C23 See Elder Xu

The crystal-clear stream meandered gently down from the mountain's summit, winding its way through the landscape. Willow trees danced in the breeze, their verdant leaves occasionally drifting onto the water's surface, only to be swept away to parts unknown by the current.

Nestled among the trees and flowerbeds lay a three-story pavilion, a blend of traditional charm and modern flair. Its presence was intermittently revealed through the dappled tree shade, with the words "Northern Town Pavilion" inscribed on its plaque.

Perched atop a hillock, the pavilion overlooked a large, flattened area that had been transformed into a parking lot, complete with a selection of open-air entertainment amenities.

Access to the third floor of the Northern Town Pavilion was an exclusive privilege reserved for the shareholders and esteemed guests of Mirrora Manor.

Standing at the entrance to one of the rooms on this level were Tang Qing and Zhou Wen. The door before them, crafted from mahogany and adorned with intricate carvings of dragons and phoenixes, exuded an air of antiquity and value.

A waitress, clad in a traditional blue and white qipao with her hair neatly coiffed into a bun, stood guard by the door. Her demeanor was both bright and dignified. Upon noticing Tang Qing's approach, she offered a respectful nod and inquired, "Mr. Tang, is Elder Xu awaiting your arrival inside?"

"Yes, please open the door," replied Tang Qing, his face stern, while Zhou Wen appeared somewhat uneasy by his side.

Within this room sat Elder Xu, a figure regarded as a legend in Anewood City.

Zhou Wen had been summoned from the billiard room by Tang Qing and had since followed him to the Northern Town Pavilion. Meanwhile, Hui Yuming and his companions continued to enjoy themselves at Mirrora Manor. Zhang Zifan and his group, having been cautioned by Tang Qing, had already departed, ensuring they would no longer trouble Hui Yuming's party. With this assurance, Zhou Wen felt comfortable accompanying Tang Qing.

The waitress, with a smile, tapped lightly on the door.

"Enter," came a voice from within, tinged with the weight of years.

She turned the handle and opened the door, allowing Tang Qing to stride in confidently.

"Zhou Wen, please join me," Tang Qing called over his shoulder, a hint of urgency in his tone.

Zhou Wen entered the room, which was decorated in a style that was both simple and evocative of times past. A calligraphy scroll hung on the wall, inscribed with the phrase "Embrace All Streams." Zhou Wen, appreciating the artistry, felt a deep sense of admiration for the skillful brushwork.

In the corner stood a porcelain vase nearly as tall as a person, but the centerpiece of the room was an old man seated on a golden sandalwood chair. Clad in a white linen robe with cloth shoes on his feet, his black hair conveyed a sense of vitality. His presence was like that of a mountain, effortlessly commanding the attention of those around him.

Zhou Wen's face registered surprise upon seeing the old man. This was the very same elder he had encountered on the bus. Zhou Wen vividly remembered assisting the old man with retrieving his money, and how the elder had later presented him with a silk banner at his school as a token of gratitude.

"Zhou Wen, come and have a seat," the old man invited with a warm, welcoming smile.

Zhou Wen entered with a hint of nervousness and hesitated before sitting down.

"Elder Xu, I've brought the person you asked for. What do you think?" Tang Qing inquired with a tone of reverence.

"That will be all; you may leave now," Elder Xu responded calmly.

Tang Qing appeared to be holding back further comments. He glanced between Zhou Wen and Elder Xu before taking a deep breath. "Elder Xu, could you please provide an answer regarding Mr. Chen's situation?"

With a gentle smile, Elder Xu replied, "I have retired from the affairs of the martial world and cannot assist with this matter."

"But Elder Xu, you are..." Tang Qing began, his voice tinged with urgency.

"Little Tang, I agreed to come here out of respect for our past association. Please refrain from pressing the issue. Inform Mr. Chen that I am unable to offer my assistance," Elder Xu said, his expression turning stern.

Tang Qing's face fell with disappointment. He sighed deeply and exited the room.

Leaving the room, Tang Qing entered another space on the third floor. This room was slightly larger, furnished with four golden sandalwood chairs and matching side tables.

The wall boasted a magnificent painting of a horse, clearly the work of a master. An antique shelf nearby displayed a variety of artifacts. A woman in a qipao stood gracefully beside a tea set.

The room's decor, steeped in antiquity, exuded a sense of depth and culture.

At this moment, the room was engulfed in silence, the atmosphere thick with tension. The woman in the qipao, tasked with serving tea, kept her head bowed, not daring to glance at the commotion in the hall from the corner of her eye.

There were four chairs, three of which were occupied.

Upon Tang Qing's arrival, a man dressed in a Tang suit with a shaved head quickly stood up, clutching a string of Buddhist beads. Despite this, his muscular face betrayed no hint of elegance.

The other two turned their attention to Tang Qing, all eyes filled with hope.

The man in the Tang suit spoke up, "Old Tang, what exactly does Elder Xu mean?"

Tang Qing shook his head, his expression one of resignation, "Mr. Chen, Elder Xu has said he's withdrawn from the underworld and no longer involves himself in these affairs. He can't offer any assistance."

The moment the words left his lips, the man in the Tang suit's expression grew grim, clearly having anticipated Elder Xu's response.

"If Elder Xu refuses to get involved, then we must resort to our second plan," said the man seated in the sandalwood chair to the left, dressed casually and sporting a slicked-back hairstyle. He appeared to be in his forties.

Tang Qing recognized him; it was Zhang Peng, a man who had made quite a name for himself in Anewood, owning several hotels and restaurants.

"Zhang, what exactly is your second plan?" Tang Qing inquired, puzzled.

He had only invited Elder Xu as a tentative first step.

He had heard of Zhang Peng's second plan but was unaware of the details.

"We need a united effort for this, and we'll also require the assistance of Mayor Yu," Zhang Peng replied with a smirk, clearly pleased with himself.

Chen Yao's eyes glinted dangerously, "Su Lingyun, you've thwarted my plans repeatedly. I'm eager to see if you can dodge this disaster."

...

Elsewhere, Zhou Wen was seated, engaging in a jovial conversation with Elder Xu.

Through their talk, Zhou Wen had come to understand how Elder Xu had come to know of him.

On his way to Pebblebrook Mansion that day, Lee Xing and two others had confronted him on the street. Elder Xu, emerging from a bookstore, had witnessed the scuffle with Lee Xing and his companions, piquing his curiosity.

Later on, when Zhou Wen encountered Elder Xu on the bus, he assisted Elder Xu in retrieving his belongings, which left a lasting impression on the elder.

"You're quite young, yet your abilities are impressive," Elder Xu said with a gentle smile, his gaze upon Zhou Wen as if he were admiring a raw gemstone.

Zhou Wen scratched his head, aware of his own skills. Without the special boost from his underpants, he considered himself just an average person.

Unexpectedly, his actions had piqued Elder Xu's curiosity.

"Grandfather, you flatter me," Zhou Wen responded modestly.

"A high school student brave enough to confront a knife-wielding thief is a rarity. There's no need for modesty," Elder Xu said with a dismissive wave and a smile.

"It's nothing," Zhou Wen replied with a grin.

Elder Xu looked at him warmly. "It's a pleasant surprise to have met you today. I've really enjoyed our conversation," he said.

As he spoke, Elder Xu seemed to drift into a memory, leaning back in his chair, his eyes clouding over with a distant look.

"Grandfather, if you ever want to talk, I'm always available," Zhou Wen offered, patting his chest.

Aside from his studies, he didn't have many commitments and relished the opportunity to hear the elder's stories.

He had already taken a liking to Elder Xu, who appeared to have once held a prestigious position but now lived a solitary life in Anewood, running an Ancient Bookstore.

Zhou Wen could sense the solitude surrounding Elder Xu and genuinely wanted to engage in conversation with him.

"Very well, leave your number, and I'll get in touch," Elder Xu said, his eyes brightening once more.

Zhou Wen quickly tore off a piece of paper from the table and jotted down his number.

"Go on and enjoy time with your friends. I won't keep you any longer. Rest assured, as long as I'm around, no one at Mirrora Manor will dare to bother you," Elder Xu said with a commanding presence.

Zhou Wen rose to his feet, expressing his respect. "Grandfather, I'm grateful for your assistance."

"You also helped me recover my money, remember?" Elder Xu reminded him with a wave of his hand and a chuckle.

Stepping out the door, Zhou Wen walked away with a newfound sense of clarity.

He certainly didn't grasp that Elder Xu didn't actually need his assistance to retrieve the money; Elder Xu was merely testing his integrity, and he had indeed earned Elder Xu's approval.

The waiter was still outside when Zhou Wen began to feel a bit queasy.

"Excuse me, could you direct me to the restroom?" Zhou Wen inquired courteously.

"Sure, I'll show you the way." The waiter led Zhou Wen to the restroom entrance.

Zhou Wen quickly dashed inside.

After using the facilities, he was about to exit when he suddenly heard footsteps approaching.

Someone else was entering the restroom. Zhou Wen had no intention of engaging and was ready to depart.

However, the newcomer spoke up, "Mayor Yu, we have a bit of a situation."

Zhou Wen paused, recognizing the voice as Tang Qing's.

This Mayor Yu had to be Yu Shaohui, the Deputy Mayor of Anewood.

From his earlier conversation with Elder Xu, Zhou Wen knew that these individuals had convened at Mirrora Manor today for a specific discussion.

Tang Qing was involved through his connection with Yu Shaohui.

It was clear that Tang Qing was now on the phone with Yu Shaohui.

"Yes, Elder Xu disagrees with the proposal," Tang Qing stated from outside, prompting Zhou Wen to listen more intently to the ongoing conversation.

He was quite intrigued by the issue Tang Qing mentioned but was in the dark about the details.

"If Elder Xu is against it, we can't get past Su Lingyun," Tang Qing said with a hint of frustration.

"Then we'll have to eliminate Su Lingyun!" an enraged voice erupted from the phone, loud enough for Zhou Wen to hear clearly from inside the restroom.

Who was Su Lingyun? And why did Yu Shaohui want to dispose of him? Zhou Wen was puzzled.

"What's the plan?" Tang Qing asked, sounding uncertain.

"Tell Chen Yao and Zhang Peng that if they want the Vrorora Forest land, they need to oust Su Lingyun! We'll figure out the exact approach later!" the voice commanded over the phone, sounding increasingly irate.

"Understood, I'll go inform Mr. Chen and Mr. Zhang right away," Tang Qing responded. Zhou Wen listened as the footsteps faded away. After a short while, ensuring the restroom was empty, he unlocked the door and stepped out.

Throughout his journey, he couldn't stop pondering the recent events. Although he was unfamiliar with Su Lingyun, he was aware that this individual named Su Lingyun was facing danger.