Chapter 363: Xu Ke’s Love Rival
The Grand Elder wore an incredibly solemn expression, but it melted into a benevolent smile the moment he looked at the girl.
For this girl was the disciple he had personally trained.
She was the only sister of Fu Qingyi, the current Patriarch of the Fu Family.
She was also hailed as the Fu Family’s once-in-a-century prodigy—Fu Qingzhu!
"Qingzhu, you are the hope of our Fu Family for the next hundred years! I will not allow you to undertake any missions until you have become a Martial Emperor!"
"Master, just yesterday, I defeated the Second Elder! Even against a veteran Martial Emperor, I have the strength to protect myself! Only a fledgling that has been tested can spread its wings and soar! I, Fu Qingzhu, refuse to be a caged hen!"
The Grand Elder turned to the Second Elder with a questioning look. "Second Elder, did Qingzhu really defeat you? You didn’t go easy on her?"
Far from being ashamed, the Second Elder was thrilled. "Grand Elder, I swear, I didn’t hold back at all! Qingzhu defeated me in a direct confrontation! She possesses the power to fight above her rank! She’s ready to leave the mountain!"
An uproar erupted!
The entire Fu Family hall was in chaos. Everyone stared at Fu Qingzhu in utter astonishment.
’If what the Second Elder said is true, then the Fu Family is about to soar to new heights!’
The Grand Elder burst into laughter!
"Good! Wonderful! To think Qingzhu is a super-genius capable of fighting above her rank! It seems we’ve underestimated her! She isn’t a once-in-a-century prodigy! She’s a once-in-a-millennium prodigy!"
The Grand Elder laughed for a good ten seconds before stopping, his gaze on Fu Qingzhu growing even more affectionate.
"Qingzhu, even though you can fight above your rank, do not grow arrogant. Always remember, you are an assassin! Don’t confront your enemies head-on! Find the perfect moment to strike and eliminate your target!!"
"Yes!"
Fu Qingzhu bowed deeply to the Grand Elder, then turned and resolutely left the Fu Family grounds.
As she traveled, Fu Qingzhu’s heart soared with excitement.
Twenty-three years!
A full twenty-three years!
’I, Fu Qingzhu, have finally left the Fu Family for the first time!’
’Cheng Yuan, thank you for causing such a ruckus. It’s because of you that I, Fu Qingzhu, can finally escape the cage of the Fu Family and see the vast world outside!’
’Rest assured, I’ll grant you a peaceful death, free of any pain.’
...
Protected by the Mountain Protection Array, Cheng Yuan slept soundly and didn’t wake until the sun was high in the sky.
When Cheng Yuan woke up, it was already ten in the morning. He fumbled for his watch. ’Xu Ke should be at the bank by now,’ he thought.
And just as Cheng Yuan had thought.
At ten o’clock sharp, Xu Ke arrived at the Luocheng Industrial and Commercial Bank. He found the lobby manager, Lin Xiaoyan, and said politely, "Manager Lin, I’m here to handle a loan."
Lin Xiaoyan knew that Lei Yunping had blacklisted Xu Ke. She asked coolly, "President Xu, do you have an appointment?"
Xu Ke nodded matter-of-factly. "I do."
Lin Xiaoyan’s pupils constricted slightly. ’Has President Xu reached an understanding with Governor Lei?’
"President Xu, this way, please."
Without doubting Xu Ke’s words, Lin Xiaoyan led him directly to the second floor, straight to the office of the credit department manager.
Lin Xiaoyan knocked lightly on the door.
A steady voice sounded from within. "Come in."
Lin Xiaoyan gently pushed the door open, gestured for Xu Ke to enter, and followed him into the office.
Upon seeing Xu Ke, the credit department manager, Ma Quan, scowled. "Lin Xiaoyan, why did you bring President Xu here?" he demanded.
Lin Xiaoyan felt a little aggrieved by the reprimand. "Manager Ma, President Xu said he had an appointment."
Ma Quan shot Xu Ke an exasperated look. "President Xu, how many times do I have to tell you? Our bank will absolutely not approve a loan for you! You know the reason why, so there’s no need to waste any more of your time! You’d be better off trying another bank!"
Xu Ke couldn’t help but frown. ’Brother Yuan told me he’d already smoothed things over with the governor, so why does Manager Ma still have this attitude?’
"Manager Ma, I’ve already had someone speak with the governor. If you don’t believe me, you can ask him."
Ma Quan didn’t believe him, of course, but Xu Ke was so confident that Ma Quan felt he had to be cautious. He dialed Vice-Governor Lei Yunping’s number.
"Governor Lei, President Xu from Tengya says he’s had someone speak with you. Should we approve his loan?"
Lei Yunping laughed, but it was a laugh of pure anger. "No one has spoken to me," he said coldly. "That kid is full of shit! Tell him to get the hell out of my bank!!"
In the vice-governor’s office, Lei Hua was playing a mobile game. Hearing his father’s tone, Lei Hua asked with interest, "Dad, who got you so angry?"
Lei Yunping glared at him. "Isn’t this all because of the trouble you started? Your love rival is here, and he actually lied, claiming he’d already cleared it with me. What a joke!"
SLAM!
Lei Hua slammed his phone on the desk. "Xu Ke dares to show his face at the bank?" he said coldly. "Does he have a death wish? I’ll go throw him out myself!!"
With that, Lei Hua stormed out of the vice-governor’s office, fuming, and marched toward the credit department manager’s office.
CRASH! The office door was thrown open. Lei Hua stood there, staring at Xu Ke with a mocking gaze.
"Xu Ke, have you no shame? When the hell did you talk to my dad?"
Xu Ke wanted nothing more than to smash Lei Hua’s smug face, but he had to bow to the circumstances.
Xu Ke forced an ingratiating smile. "Young Master Lei, could we speak alone for a moment? I feel we should clear up this little misunderstanding between us."
"A little misunderstanding? Stealing my damn girlfriend is a ’little misunderstanding’? This is a feud to the death!!"
Xu Ke gave a bitter smile. "Young Master Lei, if I’m not mistaken, you and Xiaoxue had already broken up when I met her, right? That can’t be considered me stealing your girlfriend, can it?"
Lei Hua’s pupils constricted slightly.
He and Kong Xue had been college sweethearts.
However, his father, Lei Yunping, felt that a girl like Kong Xue, from an ordinary background, was fine to fool around with but was not fit to marry into their family. He had arranged a more suitable match for Lei Hua with a family of equal standing.
When Kong Xue found out, she broke up with him immediately.
Lei Hua had agreed without a fuss. After all, the new fiancée his father had found for him was in no way inferior to Kong Xue in terms of looks or figure.
Moreover, the new fiancée’s family would be a great help to his career.
All of this changed after Lei Hua’s second uncle, Lei Yunhai, returned.
From a young age, Lei Yunhai had shown great talent in the Martial Dao. At the age of five, he was taken away by an old Daoist to a mysterious place.
From then on, Lei Yunhai was only able to return once every three years.
Until a few months ago, when Lei Yunhai reached Martial King Peak and touched the threshold of the Martial Emperor realm, the old Daoist finally allowed him to leave the mountain to experience the hardships of the mortal world and find an opportunity to break through to Martial Emperor.
After Lei Yunhai returned home, he saw a photo of Lei Hua and Kong Xue together.
This made Lei Yunhai incredibly excited!
Because Kong Xue bore a striking resemblance to a powerful figure he could only look up to in awe.
They were practically identical!
’Kong Xue must be that woman’s long-lost daughter!’
’If Kong Xue marries into the Lei Family, our family will definitely soar to new heights!!’