This meal lasted until past two in the afternoon. Just as Zhang Heng was about to leave, Bai Yiling and Shen Ruobing each gave him a good amount of the "Happy Wine" and "Drunken Chicken" they had brought.
"Xiao Fan, let's chat for a bit longer!"
As they parted, Zhang Heng pulled Cheng Xiao Fan aside and asked with a serious expression, "When do you plan to set off for Forsman Island to find Meng Li?"
Cheng Xiao Fan smiled slightly and replied, "Teacher, if all goes according to plan, after Laura returns this time, Meng Li, the sect leader of the demonic cultivators, will call me within two days."
"I plan to go over after this furniture exhibition. If they behave, I'll incorporate them into a force and station them in the US."
Hearing this, Zhang Heng narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Xiao Fan, from what I understand, the demonic cultivators carry too much bloodlust. They might not obey you!"
Cheng Xiao Fan chuckled, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes. He said indifferently, "Then I will use the Demonic Bone Saber in my hand to completely annihilate them!"
Zhang Heng nodded, his tone turning cautious. "Xiao Fan, after all, it's on foreign soil. You must remember one thing: do not cause too much of a scene."
"Don't worry, Teacher. I know what I'm doing!" Cheng Xiao Fan understood that as a man of the government, Zhang Heng was inevitably hesitant when dealing with certain matters.
As for how he would handle things on Forsman Island, he had his own methods.
He didn't have so many damn scruples; he would just act freely.
At this moment, Zhang Heng suddenly changed the subject and said with a smile, "Xiao Fan, I see Melina treats you very well. As the ancients say, a wise rabbit has three burrows. Teacher's suggestion is that you might as well leave yourself a burrow abroad!"
"..." Damn it!
Cheng Xiao Fan looked at his mentor, utterly bewildered.
Was this what a teacher would say to his student?
Why hadn't I noticed you were this kind of person back then?
He increasingly felt that this kindly old man was full of mischief!
"Teacher, I'm a decent person. Don't corrupt me!" Cheng Xiao Fan said with a serious expression.
Zhang Heng heard this and let out a sinister chuckle, leaning close to Cheng Xiao Fan's ear, "Brat, don't pretend to be decent in front of me. Do you think I'm blind to what's going on between you and Shen Ruobing?"
"Teacher, believe it or not, I'll take back everything I just gave you?" Cheng Xiao Fan ignored the old man's threat and said through gritted teeth.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Heng panicked, "No, no, no! Xiao Fan, I was just joking!"
"Of course, my joke also contains righteousness. Whether you heed it or not is your business; I won't force you!"
With that, he hugged the items given by Bai Yiling tightly to his chest and turned to leave.
After Cheng Xiao Fan watched his former mentor depart, he couldn't help but shake his head. He thought, after so many years, this lovable old man had become bad.
Thinking about how he had painstakingly refined a pile of Dragon Candle Pills for them, why hadn't he even mentioned it this time they met?
Didn't he know he hadn't received a single cent yet?
Didn't Old Lu say that I had earned a great merit for saving Melina, and the Jianghu Affairs Bureau headquarters had recorded it? Why wasn't any reward mentioned?
Where was the generous mentor of the past?
Forget it!
I won't bicker with this old fellow!
Cheng Xiao Fan immediately found Bai Yiling and Shen Ruobing and asked them when the furniture for the exhibition could be delivered.
Shen Ruobing smiled, "Master, it should arrive around four in the afternoon. Bai Jie and I will head to the exhibition venue to take a look."
Cheng Xiao Fan smiled and said, "I already scouted out the assigned exhibition spot this morning. Since I have nothing else to do, I'll take you guys to see it!"
"Thank you, Master!" Shen Ruobing replied.
Melina had originally planned to go with Cheng Xiao Fan, but due to a last-minute arrangement, she couldn't make it.
After Melina left, Bai Yiling asked Cheng Xiao Fan, "Xiao Fan, have you settled Melina's matter?"
Cheng Xiao Fan said, "Her matter has been resolved. I was planning to return this afternoon when I received your call!"
Bai Yiling smiled, "I had heard of her reputation in City C long ago, especially her father, Miller, who is a famous pro-China figure."
"What impressed me the most was an occasion when Miller visited City C. I was fortunate enough to be present. He chatted with me for about ten minutes, discussing the local customs and various anecdotes of City C."
"I never would have imagined that a foreigner would have such a thorough understanding of some of China's local history and legends!"
Cheng Xiao Fan smiled and said, "Perhaps it is precisely because of this that Melina's matter received special attention from the authorities. Fortunately, I lived up to expectations and resolved the issue completely!"
In his heart, however, he knew that with the demonic cultivators on Forsman not yet dealt with, the matter could not truly be considered completely resolved.
Even though he controlled the Demonic Bone Saber, the group of demonic cultivators led by Meng Li would not easily admit defeat to him.
"Xiao Fan, are you going to the US recently?" Bai Yiling had learned from Zhang Heng and Cheng Xiao Fan's conversation that those demonic cultivators active on Forsman Island were quite troublesome.
Cheng Xiao Fan nodded and said, "In the next day or two, I have to go. If I don't, they will eventually target Melina."
"Those demonic cultivators know how important Melina is to China, so they can use this to try and snatch the Demonic Bone Saber back from me."
"Is this Demonic Bone Saber really that important to the demonic cultivators?" Shen Ruobing asked, having been quiet for a while.
Cheng Xiao Fan smiled slightly and said, "I don't care how important the Demonic Bone Saber is to them. I only know it is very important to me."
"Since it has fallen into my hands, no one will ever take it from me!"
It was a joke! The scabbard of the Seven Stars Converging, crafted by Shennong in ancient times, was gifted to the Demon Ancestor, who then passed it on to me. This was considered a return to the rightful owner.
This scabbard and the Demonic Bone were a perfect match, destined to be together. Now that they were in my possession, they would never be separated!
The three of them talked as they walked towards the park opposite.
The workers were making rapid progress. By this time, the entire exhibition area was almost fully set up. Local vendors had also claimed spots around the perimeter to set up various food stalls.
Many cars were parked in various places within the park, and furniture was being transported into its designated areas.
"Oh, isn't this President Shen?"
Just then, a sarcastic voice suddenly rang out, "I say, Shen Ruobing, weren't you supposed to have closed down your furniture company in City C? How did you suddenly reappear this time?"