Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO

After Duan Jia finished speaking, he observed Xu Ke's expression.

Xu Ke's face was now filled with confusion.

Duan Jia added, "The boss asked me to tell you just these things. I had Bug treat the brothers to a meal at Global. If you want to confirm the truth, you can call him over for questioning right away."

After hearing this, Xu Ke waved his hand to indicate that it wasn't necessary. "You've all worked hard. Whatever the brothers want to eat, it's on me."

"It's nothing, really."

Duan Jia hurriedly waved his hand, and seeing that Xu Ke was fine, he took his leave.

Xu Ke paid his departure no mind, murmuring to himself, "This doesn't make sense!"

What is going on here? How much of their story could be believed? Did they really live in Huayuan Community? He couldn't figure it out right now. As for whether they would stop observing Xu Yi, he would just have Tang Yingchang keep an eye out tomorrow...

「...」

By the time Xu Ke left the medical hall, numerous accounts on social media had started posting apologies to him.

Most of them claimed they had only written those critical articles about Xu Ke to chase clout, get famous, and attract attention, asserting that it was all fake.

While each account's story was slightly different, the bottom line was that they were all apologizing.

Coupled with the Wang Family's public relations efforts, the public images of Xu Ke and Wong Qifu had finally improved and were no longer so dire.

When Xu Ke saw these posts, a cold smile hung on his lips.

Their original actions had nothing to do with chasing clout; they were simply bought off by the Ye and Huang Families. Now, even though they couldn't withstand his pressure, they didn't dare reveal the truth for fear of offending the Ye and Huang Families.

Xu Ke made a mental note of the matter. He didn't have time to pursue it right now.

「...」

After arriving at Junyue Residence, Xu Ke received a call from Chen Xiong.

"Alliance Leader Chen, what's the matter?"

"I have three pieces of news for you, none of them good," Chen Xiong said, his voice grave.

That tone... Xu Ke's expression tensed. Just a second ago, he had learned that the venue for the Martial Alliance selection contest was being changed. Now Chen Xiong was calling. Xu Ke couldn't help but immediately connect the two events.

"Please, go ahead."

"One is what I've told you before," Chen Xiong said. "The Long Capital Grand Alliance sent an elder named Jin Hankang to serve as a referee for the Martial Alliance selection contest. He was originally just a retired honorary elder of the Martial Alliance."

"Normally, a retired elder should stay put, but who would have thought that the Sui City Martial Alliance Leader, who was scheduled to be the local referee, would suddenly fall ill."

"So, the people from Long Capital suggested that Jin Hankang come out to get some exercise and see some new faces."

Xu Ke let out a cold laugh.

These people... their excuse-making skills are top-notch!

"Generally, the local Martial Alliance selection contest consists of three referees: a representative from the Grand Alliance, a representative from the host city, and someone who has been awarded a medal by the national Martial Alliance."

"The person with the medal isn't that important. The problem is that now the representatives for both the Grand Alliance and the host city are from the Grand Alliance."

"That's why I think this is bad news."

Xu Ke pondered for a moment before replying, "That shouldn't be such bad news, should it? Even as a referee, he can't exactly distort the facts in public, can he?"

"I don't think so either."

Chen Xiong gave a bitter smile. "But I consider it bad news precisely because I can't guess what they're planning to do."

"The Sui City Alliance Leader is much healthier than I am, yet he suddenly fell ill. How could there not be something fishy about that?"

"When the competition starts, it's guaranteed they'll make a move against us."

Hearing the word 'us', a slight smile touched Xu Ke's lips.

Wong Ting's targeting of him had, by extension, implicated Tianhai, forcing Chen Xiong to take a side.

"Indeed. I wonder, if I went to the Sui City Alliance Leader right now and offered to treat his illness, could I send that old coot Jin Hankang packing to go wait for his death?"

Xu Ke couldn't help but laugh.

Chen Xiong laughed as well but shook his head. "No chance. I already thought of that. But he claimed he was going abroad for treatment and had already left on a flight."

Xu Ke gave a wry laugh.

It seemed the other party was determined not to get involved in this mess.

"What about the other news, Grandpa Chen?"

"The other news..." Chen Xiong hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Because the Sui City Alliance Leader is indisposed, they said they want to move the venue to Tianhai."

"Why?"

"They said Tianhai is closer and that with an Alliance Leader present, it would be luckier..."

Luckier? Xu Ke sneered. What a load of crap.

Then, his expression suddenly hardened. "What about the representative judge for the host location?"

He wasn't worried about defeating Qian Jun head-on; he was worried these people would resort to underhanded tactics! If Chen Xiong could become a judge because of this, Xu Ke could rest a little easier.

But Chen Xiong gave a wry smile. "I told Elder Jin he needn't make a special trip. Since they're moving the event to Tianhai, I said I could act as the judge."

"But they rejected me. They told me to just enjoy watching the match and said that Elder Jin would be arriving shortly anyway."

Upon hearing this, Xu Ke's expression immediately turned grim.

They wouldn't even let Chen Xiong be a judge, a position he should have held by the rules. They clearly had no respect for him! These guys were obviously doing this to curry favor with Wong Ting, showing outright contempt for Chen Xiong. This was the signal Wong Ting was sending: 'You let Xu Ke participate, and I'll make sure you can't survive in the Martial Alliance.'

"Don't worry, Qian Jun cannot possibly win," Xu Ke reassured him.

Chen Xiong hummed in acknowledgment, then added, "Everyone agreed to their idea, so I consented as well."

"When the time comes, the Martial Alliance will have all the Tianhai families and powers registered in its records attend the selection competition."

"You must be careful!"

Xu Ke's gaze deepened.

Wong Ting's motive was simple. He just wanted to utterly humiliate him in Tianhai! To defeat him on his own turf! That way, not only would Xu Ke be disgraced, but the other five families would also get to laugh at the Wang Family's expense.

"There's one last piece of news."

"The original registration list has been completely altered, citing the time needed to change the venue and referees as an excuse."

Chen Xiong took a deep breath.

Xu Ke's expression hardened once more. Wong Ting is truly acting like an unchecked tyrant! According to Martial Alliance rules, such critical changes do indeed allow for contestants to be replaced upon request, but normally, nobody does it! Now, everyone is swapping out their contenders as if they're all in on it. How could Wong Ting not be behind this?

"After the changes, are their contenders stronger?" Xu Ke asked after a moment's thought.

"Exactly!" Chen Xiong took a deep breath, his tone no longer just grave but filled with deep worry. "They all have a cultivation of at least the Innate Middle Stage."

"And there are five twenty-nine-year-olds who have reached the Postnatal Late Stage. Aside from you and Qian Jun, they are the strongest geniuses!"

Hearing this, Xu Ke burst into a laugh born of fury. "This guy... he'll really stop at nothing to get me!"

Five talents comparable to Chen Haiming? Where did Wong Ting even find them?