A murmur arose in the coffee shop.
Not only were people from the Li Qi Sect whispering amongst themselves, but those from the Xing Shi Sect also cast glances between Yuan Fei and Lin Fan, their hearts in their mouths.
"President Song, can't we discuss this back at the guild, must you choose this moment?"
An Hai looked at Song Tian with a face full of anger.
"Old An, now is not the time for favoritism. All your colleagues from the Feng Shui world are here. If we're made to run around in circles by Lin Fan alone, won't it become a huge joke?"
With things having reached this point, Song Tian could only choose to believe his disciple, Yuan Fei.
"You..."
An Hai saw that he was stubborn as a mule, iron-willed, and angrily waved his sleeve, choosing to ignore him.
Zhong Chen said calmly, "President Song, what if there is no such matter to be found?"
"The person has been brought here, the facts are clear as day, it's clearly..."
"I said, what if Xiao Fan is innocent? What will you do?"
Zhong Chen repeated himself, his voice heavy, before Song Tian could finish.
Song Tian was taken aback, knowing that the usually placid Zhong Chen was angered.
He glanced at his disciple. This was no time for jokes!
Yuan Fei nodded gently, signaling for him to rest assured.
After all, when these two were apprehended, they were terrified beyond belief. If they had nothing to hide, would they have acted like that?
Thinking thus, Yuan Fei mused, "I definitely didn't misjudge!"
Zhong Chen, impatient, said, "Since you're unwilling to speak, I will."
"Now is a time when all members of the association should unite and overcome difficulties. If it is proven that Yuan Fei fabricated rumors, slandered my disciple, and undermined the unity and stability of the Xing Shi Sect, should he not be expelled from the association immediately? What do you say?"
"This..."
Song Tian was speechless and greatly shocked.
He actually wanted to expel Yuan Fei from the association!
Wouldn't that be like sentencing Yuan Fei to death in advance?
After over a decade of training, he might have to leave the Feng Shui world in an instant, his name unremembered, and never to achieve fame in his lifetime!
Song Tian's expression turned grim. The stakes were too high, and he was already showing signs of wanting to back down.
As he was in a dilemma, a stout, dark-skinned middle-aged man entered, accompanied by two disciples from the Xing Shi Sect.
"Hey, I say, you outsiders, what are you doing here?"
As the stout man entered, his first sight was of the furious old gambler and the crying primary schooler.
"I apologize, Zhong apologies here."
Zhong Chen cupped his hands and smiled, "Can I double the promised prize money for you?"
"Uh? This... look at this mess, how could this happen."
The stout man was stunned for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face.
"Damn it, I thought it was just some small matter, turns out you old dog are stirring things up!"
The old gambler saw the shop owner and, furious, rolled up his sleeves, ready to make a move.
"Hey, hey, hey, let's talk it over."
The stout man pleaded while backing away.
Fortunately, there were young, strong disciples standing between the two, preventing any physical altercation.
"Boss, we called you here to ask if these two, an old man and a child, are regulars at your shop?"
Zhong Chen asked.
"Yes, oh, no."
The stout man first nodded, then shook his head.
Yuan Fei pressed further and threatened, "Is it or is it not? If you dare to lie, I'll make you regret it!"
Seeing his fierce and menacing demeanor, the stout man trembled.
"He's a regular at the shop, isn't that right, Old Li?"
"Hmph! I'll settle with you later!"
The old gambler glared at the stout man.
"This little brat, I don't know where he goes to school. He came here to buy lottery tickets behind his parents' backs and told me his father let him buy them. Now that he hasn't won, he wants me to refund his money. Where on earth is such logic? Besides, I didn't print the lottery tickets, I only earn a small amount, how can I refund him?"
The boss grumbled, complaining.
The coffee shop fell silent for a moment. Zhong Chen said loudly, "Yuan Fei, you can't possibly say the boss is in league with them, can you? Otherwise, let these two tell us their home addresses, and we can all pay them a visit?"
Without waiting for Yuan Fei's reply, Zhong Chen turned to the old man and the child and said, "Don't worry, we are conducting a bet. Now, someone suspects you of colluding with those present. As long as you can prove your innocence, no matter how much you lost on lottery tickets, I will personally compensate you."
Upon hearing this, the old gambler's spirits immediately lifted. "I am willing to cooperate! My home is at Building 8, Unit 2, Apartment 302, in the nearby Qionglin residential area. His home is in Building 7, Unit 1, I don't know the apartment number."
The primary schooler wiped his eyes and choked out, "Grandpa, Uncle, please don't tell my dad, okay? Dad will hit me."
Zhong Chen smiled kindly and nodded, "Alright, we won't ask."
He put on a stern face, looked at Yuan Fei, and said sternly, "Nephew Yuan, let's go. We'll visit their homes."
Yuan Fei's face turned ashen, and his body trembled.
Things had come to this, and it was completely different from what he had imagined.
"Speak! What exactly are you afraid of? If you can't give a satisfactory explanation today..."
Before Yuan Fei could finish, An Hai interrupted directly, "Alright! One of them stole his wife's jewelry to sell, and the other used his New Year's money to secretly buy lottery tickets. They already had something to hide in their hearts. If you suddenly shout at them, won't they be scared?"
"Pfft!"
Many people burst into laughter.
Now that they thought about it, it did make sense.
Yuan Fei was tall and sturdy. Suddenly jumping out for no reason, and with such a fierce demeanor.
Let alone those with something to hide, even those without would have been scared.
"President Song, since Yuan Fei is unwilling to go, shall the two old fellows make the trip?"
Zhong Chen said.
"President, I, I think..."
Song Tian looked around, unable to utter a coherent sentence.
He did not want to see his disciple's future ruined!
"Brother Guo, would you like to join us?"
Zhong Chen said with full confidence.
Guo Cheng replied without hesitation, "No need. I know your character. If you've lost, you've lost. It would be laughable to be entangled in it further."
At this point, only Song Tian and Yuan Fei were left in an awkward situation.
Song Tian drooped his head, secretly pleading with Zhong Chen with his eyes.
As long as he spared his disciple, he was willing to pay any price!
Zhong Chen pretended not to see.
Was he the only one with a disciple?
Did his disciple not deserve a future just because Song Tian's disciple did?
Zhong Chen had already decided to make Yuan Fei pay a heavy price!
"President, you can kill me or skin me, whatever you wish."
Yuan Fei gritted his teeth.
"Disciple, no!"
Song Tian cried out.
"Master..."
"Let this matter be as previously discussed..."
"No, that person outside who is on the phone is about to face a bloody disaster!"
Lin Fan suddenly shouted, interrupting everyone's thoughts and words.
They all turned to look and saw a man wearing glasses, looking extremely agitated, walking while talking on his phone, saying something incoherently.