Maran Ma wore casual clothes, his hair meticulously styled, and a faint smile lingered at the corner of his mouth.
Having just returned from overseas, and as a direct heir of the Ma Family (Ancient-Martial Ma Clan), Maran carried a natural sense of superiority from an early age.
That kind of aura made him stand out sharply among his peers.
As a member of the Ma Family (Ancient-Martial Ma Clan), Maran came to Harborview City this time with one goal: to win over Tanya Zhan, the girl he'd always had his eye on since their youth.
But ever since Tanya left halfway through their meal last time after taking a phone call, Maran had made inquiries and learned that the person on the other end was most likely Master Lin from Seacrest.
Maran didn't take this Master Lin from Seacrest seriously at all.
From start to finish, he never paid any attention to someone like Master Lin from Seacrest.
Seacrest.
Just a tiny place.
How strong could a so-called master from that place possibly be?
Even after arriving in Harborview, Maran’s informants brought him countless legends about Master Lin from Seacrest.
Like the burial of Mo Yang on Thousand-Saints Mountain, the battle against the Jin Family over West Lake, or single-handedly shaking five major families.
But so what?
"A little Rivercrest—just a trinket in the pocket of my Ma Family (Ancient-Martial Ma Clan)."
"Before, it was just that my Ma Family (Ancient-Martial Ma Clan) hadn’t bothered to look this way. Now that we’re interested, do you really think a minor Master Lin from Seacrest can run wild here?"
"So what if you’re a young Pointing-to-Mystery expert? There are countless geniuses in this world, but only a handful survive and grow up. No matter how strong you are, can you compare to the elders of my Ancient-Martial Clan?"
Whenever Maran remembered that day—when Tanya Zhan took that phone call and ditched him without a second thought to find Master Lin from Seacrest—a blaze of anger would flare up in his chest.
Why?
What makes Master Lin from Seacrest’s background more impressive than mine?
What makes Master Lin from Seacrest more knowledgeable than me?
What makes Master Lin from Seacrest more handsome than me?
What makes Master Lin from Seacrest better than me in any way?
Impossible.
Maran was overflowing with confidence.
He didn’t have to wait long outside the Zhan estate.
A Lamborghini approached from the distance.
"Why are you here?"
The window rolled down, and Tanya Zhan leaned out from the driver’s seat, looking at Maran with genuine surprise.
"Just dropping by your place—hope you don’t mind?"
Maran smiled, holding the bouquet in his hands. "Besides that, I might need to meet your family’s patriarch."
"There are some things we need to talk about."
Maran looked at Tanya Zhan, his voice calm.
"You want to meet my grandfather?"
Tanya was taken aback.
In her eyes, Maran was just a friend she used to hang out with.
Even though Maran’s family was well-off, Tanya had never known exactly what his family did, nor had she ever asked.
She always assumed his family had nothing to do with the Zhan Family.
Now, hearing Maran ask to meet the Zhan patriarch, Tanya hesitated.
"Sorry, our family is pretty busy these days. If you need help, just ask me directly."
"If it’s something I can help with, I definitely will."
Tanya carefully chose her words.
These past few days, everyone in the Zhan Family had been investigating Uncle Cheng.
They wanted to use Uncle Cheng as a starting point to track the Ma Family (Ancient-Martial Ma Clan)’s movements. After all, the Ma Family had recently gotten on Evan Lin’s bad side.
If the Ma Family (Ancient-Martial Ma Clan) ever clashed with Evan Lin, the Zhan Family would definitely stand with Evan.
The Zhan Family understood just how powerful an Ancient-Martial Clan could be, so right now they were treading carefully—doing their best to find clues about the Ma Family (Ancient-Martial Ma Clan), pass them to Evan Lin, and ensure their own survival if trouble broke out.
The Zhan patriarch’s personality was nothing like the easy-going manner he showed when meeting Evan Lin.
As the head of such a massive family business, he couldn’t possibly be polite to everyone.
"It’s not my problem—it’s your Zhan Family’s problem."
Maran shook his head and walked to the other side of the car, opened the door, and got in without bothering to ask Tanya’s permission.
"The flowers are for you."
He set the flowers inside the car, smiling as he looked at Tanya Zhan, who was already frowning.
"Maran, I don’t think this is anything to joke about."
Tanya had always felt a vague discomfort about Maran’s uninvited presence; seeing him get in the car without asking made her even more annoyed: "I’m only telling you this as a friend. My grandfather isn’t easy to talk to, and he’s really busy these days."
"I hope you understand."
"Now, please get out of the car."
Tanya’s voice was a little cold.
She was already considering how to keep her distance from Maran after this. Maybe it was because she used to see him as a good friend that she agreed to have dinner together.
Is that why Maran is pushing his luck now?
"Do you know my surname?"
Maran leaned back in his seat, showing no intention of leaving.
"Ma. What about it?"
Tanya responded automatically.
Maran didn’t say anything else.
The atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
Tanya’s heart skipped a beat. She suddenly realized something, and her eyes widened as she stared at Maran sitting in the passenger seat, her face turning pale.
"Figured it out?"
Maran smiled: "Your Zhan Family has been investigating the Ma Family (Ancient-Martial Ma Clan) these days. The Ma Family member you’re looking for is right in front of you."
"Tanya Zhan, today I’m not here as your friend Maran—I’m here as Maran Ma of the Ma Family (Ancient-Martial Ma Clan)."
"Now, drive. Take me to your family’s patriarch."
Maran’s words grew colder and more mocking as he spoke.
The Lamborghini started up and drove into the Zhan estate.
Meanwhile, a bullet train sped along the tracks from Harborview all the way to Oceanport.
Evan Lin gazed out the window at the blur of lights rushing past, his expression calm and indifferent.
A cold, intimidating aura radiated from him, making it hard for anyone to look directly at him.
Passengers within five meters instinctively changed seats.
"Zhong Shiyu, Professor Zhong, are you an idiot?"
Evan Lin muttered to himself, a faint fire burning in his eyes: "How many times have I told you—call me if there’s a problem."
"Trying to handle it yourself just to avoid troubling me?"
"Youth-Preserving Beauty Pill—what a Youth-Preserving Beauty Pill."
Evan Lin’s expression grew even colder.
Not long after.
The bullet train stopped at Oceanport Station.
At the station exit.
Everyone felt the temperature around them rising.
It was as if flames were burning beside everyone.
Soon enough.
The crowd instinctively parted to the sides.
From the station exit, a youth burning with fiery energy strode out, as everyone avoided him.