Chapter 292: Chapter 291: Don’t Worry About This Matter (Please Subscribe)
"This kid, how dare he, how dare he?"
Xiao Hong’s eyes were about to pop out of their sockets.
On the other end of the phone was the President! The top figure of the Jiangnan Sub-district Martial Arts Association! Even among all the associations, he was one of the strongest!
But Chen Fan’s words just now showed no respect whatsoever and even had a hint of threat.
Did he think that the President couldn’t do anything to him just because they were separated by a network line?
Sun Wei watched Chen Fan, thinking to himself that he knew this wouldn’t end so easily.
However, if Chen goes on like this, it would strain his future relationship with the headquarters. After all, that was the President!
"Brother Chen, were you talking to me?"
To everyone’s surprise, Shi Tao’s tone was calm, not angry at all.
"Yes, Brother Chen. I think you should listen to Xiao Hong’s explanation," Chang Fei quickly said.
He knew the President was protective of his people, especially since he regarded Ling Yu as his successor. The two were not father and son but had a father-son bond.
He had a hunch that the President might already know the inside story, which was why he didn’t want to pursue it further.
However, Brother Chen seemed determined to get to the bottom of this. Avoiding it won’t solve the problem.
And excessively indulging and favoring Ling Yu, would that really cultivate a martial arts strongman capable of saving the Human Race from peril?
If possible, he hoped this incident would teach Ling Yu a harsh lesson, making him realize the world doesn’t revolve around him.
Xiao Hong was on edge again.
After a full three seconds, Shi Tao slowly uttered one word, "Okay."
Chang Fei looked at Xiao Hong, his tone strict: "Repeat to the President what you told me before. Leave nothing out, understood?"
"U-understood."
Xiao Hong was like a wilting eggplant, deflated.
So he started again, recounting everything without any omission.
"President, it’s true I made a mistake, a big mistake, and I admit it. But if it wasn’t for Ling Yu approaching me and seducing me with words, I wouldn’t have made such a big mistake, President."
After speaking, Xiao Hong was a crying and snot-filled mess.
The room was deathly silent.
Everyone awaited the response from the other end of the phone.
"Okay, I’ll go talk to him. I’ll call you back later."
Shi Tao said and then hung up the phone.
"Beep, beep, beep..."
Chang Fei felt a headache coming on but still managed a smile, looking at Chen Fan: "Brother Chen, you heard what the President said. Please wait a moment, and rest assured, the headquarters will definitely give you a satisfactory answer."
"Really?"
Chen Fan’s expression was indifferent.
"Yes, it’s true, Brother Chen."
Chang Fei said hurriedly.
But in fact, he had no idea what would happen.
If the President wanted to give Chen Fan a satisfactory explanation, he could just turn on the speakerphone. After all, Ling Yu was right beside him; having him face Xiao Hong directly would suffice.
But the President didn’t do that; instead, he hung up the phone.
What happens next is uncertain.
Xiao Hong licked his lips, filled with regret.
This feeling of being at the mercy of others was truly awful.
In a quiet room.
Shi Tao hung up the phone, turning to survey Ling Yu in front of him.
The latter sat on a cushion, forcing a calm smile: "Master, why are you looking at me like that? Did Uncle Chang call you? What did he say on the phone?"
"Do you really want to know?"
Shi Tao asked.
Ling Yu’s heart trembled.
In his memory, such expressions from his master usually came when he was being scolded.
In other words, something must have gone wrong on Xiao Hong’s side, not only failing but also letting Uncle Chang know.
Uncle Chang had called the master to accuse him?
Damn Xiao Hong, betraying him immediately after being caught? He really didn’t put him in his eyes.
Anger surged in his heart, but on the surface, he forced a smile: "Yes, I kind of want to know. But if it’s classified, then I’d rather not know."
Shi Tao looked at him, bluntly asking: "Was Xiao Hong sent by you?"
"M-master, what are you talking about? I don’t understand."
Ling Yu tried to put on a perplexed expression, but his body trembled, and cold sweat dripped from his forehead.
"Do you think you can fool me with your acting?"
Shi Tao squinted.
Ling Yu felt struck by lightning. The next moment, he fell to his knees, choking with sobs: "Master, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have targeted that Alchemist or sent Xiao Hong. But my intentions were good!"
"Good intentions?"
Shi Tao sneered.
"Yes, Master."
Ling Yu looked up with tearful eyes.
"I did it entirely for your sake. You’ve reached the Third Realm of True Essence. If you had enough top-grade True Qi Pills, you could ascend to the Fourth Realm and solidify a First-grade Martial Arts True Pill! At that level, even a Beast King-level Fierce Beast wouldn’t stand a chance against you. Yes, Elder Tang and the others can refine plenty of top-grade True Qi Pills, but what about time?
Ling Yu’s eyes were blurry with tears: "Who knows how long they’ll need? Maybe tomorrow, maybe a week, maybe even a month. So I thought if I could bring Chen Fan over to make top-grade True Qi Pills for you, you’d reach the Fourth Realm of True Essence in no time!"
"Nonsense!"
Shi Tao was furious, "What did you tell Xiao Hong? Need me to remind you again?"
"Master, I said it deliberately that way."
Ling Yu shouted hoarsely: "One can never know someone’s true intentions. If Xiao Hong knew you were involved, who knows what he’d do next?
But if it’s done in my name, it’s different, isn’t it?"
Shi Tao was bewildered.
"Master, I’m really thinking about you!" Ling Yu seized the moment, "You are the hope of our Jiangnan Sub-district Martial Arts Association. Only when you grow stronger will our association thrive, right?
调Chen Fan can make so many top-grade True Qi Pills; can he use them all? Even if he can, wouldn’t it be better for you to use them?"
"Enough!"
Shi Tao shouted, but anyone could tell that his anger had significantly lessened.
He stared into Ling Yu’s eyes, asking: "Is that really what you think in your heart?"
"Master!"
Ling Yu raised his right hand and his chest: "I swear, if there’s any falsehood in what I said, let me..."
"Enough!"
Shi Tao cut him off: "Even if that’s the case, do you think what you did was right?"
"I..."
Ling Yu lowered his hand and his head.
"A gentleman knows what to do and what not to do. Have you forgotten my teachings?"
"Master, I know I was wrong."
Ling Yu looked at the ground: "I promise I’ll never do it again."
"Oh, you."
Shi Tao sighed, looking helpless.
"Fortunately, this didn’t turn into a disaster. But you won’t escape punishment. You will stay here in closed-door training for a month without going out. Understood?"
"Understood, Master."
Ling Yu hurriedly nodded, feeling proud inside.
As expected, the best way to deal with Master was to act pitiful.
Denying and arguing never worked in front of him.
"Master, what will you do next?" Ling Yu asked cautiously.
"You stay here and train. I’ll handle this."
Shi Tao glanced at him, picked up his phone, and walked out.
"Whew..."
Seeing Shi Tao’s back disappear from view, Ling Yu let out a long sigh of relief.
With Master’s words, this matter was settled.
But.
A vicious glint flashed in his eyes. Damn you, Xiao Hong, good for nothing.
Daring to betray me?
Fine, once Master is in a good mood and I can leave, I’ll find you and settle the score!
Meanwhile, in another meeting room,
Sun Wei grew increasingly anxious as time ticked by.
What was the President doing? If he wanted to get to the bottom of this, he could just have Ling Yu and Xiao Hong confront each other?
Chen Fan glanced at Xiao Hong, then at the time on the screen’s bottom right corner.
Nearly five minutes had passed since the phone hanging up.
He wanted to see how long they would keep him waiting.
"President, what are you doing?"
Chang Fei was burning with anxiety.
He frequently checked his watch and the phone, but there was still no call.
"President, you wouldn’t still be favoring Ling Yu, would you?"
He had a bad feeling.
Knowing Shi Tao, this was highly possible.
If the President did favor Ling Yu, Brother Chen would be extremely displeased.
It’s hard to predict the outcome then.
Just then, a video call request popped up on the computer.
Chang Fei shivered upon seeing it was from Shi Tao!
"Brother Chen, the President will join us via video. Be prepared."
"Okay." Chen Fan nodded.
The screen split into two, with Chang Fei on the left and a stern, imposing middle-aged man exuding authority on the right.
His appearance alone froze Sun Wei and Xiao Hong in place.