Soon.
The phone was connected, and before the Huang family head could speak, a voice came from the other end:
"Huh? Patriarch Huang, why are you looking for me? Did something happen to the Huang family's old master?"
In his words.
The other party did not hide his surprise. After all, Patriarch Huang rarely contacted him. He might not even call once in a few months. Both were in positions of high authority and had no time for idle chat. Every call was for important matters. The last time was because the Huang family's old ancestor was injured.
"It's not about the ancestor. The ancestor's health has been recovering well recently, and his injuries have stabilized, thanks to the thousand-year-old medicinal herbs sent by your Wei Dao Division."
The Huang family head did not hide anything and said frankly:
"I'm calling Chief Chen this time to ask you something. I wonder if Chief Chen has seen the Old General Ranking that was recently uploaded to the Wei Dao Division forum."
"I have. This time, a newcomer named Zhang Wei appeared on the Old General Ranking, and the entire forum is discussing it. I'm looking at it now. Patriarch Hu was visiting me just now and even teased that Zhang Wei is amazing. Not only did he make the list, but he also pushed you, Patriarch Huang, down, escaping the eternal eighth place."
Chief Chen said, and the Huang family head clearly heard a laugh from the other end of the phone.
He recognized the voice.
It was the head of the Hu family, one of the five major families in the Northeast.
Regarding this.
The Huang family head's mouth twitched, and he cursed:
"Tell that Hu to stop laughing. What's there to laugh about? His position won't last long either. He's only seventh. Zhang Wei will surpass him soon, and then he'll be the eternal eighth."
As his voice sounded.
The Huang family head heard the laughter on the phone abruptly stop, and the other person took Chief Chen's phone and cursed:
"Yo, eternal eighth, are you getting agitated? If you're agitated, just say it. You must be agitated, right? Don't tell me you're looking for Chief Chen just for this. You think it's enough that the Old General Ranking ranked you eighth, but this time you've been suppressed by a junior, falling to ninth."
"Get lost! Do you have fox odor under your armpits, and now your mouth has fox odor too? Don't slander me."
"How am I slandering you? Whenever the Old General Ranking comes out and is updated, haven't you always complained? I heard from your juniors that you complain every time the Old General Ranking is updated, saying that your ranking isn't improved."
The two heads of the five major families in the Northeast started arguing on the phone, using fluent Northeastern curse words and dialects, and cursing each other.
Fortunately, Chief Chen mediated, and they quieted down.
Following that.
Chief Chen, fearing they would start arguing again, changed the subject:
"Patriarch Huang, what did you want to see me about? I have seen the Old General Ranking."
"Cough... Chief Chen, I'm looking for you regarding the Old General Ranking, but I'm not here to cause trouble. I just want to ask, who exactly is this Xiao Xuan? Is the firsthand information he provided about Zhang Wei true? I heard that Zhang Wei was involved in the retrieval of medicine for the ancestor."
As his words came out.
Chief Chen was stunned for a moment, then said:
"Patriarch Huang, I cannot disclose who Xiao Xuan is, but I can assure you that the firsthand information he provided about Zhang Wei is definitely correct."
After speaking.
Both the Huang family head on the other end of the phone and the Hu family head beside him were astonished.
"I say, Chief Chen, it's not necessary, is it? Does a junior's identity need you to hide it from me? I'm not a gossip. Besides, I'm not looking for trouble with Xiao Xuan, I'm just curious."
Originally, the Huang family head wanted to confirm Xiao Xuan's identity to verify the authenticity of Zhang Wei's information. However, to his surprise, he did not expect that Chief Chen would not even reveal it to him despite his status.
Let alone him.
Even Patriarch Hu was surprised. Although they were not True Dragon Guards, as heads of the five major families in the Northeast with their grandfathers overseeing them, their status as family heads was absolutely comparable to True Dragon Guards. Yet, the other party was unwilling to reveal a junior's identity to them.
Unconsciously.
Patriarch Hu also interjected:
"Chief Chen, could this Xiao Xuan be your illegitimate son? Although I know his information is kept confidential to ensure the fairness of the rankings and prevent external interference, it's not like you have to hide it from us."
Chief Chen was stunned for a moment upon hearing this and then looked at Patriarch Hu strangely:
"Patriarch Hu, what you're saying is... Don't spread it around. Xiao Xuan is not my illegitimate son, nor is he the illegitimate son of any other True Dragon Guard. The reason for the secrecy is his own request. Since he requested it, if I reveal it, he'll get angry with me, and I don't want to get angry with him."
"You are Chief Chen, the 'Taotie' of Great Xia's True Dragon Guards, and the highest commander of the Wei Dao Division. Are you afraid of a junior getting angry? Chief Chen, you're too easygoing."
It was Patriarch Hu who spoke. After Chief Chen's words, even he became curious about Xiao Xuan's identity.
Chief Chen smiled:
"Xiao Xuan is called Xiao Xuan, but he is not a junior. I can only say this much, let's stop here. I can only say that Zhang Wei's information is correct. That's all you need to know."
As he spoke.
It could be seen.
Patriarch Huang and Patriarch Hu were stunned, then seemed to realize something, their expressions changed drastically, as if they had a tacit understanding, and they said in unison:
"My goodness, could it be... 'Ghost-Fearing Yama'?"
Ghost-Fearing Yama was the nickname given by the top figures of Great Xia to a powerful individual, simply because that individual was afraid of ghosts. That individual was Great Xia's True Dragon Guard – Sheng Xuan.
As heads of the five major families in the Northeast, Patriarch Huang and Patriarch Hu were not foolish. Upon learning that Xiao Xuan was not a junior, it meant that Xiao Xuan was of the same generation as Chief Chen. After all, Chief Chen was a True Dragon Guard, and only a True Dragon Guard could be of the same generation as him.
In this case.
Thinking back to Chief Chen's previous statement about being afraid of the other party getting angry, it was a joke. Chief Chen was the current True Dragon Guard and the Grand Commander of Great Xia. Most True Dragon Guards had to show him respect, but there was one exception, and that was Sheng Xuan!
Thinking of this.
Xiao Xuan's identity was already revealed, he was definitely "Ghost-Fearing Yama" – Sheng Xuan.
On the other side.
Facing their speculation, Chief Chen smiled and did not respond:
"Don't ask, I won't say. Patriarch Huang, do you have anything else you want to ask me?"
"Yes."
The Huang family head's heart was even more certain of Chief Chen's answer, but he did not press further. Instead, he nodded and said:
"What is the relationship between this Zhang Wei and Sheng... I mean, Xiao Xuan? I heard from a junior just now that Xiao Xuan's reports on Zhang Wei are very timely, basically reporting them as soon as possible..."
Towards the end.
Patriarch Huang added the last sentence in his heart:
"Could Sheng Xuan be looking for Zhang Wei as his successor..."
Patriarch Hu also spoke:
"Could Zhang Wei be Xiao Xuan's illegitimate son?"
Chief Chen glanced at Patriarch Hu, then slowly said into the phone:
"There is no blood relation. As for why the reports are timely, I don't know. I haven't asked about it. If there's a chance in the future, I'll help you ask. Are there any other questions?"
"Yes."
The Huang family head hesitated for a moment and continued to ask:
"You said Xiao Xuan and Zhang Wei have no relationship, but it seems Xiao Xuan values Zhang Wei very much. If, I mean, if Zhang Wei participates in the retrieval of medicine and dies there, won't Xiao Xuan be angry?"
...