At a nearby restaurant, Chen Yuan ordered two cups of tea.
Gu Ye took a sip of tea, gathered his thoughts, and said slowly, "Master Chen, to be frank, after Yu Yan died, certain Lineages saw that the Gu Family had no successor and began stirring restlessly.
"The Zheng Family has led the charge. They've been suppressing our business for the past few months. A few days ago, they tried to force us to compromise and enter a marriage alliance with them, threatening to cut our sales channels by half if we refused."
As he spoke, his face creased with worry. If they accepted the Zheng Family's demands, how would the Gu Family be any different from a vassal?
But if they refused and fought them head-on, they would likely suffer a grievous blow to their strength.
Chen Yuan raised his brows slightly. "Doesn't the Gu Family have Senior Brother Huang holding the fort? Has the Zheng Family hired an even stronger martial artist?"
Senior Brother Huang was a martial artist with major attainment in both the muscle realm and dark force. His strength was considerable; the Zheng Family should have had trouble finding a stronger First-Rate Martial Artist.
Gu Ye sighed. "The Zheng Family doesn't have that kind of ability, but they spent a fortune hiring another expert with minor attainment in both the muscle realm and dark force. That's why they appear so powerful now.
"I suspect he's also been fanning the flames behind the Zheng Family's move against us."
"Oh? How so?" Chen Yuan took a sip of tea and asked calmly.
Gu Ye smiled bitterly. "This Attendant of theirs is hideously ugly, known as Toad Liu. Yet he's lustful by nature. The Zheng Family wants Wantong to marry him. How could we subject Wantong to such