Chapter 21: Master Linghu, A Gathering of the Diverse and the Devious

“Mr. Jiang? Which Mr. Jiang?”

Chu Yan’s delicate face showed confusion as she asked back.

She wasn’t even sure whether Zhao Linxuan meant a Mr. Jiang or a Mr. Jiang with a different character.

“Of course, Mr. Jiang Chen!”

Zhao Linxuan answered without hesitation.

“Jiang Chen?”

Chu Yan was somewhat surprised; she hadn’t expected Zhao Linxuan to know Jiang Chen.

“Yan Yan only knows Jiang Chen, there’s nothing else between them!”

Yao Bing spoke seriously but was fabricating.

She was afraid Chu Yan would mention her marriage to Jiang Chen, which would reveal their relationship to everyone—a disadvantage when it came to divorce.

“That’s good! I have some things to attend to, excuse me!”

Zhao Linxuan smiled happily and then turned to leave.

As long as Chu Yan wasn’t her rival, she had no intention of competing for Jiang Chen.

After Zhao Linxuan had gone a good distance, Chu Yan asked Yao Bing, “Bing Bing, why did you say that just now?”

“I’m worried Jiang Chen might be using your and the Chu family’s names to do bad things out there. As long as you don’t acknowledge it, even if he tells the Zhao family that you’re married, no one will believe it!”

Yao Bing said with conviction, not wanting Chu Yan to be implicated by Jiang Chen.

Chu Yan didn’t say more. This was fine; with no one paying attention to Jiang Chen, he would be safer.

...

Linghu Clubhouse—true to its name, it was the property of the Linghu family.

The top floor of this upscale leisure and entertainment club was off-limits to the public, accessible only to the club owner, senior executives, or distinguished guests invited by the owner.

In a luxurious yoga room on the top floor, a beautiful woman was practicing yoga.

She wore a tight black yoga outfit that outlined her mature and sensual figure, displaying the grace and charm of her physique vividly.

Any expert present would recognize she was practicing kung fu yoga—not merely to improve flexibility and strength but to enhance combat ability.

“Knock, knock, knock!”

The door to the yoga room was knocked on, and a young woman in a black dress pushed it open.

The woman in the black dress had fair skin, stunning appearance, and long legs, walking in with elegant steps. Her curvaceous figure was no less impressive than the beautiful woman practicing yoga.

In fact, the two looked strikingly alike, even sharing a similar angle of beauty, like a pair of sisters.

“Mother, cousin and her friend have arrived!”

The woman in black spoke respectfully to the beautiful woman.

They were, in fact, mother and daughter!

The beautiful woman practicing yoga was the owner of the Linghu Clubhouse and the current leader of the Linghu family—Cao Moling!

In the underground world of Linzhou, she was also feared under the name “Black Widow.”

“Xin’er, take your cousin to the conference room to wait for me.”

Cao Moling continued her yoga movements while responding to her daughter.

“Yes, Mother!”

Linghu Xin responded and withdrew, closing the yoga room door.

The resplendent conference room was where Linghu Xin brought her cousin Ye Qingchan and Wei Hongyi to wait.

Before long, Cao Moling entered the conference room, having changed from her black yoga outfit into a black trench coat, transforming herself from a charming mature woman into an overwhelmingly imposing “Black Widow.”

“Aunt!”

“Master Cao!”

Ye Qingchan and Wei Hongyi both stood to greet her.

“Sit.”

Cao Moling smiled and gestured for them to take their seats.

Even the proud Ye Qingchan admired her aunt, for Cao Moling was a martial arts master. Had Ye Qingchan’s uncle been alive, the Linghu family would have two martial arts masters at its helm.

Wei Hongyi dared not act arrogantly before Cao Moling—not only because he was courting Ye Qingchan but mainly because Cao Moling was stronger than him, a ruthless figure who had even killed a martial arts master!

“Aunt, I heard you have clues about the ninjas from Little Kun Kingdom. How is the investigation progressing?”

Once seated, Ye Qingchan got straight to the point.

“I’ve already sent people to secretly investigate the ninjas’ base in Linzhou city. I believe we’ll have results soon.”

Cao Moling strategized and then asked Ye Qingchan with concern, “Qingchan, do you have enough personnel? Would you like your aunt to accompany you?”

“Thank you, Aunt, but it’s not necessary. I have two squads on hand, enough to deal with the ninjas from Little Kun Kingdom.”

Ye Qingchan smiled in gratitude. With Wei Hongyi leading the team, the mission would be easier. Besides, Wei Hongyi had already slain a ninja martial arts master in Tiange, the capital city.

...

At the Chu family villa, everything was as peaceful as before.

After Jiang Chen, Chu Yan, and Yao Bing returned, no one mentioned the matter at the Tianlin Grand Hotel. They happily enjoyed dinner with the elderly Chu patriarch.

Midway through the meal, Xiong Wuqiang called Jiang Chen. Jiang Chen stepped onto the balcony to answer.

“Young Master Jiang, I’ve tracked the mercenaries’ movements. They went to the Linghu Clubhouse, which is the territory of the Linghu family’s Black Widow, Cao Moling!”

Xiong Wuqiang reported from the other end. “If I send people to capture them, it might spark a conflict with the Linghu family, seen as provocation and possibly war!”

“You don’t need to act. Just send me the location. I’ll go myself.”

Jiang Chen said calmly. He had no intention of letting two underground forces go to war, causing needless casualties.

On his way back to the dining table, Jiang Chen saw Yao Bing on the phone and accidentally overheard her conversation.

“All right, I’ve told Chu Yan. We’ll be at the Linghu Clubhouse before eight o’clock!”

Yao Bing smiled as she hung up and put down her phone.

“You’re taking Chu Yan to the Linghu Clubhouse?”

Jiang Chen approached to confirm with Yao Bing.

“How dare you eavesdrop on my call? Have some shame!”

Yao Bing frowned and snapped coldly.

“You can go to the Linghu Clubhouse, but Chu Yan cannot!”

Jiang Chen stated plainly.

The Linghu Clubhouse was a den of all sorts; there were certainly not only underground forces and mercenaries. He was thinking of Chu Yan’s safety.

“Who do you think you are? Why should Chu Yan and I listen to you?”

Yao Bing scoffed. “Jiang Chen, do you really think just because Yan Yan married you, she has to obey you?”

“Keep dreaming! Sooner or later, I’ll make Yan Yan divorce you, and you’ll have to return all the shares of the Chu Group!”

Before Jiang Chen could respond, Yao Bing strode back to the table, leaning close to Chu Yan to whisper as she prepared to change clothes and head to the Linghu Clubhouse early.

“Grandpa, I just heard Yao Bing say she and Chu Yan are going out to handle something. It’s so late, I’m a bit worried. How about I go with them? What do you think?”

Jiang Chen returned to the table and said meaningfully to the elderly Chu.

Yao Bing was fuming, grinding her teeth. That bastard Jiang Chen dared to schematically manipulate her openly, even using Grandpa to pressure them!

Chu Yan’s face changed, quickly asking Yao Bing with her eyes how Jiang Chen had learned about the Linghu Clubhouse.

Yao Bing shook her head, wanting to say it wasn’t her but that Jiang Chen was slandering her!

“All right! Xiao Chen, you’re so thoughtful; Grandpa knew you’d care. You must protect Xiao Yan well!”

The elderly Chu smiled wholeheartedly, increasingly pleased with his grandson-in-law Jiang Chen.

“Grandpa, don’t worry. I will protect Chu Yan!”

Jiang Chen nodded and smiled in response.