It was unexpected for Chen Fan to receive a call from Wu Zhaoyang in the evening.
"You already agreed to go to Li Qian's birthday banquet tomorrow?" Wu Zhaoyang asked directly.
"Yes," Chen Fan replied.
"Then I'll be there tomorrow!" Wu Zhaoyang said. "It doesn't matter if Li Qian gets face or not; I'm going for you."
"Do I have that much influence?" Chen Fan chuckled.
"Slaying a Martial Dao Grandmaster and making a name in the martial arts world. As the War God of the army, how could you, Chen Tianjiao, not have influence?" Wu Zhaoyang said. "I'm also very curious how long you can keep your identity hidden from them!"
"Who knows?" Chen Fan smiled. "Perhaps someone is acting."
"Acting, haha, well said. Perhaps everyone is acting." Wu Zhaoyang laughed heartily and hung up the phone.
Chen Fan didn't dwell on the matter and drove away from the company.
Upon returning home, he received several more calls, gathering various pieces of information.
Then he called Xiang Jingshu to understand the situation on their end.
Xiang Jingshu and her team were still in Yuzhou and had not returned, as they were busy interrogating the people captured at Mount Eagle.
The interrogations had yielded results. Everyone present at Mount Eagle was connected to the Brotherhood. However, many refused to cooperate and remained silent. Those who did confess provided limited information, only implicating minor figures. Even so, it was enough for Xiang Jingshu and her team to keep busy, contacting local police departments for arrests and requesting cooperation. This was considered a major case, but it still did not reach the core of the Brotherhood.
In the evening, Chen Fan cultivated as usual. Time quickly passed to 1 AM. Chen Fan, who was still awake, suddenly felt something and opened his eyes sharply. He put away the Dragon Pattern Compass, walked out of his bedroom, and opened the door.
A figure stood in the courtyard, their face obscured. Seeing Chen Fan emerge, the figure flashed and leaped over the wall, leaving. Chen Fan's gaze turned icy as he flashed forward to pursue. The figure moved with ease, appearing unhurried but actually moving at a remarkable speed, soon reaching the main street. Chen Fan followed like a phantom.
Under the streetlights by the road, the figure stopped. It was a middle-aged man around forty, of medium build, with a refined appearance. He was not wearing traditional attire but a beige trench coat. Seeing Chen Fan approaching with a cold expression, the man seemed unsurprised and said, "Chen Tianjiao, did Gao Hongchang of the Liuhe Sect die by your hand?"
Chen Fan had no intention of answering. He lunged forward and struck out with his palm. The qi condensed, and as his palm struck, his momentum was like a rainbow, blasting through the air. The man frowned and threw a punch. With a rumble, the air exploded as fist and palm collided. Like a surging tide, inner energy surged forth. Chen Fan's body halted momentarily. The man, however, stumbled back several steps, his expression aghast. Chen Fan's pupils contracted, and he said in a chilling tone, "Martial Dao Grandmaster?"
"Song Wuji of Jīnnán!" the man declared.
"Trespassing into a private residence late at night. Is this what a Martial Dao Grandmaster does?" Chen Fan asked coldly.
"I came to inquire about Gao Hongchang's death." Song Wuji paused and said, "It was indeed impolite. I hope you will forgive me."
Before Chen Fan could respond, he continued, "Song has some ties to the Liuhe Sect and was acquainted with Gao Hongchang. We were friends."
Chen Fan snorted, "So what? Are you here for revenge?"
Song Wuji replied, "If it was a fair fight and one was outmatched, then there is no talk of revenge. If underhanded tactics were used, leading to my old friend's dying in hatred, Song cannot stand idly by!"
Chen Fan looked at Song Wuji and said indifferently, "You should first investigate how you found my residence."
Song Wuji frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Gao Hongchang did not die by my hand," Chen Fan stated indifferently. "He was killed by explosives and then blasted to smithereens by artillery. His remains were not even left. Moreover, several of his disciples were present and also died without intact bodies!"
Song Wuji's expression changed upon hearing this.
"The person who planted the explosives and fired the artillery has been killed by me," Chen Fan said calmly. "If you truly wish to investigate this matter, you should take a trip to Yuzhou, shouldn't you?"
Song Wuji was silent for a moment and then asked, "What was the origin of the person you killed?"
"The Brotherhood," Chen Fan replied. "It's an organization. Don't ask me for details; I don't know them either. I'm investigating."
"Since you could find my residence, someone must have guided you. You should first ask that person what their relationship is with the Brotherhood!" Song Wuji's expression shifted again.
Chen Fan, however, was too lazy to say more and turned to leave. He felt a bit displeased, but Song Wuji was a Martial Dao Grandmaster, and he had no intention of getting entangled. To attack Song Wuji for trespassing into his courtyard would only play into the Brotherhood's hands. Song Wuji's lack of aggression earlier suggested he was indeed telling the truth about investigating Gao Hongchang's death. However, even a Martial Dao Grandmaster like him was being manipulated by the Brotherhood. Besides his formidable martial prowess, Song Wuji, as a member of the Heroic Alliance, had a questionable stance.
Watching Chen Fan turn back into the courtyard, Song Wuji's expression flickered several times. He said nothing further and turned to leave. It remained to be seen if he would truly pursue Gao Hongchang's death and cause trouble for the Brotherhood. The relationships involved were quite complex. For instance, Song Wuji had deep connections with the Heroic Alliance, but he certainly didn't know about the Brotherhood's existence!
Upon returning to the courtyard, Chen Fan listened outside Chen Xing'er's room. He was relieved to find she hadn't been awakened and returned to his bedroom to rest. The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Chen Fan did not go out, staying home to continue contemplating the Dragon Pattern Compass. Seeing Chen Fan remaining at home, Chen Xing'er was surprised and asked him what was going on. After he explained about the banquet at noon, Chen Xing'er insisted on going too, but Chen Fan refused. After all, as the branch manager of Longteng, it wouldn't be appropriate for him to bring Chen Xing'er along. Chen Xing'er, unwilling to give up, her eyes darting around, clearly plotting something.
At ten o'clock, Chen Fan received a call from Du Fumin, who said they should set off now and were waiting for him outside the Nine-Five Club. Chen Fan casually found an antique as a gift and drove out. Forty minutes later, Chen Fan arrived outside the Nine-Five Club. Chen Fan had already had people investigate this club; it was considered one of the most exclusive private clubs in the capital. Compared to this place, the Cloud Palace Club was significantly inferior in class and taste. As he was guided by staff to park his car in the parking lot, two figures approached. It was Du Fumin and Yu Zhen.
Chen Fan smiled, "Fumin, Azhen, sorry to have kept you waiting!"
"Hey, we just got here not long ago," Yu Zhen said with a smile. "You haven't been in Kyoto long and don't know many people, so of course, we have to wait for you to come together."
"Let's go, we can talk as we walk," Du Fumin said with a smile. "Li Qian has spent a lot today and arranged many good programs. Azhu, you must have fun when you get here."
"Oh really? We're not playing 'Mafia' today, are we?" Chen Fan said meaningfully. Du Fumin pulled Chen Fan into the elevator and chuckled, "That's a little game we play among ourselves. Of course, we won't play that today. Come on, you'll know when we get upstairs!"