Gu Zhi immediately rushed to the Xu family to inquire about the situation.
Xu Wanli came out to meet Gu Zhi, and Gu Zhi was somewhat surprised that it wasn't Xu Pengcheng who met him.
"Patriarch Xu"
Gu Zhi respectfully addressed Xu Wanli.
By seniority, Xu Wanli was one generation older than him, so Gu Zhi still held him in high regard.
"Director Gu, what brings you to the Xu family?"
Xu Wanli was currently preoccupied with finding Su Fan and had no time for idle chatter with Gu Zhi, so he got straight to the point.
"Patriarch Xu is too kind. The Supervisory Bureau's monitoring department has discovered a large number of Xu family disciples flocking to the new city. We are unsure of the reason, so I've come to ask," Gu Zhi said with a light smile, appearing as if it were a minor matter.
Xu Wanli's expression faltered.
He hadn't concerned himself with family affairs for many years, and he hadn't expected the Supervisory Bureau to have developed to the point where they could monitor the movements of all martial artists at any time.
"It's just some personal matters regarding a trip to the new city. Director Gu need not worry."
Xu Wanli, a seasoned veteran, immediately downplayed the situation. If Gu Zhi were to give him face, he wouldn't press further.
However, the Supervisory Bureau now had the powerful Martial Alliance as a partner and no longer feared these martial arts families.
"And what is it that requires all of the Xu family disciples to go to the new city? I hope Patriarch Xu can enlighten me."
Gu Zhi pressed on aggressively, showing no intention of backing down until he got a clear answer.
Xu Wanli's expression immediately soured.
"Our Xu family is looking for someone in the new city. This person is vital to our Xu family's survival. Are you satisfied with this answer, Director Gu?" Xu Wanli said with a cold, unfriendly demeanor.
"May I ask who the Xu family is looking for? Will this cause public panic? If any accidents occur, how will the Xu family handle it? If you tell us, perhaps the Supervisory Bureau can offer some assistance," Gu Zhi said with a smile.
Gu Zhi's words were a complete dismissal of the Xu family's face.
Gu Zhi didn't wish for this, but the situation was too serious to be taken lightly. Hundreds of martial artists entering the new city to search for one person – if Xu Wanli wasn't lying, then who was this person? Would they pose a threat to the citizens of the new city? These were all unknowns, so he had to get to the bottom of it.
"Director Gu, isn't the Supervisory Bureau meddling a bit too much!" Xu Wanli's expression changed drastically, and he said sternly to Gu Zhi.
In the past, the Supervisory Bureau wouldn't dare speak to members of martial arts families like this. The most significant reason was the Supervisory Bureau's lack of strength. A single martial arts family possessed more martial power than the entire Supervisory Bureau, and the Supervisory Bureau dared not provoke them.
"The Supervisory Bureau's responsibility is to manage all supernatural matters. Whether it's people or events, they all fall within the Supervisory Bureau's jurisdiction. This is precisely our responsibility, and I am indeed not meddling too much," Gu Zhi stated directly, seeing no need to be polite with Xu Wanli. The Supervisory Bureau had to get to the bottom of this matter.
"Hmph! With just the few people in your Supervisory Bureau, you think you can manage the affairs of my Xu family?" Xu Wanli snorted disdainfully at the Supervisory Bureau.
"Patriarch Xu, you need to understand that the Supervisory Bureau is not what it used to be. We have a partnership with the Martial Alliance. We may not have enough manpower, but the Martial Alliance has plenty. Please watch your words," Gu Zhi warned with a cold expression.
"The Martial Alliance?" Xu Wanli, while indifferent to Gu Zhi's attitude, was drawn to the mention of the Martial Alliance.
"Do you know the young lady from the Dongfang family?" Xu Wanli asked, frowning.
According to the Xu family's investigation, the leader of the Martial Alliance was Dongfang Tingyin, the daughter of the Dongfang family, the woman who had almost become his granddaughter's wife.
Xu Wanli felt a pang of regret, thinking that if Dongfang Tingyin had become his granddaughter's wife, the Martial Alliance would now belong to the Xu family!
"Are you referring to Dongfang Tingyin? Yes, she's the general manager of the Martial Alliance," Gu Zhi nodded.
Most of the cooperation between the Supervisory Bureau and the Martial Alliance was decided by Dongfang Tingyin, so of course, he knew her.
"General Manager?" Xu Wanli detected something amiss in Gu Zhi's words.
"Isn't she the boss of the Martial Alliance?" Xu Wanli asked Gu Zhi, frowning.
"Of course not. The boss of the Martial Alliance is..." Halfway through, Gu Zhi remembered Su Fan's desire to keep his identity hidden and immediately stopped himself.
Xu Wanli narrowed his eyes and looked at Gu Zhi.
"I can recall everyone, but I'd like you to introduce me to Dongfang Tingyin. I have some matters I wish to discuss with her." Xu Wanli knew that Dongfang Tingyin knew Su Fan, so if he could find Dongfang Tingyin, he wouldn't have to search the new city so arduously.
Gu Zhi frowned.
He couldn't make this decision. However, having so many Xu family members causing trouble in the new city was also a significant problem.
"Alright, you recall all the Xu family members now, and I will help you get introduced to Dongfang Tingyin." After careful consideration, Gu Zhi decided to agree to the request for now. As for whether Dongfang Tingyin would meet Xu Wanli, that was another matter.
"Good, I'll have them return immediately." Xu Wanli immediately notified all Xu family members to return from the new city.
"I'll go notify someone to arrange the introduction for you." Seeing this, Gu Zhi said no more and immediately dialed Tang Xin's number.
Tang Xin, who was busy devising ways to deal with the emergency, stopped what she was doing upon receiving Gu Zhi's call.
"Director."
"Go to the Martial Alliance and find Dongfang Tingyin. Tell her that the patriarch of the Xu family wishes to meet her." Gu Zhi instructed Tang Xin.
Tang Xin was slightly bewildered but nodded.
"Understood. How is the Xu family situation? How should we deal with these people?" Tang Xin's primary concern was the Xu family members in the new city. Instability always brought unknown threats.
"I've already handled it. They will be leaving the new city soon. Just do as I say," Gu Zhi told Tang Xin.
"Yes." Tang Xin hung up the phone and immediately headed to the Martial Alliance.
Su Fan had just left the Martial Alliance when Tang Xin arrived. Seeing the shattered glass all over the ground outside the Martial Alliance and the broken window on the fourth floor, Tang Xin was puzzled. Had the Martial Alliance been attacked? Tang Xin was no stranger to the Martial Alliance being attacked; three attacks in such a short period – what other force had such treatment?
When Tang Xin met Dongfang Tingyin, a woman was by her side. It was Lin Yao. Following Su Fan's instructions, Lin Yao now stayed by Dongfang Tingyin's side, accompanying her wherever she went.
"What can I do for you? Captain Tang?" Dongfang Tingyin asked Tang Xin with a smile. They had interacted for a long time and were quite familiar friends, so Dongfang Tingyin was not pretentious.
"Our Director asked me to inform you that the patriarch of the Xu family wishes to meet you." Tang Xin got straight to the point.
"The Xu family? The patriarch?" She knew the Xu family. They were a family that had once been on good terms with the Dongfang family, but the engagement cancellation had caused considerable unpleasantness. Why would the patriarch of the Xu family want to see her?