Elder Zhuge Nie, being benevolent, spoke with a gentle tone when mentioning Liang Minghui's eldest son, Liang Bendao, merely stating objective facts.
However, Xiao Yunlong, being exceptionally astute, had already understood everything.
In reality, what Zhuge Nie truly meant was that even if Liang Bendao's character wasn't inherently bad, he was too eager for quick success, or rather, too focused on personal gains and losses. Such a person, if they stayed in the capital for too long, would be fine under normal circumstances.
But once faced with major events, or immense temptations, it would be difficult for them to maintain their true intentions.
This was precisely what Elder Zhuge Nie was worried about!
A gust of wind stirred, instantly breaking the calm surface of the lake and creating ripples.
Gazing at the lake ahead through the window, Xiao Yunlong coldly stated, "Having suffered once, I will not suffer a second time!"
He then left the study. Elder Zhuge Nie probably disliked crowds, and after briefing Liang Minghui, he departed.
Xiao Yunlong also didn't wish to linger. He then took Liu Ruyan and Jun Bufan and left the City Defense Department.
Including Liang Minghui, all the City Defense Department officials came out to see them off. Watching the departing car, someone finally couldn't help but ask, "May I ask, Director, what exactly is Xiao Yunlong's identity?"
Liang Minghui glared at him and coldly said, "Don't ask what you shouldn't. Knowing too much will do you no good!"
With that, Liang Minghui waved his hand and turned back to the study in the backyard, eagerly taking out his phone to call his son.
That evening, Master Fo hosted a banquet. Xiao Yunlong thought it would be impolite to refuse, given Liu Ruyan's ongoing trouble with her acting career, so he attended.
Master Fo also invited Hong Shisan and Pan Wuzong, along with friends from the Suzhou underworld, to this banquet. During the feast, everyone chatted and laughed, creating a lively atmosphere. However, it was evident that both Hong Shisan and Pan Wuzong were somewhat restrained, likely due to the overwhelming presence of Xiao Yunlong.
Of course, Hong Shisan and others also knew that with their level of influence and power, although they wished to follow Xiao Yunlong, their seniority was ultimately too lacking, thus they were destined to drift further and further away from him.
The banquet ended, and it was past midnight when they returned home. Liu Ruyan was still diligently practicing the Bagua Youlong Palm. This girl was truly dedicated, almost to the point of recklessness. Whenever she had time, she would be cultivating, even at the City Defense Department.
Xiao Yunlong shook his head upon seeing this and walked in, saying, "Ruyan, stop for a moment. Let's rest a bit."
As he spoke, he turned and walked onto the balcony outside. Liu Ruyan then stopped, wiped the sweat from her face, and followed him out.
The moonlight was bright, flowing like water onto the earth, as if God had overturned a milk bottle, scattering a milky white glow across the entire sky.
"Ruyan, I can tell you seem to have something weighing on your mind. Can you tell me what it is?" Xiao Yunlong asked casually.
"Do I?" Liu Ruyan retorted.
"I can see it," Xiao Yunlong smiled and shrugged. "Actually, I want to know why you cultivate so desperately, so uncharacteristically."
Liu Ruyan fell silent, looked up at the bright moon, and after a long pause, said, "You know me. I'm an orphan. My adoptive parents adopted me from an orphanage because they couldn't have children. Although they treated me very well, I always felt very inferior since childhood."
"That's why I could only study desperately from a young age. I was more sensible than my peers and performed much better than my classmates. In fact, I'm not some naturally gifted genius. The reason my academic performance has always been at the top, and even now that I've been recommended for postgraduate study, is largely due to my hard work."
As she spoke, Liu Ruyan shrugged with a bitter smile, then continued, "In the end, it's still a lack of security. I'm actually very insecure, so I can only use good grades to cover up this insecurity. When I was in my fourth year of university, my parents wanted to arrange for me to join the group, but I was afraid people would say I, an adopted daughter, was coveting the Liu family's assets, so I refused without hesitation."
"Then what are you working so hard to cultivate for now?" Xiao Yunlong asked.
"I'm cultivating hard now, of course, also because of my inner insecurity. However, the most important reason is that you, Brother Xiao, put too much pressure on me. Although I still don't know your true identity, I know you are definitely not an ordinary person. You are like a mountain in front of me, pressing down on me so much that I can barely breathe!"
Liu Ruyan looked up at Xiao Yunlong as she spoke, "I cultivate day and night like this, just hoping that one day, I can truly stand shoulder to shoulder with you!"
Xiao Yunlong was filled with emotion. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, sighing heartily, "Perhaps in your eyes, I am a mountain, and this brings you pressure. But this mountain will also shield you from the wind and rain!"
"I know, that's why I'm so grateful," Liu Ruyan said softly.
The night passed without incident. The next three days were very peaceful. During these three days, Liu Ruyan spent half the day cultivating and the other half filming.
And Xiao Yunlong also spent most of his time cultivating during these three days. Although he said Liu Ruyan was cultivating desperately and creating internal competition, he was no different.
In fact, Xiao Yunlong cultivated even more diligently and assiduously than Liu Ruyan. Fortunately, diligent cultivation also yielded significant results. In three days, Xiao Yunlong had opened forty-four divine kingdoms within his body, and the internal energy in his dantian was incredibly surging and vast, further enhancing his cultivation and strength.
However, at this stage of cultivation, Xiao Yunlong clearly felt that the speed of cultivation seemed to be gradually slowing down. Beyond the forty divine kingdoms, the time required to open each subsequent one was increasing, and the difficulty had become greater.
Judging by this, the higher he cultivated, the greater the difficulty would likely be. As for achieving the great perfection of cultivating three thousand divine kingdoms, it was still unknown how long that would take.
On the morning of the third day, Xiao Yunlong and Liu Ruyan were having breakfast when Liu Feiyan surprisingly came over.
Ever since the key figures of the Shang family were eliminated by Xiao Yunlong, Liu Jianmin's family had become much more subdued. Liu Feiyan herself didn't have a good impression of Shang Dong, the eldest young master of the Shang family, who was now crippled. Therefore, the family of four did not stay at the Liu residence but returned to the Liu family.
From the looks of it, Liu Feiyan hadn't even consummated her marriage with Shang Dong, as she had run back on their wedding night.
Xiao Yunlong watched this with a cold gaze, too lazy to say more. After all, it was their private affair. However, from this, it could be seen that Liu Feiyan was too harsh and selfish.
"Oh, you're having breakfast," Liu Feiyan walked in, making small talk, holding a gold-embossed invitation.
Liu Ruyan asked, "Cousin, you came so early. Is there something?"
Liu Feiyan nodded, "Yes, that's right. Suzhou's number one young master is returning from the capital, so the young scions of Suzhou's major wealthy families are planning a welcome party, which is essentially a gathering for socialites and young masters."
Liu Ruyan asked, "Suzhou's number one young master? Who is it?"
"It's that young master from the Liang family. You didn't know? But that's understandable. Cousin, you've always been indifferent to such matters. That young master from the Liang family is not only handsome but also capable. At such a young age, he's already making waves in the capital. Moreover, the Liang family is Suzhou's foremost family, so this young master naturally attracts a lot of attention. Cousin, you don't know how many socialites and beautiful young ladies in Suzhou are hoping to catch the eye of this number one young master. This welcome party today was proposed by them."
Liu Feiyan giggled as she spoke, looking as if this number one young master of Suzhou had truly taken a liking to her.
Liu Ruyan couldn't help but say, "Then, Cousin, you're also going to try your luck?"
"Of course. If I'm favored, then I'll truly be marrying into a wealthy family, and perhaps I'll be able to go to the capital in the future!" Liu Feiyan didn't hide her desires and ambitions at all.
"But Cousin, aren't you already with the Shang family..."
Before Liu Ruyan could finish, Liu Feiyan interrupted her sternly, "Don't mention the Shang family to me. Shang Dong is completely crippled now, and the Shang family is in this state. How could I possibly choose to join the Shang family? Everyone in Suzhou knows that I haven't consummated my marriage with Shang Dong."
Saying this, Liu Feiyan grinned and said self-righteously, "As long as I'm favored by the Liang family's young master, I'll definitely sever ties with the Shang family without hesitation. Actually, Shang Dong and I haven't even registered our marriage yet, so it doesn't count for much, right?"
Liu Ruyan was so shocked by her words that her jaw almost dropped.
Xiao Yunlong continued to eat his porridge without looking up, completely indifferent. He was only thinking that since the Shang family's wedding was known throughout the city, even if they hadn't registered their marriage, would Suzhou's number one young master fancy her?
Liu Ruyan thought for a moment and said, "Cousin has high aspirations. I wish you success today. By the way, did you come here this morning just to tell us this?"
"Of course not!"
Liu Feiyan smiled and handed over the gold-embossed invitation, "Ruyan, you've graduated from university now and are acting. You're also a well-known socialite in Suzhou. This invitation was entrusted to me to give to you. They invite you to attend the banquet tonight."
Liu Ruyan didn't even look at it and said, "I don't have time, and Cousin, you know I've never been interested in such banquets."
Liu Feiyan smiled, "I know that, and you already have Mr. Xiao now, so you're naturally no longer interested in such gatherings. But think about it, Mr. Xiao is the son-in-law of our Liu family. He can't stay at home all day. He needs to go out and socialize, get to know the young people of our generation in Suzhou, right?"
This made sense. Liu Ruyan turned to look at Xiao Yunlong with a questioning expression.
Xiao Yunlong finally finished his porridge and nodded, "Since that's the case, let's go. It doesn't cost anything anyway, and it can be considered a diversion."
"That's right. Then I'll leave this invitation here. Seven o'clock tonight, don't be late," Liu Feiyan said and turned to leave.
Xiao Yunlong merely glanced at the gold-embossed invitation on the table, his expression unchanged. In fact, the reason he agreed to go was that he wanted to take the opportunity to meet this number one young master, who was naturally Liang Minghui's eldest son, Liang Bendao.
Liu Feiyan walked out of the main villa and onto the lakeside path, immediately taking out her phone to make a call.
"Hello Shang Yuanyuan, the matter is handled. That dog, Xiao, he agreed to go," Liu Feiyan said in a low voice.
"Thank you very much. This time, I will definitely use Brother Bendao's hand to humiliate that dog, Xiao, and preferably eliminate this Xiao fellow to avenge my Shang family!" Shang Yuanyuan said through gritted teeth on the other end of the phone.
Liu Feiyan said, "We need to be clear. I won't interfere with your business with that Xiao fellow. Now that I've helped you get this done, you must introduce me to Brother Bendao at the banquet."
"Don't worry, I will definitely introduce you. Alright, I'll hang up now. We still need to plan and strategize among ourselves."
Shang Yuanyuan smiled, but the moment she hung up the phone, her expression instantly turned grim, and she gritted her teeth, "Liu Feiyan, you shameless bitch who abandons people after starting things! You still want to snatch Brother Bendao from me? Wait until I use Brother Bendao to deal with that dog Xiao, and then I'll kill you!"