Chapter 627 - 627: This Is a Good Thing

The call connected quickly. Ying Ji's voice, tinged with exhaustion, came through the line.

She spoke, half-joking and half-serious, "Zhao Yuan, you never call unless you need something. So, what do you need me to do?"

Zhao Yuan didn't beat around the bush, getting straight to the point. "Have you ever heard of the Fuqiang Decoration Company?"

Ying Ji paused for a moment. As it turned out, she did know the company.

Apparently, the reason Ma Hui dared to be so arrogant was that he had managed to get on the good side of a collateral relative of the Ying Family.

This relative, despite having little status within the Ying Family itself, was in charge of a real estate company under the Ying Group. He was well-connected in both legitimate and shady circles and, in the eyes of outsiders, was unequivocally a successful man.

When Ying Ji had needed her villa renovated, this relative had recommended Ma Hui for the job.

Seeing that Ying Ji was someone even his own backer had to suck up to, Ma Hui immediately tossed aside all integrity and pride. He ran himself ragged overseeing the project and even brought in outside experts, ensuring Ying Ji's villa was decorated to an exceptional standard.

Because of this, Ma Hui and his Fuqiang Decoration Company had left an impression on Ying Ji.

Now, hearing Zhao Yuan's question, Ying Ji replied, "Yes, I know them. Why? Oh, I remember now! I heard from a relative today that you bought a villa from him, right? What, are you looking for someone to do the renovations? The Fuqiang Decoration Company is quite good at what they do. I'll have someone call Ma Hui right away and tell him to handle it for you."

But Zhao Yuan said, "That won't be necessary. I wouldn't dare trouble Boss Ma."

"What's wrong? Did Ma Hui offend you?" Ying Ji was a sharp woman; she immediately detected the coldness in Zhao Yuan's tone.

"I hired a designer to look at the house, but we were cornered by Boss Ma and his men. He even threatened me..." Zhao Yuan gave her a brief and concise account of what had happened.

Ying Ji was left dumbfounded.

She had seen people with a death wish, but she had never seen anyone with a death wish as strong as Ma Hui's.

'Threatening Zhao Yuan? Why doesn't he just climb into the tiger enclosure at the zoo and try to pick a fight? The fiercest tiger isn't half as terrifying as Zhao Yuan, for god's sake!'

The most critical part was that this Ma Hui had some minor connection to the Ying Family. If Zhao Yuan were to misunderstand the Ying Family because of this and develop a grudge, it would be a complete disaster.

In her mind, Ying Ji was cursing Ma Hui to hell and back. She stated her position clearly, "I understand. Leave this to me. I guarantee that blind fool will receive a lesson he will never forget! I will give both you and Miss Liu a proper resolution!"

"I'll leave it to you, then." Zhao Yuan thanked her and hung up.

"Who was that on the phone?" Lin Xue leaned in, asking curiously.

Zhao Yuan replied, "A friend. I'll introduce you two someday. She's a Direct Disciple of a Cultivation Family. Her family is incredibly powerful in Rongcheng City, and even throughout the entire Western Shu Province. For them, dealing with Ma Hui is as easy as flipping a hand."

「Meanwhile, at the Ying Family's Old Mansion.」

Had Zhao Yuan been there, he would have discovered that Ying Ji's aura had undergone an earth-shattering transformation!

She had already surpassed the Marrow Cleansing Realm, stepping into the Qi Listening Realm—a realm many Cultivators could only dream of reaching.

As a Cultivation Family, the Ying Family was certainly large and influential, yet there were only nine Cultivators in the clan who had reached the Qi Listening Realm.

Ying Ji was the tenth, and she was also the youngest and most promising of them all.

In the room with her at this moment were the Ying Family Ancestor and several other Qi Listening Realm masters from the Ying Family.

They were helping Ying Ji stabilize her Cultivation and prevent the emergence of a Heart Demon.

When her phone had rung a moment ago, their faces had shown their displeasure. But upon hearing that the call was from Zhao Yuan, their attitudes did a complete one-eighty, and they urged Ying Ji to answer it at once.

Everyone present understood that, besides her own talent and strength, Ying Ji's breakthrough into the Qi Listening Realm was largely thanks to the Qi Condensing Pill that Zhao Yuan had given her.

It was only after taking the Qi Condensing Pill that Ying Ji had broken through her bottleneck and advanced to the Qi Listening Realm.

Because of this, the core members of the Ying Clan were filled with reverence for Zhao Yuan, this obscure but incredibly powerful Pill Master. The Ying Family Ancestor had even designated 'building a good relationship with Zhao Yuan' as the family's number one priority, a decision that had received unanimous approval.

In their eyes, if they could maintain a good relationship with Zhao Yuan and occasionally purchase miraculous Elixirs like Marrow Cleansing Pills and Qi Condensing Pills from him, the Ying Family could produce many more Cultivators in the Marrow Cleansing and Qi Listening Realms. The family's power would soar to new heights! Its future would surely be a wide, bright road to greatness!

Thus, they weren't angry about Zhao Yuan's call at all; on the contrary, they were anxious and took it very seriously.

As soon as Ying Ji hung up, they all began to speak at once.

"Ying Ji, why did Alchemist Zhao call? Is something wrong?"

"I thought I heard you say Alchemist Zhao was threatened? What's going on? Who would be so audacious as to threaten him?"

"Threatening Alchemist Zhao is the same as making an enemy of our Ying Family! We will absolutely not allow such a thing to happen!"

"My dear elders, please don't worry. The one who threatened Zhao Yuan wasn't a Cultivator, but some idiot with a death wish!" Ying Ji scoffed, then relayed what Zhao Yuan had told her on the phone.

After she finished, everyone's brows furrowed slightly.

But one of the clan members burst out laughing. "This is a good thing!"

Everyone stared at him, stunned, unable to understand why he would say such a thing.

The Ying Family Ancestor turned to him as well. "Ying Di, explain yourself."

Ying Di first bowed to the Ancestor before speaking. "I know what everyone is worried about, but I believe there's no need for concern. Ma Hui is merely the underling of a distant, collateral relative; he has no true ties to our Ying Family. I trust that even if Alchemist Zhao knew the full story, he wouldn't blame us. In fact, as long as we handle this properly and allow Alchemist Zhao to vent his anger, we can score major points with him! If that isn't a good thing, then what is?"

After hearing his explanation, the realization dawned on the others.

They had been fretting over how to further ingratiate themselves with Zhao Yuan, and now, this opportunity had fallen right into their laps.

Just as Ying Di had said, as long as they handled Ma Hui's punishment properly, the Ying Family would not only be blameless but would actually come out ahead!

And punishing Ma Hui? For them, that was no trouble at all.

"Haha, this Ma Hui has really given us a great assist," the Ying Family Ancestor roared with laughter, then immediately gave his command. "All of you, make the arrangements at once. We must ensure this Ma Hui receives a lesson he will never, ever forget!"

"Yes, Ancestor!" the group replied in unison, immediately setting about the task.