Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO

Yang Shoukang remained silent, implicitly agreeing with Xu Ke. Perfecting a legendary needle technique was not an overnight task, and without extensive practical experience, it would be nothing more than armchair strategizing. Moreover, the prospect of upgrading the Seven-Star Exquisite Needle was a thrilling feat.

"Okay!" After being persuaded by Xu Ke, Yang Shoukang felt he was no longer just some shameless old man taking advantage of a junior, and he finally gritted his teeth and agreed. "However, since I am receiving such a great favor from you and your apprentice, Doctor Xu, you must accept my gift of gratitude."

As he spoke, Yang Shoukang turned to enter the treasure vault, looking as if he were about to give the entire thing to Xu Ke.

But Xu Ke was taken aback and hurriedly waved his hands. "Elder Yang, there's no hurry!"

"But this gift..."

"If you truly wish to thank me, just help me with something later on."

Xu Ke couldn't think of anything to ask of Yang Shoukang at the moment, so he decided to delay it. An offer of gratitude from a Grandmaster of The Medical Path is not something to be wasted. Properly used, such a favor could defy fate. What were two mere herbs in comparison?

Xu Ke then picked up a piece of paper from a nearby table and wrote down the research he had developed three years prior. His original plan after coming down from the mountain was to find someone to test it on. However, his plans were disrupted by the sudden appearance of a woman seeking medical aid, which also caused him to lose his memory for three years. As he wrote it down again, a mix of unfamiliarity and nostalgia surged within him.

Seeing this, Yang Shoukang rubbed his hands together, his eyes filled with excitement, which was quickly followed by shock and amazement. With his understanding of the Seven-Star Exquisite Needle, he could tell just how profound Xu Ke's and Ren Gu's comprehension of the technique was to even conceive of such pathways. He was also certain that Xu Ke wasn't holding back and truly intended to perfect the needle technique with him.

At that moment, the way Yang Shoukang looked at Xu Ke was as if he were looking at a benefactor.

「」

When Xu Ke left the room, he was still empty-handed. He wasn't in a hurry to take the Purple Mountain Ginseng, as he planned to use the herb for something else later.

As he was leaving the Wang Family Mansion, he ran into Zhan Yunning. Her eyes were full of resentment and anger, and she didn't even bother to greet him.

Xu Ke knew what she was angry about. In the past, if someone trusted by Wong Qifu treated him this way, he might have tried to curry favor or explain himself. But since he and Wong Qifu had already reached a consensus on the matter, he saw no reason to say anything more to Zhan Yunning. You only need to care about the people who care about you.

Afterward, Xu Ke drove alone to the medical hall. Mai Qing and Lin Qinghua weren't there, and Wang Wu had to stay by Wong Qifu's side, so he couldn't follow.

On the way, Xu Ke received a call from Yuk Dalong.

"What's up?" Xu Ke was somewhat surprised, as it had been a long time since Yuk Dalong had called him.

"Those media outlets you wanted us to sue are about to go to trial, and they want to settle with you!" came the reply. "They said they'll agree to any kind of apology you want, as long as you drop the lawsuit."

Xu Ke had declared at the press conference that he would go after those media outlets, and he hadn't been joking. Wong Qifu had originally planned to have the Wang Family's legal team handle it, but Yuk Dalong was known for his unorthodox methods in the media, so handing the task to him would be much more efficient.

Xu Ke chuckled. "Weren't they quite arrogant back then?"

"They're just a bunch of incompetent fools! My people alone could run circles around them," Yuk Dalong said teasingly. "Of course, the main reason is that the Huang and Ye Families are no longer backing them, so naturally, they caved.

Yuk Dalong knew that Ouyang Zhou was also helping behind the scenes, but there was no need to mention that. He was calling to take credit with Xu Ke.

"Alright, I'll leave it in your hands. I won't make an appearance."

"Okay, Boss!"

Xu Ke shook his head and hung up.

Having suffered a major loss at Xu Ke's hands, the Huang and Ye Families had no time to manage the media's affairs and had simply given up on harassing him that way. All their attention was now focused on the martial alliance selection competition, where they were waiting for Qian Jun to brutally kill Xu Ke. Without their "patrons" funding them, and with the Ouyang Family and others helping Xu Ke crush them, those media outlets were crying for mercy within days. If they could find Xu Ke, they would have knelt and begged. All their initial arrogance and determination to slander Xu Ke had vanished.

「」

As Xu Ke left the Wang Family Mansion and headed for the medical hall, Ye Chong received the news that Wang Yu had been locked up.

"Just as I expected." Ye Chong's face was grim, a mixture of rage and frustration.

Honestly, in this whole affair, he was the one who had quietly made a fortune. Of the three parties involved, Xu Ke had been cornered and forced to use his wits to escape, while Wang Yu had gone mad and lost everything. Only he had managed to get his hands on Wang Yu's private funds.

But Ye Chong wasn't happy; he was furious. What was mere money to him, now the sole heir of the Ye Family? What truly bothered him was that he had sat like an idiot at Felice all morning. And Qinghai Bay, which should have been easily his, had slipped through his fingers. Now that he had failed, Ye Yunfeng certainly wouldn't hand it over to him so easily. The thought made him incredibly frustrated.

"There's no need to be angry. I never expected you to succeed anyway," Ye Yunfeng said indifferently from the side. If Xu Ke could be taken down so easily, the Ye and Huang families wouldn't have lost so many people.

"But..." Ye Chong took a deep breath. "Xu Ke had no reason to know. I even used Qian Jun's intelligence and Grandpa Jiu's whereabouts to bluff him, and he took the bait. How did everything change overnight?"

"Don't take others for fools," Ye Yunfeng said coldly. "With so many flimsy details and lame excuses, did you really expect him to fall for it?"

Ye Chong wanted to retort, but seeing Ye Yunfeng's unfriendly tone, he didn't dare say another word.

"Leave."

"Yes."

Ye Chong left, thoroughly humiliated.

"He still needs more experience," Ye Yunfeng sighed, closing his eyes after Ye Chong had gone.

"Family Head, you don't need to be so anxious..." said a confidant standing by.

"I have to be. Anyone can see that Young Master Fong is stronger than him. If I still insist on giving him the position, he must mature."

"Family Head, in fact, we have all witnessed Young Master Fong's dedication to the Ye Family, and besides, he is also your..."

"You've said too much," Ye Yunfeng interrupted coldly.

"Yes, I was reckless..." The confidant broke out in a cold sweat and didn't dare to speak again.

「」

On his way to the medical hall, Xu Ke delivered the antidote to Lin Zhongtian, asking him to pass it along to Li Lang as well. That guy couldn't die yet.

Lin Zhongtian had waited for an entire day and had almost thought he was a dead man. He was immensely relieved to see Xu Ke finally appear.

"Thank you, Mister Xu!"

Xu Ke waved his hand dismissively and then asked, "Has there been any recent movement from the Long Capital Grand Alliance?"

Chen Xiong had mentioned that Wong Ting was sending someone new, but Xu Ke didn't believe that was their only move.

Lin Zhongtian looked conflicted. "I'm not too sure."

"I have something to do tomorrow, so I might not be able to stop by."

"Please, don't..." This terrified Lin Zhongtian, and he wailed, "I really don't know!"

Xu Ke sneered. Still pretending! How could he have lived in Long Capital for so many years and know nothing?

"I've been marginalized, I just... I heard they're planning to hold a competition in Tianhai." Lin Zhongtian finally relented under Xu Ke's dangerous gaze and told the truth.

Xu Ke's eyes narrowed. "Holding a competition in Tianhai?!"

What are they planning?