Zhao Ruitong stood frozen, fear in his eyes betraying his feigned composure.
He paid no attention to what Zhao Zhen was saying on the phone.
After a long while, Xu Duoduo nudged Zhao Ruitong and asked, "Who is it?"
Zhao Ruitong finally raised his reddened eyes, pointed at the sky with his finger, and said with difficulty, "Don't... don't tell anyone."
Anyone with a brain could understand this gesture.
The four sat together in silence, someone produced a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and took a deep drag.
"Young Master Zhao, we're in this state today and probably can't go back for a few days. Let's find a place to stay and let our facial injuries heal," Chu Dongliang said, gently touching his burning cheek.
"I happen to know a good place," Wu Hong interjected.
The three turned questioning eyes to him. Wu Hong hesitated for a moment and then said, "A private club opened by a friend of mine. The girls there are very young and very… supple."
"Then let's go! We'll stay there for a few days and let off some steam," Xu Duoduo urged.
After discussing it, they headed directly to where Wu Hong had mentioned, ready to vent all their unhappiness from the day.
It was unfortunate for the ones who would bear the brunt of their venting, having to endure it tearfully.
Xia Lin and the others were having porridge at a Chaoshan congee shop. Eating less spicy grilled food at night and having some warm porridge aided sleep.
"Which company did you sign with before?" Xia Lin asked Tan Qianqian and the other two.
"Zao Ji Entertainment. The boss is also in the industry," Tan Qianqian quickly stated her company's name when Xia Lin asked.
"Who's the boss? Let me see if I know him," National Little Wang added, pressing for details.
"Du Jiachun," Tan Qianqian replied.
"I have some impression, but not well acquainted," National Little Wang said casually.
Although he was the disciplinary committee member of the entertainment industry, he couldn't possibly know everyone.
"It doesn't matter if you know him or not. You should call him. Who in the entire entertainment industry doesn't obey your command, Young Master Wang? If anyone doesn't listen, just spray them on Weibo," Qin Dou said, looking at the slightly shaking National Little Wang.
Everyone chuckled. National Little Wang did have that habit.
If they disagreed, he would spray them. He even sprayed his own father and his family's hotels if he wasn't satisfied with his stay.
He was a typical man of temperament. If something was done incorrectly, he dared to speak up, regardless of who it was.
Several years ago, Wang, one of the Four Young Masters of Yanjing, was even called out by National Little Wang as a liar who pretended to be cool despite having no money.
As expected, that person got into trouble a few years later. His wife was also in the entertainment industry, and it ended in divorce.
National Little Wang wasn't brainless. It was just that someone of his status saw more and had a more comprehensive perspective than ordinary people.
Things that ordinary people couldn't see, he could. Therefore, some things that seemed like he was attacking people were actually him addressing the matter itself.
"Qin Dou, I find you're getting more and more cheeky lately. Haven't I hit you in a while, and you're starting to get mischievous?" National Little Wang questioned Qin Dou.
Before, Qin Dou would always address him as "Big Brother." Now, not only did he not call him that, but he also kept contradicting him.
"No, no, I was just saying things to make everyone happy," Qin Dou quickly waved his hands.
The group felt like they were performing a crosstalk, making everyone very happy.
After drinking porridge at the Chaoshan congee shop, the group returned to the hotel early to rest.
The next day, as soon as they woke up and had breakfast, Xu Jiaying had already rushed over.
He hadn't slept all night and had his driver take him to Yucheng overnight.
"Old Xu, what are you doing here?" Old Wang asked, seeing Xu Jiaying suddenly appear.
"Hehe... I spoke with Lin'er yesterday and told her I was coming over to treat her to a meal," Xu Jiaying chuckled.
Old Wang gave him a strange look. When did he get in touch with Lin'er?
"When did that happen?" Old Wang asked.
Xu Jiaying just smiled and didn't answer Old Wang's question.
After all, he was embarrassed to talk about what happened yesterday.
At noon, Xu Jiaying invited everyone to the largest seafood restaurant in Yucheng. Penguin Ma had a look of "Screw you" on his face the whole time.
Wasn't this his territory?
And someone was trying to steal his thunder?
"Little Ma, cheer up. It doesn't matter who treats you to a meal, you still get to eat," Old Wang comforted Penguin Ma, who had a grim expression.
Penguin Ma had gone to great lengths to invite everyone over so he could impress them, only to have Xu Jiaying intercept them.
What's more, with Xia Lin's approval, Penguin Ma had no chance to compete.
"Why hasn't this bastard gone bankrupt yet?" Penguin Ma regretted helping out.
"What does Hengda's bankruptcy have to do with Xu Jiaying?" Old Wang asked.
"True," Penguin Ma nodded, looking helpless.
Yes, what did Hengda's bankruptcy have to do with Xu Jiaying? At worst, his company would be liquidated. He had more money than he could spend in a lifetime, so why worry about such things?
After all, it was the company that went bankrupt, not Xu Jiaying himself.
While they were eating seafood outside, Xia Feng was preaching to Long Aotian, Du Lapi De, Hughes Wang, Paul the Pope, and Dark Spirit.
Last time, he had promised Paul the Pope and the others a fortuitous encounter.
Furthermore, Xia Feng intended to take Paul the Pope and these people directly to the immortal realm, to avoid them becoming a problem for Xia Country after being taught.
If he brought these people up with him, they would also be wholeheartedly loyal to him.
Xia Feng wasn't foolish enough to cultivate cultivators for foreign countries and then let them roam free on Earth.
Even if Xia Feng didn't mention it, they would have found a way to follow him to the immortal realm.
Before going to the immortal realm, their fantasies were beautiful. Only after arriving would they realize what it meant to be a subordinate.
After all, the lifelong pursuit of a cultivator was to forge the supreme Great Dao.
"Today, I will tell you what the Great Dao is. As I've told you before, in the long river of cultivation, it's like a painting. Right now, Paul, your three's strength is still in the river of the painting, like a big fish in the river."
As Xia Feng finished speaking, he waved his hand. A painting appeared before everyone. The painting was lifelike, with fish swimming everywhere – big fish, small fish, and tiny shrimp, everywhere.
The painting seemed alive, and the fish happily swam in the river within the painting.
It was so magical.
Paul the Pope, Hughes Wang, and Dark Spirit seemed to have found their own fish.
The eyes of the three were drawn to the painting, and they stared at it intently without looking away.
Long Aotian looked at the three curiously and did not interrupt them.
"Master," Du Lapi De softly called out, confused.
"The three of them have entered my painting to experience its mysteries," Xia Feng said calmly.
They entered the painting?
They could really enter the painting? Then why couldn't he?
Xia Feng seemed to understand their thoughts and said, "They are still in the river, while you have already landed ashore."
Xia Feng waved his hand again.