Zhou Yufei was dressed in a black business suit, nude stockings, and black high heels. Her hair was styled in a high updo, accentuating the long, slender line of her fair neck.

The recent chase and her fright had left her hair a bit messy and her clothes wrinkled, which only added a touch of vulnerable beauty to her appearance.

Chen Yang brought her a cup of hot tea. "Ran into someone with ill intentions again?"

"That damned Qian Kun! He looks decent enough, but he turned out to be a despicable scoundrel," Zhou Yufei said, gritting her teeth as she clutched the teacup with both hands.

Because Zhou Yufei's pharmaceutical sales company was newly established, she had been everywhere drumming up business. It just so happened that Qian Kun's pharmaceutical company was planning to outsource its sales division. During a dinner to negotiate their cooperation, he had relentlessly plied her with alcohol.

He even stated outright that as long as she drank to his satisfaction, the deal would be no problem.

Zhou Yufei wasn't some naive girl just starting out; how could she not understand his intentions?

So, she seized an opportunity to go to the restroom, left the restaurant, and fled home.

She had thought that would be the end of it. To her horror, he actually sent people to chase her down and even try to abduct her.

Zhou Yufei was genuinely terrified.

Finally, she looked at Chen Yang and said, "I was so lucky I ran into you. Otherwise…"

As she spoke, she lowered her head, her body trembling slightly. She didn't dare to imagine the consequences, considering how brutal those men had been.

Chen Yang patted her shoulder and comforted her. "It's all right now."

"By the way, you should stay here tonight. You can go back after your door is fixed."

Warmth flooded Zhou Yufei's heart, and a mist veiled her beautiful, shimmering eyes. "Chen Yang, thank you."

"You don't have to thank me."

After finishing her tea, Zhou Yufei looked up at the man before her. "Chen Yang, what brings you to Qiyun Road?"

"It's because of my wife…"

Chen Yang briefly explained the situation with Qin Qiu, adding, "I probably won't be staying long."

"Oh."

The nervousness and anticipation Zhou Yufei had just been feeling were instantly replaced by disappointment, and she slowly lowered her head.

She had thought that Chen Yang had come looking for her.

Zhou Yufei, oh Zhou Yufei, why are you getting ahead of yourself? she silently chided herself. But soon, a sweet feeling bloomed in her heart again.

The last time they parted in Lingjin City, she thought it was for good. She never expected to see him again today.

Just this was enough to make Zhou Yufei feel content.

After some more idle chat, Zhou Yufei went to freshen up.

Yang Hu approached and handed over a report. "Boss, the one hundred thousand Martial Guards from Hanyun Valley have entered the Qiyun Road territory. They will arrive in Qiyun Road tomorrow morning."

"Have them stand by on the Lingjin River for now," Chen Yang ordered, casually flipping through the report.

"Yes, Boss!"

Yang Hu turned and left. He needed to go to the Qiyun Road District Office and notify the local authorities. Otherwise, their arrival would undoubtedly cause chaos.

Chen Yang scrolled through his phone for a while. The local Qiyun Road news was almost entirely focused on Old King Qin Lie's upcoming eightieth birthday, which was the day after tomorrow.

Two details in particular caught his interest.

Aside from the major local families and those from neighboring capitals, the Martial Association and the royal Chen Clan from Cangyun City had also sent representatives to offer their congratulations.

The online discussions were most heated about this royal Chen Clan.

No one had expected that Old King Qin would have such an incredibly close relationship with the Chen Clan's royalty.

If the bond between them was truly that extraordinary, then it was only a matter of time before the Qin Family expanded beyond Qiyun Road.

He put away his phone, a faint smile playing on his lips and a profound look in his eyes. Is the Chen Clan's royal family really just here for a birthday celebration?

Given the issue of the Ancestral Sword, Chen Yang naturally read more into the situation.

"What are you thinking about?"

A fragrant scent suddenly wafted over. Zhou Yufei, her hair still damp and wearing only a white shirt, walked up to Chen Yang with a cup of hot tea.

Chen Yang was taken aback.

"Which room are we sleeping in tonight?"

"This house has five rooms, Fairy," Chen Yang replied. "You can pick any one you like. Actually, you can just sleep in whichever room you found that shirt in."

"This isn't your shirt?"

Chen Yang shook his head. To be precise, Zhao Dejiang had prepared it for him, but he just hadn't had a chance to wear it yet.

Zhou Yufei stomped her foot playfully and headed upstairs.

「The next day.」

Since her company was still in its startup phase, Zhou Yufei had to handle many things personally and left for work early.

Chen Yang had just finished breakfast and was reading a copy of the Qiyun Road Daily when Yang Hu approached. "Boss, Di An called to ask if they should send a car to pick you up."

"No need. We'll get there on our own."

"Understood!"

After finishing a section of the paper, Chen Yang set it down, glanced toward the Lingjin River, and left the villa.

「At the same time.」

On the Lingjin River in Qiyun Road, a fleet of enormous steel warships, arranged in two columns, stretched as far as the eye could see. The river's water level had risen significantly, as if a flood was coming.

「Within half an hour.」

The pitch-black warships spanned several kilometers across the river's surface, advancing like two colossal dragons side by side.

There were no fluttering war flags, no rumbling war drums, not even a single person to be seen. They moved forward in slow silence, yet exuded an invisible, overwhelming momentum—an aura like a tiger ready to devour a thousand miles.

Suddenly, the banks of the Lingjin River were crowded with people. While marveling at the sight, they all raised their phones to record the scene.

When had an ordinary person ever witnessed such a grand and majestic spectacle?

The silent procession somehow evoked a feeling of heart-pounding excitement and solemn awe.

What in the world was going on?

「Shortly after.」

The Qiyun Road District Office issued a public announcement, stating it was a routine military exercise and urging the public not to gather or panic.

Many people immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Still, the sight was truly terrifying!

The warships stretched on endlessly, packed densely across the entire Lingjin River. A conservative estimate put the number of vessels at over five hundred, carrying perhaps as many as 100,000 troops.

One hundred thousand Martial Guards. What a concept.

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