Wong Qifu's fragile appearance lasted only a moment before she reined it in. She broke free from Xu Ke's embrace and turned to pick up a tissue from the side. Xu Ke felt an instant emptiness in his chest.

Just then, a sudden knock came at the door. "Family Head, there's a call from the Ye Family."

"A call?" Wong Qifu said. "Bring it in."

A man entered from outside. When he saw Xu Ke standing there, he was immediately dumbstruck. What is going on?

"Give it to me," Wong Qifu extended her hand, her tone hardening. She clearly didn't want the man to keep staring at Xu Ke.

The man immediately averted his gaze from Xu Ke, turned, and handed the cell phone to Wong Qifu.

"You may leave," Wong Qifu said.

"Yes."

The man exited the hospital room. Before he left, his gaze still held a trace of utter shock. He had also been present earlier. Hadn't Xu Ke been stabbed straight through the heart? How is he still alive?

...

"Hello."

After the man left the hospital room, Wong Qifu answered the call and put it on speakerphone. Xu Ke stood by, watching her.

"Miss Wong, good evening," an elderly voice came through, attempting to sound cordial. It was clearly the Ye Family Patriarch.

"Get to the point," Wong Qifu said, having no intention of exchanging pleasantries.

The Ye Family Patriarch was taken aback for a moment before chuckling. "...Alright, name your price, and I'll ransom back Ye Chen and Song Zhong."

He was aware of the situation's ins and outs. He had originally thought there was a chance to exploit Wong Qifu, but he never expected Xu Ke's suicide to shatter the entire scenario. Now, they were the ones deeply mired in trouble. It was unclear how to handle the aftermath, and his youngest son, Ye Chen, was still in Wong Qifu's hands. There was no other way. He could only call to probe Wong Qifu's stance. If the matter could be settled for a small price, he wouldn't mind paying. If Wong Qifu demanded an exorbitant ransom, he could also use this call to buy more time to rescue Ye Chen.

"What do you think?" Instead of answering, Wong Qifu turned her gaze to Xu Ke. She had already decided to let him handle the matter however he saw fit.

Seeing Wong Qifu suddenly ask this surprised the Ye Family Patriarch. Who is she talking to?

Xu Ke smiled faintly and raised a single finger, mouthing silently, "Ten billion per person."

If the Ye Family was willing to pay, he didn't particularly care if Ye Chen lived or died. It was simple. Securing a huge benefit for the Wong Family right now was something Xu Ke was very happy to see. Besides, he could always get his revenge later. Of course, Xu Ke knew one thing even more clearly... the Ye Family would never pay that twenty billion!

"Ten billion per person," Wong Qifu answered directly.

The Ye Family Patriarch was speechless. He remained silent for a while. "Is there no room for discussion?"

"There will be when your son is dead," Wong Qifu replied coolly.

"Are you determined to make an enemy of my Ye Family?" The Ye Family Patriarch's tone carried a trace of severity.

"Ye Yunfeng, are you going senile?" Wong Qifu scoffed.

"How dare you?! You dare show me such disrespect?!" Ye Yunfeng erupted in fury. Wong Qifu dared to address him by his full name? How presumptuous!

Wong Qifu grew even more disdainful. "Ye Yunfeng, when your son kidnapped Xu Ke, did you ever consider that I would make an enemy of you? The feud between the Wong Family and the Ye Family has been ongoing for a long time. Compounded by this incident with Xu Ke, I won't leave you a single shred of dignity."

"Wong Qifu, let me tell you something," Ye Yunfeng sneered. "Xu Ke is just an ordinary person. How can he compare to my son? Besides, he's dead now. It's not worth it for you to oppose us over a dead man. We of the six great families should focus on immediate benefits. You can't be so reckless. Surely you understand this simple truth?"

Wong Qifu laughed coldly. "Good. Thank you for teaching me a lesson."

"What are you trying to say?" Ye Yunfeng was startled as a foreboding feeling surged in his heart.

"Just wait for the good news about your son."

Wong Qifu hung up the phone.

Ye Yunfeng's face turned ashen.

...

"Are you able to move now?" Wong Qifu looked at Xu Ke.

"I can," Xu Ke nodded. He had remained silent the entire time because he didn't want to interrupt her.

"Then let's go. I have them held in a villa in the suburbs," Wong Qifu stood up. "Ye Yunfeng has no sincerity about cooperating. He must have been investigating where Ye Chen and the others are being held. They'll probably find the location soon."

"Alright," Xu Ke replied.

As they left the hospital room, Xu Ke sensed the True Qi within his body. The Dragon Essence, besides saving his life, had also helped him recover some of his strength. Although he didn't have the same overwhelming Innate True Qi as before, he was at least at the Innate Middle Stage.

Ordinary people start cultivating to strengthen their bodies and open up their Dantian to produce True Qi. Once True Qi appears, a cultivator becomes an Early-Stage Postnatal Martial Artist. After True Qi accumulates to a certain level and circulates through the limbs and bones, one reaches the Innate Middle Stage. When the True Qi breaks through the governor and conception vessels, one is at the Postnatal Late Stage. Finally, when True Qi connects all the meridians with the Dantian and flows freely throughout the body, one has reached Innate Great Perfection.

Although Xu Ke currently only had Dragon Essence circulating through his limbs and bones, his formidable foundation meant that reaching Innate Great Perfection was only a matter of time. After all, one's True Qi can be taken away, but one's physical conditioning is much harder to lose. This was also why Xu Ke's recovery rate was so fast when he trained.

...

After the two of them left the hospital room, Wong Wu and Lin Qinghua, who were standing outside the door, approached them.

"Let's go," Wong Qifu said, indicating the direction.

"Miss, what did Ye Yunfeng say?" asked Wong Wu.

"He was completely insincere," Wong Qifu stated flatly.

Wong Wu and Lin Qinghua instantly understood.

"Their lives and their fates are yours to decide," Wong Qifu said, turning to look at Xu Ke.

"Alright," Xu Ke nodded.

Since he couldn't secure benefits for the Wong Family, there was no need to spare these people's lives. Of course, before killing them, Xu Ke needed to consider the best way to enact his revenge. They had tortured him and broken his legs; Xu Ke remembered every single debt. He was not a magnanimous person. He would repay the kindness he was shown, and he would settle the scores that were due.

"Let's go," Wong Qifu led the way.

Fortunately, it was already midnight, and there was no one outside. Otherwise, seeing Xu Ke, who had been confirmed dead, standing up... he would probably become a nationwide medical miracle by the next morning.

"Any reaction from the Huang Family?" Wong Qifu asked as they were leaving the hospital.

Hearing this, Wong Wu shook his head. "There hasn't been any reaction from them. It seems they've given up on Huang Qi."

"It seems we've been used as pawns, then," Wong Qifu sneered. The struggle for direct succession in the great families was just that cruel. Huang Qi had failed to earn merit, and now he had been abandoned.

"Has Ouyang Shuang escaped?" At that moment, Xu Ke suddenly remembered.

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