As mentioned earlier, Gracefield Town has five martial families, but the Chu Family is the strongest, controlling half of all the town's industries.
From pharmacies, cloth shops, banks, weapon stores to restaurants and brothels, the Chu Family has a hand in nearly every line of business.
The Chu Family's largest restaurant in Gracefield is called Linjiang Pavilion.
The manager of Linjiang Pavilion is Charles Chu, who also serves as the Chu Family's business steward.
Right after Elder Ethan Xu entered the Chu estate in his carriage...
A squad of armed martial artists swaggered into Linjiang Pavilion. Their leader was Henry Li, a Li Family squad captain whose cultivation had reached the second level of the Divine Power Stage.
"Henry Li, what's the meaning of this?"
Charles Chu stared at Henry Li, his face darkening as he asked.
"Charles Chu, why are you playing dumb? Don’t you get why I’m here yet?" Henry Li sneered.
Charles Chu’s heart skipped a beat, but he didn’t back down. He said firmly, "If you’re here to eat, you’re welcome. If you’re here for something else, please leave!"
Henry Li burst out laughing. "Charles Chu, you still don’t get it, do you? The Chu Family is finished! I’m here on behalf of my patriarch to take over Linjiang Pavilion. If you cooperate, maybe you’ll get to keep your job as manager."
"Don’t even think about it! I’d rather die than betray the Chu Family!" Charles Chu replied coldly, his resolve unwavering.
Henry Li’s eyes flashed with a vicious light. He sneered, "If you’re so stubborn, then go ahead and die!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Henry Li suddenly drew his sword, a flash of lightning stabbing toward Charles Chu.
But at that moment—
A streak of black light flashed.
"Clang!"
The black light struck the blade directly.
Henry Li was shocked—he couldn’t hold onto his sword, which flew from his grip and clattered to the side.
Then, an old man in green robes strode into the restaurant.
"Henry Li, you must have a death wish to dare cause trouble in Chu Family territory!"
Seeing the elder, Henry Li's face turned ghostly pale. "You... What are you doing here?"
The newcomer was none other than Chu Mingshan, one of the Chu Family's four elders and a first-stage Divine Sea expert.
"Greetings, Elder Mingshan. Is the patriarch all right?"
The moment Chu Mingshan arrived, Charles Chu finally breathed a sigh of relief and quickly bowed in respect.
"You did well. The patriarch won't be disappointed!"
Chu Mingshan spoke to Charles Chu, then turned his gaze back to Henry Li. "Get out!"
"Yes, sir! We're leaving right now!"
Henry Li, as if granted amnesty, hurriedly led his men out of Linjiang Pavilion.
"Elder Mingshan, are we really just letting them go?" Charles Chu asked, still confused and starting to wonder if something had happened to the patriarch.
"Don't overthink it! Just focus on running Linjiang Pavilion. The Lee Family will answer to the patriarch himself!" Chu Mingshan replied.
"That's a relief!" Charles Chu nodded.
Actually, it wasn't just Linjiang Pavilion—several major Chu Family businesses had come under attack from the Lee Family.
But Ian Chu had planned ahead, sending all four elders and elite guards to watch over the key industries, knowing that as soon as the Feng Family made a move, someone else would try to exploit the chaos.
Soon, Stephen Li received word that his men had been blocked at every site.
"How could this happen?" he muttered, baffled. He immediately summoned his informants to ask about the Chu estate.
"Patriarch, according to our spies, after Ethan Xu entered the Chu compound, he never came out. And the Chu Family hasn't revealed anything about what happened inside!"
Hearing this, Stephen Li's heart sank. Could it be that Ian Chu survived?
But he quickly dismissed the thought. With a Core Formation master on the scene, how could Ian Chu possibly still be alive?
Still, if Ian Chu was dead, why did the Chu Family still have enough strength to protect their businesses?
But just one hour later, everything changed.
An invitation was delivered to the Lee residence.
When Stephen Li opened the invitation, his face went deathly pale and he nearly collapsed into his chair. It was personally handwritten by Evan Chu, inviting him to a banquet at the Chu estate that very night.
At the same time, Roger Qin, and the patriarchs of the Zhou and Wang families also received invitations personally written by Evan Chu.
Up until this moment, no news had leaked from the Chu estate.
But Evan Chu had sent out invitations.
What did this mean? Was it some kind of trick?
The three patriarchs were all left scratching their heads in confusion.
Meanwhile, martial artists all over Gracefield Town were dying of curiosity—was Evan Chu dead or alive?
If he was dead, why was the Chu estate so calm? And why hadn’t Ethan Xu, the Core Formation master, come out since entering?
Time slipped by, and soon evening arrived.
The carriages of the Qin, Lee, Zhou, and Wang families arrived one after another at the Chu estate.
Whether Evan Chu was dead or alive, they’d know as soon as they stepped inside.
The one who came out to welcome the four patriarchs was Sam Chu, the Chu Family’s chief steward.
Roger Qin, Stephen Li, and the Zhou and Wang patriarchs all eyed each other, hoping to read something from Sam Chu’s face. But the newly appointed chief steward just wore a warm, unreadable smile.
Stephen Li, who cared most about Ian Song’s fate, finally couldn’t hold back and asked, “Steward Chu, is your patriarch well?”
At that, the other three patriarchs perked up their ears.
Sam Chu’s expression suddenly turned cold. “Thank you for your concern, Patriarch Li, but our patriarch is perfectly fine.” He spoke with icy calm—word of the Lee Family’s attempt to seize Chu industries had already spread throughout the clan, and as chief steward he had little goodwill left for Stephen Li.
Hearing this, Stephen Li couldn’t help shouting, “Impossible! How could Evan Chu possibly survive a Core Formation master? I don’t believe it!”
Sam Chu snorted. “What’s that supposed to mean, Patriarch Li? Are you hoping our patriarch is dead?”
Stephen Li’s face twisted with rage as he roared, “Don’t try to bluff me! There’s no way, that thief Evan Chu is definitely dead!”
Sam Chu snapped, “Stephen Li, watch your mouth! Our patriarch is alive and well, and I won’t let you spread nonsense here. If you keep it up, don’t blame me for throwing you out!”
“You must have a death wish! Who do you think you are, daring to throw me out?”
With a furious shout, Stephen Li suddenly lunged, reaching out to grab Sam Chu.
The other three patriarchs were startled and immediately stepped forward to block Stephen Li, urging, “Brother Li, calm down! Don’t do anything rash!”
“Get out of my way! I’m going to kill this old fool!”
Stephen Li kept shouting, refusing to back down.
“Step aside, all of you. I’d like to see how he plans to kill the Chu Family’s steward!”
Just then, a cool voice rang out. Everyone turned to see Ian Song, dressed in white, strolling over with a calm look in his eyes, though a hint of coldness flickered within.
Instinctively, Roger Qin, Stephen Li, and the Zhou and Wang patriarchs all focused their gaze on Ian Song.
Roger Qin’s face lit up with genuine joy. “Virtuous nephew, seeing you safe puts my mind at ease!”
“That’s right! It’s great news that Chu’s virtuous nephew is unharmed!” echoed the Zhou and Wang patriarchs.
Only Stephen Li stood there, pale and trembling, unable to get a word out for a long time.