Ye Longlin's words caused Shi Hao's anger to surge, making his blood pressure feel like it was about to burst.
However, he managed to suppress it in the end, merely casting a deep glance at Ye Longlin.
"Mr. Ye is joking. I'll cover the tea expenses for your table."
Shi Hao did not linger, turning and leaving the teahouse. The moment he stepped out, his face turned completely grim.
Gazing at the falling snowflakes, he sneered, "Do you really think you can cover the sky with one hand?"
Ye Shuangquan also did not stop, leaving on his own. Only Li Mingliang remained, laughing heartily. For Li Mingliang, this was indeed a joyous occasion, as he had truly sided with Ye Longlin this time and no longer had to worry about Ye Longlin targeting his Li family in the future.
"Boss, should we head back now?"
Yuan Gang inquired about the day's schedule. There were no other arrangements or matters to attend to.
"I heard the Martial Arts Association is intervening?"
Ye Longlin suddenly spoke from inside the car, seemingly curious about the matter.
Yuan Gang nodded slightly. "There's a very high probability. The Shi family has already invited the Martial Arts Association, but the specific details are unclear. Regardless, their involvement is fine. There are already many conflicts between the Dragon Pavilion and the Martial Arts Association. It's good to resolve them this time. Anyway... once the 'Eight Thousand Years Old' rumored in the Martial Arts Association headquarters learns you are in Nan Province, they will surely make a move."
The conflict between the Martial Arts Association and the Dragon Pavilion had been ongoing for a long time. It started with competition for rankings on the Heavenly List and gradually evolved into a power struggle behind the scenes.
The Martial Arts Association was an organization of interests, or more accurately, a conglomerate of interests.
Behind the Martial Arts Association stood numerous influential figures, most of whom were on the opposing side of Ye Longlin, with little room for reconciliation.
The Great Xia publicly had only three martial arts organizations.
One was the Dragon Pavilion, an external violent agency composed of pure martial artists, and the Great Xia's strongest fighting force. A simple example is a team of ten people that can easily destroy a formation of a thousand people in just a few hours.
This was the combat power of the Dragon Pavilion.
Next was the Martial Arts Association. The Martial Arts Association was established with the intention of competing with Ye Longlin for the sole official designation as an external violent agency. However, they lost in the end, and the founder of the Martial Arts Association lost everything and retired.
Subsequently, the Martial Arts Association became a sharp sword against Ye Longlin, always seeking trouble with him whenever opportunities arose.
There was even a saying in the capital: "It is easier to shake a mountain than to shake the Dragon Pavilion!"
Finally, there was the Zhenwu Division. The Zhenwu Division held an extraordinary status, directly governed by the Hall of Honor, and was in charge of all martial artists in the Great Xia.
There were hundreds of thousands of registered martial artists.
While this number seemed large, it was actually quite small in the context of the entire Great Xia!
Considering the Great Xia's population of 1.4 billion, on average, there was only one martial artist for every three to four thousand people. Moreover, most of them had low cultivation levels. Those with high cultivation were typically from sects with mountain inheritance.
The current public leader of the Martial Arts Association was known as "Eight Thousand Years Old."
This appellation was quite significant.
In the Great Xia, "Ten Thousand Years Old" referred to the supreme being, followed by "Nine Thousand Years Old," and then "Eight Thousand Years Old."
Of course, this referred specifically to martial prowess. It was rumored that the Supreme Being was also a martial artist, and an unfathomably powerful one, though this was merely a rumor with no confirmation.
In summary, the Martial Arts Association was an entity capable of rivaling the Dragon Pavilion. In some aspects, their methods were more varied than the Dragon Pavilion's because they controlled public sentiment.
Who wouldn't aspire to leap over rooftops and walk on walls? Who wouldn't yearn for the martial world?
The Martial Arts Association capitalized on this, amassing wealth and garnering public support.
"They've simply been puffed up too much. Do they really think they have the strength to fight me?"
Ye Longlin sneered. For many years, the Dragon Pavilion's main focus had been overseas. Now that he had returned, it was time to settle accounts with those within the country.
Yuan Gang nodded in agreement and smiled slightly, "Although that is the case, we cannot deny their strength. In short, this dispute will not be over so quickly. Perhaps major figures will even intervene in the end? No one can say for sure."
"It seems they've forgotten the time when the Dragon Pavilion arrayed itself in the capital and I, as the King, made the entire capital suffocate. Very well, it's all on me. On the line from Nan Province to the capital, I want a list of everyone who chased my father and me back then. Settle them one by one."
"Understood."
"By the way, here is the information on the three sons of the Shi family. Shi Yi arrived here this morning. Of course, Shi Yi is not worth much attention. What is worth noting is Shi Hao's third brother, Shi Potian.
This Shi Potian is a deputy director with the Dragon Investigation Bureau in Rongcheng. He is coming here to investigate, and Nan Province is cooperating fully. They claim to be investigating a case, but it's merely a pretext for Rongcheng and Nan Province, with the ultimate goal of dealing with you."
Yuan Gang curled his lips, showing disdain for their actions. However, not everyone could break the rules as they did.
People at a certain level could be divided into two types: those who make the rules, and those who follow them.
Ye Longlin, however, belonged to a third category: the rule-breakers.
This was also the reason why he caused headaches for so many.
"Where is Shi Yi? Let's make him the first target."
Since the Shi family had decided to deal with him, there was no need for him to let them continue.
Striking first and catching them off guard was his usual practice.
"There's a charity gala tonight with many female celebrities in attendance, and it's also a gathering of business magnates. He will be attending representing the Shi family of Rongcheng."
Yuan Gang understood Ye Longlin's intention and immediately sent out a message.
In the villa, Mu Hanqi was on the phone with Mu Ye.
"Dad, do you agree or not? Although it's a bit much money, it's profitable in the future. You're a financial magnate in Xingcheng, you won't disagree with this little bit of money, will you? No way, no way! As one of the financial magnates, you can't even produce twenty billion?"
Mu Ye: "......"
"Are you suspecting I'm trying to trick you?! Daughter, do you know what twenty billion means? Do you think it's easy to come up with? Casually ask a few industrial companies if they have over twenty million in liquid assets, and even those that can produce five million are considered industry leaders.
Do you think your dad is an ATM? By the way, how are things between you and Mr. Ye? Looking at the photos you posted on your social media, you seem quite intimate. Have you won Mr. Ye over?"