"Something's come up; you can arrange it for me." Gu Chen's voice turned serious. "I need to see him tonight."
"Yes, yes, yes." Wen Tao shivered and quickly agreed.
If it's a matter of worldly power, then it should be resolved according to worldly rules. After hanging up the phone, Gu Chen called Zhao Haiqing again and asked him to arrange for people to come to Morning Dawn Garden to secretly protect Li Jing and her daughter.
After doing all this, Gu Chen stood there waiting for Wen Tao's call.
Less than three minutes later, Wen Tao called, saying that the Xiang Family family was waiting for him at home and that Gu Chen could just go directly there.
Gu Chen hailed a taxi and headed to the wealthy neighborhood.
Upon arriving at the Xiang Family, servants greeted him with smiles and led Gu Chen inside.
Compared to the Zhou Family, the Xiang Family's gate was significantly more magnificent. After all, it was a family with some heritage in Zhou City, with a history of over seventy years. Antiques and treasures could be seen everywhere in the mansion, full of the ancient charm of Huaxia.
Gu Chen parked the car and then got inside.
In the hall, Xiang Linde, the head of the Xiang Family, and his eldest grandson Xiang Zexi were sitting. Judging from their attire, they must have known that Gu Chen was coming, so they changed their clothes.
"Young Master Gu!" Xiang Zexi stood up first, laughing heartily as he walked towards Gu Chen, saying, "Your presence is an honor to our Xiang Family."
As the saying goes, one doesn't hit a smiling face, so Gu Chen smiled back, hugged him, and said, "Young Master Xiang, you flatter me. I'm just a nobody. I've been in Zhou City for so long, and I should have paid a visit long ago after the Xiang Family stood up for me last time."
"Young Master Gu is too kind and too modest." Xiang Zexi shook his head and said, "Now, in the entire Zhou City, who doesn't know Young Master Gu's name? In this small town of Zhou City, the three major families are nothing; Young Master Gu is the real name."
"Greetings, Grandpa Xiang." Gu Chen stopped flattering Xiang Zexi and instead looked at Xiang Linde, cupping his hands in greeting.
Xiang Linde nodded, a smile spreading across his wrinkled face, and said, "Young Master Gu, please have a seat."
After Gu Chen sat down, Xiang Linde, "May I ask what brings you here so late at night, Young Master Gu?"
"I've come for two reasons," Gu Chen said bluntly. "First, to thank the old man for helping me out of an awkward situation at the Zhou Family banquet last time."
"That happened so long ago." Xiang Linde smiled and said, "Back then, you broke my game, so we're even. Besides, I didn't take it to heart. And with the Zhou Family already destroyed, it's really too kind of you, Young Master Gu, to come all this way."
"Whether the old man took it to heart or not, it was indeed thanks to him that my father and I were able to escape unscathed back then." Gu Chen said, then changed the subject, adding, "However, that's not my main purpose for coming here today. The second matter is that I repay the money to the Xiang Family."
"Pay back the money?" Xiang Linde was taken aback, then said, "When did you owe the Xiang Family money?"
When confronted with Xiang Linde's question, Gu Chen smiled faintly and then took out the card he had prepared earlier.
This was delivered by Zhao Haiqing's underling. Gu Chen placed the bank card on the table and said calmly, "There's five million in this card. I'll return the principal and interest to you."
"Young Master Gu is joking."
Xiang Zexi interjected, "Let alone five million, even fifty million, we'd give it to Young Master Gu for free if Young Master Gu needs it! But as the saying goes, every wrong has its perpetrator, and every debt its debtor. We can't accept the five million because Young Master Gu doesn't owe us anything. Are you mistaken?"
After Gu Beichi arrived in Zhou City, although he was down on his luck, he never borrowed money from anyone.
The Xiang Family certainly wouldn't care about five million.
"Of course I didn't borrow it." Gu Chen smiled and said, "I'm repaying it on someone else's behalf. Three million in principal, plus interest, that's five million. Is that enough?"
"Paying off someone else's debt? Three million?"
Xiang Zexi was taken aback, then his eyes narrowed as if he remembered something. He looked at Gu Chen in surprise and said, "Could it be that you're helping Li Jing pay off her debts?"
"Who is Li Jing?" Xiang Linde asked, frowning.
"It's Bai Liming's wife." Xiang Zexi whispered, "Grandpa, you've forgotten, we've been trying to get their money back recently, and you gave us permission to do so."
Xiang Linde's expression sharpened, and he looked at Gu Chen, saying, "Young Master Gu, is this what you came for?"
"Not bad." Gu Chen nodded and said, "I heard that Bai Liming used to be under the Xiang Family. If five million isn't enough, I can give you more. After all, the old man helped me before, and I don't want to ruin our relationship."
"Young Master Gu, if I may ask, do you know Bai Liming?" But Xiang Linde didn't even look at the bank card on the table. Instead, he stared at Gu Chen and continued to ask.
"I don't know her." Gu Chen shook his head and said, "But Li Jing is my friend. I hope that after I give you this money, all our grudges will be wiped clean, and the Xiang Family won't send anyone to cause trouble for her and her daughter anymore."
Xiang Linde's expression shifted several times; he opened his mouth but didn't answer.
Gu Chen raised an eyebrow and said, "Is this matter really that difficult to handle?"
"Young Master Gu, we can't make that decision."
Xiang Linde finally managed a wry smile.
"Didn't you come to us? Can't you make the decision?" Gu Chen's eyes narrowed, already turning cold. He said, "Xiang Family, my attitude is very sincere. Do you think my sincerity isn't enough?"
No, that's not what I meant.
Under Gu Chen's murderous intent, Xiang Linde was already sweating profusely.
He certainly knew how the Zhou Family had been destroyed. Gu Chen had already exceeded the scope of their worldly power. If this person wanted to deal with the Xiang Family, how could they possibly stop him?
Let me speak.
At this moment, Xiang Zexi interjected, looking at Gu Chen, and said, "Young Master Gu, to be honest, you know that five million is nothing to us. Bai Liming has also contributed to our Xiang Family in the past. We would never force a widow and her child for this money. We did this under someone else's instruction."
"Oh?" Gu Chen sneered, "Now that the Zhou Family has been destroyed, the Wen Family is no threat in Zhou City. I don't understand, who else would dare to threaten your Xiang Family?"
It's true.
Xiang Linde's wry smile deepened as he said, "Young Master Gu, you may not know, but recently many outsiders have come to Zhou City. These are not ordinary people; they are all martial artists! Moreover, they come from renowned families and sects in the Shangjing and other regions. Although our Xiang Family is considered quite good in Zhou City, compared to them, we are far inferior."
"So, some powerful sect is behind this?" Gu Chen said coldly. "What have they got their eye on? It can't be Li Jing, can it?"
Li Jing is indeed a beauty that is one in a thousand, and she has her own charming and alluring style. However, even if a man from a sect has taken a liking to Li Jing, it is a bit illogical to treat her like this.
"No, they've got their eye on Li Jing's daughter!"
"Huh?" This answer surprised Gu Chen as well.
Xiang Linde shook his head and said, "They say that little girl has a physique that appears only once in ten thousand years, making her an excellent training vessel! And because there are quite a few martial arts practitioners in Zhou City recently, they came to our Xiang Family for help to cover their tracks and take her away legitimately!"
"Bang!"
No sooner had Xiang Linde finished speaking than a loud bang was heard!
The two-meter-long marble coffee table in front of him was completely shattered!
He looked up in alarm, only to find that Gu Chen had already stood up, withdrawing his hand, his face terribly grim!