Chapter 134: The Tenth Update

Fang Nian and Xia Moyan were deep in conversation when a strikingly handsome man, dressed in a pale blue robe and holding a white paper fan, began to stare their way.

Before long, a man dressed as a servant scurried over and addressed him. "Young Master—"

*Slap.*

Before the servant could finish, the man struck him across the face, causing him to swallow his words. The man then whispered a sharp reprimand: "How many times have I told you? Look at how I am dressed today—do I look like a 'Young Master'? You must call me 'Young Noble'—do you understand?"

The servant, daring not to argue, nodded frantically. "Yes, yes, Young Noble Bai. I have gathered the information. That woman is Xia Moyan from the Xia family in District 16. The man beside her is Fang Nian, the Xia family’s son-in-law who married into their household, and also Xia Moyan’s husband. It is said he has some connection to the Fang family of District 4, but due to some falling out with the main family, he lived in poverty in District 4 until he finally used his late grandfather’s connections to marry into the Xia family."

Bai Zhe gazed at the breathtakingly beautiful Xia Moyan with a look of regret. He was a man with an insatiable pursuit of women; he had lost count of how many he had conquered, and there was no type of beauty he hadn't seen.

Yet, Xia Moyan was different. It wasn't just her appearance or her figure that captivated him, but her traditional Hanfu attire. He felt as though such a fairy-like creature could only belong to a world from thousands of years ago.

For a moment, Bai Zhe fell into a trance, the fires of desire rising within him. In his eyes, Xia Moyan had already become his prey. Regardless of whether she was married or not, Bai Zhe secretly vowed to himself that he would have her.

Fang Nian had long noticed Bai Zhe’s gaze from afar, though his expression remained unperturbed. His wife was so beautiful that even he himself felt a sense of longing; it was only natural that others would want to take a second look.

However, Fang Nian felt something off about the man’s eyes. That neurotic intensity made him uneasy, so he turned to Xia Moyan. "Do you know that man over there?"

Xia Moyan paused and looked toward Bai Zhe. At that moment, Bai Zhe was also looking at her. Their eyes met, and they exchanged a polite smile, a simple acknowledgement.

Xia Moyan could never have imagined that this single, casual smile would cause Bai Zhe’s blood to boil, stirring the cold, sinister nature hidden deep within his bones. She turned back to Fang Nian.

"I know him. His name is Bai Zhe, the only grandson of the famous Bai family in District 6. Thanks to his family's immense influence, almost no one in District 6 dares to provoke him, and he is always surrounded by a bevy of followers. Every time I’ve visited District 6, I’ve heard rumors about him; he never seems to have a quiet day."

"Also, there is one more thing: the Bai family is in the hunting ground business. Unlike the Xia family, which shares power with two other families in District 16, the Bai family is the undisputed titan of the hunting ground industry in District 6—they stand alone at the top."

"Don't be fooled by his arrogant, playboy exterior; Bai Zhe is actually quite talented. He is not only a hunter himself but also an incredibly skilled hunting ground architect. D-level hunting grounds are quite common within the Bai family’s holdings. Many hunters from other districts frequently appear in District 6, and even Guo Ji enjoys hunting in the Bai family’s grounds."

Hearing this, Fang Nian realized he had underestimated the young master; one truly cannot judge a book by its cover. As Fang Nian looked at Bai Zhe, he projected a silent message: stay away from Xia Moyan and don't even think about crossing the line.

Bai Zhe sensed the message. He licked his dry lips and mouthed a response to Fang Nian: "Just you wait, kid."

To Bai Zhe’s irritation, Fang Nian refused to play along. Just as Bai Zhe was about to speak, Fang Nian simply turned his head away, ignoring him completely and leaving Bai Zhe looking like a fool.

Bai Zhe felt incredibly awkward. Accustomed to being the most arrogant person in District 6, he had never encountered such a situation. Furious, he turned to his servant. "What is their purpose for attending this birthday banquet?"

As his personal steward, the servant had already investigated. "They are here to seek investment and cooperation from the Liu family, just like us."

Bai Zhe nodded, his expression turning grim. He was representing the Bai family at the birthday celebration for Elder Liu Quan, and his goal was to secure the Liu family’s investment for his own clan. If he succeeded, the Bai family would dominate the market in District 6, and further expansion would only be a matter of time.

At 8:00 PM, the guests had mostly arrived, and the five tables in the boathouse were full. At Fang Nian and Xia Moyan’s table, there were several other merchants from various districts. After some conversation, they exchanged business cards, hoping for future cooperation.

Soon, the room quieted down. Liu Huan stepped onto the stage, bowed deeply to those seated, and said, "Everyone, I am very pleased that you could take time out of your busy schedules to attend my father Liu Quan’s birthday banquet. I also thank you for the gifts you have prepared for our family. Without further ado, I present the head of our family, my father, and the guest of honor tonight, Liu Quan."

A retro-style background track began to play. Liu Quan was wheeled out in a wheelchair. His expression was dull, his gaze unfocused. He looked completely spiritless, like a vegetable, staring motionlessly ahead.

Fang Nian frowned slightly and asked Xia Moyan, "What happened to Liu Quan? Didn't you say last time that he was quite healthy? You said that aside from being a bit stingy with his demands, he was quite humble. Why is he like this now?"

Xia Moyan was equally shocked. It had been only a little over a month since her last visit to discuss investments. Why would the man who was so robust back then suddenly end up in such a state?

"I have no idea what happened, but looking at his condition, it seems he’s had a stroke."

Fang Nian’s brows furrowed further. He realized that today's events might not be as simple as they seemed. Why would Liu Huan arrange a birthday banquet for his father when he was in this condition? Why did Liu Quan end up like this? What secrets were the Liu family hiding?

A flood of questions filled Fang Nian’s mind, refusing to fade. Just then, a system notification echoed in his head.

"Hell-difficulty mission accomplished. You may now claim your reward."