Zhou You, anticipating they might still be hungry, fetched the marinated meat slices and brought the grill to the table, grilling while they ate.

He used mutated beast meat, initially saved for a late-night snack. After his nightly meditative training, he often felt energy-deprived, and this high-grade meat replenished it well.

The elderly man and Shao Zhen were hesitant about the grilled meat, but their mouths watered. Zhou You prepared regular meat slices for them to grill.

Later, the elderly man's utensils were forcibly taken by Shao Qi and his sister, warning the old man against overeating.

“You ungrateful grandchildren. I've cared for you for years, and you've never cooked a proper meal for me. Thankfully, now that Zhou You’s here, I've tasted heavenly delicacies.”

This was an exaggeration. They occasionally dined out at designated restaurants with decent chefs, but Zhou You's cooking had a touch of home.

After the meal, Yao Chen was dragged off by the elderly man for a game of chess. Shao Zhen walked in the courtyard to digest, while Shao Qi and Zhou You tidied up the kitchen, sneaking in hugs and kisses.

“You had a confrontation this morning?”

“You saw? It wasn’t much. I didn’t even lift a finger.”

Shao Qi chuckled softly, “Indeed. The tales of Zhou You, the telepathic master, have become legendary. I bet it won't be long before martial artists will queue up to challenge you.”

"A challenge?"

"Yes, there's an unwritten rule here in Dawn City. Martial artists aren't supposed to fight in private, but they can formally challenge each other. There's a designated venue for such duels; it can't happen just anywhere and disturb the public."

"Well, that doesn't seem very different from ordinary fighting. It's just a different format. I presume one can decline these challenges?"

"Certainly. I've never accepted one myself."

"Alright, then it's no big deal."

The two of them spent half an hour washing dishes. When Shao Zhen came in after her stroll and saw them, she shook her head, "I can't stand this anymore. I need to move out." Or she'd be constantly fed with their 'love displays.'

"Change your clothes; I want to take you somewhere." Shao Qi nudged Zhou You up the stairs. They both changed outfits and then left the Shao residence in a car.

Seeing Yao Chen was still around, Zhou You asked, "Are there bodyguards around the house usually?"

"Not openly."

"I looked around and didn't spot any undercover ones."

"Ha, I pulled them back when we returned. Usually, there's a rotation of guards on duty."

"Alright, you seem to trust me quite a bit. By the way, who's the captain of the city guard?"

"You mean the captain of the First District City Guard? His name is Xu Bin. He used to be a general in the military zone. After an injury, he retired and joined the city guard. He has a fiery temper, but more notably, he dotes on his daughter. So, most people avoid crossing her."

"What if I were to 'bully' his daughter?"

"What you did doesn't count as bullying," Shao Qi said nonchalantly, "And even if you did, he can't do much. She was in the wrong first."

"Where are we headed now?"

"To meet a couple of people. I think you'll like them."

Zhou You raised an eyebrow, thinking he was about to meet some of Shao Qi's friends. So far, he had only met Shao Qi's subordinates and family.

The car pulled into the underground parking of a hotel. They went up to the second floor where there was a tea house.

Shao Qi put on a mask and handed one to Zhou You as well, along with a hat. After giving their room number, they were led to a private booth. Before they knocked, Zhou You had already "sensed" the man and woman inside.

Before they could knock, a female voice from inside said, "Come in."

As Zhou You entered, he looked surprised. Not because of their identities, but because he didn't expect Shao Qi to associate with these two privately.

"Sister Han, Young Sect Leader Zhang," Zhou You greeted.

These were none other than the female hero of Emei, Han Xi, and the young sect leader of Wudang, Zhang Huaishen.

Han Xi had long hair tied into a high ponytail. With her sharp features, she exuded a straightforward and bold aura. She took a glance at Zhou You and remarked, "You're much more handsome than in photos and videos."

Zhou You gave a slight smile. "Thank you for the compliment."

Zhang Huaizen reached out his hand proactively, "There's no need for formalities. Just call us by our first names. We consider ourselves peers of Shao Qi."

This term "peers" is quite intriguing. Does it imply there's a generational difference between Shao Qi and them?

"Take a seat." Shao Qi settled down first, then turned to Zhou You, saying, "Both of them were my travel companions in the past. We've been to many places together and share a good rapport."

"You never mentioned it before." Zhou You was utterly unaware of the intricate connections amongst these outstanding individuals.

How should one put it? After all the twists and turns, there seems to be a reason why Shao Qi holds such a significant position.

The Gu family, which previously mentioned an alliance through marriage with Emei, might be in for some misfortune.

"How would he ever voluntarily share stories about us with you?" Zhang Huaizen, a refined gentleman with the hairstyle of a Daoist and dressed in a pure white shirt, said gently. "Our meeting today was only possible because we insisted on it."

Han Xi differed in approach. She slammed a photograph onto the table, "Take a look. This was taken this morning when I met Gu Zuo. Had I not been vigilant, this photo would've hit the headlines, accompanied by rumors of our secret rendezvous."

"Why did you meet him?"

"I had to hear what compelling offer he had and his intentions. If he can persuade my master, he's no ordinary individual." The terms Gu Zuo proposed were indeed tempting.