Chapter 107: Happy Cooperation
Cheng Yuan’s words moved the members of the Zhu family, and Hu Shishi’s eyes glinted.
If the Zhu and Hu families could truly join forces and stop their infighting, they would gain immense influence in Dongshan Province, becoming one of its superpowers!
Zhu Song didn’t pay much mind to things like strategy and power; he had always acted on a whim.
"If anyone else had said this, I would’ve given them a hard slap across the face! Do I need you telling me what to do? But, since it was Xiaoyuan who said it, I’ll give it serious consideration. After what happened today, it’s possible that the conflict between Hu Yidao and me back then was also instigated by someone. In that case, I’ll have to trouble Xiaoyuan to arrange a time for Hu Yidao and me to have a heart-to-heart talk."
"Alright! I’ll arrange it!"
After speaking, Cheng Yuan turned to Zhu Jiang and gave him a slight nod. "Director Zhu, Sister Shishi was out of line just now. Please don’t take offense."
Zhu Jiang laughed. "Hahaha, Xiaoyuan, you’re being too formal. Why call me Director? Just call me Second Uncle! You can’t blame Shishi for this. It was Yunhu who handled things poorly, and I got a little heated as well. Yunhu, come over and apologize to your Brother Cheng and Sister Shishi."
Zhu Yunhu gave a bitter smile. He was clearly the one who had been beaten up and forced to get a new "haircut." He had no idea where he could even go to complain.
"Brother Yuan, I was the one who was out of line earlier. Please don’t hold it against me."
Cheng Yuan nodded slightly. "You were just eager for revenge. It’s understandable. But now, we have a common enemy."
An incredibly fierce light flashed in Zhu Yunhu’s eyes. "That damn Gu Chen! To think he’d sow discord just to profit from the chaos, and I’m the one who ends up with this haircut! I’ll never let him get away with this! I’ll have my men find out where he is right now!"
Cheng Yuan nodded slightly and turned to Hu Shishi. "Sister Shishi, contact your father and see when he’s available."
"Okay."
Hu Shishi stepped out of the hospital room, found a quiet corner, and dialed Hu Yidao’s number.
Hu Yidao had been waiting anxiously for the call and answered it the moment it rang. "Shishi, how are you? How’s Xiaoyuan? Are you both alright?"
"Dad, don’t worry, Cheng Yuan and I are fine. Cheng Yuan really healed Zhu Yuncang’s Dantian. He also persuaded the Zhu family’s fifth uncle to meet with you and resolve the misunderstanding between our families. What are your thoughts on this?"
"Resolving the misunderstanding would be for the best, of course! I’m free anytime. I await the pleasure of a visit from the fifth master of the Zhu family!"
"Alright, I understand."
Hu Shishi returned to the hospital room and stood before Zhu Song, looking at him with great sincerity.
"Fifth Uncle, my father sincerely invites you to be a guest at the Hu family home. Or, if that’s inconvenient for you, you’re welcome to choose the location!"
Zhu Song laughed heartily. "What’s inconvenient about it? It’s not like the Hu family estate is a lion’s den! We’ll head out right now!"
"Excellent!"
Upon learning that Zhu Song was coming to visit, Hu Yidao, along with the senior members of the Hu family’s second generation, went to the entrance of the Hu ancestral home for a grand welcome, showing Zhu Song the utmost respect.
Seeing how seriously Hu Yidao was taking this, smiles appeared on the faces of Zhu Song and his four older brothers.
’Perhaps what happened back then really was a misunderstanding?’
"Younger Brother Zhu, your visit brings great honor to our humble home. It’s been over twenty years since we last saw each other, hasn’t it?"
"Yes. Twenty-one years and three months."
"Younger Brother Zhu, you have an excellent memory. Mine’s not what it used to be. I’m getting old."
"Brother Hu, you’re not old at all. Of our golden generation, besides ’that person,’ only the two of us achieved the rank of Grandmaster. Given the lifespan of an Innate Grandmaster, Brother Hu, you’re in your prime at most."
"Come, let’s go inside and catch up!"
Led by Hu Yidao, the group entered the reception hall.
Normally, a junior like Cheng Yuan wouldn’t be qualified to take a seat at such a meeting.
However, his status was unique; he was the bond between the Hu and Zhu families. Thus, Cheng Yuan was honored with a seat very near the front.
Hu Yidao politely exchanged a few pleasantries with the members of the Zhu family before leading Zhu Song into a private inner hall.
Once the host and guests were seated, Zhu Song was the first to speak. "Brother Hu, I’m a blunt man, so I’ll be direct. Do you remember what happened twenty-one years ago?"
"I remember. The ninja from Ying Island, Fujiwara Kenshi, snuck into our Dongshan Province. He brought disaster upon the Martial Arts world, murdering many of our fellow practitioners! Under the leadership of ’that person,’ our generation established the Anti-Ying Alliance!"
Zhu Song nodded slightly. "Brother Hu, since you remember the Anti-Ying Alliance, I have to ask you something. Back then, ’that person’ arranged for us to lie in wait for Fujiwara Kenshi at the Yong’an Zhao Family’s estate. Why didn’t you show up? Because you stood us up, ’that person’ and I were no match for him together. I was wounded to my very core by Fujimura Kenshi, and because of that, I can never become a Martial King in this life!"
Hu Yidao looked aggrieved. "I did go that year! But I didn’t go to the Yong’an Zhao Family’s estate—I went to the Yongping Zhao Family’s! I waited all night, but neither you nor ’that person’ ever arrived."
’The Yongping Zhao Family?’
Zhu Song was stunned. "Why would you go to the Yongping Zhao Family? We agreed to meet at the Yong’an Zhao Family’s estate!"
"The message I received said the Yongping Zhao Family. I was just as confused as to why you two went to the Yong’an estate."
"Brother Hu, how can you prove that?"
"I still have the note from back then."
Hu Yidao took out a sachet that, after several decades, had lost all its fragrance.
He tore open the sachet with a soft rip and pulled out a small, yellowed slip of paper.
"This is the message I received back then. After I heard the news that you’d been injured, I’ve kept it safe ever since."
Zhu Song took the slip of paper. The moment he looked at it, his expression turned utterly grim.
’It really is ’that person’s’ handwriting!’
’Why would ’that person’ give Hu Yidao false information?’
’Back then, he and ’that person’ had only been a single move short. If Hu Yidao had been there, they would have had a high chance of defeating Fujiwara Kenshi. He wouldn’t have suffered an injury to his core, and he might have even become a Martial King by now!’
’Could it be...’
"Brother Hu! We’re going to the Imperial Capital! We’ll confront him face-to-face!"
Hu Yidao quickly grabbed Zhu Song. "Ah Song, don’t be rash! He’s a Martial King now, a vital pillar of the nation!"
Zhu Song’s brows furrowed deeply.
The gap between a Martial King and an Innate Grandmaster is immense—one that cannot be overcome with numbers. Within a province, a Grandmaster might be considered a top-tier expert.
But on a national scale, Martial Kings are the true foundation of power!
"So we’re just supposed to swallow this insult and do nothing?"
Hu Yidao smiled faintly. "Of course not! We still have hope!"
As he spoke, Hu Yidao turned his head to look at Cheng Yuan outside.
Zhu Song froze for a second, then quickly realized what Hu Yidao meant. He, too, turned his head, his gaze burning as he stared at Cheng Yuan outside!
’Cheng Yuan is just a little over twenty, yet he can already rival a Quasi-Divine Realm Grandmaster. Give him another twenty years—no, ten would be enough! He absolutely has a chance to reach the threshold of the Martial King realm!’
’At that time...’
However, Zhu Song’s mood quickly soured. Cheng Yuan was the Hu family’s son-in-law; he had little to do with the Zhu family!
’If the Zhu and Hu families joined forces to nurture Cheng Yuan with all their resources, how much of a return could they expect in the future?’
As if sensing Zhu Song’s hesitation, Hu Yidao lowered his voice. "I’ve already looked into Xiaoyuan. He’s a man who values his relationships deeply. He has a younger sister who’s a senior in high school this year! And his aunt has a daughter who’s a sophomore in college. If all else fails, our family has plenty of single young women as well. We can sit down and discuss our options, can’t we?"
Zhu Song extended a large hand toward Hu Yidao. "A pleasure to be working with you."