After dealing with Vladimir's affairs, Qin Xuan and Yuan Mengqi stayed overnight.
The next morning, Qin Xuan contacted Chen Zhongping and Ye Shuliang, whom he hadn't seen in a long time. After a brief exchange of pleasantries, he informed them that he was in the capital and wanted to meet up to reconnect. Both men immediately invited him to their homes. Qin Xuan readily agreed. These two old friends had always treated him well, not only buying his antique finds at fair prices but also gifting him a painting worth over a hundred million yuan. Such friends were not easily made.
Renting a seven-seater SUV, they set off from the Second Ring Road towards the Third Ring Road. Chen Zhongping and Ye Shuliang were already waiting outside the villa. As soon as Qin Xuan got out of the car, they rushed to greet him.
"Haha, Brother Qin, we've finally got you here!"
"Oh my, how have you gotten so handsome after just a few months?"
"Come, come, come inside with your old brothers!"
Qin Xuan was delighted to see their warm reception, but he pointed to the SUV and said with a smile, "Don't rush, brothers. We have quite a few people with us today."
Chen Zhongping chuckled, "More people are good!"
"More people mean more liveliness!"
"Just right for your sisters-in-law to cook more delicious food!"
"Hmm?"
"Why is this brother all wrapped up like this?"
"Vladimir?"
"Suffering from a strange illness?"
"Oh! I understand, I understand."
"Who else is in the car?"
"Four women?"
"Hiss..."
"Isn't that Yuan Mengqi from the Yuan family?"
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Zhongping suddenly gasped. He knew Yuan Mengqi, who hailed from one of the top eight great families in the capital, the Yuan family. However, this girl was elusive, and no one knew what she was up to. Why was she suddenly here with Qin Xuan today?
However, the "surprise" for Chen Zhongping and Ye Shuliang wasn't over yet. As more graceful figures emerged from the SUV, their eyes widened. Yuan Mengqi, Xie Yuqin, Wan Qiuling, and Fan Miwei. Each of them was a young lady from one of the eight great families of the capital, capable of shaking the entire capital with a mere stomp of their feet.
"Brother Qin, this..."
"Oh, these are the friends I told you about."
"We've been collaborating recently, so I invited them along."
"What, you all know each other?"
Ye Shuliang smacked his lips, still "shaken," and glanced at Yuan Mengqi and the others. "Well, of course, we know each other."
"After all, the capital is such a small place, and the families are all interconnected."
"It's just that these young ladies don't often interact with us."
"So we've only known of each other, without much contact."
"I see."
Qin Xuan felt a slight sense of relief. He hadn't intended to bring the other five with him on this trip. But Yuan Mengqi and the others insisted on coming. And Qin Xuan couldn't leave Vladimir alone at home. So, he had no choice but to shamelessly bring a carload of people. Now, since Chen Zhongping and the others knew Yuan Mengqi and the rest, they were all friends. At least, there wouldn't be any major issues during their interaction.
Entering the villa, they all gathered in the spacious living room for tea and conversation. Chen Zhongping and Ye Shuliang excitedly showcased the treasures they had acquired from around the world. They also "made full use" of Qin Xuan's presence, asking him to appraise their collections to see if they had overlooked anything. Qin Xuan scanned the antiques, and the situation became clear in his mind. He had to admit that the two men had excellent taste. Out of the dozens of antiques they presented, not a single one was a fake; they were all genuine ancient artifacts.
"Brothers, rest assured, both historically and in terms of actual value, they are as you described."
"That's good!" Chen Zhongping laughed heartily.
"It's just a pity we haven't encountered another rare treasure like the Yohen Tenmoku tea bowl. Otherwise, I'd be laughing in my dreams!"
"Oh! Right!"
"Recently, a friend of mine insisted on selling me a few family heirlooms."
"Since you're here, I'll call him over later."
"You can help me take a look. I'll only feel at ease after you've seen them."
"No problem!" Qin Xuan nodded and readily agreed.
Afterward, at the invitation of the two old friends, he briefly recounted his experiences in Myanmar.
"Good heavens, so you're not only good at identifying antiques but also at spotting rough stones?"
"No wonder you're getting rich!"
"But to go to Myanmar just once and encounter a civil war."
"Your luck is truly something else."
Chen Zhongping and Ye Shuliang exchanged glances, both marveling at Qin Xuan's experiences. Qin Xuan waved his hand and said helplessly, "Alas, there was nothing I could do."
"Who knew Myanmar could be so chaotic?"
"However, I'm now quite familiar with Commander Pan Lin of Hpakant."
"Not only have I opened two jade mines in Myanmar, but I've also partnered with Boss Xiao."
"It can be considered a blessing in disguise."
"Boss Xiao?"
"The 'Black Widow' who went with you?" Chen Zhongping exclaimed.
Qin Xuan nodded. "But she's not as fierce as the rumors suggest."
"The underground dealings and ruthless actions you speak of were things she had to do to survive."
"After that mysterious organization that abducted her disappeared years ago, Boss Xiao hasn't done anything harmful."
Thinking of Xiao Ya in her childhood, Qin Xuan couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. When he mentioned that damned organization, he became even more indignant. According to Xiao Ya's account, this organization had gathered countless children from all over the world. Besides forcing them to kill each other daily, they used them for constant financial gain. If that wretched organization hadn't suddenly disappeared one day over a decade ago, Xiao Ya would likely still be living in misery.
After Qin Xuan became a general, he had inquired about the organization's information from Yuan Mengqi and the others. Strangely, they had no knowledge of such an organization ever existing in Long Country. Searches for relevant information also yielded nothing. This made Qin Xuan suspicious, and he planned to ask his three masters.
"I never imagined there was such a hidden story behind it."
"We've misunderstood Miss Xiao all these years."
After hearing Qin Xuan recount Xiao Ya's childhood experiences, Chen Zhongping and Ye Shuliang found it incredible. However, Long Country over twenty years ago was indeed less peaceful than it is now. It wasn't uncommon for strange organizations to operate underground.