"Retreat!"
Wang Dabiao didn't hesitate and chose to withdraw.
Unbeknownst to them, they had just stepped into the jaws of death.
A ten-second delay would have turned them into corpses.
The void grew cold as the tide receded, and Chu Fan left the residential complex.
Chen Yicheng, who had been observing from the shadows, was bewildered and hurriedly chased after Wang Dabiao and his group.
"Brother Biao, why did we retreat?"
"We..."
*Slap...*
Wang Dabiao raised his hand and slapped Chen Yicheng, nearly sending him to the ground.
"Do I need your instruction to do things?"
Glowered at by Wang Dabiao, Chen Yicheng quickly bowed. "How dare I, Brother Biao? How dare I instruct you?"
"Brother Biao, I was wrong. Please don't be angry!"
Wang Dabiao snorted and walked away.
Chen Yicheng, clutching his cheek, stood rooted to the spot, his eyes filled with resentment as he glared at Wang Dabiao and the others.
Just moments ago, he had been fantasizing about Wang Dabiao extorting a million from Chu Fan, giving him five hundred thousand, and then using the money to woo his crush, buy her two bags, and win her over that night.
Alas, his fantasy was shattered.
"No, I can't miss this golden opportunity!"
Chen Yicheng immediately went home, intending to have a serious talk with his parents and gather more information about Chu Fan before making any plans.
Meanwhile, Chu Fan dialed Ji Ningyue's number.
"Concentrate all investigative resources on the south and the ancient family from before."
"That ancient family is most likely located in the south!"
According to Du Haixia's description, his mother had mentioned during her stay at their home that after her injuries healed, she planned to go south to handle some matters.
At the time, Du Haixia had invited his mother to visit after her return from the south. His mother had said she wasn't sure when she'd be back, but she would definitely visit once she returned.
Unexpectedly, she never came back.
"Also, prepare a card with five million yuan on it."
"This five million yuan can only be accessed by Du Haixia or Chen Tao. Anyone else, even if they get the card, won't be able to use it!"
Chu Fan had thought everything through.
He had prepared a villa for the family of his benefactor, but without money, even living there would be difficult.
The property management fees alone for a villa in the most prosperous area of Shanhai City were substantial, far beyond the reach of an ordinary family.
The restriction on accessing the money, allowing only Du Haixia and Chen Tao to use it, was primarily due to his distrust of Chen Yicheng.
That kid had no filial piety whatsoever.
Without restrictions, he would likely forcibly seize the five million yuan the moment Chu Fan turned his back.
Money, to Chu Fan, was just a number.
However, if Chen Yicheng got his hands on it, it wouldn't help him but would only harm him.
"Oh, and there's one more thing I need you to investigate!"
"The car accident that Chen Tao had three years ago, after my mother left his home!"
During their previous conversation, when his mother's name was mentioned in relation to Chen Tao's accident, the couple's expressions had clearly shifted, their eyes darting away as if they were hiding something.
Upon returning to Wanshu Mountain Villa, Chu Fan took out a medicine bottle and a pack of silver needles from his bag. After greeting his aunt, he headed straight for Shanhai Pavilion.
A crowd still lingered outside Shanhai Pavilion.
Chu Fan called Guan Hongyun, asking him to disperse the onlookers and block the secret passage hidden in the woods.
Shanhai Pavilion wasn't a zoo, and he wasn't an animal.
Blocking the secret passage was to prevent Nan Baixuan from breaking in again.
Soon, guards from the Guan family appeared and forcibly removed everyone gathered outside.
To prevent them from regrouping and disturbing the master's rest, Guan Hongyun instructed the guards to surround Shanhai Pavilion, one every ten meters, and to allow no bird to even think of flying over.
Inside the underground palace of Shanhai Pavilion.
Chu Fan stared at a phone number on his mobile for more than ten seconds before finally pressing the dial button.
At this moment, his heart was pounding.
This call went directly to the Eternal Hall.
Having discovered that his mother was no ordinary person and that she already knew his master, he wanted to confirm with his master and see if he could obtain more information.
The call went through, but it wasn't answered.
When the call automatically disconnected, Chu Fan let out a wry smile.
He knew his master wasn't busy and hadn't seen his call.
On the contrary, the most leisurely person in the entire Eternal Hall was him.
And if nothing went wrong, he was watching his call right now.
He didn't answer because he didn't want to.
Although his master was in the Eternal Hall, Chu Fan knew very well what he did every day and what he was investigating.
His master had obviously guessed the purpose of his call.
Between master and disciple, some things were better avoided.
*Ding...*
Just as Chu Fan was about to put down his phone, a message arrived.
"As a fledgling eagle, you should soar on your own. If you want to know something, find out yourself. Don't come asking me. If you can't even handle this, what right do you have to preside over the Eternal Hall?"
Though it was just a message, the words dripped with an unending aura of dominance.
Chu Fan suddenly smiled.
"The Eternal Hall has already provided me with ample assistance!"
"If I can't find out this bit of information, I truly don't deserve to preside over the Eternal Hall!"
Chu Fan's thoughts felt light, and he wasn't annoyed or angry that his master hadn't given him the information he wanted.
Midnight.
Nan Baixuan and the other two crept back to the woods where the secret passage entrance was located.
"The... the entrance is gone?"
"Xu Gensheng, did you lead us to the wrong place?"
Zhao Jiayu glared furiously at Xu Gensheng.
Xu Gensheng frantically scanned the surroundings, certain that the secret passage entrance was nearby.
"Jiayu, you can see for yourself, Shanhai Pavilion is completely surrounded by guards, and no one is allowed to observe it!"
"The entrance might have been discovered and sealed!"
Nan Baixuan's face fell, and she felt like crying.
She had risked her parents' scolding to sneak out late at night, thinking the King of Shanhai would definitely be at Shanhai Pavilion.
"Xuanxuan, don't worry. Since the secret passage entrance is gone, let's find another way!"
After comforting Nan Baixuan, Zhao Jiayu's eyes gleamed, and she asked Xu Gensheng, "Xu Gensheng, didn't you say your dad is responsible for guarding Shanhai Pavilion?"
"If you can get your dad to take a photo of the King of Shanhai, I might consider dating you!"
"Really, Jiayu?"
Xu Gensheng was thrilled. "As long as my dad takes a photo of the King of Shanhai, you'll agree to date me?"
Zhao Jiayu snorted coquettishly. "If your ears are deaf and you didn't hear clearly, then forget it."
To date the goddess, Xu Gensheng patted his chest and promised, "Jiayu, don't worry, I'll definitely get a photo of the King of Shanhai within three days!"
Zhao Jiayu gave a sly smile and pulled Nan Baixuan away.
Seeing that her friend's mood hadn't improved, she comforted her, "Xuanxuan, don't worry. Once you know what the King of Shanhai looks like, you won't have trouble finding him!"
"Thank you, Jiayu, for worrying about me!"
Nan Baixuan managed a very reluctant smile.
The next noon, Chu Fan arrived at Du Haixia's home in Fukang residential complex.
The couple was overjoyed, knowing that Chu Fan was coming today to treat Chen Tao.
Chu Fan took out the medicine bottle and poured out a red pill that emitted a bloody stench.
Just as the couple marveled at whether such an unpleasantly smelling pill could cure an illness.
A curse erupted from the room.
"Damn it, what's that smell so stinky?"
Chen Yicheng rushed out of the room and, upon seeing that the pungent odor was emanating from the pill in Chu Fan's hand.
His eyes widened in anger. "Kid, are you saving him or harming him?"