Two days later.

Wang Chuan, the president of the Yin Yang Master Association, finally returned from a business trip along with Wu Bin, the head of the ritual department. After finding out about the huge changes in the Netherworld over the past days from the association, Wang Chuan immediately organized and convened a meeting of Y City's Yin Yang masters upon his return.

Historically, only the past presidents and vice presidents could attend Y City's Yin Yang master meetings. This time, however, Wang Chuan broke with tradition by inviting Chen Hao as well, and not on behalf of Chen Che, Chen Hao's grandfather, but for Chen Hao himself.

For any Yin Yang master, being invited to attend the Yin Yang master meeting was the best affirmation of one's own strength. Nowadays, in the whole of Y City, including Chen Hao's grandfather, Chen Che, there were only ten people who had the qualifications to attend. Additionally, each person who attended the Yin Yang master meeting would also receive membership in the East Country's Yin Yang Master Association.

Due to previous conflicts between Chen Hao and the Yin Yang Master Association, and given the long-standing good private relationship between the Chen and Xie families, Xie Da was entrusted with the task of inviting Chen Hao to join the Yin Yang Master Meeting.

At Jingwen Middle School, after school in the afternoon, accompanied by the afterglow of the autumn sun, Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao walked out of the school gate side by side.

"Haozi!" Xie Da, who had been waiting at the school gate for a long time, waved to Chen Hao.

From a distance, Chen Hao smiled at Xie Da and then, holding Ye Yuqiao's hand, strode towards him.

Watching the sincere smile on Chen Hao's face under the setting sun, Xie Da blinked his eyes, thinking he was seeing things due to failing eyesight. When he opened his eyes wide and took a closer look, he saw that Chen Hao indeed had a smile on his face.

"Grandpa Xie!"

Hearing that Chen Hao did not call him an old fox but addressed him as grandpa instead, Xie Da's eyes immediately became moist, and he was so moved that he trembled and was speechless.

Chen Hao walked up to Xie Da, held his hand in shame, and said, "Grandpa Xie, Xie Xiaofeng told me about the previous incidents, I'm sorry, it was a misunderstanding on my part. I've been disrespectful and maligned you several times, I hope you can forgive me."

"Haozi!" Xie Da tearfully said, After trembling for a bit, he gripped Chen Hao's hands tightly and, with flushed excitement, said, "Grandpa Xie also feels regretful for many things done to you in the past, and I was even... last time when I heard that the Seven Fairies were after you."

"Grandpa Xie, let's not bring up the past anymore," Chen Hao said, patting Xie Da's back to console him, "I take back what I said about severing ties between the Chen and Xie families, and I hope you will still agree to let me come to you with my problems."

"Of course, I hope so!" Xie Da laughed through his tears, The reconciliation of the Chen and Xie families would continue their centuries-old friendship, which was undoubtedly the resolution of his greatest worry and annoyance. What gratified him most was that the child who had previously lacked ambition had now learned to be forgiving and to admit his mistakes—abilities that even many adults could not master.

At this moment, through Xie Da's eyes, the setting sun was sinking, but Chen Hao shone like a rising morning sun. In Chen Hao, he saw two of the most important things in the world: hope and expectation!

After calming his emotions, Xie Da revealed the purpose of his visit to Chen Hao.

Upon hearing this, Chen Hao immediately shook his head and declined, "Grandpa Xie, thank you and President Wang for regarding me so highly. However, I would not attend the Yin Yang master meeting. First, my own abilities are not yet worthy of the title 'master'; second, I bear a demon's power in my left eye, given to me by demon or ghost I know not which. To avoid controversy, it's better not to."

Chen Hao said this out loud but thought to himself, "They probably want to coax me into compliance, huh? Pfft! Why would I stoop to dealing with you bunch of antiquated, incompetent old farts? Don't forget, the Netherworld is under my control now—I'm not interested in such an empty title as a grand Yin Yang master!"

After speaking, Chen Hao looked at Ye Yuqiao and smiled proudly. He clearly knew that the power of the Nether Eye in his left eye was given to him by Ye Yuqiao, and he said this deliberately to tease her.

Ye Yuqiao merely cast a cold glance at Chen Hao, her face expressionless.

All her reactions were as Chen Hao expected, because in front of others, Ye Yuqiao was always reserved and cold. However, this made him quite happy, as it meant he was different in Ye Yuqiao's heart - he enjoyed her differential treatment.

"Haozi! The Yin Yang master meeting is not until next month—you should think it over and reply later. After all, this opportunity is very rare," Xie Da urged.

Chen Hao had initially wanted to refuse straight away, but out of consideration for Xie Da's good intentions, he nodded with a smile.

After Xie Da left, Chen Hao took Ye Yuqiao's hand and went home. Differing from the past, the two of them often fell into silence these days. Previously, Chen Hao would talk non-stop while Ye Yuqiao quietly listened; but now, Chen Hao didn't feel like talking, always thinking that Ye Yuqiao was deliberately keeping him at a distance. Because of this, he was even more convinced that he held a place in Ye Yuqiao's heart; she was merely exercising restraint due to her background and identity.

Therefore, Chen Hao decided simply not to be overeager and to observe the situation for a few days. If Ye Yuqiao continued to act difficult, he planned to shamelessly cling to her until she personally admitted her affection for him.

"Hey!" Ye Yuqiao actually took the initiative to speak. She looked at Chen Hao and asked, "Are you really willing to give up the opportunity at the Yin Yang master meeting?"

Chen Hao nodded firmly with a touch of narcissism on his face, "With the skills I'll have in the future, do I need those decayed old men to acknowledge me? Do they even deserve to?"

Ye Yuqiao smiled. She knew very well that Chen Hao's refusal was not due to arrogance but because he had his principles and beliefs. Suddenly, fear seeped into her heart. The more she came to know Chen Hao, the more she discovered the unique qualities and traits that he possessed. Chen Hao was slowly consuming her heart and occupying her world.

Time hurried forward, and before they knew it, a month had passed, leaving four months until the halfway point of the six-month deadline they had agreed upon with Niu Tou and Ma Mian.

During this month, Chen Hao practiced his Nether Eye Power every night, doubling his efforts. He constantly thought about King Ning, who appeared that night, reminding himself of the gap between them. Each time he pondered these thoughts, his blood would boil, and his weary body and spirit would fill with fighting spirit.

In this time, Chen Hao also earned a new nickname—Brother Chen. In the eyes of many, the former Chen Hao, who had been a disheartened and unambitious waste, had transformed. His face glowed, he was brimming with confidence, and he exuded an aura of ease and steadiness, added with a handsome and sunny appearance.

However, the relationship between Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao was at a standstill. Ye Yuqiao's deliberate coldness solidified Chen Hao's resolve towards her; her occasional melancholy allowed Chen Hao to see her struggle. Caught in uncertainty, Chen Hao chose to preserve the status quo.

Xie Xiaofeng, Tang Jing, and Tang Chao, each of them, in this past month, strived earnestly to become stronger, preparing to challenge more formidable and terrifying enemies.

Unbeknownst to them, it was already deep autumn. The nights of deep autumn always seemed to fall a bit earlier than before.

After school in the afternoon, as usual, Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao silently walked out of the school side by side.

When they reached the school gate, they both spotted a familiar face—Tang Chao.

Every time they saw Tang Chao, his face would bear his signature simple smile. However, today, he looked downcast and anxious.

"Big Bro Chao!" Holding Ye Yuqiao's hand, Chen Hao approached Tang Chao, "Why do you look so urgent? Is there an emergency with Tang Jing?"

"Chen Hao," Tang Chao, frantic to the point of tears, replied, "I didn't want to bother you, but I have no other choice! My sister Tang Jing, she's in trouble!"

"Ah!"

A little while later, Xie Xiaofeng also exited through the school gates. After the group met up, they went to a quiet, secluded coffee shop near Jingwen Middle School.

After they settled in, Tang Chao began to reveal some of the past events and secrets of the Tang Family:

Tang Chao was two years older than Tang Jing. Tang Jing's birth resulted in their mother's death due to a difficult labor; soon after, their father died of depression due to the loss of his wife.

Not long after, Tang Chao was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. Although his grandfather had found him the best doctors in the country and arranged the finest treatments, the disease only worsened. By the age of five, Tang Chao's condition was critical, and the hospital issued a notice of critical condition, advising the family to prepare for the worst.

Just when the Tang Family had lost all hope, Li Jiachang, an underworld merchant from Dao County, Y City, happened to visit their home.

Underworld merchants, simply put, are mortal world merchants who conduct business with the Netherworld. There are generally two types of underworld merchants: one type deals in selling oddities from the Netherworld to buyers with special needs, and the other type acts as an officially recognized middleman managing logistics between the two worlds, such as establishing financial institutions to transfer money burned for Nether Souls to them, delivering cars and houses burned for Nether Souls to their Netherworld owners, and collecting the respective taxes.

This Li Jiachang was a combination of both types of merchants. He was not only the agent for the Qian Family, one of the Eight Great Clans in the Netherworld, handling their financial and logistical affairs in the mortal world but also responsible for selling various Netherworld oddities, making him one of the largest underworld merchants in the East Country. Because of the presence of the Li Family's business, Dao County had become the largest market for transactions between the living and the dead.

After learning of Tang Chao's condition, Li Jiachang claimed he had a way to save Tang Chao's life, but at a price.

Li Jiachang had a younger brother named Li Zhengwen who, seven years prior and at the young age of twenty, died in a car accident. After reaching the Netherworld, Li Zhengwen won the favor and trust of the Qian Family, one of the Eight Great Clans, and became their godson. The Li Family's underworld business thrived due to Li Zhengwen's connections with the Qian Family patriarch.

Li Jiachang's condition was that the Tang Family had to agree to marry the three-year-old Tang Jing to his deceased brother Li Zhengwen.

Later, Tang Chao's grandfather, who favored males over females, agreed to Li Jiachang's condition to continue their family line, consenting to have Tang Jing marry Li Zhengwen when she turned eighteen. The day after the marriage pact was signed with the Li Family, Tang Chao's illness miraculously began to improve, and within a month, he was completely cured.

By the time Tang Chao was eleven, his grandfather revealed the netherworld marriage pact between Tang Jing and Li Zhengwen to him on his deathbed. After learning about this, Tang Chao didn't dare to tell Tang Jing.

"Tomorrow is my sister's eighteenth birthday!" Tang Chao said with a mournful face, "Today, people from the Li Family came by, saying they're going to hold a traditional wedding. Tonight, they plan to fetch my sister with a grand eight-bearer sedan chair."

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