Why were his men suddenly surrounded by the Martial Department?

Li Tao's thoughts churned. Looking at Chen Yang's perfectly calm and composed demeanor, his mind reeled. Who else could it be but Chen Yang?

He was a significant figure in Lingjin City, thriving thanks to the unique nature of his security company. His network spread across every industry. But no matter how well he did, what did it amount to in front of the Martial Department?

And to mobilize a force of thousands at a moment's notice… Just what kind of person was this?

"Sir, I think there might be some misunderstanding!" Li Tao took a deep breath, his attitude shifting in an instant. With a fawning smile, he said, "How about this? Tomorrow, I'll reserve a table at the Junhao Grand Hotel and personally apologize to you!"

"Weren't you eager to flay me alive just a moment ago? How is it that you're now inviting me to dinner and offering to apologize?" Chen Yang asked with amusement. "Why are you so fickle? You change your mind faster than you can flip a page."

Li Tao's face flushed with embarrassment, and he was left speechless.

The man was just too composed. His unshakable calm made Li Tao's heart pound with fear! Perhaps this guy's background was even more formidable than he had imagined.

"Friend, I believe we can sit down and talk about anything. Besides, my sincerity is absolute," Li Tao said, lowering his stance once again.

This…

The surrounding crowd was dumbfounded, staring blankly at Chen Yang.

Isn't he supposed to be a good-for-nothing who married into his wife's family? How is he connected to the Martial Department?

"Dad, don't let him fool you! He's just a worthless bum who married into the Qin Family! There's no way he's connected with the Martial Department! Kill him!" Li Hongming roared desperately.

Li Tao frowned. Could it just be a coincidence? Upon reflection, it seemed plausible. The man was barely thirty; how could he possibly have such great influence in the Martial Department? Li Tao's expression shifted again. Perhaps he had been overthinking things.

Just then, Yang Hu, dressed in his military-style uniform, strode in, flanked by two Martial Guards.

Li Tao's expression changed yet again, and for a moment, he didn't know what to do.

Yang Hu walked toward Chen Yang with a cheerful smile. The two Martial Guards saluted respectfully. "Governor!"

Li Tao: "..."

Li Hongming: "..."

He… He's the Nine Gates Admiral?

HISS.

The Martial Guard's words left Li Tao and his son frozen in place. Even the distant waitstaff were stunned silent, their faces filled with shock.

This guy… he's actually the Nine Gates Admiral?

Li Tao felt a chill run down his spine. His face turned pale, and large beads of cold sweat rolled down his forehead. Holy hell! How did I manage to provoke such a powerful figure?

"You kept screaming that you wanted to kill me," Chen Yang said, looking down at Li Hongming at his feet. "So tell me, how exactly were you planning to do it?"

Li Hongming's lips were sealed shut, his face turning a shade of green. He had even forgotten the pain racking his body as he lay trembling on the floor.

Yang Hu drew his pistol and pressed it to Li Hongming's forehead. "You want to kill my boss?" he sneered. "Go on. Tell me in detail exactly how you plan to do it."

"I… I…" Li Hongming was scared out of his wits, his insides churning with terror.

"Speak!" Yang Hu roared.

That single word struck Li Hongming's heart like a hammer. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted on the spot.

Chen Yang stood up and walked toward Li Tao.

Li Tao shivered, his face deathly pale. His legs trembled violently, and he kept his head bowed low, not daring to make a single move.

"You know, if you had just been straight with me about the drugging from the start, we could have avoided this whole spectacle. Did you really think having more men meant you could just bully people with your power?"

Li Tao trembled in fear, utterly miserable.

"See now? You can't strong-arm your way out of this one," Chen Yang said, patting Li Tao's shoulder. He then ordered Yang Hu, "You handle things here."

"Yes, Boss!"

Chen Yang helped Qin Mo to her feet and turned to Fan Xiaoxian, who was still in a daze. "Let's go. I'll take you home."

Fan Xiaoxian nodded numbly and followed behind like a robot.

「In the car.」

Chen Yang asked Fan Xiaoxian, "Where do you live? I'll drop you off first."

"Brocade Residential Area."

Fan Xiaoxian stared at Chen Yang for a moment before asking cautiously, "Why are you hiding the fact that you're the Nine Gates Admiral from everyone?"

"You'll keep my secret too, right?" Chen Yang replied with a smile.

Fan Xiaoxian nodded instinctively. "But everyone calls you a good-for-nothing. Can you stand that?"

"What does that matter? I've never cared about what other people say," Chen Yang said, adding a reminder, "We have a deal. You have to keep my secret."

"Don't you worry, Governor. My lips are sealed!"

Chen Yang rolled his eyes, speechless. He hadn't realized this girl was so cheeky.

After dropping off Fan Xiaoxian, Chen Yang returned to Book Mountain Court.

Qin Qiu, Luo Sulan, and Xiang Yang were already waiting by the door.

Seeing Qin Mo's drunken state, Qin Qiu and Luo Sulan clucked over her with a mixture of blame and heartache as they helped her into the villa.

Xiang Yang casually remarked from the side, "Chen, there's something I find strange. Lingjin City isn't small, so how did you just happen to run into Xiaomo?"

The comment wasn't meant to be pointed, but some took it that way.

At his words, both Qin Qiu and Luo Sulan turned around, their eyes filled with curiosity.

The more Luo Sulan thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed. "You useless bum," she said coldly. "Were you stalking Xiaomo? Be honest with me. Do you have some kind of design on her?"

A faint smile touched Xiang Yang's lips as he stepped back, saying nothing more.

"Mother-in-law, I swear to heaven! I really just happened to run into Xiaomo. She was drinking with some friends. Otherwise, how could I have found her so quickly?"

Chen Yang was utterly speechless. He'd clearly done a good deed, but now he was being given a hard time just because of someone's slanderous remark?

"Mom, you're overthinking it! Chen Yang wouldn't do something like that. He's not that kind of person," Qin Qiu interjected, trying to placate her. Although she had her own doubts, Chen Yang had been the one to find Xiaomo, and making such accusations at a time like this was simply too much.

"Hmph!" Luo Sulan snorted, warning him maliciously, "You'd better watch yourself. If I find any dirt on you, I'll go straight to the police!"

"Mom, stop it!" Qin Qiu said, exasperated. "If it weren't for Chen Yang today, where would you have even started looking for her?"

Luo Sulan fell silent and helped Xiaomo into the villa.

Xiang Yang was about to follow when Chen Yang grabbed his arm. "Xiang, do you take on disciples?"

"What?" Xiang Yang started, looking at Chen Yang in confusion.

Chen Yang slung an arm over his shoulder as they walked inside. "You're so insidious, and such a good backstabber," he said with a smile. "I was thinking maybe I could learn from you."

"Haha, you have a great sense of humor, Chen," Xiang Yang replied, laughing it off without a change in his expression.

"I'm not joking," Chen Yang said, tightening his arm around Xiang Yang's neck. His voice was low and eerie. "This is the last time. Dare to pull something like this again, and I'll slap the life out of you!"

Xiang Yang: "..."

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