Afterward, Xu Lai went to the Dongli University infirmary. At the office door, he was surprised to see Su Daiyi and Old Jiang Ba, both of whom looked pale.

"Mr. Xu!"

Upon seeing Xu Lai, the two of them looked as if they had just clutched a life-saving straw.

"Go ahead. What do you need from me?" Xu Lai asked, noticing their grim expressions.

"Well..." Old Jiang Ba hesitated.

Su Daiyi, however, bowed deeply. "Mr. Xu, please save the Su Family!"

Xu Lai raised an eyebrow.

Putting East Sea City aside, was there any notable or powerful figure in Hangcheng who didn't know that Su Daiyi was essentially his spokesperson? Who would be reckless enough to provoke the Su Family?

"To be more precise, please save both the Su Family and the Jiang Family," Su Daiyi said, pausing before continuing, "With your protection, the Su and Jiang families have flourished, and naturally… our ambitions grew with them."

"We purchased a large plot of land in East Sea City for a real estate development project, but we've encountered something strange!" Su Daiyi's face was pallid as she explained, "It's fine during the day, but at night, ghostly figures appear on the construction site. The workers have been experiencing dizziness and nausea, and the most severe cases have already fallen into comas."

"Oh?" Xu Lai's interest was piqued. It sounded like the work of spectral entities. "I'll take care of it for you," he said.

Previously, Xu Lai had accepted thirty million from Su Daiyi and promised to intervene once if the Su Family faced a life-or-death crisis.

"Then we'll have to trouble you, Mr. Xu!" Su Daiyi and Old Jiang Ba said hurriedly.

They were truly out of options; otherwise, they would not have asked for Xu Lai's help. After all, a favor's value diminishes each time it's used, even if money has been paid.

After agreeing to meet at seven that evening, Su Daiyi and Old Jiang Ba departed respectfully.

Pushing open the infirmary door, Zhou Feng sidled up conspiratorially. "Director Xu, Dr. Liu said those two people at the door were Su Daiyi, the 'Pearl of the Su Family,' and Eighth Master of Liu City. Is that true?"

"Mhm."

As Xu Lai nodded, Zhou Feng's expression changed slightly. He was shocked not only by their identities but also for another reason—

"I told you, but you wouldn't believe me. You just had to make a bet and hand me free money," Liu Nanwei said happily. "Thanks for the business, boss. Five thousand—transfer or cash?"

"When you and Li Mi get married, I'm just not giving you a wedding gift," Zhou Feng said, clearly upset.

"That's not up to you."

With that, Liu Nanwei pulled a red invitation from her desk and handed it to Xu Lai. "Director Xu, please be sure to grace us with your presence at the end of the month."

The thirtieth of the month. There were only five days left!

Xu Lai raised his eyebrows. "Isn't this a bit rushed?"

"It is a little," Liu Nanwei said apologetically. "I'll have to take a few days off to prepare for the wedding. I'm afraid my family might change their minds, so I want to get things settled sooner."

Xu Lai nodded in understanding and smiled. "I'll be there."

Gazing at the invitation, Xu Lai suddenly fell silent, his mind drifting to an image of his own wedding with Ruan Tang.

On that day, it would surely be a day of universal celebration, with myriad clans coming to offer their congratulations!

He believed that day wasn't too far off. His arrangement with Ruan Tang for that evening, for instance, was an excellent start.

***

On the outskirts of East Sea City, three striking figures moved through a construction site filled with machinery.

If Xu Lai had been there, he would have instantly recognized one of them as his sister-in-law, Ruan Lan.

"Xiaoxiao, are you sure this is the place?" Ruan Lan asked, looking doubtfully at her classmate and former roommate from before she had moved to Haitang Court.

Yu Xiaoxiao's name might have meant 'little,' but she stood an impressive one meter eighty tall. With a figure to match, her long legs were enough to make countless girls green with envy.

She glanced around and confirmed, "Of course!"

Another female classmate whispered, "Maybe we should go back. This place feels really strange."

"No way," Yu Xiaoxiao retorted with a glare. "You two were the ones who didn't believe me and insisted on dragging me along on this adventure. I'm not leaving until we uncover the truth!"

Ruan Lan and the other girl, Li Li, exchanged a look.

Half an hour earlier, the three girls had met up at school, where Yu Xiaoxiao told them her uncle had seen a group of humanoid monsters roaming around here. Naturally, her friends had been skeptical. After a brief discussion, they formed a team to investigate.

Upon seeing the caution tape at the entrance to the construction site, the three had snuck in carefully, only to find nothing.

"Maybe it's just not dark enough yet," the bold Yu Xiaoxiao suggested. "Let's just skip class and find a corner to wait. We'll definitely see something!"

Ruan Lan hesitated. "Maybe we should go back. Lizi is getting scared."

Li Li nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes!"

Yu Xiaoxiao strode deeper into the construction site. "Fine, you two can go. I'll stay here by myself."

"..."

Ruan Lan and Li Li glanced at each other, then gritted their teeth and followed her.

What they failed to see were two figures standing on the roof of a nearby building. One was an old man completely shrouded in a black robe; the other was a middle-aged man.

The black-robed elder's eyes held a deep sneer. "Truly courting death. To think they'd walk right into the Formation. They'll make a perfect blood lure!"

"Old Duan, is this Formation of yours really going to work?" the middle-aged man asked in a low voice.

"Of course," Old Duan said with his hands clasped behind his back, full of confidence. "I may not be a Martial Artist, but a Formation I laid once trapped and killed a Grandmaster!"

Seeing the middle-aged man's silence, Old Duan frowned. "Jiang Fu, your Jiang Family of Yanjing invited me to set up this Formation, yet you doubt my abilities?"

"I wouldn't dare," Jiang Fu said, shaking his head repeatedly. "It's just that the Young Master's grand plan is at stake. We need to capture Xu Lai and Tan Chang alive, and I'm afraid..."

"Rest assured, I will hold back," Old Duan huffed.

"Thank you for your trouble, Old Duan." Jiang Fu quickly cupped his fist in his palm—a salute in the Martial Dao World. He was both awed and terrified of Old Duan.

Old Duan's real name was Duan Yan. He had once been a bounty hunter overseas, where he laid a Formation on a battlefield that effortlessly killed over ten thousand people. For this, he earned the moniker 'Yama'!

The elite shadows the Jiang Family had sent to East Sea City had all died tragically. Furthermore, his young master had ordered him to capture Xu Lai and Tan Chang alive for a thorough investigation. If not for these circumstances, Jiang Fu would have never associated with a man like Duan Yan.

The Su and Jiang families have no Martial Artists. When they run into trouble, they'll surely turn to their backer, Xu Lai. And as for Xu Lai…

Jiang Fu's eyes flickered. He refused to believe the rumor in the Martial Dao World that Xu Lai was the Flower Fairy's son. This was the perfect opportunity to use Old Duan to test that claim.

Even if Xu Lai truly is a descendant of the Flower Fairy, the Jiang Family will have a way to escape the consequences. But if he isn't… then a meteoric rise awaits them! After all, Second Young Master Jiang Tengyun's investigation is complete. The infant who caused Ye Wuxuan's Boundary to skyrocket is none other than Xu Lai's daughter—Xu Yiyi! Without the Flower Fairy's protection, Xu Lai's entire family is a prize for the taking, and Jiang Tengyun wants them all.

***

Time trickled by as the sky grew completely dark.

Ruan Lan and her two classmates frowned. The temperature on the construction site had dropped so low that they had started to shiver.

"It's so cold..." Li Li said, hugging her shoulders, her teeth chattering.

Just as Yu Xiaoxiao was about to nod in agreement, her face went pale with shock. "Th-they're appearing!" she exclaimed.

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