"What's your impression of Manqing?" "River God Festival"

Luo Wendi nodded. "The Black Sheath Hall has always eaten from the Chen family's table. It should have been like this long ago..."

Ran Shaohua had never treated him as a person, and now that the Chen family wanted to cut ties, he couldn't be more eager.

Luo Bin wore Chen Tianren's suit jacket, the fabric steeped in the scent of tobacco and sandalwood. He lowered his eyes slightly, neither responding nor showing surprise at this earth-shattering decision.

To the onlookers, this was the mark of a young man with mature composure, one who could remain calm in the face of great events...

The split of the Green Bamboo Gang and the Chen family's slightly awkward predicament were none of his concern. Those matters would be handled by Chen Tianren's mediation.

Luo Bin now had only one burning desire in his heart: to keep growing stronger, to glimpse the realm beyond the Fifth Stage, and to truly experience the real scenery of this world.

But Chen Tianren had certainly been having a rough time lately.

The Chen family had spread such a vast network in Ping City, holding onto the most lucrative fat for years. Now that Elder Chen Shuo had passed and could no longer hold the line, Chen Tianren would inevitably have to make some concessions to the circling enemies.

Thus, he would have to share some of the profits to maintain a healthy balance of power in Ping City.

Otherwise, it wouldn't be surprising if they were attacked from all sides.

Chen Tianren glanced at Luo Bin and saw that he remained as calm as an ancient well, and his satisfaction grew.

"What are you all standing around for?

Clear the place. Send off the guests who need to be sent, seal up what needs to be sealed. If anything goes wrong, I'll hold someone accountable!" Chen Tianren turned and barked at the guards and stewards around him.

Su Yunong and Hong Ling, the two "pure courtesans" from Qunyu Garden in the west of the city, walked up to Luo Bin and curtsied in unison, speaking softly:

"Today, thanks to Mr. Luo stepping forward, we truly had no idea there was something so terrifying in Moon Veil Pavilion...

If in the future, sir has any need of our sisters' help, just send word to Qunyu Garden, and we will do our utmost..."

Su Yunong, more mature and sensible, knew this was no place to linger. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Luo Bin, she thanked Chen Tianren, Chen Jing, and the others one by one, then took her leave.

Luo Bin had no interest in dealing with these opera house actresses. His mind was still calculating about "Crimson."

Spirit Charm, Modification Value—these were the two most important modules of the Martial Arts Modifier. Today, by killing a sinister creature close to the Jade Bone barrier, he had gained 7 Modification Points.

How many would he get if he killed that Black Bone Scaled Snake outside the city, the one that was impervious to blades and spears?

Desire burned like a spark in Luo Bin's heart. He longed to grow stronger, to witness the magnificent scenery of this wondrous world, and to visit big cities like Tianhai and Jinmen...

How did Western methods compare to martial arts?

And he still had to bring Wen Li's daughter back...

The crowd dispersed, and the doors of Moon Veil slammed shut. Chen Tianren said, "Let's go, back to the residence. Second, you come too."

Chen Jing quickly nodded, sidled up to Luo Bin, and began another round of flattery. But this kind of praise didn't annoy Luo Bin... From the first time he met Chen Jing and Chen Manqing, he felt that although they were proud, they didn't have that look of being spoiled and looking down on the common folk from the bottom of their hearts...

Judging by his past life's standards, it was likely that the Chen family had good family traditions and rules, or perhaps Elder Chen Shuo, the founder, had set a good example.

On the way back to the Chen Residence, the group chatted a lot—about daily life, hobbies, and even Luo Bin's martial path. Chen Tianren gave just the right amount of advice here and there.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the car felt like that of a family, and Luo Bin learned a lot more about them...

By the time the car drove into the Chen Residence, the sky was already turning pale.

A fish-belly white appeared in the east. The white mourning banners in the courtyard swayed gently in the night breeze, carrying a solemn air.

Chen Jing pulled Luo Bin into the first-floor hall of the Chen Residence, only to find no one there. He went upstairs and searched a few more times, but still found no one...

"Dad, Big Sis and Mansheng are gone, and Aunt Ji is gone too... Didn't you say on the way that Elder Jiang was watching the house?" Chen Jing shouted toward the building.

The Aunt Ji Chen Jing mentioned was Chen Tianren's second wife, the daughter of a marquis from the former Great Li dynasty. After the dynasty fell, she had attached herself to the Chen family... And Chen Jing's four siblings were all born of the first wife.

"Are you a pig's brain?

With all the commotion we made last night, your sister must have thought a war was starting. She's probably taken the family to hide out at the estate outside the city." Chen Tianren lit a cigarette and cursed.

Chen Jing's eyes went wide. "It's so dangerous outside the city, how could they dare to go?

Elder Jiang isn't here either. He must have gone with them... That's good, then."

Chen Tianren came into the hall, sat down beside Luo Bin, and gently patted the latter's thigh. "Luo Bin, this afternoon, you and Chen Jing will go bring all the Chen family members, young and old, back.

Those useless bastards in Ping City won't dare do anything. I'll handle the negotiations here. You just focus on your martial arts training..."

When Luo Bin heard the word "our," his heart skipped a beat.

This Chen Tianren was being a little too familiar with him. Whether it was "offering flattery for no reason" or "seeking what he desired," Luo Bin felt both flattered and uneasy.

"Th... Thank you, Uncle Chen."

Chen Tianren had someone clean up a small courtyard called Qinghui Courtyard, which was next to Qufang Garden, and said Luo Bin could move in a couple of days. For now, he would still stay in his room in Qufang Garden.

Time came to the afternoon.

Four jeeps slowly drove out of the Chen residence. The tires rolled over the bumpy dirt road, kicking up clouds of dust. The scenery outside the window shifted from newly paved asphalt streets to stretches of barren fields and mixed forests.

Chen Jing leaned against the window, twirling a silver revolver in his hand, chattering nonstop. "Brother Luo, you don't know, my big sister looks cold as ice, but she's actually more timid than a rabbit.

When we were kids, the family hired an opera troupe to perform 'Mulian Rescues His Mother.' She saw the ghostly messengers and got so scared she hid under the table and cried for half the night. I can laugh at her for that forever. Hahahaha."

Hu Junzhi and Zhang Huai, sitting in the front seats, both chuckled at the remark, but the latter's fingertips never left the Mauser pistol holstered at his waist.

About half an hour later, the convoy finally arrived at the estate.

As the car pulled into the courtyard and before it had even come to a full stop, several people were seen standing under the veranda of the Western-style house.

At the forefront was a woman in a moon-white cheongsam with an understated floral pattern, in her early thirties, her hair bun immaculately styled, a round pearl pinned at her temple, exuding an air of refined nobility.

She was Chen Tianren's second wife, Ji Xuan, daughter of a marquis from the former Great Li dynasty. Seeing Chen Jing step out of the car, the weight finally lifted from her heart, and she hurried over:

"Ah Jing, you're finally here. The gunfire in the city lasted half the night last night, and my heart has been in my throat ever since."

"Aunt Ji, we're fine!" Chen Jing grinned, reaching out to pull Luo Bin forward. "Let me introduce you—this is Brother Luo Bin! If it weren't for him last night, that sinister creature would have succeeded..."

Luo Bin gave a slight nod. "Madam Ji."

Ji Xuan quickly returned the greeting, sizing up Luo Bin for a moment before a satisfied smile spread across her face. "Luo Bin, is it? Then I'll call you Ah Bin... Come here, let Auntie have a word with you in private."

Luo Bin was a bit taken aback but still listened attentively.

"What do you think of Manqing?"

"..."

Just then, a young girl walked out of the Western-style house at the center of the garden and called out to Chen Jing: "There's a 'River God Festival' at the nearby Yingshui Ferry, Chen Jing! Want to go check it out? It's something fresh and new!"