358: Chapter 358 The Whereabouts of the Second Key!

The next day, afternoon.

Xiamen City.

Ye Chen and the other two had just walked out of the airport.

"The air in Xiamen City is still the most comfortable."

Jin Meiting took a deep breath and looked at Ye Chen, her beautiful eyes holding a hint of a smile. "A-Chen, thank you for accompanying me on this trip."

By going back this time, she had effectively severed all ties with her past.

Now.

She was free and unconstrained.

Ye Chen reached out to wrap his arm around her waist and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Why are you being so polite with me?"

Jin Meiting's body softened slightly, her red lips curving into a smile. Instead of struggling, she leaned further into his embrace.

"Go back and get some good rest."

Ye Chen looked down at her. "In a few days when I'm not so busy, I'll properly teach you about martial arts practice."

Jin Meiting's small face flushed red.

Practicing martial arts?

Her wanting to practice martial arts—wasn't that just dual cultivation with Ye Chen?

Hmm...

Thinking about it, she was actually quite looking forward to it!

Afterwards.

Ye Chen had Miao Renfeng personally drive Jin Meiting back to the Number One Courtyard.

After all.

The Tiangong Club couldn't be left unattended for too long, and Jin Meiting had to continue with her own affairs.

After watching the two of them leave, Ye Chen took out his phone, found a number, and dialed.

It rang twice before the call was connected.

Bing Lan's cold voice came from the other end: "You're back?"

Ye Chen smiled.

"Just got off the plane. Where are you?"

"Shu Yue."

Bing Lan's voice remained flat, yet it carried a hint of softness. "The skincare product formula you gave to The Group last time has now finished the filing process and is ready to be launched."

Ye Chen leaned against a roadside railing. "I'll come find you this evening, and we'll head back together?"

Bing Lan smiled elegantly. "Alright. Also... my birthday is coming up, in one week."

Ye Chen was momentarily taken aback.

If anyone else mentioned their birthday, Ye Chen would suspect they were asking for a gift.

But Bing Lan was different.

Bing Lan's birthday was a literal "birth day".

The two of them needed to use the cultivation technique recorded in the Warring States Ang Book to perform dual cultivation.

Only in that way...

...could Bing Lan escape the death curse of the Extreme Yin Body.

He took a deep breath and smiled. "I understand. You should be mentally prepared."

"What is there to prepare for? Isn't it just becoming a woman?" Bing Lan asked back calmly.

Ye Chen: "..."

Sensing Ye Chen's embarrassment, Bing Lan let out a giggle.

Seizing the moment, Ye Chen suggested, "You should smile more; your voice sounds so lovely."

"I only smile for the person I like." Bing Lan's smile faded.

Ye Chen gave a dry cough. "I like those words!"

After chatting for a few more moments, they hung up. Ye Chen happily put away his phone.

Then.

He hailed a taxi, opened the door, and sat inside.

"Driver, to the Min Cuisine Restaurant."

...

Min Cuisine Restaurant.

The late afternoon sun's afterglow spilled through the glass door into the shop, dyeing the wooden tables and chairs with a layer of warm color.

Yi Yue and Xiao Ya were both bent over, wiping the counter.

"Ding-ling—"

The doorbell rang.

Yi Yue and Xiao Ya instinctively looked up, their gazes landing on the door.

They saw...

Ye Chen pushing the door open, that harmless smile on his face. "Busy?"

Yi Yue suddenly snapped out of it, a surprised smile instantly blooming on her face.

She put down the rag and hurried over to greet him, her voice filled with excitement: "A-Chen! You're back?"

Seeing her like this, Ye Chen couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, just got off the plane and decided to stop by."

Yi Yue walked up to him and looked him up and down, her smile becoming even brighter.

"You've lost weight," she said suddenly.

Ye Chen was stunned. "Have I?"

Yi Yue nodded seriously. "Yes. You must not have been eating well outside."

As she spoke, she turned and headed toward the kitchen. "Wait here, I'll cook some noodles for you!"

Ye Chen was between laughter and tears. "There's no need for such trouble, I just came to see..."

Before he could finish...

Yi Yue had already plunged into the kitchen.

Xiao Ya brought over a glass of water and said with a smile, "Brother Ye, just let Sister Yi Yue go. She recently learned a new noodle recipe and was just looking for a chance to show off to you!"

"Oh?"

Ye Chen was curious. "Then I must have a taste!"

Xiao Ya smiled happily.

Ye Chen asked again, "By the way, when are you and Brother Li getting married?"

He remembered.

Li Qin's brother, Li Yao, was the one who liked Xiao Ya.

To the point that...

Civil servants came to the Min Cuisine Restaurant every day to eat...

Xiao Ya's small face turned red. "I... Brother Yao and I haven't even started yet!"

"Haha!"

Ye Chen laughed, making Xiao Ya flee in embarrassment.

A moment later.

Yi Yue came out carrying a bowl of steaming noodles and placed it in front of Ye Chen.

"Eat quickly, while it's hot."

"This is the new noodle dish I've been researching."

She sat down opposite him, her chin resting on her hands, her eyes fixed on him without blinking.

Ye Chen looked down at the bowl of noodles.

The noodles were springy, the broth was clear, a golden poached egg sat on top, sprinkled with green scallions, and the aroma was enticing.

He picked up his chopsticks and took a bite.

"Delicious."

Yi Yue's eyes curved into crescents. "It seems my new research wasn't wasted."

While eating the noodles, Ye Chen suddenly remembered something and looked up to ask, "By the way, how is Lingling doing lately? Is her health okay?"

Back then, Ye Chen hadn't just pulled Yan Lingling back from the brink of death; he had completely cured her liver cancer.

Calculating the time...

She should be almost fully recovered by now.

Hearing this, a smile appeared on Yi Yue's face.

"Lingling has already been discharged, and she's recovering exceptionally well!"

"She, Feifei, and I have agreed that once you're back, we must treat you to a meal to thank you in person."

"Which day are you free?"

Ye Chen smiled. "It was just a small favor, no need to be so polite."

"That won't do!" Yi Yue looked at him seriously. "Lingling said her life was given by you, so this meal is a must. You can't refuse."

Seeing her serious expression, Ye Chen smiled and nodded. "Alright, alright, no problem. I'll let you know when I have time."

Yi Yue then nodded in satisfaction.

Just then.

The phone in Ye Chen's pocket suddenly vibrated.

He pulled out his phone and glanced at the caller ID on the screen—

Jessica.

Ye Chen's eyebrows twitched slightly as he pressed the answer button. "What's the matter?"

Jessica's respectful voice came from the other end of the line.

"My Lord, regarding the key you instructed us to find last time, we finally have a lead."

Ye Chen's eyes lit up.

Ever since Jessica took over the position of Black Prison Master, she had begun a comprehensive investigation into all the assets under Gongsun Long's command.

This included the whereabouts of the kunlun bronze gate key that Ye Chen had specifically ordered her to find.

"Speak."

Ye Chen put down his chopsticks, his tone becoming serious.

Jessica quickly reported.

"My Lord, according to the clues we found, before Gongsun Long went to the Dragon Kingdom, he sent that key there in advance through a special channel."

Ye Chen frowned. "Sent it in? Doesn't the Black Prison only have dealings with the Wang family in the Dragon Kingdom?"

If it really was the Wang family...

Then the question was...

The Wang family had been wiped out, so where did the key go???

However, Jessica negated his guess: "My Lord, it wasn't the Wang family."

"Oh?" Ye Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.

Jessica gave the answer: "It's the Wu Family of Shanghai."

Ye Chen's brows furrowed deeply.

The Wu Family of Shanghai.

He was not unfamiliar with this name; or rather, any member of the Dragon Kingdom would not be unfamiliar with it.

Because they were the head of the Four Great Families of Shanghai, entrenched there for decades, with industries spanning finance, real estate, shipping...

They were truly an existence with power that reached the heavens!

He never expected...

The key would actually end up with the Wu Family?

And this Wu Family actually had a connection with the Black Prison???

Ye Chen asked indifferently, "What is the relationship between the Wu Family and Gongsun Long?"

"It's not very clear."

Jessica was also very puzzled.

"I've investigated all relevant materials, but there are only fragments; it's impossible to speculate on their relationship."

"The only thing known is that the Black Prison did three things for them!"

"But all the records regarding those three things have been destroyed."

Ye Chen hummed in thought and nodded. "I understand. Send the relevant information to my phone."

"Yes." Jessica responded and then hung up the phone.

Ye Chen was speechless.

Great.

He had to make another trip to Shanghai tomorrow.