Chen Lao had a smug look on his face as he sat waiting for Wu Chunlei the next day. When Wu Chunlei finally arrived, his impatience was palpable, and he urged, "Just say it; don’t keep me waiting. I’ve been waiting for a week."

With a knowing smile, Chen Lao delivered the long-awaited news, "I’ve seen his face. He is really here."

Wu Chunlei leaned in with anticipation, "His address?"

Chen Lao’s expression turned somber, and he confessed, "I couldn’t reach that far."

Wu Chunlei’s frustration flared as he demanded, "So how do we find him if we don’t have his address?"

Chen Lao, ever the enigmatic figure, counseled patience, saying, "Patience, my friend. You’ve already waited for many lifetimes; waiting a bit longer won’t hurt."

Annoyed by the response, Wu Chunlei decided to take matters into his own hands, asserting, "I’m going back. You stay here. Call me when you find his address; I need something to work with."

Chen Lao agreed, "That’s not a problem. I’ll search for him and contact you."

Wu Chunlei nodded in approval, stating, "Good. I’ll be leaving tonight."

Chen Lao then revealed his own need for privacy, suggesting, "I think I need my own private space."

Wu Chunlei, aware of the importance of their collaboration, assured Chen Lao, "Fine, I’ll have my men arrange a decent house for you. Don’t disappoint me, Master Chen. You know the consequences."

Chen Lao made a solemn vow, "I wouldn’t dare. Our goals are not the same, so how could I betray you?"

Wu Chunlei scrutinized Chen Lao with a hint of suspicion before they both settled into a contemplative silence, their thoughts consumed by the arduous path that lay ahead.

In a newly inhabited villa within the Pinnacle Estates, an old man sat in the living room, contemplating the changes he sensed in the air. The scent of new furniture filled the house, and despite its unassuming interior, the place held a profound significance that surpassed its appearance.

The old man confided to his butler, "I keep feeling his presence, but the presence of evil is also growing stronger."

The butler, a loyal and trusted aide, inquired, "So, what should we do, sir?"

The old man’s eyes gleamed with a deep understanding as he replied, "Nothing for now. I believe my ancestors will guide him to me somehow." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

The butler nodded in acknowledgment, and the old man continued, "Set up a proper training ground at the back. Ensure it’s spacious and ready for when I meet him."

With a dutiful response, the butler affirmed, "Yes, sir."

The butler departed, determined to carry out his master’s instructions. Left alone, the old man idly played with the beads on his wrist, lost in thought as he whispered to himself, "Bring him to me. Time is running out."

With a sigh, the old man rose from his seat and made his way to the kitchen, his surroundings perfect for meditation and solitude. Though the villa was not secluded in the traditional sense, it provided the tranquility and privacy he needed for his introspective sessions, setting the stage for what would come next.

He checked his bag and noticed that he only had a few pills left in his medication and decided he would go to the pharmacy later and get his medication. The old man sighed and took one pill and went to sit down, closing his eyes and lost in his thoughts.

Li Chen had woken up early and begun his training session with Xu Zhonghao. Concerned for Zhang Mei’s safety after her recent kidnapping, Li Chen had suggested that she join them in their training, ensuring she could protect herself if faced with such a situation again.

During the training, Xu Zhonghao’s demeanor was odd, as if something troubled him. He kept stealing glances at Li Chen, his expression betraying an unspoken worry. As the hours passed, Zhang Mei inquired, "Why is Tang Ziyi not here today?"

Xu Zhonghao, with a furrowed brow, responded, "I drove past his house, and it was closed, as if there was no one there."

Li Chen’s heart raced with concern upon hearing this, and he quickly reached for his phone, dialing Tang Ziyi’s number. Tang Ziyi answered, but his hesitant speech immediately raised red flags. Li Chen pressed him, "What’s going on?"

Tang Ziyi stuttered, sensing the urgency in Li Chen’s voice, and finally admitted, "Brother Chen, I’m at the hospital. My brother was in excruciating pain last night."

Li Chen’s worry deepened as he demanded, "Which hospital?"

Tang Ziyi hesitated, but under Li Chen’s unwavering gaze, he reluctantly revealed, "District Public Hospital."

Li Chen acknowledged the location and hung up, then turned to explain the situation to Zhang Mei. In a hurry, he searched for his car keys, determined to visit Tang Ziyi and his brother. Both Xu Zhonghao and Zhang Mei insisted on accompanying him, and they all rushed to the hospital, the atmosphere filled with concern and anticipation as they drove to their destination.

Arriving at the hospital, Li Chen, Xu Zhonghao, and Zhang Mei located Tang Ziyi, who was seated beside his mother. It was their first meeting with Madame Tang, and Tang Ziyi began the introductions.

Li Chen respectfully lowered his head and greeted Madame Tang, saying, "Nice to meet you, Madame Tang. I am Li Chen."

Madame Tang rose with a warm smile and replied, "Nice to finally meet you. I have heard great things about you, and thank you for all that you’ve done for Ziyi."

Li Chen humbly responded, "He’s a hard worker. He deserves all the good things."

Zhang Mei shook Madame Tang’s hand and added, "Your son is a wonderful person. We enjoy working with him so much."

Xu Zhonghao, not wanting to be left out, chimed in, "I’ve never met someone in my field with the same level of expertise as Ziyi."

Madame Tang’s smile grew wider as she received these accolades about her son. Li Chen then turned to Tang Ziyi and inquired, "How is your brother doing?"

Tang Ziyi explained, "My brother had an accident a year ago, and he lost his mobility. He frequently experiences excruciating pain in his left leg. It’s been tough for him."

Li Chen nodded in understanding. The group waited in silence in the hospital hallway for an hour until a nurse approached and informed them, "Tang Junjie’s pain has been subdued. You can see him now."

Madame Tang and Tang Ziyi jumped to their feet, filled with anticipation to visit Tang Junjie in his room.

Madame Tang extended an invitation, saying, "You can come and meet him if you don’t mind."

Li Chen readily accepted, replying, "Sure," and they all followed Tang Ziyi as he led them to Tang Junjie’s hospital room. It was a modest public hospital, where patients typically shared rooms unless in critical condition.

Upon entering Tang Junjie’s room, they found a thin curtain separating him from another patient in the same room. Madame Tang felt a bit awkward about the setting and apologized, saying, "I’m sorry, but this is what we can afford right now."

Li Chen, ever humble, reassured her, "You’re apologizing to the wrong person, Madame Tang. I don’t mind this at all. I didn’t grow up in luxury."

Madame Tang was comforted by his response and moved closer to Tang Junjie’s bedside. Tang Ziyi engaged his brother, asking, "Brother, how are you feeling?"

Tang Junjie, ever the wit, quipped, "I’d feel better if you had gone to work and let Mom bring me here."

Tang Ziyi explained, "I couldn’t."

He then turned to Li Chen and introduced him to his brother, "This is Li Chen, a close friend and someone I’ve been working with."

Li Chen nodded warmly and greeted Tang Junjie, "Nice to meet you, Tang Junjie."

Tang Junjie extended his hand to shake Li Chen’s, and Li Chen warmly reciprocated the gesture. As their hands met, an unexpected sensation washed over Li Chen, and he was hit with an excruciating headache. Suddenly, a flood of names of herbs and medicinal knowledge surged into his mind. He instinctively tightened his grip on Tang Junjie’s hand, and in that moment, the voice of the God of War resonated in his head.

The God of War’s voice calmly stated, "Your medical expertise has been activated."

Li Chen, bewildered, asked, "What do you mean?"

The God of War explained, "It was something I inherited from my mother. She was a doctor and could discern a person’s medical needs simply by holding their hand. The herbs you just saw have the power to help this person in front of you regain the ability to walk."

Li Chen was taken aback by this revelation and slowly released Tang Junjie’s hand. He turned to Tang Ziyi and inquired, "How did your brother get injured?"

Tang Ziyi responded, "I’ll explain later."

After chatting for about 30 minutes, Li Chen and his companions left the hospital room. Tang Ziyi followed Li Chen and began to recount the story of the accident that had left Tang Junjie with his disability. As he listened to the details, Li Chen couldn’t help but notice one crucial piece of information—the company Tang Junjie had worked for, DreamScape Properties, which Li Chen recognized as belonging to the Gu family.