Inside a meticulously designed and elegant private room at Hong Chen Guan, several young men, distinguished in both attire and demeanor, were scattered in twos and threes, lounging casually on soft leather sofas. They sipped fine wine, with attractive girls of good figure and appearance accompanying them.
"Brother Mingzhe, I've invited you three times, and you've finally deigned to grace us with your presence," Xu Luo, over 1.8 meters tall and dressed in black casual wear, said. His build was not muscular, but his clothes fit him perfectly. He wore no superfluous adornments, and his neat short hair, combined with his exceptionally handsome face, was indeed quite charming.
"Brother Luo, please don't joke with me. It's all my fault. I'll punish myself with three cups first." Fang Mingzhe poured three full cups and downed them one after another.
"Haha, it's been a while. Brother Mingzhe, your skill in freeloading is still as adept as ever. I admire you." Xu Luo laughed heartily, also pouring and finishing a cup.
Seeing this, the other young masters in the room also drank with forced smiles, but found it difficult to interject. Although it was a gathering, their status was clearly a level below Xu Luo and Fang Mingzhe. It would be more fitting to say they were there to make up the numbers and provide a backdrop.
"Something big happened in Linzhou these past few days. Does Brother Mingzhe know about it?" Xu Luo poured another cup for Fang Mingzhe and asked.
Fang Mingzhe's eyes flickered with a hidden glint. He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and smiled, "Among the recent events in Linzhou, the only one that could be called significant is probably the matter concerning Fengyun Tang, right?"
Hearing Xu Luo and Fang Mingzhe's conversation, the other young masters quieted down considerably, listening intently. They were also quite curious about the recent events in Linzhou.
Xu Luo nodded and said, "It's strange, really. Fengyun Tang suffered such a significant loss at the hands of the Su family, and it's been two days, yet the mighty Hongmen hasn't reacted at all. It's quite puzzling."
"I'm also quite puzzled," Fang Mingzhe agreed naturally, casually adding, "Speaking of which, about a year ago, Brother Xu Luo's third uncle seemed to have some entanglement with that Su family. I wonder how it was resolved in the end?"
Upon hearing this, two of the other young masters in the room, who were drinking, immediately straightened up, their expressions turning serious. These two were none other than the young masters of the Zhu and Lin families in Linzhou. They had been present during the previous dispute between the Su family and Xu Shichang and naturally knew how that matter was ultimately resolved.
"It seems the Su family produced a major general, and Secretary Song also made an appearance, which is why it ended inconclusively," Xu Luo said casually, as if recalling.
"Secretary Song?" Fang Mingzhe asked.
Xu Luo glanced at Fang Mingzhe, then nodded with a half-smile.
"If Brother Mingzhe has anything else you wish to know, feel free to ask. With the bond between us brothers, why bother with these detours?" Xu Luo smiled and said frankly.
Fang Mingzhe couldn't help but let out a wry smile and said, "To be honest, I've had some grievances with the Su family recently. I didn't pay much attention at first, but now it seems I've underestimated the Su family."
"Hehe, Brother Mingzhe, you worry too much. With your Ru Nan family background, why should you fear them?"
"Brother Luo, I understand what you mean. No matter what kind of figure the Su family produces, they are ultimately just a small family with limited resources," Fang Mingzhe shook his head.
"However, I've been feeling uneasy these past two days, as if something bad is about to happen," Fang Mingzhe said, frowning. He had always trusted his intuition, and ever since he had this feeling, his heart had been in his throat, unable to find peace.
Hearing this, Xu Luo smiled slightly and placed a hand on Fang Mingzhe's shoulder, intending to comfort him.
Just then, an unfamiliar voice rang out...
"It seems your intuition is quite accurate." At some unknown time, Zhang Fan had appeared in the room. He smiled, his gaze fixed on Fang Mingzhe, and said, "Your intuition is quite accurate."
"Who are you?" Fang Mingzhe looked up at Zhang Fan, frowning.
"Zhang Fan?" Only the young masters from the Zhu and Lin families had seen Zhang Fan in person, so they recognized him immediately.
"He's Zhang Fan?" Suddenly, all eyes in the room turned to Zhang Fan, filled with surprise.
Xu Luo was also seeing Zhang Fan for the first time and observed the man who had always been the subject of rumors. He was less than 1.8 meters tall, a few centimeters shorter than himself. As for his looks, Xu Luo could only describe him as delicate, far from handsome. His attire was also very casual, the kind of person who would blend into a crowd without attracting attention.
"Zhang Fan, this is Young Master Xu's territory. What are you doing here?" the young master from the Zhu family asked. He had been slapped by Zhang Fan before and still felt some apprehension towards him. However, today, with many influential people present, and with Xu Luo and Fang Mingzhe here, he believed that even Zhang Fan wouldn't dare to act recklessly.
"Little Zhu, that's not the right way to put it." Xu Luo waved his hands repeatedly and then turned to Zhang Fan with a cordial smile, "Since Brother Zhang has come, it's fate. Why don't we all sit down and have a few drinks?" Xu Luo enthusiastically offered to host Zhang Fan, but Zhang Fan unhesitatingly refused, waving his hand. He then pointed at Fang Mingzhe, who was sitting next to Xu Luo, and said, "I've come here tonight to say a few words to him."
"What words?" Fang Mingzhe had been staring at Zhang Fan the entire time. From the moment Zhang Fan appeared, he had realized that Zhang Fan was likely here for him.
"Because of some unforgivable mistakes you've made in the past, I've devised a plan to punish you." Zhang Fan looked down at Fang Mingzhe and slowly said, "From today onwards, every time you wake up, you'll find that... I advise you not to sleep..."
...