Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO-Chapter 609 Are You Okay?

Seeing his excitement, Xiang Hongyu was extremely disdainful and snorted coldly, "You injured piece of trash, shut your mouth."

Her only goal was to test her skills against a top-tier young genius like Xu Ke, hoping to become his comrade-in-arms. Who would want to associate with someone like Fang Caizhe and sink to his level?

Fang Caizhe's excited expression immediately froze, and he ground his teeth, silently cursing Xiang Hongyu for being an idiot.

Just then, Duan Zhuo'er suddenly raised his hand. "Wait, I have something to say."

"Speak!" Xiang Hongyu raised an eyebrow.

"You said Xu Ke has a badge, and I think that makes sense," Duan Zhuo'er stammered. "But how can you be sure that the lady wants us to deal with Xu Ke?"

"If not to deal with Xu Ke and take his badge, then why give it to him in the first place?" Xiang Hongyu retorted as if it were obvious. "As a souvenir?"

"Could there be another possibility?" Duan Zhuo'er began frantically hinting.

"How could there be another possibility?" Xiang Hongyu was taken aback. She thought carefully before saying, "Other than that, I can't think of any reason for Xu Ke to be holding a Seasoned Envoy's badge."

"Unless Xu Ke *is* the Seasoned Envoy!"

"But is that possible?"

"It's impossible!"

Having said that, Xiang Hongyu couldn't help but laugh.

"Hahahaha..." Ma Lian laughed heartily.

Even Bai Qian'er couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.

Duan Zhuo'er: "..."

…

While the Northern Dragon Guard held their meeting and Xu Ke returned to Junyue Residence, the various families in Tianhai reacted differently to the news of his return.

「The Huang Family.」

After finishing his business, Huang Zhendong had just found a moment to see Shi Hongda. But when he saw Shi Hongda enter with a pale face, he was stunned. "Elder Shi, what happened to you?"

Was this the same Shi Hongda who had just successfully broken through to the Great Perfection realm half a month ago? How could a single trip to Sui City leave him so drained?

"I've been in seclusion for too long. I'm not used to riding in such a newfangled car," Shi Hongda said, fabricating an excuse.

Huang Zhendong frowned, his mind full of questions, but he quickly forced a smile. "Right, of course."

Even someone at the Great Perfection realm gets carsick? he muttered inwardly.

Once Shi Hongda was seated, Huang Zhendong cut to the chase. "Elder Shi, how did the operation go?"

Seeing Shi Hongda's frustrated expression, Huang Zhendong already had a bad feeling. He still hoped, however, that the man would give him some reasonably good news. For instance, even if they couldn't kill Xu Ke, they could have at least snatched the Jade Mountain Lotus he wanted to buy.

But at this question, Shi Hongda fell silent.

Finally, he squeezed out a few words. "It was... alright."

"Alright?" Hearing this, a spark of hope ignited in Huang Zhendong. "Then... what did we gain? The Assassin's Alliance failed to kill Xu Ke, but did they at least injure him severely?"

He knew Xu Ke hadn't died. But Shi Hongda had said it was "alright," so did that mean the Assassin's Alliance had at least wounded him?

But Shi Hongda's tone was heavy. "No. The Assassin's Alliance received last-minute intel on the Ghost Poison Elders and went after them instead."

"The kid got lucky and wasn't caught!"

He had agreed with the Yin Yang Elders to use this as their story upon returning to the family.

Huang Zhendong: "..."

His disappointment was plain to see. "I see..."

Then, he took a deep breath to rally his spirits. "Never mind, Xu Ke got lucky! I never really expected the Assassin's Alliance to kill him anyway. So, what about the Jade Mountain Lotus? Did we get it?"

He had prepared a full billion for Shi Hongda.

Shi Hongda fell silent again. "We... did not."

Huang Zhendong: "..."

He looked disappointed once more. "I see!"

Then, refusing to give up, he sparked his hope anew. "So, did Xu Ke buy the Jade Mountain Lotus?"

Just because the Huang Family failed to acquire it didn't mean Xu Ke had succeeded.

"No!"

This time, Shi Hongda's words were a ray of light in Huang Zhendong's life.

"Who bought it?" Huang Zhendong was instantly ecstatic.

"Xie Jiancheng of the Xie Family." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

SMACK!

The crisp sound of a clap echoed through the room.

"That's wonderful!" Huang Zhendong slammed his hands together, delirious with joy.

This news was too good to be true! Their initial goal had always been to snatch the Jade Mountain Lotus and keep it out of Xu Ke's hands.

But...

A strange look soon crossed Huang Zhendong's face. "Wait a minute, wasn't the Jade Mountain Lotus put up for auction by the Xie Family in the first place? Why would he buy it back himself? Does he have nothing better to do?"

This whole affair sounded very fishy.

At that moment, Huang Zhendong was suddenly startled.

Shi Hongda was looking at him with a smile that was uglier than tears. "Because he bought it to give it to Xu Ke."

As his words fell, the entire living room became deathly silent. The remnants of ecstasy on Huang Zhendong's face had yet to fade as a creeping despair slowly washed over him.

"What... did you say?" Huang Zhendong asked, his voice stiff.

Xie Family, what on earth are you playing at? was the only desperate thought in his mind.

Shi Hongda said nothing, letting his silence answer for him.

After a few seconds of oppressive quiet...

Huang Zhendong took a deep breath, clutched his heart, and began to console himself. "It's fine, it's fine. He just got the Jade Mountain Lotus, that's all. I get it now, Elder Shi. I know why you said it was 'alright'..."

"It's because we have intelligence!"

"I don't care why the Xie Family gave the Jade Mountain Lotus to Xu Ke. The intelligence we've gained is that Xu Ke now possesses it and could break through at any moment."

"The breakthrough process is extremely dangerous and lasts anywhere from two to ten days."

"So, we just have to watch for the moment Xu Ke disappears from our sight. That will be our signal that he's started his breakthrough."

"We can seize that opportunity, while he's at his most vulnerable, and kill him in one fell swoop!"

"I remember he only just reached Great Perfection not long ago. Even for a genius like him, it must take at least a month or two to accumulate enough power to break through to the Innate realm."

"That gives us plenty of time to formulate a plan!"

Huang Zhendong, who had started by consoling himself, had actually managed to talk himself into it by the end. The more he spoke, the more excited he became. He was now convinced that the only reason Shi Hongda considered the operation "alright" was because of this vital piece of intelligence.

But just then, Shi Hongda said, with great reluctance, "Family Head..."

"What?" Huang Zhendong stopped his earnest analysis.

"You don't need to prepare a plan."

"Why not?"

"Xu Ke has reached the Innate realm."

Huang Zhendong: "..."

Huang Zhendong stared at Shi Hongda.

Shi Hongda stared back at Huang Zhendong.

The air was once again dead silent.

Huang Zhendong abruptly stood up, his figure exuding an aura of desolation. He walked to the balcony and then back again. After pacing a few circles...

He suddenly roared, "Then how the hell is that considered 'alright'?!"

He couldn't hold it in any longer! Even if Shi Hongda was at the Innate Great Perfection realm, that was no way to report the outcome of a mission! So after days of effort, not only did they accomplish nothing, but they were also left to deal with this devastating blow?

Shi Hongda took a deep breath and remained silent.

Seeing Shi Hongda's guilty demeanor, Huang Zhendong closed his eyes and said no more.

What he didn't know was that Shi Hongda was murmuring in his heart—

I was merely poisoned; I didn't die at Xu Ke's hands... How is that not alright?