When mentioning that I had served both sides, Ying Baolin paused deliberately, then quickly scanned the room with his eyes.
By this time, many people in the living room had already started whispering amongst themselves, trying to figure out my intentions for playing both ends.
Some said I was playing both sides for money.
After all, most people who mingled in circles like casinos were likely cheaters.
Others countered, saying it was for fame.
A person's reputation precedes them.
Ying Baolin was renowned, and following him would allow me to become famous in the martial world much sooner.
There were not a few people who held these two views.
Of course, there were even more eccentric guests who, based on the current situation and scene, presumptuously inferred that I was doing it for those two women.
After everyone's curiosity and attention were sufficiently piqued, Ying Baolin finally signaled for everyone to quiet down.
Then, he continued, "As for the reason, some of you have already guessed it."
"That's right! It's to bet on both sides and reap benefits from both!"
"Whether it was on my side or at Yun Jin's establishment, Chen Xiang never intended to work sincerely."
"Instead, he repeatedly used me and Yun Jin to achieve his own ulterior motives."
"Just as you imagined, the two women who were brought in are Chen Xiang's inside informants!"
"Both of them are from Yun Jin's establishment, and one of them was even entrusted with important responsibilities!"
"Yet, even so, both of them were bought over by Chen Xiang, colluding with him and exchanging favors in secret!"
"May I ask everyone, does this kind of behavior count as betraying one's business interests?"
Before Ying Baolin's words had completely finished, the vast majority of people in the living room responded in unison, "Yes!"
The entire hall spoke with one voice, in perfect agreement.
Honestly, I really wanted to retort.
But I knew in my heart that arguing would be useless.
Whether a person's words carry weight, and whether they are speaking the truth, is never determined by the content or quality.
Instead, it depends on the identity of the person speaking.
If one is already from the upper echelons, to put it crudely... even if they pointed to a deer and called it a horse, claiming their farts smelled fragrant, would some people dare to lead the charge in fawning over them?!
This is the current state of society.
The saying "one's words carry little weight when one is humble" refers to how, when a person lacks status and position, no one believes anything they say.
Moreover, to be fair, Ying Baolin wasn't entirely lying.
The matter of the Thousand King Token was of great importance, and he couldn't reveal any information about it.
Being able to think of using a conceptual shift to describe it was already the greatest extent of restoring part of the truth.
...
As I was lost in thought, I suddenly heard Ying Baolin say, "I, Ying, have always emphasized fairness and justice in my words and actions."
"To prevent anyone among you from thinking I'm monopolizing the discussion, Shen Mengqing... please tell everyone if what I just said is incorrect?"
After speaking, Ying Baolin turned his gaze to Shen Mengqing.
When her name was called, Shen Mengqing first slightly raised her head, then immediately lowered it again, remaining silent.
Anyone with eyes could see that her reaction was tantamount to an admission.
Only I knew that Shen Mengqing had no choice but to concede.
Because after Ying Baolin's conceptual shift, the words and actions Shen Mengqing had previously shared with me indeed constituted a betrayal of Yun Jin.
However, her betrayal was, in a way, saving Yun Jin by preventing them from going down a dead-end path.
Unfortunately, Yun Jin not only didn't appreciate it but instead chose to turn hostile.
Seeing Shen Mengqing choose to lower her head in silence, a flicker of triumph flashed in Ying Baolin's eyes, and he chuckled, "Since you have nothing to say, it means you agree with what I just said."
"If Yun Jin wasn't with me, I wouldn't concern myself with her affairs, but..."
"She is now my fiancée, and her affairs are my affairs, Ying Baolin's affairs!"
"As the saying goes: Without rules, nothing can be done properly!"
"Taking advantage of today's occasion, I will thoroughly cleanse the people around my fiancée!"
"Guards! Take them down and interrogate them severely..."
Before Ying Baolin could finish, I immediately interrupted him.
"Wait a minute!!!"
As soon as I spoke, all eyes in the living room turned towards me in unison.
Indifferent to the outcome, they watched with expressions of amusement, surprise, mockery, and even excitement.
Under everyone's gaze, I looked at Ying Baolin and said coldly, "Those two women... I will protect them!"
As soon as I finished speaking, the entire hall erupted in a clamor.
Before Ying Baolin could speak, Shen Lingyu, standing beside him, was the first to retort, "Chen Xiang, who do you think you are?! What right do you have to protect them?"
I ignored Shen Lingyu, instead fixing my gaze intensely on Ying Baolin.
Seeing that I was completely disregarding her, Shen Lingyu's face turned ashen, and she gritted her teeth in anger.
At this point, no matter what I said or did, I would inevitably be led by the nose by Ying Baolin, because the people hadn't been saved yet.
Therefore, I chose to take the initiative and take the bait, playing into Ying Baolin's hands.
Only by quickly getting to the main point of the confrontation could I figure out what his plan was.
Seeing me staring directly at him, Ying Baolin's eyes instantly filled with surging anger and killing intent.
Ying Baolin hated me; I knew this very well.
Setting aside past grievances, the events on the cruise ship a couple of days ago were enough to make him want to skin me alive and devour me.
After all the effort he put into organizing the competition and trying every means to create loopholes for his helpers to cheat, he ended up gaining nothing.
If I were in his shoes, I wouldn't let it go so easily either...
Thus, our eyes met for a while.
It was unclear how long it lasted.
"Today is my birthday banquet, a joyous occasion, so let's not talk about matters of swords and blades."
"Chen Xiang, it's not that I don't value our past relationship; I'll give you a chance..."
Before Ying Baolin could finish, I interrupted him again.
"Less nonsense, speak plainly! What do you want?"
With the confrontation imminent, I no longer needed to concern myself with saving face.
Upon hearing this, Ying Baolin's face turned red with anger, his eyes seeming to spew fire.
Seemingly aware that I was deliberately provoking him, Ying Baolin did not lash out immediately but forcibly restrained himself.
However, he stopped speaking and instead gestured with his eyes to Shen Lingyu, signaling her to confront me.
Receiving Ying Baolin's instruction, Shen Lingyu looked at me with intense hatred and said, "Chen Xiang, the matters of the Thousand Gate are for the Thousand Gate!"
"I know you are skilled in deception; let's settle this with our skills!"
"If you win, you can take the people."
"If I win, you and they will stay here!"
"Do you dare to accept?!"