"There's a new development with the Ye Family," Yuan Shang said, getting straight to the point.

Xu Ke's expression tightened. "What kind of development?"

"It's like this," Yuan Shang explained. "I was actually on a break, but the Alliance Hierarch said he can only come back tonight and told me to notify you two immediately. I tried calling both of your cell phones but couldn't get through. I considered asking someone from your corporation to pass on the message, but this news needs to reach you personally right away. Plus, I couldn't trust the Peng Family to deliver it; they might deliberately delay things, which would be troublesome. That's why I came to your corporation to inform you myself."

As his words fell, Xu Ke and Wong Qifu understood.

"Thank you for going to all this trouble, Vice Alliance Leader Yuan," Xu Ke said gratefully.

"No problem, it's what I should do," Yuan Shang replied with a smile. "Just remember to be at the Martial Alliance by seven-thirty tonight. I need to go notify the Ye Family now."

Seeing Yuan Shang's gentle attitude towards Xu Ke, Wong Qifu began to wonder. Has Xu Ke been hiding the true nature of his relationship with Yuan Shang?

"Okay!" Xu Ke nodded.

Yuan Shang then stood up. "I'll be going now."

Xu Ke saw him out.

After Yuan Shang had left, Wong Qifu asked, "Was today really the first time you've met Yuan Shang?"

Last night, Xu Ke had told her about Duan Chongfeng calling Yuan Shang back, and she had worried that Yuan Shang might look down on Xu Ke during their first meeting. But now, Wong Qifu realized she had been worrying for nothing.

"Yes, it was," Xu Ke replied, a little puzzled.

"Judging by his attitude," Wong Qifu said suddenly, "anyone who didn't know better would think he was your older brother."

Xu Ke replied, "...I don't think I have a brother that old."

Wong Qifu rolled her eyes at him. "Get ready. We'll head over in the evening. For now, just forget about the unpleasantness from the meeting."

"Understood," Xu Ke nodded.

「」

Just as Yuan Shang was leaving the Wang Family Corporation, the Peng father and son at the Tianhai Martial Alliance were making their own moves.

Inside the Law Enforcement Hall's office.

"The Martial Alliance's internal network has been updated with the case file Vice Alliance Leader Yuan just uploaded," Peng Hetong said, taking a deep breath. "He has already asked me to review the evidence. He said Alliance Hierarch Chen is returning tonight."

"So soon?!" Peng Jiashu's expression changed drastically.

Even though the Martial Alliance's procedures were much faster than official ones, it was still impossible for a case to begin in a single day.

"It's about the Ye Family seizing the Wang Family's land last year. I've looked at the evidence. It's conclusive, leaving no room for denial," Peng Hetong gasped. "I couldn't help the Ye Family manipulate the situation even if I wanted to; there's simply no room for it. No wonder Vice Alliance Leader Yuan was so confident in letting me start the preparations right away."

Peng Jiashu's face turned ashen. "Doesn't that mean we're useless?"

Being unable to help the Ye Family meant their earlier plans to stir up trouble were dead. With that, Peng Jiashu's position in the Law Enforcement Hall was gone for good.

Peng Hetong was silent for a long moment before saying, "Make the call. Let the Ye Family decide for themselves. Tell them there's virtually no chance of recovery, and emphasize the severity of the situation. The Ye Family should know what choice will minimize their losses."

"Yes!" Peng Jiashu immediately did as his father instructed.

「」

At that moment, Ye Fan was just getting out of bed.

He actually went to the Martial Alliance... I wonder what that good-for-nothing is up to.

Ye Fan sat by the floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the warm sunshine outside, lost in thought. Still, he was certain of one thing. Xu Ke will definitely die tomorrow night. After a full night of discussion, they had already formulated a plan to deal with him. All that remained was to execute it.

So, even though he didn't know what Xu Ke was doing at the Martial Alliance, Ye Fan no longer cared. Why bother with a man who's already dead?

Just then, his cell phone rang.

Peng Jiashu? Why are that father and son so meddlesome?

Ye Fan curled his lip in disdain and answered impatiently, "What is it?"

"Young Master Ye, something terrible has happened..."

Upon hearing this, Ye Fan shot to his feet, his face twisting in shock. How is this possible?!

After Peng Jiashu finished speaking, Ye Fan's face became so gloomy it looked as if ink could be squeezed from it.

"Xu Ke... Xu Ke!"

Ye Fan stared out at the sunlight, but his heart was ice-cold, a chill creeping through his entire body. How on earth did Xu Ke do it? Ironclad evidence... How did he get the Law Enforcement Hall to describe it as ironclad evidence?

His face paled, looking almost ghostly white. With this development, the Ye Family was certain to lose a massive sum of money, and his position as the Young Master of the Ye Family would be impossible to hold on to...

Just then.

DING-A-LING.

His cell phone rang again. He looked down at the screen.

Ye Yunfeng.

Ye Fan swallowed hard and answered the phone. "Dad..."

"Come back," Ye Yunfeng said tersely.

「」

7:30 PM.

Tianhai Martial Alliance.

Wang Wu, Xu Ke, and Wong Qifu got out of the car.

"Please proceed to the fourth floor," a security guard at the entrance said, stepping forward.

Seeing him, Xu Ke realized Hua Xingxue had indeed gone to rest.

"Alright," Wang Wu nodded to the guard.

The three of them then entered directly.

"How times have changed," Wang Wu remarked sentimentally once they were in the elevator. "The last time I came here, it was for the Huang Family. This time, it's for the Ye Family."

The last time they came here, for the life-or-death duel with Ouyang Shuang, Xu Ke had eliminated a Grand Protector from the Huang Family right at the start. Everyone had thought that alone was shocking enough. But unexpectedly, in such a short period, Xu Ke had launched a direct offensive against the Ye Family. This was beyond shocking...

"Indeed," Xu Ke said with a small smile.

"Remember to hand over these materials when we get inside. They're our company's records from that time," Wong Qifu said, less sentimental and more focused, pointing to the briefcase Xu Ke was carrying.

"Understood," Xu Ke nodded.

"The Martial Alliance's rules for adjudicating unfair business competition among the six great families are simple: one side states their claim, and both sides confirm the evidence," Wong Qifu briefly explained. "Any disputed evidence is debated and then ruled on by the Law Enforcement Hall, with a result typically given within three days. However," she added with some surprise, "a case like this usually requires at least a week of preliminary preparation. I didn't expect them to be in such a hurry today."

"Perhaps Alliance Hierarch Chen is busy with something," Xu Ke speculated.

"Possibly," Wong Qifu chuckled. "Or it could be that your evidence is just that substantial."

DING.

The elevator arrived.

As Xu Ke and his companions stepped out, their expressions changed slightly. Standing in the hallway were Ye Fan and two men in black suits. Beside them stood another man with a solemn expression and an aura of unspoken authority. He appeared to be in his fifties, his hair meticulously dyed a glossy black to hide any gray, and he bore a striking resemblance to Ye Fan.

Upon seeing this man, Xu Ke instantly understood. This is the Ye Family Head. Ye Fan's father. Ye Yunfeng.

At that moment, Ye Yunfeng's gaze was locked on Xu Ke, his eyes as deep and calm as the sea. But only he himself knew that the murderous intent he felt for Xu Ke was already roiling inside him like a furious ocean.

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