Hallway Thunder

Recommendation Ticket

Chen Xiaojun's footsteps were slightly stiff, but his eyes had regained most of their composure. Deep in their depths, however, a trace of wariness and helplessness toward that "uninvited guest" in his sea of consciousness still remained.

At this point, he no longer had the strength to complain. Damn it, without sufficient luck, even divine blessings might be too much to bear—and could even bring disaster instead.

The dangers of Da Siming, along with that indifferent and overbearing style brimming with Negative Attributes, made her absolutely much more troublesome than "Shao Siming."

At least back then, he had never noticed anything unusual about Xiao Yi or the Shao Siming within her.

Xiao Yi silently followed as well. The flush on her face quietly faded, and she returned to her usual aloof demeanor.

Jade-pot light shifted, and an icy heart reflected itself!

Yet in those star-filled eyes, there seemed to flash a faint ripple—so subtle that even she herself had not fully understood it.

Outside, in the real world, everyone entered the main hall.

Madam Lin turned slightly and once again made an inviting gesture. "Everyone, please."

Chen Xiaojun nodded lightly, as though that hair-raising scene in his sea of consciousness had merely been a momentary distraction.

He took the lead, stepping steadily onto the stairs leading to the main hall.

Xiao Yi followed close behind. Her Ice Green Eyes lingered on Chen Xiaojun's back for a moment, while her cool face revealed no emotion.

Zhu Yanfeng tapped his tobacco pipe, exhaled a long stream of smoke, and followed as well, a sharp glint hidden deep within his murky old eyes.

The remaining people filed in one after another.

The main hall was decorated elegantly and carried a Scholarly air.

Madam Lin personally showed them to their seats. Naturally, she would not sit in the seat of honor now, so the two sides sat facing each other. Dou Congtong sat beside her, after which she instructed Xiao Dongxiang to serve tea.

Wu Mingde and Fang Yidan stood to one side. Although the atmosphere had eased, it still carried a trace of gravity.

Whether intentionally or not, everyone's gaze focused on Chen Xiaojun, who had just taken his seat, as well as Madam Lin, who was calmly responding in the role of hostess.

Chen Xiaojun lifted the clear tea served by the maid, his fingertips sensing the warmth of the cup.

Ye Sirong's expression was calm, and her lake-colored eyes were as deep as pools.

Her gaze settled on Chen Xiaojun, and her gentle inquiry rang out. "Young Master, you said you came because of Dou Jing. May I ask what you mean by that?"

Chen Xiaojun set down his teacup and met her gaze, his tone equally calm. "Madam Lin, circumstances have changed. May I ask, in what capacity are you speaking now?"

A faint curve formed at the corners of Ye Sirong's lips. She answered frankly, "I am both Madam Lin and Ye Sirong. But since you have called me 'Madam Lin,' I will first help Young Master handle official matters."

"Madam Lin is refreshingly direct." Chen Xiaojun nodded lightly. "Then I will speak plainly—the Bone Excavation Group is gone."

"What?!"

"Impossible!"

The faces of Wu Mingde and Fang Yidan, who stood nearby, instantly turned deathly pale. They were both old members of the Bone Excavation Group, having grown up there since childhood and developed deep feelings for it. Some of their family members were even still in the Bone Excavation Group.

Dou Congtong shot to her feet, and even her Ice Green Eyes hair trembled slightly as her blood surged. "The Bone Excavation Group? What is that? Does it have something to do with my father?!"

She was as intelligent as ice and snow, instantly connecting the two matters. An immense panic seized her.

The hall fell deathly silent. Only Ye Sirong remained seated as before, the faint smile on her face deepening slightly.

"No wonder... The people who had been monitoring us, mother and daughter, suddenly withdrew without a sound. So That's How It Is."

A trace of imperceptible appreciation flashed through Chen Xiaojun's eyes. "It seems Madam Lin had already sensed something."

"There were indeed some clues to be found." Ye Sirong lifted the tea before her and gently blew away the foam. "But I do not know who made the move. The Chen Clan? Soul Fighting City?"

She paused and looked straight at Chen Xiaojun. "Since Young Master came personally to inform me instead of taking people directly, I presume my Old Dou... is not in danger of losing his life yet?"

"Madam is wise." Chen Xiaojun nodded in acknowledgment. "That is indeed the case. The Bone Excavation Group was destroyed through the combined efforts of the Three Great Clans and the Ma Family. Captain Barton fled, while Vice Leader Dou was captured alive. As for the group's core members, among the sixteen Soul Saint Level experts, nine died, six were captured, and one escaped."

Another suffocating silence descended.

Nine dead and six captured! The upper ranks had been almost completely wiped out!

After a long while.

Ye Sirong raised her brows. There was no grief, anger, or pleading in her eyes—only deep consideration. She asked calmly, "So all four families acted together... Then the other three families in Huagai District presumably did not escape unscathed either?"

Chen Xiaojun sighed inwardly, Just as expected. This Madam Lin's mind was extraordinarily sharp. From the destruction of the Bone Excavation Group, she had leaped to an understanding of the entire underground power structure of Huagai District.

Such a broad perspective was rare.

"Of course." He confirmed it. "The Rust Brothers Company, the Dark Shadow Sisterhood, and the Jingcheng Merchant Association also took part in that battle, and ultimately suffered defeat. Now, they have submitted and sworn allegiance to our Four Families Alliance."

"Submitted and sworn allegiance..." Ye Sirong repeated those four words, but her back straightened even more.

This meant that the Four Families Alliance led by the Chen Clan had completely seized control of Huagai District, leaving the Bone Excavation Group no possibility of rising again.

"Young Master..." Ye Sirong said elegantly. "Could I trouble you to tell us what happened?"

"I can." Chen Xiaojun did not refuse.

He spent several minutes briefly describing the ambush, deliberately glossing over his own role while emphasizing Chen Zhang's brilliant planning, the thunderous combined assault of the Four Families' elites, and how the Soul Fighting City faction had taken control of Huading District and Huaguang District in the aftermath.

"So it was... Second Master who personally planned and commanded it..." Madam Lin murmured, her gaze drifting into the distance as though she had recalled Chen Zhang's former bearing.

Her form of address remained rooted in her memories of Chen Lin Village in those years, rather than the Fifth Master commonly used now.

Chen Xiaojun merely smiled faintly and did not respond.

He picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

The crisp clink of porcelain sounded especially jarring in the stagnant, oppressive atmosphere, as though awakening everyone from their separate thoughts.

"Bang!" A sharp crack rang out.

Unable to hold herself back, Dou Congtong suddenly slammed her hand onto the tea table and stood up. Her Ice Green Eyes eyes were reddened with anger.

"You! You captured my father! And now you have come here to flaunt your power! What exactly do you want?!"

"Tong'er! Shut up!" Madam Lin shouted sternly. An invisible Soul pressure instantly swept over Dou Congtong, forcing the words that followed to stick in her throat. Her body stiffened where she stood, and her pretty face flushed crimson.

Ye Sirong took a deep breath and turned toward Chen Xiaojun, apology on her face. "She is young and inexperienced. Hearing this so suddenly left her flustered and caused her to speak without thinking, offending Young Master. I hope Young Master will forgive her."

Chen Xiaojun forced out a calm smile and waved his hand. "It is fine. Concern makes people lose their composure."

Ye Sirong's steady tone carried a faint, almost imperceptible edge. "However, Young Master, since you came here personally, I presume you did not come merely to announce an outcome. What instructions do you have for everyone in the Dou Manor? Please speak plainly."

She bowed slightly, lowering her posture considerably.

Chen Xiaojun set down his teacup, his expression earnest and sincere. "Madam Lin, you have misunderstood. I truly have no other intention in coming here."