Chapter 1072: Old Residence

Qiao Rulong felt two warm streams pouring directly behind his ears, and with a roar, his mind was suddenly clear, as if sunlight had dispersed the clouds, and the rhythmic thumping instantly faded away.

The cranial breath point, where the cold descending water vapor from the heavenly department of the Triple Burner meridian accumulates, was heard by Qiao Rulong, causing rapid deposition of cold descending water vapor, with cold air sinking into the meridians, slowing blood flow, leading to insufficient blood supply throughout the body, thus causing the heart to increase its pumping volume, speeding up heart rate, and raising blood pressure.

After Xu Chunliang recognized Qiao Rulong’s abnormality, he used inner breath to clear the cranial breath point behind his ears, rapidly releasing the cold descending water vapor from the heavenly department, while also eliminating tinnitus and auditory hallucinations.

Xu Chunliang’s intervention yielded immediate results, and Qiao Rulong’s heartbeat quickly slowed down.

Qiao Rulong was drenched in sweat, his heart like a galloping horse finally returning to calm, he let out a long breath, as if he had walked a round trip from the gates of hell.

Pan Tianhua secretly breathed a sigh of relief as he saw him pass the danger; although he had quite a few opinions about Qiao Rulong, after all, Qiao Rulong was his unintentional son-in-law, and for the sake of his daughter and grandson, he couldn’t bear to see him encounter misfortune.

The hotel didn’t want a guest to die there either, and upon learning of the situation, called an ambulance immediately; the ambulance was now at the hotel entrance.

For safety’s sake, they sent Qiao Rulong onto the ambulance, Wang Jiancheng accompanied him to the hospital for a thorough examination and also informed the Qiao Family.

Pan Tianhua and his son helped send Qiao Rulong onto the ambulance but did not accompany him to the hospital, mainly to avoid suspicion; Pan Tianhua, a bold leader, wouldn’t be so accommodating had it not been for his daughter, and now he held no hope for the Qiao Family, quietly drawing a line between the two families in his heart.

Pan Weidong watched the ambulance speeding away idiotically: “Why bother with a person like that?”

Pan Tianhua said: “Go to the hospital and find out what’s going on.”

Pan Weidong, full of dissatisfaction: “I won’t go!”

Pan Tianhua glared at him fiercely, Pan Weidong’s head drooped down: “Fine, I’ll go.”

“Remember, don’t tell Xiaoshuang about his illness.”

Xu Chunliang didn’t think Qiao Rulong suddenly fell ill, something’s off. After his heart transplant surgery, Qiao Rulong had been doing well, so why does it happen at the Ye Family’s answer banquet?

Moreover, according to Qiao Rulong’s description just now, his tachycardia seemed to be under human control; otherwise, I wouldn’t have been able to resolve his illness just by pressing his cranial breath point.

Xu Chunliang knew of a Soul Capturing Technique from Esoteric Buddhism that could control the target’s consciousness and heart, causing the target to lose self-awareness and control through their gaze, sound, and smell.

Xu Chunliang once encountered a lama at Jingfu Building who wanted to use the Soul Capturing Technique against him; in the end, Xu Chunliang fought back, and he always suspected that this lama was the true murderer of Chen Jianxin.

Today, Qiao Rulong nearly fell victim again.

What kept Xu Chunliang vigilant was not only the crisis Qiao Rulong faced but the timing of the opponent’s action; if Qiao Rulong died at the Ye Family’s answer banquet, it would undoubtedly stir a bigger storm.

Although there were some twists and turns, the Ye Family answer banquet on the whole went smoothly, and Xu Chunliang sent off the last batch of guests.

Hua Zhuyue approached him, she had also sent subordinates to the hospital to gather information; the latest news was that Qiao Rulong had been hospitalized, but there shouldn’t be any life-threatening danger.

Xu Chunliang asked Hua Zhuyue for a guest list from Qiao Rulong’s room; he suspected that Qiao Rulong’s situation today might be related to his table mates.

Back at the Ye Family, Ye Changquan already heard about Qiao Rulong’s situation, he quietly pulled Xu Chunliang aside and inquired about Qiao Rulong in a low voice.

Xu Chunliang briefly recounted the event.

Ye Changquan sighed: “Luckily you were there at that time, otherwise if something happened to Qiao Rulong at the answer banquet, it would be bad.”

Xu Chunliang said: “On the whole, it went smoothly.”

Ye Changquan nodded: “Chunliang, I’m leaving for Neon tomorrow, the old gentleman just said he wants to take a trip to Dongzhou.”

Xu Chunliang knew about Grandpa inviting Elder Ye to Dongzhou for a relaxing trip, he smiled: “Uncle, don’t worry, I’ll handle it.”

Ye Changquan patted Xu Chunliang’s shoulder and said: “We are family, I won’t stand on ceremony with you; while I’m not in the country, take care of the family and make sure to inform me first if anything happens.” He had completely accepted Xu Chunliang, considering him a part of the family.

Xu Chunliang said: “Okay.”

Feng Mingjun also met with Xu Changshan; since she and Xu Jiaxuan were divorced a long time ago, she called Xu Changshan uncle, there wasn’t much exchange between them, and frankly, nothing much to talk about.

When Feng Mingjun left, she asked Xu Chunliang to see her off, Xu Chunliang knew quite well his mother surely had something she’d like to discuss alone.

When sending her to the parking lot, Feng Mingjun pointed to her black Cayenne: “Let’s talk in the car.”

She asked Xu Chunliang to drive her to the airport.

Xu Chunliang didn’t anticipate such a long trip, stunned: “You’re leaving now?”

Feng Mingjun said: “Ye Changyuan is my brother-in-law, I wouldn’t come back otherwise; you can drive this car for now, after all, I don’t frequently return to the country.”

Xu Chunliang said: “Did you know about my relationship with the Ye Family all along?”

Feng Mingjun said: “I know some, you’ve grown up, whatever you want to do, whoever you want to meet, I’m in no position to interfere.”

Xu Chunliang said: “I don’t understand you at all.”

Feng Mingjun said, “I don’t have many secrets; my parents passed away when I was young. Your grandfather and Lin Sijin’s father were close friends. After my parents died, Uncle Lin adopted me. Everyone in the Lin Family cherished me, and I lived with them until I was eighteen.”

Xu Chunliang said, “You should be considered a cadre’s child. How did you come to know my dad?”

Feng Mingjun laughed, “You’re smart enough to have guessed the nature of my work. He was my senior brother. Back then, I was inexperienced and got duped by his sweet talk. It wasn’t until I had you that I saw his true nature, so I decisively cut my losses.”

Xu Chunliang said, “Is your work the kind that can’t see the light of day?”

Feng Mingjun took out a box of cigarettes, lit one, took a puff, and said, “You could say that. But every job needs someone to do it. Our work may be hidden from view, but it will never bring you shame.”

Xu Chunliang said, “I understand. Hidden yet great.”

Feng Mingjun laughed.

Xu Chunliang said, “No matter what, you need to be careful. I’ll be waiting for you to help take care of my future kids.”

Feng Mingjun felt a warmth in her heart; her son was showing concern. She nodded and said, “We can take care of ourselves. By the way, how is your personal life?”

Xu Chunliang said, “I’m still young, and many girls like me. I’m soft-hearted; it’s bad to hurt anyone.”

Feng Mingjun scoffed, “Just like your lousy dad, unlocking a lock with any key, don’t fall for everyone you meet.”

Xu Chunliang said, “What if it’s a master key?”

Feng Mingjun couldn’t help but laugh, “Do you have no shame?”

Xu Chunliang said, “You haven’t contacted my dad?”

Feng Mingjun said, “He’s tied up; otherwise, he would have come to Ye Changyuan’s funeral. After all, he is your godfather. By the way, don’t get involved in the feud between the Ye and Qiao families.”

Xu Chunliang said, “You’re overestimating me; I don’t have that capability.”

Feng Mingjun said, “Because of Ye Changyuan, the Ye Family and Qiao Family have severed ties. There’s a rumor that the reason Ye Changyuan transferred from the National Development and Reform Commission to the Disaster Reduction Committee was due to Elder Qiao.”

Xu Chunliang said, “With Elder Qiao’s stature, he wouldn’t do such a thing? I know that it was his help that allowed Ye Changquan to go to Neon for foreign affairs.”

Feng Mingjun said, “At their level, their methods are unfathomable. Playing both sides often happens. Regardless of the truth, the relationship between the Ye and Qiao families is fractured. There’s bound to be friction in the future, and you shouldn’t get involved when the gods fight.”

Xu Chunliang said, “I feel like things aren’t that simple. Recently, both the Qiao and Ye families have been experiencing troubles. Could there be someone deliberately inciting conflict between them?”

Feng Mingjun said, “Is there anything between you and Ye Qingya?”

Xu Chunliang was startled by her sudden question, “Mom, what do you mean?”

Feng Mingjun said, “Nothing, just casually asking.”

Xu Chunliang said, “It’s just a pure brother-sister relationship.”

Feng Mingjun said, “You’re not real siblings.”

Xu Chunliang said, “What do you really mean?”

Feng Mingjun said, “I just feel Qingya looks at you in a way that’s off.”

“Maybe it’s your eyes that are off?”

Feng Mingjun couldn’t help but laugh, “Alright then, the old shouldn’t interfere with the young’s affairs. I couldn’t care less, but remember this: A man should know how to be responsible. Just because you have a handsome face, don’t mess around outside. No matter who it is, hurting someone is never good.”

On his way to the hospital to visit Qiao Rulong, Elder Qiao passed by the old residence. Suddenly, he wanted to see it again, so he had the driver stop by the roadside.

Ye Changyuan’s death has pushed him and Elder Ye’s friendship to a breaking point. Elder Qiao gazed at the dilapidated courtyards, reminiscing about the past. He felt an infinite regret; the past is gone forever, never to return.

He no longer had hopes for Qiao Rulong. On the night his second son Yuanshan disappeared twenty years ago, the glory of the Qiao Family had steadily drifted away from him. He finally realized that no matter how hard he tried, some things cannot be restored.

Arriving at the old residence’s door, he found the gate wide open. Elder Qiao was curious; he remembered it used to be locked. Is it being demolished?

Elder Qiao walked into the courtyard and saw a tall silhouette standing amidst the overgrown weeds.

Elder Qiao looked at the person curiously. The middle-aged person sensed someone behind him and slowly turned around, revealing an unfamiliar face to Elder Qiao.

“Who are you?” Elder Qiao said.

The middle-aged man smiled faintly, “I bought this land.”

Only then did Elder Qiao understand why the man was here. He felt the regret of losing his old home and apologized for intruding: “Sorry, I made a mistake.”

The middle-aged man looked at Elder Qiao and said, “Old man, did you used to live here?”