A day later, Li Yifei was driving on the highway. He was alone in the front seat, while in the back were two bound individuals, looking haggard. They were Ye Liangchen and Zhao Xianmin. Neither had their previous arrogance; their hearts were filled with regret. If they had known this would be their end, they wouldn’t have tried to act against Li Yifei on their own.

Moreover, Li Yifei didn’t just beat or scold them a few times and let it go. In truth, Li Yifei intended to kill them. He was driving towards Southern Sky Province.

Ye Liangchen was relatively okay. For Zhao Xianmin, he was initially delighted, thinking he’d be rescued since the Zhao Family wouldn’t let their family be humiliated. But soon, immense worry took over because Li Yifei was too fierce; he planned to storm directly into the Zhao Family to "demand an explanation," as he put it.

An explanation? What explanation, and to whom? Zhao Xianmin suddenly realized he might become a sinner, the one who brought trouble to the Zhao Family...

With this thought, Zhao Xianmin felt like he was plunged into an icy abyss, filled with terror, unsure of what to do. Of course, he no longer had the power to change anything; even if Zhao Xianmin were to die now, Li Yifei would still go to the Zhao Family and demand an explanation, unwilling to stop.

As for Ye Liangchen, he was utterly confused, with no solution in sight. Only now did he understand the truth — he was merely a small fry. Previously, he harbored the delusion of framing Li Yifei, and now, looking back, it was laughable.

There’s no medicine for regret in life. Just like Li Yifei driving on the highway, there’s no turning back. At the Southern Sky City’s highway exit in Southern Sky Province, Li Yifei exited the highway, started the GPS navigation system, unhurriedly stopped halfway to have a meal. Outside, a few clouds drifted in, soon turning into a pattering rain. Li Yifei wiped his mouth, paid the bill, left the restaurant, and returned to the car.

Setting off again, the rain poured harder from the horizon until the entire sky turned dark.

Twenty kilometers away in Zhao Family’s manor, Old Master Zhao had just finished his meal. He intended to go out for a game to exercise, but as the weather did not cooperate, sudden heavy rains forced Old Master Zhao to abandon the idea. He stood by the window, watching the curtains of rain, sighing softly. The Zhao Family now had grown too large, a façade of prosperity, but in reality, the roots were wavering. A strong wind might topple the Zhao Family.

Like the trees swaying in the storm outside, a tree Old Master Zhao himself planted. However, its growth over the years wasn’t good; not even the servants’ efforts could help. He considered uprooting it to replant another, but Old Master Zhao did not allow it. In his own words, having such a tree at home was good for reminding people.

A less than healthy tree... Old Master Zhao swayed a bit, and someone rushed to support him, but he gently pushed them away, saying, "I’m fine, just getting some exercise."

"Old Master, why don’t we go to the gym instead and have a look?"

"No need, get me an umbrella; I want to take a walk in the rain. It’s good for the air."

The subordinate hurriedly said, "Why don’t we wait? This is a downpour, but it’ll pass. Once it clears, we can go out when the air is even better."

"Just the smell of ozone... haha, let’s go now, take it in!" Old Master Zhao said.

The person still insisted, "Your health though..."

"What’s wrong with my health? Absolutely nothing. What are you worrying about!" Old Master Zhao said, pounding his chest lightly. "I weathered many storms in my day; it’s only the lack of exercise these years that’s deteriorated my health. Starting now, I’ll exercise more, so I won’t have issues. Hurry, get the umbrella, and don’t keep me from enjoying the rain!"

The servants hurriedly busied themselves. Outside, the wind howled and the rain lashed down. Despite this, Old Master Zhao demanded to experience the rain, and if anything happened, they’d all be held accountable. Still, they couldn’t refuse, for in this house, Old Master Zhao’s authority reigned supreme; no one dared defy him.

"Let’s just watch," thought the steward. He was in his sixties, having been with Old Master Zhao since childhood; years of conscientious service had made him part of the Zhao Family, with significant authority. So he fetched an umbrella, intending to hold it for Old Master Zhao, but the latter waved him off, took the umbrella himself, and stood at the door, gazing at the rain curtain, sighing softly. "It must have been forty years ago, wasn’t it? We were all young then. That day, some people from the Qing Gang came to cause trouble, arriving in several cars, dozens of them with hostility written on their faces. And us? We were only five or six people, outnumbered several times over."

The old man fell into memories, the steward beside him nodding repeatedly, saying, "Yes, indeed. Thinking back now, it wasn’t easy back then."

Old Master Zhao said, "But we are not afraid at all. Even if the opponent is the Qing Gang, even if they outnumber us, we still pick up our weapons and charge. I still remember your scar here was from that time, and mine here!"

Old Master Zhao first patted the steward’s chest, then touched below his own neck, where there was an imposing scar about seven to eight centimeters long, twisted and frightening.

"Master, you took that stab for me, if it weren’t for you blocking it for me, I fear... my bones would have rotted to dust by now!" the steward said, his eyes welling up with tears.

Old Master Zhao chuckled and said, "What’s the big deal, you and I are brothers. Calling each other brothers is a lifelong commitment, unlike young people nowadays who call each other brothers today and can draw knives tomorrow!"

"Hehe, yes, we are brothers indeed!" the steward nodded in agreement.

"Alright, enough with the sentiments, let’s take a walk in the rain!" As he spoke, Old Master Zhao held up an umbrella and stepped out, saying casually, "I still remember that day it was also pouring rain. As we fought, the rain fell and got heavier, luckily we fought hard enough to drive them into a retreat!"

"It was that battle that allowed us to protect ourselves and hold onto our territory, which led to the prosperity we have today," the steward replied.

"Yes, the battle that day was truly perilous!" Old Master Zhao squinted, looking at the curtain of rain. The Zhao Family estate was rather small, with only about twenty buildings altogether, insufficient to house all the Zhao Family People.

This was also Old Master Zhao’s idea, family members could live their own lives and only gather during holidays. Of course, direct family members should stay nearby. Old people, reaching a certain age, like to have their family close, having lively days, and Old Master Zhao was no exception.

The two were sighing over the past and present, walking in the rain, even if their shoes and pant legs got wet, they didn’t mind. Meanwhile, a black Audi A6 slowly made its way up the mountain. At the checkpoint, Li Yifei briefly showed his credentials, which belonged to Zhao Xianmin. When Zhao Family Young Generation return home, they undergo a check, which merely involves showing credentials before continuing up the mountain.

The checkpoint let them pass, Li Yifei rolled up the window and threw the credentials onto Zhao Xianmin, saying, "Thanks!"

Zhao Xianmin closed his eyes tightly, tears streaming down; this person was too hateful. Old Master, I truly didn’t mean it.

His shout would not receive a response. At this moment, Old Master Zhao had already reached the plaza where the rain poured like a curtain, with the steward accompanying him and many people following at a distance. Many had seen Old Master Zhao walking in the rain, so they hurried out too. The old man had hardly gone out in the past year or two, and even when at home, he rarely strolled. Such a walk in the rain was unimaginable, so everyone came to see.

The steward accompanied him, the downpour was relentless, growing heavier, showing no signs of stopping in the short term. Clouds rolled across the sky as Old Master Zhao halted, looking back at the entire Zhao Family estate; one building after another housed his descendants and Zhao Family People.

"A century’s rise and fall, fleeting glory!" Old Master Zhao suddenly muttered. The rain was so loud that even though the steward was watching him, he couldn’t hear what Old Master Zhao was saying, so he leaned closer and asked, "Old Master, what did you say?"

Old Master Zhao shook his head without speaking. The steward couldn’t understand, so he just nodded.

Some Zhao Family descendants, to show their sincerity, didn’t bring umbrellas, standing in the rain letting it pour over them. Old Master Zhao couldn’t help but shake his head as he pondered a question: if he were to leave, how would the next Zhao Family head lead the Zhao Family?

Will it decline or continue to flourish? Given Zhao Family’s current prosperity, making further progress is indeed difficult; even maintaining it is challenging. It seems invincible, but in reality...

While he was thinking, a car came up the mountain road, headlights on high beam, windshield wipers constantly working. The car moved slowly, seemingly hindered by the heavy rain, but actually, it was Li Yifei driving deliberately. As the car came around the bend, Li Yifei was puzzled by the scene; why were there so many people? At least twenty or thirty people stood in the plaza, some walking over, and two people with their backs to him, holding umbrellas, obstructed his view.

The sudden arrival of a car attracted the attention of Zhao Family People. Many noticed the vehicle, including Old Master Zhao and the steward, who turned around to see the car driving towards them without stopping. The steward’s face changed instantly; he walked towards the car, umbrella in hand, pointing at the car, shouting, "Who are you? Stop immediately! The Zhao Family estate doesn’t allow cars up here; don’t you know this rule?"