But Xu Ke felt that it was indeed too slow.

Because Wong Qifu's rivals wouldn't give him a whole year.

Therefore, Xu Ke needed even more terrifying pressure.

Pressure could forge breakthroughs.

He had only been able to find opportunities for breakthroughs thanks to his master's relentless pursuit and beatings over the course of that year. Otherwise, even if he were a prodigy, it would have been impossible for him to advance from nothing to Innate Great Perfection within a single year.

Now that his master wasn't around to create that pressure, he had to actively seek it out himself.

Put simply, he had to constantly court death to grow stronger.

After circulating his True Qi through twelve major cycles, Xu Ke began to exercise his limbs. His master hadn't taught him any specific techniques, so he could only perform some of the training moves he had learned at the gym previously.

Xu Ke had specifically asked his master about this. Why not teach him a few moves like the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms?

To this, his master had replied, "You're focusing on medical skills as your primary and cultivating True Qi as secondary. If you got obsessed with techniques as well, wouldn't that just be a distraction? I'll teach you later."

Xu Ke had a sudden realization. His master was indeed looking out for him.

But after his master beat him for a while using underhanded moves like groin strikes and throat jabs, he belatedly realized… It wasn't that his master didn't want to teach him; it was that his master didn't know any techniques himself!

***

「Seven o'clock in the morning.」

The urban village was already bustling with activity, the street below filled with vendors and commuting office workers.

Xu Ke had only gone to bed at three o'clock, but by seven, he was already up and full of energy.

Just as he got out of bed, he received a message from Wong Qifu.

"Negotiations at twelve noon, Tianhai Bamboo Pavilion Residence. I'll come pick you up."

"Okay," Xu Ke replied, his eyes narrowing.

Today, there will be a result!

***

「12:05 PM. Bamboo Pavilion Residence.」

"They're all here," Wong Qifu said, glancing at her phone as she stood next to Xu Ke.

For today's negotiation, Wong Qifu was dressed in a pantsuit, looking very capable. But even so, the outfit couldn't hide her graceful curves.

"Are we late?" Xu Ke asked, surprised.

"They just arrived too early," Wong Qifu said.

Xu Ke was speechless.

Classic Wong Qifu. As long as we haven't arrived, the concept of being late doesn't exist.

The two of them made their way to the second floor of the Bamboo Pavilion Residence. Wang Wu followed close behind them, as usual.

"Hasn't she arrived yet?"

As they reached the second floor, Xu Ke could hear a middle-aged man's dissatisfied voice coming from one of the private rooms.

"Zhenyang, be patient," Chen Xiong's voice rang out.

"Be patient?" Huang Zhenyang retorted impatiently. "Uncle Chen, that woman has no respect for her elders! She acts so high and mighty, so arrogant, just because she became the Helmsman of the Wang Family."

"Fourth Uncle, stop talking," Huang Sheng spoke calmly. "We're here to negotiate, not to throw a fit."

"You haven't made any progress over the years," Chen Xiong said. "You're even worse than the younger generation. Just look at Xiaosheng."

Huang Zhenyang snorted coldly and fell silent.

"It seems the Ye Family really didn't show up," Wong Qifu said, raising an eyebrow slightly when she heard the three fall silent.

Wong Qifu couldn't care less about Huang Zhenyang's words. To her, a person like him might as well not exist. But seeing that only three people had been talking the entire time, she understood that not a single member of the Ye Family was in attendance.

At this moment, Wang Wu stepped forward. "Miss, Ye Yunfeng was thunderously furious yesterday. He has declared an irreconcilable stance against our Wang Family."

It was simple, really. Anyone would roar with rage after seeing their youngest son beaten to a pulp.

"What about Song Zhong's wife and daughter?" Wong Qifu asked.

The surveillance footage clearly showed Song Zhong personally sending Ye Chen away. Although the Ye Family would never believe Song Zhong had tried to kill Ye Chen on his own initiative and would surely suspect the Wang Family was pulling the strings, Song Zhong was still the one who had made the move. Under such circumstances, the Ye Family would definitely take their anger out on his wife and daughter. They might even suspect Song Zhong had traded Ye family secrets and Ye Chen's life for some clandestine deal with the Wang Family.

Wang Wu replied, "Our people set up an ambush and blew up all the Ye Family members who came to arrest Song Zhong's wife and daughter.

"As for the team the Ye Family sent to investigate Song Zhong's whereabouts, they are destined to come up empty-handed."

"Good," Wong Qifu nodded.

"Let's go inside," she said, turning to Xu Ke.

Xu Ke nodded. He had been silent the whole time, trying to sense if there were any powerful presences in the room. He was hoping Ouyang Shuang would be inside.

Unfortunately, she wasn't.

Wong Qifu then pushed open the door to the private room.

Sunlight streamed through the open door, making the crystal chandeliers glitter with a colorful brilliance. Celadon vases and masterful works of calligraphy and painting adorned the walls, creating an atmosphere of pure opulence.

Six or seven bodyguards from the Huang and Ye Families stood behind the men, and several women in cheongsams with attractive features waited to the side, clearly waitresses from the Bamboo Pavilion Residence.

But no one was in the mood to appreciate the elegant decor.

Because Wong Qifu had captured the attention of everyone present.

The room fell silent.

"Everyone arrived so early?" Wong Qifu said nonchalantly.

An ugly look crossed Huang Zhenyang's face. He desperately wanted to stand up and rebuke Wong Qifu. He was especially eager to call her out for making Chen Xiong wait so long—his earlier, seemingly nonsensical outburst at Chen Xiong was all to lay the groundwork for this very confrontation.

But when the moment came, the words caught in his throat. One look at Wong Qifu, and Huang Zhenyang chickened out.

He didn't dare to speak.

His hesitation cost him the opportunity.

"Yes, indeed, Qi Fu. Please, come and sit," Chen Xiong said, standing up with a smile. Then his gaze followed to the person standing beside Wong Qifu, and his expression froze.

Chen Xiong had already seen photos of Xu Ke, so he recognized him instantly.

Today's negotiation is all because of this man.

What's going on? Isn't he supposed to be dead?!

Huang Zhenyang and Huang Sheng were even more shocked. When they saw Xu Ke, their reactions were even more exaggerated than Chen Xiong's.

Their pupils constricted in unison.

Xu Ke didn't commit suicide? How is he still alive and kicking?!

Huang Sheng was the most shocked of all.

If that's the case, the Huang Family has lost out. We've lost out big time!

He had considered losing Huang Qi and giving the Wang Family leverage over them a loss. However, killing Xu Ke would have allowed him to appease Wong Ting. He could have also used the Wang Family's own hand to get rid of Huang Qi. It would have been killing two birds with one stone, and everything would have remained under his control.

But now, seeing Xu Ke alive, he instantly knew...

My plan has failed!

Huang Sheng's first reaction was that the Wang Family had schemed against him.

Wong Qifu set a trap for us.

But he quickly dismissed that thought. Having witnessed Wong Qifu's behavior yesterday, he was acutely aware of her despair and her façade of strength—a state that was a far cry from that of a master strategist.

So that means... I was schemed against by Xu Ke.

Thinking this, a glint of light flashed in Huang Sheng's eyes.

I understand!

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