Discovering a Secret

A dozen or so minutes later, Chen Lie's Communicator rang. He picked it up, saw that it was Chen Gequn calling, and answered at once.

Chen Gequn's voice came through. "Hey, Chen Lie. I was in a meeting and didn't see your call. Your mom said you were coming to Cloud River Province today. Have you arrived?"

"I'm right outside Lingfeng Group. Dad, bring out the Psionic Crystal Card for Yaoyao. I'll take it back for her."

"Sure. Wait there a moment. I'll be right out!"

With that, Chen Gequn ended the call.

About ten minutes later, Chen Gexing walked out of Lingfeng Group's building.

"Chen Lie?"

"Dad!"

Chen Lie spotted Chen Gequn and immediately went over.

Chen Gequn took Chen Lie by the arm and led him back into the Lingfeng Group building.

"Come on. Rest in the reception room for a while."

Chen Lie let his father lead him inside.

Once they reached the reception room off the first-floor lobby, Chen Gequn took out an elegant box and handed it to Chen Lie.

"This is the Void-Breaking Fist Crystal Card I bought for your sister. This Martial Arts Crystal Card is in such high demand that I had to pull quite a few strings to get it. Take it back to Yaoyao for me."

"Okay." Chen Lie accepted the Psionic Crystal Card.

"You didn't really need to come. I'll be heading back in a few days anyway."

"Heading back? Is something wrong?" Chen Lie asked.

"Didn't your mom tell you? Your second uncle wants to use my Military Merit to redeem a Blood Mist Flower for Chen Ye. He wants me to come back and discuss it in person."

"What is there to discuss?"

"I should still go. Your second uncle has brought it up several times. I can't keep avoiding him forever."

Chen Lie nodded. He knew his parents could never bring themselves to disregard family ties, even when his second uncle was less considerate than a neighbor.

"By the way, what brings you to Cloud River Province?" Chen Gequn asked.

"I have something to take care of. I came with a friend," Chen Lie said.

"Do you have enough money? Want me to give you some?"

"No need. I still have some."

"All right. How long are you staying in Cloud River Province? I can find you somewhere to stay."

"No need. I'm heading back today," Chen Lie said.

"Be careful on your way back. How did you get here?"

"My friend's cousin flew me here in an airship."

Chen Gequn asked Chen Lie a few more questions, then had him sit in the reception room for a while.

About half an hour later, Chen Lie felt he had stayed long enough and told Chen Gequn he was leaving.

"I'll see you out," Chen Gequn said.

Chen Lie nodded, and the two walked out of the reception room together.

Just as they stepped outside, the elevator in the first-floor lobby dinged open. A girl of sixteen or seventeen came out.

As she passed them, Chen Gequn greeted her.

"Miss Shen."

"Mm."

The girl walked straight past Chen Gequn without turning her head.

"Hm?"

Then someone she had just passed caught her eye. He looked familiar, so she doubled back.

"Wait. You? What are you doing here?"

The girl pointed at Chen Lie.

Chen Gequn couldn't help asking, "You know my son, Miss Shen?"

"He's your son?"

Disbelief filled the girl's face.

Chen Lie turned to Chen Gequn. "Dad, you don't have to see me out. I can go on my own."

"All right. Take care," Chen Gequn said.

Chen Lie nodded and walked out through the first-floor lobby of the Lingfeng Group building.

"Hey, wait!"

Seeing him leave, the girl hurried after him and called out when she caught up.

"What is it?"

Chen Lie turned around. Wasn't she the girl he had met at the Divine Sense Master Association? He thought her name was Shen Feixue.

"Um... the three Martial Dao Rare Treasures you asked for are too much. They're all scarce and hard to find. Could you settle for one less?" Shen Feixue asked.

"If you can't find them, forget it. There's no need to haggle with me," Chen Lie said.

Shen Feixue brightened. "You agree?"

Chen Lie shook his head. "I won't accept any bargaining. If you can't gather all three Martial Dao Rare Treasures on my list, there's no deal."

"What's wrong with you?"

Shen Feixue planted her hands on her hips, visibly annoyed.

"Anyone would think you were getting the better end of a trade that gives you a Mental Power Treasure for three Martial Dao Rare Treasures.

"And now you've come to haggle with me. It makes me doubt you're serious about this deal."

"If it weren't for you, the Mental Power Treasure would have belonged to Miaowei sooner or later. You're getting two Martial Dao Rare Treasures for nothing, and you say we're not serious?"

"Fine. Keep your Martial Dao Rare Treasures. I'm not trading!"

Chen Lie stepped around Shen Feixue and walked away.

"Hey, stop!"

Seeing him leave just like that, she chased after him and called out again.

But Chen Lie did not look back. He reached the bus stop and boarded a Flying Bus.

"The nerve of him! He ignored me!"

Shen Feixue seethed. In all her life, when had someone her own age ever ignored her like that?

"Just you wait, you brat!"

She took out her Communicator and placed a call.

"Miaowei, I've discovered a secret."

A clear, pleasant female voice came through the Communicator. "What secret?"

"That boy Chen Lie we met at the Divine Sense Master Association? I found out where he comes from."

"What did you find out? How?"

"I saw it with my own eyes, right here at the company building!"

"The company building?"

"Mm. I saw his dad. He's an employee of our family's company."

"Really? That's wonderful. With that connection, our deal with Chen Lie will be much simpler."

Excitement rang in the girl's voice over the Communicator.

"Uh, he just said he won't trade anymore. He wants to cancel our deal."

"Cancel the deal? Why?"

"I told him three Martial Dao Rare Treasures were too much for the Star Soul Tempering Vine and offered him two instead. He said we weren't sincere, so he wanted to cancel."

"Oh, you. I don't even know what to say to you. Are you still at the company? I'll come find you!"

The girl sighed over the Communicator.

"I am."

"All right. I'll be there soon. Wait for me!"

After the call ended, Shen Feixue put away her Communicator and waited outside the Lingfeng Group building.

Before long, an airship landed in Lingfeng Group's plaza. As soon as it touched down, its hatch opened, and Shen Miaowei stepped out.

"Feixue?"

"Miaowei!"

Shen Feixue smiled sweetly when she saw Shen Miaowei and walked over.

Shen Miaowei shook her head. "Honestly, I don't know what to say to you. Does the Shen Family lack a single Martial Dao Rare Treasure? Did you really need to go bargain over it yourself?"

"Hmph. This isn't about one Martial Dao Rare Treasure. He was so arrogant toward me, without a shred of respect. It was as if he didn't even see me.

"Even when I chased after him and called out, all he said was a lukewarm 'What is it?' He paid me no mind at all."

Shen Feixue's voice was full of resentment.

Shen Miaowei thought for a moment. "Proud of his talent? Aren't geniuses all like that?"

Shen Feixue scoffed. "What kind of genius? His dad works for our family's company, which makes him practically a servant of the Shen Family. A few hundred years ago, a servant's son like him would have had to kneel and kowtow when he saw me, pay his respects, and call me his mistress."