"What’s wrong?" Chen Xiao asked, seeing the change in Luo Qingli’s expression.

Luo Qingli briefly explained the Luo Group’s crisis to him.

Upon hearing this, Chen Xiao furrowed his brow. Zhang Yaqing also grew tense. After all, Lu Rugao’s aggressive offensive was wiping the floor with the Luo Group. This time it was their turn to suffer.

But what about the next step? What if Lu Rugao also takes a liking to the resources held by the Zongheng Chamber of Commerce? Would I, Zhang Yaqing, have to hand them over without a fight?

Luo Qingli took a deep breath. "Does she really think I’m a pushover? Even if I have to let the Luo Group rot in the mud, I will never let her get her way so easily!"

Just as she finished speaking, her phone rang.

She answered, and a cold, arrogant voice came from the other end.

"Miss Luo, have you seen the stock market today?"

"Lu Rugao?"

"It seems Miss Luo still remembers me." A sneer formed on Lu Rugao’s lips. "This is just my opening attack. Next, I will continue to pour more funds in. You should be well aware that it’s very simple for the Lu Corporation to crush a small company like yours. I’ll say it again, face reality sooner, and perhaps your losses will be smaller."

"If you called me today just to gloat, Miss Lu, then there’s no need," Luo Qingli said coldly. "I will never hand over the Luo Group. Whatever tricks the Lu Corporation has, bring it on!"

With that, she hung up the phone.

"Unappreciative fool!" Lu Rugao’s face turned grim as the call ended. I’d like to see how long you can keep up that tough act...

After hanging up, Luo Qingli was also lost in thought.

"Don’t panic," Chen Xiao said calmly. "Although the Lu Corporation is formidable, Lu Rugao isn’t the only one who calls the shots. The older generation of the Lu Family won’t let her act so recklessly. One hundred billion in funds is no small sum. This is likely the absolute limit of what she can mobilize."

"One hundred billion in cash flow! Do you have any idea what that means?" Luo Qingli rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Even a super-conglomerate with a market value of over a trillion might not have access to that much liquid cash. My opponent now is the Lu Family, one of the Five Great Families in Capital City."

"So what?" Chen Xiao remained unconcerned.

The Lu Family is powerful, but I have plenty of connections too. Back when I was on the mountain, some of the people who sought my medical expertise were even more powerful than the Lu Family. However, I don’t want to call in those favors unless it’s absolutely critical. In this world, the hardest debt to repay is a favor. If I really can’t solve this myself, I’ll have no choice but to make that call.

"I have to go back to Yuncheng City," Luo Qingli said, a headache setting in. "The situation at the Luo Group is critical. Someone needs to be there to hold down the fort. You two can talk, I’m leaving now."

She picked up her purse and left.

Zhang Yaqing stared at Chen Xiao with a smile. "Your ex-wife is in trouble again. Are you going to help?"

Chen Xiao shrugged. "What else can I do?"

Zhang Yaqing smiled. "How about this? As long as you make me happy, I promise I’ll step in and help you deal with Lu Rugao. How does that sound?"

Chen Xiao playfully tapped her cheek. "Are you just afraid that after she deals with Luo Qingli, she’ll target you next?"

"I know full well that if she’s destroyed, I’ll be the next target." Zhang Yaqing’s beautiful eyes shimmered with a flirtatious gaze. "So, do we have a deal?"

"And how do I make you happy?" Chen Xiao smiled back.

"Just give me your full attention for the next two days. That’s all," Zhang Yaqing said with a suggestive smile. "Don’t tell me you’re scared?"

「In the blink of an eye, two days passed.」

For those two days, Chen Xiao was constantly with Zhang Yaqing. By the end, it was she who was begging for mercy, pleading with him the moment he made a move. She felt as if her entire body was about to fall apart, yet Chen Xiao remained as vigorous and energetic as ever.

Meanwhile, a storm was brewing in Zhonghai.

Ling Fei, the Third Brother of the Ling Family, had returned! Within just two days, he had already reassembled the Ling Family members and reclaimed most of their various businesses. His methods were brutal and ruthless, plunging Zhonghai into another reign of bloody terror. Everyone was left in a state of panic.

When Chen Xiao received this news from Qin Lan, his brows furrowed slightly.

If I remember correctly, didn’t Qin Lan say this Ling Fei was a disciple from some Hidden Sect? These Hidden Sects are profoundly powerful. Any one of their disciples who steps into the Mortal World is among the strongest of the strong. This Ling Fei is indeed a threat...

At this thought, a cold light flashed in Chen Xiao’s eyes.

My feud with the Ling Family is irreconcilable. It’s either them or me. In that case, I’ll gain the advantage by striking first!

---

「Meanwhile, in the old Ling Family estate.」

Ling Fei had two voluptuous beauties in his arms while two others submissively massaged his feet. Cradled by women, he was in a state of pure bliss. After so many years living a life of asceticism in the remote mountains, he naturally had to indulge now that he was back in the secular world.

This feeling of immense power is intoxicating. To wield power over the world by day and rest on the lap of a beauty by night—what could be better than this? Compared to this, those days of bitter training in the mountains weren’t a life fit for a human. I don’t ever want to go back. But... my relatives were murdered. That’s a score I must settle!

He swallowed a grape fed to him by a young woman, then beckoned a subordinate over. "Spread the word. Tell that bitch Qin Lan to bring some lingerie and kneel before me at the Ling Family Manor to atone for her sins. Otherwise, the Qin Family will cease to exist."

Qin Lan was already a famous beauty in Zhonghai years ago. She must be even more exquisite now, far superior to these common women. I’ve been training hard in the Sect for years and haven’t touched a woman in a long time. Today, I’ll use her to break my fast.

"Also," Ling Fei added, "find out where that bastard who killed my first and second brothers is." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"Yes, Third Master!" The subordinate turned and hurried away.

At the same time, a large group of people entered the Ling Family Manor, trembling with fear. These were the ones who had carved up the Ling Family’s assets after its downfall. Now, with Ling Fei’s powerful and bloody return, they were utterly terrified. So, they had gathered to come and beg for forgiveness, hoping he would spare them. Upon entering, they began to shake, dropping to their knees and begging Ling Fei for mercy.

Watching the kneeling crowd, Ling Fei snorted coldly. "You want me to spare you? Fine. Hand over eighty percent of your wealth, then send your wives and daughters to my residence to entertain me for a month. Do that, and I’ll give you a chance to live." He laughed with a sinister grin. "This Young Master has been terribly lonely in the mountains all these years..."

Hearing this, the faces of the crowd turned deathly pale.

"What? Unwilling?" Ling Fei sneered. "I am a core disciple of a Hidden Sect! It’s your honor that I’m willing to play with your wives and daughters. Don’t be a fool!"

In his eyes, these people were nothing but ants, while he, Ling Fei, was a being on another level entirely. I make one small request, and they dare to be dissatisfied?

Suddenly, a figure walked in slowly from outside. Chen Xiao’s gaze swept across the scene before finally settling on Ling Fei.

"Are you Ling Fei?"

Ling Fei’s eyes narrowed. "Who are you? How dare you speak my name!"

Beside him, a Ling Family member recognized Chen Xiao. "Third Master! He’s the bastard who killed the First Master and Second Master! He’s that bitch Qin Lan’s paramour!"