"Huang Zhendong and Huang Sheng won't agree, but they can't force Ouyang Shuang not to, can they?" Xu Ke smiled faintly. The strong are proud. In Ouyang Shuang's eyes, I'm no different from an ant. Faced with an ant's provocation, someone as cautious as Huang Sheng might ignore it. But someone as proud as Ouyang Shuang would crush it with the force of a thunderbolt. Besides, if Ouyang Shuang refuses, I can still use this to ruin her reputation while keeping Huang Qi in my grasp. It's a no-lose situation.

Wong Qifu's beautiful eyes were fixed on Xu Ke; she didn't want him to take such a risk. "But you have to understand," she began, "they're targeting you because of me. It's not something you brought upon yourself."

This was the source of her guilt. She was the one who had dragged Xu Ke into tonight's crisis.

"Without you, Siao Jia and his men would have broken my arms and legs earlier tonight," Xu Ke replied with a faint smile.

Wong Qifu frowned, still wanting to stop him, but Xu Ke spoke first. "And at this point, how are you any different from me?"

Hearing this, Wang Wu, who had been about to intervene, froze with a strange expression. He quickly and quietly backed away, making his exit. This was not the time to be a third wheel.

Hearing his words, Wong Qifu gave him a wry smile. "Since when did you get brave enough to tease me?"

"Uh…" Xu Ke rubbed his nose. "I was just making a casual comment."

"Oh, really?" A playful look appeared on Wong Qifu's face. "Then keep going. I want to hear it."

Xu Ke couldn't help but shrink back slightly. "Sister Wang, I think we should focus on the important..."

"Hm?" Wong Qifu said nothing, simply staring at him.

Seeing this, Xu Ke said awkwardly, "Sister Wang… what did you want to hear?"

"Didn't you say that if we had a future, you'd call me Qifu?" The corners of Wong Qifu's lips curved into a slight smile.

Hearing this, Xu Ke recalled what he had said right before he died. He was at a loss for words. "Well…" Honestly, it wasn't that he didn't want to call her that, he just couldn't bring himself to say it so suddenly.

"Say it," Wong Qifu said flatly.

Xu Ke gritted his teeth. "Qifu…"

"Forget it. It's as if I'm holding a knife to your throat." Seeing Xu Ke look like he was about to break into a sweat, Wong Qifu couldn't help but laugh, and his face flushed with embarrassment.

"I just wanted to tell you," Wong Qifu said, changing the subject, "that even though you're powerful now, it's better to take the safer path when you can. You have trump cards, but don't you think Ouyang Shuang has them too?"

She knew Xu Ke had other secrets. She even suspected his resurrection tonight was related to his Martial Artist cultivation, or perhaps that he'd had some kind of fantastical experience beyond normal understanding. But in truth, Wong Qifu didn't really care how he had come back to life. She only cared that he stayed alive.

Xu Ke was silent for a moment before looking up. "I want revenge."

"But revenge doesn't have to mean betting your life."

"I believe that some things I have to resolve with my own power." Xu Ke clenched his fist.

"There's no real difference between solving a problem with your fists and solving it with influence. All that matters is that it gets solved," Wong Qifu said lightly. "And is my power not also your power? I'll throw your own words back at you: how are you any different from me?"

Her tone was casual, yet it carried an undeniable authority. She wasn't going to be easily persuaded.

Xu Ke smiled. "There is a difference."

Wong Qifu looked up at him, saying nothing.

"Because I want to protect you." Xu Ke gazed at Wong Qifu.

Slightly taken aback, Wong Qifu replied, "I don't need your protection."

"You may not need it, but I want to do it."

Gazing into his determined eyes, Wong Qifu fell silent for a moment. A hint of a smile touched her own eyes. "Fine. You make the arrangements."

A smile touched the corners of Xu Ke's lips. Just then, another call came in.

Wong Qifu took out her phone, her eyes wide with surprise. "Why would he be calling me?"

"Who?" Xu Ke asked, startled.

"Chen Xiong, the Chen Family Head." Wong Qifu answered before accepting the call. "Grandpa Chen, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

Now Xu Ke was genuinely surprised. If Wong Qifu called him 'Grandpa,' didn't that put him a generation above the current heads of the six major families? How could someone like that still be the Helmsman of a major family?

"Qifu, my dear, it feels like I haven't seen you in a long time," Chen Xiong's voice came through the phone, deep and full of energy, not at all like an old man's.

Hearing that voice, a thought immediately struck Xu Ke. This Chen Xiong is a Martial Artist. And a very powerful one…

"The Wang Family Corporation has been incredibly busy lately, so I haven't had the time to visit you, Grandpa Chen. I sincerely apologize." When speaking with Chen Xiong, Wong Qifu's attitude was unusually polite.

"Not at all, not at all," Chen Xiong laughed heartily. "I know things can't be the same as before now that you're the Helmsman. I won't hold it against you."

"I'm calling you today because I'd like to act as a mediator and help settle things."

After he spoke, Wong Qifu's expression remained unchanged. "Grandpa Chen, how do you propose to mediate?"

She wasn't surprised. People don't make calls like this without a reason. Chen Xiong's sudden call had to be about tonight's events.

"Qifu, I know that the Ye and Huang families are at fault in this matter." Chen Xiong coughed twice. "But if the fallout gets too big, it will be difficult for me to answer to my superiors. So, I was thinking, perhaps we could find a time when everyone is free to sit down and talk?"

"Rest assured, I absolutely will not take sides." Chen Xiong chose his words carefully. Since taking the helm of the Wang Family, Wong Qifu had become quite domineering. Even with his status, Chen Xiong didn't dare pressure her, fearing he might cause offense, especially since he knew she was the clear victim in tonight's affair.

Wong Qifu was silent for a moment. "Alright. Then I'll have to trouble you to find a place for us to meet tomorrow, Grandpa Chen."

"Excellent!" Chen Xiong was overjoyed. "I'll let you know as soon as I've arranged the location tomorrow."

"Very well." Wong Qifu nodded. The two then said their goodbyes and hung up the phone.

"They want to negotiate. Come with me," Wong Qifu said, looking at Xu Ke. "It's about time they met you."

"Alright." Xu Ke nodded. He no longer had any objection to his identity being revealed.

Afterward, Wong Qifu explained, "Grandpa Chen is the Family Head of the Chen Family. Among the six major families of Tianhai, the Chen Family doesn't stand out. In almost every respect, you could say they have very little presence."

"But no one dares to make a move against them."

"Why is that?" Xu Ke asked, surprised.

"Because of Grandpa Chen," Wong Qifu said. "Besides his position within the six major families, he is also the Alliance Hierarch of the Tianhai Martial Alliance."

"The Tianhai Martial Alliance?" Xu Ke was taken aback. He had known about the six major families, but this was the first time he'd ever heard of the Martial Alliance.

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