Ten days later.
Countless luxury cars were streaming toward the Li Mansion.
As the most powerful family in Huang City, the number of people looking to curry favor with them was beyond counting.
Inside one of the cars, two elderly men were discussing things in hushed tones.
“How did such a massive scandal manage to get exposed?”
“The Li family's reputation in Huang City is probably in the gutter now.”
The other man chuckled upon hearing this.
“It's just a small storm. The internet has no memory.”
“They just need to weather these few days, then find some actors to put on a show or leak some juicy gossip to take the heat.”
“The public's attention will naturally be diverted. After a while, they'll hire people to scrub the narrative and rehabilitate the Li family's image.”
“They'll say it was all a malicious smear campaign by people with ulterior motives, meant to destroy the Li family so they could plunder the interests of the people of Huang City.”
“By then, the Li family's reputation won't just be restored—it'll be even greater. They'll become the guardians of Huang City.”
Hearing this, the first man laughed along.
“Hahaha, well said! The commoners should follow our lead, not know our secrets!”
“A bunch of mere peasants... do they really think they can overturn the heavens?”
The two looked at each other and smiled, neither of them caring much.
After all, which of them hadn't weathered a public relations crisis or two like this before?
And in the end?
The songs were still sung, and the dances continued as always.
Cars pulled up one by one near the Li Mansion, where Wang Bo was directing the guards to arrange the vehicles.
The parking lot at the entrance was only so large and couldn't hold every car.
Whose car faced inward and whose car faced outward—there was a deep hierarchy involved in those placements.
Fortunately, Wang Bo had accumulated years of experience. Under his direction, everything was handled in an orderly fashion.
The Second Young Master stood at the entrance with him, welcoming the guests.
Normally, this task belonged to the Eldest Young Master, but since he had met with an accident this year, the Second Young Master had to step up.
As for the Third Young Master, he hadn't been seen for several days.
However, this was actually a good thing for Wang Bo. It was better to have less contact with someone of such a perverse temperament.
The smile on the Second Young Master's face grew increasingly stiff until it eventually began to falter.
Seeing this, Wang Bo hurried forward and whispered.
“Second Young Master, everyone is watching.”
“You are the face of our Li family now! Keep your spirits up and don't lose face.”
The Second Young Master forced himself to perk up and said, “Wang Bo, do you think that God...”
“Shh!”
Wang Bo made a silencing gesture, his smile remaining unchanged.
“Second Young Master, there are some things that must never be spoken aloud.”
“I know. I'm only saying it to you, aren't I?”
“Second Young Master, I am also an outsider!”
Wang Bo spoke with absolute gravity. The Second Young Master was deeply moved, thinking to himself that Wang Bo was truly loyal and devoted to their family.
While they spoke, two more people walked in from the gate.
Wang Bo led the Second Young Master forward to greet them with a polite but firm attitude.
“President Li, President Zhang, it has been a long time.”
“Hahaha, indeed, Wang Bo. Long time no see.”
The two big bosses were quite humble toward Wang Bo. Although he was just a butler, the saying that even the gatekeeper of a powerful house carries the weight of a high official was not without merit.
Wang Bo smiled and led them inside, then instructed a servant to take them to the ancestral hall.
The fact that so many people turned out to observe the ancestral ritual every year was a unique mark of the Li family's status in Huang City.
After seeing the two off, the Second Young Master whispered, “Wang Bo, has anyone from Headquarters arrived yet?”
Wang Bo sighed inwardly, suddenly feeling a bit nostalgic for the Eldest Young Master.
Even though the Eldest Young Master was also a fool, there were levels to being a fool.
As they spoke, another person approached.
This man was about thirty years old, wearing a bespoke black suit.
Even before he got close, Wang Bo sensed that this was a person of great importance.
What was strange, however, was that he had absolutely no memory of this man!
The middle-aged man walked up to Wang Bo, pulled a token from his breast pocket, and said, “Mo Xiang sent me.”
Wang Bo's heart jolted, and he looked up in shock.
The Second Young Master, on the other hand, was completely bewildered, wondering who Mo Xiang was.
The middle-aged man tucked the token away and asked, “Can I go in now?”
“Of course, of course. Second Young Master, I will lead this gentleman inside. Please continue to receive the other guests for now.”
“But Wang Bo, I don't recognize everyone.”
“It's fine. Wang Fu!”
“Yes, sir.”
“Accompany the Young Master.”
“Yes.”
Wang Bo didn't look back, escorting the middle-aged man deeper into the estate.
The Second Young Master watched this scene, growing even more puzzled.
“Who on earth is that guy?”
...
Inside the old estate.
The Third Young Master lay naked on a bed. A very long scar was clearly visible across his chest.
Although the doctor's suturing technique was decent, the scar was too large and remained glaringly obvious.
The Third Master stood by the bed, frowning at him.
“Today is the great day of the ancestral ritual. It's one thing to be willful at other times, but why are you acting like this today?”
The Third Young Master looked up with hollow eyes, staring at the Third Master. After a dozen seconds, his gaze finally focused, and his voice turned disdainful.
“Heh, what? Worried I'll ruin this body?”
He struggled to sit up, taking a cigarette from the nightstand and lighting it.
“Don't worry. The lungs you gave me back then are doing just fine. They'll last until you promote, you old bastard!”
The Third Master frowned again at the epithet, but his voice remained calm.
“Put your clothes on and come out with me to meet the guests.”
“Meet guests? Hahahaha... cough, cough!”
The Third Young Master's laughter was so forced that he choked on the smoke and coughed several times.
“Everyone out there knows exactly what kind of person I am. Who would want to see me?”
“Instead of wasting time talking to me here, why don't you go accompany them yourself, you old fossil!”
He flicked the burning cigarette away, unconcerned about starting a fire, and lay back down on the bed.
“Since you're all raising me like a pig for slaughter, then I, the pig, naturally intend to enjoy myself.”
“A blade today, a blade tomorrow—I'm going to die sooner or later. How could I not play my fill before I go?”
He finished and tilted his head to look at the Third Master, only to see that the man had no intention of leaving.
“Hm? Why aren't you leaving yet?”
The Third Master said nothing, just quietly staring at the Third Young Master.
The Third Young Master's eyes twitched, and his voice turned raspy. “Today?”
The Third Master nodded.
The Third Young Master finally grew frantic, propping himself up with his arms.
“But the Demigod from Headquarters is still here, and that god who attacked the Li family hasn't been dealt with. There are so many variables—why today?!”
His body was trembling as he spoke.
In the end, who in this world wasn't afraid of death?
The Third Master didn't answer, simply watching him in silence.
The Third Young Master lit another cigarette, took a deep breath, and looked at the Third Master.
“Fine then, let's go.”
“But before we do, I have one question for you.”
“Speak.”
“Right now, the soul inside that body of yours... is it my father, or my grandfather?”
The Third Master calmly adjusted his glasses.
“Haven't you already known the answer for a long time?”
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