of the Qimen, why don''t we resolve this using Qimen methods? If you defeat me, we will withdraw from this mountain, but if you lose, I don''t ask for much¡ªjust to explore the valley with you. If we find anything, how about we share it equally?" Sexin said.

    "Teacher!" Bacha''s face changed slightly as he spoke.

    "What? You think the condition your teacher is proposing is unfair?" Ge Dongxu looked at Bacha, a cold smile escaping the corner of his mouth.

    "Exactly. If you lose, you should withdraw from this exploration," Bacha said firmly.

    "You should be grateful you have a reasonable teacher. Otherwise, based on that statement just now, and the war you previously waged against Gan Lei''s forces, you''d be on your way to meet Suowen already. But while death can be avoided, punishment cannot!" Looking at Bacha, Ge Dongxu''s expression gradually turned icy, and at the very end, a sudden chill flashed in his eyes. Without any visible movement from him, the branches above Bacha''s head suddenly shot out like jungle pythons, coiling around him and swiftly hoisting him into midair, tightening continually.

    Bacha''s personal guards had already aimed their guns at Ge Dongxu upon seeing this.

    But just as they made their move, the green grass on the ground suddenly shot up forming intertwining strands, shaping into several large green hands that snatched the guns from the guards'' hands, then "click-clack" switched off the safety and aimed at them.

    Seeing the large green hands holding guns aimed at themselves, all the guards felt their legs go weak, their eyes betraying an extreme sense of horror.

    They had all experienced gunfire and had guns pointed at their heads before, but never had they been threatened by large hands made of green grass wielding guns at their heads.

    Such a bizarre scene was suffused with eeriness, making them all feel an unprecedented terror¡ªas if a chilly and sinister wind was blowing around them, making their skin crawl.

    When Sexin saw Bacha being rolled up by the branches and hanged in midair, his fingers were already drawing Dharma Seals on his cane. However, when he saw Bacha''s personal guards just about to raise their guns only to have them taken by the large green hands and aimed back at them, his face turned somewhat pale, and his hands stopped drawing Dharma Talismans.

    Sexin was very clear that the skill Ge Dongxu had casually demonstrated was far beyond his own.

    Now he believed that Suowen was truly dead.

    Because against a powerful person like Ge Dongxu, Suowen''s ragtag troops, no matter how many guns and people they had, were useless.

    Moreover, the Techniques Ge Dongxu had just used reminded him of someone from long ago, someone who had been exceptionally kind to him.

    "Could it be, could it be that you are the disciple of my benefactor? Impossible, if he were still alive he would be over a hundred years old by now, and there would have been some news of him in the Qimen community. Also, his cultivation wasn''t as strong as yours back then. No, you, you''ve reached the Realm of Drawing Talismans in the Void!" As Sexin spoke, his mind raced through the astonishing scenes he had just witnessed, and suddenly his eyes reflected an extreme terror.

    "Who is the benefactor you''re talking about?" Ge Dongxu''s heart stirred slightly upon hearing this, and he asked.

    "You, did you just perform the Drawing Talismans in the Void?" Sexin didn''t answer but responded with a question, his eyes full of reverence, using respectful language.

    Drawing Talismans in the Void, in this age, was already a legendary technique, which required at least Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer to execute.

    And up to now, Sexin himself was only at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Of course, the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, in this era, was already quite remarkable, but compared to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, the difference was still vast.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t answer but simply showed his empty hands to Sexin, then suddenly pinched out a spell gesture.

    "Bang!" With a sound, Bacha fell from mid-air onto the ground, and at the same time, those Great Hands holding guns shrank back into the earth instantly as guns scattered all around.

    However, not a single soldier dared to pick up the weapons, and Bacha, too, just bit back his pain and rose from the ground without daring to make a peep.

    He had a certain level of cultivation as well, and although it was far inferior to his master''s, he still had some insight.

    Drawing Talismans in the Void, that was simply beyond his imaginable realm of cultivation!

    "It really is Drawing Talismans in the Void! It really is Drawing Talismans in the Void!" Sexin watched Bacha fall from mid-air and saw guns scattered on the ground, his eyes almost popping out as he murmured in shock.

    "Master Sexin, now perhaps you can talk to me about your benefactor. I''m quite curious why my techniques reminded you of your benefactor," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile, seeing the astonishment on Sexin''s face, and asked again.

    "It was a long time ago. I was very young then, only twenty years old, but my father was a somewhat famous Sorcerer in Thailand. Unfortunately, my father offended a very powerful Sorcerer and had to flee with me from Chiang Rai through this Golden Triangle to Yunnan, which is also the homeland of my great-grandfather. So, what General Gan Lei said about having part Chinese descent was correct."

    "Although my father took me to Yunnan, that powerful Sorcerer still found us through Casting Spells. At that time, my father''s strength was much less than that Sorcerer''s, to say nothing of me. Just when my father and I were about to be killed by that Sorcerer''s Cursing Magic, a very powerful Qimen practitioner happened by and saved us, father and son. The Spell he used was very similar to the one you just performed, but he needed to use a Magic Artifact to perform it, and he couldn''t cast it as quickly and smoothly as you. Of course, that was still very impressive; even with my current strength, I would probably be far inferior," Sexin replied, nostalgia evident on his face.

    "Do you know your benefactor''s name?" Ge Dongxu asked, and for some reason, he thought of his master.

    "I only know his surname is Ren; he didn''t tell us his full name. But that was a long time ago, and if he''s still alive, I think he must at least be one hundred and twenty years old by now. You probably couldn''t know him," Sexin replied.

    "Surname Ren? My master''s surname is Ren." Ge Dongxu''s heart shuddered upon hearing this, his eyes showing deep sorrow, and his gaze softened unconsciously as he looked at Sexin.******S: Today''s update is complete, thank you for your support.

 Chapter 788 - 788: 786 Elder Martial Brothers Arrival

    "Your master''s surname was also Ren?" Sexin couldn''t help but tremble at the words.

    "Yes, if the old man were still alive, he would be one hundred and twenty-six this year," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Wait, wait, I still remember the benefactor''s face distinctly. My father even took special care to draw his portrait and hang it in our home, lest future generations forget this kindness. I will draw the portrait of the benefactor right away for you to see if it is indeed him." Upon saying this, Sexin''s hands trembled as he hurriedly went inside to fetch paper and pen, then quickly sketched out a middle-aged man wearing a gray robe, with a small Bagua Furnace and a Peach Wood Sword hanging at his waist.

    "That''s right, he is my master, his surname is Ren, first name Yao," Ge Dongxu recognized the middle-aged man that Sexin had sketched with just a few strokes. He knew at a glance that it was his master.

    As he spoke, Ge Dongxu took out the Peach Wood Sword hanging around his neck, his eyes unconsciously becoming moist.

    He had not expected to meet someone here who had had an encounter with his master, stirring up his deep longing for him.

    "Paying respects to senior, Sexin was blind to Mount Tai and repaid kindness with ingratitude, please forgive me," Sexin trembled once more as he saw Ge Dongxu take out the Peach Wood Sword and knelt down before him, tears streaming down his face.

    "Those who are ignorant are not at fault, and besides, what you just said was reasonable, showing that my master did not save the wrong person all those years ago." Ge Dongxu stepped forward to help Sexin up, his heart filled with emotion.

    "Thank you, senior," Sexin, seeing that Ge Dongxu bore no blame toward him, let out a huge sigh of relief. He also felt extremely fortunate that he had not really committed any heinous act just now, otherwise, he would have been too ashamed to face his deceased father and Ren Yao.

    "You must be over eighty years old this year, so you needn''t call me senior," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Replying to the senior, I am eighty-seven this year. After the benefactor saved my father and me, he not only stayed at my home for a night but also gave my father guidance in his cultivation. Not only does he have the grace of saving our lives, but he also has the grace of teaching and resolving doubts. My ability to reach the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer today is greatly related to the pointers given by the benefactor back then. You are the benefactor''s disciple, and I should rightfully address you as senior," Sexin replied respectfully.

    Seeing Sexin, who was already eighty-seven years old and also a National Master level figure in Thailand, repeatedly calling Ge Dongxu senior with the utmost respect, Gan Lei and the others were completely stunned, and their reverence for Ge Dongxu grew even more.

    "Since my master gave guidance to your father in his cultivation, I won''t be modest with you," said Ge Dongxu, who seemed quite surprised by this revelation, but then his gaze towards Sexin became even more gentle and warm.

    "It''s only right!" Sexin said respectfully before hesitating to ask, "May I ask where the benefactor has been laid to rest? Could I go and pay my respects?"

    "My master now rests in Jiangnan Province. Once matters here are settled, you can accompany me on a visit," Ge Dongxu nodded and replied. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "Thank you, senior." Sexin hurriedly bowed and thanked him upon hearing these words.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, then turned his gaze to Bacha.

    As Bacha saw Ge Dongxu''s gaze fall upon him, he couldn''t help but shudder and rushed forward to kneel on one knee, saying, "Bacha pays respects to Master Ge; I will order my men to withdraw from this mountaintop immediately!"

    Ge Dongxu nodded noncommittally then ordered Gan Lei, "After Bacha withdraws from this mountaintop, have your men stationed here, and do not allow anyone to barge into this valley."

    "Yes!" Gan Lei immediately stood at attention and saluted, his eyes gleaming with excitement and admiration.

    "Master Ge, what about Suowen and the Japanese?" Bacha hesitated, then asked cautiously.

    "What do you think, Bacha?" Ge Dongxu asked with a slight smile.

    Bacha felt a chill run up his spine as he looked at the smile on Ge Dongxu''s face.

    "I heard those Japanese have considerable wealth and political influence in Japan," Bacha suppressed the fear in his heart, hesitated a moment, and then cautiously spoke again.

    "So what about it?" Ge Dongxu asked again with a slight smile.

    Bacha was at a loss for words, while Sexin already bowed slightly and said, "Then Senior, I will wait for your message at the foot of the mountain."

    Ge Dongxu nodded, glanced at Bacha again, and said indifferently, "Bacha, you should be thankful you have a good teacher."

    Upon hearing this, Bacha shuddered and quickly bowed slightly, just as his teacher did. Then commands were issued one after another, and soldiers began to uproot their camp and leave the mountain top.

    "Master Ge, do we need to send someone to scout the valley and that Sky Pit first?" After Bacha''s men had left, Gan Lei first gave orders to his subordinates to come and station here, then went behind Ge Dongxu and cautiously suggested.

    "I am not worried about the valley and the Sky Pit, if there is real danger, your men won''t be able to scout out the level of threat to me. What I am concerned about is your side; you lack true experts here. Alright, first command your men to seal off the valley, and I will inform my senior brother to come over. I think you should know who my senior brother is," Ge Dongxu said after a moment''s thought.

    "Of course!" Gan Lei''s body jolted upon hearing this, and a trace of awe appeared in his eyes.

    ...

    Yang Yinhou''s arrival naturally couldn''t be as swift as Ge Dongxu''s; it was two days later that he finally reached the location of the valley.

    "General Yang! Your legs?" Gan Lei was almost popping his eyes out when he saw Yang Yinhou with both legs intact and brimming with vigor.

    "With such a powerful junior brother, do you think my legs would fail to heal?" Yang Yinhou said with a smile.

    "Yes! Yes!" Gan Lei nodded repeatedly, cold sweat already forming on his forehead.

    A person''s reputation is like a tree''s shadow; Gan Lei was naturally well aware of Yang Yinhou''s formidable name in the jungle.

    "Dongxu, you specifically called for me, so the Sky Pit must be what you truly care about," Yang Yinhou said, ignoring Gan Lei and turning to Ge Dongxu with a somewhat grave expression.

    "Of course, some gold and silver treasures wouldn''t require Senior Brother to personally oversee the site. Just sending some men to scout and excavate would suffice," Ge Dongxu nodded and his face also showed a trace of solemnity as he continued, "The Sky Pit is somewhat unusual. I once tried to probe it from afar with my Divine Sense, but I couldn''t go deeper than a few meters before I couldn''t go any further, and even my Divine Sense was absorbed. However, the Sky Pit gave me a feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, so there must be some mysteries inside. Of course, there could also be some danger, which is why I needed Senior Brother to be here."

    "Junior Brother, you are the head of our sect; I should be the one to enter the Sky Pit first to explore," Yang Yinhou said with an increasingly grave expression upon hearing this.

    "Before you arrived, I had already been to the mouth of the Sky Pit. Although the diameter of the entrance is not very large, the pit is extremely deep, at least eight or nine hundred meters deep and there is a passage connected below. Even if there are no dangerous creatures hidden inside, just the terrain alone would not be easy for Senior Brother with your cultivation. However, for me, the terrain is not an issue, and even if there are indeed dangerous creatures, I believe escaping in time would not be a problem," Ge Dongxu said.

    PS: I''m very sorry, there is only one update today. It seems that this month has been a complete slump; I will strive to do better next month.

 Chapter 789 - 787: Falling into the Trap

    Yang Yinhou naturally knew Ge Dongxu was formidable, but he still hesitated upon hearing his words.

    "Senior brother, rest assured, I have now broken through to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer." Seeing that Yang Yinhou still hesitated and felt uneasy, Ge Dongxu had no choice but to lean into his ear and whisper.

    "You..." Yang Yinhou''s eyes bulged in surprise at the words, followed immediately by a burst of ecstatic joy. He said, "Haha, then go, go."

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then gestured to Gan Lei with a wave of his hand.

    "Master Ge!" Gan Lei hurriedly stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

    "Follow my senior brother''s instructions in everything!" Ge Dongxu ordered.

    "Yes!" Gan Lei responded, standing at attention.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, then patted him on the shoulder and said, "I am clear about rewards and punishments. You did well this time, if I gain anything from this trip, I won''t treat you unfairly."

    "Thank you, Master Ge!" Gan Lei''s face showed surprise and appreciation at the words.

    Ge Dongxu nodded again, bid farewell to Yang Yinhou with a few words, then with an empty bag on his back, leaped up and was gone, disappearing into the vast jungle in a few bounds.

    He made his way down from the mountainside to the valley.

    Plentiful rainfall gave rise to a dense forest.

    Looking down from the mountain, the valley seemed just beneath the eyelid, like a long narrow green belt, but once descending into the valley, one could only see the patchy blue sky obscured by tall trees, the thick trunks that stretched continuously ahead, sprawling green vines, and the damp rotting leaves underfoot. In the thick of it, one felt exceedingly small.

    Only with a wealth of experience living in the jungle could one avoid getting lost.

    Ge Dongxu''s Divine Sense spread through the jungle like vines on the ground and tree trunks, extending continuously.

    As he explored with his Divine Sense, Ge Dongxu moved through the jungle like a specter among the dense foliage.

    As he weaved through, he couldn''t help recalling the glorious achievements his senior brother had made in the jungle years ago, gradually realizing why his senior brother had been able to annihilate two fully armed Japanese squads with only the power of the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.

    For magicians proficient in Wood System Techniques, such a terrain was their perfect battlefield.

    Soon, a massive pit appeared suddenly before Ge Dongxu''s eyes.

    Standing on the edge of the pit, he looked down to see that it was shrouded in fog, with very low visibility. Without special tools, it was impossible to ascertain the true depth of the pit.

    Obviously, without tools like ropes, it was impossible for average people to reach the bottom.

    Even with ropes, there was a high probability that ordinary people could not reach the bottom.

    Because in known pits that have been discovered and explored by people, they are far more than just holes; they are more than just rock caves. Inside them are various unknown underground creatures, some of which are quite dangerous.

    This pit had never been explored by humans before, and it was located in a valley rainforest where few people ventured. The dangers hidden within were undoubtedly significant, not least among these potential threats would be poisonous snakes and scorpions and the like.

    These venomous creatures lurking in the deep pits, hiding in the darkness ¨C the thought was enough to send shivers down the spine.

    Ge Dongxu, though highly skilled and immensely brave, now faced the smoke-filled, bottomless Sky Pit, his face etched with an unprecedented gravity, as his hand reached to his neck to draw the Life and Death Dual Aspects Peach Wood Sword.

    Quietly clenching the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword in his palm, Ge Dongxu took a deep breath and with a light tap of his toes, he drifted into the Sky Pit like a piece of dandelion fluff.

    As soon as he jumped into the Sky Pit, the scene inside became much clearer.

    A chilly airstream flowed upward from the depths of the Sky Pit, carrying with it strands of pure Five Element Spiritual Energy, which left Ge Dongxu both astonished and secretly delighted.

    A place with drifting spiritual energy was always better than one that was merely gloomy and dark.

    Controlling the flow of his True Qi, Ge Dongxu''s body continued to float down like dandelion fluff.

    As he descended, Ge Dongxu noticed that the diameter of the hole inside was increasing, and not only that, the walls were not smooth but were laid out in layers. If there were a geologist present, they would probably be able to deduce the history of the Earth''s crust movements from these geological layers.

    Water seeped out from layer upon layer of rock walls, slowly streaming down, covered with green vines and creepers. Amongst those climbing plants, there was abundant life, mostly insects and various snakes. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Although Ge Dongxu descended from the air, these creatures seemed to detect this uninvited guest, rustling and scuttling about. Some snakes even "sissed" at Ge Dongxu, flickering their tongues, their eerie green eyes lighting up in the dark, which was enough to send shivers down anyone''s spine.

    Seeing this scene, Ge Dongxu sneered to himself. In such an environment, those Japanese with their level of Cultivation would likely become prey to these creatures before even reaching the bottom, not to mention his senior brother would also be in great danger were he to descend.

    Because his senior brother was far from reaching the level where he could descend by Controlling Qi directly, without needing to use the rock walls.

    He continued to float downward.

    The further down he went, the more powerful the aura emitted by the poisonous creatures crawling on the rock walls, and Ge Dongxu even intuitively felt that some of the creatures seemed to have developed a hint of Spiritual Intelligence.

    Furthermore, the deeper he went, the more concentrated the Five Element Spiritual Energy became.

    When the diameter of the space below reached seven to eight hundred meters, not only could Ge Dongxu hear the sound of the underground water more clearly, but he could also see the bottom of the pit through the mist.

    "I''m almost there!" In the darkness, a look of unprecedented solemnity swept across Ge Dongxu''s face, as he cast his Divine Sense downward like a net.

    However, his Divine Sense was greatly limited here.

    With Ge Dongxu''s powerful Divine Sense, he should be able to investigate thousands of meters, but here he could barely make out six or seven meters.

    When Ge Dongxu tried to strengthen the intensity, his Divine Sense went out of his control and was swept away by a force.

    Luckily, a range of six or seven meters was enough for Ge Dongxu to sense any dangerous creatures approaching and react in time.

    In the end, his feet touched the ground.

    This was an underground world as vast as nearly a hundred football fields.

    Standing below and looking up, the mouth of the Sky Pit now looked like a small well, with light shining down from above, illuminating many dust and mist particles floating in the beam of light.

    There were two stone caves, each about five or six meters tall, on either side of the underground world, pitch-black and impossible to see to the end.

    An underground river divided the underground plaza in two, also connecting the two stone caves on either side.

 Chapter 790 - 788: The Giant Serpent

    Ge Dongxu did not rush into the stone cave to investigate but looked around the underground plaza that was nearly the size of a hundred soccer fields.

    What surprised Ge Dongxu was that hardly any creatures could be seen in the underground plaza, which seemed unreasonable given the abundance of snakes, insects, and other creatures on the walls of the Sky Pit.

    Just as Ge Dongxu was pondering this peculiarity, all of a sudden, the previously calm and babbling Underground River suddenly became turbulent, and a chilling and sinister aura emanated from the direction of the river''s flow.

    This chilling aura, different from the cold of the Underground World, was laden with a sense of impending crisis, so much so that even with Ge Dongxu''s cultivation, he felt a chill creep into his pores; his True Qi was already circulating at full strength within his body, and the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword was already wedged between his fingers, with faint black and green Sword Beams flickering in the dark.

    "Splash!" came a sound.

    All of a sudden, the raging river water split open, and a pitch-black head with two luminous green orbs burst forth from the riverbed.

    It was, unmistakably, a snake head the size of a basketball, its eerie green eyes looking down on Ge Dongxu from above, radiating a sense of superiority and greed. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The snake''s triangular mouth slightly opened, revealing its sharp, cold fangs, while the smelly drool dripped straight down along the fangs.

    Supporting the snake head was a thick body, as big around as a bucket, covered with large, pitch-black scales the size of coins.

    The part of the snake''s body visible above the water was about six to seven meters high, and with most of it submerged, Ge Dongxu estimated it had to be at least twenty to thirty meters long.

    "Hiss!" Even with his profound cultivation, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but gasp at the sight of such a sudden appearance of an enormous creature.

    As Ge Dongxu gasped, the giant snake suddenly lunged forward, opening its massive jaws filled with menacing fangs, and bit down toward his head.

    "Damn it, I wasn''t even ready to kill you, and you''re already attacking me!" Seeing the giant snake try to eat him the moment it laid eyes on him, Ge Dongxu couldn''t help but curse. The Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword in his hand had already been launched, transforming into a three-foot Qing Feng, and viciously chopping towards the snake''s head in the air.

    The giant snake, feeling the might of the Flying Sword transformed from the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword, quickly recoiled.

    But the Flying Sword was incredibly fast; although the snake managed to avoid its head being hit, it still took a heavy blow to its body.

    "Clang!" The Flying Sword struck the body of the snake, not only producing a sound like metal clashing with iron but also sparking tiny flecks of fire.

    The Flying Sword didn''t cut the snake in two or even draw blood; instead, it left just a deep white mark on the snake''s body.

    "Damn it!" Ge Dongxu gasped with shock this time.

    In the forest years ago, he had beheaded an iron-armored Zombie with just one stroke of the sword, and his cultivation wasn''t even as advanced as it was now.

    He hadn''t expected the snake''s Scale Armor to be so tough that it could survive a strike from his sword unscathed.

    "Whoosh, whoosh!" Although the snake wasn''t bleeding, the sword strike had caused it great pain. Its body, hidden under the water, started to thrash wildly, stirring the river water to a fury as if floodwaters were unleashing.

    Seeing the snake in pain and crazily churning the river, Ge Dongxu naturally wanted to take this opportunity to slay it.

    With a thought, his hands swiftly manipulated the Sword technique.

    The Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword burst with black and green radiance, and the condensed Sword Light became tangible, then it shot towards the snake''s head like lightning, striking again.

    "Splash!" The great serpent, having learned its lesson from before, didn''t dare to use its body to block again but instead lifted its tail and smacked it forcefully against the river.

    The water shot up towards the sky, forming a huge wall of water.

    No sooner had the water wall taken shape than it turned into blocks of ice, suspended in midair.

    "Bang!" The flying sword struck the ice wall.

    The ice wall shattered into fragments that fell into the water, and the flying sword, having exhausted its force, flew back into Ge Dongxu''s palm.

    As the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword returned to his hand, Ge Dongxu saw a hint of smugness and cunning in the glowing green eyes of the great serpent behind the broken ice.

    A sudden warning flashed through Ge Dongxu''s mind, and without a second thought, he leapt into the air.

    As expected, just as Ge Dongxu had taken off, a cold and fierce wind howled, and a dark shadow lashed viciously towards where he had just been standing¡ªit was the great serpent''s body.

    That body, at least thirty meters long, was like a thick iron whip. Ge Dongxu could hardly imagine what would happen to him if he were hit¡ªwhether he would turn into a lump of flesh.

    After all, his body was far from being so tough that it wouldn''t bleed when cut by a flying sword.

    The great serpent, too, had not expected its strike to miss. Watching Ge Dongxu hovering in midair, its eyes were filled with frustration and resentment.

    Looking down at the great serpent, which seemed to have developed some spiritual intelligence, Ge Dongxu felt a chill in his heart, thinking that if he weren''t proficient in the art of Flight with Control of Qi, this battle would have been extremely perilous.

    "Thank goodness I know how to fly with Controlling Qi. I''ve secured an invincible position. Otherwise, I would have really been put in a tough spot by you, beast." Hovering in the air, Ge Dongxu''s lips curled into a cold smile as he traced a pattern in the air and shouted sharply, "Bind!"

    All of a sudden, a series of Green Vines shot out from the rock wall toward the great serpent, which was about to retreat back into the Underground River.

    Although the great serpent was tough-skinned and fleshed and seemed to possess some spiritual intelligence, it was ultimately not as clever as a human, nor could it perform the miraculous Techniques.

    Seeing the Green Vines shooting towards it, the great serpent reflexively lashed out with its body.

    But since the Green Vines were as supple as ropes, the serpent''s hard and powerful body could not exert force on them. Instead, it played right into the trap, getting itself tightly bound by the vines.

    Seeing its body bound, the great serpent panicked, trying to slip out from the Green Vines. However, Ge Dongxu would not let it have its way, having already formed a sword technique with his hand, a flying sword emitting a black-green glow had already taken flight, cutting a rainbow arc towards a small patch on the serpent''s belly where the scale armor did not cover and slashed fiercely.

    "Rip!" A sound akin to silk being torn echoed in the Underground World.

    The serpent''s belly was cut open, and blood poured out profusely.

    Writhing in pain, the great serpent died within moments.

    Seeing that the great serpent was dead, Ge Dongxu breathed a sigh of relief, descended to the ground, and used a knife to extract a golden Snake Gallbladder from the gash in its belly.

    "It''s actually golden-colored!" Ge Dongxu''s eyes gleamed as he used his Divine Sense to investigate the Snake Gallbladder, feeling the fluctuations of nature''s spiritual energy within.

    "Could it be that this serpent has learned to absorb nature''s spiritual energy? If so, had it continued absorbing this energy, might it have truly awakened its Spiritual Intelligence and evolved into a demon serpent?" Ge Dongxu held the Snake Gallbladder, a contemplative look in his eyes.

 Chapter 791 - 789 Five-colored Cai Xia Light

    However, Ge Dongxu soon shook his head and smiled wistfully.

    Nowadays, the spiritual energy on Earth is so thin that even humans can hardly cultivate it successfully, let alone birds, beasts, insects, and snakes.

    Ge Dongxu himself was a man of great fortune. Not only had he met a great sage, Ren Yao, in his youth, but after Ren Yao passed away, by chance, Ge came into a significant inheritance. Moreover, he was naturally gifted and knew how to integrate modern science in search of the true path of cultivation, thus he could be considered a modern sage. He was also not lacking in wealth, which contributed to his achievements today.

    What about birds, beasts, insects, and snakes? Regardless of their intelligence, just surviving under the rapid development and environmental destruction caused by human society today is already commendable, much less evolving into demons. The probability of that happening is far less than Ge Dongxu achieving his current success.

    As for the large snake that Ge Dongxu had just encountered, although it appeared very strong, to say it had truly awakened its Spiritual Intelligence and evolved into a snake demon was much harder than Ge Dongxu breaking through to the Dragon Tiger Realm.

    Thus, as Ge Dongxu pondered, he suddenly realized he was overthinking.

    "However, this snake is indeed very powerful, and the other insects and venomous creatures here in the Sky Pit are also stronger and more spirited than those outside. This must be related to the Five Element Spiritual Energy drifting in the Sky Pit. Could it be that there really are rare treasures in this stone chamber?" Ge Dongxu no longer thought about the possibility of the snake evolving into a demon, but instead mulled over the unusual characteristics of the creatures here, speculating that there might indeed be rare treasures in the stone chamber. Even though he wasn''t a greedy person, he couldn''t help feeling a rush of excitement.

    However, Ge Dongxu quickly suppressed the excitement in his heart, trying to calm himself down.

    Given the existence of such a powerful snake, it is hard to say that there aren''t other powerful creatures in this Underground World.

    Although Ge Dongxu had killed the large snake quite easily, that was because the snake did not know Techniques or how to fly. If it had come to a head-to-head battle, it would be difficult to say whose fate would be sealed in the deer''s end.

    So, even though he killed a large snake, Ge Dongxu dared not be the slightest bit careless.

    Once calmed down, Ge Dongxu carefully stored the Snake Gallbladder in his bag, the essence of the large snake, containing spiritual energy, now considered Spiritual Medicine.

    After putting the Snake Gallbladder in his bag, Ge Dongxu discarded the snake''s huge body into the Underground River, binding it with vines to prevent the current from washing it away.

    The water in the Underground River was chillingly cold, serving as nature''s perfect refrigerator.

    This snake was immensely strong, its hide as tough as iron, and who knows how old it was. Besides the gallbladder, its flesh, tendons, bones, and hide were also excellent materials. These items were priceless, and Ge Dongxu naturally could not simply discard them.

    Depositing it in the Underground River was ideal for preserving the freshness of its flesh.

    As soon as the snake was placed in the Underground River, blood flowed abundantly from it, swiftly reddening the water.

    When the water turned red, Ge Dongxu noticed swarms of unidentified small fish gathering around the snake.

    Seeing the dense swarm of unknown small fish gathering around the snake, Ge Dongxu became slightly worried, wondering if he should pull the snake out.

    However, after observing for a while, seeing these small fish were merely attracted by the scent of blood, and as the snake''s blood froze, the patch of red water followed the flow of the Underground River, dispersing the fish, he was reassured.

    There were two chambers connected to the Underground River, both unfathomably deep.

    Ge Dongxu pondered for a moment, deciding to explore the stone chamber where the snake had been active first.

    It wasn''t just that Ge Dongxu surmised that the rare treasures were very likely in that chamber, but also a familiar, intimate aura seemed to emanate from that particular chamber.

    He switched on the headlamp he wore and carefully entered the stone chamber along the riverbank of the Underground River.

    The stone chamber was as high as five or six men, with a width of over ten meters, and stalactites that had existed for countless years hung from above.

    "Drip! Drip!" Water droplets fell from the stalactites to the underground river, producing a sound that was terrifying yet incredibly crisp and pleasant in this quiet underground world.

    Step by step, they cautiously walked further inside along the bank of the underground river. The deeper they went, the denser the Five Element Spiritual Energy became, though they hadn''t encountered any dangerous creatures. Only a few small snakes, indistinguishable from the rock walls, silently crawled in the corners of the darkness.

    The cave was not straight but wound its way along. Moreover, several branching tunnels had appeared along the way.

    However, guided by that wisp of spirit and judging by the richness of the spiritual energy, Ge Dongxu did not need to ponder too much over which path to take.

    It was like navigating an underground labyrinth, and Ge Dongxu maneuvered carefully for about twenty minutes.

    The height of the stone chamber began to decrease.

    Initially, it was about the height of five or six people, but later on, it shrank to the height of just one or two people.

    Ge Dongxu suspected that if they continued this way, the stone chamber on the ground would disappear, leaving only the passageway of the underground river.

    Ge Dongxu naturally did not want to see such a scenario occur.

    Because walking in the stone chamber on the ground, Ge Dongxu could breathe freely and had space to maneuver. If any danger arose, he wouldn''t fall into a perilous or dead-end situation. But if there was no passage on the ground and they could only enter the underground river, flowing with the underground river to a completely underground world, unable to breathe and with very little space to maneuver in the river, once danger met Ge Dongxu, he would have very little room to turn around.

    Ge Dongxu frowned slightly, feeling somewhat disappointed and uneasy when suddenly, the river took a turn, and the view ahead unexpectedly brightened slightly.

    He saw, about a hundred meters away, that the space on the ground indeed ended, leaving only the rock walls. The underground river flowed beneath the rock wall, its destination unknown.

    However, about twenty or thirty meters from the rock wall, a fork branched off from the left bank of the underground river.

    This fork led to a stone chamber about thirty square meters in size.

    In the chamber, a mass of multicolored radiance faintly emitted light.

    With invisible and very fine Five Element Spiritual Energy seeping from that mass of radiance.

    Though the seeping spiritual energy was very fine, within this nearly enclosed underground world, where countless years had accumulated, it had made the spiritual energy of the underground world much denser than the outside world, especially in the stone chamber where the mass of radiance was located.

    Outside the stone chamber, a few small snakes stayed far away in a corner, their pairs of green, greedy eyes longingly gazing at the mass of radiance inside the chamber, yet they dared not approach.

    This was because an immense authority faintly emanated from that stone chamber.

    All the anomalies here seemed to be explained by the presence of that mass of radiance, including the existence of that powerful snake.

    It was because of this world, isolated from the rest, and the uniquely rich spiritual energy.

    These creatures, living here year-round, had unknowingly become more powerful than those in the outside world and had also gained a bit more intelligence.

    Of course, the snake was so powerful not only because of this unique underground world but also because of its own nature.

    It was certainly an unusual snake, which was why it stood out among the creatures of this underground world. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    PS: I apologize, but there will be just this one update today. Do not wait.

 Chapter 792 - 790: The Five Elements Qiankun Stone

    However, when that immense and authoritative aura emanated from the stone chamber and fell upon Ge Dongxu, he felt not only the majesty as if it were the very heaven and earth but also an indescribable, familiar warmth.

    What astonished Ge Dongxu even more was that the Peach Wood Sword in his hand trembled slightly, emitting a black and green glow. Not only that, but the Bagua Furnace pendant that had vanished into his body years ago without a trace suddenly surfaced in his mind at this moment.

    He "saw" the long-lost Bagua Furnace, hovering above the Sea of Consciousness; within the furnace, a fire blazed fiercely as if it were the sun, casting out billions of red rays.

    "This¡­" Ge Dongxu''s face was filled with shock, yet his feet were already unconsciously moving towards the stone chamber.

    When Ge Dongxu''s foot stepped into the stone chamber, the cluster of five-colored radiance seemed to sense his presence and began to withdraw.

    The five-colored radiance faded, revealing the scene that was engulfed in its glow.

    Ge Dongxu saw a gaunt Daoist sitting cross-legged on the ground, his hands crossed and placed atop his knees.

    Within the clasp of the crossed hands was a piece of five-colored jade that was no longer emitting any five-colored brilliance.

    Seeing this Daoist, Ge Dongxu''s body trembled, and tears flowed uncontrollably, as he knelt down respectfully before him.

    Because this Daoist was none other than Ge Hong.

    He was the founding patriarch of the Pill Talisman Sect, the ancestor who had appeared in his mind and imparted Daoist teachings!

    As Ge Dongxu knelt down to pay his respects, Ge Hong''s face visibly aged at a speed visible to the naked eye. In just a moment, the originally handsome, gaunt Daoist turned into a skeleton, and his Daoist robe also turned to ash.

    "Ancestral Master!" cried Ge Dongxu as he saw what happened and wept while bowing once more.

    "Heaven is just, the old man has finally waited for his descendant." As Ge Dongxu was weeping and bowing again, a wisp of green smoke emanated from the skeleton, condensing into an illusory figure in the air.

    The illusory figure was the likeness of Ge Hong.

    A voice full of vicissitude and myriad emotions emerged from the mouth of the illusory figure.

    "Ancestral Master!" Seeing this, Ge Dongxu hurriedly bowed his head again.

    "This stone is known as the Five Elements Qiankun Stone. You can collect it into your body with your Lifebound Essence. The mysteries within, as well as my affairs, if you have the fate, will naturally be unraveled once you break the Prohibitions placed upon it. Now, with your Cultivation so weak, it is of no benefit to know of it. It is best I do not speak of it. However, remember that the Five Elements Qiankun Stone must never be revealed to anyone, remember this well!" As Ge Hong spoke, his illusory figure faded more and more, and his admonishing voice also receded into the distance.

    "Ancestral Master!" Ge Dongxu saw Ge Hong''s figure becoming fainter and gradually disappearing into the void, feeling an indescribable grief, his face unknowingly awash with tears.

    It was just like the year he watched his master gradually close his eyes before him, his voice slowly fading away.

    A rustling sound woke Ge Dongxu from his grief.

    He did not know when, but the small snakes that had been hiding outside the stone chamber, too afraid to come in, were now wriggling in.

    "Begone!" In his grief, Ge Dongxu saw the small snakes intruding and disturbing Ge Hong''s peace; a cold glint flashed in his eyes, a powerful aura erupted from his body, and with a wave of his hand towards the snakes, a fierce gust of wind swept across the ground, instantly rolling up and flinging the snakes out of the stone chamber.

    Indeed, those snakes possessed some spirit energy. When Ge Dongxu flicked them away, they also faintly sensed the dangerous aura emanating from him and dared not slither in any longer.

    After driving away the snakes, Ge Dongxu suppressed the sorrow in his heart, bowed three times to Ge Hong''s skeleton, and then took the Five Elements Qiankun Stone from his hand.

    As Ge Dongxu picked up the Five Elements Qiankun Stone, he clearly felt the space around it fluctuate and twist. There seemed to be a force tearing through space emanating from the stone.

    With a look of surprise and curiosity, Ge Dongxu gazed at the swirling twists in the space before him. He couldn''t discern what was happening, but he had a hunch that perhaps one day, with powerful cultivation and the lifting of the prohibitions his ancestor spoke of, he might use the Five Elements Qiankun Stone to break open space as well.

    But for now, all of this was too far out of reach for him.

    Ge Dongxu shook off his reverie and forced a drop of his lifebound essence blood onto the Five Elements Qiankun Stone.

    Once Ge Dongxu''s essence blood touched it, the Five Elements Qiankun Stone immediately burst into a dazzling display of multicolored light. However, in the blink of an eye, the light vanished and the stone gradually disappeared into Ge Dongxu''s palm, leaving no trace behind.

    Ge Dongxu was startled and quickly focused his mind to sense it, but he could no longer feel its presence; it was as if it had vanished into thin air.

    This was different from the Bagua Furnace pendant. When that had disappeared, Ge Dongxu could still sense its presence and had even received some of Ge Hong''s legacy through it. The only thing was, the Bagua Furnace pendant was hidden deep within his sea of consciousness, and with Ge Dongxu''s current realm, he simply couldn''t see it.

    But now, with the Five Elements Qiankun Stone, Ge Dongxu couldn''t feel it at all, yet it was undoubtedly inside his body.

    "The object entrusted by my ancestor with so many warnings is indeed extraordinary!" Ge Dongxu concentrated once more but still could not feel the stone''s presence and silently lamented, deciding not to waste his effort.

    After ceasing his attempts to sense the Five Elements Qiankun Stone, Ge Dongxu began to take a closer look at his surroundings.

    Aside from the entrance, he saw that the other three sides were made of stone walls and didn''t have anything special, but there were three stalactites hanging from the ceiling.

    The tips of these hanging stalactites were enveloped in mist, subtly emitting a faint fragrance.

    Ge Dongxu purposely took a deep breath near them and felt as if his whole body was revitalized and his spirits lifted.

    "Could it be that, over the years, the stalactites were bathed in the radiation of the five-colored light and nourished by spirit energy, which cultivated the legendary Zhone Ling Milk inside them?" Ge Dongxu secretly speculated and broke off one of the stalactites.

    Inside the stalactite indeed hid a drop of milky white liquid, emitting an incredibly enticing fragrance.

    Having just forced out a drop of essence blood to consecrate the Five Elements Qiankun Stone and feeling somewhat weak and tired, Ge Dongxu was enticed by the scent of the Zhone Ling Milk and couldn''t help but lick it.

    With that lick, the drop of Zhone Ling Milk entered his mouth, turning into a strand of extremely pure spirit energy that traveled straight down his throat and spread into his organs.

    Instantly, every cell of Ge Dongxu''s body, every nerve, seemed to bask in the sunshine, indescribably comfortable.

    "What a treasure!" Ge Dongxu didn''t dare delay and hurriedly sat cross-legged, starting to practice the Baopu Jiudan Xuan Kung Fu.

    With this practice, Ge Dongxu felt the true qi in his body grow rapidly. After one circulation cycle, he faintly felt as if he had touched the threshold of the Eleventh Layer of Qi Cultivation. Not only that, but the drop of essence blood he had depleted also seemed to have been replenished.

    Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 793 - 791: Out of the Sky Pit

    "Damn it, this Zhone Ling Milk can actually replenish my lost drop of Lifebound Essence!" Ge Dongxu, seeing the remarkable effect of the Zhone Ling Milk, couldn''t help but feel both thrilled and annoyed with regret.

    Because he had already achieved the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer, even a lost drop of Lifebound Essence could gradually be replenished through cultivation. However, if ordinary people consumed this Zhone Ling Milk, it might change their physical condition and strengthen their Innate Qi, which weakens as they age.

    If that were truly possible, then his parents might very well start on the path of cultivation because of this Zhone Ling Milk.

    Unfortunately, such Zhone Ling Milk was a rare find, and Ge Dongxu regretted every drop he drank, as it meant one drop less.

    Thankfully, there were still two more stalactite columns, each also emitting a fragrant scent, presumably also nurturing Zhone Ling Milk; otherwise, Ge Dongxu would have seriously slapped himself.

    You should know, missing out on the cultivation years because his parents were older was always a regret in Ge Dongxu''s heart. Now, finally seeing a glimmer of hope, if his own impulsive indulgence caused his parents to miss this opportunity, how could Ge Dongxu ever forgive himself?

    Gathering his complex emotions, Ge Dongxu carefully broke off the other two stalactite columns.

    "Thank goodness! Thank goodness!" Seeing that the remaining two stalactite columns also contained a drop of Zhone Ling Milk, Ge Dongxu sighed with immense relief. This time, he dared not lick it but carefully sealed them and placed them in his bag.

    Having secured the two small pieces of stalactite along with the two drops of Zhone Ling Milk, Ge Dongxu saw nothing else of importance in the stone chamber. After some thought, he exited the chamber, then conjured the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword and activated the sword technique, transforming it into a sharp precious sword.

    The precious sword suddenly pierced the rock wall as easily as cutting tofu, cleanly slicing off a rectangular piece of rock.

    Ge Dongxu then used the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword to hollow out the middle of the rectangular rock before bringing it into the stone chamber.

    He bowed three times to Ge Hong''s skeleton, then moved the bones into the stone coffin.

    After finishing all these tasks, Ge Dongxu lifted the stone coffin and walked out of the stone chamber, retracing his original path.

    Though the stone coffin weighed at least a thousand jin, Ge Dongxu carried it on his shoulder with ease, his return pace much faster than when he''d arrived.

    It wasn''t long before Ge Dongxu reached the underground plaza at the Sky Pit''s entrance.

    The giant snake was still immersed in the Underground River.

    Ge Dongxu looked at another cave mouth connected to the Underground River. He thought about putting down the stone coffin and exploring the other cave, but eventually decided against it.

    After all, it was the ancestor''s skeleton inside the coffin, so nothing could go wrong, and who knew what strange creatures might still be lurking in the Sky Pit.

    So, Ge Dongxu took several Green Vine ropes, tied the coffin securely to his body, then stepped on the overlapping rocks, climbing upwards.

    Although his Cultivation was high, carrying a stone coffin weighing over a thousand jin still made it impossible for him to fly.

    As he climbed upwards, he also encountered some reptiles and poisonous snakes, but he managed to drive them away with Techniques.

    These reptiles and snakes lived in areas abundant with Five Element Spiritual Energy, unlike ordinary reptiles and snakes, and their use in brewing alcohol or making medicine was hundreds of times more effective, so naturally, Ge Dongxu wouldn''t easily kill them.

    Not long after, Ge Dongxu crawled out of the pit.

    Glancing back at the pit, Ge Dongxu, carrying the stone coffin, hurried towards the mountain top where Yang Yinhou was located.

    Before reaching that mountain top, Ge Dongxu saw the soldiers stationed at the foot of the mountain, and Yang Yinhou, standing on the tip of a tree, gazing into the distance against the wind.

    "Dongxu, what is this?" Yang Yinhou soon spotted Ge Dongxu, leapt into the air, and stepped from tree to tree until he stood in front of Ge Dongxu in the blink of an eye.

    "These are the remains of our ancestor, Ge Hong Ancestor, the founder of the Pill Talisman Sect," Ge Dongxu said solemnly.

    At these words, Yang Yinhou was taken by surprise; he hastily knelt down to pay his respects, then helped Ge Dongxu carry the stone coffin back to the camp where the soldiers were stationed.

    Once the stone coffin was set down, Yang Yinhou had people prepare incense and offerings for the ancestor, and then with a face full of surprise, he turned to Ge Dongxu and asked, "How come the ancestor''s remains are in the Sky Pit?"

    "I don''t know," Ge Dongxu replied, shaking his head in confusion.

    He truly had no idea why Ge Hong was in that pit; everything would have to wait until the day he could again see the Five Elements Qiankun Stone and unlock its prohibitions. Perhaps then the truth would be revealed, but for now, Ge Dongxu knew nothing.

    Yang Yinhou was not very surprised by Ge Dongxu''s response.

    After all, according to the historical records, Ge Hong lived during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, more than seventeen hundred years ago. It was far too long ago, and who could possibly know why his remains appeared here?

    "Then how did you know it was him, the ancestor?" Yang Yinhou asked.

    "When I saw him, the ancestor was sitting with his legs crossed on the ground as if he were alive. Soon after he saw me, he turned into a skeleton as time seemed to pass rapidly," Ge Dongxu replied, without mentioning anything about the Five Elements Qiankun Stone.

    Ge Dongxu did not mention the Five Elements Qiankun Stone, not because he did not trust Yang Yinhou, but because it was the ancestor''s final instruction; ancestral commands must not be violated. Besides, the Five Elements Qiankun Stone had also vanished without trace, giving Ge Dongxu nothing to speak of.

    "The ancient Immortal Technique is truly miraculous!" Yang Yinhou didn''t become suspicious upon hearing this; instead, his face showed longing and anticipation.

    "Because I was worried about the safety of our ancestor''s remains, I brought it up first; I still need to go back down. There''s another world under the Sky Pit, filled with Spiritual Energy due to being sealed underground for years. There are some poisonous snakes and creatures, some valuable Green Vine plants, and not just that, there''s also a large snake I killed down there which was quite formidable. I suspect that if its original lifespan had not come to an end, it could have developed Spiritual Intelligence and cultivated into a demon after a few more hundred years of cultivation. These are all valuable things that need to be brought up. Moreover, there are still many places at the bottom of the pit I haven''t had time to explore," Ge Dongxu said.

    "Hmm, the ancestor''s remains must not be lost, and you are being very prudent and mature in handling this," Yang Yinhou nodded, admiration in his eyes.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, then suddenly remembered the good items in his bag, and his face couldn''t help but reveal a slight smile as he said, "This is the Snake Gallbladder of that large snake, which can be used in Spiritual Medicine. This means you, brother, will have no difficulty breaking through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation. There are also these two drops of Zhong Ling Milk, which can change one''s physical constitution, perhaps even allowing my parents to embark on the path of cultivation."

    "Good! Good!" Yang Yinhou, upon hearing this, couldn''t help but get so excited that his voice trembled.

    The Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation allows for the creation of an Air Cyclone in the kidneys, shifting from Acquired to Innate. It is one of the most significant milestones in the stage of Qi Cultivation.

    In fact, practitioners within the Qimen specifically separate the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation, calling it Foundation Establishment. This means that one can truly lay a solid foundation on the path of cultivation once they reach the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Yang Yinhou had not expected that this journey to the Sky Pit undertaken by Ge Dongxu would turn into such a great opportunity for himself.

 Chapter 794 - 792: Treasure

    Ge Dongxu saw the excitement on Yang Yinhou''s face and felt very happy himself.

    He had always held a unique and profound affection for Yang Yinhou, for he, like Dongxu, was a Direct Disciple of their master. Seeing him sometimes felt to Ge Dongxu like seeing his own master. Although they shared no blood relation, their bond ran deep in their veins, in their very bones.

    "Brother, please keep these safe for me. I need to make another trip to the Sky Pit," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    "Yes, yes!" Yang Yinhou nodded repeatedly, then carefully stowed away the snake gallbladder and the two drops of Zhone Ling Milk, fearing they might be damaged.

    Once Ge Dongxu saw Yang Yinhou had properly stored the snake gallbladder and Zhone Ling Milk, he set off again.

    This time, however, he chose some people to accompany him, and had others bring along some tools like long ropes and sacks.

    Beneath the Sky Pit, there were many valuable items, and Ge Dongxu needed some extra hands to help bring them back.

    Moreover, he had Gan Lei send some of the other soldiers back to the mountain top camp, leaving only a few trusted people at the temporary camp at the foot of the mountain.

    Bringing the selected fifty people back to the edge of the Sky Pit, Ge Dongxu instructed the leading officer, also a trusted subordinate of Gan Lei, before he leaped alone into the seemingly bottomless Sky Pit, leaving the soldiers who came with him pale-faced and frightened.

    This time, Ge Dongxu returned to the bottom of the pit with ease.

    Once at the bottom, Ge Dongxu first visited the cave they had discovered earlier.

    The cave twisted and turned, with many forks along the way that Ge Dongxu had not investigated before; this time, naturally, he planned to explore them thoroughly.

    Strangely enough, ever since Ge Dongxu had put away the Five Elements Qiankun Stone, his Divine Sense had resumed functioning normally underground.

    As a result, Ge Dongxu''s movements were much faster than before.

    In no time at all, he had explored all the branches within the original cave and found nothing of particular interest, except for capturing some poisonous snakes, centipedes, and scorpions he encountered along the way and putting them into a sack.

    Quickly returning to the underground plaza directly opposite the entrance of the pit, Ge Dongxu then followed the underground river to another cave entrance.

    This cave entrance led upwards, but was much shallower than the other, with almost no branches. Ge Dongxu walked about a thousand meters, but the path ended, and he discovered no rare treasures along the way.

    All of this had been within Ge Dongxu''s expectations, yet the lack of discovery still left him slightly disappointed.

    However, the thought of the many poisons, plants, and the large snake body submerged in the underground river within the Sky Pit¡ªitems that money could not buy¡ªquickly rekindled his excitement, preparing him to turn around and head back.

    Just as he was about to turn back, Ge Dongxu suddenly felt a few drafts of cold air seeping in through the cracks in the stone walls.

    "Huh!" Ge Dongxu''s interest piqued, he forcefully slapped the stone wall with his hand several times.

    The force of Ge Dongxu''s slap was naturally different from that of an ordinary person; with it, he discovered there was a space behind the stone wall.

    In the darkness, Ge Dongxu''s eyebrows lifted slightly as he immediately took out the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword, initiated the sword technique, and began cutting into the stone wall.

    The stone wall, under the illumination of the Sword Beam of the Life and Death Dual Aspects Sword, was like paper, continuously having large chunks of stone cut from it.

    After "digging" for about three to four meters, suddenly there was emptiness ahead.

    Then Ge Dongxu saw a cave, where boxes that clearly looked ancient were placed.

    Ge Dongxu casually opened one, and under the headlamp''s illumination, the opened box instantly reflected a dazzling golden glow. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Inside the box were stacks of gold bricks.

    "Could it be? A treasure!" Ge Dongxu''s eyes gleamed slightly, his face showing a hint of surprise.

    He had not expected the coincidental link, that the treasure buried by the Japanese during World War II was connected to the Sky Pit Cave passage.

    But obviously, the Japanese back then had not discovered that there was a void behind the stone wall, and even if they had, in their haste, they wouldn''t have taken the effort to cause major disturbances by digging through the tough stone wall.

    After all, a rock wall three to four meters thick might not require much effort for Ge Dongxu, but for ordinary people, both the effort and the arising disturbances would not be small.

    There were easily a hundred treasure chests, most of which contained dazzling gold bricks, and others were filled with pure gold buddha statues, handicrafts, jewelry, and precious antique items.

    Ge Dongxu hefted a treasure chest filled with gold blocks; it weighed at least half a ton.

    "It seems Tanaka Motoyoshi was right, the Japanese really buried nearly fifty tons of gold here during World War II, along with all sorts of valuable items," Ge Dongxu scanned the boxes in the cave and mentally calculated.

    Even though Ge Dongxu was no longer short of money these days, and his yearning for money wasn''t as intense as it was during his high school days, he couldn''t help but feel his pulse quicken at this moment.

    Because, calculated at the current price of gold, these golds would amount to about four billion RMB, and the value of other jewels and precious antique items was still beyond estimation. However, Ge Dongxu now had some understanding of jewels and estimated roughly that just these high-quality jewels alone, if sold on the market, could easily fetch seven to eight hundred million.

    Of course, top-grade jewels like Imperial Green amongst those would certainly not be sold by Ge Dongxu for money, as he still needed good quality jade.

    All in all, this batch of treasure was worth at least five billion RMB.

    Just this fortune alone would suffice for Ge Dongxu to place in the top three of last year''s Huaxia Country''s rich list, not to mention that he also owned several highly profitable companies. During the annihilation of the Japanese Anri Organization, he had amassed over a hundred million US dollars, as well as some jewelries and antiques, and earlier this year in Australia, he made a little over ten million Australian dollars.

    It can be said, with this batch of treasure, Ge Dongxu, who was not even twenty years old, had firmly become Huaxia Country''s wealthiest person.

    However, Ge Dongxu was, after all, a cultivator and soon resumed a calm demeanor.

    His gaze shifted away from the treasure chests, beginning to survey his surroundings.

    The place where the treasure chests were stored was clearly a small cave, but the entrance of the cave was securely blocked by stones, with only very small crevices letting in slivers of light and air, allowing a bit of airflow in the cave.

    It was this slight airflow that led Ge Dongxu to discover the treasures hidden in this cave, something that would have been impossible for anyone else.

    Of course, without being someone else, it would also be impossible to safely reach the bottom of the Sky Pit.

 Chapter 795 - 793: Transportation

    Ge Dongxu opened the stone that was blocking the cave entrance and suddenly found that it was halfway up a small mountain, about a hundred meters tall, located in the valley.

    Although the mountain was not very high, especially compared to the towering mountains surrounding the valley on three sides, which made it seem insignificant in comparison, the treasure cave was set in the three-sided cliff, and despite the short height of tens of meters, climbing up there was no easy task.

    The treasure was hidden inside, and with the stone blocking it, plus the exterior covered in green ivy and grass, even if people clearly knew that the treasure was hidden in this valley, it would still be incredibly difficult to locate the exact spot.

    After identifying the location of the treasure, Ge Dongxu retreated back to the passage of the Sky Pit.

    After retreating to the passage of the Sky Pit, Ge Dongxu re-blocked the stone wall he had "excavated" with his sword.

    Having retreated to the Sky Pit, Ge Dongxu then started to catch poisonous snakes, scorpions, centipedes, and other creatures, putting each one into a hemp sack and then sealing them with runes.

    The space below the Sky Pit was vast, almost like a world isolated from the outside, with many venomous beings like snakes and scorpions living there.

    However, Ge Dongxu did not exterminate them all, he only caught a small portion. Even so, he filled three hemp sacks.

    As for the others, Ge Dongxu did not wish to disturb them for the time being, leaving them to live in the Underground World until he needed to capture more. However, since he had taken the Five Elements Qiankun Stone, the spiritual energy of this Underground World would eventually become the same as the outside world over time. The creatures that would breed in the future would probably not be much different from those in the outside world, and each time he came back to capture venomous creatures, there would be fewer useful ones.

    After sending the hemp sacks filled with venomous creatures up to the surface, Ge Dongxu also pulled up the giant snake that was roughly as thick as a bucket and about thirty meters long.

    At first, when Ge Dongxu was transporting the hemp sacks filled with venomous creatures to the surface, the soldiers guarding outside did not feel much, only curious about what was inside.

    But since Ge Dongxu had placed Sealing Runes on the sacks and instructed them not to open them, they were just curious and none dared to open them for a look, and so they could not know what was inside.

    However, Ge Dongxu had no way to fit the thirty-meter long snake into a sack, so he had to pull it directly up to the surface.

    When this colossal creature was pulled up, even though these soldiers were battle-hardened and tested by life and death, they were so frightened that almost fell to the ground, sitting down with a thud.

    Once the soldiers finally came to their senses, they began to kneel down to Ge Dongxu one after another, bowing and worshipping him repeatedly.

    It turned out that in the culturally backward jungle, most people lacked education, with a large number still believing in the existence of gods and ghosts.

    These soldiers were mostly from poor households and had little education, so naturally, they were no different.

    Having seen Ge Dongxu first descend directly to the bottom of the Sky Pit and now pull up such an enormous creature, which he clearly had killed, they all treated him as if an Immortal had descended to earth.

    Watching these soldiers kneel and kowtow to him, their eyes filled with awe and admiration, Ge Dongxu could not help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration, though he was too lazy to explain. Besides, the soldiers'' preconceived belief made it easier for him to carry out his subsequent actions.

    Because there was still a great deal of treasures that needed to be moved from there, and because many precious creatures remained in the depths of the Sky Pit, and also because it was the place where Ge Hong had passed away, Ge Dongxu could not be sure if there were any hidden secrets or profound meanings behind Ge Hong''s feathery ascent from here. Hence, whether it was for the precious creatures in the Sky Pit or the significance of it being Ge Hong''s place of passing, this Sky Pit had already been designated by Ge Dongxu as a critical location for the Pill Talisman Sect, necessitating a year-round guard to prevent prying eyes.

    The soldiers revered him like a god, and at his command, as though by divine edict, they would surely remain steadfast until death, which was much more effective than if he had issued orders through Gan Lei.

    "This journey has chosen you all, and that is the fate between us. Eat this snake meat that I''ve divided among you. It will strengthen your power and enhance your physique, better preparing you to assist me in my tasks." Ge Dongxu''s gaze swept over everyone before he channeled a Sword technique, sliced a large piece of meat from the giant snake, and then summoned flames with a spell, roasting the large slice of meat in midair.

    Upon seeing this, the crowd once again kowtowed in succession, then, filled with excitement and anticipation, they devoured their shares of the snake meat.

    This was no ordinary snake; its flesh was rich with pure energy. Although a large piece of snake meat was shared among fifty soldiers, with each man receiving only a piece as big as a fist, the moment the meat entered their bodies, everyone felt as if there was a fire burning in their bellies, and their bodies surged with strength.

    "Thank you, Master Ge, for your generous gift!" Feeling the transformation inside their bodies, the soldiers looked at Ge Dongxu with eyes filled with even more reverence, admiration, and gratitude. S~ea??h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Ge Dongxu desired precisely such an effect. With a grand gesture, he rallied everyone and then left ten men to continue guarding the mouth of the Sky Pit, taking the others to the location of the treasure on the small hilltop.

    He instructed the forty remaining soldiers to wait below while Ge Dongxu himself took flight directly toward the middle of the mountain.

    Seeing Ge Dongxu soaring like an Immortal, they couldn''t help but bow once more toward him in the air.

    Ge Dongxu entered the mountain cave at mid-mountain and began moving down Treasure Chest after Treasure Chest.

    There were over a hundred Treasure Chests, nearly every one of them half a ton in weight. Despite Ge Dongxu''s advanced Cultivation, the repeated trips flying up and down were slightly exhausting.

    As for the soldiers, they initially saw Ge Dongxu easily carrying the Treasure Chests down with ease and tried to lift one themselves.

    Almost falling, they nearly sat down on the ground with the attempt.

    Only then did they realize that, although the Treasure Chests didn''t look very large and Ge Dongxu lifted them with ease, their actual weight was extraordinarily terrifying.

    With such a series of shocks and awe, Ge Dongxu no longer worried that the soldiers might secretly open the Treasure Chests to take the gold and jewels inside. After giving instructions, he told them to slowly figure out how to get the Treasure Chests back to the military camp. He then returned to the mouth of the Sky Pit, taking with him the three sacks of snake and scorpion creatures and the giant snake ahead of the rest back to the military camp.

    Naturally, dragging such a colossal creature caused quite the commotion.

    Not to mention Gan Lei and his confidants, but even Yang Yinhou, who had already had an inkling, was so shocked he almost dropped his eyeballs.

    He knew Ge Dongxu had slain a large serpent at the bottom of the Sky Pit, but the visual and psychological impact was still immense when actually laying eyes upon it.

    Only at this moment did Yang Yinhou understand why Ge Dongxu suspected the large serpent might have cultivated into a demon, and why it was wise of Ge Dongxu to instruct Gan Lei to send some people away in advance.

 Chapter 796 - 794 Intention

    "Dongxu, you really scared me," Yang Yinhou said after a while, pointing at the large snake on the ground, his face still showing a hint of terror.

    "Hehe, a living big snake is the truly frightening thing," Ge Dongxu said as he casually took Gan Lei''s handgun from his waist and, under the puzzled gaze of Yang Yinhou and others, fired two shots at it.

    The sound of gunfire rang out, and sparks flew in all directions.

    Yang Yinhou and the others'' eyes widened in shock because they did not find any bullet holes on the snake''s body.

    "Hiss! This snake''s scales are so powerful that even bullets can''t penetrate?" Yang Yinhou and the others inhaled sharply and blurted out.

    But following that, everyone seemed to suddenly realize something, each looking at Ge Dongxu with a gaze filled with immense reverence.

    A big snake that couldn''t be pierced by bullets is terrifying to even think about, but what was the outcome? It was killed by Ge Dongxu.

    One could imagine just how frightening Ge Dongxu''s strength was just by thinking with their toes!

    "No wonder you said that this snake could become a demon if it lived for a few hundred more years, it really is extraordinary!" After a long while, Yang Yinhou sighed and began to show a fervent gleam in his eyes as he looked at the large snake''s massive body, saying, "This is good stuff, junior brother, but it will take some effort to transport it back."

    "Yes, we need to cut it into sections and transport it in a refrigerated truck," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Master Ge, there will definitely be no problem transporting it out from here, I can arrange all that, but I can''t manage the Huaxia Country checkpoint," Gan Lei said hesitantly, cautiously reminding him.

    "Don''t worry, I will naturally arrange everything on the Huaxia side," Ge Dongxu said with a faint smile.

    "Then there''s no problem, I will have someone arrange it right away," Gan Lei said immediately upon hearing this. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    "No rush, besides this big snake, I also found a treasure hidden by the Japanese in the valley during World War II, so the vehicles you need to arrange aren''t just for transporting the snake. Let''s wait until they have moved all the items over before we discuss it," Ge Dongxu waved his hand and said.

    "Yes, sir!" Gan Lei stood at attention and replied.

    Ge Dongxu smiled, then ordered someone to bring a knife over to cut a large piece of snake meat from the already torn underside of the snake''s belly.

    It was strange to say; the snake''s scales were as hard as iron, impervious to knives and guns, but the meat inside was not as tough as imagined. Compared to the hard scales, it was quite tender.

    After instructing them to cut a large piece of meat, Ge Dongxu used his techniques to freeze the big snake, preventing the snake meat from spoiling.

    "This snake meat is a good thing. You guys grill and share it," Ge Dongxu said with a smile to Gan Lei''s trusted follower holding a large piece of snake meat, not knowing what to do next.

    "Thank you, Master Ge," Gan Lei and the others finally understood Ge Dongxu''s intention and immediately thanked him excitedly.

    They then quickly got busy, and in no time, they had set up a fire and barbecued the large piece of snake meat to share amongst themselves.

    Yang Yinhou also ate a piece.

    Yang Yinhou''s cultivation had already reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation, so the energy contained in a piece of snake meat was naturally of limited help to him. However, after swallowing a piece, and quietly circulating his mental method, Yang Yinhou could still faintly feel an enhancement in his cultivation power.

    "Indeed, it''s good stuff!" Yang Yinhou''s eyes suddenly lit up as he exclaimed in admiration.

    At his current realm, every tiny increase in cultivation power was extremely difficult.

    Just one piece of snake meat allowing him to faintly perceive a boost in his cultivation power was certainly considered good stuff.

    If Yang Yinhou felt this way, not to mention Gan Lei and the others.

    Like the soldiers before them, each one felt as if a ball of fire was burning in their lower abdomen, and their bodies were filled with strength.

    "If you feel like you have too much energy and nowhere to vent, go to the Sky Pit and help move things." Seeing Gan Lei and the others with their faces flushed red and eyes ablaze, Ge Dongxu waved his hand and told them to help.

    Gan Lei and the others, feeling a force within them that seemed about to explode, saw Ge Dongxu telling them to help move things, and each of them, as if granted amnesty, bid their farewells and ran wildly toward the direction of the Sky Pit.

    Watching Gan Lei and the others rush off, Yang Yinhou thoughtfully said, "Although the snake is large, it''s something one encounters by fortune but cannot seek. Snake meat, once consumed, lessens piece by piece, and yet you are willing to share some with these people. It seems you intend to cultivate them."

    Without answering, Ge Dongxu opened the sack to show Yang Yinhou.

    Seeing the densely packed poisonous creatures inside the sack, Yang Yinhou showed no fear; instead, after a slight pause, his eyes gleamed as he said, "Golden Ringed Snakes, Silver Ringed Snakes, Red-tailed Bamboo Snakes, Vipers... Iron Thread Centipedes, Red-frosted Toads, Golden Ghost Scorpions, Red Spiketail Scorpions... These creatures seem to bear a unique aura, could they be the same as that large snake?"

    "They certainly can''t compare to the large snake, but compared to their counterparts, these Golden Ringed Snakes, Silver Ringed Snakes are much stronger," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Then if we use them for alchemy..." Yang Yinhou''s eyes shone even brighter upon hearing this.

    Being Ren Yao''s disciple, even if he was nowhere near as proficient in alchemy as Ge Dongxu now, he definitely had some accomplishments, and naturally knew that these poisonous creatures carrying a hint of spiritual energy would be beneficial to cultivators, even if only used for soaking in wine.

    Nowadays, with nature''s spiritual energy being sparse, any kind of medicine that could help cultivators improve their cultivation was precious, and many such things were hard to measure in terms of money.

    Despite the sack being filled with creepy and venomous creatures, because they originated from the Sky Pit, resonating with a hint of spiritual energy, to Yang Yinhou those serpents, scorpions, and centipedes were almost on par with hundred-year ginseng from Changbai Mountain.

    "Indeed, these three sacks represent only a small part of the Sky Pit''s yield. Besides, with the ancestor''s seated meditation in the Sky Pit, I feel it''s not that simple," Ge Dongxu nodded and said.

    "Indeed, if that''s the case, it''s necessary to properly cultivate Gan Lei and the others. Those who ventured with you before must have gained many benefits too," Yang Yinhou, being a discerning man, understood Ge Dongxu''s intentions by now.

    "Yes, we must be vigilant here. Gan Lei''s troops will guard the periphery, and these people, knowing my prowess and venerating me as a deity, will be well-cultivated, especially with Gan Lei''s Blood Oath in my hands. They will guard the Sky Pit here, and I will arrange some defenses around the Sky Pit later," Ge Dongxu nodded, speaking in a deep tone.

    "With a large army outside and elite soldiers inside, unless someone of our level comes along, it would be very difficult for them to enter. Coupled with your arrangements, there should no longer be any mishaps," Yang Yinhou said, showing a look of admiration.

    "Since my brother also thinks so, there shouldn''t be any problems," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Hearing this, Yang Yinhou gave a slight smile and then asked, "What are you planning to do with this batch of treasure? Gan Lei told me there''s likely to be fifty tons of gold. That''s a considerable amount. Are you planning to transport it back to Baiyun Mountain and bury it?"

 Chapter 797 - 795: I Was Thinking the Same Thing

    "Not only are there fifty tons of gold, but there''s also a large amount of jewelry, jade, and antiques. It''s certainly not appropriate for me to hold onto such a large quantity of gold, so I plan to entrust someone to transfer it to the state," Ge Dongxu replied.

    "Transferring it to the state is good, given your identity, the state wouldn''t simply take this batch of gold from you for nothing, you should get a monetary compensation for it," Yang Yinhou said, nodding his head upon hearing this.

    "That''s what I was thinking," Ge Dongxu nodded in agreement.

    Although Ge Dongxu was patriotic, he wouldn''t simply hand over fifty tons of gold to the state treasury without any compensation. He was still going to take what he was due.

    "As for the jewelry, jade, and antiques, I guess we really have to transport them back to Baiyun Mountain first and see how to deal with them slowly," Ge Dongxu continued.

    "I''ve worked hard all my life and have saved up a little, but it''s nothing compared to you!" Yang Yinhou couldn''t help but express his deep feelings.

    "Would you, my brother, really care about these external possessions?" Ge Dongxu asked with a smile.

    "Cultivators speak of companions, Dharma, wealth, and land; how could I not care about wealth? If I truly didn''t care, I wouldn''t have been dealing with the jade business at the border all these years by leveraging our master''s influence. Of course, once one''s wealth accumulates to a certain level, enough to meet the needs of cultivation, wealth becomes just a number. You''re already at that level now, where you no longer need to toil for money, and thanks to you, I also no longer need to work for it now," Yang Yinhou said with a wave of his hand.

    Ge Dongxu smiled upon hearing this. When it came to wealth, he had no need to be modest in front of his own brother.

    The two brothers then talked a lot more, including the matter of Sexin knowing Ren Yao.

    Previously, Ge Dongxu had been focused on the Sky Pit and had not brought up Sexin''s matter with Yang Yinhou.

    "Sexin, I''ve heard of him. He has quite a reputation in Thailand''s Qimen; it''s said his cultivation has already reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, and his Cursing Magic is unpredictable -- he''s a truly formidable person. I didn''t expect he would have such a connection with our master," Yang Yinhou said, expressing his surprise when Ge Dongxu brought up Sexin.

    "His cultivation indeed has reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Although Sexin is a sorcerer and his Cursing Magic is mysterious, his actions and character are said to be quite upright. Moreover, he had a relationship with General Duan Xiwen in the past, and the general thought highly of him. Now that he turns out to have such a connection with our sect, and from what you just said, you think highly of him, you might take this opportunity to bring him along to pay respects to our master. Observe him further, and if he proves to be worthy, it wouldn''t hurt to show him some favor. In doing so, outside of the Sky Pit, we would have both Bacha''s and Gan Lei''s forces -- that way, we''ll encounter no mishaps," Yang Yinhou pondered aloud.

    Duan Xiwen was a legendary Nationalist Army general of the 93rd Division during the years of anti-Japanese war, later becoming the garrison commander of Wuhan. After suffering defeat in the civil war, he ended up in the jungles along the Thai-Myanmar border, the so-called Golden Triangle. He once commanded forces to help Thailand suppress a rebellion and passed away in Bangkok in the eighties, a highly legendary figure.

    Yang Yinhou was also a Nationalist Army general, and later he mainly operated in the forests of Northern Myanmar, so naturally, he had a relationship with General Duan.

    "That''s exactly my intention. There are few of us in the Pill Talisman Sect, just you, me, and Murong. It''s necessary to develop a few peripheral members. Since our master once gave his father some guidance, if Sexin today proves to be cultivable, I wouldn''t mind giving him some advice," Ge Dongxu nodded.

    "Ha ha, it turns out you already had an idea in mind, so I was being redundant," Yang Yinhou laughed.

    "Why would that be? With Brother Yang''s words, I have a much clearer picture now," Ge Dongxu said with a smile.

    Yang Yinhou smiled, and the two brothers continued to talk for a while.

    As they were talking, people gradually brought back boxes of treasure chests to the temporary military camp.

    Yang Yinhou checked each treasure chest and then said to Ge Dongxu, "Most of these items were looted by the Japanese from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and other Southeast Asian countries during World War II, and some were looted from our country. It''s difficult to estimate the value of these jewels, jade, and antiques, but all of them are valuable and should be comparable to this batch of gold."

    Upon hearing this, a look of surprise appeared on Ge Dongxu''s face. Although he knew that the batch of jewelry, jade, and antiques were valuable, his estimate was only about ten billion. Now, after listening to Yang Yinhou, he realized the value of these items was comparable to fifty tons of gold.

    After all, Gan Lei was the leader. He moved a treasure chest once to vent some energy and no longer felt uncomfortable, so he did not continue to work as a porter. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    When Yang Yinhou opened the treasure chests, Gan Lei stood by and watched. Seeing the bars of gold and a large number of jewels, jade, and antiques, his eyes shone as brightly as the jewels, but he dared not harbor any greed.

    "These items are not suitable to leave with you. Starting this year, I will arrange for someone to secretly provide you with some funds. Use them to develop your territory. Drugs are harmful to others as well as to oneself; it''s better to eradicate them altogether," Ge Dongxu said, noting Gan Lei''s shining eyes and patting his shoulder.

    "Thank you, Master Ge," Gan Lei said with great joy upon hearing this.

    As Ge Dongxu had said, drugs harm both others and oneself, which Gan Lei understood well. However, the area was impoverished and backward, with almost no economic or industrial foundation. He had to support so many people and guns, so out of desperation, he chose this evil path that brought in quick money.

    If Ge Dongxu was willing to finance him and allow him to peacefully develop his territory, Gan Lei was naturally eager for such an opportunity.

    All the treasure chests were eventually brought back.

    Gan Lei ordered his men to gather vehicles, while Ge Dongxu called Director Fan Hong of the Special Ability Management Bureau to arrange for vehicles to meet them and also told him about the fifty tons of gold that he would transfer to the state.

    Fifty tons of gold, converted into money, is naturally not a large sum for a major country like Huaxia. However, gold reserves are an important indicator of a country''s economic strength, future direction of gold prices, and even a significant determinant of foreign currency exchange rates. The publicly disclosed gold reserves of Huaxia are just over one thousand tons; even if the actual figure is much more, fifty tons of gold is certainly not a small number for Huaxia''s gold reserves.

    So even though Fan Hong was in a high position and a cultivator himself, he was taken aback by the mention of fifty tons of gold. After hanging up the phone, he immediately reported and communicated about the matter to the relevant leaders.

    Given Ge Dongxu''s current status and the buzz he created after going to university, including the visit of the King of Reel Country to Huaxia especially because of him, those at the lower levels might not know that the driving force behind these events was a young man, but those few at the top certainly did.

    Hearing that Ge Dongxu had obtained fifty tons of gold from the jungles of Myanmar,

 Chapter 798 - 796: Return to the Country

    The jungles of Northern Myanmar are, after all, a poor and backward area, and the mountain paths are challenging to traverse. Transporting the giant snake required refrigerated trucks, and even with Gan Lei''s influence, it took three days before the vehicles were all arranged.

    In this idle time, Yang Yinhou, the once formidable National Army Major General who had shaken Northern Myanmar, personally selected and trained these elite soldiers who had consumed snake meat for one day. Meanwhile, Ge Dongxu went to the Sky Pit to make some arrangements, including setting up several illusion arrays, completely concealing the Sky Pit to prevent it from being discovered by outsiders.

    What a personage Yang Yinhou is¡ªeven such a short-term intensive training greatly benefited these soldiers.

    However, even so, the standard of these men was still far from meeting Ge Dongxu and Yang Yinhou''s requirements. Therefore, they unanimously decided that after their return, they would command Ouyang Murong to come and give these men rigorous training.

    On the third day, while the trucks were still en route, Ge Dongxu sent someone to summon Sexin.

    Sexin, who was already 86 years old, had operated along the Thai-Myanmar border in his early years and had heard of Yang Yinhou''s reputation. Upon learning that the General Yang from World War II, who had struck terror into the Japanese military in Northern Myanmar, was a disciple of his benefactor Ren Yao and a fellow disciple of Ge Dongxu, Sexin was quite startled.

    It took Sexin quite a while to express his feelings with great emotion, "No wonder General Yang is so formidable; he is a direct disciple of the benefactor. Had I known earlier, I would have gone to serve under the General''s command."

    "Haha, the ways of the world are full of such serendipity. But speaking of formidable, it is my junior brother here who is truly formidable. I, as the senior brother, pale in comparison to him," Yang Yinhou said with a laugh.

    "If even General Yang says so, then it goes without saying for me," Sexin said, sharing the sentiment deeply.

    While they were talking, Gan Lei came in to report, "Master Ge, General Yang, we''ve got all the trucks ready."

    "Hmm, send away the drivers and replace them with our people. Then, load up all the stuff here onto the trucks," Ge Dongxu nodded and directed.

    "As you command, Master Ge," Gan Lei replied with a salute.

    "Sexin, I have settled my affairs here, and if you''ve got no other matters, come with me today to pay homage to our late master," Ge Dongxu said.

    "I have been prepared for a while and was only waiting for Senior Ge''s arrangement," Sexin hurriedly replied with respect upon hearing this.

    Ge Dongxu nodded, then said, "Well then, let''s go outside and take a look, and lend a hand while we''re at it."

    "Yes," Sexin replied respectfully again, always maintaining the deference due to a junior.

    Ge Dongxu didn''t stand on ceremony with Sexin.

    His master had once saved Sexin and his son and had given guidance to Sexin''s father; if one were to speak of it, he indeed deserved the address of a senior.

    The three of them left the house together and came to an open area.

    At that moment, the soldiers were busy loading chests of treasure chests and segmented parts of the giant snake''s body onto the trucks.

    Seeing the chests full of treasure and segments of the giant snake, Sexin''s eyes lit up, but he did not show any signs of greed or inappropriate thoughts.

    Ge Dongxu and Yang Yinhou exchanged glances and nodded slightly to each other.

    "These treasure chests contain treasures buried by the Japanese in the jungle during World War II, and the giant snake was killed by me in the Sky Pit," Ge Dongxu casually explained.

    "Thank goodness it was a senior who went down into the pit. If it had been me, encountering that huge snake below with nowhere to run, I would have probably ended up in the snake''s belly," Sexin said with a hint of relief.

    "Your cultivation has reached the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, and ordinary snakes wouldn''t pose much of a challenge, but facing that one, a moment of carelessness could indeed have sent you into its stomach," Ge Dongxu said with a smile, nodding, and then gave Gan Lei a meaningful look.

    Gan Lei was sharp and immediately grasped Ge Dongxu''s intention, pulling out his pistol and firing two shots at the snake.

    Sparks flew, but there were no bullet holes on the snake''s body.

    Sexin''s words just now had been modest and intended as a compliment to Ge Dongxu; seeing Gan Lei fire twice without harming the snake at all, he couldn''t help but break out in cold sweat, sincerely relieved that he had encountered Ge Dongxu and avoided this disaster.

    Otherwise, if he had met such an invulnerable huge snake at the bottom of the Sky Pit, it wouldn''t matter that his cultivation was only at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer; even someone at the Sixth or Seventh Layer would likely have had slim chances of survival.

    "Senior, you''ve saved my life!" After a while, Sexin wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and bowed deeply to Ge Dongxu.

    Ge Dongxu simply smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

    While they spoke, Ge Dongxu occasionally lent a hand, and soon all the items were loaded onto the truck.

    Seeing that everything was ready, Ge Dongxu called Gan Lei over, gave him some thorough instructions, and then, with Yang Yinhou and Sexin, boarded a military jeep and left the valley with the truck.

    As the vehicle made its way through the jungle mountain road, leaving Gan Lei''s area of control, they entered the Fourth Special Region of Shan State. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    The Fourth Special Region was under Chairman Lin''s control; Ge Dongxu had met him several times on his last visit to Myanmar.

    In the Fourth Special Region, with Ge Dongxu and the distinguished veteran General Yang Yinhou present, who would dare hinder or trouble them?

    Not only did no one dare to cause them trouble, but the key figures of the Fourth Special Region, upon hearing that Ge Dongxu and General Yang were passing through, even came out to meet them in Mongla especially.

    However, Ge Dongxu didn''t linger in Mongla, but merely met with Chairman Lin and others for a brief exchange before continuing on from Mongla toward the border checkpoint.

    "Director Ge, General Yang!" No sooner had the vehicle stopped than a familiar face appeared in front of Ge Dongxu¡ªit was Xu Lei, head of the Jiangnan Province Special Ability Management Bureau, with Ma Xiaoshuai standing behind him.

    "What brings you here?" Ge Dongxu asked, seeing Xu Lei and Ma Xiaoshuai with a smile on his face.

    "Director Fan had something come up and couldn''t leave, but he was worried that the people here had not met you before and might delay your matters, so he sent me to come over and follow your orders," Xu Lei replied.

    "Hmm, Director Fan has considered this matter carefully. It will be much more convenient for me with you here to help," Ge Dongxu said, nodding in approval.

    Since Xu Lei and Ma Xiaoshuai were not only his colleagues but also his disciples in a sense, Ge Dongxu trusted them completely, which naturally made things much easier.

    "Let me introduce you, this is Xu Lei, who is also a member of the Qimen, and this is Sexin, a master from Thailand," Ge Dongxu said after briefly speaking with Xu Lei, then introduced them.

    Being with the Special Ability Management Bureau, Xu Lei naturally had some background knowledge about Sexin; having felt Sexin seemed familiar just now, Ge Dongxu''s introduction made it clear that he was facing the renowned Sexin from the Thai Qimen, a National Master-level figure. Furthermore, several of his disciples were prominent in the Thai commerce, political, and military circles, making him a true heavyweight in Thailand. Xu Lei was inwardly startled and took the initiative to stretch out his hand, saying, "Master Sexin, I have long admired your reputation!"