"Let's put that aside for now. I've yet to meet them all. Among his companions is the Young Sect Master of Wan Jian Sect. Elder Tong is getting old and will soon retire as chairman. I've been considering having Xiaochen change sects, but haven’t settled on one."

Mentioning her son's future, Mrs. Zhou became serious, "So, you want Xiaochen to join the Wan Jian Sect? Isn't that sect just second-tier?"

"Nonsense. The top-tier sects are only Shaolin, Wudang, and Emei. Do you want Xiaochen to become a monk or a Taoist priest? Among the second-tier sects, Wan Jian is at the pinnacle. Then there's the Xuan Sect, but they're too low-profile. I don't even know their leader, nor the sect's training outcome. They seem to focus on training and stay out of affairs. Such sects usually take in orphans, which wouldn’t suit Xiaochen."

"Absolutely not. How is that different from those who study so much they become bookworms? Regardless of what you learn, you should apply it. Isn't mastering martial arts for both fame and fortune? It's laughable when some say material wealth is extraneous."

"So, Wan Jian Sect is the best choice. Your stepson knows their Young Sect Master, which provides an excellent opportunity. Even if it’s just a facade, you should be magnanimous. Besides, he won’t live here, so what's there to fear?" Hu Shancheng initially disapproved of his daughter marrying a twice-married man, especially one so much older. But Zhou Huajin was both competent and well-bred. Back then, Hu was just a minor shareholder in the pharmaceutical company, and his son-in-law played a crucial role in his rise, making the union mutually beneficial.

"Fine, I get it. I'll call him tomorrow to invite him and his friends for dinner. It's beneath you to do so," Mrs. Zhou stated, setting her boundaries. She definitely couldn’t humble herself to court her stepson.

The next day, Zhou was taken aback when he received an unfamiliar call, "Mrs. Zhou? Why are you calling?"

Mrs. Zhou tried to sound gentle, "Xiaochen has been discharged from the hospital, and my father has arrived. We'd like to invite you and your friends for a casual dinner to thank you for saving Xiaochen."

Zhou didn't immediately agree, saying he'd have to consult his friends first. Mrs. Zhou responded with a mere "Okay" and hung up, rolling her eyes at her son, "See? I told you he's not well-connected. He has to ask others before coming home for dinner. 'Friends'? Who knows what their actual relationship is?"

Zhou Yichen's face was stormy. Ever since he learned he had a half-brother, he'd been in a bad mood, even with Zhou Huajin.

"Why invite him over? I don't want to see him!"

"You think I do? But your grandfather mentioned that among his companions is the Young Sect Master of Wan Jian Sect. Befriending him might pave the way for you to train under the Sect Master in the future."

"Master Tong is wonderful." Zhou Yichen didn’t want a new master. To many, choosing a master depended on their martial arts prowess and reputation. Tong Liwei, being the chairman of the Yang City Martial Arts Association, was highly respected and skilled. Although Yueyang Sect was weaker than Wan Jian Sect, Master Tong was nearly on par with the Wan Jian Sect Master.

"What do you know? Master Tong is aging and about to retire. How can you rely solely on him at your age? When you've learned all of Yueyang Sect's martial arts, what then? You also love swordplay, and the best place to learn it is at Wan Jian Sect."

"Regardless, I refuse to curry favor with him for any reason. Give up on that idea." Zhou Yichen covered his head with a blanket, adamantly refusing.

But Mrs. Zhou didn’t leave the matter up to him. For her son's future, she could endure this minor humiliation.

When Shao Qi and the others heard of Mrs. Zhou's dinner invitation, they readily accepted. They had initially shown up to support Zhou, and with the opportunity now presenting itself, they saw no reason to decline.

That evening, the group, dressed to the nines, drove their luxurious cars back to Zhou's residence.

Sutinger came over in the capacity of a butler, saying he wanted to get acquainted with the relatives of the house to avoid any future misunderstandings. However, Zhou You knew that Sutinger was really here to show some support for himself.

As the door opened, a group of young individuals stood prominently. Butler Wu felt an immediate pressure, akin to when Master Tong arrives with his prized disciples.

"Please come in; the gentleman and lady have been waiting for some time." After Butler Wu finished speaking, Zhou Huajin hurriedly came out to greet them. His elation was evident, with his hair neatly arranged and wearing a white shirt paired with suit trousers.

The room was warm, thanks to the heating. Zhou You and the others took off their coats upon entry. Their imposing statures made Zhou's villa seem rather compact. It's no wonder they chose to stay at Litchi Manor, a much larger estate.

Initially, Hu Shancheng was only paying attention to Cheng Suyan. But as his gaze swept over the others, he became increasingly convinced of the significance of Zhou Huajin, the eldest son. He knew not to judge solely by one’s stature; Zhou You's demeanor indicated he was a master of his craft. His companions seemed to revolve around him, indicating his prominent status within the group.

In other words, to have these individuals visit on his invitation wasn't a trivial matter. It showed their close relationship.

Zhou Huajin introduced them, and upon seeing Hu Shancheng, Zhou You and the others gave him a few extra glances. The herbal medicine conglomerate was indeed getting a lot of attention and stood out among private enterprises.

"You're the younger generation. I came in a rush and didn’t prepare much. Please accept this elixir as my gift. I hope you won't find it insufficient," said Hu Shancheng. Though his gift wasn’t intricately planned, it was certainly generous.

Each box contained ten elixirs. Having seen the price at an auction just the day before, they recognized the significant value of such a gift.