Chapter 108: Succession Sequence
The atmosphere in the reception hall was still quite tense. After all, no one knew if the two leaders could come to an agreement.
It wasn’t until Hu Yidao and Zhu Song walked out arm in arm that the tension in the hall finally began to dissipate. ’Looks like the two leaders had a good talk!’
Zhu Song and Hu Yidao smiled warmly as they looked at the members of their two families.
After some polite back-and-forth, Hu Yidao announced, "From this day forward, the Hu Family and the Zhu Family are formally allied! The younger generations of the Hu and Zhu Families should interact more and are encouraged to find love freely!"
The members of both families let out a good-natured laugh.
Zhu Song continued, "Brother Hu and I have unanimously decided that from this day forward, Cheng Yuan will be added to our two families’ succession lines! He will be cultivated with the full resources afforded to a direct descendant!"
SWISH!
All eyes turned to Cheng Yuan at once. There was no jealousy; after all, it was because of his mediation that the two families had turned from foes to friends.
Cheng Yuan was worthy of being in the succession line!
"Brother Yuan, congratulations!"
"Brother Cheng, from now on, we’re truly brothers!"
Cheng Yuan was also thrilled. All this time, he had been cultivating on his own, fumbling his way forward without any background or backing. Now, he finally had an organization behind him!
’From now on, anyone who wants to cause trouble for me will have to seriously consider whether they can withstand the retaliation of the Hu and Zhu Families!’
Cheng Yuan did not refuse. With a very serious expression, he declared, "I accept the goodwill of Patriarch Hu and Fifth Master Zhu! From this day forward, I, Cheng Yuan, will do everything in my power to protect the interests of the Hu and Zhu Families!"
Hu Yidao and Zhu Song nodded repeatedly. They believed Cheng Yuan would be a man of his word. The more they invested in him now, the greater the returns would be in the future!
BEEP BEEP...
Zhu Yunhu’s phone rang. It was a call from Zhang Qiang.
"Young Master Hu, we’ve found Gu Chen’s whereabouts. He’s currently eating at Yang’s Private Kitchen."
"Got it."
Zhu Yunhu leaned in close to Cheng Yuan and whispered, "Brother Cheng, we’ve found Gu Chen. You want to go take care of him?"
Cheng Yuan nodded slightly, then clasped his hands in respect toward Hu Yidao, Zhu Song, and the other elders. "Patriarch Hu, Fifth Master Zhu, and all the esteemed uncles, we’ve found Gu Chen. We’re going to go have a ’chat’ with him now."
Hu Yidao and Zhu Song looked at each other and smiled.
"Then we two old-timers will go pay the Gu Family a visit."
「Yang’s Private Kitchen. A private room.」
Gu Chen sat at the head of the table while his cronies below him constantly raised their glasses.
"Young Master Gu is incredible! With just a little trick, you got the Hu and Zhu Families to go at it! I heard they even pulled guns!"
"Yeah, and you have to admit, that Hu Shishi is fierce! She actually led people to storm the Patrol Office and forcibly took Cheng Yuan away! A woman like that is a keeper for life! Why can’t I ever meet a woman like that?"
"I heard Fifth Master Zhu even came out of seclusion and charged over to the Hu Family to demand justice! That guy surnamed Cheng is a dead man for sure!"
"Three years ago, Zhu Song was evenly matched with Hu Yidao. Now, Zhu Song should be able to overpower him. Hu Yidao won’t be able to protect Cheng Yuan."
"It’s a shame we don’t have an insider in the Hu Family to get the latest news."
Just as the cronies were getting into their lively discussion, CRASH! The door to the private room was pushed open!
Cheng Yuan strode into the room, flanked by the younger generation of the Hu and Zhu Families, his cold gaze fixed on Gu Chen and the other dandies.
"I know the latest news from the Hu Family. I can be your insider."
SWISH!
Everyone instinctively turned to look. The newcomers were the very subjects of their conversation: the younger generation of the Hu and Zhu Families!
What confused the dandies the most was the unfamiliar young man surrounded in the center.
When he got a clear look at Cheng Yuan, Gu Chen’s mind went blank with a BUZZ!
As if he had a spring installed under his seat, he shot to his feet. He pointed a finger at Cheng Yuan and stammered, "Cheng... Cheng Yuan, you... how are you..."
"Surprised to see me? Did you think I was a dead man? Too bad, I have to disappoint you—I’m alive and well! What’s more, I’ve been added to the succession lines of the Hu and Zhu Families, enjoying the same treatment as a direct descendant. Aren’t you disappointed?"
Gu Chen roared frantically, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! The Hu and Zhu Families have never accepted an outsider into their succession lines! You’re lying!!"
Cheng Yuan grinned. "Gu Chen, before today, have you ever seen the younger generations of the Hu and Zhu Families acting together?"
Gu Chen stared blankly at the young members of the Hu and Zhu Families, his mind a complete mess. ’What in the world is going on?’
’Why are the young people from the two families so harmonious? Aren’t they supposed to be at each other’s throats?’
’Wasn’t my Gu Family supposed to profit from their conflict and become the strongest family in the Provincial City in one fell swoop?’
’This isn’t how the script was supposed to go!’
Zhu Yunhu looked at Gu Chen with a mocking gaze. "Gu Chen, our two families ought to thank you. Thanks to you pulling the strings and causing a conflict between us, we wouldn’t have buried the hatchet. We would have just kept fighting each other! This is all thanks to you!"
Gu Chen was completely dumbfounded. ’What the hell? What the hell is going on?’
Gu Chen pinched his own arm hard. Ouch! ’Damn it, this isn’t a dream!!’
Hu Shishi took a step forward and stared coldly at Gu Chen. "You actually dared to frame my man. Tell me, how do you want to die?"
"Sister Shishi, you must have misunderstood! I didn’t do anything, I swear! I haven’t even seen Cheng Yuan today, so how could I have framed him?"
"Stubborn until the bitter end! Wang Shun has already confessed everything!"
THUMP! The crowd parted to form a path as a Hu Family disciple dragged Wang Shun into the private room. THUMP! He threw Wang Shun down in front of Gu Chen.
"Gu Chen, what else do you have to say?"
Of course, Gu Chen wasn’t going to admit it. "I don’t know what Wang Shun said, but I haven’t seen Wang Shun or Cheng Yuan today. I have no idea what happened!"
Cheng Yuan laughed in exasperation. "Gu Chen, the evidence is ironclad and you’re still playing tough? Do you really think I’m a patient man?"
Naturally, Gu Chen refused to back down. Sticking his neck out, he said, "Cheng Yuan, you’ve gone too far! You stole my fiancée, beat me up, and now you’re framing me! Do you really think our Gu Family is a pushover? If you dare to touch a single hair on my head, you’re a dead man! Our Gu Family has three Divine Realm Experts! Unless you hide in the Hu Family forever, you will die without a doubt!"
’The Gu Family?’
Heh...
Cheng Yuan laughed.
"Gu Chen, don’t say I didn’t give you a chance. Call the Gu Family for help right now. Let’s see if anyone comes to save you!"
Gu Chen looked at Cheng Yuan suspiciously. "You’re really letting me make a call?"
Cheng Yuan spread his hands. "Go right ahead!"
Gu Chen quickly pulled out his phone and called his father, Gu Feiyun, for help. "Dad! I’m at Yang’s Private Kitchen! Cheng Yuan brought a bunch of people to corner me! Get the Third to come save me, quick!"
Gu Feiyun’s voice was bitter on the other end of the line. Hu Yidao and Zhu Song had come to the Gu Family estate. The Old Master and the Third were busy receiving them, trembling with apprehension. They couldn’t even save themselves, so how were they supposed to help him?
"You clean up the mess you made yourself! All you ever do is cause trouble! Sooner or later, you’re going to drag the entire Gu Family down with you!"