Chen Huanfu's gaze was as cold as frost, seemingly capable of freezing the air itself, but in the end, he reined in the energy that had been on the verge of erupting.
Wang Minghao slowly rose from the ground, the dust on his clothes drifting gently with his movement. There was not a trace of fear in his eyes; instead, they burned with the fire of battle.
Hu Yuan stood beside Wang Minghao. Though his breathing was heavy, a resolute gleam shone in his eyes, as if telling everyone present that he would not back down.
Police officers quickly intervened, separating the two sides and demanding an explanation for the commotion.
Zhang Feifei hid behind her brother, Zhang Jiaxiong, a trace of imperceptible triumph playing in her smile. Zhang Jiaxiong had already secretly contacted influential figures; he knew how to handle a situation like this.
"We weren't fighting, just... having a bit of a misunderstanding," Zhang Jiaxiong said, his voice tinged with a subtle cunning.
The lead officer's gaze swept back and forth between Hu Yuan and Wang Minghao, carrying an unquestionable authority as he spoke: "The same goes for you lot. What couldn't you talk through properly that you had to resort to fists?"
Wang Minghao knew the Chen Family's influence stood behind this matter—ordinary police could not resolve it, and ultimately, strength was the only language that mattered here. He brushed it off lightly, saying, "We didn't provoke anyone. We were just blocked from passing. We hadn't even finished talking before you showed up."
Drawing on his experience, the officer could tell neither side was easy to deal with. He furrowed his brow slightly, maintaining his vigilance.
"All of you, come with me to the police station," the officer said, his voice stern and firm.
Hu Yuan and Wang Minghao exchanged a glance, nodding in tacit agreement as they followed the police away from the scene. Zhang Jiaxiong and the others trailed closely behind.
As they were being led away, Wang Minghao turned to a young police officer and said softly, "Thank you for arriving in time, otherwise things might have turned much worse."
The officer smiled slightly and replied, "It's our duty."
"Brother, what should we do?" Zhang Feifei asked in a low voice.
Zhang Jiaxiong looked at Chen Huanfu and asked, "Brother Chen, what do you think? I've already called the relevant people."
Chen Huanfu pondered for a moment, his cold gaze sweeping over Zhang Feifei and Zhang Jiaxiong. "Let's wait and see for now. Those two brats actually have some genuine skill. But that kid surnamed Wang might be from the Wang Family of the Ancient Martial Arts. In a situation like this, not only can the people you called handle it, but very few people would even dare to meddle. We'll ask Ninth Young Master in a moment on how to proceed."
Zhang Feifei nodded, though deep down she was unwilling to let the matter drop, calculating her next move.
Inside the police station, Hu Yuan, Wang Minghao, and the others were questioned separately. Hu Yuan sat in a chair while the officer before him recorded his statement.
"That's how it happened. My friend and I didn't deliberately provoke anyone; we were simply defending ourselves," Hu Yuan said calmly.
Just then, another officer walked over and handed a phone to Wang Yong, the middle-aged officer conducting the interrogation. Wang Yong took the phone, listening to the call while keeping his eyes fixed on Hu Yuan. Finishing the call, Wang Yong nodded and said to Hu Yuan, "You're free to go. But I hope you people will try to avoid conflicts so as not to disturb public order."
Uncomprehending, Hu Yuan nodded, then left the room and walked out into the corridor. Seeing Wang Minghao waiting for him, Hu Yuan couldn't help asking, "Brother Wang, what's going on? They let me out before the questioning was even finished. What do we do now? That Zhang family won't just let this go."
Wang Minghao contemplated for a moment. "Someone intervened. Let's head to the resort arranged by Tianji Exchange and settle in before deciding our next step. The Imperial Capital is a gathering place of winds and clouds right now; we must stay vigilant at all times."
Hu Yuan nodded. This experience made him realize that his current strength was still far from enough.
Meanwhile, in another room, only Chen Huanfu, Zhang Jiaxiong, and Zhang Feifei were present, speaking over the phone with a mysterious figure. Chen Huanfu's tone was low and respectful: "Ninth Young Master, the situation this time is a bit complicated. The other party might be people from the Wang Family. Miss Zhang doesn't want to let it go and wants to teach them a lesson. How should we proceed?"
A cold laugh came from the other end of the line. "Understood. Striking now is not the best timing; we must wait until the Tianji Exchange event concludes."
Chen Huanfu hung up, a ruthless flash in his eyes. "Jiaxiong, we need to be much more careful about this. If that kid surnamed Wang really is from the Wang Family, they aren't ordinary forces—we must plan this meticulously."
Zhang Jiaxiong nodded, a vicious gleam in his eyes. "Understood, Brother Chen. I've already sent people to investigate their background in secret."
Hu Yuan and Wang Minghao left the police station, hailed a taxi, and headed toward the destination specified by Wang Minghao.
Outside, the streets of the Imperial Capital bustled with a thick stream of pedestrians.
Sitting in the car, Hu Yuan's mind churned with a thousand chaotic thoughts that refused to settle. He didn't know what kind of challenges awaited him ahead, but he understood that on the path of cultivation, there was no turning back—he could only face the storms head-on and forge bravely forward.
The taxi stopped at the gates of a resort. After getting out, Hu Yuan and Wang Minghao presented their invitations and entered the resort's conference reception hall. The hall was luxuriously decorated; crystal chandeliers on the ceiling shone brilliantly, surrounded by various rare flowers whose subtle fragrance drifted through the air, bringing a sense of calm to the mind.
"Brother Wang, does your cousin live here?" Hu Yuan asked.
Wang Minghao nodded, explaining, "She'll be arriving early tomorrow morning; today she's still dealing with some urgent matters. Back at the police station, I already called her and told her everything we encountered."
"Welcome, fellow practitioner. Are you here to attend the Tianji Exchange event?" the receptionist asked with a smile.
Wang Minghao smiled slightly and handed over their invitations.
The receptionist skillfully checked the information on the computer, quickly confirmed their rooms, and handed a room card to Wang Minghao. "Your room is in Villa 76, straight ahead. If needed, you can take the internal service buggy. Is there anything else you require?"
Wang Minghao politely shook his head. "No, thank you."
The two arrived at Villa 76. Hu Yuan learned that this entire resort had been fully booked for the Tianji Exchange event, and everyone attending was a participant, with each invitation letter assigned an independent villa.
The villa was spacious, bright, and two stories tall, fully equipped with daily necessities. Wang Minghao invited Hu Yuan to stay on the second floor, which had three bedrooms. However, Hu Yuan chose a room on the ground floor; he wished to remain closer to the earth's breath.
"Get some rest for a while, I'm going out to gather some information," Wang Minghao told him.
Hu Yuan nodded, walked into the bedroom, and sat on the bed. Today's experiences still echoed in his mind, feeling like walking a path that had been preordained, each step pulling him toward an unknown destiny.
"Tianji Exchange... I hope this event allows me to learn more about cultivation," Hu Yuan murmured, gazing out at the night view through the window as he prayed silently in his heart.
Meanwhile, in another corner of the Imperial Capital, Chen Huanfu sat upright in a private room of a luxurious club, his gaze as gloomy as an abyss. Zhang Feifei, sitting beside him, asked softly, "Brother Chen, are we just going to let them off?"
Chen Huanfu looked at Zhang Feifei, a chilling smile playing at the corners of his mouth as if he were looking at a lamb awaiting slaughter. "Let them off? Of course not. Ninth Young Master said security is extremely tight during the Tianji Exchange event and countless experts will gather, so right now is not the right time to make a move."
Zhang Feifei's eyes darkened as she nodded. "Understood. Thank you, Brother Chen."
Chen Huanfu glanced at Zhang Jiaxiong and Zhang Feifei, his tone severe. "Do not be careless under any circumstances. If they really are members of the Wang Family, everything must be foolproof before we take action."
Zhang Feifei gave a cold smile. "Rest assured, Brother Chen."
As the night grew deep, Hu Yuan began his cultivation...