Xing Yuan looked at the angry expression of the person behind her and instantly realized something. Could it be trouble caused by her cheap brother again!
Before even meeting the person, so much trouble had already been caused. Xing Yuan began to doubt what kind of person he truly was.
"Fei, are you unwilling to talk properly? Or are you planning to fight before we even discuss business?" In Qi Wen's eyes, this was deliberate provocation, and he absolutely would not tolerate such behavior.
Xing Yuan sighed inwardly but still didn't want to create trouble for herself at this moment.
She patiently explained, "Lord Fei, you must have mistaken me for someone else. This is my first time leaving Xing Yu City, so how could I have had the time to offend you?"
"Really?" Fei Chengwang's eyes were full of suspicion. Although he hadn't seen the young man who had tricked him years ago for a few years, it was the first time he had been schemed against on his own territory. In his dreams, that young man's face would appear, so he shouldn't have mistaken him.
The person in front of him clearly resembled the one who had tricked him.
Xing Yuan calmly said, "My name is Xing Chen. Lord Fei must have heard of me!"
Fei Chengwang nodded. He had naturally done some homework before coming here.
"Then you should know even better that I have always stayed in Xing Yu City, and I have neither the time nor the need to come to your territory to offend you!"
Fei Chengwang pondered and found no fault with her statement. As the sole heir of the Xing family, if he were to leave Xing Yu City, it would be impossible for it to go unnoticed. Moreover, in terms of influence and wealth, he was no match for the Xing family.
It was even less likely that the Xing family would infiltrate his territory just for a small amount of people and money.
Thinking of this, Fei Chengwang instantly felt guilty about his earlier aggressive behavior. He hadn't recognized Xing Yuan's identity, and to him, it was just a life, so what if he had made a mistake? He had the means to pay the price.
Therefore, when he realized Xing Yuan was someone he couldn't afford to offend, he quickly found an excuse. So, Xing Yuan must be a magnanimous person who doesn't hold grudges, right?
Xing Yuan had already secretly added him to her blacklist. What, magnanimous? Was he talking about her? She was not someone who would repay kindness with malice. Moreover, this person's influence wasn't that great, making him a suitable target to make an example of!
Fei Chengwang, accustomed to pride and arrogance, had never been one to back down. At this moment, he simply nodded, considering it an apology, and then walked directly to his seat by the side.
Xing Yuan's expression remained as calm as ever. She never bothered herself with irrelevant people or those with short lifespans; they weren't worth her wasted emotions.
Qi Wen, however, looked somewhat displeased. He was too arrogant; it seemed he needed to be taught a lesson on how to behave.
Yu Qingye, impeccably dressed, walked over and led everyone to the room on the top floor.
The room was spacious and bright, with over a dozen chairs arranged neatly in order, their height and spacing appearing as if precisely measured. Everyone found their seats in turn.
Yu Qingye held a dossier and confirmed, "Shall we begin?"
"Hurry up and start! Dawdling like a woman," someone said impatiently.
Yu Qingye smiled faintly, his expression remaining gentle, showing no signs of anger. His well-defined fingers gently unsealed the dossier and passed it to everyone.
"This is the division of various factions over the years, which changes annually. You can all review it and then discuss how we should divide it this year."
"You can't go in!" While a few people inside were looking at the dossier, contemplating their gains and losses, and what conditions they should propose, a commotion suddenly erupted outside.
Yu Qingye frowned slightly. Who dared to intrude here today with such recklessness?
Soon, Yu Qingye regained his gentle demeanor and said calmly, "Please continue reviewing, everyone. I will handle this."
The others nodded indifferently. It was just someone seeking death, and it had little to do with them.
Yu Qingye walked out of the room and was met with a somewhat chaotic scene. His men were trying to drive away a disruptive youth, while his own daughter was blocking them from doing so.
Upon seeing him, Su Xingchen's eyes lit up, and he shouted, "Uncle Yu!"
Yu Qingye frowned, finally recalling some memories of Su Xingchen, but at the same time, his face darkened further.
It was one thing for a petty thug to be ignorant of the consequences, but why was his own daughter getting involved in this nonsense with him? Love truly makes people blind.
"What are you doing here?" Yu Qingye's gaze was icy, as if he wanted to freeze to death the fellow who was trying to bewitch his daughter.
Su Xingchen pleaded with a face full of earnestness, "Uncle Yu, I have legitimate business this time. Please let me in!"
Having come this far, he had to bravely step forward and fight for a glimmer of hope for those people.
"What legitimate business could you possibly have? Tell me! If you can convince me, I'll let you in. If you can't even convince me, what's the point of going in to court death?" Although Yu Qingye looked down on Su Xingchen in many ways, his daughter liked him, so he didn't want him to go to his death.
"This..." Su Xingchen hesitated for a moment, then decided to tell the truth.
"I want to fight for Hai Cheng. Uncle Yu, you should know better than I do that if Hai Cheng is divided among those who are constantly at war, the people of Hai Cheng will never have a peaceful life again."
"Although I haven't been in Hai Cheng for long, I truly consider it my home. Protecting one's home is something everyone should do. We have so many people in Hai Cheng, and as long as we unite, Hai Cheng can even become an independent warlord force."
"I've bought some arms and gathered all the reputable people in Hai Cheng to sign a protest letter. We now have leverage for negotiation."
Yu Qingye looked at Su Xingchen's earnest expression and felt a touch of emotion, but he still struck him down without mercy, "Do you know why so many people want Hai Cheng?"
"Because it's rich in resources, coastal, and has a developed trade," Su Xingchen replied after some thought, believing it to be the correct answer.
Yu Qingye shook his head. "These are partly true, but not the most important reason. The most important reason is that it's convenient for waging war."
"What each of them desires is not just Hai Cheng; they desire the position of ruler of the world. Regardless of the final outcome of Hai Cheng's ownership, it will become the reason for their war."
"Therefore, while I admire all that you've done for Hai Cheng, it's futile. Don't waste your efforts. Go back!"