Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO-Chapter 672: Tying up Loose Ends

However, before Xu Ke could turn to leave, Xu Zhentai, who had just walked away, suddenly rushed back.

"What is it?" Xu Ke asked, looking at his uncle in confusion.

With a sly grin, Xu Zhentai rubbed his hands together. "Give me some cash. I want to buy a pack of cigarettes on the way back… I smoked too much just now, and all the money I scraped together for my smokes got wasted because of you, kid. You have to take responsibility."

He had money on his phone, but he was afraid his wife would find out, so he only dared to use cash.

"How is that my problem? You're the one who chose to smoke. I'm not giving you anything!" Xu Ke replied, taken aback. He thought his uncle had something important to say, but it was just about cigarettes. He immediately refused. "Didn't Second Aunt tell you not to smoke?"

"You little brat, how can you be so heartless?"

"I don't care… What if Second Aunt and Xiao Yi come after me for it later?"

"Can't you just play dumb? Hurry up, send me some money. Don't make me get rough."

"You might as well just kill me…"

In the end, Xu Ke still bought a carton of cigarettes for his second uncle, reminding him to hide it well. After Xu Zhentai left, Xu Ke returned to the gymnasium.

The deterrent effect Xu Zhentai had was immense. Even though Xu Ke and his uncle had been gone for a while, the people in the gymnasium hadn't dared to move. They were all preoccupied with maintaining a facade of friendly and amicable conversation. Of course, the atmosphere of their conversation was a bit strange.

Seeing Shi Hongda, Han Wang, and the others standing around Nie Yuntian's still-warm corpse, laughing and chatting, Xu Ke couldn't help but find the scene rather eerie.

When they saw Xu Ke appear, everyone immediately stopped their conversations and rose to their feet. "Mister Xu, what do we do now?"

In truth, these Innate Great Perfection masters were far more concerned about Xu Zhentai's whereabouts than the current situation. However, seeing Xu Ke return alone, they were well-versed in the habits of such elusive masters and knew Xu Zhentai must have already left. Besides, they were all mature old men, so they naturally knew better than to ask.

Xu Ke first walked over to Xia Wenfeng. "Thank you for your hard work."

"Don't mention it. It's my duty to assist you, Seasoned Envoy!" Xia Wenfeng chuckled.

At these words, the calm expressions of Shi Hongda and the Yin-Yang Elders vanished, their eyes bulging in shock.

What? A Seasoned Envoy? Huh? What are you all talking about?

Even Ye Taiqing, who had been anxiously awaiting Xu Ke's judgment, wore a look of utter astonishment, clearly startled.

What does this mean?

"Xu Ke, I never imagined that you had not only already joined the Northern Dragon Guard but had also become a Seasoned Envoy," Bai Qian'er said, her gaze complex. While Xu Ke had been outside talking with Xu Zhentai, Xia Wenfeng had told them everything.

When they learned that Xu Ke hadn't failed Madame Yu's test but had long since become a Seasoned Envoy, all of them except Duan Zhuo'e and Fang Caizhe were stunned.

Xu Ke, who is younger than us, isn't just a powerful cultivator—he's also a Seasoned Envoy?

They also couldn't believe that what Duan Zhuo'e had said before—"Have you ever considered that the Seasoned Envoy's token being with Xu Ke might mean something else?"—was actually true! Recalling how they had laughed at her, the current reality felt completely surreal.

The few men standing in the distance were utterly dumbfounded when they heard this.

So, our families misjudged from the very beginning? Xu Ke had already joined the Northern Dragon Guard? In that case… doesn't that mean Xu Ke has three major powers backing him? There's the mysterious expert from just now. And then… the Medical Saint and the Northern Dragon Guard. Holy shit! Holy shit?!

The thought sent a chill down their spines.

This is insane. How could we possibly fight against that?!

"It's just an empty title, nothing important," Xu Ke said with a smile to Bai Qian'er, unaware of what the others were thinking. "I'm sorry for getting you all involved this time." This was a heartfelt apology. If his Second Uncle hadn't arrived in time, Xu Ke didn't know what price he would have had to pay to get these five out safely. If any of them had been killed or injured, he would have had a hard time explaining it to Ki Qinyin.

"What's there to be sorry for? How is this your fault?" To his surprise, Xiang Hongyu came up, gave Xu Ke a playful punch, and said with a grin, "We're the ones who should be thanking you! If it weren't for you, when would we ever get to experience something so exciting? Woohoo! When I get back to the Northern Territory, I can tell everyone I took part in a battle in Tianhai more thrilling than anything up there! And let me tell you, Xu Ke, you must have a high price on your head! They actually hired so many masters to kill you. You're a real badass! Also, Xu Ke, who was that senior, really?"

"Hey, Mmph! Mmph!"

The excited Xiang Hongyu had a bellyful of words she was dying to say, and seeing Xu Ke, she let them loose like a machine gun. Ma Lian and Duan Zhuo'e couldn't take it anymore, so they clamped a hand over her mouth and dragged her away.

Xia Wenfeng chuckled, then looked at Xu Ke. "So, Xu Ke, do you have any other plans for this training mission?"

"Let them go back. I think after this experience, their mindsets will change significantly," Xu Ke replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Xia Wenfeng paused for a moment before nodding. "That's true."

In reality, Xu Ke hadn't done much himself, but he had shown them what to do when facing an overwhelmingly powerful opponent and how to react in the face of betrayal. To gain the kind of experience only understood in a life-or-death crisis, and to do so without paying any price, was more precious than any training mission. It would be more than enough for them to process for a long time. Once their mentalities had been completely transformed, the Northern Dragon Guard would have a new batch of mature young geniuses.

But… Xia Wenfeng thought, looking at Xu Ke with deep feeling. The truly mature young genius is right here. And this young genius has such a powerful background… His future is truly limitless!

Then, a flicker of regret crossed Xia Wenfeng's mind. Why did he have to wear a mask?

Xu Ke had been the one to ask him to wear it. Xu Ke knew that the Northern Dragon Guard couldn't get directly involved. Bai Qian'er and the others being implicated didn't mean the Northern Dragon Guard was officially participating in the battle. But if Xia Wenfeng had shown his real face, it would have sent a message that Yu Kangan was formally involved in Xu Ke's schemes against Wong Ting and the others. That wouldn't be good for Xu Ke, as he didn't want Yu Kangan and Ki Qinyin to get the wrong idea. It would have looked like he was forcing the Northern Dragon Guard to take his side. He had only wanted Xia Wenfeng to act as a safety net, to be able to get the youngsters out safely, as he'd just done.

However, Xia Wenfeng, who had readily agreed to Xu Ke's suggestion earlier, now regretted it.

If I hadn't worn it, I could have gotten myself noticed by that Peak Level Martial Artist…

"What about Fang Caizhe?" Xia Wenfeng asked, looking over at Fang Caizhe, who had been knocked unconscious a short distance away.

After Xu Ke and Xu Zhentai had left, Fang Caizhe had tried to cause more trouble, even attempting to contact his family. Xia Wenfeng, having no patience for negotiations, had simply knocked him out. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

A traitor like him can wait for Xu Ke to return and deal with him.