501: Chapter 501 Ma Tianlai's Invitation!

Upon hearing this, the three of them felt as if they had been granted a grand amnesty, and their tense expressions instantly relaxed.

"Understood, understood!"

Elder He nodded repeatedly. "Rest assured, Instructor Ye, this old man will definitely uncover that person's background!"

Venerable Qinglong also followed suit to show his loyalty: "As long as he dares to come, I guarantee I will track his movements clearly!"

Venerable Vermilion Bird patted her chest as she gave her guarantee.

"Instructor Ye, leave this matter to us. We will not let you down!"

Ye Chen nodded: "Fine, then it's settled."

He turned around, took Miss Bing Lan's hand, and walked toward the exit of the hall.

Seeing this, Venerable Vermilion Bird and the others hurriedly bowed to see them off: "Take care, Master!"

Only when the sound of footsteps gradually faded away did they all exhale a long sigh of relief in unison.

Elder He slumped onto the ground, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, and muttered, "That lord has finally left..."

Venerable Qinglong lay paralyzed on the floor, speaking weakly.

"Old He, do you think this time we've saved our lives or picked up a hot potato?"

Elder He gave a bitter smile: "Is there a difference? As long as our lives are preserved, that's enough."

...

At dusk, the setting sun dyed the surface of the sea into a golden red.

Ye Chen and Bing Lan stood side by side at the bow of the ship. The salty sea breeze blew against them, fluttering Bing Lan's long hair.

The silhouette of Guang City gradually became clear on the horizon. Lights were beginning to flicker on the pier, looking like a golden ribbon from afar.

"Are you tired?" Ye Chen tilted his head, looking at Bing Lan beside him.

Bing Lan shook her head: "No."

She paused for a moment before suddenly speaking.

"Are you really going to participate in that Martial Arts Tournament in half a month?"

"Of course." Ye Chen smiled. "I am determined to get that bronze key."

"Then I'm going too."

Ye Chen was stunned for a moment and turned to look at her.

Bing Lan was still looking ahead, her expression cool and indifferent. "I am also at the Heavenly Realm Peak now; I should be able to help a little."

Ye Chen chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"No need."

"You just need to guard our home. Shuyue Group can't do without you."

Bing Lan didn't pull away; she only hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Mm... You're right. Shuyue Group is your strongest fallback."

"Don't sound so pessimistic!"

"You've offended too many people."

"That's what happens when you're popular—trouble follows fame."

"Smooth talker."

Amidst their banter, the ship soon docked.

In the next second.

The two of them stepped onto the pier hand-in-hand.

However, after walking just a few steps, Ye Chen's pace suddenly faltered.

On the pier, a dense row of people stood waiting.

Leading them was none other than the head of the Ma Family, Ma Tianlai.

He was dressed in a navy blue Tang suit, with a dozen attendants in crisp suits standing behind him, making for quite a grand display.

Ye Chen was surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Old Master Ma, how did you know I was here?"

Ma Tianlai hurried forward with a face full of smiles and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Instructor Ye might not be aware, but this port is an asset of my Ma Family. Your departure to sea would naturally be reported by my subordinates."

He paused, his tone becoming more respectful. "I knew you would surely return, so I waited here specifically."

Ye Chen raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised: "You were waiting here too?"

Ma Tianlai nodded with a sincere expression.

"Instructor Ye helped the Ma Family clean house and root out that unworthy descendant. I have been looking for an opportunity to properly thank you."

He stepped aside and made a 'please' gesture. "Tonight, I have prepared a simple meal and would like to invite Instructor Ye to grace us with your presence. I wonder if you would be willing?"

Ye Chen didn't answer immediately but turned to look at Bing Lan: "What do you think?"

Before Bing Lan could speak, Ma Tianlai had already chimed in with a smile.

"This must be Miss Bing Lan, right?"

"The CEO of Shuyue Group!"

"I have long looked forward to meeting you!"

He paused and then added.

"Coincidentally, I have invited several friends from the business world tonight, all of whom are leaders in their respective industries!"

"If Miss Bing Lan doesn't mind, you can join us and make some new friends."

Indeed!

After Ye Chen and the other left, he had investigated Bing Lan and finally learned that this beautiful woman was no mere eye candy.

She was actually the female CEO of Shuyue Group and a former superstar who had once taken Dragon Country by storm!

Bing Lan nodded slightly and did not refuse.

In business, one must socialize.

If A-Chen hadn't been there, she likely wouldn't have agreed, but since she was going with her boyfriend, there was no problem.

Seeing this, Ye Chen nodded: "Fine, then we shall trouble Old Master Ma."

Ma Tianlai was overjoyed and personally pulled open the door of the Maybach: "Instructor Ye, please! Miss Bing Lan, please!"

Ye Chen didn't stand on ceremony and led Bing Lan into the car.

The convoy slowly drove out of the pier, merging into the bustling night scene of Guang City.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Ma Tianlai glanced at the two in the back through the rearview mirror and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

His invitation tonight was not as simple as just a meal.

The Ma Family had produced a scum like Ma Zhonghe; although he got what he deserved, their reputation had ultimately been affected.

He needed an opportunity to move past this incident.

And Ye Chen was the best choice.

If they could build a connection with the Chief Instructor of the Dragon Group's Hidden Dragon Pavilion, who in Guang City would dare to look down on the Ma Family in the future?

Ye Chen leaned against the backrest, looking at the night scenery flashing past the window. Suddenly remembering something, he took out his phone and glanced at it.

On the screen, Yan Qingwu had sent a message.

[The Old Master agreed. The Dragon Group will participate in the Martial Arts Tournament as observers. The registration form has been submitted, but the Old Master asked me to pass on a message to you.]

Ye Chen's finger slid across the screen as he replied.

[What message?]

[Don't embarrass the Dragon Group.]

Ye Chen couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Bing Lan tilted her head and asked curiously, "What are you laughing at?"

Ye Chen handed the phone over. Bing Lan took a look, and the corners of her mouth also couldn't help but turn upward.

Embarrass the Dragon Group?

I'm afraid...

He's about to bring glory to the country.

Ma Tianlai saw the smiles on their faces through the rearview mirror. Although he didn't know what they were laughing at, he smiled along with them.

...

Bailu Terrace, the top private club in Guang City.

The convoy passed through a carved iron gate and drove slowly along a bluestone road.

As soon as the car came to a steady stop, two rows of people were already standing at the entrance of the club.

They were all in black suits and white gloves. The manager was a capable woman in her forties. As soon as she saw the car door open, she immediately stepped forward.

"Old Master Ma, tonight's dishes have all been prepared according to your requirements."

Ma Tianlai nodded and said nothing more. He personally went around to the back and opened the door for Ye Chen.

This action caused the eyelids of the two rows of service staff at the door to twitch.

Who was Ma Tianlai?

A titan of the Guang City business world!

His net worth was at least tens of billions!

Normally, when he came to Bailu Terrace for a meal, there were very few people he would even wait for at the door.

And now, he was actually opening the car door for someone personally?

What was the background of this young man?

Ye Chen led Bing Lan out of the car and smiled: "Old Master Ma, you've spent too much."

"Not at all, not at all."

Ma Tianlai waved his hand with a smile. "It is this old man's honor that Instructor Ye could grace us with your presence."

The group entered the main hall, passed through a corridor hung with authentic works of the Lingnan School of painting, and arrived at the innermost private room.

The private room was very large, with a rosewood round table that could seat about twenty people.

Outside the floor-to-ceiling window was a small garden with rockeries and flowing water, and several emerald bamboos rustled in the night wind.

Seven or eight people were already seated at the round table.

They were men and women, all around forty or fifty years old, clearly wealthy and influential.

They were the other guests Ma Tianlai had invited tonight—several big shots from the Guang City business world and their respective female companions.

Seeing Ma Tianlai personally leading a young couple in, the people at the table put down their teacups one after another, their gazes falling collectively on Ye Chen and Bing Lan.

Ma Tianlai walked to the head of the table but did not sit down. Instead, he stepped aside to usher Ye Chen into the seat of honor.

"Instructor Ye, please take the head seat."

The private room fell silent instantly.

The business moguls looked at each other, their eyes filled with astonishment.

Ma Tianlai had operated in the Guang City business world for decades and had always been the one to sit in the seat of honor. Now, he was actually giving it up to a young man in his twenties?

Sitting to Ma Tianlai's right was a balding man in his fifties named Sun, who had made his fortune in real estate and was considered a prominent figure in Guang City.

He looked at Ye Chen, then at Ma Tianlai, and couldn't help but speak up: "Old Ma, this is..."

Ma Tianlai laughed heartily, the wrinkles on his face smoothing out.

"Come, come, let me introduce everyone."

"This is Ye Chen, Instructor Ye."

President Sun's brow furrowed slightly as he began to wonder.

Instructor?

What kind of instructor?

Looking at his age, he was at most in his early twenties. What kind of instructor could he be?

Could it be...

A driving school instructor?

Sitting next to him was a woman in her forties with permed wavy hair and a string of emerald beads around her neck; she was Mrs. Zhou, who ran a jewelry business in Guang City.

She sized Ye Chen up and then her gaze fell on Bing Lan, her eyes suddenly lighting up: "Oh, this young lady looks quite familiar. Have we met somewhere?"

Bing Lan nodded slightly and said calmly: "Bing Lan, from Shuyue Group."

Mrs. Zhou was stunned for a moment, then it suddenly dawned on her.

"Oh! I remember now!"

"Bing Lan! That... that star who retired!"

"You're now the CEO of Shuyue Group! I've seen you in the financial news!"

The others at the table also realized who she was, and their gazes toward Bing Lan became a bit more fervent.

Shuyue Group had developed very rapidly in recent years and was considered a dark horse in the industry.

So much so that...

Bing Lan's reputation as a young female CEO was indeed quite significant in the business world.

But Ye Chen...

They still couldn't recall him, nor had they heard of him.

Seeing that everyone's reaction to Ye Chen was somewhat lukewarm, Ma Tianlai grew slightly anxious. Just as he was about to introduce him further, a Middle-aged Man sitting opposite him spoke up first.

He took a sip of tea and said with a half-smile, "Old Ma, I heard something happened to Second Master Ma yesterday? He was taken away by people from the Dragon Group?"