This was a grave matter. If Dapeng truly chose to throw their lot in with the Wang Family, things would become incredibly complicated. This wasn't just about Dapeng Commerce, a formidable power, allying with the Wang Family. More importantly, it was about whether the figures backing Dapeng and Duan Chongfeng would also step in and roil the waters of Tianhai alongside them.

"I'll contact Young Master Ye. Don't do anything rash."

After a moment of silence, Li Shichuan stood up and took out his phone.

***

「Wang Family Corporation.」

"Miss, I've made the call as you instructed."

Wang Wu entered the office.

Wong Qifu nodded. "Okay, then please trouble Uncle Wu to check on how Xiao Ya's preparations are coming along. We'll be sending her back in a couple of days."

"Yes."

Wang Wu nodded and then left the office.

Wong Qifu looked at the email from Duan Chongfeng on her computer screen and shook her head. He said he was going to a gathering, but he still ended up beating someone up. How troublesome.

***

「Ye Family.」

"Are your and your son's brains full of shit?"

"I've fucking told you to use your brains when you do things!"

"You voluntarily served yourselves up to be slapped in the face by Xu Ke. In all my years, I've never known someone could be this stupid. How can you be so pathetic?"

Ye Fan was furious.

How does that fool Li Shichuan still have the nerve to ask for my help? With a plan that only a pig could come up with, what right does Li Lang have to ask me for anything?

Li Shichuan was scolded mercilessly, barely managing to swallow his anger. "Then, Young Master Ye, what should we do now?"

"Go fuck yourself."

Ye Fan yelled into the phone, "The best thing your Li Family can do is go die, goddammit!"

Stunned by Ye Fan's extremely vulgar tirade, Li Shichuan's face turned a deathly pale, his fists clenched tightly. "Then… then, Young Master Ye, what if we report it to the police now?"

"Report it to the police?"

Ye Fan laughed hysterically. "You're a real genius, aren't you, Li Shichuan? And what exactly do you plan to tell the police?"

"That you deliberately provoked someone, only to get beaten like a dog? If you want to call the police, go right ahead. I'm not playing along."

Li Shichuan was at a loss for words.

Ye Fan's face darkened. "Right now, the best thing you can do is absolutely nothing, you bunch of worthless trash."

"I'll handle the matter with Dapeng."

"Yes," Li Shichuan replied, just before the line went dead.

"Even a dog's master should be considered before it's beaten." Ye Fan stood up, a ruthless expression on his face. "Duan Chongfeng has gone too far."

"Does he really think the Wang Family can run roughshod over Tianhai?"

"And this Xu Ke, does he think he can beat someone and get away with it? Does he think the Ye Family is as cowardly as the Huang Family?"

"He doesn't understand a single fucking rule."

***

Ye Fan acted swiftly, arriving at the Jincheng Hotel by three-thirty.

"Young Master Fan is here! Forgive me for not coming out to greet you."

Duan Chongfeng watched Ye Fan storming in aggressively but remained perfectly calm and composed.

"Greet me? I think you'd rather see the entire Ye Family off, wouldn't you, Boss Duan?"

Ye Fan sneered.

"Oh? And what does Young Master Fan suggest?"

Duan Chongfeng watched Ye Fan, a smile in his eyes.

"Nothing much. I just wanted to ask you…"

Ye Fan's expression turned frigid. "Boss Duan, Li Lang of the Li Family was beaten by Xu Ke right here. How do you plan to account for this?"

Although Ye Fan wanted to explode with rage on the spot, his temper was fiery, but it didn't mean he was an idiot. Considering Duan Chongfeng's identity and status, he held himself back. Had it been anyone else, his words would have been laced with profanity.

"Haven't I already given an account?"

Duan Chongfeng looked completely innocent. "I had the Wang Family and Xu Ke offer an apology to Li Lang."

Ye Fan laughed out of sheer anger. "Boss Duan, aren't you being a little too partial to Xu Ke?"

"Partial? I wouldn't say so."

"And this isn't partiality? If I were to beat one of your men and just offered an apology, would you accept that?"

Duan Chongfeng seemed to genuinely consider it for a moment. "Of course, I couldn't accept that."

"And you still have the gall to call that a proper explanation?" Ye Fan's face instantly darkened.

"Is it not?"

"You just said yourself you couldn't accept it," Ye Fan flared up.

Duan Chongfeng stated matter-of-factly, "But it wasn't my man who got beaten."

Ye Fan: "..."

I want to curse him out. How is Duan Chongfeng just as infuriating as Xu Ke?

Ye Fan's face was so dark it could have dripped ink. "It seems Boss Duan has decided to stick with the Wang Family to the bitter end."

"What Young Master Fan chooses to think is your business, but…"

The smile vanished from Duan Chongfeng's face. "How would my humble business dare to meddle in the affairs of you six great families?"

"But to try and use me as a weapon on my own turf… do you think I'm unaware?"

"My willingness to say a few words for the Li Family was me already doing my utmost, and that was out of respect for your Ye Family. But if you insist on pushing this, I wouldn't mind discussing a partnership with Miss Wang."

"So, Young Master Fan, what do you want to do now?"

When he finished speaking, Ye Fan looked utterly mortified. It wasn't because of Duan Chongfeng's words, but because of that fool, Li Lang. The reason he thought Li Lang was an idiot wasn't just because he walked right into a beating from Xu Ke, but because he had actually tried to use Duan Chongfeng, and Li Shichuan had even agreed to it. That was tantamount to thinking Duan Chongfeng was as big an idiot as they were.

However…

What Ye Fan found comforting was that despite Duan Chongfeng's unfriendly tone, he had inadvertently revealed a crucial fact: he hadn't actually partnered with the Wang Family.

Just knowing this was enough for Ye Fan. He hadn't come here to seek justice for Li Lang, but to confirm where Duan Chongfeng's loyalties lay.

All things considered, the outcome is better than I'd hoped.

"Very well. I won't disturb you any longer, Boss Duan."

Ye Fan stood up and stated with a blank expression.

With that, Ye Fan gave Duan Chongfeng one last, deep look before turning to leave.

"Duan Jia, see Young Master Fan out," Duan Chongfeng said.

Duan Jia immediately stepped forward to escort Ye Fan out.

After Ye Fan and Duan Jia had left, Duan Yi approached. "Boss, are we still gifting the medical hall to Mister Xu?"

"Why wouldn't we?"

Duan Chongfeng gave Duan Yi a puzzled look.

"But… aren't you not planning to cooperate with the Wang Family?"

Duan Yi was stunned. Did I hear him wrong?

Duan Chongfeng chuckled, half amused and half annoyed. "I said I wouldn't cooperate with the Wang Family. Did I say I wouldn't cooperate with Xu Ke?"

"Why don't you try listening properly before asking me questions?"

Duan Yi shrank back, mumbling, "Okay, okay…"

Duan Chongfeng sighed deeply.

What terrible luck I have with people! How did a subordinate I've led for over a decade turn out like this?

***

「Urban Village.」

DING-DONG.

Jiang Yi's phone screen finally lit up. His boss had replied.

"Mister Xu, I got a message on my phone," Jiang Yi said.

"Let me see."

Holding a bowl of pitch-black liquid, Xu Ke walked over to Jiang Yi and once again used his face to unlock the phone.

Jiang Yi's boss: "I have already reported this to the police."

The message was terse.

Jiang Yi's face instantly drained of all color.

I knew this damn threat wouldn't work!

"What do I do now?"

Jiang Yi looked at Xu Ke with utter despair.

"I don't know either. I only wrote that draft on a whim," Xu Ke shrugged.

Jiang Yi felt tears welling up. "..."

"Here, forget about your boss for a minute. Drink this."

Xu Ke held the bowl to Jiang Yi's lips. The medicine's odor was overpowering. Having just been suffocated by the rag, Jiang Yi felt the urge to vomit again. "What is this?!"

Xu Ke didn't answer. He simply poured the medicine down Jiang Yi's throat, forcing him to drink every last drop. While Jiang Yi was still reeling from the medicine's foul taste, Xu Ke prodded several acupoints on his body.

After drinking the concoction, Jiang Yi's entire face turned green…

This stench... it can't be poison, can it?

Xu Ke took the bowl away. "This is Goddess Flower Spread. After drinking it, you'll experience pain throughout your entire body every day for the next seven days."

"If you don't receive the antidote by then, your organs will begin to rot from the inside, and you'll become a vegetable."

"It's a very peaceful death."

Jiang Yi's face went chalk white.

It's really poison?!

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